District 68 Rep. Drew Springer
Torin Halsey/Times Record News
SHARE By John Ingle of the Times Record News Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus has appointed House members, including District 68 Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, to a select committee to set the floor on how much can be taken out of the Economic Stabilization Fund. Springer said Thursday morning he is honored to be appointed by the speaker to the committee heading into just his second session as a state legislator. He said his conservative fiscal position is what prompted the appointment to the bipartisan committee made up of House and Senate members. "I think that one of the reasons the speaker appointed me to the committee is to make sure we stay in that direction," he said. "There are two House Democrats and one Senate Democrat on the committee, and so they may have a different perspective on it." Straus, in a news release, said, "Rep. Springer will play an important role in helping Texas live within its means while keeping an appropriate amount in reserves. His commitment to fiscal discipline will be very valuable to this committee, and I'm grateful that he agreed to serve." Texas voters approved in November 2014 a proposition that would allow legislators to divert some funds from the ESF, also called the Rainy Day Fund, to help fund transportation. Legislators set a floor then of $7 billion before funds would stop going to transportation. Springer said the floor is a mechanism that would allow the ESF to build back up so the state could address emergency situations and maintain its high credit rating. Committee members will likely start meeting after the November elections, Springer said, because co-chair Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, has an opponent in the general election. He said the number will certainly be set before the 85th Texas Legislature convenes in January. "We're at a starting point," he said. "Last session we had $7 billion as the floor. Is there something that would have changed that we think we need to raise that floor or lower that floor? I think that's the starting point we would be at." Springer also explained that another piece to the puzzle is a bill passed in 2015 that allows the state to invest the portion of the ESF above the floor. He said that ability generated another $50 million in revenue for the state. If the floor is lower than $7 billion this go round, he said, that means the state could invest more, but they have to determine if that is the prudent position to take. The committee, he said, will hear testimony from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar as well as comments from the public and credit agency before setting the floor. SHARE News Flash: Donald Trump now believes that President Barack Obama was born in the country of which he is president. That news may be a relief to the president, although I doubt that he was losing much sleep over it. After a night of oddly competing statements from Trump and his own campaign team, the Republican presidential nominee's announced three things at his new Washington, D.C., hotel. Two of those things were false. "Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy," he declared on Friday morning. "I finished it. I finished it." No, there's no evidence that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton or her campaign had anything to do with starting birtherism, as PolitiFact found in 2015. But the bizarre "birther" movement was fading in 2011 when Trump, the TV star and real estate developer, gave it new life through his well-developed capacity for self-promotion. And he hasn't finished it, either. Die-hard birthers and other paranoids will believe what they want to believe, undeterred by anything so trivial as evidence or a lack of it. Some folks still can't wrap their minds around the possibility that Americans actually elected a black president, even after the president seemed to put it to rest with his roast of Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Obama hilariously flashed his long-form birth certificate that night on a giant screen as Hulk Hogan's theme song, "(I am a) Real American," rocked the room. Trump "can finally get back to the issues that matter," the president told the black-tie crowd that included an unsmiling Trump. "Like: did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?" Yet the one true thing Trump said about the issue on Friday was his concession that, "President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period." He left the podium without taking questions. The issue had served its purpose. Now after years of feeding hate and suspicion, Trump was eager to move on. In a private August email among others that hackers recently leaked, former Secretary of State Colin Powell told the uncensored truth: "Yup, the whole birther movement was racist," Powell, a Republican who endorsed Obama, wrote. "That's what the 99 percent believe. When Trump couldn't keep that up he said he also wanted to see if the certificate noted that he was a Muslim. As I have said before, 'What if he was?' Muslims are born as Americans every day." Responsible leaders in our very diverse society know they face a choice with their appeals to communities undergoing economic and demographic change: They can try to calm public fears and anxieties or they can try to exploit them to win votes. Having benefitted from his divide-and-conquer strategy, Trump has been reluctant to leave it, even as he tries to broaden his appeal to skeptical Republicans and independent swing voters who don't want to be associated with such other questionable Trump fans as David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader and current Senate candidate in Louisiana. The night before Trump conceded that Obama really is a natural-born citizen, his campaign issued a statement through spokesman Jason Miller saying, "Mr. Trump believes that President Obama was born in the United States." Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, has been saying the same in recent weeks. But why not Trump himself? A few hours before Miller's statement, Trump had awkwardly dodged the question of Obama's birth after it was put to him by The Washington Post's Robert Costa in Ohio. "I'll answer the question at the right time," Trump told Costa. "I just don't want to answer it yet." Maybe he had to sleep on it. Even after Trump surrogate Ben Carson had said Trump should apologize to black Americans for the birther business, The Donald was slow to let it go. Polls offer a big reason why. A midsummer NBC News/Survey Monkey poll, for example, found that 80 percent of Democrats agreed with the statement that "Barack Obama was born in the United States," while 41 percent of Republicans disagreed with it. Are they in the "basket of deplorables" that Clinton recently and controversially identified as a major portion of Trump's voters? Of course, every Trump supporter is not a racist. But, if the shoe fits, wear it. Clarence Page is a member of the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. Readers may send him email at cpage@tribune.com. SHARE If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans. Old people used to say that when I was a child. I never knew what it meant, but I do now. I said it myself this morning. I've been making plans both good and bad for most of my life, only to see them fall apart. It has happened so often you might think I'd have learned not to bother planning at all. If you think that, think again. I keep making plans, partly because it's fun, but mainly because a lot of things worth doing won't get done without a plan for doing them. Also, it gives God a reason to laugh. Take this past week. I flew home on Monday after three days in Montana, visiting my youngest and his family. It was a great visit. I was tired, but happy, ready to start checking off a long list of things I needed to do before leaving again a week later for some speaking engagements in Redding, Calif. What was on the list? Usual stuff. Get my hair done. Go to the doc for a checkup. Float in the pool with my husband. Have lunch with my friend Linda. Write a column and finish working on the talks I'd be giving. Unpack, do laundry, repack ... all good things. Then, Monday night, my husband yelled from the garage: "You gotta come see this!" I hate it when he says that. It's never good. Sure enough, our water heater was leaking. Picture a 50-gallon sieve. He shut off the water and gas. It kept leaking. We stood there watching it drip, scratching our heads, the way you do when you don't know what else to do. Finally, we piled towels around it to soak up the water and started making phone calls. And so it began. I spoke to our home warranty company. They sent a plumber the next morning, who said, in effect, "Whoa. It's bad." The leak had soaked into the walls. In the garage. And the kitchen. And the dining room. Not only did we need a new water heater. We needed "water removal specialists." I spoke to our insurance agent, who sent a team from Stanley Steemer to rip out soggy sheet rock and set up giant turbine fans to dry the wet walls. It sounded like a fleet of fighter jets preparing for take off. We considered moving to a motel. Instead, we wore ear plugs. We couldn't hear the doorbell, the phone, the TV or each other. It was like a silent retreat, without the silence. Also, no hot water meant no taking showers or running the dishwasher or doing laundry. Luckily, after two days, the plumber set up a new water heater temporarily, to give us hot water while the work is being done. Then he'll do a final installation. I might kiss him. The "drying phase" lasted five days. And nights. Then the guys from Stanley Steemer took away the turbines, hallelujah, and told us to call a contractor. We did. He's coming soon to give us an estimate on the repairs. I'm hoping the work will start the day I leave for Redding, and end before I get back. Meanwhile, I've checked off a few things on my long list. I have two days to finish it up. The important stuff will get done, the rest won't matter. Maybe I should have that carved on my tombstone? This morning we awoke to two glorious gifts: Silence and hot water. My husband, bless him, brought me coffee, and set it on the nightstand. It's a lovely way to wake up, sipping coffee and being thankful. I had big plans for the day and was almost ready to get started. But as I reached for the coffee cup, it slipped from my hand and bounced across the floor. And coffee rained about the bedroom to the far ends of the Earth, sloshing a power strip, splashing across my desk and dripping off my nose. Seriously? Some days I think I was born just to keep God in stitches. Sharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com. SCHENECTADY The funeral for a slain 17-year-old Schenectady mother will be held Friday in Troy. Medina Knowles was killed on Sept. 15 in her family's apartment by a single gunshot, according to city police. ReaQwan U. Stover, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder, evidence tampering and criminal weapon possession in the case. Stover, who police said was dating Knowles, turned himself in over the weekend, police said. According to her obituary to run in Thursday's Times Union, Knowles was employed by the New York Racing Association and enjoyed working at the Saratoga Race Course. She was looking forward to becoming a Schenectady High School cheerleader this fall. Survivors include her son Jahsiy and parents Terrence Knowles and Tyesha Murray. Calling hours will be 9 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 2165 Fifth Ave., Troy. Services are 11 a.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY Alain Kaloyeros has been the single most powerful force in the Capital Region's high-tech economy over the past two decades. Kaloyeros was recruited to the University at Albany's physics department in 1988 after receiving his doctorate from the University at Illinois. By the early 1990s under the Pataki administration and with the help of companies like IBM, Kaloyeros began building the Albany NanoTech semiconductor research complex on Fuller Road. Today, that has grown into SUNY Polytechnic Institute, a standalone SUNY school with campuses in both Albany and Utica, research hubs in several other upstate cities and $43 billion in investments from both the state and more than 300 corporate partners. Kaloyeros amassed not only power and prestige in building SUNY Poly, he also became one of the highest paid employees of the state of New York, earning more than $1 million a year. Although Kaloyeros rarely flaunted his wealth, he does have a very public affection for driving expensive cars, including a Ferrari with the license plate DR NANO that can often be seen parked in the SUNY Poly parking lot or speeding around town. It is unclear how Kaloyeros' legal troubles will impact SUNY Poly and the billions of dollars in research partnerships that Kaloyeros has negotiated with companies like IBM, GlobalFoundries and General Electric Co. In fact, GlobalFoundries likely would not have built its Fab 8 computer chip factory in Saratoga County had it not been for the presence of SUNY Poly, which in partnership with IBM became the epicenter of computer chip manufacturing research in the Western Hemisphere. GlobalFoundries, which took over IBM's computer chip factories in New York and Vermont in 2015, recently signed a $500 million research partnership with SUNY Poly and uses SUNY Poly's Albany clean room facilities to test cutting edge chip manufacturing techniques before they are used at Fab 8. Even GE, the Capital Region's original high-tech company, has benefited from the expansion of SUNY Poly. Several years ago, GE and SUNY Poly formed a $500 million consortium that is scheduled to start making high-end power electronics chips made out of silicon carbide. GE and SUNY Poly engineers are currently working on setting up a $35 million pilot manufacturing line at SUNY Poly's Albany campus and GE is also participating in a chip packaging center at SUNY Poly's Utica campus. Officials from GlobalFoundries and GE could not immediately be reached for comment on Kaloyeros or how his criminal case might impact their partnerships with SUNY Poly. Kaloyeros had always saw Albany NanoTech as a model for economic development across the state, making the first push toward Utica under the Paterson and Spitzer administrations. But it was under Gov. Andrew Cuomo starting in 2011 that Kaloyeros moved to create high-tech hubs in cities like Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse that became the focus of the federal charges now facing Kaloyeros and others. Click here to read more on TU+. The maker of a medication used to wean addicts off heroin and prescription painkillers is being sued by New York and 34 other states for allegedly blocking competition. Suboxone maker Indivior is accused of abusing its monopoly to keep less expensive generic versions off the market between 2008 and 2013, according to the office of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The lawsuit alleges that as Indivior's patent on Suboxone was reaching its expiration, it tried to coerce patients to switch from a tablet form of the medication to a film that dissolves under the tongue, which had a separate patent. MonoSol, the company that licensed its patented sublingual film technology to Indivior, is also named in the suit. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Thursday, seeks to force Indivior to give up the profits made as a result of compelling patients to switch from the tablet form of Suboxone to the film version. The drugmaker, whose global headquarters are in London, was spun off in 2014 from Reckitt Benckiser, also an British company. "Opioid abuse is a public health crisis, and opioid-dependent patients should have access to the most affordable addiction treatment options available," Schneiderman said. Indivior could not be reached for comment. Suboxone consists of buprenorphine, an opioid itself, and naloxone, an opioid antidote. The combination is intended to produce withdrawal symptoms if an opioid user takes it to get high. Unlike the treatment medication methadone, which must be taken under supervision at specially designated clinics, the drug can be prescribed by a primary care or other doctor. Buprenorphine is in high demand in the midst of a heroin and opioid epidemic. Capital Region residents struggling with addiction have said that it is difficult to get through legitimate channels because not enough doctors are willing to go through the special requirements to prescribe it, and those that do have a federally imposed cap on the number of patients they can supervise on the drug. Suboxone generated $800 million in U.S. sales for Indivior by 2011, according to the attorney general's office. Suboxone tablets were first approved for sale in the U.S. in 2002. Although the tablets lacked patent protection, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Indivior a seven-year monopoly, until 2009, to allow the company to recoup research and development costs. The attorney general contends that Indivior first attempted to thwart the entry of a generic version of its drug by introducing the film, which pharmacists would not be able to substitute a generic equivalent for. The idea, according to Schneiderman's office, was to convince doctors and patients to switch to the film, preventing loss of sales to the generic tablet. To persuade the FDA to approve the Suboxone film, Indivior claimed that the tablet version presented a high exposure risk to children, according to the attorney general. The FDA approved the patented film version of Suboxone in August 2010, but acknowledged that the oral strip may actually be a bigger threat to children in case of accidental exposure. Indivior later reiterated its unfounded safety concerns to delay the regulatory approval of a generic tablet version of Suboxone, according to the attorney general. In 2012, the FDA ordered Indivior and potential generic manufacturers of the tablet version to participate in a program to reduce the risk of pediatric exposure to the tablets. Indivior did not cooperate in this shared process, according to the attorney general. Instead, in September 2012, it requested the FDA withhold approval of the tablet version (which the company itself had marketed for 10 years) unless generic manufacturers could minimize the presumed pediatric exposure risks. The petition was ultimately rejected by the FDA, but, by the time generics were introduced to the market, Indivior had converted the majority of patients to the film version. chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire Washington Outraged Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday grilled the head of pharmaceutical company Mylan about the significant cost increase of its life-saving EpiPens and the profits for a company with sales in excess of $11 billion. Defending the company's business practices, Mylan CEO Heather Bresch told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that she wishes the company had "better anticipated the magnitude and acceleration" of the rising prices for some families. "We never intended this," Bresch said, but maintained that her company doesn't make much profit from each emergency allergy shot. The list price of EpiPens has grown to $608 for a two-pack, an increase of more than 500 percent since 2007. Families who rely on multiple EpiPens to respond when their children have allergic reactions have lashed out at Mylan in growing public outcry. House Oversight Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said high executive pay at Mylan "doesn't add up for a lot of people" as the EpiPen price has increased. Chaffetz said company executives made $300 million over five years while the list price for a pair of the emergency allergy shots rose. "Parents don't have a choice," Chaffetz said. "If your loved one needs this, it better darn well be in your backpack." Bresch, who displayed an EpiPen, said the company makes only $50 in profit on each EpiPen. But Chaffetz said he finds that "a little hard to believe." The soft-spoken CEO patiently listened to criticism from lawmakers of both parties, but found no sympathy in the room. In response to one question, Bresch acknowledged that she made $18 million in salary last year. "Sounds like you're doing pretty well on this," said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. When asked if she understood what the furor was about, she said, "I truly believe the story got ahead of the facts." EpiPens are used in emergencies to stop anaphylaxis, the potentially fatal allergic reactions to insect bites and stings and foods like nuts and eggs. People usually keep multiple EpiPens handy at home, school or work, but the syringes, prefilled with the hormone epinephrine, expire after a year. The company says it has made strides to more widely distribute the drug to schools and others and raised awareness of deadly allergies. That requires investment, Bresch said. The Mylan executive has some familiarity with Capitol Hill she is the daughter of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. But lawmakers so far haven't given any deference to her, and several other committees have called for investigations into the price increase. Bresch noted that Mylan has said it will begin selling its generic version for $300 for a pair. That will still bring Mylan tens of millions of dollars in revenue while helping retain market share against current and future brand-name and generic competition. Chaffetz said he was skeptical that the company will lose any money on the generic versions. "This is why we don't believe you," he said. The company has also offered coupon cards and has doubled the limit for eligibility for its patient assistance program. But critics have said the coupons, discount cards and patient assistance programs aren't real solutions because many customers won't use them or won't qualify for them. Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, a physician, told Bresch that she was "trying to make us feel good" about the generic version and other programs, but that he doesn't feel good about it. "A mother would cut off her right arm to get that drug. You chose to charge her $600 instead of cutting off her arm," DesJarlais said. "Lower the price so they can afford it." Last year, more than 3.6 million U.S. prescriptions for two-packs of EpiPens were filled, according to data firm IMS Health. That brought in sales of nearly $1.7 billion for Mylan, though the company says it only receives about $1.1 billion after rebates and fees paid to insurers, distributors and other health care businesses. In the Senate, leaders of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' investigations subcommittee said earlier this month that they have begun an inquiry into the company's pricing and competition practices. The Aging Committee requested briefings on the issue, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has written several letters to Mylan demanding answers. Gillibrand: Revisit dredging decision Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has become the latest public official from New York to call for additional dredging of the Hudson River. The Environmental Protection Agency is now reviewing the effectiveness of a six-year project by Boston-based General Electric to remove 2.75 million cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment under a federal Superfund project. Gillibrand on Tuesday released a letter asking EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to re-evaluate and reverse the decision to stop dredging because of lingering polychlorinated biphenyl hotspots in the upper river. State officials last month challenged the cleanup's effectiveness, saying some 35 percent of the PCBs discharged from factories north of Albany weren't removed. An EPA official says they share Gillibrand's commitment to a clean river and will respond to her directly. Associated Press Port Authority reaches agreement for terminal The Port Authority has reached an agreement with elected officials on a new "comprehensive planning process" to rebuild the agency's aging bus terminal in Manhattan. The new approach to designing and building the terminal will include an analysis of temporary or additional bus facilities in both New York and New Jersey as well as "significant stakeholder input," according to a joint announcement on Tuesday from the Port Authority and pugnacious politicians that had previously fought the idea of building the new terminal in the area. "We're starting the process over," said State Sen. Brad Hoylman. "Everything is on the table ... This is win for local community input. This is a win for our neighbors who live next to the busiest bus terminal in the northern hemisphere and this is a win for smart planning." Hoylman was part of a group of a half dozen Manhattan politicians from the federal, state and city level that rallied outside of a Port Authority board meeting in July to demand that the agency halt its $10 billion terminal replacement project, citing concerns of lack of transparency and eminent domain. "We've forced the Port Authority to reconsider their ill-advised design process and brought them back to the table," Hoylman said, "where they're now going to engage the local community." The five concepts stemming from the Port Authority's design and delivery competition are now expected to serve as part of a larger scope of options for a new terminal. The concepts will be unveiled at the Port Authority's board meeting on Thursday. "The future planning for the project ... will fully examine the range of options for a new Bus Terminal and view the project in an appropriate regional context ..." said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who was also part of the rally against the Port Authority's original plan, in a statement. Airports win prizes in Cuomo competition Airports in Rochester and New York's Southern Tier will each get $40 million as the first winners of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's upstate airport competition. Cuomo visited the Greater Rochester International Airport and the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport Wednesday to announce the funding. The state funds are part of a $200 million competition created by Cuomo and approved by lawmakers earlier this year. Up to five upstate airports are expected to win portions of the money. In Rochester the money will be combined with $23 million in local funds to overhaul the terminal, construct a new cellphone lot and make upgrades to security, concessions and passenger lounges. The Democratic governor says the investments will help upstate regions remain economically competitive for years to come. Associated Press Hundreds of scientists, including 30 Nobel laureates and the great explainer of the cosmic world Stephen Hawking, signed an open letter on Tuesday warning that a Donald Trump presidency could wreak havoc on the planet. The letter begins by stating that climate change is a physical reality, not a hoax, and "the increase in greenhouse gases is changing Earth's climate." The sea levels rising, the warming of the oceans, the altered rainfall patterns, the melting glaciers in the Arcticthese are all clear, solid evidence. All 375 members of the National Academy of Sciences whose names appear at the bottom of the letter say they are absolutely certain without any doubt that human-caused climate change is "real, serious, and immediate." Failing to address the problem could impact everything from human health to national security. The letter never mentions Donald Trump by name but it clearly refers to him in the statement: "During the Presidential primary campaign, claims were made that the Earth is not warming, or that warming is due to purely natural causes outside of human control. Such claims are inconsistent with reality." The letter also cautions that "the Republican nominee for President has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord." The governments of the world coming together in Paris in December 2015 and making national commitments to address the problem of climate change was an important first step "towards more enlightened stewardship of Earth's climate system," the scientists say. Trump pulling out of this agreement would be disastrous. "A 'Parexit' would send a clear signal to the rest of the world: 'The United States does not care about the global problem of human-caused climate change. You are on your own,'" the letter states. Dozens of Bay Area scientists signed the letter that's available online, including 14 from UC Berkeley, 24 from Stanford University and three from UC San Francisco. Stephen Hawking is among the most well-known names to sign and this isn't the first time the theoretical physicist and cosmologist has made critical comments against the businessman-turned-politician. Earlier this year on "Good Morning Britain," the Cambridge professor was asked to explain Trump's political rise and he responded, "I can't. He is a demagogue, who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator." Acceptance, self-discovery, love, and mortality are all questioned in Capital Repertory Theatre's upcoming staging of "Outside Mullingar," which has been called playwright John Patrick Shanley's finest work since "Doubt." The play follows Anthony Reilly, an introverted, middle-aged farmer as he battles to uncover the cryptic love between him and his father and the concealed romantic connection between his lifelong friend and next-door neighbor Rosemary. "It's a comedy, but there's a lot of heart," explains Capital Region favorite David Kenner, who steps into the role of Anthony. "There's a lot of really deep conversations and themes, especially with fathers and sons and mothers and daughters, between two people who love each other but don't know how to do that." Set in Killucan, Ireland, a few miles outside Mullingar, the play centers on a land dispute between the two families. Anthony's father, Tony, played by Kenneth Kimmins, is unsure about whether or not his son is fit or prepared to take over the farm, though he is on the verge of death. "I try to fight against him and be myself in the play, and it's a struggle trying to get my father's acceptance, trying to get him to see me as who I am and give me the farm," Kenner says. As the play progresses, Anthony and Rosemary's relationship develops, leaving them to discover that they, too, can acquire happiness in a situation that appears to be quite catastrophic. More Information If you go "Outside Mullingar" Where: Capital Repertory Theatre, 111 N. Pearl St., Albany When: Friday through Oct. 16. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 3 p.m., 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $50; $16 student. Info: 445-7469; tickets. proctors.org See More Collapse From small town Texas himself, Kenner found many connections to the piece and character, although some challenges were presented. "I think that every role has its challenges, so there are some things, like trying to get Anthony's pace. He lives on a farm and kind of just exists out there. I grew up in small town Sealy, Texas so I can relate to the sparseness of that and that things just take a little more time out there; there's no hurry for anything. But I live in New York City now, I've been there for 12 years, so I'm always moving fast, and I think that really settling into the Anthony's pace has been the toughest challenge." This is Kenner's third time performing at the Rep, having appeared in both "Red" and "Hamlet." The actor now leads his own Shakespearean company, though he has a special connection to theater here in Albany. "I love it here!" he exclaims. "The audiences here are great: they know theater, they want to come and see it, they want to enjoy it, and they're not here to not like it and to see what the faults are. I think that there is a lot of support here. "You know, regional theatre is becoming less and less of a viable thing. It's tough with money and fundraising and everything, and I think that this is a community that really rallies around this place, which is incredible. You can really feel that the staff has that attitude and it just trickles all the way down to us. It's like coming home now: I feel comfortable here, and everyone is very supportive and trusts me, and that's half the battle right there." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. "Outside Mullingar" is directed by Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, Capital Rep's producing artistic director, and will run from Friday through Oct. 16. "I think there's a lot for everybody in the play, since it is fast-paced and funny, and you have older characters who aren't just old people: They're talking about things, they're making jokes, they're jabbing each other," Kenner says. "You have a love story, and you have some tragic events, which I think relate to everybody. It makes you think about mortality, like what's next? 'What happens when you're at the front of the group' is one of the lines. Now that the generation before you has left and you're at the front now, what do you do? It also has a big surprise in it. It shifts on a dime at one point and you don't see it coming, which is something that you don't see often anymore." Kenner is thrilled to be back at the Rep with this piece and is excited to share it with audiences. "Nowadays, everyone wonders what we're doing here and what to do, and that is addressed in this play. Audiences can expect comedy, a little bit of drama, some really good questions about mortality and life and about what it takes for you to finally start living it." Gianluca Russo is a freelance writer for The Times Union. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany A failed military coup in Turkey in July continues to reverberate locally with the layoff of the only paid employee at the Turkish Cultural Center of Albany and cuts in its programs, which include language and cooking classes. While its office on Broadway in Menands remains open, the center will be staffed sporadically by volunteers and there will be fewer interfaith programs and friendship dinners aimed at fostering a cultural dialogue and understanding of Islam. "There were financial difficulties and the Turkish community is deeply divided over the coup," said Veysel Ucan, who opened the center in 2009 and was recently let go as executive director of the Turkish Cultural Center of Albany. The center is part of a large American network that includes nine other similar centers across New York state with ties to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Saylorsburg, Pa. Gulen was accused of organizing the coup in which 290 people were killed and more than 1,400 people were injured. Gulen has repeatedly denied involvement. He is a former ally of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the two had a bitter falling-out in 2013 over a corruption investigation. Gulen, 75, has lived in the Pocono Mountains since 2009. U.S. officials have refused Erdogan's demands that Gulen be extradited to Turkey because of insufficient evidence for extradition. "He's a peaceful man who had nothing to do with the coup attempt. They have no evidence for their accusations," said Ucan, 38, who emigrated to the U.S. from Turkey in 2001.He earned a master's degree in computer engineering at Manhattan College. This summer he became a naturalized American citizen. He and his wife have two children and live in Delmar. He is looking for a new job and hopes to stay in the area. He'll volunteer for the organization that formerly paid him, although many of the 250 local Turks are fearful of association with a Gulen-linked organization because of Erdogan's power. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. The center had a budget of about $65,000, raised by donations. Some board members resigned and donations have dried up after the failed coup, which resulted in divided loyalties and a toxic atmosphere. A post-coup purge of suspected Gulen followers has resulted in the detainment or firing of tens of thousands of people in Turkey, including soldiers, journalists, academics and judges. The country remains in a state of emergency with severe restrictions. "It is a witch hunt that is dividing families here and in Turkey," said Ucan, who has one brother-in-law in Turkey who supports Erdogan's crackdown and another brother-in-law who was fired from his job as a teacher at an elementary school linked to Gulen. pgrondahl@timesunion.com 518-454-5623 @PaulGrondahl As Tipperary hurling fans know, Killenaule's Eoin Barry was on the winning All-Ireland panel which claimed The Irish Press Cup. But, did you know that Eoins preschool teachers at Naionra Dhurlas Eile in Thurles could see this future success coming, as we see from a lovely story called Eoin Supports his Team about a young Eoin Barry then aged 3 for an Early Childhood Ireland publication called the Power of Play back in 2004. This book published by Early Childhood Ireland (then IPPA) is a collection of childrens play stories and this particular one told the story of Eoin Barry a 3 year old boy who was besotted by hurling and in his preschool/naionra used every opportunity, including the nativity scene, to paint, colour and otherwise produce the Killenaule team colours. On one occasion the young, determined Eoin invited Liam Cahill, his neighbour and former Tipp All-Star, in to visit his friends in the naionra and stands beside him bursting with pride. Fast forward and Eoin has won an All-Ireland medal playing for the Tipperary minors under the management of that same Liam Cahill. Who could have predicted that? Well, according to Dr. Carmel Brennan of Early Childhood Ireland, We could have predicted it! You see it all starts in early childhood and shows through in childrens play. Quality early years education, that is child centred and play based, nurtures a deep level learning and passion for future years for future stars like Eoin. What is really evident in this story is that sense of belonging and connection with the wider community and how it contributes to wellbeing, security and identity. This story is all about community and the preschool leaders are promoting and encouraging that sense of community. It's a theme endorsed by Eileen Ryan of the Naoinra who told The Tipperary Star that she is very proud of all her past pupils - Conor Stakelum, who was also on that minor panel is also a past pupil as is last year's minor Cathal Moloney, and current senior panelist Stephen Cahill. The story was published again by Early Childhood Ireland to remind families about the power of play and the power of the preschool curriculum and in Eoin's case the dream became a reality. Eoin painted everything in red and green for Killenaule. Sarsfields were playing Mullinahone in the county final of that year and we had the kids making and wearing blue and white headbands - Eoin was having none of it and wanted to wear the red and green of Mullinahone because it was his neighbouring parish. He was just so into hurling and so aware of what was going on. He painted the nativity scene in red and gold, and when we played with peg boards it had to be red and yellow against blue and white for Sarsfields, because Killenuale were meeting Sars' in the county u-21 final that year, Eileen said. So, dreams do come true, but according to Early Childhood Ireland, it is by fostering and nurturing childrens' interests and passions, whatever they may be, that they develop, grow and learn. That has certainly been the case with this fine Tipperary hurler. Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary, Jackie Cahill has slammed the Minister for Jobs and Enterprise, Mary Mitchell OConnor for continuing to allow a two-tier Ireland take hold. Figures obtained by Fianna Fail show that nearly half of all jobs supported by the IDA between 2012 and 2015 were located in the Greater Dublin Area. Tipperary, in particular the north of the county, isnt getting its fair share of jobs. Between 2012 and 2015, the number of IDA supported jobs in the old Tipperary North Riding County Council rose by 8% from 294 to 318. The north of the country is being poorly served by the IDA and the Department of Enterprise and Jobs, Deputy Cahill said. He added -while there are more IDA jobs located in the south of the constituency, that area has seen a drop over the past three years from 3393 to 3200, a drop of 5.6% Tipperary, in 2015, had 1.9% of the total number of IDA jobs, yet Tipperary has 3.3% of the people living in the state. If the Minister, and her officials, were doing their jobs right, they would be focusing on doubling the number of IDA-supported jobs to match the size of our population." These figures debunk the Governments claim that it is spreading FDI jobs fairly across the whole country. Nothing could be further from the truth, added Cahill. Foreign Direct Investment acts as a significant engine in the Irish economy by providing highly skilled jobs and indirect employment to local domestic businesses nationwide. In turn FDI companies, support secondary, indigenous companies located in, and around, FDI businesses, Deputy Cahill said. The Thurles based dairy farmer added that during a recent event with local business leaders, it was clear that four main issues needed to be addressed if we are to attract more FDI investment in Tipperary. They are: Broadband Connectivity between Tipperary, and other midland counties Incubation Units to support spin-off enterprises Apprenticeships These issues need to be urgently addressed by various Government Departments. Fianna Fail has clearly articulated its priorities, and will support any measures to ensure that the IDA can attract more investment into countries like Tipperary which have been left behind as a result of Fine Gaels two-tier Ireland. The IDA also needs to look at who is taking responsibility for investment in the county. The mid-west regional office, based in Limerick, focuses on North Tipp, but the south of the county is supported by the south-west regional office in Limerick," he said. We need a special office to be focusing on Tipperary, and Tipperary alone. Im determined to hold Minister Mitchell OConnor to account on the commitments contained in the regional action plan for jobs. All communities need to benefit otherwise their vision of a two-tier Ireland will continue. Fine Gael need to remember that there is more to Ireland than the leafy suburbs of South Dublin, concluded Cahill. TItusville Fire Department Chief Harry Caldwell stands next to the departments newest truck, named the Colonel Drake, after the historic steam pumper that helped fight the fire and flood of 1892. The citys other truck is nicknamed the City of Titusville. During some of the citys most dangerous years, in terms of fire, the department had identical pumpers, like today, named Colonel Drake and City of Titusville. [September 22, 2016] 2016 e-commerce fraud attacks on pace to surpass 2015 totals COSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The question of whether we're in Kansas anymore is appropriate with the latest release of Experian fraud attack data from across the United States. Eudora, Kan., is home to the highest e-commerce billing fraud ZIP Code. Accounting for 5 percent of the total billing fraud so far in 2016, the town is among the top 25 riskiest ZIP codes, illustrating that fraud is not confined to larger cities. Download Experian's bi-annual 2016 Top 100 riskiest billing ZIP codes rankings Experian analyzed millions of e-commerce transactions from the first six months of 2016 to identify the latest fraud attack rates for shipping and billing locations across the United States. Fraud attack rates are calculated using bad transactions in relation to the total number of transactions. Billing fraud rates are associated with the address of the purchaser, typically the fraud victims. Shipping fraud rates are associated with the address where purchased goods are sent. The one-year anniversary of the EMV chip technology rollout for consumers and merchants in the United States is approaching. The rollout utilizes chip technology on credit cards to protect in-store payments making it harder to counterfeit cards, and helping eliminate in-store fraud. However, the 2016 e-commerce fraud attack rates appear to be at least 15 percent higher than last year's total. This suggests that card-not-present fraud is increasing as e-commerce fraud is often an indicator that other fraud activities have already happened a credit card has been stolen, identity fraud has occurred or personal credentials have been compromised. The increase in e-commerce fraud is not surprising as e-commerce sales in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2016 increased nearly 16 percent year-over-year (YoY) according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This was the greatest YoY increase since Q3 2014. At the same time, the Federal Trade Commission stated earlier this year that credit card fraud complaints had the highest reported numbers in 10 years, with a 41 percent increase in 2015 versus 2014. "Fraudsters continue to exploit new vulnerabilities, ad perpetrate card-not-present fraud against businesses using stolen consumer identity and payment data," said Adam Fingersh, Experian general manager and senior vice president of Fraud and Identity Solutions. "This reinforces the need for aggressive fraud prevention strategies and adoption of open technology platforms to prepare for the latest emerging cyber security threats. Fraudsters have what they need to quickly capitalize on compromised data, so businesses need to be prepared." According to Experian's rankings of top 100 riskiest billing ZIP codes, e-commerce fraud attack rates for the first half of 2016 show: 44% of e-commerce billing fraud came from three states among the top 100 riskiest billing fraud ZIP codes - Florida , California and New York - based on the sum of fraud attacks. , and - based on the sum of fraud attacks. Florida is the top-ranked state for billing fraud, with Miami home to 12 of the riskiest ZIP codes. New York ranked second, with Brooklyn home to six of the riskiest ZIP codes. is the top-ranked state for billing fraud, with home to 12 of the riskiest ZIP codes. ranked second, with home to six of the riskiest ZIP codes. Houston, Texas , (77036) has the riskiest ZIP Code for billing fraud as ranked by fraud attack rate. , (77036) has the riskiest ZIP Code for billing fraud as ranked by fraud attack rate. Eudora, Kan. (66025) has the next riskiest ZIP Code for billing fraud as ranked by fraud attack rate, followed by two ZIP codes in Miami (33192 and 33166) and one in Homer, Alaska (99603). (66025) has the next riskiest ZIP Code for billing fraud as ranked by fraud attack rate, followed by two ZIP codes in (33192 and 33166) and one in (99603). 52% of e-commerce shipping fraud came from three states among the top 100 riskiest shipping fraud zip codes - Florida , New York , and California - based on the sum of attacks. , , and - based on the sum of attacks. Florida is home to 26 of the riskiest 100 shipping fraud ZIP codes, with 17 from Miami . is home to 26 of the riskiest 100 shipping fraud ZIP codes, with 17 from . Eudora, Kan. , has the overall riskiest shipping ZIP Code (66025) as ranked by fraud attack rate. , has the overall riskiest shipping ZIP Code (66025) as ranked by fraud attack rate. The next four riskiest shipping ZIP codes as ranked by fraud attack rate are located in Miami (33195, 33192 and 33116) and Nettleton, Miss. (38858). Many of the higher-risk ZIP codes and cities are located near a large port-of-entry city or airport, making them ideal locations for reshipping fraudulent goods. This includes Miami, Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles, perhaps allowing criminals to move stolen goods more effectively. All those cities are ranked among the riskiest cities for both measures of fraud attacks. Download the 2016 Experian top 100 fraud attack rate ZIP Code rankings. About Experian We are the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to our clients around the world. We help businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision-making. We also help people to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft. In 2016, for the third year running, we were named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Forbes magazine. We employ approximately 17,000 people in 37 countries and our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2016, was US$4.6 billion. To find out more about our company, please visit http://www.experianplc.com or watch our documentary, "Inside Experian." Experian is a nonexclusive full-service provider licensee of the United States Postal Service. The following trademarks are owned by the United States Postal Service: ZIP and ZIP Code. The price for Experian's services is not established, controlled or approved by the United States Postal Service. Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. Contact: Matt Tatham Experian Public Relations 1 917 446 7227 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2016-e-commerce-fraud-attacks-on-pace-to-surpass-2015-totals-300332501.html SOURCE Experian [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] BitTitan Nabs Gold in Seattle Business Magazine's 2016 Tech Impact Awards KIRKLAND, Wash., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BitTitan, cloud services enablement and managed services automation pioneer, today announced that its MSPComplete platform won gold in Seattle Business Magazine's Tech Impact Awards 2016 in the Cloud/Big Data category. The magazine's annual Tech Impact Awards recognizes companies in Washington that are making significant contributions in business, industry or society through technological innovation in categories ranging from Cloud to Enterprise to Emerging Tech. This recognition is the latest in a series of awards highlighting BitTitan's collaborative company culture and commitment to developing progressive IT solutions for its customers. Earlier this year, Seattle Business named BitTitan as the Best Large Company to Work for in 2016, and The Puget Sound Business Journal honored BitTitan as a Best Workplace in Washington 2016. BitTitan CEO Geeman Yip was also recognized by CRN as one of its Top 25 Innovators of 2016. A born-in-the-cloud solution, BitTitan MSPComplete is a comprehensive cloud services enablement platform that empowers IT customers to successfully sell more cloud services, onboard more cloud projects, and maximize customer lifetime value, with expertise and confidence. Often referred to as a cloud "business-in-a-box," the platform provides everything companies need to successfully sell, onboard and service the cloud, without the need for extensive sales, marketing, business or technical expertise. Since its launch, MSPComplete has enabled more than 8,000 customers worldwide to quickly and easily grow their cloud businesses. "With cloud infrastructure giants Amazon and Microsoft in the neighborhood, the Pacific Northwest has become a hotbed of IT innovation, especially when it comes to cloud technology," said Dominic Pouzin, CTO at BitTitan. "At BitTitan, we are thrilled to partake in furthering Seattle's cloud dominance and cementing its legacy as the world's 'Cloud City.' Being recognized for our cutting-edge cloud solutions by Seattle Business, as well as our peers in the tech community, is truly an honor." The winners of Seattle Business Magazine's Tech Impact Awards 2016 were announced at a special awards party on September 21, 2016 at Showbox Sodo. To learn more about the event and see the complete list of winners, visit the Seattle Business Tech Impact Awards homepage or pick up the magazine's October 2016 edition. For the latest news and information on BitTitan, like and follow these social media channels: Twitter: @BitTitan Facebook: www.facebook.com/BitTitan LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/BitTitan About BitTitan BitTitan revolutionizes cloud services enablement and managed services automation, empowering IT service providers to sell more cloud services, onboard more cloud workloads, and maximize customer lifetime value. Bolstered by MSPComplete, a comprehensive MSP cloud services enablement platform featuring BitTitan's globally renowned MigrationWiz technology, the company modernizes cloud services delivery, pioneering a new category of MSPs the modern MSP. Founded in 2007, BitTitan has helped over 4 million users from more than 100,000 companies spanning 125 countries adopt the cloud. BitTitan supports many leading cloud ecosystems including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Dropbox. To learn how BitTitan gets it done and has fun doing it, visit www.BitTitan.com. Media Contact Aerin Meyers [email protected] 206.428.6030 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160622/382268LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bittitan-nabs-gold-in-seattle-business-magazines-2016-tech-impact-awards-300332649.html SOURCE BitTitan [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Canada's SCORE Program Wins International Gold in Oslo, Norway Innovative student training partnership between Simon Fraser University, City of Surrey & HealthTech Connex wins International 2016 Global Best Award for STEM SURREY, BC, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - SCORE, an innovative student summer program based in Surrey, BC, has won Gold in the International 2016 Global Best Award in the category of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Having won the top award for the North America region in the previous round, SCORE has now beat out regional winners from other continents to take home the grand prize for the STEM category. Global Best Awards are jointly conferred by the Conference Board of Canada and the International education-business Partnership Network (IPN). The award ceremony was held in Oslo, Norway during the IPN conference on September 15-16, 2016. The Surrey Collaborative Outreach and Research Experience (SCORE) program is a unique multi-faceted partnership founded by two PhD students, that brings together business, academic, healthcare, and research organizations to develop the next generation of leaders in our communities. Simon Fraser University, City of Surrey and HealthTech Connex Inc. are lead partners. HealthTech Connex Inc. is also sponsoring the SCORE program this year. The brainchild of PhD students Sujoy Ghosh Hajra and Careesa Liu from Simon Fraser University, SCORE has already won regional awards since its inception in 2014, and is now garnering international recognition as a global leader in its field. As co-founders of SCORE, Ghosh Hajra and Liu are the creators of breakthrough technologies in industry and academia. They attribute these achievements in large parts to the training and mentorship they have received in their professional development, and see SCORE as an opportunity to pay it forward. "When we created SCORE, we could not have dreamt of competing in th big leagues so soon. SCORE competed and won amongst numerous large and well-established programs supported by multinational corporations and funded by government entities," says Ghosh Hajra. "In comparison, SCORE operated on a much smaller budget, but with the support and dedication of our partners, volunteers and principal investigators whose contributions led to an outstanding partnership and program." "As an initiative created, led, and operated by students for students, SCORE's success has always been dependent on strong partnerships," says Liu. "Together with our supporters, we are developing the human capital to enable young innovators to become leaders in the health and technology industries. This enables them to take advantage of the significant opportunities that exist, especially in BC and the City of Surrey." The SCORE program trains students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels by providing exposure to hands-on cutting-edge technological research as well as mentorship from leaders in business, community and academia. SCORE matches its participants with research, community, and industry partners in the extensive Innovation Boulevard network and the Health & Technology District in Surrey based on similar interests. SCORE participants then work closely with these partners to develop technological solutions that address real-world challenges. In addition to core technical skills, SCORE participants gain entrepreneurial knowledge through various seminars and events designed to facilitate development of translational skills critical to future success. The growing success of SCORE has led to the expansion of its leadership and operations team and now includes several members of the Surrey NeuroTech Lab. SCORE's success has even spawned an international collaboration with the University College Dublin in Ireland. "The SCORE program is an innovative partnership that we proudly support," says Dr. Ryan D'Arcy, SFU's BC Leadership Chair in Medical Technologies and the professor who supervises both Ghosh Hajra and Liu, and is also a founder of HealthTech Connex Inc. "I see a bright future where our amazing talent stays in BC after graduation for growing high-tech opportunities and jobs. This is living proof of how innovation drives our economy and brings the best possible healthcare solutions." In its three years of operation, SCORE has trained more than 60 students with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and many of their subsequent employers. By integrating project management, business analytics, teamwork, and communication along with core technical training, the SCORE program helps graduates become more dynamic, well-rounded hybrids who can excel in today's challenging job market. The Global Best Awards is a bi-annual event that celebrates outstanding and effective business, education and community organization partnerships that have a significant impact on the communities in which they operate. For more information on the Global Best Awards, visit http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/ipn/awards.aspx. About HealthTech Connex Inc. HealthTech Connex, Inc. is a health technology company working to revolutionize the practice of clinical neuroscience through advanced technologies based on the highest quality science and innovation. Located in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, it was one of the pioneering start-up companies to emerge from Innovation Boulevard and the Health & Technology District, an agile partnership of health, business, higher education and government creating new health technologies to improve peoples' lives. www.HealthTechConnex.com. SOURCE HealthTech Connex Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Community Enrichment Organization Receives More Than $18K to Help Batesville Homeless The Community Enrichment Organization (CEO) yesterday received an $18,500 Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) award from First Community Bank, FNBC Bank, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas). The funds will be used to help the community's homeless in a variety of ways including life-skills training, rehabilitation, and transportation to work, classes, and appointments. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006211/en/ The Community Enrichment Organization of Batesville, Arkansas, was awarded an $18,500 grant on September 21, 2016, from First Community Bank, FNBC Bank, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas to help homeless citizens in Batesville. (Photo: Business Wire) Today's grant follows a $16,000 PGP award in 2015 from First Community Bank that was put toward acquiring a shelter for families. "Thank you for partnering with us on such a meaningful project," said CEO Executive Director Autumn Hunter. "You all are making it possible to bring hope to homeless families who need a hand up. That's what we are here to do, and we could not do it without the help of First Community Bank, FNBC Bank, and FHLB Dallas." The CEO was established in February 2015 to improve Batesville by serving the homeless. Through the PGP, member institutions contribute $500 up to $4,000 to a commuity-based organization (CBO). FHLB Dallas matches the contributions at a 3:1 ratio, which provide up to $12,000 in grant money to a CBO. In 2016, FHLB Dallas awarded $225,000 in PGP funds to assist 23 CBOs. Combined with the $96,200 from member institutions, a total of $321,200 was awarded this year. "FNBC Bank believes in the work of the Community Enrichment Organization," said Molly Carpenter, vice president of marketing and public relations at FNBC Bank. "Our commitment to this community encompasses all of its residents. We appreciate all that CEO does and in conjunction with other nonprofits to help those in need." Research from the U.S. Census Bureau and the American Community Survey showed that the number of Arkansas residents living in poverty nearly doubled from 599,602 in 2000 to 1,097,807 in 2010. "First Community Bank is committed to being a strong partner to Batesville, and we value this chance to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors," said Chris Milum, commercial lender at First Community Bank. PGP grants are offered annually through FHLB Dallas' member institutions via a lottery system. Funds may be used for research, organizational capacity-building, grant- and funding-application assistance, or contractual services. "The PGP leverages the power of partnership between FHLB Dallas and our member institutions," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "The shared dedication of First Community Bank and FNBC Bank to Batesville means the entire community benefits. It's the premise upon which the PGP was designed." About First Community Bank First Community Bank, which is locally owned and managed, opened Aug. 4, 1997, in Batesville, Ark., and operates 17 full-service branches in Arkansas and Missouri and a stand-alone mortgage origination office in Craighead County, Ark. First Community employs more than 300 professional bankers and reports assets as of June 30, 2016, of more than $1.1 billion. About FNBC Bank FNBC Bank is a community bank headquartered in Ash Flat, Ark. Originally chartered in 1912 as the Bank of Ash Flat, FNBC now has 10 branches serving Ash Flat, Cherokee Village, Hardy, Highland, Mammoth Spring, Salem, Horseshoe Bend, Melbourne, Batesville and Mountain Home. The organization was recognized by American Banker Magazine as one of the Best Banks to Work For in 2015 and 2016. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $54.4 billion as of June 30, 2016, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 850 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006211/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Dorsey Represents CPIC in Strategic Investment in Metromile International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP announced today that it represented Shanghai-based China Pacific Property Insurance Co., Ltd., one of the top three property insurance providers in China, in its recent venture capital and strategic investment in San Francisco-based Metromile, the leader in pay-per-mile car insurance in the United States. CPIC invested $50 million through a series of Class AA Preferred Stock that functions like venture debt. CPIC joins a group of A-list institutional venture investors in Metromile, as well as Metromile Founder and Chairman David Friedberg and well-known entrepreneur Mark Cuban. The investment is intended to establish a cooperative relationship between CPIC and Metromile and provide a platform for developing innovative, usage-based insurance products and expanding the markets for such products. Metromile is an insurance company that is attempting to revolutionize car insurance throgh technology with its pay-per-mile insurance model, which enables Metromile to offer car insurance with pricing based on the miles actually driven by its policy holders. The Dorsey team was led by Shanghai Office Head and Corporate Partner Peter Corne, Beijing Corporate Partner Frank Hong and Salt Lake City Corporate Partner Nolan Taylor. The rest of the global team included Dorsey lawyers from Beijing, Minneapolis, Palo Alto (News - Alert), Salt Lake City, Seattle and Shanghai. "Dorsey is already representing major Chinese property insurance interests in U.S. litigation," noted Dorsey Managing Partner Ken Cutler. "Representing CPIC on the transactional side underscores the strength of our China practice and the capacity of the Firm's platform to serve these and other major Chinese companies across a broad range of practices as they continue their globalization." About Dorsey & Whitney LLP Clients have relied on Dorsey since 1912 as a valued business partner. With locations across the United States and in Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Dorsey provides an integrated, proactive approach to its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful companies from a wide range of industries, including leaders in the banking, energy, food and agribusiness, health care, mining and natural resources, and public-private project development sectors, as well as major non-profit and government entities. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005811/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Fitch Maintains Chester Community Charter School's (PA) Revs on Negative Watch Fitch Ratings has maintained approximately $52.38 million of charter school revenue bonds, series 2010A issued by the Delaware County Industrial Development Authority, PA (DCIDA) on Rating Watch Negative. The bonds, which are rated 'BB-' by Fitch, were issued on behalf of Chester Community Charter School (CCCS). SECURITY The series 2010A bonds are secured by pledged revenues of CCCS, backed by a mortgage on the property and facilities leased by the school and a debt service reserve (DSR) cash-funded to transaction maximum annual debt service (TMADS) of about $4.1 million. Management fee payments to CSMI, LLC (CSMI) are subordinated to the payment of debt service and DSR replenishment. KEY RATING DRIVERS PRESSURED OPERATING PERFORMANCE: The 'BB-' rating reflects CCCS' operating deficit in fiscal 2015, a projected deficit in fiscal 2016, thinning debt service coverage and slim liquidity. Fitch maintains the Rating Watch Negative due to concern over CCCS achieving balanced operations by fiscal 2017. ENROLLMENT DRIVES PERFORMANCE: The achievement of break-even operations in fiscal 2017 depends on fall 2016 enrollment growth, which management reports has been achieved. Fiscal 2016 financial statements are not yet available, pending year-end revenue PPF revenue adjustments. Such adjustments have trended positively over the last few years. According to management, CCCS enrollment at the end of the 2015/2016 academic year was 3,318, and additional growth is reported for 2016/2017. LIMITED BALANCE SHEET: CCCS' cash position remains very slim. CCCS' available funds at June 30, 2015 (AF; or unrestricted cash and investments) of $3.6 million equaled a very low 4.9% of expenses and 5% of outstanding debt. 2016 STATE FUNDING DELAYS: CCCS continues to carry $12 million out of a $30 million authorized taxable cash-flow facility. This provided cash-flow during the commonwealth's fiscal 2016 budget impasse, and while waiting for FYE 2016 revenue reconciliations. The commonwealth appropriated a full year education appropriation for fiscal 2017. The Fitch Issuer Default Rating for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is 'AA-/Outlook Stable). AUTHORIZER IN RECEIVERSHIP; PROVEN INTERCEPT: The Chester Upland School District (CUSD) has been in receivership since December 2012. CCCS revenues flow through CUSD and in the event CUSD's monthly PPF distributions are delayed, legal and structural provisions include a tested trustee intercept of state aid that provides first for debt service and secondly for operations. RATING SENSITIVITIES BALANCED OPERATIONS: The bonds remain on Rating Watch Negative pending receipt of Chester Community Charter School's (CCCS) fiscal 2016 audit, and disposition of the outstanding cash-flow facility balance. An operating deficit of some level is expected for fiscal 2016. Failure of CCCS to achieve fiscal 2017 operating balance and meet debt service coverage would result in a negative rating action. LIQUIDITY: Improved fiscal 2017 cash-flow with a full-year fiscal 2017 commonwealth appropriation, in contrast to 2016 with state budget delays, should allow CCCS to pay off its external cash-flow facility and gradually build balance sheet reserves. STANDARD SECTOR CONCERNS: A limited financial cushion; substantial reliance on enrollment-driven, per pupil funding; and charter renewal risk are credit concerns common among all charter school transactions which, if pressured, could negatively affect CCCS's rating. CREDIT PROFILE CCCS was formed in 1998 to provide an alternative public school option for residents in CUSD, which serves the City of Chester, PA, Chester Township, PA and the Borough of Upland, PA. About 80% of CCCS' students come from the CUSD. CCCS experienced enrollment growth, leading the charter school to expand grades K-8 academic offerings to three campuses in 2013. Enrollment grew in fiscal 2016, ending at 3,318 students, up from 2,978 at the beginning of the year. Management reports an increase of another 300 students for fiscal 2017, indicating solid demand. CCCS has a strong relationship with CSMI, which was formed specifically to manage the charter school's operations. CSMI's management strategy has been fiscally conservative, resulting in historically balanced operations and stronger academic performance than CUSD. CCCS revenues flow through CUSD and in the event CUSD's monthly PPF distributions are delayed, legal and structural provisions include a tested trustee intercept of state aid that provides first for debt service and secondly for operations. This mechanism was tested in June 2014 when the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) reimbursed CCCS for delayed payments, pursuant to the 2012 settlement agreement procedure, although repayment was not as timely as expected due to delays in finalizing the comonwealth's 2014-2015 budget. Additional information is provided in Fitch's press release dated March 23, 2015, available at www.fitchratings.com. CHARTER RENEWAL CCCS has received multiple charter renewals during its 18-year operating history, which Fitch views favorably. Following its initial three-year charter, the charter has received four five-year renewals. The most recent five-year charter renewal was granted in August 2014 by CUSD, and is effective July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2021. LIQUIDITY FLEXIBILITY For fiscal 2017, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed a budget covering the full fiscal year, including modest increases in overall education funding. In fiscal 2016, the commonwealth's nine-month budget impasse pressured cash-flow for school districts and charter schools state-wide. CCCS negotiated external cash flow facilities to bridge the state funding delay. CCCS secured a $10 million bank line of credit in calendar 2015, which it subsequently repaid and converted to a $30 million privately placed facility, all of which was drawn in fiscal 2016. Most of the delayed education payments were made at the end of fiscal 2016, and the RAN was repaid when due on June 30, 2016. CCCS renewed the liquidity facility on July 1, 2016, and management reports that $12 million remains outstanding. Management expects to reduce the balance as revenue reconciliation payments are received, but expects to carry some balance through fiscal 2017. OPERATING PERFORMANCE CCCS is highly reliant on PPF (90% of which comes from CUSD) to support operations. Periodic reconciliation adjustments are made based on enrollment and the home districts' annual operating expenditures, from which CCCS typically benefits. For fiscal 2016, CCCS is still waiting for the commonwealth and CUSD to complete the required true-up reconciliations. For fiscal 2015, operating performance weakened to negative 1.8%, primarily due to a one-time extraordinary expense. This is in contrast to generally positive margins, including a 7% margin in fiscal 2014. As part of a settlement agreement with CUSD, CCCS wrote off a $5.6 million tuition receivable from CUSD in exchange for more stable revenue computations over the next 10 years, which negatively impacted fiscal 2015 operating results. The 10-year settlement agreement was made among multiple parties, including the PA Department of Education, the CUSD school board, the CUSD receiver, and CCCS. It establishes a minimum special education PPF rate for CCCS, held harmless in the event of future changes in state charter school laws. For fiscal 2016, operations are impacted by lower special education PPF amounts, also negotiated in the above settlement agreement. Payment will be based on the regular education tuition rate ($10,683 at that time), multiplied by 2.53x; however, the rate cannot fall below $27,029 for each CCCS/CUSD special education student. While providing a stable funding floor, this represents a fiscal 2016 decline of CUSD special education funding from the then-current $40,000 per student. For fiscal 2016, the reduced special education rate is partly contributing to a projected operating deficit. Long-term, CUSD management expects this agreement will be revenue neutral overall, and projects meeting operating balance in fiscal 2017. ENROLLMENT Strong student demand supports CCCS enrollment, and management expects that to continue given academic and financial pressures at both CUSD and neighboring school districts. CCCS budgeted for 3,500 students for fall 2016 (fiscal 2017), and as of September 2016, reports 3,618 students. There is limited charter-school competition for CCCS, as over half of CUSD's K-8 student population attends CCCS. The charter school provides a significant level of educational capacity in the area, which while atypical of the sector, provides CCCS with an unusually strong market niche. There are no limits on the number of students that can be enrolled by CCCS. Management reports that it has facility capacity for up to 3,700 students after adding trailers to the East Campus. With the enrollment increase in fall 2016, CCCS is nearing capacity. DEBT MANAGEABILITY CCCS has a high but manageable debt burden, which is common for the charter school sector. TMADS was 8.4% of fiscal 2015 operating revenues, somewhat improved from a five-year average of 10.3%, but still high. However, the need to secure external funding to manage fiscal 2016 cash-flow, which is continuing into fiscal 2017 (a year that has a full state education budget in place), stresses CCCS and heightens credit risk. Coverage of annual debt service averaged 1.0x between fiscal 2011 and 2015. Fiscal 2015 coverage was lower at about 0.9x. When fiscal 2015 operations are adjusted to exclude the $5.6 million one-time receivable cancellation, TMADS coverage is a sound 2.1x. Coverage of debt service from operations below 1.0x is characterized by Fitch as a low speculative-grade attribute for charter schools. Fiscal 2016 operating projections are not available, but an operating deficit is expected. Fitch expects improved TMADS coverage in fiscal 2017, at least 1.0x, even if management fees need to be deferred or subordinated to meet coverage requirements. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Applicable Criteria Charter School Rating Criteria (pub. 05 Nov 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/872774 Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 16 Jun 2014) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/750012 Additional Disclosures Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1012064 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006200/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Expands Cloud Connectivity to CoreSite's New York Data Center Campus CoreSite (News - Alert) Realty Corporation (NYSE:COR), a premier provider of secure, reliable, high-performance data center and interconnection solutions across the U.S., today announced the availability of direct, private connectivity into Microsoft Azure via ExpressRoute from CoreSite's New York data center campus. Microsoft (News - Alert) Azure ExpressRoute connectivity is now available in two of CoreSite's markets, including the deployment of Azure ExpressRoute in CoreSite's Los Angeles data center campus in 2015. CoreSite customers in New York may now connect directly to Microsoft Azure via the CoreSite Open Cloud Exchange, which provides private, security-enhanced virtual connections and on-demand provisioning. The integration of Azure ExpressRoute and the CoreSite Open Cloud Exchange provides customers with a dedicated and reliable high-performance connectivity solution. With direct connectivity to Microsoft Azure via ExpressRoute, CoreSite customers in New York and Los Angeles can establish secure, high-performance connectivity to Microsoft Azure over a reliable enterprise-grade network. Microsoft Azure is a growing collection of integrated cloud services, including analytics, computing, database, mobile, networking, storage and web. "With he expansion of direct connectivity to Microsoft Azure in our New York data center campus, we are providing our customers with access to a leading cloud provider via direct, private connections that bypass the public Internet, offering more reliability, faster speeds, lower latencies and higher security than typical Internet connections," said Brian Warren, SVP of Engineering and Product at CoreSite. "At CoreSite, our goal is to provide our customers with easy and flexible solutions to integrate their existing architecture with public and private cloud services." With more than 280,000 square feet of space for scalable colocation deployments, CoreSite's network-dense, cloud-enabled New York data center campus, consists of its Manhattan (NY1) and Secaucus, New Jersey (NY2) data centers. CoreSite's New York campus represents one of the best-connected and most scalable offerings on the Eastern Seaboard, supporting the operations of mission-critical data and IT infrastructure. The presence of over 45 carriers enables interconnection, network resiliency and low-latency metro connectivity. About CoreSite CoreSite Realty Corporation (News - Alert) (NYSE:COR) delivers secure, reliable, high-performance data center and interconnection solutions to a growing customer ecosystem across eight key North American markets. More than 900 of the world's leading enterprises, network operators, cloud providers, and supporting service providers choose CoreSite to connect, protect and optimize their performance-sensitive data, applications and computing workloads. CoreSite's scalable, flexible solutions and 350+ dedicated employees consistently deliver unmatched data center options - all of which leads to a best-in-class customer experience and lasting relationships. For more information, visit www.CoreSite.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. These risks include, without limitation: any adverse developments in local economic conditions or the demand for data center space in these markets; operational difficulties, including difficulties relating to information systems, internal processes and information security; significant industry competition; financial market fluctuations; and other factors affecting the real estate industry generally. All forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005090/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] National Class Action Firm Keller Rohrback L.L.P. Investigating Unauthorized Accounts at Consumer Banks Attorney Advertising. The law firm Keller Rohrback L.L.P., which over a year ago filed the first class action lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (NYSE: WFC) for opening unauthorized accounts, announced it is investigating allegations of similar practices at other consumer banks. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160921006616/en/ Keller Rohrback L.L.P., which over a year ago filed the first class action lawsuit against Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Bank, for opening unauthorized accounts, announced it is investigating allegations of similar practices at other consumer banks. (Photo: Business Wire) While Wells Fargo has been the acknowledged industry leader in aggressive sales tactics, known as "cross-selling," there is evidence that the high-pressure tactics that led to unauthorized accounts are not unique to Wells Fargo. During this week's Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on Wells Fargo, Chairman Richard Shelby said that "a lot of us are worried that perhaps there's similar goings-on in other banks." In addition, federal regulators said they are looking at similar behavior in other banks. "We've been looking at these problems in all of the banks and nonbank financial companies," said Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray. A recent investigation by the National Employment Law Project found that "Wells Fargo is not alone in implementing these policies." As Shane Larson, legislative director for the Communications Workers of America, told the Los Angeles Times, "We believe it's an industry-wide problem and it needs to be addressed." If a bank opened an unauthorized account in your name and you would like to learn more about your legal rights, please contact attorneys Derek Loeser, Gretchen Freeman Cappio, or Matthew Preusch. Call 800-776-6044 or email [email protected]. Keller Rohrback L.L.P., with offices in New York, Seattle, Phoenix, Ronan, Oakland, and Santa Barbara, serves as lead and co-lead counsel in class actions throughout the country. Our Complex Litigation Group is proud to offer its expertise to clients nationwide, and our trial lawyers have obtained judgments and settlements on behalf of clients in excess of seven billion dollars. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Not licensed to practice law in all states. Please refer to our website for details. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160921006616/en/ [September 22, 2016] NCR Launches Mobile Business Banking Application for Financial Institutions' SMB Customers NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, today announced the launch of Business Banking Mobile, extending the SaaS (News - Alert)-based platform to customers' mobile devices. The application will allow community financial institutions (CFIs) to compete with larger financial institutions by providing their business banking customers with iOS and Android (News - Alert) access to this secure and easy-to-use account management platform. "Business Banking Mobile is yet another strong example of NCR's omni-channel leadership in the financial services industry," said Jose Resendiz, Vice President & General Manager, NCR. "This launch is further proof that NCR is leading the reinvention of how financial institutions connect with their business customers and create better experiences for them, while lowering costs and delivering a differentiated banking platform." NCR's Business Banking Mobile extends the award-winning user experience from Digital Insight's retail Mobile Banking Apps used by hundreds of financial institutions and millions of individual account holders to the small and medium-sized business. By providing one segmented platform designed for small businesses, business owners will be able to securely access key financial tools on-the-go, including multi-TIN transaction history and transfers, approval workflows for wire and ACH templates and payments, token support, mobile notificatons, and end user management. Business Banking Mobile will also feature biometric authentication by incorporating Touch ID and EyePrint ID for added security. NCR's Business Banking Mobile is currently in beta testing at Tacoma, Washington-based Harborstone Credit Union. "We recognized the need for providing our business members a mobile solution to help them keep their business running while on-the-go," said Ken Bloomfield, VP of Marketing and Digital Experience, Harborstone. "The Business Banking Mobile solution offered by NCR is in direct alignment with our commitment to our business members, fulfilling our omni-channel promise." Business Banking Mobile is also being piloted by El Paso, Texas-based FirstLight Federal Credit Union, with general availability planned in early 2017. "FirstLight is excited to offer a customized app for businesses that will provide our members with mobile access for transferring funds, checking balances, approving wire transfers and ACHs, receiving account notifications and more," said Jim Huff, SVP of Marketing, FirstLight FCU. "We are also looking forward to the strong development capabilities that NCR and Digital Insight bring to the table to ensure that the product continues to evolve as financial technology evolves." About NCR Corporation NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables more than 550 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier. NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. Web sites: www.ncr.com Twitter (News - Alert): @NCRCorporation Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation YouTube (News - Alert): www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005109/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Operator Closes $15M Series B to Fuel Global Mobile Commerce Expansion: Opens New Office and Hires Leadership in China Operator, the leading conversational commerce company that makes shopping as easy as a text, today announced that it has closed $15 million in Series B financing to help fund its global expansion - starting with China. New investors include GGV Capital, which led the round, with participation from new investors Formation8, Morningside Ventures and Horizons Ventures, and existing Series A investors Greylock Partners and Expa. The company also announced that Hugo Barra, Vice President of Global Operations at Xiaomi, will join the Operator Board of Directors, and Hans Tung, Managing Partner, GGV Capital, will join as a Board Observer. The Board currently includes Operator CEO Robin Chan, Garrett Camp, founder of Uber and Expa, and Josh Elman of Greylock Partners. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005024/en/ Robin Chan, CEO of Operator, welcomes Yolanda Xue as the new CEO of Operator China. (Photo: Business Wire) The financing and Board additions will accelerate Operator's plans to build a powerful global commerce network that enables consumers to easily discover and purchase products through mobile messaging. Operator also announced today that the company has recruited Yolanda Xue as CEO of Operator China to lead China operations from its new Shanghai office. Ms. Xue was most recently VP Merchandising at mobile shopping app Wish. She brings a wealth of e-commerce operations, acquisition, growth, and marketing expertise from leading Chinese companies to Operator. "Operator's founding team has built everyday products at Twitter (News - Alert), Facebook and Uber, and they know how to scale globally because it's in their DNA," said Hugo Barra, Vice President, International at Xiaomi. "I joined the Operator Board to support the team in mobile product strategy and global expansion into the emerging markts I know well." "We look to invest in astute startups like Operator that take the mass-market-first approach, and understand the value of creating a global company from the start," said Hans Tung, Managing Partner, GGV Capital. "Founders like Robin who have a global vision to serve the world's middle class have the opportunity to create the next generation of billion-dollar companies with lasting growth potential." According to a survey of online shoppers conducted by Tmall Global, Chinese shoppers are moving beyond their desire for designer labels. They are turning to Western brands for more common items, buying imported goods that aren't available or are too costly to buy locally through international online shopping websites. This demand for foreign goods is becoming so common in China it even has a name: it's called "hai tao", or "ocean search." Operator's expansion into China will enable Chinese customers to buy authentic goods from Western merchants via messaging with the help of Chinese speaking human operators. In 2015, the U.S. exported $161.6 billion in goods to China, making the country the third-largest importer of U.S. goods. According to a report from the Boston Consulting Group released in 2013, 61 percent of China's consumers were willing to pay more for a product made in the United States. "An important inspiration for Operator is our founding team's expertise working in China," said Robin Chan, CEO and Co-Founder of Operator. "Chinese consumers will accelerate our entire global platform. If you want to build a global company, you don't think of China as an afterthought; you must start early." About Operator Operator makes shopping as easy as a text. By combining the best AI algorithms with Operator's network of shopping experts, Operator is building a platform that helps people shop for exactly what they want at any time with a simple text. Operator has been named "Best New App" and "Editor's Choice" in the Apple (News - Alert) App Store, "Sexiest Product of the Year" by Product Hunt, "Startups to Watch" by VentureBeat and nominated for "Best New Startup" by TechCrunch. Operator is available on iOS, Android through Google (News - Alert) Play Early Access, and Facebook Messenger. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005024/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] PAION AG: Remimazolam Phase III Colonoscopy Data to Be Presented at the American College of Gastroenterology 2016 Meeting PAION AG, a specialty pharma company (ISIN DE000A0B65S3; Frankfurt Stock Exchange Prime Standard: PA8) announces today that an oral presentation on the clinical results of remimazolam's U.S. Phase III colonoscopy trial has been accepted for the ACG meeting. Remimazolam is an innovative, ultra-short acting anesthetic/sedative for which positive headline data from this trial were published in June 2016. Prof. Douglas Rex, M.D., Indiana University (News - Alert), Indianapolis, U.S., primary investigator of this Phase III trial, will present the data in the Colon/ Stomach oral session that runs from 2:15 - 3:45 pm PDT (11:15 pm - 0:45 am CEST) on 18 October 2016 at ACG in Las Vegas. The title of the abstract is: "Remimazolam is a safe and effective agent for sedation in outpatient colonoscopy: Results of a phase 3, multi-center, randomized, placebo controlled trial." PAION will be available for discussions at Medical Information booth 1322 in the exhibition hall. Prof. Douglas Rex, M.D., commented: "The acceptance of the study results as a late breaker underscores the landmark status of the remimazolam Phase III study in patients undergoing colonoscopy. I look forward to discuss these important data with my fellow gastroenterologists." Dr. Wolfgang Sohngen, CEO of PAION AG, commented: "We are proud that after eight years of work on remimazolam the data of the first Phase III performed by PAION were accepted as a late breaker. Scientific presentations of this successful pivotal trial are important activities to prepare the market together with our U.S. licensing partner Cosmo Pharmaceuticals (Cosmo)." In addition to the detailed analysis of the primary endpoint of the Phase III trial (comparison to placebo) also data comparing remimazolam to the open label arm with gold standard midazolam will be presented, and relevant safety, efficacy and efficiency parameters will be addressed. About the U.S. Phase III trial in colonoscopy: The Phase III trial enrolled a total of 461 patients at 13 U.S. sites and was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam compared to placebo (with midazolam rescue) in patients undergoing proceduralist- administered sedation for colonoscopy. The primary outcome measure, success of the procedure, was reached in 91.3% of the patients in the remimazolam arm and 5.0% in the placebo (including midazolam rescue) arm. The safety profile of remimazolam was consistent with that observed in previous studies. Important secondary endpoints in the remimazolam arm showed a mean time to start of procedure of 5.1 minutes and a mean time from end of procedure to return to full alertness of the patients of 9.25 minutes. This study also included an open label arm in which midazolam was dosed according to U.S. label. The data resulting from this non-comparative arm may be useful for hypothesis generation for future development and pharmacoeconomic modelling. Although the study designs are not identical, the Phase III study results were in line with findings from a previous U.S. Phase IIb double-blind randomized comparative study between remimazolam and midazolam in 162 patients undergoing routine colonoscopy, where patients in the remimazolam arm showed significantly enhanced colonoscopy success rates and shorter times to start of procedure, shorter times from end of procedure to return to full alertness and, therefore, shorter overall procedure times than patients in the midazolam arm. ### About Remimazolam Remimazolam is an ultra-short-acting intravenous benzodiazepine sedative/ anesthetic, currently in Phase III clinical development for procedural sedation in the U.S. The first of two pivotal Phase III studies was completed successfully and reached its primary endpoint. In the human body, remimazolam is rapidly metabolized to an inactive metabolite by tissue esterases and not metabolized by cytochrome-dependent hepatic pathways. Like other benzodiazepines, remimazolam can be reversed with flumazenil to rapidly terminate sedation and anesthesia if necessary. In clinical studies, remimazolam demonstrated efficacy and safety in over 1,000 patients. Data so far indicate that remimazolam has a rapid onset and offset of action combined with a favorable cardio-respiratory safety profile. A pediatric development plan has been agreed with the FDA and will be implemented by Cosmo following completion of current development of remimazolam for adult patients. A full clinical development program for general anesthesia has been completed in Japan, and a Phase II study in general anesthesia has been completed in the E.U. Based on the positive results of the Phase II study in Japan, development for ICU sedation beyond 24 hours is considered following successful completion of development in procedural sedation and general anesthesia. Remimazolam is partnered in the U.S., Canada, China, Russia (CIS), Turkey, the MENA region, and South Korea with Cosmo, Pharmascience (Pendopharm), Yichang Humanwell, R-Pharm, TR-Pharm, and Hana Pharm, respectively. For all other markets, remimazolam is available for licensing. About PAION PAION AG is a publicly listed specialty pharmaceutical company developing and aiming to commercialize innovative drugs to be used in out-patient and hospital-based sedation, anesthesia and critical care services. PAION's lead compound is remimazolam, an intravenous, ultra-short-acting and controllable benzodiazepine sedative/anesthetic drug candidate. Currently, remimazolam is in active Phase III clinical development for use in procedural sedation in the U.S., where PAION is focusing all its business and financial resources on successfully completing its ongoing clinical development program in procedural sedation. Outside the U.S., PAION has so far focused on the development of remimazolam in the indication general anesthesia. Development of remimazolam in the indication intensive care unit (ICU) sedation is also part of the longer term life-cycle plan for remimazolam. Remimazolam is partnered in the U.S., Canada, China, Russia (CIS), Turkey, the MENA region, and South Korea. PAION is headquartered in Aachen (Germany) with further sites in Cambridge (United Kingdom) and New Jersey (USA). PAION's vision is to become an acknowledged "PAIONeer" in sedation and anesthesia. Disclaimer: This release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the future business of PAION AG. These forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the current expectations, estimates and projections of PAION AG's management as of the date of this release. They are subject to a number of assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ materially from any future results and developments expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements. Considering the risks, uncertainties and other factors involved, recipients should not rely unreasonably upon these forward- looking statements. PAION AG has no obligation to periodically update any such forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments. Language: English Company: PAION AG Martinstr. 10-12 52062 Aachen Germany Phone (News - Alert): +49 (0)241-4453-0 Fax: +49 (0)241-4453-100 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.paion.com ISIN: DE000A0B65S3 WKN: A0B65S Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005669/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Partnership Grant from First Service Bank and FHLB Dallas to Benefit At-Risk Youth Program The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and First Service Bank will award nonprofit organization Deliver Hope $16,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP (News - Alert)) grant funds. Representatives from FHLB Dallas, First Service Bank, and Deliver Hope will attend a check presentation, which will take place Thursday, September 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Deliver Hope's offices, 1403 Robinson Avenue, Conway, Arkansas 72034. The media is encouraged to attend. Presented annually, PGP grants are awarded to community-based organizations. The grants may be used for research, organizational capacity-building, grant- and funding-application assistance, or contractual services. Deliver Hope will use the funds for operating expenses to support one of its four initiatives, Hope House, which provides services to youth between the ages of 18 and 21 who have aged out of foster care. Established in 2013, Deliver Hope provides ministry and self-improvement services to at-risk youth between the ages of 13 and 21 in Faulkner County, Arkansas, through four programs: Juvenile Justice Ministry, Mentoring, Her Hope, and Hope House. "The Partnership Grant Program is an excellent vehicle through which great change can occur," said city of Conway Mayor Tab Townsell. "I applaud the initiative FHLB Dallas and First Service Bank have taken in facilitating the access of self-improvement services to the youth of Conway and the Faulkner County area." WHAT: Check Presentation WHEN: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 10:00 a.m. WHO: Kenneth Barnard, CFO, First Service Bank Deanna Brock, Conway Vice President and Loan Officer, First Service Bank Lori Case Melton, Conway Market President, First Service Bank; Chair, Board of Directors, Deliver Hope Jon Patrom, Marketing Director, First Service Bank Daniel Tyler, Founder and Executive Director, Deliver Hope Abby Brougher, Director of Community Engagement, Deliver Hope Bruce Hatton, Vice President, Affordable Housing Program Manager, FHLB Dallas WHERE: Deliver Hope 1403 Robinson Avenue Conway, Arkansas 72034 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005044/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] St. Luke's University Health Network Goes Live With Caradigm Care Management to Support Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Caradigm, a leader in enterprise population health, today announced that St. Luke's University Health Network (SLUHN) has implemented Caradigm Care Management software to support its participation in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) program. SLUHN is one of the largest BPCI participants in the country, having signed up for 44 of 48 available episode bundles. To better serve the needs of residents across the Lehigh Valley and to prepare for value-based care delivery, SLUHN required tools for care coordination that would span both inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as combine its claims data with clinical data from its Epic EHR system. The central challenge for bundled healthcare services is to make care more coordinated and efficient across multiple settings and organizations. Organizations must bring together data from across the continuum and better collaborate with other providers in order to drive improved patient outcomes and eliminate unnecessary costs. Caradigm Care Management addresses these requirements by enabling multi-disciplinary care teams to share information and streamline workflows as patients move from acute to post-acute settings. According to Chad Brisendne, CIO, SLUHN, "Through our partnership with Caradigm, our teams are already seeing benefits that include quicker turnaround times to initiate patient care, improved transitions of care workflows and enhanced sharing of clinical and claims data from in-patient and out-patient systems. We will continue to roll out Caradigm's enterprise care coordination software across our organization as we scale our BPCI efforts." The Caradigm Intelligence Platform powers Care Management for SLUHN, aggregating and normalizing clinical, operational and financial data from systems across the community - including EHRs, billing systems, payers, pharmacy systems, labs and health information exchanges. Neal Singh, CEO and president of Caradigm, said, "We are proud to partner with St. Luke's, an innovative national leader among BPCI participants, and are excited that it has achieved a rapid time to value with our integrated population health solutions. The initial deployment will serve as a great springboard to help St. Luke's build momentum for its broader population health initiatives." About St. Luke's St. Luke's University Health Network (SLUHN) is a non-profit, regional, fully integrated, nationally recognized network providing services at six hospitals and more than 200 sites, primarily in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania and in Warren County, New Jersey. About Caradigm Caradigm is an award-winning population health company dedicated to improving patient care, advancing the health of populations and reducing healthcare costs. Its enterprise software portfolio encompasses all capabilities critical to delivering effective population health management, including data control; healthcare analytics; care coordination and management; and wellness and patient engagement. Caradigm's 200+ customers include Greenville Health System, Billings Clinic and Virtua and other large integrated delivery networks, ACOs, academic medical centers, government facilities and community hospitals. Caradigm solutions are operating in more than 1500 hospitals worldwide, connect to over 500 customer systems and to data for more than 175 million patients. In addition, its identity and access management solutions are employed daily by over 1.2 million users, ensuring patient privacy and security by safeguarding access to patient health information. Based in Bellevue, WA, Caradigm has been recognized as one of Healthcare Informatics' (News - Alert) Top 100 vendors. To learn more, go to www.caradigm.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005098/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] SuiteStory, New York's Popular Suite Booking Platform, Launches SuiteFlex, Providing Unprecedented Discounts on New York City's Premier Hotel Suites SuiteStory, a revolutionary suite booking platform, today introduced the SuiteFlex program, enabling consumers to save up to 30 percent on top New York City hotel suites along with added perks, such as airport transfers and complimentary breakfast. By working closely with hotel partners, the company is able to provide access to premier luxury suites at significantly reduced rates. Launched in New York in early 2016, SuiteStory was created to help consumers compare and book the world's leading hotel suites with the click of a button. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005283/en/ Suite 57 at Viceroy Central Park (Photo: Business Wire) "In the current landscape, comparing hotel suites is a daunting task, but SuiteStory is revolutionizing the suite-booking experience by providing what luxury customers want at prices they love," said co-founder Vikram Pradhan. "Our business is founded on a deep knowledge of the hotel business, and with our new, proprietary SuiteFlex program, we're able to take the guesswork out of finding the best hotel suites for the right price." SuiteStory offers unprecedented access to four- and five-star hotel suite accommodations by negotiating discounted rates of up to 30 percent. Travelers simply select a destination ciy and travel dates, and SuiteStory generates a list of relevant options that fit the users' criteria. With insider knowledge of how hotels price suites, SuiteStory is then able to negotiate discounted prices on the customer's behalf. With an inventory of more than 10,000 suites, and hundreds more being added daily, the easy-to-navigate interface allows users to sort suite options by neighborhood, hotel chain, star rating, size, price, and/or floor number. Users can discover top suites with added bonus features -- such as multi-bedroom, Jacuzzi-equipped or penthouses -- and bookmark options they are considering. Additionally, SuiteStory Assist, a live chat function, provides a personalized, bespoke booking experience by answering specific questions, including information on the room view, amenities or what to do around the neighborhood. SuiteStory was created by industry veterans Vikram Pradhan, former director of revenue management strategy at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and Dmitrii Beliakov, a seasoned entrepreneur and IT guru. While the demand for bespoke travel experiences continues to increase, research shows that hotel suites remain unsold approximately 67 percent of the year. Noticing the lack of information on regular travel sites about suites and the services that go with them, Pradhan and Beliakov created SuiteStory to provide a seamless process for guests to discover, compare and book suites while saving money. Examples of booked deals include: Jarrett paid $6,500 per night for a 3-night stay at a 5-star hotel near Central Park, New York for a suite that sold for $12,000 per night on the hotel website. The hotel also included free airport transfers Kang-Hoon paid $2,000 per night for an 11-night stay at a 5-star hotel in Midtown for a Premium Suite that was listed at $4,500 per night on the hotel's website Mrs. Mackenzie paid $19,500 for a 5-night stay at a 5-star hotel near Central Park for a two bedroom suite. She saved $5,400 off what she would've paid had she not booked with SuiteStory "SuiteStory can provide a bespoke experience for every traveler," said Beliakov. "Whether it's a family looking for a multi-bedroom space or a leisure traveler who believes that a hotel room is more than just a place to sleep, SuiteStory conveniently and easily opens up a whole new range of possibilities." SuiteStory is a New York-based booking platform with expansion planned across major cities worldwide. For more information, visit www.suitestory.com. About SuiteStory SuiteStory is an online booking platform that allows users to compare and book the world's premier hotel suites at discounted rates with the click of a button. Launched in New York in 2016, SuiteStory was created by two industry veterans, Vikram Pradhan, former director of revenue management strategy at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and Dmitrii Beliakov, a seasoned entrepreneur and IT guru. SuiteStory has expansion planned across major cities worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.suitestory.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005283/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] SupportPay by Ittavi, a Child Support Payment Startup, Moves Headquarters to Sacramento SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SupportPay by Ittavi, the first-ever platform to automate child support payments and enable parents to share related expenses, today announced it has officially relocated its headquarters to Sacramento from Silicon Valley for the next stage of growth. The company currently operates at The Cannery in East Sacramento, which is a Fulcrum Property and plans to renovate the historic building into a unique tech space. Along with the relocation, SupportPay plans to hire additional engineering, development, sales, and marketing staff. SupportPay plans to hire 10 local college and high school interns by the end of the calendar year from the Sacramento region. SupportPay is raising a Series A funding worth $5 million to finance its growth and reach more parents, law professionals, government offices and others in the company's nationwide ecosystem. "In order to grow our business, we chose a city that combines availability of talent, unique culture, and a demonstrated commitment to startups and innovation," said Atwood, Founder and CEO of SupportPay by Ittavi. "Sacramento's unique DNA as the capital city of our country's biggest state was ideal. From supporting our desire to build a diverse workforce, to relocation incentives, to accessing talent the support from Sacramento has been key and we expect it to grow." The Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council assisted SupportPay to help relocate the scaling tech company which projects a workforce of 300 in just three years to the Sacramento region. By engaging with educational leaders, CEO Barry Broome helped secure talent and showcased the region as an innovation hub. "Greater Sacramento works quickly to facilitate access to the Sacramento region's key stakeholders and leaders for growing companies, which is exactly what we accomplished with SupportPay," CEO Barry Broome of the Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council said. "We assisted SupportPay with data and analytics that compared competitive markets, recruitment and capitol support, which ultimately helped their decision to move to this region." SupportPay is the first technology company that will be receiving a $100,000 relocation grant from the City of Sacramento through its Innovation Fund. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has developed a strong and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout Sacramento, which has led to attracting new economy high-growth companies like SupportPay. "Sacramento is no longer the pass through to Lake Tahoe, but a destination City for tech companies relocating from the Bay Area," Mayor Kevin Johnson said. "Support Pay is the type of company we want in Sacramento; a job creator focused on improving the lives of families." About the Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council The Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council is the catalyst for innovative growth strategies in the Capital Region of California. The organization spearheads community-led direction to retain, attract, grow and scale new businesses, develop advanced industries and create jobs and investment throughout a six-county region. Greater Sacramento represents a collaboration between local and state governments, market leaders, influencers, and stakeholders, with the sole mission of driving economic growth. MEDIA CONTACTS: Contact: Michelle Willard Email: [email protected] Phone number: 813.951.2796 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160128/327263LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/supportpay-by-ittavi-a-child-support-payment-startup-moves-headquarters-to-sacramento-300332908.html SOURCE Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Symmetry Electronics Announces International Distribution Agreement with MediaTek Symmetry Electronics (News - Alert), a global authorized distributor specializing in the distribution of wireless and video embedded semiconductor products, announced a global distribution agreement with MediaTek (News - Alert), a global provider of fabless semiconductors and a market leader in cutting-edge systems for wireless communications, HDTV, DVD, and Blu-Ray, today. With this agreement designers now have access to MediaTek's growing IoT and SoC products through Symmetry Electronics' entire global network. Symmetry Electronics supports its customers with sales and engineering teams along with an established e-commerce site aimed at helping engineers start their latest IoT, wireless and video designs. Symmetry's expertise in connecting engineers to the right technology allows customers to save time and money by getting their design projects up and running quickly. This collaboration between Symmetry and MediaTek further assists electronic manufacturers in easily brnging more connected objects to market. MediaTek is committed to making technology more accessible and affordable. Their tightly integrated chip designs help manufacturers optimize supply chains, reduce the development time of new products and give a competitive edge in crowded markets. MediaTek recently announced the MT2523 product family, designed for active smart watches and wearables. It is based around a highly integrated system in package (SiP) that contains a micro controller unit (MCU), dual-mode Bluetooth 2.1/Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy, GPS, a MIPI-supported high-resolution mobile screen and a power management unit (PMU). "We are excited to be working with one of the world's largest semiconductor companies," said David Beck, Vice President of Marketing at Symmetry Electronics. "MediaTek's highly integrated and multi-radio SoCs are a great fit for IoT, wearable, positioning and other wireless applications." "Rich features, combined with power-efficiency is one of MediaTek's strengths, and we are leading the charge in bringing this know-how to IoT products," said JC Hsu, MediaTek's Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the IoT business unit. "This agreement with Symmetry provides additional engineering support for MediaTek's IoT products, extends our commitment to work with design engineers in the US, and helps bring our IoT chipsets to broader global markets." About Symmetry Electronics Symmetry Electronics is an authorized global semiconductor distributor offering technical support, sales and distribution of wireless and video technologies. It serves customers with a worldwide sales and engineering team delivering technical services alongside an e-commerce experience. Founded in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is headquartered in Los Angeles with international offices in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and China. Visit www.SymmetryElectronics.com or contact James Staubes at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005131/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] ASTRI and Nantong Industrial Technology Institute Establish Joint Laboratory HONG KONG, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Nantong Industrial Technology Institute (NTITI) announced today the establishment of the ASTRI - NTITI Joint Laboratory in Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, focusing on the research and development of the next generation wireless network solutions. Dr. Justin Chuang, Vice President, Next Generation Network of ASTRI and Prof. Jianhua Lu, Honorary President of NTITI and Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences officiated at the signing ceremony and signed the collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Witnessing the ceremony included Prof. Chen Xu, Associate Dean of NTITI, Prof. Ning Ge, Associate Dean of NTITI, Dr. Meikei Ieong, Chief Technology Officer of ASTRI, Mr. Bill Zhang, Senior Director (IC Design Analog), Dr. Eric Tsang, Director of ASTRI, representatives from Tsinghua University, Nantong University, NTITI and ASTRI. The establishment of the ASTRI - NTITI Joint Laboratory will strengthen in-depth collaborative research and provide highly competitive and innovative solutions for the next generation wireless network technologies. The joint laboratory will cover the following key R&D and commercialization areas: Large coverage wireless broadband and cooperative communications, focusing on satellite communications, offshore broadband services, as well as government and enterprise broadband private networks. Wireless multimedia communications focusing on mobile Internet and Multimeia Message Services (MMS). Internet of things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence to build smarter cities, smarter healthcare, and intelligent transportation etc. Justin Chuang , Vice President, Next Generation Network of ASTRI said in his remark, "We are very excited to work closely with NTITI. The establishment of the joint lab will facilitate ASTRI and NTITI to promote R&D and new applications of the next-generation wireless network, including the next generation radio access and core network technologies for value creation." Prof. Jianhua Lu, Honorary President of NTITI and Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences said, "We are very pleased to collaborate with ASTRI. With the establishment of the joint laboratory, we can strengthen our collaboration in the applied research and jointly develop the next generation wireless network technologies such as coordinated satellite-terrestrial mobile networks, wide-area coverage broadband communications etc." About ASTRI Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. ASTRI's core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, IC Design (Analog), IC Design (Digital), Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technology, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org About NTITI Nantong Industrial Technology Institute Company Limited (NTITI) was founded by the Nantong Government in October 2015 focusing on the applied research and technology transfer of the advanced communication technologies. NTITI had established a joint R&D centre with Tsinghua University and Nantong University with the missions of leveraging their technologies on the aerospace and wireless multimedia communications, building up innovative R&D talents and teams, incubating new high-tech enterprises through the technology transfer and enhancing Nantong's competitiveness in the industries. NTITI's key R&D and commercialization areas include wide area coverage broadband communication systems, mobile internet, smart cities, smart healthcare etc. For further information about NTITI, please visit http://www.nt-act.com. Media enquiries: This press release is dispatched by ASTRI. For enquiries, please contact: Ms Cherry Au Tel : (852) 3406 2993 Email : [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Deloitte Expands Support for OMOP, OHDSI as Part of its Comprehensive Suite of Cloud-Based ConvergeHEALTH Evidence Lifecycle Management Solutions NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte announced today that its ConvergeHEALTH Miner platform now supports tools from the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI), as well as the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) common data model, making it the first professional services organization to incorporate these tools and applications into a broader solution portfolio to drive innovation and improve clinical outcomes through evidence management. OHDSI is a multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary collaborative that generates high quality insights out of observational health data. Its goal is to leverage its research community to drive standards and open source tools and methodologies to advance the science of informatics for the ultimate benefit of patients. The OMOP data model is a shared resource with tools and capabilities for transforming, characterizing and analyzing disparate data sources across the health care ecosystem. Deloitte's ConvergeHEALTH Miner is a modular platform that helps clients support an end-to-end enterprise evidence lifecycle from R&D through commercial insights. The suite is now capable of supporting the OMOP common data model, as well as the broader set of OHDSI tools, as part of its cloud-based, big data solution for evidence management. Now with Miner, life sciences and health care organizations can more easily navigate the shift to value-based, personalized models of cae. "The healthcare ecosystem is undergoing unprecedented change, including the way life science organizations develop and commercialize products with patient outcomes becoming the central currency of value," said Brett Davis, principal and general manager, ConvergeHEALTH, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Achieving the promise of value-based, personalized medicine is truly a team effort and we fully embrace the community-based advancements that OHDSI is driving. These advancements help our life sciences and health care clients improve health care outcomes for patients by leveraging tools and the broader ecosystem collaboration they enable." Clinical trials now only represent about 4-6 percent of the total volume of information about patients, according to Becker's Hospital Review, and the volume and diversity of health care data are growing exponentially from 500 petabytes in 2013 to a projected 25,000 by 2020. This mass of data requires changes in the people, processes and technologies to drive insight from the data across the evidence lifecycle as well as new collaborations across the health care ecosystem to leverage it to advance innovation and patient care. "Data can no longer survive in disparate siloes and must be linked in a system of networks that drive insights into what is working and why to help better serve patients. At Celgene, we understand the need to support the interaction of data sets across the company, as well as outside the organization. By developing a foundational capability, we can start to effectively utilize information to achieve our vision of transforming patients' lives, one data-driven decision at a time," said Gertjan Bartlema, vice president, information, knowledge and utilization at Celgene, one of the members of OHDSI. "Our support of open source communities like OHDSI helps to build an ecosystem that makes that vision a reality that Celgene could never achieve alone." "The power of the OHDSI community is based on its embrace of, contributions to and utilization by an ecosystem of public and private collaborators," said Dr. Jon Duke, director of health analytics and informatics at Georgia Tech, and a founding member of OHDSI. "I am excited to see its continued adoption by organizations like Deloitte and Celgene as this helps to advance the science and solutions faster, ultimately for the improvement of our health care system and patients." For more information on ConvergeHEALTH's Miner suite, visit http://www.converge-health.com. ConvergeHEALTH will also lead a panel Friday, Sept. 23, at the OHDSI Symposium 2016, titled "Where are we on the journey right now? How did we get here?" More information about the symposium is available at http://www.ohdsi.org/events/ohdsi-symposium-2016/. About ConvergeHEALTH by Deloitte ConvergeHEALTH brings powerful, demonstrated analytics platforms and data models. We use advanced proprietary and open source analytics, content and benchmarks through collaboration with industry leaders and deep experiences from Deloitte's life sciences and health care consulting practice to help our clients survive and thrive in the new paradigm of value-based, personalized medicine. For more information, visit www.converge-health.com. As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379251LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deloitte-expands-support-for-omop-ohdsi-as-part-of-its-comprehensive-suite-of-cloud-based-convergehealth-evidence-lifecycle-management-solutions-300332484.html SOURCE Deloitte [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Join Stephen Hawking on a Fantastic Voyage Through the Universe in CURIOSITYSTREAM's Exclusive, Original Series Debut SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CuriosityStream is the premier multiplatform destination for ad-free, on-demand nonfiction documentaries from around the world. Starting today, the independently owned and operated global SVOD company introduces the exclusive film Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places on newly designed service. Globally regarded as one of the most brilliant minds of our time, renowned astrophysicistStephen Hawking, teams up with CuriosityStream to take viewers on a once in a lifetime, personal journey through space and time as he explores the wonders of the Universe in the new documentary, Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places. In the 25-minute film, premiering exclusively on CuriosityStream, Hawking leads viewers in his own CGI spaceship (the S.S. Hawking) to five extraordinary locations across the cosmos as he shares his own story of inspiration, curiosity, perseverance and ambition. The journey starts fittingly at The Big Bang, the birthplace of time and space and to which Hawking has devoted the majority of his life's work, exploring exactly how the Universe formed. From there, Hawking takes viewers deep into a super massive black hole, Sagittarius A*, where he explains his theory of matter with a taste of his signature charm and wit, infused with inspiration and humor. Next up, viewers travel to Gliese 832C, the most Earth-like exo-planet in the Universe, the most likely location for any potential extraterrestrial life. Here, Hawking gives an introduction to The Breakthrough Listen project, aimed at listening for signs of intelligent life beyond our planet. Then, it's on to Saturn, which Hawking calls "the most spectacular destination in the Solar System," as he takes viewers on a guided tour of the giant planet's fascinating rings and 60+ moons. Finally, it's back to Earth in Santa Barbara, California, where Hawking fondly recalls his early career at Cal Tech and life along the sunny California coast with his young family. "My goal is simple: complete understanding of the Universe," Hawking said. "It's always been a dream of mine to explore the Universe. So, what if I could? Imagine I could go anywhere and see anything... join me on a fantastical journey to my favorite places, only on CuriosityStream." Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places is the first in a proposed series launching on CuriosityStream as part of the subscription service's newly redesigned platform. Producers aim to feature other groundbreaking scientific luminaries who will share their own personal favorite places with viewers. "We tend to think of these exceptional individuals as geniusesthe scientists, authors or educators we know as their public persona. But, they are also incredibly fascinating people with children and families, and early childhood memories that have inspired their life's workthe stories behind their story, which we don't usually get a chance to hear about," said Executive Producer Steve Burns. "Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places provides that intimate, exclusive insight into his early life and the influences that have shaped his life and career, and the wonder and curiosity that drives and motivates one of the most visionary minds of our time." To enhance the viewing experience, the new CuriosityStream interface now features triple its original content library with an upgraded rating system and recommendation engine to improve suggestions. The new platform also introduces custom-curated collections, showcasing the best content and experts, while a new responsive HTML5 player provides superior quality playback, built-in queue and on-screen ratings. Stephen Hawking's Favorite Places is streaming now on CuriosityStream and is available to watch for free with a new 30-day trial. The on-demand nonfiction streaming service now offers more than 1,500 high-quality original and licensed titles, including the just-announced Science Media Award winning films David Attenborough's Light On Earth and Origami Code. Many of the titles are in 4K ultra-HD, and all are accessible on any device. To sign up or learn more, visit www.curiositystream.com. About CuriosityStream CuriosityStream is the world's first ad-free, on-demand streaming service for documentary and nonfiction programming from the world's best filmmakers, available on any device, starting at just $2.99 per month. Focused on offering enriching, enlightening and enchanting content covering science, technology, civilization and the human spirit, CuriosityStream was founded by Discovery Communications founder, former chairman and media visionary John Hendricks. For more information, visit www.curiositystream.com. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Stephen-Hawking-Fantastic-Voyage-CURIOSITYSTREAM-Debut.mp4 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/join-stephen-hawking-on-a-fantastic-voyage-through-the-universe-in-curiositystreams-exclusive-original-series-debut-300332508.html SOURCE CuriosityStream [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Marshalls Partners with Beauty, Home and Fashion Experts to Bring Pinterest Boards to Life FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marshalls wants to inspire people to open their doors to a whole new world of possibilitiesliterally. As people across the country begin to settle into their fall schedules, Marshalls is going to help them break out of that monotony by delivering surprises directly to their doorsteps, transforming their Pinterest boards into a reality. Similar to Marshalls, people turn to Pinterest to be inspired browsing and discovering items and styles they never knew they loved. In fact, 92 percent of women are open to trying something new to shake-up their routine. In response, Marshalls is merging both worlds by launching a campaign, Pin Pals, which brings Pinterest inspiration to life by delivering surprise boxes of Marshalls products that have been personally curated by beauty, home and fashion experts through the lens of their fans' favorite Pinterest finds. To help launch the contest and spread the surprise, Marshalls is kicking things off with Mr. Kate, lifestyle expert and home design YouTube star, who recently surprised a fashion student who just relocated from Peru to LA with a globally-inspired, bohemian-designed surprise box from Marshalls to bring her Pins to life. Mr. Kate's surprise shopping experience can be found on her YouTube channel with the reveal of her Pin Pal and her reaction to air on Saturday, September24. "The best inspiration comes from collaboration, and I love having the opportunity to exchange ideas and discover finds with my community online," said Mr. Kate Albrecht. "I've always thought of Marshalls like a real-life Pinterest board you never know what surprising things you'll find just by strolling the aisles. Pin Pals is the best of both worlds; I was so excited to see what inspired my fans on Pinterest and headed to Marshalls to turn those ideas into an actual surprise delivery!" Marshalls has also teamed up with additional YouTube content creators and influencers across the country who are helping surprise and delight fans with curated Pin Pals boxes. Marshalls is also giving its fans an opportunity to enter the Marshalls Pin Pals Contest for a chance to win a surprise box of their own. All the exciting finds that are saved on Pinterest can now live and motivate daily routines whether inspiring an impromptu dinner party or a night on the town. For more information on Pin Pals and details on how to participate in the Marshalls Pin Pals Contest, consumers can check out the Marshalls Pin Pals board on Pinterest, be inspired and save what inspires them. You never know what surprises are in store! Follow along or share your unexpected finds from Marshalls using #MarshallsSurprise and #contest. Must be 18+ to enter. The contest ends 11/7/16. For Official Rules, visit http://bit.ly/2cSiNbc. 1 ABOUT MARSHALLS Marshalls is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers with more than 1,000 stores spanning 48 states and Puerto Rico. Since opening its first store more than 40 years ago, the Marshalls name has become synonymous with off-price shopping. Marshalls shoppers can find a surprising selection of high-quality, on-trend brand name and designer merchandise for men, women and children, footwear, accessories and home merchandise - all at incredible prices. For fashion tips, style alerts and more, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/marshalls, Twitter at @marshalls, Pinterest at pinterest.com/marshalls and Instagram at @marshalls. For more fashion news and images, visit our newsroom at media.marshallstjmaxx.com. CONTACT: Jenni Evora Edelman Office: (212) 277-3728 [email protected] 1 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. The Marshalls Pin Pals Contest is sponsored by The TJX Companies, Inc. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., who are 18 years of age or older. Begins 1:00 p.m. ET on 9/21/16 & ends 12:00 p.m. ET on 11/7/16. For Official Rules, visit marshallspinpals.dja.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410636LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marshalls-partners-with-beauty-home-and-fashion-experts-to-bring-pinterest-boards-to-life-300332490.html SOURCE Marshalls [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] MicroTech's CEO Tony Jimenez to receive Technology Award at 2016 Hispanic Heritage Awards VIENNA, Va., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) has announced that MicroTech's CEO, Tony Jimenez to receive the Hispanic Heritage Award for Technology at the 29th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards which will be broadcast nationally on Friday, September 30, 2016 at 10:00 p.m. ET on PBS. The Awards are among the highest honors by Latinos for Latinos and are supported by 40 national Hispanic-serving institutions. The event taping will take place on September 22nd at Washington D.C.'s historic Warner Theatre. Foundation leaders pointed to his work, not only in the field of Technology, but also as a "visionary innovator, veteran, leader, and entrepreneur." The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has given this extremely prestigious award to top educators, physicians, innovators, business professionals, community leaders, elected officials, celebrities and artists. "I am so honored and humbled to join such a renowned and notable group of current and past honorees to receive this amazing award many consider the most prestigious honor from the Latino community," says Tony Jimenez. "Had someone told me 30 years ago that technology would be the key to my success I would never have believed it. Technology truly is an equalizer!" The audience for the Awards Ceremony includes up to 2,000 people, including members of Congress, White House officials, ambassadors, business and community leaders, celebrities and youths. The evening is co-hosted by more than 40 top national Latino organizations, and the White House hosts a briefing for the honorees and performers. "The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is thrilled to be back on PBS to highlight the tremendous contributions of our community in an inspiring and entertaining way," said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. "It's more important than ever that we share thi preeminent celebration of our culture with all of America." Created by the White House in 1988 to commemorate the establishment of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Hispanic Heritage Awards are considered one of the highest honors for Hispanics in the United States. Past honorees have included Rita Moreno, Placido Domingo, Celia Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Tito Puente, Anthony Quinn, Carlos Gutierrez, Juan Marichal, Los Tigres Del Norte, Jose Feliciano, Isabel Allende, Alejandro Sanz, Oscar De La Hoya, Gloria Estefan, Martin Sheen, Andy Garcia and Juan Luis Guerra, among many others. About MicroTech: MicroTech, a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), has had noteworthy success since its inception in 2004. Under Mr. Jimenez's leadership, the privately owned company has experienced exponential growth and has been repeatedly recognized as a small business success story. Described as the "hottest Hispanic business in the nation," MicroTech was ranked as the #1 Fastest Growing Hispanic Company in the Nation for three consecutive years by Hispanic Business Magazine. MicroTech was also named one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Hispanic-Owned Companies in the Nation for five consecutive years and has been repeatedly listed on Washington Technology's annual list of the Top 100 Government Contractors. MicroTech provides Cloud Computing, Technology Services, Cyber Security Solutions, Products & Managed Service Solutions, Network Systems Integration, Big Data Management, Telecom Solutions & Integration and Financial Services to the public sector, as well as commercial enterprises. ISO 20000 and ISO 9001:2008 certified, CMMI Maturity Level 3 rated in Services & Development and ITIL management qualified, MicroTech is headquartered just outside the Nation's Capital in Tysons Corner, Virginia, with key offices in New Jersey, Virginia; Georgia, and Mexico City. To learn more, visit www.MicroTech.net. Follow MicroTech on Twitter. About Tony Jimenez: Tony is the award-winning Founder, President, and CEO of MicroTech, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). He is an active member of the technology industry and an advocate for the Veteran, Hispanic and Small Business communities. As a respected business owner, successful entrepreneur, and award-winning small business advocate, Jimenez is always willing to go that extra mile! To learn more, visit www.microtech.net/meet-ceo Media Contact Jen Berman Director of Executive Operations 703-891-1073 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microtechs-ceo-tony-jimenez-to-receive-technology-award-at-2016-hispanic-heritage-awards-300332549.html SOURCE MicroTech [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Briggs: Elkharts RV workers are only essential until a recession RV sales are great for job security in Elkhart, yet horrible for human bodies. Nothing quite sparks a kids imagination like a dragon. Forty-one student artists from Broadwater Elementary School let their imaginations run wild, creating dragons, and warriors and magical creatures. Then each drawing or painting was matched to a local Helena artist who re-created the work in a new way -- sometimes in paint, or in fabric or ceramics. Right now the 41 dragon pairs are on display at the Holter Museum of Art. Friday night they will be auctioned off at an opening reception at the Holter from 4 to 8 p.m. The money raised will be used to pay for buses to bring Helena school classes to the Holter for art classes. The typical cost for a bus from one of the local schools for a half-day visit is $100, said Sondra Hines, Holter curator of education. Often classroom teachers tell Hines, I have to see if we can get a bus. Sometimes the Parent Council at the school can raise the money. Other times teachers are writing checks out of their own pocket. Typically, foundation grants want to pay for the activity, Hines said, but not the transportation. Madison Schell, a Broadwater Elementary School fifth-grader, was thrilled to see her Dragon Project fantasy princess framed and hanging on the Holter wall. Well, shes a Native American girl in a wilderness, said Schell of her watercolor. Shes a warrior. Next to Schells painting is Liz Harters three-dimensional portrayal of a Native woman in a brilliant, blue-fringed dress carrying a decorated shield. I think she created a piece that is basically my piece but has more detail, said Schell, admiring how Harters figure pops out. I think she did a great job. Fifth-grader Caroline Cunningham was likewise pleased with her artwork. Cunningham started out painting a roly-poly purple dragon, but then added wings. I thought it should be a dragon fairy, she said. Artist Shaunee Farnham took Carolines dragon fairy image and then dressed her in glittery evening wear. She made it into a stuffed animal, said the delighted Cunningham. I love it. I think it was really creative what she did. Although the works will be sold, each student artist will get a signed professional photo of the art pair. Were totally jazzed, said Broadwater teacher Jodi Delaney, whose students created the dragon works along with students in Jane Bishops class. Dragons were really motivating, said Bishop. Seeing the pieces come together gave me goosebumps, said Hines. Its a fun way for artists in the community to give back. The Dragon Project is modeled after the Monster Project, created by ZooTown Arts Community Center in Missoula. This is a way to help support arts education in the schools by relieving some of the costs, she said. I feel like its one of the best things Ive done in my 16 years at the Holter Museum. Free Family Day Saturday The Dragon Project is a great lead into a fun family day Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Holter, where kids get to make magic wands, dragon eyes and follow a dragon map through Downtown Helena. Magic costumes are encouraged. It also fits perfectly with the Big Read, now underway, celebrating the fantasy classic, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin, written for adults and older kids. Younger readers are diving into Catwings, also by LeGuin. Both books are available at the Holter and at the Lewis & Clark Library. Visit www.holtermuseum.org to preview the Dragon Project and for more information. The Holter is located at 12 E. Lawrence. Call 442-6400 for information. Under the ordinance, anyone applying to do a lot split must live in one of the units for at least three years. Also, each new unit must have an accompanying covered parking space and they may not be used as short-term rentals. https://www.toacorn.com/articles/council-codifies-new-state-mandate-rules-around-duplexes-lot-splits/ Bridget Jones's Baby At the Cinemark (R) Grade: B- Bridget Joness Baby At the Cinemark Grade: B- When we last met up with Bridget Jones more than a decade ago, she was a 30-something Brit seeking happiness. Her top prospects for marriage included Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, a pair of respectable prospects auditioning for the forever-after role. At the end of the two Bridget films, we were led to believe she had chosen Firth and that courting was over. But now we discover a decade later that Bridget and beau Colin have split. Now Bridget is a lonely 40-something forced to resume her quest for happiness. The filmmakers wanted Hugh Grant and Colin Firth to return for a rematch in this sequel, but London news stories say that Hugh Grant point blank refused to be in it. Firth reportedly hesitated, too, but eventually signed on. To replace Grant, the producers chose Patrick Dempsey, known to many for his TV role as Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy. To complete the cast Emma Thompson signed on as writer and actress for the renewal of the saga of Londons most celebrated lonely lady. Alas, Jane Austen was unavailable to write the script -- and shes sorely missed. The Bridget saga is yet another adaptation of Jane Austens much-loved classic Pride and Prejudice. Austen introduced us to Mr. Darcy, described as a single man in possession of a good fortune, who must be in want of a wife. The Bridget stories also include Mr. Darcy, also a man of means who may be lonely. The original Bridget Joness Diary was a charming tale of a likable lady with low self-esteem hoping to meet Prince Charming. The film was a triumph almost entirely because of Renee Zellwegers Oscar-nominated portrayal of Bridget. We all love her and rooted for her -- precisely because she broke some of the Hollywood cliches - she was not shaped like Marilyn or Barbie. At last, a star much like the rest of us. Firth and Grant were wonderful, too, of course, fueling a fun ensemble comedy about the search for love. As is frequently the case, however, the sequels fizzled. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason was a flop, and now Bridget Jones Baby disappoints as well. In fairness, Baby has its moments, often thanks to Zellweger, Firth and Thompson. We could watch those actors wrap Christmas presents and wed be enthralled. But at some point their talent and charisma need a bit of substance, and this script is uniformly light and frothy -- even silly. The story starts with the premise of two one-night stands that lead to one pregnancy. Bridget then pulls petals off a daisy trying to decide which gentlemans sperm united with her egg. We are led to believe she never finds out the natural father until the baby is born. On that day, the two men provide DNA samples and wait to see which one is a match. Reality TV, right? Yes, both men are present for the birth. Baby is a strange menage a trois, with both men eager to marry her and raise the child. None of this is remotely believable, of course. The ending is even more bizarre. After watching the two men follow the doctor for DNA testing, we cut to a wedding a year later. We dont know who will be the groom until they reach the altar. The filmmakers shot three endings -- presumably allowing her to choose either one of her suitors or reject them both. They did not tell the cast which ending would be on the screen at the opening. Firth believes the producers ran audience tests and chose the ending people liked best. So much for artistic integrity. I felt that the best chance for Bridget to find happiness was to reject the pride and prejudice of both men and raise her new boy alone -- thus becoming happier than she deserves, to borrow from Austen. But, alas, thats not Hollywood, nor is it vintage Austen, whose leading ladies eventually say yes. Seeking applicants for Citizens' Advisory Committee Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking applicants to fill several volunteer positions on the Region 3 Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). FWP is interested in selecting members from a pool of candidates who represent a variety of interests and communities within the region. Terms will begin in 2017. The Citizens Advisory Committee helps FWP achieve its goals by sharing information, ideas, emerging trends and initiatives from the public in a setting that welcomes differing points of view. Citizen advisors serve in a voluntary capacity with meals and travel expenses provided. Meetings are generally held quarterly in Bozeman. All meetings are open to the public. Specifically, the functions of the CAC are to: Help promote Montanas strong outdoor recreation traditions Provide a forum for ongoing two-way communication with our neighbors and communities in southwest Montana Help FWP personnel maintain and improve responsiveness to the public Help FWP identify emerging issues Provide advice and perspective on important resource and management issues Assist FWP with crafting local, sustainable solutions on regional and statewide issues Applicants will be asked to provide an overview of their interests and involvement in natural resource issues. Finalists may be asked to interview by phone or in person. To obtain an application, visit the FWP Region 3 office at 1400 S. 19th Ave., call 406-994-4042, or email anjones@mt.gov. Completed applications must be returned to FWP by Oct. 31, 2016. Applicants will be notified by email (or mail if requested) by the end of the year about the results of the selection process. TIP-MONT works 24-7 Montana's outdoor crime-stopper help line, TIP-MONT, has a new online option to report poachers and other hunting-season violators. Now alert citizens can report poaching and violations of hunting regulations by going to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Click "TIP-MONT" to use the online report form. "TIP-MONT online is best used to report observations that might help solve a violation that has already occurred," said Brian Shinn, FWP's TIP-MONT coordinator. "The TIP-MONT toll-free number1-800-TIP-MONT or 1-800-847-6668is the best way to report crimes that are in progress, or where immediate assistance is needed." Shinn said that while the online service isn't a real-time TIP-MONT connection, the reports are checked several times a week. Online TIP-MONT reports remain confidential and are managed under the same guidelines that protect all crime-stopper callers. Callers to 1-800-TIP-MONT, and those who file reports online, may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash award of up to $1,000 if the information leads to a conviction. Upland Game Bird Council to meet An advisory council who presented their recommendations on a long-range strategic plan for FWPs Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program in 2012 will meet in Plentywood Oct. 3 and 4 to review habitat enhancement activities that occurred during the 2016 field season. The meeting will be held at the Sheridan County Courthouse in Plentywood, located at 100 W. Laurel Ave., beginning Monday at 8 a.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting and may provide comments to the council during the time identified on the agenda. Click Upland Game Bird Council for meeting details. For more information, contact Debbie Hohler at:444-5674, or by e-mail: dhohler@mt.gov. Important upcoming dates Sage grouse season closes Sept. 30 Waterfowl season opens (see regulations for flyway specific information) Oct. 1 Antelope general season opens Oct. 8 Deer, elk archery season closes Oct. 16 General deer and elk season opens Oct. 22 Fall mountain lion season opens Oct. 22 Triple M looks set to take on triple js status as Australias premier nationally branded broadcaster, with Southern Cross Austereo reportedly planning a new overhaul cum expansion that will see Triple M absorbing some 30 regional Austereo stations. According to Noise11, a statement to Austereo shareholders indicated Triple M will expand next year as 30 of our regional stations currently under LocalWorks radio network will be brought into the Triple M family. The LocalWorks stations affected by the change include MIX 94.5 Perth, MIX 106.3 Canberra, 105.7 The River Albury, 107.7 2GO Gosford, KOFM Newcastle, 92.5 Gold Coast, SEAFM Mackay, HEART 107.3 Hobart, and stations in Rockhampton, Coffs Harbour, and others. On the surface it seems as though Austereo is simply taking its scattered brands and placing them under the one banner, but the move will in fact make Triple M the first nationally branded commercial broadcaster in capital cities and regional areas. Typically, major networks your KIIS FMs and Novas only brand within major markets, so youll hear Nova in Melbourne but if you venture out towards regional Victoria, your premier local station is something completely different. As Noise11 notes, the move also pits Triple M against triple j, whove been particularly successful at sapping listeners in the 25-39 demographic from its commercial counterparts. triple j is of course a non-commercial, government-funded radio network. Despite the absence of advertising revenue, triple j has been very successful in gaining a considerable market share, regularly rivalling that of commercial stations such as Triple M and Nova in the capital city markets and remaining very popular in regional Australia. Its not clear when the change will take place, but as Noise11 writes, Southern Cross Austereo are hoping the move will bolster the Triple M brand, give it a boost in ratings surveys, and return advertising revenue to the radio sector. As readers may be aware, there is some bad blood between the stations, at least on one end, with Triple M previously hitting out at triple j for what they perceive as the national youth broadcasters elitism and for focusing on music that is on trend right now. Speaking during the launch of Triple Ms digital radio station in 2014, Triple M Network head Mike Fitzpatrick said, Unlike our Taxpayer-funded youth network, Triple M Modern Rock Digital isnt elitist. We dont care about cool music or on trend right now styles. If its a great song, well play it. With news that King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have finished recording their ninth album, which is set to be one of four the band plan to release in 2017, weve decided to take a look at some of the most prolific artists in music to see how the bands famous work-rate actually stacks up. King Gizz are currently sitting at a rate of two albums per year since their first album, 12 Bar Bruise, in 2012 but thats expected to rise to 2.4 albums per year if their 2017 release schedule goes as planned. That sounds like quite a lot, so weve looked at some other bands around the world who have also had a pretty amazing output of albums in their career to see where The Gizz stand in the grand scheme of things, and how many albums well have to see from them if they keep up their current clip. These comparisons are based on the groups current two albums per year (starting with when their first studio album was released), but we certainly have no reason to doubt their promise of four new records next year although we certainly wont be mad if they decide they need to take a day or two off instead. Ennio Morricone Italian composer Ennio Morricone is one of musics most famous names. A film composer by trade, Morricone is best know for scoring some of films best known releases, such as The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, The Thing, and more recently, The Hateful Eight. Morricone has scored 433 films since 1946 (and is still going strong), giving him a rate of 6.2 releases per year. While the majority of these wouldve been commissioned, rather than Morricone recording his music by his own volition, King Gizz would need to be around for another 216 years to match Morricone if they keep up their current rate, but only 180 if their projected 2017 rate comes into play. Buckethead Theres a strong chance youve heard of Buckethead if you followed his stint as part of Guns N Roses in the 2000s, or his infamously hard contribution to Guitar Hero 2. Above it all though, his most famous attributes involve his wearing a KFC bucket on his head, a white mask on his face, and releasing an immensely huge stack of albums. After playing in numerous bands in the late 80s, Buckethead started a solo career in 1992. Following a relatively slow start, which saw him release 6 albums in 9 years, his output exploded in the 2000s. As of 2016, he has released 264 albums, and has collaborated on a further 181 albums. Needless to say, Buckethead is one of musics most prolific artists. With a total of 264 solo albums being released in 24 years, that brings him to a rate of 11 albums per year. If King Gizz stick around until for another 20 years to match his career length, you can expect 48 albums from them, or 58 if next years increase comes into play. However, if King Gizz are to match Bucketheads current output (and keep in mind he shows no intention of stopping soon), theyll need to stick around for another 128 years (or another 106) to catch up. Merzbow Merzbow is a famous Japanese musician who deals within the genre of noise music, that is, music which is effectively experimental, dissonant sounds that wouldnt have a place in most mainstream types of music. With a career spanning almost 4 decades, Merzbow has had plenty of time to release a respectable amount of albums, though few would expect an output of 246 albums from him. Having released his first album in 1980, Merzbow has released an average of 6.8 albums per year. For The Gizz to catch up to 246 albums, theyll need to hang around for another 119 years, or another 98 if next year picks up. If they also managed to match Merzbows 36 year career of releasing albums, you could expect 72, or 86, albums by 2048. Frank Zappa Frank Zappa is one of musics most infamous figures. From his beginnings with The Mothers Of Invention, to his solo years in which he experimented with every style and genre of music possible, Zappa is undoubtedly one of the most notable artists. In fact, Zappas testimony to the US supreme court in 198_ is one of the reasons you dont have to wait until youre 18 to buy any album with bad language on it. Starting his career with The Mothers Of Inventions first album Freak Out! in 1968, Zappa recorded 62 albums before his death in 1993. Since then, posthumous studio and live releases have made his discography rise to an impressive 108 releases, giving him an output rate of 1.6 releases per year. If King Gizzard are able to match his 38 year career, you can expect them to release 76 albums at their current rate, or 91 if 2017 goes as planned. If they are to match Zappas output of 62 albums, you can expect them to hang around for either 27 years or 21 years, a surprisingly low number. The Residents The Residents have been listed as an oddity in the annals of music for years. Theyre hard to categorise, theyre hard to take seriously, and above all, theyre hard to stop. Starting in 1969, The Residents strayed from the norm, bucking the trend of being serious musicians and releasing music that was either comedic, critical of the music industry, or just plain strange. In the 44 years since their debut, theyve managed to release 49 albums, giving them an average of 1.1 albums per year. However, this doesnt even beging to account for their countless live albums, singles, and multimedia projects, which would undoubtedly throw them closer to King Gizzards level of output. Considering their output rate has been pretty low, wed only need to see King Gizz stick around for another 20 years at their current rate, or 16 years at next years rate, to match the output of the band. If they stick around for 44 years with their current output rate, you can see the Melbourne seven-piece releasing 88 albums, or 106 at next years rate. The Verdict? They may not be crowned the kings based on the figures above but, considering the need to wrangle their huge posse into a studio each and every time they make a new album, were still pretty damn impressed. Keep up the good work Gizz, looking forward to 2017. It looks like rumours Dave Grohl is busy working on some sort of solo project could be true, with a musician who recently met the Foo Fighters frontman claiming the two of them discussed Grohls new record during their conversation. Musician Damien Curry recently took to Instagram to share a photo of him and Grohl (check it out in the embed below). Talked about our kids, his new record, producingmanwhat a kool kat, Curry wrote of the experience. Its not the first time its been suggested that Grohl is working on new music without the Foo Fighters. Back in March, producer Butch Vig told The Daily Beast Grohl is working on new music that isnt under the Foo Fighters name. Back in March, Foo Fighters embarked on an indefinite hiatus following a long stretch of touring and recording. The news came amid rumours the band was planning on breaking up and Grohl was embarking on a solo career. However, a representative for the band quickly dismissed such claims as utterly ridiculous, though drummer Taylor Hawkins did confirm the band are on hiatus in an interview with Artisan News first given back in January. Grohl previously alluded to the band taking a break in a missive accompanying the bands 2015 Saint Cecilia EP, writing, Maybe these songs are the bread crumbs that will help us find our way back when its time. We could use a nice wander through the woods right about now. Another empty journal, another tap on the shoulder those things are never far behind. Its what lies ahead in those woods that excites me now. After teasing fans on social media with a forthcoming official band announcement, the band finally confirmed their hiatus with a hilarious skit video in which they poke fun at the rumours of their break-up and of Grohl going solo. Regardless of what the new record is, it wouldnt be the first time the prolific Grohl has embarked on projects without his Foo Fighters bandmates. In addition to work with bands like Them Crooked Vultures, hes made collaborative records such as the Sound City: Real to Reel and Probot albums. Australian rapper 360 has been one of the most prominent voices in music about mental health in recent times, frequently opening up about the demons he has faced in his past, and founding his own mental health non-profit organisation. Taking to Facebook on Sunday night, Matt Colwell once again opened up about his ongoing fight against his worsening depression, talking candidly on his diagnosis with unipolar disorder, and a recent breakdown which left him broken. Acknowledging that there is no rhyme or reason to the non-discriminating disorder, 360 continued to reaffirm his determination to tackle his depression as best he can, saying hes at the darkest of the dark, but that things can only get better from here. Colwell took to Facebook again Wednesday night to thank everyone for the outpouring of support directed his way in response to his post, but also to express an alternate point of view to the large portion of responders who replied with comments along the lines of what have you got to be depressed about? you have everything everyone could ever want. Money, fame etc etc stop whinging. Rather than lashing out, he assured those people that it was okay to ask the question, as he wonders the same. 360 has long been an advocate for normalisation of mental health disorders, with his Facebook posts frequently becoming matters of discussion and praise from both his fans and the mainstream media. Hopefully his most recent posts will continue to bring much-needed attention to the matter, and serve as a way for those suffering to realise theyre not alone. If you or someone you know needs personal help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636. Kansas City claims to host more thantourists every year . . .Accordingly . . .As with all Kansas City votes, the results are usually rigged but that doesn't make the campaign any less entertaining.You decide . . . Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association President Leslie Caplan told the Northeast News that it was a banner day for the community, as the residence Sutton operated out of had become a hotbed for drugs and other illegal activity. This is all due to the vigilance of our residents and the team effort we employed with the officers at East Patrol, Caplan said. This is great news for Scarritt Renaissance. Community news celebration . . .Read more . . . "KCTV5 has learned Runions talked to her boyfriend around 2:15 p.m. Thursday afternoon. She last texted him around 9:30 p.m. that night. Jessica's mother attempted to call but received no answer. A source tells KCTV5 suspect Kylr Yust's grandfather told police Runions' black Chevy Equinox was parked outside his house on Sept. 9, the morning after she disappeared. The grandfather then told investigators her SUV had left by 3 p.m. that day." More deets on the events leading up to her disappearance . . .Read more: Money quote . . . "(Mayor Sly) James, perhaps the biggest political cheerleader for the system, also expressed his concerns." THE KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR PART DEUX CHEERLEADERS CLAIMED TO HAVE SUPPORT FOR THIS PLAN AND NOW THEY'RE BACKTRACKING REVEALS OTHERWISE!!! Tonight our blog community reminds us that Kansas City voters aren't yet sold on a bigger streetcar line.Now it's "news" according to the paper . . .But don't breathe a sigh of relief just yet . . .Here's the. . .Nevertheless . . .Developing . . . Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy "GREAT NEWS: OUR NEW KANSAS CITY HILLARY OFFICE WILL OPEN THIS SATURDAY 9/24!!! Located at 1901 McGee, KCMO (2nd floor). NOW is the time to volunteer. Let's make history together. #StrongerTogether #KCisWithHer #MakeMOBlueAgain #Hillary2016" The new Kansas City, Missouri campaign headquarters for the Hillary campaign is located conveniently betwixt the Crossroads and the 18th & Vine District and will open for biz this Saturday.Also, there's a Papa John's within walking distance despite the fact that. . . Still,so Hillary workers shouldn't feel too guilty about indulging.But I digress . . .Here's the word from the campaign . . .This is an upgrade from the Union Hall in the hood that nobody wanted to visit. The office space is plush and is also the home of some makeup company.Here's where localwill both recruit and yell at campaign workers . . .And while the Trump campaign is gaining on Hillary at the polls, at the very least the Kansas City Hillary camp has their opposition beat when it comes to office space.You decide . . . Vote NO On InterContinental Money Grab Dear Council Members,It saddens me to know that this Council will pass the ordinance to create a CID for a wealthy corporation.Fixing their structure is part of doing business. If it is so bad that it is blighted then why hasn't our building codes been involved long before this day?Yesterday afternoon I was at a neighborhood sub-committee meeting regarding the real blight, abandoned houses, absentee landlords, etc, etc, etc.. You know, the stuff that you don't give a damn about.DART, city codes, KCPD, Jeff Williams from Legal AID, Dan Tarwater and Alfred Jordan from the County plus residents trying to live in that Marlborough neighborhood AGAIN discussed hardcore drug activity, shooting and squatters. Apparently there isn't enough money to help my neighbors. And here in Waldo crime is off the charts for us.But no, go ahead. Bestow all that money on a Plaza hotel. And you know what? When Crown Center, the Hyatt, the various other hotels slip you a proposal just say yes. We can afford it.######### Greek Deputy Economy Minister for NSRF issues Alexis Charitsis was keynote speaker at the panel debate "Greek Capital Markets speeding up the real economy" held on Thursday in London, during the last day of the 11th Annual Greek Roadshow. The issues covered at the event included the prospects of the Greek economy and investment opportunities, as well as the major reforms being carried out to achieve sustainable growth. "From our participation in the Roadshow and the meetings we had with the Greek and international business community, we see there is intense interest in political and economic developments in Greece, as well as the emerging investment prospects. On our side, we presented in detail the Greek government's strategy on a fiscal, macroeconomic and developmental level, so as to ensure stabilisation of the economy and a return to growth," Charitsis said. Hellenic Exchanges CEO Socrates Lazaridis said his meetings during the two-day roadshow revealed that European investors were closely watching Greek companies and preparing to take up positions in the Greek market. "The completion of the review and developments concerning the banking sector appear to be the points that will decide their investing behaviour. There was also confirmation of an international trend for using capital markets not only for financing but for an efficient distribution of resources in an environment where there is an urgent need to reduce leverage," he said. Hellenic Capital Markets Commission chief Charalampos Gotsis said it was very important for investors that there was currently political, social and banking stability in Greece. "This fact improves confidence in the Greek economy and the country," he added, noting that Greek stock promised potentially generous returns. The three-day 2016 Roadshow, with 27 of the largest Greek listed companies taking part, was seen as a success. There were a total of 550 individual meetings between the Greek companies, some 80 investment funds and 120 analysts and portfolio managers. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday visited the Greek school Agios Dimitrios in New York's Astoria district and talked to the pupils, urging them to be proud of Greece not just for its past but also for its present. In its current handling of the refugee and migrant crisis, Tsipras noted, Greece was showing the humane face of Europe. Addressing the children, he said they are the followers of an old tradition where every Greek family has one desire, for its children to study and become better than their parents. Tsipras thanked the children and their teachers for the arm welcome and said he was moved to see the young generation maintain their origins. "I also want to say that it is very touching to see that second, third and fourth generation Greeks keep Greece deep inside their soul, care for it perhaps even more than we who stay in Greece do," he added. The prime minister's speech was briefly interrupted when one of the children in the school choir fainted and had to be given first aid. The young girl came to and got up to extended applause, with the prime minister reassuring her that "these things happen" and wishing her a speedy recovery. 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 The Greek PM told the Turkish President that those involved in coups are not welcome in Greece The refugee crisis as well as the EU-Turkey agreement and the recent failed coup were at the top of the agenda in the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Greek government sources underlined that although Turkey has made significant progress in reducing the flow of refugees towards Greece and Europe, additional efforts are needed to uphold and fully-implement the agreement. Although the Greek government supports Turkey in relation to visa-free travel and joining the EU, this demands that the Turkish government actually implements its part of the deal and carries out the necessary steps outlined in the relevant road map. Regarding the extradition of eight Turkish officers who have requested asylum in Greece, PM Tsipras argued that the issue is being addressed based on international law and that these matters cannot be expedited. Although the Greek PM did not specifically refer to these eight officers, he noted that in general, those involved in coups are not welcome in Greece. 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 Greece maintained its good year on the German market, with a 14% rise for Rhodes and a 4% increase for Heraklion. Overall, the German holiday market continued its weak performance last month with a 7.2% sales drop, mostly resulting from low demand for Turkey. German travel agents saw a 7.2% fall in leisure travel sales in August, according to the latest monthly analysis of bookings by 1,500 travel agencies by market researchers GfK. Last-minute summer bookings were weak, and early winter holiday bookings were also lower than this time last year. The August figures left total sales to date for the 2015/16 tourism year down by 7%, with only 90% of last years total volume sold by the end of last month. The accumulated losses can no longer be caught up on, the market researchers declared. Last-minute bookings were weak last month, meaning that total departures in August (including all bookings in previous months) were a dramatic 18.1% lower than last year. July was the only month of the summer 2016 season to show positive growth of just 0.3%. Weak demand for the forthcoming winter season was particularly evident last month. Winter bookings dropped by 12% in August, even though tour operators had hoped for good early demand for popular destinations such as the Canary Islands and long-haul destinations. Overall winter bookings are currently 8.1% behind last years levels. In comparison, winter bookings at the same time last year showed strong growth of 10.1%. Strong declines In terms of departure months in winter 2016/17, all are showing strong declines compared to last year with the exception of April, which is due to the timing of Easter next year. April currently has a 38% rise in bookings while March is down by 20%, according to GfK. The latest monthly survey by IT services firm TATS showed similar trends. There was a 3.7% drop in overall travel agency sales last month, leaving sales in the first eight months of this year with fractional growth of 0.4%. Leisure travel sales fell by 7.8%, even though revenues from cruise bookings increased by 6.6%, according to the survey of some 2,500 agencies. In terms of destinations, bookings for Turkey and Egypt again dropped last month while Spain, Greece and Bulgaria remained popular, according to figures from reservations provider Traveltainment for German package holiday bookings to leading destination airports. Bookings to Antalya were down by 18% last month, although this was better than the 46% slump recorded in July and heavy double-digit declines in previous months. Similarly, bookings to Hurghada were 26% lower in August, continuing the destinations double-digit drop in demand this year. Palma confirmed its position as the major destination airport with an 18% rise in bookings last month, while bookings for the Canary Islands were good ahead of the important winter season. Las Palmas shot up by 24%, Tenerife South saw a 14% rise and Fuerteventura was up by 3%. In Bulgaria, Varna generated a strong 43% increase in bookings, indicating high late sales for holidays on the Black Sea coast. 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 Officials have said the corruption surrounding police issues is essentially a large part of the problem that inhibits their work Officials have said the corruption surrounding police issues is essentially a large part of the problem that inhibits their work, during a Parliamentary Institutions Committee meeting on Wednesday. Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou, a representative from Cyprus attorney generals office Elena Kleopa, and the Deputy Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou, took part in the committee session, where issues with the police and corruption were discussed, SigmaLive learned. Nicolaou has said during the meeting that he believes corruption issues and leaks that are given to the media and/or Cyprus criminal underworld result in damage to serious cases that are examined by authorities. The Justice Minister has mentioned that the Ministry had sent proposals to the political parties to wipe out corruption, which detailed the creation of an Internal Monitoring Committee in the police and lifting the confidentiality of personal communications in the force. A ban on confidentiality, he has said, would be made under strict prerequisites. Revealing information that involves the investigations, he said, could create significant problems, in the continuing investigation and in the trial process. Nicolaou mentioned that the element of surprise could be lost if leaks happen, in regards to other individuals that might testify on a case. He added that there could be intense reactions, which could harm the presumption of innocence. Nicolaou has said that the problem is chronic and is not only witnessed among the ranks of the police, but everywhere. Attorney General has thought to prosecute journalists Kleopa, who attended the committee session as the representative from the Attorney Generals office, has said that in the past the Attorney General has encountered a dilemma during serious cases where leaks to the media had damaged the examination process whether or not to prosecute journalists. She added, however, that after taking into account the freedom of speech, the Attorney General decided against taking such action. She mentioned that the Attorney Generals office does not leak investigation and testimony details, unless it wants to burn itself. In article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to freedom of expression is outlined, which includes a clause on the media. Specifically, the article says, The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary. The Interpol gaffe and the delayed transfers Committee members also discussed the gaffe made by Interpol during the investigations on the quadruple Ayia Napa murder. Specifically, during investigations, it was revealed by Phileleftheros newspaper that a Cypriot Interpol agent had accidentally communicated with one of the Serbian assassins, who were selected to commit the shooting, which ended up being committed by two othe suspects. MP Irene Charalambidou had asked the Justice Minister if the officer who made the mistake was transferred after the incident was leaked to the media. Nicolaou had answered that the officer was transferred when it was seen fit and not after the leaks to the media. 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 Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has discussed security, avoiding past actions, and bilateral relations, with US Vice President Joe Biden after meeting for approximately an hour on Thursday. After their meeting, government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides said that the discussion had been constructive, honest, and open. On the security issue, Christodoulides said: There is a need - through the solution of the Cyprus problem for Cyprus to be able to continue and further strengthen its role as a security provider in the especially important area of the Eastern Mediterranean, something which the President made special reference to during his speech to the UN General Assembly. Christodoulides mentioned that they also discussed the need to avoid processes, which were followed in the past, and affected in their own way the final result. They also discussed bilateral issues, with energy being the primary focus in the presence of the Deputy Secretary of State, where discussions looked at the prospects that exist in the Eastern Mediterranean region, he said. Biden expresses readiness to end occupation Christodoulides had said that the US Vice President had expressed his readiness to aid until his last day in office in ending the occupation and reunifying Cyprus. Asked if Biden had sent a message to the Turkish President during their meeting, Christodoulides said that yesterday an extensive discussion was held with the Turkish President on the Cyprus problem, on which Biden informed President Anastasiades. Greek Cypriot position Christodoulides mentioned that President Anastasiades had informed Biden on the Greek Cypriot position, which is that everything will be dependent on the result. He said: There is significant progress notices, there are significant disagreement and difficulties, less on the property issue, and more on the chapters of territorial adjustment and guarantees. He added that the President will present to the public a plan that does not contain uncertain constructs, a plan, which is clear and in no case will lead to a solution that does not acknowledge the concerns of the Cypriot people. And the President knows very well what the concerns of the Cypriot people are, Christodoulides said. Asked about a meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had on Wednesday - where no reference had been made to the guarantee issue and whether the security issue was discussed today, Christodoulides said that security and guarantees are in the same chapter at the negotiating table, and in the framework of a solution to the Cyprus problem there cannot be guarantees from third countries or foreign troops on the island. On the meeting between Erdogan and Tsipras, the government spokesperson said that the Cypriot side was informed after the meeting on what had been discussed in regards to the Cyprus problem, which I must say was one of the main topics of discussion. 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 International real estate consultancy Cluttons has announced the launch of Tilal Towers, a new affordable eco-friendly residential development in Bahrain. The two properties are located in the Amwaj Islands community near to the Lagoon, which make the 21-storey towers perfect for recreational activities, schooling, travel and lifes daily necessities. The location of the towers also allows for panoramic sea views, said a statement from Cluttons. The Tilal Towers launch was held during the Bahrain Real Estate Drinks (Bred) event organised by Cluttons in partnership with Faisal Al Matrook Company at the Domain Hotel and Spa on Wednesday. The event was attended by Bahrains leading architecture firms, construction companies and investment houses who interacted with professional experts and key market players within the real estate industry. The event has been hosted by Cluttons since 2012 and is aimed to specifically target real estate industry professionals in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service Horyou, the social network for social good, has announced the third edition of its Social Innovation and Global Ethics Forum (SIGEF), a leading side event of COP22, the UN Climate Change Conference, which will take place in Marrakesh, Morocco in November. Titled Shaping Better Times to Come, SIGEF 2016 will welcome a wide array of internationally renowned speakers to cover the UN Sustainable Development Goals and, through constant positive dialogue with its participating officials, private sector, NGOs and civil society, propose strategies and solutions for a better future for all. Running from November 9 to 11, SIGEF is organized by Horyou to give visibility to initiatives that contribute to advancing social innovation and global ethics worldwide. Plenary sessions, panels, cultural activities, networking events and interviews will take place during the 3 days of the event. The first SIGEF to be held in Africa will take place in Palais des Congres Marrakesh, which already hosted COP7 in 2001. The SIGEF 2016 will have plenary sessions and panels about topics like Access to Health Services and Drinkable Water; Affordable and Clean Energy; Cities of Tomorrow and Sustainable Finance and Impact Investment in Africa. SIGEF 2016 will also showcase cultural events such as the Night for Hope, on November 9th, with concerts and stand-up performances before 1500 people. On November 10, a Horyou Foundation Dinner will host special guests to explore new groundbreaking approaches to philanthropy with Spotlight, the first social global currency for economic inclusion. TradeArabia News Service Canadian police evacuated all schools in the eastern province of Prince Edward Island on Wednesday after a bomb threat, but authorities said the situation was under control after no explosive device was found. About 19,000 students at 62 schools were taken to safe locations in their communities around the island on Canada's eastern coast. It is the country's smallest province with a population of about 146,000. "The minister of public safety just informed me that all of the schools' children and personnel are safe. The situation is under control," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference in Ottawa. The provincial government said in a tweet that information about whether schools would reopen on Thursday would come on Wednesday evening. In Prince Edward Island's capital of Charlottetown, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Kevin Bailey said at a press conference he was aware of separate threats in the nearby province of Nova Scotia and the United States. He said later in a telephone call that police analysts had identified threats against schools in North Carolina, Connecticut and Arizona, but there was no immediate indication that they were linked. Bailey said the threat against Prince Edward Island schools came by fax to the police in Ottawa. "The message stated that the bombs had been placed in a number of schools and would be detonated today but it did not specify the time," Bailey said. "There is an active investigation to identify the person or persons responsible." The University of Prince Edward Island said in note on its website that it was closed for the day, "given the situation happening across the province." "They didn't say there was a bomb threat or any specific threat; they just told us that school had been suspended for the rest of the day," Charlottetown student Peter Keedwell, 17, said in a telephone interview. "It was pretty calm. ... People weren't running out of school or anything." Police in Nova Scotia closed some college and university campuses. A Nova Scotia Community College campus in Halifax was evacuated after an anonymous threat, Halifax Regional Police said in a press release. It said an explosive disposal unit had gone to the scene but found that a suspicious package was only garbage. The college's Marconi campus in Sydney, Nova Scotia, also shut down. Cape Breton University, also in Sydney, said on its website that it closed for the day. Reuters Batelco, Bahrain's leading digital solutions provider, has upgraded its webhosting platform in line with its commitment to support businesses in Bahrain throught the delivery of the most up-to-date solutions. Business customers curently using Batelcos webhosting facilities will be automatically migrated to the new platform to benefit from new features and enhanced user experience. Batelco offers webhosting services for the purpose of hosting websites, portals or webpages for business customers within Bahrain. The service is under the umbrella of its Cloud Services portfolio designed to empower businesses to digitise their processes and improve their operational efficiencies. The enhanced webhosting platform follows the rollout of other key cloud services from Batelco which included Microsoft 365, Productivity Solutions and Security Solutions. Batelcos Office 365 on the Cloud is a web-based version of Microsofts Office suite of enterprise-grade productivity applications, with the services available on all devices, whenever and wherever they are needed. Batelcos Cloud Productivity Solution is a feature rich solution that encompasses all business productivity and efficiency tools in one suite, accessible virtually on Batelcos secure cloud. The featured applications are Sales, Accounts, Inventory management, e-Marketing, HR management, Support & Productivity Tools. An organisations network security and information privacy is of high priority. Batelcos Cloud Security solutions conveniently combine all security policies and applications in one manageable platform; having reliable security protocols is a huge benefit of cloud based security solutions and eliminates substantial investments in security procedures, the company said. Batelco Bahrain CEO Eng Muna Al Hashemi said Batelco is pleased to announce the new upgraded webhosting platform for its enterprise customers. In keeping with our aim to lead the local market by providing the most reliable and stable services for business operations, we are very pleased to present this upgrade to improve and elevate productivity and efficiency for businesses. Digitisation is one of the key pillars of our strategy and as a result of our efforts and investment our varied basket of offerings now provides the most advanced digital platform for businesses in Bahrain. Furthermore, our solutions are flexible and scalable enabling business customers to better manage their operational costs, Al Hashemi added. Batelcos cloud solutions serve businesses of all sizes across all industries and continue to grow in popularity due to their cost effectiveness, accessibility and reliability. - TradeArabia News Service Vodafone Egypt said on Thursday it rejected the telecom regulator's fourth-generation license offer, saying the license does not offer sufficient spectrum to operate the services efficiently. "After extensive analysis, Vodafone Egypt's Board of Directors regrets to say that it believes the current terms and conditions of the 4G license do not serve the interests of the Egyptian citizen," the firm said in a statement. Egypt gave companies that already operate in the country priority in obtaining 4G licences but has said it will launch an international tender should any of them decline the offer. Reuters A number of Middle East brands were named Brand of the Year at the recently held third edition of the prestigious World Branding Awards at Kensington Palace in London, UK. The event saw 210 brands from 30 countries named Brand of the Year. Winners from the Middle East include GIG, KEMS, NBK and Riva from Kuwait; Al-Maha, Bank Muscat, Muscat Pharmacy, Omantel and Pofak Oman from Oman; and ADNOC Distribution, BinSina Pharmacy, Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Mall, Emirates NBD, Etihad, and Etisalat from the United Arab Emirates. The event was also attended by the United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sulaiman Almazroui. Apple, BMW, the British Council, Cartier, Coca-Cola, Facebook, Google, Lego, L'Oreal, Louis Vuitton, McDonald's, Nescafe, Nike, Oral-B, Pampers, Rolex, Samsung, Starbucks, Schwarzkopf and VISA were announced as global winners. Other national tier winners included ICBC (China), Bang & Olufsen (Denmark), Hermes (France), Nivea (Germany), State Bank of India, Prada (Italy), Dulux (Netherlands), HBL (Pakistan), Sberbank (Russia), Santander (Spain), Zurich (Switzerland), King Power (Thailand), Dubai Duty Free (UAE), and Prudential (UK), among others. Regional winners included Eu Yan Sang , Giordano, Lee Kum Kee, Mandarin Oriental and Watsons from Hong Kong; Indomie (Indonesia); Ajinomoto, Isetan, Kikkoman and Uniqlo from Japan; MTN from South Africa; Zara (Spain); and RAK Ceramics (UAE). Uniquely, winners are judged through three streams: brand valuation, consumer market research, and public online voting. Each brand was named Brand of the Year in their respective categories. This year, a newly designed 24-kt gold plated trophy was introduced for all winners. The awards is organised by the World Branding Forum, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing branding standards for the good of the branding community as well as consumers. It organises and sponsors a range of educational programmes, and has joint collaborations with leading universities and museums. The forum also publishes branding news on its website that reaches a global audience of over five million. The Awards celebrates the achievements of some of the greatest brands around the globe. With 70 percent of the scoring process coming from consumer votes, winning brands have managed to build a good trust score with their consumers, said Richard Rowles, chairman of the World Branding Forum. Due to a successful campaign, this year saw a huge increase in participation of the awards. Over 120,000 consumers from around the world voted for more than 2,800 brands from 35 countries. Winners at the awards have clearly demonstrated their ability to stand out from their competitors, said Peter Pek, chief executive of the Forum. The event was hosted by David Croft from Sky Sports. TradeArabia News Service Daimler Middle East & Levant FZE (DMEL), the regional head office for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, will be now known as Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East FZE (MBCME). The new name will more accurately reflect its business operations in the region, following Daimlers decision in Q3 to separate the passenger and commercial vehicles business units. Daimler Commercial Vehicles Middle East & North Africa (DCV MENA) was established in September 2015 as part of its increasingly dedicated customer-focused strategy. "The new name not only reflects our business operation more accurately, but will also eliminate any potential confusion for customers and suppliers. Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East FZE (MBCME) will focus exclusively on the passenger cars business, and is an important and logical step that clarifies our operation in the region, and our continued mission to deliver the best possible experience for customers and partners," said Mark de Haes, president and CEO of MBCME. The greater Middle East region will be serviced by the new operation, including the Levant countries, the GCC, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen. Other departments within the organisation such as Daimler Financial Services Middle East, Label Program, Regional Training Centre and Regional Logistics Centre will remain under MBCME without any changes. The regional office for Mercedes-Benz was established in 1998 and is located in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai. Both new entities continue to be headquartered in same location. - TradeArabia News Service International air travel to East Africa has jumped up 11.2 per cent from January to August this year, compared with the same period last year, a new report has revealed. According to an analysis conducted by ForwardKeys, a leading business intelligence tool, this is an exceptional performance as growth for Africa as a whole has been 5.6 per cent, with countries like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia seeing little growth or even a decline. Olivier Jager, CEO, ForwardKeys, said: We are seeing a tale of two Africas, with North African countries suffering from political instability and terror activities and Sub Saharan African countries powering ahead, with Ethiopia up 9.6 per cent, Tanzania up 10.6 per cent, Mauritius up 11.6 per cent and Kenya up 14.9 per cent. South Africa is up 11.4 per cent. Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, the picture is highly encouraging for East Africa. International bookings for travel to East African countries, up to the end of December are 17.3 per cent ahead of where they were at this time last year. Looking at the main origin markets, the UK is 13.2 per cent ahead, Germany is 21 per cent ahead, The US is 21 per cent ahead, France is 16.1 per cent ahead, the Netherlands is 16.6 per cent ahead, South Africa is 9.4 per cent ahead and India is 34 per cent ahead. An analysis of airport capacity, defined by the total number of seats, reveals that the stars in terms of growth are Nairobi, Kigali and Kilimanjaro. Looking at international capacity in the periods Q3 2015 - Q2 2016 and Q3 2016 - Q2 2017, Nairobi grew 0 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, Kigali 5 per cent and 4 per cent respectively and Kilimanjaro 11 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. Whilst a 2 per cent growth for Nairobi may not sound so impressive, its capacity is around four times that of Kigali. Looking at capacity for flights within East Africa in the periods Q3 2015 - Q2 2016 and Q3 2016 - Q2 2017, Nairobi grew 0 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, Kigali 13 per cent and 5 per cent respectively and Kilimanjaro 6 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. The data has been released ahead of AviaDev, a new airline route development conference and AHIF, Africas highest profile hotel investment conference, which run concurrently at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali from October 4 to 6, 2016. Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events, which is organising Ahif and AviaDev, said: We are seeing unprecedented interest in the Ahif AviaDev combination, with over 20 airlines signing up to talk about new air routes, with global CEOs of the worlds biggest hotel companies present to discuss their plans for Africa and with government ministers keen to attract inward investment; one has to ask: Why is there such serious interest? These highly encouraging booking figures explain it. Worsley added: If what is happening in Rwanda becomes a yardstick against which other East African countries measure themselves, I would expect this strong growth to continue. There, a new airport is under construction 25km outside Kigali, with the ability to cater for 4.5 million passengers/year, seven times todays traffic. The national airline has invested in new aircraft and set itself ambitious growth plans and the government is actively promoting Rwanda as a destination for conferences and exhibitions. - TradeArabia News Service Iran, the 18th largest economy in the world, is to host the first Iran Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (IHTIC), a top-level gathering of international investors, owners, operators, developers and government officials. In addition to rich reserves of oil, gas and metals, Iran has a promising consumer sector with a well-educated population of 80 million inhabitants. There are huge investment opportunities across all of Irans economic sectors energy, mining, hospitality and tourism, fast moving consumer goods, food & beverage, retail, automotive, aviation and manufacturing. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision plan, Iran is expecting to increase the number of tourism arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million by 2025. The 4.8 million tourists brought around $6.5 billion in revenue to the country despite sanctions and limitations imposed by the EU, the UN and the US. With the lifting of sanctions in January, it is expected that by 2025 the country will receive $30 billion from tourism income. Only 13 out of the 96 hotels in Tehran are classified as four or five-star, although it is widely acknowledged that these would not meet internationally recognised standards for such classification. Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO, AccorHotels speaking at Ahif 2015 said: The Iranian market is a top priority for AccorHotels, as are Africa and India. These three geographies are ones where I want to make a major push. They have a lot of things in common: civilization, architecture, demography, booming medium-sized enterprises, lack of supply, lack of infrastructure and lack of low-cost airlines In 2014, AccorHotels became the first international hotel group to enter the market since the 1979 revolution. Bazin said: We are very excited about signing this partnership with Aria Ziggurat in Iran. We are certain that Novotel and ibis will fit perfectly into the growth momentum that Irans hospitality sector is enjoying. Our brands are looking at huge growth potential in this country. Our ambition is to develop an important network in the country thanks to our global portfolio of brands covering all segments, from luxury to midscale and economy. According to Irans Chief of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Masoud Soltanifar, investing in the tourism sector has become one of the priorities of the Iranian authorities. The government has provided a series of incentives through the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) including a 50 per cent full term tax reduction on income, loan structure and eligibility for government funding and property ownership rights. Other hotel operators have also seen the potential and entered the market already. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management has signed management agreements for four hotels in Iran two in Tehran (opening in 2018) and two in Mashad (opening in 2017). Melia Hotels International is planning to open a 319-room hotel in 2017 on the Caspian Sea, with investment coming from a third party, and German hospitality company, Steigenberger Hotel Group, is set to build 10 hotels in different parts of Iran over the next 10 years. Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events and founder of IHTIC, said: I greatly enjoy pioneering new markets; it started with IHIF in Berlin 20 years ago and has continued right through to the Iran Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference in 2017. I believe in Irans hospitality potential and whilst breaking new ground is risky with numerous obstacles, those that are first-to-market will no doubt benefit from healthy ROIs and relationships with both local partners, investors and authorities alike. The Iran Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference will take place on February 7 and 8, 2017, at the Parsian Evin Hotel in Tehran. - TradeArabia News Service BILLINGS -- Exxon Mobil Corp. will pay $12 million under a settlement to cover natural resource damages from the 2011 oil spill beneath the Yellowstone River near Laurel. State and federal officials gathered Wednesday morning a few hundred yards from site of Exxons Silvertip Pipeline break to announce not only the settlement, but also a draft restoration plan. The July 2011 spill dumped 63,000 gallons of oil into the runoff-swollen Yellowstone, killing wildlife and fouling river banks for 80 miles. "Those injuries are significant," said John Cruden assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Animals died, thousands of acres of land impacted. The entire river system here is in fact endangered by what was happening in a relatively short period of time." The disaster sparked changes to federal pipeline law and prompted Montana to reassess all pipelines beneath state waterways. Cleanup from the spill is over. The goal of the restoration plan is to improve spill-affected areas for humans and wildlife. The proposal is posted online for public comment. The restoration plan actually says here is where that money will go,' so individuals can see exactly whats going to happen to make sure we restore what we lost as a result of Silvertip, said Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. A U.S. District Court in Montana must approve the settlement terms. If the settlement is approved, Montana would receive $9.5 million. The remaining $2.5 million would go to the federal government. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox said the state of Montana had pursued a restoration plan under the Oil Pollution Act. The purpose of the Oil Pollution Act is to make the environment and the public whole for injuries to natural resources and natural resource services resulting from oil spill, Fox said. The money isnt intended to fund a second cleanup, Fox and Bullock emphasized, but rather to restore or replace what was lost to the spill with an equivalent remedy. Over $3 million of the settlement money is slated for improving wildlife habitat along the Yellowstone, Fox said. Another $2 million would be dedicate to improving fish habitat. Another $2.5 million will be used to compensate the community for lost recreation opportunities during the oil spill cleanup. The Silvertip Pipeline disaster isnt the first instance for which Montana has sought restoration for environmental damage by industry. Fox cited restoration of the Blackfoot River mining complex, East Helena, the Anaconda Smelter and the Butte Hill as previous examples. Including this proposed settlement, since 1999 the Department of Justice has secured almost $250 million in settlement funds from the responsible parties to help restore and replace Montanas injured natural resources, Fox said. Investigators concluded that the 2011 Silvertip Pipeline was exposed on the river bottom at the time it broke. Exxon had months earlier reported that the pipeline was safely buried at least 12 feet beneath the riverbed. Scouring flood waters are believed to have exposed the pipe. Since 2011, major petroleum companies have bored pipelines at least 35 feet beneath Montana riverbeds. Other pipeline companies like Wyoming-based True Oil did not follow suit. In January 2015, True Oils Bridger Pipeline upstream from Glendive ruptured beneath the Yellowstone, sending 30,000 gallons into the frozen river. Like Silvertip, the Bridger Pipeline was later determined to be bare on the river bottom. The Bridger Pipeline was also assumed to be buried beneath the river. Early on, Exxon estimated its cleanup costs to be $135 million. After the Silvertip Pipeline disaster, then Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer called for a risk assessment of pipelines beneath Montana waterways. Gov. Bullock, who took office in 2013 pressed the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to dedicate another pipeline inspector to Montana. The state had only one. Bullock was also a supporter of the now dead Keystone XL pipeline and sees a need to move oil and gas safely out of state. They Keystone would have crossed beneath the Yellowstone River not far from the Bridger Pipeline break. "We need to get our products to market, yet recognize that we also need to do so in a way that means we're safe as possible," Bullock said. The State Land Board, comprised of Bullock, Fox and three other statewide elected officials, has made a policy of requiring pipelines to be located deep underground when crossing state land, including waterways. Pipeline shutoff valves are now located closer to river crossing so that the volume of oil spilled can be reduced. Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, recently welcomed youth participants of the first Bahrain International Airport Summer Programme at the company's headquarters in Muharraq. The airline provided them with a tour of its headquarters, as well as an aircraft site visit which included interactive discussion on the national carriers history in Bahrain and the region. Bahrain International Airport inaugurated its first summer programme which will be an annual event for school students to promote a series of educational and interactive learning activities amongst an important segment of the society. Gulf Air was chosen as a key part of the programme in recognition of its longstanding and renowned contribution to the regions aviation history and its role in support of the local community. Members of the airline participated in the programme and provided information of airline business and airline engineering. - TradeArabia News Service One of the world's most popular search engines is bound to face almost $400 million bill for allegedly avoiding payments and paying only 0.1% of the taxes they owed in 2015, according to Reuters. Reuters reported that investigators went to Google's local office in Indonesia on Monday and as what Google released for their statement about the issue last week, they insisted that they have paid all their taxes for the said year and that they have been cooperating with local authorities regarding the issue. According to Muhammad Hanif,head of the tax office's special cases branch, Google declined to be audited in June which urged them to file a criminal case against Google. If Google will be proven guilty regarding the tax issue, they will have to pay 5.5 trillion rupiah or $418 Million for 2015 alone which is up to four times of the original amount the company owed. "Google's argument is that they just did tax planning. Tax planning is legal, but aggressive tax planning-- to the extent that the country where the revenue is made does not get anything-- is not legal." Hanif added. The tax office is also planning to file criminal cases against other companies that deliver online content in Indonesia, as stated by WSJ news. An accounting professor at Warwick Business School in Britain said that Indonesia's move to pursue Google regarding tax issues show that the international tax rides must be turning as he told Reuters. Crawford Spence also mentioned that Google settled a probe with Britain's tax authority and paid 130 million pounds ($185 million) in back taxes in January. On the other hand, Yustinus Prastowo, executive director of the Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis said it is likely that Google will also soon settle the back taxes before the court makes its decision on the issue since tax-related cases usually takes up to three years to be resolved. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 In 2017, April 10 to be exact, Australian Airlines will link Vienna to Los Angeles, according to Business Traveller. Australian Airlines will start their non-stop service with their Boeing 777 and link Central Europe to US West coast, featuring 48 business class seats and 260 economy seats to travelers. As per businesstraveller.com, the service will start from five times a week daily except Tuesday and Sunday from April 10 to June 12 and will be upgraded to a daily frequency from June 13 onwards. "We will fly to the West Coast with our existing fleet and are already very excited about this new venture. Initially, the Los Angeles-Vienna route will be served seasonally in the summer 2017 flight schedule," said Andreas Otto, Austrian's Chief Commercial Officer, as stated in BreakingTravel News. Los Angeles is the sixth new flight destination in the United States for Australian Airlines after Chicago, Newark and Miami, and seventh in North America, according to Australian Airlines. They also said that this is one of the company's biggest leap since this will be a lot beneficial to their customers in shortening their travel time and effort. Before, travelers have had to change planes. But with the new flight route, flight block to Los Angeles will be reduced to 12 hrs and 30 mins, and 11 hrs and 55 mins to Vienna, Business Travellers shared. The new flight will operate as follows: OS81 Vienna to Los Angeles departing 10:00AM arriving 1:30PMOS82 Los Angeles to Vienna departing 3:05PM arriving 12:00PM (+1 day) See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Our Montana Supreme Court is the last stop for deciding the most important legal questions in Montana. Its important we get those right not just for the parties involved in a particular case, but for anyone else, present or future, who will be affected by the precedent that case sets. Thats why its vital our Montana Supreme Court be made up of experts from a breadth of different legal fields. Justices with a variety of backgrounds inside and outside of a courtroom. Most of the justices currently serving on the Supreme Court come from government. And while its important to have government expertise on the Court, we need to balance that with justices experienced in the legal issues affecting everyday Montanans. Thats the type of experience I want to bring to the Court. Ive practiced law for 34 years, working with Montanas small business owners, farmers, and ranchers to resolve the wide variety of legal problems they regularly face. I brought that practical experience into the classroom as a professor at the UM School of Law, teaching property, business, and agricultural law. Im a fourth generation Montanan raised on my familys ranch near Conrad. My parents, Rib and Pat Gustafson, taught me the values of hard work, honesty, independence, and common sense. I understand that Montanas economic engine is powered by agriculture, main street businesses, and natural resource production. We need a legal environment in which Montana businesses and families can thrive. I am committed to legal stability and predictability. The Court is not a legislative body; it should rarely announce new rules of law or depart from judicial precedent. Yet our current court has a reputation for being inconsistent. It reversed itself over 100 times between 1990 and 2000 (Renz, Mont. Law Rev 2004) and another 73 times the following decade (Natelson, Montana Policy Institute 2012). In 2012 it was reversed twice by the U.S. Supreme Court within a span of a few months. That type of judicial inconsistency is a big part of the reason why Montana has been ranked in the bottom tier of states for our business legal environment. The unpredictability in our legal environment has real consequences. It means its harder for an entrepreneur to start a business in Montana, more expensive to run one, and more difficult to create jobs. I dont come with a political agenda. My objective is to bring consistent and impartial judicial interpretations of the laws adopted by the legislature so that Montanans can make informed choices in managing their affairs. Experience matters, and Im ready to put mine to work. Kristen Gustafson Juras is a candidate for the Montana Supreme Court. She is a professor of law at the University of Montana and a practicing attorney. She lives in Great Falls with her husband John Juras. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. HAMILTON A new Libertarian candidate for Montanas lone Congressional seat was selected Wednesday as county clerks and recorders across the state scrambled to reprint ballots following the death of Mike Fellows in a car crash Monday near Potomac. Rick Breckenridge of Proctor was selected as the partys statewide candidate by the Ravalli County Libertarian Central Committee because the county has the only elected Libertarian central committee in the state. Breckenridge replaces long-time Libertarian standard-bearer Fellows to take on incumbent Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, and Denise Juneau, a Democrat. The papers should be filed by the end of the day, said David Merrick of Corvallis, the temporary state chair of the Montana Libertarian Party. Breckenridge, 57, has been a professional land surveyor since 1994. He currently shares a practice with his son. My other son is a land surveyor in Hawaii, he said. My great grandfather, grandfather, father and now my sons were all surveyors. He also served 17 years with the U.S Army and Army Reserves. He resigned his captains commission after being severely injured in an automobile accident. I wasnt going to lead from the rear, Breckenridge said. Breckenridge said he became interested in politics after he began to follow the career of Libertarian Ron Paul. In 2009, he ran for the chair of the Montana Republican Party against Will Deschamps. I kind of figured out where the Libertarian-leaning Republicans fell in the scheme of things, he said. I got about 38 percent of the vote. It gave me a good barometer of where we stood. Ronald Reagan said libertarianism is the soul of the Republican Party. I figured that the Republican Party had lost its soul. Breckenridge said hes been frustrated with the direction the GOP has taken since then. As an example, he points to the state Legislatures decision to overturn an initiative passed by voters to allow the use of medical marijuana in the state. You cant overturn the will of the people, Breckenridge said. There were 151 people who thought they knew more than the 500,000 electors in the state of Montana. Im sick and tired of the Republican Party and its antics. Thats tyranny. Breckenridge said it was Fellows who first called him a RINO (Republican in Name Only). He said, Come on, Rick. Youre a Libertarian, Breckenridge said. At first, that hurt my feelings, but then I saw he was right. So, I guess you can blame this on Mike. Quite frankly, I have always respected his tenacity and perseverance to keep the Libertarian Party on the ballot, he said. Fellows, who had been suffering health problems, died when his car collided head-on with another as he was returning from a candidate forum in Seeley Lake. Merrick said Wednesday that hes been working with organizers of a Congressional debate planned for Monday to ensure that Breckenridge will be included. Breckenridge said hes not worried about finding himself on the debate stage with such short notice. Libertarianism is pretty straight forward, he said. You dont have to make up stories you just do what is right because it is right. Meanwhile, Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder Regina Plettenberg said her office is focused on getting ballots reprinted to include the name of the new Libertarian candidate. Most of my ballots were done, Plettenberg said. This is a big issue for almost every election office around the state. It looks like were all going to have to reprint. In Ravalli County, that means about 40,000 ballots will reprinted. By the time all of the costs are added up, including employee overtime, Plettenberg expects the bill to be close to $15,000. Its going to throw a lot of things behind, she said. Its a huge thing. Its worrisome to election administrators because we have so many state and federal deadlines that we have to meet. For instance, the ballots for members of the military are supposed to go out Friday. I know the secretary of state is trying to get an extension, but I havent heard if its been approved yet, Plettenberg said. Theres a lot of stuff up in the air. Merrick said he was only able to reach nine of the 11 members of the Ravalli County Libertarian Central Committee on Wednesday, but all agreed Brekenridge should replace Fellows. As the only elected central committee in the state, the secretary of states office said we would be the people to decide, Merrick said. Plettenberg was happy to hear that the Libertarian Party had been quick to find a replacement candidate. Thats really good news, she said. They had until Monday. I was sort of fearful that it would take that long to find someone willing to do something that big. Im very grateful for the party that they didnt wait until the very last minute. The Helena City Commission on Wednesday agreed to consider a resolution encouraging absolute protection of the Smith River from mining activities. The decision to consider the resolution on Oct. 17 was supported by three commissioners: Robert Farris-Olsen, who proposed the resolution, Ed Noonan and Andres Haladay. The resolution states any proposed mining activities that could potentially affect the health and vitality of the Smith River should be viewed skeptically and should not be permitted unless the applicant can demonstrate with 100 percent certainty that the proposal will not harm the river. Farris-Olsen said he would revise the wording to say "absolute" certainty instead of "100 percent." Commissioner Dan Ellison said he was uncomfortable telling other elected bodies how they should function and the commission telling the state how to do its job. Ellison also questioned focusing on conservation issues outside of the commissions jurisdiction. The Smith River is located in Meagher County, and White Sulphur Springs, the nearest town to the proposed mine, is more than 70 miles from Helena. The Black Butte Copper Project proposed by Tintina Resources Inc., based in Canada and controlled by Australian-based Sandfire Resources, would take place near the river. On Monday, Tintina Resources submitted its response to the deficiencies noted in its proposal by the state Department of Environmental Quality. The state has 30 days to respond to deficiencies contained in 62 pages of concerns identified by the DEQ. While this first deficiency review is extensive, many of the comments fall under the category of needed corrections and clarifications, which dramatically increased the length of this letter, stated the DEQs introduction to the noted deficiencies. Mayor Jim Smith expressed uncertainty with the language about absolute certainty and asked if DEQs issuance of a permit would provide the certainty sought by Farris-Olsen. Whether absolute certainty would be met, Farris-Olsen explained, would depend on the language of the mining permit. The proposed mine has the potential to impact more than the river, he continued and said the resolution was intended to be sure Helena businesses were not harmed. Mining in Montana has a history of devastating rivers, Farris-Olsen said, and added this isnt just about White Sulphur Springs. Its about Helenas economy. Noonan lent his support to advancing the resolution for more discussion and said his perspective was shaped by having grown up a couple of blocks from Silver Bow Creek. Since the late 1800s, mining crews dumped mining wastes into on-site streams and wetlands near mining operations. These activities contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water with heavy metals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency website that discusses the agencys Superfund Program that includes about 26 miles of stream and streamside habitat. Noonan said he grew up playing in the sludge of the creek and added it wasnt for the city commission to show that the mine will harm the Smith River but for the mining company to show that the mine wont degrade the river. John Shanahan, Tintina president and CEO, was at the commission meeting, as was Nancy Schlepp, the companys public relations director. Shanahan, who now lives in Helena, told the commission he was involved in an underground copper and silver mine in Lincoln County from 2008 until the middle of 2015. Low metal prices halted mining, he said. My experiences have shown that through responsible development, through modern mining techniques and a lot of just care, you can have both, he said of mining and the environment. The mine was located about a mile from a proposed wilderness area, he noted. A tailings facility was near a critical bull trout stream, he said and added, At the end of the day, to know that a mining operation was there for 30 years and had no detrimental effect on the environment is pretty important and makes you feel very good about what you do. What attracted me from those experiences at Revett (Mining), what attracted me to come and join this company was to know you can do it and you can do it correctly and you can have both. People in Meagher County can have jobs the rest of the country and Montana can in fact recreate and enjoy the beauty and the pristine nature of the area, Shanahan said. Thats the challenge, and I believe the way that this company has evolved, I certainly believe that the way that this projects been designed you can have both. He asked to allow DEQ to complete its process and said no one in the room wants to see any degradation of the Smith River or Sheep Creek. They may come back and say, Im sorry, it just isnt possible and we would accept that, Shanahan said of what the outcome of the DEQ review may be. And if DEQ gives its approval, the next step will be preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement that will take 12 months and offer additional opportunity for public comment, he continued. Among those who raised concerns about the proposed mine was Jim Jensen, executive director for the Montana Environmental Information Center. I have been involved in environmental protection work here in Montana for nearly 40 years. And I have heard this exact, same speech from every mine developer for all of those years. We have new technology and well be fine, Jensen said. Modern mining, whether its modern in 1976 or 77 or whether its modern today, theyre all the most modern. I went to the Zortman and Landusky site before mining began there. Many of the same consulting firms worked for Pegasus (Gold, Inc.) that are now working on this Black Butte project, and they made the representations that things would be fine. Hydrometrics wrote in the record there is no possibility of acid mine drainage at Zortman and Landusky. Yet its one of the worst cases of acid mine drainage in the history of mining in North America, he asserted. He was one of the best scientists in Montana at the time, Jensen continued. These people were not lying. They were making representations based upon their belief, but it is the consistent and undeniable truth that every single mine has had problems beyond what the developers had anticipated and what they had disclosed, he said. Jensen noted the very large-scale, extremely well managed and responsible copper mining by Montana Resources in Butte and that by Stillwater Mining south of Big Timber and Nye as he spoke of community values. However, he also said the community has placed higher values on the inherent and intrinsic worth an the economic activities surrounding rivers such as the Smith and Blackfoot. The city commission is expected to act and be part of the voice when there are differences on values, Jensen said. Values are played out in the political arena, he added and called for the commission to move forward with its consideration of the resolution. BUTTE -- Hiring apprentices could pay off for businesses and students working in a trade. Gov. Steve Bullock on Wednesday announced his proposal to give tax credits to businesses who hire apprentices as a way to beef up the growing demand for skilled laborers in the workforce. An employer would earn a $1,000 tax credit for every apprentice hired. For every apprentice hired who is also a military veteran, the employer would earn a $2,000 tax credit, Bullock told a gathering of about 200 educators, and industry and government leaders at Montana Tech. They are in town for a workforce symposium aimed at adequately preparing the states in-demand workers. Its an incentive to not only create apprenticeship programs, but to also get vets (hired), said Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney. The governors tax credit proposal has received considerable bipartisan support. Bullock calls apprentices who learn from business mentors real-world learning, an education catch phrase that provides relevant training to students that make sense when or before they graduate and enter the working world. Bullock plans to present the proposal to the 2017 Legislature, added Cooney. Due to an aging workforce, Montana businesses will be hard-pressed to find enough workers with the right skills, knowledge and training to fill good-paying, in-demand jobs, officials said. This presents us with an opportunity an opportunity to invest in Montana workers, said Bullock. To find innovative ways to bridge gaps that have made it difficult for businesses to find the right workers, with the right qualifications. Montana has the fifth-highest percentage in the nation of people age 65 and older, state chief economist Barbara Wagner told the symposium attendees earlier in the week. That age group accounts for over 17 percent of the population, according to 2015 U.S. Census reports. Meanwhile, the trades account for about 20 percent of total future demand for workers, said Wagner. New jobs, turnover and retirements are included in that forecast. The consolidated push for expanding apprenticeship programs in both traditional and nontraditional fields sets the state ahead of the curve, said David D. Etzwiler of the Siemens Foundation, a national science, technology, engineering and math leader. Etzwiler hailed Montana as a leading partner and champion for work-place learning. Notably, Montana has one of the nations first workforce directors in Kirk Lacy. He represents the Montana University System and the Department of Labor and Industry. Work-based learning formerly called on-the-job training boosts worker retention, productivity and return on investment for workers willing to enter the workforce pipeline, said Bullock. I think work-based learning can be part of the equation, he added. Apoorvanand PRAKASH Karat's recent declaration that the Bharatiya Janata Party can at best be called authoritarian but never fascist, at least at this stage of its evolution, may seem at first like a very superficial stirring of an old semantic debate on the nature of the Indian right wing. Such a formulation, however, does have implications for many aspects of the Indian left movement, including its ability to mobilise a broad section of the Indian public against the jingoist and chauvinist politics of the Sangh Parivar. According to Karat, it would be premature to name the present BJP regime as fascist and therefore, there is no need to go for the broadest united political front against it. In other words, we are a normal competitive parliamentary polity and the BJP is only one more of its participants, that can be contained by the rules of the current system Karat happily quotes the definition of fascism, forged in the Thirteen plenum of the Communist International, as the open terrorist dictatorship of the most reactionary, most chauvinistic and most imperialist elements of finance capital. Yet he denies, in the same breath, the idea that we are indeed in an era where the rule of finance capital is at its destructive worst, both globally and also nationally. As Georgi Dimitrov, well-known leader of the Communist International, said a few years before the Nazis marched into the rest of Europe, the rise of fascism in Germany was in no small measure due to the complacence of the German communists. Karat, by denying its fascist characteristics, is playing a similar role of making the Indian public complacent about the Sangh Parivar-backed BJP regime. It would be useful to recall Umberto Eco's essay Ur-Fascism, in which he asks us not to look for historical parities while recognising political movements like the RSS or BJP as fascist because ...fascism had no quintessence. Fascism was a fuzzy totalitarianism, a collage of different philosophical and political ideas, a beehive of contradictions. The signs are all around, the jobless growth of the last two decades, pauperisation of both manufacturing and agriculture, the diversion of productive funds to pure speculation through the stock and real estate markets, the looting of public funds by business houses in cahoots with politicians. If one were to even casually observe the levels of misery India's working classes and ordinary citizens have been pushed to by economic policies meant to benefit only the top 1per cent of the country's population it is not difficult to see the similarities between current-day India and Germany of the 1930s. Finance capital in its purest form has no relation with the objective world, production processes or even markets as was the case with industrial capitalism. It operates on the principles of pure magic appearing and disappearing at will manipulated by a handful of money managers who have the power to whimsically define what is money itself or what is worth. In the process, the tsunami of global capital swirling around the world both seduces and atomises us at the same time. It evokes greed at one level but also injects a deep sense of insecurity that we might lose the ground beneath our feet anytime without notice. Since our regular economic activity has now lost meaning or the power to be the definitive source of our identity, it has to be something else. Struggle gives us dignity but it seems impossible to struggle against the phantom of finance capital. Organisations of the times of industrial capital start dissolving under the glare of finance capital and new sources of associations are to be found. Powerless and lonely, we feel trivial, insignificant and impoverished in all senses. This is the time when the impoverished masses are supplied with an identifiable source of their privation. In Germany, the Jews became the enemies of the German people and now in France or the USA it is the immigrant. In India of our times, it is the figure of Muslim or Christian, Bangladeshi infiltrators or anti-national at large who are the enemies. Be it Hitler or Le Pen or Donald Trump, it is largely the subalterns who form their support base. Also, one has to understand that these social groups who are otherwise treated as subhuman gain respectability by enacting violence on behalf of those who want these "vermin" liquidated but would not like to soil their hands. Fascism becomes a real movement, through which large groups achieve an agency and even larger groups a sense of satisfaction. In India, the cow-protectors are the kind of people who would never get respect other than by protecting the Hinduness of Indian society and getting elevated as its patrons. Economics does give us a background of the rise of fascism but in itself it is not an adequate explanation of the seductive power of the idea of fascism. Fascism is a sublimating force. It pulls the masses out of their state of morass, giving them a sense of purpose. A permanent state of violence, passive in long stretches, becomes normal and the victims themselves are held responsible for this. It has been observed historically that a great human cost has to be paid to pull the masses out of this spell of violent movement called fascism. Post-fascist societies keep suffering from a sense of guilt for the decisions of their predecessors. It is therefore important that we keep vigil and at the slightest sign of emergence of such a political force, gather all our resources to keep it at bay and not let it get injected into the organs of the body politic. It is this wisdom, gained out of experience of genocide and holocaust, which motivated all political parties in France to sink their differences, withdraw their candidates and ask their constituencies to vote for a much-loathed President Jacques Chirac in 2002. Or, more recently, a Bernie Sanders, despite his radical economic views very different from those of Hillary Clinton, to appeal to all his voters to rally behind her to keep Trump away from the White House. In his study of the Indian fascism, Jairus Banaji says that here the number and scale of pogroms has far exceeded what Germany saw in the Weimar period. Through a series of violent acts against Muslims and Christians, which has now acquired an everydayness sans the theatricality of mass-murders, the culture of communalism is now as widespread as was anti-Semitism in Germany and as insidious. Active state legitimisation and patronage of this culture of violence makes it vicious and unbeatable. From the point of view of the persecuted communities, there can be nothing more urgent than to take state power out of the hands of this politics and all political forces to immediately unite against the BJP. Who are they then, who do not share this sense of urgency? The writer is a Professor in the Department of Hindi, Delhi University. NO one in India is surprised that Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should have made extensive references to Kashmir during his speech at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Expectedly, he accused India of unleashing state terrorism on the hapless Kashmiris and demanded plebiscite for them. He allowed himself to hail young terrorist leader Burhan Wani. Neither his belligerence nor his distorted narrative has surprised anyone. Never mind Nawaz Sharifs historical, geographical and diplomatic contradictions. But he is way off the mark about Kashmir. The dominant narrative in the streets of Kashmir is for azadi, which implies that no India, no Pakistan, but independence. He projected himself to be speaking for the people of Kashmir, but none of them has given him the power of attorney to speak or propose a Kashmir resolution on their behalf. Azadi is an anathema to Pakistan because then it will have to vacate all territories of this Himalayan state under its illegal occupation. Azadi is an occasional dream for many Kashmiris, but it is a recurring nightmare for Pakistan. Nawaz was eloquent in his support for peaceful protests in the Kashmir Valley. He maintained a deafening silence as to how these peaceful protesters get stone and petrol bombs. And when he praised young Wani, he clearly painted himself in the terrorist corner. His each word on Kashmir was an unequivocal support for violence; and the speech was a long invitation and an incitement to unrest in Kashmir. Even his Srinagar to Sopore definition of the Valley was reflective of ill-information on the Valleys geography, demography and history. Pakistan premiers speech was all sound and fury, signifying nothing. The Pakistani leaders lament that his country itself was a victim of terrorism would find very few takers; his governments inability or unwillingness to clamp down on assorted jehadi outfits is too well known and too well documented. His focus on Kashmir was meant to distract the emerging diplomatic consensus on declaring Pakistan a terror state. India should continue its diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan in every single international forum. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 22 Acting on a petition alleging improper collection of samples for checking beef in biryani, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear to the state that it was required to comply with the legal provisions. The developments took place on a petition filed by advocate Haseen against Haryana and other respondents. The Mewat advocate was seeking directions to the Gau Sewa Ayog and the government against targeting roadside vendors in the district on suspicion of serving beef in biryani. The police had collected samples of biryani from vendors and sent them for testing. Terming the action as biryani policing in a district with a significant Muslim population, advocate Haseen said collecting biryani samples from vendors was not only unconstitutional, but also aimed at terrorising the minority community. Haseen had added biryani policing was a brazen attempt to polarise communities and fuel sectarian violence. Taking up the matter, the Division Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Lisa Gil asked the state counsel to seek instructions on the matter, while making it clear proper procedure for sample collection was required to be followed. BILLINGS -- The death on Monday of Mike Fellows, a Libertarian candidate for Montana's U.S. House seat, has triggered a scramble in county election offices to determine how best to update the general election ballots. In Yellowstone County, the states largest county, officials are considering re-printing about 90,000 ballots at an estimated cost of $30,000. Chief Deputy County Attorney Dan Schwarz said Wednesday the issue will be discussed with county commissioners Monday. Yellowstone Countys general election ballots are being printed and list Fellows as the Libertarian Party candidate in the House race. Fellows, 59, of Missoula, died in a two-vehicle crash near Potomac on Monday night. He had participated in a Monday night forum hosted by Seeley Lake Community Council. Rick Breckenridge of Proctor was selected Wednesday as Fellows' replacement on the ballot. Breckenridge will take on incumbent Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, and Denise Juneau, a Democrat. Fellows chaired the Montana Libertarian Party and was on the board of the Libertarian National Committee. He was a frequent but unsuccessful candidate. Fellows ran for office every other year since 1996, when he ran for the Montana House. He ran for the U.S. House in 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010; for Secretary of State in 2000 and for the clerk of the Montana Supreme Court in 2012. Schwarz said he and Bret Rutherford, the countys election administrator, participated in a conference call with the Montana Secretary of States office and other county election officials late Tuesday afternoon to discuss what to do about the ballots. Rutherford was out of the office Wednesday. There were a number of scenarios discussed on how to address the situation, Schwarz said. The consensus was to simply reprint the ballots, he said. Yellowstone County believes the prudent response is to reprint the ballots to avoid legal problems down the road, Schwarz said. Secretary of State Linda McCulloch was unavailable for comment on Wednesday. Schwarz said Yellowstone County is in a better position to reprint ballots than other counties because its election office keeps a surplus of ballot paper stock on hand for emergencies. Its still going to be expensive and not be easy, Schwarz said. Other counties may not have a surplus of ballot paper readily available, he said. In addition, Yellowstone County already has mailed about 350 ballots to voters serving in the military, he said. The county is working on how to address the situation with the military ballots, Schwarz said. Voter registration for the Nov. 8 general election closes on Oct. 11 and late, in-person registration begins on Oct. 12. Absentee ballots are to be mailed on Oct. 14. Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 22 The Special Investigating Team set up by the Haryana Police to probe the Murthal case today virtually confirmed rape. Appearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the SIT in charge said there was progress in the probe and she would give a clearer picture after receiving reports from the forensic science laboratory in another 15 days. She was referring to DNA mapping of five accused arrested in connection with the case. Appearing before the Division Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Lisa Gil, SIT in charge Mamta Singh said the FSL reports were awaited. Once the reports come, we will give a clearer picture. We are working on that, she said. Her statement is significant as it indicates that rape had indeed taken place; and the issue before the SIT now was connecting the accused with the offence by matching the suspects DNA samples with the undergarments strewn in the fields of Murthal. On the previous date of hearing, the state had admitted that evidence suggesting rape had surfaced during police investigations in the Murthal case. Less than six months after it had claimed that the undergarments were of tribals, it had taken a u-turn to say that the clothes could have been of rape victims. The court was also told that five accused were being subjected to DNA mapping. The matter was placed before the Bench after two Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court separately took suo motu cognizance of a news report carried in these columns on the alleged sexual assault on women. As the case came up for resumed hearing this afternoon, senior advocate Anupam Gupta, however, took strong exception of the SITs decision against sharing information with him in his capacity as the amicus curiae or friend of the Court. Gupta said the SIT was keeping information regarding the probe away from him though he had given them the lead. Gupta said the tapes and other evidence were provided to the SIT by him. But when it came to sharing information, it sought the Benchs permission for in-chamber proceedings. The attempt was to keep him in the dark so that the SIT could get away with its slow progress in the matter and to sanitise the evidence surfacing before it during the probe. Rachna Khaira Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 21 A key of a two-wheeler at the incident site made the Jalandhar police crack the high-profile double-murder case in the Model Town area barely five hours after the gruesome incident took place. The police arrested Vishal and Satish Pal who, along with an unidentified man, killed a woman and her servant of the affluent Handa family in the city on Tuesday night. Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla said the incident was planned by Ankush, an old servant of the Handa family. Prithvi Pal Handa owns a dairy and an apparel store in the upmarket Model Town area here. Shukla said Ankush was expelled from his job after he failed to return Rs 10,000 he had taken as advance money from Handa around two months ago. Later, he, along with his brother Vishal and two accomplices, made a plan to loot the Handa family to take revenge. Vishal, who was working in a shop opposite the Handas dairy, informed Ankush, Malkit and Satish Pal that Prithvi Pals wife Sujata was alone at home. Even before committing the crime, they had planned to kill Sujata and her servant as they both would have recognised them. Also, they had planned to take away the servants body to make it appear as if it was he only who had committed the crime and ran away. But their entire plan failed when Sujatas son Jatin suddenly returned home unexpectedly, said Shukla. The police had cordoned off the crime scene and had turned it into a mini-cantonment at night. Shukla was himself leading the investigation along with the team. It was only around midnight that they recovered a cap with some hair and a key of a two-wheeler from the site. Assuming it to be that of the miscreants, the police immediately began to check all two-wheelers parked in the area. It was only after much effort that they managed to unlock a scooter with the key recovered from the site. The scooter (Honda Maestro) was registered in the name of accused Vishals father. The police managed to trace the owner and arrested two of the accused in no time. The search for the other two accused is on. The police said that all accused in the case were aged between 20 and 25 and had been involved in many crime incidents in the past two years. Last year, the accused had set an apparel store of Handas on fire with the purpose of looting the cash lying inside the shop. Tribune News Service Jammu, September 22 Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, is going to organise Natya Samagama from September 24 to September 28 in Jammu. It is aimed at presenting contemporary theatre practices, traditions and diverse cultural expressions of the country. The festival is being organised in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Suman Kumar, deputy secretary (drama), while addressing a press conference today, said this was the third in the series of the Natya Samagama festivals, the earlier being held at Agartala in March 2015 and Delhi in January this year. The state of Jammu and Kashmir with its diversity in cultural and socio-religious contexts is an important venue for the Akademi which endeavours to reach out to the masses. He also said a special programme Meet the Director at KL Saigal Hall would be a part of the festival every morning so the local theatre artists and aspiring actors, designers may get an opportunity to interact with the invited well-known directors. Theatre performance from Ladakh will also be showcased in the festival. The festival will be live webcast on the Akademis website www.sangeetnatak.gov.in. Balwant Thakurs play Bawa Jitto will also be a part of the festival. Other participating directors include Bansi Kaul, Zafar Sanjari, Kewal Dhaliwal, Rajkamal Nayak and Arjun Deo Charan. JKAACL Additional Secretary Arvinder Singh Amn said the festival venue, Abhinav Theatre, was ready to showcase performances of 600 artists, including the Bhand Pather groups from Kashmir, folk performing artists of Jammu and surrounding regions apart from contemporary theatre groups from Raipur, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Amritsar, Ranchi, Mumbai, Hissar and Gwalior. Samaan Lateef Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 22 Politically charged sermons and sloganeering in Kashmir mosques are at an ebb as the state government has cracked the whip on clerics and caretakers of mosques which have become the centre of protests in the past two and a half months. At several places, clerics were found to be delivering politically charged sermons during the Friday congregational prayers, triggering protests and clashes with security forces personnel. Mosque microphones were being used by persons throughout Kashmir to play taranas (pro-Pakistan slogans) to maintain the tempo of protests sparked by the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. As the intensity of stone-throwing went down after Eid on September 13, politically motivated Friday sermons and sloganeering in mosques had put the biggest challenge before the state government to maintain law and order in the Kashmir valley. After the state government started profiling of clerics and caretakers of mosques used for anti-state activities in the first week of September, mosques had become calm at most places. At a mosque in Srinagar, a cleric who used to deliver politically charged sermons was found teaching Arabic grammar during congregational prayers last Friday. Mosques which had been resonating with pro-Pakistan sloganeering in Srinagar and some towns had become silent after the police brought clerics for questioning. The intensity of sloganeering in Baramulla mosques has gone down drastically in the past one week. We can now hear sloganeering in just a mosque or two, said Mushtaq Sofi of Baramulla. The state government had started profiling of all clerics, caretakers and committees of mosques in Kashmir with special emphasis on those mosques where taranas were being played to arouse anti-India passions. To avoid police-public face-offs, the state government had handed over the task of profiling to the civil administration in various districts. Clerics at several places have been inciting residents to protest. We have profiled them and brought many to police stations for questioning. This has helped us bring peace to the Valley to a great extent, said a Home Department official. He said the clergy would be profiled and put under surveillance in order to avoid any activity which could whip up passions. He said taranas played in mosques had added fuel to the protests. We have been successful in putting an end to it by arresting the youth involved in it and sounding mosque committees, he said. Tribune News Service Jammu, September 22 Kashmiri Pandit employees, engaged under the Prime Ministers employment package, today protested against the apathetic attitude of the government. They alleged that the government was pressurising them to resume their duty in Kashmir despite unrest and ransacking of their transit camps. They claimed that several employees had been informed on the phone to join their duty in the Valley, alleging that they had been threatened that their salaries would not be released if they did not join their duty. Under the banner of the All Migrant Employees Association Kashmir, Pandits said the government was blackmailing them. Holding banners and placards, hundreds of aggrieved employees raised slogans against the silence of the government towards their plight. We are the citizens of this country and have every right to seek justice. We have faced a lot of hardships during the long period of migration and today we are again at the crossroads due to the recent attacks in Kashmir, said Rubin Saproo, an employee. Another employee, Rajesh Bhat, said: It is unfortunate that not a single representative from the government visited us. This shows how much the government is serious about dealing with the issues of migrants. After a series of attacks by mobs on transit camps at Haal in Pulwama and Vessu in Anantnag following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, a majority of Pandit employees shifted to Jammu as a result of which the education of their children has suffered. My two children are studying in a private school in Anantnag. Since the past three months, they are here in Jammu. Their education has suffered badly and we are feeling frustrated as we are not sure about their future in the Valley, said one of the protesters. Making an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the protesting employees said that consideration should be given to their problems and they should be adjusted outside Kashmir. As many as 2,000 youth, who had volunteered to return back to the Valley in 2010 under the Prime Ministers employment package and non-migrant Hindus, are disturbed by the ongoing violence as it was after more than a decade that the community habitations were specifically targeted, especially in volatile south Kashmir. Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 22 While the Army on Thursday claimed to have foiled two fresh infiltration bids, a militant was killed in the first anti-militancy operation in Kashmir in past over two months. The gun fight in north Kashmirs Bandipora district began on Thursday morning when joint teams of police and Army cordoned Argam Chiti-Bandi, after an input about the presence of three to five militants in the area. As the search was launched, militants opened fire triggering a gun fight. In the exchange of fire one militant, believed to be a foreigner, was killed, police said. However, as the operation was underway in the village, there was a serious law-and-order problem and the forces had to call off the operation. There are reports that other militants may have escaped taking advantage of the situation. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) This was the first counter-insurgency operation undertaken in the Kashmir hinterland since the July 8 killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. His killing triggered a massive unrest in the Valley and the anti-militancy operations were halted due to the internal disturbances. The unrest has helped militants consolidate themselves in the Valley. Meanwhile, the Army foiled the latest infiltration bids in Nowgam sector in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. The Army has upped its vigil in view of the increased Pakistan-abetted infiltration attempts along the LoC. On Wednesday night, two groups trying to sneak in were intercepted and forced to retreat, an Army spokesman said in Srinagar. The two bids were foiled even as two other counter-infiltration operations continued for the third day in Uri and another in Nowgam sector. Havildar Madan Lal was killed in a gunfight on Tuesday while foiling an infiltration attempt in the Nowgam sector. Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 21 To strengthen the Jammu and Kashmir Police, particularly in view of the unrest in the Kashmir valley, the Centre today approved the recruitment of an additional 10,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) with immediate effect. There are 25,000 SPOs in the state already. The Centre had information suggesting that thousands of Kashmiri youths had opted for the job, despite a call by Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani to boycott recruitment rallies. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The government issued a statement which read: The additional SPOs will be utilised especially for security-related requirements. The reimbursement of expenditure to the state government by the Centre in respect of 10,000 SPOs will be as per the existing approved Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Guidelines. An SPO initially draws a salary of Rs 5,000 per month, Rs 5,300 on completion of one year and Rs 6,000 on completion of three years. The Centre is in the process of providing employment opportunities to 1.40 lakh youths in the state through various means, including skill development. Official sources said one lakh youths, mostly under-graduates, would be given job-oriented training under the Himayat scheme in the next five years. Were serious about punishing: Parrikar New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the government is serious about punishing those responsible for the Uri attack as it will not sleep over terror being pushed into India from across the border. He also dismissed reports about Pakistans threat of use of tactical nukes, saying that an empty vessel makes bigger noise. tns/pti Actor-producer Sonu Sood, who is busy promoting his film Tutak Tutak Tutiya, has come forward to support the upcoming Mumbai Juniorthon which is scheduled to be held in December. I would like to tell every kid to come out of their houses, leave your iPads and playstations.... It is time to run and make everyone proud. Fitness is one thing that should be fed to everyone from childhood itself. It will nurture a love for fitness in kids, Sonu said. The Mumbai Juniorthon is an annual running event for children and junior athletes in Mumbai. Sonu, who is known to have an uber fit physique, also said: Its a great thing for kids.IANS Manpriya Singh The only thing thatll get Chef Sweety (fondly called the Turban Chef) really talking is Punjabi food. Fusion fare, international food, nouvelle cuisinehes tried, tested, tasted it all but wont say a thing. I should be an expert before I actually render my opinion on anything, he warms up before taking a volley of questions on all things Punjabi. Starting with CITCOs The Great Punjab Food Fest, wherein he promises to let the guests in on some authenticity. I have brought to the city some of the select Punjabi dishes which were lost in time, apart from the ever popular ones. Butter chicken & tikka shikka So, where do we begin from? From butter chicken and dal makhni perhaps? Synonymous with Punjabi food! He rues, Unfortunately the world over, people think Punjabi cuisine is all about butter chicken and a few other dishes. There is something else that disturbs him deeply too. Even more unfortunate is the fact that the world over, theyve reduced the image of Punjabi food as a very rich food. Chefs over the years started adding lots of cream, artificial colours and tomato puree. As if thats not enough, they often top things with dollops of nuts, cashews and what not. All things truly Punjabi With the image of Punjabi food completely changed over the years and across the globe, he shares what the cuisine is about. Punjabis are extremely welcoming people. So, the core of any Punjabi food starts from home and it is essentially home cooked food. It is more about slow cooking and subtle flavours and inherent deliciousness rather than the rich creamy image we have cultivated over the years, all thanks to commercial places. Its the food that mother cooks at home. Slow fire, basic spices and some garam masala. Thats itAt most commercial places everything tastes the same. Chefs these days Cooking up Punjabi food since the age of 19 and the fact that his father used to run a dhaba, obviated the need for any formal training. Todays chefs learn whatever the academies teach them about food. They arent in touch with culinary history of the indigenous cuisines. Much of the time now is spent in organizing food festivals for star rated properties, on travelling globally and taking his cuisine places. Even though a culinary academy and a cook book is not out of the picture. Restoring taste buds A travel writer, photographer, author, television host. Wait, theres more. An interior designer by interest, a documentary film-maker, an expert in conflict management. Ashish Chopra can easily get lost in any of the many introductions until one of it takes an aggressive precedencea passionate and an obsessed foodie. Further designations like culinary historian and food critic closely follow. We have brought to Chandigarh, a slice of the lost and heritage cuisine of Punjab, he shares of the ongoing food fest. We are showcasing the food of Punjab beyond butter chicken. He adds, For which, weve collected spices and herbs from different parts of Punjab. A lot of his time now is spent in organizing food fests and culinary tours and heritage food walks for food lovers. The latest book & tribal cuisines Having worked in North-East India for over a decade, two of his books talk of the culinary practices in the region. First being A Travel Guide to North-East India and second, a book on the cuisines of the eight North-Eastern states titled NE Belly. Coming up is something which has been in making for over a decade-and-a-half nowHis next book on the Tribal Cuisines Of India will be out soon. Rest the stories are endless, which he promises to unravel only over a good meal. manpriya@tribunemail.com On till September 28 at Rustles, Mountview10, Chandigarh. Melbourne, September 22 The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, one of Australias biggest banks, reached a settlement with Indian couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal yesterday, who sued the company for $1.9 billion. Pankaj and Radhika Oswal alleged that the ANZ short-changed them $580 million when selling the couples majority stake in Burrup Fertilisers after the company went into receivership, Xinhua news agency reported. ANZ said the terms of the settlement were confidential, but the deal with the Oswals meant the bank would take a $110 million hit to its bottom line this year. A spokesperson for the Oswals said the couple, who also settled a tax bill with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) worth an estimated $76.4 million, would be leaving Australia. Theyre very satisfied with the settlement. They were pleased to be able to put the facts before the court and are pleased that its over, the spokesman said. They wont be staying in Australia. They are now planning their future. The ($110 million) does not reflect the size of the settlement, but the Oswals are bound by confidentiality to not disclose the details, the spokespersons added. Meanwhile, Shayne Elliott, CEO of ANZ, said the settlement does not mean the bank had accepted guilt. ANZ does not accept many of the claims made in the court and we completely reject the allegations made against our staff, Elliott said in a statement to shareholders. However, we believe the settlement is the right decision for shareholders bearing in mind the residual risks in a case of this size and complexity, Elliott added. While, the Oswals were curious that the bank was willing to pay a significant amount of money to stop allegations that it claimed were untrue. IANS Jupinderjit Singh MY first visit to Uri town, the latest target of a terror attack, was some 13 years ago. I was visiting the Valley as a journalist and not a tourist. The situation was such that from Jammu to Srinagar, there was fear of a terror strike. Only two dhabas were open. At one of the dhabas, a group of soldiers nearly took away our taxi, saying they were in hot chase of militants. The taxi driver pleaded against it. Fortunately, I had an Army letter authorising my visit to the forward areas. It saved the driver for that day. The Brigadier at Uri was warm and welcoming. He had deputed a young Captain to look after me. Be safe, no adventurism, the Brigadier cautioned me in a chilling voice and a smile that gave me goose bumps. We drove in a Jonga on the zigzag road that climbed one hill and came down the other. The Jhelum, the de facto border between India and Pakistan, criss-crossed the Valley, flowing beautifully in the deep gorge. We passed tiny hamlets and apple and apricot orchards. The destination was an advanced military camp near a village called Sultan Dhakki, a few hundred metres short of the LoC. I was thrilled to inhale the aroma of roasted meat that wafted from somewhere in the vicinity. The Captain pointed down the hill towards two large vessels, where food was being cooked by soldiers in the open in the village common ground. That would be our dinner. I was delighted. But still worried about the night stay in bunkers. I neednt have. After a few turns, we stood in front of an opening in a rocky hill. It was a khul ja sim sim experience. I could have fathomed that the Army had burrowed into the hills and created an accommodation, no less than a five-star stay. After bathing, we sat outside for a cup of tea and snacks. The spot was at a safe angle from the enemy behind the hills. You will see Diwali at night as rockets will fly, chuckled the officer. His soldiers grinned. As we talked, the conversation veered around on how soldiers kept their mind off death and bullets. I play chess, the Captain said. Voila! I too, I exclaimed. Soon, two armies were set in black and white on the chessboard. It took me no more than 10 moves to grab the rook and the queen. The officer was visibly hurt. He was losing in front of his jawans, who sat around us in a semicircle. He lost the second too, after much struggle. One last game, he said, ordering meat for both of us in a tone that expressed his anger. He won the third. Back in the lodge, he sipped beer and remarked: I was flustered. It was not about losing or winning. It was about you killing my army while it had not moved from its squares. No jawan would like an officer, or for that matter a government, that lets this happen to them. Mukesh Ranjan Tribune news Service New Delhi, September 22 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today received an application from Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, seeking political asylum in India. At present, India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy. Sources in the ministry said the application was being examined. On Tuesday, Bugti, president and founder of Baloch Republican Party, had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva and the application was forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry, sources said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) In the absence of a clear-cut policy on granting asylum to foreign nationals, officials, who are dealing with Bugtis application, have reportedly found it a complex issue. To check the process, they are digging through records dating back to 1959 when the Jawaharlal Nehru-led government had granted asylum to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers. As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them. A senior MHA official said: No doubt, the final decision on this will be taken at the political level. But still we need a process in place to work out the proposal. If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year, the official said, adding that there could be another scenario according to which he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document. Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa, renewed every year. India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services host states must provide to refugees. Ananya Panda Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 22 Vowing to expose the political nexus behind the national capitals notorious red-light area, GB Road, Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday alleged that flesh trade is thriving under the patronage of a Union minister. She alleged that investigation has found that it is Rs 5-crore business per night and the Union minister along with another politician from a leading national party has a stake in the multi-crore business. Asked to disclose the name, Maliwal told The Tribune soon she would reveal the name and is waiting for the investigation to be completed. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Addressing the media here earlier, she claimed the FIR by the ACB against her in connection with the alleged malpractices in recruitment in the womens panel was an attempt to muzzle her voice as she had hinted days before about the ACB action. She was advised to stay away from the GB Road illegal racket, she added. Our investigation has indicated the involvement of a Union minister and a Delhi leader of a leading national party in the illegal flesh trade in GB Road brothels. We tried to reach the owners of the brothels and in course we started getting indications... when suddenly a fake FIR was filed against me and I was told that with the help of the L-G they may get me arrested and removed from the commission, said Maliwal. The DCW chief said, At GB Road, every nights turnover is Rs 5 crore. Where is the money going? What are the linkages? Even the MCD is not acting and breaking the hidden cellars. I was told not to meddle with the GB Road sex trade. All my requests to the MCD to crack down on the brothels have fallen on deaf ears. I will not give up and expose how such an organised crime of flesh trade flourishing just 3 km from Parliament, Maliwal said. Describing it as an organised crime, she said, I will reach to the root of this. I know it is very murky and a lot of risk is involved. Ive also expressed hope that the indications are false. I am waiting for the final outcome of the investigation. The allegations have come days after the citys Anti-Corruption Branch registered an FIR against the DCW chief following a complaint by former women panel chief Barkha Shukla Singh, who had alleged that several AAP supporters were given plum posts in the commission. Singh, in her complaint, had listed the names of 85 people who, she claimed, got jobs without requisite credentials. Maliwal, however, had rubbished all allegations terming the FIR false, adding that all appointments were made as per due procedure followed by the DCW since its inception 20 years ago. In May, it had come to the notice of the DCW that neither the Delhi Police nor other agencies concerned in the national capital knew about the actual owners of the brothels, hinting at a huge nexus with owners being involved in trafficking operations in Delhi. The issue was flagged following a meeting between ADM Central, SDM, Delhi Jal Board, BSES, MCD, Delhi Police (SHO) and NGOs representatives to discuss the modalities to reach the hidden cellars inside the brothels and identifying the owner of brothels on GB Road. The meeting was held in the backdrop of the recent rescue of two Nepali girls from a brothel at GB Road. Ajay Banerjee and Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service New Delhi/Mumbai, September 22 All Indian naval bases and the Indian Air Force stations in the Mumbai area have been put on alert following reports of suspicious movement near the island of Karanja. Children returning from school around noon on Thursday reported seeing men wearing black pathan suits carrying weapons. The kids heard the men talk about the ONGC. The men were sighted close to INS Abhimanyu that houses missiles and ammunition and is also close to the ONGC facility at Uran, 50 km from Mumbai. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) It is being termed as the highest state of alertness. The INS Abhimanyu, near Uran in Mumbai, has been put on alert. Uran is a small island located opposite the naval harbour in south Mumbai near the Gateway of India. It is also close to the naval jetty where several frontline warships are docked. The island earlier housed the coastal battery and now holds missiles and ammunition. According to Director General of Police Satish Mathur, the two students separately spotted the armed men. While one claimed to have seen one armed man, another reported to have seen five. Both students were on way to school at 6.30 am when they claimed to have seen the armed men. The police have officially not released the names of the students though it is learnt that it was a boy and a girl. Shortly after the school authorities informed the police, the Indian Navy rushed in commandos from its MARCOS division while the anti-terror squad of the state police began a search operation in the area. The Uran coast is also closer to Raigad district where a consignment of RDX from Pakistan used to carry out the serial bomb blasts in March 1993 was landed by Tiger Memon and his associates. Though nothing has been found till late afternoon, the authorities have also roped in the Coast Guard to search suspicious vessels. Fisherfolk are also being called in to provide information on any suspicious movement on the coast, police sources said. Later in the day, checkpoints were thrown up on all the approach routes to Mumbai and Pune to scan vehicles, police said. Mumbai, September 22 Indian space agency ISRO will shoot off the Pratham satellite designed and built by students of the IIT-Bombay among the eight satellites, including its weather satellite, on Monday, an official said here. Conceptualised in 2008 with the aim of making IIT-B a centre for space science and technology research, the satellite weighs just 10 kg, is designed to fit within a cube of 30 cm, and has a life span of around four months. The objective of Pratham is to empower the students involved with the skill set required to develop a statellite through various stages of design, analysis, fabrication and testing, said the official. The project will also kick-start a collaboration between IIT-B and other Indian universities keen to contribute in the space sector and to share knowledge and facilities. This has led to completion of ground-stations for tracking the satellite in several college, including the Atharva College of Engineering here. The IIT-B has collaborated with some international universities like UCL, London and IPGP, Paris for the project. Pratham will transmit data when it passes over India and any university with a small ground station can detect its signals and measure the total electron counts (TEC) above the ground station as part of the education process to spread awareness among the students. The student-designed satellites mission is four-fold: acquiring knowledge in the field of satellite and space technology, to fully design it by the students of IIT-B, launch it and measure TEC of ionosphere above India and Paris, and involve students from other universities in the satellite project, said the official. Prathams payload instrument comprises two monopole antennae transmitting at 145.98MHz and 437.45MHz. Measuring 30.5 cm by 33.4cm by 46.6 cm, it weighs 10.12 kg, is made of aluminium alloy and other space-grade materials, and has an on board computer. It has three monopoles, GPS, magnetometer, sun sensors, magnetorquers and is powered by Li-ion battery and four solar panels. It will be positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit around 670 km away and will pass over India around 11.30 a.m. For the project, entirely funded by the IIT-B, the ISRO has provided lot of technical help in terms of testing and guidance and the integration of the flight model of Pratham for which tests have been carried out in ISAC, Bangalore and SHAR, Sriharikota. Each year in September, a rigorous selection test was conducted for all IIT-B students from which they were inducted into the Pratham team and formalized after ascertaining their satisfactory work. IANS Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 22 India and Pakistan are locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, testing each others nerves and military acumen. Since the terror attack on the Army camp in Uri sector on September 18, in which 18 soldiers were killed, there have been enough noises on either side to indicate that matters could turn worse. Any movement, rotation of troops or fighter pilots conducting night sorties all routine matters are being observed in detail on either side of the border. Edit page: Statecraft: Beat the war drums slowly Ever since the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, made it clear that the Indian Army reserves the right to respond at a place and time of its choosing, a wary Pakistan Army has effected certain changes. Pakistan daily Dawn has cited the partial closure of two motorways, M1 (Peshawar-Islamabad) and M2 (Lahore-Islamabad), as a fallout. However, the National Highway Authority of Pakistan termed it routine maintenance work. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The two main arteries of the countrys road network are used by Pakistan to build up troops along the LoC, a 749-km-long de facto boundary that divides J&K between India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force landed fighter jets on one of these motorways, an exercise undertaken to practise landings in case runways are damaged by the enemy. Pakistan calls this exercise highmark', which is conducted once in five years. The assessment is that the Pakistan Army may be preparing to counter a possible strike by the Indian forces. Sources said so far there had been no overt display of movement of troops or equipment. Both sides want to hide their intent, if any, said an officer. New Delhi, September 22 India's High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna was on Thursday appointed as Ambassador to the US, a high-profile posting where he will face the task of engaging with a new administration in Washington following the November 8 Presidential poll. Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1980-batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted in London in January. He succeeds Arun Singh, who is due for retirement. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the MEA. He had held the post between 2002 and 2008. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the External Affairs Ministry said. The government has also appointed 1988-batch IFS officer Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the next High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. He will replace Yash Sinha. In Washington, Sarna's main task will be to ensure continuity in Indo-US relations when a new dispensation takes charge. Sarna has authored many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' released last year. He was also India's Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012. For two years from August 2012, Sarna had served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations in the MEA. Sarna had served at various Indian missions including in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington. Yash Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner to the UK, is a seasoned diplomat and, in his career spanning 35 years, he has handled several important assignments at the MEA and in Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. PTI United Nations, September 22 India on Thursday called Pakistan a terrorist state and accused it of carrying out war crimes against Indians through its long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raked up the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistans streets freely and operate with state support. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Exercising Indias Right of Reply to Sharifs long tirade about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir said the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practised as an instrument of state policy, it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region, she said. Gambhir said India saw in Pakistan a terrorist state, which channelised billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbours. In a reference to JeM chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, she said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continued to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operated with the states support. With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raised funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistans international obligations, Gambhir said. She said while Pakistans nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit, it talks about restraint, renunciation and peace. Similar false promises it has made to us--the international community--on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start, Gambhir said. India also strongly slammed Sharif for glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces. Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation, she said. Gambhir said Pakistan was a democracy-deficit country and practised terrorism on its own people. It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights, including through draconian laws, she added. PTI Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 22 Senior Punjab RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd), 65, died at the Hero DMC Heart Institute here this morning. Shot at by unidentified assailants in Jalandhar on August 6, he was declared dead by doctors at 9.16 am. As news of his deteriorating health spread, BJP functionaries began gathering at the DMCH amid heavy police security. At 10 am, Gagnejas wife and two daughters were seen coming out from the hospitals Emergency gate. They were accompanied by Punjab BJP vice-president Anil Sarin and Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh. They left for Jalandhar while the doctors conducted the post-mortem. The Central Bureau of Investigation had been handed over the probe into the attack on the RSS leader after Punjab Police failed to get clues. The post-mortem was performed in the presence of CBI officials for security reasons, said a BJP functionary. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Gagnejas condition decli-ned in the wee hours and his blood pressure fell drastically. His intestines, liver and spine had been badly damaged, Dr GS Wander, director of the institute, said. Gagnejas body was taken to Jalandhar for the last rites after Governor VP Singh Badnore visited the hospital. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is in Patna, termed it a huge loss. Punjab has lost a forceful voice which articulated the concerns of the state and its people while remaining selflessly away from pubic glare and shunning personal glory, he said. He said the attack on Gagneja was an attempt to disturb the hard-earned peace. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the death. New Delhi: Indias High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna has been appointed Ambassador to the US, a high-profile posting where he will face the task of engaging with a new administration in Washington following the November 8 presidential poll. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sarna, an IFS officer of the 1980 batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted in London in January. The government has also appointed 1988-batch IFS officer Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. He will replace Yash Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner in UK. PTI Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 22 Claiming that one country alone cannot tackle terrorism, Intelligence Bureau chief Dineswar Sharma, while addressing a SAARC event on security here, said the Uri attack was just one of the scores of such dastardly acts that originated from across the border in the recent past. The IB chief said the whole country was highly agitated over the terror strike in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in which 18 soldiers were killed and an equal number were battling for their lives. This incident is only one in a series of such dastardly acts for which planning, financing, training, arming and indoctrination on religious lines owe their origins to sources beyond the borders of India, he said at a conference of top security experts from South Asian countries. The second meeting of the experts to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism was attended by intelligence chiefs of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, besides India. Aftab Sultan, Director General of Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan, did not attend the meeting amid the hostility over the Uri attack. Self-radicalisation over Internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State all over has added new dimensions to the threat, Sharma said, while identifying counter financing of terrorism as one of the most important tools to fight the menace. Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service Kozhikode, September 22 The laid-back coastal Kerala city of Kozhikode is bustling with hectic saffron activity to re-affirm the BJPs 50-year-old connect with the region. The lush green confines of the city of spices, as Kozhikode or Calicut is also known as, are dotted with posters of top BJP leaders, flags and welcome signs for delegates for the three-day National Council Meeting that kick-start here tomorrow. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The aim is to revive and re-affirm existing relations with the Left-dominated parts where erstwhile Jana Sangh, now the BJP, organised a similar event in 1967. The high-profile meeting intends taking on the ruling CPM-led LDF in its backyard by highlighting Kannur where Left party cadres are unleashing attacks against RSS-BJP leaders and prepare ground work for the 2019 Lok Sabha, the Uri terror attacks have changed the narrative, somewhat. Sources say the focus will still be to increase footprint in the state, where the saffron presence is gradually gaining acceptance. However, cadres are demanding a strong action against Pakistan and a suitable draft will be issued keeping in mind the prevalent mood among public. Cadres are upset, and rightfully so. We will take up the issue seriously in the meeting, they say. However, along with presenting strong political and economic resolutions on the partys mindset on critical national issues, the meeting will also focus on its primary aim, which is to provide impetus to the party in Kerala and four other southern states, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where it hopes to improve position in 2019. The party may not have made substantial gains in seats, but it made a heartening headway in the terms of vote share the last Assembly polls in Kerala. A Hindu consolidation of votes in NDA favour resulted in the ruling Congress-led UDF losing as many as 26 seats, party leaders say. The benefit of the shift in BJP vote share from 6.3 per cent in 2011 to around 16 per cent this time was reaped by CPM-led LDF. This Amit Shah intends to change in the BJPs favour. While the BJP will get down to the actual brass tacks tomorrow, Shah is expected to start his Kerala's plans with visits to temples patronised by upper castes and the politically significant Ezhava community. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Mahawa (Amritsar), September 21 The residents of Mahawa village, where seven schoolchildren were killed after a school bus fell into a drain, blocked the Attari-Tarn Taran road today alleging police inaction. They were demanding arrest of the members of the school management, including the principal, driver and bus owner. They also demanded widening of the bridge on the Defence Drain and more compensation to the victims families. The police had booked Satnam Singh, driver of the bus, Tarsem Singh, owner of the bus, and the management of the school yesterday, but failed to make any arrests so far. Rattan Singh Randhawa, general secretary, Border Area Sangharsh Committee, said: The school management is also responsible for the incident. They have to give compensation to the victims families. The Centre had released funds for the repair of bridges, but they were not used. The bridges on the Defence Drain should be widened, he said. HS Sandhu, SHO, Ghrinda Police Station, said, All accused are absconding and we will arrest them soon. However, the principal of the school was hospitalised after he complained of chest pain. Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann also visited the village and met the victims families. Mann said, I will meet Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar along with the members of the victims families. I will raise the issues being faced by the residents of border areas in Parliament. During his visit to Khadoor Sahib, CM Parkash Singh Badal said today that it was an unfortunate incident. The matter of widening the bridges is under the Defence Ministry. The state cant do anything. We will take up the matter with the authorities concerned, he said. Minister Anil Joshi also visited the village and met the victims families. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 22 After the Punjab Government transferred the probe into the attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja to the CBI, a special team led by CBI Additional SP Davinder Singh has been camping in the city for the past 10 days. The team officially took over the investigations on September 12 following a detailed deliberation with Jalandhar Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla. The CBI team has so far visited the crime scene and also reportedly met the family members of Gagneja. The team also minutely inquired the road leading to Jyoti Chowk from his house in Deep Nagar. Some more CCTV recordings have reportedly been collected. During the investigation by the state police, Punjab DGP Suresh Arora, DGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon and IGP IPS Sahota inspected the crime scene. CCTV footage from parking lots, some educational institutions, bus stand and railway station were scanned, but to no avail. Despite scanning several recordings, we could not get that CCTV footage which could show the entry of the bike-borne assailants into the city and their exit after the attack which slowed down the investigation, a senior police official told The Tribune. Attack and aftermath August 6: RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja shot at by two bike-borne assailants near Jyoti Chowk August 7: Gagneja was shifted to DMCH, Ludhiana. CRPF deployed in the city August 8: Police announce Rs 10-lakh cash reward and a constables job to the informer or his kin August 25: Shiv Sena leader Amit Arora along with three others brought on production warrant, but no clarity on their role August 26: Paramjit Singh, SHO, shifted for failing to make a breakthrough in the case September 12: CBI takes over the investigation GS Paul/Gurbaxpuri Tribune News Service Khadoor Sahib, September 21 The Akali Dal and the Congress today played the religious card to woo voters during a congregation on the occasion of Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Guru Angad Dev here today. There was no representation from AAP. The SAD held the Congress responsible for the Operation Bluestar and anti-Sikh riots and flayed AAP for equating the party manifesto with Guru Granth Sahib and using the Golden Temples image along side their symbol broom. The Congress raked up sacrilege incidents and the killing of two protesting youths and governments failure to nab the culprits. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the Congress had irrelevantly meddled in political, social, economic and religious affairs of Sikhs. There could never be any example in the world history where the government of a country attacked its own holiest shrine as was done by the Congress. Also, there could hardly be any government that indulged in mass killing of its own people as was done in 1984. AAP is also suffering from anti-Sikh syndrome which became evident from the recent developments, he said. The CM cautioned that even those who intended to disturb the hard-earned peace of the state were hobnobbing with these parties. Those who will support these forces (Congress and AAP) would support their unpardonable acts as well, he said. Terming AAP a bunch of unprincipled leaders, Cabinet Minister Bikram Majithia said given the current situation, this party would be vanished from the political arena before the state Assembly elections. On the Congress side, Amarinder reiterated his promise to punish those responsible for the sacrilege at Behbal Kalan and other places. I will ensure that the resignation by party MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki to protest against the sacrilege incidents do not go waste. I blame CM Badal for such incidents, he said. He also reiterated to eliminate the problem of drugs in four weeks after assuming power saying everybody knew who was the mastermind. I will work hard to bring back the smile on every Punjabis face, he said. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 22 With 182 new cases of dengue reported today, the total number of cases in the state has reached 2,218. The Health Departments infrastructure is bursting at the seams. Following Mohali, Amritsar is the worst-affected district with 393 cases. However, the ground reality in Amritsar tells the tale of complete failure of the Municipal Corporation. The MC should have started fogging when the monsoon began, but it started the process only last week. The reason behind the delay was simple, the corporation failed to float the tenders to procure insecticide deltamethrin, which is used for fogging. The MC passed a resolution on June 10 to procure the insecticide worth Rs 14 lakh. The situation is bad in Ludhiana too where so far 178 cases of dengue have been reported. The 20-bed dengue ward of the Civil Hospital is full to the brim these days. Meanwhile, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital has prepared an overflow bed isolation ward, Christian Medical College and Hospital has 20-bed ward and Fortis Hospital has 12-bed separate ward for dengue patients. There is a huge rush of patients at the Civil Hospital and it has become difficult for the doctors to handle the rush in the absence of required staff. There are only two medicine specialists in the hospital. We get nearly 40-50 suspected dengue patients in the OPD. We have 20-bed ward which is generally full these days, said Dr Avinash Jindal, medicine specialist at the Civil Hospital. In Sangrur, where 208 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported, Sherpur block is the worst-affected area from where around 135 cases have been reported. Despite a large number of dengue patients in the Sherpur area, the Government Community Health Centre (CHC) of Sherpur is not providing indoor health facilities. Since the building is under construction, the CHC authorities have been running only OPD wing and collecting blood samples of suspected dengue patients to send the same to the Sangrur Civil Hospital for testing. In this condition, the dengue patients had been getting treatment at Barnala, Dhuri and other places. Besides dengue, chikungunya is another challenge for Patiala district, where apart from 168 cases of dengue, 12 cases chikungunya have been reported so far. The MC recently started fogging in the city, but stagnant water can be seen at various places. Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, September 21 The Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Punjab, today relaxed the norms to fill government-quota BDS seats in 14 dental colleges in the state as over 75 per cent such seats have not been able to get PMET-2016 qualified candidates. Earlier, these 623 government-quota BDS seats were to be filled on the basis of PMET-2016. But now, students who had appeared in the NEET-2016 are also eligible for these BDS seats on the basis of merit. To fill these seats from among NEET-2016 candidates, the state Medical Education Department will give first preference to a Punjab resident. However, if seats still remain vacant, then candidates from other states who have appeared in NEET are also eligible for these seats, said Dr SP Singh, Registrar, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), today. The 14 dental colleges in Punjab, including two government dental institutes, offer a total of 1,190 BDS seats. While 623 seats are under government quota, 567 seats are the management and NRI quota seats in the state. While the full course fee for the BDS course in government dental colleges (Rs 3.8 lakh) is comparatively much lower than private dental colleges (Rs 7.65 lakh for government quota and Rs 10.2 lakh for management quota), as many as 17 seats in government dental colleges were vacated by students in the first round of counselling today. In 12 private dental colleges, 431 students vacated their government quota seats and the number of such candidates was 317 under the management quota. At the end of the first counselling, all 14 dental colleges could only fill 214 out of total 1,190 BDS seats, so the Medical Education Department decided to relax the condition to fill the vacant seats in the second and third round of counselling, revealed sources. 163 vacate MBBS seats As many as 163 medical students in the state on Wednesday vacated their government-quota MBBS seats in seven medical colleges in the state to join the medical colleges in Delhi, Chandigarh and Rajasthan. Besides the better academic infrastructure in the medical colleges in other states, the much lower tuition fee for MBBS courses in these states compared to Punjab is the main reason for meritorious students opting for these medical colleges. After the end of the first counselling to fill 1,000 MBBS seats in seven medical colleges in the state, 163 students vacated their government-quota seats and 90 students have not joined their management quota seats. Archit Watts Tribune News Service Muktsar, September 21 The women, who attended the SAD BC wing meeting at Shanti Bhawan here today, lodged a protest against the local leadership, alleging that they were invited to the event on the pretext of distributing them sewing machines but it did not happen. SAD BC wing state president Hira Singh Gabria, who chaired the meeting, apprised them of the pro-poor works done by the SAD-BJP government in the state. However, when the meeting concluded, some women protested, saying that neither the sewing machines were distributed nor someone heard their problems. Ramandeep Kaur, a resident of Goniana road here, alleged, We were called here saying that sewing machines would be distributed among women and some forms are to be filled. However, it did not happen. Nobody heard our problems. All women had come here to get the sewing machines. Sumitra Devi said, I was also called saying that sewing machines would be given to us, but nothing happened. Nobody asked us about our problems. The politicians visit our localities only during election time. The rainwater accumulates in streets, but nobody is bothered to improve the drainage system. On the other hand, Gurmeet Singh Jeeta, president, the SAD BC wing of the Muktsar constituency, said, It was the first meeting of the wing and women were not even invited. I dont know who had sent the women to the meeting. Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 22 The committee probing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Manns July act of live streaming Parliament security details has decided to summon the Sangrur MP once again for a detailed examination. Although the notice for summoning is yet to be sent, the committee in its meeting held here yesterday agreed that Mann will have to be called once more for questioning in new aspects of the case, including the MPs foreign travels on the eve of his action. The Tribune has learnt from top Parliament sources that the committee is probing Manns travels to the US and Canada on the eve of his move of exposing critical Parliament security check points in a live video streaming on July 18. The committee is also expected to investigate the nature of contacts Mann met in Canada and the US where he travelled in July before deciding to videograph an entire journey from his MP apartment in central Delhi to the entrance of the Parliaments main complex. Manns foreign travels on the eve of his action are being probed by the committee which deems it necessary to question the MP on the issue in terms of where all he went before he triggered the video controversy and who all he met. The MP will be summoned again, a Lok Sabha source said. Earlier Mann in his deposition before the committee had admitted to having visited only Singapore on the eve of his Parliament videography. On prodding by some committee members, he admitted that he had also visited the US for a performance. On being nudged further he is said to have acknowledged that he went to Canada as well. There is a need to establish or rule out, whatever the case is, any link between Manns foreign visits and his sudden decision to film and expose Parliaments security nuances, including the procedures followed for calling out MPs during the Question Hour, another source said, adding that in yesterdays meeting a Delhi police officer was called to know if there were any visible gap in the Parliament security. The committee yesterday also decided to call for deposition two Lok Sabha MPs Vicent Pala (Shillong MP) and Conrad Sangma (Tura MP). These leaders feature in the video Mann had streamed live inviting the wrath of fellow members and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who directed him not to attend the House proceedings till the parliamentary panel submits its report. The committee wants to know from Pala and Sangma the details of their encounter with Mann on the morning of his action. The two MPs are seen in the video trying to engage Mann, who appears too focused on his job of streaming Parliament security details live. The question is why was Mann concentrating so much on his video if it was, as he says, innocuous, a source said. Patna, September 22 Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday offered prayers at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, the birthplace of 10th Sikh guru Gobind Singh. Badal, who arrived here to attend the first three-day international Sikh conclave, visited the gurdwara and offered prayers. He also gave a cheque of Rs 10 crore for a building construction. Badal will also address the conclave as a guest of honour after its inauguration by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, state Tourism Department officials said. Over 150 Sikh luminaries from all walks of life from India and abroad are likely to participate in the conclave from September 22. Earlier, Nitish Kumar said his government was organising this conclave in connection with the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna Sahib. After the inaugural function, a panel discussion on various topics will be held on Friday and Saturday. IANS TWIN FALLS The canyon launch is over, but the rocketeers are still making memories. Its been three years of agonizing, tears and emotions, said Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun, who paid homage Friday to his childhood hero, Evel Knievel, by rocketing himself over the Snake River Canyon. Braun is back home in Manhattan Beach, Calif., taking a well-deserved rest, and rocket builder Scott Truax is at his home in Twin Falls reading some 600 emails he received over the weekend. I had to shut my phone off, I was getting so many calls, said Truax, whose father, Robert Truax, built the rocket that Knievel attempted but failed to pilot over the canyon in 1974. Scott Truax is promoting his fathers autobiography, American Rocketman: The Amazing Life and Times of Americas Premier Rocket Scientist, available on Amazon. Television and film director Kurt Mattila and producer Alexander Dervin are finishing a documentary tracing Brauns and Truaxs steps for the past three years. The documentary will be available for purchase when finished, Mattila said. The rocket was immediately on its way to California after the flight. Meanwhile, many fans expressed frustration that they werent able to see the launch in person. Others were disappointed that the launch happened Friday, one day before the originally scheduled date. An explanation was posted Saturday on the rocket teams Facebook page. Friday the weather conditions were nearly perfect and the rocket was ready, the Return to Snake River team wrote. It was decided to seize this window of opportunity to launch the Evel Spirit. Braun was supposed to make an appearance Monday on ABCs Good Morning America but got bumped because of Saturdays terrorist bombing in New York City. Fans had hoped to see exclusive coverage of Brauns flight over the canyon as filmed by ABCs news crews. Now, theyre settling for a stunning online video filmed by GoPro cameras positioned on his steam-powered rocket. The video shows Braun, a stuntman for more than 30 years, adjusting the face shield of his helmet as he waits for the countdown, and then launching himself 2,000 feet into the air before releasing its chutes and floating to Earth. The Evel Spirit carried Braun three-quarters of a mile from a ramp on the north rim of the Snake and landed in a bean field north of Hansen. Im scared to death of heights, Braun said. But I can do anything for 30 seconds. Thats all the time it took for the 10,000-horsepower rocket with 6,000 pounds of thrust to run out of steam and the chutes to deploy. Deepkamal Kochhar and Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Jalandhar/Ludhiana, September 22 Senior Punjab RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd), who had been battling for life for the past month and a half after being shot at, succumbed to his injuries at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana on Thursday morning. Gagneja, 65, considered the main architect of the RSS in Punjab, was shot at by two masked motorcyclists in Jalandhar on August 6. The attackers had followed Gagneja and his wife in their car from their residence at Deep Nagar in Jalandhar Cantonment. Gagneja had no security as he had refused the offer by the police. With his intestines and other vital organs ruptured with bullets, he was shifted to the Ludhiana hospital and put on ventilator. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Early on Thursday morning, his blood pressure fell drastically. As soon as the word spread that his condition was deteriorating, BJP leaders started gathering at the DMCH. Heavy security was deployed outside the hospital. Doctors declared him dead around 9.15 am. The post-mortem was conducted at the DMCH itself in the presence of CBI sleuths, owing to security reasons. Gagneja was was cremated in Jalandhar in the evening. Governor VP Singh Badnore paid tributes to him at the DMCH after which the body was taken to Jalandhar. Senior BJP leaders accompanied the body. After hearing the news, Gagnejas wife and their two daughters were inconsolable. The family headed for Jalandhar, where security was upped, especially outside the Gagnejas house and the RSS office, Peeli Kothi. Additional force from the PAP was also requisitioned. Gagneja had joined the RSS after retiring from the Army in 2004 and kept a low profile. The attack against him was extensively probed by Punjab Police. Rewards, including a job in the police, were announced for anyone providing leads in the case. Loads of CCTV footage from across the city was scanned but the cops remained clueless. Following pressure from the BJP leaders, the inquiry was handed over to the CBI. The central agency sleuths have been in the city for a week but they, too, have not been able to find a clue to the attackers. Meanwhile, BJP leaders have cancelled various programmes scheduled for the day, including a press conference by party leader Shwait Malik. Some BJP leaders from Punjab, including Vijay Sampla and Manoranjan Kalia, who were on their way to Calicut for a national session, are also returning to the state. Reacting to the development, Kalia said Gagneja laid down his life for the peace, unity and integrity of the country. He said his death, which was a personal loss to him, had caused a void in Punjabs social, political and religious circles. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said the country had lost its nationalist son, who earlier fought on the countrys borders against the enemy and then against the anti-national forces post his retirement. Ruchika M Khanna & Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 21 Punjab seems headed for a three-cornered contest with the recently launched Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Awaaz-e-Punjab tilting towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Sidhu today said they had decided not to float a party lest it led to division of anti-incumbency votes, but would ally with those who wanted to serve the cause of Punjab. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Though none of the other members of Awaaz-e-Punjab Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh and the two Bains brothers have announced support for AAP, Sidhu issued a statement this afternoon, stating: We have decided to ally with a political party that governs with a difference and does not believe in traditional politics as a way to earn money. The quartet had held a meeting in Delhi earlier this week. Sources said the Bains brothers were keen on fielding candidates in all 117 constituencies. But Sidhu and Pargat were unsure of setting up a party with the Assembly poll barely four months away. Claiming Awaaz-e-Punjab had received an astounding response, Sidhu said: We dont want Punjabs voter to get confused and thus divide the anti-incumbency vote. This may indirectly benefit the corroborative and collusive Badal-Amarinder nexus which has plundered Punjab in the last 15 years. This will defeat our purpose of bringing a change for the betterment of Punjab. If the quartet forges an alliance with AAP, it could enable Sidhu and the two Bains brothers to contest the elections. Sidhu is convicted in a road rage death case and cannot be allotted the AAP ticket. This would be a violation of the partys constitution. The Bains brothers too cannot be fielded by AAP as the party has decided against allotting the ticket to two members of one family. When Sidhus statement was released, the Bains brothers were taken aback as was the breakaway group led by Sucha Singh Chhotepur. Pargat Singh, who echoed Sidhus viewpoint, said other than the SAD-BJP alliance, they were ready to forge an alliance with any party, including the Congress. He later rectified his stand, saying he agreed with Sidhu on forging an alliance with parties other than the SAD-BJP and the Congress. With the Bains brothers and Chhotepur turning jittery, Pargat drove from Jalandhar to Ludhiana, where he held separate meetings with both sides. Simarjit Singh Bains later told The Tribune that a meeting on forging a poll alliance would be held on Friday. Pargat too said it would be decided then as to which way Awaaz-e-Punjab would go. "Leaders opposing traditional politics must be united for a political change to be brought about. We have silenced those calling us" BJPs B team. Pargat Singh "We dont want to confuse voter and divide anti-incumbency vote. This may indirectly benefit the Badal-Amarinder nexus."Navjot Singh Sidhu Deepkamal Kaur Tribune news service Jalandhar, september 22 Hundreds of people, including scores of RSS activists, today paid tributes to Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd), who succumbed to his bullet injuries this morning after battling for life for 47 days at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana. Wrapped in a saffron cloth, the RSS leaders body was brought to his residence at Deep Nagar here at 3:45 pm and later taken to the cremation ground amid tight security. People showered flower petals on Gagnejas body during the funeral procession. Prominent personalities, including senior Army officers, laid wreaths to pay tributes to the deceased. An RSS prayer was sung by leader Kishore Kant. Top BJP leadership, including Union Minister Vijay Sampla, state Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Local Government and Medical Education Minister Anil Joshi, former minister Manoranjan Kalia, Master Mohan Lal, MLAs Navjot Kaur Sidhu, KD Bhandari and Ashwani Sharma attended the cremation. Sampla and Kalia were on way to Calicut to attend an all-India party session, but returned midway. RSS state chief Brij Bhushan S Bedi demanded that the probe into attack on Gagneja be handed over to the National Investigation Agency. He said it was unfortunate that the state police failed to make a breakthrough even after a month and a half. BJP MLA Manoranjan Kalia said Gagneja laid down his life for the peace, unity and integrity of the country. He said his death, besides being a personal loss to him, had caused a void in Punjab's social, political and religious circles. Dr Sidhu said the attack and the police failure in the probe pointed to the negligence of the Punjab Government. She said Gagneja was a father figure to her. BJP leaders Madan Mohan Mittal, Avinash Rai Khanna, Dinesh Kumar, Harjit Singh Grewal and Vineet Joshi expressed grief over the RSS leaders demise. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi and Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia also expressed grief. Gagneja was shot at by two masked motorcyclists in Jalandhar on August 6 evening, while he was on his way to a city market with his wife Sudhesh Rani. Gagneja had no security as he had refused the offer by the Police Commissioner just few days prior to the incident. Tribune News Service Mussoorie, September 22 Shivani Bharti, Municipal Council (MC) member from Barlowganj Ward No. 2, has alleged that Rs 100 per Aadhar card were taken from residents of Balrowganj by the organisers of a camp. She claims this happened despite the clear directions of the Dehradun DM that no money could be charged for making Aadhar cards. Shivani, while speaking to mediapersons here today, alleged that the camp was held at the behest of Youth Congress Vidhan Sabha president Anuj Gupta, also a MC ward member from Jharipani, who was encroaching upon her ward by organising the camp without informing her or seeking permission from the MC. She said several residents had complained that they were charged Rs 100 for making Aadhar card and Rs 50 for making corrections in the same during the camp that was held a few days ago. Shivani said according to the DMs directions, no organisation could charge for making Aadhar card but Anuj Guptas team had taken money from residents. Gupta was MC member form Jharipani but was poking his nose unnecessarily in her ward, which was unjustified and condemnable, she added. Raman Leonard from Balrowganj said several people had complained to him regarding the same and it was under such circumstances that he brought the matter to the notice of Shivani. However, Anuj Gupta said he had conducted the camp under the rights divested to him by the Congress. The camp was held for the residents of St George College which falls in Jharipani ward, he added. WASHINGTON, September 22 Democrat Hillary Clinton, suddenly vulnerable in the presidential race, is under pressure to deliver a strong performance against Republican Donald Trump in their first debate on Monday, a moment that could be the most consequential yet of the 2016 election. Political veterans involved in preparing for past presidential debates said Clinton should drive home how she would run the country during uncertain times and draw a contrast as the steady, experienced alternative to the untested Trump. For his part, Trump needed to show enough gravitas to convince skeptics that he is ready to be commander in chief, they said. The 90-minute face-off at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, the first of three debates, takes place at a time when Clintons once-comfortable lead in opinion polls over the former reality TV star has evaporated. History shows that a single bad debate performance can alter the trajectory of a U.S. presidential race. Reuters/Ipsos polling shows about 20 percent of the electorate remains undecided, far higher at this stage in the campaign than the 12 percent undecided four years ago. I am going to do my very best to communicate as clearly and fearlessly as I can in the face of the insults and the attacks and the bullying and the bigotry that we have seen coming from my opponent, Clinton said on Tuesday on the Steve Harvey Radio show. Anita Dunn, who helped President Barack Obama prepare for debates against Republican nominee John McCain in 2008, said Obama succeeded at their first debate by steering the conversation repeatedly back to the struggling U.S. economy even though the event was supposed to be about foreign policy. She said she expected Clinton to try to exploit Trumps weaknesses and emphasize her strengths. The contrast between them is what you want to hone, she said. The debate will be the best opportunity for two candidates, both widely seen by voters as untrustworthy, to put to rest questions about their fitness for the White House with the November 8 election fast approaching. Even the candidates body language will be closely scrutinized, just as it has been in past elections. Reuters Hillary leads by 6 points in nationwide poll Washington: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is leading Republican rival Donald Trump nationally by six percentage points among likely voters, according to a new poll. In a head-to-head between the two major party nominees, Clintons lead expands to seven percentage points, 48 per cent to 41 per cent. Four per cent of respondents said they would not vote for president, while three per cent said they were undecided, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, released on Wednesday, showed. Half of the registered voters backing Clinton said their vote was more for Clinton, while 44 per cent characterised it as more against Trump, Politico reported. IANS In history: Who said what Bush vs Kerry (2004) Bush quickly put on the defensive, blinked rapidly and slouched behind the lectern Kerry was judged the winner Obama vs McCain (2008) Obama succeeded at the first debate by steering the conversation repeatedly back to the struggling US economy Commander in Chief forum debate (Sept 7) Kabul, September 22 Afghanistan today signed a peace agreement with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for him to make a political comeback despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. Hekmatyar, who heads the now largely dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group, is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era. The deal with Afghanistans second-biggest militant group marks a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani, who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taliban. A Hezb-i-Islami delegation shook hands with members of the High Peace Council (HPC), responsible for reconciliation efforts with militants, and the national security adviser at an official ceremony in Kabul. This agreement is signed after two years of negotiations, deputy HPC chief Habiba Sorabi said. The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by President Ashraf Ghani and Hekmatyar, the government has said, though no date has been set. Hekmatyar, derided widely as the butcher of Kabul, was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war. Neither he nor Ghani were present at the signing. He is widely believed to be living in hiding in Pakistan, but his group claims he remains in Afghanistan. The deal paves the way for him to make a comeback in mainstream politics in a pattern well established by other warlords, such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum, currently the countrys first vice-president. But it has sparked revulsion from human rights groups. His return will compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s, Human Rights Watch said last month. According to an initial draft agreement, the government will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity in all past political and military proceedings as well as release Hezb-i-Islami prisoners. Hekmatyar is designated a global terrorist by the US and is blacklisted by the UN. The Afghan government will likely work towards lifting those restrictions in order to reintegrate him into local politics. AFP Beirut, September 22 President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with AP News broadcast today that Syrias war would drag on as long as it was part of a global conflict funded and interfered in by other countries. When you talk about it as part of a global conflict and a regional conflict, when you have many external factors that you dont control, its going to drag on, Assad said. Syrias five-year-old war pits Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Arab Shiite Muslim militias against a myriad of Sunni Muslim rebel groups, including some supported by the US, Turkey and Gulf Arab states. The conflict has wrought a devastating human toll, killing hundreds of thousands, displacing half the countrys pre-war population of 22 million and included poison gas attacks, starvation sieges and raids on hospitals. Assad said Russia was not behind a deadly attack on an aid convoy on Monday, for which US officials had said they believe Moscow was responsible. Reuters The Fuso eCanter shown at IAA displays a little more pizazz for the show, including a redesigned interior showcasing connectivity functions. Photo: Deborah Lockridge Daimler plans to introduce two new electric commercial vehicles into the U.S. in the next few years, it announced at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany, while also showing off a highly connected and efficient electric concept truck. The Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter will see a soft launch in the U.S. next year, most likely in areas such as southern California and New York City, where highly congested and emissions-challenged urban areas make electric delivery vehicles ideal. In addition, Mercedes Vans says it will introduce an e-van, likely in the 2018 time frame. In a roundtable with North American trucking reporters at the show, Wolfgang Bernhard, head of Daimler Truck & Bus, explained how rapidly evolving battery technology is making electric commercial trucks available faster than the industry would have expected just a few years ago. In fact, at the IAA show just two years ago, he said he didnt see any applications for electric trucks. And you ask yourself, what made me change your mind? Honestly, what happened was battery technology changed, more drastically than we ever hoped for. And that change is driven by these guys, he said, holding out his smartphone. These guys are very powerful customers and are asking for more powerful batteries. The performance of batteries has improved by 2.5 times, he said, and the costs have come down by about the same amount. Now were reaching a tiring point. And that tipping point will be the end of this decade. Electric trucks are better than diesel for urban delivery, he said quieter, less emissions, and they dont face the challenges that diesel engines do in stop and go traffic where they never get to the kind of steady-state operation and temperatures where they work at peak efficiency. Marc Llistosella of Daimler Trucks Asia, which announced the Fuso eCanter electric light-duty commercial truck at the show, pointed out that a number of European cities plan to ban diesel, with Paris and London leading the way in 2020. One challenge in the U.S., noted both Llistosella and Bernhard, is that city operation here has some significant differences from Europe or Japan. Cities are larger, more sprawling, so range will need to be higher, and trucks will need to be able to operate at highway speeds. But the other thing about the U.S., Llistosella said, is that there is a lot of enthusiasm and interest in electric trucks. This is unique to America, he said, the curiosity, the willingness to change. Fuso eCanter The Fuso Canter E-Cell is now the Fuso eCanter, representing the third generation of the electric-powered light truck. It uses a permanent synchronous electric motor with an output of 185 kW. Power is transferred to the rear axle by standard single-speed transmission. The truck shown at IAA has a battery capacity of 70 kWh, which allows a range of more than 100 km without stationary recharging. A modular approach to the battery packs will allow eCanter to be adapted to customer range requirements, albeit with a tradeoff in weight and price. A walk-on glass floor in the box body offers a view of the drive unit and batteries to showgoers. Photo: Deborah Lockridge The trucks can be charged up to 80% capacity within an hour with direct current at a quick charging station, or 100% in seven hours with an AC charger. In the future, rapid charging with 170kW will be possible, meaning 80% battery capacity in only half an hour although these superchargers will pack a hefty price tag so likely would only be used by larger fleets. The goal is to aim for a higher range in the U.S., a minimum of 100 miles rather than the 100 kilometers that will work well in other countries. Because battery technology is advancing so rapidly, a battery leasing program is envisioned that will allow owners to lease the batteries rather than buying them, which would allow them to upgrade to the latest technology. Fuso first showed off a concept electric version of its Canter at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Earlier this year, a prototype was shown at the National Truck Equipment Associations Work Truck Show. There was a great deal of interest, and the company is currently talking to customers for a soft launch. Successful trials have been completed in Lisbon, Portugal, and Stuttgart, Germany. So far, company officials say, concerns have primarily revolved around concerns about charging infrastructure. The trucks themselves have performed well, and the fuel savings and lower maintenance costs can recoup the higher price in less than three years, according to Fuso. The IAA show version of the eCanter featured LED headlamps, a distinct grille and bumper. Photo: Deborah Lockridge Electric vans While the Vision Van shown at IAA was a concept vehicle designed to show off Mercedes vision of the future of last-mile delivery, complete with drones, the electric drive technology of the van is proven and the company will offer an all-electric van. We will make an e-van for Europe, it will also be for sure for the U.S. market, said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. He suggested a 2018 time frame for Europe, but a U.S. time frame was more tenuous. He noted that in 2011 they offered a Metris E-Cell, but the market was not ready. Nevertheless, they did sell about 1,000 units, and those provided a lot of real-world knowledge to work with in designing the next generation of e-vans. Originally posted on Automotive Fleet During the same week as headscarves and Muslim fashion made a stunning debut on the catwalks of New York Fashion Week, women in Spain choosing to don headscarves saw a small victory of their own. Takwa Rejeb, 22, a vibrant tourism student, made headlines across the country when she denounced a school in Valencia, on Spains eastern coast, for prohibiting her from wearing a headscarf. I couldnt find my class so I went to the principal of the school, who was there, and he told me my classes were in the afternoon. Then he said, Just so you know, you wont be able to study with that, and I asked, With what? and he said, With that headscarf, Rejeb told the media last Friday. Even though the school, Benlliure High School, told her there had been three other cases of girls not being allowed to study with headscarves, she felt it was a violation of her rights. Instead of taking it off or going to a different school, she decided to challenge the ban. Together with a lawyer from SOS Racismo, an umbrella organization of anti-racist groups, she brought the case to the Valencia Education Department. Valencian authorities originally told Spanish daily El Pais that it is up to the school to decide on the dress code. Benlliures principal said the rule was reasonable and widely accepted by students, citing reasons of homogeneity and health to justify the ban on all headgear, according to El Pais. However, in a quick about-face, the Valencian government announced on Monday it would guarantee the right to education for the student. On Thursday, a Valencian government official told El Pais the region would guarantee that headscarves will be allowed in any institution that is funded by the Valencian government. -'She changed the rules' Its fantastic what she did, she changed the rules, and I really hope that this will be the last case like this, Fatima El Arroudi, a pharmacist and headscarf-wearing fashion blogger in Spain, told Anadolu Agency. El Arroudi said she has had to fight her own battles with discrimination in Spain. She said when she had to do an internship to finish her schooling, she was rejected by several places and her tutor wouldnt help her find a placement as long as she wore a headscarf. Lets just say that when all my friends found internships within weeks, I was still looking the following year, she said. I just wish that headscarves had another image. Really smart girls are sitting around without jobs because of discrimination. People think that when we wear headscarves we cover our minds, but look, were just covering our hair, she said. In Spain, there is no law that forbids women from wearing headscarves. However, particular rules are decided by Spains 17 individual autonomous communities. Spains various regions publish general guides about how schools, public spaces, and workplaces should deal with religious symbols, including moderate Muslim dress. Depending on the community, some institutions have a lot of leeway to impose their own specific norms about the dress code. The laws and norms are interpretable and ambiguous, which allows different actors in society to act totally arbitrarily when it comes to allowing headscarves, Silvia Carrasco Pons, an anthropology professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, told Anadolu Agency. In Valencia, the government decided to step in to review their own laws regarding religious symbols, but in other regions of Spain, the law has fallen on the side of prohibiting headscarves. In Madrid, a similar case ended with completely different results. In 2013, the Supreme Court of Madrid ruled that a school was within reason when they told a 16-year-old girl who wanted to wear a headscarf that it was against the schools dress code, much like a hat. The girl was moved to a different school that allowed headscarves. - Lack of clarity Other very public cases have occurred in Spain, including in 2009 when lawyer Zoubida Barik Edidi was told she couldnt take the witness stand because she was wearing a headscarf. That was not the first time she had taken part in a trial, but this judge decided it was against the norms. She is still fighting the case, and this year her case was rejected by the European Court of Human Rights, which said she should continue in the Spanish legal system. The list goes on. In Spain, the lack of clarity around the laws means that cases like this are always coming up We should make precise rules and have official debates to make it less arbitrary The bodies of women shouldnt be used as ideological battlefields, said Carrasco. Despite the varied rules, Article 14 of the Spanish Constitution says, Spaniards are equal before the law and may not in any way be discriminated against on account of birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance. For me, the headscarf is religious, its practically my life. If it was for fashion or culture I would understand the different opinions, but the Quran obliges women to cover their head, Rifkat El Hichou, journalist and secretary general of the Young Muslims of Spain, told Anadolu Agency. Rifkat el hichou Rifkat el hichou She is from Spain and wears a headscarf. She said in general her experience has been positive, but had one professor who took the rules into his own hands. He asked me, What do you want to do with your life? I said, Be an audiovisual journalist, and he said, You seriously think youll be able to present the news looking like this? in front of the whole class. After class, he told her that she wouldnt be allowed to attend. In the end, she talked to the university administration and they made the professor teach her the required class. People are always talking about living together equally, but when you discriminate against headscarves, thats gone, youre taking away my rights, said El Hichou. Anytime we hear about headscarves, its always in reference to submissive women, or controversies like this, but people need to realize that all kinds of women wear headscarves great journalists, architects, and politicians, theres such a variety, but all these advances dont make it to the news. Anadolu Agency The UN on Thursday warned that 40 trucks of food languishing at the Turkish-Syrian border, waiting for permission from the Syrian regime, will be expiring next Monday. Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border, the food will be expiring on Monday, and the drivers are sleeping at the border and had done so now for a week, said Jan Egeland, special advisor to the UNs Syria envoy. "East Aleppo is militarily encircled, it is impossible to get in with our aid," he told a joint press conference in Geneva with Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, the UN deputy special envoy for Syria, after a meeting of the International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force. Addressing Syrian regime leader Bashar Assad, he pleaded, "Do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas. We also have to get assurances on the east Aleppo case from the armed opposition groups to be able to enter." Egeland called the attack on the aid convoy in Big Urem outside of Aleppo this Monday "the worst attack ever sustained on a UN cross-line, cross-border convoy." The UN has asked for an independent investigation of the attack, he noted. Anadolu Agency The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A US Ambassador John L. Estrada (Left) and Finance Minister Colm Imbert signing agreement with U.S. Embassys Department of Homeland Security Attache Arthlyn Samuel and Minister of National Security Major General (Retd) Edmund Dillon, looking on. Welcome to Hack Live. Well, almost Live, ABC2 host Tom Tilley told viewers last night. Tonights topic is so divisive that ABC management have asked us to bring you this show on a slight delay, It was easy to see why management were nervous about the no-holds-barred debate on the recent resurgence in Aussie patriotism. What followed across the one hour broadcast were heated opinions, shouting, aggression and a truckload of disrespect. ABC management were nervous about the shows original plan to air Live to Air because of the risk of hate speech. Instead it screened delayed by 30 minutes. At times Tom Tilley (pictured right) struggled to keep control of the conversation. As one tweet flashed across the screen suggested, this was Q&A on steroids. But as Q&A knows well, in order to have a cohesive debate, its participants need to show mutual respect for the exchange of ideas. Hack Live was witness to monologues largely from its inclusion of Blair Cottrell, Leader of the United Patriots Front (pictured centre). Cottrell dominated the conversation, often serving insults to Islamic Lawyer Lydia Shelley (pictured left). It took Indigenous writer Nayuka Gorrie suggesting that I love that your passionate. but personally I think youve got to chill out a little bit. Youre still in charge. White people are still in charge of the country. Much of the hour was hijacked by Cottrell who at one point hectored Tom Tilley about the show not being Live. It raises questions about why he was cast on the show if he was not open to intelligent debate and equal time. Despite the delay Hack Live still broadcast Cottrells reprehensible answer to the historic massacre of Australian Aborigines: So what? But the show also fell down on other points, including posting social media comments on screen that were disrespectful to its panelists (including some directed at Cottrell: Yeah go Blair.. back to prison.) Other guests had to wait some 30 minutes before they got to speak. It took a lot of bluster and airtime to get to considered opinions surrounding patriotism, fear and diversity. And lets not get started on that boot-scootin shirt. By the end it was a relief to hear Prof Andrew Markus from Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements say, The good thing is were able to sit around, even though there are some tensions here to discuss issues. Problems occur when you dont have that. You have people in silos. What were having is a conversation. I hope that youve understood from this conversation that Islam is diverse. Its not unified. ABC2 having conversations with youth (and certainly not all of these were youth) is valuable -just as it was when Steve Cannane hosted the excellent forerunner Hack Half Hour back in 2008. But as Q&A has demonstrated, it takes a lot of preparation and mutual respect to avoid digressing into a hot mess. Former Eggheads panelist CJ de Mooi has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the UK after claiming he may have killed a man in his autobiography. Joseph Connagh, known as CJ de Mooi on the UK quiz show, was arrested under a European arrest warrant by Dutch Police at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday. In his autobiography, De Mooi admitted he may have killed a mugger in Holland two decades ago, noting he punched a drug addict, who approached him with a knife, before throwing him in the canal. He caught me on the wrong day and I just snapped, he wrote. I fully suspect I killed him. Ive no idea what happened to him. De Mooi appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court this week, where he said he would fight extradition to the Netherlands. Eggheads airs in Australia on ABC. Source: The Sun On Sunday Night a woman who was locked in an Austrian cellar for 8 years has bought the house where she was held captive. Yummy Mummies In the upside down world of becoming a new mum, Ashy Bines has become the go-to girl for those wanting to get their old bodies back. Shes built a booming fitness empire helping mums and mums-to-be achieve health and happiness, and get back in shape and into a bikini. Theyre called yummy mummies but their pursuit of a perfect body has created a storm of outrage, with critics claiming its promoting unhealthy and unrealistic goals which end up doing more harm than good. Sunday Nights Melissa Doyle weighs in to the post-baby body debate. House of Horrors Natascha Kampusch was just 10 years old when her life turned into a nightmare. She was on her way to school when a deranged loner snatched her off a street in Vienna. Natascha was taken to a suburban house and locked up in a cellar, purpose-built by her kidnapper. Trapped in the darkness, she was subjected to unimaginable abuse for eight long years before one day making a daring escape. But as Rahni Sadler discovers, theres now a bizarre final twist to this story Natascha has become the proud owner of the house of horrors where she was imprisoned. A Tall Tale With the AFL season drawing to a close, clubs throughout Australia will once again be on the hunt for that winning edge, a secret game-breaking weapon. The formula is simple players have to be fast, fit and most of all, tall. Increasingly, Aussie Rules clubs are turning their attention overseas and in particular America. Theyre targeting the best and the biggest talent the U.S. has to offer and its a bold recruitment drive thats already paying dividends. 8pm Sunday on Seven This week on The Living Room Dr. Chris Brown tries his hand at Cirque Du Soleil training and Amanda Keller meets Jonathan LaPaglia. Renovation with Barry Du Bois & Jason Cunningham: Move or Improve Ben & Leah, Adelaide When Ben and Leah first bought their odd shaped house in Brooklyn Park, Adelaide, it was always their intention to renovate it and make it their dream home. But six years on and two kids later, the couple is still unsure about the renovation and wonder if it may just be easier, or even cheaper to move. Travel With Chris Brown: Soleil for a Day (Las Vegas) Chris has been invited to try out for the greatest show on earth Cirque Du Soleils O at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. He goes backstage to train on the hoops and then auditions for the role of master of ceremonies, but it is Chris final role that will leave him, and everyone else breathless. Food with Miguel Maestre: Marrons, Margaret River (WA) Every chef has a secret ingredient, but for one Farmer in West Australia, it is the location he keeps secret. Greg Craig is a marron farmer who knows how popular his small freshwater crayfish is, and hence understands the importance to keep his farm location under-wraps. Miguel is on a mission to track down farmer Greg and his mysterious harvest to cook the ultimate marron roll. Celebrity with Amanda Keller: Survivor Amanda catches up with Jonathan LaPaglia, the host of the new Australian Survivor, to chat about hosting one of the worlds most popular television programs and what it takes to win. Amanda turns the tables on him and gives Jonathan a taste of his own medicine, with her own Survivor Lite version of the show, where Jonathan must endure some interesting challenges, including Eye-Spy with the hard letters. 7:30pm Friday on TEN. Militants launched 14 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas over the past day. This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center. In particular, terrorists violated ceasefire five times in Donetsk direction. The militants shelled Avdiyivka (18km north of Donetsk), using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms. One ceasefire violation was recorded in Luhansk direction. The terrorists shelled Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), using small arms. In Mariupol direction, eight ceasefire violations were spotted. The militants used grenade launchers and small arms to shell Marinka (35 km south-west of Donetsk). ish According to a framework agreement on separation of forces signed by the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on September 21, 13 days are given to withdraw troops and arms from three sections of the conflict zone in Donbas - Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. One of the participants in negotiation process, Ukraine's representative to the security subgroup in the Trilateral Contact Group for Donbas, Yevhen Marchuk, said this in an interview with Apostrophe. The agreement includes a schedule of withdrawal, for the fulfillment of which 13 days have been given. I believe that this week separation of forces will begin, he said, when asked when the process of troops withdrawal would start. iy A decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to assume control over Ukrainian NJSC Naftogaz Ukraine is aimed to accelerate the process of unbundling and reforming the management system. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said this at the Governments meeting on Thursday, Governments portal reported. "This issue once again drew [attention] to the fact that the system of Naftogaz should be retrofitted, that we should create full, public, transparent companies, that we must improve the system of management, corporatisation of these enterprises. So, the process of controlling by the Cabinet of Ministers will speed up the procedure of unbundling functions, respectively, gas transmission and storage, as well as gas production in order to build an efficient system", he said. The Prime Minister reminded that the previous week the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade within the scope of responsibilities took a technical decision to control Ukrtransgas and Naftogaz. ish The Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) and the Brazilian Rural Society (Sociedade Rural Brasileira, SRB) have signed a memorandum of cooperation during the VII International Conference 'Large Farm Management', an Ukrinform correspondent reports citing UCAB CEO Alex Lissitsa. Ukraine and Brazil are very similar countries in terms of a starting point in agriculture development. Prior to becoming a strong agricultural country, Brazil had the same challenges as Ukraine. We decided to sign a memorandum to confirm our intents. We would like to share experience in management and reforming. Joint events and visits are scheduled within the framework of cooperation, Lissitsa said. According to him, the main purpose of such cooperation is to exchange experience between the two associations and jointly resolve issues related to economic interaction between Ukrainian and Brazilian agribusiness entities. In his turn, SRB President Gustavo Junqueira stressed that cooperation between the parties will include, first and foremost, the exchange of knowledge, best practices and innovative technologies. mk Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that the non-fulfilment of the Budapest Memorandum is not only the defeat of Ukraine, but of the entire democratic world too. Lets be frank, we failed to pass exam with the Budapest memorandum. Then democratic world lost its first battle it was not only about Ukraine, but also about credibility of agreements. However, Ukraine as a responsible international actor has always been and remains a committed advocate of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, President Poroshenko said at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. He recalled that Ukraine voluntarily dismantled its own nuclear arsenal, the third largest in the world in exchange for security, sovereignty and territorial integrity assurances under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Regretfully, all these assurances remained just a piece of paper, President Poroshenko noted. Thus, timely and effective action of the international community the Security Council in the first place in response to the North Korean nuclear test is one more exam for all of us, the Head of the Ukrainian state noted. We must not allow plunging the world into a new nuclear arms race. Huge global instability and ever-growing security challenges increasingly demand strong leadership both in states and in international organizations. The United Nations is no exception, President Poroshenko stated. iy Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaking at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday called on the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to tackle the situation with teenagers who have been taken hostage in occupied areas in Donbas, the presidents press service reports. We were shocked to know that recently Russia-backed illegal armed formations in the occupied areas of Donbas took children hostages. They showed a video of interrogation of teenagers who they absurdly accuse of conspiring and carrying out subversive operations. This behavior is out of place in the 21 century. We call on UNICEF to intervene and prevent abuses and tortures of these children, President Poroshenko stated. He also noted that in its third year, the aggression against Ukraine continues bringing pain and suffering to the Ukrainian people. 2, 430 people have been killed. Significant part - over the past year. The total death toll of this war in the heart of Europe inflicted on us has amounted to 2,500 military and 7,500 civilians. Altogether 10,000 people. Hundreds of hostages remain in unlawful captivity in Donbas and in Russia, President Poroshenko said and called on the world leadership to influence on the country-aggressor. iy Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde have held a meeting on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Petro Poroshenko and Christine Lagarde have agreed on the next IMF mission's visit in Ukraine in autumn this year, reads a report posted on the official presidents website. The Ukrainian president thanked for the decision of the IMF Board of Governors to continue the program of cooperation with Ukraine and allocate additional financial assistance. The sides also discussed the course of reforms in Ukraine and noted successful implementation of the reform in financial-banking sector. Iy Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, 21 September 2016, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, the presidents press service reports. The President informed about the situation in Donbas and stressed that sanctions against Russia should be continued until full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that NATO supports Ukraine's position on sanctions, reads a report. Besides, the sides discussed further reforms of the Ukrainian defense sector to achieve NATO standards, and the Ukrainian President once again thanked NATO for assistance in providing treatment and medical rehabilitation to Ukrainian soldiers wounded in the ATO zone. iy On Thursday, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission will be held in Brussels. The sides will discuss urgent issues of cooperation, as well as situation in the security sector against the background of Russian aggression. The Ukrainian side will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from Brussels. "The meeting will focus on situation in the security area in and around Ukraine, as well as development of the Normandy format and the Minsk process. We exchange this information with NATO on a daily basis in the format of political, military, intelligence contacts," Deputy Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO Yehor Bozhok said. The implementation of the Warsaw Summit decision regarding NATO's assistance package to Ukraine will be also considered at the meeting. ish The wife of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Maryna, in New York met with Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States. President Poroshenko wrote this on his Facebook page. During the reception on behalf of First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, women discussed the projects they are engaged in. Their activities as mothers are alike: Michelle focuses on education of young girls, Maryna helps children with disabilities in obtaining education and socialization. I am sure that female solidarity is a powerful driving force, Poroshenko wrote. iy | By David Kohn The Institute for Global Health (IGH) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM) will hold its first Global Health Summit on Sept. 26. The event, which will take place from noon to 6 p.m. in the SMC Campus Center at 621 W. Lombard St., will seek to foster collaboration among scientists and promote new and innovative global health research at SOM, as well as at other schools at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Faculty and staff from SOM as well as other schools are welcome at the event. In Malawi, IGH researchers Lauren Cohee, MD, right, and Miriam Laufer, MD, second from right, meet with school leaders and research staff to plan a study to treat children for malaria in schools. Among those who will speak at the event are IGH Founding Director Christopher Plowe, MD, MPH, FASTMH, the Frank M. Calia, MD Professor of Medicine, SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, and Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, who is director of the Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) at IGH, as well as deputy director of IGH. The event will include a range of presentations from departments at SOM. Participants also will have an opportunity to take part in small group discussions about strategies to promote global health research on campus. The topics will include promoting collaboration, expanding research to non-communicable diseases, and creating opportunities for knowledge transfer. Were doing fantastic research already, said Plowe. But we want to spread the word among our entire UMSOM faculty, and UMB as well, that were eager to work together across disciplines. Global health encompasses so many areas that we can do much, much more. So we need partners. In addition to Plowe, who will talk about IGH, and Neuzil, who will speak about the CVD, the following faculty members will talk about the potential for global health research in their subject areas: Miriam Laufer, MD, MPH , associate director for global health at IGH and director of IGH-Malawi; , associate director for global health at IGH and director of IGH-Malawi; Robert Redfield Jr., MD , director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Division of Clinical Care and Research; , director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Division of Clinical Care and Research; Clement Adebamowo, BM, ChB, ScD of IHVs Division of Epidemiology and Prevention; of IHVs Division of Epidemiology and Prevention; Brian Browne, MD , and Terrence Mulligan, DO, MPH , both of the Department of Emergency Medicine; , and , both of the Department of Emergency Medicine; Melissa McDiarmid, MD, MPH , director of the Department of Medicines Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; , director of the Department of Medicines Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Gerard Slobogean, MD, MPH , from the Department of Orthopaedics and the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; , from the Department of Orthopaedics and the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; Maureen Black, PhD , director of the Department of Pediatrics Division of Growth and Nutrition; , director of the Department of Pediatrics Division of Growth and Nutrition; Doee Kitessa, MD , from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; , from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Samer El-Kamary, MB, ChB, MS, MPH, of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. IGH was established in 2015, bringing together an impressive team of researchers with decades of experience in a variety of areas, including vaccines, malaria, and emerging diseases. The institute focuses on vaccine development and malaria research, and consists of the CVD and the Division of Malaria Research (DMR). For more than 40 years, the CVD has conducted research on vaccines for a variety of diseases, including cholera, typhoid fever, malaria, Ebola, Zika and other infectious illnesses. The center focuses on maternal and child mortality, especially on preventing diarrhea and pneumonia, which are leading causes of death in children under 5 around the world. Earlier this year a single-dose cholera vaccine developed by CVD scientists became the only cholera vaccine licensed for use in the United States. With the ultimate aim of global malaria eradication, DMR focuses on the prevention and treatment of malaria, which infects 200 million people a year. It develops and deploys innovative tools for malaria treatment, prevention, and surveillance. Working in its Baltimore laboratories and at field sites in Mali, Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Myanmar, it designs and leads clinical trials of drugs and vaccines, and applies molecular and genomics approaches to track drug resistance and malaria transmission. Plowe, who has been studying malaria for more than 30 years, joined the CVD faculty in 1995, building a multidisciplinary malaria research group that works around the world. Neuzil, an expert in the study of vaccines, was previously a professor at the University of Washington, and directed vaccine access and delivery at PATH, an international nonprofit global health organization based in Seattle. IGH already has had several successes. Last year, Plowe and his colleague and wife, Myaing Myaing Nyunt, MD, MPH, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and director of IGHs efforts in Myanmar, helped engineer an unprecedented meeting to battle malaria in Myanmar. A diverse array of groups in the country, many with long histories as adversaries, met in Washington, D.C., to discuss strategies to eradicate malaria in Myanmar. The groups agreed to cooperate on a long-term plan to eliminate malaria, which is a major problem in many parts of the country. IGH also focuses on developing the skills and expertise of those abroad who are on the front lines in the war against infectious and other global diseases. This spread of technical and scientific knowledge will allow less developed countries to create sustainable improvements in public health that last beyond the end of studies by researchers at Western institutions. Khaled, a Syrian refugee, harvests potatoes in Jordan after being granted a temporary work permit by the government, in this April 2016 file photo. UNHCR/Ivor Prickett NEW YORK UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has welcomed an innovative financing instrument to address refugee crises in middle income countries worldwide that US President Barack Obama announced at the Leaders Summit on Refugees in New York. In all, 86 per cent of the refugees under UNHCRs mandate in 2015 were in low- and middle-income countries close to situations of conflict, many of which struggle to come up with sustainable means to manage the additional costs of hosting them. The World Banks Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) will help them to acquire key development financing while at the same time bridging the gap with organizations providing direct humanitarian assistance on the ground. Attending a high-level panel at the UN General Assembly, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomed both the facility, and a US$50-million contribution from the United States at the Leaders Summit on Refugees on September 20 that made it operational. I believe that the GCFF is well positioned to support investment projects and initiatives that can support longer term growth, providing opportunities for both local and refugee populations alike in middle income countries, Grandi said. "This will lessen pressure on government and humanitarian finances, permitting resources to be better and more efficiently targeted." If more refugees and local communities can find employment, are free to trade or open businesses, they can contribute more to the economy and to their families. This will lessen pressure on government and humanitarian finances, permitting resources to be better and more efficiently targeted," he added. Since the Syria crisis erupted in 2011, some 4.8 million refugees have been hosted by middle-income neighbours Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Worldwide, Turkey hosted more refugees 2.5 million than any other country last year, while Lebanon hosted more refugees compared to its population than any other country. The GCFF ramps up to a global scale the Concessional Financing Facility for the Middle East and North Africa (CFF), which was launched earlier this year to support Jordan and Lebanon, the two middle income countries whose demographics have been most altered by hosting large numbers of refugees. Grandi said the CFF fulfils two important roles that were absent at the beginning of the Syria crisis five years ago. Firstly, it offers to governments the possibility of financing for investment projects that address the development needs of both the refugee population and the local host communities. Pursuing benefits for both refugees and local communities is surely an equity model that we should replicate elsewhere. Pursuing benefits for both refugees and local communities is surely an equity model that we should replicate elsewhere, he said. Secondly, its sends an important signal of solidarity with the host country governments and population, so that the donor community recognizes that the challenge will be long term. Their costs are very high; UNHCR's continued support is critical. The mobilization of support for longer term programmes in post-emergency refugee situations has long been an objective for UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies. To date it has proved frustratingly elusive. The CFF built on evidence derived from previous UNHCR-World Bank field research on refugee poverty in Lebanon and Jordan. It demonstrated clearly the limitations of humanitarian assistance in responding to the impact of the conflict on both the local economy and refugee circumstances. UNHCR believes that such cooperation between humanitarian and development actors will prove increasingly effective in addressing protracted crises more sustainably. TITLE Download O N G O I N G E V A L U A T I O N S Independent cluster evaluation of UNIDO polychlorinated biphenyl projects. August 2022 PDF (1MB) Independent evaluation. Programme for country partnership (PCP) in Peru. July 2022 PDF (1.8MB) Independent terminal evaluation. GLOBAL. Parliamentary engagement on renewable energy (PARE) (UNIDO project No. 190106). June 2022 PDF (1.6MB) Independent terminal evaluation. TUNISIA. Facilitating youth employment through entrepreneurship and enterprise development in fourteen disadvantaged governorates in Tunisia (Project "Mashrou3i" Phase II, 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2022) (UNIDO project No. 120357). May 2022 PDF (1.7MB) Independent terminal evaluation. KENYA. Sustainable conversion of waste into clean energy to reduce GHG emissions (UNIDO project No. 120568; GEF ID: 5154). May 2022 PDF (1.2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. SOUTH AFRICA. Industrial energy efficiency improvement in South Africa through mainstreaming the introduction of energy management systems and energy systems' optimization (SA IEE Phase II GEF Project) (UNIDO project No. 120487; GEF ID: 5379). April 2022 PDF (2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. MALAYSIA. GHG Emissions' reductions in targeted industrial sub-sectors through EE and application of solar thermal systems in Malaysia (UNIDO project No. 120264; GEF ID: 4878). March 2022 PDF (2.3MB) Independent terminal evaluation. INDIA. Promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in selected micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) clusters in India (UNIDO project No. 103029; GEF ID: 3553). March 2022 PDF (2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. Integrated adoption of new energy vehicles in China (UNIDO project No. 150157; GEF ID: 9226). February 2022 PDF (1.3MB) Independent terminal evaluation. MOROCCO. H2O Maghreb (UNIDO project No. 150259). November 2021 PDF (2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. SENEGAL. Agricultural value chain support project (PARFA) (UNIDO project No. 150071; GEF ID: 9134). November 2021 PDF (2.1MB) Independent terminal evaluations (2). ETHIOPIA. 1 - Improving the sustainability and inclusiveness of the Ethiopian coffee value chain through private and public partnership (UNIDO project No. 130144); and 2 - Phase 2 (extension) of the technical assistance project for the up-grading of the Ethiopian leather and leather products industry (UNIDO project No. 150201). (September 2021) PDF (525KB) Independent thematic evaluation. UNIDO's capacities to contribute to transformational change. (August 2021) PDF (740KB) Independent evaluation. Programme for country partnership (PCP) in Senegal. (September 2021) English (1.7MB) French (1.7MB) Independent terminal evaluation. UGANDA. Reducing vulnerability of banana producing communities to climate change through banana value added activities (UNIDO project No. 140015; GEF ID: 5603). (March 2021) PDF (1.3MB) Independent terminal evaluation. UGANDA. Reducing vulnerability of banana producing communities to climate change through banana value added activities (UNIDO project No. 140015; GEF ID: 5603) PDF (1.9MB) Independent terminal evaluation. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Stimulating industrial competitiveness through biomass-based, grid-connected electricity generation (UNIDO Project No. 100288; GEF ID: 4747) PDF (2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. ARAB REGIONAL. Enhancement of regional trade capacities in food through harmonized regional conformity assessment and food safety systems (UNIDO Project No. 120541) PDF (446KB) Independent terminal evaluation. INDONESIA. National Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) programme Indonesia (UNIDO Project No. 100224) PDF (941KB) Independent terminal evaluation. LIBERIA. installation of multi-purpose mini-hydro infrastructure (for energy irrigation) (UNIDO project No. 100330; GEF ID: 3944) PDF(2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. SOUTH SUDAN. Enhanced local value addition and strengthening value chains (UNIDO project No. 140320). November 2020 PDF (1.6MB) EVALUATION ON HOLD: Independent terminal evaluation. INDIA. Environmentally sound management of medical wastes in India (UNIDO Project No. 104160; GEF ID: 3803) PDF (6.58MB) P A S T E V A L U A T I O N S Independent terminal evaluation. ASIA REGIONAL. Demonstration of BAT and BEP in open burning activities in response to the Stockholm Convention on POPs (UNIDO project No. 150033; GEF ID: 5082). March 2022 PDF (307KB) Independent terminal evaluation. NIGERIA. Mini-grid based on renewable energy (biomass) sources to augment rural electrification (UNIDO Project No. 100260; GEF ID: 3943) PDF (1MB) Independent terminal evaluations (2). 1. GLOBAL. Low Carbon Low Emission Clean Energy Technology Transfer Programme (UNIDO project No. 120601); 2. KENYA. Strengthening capacity for operation and maintenance with Internet of Things technologies for Olkaria Geothermal Power Station in Kenya (UNIDO project No. 190036). (September 2021) PDF (1.2MB) Independent evaluation. UNIDO medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2018-2021. (October 2021) PDF (825KB) Independent mid-term evaluation. GHANA. West Africa Competitiveness Programme - Ghana (UNIDO Project No. 170220; EU project ID: CTR402-427). (May 2021) PDF (376KB) Independent terminal evaluation. CUBA. Technological and Enterprise Upgrading Programme focused on agro-chemical and agriculture machinery production sector (Industrial Upgrading and Modernization in Cuba) (UNIDO project No. 150262). (September 2021) PDF (1.5MB) Independent terminal evaluation. INDIA. Promoting business models for increasing penetration and scaling-up of solar energy in India (UNIDO project No. 130149; GEF ID: 4788) PDF (1.2MB) Independent terminal evaluation. SUDAN. Fostering inclusive economic growth in Sudan Kassala State through agro-value chains development and access to financial services (UNIDO project No. 170074). (March 2021) PDF (476KB) Independent terminal evaluation. GLOBAL. UNIDO GEF-5 project: Promoting accelerated transfer and scaled-up deployment of mitigation technologies through the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) (UNIDO project No. 140307; GEF ID: 5832) PDF (627KB) Independent mid-term evaluation. INTER-REGIONAL. Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP) (UNIDO project No. 170222). (April 2021) PDF (336KB) Independent terminal evaluation. SRI LANKA. Bamboo processing for Sri Lanka (UNIDO project No. 100043; GEF ID: 4114) PDF (841KB) Independent terminal evaluation. URUGUAY. Towards a green economy in Uruguay: stimulating sustainable production practices and low emission technologies in prioritized sectors (UNIDO project No. 120323; GEF ID: 4890) PDF (610KB) Independent thematic evaluation. UNIDO's Gender Policy and 2016-2019 Gender Strategy PDF (300KB) Independent terminal evaluation. RWANDA. Joint evaluation of the project - Capacity-building for industrial research and development in Rwanda (UNIDO project No. 150442) PDF Independent terminal evaluation. SOUTH SUDAN. Upgrading the fishery sector in South Sudan (UNIDO project No. 120447) PDF (315KB) Independent terminal evaluation. AZERBEIJAN. Initiation of the HCFC phase out in the Republic of Azerbaijan (UNIDO project No. 100321; GEF ID: 4602) PDF (484KB) Independent terminal evaluation. UKRAINE. Promoting the adaptation and adoption of resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP) through the establishment and Operation of Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) in Ukraine (UNIDO project No. 104112). (July 2021) PDF (452KB) Independent terminal evaluation. ARAB REGIONAL. Support the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) to be sustained, effective and internationally recognized as key driving force for regional trade integration (UNIDO Project No.: 140261) PDF (245KB) Independent terminal evaluation. VIET NAM. Expansion of the national business registration system (NBRS) to new business entities (UNIDO project No. 130217) PDF (681KB) Independent terminal evaluation. GLOBAL. Integrated solutions for water, energy and land (ISWEL) (UNIDO project No. 140312; GEF ID: 6993) PDF Independent mid-term evaluation. GLOBAL. Global quality and standards programme (GQSP) (UNIDO project No. 170032) PDF (2MB) Thematic review from independent evaluations of UNIDO renewable energy projects PDF (84KB) Independent thematic evaluation. UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Offices' network PDF (288KB) Independent thematic evaluation. UNIDO's programme and project formulation, appraisal and approval function PDF (144KB) Independent terminal evaluation. COLOMBIA. Promotion of industrial energy efficiency in Colombian industries (UNIDO project No. 140122; GEF ID: 5828) PDF(1MB) Australia's Queensland state aims to extend debt yield curve SYDNEY, Sep 22 (Reuters) Australia's Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) said it plans to sell long-term debt to lock in attractive terms amid falling interest rates and a global hunt for yield. QTC Head of Investor and Government Relations Richard Jackson said Australian dollar bonds would continue to be the predominant funding vehicle because they cost the least. Estimates show it would cost QTC around 30 to 40 basis points more to raise foreign currency denominated debt, such as U.S. dollars, largely due to the currency swap into Australian dollars. Mexico tax authority to open probe after "Bahamas Leaks" MEXICO CITY, Sep 22 (Reuters) The financial affairs of hundreds of Mexicans mentioned in a cache of documents dubbed the "Bahamas Leaks" will be checked for tax violations, the Tax Authority of Mexico (SAT) said on Wednesday. More than 400 Mexicans, including lawyers, former officials, and owners of offshore companies in the Bahamas, were named in leaks published in a database on Wednesday by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and other media outlets. "Regarding the use of structures or companies incorporated in countries that are so-called tax havens, the SAT will review, in cases where appropriate, the taxpayers mentioned," the authority said in a statement. Stampede kills 8 at concert in DR Congo 30 Oct 2022 | 9:05 PM Kinshasa, Oct 30 (UNI) Eight people died in a stampede at a concert in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, the head of the city police said on Sunday. see more.. 5 Iranians killed in Seoul Halloween stampede: spokesman 30 Oct 2022 | 6:33 PM Tehran, Oct 30 (UNI) At least 5 Iranians died in the Halloween stampede in the South Korean capital Seoul, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Sunday. see more.. Italy sends 2 dozen of self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine 30 Oct 2022 | 5:13 PM Rome, Oct 30 (UNI) The Italian government has donated "20 to 30" M109L self-propelled howitzers to Kiev as part of the fifth military aid package, Italian media reported on Sunday. see more.. 153 killed in Halloween stampede in SKorea 30 Oct 2022 | 5:01 PM Seoul, Oct 30 (UNI) The death toll from a stampede which took place in South Korean capital city Seoul during Halloween festivities held in the Itaewon nightlife district has risen to 153 people, while 103 others were injured, media reports said. see more.. Thanks to Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for iPhone 7 has an estimated 100 million sales at the end of 2016 says south Korean analyst. Now the list of 2016 mobile 2016 flagships is down to one with only Pixel X and Pixel XL ("Google Nexus 2016") phones left, will the android smartphone surpass the hundred million mark of sales by Apple? According to a South Korean Analyst Lee Seung-woo, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fiasco has great advantage to Apple since iPhone 7 has become the customers' next choice of smartphone especially in the United States. Apple Insider noted that exploding incidents related to Galaxy Note 7 has become a huge factor in Apple's sales. Aside from the battery issues, Youtube examiners and reviewers have noted that Galaxy Note 7 screen is prone to scratches. Thus, making the consumers sway away from Samsung 2016 flagship. For this reason, Apple Insider added that orders of 80 to 85 million materials for iPhone 7 were placed in by South Korean suppliers. And this should make Apple hit the 100 million sales before the end of the year. On the other hand, "Google Nexus 2016" phones will be launched this coming October 4 as confirmed by Google. Being the last smartphone on the list to debut in 2016, undecided buyers are waiting for its launching to compare whether or not iPhone 7 is worth all the penny. But "Google Nexus 2016" may have one advantage - the phones which are amounting to $649 for an entry price are available under financing programs according to Android Police. As Google is gearing up for the launching of "Google Nexus 2016" or Pixel X and Pixel XL, an alleged commercial featuring the Pixel phones has accidentally aired by Nest as reported by Android Police. The alleged commercial was considered as marketing material to further advertise the upcoming android smartphones to persuade more consumers. However, Android Police said that the alleged commercial has not been identified as legit one. Climate change, security threats, increasing health concerns, international politics, local issues crossing national boundaries and leaving global impact are some of the major concerns that the Columbia University community is actively engaged in. The school believes it is essential that Columbia's experts - both faculty and students play a role in contributing to resolve these problems plaguing the globalized world. Prof. Safwan Masri noted that, "Columbia University can have a significant role in bringing the best minds together to address the urgent concerns that countries and populations face - from violence against women to humanitarian crises among migrant peoples." Columbia hopes to strengthen the university's commitment as a research institution and at the same time keep connected with its alumni and expand its reach by connecting with various universities, non-governmental organizations, regional bodies, policy makers, professionals, artists, fellow researchers and academic peers working in partnership with the Columbia community. "Our work is made immeasurably more powerful through their participation." Masri says. Further according to Prof. Masri, Columbia's Pres. Bollinger's vision for the Columbia Global Centers, "was to bring Columbia to the world and to bring deeper insight about the regions of the world back to the Columbia community." To date, the university have centers in 8 cities around the globe: Amman (Jordan), Istanbul (Turkey), Beijing (China), Mumbai (India), Nairobi (Kenya), Paris (France), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Santiago (Chile). These centers help organize dialogues, conferences, roundtables and seminars at the policy level and brings together Columbia's brightest minds and other luminaries and influencers in the region. Columbia believes that it is essential to keep the conversation going in order to resolve conflicts that has an impact on territories across borders. "Our goal at the Columbia Global Centers is to foster the conversations, partnerships, and research that can lead to new global insights and action." Says Prof. Masri. Innovation and technology are words that have been synonymous to MIT and Stanford University. However, the title for most innovative school goes to Arizona State University outranking Stanford which comes in second and MIT on third. The U.S News and World Report which awards these rankings to schools base their choices on innovative improvements these schools have made on their facilities, faculty, curriculum, student life, and technology. According to an ASU official, this has been made possible through ASU President Michael Crow's visionary desire to make ASU a one-of-a-kind university by creating it into a "New American University." This plan focuses on four things - reduce tuition fee costs, build a downtown campus, produce more research, and develop an online degree program. Once Crow put his plan into motion, the student population grew exponentially from 47,000 to 300,000. It is now offering 140 online degree programs as well. In terms of completion rates, the school's rate growth has increased as well with 37 percent of the students receiving Pell grants. Another innovative idea of the university is their online degree program called EdPlus which has now 20,000 students. On the other hand, its downtown Phoenix campus has a nursing school, center for law and society, journalism, a fitness center, and a college of public service. The downtown campus has a total population of 10,952 students. Despite the praises it received, the Arizona State University has also received a lot of criticisms from both practitioners and observers. Those who praise ASU commend Crow for its innovation landing the school more funds. A report said that the university's research portfolio funded by the federal government has a reported growth of 162 percent. Critics, on the other hand, says that despite the title, the university didn't do much in terms of getting their papers published in scientific journals. A Cambridge University student is now the subject of a witchhunt after exposing a secret group of an anti-white hatred secret group from Oxford. He revealed that after the incident, he has been threatened for disciplinary action by one of the senior officials of his college. Will TG Miller had written an article about the secret Facebook group called Race Matters, which started as a page for intellectual discussions regarding issues on race, racism, and identity. However, the group has digressed from its original intention when some of its members began posting anti-white remarks. Words, such as white saviorism and white privilege, have become regular fare in the group and began to display animosity to those they deem as "white racist." Aside from spewing anti-white posts, the group is also big on anti-Semitism regularly criticizing or making fun of the Jewish people. Miller made the expose hoping to get the attention of concerned authorities in the university because a lot of its members were also student leaders who act as ambassadors in the university. However, these students seem to have two contradicting beliefs, one which is public in the campus and one which is private expressed in the secret group. After writing the report about the group, there was not anyone who tried to dispute the accuracy of the article. Yet it was ironic that Miller would suddenly receive a threatening email from one of the senior officials of his school saying that the school has received numerous complaints because of the report. "Since online responses to this article, and subsequent communications have, however, generated a serious risk of reputational damage to the College, I am requesting that you ensure that this article be immediately amended in such a way as to anonymize the personal details of any individual cited who has not given their explicit consent to be identified by you in the article. Please note that...failure to comply with my request may result in disciplinary action being taken at a subsequent stage," the email said. After the series of reports of exploding batteries in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the Korean company recalled their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones. While it is a tragic incident in the part of Samsung, they were leading the sales list before the explosions happen. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7's battery explosions have cost the company billions. This was one of the biggest disasters in the history of smartphone tech. The event was not only a concern about a bunk software or a malfunctioning hardware but also of the the consumer's safety. This will then need all the marketing strategies they could find. Coming back from that downfall, the Samsung company should not only assure people of the quality of their phones but also show that their devices are safe, according to Know Your Mobile. Prior to the event, Apple's iPhone flagship entry, the iPhone 7, did not have many new features and innovations. This was the moment where Samsung would have defeated the iPhone in terms of sales. The promising sales led Samsung to accelerate the production as they were confident that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 would impress the consumers. They have shipped 2.5 million units all over the world. On September 2, D.J. Koh announced that all the phones shipped will be recalled and replaced, Bloomerg reported. Before the tragic battery explosion incident, the Note 7 has been selling well. In fact, it surpassed the sales of the previously released Samsung Galaxy Note 5 by 25%. The phone has a total sales of 7.2 million units in the third quarter.Accordin to BayStreet,however, the Galaxy Note 7 would only earn 60% of the Galaxy Note 5's revenue. The expected return to sales of the Galaxy Note 7 would be on October 21. This would only be in the United States. However, those who were affected by the explosion has alreadt started receiving their phone replacements. QS Top Universities has revealed its list of the top 50 youngest universities around the world. Moreover, it looks like Asia has dominated the charts and may be overtaking the U.S. and Europe in terms of higher education. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore nabbed the top spot in the list. It is followed by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in second and third place, respectively. Hong Kong universities such as the City University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University are at the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Another South Korean school completes the top five: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Europe takes the remaining spots in the top 10. In seventh place is Maastricht University, which is based in the Netherlands. Australia comes next with the University of Technology Sydney in eighth place. The Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and University of Antwerp in Belgium are in the ninth and tenth places, respectively. Other countries in Asia such as Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Kazakhstan and Qatar were able to place in the top 50 youngest universities list. European countries such as Finland, Sweden, Germany and France, among others, were also able to find a spot in the list. Half of the schools in the top 10 are science and technology institutes. According to The Guardian, Ben Sowter, the head of research at QS, finds this significant. "This trend suggests that young universities with the resources and willingness to focus on creating and maintaining strong Stem-based research programs stand the best chance of disrupting any established global elite," he said. QS used the same methodology that it used in the QS World Rankings. The performance of each school is judged through academic reputation, employer reputation, student-faculty ratio, citations per faculty as well as international faculty ratio. California Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among the best universities in the United States. This is according to a report by Times Higher Education (THE). In the organization's report, it was revealed that the top 5 best universities in the U.S. are based in California, Massachusetts and New Jersey. The list may help future college students find the best institution for their higher education. 1. California Institute of Technology CalTech boasts of 34 Nobel Prize winners, six Turing Award winners, five Field Medalists as well as a number of national awards. The university is focused on its science and engineering studies. It placed second in terms of engineering and technology, first in physical sciences and fifth in life sciences according to the 2016 rankings of schools. CalTech has also influenced pop culture with "The Big Bang Theory." 2. Stanford University The school is believed to have a prominent role in encouraging the high-tech industry to develop in Silicon Valley. Several of its faculty members, students and alumni have founded prosperous technology companies. This includes Google, Snapchat and Hewlett-Packard. The school's researchers are also gaining prominence for their studies such as in creating cooling clothing materials and in marine biology. 3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT is believed to be a long-standing rival of CalTech. The institution has also cultivated a strong entrepreneurial culture which resulted to notable companies such as Intel and Dropbox. Its undergraduate program is very selective, only admitting 8 percent of applicants. The school took the first place in the world's best universities 2016 list by QS. 4. Harvard University Deemed as the most renowned university in the world, Harvard has placed itself on top of reputation rankings during the past years. It is the oldest higher education institution in the United States. The school also takes pride in the education of eight U.S. presidents, about 150 Nobel laureates, 13 Turing Award winners and 62 living billionaires. It recently raised $7 billion for its fundraising campaign. 5. Princeton University This Ivy League university has a highly-selective application process. It no longer offers an early decision application route. All students have to do independent research as part of their degrees. Some must take a foreign language course as well. Donald Trump is only one state away from winning the RCP's Electoral College victory. This is what the most recent poll revealed about the tight battle for the presidency between Hillary Clinton and the Republican real estate mogul candidate. Looking back weeks ago, Clinton was confidently claiming the number spot on the majority of the presidential polls conducted. Things, however, changed this past two weeks as Donald Trump began climbing up the spot dramatically. It was believed that one of the biggest factors affecting the sudden change in the presidential poll is Clinton's health condition. The so-called "Clinton health scare" paved the way for Trump to gather more votes turning the table around and making it to the number one spot on four states namely Iowa, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina, The Townhall reported. As of this writing, Trump will only need to secure one state to make it to the Electoral College victory. Pennsylvania is one great challenge to the real-estate magnate as polling evidence show that Trump is far from making it to the number one spot in the said state. Michigan is another potential vote-rich state that if Trump will make his way to the top on its poll, he is on his way to the presidency. Though it was known to be a place where Clinton topped the polls, things have changed weeks ago. The five to seven point differences between the two candidates have now been cut down to three, giving Trump an optimistic view. Virginia is another potential hope for Trump as the race is turning to his favor in the past three weeks. The three surveys conducted showed that Clinton's lead is now down at only three points. Colorado, a state where Trump did not have a ground to speak of manifested optimism in favor of Trump's presidency. After Clinton's health scare, the business magnate suddenly climbed up the spot beating his opponent by four points, The Daily Wire reported. Watch this video for more of the story. September 22 2016 Glasgow City Council has given its backing to a 5.5m programme of townscape improvements in Govan, the second phase of a masterplan to breathe new life into the riverside community.The five year plan will see repairs carried out to historic buildings such as the Pearce Institute as well as improving the condition of tenements and 45 roller shuttered shop fronts in the area.Natural stone pavements will also be reinstated in select areas together with a set of cast iron gates marking the entrance to Elder Park.A new strategy will be developed to bring vacant floor space back into use in tandem with this work with particular emphasis being placed on highlighting the areas rich history through the use of new signage.The Govan Townscape Heritage Initiative is also backed by Historic Environment Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund and comes on top of a series of investments in the district, most recently a decision by Elderpark Housing Association to convert the former Hill's Trust school to form a new HQ Martin Fairley, head of grants for HES, said: We were pleased to award funding to this project, which aligns well with the economic and regeneration priorities of our CARS programme, and builds on other successes in the area including the Orkney Street Police Station, Pearce Institute and Fairfield Shipyard Offices. DECATUR The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra will begin its season with the concert Masterworks I: 'Pictures at an Exhibition' at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center in Millikin University. Guest musician and internationally renowned pianist Mikhail Yanovitsky will perform Sergei Rachmaninoffs piano concerto. Music director and conductor Sergey Bogza has created a concert of images and stories. Although the selections come from various eras and countries, each piece parallels the others and are connected. Bogza will offer a pre-concert lecture from 6:45 to 7:10 p.m. This time will provide the audience inside information about how I came to the decision on what we will play, he said. The concert begins with The Sunken Cathedral, written by Claude Debussy. The piece provides emotional rises and falls with harmonies and soft and impressionistic sounds. Music throughout section has drifting musical lines, creating images of ripples or reflections. Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition represents the emotional ups and downs of relationships and loss of a forgotten friend. The pieces was written as a piano solo, but its popuilarity had expanded with arrangements featuring with additional sections for various instruments. Guest musician Mikhail Yanovitsky will be performing a piano concerto by Rachmaninoff, a popular turn-of-the-20th-century classic composer and pianist. Yanovitsky has earned his own recognition as a pianist. According to his biography provided by Millikin University, Yanovitsky was born in Leningrad, or current-day St.Petersburg. He studied piano under the guidance of various instructors before establishing a career in the United States in 1991. Yanovitsky traveled throughout the country, performing in venues including Carnegie Recital Hall in New York, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, the Chicago Cultural Center and Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. He has also performed in 15 European countries, in addition to Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Japan and China. Yanovitsky continued his education in the U.S. at the Juilliard School of Music in New York as well as completing his doctorate at Temple University in Philadelphia. In the process, he won the Gina Bachauer Piano Graduate Scholarship in 1991 and 1992. His other awards include the Concerto Competition in Italy and the International Piano Competition in Sydney, Australia, as well as the ProPiano competition in New York. After the concert, audience members are invited to a champagne reception to honor the guest musician and other symphony members. There are some spirits involved, Bogza said. Future Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra shows include Masterworks II with guest artist Gabriel Cabezas, the musical theater piece Nice Work If You Can Get It, Masterworks III: 'A Voyage of Discovery: Space and Fast Machines', Masterworks IV: 'Young Artists and Shostakovich Symphony No. 15', and Masterworks V: 'Symphonic Revolutionaries'. UTSAs Mission The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world. UTSAs Vision To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment. UTSAs Core Values We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered. UTSAS Destinations UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education. Our Commitment to Inclusivity The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice. TAYLORVILLE Taylorville resident Geri Niemann has learned a great deal since she began attending the Christian County TRIAD Senior Police Academy classes. Take charge of your life, the 77-year-old said. The eight-week course offers senior citizens sessions on subjects that concern their lives. Topics range from health to computer techniques to senior scams. About 60 members from the Christian County group meet Thursday mornings. Marilyn Fisher, 81, has attended the classes since the academy was developed seven years ago. Every Fall she visits the academy for the speakers and information. The goal is to alert or teach the public about safety, she said. Taylorville interim Chief of Police Brian Hile created the Senior Police Academy with Richard Peters, director of Christian County TRIAD. TRIAD, which stands for The Right Information and Direction, was developed 12 years ago with law enforcement agencies and social service organizations to decrease senior citizen victimization. The Senior Police Academy is one branch of the program. Membership is free. Regular class sessions meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays in Taylorville City Hall. Hile said the classes are meant to expose seniors to law enforcement and the different agencies or topics regarding their health and safety. It started out with a small number, he said. Within the last three years it has consistently grown. According to Peters, senior citizens are becoming more aware of scams and what to look for in their own lives. A lot of them are computer literate now, he said. They are finding things on the internet and asking questions that hasn't been brought to the forefront as far as senior citizens go. They are a very inquisitive bunch on any of the topics, Hile said. In the past, speakers have brought information regarding banking and financial advice, debit and credit card protection, scams, health topics and law enforcement issues. The group often travel on field trips as well to a local FBI agency, grocery stores and fire departments. The second meeting during this season's academy brought the class to the Taylorville Fire Department. Assistant Fire Chief Andy Goodall explained to the group the statistics and other important facts of sprinklers and other fire facts. The conversation related to seniors and the concerns they would have, including sprinkler installation costs, insurance and property damage. The automatic sprinkler system cuts the risk of dying in half, Goodall said to the class. Property damage to the home is higher with smoke than with water. Thursday's class also involved a fire and sprinkler demonstration by burning two mock rooms, one with a sprinkler and one without. After a short refreshment break, Fire Marshal Terry Ooms and his arson dog, Jules, demonstrated her techniques to find the source of a fire. Although they are based in Christian County, Hile and Peters said they do not have any regulations for those wanting to join the group. We are nondiscriminatory on age, Peters said. You don't have to be a senior and any county can join us. Future academy classes include a visit to Hy-Vee Foods in Springfield, presentations by an FBI attorney and the Illinois State Police Executive Protection Services. The last class is devoted to a graduation with a meal and prizes. But even if they are only at one or two classes, they can join us, Hile said. Niemann continues to attend the class because the information is up to date and useful. She said although the group may have similar subject matter every year, the topics and the questions are always different. We always come away learning a lot, she said. We always take it home and share with other people." Church News October 20, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Needing Answers We want God to be like FedEx and deliver overnight. Things dont happen that way, but in... Church News October 13, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Natures Therapy The pine tree with its solemn dignity lifts its branches to the sky as if to give... MOUNT ZION -- Another year, another increase in the students at the Mount Zion School District. For the fifth straight year, the total enrollment of the district has increased, according to numbers unveiled late Tuesday night during the monthly meeting of the Mount Zion School Board. Overall enrollment at the districts five schools for the 2016-2017 school year is 2,505, an increase of 20 students from last school year. Superintendent Travis Roundcount has attributed the increase in students in the past to the increased positive reputation of the district around Central Illinois. As of late, we've been hearing that there is only one choice, and it's Mount Zion, he said. The grades that saw the highest increase were third grade at the grade school, which increased by 32 students over last year, and the freshman class at the high school, which increased by 36 students over last year. Increases in the second, fifth, sixth, 10th and 12th grades were also noted. There were some decreased class sizes noted in the breakdown of grades, including a 48 students drop from last years eighth grade enrollment of 244. Part of that can be attributed to the aberration of last years number, as past eighth-grade classes have hovered in the 180 to 200 range. The district also saw smaller decreases in its kindergarten, first, fourth, seventh and 11th grade. The figures are as of Aug. 31. The prekindergarten program at McGaughey Elementary School has 39 students, according to the figures released. The growth was not a total surprise to officials, as the district has seen an increase in total enrollment each of the past five years. Just last month, the district learned its portion of the county's sales tax dedicated to local schools grew for the fourth year in a row. The number, which has risen from 13.9 percent to 14.9 percent, is based on the percentage of students in the county who attend Mount Zion schools. DECATUR Scovill Zoo has one year to make improvements or risk losing its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. A commission representing the organization, which the zoo joined in 2001, tabled its accreditation for one year during a conference in San Diego earlier this month. Zoo director Ken Frye said the staff is addressing issues highlighted during the process. Three evaluators from other zoos visited Decatur during the spring and created a list of items to fix, such as replacing mesh on the monkey exhibit and adding more optional shelters for animals to use during the day, Frye said. Zoo staff addressed many of the items over the following few months. For those that weren't fixed, the zoo outlined a plan as to when those projects would be done. Frye said the commission tabled the accreditation Sept. 7 because it felt not enough progress had been made. Another evaluation will take place next year, during which the zoo will either be accredited for another five years or lose its status. If we weren't meeting the standards, they would have said no to us, Frye said. Since we are doing a lot of it, we just needed to work on a couple of extra things to make sure that in their eyes we're moving in the right direction. Membership in the AZA means that the zoo is meeting certain high standards of animal care. Fewer than 10 percent of the 2,800 U.S. Department of Agriculture-licensed animal exhibitors are accredited, according to the AZA. The organization also manages animal populations to ensure that there is genetic diversity within species and enough space for new animals that are born. Frye said it would likely be more difficult and costly to obtain certain animals if the zoo were not a member of the AZA. Accreditation also puts Scovill Zoo in a class with many larger facilities. You always have to keep getting better, keep revitalizing your exhibits and keep progressing, Frye said. If you stay stagnant or stay at the status quo, you're not going to be accredited the next time around. The zoo will work with a mentor from another AZA zoo to help monitor its progress on the identified issues and look out for any others. Plans are already in place to deal with the list of items, although Frye said he planned to reach out to the AZA for more clarity on several. One major project will be upgrading the building used by spider and howler monkeys when they are not in their exhibit. The building measures 16 feet by 24 feet, and will nearly double in size once work is completed. That project is being funded by a roughly $26,000 grant from the TS and Juanita Ballance Foundation, Frye said, with work to begin later this year. Other needs are less expensive, but will require some work. Some exhibits did not have keeper safe areas, where keepers can go into a small enclosed area before entering and leaving the exhibit. The zoo has already added such an area to the lemur exhibit and the howler monkey exhibit, even though keepers don't enter the exhibit with the monkeys. Evaluators also wanted animals to have optional shelter areas they could use during the day, in addition to those that are opened at night or during bad weather. The wallabies and emu, for example, recently gained such a shelter. The zoo also must see to some administrative needs, such as updating its strategic plan. AZA guidelines set high standards for animal care, but they don't spell out specifics, such as the exact dimensions or materials required for each type of exhibit. Individual circumstances are evaluated by the team that visits each zoo during the accreditation process. It's a lot of work for a zoo staff that has just 12 full-time employees. The daily operation of the zoo takes a lot of time, and the daily care of the animals takes a lot of time, Frye said. We're putting in a lot of extra hours in the evenings and weekends to try to work on these projects when we can. Workers from other areas of the park district chipped in to help leading up to the inspection and will continue to do so, park district Executive Director Bill Clevenger said. The process puts outside eyes on district facilities to make recommendations and ultimately strengthen them, he said, though he acknowledged that it would have been nice to have been approved rather than tabled. From my perspective, I think it's a valuable process, and I think we learned from it, Clevenger said. It helps us improve. The accreditation process takes place every five years. Since the last visit, Scovill Zoo has added a new penguin exhibit, restrooms and concession stand, among other changes. I thought we were doing really well, so it was a bit of a surprise, Frye said. It's not something we're going to just quit. We're going to keep looking forward. Las Vegans will celebrate a night of fashion and fundraising at the 7th Annual Fashion for Autism Gala on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. at the Aria Resort & Casino Las Vegas (3730 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas). The theme of the evening is Bringing a Solution Into Focus. Featuring fashion by DVF (Diane von Furstenberg), the annual fashion event celebrates community members leading the fight against autism and benefits Grant a Gift Autism Foundation. Individual tickets and tables are available by calling 702.564.2453, online at www.GrantAGiftAutismFoundation.org or by emailing events@GrantAGiftAutismFoundation.org. Bringing a Solution Into Focus is based on Grant a Gift Autism Foundations new partnership with the UNLV School of Medicine, creating a state-of-the-art facility, aimed at finding the new standard for autism diagnosis, research, programming and education in Nevada and the West Coast. Both organizations have joined forces to open the UNLV Medicine Ackerman Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Solutions. The new center combines cutting-edge diagnostics, treatment, behavioral/vocational training, support programs, and education for infants to young adults. Attendees of Fashion for Autism will sip champagne while bidding on lavish and luxurious items at an exclusive silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. Following the reception, Kim and Dana Wagner from KSNV News 3, host the live fashion show sponsored by DVF. Guests will also enjoy an incredible live auction followed by the awards ceremony honoring two outstanding community leaders who have worked tirelessly to ensure that families dealing with autism receive the help and support needed. Gaudin Motor Companys Gary Ackerman will be honored with the Ambassador for Autism Award and Len Jessup, President of UNLV, will receive the Autism Advocate Award. Former Grant a Gift program client Luke Kecman along with Megan Rose Crandy will both be awarded the Self-Advocate Community Achievement Award, for making significant accomplishments within the community. Gary Johnson and Bill Weld -- the former GOP governors of New Mexico and Massachusetts who now head the Libertarian Party ticket -- should embrace their failure to qualify for the first debate. Commission on Presidential Debates set the bar too high for third-party candidates to own a podium at Hofstra University on Sept. 26: To qualify, nominees had to be constitutionally eligible to serve, appear on enough state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning a majority vote in the Electoral College and show at least 15 percent support in five national polls. With 8.4 percent support in polls selected by the panel, Johnson didn't make the cut. The Johnson-Weld campaign has posted an online petition that calls on the debate panel to let the Libertarians debate. With more than 875,000 online signatures, the campaign likely will meet its goal of 1 million. I think that's the wrong tactic. Sure, you can argue that the panel is "rigged," as Johnson said, with too many major party former big shots. If the panel wanted to accommodate third-party candidates, then it could have stuck to its first two criteria. Or it could have had different rules for one of the debates to accommodate outsiders. But that didn't happen, and it never looks good to ask the folks who control the field to lower their standards so that you can play. Besides, I think Johnson wins when Americans tune into the debate Monday night and see in the harsh glare of the debate spotlight the best that the two parties have to offer -- Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, 54.9 percent of voters have an unfavorable view of Clinton, while 57.3 have a negative view of Trump. You just know that more people will despise them by Nov. 8. If I were Johnson, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the stage when Clinton and Trump finally face off. Pity the moderator, NBC's Lester Holt. This silly campaign season has focused on what the candidates say far more than what they do. If Holt sticks to that model and, say, asks Trump if Trump was trying to foment violence against Clinton when he suggested Clinton's bodyguards disarm. (Quoth the Donald: "She doesn't want guns. Let's see what happens to her. Take their guns away. It would be very dangerous.") Trump will be ready to slam Holt as a media elite who hides behind security walls. If Holt asks Clinton tough questions about her State Department emails, Democrats will target him for the same treatment they reserved for Matt Lauer. My suggestion: Ask Clinton what she means when she says she has taken responsibility for her decision to use a home-brew server for highly sensitive communications. What exactly happens when she takes responsibility? Last week, it was Johnson's turn to squirm when MSNBC's Mike Barnicle asked what he would do about Aleppo. "What is Aleppo?" Johnson responded -- confirming that Syria is not a top concern for the Libertarian nominee. Afterward Johnson didn't try to make excuses. He admitted it looked bad. It's often the open questions that lead to recriminations. That's another reason the Libertarians should be happy to sit out the first dance. Johnson and Weld are right to shift their sights to the October debates. Let Clinton and Trump do their worst to each other -- the more voters see of the major party swells with their Machiavellian moves, the more they might crave a real human being who wants the government to do better by doing less. One lucky winner will receive up to $10,000 in products and services for a home makeover, thanks to Las Vegas Design Centers $10,000 Shopping Experience Sweepstakes, through December 4. The winner, announced on or after December 6, will consult with a representative of the American Society of Interior Designers at The Design Salon, which is located in Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas, 495 S. Grand Central Parkway. The designer will work with the winner to select up to $10,000 in products for his or her home from showrooms such as Ethan Allen, Etoffe Makara, Robert Allen | Beacon Hill, The Phillips Collection and more. The sweepstakes is open to the public (see website for exceptions), and participants can enter by completing an entry form at The Design Salon, space A118. The Design Salon may be reached by calling (702) 599-8155. The Design Salon offers complimentary professional design consultation services throughout the year, giving Las Vegas residents and visitors an opportunity to receive professional guidance and make purchases at Las Vegas Design Center. LVDC is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be closed Thursday, November 25, 2010 for the Thanksgiving holiday. For more information about the sweepstakes, visit http://www.lvdesigncenter.com/events/details/las-vegas-design-center-10000-dream-home-shopping-experience Child Focus, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the states foster care system is hosting the Sixth Annual Mothers Day Tea. This afternoon affair celebrates the special bond of mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and dear friends. Local entertainers Zowie Bowie are the headliners and a special fairytale craft area, hosted by princesses from far away lands, will entertain the littlest of ladies. Make-overs for the teen set are available and a silent auction and raffle with wonderful prizes complement the day. Five deserving foster/adoptive mothers will also be honored at the event as winners of the My Special Mom contest sponsored by Cox Communications. Each will win a prize package worth over $1000, including a home computer. WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 2009 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. WHO: Child Focus is a local charity, providing many vital supportive services for the foster care system in Southern Nevada. WHERE: JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa Valencia Ballroom 221 North Rampart Boulevard Las Vegas, Nevada 89145 702-869-7777 Select performers from Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casinos premier high-energy male revue, Chippendales, hosted a pool party at The Voo inside VooDoo Beach on Saturday, June 23 (Photo credit: Dave Proctor). Photo credit: Dave Proctor. The hunks posed for photos and autographed their 2012 calendars for fans. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Sunshine and a few clouds. High 78F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Seaport, Industrial Complex in Quang Ninh approved Vietnams Prime Minister approved the development of a seaport and industrial park complex in the Nha Mac marsh area in Quang Yen town, Quang Ninh province. Investors include three companies from the Cayman Islands, Singapore and Hong Kong. The project will be spread out over 1,193 hectares and will cost US$310 million (6,940 billion VND). The construction of the project is expected to start in 2017 and will be divided into three phases with the final phase completed in 2021. Officials stated that the complex has a good location as its located near the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone and Haiphongs Cat Bi International Airport. The government wants the complex to be a high-tech seaport creating around 110,000 jobs and contributing US$10.7 million (240 billion VND) to the provinces budget per year. Average revenue is expected to be US$45.6 million per year with a net profit of US$17.4 million per year. Investors have also been asked to make an environmental report by the authorities. Alcohol Exports to be Reduced The Ministry of Industry and Trade in its new plan to 2025 aims to reduce the percentage of alcohol and beer products for exports, while increasing non-alcoholic beverage products. In its vision it plans to increase the production of non-alcoholic beverages doubling it to 15.2 billion liters between the 2020-35 period. Beer plants that produce below 50 million liters per year will be discouraged. Beer production is expected to reach 4.1 billion liters by 2020, 4.6 billion by 2025 and 5.5 billion liters by 2035. Export revenue is expected to double from US$450 million to US$900 million between 2020 and 2035. The government wants to focus on applying technology to improve product quality, diversify products while building brand names. In addition, the governments wants to encourage private investment in the non-alcoholic beverage sector. Officials stated that they would need around US$1.2 billion worth of investment in the next four years. Manufacturing Shows strong Growth The Nikkei Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index or PMI shows strong growth of 52.2 in August compared to 51.9 in July. A reading of 50 and above indicates economic expansion while below that indicates a contraction. However analysts stated that while the data is positive, output and orders increased at weaker rates, suggesting that demand is showing signs of saturation. Nevertheless, the manufacturing industry has consistently strengthened in the past nine months. While investment goods producers showed a rise in production, output dipped in the consumer and intermediate goods sectors. Employment was also boosted in August helping to reduce the backlog of manufacturing work. Manufactures also continued to lower their output prices in August by offering discounts to get new business. The results while mixed, show that manufacturing will continue to contribute to the GDP which is expected to grow at 5.85 percent in 2016. About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email vietnam@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. Annual Audit and Compliance in Vietnam 2016 In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we address pressing changes to audit procedures in 2016, and provide guidance on how to ensure that compliance tasks are completed in an efficient and effective manner. We highlight the continued convergence of VAS with IFRS, discuss the emergence of e-filing, and provide step-by-step instructions on audit and compliance procedures for Foreign Owned Enterprises (FOEs) as well as Representative Offices (ROs). Navigating the Vietnam Supply Chain In this edition of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the advantages of the Vietnamese market over its regional competition and highlight where and how to implement successful investment projects. We examine tariff reduction schedules within the ACFTA and TPP, highlight considerations with regard to rules of origin, and outline the benefits of investing in Vietnams growing economic zones. Finally, we provide expert insight into the issues surrounding the creation of 100 percent Foreign Owned Enterprise in Vietnam. Tax, Accounting and Audit in Vietnam 2016 (2nd Edition) This edition of Tax, Accounting, and Audit in Vietnam, updated for 2016, offers a comprehensive overview of the major taxes foreign investors are likely to encounter when establishing or operating a business in Vietnam, as well as other tax-relevant obligations. This concise, detailed, yet pragmatic guide is ideal for CFOs, compliance officers and heads of accounting who must navigate Vietnams complex tax and accounting landscape in order to effectively manage and strategically plan their Vietnam operations. In the programme, patients who are diagnosed with HCC or RCC, and are prescribed with the oral cancer drug approved by the Ministry of Health (MoH) will be funded for the drug treatment at every second treatment cycle. The programme will be implemented in two stages with first applied at K Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, Medical University Centre and Cho Ray Hospital and then expanded to more hospitals and medical centres nationwide. Each year, there are 782,000 new cases of liver cancer and 746,000 related deaths worldwide. HCC represents more than 90 per cent of the liver cancer cases. Recently, Vietnam has been ranked 5th globally among countries with the highest incidence of liver cancer for both sexes. In Vietnam, the incidence of liver cancer is higher in men than in women and is ranked 3rd after Mongolia and Laos. It is estimated that there are almost 22,000 new cases of liver cancer every year in Vietnam. This brings upon enormous challenges and burdens to the national health care system as well as to patients themselves, said Dr. Tran Van Thuan, director of BFF. Hence, BFF and Bayer SEA have worked together to bring this programme to help local patients in their battles against cancers. The programme offers a practical support for patients in reducing the treatment cost, indirectly helping them to adhere to the recommended doses of cancer drug in their treatment to optimise efficacy, said Dr. Nguyen Dinh Song Huy, deputy head of Oncology Centre, head of Liver Cancer Department at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. According to Dr. Huy, the hospital sees almost 3,000-3,500 new cases of liver cancers each year. Unfortunately there are more and more patients who only get to know about their disease at advanced stages when only targeted treatment with an oral multi-kinase inhibitor is recommended if their liver function is still good. The drug has been proven to prolong survival in patients with good treatment tolerability. As the leader for HCC systemic treatment, Bayer is honoured to collaborate with BFF and hospitals in this patient assistance programme to support patients in Vietnam who are suffering from HCC or advanced RCC. Through this initiative, we aim to provide local patients with better access to the innovative cancer treatment, said Dr. Lynette Moey, chief representative of Bayer SEA Office in Ho Chi Minh City. Nearly 100,000 migrants have landed at Italian ports this year, roughly in line with the level of arrivals in the same period in 2015. (AFP/STRINGER) The vessel overturned off the port city of Rosetta, police and health officials said. Map of Egypt locating Rosetta, the port near where a boat carrying migrants has capsized, with many drowned. (AFP/AFP/J.Jacobsen, JJ) Five survivors, handcuffed to beds in a Rosetta hospital room, told AFP up to 450 people were on board. "The boat sunk. My three children died," said Badr Abdel Hamid, 28, before breaking into tears. "We were 450 people on board. We left at 2:00 am. An hour an half later, it capsized. Whoever knew how to swim, swam. We even abandoned the women and children," said Ahmed Mohamed, 27. The boat sank some 12 kilometres from the coast and the victims included one child, 10 women and 31 young men, a municipal official in the Mediterranean city told AFP. They were Egyptians, Eritreans, Sudanese and Syrians, said the official, Ali Abdel Sattar. "I just wanted to reach Europe and live a decent life," said Ahmed Gamal, 17. The tragedy comes months after the EU's border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of migrants bound for Europe were turning to Egypt as a departure point for the perilous sea journey. Smugglers often overload the boats, some of them scarcely seaworthy, with passengers who have paid for the journey. Egypt's Prime Minister Sharif Ismail ordered police to arrest the smugglers responsible, a cabinet statement said. The military said in a statement that 163 passengers had been rescued so far, adding that they had stopped another boat elsewhere on the Mediterranean coast carrying 294 migrants. With the search operating ongoing for an unknown number of people, health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told AFP that hospitals were being prepared to receive more casualties. 'EGYPT BECOMING DEPARTURE COUNTRY' More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean for Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations. Asylum-seekers have been seeking other ways to reach Europe since March, when Balkan countries closed the popular overland route and the EU agreed a deal with Turkey to halt departures. "Egypt is starting to become a departure country," Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said in an interview with the Funke group of German regional newspapers in June. "The number of boat crossings from Egypt to Italy has reached 1,000 (so far) this year." More than 300,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year from various points of departure, the UN said this week. The number is down from 520,000 in the first nine months of 2015. FATALITY RATES RISE Despite the lower numbers attempting the dangerous sea crossing, fatality rates had risen, with 2016 on track to be "the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea," said the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). In June, a boat capsized near Sicily, drowning at least 169 migrants. Earlier that month, a boat carrying hundreds of migrants sank off the Greek island of Crete and the bodies 104 migrants washed up on a beach in Libya. Different patterns have emerged in the two European countries, Greece and Italy, which receive the vast majority of migrants. Arrivals in Italy this year stood at 130,411, on a par with the 132,000 people who landed over the same period in 2015, said the UNHCR. But Greece has seen 165,750 migrants and refugees land on its shores this year, a 57 percent drop against 2015 figures. Arrivals began falling after the deal between the European Union and Turkey on curbing migrant flows across the Mediterranean. The European Union launched "Operation Sophia" last year to destroy smuggler boats that could be used to ferry migrants across the sea. An EU official told AFP this month that almost 300 smuggler boats had been put out of commission in the past year. Call for Conference Papers and Announcement of Research Support Since the Soviet collapse, the Republic of Armenia like all Soviet successor states has undergone its own unique political, social, and economic transition process. The paradigm of transitology presupposes a fairly linear trajectory from authoritarianism to democratization and closer ties with Europe. Yet Armenias has been a decidedly nonlinear path toward democracy, a market economy, and most recently, to regional integration within the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union. Post-Soviet scholarship has paid relatively scant attention to the case of Armenia. To understand these political, economic, and social processes of the past twenty-five years, and to fill the gap in scholarship, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies will be hosting a two-part conference in April of 2017, in Los Angeles and in Yerevan. The conference will encourage papers that investigate the transitional and post-transitional processes both within Armenia, as well as in the region. On the 25th anniversary of Armenias independence, the Institute is pleased to be able to support this area of study. Political, social, economic and regional policies of the last 25 years will be understood with solid scholarship, said SalpiGhazarian, director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. The USC Institute of Armenian Studies will be accepting proposals from all fields, in particular, those that cover the following: Demographics: fertility, mortality, and migration Patterns of social inequality Family, gender, and sexuality Regionalisms of Armenia Social policy: Education, healthcare, pensions, social security and housing Formal and informal political institutions and economy Rurality: changing agricultural systems, climate change, local economies and depopulation Foreign policy Bottom-up cultural production, social shifts, social movements, and political contention Armenia-Diaspora relations Regional (South Caucasus) and global integration Comparative analyses with political, social, and economic issues in other post-Soviet states Call for Conference Papers Scholars and practitioners (activists, diplomats, journalists, writers) are invited to submit proposals for participation in this landmark event. Participants will include not only experts on Armenia but on other post-Soviet regions, not just political scientists but people from other scholarly and practical fields. Proposals for conference papers will be accepted until October 14, 2016. Please address them to [email protected]. They should be no more than 500 words, and must include: Short abstract that outlines methodology, main assumptions, and conclusions of the paper Author/participant name(s) and contact information Institutional affiliation (if any) One paragraph biographical statement for each participant (not a CV) The Conference working language is English. Proposals and presentations must be in English. Selection will be completed by December 1, 2016. Announcement of Research Support The Institute also welcomes proposals for research grants that will address any aspect of the above topics. Grants will cover new and ongoing research such as dissertation research or postdoctoral research by junior and senior scholars and will be awarded in amounts of $2000 to $6,000. Grant application deadline: October 14, 2016 Applications, in English, should consist of ONE MS Word or PDF document. They should include: A proposal of no more than 1000 words which outlines the rationale and plan of research, presents a clear research question, reviews previous research and theory that form the basis of the study, describes the research methodology, and summarizes what the research aims to uncover. A detailed one-page budget indicating the items for which the applicant is seeking funding. A CV of no more than four pages. Please send to [email protected] . What the grant covers Grants are available for direct research expenses, such as the cost of hiring a research assistant or transcriber, computer software packages not typically provided by a college or university, and transportation, including travel to the region. Expectations of grant recipients Grant recipients are expected to complete and submit a final report summary by May 19, 2017. The report will describe (a) the background of the study, (b) the research methods used, (c) the findings, (d) how the funds were used. Grant recipients are expected to mention the financial support of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies in any presentations or publications resulting from the research. The actual performance period, or dates during which the research is conducted, is at the discretion of the recipient provided that it falls between November 10, 2016 and May 19, 2017. Awards will be announced on November 1, 2016. According to Director of Ninh Thuans Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism Chau Thanh Hai, the province will also hold a grapes and wine festival during the Kate festival. There are many traditional activities held during the Kate festival such as brocade weaving and pottery making. Cham cuisine will also be served. Local authorities will also hold a diplomatic seminar, combined with sight-seeing activities, to call for UNESCO recognition of Cham peoples towers and the Kate festival as world heritage. For Cham people, the Kate festival is the most significant festival of the year. Visitors can take part in Brahmanism rituals and enjoy traditional music. The project has total investment of 876 million VND (over 39,200 USD), of which 796 million VND (over 35,600 USD) was sponsored by Australias Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI), with the remaining 80 million VND (over 3,500 USD) contributed by the province. It will be carried out from September 27 to November 30, aiming to promote eye care and eye treatment in schools. The project will provide eye check-ups and present glasses to children, give eye tests training to school medical staff and organise communications activities. Ba RiaVung Taus Ophthalmology Hospital will receive help from the BHVI to establish three public vision units in Long Dien commune, Con Dao commune and Vung Tau city. From 20112015, the BHVI and Opthalmology Hospital set up 5 public units in the province. Eye tests and glasses were offered to students, including 543 children with disabilities. On the same day, construction of 20 houses for disadvantaged children began in Linh Son Commune, Dong Hy District under a programme from the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation of the northern province of Thai Nguyen. At the ceremony, Thai Nguyens Agriculture and Rural Development Bank gave each household 50 million VND (over 2,200 USD), and the provincial Youth Union and Red Cross gave presents to 10 disadvantaged children who performed well in school. Three South Korean investors recently put down the deposit to lease a 70,000-square metre space at Dong Van 4 Industrial Park (IP) in the northern province of Ha Nam. The IP developer is Viglacera, the largest state-owned construction materials producer who received the investment certificate to invest in Ha Nam province less than a month ago. It is significant to note that Viglacera will only commence construction of the IP later this month or early next month, meaning that the Korean investors decision to lease the vast land area in the prospective IP shows great trust. The three Korean investors leasing land to build production plants at the unfinished Dong Van 4 IP has surpassed our expectations. The investors trust has inspired us to soon finalise the investment and construction to hand over cleared land to our investors, said Tran Ngoc Anh, director of Viglacera Land. The director also unveiled that two of the three Korean investors produce electronic components for use in cars, fridges, washing machines, and ovens, and are reliable partners of global brands like Samsung, LG, Rinnai, Hyundai, Kia, Ford or Toshiba. According to developer Viglacera, with the favourable location and attractive rental charges, the IP is expected to attract tens of businesses by the end of this year. Since early this year, businesses leasing land at IPs adjoining Hanoi are mostly electronics and apparel producers. Besides the advantage in low-cost workforce, the investors renown for professionalism in IP development is a significant factor helping to lure foreign investors to these IPs. For instance, Yen Phong IP expansion project in the northern province of Bac Ninh kicked off construction this March over a 314-hectare area. Now, two kilometres of internal road has been completed, together with sufficient power and water supply systems, plus a 20 ha cleared land area ready to serve investors. When the first cleared plot at the expanded Yen Phong IP became available, it was quickly snatched up by a Korean electronics firm who is a first-tier Samsung supplier. Yen Phong IP expanded project aims to attract $2.6 billion investment into a range of sectors, such as agricultural items and food processing, light industries, as well as mechanical and electronic industries. Yen Phong IP, after more than 10 years in existence, has become the stopping-point of a number of big South Korean electronic firms, such as Samsung, Orion, Flexcom, Dongsin, and Hansol, helping the province to score $8 billion in total committed FDI. This contributed to generating the province about $28 billion in the total export revenue last year. Japanese JP Holdings company plans to invest a high quality kindergarten education project in the central city of Da Nang from next year with an estimated capital of US$5 million.-Photo Hoai Nam Chairman of JP Holdings, Ogita Kazuhiro said in a meeting with the city's leadership last week. Ogita Kazuhiro said the project will be built in the city in three phases between 2017-19, and provide education facilities for 600 kids with an international education standard. He said JP Holdings focuses on investment in high quality education system with 220 education projects have been developed so far. Vice chairman of the city's people's committee, Dang Viet Dung said the city drew only 12 foreign-invested projects in education with total investment of $172 million. Japanese language teaching has been taught at some junior secondary schools following the city's foreign language teaching programme for 2012-20. In August, the American University in Viet Nam the first education institution under the US curriculum in the central Viet Nam was launched in the city with total investment of $142.2 million in Ngu Hanh Son District. The central city will construct the first kindergarten project at Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone in Lien Chieu district under the fund of $3.5 million from Half the Sky Foundation from the US. Last year, Colusa-Miliket Foodstuff Joint Stock Company, a member of state-owned Southern Food Corporation and owner of the Miliket brand, raked in VND478 billion ($21.8 million) in net revenue, down 2 per cent on-year, and more than VND31 billion ($1.4 million) in after-tax profits, a 50 per cent jump on-year. This sharp growth in profit, however, stemmed from falling ingredient prices and the application of strong cost-cutting measures, and the companys recent financial statement bemoans chronic inefficiency in its sales activities. Other figures related to production output and revenue have all sunk, casting a direct impact on the companys market share, which has plunged from about 90 per cent in the 1990s to a mere 2-4 per cent at present. In 2014, Colusa-Miliket recorded pre-tax earnings of VND26.7 billion ($1.2 million), down nearly a third from 2013. This year, the company set a thin only VND28 billion ($1.2 million) as a target pre-tax profit, a significantly reduction compared to last year. Colusa-Milikets general director Vo Van Ut has attributed the companys unstable performance to an unfortunate combination of factors, such as high inventory, low market consumption, and robust price competition initiated by other businesses on an equal footing. In this context, austerity policies have become inevitable for the company. Accordingly, this year, Colusa-Miliket is set to save VND980 million ($44,750) on management costs compared to 2015, while sales promotion expenses will be slashed by more than VND14 billion ($456,600) compared to last year. During 2013-2015, members of the companys Board of Directors and head of the Supervisory Board received the same modest remuneration of VND5 million ($228) a month. Other members of the Supervisory Board received VND3 million ($137) a month. These wages have slightly increased this year. Except for the head of the Supervisory Board who gets VND15 million ($685) per month, other positions now receive VND7 million ($320) per month. The companys leaders are reportedly searching for strategic partners to boost production for market expansion. According to the recent figures published by World Instant Noodles Association, Vietnam is currently the fourth largest instant noodle consumer worldwide, following China, Indonesia, and Japan, with consumption falling from 5.2 billion packets in 2013, to 5 billion in 2014, and 4.8 billion in 2015, closely shadowing a downtrend on the world market. There are 50 enterprises engaged in producing instant noodles in Vietnam. Seventy per cent of the market is in the hands of three leading players, Japanese firm Acecook Vietnam, and local firms Masan Consumer and Asia Foods. Dinh Chung Phung, Vice Chairman of the committee, said that the complex plays a significant role in the tourism development strategy of Ninh Binh and the country, as it is the first mixed heritage of Vietnam and the Southeast Asia. It has motivated the transformation of the provinces economic structure towards a service-based economy with the engagement of various economic sectors, creating jobs and increase incomes for locals, he said. Phung added that over the past years, local government, businesses and people have joined hands in preserving the heritage, which contributed to the success of the conservation and promotion of the heritages values. Participants at the conference highlighted a number of important issues to conserve and raise the values of the complex, including the management of forest and environment within the heritage area, and the promotion of the heritage in line with the sustainable development of local tourism. According to the Steering Committee for the Preservation and Promotion of the Trang An Landscape Complex, the complex covers 12,252 hectares, spanning 20 communes and wards in five districts and cities. Comprising 45 recognised cultural and historical heritages, the complex owns outstanding values that are rare in the world. In 2015, Ninh Binh welcomed six million tourists, the majority of whom visited the Trang An Landscape Complex. In the future, the committee plans to encourage social investment as well as different resources in the building of technical infrastructure system in the heritage area. Until 2018, the committee will define and plant markers for core and buffer zones of the heritage. It will also work with the Vietnam Institute of Archeology, the UKs Cambridge and Queens Universities to carry out archeology works on a number of places in the complex to discover the interaction process of the prehistoric people with the nature and their efforts to adapt to environmental changes 30,000 years ago. At the same time, local government also plans to restore and develop handicrafts and traditional music and festivals of locals to attract visitors, while popularising the complex through mass media. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks at the United Nations during the Entry into Force of the Paris Agreement. (AFP/Don Emmert) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced confidence that the accord, through which countries commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures, would come into force by the end of the year. "The momentum is remarkable," said the outgoing UN chief, who convened a meeting on the Paris accord during the annual UN gathering of leaders. "When the Paris agreement enters into force this year, it will be a major step forward on our journey for a more secure, more equitable and more prosperous future," Ban said. The countries that joined the accord on Wednesday included Latin American powerhouses Argentina, Brazil and Mexico as well as major fossil fuel powers Brunei and the United Arab Emirates. Also submitting its ratification was Morocco, the host of the next UN climate conference which opens in Marrakesh on Nov 7. Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said that Morocco was "strongly committed" to putting the Paris accord in force in time for the meeting. The Paris agreement needs ratification from 55 countries that account for at least 55 per cent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. With Wednesday's event, in which leaders ceremonially ratified the accord, a total of 60 countries have joined the Paris accord but they account for less than 48 per cent of global emissions. CALLS FOR MORE AMBITION The accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise of temperatures within two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Progression of temperatures in August since 1880, compared to the average for the 20th century, with details of August data. (AFP/Alain Bommenel, Sabrina Blanchard) But Edgar Gutierrez, the environment and energy minister of Costa Rica, said that the level was not ambitious enough in light of evidence of worse-than-feared climate change, with last month the hottest August on record, extending the global record streak to 16 months. Gutierrez called for countries to aim for 1.5 Celsius and warned that even a one-year delay in implementing the Paris accord could be too late for the planet. "Climate change is already dangerous, it has already exceeded the capacity of many countries to adapt to it, we have already lost lives, we are losing species and we have lost lands and buildings," said Gutierrez, speaking on behalf of a troika of climate-vulnerable nations including Ethiopia and the Philippines. Mattlan Zackhras, a senior official from the Marshall Islands, warned that despite pledges under the Paris accord the planet still looked on track for a rise of three degrees. "This will wipe out my country and many island-states in the Pacific," he told reporters. EUROPE SET TO SEAL ACCORD Ban's office said that 14 other countries accounting for 12.58 per cent of emissions had signalled they would ratify the accord this year, meaning the agreement is virtually certain to come into force, barring a widespread change of heart. The European Union will enter the agreement "in the next weeks," Miguel Arias Canete, the 28-member bloc's commissioner for climate action and energy, told reporters. Adriano Campolina, chief executive of the charity ActionAid, was puzzled why the European Union - the champions of the earlier Kyoto Protocol - had not moved earlier. "In order to reclaim its role as a true climate leader it must take early action, before 2020, to ensure that keeping the world below 1.5 degree warming is not an elusive dream," he said. China and the United States, the two largest emitters, gave a major boost to the accord when they signed on during a summit earlier this month between Presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama. Smoke belches from a coal-fired power station near Datong, in China's northern Shanxi province. (AFP/Greg Baker) Amid political opposition from the rival Republican Party, Obama has had to rely on executive actions including regulating power plants to cut emissions in the United States. The US Senate refused to join the earlier Kyoto Protocol, leading the Democratic Obama administration to insist that the Paris agreement not be a formal treaty that would require Senate ratification. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States "shared our part of the blame" for the years of difficulty in securing global action on climate change. "It's one of the reasons why President Obama and I have been so focused and so committed to try to make up that difference and help us to get where we are today," Kerry said at the United Nations. Kerry pointed to the string of record-breaking high temperatures, as well as rising incidence of disease and water scarcities, as reasons to be ambitious in cutting emissions. "If ever anybody doubted science, all they have to do is watch, feel, sense what is happening in the world today," he said. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the country cannot afford such an expense, as it is already lacking finances to facilitate its green growth policies. More support is needed, as Vietnam would need a huge capital volume to effectively deploy its green projects and programmes, Deputy Minister Nguyen The Phuong told international organisations representatives at the recent Global Green Growth Week 2016 in South Korea. Vietnam has achieved middle-income status, which means that grant-based and highly concessional lending is due to end in 2017. As such, Vietnam must develop new sources of financing to invest in green growth, he said. The MPI welcomes support from all development partners to strengthen our access to and deployment of green finance. Meanwhile, the World Bank estimated that Vietnams transition to a low-carbon pathway will present an incremental cost of at least 1 per cent of the GDP each year between 2010 and 2030. Vietnam will also have to spend a further 2-6 per cent to adapt to climate change impacts that are expected in this century. Vietnam has access to considerable public funds for these needs, including over $1 billion per year to help finance the transition to green growth. Two weeks ago, Vietnam and France signed two financing agreements on a concessional loan of $58.85 million and a grant of $1.12 million. This financial support will foster adaptation to climate change and addressing rainfall regime modifications, and the rising sea level in the provinces of Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, and the southern city of Can Tho. The Asian Development Bank has committed to provide further green financial support for Vietnam. The ADB, which has a large lending portfolio in the country disbursing more than $1 billion a year, is working with the government to provide green growth loans across the urban, energy, and transport sectors. Meanwhile, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is also working with the ADB to produce a feasibility study for the southern province of Ben Tre to access a loan of $25 million to implement a key wastewater treatment project. In another case, clean energy investment firm Dragon Capital is now in the process of launching a new $100-million fund in Vietnam. Besides, GreenID, a domestic civil society organisation, has also developed a number of community-based energy projects that involve citizens at the decision making level to bring clean energy to their communities. Phuong said the MPI has co-operated with development partners like GGGI to streamline access to sources of green growth finance. The MPI is also working with domestic financial institutions on this issue. Newly appointed Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, addressing a government cabinet session today, said that the country had a great reserve of resources that must be utilized. Karapetyan said that a number of new economic steps would be taken that might not be understood or accepted. He did not specify what those steps would be. The prime minister added that the government would stand by the socially vulnerable strata of society in Armenia and that it would try to jump start certain business sectors that could lead to surplus value. Karapetyan said that he expected newly appointed agricultural minister Ignaty Arakelyan to draft a comprehensive development plan incorporating all sectors with growth potential. Karapetyan also instructed the new finance minister Vardan Aramyan to propose new ways to organize government expenditures, given that the current system is complex and top heavy. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Google says it is reviewing a request from Taiwan to blur satellite images of the governments chief islet in the South China Sea. A Google spokesperson told the VOA Thursday it takes security concerns very seriously and is always willing to discuss them with public agencies and officials. But Google indicated conversations with governments have never led to the blurring of images. Google Earth shows the 1,400-by-400-meter islet in clear view, including an airstrip, pier and three small clusters of buildings. Taiwans coast guard, which helps patrol the island known as both Itu Aba and Taiping, said in its own statement Thursday that because "Taiping is an important militarily jurisdiction, some related infrastructure on the island is in a state of alertness." Google displays recent satellite images of the world through its "Google maps" and "Google earth" software products. Many other sensitive government installations, such as the CIA, NSA and Russia's federal security service headquarters are all displayed without blurring. No further comment Taiwanese officials would not make further comment on their request to Google, but analysts say the government wants to hide whatevers there, old or new, because of intensified scrutiny of its claims since a U.N.-backed court weighed in on the South China Sea territorial dispute. On July 12, an international tribunal of the worlds Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that the historical basis of Beijings claims to almost the entire South China Sea was legally invalid. Taiwan uses nearly the same basis to call the sea spanning 3.5 million square kilometers (1.4 million square miles) its own. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines claim parts of the South China Sea near their coasts and continental shelves. The Philippines filed for arbitration in 2013. Taiping is the seas largest of about 500 islets, and Taiwan may be nervous about other claimants seeing whats there, analysts say. The government says it operates a 10-bed hospital, a lighthouse and $129 million worth of solar panels along with a small military airport. Any tangible new construction or developments certainly will create concerns and responses from the United States particularly, said Andrew Yang, secretary general with the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank in Taiwan. The United States, Taiwans strongest de facto ally, values the South China Sea for its freedom of navigation and has urged claimants to respect the arbitration ruling. Taiwan's intentions Some other governments might have already indicated suspicions that Taiwan is using the islet for hostile purposes, prompting the request to Google, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. Taiwan had defended Taiping before July as a landform worthy of an ocean exclusive economic zone. The arbitration court said it should not offer such a zone. Unless other countries can prove its an aggressive deployment or construction thats hurting other countries interests, then it would be hard for any party to file protests or make meaningful assessment, Huang said. China's suspicions China is also leery of Taiwans offshore activities as relations between the two old political rivals have slipped since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in Taipei in May advocating a cautious approach to the Communist superpower. Tsais government may have asked Google to block imagery as a public relations gambit at home, as well, analysts say. Tsais approval ratings have fallen from as high as 70 percent in May to around 50 percent and pollsters say her perceived lack of foreign policy laurels was a reason. Partly its domestic pressure, because its becoming one of the criticisms over new government that government has ignored the (South China Sea) sovereignty issue, Yang said. The move by the government is to try to balance this negative image. During election season, candidates try to raise money around the country to help them get elected. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are raising less money in the tech sector nationwide than President Barack Obama four years ago. The Silicon Valley that stretches from San Francisco to San Jose, is an area known for its technology and innovation. Residents there explain why both candidates arent doing as well as Obama. A second night of violent protests broke out in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wednesday, following a controversial shooting in which an African-American man was killed a day earlier by a black police officer. And after another fatal police shooting earlier this week in Oklahoma, where a white officer killed an unarmed black man, law-enforcement agencies are trying find ways to reduce violence. VOAs Carolyn Presutti has more. Afghanistans unity government, after months of troublesome negotiations, has signed a long-delayed draft peace agreement with the countrys second largest insurgent group, led by a fugitive warlord with a history of war crimes and rights abuses. The groundbreaking truce signed Thursday with the Hizb-Islami (HIG) faction comes amid hopes it might ease security challenges facing the war-torn nation and encourage other insurgent groups fighting alongside the Taliban to join the peace process. This is the first peace agreement in the 15-year Afghan war the Taliban launched after it was ousted by a United States-led military coalition in 2001. Hizb-Islami is led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a longtime guerilla commander whose forces fought against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Later, his militias battled the Taliban for control of Afghanistan during the brutal civil war of the 1990s. Afghan National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar singed the accord with Hekmatyars chief negotiator, Karim Amin in a nationally broadcast ceremony. Atmarr said the peace deal with Hekmatyar demonstrates the government's sincere resolve to seek a peaceful negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict. "We have demonstrated our resolve and I call on the Taliban it is time for you to come to the table for peace talks if you sincerely desire it... End fighting and violence, free yourself from the influence of Pakistan, foreigners and terrorist groups, and accept the Afghan constitution," he said. "We are ready to offer you the same concessions that we have granted to the Hizeb-Islami." Qareeburahman Saeed, a member of Hezb-i-Islami's leadership council and a former spokesman for the group, offered his apologies to those Afghan families who lost loved ones during the Afghan civil war. In an VOA interview broadcast Thursday, the spokesman formally apologized for those hurt in the fighting. "Naturally, we apologize for those who might have been martyred, injured or financially affected," he said. Thursday's agreement will enable the fugitive warlord, a designated global terrorist, to return to the national politics after years in hiding, allegedly in neighboring Pakistan. That has led to objections from human rights activists, a group of whom marched in the capital city while the ceremony was underway, carrying posters denouncing Hekmatyar as a "Butcher of Kabul." His return will compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s, said Patricia Gossman, senior Afghanistan researcher at the Human Rights Watch. She noted that Hekmatyar is one of the country's most notorious war crimes suspect and he is not alone in enjoying impunity. None of the Afghan warlords from the 1990s has been held accountable. That, and the failed disarmament of abusive militias, have crippled reforms needed to build effective government institutions crucial for a lasting peace. During Thursday's ceremony, Atmar tried to allay such fears, assuring critics the agreement does not contain any provision that would undermine progress Afghanistan has made to promote human rights, particularly womens rights. He said that the insurgent group will announce a permanent cease-fire, cut ties to any terrorist group and halt its military activities. In turn, the Afghan government, Atmar added, will be obliged to grant the group full political rights and will work for the removal of Hekmatyars name from the U.S. and the United Nations lists of designated foreign terrorists. The national security advisor also called on the Taliban to cease hostilities and join the peace process. We welcome todays accord negotiated and concluded by the Government of Afghanistan and Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) as a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end, the U.S. embassy in Kabul said. It added the United States continues to support an Afghan peace process that results in armed groups ceasing violence, breaking ties with international terrorist groups, and accepting the countrys constitution, including protections for women and minorities. The peace agreement will formally come into effect after both President Ashraf Ghani and Hekmatyar sign it, but officials would not announce a timetable. Though largely symbolic in nature, the deal with Hekmatyar is being seen a significant political boost for President Ghani whose reconciliation and peace attempts with the Taliban have failed to achieve results. The Afghan leadership blames neighboring Pakistan where it says the Taliban and its ally the Haqqani Network continue to enjoy sanctuaries to plot attacks inside Afghanistan. Pakistani officials last year arranged and hosted a direct meeting between Taliban and Ghanis negotiators but since then the Islamist insurgency has intensified the war and has made significant territorial gains in Afghanistan. The spike in violence has also fueled tensions with Pakistan and both the countries are currently locked in a daily war of words over exchange of allegations and counter allegations. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it is encouraged by the initialing in Kabul of the draft peace agreement. Addressing the annually U.N. General Assembly in New York Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated that a peace dialogue between the Taliban and the Kabul government is the only way for establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan. Progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war, and work assiduously, through a meaningful dialogue process, for achieving reconciliation and peace at home, Sharif noted. The Afghan Taliban has lately not indicated whether it is willing to join peace talks with Kabul. Instead its officials cite battlefield advances and unity in Taliban ranks under its new leader Mullah Hibatullah as signs of gaining strength, contradicting Afghan and U.S. assertions the Islamist group has weakened. Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated Wednesday that only a dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban can end decades of conflict and suffering in neighboring Afghanistan. Speaking to the annual United Nations General Assembly, Sharif said his country has been helping the Afghan reconciliation in response to requests from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. There have been setbacks, Sharif said. That, however, is not a sufficient reason to abandon the path of peace and rely on the military option, which has failed, for the past decade and a half, to stabilize Afghanistan. Sharif said that years of conflict and chaos in Afghanistan have had grave security and economic consequences for his country because of the nearly 3 million Afghan refugees there. We hope to see them return to Afghanistan, voluntarily and with dignity, Sharif said. The prime minister said his country's anti-terrorism campaign has resulted in death or injury to tens of thousands of Pakistan civilians and security forces. The military operations, he said, have turned the tide against terrorism. Kabul points finger at Islamabad Sharif spoke just hours after Afghan Vice President Sarwar Danesh, in his speech to the U.N. session, alleged that merciless attacks from terrorist groups against Afghan civilians originate in Pakistan. Despite numerous calls on Pakistan to destroy terrorist havens, Danesh said, authorities there have not acted. We ask all of you: Where were the previous leaders of the Taliban and al-Qaida residing, and where were they killed? At this very moment, where are the leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani network located? From where and how are terrorists being trained, equipped and financed during a full-scale war? Danesh asked. The founder of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, died in a Pakistani hospital, according to Afghan officials, and his successor, Mullah Mansoor, was killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistans southwestern Baluchistan province. The country's military and its spy agency are allegedly providing support to the Taliban. Good and bad terrorists Again the Afghan vice president accused Pakistan of differentiating between good and bad terrorists." He was voicing long-running Afghan and American allegations that Pakistani security forces target militants linked to the anti-Pakistan Taliban, but spare insurgents linked to the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, who plot attacks inside Afghanistan. Islamabad rejects the accusations and insists that camps for Afghan refugees in Pakistan have become hiding places for Afghan insurgents and anti-Pakistan militants. Without directly commenting on the allegations from the Afghan vice president, the Pakistani prime minister insisted that progress [toward peace] will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war." Pakistan and Afghanistan each accuse the other of supporting militant and terrorist attacks, which has sent bilateral ties between the nations to new lows. Pakistani authorities refuse to use force against Afghan insurgents on their soil, fearing the insurgents would join with the Pakistani Taliban to threaten Islamabads hard-earned successes against terrorism. December 19, 2016, is a date hangs over Joseph Kabilas head, as well as the nation he has ruled for 15 years, the Democratic Republic of Congo - and over fragile central Africa. That should be the last day of his second and final term in office as president, according to the country's constitution. The nations electoral commission, however, says it wont be able to hold elections until late 2018. Kabila has not said publicly what he will do. Kabila's critics say he has been stalling to stay in power. Some of his supporters have called for a referendum to remove term limits. This limbo has not been peaceful. Deadly protests this week over the delay have raised fears that this giant central African nation might become yet another chaotic, violent political crisis. Diplomats say the nations neighbors need to step up and encourage dialogue to end the impasse. The situation is following a worryingly familiar script: elsewhere in the region, leaders attempts to extend their grip on power have led to violence in fragile, underdeveloped nations that can ill afford the accompanying economic shocks. Burundi was the most recent example, with its president sparking deadly protests, a coup attempt and an exodus of refugees when he said the constitution allowed him a third shot in office in 2015. Richard Moncrieff, central Africa project director for the International Crisis Group, says the DRC has been torn apart by civil conflict in the past, and this crisis is about more than just leadership -- it's about a document that captures the nation's soul. The constitution of 2006, for them, is how they got out of the civil war," he said. "So its not just a constitution; it embodies a peace agreement, and it embodies the desire of the Congolese to live peacefully together. So when we see the president try to undo that constitution for his own narrow ends, its fairly natural and understandable that people are upset and angry about that. Rights groups say the DRC government has acted to suppress dissent, imprisoning activists and violently putting down protests. A government spokesman defended the security forces response to demonstrators this week, telling VOA that some of the protesters "came just to loot and destroy and kill. Analysts say Kabila is not the first African leader who has served past the end of his term. Ugandas Yoweri Museveni is serving his fifth term in office after pushing for the removal of his constitutionally mandated two-term limit a decade ago. The Republic of Congo held a 2015 referendum after violent protests that allowed the longtime president - in power since 1979 - to run for re-election earlier this year. He won. Rwandan voters last year approved a constitutional change that opens the door for its longtime president to run for yet another term. Central Africa analyst Stephanie Wolters of the Institute for Security Studies says what happens in the DRC inevitably reverberates. Because Congo is so big and because it has often drawn in other countries around it into its wars and other neighboring countries have chosen to get involved in wars in the DRC - greater instability and the lack of credibility of a government in Kinshasa is very bad news for the region as well," she said. Wolters has criticized the African Union for being relatively absent from the debate, and called for the continental body to reiterate its stance against changing constitutions to extend presidential term limits. Instead, the AU has set up a continuing national dialogue that much of the opposition has boycotted. The United Nations has called for the nation's ruling party to "build bridges with the opposition." And Thomas Perriello, the U.S. special envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region, says the DRC's neighbors need to push for a resolution through dialogue. The president of the neighboring Republic of Congo has come to Kinshasa to attempt to mediate the crisis, but it is not clear how much success he has had. This is an excellent time for regional leadership," Perriello said. "Leaders in the region of course have such depth of knowledge of the country, but also have such a direct stake in the impact of the situation in DRCIf the DRC makes it through this historic transition that is so deeply desired by the Congolese people, that is something that could have very positive reverberations in terms of economic investment and human capital across the region. It is not clear whether the region will take that to heart and take a firmer line on the crisis. On Thursday, South Africas president, Jacob Zuma, expressed concern about the violence in the DRC and called on all parties to participate in the AU dialogue. In a statement, however, Zuma did not mention Kabila by name, or allude to Kabila's next step. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says that the deadly civil war in his country, now in its sixth year, is going to "drag on" with no end in sight. Assad blamed the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar for prolonging the conflict with their support of insurgents trying to overthrow his government. The civil war has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and displaced millions more. Airstrike on aid convoy He rejected accusations Syrian or Russian fighter jets ambushed a humanitarian aid convoy, killing 20 people, Monday near Aleppo. Assad told the Associated Press, in a rare interview with a Western news agency, Wednesday at his palace in Damascus that whatever American officials say "has no credibility" and is "just lies." Like Syria, Russia denied it hit a warehouse as aid workers unloaded cargo. Assad also claimed that deadly U.S. air strikes on Syrian troops last week were intentional, rejecting U.S. statements they were an accident. "It wasn't an accident by one airplane...," he said. "It was four airplanes that kept attacking the position of the Syrian troops for nearly one hour, or a little bit more than one hour. You don't commit a mistake for more than one hour." He also blamed the United States for the near collapse of the most recent cease-fire. The Syrian leader contended the United States lacked "the will" to join Russia in fighting extremists in the country, even though the United States has for two years launched thousands of airstrikes against Islamic State targets inside Syria and in Iraq. WATCH: Assad on cessation of cease-fire, US intentions No idea about war's end Assad, now in his 16th year in office after inheriting power from his father, said he has no idea when the war will end. "When you have many external factors that you don't control, it's going to drag on and no one in this world can tell you when," he said. Assad insisted Syrian refugees who have fled the country could return within months if the United States and other foreign countries ended their support for the insurgents. Air raids hit several rebel-held areas of Aleppo overnight Wednesday, marking the heaviest strikes the city has seen in months, just hours after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for an end to warplanes flying over key areas of Syria. Opposition activists immediately pointed the finger at the Syrian government, though officials have yet to comment on the reports. Heavy fighting flared up early Thursday on the outskirts of Aleppo. Air raids in East Aleppo earlier Wednesday killed 12 civilians and presented a major challenge to the cease-fire negotiated between the United States and Russia earlier this month. If the deteriorating cease-fire in Syria is to be salvaged, Kerry said Wednesday, warplanes must stop bombing places where humanitarian agencies are trying to deliver food and medicine. Kerry said all sides in the conflict are at "a moment of truth." Kerry made his appeal to a high-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council, saying a limit to overflights is crucial to ending the bloodshed in Syria. Russians dismissive Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who had addressed the Security Council before Kerry, did not immediately respond to the American proposal, although his spokeswoman said later the United States was proposing "nothing ... a show." Kerry said his aim is to "prevent Syria from doing what it has done so often in the past, which is to attack civilian targets with the excuse that it is just going after" terrorists and extremists. Nusra and Islamic State are the two terrorist groups excluded from the truce in Syria, and the United States and Russia are supposed to be cooperating to defeat them. Kerry said he wanted to emphasize to Russia that Washington still supports finding a diplomatic solution. The United States continues to believe there is a way forward that, although rocky, difficult and uncertain, can provide the most viable path out of the carnage, he said. 'Even more suffering' possible The main Syrian opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee, welcomed Kerry's proposal "for the grounding of Syrian air forces, which are the leading killers of Syrian civilians." But spokesman Bassma Kodmani said the group is deeply skeptical of "agreements with Russia, which has shown a consistent willingness to violate deals and to flagrantly violate international law." Kerry said those who believe the crisis in Syria cannot get any worse are dead wrong, and that while the current cease-fire plan is imperfect, there has not been any "remotely realistic" alternative. "If we decide not to do what it takes to make this work, this cessation of hostilities," Kerry said, "then make no mistake, my friends, the next time we convene here, we are going to be facing a Middle East with even more refugees, with more dead, with more displaced, with more extremists, with more suffering on a greater scale. That is a certainty." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also spoke at Wednesday's Security Council meeting, emphasizing the world is at a make-or-break moment in Syria. We must remain determined that the cease-fire will be revived, he said, noting that well over 300,000 Syrians have been killed in the nearly six-year-long conflict. Irans President Hassan Rouhani used his speech at the U.N. General Assembly to urge the United States to step up implementation of the landmark nuclear deal and to rebuke Saudi Arabia for its actions in the region. The lack of compliance with the JCPOA on the part of the United States in the past several months represents a flawed approach that should be rectified forthwith, Rouhani told the annual gathering of leaders, using the abbreviation for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran and world powers agreed to the deal last year. Tehran has been frustrated that foreign banks have shied away from dealing with the country. Rouhani also expressed his displeasure about an April decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that nearly $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be given to American families of victims of the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Lebanon and other attacks blamed on Iran. The U.S. is fully aware that JCPOA constitutes a recognized multilateral agreement, and any failure on the part of the United States in implementing it would constitute an international wrongful act and would be objected to by the international community, Rouhani added, in what sounded like a warning to U.S. presidential candidates that they must respect the deal. Republican hopeful Donald Trump has called the deal a disgrace and said sanctions should have been doubled up. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has said she would respect the agreement, but deal cautiously with Tehran. Rouhani said the deal was a win-win approach and should serve as an example of how complicated international problems can be resolved diplomatically. Thursday afternoon, foreign ministers of the six powers that negotiated the deal and Iran will meet to discuss implementation. Regional rivals The Iranian leader also used his speech to criticize rival regional power Saudi Arabia, with whom Tehran is fighting a proxy war. The defenseless people of Yemen are subjected to daily aerial bombardment, he said. Irans Shiite government and Saudi Arabias Wahhabi Sunni tradition of Islam often put the two at loggerheads. If the Saudi government is serious about its vision for development and regional security, it must cease and desist from divisive policies, spread of hate ideology and trampling upon the rights of neighbors, Rouhani said. Undoubtedly, if the region is to reverse the current dangerous trend into one towards development and stability, certain countries must stop bombing their neighbors, and abandon supporting Takfiri terrorist groups; and, while accepting responsibility, try to compensate for past mistakes." Tehran has widely used the Takfiri term for militant groups that may have links with regional Sunni states such as Saudi Arabia. In his address Wednesday to the assembly, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef al Saud lashed out at Tehran for its support of terrorist militia groups in Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. The region is facing a serious danger of destabilizing its security, the crown prince said. Saud called upon Tehran to begin to build positive relations with its neighbors on the basis of the principles of good-neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. Irans Rouhani was restrained in his comments on another regional rival Israel. He made only two passing remarks about the Zionist regime one having to do with the occupation of Palestinian lands. His language was mild compared to his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who once called for Israel to be "wiped off the face of the earth". And while Rouhani referred to the war in Syria, saying millions of Syrians are stranded in deserts and high seas and hundreds of thousands of them are subjected to violent deaths, he did not criticize the government of his ally, President Bashar al-Assad, for the violence. President Rouhani addresses security strategy: Brazilian President Michel Temer on Wednesday promised political stability for foreign investors willing to put their money in a country weathering the impeachment of his predecessor and the worst recession in generations. Speaking for the first time to investors in New York, Temer said he was confident he would have enough backing in Congress to pass unpopular fiscal reforms needed to plug a ballooning budget deficit and regain the confidence in the once-booming economy. Temer, formally sworn in three weeks ago, has managed to get minor bills approved in Congress after months of political turmoil that led to the impeachment of his leftist predecessor, Dilma Rousseff. However, the 75-year-old constitutional scholar is already facing divisions within his widely diverse alliance in Congress, with some lawmakers promising to water down the fiscal reforms. The head of his economic team, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, told investors at the same event that he saw "extremely high chances" of approval for a key proposal to cap public expenditures. Meirelles said a controversial reform to reduce generous pension benefits and set a minimum retirement age would most likely be approved next year. The proposed reforms and management changes in key state-run enterprises are shoring up confidence in Brazil, which is on track for a gradual recovery after two years of recession, Meirelles said. "Our actions aim to reduce the debt burden and increase productivity," Meirelles said. He added that the government could consider selling debt abroad again this year if markets continue to remain favorable. Temer, who was in New York to address the U.N. General Assembly, on Tuesday assured world leaders at the gathering that the dismissal of Rousseff was fully constitutional. However, delegations of some leftist governments walked out of the session to express their objections to his legitimacy. Cameroon is organizing group weddings for refugees who fled the Boko Haram conflict in Nigeria and intercommunal violence in the Central African Republic. Hundreds of curious onlookers, friends and family members applaud and dance as one by one, the 60 couples sign their marriage certificates. Twenty-six-year-old Laminar Junior says he fell in love with his wife, Catherine Lagndia, two years ago when together, they fled the intercommunal violence that had consumed the Central African Republic. She is now pregnant with their first child. They have settled at the eastern Cameroonian town of Garoua Boulaye. He said that by making their marriage official, he is publicly showing how much he loves his wife and how he intends to remain faithful. Cameroon is home to 300,000 refugees from the C.A.R. Many say they are still reluctant to return home. A new president was elected in February but insecurity remains. Some of those getting married were widowed by the violence. For others, this is their first time. Thirty-six-year-old refugee and father of four Moustapha Saliou said he couldnt afford a wedding in the C.A.R. But Cameroon provides peace and security, he says, and that has enabled him to start a business that could take care of his wife and himself and so he decided to get married. The U.N. refugee agency and the Cameroonian government are handling the logistics for the group weddings and covering the cost. Rode Baba Conde, UNHCR official in Manjo, says being legally married offers protections to women. He said the U.N. is respecting its commitment to protect people displaced by conflicts and assure their safety. He says they will continue to organize mass marriages for all interested refugee couples wherever they are in Cameroon. In Cameroon, a marriage certificate means a woman can inherit her husband's property or report him if he abandons her and their children. Cameroon's penal code also criminalizes adultery by women and men and punishes parents who refuse to take care of their children. The men would not allow VOA to interview any of the women getting married, citing local custom. So far, over 200 refugee couples have been married. The next group wedding is planned for refugees in the north who fled Boko Haram violence in Nigeria. One person was shot late Wednesday in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, as protesters rallied for a second night in response to the police killing of an African-American man. The governor of North Carolina declared a state of emergency in Charlotte and deployed National Guard troops in the city. Early in the night there were peaceful marches, but they later turned violent with clashes erupting between police in riot gear and protesters. Officers fired tear gas to try to disperse crowds. Some people smashed store windows and set small fires in streets. The situation was largely calm by the early hours of Thursday. Dozens injured The city government initially said someone was killed Wednesday night when shot by another civilian, not police, but later said that person was critically injured. Charlotte's police department said four officers were also hurt, none with life-threatening injuries. On Tuesday, the first night of protests, there were about 24 people injured, including 16 police officers. Mayor Jennifer Roberts appealed for calm, saying Charlotte has always been a place where people can have peaceful dialogue. "This is not who we are," she said in an interview on CNN. WATCH: Day 2 of protests in Charlotte Conflicting reports of shooting circumstance The protests come in response to Tuesday's shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott at an apartment complex. Police said officers were looking for someone else when they saw Scott come out of a car with a gun, and that the officer fired after Scott ignored warnings to drop it. Scott's family says he was unarmed, and was instead carrying a book when he was shot. Witnesses said he had his hands in the air. Police body cameras captured the shooting, but the video has not been made public. The case is the latest in a long string of police shootings that highlight the use of force by officers, particularly against African-Americans. WATCH: Carolyn Presutti explains what led to protests Protester frustration Shootings have often been followed protests calling for police reforms and justice for those killed by officers. In many cases the demonstrations are peaceful, but violence like that seen in Charlotte further adds to the debate over how people can best speak out against what they believe is wrong and the way police balance doing their jobs with allowing legally protected expression. Braxton Winston, a protester in Charlotte, directed comments at the head of the city's police department and its handling of the situation. "You constantly tell us what we cannot do. We cannot kneel. We cannot march. We cannot stand. We cannot sing. So what can we do. Chief Kerr Putney, come out and tell us what we can do," Winston said. Obama reaches out President Barack Obama spoke by phone Wednesday with Roberts and Mayor Dewey Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where on Friday a white officer killed a black man. The White House says all three leaders insisted any protests must be calm, and the president offered any assistance necessary to both cities. A lawyer for the Tulsa police officer who shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher said the officer feared for her life and fired when Crutcher reached through a window into his car. But Crutcher's family says video shows the window was closed and that he had his hands on the car to show he had no gun. Clinton, Trump weigh in Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the killings are "unbearable and need to become intolerable." She said the country needs strength, love and kindness and that "we are safer when communities respect police and police respect communities." Republican Donald Trump tweeted "the situations in Tulsa and Charlotte are tragic. We must come together to make America safe again." He said he hopes the violence and unrest in Charlotte comes to an immediate end. The Washington Post has a project tracking the number of people killed by police in the United States, which sprang from a lack of full data in databases maintained by the federal government. As of Thursday, the Post had documented 706 people shot dead by police in 2016, 173 of them African-Americans. Family members of Keith Lamont Scott, the black man shot to death by police Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, said Thursday that they had seen two police videos of the shooting and could not tell what, if anything, was in Scott's hands when he was shot. The death led to a third night of demonstrations Thursday, with protesters demanding the release of the video, along with calls for an end to police violence against African-Americans. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police also told reporters that a man shot during Wednesday night's protests, Justin Carr, 26, had died of his injuries. Police said he was shot outside an upscale hotel in Charlotte's "uptown" neighborhood where the violence was centered. Scott's family said the video showed Scott walking calmly backward with his hands by his sides. Police said he had a gun; his family said he was unarmed and might simply have been carrying a book that he was reading. Family seeks video release Justin Bamber, the family's attorney, told reporters Thursday evening that the family wanted the video released to the public immediately. But Police Chief Kerr Putney said he had no plans to release the video. Controversy over the shooting, over whether Scott was armed when he was shot and over public access to the video sparked two nights of violence this week in North Carolina's largest city, a hub for banking and other commerce. On Thursday, some protesters wore masks over their noses and mouths in case police deployed tear gas. They carried signs saying "Know Justice, Know Peace," "The People Versus the State" and "Stop Killing Us." The crowd was a mix of races African-Americans, whites and Hispanic people, some of whom carried signs saying, "Latinos say black lives matter." As night fell, more and more joined the march. City officials said there were no plans to impose a curfew, but North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, a former mayor of Charlotte, declared a state of emergency and warned that police would arrest lawbreakers. "We cannot tolerate any type of violence ... or destruction of property," he said. McCrory also said he had not changed his mind about a law he recently signed that will tighten restrictions on the release of police videos starting next month. Earlier Thursday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told reporters that releasing police footage of the shooting could undermine the ongoing investigation. He said he would release the video publicly only when he thought there was a "compelling reason" to do so. Police said officers were looking for someone else when they saw Scott come out of a car with a gun, and that the officer fired after Scott ignored warnings to drop the weapon. Witnesses said Scott had his hands in the air. The shooting of Carr on Wednesday apparently occurred after protesters clashed with police in riot gear and the demonstration turned violent. Officers fired tear gas to disperse the crowds; some people smashed store windows and set small fires in the streets. Stay home, workers told In response to the violence, three of the city's largest employers Duke Energy, Bank of America and Wells Fargo told their employees to stay at home Thursday, leaving streets eerily quiet. But businesses were open on Trade Street, epicenter of the violence earlier this week. National Guard vehicles were assigned to assist police with security, while the number of police officers on foot patrol near the protest scene was scaled back. The North Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union called for the swift release of all footage related to Tuesday's shooting. In a statement, Executive Director Karen Anderson said, "In the interest of transparency and accountability, and particularly in light of conflicting accounts about the shooting, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department should quickly release any and all footage it has of the events leading up to the shooting, as well as the shooting itself." The president of the NAACP's Charlotte-Mecklenburg branch, Corine Mack, also called for the public release of the footage, saying it would bring transparency to the investigation of Scott's killing. "It really doesn't matter if he had a gun," Mack said, citing North Carolina's Second Amendment right to openly carry guns without a permit. "Showing he had a gun doesn't prove he was guilty of anything." Day 3 Protests, Charlotte, North Carolina The city government initially said someone was killed Wednesday night when shot by another civilian, not police. However, it later said that person was critically injured. Charlotte's police department said four officers were also hurt, but none had life-threatening injuries. Nine people were injured Wednesday and 44 were arrested during the second night of protests. On Tuesday, about 24 people were injured, including 16 police officers. Mayor Jennifer Roberts defended her decision not to seek emergency help sooner on Wednesday evening, noting the city had been calm during the day. The U.S. Justice Department was sending a group of trained peacekeepers to Charlotte to help resolve conflicts. The agency's head, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, urged citizens Thursday to choose a path of reconciliation. "Too many times we've allowed ourselves to be pulled down the easy path of blame and accusation rather than the harder path of empathy and understanding. Let us choose that path," Lynch told reporters. WATCH: Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts on investigation transparency The Congressional Black Caucus condemned the latest shooting. "Enough is enough. One is too many," Chairman G. K. Butterfield told reporters Thursday. "The federal government, including the federal branch and the legislative branch, must place the full weight of the federal government behind the elimination of unlawful police shootings." The incident in Charlotte was the latest in a long string of police shootings that have highlighted the use of force by officers, particularly against African-Americans. Shootings have often been followed by protests calling for police reforms and justice for those killed by officers. In many cases, the demonstrations have been peaceful, but violence like that seen in Charlotte has added to the debate about how people can best speak out against what they believe is wrong and the way police balance doing their jobs with allowing legally protected expression. President Barack Obama spoke by phone Wednesday with Roberts and Mayor Dewey Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where on Friday a white officer killed a black man. The White House said all three leaders insisted any protests must be calm, and the president offered any assistance necessary to both cities. An attorney for Betty Shelby, the Tulsa police officer who shot Terence Crutcher, 40, said Shelby feared for her life and fired when Crutcher reached through a window into his car. On Thursday, prosecutors filed first-degree manslaughter charges against Shelby, who is white, saying in court documents that the officer "reacted unreasonably." Crutcher's family said video of the incident showed that the window was closed and that he had his hands on the car to show he had no gun. Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said during a United Nations General Assembly panel on LGBT rights on Wednesday that she would send a bill legalizing gay marriage to Congress in the first half of 2017. "My government has committed to submit to Congress a bill on marriage equality during the first half of 2017," Bachelet said, according to a transcript of her remarks. "Furthermore, it will also consider governmental support for several measures destined to strengthen the rights of the LGBT community, including reforms to anti-discrimination laws." The move would follow the Chilean Congress' legalization of same sex civil unions in January of last year and comes as many Latin American nations are extending rights to gay and lesbian citizens. Legalizing same-sex marriage would give Chilean couples additional welfare and state life insurance rights, among other benefits, and clarify adoption rules, according to gay rights groups. Same-sex marriage has been legalized in recent years in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and parts of Mexico, despite the powerful influence of the Catholic Church, which opposes such unions. Chile, which returned to democracy in 1990 after a brutal 17-year military dictatorship, is by many measures Latin America's most economically developed country, but is less socially progressive than many of its neighbors. In 2004, it became the last country in the Western Hemisphere to legalize divorce, and it is one of the few that still outlaws abortions in all cases - something that center-left Bachelet is trying to change, against strong opposition. Dog lovers in China say they plan to join efforts to boycott the 2019 World Dog Show in Shanghai and endorse a global petition to say No to the citys plan to host it unless the government ends a controversial annual dog-meat festival in southern Guangxi province. An online petition on Care2.com, a social networking and activism site, has garnered nearly 590,000 supporters worldwide. It demands the shows Belgium-based organizer, Federation Cynologique Internationale, revoke its decision and move the worlds most important dog show to another country with a more humane view on animal welfare until China stops this horrible tradition. International boycott In support of the boycott, the Capital Animal Welfare Association in Beijing said it is considering mobilizing Chinese animal rights activists to initiate a local campaign against the dog show and the practice of eating dogs. Association director Li Wei said given Chinas lack of an animal protection laws and unhealthy attitudes about pets, there is concern the show, despite its well-intended promotion of animal welfare, may end up triggering fads for popular dog breeds. The show will bring all kinds of purebred dogs to Shanghai, intriguing the publics curiosity, interests and desire to buy bred dogs. That may once again hike up the nations trade and undertaking of dog breeding, said Li. That would add to the countrys woe of abandoned dogs when people find they can't properly care for cuddly puppies, Li said. Li said Chinese activists have been preoccupied with their protest against the annual dog meat eating festival in Yulin. But now they will turn their attention to the dog show, where 10,000 dogs are expected to compete. Although millions of Chinese have called to end the dog-meat festival, where up to 10,000 dogs are slaughtered each year, Chinese authorities haven't been able to curb the custom, Li said. Public reaction to the dog-meat festival and the dog show has been mixed. Online on Sina Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like microblogging platform, some described dog-eaters as a national disgrace, while many others felt the boycott was biased. One Weibo user wrote, Why should we listen to you? Where were you when Japan is whaling in Norway? While another commented, Its interesting that steak-eaters are looking down on dog-eaters. The bullfighting in Europe has taken the notion of barbarism to a whole new level. Many people think authorities need to communicate more with the public to change peoples attitudes both toward the practice of eating dog meat and the care of pets. Wang is an animal lover in her 30s, who owns a small pet store in Beijing. She said views on both sides are so divided that only time and education will change attitudes. She said the boycott is unlikely to change the way some people think, but hosting a dog show could. When people see animals that are groomed to look so cute and clean, no one would have the heart to slaughter off such cute little things, Wang said. But if they look as dirty as those stray dogs on the street, some people will just continue to look at them as a just piece of meat. She said as having pets has become more common, attitudes are being changed. Now you can get them well trained so they aren't romping around. When I am walking the dog will stay at my side. Without these developments over time, and the establishment of schools and support groups [to increase understanding of animals] nothing will change," Wang said. Piece of meat One dog owner named Dai said before he got his dog Nini 10 years ago he would eat dog meat. Now, he doesn't, and he is opposed to any cruelty against animals. There is still a small group of people, particularly those in the south, who still keep the dog-eating tradition, Dai said. "... The show will offer China an opportunity for change and gradually people will accept and stop the practice." But while Dai insisted many people in the north do not eat dogs, a quick online search of restaurants in Beijing turned up more than 100 selling dog-meat delicacies. Many of the online comments below the featured restaurants urged potential customers to not eat dog meat. One declared dogs are our best friends. Another warned if you eat dog meat, your fate in the next life will be even worse than the dog youve killed. Urban animal management Peter Li, associate professor of East Asian politics at the University of Houston-Downtown in the United States, said for an international campaign to succeed, a homegrown campaign has to pave the way. Li, who also is a China policy adviser with the Humane Society International, said the two key cities where local groups will need to exert the most pressure to get people to stop eating dogs are Yulin and Jilin provinces Yanji, which is not far from the Korean border. The ultimate goal, the professor added, isnt about calling off the Shanghai dog show, but getting Chinese authorities to commit to better animal treatment. The purpose should have been, Shanghai authorities say, Im going to host the show, but at the same time, Im going to improve urban animal management. Im going to improve government shelters, he said. As a major hub for the sale of cat meat, Shanghai should also be pressured into stopping that trade, the professor added. While Norway and Britains Kennel Clubs have strongly condemned the Yulin dog meat festival and threatened not to attend the 2019 show in Shanghai, some find such moves too radical. To target a dog show and to try and overturn a democratic vote by an organization thats promoting dog welfare and concerns about animal welfare in China, I think it will be a retrograde step, argued Sean Delmar, president of the Irish Kennel Club. Delmar said that harshly criticizing Chinese authorities will only give them sense of being besieged, which he says wont help bring change. On the contrary, he said, the dog show in 2019 will present a great opportunity to influence Chinese society, because the government it will not want to be embarrassed when the world comes to Shanghai. U.S. President Barack Obama says climate change is a growing threat to national security and its impact should be factored into national security-related decisions, plans and actions. Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the new policy Thursday. The memorandum calls for 20 federal agencies and offices to work together to ensure the best information on climate impacts is available to strengthen our national security, according to the White House. The move came on the same day the National Intelligence Council released a report saying climate change will likely pose significant national security challenges over the next 20 years, including on U.S. military operations and bases. It also said climate change is already causing national security problems around the globe and will worsen. Threat to stability The problems include the ability of affected nations to respond to and recover from climate change, something that could lead to political instability. Water shortages could lead to disputes between people sharing water sources, spark migration that can overwhelm governments, and strain the ability of U.S. and allied forces to deliver aid and relief, according to the report. Obama called on agencies to come up with a blueprint to identify and react on climate-change-related impacts on national security, said Brian Deese, senior adviser to the president. The Presidential Memorandum requires an assessment and policy plan be completed in 90 days. "That will provide a template that should help encourage this work and provide direction for this work, Deese added. The next administration will not be required to enforce it. There is every reason for the next administration to follow this blueprint, Dr. John Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The facts on the ground and in the atmosphere and in the ocean are not going to change. This policy anchors our work going forward in this area, said Alice Hill, special assistant to the president and senior director for resilience policy on the National Security Council. These threats are already here, they are anticipated to grow, and now is the time, she warned. Congo's government vowed on Wednesday to hunt down and punish those responsible for riots in which around three dozen people were killed, as small pockets of protest continued in the capital Kinshasa. Anti-government protesters gathered in parts of Kinshasa on Wednesday, but normal life resumed in most of the capital after two days of deadly riots, residents and witnesses said. The army was dispatched to parts of the city where tensions persisted. "We are no longer in a warning stage ... we will punish the infractions committed," attorney general Flory Kabange Numbi told reporters in Kinshasa, adding that migration officials would prevent those responsible from leaving the country. "The Congolese national police are actively seeking out the ... authors of these grave acts of murder and plunder," he added. Congo has for months suffered simmering anger over what opponents of President Joseph Kabila believe are his efforts to hold on to power beyond his constitutional term limit, either by delaying elections or changing the constitution, as other African leaders have done. The protests on Monday escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and police, leaving at least 37 protesters and six policemen dead, Human Rights Watch said. Police spokesman Pierre Rombaut Mwanamputu told a news conference on Wednesday that the official death toll was 32, of whom four were police. But opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi said on Belgian television that around 100 people had died. On Wednesday morning, angry youths burned tires in one district as police fired warning shots, a resident said, and the army sent trucks carrying around 50 troops to a university campus to prevent any further demonstration. Kabila is ineligible to stand in the next election after serving two elected terms. Last week, the election commission petitioned the Constitutional Court to postpone the November poll. His supporters deny he is trying to prolong his rule. World powers have become increasingly exasperated with Kabila's administration. French President Francois Hollande has said the clashes were caused "by the Congolese state itself," and urged authorities to respect the constitution and hold elections on schedule. Tom Perriello, U.S. Special Envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region, warned on Tuesday the United States was "ready to impose additional targeted sanctions on individuals who have been involved in abuses or violence." The U.S. government imposed sanctions on a senior police official in the Democratic Republic of Congo in June for his role in what it described as the violent suppression of the opposition. A senior adviser to Kabila who last week conducted what he called a "pleading mission" to the United States to press officials not to impose further sanctions, told reporters in New York on Tuesday that a national political dialogue to solve the stand-off would continue. "It is our hope that a consensus can be reached soon to set a date for [the] elections," Barnabe Kikaya said. A behind-the-scenes congressional battle to avoid a U.S. government shutdown broke into public view Thursday when Republicans produced a stopgap funding bill that Democrats immediately rejected. The federal fiscal year ends September 30 and Congress must pass a spending measure by then to keep the government open. In recent years, lawmakers have seldom been able to agree on a full federal budget and instead have relied on stopgap measures. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, capped weeks of labored negotiations by proposing a continuing resolution that would fund government agencies from October 1 through December 9 at an annual rate of just over $1 trillion. The measure also includes $1.1 billion to combat the spreading Zika virus, $500 million in flood relief for states including Louisiana and funding for U.S. military operations overseas at an annual rate of $74 billion. "There have been broad requests for a clean continuing resolution. So that's what I've just offered," said McConnell, who described the measure as a product of bipartisan negotiations. No deal, Democrats say But Democrats quickly opposed the resolution as "a Republican-only bill" that would not help Flint, Michigan, cope with lead-contaminated water and would leave in place a prohibition against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requiring public companies to disclose political spending. "We Democrats cannot vote for that," said Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. McConnell left out a provision backed by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his former White House rival, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, that would have stopped the U.S. government from moving oversight of the internet's technical management to a global community of stakeholders on October 1. Also absent was language that would have enabled the U.S. Export-Import Bank to approve loans or guarantees of more than $10 million. Republicans and Democrats had sought to include a provision, but the issue proved too controversial for the must-pass funding resolution. A senior Republican aide said the Senate would begin voting on the funding legislation as early as Monday. Is there support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that is not showing up in the polls? His campaign believes so. We think theres a big hidden Trump vote in this country, said Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, on NBC's the Today Show last month. Trump is gaining in polls against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, and his campaigners think there are other fans out there. "They're just very quiet about it," Pennsylvania Trump volunteer Sondra Dull told VOA. "It's, like, the silent majority. They're just not going to talk about it." Staying out of the basket Many Trump supporters do not trust polls or pollsters. But there could be another reason why they don't identify themselves: To some, Trump voters have a bad reputation. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton put some of his supporters in what she called a "basket of deplorables." "They're racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, you name it," she said. Many people don't want to be put in that basket. So if someone asks who they are voting for, they may keep quiet about it. "They'll go ahead and vote for that candidate in the privacy of a [voting] booth," says Dartmouth College political science professor Joe Bafumi. "But they won't admit to voting for that candidate to somebody who's calling them for a poll." Something similar happened in the 1980s to Tom Bradley, the first African American to run for governor of California. He had a big lead in the polls, but lost the election. "Many people argue it was because there were a lot of white Democrats who said that they were going to vote Democratic," Bafumi says. "But when it came time to go to the polls, they didn't vote for Bradley because he was black. They voted for the white candidate instead." What became known as the "Bradley effect" seemed to have disappeared from American politics by Barack Obama's presidential candidacy in 2008. 'Reverse Bradley' But some analysts see a "reverse Bradley effect" for Trump early in the race. During the primaries, Trump did better in online polls than in telephone polls. According to one interpretation, respondents may have been uncomfortable telling a caller that they planned to vote for him. Checking a box in an online poll, when no one is looking, did not present the same discomfort. But most pollsters say the difference between online and live polls has largely disappeared. If people weren't telling pollsters about their true intentions during the primaries, "there really is not strong support to suggest that that's going on in the general election," says Courtney Kennedy, head of survey research at the Pew Research Center. Also, if the effect were significant, it should have been evident when voters actually went to cast their ballots during the primaries. It wasn't. "He was basically evenly split in terms of overperforming and underperforming where his polls were," says political analyst Geoffrey Skelley at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. The big, hidden undecided What's really unusual in the polls is the number of voters who are undecided at this stage of the election: 20 percent of those surveyed, according to pollster Chris Jackson at Ipsos. "That's twice what it was in 2012. It's a huge number of potential voters," he says. According to Princeton University Election Consortium founder Sam Wang, "It looks like many of those undecideds are people who can't quite bring themselves to vote for Donald Trump who normally vote Republican." "Really, the thing that probably is going to decide this election is which campaign is better able to get those people to actually show up on election day," Jackson says. DRC President Joseph Kabila blamed the opposition for this week's deadly protests and again endorsed dialogue. The U.N. human rights chief, however, slammed what he called the government's "extremely confrontational response" to protesters, saying at least 50 people were killed. Has the violence only further complicated the path to a negotiated solution? With a written statement read by a presenter on state media, President Joseph Kabila gave his response to this week's deadly unrest. He condemned the organizers of Monday's march a large opposition group known as Le Rassemblement or The Assembly, saying they had diverted their supposedly peaceful demonstration towards, in his words, "blind violence or worse, bloody riots. Once more Kabila urged all of the DRC's political parties to join the dialogue in order to find a peaceful path to elections. Talks started earlier this month with help from the African Union but have struggled for credibility. Le Rassemblement rejected them as "a trap" designed to maintain Kabila in power beyond the end of his second term in December and instead called for Monday's demonstration to demand Kabila step down. A smaller opposition coalition did join in the dialogue, but the talks were suspended this week amid the violence. They are due to restart on Friday. Juvenal Munubo, an opposition parliamentarian and a delegate at the talks, told VOA that instead of participating in the dialogue, the Rassemblement called for protests which resulted in deaths and repression on the streets of Kinshasa. He urged them to reconsider and join the dialogue. "I believe the door to dialogue remains open. The door is always open," he said. But the prospect for a negotiated solution took another hit on Tuesday. The body representing the Catholic Church known as CENCO suspended its participation in solidarity with those killed this week. CENCO condemned what it called the security forces' heavy handed response to protesters. Hans Hoebeke is senior Congo analyst at the International Crisis Group said "CENCO is the institution with at least a larger level of legitimacy than any of the political and social actors in Congo." "Since the start of 2016, they have tried to build a more inclusive platform around the need for a dialogue," he said. "To have some degree of legitimacy, any agreement coming from the current dialogue has to include the signature of the CENCO. Without that, a lot of the other social and probably political organizations are not going to sign it." CENCO says even if it does return to the dialogue, it will not put its name to any agreement which does not include an explicit commitment from the president not to stand in the next election because a third term is forbidden by the Congolese constitution. Polls were supposed to be held in November but now aren't expected before 2018 as the electoral commission says it needs time to compile a new voter list. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he will invite U.N. and European Union officials to investigate his bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, which has sparked concern from the U.S. and other countries. Duterte made the offer in a speech in Manila Thursday during which he lashed out at critics of his crackdown. He said if U.N. and EU officials accept his invitation, he would also question them in public on the issue of human rights. Nearly 3,000 suspected drug pushers and users have been killed since Duterte launched a war on drugs after taking office on June 30. Last month, The White House canceled a meeting between Duterte and President Barack Obama in Laos, after Duterte called Obama a "son of a whore" in a warning not to lecture him about his government's crackdown. Duterte later expressed regrets. South Sudan's First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, is urging international donors not to abandon South Sudan "at this critical time" as fighting continues across parts of the country. The world's newest nation also faces a humanitarian crisis, as thousands of people have fled to neighboring countries. "The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is appalling," Deng said Thursday in remarks to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "The major cost of this humanitarian catastrophe [since] 2013 is the displacement of people" due to fighting between government forces and the opposition, Deng added. Fighting this year in the areas of Wau, Raja and Juba has aggravated the situation, the vice president said. He also blamed the region's problems on heavy rains that have caused floods and displacement in greater Upper Nile and greater Bahr al Ghazal regions. At the same time, Deng insisted that the security situation overall is relatively calm in South Sudan. He told the representatives of U.N. member states assembled for their annual meeting that internally displaced persons are moving back to their homes in Juba and Bentiu. However, he admitted there are many remaining obstacles before the country can be considered at peace and secure. 'Criminals, not government' responsible "There are numerous challenges that face humanitarian aid deliveries in South Sudan," Deng said. "Humanitarian work is one of the pillars of the government policy. Therefore, we are determined to cooperate with all humanitarian partners to address the challenges. "Individual criminals have exploited the situation to kill, loot and harass innocent civilians and humanitarian workers. This must be regarded as purely criminal, and they do not represent the government," Deng said. President Salva Kiir appointed Deng to replace former First Vice President Riek Machar, who fled the country shortly after deadly violence broke out in early July between South Sudan's army and forces loyal to Machar. Deng told the General Assembly that Kiir administration officials have taken steps to increase humanitarian aid workers' access to those in need and ordered the removal of all illegal roadblocks. Many traders and other commuters have reported men in uniform demanding illegal bribes at illegal checkpoints along major roads in South Sudan. Streamlined bureaucracy The government's humanitarian office has agreed to establish a "one-stop shop" at UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] to collect taxes, establish flight safety, provide access for aid workers and distribute visas, Deng added. "This is to expedite the process of all documentations. This is going to work well," he said. Deng said the government plans to repatriate all internally displaced persons during the next dry season, and that kind of activity requires money. "The difference between failure and success is very narrow, he said. At the time, you think that everything is painting a dark picture of South Sudan. This is the time that we should be hopeful; that light is there at the end of the tunnel." Ban: High hopes squandered A high-level meeting also took place at the U.N. Thursday on the violence and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Opening the session, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave a starkly different portrayal of the country's political landscape. "For years, South Sudan struggled to gain its independence. Now it is struggling for survival. Rarely have such high hopes been squandered so quickly," Ban said. He pointed out that 1 million South Sudanese children are not able to attend school, and nearly 5 million people face severe food shortages. "I visited and I saw for myself the fear and despair of some of the 200,000 men, and women, boys and girls who are sheltering in U.N. protection sites," Ban said, "Hundreds of thousands of others are destitute, roaming the bush or sheltering with extended family, friends or strangers. "Unbelievably, the situation has deteriorated since my visit in February. Violence has erupted again in many parts of the country, forcing people from their homes." Ban said rape is occurring "on a massive scale" in South Sudan. Humanitarian workers can only do their job if parties to the conflict respect their independence, the secretary-general said, but they face a severe funding shortfall of $700 million. Brazilian police arrested former Finance Minister Guido Mantega on Thursday as a sweeping corruption investigation further struck at the heart of the Workers' Party (PT) that ran the country for 13 years. Police investigators told reporters they took Mantega, long a confidant of recently impeached former President Dilma Rousseff and an early member of the PT, into custody at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. He was there accompanying his wife as she prepared for surgery. Quoting witness testimony, they said Mantega in 2012 had requested a payment of 5 million reais, or about $2.5 million at the time, to benefit the PT. Brazil's longest-serving finance minister of the past 70 years, Mantega in 2012 also served as chairman of Petroleo Brasiliero, or Petrobras, the state-run oil company at the center of a sprawling political kickback scheme. A few hours after his arrest, federal Judge Sergio Moro ordered that Mantega be released from custody. He ruled that Mantega's cooperation with authorities, the fact that they had already searched his home, and the fact that he was supporting his wife as she fights cancer all indicated the former minister was unlikely to be a threat to interfere with the investigation. His arrest came just two days after Moro decided to put former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on trial for allegedly accepting more than $1 million in bribes from an engineering firm in the Petrobras scandal. Mantega, 67, served as finance minister for almost nine years under Rousseff and Lula, a close friend whom he helped to get elected president in 2002. He helped steer Latin America's largest economy through a commodities boom at the height of Workers' Party rule, but came under withering criticism since 2011 as the economy began sliding into its worst recession since the 1930s. Policies drew criticism Mantega left office in 2015 at the start of Rousseff's second term after years of criticism from Wall Street for his faulty economic forecasts and ineffective industrial policies. Attorneys for Mantega did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but his political allies excoriated the decision to arrest him. Workers' Party President Rui Falcao called the arrest "arbitrary, inhuman and unnecessary" and questioned the timing of the operation just over a week before municipal elections throughout the country. Police executed warrants for eight arrests and 32 search-and-seizure operations in five states and the capital, Brasilia, on Thursday, according to prosecutors. They said the operation targeted Mantega and engineering firms Mendes Junior and OSX Construcao Naval SA, part of a commodities empire built by former billionaire Eike Batista. Police named the latest phase of the two-year-old Petrobras probe "Operation X Files" in a reference to the letter X that Batista included in the name of his oil drilling, mining, shipbuilding and logistics companies. Prosecutors said Batista came to them spontaneously to offer testimony, in which he said Mantega in a November 2012 conversation requested the payment of 5 million reais to benefit the PT. Prosecutors said that Batista eventually made an overseas payment of $2.35 million, or close to 5 million reais, to Rousseff's and Lula's campaign architect, Joao Santana, along with his wife, Monica Moura. Both have previously been arrested for alleged money laundering in the Petrobras scheme. Batista is under investigation but was not targeted in Thursday's operation. A lawyer for Batista and press representatives for OSX and Mendes Junior could not immediately be reached for comment. Government officials in Gabon warned opposition leader Jean Ping on Wednesday that he risked arrest if unrest resumes when the Constitutional Court rules on his challenge to last month's presidential election outcome. The central African government said six people died in riots that erupted this month when results from the Aug. 27 vote handed victory to incumbent President Ali Bongo by less than 6,000 votes, extending his family's half-century grip on power. Ping, a former African Union commission chief, said as many as 100 people were killed in the violence and he filed a request for a recount, alleging fraud in one of Bongo's strongholds. "Mr. Ping said clearly that if the constitutional court did not declare him winner that there will be disorder. If he crosses the line, he will be arrested," government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze told a news conference. The Constitutional Court has until Friday to decide on Ping's complaint but authorities are already stepping up security in the capital Libreville, epicentre of the violence. Soldiers and police were visible on city streets on Wednesday, taking up positions at major crossroads. "Today we hear of more calls for disorder by certain compatriots. We know who they are. We know where they are. We are not going to let them agitate," Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet Boubeya said at the same news conference. The petition alleges irregularities in Haut-Ogooue province, where Bongo won 95 percent on a turnout of 99.9 percent. A European Union observer mission also noted anomalies in the province's results. Ping's spokesman, Jean Gaspard, told reporters on Wednesday that results in his campaign's possession indeed showed that Bongo had won the province, but by a smaller margin of 89.17 percent with turnout of 81.67 percent. Gaspard said that on a national level, those figures made Ping the poll's winner with 51.17 percent of the vote, ahead of 46.71 percent for Bongo. "In principal, these are the results that must be proclaimed by the Constitutional Court." Bongo's allies submitted evidence to the court rejecting Ping's allegations and countering that the opposition leader had himself orchestrated vote fraud. Ping is a lifelong insider to Gabonese politics. He was a close ally of Omar Bongo and has two children with the late president's daughter, Pascaline. During more than four decades in power, Omar Bongo cultivated close relations with a string of French presidents. However, Ali Bongo's ties with Gabon's former colonial master have been more strained. With five French aid workers killed near Aleppo, Syria, on Wednesday and 20 people killed during an airstrike on an aid convoy earlier this week, many are wondering why humanitarian workers appear to be targeted in the war-torn country. As VOA's Jeff Swicord reports, the carnage is part of a complex battle for control over what was once Syria's industrial center. India has reacted sharply to Pakistan's criticism of its suppression of protests in Kashmir, calling the archrival a "terrorist state." Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while speaking Wednesday to the annual U.N. General Assembly, demanded an independent probe into what he called "the extra-judicial killings" and "atrocities" in Kashmir to punish those responsible. Indian U.N. diplomat Eenam Gambhir exercised her country's right of reply by dismissing Sharif's speech as "hypocritical sermons." "What India sees in Pakistan is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbors," she said. Gambhir blamed Pakistan for plotting Sunday's rebel assault on an Indian military base in Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers. She also slammed Sharif for supporting "a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen." The Indian envoy was referring to the July 8 killing of a 22-year-old separatist militant, Burhan Wani, by Indian forces. Wani's killing has incited violent protests across Indian Kashmir, where curfews and strikes have forced the closing of markets, offices and educational institutions. Indian security forces have been criticized for shooting tiny pellets to disperse protesters. Thousands of people have been wounded, with many sustaining eye injuries, while more than 70 people including security forces have died. India has blamed Pakistan, which controls one-third of Kashmir, for fueling the unrest; charges Islamabad denies. The neighbors are currently locked in a war of words that has raised bilateral tensions over Kashmir, the cause of two of the three wars between India and Pakistan since they both gained independence from Britain in 1947. Speaking on Wednesday, Sharif reiterated that without resolving the Kashmir dispute, peace between the two nuclear-armed South Asian nations cannot be achieved. "But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue. Let us be clear: Talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation," Sharif said. Speculation about war The tensions have fueled media speculations on both sides about another war between India and Pakistan. Over the past two days, Pakistani fighter planes have staged rare repeated landings on the main highway linking the capital, Islamabad, to Lahore to the east and Peshawar to the west. The previously unscheduled exercises strengthen fears the country is preparing for a possible Indian attack. But Pakistani military and civilian authorities dismissed those fears. "Let me tell you that these are routine exercises," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said Thursday. He added that Pakistan was aware of "inflammatory and irresponsible" statements and threats that India might undertake "surgical strikes" against suspected terrorist infrastructure on Pakistani soil. "Pakistan is a peace loving country. ... Having said that, let me be clear that our armed forces and the entire nation of Pakistan remain ready to defend our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs," Zakaria said. For the past four years, Gaza hairdresser Safa al-Masri has obtained a travel permit from Israel to visit her relatives in the West Bank. But this year, when she applied for a permit to attend her sister's wedding, she received a different answer: Come in for questioning by Israeli security agents or be barred from traveling. Al-Masri is among a growing number of people who have been ordered to submit to Israeli interrogations in order to receive a coveted travel permit to exit the blockaded Gaza Strip. While Israel defends the practice as a necessary security measure; critics say it exploits the weak and endangers those being questioned by placing them under the suspicion of the territory's Islamic militant Hamas rulers. According to statistics compiled by Gisha, an Israeli advocacy group that pushes for freedom of movement for Gaza's 1.8 million residents, 1,211 Gazans were summoned to the Erez border crossing for Israeli security interrogations during the first half of the year. That is roughly 2.5 times the 469 people interrogated during the same period a year earlier. Tania Hary, Gisha's executive director, said that few people have been willing to speak about their experiences in the interrogation room. But she said there is a great risk that they will be seen as collaborating with Israel. "It is safe to say that this practice raises the level of anxiety among those who are seeking an exit permit and thus causes a chilling effect," she said. The figures were based on data compiled by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which tracks the movement of Gazans across the Israeli border. Hamas and Israel are bitter enemies. Israeli officials say that meeting the needs of Gaza's civilian population presents a great challenge because of Hamas' control of the territory. Although the number of people who are questioned appears to be a small percentage of travelers, they acknowledged that civilians can suffer because of the situation. Israel's Shin Bet security agency blamed Hamas for the interrogations, saying the group has repeatedly tried to exploit travelers, including medical patients traveling in ambulances, to help build up its "terror infrastructure" in Israel and the West Bank. "Israel has warned often of the harm Hamas poses to Israeli permit holders as a result of their exploitation for terror purposes, but Hamas' efforts did not stop," it said. "Israel has no choice but to prevent the entry into Israel of Palestinians who are liable to harm state security and to endanger the security of its citizens." Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, seized control of the territory from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. Israel and Hamas have since fought three wars. Egypt tightened its blockade after a 2013 military coup that ousted its then-President Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist who was a close ally of Hamas. Egypt has greatly restricted movement through its own border crossing, forcing residents to rely increasingly on Israel's Erez crossing as their only way out. Thousands of Gazans now travel through Israel each year on their way to the West Bank and beyond for medical care, family visits, jobs and studies. People who have been summoned for questioning describe similar accounts a process of long waits before brief interviews that focus on friends and neighbors. On the way back, they are routinely stopped by Hamas for another interrogation about what they told Israel. Al-Masri told The Associated Press that her interview began with "insignificant" questions about the names of her husband and children, but quickly moved on to issues about Palestinian militant groups. "Do you have brothers in Hamas or Islamic Jihad?" she quoted her interrogator as saying. "And he asked me about some men. I told him I'm a hairdresser and only know their wives." Two days later, she and her five children received a permit to travel to her hometown of Bethlehem in the West Bank for the wedding. A Gaza businessman called for questioning described a similar experience. On his way to the crossing, he said Hamas security men took his cellphone and gave him "advice" on how to handle the interview. After reaching the Israelis, he said he sat in a white, windowless room for more than an hour before the interview finally began. The merchant, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution, said the interrogator "asked me about my family, friends, siblings, brothers-in-law, my car and asked me to show our home on a Google Earth map on his computer screen," he said. Several days later, he learned that his travel permit was revoked without any explanation. He said the decision has destroyed his clothing import business. In addition to the increased interrogations, Gisha on Thursday reported a significant jump in the number of permits either revoked or rejected by Israeli authorities over the last year. It said nearly half of the roughly 3,500 permits for Gaza merchants and 350 longer-term VIP permits for senior businessmen have been revoked. It also said more than one-fifth of U.N. workers seeking travel permits were rejected in June, compared to a 3 percent rejection rate in January. The World Health Organization reported similar trends for medical patients seeking permits with the approval rate dropping from 82 percent in the first half of 2015 to 70 percent this year. The number of medical patients summoned for security interviews more than quadrupled to 516 from 121. Physicians for Human Rights Israel says this practice "is unethically and immorally exploiting the medical needs of Palestinian patients." While acknowledging Israel's security needs, Gisha said the policy has harmed many innocent people. "It's disturbing that these blocks are being applied so sweepingly and to imagine that decisions with such grave ramifications for people's lives are being made arbitrarily and with such ease," Hary said. A letter from an American boy offering to take in a Syrian refugee has gone viral. The letter from Alex, of Scarsdale, New York, was addressed to President Barack Obama and offered to take in Daqneesh, a boy who grabbed the worlds attention when a photo of him looking bloodied and dazed after an attack in Syria went viral. "Park in the driveway or on the street and we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother," Alex wrote, saying further that he would offer to teach Daqneesh English and math. He also offered to share his bike. Alexs letter first came to light when Obama read it in front of the United Nations. "Those are the words of a 6-year-old boy. He teaches us a lot," said Obama at the U.N. "The humanity that a young child can display, who hasn't learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where they're from, or how they look, or how they pray, and who just understands the notion of treating somebody that is like him with compassion, with kindness -- we can all learn from Alex. The White House then posted a video of Alex reading the letter and put the letter up on the official White House Facebook page. That, too, went viral, garnering more than seven million views. "A six year old who has more humanity, love, and understanding than most adults. Kudos to his parents," a Texas woman commented on Facebook. In his speech at the U.N., the president urged rich countries to do more for the Syrian refugees. The U.S. has admitted some 10,000 Syrians this year, with plans to take in 110,000 in 2017. A high-level government official in Myanmars Rakhine State is set on demolishing hundreds of buildings, including mosques and Islamic religious schools, in the state's Muslim-majority townships of Maungdaw and Buthidaung. "We are working to bring down the mosques and other buildings constructed without permission in accordance with the law, Col. Htein Linn, Rakhines security and border affairs minister, told local media on Wednesday. One of his staff members told VOA's Burmese Service that Minister Linn, recently appointed by Myanmar's de factor leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is leading a campaign to review and raze an unknown number of structures. Myanmar officials say an estimated 2,270 illegally-built buildings, including nine mosques and 24 Muslim religious schools, are currently standing in Maungdaw, while some 1,056 illegal buildings, including three mosques and 11 madrasas, stand in Buthidaung. Rakhine State, one of Burma's poorest regions, is home to an estimated 125,000 stateless Rohingya Muslims, the majority of whom remain confined to temporary camps following waves of deadly violence in 2012 between Buddhists and Muslims. In Myanmar, also known as Burma, the long-persecuted ethnic minority is largely viewed as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, though many have lived in the country for generations. Increased freedom of speech since the military stepped back from direct rule in 2011 has allowed for the unleashing of long-held anti-Muslim sentiment. Construction of mosques and religious schools in the region was banned in 1962, when military rule was first established in the country. The apparently sudden decision to implement the ban on religious structures coincides with Aung San Suu Kyi's address to the United Nation's General Assembly, which punctuated her first visit to the United States as state counselor and foreign minister. During her visit, President Barack Obama agreed to lift economic sanctions on the Southeast Asian country, citing its remarkable social and political transformation. Obama's decision to lift sanctions rankled some human rights activists who say the government has yet to do enough to address the Rohingya's longstanding persecution. Muslim community leader U Aye Lwin, a member of a Rohingya conflict investigatory commission led by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, tells VOA that local Muslims are deeply concerned and have already reached out to other Myanmar officials. Muslim religious leaders did attempt to meet with the Union Minister for Religious Affairs," he said. "There is freedom of religion according to law, and so religious sites should be in place or should be renovated. According to a report by the Democratic Voice of Burma, the plan to destroy the facilities "has led to concern among residents, with Muslim leaders indicating that such moves could create unnecessary tensions between the Buddhist and Muslim communities in the western state." The publication also said Linn confirmed that an upcoming official announcement will include a scheduled timeline for demolition. While visiting with President Obama last week, Aung San Suu Kyi addressed ongoing tensions among Myanmar's 135 ethnic groups, calling her administration especially focused on the situation in Rakhine state, where she said "communal strife is not something we can ignore." According to wire news reports, at least eight people were killed and thousands displaced earlier this week by clashes in southeast Myanmar, where renewed violence is threatening to undercut the new government's push for peace. Fighting also broke out this month between government troops and an ethnic rebel splinter group known as the DKBA in Karen state, near the border with Thailand. A new study shows that anti-Muslim crime in the United States last year surged to levels not seen since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, making Muslims the "most disdained" religious minority group in the country. Official police reports from 20 states compiled by California State University at San Bernardino's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism show there were 196 anti-Muslim crimes in 2015, up from 110 incidents in 2014, an increase of 78 percent. The crimes in 2015 ranged from assault to murder to arson. Hate crime directed at Arabs jumped by an even higher 219 percent. Overall, hate crime in the United States rose by just 5 percent, from 4,139 incidents in 2014 to 4,347 in 2015. And while there were more anti-Jewish and anti-LGBT hate crimes, the increases in those categories were much smaller, according to the study. Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, who led the study, said the spike in anti-Muslim violence was fueled by a combination of prejudice, terrorism and political vitriol. "Not only do we see wide swaths of anti-Muslim prejudice ... but now Muslims are the most disdained major group in the United States and we have a socio-political movement that reinforces and amplifies it," Levin said in an interview, referring to the anti-Muslim rhetoric by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and other American politicians. With about 3.3 million people, Muslims represent roughly 1 percent of the U.S. population, but attacks on Muslims accounted for 4.5 percent of all hate crimes in 2015, Levin noted. With the exception of 2015, hate crimes have trended down in recent years; yet even then, "the proportion of Muslim targets has gone up," he added. 'Tip of the iceberg' Among the 20 states studied, several with large Muslim communities saw an increase in anti-Muslim violence, with New Jersey reporting a 250 percent rise, Texas registering a surge of 129 percent, California reporting a jump of 122 percent and Tennessee notching a 67 percent uptick. In California, the San Bernardino mass shooting by a Muslim couple in December led to a wave of anti-Muslim attacks. In Tennessee, shootings on two military installations in Chattanooga by a Muslim-American, along with a controversy surrounding mosque construction, touched off a crime spree aimed at Muslims. Partial data provided by police departments show the upsurge in anti-Muslim hate crime has continued into this year. Levin shared data from four jurisdictions, showing New York City with 21 anti-Muslim hate crimes this year through early September, up from 10 in 2014; Washington, D.C., with two compared to three in 2015; Ohio with 12 compared to 15 last year; and Delaware, which had not reported any anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2014 and 2015, with one this year. "In each of those places, it looks like hate crimes have gone up," Levin said. "Whether that will translate through the end of the year, we'll see." Recent bombing attack The California State University's findings come as Saturdays bombings in New York and New Jersey blamed on an Afghan-American have touched off fears of a violent public backlash against Muslim Americans. But while terrorist attacks can stoke anti-Muslim hate crime, political rhetoric can be just as powerful in inciting violence against the community -- or checking it, Levin said. His team looked at two major political statements over the past 15 years: President George W. Bush's call for tolerance shortly after the 9/11 attacks, and Trump's controversial announcement of a ban on Muslims entering the country. While anti-Muslim violence soared after Sept. 11, Bush's "Islam is Peace" speech at a Washington mosque led to a "precipitous decline" in attacks on Muslims, Levin said. By contrast, in the days after Trump's Dec. 7, 2015, Muslim-ban speech, there was an 87 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crime, he said. To put things in perspective, the average anti-Muslim hate crime per month for the preceding five years (before Trump's speech) was 12.6, he said. Cases underestimated Levin's report is largely in line with other recent studies, but he and other experts were quick to note that hate crime studies vastly underestimate the problem. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, for example, estimates the number of hate crime victims at between 200,000 and 300,000 a year, while a 2011 Pew Research survey showed that 6 percent of Muslim Americans had reported being threatened or harassed. The study "may be the tip of the iceberg, but still it can tell you what's underneath," said James Nolan, a professor of sociology at West Virginia University and a former hate crime data analyst for the FBI. The U.S. Department of Justice says it has aggressively prosecuted or provided support for state prosecutions of hate crimes targeting Muslims and other minority groups. However, only a fraction of these crimes get prosecuted as hate crimes, experts say. That is because it is easier to prosecute a case based on bodily injury or property damage than to establish a religious motive. The idea of just recognizing it and reporting it and naming it and calling it what it is an initial first step, Nolan said. But then from that there should be more in terms of investigation, prosecution, prevention, all involving the government, the police and citizens, everyone. "We should be talking about it more particularly at this time when were seeing a spike," he said. In celebration of the National Park Services 100th anniversary this year, adventurer Mikah Meyer is traveling across America with the goal of visiting every one of the more than 400 sites within its jurisdiction. And VOA has been following him every step of the way. Mikah spent part of September traveling to several sites in the state of New York where he was once again steeped in U.S. history, but also managed to squeeze in some good clean fun at the spectacular waterfalls on the U.S.-Canada border. An instant president Of all the museums hes visited so far, Mikah Meyer said Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo, New York, has been one of his favorites. The site preserves the home of Ansley Wilcox, a New York political insider and friend of Theodore Roosevelt, one of Americas best-known and influential presidents. It was here, on September 14, 1901, that Vice President Roosevelt was sworn into office as Americas 26th commander in chief after the assassination of President William McKinley. Not quite 43 when he took the oath of office, Roosevelt was the youngest president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. A Disney-like experience Because it is just a house, Mikah said about the site, the folks at the museum wanted to make it a special place to really engage the community. So they brought in a museum consulting firm from Boston, and came up with what he described as "a lot like a Disney experience." Docents lead tours around the house, stopping in each restored room to talk about Roosevelt's place in history and explain the significance of the items on display. Compelling audio-visual presentations and interactive exhibits help tell the story of Roosevelt's presidency. They did a great job of making it more than just rooms with artifacts, Mikah said. That artful storytelling really helped the story come alive, which they recognize they needed to do, or else people might not want to come to this place. A written account of the circumstances leading to Roosevelts sudden entry into the presidency ends with these words by Ansley Wilcox in October, 1902: It takes less in the way of ceremony to make a President in this country, than it does to make a King in England or any monarchy, but the significance of the event is no less great. President Mikah Another highlight for Mikah was the opportunity for an interactive exercise that he and other Millennials on the tour happily engaged in... At a mock presidential desk, visitors used a computerized screen that asked a series of questions about pieces of legislation and whether they wanted to veto or sign them. And then it would show you what Roosevelt did with those exact pieces of law. And then it would take your picture and put a fake headline and email it to you. That was very cool, Mikah said, and was a memorable keepsake of a museum experience he says was made interesting for my generation. Legendary Niagara Falls While in Buffalo, Mikah couldnt resist the opportunity to visit nearby Niagara Falls... an enormously popular tourist destination. While people may assume that the breathtaking waterfalls straddling the U.S.-Canada border are part of the National Park Service, Niagara Falls is in fact a state park -- the oldest one in America. Even though it wasnt a national park, Mikah said, its obviously such a cultural piece of America that I had to go. I couldnt be that close and miss it. And although its made for tourists, Mikah said for him and his companion Andy, it was fun. A communal smile We went on the Maid of the Mist and took the boat down which was really cool," he recounted enthusiastically, "and we did the Cave of the Winds which takes you right up against the falls so you can feel them and get drenched. Everyone was giggling, everyone was hooting and screaming when the water came and the wind came and it was this communal smile essentially, he said. It was touristy in the sense that there were people everywherebut it was still a pleasant experience. He said he suspects that the falls are not part of the U.S. National Park Service because to preserve it as it looked before man developed it, youd have to get Canada on board and the Canadian side is very developed and its probably a huge economic boost so I doubt they would do that. And likewise on the United States side, I heard that the state of New York makes so much money off of it that of course they wouldn't want to hand that over. Human rights are womens rights Human rights are womens rights and womens rights are human rights. Former first lady and the first female presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party, Hillary Rodham Clinton, famously said that in her remarks to the 1995 U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing. That is the central theme at the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. It was here, in 1848, that the first women's rights convention was held, and where 68 women and 32 men signed a Declaration of Sentiments, which set the agenda for the women's rights movement. Based on the American Declaration of Independence, the Sentiments demanded equality with men before the law, in education and employment. Elizabeth Cady Stanton In a speech to Congress, nearly 50 years later, Declaration co-author and women's rights activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton said, If we consider her as a citizen, as a member of a great nation, she must have the same rights as all other members, according to the fundamental principles of our Government. Those rights included the right to vote, which women were not granted until the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1920. Mikah said that as someone who grew up with three older sisters, all very feminist, he learned at a young age about womens fight for equality. It set the groundwork for him, he said, to be curious about and to get to the Women's Rights National Historical Park. So when I was there, a lot of what I thought about was my sisters and how I wish they could be here and they can experience this. For women just to be somewhere where their women's rights movement began in this country and to know that at some point hundreds of years ago people thought it was important for women to have these rights that we take as basic today -- and that we're still continuing that fight -- was really fascinating. A highlight of the historical park is an installation of life-size bronze statues by Lloyd Lillie that features Cady Stanton and the four other women who organized the Convention, and a few of the men who came in support of their cause. Mikah noted that Frederick Douglass, a renowned leader in the anti-slavery movement, is among the men represented because he was there the day that the women had this convention where they signed the Declaration of Sentiments. I thought it was interesting - somebody who was a minority himself understood what it was like to not have all your rights was there in solidarity with other people pursuing that, he said. Follow Mikah To follow Mikah and learn more about the places hes traveling to, he invites you to visit him on his website. As two U.S. lawmakers pursue legislation to designate Pakistan a terror state, Islamabad is facing the threat of increasing diplomatic isolation over its inability to curb homegrown militancy and the threat it poses to its neighbors. The legislation, introduced this week by Republican Representatives Ted Poe of Texas and Dana Rohrabacher of California, accuses Pakistan of harboring global terrorist leaders and supporting terror groups. Among those groups is the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated terrorist entity that opposes the Afghanistan government and U.S.-led NATO forces in the country. "Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years," the proposed legislation said. "From harboring Osama bin Laden to its cozy relationship with the Haqqani network, there is more than enough evidence to determine whose side Pakistan is on in the war on terror. And it's not America's." Pakistan 'a victim' Pakistan accuses U.S. lawmakers of diplomatic theater, saying the harsh anti-Pakistani rhetoric belies that government's efforts to root out extremism. Pakistani officials also say thousands of Pakistani lives have been lost in terror attacks. "Pakistan is not supporting terrorism, it is rather a victim," Rohail Dar, a leading member of the ruling Muslim League party, told VOA's Urdu service. "Pakistan has suffered the most in the war against terrorism." In his speech before the United Nations on Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his government has a "comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations that has produced remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism." He did not address the issue of terrorist groups targeting neighboring countries from Pakistan. American lawmakers recently urged the U.S. government to cut off financial and military aid to Pakistan because its "military and intelligence services are still linked to terrorist groups." Facing isolation While the U.S. bill has a long way to go before becoming law a version of it must pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the president Washington's tough stance shows the level of global and regional isolation that Islamabad is facing, analysts said. "Pakistan has not satisfied the U.S. on the question of its alleged support to the Haqqani network, and that is deteriorating the relations with the U.S.," Peshawar University professor Ijaz Khattak told VOA's Deewa service. "Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan also are not good. It has tensions with India." A deadly attack on Indian soldiers in Kashmir this week increased the tension between Pakistan and India to levels not seen since the terror attack on Mumbai in 2008. India blames Pakistan for allowing the attack. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh called Pakistan a terrorist state and said it "should be identified and isolated as such." The Pakistan government has rejected the allegations and accuses India of oppressing Kashmiris and violating their human rights. U.S., Afghan opposition Islamabad is also at odds with Washington and Kabul over Pakistan's support of Afghan militant groups. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry asked Sharif, during a meeting this week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, to prevent Pakistan from being used as a harbor for terrorists. "We have repeatedly asked our neighboring country Pakistan to destroy the known terrorist safe havens, but we unfortunately are yet to witness any change in the situation," Afghan Vice President Sarwar Danesh said Wednesday at the United Nations. "Terrorist attacks are being planned on Pakistani territory." Danesh's comments came days after bombings in New York and New Jersey. The bombing suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Afghanistan, traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan several years ago. While in Pakistan, he reportedly spent time in Quetta and Karachi, which are considered hubs for the Taliban and other militant groups. The two U.S. lawmakers are pushing the bill now "because of the recent Kashmir attack, though perhaps also coupled with the fact that the man accused of staging the recent New York City blasts had spent time in Pakistan," said Michael Kugelman, an analyst at Washington's Wilson Center, a global policy research group. "For these two congressmen, this man's connections to Pakistan likely reinforced the fact that terrorism has many links to Pakistan." Bosnia's autonomous Serb region is set to defy its highest court with a referendum on a national holiday on Sunday that may stoke separatist sentiment lingering since the 1990s war. The United States, which brokered Bosnia's 1995 peace treaty, and European Union fear the plebiscite could destabilize the region anew. But Russia, a traditional Serb ally, backs the vote and the Bosnian Serb leader who was headed to Moscow on Thursday for talks with President Vladimir Putin in a show of solidarity. The referendum, on whether to mark January 9 as "Statehood Day" in the Serb Republic part of Bosnia, will be the country's first since a 1992 plebiscite on secession from then-Yugoslavia that ignited three years of ethnic war in which 100,000 were killed. Speaking before his departure for Moscow, nationalist Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik said he did not expect Putin to try to talk him out of the vote, and that he would ask for help in training his region's police to fight terrorism. The Sarajevo-based Constitutional Court ruled on Saturday that the Serbs' "Statehood Day" was illegal since it would coincide with a Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday and thus discriminated against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats living in the Serb Republic. The court also ordered the referendum to be canceled. January 9 was the day in 1992 when Bosnian Serb legislators declared the creation of an independent Serb Republic after Bosniaks and Croats voted for independence from Serbian-dominated federal Yugoslavia. Many believe that by defying the court ruling, Dodik aims to highlight the weakness of postwar Bosnia's central authorities in Sarajevo and set the stage for a vote on secession. The court's rulings are formally binding, but more than 90 of them have been ignored by the autonomous regions including the Bosniak-Croat Federation that were devised by negotiators to cement peace and prevent the country's breakup. The Bosnian Serbs' rejection of an independent, multiethnic Bosnia in 1992 triggered an avalanche of bloodshed in which Serbs and Croats carved ethnically pure statelets out of Bosnia with the backing of kin in neighboring Serbia and Croatia. It was Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II. Zeljko Kovac, an unemployed war veteran from the largest Bosnian Serb city, Banja Luka, said he would vote for Statehood Day "because I fought for the Serb Republic." "We will not take orders from Muslims on what we are going to celebrate," Kovac told Reuters, echoing a widespread belief among Serbs that the Sarajevo court is biased against them. Putin's moves Ambassadors to the international peace implementation body for Bosnia have urged the Serb Republic to cancel the referendum, but have not specified what the consequences would be if they did not do so. Russia abstained from a joint statement. Dodik's Moscow trip came amid fears that the Western push to foster closer integration of Western Balkan countries with the EU to tackle their economic deprivation and persistent ethnic tensions is stalling. Ex-Yugoslav republics Croatia and Slovenia are now in the EU, but some fear Russia is acting to fill a vacuum left as the EU grapples with multiple internal crises. "Putin is trying to mark the Balkans as the area under his dominant political influence that is, to prevent Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia from joining the EU and NATO," said Belgrade professor and parliamentary deputy Zarko Korac. The U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo said that pursuing the referendum in defiance of the high court posed a "threat to the rule of law and thus a threat to the stability, security and prosperity" of Bosnia. The EU believes strengthening Bosnia's complex, ethnically balanced federation is essential for peace in a region and a precondition for its eventual membership of the bloc. EU foreign ministers this week accepted Bosnia's membership application, raising hopes in Sarajevo of eventual admission. Schools and businesses were forced to close in Puerto Rico Wednesday after a fire at a power plant left 1.5 million people in the dark. Officials say two powerful transmission lines at the southern power plant, which serves most of the U.S. territorys 3.5 million residents, failed and caused a blackout that swept across the island. This is a very serious event,'' Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla told reporters. The system is not designed to withstand a failure of this magnitude.'' He said the fire destroyed a system that provides power to about 30 percent of the island and caused 15 additional fires across the island as generators began to malfunction. No one was hurt in those fires. Puerto Rican authorities said they expect power to be restored to most areas by Thursday. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are raising less money in the tech sector nationwide than President Barack Obama four years ago. In Silicon Valley, a hub for technology and innovation, the candidates' reception has been lukewarm among many professionals. Silicon Valley looks at both candidates and I think there are qualms regarding both of them, said Trevor Traina, founder and CEO of San Francisco-based IfOnly, an on-line marketplace where people can buy experiences. You have Hillary Clinton who really is someone whose background is in finance who was close with Wall Street, and you have Donald Trump whose background is in real estate and hes sort of close with the developers and builders. Traina continued, You have two candidates who dont necessarily speak the language of Silicon Valley. Neither of the two main candidates really speak to me, said Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper. Matt Mahan, co-founder of civic and political engagement website Brigade, said many people are voting based on who is their least favorite candidate. This is an election cycle in which were seeing a lot of what might be called negative turnout. People turning out [to vote] because theyre frustrated with their options. They strongly dislike one of the nominees and want to make sure that that nominee doesnt become president, said Mahan. With historically high negative ratings for the two mainstream candidates, I think that many voters' motivation for turning out [to vote] is to just to ensure that the other candidate doesnt win. The negative sentiment may be reflective of how much money each candidate has raised in the tech sector nationwide, when compared to the last presidential race four years ago. According to Crowdpac, in 2012, Barack Obama raised about $10 million and Mitt Romney raised around $3 million. So far, Clinton has raised $6.1 million and Trump only $225,000. Clinton has outraised Trump in the overall tech sector and is ahead of him in the Bay Area, which includes Silicon Valley. In this region, Clinton has raised $43 million and Trump has only raised about $700,000. Harmeet Dhillon, the RNC national committeewoman from California, said she is not surprised because Trump is not the usual politician. The reason why he (Trump) hasnt raised more money compared to Clinton is he didnt ask for it. Very simple and it was a strategy. He was running a different kind of campaign in the primary. He was getting billions of dollars of earned media from his organic activities. He didnt have to pay to play. And even in this stage of the election, he doesnt have to pay to play on the media side. Kevin Krick, Bay Area regional vice chair for the California Republican Party, said there is still time for people to contribute. We see historically that as the race starts to tighten, the days come down to the final count, people do pony up and get involved that way to make those donations to try to push the candidate over the edge to the finish line, said Krick. Crowdpacs Gisel Kordestani said there are Silicon Valley tech professionals whove supported other Republican candidates earlier in this race. We saw quite some significant donors giving money to candidates like Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina and also to Jeb Bush, but just not to Trump. I dont think hes resonating well with the tech business community thats moderately conservative. Traina had held a fundraiser for presidential candidate Jeb Bush and donated to his campaign when he was still in the race. I think the primary advantage of donating to these people is you tend to get a few minutes of their time and you can introduce to them the topics that you think are important and try and plant a bug in their ear. The other reason I think why people give is just theyre looking to see an outcome. Theyre hoping someone wins or doesnt win, Traina said. Traina has met both Clinton and Trump. He hasnt decided whom he will vote for. He and others in the Silicon Valley tech sector said the candidates and the next president need to pay attention to the region. The big companies are now really, really big. Apple, Microsoft, Facebook. These are some of the biggest corporations in the world now. Thats new for Silicon Valley, said Traina. I think its well worth it to really understand whats going on in Silicon Valley and that doesnt mean just coming over to the ATM and picking up money and spreading it around the country. It means coming really to understand how technology has transformed so many industries, and government is the next one, Draper said. The Hong Kong government on Wednesday failed in its bid to imprison three of the most prominent students at the center of the 79-day pro-democracy movement that paralyzed the territorys commercial center in 2014. Magistrate June Cheung Tin-ngan, who originally heard the case, had previously ordered the trio Joshua Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law - to perform community service in lieu of jail terms, citing their youthfulness and motives. Hong Kong Chief Executive unhappy with lack of jail time But her reasoning and verdict failed to satisfy the administration of Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, which had taken a hard line against the Umbrella Movement and viewed the punishment as far too lenient. Justice Department lawyers were sent back before Magistrate Cheung to ask for immediate jail sentences. Their argument, heard in a packed courtroom at Eastern District Court, turned mainly on the large number of people involved in the protests, the number of security officers injured (about 10), the premeditated nature of the three organizers actions and their lack of remorse. They faced an assortment of charges relating to incitement and unlawful assembly. But, as the magistrate herself pointed out in rejecting the governments request, no new evidence was presented to show that jailing was preferable to community service for such offenses. Unusual procedure Law professor Michael Davis of Hong Kong University said that seeking to have any magistrate reverse a determination is unusual. A judge overturning herself is sure to be rare, he said in an online interview with VOA. But in this case, where sensitive free speech rights are at stake, common law judges are rarely inclined to order a stiff sentence, being mindful of the chilling effect on free speech." There was no evidence that these defendants were engaged in self-serving acts, so under the (Hong Kong) Bill of Rights a judge will be mindful of their political speech objectives, he said. Pressure from Beijing? My guess is, the government is reacting to pressure from Beijing, either direct or implicit, to crack down on local activists. I would add that, generally such (a) hard line is counterproductive, just ratcheting up the resistance (that) Beijing wants to control, Davis said when asked why the government even tried to get jail time for the protest ringleaders. In this year's legislative elections, young localist candidates supporting greater autonomy for Hong Kong won four seats in the 70-seat chamber. And a close sympathizer, Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, became the largest single vote-getter in Hong Kong running on land and housing issues in the rural New Territories. The latest survey on Hong Kong Executive C.Y. Leungs popularity by the Public Opinion Program at the University of Hong Kong, reported on Sept. 13, shows him dropping significantly to very nearly his all-time low, and well below the popularity of his other senior ministers. Sixty-four percent of respondents disapproved of his performance and only 18 per cent were in favor. Reflection on what happened After the court session on Wednesday, the three youths, who had escaped jail time, stood on the steps of the Eastern District Court, built during the latter decades of British colonial rule, and each acknowledged supporters, expressed gratitude for the judiciarys independence and answered questions from the local and overseas press. They spoke of guardians watching over the peoples liberties in Hong Kong One of the three, Alex Chow, took a moment to reflect on the implications of what they were going through. I think our case has set an example that theres nothing wrong with civil disobedience, he told VOA. You can see that those who engage in civil disobedience get a great support from the public, from the Hong Kong people, and this reflects that if you are on the right side, and you are proposing the right thing, then it would not harm your future. It will only gain you more because, well, fighting for the public also benefits your own interests. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is set to lend Ethiopia $200 million to build two industry parks that will employ 30,000 refugees in a move aimed at curbing migration to Europe, the bank said on Wednesday. The Horn of Africa country hosts more than 743,000 refugees and asylum seekers from neighboring countries, many of whom use its camps as way stations on a longer journey to Europe. The bank said the 30,000 refugees will be among 100,000 people who will be employed altogether in a scheme that will cost $500 million. The World Bank, Britain, and other EU nations will provide the rest of the financing. "We know that Ethiopia is for many a stopping point before making the dangerous onward journey to final destinations in Europe," said Werner Hoyer, the EIB's president. "Initiatives and projects like this provide people with a choice to stay closer to home and an opportunity for economic growth as well," he added in a statement. Over 161,000 Eritrean refugees currently reside in Ethiopia, the majority of whom say they fled the prospect of unlimited service in the Eritrean military. More than 33,000 Eritreans sought asylum in Europe last year, the European Union says. Eritrea accounts for five percent of the refugees and migrants to have reached European shores so far this year, according to data obtained from the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. Several human rights groups have criticized Sudan for failure to provide justice for a government crackdown three years ago in which dozens of protesters, and possibly as many as 185, were killed. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies say government security forces responsible for the deaths of anti-austerity protesters in Khartoum and other cities have not been held accountable for the bloodshed of 2013. The rights groups say Sudan has established three commissions of inquiry into the violence, but has made public no findings. They say attempts to settle the cases of the acknowledged victims with payments to their families are insufficient attempts. The U.N. Human Rights Council is considering the matter now in a session on Sudan. Mosaad Mohamed Ali, executive director at the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies, said the U.N. Human Rights Council "should press Sudan to hold those responsible to account for the appalling bloodshed on the streets of Khartoum and other towns, and provide meaningful justice to victims of killings, assaults, and other abuses." Large-scale protests swept Sudan in September 2013 following the announcement of austerity measures. Security forces and armed men tried to contain the protests using live ammunition, tear gas, and batons. While Sudan places the number of dead at fewer than 100, rights groups say as many as 200 were killed, many of them shot in the chest. About 800 people were arrested, according to a study by Amnesty and the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies. Human Rights Watch says many of those detainees were subject to torture. It says many journalists and human rights activists were beaten, and that female protesters were sexually assaulted by security forces. Daniel Bekele, Africa Director for Human Rights Watch, said, "The government needs to publicly admit the scale of the killings and the role of its security forces." Sarah Jackson, deputy director at Amnesty International, said "the September 2013 crackdown remains an ugly symbol of Sudan's use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, and the lack of accountability for human rights abuses." She added that members of the United Nations Human Rights Council "should loudly push the country to take victims' rights seriously." A coalition of human rights groups called on African Union leaders Thursday to abandon consideration of plans to urge withdrawal of its members from the International Criminal Court. Last April, a committee convened within the AU recommended withdrawal from the ICC unless it meets three conditions, one of which was immunity from prosecution for heads of state and other senior officials. The coalition, led by U.S.-based Human Rights Watch, said this call for immunity violates the African Union's Constitutive Act and goes against recent AU initiatives meant to stamp out corruption. AU efforts to undermine the only permanent criminal court for victims of atrocities are fundamentally at odds with the AUs rejection of impunity, and with its decision to make 2016 as the AUs year of human rights, Stella Ndirangu of the Kenya section of International Commission of Jurists said in a statement. The rights groups say that blanket immunity for heads of states has never been a feature of international courts and the decision to withdraw from the international court should be left up to each individual state. Many people in Africa, including some African leaders, have argued that the ICC is biased against Africa, as thus far it has focused on Africa. Of its 10 active investigations, only one is outside Africa. Kenyas government is among several in Africa that has considered leaving the ICC. Representatives from the AU are set to meet with the United Nations Security Council on Friday to discuss the potential exit. Al-Shabab militants say they have attacked a police station in northeastern Kenya near the border with Somalia. Kenyan authorities said fighters from Somalia carried out the cross-border attack early Thursday on a police station at Hameey Village. A statement from police spokesman George Kinoti said the militants traveling in two Land Cruisers attacked the patrol base "but the officers in the camp managed to repulse them amid [a] fierce exchange of fire." He said two of the policemen at the station were missing, one was wounded and he reported one of the attackers was killed. Local residents told VOA Somali on condition of anonymity that the militants fought with the police for more than 30 minutes, using machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. One resident told a VOA stringer in the region over the phone, they "... saw one dead militant lying at the front gate of the attacked police station and two injured Kenyan police officers. The attacked Kenyan police station is located at Kenya's Garissa County and just 10 kilometers from Hosingow village, Somalia. A village elder in Hosingow, Aden Gamaan said the militants were seen Tuesday sneaking from the Somali border into Kenya. Radio Andalus, al-Shabab's mouthpiece in Somalia aired a statement saying al-Shabab attacked a police station in a small town near Garissa. It said the militants looted a police vehicle and inflicted human and property loses." He did not say anything about the two missing Kenyan police officers. Al-Shabab has vowed to continue attacks across the border in retaliation for Kenya's military operations in southern Somalia. Kenya sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to help the African Union combat al-Shabab. A week ago, the militants briefly captured El Wak, a key Somali town near the border with Kenya, killing at least four people including a government commander. Syria's wheat harvest nearly halved to 1.3 million tons this year, the lowest in 27 years, as fighting and poor rainfall further degraded the farming sector and the nation's ability to feed itself. The government of President Bashar al-Assad was forced to tender this summer for an unprecedented 1.35 million tons of imported wheat from political ally Russia to ensure supply of the flat loaves that are a staple for the Syrian people. Before the five-year-old civil war, Syria was a wheat exporter producing four million tons in a good year and able to export 1.5 million tons. Now wheat and bread have become an integral part of the war, with wheat farms, seed distribution, milling and bakeries all affected. The Damascus government subsidizes bread for the areas it controls and aid agencies offer supported prices in some areas, but Syrians in other parts of the country suffer bread shortages and high prices. "You know why most people carry weapons? Because of bread," said Mahmoud al Sheikh, a health worker from a besieged part of Damascus. "Hunger makes people sell themselves to the armed groups so they can eat and bring food to their families." Al Sheikh, speaking to Reuters by telephone from the capital's Eastern Ghouta suburb, said earlier in the year his besieged area scarcely saw bread. "Sometimes there's no bread at all. People start to make bread from barley ... It goes on like this for months. People eat cabbage instead - it's enough to test your faith. Really, people's situations become miserable," he said. The Syrian war has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed for the rise of the Islamic State group and drawn in regional and major powers. The Most Vulnerable Perilous transport routes have meant the Syrian state has struggled to buy from traditional "bread-basket" areas which lie outside government control. As of August, 9.4 million Syrians were "food insecure," said Adam Vinaman Yao, deputy Syria representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This is over half of about 17 million people thought to still live in Syria. "The prices of basic agriculture products drastically increased thus reducing access by most consumers and especially the most vulnerable strata of the population," Yao said. The 1.3-million-ton wheat output estimate given by the FAO compares to 1.7 million tons cited by a government source, but is higher than one million given by the opposition. The opposition interim government, allied with the main opposition political body the Turkey-based Syria National Coalition, carries out technical and administrative functions of government from within opposition-held Syria. Two dry spells, one in December and the other between mid-February and mid-March helped to cut the 2016 crop down from the 2.44 million tons in 2015, when most areas had ample rainfall. In areas were there was rain, like the northeast province of Hasaka which accounts for almost half the country's wheat production, only 472,000 hectares were planted out of a planned 706,000 hectares due to the security situation, Yao said. There has been heavy fighting in Hasaka as an alliance of Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters backed by U.S.-led airstrikes pushed Islamic State militants out of some territory this year. "We Need Fertilizer" With Islamic State to its south and west, and closed borders with Turkey and Iraq to the north and east, the Hasaka area, in a semi-autonomous region of northeastern Syria controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia, has suffered shortages of fuel and farming goods, Ekrem Hisso, a former local government head told Reuters. "We need fertilizer but there isn't any. And even when we can find it, one tonne this year has reached the price of five tons of wheat," Faisal Hassan, a farmer from the Ras al-Ain countryside in Hasaka province said. "Production per hectare used to be up to 40 bags of wheat, but during the war years production has been around 20 bags per hectare," Hassan said. The outlook for wheat is not good. For the coming 2016/2017 planting season the government-run General Organization for Seeds Multiplication only managed to distribute 30,000 tons of wheat seed compared to 450,000 tons prior to the war. Of the country's total wheat production this year, only around 400,000 tons were procured by the government, a source at the General Organization for Cereal Processing and Trade (Hoboob), the state body responsible for wheat, said. The figure is far short of the one to 1.5 million tons needed to provide bread to government-held areas of Syria. Wheat From Russia Hoboob is holding an import tender for one million tons of Russian wheat with a deadline of Sept. 19 and has already purchased 350,000 tons of Russian wheat, a reflection of the country's pressing import needs. Syria's bread-basket provinces of Hasaka, Raqqa and Deir al-Zor, which account for nearly 70 percent of total wheat production, are outside government control, but farmers can sell their wheat to the state if they reach collection centers. The small procurement figure comes despite the government raising the price it pays local farmers for wheat. In areas controlled by rebel groups, excluding Islamic State and the Kurdish YPG, 500,000 tons of wheat was produced before war erupted. "But in this 2016 season it is very, very low and does not exceed 100,000 tons. This is because of many reasons, the most important being the war raging in these areas," said Hasan al-Muhammad, head of the wheat agency run by the Syrian Interim Government opposition and also called Hoboob. Al-Muhammad said in those areas, farmers were selling for $285 a ton, around $65 a ton higher than the state Hoboob's prices, but stressed quantities were limited. Bakeries are also hard hit by the crisis in wheat output. "We mostly depend on aid in the form of flour given to us by [aid] groups or by getting flour on the black market," said Abu Karam, manager of a public bakery recently hit by an airstrike in rebel-held Idlib. Abu Karam's bakery can afford to sell a one kg packet of loaves for 50 Syrian pounds (10 U.S. cents) because of free flour from aid groups. Without this, the same batch would cost at least 200 pounds. Abu Karam stressed the importance of affordable bread. "The situation in Syria is getting worse and worse ... citizens cannot secure their daily sustenance; so they depend on bread at all times," Abu Karam said. "They eat it with nothing other than simple things like olive oil or tomatoes. All families, poor and rich, eat bread morning, noon and night." ($1 = 517.5 Syrian pounds) Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Six months after the attack on the Brussels airport and a metro station, survivor Pauline Graystone says she and her family are okay. "The first few days were a mix of disbelief, adrenaline, feeling hyperactive and numb. And certainly not able to concentrate on anything much. And later on, a general feeling to be determined not to let it stop us getting on with life. Still now I occasionally have a strong feeling of how lucky we were, and how others were not." Images of Graystone lying on the ground with her husband while protecting her daughter were shared around the world. She and her family were standing by a check-in desk when terrorists detonated two bombs at the Zaventem airport. A third bomb exploded later at a metro station close to European Union buildings. A total of 32 people lost their lives and more than 300 were injured during the worst terror attacks in Belgian history. One victim is still hospitalized. A Belgian parliamentary committee investigating the March attacks is expected to conclude its study by the end of 2016. A mid-term report released in August focused on emergency services and made several recommendations about improving communication lines and including terror responses to all emergency plans. Committee chairman Patrick Dewael says no lives could have been spared even if communication had been faster. Take for example, the order to close the Brussels metro that wasnt communicated in time to the right authorities. At that moment the terrorist was already in the metro,meaning this attack could not have been avoided. 8 suspects arrested Eight suspects linked to the Brussels attack have been arrested and the security threat level remains at three out of four. Belgium has been on high alert after several terrorists in the Paris attacks in November 2015 were linked to Brussels' Molenbeek neighborhood. The bombings took place just days after terror suspect Salah Abdelsam, accused of aiding the Paris terrorists, was captured after a shootout during a police raid in Molenbeek. Long before the Molenbeek borough attracted global attention, it was the city of Vilvoorde that was known as a jihadi hotbed. Twenty-eight residents left for Syria in 2012 and 2013, while the town only has a population of 43,000, almost 25 percent Muslim. Mayor Hans Bonte invested heavily in de-radicalization programs that prevented any new residents leaving since 2014. He says there will never be one program where after a certain period of time someone is de-radicalized. But what we noticed does work, is an individual and targeted approach. And especially by trying to cooperate and including people from their environment that they do still listen to. For example, a young girl who we caught at the border is now, after two years, living an almost normal life again after including her teachers, social workers and her family. De-radicalization process Bontes approach of including everyone comes from his days as a youth worker in Molenbeek. His policy has attracted worldwide attention. The Vilvoorde mayor was invited to the White House for the Global Security Summit last February that focused on preventing violent extremism. Vilvoorde is actively applying the de-radicalization approach with 39 people, some of them returning fighters and some in prison. Another 131 residents are being followed up on under the prevention policy. Belgium isn't the only European country trying to counter radicalization and terrorism. Mayors from 25 Belgian and Dutch cities convened in Vilvoorde last week to discuss counterterrorism policy. Molenbeek councilwoman Sarah Turine is working on intercultural dialogue and youth matters. She says it's difficult for Molenbeek, with twice as many residents, to copy the Vilvoorde approach, but believes coherent policies could contribute to de-radicalizing jihadists. We need to improve our teaching, to improve accessibility with political cultures, to fight against discrimination, to develop cultural diversity and to create employment in these districts. As long as all that does not improve, the programs of de-radicalization are only adhesive plasters on a wound, which continues to bleed. Polarization Terror attacks in Belgium and France have increased polarization with Muslim communities and right-wing populist parties are gaining popularity by proposing hard-line policies focused on Muslims. The European Union adopted a legal framework this week to impose travel bans and asset freezes on people and entities linked to the so-called Islamic State group or al-Qaida. This should make it easier for EU member states to prosecute citizens for terrorist activities and prevent non-EU terrorists from entering the bloc. The European Union estimates more than 5,000 EU-nationals traveled to the Middle East to fight for extremists groups. Dire warnings about the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance worldwide prompted an urgent high-level meeting at the United Nations in New York Wednesday. Thousands of attendees, including heads of state, representatives of the private and public sector, NGOs and the pharmaceutical industry came together to discuss the proper use and misuse of antibiotics and what to do about it. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when antibiotics and other drugs that were once used successfully to treat bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi no longer work to fight infections. Used improperly, the once-miracle drugs cause microbes to develop mutations that render them ineffective. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in treating human ailments is not the only source of the problem. Antibiotics are widely used in farming and to treat animals. Traces of the drugs from human waste and drug manufacturing leech into the soil, contaminating wells, rivers and other sources of water used for bathing and drinking. Each year, millions of people die for lack of effective treatment for diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. Earlier this month, the World Bank issued a report on the economic implications of antimicrobial resistance. The report, entitled Drug Resistant Infections: A Threat to Our Economic Future, concluded that antimicrobial resistance has the potential to cause a level of global economic damage possibly worse than the 2008 financial crisis. The published research showed low-income countries could lose more than 5 percent of their gross national product, pushing as many as 28 million people in developing countries into poverty by 2050. Unlike the 2008 financial crisis, the World Bank went on to say there would be no prospects for a cyclical recovery in the medium term, as the costly impact of antimicrobial resistance would continue. Adrian Thomas, head of market access and global public health for the drug manufacturer Johnson and Johnson, remembered the slow initial response to last years Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Thousands of people died before international and local health agencies and officials mobilized resources to tackle the problem. Thomas said something similar could happen on a massive scale, causing widespread human misery, death and economic instability to nations if antimicrobial resistance is not addressed on a global scale. We can predict today that thats going to happen. We know resistance is killing people today all over the world and will just kill more people and will cost more. We need to invest in it now, today, not wait for it to get worse, said Thomas. Johnson and Johnson was one of about a dozen drug manufacturers represented at the high level U.N. meeting. The companies pledged to try to achieve four goals by the year 2020. They include helping to make sure that antimicrobials are used correctly by people who need them by developing better diagnostics tests, increasing access to effective, not counterfeit, drugs, lessening the environmental impact of drug manufacturing and increasing collaboration with government organizations to develop new antibiotics and vaccines. People often say, well, whos going to pay for this? And the answer is if we dont do it, were going to pay for it anyway. So, this should be seen by governments, by society, by the industry as a really strong investment decision to start working and solving these problems now, said Thomas. The World Health Organization, World Bank and other entities affiliated with the U.N. will work to pull together a plan of actions and report back to the general assembly in 2018 on ways to fight antimicrobial resistance, a growing global menace. U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are calling for a quick end to deadly street confrontations in the nation's cities in the aftermath of the latest police killings of African-American men. Trump, the Republican contender in the November 8 election, told a political rally in the eastern city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday, "The violence against our citizens and our law enforcement must be brought to a very rapid end." He said the deadly encounters between police and residents in the country's often-impoverished inner cities are "a never-ending problem." A subdued Trump, a real estate tycoon seeking his first elected office, said, "America desperately needs unity and it needs the spirit of togetherness .... which has lifted us up to our greatest achievements as a nation. We need to bring that spirit to every part of our country and become one American nation, united by shared values and principles as American citizens." He added, "Our country looks bad to the world, especially when we are supposed to be the world's leader. How can we lead when we can't even control our own cities?" Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, referred in a Twitter message to two black men shot by police in disputed circumstances in recent days in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. Too many others. This has got to end. -H," she said, signing the post herself, even as she stayed off the campaign trail Thursday as she prepared for Monday's first presidential debate with Trump. On Wednesday, Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of state looking to become the country's first female president, said the killings are "unbearable and need to become intolerable." She said the country needs strength, love and kindness and that "we are safer when communities respect police and police respect communities." The number of crimes has fallen for years in the United States, but more recently murders and shootings have spiked in some cities, like Chicago, Illinois, the third biggest city in the country. Trump suggested Wednesday that big city police departments throughout the country need to adopt a controversial "stop and frisk" policy in which police confront people on the street in communities plagued by high crime to see if they are carrying illegal weapons or drugs. New York had such a policy in years past, but abandoned it when it became apparent that police most often indiscriminately stopped and frisked blacks and other minorities. Watch related video report from VOA's Zlatica Hoke: On Thursday, however, Trump said he only meant that Chicago adopt the stop and frisk policy. "Chicago is out of control," he said. The New York billionaire suggested - falsely - that violence in Chicago is worse than that in Afghanistan "I think Chicago needs stop and frisk," Trump said. "When you have 3,000 people shot and so many people dying, I mean it's worse than some of the places we're hearing about like Afghanistan, you know, the war-torn nations." In the Tulsa case last week, a white female police officer killed Crutcher in a highway confrontation. Trump suggested she may have "choked." "I don't know what she was thinking," Trump said. "It just seems that there's a lack of spirit between the white and the black," Trump told Fox News. "It's a terrible thing that we're witnessing." More than five years of relentless war have fragmented Syria like a jigsaw puzzle. The task of reassembling the pieces increasingly seems to rest not with Western policymakers, Gulf princes or Iranian ayatollahs but with Russia and now Turkey, some diplomatic observers say. Ankaras Operation Euphrates Shield a military intervention launched August 24, just weeks after a botched military coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan potentially could be the biggest game changer in the Syrian conflict since Moscows military entered the fray a year ago. Most analysts and rebel commanders credit Russia with saving the regime of its longtime ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, from defeat by opposition groups in his country. But Turkey, too, has emerged as a formidable force. Its operation aims at two foes: the Islamic State terror group and the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, an offshoot of Turkish separatist insurgents. Already, it has brought major repercussions. Turkish troops have backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) militias in pushing the Islamic State terror group farther from the Syrian-Turkish border. Theyve also dashed the Syrian Kurds hope of linking all four of their cantons along the frontier, undermining the Kurdish ambition of carving out an independent state. Expansion plans And Erdogans play appears unfinished. In Istanbul early this week, before traveling to the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, he told reporters that hes weighing expanding the 900 square kilometers of Syria currently under Turkish control to a 5,000-square-kilometer safe zone. The plan, if successful, would see FSA rebels not just moving south to the strategic town of al-Bab, northeast of Aleppo, but also west to the towns of Marea and Tell Rifaat, a senior European diplomat told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Some observers think FSA troops are turning into clients more of the Turks than Western powers. The YPG currently hold Tell Rifaat, which adjoins Afrin, a Kurdish enclave the YPG hoped to link with three cantons east of the Euphrates River. General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces general staff, last week visited Ankara and warned of political and military risks to any expansion of Operation Euphrates Shield, according to the Interfax news agency. But the Russians generally "have been restrained in their objections," the unnamed diplomat told VOA. And Kremlin-controlled media outlets have been noticeably careful in criticizing Turkeys military intervention. "Turkey is intent on taking matters into its own hands in northern Syria," said Merve Tahiroglu, an analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank. She said Moscow appears to have given tacit approval. "Turkey, embittered by Washingtons close cooperation with the YPG over the last two years, will act increasingly independent from the U.S. in Syria," she predicted. "The picture is getting increasingly complicated, and much will depend on the new Moscow-Ankara hotline" to shape events in Syria. The United States has backed the Turkish mission. But U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Washington and Ankara have differing opinions on aspects of Operation Euphrates Shield. Tighter Turkish-Russian ties Melkulangara Bhadrakumarhe, a former Indian diplomat and one-time envoy to Turkey, contends the Turkish president estimates he "has the political space to maneuver" in the wake of the warming of relations between Moscow and Ankara. During Erdogans visit to St. Petersburg in early August, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the Turkish leader as "dear friend," and the two agreed to restore economic ties damaged after Turkey shot down a trespassing Russian warplane in November 2015. Yet there are differences over a role for Assad. While Moscow has backed Syrias president, Ankara has wanted him gone. But Turkish may be signaling there is wiggle room. Erdogan has maintained his drumbeat that Assad must go. After addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, he told Reuters news agency that "Assad cannot be part of any transitional period ... the world should find a solution that does not involve Assad." Prime Minister Binali Yildirim spun Ankaras position a little differently in a comment August 20, hedging that Ankara might accept a transitional role for Assad but no place in Syria's longer-term future. "For good or ill, Turkey has become a major player in what happens in Syria now; it has strengthened its hand," said the European diplomat. "It now has a piece of real estate and a bargaining chip. Erdogan shouldnt be underestimated." Ability to apply pressure Maneuvering along the geopolitical fault line between the West and a newly assertive Moscow determined to challenge its influence on the world stage, Erdogan can apply pressure on both camps, analysts say. The European Union is desperate to have him uphold the bargain he struck earlier this year to curb the flow of migrants into Europe. The United States wants Turkeys support in fighting the Islamic State. And Russia wants Turkey to at least be sympathetic to its position in competing with NATO for naval influence in the Black Sea. As the buffer zone expands with FSA boots on the ground and Turkish air and artillery support, Ankara already is making clear how it intends to administer its northern Syria protectorate. Western NGOs have already been tipped off by Turkish counterparts that Turkish and Syrian NGOs favored by Erdogan will be key in ruling the protectorate. If you trace who is behind them, like IHH, they all lead back to Islamists figures and are influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, said a Syrian NGO worker who asked to have his name withheld. And Ankara is in the process of establishing pro-Turkish town councils. That courts risks for Turkey, says Bassam Al Kuwatli, a Syrian activist. It is only a matter of time before resentment builds up. The Turks are powerful now but after a while people will want to have control over their own lives, he adds. And there are other risks too for Turkey in the dance between two of the Worlds most mercurial leaders. The more Ankara directs anti-Assad rebels in northern Syria, the more Moscow will expect the Turks to be able to control the insurgents in any future peace or truce negotiations that may take place or even in day-to-day military operations. That could prove difficult, as Washington has found in the past. Analyst Tahiroglu said she suspects the Turkish military will be cautious not to come too close to regime territory. But she added, the FSA is unlikely to halt its southward advance. Americas top military officer said Russia bears ultimate responsibility for an airstrike on a U.N. humanitarian convoy in Syria, and that he does not favor sharing military intelligence with Moscow in the Syrian conflict. Two Russian aircraft were in that area at that time [when the convoy was attacked], said General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testifying Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. I cant conclusively say it was the Russians, but it was either the Russians or the regime [of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad], Dunford said, adding that, either way, the Russians are responsible for Monday's deadly attack near Aleppo that destroyed 18 trucks. Syria and Russia have denied any role in the attack. As for the coordinated efforts between the United States and Russia envisioned in a failed Syrian cease-fire, Dunford said, I do not believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians. WATCH: General Dunford's statement on intelligence sharing with Russia McCain slams Obama's Syria strategy Defense Secretary Ash Carter also testified at the hearing, which featured sharp criticism of the administration by the committees chairman, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona. McCain, Barack Obamas 2008 opponent, said the abject failure of the presidents Syria policy is emblematic of the devastating legacy he leaves for America on the world stage. Nowhere is Americas strategic drift clearer than in Syria, McCain said. After more than 400,000 dead and half the population driven from their homes the administration still has no plausible vision of an end-state for Syria. Instead President Obama sent his intrepid but delusional secretary of state [John Kerry] to tilt yet again at the windmill of cooperating with Vladimir Putin, the senator added. Carter highlights progress against IS Secretary Carter insisted progress is being made against Islamic State in both Syria and Iraq. Were putting ISIL on the path to a lasting defeat in Iraq and Syria particularly as we embark on a decisive phase of our campaign, to collapse ISILs control of Raqqa [Syria] and Mosul [Iraq], Carter said, using an acronym for Islamic State, in what could be his final appearance before the committee as a member of Obamas national security team. General Dunford concurred, saying, We are succeeding in that campaign. But he conceded that a core U.S. goal, the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is unlikely to be met in the near future. The hearing was held at a time when Congress is struggling to agree on a budget to keep the U.S. government funded, including the Pentagon. Carter concurred with McCain and others in saying that the military is best served by a reliable annual appropriation rather than the short-term spending extension currently being crafted by lawmakers. Russias ability to leverage its intervention in Syria into any sort of ongoing advantage on the world stage may be starting to wane with the current cease-fire deal still in shambles. Cracks in Moscows strategy, some U.S. officials suggested, began showing Wednesday during a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council, when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry blasted Russia for repeatedly changing its explanation about an attack on an aid convoy that killed 20 people. This is not a joke, Kerry said at the U.N. meeting, calling for the acceptance of responsibility. Russian officials, who previously suggested the aid convoy spontaneously combusted, said later the convoy may have been targeted by a U.S. Predator drone, a charge the Pentagon strongly denied. U.S. officials said watching how Moscow struggled with the truth only underscored the deeper problems facing Russias Syrian strategy. They are in a situation where they are backing a regime that has no prospect of military success, a U.S. official told VOA on the condition of anonymity. The official added that even Russias announcement that it was sending its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, to the Syrian coast seemed to be aimed at wringing out whatever gain, financial or otherwise, that can still be had from the conflict. They are using Syria, literally, as a showroom, the official said. Others described the Kuznetsov announcement as nothing more than symbolic. It plays nicely to their image as a force projection power, said Stratfor Senior Military Analyst Omar Lamrani. It adds a little bit of firepower, but technically its not something they couldnt have done without sending an aircraft carrier. But more importantly, Lamrani said, the move might be another indication of how events on the ground in Syria seem to be running away from Russia, forcing it to react to developments when it would rather project an image of strength at the U.N. They lose more than they gain, he said. It is just proving much more difficult to leave the conflict [in Syria] than to enter it." There are also some in the U.S. intelligence community who are convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking for a way out of Syria, not wanting to squander his gains, both for the Syrian regime and for Russia on the world stage. Putin clearly, in my view, seeks to make sure the world understands theres very little you can do nowadays without that Russian role," said CIA Deputy Assistant Director Peter Clement. The intervention in Syria is exactly about that, Clement told an audience in Washington Tuesday during a conference on intelligence. He forced the U.S. to come to the table and acknowledge him essentially as kind of not just an actor but an equal. But a messy ending in Syria without a cease-fire could jeopardize that and more. Specifically, it could cripple Russias ability to leverage Syria to its advantage one last time and ease or even end hard-hitting economic sanctions stemming from its intervention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. How do you get the Europeans off the sanctions train? One possible way, you intervene in Syria. You find some way to end that war, Clement said. Then you take credit for helping to stem the tide of all those migrants going into Europe and then you tell the Europeans, look what weve done for you. Foes of President Nicolas Maduro vowed protests and accused Venezuela's election authority on Thursday of ignoring voters by dashing hopes for a referendum this year on recalling the unpopular socialist leader. The election board says a potential plebiscite could only happen in early 2017, meaning should Maduro lose, as polls suggest he would, his vice president would take over according to the constitution. That would keep the Socialist Party in power at least until the next presidential election in late 2018. The opposition, who blame Maduro for a deep economic crisis, had wanted a plebiscite this year as that would trigger a new presidential election. "They are violating the constitution," said Jesus Torrealba, head of the Democratic Unity coalition, promising massive street demonstrations. "The country is ready to fight." Opposition leaders were meeting on Thursday to prepare their response. Some hardliners might now push for an abandonment of the referendum in favor of civil disobedience tactics, while others will probably argue removing Maduro next year is still worth it because of the damage to the government's legitimacy. "The moderate faction is more likely to prevail, but keeping hopes alive that a referendum can lead to genuine change will be an uphill struggle, and opposition divisions risk coming to the surface, exactly as the government intended," said Nicholas Watson, an analyst with Teneo Intelligence. Venezuela's state-led economy is suffering a third year of recession, with shortages of basics from bread to painkillers, vast shopping lines and triple-digit inflation. The government has blamed the opposition for the delay because the coalition's 30 diverse groups took three months to reach a consensus on a push for the referendum. Officials are also trying to torpedo a plebiscite on accusations the coalition committed fraud in a preliminary signature drive earlier in the year. "A recall referendum in 2017 is very improbable because there is proof of massive fraud," said Socialist Party official Jorge Rodriguez after a meeting with election authorities. As well as pushing a potential plebiscite into 2017, the election board rejected opposition demands that the next phase - collecting signatures of 20 percent of the country's registered voters requesting the referendum - should be at a national level, with 19,500 voting machines available. Instead, the board said the 20 percent threshold must be met in each of Venezuela's 23 states, during the Oct. 26-28 signature drive, and only 5,400 machines would be available. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who has led the referendum drive, urged activists to continue their push for change. "We are the big majority, 80 percent of the country. We are millions and we will make them count," he said. There's a small town in Syria where ancient Islamic prophecies say a fierce battle will bring about the end of days, and Turkish troops, U.S. military advisers and vetted Syrian opposition fighters appear to be heading straight for it. Dozens of U.S. special forces are advising Turkish troops and Syrian opposition forces as they push farther into Syria, specifically into an area that includes the town of Dabiq, defense officials told VOA on Wednesday. According to early Muslim prophecies, Armageddon will be ushered in with a major Muslim victory against "Romans" in either Dabiq, less than 15 kilometers from the Turkish border, or al-Amaq, another town near Syria's border with Turkey. Islamic State has interpreted this "Roman" army to be coalition and coalition-backed forces. The prophecy continues to say that one-third of the Muslim army will run away, another third will be killed, and one-third of the army will win the battle and later conquer Constantinople, the modern-day Turkish city of Istanbul. For Islamic State, a battle in Dabiq would symbolize that ancient Muslim prophecies could be coming true. For those who oppose the Islamic State terrorists, reclaiming the town from IS would mark a major propaganda victory. The town name is even used as the title of the Islamic State's propaganda magazine. 'Slow and deliberate' The U.S. special forces contingent recently linked up with Turkish forces in the town of al-Rai, about 20 kilometers from Dabiq, to help with the "slow and deliberate" operation to clear Islamic State from the border region, a defense official told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. ground advisers were approved to join the mission "just a couple of weeks ago" and are "with the Turks now," according to the defense official. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his military and the Syrian Arab opposition fighters planned to clear a 5,000-square-kilometer buffer zone along their border with Syria. The Turks also aim to clear Kurdish forces, who are aligned with the U.S. in the fight against Islamic State, from the border region. The U.S. has advised Kurdish YPG fighters battling Islamic State to fall back east of the Euphrates. Al-Bab Turkish officials also said they planned to support allied Syrian opposition forces in a push south from the Dabiq area to retake the Islamic State stronghold of al-Bab. A U.S. official told VOA that al-Bab has become the Islamic State's center for foreign intelligence. Many Islamic State fighters fled there after being forced out of the city of Manbij last month. The Turkish infantry will not be involved in the ground operation to retake al-Bab and plans to assist the Syrian forces with Turkish aircraft. It is unclear whether U.S. special forces will be on the ground near the city to advise the Syrian opposition, but Colonel John Thomas, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said there would "absolutely" be U.S. air support. "This is largely an air war for the United States, and we're ready to ... help out forces in need," he said. He added that the U.S. "always has the right of self-defense" to protect any special forces that may be in the area. A defense official said the U.S. has special operations forces near Manbij, the Mara Line, and other undisclosed locations in Syria. "They go in and out all of the time," the official said. VOAs Rikar Hussein contributed to this report The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) says the 2015-2016 El Nino, which devastated crops and decimated livestock in Zimbabwe, affected thousands of children in the southern African nation. In a statement released Thursday, UNICEF said the impact of the El Nino is beginning to be felt among children. In a sign of increasing stress among children, data from the UNICEF supported Child Protection Fund, which tracks welfare and protection needs among poor and vulnerable children, is showing a sharp rise in children needing welfare assistance in 2016 compared to 2015. Welfare assistance includes children reporting health problems, requiring educational or school assistance, or being in need of emotional and social support. Among the main findings, UNICEF said 20,000 children needed welfare assistance between January and July 2016 compared to 11,000 in the whole of 2015 and slightly more than 2,000 children reported health problems in the first six months of 2016 compared to 400 in the whole of 2015. This number includes children who have defaulted on their anti-retroviral therapy for HIV due to an inability to take medication due to hunger. It noted that about 6,000 children needed emotional and social support in the first six months of 2016, compared to 8,000 in the whole of 2015. The upsurge started in October 2015 with the onset of the drought and indicates an increase in drought-related psychosocial stress. According to UNICEF, the greatest rise was in the education category, where 12,000 children reported needing school-related assistance in the first six months of 2016 compared to 2,000 in the whole of 2015. UNICEF deputy representative in Zimbabwe, Dr. Jane Muita, said, With the failure of crops, families face the grim choice of spending their little money on food or buying books and paying school fees. They will always choose food. But these are hard choices no family should have to make and we worry about the long-term developmental effects the drought will have on affected children. UNICEF said many of the 20,000 children owe schools thousands of US dollars in unpaid fees. Although official government policy is not to chase the children away, some children have dropped out of school entirely, or have had their school reports withheld. While this upsurge in numbers can be partially attributed to a better identification and reporting system, the ongoing drought has left increasing numbers of children in desperate need of help. UNICEFs NGO partners are reporting an increase in young girls dropping out of school to engage in sex for money and teenage boys engaging in illegal mining. In some areas in the south of the country, UNICEF said parents are migrating to neighbouring countries in search of livelihoods, leaving their children in the care of the oldest sibling or their grandparents. It stressed that the case management system is showing an increase in sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect, physical and emotional abuse, and child labour, with 7,000 cases reported in the first half of 2016 alone, compared to 3,000 in 2015. Zimbabwe, along with other countries in southern Africa, is in the throes of a drought that has devastated crops and livestock, dried up sources of livelihoods, including water, and left an estimated 4 million people, including 1.9 million children, in need of assistance. An estimated 90,000 children will require treatment for malnutrition. Together with the government and NGO partners, UNICEF is treating children for malnutrition, providing safe water, supplying health facilities with medications for the treatment of diarrhoea, providing social cash transfers to poor households, and ensuring that vulnerable children receive protection support. These efforts are complementing the governments drought relief assistance programme which is providing grain to affected households. So far, out of UNICEFs current funding appeal of USD$21.8 million for Zimbabwe, USD$3.1 million has been mobilized. Some Zimbabweans have commended Botswana President Ian Khamas calls for President Robert Mugabe to step down though they are skeptical that the 92-year-old Zimbabwean leader, who has been in power for 36 years, will resign before the end of his presidential term in 2018. President Mugabe, who is currently attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, says the West, which imposed targeted sanctions on him and his inner circle, is pursuing a regime change agenda. On Wednesday, he urged the West to remove the restrictive sanctions saying they are hurting his countrys efforts to achieve development goals set by the United Nations. Zimbabweans have been protesting outside the United Nations headquarters urging him to step down for allegedly failing to properly run the country. About 150 people, who responded to Studio 7 Facebook threads on Mr. Kamas remarks said they supported the Botswana president openness over the Zimbabwe leaders 36-year stay in office. One of them, Taona Denhere, wrote, Its been long overdue and in the interest of ordinary long-suffering 13 million people of Zimbabwe, I think he (Khama) is absolutely on the right side of history by demanding that President Mugabe should step down. His views were echoed by the majority of respondents like Nomis Nigel Kokomuch, who wrote, He (Khama) was right as he always says that. Due to their bad governance Zimbos (Zimbabweans) are scattered all over the world and in Botswana as well. They are now committing crimes there, thereby giving law enforcement agents of those countries hard times. But some respondents like Effort Makusha said Khama has nothing to do with Zimbabwe. Cde Mugabe must continue with his presidency and it is time for him to be more stronger amidst national crisis and in the long standing battle against neo-colonialism. Our culture and tradition are important factors behind the foundation and solidarity of our nation Any attempt on these means immorality in Zimbabwe so it all thumps up to Cde Mugabe who is working hard to preserve the two. Several Zanu PF officials and party activists have dismissed Khamas remarks as unfortunate. In a brief tweet, Professor Jonathan Moyo wrote, Tell President Khama about Karma! Another Zanu PF activist, Togarepi Pupurai, had no kind words for Khama on Twitter. Khama needs mental examination Parroting his British forefathers hate for African luminaries. RG (Robert Mugabe) is the President of Zim (Zimbabwe), Khama go hang. Some Zimbabweans say Mr. Mugabe is to blame for the current social, economic and political problems bedeviling the southern African nation. Zanu PF says President Mugabe was democratically elected by the people of Zimbabwe in 2013 and therefore he has to serve his five year term. He is already the partys sole candidate for the partys 2018 presidential election though he will be 94 at that time. Mr President, Deputy Secretary-General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to address this General Assembly for the first time and to do so as Prime Minister of a country that has always been a proud and pro-active member at the very heart of this United Nations. This United Nations was formed because leaders across the world knew that they could only deliver security for their citizens at home if they could cooperate, as a community of nations, to deliver security across the globe. Some of the threats that we face together today are familiar to those founding leaders: war, political instability, abuses of human rights and poverty. Others are new: global terrorism, climate change, and unprecedented mass movements of people. We gather here today because we know that such challenges do not respect the borders of our individual nations and that only by working together shall we overcome them. As a new Prime Minister to the United Kingdom my pledge to this United Nations is simple: the UK will be a confident, strong and dependable partner internationally true to the universal values that we share together. We will continue to honour our commitment to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on development, building on the achievements we have already made to reduce poverty, deal with instability and increase prosperity the world over. And we will drive forward the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. We will continue to champion the rights of women and girls, making sure that all girls get the education they deserve, and tackling horrific abuses such as female genital mutilation and the use of sexual violence in conflict. We will continue to be a steadfast, permanent member of the Security Council, meeting our NATO commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence and making a leading contribution to UN peacekeeping efforts, where we have doubled our commitment, including new deployments to Somalia and South Sudan. We will continue to stand up for the rules based international system and for international law, and I join other leaders in condemning the outrageous bombing of the aid convoy in Syria yesterday. We will continue to play our part in the international effort against climate change. And in a demonstration of our commitment to the agreement reached in Paris, the UK will start its domestic procedures to enable ratification of the Paris agreement, and complete these before the end of the year. And we will continue to strengthen our existing partnerships, from this United Nations, to the Commonwealth and NATO, seeking to resolve conflict in countries across the world - from Colombia and Cyprus to Somalia and Yemen. Relevant and responsive institutions But we must never forget that we stand here, at this United Nations, as servants of the men and women that we represent back at home. And as we do so, we must recognise that for too many of these men and women the increasing pace of globalisation has left them feeling left behind. The challenge for those of us in this room is to ensure that our governments and our global institutions, such as this United Nations, remain responsive to the people that we serve. That we are capable of adapting our institutions to the demands of the 21st Century and ensuring that they do not become irrelevant. So when it comes to the big security and human rights challenges of our time, we need this our United Nations - to forge a bold new multilateralism. Because as we have seen even in the past week, no country is untouched by the threat of global terrorism. And when extremists anywhere in the world can transmit their poisonous ideologies directly into the bedrooms of people vulnerable to radicalisation, we need not just to work together to prevent conflict and instability in nation states but to act globally to disrupt the networks terrorist groups use to finance their operations and recruit to their ranks. When we see the mass displacement of people, at a scale unprecedented in recent history, we must ensure we are implementing the policies that are fit for the challenges we face today. And when criminal gangs do not respect our national borders, trafficking our fellow citizens into lives of slavery and servitude, we cannot let those borders act as a barrier to bringing such criminals to justice. In each of these areas, it is the convening power of our United Nations that gives us a unique opportunity to respond. But we can only do so if we modernise and adapt to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. Terrorism As a United Nations we have shown how we can work together to reduce the threat from international terrorism by preventing conflict and instability from developing. For example, through our Permanent Membership of the Security Council, Britain has played a leading role in the fight against Al Shabaab in Somalia. Since 2010, with huge support from across the region, and critically the commitment of Somalis themselves, Al Shabaab has been driven from all the major cities it used to control. It is vital that as an international community we continue to support countries in the region that are contributing thousands of troops, and that we continue to build the capacity of Somali security forces. That is why the UK is now going to increase further our security support and we will be calling on others to do the same, hosting an international conference on Somalia in 2017 to maintain this vital momentum. Missions like this must remain central to the work of this United Nations, but on their own they are not enough. Because the terrorist threats we face today do not come from one country but exist in a different space. The global networks they exploit require a different kind of global response. These organisations are using our own modern banking networks against us. So we need to look at our regulations, our information sharing and using our technological capabilities to get ahead of them. They are targeting our airlines, exploiting the fact that no one country can keep its citizens safe when they are flying between multiple jurisdictions. That is why this week the United Nations will vote on a UK led resolution on aviation security to ensure that every country implements the standards we need to ensure that no country is the weak link. They are exploiting the internet and social media to spread an ideology that is recruiting people to their cause all over the world. So we need to tackle this ideology head-on. That is why the UK has championed the work that the Secretary General has led to develop a strategy for preventing violent extremism. Now, as an international community, we must work together to adopt and implement the most comprehensive national action plans to tackle both the causes and the symptoms of all extremism. It is not enough merely to focus on violent extremism. We need to address the whole spectrum of extremism, violent extremism and non-violent extremism; Islamist and neo-Nazi hate and fear in all their forms. A new approach to migration Just as we need the United Nations to modernise to meet the challenges of terrorism in the 21st Century, so we also need to adapt if we are to fashion a truly global response to the mass movements of people across the world and the implications this brings for security and human rights. The 1951 convention and the 1967 protocol must remain the bedrock of our response, but the context in which they must be applied has dramatically changed. Across the world today, there are 65 million people who have been forcibly displaced. That it is equivalent to the entire population of the United Kingdom. It is an unprecedented figure, one that has almost doubled in a decade. And yet UN appeals are underfunded; host countries are not getting enough support; and refugees are not getting the aid, education and economic opportunities they need. We must do more. And as the second largest bi-lateral provider of assistance, the UK remains fully committed to playing a leading role. In the last 5 years the UK has invested over $9 billion in humanitarian assistance, saving millions of lives every year. The London Syria Conference in February raised $12 billion in pledges, the largest amount ever raised in one day in response to a humanitarian crisis. And that money is being used to combine both urgent humanitarian assistance and vital economic development, benefitting both refugees and the communities and countries hosting them. Clearly we need to continue our efforts to bring an end to the conflict and the appalling slaughter in Syria and to get aid through to those who need it. And while these efforts continue inside Syria, we also agreed new efforts to support refugees and host communities in neighbouring countries, including through education and opportunities to work. This is being assisted by loans from international financial institutions and access to European markets. And through our trading relationships and direct engagement with businesses we are mobilising the private sector to create new jobs in the region for everyone. And while there is more to be done, it is this approach to financing both humanitarian support and economic development that I will be championing when I announce a further UK financial contribution at President Obamas Refugee Summit later today. But in addition to refugees and displaced people fleeing conflict and persecution, we are also seeing an unprecedented movement of people in search of greater economic opportunities through the same unmanaged channels. This affects all of us, and it is the responsibility of us all to take action. We cannot ignore this challenge, or allow it to continue unmanaged. We need to do better. Better for the countries people leave, for the countries they move through, for the countries they try to get to and most of all, better for the migrants and refugees themselves. Despite the huge increase in international efforts, more migrants have died attempting hazardous journeys across borders this year than any other. I believe we have to use the opportunity afforded by this General Assembly for an honest global debate to address this global challenge. In doing so, we should be clear that there is nothing wrong with the desire to migrate for a better life. And also that controlled, legal, safe, economic migration brings benefits to our economies. But countries have to be able to exercise control over their borders. The failure to do so erodes public confidence, fuels international crime, damages economies and reduces the resources for those who genuinely need protection and whose rights under the Refugee Convention should always be fulfilled. I believe there are three fundamental principles that we now need to establish at the heart of a new approach to managing migration that is in the interests of all those involved. First, we must help ensure that refugees claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. The current trend of onward movements, where refugees reach a safe country but then press on with their journey, can only benefit criminal gangs and expose refugees to grave danger. So we must all do more to support countries where the refugees first arrive, to provide the necessary protection and assistance for refugees safely and swiftly, and to help countries adapt to the huge economic impact that refugees can have including on their existing population. As we are seeing in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, when the right assistance is provided, solutions that provide sanctuary and opportunity to refugees, and opportunities for those hosting them, can be found. This is also good for the refugees and the countries they come from - because the closer they stay to home, the easier it will be for them to return and rebuild after the conflict. Second, we need to improve the ways we distinguish between refugees fleeing persecution and economic migrants. I believe we must ensure the existing convention and protocol are properly applied to provide protection to refugees and reduce the incentives for economic migrants to use illegal routes. This in turn will help us target support for those refugees who need it most and retain the support of our populations for doing so. Third, we need a better overall approach to managing economic migration which recognises that all countries have the right to control their borders - and that we must all commit to accepting the return of our own nationals when they have no right to remain elsewhere. By ensuring a managed and controlled international migration response - and at the same time investing to tackle the underlying drivers of displacement and migration at source - we can reject isolationism and xenophobia, achieving better outcomes for all of our citizens and particularly for the most vulnerable. Modern Slavery Finally, as we gather here today to bring the founding values of the United Nations to bear on some of the most pressing global problems, the likes of which we havent seen before, so we must also face up to the fact that some of the worst human rights abuses that we thought we had confined to the history books have re-emerged in new pernicious forms. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General Assembly stated that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude and that slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Yet nearly 70 years on, we are presented with a new form of slavery: modern slavery. Organised crime groups, who are largely behind this modern slavery, lure, dupe and force innocent men, women and children into extreme forms of exploitation. Trafficked and sold across borders; victims are forced into living the kind of inhumane existence that is almost too much for our imagination. These criminals have global networks to help them make money out of some of the worlds most vulnerable people. Victims are held captive in squalid conditions under the constant shadow of violence and forced into sex and labour exploitation. If we are going to succeed in stamping out this abhorrent crime and bring the perpetrators to justice, we need to confront the reality of what we are dealing with. These organised crime groups work across borders and jurisdictions. And they often use the internet and modern technology to recruit, transport, control and exploit their victims, all the while staying ahead of legal systems that are often constrained by traditional geographical boundaries. So we must take action. We must use our international law enforcement networks to track these criminals down, wherever they are in the world, and put them behind bars where they belong. We need to be smarter and even more co-ordinated than the criminal gangs in our efforts to stop them. In the UK, I am setting up the first ever government taskforce for modern slavery, bringing together every relevant department to co-ordinate and drive all our efforts in the battle against this cruel exploitation. We are also using our aid budget to create a dedicated fund focused on high risk countries where we know victims are regularly trafficked to the UK. And yesterday, I committed the first 5 million from this fund to work in Nigeria to reduce the vulnerability of potential victims and step up the fight against those who seek to profit from this crime. But if we are to meet the Sustainable Development Goal to eradicate modern slavery, we need to go much further. Security relationships have developed between so many countries for dealing with issues like counter-terrorism, cyber security, drug trafficking and wider intelligence sharing. But we do not have a similar relationship for this fight against modern slavery. So we need our law enforcement agencies to work together, with joint investigation teams working across multiple countries. Victims will only find freedom if we cultivate a radically new, global and co-ordinated approach to defeat this vile crime. Together we must work tirelessly to preserve the freedoms and values that have defined our United Nations from its inception. Together we must work tirelessly to restore these freedoms and values to the lives of the men, women and children who are exploited for profit and held captive with little or no chance of escape. Conclusion From the St James Palace declaration and the Atlantic Charter forged by Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt, to the first meeting of this General Assembly in London in 1946, the United Kingdom has always been an outward-facing, global partner at the heart of international efforts to secure peace and prosperity for all our people. And that is how we will remain. For when the British people voted to leave the EU, they did not vote to turn inwards or walk away from any of our partners in the world. Faced with challenges like migration, a desire for greater control of their country, and a mounting sense that globalisation is leaving working people behind, they demanded a politics that is more in touch with their concerns; and bold action to address them. But that action must be more global, not less. Because the biggest threats to our prosperity and security do not recognise or respect international borders. And if we only focus on what we do at home, the job is barely half done. So this is not the time to turn away from our United Nations. It is the time to turn towards it. Only we, as members of this community of nations, can act to ensure this great institution becomes as relevant for our future as it has been in our past. So let us come together, true to our founding values but responsive to the challenges of today and let us work together to build a safer, more prosperous and more humane world for generations to come. Saudi request I have the honour to transmit to you a letter from Mr. Najib Ghadbian, Special Representative of the Syrian National Coalition to the United Nations, dated 16 August 2016 (see annex). I would be grateful if you could circulate the present letter and its annex as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Abdallah Y. Al-Mouallimi Permanent Representative Letter of the High Committee of the negotiations of the Syrian National Coalition On behalf of the High Negotiations Committee and as requested by His Excellency Riad Hijab, General Coordinator of the Committee, it is my honour to transmit to you a letter addressed to you from Mr. Hijab dated 16 August 2016 (see enclosure). The letter discusses the gravity of the chemical weapons attacks in the city of Aleppo. (Signed) Najib Ghadbian Special Representative of the Syrian National Coalition to the United Nations Enclosure I write to you in order to draw your attention to the horrific situation in besieged eastern Aleppo and to new reports that the forces of the Assad regime, with the support of their allies, the Russian air force and Iranian militias, have used chemical weapons to attack Aleppo, in direct violation of Security Council resolutions 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015) and 2235 (2015). In addition, napalm, which is internationally prohibited, was used against Darayya in Rif Dimashq on 12, 13 and 14 August 2016. On 10 August 2016, civilian residents of the Zabdiyah neighbourhood of Aleppo were attacked with illegal chemical substances when regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs containing toxic material. Area hospitals treated 60 injured, 40 of whom were children. All the victims later exhibited signs consistent with exposure to chlorine gas, including choking, coughing and shortness of breath. It has been confirmed that at least three civilians, including a woman and her son, have died as a result of the chemical weapon attacks. The deadly chemical weapon attack of 10 August on Aleppo is yet another episode in the regimes chain of attacks against civilians in Aleppo. On the evening of 1 August, aid workers working with the Syrian Civil Defence reported that unguided bombs containing chlorine struck civilian homes in Saraqib, Idlib governorate, and injured at least 28 civilians, including 18 women and 10 children. The use of chlorine gas as a weapon of war to terrorize and/or kill civilians is a war crime and a direct violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Syria is a party, and of Security Council resolutions 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015) and 2235 (2015). In its resolution 2209 (2015), the Council specifically states that the use of chlorine gas as a weapon would constitute a violation of resolution 2118 (2013) and, in this context, it decided in the event of future non-compliance with resolution 2118 (2013) to impose measures under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Measures must now be implemented pursuant to Chapter VII, and the Assad regimes repeated and systematic use of chemical weapons must be met with sanctions in order to deter future war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. On behalf of the people of Aleppo, Idlib and Darayya, and all of Syria, we call on the Security Council to: 1. Instruct the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the attacks of 1 and 10 August on the city of Aleppo and the cities of Saraqib in Idlib and Darayya in Rif Dimashq, which killed four people and wounded dozens, and to present a preliminary analysis of its investigations to the Security Council at the next briefing on the humanitarian situation. 2. Impose measures pursuant to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, as called for in Security Council resolutions 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015) and 2235 (2015), and take urgent action to protect Syrian civilians from additional attacks with chemical and internationally prohibited weapons, including the use of naval assets stationed in the Mediterranean Sea to impose a no-bombardment zone throughout Syria. 3. Ensure that those responsible for the use of chemical weapons, including chlorine gas, are held accountable, as required by Security Council resolutions 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015) and 2235 (2015). This can be accomplished either by creating a special court for Syria and/or by taking measures under local or international jurisdiction to be implemented by the Governments of Member States. You must not allow the chemical weapons attacks in Aleppo, Idlib and Darayya to become another ignominious stain on the collective conscience of the Security Council. The Council and its member have a mandate to protect civilians from chemical weapon attacks, and the time has come for members to fulfil that mandate. To date, some 2,000 Syrian civilians have been killed by chemical attacks, while hundreds of thousands of other civilians have been killed by various other types of weapons. I ask you, how many Syrians must die before the members of the Security Council are forced to act? How many innocent Syrian children will choke to death from chlorine gas before you answer their calls to provide protection for civilians? Syrian civilians need protection from chemical weapons and other internationally prohibited weapons and from all indiscriminate air strikes. A no bombardment zone is one possible way of providing that protection. I should like, through you, to urge the member States to impose such zone, despite the failure of the Security Council to carry out its mandate to protect civilians. https://youtu.be/VDnkD1EOyR8 (Signed) Riad Hijab General Coordinator High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Iranian answer Upon instructions from my Government, and with reference to the letter dated 16 August 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2016/719), requesting the circulation of the letter of an entity engaged in crimes and violence in Syria, I wish to bring the following to your attention: That entity and its supporters, by accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran of supporting the use of chemical weapons and other prohibited weapons, insidiously intend to mislead the members of the United Nations. It is evident that Iran, as the last victim of the mass use of chemical weapons by Saddam Husseins regime, which committed such heinous crimes with the help and support of many, including certain countries in the region, and as a committed State party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, has always condemned the use of these weapons by anybody, anywhere, and has always declared its objection to such use. The very act of submitting such baseless propaganda against a State Member of the United Nations by another State Member of the United Nations to be circulated as a United Nations document runs counter to the very purposes and principles of the United Nations, which consist of, inter alia, developing friendly relations among nations and peacefully resolving international disputes. This act also amounts to misusing an established practice at the United Nations and employing it in the service of spreading lies and distorting facts, which can only serve shortsighted political interests and narrow agendas. This certainly aggravates, rather than eases, tensions and is contrary to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. As a member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and a victim of these weapons, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always warned against the use of these inhumane weapons by all, especially by terrorists, following the savagery and barbaric crimes perpetrated against the Syrian and Iraqi peoples by extremist groups and their supporters. It is imperative that all States Members of the United Nations adopt a responsible and serious approach to focus on the real challenges that jeopardize peace and security in our region. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Gholamali Khoshroo Ambassador Permanent Representative Cookie, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is on Swift Stream. Empire! Praise be! This episode is ah-mah-zing. The drama. The pantsuits. The arrival of a new diva-in-training. Birdman made an appearance. I want to lay boughs at the feet of this episode. Lets dig in, shall we? Season three opens right where we left off, with the Family Lyon spilling into the streets after Luciouss wedding. Jamal is tasked with getting Grandma home, and Lucious is going after Hakeem as he storms off in his vintage Just Married ca OH SHIT, RHONDA FALLS OFF THE ROOF ONTO A CAR WHILE EPIC OPERA MUSIC BLARES. Up on the roof, Andre is screaming at Boo Boo Kitty and starts strangling her, when suddenly her water breaks and a fireman carries her away from the scene of the crime. Oh, Andre. You dear, sweet, tragic light-skinned Eeyore. Has anyone been through more than Andre? No. Not at all. Not even close. I think saving your fathers new wife who caused the miscarriage of your child and just murdered your wife because shes going to have your younger brothers baby is officially too much. Im starting a GoFundMe for Andre to take a damn vacation. Cookie is cutting Luciouss face out of family photos when she gets the call that everything is terrible and rushes out to the hospital. Hakeem, meanwhile, has decided to take this opportunity to continue the Lyon family tradition of making terrible decisions and heads to Tianas apartment to take his pants off and pass out. To his surprise, she doesnt want to take him back! He doesnt get the call that everything is on fire. Cookie brings a box of Rhondas things to the hospital to give to Andre. Hes more interested in completely disavowing God. Cookie suggests that they go to the chapel and pray. Andre doesnt want any part of this religion bullshit. Hes done with God. Whoa. Without religious as one of his main characteristics, I wonder what the Empire writers are going to fall back on oh. Thats right. Irresponsible portrayal of bipolar disorder. This should be fun. Lucious storms in with a row of federal agents behind him. Those agents are mad because Lucious is flagrant. Lucious heads into the delivery room to welcome his premature grandchild/child into the world. Instead of guiding Boo Boo Kitty through Lamaze breathing exercises, he whispers the official story in her ear: Rhonda jumped off the roof and Boo Boo Kitty tried to stop her, and if she doesnt go along with that story, shes going to find herself in a similar situation. Its a threat! I mean a girl! Lucious is pissed that its a girl and refuses to cut the cord. Congratulations! Its babys first interaction with the patriarchy! To mitigate his disappointment, Lucious engages in some Jay Gatsby cosplay with actual Birdman and French Montana during a poker game. He reveals the plan for this season: Empire Records will buy Swift Stream and rename it Empire XStream. I cant tell if anyone is pronouncing it extreme or if theyre putting too much emphasis on the X. Lucious wants to take over Times Square with a huge launch, and Jamal is going to perform. First, though, he has to command Jamal to do it. Jamal hasnt performed since he was straight-up shot and confined to a wheelchair but NBD. Hakeem and Jamal meet up to be chastised by their parents. Lucious tells Hakeem that, unless he steps up, hell be a deadbeat dad. No shit, Lucious. Cookie backs up Lucious, and Lucious takes that to mean that he can get into Cookies Harlequin pantsuit. Cookie tells him that marrying Boo Boo Kitty closed her pantsuits to him forever. Hakeem takes step up as a father to mean record some new music and heads to the studio. While hes working on his new song, Suge Knight er, I mean Shyne storms into the studio, insults Hakeem, and throws the sound engineer around. He tells Hakeem that if he wants some real music, come find him. Lucious faces off with Shyne and agrees to feature Nessa, a woman weve never heard or seen, on a song. Is there a word for makes decisions with no evidence? Is that what Lucious means in Latin? Cookie is sitting around with Candace and Carol, reminiscing about terrible wigs like you do, when suddenly every other word out their mouths is Duke Page. Cookie is suspicious and discovers that Duke Page is hiding behind a decorative sconce in her hallway. Ruh-roh. Lucious arranges for Boo Boo Kitty to move into his house without her consent to keep up appearances. Boo Boo Kitty reluctantly agrees and meets Grandma Walker in the kitchen while shes cutting an absurd amount of carrots. She threatens Boo Boo Kitty with a knife and goes on with her day. Family. Lucious invites Duke Page over for dinner to really sell the charade and offers him some scrapple and eggs. Shyne is working with Hakeem in the studio while Nessa plays Candy Crush in the corner. Shyne changed Hakeems track, and it actually sounds like a modern rap song. Thats new for Empire. Jamal is rehearing his song for the XStream launch and, oh Lord, he lists victims of police brutality shootings, rhymes Orlando with Philando, and its all a protest song for Freda Gatz. Empire, why? At least Nessa is getting a little camera time as she stands completely in shadow. When Duke Page sits down with the Lyons, its time for the most awkward family dinner in history. Duke misinterpreted the invite for a roast and goes around the table laying out each family members flaws, then demands Lucious and Boo Boo Kitty bang in front of him. Andre is a henchman. Hakeems love life is a mess. Cookie is a loser who got left for a mulatto bitch. Boom! Roasted! Jamal jumps up to defend Cookie and inadvertently roasts himself. Cookie kicks Duke Page out. On to the XStream launch. Jamal takes the stage after the weirdest intro by Lucious: Performing for the first time since his brief taste of the Angel of Death. Jamal is getting ready to start his protest song, but the camera flashes are giving him flashbacks to when Freda straight-up shot him, and he runs off the stage. Nessa, seeing her opportunity to steal any light whatsoever, rushes to the mic and performs the song in her Balmain dress. Jamal cant get himself together in time to make it back onstage, and the crowd goes crazy for Nessa. After being disappointed by his son, Lucious goes home to the baby who may or may not legally be his daughter. While hes comforting little baby Bella, Cookie arrives wearing the husk of a Muppet and tells him once and for all that shes gone. Shes got her fuck you fund ready, and she wants control of the music. We also get a completely useless flashback of young Cookie and young Lucious played by two children who look nothing like Taraji and Terrence. Lucious lets her go. Meanwhile, Andre is sitting at Jamals house, crying with no shirt on and screaming, Andre messed up! Then GHOST RHONDA SHOWS UP and tells him that hes nothing without her and he cant even manage his medications without her. Hes just a Philly thug with mental problems. Way harsh, Ghost Rhonda. While Lucious puts Baby Bella back in her crib, we zoom in on one of the teddy bears. Theres a camera inside, streaming footage straight to Duke Pages iPad. We end the episode with a long shot of the teddy bears cold unblinking eyes. Were in for a doozy of a season. Photo: Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage Hugh Grant is unconventional. We know this to be true because Hugh Grant says that it is so. As Grant explained to W, The conventional response to sex scenes is that theyre horrible and not sexy and its all so unnatural. (Hes right, many actors dislike shooting sex scenes.) But Hugh Grants response to sex scenes is different, a flat-out affront to convention even. In his own words, Ive always found filming sex scenes to be quite a turn-on. The rom-com renegade added, I like the experience of being in a sexual position when youre not supposed to be in one. Grant, with the finesse of a guy exercising a polemic against making love, also clarified that while he loves shooting sex scenes, he hates shooting love scenes. His reasoning? The latter can be yuck. Says the free-love lover: Love scenes are extremely difficult. Youre always within a millimeter of sentimentality and yuck. But sex scenes are something else! Pop goes your heart. Get ready for Harley Quinn jokes. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images America is so far gone, we have to go to Australia to find the next SNL host. Specifically, Margot Robbie, whos coming off a summer of being the best part of Suicide Squad and the best part of The Legend of Tarzan (aside from whichever trainer got Alexander Skarsgard those abs). The Weeknd will be the musical guest for the premiere episode airing October 1, which explains why he just moved his time slot at the Meadows Festival. Please send all your congratulations to Robbie, and to Vulture, as we kind of predicted this. One Mississippi Let the Good Times Roll Season 1 Episode 4 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Previous Episode Next Episode Tig Notaro as Tig. Photo: Amazon Studios In my last recap, I shared my concern that One Mississippi draws its characters in cartoonish strokes, and nowhere is that problem more obvious than in Casey Wilsons Brooke, a character who both frustrates and confuses me. She is a little bit shallow, a little too L.A., and way too into physics/vibes/green juices. Why are she and Tig actually together? The show doesnt seem particularly sure. What frustrates me most is how One Mississippi looks down its nose at Brooke. Shes a supportive woman with seemingly boundless energy, who flies across the country to surprise her mourning girlfriend with beignets. Its not easy being the caretaker for a romantic partner, but this show treats Brooke like the typical nagging girlfriend who gets dumped in a rom-com. When we first see Brooke in Let the Good Times Roll, Tig is Skyping her about the revelation of her secret brother. Brooke breathlessly tells Tig that this must be what her psychic had been talking about, and then reveals that shes already unpacked Carolines things. Tig quickly turns on her, but Brooke bounces back with a chipperness that speaks more highly of her than the show seems to think. Tig tells Brooke shes coming back to L.A. the next evening, which means shell be in Bay Saint Lucille for Mardi Gras, but she doesnt particularly want to go. Brooke signs off with a big kiss that Tig summarily dismisses. My question is this: What does Brooke see in Tig? One Mississippi tries to present Tig in all her flaws, but at least it also makes her complicated. Brooke is the kind of basic character I hoped wed moved past. While flipping through old photo albums, Tig asks Remy, What is happy, really? (Ill admit it: I hated this moment.) Once again, Tig and Remy wonder whether or not they should tell Bill about Dalton, and Remy begs Tig not to burden him with Carolines secret. At the station, Tig tells a story about how she failed eighth grade twice, and about how, after being pulled into the assistant principals office for a prank, she made an unusually prescient comment about her mother: I remember saying, Ms. Nevins, what would you think if you knew what my mother was up to? Looking back, Im realizing now I didnt even know the half of it. while Neko Cases If You Knew plays on the soundtrack, Tig and Kate agree to go to a Mardi Gras party together. Kate is the opposite of Brooke, and you can tell because shes not wearing yoga pants. Later, Bill tells Tig and Remy about proper hall-light usage. The ensuing argument is interrupted by two local Mardi Gras councilwomen (one is played by The Mindy Projects fabulous Beth Grant). The Carnival Crew has decided that Tig should take over Carolines duties as Mardi Gras queen. Tigs not particularly in the mood to honor her mother, but to be fair, discovering a secret brother will do that to a person. In a flashback, Caroline tells Tig that she needs to make more of an effort, and that she cant only do what she wants in life. Are the accents in these flashbacks bad? I am not from Louisiana, so I cant tell. Either way, these flashbacks are pretty unnecessary. Bill, Remy, and Tig decide to make a day of it, and they all go to the party where Tig will serve as Mardi Gras queen. Remy is excited that Bibby will be there, and Tig is excited to get back to L.A. after the party is over. Bills uncle Tommy shows up at the party and tells Bill that he may know where Bonkers the cat is. Bill leaves with Tommy as Tig is outfitted in faux-regal garb and gives an interview to a local TV station. The news anchor is clearly hitting on Tig: Heavens a bunch of bullshit for people who are afraid to live now. You know what I mean? Tigs float meets in the middle of the parade with the Mardi Gras kings float. The Mardi Gras king is the oldest man in town, and my favorite character in the entire show so far. Meanwhile, one of the nurses from Remys reenactment, Vicky the Keg, flirts with him, but he doesnt seem to care. Hes still hung up on Bibby, but Tig thinks Vicky would be a better choice for him. Remy tries to flirt with Bibby while shes working, but she shoos him away. Meanwhile, the news anchor finds Tig and aggressively hits on her. Tig unenthusiastically tells her that she has a girlfriend. Remy seems genuinely upset that Tig is leaving, but hes too drunk to drive her to the airport. Bill returns from the Bonkers hunt, which was, unfortunately, a bust. Bill once again accuses Tig of letting Bonkers out, and Tig accuses Bill on the grounds that he misses a lot. Tig holds Bill accountable for missing the fact that she was molested throughout her childhood, and Bill tells Tig that its in the past. Tig storms off and calls Brooke on her drive to the airport. Brookes assertion that maybe it is time for Tig to let go and that perhaps her old pain contributed to her cancer is the most damning thing weve seen her say. (And dont get me wrong, it would be a particularly damning thing for anyone to say.) Tig tells the driver to turn around. She goes back to the bar where the news anchor is hanging out. Back at home, Bill finally takes Bonkers food bowl off the front porch. Tigs decision to turn around is a nice moment, but like so much of One Mississippi, it is juuuust shy of earned. Why exactly does she go back? Because shes not happy with her life in L.A.? Because shes finally starting to make progress in Louisiana? Both are valid reasons, but neither is particularly compelling given what the show has told us. It actually seems like L.A. is the lesser of two evils, since it lacks the horrendous dysfunction of Bill and Remy. Ultimately, One Mississippi is banking on the audiences preexisting love of Tig Notaro to buoy her fairly unlikable character and justify the shows coming-home-to-come-of-age tropes. Neither of these ideas are bad bets, but they dont pay off as I hoped they would. Having read other reviews, I think that opinion puts me in the minority. But for me, Brookes treatment in Let the Good Times Roll highlighted that One Mississippis creative successes are undercut by tired old tricks. In a presidential campaign defined by seething contempt and vitriol, Hillary Clinton sat down for her rudest interview yet: with Zach Galifianakis, for Between Two Ferns. The result is typically hilarious and awkward. As Galifianakis asked about her pantsuits, Trump, and emails, Clinton hit back with pointed glares and a palpable sense of What am I doing here? Of course, she knew exactly what she was doing it was her idea. As BTF creator and Comedy Bang! Bang! host Scott Aukerman explained, it was Clinton who suggested doing the short, knowing how successful it had been when President Obama appeared on the show to get the word out about Healthcare.gov. Aukerman spoke with Vulture Thursday morning about how it all came together, including the scripting and approval of questions, whether he knew she had pneumonia, and if hed ever do one with Trump. Hows it going? Scott Aukerman: Im good. Im a little tired. I can imagine. Youre in L.A., so did you just wake up to do interviews? I actually didnt just wake up. Im always too excited to sleep whenever we put one of these out. We keep them so tightly under wraps and put it out in a surprise release in the middle of the night, so Im always too excited to see what people think of it. Ive been up since it came out, so Ive been getting the real-time reaction to it. The response is interesting, especially compared to the Obama one. You dont have the same reaction of This not presidential. But this is such a heavily politicized election cycle that people are coming with their own preconceived impressions of Hillary Clinton, even more so than the Obama one. They bring that to their enjoyment or not enjoyment of the video. I think even more than Obama. But we didnt really make it for the political pundits or the people who are trying to write think pieces about how it will or will not help the campaign or the people who somehow make a living out of tweeting every five minutes about politics. We made it for the general public who want to be entertained by a funny Between Two Ferns video. Lets back up a little bit: How did it happen? Back in August we heard that there was interest. What we later found out was that she was the one who suggested doing it. Half the time the person being interviewed reaches out personally. That happened with, say, Bruce Willis and Natalie Portman and Brad Pitt. Otherwise its a publicist reaching out and saying, Hey, would you ever consider this person? and then they have to go convince their client to do it and they quite often say, I dont want to do that and back out. In this case, we heard that there was interest from Hillary Clinton, but we started taking it seriously when we heard, Oh no, its her idea and if you say, yes, itll actually happen. We shot it on September 9th. What was the vetting process like for the questions? I dont know if it was because of the short timetable or because when youre in the middle of a campaign theres an infinite amount of more important things than making this video, but it actually was not much of a vetting process. When we do these we prefer to do them with a lot of improvisation, where the interviewee doesnt know what the questions are beforehand, so the campaign was pretty cool about that. In this one, actually, the majority of it was improvised. What is your process for writing the questions? Do you put out the call to your comedy friends? We meet beforehand to talk about what we want to do. We always circle around, how do we make it new. Like up until maybe a few hours before, we were heavily considering it being a Halloween episode. Then we realized we havent put one out in a couple years. I dont think that people are really gonna be like, Oh, its the same old thing. Weve been doing them eight or nine years and weve put out 20 episodes so. This thing again for the 20th time in a decade? [Laughs.] But yeah, well all put out the word to some funny people. If you read the credits you can get a pretty good idea of who works on it. [Editors note: Here are some of the people who got a special thanks: Neil Campbell, David Caspe, Lang Fisher, Dave Ferguson, Mike Gibbons, Fran Gillespie, Tim Kalpakis, Jon Lovett, Pat OBrien, Jeff Ross, Sarah Silverman, Kulap Vilaysack, Alan Yang.] Eventually we meet and we try to make Zach feel as prepared as possible. Hosting Comedy Bang! Bang! is a very similar process. I want to feel bulletproof like I have as much material as I need if I want to use it. Zach is really great in the moment, so hes constantly riffing during it and tagging jokes and adding really funny things. Its interesting how each person has a different way in which they react to Zach. Some are disgusted. Obama was mean. Hillary was sort of dismissive and incredulous. Did they come out in the shooting? Did she come with it? Yeah, she knew what Between Two Ferns was and whats expected of a guest: to sit here and be roasted. Its interesting because we have such a good time shooting it, you wish you could put out a separate video where it shows us having a great time. But these are all about hitting a certain vibe and she was really good about slipping into that. How much time did you have with her? They said wed have about 40 minutes, and then we just kept shooting. She was having a good time, so we shot for about an hour. Did you know she had pneumonia at the time at all? No, that was so crazy. She seemed totally normal. We did it at the the end of the day for us, but not the end of her day. It was scheduled for 4 p.m. and then she was doing some CNN interviews, I believe in the same building, and they went long. She did two extra hours with CNN and then came in at six for us and had a really good time. The only clue that I had was that she was drinking hot water. I noticed someone had put hot water there for her. I have a job where I talk constantly, so I was like, Oh, thats interesting because she has to talk constantly, shes drinking hot water. Two days later, we found out she had pneumonia and had been diagnosed earlier that day and couldnt believe that it was true, just from her energy level. Do you have a sense of one moment she particularly enjoyed? The discussion about the Trump Steaks was especially amusing to her and the crew. I want to ask you about a couple specific jokes that people are jumping on. A lot of people like the, I want to meet the person who makes your pantsuits because for Halloween I want to go as a librarian from outer space. Was that partly there because it was going to be a Halloween theme at first? Maybe it was written because it was going to be a Halloween-themed, but were also pretty close to Halloween anyway. I also think it just was that persons real feelings about the pantsuits. My favorite had to be Hillary saying Trump would wear his red power tie and Zach saying, maybe hell wear his white power tie. That was one of the first jokes that Zach talked about wanting to do when we started talking about this. Ninety percent of it was improvised, that one may fall within the 10 percent of [it that] we needed to set it up a little bit. But I will say 90 percent is Zach being super quick in the moment. If the Trump campaign reached would you consider that? I cant imagine there being a universe where they would ever actually even reach out, or that it would be a good video even if it was something we wanted to do. Between this video and the Obama one, do you worry about being seen as a spot where politicians get the word out? Honestly, the result I want is that people laugh at a video. We always have to judge if someone is interested in doing one, if it is going to be a good video. Were always willing to walk away. We said for both of them: If this isnt a good situation like at any point we can pull the plug and walk away from it. So theres little concern of, Oh, are we repeating ourselves with having another politician on? But, we just thought it was going to be a good video so we decided to do it. Its so hard, after youve done the president of the United States, to have the videos be surprising. Its like at a certain point, we just have to throw that out the window and go, Hey, lets make a funny video and hopefully people will watch it. Maybe the Oh shit, I cant believe that happened factor is gone, but at least you can watch the video and be like, Oh shit, I cant believe that it happened this way with these people. From The Undertaking, at BAM. Photo: Richard Termine Like humanistic Judaism, the term investigative theater proposes an invidious distinction. All theater investigates. What the Civilians do under that rubric is merely more literal than what most companies do. Many of the their productions are created by choosing a topic and then interviewing lots of people with knowledge of it, whether expert or lay; the interviews are then edited and cobbled into a script and enacted onstage. In this way the Civilians have covered such themes as loss (in Gone Missing), the porn industry (Pretty Filthy), evangelicals (This Beautiful City), and divorce (Tales From My Parents Divorce). The results are usually informative, sometimes obvious, frequently becalmed, especially in comparison with the spellbinding results that Nilaja Sun, Anna Deavere Smith, Sarah Jones, and other fact-based dramatists achieve using similar methods. Is the difference that those three women work solo? Or are they listening differently? Though the Civilians latest piece, The Undertaking, which opened last night as part of BAMs Next Wave festival, is entirely drawn from recorded interviews, it has, paradoxically, a claustrophobic quality usually associated with monologues. Perhaps thats because the subject note the punning title is death, but more likely it is because the structure that the playwright and director Steve Cosson came up with is so self-canceling. The Undertaking is basically his own Orpheus journey into the underworld, not to retrieve love but to rid himself of the fear of death. His spirit guide (or psychopomp, as he puts it, using the Greek term) is a woman named Lydia, based on the Colombian artist Jessica Mitrani, who is credited in the program as a creative collaborator. Ostensibly, Steve has come to her to record for this project the story of the Amazonian vine of death ritual in which she has participated, but despite the tape recorder running, we never really hear it. Instead, Lydia encourages Steve to devise his own ritual, which involves tequila, animal skins, a pillow fort, and a bounce umbrella from her studio. He will descend into his psychic hell the same way Dionysus did in The Frogs: disguised as Hercules. This is amusing but completely lacking in drama; if Lydia (Irene Lucio) must convince Steve to put himself onstage despite his wish to avoid exposure, who but dramaturgs can be invested in the outcome? In any case, we see that the issue has already been settled because here Steve is, in the person of actor Dan Domingues. Nor does any external conflict arise in a ritual that is, by its nature, entirely psychological. Moving as his fears may be and its hard not to be moved by anyones mortality issues they make for a saggy play, even at just 80 minutes. To disguise the problem, of which they are evidently aware, Cosson and his designers offer a great deal of distraction and illustration. Expert lighting (by Thomas Dunn) and sound (by Mikhail Fiksel) help suggest action that is otherwise purely notional; projections by Tal Yarden fill the neutral stage space (by Marsha Ginsberg) with beautiful and suggestive imagery. This sometimes works too well; extended film excerpts from Cocteaus gorgeous Orpheus shame the capabilities of the stage, at least as used here. More relevant to the Civilians investigative-theater methodology, Cosson interrupts the main story with short segments of testimony from the kinds of subjects you could almost predict hed canvass: an end-of-life nurse, an embalmer, an ovarian-cancer patient, an Iraq War soldier, and, in a brief snippet, the dying Derrida. Though beautifully impersonated by the multitasking Lucio and Domingues, what they offer is mostly elementary deathology, producing approximately the same insight as that achieved by reading the first page of The Tibetan Book of the Dead in a college dorm, stoned. Nor are enough voices or experiences transcribed to suggest, as some Civilians productions do, a comprehensive treatment. Eventually you realize that Steves psychodrama is all the drama youre going to get here, and meaningful as it surely was to him Im not being snarky its meaningfulness, merely stated and discussed but not dramatized, doesnt carry. Were it not for the terrific performances of the two actors, it would not even get past the white box of the stage space, which eventually comes to seem like a chic coffin. The Undertaking is at the BAM Fisher Theater through September 25. Moroso Wood Fired Pizzeria 4700 Bosque Blvd. / 254-235-6000 / morosopizzeria.com / On Facebook, Instagram Hours: 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 5-10 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, 5-11 p.m. Fridays. Price: $-$$ Takeout: Yes Alcohol: Yes On the menu: 13 types of Neapolitan pizza (dough from 00 flour, fresh yeast, sea salt and purified water; San Marzano tomatoes; cooked at very high temperature); appetizers including aranchini (fried ravioli balls), made-from-scratch meatballs, charcuterie board; salads; desserts including cannoli, risotta cheesecake and torta al cioccolato (flourless chocolate cake). Good to know: Tomatoes and flour are imported from Italy with Italian sausage custom-made in Texas. Pizza oven, dough mixer designed for neapolitan pizza. Many recipes are from owner Dan Morosos family. Restaurant origin: Dan Moroso trained in restaurant and hotel service before following a career as a television production and writer. He and his wife Robyn, a Baylor University graduate with family in Waco, moved to Waco after 17 years in Miami to set up their own restaurant with an emphasis on hand-crafted food and premium ingredients. Opened Sept. 1. Silos Baking Co. 601 Webster Ave. / 254-235-6111 / magnoliamarket.com/silos / On Facebook, Instagram Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Price: $ Takeout: No Alcohol: No On the menu: Eight flavors of cupcakes; cookies (chocolate-chip and chocolate-chip/peanut-butter-chip/walnut); cinnamon rolls (with and without pecans); biscuits (bacon/cheddar and orange/cranberry); almond pastry; and blueberry muffins. Drinks include milk, lemonades and water. Good to know: Some of the recipes are favorites of Magnolia Market co-owner/founder Joanna Gaines of HGTVs Fixer Upper. Several cupcakes carry Fixer Upper-inspired names, such as the Shiplap (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream icing), Nuts & Bolts (vanilla cake with pecans and walnuts, cream cheese icing), Silobration (vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream icing) and Cup O Jo (chocolate cake with espresso buttercream icing). Restaurant origin: Located on the Magnolia Market grounds in the shadow of the twin silos. Opened June 29. The Provender Store 608 B Austin Ave. / 254-265-4327 / TheProvenderStore.com / On Facebook, Instagram Hours: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Price: $-$$ Takeout: Yes. Catering available. Alcohol: No On the menu: Organic delicatessen and bakery with locally sourced foods wherever possible. Hand-cured pastrami, corned beef and chicken; homemade bread, pickles, preserves, mustards and sausage; specialty desserts. Good to know: Menu updated every few months to reflect seasonally available produce and meats. Restaurant origin: Owner Craig Parker came to the Waco area as a wine-making consultant, but success with his homemade jams at the Downtown Waco Farmers Market persuaded him of a need for a downtown deli. The Provender Store opened in 2013. Georges Restaurant and Bar 1925 Speight Ave. (original location) and 1201 Hewitt Drive (Westrock) / 254-753-1421 and 254-420-2060 / georgesrestaurant.com Hours: 6:30 a.m.-midnight Mondays- Saturdays and 11 a.m.- midnight Mondays, 7 a.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Saturdays Price: $-$$ Takeout: Yes. Catering available. Alcohol: Full bar On the menu: Mix of American, Southern and Tex-Mex with breakfast, lunch and dinner served. Recent menu additions include sandwiches The George (hamburger with bacon, mushrooms, grilled onions, Swiss cheese, spinach and roasted tomatoes), the Bruiser (chicken-fried steak with grilled onions, mushrooms bacon, jalapenos and Bruiser Sauce; and the chick-queso potato (potato stuffed with chicken-fried steak and queso). Good to know: Both Georges offer a new 15-item $5.99 menu and both have outdoor seating on the Big O Deck (original location) and the Big O Patio patio (Westrock). Red Wagon BBQ 169 Halbert Lane / 254-829-2277 / www.redwagonbbq.com Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays. Brisket and ribs often sell out before closing. Price: $-$$ Takeout: Yes Alcohol: No On the menu: Brisket, chicken, beef ribs, beef sausage; brisket and chicken plates, sandwiches. Sides of potato salad, cole slaw, beans, all organic. Salads topped with chopped beef, chicken or smoked salmon also available. Good to know: Grass-fed beef used for sausage, which is made onsite; all-natural ribs; all-natural brisket when available. Sandwiches made with bread baked at nearby Homestead Heritage using flour from wheat milled onsite. Honey used as sweetener in cole slaw; no sugar added to sides or barbecue rubs. What About Cupcakes? 1001 Franklin Ave. / (254) 224-6610 www.whataboutcupcakes.com / on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturday or when cupcakes are sold out. Price: $ (see guide below) Takeout: Yes. Same-day calls to reserve cupcakes accepted with payment at time of call. Those with large or custom orders advised to call at least a day in advance. On the menu: Cupcakes in mini, regular and jumbo sizes. Daily flavors of strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter and Oreo plus two or three featured cupcakes each day. Ice cream, frosted sugar cookies and tea cake cookies also available. Good to know: Customer favorites include red velvet cupcakes as well as (non-alcoholic) strawberry and lime margarita cupcakes with sugar around the rim. Alpha Omega Mediterranean Grill and Bakery 929 Franklin Ave. / 254-732-7506 / alphaomegawaco.com and on Facebook Hours: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Saturdays. Price: $-$$ (see guide below) Takeout: Yes. Catering services also available. Alcohol: Bottled beer and wine available On the menu: Pork, chicken, lamb gyros; salads; Greek/Mediterranean dishes such as hummus, spanakopita and baba ganoush; European-style pastries; gelato. Good to know: Pita bread baked fresh daily; pastries and gelato made onsite. Guide: $ main dishes less than $10; $$ $10 to $20; $$$ more than $20. Waco poets and poetry fans will find new outlets for their art and hearts this month with two 100 Thousand Poets For Change events this weekend, the formation of a new HOT Poets Society and an annual three-day Wordfest thats part of the upcoming Waco Cultural Arts Festival. The Heart of Texas Poets Society will hold a 100 Thousand Poets for Change reading from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Art Center of Waco, 1300 College Drive, one of several worldwide events Its an inaugural event for the society, organized by Waco musician and poet Sandi Horton and Baylor journalism/PR/new media professor Cassy Burleson, and affiliated with the Texas are organizing the HOT Poets Society. It joins other poetry groups operating in the area, including the Waco Poets Society, the Black Poets Society and In the Words of Womyn. Why another group? Because you cant have too much poetry, Burleson said. Horton agreed. We should all support each other. Were doing the same thing, she said. All that matters is that you love the word. Horton, who started writing poetry about 20 years ago, said her participation in poetry events across the state hosted by other cities societies led her to consider forming a group affiliated with the larger Texas Poets Society. The HOT Poets Society wont require any dues, but will charge the $25 needed for Texas Poets Society membership. Burlesons experience as an editor for the womens arts anthology Her Story, published last year, showed her how community can form from an art thats often pursued in isolation. Shes been writing poetry since her days in elementary school she dates her first poem to 1965, written for a friend who had broken up with a boy and notes the experiences of sharing ones writing and listening to others form bonds between people. An openness for sharing poems and listening will mark Saturdays 100 Thousand Poets for Change, a poetic twist to the international 100 Thousand Artists For Change, simultaneous art events held around the world to promote peace, tolerance and creativity. A 100 Thousand Artists for Change celebration, sponsored by the Central Texas Artists Collective, will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Waco Hippodromes patio. The event, with the theme of Peace Justice Sustainability and Love will feature an opening hour of Yoga For Change, followed by a mix of open mic participating and performances by musicians Kristin Breen and Katy Stewart. Admission is free. The last four 100 Thousand celebrations aligned with the Waco Cultural Arts Fest schedule and were held as part of the festivals Wordfest. The Arts Fest takes place later this year, however, resulting in a separation of the events from the festival. For Waco poetry organizer and activist Jennifer Alumbaugh, who goes by the name Jenuine Poetess, both the 100 Thousand Artists for Change and the Waco Poets Society, which she founded in 2012, are all about community openness and formation. We are holding space for the community to express what they need to, whether about social justice, something specific to Waco or personally in somebodys life, she said. We hold space for diversity, inclusion and for all identities and all levels of ability. Creativity is a major theme of the WPS, but so is participation with local social justice groups, she added. Creative expression can be a platform for addressing issues in the community, she said. Members of the Waco Poets Society take part in monthly poetry readings and spoken word performances, held on the second Saturday of the month at Rufis Cocina and the third Thursday at Tea2Go. The upcoming Wordfest will give writers of all kinds ways to learn and share. Alumbaugh had helped organize past Wordfests, but stepped down last year. I personally retired . . . so I could enjoy it and participate in it, she explained. Works from 72 poets hailing from Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington D.C., Australia and Argentina comprise a printed 92-page anthology that will be available at this years Wordfest, Horton said. Many of the out-of-town poets will read from their works in sessions Oct. 1-2 with more local writers taking part in an open mic session Sept. 30. This years featured poet is Festival Thom from Austin. Wordfest will offer workshops in such topics as childrens writing, humor, marketing, editing, poetry and more. Horton recommended those interested in attenting Wordfest acquaint themselves with the event schedule so they wont miss sessions in which theyre interested. Its easy to get distracted, she noted, adding that both writers and lovers of words will get something from the experience. You can walk in and not know anything and have fun. Were introverts, but fun introverts. The Cameron Park chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers will have a Winos for Rhinos benefit from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Valley Mills Vineyards, 8532 N. Highway 6. Cost is $20, which includes five wine tastings with a commemorative wine glass. The event also will include door prizes, a silent auction and appetizers. Proceeds will benefit the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. For more information, email cameronparkaazk@gmail.com. Beef Cattle program The 2016 CenTex Beef Cattle Symposium will be held Sept. 30 at Groesbeck Convention Center, 106 E. Navasota St. The event is sponsored by the beef and forage committees from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Limestone and McLennan counties. Topics will include fundamentals of pasture leasing; weaning options in cattle operations to help reduce stress and weight loss; developing a long-term farm and ranch financial plan; factors affecting the cattle market; fall army worms, grasshoppers and mosquitoes (Zika and West Nile); and best management practices matching your herd to a sire. Registration fee is $25, which includes lunch. A reservation is required by Friday for meal planning. To register, call any of the participating county extension offices. The McLennan County office phone number is 757-5180. La Vega parents La Vega Independent School District will hold the first of many Parent University sessions from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bellmead Civic Center, 3900 Parrish St. The program, open to all La Vega ISD parents and community members, will cover truancy, credit recovery, Title I information, MAC Money College Program, character education and the dangers of social media. There also will be individual campus breakout sessions. Snacks and child care will be provided for children ages 4 to 12. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6 p.m. For more information, call Lisa Drafahl at 299-6752 or Brandon Bell at 299-6739. Alzheimers education The Alzheimers Association will continue its Education Series from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Heart of Texas Area Agency on Aging, 1514 S. New Road. Elisa Rainey, an elder law attorney, will present part two of Legal Planning Before You Are Faced With Issues. The program is free, but reservations are requested. For reservations, call Christine Schroeder-Morren at 753-7722. Walk MS: Waco The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is having a Walk MS: Waco event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at Heritage Square Park, at the corner of Austin Avenue and North Third Street. There is no registration fee or minimum pledge commitment, but the average walker raises $250 to support research initiatives, programs and services of the society. For more information, call 855-372-1331. Submit items for Briefly to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com. University High School senior Diego Salazar traveled to New York City for a Generation Citizen Democracy Education Youth Summit in August, and he is using the lessons he learned to set an example for his peers that young people can also have a voice and be front and center in the democracy education field. Salazar attended the New York City-based summit in the beginning of August with 26 other students, ages 14 to 18, from 12 different states, according to the summits website. He attended another summit in Washington, D.C., in March, he said. The trip was his first time in New York, he said. During the day, Salazar was exposed to the college atmosphere at Wagner College, where the summit was held, and attended discussion and brainstorming sessions focused on topics such as increasing youth political participation, tactics to elevate political engagement and ways to respectfully disagree with peers. At night, he participated in social events, including a visit to Times Square and a Broadway musical. Many youth, theyre not politically active. They see it. They know it, but its probably because their parents arent, Salazar said. We can change that, and thats what it was all about in New York City. Theres a lot of change that needs to happen, and not a lot of people think they can have any say-so in that. Ive heard over time that, My one vote doesnt mean anything. It does. Shy going into high school, Salazar first found his voice during a career day when he learned about how community outreach could decrease violence in the world. With the desire to find a way to change society for the better, he joined mock trial for each year of high school, student court, practicum and anything else that interested him, he said. If hes not going between classes or the cafeteria, he is in the classroom he calls his second home. Criminal justice teacher Lori Palladino has seen Salazars growth firsthand, and the August summit helped Salazar come back to school with a new level of maturity, she said. He has taken on more roles in the classroom, is doing more things and is using his voice to be more outspoken as a leader among his peers, Palladino said. The event has directed him more down the career path he should be on, Palladino said. When I make it one day, I want to be able to say it all started in this courtroom, Salazar said. At first, I thought about being a lawyer, and I could do that, but I dont want to stop there. I want to get a government job, and I know when I was in D.C., they offered me an internship with the U.S. Department of State. Im striving to be a diplomat, because I want to get my major in international studies to see how America is interfering with people and how theyre interfering with us, what changes we can make for the better instead of for the worst. With his goal in mind, Salazars efforts to change the world starts with using the rest of the year to talk to and motivate students who come up after him. He gives advice on what to look out for, how to succeed and how to be prepared when facing a busy schedule, so that by the time he graduates, he knows there is someone else who can step up to be the example, he said. He has so much natural talent for all that. Its amazing to see him argue a case in mock court. Hes never had any legal practice or mock trial practice, and hell just get up there. People who have gone through three years of law school cant even do that, so its really been amazing. I think he enjoys it, Palladino said. Ive had a lot of students go to law school, and Ive had a lot of students go the criminal justice pathway, but for him to go so globally like that would be amazing, and he would do well at it, and he will make a difference. More than one in four children are considered food insecure in Texas, and the public school system is growing as the primary infrastructure for tackling childhood hunger, according to the third edition of the Texas School Breakfast Report Card, a recently released study by Baylor Universitys Texas Hunger Initiative. Waco Independent School District reflects that picture absolutely, said Cliff Reece, the districts Child Nutrition Services director. Reece, who has worked closely with Texas Hunger Initiative, helped provide data for the study and show what challenges school districts like Waco ISD face. The study breaks down the average breakfast participation for school districts in every county in the state. The goal for the Texas Hunger Initiative is to have 70 percent of the students who eat free or reduced-price lunch also eat free or reduced-price breakfast. We look at food insecurity data from a statewide perspective, which allows us to recognize trends and develop effective strategies that can be implemented across our diverse state, Kathy Krey, director of research for the Texas Hunger Initiative, stated in a press release on the report. It is an invaluable tool for improving participation in school breakfast and reducing childhood food insecurity. Food insecurity means a person doesnt have access to nutritious, readily available food, Reece said. Overall, 63 percent of McLennan County students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the 2014-15 school year, according to the study. The same year, 87.4 percent of Waco ISDs students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The districts population is 80 percent economically disadvantaged, and Reece said he sees dozens of students every day who come in hungry before classes start. Though county initiatives and nonprofits are fighting childhood hunger and the district also runs a mobile program and a summer food program, with about 66 hours between Friday lunch and Monday breakfast, students may go a few days without eating a substantial meal, he said. Sometimes students dont even get to eat the donated food they bring home, he said. Monday mornings For Reece, those Monday mornings are the most difficult. The saddest thing for me is Monday morning. This is typically your elementary kids, because your middle and high school kids are pretty good about guarding themselves as they get older, Reece said. But these elementary kids are running to get into the service line, literally running, which gives you an indication right there theyre hungry. Or theyre coming back asking for seconds or you can see they havent had a great weekend. You can see it by their personality, their emotions, their clothing. You can see all that happening, and a lot of them become quiet and drawn off. They want the food, but theyre also scared of the situation they grow up and live in. One of the big challenges with breakfast, unlike lunch where the children are already at school, is timing, Reece said. In about a 30-minute window from about 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., sometimes elementary campuses are hustling to get about 300 students through a serving line, while also dealing with students who arrive late, he said. You have issues with buses not arriving on time. You have issues with parents maybe not getting kids to school on time, and maybe the kids arent mentally prepared to study yet. Maybe they had a rough night or weekend, so breakfast has its challenges, Reece said. Not only that, but especially in elementary, typically the kids are arriving and going to the cafeteria by themselves. You have these little tiny children who are coming through your serving line and theyre scared to death, and moms told them not to talk to any strangers. So youre trying to find out what they want to eat and at the same time, get 300 other kids through this tight window. Success rate Students who participate in school breakfast have a higher success rate at school, with decreased tardiness and absences and better attention and behavior, according to the study. School breakfast also promotes good health and has been associated with a lower probability of depression and obesity and fewer visits to the nurses office, the study showed. With those elements in mind, Texas Hunger Initiative officials worked with Waco ISD to come up with ways to address the challenges, Reece said. The organization worked with the district to develop breakfast carts, grab-and-go breakfasts and late breakfasts for students coming in right as the bell rings, he said. More projects may be coming. The high school is a challenge in and of itself, because the campuses are huge and the cafeteria is not always the cool place to be, Reece said. So is there a way to bring the carts closer to them, so you can still get a nutritious meal to them? Thats kind of what the cart concept is. While Texas Hunger Initiative is helping local school districts, the No. 1 way to address childhood hunger is to have constant communication and awareness in the community by distributing information and teaching about nutrition in neighborhoods, he said. Then, the community can come together and help children in need, Reece said. A good place to start is to hook up with an organization like Texas Hunger Initiative, because theyre always looking for people who can help or get involved in the school, even if youre not a parent, he said. The school district and community are very intimately involved in this, Reece said. As long as theres continued attention and people are coming together and having dialogue, we can chip away at some solutions. I know its slow. Things take a long time to improve, but if you impact one child, youve done something. Many Republicans have lamented some aspect of Donald Trumps campaign. The partys 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, doesnt like that Trump is a fraud. House Speaker Paul Ryan has objected to Trumps textbook racism. Less exalted members of the party have cringed at his bigotry or flimflam or utter lack of principle. But almost no Republican office holder or leader has done what veteran Iowa state Sen. David Johnson has. In June, he quit the party. No groundswell followed him. Trumps emergence, Johnson said, required somebody in elected office as a Republican to reject the party. Hes now the standard-bearer of the party. I cant be a member of a party where the man who leads the party has this abysmal record in this campaign. Johnson is hardly alone in finding Trump a cancer on conservatism, as former Texas Gov. Rick Perry memorably called him before deciding that maybe cancer wasnt so bad after all and endorsed him. But no GOP member of Congress has quit the party of Trump, and state office holders are staying put as well. Johnsons experience wont encourage followers. Ive been so roughed up by the Republican establishment, he said. Im going to find it very difficult to change my registration back to Republican. Which to me is really a difficult choice. Johnson, who is 65, has been a Republican all his life. His father was a prominent Iowa Republican before him. But hes an outcast now. County Republican leaders from northwest Iowa, which Johnson represents in the legislature, published an open letter condemning him. In our opinion, they wrote, your comments, comparing the GOP to racists and fascists, was unworthy of you, and us, as your constituents. That letter and what Johnson calls a whisper campaign against him havent changed his course. At a Constitution Day forum at Northwest Iowa Community College, Johnson appeared with three other state legislators before an audience of several hundred students. Much of the proceeding was unremarkable, including multiple paeans to the Second Amendment. But on other issues, Johnsons free-range opinions strayed far from the GOP line. He called local Rep. Steve King, a leader of the partys nativist wing in Congress, a demagogue. Republican Sen. Charles Grassleys ad-hoc rationales for why, as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, he has refused to hold hearings on the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland, were too shabby to merit consideration. Thats just malarkey, Johnson said. Johnson, who supported Rick Perry and then Carly Fiorina in the GOP presidential primary, had been having troubles with his party before Trump gained the nomination. After becoming increasingly troublesome, he lost his leadership position in the Iowa Senate in 2015. It really was the Party of No, he said. He said Republicans continue to fail to reach out to racial minorities and millennials, lack a coherent, compelling message and continue to cling to tax policies that dont work. Look at Kansas, he said. A complete disaster under Republican majorities and a Republican governor. A complete disaster, cutting taxes too much. I believe that were shortchanging our education tremendously. Closer to home, he sees Trump undermining Iowa farmers who need ready access to foreign markets and undermining a Republican Party that is in dire need of diversity. Ive been critical of all of our state leaders from the governor to our Republican members of Congress to our U.S. senators for just having this big kumbaya with Donald Trump, he said. He doesnt represent Iowa. Hell never represent Iowa. We need free trade in this state. We need to recognize that the population is changing racially, ethnically, religiously, and we need to accept that. Johnson, now an independent, said he has plenty of emails from constituents supporting his position, along with expressions of support from business leaders. But not a single elected Republican has offered support to him. Win or lose, he said, those Republicans will have to live with the consequences of backing a candidate defined by race-baiting, bigotry and ignorance. Its a day of reckoning, he said. This is no longer the Party of Lincoln. Its the Party of Trump. And its going to destroy the party. Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics for Bloomberg View. Although Germany produces reds (they are third in the world for pinot noir) and roses, they are most famous for their superior Rieslings. Understanding the German classification system, on the other hand, is infamous for its difficulty. With the holidays fast approaching (yikes!), lets delve into the knowledge needed for gift-giving, parties or for yourself. German law requires at least six of the following items be present on the label: * Name of producer or bottler Staatweinguter. German chateaux are often called Kloster, Schloss, Burg, Domaine or Weingut, followed by a different name. i.e. Staatweinguter Schloss Sutter = wineproducer Chateau Sutter. * A.P.Nr. Amtliche Prufnummer (quality control number). Each number in the QC (quality contol) represents the region wine was produced, village of the vineyard, wine estate, testing and the year of testing. * Anbaugebiet Region of wines origin * Volume of wine 750 ml, etc. * Location of the producer/bottler * Alcohol level Additional information that is usually included is: * Grape varietal * Vintage year * Logo of the Association of German Pradikat Wine Estates This is awarded to the top 200 producers. The logo is a black eagle with a grape bunch in the center. This a helpful sign of quality. * Appellation There are 13 recognized AVAs (viticultural areas) in Germany: Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessiche Bergstrasse,Mittlerhein, Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Seale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Wurttemberg. Quality of wine Qualitatswein or QbA There are four quality categories: Deutscher Tafelwein (German table wine) German wines made from normally ripe to slightly under-ripe grapes. They do not have a QC number. Deutscher Landwein (German country wine) German country wines that must come from one of 19 specified districts; such as a superior Deutscher Wein. Qualitatswein (quality wine) These wines are tested for strict compliance with regional appellation laws to receive an AP number. Pradikatswein (wine with special attributes) This is divided into six levels of ripeness on the labels: Kabinett (Cabinet) Literal meaning of reserve quality to be kept in the winemakers cabinet. They are light wines from the main harvest, semi-sweet with crisp acidity, but can be dry with a designation. Best served with light foods. Spatlese (Late harvest) These are half-dry, but usually sweeter than the Kabinette. Grapes are picked a week or so after the main harvest and are riper from the autumn sun. Even though these are late harvest, this is not the same meaning, nor taste, as the U.S. version. Best with richer foods. They are good value wines. Auslese (Select harvest) Very ripe, hand-selected grapes that are semi-sweet to noble rot (or noble). These wines can be dry to dessert-sweet, as noted on the label. Beerenauslese (Select berry harvest) Overripe grapes that are individually selected from the bunches. These grapes are of noble rot (or noble) and are rich, sweet dessert wines. Think cheesecake. Eiswein (Ice wine) This wine is made from grapes that are frozen on the vine. These grapes are highly concentrated, but are not affected by noble rot. A very sweet wine. Trockenbeerenauslese (Select dry berry harvest) This wine is made from overripe, shriveled-up grapes that are affected by noble rot. These wines are very sweet. Degree of dryness There are four degrees of dryness. Each is noted on the label and is helpful to you in deciding the ripeness factor you wish to drink. Trocken A dry wine with residual sugar, not usually detected, but seen in the spicy fruits. Halbtrocken A semi-dry wine with a hint of sweetness seen through the fruit. Classic Easily recognizable with the classic logo of a black eagle with grapes in the middle. Always dry in style, so nothing more is needed to denote that. Selection Additional criteria has been met. The grapes originated from an individual vineyard, low yields were produced, and the first release is Sept. 1 of the year following the harvest. Always dry in style, so nothing more is needed to denote that. VDP classification Based on an in-house statute of Germanys Pradikat wine estates, in which the quality of the wine is defined according to its terroir (environmental factors). This classification is helpful in accessing the high quality of wines within those sites. Gutswein (Good from the ground up) Traditional estates that are good entry-level wines that originate from the estate holdings within the wine region. Ortswein (Sourced from superior soils) Village-level wines that originate from the villages best vineyards. VDP Erste Lage (Premier Grand Cru, first-class site) First-class vineyards with distinctive characteristics. The grapes are always harvested by hand and wines are presented the first day of May. VDP Grosse Lage (Grand Cru, top of the class) These usually have a GG on the label and the name of the vineyard only with no other designations. They represent the very best of Germany. These wines are very expressive and are age-worthy. OK. Whew! This one really tested my memory! I had to reach for the books, and thank goodness I can understand German, LOL, because todays wine in review website is in nothing but German. Unfortunately, here in Waco, we no longer have a store that carries the really good German wines. You will need to search for these when you are outside of here, or online to places that will ship here to Texas. These wines are outstanding, a bit pricey, but boy oh boy when you sink your teeth into them, it will open your eyes to a whole other world of wine! Enjoy, my friends! The wines in review show they can be ordered at Specs here in Waco. Theyre priced around $20. Wines in Review Vineyard: Louis Guntrum Country: Germany Region: Rheinhessen Varietal: Pinot noir Tasting notes: Aromas of cherry and soft spice fill a nose that hints at the complexity to come on the palate. The body is light but is defined by the depth of flavor on the palate and the finish. A plethora of summer fruit with soft but influential spice make this a superb red that is great on its own or with food. Pair with a grilled duck breast. Vineyard: Donnhoff Country: Germany Region: Nahe Varietal: Riesling Tasting notes: A dry Riesling wine, very typical of the wine estate. Wonderfully fresh and well-defined, elegant with a tingling minerality. A delicious wine for every day with moderate alcohol and very soothing acidity. The wine is the absolutely perfect manifest destiny of German Riesling in its everyday form; complex, spicy, delineated and articulate, insanely delicious, and more versatile than its dry sibling, though this is never ever sweet ... just sublime. Terry Theise ----- Lorrie Dicorte has been in the wine business for 37 years and her family for 90 years. Her grandfather, Billy Dicorte, and cousin, Tony LaBarbera, were the first to import fine wines such as Ch Lafite Rothschild. Lorrie has served on international wine competition judging panels, and is known for her keen smell and taste. About five or six years ago I came to Heartbreak, Texas, as a refugee from a bad divorce. Heartbreak is 50 or 500 miles west of Houston. All I had was my daughter, Janey, just 16, and a bad taste in my mouth for justice. If it hadnt been for Sally Rae at The Waterin Hole Cafe, I expect my story would be a lot different, and a lot sorrier. Anyway, Heartbreak is a place of unexpected beauty and underlying sorrow. So, the only way to get ahead in Heartbreak or anywhere else, I guess is either you get lucky, or you inherit it. Hard work is expected every day from every man or woman here. About the only fault is trying to take a shortcut. We all look sort of poorly on a man who tries to do that. Get whats due to you, earn it and thats right. We are sort of simple here, but it keeps us honest ... kind of. About 40 years ago, Legal Tender Hendersons wife, Julie (nee Snow), died. She was his high school sweetheart. They had one son, Cornelius Leghorn Henderson, who lived up to his name. Corny moved out of Heartbreak on a special scholarship at age 18 and later became a professor of English literature at an obscure liberal arts college in New England. Go tell. Julie died unexpectedly of a small scratch on her finger as she collected eggs for breakfast. The whole thing would have been avoided if she could have rubbed a little alcohol on her finger, but Cornelius was late to school that day and even at an early age, Cornelius was sort of persnickety. I will not be late to school twice in one week! he announced, in the imperious way that would later characterize his speech in a classroom of cringing students. Cornelius grew up to be a scholar, an academic who could parse a word though the third edition of The Oxford Unabridged Dictionary in order to deny an aspiring student a 100 on a paper. Cornelius hated only two things: bad use of the English language and his stepbrother, Sam. See, Legal Tender had married Trixie Baldwin about six months after his mother died. Legal Tender Henderson had amassed quite an inheritance in his 66-plus years; and Trixie, just 23, was quite a catch for him. By now, Cornelius was some place off and away, and six months later after Legal Tender and Trixie married, Sam was born. Legal Tender claimed that child as his own, named him Sam, and Trixie was good as she could be to them both. It was an eventful year for the Hendersons. Six months after Sams birth, Ol Legal Tender Henderson died in bed, the best way a man can go. Dr. Barnaby Bones Bailey can show you the court papers, if you want, but suicide by a young Cedar Choppers bride beats suicide by alcohol, doughnuts, bad driving or overworking. Well, frankly, he died in loves embrace God bless him. It sure beats dying while feeding the cows, too. Now, Legal Tender put a 25-year stay in his will: nobody could inherit until his youngest son was 25 years old. Legal Tender wanted to take care of his oldest boy. Trixie and her son, Sam, grew up. Trixie handled her fertility fine; she never had another baby or remarried. Legal Tender apparently gave Corny enough money to power him through college and also get Sam vested in some cattle. Sam and Trixie lived right well, right there on Main Street. Trixie died early. Some people do. It was shortly after I got to Heartbreak. Trixie was just 45. She choked to death on a bite of her own homemade chicken-fried steak, as she got up to serve served Sam his dinner. She spoiled that boy something fierce. Life is a miracle. Every moment of it is a gift from God. Ive come close enough to passing myself to know this simple fact. Every moment you are alive is a special gift from God. Dont waste these moments. The first funeral I attended at Cottonwood Baptist Church is when we put Trixie under the ground. Well, Cornelius came right back to Heartbreak, first time in 25 years, all stuffed up, leather patches on the shoulders of his tweed jacket, ready to demand his inheritance. He had not been at the funeral for Trixie. He had always hated Sam for his half of his fathers wealth and Trixie for displacing his natural mother, Julie. Cornelius showed up one Saturday night just before Halloween, in a taxi from the airport at Culver City, and he charged through the front door right into Sams house. I guess Cornelius learned a lot of things in his Eastern liberal schools, but he never had much of a grasp on basic Southern manners. As Sam told it later, as this stranger ran in through the front door, Sam (about three pints into the wind, with Jack Daniels whiskey keeping him company) stood up and knocked this home invader on the jaw. Cornelius flew backwards, and he happened to reel back far enough that he fell through a plate glass window on the back porch and severed his neck. His head fell outside, but his body fell inside. It was Halloween Eve, Samhain, Devils Night, and the Devil was afoot. Now, Sam was in a spot. He could call Arney, the local law, and explain a simple accident, about how his hated half-brother had showed up, and he, drunk and surprised, had accidently punched his worst enemy on the chin, causing him to accidently behead himself, and save himself a lot of money or he could hide the whole thing in Mean Old Man Storms pasture, which was newly plowed. The latter course seemed wiser in Sams cornmash-befuddled brain. I guess he got his brains from Trixie. In his current fog, Sam figured nobody up north would miss Cornelius much; student and colleagues alike would have no reason to mourn a prissy so-and-so after he disappeared. In this assessment, he was exactly right, and strangely prophetic. Sam was never the scholar Cornelius was; but looking at Cornelius surprised, unbelieving face, laying there on his back porch, he doubted how much the good brains (which he so often envied) really turned out so well for Corny. Sam chose a darker course of action. He took another glug of Jack Daniels, made his decision and pulled Cornelius head back inside. He wrapped up ol Cornys head, body and three-piece suit inside a large plastic wrapper. Sam tried to ignore the look of surprise on Cornys face; It had been years since anyone had dared challenge this Ivy League bullys pronouncements. Sam knew (with the special cunning of the truly drunk) that at this one time of the year, he could hang a dead body outside. He decided to make Corny into a Halloween decoration. Frankly, he needed to buy time to clean up the crime scene and find a safe place to stash a corpse. So, he rolled his deceased kinsman in plastic sheeting, added strips of cloth to make him a mummy, and hoisted him from his feet in the front yards biggest live oak tree. Genius! Boldness is required to get away with manslaughter. All went well until the night of Halloween. Sam figured hed do Halloween on the honor system; he left out a tray of candy bars in a raised tray at the street, but turned off his lights. He left for Mean Old Man Storms pasture, digging a hole 8 feet deep. The goodies were gone after the third trick-or-treater. Meanwhile, Sam dug the deepest hole of his life. Every time he thought about slowing down, he imagined himself strapped seven ways to Sunday on a gurney, getting a needle stuck in his arm; the next fool felon executed in Texas robust penal system. Sam had few brains, but he knew what to avoid. He dug deep by spring, he reckoned, thered be no sign of his misdeeds save for an extra-lush patch of hay in the fields. Finally, Sam was finished. He was really tired, Sam wanted to just collect the body dangling from a tree from his front yard, cover it up, and get a good nights sleep. He drove home, and he observed a number of mummies hung by their feet around the town square. It was a Halloween fair and the theme was creepy; ancient mysteries of the dead. He had plenty of cover in this sort of setting. Sam drove up to his own home, ready to cut down the body of Cornelius, and plant it in Mr. Storms field ... but it was gone! Unbeknowst to him, some boys up to teenage high jinks had decided to decorate the trees around the courthouse with the grisly offerings from all around Heartbreak. Spooks were everywhere, trick-or-treating, in the wild free way of youth. Sam wove his pickup among the costumed kids, hunting for the bloody corpse of his half-brother. At the town square, he finally saw the one of a dozen mummies hanging from trees by their feet. He knew automatically that the one the dogs found most interesting had to be his half-brother!. All he had to do was just cut the rope, bury it, and forget it (he thought). Sam pulled up to the one hanging mummy from the courthouse square that the dogs all admired so much, and he cut Cornelius down so that he could put him into a cold, dirt nap. He had loaded the corpse into the back of his pickup truck when Arney Shaw stepped out of the shadows and snapped the handcuffs on him. Ive been wondering when youd show up, Arney said. ----- David L. Mosley is a retired teacher who owns an 80-acre ranch in North Waco, where he raised goats until discovering he was really raising coyotes, bobcats and wild dogs. He is a fourth-generation Wacoan. He calls himself over-educated, underfunded and land poor, and he drives a broken pickup truck. Email him at David_Mosley1951@yahoo.com Earlier this year, in a Manhattan conference room littered with half-eaten lunches, water bottles, laptops and easels, a group of color forecasters from PPG Brands was wrapping up a week of work. They came up with recommendations that will influence the colors and finishes were likely to see in 2017 on a wide variety of products, including appliances, cars, phones, airplanes, paints, beverage cans, even holiday ornaments. They also picked a color of the year. PPG Brands which makes paint, coatings and materials for industries ranging from architecture and aerospace to automotive and consumer products is just one of many companies that produce color forecasts. At this Manhattan meeting, the forecasters were deep-diving into color decks, field research reports, magazines, books and each others heads. The easels were covered with inspiration swatches, photos and descriptive phrases. One mood board listed the words timeless, memories, diamond patterns and ticking stripes under the header Nostalgia. Casting Wide Small groups sprawled on the carpet with card-filled recipe boxes. They brainstormed, laying out arrays of coordinating colors that looked like mosaics, or game boards. Cards were edited in and out, until the palettes came together and there was a universal nod of satisfaction. We start really loose and abstract, then we take those organic concepts and make them more concrete, said Allison Heape, a color team leader from Long Beach, California. At the end of the session, the group prepared an extensive file of themes, colors and finishes from which designers and manufacturers can draw. Dee Schlotter, senior color marketing manager for PPGs paint brands, in Pittsburgh, oversaw the forecast session. We draw inspiration from global influences, she said. The team considers whats happening in society, fashion, nature and elsewhere, and delves into things that resonate with consumers. For example, did a significant event take place this year, and are there colors that connect with it that capture the feelings it may have created? For instance, she said, After 9/11, soft pink, a compassionate color, and chocolate brown, a grounding color, bubbled to the surface in home decor because they resonated with how people were feeling at the time. A few years later, grays became popular and dominated the neutrals category, she said, because with the state of the economy and of the world, the hue felt right. Influences The forecasters also consider lifestyle and demographics. A Texas baby boomer may want different paint colors than a millennial in Oregon does, for example. The team also develops palettes around popular hues. Lets say pale beige is trending, Schlotter said. It can seem dated, but when its next to a dark granite gray, or an orange-red, it becomes fresh and new. Different from the beige a baby boomer remembers from the 80s. Does the forecast team ever disagree? We have more than 20 stylists from six countries and four different industries, so the discussions quite lively. Were all passionate color enthusiasts, she said. The Winner But this year, the Color of the Year choice was unanimous. Violet Verbena dominated trends reports from every industry and geographical region, Schlotter said. The color is a grayish violet. The forecasters liked its gender and age neutrality, as well as its presence in the natural world, from amethysts to outer space. Those factors should make it appealing to a wide audience, they felt, but the team wont know for sure till products begin to roll out. Schlotter is optimistic. Pop culture moments like the death of Prince in April and a new purple tea drink at Starbucks should draw consumers toward the color purple over the next year, she said. The trend is already visible: This summer, the company Big Chill launched a limited-edition collection of appliances in purple. ----- Kim Cook writes for the Associated Press. NOAA is reporting that summer temperatures across the contiguous United States, June through August of this year, were the fifth highest on record, and a forecast for a La Nina weather pattern emerging has been downgraded to a neutral forecast that could mean continued warmer-than-average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest through the fall and winter. Climate and weather experts recapped summer weather on Sept. 15, showing that the Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana all experienced warmer-than-average temperatures over the summer. But temperatures were well below record highs in California and most East Coast states. Meanwhile, below-average or near-average precipitation was recorded in Columbia Basin states, with the exception of much-below average rainfall in Idaho for the summer. A U.S. Drought Monitor report issued Sept. 13 shows that abnormally dry conditions persist in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, with scattered pockets of moderate or severe drought conditions. NOAAs Climate Prediction Center issued an updated El Nino/La Nina forecast on Sept. 8, scaling back earlier predictions for a La Nina forecast for the fall and winter to instead a neutral forecast. Overall, neutral conditions are slightly favored (between 50 to 60 percent) during the upcoming Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2016-2017, the forecast states. La Nina would normally lead to cooler temperatures across the Northwest, said Peter Rosencrans, head of forecast operations with the Climate Prediction Center. We have changed our forecast to go with slightly higher-than-average temperatures in the Pacific Northwest. Complicating the forecast picture for the Pacific Northwest is The Blob a large pocket of warm water that has persisted in the northern Pacific Ocean since 2013. Asked how The Blob may influence El-Nino/La Nina forecasting, Rosencrans said it has an influence, but the primary drivers behind El-Nino/La Nina weather patterns are very powerful influences of water temperatures that are monitored by zones in the rest of the Pacific, including the tropics. Rosencrans said its somewhat of a chicken-or-egg situation. The Blob is known to mostly be caused by persistent high-pressure weather that curbs churning currents in the ocean, causing warm water to settle in. The problem is the blob is caused by a decrease in Pacific wind speeds But if you get a couple of good storms go through it can really churn, Rosencrans said. We could go back to La Nina and the conditions that go with it. We go with the data and where that takes us. Just over the last week or so, it became apparent the warm water mass known as The Blob has been re-established in the Pacific off the Northwest coast, as noted by Cliff Mass, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington. Water temperatures off the Pacific Northwest were slightly above normal. Nothing exceptional since early July, Mass stated on his blog, showing corresponding graphics from NOAA. But fast forward to a few days ago (Sept. 8) and you will notice MUCH warmer temperatures over the Northeast Pacific. The Blob is back. The potential for warmer-than-average fall and winter over Columbia Basin states, as noted in the latest Climate Prediction Center report raises concerns of water supply for fisheries managers. Generally, it can cause below-average snowpacks, earlier runoff periods and warmer water temperatures in rivers that support salmonids. In addition, recent research by NOAA Fisheries and University of California, Santa Cruz, scientists assessed marine ecology effects of the 2015-2016 El Nino pattern and The Blob for the first time. Last year there was a lot of speculation about the consequences of The Blob and El Nino battling it out off the West Coast of the United States, said Michael Jacox, lead author of the research. We found that off California El Nino turned out to be much weaker than expected. The Blob continued to be a dominant force, and the two of them together had strongly negative impacts on marine productivity. The combination of El Nino and The Blob were shown to slow the flow of nutrients from the deep ocean, reducing the productivity of coastal ecosystems. Water temperatures at or near five degrees above average are also believed to be responsible for sightings of warm-water marine life far to the north of their typical ranges, and the temperatures likely contributed to the West Coasts largest harmful algal bloom ever recorded in 2015. The current forecast for El Nino/La Nino neutral conditions can make forecasting at the regional level challenging, said Laurel McCoy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland. Neutral conditions can pave the way for powerful storm systems that can cause widely varying weather, McCoy said. LINCOLN Suzy Campbell, a long-time community volunteer from Lincoln championing the needs of family caregivers, has been selected to receive AARP Nebraskas highest volunteer award. She is the 15th volunteer to be honored with the annual AARP Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service since 2002. Campbells charity, Lincoln Community Foundation, is a big winner, too. On Sept. 16, AARP Nebraska presented the organization with a check for $2,500 on behalf of Campbell, who has been active as a volunteer in the community for more than 20 years. As a volunteer leader and mentor to others, she has worked extensively with the Alzheimers Association, Caregiver Education Group, Caregiver Chicks, Southeast Nebraska Respite Network and Nebraska Caregiver Coalition. Campbell was also part of a collaborative effort creating an endowment for the Lincoln Community Foundation called the Caregiver Relief Fund to provide respite funding for caregivers needing a break. She donated the initial $1,000 and currently keeps the endowment going. Mary Shada, one of Campbells nominators for the award, said, Suzy has made it her goal in life to fight for caregivers rights in the workplace and at home. She has worked diligently to educate caregivers on resources that are available to ease the constant burden they carry. She once was a caregiver herself, and knows how difficult it is for a person to give constant care day after day with very little relief. Since 1994, Campbell has volunteered with the Alzheimers Association, forming walking teams to raise public awareness of the disease. She founded the Caregiver Education Group to hold educational programs throughout the community including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Bryan Hospital, Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and nursing care facilities. She was one of the original six Caregiver Chicks, who developed a popular caregiver organizer to help caregivers keep track of important medical information for their loved ones. Campbell now speaks about this resource and distributes it in the community. In his nomination letter, Nebraska Tax Commissioner and former State Sen. Tony Fulton credited Campbell for her successful efforts to help create the Nebraska Respite Network through legislation. I have seen and been inspired by Suzys work as a business owner in the eldercare industry, as a senator making decisions for Nebraska, and now as a cabinet member of the governor, he said. She has multiplied her efforts by moving others to help others. The many groups she has founded or worked for have engaged hundreds if not thousands of volunteers over the years. Suzy has left a lasting mark on many. Most recently, Campbell represented the Nebraska Caregiver Coalition to push for passage of the Assisting Caregiver Transitions Act during the 2016 legislative session. The new state law helps support family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home. Nominator Joyce Kubicek summed up Campbells lasting impact as a volunteer in Lincoln and beyond. Suzy cared for her father and husband, providing end of life care. But she still reached out to the community because her concern was not limited to her own family. She has recognized the need to recruit others to her causes, whether they are in the legislative realm, business community, legal field, human services or caregivers who have personal experience. Her vision has helped her accomplish and maintain groups and programs over many years, said Kubicek. Bob Eppler, state president of AARP Nebraska, praised Campbell for her commitment to volunteering, and for improving the lives of age 50-plus Nebraskans through advocacy, information and service. Through her astounding record of service, Suzy Campbell demonstrates what it means to make a difference in the lives of others, especially to Nebraska caregivers and their loved ones. The Andrus Award acts as a symbol to the public that we can all work together for positive social change, Eppler said. AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions volunteers make to their communities, neighbors and the programs they serve. Andrus Award recipients across the nation were chosen for their ability to enhance the lives of AARP members and prospective members, improve the community in or for which the work was performed, and inspire others to volunteer. WAHOO Area residents, as well as local, state and federal dignitaries, will gather on the lawn of the Saunders County Courthouse on Sunday afternoon. The time has come for the dedication of the Saunders County Veterans Memorial. The 3 p.m. dedication program will start off with a P-51 flyover and the posting of the colors by the Ashland Color Guard. Expected among the honored guests will be the Saunders County Supervisors, State Sen. Jerry Johnson, State Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Wahoo Mayor Loren Lindahl and Ashland Mayor Richard Grauerholz are also expected to attend. Speeches will be given by Former Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and Past American Legion National Commander Mike Helms. There will also be a reading of names of fallen heroes by Prague Legion Member Larry Mach and a rifle salute and taps by the Wahoo VFW/American Legion. The new $700,000 memorial is nearly complete. Only a few bronze statues need to find their spots on pedestals. This will happen sometime after Sundays dedication. A committee comprised of VFW and American Legion volunteers from across the county has been working on the memorial for more than two years. Ground was broken on the lawn of the courthouse in the summer of 2014. WAHOO Beginning in October, Three Rivers Public Health Department, in conjunction with Saunders Medical Center in Wahoo, will offer free mammograms to uninsured or underinsured women over 40 years in age. According to Three Rivers Public Health Department Executive Director Terra Uhing, the health department has been working behind the scenes since May, when it was chosen as a 2016-2017 Komen Nebraska Affiliate Community Grant recipient. October is designated as breast health cancer awareness month and focuses and emphasizes the importance of screening, Uhing said. This is the perfect opportunity to kick-off the grant we received. Uhing said the $37,258 allotment awarded is to be utilized in Three Rivers Public Health Departments service area, which includes Washington, Dodge and Saunders Counties to promote breast health. However, the health department is placing priority in Saunders and Dodge counties, after a breast health profile assessment by Susan G. Komen Nebraska revealed Saunders County as its no. 1, high-risk, target community. The profile, completed in 2015, revealed that the Saunders County demographic is rural, has an older overall population greater than 50 years old and has a lower overall poverty rate than the rest of the state. The mammography rate, at 65.7 percent, is much lower than either the Nebraska or U.S. portion of screened mammography weighted average, Susan G. Komen Nebraska reported. Saunders Medical Center Clinic Manager Stacie Sabatka said the profiles findings are alarming. Our rates here in Saunders County are horrible for getting completed mammograms, Sabatka said. We have a low rate of women getting mammograms and a high rate of instances. Its important that we try and target the women in our county and improve our wellness in that area. With grant funding, the health department began the Cancer Awareness, Resources, Exams and Screening (CARES) Program. During the October through March grant period, the goal is to educate 250 women, complete 100 clinical breast exams and provide at least 50 mammograms to Hispanic/Latina and rural women over the age of 40, Uhing said. Many women are unsure of the risk factors and when they should begin receiving mammograms, Uhing said. She added that she is unsure what variables are leading to a low mammography completion rate in the county. Whats unusual is theres not really a lot of poverty (in Saunders County), Uhing said. She said insufficient education and commuting to health care facilities could be potential barriers, however, she hopes the CARES Program will help reduce those barriers and provide insight why women have not been receiving mammograms. The Saunders Medical Center in Wahoo has a beautiful facility, Uhing added. Well be able to keep healthcare in the area, instead of having the barrier of going into Omaha, patients can receive it locally. Uninsured or underinsured women over 40 may visit their doctor at SMC to see if they qualify for a free mammogram. Three Rivers Public Health Department was one of seven 2016-2017 Komen Nebraska Affiliate Community Grant recipients that received a sum of $507,275 awarded. GREENWOOD The 88th annual meeting of the Sheffer Cemetery Association met Sept. 11. A covered dish dinner was held at the picnic area at 1 p.m. Seventy-seven people were on attendance. People came from Illinois Colorado, Texas and Missouri. The business meeting was conducted by President Wes Laughlin. Families were introduced with Dorothy Laughlin having the most family present. Minutes of the last meeting were read by Tim Laughlin, secretary. Plans were made to cut and trim trees. Motion was made to retain the same officers another year. Willie Laughlin gave a reading called Now that I an Older. Numbers were drawn by Glen Laughlin for gifts bags and cemetery book. Winners were Dorothy Laughlin, Zackery Schmit, Brett Laughlin and Connie Harbart, Glen Laughlin took up the collection for upkeep of the cemetery. Meeting was adjourned. WAHOO Student enrollment numbers tend to fluctuate at the beginning of each school year, but the Sept. 30 deadline to submit certified enrollment numbers to the State Department of Education is quickly approaching. Area school administrators are reporting that the unofficial numbers seem to align with each respective schools enrollment trends over the last few years, which indicate a slight enrollment increase. Some area schools are seeing the greatest increase in the lower elementary grades. Mike Weiss, St. Wenceslaus elementary school in Wahoo principal said this years 263 elementary students is comparable to last years 267, but the preschool class has grown exponentially from 15 students last year to 34 this year. Weiss attributes that growth to program changes, which now has students attending either an 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday, Friday session or all day Tuesday and Thursday. Last years preschool program was divided into a morning or afternoon group every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. That gets difficult for parents both working without a grandma or grandpa or someone to pick up the kids, he said. Weiss added that six students are attending each day, which fills a total of 40 slots. Well continue this, he said. It wasnt really a survey we took, I think it was just common sense. St. John Nepomucene school in Weston also has an abundance of preschool students. This years 15 preschoolers make up the K-6 schools largest group, said school secretary Barb Rezac. Rezac said the school has 70 students this year, up from last years tally at 64. It seems like enrollment is growing, which were thrilled about, she said. She said it has not been necessary yet to adjust classrooms, but that could change if the trend continues. If we continue to grow, we might have to make adjustments, she said. Facility adjustments will be necessary this year at Wahoo Public Schools, said Superintendent Brandon Lavaley. Lavaley would not release enrollment numbers, but said overall enrollment is similar, or up very slightly from last year. Wahoo Elementary Principal Jane Wiebold said enrollment at the elementary is down slightly, and attributes that decrease to two large classes that moved to the middle school over the past couple of years. Lavaley said hiring an extra staff member for the middle school last year has helped, but additional considerations must be made in the future. The numbers are at a point and the facilities at a point, he said. Were going to have to make some considerations for the students going forward. Lavaley said the district has historically seen about a two percent annual growth, a trend that has continued this year. He said if he were to guess an attribute to that trend it would be Wahoos location and having adequate roads for transportation between Fremont, Omaha and Lincoln. I think it makes an ideal destination for families, Wahoos first-year superintendent said. Cedar Bluffs Superintendent Harlan Ptomey said a surge in enrollment, specifically in kindergarten, first and fifth grade, has forced the district to rearrange classroom assignments to accommodate for the additional students. We hired three additional teachers to meet those needs, Ptomey said. Enrollment is at 365 students in preschool through 12th grade, an increase from last years 315 students. He said there are close to 100 option-in students enrolled. Were doing a nice job selling ourselves and getting out into the communities, Ptomey said. Despite a slight enrollment decline at the Mead Elementary School, from 149 students last year to 141 this year, school secretary Kris Schutt said historically some elementary class sizes have been increasing. Weve gone to classes in the teens to mostly 20 or so in the elementary, Schutt said. High school enrollment is at 105, an increase from last years 92 students. Were inching up a little at a time, Schutt added. Yutan High School Student Data Manager Jan Wortman said enrollment at Yutan Public Schools has remained fairly steady. The elementary school has one less student this year at 269 students in grades preschool through sixth grade. This years 213 students at the high school is an increase from 206 last year. We graduated a small class and had a few more come in. This year, well graduate a large class, Wortman said. Comparable class sizes graduating and entering Bishop Neumann Junior Senior High School have led to a similar enrollment count at the parochial school in Wahoo. This years enrollment is at 290 students, a slight increase from last years 284. Principal Father Jeremy Hazuka said that this years enrollment breaks the previous trend. Weve seen a decline in the past four years or so, but this years upswing is a little different in the trend, which makes us happy, Hazuka said. He said there are new faces this year. Overall, weve seen a few new students from outside the district move into the area or choose to come to Bishop Neumann, he added. Raymond Central Superintendent Paul Hull reported this years unofficial enrollment at 615 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. East Butler Public Schools saw a slight drop in students. Superintendent Sam Stecher reported 298 kindergarten through 12th grade students at the last regular school board meeting. Last years enrollment was at 306 students. Butcher Bird Repairs by Phil Buckley The owner of Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 wk.nr. 173056, based in Albury, Australia, has given WarbirdsNews a recent progress update on the aircrafts return to flight. As we learned earlier this year, the project suffered a setback when the fighters canopy malfunctioned during early testing (thankfully while the aircraft was on the ground). Instead of rolling back along the rails to the open locked positon, the canopy continued sliding until it came off the aircraft and fell to the ground, breaking the perspex and also damaging the frame. This particular canopy design was of the blown hood style, developed later in the war to accommodate taller pilots. Raptor Aviation has spent the last few months searching for a suitable way to repair the damage. Sourcing the appropriate canopy perspex was a challenging task, and involved looking to four different countries for a supplier able to form it into the appropriate shape at an economical price. Luckily they eventually found a company in Australia that could make the appropriate mould. As of this month (September, 2016), we can report that the canopy frame is getting rebuilt in Victoria. Once the perspex supplier is ready, it will then be a matter of marrying the two items together in Victoria, before sending the completed canopy back up to Albury for refit on the aircraft. If the canopy and frame dont match up properly at Albury, then the repair team may consider reverting back to the original, square-sided canopy, which would be far simpler to manufacture. The only drawback to this original, smaller canopy design, is the reduction in pilot headroom, which might be a problem requiring modifications to the pilots seat/seat rack. Raptor Aviation has test-fitted the 6-foot tall pilot sitting on the parachute and wearing his helmet. They found that they could close the canopy, but the clearance was extremely tight and restricted the pilots head from turning adequately. So, in all truth, they really do need the blown hood canopy to be fitted to accommodate the pilot. While this is a brief update, we do hope to be able report in our next piece that the Fw 190 has flown and is back to flight testing. WarbirdsNews wishes to thank Raptor Aviation for their insight into their ex-Luftwaffe warbird. WarbirdsNews also wishes to thank Phil Buckley for his unstinting help in bringing us news from Australia. You should check out his site Down Under Aviation News, or DUAN for short. Thanks Phil! Sales at Premier Investments' rock star stationery brand Smiggle have rocketed by 79 per cent in the last two years and 41.8 per cent last financial year alone, on the launch of 52 new stores, including 40 outlets in the United Kingdom. Smiggle and pyjama powerhouse Peter Alexander put a rocket under Premier's full year sales, pushing them past the $1 billion market for the first time in fiscal 2016. Premier Investments Chair Solomon Lew has delivered another impressive full year result for Premier Investments. Credit:Pat Scala Peter Alexander's sales surged 20.4 per cent higher to $169.1 million on the back of 11 new store openings and there are plans to roll out between five and seven new stores for the next three calendar years. Premier chairman and major shareholder Solomon Lew said the business had delivered a very strong performance in "a difficult retail environment". When Donald Trump was asked last week to explain some of the "unkind" things he's said about women over his lifetime on The Dr Oz Show, the presidential candidate who has variously called women "fat pigs" and "pieces of ass", said they should be "punished" for having abortions, and told a prospective female employee on The Apprentice she would be a "pretty picture" down on her knees struggled. "We have fun," Trump said, referencing his previous comments on the Howard Stern Show. (This was the show where he agreed, in 1997, that he would have "nailed" Princess Diana had she not died several months earlier, among other things). "If I ever thought I was running for president I wouldn't have done the show," he flustered, the hole around him boring deeper with each excuse. But he didn't need to sweat it. His daughter, Ivanka, who was sitting next to him on the couch, quickly jumped in. "My father speaks his mind," she said, her voice controlled and reassuring. "Whether it's a man or a woman, if you attack him, he'll attack you back. In a certain way, it would be strange if he handled women and men differently." For those who needed persuading that Malcolm Turnbull is trapped in an unhealthy, co-dependent relationship with his party's hard right, his approach to the proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage clinches the matter. The problem isn't just that the Prime Minister affirmed Tony Abbott's manoeuvre to stymie marriage equality by way of a popular vote. On the contrary: for a while I even saw some merit in the plebiscite idea, although the Brexit poll, with its cautionary lesson about the inherent unpredictability of yes/no contests, rattled me enough to opine against it. But Turnbull's cowardice has further tainted the proposal with bad faith and it deserves to be voted down in the Senate. Ideally, a popular vote might have exposed the sham arguments of the "no" same-sex marriage camp, their intoning "thousands of years of tradition" (as if, by some strange law of physics, time calcifies as weight), "freedom of religion" (that's the freedom to impose religion on others) and the one that takes the cake for disingenuousness and chutzpah, that by legislating for same-sex marriage the state expands its power over our lives (a stance that's only coherent if it advocates the complete abolition of marriage, but these conflicted libertarians won't go there.) Yes, a plebiscite would give a platform to hate but also to love, in all its diversity. Illustration: Matt Davidson A "yes" vote would confer political legitimacy, burying the idea this social reform is only beloved of an out-of-touch elite that's either too scared or too lofty to test their convictions in the court of public opinion. So a free vote for marriage equality should have been celebrated as an opportunity not supporting it looked like a tactical error on the part of Labor and the Greens. Yet all this was before Turnbull's persistent appeasement of the religious lobby undermined the integrity of the plebiscite concept. The appearance of our Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the US, speaking at the Barack Obama-curated summit on dealing with the current level of refugee displacement around the world, was a proud moment for everyone who really, really doesn't like foreigners. While explaining that Australia's policies of not-processing asylum seekers in Nauru and Manus Island, while also forcibly turning back boats on the open ocean, had been a great success in um, stopping the boats which we're still apparently turning back? How does that even work? "I'll thank all the representatives here to stop humming the 'those who've come across the seas' bit of our national anthem, thanks." Credit:AP Anyway, while encouraging countries that aren't entirely surrounded by water to adopt Australia's approach to border protection just stop those boats from walking over your borders, Germany! our elected leader made the equally-insightful point that "Australians support these actions because they have confidence that our migration system is well managed. "This confidence is a key pillar on which our successful multicultural society is built Allow public trust to erode and the mutual trust that binds us will similarly falter. As leaders, we must always choose laws and policies that develop strength and unity over weakness and division." As one of America's most celebrated Armenians, Kim Kardashian was not impressed when the Wall Street Journal published a full page ad in April that denied the Armenian genocide. The ad, emblazoned with the words "Truth = Peace", portrayed hands coloured in the flags of Armenia and Russia (which in 2015 recognised the Armenian genocide centenary) with crossed fingers; while a hand in the middle representing Turkey was making the peace sign. Kim Kardashian: "For the Wall Street Journal to publish something like this is reckless, upsetting and dangerous." "During this week of reflection we remember and mourn the loss of Turkish and Armenian lives," the ad read, "lost in the destructive conflict known as the 1915 tragedy." At the top, readers were directed to "Stop the allegations" and visit FactCheckArmenia.com, where it's claimed the Ottoman empire's massacre of Armenians in 1915 does not constitute a "genocide". Women with sons, not so much. I can't recall a single instance of ever being advised to keep my son in at night. So, after 31 years of parenting (and the everlasting knowledge of experts), I bring you some tentative advice for sons. Someone else is going to tell you to lock up your daughters. That won't be me. When you are the mother of daughters, you get a lot of advice on how to bring them up. So much. Starts with policing the way they look, ends with policing their sex lives. Women with daughters: we get instruction every single day. High school finishes for 70,000 young women and men in NSW on Friday at 3pm, as they break up to prepare for the HSC. You've spent the past six years talking to them about what it means to be an adult. Now it's their turn to practise that. But before Friday, some tips from the experts. And me. Now I always worried about alcohol and my kids. Always. I grew up in a family where alcohol was nearly invisible. There's an old saying that Jews don't drink; and that was certainly true when I was a kid. By the time we had kids of our own, you could see the problems arising among their friends. The best thing we ever did was to have lots and lots of conversations with the parents of other kids. And that was particularly important as parents of sons because there as often a much wider disparity between what we thought was ok and what other parents thought was ok. It can be tough if you don't subscribe to the "boys will be boys" model. Some folks think this Friday is a sign of maturity. They'll be the ones posting photos of their kids with slabs under their arms on Facebook. If your son is a teenager, the drinking thing is huge. Much huger than you imagine. And leaving school seems to give them permission to binge. So, number one, be a role model for your sons. Here's why that matters. I asked Antonia Quadara, from the Australian Institute of Family Studies and one of Australia's leading authorities on sexual assault, what she thought. She says all those rules we love to apply to our daughters must also apply to our sons. Her advice? Get boys to check on themselves and their mates: "Keep tabs on how yourself and your friends are going." State Debate: Doe leaks show no more excuses not to fix campaign laws, says blogger; Scott Walker takes more heat over transportation stand In a world intent on demonising Islam, positive stories about Muslims are all too rare. How refreshing then, to see last weekend's Sunday Life profile on one half of Australia's most famous Muslim couple, the academic and writer, Susan Carland. First, let me say that I applaud wholeheartedly such initiatives to combat the pervasive stereotype of the passive Muslim woman, and I think Susan Carland is a national treasure. Susan Carland in her Sunday Life shoot. Credit:Bec Parsons Nonetheless, this story highlights that there is something missing in our current discourse on the role of women in Islam. Namely, when we talk about the pressure on women to conform, we tend to focus only on whether they are physically forced, threatened, or otherwise explicitly told what to do. What we overlook is that sometimes women make certain choices out of love and the need to be loved. Allow me to backtrack for a moment. As someone raised in one of Islam's many minority sects, but who stopped practicing religion many years ago, I have always been intrigued by those who, like Carland, convert to Islam as adults. The University of Sydney has dropped four places in the world's most prestigious university rankings list, the latest report from Times Higher Education has revealed. According to the report, due to be released around the world on Thursday, Australia took out 23 places in the world's top 400 universities. The nation's oldest tertiary institution, the University of Sydney, dropped from 56 to 60 this year, tying with the University of Queensland, while its Sydney rival UNSW moved up four places to 78. The University of Melbourne is once again the country's highest ranking institution at No. 33, while Australian National University came in second as the 47th best university in the world. Aboriginal Australians have the closest genetic links to highland Papua New Guinea populations, the largest DNA study of its kind has found, providing new insights into the movement of early humans following their dispersal from Africa. The study also found that the last ice age led to more genetic differences between Aboriginal populations in eastern and western Australia than between the indigenous populations of North America and Siberia. Biological anthropologist Michael Westaway from Griffith University obtains a saliva sample from Thanakwith elder Thomas Wales in Cape York. Credit:Tom Cebula, Wall to Wall Media "We've tried to reconstruct this genetic map of Australia that tells a story of how dynamic Aboriginal society was over 50,000 years," said Michael Westaway, senior research fellow at Griffith University and co-author of the study, published in Nature. The researchers behind the study sequenced the genomes of 83 Aboriginal Australians from across the mainland, representing a range of geographical and linguistic groups, and 25 people from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Taiwan's defence ministry has said it is asking Google to blur satellite images showing what experts say appear to be new military installations on Itu Aba, Taipei's sole holding in the disputed South China Sea. The revelation of new military-related construction could raise tensions in the contested waterway, where China's building of airstrips and other facilities has worried other claimants and the United States. Four three-pronged structures off the coast of Itu Aba, as seen on Google Earth. The images seen on Google Earth show four three-pronged structures sitting in a semi-circle just off the northwestern shoreline of Itu Aba, across from an upgraded airstrip and recently constructed port that can dock 3000-ton frigates. "Under the pre-condition of protecting military secrets and security, we have requested Google blur images of important military facilities," Taiwan Defence Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said on Wednesday, after local media published the images on Itu Aba. A Perth woman has fallen victim to online theft after trying to sell a gift voucher on popular Facebook page Makeup Junkies Perth. The page has more than 15,000 members and is used to share makeup advice and to buy or sell makeup. The Facebook group members ask for the cuprit to be named and shamed. An accidental oversight saw Shanae Arias post the barcode of the Mecca Cosmetica gift voucher she was trying to sell on the page. Group members commented on the post and warned Ms Arias to take down the photo as it could be used to purchase makeup through the Mecca online store, but it was too late. A bizarre video has emerged of a Muslim woman verbally attacking a man wearing a Pauline Hanson shirt at a Perth university, but all is not what it seems. The footage filmed on a mobile at Curtin University shows a young woman, wearing a pink scarf confronting a man as he tries to make his way to student services. "'You have no right to be on this campus," the woman screams. "No you don't. Get off this campus. You're not welcome here. Get off." Premier Colin Barnett has promoted two MP's to his ministry with Bill Marmion getting the plum portfolio of transport after a turbulent week for the Liberal party. Wanneroo MP Paul Miles will take up the Local Government portfolio, while Upper House MLC Mark Lewis gets Agriculture. WA Premier Colin Barnett leaving press conference at WA ParliamentHouse. Credit:Philip Gostelow Mining and Petroleum and Small Business minister Sean L'Estrange will take over Mr Marmion's portfolio of finance. Mr Barnett announced the cabinet shake-up on Thursday after Local Government Minister Tony Simpson and Transport Minister Dean Nalder dramatically quit on Saturday. A Salvation Army Major from WA has died after being bashed while preaching in Africa. Major Geoff Freind, 60, from the Salvo's Western Australia Division based in Morley, was ministering in Malawi when he was attacked on Saturday. Major Geoff Freind pictured with his wife Lyn. Credit:@CitySalvos He was placed in an induced coma at a Johannesburg hospital, but died on Wednesday. It's understood his family travelled to Malawi to be by his side. Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020. Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work. Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri. Matt Rothschild: Why we took on Wisconsin Club for Growth U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson speaks with reporters on May 13 in Green Bay ahead of the Wisconsin Republican Party convention. A judge Tuesday sentenced a Gays Mills man to 15 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Ricky Olson, 58, created fake email addresses and fake accounts on Snapchat to contact a 12-year-old child. Olson sent sexually explicit images and videos of the child to others on the internet and sent the child graphic images of himself. Beaver Dam Community Hospitals closed a deal to buy back the former Lakeview Hospital site at 208 La Crosse St. Wednesday. The Lakeview Hospital property represents a significant piece of history for Beaver Dam Community Hospitals Inc. and health care in our region, Kim Miller, president and CEO of BDCH said in a statement. The BDCH board of directors and I feel a sense of duty to Lakeview, and believe that becoming caretakers of this property is the right thing to do, both for Lakeview and for the community. Miller did not comment on the sale price due to a nondisclosure agreement with the previous property owners, Eugene Kirschbaum and Mickale Carter. She also said a full development plan is yet to be created. Carter said they explored several options for sale or development of the property, but thought the hospital was a good fit. We liked the idea of senior housing and the hospital involvement, Carter said. I think its going to be good for the community. Miller said it is uncertain if the former hospital building will be demolished. However, we anticipate developing new housing options for the community which will drive significant aesthetic improvements and employment opportunities, Miller said. In August the Beaver Dam Common Council went into an agreement with Beaver Dam Community Hospitals to conduct an environmental study of the former Lakeview Hospital. The building has been vacant for more than a decade. A $150,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation was used to cover the study cost. Beaver Dam Community Hospitals last owned the site at 208 La Crosse St. in 2005. BDCH ownership dated back to Feb. 28, 1972. This is when a series of events occurred that ultimately formed what is today the Beaver Dam Community Hospitals organization. Previously, the La Crosse Street area was the home of the Lamoreux mansion built by Donald Percy Lamoreux. The mansion was constructed in 1909 and the property was sold for $30,000 in 1922 after the Lamoreux family moved to Brantford, Ontario. Lutheran churches in the area and Dr. R.E. Schoen joined to transform the mansion into Lutheran Deaconess Hospital. The Milwaukee architectural firm of Brust and Philipp, which had originally designed the mansion, oversaw the conversion as well. During the 1920s and 1930s, the property saw significant remodeling, including the addition of an elevator and an extension to the west in 1936. Lutheran Deaconess Hospital changed its name to Lutheran Hospital. Beaver Dam Community Hospital, 707 S. University Ave., was formerly St. Josephs Hospital. In 1968 St. Josephs and Lutheran Deaconess Hospital formed a group to explore consolidation. In 1971 the two entities agreed to merge and formed Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Lutheran Deaconess Hospital became Lakeview Hospital and St. Josephs Hospital became Hillside Hospital. The Lakeview Hospital building was the western extension of the Lamoreux mansion. Starting in 1972 the mansions utilities were cut off and the building was solely used for storage. John Landdeck became president of Beaver Dam Community Hospital in 1973 and a few years later the organization began looking into restoring the Lamoreux mansion. It was estimated to cost $400,000 at the time and the project was abandoned. The mansion was demolished in 1981. The former hospital acted as a long-term care facility until 1994. Miller wrote that is when residents were moved to the new Hillside Manor on the BDCH campus. Following that the La Crosse Street building became known as Lakeview Community Wellness Center, according to Miller. The property housed a food pantry, massage therapy, VA clinic office space, youth programs, meeting spaces and other space available for rent to the public. According to the property deeds in 2005 Dr. Waquar Khan expressed interest in the property. Under the name Bismila LLC, he purchased the entire property, including the adjacent McClure house, from Beaver Dam Community Hospitals. In April 2008 Dick Powell, under the name Lakeview of Beaver Dam LLC and Powell Real Estate Ventures LLC, bought both properties from Khan. The property was split in two in 2007. Finally, in January 2010 the former hospital was sold to Kirschbaum and Carter. It has the best the view of the lake, Carter said. They held on to the property for about six years until Beaver Dam Community Hospitals bought it. XO Group Inc. provides multiplatform media and marketplace services to the wedding, pregnancy and parenting, and local entertainment markets primarily in the United States. It operates a network of Websites under various brands, including The Knot, which offers wedding resources and marketplaces through wedding Website and mobile apps, national and local wedding magazines, and nationally published books; and The Bump, a pregnancy and parenting brand that provides personalized information, content, and tools for navigating the journey from fertility to pregnancy and parenting through the toddler years. The company's network of Websites also comprise GigMasters, an event marketplace for finding and booking the entertainment and vendors for birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, and others. It also offers local online advertising programs, such as online listings, digital advertisements, and direct email marketing; and national online advertising programs consisting of display advertisements, custom and brand-integrated content, direct emails, and placement in its online search tools. In addition, the company provides transaction offerings that include a registry service, which enables users to create, manage, and share various retail store registries from a single source; and retailer and local vendor offerings, such as invitations, stationery, reception decor, and personalized gifts. Further, it publishes The Knot national and regional magazines. The company was formerly known as The Knot, Inc. and changed its name to XO Group Inc. in June 2011. XO Group Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Lupes Taqueria, which opened in May in a Middleton location begging for a new restaurant, is modeled after Habaneros Mexican Grill. While it provides a more pleasant environment and does some things really well, it doesnt quite measure up to its mentor in terms of serving size or price. What Lupes does provide is a charming dining experience, from the small assembly-line counter where you customize your meal, to the clean, contemporary dining area inspired by the owners love of Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling. The Middleton Hills location was home to two other well-designed restaurants, first Bean Sprouts kids cafe, and more recently, the Mediterranean restaurant Palmyra, which closed four years ago. Lupe Diaz worked for Habaneros Mexican Grill on Stoughton Road for seven years and helped open its Sherman Avenue location. It was his wife, San Juana Diaz, the wrestling-lover, who envisioned a street taco concept, and did most of the hard work of opening the restaurant. So its not surprising that the beef tacos ($2.25) are where its at. The meat, which Lupe Diaz said he marinates overnight, was tender and well-seasoned. It comes inside either a flour tortilla or two corn ones. A friend and I had ours with just onion and cilantro, but you can pile on a host of other ingredients if you like. We also ordered a pork taco with shredded pork that was slightly less flavorful than the beef, but still worthwhile. Diaz said he roasts the pork for five hours, and it shows. A quesadilla ($7.25) with chorizo was disappointing in that the chorizo was mixed with potato and took a backseat to the starchy tuber. I chose guacamole and sour cream, and the add-ons were offered in such small amounts as to be ineffectual. Lupes could also use bottles of hot sauce on all the tables. The burrito ($7.25) we ordered with shredded chicken, rice, tomato, lettuce, onion, cilantro and jalapenos, was pretty skinny in this world of burritos as big as your head. I was offered pinto or black beans, and one of those options may have beefed it up. But what it lacked in heft, it made up for in taste. I also like how Lupes chops up its jalapenos instead of just slicing them. An order of nachos ($7.25) suffered from a lack of cheese and also because of our choice of meat, the picadillo, an aggressively seasoned combination of beef and pork. My favorite thing at Lupes was the Mexican corn ($3.25). While I was expecting an ear, this was corn off the cob topped with mayonnaise, cotija cheese and chili powder. Its a pretty special combination of flavors. Two desserts are listed on the menu, tres leches and choco flan, but neither was available the day we visited. My friend was glad to see bottles of Mexican Coke ($2), which he prefers to regular Coke, explaining that the Mexican version uses cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and that the result is cleaner and less thick-tasting. Both the refreshing horchata ($2.75), a sweet, frothy, cinnamon-flavored drink, and the light, fruity agua fresca ($2.75) were help-yourself from a machine. Neither was too sweet, but they helped make up for the lack of desserts this day. Lupe Diaz said the taqueria has been well received by the neighborhood and has seen many repeat customers without marketing or advertising. We havent struggled at all, he said. Im very surprised. San Juana Diaz is there every day greeting customers at the cash register, while Lupe is back in the kitchen cooking. Before they opened, Lupe Diaz explained that the taqueria would be similar to Habaneros, and it is. The servings are smaller and the prices are slightly higher, but thats because Lupes is in a higher-rent area. Both Lupe and San Juana had worked in or near Middleton, the good neighbor city, and liked its welcoming attitude. ICL Group Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty minerals and chemicals company worldwide. It operates in four segments: Industrial Products, Potash, Phosphate Solutions, and Innovative Ag Solutions (IAS). The Industrial Products segment produces bromine out of a solution that is a by-product of the potash production process, as well as bromine-based compounds; produces various grades of potash, salt, magnesium chloride, and magnesia products; and produces and markets phosphorous-based flame retardants and other phosphorus-based products. The Potash segment extracts potash from the Dead Sea; mines and produces potash and salt; produces Polysulphate; produces, markets, and sells magnesium and magnesium alloys, as well as related by-products, including chlorine and sylvinite; and sells salt. The Phosphate Solutions segment uses phosphate commodity products to produce specialty products; produces and markets phosphate-based fertilizers, as well as sulphuric acid, green phosphoric acid, and phosphate fertilizers; and manufactures thermal phosphoric acid for various industrial end markets, such as oral care, cleaning products, paints and coatings, water treatment, asphalt modification, construction, and metal treatment. It also develops and produces functional food ingredients and phosphate additives for use in the processed meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, beverage, and baked goods markets; and produces milk and whey proteins for the food ingredients industry. The IAS segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells fertilizers based primarily on nitrogen, potash, and phosphate, including water soluble specialty, liquid, soluble, and controlled-release fertilizers. It sells its products through marketing companies, agents, and distributors. The company was formerly known as Israel Chemicals Ltd. and changed its name to ICL Group Ltd in May 2020. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. Mitie Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides strategic outsourcing services in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in eight segments: Business Services, Technical Services, Central Government & Defense (CG&D), Communities, Care & Custody, Landscapes, Waste, and Spain. The company provides security services, such as manned guarding and technology-backed monitoring solutions, fire and security systems installations, vetting and front-of-house services; and general, specialist, and technical cleaning services in offices, buildings, transport and logistics hubs, and high-security environments. It is also involved in the provision of technology-backed engineering; maintenance, repair, and mechanical and electrical project activities; energy, carbon, and water management services; air conditioning and disinfection solutions; telecoms and energy services; and remote asset monitoring, and digital and connected workplace solutions. In addition, the company provides facilities management services across central government and defense contracts; decarbonization solutions; and engineering services. Further, it offers integrated facilities management services to devolved public sector customers, which focuses on community environments in healthcare, schools and universities, emergency services, and local authorities; portering services; public services in immigration, criminal justice, and healthcare; horticultural and winter landscaping services; and waste elimination, reduction, recycling, and treatment solutions. Mitie Group plc was incorporated in 1936 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Continuing a commitment to make Dane County government greener, County Executive Joe Parisi wants to create an office to address climate change. The Office of Energy and Climate Change is one of several initiatives Parisi announced Thursday as part of his 2017 budget proposal. The initiatives also include a big boost in the countys production of solar energy, an accelerated increase in the conversion of county vehicles from fossil fuels to natural gas, and creation of a Council on Climate Change. Dane County has a consistent track record of pursuing cleaner, greener sources of energy, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and reinventing county operations to make them run better, not only for the public but also for the environment, Parisi said. This is our boldest action yet to address climate change, and to lead the way for our community and the state of Wisconsin. The biggest ticket budget item in Parisis plan is the solar energy plan, which would triple the countys total solar energy production in 2017. New solar systems for the Dane County Job Center and the Alliant Energy Center would cost more than $2 million, but the energy generated from these two systems plus the two existing systems at the Dane County Regional Airport and the new East District Campus highway facility would save about $2.1 million in energy costs over the next 20 years. Converting the county fleet to compressed natural gas would continue in 2017, with 75 vehicles running on gas produced at the county landfill by the end of 2017. The new Office of Energy and Climate Change would work with the new Dane County Council on Climate Change, looking at the impact already made by reducing carbon emissions, expanding green energy and making facilities more energy efficient. The council would include local government, business, utility and environmental representatives. Parisi said the steps being taken in Dane County are in contrast to the lack of work at the federal or state levels. We cannot wait for the state to step up, Parisi said. We must lead the effort to address climate change. Even with 5-0 lead, Verlander can't get 1st World Series win The YMCA on Madison's East Side is temporarily closed after a malfunctioning valve caused water from its pool to flood into the facility's basement Tuesday night, potentially causing corrosion in the electrical hardware. Initally only the pool area was closed at the Lussier Family East YMCA, 711 Cottage Grove Road. But after a review by the city's Building Inspection Division on Thursday, the YMCA announced the facility would be closed until its electrical system is replaced. YMCA programming will be available at other locations, and members are able to use the Lussier Family West and Northeast facilities. The Madison Fire Department was called when the flooding was discovered Wednesday morning. "A maintenance worker told firefighters he believed a valve in the basement was left on overnight to fill the swimming pool," said fire department spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster. "By morning, there was roughly 50,000 gallons of water in the basement, measuring approximately five feet deep." YMCA of Dane County spokesman Scott Shoemaker said the flooding wasn't as bad as initially thought. "The leak was nowhere near 50,000 gallons, more in the neighborhood of 5,000 to 10,000 gallons," he said. The pool is on the first floor of the facility, one floor above the basement. Power in the building was still on so firefighters used a device known as a hot stick to check if the water was electrified, and it wasn't. Madison Water Utility shut off water to the building and the Engineering Division sent a truck to help remove the water. YMCA staff and electrical contractors will be conducting the electrical repairs. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 22, 2016 | 09:31 AM | PADUCAH, KY With the Fountain Avenue Revitalization essentially complete in Paducah, city officials now want to look at the next neighborhood to be revitalized. Steve Irvin, Planning Director for Paducah Neighborhood Redevelopment, says the selection process will be all encompassing...Irvin told West Kentucky Star that there are "many neighborhoods within the city limits that can benefit from these redevelopment efforts. We think it's important that the selection process criteria not only includes an assessment of the neighborhoods current condition, but also includes a comprehensive evaluation of the neighborhood's potential to be sustainable and have a positive impact on Paducah at large."Irvin says he doesn't know exactly when the city commission will be choosing the next neighborhood for revitalization, but one of the nearly 50 neighborhoods in the city stands to follow in the footsteps of the Lowertown and Fountain Avenue neighborhoods, soon. By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 22, 2016 | 08:53 AM | DEXTER, KY A fight in Calloway County late Wednesday night led to two injuries and two arrests. The Calloway County Sheriffs Office said deputies were dispatched to a report of a large fight in progress with weapons involved on Lane Street in Dexter. Upon arrival, deputies found several intoxicated individuals. Deputies arrested 20-year-old Lonnie J. Paschall, of Harrodsburg, and 23-year-old Colton J. Ziegler, of Dexter, for alcohol intoxication. Deputies said two others, 39-year-old Misty E. Thorn, of Dexter, and 18-year-old Eric M. Thorn, of Dexter, were both assaulted during the fight. Both were taken to Murray-Calloway County Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Deputies said the investigation is ongoing with more charges pending. By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 22, 2016 | 05:13 AM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY A collision between a truck and a motorcycle Wednesday afternoon left a Graves County man hospitalized. The Graves County Sheriff's Office said the wreck happened at around 4:15 pm near the 18 mile marker of the Purchase Parkway. Deputies said a pickup truck, driven by 69-year-old Joann Pharis of Clinton, was traveling south in the slow lane when she attempted to make an illegal U-turn. According to police, Pharis' truck crossed into the path of a southbound motorcycle in the passing lane, operated by 48-year-old Jeffrey Wright of Wingo. Wright was airlifted to Tristar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, TN for treatment of his injuries. Pharis and her passenger were not injured in the crash. By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 22, 2016 | 09:05 AM | CALLOWAY COUNTY, KY A wreck Tuesday night in Calloway County left a Tennessee woman facing charges. According to the Calloway County Sheriffs Office, the crash happened at around 9:40 pm near the 2900 block of State Highway 121 South. Deputies said 28-year-old Whitney Emmons, of Bumpus Mills, TN, was traveling north on Hwy. 121 when her vehicle left the road, hit a culvert, went air borne and rolled at least once. Police said Emmons was not injured in the accident, but after failing field sobriety tests, she was arrested. Deputies said they found prescription medication and medical supplies inside the vehicle. Emmons was charged with DUI, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance not in the proper container. She was lodged in the Calloway County Detention Center. A standoff that lasted for several hours in Grant County Tuesday night ended without incident when the man who allegedly broke into a residence surrendered. Joe Koelker, 29, of Cassville, was taken into custody on tentative charges of burglary, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, the Sheriff's Office said. Nobody was injured during the standoff. Authorities said: Deputies were sent to a residence on Highway U in Beetown at about 9:10 p.m. Tuesday after getting a report of a man breaking into the home. The back door the home was broken and deputies learned Koelker was inside. "He refused to cooperate with law enforcement which resulted in the standoff," said Sheriff Nate Dreckman. The Grant County Crisis Resolution Team along with a negotiator from the Sheriff's Office went to the scene, with Koelker coming out of the house to surrender several hours later. World's Largest English Language News Service with Over 500 Articles Updated Daily "The News You Need TodayFor The World Youll Live In Tomorrow." What You Arent Being Told About The World You Live In How The Conspiracy Theory Label Was Conceived To Derail The Truth Movement How Covert American Agents Infiltrate the Internet to Manipulate, Deceive, and Destroy Reputations September 22, 2016 Obama Becomes Worlds Biggest Slave Owner As Largest Prison Strike In US History Continues By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers A new Security Council (SC) report circulating in the Kremlin today on the largest prison strike in American history stunningly reveals that President Barak Obama has now become the worlds biggest slave ownerand that contrary to what many believe, is still legal in the United States. [Note: Some words and/or phrases appearing in quotes in this report are English language approximations of Russian words/phrases having no exact counterpart.] According to this report, unlike any other developed country in the world, the United States still maintains the practice of legal human slavery that is allowed under their Constitutions 13th Amendment that says Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.and that US Supreme Court has upheld by their ruling that slavery is neither a cruel nor unusual punishment. As President Obama is the chief law enforcer in the United States, this report continues, the 2.3 million slaves he rules over are held in barbaric conditions and reside in 1,719 State prisons, 102 Federal prisons, 942 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,283 local jails, and 79 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, and prisons in the US territories. To how President Obamas slave numbers have been able to increase so shockingly large, SC analysts in this report note, has been due to the United States nearly fifty years War On Drugs that was begun in 1971 and still continues todayand that the Obama regime itself admits has been an epic failure. With the actual crime statistics proving that violent crime in the US has dramatically decreased from 1971 to the present, this report says, in 1971 the US prison slave population was 143,000but its rise to todays shocking number of 2.3 million has nothing to do with crimes, but the free labor these slaves are forced to perform for some of Americas largest corporationsincluding Whole Foods, McDonalds, Wendys, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Sprint, Verizon, Victorias Secret, Fidelity Investments, JC Penney, Kmart, American Airlines and Avis, just to name a few. The massive US corporations making billons-of-dollars from the Obama regimes modern day slave racket, this report continues, has, likewise, benefited both President Obama and Hillary Clinton as theyve received hundreds-of-millions in campaign donations from them to continue this practiceand should Hillary Clinton win the US presidency would be insured to continue. Standing alone against their present owner, President Obama, this report notes, are these slaves themselves who for months have managed to engineer the largest prison strike in American history that began with dozens of prisons across the United States organizing through a network of smuggled cell phones, social media pages, and the support of allies on the outsidewith the effort culminating in a mass refusal to report to prison jobs on 9 September, the anniversary of the 1971 Attica Prison Uprising and whose organizers wrote: This is a call to action against slavery in America, organizers wrote in an announcement that for weeks circulated inside and outside prisons nationwide, and that sums up the strikers primary demand: an end to free prison labor. Forty-five years after Attica, the waves of change are returning to Americas prisons. This September we hope to coordinate and generalize these protests, to build them into a single tidal shift that the American prison system cannot ignore or withstand. Pastor Kenneth Glasgow, a former prisoner and a supporter of the Free Alabama Movement (the prisoner-led group that first called for the nationwide strike) this report continues, called upon the American people to understand that a lot of people are not realizing the value in whats going on, they dont realize that its slavery, that slavery still existsbut whose voice has been silenced by the same US corporations who, along with slave owner Obama, are keeping the truth of what is happening from being heard. With Hillary Clinton now being exposed as being behind the new law that makes all American parents guilty of sex crimes for changing their babies diapers, the Obama regime Justice Department rejecting scientists findings that widely used forensic techniques that have convicted thousands of innocent men and women may not pass scientific muster, and the FBIs use of child pornography website to destroy the US Constitutional protections against criminal warrant abuse (unless the US Congress acts by December), this report warns, the American people have no idea how many more of them are about to become slaves too. Interestingly, this report concludes by noting that US presidential candidate Donald Trump is the only person prepared to end slavery in America forever and demolish the Obama-Clinton gulag that has now grown so large it has surpassed the former Soviet Unions gulagand who is, astonishingly, now being supported by Adam Walinsky, who was a top aide to both President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy (both assassinated) and who yesterday movingly wrote: I was a Democrat all my life. I came to Washington to serve President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy. When the president was murdered and his brother struck off on his own, I joined his Senate campaign and staff as his legislative assistant and speechwriter, until his presidential campaign ended with his own assassination. I ran on a (losing) Democratic ticket in the New York state elections of 1970. When I was working to enact my own program of police reform in the 1980s and 1990s, then-Governor Bill Clinton was chairman of my National Committee for the Police Corps. This year, I will vote to elect Donald Trump as president of the United States . So profound a change, and a decent respect for old friendships, requires me to deliver a public accounting for this decision. Here it is. John and Robert Kennedy devoted their greatest commitments and energies to the prevention of war and the preservation of peace. To them that was not an abstract formula but the necessary foundation of human life. But todays Democrats have become the Party of War: a home for arms merchants, mercenaries, academic war planners, lobbyists for every foreign intervention, promoters of color revolutions, failed generals, exploiters of the natural resources of corrupt governments. We have American military bases in 80 countries, and there are now American military personnel on the ground in about 130 countries, a remarkable achievement since there are only 192 recognized countries. Generals and admirals announce our national policies. Theater commanders are our principal ambassadors. Our first answer to trouble or opposition of any kind seems always to be a military movement or action. Nor has the Democratic Party candidate for president this year, Hillary Clinton, sought peace. Instead she has pushed America into successive invasions, successive efforts at regime change. She has sought to prevent Americans from seeking friendship or cooperation with President Vladimir Putin of Russia by characterizing him as another Hitler. She proclaims herself ready to invade Syria immediately after taking the oath of office. Her shadow War Cabinet brims with the architects of war and disaster for the past decades, the neocons who led us to our present pass, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, in Ukraine, unrepentant of all past errors, ready to resume it all with fresh trillions and fresh blood. And the Democrats she leads seem intent on worsening relations with Russia , for example by sending American warships into the Black Sea, or by introducing nuclear weapons ever closer to Russia itself. In fact, in all the years of the so-called War on Terror, only one potential American president has had the intelligence, the vision, the sheer sanity to see that America cannot fight the entire world at once; who sees that Americas natural and necessary allies in this fight must include the advanced and civilized nations that are most exposed and experienced in their own terror wars, and have the requisite military power and willingness to use it. Only one American candidate has pointed out how senseless it is to seek confrontation with Russia and China , at the same time that we are trying to suppress the very jihadist movements that they also are attacking. That candidate is Donald Trump. Other reports in this series include: Russian Red Alert Issued After Hillary Clinton Labels All American Parents Sex Criminals Hillary Clinton Disappearance Leaves Russian Intelligence Experts Puzzled US Again Ignores Russian Warning As Islamic Terror Hits New York City, New Jersey And Minnesota Hillary Clinton Makes Millions To Destroy Samsung So Apple Can Sell More iPhones Putin Issues Global Alert: The American Establishment Is Merciless, Donald Trump Could Soon Die Hillary Clinton To Make Millions After Obama Orders All Wild Horses In American Killed Hillary Clinton Placed In Hospital As Blackout Of Truth Descends Upon America Concentration Camp Model Created By Hillary Clinton In Africa Warned Is Coming To America Florida Earthquake Reported Caused By Obama-Clinton Attempt To Destroy Israeli Sub Hillary Clinton Heart Failure Event Warned Just Months Away Putin Asks Obama Why US Media Shutdown Donald Trump Speech At Black Church, Gets No Reply US Congress To Begin Immediate Impeachment Of Hillary Clinton If She Wins Presidency Hillary Clinton Secret Sexmail Destroys Top US Army Commander Hillary Clinton Colostomy Bag Cover-up Consumes US Media Giants, Puts Debates In Doubt White House Emails Reveal Largest Plot Ever Discovered To Destroy America New York Times Hosts Top Secret Meet To Cover-up Hillary Clinton Health, Destroy Fox News Putin Erupts Over Million Dollar Spy Payments To Hillary Clinton US Secret Service Swarms Top Hospitals As Hillary Clinton Brain Surgery Fears Rise Panic Grips America, Shuts Down NSA, After Russia Reveals It Has All Hillary Clinton Phone Calls Hillary Clinton Total Terror Descends Upon Disabled Mother Who Discovered Her Link To ISIS Russia Debates Response To Shocking Hillary Clinton Link To Crimea Terror Attack Father Of Doctor Treating Hillary Clinton For Dementia Mysteriously Dies Hillary Clinton Night Of The Long Knives Killing Spree Claims Life Of Attorney Shawn Lucas Hillary Clinton Gains Millions From Plot Linked To Top US General Fueling War With Russia Moscow Raid Proves Hillary Clinton Plot To Destroy Boeing, Ship 80,000 US Jobs Overseas Hillary Clinton Orders ISIS Attack Cover-Up In Germany, American Press Stunningly Obeys Clinton Threat To Destroy Everyone Throws Washington Into Chaos Bush Family Rushes To Hillary Clinton Side After Top UN Official Set To Testify Against Her Found Dead Husband Of Prosecutor Investigating Bill Clinton For Child Sex Charges Gunned Down September 22, 2016 EU and US all rights reserved. Permission to use this report in its entirety is granted under the condition it is linked back to its original source at WhatDoesItMean.Com. Freebase content licensed under CC-BY and GFDL. [Note: Many governments and their intelligence services actively campaign against the information found in these reports so as not to alarm their citizens about the many catastrophic Earth changes and events to come, a stance that the Sisters of Sorcha Faal strongly disagree with in believing that it is every human beings right to know the truth. Due to our missions conflicts with that of those governments, the responses of their agents has been a longstanding misinformation/misdirection campaign designed to discredit us, and others like us, that is exampled in numerous places, including HERE.] [Note: The WhatDoesItMean.com website was created for and donated to the Sisters of Sorcha Faal in 2003 by a small group of American computer experts led by the late global technology guru Wayne Green (1922-2013) to counter the propaganda being used by the West to promote their illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq.] [Note: The word Kremlin (fortress inside a city) as used in this report refers to Russian citadels, including in Moscow , having cathedrals wherein female Schema monks (Orthodox nuns) reside, many of whom are devoted to the mission of the Sisters of Sorcha Faal.] The Trial Of Hillary Clinton: The Case For Murder Grows They Are Going To Come For YouWhy Are You Helping Them? Return To Main Page Loading... This is the third time actor John Malkovich has directed Good Canary, by American screenwriter Zach Helm though the first time it's been performed in the language in which it was written. That he is following productions in French and Spanish with this British staging seems to indicate that he likes the play very much, and thinks it worthy of attention and care. Yet it is only intermittently obvious why. What is undoubtedly true is that he directs this story of a successful first time novelist and his love for his amphetamine-popping, bulimic wife absolutely beautifully. On Pierre-Francois Limbosch's set, sumptuous, vividly coloured projections create New York scenes that slide easily into view, changing with dreamlike ease. The simultaneous reality and unreality of the setting is mirrored by the boldness of the production; at once real and surreal. When Annie the speed freak gets high and goes on a housework jag, the windows she is cleaning morph into different shapes; later pills pour from the sky outside. When her husband Jack is trying to make her go cold turkey at the same time as his publisher is trying to make him sign a huge book deal on the back of the revelatory first novel, the characters on stage move in a synchronised dance as the conversation unfolds. One crucial scene is played in silence, the lines spoken projected onto the backdrop. It is all very effective and it yields sensational performances from the cast, headed by Freya Mavor who makes Annie's anguish as she tries to become invisible, to hide from a world where she is out of step, almost unwatchable. Harry Lloyd, familiar from Game of Thrones and Wolf Hall, is equally effective as Jack, striving to save her by the sheer force of love. But not a single cast member puts a foot wrong; they are exceptional. The only problem is the play itself. It is fluently written and, in its early stages, often very funny. There are some brilliant scenes between Annie and her drug dealer Jeff (Ilan Goodman, wonderfully bumbling) who becomes concerned at the sheer quantities she is ingesting. "It's the closest I come to having a corporate policy," he says, as he demands money up front. A party where a publisher who hasn't read the novel (Michael Simkins, blustering) and the odious critic (Simon Wilson) who has provoke Annie's wrath, is beautifully observed. Her tentative alliance with Sally Rogers' unhappy wife is both funny and convincing. And former EastEnder Steve John Shepherd has a terrific time as the novel's first publisher, longing for the big-time in order to leave behind him books that cover "all the major institutions of lust." But the problem for me, as the play swerves into darker territory, is that we simply don't know enough about why Annie is so wounded. She talks in passing about being raped, and has great speeches about why she needs drugs to exist, but her inner life is never examined. She is a cipher for the purposes of the plot. The metaphor of her and the canary the harbinger of doom, the bird trapped in its cage is laboured and then dropped. It's disappointing to see so much talent lavished on a work that never fulfils its promise; Malkovich should direct something different next. Good Canary runs at the Rose Theatre Kingston until 8 October 2016. A car running in a garage set off a carbon monoxide alarm in a condo on the city's Southwest Side Wednesday evening, with firefighters evacuating a second condo where CO readings were sky high. The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of Design Pass, the Madison Fire Department said. A woman living in one of the three adjoining condos wasn't sure why the CO alarm was sounding in her condo, but she called 911 anyway and evacuated. Firefighters checked her condo and found readings of 300 parts per million; any readings over 70 ppm can be dangerous. Madison Gas and Electric also responded to the residence to assist in identifying the source of CO. "As firefighters ventilated the residence, MG&E detected carbon monoxide readings just outside the next condo," Schuster said. "The neighbor allowed firefighters inside to take a closer look." When the access door to the condo's garage was opened, MG&E's CO air monitor shot up to 3,200 ppm, so the residence was evacuated immediately and windows opened to ventilate the residence until air quality returned to normal. "Firefighters and MG&E identified the carbon monoxide source to be a vehicle that had been running in the garage, unbeknownst to its owner," Schuster said. Firefighters also checked on the third adjoining condo, where CO readings were at 5 ppm. The resident opened windows to get rid of the low level CO. Nobody was hurt in the incident. Gov. Scott Walker on Thursday questioned the need for more district attorneys in Milwaukee County if District Attorney John Chisholm continues to pursue an investigation into his recall campaign after the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the case. Asked if he was concerned Chisholm might continue to pursue an investigation even if the high court rules against his petition, Walker told reporters most people in this state would think after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on this, that there is certainly not a lack of work to be done in Milwaukee County on issues related to crime and other issues. We hear not only in that county but other counties about the need for additional district attorneys and additional resources, Walker added. I think a lot of people wonder, if they continue to spend time after the U.S. Supreme Court were to rule on this, if that is really necessary. District Attorney offices in 38 counties including Dane County, but not Milwaukee County have requested 96.3 new district attorney positions in the next state budget. Attorney General Brad Schimel urged Walker to provide more funding for district attorneys in his agency budget request. In 2012 Chisholm opened a John Doe investigation into whether Walker broke state campaign finance law by raising millions of dollars, including from corporations, for the Wisconsin Club for Growth during the 2011 and 2012 recall campaigns. Four other district attorneys joined the investigation in 2013, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court quashed it last year, rejecting the prosecutors legal theory. Chisholm, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Iowa County District Attorney Larry Nelson have appealed the state courts decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is scheduled Monday to consider whether to take the case. They didnt respond to a request for comment on Walkers statement. Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, called Walkers comments Thursday outrageous. He seems to be sending a warning to district attorneys that they better not investigate any potential criminal activity by him, Taylor said. Walker spokesman Jack Jablonski said later Thursday that critics were reading too much into the governors comments. He simply stated that at a time when Milwaukee County had issues with crime, some people might think they are not properly allocating resources if they spend more tax resources on political court battles they have already lost. After a newspaper published leaked court documents from the case showing in greater detail than before how Walker raised millions of dollars for the Wisconsin Club for Growth to help win the 2011 and 2012 recall elections, including his own, Taylor said there absolutely is a basis for continuing the investigation. That could happen regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules. While the case before the court concerns alleged violations of state elections law, top officials at the former Government Accountability Board said the activity uncovered by the John Doe also raised questions about potential violations of state ethics law, an avenue not yet explored by prosecutors. The ethics law prohibits politicians from using their position to raise money on behalf of a nonprofit organization with which they are associated. Walker said Thursday he did not violate the state ethics law and that multiple courts have shut down the investigation. The courts have ruled at multiple levels that were not in violation out there, Walker said. They looked at all the different issues presented before them. In fact, the ethics issues were not raised by investigators because they were pursuing an alternative legal theory that the Wisconsin Club for Growth was acting as an arm of Walkers campaign, according to two top officials at the former Government Accountability Board. Walker is allowed to raise money for his campaign, but prosecutors alleged in court documents that the fundraising violated state elections law because campaigns cant accept corporate checks or exceed certain limits and they must report donations. The Club for Growth accepted unlimited donations and does not disclose its donors. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the Club was an independent group running so-called issue ads and the coordination with Walker was protected by the First Amendment. Recently released emails showed Walkers top political adviser R.J. Johnson stating that we own(ed) the Club, and Walker himself referred to those who gave money as our (c)(4) donors, a reference to the IRS code that grants such groups tax-exempt status. Former GAB ethics administrator Jonathan Becker said officials conducting the investigation knew the court could strike down their interpretation of state law. But if that happened, prosecutors could still pursue possible violations of state ethics law. If its not a campaign contribution, its just money, Becker said. Its a violation of the ethics code (for a politician) to raise money for yourself or an organization youre associated with. Former GAB chairman David Deininger, who voted in 2013 to commence a GAB investigation, noted the same prohibition on politicians raising money for a nonprofit with which they are associated is included in the judicial code of ethics. You are not supposed to use your office to promote charitable causes, Deininger said. The idea of using your office to coerce or fund some nongovernmental interest at first blush it seems fine, but when you stop and think about it you realize there could be ethical concerns if public officials are allowed to do so overtly. Former GAB director Kevin Kennedy said the agency didnt get far enough to draw any conclusions about the alleged activity before the investigation was halted. Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature dismantled the GAB last year because of what they viewed as partisan activism in the John Doe investigation. They also amended the states campaign finance laws, creating a specific exemption from the ethics law for politicians who raise money for nonprofits with which they are associated. Chisholm has stated in a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court that those changes in state law were not made retroactive and those under investigation may yet be prosecuted. Wisconsin vehicles would no longer be required to have two license plates, counties would pay for state parole services and emergency management would stop stockpiling sandbags for communities to fend off floods under $606 million in hypothetical budget cuts agencies submitted to Gov. Scott Walker last week. The proposals, some submitted under protest, represent the first time agencies were required to comply with a new law requiring budget requests be accompanied by a companion proposal cutting their existing budgets by 5 percent. The plans arent binding but provide options for the governor and lawmakers to consider as they prepare the 2017-19 spending plan. Among the proposed cuts submitted by 45 state agencies: a decrease of nearly 27 state prosecutor positions to help save $2.4 million, millions less in state funding for schools, the elimination of the states grain inspection program and fewer course offerings at UW System universities in order to save $195.3 million over two years. While some agencies offered specific areas that could be reduced or eliminated such as the Department of Administration proposing to cut more than a dozen areas, including eliminating the states locksmith and the contracting out of IT work other agencies took a broader brush approach. The Department of Public Instruction, for example, spread $4.6 million in cuts across its budget, including funding for schools. Others pushed costs onto county governments. The Department of Corrections, for example, would require counties to pick up 45 percent of the cost of supervising parolees, amounting to $54.7 million per year in savings for the department. Lawmakers earlier this year passed the law that requires state agencies to supplement their biennial budget requests with proposals to maintain the previous years budget levels and cut their budgets by 5 percent. Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, the lead Senate co-author, said at the time that the law was an important step to right-size state government. He noted then that the state budget has grown from $26.6 billion in 1991 to $73 billion. While Walker is not required to propose or support such alternatives, he welcomes the opportunity to review submissions for potential taxpayer savings, spokesman Jack Jablonski said. Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said its difficult to measure the usefulness of the exercise. Theres some self-interest in what some agencies put forward, he said, referring to some agencies submitting cuts that could be perceived as too damaging to services to actually be carried out. When this was first discussed, I tried to lower peoples expectations for how useful this exercise was going to be, said Hintz, a member of the Legislatures budget committee. Hintz said lawmakers should carefully evaluate what services are being provided and whether theres a more efficient way to deliver the same level of services. Shifting costs to county governments, particularly, doesnt actually save taxpayers money, he said. The cost doesnt go away its just that the states responsibility does, Hintz said. Then it really becomes a really big unfunded mandate. Kapenga said his office plans to review compliance not only with the letter but also the spirit of the law. Each agency will be graded on its compliance, he said. Based on the results we find, further legislation may be warranted to ensure agencies are doing all they can to maximize the value of each dollar received from Wisconsins families, Kapenga said. The Department of Transportations plan includes eliminating a requirement that all Wisconsin vehicles have a front and rear license plate, allowing just the rear plate; reducing the amount of salt the department buys for roads; and eliminating the annual notice vehicle owners receive to renew their registration. Also on the chopping block: striping on 1,150 miles of roadway, and seven rest stops that would be repurposed or closed. About $8.5 million in maintenance, such as crack filling and road sealing, would be jettisoned. The Department of Financial Institutions would eliminate about $940,400 per year through not filling vacancies, reducing travel and other reductions. The only example of an agency defying the state law requiring agencies to submit reduction plans was the Educational Communications Board. The board, which oversees Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television stations, requested funding be restored for its K-12 educational media unit. In its budget request, the board said it has seen its state funding decrease over the past decade, which has resulted in the elimination of the boards work producing and acquiring licensed educational media for use in K-12 classrooms throughout the state. That forced the agency to undertake significant space consolidation and other cost-saving measures in order to keep the states public radio and television broadcasting systems on the air, the board wrote, adding there is no practical way to trim its budget further. Rather than the $774,700 it was supposed to consider cutting over two years, the board asked for an additional $2.7 million. The Board on Aging and Long-Term Care also protested in offering $157,700 in cuts over two years that would reduce one-on-one casework and on-site facility and Family Care monitoring. A reduction of this magnitude will significantly increase waiting times for receipt of services provided by the boards staff and decrease the number of persons who can be directly served by the advocacy and information programs of the board, it wrote. Some agencies noted that the state funding cuts they were offering would result in the loss of federal funds, or cost more money in the end. The State of Wisconsin Investment Board said to achieve $2.7 million in savings it could cut 10 positions, but it would cost $6 million to contract with private asset management. The Department of Military Affairs said a reduction in Army National Guard facility funding would force armory closures at a time when the size of its force is smaller compared to other states. The resulting loss of force structure would forfeit about $3 in related federal funding for every $1 in state tax savings. OCONOMOWOC While campaigning earlier this year, Donald Trump insisted the unemployment rate in Wisconsin was 20 percent. In reality, it was about 4.5 percent then and has only dropped since. He said Wisconsin has a stagnant economy with a budget deficit of $2.2 billion. In fact, the state is on track to have a balanced budget. Lying. They say we all do it, sooner or later. But the cost of being discovered in a lie is painfully high. Usually. Like when Hillary Clinton absurdly said FBI director James Comey more or less exonerated her in her mishandling of emails while she was secretary of state because he didnt recommend she be charged with a crime. She was accused of lying because he actually said she had shown extreme carelessness in using a private server that could have compromised national security. She paid a high price, losing the confidence of many voters. But Trumps pattern of lying is so amazingly blatant there is no comparison. He has crisscrossed the country telling dozens of lies. During four-plus hours of speeches, Politico found Trump lied, on average, once every five minutes. In one town hall meeting, he lied 71 times. Trump falsely insisted for years that President Barack Obama wasnt born in America. Then he flatly lied by saying Clinton started birtherism and he finished it. He lied by claiming Obama and Clinton founded the Islamic State terrorist network. He said he lost hundreds of friends on 9/11. He did not. He said he saw thousands in New Jersey cheering when the towers fell. It did not happen. He said he is unable to release his tax returns because he is being audited. That is not true. The IRS says he could release them. He said its impossible to vet refugees. That is not true. Refugees face intense scrutiny, involving hours of interrogation and months of background checks. He said he gives millions to charity through his foundation. Since 2009 he has given no money to his foundation he used other peoples money, what he calls OPM. He used their donations to settle legal claims against him, according to The Washington Post. He claims he has a secret plan to destroy the Islamic State. He does not. He said crime across the country is at record levels. It is not. Character matters, and Trumps character is appalling. He is running because he is convinced he can win. A Trump presidency would be alarming. But worse is what he is doing to the already damaged national psyche. A Trump presidency would shred Americas waning optimism because he will not be able to do the things he boasts hell do create millions of high-wage jobs, revitalize inner cities, eliminate home-grown terrorism, and send undocumented immigrants home. It is foolhardy to believe he will. Not one of his policies stands up to even surface scrutiny. If elected, Trump will alienate allies, start wars, befriend dictators who are nice to him, cut taxes on the rich, ignore the middle class, perpetuate inequality and foster his business interests. (No law requires him to divest his real estate properties, nor would a blind trust work.) If Trump loses, he will say the system is rigged, causing more chaos and discouragement. This election is not about liberalism vs. conservatism, big government vs. individualism, a can-do, take-charge attitude vs. submitting to the status quo. This is about realism and whether we are willing to work for the countrys best interests long term. This election should not be about change if it means changing for the worse, destroying the fabric of our nation by electing a man who thinks nothing of routine lying, even knowing he will be caught. Many, not all, politicians have been dishonest. But we are in danger of creating an age of what is being called post-truth politics, where evidence and facts are scorned and the idea is not to search for truth but inspire passion, fear and hatred in supporters. Trump lies because he wants to tell people what he thinks they want to hear. People believe Trump because it takes more effort to disprove him than accept his lies. He never says he is sorry because he is not. That is not a great leader. That is a dangerously flawed, inherently insecure little man. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. German lawmakers called on regulators to curb Bayers US$66 billion takeover of U.S. seed giant Monsanto in a skepticism-laced parliamentary session that highlights the backlash to the deal Bayer faces in its home market. The debate Wednesday in the lower house of parliament, called by the opposition Green Party, laid bare the depth of resistance to Bayer buying a U.S. company that many Germans view as a champion of genetically-modified crops and a weedkiller they believe might cause cancer. Eight of the 12 lawmakers who spoke, including parliamentarians from within Chancellor Angela Merkels coalition, cast doubt on the acquisition. More than 70 per cent of Germans say they dont want genetically-modified food on their plates, but thats exactly part of the strategy of this merger, said Katharina Droege of the Greens. She warned of massive negative consequences for consumers and called on regulators to block the takeover. Lawmakers have no legislative authority to stop the deal. Buying Monsanto would give Bayer, based in the industrial western German city of Leverkusen, about 35 per cent of the global market for seeds and farm chemicals. The move comes as the number of players in the industry shrinks. China National Chemical Corp. is planning to buy Syngenta, and DuPont and Dow Chemical are seeking to combine and create a new crop-science unit. The deals are drawing scrutiny in the U.S. as well, with one lawmaker in a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday referring to a tsunami of consolidation. In a debate that cut across Merkels coalition, three Social Democrats from the governing alliance crossed the aisle to join opposition Greens and Left Party lawmakers to raise antitrust and environmental concerns. One lawmaker from Merkels Christian Democratic Union, Hermann Faerber, himself a farmer, also voiced skepticism. Faerber said excessive consolidation among suppliers will put pressure on German growers who are already facing mergers among the food companies that are their customers. The simple German farmer will be caught more and more between two millstones, Faerber said. The political criticism contrasted with a more positive take from Merkels government. Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt told Mittelbayerische Zeitung Tuesday the deal holds great potential for digital technology and innovation. I have the firm expectation that Bayer will transfer its sustainability strategy to the new parts of the company, Schmidt said. In the Bundestag Wednesday, amid jeers from the opposition, four lawmakers all from Merkels CDU-led bloc either sided with Bayer or called on legislators to wait for an assessment from the European Unions antitrust commission. What youre holding here is not a conversation, its demonization of a company, of an entire industry and an entire technology, Kristina Schroeder, Merkels former family minister, told the chamber. CDU lawmaker Matthias Heider said the parliamentary debate was premature and accused critical colleagues of exerting political pressure on regulators. Bayers takeover of Monsanto will create the No. 1 agro-chemical company in the world, Heider said. Id say thats rather an advantage than disadvantage. Still, most of the tenor was against the deal. A Left Party lawmaker, Eva Bulling-Schroeter, said the takeover would create an unparalleled super-company that should make us afraid. Bloomberg News Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Some fast-growing communities in southern Manitoba are breathing a sigh of relief as funds for new waste-water treatment systems start to flow. But the City of Winnipeg is still waiting for federal funds for its North End Water Treatment Plant upgrade. Under Ottawas new $2-billion Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, more than $49 million was allocated to 23 projects across Manitoba this summer for everything from waterline expansions to lagoon expansions and new waste-water treatment plants. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files The City of Winnipegs water-main reliability program is receiving $2,750,000 in federal infrastructure funding. Winnipegs $800-million North End Water Treatment Plant upgrade was not among them. Winnipeg to date hasnt received a dime from Ottawa for the plant upgrade. The South End Water Treatment Plant was also on Winnipegs ask list from the new water fund, but it also hasnt yet been approved. That project has already received $53 million from other federal infrastructure programs. A spokesman for Mayor Brian Bowman said the city is still hoping Ottawa will come through with some money down the road. Other municipalities, several of which have seen development grind to a halt as waste-water systems hit capacity, got much better news. One of them is St. Pierre-Jolys, which will get up to $1.5 million from Ottawa for its lagoon expansion. The province is contributing up to $750,000, and the village is putting up $750,000. St. Pierre-Jolys had to stop all new building in 2012 when its lagoon hit capacity. The village grew by one-third, to 1,200 from 800 people, between 2006 and 2011. Our town has been growing, and we want to keep the momentum going, said Mayor Mona Bruneau Fallis. Its a lot of money for a small community. The expansion will allow up to 2,000 people to live in the village, and a second phase can be added later with capacity for another 800 people. Developers are desperately waiting for the new lagoon to start building again, and Bruneau Fallis said things are finally moving. The village hopes to have the tender awarded by the end of the year so construction can begin as soon as possible in the spring. New homes can start up but cant be connected to the waste-water system until the new lagoon is finished, hopefully by the fall of 2017. The process to apply for funds from provincial and federal programs proved troublesome, and the first application was rejected for being incomplete. The confusion had a significant cost. In 2012 when the problem was first noted, engineers estimated it would cost $1.3 million to expand the lagoon. Now its upwards of $2.7 million. Manitoba Indigenous and Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke said her government is working on developing a one-stop application process for municipalities for infrastructure programs, something the Tories promised during the election. Manitoba is also starting regional roundtables with municipalities this week to discuss various infrastructure programs and priorities. Clarke said her governments focus is on projects that are strategic, offer value for money and have a tangible outcome. Six months ago, Winkler Mayor Martin Harder told the Free Press he was exasperated with the infrastructure process after submitting a joint application with Morden and the RM of Stanley for a new waste-water treatment facility to serve all three communities. Not a word had been heard for nine months, and development had ground to a halt. Winkler had to turn down a request to expand a trailer park, and other new development is on hold. Harder said after the story appeared, things started to move, meetings were called and this summer the first stage of money was approved. Winkler will get $1.8 million toward the engineering studies and design. He said the current program only funded projects that could be completed by March 2018, and the Winkler/Morden water-treatment facility would not make that deadline. Harder said the cities, which are also working in concert with the RM of Stanley, will now be shovel-ready to make an application under future infrastructure programs. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Manitobas longest-serving senator is leaving the upper chamber after what she says was a tumultuous period of hyper-partisan behaviour under the leadership of former prime minister Stephen Harper. Conservative Sen. Janis Johnson, 70, will leave her seat in the Senate Tuesday, 26 years to the day after she started there. Appointed by prime minsiter Brian Mulroney in 1990, she is the longest-serving Conservative in the Senate currently, and the fourth-longest-serving overall. In her resignation letter, she sang Mulroneys praises for appointing more women to the Senate, including her, who he knew was a feminist. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Janis Johnson in 2007. She will leave her seat in the Senate Tuesday 26 years after she started. She is Manitobas longest-serving senator. He had great foresight and will go down in history as one of our finest prime ministers, she said. She had no praise for Harper, under whose leadership she served for more than a decade. In an interview with the Free Press she said during Harpers tenure the Senate became a hyper-partisan rubber-stamping chamber that lost most of its role for representing the regions or giving legislation sober second thought. It was ultra-partisan because of the way the former prime minister treated the Senate and the role he wanted it to play, Johnson said. He didnt feel it had a part to play in our democracy. The partisanship game became so extreme. She said the role the Senate was supposed to play got completely distorted by what happened in the last few years. It wears you down, she said. It was very dysfunctional. Johnson said she has hope for the direction the new leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has taken to appointing only independent senators, and choosing them from a pool of people who applied themselves, meet specific requirements and are vetted and recommended for appointment by an independent advisory body. There is a lot of promise there, but it is a work in progress, Johnson said. Johnson served on more than a dozen Senate committees and has chaired six of them. But one of her biggest impacts in the Senate came within the first few months of her appointment when she voted against the Mulroney governments anti-abortion bill. Her very first speech in the Senate was about the bill, which she said she could not support because it did not respect a womans right to choose. She said voting against the bill which failed didnt make the government happy, but I felt like I was playing my role properly. The end of Johnsons tenure was marked somewhat by the Senate expenses scandal she was caught up in after auditor general Michael Ferguson said she had claimed more than $22,000 in travel expenses that were more personal than professional in nature. Johnson vehemently disagreed with his assessment but repaid the money, saying she wanted the Senate to be able to start to heal and move on. On Thursday she said the experience was a very sad story that was politically motivated by the former government and did nothing to improve the function of the Senate. The Senate has moved on, but it left scars of fear and intimidation and unfairness, she said. Johnson is the sixth Manitoba senator to resign or retire in the last five years. Manitoba has not had a full complement of senators for 31/2 years. Trudeau appointed two new senators for the province last spring Murray Sinclair and Raymonde Gagne. Two more are to be named within weeks. Trudeaus office didnt respond Thursday when asked when Johnsons seat might be filled. Her departure leaves Don Plett not just the lone Conservative from Manitoba, but also the only Manitoba senator in a specific political party. Plett said Thursday he was saddened by Johnsons resignation but understands her desire to move on. She is still young and a steady, solid contributor, Plett said. I am sorry to see her leave. Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose praised Johnson in a statement as a dedicated woman who worked tirelessly to represent the good people of Manitoba. On behalf of the Conservative caucus and all Canadians, I thank Janis for her service to Canada and wish her a happy retirement. After retiring, Johnson plans to continue her work as the founding chairwoman of the Gimli Film Festival and work as the chairwoman of the valuing the Icelandic presence committee at the University of Manitoba. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Mayor Brian Bowman and city council are serious about the need for smart growth fees to better manage the growth and infrastructure costs associated with a sprawling Winnipeg, which Winnipeg taxpayers can no longer sustain. This is a significant and welcomed turning point for our city. The mayor, along with the Hemson report, acknowledges growth fees can also be used as an effective community-planning tool. Intertwined with other strategies, smart growth fees will ensure growth is orderly, compact, and efficiently uses existing infrastructure and services. In addition to tax savings, a city built up, as opposed to built out contributes to increased transit use, increased walkability, a smaller carbon footprint and a healthier community, one less dependent on cars. By extension, this is key to revitalizing our older neighbourhoods, and our downtown benefits as well. Growth fees are financial tools used by municipalities to pay for additional growth-related infrastructure costs related to new developments that are not covered by existing development fees. The governing principle behind growth fees is development related to growth should pay for itself and not overly burden existing taxpayers. Winnipeg is one of the last remaining Canadian cities to tackle this issue. DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Growth fees can be a tool for revitalizing older neighbourhoods as well as downtown. Dense, mixed-use and more sustainable development has become a priority for Canadian municipalities, and these types of developments create more vibrant neighbourhoods. As many urban practitioners such as Joe Minicozzi have concluded, these types of developments also create more tax dollars per acre and make it cheaper for a city to operate services such as transit, road repairs, water/waste management and to offer other amenities. Careful management around growth-fee implementation could also have a strong and desirous effect not only for increased general revenue, but also city growth itself. However, forward thinking taking into consideration the interest of the city taxpayers as a whole will challenge some councillors to focus on the future vision of growth and fiscal prosperity of our city. Ultimately, a smart growth-fee strategy is in the best interest of our citys current constituents and future constituents those who will inherit the city. From a downtown perspective, the economic health of our downtown is directly linked to the economic success of our surrounding neighbourhoods and the city itself, and the citys growth patterns. The mayors commitment to further community dialogue, and acknowledgment that downtown and city-wide infill in our older and surrounding neighbourhoods is important and should be exempt, forms an important part of this discussion. This is in sync with the citys Our Winnipeg policy framework that identifies council priorities. Our members are eager to engage, discuss and provide value to this process, and in a constructive city-building way, to continue and even expedite the process of creating a better city for everyone. Sachit Mehra is past chairman of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Should alcohol sales be dominated by a Crown corporation? A new study indicates the answer is yes. A new Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba report, Balancing Convenience with Social Responsibility: Liquor Regulation in Manitoba, examines the way liquor is managed and sold in Western Canada. The report was authored by Greg Flanagan, a public finance economist. The role of government in the control of alcoholic beverage sales and consumption has been under re-evaluation across Canada. Saskatchewans mixed public/private system, very similar to Manitobas, may be about to change. Premier re-elect Brad Wall claimed the old public store-only option is not sitting with Saskatchewan people. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Manitobas mixed public/private system for alcohol sales is similar to Saskatchewans, though that could change. The B.C. government has been revising the rules of the industry almost continuously in recent history, attempting to balance its notions of the governments role with the opportunities for private enterprise with mixed results. Alberta privatized the retail of liquor in 1993 but maintains control over the wholesaling of alcohol and charges a unit tax on all products sold. At the time, then-premier Ralph Klein argued liquor control was a paternalistic and unnecessary intrusion in market freedom and a competitive private sector would bring innovation and lower prices. As the report explains, Klein was wrong on both counts. The report first summarizes a wide array of literature concluding increased access to alcoholic beverages leads to increased alcohol consumption, which leads to increased individual and public harm and costs. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism, injury and loss of life, illness and loss of worker production, property damage, crimes and violence including homicide, social discord, family tension, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and a host of other health problems. Substance-abuse experts, including the World Health Organization, recommend a combination of policies to manage alcohol-related harm, including limiting availability of alcohol through pricing and taxation, limiting access according to age and controlling hours and days of sale. Then Flanagan compares Manitobas mixed public/private system to the other western provinces and Canada as a whole. Using data from Statistics Canada, he analyzes performance on a wide variety of measures. The report finds Manitoba employs the responsible social practice of setting alcohol taxes so more revenue is collected on a lower volume of sales. This method dampens the tendency to over-consume while raising necessary revenue to pay for the health and social programs alcohol consumption inevitably necessitates. The bottom line, financially, is the measure of net income or profit obtained from the retail industry in each of the four provinces. Government net income as a percentage of revenue from the sale of alcohol is lowest in Albertas system, which is fully privatized. B.C., more privatized than Manitoba and Saskatchewan, had the next-lowest percentage. Manitoba and Saskatchewan did extremely well on this measure, with considerably higher net incomes. Prices for most products rose in Alberta after privatization, despite the fact the percentage of revenues going to government has gone down. Albertas move to privatization has resulted in a deadweight welfare loss. Not only do consumers pay more, but alcohol consumption has increased while Albertas net revenue from sales has decreased, leaving it with less revenue to deal with the health and social problems arising from alcohol consumption. Overall, Manitoba has the best results among the four western provinces in mitigating the harms generated by alcohol consumption, but there is always room for improvement; in some instances for example, alcohol abuse/dependence our standing is worse than the national average. In order to improve these results, we need to maintain our commitment to a strong public system. There is substantial international evidence showing privatizing liquor sales raises alcohol consumption. Indeed, Flanagan found Alberta has the greatest number of outlets per capita, with 20 per cent more stores than Manitoba. Albertans consume more alcohol per capita than British Columbians, Saskatchewanites or Manitobans, whose rates are all around the national average. Private outlets want to sell as much product as possible and are not motivated to restrict access to minors or intoxicated individuals. In fact, advertising responsible drinking and monitoring customers add costs that a private owner will try to avoid. All these factors lead Flanagan to conclude that through privatization, the Alberta government lost control of the liquor-distribution industry. In contrast, the study finds Manitoba has achieved a balanced system such as that recommended by the World Health Organization. It provides reasonable access to a large variety of products while retaining solid control on consumption levels and generating large net profits that can then used to treat the harmful effects of alcohol abuse, as well as pay for other public services. It is always possible to improve a system, but as this report demonstrates, Manitoba would be well-advised not to change how it manages liquor distribution. A public liquor monopoly, such as we have in Manitoba, is best suited to succeed at this objective. Lynne Fernandez is the Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Trudeau governments plan to ensure there is a significant price on carbon dioxide emissions across Canada is irrational. It will have no impact on climate, yet will cost billions of dollars that should be dedicated to health care, education, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and other immediate concerns. Contrary to Green party Leader Elizabeth Mays assertion the Liberals decision to retain the Harper governments emission-reduction goals is nothing short of a disaster for the climate, there is nothing Canada can do that would significantly affect climate. We are mere bit players on the world stage. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall laid it out clearly a Sunday interview with Evan Solomon on CTVs Question Period. Were 1.6 per cent of global emissions, said Wall. If we meet the targets or if we exceed the targets, it will not impact the worlds climate one iota. Activists argue it is still worth the cost since we are setting an example for developing nations, the source of most of the worlds emissions, to follow. But poorer countries have indicated they have no intention of following our lead. For example, on July 18, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines said about the Paris climate agreement: You are trying to stymie (our growth) with an agreement Thats stupid. I will not honour that. Duterte can say this with a clear conscience. The United Framework Convention on Climate Change, the foundation of the Paris Agreement, gives an out clause for developing nations. The treaty states: Economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country parties. Climate change be damned. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna tells us catastrophe awaits if we do not change our ways. Addressing the June 4 Ottawa West climate change town hall, the minister warned, If we dont set ourselves in a much better trajectory, were going to have irreparable changes these are going to be changes that are going to be so dramatic that the impacts on humans, on animals, on biodiversity is going to be such that we wont be able to deal properly with the future. No one, not even the worlds leading climate experts, know this. The reports of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change cite hundreds of references published in leading science journals that show todays climate is not unusual, and evidence for future climate calamity is weak. Even the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change admits surface temperature, averaged over the land and ocean, increased only about 0.85 C between 1880 to 2012 despite a supposed 36 per cent rise in atmospheric CO2 content. And a significant portion of the warming is part of the natural climate cycle coming out of the Little Ice Age. So, our contribution to the modest temperature rise that has occurred in those 132 years is something less than 0.85 degrees, a far cry from McKennas excited forecast. Given that there has been no general increase in extreme weather or the rate of sea-level rise, the only rationale for the governments actions would be the possibility of dangerous climate change in the future. To develop sensible public policy in this case, we need vast amounts of weather and climate data. This is required to build the computer models on which climate concerns are based and then to provide the starting conditions for model-generated forecasts to be performed. We would then need to determine whether these changes are likely to be dangerous, and if they are, how much of it we are causing. Former University of Winnipeg professor and historical climatologist Dr. Tim Ball says the collection and interpretation of data needed to fulfil these requirements has just begun. He explains that there are relatively few weather stations of adequate length or reliability on which to base model forecasts of future climate. McKennas worries, therefore, have absolutely no credibility in the real world, Ball concludes. The UNs My World global survey shows Canadas government is out of touch with average people on climate change. After polling 9.7 million people from 194 countries, action taken on climate change rates dead last out of the 16 suggested priorities for the UN. For most of the world, and especially those in developing nations, the message is clear: in comparison with access to reliable energy, better health care, government honesty, a good education, etc., climate change is not important. Its time for governments to stop wasting our money trying to stop the climate from changing. We have real problems to solve. Tom Harris is executive director of the Ottawa-based International Climate Science Coalition. Maybe, in the upcoming nationally televised debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, he will say something that infuriates her, causing her to crazily spout a sentence backward, put her thumb on her nose, wiggle her fingers and then spit on his golden hair. Short of all that, the victory ought to be hers Monday night, and we all know who is most likely to do something foolish. Thats Trump, the guy who once indulged in genital braggadocio in a primary debate. On top of that, she is knowledgeable about affairs of state and hes not. He once said, for instance, that he learns about military issues from experts on TV. Clinton is articulate. Without a teleprompter, Trumps words can get lost in a maze. Of course, its not trained judges who determine winners and losers by looking at logic accompanied by evidence with eloquence thrown in. Instead, its the people out there. Some may do their testing by tracking which candidates views coincide with their own. Perhaps, with hand on chin, others will be engaged in pop psych analysis. There will be those who look at Clinton and see an avalanche of ruinous leftism headed our way, and others who will look at Trump and see an earthquake of stupidities. Whatever, the usual Trump will likely have to do a disappearing act for the candidate to have a chance. What worked in the primary debates wont work this time out. For one thing, it will be a one-on-one match, meaning Trump cant just shut up and look the other direction when he is ignorant about a subject. If he tries to bully Clinton the way he bullied Jeb Bush, as one example, he will look like the sexist from hell. Virtually all of his opponents in these multi-person get-togethers were much better debaters than Mr. Ballyhoo, especially Sen. Marco Rubio. But it did not matter so much because the primary voters represented people especially anxious for a revamped status quo. Trump represented something different, to say the least. Trump did have one splendid moment in those debates, namely when he took on Sen. Ted Cruz for his disgust with New York values. He had reason, emotion and ethics on his side as he reminded Cruz of the citys noble reaction to the 9/11 attacks. To come across that way in his debate with Clinton, he will have to exercise perfect self-control and be prepared in all sorts of ways, from thinking through workable tactics to having persuasive answers to difficult questions. For him to get there, he will have to have listened carefully to his best advisors and he does have some good ones and he will have to have practiced and he will have to have studied. It will help as well if the moderators in this first debate and those that follow know what the job is to ask broad questions about important issues and not to intervene except in regards to time restraints. What they should absolutely not do is imitate Candy Crowley of CNN when she entered a debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney with a fact-check perhaps affecting an election outcome. Journalists can do such things in interviews but not when acting as moderators, unless they also happen to be running for president. A bunch apparently thought they were doing just that during the primary debates, but I promise you they did not get my vote. This debate is not just politics. It is showbiz. It could put past Super Bowls to shame in the TV ratings it will get. Some think it will decide the election, at least when combined with the other two debates. Thats not entirely wonderful the format should really be just the candidates coming up with their own topics, and the best debaters arent necessarily the best presidents, anyway. What we should still pray for is something worthy of America. BARABOOYou may have noticed a recent change at St. Clare Hospital and Dean new signs, a new look and a new name. The change is significant, but this new name SSM Health is a thoughtful, meaningful change. What is SSM Health? SSM Health is a Catholic, nonprofit health system based in St. Louis. With physicians, hospitals and health services in four states Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma SSM is one of the largest integrated health systems in the country. In Wisconsin, SSM Health includes St. Marys Hospitals in Madison and Janesville, St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, the more than 50 Dean Medical Group locations, Dean Health Plan, St. Marys Care Center in Madison, St. Clare Meadows Care Center in Baraboo and Navitus, a pharmacy benefit management services company. SSM Health is also a health care organization with a mission. Our purpose is to heal and serve. We do this through exceptional care, quality and service, says Damond Boatwright, regional president of hospital operations. While our name has changed, our mission and commitment to caring for the whole person has not. The organization was founded in 1872 by a small congregation of nuns known as the Sisters of St. Mary. These sisters immigrated to St. Louis from Germany, arriving with just $5 to provide care to the sick. Throughout the following decades, the sisters answered the call to care for sick and poor people across Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois. In the early 1900s, a plea for help came from Wisconsin a request to build a hospital in Madison. In 1912 the sisters opened St. Marys Hospital, partnering with a local physician who petitioned for a new hospital Dr. Joseph Dean of Dean Clinic. This partnership continued through 2013 when SSM Health and Dean Clinic officially joined as one organization. Throughout the past century, SSM Health has answered the call to help other communities, opening St. Marys Ringling Hospital in 1922 in Baraboo, and subsequent St. Clare Hospital in 1963, opening primary and specialty care locations across south-central Wisconsin and building St. Marys Hospital in Janesville in 2012. Though SSM Health has been providing high-quality compassionate health care services in Wisconsin for generations, we are making this change now to formally connect our facilities and services, says Boatwright. Uniting under one name gives us the opportunity to show that our mission, our physicians and staff and our services are all committed to what our founding sisters were committed to the people we serve. What does this change mean for patients? This change means the organizations commitment to patient centered care is stronger than ever. Patients will in many cases benefit from SSM Healths dedication to providing care closer to home. SSM Health is installing a linear accelerator to help doctors administer treatments with precision as part of a renovation on the Baraboo campus, which will begin seeing patients Nov. 1. Driving long distances to specialty appointments can put an undue burden on patients. SSM Health is working to address these challenges by offering more telehealth services to patients in the Baraboo area. Innovations in technology allow specialists in various services like infectious disease or the Intensive Care Unit to care for patients from other locations using a video link. Later this year, the SSM Health St. Clare Center in Baraboo will begin using telepsychology as part of its addiction treatment services. Insurance products offered by Dean Health Plan are routinely reviewed for ways to update the products available to all health care consumers, including the 2015 addition of a Medicare Advantage product that meets the needs of a growing older adult population. SSM Health also provides life-saving EpiPens to area schools. Recognizing that unexpected life-threatening allergic reactions can happen to students, faculty and staff at our area schools, SSM developed a unique program in 2012 that provides EpiPens to Dean Health Plan member schools at no cost to the schools each year. This year the program is providing the devices to 220 schools. Creating unique partnerships and offering cutting edge services is something SSM Health takes pride in doing. As we care for and serve our patients and members, our interactions with them define who we are and what we stand for, Boatwright said. We take the responsibility of their health into our hands and we are privileged to do so. Were proud so many people choose us for their care and we will continue to work tirelessly for them. What does this mean for the community? Just as SSM Health is committed to the health of its patients, the organization is also committed to the health of the communities it serves. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control created a Division of Community Health as a way to help Americans prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Through coordinated efforts across the country, local public health departments, hospitals and community groups are bringing sharper focus to these chronic diseases as a way to both improve quality of life for those living with chronic conditions, as well as prevent more people from developing those conditions. To respond to identified needs in its communities, SSM has a dedicated team working on community partnerships that provide real results. Programs like the BSP Free Clinic, SSM Healths Parish Nurses and many others help staff, doctors and nurses deliver care to our areas under-served residents. SSM Health holds dear our vow to the communities and patients we serve each day, says Boatwright. While our look and name may be changing, our Mission and commitment to provide an exceptional experience to every patient remains the same just as the sisters made it their Mission and commitment 140 years ago. TOWN OF FOX LAKE The struggle over zoning in the town of Fox Lake continues as a petition submitted to the town board will force a special meeting Oct. 10, where the electors will be asked to reinstate town control of zoning. In addition, there is a public hearing scheduled Oct. 3 by the Dodge County Planning, Development and Parks Committee so citizens can comment on a proposed town of Fox Lake zoning map. The hearing and a recommendation from the committee about the map would be the next step for Dodge County Land Use Ordinances to be enforced in the town of Fox Lake. Ultimately, the Dodge County Board of Supervisors would need to adopt the change. Zoning has been a contentious issue in the town since the annual meeting in April. At that meeting, a small group of voters forced the town to rescind village powers and give up its zoning powers. At a second meeting in July, town electors voted 74 to 63 to rescind town zoning authority. The argument has been that town zoning duplicates county ordinances and is costly because the town has to employ a zoning administrator to enforce it. Kathy Rydquist, who circulated the petition, asked, If we needed it 10 years ago ... why dont we need it now? Rydquist said the town spent considerable time working on, and money to create, the town zoning ordinance. She said officials worked with the county and others when it was created. She said the petition submitted to the town board contains 187 signatures and that it was drafted by an attorney she hired. People always say somebody should do something about this and this time I am the somebody, Rydquist said. According to Rydquist, the petition required the signatures of 10 percent of those who voted in the 2014 gubernatorial election or 60 people. We would like to have gotten more signatures, but time didnt allow it, she said. The town clerk needs time to verify the petition and there are meeting notice requirements that have to be met. The petition specifically asks for reconsideration of the action taken at the July 9 town meeting, authorizing the town to exercise zoning authority and directing the town board to reinstate the town zoning ordinance as it existed on the date of the 2016 annual meeting. Rydquist said an argument in favor of town zoning includes exercising more local control. She said while county officials have been fine to work with, communication is better when decisions are made more locally. A list of reasons why town zoning is needed that was provided with the petition when seeking signatures points out that there is no duplication of county zoning. The state and county will always adminster floodplain and shoreland zoning. The list also states that costs of administering local zoning can be recovered in established ways. The list points out that town zoning allows the town to make decisions that are unique to the community. Its a different level of service (with town zoning), Rydquist said. Columbus Recreation is offering a variety of adult enrichment programs this fall. Upcycled Nature, Nov. 22, 7 to 9 p.m. Columbus Recreation is teaming with Bare Knuckle Arts to provide this unique opportunity. Participants will use some very cool things from the natural world that will be woven, bent and layered into a circle piece. The piece will evolve as its put together and can be used as a holiday centerpiece or a candle holder. Ages 12 to adult are welcome. The cost is $36 per participant. Upcycled Nature will be held in the lower level of the Firemans Park Pavilion. Silk Scarf Marbling, Oct. 22, 1 to 4 p.m. Learn to marble paper and then create three silk scarves for yourself or a gift for someone you love. Participants dont need any experience, just a willingness to experiment. Ages 8 to adult are welcome. The cost is $65 per participant. The class will meet at the Columbus Community Center, 161 N. Dickason Blvd. Wrap Up The Night, Dec. 9, 6 to 9 p.m. Participants will create their own unique wrap bracelets with friends while complimentary wine will be served. Instructor Amy Mietzel of Bare Knuckle Arts will lead the way. The class will cost $45 per person and will meet at the Columbus Community Center, 161 N. Dickason Blvd. Freezer Meal Workshop Nov. 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Are you tired of stressing over whats for dinner? Want to eat healthy, but cant find the time? Freezer meals are the answer! Come to this mini freezer meal workshop and discover the convenience of having healthy dinners ready to pull out on busy nights. Participants will bring four bags filled with shrimp, chicken, pot roast and pork and a few other simple ingredients. They will go home with four freezer meals: two for the skillet, one for the oven and one for the crockpot. Recipes will include Honey Dijon Chicken, Spanish-Style Garlic Shrimp, Italian Herb Crusted Pork Chops and Crockpot Shredded Beef Burritos. A grocery list and prep instructions will be provided after registration (protein substitutions can be made). Karen Gleason of Wildtree will lead the class. The cost is $25 per person. The course will meet in the lower level of the Firemans Park Pavilion. All programs can be enrolled in through the online link at: https://apm.activecommunities.com/columbusrecwi/Home. Call Amy Jo at 623- 5936 for more information. Erling Gunder Landsverk Erling Gunder Landsverk of King passed away from complications of COPD on Sept. 22, 2016. His very productive life was an inspiration for all who knew him. He was born in Dunseith, North Dakota, Dec. 18, 1926, to Gunder & Olga (Grasvold) Landsverk. He spent his youth growing up in the Turtle Mountains during the Great Depression until his family moved to Wisconsin in 1943. He graduated from Rio High School in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the Army where he served his country in combat in the Philippines during WWII. After returning from the war he studied music in St. Paul where he mastered the classical guitar, a gift he shared with family and friends for generations. In 1948, he began working in construction as a bricklayer and stonemason, eventually running work for Marshall Erdman, based in Madison. He married Louise Joan Larson in 1951 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rio. He began a small general contracting business in 1954, which he operated for over 30 years, completing a wide range of projects in residential, commercial, industrial and public works. After retiring from his construction business, he worked part time as an expeditor and property manager in Plover until macular degeneration finally took most of his sight. The epitome of perseverance, he continued to entertain with his music and published many thought-provoking opinion articles in the local newspapers. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, served on the Pardeeville School Board, church council and supported numerous community activities. Erling was preceded in death by his parents, Gunder and Olga; brothers, Rolf and Harold (Ozzie); sisters, Borghild Filas and Thelma Johnson; nephew, Steve; and grandson, Justin. He is survived by his wife, Joan; sons Owen, Eric, and Gary, daughter, Amy; grandchildren Jennifer, Christopher, Nicholas, Jacob, Jason and Jonathan; great-grandchildren Treyten, Kaleb, Kennedy, Riley, Lia, and Genevieve; nieces, nephews and many other dear friends. Funeral services with full military honors will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Bonnet Prairie Lutheran Church in Rio with the Rev. Joan Wittrock officiating. Burial will follow at Bonnet Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Grasse Funeral Home, 119 Industrial Drive, Pardeeville and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Monday at the church. The family would like to give special thanks to ThedaCare Hospice and the wonderful staff of the King Veterans Home for their kindness and wonderful care during his final weeks. Grasse Funeral Service of Pardeeville is serving the family. www.grassefs.com Who will win the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump? Thats easy. Clinton should destroy him. Shell take him into the deep waters of policy that he doesnt quite understand and shell hold him under. If youre a Trump fan upset with the horde of panic-stricken Hillary-lovers in the media these days, rest assured I am no Hillary lover. As Ive previously confessed, Im something of a Clinton loather. But I cant help calling things the way I think Ill see them when Clinton and Trump meet in their first debate at Hofstra University in New York on Monday. It could easily turn out this way: Hillary, the first Nixonian female candidate for president, will be somewhat shaken after the debate, but very much alive (politically). And Donald? Hell be floating face down (politically) in a muddy river, a waterlogged Cheeto, bumping up against the stumps on the far bank. Yes, Clinton has lost her big lead in the political polls. Yes, shes outraised and outspent him, yet her double-digit cushion is gone, and hes overtaking her in the battleground states. So Trump has got the Big Mo, and recent events, such as the terrorist bombings in New Jersey and New York, may work in his favor. That said, shes fighting for her political life now, even as her pundit friends in the media suffer hysterics and the heebie-jeebies, judging by their terrified tweets of late. It is their lot to panic, and to write essays pleading with their brethren not to panic. The Beltway media for the most part serves an American political establishment now under great threat of a popular uprising. Hillary is undoubtedly the establishment candidate. And that uprising is led, at least for now, by Trump, whom her allies and many of her enemies consider to be the barbarian at their gates. Thats what this election has become: an uprising of the so-called deplorables, who feel as betrayed by the establishment GOP as they do by the Democrats. Thats why this is so close when common wisdom tells us that, with all her money and positioning, she should be far out front. Hence, the panicky tweets. But Clinton wont panic. She has spent a lifetime in politics and policy. Trump has not. She will offer an image of stable leadership. And he cant help shooting from the hip. Talking tough like a guy from Queens at a bar watching TV news may have worked on those GOP establishment suits who lined up against him in the Republican primaries. But it just wont do in a nationally televised presidential debate with the whole world watching. Since John Kennedy put on TV makeup and flashed those white teeth at the sweaty Richard Nixon, American presidential debates have been about style. And style makes fights. Hes the slugger. Shes the boxer. And the referees have already been warned, lest they end up like Matt Lauer of the Today show. Lauer was whipped and shamed by The New York Times and The Washington Post and other archbishops of the Clinton Restoration for the sin of not beating up on Trump in a recent candidates forum. The race is so close now that Trumps slightest gaffes will be exaggerated, and there will be great pressure on journalists to show him as temperamentally unfit for the office. But I dont think hell make slight gaffes. I think hell make a huge one. Why? Because hes Trump. He doesnt peel a grape with an ax. He uses a chain saw. And she knows it. Hes already been led into a trap with his attacks on the Gold Star Khan family after they mocked him at the Democratic convention. Trump behaved as badly as Clinton profilers knew he would. It hurt him. And his inability to resist easy bait could prove fatal in the first debate. He gives chase and lunges when off leash. Think of a raccoon fighting for its life against a dog, luring him into a river before she turns, then climbs up on that dogs nose to drown it. Already I can hear the shrieks of the Clintonistas damning me for comparing her to a raccoon, forgetting that in this fable, Trump is the reckless hound. I mean it not as an insult, but as a sincere compliment, since raccoons are formidable when threatened. Theyre ingenious at defeating traps. Theyre also quite nimble, smart and tenacious, and so is she. Fortunately, Ive never seen a raccoon drown a hound dog in a river, but I did watch an old Twilight Zone episode once when I was a boy. It involved an old mountain man and his faithful coon hound named Rip. They drowned together, the dog by a raccoon in the water, the old man jumping in trying to help. In pure The Twilight Zone fashion, they woke up on a country road in the afterlife, forced to make that final choice. I wont spoil it for you, so Ill say no more. So whether Trump will recover from this first (projected) debate drowning in this Twilight Zone election, I cant say. But he wont be standing before a crowd of fans. Hell be standing before Hillary Clinton. And shell be ready for him on the edge of the deep water, daring him to lunge in after her. 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 Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farms in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Enbridge Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company operates through five segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services. The Liquids Pipelines segment operates pipelines and related terminals to transport various grades of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in Canada and the United States. The Gas Transmission and Midstream segment invests in natural gas pipelines, and gathering and processing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Gas Distribution and Storage segment is involved in natural gas utility operations serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ontario, as well as natural gas distribution and energy transportation activities in Quebec. The Renewable Power Generation segment operates power generating assets, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery facilities; and transmission assets in North America and Europe. The Energy Services segment provides energy marketing services to refiners, producers, and other customers; and physical commodity marketing and logistical services in Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California. The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hemmelrath International Trade (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Karl Woerwag Lack-und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holdings Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, Milamar Coatings LLC, OOO Tikkurila, PPG A P Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc./PPG Revetements Architecturaux Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l, PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG Business Services S.A. de C.V., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cetelon Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG Finland Oy, PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Investment (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Refinish Distribution Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG Reunion SAS, PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Korlatolt FelelosseguTarasasag (PPG Trilak Kft.), PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Tikkurila Oyj, Tikkurila Sverige AB, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, VF Specialty Products LLC, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., VersaFlex Acquisition Corp., VersaFlex Inc., VersaFlex Intermediate Holdings LLC, Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, and Worwag Coatings. Read More Public Storage is a REIT focused on acquiring, developing, owning, and operating self-storage facilities in the US and Europe. The company is a member of the S&P 500 and the FT Global 500 and is the worlds 4th largest REIT by market cap. Along with its holdings of self-storage facilities, the company owns a 42% stake in business park company PS Business Parks and is also in business selling packing and storage supplies. The company is headquartered in Glendale California. The company was founded in 1972 by B. Wayne Hughes and Kenneth Polk who used the leverage of investments from RELPs to grow the business. The original plan was to use the storage warehouses as a means of generating income until the properties were more valuable. The surprise is that demand for storage space was high and led to unexpected profitability. The company has more than 1,000 locations by 1989 and then, in 1995, it transformed itself into a publicly traded REIT. The transformation was spurred by tax changes that made RELPs obsolete. The transformation was done via a merger with Storage Equities which gave up its name in favor of Public Storage. The company grew again with the acquisition of Shurgard in 2006 but it has since been spun off as its own publicly traded company. Public Storage retains 36% ownership in Shurgard. As of September 2022, the company owned and operated 2,807 self-storage facilities in 39 states. The total area of rental space exceeded 2 million square feet serving nearly 2 million customers and generating close to $3.5 billion in annual revenues. Shurgard lays claim to another 239 facilities in the EU which amounts to another 13 minion square feet of storage space. PS Business Parks, Inc, which trades under the ticker (NYSE: PSB) owns and operates 28 million square feet of commercial space. Advantages of Public Storage include scale, leverage, and the balance sheet. The companys size and scale mean that more than half the US population lives within driving distance of a Public Storage facility. The company gives leverage through its three-pronged acquisition, development, and redevelopment strategy which are all supported by the balance sheet. The companys balance sheet is set up for growth and is able to self-fund most new projects. S&P Global Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. It operates in six divisions: S&P Global Ratings, S&P Dow Jones Indices, S&P Global Commodity Insights, S&P Global Market Intelligence, S&P Global Mobility, and S&P Global Engineering Solutions. The S&P Global Ratings division operates as an independent provider of credit ratings, research, and analytics, offering investors and other market participants information, ratings, and benchmarks. The S&P Dow Jones Indices division is an index provider that maintains various valuation and index benchmarks for investment advisors, wealth managers, and institutional investors. The S&P Global Commodity Insights division offers data and insights for global energy and commodity markets and enable its customers to make decisions. The S&P Global Market Intelligence division delivers data and technology solutions for customers to provide insights for making decisions. It offers data and services that bring end-to-end workflow solutions, including capital formation, data and distribution, ESG and sustainability, leveraged loans, private markets, sector coverage, supply chain, and issuer solutions, as well as credit, risk, and regulatory solutions. The S&P Global Mobility division provides insights derived from unmatched automotive data, enabling its customers to anticipate change and make decisions. The S&P Global Engineering Solutions division offers engineering expertise and solutions in industries, such as aerospace and defense, energy, architecture, construction, and transportation. Its solutions empower business and technical leaders to transform workflows and make decisions. S&P Global Inc. was founded in 1860 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. provides automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy duty trucks. The company offers battery accessories; belts and hoses; brakes and brake pads; chassis and climate control parts; clutches and drive shafts; engines and engine parts; exhaust systems and parts; hub assemblies; ignition components and wires; radiators and cooling parts; starters and alternators; and steering and alignment parts. It also offers air conditioning chemicals and accessories; air fresheners; antifreeze and washer fluids; electrical wires and fuses; electronics; floor mats, seat covers, and interior accessories; hand and specialty tools; lighting products; performance parts; sealants, adhesives and compounds; tire repair accessories; vent shades, mirrors and exterior accessories; washes, waxes and cleaning supplies; and wiper blades. In addition, the company offers air filters; fuel and oil additives; fuel filters; grease and lubricants; motor oils; oil filters, part cleaners and treatments; and transmission fluids for engine maintenance. Further, it offers battery and wiper installation; engine light scanning and checking; electrical system testing; video clinic; oil and battery recycling; and loaner tool program services. Additionally, the company sells its products through its website. It serves professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. The company operates stores under the Advance Auto Parts, Autopart International, and Carquest brands, as well as branches under the Worldpac name. As of April 23, 2022, it operated 4,687 stores and 311 branches in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada; and served 1,318 independently owned Carquest branded stores in Mexico, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands. The company was founded in 1929 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Humana Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Group and Specialty, and Healthcare Services. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. In addition, the company provides commercial fully insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits comprising dental, vision, and other supplemental health benefits; and administrative services only products to individuals and employer groups, as well as military services, such as TRICARE T2017 East Region contract. Further, it offers pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home solutions services, such as home health and other services to its health plan members, as well as to third parties. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 5 million members in specialty products. Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The following companies are subsidiares of Laboratory Co. of America: 1957285 Ontario Inc. dba Quality Underwriting Services, 2089729 Ontario Inc., 2248848 Ontario Inc., 3065619 Nova Scotia Company, 3257959 Nova Scotia Company, 8165335 Canada Inc., 8348596 Canada Inc., 896988 Ontario Limited, 9279-3280 Quebec Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Assets of Pathology Inc, Beacon LBS IPA Inc., Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions Inc., CannAmm GP Inc., CannAmm Limited Partnership, Center for Disease Detection International, Center for Disease Detection LLC, Centrex Clinical Laboratories Inc., Chiltern, Clearstone Central Laboratories (U.S.) Inc., Clearstone Holdings (International) Ltd., Clinical Outreach Laboratory Services, Clipper Holdings Inc., Colorado Coagulation Consultants Inc., Colorado Laboratory Services LLC, Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., Covance Inc., Curalab Inc., Cytometry Associates Inc., Czura Thornton (Hong Kong) Limited, DCL Acquisition Inc., DCL Medical Laboratories LLC, DCL Sub LLC, DIANON Systems Inc., DL Holdings Limited Partnership, Decision Diagnostics L.L.C. (aka DaVinici/Medicorp LLC), Diagnostic Services Inc., DynaLifeDX, Dynacare - Gamma Laboratory Partnership, Dynacare Company, Dynacare G.P. Inc., Dynacare Holdco LLC, Dynacare Laboratories Inc., Dynacare Laboratories Limited Partnership, Dynacare Northwest Inc., Dynacare Realty Inc., DynalifeDX Infrastructure Inc., Envigo's nonclinical contract research services business, Esoterix Genetic Counseling LLC, Esoterix Genetic Laboratories LLC, Esoterix Inc., Execmed Health Services Inc., FirstSource Laboratory Solutions Inc., GDML Medical Laboratories Inc, Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratories GP Inc., Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratory Limited Partnership, HHLA Lab-In-An-Envelope LLC, Health Testing Centers Inc., Health Trans Services Inc., Home Healthcare Laboratory of America LLC, IDX Pathology Inc., Impact Genetics Corporation, Impact Genetics Inc., Kaleida LabCorp LLC, Lab Delivery Service of New York City Inc., LabCorp BVBA, LabCorp Belgium Holdings Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Canada) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (China) Inc., LabCorp Colorado Inc., LabCorp Development Company, LabCorp Employer Services Inc., LabCorp Health System Diagnostics LLC, LabCorp Indiana Inc., LabCorp Japan G.K., LabCorp Limited, LabCorp Michigan Inc., LabCorp Nebraska Inc., LabCorp Neon Ltd., LabCorp Neon Switzerland S.a.r.l., LabCorp Specialty Testing Billing Service Inc., LabCorp Specialty Testing Group Inc., LabCorp Staffing Solutions Inc., LabCorp Tennessee LLC, LabCorp UK Holdings Ltd., LabWest Inc., Laboratoire Bio-Medic Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America, Lifecodes Corporation, LipoScience Inc., Litholink Corporation, MEDTOX Scientific Inc., MNG Laboratories, MedAxio Insurance Medical Services GP Inc., MedAxio Insurance Medical Services LP, Medical Neurogenitics LLC, Medtox Diagnostics Inc., Medtox Laboratories Inc., Monogram Biosciences Inc., Monogram Biosciences UK Limited, Myriad Autoimmunes Vectra Testing Business, NWT Inc., National Genetics Institute, New Brighton Business Center LLC, New Imaging Diagnostics LLC, New Molecular Diagnostics Ventures LLC, Orchid Cellmark ULC, Ovia Health, PA Labs Inc., Paclab LLC, Path Lab Incorporated, Pathology Associates Medical Lab LLC, Pee Dee Pathology Associates Inc., Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc., Persys Technology Inc., Pixel by LabCorp, Princeton Diagnostic Laboratories of America Inc., Protedyne Corporation, SW/DL LLC, Saint Josephs-PAML LLC, Sequenom Biosciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sequenom Inc, Sequenom Inc., Tandem Labs Inc., Toxikon Corporation, Tri-Cities Laboratory LLC, Viro-Med Laboratories Inc., Visiun, and Yakima Medical Arts Inc.. Read More Knowles Corporation offers micro-acoustic microphones and balanced armature speakers, audio solutions, high performance capacitors, and radio frequency products for the consumer electronics, medtech, defense, electric vehicle, industrial, and communications markets. It operates in two segments, Audio and Precision Devices (PD). The Audio segment designs and manufactures audio products, including microphones, balanced armature speakers, and audio processors used in applications that serve the mobile, hearing health, True Wireless Stereo, Internet of Things, and computing markets. The PD segment is involved in the design and delivery of high-performance capacitor products and RF solutions that are used in applications, such as power supplies and medical implants, satellite communications, and radar systems, as well as for communications equipment. The company sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers and to their contract manufacturers and suppliers, as well as through distributors. It has operations in Asia, the United States, Europe, other Americas, and internationally. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Climate change agreement crosses threshold 22 September 2016 Share The Paris Climate Change Agreement crossed the first of two thresholds required for it to enter into force after 31 governments yesterday formally submitted their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Ban Ki-moon, pictured in the UN General Assembly Hall during the High-level Event on the Paris Agreement (Image: UN/Rick Bajornas) It is expected to cross the second threshold - ratification by countries representing a total of 55% of global emissions - later this year. Sixty countries representing 47.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions have now joined the agreement after Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Dominica, Ghana, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu deposited the required documents at a special event hosted by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. A further 14 countries, representing 12.58% of emissions, have committed to joining the agreement in 2016, "virtually assuring" that it will enter into force this year, the UN said yesterday. The agreement was adopted by parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) last December in Paris and signed by many parties early this year. Its main aim is to keep global temperature increases this century well below 2 degrees Celsius, and drive efforts to limit temperature increases to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, which UNFCCC says is a "significantly safer" defence against the worst impacts of climate change. It will enter into force 30 days after its 55 countries, representing 55% of global emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession with the UN Secretary-General. "This momentum is remarkable," Ban said. "It can sometimes take years or even decades for a treaty to enter into force. It is just nine months since the Paris climate conference. This is testament to the urgency of the crisis we all face." He called on world leaders to step up their domestic efforts to join the agreement this year. "What once seemed impossible is now inevitable," he said. Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UNFCCC, said the "extraordinary momentum" was a "clear signal" of determination to implement the agreement. "Today we can say with ever more confidence that this historic moment is likely to come very soon, perhaps even by the time governments meet for the next round of climate negotiations in Marrakech, Morocco in November," she said. China and the USA, two of the world's largest carbon emitters, joined the agreement in September, which the UN said provided "considerable impetus" for other countries to complete their domestic ratification or approvals process. Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, the European Union, France, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Poland, and the Republic of Korea have all announced their commitment to join the agreement before the end of the year. UK Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed to the UN General Council this week that the country will start the procedure to enable ratification of the agreement. Entry into force will transform the climate action plans, or Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), submitted by nations in the run up to the Paris conference into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Governments will also be obligated to take action to achieve the two temperature limits enshrined in the agreement. Nuclear power will play a part in many countries' decarbonisation plans. World Nuclear Association director general Agneta Rising said last week the nuclear industry can achieve the momentum required to create an additional 1000 GWe of new capacity by 2050 needed to meet increasing global energy demand whilst ensuring climate goals can also be achieved. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Ethiopia is a rugged and landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa. The country occupies a total land area of 1,126,829 square kilometers, making it the 27th largest country in the world. Ethiopia is bordered by Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, Somali, and Kenya. The country is characterized by vast complex mountains, dissecting plateaus, lowlands, semi-desert, and tropical forests. Ethiopia has twelve lakes and nine major rivers with several tributaries. Despite the large water bodies in Ethiopia, there is hardly any perennial flow in areas below 1,500 meters. Ethiopias major rivers are looked at below. River Nile By some measures, the Nile is regarded as the worlds longest river measuring 4,258 miles, although others place the Amazon ahead of it. The waters of River Nile are shared by eleven countries namely Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan, Congo, Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The river has two main tributaries, namely the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The Niles mainstream and headwaters is the White Nile. The Nile empties its waters into the Mediterranean Sea while Lake Victoria is considered the source of River Nile. The Nile is considered the source of civilization for the communities living along its banks especially in Ethiopia and Egypt. The Nile is currently used for transportation of goods while its waters also support the communities living along its bank. Blue Nile The Blue Nile has its source waters in Lake Tana forming, and is one of the major tributaries of the River Nile. The upper course of the Blue Nile called Abby in Ethiopia is regarded as holy. The Blue Nile flows from Lake Tana to the western part of Ethiopia and into the northwest of Sudan. Along its course, the river forms the Blue Nile Falls near Tis-Abay Town. The Blue Nile has a total length of 901 miles from its source to its confluence, of which 500 miles is in Ethiopia. The Blue Nile contributes almost 59% of the Niles stream flow and also supports the livelihood of communities living along its banks. The Ethiopian government has constructed a mega dam, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, to boost the economy. Awash River The course of the Awash River is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes. The river arises from Mount Warqe then flows around Mount Zuqualla and proceeds to towards Awash National Park. It is joined by Germama River, its chief affluent, before reaching Lake Gorgori. Awash River covers a distance of 746 miles with its tributaries including Logiya, Mille, Kabenna, Hawadi, and Durkham Rivers. The Awash River Valley is home to nature preserves for the African Wild ass, Beisa Oryx, Dorcas gazelle, and Grevy's zebra. Shebelle River The Shebelle River originates from the highlands of Ethiopia and flows into Somalia, where it becomes a seasonal body of water, alternatively emerging and disappearing at different times of the year. The river covers a distance of 702 miles making it the fourth longest river in Ethiopia. The name Shebelle is derived from a Somali word meaning "tiger" or "leopard". The Shebelle River has both seasonal and permanent tributaries. including the Ere River, Galetti River, and Wabe River. The river is surrounded by a sacred enclosure that is wooded with juniper trees. The Shebelle River has been marked by devastating flash floods, affecting as many as 70,000 people and killing 34 locals at once. Borealis production location in Kallo, Belgium. VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Borealis AG said that it plans to study the feasibility of a new, world-scale propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant. The plant would be located at the existing Borealis production site in Kallo, Belgium. The study will be carried out over the next nine months. The final investment decision is expected to be taken in the third quarter of 2018, while the potential start-up of the plant is scheduled for the second half of 2021. The new PDH plant would have a targeted annual production capacity of 740 Kiloton per calendar year, making it one of the largest and most efficient facilities in the world. The Borealis Kallo location has been chosen due to its excellent logistical position and its experience in propylene production and handling. Borealis has selected Honeywell UOP's Oleflex technology for the new plant. This technology is widely used and is a reliable and sustainable choice for on-purpose propylene production. "A new PDH plant of this scale would be a significant investment for Borealis in Europe. It would strengthen our long-term commitment to be the innovative polypropylene and propylene supplier that is meeting the needs of our customers today and in the future," said Markku Korvenranta, Borealis executive VP, base chemicals. "During the coming quarters we will be engaging with the value chain partners and authorities to work out the commercial and operational details of the project," he added. "In Europe propylene demand is increasing while the supply growth from steam crackers and refineries is slowing down. With the market tightening, an on-purpose propylene investment is needed to ensure a reliable platform for continuous, long-term growth in propylene and its derivatives in Europe," explained Thomas Van De Velde, Borealis VP, hydrocarbons & energy. Worldofchemicals News Lit candles (illustration) By: Chan Yuan A woman tragically died in a house fire after the candles she lit for her imaginary boyfriend sparked a large blaze, according to police in the United Kingdom. 46-year-old Jane Ellis of Sandhurst, was found in her apartment lying face down in the bathroom, following the blaze. The court heard that Ellis regularly lit candles to summon her imaginary boyfriend named Ian. On the day of her death, Ellis lit 17 candles, but somehow, her apartment caught on fire. Her neighbors came to the apartment to alert Ellis to the fire, but she shut the door in their faces. By the time firefighters extinguished the blaze, Ellis was dead. Neighbors said that Ellis spoke of having a romantic evening with Ian. She also promised to get married with her lover and go on honeymoon in Egypt. Ellisa family told the court that the woman suffered from mental illness, and they donat understand why she was allowed to live alone. Benita Barbour By: Chan Yuan (Scroll down for video) An evil mother hurt her toddlers as a way to punish their father. A mother of Rhode Island, is in jail after she threw her toddler twin sons out of a first floor window of his apartment. Benita Barbour, 37, who was drunk at the time, was arguing with her boyfriend when she grabbed her sons and threw them out of the window. The 2-year-old boys landed on the porch below. A neighbor who witnessed the incident, took videos of the boyfriend, 37-year-old Michael Watts, trying to take their boys back into the home. The children, who were still in their pajamas, were seen crying as Watts began dragging them back into their house. However, Barbour allegedly slammed the door, knocking one of the twins to the ground. The neighbor called police and Barbour was arrested while her children were taken to Hasbro Childrens Hospital, where they were treated for scrapes and bruises. They were then released into the custody of the Department of Children, Youth and Families. First Vegetarian Takeaway in North Wales Opens in Wrexham! This article is old - Published: Thursday, Sep 22nd, 2016 A husband and wife team have launched the first vegetarian takeaway in North Wales. Located on Glan Llyn Road, Bradley, the Harvest Vegetarian Kitchen offers fully vegetarian and vegan Chinese meals. Operated by husband and wife team Jane and Martin Lee have operated a well-established Chinese takeaway on the site for 27 years. However the move to a meat-free menu means it is the first vegetarian takeaway in North Wales. Speaking about the new businesses, Jane told Wrexham.com: We serve delicious and healthy Chinese meat-free meals. The menu consists of the same popular recipes and dishes our customers have enjoyed over the years. The only difference is that we have replaced the meat and any meat produce with vegetarian, wheat, and soya ingredients. Weve worked hard to retain and re-create the flavours and textures of all of our signature dishes. From appetisers to main meals and side portions, our extensive vegetarian menu will have something for everyone. They are delicious, healthy, and meat-free. Great for vegan, vegetarians and meat-lovers. She added: Whether you are one of our regular and loyal customers, or someone who is looking for tasteful and exciting Chinese vegetarian dishes, we invite you to come and explore the choices on our menu. We are sure youll be able to find something youll love and enjoy. The Harvest Vegetarian Kitchen is located on Glan Llyn Road, Bradley, Wrexham. LL11 4BB and is closed Monday / Tuesday, open 5pm 9pm Wednesday Saturday and 7pm- 9pm on Sundays. Further information can be found on the Harvest Vegetarian Kitchen website. Last Friday, Swedens Appeal Court upheld the arrest warrant against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been confined in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since claiming asylum in 2012. Assange faces extradition on the pretext of bogus minor rape allegations, dropped as unsound and then resuscitated by the Swedish authorities in 2010, to provide the legal justification for his onward extradition to the United States to face a grand jury, life imprisonment and a possible death sentence. Assange has always insisted he would return to Sweden if the government gave safeguards against his extradition to the US. Last week, he said he was prepared to travel to the US and accept imprisonment despite its clear unlawfulness, if President Obama pardoned Chelsea Manning, the former US soldier who was given a 35-year jail sentence in 2013 for handing over 750,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks. The clear unlawfulness meted out to Assange was highlighted by the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions, which declared earlier this year, If Mr. Assange leaves the confines of the Embassy, he forfeits his most effective and potentially only protection against refoulement to United States of America. It stated that his confinement violated international human rights legislation and ruled that the arbitrary detention of Mr. Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Both Sweden and the UK rejected the ruling. Fridays Appeal Court decision follows in the same vindictive manner and ignores the risk and consequences should Assange be extradited to the US. His Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelson, accused Sweden of capitulating to US pressure, declaring, Todays domestic decision shows that Sweden is not yet prepared to abide by its international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Convention Against Torture and to the UN. Sadly, Sweden has a long history of compromising its rule of law where the perceived interests of the United States are concerned, from helping the CIA kidnap people in Sweden, as in the cases of Agiza and al-Zery [asylum seekers returned to Egypt and tortured], to its 100 percent US extradition rate over the last 15 years. Mr Assange will appeal the decision and remains confident that his indefinite and unlawful detention will cease and that those responsible will be brought to justice, Samuelson concluded. Swedish prosecutors have only now finally agreed to travel outside the country and question Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy via an Ecuadorian prosecutor, scheduled for October 17. The significance of the decision to uphold the arrest warrant and the importance of silencing Assange is underscored by both the recent and planned revelations from WikiLeaks, which have led US news outlets to declare they could determine who enters the White House as president this year. In July, WikiLeaks released thousands of internal Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails, which exposed the underhand methods it employed to subvert the campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and assist Hillary Clinton. Assange is now threatening to release a lot more leaked information, claiming Clinton, while serving as Secretary of State during Obamas first tenure, authorised weapons shipments destined for Al Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS) forces in Libya and Syria. For exposing these criminal intrigues, reminiscent of the Reagan-era Iran-Contra events, the witch-hunt against Assange has intensified, with attempts to brand him a dupe or agent of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Assanges fears of extradition to the US are fully justified and Chelsea Mannings brutal treatment is a warning of the vindictive and brutal response to be expected from the US state. On the same day Swedens Appeal Court made its decision, a British Magistrates Court authorised the extradition to the US of 31-year-old student, Lauri Love. US prosecutors have charged Love under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act with hacking into government and corporate computer systems, including the Federal Reserve Bank, the Department of Defense and NASA. Loves actions were part of Operation Last Resort by the hacktivist group Anonymous, a 2012-13 online protest against the treatment of Aaron Swartz, who committed suicide rather than face a lifetime in prison, while awaiting trial on hacking and fraud charges. Loves US lawyer, Tor Ekeland, explained that he could potentially face life in prison in the United States for what are essentially highly innocuous acts. I think the punishment that theyre seeking is disproportionate to any alleged harm. Its important to note that none of this information was top secret. I dont really think any of it was that sensitive. It mainly, as far as I can tell from the indictments, consisted of names, phone numbers, email addresses and a couple of instances where there were credit card numbers which dont appear ever to have been used anywhere, he said. Love has not been charged under British law, but could receive a 99-year prison sentence in the US. Love has Asperger syndrome and a history of depression. Despite all this evidence, and accepting that there was a substantial risk that Love would commit suicide if extradited, Judge Nina Tempia came to the incredible conclusion that Mr Love has not shown it will be either unjust or oppressive to extradite and there will be a real risk to Mr Love of being severely ill-treated I am also satisfied that Mr Love will receive dedicated mental and physical health care in the US. Tempia brushed aside the fact the evidence against Love was of a digital nature and could be used in a British court, saying the witnesses, which number about 20, including an anonymous FBI informant who had infiltrated an online chat room used by Love, lived in the US. The Love case was the first test of the so-called forum bar introduced by the then home secretary, now Prime Minister Theresa May in 2012 to allow UK citizens to challenge US extradition requests if the alleged crimes mainly took place on British soil. This followed the eventually successful 10-year battle against extradition by Gary McKinnon for alleged hacking into US military systems. Sarah Harrison, director of the Courage Foundation, which organises Loves defence campaign, explained, Clear assurances were given that legal changes would prevent the McKinnon situation from happening again and, frankly, if the forum bar cant help Lauri Love, its very difficult to understand how it could ever help anyone. This is not what the public was led to believe at the time, and its not something we should stand for. The direct involvement of the Australian air force in air strikes on Syrian troops on Saturday underlines the danger that Australia is being dragged into a US war not simply with the Syrian government but also its alliesRussia in particular. Some 90 Syrian soldiers were killed and more than 100 wounded in a sustained attack on a strategic government position near the Deir ez-Zor airport. Following the cue from Washington, the Australian government and media have variously suggested that the air strikes were a botched operation, a blunder or a mistake. The Defence Department issued a statement acknowledging that Australian aircraft took part, adding that Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh [the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]. The strikes briefly allowed ISIS fighters to capture Syrian government positions. Speaking in New York, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made a perfunctory expression of regret over the loss of life and injury of Syrian troops, but declared that the situation was very complex implying the attack had been accidental. Defence Minister Marise Payne said that a blunder had taken place but reaffirmed Australias absolute and continuing commitment to the US-led war in Syria. While nominally aimed against ISIS, the US-led air war in Syria, in flagrant violation of Syrias national sovereignty, has always been directed at ousting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The claim that the killing of Syrian troops was a blunder is simply not credible. Even by the account of an unnamed US Central Command official, the attack lasted 20 minutes, destroying vehicles and gunning down dozens of people in open desert. Speaking to the New York Times, he acknowledged that the assault continued for several minutes after a Russian official informed the US military that it was bombing Syrian troops. The attack has all but ended a ceasefire deal worked out between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that was opposed by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter. In comments bordering on insubordination, top uniformed American officers openly called into question whether they would abide by the agreement. Neither the Australian government nor the military has released any details of the Australian involvement in what appears to be a reckless provocation directed at undermining the ceasefire and inflaming tensions with Russia and the Syrian government. Danish and British forces were also involved in the air strikes. The Russian defence ministry has stated that the attack was carried out by two F-16 fighters and two A-10 ground attack aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed F/A-18A fighters to the war in Iraq and Syria along with a Wedgetail command and control aircraft and an air-to-air refuelling tanker. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told the Sydney Morning Herald that his best estimate was that the command and control aircraft had been involved. This is obviously sensitive because that is the asset which essentially is giving targeting information to the fighters, he said. Whether that was the case or not, Australian air force officials in the Middle East, along with the pilots, would have had to be briefed on the nature of the operation. The incident had the potential to rapidly escalate into a far broader conflict if Russian advisors had been killed or injured, or if the Syrian military had fired back and downed a US or an allied aircraft. The Australian media and political establishment have closed ranks to cloak details of what took place in secrecy. While the Greens and Senator Nick Xenophon have called for an independent inquiry, neither strayed from the official line that the killing of Syrian troops was a mistake, let alone demanded that withdrawal of all Australian forces from the Middle East. In fact, in the name of fighting ISIS, the Turnbull government recently announced that it would amend legislation and loosen the rules of engagement for Australian forces in the Middle East to attack anyone considered to be an ISIS supporter or buildings far removed from any fighting. Australian involvement in last Saturdays attacks suggests that new unwritten rules are already in place. Opposition leader Bill Shorten has indicated Labors support for the changes. Behind the backs of the Australian people, Canberra is so enmeshed in Washingtons proxy war in the Middle East against Russia that Australia could find itself on the frontline of a conflict between the two nuclear armed powers. While shots are not being fired, at present, the Australian government and military is even more closely integrated into the US military build-up against China in the Asia-Pacific region. Since Obama announced his pivot to Asia in the Australian parliament in 2011, military bases in northern Australia have been opened to an expanding array of American forces, comprising Marines, warships and various military aircraft, including strategic bombers. The scope of bilateral and multilateral war games has been expanded. In the name of improving interoperability, Australian military personnel have been embedded into US forces in the region. Last year the Australian revealed that 42 senior Australian officers were part of the US Pacific Command, including Major General Greg Bilton who serves as the deputy commander of US Army Pacific. It is, however, in the sphere of communication and intelligence that Australia plays the most vital role for the US military, hosting key bases that are central to US military operations stretching from Asia through to the Middle East. The Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap in Central Australia has been crucial to the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is undoubtedly integrated into the Pentagons planning for even more disastrous conflicts with Russia and China. Whether the Australian government gave the green light or not, the Australian military could be involved, virtually automatically, in any war with Russia or China. On Monday, the UC Berkeley administration retreated from its attempt to politically censor a student run class on Palestine. The course, entitled Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis, was suspended after its first class on spurious procedural grounds. The suspension occurred on September 12, the same day that a petition signed by 43 pro-Israel organizations was presented to the administration calling for the class to be suspended because it was political indoctrination. Without consulting the student leading the class or its faculty advisor, the administration immediately suspended the class, falsely claiming that they had not followed the proper procedure in submitting the course syllabus for review before the semester began. After complaints by students and faculty over this suppression of free speech reached international news, the university reversed its position, allowing the course to resume after cosmetic changes were made to the course description. In the letter rescinding the suspension, Carla Hesse, the Executive Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, explained that the course was allowed to resume because she was reassured that exploring the possibilities of a decolonized Palestine did not cross the line from teaching to political advocacy, and that criticism of Israel did not in this case violate the University policy on intolerance. This is not the first time that the California university system has sought to suppress criticism of Israel, or the first time that opponents of the Israeli occupation have been subjected to anti-democratic provocations. In January, the UC Regents proposed a policy that would treat all opposition to Zionism as anti-Semitic. After a public outcry, it revised their policy statement to read, Opposition to Zionism often is expressed in ways that are not simply statements of disagreement over politics and policy, but also assertions of prejudice and intolerance toward Jewish people and culture. Their phrasing still allowed administrators to label criticism of Israel anti-Semitic at their discretion. Hesses letter cites concerns over this precise policy of the regents as one of the reasons for the suspension of the class. Emboldened by the Regents resolution, the ultra-right David Horowitz Freedom Center staged anti-Palestinian provocations at universities across the state, including UC Berkeley. Posters listing students and faculty who criticized Israel by name, and calling them genocidal, terrorist sympathizers, were plastered all over campus in April. The specific target of these provocations is the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement led by the student group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The SJP acts as a pressure group on the Israeli government, asking universities and businesses to avoid investing in Israel or selling Israeli products until Israel recognizes the rights of Palestinian refugees to return, ends the occupation of Palestine and grants equal rights to Arabs within Israel. The initial petition against the class specifically cited the student coordinator and faculty advisors longstanding participation in BDS as proof of extremism and anti-Semitism, and it found a receptive audience in UC Berkeleys Chancellor, Nicholas Dirks. Dirks has a long history of opposing criticism of Israel. When he was Vice President for Arts and Sciences at Columbia University in 2004, he supported an investigation into spurious allegations of faculty anti-Semitism. After beginning to work at UC Berkeley, he maintained that students at Columbia had difficulty finding safe spaces in which to talk about Israel outside an anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic context, despite the investigative committees report that completely cleared the accused professors. In 2014, he sent an e-mail to the Berkeley campus in support of the dismissal of Steven Salaita from the University of Illinois for his statements in opposition to the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Although the current target of the UC administration is criticism of Israel, the goal is to roll back the right of students to study politics and politically organize on campus. The attempt to suspend a class for being critical of Israel was a test case. Although it has retreated for now, the university administration will not hesitate to use the same accusations of political partisanship and intolerance to suppress oppositional sentiment in the future. August was a major fundraising month for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Both campaigns broke previous fundraising records for their campaigns, although Clinton maintains a clear lead over Trump. According to Federal Election Commission filings released Tuesday, the Clinton campaign raked in $59.5 million during the month of August, while the Trump campaign raised $41 million. About half of the funds raised by the campaigns came from joint fundraising efforts with the Democratic and Republican National Committees. In addition to outraising Trump, Clinton is also outspending him; Clinton spent $49.6 million last month, whereas Trump spent only $29.9 million. These vast sums of money mostly paid for advertising and staff. Clinton spent $33 million on television ads compared to Trumps $5.2 million, although Trump spent $11 million on digital advertising in August, more than Clinton has spent on digital advertising this year. Clinton also vastly outspent Trump in polling and staffing. Clintons campaign maintains a paid staff of 789 people and spent $1 million on polling in August; Trump has only 230 staff and consultants and spent just over $100,000 on polling. Trump has relied on rallies appealing to his most ardent supporters and free media coverage at the expense of traditional campaign organization. Significantly, the Clinton campaign has focused more on wooing wealthy donors than grassroots fundraising efforts. Clinton herself spent most of August at private fundraisers on a blitz to secure the financial backing of the elite whom she seeks to represent in the White House. President Barack Obama has likewise appeared at Clinton fundraisers at a level unusual for a sitting president, and is expected to spend much of October campaigning for his former secretary of state. One fundraising event in New York City had a minimum attendance price of $25,000, although co-chairs had to give $100,000 and chairs raised a staggering $250,000. Super PACs have already raised over $1 billion this election cycle, surpassing the $850 million they raised during the 2012 election. Clinton holds a significant advantage on super PACs aligned with her campaign. According to a USA Today analysis of large super PACs, pro-Democratic super PACs raised almost $65 million in August, while pro-Republican super PACs raised just over $45 million. Super PAC donations flow largely from the extremely wealthy. For example, hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman is a Democratic mega-donor, contributing more than $23 million to Clinton-aligned organizations. He is the largest donor to Priorities USA Action, which USA Today called the best-funded super PAC of the 2016 election. It has already raised $113 million, more than the $79 million it raised to support Obamas re-election. Paralleling Clintons near-unanimous support from the military-intelligence apparatus, including from right-wing figures associated with the Republican Party, several Republican millionaires have indicated that they would not support Trump as vigorously as they had supported previous Republican presidential nominees. Sheldon Adelson, the right-wing Zionist and Las Vegas casino magnate, has donated $20 million to a pro-Republican super PAC focused on the Senate, and is expected to donate a similar amount to a similar organization for the House of Representatives. However, he is expected to donate only $5 million to a super PAC focused on the presidential race. Mike Fernandez, a Florida-based billionaire and Republican donor, announced on Tuesday that he would donate over $2 million to support Clintons campaign. Fernandez, who is Cuban-American, said that the money would focus on Latino outreach and registration in Florida. He appealed to Latino voters, calling on them to reject a man who encourages violence against you, referencing Trumps notorious xenophobia and racism, which is particularly directed against Hispanic immigrants. Fernandez had previously supported Jeb Bush during the Republican primary process. Florida is an important swing state, and Hispanics make up about 15 percent of the electorate. Wall Streets apparent preference for Clinton has allowed Trump, the billionaire real estate tycoon and fascistic demagogue, to posture as a champion of ordinary people. He has capitalized on the obvious indifference of both the Obama administration and the Clinton campaign to real economic distress in large portions of the United States, particularly in rural areas, once industrialized towns, and Appalachia. Meanwhile, even as Clinton faces a crisis due to declining support among young voters, her support among higher-income voters is increasing. A Bloomberg Politics poll indicates that, in a two-way contest, Clinton beats Trump 46 percent to 42 percent among likely voters with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more. Republicans have either won or tied among higher-income voters since 1976. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won this group by 10 percent against Obama. The Detroit Free Press revealed on Monday that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder surreptitiously instigated a change six months ago that bars the city of Flint from suing the state. Just days after a routine legal filing by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver on March 24, Snyder submitted a change in the directive of the state-appointed body set up to replace the emergency manager that gave it full authority to quash any lawsuits by the city. Weavers March 24 filing of a Notice of Intention to File Claim was done at the last minute in advance of a legal deadline that would have forfeited the citys option to pursue legal action against the state over the water crisis. March 25 was the end of the180-day legal window for the city to declare its intention to sue. That period began roughly with Snyders public admission that it may have been a mistake to use the Flint River as the citys water source. By the time of Snyders belated admission, the city had been using Flint River water, untreated for corrosion control, for more than 18 months. Childrens blood-lead levels and the number of Legionnaires Disease-related deaths had spiked. Illnesses related to lead poisoning were rampant. Since the time of the switch from Detroit-supplied water in April 2014, the state and its agencies conducted a continuous cover-up of toxic water being pumped into Flint homes. Information was deliberately withheld from Flint citizens that would impugn the safety of the Flint River water. Protests and complaints from Flint residents were answered with lies from city and state officials. In Weavers submission to the Michigan Court of Claims, she blamed the state and its agencies for making the decision to switch Flints water. She stated, As a direct and proximate result, the city has suffered or will suffer damage to its municipal water distribution system, emergency response costs arising out of the declaration of a state of emergency, attendant ongoing medical claims, lowered property values resulting in lower tax assessments, reputational damage The filing was part of Weavers attempt to posture as a critic of the decision to switch the water source to the Flint River, while obscuring the culpability of both Democrats and Republicans, at the local, state and national level, up to and including the Obama administration. Weaver subsequently made clear that the city had no intention of suing the state last March. Nevertheless, the state strongly urged Weaver, who was elected mayor last November on her pledge to address the citys water crisis, to officially withdraw the citys threat of litigation. Then, at a special March 31 meeting of the Receivership Transition Advisory Board, an amendment submitted by Snyder altered the rules of the body, giving it authority to quash any litigation the city of Flint would initiate or settle. Though Flint has not technically been under an emergency manager since its last one, Gerald Ambrose, set up the advisory board on April 29, 2015, the city still functions under the diktats of the state by virtue of the emergency management law, Public Act 436 of 2012. There is enormous opposition to this law throughout the state, since Snyder signed it into law less than two months after the preceding emergency manager law was overturned in a statewide referendum. In Flint, it was a series of three emergency managers, along with state authorities, who made the decisions that led to the poisoning of the citys water supply. The water is still unsafe to drink or cook with without expensive filters, and recent reports say there is no end in sight. On September 17-18, France's neo-fascist National Front (FN) held an annual conference in the Mediterranean city of Frejus to launch its leader Marine Le Pens 2017 presidential bid. In her opening remarks, greeted by thousands of supporters waving French flags and shouting, We're in our country, Le Pen said she would be the candidate of the people and made populist, nationalist and anti-European Union (EU) appeals. Le Pen announced that she was launching a pre-campaign, as her presidential campaign properly speaking [will begin] in mid-February with a presidential convention [and] will only proceed once we know the identity of all the candidates who are running. Until then, she said her team had put in place all the necessary conditions to start her campaign, seven months before the first round of the election in April 2017. I am extremely serene and impatient to start, she said. Polls currently show Le Pen will easily qualify for the final round run-off in May but would be beaten in the second round, except possibly if she faced the deeply unpopular sitting president, Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party (PS). In recent elections, the FN has made significant gains, obtaining seats in both the National Assembly and the Senate, as well as hundreds of positions as mayors and local councillors. Under Hollande, the FN also extended its voter base into new areas including schools, hospitals, and above all broad layers of the police. In her remarks, Le Pen made a chauvinist appeal denouncing immigration and multiculturalism. She said, There will be no more France without identity, and there will be no identity without sovereignty. Lamenting that France is no longer in the hands of the French, she also denounced orders that she said France receives from Berlin, [EU capital] Brussels, and Washington. In her remarks on foreign policy, Le Pen concentrated her fire on the euro currency shared by 19 countries in Europe and the EU, which has pushed for austerity policies across the continent that have decimated living standards and slashed tens of millions of jobs. She praised the British vote to leave the EU in a referendum in June and reiterated that she would call for France to leave the EU and return to its national currency, the franc, if she comes to power next year. We want a free France, which is the master of its laws and its currency, and the guardian of its borders, said Le Pen. The FN's emergence as a serious contender for power is bound up not with an attempt to restore prosperity and freedom to the people, but the drive of the French capitalist class to violently assert its interests abroad and at home, above all against the working class. A decade of global economic crisis, EU austerity, and imperialist wars in Africa and the Middle East have shaken European capitalism to its foundations. With Brexit, the EU has begun to disintegrate. Like the EU, France's two traditional ruling parties, the PS and the right-wing The Republicans (LR), are deeply discredited, and the bourgeoisie is seeking new foundations for its rule. Powerful sections of the ruling class have come to see the FN as the only way out of a hopeless situation. Abandoning the euro and devaluing a French national currency would impoverish workers and cut labor costs, so the ruling class could attempt to restore its international competitiveness and pursue trade war policies, particularly against Germany. At home, the FN would aim to complete France's transformation into a police state, already well-advanced due to the PS' perpetual extensions of its state of emergency. It would also accelerate the PS' anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant measures to divide the working class and cultivate a more militaristic atmosphere, positioning French imperialism to assert itself more strongly in the war drive of all the imperialist powers. The FN and Marine Le Pen personally are still unpopular among a majority of French people. This is due principally to the role of FN founder, Marine's father Jean-Marie, as an apologist for France's Nazi-collaborationist Vichy regime and as the leader of a paratroop unit that tortured independence fighters during Algeria's 1954-1962 war against France. The decisive factor in the election outcome will not be the opinions of working people, however, but the interests of the ruling class amid a deep international crisis. It would be a disastrous error to write off Le Pen's chances. There is explosive social anger, but it finds no mass political outlet; what predominates is deep disillusionment with the reactionary policies of so-called left parties like the PS. As the entire spectrum of bourgeois politics moves far to the right, the FN no longer appears very different from the PS or LR. Its anti-immigrant chauvinism, law-and-order hysteria, pro-business policies and militarism are well within the mainstream of French bourgeois politics, and the FN alone among the major parties makes demagogic appeals to the social distress facing broad masses of people. On this basis, it paradoxically finds support even among layers of immigrants. Particularly if this is required by the intensifying war crisis, the French media and ruling elite may swing the election to the FN. While an FN government would soon face deep opposition in the working class, the FN knows it can rely on the support of a broad layer of reactionary social democratic and pseudo-left forces. After the Frejus conference, Le Pen explained how she could come to power. On Tuesday, she told RTL radio, We will win because the choices we have made are those of the majority of this country. She said she would form a government with people from the National Front, but also from people who will have joined us based on defending the nation and the fatherland. I believe there are patriots on the right and on the left. Our goal is to bring people together. Le Pen's strategy relies above all on the reactionary character of the PS and its pseudo-left political satellites. She doubtless observed carefully how large numbers of PS officials joined a right-wing government under Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. Since taking over leadership of the FN in 2011, she has worked to normalize or de-demonise the FN with the support of the media and the corrupt forces that for decades have passed themselves off as the French left. The PS' policies played a key role in normalising the FN, as it sought to fashion a political base for wars and austerity. After last years Charlie Hebdo and November 13 terror attacks, Hollande repeatedly invited Marine Le Pen to the Elysee presidential palace to establish national unity. At the same time, it imposed a state of emergency based on Algerian war-era legislation that scraps basic democratic rights, and sought to rehabilitate fascist legal principles. It advocated inscribing in the French constitution the principle of deprivation of nationalitya policy applied by the Vichy regime to Resistance leaders and, most infamously, to thousands of French Jews whom Vichy deported to Nazi death camps across Europe. Pseudo-left forces like Jean-Luc Melenchon of the petty-bourgeois Left Front also bear critical responsibility in the FN's rise. Melenchon in particular led manoeuvres to de-demonise the FN, publicly appearing with Le Pen and repeatedly accepting to debate with her starting in 2011. The German retail chain Kaisers Tengelmann confronts liquidation. According to media reports the Kaisers Tengelmann owner, Karl-Erivan Haub, intends to close dozens of stores and wipe out up to 8,000 jobs by January 1, 2017. As usual, the ver.di trade union was notified in advance and has advised the companys management. A roundtable involving ver.di, together with Kaiser`s Tengelmann and the two retail giants Edeka and Rewe, has been organised to ensure a smooth winding down of the stores. The decision affects 5,650 shop assistants, warehouse workers, forklift and truck drivers and their families, as well as the employees of the Birkenhof meat processing company. They all have to reckon with mass redundancies, and the closure or sale of almost 430 supermarkets in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Berlin. According to information from the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung of 10 September, Haub will announce his plan at an extraordinary company meeting on 23 September. Haub has already outlined his plan in a secret paper provided to the supervisory board, which includes trade union officials. It evidently involves the closure of less profitable stores, including over 80 in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the wiping out of at least 5,000, and according to dpa, up to 8,000, jobs. More profitable branches in Berlin and Munich are to be sold. A fierce price war and rabid competition have raged for years in the food retailing industry due to the growing influence of internet marketers. The Cologne Institute for Business Research (IFH) expects that trade in physical stores could shrink by around 40 billion by 2020. This is also a result of years of stagnation and decline in real wages in Germany. A growing proportion of the working population has simply less money for shopping. For Kaisers Tengelmann, a relatively small chain, the prices of its goods are roughly 10 percent higher than its market rivals Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Edeka. Because the chain was suffering losses, CEO Haub announced his intention to sell Kaisers Tengelmann to Edeka two years ago. Previously, employees had waived 50 percent of their Christmas and holiday pay for three years in a row. Both the Monopolies Commission and the Federal Cartel Office vetoed the sale, arguing that Edeka would obtain a dominant position from the merger. However, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) had already held talks in December 2014 with the heads of both companies, and annulled the veto in March 2016 with a ministerial decree. In so doing, he paved the way for the sale of Kaisers Tengelmann branches to Edeka under certain conditions. The conditions were primarily aimed at strengthening the unions at Edeka. They included both a five-year jobs and locations guarantee for 97 percent of the workforce, as well as a ban on the selling off of individual stores. Numerous stipulations were made conditional on the unions agreement. The Edeka Group, originally developed as a cooperative association of independent retailers, had previously prevented widespread trade union membership. Edeka grudgingly accepted the ministerial decree because that was the only way to circumvent the cartel prohibition, and because ver.di signaled far-reaching cooperation. The competitors of Edeka, Rewe and Markant, however, then filed a lawsuit at the Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Dusseldorf. The OLG upheld their lawsuit in July and decided to ban the proposed merger. Minister Gabriel, together with Edeka, appealed to the Federal Court (BGH) to permit the merger. Germanys highest court subsequently announced it would reach a decision by 15 November. A final decision by the BGH could drag on for a maximum of two years, but the billionaire Haub is not prepared to wait. The BGH option is no longer relevant, Haub told the Suddeutsche Zeitung in early September. With an estimated fortune of $4.5 billion, the US magazine Forbes ranks Haub as one of the 200 richest people in the world. He is both the owner and chairman of Kaisers Tengelmann. When it became known that Haub would announce the rationalisation of jobs at an extraordinary Supervisory Board meeting on 23 September, the unions ver.di and NGG responded immediately. Rather than mobilise the workers of the affected companies against the job cuts, the unions agreed to organise a roundtable with the industry bosses this week to ensure a controlled liquidation of jobs. If it depends on ver.di, then the fate of tens of thousands of ordinary salesmen and women, drivers, etc., whose jobs today are already among the toughest and worst paid, will be served on a platter to Haub and the multibillion-dollar bosses who run Edeka and Rewe. The roundtable is aimed primarily at defusing possible protest and resistance. A particularly pernicious role is being played by Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel. He immediately welcomed the planned roundtable, declaring that it was good, if the competing companies are now willing to conduct the type of constructive discussions they refused to hold before the fusion process. This is hogwash. The constructive discussions will culminate in a shabby sellout of the workforce. Sigmar Gabriel was never interested in the fate of cashiers, meat packers or other workers. He is only interested in his current project: a red-red-green government coalition of the SPD, Left Party and the Greens at the federal level, for which he needs the support of the unions and the Left Party. In the poker game surrounding the fate of Kaisers Tengelmann, Gabriel held talks at an early stage with Edeka, while ver.di leader Stefanie Nutzenberger (responsible for retail on ver.dis executive) held talks with the competitor firm Rewe. Nutzenburger sits on the Rewe Supervisory Board. Rewe had registered from the beginning its own interest in buying Kaisers Tengelmann branches. Despite being competitors, both Edeka and Rewe have an interest in the roundtable discussions. Instead of the previous plan, i.e., to acquire the whole company with all of its loss-making stores under the terms of the ministerial permit, they can now pick out profitable stores to take over, while the union sabotages resistance by the workforce. Now both the union and the SPD have given their seal of approval to the destruction of jobs, wages and workers rights in the merger. This is clear from the contract bargaining completed by the unions a few weeks ago in anticipation of the BGH ruling on Edeka. According to the new contract, ver.di and NGG representatives have accepted job transfers, longer working hours, wage cuts and the closure of Birkenhof meat plants in North Rhine-Westphalia. If it is left to the Social Democrats and union officials, then the fate of Kaisers Tengelmann employees will be the same as the employees of other store chains that have closed or drastically rationalised, such as Neckermann, Karstadt, Practitker or Schlecker. In all of these cases, ver.di functionaries agreed to the closures and organised mass redundancies. Hundreds of people took to the streets Tuesday night and again on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, to protest the latest horrific police killing in that city, and the 839th death at the hands of US policemen this year. Large numbers of police were bused in Tuesday to seal off the neighborhood near the University of North Carolina-Charlotte after groups of protesters began to break windows of police cars, blocked traffic on Interstate 85 and broke into a Wal-Mart store. Police officers decked out in riot gear again confronted angry protesters Wednesday, firing tear gas. At least one person was shot on Wednesday night, with officials claiming he was not shot by police. The confrontation in North Carolinas largest city is another expression of the seething social tensions in America, driven by an economic crisis that has produced record levels of long-term unemployment, poverty and social need, while real wages remain below the level of a decade ago, before the 2008 Wall Street crash. The spark in Charlotte was the shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, gunned down in broad daylight. Police arrived at the parking lot where Scott, a father of seven, was waiting to pick up his son at a school bus stop, looking for another man who had an outstanding warrant. Witnesses say that Scott was holding a book when he got out of his car and was shot four times by the police. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney claimed that Scott was armed with a handgun and refused repeated police orders to hand over the weapon. The police have so far refused to release body camera videos of the shooting, and no cellphone video has yet emerged to show what really happened. From a legal standpoint, however, even the police version of events does not justify the use of deadly force. It is legal in North Carolina to carry a weapon openly, and if Scott had a gun, as police claim, they had no right to demand it without probable cause of a crime being committed. The killing of Scott is only the latest in an unending stream of horrors. Indeed, the shooting in Charlotte is the third highly publicized police killing in the past week alone. First came the killing of 13-year-old Tyre King in Columbus, Ohio on September 13, followed by the killing of 45-year-old Terrence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 16, and then Scott on September 20. The fact that all three victims were African-American has been used to reinforce a racialized narrative of police violence as predominately one of white cops killing black men and boys out of ingrained white racism. Whatever role racism may play in particular police killings, it is not the fundamental issue. Here, the circumstances behind the killing of Scott are revealing. The police shooter, Brentley Vinson, is African-American, as is the police chief, Kerr Putney. The mayor of Charlotte is a woman, Democrat Jennifer Roberts. The police officer in Tulsa, moreover, was a woman. Of the 25 people shot to death by the police in the past week, beginning with Tyre King, at least half were white, according to the grisly tally kept by killedbypolice.net. Of the 702 people shot to death by police this year, according to a database maintained by the Washington Post, 163 were black men, about 23 percent of the total. Whites made up roughly half the victims, while Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, black women and people of mixed race made up the balance. What nearly all the victims of police violence have in common is that they are part of the working class, and usually its poorest layers. Their deaths are a consequence of the basic social function of the police, as the armed bodies of men who defend the wealth and privileges of the financial aristocracy against the lower orders. The Charlotte killing and disturbances have been followed with the usual political homilies from government officials and presidential candidates. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted that the situations in Tulsa and Charlotte are tragic, but he has consistently sided with the police in such situations while denouncing protests against police violence as tantamount to terrorism. He demanded an immediate end to the mass unrest in Charlotte. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, issued a statement Tuesday calling the fatal shooting of Terrence Crutcher unbearable and intolerable. She added a tweet on Wednesday morning, Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. Too many others. This has got to end. -H. Such professions of concern coming from an arch-warmonger and candidate of Wall Street are about as unconvincing and insincere as every other comment that comes out of Clintons mouth. As for the Obama administration, in its final months it appears to have given up any effort to vary its responses to tragedies and horrors. Attorney General Loretta Lynchwho is African-American, like both the shooter and the victim in Charlottewarned against protest that turns violent and repeated the standard mantra of the Obama administration, that the events in Charlotte have once again highlightedin the most vivid and painful termsthe real divisions that still persist in this nation between law enforcement and communities of color. Such statements are an insult to the intelligence, given that both the policeman and the man he shot were of the same communities of color. The truth is that the shooting showed the river of blood that exists in American society, separating the ruling class from the vast majority of working people. That river runs right through so-called communities of color, separating the tiny privileged layer at the top, like President Obama and Attorney-General Lynch, from working-class men like Keith Scott and Terrence Crutcher. The Berlin election result expressed the deep mistrust and growing anger of the population towards the established political parties and their policies of military rearmament and drastic social cuts. The Social Democrats (SPD) and Christian Democrats (CDU), the two governing parties, were essentially thrown out of office. But now the Left Party and Greens are offering their services to keep the SPD in power, a party that has been in the Berlin state government without interruption since reunification. Under a red-red-green coalition, the capital city of poverty will increasingly become a centre of militarism and preparations for war. The Left Party and Greens are indistinguishable from the SPD and CDU/CSU (Christian Social Union) on war policy and were fully integrated into the foreign policy shift to a return to militarism and great power politics from the outset. Their specific role consists of employing humanitarian and human rights arguments to justify new wars. Millions of workers and young people will experience the fact that precisely those policies rejected on election day will be imposed with increased brutality. The resistance to this political cartel will assume new forms. Sharp social and political conflicts are therefore inevitable. These conditions demonstrate how important the campaign waged by the Partei fur Soziale Gleichheit (PSG, Socialist Equality Party) was and how urgently the working class needs a party that links the fight against war with the struggle against capitalism and fights for a socialist and internationalist programme. Since the election weekend, global conflicts have deepened further. On the Friday prior to the vote, the Bratislava summit showed how divided the rest of the European Union (EU) is after Brexit. National antagonisms are dramatically intensifying and the Italian banking crisis heralds a new wave of social attacks across the whole continent. The development towards war is also rapidly intensifying. Under conditions of the US encirclement of China, the conflicts between the two nuclear-armed powers India and Pakistan are deepening. In Syria, in the wake of a US attack on Syrian army positions and the bombing of an aid convoy in Aleppo, a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is threatened. Turkey has already announced its intention to further expand its military incursion. It intends to press further into the country so as to permanently occupy areas of Syrian territory. NATO announced the deployment of 4,000 troops to the Russian border last weekend. The German army (Bundeswehr) is equally involved in this as it is in NATOs rapid response force, which is also directed against Russia. The threat of a third world war is greater than ever before. The PSG placed the struggle against war at the centre of its election campaign. The campaign was understood from the outset as part of the construction of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) throughout the world. It was based on the statement Socialism and the Fight Against War published by the ICFI in February this year. The same capitalist crisis that produces the insanity of war also generates the impulse for social revolution, the statement declared. The statement starkly demonstrated that the deep capitalist crisis, which had already produced two world wars in the twentieth century, is once again leading to war and barbarism. The only way to prevent a catastrophe is through the building of an international movement against capitalism. Imperialism seeks to save the capitalist order through war. The working class seeks to resolve the global crisis through social revolution. Four principles were subsequently laid out upon which the struggle against war had to be waged: firstly, it has to be based on the working class; secondly, it has to be anti-capitalist and socialist; thirdly, it must be independent of all organisations of the capitalist class; and fourthly, The new anti-war movement must, above all, be international, mobilising the vast power of the working class in a unified global struggle against imperialism. This international orientation and principles formed the basis of the PSGs election campaign. In its election manifesto, the PSG detailed how the German ruling elite is preparing for war and organising a revival of militarism. This development can only be stopped by the mobilisation of the working class. To intervene independently into political events, workers need their own party, the manifesto concluded. The election manifesto was distributed in tens of thousands of copies and formed the basis of many discussions at campaign tables and rallies. In addition, the PSG put up thousands of placards and produced several videos. The central message was always the clarification of political questions and the struggle for the political independence of the working class from all bourgeois organisations, which are moving ever further to the right as the crisis deepens. The PSG also organised a series of meetings that were attended by representatives of other sections of the ICFI to discuss the most important experiences of the international working class. Most of these meetings were broadcast live online and were directed to workers throughout the world. Two meetings focused on the danger of a third world war, the increasing tensions between the great powers and the role of German militarism, which is ever more aggressively enforcing its own interests. Repeated discussions were held on the importance of various pseudo-left groups, which are becoming the most important base of support for pro-war policies. The presidential candidates of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in the US, Jerry White and Niles Niemuth, spoke to a meeting at Humboldt University via video link and discussed the war plans of Clinton and Trump. They made clear that the self-declared socialist Bernie Sanders was playing an important role in mobilising support for Clinton and covering up her pro-war policies. At the meeting on the class struggle in France, Alex Lantier reported that the Socialist government of Francois Hollande was only able to impose the state of emergency with the support of the Left Front, the sister party of the Left Party, and was using it exclusively against the working class. The PSG sharply and directly attacked the Left Party and warned of the danger of a red-red-green state government. The Left Party has turned Berlin into the capital of poverty. In Greece, its sister party, Syriza, has ruined the lives of millions with its brutal austerity programme, the manifesto stated. A red-red-green coalition would be a trial run for the federal level. Such an administration would not represent progress. In 1998, the SPD and Greens formed a coalition, which sent the Bundeswehr on foreign combat missions for the first time since World War Two, and cut wages and benefits. Now this alliance is to be revitalised using the Left Party in order to impose the next round of social cuts and pave the way for further German militarism, the election manifesto declared. The election result will be the prelude to a rapid intensification of the political situation. A state government of the SPD, Left Party and Greens will, like any other bourgeois coalition, step up the attacks on the working class and in the process push the political establishment further to the right. This will result in a further strengthening of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Workers will quickly come into conflict with the sharp social attacks of the new government and the preparations for war. Under these conditions, the building of the PSG takes on renewed urgency. Although the PSG did not yet win mass support in the election, its 2,042 votes were of great significance. This vote total is higher than the PSG has received in the capital in any other previous election. Despite a total media blackoutapart from the obligatory election broadcasts and the small parties debateand the extremely limited resources available to the party, the PSG was able to significantly increase its vote, particularly in a number of working class districts. But this can only be the beginning. Confronted with dramatic political developments, it is high time to actively participate in the construction of the party. Register today as a supporter, make a generous donation and become a member of the PSG. On September 20, SEP US vice presidential candidate Niles Niemuth held an election meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A campaign team spoke to students at University of Pittsburgh, as well as workers in the nearby impoverished borough of Wilkinsburg, about the 2016 elections, the social conditions facing young people, and the urgent need to build an antiwar movement. On November 5, the Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality will hold a major conference in Detroit, titled Socialism vs. Capitalism and War. Register at www.sep2016.com/conference . The Australian pseudo-left organisation, Socialist Alternative (SAlt), held a national conference late last month billed as a gathering of left-wing young people, activists, unionists and academics. The event, which featured a series of concurrent panels, was aggressively promoted among university students and youth. Amid widespread hostility to the parliamentary establishment and a growing interest in socialism, the unstated purpose of the conference was to divert those looking for a political alternative behind a nationalist and pro-capitalist program, centred on racial identity politics and the promotion of the thoroughly corporatised trade unions. Strikingly, the event featured no panels or discussions on the deepening political and economic crisis of Australian capitalism. And this, in the wake of the July federal election, which underscored the gulf between the sentiments of millions of workers and the agenda of the official political establishment. Some 26 percent of the electorate cast a ballot in the Senate for parties or candidates other than Labor, the Liberals or the Greens. The election outcome is an unstable Liberal-National government with a threadbare one-seat majority. A string of commentaries has bemoaned the ungovernable character of the electorate, with retail billionaire Gerry Harvey declaring that a dictatorship is needed to impose the kind of austerity measures being demanded by the corporate elite. Even more significantly, no mention was made at the SAlt conference of Australias central role in US war preparations against China. While the nature and extent of these preparations have been suppressed for years by the major parties, the corporate press and all the pseudo-left groups, including SAlt, they have erupted to the surface of political life in the wake of the election. Prominent figures, including the now-departed Labor Senator Stephen Conroy, have called for Australian warships to provocatively intrude into waters around Chinese-claimed islets in the South China Sea, and goad Beijing into taking military action. Immediately after the election, US Vice-President Joseph Biden visited Australia, in a bid to pressure the Coalition government to act against China. This was simply ignored by the conference. Nor did SAlt make any assessment of its own election perspective, which consisted of implicitly calling for a vote for Labor and the Greens. It declared that the key task was to put the Liberals last. It promoted Labor leader Bill Shorten and his fraudulent populist rhetoric, and covered up Labors record as Australian imperialisms chief warmonger, responsible for committing troops to predatory wars abroad and attacking the social rights and conditions of workers and youth at home. In other words, the conference, like SAlts intervention in the election, was aimed at preventing any understanding of the fundamental tasks facing the working class that stem from the systemic breakdown of world capitalism. Instead, it promotes various forms of identity politics, associated with race, gender and sexual orientation, to cut across and suppress growing opposition to social inequality, the escalating assault on democratic rights, and war. According to the opening panel of the conferencethe most widely advertised and attendedracism is the most urgent issue facing society today. The sessions chairperson, Sarah Garnham, declared that it was prevalent throughout society and that there were daily news reports of racist incidents. She introduced the panelists as activists who dedicate a huge portion of their lives to fighting racism. Among the speakers was Khury Petersen-Smith, a representative of the US-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which promotes the racialist nostrums of black nationalism in a bid to divert mass opposition within the working class to police killings back behind the Democratic Party. The aim of BLM and similar groups in the US is precisely to suppress the class issues that drove millions of workers and especially young people into supporting the misnamed socialist Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, because of his populist denunciations of the billionaire class and social inequality. Sanders inevitable capitulation to Hillary Clinton, the candidate representing the military-intelligence apparatus, has been accompanied by intense efforts, on the part of the Democratic Party apparatus itself, to promote race and gender as the pre-eminent divide in American society, not the unprecedented gap between rich and poor. Petersen-Smiths comments dovetailed with this reactionary campaign, depicting the daily police violence in working class neighbourhoods as a racial attack on black America. He cited the staggering number of police killings in the US, but was silent on the fact that the bulk of the victims are impoverished white workers and youth. BLM denies that police violence results from the massive growth of poverty and inequality and the build-up of the repressive apparatus of the capitalist state. He repeated BLMs call for reparations to black America and a massive investment in the economy to help black people, which, as has already been demonstrated by decades of affirmative action, would serve only to enrich a thin layer of the black upper middle-class. Another featured speaker was Rahaf Ahmed, a representative of the charity organisation, Islamic Relief Australia. Ahmed boasted that she had organised a halal snack pack event earlier in the month with Labor Party powerbroker Sam Dastyari, supposedly to counter the anti-Muslim rhetoric of the far right One Nation party, led by Pauline Hanson. Dastyari and the Laborites have latched onto Hansons bigoted statements against Muslims in a cynical attempt to present themselves as champions of inclusion and multiculturalism. In reality, Labor has backed the 15-year war on terror, and the government/media-sponsored anti-Muslim campaign that has accompanied it, in order to justify Australian participation in the predatory US-led wars in the Middle East and to eviscerate the democratic rights of the entire working class. The promotion of Ahmed underscores the class purpose of SAlts preoccupation with raceto develop relations with sections of the upper middle-class, including various ethnic community leaders, academics, and media-personalities, and through them, ingratiate itself with the political establishment. Ahmed made no pretence of being socialist or even left-wing. The main speaker, Liz Walsh, a leading SAlt member, introduced another themethe suggestion that broad layers of working people are either open or closet racists. In her address, Walsh implied that the working class was responsible for the persecution of asylum-seekers in offshore detention centresa policy that has been implemented by the entire political establishment in the face of widespread opposition from ordinary people. The reality is that its workers and our cooperation that makes the detention system run Without our cooperation this system could not operate. Her comments effectively shift the blame for the deplorable and criminal treatment of asylum seekers away from the Liberal, Labor and Greens parties responsible, and onto individual workers and youth. She went on to promote the oft-tested fraud that such treatment could be ended through protests and stunts. Turning to One Nations electoral success, Walsh proposed physical confrontations with Hansons right-wing party. According to her, in the 1990s, when Hanson first entered the political arena, the left had isolated her hard core support base from the broader mass base of soft racists. But, it would be much harder this time round because of the much more openly racist climate in Australia. Again she blamed the working class: When workers feel powerless and atomized theyre more open to racist politics. Its easier to kick down than to kick up. But who has been responsible for the atomization of the working class? Here, Walsh is, predictably, silent. The reason is that responsibility lies with her friends in the trade unions, the very organisations that have collaborated with Labor and Liberal governments during the past three and a half decades to destroy jobs, wages and conditions. Continuing her speech, Walsh declared, In resisting racism we need to provide a political alternativethat means we have to build a militant trade union movement. On the contrary, the working class needs to mount a rebellion against the trade unions and establish its political independence from them, and from the nationalism, protectionism, racism and xenophobia that they advance, on the basis of the internationalist and socialist program advanced by the Socialist Equality Party. It is the unions that, in presiding over the destruction of manufacturing industry and literally millions of jobs, have created the social crisis upon which right-wing demagogues like Hanson prey. SAlt itself backed the unions campaign against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, a campaign that harked back to the White Australia racism upon which the trade unions and the Labor Party were founded, and to which Hanson subscribes. It is not accidental that a number of unions have direct ties to figures who have a political affinity with Hanson. In the federal elections, the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU)which SAlt specifically promotesdirectly funded right-wing populists such as Glenn Lazarus. Indeed, in another panel discussion, Steph Price, SAlts industrial editor, held up the CFMEU as a bright spot and a union that hasnt given up on being a union. Prices contribution underscored, yet again, SAlts role as a political apologist for these anti-working class organisations. She claimed that the unions were reluctant to strike because of punitive industrial relations laws. In fact, the unions supported the Gillard Labor governments Fair Work legislation precisely so that they would have a lever to suppress any independent industrial or political action on the part of their members. All the speakers declared that the central issue was a revival of rank-and-file militancy. They hailed SAlts involvement in the strike at a Coles distribution warehouse in Melbourne as a case in point. The facts of the matter are that the strike was ended within just three days by the National Union of Workers, which signed a sell-out agreement with the company. SAlts own article on the dispute noted that it would take two years for the Coles workers to achieve their demand for $30 per hour, which was still short of their previous wage levels prior to pay cuts enforced a decade ago. The article apologized for the unions rotten deal, citing court injunctions and lamely stating, Overcoming these legal threats is a challenge that remains to be seriously tackled, for Polar Fresh workers and for the rest of the union movement. Above all, the conference panel on the unions was aimed at preventing workers from drawing any political lessons from the experiences of the past three decades. One speaker insisted that there was no objective reason why the unions cant fight back. Another declared that the problems with the unions were political, not structural. In reality, as the International Committee of the Fourth International and the Socialist Equality Party have explained, the unions have been transformed into industrial police agencies for the major corporations. Their transformation has been part of a broader collapse, over the past three decades, of all organisations based on a national program. Under conditions of the globalisation of production, where globally mobile capital is able to scour the world for the cheapest possible wages and conditions, any perspective of pressuring employers for limited reforms within the nation state framework has completely collapsed. In the past years, Labor and the unions have taken their nationalist program to its logical conclusion, becoming the chief proponents of international competitiveness for their own corporate and financial elites. In every country, this process has resulted in a massive class gulf between the union bureaucracies, with their wealth and privileges, and the workers, whom they directly suppress. SAlt, along with the rest of the pseudo-left, articulates the interests of a layer of the upper middle-classunion bureaucrats, academics, senior public servants, medium-size business owners, professionals, welfare, religious and NGO organisation executiveswhose privileges depend on the stability of capitalism. That is why it promotes the unions and the Labor Party, the very mechanisms that, throughout the 20th century, suppressed the revolutionary strivings of the working class against the profit system. The only solution for workers and young people who are deeply hostile to war, to attacks on jobs, wages and conditions and to the ever-deepening assault on democratic rights, is to make a thorough political break with Labor, the trade unions and the entire official political setup, join the Socialist Equality and fight for the development of a unified revolutionary movement of the working class against capitalism, based on the principles and program of socialist internationalism. Speaking before a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry demagogically blamed Russia and the government of President Bashar al-Assad for the escalating violence that has left a ceasefire reached earlier this month in tatters. Kerry also demanded the imposition of a de facto no fly zone over areas controlled by US-backed Islamist rebels, including those affiliated with Al Qaeda, under the pretext of assuring delivery of humanitarian aid and reviving the ceasefire. I believe that to restore credibility to the process, we must move forward to try to immediately ground all aircraft flying in those key areas in order to deescalate the situation and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded, Kerry told the Security Council meeting. The Syrian government declared the ceasefire ended on Monday after reporting 300 violations by the Western-backed Islamist rebels and in the wake of the US bombing of a Syrian army outpost near the Deir al-Zor airport in eastern Syria on Saturday that killed as many as 90 soldiers and wounded another 100. US officials have claimed that the attack was a mistake, while Damascus has pointed out that it was immediately followed by an assault on the position by fighters of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), charging that the air and ground actions were coordinated. Deir al-Zor occupies a strategic position on the highway leading from Syria to Iraq and onto Iran. The US airstrike was followed on Monday by an attack on a UN aid convoy in the town of Urum al-Kubra in northern Aleppo that left 20 people dead and 18 trucks bearing relief supplies destroyed. Washington immediately charged, without presenting any evidence, that either Russia or the Syrian government was responsible. Kerry and other US officials are now invoking the attack as a means of vilifying Moscow and pressing for new concessions. Blaming Russia and the Assad government for Mondays attack, Kerry claimed that it raises a profound doubt about whether Russia and the Assad regime can or will live up to the obligations that they agreed to in Geneva. Speaking earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the attack on the aid convoy as an unacceptable provocation, and called for a thorough and impartial investigation to determine who was responsible. He repeated previous statements by Russian military officials that no Russian warplanes had been in the vicinity of the attack, adding that the Syrian air force was not capable of carrying out such an airstrike at night. He pointed out that the attack on the convoy coincided with a rebel offensive in the same area. Russian military officials, meanwhile, reported Wednesday that a US Predator drone, capable of firing multiple air-to-surface missiles, was seen flying over the aid convoy at the time of the attack. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry released an aerial video showing that the aid convoy had been accompanied by a rebel truck towing a large-caliber mortar launcher, which subsequently disappeared from view. In his statement to the Security Council, Lavrov also insisted that there could be no more unilateral cessations of hostilities in Syria. Russia has charged that the US-backed Islamists never accepted the ceasefire and continued to carry out attacks on government positions after it went into effect on September 12. Speaking before the same Security Council meeting, Syrias ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari vowed that his country will not become another Libya or Iraq, and stated that his government was prepared to reach a political solution that is decided by the Syrians While Kerry claimed that his proposed no-fly zone is meant to prevent the Syrian government from attacking civilian targets with the excuse that it is just going after Nusra, from the standpoint of Washingtons aims, the exact opposite is the case. As with its support for the ceasefire itself, Washington is invoking humanitarian concerns for civilians trapped in areas controlled by the Al Nusra Front and similar Al Qaeda-linked militias in order to bring a halt to Syrian military operations against these forces and thereby allow them to rearm, regroup and resume an offensive against the Assad government. The Syrian ceasefire has been the subject of bitter divisions within the Obama administration, with the Pentagon and top uniformed commanders in the Middle East calling into question whether the military would even obey orders to implement the deal. Those most heavily involved in the US-orchestrated war for regime change in Syria, particularly elements within the CIA, have opposed the agreement because it calls upon Washington to oversee the separation of the so-called moderate opposition that it has paid and armed from Al Qaeda-linked forces like the Al Nusra front that are formally designated as terrorists. In the week following the ceasefires initiation, there was no sign of these moderates distancing themselves from the Al Qaeda elements. Such a separation is opposed by Washingtons rebels because Nusra represents the most significant armed group fighting the Syrian government. Even more importantly for the Pentagon, the ceasefires call for the establishment of a joint operations center with Russia to share intelligence and targeting information would cut across the US militarys escalating preparations for war with Russia itself. The bombing of the Syrian army position on Saturday, followed by the attack on the aid convoy on Monday, served to squelch this proposal. Amid the diplomatic sparring between the US and Russia at the United Nations, there were multiple signs that the conflict in Syria is on the brink of a dangerous escalation, carrying with it the threat of a wider and even world war. The US is considering a plan to begin directly arming the Syrian Kurdish fighters of the YPG (Peoples Protection Units), according to unnamed officials quoted in a report published Wednesday in the New York Times. US special forces units have already been deployed alongside the Kurdish fighters and Washington has been at least indirectly arming them by feeding weapons to a smaller Syrian Arab militia force that fights alongside the YPG. Nonetheless, the plan, which is reportedly under discussion in the US National Security Council, would represent an escalation of the US utilization of the Kurdish militia as a proxy force in its campaign against ISIS. It would also deepen tensions between Washington and the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which launched its own military incursion into Syria last month. Operation Euphrates Shield, as the Turkish invasion of Syria has been dubbed, now also counts with a US special operations advise and assist mission. As the primary strategic goal of Ankaras intervention is to prevent Kurdish forces from consolidating an autonomous entity on Turkeys border, US special forces could end up facing each other on opposite sides of the battlefield. Before leaving for the UN General Assembly meeting in New York City, Erdogan told reporters that the Turkish intervention had cleared an area of 900 square kilometers (about 350 square miles) of terrorists, by which he meant both ISIS and the Kurdish YPG. He added, We may extend this area to 5,000 square kilometers as part of a safe zone. Such an intervention would require the deployment inside Syria of thousands of Turkish troops. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that the Russian navys flagship aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, is being deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to participate in military operations in Syria. TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Tallahassee Community College received a big donation from the Florida College System Foundation. The school was given more than $27,000 from the group. College officials said that all of the money donated will go toward scholarships for nursing and first generation students. Every year the Florida College Foundation works to give hundreds of dollars to schools across the entire state. All of that money goes back into helping make college more affordable students. This year's donation to the TCC Foundation included $10,922 from Florida Blue for nursing and allied health scholarships, $11,338 from the Helios Education Foundation for scholarships for first-generation-in-college students, and $5,127 from Bank of America for the Dream Makers Scholarship. You are the owner of this article. Sitting shirtless in sweltering temperatures at a homeless encampment in East Yakima, Dee carved small melons into chunks that he handed to nearby friends. Were just out here doing what we do: take care of each other survive, said the 37-year-old. If you see smoke coming for National Forest lands west of Nile today, don't worry, it's coming from a prescribed burn being conducted by firef Toppenish High School, which draws most of its students from a poor, Latino-majority city on the Yakama Indian Reservation, exemplifies many of the challenges facing Yakima Valley schools. Yet once again, the high school also exemplifies how to overcome those challenges, serve its students and in the process win national renown. The national magazine Newsweek this week released its 2016 edition of Beating the Odds: Top Schools for Low-Income Students. This particular list recognizes 500 schools nationwide that enable students to overcome poverty and find success in school. Toppenish High not only made the top-500 list, it ranked 60th nationwide and first in Washington state. The high school, with more than 900 students, was lauded for a range of successes: an almost 98 percent graduation rate, 85 percent of students going on to post-secondary programs, 80 percent being college-ready. Outside acclaim is nothing new for the district. Former Top-Hi principal Trevor Greene, now an administrator with the Highline School District in south King County, was named National Principal of the Year in 2013. Earlier this week, third-grade teacher Jose Corona was named a finalist for the state Teacher of the Year honor. A 2014 Seattle Times story spread Toppenishs success to a westside audience; the story noted the schools focus on STEM curricula Science, Technology, Engineering and Math along with classroom reorganization and a concerted effort to track students progress toward graduation. In reacting to this weeks Newsweek notation, Superintendent John Cerna said the award stems from work by teachers and staff at all grade levels, a point buttressed by the recognition of third-grade teacher Corona. Greene also noted initiatives such as a 24-credit graduation requirement, which the school instituted before the state did. According to one report, about half the parents of Toppenish High School students have never graduated from high school. Yet the district has succeeded in persuading the parents and students that secondary and post-secondary education is critical to success as they move toward adulthood. At a time of chronic concern about the direction of public schools, Toppenish seems to have found a way. Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Bob Crider, Frank Purdy and Karen Troianello. Arab member states in the UN nuclear watchdog have shelved an annual bid to pressure Israel into accepting international scrutiny of its atomic activities pending a revamp of their tactics, a senior diplomat said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Their diplomatic strategy is shifting after previous resolutions at meetings of International Atomic Energy Agency members failed to secure more transparency from Israel, believed to have the only atomic bombs in the Middle East. Arab League (Photo: AFP) Increasingly frustrated, Arab states will not submit an Israel resolution at the IAEA's General Conference next week for the first time in three years, a senior Arab diplomat told Reuters. Arab nations have been unable to push through such resolutions at the annual meeting of IAEA member states since 2013. The last time they succeeded was in 2009, but this did nothing to enhance UN monitoring of Israel's nuclear actions. Repeated Arab-sponsored attempts to organize a conference on a Middle East nuclear weapons ban have also been fruitless, with the United States always standing with Israel against the move. The Arab League (Photo: AFP) This led Arab states to decide to stop striving for resolutions that merely call on, but do not order, Israel to implement nuclear control regimes such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or an IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), Arab League Ambassador Wael Al Assad said. Israel has never confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons under a policy of ambiguity. It is the only Middle Eastern country outside the NPT and has no CSAthe only other countries in that position being Pakistan and India. Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AFP) "Now Arabs are saying enough is enough. We need to deal with this in a more results-oriented way. We are not interested in resolutions that have no implementation mechanism," Al Assad said on Thursday in Vienna, the headquarters of the IAEA. "We need to seek other means and policies, we are now in a process of revision (until next March)," he told Reuters. He did not go into what changes were being considered. Some diplomats said the Arab decision not to mount their annual push for an IAEA resolution represented a victory for Israel. When asked about this, Al Assad said: "We are not concerned with short-sighted victories for five minutes." Israel has said it will consider joining the NPT only once it is at peace with its Arab neighbours and Iran. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released new photos on Wednesday taken by astronauts at the International Space Station of the earth at nightamong them one featuring Israel, Egypt and other countries in the region. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The photo, posted on NASA's social media profiles, shows Israel's coastal area lit up, as well as areas inlandlike the Jerusalem area, the West Bank, Be'er Sheva, Eilat and the Galilee. Israel and Egypt from space at night (Photo: NASA) In Egypt, the lit areas seen from space are in the Nile Delta. The Sinai Peninsula is mostly dark, with the exception of more densely populated areas like Taba, Arish and Sharm el-Sheikh. Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar (Photo: NASA) NASA also released photos that show the Soyuz spacecraft, which is currently docking at the International Space Station. The Land of Israel Caucus has recently launched a PR campaign aimed at convincing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to demolish illegally-built Palestinian homes in the village of Susya. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Susya, located in the southern Hebron hills, is in Area C, which constitutes approximately 60 percent of the West Bank and is under full Israeli control. There are some 350 Palestinians living in Susya in tents and shacks funded by international bodies like the European Union without any electricity or running water. All of the structures in Susya were built illegally, and all have Israeli demolition orders outstanding against them. Photo: Reuters Palestinians say the Israeli government makes it impossible for them to get permits; members of the Land of Israel Caucus say Palestinians are flouting Israeli law and trying to take over more land. They say the Palestinians actually live in the nearby village of Yatta, not in Susya. In 2015, the High Court of Justice (HCJ) ordered that almost half of the homes be demolished. That decision has been postponed several times, and the HCJ has now given the Israeli government two months to decide how to proceed with Susya. The government is stalling, seemingly, because of international pressure. Recently, the caucus organized a tour of Susya, bringing two busloads of Likud activists from Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan to the village and to other Israeli communities in the West Banksuch Gush Etzion and Hebronin an effort to garner more support for their cause. Photo: Reuters A big part of this tour is to put pressure on the prime minister not to go along with the illegitimate pressure from the international community and to uphold the law in accordance with the HCJ, said MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi), co-chair of the caucus and founder of Regavim, a right-wing NGO dedicated to ensuring responsible, legal, accountable, and environmentally-friendly use of Israels national lands." According to Arik Ben Shimon, the spokesman for the Land of Israel Caucus, the organization has arranged tours like these in the past to places like the Galilee and the Negev, often inviting both journalists and members of various Likud chapters. The other side An outpost tries to hold its ground Oded Shalom, Elisha Ben-Kimon Ten years after the confrontation that has become a symbol, the residents of Amona are preparing for the next round; approaching the High Court of Justice's deadline for the evacuation of the outpost, the settlers are recruiting thousands of supporters to protest on the deadline and are pressuring right-wing ministers to find a way to circumvent the order. An outpost tries to hold its ground The day began as journalists, along with the director of the Zionist Organization of America, entered into a bullet-proof van at the symbolic Menorah at the Knesset. As the van drove into the West Bank, the group read a travelers prayer to ensure safety on their visit. Most carried guns. While on the tour of Susya, visitors encountered a protest in the village, in which residents and other activists waved Palestinian flags and chanted, while their Israeli counterparts rushed to the scene with Israeli flags and songs of their own. There are actually three Susyas: the archaeological site, the Jewish settlement founded in 1983, and the Palestinian village. Palestinians have claimed the land of Susya for hundreds of years, saying they have lived in cave communities there. The Susya archaeological site (Photo: Katie Beiter/The Media Line) According to Sarit Michaeli, a spokesperson for hardline left-wing Israeli organization BTselem, the IDF demolished the Palestinian village of Khirbet Susya in 1986 to build an Israeli archaeological site. The Palestinian residents of Susya were forced to move about 500 meters from their original village to an unoccupied area. Abed Nawjaa, a 29 year-old Palestinian man who was born in old Susya, says that his family has lived on this land for at least 600 years. This is our land, Nawjaa told The Media Line. We have Turkish papers from the Ottoman times and we have everything to prove we own the land. Susya has become something of a symbol to both the national-religious MKs and to the Palestinians. To the MKs, Susya is an example of the EU and other international bodies interfering with Israel and funding what they call illegal encampments. Photo: Reuters We have all the rights from the Bible, from God, and from history, to have this land, Likud activist and tour participant Sara Rivai told The Media Line. I hope the illegal Arab homes will be destroyed. We need to be strong in the face of this crime they are committing. To the Palestinians, Susya is a symbol of the overall struggle against Israeli control and the mistreatment by Israeli authoritieslike the Civil Administrationof Palestinians. Its not up to the Knesset to decide what will be the fate of Palestine, its up to the Palestinian people who have rights that they are granted under international law, Xavier Abu Eid, a spokesman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), told The Media Line. According to Michaeli of B'Tselem, many on both sides see Susya as a test case. Photo: Reuters People fear the domino effectif Israel demolishes Susya, a village that has garnered fame, then where does the fate of other Palestinian villages in the occupied territories rest? Michaeli said. The problem, of course, is that Israeli authorities dont want to see Palestinian communities in between the settlement and the archaeological site, and therefore have worked tirelessly to try and get the residents to leave the community. Palestinians have a legal right to this land, Michaeli added. It is also being seen as a test for Israels new defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman. The visitors to the archaeological site say they simply want the government to enforce the court decision. According to Likud MK Yoav Kish, co-chair of the Land of Israel Caucus and one of the trip's organizers, there are roughly 1,000 Israeli families in Susya and there are about 30 or 40 Palestinian families there. Many of those families are from Yatta, a Palestinian city nearby Susya. Kish said these families have homes in Yatta but they are just trying to make a point by squatting in Susya. Legally, there is already a HCJ decision that says (these structures) are illegal and must be removed. So, it is very simple from the legal point of view, said Kish. The problem is that the government is not implementing the legal decisions. Article written by journalism student Katie Beiter Five youths from Jerusalem were arrested over the past week on suspicion of kicking a young Palestinian boy and stealing his cellphone. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter After launching an investigation into the incident, the police suspect that the attack was nationalistically motivated. Indeed, investigators believe that the perpetrators had already determined that the victim would be an Arab. Israeli police vehicle: Photo: Eli Mendelbaum The youth who was attacked, a resident of East Jerusalem, did not require medical treatment. The arrests of two of the suspects were extended while a the third suspect was released on condition by the courts. The remaining two suspects were only arrested on Wednesday and discussions are due to be held as to whether their detention will be extended on Friday. The incident took place on Saturday in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, after which all those involved fled the scene and were all eventually arrested at a later date after an investigation was launched which included the analysis of CCTV footage. One of those arrested is a soldier in the Kfir brigade. The suspects denied any connection with the attack with some of them claiming that they were far away from the scene during the attack while others said that there was a skirmish which was stopped after a short while. The suspects also claim that there was no nationalistic motivation and that none of the evidence thus far compiled against them indicates that racist slogans were shouted during the fight. During the evaluation of the suspects arrests however, the judge said there was reasonable suspicion that the motive was, in fact, nationalistic. The police have said that the investigation is ongoing. Afghan officials signed a peace deal on Thursday with a party led by one of the country's most notorious Islamist warlords, a move that inspired both hope and fear as it dredged up tension dating back decades. The militant faction of Hezb-i-Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has been waging a decades-long battle to establish a unified ISIS in Afghanistan. Government officials praised the accord as a step towards peace, while critics said it opened the door to one of the most infamous figures in Afghanistan playing a role in the country's already divisive politics. Hekmatyar himself is a controversial figure, having been accused of killing or wounding thousands of people when his troops fired on civilian areas of Kabul during the civil wars of the 1990s. The Jerusalem District Court has sentenced 21-year-old John Kakish, a resident of Jerusalem's Old City, to nine years in prison for stabbing two Jewish ultra-Orthodox minors in May, 2015. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Justice Raphael Carmel previously found Kakish guilty on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and today pronounced the stabbers sentence for what both the court and district attorney concluded to be a hate crime. Additionally, the court ordered Kakish to compensate each of his victims with NIS 10,000 (USD 2,650). Footage of the stabbing attack (: ) X The accused was a known juvenile delinquent from a difficult family background, he suffers from mental disability and has serious impulse control issues. All this is aggravated by the fact that he tends to abuse alcohol, Carmel wrote. Hence, I believe he still poses a moderate threat to society, and I am sentencing him accordingly. Kakish is an Israeli citizen and a Christian Arab. On the night of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot in 2015, he bought a 30cm kitchen knife in the Damascus Gate market in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. After making his way to the street leading to the Western Wall, he waited there until a group of ultra-Orthodox teens passed by. Kakish attacked the group and managed to stab two teenagers before feeling the scene. In his flight, the Kakish dumped his coat and the knife in one of the Old City's alleys before later changing his clothes and shaving in an effort to make it as difficult as possible for the police to locate him. John Kakish in court (Photo: TPS) The entire incident was caught on the Jerusalem District Polices security cameras in the Old City, a fact which enabled the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to identify and locate Kakish. According to the Shin Bet, Kakish confessed to the crime during questioning and told investigators that he was motivated by violence and racism he experienced in the Old City from ultra-Orthodox Jews. Police found posts on his Facebook page in which he calls for the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem. While he plead guilty to the charges made against him and confessed to his crime, he does not seem to take responsibility for his actions and insists that he is the victim, Carmel wrote. Firefighters were called to the Prime Ministers Residence late Wednesday evening on Balfour Street in Jerusalem after a fire broke out on the roof of the building due to a short circuit in the air conditioner. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The firefighters, who were called to the scene at approximately 11:30pm, extinguished the fire before anyone was injured. Prime Minister's Residence (Photo: Guy Assayag/Yedioth Ahronoth) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife were not present during the fire as the two are in New York as the Israeli leader prepares to speak before the UN General Assembly. The fire was spotted after security personnel smelled burning and scoured the area which led them to the rooftop. The relatively fast response from the firefighters and their ability to rapidly extinguish the fire prevented more serious damage being caused and the outbreak of another fire in the electrical box, which could have endangered the entire building. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is taking to the podium at the UN General Assembly in Turtle Bay, New York. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter X Watch: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu live at the UNGA The Prime Minister started his speech by saying that "Israel has a bright future at the UN." He noted that the UN passed 20 resolutions against Israel, and three against "the rest of the countries on the planet." Netayahu also condemned the fact that "as women are being systematically raped murdered, sold into slavery across the world, which is the only country that the Un's commission on women has condemned? Yup. You guessed it. Israel." He also condemned the UN, specifically UNESCO, for denying the Jewish connection between Jews and the Western Wall. "denied the 4000 year old connection between the jewish people and its holiest site. "That's just as absurd as denying the connection between the Great Wall of China and China," he said. PM Netanyahu at the UN (Photo: AP) "The UN has gone from being a moral force to a moral farce." "You see," he continued, "everything will change, and a lot sooner than you think. The change will happen in this hall because back home, your governments are rapidly changing their attitudes towards Israel, and sooner or later that's going to change how you vote on Israel in the UN." He then noted security ties between Israel and other countries, and how governments around the world are changing their attitudes towards the Jewish state. "Many of your governments seek our help in keeping your countries safe," he said. He spoke about Israel's aid and cooperation in the fields of water and technology, and went on to speak about his recent trip to strengthen relations with Africa. "Govts are changing their attitudes towards Israel because they know that Israel can help them protect their people, feed them, provide them with better lives," he continued. Later today," Netanyahu continued, "I'll be meeting with the leaders from 17 African countries. We'll discuss how Israel can help them in transforming their countries. In africa, things are changing. In India, Russia, China , Japan, attitudes towards Israel have changed as well. Despite israel's small size, it can make a big difference. He touched quickly on relations with the Arab world, noting that countries which used to be bitter enemies of he Jewish state are now willing to work with Israel against mutual threats. "But in this revolution, we never forget that our most cherished alliance is with the United States of America, the most powerful and generous nation on Earth," Netanyahu said to rapturous applause from the US delegation. Netanyahu predicts that the days where UN ambassadors reflexively condemn Israel are coming to an end. He calls on the UN to "lay down its arms" against the Jewish state. "Perhaps some of you don't know it yet," he continued, "but I'm confident that one day, in the not-too-distant future, that you'll get the message from your president or prime minister." "Yes, I know. There might be a storm before the calm," he said "I know there's talk about ganging up against Israel at the UN later this year." "Does anybody really believe that Israel will let the UN determine our security? We will not accept any attempt by the UN to dictate terms to Israel," he said. He then said regarding a peace process that "the road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York." He then said, "I have so much confidence, in fact, that I predict a decade from now, an Israeli prime minister will stand here, where I'm standing, and applaud the UN. But I ask, why do we have to wait a decade? Why do we have to keep vilifying Israel?" Netanyahu speaks at the UNGA (Photo: AFP) Attacking Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's call to sue the British government over the Balfour Declaration, Netanyahu asked "why not bring a class action suit against Abrahamas well?" "Yet today, nearly 70 years later, the Palestinians still refuse to recognize those rights," he continued. "Not our rights to a homeland, not our right to a state, not our right to anything. This remains the source of the conflict: the Palestinian refusal to accept a Jewish state in ANY boundaries." "When we withdrew from every inch of Gaza, we didn't get peace from Gaza. We got thousands of rockets fired at us." "The real settlements they're after," he stressed, "are Haifa, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv." However, Netanyahu stil said that "The state of Israel is ready. I am ready to negotiate final-status issues." "When the Palestinians say 'yes' to a Jewish state, we'll be able to end the conflict once and for all." "The Palestinians are not only trapped in the past," he said. "Their leaders are poisoning the future (of their children)." Netanyahu and Ban Ki-Moon (Photo: Chaim Tzah) "Imagine your child undergoing this brainwashing," Netanyahu put forth to those present. "Imagine what it takes for a young boy or girl to break free from this culture of hate?" "(This is) the difference between two people (Israeils and Palestinans)," he said. "Israel jails the handful of Jewish terrorists among us, while the Palestinians pay them." "I call on President Abbas. You have a choice to make. You can continue to stoke hatred, as you did today, or you can confront hatred and work with me today, " Netanyahu said. "I hear the buzz," he continued. "I know that many of you have given up on peace. I have not given up on peace! I remain committed to the vision of two states for two peoples." The Israeli Prime Minister then called on Abbas to speak to Israelis and to him directly. "President Abbas spoke here an hour ago," said Netanyahu. "President Abbas, I invite you to speak to the Israeli people at the Knesset in Jerusalem, and I would gladly speak to the Palestinian people in Ramallah." "Peace has no greater enemy than the force of militant Islam," said the prime minister. "Israel fights this fateful battle against the force of militant Islam every day." Netanyahu spoke about Hamas and how they relate to the militant Islam Israel faces every day. "(Hamas) unbelievably cruelly refused to return three of our citizens and the bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin. Hadar's parents are here today. They have one request: to bury their beloved son in Israel. They ask for one simple thing; to be able to visit the grave of their fallen son Hadar in Israel. Hamas couldn't care less." Hamas kidnapped the bodies of Goldin and Shaul during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and have refused to hand them back for burial in Israel. This is in violation of international law. To rapturous applause from the US delegation and visitors gallery, the Prime Minister of Israel said that "Israel will not allow Iran to establish nuclear weapons. Not now, not in a decade, not ever." "I stand before you today at a time when Israel's former president Shimon peres is fighting for his life. Shimon is one of israel's founding fathers, one of israel's most respected leaders. I know that you will join me, the entire people of Israel, in wishing him a refuah shleima, shimon - a full recovery," he continued. Speaking about the former president's optimism, and voiced his optimism and pride in Israel, that it has "soldiers who are second to none," a thriving hi-tech industry, and advancing in regards to racial equality. The prime minister finished by saying "Israel wants to be your partner in seizing that future. I call on all of you: embrace Israel. Dream with Israel. A future of security, prosperity and peace. A future where even at the UN, even in this hall, where Israel will take its rightful place among the nations." The European Union's top court took a step toward confirming the removal of Hamas, as well as the Tamil Tigers, from an EU terrorism blacklist despite protestations from Israel and the Sri Lankan government. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter An advocate general at the European Court of Justice, whose advice is usually followed by judges, recommended on Thursday that they reject an appeal by the Council of EU member states against the lower EU court's decisions in late 2014 to remove both movements from the sanctions list due to flaw procedures. A Hamas militants march (Photo: AP) Hamas soldiers holding rockets (Photo:AP) Israel responded to the court officer's advice on Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip and is still considered a terrorist organization by Israel and the US. "We are waiting for the full opinion to be published," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon said of Thursday's recommendation: "This is only a (legal) opinion, which is not binding on the court and is part of the European judicial process. He added that "We are convinced that the European Union will do all that is required in order to keep Hamas, an active terrorist group, on the European terror list." A still image from a Hamas promotional video Several governments opposed the EU court's decisions. The United States has urged the maintenance of sanctions on Hamas. The Sri Lankan government had said in 2014 that it would provide the evidence which the court found lacking to support sanctions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In both cases, judges of the EU's General Court ruled that EU leaders relied too heavily on media reports rather than their own investigations when they imposed asset freezes and travel bans dating back 15 years on members of Hamas and the LTTE. The assets have since remained frozen pending the appeal. Both organizations argued that they were engaged in legal wars against Israel and the Sri Lankan government respectively. The General Court did not address whether the groups' actions merited inclusion on the list of terrorist organisations but ruled the procedures putting them on the list were flawed. The EU Council's appeal also cited the lower court's failure to accept its argument that the groups' presence on the US terrorism list justified sanctions. Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston concluded, however, that the EU could not assume that other countries gave those it listed sufficient right of appeal. Her advice, which also said some elements of the appeal were justified, is not binding. But judges' rulings typically follow closely the recommendations of the advocates general. The ECJ said its justices were beginning their deliberations on the case and that there was no set date for a ruling. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday once again extended an invitation to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to speak at the Knesset, while proposing that he himself visits Ramallah. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Speaking shortly after Abbas's own virulent speech, Netanyahu told the Palestinian leader: "You have a choice to make. You can continue to stoke hatred, as you did today, or you can confront hatred and work with me today." "President Abbas, I invite you to come and speak at the Knesset in Jerusalem and I will gladly come to speak at the parliament in Ramallah," the Israeli leader went on to say. "The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York," Netanyahu added. Netanyahu at the UN X In his own speech, Abbas attacked the Jewish state and called to return to the 1947 Partition Plan borders. Netanyahu answered Abbas's call by claiming that "had the Palestinians said yes to a Jewish State in 1947, there would have been no war, no refugees, and no conflict." Then turning to attack Abbas's call to sue the British government over the Balfour Declaration, Netanyahu pointed out that just under 100 years had passed and sarcastically asked, "Why not bring a class action suit against Abraham for buying land in Hebron?" referencing the Biblical story. Netanyahu held that the Palestinians were responsible for the ongoing conflict between the two peoples, saying, "This remains the source of the conflict: the Palestinian refusal to accept a Jewish state in ANY boundaries." Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the UN General Assembly (Photo: EPA) He addressed settlement-building, even admitting that it was an issue that needed to be dealt with, but he expressed umbrage that they be considered the main roadblock for peace. Referencing the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, he said, "When we withdrew from every inch of Gaza, we didn't get peace from Gaza. We got thousands of rockets fired at us." "The real settlements they're after," he stressed, "are Haifa, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv." "When the Palestinians say 'yes' to a Jewish state, we'll be able to end the conflict once and for all." "The Palestinians are not only trapped in the past," he said. "Their leaders are poisoning the future (of their children)." Netanyahu then painted a picture of a fictional, typical Palestinian child named Ali. Even if Ali wanted peace, he would still be surrounded by praise from the government and from society of violent terrorism. This the Israeli leader deemed to be "child abuse." He asked those present to "imagine what it takes for a young boy or girl to break free from this culture of hate." 'Israel won't accept UN attempts to dictate terms' Despite his harsh criticism of the Palestinians, Netanyahu affirmed that "the State of Israel is ready. I am ready to negotiate all final status, but one thing I will never negotiate is the right to a one and only Jewish state." Seemingly surprised by his statement's warm reception, Netanyahu commented, "Prolonged applause for the prime minister of the State of Israel in the United Nations General Assembly? Change may be coming sooner than I thought!" And while he reaffirmed his commitment to a "two states for peoples" solution, Netanyahu shot down attempts for a peace process to be led by the United Nations. "Does anybody really believe that Israel will let the UN determine our security? We will not accept any attempt by the UN to dictate terms to Israel," he wondered. "I have so much confidence, in fact, that I predict a decade from now, an Israeli prime minister will stand here, where I'm standing, and applaud the UN. But I ask, why do we have to wait a decade? Why do we have to keep vilifying Israel?" Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP) The prime minister then went on to dedicate a part of his speech to criticizing the UN for its continued condemnations of Israel. "The UN has gone from being a moral force to a moral farce," Netanyahu charged. He noted that the UN has passed 20 resolutions against Israel, and three against "the rest of the countries on the planet." Netanyahu also bemoaned the fact that "as women are being systematically raped, murdered, sold into slavery across the worldwhich is the only country that the UN's commission on women has condemned? Yup. You guessed it: Israel." He also condemned the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) specifically for a resolution proposal that acknowledges the Temple Mount, and particularly the al-Aqsa mosque, as a site holy to Muslims alone. UNESCO, Netanyahu said, "denied the 4000-year-old connection between the Jewish people and its holiest site. That's just as absurd as denying the connection between the Great Wall of China and China." Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP) Despite Israel's troubles with the United Nations, the prime minister took comfort in the fact that "governments are changing their attitudes towards Israel, because they know that Israel can help them protect their people, feed them, provide them with better lives." He spoke about Israel's aid and cooperation in the fields of security, cyberspace, water and technology, and went on to speak about his recent trip to strengthen relations with Africa. Later today," Netanyahu continued, "I'll be meeting with the leaders from 17 African countries. We'll discuss how Israel can help them in transforming their countries. In Africa, things are changing. In India, Russia, China, Japan, attitudes towards Israel have changed as well. Despite Israel's small size, it can make a big difference. Netanyahu predicted that the days where UN ambassadors reflexively condemn Israel are coming to an end. He called on the UN to "lay down its arms" against the Jewish state. "Perhaps some of you don't know it yet," he continued, "but I'm confident that one day, in the not-too-distant future, you'll get the message from your president or prime minister." Meanwhile in the Arab world, he noted that countries which used to be bitter enemies of the Jewish state are now willing to work with Israel against mutual threats. He held up the Israeli peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan as cornerstones of peace in the world. And, just a day after meeting with US President Barack Obama, the prime minister did not forget to thank Israel's biggest supporter in the UN. "In this revolution, we never forget that our most cherished alliance is with the United States of America, the most powerful and generous nation on Earth," Netanyahu said to rapturous applause from the US delegation. Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP) Netanyahu then discussed the dangers of radical, militant Islam. "Peace has no greater enemy than the force of militant Islam," he said. "Israel fights this fateful battle against the force of militant Islam every day." "(Hamas) unbelievably cruelly refuse to return three of our citizens and the bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin," he said, referring to the remains of two Israeli soldiers captured by the Gaza terror group during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. "Hadar's parents are here today. They have one request: to bury their beloved son in Israel. They ask for one simple thing: to be able to visit the grave of their fallen son Hadar in Israel. Hamas couldn't care less," Netanyahu added. To warm applause from the US delegation and visitors' gallery, Netanyahu also reiterated that "Israel will not allow Iran to establish nuclear weapons. Not now, not in a decade, not ever." Iran's delegation to the UN was not present during Netanyahu's speech. The Iranian delegation left the room for Netanyahu's speech (Photo: Reuters) The prime minister also spoke of Israel's ninth president Shimon Peres, who has been hospitalized for over a week after having a stroke last week. "I stand before you today at a time when Israel's former president Shimon Peres is fighting for his life. Shimon is one of Israel's founding fathers, one of Israel's most respected leaders. I know that you will join me, the entire people of Israel, in wishing him a refuah shleima, Shimona full recovery," Netanyahu said. Speaking about the former president's optimism, and voiced his own optimism and pride in Israel, that it has "soldiers who are second to none," a thriving high-tech industry, and advancements in the field of racial equality. The prime minister finished by saying "Israel wants to be your partner in seizing that future. I call on all of you: embrace Israel. Dream with Israel. A future of security, prosperity and peace. A future where even at the UN, even in this hall, where Israel will take its rightful place among the nations." India has branded Pakistan a "terrorist state" in a stinging response to Pakistan's criticism of Indian suppression of protests in disputed Kashmir. India exercised its right of reply in the UN General Assembly late Wednesday. It was responding to Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had demanded a UN probe into "brutalities" by Indian forces. Indian diplomat Eenam Gambhir described that as a "hypocritical sermon." She blamed Pakistan for a rebel attack Sunday that killed 18 Indians soldiers in Kashmir, the deadliest attack on a military base there for years. "What we see in Pakistan is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbors," she said. A gigantic golem made out of wooden Hebrew letters lies motionless on the ground, yet it seems as if only a few magic whispers are needed to bring the creature to life. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter A golem made by Joshua Abarbanel (Photo: AP) The sculpture, created by California artist Joshua Abarbanel, is one of 250 objects on display at the new "Golem" show in the Jewish Museum Berlin, opening this week, which approaches the legend in diverse and unconventional ways. First mentioned in ancient Jewish texts, a golem is an artificial being made from mud or other inanimate material that's brought to life through the power of Hebrew letters. It became popular and known outside Judaism in a famous story about the sixteenth-century Rabbi Judah Loew who is said to have created a golem out of clay in the hope it would help protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Golem cocoons made by Jorge Gil (Photo: AP) However, the golem has a dark side, too. It often spins out of control and its superhuman powers can become a threat to the one who created it. "The golem can look back on a long career, in Judaism and far beyond," Peter Schaefer, the director of the Jewish Museum Berlin told reporters Thursday. "Its story begins in the Hebrew bible and continues, in constantly new transformations, into the present day." From the Golem exhibit (Photo: AP) The exhibition, which opens Friday and runs through Jan. 29, shows both traditional images of the golem and modern-day incarnations. There are medieval instructions explaining how to use incantations, rituals and specific Hebrew letter combinations to bring the golem to life. There are also videos, costumes and installations presenting different interpretations of the golem by 30 contemporary artists from Israel, the United States and elsewhere. Jorge Gil from Spain created an installation of three creatures in plush, yellow cocoons hanging head down from the ceiling. Only their faces, made of mannequin dolls, are visible, but a fourth empty cocoon lying on the floor suggests that the stiff puppets are about to metamorphose and come to life as well. The installation "My light is your life" by Czech artist Kristof Kintera is more than four meters (13 feet) tall, made of dozens of bulbs and lamps and endless black cords that in its entirety appear as a "breathing light' sculpture with arms, legs and a round head topped by a halo. And then there are comics, cartoons and video game stations. They show how the golem developed over time into a figure of pop culture: both as a superhero and a monster, reminiscent of Superman, King Kong or Minecraft monsters. Beyond that, the golem has also become a metaphor for modern scientific and political developments that threaten to get out of control. In one gallery there are photos titled 'Human Version 2.0" by French artist Yves Gellis that show robot laboratories around the world depicting creators next to their eerily similar robot doppelgangers. "The ancient human dream of creating artificial beings connects with today's world: genetic technology and artificial intelligence, computer and robots," Schaefer said. "All these are endeavors to create a kind of golem." NEW YORK - Banks must turn over Sudanese funds to victims of al Qaeda's 2000 bombing of the USS Cole who had won a $314.7 million judgment, a US appeals court ruled, as it rejected US arguments that this could interfere with treaties and its dealings with foreign governments. By a 3-0 vote on Thursday, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York refused requests by Sudan and the United States to reconsider its Sept. 23, 2015 ruling ordering the turnover. Circuit Judge Denny Chin expressed "some reluctance" to reject the US position, but said "the State Department's views are not conclusive." KINSHASA - The UN human rights chief strongly condemned this week's fatal shooting of anti-government protesters in Democratic Republic of Congo and urged the government on Thursday to seek dialogue with the opposition. Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said the death toll from clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital Kinshasa on Monday had risen to at least 50. The government has said 32 people died. Congolese authorities have said elections due in November cannot be held until at least next year due to logistical problems. President Joseph Kabila denies opponents' charges of trying to cling to power beyond a two-term limit in the vast central African country, a producer of gold, diamonds and copper. WASHINGTON- The top US military officer told a Senate committee on Thursday that he believes Russia bombed a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria on Monday, calling it an "unacceptable atrocity." The statement from US Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the first time a senior US official publicly pointed the finger at Moscow. Russia's defense ministry quickly disputed Dunford's comments. Under questioning from the Senate Armed Services Committee, Dunford revealed for the first time that both Russian and Syrian aircraft were in the area at the time of the strike. And when pressed by senators for his own conclusion, he said he believed Russia was the one that launched the airstrike. US officials initially said the aircraft that dropped the bombs were Russian Su-24 fighter jets, but they weren't sure if the aircraft were piloted by Russian or Syrian government troops. The Obama administration has blamed Russia either way, because of Moscow's continued influence over the Syrian government in the war. UNITED NATIONS - The leaders of small Pacific nations are giving emotional tributes to Ban Ki-moon for becoming the first UN chief to visit their part of the world in seven decades. Their speeches have been tinged with concern about whether Ban's successor would be as big a champion of small island countries. Kiribati President Taneti Maamu told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that he "quite sad that though that this is the last general debate of our beloved secretary-general." Reserve commander discusses shaping the force for the future Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller, the Air Force Reserve Command commander and chief of the Air Force Reserve, said the legacy of citizen Airmen of the past helped strengthen and shape the dynamic force that serves and defends the nation today during a session at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference here Sept. 20. Addressing the audience, Miller said since 1948, Reserve Airmen have chosen to balance successful civilian careers with military service, defending the nation when called upon. She recalled the service of World War II-era Airmen including actor Jimmy Stewart, who enlisted in the Army Air Corps, flew B-17 Flying Fortresses in combat, and later became commander of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia; Charles Lindbergh, the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean; and Jackie Cochran, a pioneer pilot who urged the military to use female pilots to support the war effort in non-combat roles,and later served in the Air Force Reserve before retiring at the rank of brigadier general. Referencing these Airmen, Miller said, (They) shaped our legacy and laid the foundation for who we are as citizen Airmen. Like those who came before, todays reservists have a critical role in taking the fight to the enemy. As one Air Force, we are bound together as Airmen, as citizens and as Americans, Miller said. As one team, you have fought harder and your families have sacrificed more than most will ever know. As citizens we are fully vested in our communities, raising our families, immersed in our civilian careers, and yet intimately feel that profound calling to do more, to serve and defend our great nation. Miller said the strength of todays and tomorrows Air Force Reserve lies in the strategic depth provided by a predominantly part-time force of diverse and experienced Airmen, many of whom have come from the active component but have chosen part-time military service for reasons, such as wanting to start a new career, put down roots and raise a family. This force remains an affordable, cost-effective option in the fiscally constrained environment we live in today, Miller said. A force that can be fully called upon when needed. The Reserve provides daily operational capability and a surge capacity to the active component, Miller said, which requires a balance between assured access through mobilization and sustained readiness through reserve administration control and voluntary participation. We strive for missions that enable our citizen Airmen to maintain a balance between civilian and military careers. We desire sustainable mission sets to provide some predictability for our force even though our history demonstrates that our Airmen are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to continue serving. Because the Air Force Reserve is a steadfast and reliable component of nearly every mission the Air Force executes, Miller said it is critical to continue modernizing legacy systems and platforms; invest in Airmen to develop them and help them remain resilient; and pursue policies and programs that not only support a part-time force but develops future organizational structures that will enable readiness accountability and effective force management. It is not enough to just preserve that foundation, Miller said. We must also build on our current capabilities for the fight today. With todays complex global environment there is no indication that the demand for Reserve forces is going to decline. Preparing for the future requires change and looking for new options. With that in mind, Miller said the Air Force Reserve is committed to looking for opportunities for growth in space, cyberspace and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. It also means looking to industry experts, particularly in space and cyberspace, to leverage their civilian experience in order to increase the forces effectiveness. The world is unpredictable, but we can help the Air Force Reserve be postured to meet any threat, Miller said. We do that by allowing every citizen Airmen the ability to answer the call to serve and defend our country to the best of their ability. This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company. As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism. We hope you are equally as excited as us. This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers. Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited. In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy. Happy shootin' my friends! Buying Guides: Firearms Firearm Accessories Ammunition Gun Safes Scopes & Optics Hunting Air Rifles Best AR-15 Best AR 15 Scope Best Hunting Rifle Best Gun Safe Best AK 47 Best AR 10 Best Glock Triggers Best Glock Best Home Defense Shotgun As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More Dobra, k. Szczecina 900 m2 40 miejsc parkingowych Atut: Dodatkowe dochody z paczkomatow InPostu, a juz niedugo i z myjni samoobsugowej. Tradycyjny zakup nieruchomosci, mozliwosc wykupienia uzytkowania wieczystego. Latest News Washington, DC - Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for Childrens Issues, will travel to Argentina and Brazil from September 22-30, 2016. Special Advisor Jacobs will meet with government and judicial officials in Argentina to discuss implementation of the Hague Abduction Convention and ways to strengthen our partnership to resolve international parental child abduction cases. She will then travel to Brazil to discuss practices relating to the Hague Abduction Convention and the Hague Adoption Convention. She will also explore ways in which Brazil can more quickly resolve abduction cases consistently with the Hague Abduction Convention. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - This morning, at 9:59 a.m., the Yuma Police Department responded to an injury collision on 5TH Avenue at 8TH Street. Traffic along 8TH Street from 4TH Avenue westbound to 6TH Avenue was impacted. Rene Fernandez, 31year old male, was driving north bound on 5th Avenue and failed to stop at the stop sign at 8th Street. The 2003 white Ford F150 Fernandez was driving collided with a white 2009 Nissan Pathfinder driven by 62 year old Martin Hernandez, who was traveling east bound on 8th Street. Martin Hernandez was flown to a Phoenix hospital in serious condition. Rene Fernandez was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Kinshasa: Police in DR Congo said Wednesday that 32 people had been killed during two days of clashes in the capital Kinshasa this week, while the opposition said more than three times that number had died. The wildly divergent figures were released as security forces brought the wave of violence and looting to an end. Clashes between police and opponents of President Joseph Kabila on Monday and Tuesday saw people burned alive, and attacks on police positions, but the worst unrest in the capital since January 2015 appeared to have fizzled out on Wednesday. "The national police was backed by members of the (army) to stop the acts of looting and vandalism," police spokesman Pierre-Rombaut Mwana-Mputu told reporters. Traffic in the capital was lighter than usual on Wednesday and many schoolchildren remained at home. But residents were back on the streets, some inspecting shops and other buildings that were pillaged or gutted by fires. The official death toll is far below the figure of over 100 given by the opposition, but broadly in line with the number given by Human Rights Watch, which put the toll at 37. The UN, which has deployed its biggest peacekeeping force in DR Congo, mostly in the troubled east, was cautious about the figures. "There are many people who were killed," Jose Maria Aranaz, who heads the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), told reporters, indicating that his organisation would give a toll after a long audit. The UN Security Council Wednesday called for calm and pressed for "credible elections" to be held. Opposition groups had organised demonstrations on Monday to demand the resignation of Kabila, who has ruled since 2001 and, under the constitution, should step down on December 20. Both sides traded blame for the violence that erupted. In a statement, the presidency accused the opposition of having transformed the event into "bloody riots" while a spokesman for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Bruno Tshibala, described the unrest as a "fire" planned by a "bloodthirsty power". Kabila is yet to call elections, fanning fears he plans to stay in power despite pressure to step aside from his domestic political opponents, as well as the United Nations and Western powers.As shops and petrol stations reopened for business on Wednesday, there was anger as well as relief that the violence appeared to have ended -- even if the underlying political tensions remain. "What happened yesterday and the day before was awful," said Christian, 21, speaking outside a looted mobile phone shop in the southern Ndjili district. "I`m not against people standing up for their rights but what I don`t like is rioting and looting," he said, adding that companies offering rare work opportunities to the largely unemployed population had been targeted. At the morgue of the general hospital in the north of the city, a police officer guarding the scene told AFP: "There were bodies brought here after the (nearest military) camp morgue was overwhelmed." The worst of the clashes took place in the centre and south of the city, with police property and offices used by the ruling party and the opposition torched. Several people were burned alive in the headquarters of the UDPS, led by veteran leader Etienne Tshisekedi. The looted premises in Ndjili included a depot for agricultural produce set up by the government just two years ago. "Most people can`t afford the corn produced in Congo," said a man who gave just his first name Patrick. "It was anger that made people loot," he added. "We don`t have a particular problem with Kabila but we want him to say publicly that he does not plan to run for another term," he said. Political tension has gripped the country since Kabila`s disputed re-election in November 2011. Tshisekedi, who officially came second in the poll, has never accepted his defeat and the resulting political deadlock has prevented any direct elections taking place since then. In its statement read on television, the presidency made no reference to the future of the head of state. It said Kabila called on the opposition to abandon "the insurgency" and join him in "ongoing dialogue to resolve difficulties arising from organising new (local) elections required by the constitution." This "national dialogue" began on September 1 between the ruling majority, representatives of civil society and a minority fringe of the opposition to try to sketch a way out of the political crisis. The Catholic Church, respected for the decisive role it played in the opening to democracy in the 1990s and which participates in the dialogue, said Tuesday they should seek a wider consensus in which it should be "clearly laid down" that Kabila will not stand. Washington: Amidst a war of words between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the US has said it discourages "destabilising actions" by all states with nuclear weapons and missile capabilities. "We continue to urge all states with nuclear weapons to exercise restraint regarding nuclear and missile capabilities," a State Department official said yesterday when asked about the reported remarks by Lt Gen Tariq Khan who retired as the Commander of I Strike Corps at Mangla in 2014. "We encourage efforts to promote confidence-building and stability and discourage destabilizing actions," the official said. Khan, in a widely-circulated social media post, said: "There appears to be some preparations for military reprisal on anticipation of the Uri alleged raid." "The next 48 hrs are critical; if Pakistan cannot garner international support, be prepared for a strike through ground or air. Expect a snowball effect if that does happen and it may lead to full-fledged hostilities," he said. The State Department official, however, said: "The General is a private citizen and his views are his own." Tension between India and Pakistan peaked following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri on Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed. Initial investigation by India has suggested the attackers came from Pakistan and were members of terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad. Vijayawada: A bus with 47 passengers was caught in flood waters in Andhra Pradesh`s Guntur district on Thursday, authorities said. The state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp bus was trapped in Vutukuru village. Some passengers climbed on top of the bus as the water level rose, desperately looking for help. The administration could not launch rescue operations due to massive flooding. District Collector Kantilal Dande was making efforts to arrange a helicopter for rescue operation, official sources said. Several areas were inundated in Guntur and other districts in Andhra Pradesh due to heavy rains lashing the region since Wednesday. Vijayawada: Five persons were on Thursday killed in separate rain-related incidents in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Three persons were washed away in the Kuppaganji rivulet near Chilakaluripet, while another was rescued by the villagers. One person was killed in a lightning strike at Brahmanapalli village near Piduguralla, while another was killed when an uprooted tree fell on him. Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa, who also holds the Home and Disaster Management portfolios and who has been touring Chilakaluripet to oversee the rescue-and-relief operations in the flood-hit areas, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. As there was a forecast of more rain in the next couple of days, people living in the low-lying areas were being evacuated to safer places, the deputy chief minister said. He has directed the officials to be on a "high alert" to tackle any eventuality. Beijing: At least 13 people were injured today when a school bus collided with a truck in China's central Henan province. The accident occurred at around 8:53 AM in Suixian county. Two of the 13 injured people are said to be in critical condition, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Police have detained the truck driver. Further details are awaited. Kabul: Afghanistan on Thursday signed a peace agreement with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for him to make a political comeback despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. Hekmatyar, who heads the now largely dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group, is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. The deal with Afghanistan`s second-biggest militant group marks a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani, who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taliban. A Hezb-i-Islami delegation shook hands with members of the High Peace Council (HPC), responsible for reconciliation efforts with militants, and the national security adviser at an official ceremony in Kabul. "This is not just a peace deal between Hezb-i-Islami and the government of Afghanistan," Mohammad Amin Karim, head of the insurgent delegation, said at the ceremony, which was not attended by Hekmatyar. "It is a beginning of a new era of peace all around the country." The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by Ghani and Hekmatyar, the government said, though no date has been set. "Destruction is the only consequence of war. So I urge all the opposition groups to pursue peace and reconciliation," said HPC chief Sayed Ahmad Gilani. Hekmatyar, derided widely as the "butcher of Kabul", was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war. He is widely believed to be in hiding in Pakistan, but his group claims he remains in Afghanistan. The deal paves the way for him to make a comeback in mainstream politics in a pattern well established by other warlords, such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum, currently the country`s first vice president. But it has sparked revulsion from human rights groups and residents of the capital who survived the civil war. A group of activists protested in Kabul holding placards portraying Hekmatyar with blood spilling from his mouth and a rocket piercing his nose. It read: "We cannot forgive the executioner of Kabul.""His return will compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s," Human Rights Watch said last month. According to the agreement, the government will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity "in all past political and military proceedings" as well as release Hezb-i-Islami prisoners in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. Hekmatyar is designated a "global terrorist" by the US and is blacklisted by the UN. The Afghan government will work towards lifting those restrictions. The deal is not likely to have an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan. Hezb-i-Islami has been largely inactive in recent years, with its last big attack in Afghanistan in 2013. It killed 15 people including five Americans. "Afghanistan has been failing in negotiating peace with militant groups for the last 15 years, and this deal marks the first practical success in that regard," Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir told AFP. "This could be a template for peace deals with other militant groups and marks an achievement for Ghani ahead of the Brussels" development aid conference in October, he added. The deal was hailed by the country`s international partners including the United States and the United Nations. "The initialling of a peace agreement... sends a strong signal of hope for Afghanistan," the European Union said, expressing hope for an early implementation of the deal. "It demonstrates that political processes can succeed where conflict cannot." The government took the opportunity to renew its offer for peace talks to the Taliban, who have persistently refused to engage in negotiations as they ramp up their nationwide offensive against the Western-backed regime. New Delhi: Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the human rights violations in Balochistan, many voices have come forward and spoken against the atrocities committed by the Pakistani forces and Inter-Services Intelligence. While exposing Pakistan's misdeeds in the restive area, a Maloch woman, who refused to disclose her identity claimed that the forces have rape cell, where women are confined and subjected to brutal sexual assault. The barbarity of Pakistani forces have increased ever since PM Modi addressed the Balochistan issue. The Baloch lawyers, doctors, teachers are being abducted and their dead bodies are later found in some deserted area. In a startling revelation, the Baloch woman said, for the past two weeks Pakistani forces have around 50 women and children have been abducted in Dera Bugti area. The woman said Pakistan uses tanks and fighter jets to silence their call for freedom. The woman appealed to India to strongly raise their concerns in the international forum and support their freedom struggle. Pakistan's illegal occupation of Balochistan has gained international attention after Prime Minster Narendra Modi mentioned about the struggle of Balochi people during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15. Khan of Kalat Amir Ahmed Suleman Daud (Balochistan leader in exile) on Wednesday called Pakistan a rogue state. Notably, Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti, who is the president of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) that is seeking independence for the troubled Pakistani province, has applied for asylum in India. Earlier, Banuk Shirin, claiming to a be a Baloch woman, tweeted heart-rending pictures of Pakistan Army's brutal killings. While posting the pictures on her twitter account, she accused the Pakistani forces of abducting the Baloch youths and then killing them. Balochistan's 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. New York: The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has said that Beijing is supporting Pakistan in the mass killing of the Balochi people courtesy the China Pakistan Corridor Project (CPEC). "China is Pakistan's strategic partner in the economic plundering and mass murder of Baloch civilians particularly in the coastal belt of the Makran region of Balochistan. The deep sea port of Gwadar has been sold to China for military buildup and expansion into the Arabian Sea," read a statement issued regarding the joint protest of Baloch and Sindhi activists held outside the United Nations to condemn the Pakistani atrocities and the 'ongoing military operations' in Sindh and Balochistan. The statement further said, "The 47 billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a death trap for the Baloch people in the name of development. An estimated 300,000 Baloch tribal and coastal population has been forced out of their ancestral lands and fishing villages to make room for the Chinese and their security establishment." Highlighting the rampant human rights violations in the region, the statement said, "Since 2003, more than 20,000 Baloch political activists have gone missing, illegally abducted by the Pakistani state security forces and their death squads. The victims of enforced disappearances are being tortured and executed in custody in thousands and their lifeless, mutilated, bullet-riddled bodies are then dumped in the fields." "The Pakistan army soldiers and helicopter gunships attack civilian settlements and villages on regular basis across Balochistan and entire populations are forced to migrate leaving behind a trail of burned down houses and bodies of executed youth," it added. The protestors appealed to the United States and the international community to support their demands for freedom, peace, and justice. They also condemned the recent terror attack on an Indian Army base camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and alleged that Pakistan is responsible for the incident as well as for the Pathankot air base attack that happened earlier this year in January. "We condemn the barbaric terror attack on the Uri camp in Jammu and Kashmir in which 17 soldiers of the 12th Brigade of the Indian Army lost their lives. The recent attack and the earlier one at the Pathankot Indian Air Force Base in January 2016 are part of Pakistan's policy of aggression, employing terrorist methods and outfits to escalate war in the region," it said. They also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "The Baloch people have welcomed and are grateful for the support extended by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at such a critical juncture when our nation is struggling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948. Athens: Greece has rejected the asylum claim of a Turkish military officer who fled after the failed coup of July 15, his lawyer said Thursday, vowing to appeal the decision. Lawyer Stavroula Tomara told AFP that an asylum committee on Wednesday had "rejected" the officer`s request and "frozen" those of two others. A judicial source said this meant the court had ruled the two officers` arguments against extradition inadmissible. Tomara said she would appeal against the rejection and request a re-examination for her other two clients, which she said could be done in the next nine months. She represents eight Turkish officers, who are seeking asylum in Greece after landing a military helicopter in the northern city of Alexandroupoli in July, four days after Turkish army units attempted a government takeover. Wednesday`s decision does not mean the immediate deportation of any of the officers, a Greek government source told AFP, adding that that the asylum claims of the other five officers is still under examination. Turkey has formally requested the extradition of the men -- two commanders, four captains and two sergeants -- on suspicion of involvement in the failed coup. The men deny the accusations. In late July, the court of Alexandroupoli sentenced the eight -- who face a military trial in their homeland if sent back -- to suspended two-month prison terms for illegal entry. The men were subsequently relocated to Athens and are in police custody. The eight say they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey, where the authorities have detained thousands of people over the coup, including top generals. If sent home, their lives could be in danger, one of their lawyers has said. Rights group Amnesty International has said it has "credible evidence" of the abuse and torture of people detained in sweeping post-coup arrests -- something Ankara has denied. The case threatens to strain ties between the uneasy NATO allies, with Ankara labelling the eight "terrorists". Baghdad: Iraqi forces are gaining ground in a northern town that they are fighting to retake from jihadists ahead of a push for the city of Mosul, commanders said on Thursday. Security forces began the operation on Tuesday to oust the Islamic State group from Sharqat, a town near supply lines needed for the battle to retake second city Mosul from the jihadists. Iraq`s Joint Operations Command said forces from the 9th Armoured Division have retaken the local government headquarters in Sharqat, as well as a hospital. Iraqi forces bypassed Sharqat to retake a key military base to its north as well as the neighbouring town of Qayyarah, but have now turned their attention to the continued IS presence behind their front lines. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and training have since retaken significant ground including the cities of Tikrit, Ramadi and Fallujah. Top US military officers have hinted that the final push for Mosul could begin next month, but there are still significant military, political and humanitarian obstacles between the launch of the operation and entering and retaking the city. Riyadh: Saudi-led air strikes killed 20 civilians in the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida late Wednesday just hours after the rebels celebrated the second anniversary of their seizure of the capital, a government official said. The raids hit the Suq al-Hunod district of the Red Sea port, the official in the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi which is supported by the Saudi-led coalition told AFP. The strikes were also reported by the rebel administration in the capital Sanaa. Taipei: Taiwan`s defence ministry has asked Google to blur images of a new development believed to be for military use on a disputed South China Sea island. Tensions remain high in the region over conflicting territorial claims, particularly over the strategically important Spratlys chain. Taiwan administers Taiping island, which is the largest in the Spratlys archipelago. The island chain is also claimed in part or whole by the Philippines, Vietnam and China. Google satellite images show a circular structure with four Y-shaped attachments, jutting out to sea on Taiping`s northwestern coast. The development comes after Taiwan last year inaugurated a solar-powered lighthouse, an expanded airstrip and a pier as part of efforts to strengthen defence capabilities on Taiping. The defence ministry said it was in the process of contacting Google Thursday to ask them to blur the satellite images, but would not comment further on what the structures are. "It is classified information," the ministry`s spokesman Chen Chung-chi said when asked the reason for the request to Google, which was made after images of the structures surfaced in local media. Fears over possible military confrontation in the area have grown since an international tribunal ruling in July which rejected Beijing`s sweeping claims to almost all of the South China Sea -- even waters approaching coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. China outlines its territory using a vague map that emerged in the 1940s, resulting in an overlap with Taiwan`s claims. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war on the mainland, but Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing angrily vowed to ignore the verdict from the tribunal in The Hague, prompting a warning from US President Barack Obama who emphasised that the ruling was binding. Crucially for Taipei, the ruling stated that Taiping was legally a "rock" that did not give it an exclusive economic zone, undermining its claims to the surrounding waters. Taiwan`s President Tsai Ing-wen, who has yet to visit the island since taking office in May, has said the verdict "severely jeopardised" Taiwan`s rights. Her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou visited Taiping in January to press Taiwan`s claims, a move that triggered criticism from the US as well as protests from Vietnam and the Philippines. Tensions have also been stoked by China`s rapid development of reefs in the South China Sea into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. Raipur: Two security personnel were today injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district. The incident occurred this morning when a joint team of Special Task Force and district forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Madded Police Station area, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg said. The composite squad had launched the operation from Madded, around 450 km from here. When they reached near Gorna rivulet, the ultras detonated a powerful blast and opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces leading to a gun-battle, he said. However, rebels soon fled the spot on finding security personnel zeroing on them, Garg said, adding "Two jawans sustained injuries in the explosion and were airlifted to Raipur for treatment." Those injured were Assistant Constable Sadanandam Dhannur and secret trooper Abhaiyya Jabba. Meanwhile, security forces have launched a combing operation in the region to nab the attackers, he said. Yesterday, a District Reserve Group (DRG) jawan was killed and three others were injured in an encounter with Naxals in Kondagaon district of the state. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Amanatullah Khan, who was arrested on Wednesday after a sexual harassment complaint by his brother-in-law's wife. Khan represents Okhla constituency in south Delhi. He was remanded to one-day judicial custody yesterday. Metropolitan Magistrate Vijeta Singh Rawat gave the relief to the politician on a personal bond of Rs 35,000 and a surety of the like amount and asked him not to contact the complainant or threaten her to take back the complaint. "He shall not in any manner whatsoever interfere in the ongoing probe," the court said, adding that whenever he is required in the police station, he will join and not come along with his supporters. While imposing certain conditions on him, the court said that if violated, the investigating officer (IO) will be at liberty to approach the court for cancellation of Khan's bail. "Prima facie from the allegations, it appears that Section 498A of IPC as such is not made out against the accused as there is no evidence for any demand of dowry or regarding mental/ physical cruelty perpetrated by him on the complainant. "The primary allegations against him are of section 354 IPC which are of year 2011-2012. However, there are allegations of section 509 IPC which may be recent in nature," the court said. The court passed the order after the IO said that the politician was not required for custodial interrogation and the probe regarding him was complete. In its order, the court also warned the MLA saying, "he shall not in any manner whatsoever, personally or through his relatives, contact the complainant or threaten her to take back the complaint." Following the complaint by the woman (spouse of his wife's brother), a FIR was lodged against Khan at the Jamia Nagar police station in south Delhi on September 10. The complainant accused Khan of pressurising her to establish physical relations. Khan has denied the allegation, saying he had "no connection with the woman at all". The AAP leader was booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), 498-A (relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and criminal conspiracy, police said. Khan had gone to the Jamia Nagar police station on Sunday to surrender, but police refused to arrest him. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Somnath Bharti was arrested on Thursday, days after he was booked for damaging All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) property and misbehaving with its security guards. Bharti was arrested from his residence and was taken to the Hauz Khas Police Station. He will be produced before a court later in the day. The legislator from Malviya Nagar area of south Delhi and a former minister had denied the allegations. The Delhi Police had registered an FIR following the complaint of AIIMS Chief Security Officer RS Rawat. Rawat, in his written complaint at south Delhi's Hauz Khas police station, had said that Bharti, around 9.45 am on September 9 "provoked the mob to damage the fence of government property (AIIMS)". "Bharti gave permission to unauthorised persons with JCB machines to get access inside AIIMS from Gautam Nagar Nallah road side and misbehaved with security personnel," said a police officer, citing Rawat's complaint. In the complaint, it was also alleged that six security personnel were injured while trying to intervene and stop Bharti and his supporters from damaging AIIMS property. Bharti and his supporters were booked under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 186 (obstructing public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Bharti's arrest came a day after another AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan was arrested after a sexual harassment complaint by his brother-in-law's wife. Bharti was earlier booked in a domestic violence case filed against him by his wife Lipika Mitra. He was later granted bail in the case. The AAP MLA had, however, termed the allegations "wrong". New Delhi: Welcoming the decision to rename Race Course Road as Lok Kalyan Marg, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said that there are a few more roads in the national capital that need a name change. "It is a welcome decision. Race Coarse Road does not befit the name of a road which houses the Prime Minister who works for the welfare (kalyan) of the people. Hence, it is good that the road has been renamed. There are few more roads which need a name change," BJP leader R.P.Singh told ANI. The announcement was made at a press conference attended by NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and New Delhi BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.The proposal in this regard was moved by Lekhi, who had earlier written to the government that the current name of the road does not match with Indian culture. Last year, Aurangzeb Road was renamed after former president A P J Abdul Kalam.Earlier, there was speculation that 7 RCR would be renamed as Ekatma Marag to pay tribute to freedom fighter and social reformer Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. New Delhi: AAP legislators Somnath Bharti and Amanatullah Khan on Thursday got bail from two different courts here, sparking another attack by Delhi's ruling party on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed surprise that at a time when the Prime Minister should be focussing on the Uri terror attack, his machinery was still targeting the AAP. "I am amazed at a time when PM should be working on Uri, his machinery is working overtime to get AAP MLAs arrested or me implicated in false cases," the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted, referring to the terror attack on an army camp in Uri in Kashmir that left 18 soldiers dead. Kejriwal's reaction came a day after he alleged that police had named him in an FIR related to alleged illegalities in the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and shortly after courts in Delhi gave bail to two AAP MLAs. Bharti was granted bail on a personal security bond of Rs 30,000, only hours after his arrest for allegedly damaging a fence at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and misbehaving with its security guards. Bharti was taken into custody from his residence earlier in the day. The former Delhi law minister has denied the allegations. Police registered an FIR against Bharti and his supporters on September 11 on charges of rioting with deadly weapons, obstructing public servants as well as assaulting or using criminal force against public servants following a complaint from the AIIMS Chief Security Officer R.S. Rawat. Rawat alleged that Bharti provoked a mob to damage the fence at AIIMS at around 9.45 a.m. on September 9 and allowed unauthorised persons with JCB machines to access the hospital premises and misbehaved with security personnel. The complaint said six security personnel were injured when they tried to intervene. Bharti's counsel Madan Lal and Vijay Aggarwal told the court that the fence was demolished by the PWD, not by him. They said the AAP leader was falsely implicated in the case due to political vendetta. Reacting to Bharti's arrest, AAP leader Dilip Pandey said the PWD had started demolishing a drain at Gautam Nagar, adjoining the AIIMS complex, for the benefit of its residents. "Being the legislator of the constituency, Bharti was present at the site along with residents and police personnel. He was arrested on spurious charges. This is sad," Pandey told the media. "We want to tell Modiji that AAP leaders and MLAS do not fear getting arrested. Hang us, if you (Modi) want, for doing public welfare work," the AAP leader said Another AAP legislator, Amanatullah Khan, was also granted bail by another court. He was arrested a day earlier for allegedly sexually harassing a relative. Khan, who represents Okhla constituency in south Delhi, was arrested on Wednesday after being called for questioning. He was sent to a day's judicial custody by the court. Following the woman's complaint, an FIR was lodged against the AAP legislator at the Jamia Nagar police station on September 10. The complainant accused Khan of pressurising her to establish physical relations. Khan has denied the charge, saying he has not met the woman for years. The Kejriwal and Modi governments have been at loggerheads ever since the AAP swept to power in the national capital in February 2015. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled all the counselling for undergraduate medical course in Madhya Pradesh and ordered the process be held anew. A bench headed by Justice Anil R. Dave asked the state government to complete the process within a week. Budapest: Hungary's Prime Minister said the European Union should round up and deport all illegal immigrants and assemble them in EU-supervised refugee camps beyond the bloc`s borders where they can then file for asylum. "This could be an island, it could be a coastal area in North Africa, but the security and supplies of that area must be guaranteed by the EU in its own interes," Viktor Orban told the news website Origo in an interview published on Thursday. The firebrand premier has provoked controversy with a tough rhetoric about migrants and a razor wire fence along Hungary`s southern border, as well as a referendum against mandatory resettlement quotas on Oct. 2. "Those who came illegally must be rounded up and shipped out," Orban said. "We must set up large refugee camps outside the EU, with armed security and financial support provided by the Union. Everyone who came illegally must return there. There they can file for asylum." He said this was a "grave moral task" that was the only alternative to the migrants staying in Europe and being relocated around the continent, creating further problems. Resettlements were an exercise in futility as those who wanted to be in Germany would promptly return there after resettlement. "There is only one solution that befits everyone, including us who are not yet in trouble because we defended ourselves and countries like Germany which are in trouble: Taking (migrants) out of the Union." He reiterated that the external borders of the EU must be strengthened to prevent a repeat of the 2015 flow of migrants. "Borders must be used, because they protect us," he said. "Some imagine a globe without borders...I am one of those who would not like to see the civilisation of the world change." New York: Several Baloch and Indian activists held large-scale demonstrations outside the UN headquarters here while Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly as they were joined by other groups demanding that it stop "exporting" terror into India. The protestors converged across the street from the world body's headquarters to condemn atrocities and human rights violations by Pakistan just as Sharif was addressing the General Debate of the General Assembly. The crowd shouted slogans of 'Free Balochistan', 'Down Down Pakistan', 'Save World from Pakistan Terror' as they waved banners and placards that read 'US Government stop giving funds to Pakistan', 'Kashmiri Hindus are Humans, Wake up to their sufferings', 'Remove Pakistan from the UN', 'Stop Atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir' and 'Killing Fields of Pakistan - Sindh and Balochistan'. "Pakistan is a terror state and does not want the people of Balochistan to live in peace," Ahmar Musti Khan, founder of the American Friends of Balochistan told PTI. He said Pakistan and its leaders are committing crimes against the residents of Kashmir, demanding that the country stop "exporting terror and let its neighbours live in peace". He added the Pakistani leadership should respect the right to self determination of the Baloch people. Khan said the Baloch people are "indebted" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi "for speaking out for Balochistan's right and the right of the Baloch people to be the masters of our own destiny". He slammed the Pakistani army for its brutalities against "innocent Balochis", saying "the Pakistan Army is ISIS in uniform". The Baloch National Movement (BNM) condemned the Pakistani atrocities and the 'ongoing military operations' in Sindh and Balochistan. "Baloch and Sindhi people appeal to the freedom loving citizens of America and the world to support our demands for freedom, peace, and justice. We, the victims of Pakistani state aggression and crimes against humanity, want to tell the world that 'Pakistan is a nuclear-armed terrorist state' and must be stopped," the group said. Condemning the "barbaric" terror attack on the Uri camp in Kashmir and Pathankot air base, BNM said such attacks are part of Pakistan's policy of "aggression, employing terrorist methods and outfits to escalate war in the region". It said the Baloch people are grateful for the support extended by the Indian Prime Minister at "such a critical juncture when our nation is struggling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948". Jayesh Patel, the former President of the Overseas Friends of BJP, said Pakistan should stop terrorism against India, saying countless innocent lives have been lost due to attacks in Kashmir, mostly recently on the army base in Uri that killed 18 jawans. "The families of our soldiers are the worst sufferers," he said. Imphal: An Air Asia flight from here was held up on Thursday and extensively searched after a passenger told the cabin crew he was carrying a bomb. Though it was later declared a hoax, the passenger has been arrested and is being questioned. The threat - the first ever in Manipur - triggered panic and alarm in Tulihal international airport in Imphal. Apart from the thorough search of the plane, including unloading the luggage for a detailed check, passengers on other flights were not allowed to disembark and security was tightened across the airport. CISF personnel conducted the search inside the Air Asia flight which was to leave the airport at 11.30 a.m. for Guwahati in Assam. Officials told IANS that the passenger, identified as Paocha Robinson, who boarded the flight at 11.20 a.m. unnerved the cabin crew as he told them he was carrying a bomb. Robinson, after being arrested, was subjected to detailed interrogation to establish his motive and antecedents. "It is not ruled out that he is innocent. There must be good reasons for the bomb hoax. We are exploring all angles," said sources. Security was beefed up in and around the international airport. Only passengers with valid tickets are allowed in the interior enclosures. The flight was eventually allowed to leave for Guwahati at 2.04 p.m. New Delhi: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has said that decision has been taken to grievously hurt Pakistan. "Yes, decision has been taken to grievously hurt Pakistan," Subramanian Swamy said in a conversation on CNN-News18. Also, BJP's National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh has claimed that the PM Narendra Modi-led government is seriously considering military option. "After listening to the PM and Defence Minister, there should be no doubt in it (military option)," Sidharth Nath Singh said in a programme on CNN-News18. Also, Manohar Parrikar has said that PM Narendra Modi's vow to avenge Uri attack won't remain just words. Noteworthy, Pakistan is under fire and facing flak from various nations across the globe over Sunday's terror attack at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri town had killed 18 soldiers. United Nations: In a blow to Nawaz Sharif, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday rejected Pakistan's repeated pleas to the United Nations to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Ban has told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Pakistan and India should address their outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through "dialogue". The UN chief's remarks came as Sharif handed over to him a dossier containing evidence of alleged human rights violations by Indian forces in Kashmir. "The Secretary-General stressed the need for Pakistan and India to address their outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue, saying it is in the interest of both countries and the region as a whole," according to a readout of Ban's meeting with Sharif provided by his spokesperson. Ban met with Sharif here on Wednesday on the margins of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. According to a statement by the Pakistan Mission to the UN, Sharif handed over to Ban the dossier containing information and evidence of alleged atrocities and human rights violations against Kashmiris. He also showed Ban "pictures" of "innocent and defenceless" people in Kashmir "victimised through brutal use of force and atrocities." "The Prime Minister also reiterated the imperative of an independent inquiry into the extra-judicial killings and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate the situation in occupied Kashmir. He emphasised that India must be urged to abide by UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir," the statement said. As expected, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday majorly raised the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly, saying that Pakistan fully supports Kashmiris` right to self-determination and demanded an "independent enquiry" into the "extrajudicial killings" in Kashmir. Sharif said that Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir Valley, had become "the symbol of the new Kashmiri intifada that was led by common Kashmiris". Notably, Sharif has been mounting massive efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, shooting off letters to the UN and Ban as well and raising the issue in all of his bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA. However, his repeated calls to the UN to help resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan appear to be gaining no traction as Ban made no reference to Kashmir and the situation in the Valley in his final speech to the UNGA as UN chief. Ban mentioned a plethora of global issues on the UN agenda, including the situation in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, the tensions in the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East but not Kashmir. He even touched upon the Syrian crisis, the Palestinian issue, the refugee and migrant movements, the South Sudan tensions, violent extremism and its impact on regions from Yemen, Libya Iraq, Afghanistan to the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. Sharif, in his address to the UN General Assembly, said Pakistan welcomed the offer of good offices by the Secretary-General to help resolve the Kashmir dispute. Ban's office has repeatedly said that the UN Chief's good offices are available on helping resolve the Kashmir dispute only if both India and Pakistan request for it, a clear message that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral one between the two nations and should be solved by them only. (With PTI inputs) Geneva: Friends of Gilgit Baltistan, an international organization set up by a few Members of the European Parliament, held a seminar last week on the sidelines of the 33rd UNHRC session in Geneva, on the exploitative nature of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The speakers included Alberto Cirio, Member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum, Junaid Qureshi, prominent Kashmiri human rights leader and Mehran Marri, Baloch Representative to the UN. Paulo Casaca moderated the seminar. During his speech, Paulo Casaca mentioned that though the CPEC has been termed by Pakistani leaders as a game changer time and again, they had glossed over and failed to acknowledge the negative impacts of the project. He opined that though the government harped on the expected economic benefits of the CPEC, little attention was given to the fact that the CPEC would fail to provide economic benefits, including jobs, to the locals and instead only enrich a few. The CPEC, he stated, had become more of a project championed by the Pakistani government and its military to divert attention from all the failures of the civilian government in all other areas including human rights. Later, responding to an intervention, Casaca stated that the most worrying factors with regard to Pakistan was its support to cross border terrorism and there was an immediate need for this to stop as otherwise it would impact the security of not only South Asia but also the world. In his speech, Alberto Cirio, MEP, highlighted the lack of economic and social benefits to the people of Gilgit Baltistan from the CPEC. Giving the example of earlier Chinese investments in the Karakoram Highway and Gwadar Port, he stated that neither of these investments had benefitted the local people and it was important that the Pakistan government realized that the local population had basic rights on the natural resources of their area. In his presentation, Junaid Qureshi raised the issue of the illegal nature of the CPEC as it passed through disputed territory. He expressed strong reservations about the large Chinese investment in Gilgit Baltistan, which he said was a part of the undivided State of Jammu and Kashmir. He opined that China, by investing in projects in this disputed area, was also becoming one of the players in the dispute, which was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir. He concluded that it was necessary for Kashmiris to be masters of their own land. In response to a comment on recent human rights violations in Indian Kashmir, he said that while in India people were free to express opposition to policies, in Pakistan leaders like Arif Shahid were being shot dead by the State machinery. Mehran Marri described the CPEC as an illegal project and expressed concern that China`s interest in pursuing the CPEC was not just economic but also to increase its military footprint in Pakistan, and especially in Gwadar Port in Balochistan. He added that the Chinese need for security for its personnel along the CPEC had further jeopardized the Baloch rights and also facilitated the deployment of Chinese military personnel in the area. All the speakers who spoke at this event, emphasized the disputed nature of Gilgit Baltistan, through which the CPEC would be traversing. New York: Demanding comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan on Thursday asserted that they are legitimate candidates for permanent membership in the top UN body on account of the "geopolitical realities" of the 21st century. Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Brazil Jose Serra and Foreign Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida met at the G4 meeting here yesterday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. "The G4 ministers underscored their unwavering commitment to a comprehensive reform of the Security Council which needs to take into account the geopolitical realities of the 21st century," a joint press statement said. "They emphasised that the G4 countries are legitimate candidates for permanent membership and supported each other's aspirations," it said, adding that the ministers discussed their expectations for the next Secretary General of the United Nations. It said more than 70 years after the founding of the UN, the Security Council has to adapt in order to cope with the ever growing global challenges. "With a view to the manifold conflicts and humanitarian crises, a more representative, legitimate and effective Council is needed more than ever to guarantee peace and security worldwide," it said, adding that the G4 nations called upon all reform-oriented member states to join efforts and finally bring about meaningful reform. The ministers added that substantial progress to achieve UNSC reform was still limited and efforts need to be intensified to build further momentum and to arrive at real text-based negotiations. They pledged to continue to work towards a comprehensive Security Council reform in the framework of the Inter- Governmental Negotiations. The Ministers also expressed their support for equitable regional representation, underscoring the need for Africa's representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership as well as adequate and continuing representation of small and medium sized Member States, including the Small Island Developing States, in a reformed Security Council. At present, the Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the UK, and the US, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. New Delhi: India on Thursday hit back at Pakistan, saying the "glorification" of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the UN General Assembly showed Islamabad`s "attachment to terrorism". Pakistan is in complete denial of its complicity in Sunday`s cross-border terror attack on an army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in which 18 Indian soldiers lost their lives, India said after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not mention a word of the incident in his address at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. "Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA in complete denial of Uri terror attack. 19 infiltration attempts stopped at LoC this year. Indigenous??!!," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted soon after Sharif finished on Wednesday what can be an expected speech in a Pakistani Prime Minister`s speech in any UNGA. Sharif mentioned Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off unrest in the Kashmir Valley leading to the loss of nearly 90 lives, terming him a "young leader" and the symbol of the Kashmiri unrest. "Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN`s highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism," Swarup tweeted. Retorting to Sharif`s claim that India has been putting unacceptable conditions to Pakistan offer for bilateral dialogue, Swarup said: "PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India`s only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable?" On Tuesday, two US lawmakers introduced a bill in the US Congress to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. An obviously harried Sharif did not make any mention of Balochistan in which the issue of human rights abuses has been raised by India. New Delhi: In a major development, Union Home Ministry has officially on Thursday received an application of Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti seeking asylum in India. Exiled Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, heading the movement in Balochistan, on Tuesday, approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India. He had exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi. Bugti, who is leader of Baloch Republican Party (BRP), said he held talks with top Indian diplomats in Geneva about his asylum as well as that of a number of other Baloch leaders currently staying in Balochistan, Afghanistan and in some other countries. "I went to the Indian embassy and held talks with Indian officials about it (asylum). I am confident that something positive will come out," Bugti said. Asked whether he filed required papers for his asylum, Bugti, the grandson of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti who was killed by Pakistani forces 10 years ago, refused to share details saying the matter was very sensitive Bugti thanked PM Narendra Modi He said India's encouragement to the Baloch movement mean a lot for people of Balochistan and that in the meeting, various aspects of the entire issue were discussed. "I am thankful to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue of Balochistan in his Independence Day speech. It is a very good move. We are hopeful of India's continued support," he said. On Monday, the Baloch leader had appealed to India to come out with a policy initiative so that people facing "atrocities" in Balochistan can come and feel secure in India He said many more Baloch leaders may seek asylum in India and added "we will see who all will need asylum (in India)" Exile Bugti had gone into exile in Afghanistan after the death of Akbar Bugti in 2006. The Pakistani government had pressured Afghanistan to extradite him following which Bugti shifted to Switzerland in 2010. He had reportedly survived multiple attempts on his life in Afghanistan. New Delhi: Top intelligence officer on Thursday blamed Pakistan for the terror attack in Uri, saying this was just one of the scores of such dastardly acts which originated from across the border in last few decades. Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma said the whole country was highly agitated over the terror strike in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in which 18 soldiers were killed and an equal number were battling for their lives. "This incident is only one in a series of such dastardly acts during the last few decades for which planning, financing, training, arming and indoctrination on religious lines owe their origins to sources beyond the borders of India," he said at a conference of top security experts from South Asian countries. The second Meeting of the High Level Group of Eminent Experts to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism was attended by intelligence chiefs of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, besides India. Director General of Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan Aftab Sultan did not attend the meeting amidst the ongoing hostility between India and Pakistan over terror attack in Uri. Sharma asked the SAARC nations to strictly enforce internationally mandated sanctions against terrorist entities and individuals. The IB Director said the terrorist organisations use easily accessible technology to attack both soft and hard targets. "Self-radicalisation over internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State all over, including in our country, has added new dimensions to the threat," he said. He identified countering financing of terrorism as one of the most important tools to fight the terror menace. Sharma said cyberspace has become an important area for radicalisation and spread of jihadi materials. The problem of fake currency feeds into supporting terrorism and can create economic destabilisation in South Asia, he said. Observing that terrorism has emerged as a big challenge for the entire world, Sharma said no country today is in a position to tackle this problem on its own. "Close cooperation and sharing of real-time intelligence are, therefore, an imperative for all of us to secure all countries and people," he said. He called upon the SAARC member states to ratify and enable various conventions enacted by the SAARC grouping, including the Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and Additional Protocols and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Sharma highlighted the first meeting on the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism in February 2012 which had stressed the need for immediate operationalisation of the newly created SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk and SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk in Colombo for creating database which could be used by all members. He said not much progress seems to have taken place on this initiative. He also called upon the delegates to take up 'Terror Financing and Money Laundering' and 'Cyber Crime' as new agenda items. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala assembly is all set to go paperless, Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan announced on Thursday. "I am told the Himachal Pradesh assembly has already taken steps for going paperless... We also aim to achieve this," the Speaker told reporters here. The upcoming session is set to begin on September 26 and will see 29 sittings, with the last day being November 10. Although all the 140 legislators in Kerala had been asked to submit their questions online, only a handful are doing so, Sreeramakrishnan said. "We will conduct a special training programme to facilitate the adoption of technology... There has to be a proper interface between the legislators and technology," said the Speaker. Once this is achieved, every member will have a personal computer in front of him in the assembly. At the click of a mouse, he will be able to know every aspect of his constituency such as fund allocation and other details, according to Sreeramakrishnan. The Kerala Speaker has sought the help of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who instantly agreed to telecast important debates in the Kerala assembly on the Lok Sabha TV channel. Kozhikode: Three-day BJP national council meeting, beginning Friday (coinciding with the birth centenary of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay) is expected to articulate party's 'garib kalyan' agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like Dalits and OBCs. The party is likely to use the occasion to reprise the poor-centric ideology of Upadhyay, who was elected its president in 1967 at the same venue and whose 100th birth anniversary falls on September 25. The party had earlier formed a committee under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to prepare a garib kalyan (welfare of poor) agenda under which its state governments will be asked to achieve certain key objectives in various welfare schemes. The slogan 'garibi hatao' coined by former PM and Congress' Indira Gandhi, has been one of the most popular slogans on poor and the marginalised in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday and speak at a public meeting, will address the Council on Sunday. He may announce on Saturday a new slogan against poverty, as per media reports. Party leaders and cadres also expect PM Modi to speak on Uri attack. The Uri attack has forced the party to recalibrate its agenda for the Council, likely to be attended by over 1,700 delegates, including all its chief ministers, all its union ministers and top brass from all states, as per PTI. The party leadership is also expected to deliberate over Assembly polls in several states scheduled for early next year, including in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. BJP has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over 14 years. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: India's High Commissioner to Britain Navtej Sarna was on Thursday appointed as the next Ambassador to the US as that country prepares for a presidential transition. "Navtej Singh Sarna (IFS: 1980) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United State of America," an External Affairs Ministry statement said. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added. He takes charge after Arun Kumar Singh retired last month-end. Both Sarna and Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington`s closest allies. Sarna was moved to London as the High Commissioner barely eight months back. Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002. Before moving to London, Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting last October of the India-Africa Forum Summit that was attended by a record number of 53 African countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally very happy with the organisation of the Summit and had congratulated External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for it. It is clear Modi wanted someone in Washington he was confident would be able to steer the multi-faceted India-US relations into a new phase with a new administration. Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu. Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, the most recent being `Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life` that was released last year. He was a big hit in London`s literary circles and had also become, in a short span, a popular figure in the Indian community in the Britain. United Nations: Strongly raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan on Wednesday accused India of being in "illegal occupation" of Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded a plebiscite and an independent inquiry into the deaths in the current unrest. Extending his support to the "struggle of Kashmiri people", Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that peace and normalcy cannot be achieved between India and Pakistan without resolving the Kashmir issue. "The UN Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self-determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices," Sharif said during the general debate of the 71st session of General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Stating that Pakistan wants peace with India, Sharif said that his country has gone the extra mile seeking talks but that India has "imposed preconditions". "Peace and normalisation between India and Pakistan can't be achieved without discussion on Jammu and Kashmir," Sharif was quick to add. He further stated that the pre-conditions imposed by India on any dialogue "cannot work". Calling the ongoing crisis of Kashmir as a legitimate struggle of people, Sharif said: "Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people." "On behalf of the Kashmiri people and Pakistani nation I demand an independent inquiry into the extra judicial killings and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate brutalities perpetrated by the Indian forces," Sharif said, adding he had with him the dossier on "India's human rights abuses". Sharif also mentioned Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir Valley, terming him a "young leader" and the symbol of the Kashmiri unrest. Pakistan had observed a black day to protest Wani's killing by Indian security forces and termed him a martyr - an issue that has led to further worsening of bilateral ties. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a latest symbol of the Kashmiri intifada (uprising) of a popular and peaceful freedom movement," said Sharif. Sharif said the "indigenous uprising" in Kashmir has been met with "brutal repression by Indian soldiers" and would "only fortify the determination of Kashmiris to fight for their rights" "Pakistan fully supports self-determination of Kashmiris' legitimate demand," he said. He said the UN Security Council should ensure implementation of resolutions on Kashmir. "Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people. Their struggle is the legitimate one for liberation from alien occupation", he added. Sharif also mentioned "Daesh" (Islamic State), "Palestine" and Afghanistan issues, supporting talks between Afghanistan government and Afghanistan Taliban. Pointing out that Pakistan itself has been a major victim of terrorism, the Pakistani premier said that his country carried out the largest anti-terror operation Zarb-e-azb, of the world, dedicating 200,000 security personnel to fight home grown terrorist outfits. Raising concern over the rising "Islamophobia and Xenophobia", he called for the international community to suppress "Daesh (IS)". "We will not win the fight against terrorism, as long as we do not address its root cause which lie in the poverty and ignorance," he said. India hits back India on Thursday called Pakistan a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif racked up Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistan's streets freely and operate with State support. Exercising India's Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, first secretary in the permanent mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir said "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism." "When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. With Agency inputs New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav on Thursday hit back at Pakistan for the "glorification" of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the UN General Assembly. Madhav said Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was at his pathetic best at the UN. He (Sharif) did not talk like Supreme Commander of Pakistan but that of Hizbul Mujahideen, said the BJP leader. It is pathetic to see the Pakistani PM championing the cause of UN-designated terror organisation, said Madhav, adding that Pakistan should be declared a terrorist state. In his UNGA address, Sharif had mentioned Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir Valley, terming him a "young leader" and the symbol of the Kashmiri unrest. The Pakistan Prime Minister also raked up the Kashmir issue in a major way and called for an international probe into alleged rights violations in the Kashmir Valley. Madhav said Sharif's speech established everything that India has been saying about him and Pakistan. The BJP leader added that India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan at a diplomatic level. We will respond to Pakistan on its Uri misadventure at multiple levels, assured Madhav. He further said that he was sure the government would take necessary actions and perpetrators of Uri attack will not be spared. Pakistan had observed a black day to protest Wani's killing by Indian security forces and termed him a martyr -- an issue that has led to further worsening of bilateral ties. New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday categorically stated that onus is on Pakistan to act against terror groups, which find safe havens and all types of support for promoting cross border terror on its soil. Briefing the press, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, fifty countries have already spoken in the United Nations General Assembly, and not a single nation has spoken on the subject which Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif devoted 80 percent of his time, however, all the nations referred to terrorism as a threat to global community. Sharif in his UN address had raised the issue of Kashmir and hailed Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was gunned down by the Indian security forces in the Valley on July 08. The so called dossier Pakistan PM referred to in his speech at UNGA, we find no mention of it in UN Secretary General's statement, the MEA spokesperson maintained. Virtually every statement by other countries at UN referred to terror as main threat to peace, but Pakistan continues to remain in denial, Swarup said. Swarup said India hopes the bill to designate Pakistan as a terrorist state by two senior US lawmakers will be treated with utmost seriousness. When asked about India's diplomatic steps to corner Pakistan on the world fourum, Swarup said, "Our actions speak for themselves and you can see our actions are already delivering results," adding that many countries have strongly condemned the Uri terror attack. "We have been continuously sensitising the world about the terrorism emanating from Pakistan and how Islamabad continues to treat terrorism as a matter of state policy," Swarup added. Aizawl: An Election Commission decision to conduct a special summary revision of electoral lists in Mizoram has triggered protests and a court case over the inclusion of names of tribals who had fled to neighbouring Tripura almost two decades ago. Around 31,300 Reang tribals, who locally call themselves "Bru", have been living in seven makeshift camps in northern Tripura for the past 19 years after they fled following ethnic trouble after the killing of a Mizo forest officer in Mamit district. "Following Election Commission instructions, the Mizoram Election Department has published the draft electoral rolls on September 15 and from that date the process of summary revision was started," an official of the department said. "After completing the three-and-a-half-month process, the final publication of the electoral rolls would be done on January 5, 2017, with January 1, 2017, as the qualifying date for including new names," he added. The Mizoram Bru Displaced People`s Forum (MBDPF), the lone representative of the tribal refugees, is officially unaware about the special summary revision of electoral lists in Mizoram. MBDPF general secretary Bruno Msha told IANS over phone from Kanchanpur in northern Tripura that the Mizoram government has told Union Home Ministry officials that they would start taking back the refugees only from November, by which time the vital procedures of the revision of rolls would be over. "We don`t know how the names of the refugees would be included. Besides, former State Chief Information Commissioner Robert Hrangdawla filed a petition before the Mizoram bench of the Gauhati High Court seeking a direction to exclude the names of the Reang tribals from the state`s electoral list," Msha pointed out. Msha also said that the Mizoram government and the Union Home Ministry are yet to officially inform them that the repatriation of Reang refuges from Tripura to Mizoram would start from November. "If the refugees remained out of the electoral list revision process, it would be a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of genuine Indian citizens," he added. He said Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had also written to the Election Commission to keep out the names of the Reang tribals from the electoral list as they had been staying outside the state for many years. Meanwhile, the Young Mizo Association (YMA) and the Mizo Students Federation (MSF), the two most powerful youth bodies in Mizoram, have been asking the Election Commission to delete the names of the tribals staying in Tripura since October 1997. Following the commission`s advice, almost all states in the country, including Mizoram, have undertaken a special summary revision of photo electoral rolls with January 1, 2017, as the qualifying date. Mizoram Election Department officials said that they have asked the district magistrates of Mamit, Lunglei and Lawngtlai, the areas where the Reang tribals are living, to initiate process of conducting the summary revision of electoral rolls. The Tripura government has been asking the Centre and the Mizoram government to take back the refugees at the earliest as serious socio-economic and law and order problems have cropped up in the state. The Union Home Ministry`s Special Secretary (Internal Security), Mahesh Kumar Singla, and Joint Secretary in charge of the northeast, Satyendra Garg, visited Tripura last month and met with officials of the Tripura government and leaders of the refugees. They also visited Mizoram and held meetings with state government officials and tribal leaders. The Home Ministry undertook serious efforts after the Supreme Court`s directives on repatriating the refugees. The Mizoram government submitted a roadmap to the central government on how it plans to do so. Mizoram Additional Secretary (Home) Lalbiakzama said that the state government submitted to the Union Home Ministry a detailed plan for taking the refugees back. "The Mizoram government has sought Rs 68 crore from the central government to rehabilitate the tribals," Lalbiakzama said. Refugee leader Bruno Msha said the MBDPF has been demanding financial assistance of Rs 150,000 per repatriated family, free rations for every repatriated family for two years, cultivable land, a political settlement of the ethnic problem and adequate security. "We have on a number of occasions told the central and Mizoram governments that the refugees are willing to return to their homes in Mizoram if their 10-point demands, including security and rehabilitation, are met," he added. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accompanied by his deputy Kiren Rijiju, had visited the refugee camps in North Tripura in February last year and urged the Mizoram government and the refugees to end the stalemate. United Nations: In its sharpest attack on Pakistan, India on Thursday called it a "terrorist state" which carries out "war crimes" by using terrorism as an "instrument of state policy", after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations. India also strongly rejected Sharif's call for "a serious and sustained" bilateral dialogue "without any conditions", saying that Pakistan, which "seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government", wants talks with a "gun in its hand". Strongly reacting to Sharif's remarks at the UN General Assembly session, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar described them as full of "threat, bluster and complete disregard of facts" as he said glorification of Wani by him at the world forum is an act of "self-incrimination" by Pakistan. He said it is "shocking" that a leader of a nation can "glorify a self-declared self-advertised terrorist" at a forum such as the United Nations General Assembly. "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Burhan Wani was a self-declared commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, this organisation is widely acknowledged internationally as a terrorist group," Akbar said at a briefing to Indian reporters here responding to Sharif's General Debate address at the UN. "This is self-incrimination by the Pakistan Prime Minister. We just heard a speech full of threat, bluster and what can only be described as rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts," he said. In his nearly 20-minute speech, almost half of which was focussed on Kashmir, Sharif had hailed Wani - who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces resulting in tensions in the Valley - as a "young leader" and the "symbol" of the Kashmiris' freedom movement. Exercising India's Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir made a strong rebuttal. "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime," she said. "What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she added. Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. In a reference to JeM chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, she said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam the?streets of Pakistan freely and operate with State's support. Geneva (Switzerland): United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) chairman Shaukat Ali Kashmiri on Thursday criticisedNawaz Sharif for glorifying slain Hizbul Mujahidden commander Burhan Wani as a 'young symbol' of 'Kashmiri freedom movement' and said Pakistan's Prime Minister does not understand the ground realties of Kashmir. He said that it was wrong to call Wani as the 'symbol' of' freedom movement' as he was carrying out communal activities in a multi religious Kashmir society. "It is undisputed that Burhan Wani was the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, all his details are available in Facebookand other social media websites. Wani also claimed that he was fighting to uphold Islam," Ali told ANI. "Kashmir society is demographically a multi cultural and multi religious society. Burhan Wani carried out communal movement, you cannot call it as a national liberation movement and I don't think PM Nawaz Sharif understands the ground realities of Kashmir which is why he is unable to explain it," he added. Ali also said that Sharif should rather think about the atrocities in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit. While addressing at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Sharif said, "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris." The Prime Minister also extended support to the demands of Kashmiri people for self determination and called on the UN Security Council to hold free and fair plebiscite. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people ofJammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. Delhi: Pakistan Federal Minister for Water and Power and Defence has been exposed by a journalist of his own country. With tensions running high between India and Pakistan after the Uri terror attack, Khawaja M Asif had tweeted, "The defenders of our skies, in a state of constant readiness, Alhamdolillah. Our motorways are our runways." The defenders of our skies, in a state of constant readiness, Alhamdolillah. Our motorways are our runways. #PAF pic.twitter.com/dAuEcVDOWL Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) September 22, 2016 However, Pakistani journalist Omar R Quraishi posted on micro-blogging site, "The picture of PAF jets on a highway going around on Twitter is actually US and South Korean jets in a mass display. So even our Defence Minister tweeted the picture showing PAF's readiness - the picture is of US and South Korean fighter jets." The pic of PAF jets on a highway going around on Twitter is actually US and S Korean jets in a mass display pic.twitter.com/vuZDuKyJaM omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 22, 2016 So even our defence minister tweeted the pic showing PAF's readiness - the pic is of US and South Korean fighter jets pic.twitter.com/S7OWBqJq4I omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 22, 2016 Pak carrying out war crimes using terror as state policy: India Meanwhile, in its sharpest attack on Pakistan, India on Thursday called it a "terrorist state" which carries out "war crimes" by using terrorism as an "instrument of state policy", after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations. India also strongly rejected Sharif's call for "a serious and sustained" bilateral dialogue "without any conditions", saying that Pakistan, which "seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government", wants talks with a "gun in its hand". Strongly reacting to Sharif's remarks at the UN General Assembly session, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar described them as full of "threat, bluster and complete disregard of facts" as he said glorification of Wani by him at the world forum is an act of "self-incrimination" by Pakistan. He said it is "shocking" that a leader of a nation can "glorify a self-declared self-advertised terrorist" at a forum such as the United Nations General Assembly. "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Burhan Wani was a self-declared commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, this organisation is widely acknowledged internationally as a terrorist group," Akbar said at a briefing to Indian reporters here responding to Sharif's General Debate address at the UN. "This is self-incrimination by the Pakistan Prime Minister. We just heard a speech full of threat, bluster and what can only be described as rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts," he said. In his nearly 20-minute speech, almost half of which was focussed on Kashmir, Sharif had hailed Wani - who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces resulting in tensions in the Valley - as a "young leader" and the "symbol" of the Kashmiris' freedom movement. (With PTI inputs) Surat: As the nation stands with the families of the Uri martyrs, a businessman from Gujarat has come forward offering them a helping hand. Mahesh Savani, a Surat-based businessman, has announced that it will sponsor the educational and other expenses of the children of the Indian soldiers martyred in Uri terror attack. Mahesh Savani's PP Savani group deals in real estate sector and also operates chain of schools, according to a report in TOI. After this announcement by Mahesh Savani, he has become hero of social media as a lot number of users have shown respect for him over his decision to sponsor education of Uri martyrs's kids. 18 jawans were martyred in the terror attack. The attack took place in the early hours of Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri and four terrorists were killed in the encounter. New Delhi: Top security experts from South Asian countries will meet here for two days beginning Thursday to discuss ways to strengthen the anti-terrorism mechanism in the region. Notably, India today called Pakistan a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif racked up Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. It is India which is hosting the second meeting of the High-Level Group of Eminent Experts to strengthen the SAARC anti-terrorism mechanism from September 22-23. The meeting was recommended by the SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism, adopted by the 31st Meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers in Colombo, in 2009. However, the meeting will not be attended by Director General of Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan Aftab Sultan, amid the ongoing hostility between India and Pakistan over the terror attack in Uri. It is being hosted by Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma and intelligence chiefs of all other SAARC nations -- Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives besides India -- will participate. The meeting is in line with the high priority India attaches for regional cooperation in anti-terrorism activities and given that terrorism remains the single biggest threat to peace, stability, and progress in the region and beyond. The meeting provides a platform for discussing and identifying measures to tackle this menace threatening our societies. The meeting will review the functioning of the existing anti-terrorism mechanisms in the region including the SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and the SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD), intelligence sharing and police cooperation. It will also discuss related issues such as combating corruption, cyber crimes, terror financing and money laundering. The high-level meeting is expected to draw recommendations to strengthen the existing mechanisms and discuss potential new areas of cooperation. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke at the United Nations General Assembly like the "supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen" and not the leader of his country. "The Pakistan PM at the UN did not talk like the supreme commander of Pakistan, but as supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen," Ram Madhav told reporters here. Madhav, who is in charge of Bharatiya Janata Party's affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, also accused Sharif of "openly campaigning for terror commanders". In his speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, the Pakistan premier termed Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir Valley, as a "young leader and a symbol of Kashmiri unrest". New Delhi: UNICEF Thursday released a report on 'Child Online Protection in India', which maps the existing laws on safeguarding children from online exploitation, flags the lacunae in them and puts forward recommendations to ensure cyber safety. According to the report, the surge in mobile and Internet use in India has brought 400 million people online. It adds that according to a survey conducted by Internet and Mobile Association of India, schoolgoing children account for seven per cent of Internet users in the country. As a result of "deep proliferation" of Internet, offline forms of crime and violence against children are finding new platforms in the online world, it says. "India is leading in Internet Communications Technology (ICT). If you look at the annual growth of ICT in India, it is phenomenal. The question now is, how are we going to be able to tackle this exponential growth in ICT so that it can be conducive and works as an enabler of children's education and empowerment and also, protects them from violence and abuse, which are on the increase in India and internationally. "We need more regulations and we also need all the stakeholders and duty-bearers such as parents and teachers to contribute to this. There is also a need to engage with the private sector to invent some of the protections," UNICEF Representative to India Louis-Georges Arsenault told PTI. Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, grooming, webcam sexual abuse, pornography are just some of the several forms of sexual abuse through Internet. The UNICEF report also talks about how the precise number of child victims of online sexual exploitation in India or across the world is "unknown" even as abusive content is on the rise. "According to International Association of Internet Hotlines, the number of webpages containing child sexual abuse material, increased by 147 per cent from 2012 to 2014, with children up to 10 years of age portrayed in 80 per cent of them," the report states. "We, at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), are committed to take on the issue of online child sex abuse seriously. The way our children are being targeted through the Internet is very serious and a lot of them innocently get involved in it. "My hunch is that a lot of these children, who are victims of online abuse, could also become juvenile offenders themselves," NCPCR Chairperson Stuti Kacker told the gathering. Head of Programme, ECPAT International Marie-Laure Lemineur emphasised on the need for "leadership and political will" to address the issue. She pointed out that even those children without access to Internet or mobile phones can fall prey to online abuse if they come in contact with the offenders offline. Lemineur also spoke about "tolerance" that certain societies have towards online abuse as there is no actual physical contact and therefore, there is a need to engage with the duty-bearers such as the parents. The report concludes with recommending several steps that can be taken to protect the children from online abuse. These include improving the laws and policies, reporting and removing offensive material, probing and prosecuting offenders, data-gathering and spreading digital literacy. New Delhi: Unlike in the case of Pathankot terror attack, India's offer to Pakistan to verify involvement of its nationals in the Uri terror strike will be "limited" to providing finger prints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in the incident. Briefing reporters a day after Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and issued a demarche over the Uri attack, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said "irrefutable evidence" was shown to the envoy that points to the involvement of Pak-based groups and individuals or territory under Pakistan control. Noting that the Foreign Secretary conveyed details of the various items that had been recovered from the terrorists, he said, Jaishankar "showed the Pakistan High Commissioner the GPS tracking devices, pictures of Pakistan made grenades and the finger prints of one of the terrorists. "Foreign Secretary offered that in case the Government of Pakistan wishes to investigate these cross-border attacks, we are ready to provide finger prints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in the Uri and Poonch incidents. "I would like to underline that our offer is limited to providing finger prints and DNA evidence to Pakistan so that Pakistan can verify it against their national database (NADRA) and confirm that the terrorists who attacked the Indian facilities were indeed Pakistani nationals," implying thereby, that no Pakistan team will not be allowed in Uri unlike the Pathankot strike when a probe team from there had visited the attack site. Foreign Secretary had also underlined that this terrorist attack was the most recent in a series launched from across the border that has steadily escalated in recent weeks. Jaishankar also listed some of the incidents including a foiled infiltration bid in Nowgam sector on July 30 that resulted in the death of two terrorists and two Indian soldiers, one along LoC in Macchil sector on August 8 resulting in the death of three BSF personnel and one terrorist, and an encounter in Srinagar on August 15 in which a CRPF commandant was killed and 11 CRPF personnel were injured. The nature and frequency of this infiltration across the LoC of heavily-armed terrorists charged with attacking Indian targets bely the claim of the Pakistani DGMO that the border has 'water-tight arrangements' from the Pakistani side, the Foreign Secretary conveyed to Basit. "On the contrary, such bids cannot be continuously mounted without the active and collaborative support of Pakistani security forces," he told the Pakistan envoy. Swarup said, "It is, of course, widely known that the training and arming of terrorists is freely taking place in Pakistan and Indian territory under its control. "Acknowledged leaders of terrorist organisations have also been given free rein and parade around even in Islamabad. Such terrorism is not only directed against India but is now increasingly recognised as a larger regional concern." The Foreign Secretary also reminded Basit of the capture of Pakistani terrorist Bahadur Ali "to whom we had even offered consular access to Pakistan". Asked if India has given a "timeframe" for Pakistan to respond to its offer to provide fingerprints and DNA of the terrorists involved in Uri and Poonch attacks, Swarup said considering eight years have passed since Mumbai terror attack trial has been dragging, India has not put any timeframe. It is in the interest of Pakistan to act swiftly against terrorists who they harbour, he added. On whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Pakistan to attend SAARC Summit in early November, he remained non-committal, saying, "every question does not have a yes or no answer." Asked about Pakistan not allowing India to transit wheat to Afghanistan, he said Pakistan is also a WTO member and is infringing on a fellow WTO member Afghanistan's right for transit, which is against global norms. New Delhi: At a time when tension runs high between India and Pakistan over the dastardly terror attacks in Uri the intelligence reports, the intelligence agencies have warned that more terrorists are waiting to infiltrate into the Indian side at an opportune time. According to India Today, these Pakistan-backed militants are hiding at an area which is 200 kms from international border from Kathua to Akhnoor sector in Jammu. Following the recent attacks at Kashmir's Uri sector, a red alert has been sounded in Jammu. The Intelligence agencies have warned that the number of terrorists could be between 40-50, who are near the launching pads in areas close to Jammu. In a major crackdown by the security forces, at least 10 dreaded terrorists were gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir's Lachhipora area in Uri sector yesterday, few days after an attack on an Army camp killed 18 soldiers and injured 19 others. Defence Ministry seeks report Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked for a detailed report from the Army on how the terrorists successfully entered the high security Battalion Headquarters without being spotted. The Defence Minister, hinting at intelligence alerts about a possible attack, today said, "Something might have gone wrong at Uri". According to sources, Parrikar is concerned about how the militants gained entry to the base completely unchallenged despite timely intelligence inputs on attempts to target military installations. New Delhi and Islamabad are locked in a bitter diplomatic war of words following the Uri terror attack, which India has blamed on militants from Pakistan. Pakistan has meanwhile denied the allegations even as India claimed to have clinching evidence to support its claims. Jammu: In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has declined to ban pellet guns and justified their use by the security forces in volatile situations. The court made this observation on Wednesday and said that the use of force by security agencies is inevitable while dealing with protesters who take to violence. The court said this in response to a petition filed by its bar association. The court further said that it is not inclined to prohibit the use of pellet guns in rare and extreme situations. The division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey also declined the plea in a PIL to issue directions to prosecute officers involved in use of pellet guns. It said the issue cannot be considered in the present writ petition since no findings of use of excessive force or violation of standard operating procedure (SOP) have been recorded by any fact-finding authority. The court said given the situation in the Valley, and the fact that the Home Ministry has already constituted an experts committee to explore alternative to pellet guns, it is not inclined to prohibit use of pellet guns in rare and extreme situations before the committee files its report and a decision (is) taken at the government level. The Centre has faced severe criticism over the use of the non-lethal weapons to quell the unrest that erupted in Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8. At least eight people have been killed, and thousands maimed, after being shot by pellet guns here. Jammu: The ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has adversely affected road construction and other work of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), the army said on Thursday. Colonel SD Goswami, spokesman of the army's Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command, said: "BRO has suffered a loss of more than three months of working season during summer which is a serious concern. "While endeavours are being made to execute work whenever and wherever possible, owing to restrictions on movement of vehicles and persons, desired progress could not be made. As a result, many appreciated targets performances will have to be revised. "Four-laning work on Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri scheduled for completion by July 2016 has been delayed. "Handing over of Sinathan-Anantnag bypass road to NHAI will be postponed as the pending work on this road will now go beyond the planned deadline of September 2016. "In addition, many vehicles and equipment have been damaged, non-availability of which will directly affect the work efficiency. "The most affected locations where delays and loss of work have been seen are Tangdhar, Anantnag, Kupwara and Bandipur Sectors." It said a majority of the non-local workers had moved out of Jammu and Kashmir looking for livelihood due to continuous disturbance in the state. "Movement and shifting of the material to forward areas have also hampered the work in Ladakh which will severely impinge on the completion of strategic roads and spending of allotted funds," the army said. The Kashmir Valley has been battling an unrest that has left nearly 90 people dead in violent protests since the July 8 killing of a militant commander. Separatists have been enforcing a shutdown amid daily protests that has disrupted normal life in the valley. Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir): Despite a separatists` call asking the youth not to join the Indian Army, thousands of enthusiastic youngsters turned up for a recruitment drive in Jammu and Kashmir`s Anantnag district. Around 2,200 candidates participated in the recruitment rally, waiting in queues to present their documents. "I would like to express my gratitude to the staff here which efficiently carried out the training programme. I appeal to the misguided youth in Jammu and Kashmir to throw away their guns and stones so that we can fulfill our dreams," Shabir Ahmad, one of the candidates, told ANI. The recruitment drive, which began yesterday in South Kashmir, will continue till September 24, while the second phase will be held in north Kashmir from September 29 till October 2. "Around 2,200 students registered through online and participated in this rally. Our aim here is to provide an opportunity to the youth of Kashmir," Brigadier J. S. Samyal, Recruiting Officer, told ANI. The literacy rate in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 65.57 percent as against 55.52 percent in 2001-02, but still unemployment is the biggest challenge for the state government, as the youth here fail to get jobs despite being well-educated. Srinagar: An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Bandipora district of north Kashmir this morning, army said. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in Aragam village of Bandipora, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, an army official said. He said as the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter. Firing was going on at the encounter site when last reports came in, the official said, adding more details about the operation were awaited. Bengaluru: In a move that may set the state on a collision course with the judiciary, a special session of both Houses of Karnataka legislature will be held on Friday to take a call on the Supreme Court's direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu. Ahead of the session, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in Delhi on Thursday, a day after the cabinet decided to defer the release of water and convene the legislature session amid escalating row between the two neighbouring states. Apprising the Union Minister of the ground realities on its inability in implementing the Apex Court order, the chief minister requested the Union Government to file an objection against the court's direction to constitute Cauvery Water Management Board. "It is difficult for us to release water, already?as per the Supreme Court order we have released 12,000 cusecs for 14 days.There is no water in our reservoirs. What is remaining in four reservoirs is only 26 TMC water,whereas we need 27 TMC to supply drinking water to Mandya, Mysuru, Bengaluru and nearby areas," he told reporters in?Delhi after meeting Bharti. Pointing out that Tamil Nadu is seeking water for? irrigation and the Mettur reservoir there has storage of 52 TMC water, he said "I have explained all this to the Minister." Noting that the Apex Court had also asked the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, he said "it was uncalled for, neither us nor they (Tamil Nadu) had made a prayer for it. "I have requested that Solicitor General or Additional Solicitor General who represents government of India file an objection for it on September 27." The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the Apex Court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop. It had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. Siddaramaiah today also met Governor Vajubhai Vala and? former Chief Minister SM Krishna ahead of his visit to Delhi. Chennai: The Karnataka government which was trying to create a confrontation between the legislature and the judiciary on the Cauvery issue should be taught a strict lesson, said PMK founder S.Ramadoss on Thursday. He said Karnataka`s statement that it has no water to release was a lie. In a statement issued here, Ramadoss said the Karnataka government as if insulting the Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to postpone release of 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. Not only this, the Karnataka cabinet also decided to convene a session of its legislature to discuss the issue of water release as orderd by the apex court. According to Ramadoss, at the special session the assembly may pass a resolution against water release and thereby create a political-legal problem raising the debate which is more powerful-the Supreme Court or the state legislature. He said when the case comes up for hearing in the apex court on September 27, Karnataka may state that its legislature has decided not release water. If the Supreme Court condemns that action then it may lead to the situation of confrontation between the judiciary and the legislature. As per Wednesday night`s water inflow situation in the four dams in Karnataka built across Cauvery river, Ramadoss said the water inflow is 10,460 cusecs. That apart water at the rate of 5,846 cusecs are being released from these dams and Karnataka should explain why this much water is being released. Kozhikode: The Uri terror attack, which left 18 Army men dead and triggered an outcry for punitive action against Pakistan, will be deliberated upon in the three-day BJP National Council meeting in which top party brass is also expected to articulate its 'garib kalyan' agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like Dalits and OBCs. BJP President Amit Shah arrived here on Thursday for the meet, which starts tomorrow and coincides with the birth centenary of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday and speak at a public meeting, his first such address after the attack in Uri. He will address the Council on Sunday. Party leaders and cadres expect him to speak on Uri attack as the saffron outfit has been under fire over repeated incidents of Pakistani terrorists targeting defence facilities, more so as Modi had often flayed the UPA government over its alleged soft attitude to Pakistan in the face of terror incidents. BJP National Secretary and Kerala in-charge H Raja told reporters that the party leaders will deliberate the Uri incident. The Uri attack has forced the party to recalibrate its agenda for the Council, likely to be attended by over 1,700 delegates, including all its chief ministers, all its union ministers and top brass from all states. The party is likely to use the occasion to reprise the poor-centric ideology of Upadhyay, who was elected its president in 1967 at the same venue and whose 100th birth anniversary falls on September 25. The party had earlier formed a committee under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to prepare a garib kalyan (welfare of poor) agenda under which its state governments will be asked to achieve certain key objectives in various welfare schemes. BJP believes that effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out more to the marginalised sections, especially Dalits and OBCs, as it has been facing flak over Dalit issues from Opposition parties and some Dalit groups. Raja also cited Upadhyay's thrust on 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) and the Centre's "pro-poor" schemes as he spoke about the Council's planned emphasis on welfare of poor. PM Modi on September 25 will inaugurate Upadhyay's birth centenary celebrations which will go on for over a year. The party leadership is also expected to deliberate over assembly polls in several states scheduled for early next year, including in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. BJP has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over 14 years and Shah has claimed that it will make a come back with two-third majority by trouncing formidable regional rivals like Samajwadi Party and BSP. Cases of violence against BJP and RSS functionaries in the Left-ruled Kerala are also expected to be referred to by the leadership which has blamed CPI(M) for these incidents. Mumbai: Voicing concerns over the "deplorable" state of rivers in Mumbai resulting in drainage issues and water-logging during monsoon, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said authorities like BMC and MMRDA will have to jointly take immediate measures to address the issue. A division bench headed by Justice VM Kanade was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Atal Dubey, seeking a direction to the departments concerned to take necessary steps to tackle drainage problems and water-logging in the city each monsoon. The petition was filed after heavy rains brought Mumbai to a halt in June last year. The petitioner's advocate SC Naidu informed the court that after the July 2005 deluge, authorities had carried out dredging and rock excavation at Mithi river but as per a report by expert body National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), on a daily basis several tonnes of raw sewage are being dumped in the river till date. "According to the report, the original depth of Mithi river was 16 feet but as of now the depth is less than 7 feet because of constant dumping of raw sewage," Naidu argued. "This is a dangerous situation...If this is true...All authorities concerned have to sit together and find a solution. This is not the time to fight over jurisdiction. It is a matter of serious concern," Justice Kanade said. The court noted that because the authorities are not complying with the statutory provisions of treating sewage before dumping them, the rivers in Mumbai are in a "deplorable" state. "This leads to drainage issues and water-logging and then viral diseases like dengue and chikungunya are on the rise," it said. The bench directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to take immediate measures to stop deterioration of rivers in the city. It also directed the authorities to consider the recommendations made in the NEERI report and implement those on a war-footing basis. The petition was posted for further hearing on October 5. Amravati: Continuing the state-wide protest of the community, thousands of Marathas on Thursday took out a silent march here. In the aftermath of a brutal gang-rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in July this year, where the victim was a Maratha and the culprits Dalits, the Maratha community has been organising `Maratha Kranti Muk Morcha' (silent marches) across the state. Morchas at Akola, Nanded, Beed, Osmanabad, Aurangabad districts over the last one month, and in Navi Mumbai yesterday, have received huge response, forcing the political parties to take note of the community's grievances. All these morchas are marked by disciplined conduct of the participants and lack of any kind of violence. The march here started from Nehru ground at noon and ended at Government Girls High School square. The participants, through a memorandum, demanded capital punishment for the culprits in Kopardi incident, amendments to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reservations for the Maratha community, among other things. Markets, schools and colleges remained closed in the city. As in the marches elsewhere, political leaders did not lead; four girls who walked in the front submitted the memorandum of demands to the collector Kiran Gitte. Mumbai: A high alert was sounded in Maharashtra on Thursday after school children spot four `suspicious men` in Navy fatigues in Raigad's Uran this morning. Students alleged that they spotted the men opposite INS Abhimanyu base and heard them saying 'ONGC' and 'school'. Notably, Uran houses an ammunition dump of the Indian Navy and also an ONGC plant. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home, Deepak Kesarkar, told Zee Media that the men were clad in burqas. However, news agency ANI quoted Navy sources as saying that the men were dressed in Pathani suits and were talking to each other in a different language. Kesarkar further urged people not to pay heed to rumours and panic, and keep trust on security officials. Treading cautiously, the Navy sounded an alert across naval bases in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad. Following the information, the Navy has begun a search operation. Maharashtra DGP Satish Mathur has confirmed the news and said that 'suspected' terrorists were spotted at 6:30 am today. A search operation has been initiated in the state, Mathur added. Also, locals are requested to share any information they have in this regard with police. The number is 022-22852885. Uran is about 50 km from Mumbai, where around 166 people were killed in 2008 when landmarks in the city were attacked by 10 terrorists who came by sea. It is close to important locations like the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri on Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed. Mumbai: A high alert was sounded in Mumbai after five to six persons were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district on Thursday. The Indian Navy, National Security Guard (NSG), state police's specialised commandos Force One, Mumbai Crime Branch and ATS were put on duty for the search operations. Naval spokesman Cdr Rahul Sinha said in a statement, As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks." The first tip off came from some school children at Karanja in Uran. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to citizens not to panic and said all precautions are being taken after a high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas. CM @Dev_Fadnavis spoke to DGP , @CPMumbaiPolice and Intel Comm. All precautions are being taken. Massive combing operations are on. 1/2 CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016 State &Central forces are working in close Cordination.CM @Dev_Fadnavis has appealed citizens not to panic. Situation under close vigil. 2/2 CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016 All security precautions taken. Citizens advised not to believe in rumours &continue routine undisturbed. Inform police if something unusual CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016 Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar said multiple security agencies were involved in extensive combing operations near the naval base in Uran and appealed to people to maintain calm and not believe in rumours. The Maharashtra minister said there had been conflicting reports about the attire of the suspects. "Some say the suspects were five to six in number, while one student claimed he saw one person. While there were some who claimed the suspects wore 'burqa' (veils), others claimed they were wearing Army fatigues," he said. The entire town of Uran went on a spontaneous shutdown as a precaution even as Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner, district police and Navy officers went to the spot to verify the students' claims. A similar high alert was sounded in Mumbai with armed police taking positions at various points in south Mumbai, including near the Gateway of India and Girgaum Chowpatty. The alert comes four days after the Uri attack which left 18 soldiers dead. The Navy pressed its choppers for aerial surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats. Some children from Uran Education Society's school first spotted the suspects, and their teacher informed the police, the police said, adding none of them have been traced. The Western Naval Command (WNC) issued a "highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts where several sensitive establishments and assets are located. Western India's biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the country's largest container port, JNPT are located in close vicinity of Uran. Coastal security has been a top priority after the 26/11 attacks, in which multiple locations in Mumbai were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed using the sea route. The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern water front of the financial capital. The base located close to the town also houses units of MARCOS, the Navy's elite strike force. Besides, the entire region is highly sensitive in view of the close proximity of the Western Naval Command headquarters just across the harbour in Mumbai, the naval harbour, the Mumbai Port Trust, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, several critical installations like BARC and oil terminals, offices of important central and state government in a small radius. Mumbai is particularly sensitive to security threats after gunmen, who arrived by sea, went on a three-day rampage in 2008 in the western city that left 166 people dead. India blamed the attacks on Pakistani militants. Much earlier, the sea route was taken for landing large quantities of arms and ammunition at various points on the Maharashtra coast which were used for carrying out the serial bomb attacks in Mumbai on March 12, 1993. Sambhal: As the whole nation is infuriated over the recent Uri terror attack in which 18 soldiers lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir, a group of young people from Uttar Pradesh`s Sambhal district adopted a queer way to express their anguish and sent a letter written with their blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take stringent action against Pakistan. "Shahido ko insaaf chahiye", "Nawaz ko hosh me lao", "varta nahi jung chahiye", "UN me Nawaj ki speech ke baad kuch to karo" and other messages were written in their letters. Four heavily armed militants had stormed the battalion headquarters of the Army in Uri, close to the Line of Control (LoC), in the wee hours on Sunday, killing 18 jawans and injuring more than 20 other personnel. In the encounter, the security forces neutralised all of them within hours. The terrorists, who attacked the military base in Jammu and Kashmir`s Uri, belonged to Pakistan`s banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).Prime Minister Modi assured the nation that those behind this will not go unpunished. Muzaffarnagar: Bodies of three suspected wanted criminals were found with bullet injuries in a house at Ghasipura village in the district, police said today. SSP Deepak Kumar said Deepak Rathi, Gaurav and Sachin were found dead under suspicious circumstances in the house under Mansurpur Police Station last night with bullet injuries. The three deceased were wanted by the police in connection with over a dozen cases of loot and murder, the SSP said. They also seized four pistols from the house, he added. Police suspect that some miscreants were camping in the house and they opened fire, killing the three. A probe into the case is underway, police said. United Nations: Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of backing terrorists waging a "full-scale war" and warned that it reserves the right to do "whatever is necessary for the defence and protection" of its people. It called on the international community to eliminate terrorism safe havens. Laying out a harsh indictment of its neighbor, Afghanistan`s Vice President Sarwar Danesh told the General Assembly summit, "We have repeatedly asked our neighbouring country Pakistan to destroy the known terrorist safe havens, but we unfortunately are yet to witness any change in the situation." He spoke of the spate of attacks by the Islamic State (IS) and the Taliban and said, "Based on existing evidence, these attacks were planned and organized from the other side of the Durand Line, inside Pakistani territory." He spoke before Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was scheduled to speak at the Assembly. Turning to the world leaders in the Assembly chamber, Danesh asked, "Where were the previous leaders of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda residing, and where were they killed? At this very moment, where are the leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani network located? From where and how are terrorists being trained, equipped and financed during a full-scale war?" Danesh asked countries to avoid "making a distinction between good and bad terrorists." More than ten terrorist groups which are sent from outside Afghanistan are waging the "undeclared war" against Afghanistan, he said. Danesh asked the UN to appoint a Special Representative for the Safety of Journalists "focused on the protecting all journalists, including those serving in Afghanistan." "Special target of the foreign-backed terrorists" were democracy, freedom of expression and the independent media, he said. "That is why our journalists are subject to serious threats while reporting from the battlefields, and also during terrorist attacks." Warsaw: Poland`s abortion battle will resume Thursday when the devoutly Catholic country`s parliament debates rival initiatives to either liberalise or further tighten a law that is already one of the strictest in Europe. While the governing rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which controls parliament, generally favours banning abortion, its leaders are well aware that most Poles support existing legislation. Passed in 1993, the current law bans all terminations unless there was rape or incest, the pregnancy poses a health risk to the mother or the foetus is severely deformed. A poll published this week by the Newsweek Polska magazine showed that 74 percent of Poles want to keep the existing law. But anti-abortion activists want to allow terminations only if the mother`s life is at risk and to increase the maximum jail term for practitioners from two years to five. The citizen`s initiative tabled in parliament by the Stop Abortion committee of various pro-life groups would also make mothers liable to prison terms, though judges could waive punishment in their case. Poland`s influential Catholic Church gave the initiative its seal of approval earlier this year, though its bishops have since come out against the provisions to jail women. The proposal, which the Council of Europe called a "serious backsliding on women`s rights", has inspired several large pro-choice marches and a rival drive to liberalise the law. The country of 38 million people sees less than 2,000 legal abortions a year, but women`s groups estimate that another 100,000-150,000 procedures are performed illegally or abroad.The anti-abortion proposal garnered almost half a million signatures in support, much more than the 100,000 required for a citizen`s bill to be tabled in parliament. In addition to punishing practitioners, the proposal would require state and local governments to offer support to women and families with handicapped children as well as those born out of rape or incest. "We hope the measure will be adopted as soon as possible and will take effect before the end of the year," pro-life activist Sylwia Zborowska told AFP. She has some reason to be optimistic, as the PiS had backed a similar initiative that ultimately failed while the party was in the opposition, before it came to power in November. But the lack of broad public support for a near-total ban on abortion has now made the governing PiS wary of fully endorsing it, preferring instead for party members to vote according to their convictions.Though the make-up of the current parliament leaves pro-choice activists little reason for hope, they have not given up. They launched a committee called "Save Women" and tabled an initiative in parliament that would allow abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy, garnering 215,000 petition signatures in support. Parliament will also debate a bill put forward by MPs intended to limit in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), the so-called "test-tube baby" treatment that involves fertilising an egg outside a woman`s body to produce an embryo that can then be implanted in her womb. The measure would notably make it illegal to freeze embryos, which are considered human beings from the moment of fertilisation by proponents of the bill. It would also only allow women to fertilise one egg at a time, thus considerably reducing the chances of a successful pregnancy. Rosetta (Egypt): Rescuers brought more bodies ashore today after a boat crowded with migrants capsized off the Egyptian coast, leaving at least 55 people dead and dozens missing. Survivors said up to 450 migrants had been aboard the fishing vessel when it sank yesterday about 12 kilometres (eight miles) from Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta. A health ministry official said 55 bodies had been retrieved. According to the military, 163 survivors have been rescued. Authorities have arrested four suspected human traffickers over the tragedy, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean. Military boats were seen bringing corpses to shore in body bags, one containing the body of a child whose grandfather recognised him and knelt down in shock. Rescuers said the search would focus on the boat's cold storage room where witnesses said about 100 people had been when the vessel flipped over. "The death toll is going to rise," a medical source told AFP. "On the boat there is a hold used to store fish. It hasn't been opened and there must be a lot of people inside." The accident comes months after the EU's border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound migrants were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous journey. Traffickers often overload the boats, some of them scarcely seaworthy, with passengers who have paid for the crossing. On a beach near Rosetta today, a small crowd gathered with some reading verses from the Koran and others desperately seeking information on relatives who may have been on board. Many survivors were in police custody. A prosecution official said they would be treated like "victims and not perpetrators" and would be released. Witnesses spoke of the harrowing moment their vessel keeled over due to overcrowding, as well as the agonising hours-long wait for help to arrive. Astana: As he laid flowers recently at the grave of Uzbek strongman Islam Karimov, neighbouring Kazakhstan`s President Nursultan Nazarbayev could have been forgiven an extra pause for thought. After Uzbekistan`s veteran leader was buried this month, 76-year-old Nazarbayev is now the last surviving Soviet-era leader to still be in charge of one of the countries that emerged from the USSR. Appointed in 1989 by Communist Party boss Mikhail Gorbachev to run Kazakhstan when it was still controlled by Moscow, authoritarian Nazarbayev has clung on since independence to dominate the energy-rich nation for some 27 years. And while he may still appear healthy, the demise of Karimov across the border at 78 could not but help sharpen focus on what will happen when the Kazakh leader leaves the stage too. "He must have drawn some conclusions at a personal level," Luca Anceschi, a Central Asia expert at the University of Glasgow, told AFP. "They were practically the same age. This is the nature of mortality."Nazarbayev does not give others much opportunity to gain public recognition in his homeland. He dominates the news broadcasts and is officially known by the title "Father of the Nation." The leader has given few hints about any potential heirs, meaning that the chief question facing Kazakhstan is who could eventually take over from him. Karimov, who brutally crushed all dissent during his nearly three decades in charge, had no clear successor when a stroke laid him low, and his death appeared to briefly paralyse Uzbekistan`s ruling elite. Quickly enough, however, long-standing Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev slipped smoothly into the empty spot and looks set now to take over long-term. But while the transition in Uzbekistan seems to be passing off without a hitch, some analysts say that with its vast oil wealth Kazakhstan could pose its own problems. "Succession in Kazakhstan differs from Uzbekistan. The Kazakh economy is much more developed," said Kate Mallinson of the London-based GPW consultancy. "There are a significantly larger number of vested interests that could be threatened from any change of leadership." With no designated successor in sight, most attention has focused on Nazarbayev`s daughter Dariga, 53, who is now a senator after rising up the ranks in recent years. But a recent shake-up in the face of an economic crisis sparked by the drop in oil prices saw her lose her post as deputy prime minister and left observers struggling to read the tea leaves about her future prospects. "There are certain doubts that Dariga Nazarbayeva has the capacities or experience needed to run the country," political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev told AFP. "Most probably she was moved to the senate to shield her from criticism of the government during this ongoing economic crisis."While the elite in Kazakhstan may be jostling for position, many ordinary people in the country still appear as attached as ever to the only president the country has known since independence. At the top of the Bayterek observation tower overlooking the futuristic capital Astana -- which Nazarbayev has transformed from a Soviet backwater -- visitors queue up to make wishes as they touch an imprint of the leader`s hand. "Our president is a politician on the world stage. They respect him everywhere," said Gulmira, 45, who teaches at a secondary school named after Nazarbayev in the provincial town of Kokshetau. "Most importantly, our country has a future. We have raised a generation of children who are great patriots." dr-cr/del/am/jm United Nations: There will not be a repeat of the ethnic war with Tamils, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has assured the international community as he sought their help to make the country a nation "devoid of differences". Addressing the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Sirisena said his government would preserve Sri Lanka's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty while chartering the country's democratic journey based on an indigenous thinking. He said Sri Lanka has in recent months taken many steps for socio-economic transformation, leaving no room for the repeat of the separatist war. He appealed to the international community for support to make Sri Lanka a modern nation devoid of differences. Sirisena, who defeated the Sinhala-majority favoured Mahinda Rajapaksa, has introduced several political reforms since being elected President in 2015. He has made an attempt to address the concerns of the Tamil minority to achieve reconciliation. Tamils, however, say a lot more is needed to be done. For the same reasons he has faced criticism from the majority nationalists for giving in to the Tamil separatists. Sri Lankan forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009 after a nearly three decades of civil war. In the final phase of the war an estimated 40,000 civilians were killed. More than 20,000 people are said to be missing in the island, some of them since the late 1980s, with their families continuously demanding an international probe. The UN too has been pushing for a special court to investigate the allegations. Sri Lanka has dismissed the figures as "excessive" but the UN Human Rights Council has passed three consecutive resolutions since 2012 demanding accountability for war crimes blamed on both the government troops and the LTTE. New Delhi: A statue of Mahatma Gandhi which was recently unveiled by President Pranab Mukherjee at a premier university in the African nation of Ghana, faces demolition after he is accused of being 'racist'. A group of academics has reportedly accused him of having racist views about Africans when he was alive. According to the Washington Post, the racist argument has gained widespread attention and almost 1,000 people have recently signed an online petition which calls for the statue's removal. The Post said the petition was written by five members of the faculty at the University of Ghana in Accra which claims that several writings of the Indian leader described Africans as 'savages' and also made other insults. "How will the historian teach and explain that Gandhi was uncharitable in his attitude towards the Black race and see that we're glorifying him by erecting a statue on our campus?" the report said quoting the petitioners. The authors reportedly argue that it is "better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super-power." The report further said that since the statue was installed in June, many Ghanaians have used hashtags such as #GandhiMustComeDown, #GhandiForComeDown and #GandiMustFall to voice criticism of the statue on social media. A student of the university also alleged that Gandhi was an "unrepentant racist whose contemptuous view of blacks is well documented," the report said. Some critics have referenced the #RhodesMustFall movement that called for the removal of statues of 19th century British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. Mahatma Gandhi had lived in South Africa from 1893 to 1914, before returning to India, where he eventually led the country's independence movement. He was widely respected by many on the African continent, including Nelson Mandela, the renowned South African anti-apartheid leader. According to the Post, Ghana isn't the first African nation to see a recent backlash to Gandhi. In South Africa, white paint was splashed on a statue in Johannesburg last year while protesters held placards that read "Racist Gandhi must fall." The University of Ghana's statue of Gandhi was unveiled June on 14 by President Mukherjee during a visit. Damascus: Syria's army announced the launch of an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the battleground city of Aleppo, warning residents to keep away from posts held by anti-regime fighters. "The military operations command announces the start of operations in eastern districts of the city and calls on residents to stay away from the positions of terrorist groups," it said in a statement yesterday carried by state news agency SANA, using the regime's term for the opposition. The announcement came just minutes after the United States and Russia convened a last-ditch meeting in New York to save their Syria ceasefire plan and followed several hours of intensive bombardment that left Aleppo in flames. The army also said it would take "all measures to facilitate the reception" of civilians and that those who arrive at its checkpoints would not be arrested. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was "a large scale land offensive supported by Russian air strikes aimed at taking bit by bit the eastern sector of Aleppo and emptying it of its residents". The initial targets were the Amiriyah, Sukari and Sheikh Said sectors, to the south, said the monitoring group's head, Rami Abdel Rahman. The Britain-based Observatory said earlier that bombardment and air strikes since Wednesday night targeting the rebel-held neighbourhoods of Bustan al-Qasr and Al-Kalasseh had triggered "massive fires". The estimated 250,000 residents of east Aleppo, which rebels have held since 2012, have been living under government siege since early September. Aleppo: Huge blazes erupted in Syria`s Aleppo as the city was rocked by fighting and air strikes Thursday, ahead of last-ditch efforts by world powers to salvage a failed ceasefire. Key players in the Syrian peace process were to meet in New York later Thursday, with the clock ticking down as the UN warned undelivered aid for desperate civilians in Aleppo would expire in four days. The truce deal brokered by Moscow and Washington fell apart earlier this week, ushering in a surge of fighting on all major fronts of Syria`s five-year civil war. Heavy clashes gripped the outskirts of Aleppo on Thursday, after air strikes triggered major fires across the city`s devastated rebel-held districts. An AFP correspondent in the eastern Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood reported that his entire street was in flames following the pre-dawn strikes. Volunteer firefighters battled throughout the night to contain the blazes, which local activists at the Aleppo Media Centre said were caused by "incendiary phosphorous bombs." In footage posted by the group, a ball of flame shoots up over the city, lighting up the skyline and sparking fires on the horizon. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said strikes on the rebel-held neighbourhoods of Bustan al-Qasr and Al-Kalasseh "led to massive fires" overnight. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said they were "the most intense strikes in months" on those two districts. He said raids by Russian warplanes on Thursday killed 13 people, including three women, in the city. "The non-stop strikes last night were so violent I can`t even describe them," said Ibrahim Abu al-Leith, spokesman for the White Helmets, a prominent Syrian group of emergency responders. One volunteer was wounded in the strikes and ensuing fires, Abu al-Leith told AFP. The White Helmets on Thursday won the Right Livelihood Award "for their outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement", announced the jury for the Swedish human rights award, known as the "alternative Nobel prize". Residents of east Aleppo`s have been living under government siege since early September. Food aid promised for them under the US-Russia deal has been stalled at the border since last week and will go bad in just a few days. "Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border. The food will be expiring on Monday," the head of the UN humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, told reporters in Geneva. "The drivers are sleeping at the border and they have done so now for now a week, so please, President Assad, do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas," Egeland said in a direct appeal to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The UN resumed its aid deliveries on Thursday after a brief pause in the wake of a strike on a humanitarian convoy in Syria`s north that killed 20 civilians and destroyed 18 aid trucks. Thursday`s aid was going "to people in a besieged area of rural Damascus," said UN humanitarian agency spokesman Jens Laerke. Diplomatic efforts to end Syria`s war were set to continue in New York with a new meeting on Thursday of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), chaired by Moscow and Washington. Sounding a cautious note before Thursday`s talks, Kerry said: "It`s going to be difficult. We`ll see what people are willing to do." During an address to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Kerry demanded that Russia force Damascus to ground its warplanes after Monday`s deadly raid on the aid convoy. Moscow denies that Russian or Syrian planes carried out the raid and instead said a coalition drone was in the area when the aid trucks were hit. The US-Russia deal had called for an end to fighting between regime forces and non-jihadist rebels, excluding extremists like the Islamic State group, as well as increased aid deliveries. It was meant to pave the way for a resumption of peace talks, which have repeatedly failed. The UN`s deputy envoy for Syria said Thursday that he hoped talks could resume in the coming weeks, despite "grim" events on the ground. Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said his boss, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, was in discussion with warring parties to organise "direct negotiations", a departure from past rounds where the sides met separately with moderators. The UN is working "with a view to holding these talks hopefully in the next few weeks," he said. On the ground, a "minister" in Syria`s opposition government was among at least 12 people killed in a car bomb attack in the southern province of Daraa on Thursday, rebel officials told AFP. And in central Syria, 123 rebel fighters and their families were bussed out of the last opposition-held district of Homs city into northern parts of the province. Dubai: The US government granted aviation giants Airbus and Boeing permission to sell aircraft to Iran following last year's nuclear accord. European airplane manufacturer Airbus announced the license from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control early Monday. Chicago-based Boeing followed with its own announcement later in the day. The approval clears the way for the two plane manufacturers to access one of the last untapped aviation markets in the world. Both companies have announced separate USD 25-billion deals to sell aircraft to airlines in the country, although analysts are skeptical that there is demand for so many jets or available financing. The deal would be the biggest for an American company since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and US Embassy takeover. The announcements come as Iranian and US leaders are in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and shows that the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama is honoring the economic terms of the nuclear pact. Though based abroad, Airbus needed the approval of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control for the deal because at least 10 percent of the manufacturer's components are of American origin. Airbus applied for two licenses to cover its deal with Iran to ensure the fast delivery of some of the aircraft, Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon told The Associated Press. The license announced Wednesday covers the first 17 planes involved in the deal, which will be A320s and A330s, he said. Dubon said Airbus hoped to receive a second license allowing it to sell the remaining planes to Iran soon. Iran's UN mission did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. State television referred to an AP report on the sale. Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, which limits its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of some international sanctions, specifically allowed for the purchase of aircraft and parts. That's set off a race between airplane manufacturers for the newly opened market, home to 80 million people. In January, national carrier Iran Air signed agreements to buy 118 planes from Airbus, estimated to be worth some 22.8 billion euros (USD 25 billion). On Sunday, state TV reported that Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, a deputy transportation minister, said Iran would cut the number of Airbus planes to 112. Washington: The US state of Texas has threatened to withdraw from the federal refugee programme if Washington does not meet its security demands, media reported on Thursday. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission sent a letter on Wednesday to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and threatened to quit the programme unless the Obama administration "unconditionally" gives the green light to the Lone Star state's new plan to control placements in the state by September 30, Xinhua news agency reported. The dispute came as federal government announced a new goal of resettling 110,000 refugees in the nation next year, including more refugees from war-torn Syria. Texas has taken in 7,205 refugees over the past 12 months, more than any other state in the country. Texas will join states like Kansas and New Jersey in exiting the programme over the US government's vetting procedures to screen out potential terrorists from the refugees if it can not reach an agreement with the federal government on this issue. The state's letter, signed by state refugee coordinator Kara Crawford, was sent in response to the ORR's "unwillingness" to approve the state's new refugee plan, which requires national security officials to ensure that refugees do not pose a security threat to the state, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement. "Empathy must be balanced with security, Texas has done more than its fair share in aiding refugees, accepting more refugees than any other state between October 2015 and March 2016," Abbott said. "While many refugees poses no danger, some may like the Iraqi refugee with ties to the Islamic State who was arrested earlier this year after he plotted to set off bombs at two malls in Houston," he added. The letter said that Texas would continue to provide services and benefits to private and non-profit refugee agencies until next January. US federal government officials said that it is impossible for them to guarantee that none could potentially pose a problem, even though the country has a thorough vetting process for incoming refugees. New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's media team has deliberately concealed important matters regarding the Kashmir issue by issuing fragmentary handout after his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, a Pakistani media report said on Thursday. There is reportedly a lot of difference between the statements issued by the two sides after the meeting. The press release issued by the PMs media team tried to give an impression that only the Kashmir issue was discussed in the meeting, which turned out to be not true, the dailytimes.com.pk reported. However, the State Department's presser said that Kerry pressed Sharif not to allow terrorists to use Pakistan's territory against any country. In fact, Kerry urged Sharif to take action against all terrorists who are using the Pakistani soil, the dailytimes.com.pk reported. He also said that the Pak government must stop terrorists from making safe havens in the country. Kerry has also urged Pakistan not to expand its nuclear arsenal by saying that Pakistan should prevent its atomic programme, the report said. Interestingly, Sharif's media team did not mention it in the press release. According to the State Departments presser, Kerry only praised Pakistan for hosting the Afghan refugees, the report said. Also, soon after reaching New York the Pak PM's media team announced that Sharif would address the Pakistani community, but it failed to mention time and venue of the meeting. Even the Pakistani community had no information about the address. The report observed said that either the PMs media team has committed the blunders or what it did was part of a specific plan. There is reportedly a lot of difference between the statements issued by the two sides after the meeting. Airbus reached a deal in January 2016 to sell Iran 118 aircraft but it required approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control Airbus and Boeing announced Wednesday that they received US licenses to sell planes to Iran Air, clearing the way for the first western aircraft sales to the country in decades. The approvals from the US Treasury Department allow both aerospace giants to proceed with sales worth billions of dollars into a country that had been entirely off limits prior to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. "We have issued the first two licenses for the export of certain commercial passenger aircraft to Iran under this new policy -- to Boeing and Airbus," said a Treasury spokesperson. "These licenses contain strict conditions to ensure that the planes will be used exclusively for commercial passenger use and cannot be resold or transferred" to any Iranian entity still under US sanctions, the spokesperson said. The approval allows Boeing to fulfill its June memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Iran Air that covered the sale of 80 planes, consisting of the single-aisle 737 and the long-range 777. Boeing will also lease 29 other planes to the Iranian national carrier under the deal. "We applied for a US government license that would allow us to complete the sales anticipated in the MOA," said Boeing spokesman Marc Sklar. "We have received that license and remain in talks with Iran Air based on the MOA." The deal is estimated to be worth roughly $25 billion. The Boeing sales would be the first from a US aviation company to an Iranian entity since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Additional sales would require another license, said a person familiar with the matter. Airbus struck a similar preliminary agreement in January to sell Iran 118 aircraft, but it also required US approval because some of the planes' components are made in the United States. The deal includes the single-aisle A320 and the long-range A330. An Airbus spokesperson said it had received the first of two licenses applied for on Tuesday and expected the second one "in the coming weeks". The Airbus deal was initially valued at $25 billion (22.4 billion euros) but Iranian officials say it is worth nearer $10 billion. Story continues Neither Airbus nor Boeing has announced a schedule for delivering the planes. Before the nuclear deal under which Iran has curbed its atomic program in return for a lifting of international sanctions, an embargo dating from 1995 prevented Western manufacturers from selling equipment and spare parts to Iranian companies. The restrictions, which have been blamed for crippling the industry, were partly lifted by an interim agreement on Iran's nuclear program that came into force in January 2014. Iran's current commercial aviation fleet, which has a poor air safety record, numbers around 140 planes with an average age of around 20 years, with many in desperate need of replacement. Iran projects a demand for between 400 and 500 commercial airliners over the next decade. Boeing's deal with Iran drew scorn from some on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers on a panel in the House of Representatives enacted a measure to block the sales, but it did not win support in the full Congress. Canada and China have agreed to begin talks for a possible free-trade accord with an aim of doubling bilateral commerce by 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday. "We've agreed to launch exploratory talks towards a potential free-trade agreement between Canada and China," Trudeau said at a joint news conference with visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. "And further to this, we've set an ambitious new goal to double bilateral trade between Canada and China by 2025." China is Canada's second-largest trading partner after the United States, with trade last year exceeding Can$85 billion ($64.5 billion USD). "We know that there is a huge amount of untapped potential in our commercial relationship," Trudeau noted. Li's visit to Ottawa comes one month after Trudeau made a trip to Beijing looking to "renew and deepen" Sino-Canadian relations. The Chinese leader praised the reboot after a decade of cooling under the previous Canadian administration, saying through an interpreter: "We believe that China and Canada have extensive common interests and good relations." "These back-to-back visits in less than a month shows that China-Canada relations are moving to a new stage," Li told reporters. And these are just the first visits. Trudeau and Li agreed to meet annually to discuss security and the rule of law, and economic and financial matters. Their respective foreign ministers will also hold annual talks. "Stepping up communications will increase mutual understanding and allow for proper handling of the issues and differences that we have," Li said. On Thursday, the two leaders also announced a lifting of Chinese bans on imports of Canadian canola (by 2020) and beef, and a tourism agreement that seeks to double two-way visits by 2025. Last month, Canada said it would apply to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which has been criticized by its neighbor and closest ally, the United States, but was welcomed by Li. Story continues - Extradition treaty controversial - A request by Beijing for an extradition treaty with Canada, which Trudeau has agreed to consider, has ruffled opposition parties in Ottawa, however. On Wednesday, just before Li's plane landed in Ottawa, opposition parties assailed the plan in parliament, raising concerns that expatriates sent back to China could face human rights abuses, and the death penalty. Tory opposition leader Rona Ambrose linked the issue of extradition to concerns about Chinese hacking and a recent revelation that Chinese agents are active in Canada, while criticizing China as "a country whose justice system has one of the worst human rights records in the world." Forced to defend the world's second-largest economy, Trudeau shot back at critics, and ruled out any extraditions to countries where those convicted would face the death penalty. "We will not extradite into situations of capital punishment, be it with the United States or any other country around the world," Trudeau said. Seeking to reassure his hosts, Li also said that while the death penalty was needed in China, Chinese law provides for the "humanitarian treatment" of accused persons. "There shall be no torture of the people concerned," he vowed. Li acknowledged possible lapses, but said: "For those that engage in misconduct not consistent with legal procedures, they are breaking the law and they will be dealt with by law." "I can tell you firmly that China is endeavoring to build itself into a country of rule of law, based on international law and international norms," he concluded. An Airbus A380 aircraft performs during a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 14, 2016 US trade officials and Boeing declared victory Thursday after the World Trade Organization ruled the European Union had failed to end illegal subsidies for Airbus. In Geneva the global free-trade arbiter said the EU and member states had failed to implement earlier rulings, telling them to remove subsidies that Boeing alleges helped Airbus beat it in major multi-billion dollar contract battles. US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the WTO found that Airbus had won aircraft sales deals over Boeing in Europe, China, India and other countries helped by $22 billion in illegal subsidies. "This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers," said US Trade Representative Michael Froman said. "We have long maintained that EU aircraft subsidies have cost American companies tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue, which this report clearly proves." Boeing claimed that, as a result of the ruling Thursday, the United States could levy retaliatory duties against the European Union of up to $10 billion a year. "Today's ruling confirms that Airbus both failed to withdraw old subsidies and instead put in place new subsidies for a grand total of almost $22 billion," Boeing said. "The next step for the US government is to obtain WTO authorization to impose billions in retaliatory duties." The ruling was only the most recent step in a years-long fight between the two sides over support and subsidies given their respective aircraft builders. Both Airbus and Boeing are leading employers and exporters on their home turf, and compete head-to-head to sell to airlines around the world. The European Union, in a statement, said that it found some of the WTO findings "to be unsatisfactory," and noted it had the right to appeal the ruling. It also pointed out that the WTO is likely to rule in the coming months on EU and Airbus complaints on what they say is illegal US support for Boeing. - 'Ready to negotiate' - US trade officials did not say they were preparing to request WTO approval for retaliatory duties yet, as the European Union can appeal Thursday's ruling. Story continues "We are ready to negotiate if it (the EU) is interested," a US trade official said. An Airbus spokeswoman claimed in a statement that the WTO ruling mostly backs their argument that the support the company received was mostly legal. "We only needed to make limited changes in European policies and practices to comply," she said. "This case should not be seen in isolation. There are already decisions condemning Boeing's abusive and illegal subsidies. So it appears that Boeing and the US continue to litigate mainly to try to justify their own grab for state cash." - 12 year old case - Thursday's ruling focused on a series of complaints that began in 2004. In 2011 the WTO ruled that the European Union -- and, individually, France, Germany, Spain and Britain -- had to take 36 specific steps for withdrawing several support and subsidy programs for Airbus. The case particularly focused on EU "launch aid" loans to help Airbus develop and bring aircraft to market. Subsequently US officials complained to the WTO's compliance panel that the European Union and the named countries had not followed through in most cases. Washington also expanded its attacks on alleged support for newer aircraft being sold by Airbus, the A350 XWB and the A380. The compliance panel ruled mostly in Boeing's favor, including on some subsidies for the A350 XWB. "Today?s WTO report reinforces the value of international trade rules that ensure US companies and workers can compete and sell their world-class products and services on a level playing field," said Froman. "We expect the EU, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain ?- some of our closest trading partners ?- to respect WTO rules. We call on them to end subsidized financing of Airbus immediately." An Airbus A380 aircraft performs during a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 14, 2016 The European Union has failed to stop subsidies to aircraft maker Airbus that were found to flout global trade rules, the World Trade Organiziation said Thursday. The WTO ruling hands a victory to US rival Boeing in the latest twist to a years-long trans-Atlantic trade dispute over government subsidies. Boeing immediately said that the US could levy retaliatory duties against the EU of up to $10 billion a year after the WTO ruling. For its part, Airbus denied it was breaking WTO rules and said it would appeal the ruling. "We only needed to make limited changes in European policies and practices to comply," said Airbus, adding that the firm "did what we needed to do and did it in the agreed timeframe." "We will address the few still remaining points indicated by the report in our appeal," concluded Airbus. In its ruling, the WTO said that "the European Union and certain member States have failed to implement the recommendations and rulings of the DSB (Dispute Settlement Body) to bring its measures into conformity with its obligations" under international trade rules. The case, which pits the US against its close trading partners the EU -- as well as France, Germany, Spain and Britain -- began in 2004 over alleged government handouts that fall foul of international trade rules. Both giants have won and lost complaints filed against the other at the Geneva-based WTO. In December 2011, the EU said it had submitted a "package of actions that achieves full compliance" with the WTO ruling. But the US disagreed and asked the WTO to rule on the issue. In parallel, the EU launched a separate dispute against the US over alleged subsidies to Boeing. The tit-for-tat dispute began when the US accused Brussels of overstepping a 1992 bilateral agreement allowing aviation companies on both sides of the Atlantic to receive limited amounts of aid. Washington and Brussels have 20 days to lodge an appeal to the latest ruling. Wait 'til the anti-GMO activists hear about this genetic monstrosity. The horror. Mark Murray of Perth plans to soon begin selling his patented cross between a hamburger and a hotdog, which he calls the "Hamdog." He'll begin selling hamdogs in Australia. From coverage in The Mercury, an Australian newspaper: Mark Murray first pitched his idea on Channel 10's Shark Tank program last year, after successfully securing a US patent for the "combination hamburger hot dog bread bun" in 2009. "Everyone told me it wasn't possible, because you'd need a patent lawyer and it would cost millions of dollars," Mr Murray told news.com.au. "Even [Boost Juice founder and Shark Tank judge] Janine Allis told me that it was impossible to patent. She'll be eating her words now," Mr Murray said. Mr. Murray is selling Hamdog franchise rights for $10,000 each. No word on whether anyone has taken him up on it yet. From WGN-TV: [Canadas first-Afghan born MP Maryam Monsef learned last week from a newspaper that she was born in Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS] Maryam Monsef, the Liberal cabinet minister feted as this countrys first Afghan-born MP, says she was shocked and angry when she found out from a reporter that she was not, in fact, born in the South Asian nation. It was actually the Ottawa bureau chief of the Globe and Mail newspaper that told Monsef last week that she was born in neighbouring Iran and not the country of her parents, as she was led to believe her entire life. In recent days, my mother told me for the first time that my sisters and I were in fact born in Mashhad, Iran, approximately 200 kilometers from the Afghan border, Monsef says in a statement. The minister for democratic reform the youngest member of the Liberal cabinet says her mother has since told her that the town where Monsefs parents were married, Herat, became very dangerous during the Soviet era and afterwards. No longer safe in their home town, my parents decided not to take risks and went to Mashhad, Iran, where they could be safe with the hope of soon returning to the place their families called home for generations, Monsef says. While we were technically safe in Iran, we did not hold any status there and like the thousands of other Afghan refugees, we were not afforded all of the same rights and privileges given to Iranian citizens. The Soviet Army invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Cold War-era politics played out in Afghanistan over the next decade, as the U.S. backed mujahedeen fighters who opposed the Soviets. The last Soviet troops pulled out in 1989 and by 1996, the Taliban seized control of the capital city of Kabul. Monsefs father was killed in 1988 and she says her family then travelled back and forth between Iran and Afghanistan. Until last week, though, she believed she was born in Afghanistan. My sisters and I asked my mother why she never told us we were born in Iran. She told us she did not think it mattered, she says. Story continues We were Afghan citizens, as we were born to Afghan parents, and under Iranian law, we would not be considered Iranian citizens despite being born in that country. Monsef, her mother and her sisters came to Canada in 1996, when she was 11 years old. The Globe article does not explain what prompted the newspaper to dig into Monsefs birthplace. In an interview with CTV News, Monsef says she is still trying to come to term with just what the revelation means. Im still a Canadian citizen, Im still an Afghan citizen, and theres some paperwork that Im working on, she says. Monsef says she was first angry that the Globe was writing an article, then she was angry at her mother. Now shes mad at herself for feeling anger towards her mother. Theres been yelling in Dari and theres been crying and theres been Is this true? Is this true? she tells CTV News. A Rwandan entrepreneur is hoping to open her country's first craft brewery and give most of the jobs there to women, and an Ottawa-area brewery has stepped in to help. Fina Uwineza, a restaurateur who hails from Kigali, has been spending time at Beau's All Natural Brewing Company in Vankleek Hill, Ont., to learn more about beer-making after the brewery offered to help Uwineza get started. "Right now there's none, there's no craft beer. We have only two breweries, which are international Heineken and Skol so this is going to be amazing and the first craft beer in Rwanda," Uwineza told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning on Wednesday. The brewery, if it comes to fruition, would employ about five to 15 people. But Uwineza hopes the company will grow everything it needs for the beer locally, which would employ a great deal more people. Uwineza hopes they'll mostly be women. "That's the main idea so that we can help the women in the village, the women who are less fortunate. That's my passion, actually ... If we can grow all the raw materials in Rwanda, that means I can go to the village and the women will be growing the ingredients, and from there we can really see the impact," she said. 'This won't be a Beau's brewery' Steve Beauchesne, co-founder and CEO of Beau's, became involved after the Ontario Craft Brewers organization of which he is a member heard a pitch for help. He said Wednesday his company doesn't have a financial or ownership stake in the project. "Just to be very, very clear, this won't be a Beau's brewery. This is going to be Fina's brewery. We're helping her get the project off the ground," Beauchesne said. "Not only is it not going to say Beau's on the bottle, we're not going to take any ownership, we're not going to take any profit. We're doing this purely to help." Beauchesne said he became more interested after learning about growing co-ops in Rwanda, where health and education are provided for. Story continues "It really becomes a sort of family support system, and it's helping rural families. The brewery itself will probably have, I'm guessing five to 15 people employed, which is great, but the real impact here is going to be the dozens, if not hundreds of women and families that will be benefiting because of the agricultural side of this," he said. His brewing team in Vankleek Hill has been working on recipes using traditional ingredients, including bananas and sorghum. "A lot of what has been cool in craft [brewing] has been rediscovering these kind of lost traditions and reviving them, so that's got our brewing team really excited, obviously," he said. Moments after a man dressed as a construction worker shot a criminal defence lawyer near his Toronto office, an undercover police officer shot the suspected gunman, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit says. The SIU, which investigates any incident involving death or serious injury involving a police officer, is probing the shooting that took place on Bedford Road, near Prince Arthur Avenue, around 3:30 p.m. There were dozens of people in the area, near Toronto's upscale Yorkville shopping strip and the University of Toronto campus, at the time of the incident. Two witnesses described a frightening scene as the shooting broke out. A lawyer identified by colleagues as J. Randall Barrs, a prominent criminal defence lawyer who has defended more than 20 murder cases suffered serious injuries after being shot in the legs, SIU spokesman Jason Gennaro said. A plainclothes Halton Regional Police officer, one of an unspecified number of undercover officers who were in the area conducting a surveillance operation, opened fire on the suspect. The suspected gunman, identified only as a 51-year-old man, received serious injuries and was rushed to a trauma centre for emergency surgery. The suspect had been trying to leave the scene in a silver Honda Civic before other undercover officers boxed him in Gennaro told reporters that officers intervened in "a matter of moments." Gennaro said the SIU believes only one officer fired a weapon, though four others have been designated as witnesses in the investigation. It's unclear what drove the suspected gunman to shoot Barrs. Gennaro said that will be up for Toronto and Halton police to investigate. The SIU investigation, meanwhile, will focus on the actions of the Halton police officer who opened fire. The SIU is asking anyone who witnessed the shooting to contact them. 'It seemed almost staged' Witness Tudor Manole said he saw an older man with scruffy white hair and a beard shoot another man, who was dressed in a suit, a "significant number of times," then flee to the Honda. Story continues Manole said the gunman, noticing the victim was still moving, then fired again from his vehicle. He said there were some 10 shots fired. Multiple undercover police officers then moved in, Manole said. The officers, who were heavily armed, arrested the shooter. "It seemed almost staged," Manole said. Witness Alan Bell was driving home and had just turned north onto Bedford Road when he heard three loud gunshots. Then, he said, two men ran past his car while shooting. He said he couldn't tell whether they were shooting at each other or someone else. "It was a very frightening experience. They were firing weapons at very close range to me," Bell told CBC News. Bell said he ducked and when he finally poked his head up he noticed the window of the car next to him had been shot out. Bell said he then spotted one man limping toward Bedford Road who appeared to be shot. Paramedics arrived shortly after and began treating the man. Police have closed Bedford Road between Bloor Street West and Lowther Avenue for the investigation. Data Security Report: Education Now Most Targeted Sector for Ransomware Education has surpassed healthcare as the sector most targeted by ransomware, a variety of malware that makes data inaccessible to users until a ransom is paid. According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, some 4,000 ransomware attacks occur every day in the United States this year alone. According to a new report from security analyst BitSight, the number of attacks against educational organizations now dwarfs attacks in all other sectors. According to the BitSight Insights report ("The Rising Face of Cyber Crime: Ransomware"), a full 13 percent of education institutions examined by the company had experienced ransomware attacks on their networks in the last year. That compares with government at 5.9 percent and healthcare at 3.5 percent. Energy/utilities and retail rounded out the top 5 at 3.4 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively. The finance sector came in a distant sixth at 1.5 percent. "While several ransomware attacks on healthcare companies have made headlines this year, the issue is more widespread. Our analysis shows that the Education sector is actually the most impacted group, followed by Government. Establishing email security protocols, monitoring key third-party vendors, tracking security ratings and avoiding file sharing are all ways to mitigate risks associated with ransomware," said Stephen Boyer, co-founder and CTO of BitSight, in a statement released to coincide with the report. The report indicated that ransomware increased across all sectors in 2016. A separate report released this month, "The 2016 Global Ransomware Report," security firm Datto surveyed 1,100 managed service providers to get their take on ransomware. MSPs placed education much lower on the threat scale (in ninth place, with 12 percent of MSPs seeing education institutions affected compared with No. 1 professional services at 44 percent and No. 2 healthcare at 38 percent). Datto's report found that the most effective protection against ransomware is backup and disaster recovery, followed by employee training. Many ransomware attacks occur through e-mail phishing, the report noted, and keeping employees uninformed about phishing attacks is "a bad combo." The report indicated that 46 percent of MSPs saw e-mail phishing attacks as the leading cause of ransomware attacks; lack of employee training, at 36 percent, came in second. Malicious websites and Web-based ads were also cited by 12 percent of MSPs. According tot he Datto report: "Malicious emails coupled with a general lack of employee cybersecurity training is the leading cause of a successful ransomware attack. Today's businesses must provide regular cybersecurity training to ensure all employees are able to spot and avoid a potential phishing scam in their inbox, a leading entrance point for the malware." The least effective defenses against ransomware cited in the Datto report were virus/malware protection and e-mail spam filters. It's also worth noting that cloud services are not immune from ransomware, according to Datto's report. Seventy percent of respondents said their clients have been infected via Dropbox, 29 percent via Office 365, 12 percent via Google Apps, 6 percent via box and 3 percent via Salesforce. Policy & Funding Gates Foundation Pushes More Data Tracking in Higher Ed, Linking Outcomes to Funding The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is once again calling for change in higher education. Among other things, the politically influential Gates Foundation is now pushing for reforms that are reminiscent in some ways of the K-12 reforms the organization has forwarded in recent years, including all-encompassing tracking of student outcome data and connecting such data to institutional funding. Data Collection, Funding, Financial Aid According to the foundation's latest report on its priorities for post-secondary education, one of its major priorities in the coming years will be to "[s]upport the development of a comprehensive national data infrastructure that enables the secure and consistent collection and reporting of key performance metrics for all students in all institutions. These data are essential for supporting the change needed to close persistent attainment gaps and produce an educated and diverse workforce with career-relevant credentials for the 21st century." The report put such data collection into the context of institutional value: "In this era of escalating costs and uncertain outcomes, it is important that prospective students, policymakers, and the public have answers to commonsense questions about whether and which colleges offer value: a quality education at an affordable price. Unfortunately, these stakeholders still lack answers to critical questions about how and how well students are moving into and through higher education." And under the Gates vision, those "critical questions" of "value" carry high-stakes implications for educational institutions, as "funding models" would be tied to measures like employment and graduation rates. The report lamented: "Historically, most funding policies have provided strong incentives for enrollment but weak to no incentives for persistence, graduation or employment. While many states have attempted over the years to link funding to performance on input and outcome measures, early performance funding models suffered from shortcomings such as inappropriate measures, minimal funding tied to performance, and a lack of attention to institutional capacity and variations in institutional mission and student population. Similar challenges apply to federal financial aid programs that rely on metrics designed for students, institutions, and missions from a different era, such as cohort default rates and satisfactory academic progress." Gates called for the federal government to "[r]aise awareness and knowledge on the issue of embedding financial incentives in existing and new funding streams with an eye toward improving outcomes, while defining minimal levels of institutional performance and mitigating unintended consequences." At the state level, the push is more aggressive, calling on state governments to change their "funding models" to " align with the goal of increasing attainment of high-quality credentials...." Further, the report argued agencies should "[e]valuate states adopting new outcome-based funding models to gauge impact on student outcomes and institutional behavior, broadly sharing the insights gained." Data collection and sharing is, of course, already widespread in higher education. But the foundation is looking to sidestep existing cooperative efforts and support the creation of a national data exchange and to "[c]ontinue to develop robust state data systems that connect disparate higher education systems within and across states, including non-public institutions, and improve linkages between higher education, K-12 and workforce data to facilitate the timely and safe exchange of data for decision-making by educators and policymakers." Learning Tools Penn State Incorporates Blogging into the Classroom Faculty and students at Pennsylvania State University are embracing blogs as teaching and learning tools. The university's Teaching and Learning with Technology organization first launched its Sites at Penn State service in 2012. Since then, numerous classes have switched from notebooks to blogs for student writing reflections. "One of the biggest benefits to using blogging in class is that students can interact with each others' blogs," said Priya Sharma, associate professor of education, in Penn State News. "Plus, students don't have to stop at just writing their posts. They can also add other media, like photos, videos and links to other sources. The options for creativity and expression are much greater." Sites at Penn State is powered by the WordPress open-source web publishing platform and hosted by CampusPress. Students, faculty, and staff can use the service to build their own websites, blogs and e-portfolios at no charge. CampusPress and the university's Information Technology Services department jointly manage and support the service. Sharma uses blogging in her Emerging Web Technologies and Learning course, where students blog as a way of engaging with the course material and then comment on each other's blogs to help "build shared knowledge." Through the experience, Sharma said she has discovered that students who tend to be quiet in class are more willing to express themselves through blogs. Burt Staniar, associate professor of equine science, builds class websites on the platform. He uses the sites "to post text and videos for each week's lecture," and students use it "to turn in assignments and also take turns writing posts for the site's blog," according to Penn State News. Before adopting classroom blogs, Sharma advises faculty to have a clear goal in mind, to provide students with well-written sample blogs, and to be prepared for a heavier workload as they read and comment on student blogs. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told Sputnik that he would like to come to Russia and have Russian leader Vladimir Putin visit Portugal. "I would very much like to visit Russia and to host your president in Portugal, "De Sousa said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "We shall try a way to fix a time and make it concrete either one of the visits or the other one." Moreover, Portugal would like to expand its relations with Russia in all areas including economic and cultural ties, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told Sputnik on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. By Brad Haynes and Brad Brooks SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian police arrested former Finance Minister Guido Mantega on Thursday as a sweeping corruption investigation further struck at the heart of the Workers Party (PT) that ran the country for 13 years. Police investigators told a news conference they took Mantega, long a confidant of recently impeached former President Dilma Rousseff and an early member of the PT, into custody at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. He was there accompanying his wife as she prepared for surgery. Quoting witness testimony, they said Mantega in 2012 had requested a payment of 5 million reais, or about $2.5 million at the time, to benefit the PT. Brazil's longest-serving finance minister of the past 70 years, Mantega in 2012 was also the chairman of Petroleo Brasiliero, or Petrobras, the state-run oil company at the centre of a sprawling political kickback scheme. A few hours after his arrest, federal judge Sergio Moro ordered Mantega released from custody, which he was at about 2 p.m. local time after being detained for eight hours. Moro ruled that Mantega's cooperation with authorities, the fact they had already searched his home, and that he was supporting his wife as she fights cancer all indicated the former minister was unlikely to be a threat to interfere with the investigation. His arrest came two days after Moro decided to put former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on trial for allegedly accepting more than $1 million in bribes from an engineering firm in the Petrobras scandal. Mantega, 67, served as finance minister for almost nine years under Rousseff and Lula, a close friend whom he helped become elected president in 2002. He helped steer Latin America's largest economy through a commodities boom at the height of Workers Party rule, but came under withering criticism in 2011 and beyond as the economy began sliding into its worst recession since the 1930s. Mantega left office in 2015 at the start of Rousseff's second term after years of complaints from critics about faulty economic forecasts and ineffective industrial policies. Attorneys for Mantega did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but his political allies excoriated the decision to arrest him. Workers Party President Rui Falcao called the arrest "arbitrary, inhuman and unnecessary" and questioned the timing of the operation just over a week before municipal elections throughout the country. Police executed warrants for eight arrests and 32 search and seizure operations in five states and the capital Brasilia on Thursday, according to prosecutors. They said the operation targeted Mantega and engineering firms Mendes Junior and OSX Construcao Naval SA, part of a commodities empire built by former billionaire Eike Batista. Police named the latest phase of the sweeping two-year-old Petrobras probe "Operation X Files" in a reference to the letter X which Batista included in the name of his oil drilling, mining, shipbuilding and logistics companies. Prosecutors said Batista came to them spontaneously to offer testimony, in which he said Mantega in a November 2012 conversation requested the payment of 5 million reais to benefit the PT. Prosecutors said that Batista eventually made an overseas payment of $2.35 million, or close to 5 million reais, to Rousseff and Lula's campaign architect, Joao Santana, along with his wife Monica Moura. Both have previously been arrested for alleged money laundering in the Petrobras scheme. Prosecutors said they believed the payment was a bribe destined for paying down debts from Rousseff's 2010 campaign, a conclusion denied by Batista, who is under investigation but was not targeted in Thursday's operation. A lawyer for Batista and press representatives for OSX and Mendes Junior could not immediately be reached for comment. (Additional reporting by Patricia Duarte, Alexandre Caverni and Nacho Doce in Sao Paulo, and Pedro Fonseca in Rio da Janeiro; Editing by W Simon and Matthew Lewis) The re-run was initially scheduled for October 2 but was postponed again after it emerged the glue on postal vote envelopes was not sticky enough (AFP Photo/Joe Klamar) Vienna (AFP) - Austria's parliament on Wednesday approved December 4 as the new date for the presidential election re-run in a scandal-ridden race that could usher in the European Union's first far-right head of state. Initially scheduled for October 2, the government was forced to postpone the vote after it emerged that the glue on postal vote envelopes was not sticky enough, meaning the ballots could be tampered with. Dubbed "gluegate", this was the latest twist in an embarrassing saga, which erupted in July when the highest court annulled the election result from May after upholding the narrowly defeated far right's claims of procedural irregularities. The decision has given 45-year-old Norbert Hofer of the popular anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPOe) another stab at winning the election, which he lost in May by just 31,000 votes to independent ecologist Alexander Van der Bellen, 72. If he emerges victorious this time, Hofer would become Europe's first far-right head of state since 1945. Latest polls show the rivals neck-and-neck. The electoral chaos has left Austria without a president since July 8 when Heinz Fischer stepped down. Wednesday's bill passed with the necessary two-thirds majority, but the FPOe voted against, demanding that postal voting -- used by 17 percent of voters in May -- be abolished. The bill also foresees an update of the voter register to include 49,000 newly eligible Austrians, most of them having turned 16, while 45,000 names will be removed because they have died since the last ballot. Earlier this week, parliament announced that the future president will not be sworn in until January 26, to give authorities sufficient time to investigate any potential new irregularities. The role of Austria's president is largely ceremonial but not entirely. He or she can in theory sack the government -- something that Hofer has in the past threatened he will do. Like other populist parties around Europe, the FPOe is currently leading national polls after stoking public fears about record immigration and rising unemployment. On the surface at least, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson are far apart when it comes to defense and military issues. Trump has vowed to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into rebuilding the armed forces with more ships and aircraft, exert unquestioned military dominance overseas to prevent future conflict, and bomb the hell out of ISIS terrorist to bring a quick end to U.S. involvement in Syria and Iraq. Related: Abolish Social Security? Gary Johnson's Libertarian Party Gets a Closer Look "I'm gonna build a military that's gonna be much stronger than it is right now, Trump once said on NBCs Meet the Press. It's gonna be so strong; nobody's gonna mess with us. By contrast, Johnson, the sedate former Republican governor of New Mexico, favors cutting the defense budget by 20 percent and primarily focusing on defending the U.S. than projecting military force overseas and engaging in nation building. He would vigorously resist putting more U.S. boots on the ground to defeat ISIS unless Congress required ground troops in a new authorization of military force. If we are attacked, we are going to attack back, Johnson said of the terrorist threat in the Middle East. But he would bridle at simplistic options such as stepping up bombing and drone attacks against ISIS. Ironically, despite their many policy differences, the two men command substantial political allegiance from the U.S. military. If the presidential election were held today, Trump and Johnson would each garner roughly a third of the vote of military servicemen and officers, while Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton would lag far behind. Related: Libertarian Gary Johnson Scores a Major Victory in His White House Bid A newly released on-line survey by the Military Times and Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families found that among the entire military force, Trump leads Johnson, 37.6 percent to 36.5 percent, with a margin of error of two percentage points. Clinton, the former secretary of state and first lady, finished a distant third with just 16.3 percent support, followed by Green Party nominee Jill Stein with 1.2 percent. Story continues Its no surprise that Trump leads Clinton substantially among U.S. armed forces, especially among military personnel and their families based in conservative red and purple states like South Carolina, Virginia and Texas. According to a Sept. 7 NBC/Survey Monkey poll, 55 percent of active and former military members supported Trump, while 36 percent backed Clinton. Trump also lead when voters were asked who would be best for veterans issues. Clinton has been hurt badly among this group on the trust issue, especially in light of her mishandling of highly sensitive State Department emails that could have compromised national security. About 64 percent of those interviewed said they were not confident in Clintons ability as commander in chief of the military, yet nearly half of those interviewed 47 percent said the same thing about Trump. Although Johnson and his positions on defense and foreign policy are relatively unknown by the vast majority of Americans, the Libertarian Party nominee appears to be benefitting from voter defections from the two major parties. With many in the military sharing similar views with the rest of the electorate, Johnson apparently is being viewed by many in the military as an acceptable alternative to Trump and Clinton. Related: Johnson Says the GOP and Democrats Are Dinosaurs Headed for Extinction Whats more, Johnsons embarrassing gaffe two weeks ago on MSNBC -- when he couldnt identify Aleppo as the largest besieged city in war-torn Syria -- apparently didnt hurt him with members of the U.S. military, according to the new Military Times poll. The survey of 2,207 active duty troops throughout the country, was conducted online Sept. 8 through 15, with a voluntary audience comprised of 85 percent male and 15 percent female. The respondents were young with a mean age of 29 and they were overwhelmingly white. Clinton, the first woman ever nominated president by a major political party, has had considerable difficulty reaching out to young, white, male voters who make up the preponderance of the military. One of the more notable findings in the poll was the sharp divisions in views of enlisted personnel the rank and file members of the military and the military officers who are responsible for-day-to day operations. Among the more elite military officers, Johnson was the clear choice, according to the Military Times survey, with 38.6 percent to 26 percent for Trump. In this case, Clinton did better than Trump, receiving 28 percent of the vote. The picture is considerably different among enlisted service men and women: Trump topped the field with 39.8 percent to Johnson with 36.1 percent and Clinton with just 14.1 percent. That squares with Trumps more populist appeal to voters and his reputation as a political outsider who is determined to shake up the status quo. Nicholas J. Armstrong, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families' senior director of research and policy, told the Military Times that the results indicate a considerable amount of diversity and independence among military voters and contradicted the stereotype of military voters being reliable Republican backers. Related: So Just How Will Trump Pay for His Big Military Buildup? You cant treat this group as a monolith, Armstrong told the newspaper. The military itself is a very diverse institution, so wed expect the variety of political viewpoints to follow that. Johnson and his running mate, former Republican Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, have vowed to shake up the traditional two-party system and are threatening to play spoilers in determining the outcome of the race between Trump and Clinton in November. The Libertarian Party ticket currently is drawing an average of eight percent of the national vote, according to Real Clear Politics, although Johnson has picked up as much as 15 percent in a few battleground states. While national security and foreign policy will dominate the three nationally televised debates this fall, beginning with Monday nights debate at Hofstra University on Long Island, the military vote is unlikely to be much of a factor, as the Military Times polling analysis pointed out. Thats because active-duty troops and reservists will make up just one percent of the electorate in the November election. However, they could be a factor in some swing states, including Florida and Virginia, if the election proves to be exceptionally close. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: French English Company expects to significantly exceed upper range of previous guidance Accelerated Growth attributed to increased payor coverage IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - September 22, 2016 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) announced today that its preliminary unaudited revenues are expected to significantly exceed the upper end of full year guidance. Revenue for the year is expected to exhibit growth of more than 60% over the previous year, compared with prior guidance predicting growth of 30-50%. The Company maintains its guidance that underlying Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBIDTA) for the year ended 2016 are expected to improve compared to 2015. The improved performance since the Company's last update can be attributed to accelerated adoption of the Company's ConfirmMDx for prostate cancer test by Urologists in the US following the test's inclusion in the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Guidelines in Q1 2016. Inclusion in the NCCN guidelines has subsequently facilitated successful contract negotiations with a number of new payors and has resulted in a significant increase in revenues. "Adoption of ConfirmMDx has increased rapidly over the last year and we are very pleased to report an upward adjustment to our revenue guidance," commented Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "This anticipated rise in revenues can be attributed to increased coverage of ConfirmMDx by payors, following the test's inclusion in the NCCN guidelines, and our continued investment in clinical studies and managed care efforts." About MDxHealth MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary gene methylation (epigenetic) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of cancer, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth. For more information: Dr. Jan Groen, CEO MDxHealth US: +1 949 812 6979 BE: +32 4 364 20 70 info@mdxhealth.com Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR) Consilium Strategic Communications UK: +44 20 3709 5701 US: + 1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC) mdxhealth@consilium-comms.com This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws. NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. PARIS, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global digital payment volumes continue to increase, with annual growth projected to top 10 percent for the first time to reach 426.3 billion transactions in 2015, up from the record-setting 8.9 percent growth in 2014 (387.3 billion transactions). This is according to the World Payments Report 2016 (WPR) released today by Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, technology, and outsourcing, and BNP Paribas, a global banking player and recognized leader in transaction banking and cash management. An infographic accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d94687f-2aec-4c59-b063-0e63240aaedb The growth in digital payment transactions is largely being driven by strong economic growth in key developing countries, improved security measures such as EMV1 and biometrics, and government initiatives designed to encourage electronic payments in developing markets, as the cost of cash continues to rise. However, this growth comes as banks face increasing demand for seamless, secure digital transaction services, particularly from corporate customers, spurring transaction banks to accelerate investment and collaboration amongst banks and/or with FinTechs (financial technology firms) to reduce time to market in delivering differentiating digital transaction experiences. Developing markets grew at the fastest rate but mature markets still account for majority share Growth in digital payments occurred across all regions, with developing markets experiencing the highest rates 16.7 percent and mature markets growing at 6.0 percent, although mature markets still account for 70.9% of total global volumes. For the first time, China surpassed the U.K. and South Korea in digital transaction volumes, taking fourth position among the top ten markets globally, behind the U.S., Eurozone and Brazil. This continued growth in digital payments globally presents opportunities for banks to provide such services to customers while corporates also benefit from a more efficient financial supply chain. Cards remain the fastest growing digital payments instrument since 2010, while check usage continues to decline. Immediate payments have the potential to drive growth in digital transactions as an alternative to cash and checks, but efforts are needed to educate stakeholders, provide more value-added services, and upgrade infrastructure at merchants and corporates. Banks need to think digital in order to retain and capture transaction banking market share The core theme for WPR 2016 is the challenges and opportunities that exist in transaction banking. While treasurers fundamental expectations have not changed over recent years - control, visibility on cash, risk management - corporates increasingly expect banks to digitalize support processes such as account management, data analytics, compliance tracking, and fraud detection and prevention, said Jean-Francois Denis, Deputy Global Head of Cash Management, BNP Paribas. This calls for banks to accelerate their shift towards digitization and foster a more collaborative approach. Adding to this context is the fact that transaction banking revenue is under pressure from a multitude of internal and external challenges such as lower fee income, lower interest income, pressure on foreign exchange service fees and the emergence of FinTechs. FinTechs are known for providing enhanced customer experiences through advanced technology to shape and drive customer expectations. FinTechs as well as the creation of Innovation Labs in banking are establishing new precedents for developing superior customer journeys, said Anirban Bose, Head of Banking and Capital Markets, Capgemini. The key now is in the mix of the partnerships and collaboration that can be done to drive out the most innovative digital services possible at the right moments of truth along the customer journey. A number of banks already have started to adopt a digital-first mindset. According to the WPR, 79 percent of bank executives now view FinTechs as partners. Banks could have additional opportunities to further drive innovation in transaction banking by opening up their internal systems through open application programming interfaces (APIs) and leveraging the requirements of the Payment Services Directive II (PSD II)[2]. Regulatory environment continues to put pressure on banks Multiple existing and new regulatory initiatives have added complexity for some banks when complying with the regulatory landscape. The report finds two key themes emerging in regulatory compliance around payments: the increased use of technology and a facilitation approach being adopted by some regulators to enable businesses to accelerate their time to innovate within a safe environment, such as the U.K. Financial Conduct Authoritys Project Innovate, which introduced the concept of a Regulatory Sandbox and the Singularity Innovation Hub in the Netherlands. Capgemini, in a new collaboration with BNPP brings the World Payments Report 2016 (WPR) to banks and corporate customers. The WPR is the leading source for data, trends and insights on global and regional non-cash payments, and the key regulatory and industry initiatives (KRIIs) that govern them. The report explores how digital innovation is infusing the corporate world and its implication for banks and corporates. For more information, explore the interactive report website at www.worldpaymentsreport.com. About Capgemini With more than 180,000 people in over 40 countries, Capgemini is a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing services. The Group reported 2015 global revenues of EUR 11.9 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business, technology and digital solutions that fit their needs, enabling them to achieve innovation and competitiveness. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM, and draws on Rightshore, its worldwide delivery model. Serving two-thirds of the worlds largest financial services institutions, Capgeminis Financial Services Unit helps banks, capital markets firms, and insurers meet todays industry disruptions with innovative business and IT solutions which create tangible value. A team of 45,000 financial services professionals around the world collaborates across geographies, domains, and technologies to deliver the best tailored solutions to its clients. Capgeminis Financial Services Unit brings award-winning industry expertise, leading market insights and over 25 years of global delivery excellence to client engagements. Learn more about us at www.capgemini.com/banking and www.capgemini.com/financialservices. Rightshore is a trademark belonging to Capgemini About BNP Paribas BNP Paribas has a presence in 75 countries with more than 185,000 employees, including 145,000 in Europe. It ranks highly in its two core activities: Retail Banking & Services (comprised of Domestic Markets and International Financial Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model across Mediterranean basin countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas and solid and fast-growing businesses in Asia-Pacific. About BNP Paribas Cash Management BNP Paribas provides cash management services to more than 40,000 corporate clients around the world. Through its local presence on all continents, BNP Paribas is able to accompany corporates across the world. Our community of 2,500 experienced, committed Cash Management professionals operate across BNP Paribas international network, in 208 business centres in 55 countries, covering more than 130 currencies. BNP Paribas has been designated No. 1 Trade Finance Bank and No. 1 Cash Management Bank in the European large corporate sector, in the latest Greenwich Associates research. Learn more about us at www.cashmanagement.bnpparibas.com 1 EMV is a technical standard for smart payment cards and for payment terminals and automated teller machines that accept smart cards. The acronym, EMV, refers to the first three companies (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) who formed a consortium to develop this standard. 2 PSD II is a revision of the payment service directive adopted by the European Parliament with an aim to protect consumers by making online payments safer and also to improve levelling the playing field for payment service providers. Albany - NY, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Across the world, there has been an unprecedented interest in biofuels over the past decade. The main reason for this is the volatility in crude oil prices, which is affecting the economic condition of many countries that do not have significant oil and gas reserves to support their growing economy. High dependence on non-renewable fuels has created economic as well as environmental concerns, such as rising greenhouse gas emissions. Several developing and developed economies have implemented regulatory reforms, blending targets, and statutory norms while using biofuels to offset the growing environmental risks associated with conventional fuels. Technavios analysts forecast the global biofuels market to grow at a CAGR of 5.87% during the period 2016-2020. For more info, get a Sample PDF: http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=816224 Covered in this report The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global biofuels market for 2016-2020. The report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the top four vendors operating in the market. The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEA Latest report, Global Biofuels Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Key vendors ADM INEOS Enterprises Neste Renewable Energy Group Other prominent vendors Archer Daniel Midland Cosan Fujian Zhongde Energy Guangzhou Devotion Thermal Technology Gushan Environmental Energy Henan Tianguan Enterprise Group Jiangsu Hengshunda Bio-Energy Jiangsu Yueda Kate New Energy Jilin Fuel Ethanol Longyan Zhuoyue New Energy Louis Dreyfus Commodities Ningbo Tech-Bank Petrobras Shandong Jinjiang Bioenergy Technology Shell Tangshan Jin Lihai Biodiesel Zhenghe Bioenergy Market driver Rising need for cleaner fuel For a full, detailed list, view our report Market challenge Fall in oil prices For a full, detailed list, view our report Market trend Need to comply with environmental regulations For a full, detailed list, view our report View TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report: http://www.researchmoz.us/global-bio-fuels-market-2016-2020-report.html Key questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? Related Reports:- Green Energy (Solar PV, Wind energy, Hydroelectric power, Bio-fuels, Geothermal energy) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 2019: http://www.researchmoz.us/green-energy-market-global-industry-size-market-share-trends-analysis-and-forecasts-2012-2018-report.html United States Biofuels Industry 2016 Market Research Report: http://www.researchmoz.us/united-states-biofuels-industry-2016-market-research-report-report.html About Us ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators. Las Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emineo Marketing Solutions has been highlighted more than a few times this year for their unparalleled career growth opportunities. As their dream of spanning coast to coast continues to come to fruition, the company announces their latest expansion to Denver, Colorado. Eddie Rodriguez, Director of Operations for Emineo Marketing Solutions assisted in the expansion of Randy Garcia this September. Unlike any of Emineo Marketings previous promotions, Randy has been a long time friend of Eddie. Randy has seen me grow both personally and professionally for years. He has seen my company flourish from a start up company to one of the fastest growing firms in the state of Nevada, says Eddie. The most unique aspect of this dynamic is that Emineo Marketing Solutions prides themselves on promotion from within. Randy started at the ground level of the business just as all of our associates do. Within mere weeks he had clinched the record for the most productive week on a national scale. The numbers Randy was achieving was literally unprecedented, we had never seen anything like it, says Eddie. Within weeks of the Denver expansion, Ray Langston, another of Eddies associates was offered the opportunity to take on a piece of the Las Vegas market to launch a new test campaign. Days after the announcement, Emineo Marketing Solutions promoted a third associate, Taylor Davis to Assistant Director. Though the company remains tight lipped about the location of the next expansion, it is evident Taylor will be the next of several big moves to be expected from Las Vegas. As the dust begins to settle in Denver, the management staff at Emineo Marketing Solutions hits the drawing board once again. Projections depict the company will total over twenty locations spanning from Sacramento, California to Charleston, South Carolina by the end of the year. Eddie explains, The Denver market was just the beginning of a huge surge. The Denver territory is astronomically different than Las Vegas. It has opened so many doors for future expansion and we have never been more excited. For more information about Emineo Marketing Solutions career opportunities, visit www.EmineoMarketingSolutions.com. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ CargoLogic Air load one of their mega all cargo aircraft. In addition to purpose built frighters, many end of first lease, state-of-the-art wide-bodied passenger aircraft are currently being snapped up and rapidly re-purposed for all cargo operation. As the 21st Century trend is away from airport hub/spoke operation - apparently Heathrow [LHR] is yet to get the memo -and towards single aisle narrow bodied passenger/cargo hold aircraft, working point to point schedules continues apace ... JULIAN BRAY ++44(0)1733 345581 Illustrated Convention Lectures & Workshops, Keynotes, Broadcast Briefings, Media Presentational Training, Aviation Security and Operations Incident Management Consultancy http://www.freelancedirectory.org/?name=Julian.Bray.aviation.comment (ISDN BROADCAST LINK ++44(0)1733 345 020) all codecs G.722 & ATX Developed for use in ISDN remote broadcasting, G.722 is the original wideband speech codec to be standardized by the ITU-T. By sampling the speech signal at 16 kHz, G.722 more than doubles the encoded speech information, providing richer sound and better clarity than narrowband speech codecs. ( (ISDN2 BT BOX INSTALLED AT HOME: LIVE LINKS AVAILABLE AROUND THE CLOCK ) Book slot on landline 01733 345581 Mob: 07944 217476 http://www.aviationcomment.com/ E&OE http://www.freelancedirectory.org/?name=Julian.Bray.aviation.comment COVERING TRANSPORTATION & ASSOCIATED POLITICAL ISSUES IN ALL FORMS plus RELATED INDUSTRIES including AEROSPACE, COMPUTER NETWORKS, RAIL, AVIATION, CRUISE, FERRIES, MERCHANT MARITIME, MILITARY, TRAVEL & HOLIDAY INDUSTRIES, CAA REPORTS, TERRORISM & SABOTAGE, COMPUTER MISUSE & SYSTEM FAILURES, TRAVEL AGENTS, ATOL ISSUES, CIVIL & COMMERCIAL AVIATION. AIRSHOW ORGANISATION & LOGISTICS. Contact numbers 01733 345581 OR Trusty Nokia Mobile: 07944 217 476 OFFICE: 01733 345581 and answerphone email: julianbray@aol.com BROADCAST ISDN2 LINE: 01733 345020 ISDN DIGITAL DIAL-UP only. [ BH VENDOR #10476453 add PE28xl ] SKYPE: JULIAN.BRAY.UK (directly wired Ethernet connection on high speed Virginmedia cable) ALSO GLENSOUND ISDN GSGC5 ISDN LOCATION UNITS FOR PROFESSIONAL DRY HIRE http://www.freelancedirectory.org/?name=Julian.Bray.aviation.comment Julian Bray provides: Opinion, comment, forward thinking speculation, keynote presentations and workshops for corporate organisations on Travel, Cruise & Aviation: conflict zones, terrorist impact, cybercrime and DoS issues, drone (UAV) issues, safety (black boxes, emergencies), airline operations, aviation finance, political implications, and all forms of incident risk. He operated at board level with several airline and aviation groups, including Alitalia, British Island Airways, British Airways, Galileo , British Aerospace, Skyways, former CEO City firm Leadenhall Assoc. (PR WEEK TOP 150) Founder CNS City News Service. Director NTN Television News (joint co. with ITV Wales TWW) Debretts People 2017 and featured in launch edition of the PRWeek Black Book. Investigative Journalist and Broadcaster. After-dinner speaker and presenter. NUJ LIFE MEMBER & FULL EQUITY MEMBER. Direct links to a selection of television and radio contributions can be found at foot of this page. Scroll down. Join the conversation here or on Twitter at @aviationcomment @julianbray. A retweet, comment or other publication by any means does not constitute an endorsement. Quoted Content subject to creditline 'Julian Bray' . During career an active MCIPR, MMC & MBDS. Main UK telephone and prime contact number 01733 345581. Mob: 07944 217476 http://www.freelancedirectory.org/?name=Julian.Bray.aviation.comment ISDN2 Loop Test (by arrangement) 01733 345020 Download the new CAA DRONECODE HERE : http://dronesafe.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Dronecode.pdf Glensound GSGC5 ISDN LOCATION (COOBE - FLYAWAY) COMMENTARY UNITS/COLES LIP MICS FOR PROFESSIONAL HIRE VIDEO PROJECTOR & SMALL FORMAT PUBLIC ADDRESS/ MUSIC PLAYOUT HIRE I'm sorry to say, you have to have a ticket for the National Museum of African American History and Culture to access Sweet Home Cafe, the 400-seat underground dining room, which served an estimated 8,500 people over the weekend. I thought the staff did a pretty good job, considering the numbers, and I found the room to be both attractive and a learning experience. Happy Hump Day, everyone. It's good to be chatting again. I filed the last of my mini-reviews for the fall dining guide earlier this week. In advance of its online publication Oct. 12, we're going to roll out my top 10 favorite places beginning Thursday with No. 10. TIP OF THE DAY: If Springfield, Va., is on your radar, be sure to check out the subject of my review in the Sunday Magazine. I was utterly charmed by my meals at the family-run Afghan Bistro. I'm headed out of town today to report on a fun food scene. (Yes, there's a story forthcoming.) Forgive me if I don't give you a full hour of my attention, but I have to leave early to reach my destination in time for dinner. Let's rock and roll. Future POS is an award-winning restaurant point of sale company with over 20 years of experience developing software for the hospitality industry. Decades of industry experience has placed them in the top five hospitality POS companies in two separate surveys. Their rock-solid software and unrivaled connectivity provide the backbone for numerous high volume independent restaurants and chain restaurants alike. * Rejection opens way for international operators * Thursday was deadline for companies to accept offer * Vodafone Egypt says spectrum insufficient (Recasts adding Orange, regulator statement, quotes, analyst) By Ola Noureldin CAIRO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Egypt said it will consider auctioning its fourth-generation (4G) licences on the international market after all three of the country's existing mobile phone operators turned down an offer to acquire them. Egypt, one of Africa's largest markets, is selling four 4G licences as part of a long-awaited plan to reform the telecoms sector and raise much-needed dollars for depleted government coffers. It gave the four companies already operating in Egypt priority, but the only taker was Telecom Egypt, the state fixed-line monopoly which needs the 4G licence to enter the mobile market directly for the first time. The established mobile operators, Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt and Etisalat, rejected the deal, saying the terms on offer were not viable. In light of the rejections, Egypt's telecom regulator said on Thursday it would consider other means of introducing 4G services to the country of 90 million, including an international auction. "The options will be presented to the board of directors at its next meeting, in early October," it said in a statement. The rejections could leave the way open for Kuwait's Zain , China Telecom, Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA, which had all expressed an interest in acquiring Egyptian 4G licences if the established companies bowed out. There was no immediate statement from those companies. Vodafone Egypt said it had rejected the licence because it did not offer enough spectrum to operate 4G services properly. "Vodafone Egypt confirms that it would be ready to acquire a 4G licence if the terms and conditions can be revised," it said in a statement. Orange Egypt also said it could not agree to the terms. Etisalat has yet to issue a formal statement. Sources told Reuters last month the three companies had also objected to terms requiring 50 percent of licence payments to be made in U.S. dollars. A senior Telecoms Ministry official told Reuters at the time the terms had been revised to include more spectrum but no change to the licence payment conditions. Egypt needs hard currency after burning through its foreign exchange reserves as political turmoil hit foreign investment and tourism since a 2011 uprising. Telecom Egypt was alone in acquiring its 4G licence for 7.08 billion Egyptian pounds ($797 million) last month. Analysts said while the telecom regulator could go for an international auction, both sides stand to gain more by resuming negotiations. Telecom Egypt will have to share infrastructure with existing operators which, for their part, would be loath to see their market share diluted by the arrival of new players. "We expect further negotiations to take place, since it is in favour of all parties involved," Cairo-based Pharos Holding said in a note to clients. (Additional reporting by Eric Knecht; Writing by Lin Noueihed; Editing by Mark Potter and Susan Thomas) Brazilian police on Thursday briefly arrested the latest heavyweight implicated in a massive corruption scandal: former finance minister Guido Mantega, a key figure in the previous two governments. Mantega, an important player in the leftist Workers' Party, was arrested at a Sao Paulo hospital where his wife was about to undergo surgery. He was held for several hours before the presiding judge agreed to let him return to his wife's bedside. In between, federal police transferred him to the southern city of Curitiba, headquarters of the probe into a sprawling bribe and kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras. Mantega, 67, served in the cabinets of both president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -- his fellow suspect in the Petrobras probe -- and Lula's recently impeached successor, Dilma Rousseff. Mantega is accused of asking business magnate Eike Batista for a bribe of five million reals ($2.5 million at the time) in 2012 to help the Workers' Party pay off campaign debts, federal prosecutor Carlos Dos Santos Lima told a press conference. The arrest is the latest phase of "Operation Car Wash," the federal probe into the Petrobras scheme, which has upended Brazilian politics since it was launched in 2014. Under the scheme, Petrobras allegedly gave inflated contracts to big construction firms in exchange for hefty bribes, with high-ranking politicians taking a cut of the proceeds. Dozens of politicians and some of Brazil's richest businessmen have been charged or convicted. In the latest phase -- dubbed "Archive X" -- police said 180 agents fanned out across five states and the capital, Brasilia, to detain eight suspects, haul in another eight for questioning, and serve 33 related court orders. - New twist - In a new twist in the investigation, Dos Santos Lima said police found evidence of contracts to build two major oil platforms awarded to companies "with no qualifications whatsoever." One of the companies was shipbuilder OSX, which belonged to Batista -- the businessman Mantega is accused of strong-arming in 2012, the year after Rousseff became president. Once the richest person in Brazil, Batista has seen his business empire collapse along with the country's commodities-fueled economic boom. He filed for bankruptcy in 2013. His company and construction group Mendes Junior are accused of paying 7.4 million reals in bribes to an intermediary acting on behalf of the PMDB, the party of new center-right President Michel Temer. Temer and the PMDB were allied with the Workers' Party before splitting in March, a prelude to Rousseff's impeachment. The latest developments came just two days after a federal judge accepted charges against Lula, Rousseff's popular mentor, for allegedly accepting bribes from another construction company linked to the Petrobras case. The decision by Sergio Moro, the crusading judge overseeing the investigation, means Lula will stand trial for corruption. Prosecutors have singled out Lula -- who was president from 2003 to 2011, during much of the time that Petrobras was being fleeced of billions of dollars -- as the scheme's "supreme commander." Lula is the co-founder of the once-unstoppable Workers' Party, whose 13 years in power ended last month when Rousseff was convicted of budget irregularities in an impeachment trial. The charges against Rousseff were unconnected to the Petrobras case. But the scandal, combined with Brazil's worst recession in decades, did much to bring her down. - Key figure - Mantega, 67, had key roles in both the Lula and Rousseff administrations. The Italian-born economist was named planning minister in 2003, took over the national development bank in 2004 and became finance minister in 2006. He basked in the aura of Brazil's boom in the 2000s, when Chinese demand for the country's raw materials turbocharged economic growth. He soaked up international plaudits for his part in the Lula government's blend of business-friendly economic policy with progressive social programs to help tens of millions of people escape poverty. But he was forced out in 2015 as the boom turned to bust. The Petrobras probe had already felled a string of Workers' Party bigwigs. Those in jail include Lula's former chief of staff Jose Dirceu and ex-party treasurer Joao Santana. The party, which says it is being politically persecuted, called the latest sting "abusive," condemning the treatment of Mantega and his wife. Singapore is ranked second in Asia in terms of visitor arrivals in 2016, a global ranking by Mastercard released Thursday (22 September) shows. The city-state is forecast to receive 12.11 million visitors this year, up 4.1 per cent from a year earlier, according to the 2016 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, which surveyed 132 cities. Mastercard projected that international visitor spending in Singapore will reach US$12.5 billion this year. Globally, Singapore is ranked sixth with Bangkok, which is expected to welcome 21.47 million visitors, taking top spot followed by London at 19.88 million visitors and Paris at 18.03 million visitors. Singapore has once again proved itself to be one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, indicating an accelerating pace of progression credited to improving infrastructure and immersive cultural experiences, Mastercard said. AFP News Ukraine's maritime grain exports were halted Sunday after Russia suspended its participation in a landmark agreement that allowed the vital shipments, blaming drone attacks on its ships in Crimea. The July deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine and brokered by Turkey and the UN, is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict. The agreement had already allowed more than nine million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19. On Saturday, Russia said it was halting its participation after its army accused Kyiv of a "massive" drone attack on its Black Sea fleet, which Ukraine labelled a "false pretext". US President Joe Biden called the move "purely outrageous" while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Moscow was "weaponising food". The centre coordinating the logistics of the deal said in a statement that no traffic was planned for Sunday. "A joint agreement has not been reached at the JCC for the movement of inbound and outbound vessels on 30 October," it said. "There are more than ten vessels both outbound and inbound waiting to enter the corridor." Ukraine and the UN have urged that the agreement remains in force. "I call on all states to demand that Russia stop its hunger games and recommit to fulfilling its obligations," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Russian move "an absolutely transparent intention of Russia to return the threat of large-scale famine to Africa and Asia". "Just today, more than two million tons of food are in the sea. This means that access to food has actually worsened for more than seven million consumers," he said in his nightly address. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said: "It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative which is a critical humanitarian effort". - 'Peddling false claims' - Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea has been targeted several times in recent months and serves as the headquarters for the Black Sea fleet and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine. The Russian army claimed to have "destroyed" nine aerial drones and seven maritime ones in an attack on the port early Saturday. "In light of the terrorist act carried out by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against ships of the Black Sea fleet and civilian vessels involved in the security of grain corridors, Russia suspends its participation in the implementation of the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports," the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram. Moscow's forces alleged British "specialists", whom they said were based in the southern Ukrainian city of Ochakiv, had helped prepare and train Kyiv to carry out the strike. In a further singling out of the UK -- which Moscow sees as one of the most unfriendly Western countries -- Russia said the same British unit was involved in explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month. Britain strongly rebutted both claims, saying "the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale". Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday Moscow would raise the blasts and the alleged drone attack at the UN Security Council. Moscow's military said ships targeted at their Crimean base were involved in the grain deal. The United Nations Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Amir Abdulla, reported that Russia had notified him earlier Saturday of "its concerns about the safety of movements of merchant vessels" under the agreement. Russia had recently criticised the deal, saying its own grain exports have suffered due to Western sanctions. - 'Massive' attack - Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, said Saturday's drone attack was the "most massive" the peninsula had seen. City authorities said the harbour was "temporarily" closed to boats and ferries and urged people "not to panic". Attacks on Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, have increased in recent weeks, as Kyiv presses a counter-offensive in the south to retake territory held by Moscow for months. Moscow-installed authorities in Kherson, just north of Crimea, have vowed to turn the city into a fortress, preparing for an inevitable assault. In early October, Moscow's bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland -- personally inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 -- was damaged by a blast that Putin blamed on Ukraine. The Russian fleet stationed in the port had also been attacked by a drone in August. Russia's allegations Saturday came as the Ukrainian army reported fighting in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions in the east, including near Bakhmut -- the only area where Moscow's forces have advanced in recent weeks. Pro-Russian separatists fighting alongside Moscow also announced a new prisoner exchange with Kyiv, saying 50 will return home from each side. bur-gw/bfm/caw/mca-yad/dva It was an ordinary day at Walmart for Erika Burch, who was picking up some groceries for her kids when she saw something out of the ordinary. A man was leading his daughter through the store by her hair, which he had wrapped around the handle of the grocery cart he was pushing, causing his daughter to follow awkwardly alongside. She [was] begging him to stop! She was saying please stop, I promise I wont do it again please stop! wrote Burch in a Facebook post that has since gone viral. Burch quickly snapped a few photos and told the man to let the girl go but he told her to mind her own business. I said no Im not! Right now this little girl is my business and you need to let her hair go now! wrote Burch. He said I grew up just fine! [So] I called the police! A cop who happened to be in the vicinity heard the commotion and came running but was unable to do anything until his sergeant arrived. When he did, they were told that the man could not be arrested unless there were visible signs of bodily injury to the child. This was despite Burch showing the sergeant photos of the man pulling the girl along. The sergeant in Cleveland TX said, He has the right to discipline his children! wrote Burch. Dragging a little girl by the hair if [sic] her head is not proper discipline! Now this baby had to go home with this monster thinking that nobody cared about her and its okay for this animal to pull her by the hair of her head! wrote Burch before urging people to share the post and contact the Cleveland Police Department. Burchs post, which has garnered more than 7,500 likes and 130,000 shares, has sparked a lively debate, with people weighing in on whether the man was parenting or abusing the child. This is wrong! No child If someone would do this in public, what would happen behind closed doors? asked Deborah Simpson. Story continues Burchs enraged post also seems to have struck a chord amongst others, resulting in the Cleveland Police Department receiving numerous calls. In a statement published on Facebook, the department assures people that this case is currently being investigated by our Detective Division. Do you think the man was simply discipling his child or being abusive? Let us know by tweeting us @YahooStyleCA. Previously, the Romerike native with a big appetite for fine dining had been convicted a number of times for ordering food an alcohol in restaurants without paying. After having been barred from all eateries in Skedsmo, Ullensaken and Eidsvold, the serial eater moved on to Buskerud, where he left behind nothing but empty bottles and dirty plates in dozens of eateries. With local law being somewhat forgiving towards fugitive foodies, Buskerud police were unable to obtain a warrant for his arrest. "As long as he gives his name and address, it is not punishable. It will be up to the restaurants to recover the outlay," Trond Egil Grot of South-Eastern Police District told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang last week, before denouncing the culprit for having dined and dashed over a hundred times. The world's largest Viking ship, the Draken Harald Harfagre started off in the Norwegian port of Haugesund in late April. It was named in honor of the legendary 10th century Norwegian king Harald Fairhair, who is revered for uniting Norway On their way, the 34-strong crew of ten nationalities passed the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and the Great Lakes before ultimately arriving in New York. "Sailing in past the Statue of Liberty and coming in among thousands of people who had gathered in the harbor to clap their hands was an amazing feeling for the whole crew," the vessel's Swedish captain Bjorn Ahlander said, describing the moment to Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan. On their way, the crew had to battle a fair share of winds, ice and rain, like their Viking forefathers, but also enjoyed sunshine and even got to take pleasure in the wedding of one of its crew members in Greenland. Some of the waters around Greenland were particularly dangerous. Another challenge was to build up a special community spirit on the ship. Only 24 people could sleep in the tent while on board, therefore they had to take turns guarding and sleeping. At the same time, he pointed out, Nowrouzzadeh is a capable diplomat who appears genuinely interested in improving relations between Iran and the US, and who, despite growing up in America, never lost touch with her ancestral homeland where she was born. "Ever since she started working in the State Department, Sahar Nowrouzzadeh, who is also a member of the National Iranian American Council, has done everything to help improve relations between the US and Iran. Thanks to her activities, she's become a popular figure in the US. Her diplomatic and negotiating skills also helped her become a member of the US team participating in the negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear program. The talks between Sahar and Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis brother, Hossein Fereydoun, helped clear a number of contradictions and allowed the entire endeavor to succeed," Abshenass said. All in all, he remarked, Nowrouzzadeh's new post may not exactly mark the creation of Iranian lobby in the US, but it will definitely help improve relations between the two countries. "Now that Nowrouzzadeh occupies such a high position, Iran will be granted a greater opportunity to influence US politics. While its still too early to talk about an Iranian lobby (at this point one can only imagine how to lay foundations for it) it will be much easier now for Tehran and Washington to engage in meaningful dialogue," Abshenass surmised. New Delhi (Sputnik) In the Union Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was decided to intensify the diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan. In view of this decision India is likely to recall Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawala from Islamabad, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs told Sputnik. I am quite sure when the government of India is considering various options to respond to the Uri attack and not only Uri but before that also there has been a continuity of attacks in India. Pakistan is continuously increasing hostility with India. So India has to take adequate reciprocal measures and this might be one on them, Former Foreign Secretary Shashank told Sputnik. ASTANA (Sputnik) The Kazakh security forces have prevented nine terrorist attacks in the country since the start of 2016, a deputy chairman of the Kazakh National Security Committee (NSC) said Thursday. "A total of 64 violent extremist acts have been prevented at early stages of preparation and disrupted since 2011, including nine such cases this year. Terrorist attacks in crowded areas, as well as attacks on facilities and employees of the law enforcement and special state bodies have been prevented," Nurgaly Bilisbekov said at a round table devoted to the security situation in Kazakhstan. TOKYO (Sputnik) A US Air Force jet based in Kadena Air Base in the Japanese city of Okinawa crashed in the waters east of the Okinawa prefecture, local media reported Thursday. US fighter plane missing after 'crashing into the sea off Okinawa coast' https://t.co/s3ifLEuuSH News, Views, People. (@NVPeople) 22 2016 . The crew of the AV-8B Harrier ground-attack VTOL aircraft is said to be safe, Japan's Ryukyu Shimpo daily said, citing officials. The Nakagusuku Coast Guard division of the Japan Coast Guard was dispatched to the scene, according to the outlet. New Delhi (Sputnik) Mumbai, one of India's largest cities, has been put on high alert after a group of suspicious people were spotted by schoolchildren near the Uran Naval base. According to the children, the suspicious-looking people were carrying arms and moving towards the ammunition dump of the naval base. Public Relations Officer of Indian Navy, D K Sharma said that Navy is at a high state of alert after getting this input regarding suspicious activity reported by some school children in Karanja near Mumbai. The Navy spokesperson did not confirm the alert regarding Naval bases across Maharashtra but Indian Navy and Mumbai Police have begun to search for the suspects. A high ranking BSF official told Sputnik that there has been no sighting of additional Pakistani troops along the border whatsoever. Some of the major dailies published in Indias national capital New Delhi had reported on Thursday that Pakistan had started to mobilize troops along the Line of Control and the International Border. This they allegedly did out of fear of surgical strikes by India following the Uri attack, not only in the northern sector in Jammu and Kashmir, but also along the western sector in Rajasthan. Seouls military has a "three-axis system" for responding to threats from the North, of which KMPR is a component, along with a preemptive strike system called Kill Chain, and the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), the countys indigenous anti-missile system. Leem Ho-Young, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staffs chief director of strategic planning added, "We will deploy strike forces with precision-guided missiles and elite special forces." In response to North Koreas recent nuclear weapons tests, ballistic missile launches and disregard for UN sanctions, the US flew two B-1 bomber aircraft over the Korean peninsula on Wednesday, with two South Korean fighter jets in escort. Leaders from China, the US and Seoul recently met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to strengthen their alliance against North Korean aggression. "The global community will not be intimidated and will not pull back from our obligations" to address Pyongyangs "provocative (and) reckless behavior," US Secretary of State John Kerry said. According to Paul Romer, a Nobel Prize contender who has been tapped for the role of Chief Economist at the World Bank, Sweden should take advantage of its large land area and create a Hong Kong-style free zone, where migrants could work instead of collecting benefits and become completely self-sufficient without any contribution from the country's working population and taxpayers. Paul Romer, who will start working for the World Bank next month, has become famous for his controversial idea of establishing financial havens in order to target overpopulation and migration currents. One lucky example is Hong Kong, a former British crown colony that received millions of refugees from China and utilized their competence and skills to create a high level of prosperity. "The refugee issue is indeed a huge problem, but there are possible solutions. Sweden, a sparsely populated country, would be able to rent out a land area of Hong Kong's size. There it could receive millions of people who will be able to support themselves at no cost at all," Paul Romer told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter during his recent visit to the Nordic country. MOSCOW (Sputnik)The survey conducted by the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce (AHK) among its 800 members showed that 60 percent of them wanted the sanctions lifted while another 21 percent wanted them to be eased, German newspaper Bild said Wednesday. Moscow-Berlin relations have been overshadowed by the Ukrainian crisis and Crimea's reunification with Russia since 2014. Germany was among the Western nations that imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged role in fueling the conflict in southeastern Ukraine. GELENDZHIK (Krasnodar Territory, Russia) (Sputnik)Rosoboronexport Deputy Director General Sergey Goreslavsky said an Indonesian delegation headed by its air force chief of staff was examining the Be-200's capabilities. "They are interested in purchasing the aircraft of this class, which is as a matter of fact unique," Goreslavsky said at the Gidroaviasalon 2016 international exhibition in Russia's Black Sea town of Gelendzhik. Goreslavsky said his company was working with the Indonesian delegation to "outline a program of further cooperation in the framework of this project." On Thursday futures contracts for Brent Crude were trading at $47.60 according to Bloomberg data, an increase of 3.7 percent since Tuesday, amid expectations of a possible agreement to cut production. In January partial sanctions against Iran were lifted in connection with the nuclear deal Tehran agreed with the P5+1 group of countries in July last year. Consequently, Iran announced its intention to increase its oil output to pre-sanctions levels of more than four million barrels per day; it currently produces just over 3.8 million barrels per day. However, Mohammad Sadegh Joukar, an energy expert at the Iranian Energy Ministry's Organization for the Study of International Energy Problems, told Sputnik Persian that Iran does not see any benefits in agreeing a deal to freeze production, when other countries such as Saudi Arabia are producing record amounts. On Monday Saudi Arabia revealed that the kingdom produced a record high 10.673 million barrels per day in July, followed by 10.63 million barrels per day in August. "This project to freeze oil output from OPEC members and other producers will hardly have a positive effect on the price. It is necessary to cut the volume of production, not freeze it," Joukar said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the documents presented at the Thursday meeting of a working group for the monitoring of oil quality, the Russian oil exports are expected to amount to 72 million tonnes in 2017 and to 72.6 million tonnes in 2018. The company also noted reduction in high-sulfur oil processing at Russian oil refineries. It will reach 15.3 million tonnes in 2018, while pipeline system deliveries will account for 87.9 million tonnes in the same year. Tarek Al Ahmed, a member of Syrian SSNP party and member of the Syria's National Reconciliation Committee believes that the US is trying to drag the whole Middle East into the Syrian crisis. Moreover, Syria is just a battlefield for the real confrontation between the US and Russia and China, he told Sputnik in an exclusive interview. A long crack in the Larsen C ice shelf has grown dramatically in recent months, researchers from Project Midas , linked to the British Antarctic Survey, found. According to satellite pictures, the crack has grown by 22 kilometers and is now some 130 kilometers long. A 6,000 square kilometer segment of the Larsen C floe will splinter off. "It's so big! It will produce a big crash and large waves. This will hardly be a safe spot for onlookers. But it would be really cool and really scary," Nina Kirchner, a glacier researcher at Stockholm University, which plans to send a robotic submarine under the shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, told Swedish national broadcaster SVT. The rift has also become wider, from about 200 to 350 meters. Now that the Antarctic summer brings more heat, the crack will be filled with melt water that destroys the ice at an increasing speed. Meltwater pools on top of the floe can also do considerable damage. Researchers are unable to predict a concrete date for the breakoff, yet indicate a time bracket of several years. According to the European studbook for giraffes, only five giraffes have been culled since 1828 to preserve the purity of the genes. As for the newborn giraffe, it is yet unknown whether or not he will meet with the same nasty fate. "When the giraffe reaches the age of two, when it would leave its herd in the wild, we will see if there is room for it in another zoo. We will of course do our best to find a place for it, but if it cannot be done, it will be killed," the Copenhagen Zoo wrote on Facebook. Remarkably, the public slaughter of animals is not a one-off event in Copenhagen. In a morbid display of Darwinist irony, the very same four lions to which Marius's carcass was fed under the eyes of schoolchildren were later euthanized in order to make room for a new male lion. In 2012, two leopard cubs were killed by lethal injection for the same reason as Marius; their genes were "overrepresented" in the zoo's population, rendering them useless in terms of breeding. Apart from the cases that received media attention, Copenhagen Zoo culls up to 30 animals every year for the purposes of managing its population, Copenhagen Zoo conservation director Bengt Holst admitted to BBC. Unlike many of its European and American peers, Copenhagen Zoo opts not to administer contraception to animals to avoid creating "superfluous" offspring, in a bid to allow animals to breed "the natural way." According to zoo officials, putting down some of the young animals mimics nature, as young animals are prone to dying of predation, injury or natural causes. In July, an eight-year-old giraffe named Mgala died in the Odense Zoo, Denmark, after a painful accident with a feed distributor and was subsequently fed to zoo predators, the Danish tabloid newspaper BT repored. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russias 56th humanitarian aid convoy for residents of Ukraines troubled southeastern areas (Donbass) has departed for the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, a spokesperson of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said in the early hours of Thursday. "The convoy of the Russian Emergencies Ministry with humanitarian aid for Donbass has headed out in the direction of the Russian-Ukrainian border from the Donskoy rescue center of the Emergencies Ministry in the Rostov region," the spokesperson said. The Russian Emergencies Ministrys press service told RIA Novosti on Thursday that the aid was mostly food, medicine and construction materials. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Germany will seek a non-permanent member status in the UN Security Council for 2019-2020, the countrys Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "The United Nations provides us with [a] global framework of rules and instruments to address our common challenges and get together. And I believe that in these crisis-ridden times international cooperation is more important than ever. That's why I'm glad to officially launch our candidacy for a non-permanent seat to the UN Security Council for 2019-2020," Steinmeier announced on Wednesday. The last time that Germany was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council was for the years of 2011-2012. Non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) When asked whether Portugal plans to accept more refugees, De Sousa said, "We are. At the same time, we're working on prevention and at the same time receiving more refugees, doubling the number of refugees we have accepted inside the European Union, and [then] integrating them." "Its vital and they spoke of the program we have implemented concerning Syrian refugees studying in universities and technical schools; we're not only [offering] basic [education] but also tertiary [education] so that we can prepare those generations for future in their own countries. So we are doing everything needed to make integration fully successful for the refugees," the president added. BAKU (Sputnik) Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) chief that military exercises held by the Armenians in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is a provocation, the ministry's press service said in a statement on Thursday. "At the meeting with the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that within the spirit of negotiations in Vienna and St. Petersburg the Azerbaijani side is ready for substantive negotiations that would be aimed at change of status quo [in the region]. The Azerbaijani foreign minister had also said that military exercises of the Armenian side in the occupied Agdam region in Nagorno-Karabakh are a serious provocation, designed to violate the negotiation process," the statement said. BAKU (Sputnik) Earlier in September, the European Parliament's delegation visited Baku to participate in the meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan PCC. During their visit, the European officials have also held a number of meetings with Azerbaijani leadership. "We clearly understand geopolitical realia and challenges, Azerbaijan faces today, particularly a challenge related to the Armenian-Azerbaijani, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts and we state resolutely that the European Parliament fully supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as stressed in the European Parliament resolutions adopted on May 20, 2010 and October 23, 2013, the resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 adopted by the UNSC in 1993," the statement published on the website of Azerbaijan's parliament said on Wednesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Scuffles began in Ukraine on the night of September 17 when some 20 right-wing extremists threw smoke bombs at the Russian Embassy in Kiev. Dozens more reportedly blocked the entrance to the building the following day when the polling station opened. Clashes between police and Ukrainian activists also took place outside the Russian consulate in Odesa. "The Investigative Committee's central investigation department initiated two criminal cases over Ukrainian radicals hindering the conduct of elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly [and] attacking institutions that enjoy international protection," the committee said in a statement. Russias human rights ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova said last Sunday she had sent a telegram to the EU mission in Russia, among others, asking them to look into reports that Russian voters had been prevented from casting their ballots by Ukrainian right-wing protesters. ATHENS (Sputnik) According to Erdogan, the implementation of the agreement depends on the Greece-Turkey relations , and the efforts, taken by Ankara, have led to a drop in migrant outflow from Turkey from about 5,000-7,000 refugees per day in summer 2015 to about 150 now, the Athens News Agency said. According to the media outlet, the two sides agreed that these efforts should be continued. During the meeting, which took place on Wednesday, the Greek side said it supported Ankara over the issue of visas liberalization between the European Union and Turkey under the condition of implementation of all the criteria set by Brussels. BERLIN (Sputnik) German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier proposed to introduce a no-fly zone over Syria in order to make the ceasefire regime in the war-torn country last, as quoted by the ministerial press service on Thursday. "If the [Syrian] ceasefire has at least a chance at all, it can be realized only trough temporary but complete cessation of all military aircraft activities over Syria at least for three, better for seven days," Steinmeier said Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. On September 9, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov brokered a cessation of hostilities in Syria that took effect three days later. The agreement called for unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and stipulated that only designated terror groups be targeted in military strikes. LUGANSK (Sputnik)Mercenaries from the Georgian Legion battalion were spotted by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) observers at the contact line in Donbass, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine said in a press release. "In government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers with insignias of 'Georgian Legion' on their uniforms. The SMM also noted that they spoke Georgian. Three residents separately told the SMM that soldiers of Georgian origin were accommodated in houses in the village," the press release read. In April 2014, Kiev authorities launched a military operation against pro-independence militia in the eastern Ukrainian Donbass region. In February 2015, the two sides reached a ceasefire deal after talks brokered by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine the so-called Normandy Format in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The news comes as human rights group Amnesty reveals in a new report, "Our hope is broken," that migrants are living in appalling conditions and the uncertainty asylum seekers feel about their future is fueling tensions that have erupted into violence in a number of camps. According to the report, Greek police, usually citing lack of capacity, rarely intervene to ensure their safety or prevent further violence. Many including young children Amnesty International spoke to, feel unsafe in the camps. Fearing retaliation and knowing that the police are unlikely to intervene, many asylum seekers are deterred from reporting violence. "The solidarity of individuals across Europe stands in stark contrast to the paralysis of Europe's leaders. The EU is not just far from sheltering a proportionate share of the world's 21 million refugees; it is also failing in the very manageable task of offering dignity and safety to those that have survived the perilous journey to get there," Amnesty said. The flood of people making the land journey through the West Balkan route led to many countries closing their borders against the principle of a Schengen borderless Europe exposing massive security flaws at EU's external borders. In turn, Ulyukayev expressed readiness "to do everything possible" to support the German business in Russia. "We have discussed the development of the fundamental economic situation in the world, in global trade, and what can we do to increase the trade, which significantly decreased in the past two years, what can be done to promote tourism and investment opportunities," Ulyukayev said, commenting on the talks with with Gabriel. Following the reunification of Crimea with Russia in March 2014 and an escalation of the Ukrainian crisis later that year, Russia's relations with the West deteriorated. The Kiev government and the West, on which Kiev increasingly relies, blame Russia for interfering with Ukraine's internal affairs and, as a punitive measure, imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow. Russia has firmly denied the accusations, underscoring that sanctions are counterproductive and hurt both sides. Germany is one of the major trade partners of Russia, but the two countries' trade turnover in 2015 decreased by about a third, and continued to decline in 2016. "The result is clear: in the struggle over how Europe will develop, the EU institutions lack the authority or support to put up much of a fight or even fully enter the ring. But this moment of national navel-gazing among the member states may actually present an important opportunity for EU institutions to work on closing the legitimacy gap," she suggests. Now is the time not for risky shortcuts, but for meticulous, well-planned, incremental measures that gradually and consistently earn the publics trust, Palacio suggests. She further explains what it means: "resisting the urge to wax poetic about future actions that never actually materialize, or to roll out impressive-looking programs with few real-world effects." Instead, it means "completing key initiatives, most urgently the banking union; improving accountability; and ensuring that the public understands what the EU institutions are doing. And it means staying out of political conflicts, which neither the European Commission nor the European Parliament are in any position to win." The former politician explained that most people are "tired of empty rhetoric and half-baked initiatives." Only if the EU institutions deliver genuine action, in a credible and transparent manner, can they ensure that the current inter-governmentalism is just a phase and that the future of Europe is Europe. Looking ahead, Palacio has a view which markedly differs from today's reality. "While it is impossible to say exactly what the EU that emerges will look like, it seems clear that it will look nothing like the Brussels-centric, deeply integrated Shangri-La long sought by many at the Commission," she concludes. It mentions a litany of problems from roofs leaking, ageing mechanical and electrical services posing a major fire risk, mice-infested rooms and even asbestos packed into parts of the building. The report alleges that the palace's internal plumbing once failed so badly, raw sewage poured from pipes on to workers' desks, leaving them in need of inoculations. And the latest poll by YouGov this week, reveals that the majority of the public agree that MPs should vacate Parliament and leave London. Several councils across Britain have accused Westminster MPs in the past of holding too much control centralized in London. The majority of the public think that Parliament should leave London https://t.co/rst1crUJeS pic.twitter.com/z6z956VsQj YouGov (@YouGov) September 21, 2016 Among those who think that it should leave London, the majority think it should relocate to either the North or the Midlands, which collectively receive 37% of the vote. Most MPs, perhaps fed up at the threat of raw sewage raining down on them, agree that Parliament should be closed for repairs. However, such an eye-wateringly expensive infrastructure project has its critics. Parliament's restoration is a huge chance to take seriously the rebalancing between the South and the North https://t.co/vrALvSuzi5 Frank Field MP (@frankfieldteam) September 8, 2016 The committee recommending the renovation has been faced with accusations that it would be a house-proud exercise in "vanity" a claim they reject. Their report calls the renovation essential to avoid a "catastrophic event," meaning a terrible accident occurring because of the site no longer being safe. However, even Prime Minister Theresa May has her doubts. Earlier this month, Downing Street said the prime minister is still reviewing the plans with several concerns in mind. These include public perceptions over such a large sum being spent; where politicians could practically encamp to, and whether the UK labor market has enough skilled workers to undertake the substantial project. If the prime minster does approve the plans, the renovation could see MPs booted out of Parliament for between five to eight years. KIEV (Sputnik) On Tuesday, the Ukrainian agency said it had started to implement the project on cooperation with EU member states in strengthening and improving the its work. The project stipulates that EU experts should hold consultations with the agency's staff on a daily basis. "The German Federal police officer will take part in reforming the concept of integrated border control system and also in reforming our agency," Nazarenko told journalists. Earlier in the day, German Ambassador to Ukraine Ernst Reichel noted that the country had already made significant progress in the border agency's reform. He also added that Ukraine played a key role in the fight against illegal migration and border crossing. On Wednesday, Kazakh national nuclear power company Kazatomprom announced that they had reached an agreement with the Ukrainian Energy Ministry to look into the production of fuel assemblies in Kazakhstan for use by Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Kazatomprom head Askar Zhumagaliev told Ukrainian Energy Minister Igor Nasalik that the company was interested in the idea, proposed by Ukraine, which would help Kazatomprom reach its strategic objective of diversifying their production. The two sides agreed to organize joint working groups to study the prospects for cooperation. The officials also discussed the possibility of Kazakhstan supplying Ukraine with enriched uranium and ion exchange resin. MOSCOW (Sputnik)Conflicting parties will begin pulling out their troops from three locations in eastern Ukraine, with troop withdrawal to begin in four additional locations on October 5, Kiev's envoy to the Contact Group on Ukraine, said Thursday. "The [troop withdrawal] work begins today in three locations," Yevhen Marchuk said. According to Marchuk, the Trilateral Contact Group will continue the work on withdrawing troops and equipment at four additional contact line locations starting October 5. MADRID (Sputnik)According to La Vanguardia newspaper, the DNI will allegedly contain the holder's name, place and date of birth as well as the social security and health insurance numbers, and tax data. The development of these cards will cost 9 million euros ($10 million) to the Catalan authorities, the media outlet added. The idea behind the cards is to show to Catalans that their rights and social benefits will be preserved if the region officially secedes from Spain. Catalonia has long sought independence from Spain, but the Spanish government has repeatedly declined the regions quest for independence, saying it would violate the countrys constitution. MOSCOW (Sputnik)The Dutch government is not likely to ratify the EU-Ukraine association agreement after local residents voted against the deal at the April consultative referendum in the country, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Thursday. "I think that eventually we would not ratify [the agreement]," Rutte said speaking at the parliament, as quoted by the BBC broadcaster. In 2014, the European Union signed an agreement with Ukraine to deepen political association and economic integration. Ukraine had to implement a series of political and economic reforms to gain free-trade access to the EU market. Earlier this week, a British serviceman facing prosecution over the death of an Iraqi teenager accused the British Army of abandoning its troops to be hounded for abuse claims. The soldier, who spoke to the British journalists anonymously, said the army has "betrayed its finest people" and "failed in its most basic duty of care" by not supporting them as they are put through the courts. He had previously been cleared of any wrongdoing by a prior investigation. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has sought to allay such fears, saying she would not allow an "industry of vexatious allegations" against British troops. With the announcement of the latest Afghanistan probe, investigators are now examining claims of abuse in more than 2,200 cases in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Johnny Mercer, a Conservative MP and a former army captain who served in Helmand province in Afghanistan, said he was shocked by the increased scale of the inquiries. Mercer, who is also chairman of a parliamentary defense committee, told the Telegraph newspaper: "I cannot envisage a more scrutinized battlefield we have asked our soldiers to operate on than Afghanistan. Soldiers were killed in efforts to reduce risks to civilians. That we are now prosecuting these same soldiers who we were asking to fire only when fired upon, to use the most minimal force necessary to preserve life, to bear huge personal risk of violent death and injury whilst fighting a violent insurgency on the Governments behalf, is physically painful to watch yet alone be part of." "PM needs to grasp that how we look after this Iraq/Afghan generation will define nation's relationship with its military for next 50 yrs" pic.twitter.com/q3F0vsmivQ Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerMP) September 21, 2016 Two law firms, Leigh Day and Public Interest Lawyers in Birmingham, who have represented some of those who are alleging mistreatment by British soldiers, are now facing disciplinary action. The UK government has lodged complaints with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) over Iraq cases handled by both firms, both of whom deny any wrongdoing. The UK Law Society, spoke out on Thursday to defend the law firms, accusing the government of attempting to undermine the rule of law through intimidation of lawyers pursuing legitimate cases. Two years ago, the EUs General Court ruled that the groups placement on the list was based on publicly available information rather than a proper investigation. On Thursday, Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston of the higher European Court of Justice agreed. "[The EU] cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, rather than in decisions of competent authorities, to support a decision to maintain a listing," Sharpston said, according to the Times of Israel. "We must set up large refugee camps outside the EU, with armed security and financial support provided by the Union. Everyone who came illegally must return there. There they can file for asylum," he said. "There is only one solution that benefits everyone, including us who are not yet in trouble because we defended ourselves and countries like Germany which are in trouble: taking [migrants] out of the Union." Under Orbans leadership, Hungary has taken an increasingly hardline approach to the refugee crisis, including the construction of a razor wire fence along the countrys southern border. "Borders must be used, because they protect us," he said. The exhibition allows each passenger at the Carlos Pellegrini metro station (line B) to get an insight into the Syrian tragedy, according to the official press release. Organizers describe the exhibition as an emotional test, where visitors peek through the windows of an ordinary Syrian home and are regaled with all the horrors of war. The imagery and sounds change according to your position, based on a movement-detecting sensor. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein The US-Russia ceasefire agreement for Syria could be nearing collapse, but the international community remains focused on achieving peace there, a member of Germanys UN mission told Sputnik. "There was this hope that we would be able to make progress on this, but this has not been the case," the official said on Wednesday on condition of anonymity. "The ceasefire is over, the humanitarian access is not guaranteed and the fighting has resumed." Regarding Syria, the official stated: "Everybody is working very hard to somehow make some progress and to see if this Russian-American agreement works out Some are on the brink, but everybody is trying to fill it with life." MOSCOW (Sputnik) Members of the Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh) and the Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or al-Nusra Front) radical groups have shelled cities in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Damascus and Homs, the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeymim airbase said in a statement. "The formations of terrorist organizations Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS [Daesh] continue to hinder the establishment of the ceasefire regime [in Syria]," the statement, published by the Russian Defense Ministry, says. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, such as Daesh and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, both of which are banned in Russia and a range of other countries. It was a rare chance to meet such a big group, because the jihadists prevent the civilians from fleeing the city. Recently, the terrorists had carried out an exemplary execution of 26 people in eastern Aleppo. But even under such conditions people in eastern Aleppo were so hopeless that they decided to leave the city. "We have understood that our journey could end before we arrive. They have threatened us all the time, saying that they would take our children away or execute us, but it was impossible to live there. That's why we gathered and headed for the checkpoint in small groups with our children in darkness. It was frightening," a young girl said. Syrian servicemen had been making lists of the arrived people, while Syrian doctors provided them with first aid. The group was expected to be taken to the refugee camp, where they would be able to eat and rest. "They [terrorists] have taken all food. We have not had food, because we do not have anyone, who fights in their ranks. We have been told for two months that the army is responsible for our starvation. We came to the army, we knew that we had been deceived," a woman said staying near a bus before departure to the camp. Former militants The refugees were not the only people, who fled Aleppo that night. An officer told me that the government forces were ready to allow me to meet two former jihadists who decided to surrender. MOSCOW (Sputnik) "Together with the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus two humanitarian actions were carried out in the city of Aleppo," the reconciliation center said in a statement posted by the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the Russian military, aid was delivered to a university hospital, two clinics and a childrens home in Aleppo, as well as to a refugee camp in the Aleppo Province. A UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Syria's Aleppo province was attacked late on Monday, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. As a result, 18 of 31 trucks were destroyed and at least 21 individuals were killed. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde has discussed the funds financial aid package for Iraq and the required reforms with the countrys Prime Minister Haider Abadi, the funds spokesperson said in a statement. "IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde met on September 21 with Iraqs Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings. During the meeting, they discussed Iraqs IMF-supported economic reform program that was approved by the Executive Board on July 7, 2016," IMF Director of Communications Gerry Rice said on Wednesday. The IMF Executive Board approved a three-year $5.34-billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Iraq to support the governments economic reforms in July. Earlier this month, the fund announced that it had started discussions with the Iraqi authorities on the first review under the SBA. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States could send 500 more servicemen to Iraq, increasing the official numbers of American personnel in that country from 4,400 to 4,900 ahead of an operation to liberate the city of Mosul, The Wall Street Journal reports. If the White House approves the deployment, the servicemen will be assigned to an area south of the Iraqi city of Mosul that US-led coalition forces prepare to retake from the Islamic State (Daesh) terrorists, the newspaper said on Wednesday citing US officials. The operation to retake Mosul is expected to start in mid-October, according to the officials. "It is hard to say what might have left these splinters," he said. "It might be mortar shells or projectiles, self-made by the militants," he noted, adding that such projectiles are often made from gas cylinders with jet engines. Such projectiles, he said, had been used by Palestinians during their attacks on Israel from Gaza Strip. The political analyst also added that a military expert on the ground will be able to identify what exactly had been used for the attack by studying the splinters, all the rest is "proofless rumours". Israeli political analyst and former high-ranking representative of the Israeli intelligence Yakov Kedmi is also not inclined to believe the accusations of the US. "If the humanitarian convoy was really attacked by Russian SU-24 as it is claimed by the US, let the US provide the proofs," he told the website. "The situation in Syria is being controlled with the satellites and it won't be a problem to find the convincing proofs if there are any," he added. The expert added that in its turn, Russia's Defense Minister knows only too well that there were no Russian jets in the area and the western officials do not treat the US claims seriously. "The claim of an anonymous source in Pentagon is of propagandistic character. May be some journalists will take up the claim but it won't affect the situation on the ground," he told the website. "The attack [on the convoy] is a provocation aimed to disrupt the peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict and any possible negotiations on the matter," the political analyst added. He further explained that in case there are any agreements on the settlement of the conflict, many forces, and first of all the oppositions, would be left outside the political process and will lose financial support. The expert said, there are thus two possibilities behind this attack: either the oppositional forces decided on their own to escalate the situation and attack the convoy, or they might have received an order from the US to do so. Speaking on Wednesday at the UN Security Council High-Level Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East and North Africa, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also pointed out at the timing of an attack on the humanitarian convoy, which coincided with a fierce attack of al-Nusra Front and allied detachments on the Syrian government forces in the same area known as the Ramus road. "I am not trying to make any accusations," Sergei Lavrov said. "However, I am convinced that such coincidences call for serious analysis and investigation. We insist on the most thorough and impartial probe into the attack against the humanitarian convoy." MOSCOW (Sputnik) Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday rejected the claims that Russian or Syrian forces were behind a recent attack on the humanitarian convoy en route to Aleppo. "First of all, there have been tens of convoys from different organizations around the world coming to different areas in Syria for the last few years. It has never happened before, so why to happen now? Either way by Russians or Syrians. No, it is a claim," Assad told Associated Press news agency in the interview. Meanwhile, US airstrikes on Syrian government troops in the southeastern province of Deir ez-Zor were intentional because they lasted for over an hour, Syrian President Bashar Assad said. "The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff might have his own take on the situation, while US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has his, as well as the US Central Command in Qatar," he said. "Throughout the first week of the Syrian ceasefire the opposition group in Aleppo has strengthened and attempted to launch an assault which immediately resulted in the failure of the agreements reached in Geneva," the expert said. Balmasov however warned against any possible delusions, explaining that Washington is far from orchestrating and controlling the processes which are taking place on the territories not controlled by Damascus. "The revealing of some particular details of the ceasefire agreement may drive a deeper wedge between the Americans and their allies in the region, first of all, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey," he explained. Meanwhile in his recent interview with Associated Press, Syrian President Assad said that the US "has no will" to join Russia in its fight against terrorists in Syria. BREAKING: Syrian president in AP interview says US "doesn't have the will" to join Russia in fighting militants in Syria. The Associated Press (@AP) 22 2016 . The ceasefire agreement, he said, is "not about Syria or Russia; it's about the United States and the terrorist groups that have been affiliated to ISIS (Daesh) and al-Nusra and al-Qaida, and to the United States and to Turkey and to Saudi Arabia." "They announced publicly that they are not committed, and this is not the first attempt to halt operations in Syria. The first attempt was in last February, and didn't work, I think, because of the United States, and I believe that the United States is not genuine in regards to a cessation of violence in Syria," said Syria's legitimate leader. "The United States doesn't have the will to work against al-Nusra or even ISIS, because they believe that this is a card they can use for their own agenda," he explained. "If they attack al-Nusra or ISIS, they will lose a very important card regarding the situation in Syria. So, I don't believe the United States will be ready to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria," Bashar Assad stated. EXCLUSIVE: Syrian President Assad says US airstrikes on Syrian troops in east were 'definitely intentional' https://t.co/Ig7EN2pWv2 The Associated Press (@AP) 22 2016 . Vladimir Sotnikov however said that he "looks with optimism at the prospects of Russian-American cooperation in Syria." "It is the war of nerves and words," he said. "The terrorist groups used the cessation of hostilities to re-group and disrupt the evolving Russian-American partnership in Syria," he explained, adding that the real steps on improvement of the cooperation between the two countries on the situation in Syria will be made only after the new president takes office in the White House. "The peaceful settlement of the conflict gets even more complicated due to the constantly changing situation on the ground in Syria," he explained, adding that it will further depend on what is going on along the frontline in the country. Meanwhile Sergei Balmasov was more skeptical. "The Americans are trying to seize the initiative from Russia," he told RT. "The US continues playing hardball and forming several power centers in the country, a so-called Syria 'parallel to legitimate authorities'. BREAKING: Syrian president says in AP interview US airstrikes on Syrian troops were "intentional," lasted for nearly one hour. The Associated Press (@AP) 22 2016 . "If only a while ago it seemed that the Lavrov-Kerry agreements were quite implementable, now they have come under serious question: do the countries with such a sharp discrepancy of interests really need them," the political analyst wondered. He further explained this "sharp discrepancy": Russia's aim is the support and maintenance of the legitimate government of Bashar Assad. While the aim of the US to de-scope the areas under his control to a small area and to create an alternative Syria. HOMS (Sputnik) More than 100 militants and their families have left he Al-Waer region, the last terrorist stronghold in Homs, province governor Talal Barazi said Thursday. "Today, 103 militants and 158 of their family mmebers left the Al-Waer region in accordance with our agreement. Now some 200 militants remain in the region, we expect them to leave in coming days," Barazi told RIA Novosti. The Homs administration and the Syrian army reached an agreement with the Homs militants on them ceasing fire and leaving the city. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia is categorically against implementing a no-fly zone in Syria and calls for solutions that benefit all conflicting parties, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Thursday. "There are talks again, including at a very high level, of enforcing a no-fly zone over Syria to stabilize the situation. This solution is completely unacceptable to us. We saw what such measures led to in other parts of the world,' Ryabkov told RIA Novosti news agency. Ryabkov urged all sides in Syrian conflict to stop derailing the peace plan brokered by the United States and Russia on September 9. "Obama has taken up the "wait-and-see" position and watches how everything will settle up on its own," he added. It is a very favorable position to watch what heads will be taken off by the new president especially if it the new leader comes from the democratic camp, the expert said. It is some kind of a litmus paper for the new presidential administration. Sudakov also does not rule out that by blaming Russia, the US is trying to hide its own mistakes. "They should have responded more rapidly after the airstrike of the US coalition on the positions of the Syrian army which they thought were not army units but Daesh. And their response was very simple let's blame Russia for the attack on the humanitarian convoy," he said. But Russia was quick to provide footage of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which escorted the humanitarian convoy. Russia possesses all the convincing evidence that the attack was made by terrorists, that the truck with a heavy machine gun approached the convoy and everyone can listen to the words of the terrorists on the footage. These are the facts, the political scientist said. However the question is whether the Americans are ready to provide the facts. Not for now it seems. They are only ready to make announcements to the mass media. Now they are trying to score points in the information war, he noted. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) will reach a decision on the Syrian ceasefire and aid assistance to the country on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Sputnik. "I have no doubt that there will be another decision on cessation of hostilities and humanitarian aid or assistance and perspective of political solution or transition," Cavusoglu stated on Thursday. Direct cooperation mechanisms between Turkey and Russia on the Syrian conflict resolution are working very effectively, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. WASHINGTON (Sputnik)The United States, Russia and dozens of other countries said they are prepared to provide lethal assistance to Libyan military forces in the fight against the Daesh, a joint communique released by the US Department of State said on Thursday. "We stand ready to respond to its requests for international assistance to train and equip the legitimate Libyan military and security forces throughout Libya through an appropriately scaled exemption to the arms embargo for procurement of lethal materiel necessary to counter Daesh and other UN-designated terrorist groups," the communique, issued after a ministerial meeting, stated. Earlier this week, Libyan forces surrounded Daesh terrorists in a small area in the city of Sirte, which was seized by the terrorist group in 2015, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Ghasri told Sputnik. Soon afterward, US media began buzzing that the Pentagon was "furious over the fact that someone was apologizing and officially calling its actions mistaken or regrettable." But at that moment, the journalist added, the situation evolved further, widening the rift between Washington on one side and Moscow and Damascus on the other. "On the one hand," Naryshkin recalled, "after the meeting between Lavrov and Kerry at the UN General Assembly, we didn't hear anything to the effect the truce agreement was ruined, or that the US would abandon its commitments. However, other events allow us to characterize the current status of the treaty as nothing more than a 'phantom'." This comes down to three facts, according to the journalist. First and foremost, it stems from the brazen attack on Deir ez-Zor, which was not only a violation of the truce, but proof that there are at least elements in the US political establishment who are "ready to revive the idea of direct military operations against Assad's forces." Secondly, there is fact that some militants, including Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra) never had any intention of halting the fighting. Finally, Naryshkin noted, there was the Syrian Army's decision to withdraw from the ceasefire, which its high command justified by pointing out that militants had violated the truce over 300 times in a single week. The Russian General Staff soon declared it support for the decision, stating Monday that it made no sense for the Syrian Army to observe the ceasefire if militants were not willing to reciprocate. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Israel would resist any attempts of the United Nations to dictate terms of the Israeli-Palestinian settlement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. "Does anyone really believe that Israel will let the UN determine our security and our vital national interests? We will not accept any attempt by the UN to dictate terms to Israel. The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York," Netanyahu said, addressing the United Nations General Assembly. According to the Israeli prime minister, opposition to Israel in the United Nations is fading out as many countries are changing their attitude toward the country. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States holds Russia ultimately responsible for the Syrian governments military operations in Aleppo, a senior US administration official told reporters. "Given the fact that this sort of offensive [in Aleppo] is not supposed to take place under a cessation of hostilities, whether or not Russia was involved we hold them responsible for these types of actions that even if they are simply by the regime," the official stated on Thursday. NEW YORK (Sputnik) The Syrian ceasefire agreement brokered by International Syria Support Group (ISSG) co-chairs, the United States and Russia, has been sabotaged by actors on both side of the conflict, UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura told reporters. "Both the two co-chairs have been de-facto undermined by others who have so far not wanted, or have tried to not deliver on the cessation of hostilities," de Mistura said following an unsuccessful Thursday meeting of the ISSG in New York. The major part of the ceasefire agreement that both sides sought to undermine were "detaching the armed opposition from al-Nusra and grounding the Syrian air force," de Mistura explained. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US Vice President Joe Biden met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York on Wednesday where they agreed to intensify cooperation on issues related to the South China Sea, the White House said in a press release. "Vice President Joe Biden met today in New York with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and reaffirmed the unwavering strength of the US-Japan alliance," the release stated on Wednesday evening. "Both leaders agreed to increase coordination on East China Sea and South China Sea issues." Biden and Abe, the release continued, also shared views on the importance of sustaining an open, rules-based order in the Asian-Pacific region. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Lockheed Martin Space Systems has been awarded a $395 million US Air Force contract for two additional Global Positioning System communications satellites, the Department of Defense announced. "Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company [of] Littleton, Colorado, has been awarded a $395 million modification contract for GPS III Space Vehicles 09 and 10," the announcement stated on Wednesday. Work on the two satellites the ninth and tenth in the program will be performed at Littleton, and is expected to be complete by August 8, 2022, the Department of Defense added. On Wednesday, Izvestia reported that Splav Holding, a company specializing in the development of shells for tube-based artillery systems, was carrying out testing of a new extended-range shell for the TOS-1A together with the Defense Ministry. A Defense Ministry source explained to the newspaper that "testing of the newest rockets is ongoing," and is expected to be completed "by the end of the year." MOSCOW (Sputnik)The Russian Helicopters company plans to deliver a batch of upgraded Mi-24P attack helicopters to the Angolan air force later this month, the company said Thursday. "Russia will deliver a batch of Mi-24Ps to the Air Force of Angola in late September after their maintenance and complete renovation," Russian Helicopters said. The helicopters underwent rotor blade and tail rotor blade replacements in addition to engine, transmission unit and avionics repairs, the company added. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Bell Helicopter has unveiled its V-247 Vigilant unmanned aerial tiltrotor aircraft, satisfying requirements outlined by the US Marine Corps, the defense contractor said in a press release on Thursday. "The Bell V-247 Vigilant satisfies the comprehensive spectrum of capabilities outlined in the 2016 Marine Corps Aviation Plan," Bell, a subsidiary of Textron, stated. The release added that the aircraft will operate in maritime and contested land-based environments. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Lavrov met with Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. "The Russian side said that we are waiting for written replies to our proposals that were presented at the last meeting of the Russia-NATO Council. Issues were discussed relating to traffic safety in the Baltic region," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said after the Wednesday talks. Stoltenberg said in July that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) welcomed Russias proposal to ensure air safety in the Baltics, including through flights with transponders turned on. NEW YORK (Sputnik) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is holding talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Syria is the main topic of the Wednesday talks. The meeting is the second between Lavrov and Kerry on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly. On Tuesday, Lavrov and Kerry had a short bilateral discussion ahead of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Strengthening information-sharing among governments to fight terrorism is a top priority for the United Nations, the world bodys counterterrorism chief Jehangir Khan told Sputnik. "Information-sharing has to be strengthened, both between neighbouring countries, regionally and globally, and that is very much also the focus of our efforts here as part of international cooperation," Khan said on Wednesday after a meeting of the UN-sponsored Global Counterterrorism Forum. The event was held in conjunction with the UN General Assembly in New York. But did the colloquium organized by M. Feron and Mrs. Anne Regourd in late June in France attract the attention of French authorities, political parties or parliamentary members? "The fact that the sharp and well-grounded attack against the government came from a Socialist deputy, could not go unnoticed by the government and other political parties. The quality of the event was also high, because of the participation of respected scholars. But to my knowledge, besides my own, there was no coverage at all," Bierre told Sputnik. She noted, however, that recently the brutality of the Saudi coalition attacks has apparently sparked concerns among Western policymakers. "In the recent period, the brutality of the Saudi coalition attacks against the Houthi rebellion and against the cultural, historical and architectural millenary legacy of Yemen, have become a kind of embarrassment for at least two of the main Western partners of Saudi Arabia: the United States and France, unlike the British who are heavily arming and advising the Coalition," Bierre pointed out. "In August, the US announced it had reduced its forces assigned to the 'Joint Combined Planning Cell', set up to coordinate US support for that war, which included air-to-air refueling coalition jets and limited intelligence sharing, to less than five servicemen, from a peak of 45," the French journalist underscored. "As for France, no sooner had the war restarted on August 9th, that Foreign Affairs minister Jean Marc Ayrault, called on the warring factions to go back to the negotiation table and offered to play a mediating role with Saudi Arabia," she noted, adding that seemingly neither Washington nor Paris wants to be brought before the UN Human Rights Commission "for advising a war which is targeting children, hospitals, civilians and the ancient historical patrimony." The journalist called attention to the fact that Beijing's journey to obtain SDR for the RMB was no walk in the park. China had to meet certain requirements, which included a strong exports market and "free-usable" currency. To ensure the RMB could be accepted by the IMF, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) has recently made proper adjustments. Why did the IMF support China's renminbi internationalization project and the inclusion of the yuan in the SDR basket? Is it possible to say that the European financial elite are seeking to diminish the US dollar's influence? "A freely-convertible yuan makes it much easier for those doing business with Chinese companies to have more convenient access to China's currency. Previously, all international trades had to be converted via US dollars, but that brings added costs to traders and investors, who may come from different countries, and do not have easy access to US dollars," McGregor explained. "The EU benefits as well with the inclusion of China's yuan in the IMF's SDR currency basket. Instead of buying up US dollars to arrange business deals with Chinese companies, European companies can more easily switch to the Chinese yuan. Meanwhile, China is developing a new international bank-wire system that no longer uses SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and developing a new technology called CIPS," he told Sputnik. Ultimately, Ahmad suggested that "the lies told by President Obama at the UN General Assembly are merely the continuation of the American 'television show', whose plot consists of the US desire to continue this war. Every US action takes place with the aim of continuing this war for control of the world." With regard to the recently agreed-upon Russian-US ceasefire agreement, which is now looking less and less likely to be restored, the politician suggested that "Russia always understood that the US-Russian agreement on Syria would mean a US defeat in this conflictif the agreement was adhered to." Accordingly, it's only natural that the US struck Syrian forces in Deir ez-Zor, and then (baselessly) blamed Moscow and Damascus for hitting a humanitarian convoy in Aleppo. They could not afford to lose their position on the 'Syrian front' of their global conflict against the proponents of a multipolar world. "Just as only America has the material greatness to stop the slide into chaos, only America has the moral greatness to do it-not for the sake of power, but for the sake of peace," he believes. At the same time Rasmussen is pointing the finger of blame at "resurgent" Russia and "muscle-flexing" China, which, according to the former NATO chief, pose a challenge to the world's stability. As for Western Europe, it is "weak, divided and leaderless," he argued. "The old powers of Britain and France are simply too small and exhausted to play the global role they once did," Rasmussen emphasized. Commenting on Rasmussen's op-ed, Khrolenko pointed out that the former NATO chief is demonstrating complete disdain and even hostility toward the world's powers Russia, China and major European states. Rasmussen's servility to the US resembles nothing so much as a new religion, Khrolenko noted. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia will continue its support of the Iran nuclear agreement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "Lavrov confirmed that Russia would continue actively supporting Iran Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following a meeting of six mediators of Iranian nuclear program negotiations and Tehran. In 2015, a group of countries, consisting of the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and the United Kingdom reached the JCPOA agreement which stipulated the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting of anti-Iran sanctions. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) noted Russian Armed Forces' compliance with Vienna Document on military transparency, following a scheduled inspection, Russian Defense Ministry said. "As a result of this inspection, foreign observers noted that the Russian Federation fully complies with 2011 Vienna Document requirements and demonstrates a high level of transparency in relation to the military activities conducted by the Russian Armed Forces," Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said in a statement issued on September 22. According to Ryzhkov, the visit of OSCE observers to the Western Military District took place on September 19-23 and included the inspection of an airbase and a military unit. NEW YORK (Sputnik) The United States and Russia must work on a tight timetable of mere days to reach a new agreement on a Syrian ceasefire, UN Special Envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura told reporters. "The next few hours, few days maximum, are crucial for making it or breaking it, and I want to believe that both Moscow and Washington are working on it seriously, because the alternative is back to conflict and war," de Mistura said following an unsuccessful Thursday meeting of the International Syria Support Group in New York. "The good news, if you want to hear [it], is both Russia and America agreed to continue intensely to work on a possible restoration of it," de Mistura said. On this episode of "By Any Means Necessary" host Eugene Puryear is joined by journalist Samantha Vicent of the Tulsa World to talk about the killing of Terrence Crutcher by Tulsa Police. Crutcher was unarmed and posed no threat to police at the time he was tasered and shot by Tulsa police. Host Eugene Puryear is then joined by Reverend Dr. Rodney Goss, Pastor Morning Star Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma to talk about what is next for the police that killed Terence Crutcher and whether or not he thinks charges will be brought against the police in the killing. Dr. Goss also talks about the historical relationships between police and community members in Oklahoma, a state that has ranked number one in police killings per capita. In a special third segment, By Any Means Necessary is joined by journalist Ben Norton of Salon.com to talk about the killing of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina and the protests that quickly followed. Ben Norton and host Eugene Puryear also talk about Barack Obama's final speech at the United Nations as President of the United States. Host John Harrison made the point that as far as education standards go, placing restrictions on headmasters as only being able to recruit teachers who profess the same faith as that of the faith school, places possible limits on academic excellence. Peter Kearney strongly denied that, saying that far from it, that this is a contributing factor of the success of faith schools, and not only faith schools, but other specialist schools, such as Gaelic schools in Scotland. I don't think anybody could suggest that this is discriminating against teachers who can't speak Gaelic, he said. The reason that Catholic schools are successful is a result of a set of common values, a shared ethos. Where there are values held in common, whether it be in business, education, society in general, these organisations are successful. Talking about selection, there is an accusation which indicates that faith schools select pupils not only on the basis of parents religious beliefs, particularly when there is high demand for a school. This makes it easier for them to achieve higher educational standards. Peter Kearney strongly denied that, saying the only selection criterion for Catholic Schools is that parents are catholic, something that Douglas McLellan said was incorrect. There is evidence to support that faith schools do select pupils because of socio-economic factors of the children concerned, he insisted. Modernity, and the world moving on beyond fixed values, was the next topic. Faith schools perhaps have a problem because many of their morals and ethics are based on religious traditions which are fixed in time. Peter Kearney expressed that this is actually their strength, in that having a set of solid underlying beliefs which you can use to interpret what you say in a fast and ever changing world, is a wonderful thing, and it is something that is an enormous attraction to people. This is why religion is so attractive, because we are without question spiritual beings. The whole belief in transcendence has fascinated humanity since the beginning of time. To pretend that these things don't exist is probably futile and pointless. Douglas McLellan expressed that modernity has changed outlooks and instead of religion we should be looking at human rights and equality, and these should be the key ways to educate children across the world. The way that religion works, is that people think that we have this faith, and that makes us slightly better than everyone else. We have a dangerous situation where we have some schools saying that we are different. There are Jewish schools in England, for example, that are hardly inspected, and all they are taught up to the age of 12 is the Torah. Peter Kearney replied that believing in human rights also means believing that parents have the right to education their children as they wish. Perhaps this is all intentional, in that by encouraging traditional religious values, politicians in some countries push society away from modernity?, host John Harrison asked. Douglas McLellan made the interesting point that the biggest threat to modernity is actually non-denominational schools in the UK, whose governors or boards are perhaps particularly religious, and who want to take their schools, which should not have a faith, down a particular route. For example, in teaching creationism. So either we govern every board, every school, or we say that religion is a family matter, and education is a secular thing, a thing that values education, above anything else. We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com The company's chief executive John Stumpf came under intense scrutiny from a panel of Senators and was urged to resign by Elizabeth Warren as a scandal over bogus accounts rocked the company. But will anybody complicit in Wells Fargos crimes actually face prison time? Yesterday marked 40 years since a former Chilean diplomats life was taken in a bombing in the streets of Washington, D.C. Who was Orlando Letelier and why was he targeted in the capital of the United States by a military dictatorship installed in a CIA orchestrated coup? Becker speaks with Chilean historian and author Victor Figeuroa Clark. Hillary Clinton was nowhere to be found at the Clinton Global Initiatives final annual summit, as President Obama also kept his distance from this years event. But will both of them staying away do anything to improve the image of the Clinton Foundation? Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity, joins Becker. Many aid organizations have welcomed the outcome of the UN Refugee Summit which has seen the 50 countries taking part pledge to double the number of refugees they collectively admit to more than 360,000. But many organizations have said that the summit failed to address the underlying issues contributing to the global refugee crisis. We speak to the Director of the refugee program at Human Rights Watch, Bill Frelick. Oxfam has today published a report highlighting the situation in Yemen and the devastating impact of the Saudi led coalition forces bombing campaign. The report calls for a ceasefire and suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Yesterday, however, the US Senate voted against a resolution that would have blocked the sale of $1.15billion to Saudi Arabia. Ogilvy, who has visited Russia several times over three decades, can boast of witnessing the remarkable changes the country has undergone. Ogilvy's first visit to Russia was on behalf of the US government, in the Eighties, when the Cold War was in full swing. The author's brightest memories of 1983 Moscow are "those of the hospitality that shone through the shabbiness" and the outstanding beauty of many of the stations on the capital's enormous underground metro network. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia expects a positive outcome from an upcoming meeting among oil producing countries, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov said Thursday. "Positively," Molodtsov said on the margins of a global oil market conference when asked to assess the chances of the countries agreeing on a plan to limit production and prop up prices. OPEC member states are expected to renew talks on a possible oil output freeze with non-member states at the September 26-28 International Energy Forum (IEF) in Algiers, Algeria. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia looks to reach its daily oil output of 11.1 million barrels in the near future after launching new fields, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov said Thursday. "We believe that updated forecasts are true and we can stay at this level evenly and confidently. At the same time, [11.1 million barrels of oil per day] is quite a realistic level that we can reach taking into account the launched fields," Molodtsov said at a conference. Russia reached a record-setting oil production volume of more than 11 million barrels per day on September 8, with output at 11.085 million barrels as of Tuesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Currently, President of Malaysia's Senate Vigneswaran Sanasee is on an official visit in Moscow. "We also propose to sign an inter-parliamentary agreement between the Federation Council and Senate of Malaysia," Matvienko said during a meeting with Vigneswaran in the Russian capital. She expressed hope that the countries would renew work on such a deal that would encourage exchange in legislative activities and it would be signed during the next visit of Vigneswaran. Located on the Gydan Peninsula in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area in Russia's Arctic, 350 km from the city of Novy Urengoy, the Messoyakhsky oil field required 85 billion rubles ($1.3 billion US) of investment. By 2040, the project is expected to generate 881 billion rubles ($13.6 billion US) in tax revenues. Several elements make the ambitious project unique. For starters, it was implemented despite the total lack of industrial and transport infrastructure in the area (the nearest settlement the village of Tazovsky, is 150 km away). This required the delivery of nearly 400,000 tons of cargo to the field by water transport and frozen roads. Oil from the field, pumped by 50 wells, will enter the Artic-Purpe trunk line through a 98 km long pipeline, which has been heat-insulated to protect against freezing Artic temperatures. The oil itself is heated at the field before entering the pipeline. Furthermore, the project was completed in record time pre-development of the field took less than three years to complete. The state-of-the-art equipment at the field includes two power plants generating 90MW-worth of capacity, satisfying all of the on-site facilities' power needs. According to the official, Russia has repeatedly stated that it was ready to cooperate with other countries for the sake of coordination of actions on the market. The minister added that the decrease in oil production by 5 percent is not going to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting. "As I know from the information I receive from talks with ministers of other countries, this option has not been proposed [for discussion]," Novak added, answering a question about a possible 5-percent output cut. Global oversupply and stagnated demand caused oil prices to plunge from $115 per barrel in June 2014 to less than $30 per barrel in January 2016. The prices have since slightly recovered, reaching a peak of over $50 per barrel in early June. In April, major oil-producing countries failed to reach an agreement in the Qatari capital of Doha to freeze output for the rest of the year in order to boost prices from historic lows. Saudi Arabia, which had previously said that it would freeze output only if Iran followed suit, cited Tehrans absence from the talks as reason for not supporting an output freeze. The Russian news website Life.ru quoted experts as saying that the end of "the era of air dinosaurs", including the A-380 and the Boeing-777 jets, may add significantly to boosting the Russian aircraft industry and its state-of-the-art passenger plane, the MC-21. The experts' remarks came after recent reports that Singapore Airlines had decided not to keep the first five A380 super-jumbo jets the company had leased earlier the move was followed by other major airlines of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia's Qantas Airways and Malaysia Airlines. The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner, known to be the world's largest passenger airliner. Castros book Science for Innovation: the Cuban experience introduces the history of innovation in the Caribbean country. According to Castro, the book can be useful for entrepreneurs, professionals and for high technology programmers. As for Russian-Cuban cooperation, Castro is very optimistic. The scientist explained that a program for scientific and technological exchange, especially in the field of public health, has been already set up. For several years, both countries have exchanged information. Cuba has strong ties with the Russian Ministry of Health. Some drugs are already present on the market, while others are in the process of getting there, the Cuban scientist told Sputnik. As part of this international meeting, the Skolkovo Foundation and the Cuban pharmaceutical company BioCubaFarma signed an agreement on technological trade. In Moscow, the son of Fidel Castro also met with Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, and presented the book to him. Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart is familiar with Russia as he studied in Moscow. In 1974, under the name Jose Raul Fernandez he graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in nuclear physics. Later, he received a diploma at the prestigious Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy. The fake name was taken for security measures. After finishing studies, Castro returned to Cuba, where he worked as the Cuban governments advisor on scientific matters. "We've given users transparency and control over their data in Google Allo," a spokesperson for the Internet giant said. "And our approach is simple your chat history is saved for you until you choose to delete it. You can delete single messages or entire conversations in Allo We also provide the option to chat in incognito mode, where messengers are end-to-end encrypted and you can set a timer to automatically delete messages for your device and the person you're chatting with's device at a set time." Why would anyone download #Allo, Googles new app? @kateknibbs on what it brings to the table (spoiler: nothing) https://t.co/ZRrO8u6YlT The Ringer (@ringer) September 22, 2016 For messages to be secure, they have to be encrypted before they leave your device and only read by the person the message is intended for. End-to-end encryption is like having a key and a door that fits together. However, according to recent reports, there a five secure messengers for iPhone, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry. Signal Private Messenger, is a free secure messenger service for Android and iOS. A safer alternative to Whatsapp @WhisperSystems Signal https://t.co/XabFnFboxP Tommaso Scannicchio (@tomascann) September 22, 2016 Blackberry Messenger, whose users are identified by a unique personal identification number (PIN) not by their cellphone number or email address. Kik? Whatapp? Skype? Txt+, the list goes on and on but nothing compares to the original, secure @BlackBerry Messenger! @BBM Pat Wallace (@PatWallace) March 3, 2015 Gliph, can be used on the go on your smartphone or in the office on your desktop. You can also permanently delete messages from your device as well as the recipient's device. I dont use DMs theyre not secure you can contact me via GLIPH TKrypt TKrypt (@TheKryptonian__) July 22, 2015 Wickr lets you set an expiry date on every message you send. Telegram, allows you to program your messages to self-destruct from two devices at a chosen time. What do my hacker friends think of WickrMe and Telegram: secure? pic.twitter.com/nDkyR8b50Q jwaggo (@jwaggo) September 21, 2016 But what would Snowden use? In seriousness, this is a complex question for which there is no one right answer. But relative to #Allo, Signal is safer for normal users. Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 21, 2016 So, before the Internet has even has a chance to say "allo" it appears privacy campaigner Edward Snowden's "goodbye Google" has dealt the tech giant an welcome blow. The senators believe that Saudi Arabia continues to finance Islamic schools around the world that teach extremist versions of Islam and prepare students to join terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and Daesh. Murphy recently noted in a Twitter message that he had never before seen so many senators go on record as supporting a rethink of the US-Saudi relationship. A House version of the bill was introduced on Wednesday, co-sponsored by Representatives Ted Lieu and Mike Mulvaney. Speaking to a group of about 200 Surprise Tea Party Patriots on Tuesday, Arpaio stated that he was petitioned to investigate President Barack Obamas birth certificate five years ago,and added that he is still investigating. Im not going to give up, and were looking into it, the notorious Maricopa County sheriff told the group, according to the Arizona Republic. I dont know how its going to turn out. Arpaio, disgraced and censured by courts in his own state for his brutal treatment of prisoners and undocumented immigrants, claimed that his quest was not about Obamas birthplace, but rather it was a hunt for forged documents. Speaking in a pre-recorded interview aired Wednesday night on Fox News, Donald Trump said that he would prefer a "stop-and-frisk" policy as a way to reduce "violence in the black community" and "black-on-black crime." "I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to," Trump said. "I see what's going on here, I see what's going on in Chicago, I think stop-and-frisk, in New York City, it was so incredible, the way it worked." The policy, which permits a police officer to stop any pedestrian, ask questions, check documents and perform a search for weapons or contraband, has been used in New York City for over 15 years. Protesters were gathered outside the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte when shots rang out. One individual was rushed to an area hospital with a life-threatening wound. Police Chief Kerr Putney later told Fox News that the individual died from the injury, a statement the cops later retracted. That victim remained on life support late Wednesday night. City officials say the shooting was the result of civilian-on-civilian crime. MOSCOW (Sputnik)US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton maintained an edge over Republican opponent Donald Trump, by scoring a six-point lead among likely voters, a poll carried out by The Wall Street Journal and NBC News revealed Thursday. Clinton led Trump by 43 percent to 37, the survey showed. Two factors contributed to that, one was because Trump's scored poorly among college-educated white voters who took some of his comments on women, immigrants and Muslims as negative. Secondly, Democratic President Barack Obama job-approval ratings has been high and that landed in her favor, the poll indicated. WASHINGTON (Sputnik)An upcoming referendum on whether California should eliminate the death penalty is supported by 48 percent of the states likely voters and opposed by 37 percent, a poll released by Field Research on Thursday shows. "History suggests that when voter support for a controversial ballot initiative like repealing the death penalty remains below 50 percent, its passage is uncertain, even when leading in the polls, a press release accompanying the poll explained. Fifteen percent of poll respondents said they were undecided. However, a senate resolution to oppose the deal garnered the support of 27 senators on Wednesday, in a sign of the growing unease about the increasing number of civilians being killed with US made weapons. "There is a US imprint on every civilian death inside Yemen, which is radicalizing the people of this country against the United States," said Senator Chris Murphy. Never before have so many Senators gone on record supporting a rethink of the US-Saudi relationship. Didn't win, but a strong message. Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) September 21, 2016 The United Nations has estimated that at least 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen since the conflict began over 18 months ago. Throughout 2016, several human rights organizations including the UN, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the Saudi-led coalition for indiscriminately killing civilians in Yemen, which they say amounts to a war crime. The Yemen civil war is a strategic battleground for the regional power-houses of Saudi Arabia and Iran. In February 2015, Zaidi Shia rebels known as Houthis, forced the President, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, to flee the capital Sanaa, destabilising the whole country. Thank you to the 27 Senators who voted to #StopArmingSaudi! Although we didn't win, we gained new allies in ending crisis in #Yemen. pic.twitter.com/1vJeCXVi4v Oxfam America (@OxfamAmerica) September 21, 2016 Saudi Arabia was quick to intervene, assembling a coalition of nine Arab states, backed by the US and UK. The Saudis have repeatedly labeled the Houthis as Iranian proxies, an accusation Tehran continues to vehemently denied. Despite this, both sides have been accused of acting with impunity, bombing and firing at a range of civilian targets including hospitals and schools. In August, the same month the Obama administration announced the multi-million dollar Saudi arms deal, the Saudi Arabian coalition bombed a children's school; the home of the school's principal; a Doctors Without Borders hospital; the bridge used to carry humanitarian aid into the capital; and a potato chip factory in the besieged Yemeni capital. We must send a message right now, today to Saudi Arabia: Stop putting Christians to death, stop beheading protesters, stop the abuse. Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 21, 2016 On Tuesday, September 20, this week, President Obama gave his swan song final speech to the UN General Assembly in New York, in which he pushed other world leaders to respect human rights across the world. "As imperfect as they are, the principles of open markets and accountable governance, of democracy and human rights and international law that we have forged, remain the firmest foundation for human progress in this century." WASHINGTON (Sputnik)A Cessna aircraft factory in Wichita, Kansas owned by US defense contractor Textron was evacuated due to a bomb threat on Thursday, according to media reports. "We can confirm a threat was made and the authorities are on-site and the affected building has been evacuated," Textron was quoted as saying by television station KNS."We have no further information at this time." Cessna is a unit of Textrons aviation group. "Selling $1.15 billion in tanks, guns, ammunition , and more to a country with a poor human rights record embroiled in a bitter war is a recipe for disaster and an escalation of an ongoing arms race in the region," Paul said in a statement. John Sifton, Deputy Washington Director and Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, told Radio Sputnik that while the Senate vote didn't stop the arms deal going ahead it had an important symbolic meaning. "It's purely a symbolic vote, but it's important because it says to the Saudi government that there are going to potentially be consequences if they continue in their bad conduct. It's very important that they take these accusations seriously, because right now after 16 months of reporting by Human Rights Watch about their indiscriminate and disproportionate bombing, they have shown no evidence of improving their conduct. None at all, so I think we need to send a stronger message to them." Sifton said. "Im not going to release the video right now," Putney said during a news conference on Thursday. "The family made a request to see it and were looking to accommodate that request," he said, adding that the video "does not give me absolute, definitive visual evidence that will confirm a person was pointing a gun. I did not see that in the video." Protesters hope the video could clarify conflicting reports about the incident. While police claim that Scott pointed a gun at officers, his family and witnesses report that Scott was reading a book in his car when he was shot. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, representatives of North Carolinas NAACP chapter addressed the violence, calling for understanding and calm. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) "Madame Attorney General, you have the unique opportunity and constitutional responsibility to change this narrative," Congresswoman Maxine Waters told reporters on the steps of the Justice Department, flanked by more than a dozen African-American lawmakers. The event followed two nights of violence in the US State of North Carolina after police shoot 43-year-old African American Lamont Scott and a subsequent refusal by police to release a video of the incident. Participants at Thursdays Black Caucus press conference said more than 130 African-Americans have been killed by US police this year under suspicious circumstances. Many were unarmed and others had weapons in states where laws allow people to carry firearms. Terence Crutcher, 40, was shot last Friday, after police stopped to investigate his vehicle that had stalled in the road. The incident was caught on dashcams as well as a police helicopter, and appears to show Shelby opening fire as another officer prepared to use a taser. The footage was released to Crutcher's family and community leaders over the weekend. "His hands were in the air from all views," Rodney Goss, a pastor at the Morning Star Baptist Church, told the Tulsa World. "It was not apparent at any angle from any point that he lunged, came toward, aggressively attacked, or made any sudden movements that would have been considered a threat or life-threanening toward the officer." A separate police shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina has led to two nights of violent protests, as authorities brace themselves for a potential third. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) It is vital not only to take advantage of the cessation of hostilities in Syria, but to reach stabilization in the region, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told Sputnik on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "We are following very carefully whats been going on, and in my speech at the General Assembly I told it was important for the world not just for the region to find a way," De Sousa said when asked to comment on the situation in Syria. "Not only taking advantage of the ceasefire but creating a stabilization in the area." Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups operating in the country, including the Islamic States, which is outlawed in many countries around the world, Russia among them. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia is not backing out of an agreement reached with the United States on an expired week-long ceasefire in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday. "We are not backing out of this agreement. On the contrary, we believe that the recent events underscore its super-urgency. Unfortunately, this agreement has many opponents, if not enemies," Ryabkov told reporters. The September 9 truce reached by the Russian and US diplomats that went into force last week was subject to extensions and anti-terrorist cooperation if it succeeded. The truce was marred by an allegedly errant US airstrike on Syrian government troops and by a deadly attack on a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo. "The European Commission and many governments of the EU member states have to take note of this large public opposition," Riss said. Touching upon the two treaties possibly helping concentrate economic power in the hands of just a handful of multinational companies, he said that "this is a specific feature of both trade deals, that they allow for a type of private justice to enable multinational companies to sue a sovereign state in the European Union." "If they do not like certain laws or policies that are put in place democratically in order to protect environment or health, we believe that it is completely out of order to have a separate justice for multinational companies; they should have the same legal system that everybody else has in the EU," according to Riss. "So giving this private investment protection code through the Canada-EU or the US-EU trade deals puts European democracy at risk and gives multinational companies a really powerful tool to put pressure on democratically-elected governments, something we want to prevent," he said. In September 2014, the European Union and Canada announced the conclusion of the CETA agreement. The September 9 agreement reached by the Russian and US diplomats that went into force last week was subject to extensions and anti-terrorist cooperation if it succeeded. The truce was marred by an allegedly errant US airstrike on Syrian government troops and by a deadly attack on a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo. "The task of destroying terrorist groups not only in Syria remains at the center of our attention. Of course, after these events, the chances of the agreement's implementation have reduced, but there is no alternative to it. We need to intensify the work," Ryabkov told reporters. The existing plan aimed at reaching settlement of the Syrian crisis is unusable and will become functional only if the United States convinces the Syrian opposition groups it backs that President Bashar Assad is not the only problem, Sergei Ryabkov said. "A scheme to find a way out of the situation that would satisfy both the United States and the groups patronized by the Americans has been proposed. But I think that the scheme is unusable, at least until not only the United States, but also other parties 'to this process,' and there are a lot of them, including the governments of several influential countries, ensure non-use of force by structures, which are still convinced that the war is the only way to solve the problem, only method of force could be used to oust Assad," Ryabkov said. MOSCOW (Sputnik)NATOs joint nuclear missions are a serious threat to the regime of non-proliferation, Moscow is concerned over the US plans to station new nuclear weapons in Europe, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Thursday. "Such joint NATO nuclear missions are a serious threat in the non-proliferation sphere as they contradict directly the spirit and the letter of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It is a cause of great concern that the United States are planning to deploy new nuclear bombs of reduced power but with greater accuracy in Europe within the framework of modernizing its nuclear arsenal," Ryabkov said. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues its buildup of missile capabilities close to Russian borders to Moscow's concern, Sergey Ryabkov said. DUBAI (Sputnik)Minister Reem bint Ibrahim al Hashemi made this announcement at the Leaders Summit on Refugees on Tuesday, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) specified. "The crisis of refugees and displaced persons, however, is not confined to the Middle East, it is a global phenomenon that requires the attention of the entire international community. The UAE is committed to working with you [international community] to find collective and effective solutions to prevent further escalation of the global refugee crisis," WAM cited al Hashemi as saying. Up to 115,000 Syrians have been already living and working in UAE before the Syrian crisis had erupted in 2011, she said, adding that for the past five years 123,000 more Syrians have found shelter in the Emirates. TBILISI (Sputnik)Tbilisi is trying to normalize bilateral relations with Russia so as it would be possible to carry out work, Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said at the UN General Assembly's session. "We have been seeking a workable solution with the Russian Federation. And we have made some concrete progress in deescalating tensions, but Georgias steps forward have not all been reciprocated," Kvirikashvili said on Wednesday. The prime minister reaffirmed that the conflict must be resolved peacefully, relying on the full respect of Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. "This is very important visit for the development of bilateral relations. Firstly, over the course of a month, China and Canada have exchanged visits at the highest state level. This is very rare in diplomatic practice, particularly between major countries," Yuanzhe said. Trudeau made his first official visit to China earlier this month, a week-long trip which included the G20 summit and meetings with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Trudeau declared his intention to "reset the relationship" and be "open for business" with Beijing, in contrast to previous administrations which have "blown hot and cold" with China. Yuanzhe said that Trudeau's eagerness to clinch business deals with China is part of a policy to develop relations with developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement appears to have stalled. "The development of Chinese-Canadian relations is an important indicator of Canada's further integration with the Asia-Pacific region," Yuanzhe said. "Canada is an ally and neighbor of the US, and the pivot towards developing relations with China is a significant breakthrough." "This is evidence of the progress of China's initiative to build a new kind of international relations and construct a network of global partnerships, with mutual (economic) benefit at the core. Seizing the chance to cooperate with China is of fundamental benefit to Canada," Yuanzhe said. "History, religion, ethnic composition of the populace, state structure and ideology of Iran and Cuba are practically devoid of similarities. However, if one were to recall the recent history of the two nations, it immediately becomes apparent that they do share one trait revolutionism," he explained. In 1959 Cuban revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro managed to overthrow the pro-US dictator Fulgencio Batista and take control of the country, prompting the outraged United States to sever diplomatic relations with Cuba and impose a strict sanctions policy against which lasted for 55 years. Two decades after that event the Iranian Islamic revolutionaries led by Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the Persian monarchy and ousted the pro-American Shah Reza Pahlavi, eliciting a similar reaction from the US the severance of diplomatic ties and strict sanctions. "This is the commonality of Iran and Cubas fates of two nations that for decades were engaged in political, financial and sometimes even military confrontation with the United States," Sazhin remarked. In the years that followed the Iranian revolution, Tehran and Cuba enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, further bolstered by their joint membership in the Non-Aligned Movement. Now however, it appears that Iranian-Cuban relations are moving to a whole new level due to a number of factors. "First and foremost, its caused by the changes in the political and diplomatic situation in Cuba and Iran, and the improvement in their relations (albeit to a different degree) with their chief antagonist United States," Sazhin said. He pointed out that while Havana and Washington already restored bilateral diplomatic relations, Tehran appears reluctant to make a similar move even despite the successful nuclear deal. And while both the government of President Rouhani and Barack Obamas administration continue to send positive signals in that regard, one shouldnt forget that there are influential forces in both countries opposed to the normalization of Iranian-American relations. "At the same time, one cannot dismiss the current Iranian-Cuban trend of overcoming their historical enmity with the US and putting an end to their isolation, which creates favorable conditions for expanding and improving their bilateral ties based on common historical experience. Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz himself said that Iran and Cuba share the experience of living under sanctions and should use it as a roadmap," Sazhin said. Despite the ongoing thaw in relations, the US is yet to fully lift the sanctions imposed against Cuba and Iran. Therefore, the political and economic rapprochement would help Tehran and Havana to jointly advance their interests and coordinate their efforts aimed at getting rid of embargoes, sanctions and other prohibitive measures imposed against them. Marissa Ryan, Advocacy and Campaign Manager at Oxfam Ireland, told Radio Sputnik that the declaration is in fact "a missed opportunity." She said countries in the world's north should do more to help refugees and migrants, and condemned their refusal to agree to concrete measures such as resettling ten percent of those displaced. "This was the very first migration summit, it was an opportunity for UN member states to get together. We have poor countries which have huge proportions of refugees being sheltered in their countries at present and wealthier countries in the global north which have relatively low numbers of refugees and migrants in their countries, and which have the ability to increase their responsibility-sharing," Ryan said. "Oxfam very recently released a piece of research demonstrating that the six wealthiest economies host only nine percent of the world's refugee population. At the summit there was an opportunity for them to increase and really share responsibility for refugees and migrants," Ryan said. WARSAW (Sputnik)Journalists from Rossiya Segodnya and Sputnik international news agencies are facing discrimination in a number of EU countries, a member of Russia's Civic Chamber said Thursday. "The true sense of the term 'democracy' excludes the attempts to impose a will on people from abroad. Likewise, discrimination against journalists runs contrary to the principles of democracy and freedom of speech. It is obvious for Europe, but nevertheless such cases involving Russian journalists take place on a regular basis in the EU member states The Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency and the Sputnik agency have become targets of such a discriminatory approach," Veronika Krasheninnikova said, speaking at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) human rights conference in Warsaw. She added that Russia is concerned by violation of Russian journalists' rights in such EU countries as Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as in such OSCE member states as Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. BRUSSELS (Sputnik) President of the European Commission (EC) Jan-Claude Junker urged the UE member states on Thursday to join the investment plan for Africa, noting that over 200,000 African refugees want to reach the European countries via the Mediterranean sea. "As many as 225,000 refuges, waiting to cross the Mediterranean, are now at the Mediterranean border between Italy and Libya, but this is impossible. Instead of being involved in charity or writing noble poems about the roots and causes of migration, we need to act so that million Africans would not embark on a journey via the Mediterranean, which very often ends up badly. That is why we, the European Commission, proposed to include Africa in the investment plan," Junker said at the plenary session of European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). He recalled, that the European Commission was planning to lunch the new investment plan for Africa which had the potential to raise 44 billion euros ($49 billion). The plan could go up to 88 billion euros if the EU member states pitched in, he added. Asked about the purpose of the referendum, Milorad Dodik said that the referendum is a reaction to the actions by Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak member of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to Dodik, Izetbegovic "showed and proved that the Constitutional Court only sticks to his decisions." "The Republika Srspka showed that it is ready for dialogue and partnership, not for the role of the subjugated side. We will continue to defend our interests, which are in no way directed against the others. This is not a referendum on secession as some can imagine," Dodik said, referring to ambassadors of Western countries. He also made it plain that if Sarajevo tries to resort to the use of force, Republika Srspka will immediately withdraw from Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Even for a second we would not stay in a state which would use violence against us," he pointed out. He also said that the West's policy on Bosnia and Herzegovina is only aimed at upholding the interests of the Bosniak side, something that hinders the reconciliation process. "Western ambassadors consider themselves masters and rulers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they are fully on the side of the Bosniaks. Such a policy hampers the process of reconciliation of peoples," Dodik said, adding that the West wants to see only obedient politicians who will implement its decisions. WASHINGTON (Sputnik)The US Department of Defense is still considering providing lethal assistance to Ukraine, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter stated on Thursday. "That is still on the table," Carter said during a testimony at the Senate when asked why Washington has not started providing lethal assistance to Kiev. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan legislation to strengthen US sanctions against Russia due to the countrys alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine the accusations Moscow has repeatedly denied. Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Representative for International Trade Negotiations at China's Ministry of Commerce, also allayed those fears on Thursday. He said that China's status as the world's second-largest economy, the world's largest goods trader, and the world's largest foreign exchange reserves, "provide a solid foundation for Chinese firms to develop their investment overseas." Wang Zhimin, director of the Center for Globalization and Modernization at China's Institute of Foreign Economy and Trade told Sputnik that the increased investment is a natural consequence of China's economic growth. "Firstly, this is an 'overflow effect' resulting from the Chinese economy's continuous growth. Secondly, continuous economic growth of any country necessarily leads to a process whereby goods exports are followed by investment export," Zhamin said. "Thirdly, China has the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world, which are a powerful financial support for investing capital abroad. Fourthly, as the world economy grows so are a group of very strong firms, which are becoming some of the world's top 500 companies. These firms consider investment abroad to be a channel of growth. External investment is an important way of improving the industrial structure, which China is interested in today." "In addition, this is all inseparable from the government's stimulation (of investment). This plays an important role for the health of the world economy. China, in contrast to a number of developed countries, does not attach any kind of political conditions to its investment," Zhamin said. Andrey Volodin from the Center for Eurasian Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik that the increase in investment is connected to China's Silk Road infrastructure project. The project, known as "One Belt, One Road," intends to construct an "economic belt" along the original Silk Road that led from China to Europe. The "Maritime Silk Road" links China's ports with those in the South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Last year the Chinese government and the China Development Bank announced that the country will invest up to $1 trillion in six economic corridors along the Belt and Road trade route. The China Development Bank said it is financing more than 900 projects involving 60 countries. "All China's concepts and ideas for the Silk Road, in principle, have the same task to gain China more open access to world markets by strengthening China's position there," Volodin explained. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on humanitarian affairs for 2017 on Thursday, Amierah Ismail of Permanent Observer Mission of the OIC to the United Nations told Sputnik. "We are signing a Memorandum of understanding with USAID on humanitarian affairs and plan of action for the next year. It outlines general humanitarian cooperation and joint missions'," Ismail said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. MOSCOW (Sputnik)Russia would benefit substantially from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's victory in November presidential election in the United States, an article published in Thursday's edition of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo reads. It is insufficient to say that the Kremlin took its side [of supporting Trump]. If Trump becomes president, Russia will get a serious gain. Trump, a big fan of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, will rush to lift sanctions against Russia and to recognize the annexation of Crimea, Charlie Hebdo journalists wrote in their article accompanied by cartoons depicting Putin and Trump together. During his election campaign, the Republican candidate has expressed willingness to have good relations with Russia. Moscow, in turn, has repeatedly stated that it will not interfere in the election campaign and will work with the candidate chosen by the US voters. International Dialogue Generation Global Offers Free Online Forum for Students to Explore Cultural Differences Generation Global is relaunching in the United States, providing educators and students with a free forum to explore global cultural differences through dialogue. An initiative of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Generation Global offers a web and video-based platform, as well as curricula that students can examine before or after international videoconferences with other students. The program is aimed toward 12- to 17-year-olds. Generation Globals classroom resources fit well in courses such as history, geography and social studies, according to a news release. Resource-filled toolkits are geared toward educating students about the difficult issues facing the U.S. and the world today. They also aim to foster critical thinking, effective dialogue skills and intercultural knowledge to help students better understand and respect one another. Teachers can group their students into structured conversations with other young people around the world, creating a safe and monitored environment that encourages open dialogue, the release said. Generation Global can provide training with diversity experts, discussion facilitators, access to 24-hour help desks and a toolset that can be used to prepare and evaluate students on their performance. The program is accessible on multiple devices, including mobile phones, iPads and Chromebooks. Since 2008, Generation Globals platform has been used by more than 200,000 students in 20 countries, the release said. We are proud of this success so far, said Ian Jamison, head of education and training for Generation Global, in a prepared statement. But we recognize that as the nature of the challenge evolves, so must we. Unfortunately, extremism is growing around the world. It uses new ways to spread its message of hate, including using technology to enable this spread. Globalization and technological change present exciting new opportunities to educate students in schools and provide tools to teach a new generation of global citizens. Generation Global is an educational nonprofit based in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit generation.global. STEM and Space Exploration Virtual Field Trip to Mars for Middle Schoolers Discovery Education and Lockheed Martin are teaming up to offer a virtual field trip to Mars for middle school classrooms around the world. The free event is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. PT Oct. 4, during World Space Week. During this inaugural event, kids in grades 6 to 8 will be introduced to STEM concepts and careers in deep space exploration. Theyll also see a replica asteroid wall, a prototype of the Orion crew module and a massive 3D printer that uses metal, along with the engineers who operate it. Students will also get the opportunity to interact with the test lab team simulating and testing Exploration Mission 1 (EM1), the mission to Mars. Lockheed Martin experts will be on hand to answer questions and explain their career paths and experiences exploring deep space. The event will be broadcast live from the Lockheed Martin Space Operations Simulation Center in Littleton, CO. Advanced classroom signup is available at generationbeyondinschool.com. Classrooms that register will receive lesson plans and activities ahead of the event, during the event and afterward to help reinforce learning. The host will be Larry Price, Orion deputy program manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. This virtual field trip is part of the Generation Beyond in School program. For more information, visit the event website. STEM 36 Public Middle Schools to Join Inaugural Boston STEM Week Source: Boston STEM Week. Next month, about 6,500 middle school students in Boston, MA will participate in Boston STEM Week. The first-of-its-kind initiative brings hands-on STEM curriculum developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other organizations to 36 middle schools in the Boston Public Schools district, with plans to reach 2,000 schools by the end of 2020. From Oct. 37, participating BPS middle school classrooms will be transformed into learning labs, where students and teachers will work in teams to solve real-world problems through hands-on experimentation, critical thinking and collaboration. Regularly scheduled classes will be replaced with about 20-25 hours of STEM curriculum. Courses that will be offered include: Digital Game Design, a course that uses the MIT-created programming language Scratch to create an original video game with custom graphics; Building a Lunar Colony, a course where students will explore what it might take to set up a Moon colony and design their own model rockets; Kinetic Sculpture, where students will be introduced to key concepts of kinetic sculpture and build their own mobile sculptures; Building an Interactive, Friendly Monster, where students will learn fundamentals of electronics and programming and run a simple program on LilyPad Arduino; Surgical Techniques, a course that investigates how the body works through isolating their own DNA and conducting other experiments: and Urban Farming, where students will explore the impact growing population has on the global food supply, and design and test their own irrigation systems. In addition, volunteers from local STEM corporations will visit the middle schools and discuss their careers. On the last day, each school will hold a showcase for friends and family and discuss their projects created throughout the week. Boston STEM Week is fully funded through foundation and corporate support. The platform is expected to reach 2,000 schools, 20,000 teachers and 500,000 students by the end of 2020. A full schedule of events for the week and additional details can be found on the Boston STEM Week site. -Diamond Platinumz's wife Zari Hassan is having trouble with her fifth pregnancy - This has forced her to prolong her stay in South Africa as she is unable to travel to Tanzania Weeks after famous Kenyan musician Akothee lost her twin pregnancy, another artiste's wife is having trouble with her pregnancy. Diamond Platinumz's wife Zari Hassan . Photo: Global Publishers. READ ALSO: So, Diamond Platnumz came to Kenya and had sex with this Kenyan girl (photos) Diamond Platinumz's wife Zari Hassan is said to be having difficulties with her pregnancy so much that she is unable to travel back home. Diamond Platinumz with one of his cars READ ALSO: Kenyan sassy singer hobnobbing with Raila Junior a month after break up Sources revealed to Tanzania's Global publishers that Zari who is carrying a six-month pregnancy is under duress. This has made her unable to go back to Tanzania from South Africa. Diamond Platinumz's wife Zari Hassan and a friend . Photo: Global Publishers. READ ALSO: After Bahati, comedian Eric Omondi now DESTROYS Kenyas richest singer with just one joke Diamond n Zari.Image: Chimp Reports. READ ALSO:Why I attended Jubilee Party launch- ODM Organising Secretary Zari who is carrying her fifth child is due in December 2016 with the birth of the baby boy expected to excite the Bongo music giant. She already has one child with Diamond, a daughter named Latifah Dangote who is one-year-old. Her pregnancy was seen to be too soon with some criticising her for taking too short a break from her previous birth. Cover image: Global Publishers Source: TUKO.co.ke - Four police officers are missing after suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a Kenyan police station - The militants also seriously injured two other officers at the Amei Police Post in Garissa county - The militants are said to have also stolen several weapons and a land cruiser from the station Four Kenyan police officers are reported to be missing after suspected al-Shabaab militants raided a police post in Garissa county on Wednesday night, September 21. - Four police officers are missing after suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a Kenyan police station READ ALSO: Photos of over 200 dangerous foreign commandos in Kenya to train KDF Two police officers were seriously injured in the attack at the Amei police post which is a few kilometers from the Kenya-Somali border. The injured police officers have been airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment. READ ALSO: KDF kill 33 al-Shabaab militants after military operation Four Kenyan police officers are reported to be missing after suspected al-Shabaab militants raided a police post in Wajir county on Wednesday night, September 21. Photo/Hiran online READ ALSO: Top military officer killed in car bomb The militants are said to have stolen several guns and ammunition at the station including a police land-cruiser. General Service Unit (GSU) officers have been deployed to the area to track the militants. The GSU officers will carry ground and air surveillance to track the militants. General Service Unit (GSU) officers have been deployed to the area to track the militants. This is not the first time al-Shabaab militants have attacked a police station in Kenya, in April, Diff Police Station in Wajir county was attacked by terrorists who also burnt it down. Al-Shabaab still controls remote areas in southern and southwest areas of Somalia. Cover photo: Hiraan Source: TUKO.co.ke (Recasts, adds industry comment) By David Ljunggren and Rod Nickel OTTAWA/WINNIPEG, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Canada and China have agreed on a long-term solution to a trade dispute over C$2 billion ($1.53 billion) worth of annual canola sales, leaders of the two countries said on Thursday, setting aside their spat over the crop as they seek to broaden trade ties. China announced plans this year to toughen its standard on foreign material, called dockage, in Canadian canola shipments, before twice backing down near its deadlines. Even (Taiwan OTC: 6436.TWO - news) so, sales from Canada, the world's biggest exporter of the yellow-flowering crop, slowed. The solution is "predictable, science-based and stable," ensuring access for Canadian shipments to China, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Ottawa at a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. China, which has said it was concerned about the foreign material spreading a crop disease called blackleg, had intended to change its standard on Sept. 1 before agreeing to continue negotiations with Canada leading up to meetings in Ottawa. Li said the agreement runs until 2020, and in the meantime, the countries will study the risk dockage may pose, he said. "For China, we have pretty sufficient amount of time to increase the quality of exports to China," Li said through an interpreter. "That agreement is in the larger picture of Canada-China relations." Canadian exporters, which include Richardson International, Glencore PLC (Frankfurt: 8GC.F - news) unit Viterra Inc, and Cargill Ltd, have raised concerns that the tougher standard would curb sales to China as it raises their costs. Industry analysts have said China's stance was likely linked to high domestic stockpiles. "This brings much-needed stability to the canola industry," said Patti Miller, president of the Canola Council of Canada, which represents exporters and farmers, as well as other farm companies. Few details were released, but sources with knowledge of the deal said the maximum level of dockage China accepts will continue to be 2.5 percent of a shipment. China had intended to lower the maximum to 1 percent. Story continues Some Canadian exporters made sales to China based on its tougher specifications, but others balked. The agreement will now give the exporters and Chinese processors confidence to sign contracts, Miller said. The crop, also called rapeseed, is crushed in China, Canada's biggest canola export market, to produce vegetable oil and animal feed. ICE Canada canola futures rose 1.5 percent, touching the day's highs after news of the agreement. ($1 = 1.3058 Canadian dollars) (Writing by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and James Dalgleish) ACCRA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Ghana could become the fourth biggest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020 once two new offshore fields come on stream, to push total output above 240,000 barrels per day (bpd), pan-African bank Ecobank said on Wednesday. The West African country produces around 103,000 bpd ranking it ninth, far behind leaders Nigeria and Angola, which produce an average of 1.867 million bpd and 1.754 million bpd respectively, said the Ecobank research report. Ghana's Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) field came on stream in August and is expected to increase output to a peak of around 80,000 bpd. The Jubilee field, which started producing oil in 2010 and is operated by British oil company Tullow, could bounce back to production of around 115,000 bpd once it solves technical problems with its production vessel. At the same time, the Sankofa field operated by Italian company ENI (LSE: 0N9S.L - news) is due to open in August 2017 and should produce around 30,000 bpd, while U.S. independent Kosmos Energy (NYSE: KOS - news) plans to connect the Mahogany-Teak-Akasa (MTA) field to the Jubilee oil production ship. "Based on existing fields and field development plans Ghana crude oil output is estimated to be over 240,000 bpd by 2019. This could potentially make Ghana the fourth largest oil producer in Sub Saharan Africa by 2020," the report said. Production costs for Ghana's oil projects, which are all in deep water, mean that the crude remains viable if global prices fall to $40 per barrel, allowing it to remain attractive to investors in the event of price fluctuations, it said. Gas from TEN, Sankofa and MTA could eliminate the need for Ghana to import gas from Nigeria through the West African Gas Pipeline Company, it said. (Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Toby Chopra) By Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) - Thanking grassroots supporters who look set to keep him in charge of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn seems unruffled by accusations from fellow MPs that his left-wing agenda will never deliver election victory. The veteran campaigner is almost certain to see off what his supporters call a "disgraceful" coup attempt by the party's more centrist establishment and win re-election on Saturday, a break with the centre-left path that is mirrored across Europe. "We, all of us, have mounted a most incredible campaign, mobilised a lot of people and we've actually changed the political discourse in this country," Corbyn said to cheers from volunteers helping him in central London on the last night of his campaign to retain the leadership of the party. It has been a bitter struggle for the heart of Labour in which both sides have cited the need to heal the deep divisions in British society exposed by the dynamite public vote in June to leave the European Union. Personal attacks, allegations of anti-Semitism and abuse have become more commonplace than policy debates within Labour since Corbyn beat three more centrist candidates to the leadership last year. The discord has crimped the party's support in the polls and for many Labour MPs the future looks bleak. They say Corbyn is too left wing for voters who returned the Conservatives to power just last year, which means the ruling party will have a free rein to pursue austerity policies and plot a divorce from the EU they fear will push Britain to the right. Corbyn's supporters say the MPs have misread the public mood. They argue that voters' rejection of the European Union was driven by public frustration at inequality and call his expected victory the next step towards a "different kind of politics" to make Britain fairer. "We have been ... involving people in politics that matters," he told his supporters, many of whom had spent hours phoning Labour members to persuade them to back Corbyn in the leadership election just hours before the polls closed. Almost mobbed after speaking, Corbyn commands an affection that verges on hero worship. His supporters want to have selfies with him, to get close to him and many hang on his every word. But the fierce loyalty he inspires, which has helped more than double Labour's membership over the last year to 551,000 people, has a flip side. The almost two thirds of his parliamentary colleagues who say they have no confidence in him have felt the wrath of his supporters. Owen Smith, the Labour lawmaker who is challenging Corbyn to the leadership and looks set to lose, is a major target. "They behaved like traitors, they are corporatists, not in touch with working people," said Mohtashim Shaikh, a 63-year-old retired project manager from southeast London. "The old Labour Party is dead ... Corbyn is the first genuinely honest and honourable leader for decades in this country." TIME TO UNITE? Corbyn, 67, has long sat on the left of the party, voting against centrists such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair and lobbying with others to restore more socialist policies. A peace campaigner, he is opposed to Britain having nuclear weapons. He did not court power, never expected to win it, and soon felt the backlash. Fellow MPs criticised him for a lack of leadership and what they said a lukewarm campaign to keep Britain in the European Union, which he wants to reform. In late June, 172 of his colleagues passed a motion of no confidence. The tussle between Labour's two wings is by no means new, and the groundswell for change that brought Corbyn to power is mirrored across Europe, where centre-left parties have lost support to anti-establishment movements that have emerged since the 2008 economic crisis. Labour, which ruled for 13 years until 2010, was dealt a crushing defeat last year by the Conservatives who cast doubt whether the party's left-wing policies would protect the economy and still lead in opinion polls, by seven percentage points. Both of Labour's wings have appealed for unity and rule out a split while working behind the scenes to try to gain complete control over the party machinery, resulting in hours of talks but no compromises. Discussions will continue at the party's annual conference this weekend in the northwestern city of Liverpool, where the results of the leadership contest will be announced at 1045 GMT. Centrist MPs say unless Corbyn broadens his appeal beyond the young and urban voters they say he relies on, he faces little chance of ever being elected prime minister. "We have to grow the collective and be that big, broad church," centrist Labour lawmaker Chukka Umunna told a panel discussion last week. "I thought that was an argument which was resolved in the party some time ago." Some of those closest to Corbyn doubt the battle is over. "(I) haven't heard many people talking about a coup immediately after this one, so that's an improvement," joked Jon Lansman, an organiser of Corbyn's election bid and chairman of Corbyn-supporting campaign group Momentum. "Things are getting better, but who knows what's going to happen." (Editing by Philippa Fletcher) A father who repeatedly threw his three-year-old stepdaughter into a hotel swimming pool will face the rest of his life behind bars. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT The killer, known only as Jose David N., has been jailed for 100 years after shocking footage showed him leaving the toddler to drown in the pool while other bathers hastily left. The video, shot in the city of Morelia, Mexico, in August 2015, shows the man throwing his stepdaughter into the swimming pool knowing that she could not swim. Shocking: The man repeatedly threw the toddler into the pool (CEN) Killer: The girls stepfather knew she could not swim (CEN) He then appeared to act surprised after being told that she had drowned. However, the video footage was enough to convict him and see him jailed with no possibility of parole. Judge Garcia Cardona said that not only did the man throw the toddler into the pool several times, he even dragged her hair under the water and held her tiny body in such a position in the water that she was unable to breathe. Witnesses: Other bathers hastily left the pool during the incident (CEN) Guilty: The man has been sentenced to 100 years in jail (CEN) He can also be seen dragging her hair under the water and not allowing her to breath properly, while the girl was desperately tried to swim despite not knowing how to. The defence had tried to suggest that the little girl had died outside the pool and not in the water, but this was rejected by the judges. The toddlers mother was sleeping in the hotel room at the time of the incident and reportedly took her daughter to hospital after realising she wasnt breathing, where doctors confirmed she had died. Top pic: CEN A computer model simulated human density 80,000 years ago, showing the arrival of humans in eastern China and southern Europe as well as migrations out of Africa along vegetated paths in Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula. (Tobias Friedrich) Ancient human migrations out of Africa may have been driven by wobbles in Earth's orbit and tilt that led to dramatic swings in climate, a new study finds. Modern humans first appeared in Africa about 150,000 to 200,000 years ago. It remains a mystery as to why it then took many millennia for people to disperse across the globe. Recent archaeological and genetic findings suggest that migrations of modern humans out of Africa began at least 100,000 years ago, but most humans outside of Africa most likely descended from groups who left the continent more recently between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago. Previous research suggested that shifts in climate might help explain why modern human migrations out of Africa happened when they did. For instance, about every 21,000 years, Earth experiences slight changes to its orbit and tilt. These series of wobbles, known as Milankovitch cycles, alter how much sunlight hits different parts of the planet, which in turn influences rainfall levels and the number of people any given region can support. [See Photos of Our Closest Human Ancestor] Now scientists have developed a new computer simulation of Earth to pinpoint how these changes in orbit and solar radiation levels might have affected rainfall, temperature, sea levels, glacial ice, vegetation, carbon dioxide levels and global modern human migration patterns over the past 125,000 years. The researchers noted that this model's predictions agree well with previous findings regarding ancient climates. The model suggests that modern humans dispersed from Africa in multiple waves across the Arabian Peninsula and the area known as the Levant, the eastern Mediterranean region that includes Israel and Syria. These results closely align with previous estimates garnered from archaeological and fossil data of when modern humans arrived in areas such as the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. "Earth's wobble with a periodicity of 21,000 years played a huge role in our dispersal across the planet and most likely also in our evolution and adaptation," said study lead author Axel Timmermann, a climate researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. "If the climate had been constant over the past 125,000 years, we would have evolved in a very different way." Story continues Specifically, the researchers found that intensified rainfall in northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant would have generated habitable green corridors for modern humans to migrate through the Sahara and Arabian deserts. These corridors would have been open during four distinct times about 106,000 to 94,000 years ago; 89,000 to 73,000 years ago; 59,000 to 47,000 years ago; and 45,000 to 29,000 years ago "enabling Homo sapiens to leave northeastern Africa and embark onto their grand journey into Eurasia, Australia and the Americas," Timmermann told Live Science. The model suggests these migrations were not one-way in nature away from Africa, "as is often portrayed in schematics," Timmermann said. "A green migration corridor between Africa and the eastern Mediterranean meant that Africans were migrating into Eurasia, and Eurasians were moving into Africa. The backflow of Homo sapiens into certain regions and the corresponding backflow of genes may be crucial for understanding who we are, why we are, where we are." The model also suggests that modern humans should have arrived nearly simultaneously in southern China and Europe about 80,000 to 90,000 years ago. However, the oldest-known modern human fossils in southern China predate the oldest-discovered modern human fossils in Europe by about 35,000 to 40,000 years. The researchers proposed that the slow entry of modern humans into Europe might have been due to Neanderthals there. In the future, "I am planning to include Neanderthals in our computer model" and account for factors such as interbreeding, cultural exchange and competition over food, Timmermann said. Timmermann and his colleague Tobias Friedrich at the University of Hawaii at Manoa detailed their findings in the Sept. 22 issue of the journal Nature. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BERLIN (Reuters) - German police arrested a 16-year-old Syrian at a refugee hostel near Cologne on suspicion of having contact with a supporter of Islamic State abroad and expressing his willingness to carry out a bomb attack, authorities said on Wednesday. "He showed his readiness to commit a bombing in an internet chat," a police spokesman told a news conference in Berlin. It remained unclear whether the teenager, who police said appeared to have been radicalised only recently, had any concrete plans for such an attack. On Tuesday, police in Cologne had said an initial assessment had pointed to a "serious threat" but gave no further details. "An evaluation of the young man's mobile phone proves contacts to a person living abroad who has IS links and who wanted to win over the young Syrian for Islamist activities," said the police in a statement on Wednesday. The police spokesman said the teenager's chat partner apparently lived in the Middle East. The father of the arrested teenager, Jamal Jairodeiah, said he hoped his son would be released soon because he believed in the German justice system. "He's not guilty," Jairodeiah said. He said his son had not committed any crimes and somebody might have manipulated him. Germany is on high alert after militant attacks in France and Belgium this year that have killed dozens of people and Germans are especially fearful about security risks after last year's influx of about 1 million migrants. In July, Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for two attacks in Bavaria. Police arrested three Syrian members of Islamic State this month, brought into Germany by the same network that smuggled militants into France to carry out deadly attacks last November. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Richard Balmforth) (Note obscenity in paragraph nine) MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte demanded on Wednesday the European Union show him respect worthy of a president, despite giving the bloc a one-finger gesture and a vulgar four-letter rebuke after its legislators expressed concern about his drug war. Angered by last week's call by the European parliament for restraint in his deadly 11-week crackdown, the former mayor of the southern city of Davao took aim for a second day at the European Union and said he did not deserve insults. "Even the EU is scolding me," Duterte said in a televised speech at an army base. "When I was mayor, that was OK but it is different now because I am the president. Why would you insult me?" He added: "It is as if I am your subordinate." After lambasting the United Nations, the United States and its president and Nobel laureate, Barack Obama, the EU is the latest high-profile recipient of a Duterte dressing-down that has become part of his appeal to millions of Filipinos. Duterte swept to power in a May election promising an assault on the drugs trade and at least 3,800 people have been killed since he took office on June 30. The European parliament appeared to strike a nerve when it issued a statement calling on his government to "put an end to the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings", while expressing concern about "extraordinarily high numbers killed during police operations". During a speech on Tuesday, Duterte hit out at the EU, saying "Fuck you" and raising a fist with the middle finger thrust out in an obscene gesture. The European Union delegation in Manila issued a diplomatically worded statement from its ambassador but later retracted it, for reasons not explained, replacing it with another, saying "We don't comment on comments". "The European Union and the Philippines enjoy good relations, and we will continue to discuss this issue, among many others, in our bilateral contacts," it said in the revised statement. Duterte said on Sunday he may have to extend the campaign against drugs into next year, having understated the depth of the problem. (Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel) By Manuel Mogato and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - Firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday invited U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union to investigate his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, after hurling insults at them for interfering in it. Duterte has taken aim at just about anyone critical of his 11-week-old war on drugs, in which nearly 3,000 people have been killed, according to police, who have adjusted their figure from 3,800 cited last week. He last month called the United Nations "inutile" and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from it. He gave a middle-finger gesture on Tuesday to the EU, to which he said "fuck you", twice. "I am inviting the United Nations' Ban Ki ... what's the name of that devil? ... Ban Ki-moon," Duterte said at the opening of a new power plant. "I am inviting the EU, send the best lawyers of your own, also the rapporteurs, to come to the Philippines. I will write them a letter to invite them for an investigation." He later added, without elaborating: "Investigate me ... this will not be a one-way affair". Duterte's defiance of high-profile organisations and his insults of anyone from U.S. President Barack Obama to Pope Francis has been a source of amusement for Filipinos but of concern to diplomats. Treaty ally the United States has borne the brunt of many of his tirades, with some analysts predicting Duterte would seek to diversify foreign relations beyond Washington, including by seeking better ties with erstwhile maritime foe China. He gave a hint of that in his speech, telling Chinese businessmen: "You will see me often in China". He did not elaborate, but said he planned to visit China some time this year and would press his case for it to let Filipinos fish unimpeded at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. 'SCARY SCENARIO' He also said he would debate Ban and the EU on human rights, and denied that police were involved in vigilante killings. Police say about two thirds of the deaths in the drug campaign were caused by unknown assailants and the rest in police operations. "These were the handiworks of their co-conspirators in drugs," he said. "That's not the work of government." Duterte resumed attacks on his biggest critic, Leila de Lima, a senator whose investigation into his drugs war appears all but over after she was unseated as head of a Senate probe. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Thursday told a radio station De Lima would be charged with involvement in the drugs trade herself. A conviction could see her spend 30 years in jail. Duterte has attacked the credibility of De Lima repeatedly, accusing her of having an affair with her staff and making money from bribes and drugs deals in one of the country's biggest prisons. De Lima denied allegations she colluded with drugs gangs, calling them "very outlandish, very outrageous" and "laughable". She said she no longer felt safe and was receiving hundreds of threats and hate messages. There are also several complaints about her lodged with a house ethics committee and De Lima is facing a possible expulsion from the Senate. Political analyst Earl Parreno said there was a danger that De Lima's ostracism after taking on Duterte would discourage others and threaten the system of checks and balances. "It's a scary scenario," Parreno said of the possible case against her. "It will set a precedent. It will be a clear tyranny of the majority and will eliminate all opposition to Duterte." (Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel) By Nicky Milne BUKALEBA FOREST RESERVE, Uganda (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Deep within a pine and eucalyptus forest on the shores of Lake Victoria in southern Uganda, a parcel of land is pitting a Norwegian timber company against more than 10,000 villagers who say its "green" project is costing their homes and livelihood. The land in dispute is 500 hectares within an area of about 6,500 hectares in the Bukaleba Forest Reserve, leased for 50 years in 1996 by Uganda's government to privately-owned Green Resources, one of Africa's largest forest companies. Green Resources, whose 2,500-strong workforce has planted 41,000 hectares of forest in Uganda, Mozambique, and Tanzania, said it was proud of its environmental credentials, harvesting logs used across East Africa and selling into the carbon credit market. Located 120 km (75 miles) from both the capital, Kampala, and the Kenyan border, the plantation at Bukaleba is in an ideal spot for wood production for use both in Uganda and for export. But rather than being welcomed by the local community, the Ugandan project stands accused of evicting villagers who have lived on the land for generations and depriving them of livelihoods by taking land used to grow food or graze livestock. "When we first arrived here, life was comfortable. We were farming and harvesting enough food, but those things are no more," said Olga Akello, who has lived in the Bukaleba forest for over 30 years. "They took away our farmland and we have become beggars." To appease villagers, President Yoweri Museveni pledged to allocate them 500 hectares of the leased land but this "promised land" has yet to materialise, setting communities against the company in a complex land dispute echoed across Africa. Green Resources Director Teddy Nyamaizi Nsamba said this was a matter for the government to resolve as it was not within the company's mandate to hand over this land. The company is proud of its efforts to help the communities, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview at Green Resources offices in Jinja, Uganda's second city. Its website refers to benefits including creating jobs, supplying medical equipment to health centres, drilling bore holes for water, sponsoring girls through secondary education, and running HIV/AIDS awareness activities. UNCERTAIN FUTURE Bukaleba's villagers are among millions facing an uncertain future across Africa where an estimated 50 million hectares of land are leased to foreign entities and 90 percent of rural land untitled, according to a report by U.S.-based Oakland Institute. Ugandan Central Forest Reserves are managed by the National Forest Authority (NFA) and are considered protected areas, but thousands of people were brought to live and work in the Bukaleba area by Idi Amin's government in the 1970s. Under complex laws, those who occupied the land for 12 years before the 1995 Constitution came into force, or who had been settled on the land by the government, do have "bona fide" land rights, but many are unaware of the laws that protect them. David Arach, East Africa programme officer at NAMATI, which trains grassroots legal advocates to work with poor communities, said as customary laws are mainly oral in Uganda - proof of ownership and documentation are understandably onerous - the law treats customary tenure as equal to other tenure systems. If a compulsory acquisition of villagers' land occurred, a fair market price for the land should have been negotiated based on a willing buyer/seller model, Arach said. "The rights of the people in Bukaleba should have been respected," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Questions on how the community benefits from the initiative should have been considered in the first place." Jessika Nait, who was born in the area in 1972, said her family used to grow all its food on four hectares of land which she said her father had bought. Since that land was leased to Green Resources, she has struggled to feed her children. She said the number of evictions has intensified since Green Resources leased the land from the NFA. "They brought a truckload of soldiers to chase people from the forest, they were shooting people and they burned down houses," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Another villager, James Maaka, who has lived in Bukaleba for almost 30 years, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that he and his two sons were attacked as they dug their garden. His oldest son, Muwanguzi, said he had suffered a head injury in the attack and still has headaches. "They grabbed father and caned us repeatedly. I was cut and blood started gushing out," Muwanguzi said. "Since Green Resources came here, we have had no peace." Nsamba said Green Resources had not evicted any villagers. "All evictions have been done by the National Forest Authority," she said. GLIMMER OF HOPE Nsamba said the company had found the land in Bukaleba in a degraded state and was working to restore the environment. "Ninety percent of labour is coming from the communities and that gives a livelihood to these communities that helps parents take their children to school, to build better shelter, to plan for their lives, because they have an income," she said. Gilbert Gadillo, spokesman for the NFA, said the government depends on foreign investment as it lacks resources to invest in new plantations to expand forest reserves to meet rising demand. He acknowledged that the NFA had carried out evictions in Bukaleba after it conducted what he called "community sensitisation", whereby residents are informed more about their situation before being removed from the forest reserves. "This is to help them make informed choices, including voluntary evacuation. Only after that has failed is there recourse to evictions," Gadillo said. Meanwhile, for villagers living in the forest, the 500 hectares remains a glimmer of hope in a bureaucratic quagmire as they lack land titles and recourse to the legal system. Gadillo confirmed that the "matter" of the 500 hectares is "before the cabinet of Uganda, pending guidance". Village chairman Ongom Alfonse, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, is still clinging to hope that the 500 hectares will be allocated to the community. At his home, he unlocked a box containing a letter he received from Museveni in 2011, and read out the proclamation earmarking 500 hectares for the community. Since then, however, nothing has happened. "Sometimes we eat once a day here now at Bukaleba. We want to share the forest, because we have nowhere else to go," he said. "We are just here stranded." (Reporting by Nicky Milne, Editing by Jo Griffin and Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) [Photo: Getty] It has just been announced that the Duchess of Cambridge is to embark on her first ever solo tour - to the Netherlands, according to Kensington Palace. The Kensington Palace Twitter account tweeted this morning that The Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Netherlands on 11th October for a day of official engagements in The Hague and Rotterdam. Upon arrival, the Duchess will pay a courtesy call to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, before visiting art museum The Mauritshuis to view the exhibition At Home in Holland: Vermeer & his Contemporaries from the British Royal Collection. The Duchess visit to mental health charity YoungMinds earlier this year [Photo: Getty] During her trip, the Duchess will also host a roundtable discussion at non-profit research and knowledge center The Trimbos Institute on addiction, family and mental health with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and Action on Addiction. The Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Netherlands on 11th October for a day of official engagements in The Hague and Rotterdam pic.twitter.com/iSPq3yMUMr Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 21, 2016 Finally, shell travel to Rotterdam to see Bouwkeet, the social Makerspace of Bospolder-Tussendijken - a community focussed initiative. The Duchess of Cambridge is very much looking forward to her visit to the Netherlands, the Palace concludes. Kate visits the Vogue 100: A Century of Style exhibition [Photo: Getty] 2016 has been a year of firsts for Kate Middleton, as she posed for her first official magazine cover shoot in British Vogues June issue earlier this year. She was photographed by Josh Olins for the publications centenary, who noted that the mother of two was a natural and a joy to work with, despite never having sat for a magazine shoot before. Story continues The Duchess as Royal Ascot [Photo: Getty] Shortly after this was the Duchess first ever visit to the Royal Ascot in June, at which she wore a white Dolce and Gabbana lace dress with a woven gold Jane Taylor hat to cheer on her horses. What do you think about the Duchess upcoming solo tour? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK. Kate Middleton Looks Countryside Chic on Historic Cover of 'Vogue Amal Clooney and Duchess of Cambridge twin in kooky Alexander McQueen dress CHARLOTTE A man was shot and critically injured during a second violent night of protests here, after two sharply divergent accounts emerged of the death of a black man at the hands of police. A march of a few hundred people turned chaotic after dusk, after protesters attempted to follow police in riot gear into the lobby of an uptown hotel. Officers used tear gas, and then a reporter heard a gunshot and saw a man lying in the street near the hotel entrance. The man, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital with injuries that medics said were life-threatening; officials announced on Twitter that the man had died, then later tweeted that he was on life support. No other information was given. In the aftermath of the Tuesday afternoon death of Keith Lamont Scott, anger in the streets turned to looting and arson and property damage in the swanky downtown, and North Carolinas largest city joined the list of communities across the country that have erupted amid a growing debate on racial bias in policing. Near midnight, the governor declared a state of emergency and sent the National Guard and state troopers to assist local police. Seven police officers and two civilians were taken to hospitals for injuries, officials said. In Tulsa, meanwhile, protesters called for the arrest of the officer involved in a fatal shooting of a black man there on Friday. President Barack Obama called the mayors of both cities to offer his condolences and pledge help, the White House announced. To date, law enforcement officials have fatally shot 706 people this year, 163 of them black men, according to a Washington Post database tracking fatal police shootings. A growing divide in public rhetoric over that toll has been stoked by a summer of high-profile deaths captured on social media and the deadly assaults on police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. The latest encounters come as the presidential race has tightened, and both candidates have offered positions and solutions. At a news conference Wednesday, Charlotte police insisted that Scott had a gun and was posing an imminent deadly threat when officers shot him outside an apartment complex near the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Scotts family, however, said he was unarmed when he was killed and was instead reading a book in his car while waiting to pick up his child from school a detail that quickly went viral on social media and was seized upon by protesters here. Officers were searching for another man, a suspect with outstanding warrants, when they spotted Scott emerging from a vehicle and armed with a handgun, police said. The officers gave loud, clear verbal commands telling Scott to drop the weapon, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said. Mr. Scott exited his vehicle armed with a handgun as the officers continued to yell at him to drop it. He stepped out, posing a threat to the officers. Putney said police recovered a gun and found no book at the scene. Its time to change the narrative, because I can tell you from the facts that the story is a little bit different as to how its been portrayed so far, especially through social media, the chief said. The police chief also said the officer who shot Scott was in plainclothes, wearing a vest with a police logo, and was accompanied by other officers in full uniform. The plainclothes officer wasnt wearing a body camera, but the other officers were. Whether authorities can defuse the anger on the streets could hinge on that body-cam footage. The shooting has thrust Charlotte to the fore of a national debate about access to police body cams. Putney said Wednesday that the department wont release any footage until a police investigation is complete. A new state law effective Oct. 1 forbids police agencies from making body-camera footage public without a court order. At a time when youre seeing other states becoming more transparent, North Carolina is taking this tremendous step backward, said Mike Meno, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. The violent protests and conflicting accounts in Charlotte proves just how misguided this new law is, Meno said, and shows exactly why public access to such footage is crucial. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, however, said she does not believe the new law will apply to the footage and said shes asked the chief to show it to her and a small group of community leaders such as the NAACP chair. The new legislation is just the latest national controversy over equity and civil rights to develop out of North Carolina. In recent months, progressive forces have clashed with conservative ones over black voting rights, bathroom use for transgender people, and now police shootings and body-camera access and in response have carried out boycotts and protests. Those have been peaceful, as were Tuesdays demonstrations, initially. In the first hours after the shooting, a large crowd gathered near the university, some chanting black lives matter and hands up, dont shoot. As the protest grew in size and anger, police appeared in riot gear and fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Some protesters began smashing the windows of police cars. By early Wednesday, demonstrators had shut down traffic on Interstate 85. Some opened the backs of tractor-trailers, took out boxes and set them on fire in the middle of the highway, according to local news reports. A truck driver told news station WSOC that people stole cargo from her trailer. A few dozen appeared to have broken into a nearby Walmart, then dispersed when authorities arrived. Attorney General Loretta Lynch pleaded Wednesday for protesters to remain peaceful, criticizing the violence that injured police and demonstrators alike. Protest is protected by our Constitution and is a vital instrument for raising issues and creating change, she said at a Washington conference. But when it turns violent, it undermines the very justice that it seeks to achieve. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) said Wednesday in a statement that his office will do everything we can to support the mayor and the police chief in their efforts to keep the community calm and to get this situation resolved. Its very important that we all work together as a team to solve a very difficult issue and to bring peace and resolution. In a Facebook Live video widely circulated leading up to the protest, a woman who identified herself as Scotts daughter said officers used a stun gun on him, then shot him four times with their service weapons. She added that Scott was disabled. My daddy didnt do nothing; they just pulled up undercover, she said in the video. It was unclear whether she was present and witnessed the event. By Wednesday afternoon, the video had been taken down. Authorities said the officer who shot Scott is black, and they identified him as Brentley Vinson, who has worked for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police force since July 2014. He was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. This city was the scene of another high-profile police shooting in September 2013, when Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers fatally shot Jonathan Ferrell, a 24-year-old black man who had crashed his car in a residential neighborhood several miles from the complex where Scott was killed. Officer Randall Kerrick fired 12 rounds at Ferrell, who was unarmed, striking him 10 times. Police said Ferrell ignored officers instructions. Last year, the jury deadlocked during Kerricks trial. While most jurors voted to acquit the officer, four voted to convict him. After a judge declared a mistrial, the state said it would not seek another trial. Ferrells family and the city of Charlotte settled a lawsuit stemming from the shooting for a reported $2.25 million. But anger from the 2013 shooting never went away, lurking beneath the surface until Tuesday night, when it exploded again into the open. Jibril Hough, a local activist who organized protests during Kerricks trial, said the current Charlotte demonstrations stem from lingering frustrations over Ferrells shooting death three years ago. I think what we went through with Kerrick here in Charlotte, even though it wasnt as explosive, I think that weathered on us, he said. What happens is that 9 times out of 10, the cop will get off. Hell get paid leave. Hell get early retirement. Hell basically get paid for the killing. Nothing is being done to really change anything. What youre seeing is people have been put in that situation for so long and theyre tired of talking, he added. Theyre tired of talking and talking and candlelight vigils and dialogue and nothing getting done. Hough said he did not agree with the violent turn the protests have taken. But, he said, theres a boiling point and some people in Charlotte have reached it. Derek Hawkins, Julie Tate and Sarah Larimer contributed to this report. Video: Shots fired during Charlottes second day of protests City officials say a man was shot during the second night of demonstrations in Charlotte after police fatally shot a black man outside an apartment complex on Sept. 20. (Cleve Wootson/The Washington Post) Short URL: http://wapo.st/2cErExA Embed code: charlotte-5thld-writethru UNITED NATIONS Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia and Syria on Wednesday to immediately ground all aircraft flying in key areas of northwest Syria where a humanitarian convoy was destroyed Monday, and accused Moscow of inventing its own facts to explain the air attack for which Russia is responsible. The simple reality is we cannot resolve this crisis if major parties . . . are unwilling to do whats necessary to avoid escalation, Kerry told the U.N. Security Council. We dont get anywhere by ignoring facts and denying common sense. Kerrys caustic intervention came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced emotional reactions to the strike on the convoy and called for a serious investigation of the incident. After suggesting that the attack was perpetrated by terrorist ground forces active in the area southwest of Aleppo, Moscow newly implied that it could have been a U.S. drone. Amid the charges and countercharges, speakers to the council pleaded for cooperation that could lead to a genuine cease-fire in the five-year civil war, and excoriated the international community as a whole for not ending the carnage. The Syrian tragedy shames us all, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in opening the meeting. The collective failure of the international community should haunt every member of this council. The meeting, called by New Zealand, the current council president, was not on the official schedule but was tacked on to a session called to discuss the recently completed peace agreement in Colombia. Kerry, Lavrov and other foreign ministers quickly took over the chairs that had been occupied by their U.N. ambassadors. But while all bemoaned the ongoing strife in Syria, agreed that the crumbling cease-fire was the only way out and pledged to do better at implementing it, attention was focused on the sharp exchange between Kerry and Lavrov. In remarks Kerry described as a parallel universe, Lavrov said that one of the clearest violations of the cease-fire the United States and Russia agreed to nearly two weeks ago was the Sept. 16 attack by the [U.S.-led] coalition against government forces the apparently mistaken airstrike in eastern Syria that killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. The convoy attack Monday, Lavrov said, was another unacceptable provocation, which took place west of Aleppo near forces of the Front for the Conquest of Syria, the al-Qaeda affiliate formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra. On the same day, in the same area, there was a very aggressive attack against government forces, he said. These kind of coincidences require serious analysis and investigation. Many said [the convoy attack] could have been a rocket or a mortar. He said Russia had presented proof, including real-time video of when this actually happened. In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday that a coalition Predator drone, which it said had taken off from Incirlik air base in Turkey, was seen near the route of the convoy on the day of the attack. Russia has said repeatedly that no Russian or Syrian aircraft was in the vicinity. The drone was spotted in midair at the height of 3,600 meters, moving at the speed of about 200 kilometers an hour, exactly in this area on September 19, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a Defense Ministry spokesman, told reporters at a briefing. The drone, he said, stopped near the area of the populated locality of Urum al-Kubra, where the strike took place several minutes before the convoy caught fire. And it left about 30 minutes later. This type of drone not only can observe the situation, but also direct ground weapons and autonomously deliver high-accuracy strikes on secure facilities, Konashenkov said. Capt. Jeff Davis, a Defense Department spokesman, said in an emailed statement, We can confirm that NONE of our aircraft manned or unmanned, US or Coalition were anywhere in the vicinity of Aleppo when the strike against the humanitarian convoy occurred. Kerry also replied scornfully to Lavrovs description of the attack. I dont think we can let anybody here, if were going to deal with this situation, have their own set of facts about Syria, he said. Twenty aid workers were killed in an outrageous, sustained, two-hour attack directed at a fully authorized humanitarian mission near Aleppo. Pentagon officials have said their preliminary conclusions are that the convoy was hit by a Russian airstrike. Those conclusions, he said, have been supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian groups, as well as workers on the ground. Just Tuesday night, Kerry said, there were reports of airstrikes on a medical facility near Aleppo, and four medical workers were killed, despite the fact there is supposed to be a cessation. There are only two countries that have airplanes that are flying during the night or flying at all in that particular area: Russia and Syria. Yes, the coalition did hit people on Saturday, Kerry said. We did it. It was a terrible accident. Within moments of it happening, we acknowledged it. We didnt put out a bunch of obfuscating facts. We said, Yeah, its a terrible thing, it happened. The Defense Department apologized, and we tried to find out how it happened. But the view from the air of people running around with guns on the ground . . . is a different thing from trucks in a convoy, with big U.N. markings all over them, Kerry said. Kerrys proposal to ground all aircraft in the northwest area around Aleppo, where government forces and their Iranian and Hezbollah allies are present along with moderate opposition and jihadist forces, is a significant change from the original terms of the U.S.-Russia agreement. It imposed no initial restriction on Syrian airstrikes against Front forces, while saying that once a cease-fire against all but terrorist groups was holding and aid was being delivered, the United States and Russia would take over with exclusive responsibility for strikes against the Front and the Islamic State. In his remarks, Lavrov repeated Russias insistence that the deal also called for the United States and its allies supporting the opposition to separate rebel forces from nearby jihadist groups. In spite of our appeals on the need to influence the armed opposition, he said, so far the results have been very insignificant. Kerry acknowledged that for too long some elements of the opposition have relied on an unholy coalition with al-Nusra. Al-Nusra is al-Qaida, he said. We cant look the other way if groups on the ground are fighting with . . . an enemy of all in this room. But, he said, its very hard to separate people when they are being bombed indiscriminately and when [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad has the right to determine who hes going to bomb, because he can, quote, Go after Nusra, but go after the opposition all at the same time because he wants to. You create a confusion that is impossible to separate out. We need to get to the prohibition on flying, Kerry said. That would prevent Syria from doing what it has done so often in the past, which is to attack civilian targets with the excuse it was just going after Nusra. To restore credibility to the process, we must move forward to immediately ground all aircraft flying in those key areas in order to de-escalate the situation and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded, he said. When it signed the most recent cease-fire agreement, Kerry said, Russia said that Assad would live by the cessation of hostilities and would accept the idea of not flying over agreed-upon areas. Although Kerry did not specify, his proposal appeared to include grounding Russian aircraft in the area. Because of the last few days, he said, we have no choice but to do that sooner rather than later. Although Kerry offered no public details of the proposal, senior administration officials described it as a confidence-building measure that would prove Russian commitment and could get the cease-fire deal back on track. They said it could apply to all areas where the opposition is massed, including Aleppo, Idlib and as far south as the Damascus suburbs. Kerry first proposed it in a private meeting with Lavrov Tuesday night. He also informed the Russians that, because of the convoy attack and the lack of secure humanitarian aid flows, conditions had not been met during the first week of the agreement to proceed to the second part of the deal, under which the United States and Russia would begin coordinated counterterrorism attacks. Russia has given no initial response to the proposal, U.S. officials said. The International Syria Support Group, chaired by the United States and Russia, along with other outside actors in the conflict, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, plans to meet again on Thursday. Lavrov, who spoke before Kerry, did not respond to the grounding proposal, although Kerry first presented it to him in a private meeting Tuesday night. syria-policy-post-1stld-writethru The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has announced it will rule next week on a rate increase for more than 500,000 customers of the states largest utility, Public Service Company of New Mexico. The rate case has been ongoing for two years and is one of the most contentious in recent memory. PNM is requesting an increase of $123.5 million in annual revenue, under which customers on average would see their bills rise by 14.4 percent. A PRC hearing examiners Aug. 4 recommendation slashed that by two-thirds to $41.3 million, which would mean an average increase of 6.4 percent for customers. At a public meeting today, commissioners discussed whether it would be possible to make determinations on all of the issues in question over the course of a single public meeting. Commissioner Sandy Jones suggested the decision-making process be broken up into two separate meetings. I know that I have a lot of questions, and that could take up to two hours, said Jones. Commissioners Valerie Espinoza, Pat Lyons and Lynda Lovejoy pushed back, saying it was unfair to the public to drag the process out over multiple days. Ive buried myself in this case so I can understand what Im going to vote on, said Lovejoy. Im not going to take up two hours of questions. We cant afford to go another day beyond Wednesday. Under state law, the commission has until the end of the month to make their ruling. The commissioners eventually agreed to vote on a final order in the case next Wednesday, Sep. 28, beginning at 9 a.m. Much of the controversy in the case stems from hearing examiner Carolyn Glicks decision to exclude several transactions from the calculation that determines how much PNM can charge customers. In her recommended decision, Glick said PNM acted imprudently by failing to sufficiently weigh other options when it purchased 64.1 megawatts of nuclear power from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station for $163.5 million, extended several leases at Palo Verde for $19.5 million per year and installed $52.3 million worth of air pollution controls at San Juan Generating Station that some called excessive. PNM maintains that the investments Glick excluded from the rate calculation were prudent and appropriately analyzed. PRC staff attorney Michael S. Smith adopted many of Glicks recommendations in a proposed order that was presented today during the meeting. The proposed order is what the commission will vote on next week in order to create their ruling in the rate case. The proposed order did not address the Palo Verde or San Juan issues, which will be discussed at the next public meeting. Smith said he will prepare several versions of the proposed order to make it possible for the commission to make their ruling in a single day. Albuquerque, The Container Store is on its way. The chain will take over 18,000 square feet of former Sears space in the states largest shopping mall, according to Coronados Senior General Manager Randy Sanchez. Construction will start early next year with an expected opening date of May 2017, Sanchez told the Journal. The Container Store specializes in storage and organization products and has 80 stores around the country and about $800 million in annual sales, according to its investor reports. The Texas-based chain cites an inventory of over 11,000 products to help customers save space and, ultimately, save them time. The Container Stores move into Coronado is part of a major redevelopment effort precipitated by Sears downsizing. Sears recently shrank its store by about 50 percent, leaving about 100,000 square feet of space for the malls ownership to redevelop. Sanchez has said it will mean about 16 individual store spaces. There is also construction of three pad sites likely for restaurants underway in the malls northeastern parking lot. The Container Store is just the latest in a series of popular chains to pick Coronado for their first-ever New Mexico locations. The mall has also welcomed the states first H&M, The Cheesecake Factory and Bonefish Grill. SANTA FE Santa Fe District Court Judge Sarah Singleton on Wednesday denied former prisoner Samuel Chavezs motion to impose sanctions on the Department of Corrections and allow him to reinspect parts of the Old Main building at the Penitentiary of New Mexico near Santa Fe. Chavez asked for sanctions against Corrections after he wasnt able to inspect an area above the mental health unit and beneath the basement at an Aug. 17 inspection of the now unused Old Main building. Chavez also asked that Corrections provide a backhoe for him to dig under the basement, part of a search for ledgers and other evidence that he maintains would show that inmates were poisoned and their body parts sold years ago. Nothing was found in August after Chavez dug in the Old Main recreation yard and visited cells. Corrections officials said during the August search that they didnt have keys to the area above the mental health unit and that the doors to a boiler room that would give Chavez access to a crawl space underneath the basement were welded shut. Chavez argues the prison officials violated Singletons previous order of inspection by not allowing him to access those areas. Singleton denied all aspects of Chavezs latest motion Wednesday morning, saying theres no evidence that Corrections recently welded the door shut. She also said its unreasonable for someone to use a backhoe to dig underneath the building. Chavez is suing the state and several Corrections officials for personal abuse and other wrongdoing during his time at prison, where he served time for a 1988 murder conviction. Chavez claims prison officials harvested and sold inmates body parts and made him bury evidence of that throughout the facility. The case, which was filed in 2007, is likely to go to trial in the coming months. SANTA FE Nuclear Watch New Mexico says a highly touted new cost estimate for completing cleanup of decades worth of radioactive and hazardous waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory is based more on the likely stream of federal funding rather than the actual cost of dealing with the toxic materials. Nuke Watch also said the report understates the amount of problem material on the lab campus by failing to note a huge quantity at LANLs Area G waste dump that is likely ot merely be capped and covered rather than treated or removed. The DOEs Environmental Management Office in Los Alamos released a report last week that said it could take more than 20 years and nearly from $2.9 billion to $3.8 billion to finish cleanup of materials left over from nuclear weapons production in Los Alamos. It was the most detailed estimate yet on the expense of remediating the labs so-called legacy waste. But Nuke Watch, in a news release Wednesday, noted that the report itself says the cost of completing cleanup by between 2035 and 2040 is based on realistic expectations of annual funding for the remaining work and that annual funding is expected to remain constant throughout the duration of the cleanup mission. Clean-up funding has range from $225 million to $189 million in recent years. Nuke Watch director Jay Coghlan said the realistic expectations language is code that this wont be a comprehensive cleanup that would be far more expensive. I think theyre trying to cap and cover the funding, he said. Nuke Watch also said the report is far from honest in saying that only 5,000 cubic meters of legacy waste remains. It intentionally omits any mention of approximately 150,000 cubic meters of poorly characterized radioactive and toxic wastes just at Area G, Nuke Watch said. The report says Area G wastes are expected to be dealt with using engineered cover which Nuke Watch says would leave the materials permanently buried above the regional aquifer and three miles uphill from the Rio Grande. Actually removing the buried materials would costs billions of dollars, according to prior estimates. The report became public through a Santa Fe city government news release in which Mayor Javier Gonzales called it the first and most comprehensive release of specific plans to complete the cleanup of legacy waste at LANL, and is a big step forward for the people in these communities who want to see a concrete commitment to making progress. Santa Fe is part of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, which pushes for more clean-up funding and the award of the resulting contracts to local firms. Coghlan said it was good that Gonzales and the coalition got DOE to release the clean-up plan. But now they should take the next step and get the Department of Energy to quit being so chintzy with cleanup and demand that DOE retract the false claim that only 5,000 cubic meters of waste are left at LANL. Wednesday, City Hall provided a statement from the mayor saying, I believe this has to be a public process, and obtaining and publishing this report was the first step. For the first time, a thorough public vetting is possible. So I look forward to continued input and participation from Nuke Watch, other interested groups, and the public at large. Journal efforts to get comment from DOE, its Environmental Management Office and the National Nuclear Security Administration were unsuccessful. CAIRO A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast near the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing at least 42 people, Egyptian authorities said. The army gave the toll in a statement, saying it had thwarted an illegal immigration attempt and that the boat had been 12 nautical miles off the coast when it sank. Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the total number of dead was still unknown. Local official Alaa Osman from Beheira province said the migrants were from several African countries. He said over 150 people have been rescued so far but that bodies are still being pulled from the water. Egypts official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank near the coast, some 180 kilometers (112 miles) north of the capital, Cairo. Osman said the boat had likely come from Kafr el-Sheik province, further to the east. Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage across the Mediterranean in recent years fleeing war and poverty, mostly via lawless Libya. Thousands have drowned. The number of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly in the past year, EU border agency Frontex said earlier this month. More than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year, it said. Experts say smugglers in Egypt mostly use old fishing vessels, stuffed way beyond capacity both below and above deck. New and more dangerous smuggling practices and attempts to reach Europe by riskier routes have led to a spike in the number of migrants dying as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration said in a report last month. It said newer routes, particularly from Egypt, are longer and riskier, leading to search and rescue efforts often being carried out farther away from land. It said 2,901 people died or disappeared crossing the Mediterranean in the first six months of 2016, a 37 percent increase over the first six months of last year. Last May, hundreds of migrants died after a wooden boat coming from Libya capsized, even as the Italian navy rushed to the rescue. European rescue boats, including naval vessels, often patrol off the Libyan coast to prevent such disasters. The migrant crisis has proven deeply divisive in Europe, which has struggled to come up with a unified response. Right-wing nationalist parties opposed to taking in more migrants and refugees have made gains, including in Germany, which has accepted more migrants than any other European country. Migrants rescued by the Italian navy near Europes southern borders are brought to processing centers and offered accommodation while they apply for asylum. But many of the thousands registered each month travel further onwards toward Europes richer north, in hopes of settling there. More than 60,000 migrants and refugees are stranded in transit in Greece just across the Mediterranean from Egypt and those who arrived after March 20 have been restricted to five Aegean islands under an EU-brokered deal to deport them back to Turkey. The agreement has been fraught with delays, however, and most of the people in island camps have applied for asylum in Greece, launching a lengthy process during which they cannot be deported. WASHINGTON What a moment for President Obama to deliver his valedictory address to the United Nations on Tuesday defending the liberal international order at a time when its under severe stress around the world. Obamas speech was preceded by some sickening reminders of how global security is fraying: The day before, a Syrian, or perhaps Russian, airstrike had ravaged a U.N. aid convoy trying to relieve Aleppo; over the weekend, a lone-wolf terrorist had tried to slaughter innocents in the New York area; three days before, errant American bombs had incinerated a camp of Syrian soldiers and, in the process, torched a fragile cease-fire. Amid this disordered world, Obama displayed his sterling assets: his idealism, moral clarity and calm intellect. But those good qualities seemed unequal this past week to containing the bad forces that are loose in the world. As this gifted but sometimes vexed leader prepares to leave office, the world seems more disordered than when he arrived. Obamas address was personal and polyphonous: One part was a campaign speech, touting the progress that weve made these last eight years and criticizing crude populism, an obvious reference to Donald Trump. Another part could have been delivered in a Bible-study class, arguing against a world of cynical self-interest and proposing instead that his audience of hardened global political leaders become, echoing Martin Luther King, co-workers with God. Through the speech, you could hear early soundings of the memoir he must already be starting to compose in his head. He spoke of his multiracial background and his rise to power as evidence that our identities dont have to be defined by putting someone else down. He might have been arguing with the gloomy philosopher Thomas Hobbes when he insisted that each individual or nation can choose to reject those who appeal to our worst impulses and embrace those who appeal to our best. Discussing the Middle East sinkhole he tried so hard to escape, but which ended up swallowing much of his foreign-policy attention, he was remarkably frank: So much of the collapse in order has been fueled (by) leaders resorting to persecuting political opposition, or demonizing other religious sects, (or) by narrowing the public space to the mosque. Obama said out loud many of the feelings Jeffrey Goldberg attributed to him in his famous Atlantic article. The centerpiece of the speech was Obamas discussion of the liberal international order. This has become a kind of code-phrase for the American internationalism and global leadership that shaped the decades after 1945. Obama described deep fault lines that have emerged in this structure and societies that are now filled with uncertainty, and unease, and strife. Rather than simply defending the old regime, Obama rightly argued for a course correction in globalization, so that its perceived as fairer and more inclusive. We cannot unwind integration any more than we can stuff technology back into a box, Obama argued. The answer is better jobs, higher wages, and freer markets around the world. Listening to this change agenda, I found myself wishing that Obama had found the vision and political leverage to get it started four years ago, when there was more time. The weakening of the old American-led order has been accompanied by the rise of a bullying (but weak) Russia and a strong China. Dreams of restored, neo-imperial Russia may be popular there, but they will ultimately diminish its stature and make its borders less secure. And China will lose security, rather than gain it, through militarization of a few rocks and reefs. Good for Obama, too, in pushing back against Russian propaganda about the evils of U.S. pro-democracy campaigns. The people of Ukraine did not take to the streets because of some plot imposed from abroad. They took to the streets because their leadership was for sale and they had no recourse. Obama didnt talk much about the hard power that would be necessary to roll back recent gains for the autocrats and restore a liberal global order. Obama will leave behind the right ideas for restoration of an American-led order but sadly, also, the inescapable fact of its decline during his presidency. Email: davidignatius@washpost.com. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group When deputies arrived at a yard near Old Coors and Bridge SW in late January, they found a 24-year-old man seriously injured after he and three others stormed the house armed with assault rifles, handguns and pistols, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Deputies took Raul Gloria-Torras and another man who had been shot to the hospital, where they both underwent surgery and were expected to survive, according to Sgt. Aaron Williamson, a spokesman for the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office at the time. But Gloria-Torras died a couple of days later, according to the BCSO records custodian. His death didnt come to media attention until the office released a list of 2016 homicide investigations to the Journal Monday. BCSO spokeswoman Felicia Romero said she would try to get answers from detectives about the case, including when Gloria-Torras died, if anyone has been arrested and if detectives plan to charge anyone, but she hadnt done so as of Wednesday evening. According to the complaint, in the early morning hours of Jan. 31, Gloria-Torras and three other men went to the 3100 block of Rosendo Garcia SW angry at someone who wanted to leave the MC3C gang. Williamson told the Journal in February MC3C is from Mexico and this was the first deputies had seen of them. Romero didnt have answers about the gangs presence in Bernalillo County since the shootout. When the gang arrived, the man who lived in the house and his friend, William Wood, were waiting in the yard and fired a warning shot in the air, according to the complaint. Wood told deputies he heard someone yell get out the AK and Gloria-Torras stormed through the door, so he shot him. Bullets flew while Wood ran upstairs, pushed a woman into a closet to hide and jumped out the second story window. He found his friends father had been shot outside. Gloria-Torrass friends Luis Carlos Talamantes, 22, Oscar Valdez, 22, Christian Cabral, 22 were arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and other charges. The status of those charges is unclear from online court records but they are no longer in the county jail. Gloria-Torrass death is one of 11 homicides BCSO detectives have investigated this year. The list includes three fatal shootings by deputies including one against a murder suspect at least one homicide that was determined to be justified and at least two others in which they are still looking for suspects. FOR THE RECORD: The name of the county Sen. Phil Griego is from has been corrected in this story. SANTA FE The New Mexico Attorney Generals Office is digging deeper into the finances of former state Sen. Phil Griego, with an AGs Office investigator saying in a court filing this week that there is reason to believe Griego may have improperly pocketed money from his campaign account by setting up a political committee to serve as a slush fund of sorts. Griego, who resigned from the Senate in 2015 under the cloud of an ethics scandal, is facing criminal charges related to his role in the sale of a historic state-owned building in downtown Santa Fe. But even with the longtime former lawmaker already facing trial, the AGs Office has continued scrutinizing Griegos bank accounts to determine whether he might have misused campaign funds. In the latest development, AG Office investigator Mark Pinto obtained a search warrant from a district judge this week the third search warrant in the case in the past two months that authorized him to review bank records associated with the political committee, which was called Advance New Mexico. While the political committee never reported receiving or spending any money, the AGs Office investigator said a previous review of Griegos bank records show Griego issued a $4,000 check in 2013 from his own campaign account to the political committee. Griego, who was allegedly a cosignatory on the political committees bank account, withdrew nearly $2,800 from the account roughly eight months later, according to the court filing. The investigator also said in his affidavit that the check represented one of 43 instances since 2012 in which checks from Griegos campaign fund were not reported on campaign spending forms that are required to be filed periodically by candidates under state law. Attorney General Hector Balderas office already had been investigating whether Griego might have misused campaign funds reportedly spent on office space, constituent meetings and more after he resigned from the Legislature in March 2015. Griegos attorney, Tom Clark, did not immediately respond Wednesday to questions about the latest AGs Office search warrant. Meanwhile, James Hallinan, a spokesman for the AGs Office, said the investigation stems from a referral from Secretary of State Brad Winters office about possible violations of the state Campaign Reporting Act. This is an ongoing investigation of a referral received from the secretary of state in April of 2016, Hallinan said. We have no further comment at this time. Griego, a Democrat from rural San Miguel County, is facing counts of bribery, perjury and violating his oath of public office that stem from allegations he used his position as a legislator to pocket a $50,000 brokers fee in the 2014 real estate deal. Griego has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his attorney has argued the state has not shown evidence to back up its charges. A trial date has not been set in the case, and Griego remains free on his own recognizance. SANTA FE Secretary of State Brad Winters office sent out postcards this week to nearly 460,000 New Mexicans who appear to be eligible to vote but arent registered, drawing criticism from the Republican candidate who wants to succeed him. State Rep. Nora Espinoza of Roswell said current voter lists should be cleaned up before such outreach occurs, and she is concerned that the registration effort could lead to noncitizens being registered and voting. The postcards tell recipients if they are 18 or older, a resident of New Mexico and a U.S. citizen, they may be able to vote, and they can register or update their information online or request a paper form from the Bureau of Elections. The mailing was generated with information from the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, a multistate organization with data-matching tools that aims to make voter rolls more accurate and increase access to voter registration. New Mexico joined in July. Espinoza brought up the mailing in a speech Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Republican Party of Santa Fe County. We have 100,000 people with drivers licenses who are not citizens, she said, referring to undocumented immigrants who have been issued N.M. licenses and ERICs reliance on motor vehicle databases. To be fair, they do tell them they have to be citizens but how do they know? She cited the admission by fellow state Rep. Idalia Lechuga-Tena, D-Albuquerque, that she had voted before she was a citizen, and pointed out that she was not prosecuted for it. Do you expand when you havent taken care of other issues? she asked the Journal later. She said the voter file is bloated and inaccurate, with some voters addresses nothing more than commercial mailbox stores, and she maintained there are problems with duplicate and fake Social Security numbers. Espinozas Democratic opponent, Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver, is supportive of the current efforts by Winters office to reach out to eligible but unregistered voters to increase participation in elections, her campaign spokesman, Alan Packman, said Wednesday. Participating in ERIC also increases the integrity and accuracy of our voter rolls by matching our data against many local and national records to help identify voters who have moved or are no longer eligible and should be removed from the rolls, Packman said in a statement. This weeks mailing cost $114,000, with half of it paid for by Pew Charitable Trusts which helped start ERIC and the rest from county clerks budgets, according to state Elections Director Kari Fresquez. We need to do cleanup of the voter rolls, and thats why we joined ERIC, Fresquez said. In announcing the mailing, Winter said, We hope these postcards will encourage eligible voters to go online and get registered in time to participate in the Nov. 8 general election. The deadline to register is Oct. 11. Espinoza and Toulouse Oliver are vying to fill out the remaining two years of the term of former Secretary of State Dianna Duran, who resigned last year and pleaded guilty to misusing her campaign funds. Winter, a Republican who was appointed by the governor to the position, isnt running. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal Dozens of seemingly healthy dogs in Albuquerque have suddenly gotten sick with the same symptoms, many of them dying, and veterinarians dont know the cause. The cases occurred in recent months and most have been on the West Side. Its extremely sad and frustrating, said Amy Neel, whose 8-year-old service dog Joe, a border collie mix, died Aug. 6. She soon discovered several neighbors had similar stories, and then more than 100 dog owners ended up responding to a query posted online. Neel, who has mobility issues, said, Joe got sick on a Thursday. He was lethargic, had diarrhea, was vomiting and wouldnt eat or drink. We took him to the vet on Friday. The veterinarian thought it was something that had to run its course, but by that evening Joes condition got worse, and he was having trouble breathing. That night Neel took Joe to a local animal hospital, where blood tests revealed Joes liver enzymes were elevated to the point that they couldnt be measured accurately. It was so bad, we had to put him down, Neel said. A couple of weeks later, Neel and her husband were chatting with their Paradise Hills next door neighbor, Kasia Zaryczny, and the neighbor on the street behind them, Chris Sturtz. They learned that Zarycznys dog Luka had died, while Sturtz reported that neighbors on both sides of her home had dogs that also had to be put down. Sturtzs dog is currently sick, but is on medication and appears to be rallying, she said. Her dog, Roxxi, a Shar-Pei mix, and others fit a particular scenario: seemingly healthy dogs that suddenly become lethargic and experience diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Tested at their respective veterinary clinics, their liver enzymes were off the charts, the pet owners said. Many of these animals could not be saved. The neighbors posted about this strange occurrence to Nextdoor.com, a website where neighbors and neighborhood associations can exchange messages. The site exploded with area residents repeating similar horror stories about their pets. Another neighbor, Christina Rhoderick, whose pets did not become ill, put together and posted a form to collect data from animal owners to try to find any commonalities that might explain what was making the dogs sick. Apparently, the illness did not extend to cats, she said. Based on more than 100 responses about dogs with similar symptoms, she found that within the last year, 50 dogs had died, 24 of them since May, and 10 just this month all with the same sudden onset of symptoms. Since May, another 46 dogs became ill with these symptoms, but veterinarians were able to save them, she said. Rhoderick then created a map to show where the sick and dead animals had lived. The zip codes most affected are 87114 and 87120, both on the West Side, north of I-40, and thinning into Rio Rancho, she said. Initially, peoples first reaction was somebody must be poisoning their dogs, but now that we have a map that doesnt seem likely, Rhoderick said. Its too widespread and the person would have to be on the move. Now, were thinking it could be something in the environment, like pesticides, herbicides, or maybe droppings from pigeons or some kind of rodent. Sturtz offered that the West Side has an abundance of skunks, which are known to carry a number of diseases. Albuquerque veterinarian and Journal columnist Dr. Jeff Nichol said that 75 percent of American households have a pet, and 60 percent of them have a dog. Consequently, having 50 dogs die in a particular area, as chronicled by Rhodericks map, is unremarkable. As dogs age, they commonly die from cancer, kidney failure or heart failure. But the symptoms described here, that sure gets my attention and would certainly get the attention of pathology labs, too, Nichol said. And thats part of the problem. It wasnt until the Nextdoor.com postings and Rhodericks questionnaire and map that animal owners understood a pattern was emerging. Everyone initially thought it was just their animal, an isolated incident, and didnt have a necropsy done, said Sturtz. To accurately determine what is killing these dogs, a necropsy must be performed and tissue samples taken and analyzed in a pathology laboratory, said Dr. George Abernathy, of the Sunrise Veterinary Clinic, which treated three dogs from the same West Side neighborhood, two of whom died. Based on commonalities reported, we can eliminate anti-freeze, because that affects the kidneys, not the liver. Some herbicides can easily cause liver numbers to go up. With rat poisons we should be seeing bleeding, but were not, and strychnine would cause seizures, and thats not being reported either, according to what I know, he said. Maybe its a toxin or some nasty infection. Wild animal droppings or things killed by wild animals, which then come in contact with dogs, could possibly affect liver enzymes. The bottom line is we just dont know, said Abernathy. My advice is the next dog that dies, lets get it to a lab, then well know what direction to go. Meanwhile, the citys Environmental Health Department is closely monitoring the situation. Im not convinced at this point that an unbiased data collection method was used, said Deputy Director Mark DiMenna. He said area residents should not be concerned at this point due to the absence of better data thats more verifiable, including pathology reports on tissue samples that would point to an emergent pattern. WASHINGTON Hillary Clinton is struggling to nail down Hispanic voter support, according to some Democratic political strategists, but former Albuquerque Mayor and Clinton fundraiser Martin Chavez said the campaign plan is carefully calibrated to deliver on Election Day. As national polls show the race tightening and Trump gaining ground in as many as a dozen states, a front-page story in The Washington Post on Monday described some Clinton allies as concerned that her campaign is doing too little to galvanize Hispanic support for the partys White House and congressional campaigns. While Clinton holds a significant lead over Republican rival Donald Trump in every poll of Hispanic voters, less clear is whether these voters will turn out in numbers that Democrats are counting on to win, the Post reported. Clinton trails President Obamas 2012 performance in several Latino-rich states, including Florida, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. That reality has prompted a flurry of criticism of Clintons and the partys Hispanic strategies, the article continued. Despite a uniquely favorable environment with Trumps repeated attacks on undocumented immigrants, Democrats are increasingly worried that the opportunity is slipping away to meet a long-standing party goal of marshaling the nations growing Hispanic population into a permanent electoral force. The concerns are compounded by Trumps recent surge in several battleground states. In recent days, Trump has gained traction in Iowa and delegate-rich Ohio, where a Real Clear Politics average of six polls showed him leading Clinton by 1.8 percentage points Wednesday. The Real Clear Politics average had Florida tied in a two-person race between Trump and Clinton. The candidates were also running close in North Carolina and Nevada. But Clinton outpolls Trump in neighboring Pennsylvania by as much as 6 points based on Wednesdays average. Nationally, the Real Clear Politics average of eight polls shows Clinton leading Trump by 1.9 percentage points, 45.4 percent to 43.5 percent. Chavez served as Albuquerques mayor for three terms and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico in 2008. Now living in Washington, D.C., Chavez is busy raising money for Clinton, working for a tech company and serving on some boards. And he insisted that the Clinton campaign has been doing a great job with Hispanic outreach. Ive watched the campaign from the inside as it has ramped up its programs and hiring, Chavez told the Journal. They are remarkably nuanced and fully cognizant of the diversity of the Latino community from state-to-state. Chavez said the debate about Democrats and Hispanics and campaigning is an old one largely about how much Spanish-language advertising to buy and where to deploy it. The Post reported that Clintons general election advertising buys targeted at Hispanics have been smaller in scope and come later in the campaign compared with Obamas 2012 effort. And the question of language has been a key spark in the debate, the story said. Until recently, much of Clintons television advertising to Hispanic voters has been in English, a concerted decision aimed at reaching bilingual households. Chavez said the Clinton campaign is adapting to changing trends. For example, technology and social media have changed the way Hispanic millennials are influenced compared with just four years ago, and certainly compared with eight years ago. He said Hispanic targeted advertising is not lacking, and in some cases such as in New Mexico, may not be necessary at all. In New Mexico, we only started using all-Spanish ads about 10 years ago since like most of the country Latinos were targeted in English, Chavez said. Indeed, some Hispanics take offense at being spoken to only in Spanish, with the suggestion being that were not fluent in English. A Clinton campaign official said there are currently no Clinton ads airing in New Mexico in English or Spanish, but the campaign has run one Spanish-language ad in the state and could run another on cable television before Election Day. Journal pollster Brian Sanderoff said national Democratic strategists arent concerned about New Mexico because its House races are not viewed as tightly contested. Obama won the state overwhelmingly by 10 and 14 points respectively in the 2008 and 2012 campaigns. Its been a very quiet campaign season in New Mexico, Sanderoff said. All the strategists are assuming that New Mexico will stay blue (Democratic) in the presidential column Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chaired by Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico has been bullish on the prospect of picking up seats in the Republican-controlled House in November. Lujan has repeatedly said Trumps remarks about Hispanics and others will haunt him on Election Day and lead to Democratic House gains. But the National Republican Congressional Committee took aim at Lujans candidate recruitment this week. The NRCC cited a Bloomberg News interview on Tuesday in which Lujan wouldnt say it was likely that Democrats will retake the House. Perhaps Lujan understands that hes going to have some explaining to do in November for the DCCCs utter failure at recruitment in districts across the country, and he doesnt want to raise expectations, an NRCC news release said. DCCC spokeswoman Meredith Kelly disputed the Republicans assertion and stressed that Lujan is confident Democrats will gain seats in the House. She also said the DCCC is not focusing as heavily on districts where Democratic strength has waned, and instead are recruiting in other areas, especially urban districts. Kelly said the battlegrounds have shifted. The DCCC has capitalized on Donald Trumps deep unpopularity and recruited stellar candidates in suburban, diverse, young and well-educated districts that are becoming more Democratic each day, she said. Its too early to predict how many, but Democrats will pick up a significant number of seats, and Republicans know it. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Protesters massed on Charlottes streets for a third night Thursday in the latest sign of mounting pressure for police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man. Demonstrators chanted release the tape and we want the tape while briefly blocking an intersection near Bank of America headquarters and later climbing the steps in front of the city government center. Later, several dozen demonstrators climbed onto an interstate highway through the city, but they were pushed back by police in riot gear. Still, the protests lacked the violence and property damage of previous nights and a midnight curfew enacted by the mayor encouraged a stopping point for the demonstrations. Local officers ranks were augmented by members of the National Guard carrying rifles and guarding office buildings against the threat of property damage. So far, police have resisted releasing police dashcam and body camera footage of the death of 43-year Keith Lamont Scott earlier this week. His family was shown the footage Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public. The familys lawyer said he couldnt tell whether Scott was holding a gun. But Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier in the day that releasing the footage of Scotts killing could undermine the investigation. He told reporters the video will be made public when he believes there is a compelling reason to do so. You shouldnt expect it to be released, Putney said. Im not going to jeopardize the investigation. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night for the citywide curfew that runs from midnight to 6 a.m. But demonstrators continued to march after the curfew took effect, and Police Capt. Mike Campagna told reporters that officers wouldnt seek to move curfew violators off the street as long as they were peaceful. The demonstrators ranks appeared to thin from their peak of several hundred as the early morning arrived. Charlotte is the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday, prosecutors charged a white officer with manslaughter for killing an unarmed black man on a city street last week. In Charlotte, scores of rioters Wednesday night attacked reporters and others, set fires and smashed windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants in the citys bustling downtown section. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the places damaged. Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesdays protests, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital Thursday; city officials said police did not shoot the man and no arrests have been made in 26-year-old Justin Carrs death. Police have said that Scott was shot to death Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded loud, repeated warnings to drop his gun. Neighbors, though, have said he was holding only a book. The police chief said a gun was found next to the dead man, and there was no book. Putney said that he has seen the video and it does not contain absolute, definitive evidence that would confirm that a person was pointing a gun. But he added: When taken in the totality of all the other evidence, it supports what we said. Justin Bamberg, an attorney for Scotts family, watched the video with the slain mans relatives. He said Scott gets out of his vehicle calmly. While police did give him several commands, he did not aggressively approach them or raise his hands at members of law enforcement at any time. It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands, Bamberg said in a statement. Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg said. The lawyer said at a news conference earlier in the day that Scotts wife saw him get shot, and thats something she will never, ever forget. That is the first time anyone connected with the case has said the wife witnessed the shooting. Bamberg gave no details on what the wife saw. Roberts, who also watched the footage of the shooting, was asked by CNN whether she saw Scott holding a gun. It is not a very clear picture and the gun in question is a small gun. And it was not easy to see so it is ambiguous, she replied. Experts who track shootings by police noted that the release of videos can often quell protest violence, and that the footage sometimes shows that events unfolded differently than the official account. What weve seen in too many situations now is that the videos tell the truth and the police who were involved in the shooting tell lies, said Randolph McLaughlin, a professor at Pace University School of Law. He said it is irresponsible of police not to release the video immediately. Other cities have released footage of police shootings. Just this week, Tulsa police let the public see video of the disputed Sept. 16 shooting, though the footage left important questions unanswered. The police chief acknowledged that he has promised transparency in the investigation, but said, Im telling you right now, if you think I say we should display a victims worst day for consumption, that is not the transparency Im speaking of. ___ Associated Press writers Tom Foreman Jr., Jonathan Drew Seanna Adcox, Jeffrey Collins, Jack Jones and Gary Robertson contributed to this report. ___ Reach Weiss and Kinnard at http://twitter.com/mitchweiss and http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP . Read more of their work at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/mitch-weiss and http://bigstory.ap.org/content/meg-kinnard/ LAS VEGAS, N.M. A former northern New Mexico superintendent who resigned in disgrace over allegations of faking credentials is facing more criminal charges. The Las Vegas Optic reports state police last week filed a new case against former Mora Independent School District Superintendent Charles Trujillo. Court documents in San Miguel County Magistrate Court accuse Trujillo of forgery and attempt to commit fraud in connection with a Luna Community College job application. Trujillo resigned following an October investigation by the Optic that Trujillo faked his credentials to obtain his administrative license. Two days after the Optic story was published, Trujillo surrendered his education licenses to the state Public Education Department. He was arrested last month on forgery and fraud charges connected to his Mora position. Trujillos attorney, Sam Bregman, says his client looks forward to fighting the charges. ___ Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com FARMINGTON A Farmington man was convicted by a jury on Tuesday on 21 counts of first-degree criminal sexual penetration of a child and faces a maximum sentence of 390 years in prison. Leo Castillo Jr., 45, was also convicted on one count of attempted criminal sexual penetration of a child, a second-degree felony, and intimidation of a witness, a third-degree felony, during his trial, which started Monday. Castillo will face between 18 and 390 years in prison at a sentencing hearing, which has not been scheduled, according to San Juan County Chief Deputy District Attorney Dustin OBrien. In a separate case, Shawn Paris was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for his July conviction on child sexual abuse charges, according to court records. Castillo was arrested Feb. 15 after a young relative told a middle school teacher she had been sexually abused by Castillo, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The girl told investigators the abuse began when she was 6 years old at the familys residence in Farmington, the affidavit states. She said Castillo entered her room one night, pulled down her clothes and raped her, according to the affidavit. She told investigators that Castillo told her if she ever told anyone about the abuse, he would beat her and her brother, the affidavit states. The girl told investigators the abuse continued until April 2013, when she stopped visiting Castillos residence, according to the affidavit. Castillo was interviewed by detectives in February 2016, and declined to make a statement about the abuse. OBrien said Castillo and the victim testified during the trial. Castillos attorney, Cosme Ripol, said today both Judge Karen Townsend and prosecutor Marcus Blais performed their jobs well. (The judge) allowed me to get out all the evidence and arguments that I wanted to make, and the jury made its decision, Ripol said. The defense attorney said he would appeal the decision. In the other case, Paris, 42, of San Juan County, was convicted during a July 20 jury trial of two counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of criminal sexual penetration for the sexual abuse of a female relative who was a minor. He entered an Alford plea on Monday to criminal sexual penetration of a child, a second-degree felony, according to court records. Steve Garrison covers crime and courts for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4644. 2016 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ SAN FRANCISCO As cities around the country attempt to regulate the growing home-sharing industry, Airbnb is going on the offensive with a barrage of lawsuits intended to kill local rules it doesnt like. Airbnb has sued Californias San Francisco, Santa Monica and Anaheim over ordinances that force the company to remove or refuse bookings that violate city laws, and it has threatened to sue the state of New York if a similar bill there is approved. The companys willingness to throw the first punch in these cases highlights the 8-year-old startups aggressive stance in warding off efforts to limit its explosive growth. Its bold, said Joshua Davis, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of San Francisco School of Law. But if it looks like its really successful, others may follow. Uber certainly has the resources to get aggressive in this way. The major players in the on-demand industry are no stranger to courtroom battles and confrontations with regulators, but they most often find themselves playing defense. Ride-sharing giant Uber, which is fighting dozens of lawsuits in courts across the country, rarely has made the first move in those cases. As cities struggle to regulate the booming home-sharing industry, some require landlords to register before renting their homes, while others prohibit certain short-term rentals altogether. Airbnb, valued at $30 billion and with more than 2 million rental listings worldwide, argues it cant be required to enforce these rules and says the company is not liable for the postings landlords publish on its site. While we have attempted to work with the city on sensible, lawful alternatives to this flawed new ordinance, an Airbnb representative wrote in a blog post when the company sued San Francisco in June, we regret that we are forced to now ask a federal court to intervene in this matter. This is an unprecedented step for Airbnb, and one we do not take lightly, but we believe its the best way to protect our community of hosts and guests. Airbnbs litigation campaign already has seen results. The lawsuit against San Francisco convinced city supervisors to amend their home-sharing ordinance last month. Now instead of penalizing Airbnb for postings that violate the citys short-term rental ordinance which requires landlords to register with the city supervisors intend to penalize Airbnb each time it books a stay in a home that isnt registered. But the change wasnt enough to placate the home-sharing company. Airbnb doubled down on its attack last week, filing an amended complaint that challenges the new ordinance. This time, the city is standing its ground. We are not going to be intimidated by Airbnb. We never have been, said Supervisor David Campos, one of the ordinances sponsors. And we know that we are in the right here. Anaheim folded under pressure from Airbnbs lawsuit last month. In a letter to Airbnbs lawyers, the city attorney promised not to enforce an ordinance that would have held Airbnb liable for publishing or failing to remove postings for rental homes without city permits. In response, Airbnb dropped the lawsuit. The ordinances speak to the challenges cities face in regulating the home-sharing industry. In San Francisco, landlords who list homes or spare rooms on Airbnb and other such sites must register with the city, a process that includes making an in-person appointment, completing an application, paying a $50 fee and obtaining at least $500,000 in liability insurance. But few landlords bother. A city study released in April found that out of 9,448 people renting their homes on Airbnb, just 1,647 had registered. This summer the city attempted to force Airbnb and other home-sharing companies to assist in enforcement, and Airbnb struck back with the June lawsuit. Violators of the new home-sharing ordinance could face fines of $1,000 per offense and up to six months in jail if they fail to comply, potential penalties San Francisco has suspended while the litigation is ongoing. Airbnb claims the San Francisco ordinance and others like it violate the federal law that gives online platforms such as YouTube, Amazon, Yelp and Facebook the freedom to publish third-party content without fear of being sued over potentially objectionable posts. The home-sharing company also argues the ordinance violates its First Amendment right to commercial speech. The case largely comes down to whether the judge views Airbnb as an online marketplace that merely publishes third-party ads written by landlords which would be a win for Airbnb or a retailer that rents properties to travelers, said Eric Goldman, an internet law professor at Santa Clara University School of Law. Goldman, who joined a brief the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed with the court in support of Airbnb, said unless Airbnb can squash these types of regulations, it may eventually find it can no longer operate in many key cities. If Airbnb loses the lawsuit, it will be open season for every regulatory body to tell Airbnb how it should run its business, Goldman said. That includes thousands of cities and counties. 2016 The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) Visit The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The World Trade Organization ruled on Thursday that the European Union and several of its members failed to end illegal subsidies for airline giant Airbus, a victory for the United States in what has become the most expensive dispute in international trade history. Those subsidies, which the WTO had ordered European nations to halt in 2011, total $22 billion over more than a decade. They have cost the United States economy tens of billions of dollars in would-be exports, and they have cost Chicago-based Boeing, Americas largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft, nearly 500 potential aircraft sales and market share around the world, according to the WTO. The WTO, the body that governs international trade, is still weighing a counter-complaint from Europe, over whether the United States has illegally subsidized Boeing. Thursdays ruling carries no punishment, and the Europeans could appeal. But it appears to set the stage for the United States to begin considering retaliation against Europe in the airline market, possibly with tariffs. The Obama administration touted the long-awaited ruling as a major win for its trade strategy, in a year when free trade has become a punching bag for both candidates for president, particularly Republican Donald Trump, and as the administration mounts a final-hours effort to win congressional approval for a proposed 12-nation trade pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The administration has also filed two new trade cases against China at the WTO in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to enforce trade violations, with the hope of persuading wavering members of Congress to back the TPP in a possible vote after the presidential election. This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement. We have long maintained that EU aircraft subsidies have cost American companies tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue, which this report clearly proves. We will not tolerate our trading partners ignoring the rules at the expense of American workers and their families. Froman asked the European Union, along with France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, to end the subsidies immediately. Boeing also hailed the decision. Todays historic ruling finally holds the EU and Airbus to account for their flouting of global trade rules, said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeings chairman, president and chief executive. Parts of the dispute over aircraft aid stretch back 40 years, as long as European nations have aided Airbus. The United States first complained to the WTO about the subsidies in 2004. In 2011, a WTO panel ruled, in a partial victory for the United States, that many of the subsidies were illegal under its rules for international trade. European nations said in late 2011 that they ended the subsidies, but the United States disagreed and asked the WTO to reconsider the matter. airlines RIFLE, Colo. An illegal marijuana growing operation raid in rural western Colorado has prompted a federal investigation into possible human trafficking to determine whether Chinese nationals found tending the plants were forced to work there, officials said Thursday. Authorities arrested 14 Chinese nationals and seized more than 9,700 pounds of pot Monday from the suspected illegal grow site near the Colorado River in western Colorado. The 12 men and two women arrested were working at the site and authorities said they believe about six more fled on foot. Now officials are trying to determine whether human trafficking or forced labor was involved. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration are helping with the investigation. Garfield County Deputy Sheriff Walt Stowe told The Denver Post (https://goo.gl/Ta6rVU ) that investigators are looking into whether the Chinese nationals had been forced to work at the marijuana growing operation. Investigators had not located the owner of the property. Authorities said it was the latest example of illegal drug traffickers seeking safe haven in Colorados flourishing marijuana industry to ship the drug out of state. Several raids in recent months have taken aim at out-of-state pot rings, including some in rural areas. Its not unusual to have organizations come to the state to set up shop, said Jim Gothe, group supervisor and spokesman for the DEA in Denver. Its in keeping with what weve been seeing in the last several years. ___ Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com Curtis Hanson, who died Tuesday at 71, was a director of prodigious range. In one five-year period, he released an adaptation of Michael Chabons novel Wonder Boys; 8 Mile, a pseudo-biopic of and starring the rapper Eminem; and In Her Shoes, a marvelous translation of Jennifer Weiners piercing book about two very different sisters, played beautifully by Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz, who has never gotten to do anything quite as good. On another day, I might remember Hanson by rhapsodizing about In Her Shoes, which feels like part of a last gasp at least for now of quality movies about women and relationships that ended around 2005. But since I watched it recently, it seems fitting to revisit L.A. Confidential, Hansons handsome, unsettling movie about the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1950s, which feels more relevant than ever today. L.A. Confidential is a big, complicated movie about a lot of subjects, among them the state of the gossip industry in L.A. in that period (imbued with delightful malice by Danny DeVitos performance as scandalmonger Sid Hudgens), the drug trade and the commodification of celebrity. But at its core, its a story about the difference between what police departments say they want and what they actually need, and the ways in which institutions and individuals act on each other. Spoiler alert: The institutions normally win. The gap between image and reality comes across most strongly in the plot involving Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), a cop who is also the technical adviser to Badge of Honor, a thinly disguised Dragnet, an early police drama that was essentially propaganda for the LAPD. Just as Jack tries to make Badge of Honor more real, or at least a version of real that will be flattering to the department, he turns his own police work into a media-friendly spectacle, staging one bust in front of a movie marquee and alerting Sid so that he can get, and print, exclusive pictures of Jacks supposed heroics. But Jacks downfall comes when he tries to imitate not merely the style of the fiction he has helped to create, but also the substance. When he begins to investigate a series of suspicious deaths, Jack finds corruption incompatible with the departments image. One solution to that disjunction would be to excise corruption. The other is to silence the voices who draw attention to it. You can probably guess what happens next. An even uglier tragedy befalls Ed Exley (Guy Pearce), a young cop who actually embodies the image that Jack works so hard to build. He longs to live up to the standards set by his father, a legendary cop who was killed in the line of duty. And hes constantly torn between what his ideals tell him and the more explicit instructions he gets about how to succeed in the LAPD. Hes the kind of man who tries to prevent his fellow officers from beating a group of Mexican men nearly to death, but ends up locked in a cell. For a time, it seems as though Ed will be able to find ways to reconcile his conscience with the departments needs. After the attack on the Mexican men, based on the real-life Bloody Christmas scandal, he coolly suggests that the department shift the guilt to men whose pensions are assured. Force them to retire. But someone has to swing The message will be very clear. This new LAPD will not support officers who think theyre above the law. His prescription is justice, but not too much, and applied strategically, rather than morally. The events of L.A. Confidential eventually make the balance that Ed is trying to strike unsustainable. As the movie ends, he has staged his own version of the tableaux Jack helped create for Badge of Honor, except bloodier and more consequential. He has lost faith in the police departments ability to cleanse itself by legitimate means, and instead has decided to create a comforting fiction that matches the facts the public would prefer to be true. L.A. Confidential came out in 1997, in an era when the fictions police departments told about themselves might occasionally be interrupted by something like the video footage of officers beating Rodney King yet were often still sustainable. Those stories, those glossy, perfect images, are harder to maintain now in an era of dashboard and body camera footage, and the fact that many of us carry recording and broadcasting equipment with us in the form of our phones. Even so, L.A. Confidential remains a chilling meditation on how long those myths persisted, just how untrue they were and the effort it took to sustain them. Curtis Hanson is gone, but L.A. Confidential remains an unnnerving, and highly relevant, contribution. hanson-appreciate The low point of Donald Trumps campaign so far came about a week after the conclusion of the Democratic convention. His mediocre convention was followed by Hillary Clintons successful one, which was followed by Trumps fight with the family of a Muslim servicemember who was killed in Iraq. By Aug. 8, Trump trailed Clinton by 8 points in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls. Since then, he has steadily climbed back, thanks in part to undecided voters coming on board and thanks in part to Clintons support fading a bit. I have found that the most informative benchmark for measuring Trumps success is by comparing it to Mitt Romneys. Romney lost in 2012, of course, so Trump must win at least a few of the states that Romney lost in order to pass the 270-electoral-vote threshold. Which states he needs to win is a bit more in flux; various combinations can get him over the necessary margin. As it stands, Trump is performing a bit better now nationally than Romney was at this point. Romney saw a surge shortly before the election thanks to his strong performance in the first debate; that surge pushed him into the national lead in the polling average. (Though we hasten to note that the final RealClearPolitics average was lower than the actual result, thanks in part to pollsters underestimating the turnout of nonwhite voters.) The release of a new survey from NBC and the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday evening showing Clinton with a 7-point lead helped reverse the direction of the trend over the past few days. Time will tell if that reversal holds. As the national polls have moved toward Trump, so have the state polls. If we look at the 11 states which are closest right now in the RCP average, Trump has gained about two points on average since the start of the Republican convention. In only two states, Georgia and New Hampshire, has he lost ground over that period. He still trails in four of those 11 states (Colorado, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Virginia), and is tied in a fifth, Florida. He leads in Ohio, Iowa, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina. Obama won the first three of those. In about half the states, hes faring better than Romney did four years ago, by varying margins. The three states where hes performing at the widest discrepancy from Romney are Ohio, Nevada and Arizona. In all three, he has a lead of around 2 points. Obama won Ohio by 3 and Nevada by almost 7 points; Romney won Arizona by 9. In Ohio, the big shift toward Trump has been fairly recent, bolstered by a slew of polls showing him with a sudden lead. Add that to Romneys collapse in the state at this point four years ago, and you see a big difference. The closest states right now mirror Romneys performance a bit more closely. In Florida, Trump is tied with Clinton; Romney trailed Obama by a bit at this point in 2012. In North Carolina, Trumps finally taken the lead after trailing slightly for some time. But remember: Romney won North Carolina, too, along with Arizona. Thats the problem at the heart of Trumps electoral math: The map is already working against him. Consider this. If we apply the current RCP averages to the states nationally, Trump wins a majority of states. But he still trails Hillary Clinton by 37 electoral votes. Give him Florida (currently a toss-up) and he still trails by 8. In other words, Trump can win seven of the 11 closest states Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Nevada, Georgia and Iowa and still lose. If Clinton wins Florida, Trump needs to win all 10 of the other states to win the election (which he would do by 6 electoral votes). Where Clinton leads, she leads by an average of 5 points. Remember, though, that Trumps position two weeks ago was much worse. His national improvement showed up in state polls, meaning that the electoral math has shifted in his favor. If the national polls keep shifting his way, it will keep dragging states into his column, changing the math. campaign-odds The weather is getting cooler, but the New Mexico film industry remains hot. The Duke City will host the states latest production, Furthest Witness. According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production is currently shooting and will take place through the beginning of October. Furthest Witness is the story of Kyle Braddock who has spent the last decade moving witnesses over the border to Mexico and has always avoided confrontation or suspicion until now. Not only has he been framed for kidnapping but theres a malevolent and unrelenting figure on his trail and he is falling in love with his latest passenger, who has a dark secret that completely goes against all of his moral beliefs. Now he must protect the first person he has cared about in over 10 years, discover who he is as a man and outrun a mysterious killer who is more akin to a force of nature with an ever increasing path of human collateral in his wake. Production will employ approximately 45 New Mexico crew members, 30 New Mexico principal actors and 30 New Mexico background talent, the film office stated. The film stars Aaron Stanford as Braddock, Sean Patrick Flanery as The Florist and Teri Reeves as Helena. New Mexico actors Forrest Fyre, Steven Michael Quezada, Vincent McDaniel and Jermaine Washington are co-starring. The film is being produced by Elevated Pictures. It is written and directed by Adam Del Guidice and produced by Rick Benattar and Nigel Thomas of Benattar/Thomas Productions, and Ben Richards. We welcome Furthest Witness to Albuquerque for their filming, said Mayor Richard J. Berry. The film industry continues to be a strong economic impact to our city, providing high paying and creative jobs to our citizens. New Mexico Health Connections will soon be able to offer health plans to teachers and public retirees. NMHC on Thursday announced that the Interagency Benefits Advisory Committee, the largest commercial purchaser of healthcare services and administration in the state, will include the insurer on the list of providers available to 80,000 people covered by the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority, the New Mexico Retiree Healthcare Authority and Albuquerque Public Schools. IBAC members who sign up for coverage in the 2017 enrollment period will have access to NMHCs statewide provider network and access to a dedicated customer service call center. One group of targeted customers are pre-Medicare-eligible state retirees. Being awarded a contract by three of the four IBAC entities in our fourth year in business is a major accomplishment, said CEO Dr. Martin Hickey. We are thrilled to offer cost-effective health plan administrative and medical management services to public retirees and teachers in every school district across New Mexico beginning in January. He said NHMC would be happy to sign up 10 percent of those 80,000 people during the enrollment period, which will take place between October and Jan. 1, 2017. Plan designs for potential new members will be available by mid-October. I think we would be a better financial deal on the premium and copay sides, said Hickey of New Mexicos nonprofit, consumer-operated and oriented health plan, which has nearly 50,000 enrollees on its exchange, small and large group health plans. With cost containment a big goal, this approach has struck a responsive chord with the payers NMHC is targeting, said Hickey. He said NMHCs members see 30 percent fewer hospitalizations than other New Mexico insurers due to tremendous medical management. He said the insurer also makes medication compliance and behavioral health care strong priorities. By the end of the 2016 open enrollment period, 30,000 of NMHC members were individual policy holders, 19,000 of those through the state health exchange. During the year, the co-op had added several big-name employers on group plans, including Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, Blakes Lotaburger, Youth Development Inc. and Heritage Hotels & Resorts. We have to be a fully diversified insurer to support the individual exchange service line, said Hickey of efforts to ptich the insurers plan offerings to unions, small and large businesses. We are (contract) finalists for several large companies with 250 to 500 employees, said Hickey. He said NMHC also is considering offering a Medicare Advantage plan in the 2018 enrollment period. : 9 2013 . 9 . . LOS LUNAS Its been nearly a year and a half since the shooting and two weeks since the trial started, and today Andrew Romeros future will be in a jurys hands. Romeros defense team presented its entire case to a jury on Thursday, bringing a close to the trial, which started Sept. 8 in Valencia County before 13th Judicial District Judge George Eichwald. Closing arguments will be made this morning, and then the jury will begin deliberations. Romero is charged with first-degree murder and lesser offenses in the death of Rio Rancho police officer Gregg Benner, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Southern and Pinetree on May 25, 2015. Benner was shot in the back of both shoulders and back of the leg, according to testimony from the Office of the Medical Investigator. One bullet pierced his lungs, heart and kidneys. Prosecutors said that Romero, a passenger in a Dodge Durango, fatally shot Benner and then fled. Romero was arrested about five hours later in the South Valley. Romeros attorneys on Thursday called a DNA expert who criticized the states handling of DNA evidence and raised questions about DNA found on the gun and Dodge Durango used in the shooting. The defense team also called witnesses who described statements that Tabitha Littles, Romeros former girlfriend, made shortly after the shooting that contradicted what she said during trial. There was a mixture of DNA from at least three people on the steering wheel of the Durango and DNA from at least two people on the handgun used to kill Benner, said Michael Spence, a forensic scientist hired by the defense team. The primary DNA sample on both items was a match to Romero, Spence said, and the other people were never identified. He said that if police had taken samples from additional people, they could have determined who else has touched the gun and the steering wheel. Spence also challenged the procedures the Department of Public Safety used in analyzing DNA evidence on the handgun. He said the lab put a sample of Romeros DNA on the same tray that contained samples taken from the firearm. That created the possibility that the evidence samples could have been contaminated by Romeros DNA sample. Its an enormous, unnecessary risk, Spence said. The defense on Thursday also called two Rio Rancho firefighters who spoke with Littles after Benner was shot. She originally said she told the firefighters that she had been carjacked by a woman and a man who later shot Benner when he pulled Littles vehicle over. Littles said earlier in the trial that she lied immediately after the shooting and that she was actually driving Romero to rob a fast-food restaurant when she was stopped and Romero opened fire on Benner. There were a lot of holes in her story, Rio Rancho firefighter Elliott Guinn said. The details were very inconsistent. WASHINGTON President Barack Obama might have earned a place in history by being the first black president, but its clear he still has a thing about someone who preceded him to the Hollywood version of the title. Actor Morgan Freeman, who has been playing presidents and vice presidents since Obama was just a lowly state senator, was supposed to be at the White House on Thursday to accept a Medal of Arts. Obama speculated that Freeman, who didnt attend the ceremony, was undoubtedly off playing a black president again. Obamas faux lament: He never lets me have my moment. In addition to Freeman, Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medals honorees included actor and filmmaker Mel Brooks (who dropped to one knee while accepting the medal, as if he was being knighted), Motown producer Berry Gordy, Broadway actress Audra McDonald and Washington-based celebrity chef Jose Andres. reliable-source-obama The number of Maryland deaths related to opioid overdoses surged to new highs in the first half of 2016, continuing a trend that has persisted despite state efforts to address the problem. Marylands Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Thursday that heroin fatalities jumped 68 percent compared to the same six-month period last year, rising to 566 from January through June. Deaths related to fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, increased 268 percent, to 446, while prescription painkillers accounted for 210 deaths, a more than 10-percent increase compared to the same period last year. We want to make sure Marylanders know that if they are grappling with substance use disorder and are taking illicit substances they are on the path toward overdose, possibly death, and they need to seek treatment right away, health secretary Van Mitchell said in a statement. Fatalities in all three opioid categories have risen steadily in recent years. But deaths from fentanyl, which is often mixed with heroin, have spiked most dramatically. The synthetic opioid, which killed rock legend Prince in April, accounted for only 15 deaths during the first half of 2013, meaning that the number has increased nearly 30-fold since then. State health officials say fentanyl can be 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin and morphine. Many overdose deaths are caused by people unknowingly buying heroin or cocaine mixed with fentanyl to produce an especially strong high. Heroin-related deaths have risen every year in Maryland since 2011, but the 68-percent increase during the first half of 2016 was the most drastic for any January-June period in the past six years. In the first half of 2012, the number of heroin-related fatalities jumped 53 percent. Deaths from prescription pain medications have increased every year since 2012. Gov. Larry Hogan, R, who lost a cousin to heroin overdose, created a task force to study the rapid increase in opioid deaths and recommend plans for addressing it. Based on the work groups input, he released more than $2 million last year to expand access to treatment in rural parts of the state, boost police efforts to disrupt drug trafficking, create a Baltimore-based outreach program for overdose survivors and launch a public-awareness campaign. In 2016, the governor devoted $3 million in new spending to support addiction treatment in prisons and $2.3 million for a modest increase in the reimbursement rate for providers of drug-abuse treatment, in part to attract and retain more workers in the field. Hogan and the legislature this year also approved legislation mandating that prescribers use a statewide database that tracks potential abuse of painkiller medications and notifies doctors, pharmacists, licensing boards and police of suspicious activity. Additionally, the health department has authorized pharmacists to dispense an overdose-reversal drug without a prescription to more than 20,000 people who have been trained to use it since 2014. Overdose deaths from opiods, including fentanyl, are on the rise in Virginia as well. There were 859 such fatalities in a preliminary count of 2015 numbers from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Of those deaths, 470 came from heroin or fentanyl; the other 389 from prescription opioids. In a preliminary count from the first three months of 2016, there were 452 opioid deaths in Virginia. Im very concerned that we havent seen the worst of this, Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said at a forum in Loudoun County , Maryland, on Tuesday night. If you dont know someone whos had a problem with addiction, you will. His office has focused in recent years on prosecuting opiate dealers whose drugs have led to fatal overdoses. Rachel Weiner contributed to this report. maryland-opioids KABUL The Afghan government on Thursday signed a long-anticipated peace deal with the political party led by fugitive Islamist militia leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, hoping it will help restore stability to the country and bring one of its most notorious warlords into the political mainstream. But domestic and international rights groups called the agreement an insult to the victims of Hekmatyar, 69, a ruthless leader whose rockets destroyed much of Kabul during the civil war of the early 1990s. He has been designated a global terrorist by the United States and blacklisted by the United Nations since 2003, which prevents him from returning publicly to Afghanistan. The agreement followed months of negotiations and has been personally championed by President Ashraf Ghani, who did not attend the ceremony. It was signed by his national security adviser, Hanif Atmar, and the head of the governments High Peace Council. It was signed on Hekmatyars behalf by a delegation of leaders from his Hezb-i-Islami party. We urge others to adopt the path of understanding like Hezb-i-Islami, said Pir Sayed Ahmed Gailani, who heads the council formed to promote peace talks with the Taliban and other insurgent groups. The U.S. Embassy, without mentioning Hekmatyars terrorist status, issued a statement welcoming the accord as a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end. It said the U.S. government supports an Afghan-led peace process that results in armed groups ceasing violence, breaking ties with international terrorist groups and accepting the Afghan constitution. Although members of Hezb-i-Islamis political faction hold senior positions in the Ghani government and in parliament, Hekmatyar and his armed followers have remained part of the panoply of Islamist militant insurgents, which is dominated by the Taliban. They have been actively fighting the Afghan government since 2002, at times in alliance with al-Qaida. The key premises of the agreement are that it would pave the way for Hekmatyar to come in from the cold after nearly 20 years living underground in Pakistan and Iran, and that he would shift from being a provocative factor to being a calming one at a time when Afghanistan is racked by insurgent violence and political disputes. A preliminary accord was signed in May. It makes a difference if even one person joins the peace process, let alone an important leader like Hekmatyar, said Farouq Bashar, a political analyst in Kabul. He has huge influence in many parts of the country and has tens of thousands of supporters. However, analysts are divided on whether his return would have any significant impact on the Taliban and its violent designs on power, especially after a period of significant territorial advances by the insurgents, aggressive fighting in scattered parts of the country major attacks on the capital. Attempts at peace talks with the Taliban have broken down repeatedly. They have been totally stalled for more than a year. Hekmatyar is like the sharp edge of a fallen sword, both a liability and an asset, said Timor Sharan, the Afghan representative for the nonprofit International Crisis Group. The Afghan government is trying to show the Taliban and other groups that peace can be achieved and this is the only way forward. But the deal will have little impact on the conflict and intensify tensions among old rivals who already control the Afghan state. Moreover, Hekmatyar is a hated and feared figure for many Afghans, who would find it hard to accept his return to public life. The agreement includes provisions that would essentially pardon him for past abuses, including reported torture of detained opponents, assassinations and massive destruction caused by shelling from his militia stronghold outside Kabul during the civil war. While the agreement was being signed in the Afghan capital Thursday, a group of protesters gathered in downtown Kabul, holding posters that depicted Hekmatyar with blood and rockets coming from his face. The posters read: We will never forgive the executioner of Kabul. In a statement, the Western-based rights group Human Rights Watch called the deal an affront to Hekmatyars victims and said his return to Afghanistan would compound the culture of impunity created by Afghan officials and foreign donors who have failed to press for justice against numerous ex-warlords. Adding to the bitter taste of Hekmatyars potential rehabilitation, critics said, is the fact that the deal will allow the release of all prisoners from his militia, permit his supporters to run for office and provide up to several million dollars for their security, housing and vehicles. Among those opposed to the agreement is Abdullah Abdullah, the governments chief executive and Ghanis partner in a unity government. Abdullah is strongly allied with powerful ethnic Tajik leaders, who worry that bringing Hekmatyar into the equation would add another ethnic Pashtun strongman to the tenuous political balance. A return by the Hezb-i-Islami leader to Afghanistans public life would cap a vertiginous career that followed the twists of U.S. foreign policy and Afghanistans internal conflicts. After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Hekmatyar became one of Washingtons most-favored champions of the armed resistance. After the war ended, he served briefly twice as prime minister, but also turned violently against the government. He has been a wanted international fugitive since 1997. Under the deal signed Thursday, Afghan officials agreed to press to have him removed from the international terror lists. They did not agree to Hekmatyars other major demand, which was that all foreign troops be withdrawn from the country. The Washington Posts Constable reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. afghan TULSA, Okla. The Latest on the death of an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma (all times local): 6:25 p.m. A former federal prosecutor says prosecutors in Tulsa were right to swiftly charge a white police officer with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man. Chicago-based defense attorney Phil Turner says prosecutors in his words must have thought charges were warranted and we can always upgrade the charge later. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed a first-degree manslaughter charge Thursday against officer Betty Shelby, who shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. Turner says prosecutors may have been motivated to move quickly in part to allay outrage and avoid the kind of street protests that have happened in Charlotte, North Carolina. Police there have refused under mounting pressure to release video of the shooting of another black man this week. The National Guard has been called in to try to a head off a third night of violence. ___ 6 p.m. The twin sister of an unarmed black man shot and killed by a Tulsa police officer says her family is pleased the officer has been charged with a crime. Tiffany Crutcher spoke to reporters outside the Tulsa County Courthouse on Thursday after officer Betty Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of her brother, Terence Crutcher. Shelby faces between four years and life in prison if convicted. Tiffany Crutcher says while the family is grateful charges have been filed, they want to make sure the district attorney vigorously prosecutes the case and obtains a conviction. Tiffany Crutcher says she hopes a criminal conviction will help bring an end to the killing of innocent citizens by police. ___ 5:25 p.m. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says she hopes a first-degree manslaughter charge against a white police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black man provides some peace to the mans family and to the people of Tulsa. In a statement Thursday, Fallin complimented Tulsas police chief, mayor, district attorney and citizens for helping to keep peace and order during this difficult time. Fallin also urged Tulsa residents to be patient as the case works its way through the justice system and noted that officer Betty Shelby is innocent until proven guilty. Shelby was responding to an unrelated call when she came across Terence Crutchers vehicle abandoned in the middle of a north Tulsa street on Sept. 16. ___ 5:05 p.m. At least two dozen protesters have gathered outside the Tulsa County courthouse after the district attorney charged a white officer who shot and killed an unarmed black man with first-degree manslaughter. Protesters who gathered Thursday said theyre unhappy that officer Betty Shelby wasnt charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 16 death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. They held signs reading, I cant breathe, Black Lives Matter, and Am I Next. Some cars honked as they drove past the peaceful protest. Shelby was responding to an unrelated call when she came across Crutchers vehicle abandoned in the middle of a north Tulsa street. Video released by police showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. ___ 5 p.m. Tulsa County prosecutors allege in court documents that a white police officer reacted unreasonably when she fatally shot an unarmed black man and that she unnecessarily escalated the situation. In an affidavit filed with a first-degree manslaughter charge on Thursday against officer Betty Shelby, an investigator wrote that Shelby became emotionally involved to the point that she over reacted when she shot and killed Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. Shelby faces between four years and life in prison if convicted. Shelby told investigators she feared for her life and thought Crutcher was going to kill her. Shelby was responding to an unrelated call when she came across Crutchers vehicle abandoned in the middle of a north Tulsa street. Video released by police showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. ___ 4:40 p.m. The mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is commending police and prosecutors for their quick handling of the investigation into the death of an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer. Mayor Dewey Bartlett made his comments Thursday shortly after the Tulsa County district attorney announced he was charging officer Betty Shelby with first-degree manslaughter in the Sept. 16 death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. Bartlett said in his words These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails. Video released by police showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. Bartlett promised authorities would continue to be transparent and ensure the system carries out its responsibility to provide justice. ___ 3:45 p.m. A prosecutor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, says arrangements are being made for the surrender of a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed a first-degree manslaughter charge Thursday against officer Betty Shelby, who shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher. Her attorney has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach into his SUV window. Tulsa police say Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle. ___ 3:35 p.m. Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have filed first-degree manslaughter charges against the white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street. District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charges Thursday against officer Betty Shelby, who shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher. Her attorney has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach into his SUV window. Tulsa police say Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle. SAN FRANCISCO Two Indonesian fishermen who escaped slavery aboard a Honolulu-based tuna and swordfish vessel when it docked at San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf are suing the boats owner for tricking them into accepting dangerous jobs they say they werent allowed to leave. Attorneys for Abdul Fatah and Sorihin, who uses one name, say in a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday that they were recruited in Indonesia seven years ago to work in Hawaiis commercial fishing fleet without realizing they would never be allowed onshore. They have since been issued visas for victims of human trafficking and are living in the San Francisco area. The lawsuit alleges that San Jose, California, resident Thoai Nguyen, owner and captain of the Sea Queen II, forced Sorihin and Fatah to work up to 20-hour shifts, denied them medical treatment and demanded thousands of dollars if they wanted to leave before their contracts expired. Nguyen did not return calls seeking comment. The lawsuit seeks payment for debts the men incurred, fees they paid and compensation promised without specifying a dollar amount, and asks for unspecified damages for mental anguish and pain. I want to be compensated because of the suffering I felt on the boat and all the suffering I have endured after I got off the boat, Sorihin said Thursday through a translator at his lawyers San Francisco office. And I hope no one will suffer what I have suffered. The lawsuit comes two weeks after an Associated Press investigation found around 140 fishing boats based in Honolulu, including Sea Queen II, were crewed by hundreds of men from impoverished Southeast Asia and Pacific Island nations. The seafood is sold at markets and upscale restaurants across the U.S. A legal loophole allows them to work without visas as long as they dont set foot on shore. The system is facilitated by the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as Customs and Border Protection who require boat owners to hold workers passports. AP found some men are paid as little as 70 cents an hour. Others had to use buckets instead of toilets, suffered running sores from bed bugs or sometimes lacked sufficient food. In response, the Hawaii Longline Association representing fishing boat owners has created a universal crew contract that will be required on any boat wanting to sell fish in the states seafood auction starting Oct. 1. The group says it deplores human trafficking, and that the contract will protect workers. The contracts let owners continue to set their own minimum salaries, allow workers to spend the entire year at sea (15 trips, 10 to 40 days each), and reiterate that they must remain on board with passports held by owners. Cornell University law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr said the new contract reinforces the current deplorable situation by emphasizing that the crew members have no real rights. Congress should repeal the loophole that exempts U.S. fishing captains from having to provide basic labor protections to their crew, he said. Heres what Sorihin and Fatah say happened to them. They signed contracts promising $350 a month plus bonuses. They borrowed about $300 to pay an agent in Jakarta. They flew from Jakarta to Singapore, then Sydney, on to Fiji and Pago Pago, American Samoa, an exhausting, 12,500-mile trip. Because docking is inconvenient and potentially costly, the fishermen had to swim from one boat to another before sailing to Honolulu to begin fishing. Then it got worse. One day as Sorihin wrestled a shark onto the Sea Queen, a fishing line got wrapped around his finger, nearly breaking it off. He said his captain set it straight with a chopstick, rubbing ginger and honey on it. Another time a winch cable snapped, cracking Sorihin in his shoulder; swollen and sore, he was allowed a two-hour rest. A swordfish sliced his face as he pulled it aboard, according to the lawsuit. They say the captain was verbally abusive and gave them only torn and worn-out gear. There was new protective gear on the boat but the captain said they would have to pay for it. Both men asked to see a doctor at various times but were told there was no health insurance. I knew if I stayed on that boat I was going to die, said Sorihin in an interview. They worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. without a food break. Then, after a meal and a few hours rest, theyd fish some more. After a few trips, three relatives of the captains joined them as crew. The captains nephew kicked me with his feet to wake me up. I never felt safe working on that boat, Fatah said in an interview. Although there was a toilet on board, they had to go to the bathroom in plastic buckets and baggies on deck. And the money, a few hundred dollars a month, just wasnt worth it. After a few 20-day trips out of Hawaii, they began docking in San Francisco about once a month. They would gaze from Fishermans Wharf dock over to Scomas, a classic San Francisco seafood restaurant where diners enjoyed the freshest catch. Then theyd head out to sea again. One day Fatah got washed onto a railing by a huge wave. He shivered, cried and cramped up. I thought, This is probably the end,' he said. They asked to go home, but were told they would have to reimburse the captain the $6,000 he spent to bring them there. Finally, they decided to run. It was before dawn, six years ago, when the skipper was gone and drunken crewmembers slept. Sorihin and Fatah sneaked into a private room and grabbed their passports. They dashed through San Franciscos historic waterfront and eventually boarded a southbound train toward San Jose, where they sought help from an Indonesian man they knew of. I didnt think Id have another chance to survive at sea, said Fatah. I was really afraid. The man took them in and found them help, through the Catholic Church, a shelter, social workers and eventually immigration attorneys. Today they both work two jobs. They clerk at a liquor store, and Sorihin also drives a car for hire. Fatah takes inventory at a department store. Neither goes anywhere near Fishermans Wharf. Earlier this year, before filing their lawsuit, they looked at photos of the Sea Queen II and their former captain. Thats him, said Sorihin, shaking his head when asked if he would take a short walk to see the boat. Im afraid of this man. ____ Associated Press writers Margie Mason in Honolulu and Sudhin Thanawala in San Francisco contributed to this report. ____ Follow Martha Mendoza and Margie Mason on Twitter at: @mendozamartha and @MargieMasonAP ___ Read the entire Seafood From Slaves series: http://www.ap.org/explore/seafood-from-slaves/ RICHMOND, Va. The shadow of North Carolinas strict voting rules hung over a federal court hearing Thursday about a Virginia law where lawyers were repeatedly asked whether the states requirements are just as bad. The case involving Virginias voter-identification law comes two months after judges on the same appeals court threw out North Carolinas far-reaching voting restrictions, finding North Carolina legislators had intentionally made it more difficult for minorities to cast ballots. At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on Thursday, lawyers in the Virginia case quickly found themselves in the middle of a comparison to North Carolina. Is what Virginia did just as egregious? Judge Dennis Shedd asked the attorney for the state Democratic Party that brought the challenge to Virginias photo-identification requirement. Is the evidence of intentional discrimination as strong? Attorney Bruce Spiva said the law is just as bad because of its disparate impact on minority voters who he said are less likely than white voters to have the required identification. Lawyers defending Virginias law said the states system is far more flexible than voting measures in other states and was not designed to discriminate. Virginia is not Texas or North Carolina or, for that matter, Indiana. Virginia adopted one of the nations most lenient photo-ID laws, Mark F. Thor Hearne II, the attorney for the State Board of Elections, said in his court filing. The challenge to the voting rules in a key presidential election state is one of a series of similar cases throughout the country. Judges have repeatedly sided with opponents of new requirements in recent months, overturning or weakening restrictive voting laws. In 2012, Virginia lawmakers passed new election rules that required voters to present identification with or without a photo. The state mailed voter-registration cards, that could be used to cast ballots, to all registered voters. Ten months later, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a more restrictive measure requiring photo identification for in-person voting. A federal judge in May upheld Virginias law, finding the state had provided all of its citizens with an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process and that the voting rules are constitutional and do not violate the federal Voting Rights Act. Virginias law allows for alternatives to drivers licenses and passports, including presenting private- and government-employer IDs and student IDs. A voter without the required photo identification can cast a provisional ballot and obtain a free voter identification card from a local election office. In court Thursday, Judge Paul Niemeyer asked, Why is it discriminatory to say, everybody who votes has to have a photo ID, period?' Everyone can vote in this case. All you need to do is give some information, he said, making note of the minimal requirement to obtain the free ID. Spiva responded that the notion of all-you-have-to-do is actually quite burdensome, particularly for minorities and young people who may lack the time or transportation means to visit a registrars office. Requiring photo ID, is just a hurdle in the way, Spiva said. The panel hearing the case on Thursday also included Judge G. Steven Agee. All three judges were nominated by Republican presidents. A different 4th Circuit panel found in the North Carolina case that the states legislature had intentionally enacted voting restrictions to stop the growing political power of African American voters, who turned out in record numbers for President Obama. The North Carolina provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision, wrote Judge Diana Gribbon Motz. Unlike North Carolinas voting rules, Virginias law was passed before the Supreme Courts decision in Shelby County v. Holder. That 2013 decision freed certain states that had a history of discrimination from seeking federal approval before changing their voting rules. There is no evidence, according to lawyers for the Virginia state elections board, that any lawmakers knew or believed that the photo-ID measure would have a racially disparate impact or that there was a racial disparity in the possession of qualifying IDs. After the hearing Thursday, Del. Robert Bell, R-Albemarle, told reporters that the lower court judge didnt find a whiff of racial intent by the legislature. We were trying to prevent voter fraud and we tried to make it as easy as possible for people to get ID, he said. virginia-voting JENNINGS, La. For a state accustomed to explosive sex scandals, the one dominating a U.S. Senate race here simmered for a long time before boiling over into public view last week. In a new book, Murder in the Bayou, author Ethan Brown cites multiple anonymous sources who claim that Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., a top Republican candidate for the Senate race, had been the client of three prostitutes who were later murdered. Those women were part of an infamous string of unsolved cases, the Jeff Davis 8, that happened here in Jefferson Davis Parish from 2005 to 2009. The book also reports that a Boustany field staffer, Martin Guillory, operated the Boudreaux Inn, a cheap motel where, Brown writes, all eight women hosted their clients. Boustany has denied the allegations. He told Brown last spring, as the book was being prepared, that he had never hired prostitutes and said he did not know of Guillorys connection to the motel. And without any evidence Brown will not identify his sources, he says, to protect their safety most media outlets treated the allegations with caution. But then suddenly last week, after the book was published, Bridget Boustany defended her husband in an email to supporters, blasting the media rumor mill and lies about her husband that she called false attacks aimed at bringing down a candidate who threatens to take the lead and win the race for U.S. Senate, she wrote. That opened a door for his opponents to address the issue and they burst through it. Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy, R, considered the front-runner, issued a statement that began: I want to be very clear that my campaign played absolutely no role in creating this story alleging Congressman Boustanys sexual relationships with prostitutes that were later murdered, his staffs alleged involvement in running the bar and hotel where this illicit behavior took place, or publishing the book. Another Republican candidate, Rep. John Fleming, wrote: We pray Charles can address these scandalous allegations so we can return the campaign to a discussion of national policy issues rather than instances of alleged personal misconduct. Kennedys statement was picked up widely, making the allegations the top political story in the state. It also drew critics. Kennedys people saw that as an opportunity to amplify and make sure that the denial was the story, said Robert Mann, a historian and communications professor at Louisiana State University who worked in communications for Democratic campaigns during six statewide races. Theyre denying what theyre doing while theyre doing it. Its pretty breathtaking in its audacity. In the aftermath, Boustany fired Guillory. And he dismissed the books allegations and accused Kennedy of fanning the story when he finally addressed the charges during a short telephone news conference last week from Washington with Louisiana reporters. It is all total lies and everyone, even John Kennedy, knows it, Boustany said. The conference call was unavoidable, Mann said. You discuss that stuff in public only if you have no choice whatsoever, Mann said. Get it over with now, take your lumps and move on. Boustanys campaign press secretary later canceled an interview with the candidate for this article, instead directing a reporter to Boustanys written denials on the subject. Before now, the Senate race had been better known for its retiring incumbent, Sen. David Vitter, R, whose own career was mired in a prostitution scandal, and David Duke, the white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard who joined the race. Up until now, Boustany, a heart surgeon from Lafayette elected to Congress in 2004, has been uncontroversial. His reputation is as a very serious kind of representative who studies the issues and is known as a policy wonk, said Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has, as far as I know, not had any taint of corruption, venality or sexual innuendo. In the 24-candidate field, the top two finishers in the Nov. 8 primary, regardless of party, will advance to the Dec. 10 runoff election. Kennedy leads in most polls with about 20 percent, with Boustany not far behind. Both are thought to be fighting for the same moderate, conservative voters. A new sex scandal in Louisiana, of course, isnt exactly a shock. In the late 1950s, Gov. Earl Long openly consorted with a stripper, and Edwin Edwards cracked jokes about his affairs during his four terms as governor. More recently, in 2014, the married Rep. Vance McAllister, R, was caught on leaked surveillance video kissing a married female aide, and he promptly lost his reelection. Vitter had seemed to successfully dodge the 2007 controversy, when phone records showed calls from Vitter to Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known as the D.C. Madam. Vitter held a news conference and confessed to a very serious sin but he left without answering questions. In 2010, he won reelection. But he lost the 2015 race for governor to a little-known Democrat, John Bel Edwards, after Edwards and others repeatedly raised his character as an issue. Immediately afterward, Vitter announced he would not seek reelection. The book is resurrecting a painful subject for Jennings, a town of 10,0000 in the middle of Louisianas fun-loving, rice and crawfish farming region, known as Acadiana. Local officials, such as Sheriff Ivy Woods, are unhappy with Browns book and the publicity it will bring to the unsolved Jeff Davis 8 cases. I think he just wrote the book to make money and embarrass the people of Southwest Louisiana, said Woods, who added that he had never heard of Boustany having any involvement with the prostitutes. For his book, the New Orleans-based Brown, who is also a licensed private investigator, said he made repeated trips to Jennings beginning in 2011 to find out what happened to the women. He writes that local law enforcement officials failed to secure crime scenes and moved slowly because the women were poor drug addicts. In an interview, Brown said he thinks the murders were committed by more than one person. The Jeff Davis 8 all knew one another. All were from Jenningss south side and became trapped in a life of abusive men, drug addiction and prostitution to pay for the drugs. Their deaths became notorious because law enforcement officials, despite forming a state and federal task force, havent solved any of the cases. If you dont get involved in illegal narcotics, Jennings is a wonderful place to raise a family, said District Attorney Michael Cassidy, as he dug into a lunch of fried catfish and boudin, a local sausage served in a natural casing. The ones living that high-risk lifestyle, their friends and family did not realize they were in danger. Cassidy also said he thinks that more than one person committed the murders. Andrew Newman, 55, the father of one of the victims, Kristen Lopez, remembered her as a slow learner who was just getting out there in life. Lopez was 21 in 2007, when her body was found in a drainage canal outside of town on Highway 99. Newman was in prison at the time, he said, for smoking crack. He also admits that he smoked crack with his daughter. On Saturday, Newman spent several minutes rooting through tall reeds before finding the chest-high wooden cross that marks the spot where her body was found. Whoever did it will one day die, he said while leaning on the cross. They got to answer to the Lord. God provides the last judgment. louisiana-scandal SANTA FE The Santa Fe Farmers Market and its board of directors are being sued by a local baker who maintains the market wont let her sell her pure gluten-free products because she happens to be a woman of color. According to the discrimination complaint, Dionne Christian whose online photographs suggest shes African-American has been doing business in Santa Fe as a baker and restaurateur since 2003. She opened the Revolution Bakery last year and says she produces only gluten-free products. But even though she sells her goods at farmers markets in Albuquerque, Eldorado and Los Alamos, she hasnt been able to into the Santa Fe Farmers Market, her lawsuit says. Christian applied to be a vendor there in August 2013, but her application was blocked for no legitimate reason and denied, the complaint states. She claims she was told that she had to grow her own gluten-free grains in order to be considered even though no other vendor is held to that standard. In addition, Christian alleges she has been denied the opportunity to argue her case with the markets board of directors. She is suing the board for failing to comply with its own bylaws and for denial of her right of free speech. Plaintiff is suffering losses of income, loss of opportunity and is convinced it is because she is a woman of color and for no other reason, except the possibility of jealousy of certain individual vendors who do not want to see Plaintiff succeed, the complaint states. The document notes that another vendor at the market purports to sell gluten free goods made at a commercial kitchen lacking safeguards for cross contamination. That vendor doesnt always sell out, and doesnt sell breads or bagels, so customers are faced with purchasing stale gluten-free pastries. Christian says her goods are of superior quality and her bakery sells out daily. The suit says more than 1,000 people have signed a petition supporting her position. Efforts to reach Christian on Thursday were unsuccessful. The phone number at the bakery has been temporarily disconnected and her attorney did not immediately return a phone message from the Journal. The general manager of the Santa Fe Farmers Market said Thursday he was not aware of the lawsuit and referred questions to the board president, Brian DeSpain, who also did not immediately return a phone message. Federal Department of Foreign Affairs New York, 22.09.2016 - Address by the Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter a the occasion of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly (High Level Side Event Water as a source of peace - Developing political momentum to advance water cooperation and prevent water-related conflicts) - Check against delivery Deputy Secretary-General Dear colleagues Ladies and gentlemen I would like to thank you all for joining us in this side event on water and peace. Together with our co-hosts from Costa Rica, Senegal and Slovenia, Switzerland has organised this meeting because we think that more political effort should be invested in promoting water as a source of cooperation and peace. There is broad recognition today that water is essential for sustainable development. Water is an indispensable resource for public health, agriculture and food security, energy, and industrial production. Switzerland welcomes the inclusion of water in the Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed, we actively contributed to this and also support the idea of an intergovernmental body to ensure follow-up of water issues within the 2030 Agenda. We also commend the UN Secretary General and the President of the World Bank for launching a High Level Panel on Water to promote the implementation of the water goal. And I would like to personally thank you, Mr Deputy Secretary General (Eliasson), for your long-standing commitment to water and for sharing your views with us today. Switzerlands vision is that water will be as firmly established as a peace and security issue on the political agenda as it has been recognised as a development issue. We consider the interlinkages between water, peace and security to be essential for the well-being of humankind. Water scarcity is growing rapidly, not least as a result of climate change. In many parts of the world, a mounting global water deficit poses a growing threat to the economic, social and political gains of development. Water can be a source of tension and instability. Competition over water can cause or fuel conflicts, and water crises often add to the fragility of countries. What is more, cutting off water supplies has become an instrument of warfare, with disastrous consequences for the population, as documented by the ICRC in Syria. The augmented security challenges related to water are a reality we have to deal with. But there is a second reality that we should emphasise much more: there is enormous potential for transforming water from a source of crises to a source of cooperation and peace. All of us can contribute to this end. The case for transboundary water cooperation is strong. While such cooperation does require political compromise, it also provides enormous gains for all sides. Water cooperation ensures economic prosperity, fosters resilience, creates trust, and enhances security. There are several good examples of which I am sure we will hear today, including the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Senegal. Collaborative water schemes can be a powerful measure to prevent conflict. They can also be an entry point when more difficult issues make dialogue between parties difficult. Let me cite a remarkable example from Syria. In a watershed a few hundred kilometres from Damascus, opponents who were fighting during daylight were observed sitting together and negotiating a fair quota of water in the evening. This extreme example is of course no role model for how we envisage water cooperation. But it does underscore that collaborative water solutions can be found even in the most difficult situations. The Swiss foreign ministry has developed a set of Lines of Action on Water and Security to address the nexus of water, peace and security. Our engagement relies on the long-standing experience Switzerland has in transboundary water cooperation, for instance in the Rhine basin, one of the most important cultural and economic axes in Europe. One of our main activities is our Blue Diplomacy in different regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. We seek to strengthen water collaboration through dialogue promotion and capacity building programmes. Switzerland is supporting efforts to strengthen good governance and management mechanisms in seventeen transboundary river basins worldwide. In addition to these local and regional measures, we consider it essential to have a global dialogue on these issues and on best practices in water collaboration. This is why Switzerland has initiated the Global High Level Panel on Water and Peace that was launched in Geneva last November by 15 countries, among them todays co-hosts. The panels task is to develop proposals to facilitate the use of water for building peace and to strengthen the global architecture to prevent and resolve water-related conflicts. We plan to have another side event here next year to discuss these proposals, hopefully with all of you present. We also launched a Group of Friends of this panel and are grateful to the about 40 countries that have so far joined us in our common endeavor. And we are supporting the Geneva Water Hub that is accompanying the panel and feeding the dialogue on water, peace and security with new ideas. Let me thank the President of the panel, Mr Danilo Turk, who has offered to introduce its work in more detail today. Ladies and gentlemen This meeting offers an opportunity to have an exchange on our respective experiences and expectations concerning water as a source of peace and to develop shared ideas on where to go next. Let me conclude with two propositions from Switzerland: First, global and regional development banks are increasingly investing resources in water infrastructure. This is good news. We propose including collaborative elements in these schemes as much as possible to advance development and peace at the same time. Second, we believe that the UN, together with regional organisations, should play a major role in the field of water and peace. The UN is the natural place to seek global solutions to this global challenge. The UN can provide valuable assistance to countries that are facing challenges in the management of water. And the UN can help promote cooperative responses, which goes to the heart of what this organisation our common organisation is about. Thank you. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Ares Management is reportedly seeking to raise more than $45bn for its latest batch of funds. Published On Sep 22, 2016 05:04 PM By Alshaar Rooting for higher uniformity in differential tax structures for Indian automobiles, Japanese carmaker Honda has blamed the unique nature of this system for not being able to bring globally best-selling cars to India. Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has also raised concerns over the lack of clarity on GST rates and held it responsible for the difficulty in chalking out future strategies in advance for the country. "A lot of cars are sold in India but variety is not there. Car models which are selling are quite limited. It may be because of the unique tax structure, maybe it's the government policy to promote small cars," HCIL president and CEO, Yoichiro Ueno said. He further lamented the lack of a consistent tax structure in India, in comparison to other major markets, as a result of which the portfolio of global brands has to remain restricted. Because of that unique restriction, it is difficult. If the government can moderate the differentiation, automobile manufacturers can implement more variety of models which will benefit customers, he added. READ: Honda Accord booking begin ahead of October launch Citing Hondas own example, he said, globally the companys top four best-selling models are the Jazz, the Accord, the Civic and the CR-V but the company is selling only the Jazz and the CR-V in India. Even in CR-V, we are selling a very small number, he said. To put things into perspective, the automotive industry in India functions under four different slabs of excise duty, based on the dimensions of the car and its engine capacity. Smaller cars under the length of 4 metre, attract a 12.5 per cent excise duty while the longer ones are levied a 24 per cent duty, provided they are fitted with engines under 1.5-litre displacement. However, a car larger than 4 metre in length but with a 1500cc-plus engine will be slapped with a total of 27 per cent in excise duties. Further, a car with ground clearance north of 170mm will attract, the maximum, 30 per cent excise duty. Source: PTI Published On Sep 22, 2016 12:19 PM By Raunak for Toyota Corolla Altis The immortal Toyota Corolla, which is sold in 150 countries, turns 50 this year. The Corolla is the worlds most popular car, and since 1997 it is the worlds best-selling model. The Japanese automaker highlighted in an official release that it has sold more than 44 million units of the Corolla worldwide since the original model was introduced in Japan in 1966. A purpose-built factory was opened in Takaoka, Japan for the production of the original Corolla. And the first-generation model became Japans top-selling vehicle within three years. Speaking of the original Corolla, it was designed to be a peoples car, and was introduced in saloon and estate body styles. Some of the unique features in the original Corolla were a floor-mounted gear lever, individual front bucket seats with generous padding and a spacious rear bench, which were unusual in cars of that era. The name Corolla was coined from a latin term for a crown of flowers! Currently, in its eleventh-generation, the Corolla is manufactured in sixteen plants worldwide. And in Toyotas 79-year of history, one in every five new vehicles sold globally has been a Corolla. There are two versions of the Corolla on sale globally North American and European-Asian version. In India, Toyota introduced the ninth-generation Corolla in 2003 and the current eleventh-gen model is due for a mid-life update. Check what all the facelifted version of the Corolla has to offer Toyota Corolla Facelift Officially Revealed Read More on : Corolla Altis price Matsen gave his Hutch team members credit for the honor. Im truly grateful to have been able to recruit some very sharp and dedicated people into my group, and the award is actually recognizing their contributions, said Matsen, an associate member of the Public Health Sciences Division. The Faculty Scholars program is a collaboration between the HHMI, the Simons Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The organizations created the program in response to the increasingly difficult environment for early-career investigators in the U.S. The honor, Bloom said, arrives at one of the more challenging times in a scientists career when institutional, start-up funding for new faculty members runs out and researchers must find sufficient outside grant support to keep their work humming. The financial burden can be a struggle for young scientists with short track records and with growing labs to support. This program will provide these scientists with much-needed, flexible resources so they can follow their best research ideas, said HHMI Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer David Clapham in a statement. Heads of the scientific divisions at Fred Hutch where Bloom and Matsen work offered the two scientists congratulations on their new honors. These awards are a tribute to the high quality of computational research at Fred Hutch, reflecting not just the excellence of Jesse and Erick but also the vision of the center, and particularly [Public Health Sciences faculty member and biostatistician] Dr. Ross Prentice, in starting the Herbold Computational Biology Program 10 years ago, said Basic Sciences Division Director Dr. Jonathan Cooper by email. Both Jesse and Erick are interested in mining DNA sequence information to understand evolution, and Jesse in particular combines computation with experiments done at the bench. He's testing how viruses can adapt to avoid being attacked by the immune system without compromising their ability to reproduce. There are fascinating implications for protein structure and stability, as well as how the immune system recognizes invaders, Cooper said. This is basic research at its best. I would like to congratulate both Erick Matsen and Jesse Bloom, on behalf of the entire PHS faculty, on this prestigious award, Public Health Sciences Division Director Dr. Garnet Anderson said by email. It is a particular pleasure for me to acknowledge Erick as the first PHS-based investigator to receive an HHMI honor. He couldnt be more deserving he is a productive scholar, a highly valued collaborator, a generous teacher, and a nice guy. He brings his mathematical prowess to statistical models for phylogenetic trees and applies them to intriguing and highly relevant questions of biology, particularly the evolutionary biology of viruses and bacteria. This award acknowledges both his many contributions to date and the potential we and others see in him, Anderson said. In addition to supporting the principal scientific projects in his lab, Matsen said the award will allow him to pursue initiatives that I think are good for science, rather than just good for our science. He is particularly interested in finding better ways to promote discussion and collaboration among scientists, especially across the disciplines of biology and math, Matsen said. The two initiatives in this area that hes eager to advance as a Faculty Scholar are an online phylogenetics seminar and a discussion site for researchers interested in analyzing the genetics of immune response. Sometimes there are things that are important for a scientific field that isnt glamorous science, Matsen said. The two researchers who often work together to tackle problems or share insights that might advance each others work said they are especially pleased to both be named Faculty Scholars at the same time. Im absolutely thrilled to be getting this award alongside Jesse, Matsen said. Jesse is someone I greatly respect and enjoy talking to immensely. The two had been discussing whether to apply for an NIH grant to pursue a joint research project. But now we can just do the research rather than spend our time writing the grant, Bloom said with a grin. By Susan Keown / Fred Hutch News Service The National Bus & Rail Union is to ballot its members at Bus Eireann for industrial action, it was announced today. The move is in reaction to proposed changes to Bus Eireanns Expressway service. NBRU general secretary Dermot O'Leary said: "Trade Union representatives attended at the WRC [Workplace Relations Commission] today in order to begin discussions on a long overdue pay rise for staff at Bus Eireann after eight years of pay stagnation. The company not alone indicated that it would not be in a position to contemplate any pay rises but also dropped an industrial relations bombshell in relation to the future of the Expressway service, threatening the livelihoods of 800 Bus Eireann workers. The NBRU will not tolerate the imposition of a Low Wage Bus Transport Service as a solution to a problem which has directly resulted from Department policy. "The current Dublin Bus Dispute and this crisis at Bus Eireann are not unconnected, there are huge question marks over the Department of Transport and its stewardship of the State owned public transport services, cutting off vital financial support and overseeing a licencing regime which has now led to the potential decimation of an Expressway Service that connects into every nook and cranny in rural Ireland. It is now time for politicians from across all parties and none to step up to the plate on behalf of the communities they purport to represent. The Irish electorate can be extremely unforgiven [sic] to those they elect who fail to protect vital social services." Bus Eireann responded to the statement by insisting that it cannot afford to offer a pay increase for staff. The company stated that it has incurred a 5.6m loss in 2015 and is forecasting a similar loss for 2016, mainly due to losses on commercial Expressway services. Expressway must now be positioned to compete more intensively in a low margin market, the Bus Eireann statement read. Any further increase to our costs, increases the risk for all employees, so the business must urgently address its losses to survive. In 2016 the financial position has worsened due to a number of factors, including increased competition by low-cost operators on commercial routes. The business requires immediate cost savings of 7m and our existing commercial Expressway services - which are not State-subsidised need to generate an annual profit to survive. These cost savings must be achieved internally and not through any cuts to service which would impact our customers. Management have prepared a plan to transform and restructure Expressway into a sustainable business as part of an overall strategic plan for the company. We need to introduce a new competitive model with a new structure and reduced costs. While this is a major challenge for all employees at Bus Eireann who we recognise as fully committed to the company our plan needs to address the urgent financial challenges facing the business. It is imperative that talks with unions continue, on the substantive issues of the financial crisis facing Bus Eireann. Former CIA Officer & Alumnus to Speak David Priess '93 Sept. 20, 2016 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Former CIA intelligence officer and Illinois Wesleyan University alumnus David Priess '93 will speak Oct. 3 about his book The President's Book of Secrets, a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the President's Daily Brief (PDB). The PDB is a top-secret summary of the most pressing international events and delivered daily to the President of the United States. Priess will discuss his book at 4 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Hansen Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. The PDB is compiled by intelligence analysts sifting through a mass of information reports from CIA spies, listening posts of the National Security Agency and photos from the National Reconnaissance Office to compile an assessment that is usually no longer than a single page. As an intelligence officer, manager and daily intelligence briefer, Priess wrote many PDB items for two presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and personally briefed the attorney general and FBI director in the Bush administration. He was a manager of analysts covering a "high-interest" Middle Eastern country. Even today, years after Priess left the CIA, he's not allowed to say which country. The President's Daily Brief "has influenced the most momentous foreign policy decisions of the past 50 years, and yet it has remained largely unknown outside national security circles," Priess is quoted in the spring 2016 issue of IWU Magazine. He wrote the book to give the public a glimpse into the "little-understood world of daily intelligence." Since the book's release in March, Priess has given interviews about his book and offered commentary on intelligence briefings for presidential candidates to cable news programs, political websites and major newspapers across the country. He's made presentations at presidential libraries and the International Spy Museum. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan with a major in political science, Priess earned a Ph.D. from Duke University. Priess is now director of analytic services for a Virginia-based consulting firm offering training, mentoring and consulting to the intelligence community, government and the private sector. There are nothing as welcoming as having a beautiful and lingering impression of an institution right from its gate. Since the first appearance or an image anyone comes in contact with tends to leave a lasting pictorial knowledge in human's memory. However, school authority should be cognizant with the important role of a nicely structured gate/entrance which can speak a lot on the personality of the school. Although the institutions listed in this article is not ranked in order of appearance. Here are 9 out of many of Nigerian universities with beautiful gates: 1. University of Ibadan University of Ibadan is the oldest and one of the most prestigious in Nigeria, established in 1948. Although the institution's building is as old as the school but it's unique architectural design has added to its beautification. Its gate's design is one of its distinct centre of attraction with little horticultural design as sense of nature. 2.University of Lagos The university known for being competitive in the country in terms of admissions is also best known for its serene environment. Amidst the hustling and bustling subjected to its location, the institution has this nature-like atmosphere with water and cosy vegetation. Enclosing this work of nature in a state like Lagos is the beautiful gate. 3. Obafemi Awolowo University, ile-ife One of the old generation of Nigerian university, founded in 1961. The cite of the university's gate depicts the motto of the institution "for learning and culture". The architectural art is designed in form of a house with another erected structure holding the Obafemi Awolowo University Seal. 4. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is a technology school in Ogbomoso, Oyo state. It was established April 23, 1990, the institution's gate is uniquely carved into two wing with structure that have a giraffe-like image at both end to compliment the wings while there is a pillar in between to imprint the name of the institution. 5. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta The university was established 1988 by the Federal government when four universities of technology, earlier merged in 1984. Apart from its gate design, the institution is known with beautiful and lovely structures within the school premises. It's unique pyramid with an arc that runs the lettering of the institution's name also distinct the design. 6. University of Calabar It is one of Nigeria's second generation federal universities with architecture designed by John Elliott. The university also established by decree to fulfill this traditional mandate, its motto Knowledge for Service. The gate has a modernised design that uniquely differential it from the old generation institutions. READ ALSO: 9 absolutely beautiful university campuses in Nigeria (photos) 7. University of Benin One of Nigeria's first generation federal university founded in 1970, has an eye catchy design to embellish its frontage. Like the saying, first impression matters, the institution has proven this with jaw-opening structure of the school main entrance. 8. University of Nigeria, Nsukka The choice of colour for this design has abruptly uplifted the face of the structure to be appealing to the eyes. The University of Nigeria was the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria, modeled upon the American educational system. It is the first grant university in Africa and one of the five elite universities in the country. 9. Enugu State University, Enugu The University was conceived with the aim to establish an institution that must be closely related to society. To serve as a catalyst in the technological advancement of the people, hence the university has definitely wooed people through its frontage design, that will make you have a second at the design. Source: Legit.ng Ceramics by Yary Livan courtesy September 22, 2016 Contact: Phil Lupsiewicz, 978-275-1705 LOWELL, MA On October 8 and 15, Lowell artist Yary Livan will offer a special free community workshop at Lowell National Historical Park open to adults. This is a rare chance to work with and learn from Livan, a master ceramicist in a field where it is hard to find master artists. In this free community workshop, participants will work directly with Livan to make their own creative masterpieces in clay. The pieces will be fired in a community wood-burning kiln that is hosted by Middlesex Community College at Lowell National Historical Park. According to Livan, the wood-burning kiln is a distinctive element of Cambodian ceramics, as it produces different coloring effects than a gas-burning kiln which is more common in ceramic arts today. Livan came to Lowell from Cambodia, and is one of perhaps only three master ceramic artists to survive the Khmer Rouge genocide. When arriving in the United States in 2001, Livan completed his formal study at Harvard, and was most recently honored as a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2015. The workshop will meet in two sequential sessions, Saturdays October 8 and 15, from 3-5 PM. Participants must be able to commit to both sessions. The first session on October 8 will involve sculpting material into forms of pottery, and on October 15, participants will glaze their pieces with color. Both sessions will meet at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum, located at 115 John Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Participants may park in the free Visitor Center parking lot (located at 304 Dutton Street), and walk over to the Boott. A closer parking option to the Boott is the John Street parking garage, which is a city parking garage that charges a fee. The pieces will then be fired on October 22 at the Park's community Cambodian wood-burning kiln, from 1 AM 3 PM. It is not required that participants attend the firing, but they are more than welcome to stop by the kiln and see their pieces being fired. The kiln is located adjacent to Lowell National Historical Park's maintenance center at 220 Aiken Street. The community workshop is free, however space is limited. Registration is required.Please contact Lowell National Historical Park at 978-970-5000 to sign up. For more information on Yary Livan, you can read an interview with him from the National Endowment for the Arts at https://www.arts.gov/NEARTS/2016v1-telling-all-our-stories-arts-and-diversity/yary-livan . If you have questions about the Make, Glaze, Fire! workshop series, please contact Bridget Peregrino (e-mail us) at 978-970-5031, or Resi Polixa (e-mail us) at 978-275-1784. To learn more about this and other park offerings during this centennial year of the National Park Service, including the Junior Ranger program, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit, ranger-led tours, and upcoming special events stop by the Visitor Center at 246 Market Street, or contact Lowell National Historical Park at (978) 970-5000, or visit www.nps.gov/lowe . -NPS- REQUEST INFORMATION First Name* Last Name* Email Address* Phone Type* --- Select --- Mobile Landline Country Code* --- Select --- United States (+1) Afghanistan (+93) Aland Islands (+35818) Albania (+355) Algeria (+213) American Samoa (+1684) Andorra (+376) Angola (+244) Anguilla (+1264) Antigua and Barbuda (+1268) Argentina (+54) Armenia (+374) Aruba (+297) Ascension (+247) Australia (+61) Australian External Territories (+672) Austria (+43) Azerbaijan (+994) Bahamas (+1242) Bahrain (+973) Bangladesh (+880) Barbados (+1246) Barbuda (+1268) Belarus (+375) Belgium (+32) Belize (+501) Benin (+229) 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1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 Never Graduated from High School Have You Served in the U.S. Military, or Are You a Dependent of a U.S. Military Service Member?* Yes No * Required Information Really, the only way to present this article is as a series of increasingly ridiculous quotes from Kathy Miller, a chair of Donald Trumps campaign in Mahoning County, Ohio. In a video interview with The Guardian for their Anywhere but Washington series, laid out some choice opinions. First, on black opportunity: If youre black and you havent been successful in the last 50 years, its your own fault. Youve had every opportunity, it was given to you. And: Youve had the same schools everybody else went to. You had benefits to go to college that white kids didnt have. You had all the advantages and didnt take advantage of it. Its not our fault, certainly. On Black Lives Matter: A stupid waste of time. On the reason for low voter turnout among the black community (which was actually higher, percentage-wise, than for whites over the last two elections): Its the way theyre raised. On personal accountability: We have three generations of all still having unwed babies, kids that dont go through high school, and when do they take responsibility for how they live? I think its due time, and I think its good that Mr. Trump is pointing that out. And the real kicker: I dont think there was any racism until Obama got elected. We never had problems like this Now, with the people with the guns, and shooting up neighborhoods, and not being responsible citizens, thats a big change, and I think thats the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America. And thats not even going into all the advantages she claimed that black citizens have in America. But lets continue to insist that Trumps support isnt about racism, right? When presented with the idea that her remarks may be offensive, Miller responded with all the humility and nuance youd expect: I dont care, its the truth. Go to The Guardian to watch Millers video. Global Poker Index: Eli Elezra Rejoins Rankings After Hot Month; Fedor Still First September 22, 2016 Martin Harris Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes into account a player's results over six half-year periods. For a look at the entire list, visit the official GPI website. Here's a look at the rankings as of September 21, 2016. 2016 GPI Player of the Year Rank Player GPI Score Change 1 Fedor Holz 3637.69 - 2 Chance Kornuth 3336.54 - 3 David Peters 3097.44 - 4 Paul Volpe 3095.05 - 5 Adrian Mateos 3045.89 - 6 Nick Petrangelo 3008.21 - 7 Ivan Luca 2992.47 - 8 Jason Mercier 2931.51 - 9 Connor Drinan 2926.70 - 10 Dominik Nitsche 2875.65 - Another week and another top-ranking for Fedor Holz in the 2016 Global Poker Index Player of the Year race. At the start of the summer when the GPI first released the POY rankings, Ari Engel enjoyed a brief moment at the top. But since Holz took over the lead shortly thereafter, he's now spent 15 weeks at No. 1 with a little over three months left to go in the year. (Engel, if you're curious, is currently in 13th in the race.) In fact, the entire top 10 remained the same yet again this week, with Chance Kornuth still the nearest challenger to Holz in second position. Looking just below this group, Alexander Rocha went from No. 25 to No. 14 after winning a $3,500 buy-in Deepstack Extravaganza 3.5 event last week. Rocha topped a 249-entry field to win a $173,861 first prize and a bunch of POY points to enable his upward move. GPI 300 Top 10 Rank Player GPI Score Change 1 Fedor Holz 4838.07 - 2 Nick Petrangelo 4475.43 - 3 Steve O'Dwyer 4339.03 - 4 Jason Mercier 4304.04 - 5 Byron Kaverman 4270.07 - 6 Connor Drinan 4183.95 - 7 David Peters 4029.39 +1 8 Anthony Zinno 4022.11 -1 9 Bryn Kenney 3992.68 - 10 Adrian Mateos 3876.73 - It was another quiet week at the top of the overall GPI rankings as well where Holz also remains the frontrunner for a 15th-straight week. Just one small change in the top 10 from a week ago, as David Peters (No. 7) and Anthony Zinno (No. 8) swapped spots. Welcome to the GPI Top 300 Rank Player Total Score 260 Matt Salsberg 2001.74 284 Moritz Dietrich 1921.28 288 Eli Elezra 1916.63 300 Peter Eichhart 1876.19 There were only four newcomers in the GPI top 300 this week, the lowest number of new names on the list in recent memory. Matt Salsberg is the highest-ranked of the group after elevating from No. 361 to No. 260 following his runner-up finish in that aforementioned Deepstack Extravaganza event won by Rocha. Also making it back to the top 300 this week is 2016 Poker Hall of Fame nominee Eli Elezra who is in the middle of a hot September thus far. After starting the month taking runner-up out of 528 entries in the WSOP Circuit Nevada Main Event, a week later Elezra finished sixth in that Deepstack Extravaganza event won by Rocha, then he won another preliminary event at the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open a few days ago. With more than $3 million in career tournament earnings, Elezra's highest previous GPI ranking has been No. 238 back in June of this year. Biggest Gains Rank Player Total GPI Score Change 260 Matt Salsberg 2001.74 +101 209 Robert Mizrachi 2084.32 +53 194 Phillip Hui 2141.24 +48 288 Eli Elezra 1916.63 +42 207 Felix Stephensen 2096.33 +34 Salsberg's leap earned him top honors in the "Biggest Gains" list this week (considering only those within the top 300) ahead Robert Mizrachi, Phillip Hui, and Elezra. Felix Stephensen also jumped from No. 241 to No. 207 after earning some points from a cash in the UKIPT Super Series Main Event at the Hippodrome London. Biggest Drops Rank Player Total GPI Score Change 184 Jonathan Little 2168.34 -58 271 Piotr Franczak 1962.78 -55 258 Ralph Porter 2010.81 -52 278 Ralph Qartomy 1935.94 -49 217 Matt Affleck 2071.37 -39 Finally, looking only at players still ranked in the top 300, Jonathan Little slid the furthest from No. 126 to No. 184 this week. What to Expect Next Week That Deepstack Extravaganza 3.5 continues this week in Las Vegas, with the WPT Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City also rolling forward. Meanwhile the Heartland Poker Tour stops in Daytona Beach, Florida, the France Poker Series is in action in Deauville, France, and the Winamax Poker Open is playing out in Dublin, Ireland. To view the GPI overall rankings in their entirety, visit the official GPI website. While you're at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page. 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. Global Poker League Week 9: Clean Sweep for Adams and Bonomo, Moscow Wolverines Lead Euarasia Conference September 22, 2016 Frank van der Weck An exciting day of Global Poker League heads-up matches played out yesterday. Two players even signed for clean sweeps in the Eurasia Conference mano-a-mano fights. Rome Emperors vs. Hong Kong Stars Timothy Adams vs. Weiyi Zhang Timothy Adams was the first one to score three wins. The Rome Emperors player had Hong Kong Stars' Weiyi Zhang on the ropes early on in the first match. With his king-five, he rivered a king to beat Zhang's pocket sevens to take a 1-0 lead. In the second match, he quickly pulled away from his opponent. He got it all in with two pair the pair and flush draw of Zhang. The river wasn't one of Zhang's outs and Adams was already secured the victory leading 2-0. The last heat for the final three points was decided by two big hands in the end. In the first one, Adams flopped a flush against Zhang's two pair. In the second hand, the king-queen from Zhang couldn't beat Adams' ace-six and the Canadian scored the clean sweep, earning nine crucial points for the Emperors. Moscow Wolverines vs. Paris Aviators Anatoly Filatov vs. vs. George Danzer The first two heats were lengthy battles but in the end, Filatov came out on top. In the last hand of the first heat, Danzer's nine-eight was dominated by Filatov's ace-eight and it stayed that way. The next heat was decided by a coin flip; Filatov's pocket deuces were victorious against the ace-eight from Danzer. Danzer struck back a little bit in the last heat. He took the lead early on in the fight and eventually finished it off by making a flush with his king-trey off suit against Filatov's ace-queen suited. Filatov probably wasn't very disappointed about that last heat. He still won the match and gave the Moscow Wolverines a decent lead in the Eurasia conference. In the meantime, Filatov himself became the top scorer of the Global Poker League so far. Scoring 56 in his 12 matches, the same amount as Fedor Holz raked in for his team. George Danzer wins the last game and keeps his Aviators team in a playoff spot in the standings. #GPL pic.twitter.com/XHFi1pApnf Global Poker League (@gpl) 21 september 2016 London Royals vs. Berlin Bears Justin Bonomo vs. Dominik Nitsche Bonomo went off to a flying start for his London Royals, winning the first heat in just four hands. Nitsche tried to bluff Bonomo on a four-six-ten-nine-nine-board, but Bonomo made the correct call with ace-ten. Nitsche, looking for some costly points for the Berlin Bears, couldn't get things going in the second heat. He was down early in the match and eventually lost his final chips with ace-ten against Bonomo's jacks. In the final heat, Nitsche had the better start, but Bonomo fought back. He took over the chip lead and ended it in style winning the match with pocket aces. Global Poker League Eurasia Standings Thanks to the six points Filatov scored, the Moscow Wolverines still have a big lead in the Eurasia Conference. The London Royals are now solely in second after Bonomo's perfect nine points. The Hong Kong Stars are still in a good spot for the playoffs, but the Paris Aviators and Rome Emperors are on their heels. With only the top four reaching the playoffs in Las Vegas, the Berlin Bears need to score big in the next couple of weeks. Place Team Points (Wins) 1 Moscow Wolverines 136 (11) 2 London Royals 122 (11) 3 Hong Kong Stars 113 (7) 4 Paris Aviators 111 (10) 5 Rome Emperors 110 (7) 6 Berlin Bears 100 (6) Global Poker League Schedule September 22: Americas Conference Heads-Up Matches Today the Global Poker League will be back with some more heads-up action. This time from the Americas Conference. Time EDT Time CEST Match 1pm 19:00 Montreal Nationals LA Sunset Marc-Andre Ladouceur Olivier Busquet 3.30pm 21:30 Sao Paulo Metropolitans New York Rounders Byron Kaverman Tom Marchese 6pm 00:00 San Francisco Rush Las Vegas Moneymakers Jonathan Jaffe Jake Cody Brexiters Seeking New Zealand Rural Property Farming, Forestry, Carbon Farming, Honey Farming, Grazing and recreational outdoor pursuits are just a few of the options available on New Zealand's "Dunwold" Forest and Farm in the rich dairy and equine farmlands of the Waikato. By: Dunwold Forest and Farm, New Zealand By: rrc, llc CS- WIGPC 2 End -- Carol Sankar will present The Confidence Factor for Women in Leadership at the Women in Government 18th Annual Eastern Regional Conferences in Bar Harbor, Maine on September 29th.The Confidence Factor for Women is a global executive leadership firm that focuses on diversity and inclusion initiatives for women at the c-level. The Confidence Factor has been presented at major companies and organizations, including but not limited to: TEDx, Civicon, ABASBO, Amec Foster Wheeler, eWomen Network, Suncoast HR/SHRM, Inroads and more.Mrs. Sankar will present her new facts and findings on public policy, presence and presentation. Her findings will change the narrative for women in leadership, who are outnumbered in specific leadership industries & professions."I am honored by the opportunity to present the Confidence Factor for Women to distinguished public policy leaders and create a new narrative for women so we can increase our presence in politics," says Sankar. The Women in Government Policy Conference will be held on September 29th in Bar Harbor, ME.________________________________________- Business consultant, leadership advisor and bestselling author as seen at TEDx, The Steve Harvey Show, Bounce TV, SHRM, Entrepreneur Magazine, Homevestors and more. Visit www.carolsankar.com SBS Consulting, a premier corporate firm in Singapore has been delivering unparalleled registration services to both local and foreign entrepreneurs alike. By: SBS Consulting Pte. Ltd. Contact Phone:+65-6536 0036 Email:info@sbsgroup.com.sg ***@sbsgroup.com.sg Phone:+65-6536 0036Email:info@sbsgroup.com.sg End -- "Our all-inclusive incorporation packages will simplify the process of Singapore company registration even further. We have taken this endeavor, keeping the reluctant foreign individuals in mind, who often abandon their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur to avoid the hurdles related to the process," says Ms. Meena, the Business Head of SBS Consulting.The firm has exclusive, comprehensive incorporation packages for the entrepreneurs interested in. It will serve as a gravitating tool for most of the foreign aspirants who want to incorporate a company in Singapore to make their presence known in the international market.Ms. Meena added, "Over the years, Singapore market (the gateway to South Asian region) has become fiercely competitive and vulnerable. So, for the survival of the business, owners must have sound knowledge of the local market, incorporation process, government policies, and taxation.When an individual avails our comprehensive services, he gets access to all the know-how and significant facts. Above all, all-encompassing assistance for each formality of company registration in Singapore also comes with it. We have kept the fees affordable and the free add-on services of company secretary and local registered address for first one year are main attractions of the packages."She further elaborated "We understand the fact that it gets extremely tough for a foreign individual to get grounds in an unknown place. The team of SBS is always eager to succor the overseas entrepreneurs in each and every phase in the course of starting and strengthening their business in Singapore. Right from the pre-incorporation phase to operational phase, our team assures to provide best-in-class assistance."In general, a comprehensive package of SBS Consulting includes following components:Company name checking and reservation of the desired name,Preparation of incorporation documents such as M&A, Form 45, Form 45 B, etc.,Registration with ACRA (including fee),An electronic certificate of incorporation,Company profile,Preparation of minutes in the first board meeting,Share certificate(s),Preparation of company kit,Common seal, andBank account opening assistance.Singapore company registration has long been known for its simple and fast approach. The process involves very minimal red tape and bureaucracy. It can be completed in just two simple steps- 1) Company Name Approval with ACRA and 2) Company Registration. It takes hardly one to three days to complete the process of Singapore small business registration.Even if it sounds very simple, easy and quick to open a company in Singapore, foreigners often find it tedious owing to some mandatory requirements associated with the process. It gets tedious for them to arrange local company secretary, SingPass ID (needed to login into BizFile+) and local registered office address. They even find the process cumbersome due to lack of their knowledge on local jurisdictions.When an individual hires the services of SBS Consulting, a dedicated expert initiates the incorporation process. The team will assist in preparing all necessary documents including the business plan, Memorandum of Articles of Association, provide sound advice on various critical decisions and support in every aspect of company incorporation and business development of the client.There are plenty of incorporation specialists available in Singapore market. But, the selection of a reliable and goodservice provider is a milestone and its result is later reflected in the career graph of the entrepreneur. Since inception, SBS Consulting has been shaping up the entrepreneurial career of many foreign and local enthusiasts.SBS Consulting is a pioneer in offering company registration services in Singapore. As a leader in the industry, the firm successfully assists the entrepreneurs in setting up their business in the city-state. In addition to it, the firm takes pride in serving the clients with its high-end accounting, bookkeeping, XBRL filing, GST, Secretarial services and payroll services.Contact:Visit : https://www.sbsgroup.com.sg/ High Street Centre,#17-02, 1 North Bridge Road,Singapore 179094 By: Healy Consultants End -- Enterprise Estonia (EAS) earlier this month opened a representative office in Singapore seeking to boost exports as well as attract foreign investments from Southeast Asian countries.The office will aim, among other things, to promote trade relations between the countries as well as link the Estonian start-up community with Asian venture capital firms.Enterprise Estonia stated that it sees a lot of potential in the Southeast Asia region specifically in sectors such as cosmetics, technology, and food and beverage."EAS' priority is to seek new business opportunities for Estonian companies and find new markets," said Hanno Tomberg, the chairman of the management board at Estonia Enterprise."The Singaporean business culture is English speaking, which simplifies entry into this market. In addition, investment funds there are seeking investment opportunities in Europe and our start-ups have caught their eye," added Tomberg.The new office was inaugurated by Liisa Oviir, the Estonian Entrepreneurship minister, and the Koh Poh Koon, the Singaporean minister for trade and industry. The EAS office will be headed by Indrek Pallo, the former head of the Estonian Investment Agency.EAS hopes that Singapore, as a multicultural global city state, will provide a good launching pad to the rest of the region. Estonia will in return offer the possibilities of its e-residency programme to Southeast Asia entrepreneurs and investors for easy access to the EU.Healy Consultants is a professional corporate services provider headquartered in Singapore and with a presence in Estonia since 2003. The company helps global entrepreneurs looking to establish their international businesses in different sectors of the economy with, among others, company registration, tax and vat registration, assistance with obtaining business licenses and official business addresses, opening a corporate and merchant bank account and obtaining work or residence visas. Media Contact Michalis Michael Vipro Markets Ltd. michalis@vipromarkets.com +357 25247650 Michalis MichaelVipro Markets Ltd.+357 25247650 End -- Global, EU-regulated Forex and CFD broker, Vipro Markets has recently added Multi-Account Manager (MAM) (https://www.vipromarkets.com/multi-account-manager-mam/)to its range of Forex trading tools and resources. Powered by the leading software developing company MetaFX, the Multi-Account Manager is an innovative software that allows professional traders to efficiently run and manage multiple Client accounts from a single trading terminal.Acknowledging the growing demand from money managers for a fast and easy execution of orders across Client accounts, the Company swiftly responded to this trend by introducing a unique solution that combines increased functionality, convenience and advanced automation.Among the key features of Vipro Markets' MAM platform are: Easy and quick execution of group orders from main control screen Multiple money allocation types: by lot, percentage or proportionally All major order types accepted: Market, Stop and Limit Orders Real-time monitoring of MAM commissions, open trades, balances, profit & loss and more Ability to trade from 0.01 lot All Expert Advisors supported.Vipro Markets CEO, Valerijus Ovsianikas, commented:The MAM platform is a valuable tool not only for serious money managers but also for large professional traders who want to implement different trading strategies. From a business perspective, the product brings favourable opportunities to the Company too as it attracts bigger Clients to our already strong Client base. The platform comes in handy for these Clients who generally have less time to invest themselves and are looking for professional MAM managers to invest their capital."The introduction of Multi-Account Manager verifies our ongoing commitment to adding extra value to our Clients' trading experience through technologically advanced tools. It has never been easier for money managers to work with multiple accounts and perform trading operations simultaneously.As a fast-growing Forex broker, Vipro Markets will continue to thrive by providing cutting-edge solutions that best meet its Clients' needs along with competitive trading products and conditions. The Company is a destination broker for some of the most sophisticated retail and institutional traders around the world.Besides offering excellent average spreads on FX products, the Company also provides some of the industry's lowest average spreads on WTI crude oil and precious metals including gold and silver. The Company's robust trading infrastructure allows for the execution of extremely high volumes of trades coupled with high speed and accuracy. All of the above services are now available also to money managers through the MAM platform.Vipro Markets is a global forex broker offering retail and institutional Clients trading services with prime focus on Forex, Stock Indices, commodities, CFDs and precious metals. The broker is authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), with license number 278/15, and is also a Member of the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF). The Company has distinguished itself among ECN Forex brokers by providing top-notch trading services with low average spreads and commissions and ultra-fast execution though its state-of-the-art trading servers located at the Equinix LD4 data center in London.MetaFX LLC is a software developing company founded in 2005 providing innovative solutions to brokers, including the development of server side software and integrations with the Metatrader 4 Server.Trading in derivative financial instruments may not be suitable for everyone and we therefore advise Clients to make themselves familiar with all the risks involved. Please review the Vipro Markets Client Agreement and other legal documentation available on Vipro Markets website ( https://www.vipromarkets.com/ ) before entering into any transaction with us. By: Vilebrequin SA VILEBREQUIN Contact Luxury Brands ***@luxurybrands.co.za Luxury Brands End -- International fashion brand Vilebrequin have been leading the way when it comes to creating swim trunks and leisurewear that is not only functional and flattering, but also announces the wearer as an individual with an appreciation of quality, a sense of style and sophistication.The swim trunks were originally conceived from a chequered tablecloth by French journalist Fred Prysquel in St Tropez during the early 70's in a moment of creative inspiration. Fred and his friends were tired of the run of the mill standard offer and decided to take matters into their own hands. Today, almost half a century on, Vilebrequin has become an iconic global luxury brand sporting a range of beach and resort wear and that is seen the world over, in a variety of carefully thought out prints. They have also quickly found favour with international celebrities such as Jude Law, the British Royalty, Jay Z, George Clooney and his close ally Brad Pitt, amongst others.The Vilebrequin brand is not only synonymous with style and sophistication but also with quality and durability. The trunks are made from a special high-density quick drying polyamide material. The Yarn is sourced from an Italian Mill and is woven in Spain, then sent to Italy or France to be embroidered. The trunks are then carefully constructed to keep the print seamless and offer the most effective drainage. While the ultra-comfortable mesh lining is constructed from hypoallergenic polyester fibre surrounded by strands of cotton. And if damaged the lining can be replaced free of charge.Taking this highly artisanal and meticulous creation process into account the price tag starting from R2450 for the plain and from R3450 for the printed classic Moorea trunks is justifiable as these classics will last a lifetime and are stylishly timeless, a true leisure wear investment.Not only creating swim trunks for men, Vilebrequin offers resort and beach wear, including polo shirts, linen Bermudas and shirts, for both men, women and children; as well as an extensive range of beach accessories including canvas bags, towels and caps.Vilebrequin stores are located in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, Melrose Arch and Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg and Thesen Island in Knysna.Follow Vilebrequin on Instagram @Vilebrequin_SA or Like us on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/ Vilebrequin- SA-102342760184918 ).Store details:Nelson Mandela SquareShop 20011 883 0001Shop HL57GalleriaThe Piazza011 684 1775Shop 7253Link Mall (Brand Mile)Tel. TBC(Currently operating in a Kiosk until the 15of October, cell 063 768 7944)Th10Long StreetThesen IslandTel: 044 382 0972 Contact M.Shiva Shankar ***@tau.edu.gy M.Shiva Shankar End --Information technology (IT) (http://www.texilaconference.org/topics/6/information-technology.html)is a label that has two meanings. In common usage, the term "information technology" is often used to refer to all of computing.It is the study or use of systems (especially computers and telecommunications)for storing, retrieving, and sending information.Information technology papers are invited for the 3rd International e-Conference with the theme:. It beholds the pathway to explore new strategies, understand business disruptors, chat future technological progress and uncover the future road-map of the industry."The Subtopics included in the "Information Technology" as follows: Artificial Intelligence Cloud Strategy Computer networks Cryptography Data Mining Data Structures and Algorithms Data Warehousing Embedded Systems Enterprise information systems Graphics and Visualization High-Performance Computing Human Computer Interaction II Entrepreneurship & Management Information Assurance and Security IT for the healthcare sector Mobile Security Neural Networks Robotics Simulation and Modeling SteganographyTexila is pleased to invite the researchers' world-wide for the 3rd International Multi-disciplinary Scientific e-Conference. This Medical conference is a cost-effective way to attend an International Conference.Participants have the chances to win Gold, Silver and Bronze award for best research papers and also an award in the name of an eminent personality for the outstanding research paper. All accepted papers will be published in Texila International Journal (TIJ). An entrepreneur citizen of Nigeria, Dr Okey Napoleon Iwunwa wants to fight economic recession in his country by plugging in millions of dollars in investments to boost South Eastern Nigeria regional economies. By: Kenhag Funds & Accu Data Corp Contact Laura Brewman ***@timelinenews.com Laura Brewman End -- A Nigerian born entrepreneur and innovation strategy consultant, Okey Napoleon Iwunwa and his team has pledged to inject about $250 million in the South Eastern part of Nigeria beginning from mid February, 2017.Dr Okey plans to invest money in various industries with primary focus on Light Manufacturing/Fabrications, Food processing and Transportation. He stated that this will help boost the economy by creating thousands of skilled and non-skilled employment for graduates and non-graduates from across the country."Our choice of S.E region is not politically driven but an attempt to diversify from the oil economy in that region. We plan to get involved in education and telecoms at a later time. We will take it step by step until we inspire other investors and wealthy citizens of the country to think outside the box. No one will help Nigeria except we help. Nigeria may look bad now on paper and national credit ratings may seem very bad but this is the time to position ourselves for the great future. We cannot deny our country what it deserved for any reason. As sons and daughters of Nigeria, we can mobilize resources to aid our society now. Every little drop of help will help, even words of encouragement mean much this time", he said.Okey also mentioned that he is inviting the S.E and South-Southern governors from Nigeria and their cabinet members and industry leaders to a meeting Houston, Texas in February, 2017 where he wants to discuss regional strategic economic development with focus on light manufacturing, commercial agriculture, small-medium business development, and funding options for new and existing industries in the region.The reason the meeting is set to take place in USA is to bring Nigerian leaders face to face with a variety and networks of American industry leaders, investors and hold both workshops and town-hall meetings that are extremely targeted and goal oriented. He also wants to discuss the funding of a seaport and other mega projects in south eastern/south-south region. Whatever that is needed to be done, we will try to do and also assist in funding where necessary.Speaking from his Houston-Texas office at Green Way Plaza, he suggested that state leaders need to stop relying on the federal government but go out to market the potentials of their state to the world. " You cannot lead by sitting down to wait for people to submit proposals or by asking people to submit tenders for contracts. A leader in a country like Nigeria need to stand up for his people and learn how to create big things from small things and or from nothing. The old paradigm of leadership should be put to death. Though, the country is officially in recession, Nigeria is still a great place to invest money. The place of Nigeria in Africa remains very strong both on paper and in real terms. There is a strong belief that the nation will bounce back before long, despite political and ethnic differences. In growth economics, nothing falls down and stays down. People, money and tools move up and down everyday. Nigeria will climb back up. Investing in Nigeria is not as risky as it is on paper. There is risk in every market, including here in the United States. We lose money daily in America. The economy gets scary often. To win is to pay attention to the market and be very careful in what we invest money in. Therefore state leaders that wants to attend the meeting in February should connect with us immediately. This is for their own goods. We cannot chase public officials around", he said. Dr Okey is the founder of a fast growing national residential services company, Door2Doortech and a senior partner at Kenhag Funds & Accu-Data Corp.KenHag Funds & Accu-Data Corp provides advisory services at the intersection of commercial business-process engineering and risk engineering with a particular focus on coupling capital market and financial technology, through the rigorous application of agent-based, demographic, and statistical methodologies to microeconomic and macroeconomic analytics. Kenhag's computational economics activities focus on the proprietary development and scalable implementation of robust modeling and data analytic frameworks, including the application of computational tools and methods derived from machine learning, data-mining, and text-mining to systemic real world issues.Visit and contact us at http://okmedia2.wixsite.com/ kenhagfunds (kenhagfunds.com) New building science and its gold standard in efficiency reduces heating energy consumption by up to 90% and is revolutionizing the US construction industry. Contact Joaquin Karcher Zero E Design ***@zeroedesign.com Joaquin KarcherZero E Design End -- Joaquin Karcher of Zero E Design is curating a home tour showing and educating about ultra- efficient new homes in Taos which aim to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. The tour will showcase 3 homes in 3 hours. Participants will meet at the TOOLBOX on 107 Civic Plaza Drive on Sat. Oct.1st at 9:00 am. After a short presentation the group will start the excursion.Buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In order to curb climate change we need to effectively phase out the use of fossil fuels to heat and operate our homes. Building Codes are becoming increasingly stringent, owners and tenants are looking for ways to reduce their own home energy consumption and contractors are interested in learning how to achieve never before seen efficiencies.The tour showcases 3 different homes which exemplify the evolution of ultra- efficient homes in recent years. Participants will learn about new concepts, new materials and see innovative and trend setting technologies which increase comfort, supply constant fresh, filtered air and save money every month."What these homes are primarily known for in Germany and the US is the incredible comfort they provide. Always even temperatures at 70 degrees, no cold spots, no draft, t-shirt conditions in the winter time, always fresh, filtered air .... and, no joke, they use so little energy that you can heat them with a hair dryer (2000 watts) in the coldest night of the winter. That is just phenomenal."(Joaquin Karcher)About Zero E DesignZero E Design has been working on the forefront of low- energy buildings in Taos for the past 10 years. Joaquin, a German "Architekt" and former Passive Solar/ Adobe designer imported and adapted a new cutting edge building concept from Germany for the Taos climate, local building practices and materials. Together with contractor Ben van Willigen and mechanical engineer Michael Tarleton they realized many of the "firsts" among Passive Houses in New Mexico.Note to editorPhotos are available on request.contactJoaquin Karcher575.758.9741joaquin@zeroedesigncom By: SDFI-TeleMedicine SDFI's Contrast Camera System Captures Fingerprints in the "Ultraviolet Dark" Media Contact Julie Steeper marketing@sdfi.com Julie Steeper End -- Don't be surprised if you should happen to spot a forensic nurse frantically blasting colposcopes on a computer at the SDFI booth during the International Association of Forensic Nurse's (IAFN) Conference, September 29through October 1at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.Although "Colposcope Blasters" an "Asteroids"-type of arcade-style game is all in the spirit of light-hearted fun, it is merely the medium behind a more serious message.Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) make up the majority of IAFN Conference attendees. Historically, many have utilized and still utilize the colposcope to perform forensic exams. The colposcope is 91 years old, now; it was developed in 1925 by Hans Hinselmann - a German doctor - to detect cervical cancer in women."Many people don't know that colposcopes were never designed for forensic use. Thirty-five millimeter video cameras and even good-quality digital cameras have been mounted on colposcopes in an effort to capture forensic photographic evidence. The results have been exceptionally poor for many reasons, including the fact that the light, lens and camera are not in sync. Additionally, colposcopes are difficult to learn and to use, difficult to move, position and extremely limited in their use," SDFI Forensic Imaging Consultant, Ward Allen states.Hence, SDFI's mission: to educate and demonstrate their forensic "Shoot, Store and Send" antidote to the colposcope."As many FNEs and SANEs throughout the country have already discovered, SDFI-TeleMedicine's forensic photodocumentation products have become their sole-source colposcope replacements - in portability, superior image quality and SDFI's added benefits of secure storing and sending their files," Marketing Assistant, Julie Steeper says. Have a look at http://www.sdfi.com/ Comparisons.asp for photo comparisons between the SDFI-TeleMedicine System and the colposcope.The Boulder City, Nevada-based company also provides their forensic photodocumentation products, education, services and support to the FBI, crime labs, child protective services and law enforcement professionals throughout the country.Besides blasting colposcopes on a screen, conference attendees will also have the opportunity to try SDFI's products first-hand, as they discover the ultraviolet light-capturing capabilities of The Contrast SDFICamera System, which just had its debut in April, 2015. To get a good idea of how SDFI's Contrast Camera System works, a contrast light (included with the System) is shined into a black box, lighting up pre-drawn, ultraviolet ink images. Armed with SDFI's surgically altered camera system, designed to capture images in the ultraviolet spectrum, participants will photograph and video record them. In real life, this exercise allows professionals who work on a patient's behalf to capture court-ready, high-resolution pictures and video in the Ultraviolet DarkThe Contrast SDFI Camera System is a companion to The Standard SDFICamera System. Both systems offer the ability to take high-resolution, RAW and JPG forensic still photos and MOV/MP4 video, encrypt them using AES 256-bit encryption in order to store them on their computer or network, then electronically send them securely to recipients anywhere in the world. Recipients only need a Windows-based computer and a connection to the Internet to acquire the sent SDFI secured files and videos.Besides the Contrast and Standard SDFI Camera Systems, SDFI also offers a "Store and Send System", where users encrypt and store documents, photos and other digital content on their own networks and computers, then electronically send them to recipients. Additionally, they also offer Standard and Contrast "Add-On" options, allowing current SDFI clients to customize their own SDFI System environments. SDFI's Image Management Software allows users to view their photos with SDFI forensic software tools like the SDFI Negative Invert Filter. When utilized, this filter helps to see subtle details in an image that would otherwise be missed.The SDFI software's Loupe Tool, enables the user to see an area of interest at one-hundred percent, allowing for incredible detailed viewing.For more information, visit http://www.sdfi.com . Alternatively, call us at 310-492-5372 with any questions, or to schedule a Remote Live Demo of our products. Axalta to showcase automotive art created with its brilliant paints By: Axalta Powder Coatings Contact Heidi Stilwell ***@axaltacs.com Heidi Stilwell End -- Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, will attend the 20anniversary Cruisin' The Coastfestival held in Mississippi October 2-9. Organized in 1996 to celebrate antique, classic, and hot rod vehicles, as well as nostalgic music, the festival has since grown into "America's largest block party." Car enthusiasts from 44 states, Canada, Europe, and Puerto Rico will travel to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to showcase their vehicles and cruise the 30-mile stretch of beachside highway with stops in Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Gulfport, Pass Christian and Ocean Springs.Axalta will cruise the coast with Rudy Laris Jr.'s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air built by Goldman Customs and painted with Axalta's ChromaPremierPro paint and Hot Huescustom finishes.Each Cruisin' The Coast venue is a mini festival that hosts live bands, registered cruisers, food and merchandise vendors. This weeklong event includes cruise-ins, a Salute to Our Veterans event, car auctions, swap meets, car corrals, a parade, and more than 7,000 vehicles. Builders and enthusiasts will gather at every stop to network, develop ideas, and answer the all-important question, "What color should I paint my new project car?"Representatives will be on hand to offer attendees exquisite examples of automotive art created with brilliant paint from all of Axalta's global refinish brands: Cromax, Nason, Standoxand Spies Hecker, in addition to the Hot Hues line of custom colors.Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the approximately 12,800 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit http://www.axaltacs.com/ us/en_US/products- services/powder... Michael A. Meeneghan to lead subsidiary of Penn Community Bank By: Penn Community Insurance Contact Rose Strong ***@furiarubel.com Rose Strong End -- Penn Community Bank is pleased to announce that longtime insurance industry executive Michael A. Meeneghan has joined the organization to lead its licensed subsidiary, Penn Community Insurance."Growing Penn Community Insurance is an important goal of ours, and we are excited to have Michael leading our insurance team," said Penn Community Bank President and CEO Jeane M. Coyle. "Helping our customers meet all of their financial needs, from banking to insurance and investments, is at the heart of our mission, and Michael's insurance industry experience will help us fulfill that mission."With more than 30 years of experience in insurance, Meeneghan brings with him a deeply rooted knowledge of a complex industry. Meeneghan has built a proven record of success in setting strategic direction, initiating growth strategies, and building and fine-tuning operations. He began his insurance career in sales, and most recently served as Executive Vice President and Profit Center Manager at one of the largest retail insurance brokers in the United States.In his role at Penn Community Insurance, Meeneghan will oversee the operations of the entire insurance division, which offers business, personal, life and health insurance. About his new role, Meenaghan said, "As a bank-owned insurance agency, we work with clients to provide insurance and risk management services that protect them from the unexpected while helping to reduce their total cost of risk."Meenaghan earned a bachelor's degree from Springfield College, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He lives in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania.About Penn Community Bank: Penn Community Bank holds more than $1.8 billion in assets and employs more than 300 people at 22 bank branches and two administrative centers throughout Bucks County, Pennsylvania. As an independent, mutual financial institution, Penn Community Bank is not publicly traded and operates with its long-term mission in mind: to help businesses grow and prosper, to support individuals and families throughout their lifetimes, to strengthen the local economy, and to partner with local organizations to act as a catalyst for positive growth in every market it serves. Beef Quarterly: Downward Pressure on Prices A range of factors are expected to cause cattle and beef prices in many major beef countries to stay subdued or soften over the second half of 2016. At a global level, lower beef prices in the US, and a slowing Chinese economy is creating a downward pull on prices. Brazil is an exception, however, with an improving economic outlook and increased beef exports cattle prices are expected to increase, according to the Rabobank Global Beef Quarterly Q3 2016. US and Canadian cattle prices dropped through 1H 2016, while other countries pricesespecially Australia and Brazilincreased, resulting in the Rabobank Beef Index tracking in a reasonably consistent range for 1H 2016. The feature article for this quarterly focuses on Russia and its role in the global beef trade complex. Until recently, Russia used to be a dominant player in the global beef trade complex, however, geopolitical events and a depreciating currency has seen it withdraw from global trade. Despite Russias focus on developing its domestic beef industry, a contraction in the dairy herd and withdrawal from global beef trade has resulted in a shortage of beef and a rise in domestic beef prices. According to Angus Gidley-Baird, Senior Analyst Animal Proteins: Russian beef imports have the potential to return to pre-2015 levels if import bans are removed, the oil price recovers, and the rouble regains strength. However, with import bans recently extended to the end of 2017, and with the continuing bleak economic outlook, beef imports into Russia are not expected to change in the coming years. In other regions: US and Brazil reopen fresh beef trade In August, the US and Brazilian governments agreed to reopen trade of beef and beef products for the first time since 2003. Brazilian exports will be limited by the tariff quota of 64,800 tonnes for 'other countries', however, exports of around 40,000 tonnes are possible in 2017. Chinas slowing economy affecting beef consumption Q3 is usually the peak season for animal protein consumption in China, and beef prices will be supported by the rising seasonal demand. However, in the longer term, domestic beef prices are expected to decline given exposure to a weaker economy which is expected to slow further in 2017. First Indian bovine imports arrive in Indonesia A decision by the Indonesian government now permits imports of Indian bovine meat. An initial shipment of 10,000 tonnes was approved, with the government indicating potential import volumes of 80,000 tonnes in 2016. Despite this, beef prices in Indonesia remain strong. Australian cattle prices expected to ease slightly A combination of improved seasons, resulting in slightly more, heavier cattle being available, and the ongoing margin squeeze felt by processors and feedlots leads us to expect to see prices ease slightly from their record highs through the remainder of 2016, although with limitations on supply remaining critical, prices will continue to remain high. If you see photos of the Jornada Basin from the early 1900s, the vegetation is quite different than it is now. But explaining the story of how and why the vegetation changed on the land northeast of Las Cruces is difficult with just words and pictures. Debra Peters, Jornada Basin Long Term Ecological Research Principal Investigator and a research scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, reached out to the New Mexico State University Creative Media Institute to help bring the landscape history to life. "We have a lot of data that looks at the history of our landscape, and we try to visualize it from maps and from long-term data," Peters said. "But it's hard for us to put the story together in our minds, so we asked people from the Creative Media Institute to make that story come alive through an animation." Supported by the National Science Foundation, the project was funded by Jornada Basin LTER as part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates program. NMSU senior Carlos Tejeda spent the summer designing a 3-D animated video that simulates changes on the Jornada Basin from the 1850s to the present. "I created a time-lapse of more than a hundred years, including how plants and the ecosystem and grass changed through those years," Tejeda said. advertisement Tejeda is a student in the NMSU Creative Media Institute Animation and Visual Effects academic program. Accuracy was both important to and a challenge for Tejeda. He had several meetings with Peters and others at the Jornada LTER regarding the history of the rangeland and their hypotheses about vegetation changes. He sorted through many long-term data documents. He also took his own pictures at the Jornada Range. And Peters now has a teaching tool to present the findings from long-term data. Not only does she want to demonstrate that the vegetation changed from grassland to shrubs, she hopes to convey a more recent discovery: Part of the landscape has a different species of plant life that's separated by elevation and soil texture. "The shrub species have gone through some very dynamic transitions, and that information was really new for us," she said. "They're on different soil textures now, but they started out growing together with grasses on similar soil. In order for that to happen, you had to have a lot of soil erosion and movement, and a lot of things really had to change in order to get to the landscape we see today, which seems to be very stable. So we asked Carlos to animate those time periods and the part of the landscape that we haven't studied very well." Peters said most of those changes probably occurred between the 1850s and about 1900. advertisement For Tejeda, the entire process was a fulfilling experience, especially knowing the magnitude of the LTER project and the fact that its historical data dates back to 1850. He also enjoyed the unique partnership between him -- as a 3-D animator -- and LTER researchers. "It was a great experience working with someone in a different career," he said. "I don't know much about their field, and they didn't know much about my field, so both parties had to learn how to explain things in a simplified way. And it was really fun as well." Peters plans for the Jornada LTER to continue to collaborate with different departments at NMSU. "We're trying to reach out to more departments on campus with the LTER, so it was good to get a different perspective and different types of talent involved," she said. "Carlos was great to work with. We hadn't worked with a creative media person before. He was attentive, he listened really well and he wanted to do things right." Tejeda is expected to receive his bachelor's of creative media in animation and visual effects with a minor in film production in May. His Dynamic Jornada Landscape video may be viewed at https://youtu.be/kNwq3NHh5qE. It's been suggested that women are better at giving directions than men. New research from Concordia University in Montreal, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, shows that may be thanks to the hormones that trigger the menstrual cycle. "Women have sometimes reported to doctors that their memory works differently depending on which phase of the menstrual cycle they are in -- even during and following pregnancy, or following menopause. This has led scientists to wonder whether estrogen and progesterone could affect memory and problem solving," says psychology professor Wayne Brake, who co-authored the study. "Our research shows that, rather than impairing memory in general, estrogen and progesterone may instead cause the brain to favour one memory system or strategy over another." Hormones influence problem-solving For the study, researchers tested 45 women who had regular menstrual cycles. First, participants responded to a "hormonal profile" questionnaire that gathered detailed information on their periods, past pregnancies, contraceptive and synthetic hormone intake history and general life habits. The participants were then given a verbal memory task, such as remembering a list of words, as well as a virtual navigation task, such as finding their way through a maze in a video game, that could be solved in several ways. advertisement At the end of the experiment, participants were debriefed on how they solved the tasks from beginning to end. Results were clear: women who were ovulating performed better on the verbal memory task. On the other hand, women tested in their pre-menstrual phase were better at solving spatial navigation tasks. That proves that women tend to use different strategies to solve tasks -- such as navigating a maze or remembering a list of words -- depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle. Essentially, the study shows that the hormonal changes women experience throughout their cycles have a broader impact than previously believed, and have significant effects on how women approach and solve problems. "This is important scientifically. We and others have previously shown that the levels of estrogen and progesterone in rodents influence different brain regions, affecting various memory systems involved in task-solving," says Brake. advertisement "For example, when estrogen levels are high, female rats will use one type of memory system or strategy versus another to solve a maze. This is the first study to show that this is also true for women, who solve tasks in different ways based on their hormones" 'Research is needed to deepen our understanding of the female brain' For recent PhD graduate Dema Hussain, the study's lead author, these results point to an ongoing bias in scientific research. "Traditionally, researchers and scientists have relied on using male participants -- and male rats -- in studies to develop drugs and treatments for the general population. But we now know that women respond differently than men," she says. "I hope that this study emphasizes that more research is needed to deepen our understanding of the female brain, and that efforts must be made to tailor future research to improve our understanding of the effects of female sex hormones on cognition and memory." Elementary school science teaches us that in the sun, dark colors get hot while white stays cool. Now new research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has found an exception: scientists have determined that certain dark pigments can stay just as cool as white by using fluorescence, the re-emission of absorbed light. The researchers tested this concept by coloring cool roof coatings with ruby red (aluminum oxide doped with chromium). Led by Berkeley Lab scientist Paul Berdahl, they first found that white paint overlaid with a layer of ruby crystals stayed as cool as a commercial white coating. Next, they synthesized ruby pigment to mix into coatings. Their results were published recently in the journal Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, in an article titled "Fluorescent cooling of objects exposed to sunlight -- The ruby example." Substantial research over the years from Berkeley Lab's Heat Island Group has found that reflective roofs and walls can cool buildings and cars. This reduces the need for air conditioning and mitigates the urban heat island effect. By reflecting the sun's rays back to space, these cool materials also release less heat into the atmosphere, thus cooling the planet and offsetting the warming effects of substantial amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. However, wider adoption of cool roofs has been hindered by aesthetic considerations. "We've heard many times (from roofing materials manufacturers), 'we can't sell white or pastel roofs; our customers want dark green, dark brown, and so on,'" Berdahl said. Over the past 15 years, Heat Island Group researchers have used special pigments that strongly reflect invisible "near-infrared" light to make dark surfaces that stay cooler in the sun than conventional dark surfaces, though still not as cool as white surfaces. This new work shows that fluorescent cooling can boost the performance of these pigments by re-emitting at longer wavelengths some of the visible light that the surface must absorb to appear dark. This opens the door to darker colors of not only cool roofs but of any object that is subject to prolonged periods of sun exposure, including vehicles, ships, storage tanks, and PVC piping. "We do think cars will be a likely application," Berdahl said. "And it's not just a matter of comfort or saving energy by avoiding AC use. We learned from colleagues that with electric vehicles, the battery lifetime is degraded by higher temperatures, so if you can keep the automobile cooler with use of a suitable coating then it extends the life of the battery." Using fluorescence, or photoluminescence, for cool materials is a new concept, and Berdahl, who is a physicist by training, has a patent pending on the technology. "People understand that materials that fluoresce are emitting energy," he said. "What's new here is the use of the fluorescence process to keep buildings cooler." advertisement When light hits a fluorescent material, the material actively emits energy in response, rather than passively reflecting the energy. Berdahl's idea was to find a material that would absorb visible light and fluoresce (re-emit) mostly or entirely in the invisible near-infrared portion of the sun's spectrum. "There have been thousands of fluorescent compounds identified," he said. "Ruby's properties are well known and well studied, and I realized it's a material that could work." His first experiment was to use an array of synthetic ruby crystals, which he purchased online and said were surprisingly inexpensive. Attached to a bright white coating and exposed to bright sunlight, the dark-red ruby-covered coating stayed cooler than an off-white surface. Berdahl and Berkeley Lab research associate Sharon Chen then synthesized ruby powder, or aluminum oxide, doped with varying amounts of chromium to create different shades of red pigment. They prepared ruby paint from the powders, and applied these paints over bright white substrates. When exposed to sunlight, the ruby paint samples stayed as cool as white materials. "The ruby powder does need more work to make it as deep red as the ruby crystal," Berdahl said. If the product were to be commercialized, Berdahl said that the cost is not expected to be substantial and its durability is expected to be similar to other coatings. "Rubies have a reputation for being expensive, but they're mostly aluminum oxide, which sells for about 70 cents per kilogram (or about 30 cents per pound)," he said. PPG Industries, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based coating manufacturer also involved in the research, is conducting weathering tests with prototype fluorescent coatings. In follow-up work Berdahl has identified blue materials that also fluoresce and showed that they can be combined with other colors to yield green and even black materials that stay cool. Using the power of thought to control a robot that helps to move a paralysed hand: a project from the ETH Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory could fundamentally change the therapy and daily lives of stroke patients. One in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. In Switzerland alone, stroke affects 16,000 people every year. Two thirds of those affected suffer from paralysis of the arm. Intensive training can -- depending on the extent of damage to the brain -- help patients regain a certain degree of control over their arms and hands. This may take the form of classic physio- and occupational therapy, or it may also involve robots. Roger Gassert, Professor of Rehabilitation Engineering at ETH Zurich, has developed a number of robotic devices that train hand functions and sees this as a good way to support patient therapy. However, both physio- and robot-assisted therapy are usually limited to one or two training sessions a day; and for patients, travelling to and from therapy can also be time consuming. Exoskeletons as exercise robots "My vision is that instead of performing exercises in an abstract situation at the clinic, patients will be able to integrate them into their daily life at home, supported -- depending on the severity of their impairments -- by a robot," Gassert says, presenting an exoskeleton for the hand. He developed the idea for this robotic device together with Professor Jumpei Arata from Kyushu University (Japan) while the latter was working in Gassert's laboratory during a sabbatical in 2010. "Existing exoskeletons are heavy, and this is a problem for our patients because it renders them unable to lift their hands," Gassert says, explaining the concept. The patients also have difficulty feeling objects and exerting the right amount of force. "That's why we wanted to develop a model that leaves the palm of the hand more or less free, allowing patients to perform daily activities that support not only motor functions but somatosensory functions as well," he says. Arata developed a mechanism for the finger featuring three overlapping leaf springs. A motor moves the middle spring, which transmits the force to the different segments of the finger through the other two springs. The fingers thus automatically adapt to the shape of the object the patient wants to grasp. advertisement However, the integrated motors brought the weight of the exoskeleton to 250 grams, which in clinical tests proved too heavy for patients. The solution was to remove the motors from the hand and fix them to the patient's back. The force is transmitted to the exoskeleton using a bicycle brake cable. The hand module now weighs slightly less than 120 grams and is strong enough to lift a litre bottle of mineral water. Researching brain processes Gassert is currently driven by the question of what happens in the brain and how commands pass from the brain to reach the extremities after a stroke. "Especially with seriously affected patients, the connection between the brain and the hand is often severely or completely disrupted," Gassert explains, "so we are looking for a solution that will help patients pass on commands to the robotic device intuitively." The idea is to detect in the brain a patient's intention to move his or her hand and directly pass this information on to the exoskeleton. This may also produce a therapeutic benefit. According to Gassert, a number of studies show that it is possible to strengthen existing neural connections between the brain and the hand with regular exercise. An important component for this is that the brain receives somatosensory feedback from the hand when it produces a command to move. In order to understand what goes on in the brain, Gassert is carrying out fundamental research with clinicians, neuroscientists and therapists. For their research, the scientists can draw on a number of imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allows them to map the activities of the whole brain. While this technology allows them to gain fundamental new insights, fMRI is both very expensive and highly complex and consequently not suitable for therapy. "And of course, it's not portable," Gassert adds with a mind to his project. He therefore focuses on simpler techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) -- and in particular functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the least expensive of these technologies. Gassert is currently engaged in the challenging task of figuring out whether and how fNIRS can be robustly employed. He is working on this together with a group from the University Hospital, who are contributing their experience in clinical application of the technology. Fundamental insights Another question that is still not fully understood is how the brain controls limbs that interact with the environment. "Here, robotics is making a valuable contribution to basic research because it is ideally suited for capturing a movement, perturbing it and measuring the reaction," Gassert explains. For example, the robotics experts have developed an exoskeleton that makes it possible to block the knee for 200 milliseconds while walking and extend it by 5 degrees. With the help of sensors, the scientists measure the forces that are involved and use this data to infer how the brain modulates the stiffness of the knee. These findings then flow into applications such as the control of new, active prostheses. If the researchers succeed in establishing an interaction between the brain and the exoskeleton, the result will be a device that is ideally suited for therapy. If, on the other hand, the deficits are permanent, a robotic device could offer long-term support -- as an alternative to invasive methods, which are also being researched. These for instance envisage implanting electrodes in the brain and triggering stimulators in the muscles. However, as long as stroke patients can expect to experience a reasonable degree of recovery, the robot-assisted therapy will be the obvious choice. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have now quantified and mapped the functional units of the olfactory center in the brains of vinegar flies responsible for the perception of odors. They found out that the so-called olfactory glomeruli in the antennal lobe, the insect analogue of the olfactory bulb of mammals, differ from each other in their architecture. The morphology and the structure of these spherical brain units provide information about the ecological relevance of the odors they process, especially with regard to the flies' odor-guided behavior. When insects search for food, a sexual mate or the ideal place for laying eggs -- somewhere where the hatching larvae have a good chance to survive -- they have to rely on their sense of smell. They use their olfactory organs, the antennae, to detect odor molecules in their environment. These odors are processed in the so-called antennal lobe, the actual olfactory center of the insect brain, which consists of spherical structures: the olfactory glomeruli. Here, inside the olfactory glomeruli, different groups of olfactory neurons form conjunctions or synapses which enable different environmental odors to be processed. Until now, scientists had assumed that olfactory glomeruli share a pretty homogeneous architecture and that particular functions of the different glomeruli can be attributed primarily to special olfactory receptors on the membranes of the olfactory sensory neurons. A research team of the Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology has now shown for the first time that the neuronal composition of each glomerulus is unique and highly specific. "Each glomerulus processes different odors in a unique way. The odors, on the other hand, differ in their impact on the behavior of the vinegar flies," explains Silke Sachse, the leader of the study The researchers scrutinized the neuronal architecture of the olfactory glomeruli in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster and linked the morphological differences they observed to the respective functions. They labeled different neurons in single glomeruli, and counted and anatomically described these. In order to achieve this, they used transgenic Drosophila lines which expressed the photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PA-GFP) in the neurons and high-resolution confocal microscopy. "As assumed, but until now not experimentally proven, glomeruli which contained many olfactory sensory neurons were generally bigger than were the glomeruli with fewer olfactory sensory neurons. This means that the anatomical shape of a glomerulus already provides information about how sensitive it will respond to a certain odor," Veit Grabe, one of the first authors of the study, reports. The scientists also investigated whether there were any differences between male and female flies: Glomeruli which processed the Drosophila sex pheromones were bigger in males which were able to perceive the female attractants from large distances. Moreover, the researchers counted the so-called projection neurons which are responsible for the transmission of odor stimuli to higher regions of the olfactory system. Glomeruli containing highly specific olfactory sensory neurons -- namely, those which process only one single odor -- seem to exhibit more projection neurons than glomeruli which process many different odors. More projection neurons make sure that information is transferred to higher brain regions in a faster and more reliable way to result in rapid odor-guided decisions. In order to link the morphology of a glomerulus to its function, the research team determined another important parameter by means of electrophysiological analysis: "Lifetime sparseness" indicates how many different odors can activate an olfactory receptor. If a receptor is activated by a large variety of odors, it has very low "sparseness" and is therefore a very broad-range receptor. The higher the "sparseness" of a receptor, the fewer odors it is able to perceive. An extreme case would be a highly specific receptor which responds only to a single odor. Odors which are very attractive to vinegar flies include their own pheromones, but also odors which provide clues about where to find a food source, such as overripe fruit. Some of these attractive odors may elicit oviposition in females, because they provide information about a place where larvae can hatch and have a good chance to survive. However, important odors may also be deterrents -- and warning signals -- because they contain information about lethal dangers, such as toxic substances in a potential food source or parasites. "The complete quantitative mapping of all olfactory sensory neurons linked together in each olfactory glomerulus helped us to create an extended morphological basis for a better understanding of the role and function these units in the olfactory system have," co-author Amelie Baschwitz summarizes. Because these new insights are not limited to the vinegar fly, and may also apply to other animals or even humans, they have far-reaching significance. Two particle jets shoot out from the heart of active galaxy NGC 1052 at the speed of light, apparently originating in the vicinity of a massive black hole. A team of researchers headed by Anne-Kathrin Baczko from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy Bonn have now measured the magnetic fields in this area. They observed the bright, very compact structure of just two light days in size using a global ensemble of millimetre-wavelength telescopes. The magnetic field value recorded at the event horizon of the black hole was between 0.02 and 8.3 tesla. The team concludes that the magnetic fields provide enough magnetic energy to power the twin jets. The technique used to investigate details at the centre of galaxy NGC 1052 is known as very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), and has the potential to locate the bases of jets at tiny length scales. In fact, these latest observations extend right up close to the event horizon of the central power source -- a supermassive black hole. The event horizon marks the boundary between free space and the gravitational pull of the black hole, beyond which no radiation can escape. The black hole itself remains invisible, however, so its exact position can only be inferred indirectly by tracking the jet positions depending on their wavelengths. The unknown offset distance of the jet base from the black hole makes it difficult to determine fundamental physical properties such as magnetic field values and particle density. However, the striking symmetry in these latest observations of the twin jets in NGC 1052 allows astronomers to pinpoint the true centre of activity inside the central structure. Only one jet is observed in most other galaxies, but the symmetrical jets of NGC 1052 allow great precision in determining the "centre" and thus also the location of the power source. With the exception of our own Milky Way, this is the most precisely known location of a supermassive black hole in the universe. "NGC 1052 is truly a key source, since it pinpoints directly and unambiguously the position of a black hole," says Anne-Kathrin Baczko, who carried out this research at the Universities of Erlangen-Nuremberg and Wurzburg, and at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. NGC 1052 is an elliptical galaxy at a distance of about 60 million light years in the direction of the constellation Cetus (the Whale). The magnetic field at the supermassive black hole was determined by measuring the compactness and brightness of the central region of NGC 1052, yielding values between 0.02 and 8.3 tesla. (By way of comparison, Earth's magnetic field is only about 50 microtesla.) The central region appears as a strong radio source with a diameter of just 57 microarcseconds: equivalent in size to a DVD on the surface of the moon. This astonishing resolution was obtained by the Global mm VLBI Array, a network of radio telescopes in Europe, the USA and East Asia, managed by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn. "It yields unprecedented image sharpness and is soon to be applied to reach event-horizon scales in nearby objects," says Eduardo Ros, a Max Planck researcher who collaborated in the project. How are powerful relativistic jets formed in the centres of numerous active galaxies? The telescope array observations may help solve this long-standing mystery, as they show that it is possible for jets to be driven by the magnetic energy released by a very rapidly rotating supermassive black hole. The R2-D2 robot from Star Wars doesn't communicate in human language but is, nevertheless, capable of showing its intentions. For human-robot interaction, the robot does not have to be a true 'humanoid,' provided that its signals are designed in the right way, says researcher Daphne Karreman (University of Twente, The Netherlands). A human being will only be capable of communicating with robots if this robot has many human characteristics. That is the common idea. But mimicking natural movements and expressions is complicated, and some of our nonverbal communication is not really suitable for robots: wide arm gestures, for example. Humans prove to be capable of responding in a social way, even to machines that look like machines. We have a natural tendency of translating machine movements and signals to the human world. Two simple lenses on a machine can make people wave to the machine. Beyond R2-D2 Knowing that, designing intuitive signals is challenging. In her research, Daphne Karreman focused on a robot functioning as a guide in a museum or a zoo. If the robot doesn't have arms, can it still point to something the visitors have to look at? Using speech, written language, a screen, projection of images on a wall and specific movements, the robot has quite a number of 'modalities' that humans don't have. Add to this playing with light and colour, and even a 'low-anthropomorphic' robot can be equipped with strong communication skills. It goes way beyond R2-D2 that communicates using beeps that need to be translated first. Karreman's PhD thesis is therefore entitled 'Beyond R2-D2'. In the wild Karreman analysed a huge amount of video data to see how humans respond to a robot. Up to now, this type of research was mainly done in controlled lab situations, without other people present or after the test person was informed about what was going to happen. In this case, the robot was introduced 'in the wild' and in an unstructured way. People could come across the robot in the Real Alcazar Palace, Sevilla, for example. They decide for themselves if they want to be guided by a robot. What makes them keep distance, do people recognize what this robot is capable of? advertisement Video tool To analyse these video data, Karreman developed a tool called Data Reduction Event Analysis Method (DREAM). The robot called Fun Robotic Outdoor Guide (FROG) has a screen, communicates using spoken language and light signals, and has a small pointer on its 'head'. All by itself, FROG recognizes if people are interested in interaction and guidance. Thanks to the powerful DREAM tool, for the first time it is possible to analyse and classify human-robot interaction in a fast and reliable way. Unlike other methods, DREAM will not interpret all signals immediately, but it compares several 'coders' for a reliable and reproducible result. How many people show interest, do they join the robot during the entire tour, do they respond as expected? It is possible to evaluate this using questionnaires, but that places the robot in a special position: people primarily come to visit the expo or zoo and not for meeting a robot. Using the DREAM tool, spontaneous interaction becomes more visible and thus, robot behaviour can be optimized. Daphne Karreman did her PhD work in UT's Human Media Interaction group of Prof Vanessa Evers. Her research was part of the European FP7 program FROG ( The R2-D2 robot from Star Wars doesn't communicate in human language but is, nevertheless, capable of showing its intentions. For human-robot interaction, the robot does not have to be a true 'humanoid'. Provided that it signals are designed in the right way, UT researcher Daphne Karreman says. A human being will only be capable of communicating with robots if this robot has many human characteristics. That is the common idea. But mimicking natural movements and expressions is complicated, and some of our nonverbal communication is not really suitable for robots: wide arm gestures, for example. Humans prove to be capable of responding in a social way, even to machines that look like machines. We have a natural tendency of translating machine movements and signals to the human world. Two simple lenses on a machine can make people wave to the machine. Beyond R2-D2 Knowing that, designing intuitive signals is challenging. In her research, Daphne Karreman focused on a robot functioning as a guide in a museum or a zoo. If the robot doesn't have arms, can it still point to something the visitors have to look at? Using speech, written language, a screen, projection of images on a wall and specific movements, the robot has quite a number of 'modalities' that humans don't have. Add to this playing with light and colour, and even a 'low-anthropomorphic' robot can be equipped with strong communication skills. It goes way beyond R2-D2 that communicates using beeps that need to be translated first. Karreman's PhD thesis is therefore entitled 'Beyond R2-D2'. In the wild Karreman analysed a huge amount of video data to see how humans respond to a robot. Up to now, this type of research advertisement A human being will only be capable of communicating with robots if this robot has many human characteristics. That is the common idea. But mimicking natural movements and expressions is complicated, and some of our nonverbal communication is not really suitable for robots: wide arm gestures, for example. Humans prove to be capable of responding in a social way, even to machines that look like machines. We have a natural tendency of translating machine movements and signals to the human world. Two simple lenses on a machine can make people wave to the machine. Beyond R2-D2 Knowing that, designing intuitive signals is challenging. In her research, Daphne Karreman focused on a robot functioning as a guide in a museum or a zoo. If the robot doesn't have arms, can it still point to something the visitors have to look at? Using speech, written language, a screen, projection of images on a wall and specific movements, the robot has quite a number of 'modalities' that humans don't have. Add to this playing with light and colour, and even a 'low-anthropomorphic' robot can be equipped with strong communication skills. It goes way beyond R2-D2 that communicates using beeps that need to be translated first. Karreman's PhD thesis is therefore entitled 'Beyond R2-D2'. In the wild Karreman analysed a huge amount of video data to see how humans respond to a robot. Up to now, this type of research was mainly done in controlled lab situations, without other people present or after the test person was informed about what was going to happen. In this case, the robot was introduced 'in the wild' and in an unstructured way. People could come across the robot in the Real Alcazar Palace, Sevilla, for example. They decide for themselves if they want to be guided by a robot. What makes them keep distance, do people recognize what this robot is capable of? Video tool To analyse these video data, Karreman developed a tool called Data Reduction Event Analysis Method (DREAM). The robot called Fun Robotic Outdoor Guide (FROG) has a screen, communicates using spoken language and light signals, and has a small pointer on its 'head'. All by itself, FROG recognizes if people are interested in interaction and guidance. Thanks to the powerful DREAM tool, for the first time it is possible to analyse and classify human-robot interaction in a fast and reliable way. Unlike other methods, DREAM will not interpret all signals immediately, but it compares several 'coders' for a reliable and reproducible result. How many people show interest, do they join the robot during the entire tour, do they respond as expected? It is possible to evaluate this using questionnaires, but that places the robot in a special position: people primarily come to visit the expo or zoo and not for meeting a robot. Using the DREAM tool, spontaneous interaction becomes more visible and thus, robot behaviour can be optimized. Daphne Karreman did her PhD work in UT's Human Media Interaction group of Prof Vanessa Evers. Her research was part of the European FP7 program FROG ( The R2-D2 robot from Star Wars doesn't communicate in human language but is, nevertheless, capable of showing its intentions. For human-robot interaction, the robot does not have to be a true 'humanoid'. Provided that it signals are designed in the right way, UT researcher Daphne Karreman says. A human being will only be capable of communicating with robots if this robot has many human characteristics. That is the common idea. But mimicking natural movements and expressions is complicated, and some of our nonverbal communication is not really suitable for robots: wide arm gestures, for example. Humans prove to be capable of responding in a social way, even to machines that look like machines. We have a natural tendency of translating machine movements and signals to the human world. Two simple lenses on a machine can make people wave to the machine. Beyond R2-D2 Knowing that, designing intuitive signals is challenging. In her research, Daphne Karreman focused on a robot functioning as a guide in a museum or a zoo. If the robot doesn't have arms, can it still point to something the visitors have to look at? Using speech, written language, a screen, projection of images on a wall and specific movements, the robot has quite a number of 'modalities' that humans don't have. Add to this playing with light and colour, and even a 'low-anthropomorphic' robot can be equipped with strong communication skills. It goes way beyond R2-D2 that communicates using beeps that need to be translated first. Karreman's PhD thesis is therefore entitled 'Beyond R2-D2'. In the wild Karreman analysed a huge amount of video data to see how humans respond to a robot. Up to now, this type of research was mainly done in controlled lab situations, without other people present or after the test person was informed about what was going to happen. In this case, the robot was introduced 'in the wild' and in an unstructured way. People could come across the robot in the Real Alcazar Palace, Sevilla, for example. They decide for themselves if they want to be guided by a robot. What makes them keep distance, do people recognize what this robot is capable of? Video tool To analyse these video data, Karreman developed a tool called Data Reduction Event Analysis Method (DREAM). The robot called Fun Robotic Outdoor Guide (FROG) has a screen, communicates using spoken language and light signals, and has a small pointer on its 'head'. All by itself, FROG recognizes if people are interested in interaction and guidance. Thanks to the powerful DREAM tool, for the first time it is possible to analyse and classify human-robot interaction in a fast and reliable way. Unlike other methods, DREAM will not interpret all signals immediately, but it compares several 'coders' for a reliable and reproducible result. How many people show interest, do they join the robot during the entire tour, do they respond as expected? It is possible to evaluate this using questionnaires, but that places the robot in a special position: people primarily come to visit the expo or zoo and not for meeting a robot. Using the DREAM tool, spontaneous interaction becomes more visible and thus, robot behaviour can be optimized. Daphne Karreman did her PhD work in UT's Human Media Interaction group of Prof Vanessa Evers. Her research was part of the European FP7 program FROG (www.frogrobot.eu). Karreman's PhD-thesis is entitled 'Beyond R2-D2. The Design of nonverbal interaction behavior optimized for robot-specific morphologies.' Many of the tourists now flocking to see Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are hoping to 'see it before it's gone' -- in the latest example of what's come to be known as 'Last Chance Tourism (LCT)'. Annah Piggott-McKellar and Karen McNamara from the University of Queensland (Australia) explain the concept of 'LCT' in the current issue of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism. They write: "LCT is a niche tourism market focused on witnessing and experiencing a place before it disappears. This tourism market can also be referred to as climate change, disappearing or vanishing, doom, dying, endangered or 'see it before it's gone' tourism." As Piggott-McKellar and McNamara note, at the heart of LCT is a paradox: the tourists scrambling to visit a particular site 'before it's gone' are themselves contributing to its destruction. Population pressure, on-site activities associated with access and carbon emission related to travel can cause a site to deteriorate further, thus raising its 'destination status' by being in greater danger and creating more demand for visits. To investigate this paradox, and learn more about what motivates tourists to travel to the GBR, the pair questioned over 230 visitors to the site last year. Overall, the data suggested that just under 70% of respondents were 'strongly motivated' to see the Reef 'before it's gone' -- the first concrete evidence of the GBR having become an LCT destination. 'Last chance tourists' were found to be predominantly 'older, more environmentally conscious females who are visiting the region for the first time and who have travelled greater distances, both on a domestic and international scale.' Those seeking a 'last chance experience' were also more likely to be concerned about the health of the reef -- in particular coral bleaching and climate change, both of which, incidentally, would have an effect on a tourist's experience of the site. "This finding was of interest," they write, "as it emphasises the paradox involved in LCT, in that tourists are travelling greater distances to view the destination that is in danger, contributing higher levels of emissions and thus exacerbating the impacts of climate change." In contrast, the tourists surveyed only had moderate to low concern about the impact of the tourist industry or other destructive factors on the reef itself. That tourists do not associate their own travel to the reef with damage is part of the paradox of LCT. This study provides an important baseline for further research into travel to the GBR. It also provides insight into the need to improve tourists' awareness of real threats to the reef, which includes the tourists themselves, among a host of other threats. Researchers at the National University of Ireland Galway have shown that the TP53 gene has even greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought New insight into the function of a gene important in the suppression of cancer has now been released by scientists. Researchers at the National University of Ireland Galway have shown that the TP53 gene has even greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought. Professor Noel Lowndes is head of the Centre for Chromosome Biology at NUI Galway and an SFI Principal Investigator. Leadauthor on the paper and an expert in DNA damage, he explains: "TP53 is one of the most potent genes in the human genome at preventing cancer and hence is termed a tumour suppressor gene. The importance of TP53 as a tumour suppressor is best illustrated by its mutation in at least half of all human cancers." Previously, TP53 has been known to function in processes that prevent cancer cells from multiplying in the body by either triggering their own destruction, or preventing cell division. Together, these processes are recognized as potent anti-cancer mechanisms. Professor Lowndes continued: "In our recent work we add a new role to the expanding list of anti-cancer mechanisms controlled by TP53. We show that TP53 directly regulates the repair of broken DNA. Broken DNA is the most dangerous type of DNA damage as it can result in cell death or loss of genetic information in those cells that survive the break. There are two major competing biochemical pathways for repairing broken DNA. One simply re-joins the two ends of the broken chromosome. The other uses a nearby intact DNA molecule of the same sequence as a template to repair the broken chromosome. Our work demonstrates that TP53 directly influences the regulation of these two pathways. Thus, loss of TP53 during cancer development will drive the evolution of cancer cells towards ever more aggressive cancer types." The research team hopes this new insight will impact upon diagnosis of cancer and improved therapeutic interventions. The research is published in the Royal Society journal Open Biology in the article 'A role for the p53 tumour suppressor in regulating the balance between homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining'. A genetically influenced condition, stuttering appears to originate when various aspects of a young child's development interact, and is best addressed with early intervention. No cure for it has been found, but behavioral treatment options are available. Currently, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug treatments are available. In an attempt to find a new medicine, a research team at the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, in partnership with the speech pathology laboratory at the University of Redlands, will conduct a study at CITrials in Riverside, Calif., to determine how effective ecopipam, an orally administered medication, is as treatment against stuttering. Ten volunteers will be selected to participate in the FDA-approved clinical trial. The study, scheduled to begin next month, is seeking volunteers, although space is limited. People interested in participating in the study may contact Gerald Maguire, M.D., the chair of psychiatry and neuroscience at UC Riverside and the associate dean for graduate medical education, who is leading the study: gerald.maguire@medsch.ucr.edu. "The study is exploratory," Maguire said. "We are the only site in the world conducting this trial; ecopipam has never been tested for stuttering. It has been tested for treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome, a neurological disease, with some encouraging results. Stuttering shares some similarities to the vocal changes seen in subjects with Tourette syndrome. We are hopeful ecopipam will yield beneficial effects in stuttering." Ecopipam is a first-in-class drug that selectively blocks the actions of the neurotransmitter dopamine at its receptor. Dopamine receptors can be broadly classified into two families based on their structures: D1 receptors and D2 receptors. Ecopipam blocks dopamine only at D1 receptors, and thus acts differently than other commercially available medications. This mechanism explains why ecopipam is being tested as a potential treatment for stuttering. The 10 patients selected for the clinical trial next month will undergo a physical examination and their medical history will be recorded. To ensure that their stuttering symptoms are sufficiently severe, their speech patterns will be analyzed by Professor Lisa LaSalle, a speech pathologist at the University of Redlands, and co-investigator on the study. Each patient will receive ecopipam for a limited time. "We believe we could have results from our analysis in as soon as nine months," Maguire said. "A placebo-controlled clinical trial may then follow, pending approval. If ecopipam is found to be effective in controlling stuttering, we may have a viable solution for a disorder that can be traced back centuries." The study is being funded through philanthropic donations given to UCR specifically to study stuttering. Psyadon, a pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for neurology and psychiatry, will donate ecopipam. Earlier this year, Maguire was elected chair of the board of directors of the National Stuttering Association (NSA), a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope and empowerment to children and adults who stutter. A professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and a stutterer himself, Maguire earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1991 and his residency in psychiatry in 1995 from UC Irvine. His research interests include the medical treatments of stuttering and the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and Alzheimer's dementia. His research on the pharmacologic treatment of stuttering has appeared in numerous scientific journals. He is the author of the book "Without Hesitation: Speaking to the Silence and the Science of Stuttering" (NSA, 2010). International teams of astronomers have used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to explore the distant corner of the Universe first revealed in the iconic images of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF). These new ALMA observations are significantly deeper and sharper than previous surveys at millimetre wavelengths. They clearly show how the rate of star formation in young galaxies is closely related to their total mass in stars. They also trace the previously unknown abundance of star-forming gas at different points in time, providing new insights into the "Golden Age" of galaxy formation approximately 10 billion years ago. The new ALMA results will be published in a series of papers appearing in the Astrophysical Journal and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. These results are also among those being presented this week at the Half a Decade of ALMA conference in Palm Springs, California, USA. In 2004 the Hubble Ultra Deep Field images, pioneering deep-field observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, were published. These spectacular pictures probed more deeply than ever before and revealed a menagerie of galaxies stretching back to less than a billion years after the Big Bang. The area was observed several times by Hubble and many other telescopes, resulting in the deepest view of the Universe to date. Astronomers using ALMA have now surveyed this seemingly unremarkable, but heavily studied, window into the distant Universe for the first time both deeply and sharply in the millimetre range of wavelengths [1]. This allows them to see the faint glow from gas clouds and also the emission from warm dust in galaxies in the early Universe. ALMA has observed the HUDF for a total of around 50 hours up to now. This is the largest amount of ALMA observing time spent on one area of the sky so far. One team led by Jim Dunlop (University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom) used ALMA to obtain the first deep, homogeneous ALMA image of a region as large as the HUDF. This data allowed them to clearly match up the galaxies that they detected with objects already seen with Hubble and other facilities. advertisement This study showed clearly for the first time that the stellar mass of a galaxy is the best predictor of star formation rate in the high redshift Universe. They detected essentially all of the high-mass galaxies [2] and virtually nothing else. Jim Dunlop, lead author on the deep imaging paper sums up its importance: "This is a breakthrough result. For the first time we are properly connecting the visible and ultraviolet light view of the distant Universe from Hubble and far-infrared/millimetre views of the Universe from ALMA." The second team, led by Manuel Aravena of the Nucleo de Astronomia, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile, and Fabian Walter of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany, conducted a deeper search across about one sixth of the total HUDF [3]. "We conducted the first fully blind, three-dimensional search for cool gas in the early Universe," said Chris Carilli, an astronomer with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Socorro, New Mexico, USA and member of the research team. "Through this, we discovered a population of galaxies that is not clearly evident in any other deep surveys of the sky." [4] Some of the new ALMA observations were specifically tailored to detect galaxies that are rich in carbon monoxide, indicating regions primed for star formation. Even though these molecular gas reservoirs give rise to the star formation activity in galaxies, they are often very hard to see with Hubble. ALMA can therefore reveal the "missing half" of the galaxy formation and evolution process. advertisement "The new ALMA results imply a rapidly rising gas content in galaxies as we look back further in time," adds lead author of two of the papers, Manuel Aravena (Nucleo de Astronomia, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile). "This increasing gas content is likely the root cause for the remarkable increase in star formation rates during the peak epoch of galaxy formation, some 10 billion years ago." The results presented today are just the start of a series of future observations to probe the distant Universe with ALMA. For example, a planned 150-hour observing campaign of the HUDF will further illuminate the star-forming potential history of the Universe. "By supplementing our understanding of this missing star-forming material, the forthcoming ALMA Large Program will complete our view of the galaxies in the iconic Hubble Ultra Deep Field," concludes Fabian Walter. [1] Astronomers specifically selected the area of study in the HUDF, a region of space in the faint southern constellation of Fornax (The Furnace), so ground-based telescopes in the southern hemisphere, like ALMA, could probe the region, expanding our knowledge about the very distant Universe. Probing the deep, but optically invisible, Universe was one of the primary science goals for ALMA. [2] In this context "high mass" means galaxies with stellarmasses greater than 20 billion times that of the Sun ( 2 10^10 solar masses). For comparison, the Milky Way is a large galaxy and has a mass of around 100 billion solar masses. [3] This region of sky is about seven hundred times smaller than the area of the disc of the full Moon as seen from Earth. One of the most startling aspects of the HUDF was the vast number of galaxies found in such a tiny fraction of the sky. [4] ALMA's ability to see a completely different portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from Hubble allows astronomers to study a different class of astronomical objects, such as massive star-forming clouds, as well as objects that are otherwise too faint to observe in visible light, but visible at millimetre wavelengths. The search is referred to as "blind" as it was not focussed on any particular object. This research was presented in papers titled: Montreal is days away from voting on legislation that would ban any dog resembling a pit bull - and kill thousands more. Mayor Denis Coderre claims the ban is in the interest of public safety following a spate of attacks from dogs who may or may not be pit bulls. But critics claim it's overkill, in the most literal sense of the word. "We are talking a very large number of completely unnecessary deaths of adoptable dogs in a very short time," Alanna Devine, director of animal advocacy at the Montreal SPCA, tells The Dodo. ONE LAST CHANCE RESCUE Even more alarming, Devine says, the legislation is so vaguely worded, it's impossible to know how much damage it can cause. "It does not make any sense," she says. "I have a legal background and read the legislation a thousand times and can't understand what it will entail." Ultimately, the law could affect just about any medium-sized dog "with short fur and a big head," she adds. In other words, if you happen to be a dog, or love a dog, in Montreal, you have reason to worry. Especially since, despite a tide of criticism from animal advocates around the world, the ban is expected to be approved by the city council on Monday. "We're still encouraging people to reach out to their elected officials," Devine says. "But ... it's an uphill battle." Dodo Shows Wild Hearts Guy And Wild Shark Have Been Best Friends For Decades After September 26, owning a dog who looks like a pit bull will get complicated. Current owners will have until next March to get a special permit for their dogs - and that's only after a criminal background check. The dog will also have to be sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped. Owners would also have to keep their dogs muzzled and on a leash no longer than 4 feet in public. And, of course, there's a $150 fee. "There are a lot of low-income and homeless people in Montreal who simply won't be able to afford all of the criteria they need in order to get the special permit," Devine says. "Those dogs will have to be seized and have to be euthanized." And dogs who are already in shelters? "For dogs that don't have an 'owner' on the day of the passing of the legislation, the way the legislation is drafted, the dogs have to be euthanized," Devine says. The Montreal SPCA takes about 2,000 dogs into its shelters every year. Among them, she says, about a third, or 700, would fit the city's criteria to be put down. "Based on the way legislation is drafted, they can't be adopted," Devine notes. Many animal lovers have already seen the writing on the wall. In the days leading up to this month's crucial vote, some pit bull-type dogs have been transported to rescues outside Quebec, to places that don't enforce a breed-specific ban - like Alberta and Saskatchewan. ONE LAST CHANCE RESCUE In addition, animal lovers have found allies in celebrities like Pamela Anderson, who visited shelter dogs in Montreal last month, and groups like the American Bar Association, which sent a letter to Montreal mayor Denis Coderre condemning the ban. "We're talking about an association that represents 400,000 lawyers, judges and law students," Devine says. "For them to step in and directly send a message is pretty powerful. "They don't have an interest per se in animal welfare, but they have an interest in justice and fair and nondiscriminatory legislation." The Montreal SPCA, which runs shelters and animal services for the city in 12 boroughs, has also threatened to cancel its contract with the city if the ban is passed. Being forced to euthanize perfectly adoptable dogs based on a label doesn't sit well with an organization founded on the humane treatment of animals and public education. "It goes against the fundamental principles our organization is based on," Devine says. But Montreal is likely just the first in a legislative domino sequence. Provincial leaders are also mulling a ban on pit bull-type dogs. "The provincial legislation, we're not sure what it includes, but my sense, based on what we've heard, is there is some component of breed-specific legislation that may or may not be specific to pit bull-type dogs," Devine explains. "That should be coming down the pipe this week or next," she added. "But my sense is they're going to wait to see what happens in Montreal before announcing." Airbnb says its hosts are regular people sharing their homes with guests who get an authentic travel experience. But the carefully crafted image of the short-term rental company is anything but authentic, say its critics. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a social justice research agency, has now added its voice to those suggesting that Airbnb is promoting a disingenuous brand. In a study published Thursday, CCPA says the home sharing platform is reducing Torontos already constrained supply of rental housing, endangering the licensed hotel business and jeopardizing the character of some of the citys prized neighbourhoods. There is a disconnect between the Airbnb narrative around sharing that is at the heart of its advertising campaign, says the report called, Nobodys Business: Airbnb in Toronto. Shared accommodation represents the minority of Airbnb rentals in Toronto, according to the CCPA study. There are almost twice as many listings for complete homes or condos as there are for rooms. Airbnb maintains that its typical host rents out their primary residence. But the CCPA report says a small group of key players, the 13 per cent of hosts with more than one Airbnb listing, made up 46 per cent of Toronto revenue estimates. CCPAs study relies on data collected by Tom Slee, a critic of the sharing economy. The report identifies three Airbnb hot spots they include the waterfront communities, the area between Church and Yonge Sts. south of Bloor St., and Liberty Village that, combined, represent more than a quarter of all Toronto listings. All are dense, condo-based communities close to downtown attractions and businesses. Waterfront communities bounded by Bathurst St., the Don Valley Parkway and Queen St. and the Toronto Islands led Airbnb activity with 1,676 listings, 83 per cent of which were for entire homes with 35 per cent being rented by hosts with multiple properties. We wanted to get a statistical snapshot of what the activity is like in Toronto because when we started our line of inquiry nobody had done that, said CCPA director Trish Hennessy, who co-wrote the report with Zohra Jamasi. Vacancy rates have virtually flatlined in the Liberty Village and Church-Yonge area, the report says. Meanwhile, it says, rental vacancies have increased by 2 per cent on the waterfront, far less than the rise in the number of condos or units that have been built in that area. Virtually every downtown condo building, including those on Bay St. and University Ave., is affected by short-term rentals, said Linda Pinizzotta, founder of the Condo Owners Association. A realtor, Pinizzotta said she has firsthand experience of the shortage of rental properties. She cited a client relocating from Texas. Im having a hell of a time finding it because these Airbnb people are out there trying to grab onto these properties now, she said. City council is expected to look next year at what, if any, regulation should be applied to the short-term rental business. In the rush to catch up with the regulatory issues, Toronto is lagging, Hennessy said. This month, Airbnb issued its own statistics showing that Ontario renters stay longer than traditional hotel guests: 5.4 nights, compared to 4.5 nights. Renters in midtown and east Toronto have the longest stays, it said, averaging 7.1 nights and 6.7 nights respectively. Airbnb would not comment on the CCAP report, which was unavailable prior to its Thursday publication. But in an emailed statement, its spokesman, Christopher Nulty, said: The vast majority of Airbnb hosts in Toronto are regular people sharing their primary residence a few nights each month in order to make ends meet. Last year, the typical Airbnb host in Toronto made roughly $4,500 sharing their space. Airbnb hosts define the space theyre renting so a listing that appears as a whole residence can sometimes be a unit under the same roof. The San Francisco-based companys Sept. 7 report on its Ontario business said it is engaged in productive conversations with provincial officials . . . about the need to develop fair, easy-to-follow rules that support home sharing. It also made the point that it contributes to the economy. Its not clear why Airbnbs popularity has risen so dramatically 288 per cent in the past two years in Toronto, Hennessy said. It may have been in the companys business plan or it could be that major events, such as last summers Pan Am Games, spurred interest in the idea. Toronto had nearly twice the number of Airbnb listings in July as Vancouver, in part because Toronto is a bigger city and possibly because Vancouver started looking at regulation earlier on, said CCPA economist Sheila Block. CCPA focused on Airbnb because Slees data was available, Hennessy said. It is also the biggest player in short-term rentals. She cited 723 Toronto listings on Flipkey and about 270 on Roomarama. Clarification - September 22, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version to include the reason why Airbnb did not comment on the report. Airbnb by the numbers 286% The increase in Airbnb listings between Dec. 2013 and July 2016 10,156 Toronto Airbnb listings in July 64% Toronto Airbnb listings for entire homes, including houses, apartments and condos. 33% Listings for private rooms. 3% Airbnb listings in Toronto for shared rooms. 46% Amount of Airbnb revenue generated in three hot rental neighbourhoods: the waterfront; the Yonge-Church corridor and Liberty Village. 26.3% Airbnb listings concentrated in the Yonge-Church corridor; Liberty Village and along the waterfront. Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Ontario Office Read more about: SHARE: SAN FRANCISCO As cities around the country attempt to regulate the growing home-sharing industry, Airbnb is going on the offensive with a barrage of lawsuits intended to kill local rules it doesnt like. Airbnb has sued Californias San Francisco, Santa Monica and Anaheim over ordinances that force the company to remove or refuse bookings that violate city laws, and it has threatened to sue the state of New York if a similar bill there is approved. The companys willingness to throw the first punch in these cases highlights the eight-year-old startups aggressive stance in warding off efforts to limit its explosive growth. Its bold, said Joshua Davis, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of San Francisco School of Law. But if it looks like its really successful, others may follow. Uber certainly has the resources to get aggressive in this way. The major players in the on-demand industry are no stranger to courtroom battles and confrontations with regulators, but they most often find themselves playing defence. Ride-sharing giant Uber, which is fighting dozens of lawsuits in courts across the U.S., rarely has made the first move in those cases. As cities struggle to regulate the booming home-sharing industry, some require landlords to register before renting their homes, while others prohibit certain short-term rentals altogether. Airbnb, valued at $30 billion (U.S.) and with more than 2 million rental listings worldwide, argues it cant be required to enforce these rules and says the company is not liable for the postings landlords publish on its site. While we have attempted to work with the city on sensible, lawful alternatives to this flawed new ordinance, an Airbnb representative wrote in a blog post when the company sued San Francisco in June, we regret that we are forced to now ask a federal court to intervene in this matter. This is an unprecedented step for Airbnb, and one we do not take lightly, but we believe its the best way to protect our community of hosts and guests. Airbnbs litigation campaign already has seen results. The lawsuit against San Francisco convinced city supervisors to amend their home-sharing ordinance last month. Now instead of penalizing Airbnb for postings that violate the citys short-term rental ordinance which requires landlords to register with the city supervisors intend to penalize Airbnb each time it books a stay in a home that isnt registered. But the change wasnt enough to placate the home-sharing company. Airbnb doubled down on its attack last week, filing an amended complaint that challenges the new ordinance. This time, the city is standing its ground. We are not going to be intimidated by Airbnb. We never have been, said Supervisor David Campos, one of the ordinances sponsors. And we know that we are in the right here. Anaheim folded under pressure from Airbnbs lawsuit last month. In a letter to Airbnbs lawyers, the city attorney promised not to enforce an ordinance that would have held Airbnb liable for publishing or failing to remove postings for rental homes without city permits. In response, Airbnb dropped the lawsuit. The ordinances speak to the challenges cities face in regulating the home-sharing industry. In San Francisco, landlords who list homes or spare rooms on Airbnb and other such sites must register with the city, a process that includes making an in-person appointment, completing an application, paying a $50 fee and obtaining at least $500,000 in liability insurance. But few landlords bother. A city study released in April found that out of 9,448 people renting their homes on Airbnb, just 1,647 had registered. This summer the city attempted to force Airbnb and other home-sharing companies to assist in enforcement, and Airbnb struck back with the June lawsuit. Violators of the new home-sharing ordinance could face fines of $1,000 per offence and up to six months in jail if they fail to comply, potential penalties San Francisco has suspended while the litigation is ongoing. Airbnb claims the San Francisco ordinance and others like it violate the federal law that gives online platforms such as YouTube, Amazon, Yelp and Facebook the freedom to publish third-party content without fear of being sued over potentially objectionable posts. The home-sharing company also argues the ordinance violates its First Amendment right to commercial speech. The case largely comes down to whether the judge views Airbnb as an online marketplace that merely publishes third-party ads written by landlords which would be a win for Airbnb or a retailer that rents properties to travellers, said Eric Goldman, an Internet law professor at Santa Clara University School of Law. Goldman, who joined a brief the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed with the court in support of Airbnb, said unless Airbnb can squash these types of regulations, it may eventually find it can no longer operate in many key cities. If Airbnb loses the lawsuit, it will be open season for every regulatory body to tell Airbnb how it should run its business, Goldman said. That includes thousands of cities and counties. SHARE: While the wreck of HMS Terror has historians hopeful for evidence of what led to the demise of the Franklin Expedition, Scottish researchers suggest accidents and injuries not widespread illness may have led to the disproportionate number of officers deaths. The Terror, which was discovered in the Arctic Sept. 3, was one of two Royal Navy ships that set out in 1845 on the ill-fated quest led by Sir John Franklin to find the Northwest Passage. The other ship HMS Erebus was located in September 2014 in the Queen Maud Gulf, along the central Arctic coastline. Medical factors such as tuberculosis, scurvy and lead poisoning have previously been suggested to explain the deaths of some of the 129 crew members who perished in the Arctic after their ships became trapped in thick ice. But a University of Glasgow study says the deaths were probably a result of injuries sustained while officers were hunting for wild game on foot in a harsh climate over difficult terrain. Its such a significant part of both Canadian and British history, said Keith Millar, the lead researcher of the study. Theres quite a lot of uncertainty about the events that occurred around the time when the crews had to abandon their ships in 1848. The problem with the Franklin crews is they didnt come back, he said. We know they all died, but we know so little so little objectively first-hand of what actually went on, particularly around that critical period, three years into the expedition when they had to leave the ships. As none of the ships formal logs, including medical journals kept by ships surgeons, are know known to have survived, Millar and his team studied the sick books of nine Royal Navy ships sent to search for the Franklin after it was lost. Since the search ships were similarly equipped to those of the Franklin expedition, the team studied the causes of illnesses and deaths that occurred among the search crews, whose medical records are kept in the national archives in London, England. Its really using them as a proxy, for what may have gone on, said Millar. From examining 1,500 separate cases that listed medical conditions on the search ships, the researches concluded some of the crew would have suffered from symptoms of scurvy and lead poisoning, but not to a scale that would threaten the expedition. If, and I would underline if, the conditions on those search ships were similar to the ones on Franklins ships . . . the prevalence of the disease was not such that it would have in any way brought the expedition to its knees, Millar said. It would be difficult to find a particular health factor that would suggest the crews were in any particular difficulty health-wise at the time of leaving the ships. Robert Park, a professor of anthropology at the University of Waterloo who played an instrumental role in the 2014 discovery of HMS Erebus, said he agreed with methodology of the Scottish researchers, but not their findings. I think theyve made a good case that we dont know what the cause was, but accidents just doesnt make any sense to me at all, said Park. He said historical notes indicated 24 men were dead by the time the ships were deserted in 1848, including 15 officers. Thats slightly less than three years after the expedition departed England, Park said. But the mortality rates of other arctic expeditions before and immediately after the Franklin Expedition werent nearly comparable, according to Park. I cant imagine a catastrophic accident that would kill so many officers, he said. I think its got to have been a health issue. But Millar said both lost ships were discovered in very different locations than where they were first deserted. This could mean that if they were deliberately navigated to these positions once crews returned, it would have required significant manspower and the crews couldnt have been in poor health. Millar said hes hopeful any medical records kept on HMS Terror might have survived and that its discovery may provide some form of physical evidence that helps answer the many mysteries surrounding the expedition. Read more about: SHARE: Canada and China are launching exploratory talks towards a free-trade agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday during a visit that saw the Chinese premier publicly defend his countrys use of the death penalty. The ever-present clash of economic interests and human rights was on full display, as it always is in Sino-Canadian relations. But Li Keqiang displayed an easy familiarity with his host one celebrated over a beer the night before at the prime ministers Harrington Lake retreat as the two leaders pushed forward their economic agenda. Both leaders also acknowledged the thornier issues in their relationship, including ongoing political opposition in Canada to a potential extradition deal with China, which practices capital punishment and has a dubious human rights record. As well, there is the spectre of Chinas Operation Fox Hunt its international pursuit and harassment of so-called economic fugitives and other dissidents. Standing next to Trudeau in the foyer of the House of Commons, Li denied his country sends foreign agents abroad. But he calmly addressed head-on the issue of capital punishment in his country, providing an elegant contrast to the tongue-lashing his foreign minister gave a reporter who asked him about human rights earlier this year in Ottawa. Li defended it, saying its use is overseen by his countrys highest court. China has a large population, he explained, and that includes violent crime. It is consistent with our national condition, the Chinese leader said. If we abolish the death penalty, innocent people will lose their lives. In addition to the trade talks, the two leaders pledged to double bilateral trade by 2025 and announced a pair of breakthroughs in agriculture. They reached an agreement to try to end a lingering dispute over Canadian canola exports by 2020, although Trudeau offered no specifics. Li also said China was lifting a ban on imports of bone-in beef less than 30 months old, a move that was immediately applauded by the Canadian Cattlemens Association as a $10-million annual gain. The decision reflected Chinas commitment to, and Chinas goodwill to, farmers and producers in Canada, Li said. China has been eager to start free trade talks, but Canada has shown less enthusiasm until Thursday. During the prime ministers own visit to China last month, Li said the two countries had embarked on a feasibility study of a free trade deal. But Canadas ambassador to China later called that premature, citing issues including labour, the environment and Chinese state-owned enterprises. Those concerns now seem consigned to history. Irritants, however, remain. Li and Trudeau both said they want to see a science-based solution to the canola impasse, which revolves around the amount of foreign material permitted in Canadian exports of the grain. Li said experts from both sides will work toward solutions, but, in the interim, we will continue to apply the previous practice. Canada sold $2 billion worth of canola seed to China last year. The premier is the first Chinese leader to visit Canada in six years and both he and Trudeau said it would be the first of yearly meetings between the two of them, all aimed at strengthening economic ties. Both leaders held a 90-minute meeting that was packed with officials from both countries, including several Canadian cabinet ministers. Trudeau reiterated that with the two countries engaged in a high-level security dialogue, they now have a forum in which to discuss disagreements rather than the ad hoc approach of the past. He also reaffirmed Canadas long-standing opposition to capital punishment. We are going to continue to have frank, honest discussions about the things that matter to our people and to the international community at large, Trudeau said, adding that helping the middle class remains the dominant priority. Li also praised the new security dialogue, saying it would help the two countries address differences. The key is how to handle these differences, he said. We need to always bear in mind the larger picture of our relations and we need to recognize that our common interests far outweigh our differences. Li and Trudeau appeared at ease with each other. At one point, when the simultaneous translation failed, Li encouraged Trudeau to continue talking, saying I trust you. After Trudeau responded to awkward questions about a controversy over moving expenses for his senior staffers, Li cut in to expound on how much he liked the French language. Read more about: SHARE: MONTREALA Montreal journalist whose computer was seized by police after reporting on the alleged abusive behaviour of a judge did nothing wrong and broke no laws, said his managing editor on Thursday. Provincial police seized Journal de Montreal reporter Michael Nguyens computer at the behest of Quebecs judicial council on Wednesday at the offices of the tabloid newspaper. Managing Editor George Kalogerakis said Thursday the search warrant indicated the council suspected Nguyen illegally accessed its website for details about a complaint against a Quebec Court judge. I can tell you that our reporter did not break any laws to get his story, Kalogerakis said. We do not break laws at the Journal. We will contest the validity of the search warrant as far as we can. Nguyen reported in the newspaper last June that judge Suzanne Vadboncur allegedly hurled insults and acted abusively towards constables after a Christmas party in December at the Montreal courthouse. The reporter received a copy of a surveillance video allegedly showing the incident which was uploaded to the newspapers website as well as a report detailing a complaint against the judge. Kalogerakis said the judicial council which hears complaints against provincially appointed judges suspects Nguyen hacked into its website to collect the information. Nguyen and the newspaper deny the claim. Kalogerakis said the judicial council wants the computer in order to find out how Nguyen received his information. We believe that this is case where people want to shoot the messenger, Kalogerakis said. Our story was about the very questionable behaviour of a judge after a Christmas party. There were complaints about her behaviour and we thought this was in the public interest. Moreover, he said all the information reported in the story was made public after Vadboncur appeared in front of a disciplinary committee. Quebecs professional order of journalists released a statement saying it vigorously denounces the seizure. It is unacceptable to search journalists or news organizations in order to discover sources when what was revealed was in the public interest, which is the case here, said president Jean-Thomas Leveille. The public has the right to know how representatives of the state who are charged with applying the law behave. Kalogerakis said the computer will remain under seal until a judge rules on the validity of the search warrant. In Quebec City on Thursday, members of the provincial legislature voted unanimously to recognize the importance of the principle of protecting journalistic sources. Read more about: SHARE: MONTREALEvery year, before a room full of people, Ginette Charest, the treasurer of a Quebec union representing health workers, made reassuring financial presentations to members. Invested wisely by her, their money grew steadily and she was thanked for her work. In reality, Charest was quietly emptying the bank accounts to play at the casino. The scheme was discovered in the summer of 2009 when cheques began to bounce. This week, the 72-year-old woman was sent to prison to serve a 30-month sentence handed down by Judge Lori Renee Weitzman. The fraud, which was carried out over a little more than five years, from 2004 to 2009, totalled $691,000. The union, the Federation Interprofessionnelle de la Sante du Quebec, found itself financially ruined at a time when contract negotiations were about to begin. In the aftermath, the union had to impose a special fee on 120 union members, the court heard in pre-sentencing arguments. Charest, who worked for the union since 1989, had covered her tracks. She wrote herself 179 cheques over the years. She tinkered with the accounts and created fictional investments to hide the withdrawals she was making. Her colleagues on the union executive were shocked to learn what had happened. She had all of our confidence, said Guy Drouin, who was the unions president at the time. Drouin took the news very hard and even had to take sick leave, Judge Weitzman explained in handing down the sentence. He no longer wanted to stay in his post with the union after that. Charest, an accountant, attempted suicide after her scheme was discovered. I would like to tell you that all this is a nightmare. But its unfortunately not the case, she admitted in a letter. The woman lost her job and was hit with a civil lawsuit, which was dropped when she declared bankruptcy in 2012. The criminal charges were laid against her in 2013. She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. According to her own account, Charest, who was single and a loner, became hooked on the casino in 2004. Other than the money of union members, she emptied her own accounts, including her retirement savings. She always had the hope of making her money back, she explained. After her actions were discovered, she saw a therapist and voluntarily barred herself from the casino, but relapsed. After clearing up her debts, she was able to put aside $7,000, which she ended up spending at the casino. She has expressed her regret, but has not reimbursed the union, the judge said. Charest, who has health problems, has abstained from the casinos for one year, the judge noted. Wearing a quilted cotton outfit, Charest had nothing other than her purse as luggage when she was taken into custody and led off to prison. SHARE: OTTAWAIf one were to rate a prime ministerial news conference based on its shock value, the one Justin Trudeau gave on the occasion of his return to the House of Commons for the fall session of Parliament on Wednesday would not be worth grading. Trudeau was last in the House in June. If anything has happened over the ensuing months to alter the prime ministers thinking on some of the major files the government has punted to the fall, he was not out to share that over the 20 minutes he spent answering two dozen media questions pertaining to the fall agenda. With upcoming negotiations on health-care funding and climate change mitigation on the agenda, the federal-provincial front is expected to heat up over the next few months. Trudeaus season-opener was not designed to pre-emptively cool provincial passions. Provinces such as Saskatchewan or Quebec, whose governments are becoming increasingly vocal in protest over federal intentions on carbon pricing in the first case and health-care funding in the other, will parse the transcript of the prime ministers news conference in vain for the shadow of an olive branch being extended in their direction. Nor did Trudeau have a strong message to deliver to Parliament as it gets down to its fall business, except possibly to hint that MPs and senators should not expect to have more than cameo roles in the policy developments of the coming season. In opposition, Trudeau repeatedly promised to make Parliament more relevant than it had been under his Liberal and Conservative predecessors. He must hope the House will be a more easygoing place than it has been traditionally, for he has just handed the task of keeping the government on track in the Commons to a parliamentary rookie. He could have used the press conference to throw a bone to the opposition parties. They have been calling for the peacekeeping mission(s) that Canada is expected to sign up for over the next few months to be put to a vote in the Commons. But on Wednesday, the prime minister twisted himself into a pretzel to avoid providing a clear answer as to his intentions. In theory, the latter should be a no-brainer. Jean Chretien introduced take-note parliamentary debates (which are not voted on) on Canadas peacekeeping missions in the mid-1990s. On Stephen Harpers watch, parliamentary votes on Canadas military deployments then became a staple. Retired Liberal senator and lieutenant-general Romeo Dallaire one of the Liberals go-to authorities on peacekeeping policy is advocating a parliamentary debate. Trudeau heads a majority government. The outcome of such votes would not be in doubt. But they would raise the profile of the Liberals peacekeeping initiatives and the Conservatives contention that they are props in governments campaign for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. While Trudeau leads a government that has never shied away from publicizing its actions, it is also no more averse than its predecessors to doing so selectively sometimes hiding newsworthy developments in plain sight or dumping them in the public domain in the dead zone of a late Friday afternoon. At his news conference and in question period, the prime minister had to defend his decision to negotiate an extradition treaty with China. After his visit to China, that change in Canadian policy was publicized without fanfare on the governments website. It had been a long-standing Chinese demand that previous governments turned down on the basis of Beijings poor human rights record. On Wednesday, Trudeau gamely pointed out that Canada already had extradition arrangements with other countries most notably the United States that uphold capital punishment. He said his government would never agree to extradite someone who would, as a result, risk execution. He did not get into the somewhat different U.S. and China takes on what constitutes the rule of law. If there was a point to Wednesdays news conference, beyond allowing the Prime Ministers Office to tick off a box on its media relations to-do list, it may have been to lay out a Canadian rationale for the controversial extradition treaty negotiations ahead of the arrival in Canada of Premier Li Keqiang later that day. He is the first Chinese leader to come to Canada since 2010. If the issue comes up over the course of the single joint news conference of the three-day visit, Trudeau will be able to respond that the question was asked and answered. Correction Sept 22, 2016: A previous version of this column stated that retired senator Romeo Dallaire called for a parliamentary vote on future peacekeeping missions. He called for a debate but stopped short of advocating a vote. Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: A report examining the many ways climate change threatens coffee and coffee farmers has alarmed people who are now imagining what it would be like getting through the day without their caffeine fix. The report, released this month by the Climate Institute, a non-profit organization in Australia, was commissioned by Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, the regional hub of the global Fairtrade system. Though it contains little new research, it has made waves by collating an array of available literature indicating that climate change will have a stark effect on the worlds coffee supply. The report emphasizes the threat that warming temperatures pose to farmland, citing a study from the March 2015 issue of the journal Climatic Change that found climate change will reduce the global area suitable for coffee by about 50 per cent across emission scenarios. In addition to the disappearing land on which to grow coffee, the report highlights the way warmer weather is exacerbating the threat of diseases like coffee rust and pests like the coffee berry borer, a type of beetle that a 2011 report said caused annual losses of hundreds of millions of dollars in coffee beans. The extra warmth is enabling those sorts of lines of attack to be strengthened, said John Connor, the chief executive of the Climate Institute. Coffee plants thrive in stable environments where a precise combination of temperature and precipitation allows beans to prosper while keeping their taste profile. The report shows that countries once offering the proper mix of climate factors in the bean belt, including Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Ethiopia and Vietnam, have become less hospitable because of shifts in weather patterns scientists say can be attributed to climate change. The reports findings, though new to many people, are all too familiar to major coffee companies, which have been scrambling to battle climate changes effect on their product for the past several years. Its a severe threat, said Doug Welsh, the vice-president of coffee at Peets Coffee and a member of the board of World Coffee Research, an international group founded by coffee companies intent on protecting their cash crop. Its anecdotal, but I dont know any coffee farmers who dont believe that their weather, and with it their disease and productivity issues, have changed dramatically over the last decade, he said. A spokeswoman from Starbucks, Haley P. Drage, said that the company had been offering coffee growers support programs for years to help ensure the longevity of their farms. This becomes even more important when farmers experience fluctuating weather conditions that are the result of a warmer climate, she said. We believe that with the proper vigilance, as well as a long-term approach, we can help farmers manage the variables that come with these new dynamics. But Welsh, touting the benefits of the World Coffee Research group, said, There is no coffee company on the face of the Earth thats big enough to tackle the challenge of climate change on its own. The strategies the organization is developing acknowledge the severity of the threat from climate change, and many are adaptive rather than preventive taking for granted that temperatures are bound to keep rising. For instance, one project aims to create a gene bank to preserve the genetic diversity in Arabica coffee. Another strategy is the creation of a variety catalogue with information on various beans pest resistance, yield and ability to thrive at certain altitudes. A third is a sensory lexicon in which the organization evaluates the new coffee varieties being developed by coffee breeders to ensure their palatability. But even the organizations website acknowledges that there are major gaps in our knowledge of how to best help coffee producers adapt to climate change. Welsh said, No one, of course, would want to see any coffee species go extinct, but we have to prepare for the distinct possibility that that could happen. Molly Harriss Olson, the chief executive of Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, said she was particularly concerned about coffee producers and the impact warming temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns would have on them. Coffee supports the livelihoods of 125 million people around the world, including some of the most marginalized and poor people in developing countries, she said, citing a report from the International Coffee Organization. If we dont do something about it soon, the consequences for these people are going to be absolutely devastating. Read more about: SHARE: Federal Sen. Nicole Eaton has taken the unusual step of asking the Senate Ethics Officer to investigate revelations presented to her by the Toronto Star and CBC/Radio-Canada that she was a director of a company in the offshore tax haven of the Bahamas for 12 years without declaring it. Her explanation: She had no idea until a Toronto Star reporter told her on Tuesday. Eaton, a Conservative senator who recently made headlines with her anti-bike lane tweets, is listed as a director of a Bahamas-based company called Mount Bodun Ltd. between 1999 and 2011, according to Bahamian corporate registration records leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and shared exclusively with the Toronto Star and CBC/Radio-Canada in Canada. Each year, senators must declare any corporate director or officer positions they hold to comply with the Senates Code of Ethics. Eatons annual disclosure statements dating back to her appointment to the Senate by Stephen Harper in 2008 repeatedly say, None, in response to the question about corporate directorships. Approached for comment Tuesday, Eaton denied, through a spokesperson, any knowledge of being a director in Mount Bodun Ltd. After being shown copies of her name on the register of directors, where her occupation is listed as senator, she issued a written statement to the Star and the CBC saying she had only learned of her directorship with Mount Bodun through the reporters questions. I became aware of the matter of Bahamian company Mount Bodun Ltd.s alleged listing of me as a director of the company on Sept. 19, 2016, the statement reads. A reporter from the Toronto Star contacted my office seeking comment on this matter. The statement says she maintains her initial assertion that she knew nothing of this and has never served on this companys board of directors . . . . This clearly occurred without my knowledge or consent. It says her office informed the Senate Ethics Officer of the issue on Tuesday and committed to providing our full co-operation in the review of this situation. I am prepared to swear an affidavit attesting that I had no knowledge of or participation in, any part of the listing of my name as a director of Mount Bodun Ltd. in any way whatsoever, and that I remain in full compliance with the Senate of Canadas Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators. The question of how a sitting senator, a politically exposed person in the parlance of the financial industry, could end up on the board of a tax haven company without her knowledge is puzzling even to experts. The Ethics Officer should not accept the story without evidence, said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Ottawa-based Democracy Watch, a government ethics advocacy group. If she does not do a full inquiry to essentially require the senator to prove this story is true, shell just confirm once again what a lapdog she is. The Senate Ethics Officers office confirmed that it had received a call from Eatons office and is looking into the matter. Taken at face value, (Eaton) is doing what she should do. The ethics officer will look into it, said Richard Powers, director of the governance programs at U of Ts Rotman School of Management. You could put anybodys name on that and they would not necessarily know. It is that easy. Eatons assertions that she was unwittingly made a director of a Bahamian company are supported by the woman who admits to listing Eaton without consulting her: Marian Bassett, a member of the famous Canadian Bassett family. I put Nicky down as a director because she is a very, very old family friend, said Marian Bassett, whose late husband, David, is the son of John Bassett, who founded the CTV television network. I just put her name down because it was safe, and I never told her, said Bassett, describing the company as a financial vehicle for the familys estate and the couples three children. She didnt even know she was on (the companys board) . . . . Listen, its all on me. The decision was made, she says, during a stressed situation when her husband was in and out of hospital with health issues. It was just a sh-- show is all I can say and then it just fell through the cracks. Bassett says she was the sole controlling hand of Mount Bodun and Eaton was never paid for her role as a figurehead director. Neither Eatons appointment as a director, nor her resignation, required a signature to be filed with the Bahamian corporate registry, Bassett said. Ask me how that happens. Only in the Bahamas, right? That lack of verification is striking. Even in the secretive world of offshore finance, signed documents and copies of valid identification, including passport images, are normally required by law for corporate directors. Yesterday, the Star and CBC/Radio-Canada reported on the resignation of federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau from a Bahamian company for which he served as director until after the last federal election in October. He resigned from that company on Oct. 26 with a signed document, obtained by the Star and the CBC, that reads, I hereby tender my resignation as a director and/or officer of the corporation. But a Bahamian corporate registry official confirmed Thursday that directorship appointments or resignations, which are filed by private registration agents, are not verified and no signed documents are shared with the registry. (A signature) is not given to us, said Bahamian companies registry branch supervisor Donna Lightbourne. We only receive what they send to us, which is the list of officers and directors. That is what the Act requires. Nothing else . . . . They wouldnt send that information to us. It is private information . . . . Our business is only to record. The Star and the CBC repeatedly attempted to seek comment from the two Nassau-based registered agents for Mount Bodun Ltd.: Sidney Collie and Mike Klonaris. Neither agent responded to emails and calls to their offices. That someone could perpetrate this without someone knowing about it, it goes to the lax compliance regime that goes on there. Thats what attracts people to these jurisdictions, said Powers, the Rotman professor. Its not Canada. Its not the United States. They have not gone through and tightened up a lot of these things and thats why people go there. Its easy, convenient and cheap. Twelve years after secretly appointing her friend as a director, Bassett said she removed Eaton from the company board of directors in 2011, again without her knowledge. I honestly hadnt thought that Nickys name was still on there. I had completely forgotten at that point. I didnt need directors other than myself, myself and myself. She never signed anything and she didnt even know . . . . And it didnt even occur to me to think of it when she became a senator. I just never thought of it. Im to blame. Im the one who didnt tell her. If she had known, she could have disclosed it and would have. She didnt know. Bassetts motivations for listing Eaton reflected the ties between the two families and the two couples. The husbands of Bassett and Eaton were close family friends, she said. And Bassett, herself, became close with Eaton during her marriage to David. Eatons husband, Thor Eaton, served as a director of a separate company owned by David Bassett in the Bahamas called Misty Enterprises Ltd. between Nov. 27, 2002 and Oct. 6, 2011, the Bahamian registry shows. Eaton confirms in her written statement that Thor served as executive director with Misty Enterprises Ltd., adding that at no time did (he) receive remuneration or other benefit of any kind for (his) work. Marian Bassett, who defended her friend after reporters reached out to Eaton for comment, says the friendship between the two families gave her comfort. My motivation was because Thor and Nicky were such old friends, that I knew the kids estate would be in good hands and protected. I never even went beyond that thinking at the time. I wanted communication between one hand and the other, between the one company David had and the company I had. The Bahamas is considered by many experts one of the most secretive financial jurisdictions in the world, slow to adopt transparency and reporting measures that many of its tax-haven nation competitors have reluctantly embraced in recent years. The country was routinely used as an investment destination by Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal that exposed widespread tax evasion techniques used by the worlds wealthy. SHARE: LAS VEGASA deputy public defender in Las Vegas who defied a judges request that she not wear a Black Lives Matter pin in court has become the latest voice of protest in a national debate over police brutality and race relations. Erika Ballous protest comes two months after a black defence attorney in Ohio was arrested on a contempt of court charge for wearing a similar pin in a municipal courtroom prompting a debate about where to draw the line between courtroom decorum, political speech and free expression. Youngstown, Ohio, defence attorney Andrea Burton said Wednesday she settled a federal civil rights lawsuit on Sept. 1 with an agreement that allows her to wear the pin in the courthouse but not in the courtroom. We agreed to apply a dress code evenly, so that officers also cant be in a courtroom with black tape over their badges, Burton said during a vacation in Las Vegas. Ballou, who is black, balked Tuesday at Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndons request that she remove the small round Black Lives Matter pin from her blouse while representing a white domestic battery defendant at a sentencing hearing. The protest is expected to continue Thursday, when Ballou and attorneys who back her protest say they intend to wear Black Lives Matter pins again in Herndons courtroom. Clark County Public Defender Phil Kohn said hell be with Ballou to support her position. If you think that Black Lives Matter is anti-police, ask yourself if police are anti-Black Lives, Ballou said in a written statement prepared last weekend, after she learned the Las Vegas police union sent a letter to judges complaining about what the union executive termed Black Lives Matter propaganda in courtrooms. In a free country, I shouldnt be afraid of the police, Ballou said in her statement, but I am. If Burtons case provides an example, Ballou may not win permission to wear the pin in court. John Juhasz Jr., a lawyer who represented Youngstown Municipal Court Judge Robert Mililch in the Ohio case, said federal case law he found shows that judges have broad discretion over decorum and defence lawyers are in court to represent their clients interests, not their own. Lawyers are there for other people, not for ourselves, Juhasz said. The cases talk about lawyers not having First Amendment rights themselves in court. We go there as advocates for other people. Eugene Volokh, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said judges can limit perceived political speech or expression in court and even ban clothing such as T-shirts that convey a message. He said the challenge is doing it even-handedly, because allowing one particular message could open the doors to others. Imagine how controversial it would be if the judge said, You can wear Black Lives Matter pins, but you cant wear White Lives Matter or Police Lives Matter pins, Volokh said. In 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of a Maine lawyer who was told to remove a political button in court. Lower courts had ruled that the judge rightly told attorney Seth Berner in 1995 to remove a 2-inch pin that said No on 1 Maine Wont Discriminate, a reference to a ballot initiative to eliminate local laws protecting gay people from discrimination. An attorney is free, like all Americans, to hold political sentiments, said a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a courtroom setting, however, lawyers have no absolute right to wear such feelings on their sleeves (or lapels, for that matter). Ballou and Burton said theyve never met or communicated with each other, and didnt know of the others stand in the free speech debate. Burton said she was unaware of Ballous protest on Tuesday until she was contacted by a reporter. Both frame the issue in terms of equal protection under the law, due process, free speech and civil rights. Just this morning, I wake up to another black man being shot in Charlotte (North Carolina), and two days ago in Oklahoma a man gets shot walking to his car with hands up, Burton said. It isnt that one life matters any more than any other, the Ohio lawyer added. Every life matters equally. But when it comes to race, it doesnt appear that the idea of all lives matter is actually true. SHARE: By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Two Indians, who were rescued after over a year of captivity in war-torn Libya, will return to India tomorrow. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said C BalaramKishan from Telangana and T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh will arrive here in the morning and subsequently will travel to their home towns. The two Indians were in captivity since July 29 and were released last week, he said. advertisement The two Indians, who were teaching at Libyas Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. PTI PYK MPB ZMN --- ENDS --- DAMASCUS, SYRIA President Bashar Assad rejected U.S. accusations that Syrian or Russian planes struck an aid convoy in Aleppo or that his troops were preventing food from entering the citys rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods, blaming the U.S. for the collapse of a ceasefire many had hoped would bring relief to the war-ravaged country. In an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Assad also said deadly airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition on Syrian troops last week were intentional, dismissing American officials statements that they were an accident. Assad said the U.S. lacked the will to join forces with Russia in fighting extremists. Assad, who inherited power from his father and is now in his 16th year in office, cut a confident figure during the interview a sign of how his rule, which once seemed threatened by the rebellion, has been solidified by his forces military advances and by the air campaign of his ally Russia, which turned the tables on the battlefield last year. He said his enemies alone were to blame for nearly six years of devastation across Syria, and while acknowledging some mistakes, he repeatedly denied any excesses by his troops. He said the war was only likely to drag on because of continued external support for his opponents When you have many external factors that you dont control, its going to drag on and no one in this world can tell you when the war will end, he said, insisting Syrians who fled the country could return within a few months if the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar stopped backing insurgents. He spoke Wednesday in Damascus Muhajireen palace, a white-stone building where he often receives guests, nestled among trees on the foothills of Qasioun Mountain. The Syrian capital, seat of Assads power, has stayed relatively untouched throughout the conflict, spared the devastation inflicted on other, opposition-held areas of the country. In recent months, Assads forces have taken rebel strongholds in suburbs of the capital, bolstering security and reducing the threat of mortar shells. The attack on the aid convoy outside Aleppo took place Monday night, hitting a warehouse as aid workers unloaded cargo and triggering huge explosions. Footage filmed by rescuers showed torn flesh being picked from the wreckage. Witnesses described a sustained, two-hour barrage that included barrel bombs crude, unguided explosives that the Syrian government drops from helicopters. A senior U.S. administration official said the U.S. believes with a very high degree of confidence that a Russian-piloted aircraft carried out the strike. The official wasnt authorized to speak publicly on the matter and asked for anonymity. Assad dismissed the claims, saying whatever American officials say has no credibility and is just lies. Like Syria, Russia has denied carrying out the convoy bombing. Syria and the United States have been at loggerheads since the Sept. 17 airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition that hit Syrian troops in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. U.S. officials said the attack its first direct hit on Syrian forces since the civil war began was accidental and that the warplanes thought they were targeting Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, positions. Russia said the strikes killed more than 60 Syrian troops, and afterward, Daesh militants briefly overran government positions in the area until they were beaten back. Assad said he did not believe the American account and said that attack targeted a huge area constituting many hills. It wasnt an accident by one airplane... It was four airplanes that kept attacking the position of the Syrian troops for nearly one hour, or a little bit more than one hour, Assad said in the interview. You dont commit a mistake for more than one hour. How could they (Daesh) know that the Americans are going to attack that position in order to gather their militants to attack right away and to capture it one hour after the strike? Assad asked. So it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed. A spokesman for the U.S. State Department dismissed Assads claims as ridiculous, adding that they underline that Assad has lost his legitimacy to govern. Its difficult to see how these ridiculous claims deserve a response, except to say they prove yet again the degree to which Assad has lost his legitimacy to govern and how vital it remains for the international community to achieve a political solution that gives the Syrian people a voice in their future, spokesman John Kirby said Thursday. The strikes contributed to the collapse of the ceasefire, which had already been marred by numerous violations on both sides of the conflict. They also cast serious doubt on chances for implementing an unprecedented U.S.-Russian agreement to jointly target militants in the country. Assad said the United States lacked the will to work with Russia against extremists in Syria. I dont believe the United States will be ready to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria, he said. Despite extensive evidence to the contrary, Assad repeatedly denied that his forces were besieging opposition-held eastern Aleppo, which has become a symbol both of resistance and also the high price civilians are paying in the war. He flatly denied claims of malnutrition and a chronic lack of medical supplies. If theres really a siege around the city of Aleppo, people would have been dead by now, Assad said, asking how rebels were able to smuggle in arms but apparently not food or medicine. The ancient city, now partly destroyed, has been carved out into rebel and government-controlled areas since 2012. Rebel reinforcements broke a hole in the blockade in August. But in heavy bombardment over the following weeks, more than 700 civilians were killed. Earlier this month, Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes retook the roads and the siege resumed. Since then, the UN has accused Assads government of obstructing aid access to the city, despite an agreement to allow aid in during the weeklong ceasefire. During the brief ceasefire, trucks carrying aid sat idle by the nearby Turkish border, awaiting permits and safety guarantees. Throughout the conflict, Assads forces have been accused of bombing hospitals and civilians and choking opposition cities. Millions have fled Syria, some of them drowning at sea in the Mediterranean. The war has been defined by gruesome photos and video posted in the aftermath of bloody attacks or documenting the plight of children in particular. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and once thriving cities have been ravaged, with entire blocks reduced to rubble. The images have galvanized public opinion worldwide but Assad, while acknowledging that the war had been savage, said eyewitness accounts should not be automatically believed. Those witnesses only appear when theres an accusation against the Syrian army or the Russian (army), but when the terrorists commit a crime or massacre or anything, you dont see any witnesses... So, what a coincidence, he said. Assad scoffed at the idea that Syrias White Helmets civil defence volunteers in opposition held areas seen by many as symbols of bravery and defiance might be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize after a nomination earlier this year. What did they achieve in Syria? he said. I would only give a prize to whoever works for the peace in Syria. The group shared this years Right Livelihood Award, sometimes known as the Alternative Nobel, with activists from Egypt and Russia and a Turkish newspaper, the prize foundation announced Thursday. Asked about his methods, including the use of indiscriminate weapons, Assad said when you have terrorists, you dont throw at them balloons, or you dont use rubber sticks for example. You have to use armaments. Read more about: SHARE: NEW YORKDonald Trump says he finally admitted President Barack Obama was born in the United States because he wanted to get on with the campaign. In a brief interview with an Ohio television station Wednesday, Trump was asked why, after years as the chief proponent of the falsehood that the president was born outside the country, he decided to announce Friday that was no longer the case. What had changed his mind? Well, I just wanted to get on with, you know, we want to get on with the campaign, the GOP nominee responded. And a lot of people were asking me questions. And you know, we want to talk about jobs, we want to talk about the military, he added. We want to talk about ISIS and how to get rid of ISIS. We want to really talk about bringing jobs back to this area because youve been decimated. So we really want to get just back onto the subject of jobs, military, taking care of our vets, et cetera. It was a frank statement of apparent political expediency for the billionaire businessman, who for five years had raised questions and insinuations about the presidents birthplace and the authenticity of his birth certificate. The so-called birther movement helped fuel Trumps political rise, transforming him from a reality television star into a popular political figure in some Republican circles. The birther movement dates back to the beginnings of the United States, and has evolved over the years. At one time it asserted that being a natural born citizen a requirement for becoming president meant being born on U.S. soil. But foreign-born candidates have run, including Mexico-born George Romney in 1968, Panama-born John McCain in 2008, and in the 2016 campaign Sen. Ted Cruz, who was born in Calgary. He received his U.S. citizenship through an American parent. On Friday, Trump declared at a campaign event, President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period. But he did not address how or when hed come to his conclusion, and has not answered questions on the topic since. Trumps rival Hillary Clintons campaign said in a statement that Trumps answer was proof that he had only voiced his reversal to try to change the subject. After spending 5 years championing a conspiracy theory to undermine our first African American President, Donald Trump hasnt actually changed his mind, spokesman Jesse Ferguson said in a statement. He only gave his 36-second press statement last week to try to change the subject and it didnt work. Another elected president, Chester A. Arthur, was subject to a birther controversy when in office. Many still assert the records are inconclusive and that he was born in Quebec, not Vermont. Obamas birth announcement, published August 13, 1961, in Hawaiis Sunday Advertiser, and accessible on old microfilm, and other more official documents havent quieted hard-line birthers. Read more about: SHARE: NEW YORKIt doesnt matter what President Barack Obama says these days, his listeners are bound to hear two words: Donald Trump. With his proclivity for dominating the conversation, the Republican presidential nominee is forcing Obamas final few months to be viewed almost entirely through the prism of campaign politics. As Obama carries out his presidential duties, voters cant help but wonder what the role would look like if it were inhabited by the brash billionaire. At the United Nations this week, Trump trailed the president both metaphorically and physically, as world leaders took stock of what a dramatic shift a Trump presidency would mean for American leadership. The fusion of the campaign with real-world governing was on vivid display Monday when White House and State Department officials mingled in the same Manhattan hotel lobby where Trumps advisers were gathered as their candidate met upstairs with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Obama was staying in the hotel, while Trump was using the meeting to try to show his readiness to go head-to-head with a foreign leader. Democrat Hillary Clinton met with the Egyptian at the same hotel earlier in the day. The next day, Obamas final speech to the UN General Assembly took him on a world tour of global hot spots and areas of progress. Yet social media and news coverage of his address was preoccupied with what he said or was believed to have said about Trump. On three occasions in the speech, Obama urged leaders not to put up walls around their nations. The world is too small for us to simply be able to build a wall and prevent it from affecting our own societies, Obama said near the end of his speech. Referring to the Zika virus, he said later, mosquitoes dont respect walls. Though he never mentioned him by name, Obama and his speech writers were clearly cognizant that the observations were sure to be perceived as pejorative references to Trump. The Republican has built his unlikely campaign around a steadfast promise mocked by some, hailed by others to build a border wall and force Mexico to pay for it. Yet Obama had a deeper message, too, one unrelated to Trump but uniquely suited for an address to the 193-member global body. Across the globe, nations rich and poor are confronting the rise of nationalist, fear-driven sentiment that has led some countries to reflexively seek to retrench behind their own borders. In Britain, anger about the perceived consequences of regional integration led this year to a stunning vote to exit the European Union. Embedded in that movement were concerns about immigration that have also cropped up in other parts of Europe, not to mention the U.S. Though Trump and other Americans have raised concerns about accepting Syrian refugees, the issue in the U.S. pales in severity compared to Europe and the Middle East, where millions of refugees have overwhelmed host countries and led to deep resentment of politicians like German Chancellor Angela Merkel who advocated generous refugee resettlement policies. At the UN, Obama also urged leaders not to tolerate the stoking of class divisions by those who feel theyve been left behind by globalization a crude populism, as Obama put it. To be sure, those transnational concerns are of the same flavour as ones that Trump has found ripe for political exploitation. But Obama isnt worried about Trump alone: Hes consistently sought to use his perch on the world stage to offer an alternative viewpoint. Obama advocated strongly against Britains EU exit, or Brexit, and this week organized a UN summit to pressure nations to take more refugees. Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University, said its natural at this late stage of an administration for the presidents words and actions to be taken in the context of the election. He said thats especially true this year because Trump had built much of his campaign around a rejection of Obama and his policies, from diplomatic engagement to his health care law. Its very, very hard generally for anything he says to be removed from this campaign context, certainly within the United States, Zelizer said. On many occasions, Obama has been explicit about the fact that his words are intended specifically about Trump. Hes said questions about the GOP nominee come up in every meeting with a foreign leader, and hes emphatically declared Trump to be unfit to inhabit his role as commander in chief. Those direct challenges to Trump are likely to grow more frequent as Obama, over the next six weeks, spends a large portion of his time on the campaign trail rallying for Clinton. At a rally for the Democrat last week in Philadelphia, Obama derided Trump as a callous champion of the uber-rich, and then turned his attention to praising Clinton. She knows that love trumps hate, Obama said. SHARE: While Canadas attention is focused elsewhere, there is a fire in the neighbourhood. Denise Dresser Forbes magazine has called Denise Dresser one of Mexicos most powerful women. The influential writer and academic shares her thoughts on why Canada needs to pay more attention to Mexicos drug violence, her crush on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and how she manages to attract all those Twitter followers. Dresser was in Toronto this week for the inaugural 6 Degrees Citizen Space conference held by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. Why is the Canada-Mexico relationship important? Mexico is a free trade partner of Canada. Despite that, for many Canadians, Mexico is even more foreign, unknown and uninteresting than many countries in Africa. Canadians pay more attention to what is happening in Europe, the refugee crisis in Syria than what is happening in Mexico, a country with deathly violence, drug trafficking that is becoming much more widespread and an economic crisis. About 150,000 people have died of drug violence in the last decade, and more than 27,000 have gone missing. We have 43 murdered students (who were kidnapped in 2014). Its as if we are living a low-intensity civil war in a country where lawlessness runs rampant. What could Canada be doing to help? While Canadas attention is focused elsewhere, there is a fire in the neighbourhood. And I dont see any Canadian firefighters, or demand for assistance that Canada help the way it has other transitional democracies. Canada could be calling out things in Mexico as it does on human rights issues in other countries, for example China. In the context of the U.S. election, Donald Trump has said he is going to build a wall and deport 10 million Mexicans. As far as I can see, the Canadian government hasnt taken a stand on this issue, which violates every principal of inclusiveness, tolerance and free trade. Trump has said he will dismantle the North American Free Trade Agreement. This would be hugely harmful for Canada and the U.S., and for integration in the region. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto recently invited Trump to Mexico. How was that visit viewed? It was nothing short of insulting and demeaning to Mexico. Maybe Pena Nieto believed that dialogue was required, that it is better to have your enemy inside your tent pissing out than outside your tent pissing in. However, he wasnt courageous enough to confront Trump. Six hours after the visit, Trump gave a speech denouncing Mexican immigrants again as harmful to the U.S. economy. Now there is fear that Pena Nieto cannot stand up to Trump if he wins. There could be severe consequences for Mexico. You have said you were thinking of running as an independent in the 2018 presidential election in Mexico. Are you still? I was considering it. Our country is adrift and the candidates of the established parties are not offering alternatives. However, the barriers to entry are very high and it is hard to raise money. Mexico isnt a country of routine debates among presidential candidates. When I said I was thinking about it, I began to receive daily attacks and weekly death threats. I am wondering if its better to remain as a source of provocative thinking to push the country forward, instead of being in the political realm. What has Pena Nieto accomplished and what challenges remain? He is to be applauded for approving reforms in the telecommunications, energy and educational sectors. But implementing them is difficult. Incessant corruption scandals have clouded the administration. There have been repeated conflict-of-interest issues. Corruption has become the defining issue, and it hasnt been dealt with quickly or vehemently enough. Only pressure from Mexicos civil society, and from outside, will force the political class to change its habits and change the system. How did you get three million Twitter followers? That is one million more than Justin Trudeau! I find it intriguing given Im not Madonna or a super model. In an era of so much information, people are looking for someone who is genuine, for leadership, for consistency. They are looking for a voice they can trust to explain to them what is happening in the world. I tweet 20 times a day, not only about Mexican politics, but about film, books, restaurants, U.S. politics. I tweeted about my crush on Justin Trudeau and I have retweeted things that he did, that half his cabinet are women, that he went to gay pride. In that way he is similar to the Obamas. He has mastered popular culture and is fully in control of his image in a way that resonates with millennials. It is a way of being a leader in the 21st century to use your image to build support for your causes. That is what has happened to me in Twitter land. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Read more about: SHARE: Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch believes potential immigrants to Canada should be screened for anti-Canadian values, some examples being intolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour and/or a lack of acceptance of our Canadian tradition of personal and economic freedoms. For a population supposedly defined by its exceptional tolerance, Canadians have taken to Leitchs proposal with remarkable enthusiasm. A recent Forum Research poll found that two-thirds of Canadians support screening immigrants for their values. Canadian politicians once proclaimed the necessity of keeping out the Africans and the Asiatics (Prime Minister John A Macdonald), or the lower races that would debase Anglo-Saxon civilization (Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King). In the era of multiculturalism, anti-Canadian-ness has become the new criterion of exclusion. Discrimination looks much more attractive when made up in the cosmetic of apparently neutral and universal values. But the values inquisition is hardly neutral or universal. In other places where such screening was implemented the Netherlands and the German province of Baden-Wurttemberg, for instance the tests were particularly directed at immigrants from Muslim countries. Leitch has denied her recommendation is aimed at any specific group, but it is clearly Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians who occupy the crosshairs. For example, so-called honour killings (a label applied exclusively to murders committed by brown-skinned men) are regularly decried as anti-Canadian, while other intimate femicides are not although all surely qualify as misogynist behaviours. Never mind that research does not indicate there is any greater risk of violence for Muslim women than for women in other communities who are similarly socially located, as feminist lawyer Pamela Cross noted in a 2013 report on violence against Muslim women in Canada. (According to Leitch, who was Minister for the Status of Women in the former Conservative government, there have been 13 honour killings in Canada since 2004. In the Canadian population as a whole, one woman is killed every six days by her partner.) When the actors involved are immigrants of colour, we label behaviour that we consider problematic as cultural, and understand this term to mark racial or ethnic identity, observes Leti Volpp, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. In contrast, when a white person commits a similar act, we view it as an isolated instance of aberrant behaviour, and not as reflective of a racialized culture. Under this schema, white people are individual actors; people of color are members of groups ... The result is an exaggerated perception of ethnic difference that equates it with moral difference from us. We are defined by the best of what we think we are, while they are defined by the worst of what we think they are. Like the barbaric cultural practices tip-line that Leitch was previously associated with, the suggestion that immigrants need to be screened for repugnant values pretends that violence and intolerance are strange and foreign things in Canada. Sexism, homophobia, and bigotry are imagined to be evils brought into the country by dangerous outsiders, rather than problems deeply rooted in Canadian cultural soil. But it is amnesic to claim that violent behaviour and intolerance of other cultures are anti-Canadian, when Canada was founded through the genocide of this lands indigenous peoples rationalized by the demonization of indigenous societies as backwards and uncivilized. It is hypocritical to claim that misogyny and intolerance towards other sexual orientations are anti-Canadian, when indigenous women and girls and queer people have been particularly targeted by colonial violence for centuries. (Leitch persistently refused calls to hold an inquiry on missing and murdered aboriginal women during her tenure as Minister for the Status of Women.) It is disingenuous to claim that robbing people of their personal and economic freedoms is anti-Canadian, when the state continues to authorize the theft and destruction of indigenous lands for the sake of industrial projects, such as the tarsands and the Site C dam. Canada is built on what Leitch calls anti-Canadian values; there is no need to look outside the borders to find them. The problem is not that the barbarians are at our gates. It is that we think the world can be divided into those who are barbaric and those who are not. Azeezah Kanji is a legal analyst and writer based in Toronto. SHARE: Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott has served notice that she will enforce the Canada Health Act in Quebec. Good for her. Its about time. The Canada Health Act is the federal statute governing medicare. It lists the standards provinces must meet if they are to receive money from Ottawa for health care. And it gives the federal government the right to cut transfers to any province that doesnt meet these standards. In particular, it imposes a duty on the federal health minister to financially penalize any province that allows physicians operating within medicare to bill patients for extra, out-of-pocket fees. Successive federal governments have been reluctant to use this power. They have usually done so only when the offence is so obvious that it cannot be ignored. From the Canada Health Acts inception in 1984 until 2015, Ottawa clawed back a net total of $10 million from five provinces that permitted extra-billing. Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba were the biggest offenders although Newfoundland and Nova Scotia also got nicked. Compared to the billions the federal government spent on health transfers over the period, these penalties were pittances. But they did make the point that medicare is indeed a national program. And in every province except B.C., where the issue has morphed into a constitutional court case, the extra-billing problem was apparently resolved. However, until now no federal government has had the nerve to take on serial offender Quebec. Quebec has been allowing its doctors and clinics to charge extra user fees since 1979. The provinces current health minister, Gaetan Barrette, freely acknowledges this. In some cases, these fees were truly exorbitant. The Montreal Gazette reported last year that some colonoscopy clinics were charging patients an extra $600 for medications on top of the publicly paid medicare fee. Many Quebecers were outraged. The provincial Liberal governments somewhat peculiar response was to pass a bill codifying the practice of extra-billing but giving itself the authority to regulate it. In March 2015, the then-Conservative government in Ottawa formally notified Quebec that it would be looking into the issue. This March, Liberal Philpott sat down with Barrette to discuss the practice. On Sept. 6, she sent her provincial counterpart a letter threatening cutbacks to Quebecs health transfer. A few days later, Barrette announced that extra billing will end as of next January. It is hard to gauge the importance of Philpotts threat. User fees have become widely unpopular in Quebec. That alone may have been enough to drive the provincial government to disavow them. Still, it was bracing to see a federal health minister publicly standing up for the principles of medicare. It is not an everyday occurrence. It is particularly interesting that she targeted a province that is notoriously touchy about what it sees as federal interference. Perhaps she will do more. Certainly, more needs to be done. The latest annual report on the Canada Health Act filed with Parliament notes that private MRI clinics in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are charging user fees to patients. It says some hospitals are avoiding the ban on charging for drugs by routing the sick through outpatient clinics which do charge. It also notes that the portability requirement of medicare, which allows Canadians to receive care outside their home provinces, is routinely ignored. Quebec routinely refuses to fully reimburse other provinces that provide health services to Quebec residents. Yet it has never been penalized by Ottawa for this. Nor have an unspecified number of other provinces that, at one time or another, did the same. Except for Prince Edward Island, the report says, no province appropriately reimburses residents who obtain medical care outside Canada. Such patients arent necessarily entitled to the full cost of their out-of-country care. But they are entitled to be reimbursed for the amount it would have cost them to be treated in their home province. To work as a national program, Canadian medicare needs two things. First, the federal government must put up enough money to give it a real financial role in the system. The 2002 Romanow royal commission suggested that Ottawa provide at least 25 per cent of medicare funding. That figure still makes sense. Second, Ottawa has to use its financial clout to enforce those few national standards that do exist. A former Liberal health minister, Diane Marleau, tried to do this back in the 1990s. She was sandbagged by Jean Chretien, the prime minister of the day. Lets hope Philpott has better luck. Thomas Walkoms column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Read more about: SHARE: Human rights experts and others are right to be alarmed that Canada has agreed to start talks towards an extradition treaty with China. Such an agreement runs the risk of making Canada complicit in the worst aspects of Chinas inconsistent, politicized and often brutal judicial system. At the moment, all the Trudeau government has agreed to is to begin negotiations about extradition. Theres no known timetable for the talks, no guarantee they will be successful, and most of all no clear idea exactly what such an agreement might look like. With that in mind, its encouraging that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a public assurance that Canada wont lose sight of its legal values such as opposition to coerced confessions and overly harsh punishment, especially the death penalty. Canada has extremely high standards on extradition treaties, he said on Tuesday. And that continues. Good to hear. But the governments eagerness to establish what it calls consistent relations with China, after the hot and cold approach of the Harper years, is raising justifiable concern that Ottawa might go too far in accommodating Beijing on this delicate issue. There are very good reasons why countries such as Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand dont have extradition treaties with China. All these countries prize judicial independence and the rule of law, and arent prepared to turn Chinese citizens accused of economic or political crimes over to the vagaries of that countrys legal system. But the Chinese government has become much more insistent on this front. For the past two years it has been running a campaign code-named Operation Fox Hunt to track down Chinese citizens around the world that it accuses of corruption and other economic crimes. Its part of President Xi Jinpings anti-corruption drive, and Beijing says hundreds of accused criminals have been persuaded to return home and face the music. China acknowledges it has sent agents to many countries (reports say that includes Canada) to track down economic fugitives and other suspects, and says its had considerable success in getting them back and recovering embezzled funds. Its impossible to track the fate of accused people in China in a systematic manner, but the countrys judicial system is notoriously politicized, with judges carrying out the governments will. Harsh interrogation, even torture, are common, according to Amnesty International, and the country executes more people every year than all others combined including many for non-violent economic offences. This is not a pretty picture, and not one Canada wants to be implicated in. Its quite possible to build in guarantees against such things as capital punishment in an extradition treaty (as Trudeau himself noted, Canada already has such a provision in its extradition agreement with the United States). But it would be impossible really to know how accused people are treated once they vanish into the Chinese justice system. On the face of it, Canadas agreement to enter into talks on an extradition treaty looks a lot like a quid pro quo for the welcome release of Kevin Garratt, the Canadian missionary imprisoned on trumped-up espionage charges. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion denies Canada made any concessions to bring Garratt home. But its hard to imagine there wasnt some kind of implicit understanding around the release. Its all part of a new dance between the two countries, with Trudeau visiting China in early September and Chinas premier, Li Keqiang, coming to Ottawa this week. That has produced some positive movement on trade issues, and an agreement to begin exploratory talks towards a trade deal. On the extradition issue, though, Ottawa would be well-advised to drag its heels and push it off, as they say in French, aux calendes grecques (i.e. to a day that will never come). Its wise to take the long view in dealing with China, and in this case, the longer the better. Read more about: SHARE: At a time of growing skepticism about government, expense scandals are about more than wasted public money. Theyre also about frittering away public trust. In the wake of his governments first spending scandal, a relatively minor affair involving the health minister and a high-end limo service, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged as much. This situation was a reminder for all of us to be extremely careful about our expenses and about the public trust that we wield, he said at the time. With that in mind, the prime minister should not have been surprised by the public fuss kicked up when it emerged this week that two of his most senior aides together billed taxpayers for more than $200,000 in moving expenses after relocating from Toronto to Ottawa. The two involved were Chief of Staff Katie Telford and Principal Secretary Gerald Butts; one claimed more than $80,000, the other nearly $127,000. The outrage was swift. The Prime Minister personally signed off on $220,000 in moving expenses for his own political staff, said Alberta Conservative MP Blaine Calkins. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about these expenses. They are wrong. Getting top talent in Ottawa requires reasonable compensation and benefits, including covering the cost of moving. But obviously there should be limits, and these enormous numbers were impossible to ignore or justify. It took barely a day before the Liberals themselves came to the same conclusion. Late yesterday Telford and Butts apologized for the controversy and said they will reimburse the government for some of the expenses $23,373 for Telford, and $20,299 for Butts. Butts also promised to pay back part of the land transfer tax, totaling $$20,819.52. The Liberals first tried to insist there was nothing to see, that were just doing whats always been done. And in fact, it appears that Telford and Butts indeed followed all the rules, in Trudeaus words, under a policy written by previous governments. Still, such sophisticated political operators should have known that the sticker shock of a $127,000 moving bill would upset ordinary people who cant hope to make that much in a year. They shouldnt have taken full advantage of the policy. The unseemly sums at issue suggest that the rules themselves need to be changed (perhaps by capping such expenses) and the prime minister should show better judgment in interpreting them. At the very least, greater transparency on the policy and how it is applied, would discipline future decisions and help Canadians hold their government to account. The public trust depends on it. Correction - September 23, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Gerald Butts promised to pay back $25,000 for land transfer tax associated with his moving expenses. SHARE: Re: Doctor still practising after sex-abuse finding, Sept. 16 Doctor still practising after sex-abuse finding, Sept. 16 It is sad and scary that Dr. William Arthur Damian Beairsto is allowed to practice psychotherapy after being found guilty of sexual abuse. Apparently, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) sees non-consensual touch as a grey area. CPSO must have forgotten its own rules in their The Practice Guide: Medical Professionalism and College Policies. The guides Values of the Profession chapter lists four principles to be practiced by a doctor: compassion, service, altruism, and trustworthiness. Non-consensual, unwanted touch, or groping as the college discipline committee describes it, does not fall under any of these categories. In order to clear the grey area CPSO need only ask two questions: was Patient A asked if she could be hugged, kissed, and touched? Did Patient A consent to being hugged, kissed, and touched? CPSOs manufactured grey area is doing exactly what medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte told the Star: It is exposing the public to potential harm. The CPSO discipline committees decision not to revoke Dr. Beairstos licence immediately after finding him guilty follows its description of him: disgraceful, dishonourable, and unprofessional. Jorge Antonio Vallejos, Toronto SHARE: Re: Mulroney's unhelpful advice, Sept. 15 Mulroney's unhelpful advice, Sept. 15 Id like to broaden the discussion started by Chantal Hebert in her column. Ms Hebert questions former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and calls on he current Prime Minister to launch an exceptional, cohesive effort that will expedite infrastructure construction and bolster a broader diversification of our resources. According to Ms Hebert, a federal show of force on Energy East would precipitate a return to power of a majority Parti Quebecois government and perhaps in time another shot at referendum. I have great respect for Ms Hebert. However, I would respectfully proffer the following bit of prairie wisdom: That saw cuts both ways. At a time when Saskatchewan and Alberta are dealing with the dire consequences of lower energy prices, a failure to show leadership and rally support for Energy East will create the optimal conditions for the growth of Western alienation. Energy East is the very embodiment of nation building. The project would provide a $55 billion boost to the Canadian economy, create jobs, and generate economic growth and increased tax revenue for government. It will allow us to displace oil purchased from countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It would enable Saskatchewan to get fair market value for its resource. In Quebec, Energy East will create more than 3,100 jobs during planning and construction, another 324 jobs during the pipelines operational phase, and generate more than $2.1 billion in tax revenues. And the West can acknowledge that the new construction portion of the pipeline goes through Quebec and should meet the more stringent conditions outlined by Premier Philippe Couillard in November of 2014. Premier Couillard said we cant ignore the communities that would be affected. No reasonable Canadian could find fault with that statement. However we must also recognize the validity of the other half of the Premiers 2014 quote: We recognize the need for the flow of Canadian resources. Its been said that in political life there is no credit to be won by timidity. Mr. Mulroney sentiments and his record in public life - remind us of this. Let us not counsel timidity to our Prime Minister at a time when our country needs courageous leadership. How can a nation function if leadership is ever fearful of awakening the now dormant vestiges of the Parti Quebecois? Our Prime Minister must govern boldly with the interests of all Canadians in mind. He is uniquely positioned to do this. All Canadians will benefit from Energy East. I am hopeful that Prime Minister Trudeau will say so. Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan Read more about: SHARE: By PTI: Kathmandu, Sep 22 (PTI) A Spanish national was among four people killed in a landslide on the popular Manaslu trekking route in Nepal, authorities said today. Four foreigners, including a woman, were also injured in the landslide. The injured have been taken to Kathmandu for treatment, The Himalayan Nation reported. A Spanish national, a mountaineering guide and two other Nepalese were killed, according to Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta. advertisement Two police teams have been deployed in Keramja village of Gorkha district to rescue the injured. However, the continuous landslide has made it difficult to dig out the bodies, Bhatta added. Efforts are on to airlift the injured to Kathmandu for treatment, he said. In July, 64 people were killed as floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Nepal displacing thousands of people. PTI AMS AKJ AMS --- ENDS --- Panera Bread (PNRA) buys a lot of bacon each year -- over two million pounds, or the equivalent of 115 million slices, to be exact. Now the star of the classic bacon, egg and cheese sandwich will be "clean" at all Panera Bread locations. "Clean" is simply the buzzword that food is free of artificial ingredients, a term that has become popular among food companies trying to appeal to more health-conscious eaters. Over a year in development, Panera's new bacon uses celery powder as a curing agent in place of additives typically found in fast food bacon, such as sodium nitrite, sodium phosphate and sodium erythorbate. Panera Bread is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells PNRA? Learn more now. The bacon used by McDonald's (MCD) and Restaurant Brands' (QSR) Burger King chain, for example, both contain sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite. Panera's new bacon strips tend to be a touch thicker than the ones they are replacing, according to a spokeswoman at an event held in, of all places, New York City's Meatpacking District this week. In several taste tests, we found the bacon less salty than standard fast-food bacon or supermarket products. "If we are going to clean up the menu, we can't ignore bacon," Panera Bread's head chef Dan Kish told TheStreet. It's not like Panera has ignored cleaning up other areas of its menu this year. In September, Panera's entire kids' menu -- consisting of items such as a peanut and jelly sandwich, chicken noodle soup and mac and cheese -- went "clean." January brought news of a soup menu totally free of artificial ingredients. Kish says Panera remains on track to complete the removal of more than 150 ingredients, including artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives, on its 2015 "No No List" by the end of this year. Consumers and Wall Street seem to like Panera's focus on menu quality. System-wide same-store sales rose a solid 2.3% during the second quarter, while shares are up about 7% on the year. "Panera has made a calculated push into clean and healthy food, revamping its menu and marketing campaigns and contributing to the chain's popularity with Millennials. It is clear that competitors are lagging," said Jim Cramer, TheStreet's founder and manager of the Action Alerts PLUS portfolio, which owns Panera Bread shares. Perhaps the best part of Panera's new bacon has nothing to do with the taste. Panera isn't yet passing on the higher cost of its clean bacon onto customers. NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Walmart (WMT) were increasing in late-morning trading on Thursday as a federal judge said the retailer must face a class-action lawsuit alleging it allowed and then stifled an investigation of bribery at its Mexico unit. U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey in Fayetteville, AR denied Walmart's claims that a Michigan pension fund had no standing to lead the case because it hadn't suffered losses on Walmart's stock, Reuters reports. The judge said the pension fund could demonstrate losses under another widely-accepted accounting method. The suit accuses the Bentonville, AR-based company of bribing Mexican officials to speed up the process of opening new stores. It also says shareholders were defrauded when the company allegedly hid the bribery for about seven years beginning in 2005. In July, a St. Louis appeals court dismissed the shareholders' claims of alleged bribery. Separately, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author. TheStreet Ratings has this to say about the recommendation: The team rates Walmart as a Buy with a ratings score of B. This is driven by a number of strengths, which we believe should have a greater impact than any weaknesses, and should give investors a better performance opportunity than most stocks it covers. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, increase in net income, revenue growth, good cash flow from operations and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. The team feels its strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full analysis from the report here: WMT WMT data by YCharts NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Wells Fargo (WFC) were retreating in mid-afternoon trading on Thursday as a group of Democratic senators today wrote a letter to the Department of Labor asking officials to investigate whether the San Francisco-based bank violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. Wells Fargo has come under fire since it was fined $185 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) earlier this month for illegal account openings. The action resulted in CEO John Stumpf testifying in front of the Senate Banking Committee yesterday. The letter, which is signed by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and other legislators, says the CFPB also "uncovered" that the company's workplace environment included "stringent sales quotas" and "aggressive incentives" imposed on its employees. Wells Fargo employees complained of threats of termination, required hours of unpaid overtime work and harassment, according to the letter. "The suggestion last week by Chief Executive John Stumpf that 'there was no incentive to do bad things' at Wells Fargo...does not appear to be grounded in reality," the letter states. Wells Fargo fired 5,300 employees as a result of the deceptive sales practices. (Wells Fargo is held in Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holding with a free trialhere.) Separately, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author. TheStreet Ratings has this to say about the recommendation: TheStreet Ratings team rates Wells Fargo as a Buy with a ratings score of B. This is driven by several positive factors, which it believes should have a greater impact than any weaknesses, and should give investors a better performance opportunity than most stocks it covers. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, expanding profit margins and attractive valuation levels. The team feels its strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow. You can view the full analysis from the report here: WFC WFC data by YCharts This article, originally published at 3:49 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, has been updated with market data and analyst comments. Wells Fargo (WFC) , grappling with a scandal involving workers who opened bogus customer accounts to meet sales quotas, now faces the prospect of a probe into whether it properly compensated employees who worked extra hours in attempt to reach the same targets. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, and seven of her colleagues, some also members of the chamber's banking committee, sent a letter to the Labor Department Thursday asking for an investigation into whether the workers, who sometimes made as little as $12 an hour, received the overtime pay federal law requires. "Dozens of former and current Wells Fargo employees have come forward to describe the lengths they went to in order to meet the bank's aggressive sales quotas" after its $185 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other regulators, Warren wrote in the letter. The consumer bureau's probe "uncovered a workplace characterized by stringent sales quotas and aggressive incentives imposed on its employees, and staggering neglect by management of the obvious consequences to consumers," wrote the senators, who also included Democrats Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Jeffrey Merkley of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii as well as former presidential contender Bernie Sanders. Wells Fargo disputes that characterization of its management style. The bank, which has nearly 265,000 workers, has won the Gallup Great Workplace award for three years in a row, Jennifer Dunn, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. "Our team members are our greatest asset," she said. "We strive to make every one of them feel valued, rewarded and recognized," with competitive pay and benefits, career-development opportunities and strong work-life programs, Dunn said. While the Labor Department doesn't disclose details about potential law enforcement decisions, it takes "the concerns raised in the letter very seriously," Jason Surbey, a spokesman, said in an e-mail. EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE: Wells Fargo is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS charitable trust portfolio. Want to be alerted before he buys or sells the stock? Learn more now. The bank's CEO, John Stumpf, pointed out repeatedly in a Senate Banking Committee hearing this week that the vast majority of his employees followed the law in their efforts to meet sales goals. Stump also apologized for his handling of the bogus accounts, which stretched over at least a five-year period, and has promised to end the targets, which included selling as many as eight different products to each customer, as of Jan. 1. While Wells Fargo has dismissed 5,300 workers and managers involved in the matter, Stumpf refused to commit to clawing back pay from any senior executives who oversaw the sales programs, including himself and community banking chief Carrie Tolstedt, whose retirement was announced in June. Stumpf earned $19.3 million last year, and Tolstedt is taking home as much as $125 million as she retires, the senators said. "Such executives literally have millions of reasons to peddle the fanciful notion that the company's culture, policy and practices played no role in encouraging thousands of Wells Fargo employees to drive up customer numbers by any means necessary," the senators wrote. "Nonetheless, the emerging portrait of the company's actual behavior suggests potential widespread exploitation of its own workforce in order to facilitate the widespread exploitation of its customer base." It was apparent during this week's hearing that senators see Wells Fargo's actions as demonstrating that regulatory pressure since the 2008 financial crisis hasn't fazed the industry, Richard Bove, a Rafferty Capital analyst, wrote in a note to clients afterward. Some "are clearly asking for broader investigations of the company and its industry," he wrote. "Wells Fargo has dealt a serious blow to all large banks given what these senators want to do, since there is now a witch hunt on to determine which of the other major banks are derelict in handling customer needs." The bank's shares have fallen 11% to $45.48 this month, compared with a 0.3% gain on the broader S&P 500. "It is increasingly clear that neither the settlement nor the policy actions taken since will put the related issues to rest," Susan Roth Katzke, a New York-based analyst with Credit Suisse, said in a note to clients. She lowered her 12-month price target for the bank's shares by 11%, to $50. "The inquiries are not done, and litigation risk is heightened," Katzke wrote. "This situation differs from JPMorgan's London Whale, in spring 2012, or Bank of America's $4 billion accounting error, in April 2014, in that Wells Fargo's alleged issues directly impacted the consumer. The breadth of the follow-on inquiries is widening." Strong shareholder support for a proposal earlier this year urging Exxon Mobil (XOM) to report the impact of carbon restrictions on its oil and gas sales forecasts likely helped nudge the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch an accounting probe at the energy behemoth, according to climate change activists. At issue is a Wall Street Journal report, citing people familiar with the situation, issued Tuesday suggesting that the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating how Exxon Mobil accounts for the future costs of complying with greenhouse gases and climate change policies as its evaluates the economic feasibility of its projects. The report also suggested that the SEC was probing Exxon's practice of not writing down the value of its oil and gas reserves as prices have fallen. An SEC spokeswoman declined to comment. The report of a possible SEC probe comes after a surprisingly large number of shareholders - roughly 38% of votes cast for or against at Exxon's May 2016 annual meeting -- backed a proposal seeking to have Exxon assess the long-term implications of U.S. and global climate change policies on its oil and gas reserves and resources. The provision asked Exxon to consider a scenario where carbon restrictions issued by governments are driving a reduction in demand for the energy giant's products. The vote was a huge vote of no confidence at Exxon, which, based in Irving, Texas, has a $350 billion market capitalization, and represented a record level of support for a climate change measure at the energy giant. And backers suggest that the measure, which was introduced by both the New York State Common Retirement Fund and the endowment fund of the Church of England, may have put enough of a spotlight on the issue to nudge the SEC into launching its own investigation. "That 38% vote is likely to be part of what is driving the SEC's willingness to consider this issue," said Shanna Cleveland, a senior manager of Ceres Carbon Asset Risk Initiative. "That Exxon resolution came out of a history of engagement with Exxon about how they are addressing climate risk. It sounds like the SEC is investigating how Exxon is pricing in the cost of global carbon policies to its forecasts for how much oil or gas it would sell in the coming months and years." Cleveland argues that Exxon's own internal forecasts for oil and gas demand through 2040 included in its annual report aren't good enough and that the energy giant should analyze and issue a report sought out by the shareholder proposal that takes into account a global agreement reached in Paris in 2015 to restrict greenhouse gas emissions in a way that limits increases in atmospheric temperatures to no more than 2 degrees Celsius. Exxon spokesman Alan Jeffers said that the SEC is the appropriate entity to examine issues related to impairment, reserves and other communications important to investors. He noted that Exxon includes information about the business risk of climate change for many years in its annual report and corporate citizenship report and other reports to shareholders. "We are fully complying with the SEC request for information and are confident our financial reporting meets all legal and accounting requirements," he added in a statement. Nevertheless, the strong support for the shareholder measure may have something to do with the transatlantic coordination that led to its issuance. "New York State and the Church of England were trying to highlight the fact that it isn't just U.S. investors but actually global investors who were concerned that after the Paris agreement that major firms such as Exxon don't appear to be taking into account policy actions and regulations that are required under that agreement," Cleveland said. Ceres, which helps institutional investors coordinate on environmental and social issues, worked with a couple of other organizations to help mobilize dozens of investors including AXA, Aviva, LGIM, HSBC, RobecoSam, BMO, BNP Paribas, who publicly declared they were backing the proposal after it was submitted to Exxon but before it was released in its proxy statement in April. Many others, including State Street Global and AllianceBernstein, also voted for it. "There was a global collation of investors who pre-declared their support," she said. However, one institutional investor familiar with the SEC suggested that the agency's move to probe Exxon is more likely to have been driven by its statutes and investor protection mandate, with a particular focus on how Exxon is an outlier since most other major energy companie have already taken steps to write down the value of their oil and gas reserves as prices have fallen significantly over the past couple years. Nevertheless, she acknowledge that an SEC probe supports the actions that shareholders have taken to pressure Exxon to assess the long-term implications of climate change policies on its bottom line. In any event, baring significant action by Exxon or the SEC, expect another climate change-related proposal to appear on the Exxon ballot at the 2017 annual meeting. "As for Exxon, we fully expect to refile the proposal," said Matthew Sweeney, a spokesman for New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Shoppers check out a Tesla Model S at a Tesla showroom in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2015. A Tesla lawsuit challenges a Michigan law that ensures automakers can sell their vehicles only through franchised dealerships. (Richard Vogel/AP) AUTOMOBILE Tesla sues Michigan over dealership law Tesla sued Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) and other state officials Thursday, challenging a Michigan law that ensures automakers can sell only through independent, franchised dealerships and not directly to customers. The federal lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment that the 2014 anti-Tesla law is unconstitutional and asks for an injunction to prevent its enforcement. The Michigan Department of State last week denied Teslas application for a dealer license to sell to consumers, citing the law, which is backed by big auto companies and their dealerships. It has not decided on Teslas bid to register a vehicle repair facility in the state, which is home to the Detroit Big Three carmakers. The sole purpose for applying (the law) to a non-franchising manufacturer like Tesla is to insulate Michigans entrenched automobile dealers and manufacturers from competition, Tesla said in the lawsuit. This is not a legitimate government interest under the U.S. Constitution. In 2014, Snyder and the GOP-controlled legislature amended state law to clarify that car companies can sell only through franchised dealers. Tesla said it was a monopolistic strike at the fledgling company, which has no traditional dealerships. Associated Press TELECOMMUNICATIONS More safety checks set for Samsung Note 7 Samsung Electronics was ordered to carry out more safety checks of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones before they go back on sale following an unprecedented global recall after defective batteries caused some of the phones to burst into flames. Under a recall plan agreed to by the South Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, Samsungs battery supplier will have to X-ray-test every lithium-ion battery intended for the Note 7 before the batteries are shipped, and Samsung will carry out a quality test on every battery when it arrives from the supplier. Samsung also agreed to do more for consumers who wish to ditch their Note 7s for another brand. Consumers who missed a Monday deadline to get a refund for the Note 7 smartphone now have until the end of the month to get an iPhone or similar device from the same mobile carrier in exchange for the Note 7. The Galaxy Note 7 phone went on sale in August to glowing reviews but has become Samsungs biggest crisis in years. With consumers reporting that the high-end phones were overheating and catching fire, Samsung stopped sales Sept. 2 and recalled 2.5 million units, citing a battery manufacturing error. This week, Samsung started shipping new Note 7 phones with safe batteries in the United States, South Korea and other countries, while urging consumers to hand in their phones for replacements. Associated Press Also in Business From news services By PTI: Kathmandu, Sep 22 (PTI) A Spanish national was among four people killed in a landslide on the popular Manaslu trekking route in Nepal, authorities said today. Seventeen people, including eleven Spanish nationals, were also injured in the landslide. The injured have been taken to Kathmandu for treatment, The Himalayan Nation reported. A Spanish national, a mountaineering guide and two other Nepalese were killed, according to Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta. advertisement Two police teams have been deployed in Keramja village of Gorkha district to rescue the injured. However, the continuous landslide has made it difficult to dig out the bodies, Bhatta added. Efforts are on to airlift the injured to Kathmandu for treatment, he said. Manaslu region is the famous trekking destination where thousands of tourists visit every year. In July, 64 people were killed as floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Nepal displacing thousands of people. The landslide has been continuously striking the area since the 2015 earthquake. PTI SBP AMS AKJ AMS --- ENDS --- Danny and Alys Messenger paddle a canoe away August 16 from their flooded home in Prairieville, Louisiana. The flooding was part of a summer that saw a lot of extreme weather. (Max Becherer/AP) This summers weather was relentless, crowded with the type of record-smashing extremes that scientists have long warned about. The season ends Wednesday, and not a moment too soon. Summer featured floods that killed hundreds of people and caused more than $50 billion in losses around the globe, from Louisiana to China, India, Europe and the Sudan. Meanwhile, droughts parched croplands and wildfires burned in California, Canada and India. Toss in record heat that went on and on. From June to August, there were at least 10 weather disasters that each caused more than $1 billion in losses, according to insurance industry tallies. With summer weather now seemingly stretching from May to September, extreme weather in that span killed more than 2,000 people. And thats without a major hurricane hitting a big U.S. city, although the Pacific had its share of deadly and costly storms. Weve experienced an increasing number and a disturbing number of weather extremes this summer, U.S. National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini said. While flooding made the news, the sneaky thing about the summer was heat that did not even ease at night, said Deke Arndt, climate monitoring chief at the federal National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina. When temperatures drop to below 72 at night, it allows the body to recharge, plants to grow and air conditioners to be shut off. But this year that didnt happen enough. The Blue Cut wildfire burns houses and trees near San Bernardino, California, also on August 16. More than 80,000 people were evacuated as the governor of California declared a state of emergency. (Ringo Chiu/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) The United States as a nation set a record for the hottest nighttime temperatures on average this summer, Arndt said. Tallahassee, Florida, for example, went 74 consecutive days in which the nighttime temperature didnt dip below 72. This is one of the clearest signals we expect for climate change, said Mark Bove, a New Jersey-based senior research meteorologist for re-insurance giant Munich RE, which tracks natural disasters. It keeps a blanket on you, particularly at night. We cannot radiate the heat away at night as the planet used to. The extra heat both in the air and oceans puts a lot of extra moisture in the air, which then comes down as more extreme downpours, said Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. And when an area is already dry, droughts worsen because warmer air takes more water out of the ground. NASA chief climate scientist Gavin Schmidt said the records keep showing the planet warming and since we kind of predicted these things, we know what were talking about. Perhaps the most noticeable prediction was a 1988 study by James Hansen, former head of NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies. In that study, Hansen forecast what would probably happen to Earths climate. He not only got the global temperature rise about right, but he also forecast big changes in the number of days when the overnight temperatures would not go below 75 and the daytime highs would exceed 95 in four cities by the 2010s. He was right or underestimated how hot it would be in six of eight categories. The fact its come out with more or less around what was predicted is not surprising, Hansen said. The summer is when things show up easiest because the natural variability is the least in the summer. You notice the change more readily in the warm season. In 1852, Joseph Trammell was a free black man living in the slave state of Virginia, but he needed papers to prove it. He carried those papers in this metal box that he made himself. (Alex Jamison) Elaine Thompson is the keeper of her familys stories. Its been that way for decades. The former high school English teacher and civil rights activist, 83, can trace her lineage to the 1700s, to Samuel Thompson, who was free before the Civil War and the wealthiest black man of Loudoun County. On both sides, Thompsons ancestry is filled with men and women who were free before Emancipation. They worked hard, kept loved ones close and built a way for their progeny in the state that would become the heart of the Confederacy. She has kept much of this history in her home office, in files tucked into the drawers of a wooden desk that sits below long bookshelves weighted with such authors as David Levering Lewis, Taylor Branch, Annette Gordon-Reed and Barack Obama. A historian, shes there on the bookshelf, too, with In the Watchfires: The Loudoun County Emancipation Association, 1890-1971. For years, in one of those drawers among the files sat a small tin box that belonged to her maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Trammell. Inside the box was proof of his freedom, papers certified by the Loudoun County clerk that the then-21-year-old, who bore a small scar on his forehead and a longer one six to seven inches on his left wrist, was indeed a freeman. The year: 1852. Traveling without those papers could mean being re-enslaved, or if you were born free, kidnapped into bondage for the first time. Trammell made the box to protect his papers and his life, Thompson said. She speculated that he probably was free before 1852, because his name appeared on an earlier petition to have freemen removed from Loudoun County. Virginia required freemen to leave the state unless they legally requested to stay. Joseph Trammell stayed, most likely because of family, Thompson believes. For generations, that freedom tin has passed from one hand to the next. Thompson got it from the daughter of her now-deceased Aunt Molly, a woman who lived into her 90s. She wanted me to have it, Thompson said of the tin. She wanted me to preserve it. And I wanted to, but then when I started, I said, What am I going to do with this? Even though people in the family are interested in family history, I just couldnt decide who to give it to. I said it needs to be in a place thats safe, somewhere it will be cared for. This museum, well, thats the place for it. Which explains how Joseph Trammells freedom tin, after traveling across more than a century, from one descendants hand to another, is artifact 2014.25 at the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Thompson went online and completed a form set up for people who thought they had something of historic value and wanted it considered for the 19th Smithsonian museum. Curators came running. I knew in my heart that so much of the history was in the basement, trunks and attics, said Lonnie Bunch, the museums founding director. (Paul Holston/AP) This is how its been in the nine years that a team of curators, museum specialists and others has been working to fill a museum that itself was once a distant hope. The lobbying for it began in the early 1900s, and Smithsonian officials are not being hyperbolic when they say it is a museum that was a century in the making, which is also the name of an exhibit on the subject. Finally, it is fact, a deep footprint on the Mall, its doors opening months before the Obamas leave the White House. African American history is our history, the website notes, meaning a nations. The point is underscored by the prime location, steps from the Washington Monument and where, through the frames of the museums glass walls, you can stare in the direction of Jefferson and Lincoln and ponder all of what America has been and, Smithsonian officials hope, imagine what this country can still become. Inside the museum are markers of a nations racial history and bloodied path to democracy: from the remnants of a slave ship to a slave cabin to a segregation-era train car and shards of glass from the 16th Street Baptist Church of Birmingham, Ala., where four little girls were killed on a September Sunday morning not so long ago. The museum also honors the road of a people struggling and striving and, in so many cases, soaring to places where they were never meant to be. A Tuskegee airplane hangs from the ceiling, Chuck Berrys Cadillac gleams, and everywhere you turn are stories of excellence and achievement and a culture at the center of a nation. But when items were still in the talking stages, one of the questions was: What was left to be collected? There were African American museums across the country, the Smithsonian already had its own artifacts, universities had historical papers and singular art collections, and on and on. Founding director Lonnie Bunch believed there was plenty undiscovered and pledged that a museum would open with 30,000 artifacts in its possession. I knew in my heart that so much of the history was in the basement, trunks and attics, Bunch said on a recent morning in his offices in the Capital Gallery Building in Southwest Washington. The goal was not to just collect to collect, he said, but to collect in a focused way to make sure you could tell the story of women in business, or you could tell the story of enslavement. The way to do it was to help people realize how crucial their story was, no matter how small, to understanding the whole narrative of African American history. So people really felt that giving was about legacy, the way to kind of honor those on whose shoulders they stand. The museum that started with zero artifacts is approaching 37,000. About 3,000 will be in the inaugural exhibition. Here is the house that Bunch, his staff and a nation built. (Erin Patrick O'Connor,Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post) In assembling a team, Bunch looked for balance, the right kind of collaborative tension. He needed those who had worked at the Smithsonian and those who had not. He needed seasoned staffers and younger ones at the dawn of their careers. And mostly he wanted people who saw and believed in the museums mission above all else, above their egos and their ambitions. What I really was looking for were people who recognized that this was bigger than they were, said Bunch, who was most recently the director of the Chicago Historical Society. That this was not about them. If you came to this job because it was going to make your career, thats not who I wanted. ... It was a family coming together. Because this would also be true: It was going to be difficult, weighted with the uncertainty of fundraising, lifted by a demanding vision and faced with the profound challenges inherent of a reckoning between a nations past and its present. And if they did it right, it could help the country reach higher ground. How do you speak honestly about the brutalities of slavery in a country in which many dont know that it was enslaved hands that built the White House? How do you show the unvarnished truth about the legacy of families being ripped apart, or the murderous terrorism of Jim Crow? Who could view Emmett Tills casket also in the museum without its echoes ricocheting through the deaths of a Trayvon Martin, a Jordan Davis, a Tamir Rice? It would be a living museum, not one engaged with the past with cool detachment. The facts of our collective past are meant to educate and offer context to our decidedly non-post-racial nation as it wrestles with its future. The work would be filled with discovery, excitement and disappointment, success and roadblocks, sometimes massive, sometimes just hiccups. Like the day Bunch left the Smithsonian Castle, heading to his new office, then at LEnfant Plaza. The door was locked. Nobody in management or security knew who he was. He returned to that locked door and was wondering what to do. And along comes a brother who is the maintenance guy, and hes pushing this cart and he has a crowbar, Bunch says. So I broke into our first offices. Correction : The last night of Andrew Goodman, one of the three civil rights activists murdered in Neshoba County, Miss., in 1964, was misspelled on a previous version. This version is correct. 1 of 23 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The African American experience, in photos View Photos The Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture showcases the arc of the black experience. Caption The Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture showcases the arc of the black experience. 1905: Pictured, from left: Della F. Stevens (1876-1950), Charles T. Stevens (circa 1878-unknown), Eliza Bradshaw Stevens (circa 1857-1938), Eva E. Stevens (circa 1885-unknown), William A. Stevens (circa 1880-unknown), Florence E. Stevens (1894-1985) and Elsie J. Stevens (circa 1887-unknown). Henry Stevens Sr. (circa 1797-1908), born into slavery, hid his four children in Missouri caves during the Civil War. After Emancipation, Stevens became an independent farmer in Linn Creek, Mo., where the children and grandchildren in this photo thrived. Courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture Wait 1 second to continue. Museums are in the narrative business. Its their job to tell stories. Curators are its choreographers, the folks who understand the required intimacy between the story and the right artifact, who coordinate the waltz between the telling and the showing. Just like we are shaped by DNA, we are shaped by historical memory, Bunch said. What artifacts do is, yes, they stimulate memory, but maybe more importantly what they do is humanize grand issues, so that you are not engaging with slavery, but an individual. And so one of the challenges of any history museum is to be able to talk at a macro level but to have you feel at a micro level. And thats what I think artifacts allow you to do. The work has been assisted by a scholarly advisory committee. The legendary scholar John Hope Franklin was chair until his death in 2009. It was Franklin always in Bunchs ear during meetings, urging him to have the courage to tell the unvarnished truth and to know here was an opportunity to educate and to make change. The process is collaborative. Curators meet regularly to present their finds and make the case for why they belong in the collection. Artifacts have arrived many ways. The museum had a wish list for some, such as a slave ship and slave cabin; some have been purchased, such as the fur-collared green velvet dress Lena Horne wore in a scene for the 1943 movie Stormy Weather; and some donations have come through the museum-sponsored Save Our African American Treasures events across the country. The Smithsonian couldnt visit every attic or garage, sort through every trunk or closet, so it issued a call. And the people responded. Bobbye Booker Coleman remembers the day in West Medford, Mass., when her mother sent her to the attic to retrieve a set of paintings. The then-teenager found them, four oils on canvas rolled up, worn and time-battered. At 73 , the retired assistant professor who last taught at Spelman College can still hear her mothers words as Coleman unfurled the works of her uncle, Earle W. Richardson, who was born in New York and struggled as an artist during the Harlem Renaissance. He was her mothers older brother, not an unknown artist a few institutions have his work but significantly lesser known than others. A self-portrait of Earle W. Richardson (Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Dr. Bobbye Booker Coleman and Mr. Jackie Coleman, Earle Richardson) I just always remember her saying, If he had lived he would have been famous, Coleman said. Her mother told of Richardsons work with the Works Progress Administration, how he and fellow artist Malvin Gray Johnson had submitted proposals to the federal government for a set of murals for the 125th Street Library, but that Johnson suddenly fell ill and died. Within a year, Richardson was gone, too. Hed been stricken with a fever, the mother told her daughter, and jumped out a window to his death. Richardsons mother was so upset that shed gone through their home cutting up as much of the artwork as she could. His sister, Alleyne Richardson Booker, salvaged other works and kept them until that day she sent her daughter to the attic. What Coleman, who went on to earn a doctorate in early childhood education, learned later from another scholar was a story of romance and tragedy: Johnson and Richardson had been lovers, and his suicide, it was believed, was an act of grief. Like her mother, Coleman held on to those paintings. But it wasnt those works that she brought to a Save Our African American Treasures event in Houston, where she now lives. She brought a family Bible and other elements. When Coleman mentioned that she was Richardsons niece, curator Tuliza Fleming known among staff for her ability to persuade reluctant art owners to donate works told Coleman shed heard of him and wondered if the next time she was in Houston she could visit. Fleming loves to tell Richardsons story, which speaks to his humanity. Artists who are African American have often been pigeonholed as black artists. Theyve had to struggle to be able to self-identify, as opposed to having an identity imposed on them, she said. Richardsons work, a self-portrait, has been restored. And Coleman believes theres something providential in it all. I want to give these things to the world, she said. I want him to be appreciated, because he was a gifted artist, because he was struggling, because he was gay, he was black. Its just a beautiful story in and of itself. A personalized pigskin wallet embossed with Harry T. Moore. Moore and his wife were killed when their house was bombed on Christmas day, 1951 in Mims, Fla. (Alex Jamison) That Christmas holiday in December 1951, when Juanita Evangeline Moore traveled to her home town of Mims, Fla., from Washington, she knew something was wrong. Life had always been dangerous for her family because of her parents work on behalf of equal pay for black teachers, voting rights and anti-lynching efforts. In fact, they had been fired from their education jobs, and her father went on to become an organizer with the NAACP. That December day, when she was 21, fresh out of college and working her first job in the District, Moore had expected to see her parents and her older sister. They always met her at the station. This time it was her aunt and uncle waiting. The house had been bombed on Christmas, they told her, which also happened to be her parents 25th wedding anniversary. Her father was dead, her mother hospitalized. They went directly to the hospital. Nine days after the blast, Moore and her sister, Anne, or Peaches, as they called her, stood by their mothers bedside as she took her last breath. Even now the story of the Moores is not as well known as others. This was four years before Emmett Till, and later Medgar Evers, and Andrew Goodman and James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner. When Evangeline Moore heard of the Smithsonian museum, she needed no prompting. For decades she had not spoken of the murders, but with the help of her advocacy, in 2004, the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park opened in Florida. A replica of their home has also been built on the grounds, which includes the site of the original house. Spencer Crew, the first African American director of the National Museum of American History, is a guest curator for the NMAAHC. He and staff curator William Pretzer went to see Moore after she reached out to the museum. Moore wanted what had been recovered from the explosion transferred from the Florida museum to the Mall: a wallet, a watch and a locket. Its the meanness of spirit that gets to you, and the lack of concern, or feelings of humanity of others, Crew said about the bombing and the era of terrorism. It really gets to you. Its one of the hard things about doing this history. Crew added: The stories are important to remember. ... It reminds you of how hard it was to be an African American in this country for such a long time. ... Im hopeful that it will give people a more accurate sense of things. A greater understanding, sympathy and empathy. ... And also to see how other people stepped up and collaborated. Not to focus on the viciousness, but to focus on how you find connection. At 24, Darren Pagan, who works for the Department of Defense, is trying to find his way through all of that. The Moores are his great-grandparents. He and his father buried Evangeline Moore last October. She was 85 . She experienced so much loss, he said of his grandmother, who struggled with anxiety and depression but was determined to make sure her parents sacrifice was remembered. Its a story that I want people to know about it, but I dont want the moral of the story to be about how much damage an act of hate can do to a family, Pagan said. Its more about perseverance and being willing to fight for things that you believe in. Everything my great-grandfather fought for, Im able to benefit from it. As Simone Manuel, the first African American woman to swim to Olympic gold, was finishing her race in Rio de Janeiro, Marie Goines was calling to her husband. Come look at this, come look at this. William Goines made his way to the television. I hadnt seen the start of the race, and I had no idea she was African American until the end, said Goines, or retired U.S. Navy Master Chief William H. Goines. I am so overjoyed to see them breaking through. In 1962 he was breaking barriers of his own as the nations first black Navy SEAL. Growing up outside Cincinnati, Goines taught himself to swim. In the era of segregation, the white high school in Lockland had a pool, but not the black one. In a nearby town, African American children swam on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon. They would blow a whistle and wed have to get out, Goines said. They would drain the pool to get it ready for the whites. When segregation was ending, his home town filled the public pool with rocks and gravel. One of retired U.S. Navy Master Chief William H. Goiness patches. (Smithsonian Institution. National Museum of African American History and Culture) He turned 80 this month, lived a good life, he said as he sat in his Virginia Beach home. Hes been married 51 years to a woman he adores, and hes still occasionally helping to recruit for the SEALs. He wrote to the Smithsonian a few years ago about the SEALs, and retired Army Col. Krewasky Salter, a guest curator with 25 years of military service, got in touch and eventually paid him a visit. Goines told Salter he could choose from his Navy SEAL artifacts. Among Salters bounty was a board known as Tools of the Trade, an unofficial gift given to retiring SEALs by their colleagues. The board has an array of weapons, from a knife to bullets to a grenade. Goines retired in 1987 after 32 years of service. The ending was a lot easier than the beginning. To understand the conflicting duality of black soldiers is to understand, at the most fundamental level, what it has meant to be African American. After World War II, for example, black soldiers were violently attacked, some slain in uniform by whites who believed that they should not wear it or that they were acting too uppity, demanding equality, stepping out of their social place. I went through some things that were not right, Goines said. He doesnt dwell on the ugliness of the past, but he hasnt forgotten. The SEALs did well by him, he said, though they caught hell traveling in the South in the early 60s. Once, when they piled into a restaurant and were seated at tables throughout the place, Goines was refused service. Our officer told everybody to just stop what they were doing and to get back on the bus, Goines recalled. Everybody got up without [complaining]. And we went down the road and bought some sandwiches. In Washington, in his office, Salter also thinks about those black military men and women who came before. He has collected the museums first Medal of Honor, that of Korean War hero Cornelius Charlton. Salters fathers jungle boots from the Vietnam War era are also in the museum. Tony L. Salter served more than 34 years in the Army, retiring as a command sergeant major. My service is easy compared to their service because they served and were patriotic in a nation that was not ready to embrace what they were offering, which was their life, Krewasky Salter said. Reading the stories about these guys, he began, then paused to steady the emotion that was overtaking him. Its an exciting time and a humbling time, and it makes you reflect. And you think, Should the nation be further than it is in some respects? Descendants of historic African Americans reflect on their family member's life achievements and their decision to donate their relics the to new Nation Museum of African American History and Culture. (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post) The late morning sunlight pours into the open kitchen of Dan Evanss Northwest Washington home, but its Evans who is the rooms brightest light. Hes eager to talk about his mother, Laura Fitzpatrick (her maiden name), and the day he attended a local Treasures event. Before she became a registered nurse, a wife and a mother of four, Fitzpatrick was an amateur photographer possessed with passion and guided by instinct. They led her to be a chronicler of black life in Brooklyn during one of the most pivotal periods in the nations history. From 1938 to 1948, as the Great Migration was unfolding, she kept her camera close and took pictures of her group of friends for a decade, capturing their lives, from childhood to adulthood, elementary school to high school, puppy love to marriage, going off to first jobs and to war. But Fitzpatrick didnt stop there. From the time she started, at age 10 or 11, she wrote detailed captions on all her pictures. There are 500, her son said, and the museum has more than 300. She loved taking photos and loved taking photos of people in all kinds of settings, said Evans. She was capturing the styles. You see them as children, at play, later on as they start to court each other. You see them later on as Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick essentially turned the rooftop of the apartment building where they lived into a studio. She showed the pride in African Americans, that they were really fortunate and happy to be north and have an opportunity to achieve. ... Her work showed the pride that they had in moving forward, Evans said. Its the simple humanity that has mesmerized visual curator Rhea Combs, who revels in the works she has gathered, including the family photographs of the famous Scurlocks, who made a name for themselves photographing African Americans in the nations capital during the 20th century. Said Combs of Fitzpatrick: Its just a remarkable collection by someone who just instinctively captured a part of history. Evans knew he had something special, and he knew his mother was an extraordinary woman, a brilliant woman. He donated the accordion camera that his grandmother had bought for his mother, an only child, who died in 1987 at age 59. At the Treasures event he attended in Washington in 2014, he pulled out three photos, which curators thought were interesting. Did he have more? Then I pulled out an album of 45 pictures with the captions, and they got really excited. Then I told them how many I had. And they wanted to know if they were all captioned and detailed, and I told them yes. He called his siblings. Here was confirmation of what theyd always known that their mother, the nurse and wife, and also a documentarian, had been extraordinary. And now the world would know, too. Paul Gardullo is searching for the right place in the museum for a certain artifact. The museum only recently attained The Friendship Quilt, and preparation can take many months. The quilt, said Gardullo, who has been with the museum since 2007, would fit well in the museums family history section. It holds within its seams the story of family and community, and maybe something of a miracle. The quilt is from Home Baptist Missionary Society, First Baptist Church of Sonora, Calif. And in it is part of the story of African Americans in the West. In 1884, churchwomen gave the quilt to the Rev. Andrew Judson Sturtevant and his wife, Ella, who were moving away. Stitched on it are more than 100 names of congregation members. Among them are the names of several black congregants. It was an integrated church in an integrated community. Some of those names belonged to members of the Sugg family, which had its roots in slavery back East. William and Mary Elizabeth Sugg were each brought to California by their masters. William Sugg came from North Carolina, Mary Elizabeth Snelling from Missouri. They met after each had attained their freedom. They married in 1855. Their modest home eventually grew into a three-story house with seven bedrooms. They had 11 children, and while William ran a livery business, his wife turned part of the home into a boarding house. Many of its original features remain, along with some furnishings, and the house is on the National Register of Historic Places. Vernon Sugg McDonald, a grandson and onetime journalist, lived in the home until the 1980s. Vernon and his family had been close friends with a white family, the Brennans. When Vernon fell ill, Robert Brennan bought the home. Vernon lived there until his death in 1982. The Brennans, who said Vernon was family to them, have spent years restoring the home. Sylvia Alden Roberts, author of Mining for Freedom: Black History Meets the California Gold Rush, has been studying African Americans out West for decades. The Sugg house is the jewel in the crown of history in the West, said Roberts, who knows the Brennans and the Sugg story well. Recently, the story took another dramatic turn when Sherri Camp, of Topeka, Kan., connected with Roberts. After decades of digging, Camp found pension records and a death certificate that led her to Julia Snelling. It turns out that Snelling is five times Camps great-grandmother. Snelling was also Mary Elizabeth Suggs mother. Camp and several family members visited Sonora this summer. Ive been doing genealogy for 28 years, said Camp. It turns out that before Julia Snelling was taken West, two of her children were sold. Camp is the descendant of one of the sold daughters. I have sadness and I have joy all at the same time, Camp said. Her family story, as for so many African Americans, is one of severed bloodlines, lost across time and oceans of hurt. But Camps line, in an amazing way, is being stitched back together. Like the names sewn into a quilt that, more than a century ago, symbolized the promise of a nation and, at long last, has come to rest within the walls of the Smithsonian. Marcia Davis is an articles editor for the magazine. Holley Simmons 31, Washington, freelance writer W hat do you mean you cant find them? I asked Michael. I was trying not to panic in Michaels hidden bookstore in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It smelled like old paper, spilt whiskey and cigarettes. The walls were packed with antique reads, first editions and other rare finds including the Flair magazines from the 1950s I was frantically searching for. I first discovered them in Michaels shop when I lived in New York. Though the paper was brittle and crumbling, they were the most beautiful paper product Id ever seen with a price tag to match. Founded in 1950 by artist and socialite Fleur Cowles, Flair had a run of 12 themed editions before shuttering in 1951. The collection is a gold mine of content, including writings by Salvador Dali, Tennessee Williams and John OHara, among others. After 20 minutes of digging, Michael located the magazines. I found my favorite issue the rose issue and flipped through the familiar pages until I landed on a spread on the dresses of Charles James. Flair had commissioned him to create a rose-inspired dress for the issue. It was, like the magazine in my hand, elaborate and ahead of its time. Today is the day I buy these, I told Michael. Today they live on my coffee table, where everyone can explore them. The rose issue, however, lives in a secret hiding spot that I turn to any time I need a sweet reminder of chance encounters. by Ashley Rodriguez The Washington area is filled with historical tours, but at George Washingtons Mount Vernon, visitors can get a taste of 18th-century life at the mansion as a dog. All the Presidents Pups is a 1.25-mile walking tour offered Saturdays at 10 a.m. in April, May, June, September and October. So theres still some walking time left until the spring. While much of Mount Vernon (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.) is open to dogs, the tours creator, Gail Cassidy, says there was a demand for a Fido-friendly tour. The tour starts at the Bowling Green Gate in front of the mansion and heads across the estates expansive grassy lawn away from the crowds, giving pups a chance to walk, run and play. Weve never had any tour go out in that direction. Its really special, and people are very pleased, Cassidy says. We stop about four times along the route, and [at the halfway point] they have a spectacular view. People get pictures and let their dogs run a little. Washington was a scrupulous record-keeper, so it was easy for Cassidy to personalize a tour thats enjoyable for both humans and their four-legged friends. We have a lot of information that Washington wrote about his dogs, she explains, adding that while there were pampered pets in the mansion, many of the dogs worked for a living. Terriers, for example, were trained to protect food storage areas from rats. Megan Askew of Alexandria, Va., was looking for things to do with her dog, Simon (a dachshund-beagle mix), and loved the tour for its behind-the-scenes look at Mount Vernon. I like to find anything I can do with my dog. It breaks up the monotony, Askew says. At Mount Vernon, [Simon] gets exercise and I get to see the culture. Tickets for the tour are $7 per person in addition to the cost of general admission ($20, $19 seniors, $10 ages 6-11, free for age 5 and younger). Tours can sell out, so visit mountvernon.org to buy tickets in advance. (Save $3 off adult admission when you buy online.) Mount Vernon isnt the only place in Northern Virginia where dogs can have a blast. Just a few miles up the road in Old Town Alexandria, you can drop by the Alexandria Visitors Center (221 King St.) and ask about the dog-friendly Footsteps to the Past walking tour. For a more relaxing excursion, try Potomac Riverboat Co.s (211 N. Union St., Suite 250) hour-long Canine Cruise around Alexandrias seaport, which runs once a month between May and September. Tickets are $16 for adults and seniors, $10 for ages 2-11 and free for pets. (Visit potomacriverboatco.com for the full schedule.) Other dog-friendly spots in Old Town include Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) and multiple dog parks. Founders Park (351 N. Union St.) is along a picturesque portion of the Potomac River, while Montgomery Park (901 N. Royal St.) has a fenced area so your pup can let loose. If youre in town on a Tuesday (April through October), end the day at Jackson 20 (480 King St.), which offers a Doggy Happy Hour on its back patio. Reader 1: My entry-level job is okay, but dealing with management is a challenge. A manager will invariably come by during the day and say, Nice job today! or, Its so great having such a dedicated team member! At first, I enjoyed being noticed for my contributions, but I am getting a little weary. Its almost like they all took a class in employee positive reinforcement, and the compliments seem forced and hollow. I want to holler, If Im so great, show me the money! Do I just have to grit my teeth and deal, or is there some other way to handle it? Karla: Maybe your managers saw the recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management that found respectful treatment of all employees at all levels is the most important factor in employee satisfaction, or the tech industry survey by Appirio concluding that employees most appreciate a thank-you for a job well done. Positive reinforcement is great when responding to actual performance. But a barrage of unearned attaboys and -girls suggests management may be clueless or trying to distract you from, say, stagnant compensation or a lack of direction. True appreciation means investing in an employees development with correction as well as praise. You might have to solicit that investment: What are some areas you think I could focus on improving? or, How would you recommend I refine my widget evaluation skills? And not to pile on to the plethora of platitudes, but things could be worse. See below. Reader 2: I was hired as an administrative assistant for a small business, but I am actually my bosss personal secretary, handling medical forms for her in-laws or dealing with her car insurance. I told her I did not feel comfortable dealing with these and other private matters. Her response was, I should be the one who shouldnt feel comfortable. I have no reason to trust you, but I am giving you this assignment, anyway. If you dont want to do it, then I guess you should find somewhere else to work. She also calls me incompetent. I come home every day on the verge of tears. Theres no HR department. My co-workers tell me to keep going, but how can I, when everything I do is incorrect? I am looking for a new job. Karla: Id like to know your co-workers rationale for sticking it out in this meat grinder. Clearly, your company loves misery. In any case, your boss is right: She shouldnt get comfortable. And you are wrong when you say everything you do is incorrect. Seeking another job is exactly the right thing to do. Ask Karla Miller about your work dramas and traumas by emailing wpmagazine@washpost.com. Read more @Work Advicecolumns. For stories, features such as Date Lab, Gene Weingarten and more, visit The Washington Post Magazine. Follow the Magazine on Twitter. Like us on Facebook. Email us at wpmagazine@washpost.com. Dear Amy: I have a younger sister, Tammy, who was very cruel to me when we were growing up. Because of her abuse, I left home at 17, and since that time have grown out of the self-hate that she drilled into me. Ive built a very strong network of friends, whom I now think of as my family. I have started getting closer to my father, and I enjoy having a relationship with him. He is a kind and intelligent man who worked hard to support his family his whole life. He is retired now, and I am grateful for this opportunity to get to know him as a person. The problem is he thinks I am cruel for refusing to have a relationship with my sister. He says that she is my family, and family needs to stick together, because thats all we have in the end. Amy, I agree wholeheartedly with his definition of family, because the family I have built for myself is so incredibly supportive and inspiring to me, but I do not think of my sister as falling into this category. I do not know this woman, nor do I wish to. From what I can surmise, she seems just as nasty as ever. My father says I am living in the past and says I am being juvenile. He yells at me and puts me down when I refuse to associate with her. I tell him I have moved on and come to respect myself enough to choose the people I want in my life. I want him in my life, but this seems to be a sticking point. What do you think? Happily Estranged Happily Estranged: Being related to someone often requires a level of tolerance you wouldnt extend toward a stranger, but I disagree with the assertion that family is all we have in the end. Sharing DNA with someone does not guarantee any particular kinship. For some people, family becomes something to escape, not embrace. You dont mention if your sister has ever extended a hand toward you regarding having a relationship. If she does, you should consider attempting some sort of reconciliation. Your fathers treatment toward you yelling at you and putting you down speaks not only to his anxiety about this, but a sort of bullying behavior that seems to run in the family. If you have no intention of reconciling with your sister, you should tell him, I know this is hard for you, but you dont have the right to bully me any more than she does. Dear Amy: I would like to have someone in my life to confide in. I am married to someone who isnt that person. Every conversation with him turns into an argument. There is no talking to him. My sister was there for me for most of my life. Now her life is taken up by her own family. I keep everything to myself, and I know it affects my health. I dont have a best friend, only the wives of my husbands friends, and we are not close like that. I see a counselor, but you cant talk to them about personal things. What do you suggest? Lonely Lonely: Your counselors job is to hear those personal things you hold close. Recharge your therapy by confiding in your counselor. One way to start is to initiate a discussion about your lack of intimate friendships. You are correct that holding everything in is not good for your health. You should write down your thoughts every day. Also look for online sources where you can discuss your concerns with other people who might be able to listen and help. My own Facebook page seems populated by a very supportive community of helpful strangers. Writer Cheryl Strayed also hosts a lively Facebook community. You are welcome to join these or other online discussions, where you can communicate with others and feel less alone. Dear Amy: I was a bit offended by your response to Grieving, the parents who were so worried about their daughters sudden isolation. You could be right, and she might be caught up in the drug crisis, but there is another possibility: domestic violence. My former partner isolated me from everyone, had me quit my job and moved us around frequently, just as Grieving describes. It wasnt until the birth of our daughter that I realized what I had wasnt love at all. Survived Survived: Thank goodness you got out. Thank you for writing. At a workshop, Brussels chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud takes a look at Nupur Trons freshly poured chocolates. ( Selina Kok) As an engine whirred, a cocoa stream poured from a spout into a vat, like an industrial version of a chocolate fountain. Laurent Gerbaud, 45, a tall, jovial man with a mop of curly hair and thick tortoise eyeglass frames, resembled a hip mad-professor type as he described how the molding machine before us regulated the temperature of his liquid candies-in-waiting. We four students, wearing disposable smocks, listened from our stations around a wooden table set with plates holding artful arrangements of dark bonbons in various shapes and sizes. A thick, rich aroma, too intense to be entirely pleasant, filled the room. With a door ajar to a busy sidewalk, we could hear lively French conversations outside. Chocolate envy had brought me to Brussels on this Saturday morning in July. When I learned that my chocolatier friends from Maine were embarking on a professional research tour in Belgium, two hours from my home in the Netherlands, I signed up for my own little educational outing a workshop in the nucleus of the countrys famed chocolate industry. In more than a dozen shops around the city, visitors can sample the sweets with freebies galore. While chocolate tours and demos are a dime a bakers dozen, I discovered only a few places that regularly offer tastings and workshops. (Additional offerings can be found in other Belgian cities, especially Bruges, Gent and Antwerp.) I chose Gerbaud because of his artisanal approach. Hes among the new wave of Belgian chocolatiers who have arrived on the scene in the past 15 years, decades after the advent of still-popular legacy brands such as Godiva and Mary. Gerbaud made his mark by introducing salty and fruity toppings, with more cocoa and less sugar. He continues to set the bar high, selling his handiwork from a bright, contemporary shop and cafe in the center of Brussels. Well make some chocolate, but also do some tastings to experience both low- and high-quality chocolate, he told us. My goal is that, after this hour and a half, you wont eat cheap chocolate anymore. No argument there, I thought, as we jumped right into the making. First, you should be relaxed in your shoulders and hips, and dont forget to breathe, he said, slacking his shoulders and wiggling his torso as he took a mold resembling an ice-cube tray in his left hand and filled it under the chocolate faucet. With his right hand holding a straight spatula, he scraped off the excess. The molds allowed us to make 16 thin, rectangular pieces, each measuring about 1.5-by-1.75 inches. A workshop participant puts toppings on the mendiants she made at Gerbauds shop. (Selina Kok) Gerbaud did the hard parts: the tempering, which gives the chocolate a glossy, firm finish, and the selection of ingredients in this case, his signature blend of beans from Madagascar, Ecuador and Peru, processed by Italian producer Domori. Gerbaud uses couverture, a chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa and rich in cocoa butter. This being a primer, we merely filled our molds and plopped nuts and dried fruit bits atop the still-liquid chocolate to create mendiants, the flat, traditional French candies. My classmates were a youngish Belgian couple and a friend of Gerbauds who hopes to market his sweets in her native India. We all got a bit messy filling our molds, the reward being that we could lick off the mistakes. You only have three minutes before the chocolate hardens, so dont try to write your name, Gerbaud advised as we chose from toppings including pistachios, cashews, raisins, dried cranberries and quinces, crystallized ginger and cocoa nibs. I went for the American excess look. But in the end, all of our candies had similar looks. While they hardened in the fridge, we moved on to the tasting, sampling the dozen or so chocolates on each of our plates, which included solids and some filled with nuts, fruit or ganache. I longed for a checklist, because after piece four, my memory blurred in a rush of caffeine (and sugar, with significantly more appearing in the cheaper samples). During the tasting, we peppered Gerbaud with questions, learning that his love of sweets came from a family of bakers on his mothers side. In college, he studied law and medieval history while dabbling in chocolate. A fascination with China took him there for several years. I was in love with the people and culture of China, but I was disappointed that they dont eat sweets much at all, said Gerbaud, whose logo spells chocolate in Chinese characters. They give chocolate as gifts, but keep passing the same box around, he added with a laugh. I learned a lot about mixing flavors in China. Like, theyd dip fries in a milkshake at McDonalds. In Shanghai, I started making chocolate desserts at home and selling them to expats. It was completely rock-and-roll. Inside Gerbauds storefront is a cafe selling pastries, coffee and tea and, of course, chocolates. (Selina Kok) Gerbaud returned to Brussels in 2001, initially selling at a local market. Since opening his shop in 2009, he has seen a move toward higher-quality chocolate with more cocoa butter and less sugar. When I moved back, 55 percent was the highest cocoa you could find in Belgium. It evolved to 62, then 72 to 75, he said. Most recently, he developed recipes for La Chocolatiere, an innovative Belgian home-use tempering machine that is expected to be available in the United States later this year for about $120. We started and ended the tasting with a piece of low-end bulk chocolate. It tasted noticeably worse the second time around, now that our palate had sharpened, Gerbaud explained. He then asked us to describe what we tasted. We budding experts detected charcoal, plastic and cardboard, with a greasy finish, which Gerbaud said was mostly due to problems from transporting, storing and packaging the spongelike beans. In Gerbauds dreams, that would be our final taste ever of cheap chocolate. To get us started, we left with a bag of our own mendiants and a lovely chocolate buzz. Daniel is a writer based in the Netherlands. Her website is bydianedaniel.com. The recent passage of the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 in the Senate raises a new question about the reliability of online reviews for travelers. User-generated reviews on websites such as TripAdvisor.com and Yelp.com contain information from people who claim to have stayed at a hotel, dined at a restaurant or visited an attraction. About 9 in 10 travelers consult these reviews, but only half of them trust what they read, according to surveys. You dont have to look far for the reasons. Some businesses try to rig their online profiles by submitting flattering reviews of themselves, paying guests to write puff pieces about their stays or trying to muzzle those who are unhappy with the service they received. And some companies are known to place negative reviews about their competitors. [The too-good-to-be-true prices in glossy travel brochures are often just that] You might think youre always reading accurate reviews, says brand strategist Rachel Weingarten. But at times, youre pretty much going in blind. The proposed law, which would prohibit companies from imposing penalties or fees against reviewers, would effectively offer these reviewers more freedom to express themselves online, particularly when they have had negative experiences. The Senate bill needs to be reconciled in committee with the already passed House bill and signed by the president to become law. The question is: Will the new law make the process any better? The Consumer Review Fairness Act will essentially make it illegal for companies to prohibit their consumers from leaving honest, negative reviews or criticisms about their goods or services online, says Joe Sullivan, an attorney with the Atlanta law firm Taylor English. Sullivan consults with companies to determine how to respond to user-generated reviews. It ensures that consumers have the freedom to tell the truth, says Eric Goldman, a professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, who testified in support of the law before the Senate Commerce Committee. Online review sites also have supported the legislation. Laurent Crenshaw, Yelps director of public policy, says something needed to be done about the increasing number of gag clauses being slipped into contracts. [If your flight is canceled, is your airline obligated to get you to your destination?] The most common example is a vacation home rental owner who stipulates in the fine print of a contract that he may keep a deposit if a guest leaves an unflattering review. These clauses can have a chilling effect on consumers and businesses alike, Crenshaw says. People nationwide expect to have their legitimate speech protected. Trying to silence a reviewer with tactics such as the gag clause is an unscrupulous way of preventing critical reviews from being published, says Adam Medros, a senior vice president of global product at TripAdvisor. The result is an incomplete and thus less reliable collection of information for reviewers, and an uneven playing field for that businesss competitors. Curtailing the freedom of expression of Americans is simply wrong. But what constitutes freedom of expression? It is a fairly common misconception that the First Amendment grants the public an unfettered right to voice an opinion, says Kathleen Kirby, a partner at the Washington law firm Wiley Rein, who has expertise in First Amendment issues. In fact, she says, the First Amendment prohibits the government from dictating what citizens may say but it does not prohibit private companies from trying to do so. In other words, a business can still sue you over a negative review, even one thats true. The most common tactic would be whats called a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or SLAPP essentially, a nuisance lawsuit designed to shut down a critic. These lawsuits are often used by businesses to threaten and intimidate consumers to remove reviews and other content online, explains Michael Lai, a co-founder of SiteJabber.com, an online review site. Consumers, not wanting to be sued and often not having the resources to fight a costly lawsuit, will often back down and remove their online reviews even if they know they are on the right side of the law for fear of legal retribution. [Frequent-flier programs could face tighter regulation if customers speak up] The current bill would not halt that practice. Questions remain about other aspects of consumer review sites. I have interviewed dozens of travelers who write online reviews, and virtually all of them reported a positive experience. Their write-ups were published promptly and are still online months and even years later. But not all of them. Danielle Rollins, a bookkeeper from Dallas, recently complained that her one-star hotel review on a popular travel site had been held in purgatory while another five-star review published instantly. The one-star review posted eventually, she says. Although its unusual, others have reported that their reviews negative or positive never went live. Rollinss experience, and those of others like her, continue to raise suspicions about the reliability of online review sites. And it leaves you wondering if travelers need to be protected from more than just vindictive hotels, restaurants and vacation rental owners. Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. Email him at chris@elliott.org. epa04430384 Howard University Hospital in Washington DC. Physicians from the medical school will help provide services at the city-owned United Medical Center. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS (Michael Reynolds/EPA) Howard Universitys medical school will share physicians with the long-troubled United Medical Center in southeast Washington under a partnership announced Thursday by D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser. (D) The university will provide general and specialized doctors and help United Medical Center offer additional services to treat neurological problems, infectious diseases and ear, nose and throat problems. The District has long sought an operating partner for the only remaining full-service hospital east of the Anacostia River, which has suffered from financial instability and has been kept afloat with taxpayer dollars. An operating agreement proposed in 2014 called for Howard to provide physicians and partner Paladin Healthcare, a California-based management company, to assume financial responsibility. But the D.C. Council has yet to approve a final deal, and the mayors office did not offer further details on the future of the hospitals management. This is exciting progress in my administrations commitment to enhancing the provision of health care services in all 8 wards, Bowser said in a news release. "A is for abaya, which isn't allowed in France, B is for bra, which has the censors in a trance, C is for corset, because we must maintain shape." Last year, author Samit Basu wrote the ingenuous new Indian alphabet in keeping with what the times teach us. In it, B was for bans and C was for cows. D was for development and E was for energy. It captured the new language-the news and netas-collaborated to create. This year, scenes with bras are being slashed from films, women in burqinis are being harassed and tourists have been told not to wear short skirts. Women ought to relearn the alphabet in keeping with the entitled society that now dictates what they can do with their bodies and how they must keep them covered. advertisement And so, inspired by Basu and the goings on related to sartorial stigmas, here is the new alphabet for women; the ABC of women's fashion. A is for abaya, which isn't allowed in France B is for bra, which has the censors in a trance C is for corset, because we must maintain shape D is for denim, which they say causes rape E is for eye shadow, less is more, tut tut Also read: She went from being a burqa rapper to a social activist F is for fish net, in which you're most likely a slut G is for ghoonghat, because your modesty is a prize H is for hem, it makes your clothes the right size I is for ikat, which the feminists wear J is for jhola, an antinational! Beware! K is for kaftan, scoff, so unshapely they say L is for lehenga, nice and heavy for your wedding day Also Read: Dear Censor Board, how different are these from a bra M is for mangal sutra, "you've been claimed!" it declares N is for nightie, which the middle class wears O is for the OMG cleavage headlines, oh yikes! P is for plaid, meant only for dykes Q is for quilted bags, meant for rich party girls R is for ringlets, not those wild unkempt curls S is for skirts, dear tourists, don't indulge T is for tummy tuckers, to hide away that bulge U is for underwear, but no thongs or granny panties V is for Victoria's Secret, which only your husband can know, say aunties W is for white saris, one for the widow who mourns X is for XL, here come the fat shamers, can you see their horns? Y is for yoga pants, look at her showing off those curves Z is for zipper, a contraption your policing deserves --- ENDS --- advertisement D.C. Council member David Grosso introduced the bill that would fine companies asking for salary histories. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post) The D.C. Council is considering legislation to bar businesses from asking prospective employees about their salary history before making job offers, a practice advocates say exacerbates a cycle of unequal wages for women. Its the latest of several labor-friendly initiatives debated by the legislative body this year including a successful minimum wage increase, a failed bid to offer retail workers more predictable hours and pending legislation to mandate paid family leave. The proposal to limit the role of past pay during salary negotiations is one of the policy ideas cropping up across the country as part of a blitz of equal-pay legislation. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large) introduced a bill earlier this week that would fine companies that ask for salary histories. It would also prohibit them from making jobs available only to prospective employees who earned a certain salary. Workers, however, would be able to voluntarily reveal previous pay during negotiations. A history of the long fight for gender wage equality. (Daron Taylor/The Washington Post) Grosso is following the lead of Massachusetts, which earlier this year became the first state to prohibit employers from asking about past salaries. On the federal level, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) filed similar legislation last week in Congress. At a time when women working full time are paid 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts, advocates say that allowing employers to consider salary history perpetuates that gap. As the employee trying to get the job, you have a hard time trying to argue for a higher salary, because [employers] are going to be able to point back and say, You only make so much, Grosso said. That perpetuates the wage gap. [On equal pay, D.C. comes out on top] Still, the District has among the nations smallest disparities between mens and womens full-time earnings, according to various analyses, in part because of the dominance of federal workers, whose salaries are public and set by uniform scales. Another pending equal-pay measure, introduced by D.C. Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) would create a looser standard by requiring equal pay for substantially similar work while giving employees additional time to take legal action in the event of violations. All but two of the council members Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5) have signed onto Grossos bill as co-sponsors. Council member Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) plans to hold a hearing on it this fall. [This small Virginia city government may have solved the pay gap ] But even with broad support, its tough to shepherd through significant legislation with only three months left in the councils session. Mendelson has made mandating paid leave for workers to care for new babies and sick relatives the top priority this fall. One business advocate praised the intent behind Grossos bill but worried that a sweeping mandate for all businesses wouldnt be effective and would carry unintended consequences. If thats the appropriate approach to take to close the wage gap, it needs to be considered, said Jim Dinegar, president and chief executive of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. I just get so concerned the District keeps getting involved in all of these weeds of dealing with employers, and the message that gets sent is the District is a difficult place to do business. [Opinion: New equal pay policy idea may backfire] Because highly paid workers can still use their past wages as leverage in salary negotiations under Grossos bill, some critics say employers may end up lowballing prospective hires who declined to reveal their pay on the assumption that they made less than others. Its not as though this means incoming employees will always have salaries unaffected by gender stereotypes and the gender wage gap, said Emily Martin, general counsel and vice president for workplace justice for the National Womens Law Center, which supports equal-pay legislation. But it means employers have to have a standardized way of offering salaries that doesnt rely on past salaries, and that matters. [Equal pay activists find success with Republican governor in Maryland] In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed legislation in May to prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who discuss their wages and from providing less-favorable advancement opportunities to women. The chief executive of the Prince Georges County school system has asked his top aide to step down, part of the fallout of an ongoing furor over child abuse in the Head Start program. Kevin M. Maxwell requested the resignation of George H. Margolies his chief of staff and longtime ally on Wednesday. At a school board meeting Thursday, Maxwell said the departure was prompted by an email Margolies wrote, which some interpreted as the administration trying to keep the county school board from publicly discussing concerns about Head Start. Maxwell also announced Thursday that he is seeking a state audit of the countys Head Start program after alleged child abuse led federal officials to revoke the countys $6.4 million grant for the program. Maxwell hired Margolies after taking over the Prince Georges school system in 2013; the two had worked together when Maxwell was schools superintendent in Anne Arundel County. Both previously worked for Montgomery Countys school system, which is where they met. I thank him for nearly 40 years of service in public education, Maxwell said in a brief statement. The resignation came shortly after the public discovery of an email Margolies wrote in April that appears to suggest keeping the Head Start program out of the public eye by burying it at the bottom of school board meeting agendas and limiting how board members received updates. Margolies, who said he had no role in overseeing Head Start, said administration critics have misconstrued the meaning of his email. He said he was not trying to suppress board discussion of problems in Head Start. Nothing could be further from the truth, Margolies said in an interview with The Washington Post. I am being scapegoated. I am being made a sacrificial lamb. . . . I dont think this was a necessary response, but he can do as he wishes, he said of Maxwells decision to ask for his departure. He happens to be making a mistake. Maxwell said at the school board meeting that Margoliess email had an inappropriate tone and did not reflect the type of partnership he wants with the board. But he said it was not evidence of any effort to keep information from the board. Allow me to be clear. This email does not constitute evidence of a conspiracy or coverup, he said. It was solely about the format of how information is shared with the board, and not if information is shared with the board related to the Head Start policy council. Maxwell said the newly announced state audit of Head Start would come amid a separate, independent review that will assess the school systems internal communications and employee and labor relations protocols. It is clear that our gaps in these two areas are hindering our efforts towards full accountability, transparency and responsiveness to incidents of suspected child abuse, neglect and inappropriate conduct, Maxwell said at the board meeting. Maxwells actions did not satisfy several on the 14-member board, who called for his resignation as they left the meeting. He has said he has no plans to resign. Margoliess departure and the new audits come as the school system reels from recent revelations of child abuse and inappropriate conduct. [Parents question delay in probe of alleged molestation of child on school bus] In February, a school volunteer was accused of directing children to perform sex acts that he video-recorded at a Glenarden elementary school. The volunteer, Deonte Carraway, was indicted on 270 counts of child pornography and related charges, and the case set off an examination of district safeguards and policies. Just before the new school year started, the school system lost its Head Start grant after federal authorities found instances of corporal punishment and the humiliation of children in the early- education program. The government also found the countys response to the problems to be insufficient. Five members of the school board alleged in August that the school system concealed problems in Head Start, and they called for the resignation of the boards leaders. [Md. county school board members call for leaders ouster after Head Start debacle] Their complaints appeared to be reflected in an email in April that shows Margolies advised against making Head Start a board discussion item when the program was under federal review after an incident in which a teacher forced a 3-year-old who wet his pants to mop up his urine in front of the class. WUSA9 first revealed the email. The Margolies email said that board Vice Chairman Carolyn M. Boston was pushing to get Head Start on the agenda for discussion. The email referred to a compromise approach for which I have scars on my back involving the posting of Head Start policy council minutes on a board website. [How a Maryland school system lost its Head Start grant] This will not be a discussion item, the email said, noting that the boards chairman, Segun C. Eubanks, would simply make reference near the meetings end to minutes being posted for the Board members reading pleasure. It also said Boston was convinced that she can say that we have satisfied any requirement that the doings and minutes of the council have been shared with the Board as part of its oversight. Margolies said Thursday the email has been taken out of context; he said that it came when there had been one troubling incident in Head Start and that he did not know the grant was in jeopardy. He said he thought that if Head Start became a monthly discussion item, the same would have to be done for programs such as special education and English-language learning. In hindsight, given the problems that later came to light, I might have advised differently, he said. The boards top leaders said the email did not reflect an effort to impede scrutiny of Head Start. Eubanks said that the tone and overall message were unfortunate but that it had no direct connection to the incident or the investigation. Boston voiced similar views and said the conversation about posting Head Start minutes had gone on for a year. Others said the email showed that Head Start matters were kept from the board and the public. Its a step in the right direction that George steps down, as he should, but George did not do this alone, said Edward Burroughs III, a member of the school board. Another member, Verjeana M. Jacobs, said the tone and disdain in the email is typical of a broader attitude toward the board. She said the email shows the administration and board leadership were complicit in covering up the abuse of children. Margolies had a long career in education before Prince Georges. He served as legal counsel to former D.C. schools superintendents Vincent E. Reed and Floretta McKenzie from 1978 to 1989. He then worked in private practice as a consultant before becoming an assistant superintendent for compliance in Baltimore. Before going to Anne Arundel, Margolies worked for 11 years as the staff director of the Board of Education in Montgomery County. Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report. THE DISTRICT Sword is stolen from statue in NW park Caretakers of Meridian Hill Park in Northwest have noticed something missing from the Joan of Arc statue. The sword. Officials with the National Park Service said they noticed Wednesday that the statue of Frances national heroine had been vandalized. They arent sure exactly when the bronze sword was stolen but think that it probably happened Tuesday. It isnt the first time the sword has been stolen. It was stolen in the 1970s and at times was replaced with flowers. The sword was replaced in December 2011. NBC 4 was among the first to report the theft. Dana Hedgpeth Howard U. doctors to help medical facility Howard Universitys medical school will share physicians with the long-troubled United Medical Center in Southeast Washington under a partnership announced Thursday by D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser. (D) The university will provide general and specialized doctors and help United Medical Center offer additional services to treat neurological problems, infectious diseases, and ear, nose and throat problems. The District has long sought an operating partner for the only remaining full-service hospital east of the Anacostia River. Fenit Nirappil MARYLAND Woman fatally struck by car is identied Prince Georges County Police have identified the pedestrian who was fatally struck by a car in Capitol Heights on Wednesday afternoon as Jadene Brooking, 25. Brooking was crossing Central Avenue in the crosswalk when a car traveling east struck her at about 2:30 p.m. in the 6400 block of Central Avenue, police said. Authorities pronounced Brooking dead at the scene. The driver who struck her stayed at the scene and was not hurt, police said. Lynh Bui VIRGINIA Lawmaker accused of assaulting relatives A state legislator was charged this week with assaulting a boy and a woman, both of them relatives. Del. Richard L. Morris (R-Suffolk), 47, was arrested Tuesday and charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery of a family member and one felony count of cruelty and injuries to children, Suffolk police said. On Thursday, he was charged with several misdemeanor and felony charges related to assaults on relatives. The boy suffered injuries consistent with excessive physical discipline this month, and the woman was assaulted in December, police said. Police, who do not identify victims of alleged domestic violence, said the incidents took place in the family home. Morris did not respond to messages seeking comment. He was released from Western Tidewater Regional Jail on Wednesday on $1,500 bond, transported to jail again Thursday and then released after posting $1,500 bond. Morris is married with nine children, according to his online biography. A former Navy lawyer, he was deployed to Iraq to prosecute suspected terrorists. He has been a member of the General Assembly since 2012. He is treasurer and finance director of a Hampton Roads volunteer group that represents abused and neglected children in court. Laura Vozzella Cabdriver wounded in Alexandria assault A 16-year-old shot a cabdriver outside a gas station in Alexandria early Thursday, police said. The cabdriver, whom police identified only as a 47-year-old man, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was in a hospital in critical condition. Police said the shooting was likely a robbery attempt. The attacker and the cabdriver apparently had no connection to each other. The driver was outside the cab when police found him as they responded to reports of gunshots. The attack occurred outside a Shell station at Duke Street and Holmes Run just before 2 a.m. Police said the juvenile suspect was caught 14 hours later. The juvenile is a felon from Lorton, Va., according to police, who have charged him with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. Gov. Larry Hogan met in Israel Thursday with leaders of a defense company that bases its U.S. operations in Maryland, then traveled to the Negev desert to speak with Israeli cybersecurity companies, his latest stops on a week-long trip aimed at promoting economic development. Hogan (R) left for the seven-day trade mission on Monday. A group of business executives, university officials, Jewish leaders and members of the governors Cabinet, including Chief of Staff Craig Williams, joined him on the trip, which has included several meetings with Israeli business executives who have subsidiary operations in Maryland, an address to a group of high-tech entrepreneurs, and the signing of an academic agreement between the University of Maryland and Tel Aviv University. [Gov. Hogan to lead trade mission to Israel in September, focus on start-ups] Expanding our global footprint is an integral part of our states future success, Hogan said. Maryland has a great deal to offer, and Israel is the perfect partner. According to the state, about 24 Israeli companies maintain offices in Maryland. Hogan met with executives from Enzymotec and its subsidiary VAYA Pharma, which recently moved its U.S. headquarters to the University of Maryland BioPark. VAYA develops lipid-based medical foods. The governor also participated in the signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding between the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the Tel Aviv University. University officials said the five-year agreement will allow faculty, staff and students to participate in exchanges and collaborate on academic projects. The universities have many similarities and mutual research interests, and we share the same values, Raanan Rein, vice president of Tel Aviv University, said in a statement. The memorandum should serve as a springboard for joint academic initiatives, he added. The governor is scheduled to return to Maryland on Oct. 2. On Monday, he leaves Israel for Italy, where he will attend his half brothers wedding. Rich Leotta has state Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery) sign a shirt commemorating the signing of Noahs Law in May. Leottas son, a Montgomery County police officer, was killed by a drunk driver while on DUI patrol. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) Mothers Against Drunk Driving has selected three Maryland lawmakers who successfully fought to toughen the states drunken-driving laws during the 2016 legislative session, including the passage of a bill that expands the use of ignition interlocks, as the 2016 Legislators of the Year in Maryland. Del. Benjamin F. Kramer and Sen. Jamie B. Raskin, both Democrats from Montgomery County, were chosen for their work in the passage of Noahs Law, a measure that requires all convicted drunk drivers to install an ignition interlock on their vehicles. The law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, was named after Noah Leotta, a Montgomery County police officer who was killed by a drunk driver while on DUI patrol. [Md. lawmaker: Slain officer Noah Leotta is still on the job] Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo (D-Montgomery) was recognized for pushing a bill to address underage drinking. The measure originally sought to impose jail time and increase fines for adults who provide alcohol to people younger than 21. The bill was watered down in the final days of the session and instead imposes jail time on a person who provides alcohol to a minor if the adult knew or should have known that the underage drinker would drive and if that driver causes serious injury or death to the individual or another. The measure was named after Alex Murk and Calvin Li, two college-bound teenagers who were killed in a car accident after attending a party where there was underage drinking. [A fatal crash and the thoughts a father lives with] Lisa Spicknall, the state program director of MADD Maryland, described the three lawmakers as legislative champions who pushed for two powerful laws that will save lives. With drunk-driving deaths on the rise again this year, we needed these laws to start reversing the devastating effects of repeat drunk driving and underage drinking that claim thousands of innocent lives every year, she said. A man approaches a voting booth at a polling station in Centreville, Va., during primary voting on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016. (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images) The shadow of North Carolinas strict voting rules hung over a federal court hearing Thursday about a Virginia law where lawyers were repeatedly asked whether the states requirements are just as bad. The case involving Virginias voter-identification law comes two months after judges on the same appeals court threw out North Carolinas far-reaching voting restrictions, finding North Carolina legislators had intentionally made it more difficult for minorities to cast ballots. At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on Thursday, lawyers in the Virginia case quickly found themselves in the middle of a comparison to North Carolina. Is what Virginia did just as egregious? Judge Dennis W. Shedd asked the attorney for the state Democratic Party that brought the challenge to Virginias photo-identification requirement. Is the evidence of intentional discrimination as strong? Attorney Bruce V. Spiva said the law is just as bad because of its disparate impact on minority voters who he said are less likely than white voters to have the required identification. This year more states than ever will require potential voters to show photo ID in order to vote in the election. Here's why this is so controversial. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Lawyers defending Virginias law said the states system is far more flexible than voting measures in other states and was not designed to discriminate. Virginia is not Texas or North Carolina or, for that matter, Indiana. Virginia adopted one of the nations most lenient photo-ID laws, Mark F. Thor Hearne II, the attorney for the State Board of Elections, said in his court filing. The challenge to the voting rules in a key presidential election state is one of a series of similar cases throughout the country. Judges have repeatedly sided with opponents of new requirements in recent months, overturning or weakening restrictive voting laws. [Appeals court strikes down North Carolinas voter-ID law] In 2012, Virginia lawmakers passed new election rules that required voters to present identification with or without a photo. The state mailed voter-registration cards, which could be used to cast ballots, to all registered voters. Ten months later, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a more restrictive measure requiring photo identification for in-person voting. A federal judge in May upheld Virginias law, finding the state had provided all of its citizens with an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process and that the voting rules are constitutional and do not violate the federal Voting Rights Act. [Virginia Democrats lose lawsuit over voter ID] Virginias law allows for alternatives to drivers licenses and passports, including presenting private- and government-employer IDs and student IDs. A voter without the required photo identification can cast a provisional ballot and obtain a free voter identification card from a local election office. In court Thursday, Judge Paul V. Niemeyer asked, Why is it discriminatory to say, Everybody who votes has to have a photo ID, period? Everyone can vote in this case. All you need to do is give some information, he said, making note of the minimal requirement to obtain the free ID. Spiva responded that the notion of all-you-have-to-do is actually quite burdensome, particularly for minorities and young people who may lack the time or available transportation to visit a registrars office. Requiring photo ID is just a hurdle in the way, Spiva said. The panel hearing the case on Thursday also included Judge G. Steven Agee. All three judges were nominated by Republican presidents. A different 4th Circuit panel found in the North Carolina case that the states legislature had intentionally enacted voting restrictions to stop the growing political power of African American voters, who turned out in record numbers for President Obama. [Inside the Republican creation of the N.C. voting bill dubbed the monster law] The North Carolina provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision, wrote Judge Diana Gribbon Motz. Unlike North Carolinas voting rules, Virginias law was passed before the Supreme Courts decision in Shelby County v. Holder. That 2013 decision freed certain states that had a history of discrimination from seeking federal approval before changing their voting rules. There is no evidence, according to lawyers for the Virginia state elections board, that any lawmakers knew or believed that the photo-ID measure would have a racially disparate impact or that there was a racial disparity in the possession of qualifying IDs. After the hearing Thursday, Del. Robert B. Bell (R-Albemarle) told reporters that the lower-court judge didnt find a whiff of racial intent by the legislature. We were trying to prevent voter fraud and we tried to make it as easy as possible for people to get ID, he said. A 16-year-old shot a cabdriver outside a gas station in Alexandria early Thursday, police said. The cabdriver, whom police identified only as a 47-year-old man, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was in the hospital in critical condition. Police said the shooting was likely a robbery attempt. The attacker and the cabdriver apparently had no connection to each other. The driver was outside the cab when police found him as they responded to reports of gunshots. The attack occurred outside a Shell station at Duke Street and Holmes Run just before 2 a.m. Police said the juvenile suspect was caught 14 hours later. The juvenile is a felon from Lorton, Va., according to police, who have charged him with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. Metro riders swarm the platform at Farragut North after a Red Line train became stuck in a tunnel for nearly 45 minutes on Sept. 13. (Photo by Tom Lynch) The nations second-busiest subway system is opting for a low-tech solution to tackle ongoing communications issues on trains: Metro will place handheld bullhorns in the cabs of all of its trains after a series of lapses that culminated in a dangerous self-evacuation on the Red Line last week. Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld announced a series of changes Thursday aimed at preventing the gaps in communication that contributed to the Sept. 13 incident, which left hundreds of passengers stranded in a tunnel with no information about what was happening. During the incident, a packed train was stalled near the Farragut North station for about 40 minutes with almost no announcements from the trains operator and a broken radio that prevented the dispatcher from communicating with the operator. After a prolonged wait with no information, two frustrated passengers self-evacuated from the train. [Trapped on a train: Behind the scenes of Metros Red Line debacle] A loose wire caused the car-mounted radio inside a new 7000-series train to stop working, Metros chief safety officer said at Thursdays meeting of the agencys board of directors. Paired with that problem, the operators handheld radio may have failed because of antenna issues in the pocket track where the train had stopped. Metro has taken possession of the operators handheld radio to investigate why it was not used at the time. Clearly, there was a breakdown in communication, Wiedefeld acknowledged. Wiedefeld said his plan to install bullhorns in trains cabs will allow operators stuck in a tunnel to walk through crowded trains and make announcements to passengers if the public-announcement system is not working or if the speaker system causes messages to be garbled. For some of the longer-serving members of the board, the incident was reminiscent of the circumstances that led to the January 2015 LEnfant Plaza smoke incident, in which one woman died and scores of riders where sickened. This is an issue that comes up over and over again, and we dont seem to know how to address it, said board member Kathryn Porter, who represents Maryland. We cant just say, Oops somebody self-evacuated, when a whole train of people is sitting there for almost 20 minutes without being given sufficient information. The similarities were made more troubling by another presentation Thursday suggesting that Metros issues with smoke, fire and explosions were caused by the agencys inability to keep tracks and tunnels clean and free of debris. A peer review by the American Public Transportation Association said the agency is playing a constant game of catch up when it comes to the system that powers its trains. The review, which was requested by Metro and conducted in July, found deep flaws in the agencys management of its third-rail power infrastructure. Among its many findings was that traction power substations were the site of debris, a fire hazard. When we saw videos of the explosions and the testimony of glowing bolts, it was clear these things are caused by stray currents ... when you have dirty insulators ... when the rails themselves are in contact with ballast thats not clean, said Vernon G. Hartsock, chief engineer with the Maryland Transit Administration, who helped conduct the study. Theres nothing mysterious about them, he added. The original issue that caused last weeks Red Line incident was a blown fuse on a switch. Because of that, the signal in the tunnel remained red, and the train was not allowed to proceed. At the time, Metros Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC) attempted to redirect the train but could not reach its operator. Wiedefeld said that the investigation into the incident continues and that officials are conducting a sweep of the systems pocket tracks for signal problems. Pocket tracks are short segments of rail tucked between the two primary tracks and designed to help trains cross from one track to another. Officials will determine whether there are communication dead zones in those pocket tracks and whether workers need to install additional antennas. Wiedefeld also has directed staff to determine whether there is a technology solution that could allow dispatchers inside the ROCC to communicate directly with passengers over the speakers. Metro board member Robert Lauby, chief safety officer with the Federal Railroad Administration, said he was worried by the fact that a train was sent out into the system with a nonworking radio. Im concerned that the radio tests didnt happen, Lauby said. Metro Chief Safety Officer Patrick Lavin said that officials are still investigating the incident to determine why the broken radio wasnt caught before the train went into service. Lavin said he also has directed staff to alter the checks that must be performed before trains are put into service: In addition to double-checking that the car-mounted radio is operating, Metro will now start making sure that each operators handheld radio is working. Lavin also confirmed that protocol was not followed after the two passengers were found walking inside the tunnel. According to rules, staff members are supposed to cut power to the electrified third rail. Such a step would have prevented the train from moving as well as cut power to the air conditioning inside the packed train. Rather than cutting the power, the employee escorted the passengers to the station platform, walking on the catwalk along the tunnel wall. Later, Wiedefeld said he did not believe that there was a significant safety risk in leaving the third rail electrified. I think, at the moment, what they did was safe to get them off the tracks, Wiedefeld said. [Metro confirms radio defect contributed to Red Line self-evacuation] Board members also grilled the agency about its poor communication with riders and board members regarding the incident. Thats one reason for the self-evacuation, said Carol Carmody, head of the boards safety committee. Eighteen minutes with no information. Carmody said she was disappointed that Metro had not informed board members about the incident. Instead, she learned about it two days later in the newspaper. She and other members urged Metro officials to consider similar incidents as more than just a protracted nuisance for passengers but as a serious safety issue. We put people in a situation where they feel they have no other options, said Jack Evans, the Metro boards chairman. Evans said he did not blame the riders for trying to get themselves off the train by any means necessary; he imagined what he would have done in a similar situation. I understand why they do it. If Im stuck on a train, and Im not getting told anything, and 10, 15 minutes goes by ... in the back of my mind is, Is this thing going to fill up with smoke? Evans said. Id kick the door open and get off, but I hope that other people dont have that personality and they actually stay on the train. After the meeting, Porter said the failure to communicate during a crisis can have dangerous implications of its own. It has caused, at the least, frustration, on the part of people who are just sitting there not knowing whats going on, she said. And at the most, it can cause things like people self-evacuating, which is an incredibly dangerous thing to do. She said she wants Metro to better communicate the risks of walking on live tracks, where passengers run the risk of contact with the 750-volt third rail. Porter was also dismayed to learn that separate issues knocked out both the cabin radio on the new 7000-series train and the backup handheld device. That should be part of our checklist when a new train comes out of the yard. We should make sure that all the radio communication is working, she said. Sebastian O'Kelly, left, and Brad Kennedy, both of Bethesda, consult their map during a hike from McLean to Tysons Corner. The two have set themselves a challenge: to hike around the whole Beltway. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Just when it seems that every new land has been discovered, every mountain climbed, every river crossed and every jungle penetrated just when it seems there are no new adventures left here come Sebastian OKelly and Brad Kennedy. Their audacious plan: to hike the entire circumference of the Capital Beltway. But first, they need to look at their phones. This is what I was looking at, says Sebastian, pointing out a squiggle on the map on his phone. It looks like a trail. It may not be real. Were standing in the parking lot of the Langley School in McLean, Va., on a recent weekday afternoon. Sebastian and Brad are doing their 64-mile Beltway hike in stages, two to four miles at a time, and this is where they ended their most recent leg. The idea is to hew as closely as possible to the Beltways inner loop. We crowd around the phone as Sebastian notes streets and paths and what in Virginia they call runs: small streams whose banks may provide passage. OKelly and Kennedy started in Bethesda and are tackling their trek in legs, a few miles at a time. They are trying to hike on surface roads, paths and trails as close to the Beltways inner loop as they can. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) He also notes that the National Counterterrorism Center is between us and the Beltway. Well want to stay away from that, he says. And then were off, down Balls Hill Road, across Dolley Madison, right on Chain Bridge Road, working our way ever closer to the great, multilane ouroboros that is I-495, an asphalt snake swallowing its tail. And why are we doing this, exactly? I listen to one of these podcasts, The Art of Manliness, explains Sebastian, 52. It isnt quite what it sounds like. Its a guy who does podcasts on what it means to be a 21st-century man. One of the guests was an honest-to-goodness adventurer, an English bloke who had sailed oceans and bicycled continents. Such feats may be beyond most of us, hed said, but anyone could embark on a micro-adventure. Sebastian wondered what his micro-adventure might be. He happened to be stuck in Beltway traffic on the way to his office in Reston, Va., a familiar fate for any commuter who depends on the sclerotic highway. He invited his friend Brad to partake their kids go to school together and in April they set off for the first time from their Bethesda neighborhood. They hope to finish in 12 months. Brad, 46, says his kids consider his adventure weird Dad stuff. Sebastian blogs about it at beltwayhike.com. The two men were enchanted by the idea of micro-adventuring, their own version of across-the-globe bushwhacking. Their journey has taken them over hill, over dale and even through the Potomac. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) We pass a water tower thats set back from Chain Bridge Road. The entire hillscape is engulfed in drifts of choking kudzu. Sebastian says, If we went into that middle of that, we might not get out. It really is no joke. Hes forgotten his machete today, but he usually brings one. Brad says, I think Sebastian was hoping to bushwhack the whole thing. Thats not necessary here, as were on a sidewalk, ambling past new residential high-rises designed to capitalize on a more walkable Tysons Corner. We pass under thetracks of the Silver Line and walk up Scotts Crossing Road until it dead-ends. On our right are the Gates of McLean condos. To the left is a vast construction site. Ahead: a tall, gray sound wall stretching in either direction atop a weed-covered embankment. We could turn around, or. . . . We scramble up the hill and walk through the thigh-high scrub, the Capital One building on our left, the guardrail on our right. Traffic zips by yards away. The Beltway is actually moving today. Perhaps you saw us that evening: three men, purposefully striding, conquistadors of concrete. After a hundred yards or so, Sebastian peels off and scrambles down the hill, through a tiny wood and over a sagging fence. Brad and I continue to the on-ramp for Route 123 and hang a left. Our two parties modern-day Lewis and Clark meet up near the Capital One parking garage and press on. Were in an office park on Old Meadow Road when the heavens open. We wait out the storm under the overhang of a nondescript building. The pair of Beltway adventurers have quintessential Washington jobs: Sebastian is a lobbyist, Brad a lawyer who does corporate litigation. Sebastian drives the Beltway nearly every day. Brad works downtown, so he doesnt. They tell me a highlight of their adventure so far was swimming the Potomac in the shadow of the American Legion Bridge. Wasnt that risky? I ask. No, they insist. The water was shallow and calm that day. I think its more dangerous crossing it in a car, Sebastian says. The fun thing is, you go from these really urban environments to these very natural environments, Brad says of their expedition. Theyve seen deer, herons, groundhogs and countless squirrels. Theyve seen the worn dirt and flattened grass of game trails and the abandoned tents of homeless men. After 45 minutes, the rain stops and we go looking for Scotts Run. On the map it appears to travel under the Beltway, meaning we might be able to walk it and emerge in Tysons Corner. Not today. We find what must be the stream: a culvert afroth with raging storm water runoff. If there was four inches of water, we could do it, Sebastian says. But theres two feet in there. Two hours after we set off, we arrive at the Westin Tysons Corner off Route 7. Brad orders an Uber. These guys are walking around the Beltway, I tell the driver once we get in. He laughs, unsure of whether Im joking, and takes us back to our cars. Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. Move over all black everything, 'coz Alia Bhatt's latest look just might make you fall for all pink everything. By Hemul Goel: It was a mind numbing film, but the Alia Bhatt and Shahid Kapoor starrer Shaandaar will continue to be memorable for the former's bikini scene. A top notch actress frolicking on the beach in a bright pink bikini has to be hard to forget, right? Especially after all those reports about Alia working her ass off to get that body! The scene that set tongues wagging. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/allaboutwomen.in advertisement Also read: Alia Bhatt's favourite designer Prabal Gurung is all set to visit India However, the actress totally took us to her Shaandaar days by sporting a similar bright pink bikini while taking a short break in Spain. Alia and her BFF. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@aliaabhatt Surprising her best friend on her birthday, the actress seemed quite taken by the hue as she paired her pink bikini with pink shades, a bright pink pout and a coverup in a similar shade. That pink pout. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@aliaabhatt Also read: Can't get over PeeCee twirling? These Bollywood actresses also twirled their way into our hearts! While so much pink could easily be an overkill, Alia's look didn't make us feel that even a bit, as though she stuck to one colour, instead of playing matchy-matchy from head to toe, the Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania actress wore different shades of the same hue and that totally worked in her favour. One with all the girls! Picture courtesy: Instagram/@aliaabhatt That's an important tip, people can seriously benefit by learning! --- ENDS --- A man goes to use a voting booth March 1 at a Virginia primary election polling station in Centreville. (Paul J. Richards/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) Voters begin going to the polls Friday in this battleground state, where Republicans and Democrats continue wrangling over voter ID laws, and elections officials were warning Virginians to ignore misleading letters about their registration status. Voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day may cast their ballots in person at their local elections offices starting Friday. In-person absentee voting continues through Nov. 5. Virginia does not offer early voting to all voters, as some other states do. But it allows people to vote absentee with mail-in ballots or in person if they fit certain categories. Those include voters who will be away at college or on business trips and vacations, who have long commutes or religious obligations, are first responders or active-duty members of the military or are in jail awaiting trial. [Appeals court to hear challenge to Virginias voter identification law] In-person absentee voting will be offered during weekday business hours, which vary across the state. The option also will be available on two Saturdays, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. This year, more states than ever will require potential voters to show photo ID to vote in the election. Here's why this is so controversial. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) The deadline to register or update an address ahead of the Nov. 8 election is Oct. 17. On Thursday, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) announced a push to get Virginia high school students registered. Schools that register at least 65 percent of their voting-age students by April will receive a congratulatory certificate from the governor. As of late August, 48,832 high school-age voters had registered. The total eligible to vote in the state was not immediately available Thursday. The governors challenge will officially kick off Tuesday, on National Voter Registration Day. It is important to teach younger Virginians that voting is a civic responsibility and encourage students to engage in the process by registering to vote, McAuliffe said in a written statement. As in-person absentee voting was set to begin, lawyers for both political parties and the state Board of Elections squared off Thursday in a federal appeals court in Richmond over a requirement that voters present photo identification at the polls. Earlier this week, state elections officials warned that some voters may have received mailings that suggested their voter registration status was in question. [In Va., dogs and the dead are invited to vote] Edgardo Cortes, the states elections commissioner, said the mailings came from at least two organizations, Americas Future and the Voter Participation Center. Letters sent by these organizations have reportedly been addressed to individuals who were already properly registered, are not qualified to register at the mailing address used, or are deceased, Cortes said in a statement. Although these letters include our street address and contact information, these letters did not come from the Department and are not official election mail. Cortes said voters can confirm their registration status through the Department of Elections. Officials with Americas Future, a conservative group based in St. Louis, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Washington-based Voter Participation Center bills itself as nonpartisan but targets groups that tend to lean Democratic, including racial minorities, millennials and unmarried women. Page Gardner, the centers president, said the group never intended to send registration forms to anyone ineligible to vote. She said mistakes such as registration forms sent to dead people or pets represent a very, very small percentage of the groups mailings, which numbered 500,000 in Virginia and 11 million nationwide. Gardner said the center uses a commercial mailing list to target unregistered voters. The dead can wind up on a mailing list because it is compiled from things such as magazine subscriptions, which she said often are not updated with a new name when the family member dies. Some people also have subscriptions in the names of their pets. Hillary Clinton holds a modest lead over Donald Trump in Virginia, according to two polls released Thursday, although the Republican nominee has gained ground since August, when he trailed by double digits. A Roanoke College poll found Clinton leading with 44 percent to Trumps 37 percent among likely voters, while a Quinnipiac University poll found Clinton ahead by a similar 45 percent-to-39 percent margin. Libertarian Gary Johnson garnered eight percent support in both polls, while Green Party nominee Jill Stein stood at one percent in each. The polls suggest that Clinton maintains an advantage in winning Virginias 13 electoral votes despite Trumps recent rising support in the commonwealth and across the country. In August, a Roanoke poll found Clinton up 16 points; Quinnipiac found her leading by 11. The latest surveys find a clearer edge for Clinton than a University of Mary Washington survey released last week, where she led by three percentage points. The August polls were conducted when Secretary Clintons numbers were at the top of their game around the country. There was a post-Democratic convention wave that she was still riding, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. The national numbers seem to have closed substantially since then, he said. Virginia is still, for Clinton, in a reasonably good position, but she was double-digit numbers ahead last time. The Roanoke poll finds that Clinton has lost the most ground among voters in the political middle. Her 35-point lead among moderates in August is now 16 points. The Quinnipiac survey finds Clinton trailing by 10 points among independents, a shift from August, when she held a four-point edge. Virginia is one of the few battlegrounds where Trumps campaign has out-advertised Clinton since April, according to data from Kantar/CMAG analyzed by the Wesleyan Media Project. Clinton and her allied super PACS paused their on-air campaign when surveys showed a dominant lead. Clinton has had an edge in ground-level organization, opening 29 campaign offices across the commonwealth by late August compared with 18 for Trump, according to PBS NewsHour. If the Clinton campaign doesnt gear up their advertising, it is a sign that their internal polls show them with a comfortable lead, said Bob Holsworth, a former Virginia Commonwealth University political scientist. Clinton is benefiting from greater party unity, with 90 percent of voters who described themselves as Democrats supporting her candidacy, compared with 78 percent of self-identified Republicans who support Trump, according to the Quinnipiac survey. The Democratic nominee is also fueled by a double-digit lead among women voters and a wide, 55-point edge among racial and ethnic minorities. In Virginia, voters do not register by party. Both candidates are dogged by negative reputations and controversies that have arisen during the campaign. Fifty-seven percent of likely voters say that Clintons use of private email as secretary of state was at least reckless, with nearly 4 in 10 calling it a criminal act. Nearly 6 in 10 voters reported an unfavorable view of Trump; just under half have a negative view of Clinton. Neither major party candidate has nailed the state down, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. Theres a lot of persuading that the Trump campaign and the Clinton campaign have to do in the next six weeks. The Quinnipiac poll was conducted Sept. 13-21 among a sample of 659 likely voters in Virginia and carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. The Roanoke College poll was conducted Sept. 11-20 among a sample of 841 likely voters and has an error margin of 3.4 points. Both surveys were conducted by live interviewers dialing random samples of cellular and landline phone numbers. The city government in Alexandria, Va., pays women and men very nearly the same for similar jobs, according to a first-ever study of pay equity. (Evy Mages/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST) To the long-running national debate over pay equity, add this news: The city government in Alexandria, Va., pays women and men very nearly the same for similar jobs. A first-ever study of pay equity by the Alexandria city government found that female city employees earned 94 cents for every $1 earned by their male peers. Nationally, women earn only 80 cents for every $1 that men are paid, according to multiple federal sources and the American Association of University Women, which on Thursday released its latest report on pay equity, The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap. Across the board in Virginia, in both the private and public sectors, women make 78 percent of what men are paid, the AAUW study says. Women in the District and Maryland fare better: D.C. women make 86 percent of mens pay, while Maryland womenpocket about 84 percent of what their male colleagues are paid for similar jobs. A history of the long fight for gender wage equality. (Daron Taylor/The Washington Post) [Heres why equal pay activists are looking toward Maryland] Local, state and federal governments usually have a smaller pay gap than exists in private enterprise, said Catherine Hill, AAUWs vice president of research. Thats because so many salaries are determined by formal job classifications and a pay schedule that has a clearly established merit pay system. But gender pay equity experts were hard-pressed to identify another local government that has demonstrated its pay gap is as narrow as 6 percent. With President Obama and other top Democrats pushing hard for pay equity in recent years, some experts said, Alexandria should tout its record as a significant accomplishment. Employers are discovering a real value in being seen as a place that pays women and men fairly, said Emily Martin, the general counsel and vice president for workplace justice for the Washington-based National Womens Law Center. She said that cities across the nation are conducting their own pay-gap studies, either for the local government workforce or the public and private sectors. Those include Seattle and Spokane, Wash.; San Francisco; Albuquerque; Austin; Boston; New York City; and Washington. Alexandria city officials said it helps that they have about an equal number of men and women in staff leadership positions. The citys workforce is nearly evenly split by gender, with 1,449 men and 1,363 women. Their average age is 44, and they have worked for the city an average of nine or 10 years. Their average salary is $69,158 for men and $65,013 for women. But when city officials discounted the 680 jobs held by a single person (such as city manager, human resources director or police chief), the pay gap reversed, with women earning 1 percent more than men. City Manager Mark Jinks said Alexandrias report was prompted by a request from its Commission on the Status of Women, as well as his own interest in the topic. Without detailed measurement and analysis of an issue, one cannot be assured that public policies in place are actually working, Jinks said. [Its 2016, and women still make less for doing the same work as men] When broken down by job categories, the pay gap in Alexandria ranges from 2 to 10 percent. Officials and administrators the top-paid category, with average salaries of about $122,000 differ little; the 60 women, on average, make 1.78 percent more than the 63 men. In the category of professionals (jobs that require college degrees and may be supervisory), women make 7.3 percent less than their male counterparts $80,229 a year, on average, compared with $86,576 for men. Male technicians, such as code inspectors, information technologists and revenue analysts, all of whom have average salaries in the $50,000s, make 8.85 percent more than their female peers. Female administrative support workers, whose average salaries are in the low- to mid-$40,000s, earn 9.5 percent more than their male peers. Alexandria did not break down the pay by race, although national statistics show that women of color experience more pronounced wage gaps than women in general. Monika Jones, chair of Alexandrias Commission on the Status of Women, said her group wants more information about disparities involving people of color, and wants the city to find comparisons to other governments in the region. Although some people explain the wage gap by saying that women opt for lower-paid fields, or take time off to start families, or fail to reach the same educational level as men, AAUWs Hill said that studies that control for all those variables still show a 7 percent difference in male and female pay in the first years out of college. The gap grows over time. [Salesforce.com tackles the gender pay gap] Her groups report said private employers increasingly are focusing on pay equity. In 2015, San Francisco-based Salesforce.com analyzed the salaries of its 16,000 employees and adjusted pay for 6 percent of them, leading to a 33 percent increase in the number of women who were promoted that year. More than 50 other private-sector companies have signed the White Houses Equal Pay Pledge, committing themselves to equal pay. As for Alexandria, a city of 150,000 residents best known for its historic sites and intensely engaged civic activists, the local government plans to do periodic follow-up studies to track its progress. I was actually impressed at their level of transparency, which should be a model for public and private employers, said Martin of the National Womens Law Center. Its a way for the city to hold itself accountable. Virginia Delegate Richard Lee Morris, age 47, of Suffolk, Virginia. Morris was arrested on the evening of September 20, 2016 on two misdemeanor counts of Assault & Battery, Family Member, and one felony count of Cruelty & Injuries to Children. (Courtesy of Suffolk Police) A Virginia state legislator was charged this week with repeatedly assaulting a boy and a woman, both of them relatives. Del. Richard L. Morris (R-Suffolk), 47, was arrested Tuesday and charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery of a family member and one felony count of cruelty and injuries to children, Suffolk police said. The boy sustained injuries consistent with excessive physical discipline earlier this month, and the woman was assaulted in December, police said. Police, who do not identify victims of alleged domestic violence, said the incidents took place in the family home. Morris, who was released from Western Tidewater Regional Jail on Wednesday on $1,500 bond, did not respond to messages seeking comment. Morris was arrested again on Thursday on new charges, stemming from additional incidents in 2016 involving the same boy and woman. The new charges are: three felony counts of cruelty and injuries to children, three felony counts of child endangerment, three misdemeanor counts of domestic assault involving the boy, and two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault involving the woman. Morris was again transported to jail, then released after posting $1,500 bond. Morris is married with nine children, according to his online biography. A former Navy lawyer, he was deployed to Iraq for a time to prosecute suspected terrorists. He has been a member of the General Assembly since 2012, serving on the Houses courts and public safety committees. He is treasurer and finance director of a Hampton Roads volunteer group that represents abused and neglected children in court. Authorities in Charlotte will release police video of the shooting of a black man "when there is a compelling reason." (Video: Reuters) Gift Article Share For the latest updates from Charlotte, head here. CHARLOTTE Hours after North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) declared a state of emergency and the National Guard and state troopers moved in, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney resisted calls to release video footage of a police shooting that sparked intense protests in this city. Family members of Keith Lamont Scott have asked to view video of his shooting and that authorities are trying to accommodate them, Putney said. Attorneys for the relatives said they planned to watch it later in the day. One of the attorneys, Justin Bamberg, said during an afternoon news conference that Scotts wife, Rakeyia Scott, witnessed her husbands death. Its my understanding that his wife saw him get shot and killed, Bamberg said. Thats something that she will never, ever forget. Advertisement Putney suggested that his department has no imminent plans to release the video footage to the public, and the Scott familys attorneys made no promises to reveal its contents once they had seen it. Transparency is in the eye of the beholder, Putney told reporters. If you think Im saying we should display a victims worst day for public consumption, that is not the transparency Im speaking of. Putney said his department would release the video only when we believe it is a compelling reason, but the footage which, he noted, doesnt definitively show Scott pointing a gun probably would not do much to calm the city anyway. I can tell you this: Theres your truth, my truth and the truth, Putney said. Some people have already made up their minds. Charlotte officials spoke as the city tried to recover from a second night of demonstrations that left several businesses damaged and one man clinging to life. Advertisement Mayor Jennifer Roberts (D) noted that it had been a difficult couple of days for the city, adding: This is not the Charlotte we know and love. Although city leaders said Charlotte was open for business, Uptown was more of a ghost town than bustling city center, with some businesses cleaning up and others closing shop. Workers moved quickly to repair damage from the previous nights protests and were seen mending windows at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and a nearby bank building. Duke Energy, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, which is headquartered here, had told employees to stay home. During the lunch rush, restaurants and coffee shops had few customers. Today is dead, said hot-dog vendor Kidane Engida. Its like a bank holiday: If the bankers are not working, theres nobody. City officials stressed that the business district was safe and secure after a second spasm of overnight unrest. Advertisement On Wednesday, peaceful protests turned into chaos when demonstrators attempted to follow police in riot gear into a hotel lobby. Officers used tear gas, and then a reporter heard a gunshot and saw a man lying in the street near the hotel entrance. The man, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital with wounds that medics said were life-threatening. Officials announced on Twitter that the man had died, then later tweeted that he was on life support. Putney said the man was in critical condition Thursday morning. Investigators are reviewing video to determine who shot the man, the chief said, noting that an allegation was made that one of our officers was involved. Officials say a man was shot during the second night of demonstrations in Charlotte after police fatally shot a black man outside an apartment on Sept. 20. (Video: Cleve Wootson/The Washington Post, Photo: JASON MICZEK/Cleve Wootson/The Washington Post) The protests stemmed from Tuesdays fatal police shooting of Scott putting Charlotte on a growing list of communities across the country that have erupted amid a growing debate on racial bias in policing. Advertisement Some protesters ignited small fires and shattered hotel windows. Businesses were damaged and looted. Nine civilians were injured, and two police officers suffered minor eye injuries and three were treated for heat issues, the chief said. There were 44 overnight arrests on charges such as failure to disperse, assault, and breaking and entering, Putney said. More arrests are likely after investigators review surveillance video, he said. Officials weighed the possibility of implementing a curfew Thursday night though the police chief noted at the morning news conference that right now, we dont see the need to shut the city down at a specific hour. McCrory, the governor, said National Guardsmen were mobilized to help protect buildings and structures, and that state troopers were deployed to control traffic and help local police do their jobs. Advertisement As governor, he said, I firmly believe that we cannot tolerate any type of violence. Michael Smith, chief executive of the downtown development corporation Charlotte Center City Partners, said the influx of law enforcement personnel gave him much greater confidence that we will respond the way we need to after two nights of chaos. But Corinne Mack, who heads the Charlotte chapter of the NAACP, said the increased police presence could prove problematic. More police presence is never going to help, she said. Instead, she said: More transparency helps. Law enforcement officials have fatally shot 706 people this year, 163 of them black men, according to a Washington Post database tracking fatal police shootings. A growing divide in public rhetoric over that toll has been fed by a summer of high-profile deaths captured on social media and deadly assaults on police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. The latest encounters in Charlotte, and Tulsa, where protesters called for the arrest of the officer involved in the fatal shooting of a black man there Friday come as the presidential race has tightened, and both candidates have offered positions and solutions. Advertisement Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch pleaded again Thursday for protesters to remain peaceful. For the second day in a row, protests in response to Mr. Scotts death took place in Charlotte last night, Lynch, a North Carolina native, said during a news conference. And for the second day in a row, those protests were marred by violence this time leaving one person on life support and several individuals injured an awful reminder that violence often only begets violence. Lynch called for those responsible for bringing violence to these demonstrations to stop, adding, youre drowning out the voices of commitment and change and ushering in more tragedy and grief in our communities. The FBI and the Justice Department are monitoring the situation involving Scotts death, Lynch said, but federal officials have not launched an investigation. McCrory said Thursday that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is leading an independent probe into the shooting. Advertisement Charlotte police have insisted that Scott had a gun and was posing an imminent deadly threat when officers shot him outside an apartment complex near the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Scotts family, however, said he was unarmed when he was killed and was instead reading a book in his car while waiting for his child to get out of school a detail that quickly went viral on social media and was seized upon by protesters here. Putney said police recovered a gun and found no book at the scene. The police chief said the officer who shot Scott was in plainclothes, wearing a vest with a police logo, and was accompanied by other officers in full uniform. The plainclothes officer wasnt wearing a body camera, but the other officers were. Whether authorities can defuse the anger on the streets could hinge on that body-camera footage. The shooting has thrust Charlotte to the forefront of a national debate about access to police body cameras. Advertisement During an occasionally testy exchange with reporters on Thursday, Putney was asked when the public could expect the release of video showing the fatal shooting. You shouldnt expect it to be released, he said, noting that he did not want to jeopardize the investigation. Having watched the footage, Putney said, the video does not give me absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun. I did not see that in the videos that Ive reviewed. Still, he said, When taken in totality of other evidence, it supports what weve heard and the version of the truth about the circumstances that happened that led to the death of Mr. Scott. A new state law effective Oct. 1 forbids police agencies from making body-camera footage public without a court order. At a time when youre seeing other states becoming more transparent, North Carolina is taking this tremendous step backward, said Mike Meno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. The violent protests and conflicting accounts in Charlotte prove just how misguided this new law is, Meno said, and show exactly why public access to such footage is crucial. In a Facebook Live video widely circulated before Tuesdays protest, a woman who identified herself as Scotts daughter said officers used a stun gun on him, then shot him four times with their service weapons. She added that Scott was disabled. My daddy didnt do nothing; they just pulled up undercover, she said in the video. By Wednesday afternoon, the video had been taken down. Hours later, Scotts wife, Rakeyia, released a statement saying the family was devastated. Keith was a loving husband, father, brother and friend who will be deeply missed every day, she wrote. As a family, we respect the rights of those who wish to protest, but we ask that people protest peacefully. Please do not hurt people or members of law enforcement, damage property or take things that do not belong to you in the name of protesting. The family, she said, had more questions than answers about Keiths death. Rest assured, we will work diligently to get answers to our questions as quickly as possible. Bamberg, one of the familys attorneys, confirmed Thursday that Scott, who had been married for two decades and had seven children, had a disability due to injuries suffered in an accident. He said there were different accounts of the shooting, including some people who say Scott was holding a book and others who said his hands were empty. Bamberg did not agree to release any information after viewing the video of Scotts death, saying, My priority is the greater good of this family. Authorities said the officer who shot Scott is black, and they identified him as Brentley Vinson, who has worked for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police force since July 2014. He was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. This city also was the scene of another high-profile police shooting, when officers killed Jonathan Ferrell, a 24-year-old black man who had crashed his car in a residential neighborhood several miles from the complex where Scott died, in September 2013. Officer Randall Kerrick fired 12 rounds at Ferrell, who was unarmed, striking him 10 times. Police said Ferrell ignored officers instructions. Last year, the jury deadlocked during Kerricks trial. While most jurors voted to acquit the officer, four voted to convict him. After a judge declared a mistrial, the state said it would not seek another trial. Ferrells family and the city of Charlotte settled a lawsuit stemming from the shooting for a reported $2.25 million. But anger from the 2013 shooting never went away, lurking beneath the surface until Tuesday night, when it exploded again into the open. Jibril Hough, a local activist who organized protests during Kerricks trial, said the recent demonstrations stem from lingering frustrations over Ferrells shooting. What youre seeing is people have been put in that situation for so long and theyre tired of talking, he said. Theyre tired of talking and talking and candlelight vigils and dialogue and nothing getting done. Hough said he did not agree with the violent turn the protests have taken. But, he said, theres a boiling point and some people in Charlotte have reached it. Bever and Berman reported from Washington and Adam Rhew and Wesley Lowery from Charlotte. William Wan, Derek Hawkins and Julie Tate contributed to this report, which has been updated multiple times. GiftOutline Gift Article Archbishop Bernard Hebda greets students after celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit 2016 at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday. The Mass included 12,000 Catholic school students, staff from 79 local Catholic schools and more than 60 priests and deacons. (Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via AP/Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via AP) OHIO Cleveland police settle suit by victims family The family of an African American man who died in 2010 after Cleveland police used a stun gun on him will receive a $375,000 settlement from the city, the mayors office said Thursday. Rodney Brown, 40, died on New Years Eve after he was heard telling officers, I cant breathe, over a police radio. First responders were unable to resuscitate him, 12 minutes after two Cleveland police officers pulled him over, Tasered him, subdued him with a blow to the neck and placed him in a patrol car, court documents said. Browns death was a result of tasering on an enlarged hypertensive heart and was ruled a homicide caused by cardiopulmonary arrest following physical exertion during law enforcement activity, according to the Cuyahoga County coroners office. The settlement is the latest in a number of payouts to families of African Americans who have died as a result of encounters with the citys police. In April, the city agreed to pay $6 million to the family of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy shot dead by police in 2014 while holding a replica gun. The families of Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell were paid a combined $3 million after the two were fatally shot by officers. Reuters FLORIDA Scott orders state to use $25 million on Zika Gov. Rick Scott (R) is using his emergency powers to direct $25 million in state money toward helping to develop a Zika virus vaccine. Scott, who has been lashing out at the federal government for failing to pass a bill that includes Zika funding, announced the unusual action Thursday. The governor said that the money will be spent exclusively on Zika research, including speeding up the creation of a vaccine and developing new Zika testing methods. This is the third time that Scott has ordered the state to spend money fighting Zika. Florida has now set aside more than $61 million for the effort. The number of local Zika cases in Floridas outbreak has topped 100. Two new local cases reported Friday bring the case count in the state to 92; there are 10 out-of-state cases. Associated Press and Lena Sun With the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan yesterday, the Delhi Police has nabbed as many as 12 legislators of the party till now. By Mail Today: With the arrest of Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan on Wednesday, Delhi Police arrested the 12th AAP legislator. Khan was arrested in connection with a sexual harassment case filed against him by his sister-in-law. KHAN SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY According to police, he was asked to join investigation and after questioning, was arrested. Though police sought his custody, a city court sent him to judicial custody. advertisement Police had sought a two-day custody of Khan, saying he was required to be interrogated. On September 18, the Okhla MLA, who was out on bail in another case of molestation and criminal intimidation, went to Jamia Nagar Police Station and asked the police to arrest him, but they had refused. I AM BEING FRAMED, SAYS AAP MLA Police said Khan was called to join investigation at the office of DCP (Southeast) and arrested on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. Khan, however, tweeted saying he was called for a general discussion at the DCP office, but was arrested. He had alleged that he was being framed by the police. Also Read: Sexual harassment case: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to court arrest today AAP rejects Amanatullah Khan's resignation, Manish Sisodia says MLA dragged into scandal AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan on molestation charges: My only fault is that I'm from Aam Aadmi Party --- ENDS --- BRAZIL Ex-minister arrested in Petrobras scandal The ex-finance minister under Brazilian presidents Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was arrested Thursday in the corruption scandal at state-run oil giant Petrobras, but a judge allowed him to be freed while his wife had cancer surgery. Lower-court Judge Sergio Moro decided the investigation would not be harmed by the release of former minister Guido Mantega during his wifes operation. Mantega is accused of asking tycoon Eike Batista for bribes on behalf of the Workers Party in 2012 in exchange for government approval for two oil platform contracts. Mantegas attorney Jose Roberto Batochio denied any wrongdoing by his client, who was arrested at the hospital where his wife was about to undergo surgery. Investigators searched Mantegas Sao Paulo house in the case, which federal police say accuses Mantega and seven other people of corruption, fraud, criminal association and money laundering. Associated Press GREECE Rights group blasts refugee response Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees stranded in Greece are living in appalling conditions and face immense and avoidable suffering, rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday. The group criticized Europe for failing to fulfill commitments to relocate refugees from the countries they entered, noting that only 6 percent about 4,000 people of the 66,400 relocations promised over two years have taken place. Our latest research has found that two years into the refugee crisis in Greece, refugees and asylum seekers in Greece are . . . living in fear and uncertainty for the future, said Giorgos Kosmopoulos, a researcher on refugees and migrants rights. The European Union, a bloc of 500 million people, cannot offer dignified conditions to a number of people that is relatively small. Amnesty called on Greece to improve conditions and on European countries to speed up the relocation process. Associated Press JORDAN Muslim Brotherhood wins parliament seats The opposition Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan said Thursday that its electoral bloc won 15 seats in the countrys 130-member parliament. On Tuesday, 1.5 million Jordanians voted for parliament under a new proportional system. The Muslim Brotherhoods political arm, the Islamic Action Front, boycotted elections in 2010 and 2013 to protest the previous system, which it said unfairly favored pro-monarchy tribal representatives. The IAF-led coalition will be the largest voting bloc in the new parliament, yet likely too small to challenge the establishment. Election officials said the number of female legislators rose from 18 to 20. Associated Press Rebel attack reported in eastern Congo: A Congo military official and a local leader said that a rebel group had attacked a village in the countrys east, killing at least seven people. Mak Hazukay, spokesman for Congos anti-rebel operation in the east, said the attacks occurred overnight Wednesday in the Kasinga-Munzambayi locality. A local official, Bakwanamaha Modeste, said Allied Democratic Forces rebels set fire to several homes. Poland revisits anti-abortion law: Polish lawmakers opened a divisive debate on changing the restrictive anti-abortion law among Europes toughest in their predominantly Catholic nation. The 10-month-old conservative government considers the law to be too liberal. The policy of Prime Minister Beata Szydlos government focuses on various forms of support for large families in order to boost Polands sagging birthrate. Spanish Steps reopen: Romes iconic Spanish Steps have officially reopened to the public after a cleaning and repair job financed by jeweler Bulgari. The reopening had been beset by controversy over Bulgaris insistence that the city protect the monument by fencing off the staircase at night. But Mayor Virginia Raggi said that she didnt think a fence was needed and that the city would make sure the steps arent abused. Putin names spy chief: Russian President Vladimir Putin has named the speaker of parliament a longtime ally and his former chief of staff to head the foreign intelligence service. The appointment of Sergei Naryshkin came days after the Kremlins power-base party, United Russia, won a crushing victory in parliamentary elections, taking three-quarters of the seats. He replaces Mikhail Fradkov, who has led the agency, the SVR, since 2008. From news services Technology has put powerful computers in billions of pockets, but an invention much more mundane than the smartphone the shipping container: a rectangular steel box also has changed the world. Because of it, two of todays preoccupations infrastructure and globalization are connected by a chain of events that began more than 60 years ago and now runs through Congress and to the wharves of Charlestons booming port. In 1934, Malcolm McLean, a North Carolina high school graduate struggling in the Depression, spent $120 earned pumping gas to buy a used truck. In 1955, running what would become the nations fifth-largest trucking company, McLean had an idea. The process of loading ships swarms of stevedores stowing (and often pilfering) cargo packed into ships holds in different sizes of wooden crates was so slow that ships often spent more time in ports than at sea. Cargo brought to docks on trucks or rail cars and sealed in standardized containers could be loaded 20 times faster per ton, and for one-20th the cost. McLean was no Steve Jobs. He was, however, one reason your smartphone is so affordable and one reason billions of people around the world, having been swept into the global trade system that McLeans boxes facilitate, can afford such phones. Protruding from one of the approximately 10,000 containers here are 13-foot-tall tires ($80,000 apiece) heading for off-road mining vehicles in Australia, Brazil and elsewhere. The tires are made in Lexington, S.C. About 200 miles inland, in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, there is a building boom ignited by the Charleston port, and now by the widening of the Panama Canal. Since June, the canals new lane has had the ability to handle enormous ships that carry 14,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) rather than the 5,000 TEUs on ships using the canal before it was widened. The big ships bring Asian goods to Americas East Coast and take American goods abroad. More than 6 million square feet of warehouse space is being built to enlarge the Greenville-Spartanburg areas role as a distribution center for imports, and for exports from throughout Americas Southeast. Upstate South Carolina suffered when, beginning in the 1970s, Asian imports devastated the textile industry. But in that decade, Charlestons port was one reason Michelin (France) began manufacturing tires there. Since then, four other tire companies have come Giti (Singapore), Continental (Germany), Bridgestone (Japan) and Trelleborg Wheel Systems (Sweden). South Carolina manufactures 89,000 tires a day and exports more tires than any other state. In the 1990s, BMW built an automobile assembly plant and this March exported its 2 millionth X-model vehicle through the Port of Charleston. Without the port, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo would not be building plants in South Carolina. Operators of the cranes that load the containers onto the ships often earn, with overtime, six-figure salaries. Every day, 3,500 trucks 70 percent owner-operated deliver and depart with containers. Do todays anti-trade politicians wish that South Carolina were still making towels and T-shirts for Americans rather than cars and tires (and Boeing aircraft, manufactured by more than 7,500 South Carolinians) for Americans and the world? The University of South Carolinas Moore School of Business estimates that more than 187,000 jobs 1 of every 11 South Carolina jobs and $53 billion in economic output are directly or indirectly related to Charlestons port. It, however, needs further dredging in order to handle more of the biggest ships, which is where Congress enters the picture: Unless it authorizes the project and appropriates the federal portion of the $509 million cost to augment South Carolinas already committed $300 million, the project will be delayed a year. The deepening project is only 14 percent of the $2.2 billion South Carolina is investing in its port facilities and related access. The biggest ships pay more than $1 million to transit the canal; if they miss their transit time, their fee is doubled. Until the port is deepened, too few can be handled here simultaneously, and they can enter and leave the port only at high tide. There is no controversy in Congress about this project. But unless Congress acts on it before the end of the year, the deepening will not be in the presidents 2018 budget and will be delayed, with radiating costs inefficiencies and lost opportunities. This a mundane matter of Congress managing its legislative traffic, moving consensus measures through deliberation to action. It will illustrate whether Congress can still efficiently provide public works to enhance private-sector efficiency. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was in New York this week for the U.N. General Assembly. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Lally Weymouth is a senior associate editor at The Washington Post. On Oct. 2, Colombians will vote on whether to accept a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerillas who have kidnapped, killed, raped and held hostage tens of thousands in a 50-year struggle. The deal was forged by President Juan Manuel Santos, who argues that it ends his countrys isolation and its cold war, and begins a new chapter in Colombias history. Santos, visiting New York for the U.N. General Assembly, talked with The Washington Posts Lally Weymouth. Edited excerpts follow. Q. I remember, when I first interviewed former president Andres Pastrana in 2000, about a quarter of your land was under FARC control. A. Pastrana gave the FARC 42,000 square kilometers, which is more than the size of Switzerland. That was part of the problem that we had to fix through military strength. Q. By the time you finished being defense minister, they had less land. A. Almost none. We took down the number one and two of the FARC and 63 of their commanders. Q. Before you started the peace process? A. I decided to follow former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabins strategy negotiate with terrorists as if there is no terrorism, but fight terrorism as if there is no peace process. That is why I did not accept a cease-fire during the negotiations. Q. When you were defense minister, you were particularly tough in fighting the FARC you actually went into Venezuela and Ecuador in pursuit of them. People thought, when you were elected president in 2010, you would continue to press them. But on your third day in office, you met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to help build a peace deal. Why? A. I studied the conditions to have a successful peace process. One is: We needed to have the military forces on the side of the government. Second, we needed to convince the commanders of the FARC that it would be in their own interest to seek peace. Third, I needed the support of the neighbors in the region. That is why I made peace with Chavez in Venezuela and with Rafael Correa in Ecuador, even though I think very differently from them. Q. How did you persuade somebody like Chavez? A. It was in his interest to have a peaceful region. He understood that very well and helped me push the process in the beginning, and I am grateful for that. Q. Did you think that the war was isolating Colombia? A. Yes, by all means. We were the black sheep of the herd the only country with an armed conflict in the whole of the Americas. Many investors who wanted to come to Colombia simply did not, because we were on the list of countries with an armed conflict. Q. How much has the U.S. helped Colombia? A. The U.S. has been extremely helpful in the whole process. This peace process is the cherry on the cake of a very successful bipartisan foreign policy initiative, which began with Plan Colombia [a U.S. effort to combat drug traffickers and left-wing insurgents in Colombia]. Dont forget that we were on the verge of being declared a failed state 15 years ago. Today we are a flourishing democracy. With peace we will be even stronger. I think the U.S. can also claim victory here. Q. What is the outlook for the referendum? A. I hope that the Colombian people will come out and vote. If they do, I am absolutely sure that the yes will win. If for some reason this fails, we go back to square one, to where we were six years ago. Q. Former president Alvaro Uribe, your predecessor, has been one of your most vociferous critics. He says that the FARC did great damage to your country and that the deal should be better. A. I understand not only his position but the position of many people who would like a more severe justice applied. But in these types of situations, a country [should] seek the maximum justice that will permit peace. This is the first time in any peace process where those responsible will submit to a special tribunal. They will be investigated, judged, condemned and sanctioned. So there is no impunity. Q. One major criticism is that if you belonged to the FARC and you killed people or committed other war crimes, your punishment is merely to go before a transitional justice committee. If you confess to your crimes, you dont go to jail. You get two to eight years of restricted freedom. A. Five to eight. And you have to make reparations to the victims; you have to do work that will benefit the victims. Q. Nevertheless, the criticism is that FARC members murdered thousands of people and committed horrendous crimes, including kidnapping Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and holding her hostage for six years. A. She is the first one who said, I support this process. I personally would have liked FARC members [to spend] more years in prison. But then we would not have peace. This is the dilemma of any peace process. Where do you draw the line between peace and justice? They have been fighting for 52 years. They were not willing to go to a real jail, but they were willing to be punished and judged. Q. That was the best deal you could get? A. Yes. I made these negotiations thinking of the victims and their rights. There are more than 8 million victims in Colombia, and they support the agreement. They say: For us, it is a good deal. We dont want other people to suffer what we suffered. I thought that they were going to be the toughest, but they are, on the contrary, more generous. Q. Some are also criticizing the fact that army members who committed war crimes have received the same deal as the FARC. They, too, will go before the transitional justice committee. A. In a war, you have to be fair to both sides. What I said to the army is that if there are people who committed crimes that are related to the conflict, they will receive the same benefits that the guerrillas are receiving. Q. The FARC is supposed to relinquish its arms to international monitors. Do you think they will give them all up? A. We have the supervision of the United Nations. We know how many arms they have. They have to give up their arms, all of them. Otherwise, they will lose their benefits. Q. But wont some keep their arms? A. A very small percentage. They wont have the trademark of the FARC. They will be simply common criminals, and we will pursue them. Q. You also hear criticism of the fact that FARC members are going to be allowed to have seats in both houses of parliament starting in 2018. They will have five out of 102 seats in the upper house and five out of 166 seats in the lower house. A. The purpose of this process is for an armed, illegal group to . . . continue their ideological struggle but through legal means. Q. It does seem very odd to have a guerrilla group in the parliament. A. If you examine any peace process anywhere in the world, you will see this is the first condition. They want to have some kind of participation in the political sphere. I dont think they will have much success, because they have a very outdated political discourse. Q. How are you going to pay for the peace? A. War costs much more than peace. There are regions of Colombia that have to be conquered. We need to bring roads, railroads and schools there. Some have estimated that these regions will grow between 8 percent and 12 percent per year for the next few years. This is a tremendous opportunity for Colombia and for any investor who wants to come to Colombia. Also, the drug trade is concentrated in the very remote regions. Without the conflict, we can go to those regions. So it is an enormous opportunity for Colombia to finish this embarrassing situation where we continue to be the primary exporters of cocaine to the world. Q. How do you feel about the U.S. election and about Donald Trumps statements? A. I have learned not to interfere in the elections of other countries. I know Hillary Clinton. She has been a good friend of Colombia. I dont know Mr. Trump, but he has some policies that are not compatible with what we think about migration or free trade. Q. Your approval rating is 29 percent in recent polls. Why isnt it higher? A. The peace process has been very unpopular. But I dont govern thinking of my popularity but of doing the correct thing. I was very popular when I was defense minister being a war hero brings a lot of applause. Trying to seek peace, you have to change sentiments, and that is much more difficult. Q. What will happen to the other guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), which is not included in the peace deal? A. We are negotiating with the ELN. Ive told them if you want to sit down and negotiate, you need to release the people you have kidnapped, because I dont accept kidnapping as an instrument of war. Q. But they wont stop kidnapping? A. They are thinking about it. We have been hitting them very hard militarily. They know they will receive the whole weight of our armed forces that are now concentrated on the FARC. They know what is coming. Twitter: @LallyWeymouth Read more from Outlook and follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter. Andrei Kozyrev, foreign minister of the Russian Federation from 1990 to 1996, is a distinguished fellow with the Wilson Centers Kennan Institute. The views expressed are his own. Was Orwell off by 32 years? When Donald Trump suggested this month that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a better leader than President Obama because he has firmer control of his country, I checked the polls: It looked as though Trump has a real chance to become president of the United States, the country I chose to make my home a few years ago. What if this happened? Where on Earth could I go in search of a democratic country with opportunities for my children and grandchildren for freedom and the pursuit of happiness, without some Big Brother telling them, Believe me, I and I only know how to solve all your problems, Believe me, we will win, win, win meaning, of course, Just give me power? This kind of thing is familiar in Russia. When Putin came to power in 2000, nobody knew for sure his views on economic, social or foreign policy issues beyond vague promises to get Russia off its knees (make Russia great again), impose law and order and crush terrorism. The law and order turned into the harassment of critical journalists, control of the media and defamation of opponents, while the corruption and terrorism went on. The complacency of the Duma opened the way for restrictive legislation, and step by step an uncontestable National Leader was established. Thats the role model the 2016 Republican presidential contender followed. On Sept. 7, during a town hall event hosted by MSNBC, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated he would have a good relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin. It wasnt the first time he's been friendly towards him. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) I know that many Americans would be offended by such a comparison. And duly so: Unlike Russia, the United States is a long-established democracy with checks and balances famously built into its Constitution. So I hope pray, in fact that Im being unnecessarily panicky. But where is my analysis wrong? The party that pledged support for the candidate who prefers Putin to the U.S. president controls Congress. A federal judge who is presiding over a case involving the candidates business practices was accused of bias because of his descent, and the Supreme Court is divided along partisan lines, with a vacancy that the next president will get to fill. A number of journalists were bullied on the campaign trail, and respectable media enterprises were banned from public events. On major TV talk shows, a cohort of apologists bluntly defends all this. Emulating his role model, the candidate claims impunity for whatever he does: I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose voters, he has proclaimed, and he made light of the possible assassination of his opponent. And all that is happening even before he clutches real power. The apprentice surpasses the tutor. Is this a new definition of American leadership? The ready answer is that the authoritarian rule common in Russia or China is unlikely to succeed in the United States, because it has a different political culture. But as was demonstrated with the Brexit shock in Britain, stability cannot be taken for granted. What seemed unimaginable yesterday, such as building walls with neighboring countries, parting with long-standing allies and partners and stirring up fear and nativist rage, can become just another tool for seizing control of the government and the country. Again, I expect some Americans to say: It is our business. You, foreigner, have no say in it. This would be so, were America not great. But America is great. It is a superpower that plays a unique global role. When there is some new national leader Il Duce in Italian trying to impose a new order anywhere in the world, the United States can and will contain him. That happened with World War II, and it happened with the Cold War. In places around the world, it continues to happen, with the help of NATO and other U.S. allies. Thats why democratically minded people everywhere look at the United States with gratitude and hope. Yet many of us are concerned, and we want our voices heard. We urge Americans to be mindful of their leading role and international responsibilities as a great country and a great democracy when they go into the voting booths. Your mistake might spell a global disaster. There is no substitute for America as a pillar of world stability, and no one to contain an American Duce. Suddenly, browsing the world map, I recognize possible contours of the scenario described by George Orwell in the prophetic book he called simply 1984: three autocratic powers dominating the international landscape, each seized by fear, bigotry and nationalism and controlled by the one and only strong leader or a politburo. Did Orwell simply made a 32-year mistake in timing? Donald Trump shows off the size of his hands as Fox News Channel moderators Brett Baier and Megyn Kelly look on at a Republican presidential candidates debate in Detroit on March 3. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters) Elizabeth Drew is an author and political journalist. As the first of three scheduled presidential debates approaches, were about to go through what has become a quadrennial misconception about how to choose our president: that debates are an especially valuable way of helping the voters make that fateful decision. The veteran CBS reporter, who moderated three presidential debates, looks back at key moments from those clashes and gives advice to his 2016 counterparts. (Adriana Usero,Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post) Given the tremendous emphasis the media place on this contest, an hour-and-a-half-long question-and-answer session supplants months, if not years, of presenting oneself to the public. This year, the buildup of the debates has exploded beyond all reason. For weeks weve had breathless report after breathless report about how the candidates are preparing. Each nugget whos at the preparation session, whos playing the role of the opponent? is treated as Highly Significant Information. For whatever reason, the media have decided that the first of this years three planned debates will be the decisive one. (Donald Trump, as is his wont, has introduced some uncertainty into whether hell participate in all three.) And lets face it: A great deal of this excited anticipation arises from the expectation that Trump will put on a good show. The debates test qualities that have virtually nothing to do with governing. Governing requires thoughtfulness, study, depth, patience, the ability to draw the most useful information out of advisers and arrive at the wisest policy. Consider the qualities that enabled John F. Kennedy to prevent the discovery that the Soviets had stationed nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba from escalating into a calamity. During that tense showdown, Kennedy most definitely didnt utilize his considerable wit and zealously avoided publicly humiliating Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Yet employing wit and one-upping an opponent are the two qualities most prized in the debates. Worst of all, the supposedly most important thing that happens in a debate is a candidate delivering an effective one-liner. Now, we all know, or should know, that the one-liner has most likely been proposed by the candidates advisers and that it has been rehearsed. It has all the spontaneity of a can of tuna. And it has nothing to do with governing. Its nice if a president is clever, but thats not required. Bill Clinton was one of the most effective communicators weve had in the Oval Office. But Clinton isnt witty. In fact, verbal cleverness has been a rare presidential commodity. Barack Obama is witty, and he has great comedic timing, but that wasnt what enabled him to win the presidency twice. Yet the night usually goes to the deliverer of the best one-liner. Its what is most anticipated and most remembered. Actually, the first televised presidential debates, between Kennedy and Richard Nixon, were nearly devoid of one-liners. Now theyre the be-all and end-all of the encounter. What a weird way to decide who should be president. Probably the most famous one-liner in modern debates was challenger Ronald Reagans saying to President Jimmy Carter in 1980, There you go again. Carter was raising a real issue: Reagans opposition to Medicare and Social Security when he was governor of California. No matter that one sentence blew any discussion of those issues away. Reagan also scored the runner-up: his attempt, on seeking reelection in 1984, to dispatch questions about his mental acuity after one of his responses during the previous debate wandered down the Pacific highway. Reagan dealt with this potential block to a second term by saying of his nearly two-decade-younger challenger, former vice president Walter Mondale, I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience. Mondale, stricken with the knowledge that Reagan had landed a decisive blow, managed to force a laugh. The line wasnt especially clever, but the former actor was able to deliver it well enough to quell questions about his capacity to serve for four more years. Then theres the medias determination to declare a winner. Because these arent real debates, theres no way to score them. Ive participated in two debates, and when asked afterward who I thought had won, I didnt have a clue. I didnt and still dont see these events as something someone wins but at best as a way for the voters to see the finalists side by side and decide which one they prefer. But familiarity with the candidates isnt something were lacking this year. To hand the evening and the presidency to the person who won a non-debate makes a mockery of our democratic system and the gravity of the choice the voters face. The Sept. 18 editorial No pardon for Mr. Snowden did a disservice to Edward Snowden, whistleblowers everywhere and The Posts own outstanding journalism in asking that Mr. Snowden accept a measure of criminal responsibility for his excesses. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch believe that Mr. Snowden should not have been charged under espionage laws. Prosecuting people for exposing human rights abuses sets a dangerous precedent that will make it less likely that other people expose wrongs. The editorial board was incorrect to assert that PRISM, which collects the Internet records of people not suspected of any wrongdoing, was clearly legal and not clearly threatening to privacy. Upstream is another ongoing program under which the National Security Agency scoops up the communications of millions more people here and abroad. The U.S. law that authorizes these programs is under legal challenge. These programs violate international human rights law as well, and Mr. Snowden did us a service by exposing them. The U.S. government has recognized the need to encourage whistleblowers by offering financial rewards to any who expose corporate wrongdoing to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Its just as critical to encourage people to expose systemic abuses in government, especially in areas of intelligence and surveillance, which are even more resistant to public oversight. Salil Shetty, London The writer is secretary general of Amnesty International. Kenneth Roth, New York The writer is executive director of Human Rights Watch. It is regrettable that, having recognized Edward Snowdens (heroic, I believe) achievement in exposing our governments top-secret assault on the Constitution, the Sept. 18 editorial No pardon for Mr. Snowden insisted that he either face what would be a mock trial under a law that precludes his only defense or make a settlement. The United States owes him better than that. James J. Griffin, Silver Spring Being an extraordinarily important source for journalists is not grounds for pardon on serious charges related to breaking national security laws, as Margaret Sullivan argued in her Sept. 21 Style column, Snowdens actions merit a pardon. With his initial actions, Edward Snowden endangered the lives of U.S. and allied agents around the world and imperiled operations designed to save lives and protect tangible national interests. By hiding in Russia, he has given a propaganda windfall to a despotic regime that is working to undermine democratic processes around the world, including in the United States. And by making his revelations on foreign soil and refusing to come home to defend his actions in a court of law, he has forfeited the status of whistleblower. Let Mr. Snowden ponder the cost of his actions in terms of human life while he remains in an autocratic country rather than risk defending his actions before a jury of his peers. One assumes hes being careful not to say much on his telephone, as it is certain that someone in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is listening to every word. Patrick G. Grasso, Alexandria By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) As part of the governments Africa outreach, Vice President Hamid Ansari will embark on a five-day tour of Nigeria and Mali to further strengthen Indias bilateral engagements with the two nations. He will go to Nigeria first at the invitation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here. advertisement On the second leg of his trip, Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, four MPs and senior officials. In Abuja, Ansari will hold talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives and deliver an address at the National Defence College of Nigeria. He will also meet the governor of Lagos and deliver an address at the joint business forum at the University of Lagos. The vice president will inaugurate the High Commission of India Chancery complex at Abuja and interact with members of the Indian community both in Abuja and Lagos. "The vice presidents visit (to Nigeria) intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic engagement and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of shared common interest," Swarup said. In Mali, Ansari will meet the president, the prime minister and also address the National Assembly. The visit to Mali is aimed at boosting the relationship between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation to expand and diversify bilateral relationship, the spokesperson said. PTI ZMN RT --- ENDS --- AmeriCorps volunteer MarCherie Thompkins at the Celebration of Service meal-pack event sponsored by the AARP Foundation on Sept. 11 on the Mall. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post) The Sept. 19 editorial Volunteerism cant be forced overlooked the most fundamental reason why a year or two of community service cant be made mandatory for young adults: the U.S. Constitution. A military draft is authorized by the power granted in Article I, Section 8, to raise armies, but the military obviously doesnt need the service of every young American. It is often forgotten by politicians and the media that legislation requires a constitutional footing, which doesnt exist for mandatory community service. Indeed, the 13th Amendment expressly provides that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude . . . shall exist within the United States. Mark Spooner, Springfield National service is a great idea whose time has come and that should have unqualified support from President Obama, Congress and The Posts editorial board. No serious proponent is proposing that voluntary service be forced; thats an oxymoron. Readers were far more persuasive, calling for creating stronger incentives for national service that echo the interests of youth and the overwhelming moral and financial support given our military volunteers. The budget concerns mentioned in the editorial were misdirected: Quadrupling funding for the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps would barely show up in the national budget. They each cost barely more than the budgets for military bands, and together they cost less than fire and police protection or the education system in any major U.S. city. The youths of the United States deserve this exceptional opportunity, and the nation and world would be richly rewarded for it. Malcolm Odell, Washington When I walked into the new National Museum of African American History and Culture for a preview last week, my excitement was tempered. Id heard about the feats of engineering: rooms built around a massive guard tower from Louisianas Angola Prison, a Southern Railroad train car and a Tuskegee Airman-flown plane. Id heard about the big donations from Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. Id followed the decades-long campaign for real estate and funding that were required to make this new institution a reality. But that was the story of the museum itself. I was worried that the exhibits might fall short of illustrating panel by panel, artifact by artifact the story of black America, which is not merely about the biggest names and the best-remembered movements. I was worried about what might have been intentionally left out or inadvertently forgotten. But my worries were unfounded. The museum succeeds by grappling, in an elegant fashion, with the many strands sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes uplifting of African American history, and how closely theyre interwoven with the American experiment from its inception. It tells the stories of black America the way they should be told, the way I, as a historian, strive to tell them: Not an account of black people fitting into American history, but American history told through the black experience. History, after all, isnt just curating facts but marshaling the facts of our collective past to help us better understand our present. Thats one of the reasons I wrote Right to Ride: Streetcar Boycotts and African American Citizenship in the Era of Plessy v. Ferguson, to address the misperception that generations of black Americans passively accepted segregation prior to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. My examination of the period when segregation laws were first introduced in the 1840s and 1850s in Northern cities, and then with ubiquity in Southern cities in the decades around the turn of the 20th century, revealed that protest was the norm and showed a broader truth about the constancy of black struggle in America. Black travelers on trains sued when they were excluded from first-class cars. African American streetcar riders launched boycotts in more than 25 Southern cities between 1900 and 1907. In the same spirit, the museum works because its artifacts arent merely displayed to narrate a tidy through-line of black historys greatest hits, from Crispus Attucks to Harriet Tubman to Frederick Douglass to Michelle Obama. Rather, its spaces remind us that from before the nations beginnings, African Americans have experienced victories and defeats in many times and places, and our traumas have often taken place alongside our triumphs. Theres the exhibit highlighting the people Thomas Jefferson enslaved, with bricks inscribed with their names standing like a wall behind his statue. Around the nations third president, author of our Declaration of Independence, stand African American luminaries, such as poet Phillis Wheatley, whom Jefferson dismissed as inferior in his Notes on the State of Virginia, and scientist Benjamin Banneker, who challenged Jefferson on race. In the same exhibit you can see shackles designed for a small child; theyre the sort used when people were sold away, just as hundreds of people enslaved by Jefferson were sold on the lawn of Monticello to settle his estate after his death. This one exhibit takes you from achievement to seemingly insurmountable barriers and back. This isnt a clean or easy story to tell, but to tell it another way would be wrong, a perpetuation of the too-frequent oversimplification of black history. This museums triumph is that it gives teachers and learners a fresh start at thinking about black life and culture in this country on the same intellectual track as the rest of our nations history, rather than as a version that spotlights African Americans as a people apart, feted every February, then relegated to the background. Yes, some artifacts in some museums are there purely to remind tour groups and summer class trips about milestones in American history. But the African American Museum adds an extra dimension by showcasing lesser-known pieces of black history that tie the narrative together. It shows us that the folks who organized the Niagara, anti-lynching and womens club movements were just as woke to the oppression of white supremacy as the civil rights generation. As you progress through the space you also understand that, as Ella Baker said, black Americans have long been, and should be, demanding more than a hamburger. Todays debate over economic inequality comes to mind when you see the art wall preserved from Resurrection City, a shantytown protest mounted by the Poor Peoples Campaign, the last protest initiative organized by Martin Luther King Jr. before his assassination. The striking images from the wall include the command to tell it like it is; situating the protest, in other words, in the wider context of the long fight for equality. The museums curators did important work in centering the ordinary and extraordinary people highlighting the stories we know, such as Douglass and King, but placing them alongside artifacts from people we probably have never heard of whose experiences are just as telling. In contrast to the CliffsNotes version of black history that usually focuses on the Great Men, they emphasize womens experiences with regularity and clarity. A casual observer might miss the panels focused on black female ministers Florence Spearing Randolph, Mary J. Small, Jarena Lee and Julia A.J. Foote. On a first pass, one might not notice that Sojourner Truth is highlighted on a panel with the label black feminist, or sense the full import of a panel featuring Maggie Lena Walker and the Independent Order of St. Luke. But in these works, I hope museum-goers absorb the scholarly contributions of female black historians. In reflecting this work, the exhibits consistently tell us more about what we already know and offer nuance about things most Americans have never heard of. Despite all this, the Guardians Steven W. Thrasher describes the museum as a project of respectability politics that is quite at odds with the current political moment, asking, What good to African Americans . . . is a museum dedicated to us, when we are getting shot in the street daily? But that question strikes me as too narrow and too broad all at once. We know museums cant stop bullets. Its certainly fair in a world where Terence Crutcher is gunned down by Tulsa police, even as Americans castigate Colin Kaepernick for protesting exactly this kind of violence to recognize that the African American struggle is ongoing. That we live in a country governed by a black man that still treats black people as second-class citizens. But todays battles demand that we remember our past. The museum does not offer a whitewash or put a feel-good gloss on our collective story. Its a necessary affirmation that black lives, indeed, matter. When you see Ida B. Wells, the turn-of-the-20th-century social justice warrior a journalist who traveled the country writing about the brutality of lynching honored with a beautiful portrait, part of her china collection and a first edition of her anti-lynching work alongside a display of some of her most poignant words, you feel that her cause, the cause, is being honored righteously. When you see Nat Turners pocket Bible in a massive case, you imagine the man, turning these pages, looking for guidance from his God as he sought freedom and justice. When you see a first edition of David Walkers Appeal, you can almost see this black man at a print shop, publishing his treatise on the evil of chattel slavery. You wonder if this was one of the copies he sewed into a coat sold secondhand with the hope that it would reach the enslaved. These simple artifacts are interventions that complicate the present as well as the past. In a country where some museums once systematically refused to preserve artifacts recording black experiences, where archives refused to become repositories for the letters and diaries of black citizens, it is so tremendous to see materials documenting black humanity and black endeavor displayed with such reverence. It is extraordinary. As a historian, I live with these ideas and stories. But as a black citizen, the experience was personally edifying. As I toured the museum, Id catch a glance, out of a window, of the Washington Monument, and I was reminded that this massive, beautiful building full of small, extraordinary moments of learning, joy and sorrow was deep in the heart of the Mall, occupying territory where so often African American stories have been absent. It felt like my ancestors, who were brought to this land decades before the nations founding, had come home. No longer just a few things in a room on the side, no longer just mentioned outside the plantation house, no longer the whispered-about laborers or servants, they had a place. The things accomplished in spite of violence and Jim Crow were being honored. All the beauty and joy created in spite of pain was enshrined. It felt like an arrival. Twitter: @profblmkelley Read more from Outlook and follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is pushing intensively to win over a group of voters who dont typically get much attention during elections but who have become an increasingly potent political force: disabled people and their families. With the race tighter than it was a month ago and Clinton struggling to generate enthusiasm within the Democratic base, her appeal to disabled people and their families comes amid a broader effort to win over voters. After weeks of mostly attacking Republican Donald Trump, she is highlighting specific policy prescriptions while trying to show a more compassionate side and present an affirmative vision for the country. Clinton is also targeting Hispanics, women, caretakers of the elderly and sick, and families of gun-violence victims, among other constituencies focused on specific issues. In the case of the disability community, which cuts across all partisan and demographic divides, Clinton may be trying to attract not only Democratic-leaning voters who are not excited by her candidacy, but also voters who may be leaning toward Trump notably disabled veterans. One very visible piece of the effort came Wednesday in a policy speech here devoted to initiatives to more fully integrate those with disabilities into the nations economy. It is an issue, Clinton said, that really goes to the heart of who we are as Americans. Speaking in a packed community-center gym in this presidential battleground state, Clinton pledged to fully support a group of Americans who are, too often, invisible, overlooked and undervalued, who have so much to offer but are given too few chances to prove it. 1 of 57 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail View Photos The Democratic presidential nominee hits the road after her partys national convention. Caption Hillary Clinton loses to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Nov. 9, 2016 Hillary Clinton speaks in New York while her husband, former president Bill Clinton, applauds. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans has a disability of some sort, according to a report last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that does not take into account family, friends or co-workers sensitive to the challenges those individuals face. And among veterans, nearly 4 million live with service- related disabilities, according to the Census Bureau. Trump has led Clinton among veterans in most polls. The magnitude and sophistication of lobbying efforts by advocates for those with disabilities have increased dramatically in recent years, presenting a preferred political candidate with ready-made networks to tap. In Congress and at statehouses across the country, disability advocates are now a fixture and increasingly have the ear of influential lawmakers. A lot of families and people with disabilities are single-issue voters, where this is the primary issue in deciding who to vote for, said Allison Wohl, executive director of the Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst, a group that seeks employment and self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. So the campaign sees an opportunity. Before Wednesdays speech, Wohl participated in a conference call between campaign aides and disability advocates to preview what the candidate would say. And behind the scenes, the campaign had already enlisted more than 200 advocates for disabled people, who have been vouching for Clinton on social media, developing policy positions and raising some $1.3 million for her campaign, according to a Clinton adviser. [For Clinton, attacking Trump may not be enough] Disability issues are not new to the political universe; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 brought the subject to the forefront. Targeting slices of the electorate with tailored messages is also not new; President George W. Bush in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008 did so with notable success. Still, it is unusual for a candidate to speak on the subject that Clinton chose Wednesday with such specificity. In addition to targeting those personally affected by a disability, Clinton may also have been trying to reach a broader audience with awareness of the issues. She also may have been trying to remind voters how Trump is best known among disability advocates for mocking a disabled New York Times reporter. The image of Trump shaking in an exaggerated fashion has been incorporated into television ads by Clintons campaign and a supportive super PAC. Trump has not issued any policy proposals on issues specific to the community. According to former congressman Tony Coelho, who has known Clinton since her husbands first presidential run, the two began working on disability issues when Clinton launched her campaign nearly 18 months ago. Clinton first wanted to address Alzheimers disease, then autism, then mental health and now an economic agenda for people with disabilities, according to Coelho, who has epilepsy. In January, while still competing for the nomination, Clinton delivered a speech on autism policy drawing notice from many in the disability community. Since then, she has sought to highlight her commitment in other ways. Coelho noted the prominence of people with disabilities at the Democratic National Convention in July. As we saw at the convention, we were mentioned every night by every major speaker, Coelho said. Were mentioned 35 times in 19 different sections in the [party] platform. Thats never happened. During her speech here Wednesday, Clinton ticked off her support for integrated work settings, eliminating sub- minimum wages and spurring businesses to improve hiring practices for those living with a disability. She also pledged to make colleges more accessible to disabled students, a problem she said the country has taken too long to address. Clinton also talked about Leah Katz-Hernandez, the West Wing receptionist who is deaf and is the first person who greets world leaders when they come to the White House. By focusing on the economic empowerment of people with disabilities, Clinton is addressing what most advocates say is the single greatest problem among people with physical and intellectual disabilities: extreme poverty. Advocates also said that, with more than 53 million Americans with some form of disability and their network of loved ones orders of magnitude greater Clintons pitch could have real political resonance. This is an absolutely historic campaign in that its the first time in American history where voters with disabilities will literally make the difference between who wins and loses in this campaign, said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, the president of RespectAbility, a nonprofit group that advocates empowering people with disabilities. As Clinton wrapped up her speech, Mizrahi worked the press corps, touting overtures Clinton has made, including an ad featuring sign language. While established organizations have provided a boost for Clinton, other, more organic efforts have also emerged. For instance, early in the campaign, Amber Buckley-Shaklee, a graduate student at the University of Illinois with a neuromuscular disease, launched a Facebook page called People with Disabilities for Hillary. Buckley-Shaklee died last fall, but her sister, Shannon Buckley-Shaklee, has taken over the page, she said. Amber liked many things about Clintons Democratic primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, but ultimately backed Clinton in large part because of her advocacy for people with disabilities, her sister said. Mizrahis organization has worked since the primaries to engage political candidates on both sides of the aisle about their policies for disabled people. But she said that she has been stonewalled by Trumps campaign. Mizrahi made two trips to Trump Tower this year including one trip in the past week asking the campaign to fill out a questionnaire about the campaigns policy on disability issues. Everyone is very polite and I leave my business card and ask them to get back to me. But I dont make it past security, Mizrahi said. They have told us that they dont see it in their interest to fill out the questionnaire. Trumps campaign lacks the organization and structure of Clintons, and it has yet to reach out to a number of voting blocs in a meaningful way, including disabled people. Trumps campaign website contains no policy proposals specifically aimed at helping disabled people, and the topic is not part of his regular campaign speeches. It has come up as Trump has defensively sought to explain that he did not mock Serge Kovaleski, the disabled New York Times reporter, contrary to appearances. Trump has said he was imitating a groveling person and did not know the reporter was disabled. Clinton was introduced in Orlando by Anastasia Somoza, a disability rights advocate who was born with cerebral palsy and has known Clinton since she was 9 years old. Somoza is also featured in a new national television ad, announced by the campaign on Wednesday, that contrasts Clintons advocacy for disabled people with Trumps apparent mocking of Kovaleski. Trumps chief argument for his support of disabled people has been that he has spent millions of dollars making his buildings accessible. He does not mention that this is mandated by the federal government. In a May interview with The Washington Post, Trump said: I would never say anything bad about a person that has a disability. I swear to you its true, 100 percent true. . . . Who would do that to [the] handicapped? Ive spent a lot of money making buildings accessible. People with disabilities delivered some of the introductory remarks at Clintons rally here Thursday, including Cassie Pennington, a local field organizer for Clintons campaign who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 5. Many Americans dont understand the struggles that people with disabilities experience every day, Pennington said. She added, I know that Hillary Clinton will be the kind of leader to stand up for people like me. Phillip reported from Washington. Jenna Johnson in Washington and Philip Rucker in Orlando contributed to this report. In the battle for Hispanic representation, these two politicians may mark a new generation of Latino leaders. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) In the battle for Hispanic representation, these two politicians may mark a new generation of Latino leaders. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) Two of Nevadas Democratic congressional candidates sat at a Mexican restaurant here recently listening as small-business owners vented over chips and salsa about high taxes, business regulations and health-care costs. Unlike most such conversations in U.S. politics, this one was conducted in Spanglish. The meeting was hosted by Catherine Cortez Masto, a Mexican American who would be the first female Hispanic ever elected to the U.S. Senate, and House candidate Ruben Kihuen, a Mexican immigrant who would be the states first Latino congressman. In a year when political parties and interest groups are spending millions of dollars to mobilize Latino voters and when the words of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are being used as a galvanizing force they are a rare sight. If Latinos show up to vote this fall, most of them probably wont find one of their own on the ballot. Hispanics comprise roughly 17 percent of the U.S. population, but just 2 percent of the countrys political officeholders, according to one measure. From left, Guadalupe Arreola, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, U.S. Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto and an unidentified supporter address campaign volunteers in Arreolas home in Las Vegas on Sept.15. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) In Nevada, Cortez Masto and Kihuen are each locked in close contests and they know they will need the votes of Hispanics, which is why they find ways to emphasize their backgrounds and to attack Trump. When Trump calls Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals, hes talking about my family. Its very offensive, Cortez Masto said in an interview. Trump is racist, homophobic and doesnt support our community not only with his words, but also with his actions, Kihuen told the business owners in Spanish. Javier Becerra, who owns a graphic-design company, stood up during the meeting and implored the business owners to help Cortez Masto and Kihuen: We have the biggest politicians, Hispanics, right there, he said pointing at them. This is a historical moment. Its not time to go to sleep and dream. Its time to wake up and work. [The fastest-growing counties for Latinos are in . . . North Dakota?!] There are Latino elected officials in at least 46 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, according to the nonpartisan National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). That tally includes more than 30 Hispanic members of Congress different accounts vary depending on how individual members classify themselves. At least 13 new Hispanic candidates are running for House or Senate seats this year, according to Democrats and Republicans, a group that would comprise the largest incoming class of Latino lawmakers ever if they all win. (Ten were elected in 2012.) Among them are Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), who is also running for an open U.S. Senate seat and would also become the first Latina U.S. senator. But she trails California Attorney General Kamala Harris in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Volunteers participate in a phone bank for Nevada Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto at Guadalupe Arreolas home in Las Vegas on Sept. 15. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) In New York City, Democrat Adriano Espaillat is poised to become the first Dominican American elected to Congress as he seeks to win the Harlem seat held for decades by retiring Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.). In Florida, Democrat Darren Soto is expected to win an Orlando-area seat, making him the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress from a state increasingly dominated by former island residents. Nationwide, Latinos represented 3 percent of all political candidates and 2 percent of all officeholders from the county level on up in 2014, according to a study by the Reflective Democracy Campaign, a project of the nonpartisan Women Donors Network seeking to elect more women and minorities to office. [Poll: Clinton leads Trump among Hispanics, but not by as much as you might think] Its actually pretty remarkable, because people of color are underrepresented in general both on the ballot and in elected office. But Latinos are the most underrepresented group, said Brenda Carter, who directed the study. But Arturo Vargas, executive director of NALEO, said that Latinos are increasingly running in areas not traditionally dominated by Latinos, including Republican Reps. Raul R. Labrador (Idaho) and Jamie Herrera Beutler (Wash.). These are not Hispanic elected officials being elected by Latinos. Theyre being elected in their own right by members of their political parties, and theyre presenting themselves as the best candidates, Vargas said. Which to me is a great thing because if we are going to only depend upon [congressional redistricting] to elect Latinos to office, were never going to approach parity. In Nevada, Hispanics comprise nearly 30 percent of the states voting population and 18 percent of the states eligible voters a sizable chunk in a competitive presidential battleground state. Both parties understand that Hispanic candidates can be the key to victory. After all, the states Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, is one of two of the nations Hispanic governors. What we have going on in Nevada did not happen overnight, said Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who has mentored Cortez Masto and Kihuen for years and is friendly with Sandoval. Reid understands the power of the Latino vote here perhaps better than any other national political figure. He barely won reelection in 2010 thanks to a last-minute surge of Hispanic support, especially among Las Vegass culinary and hospitality workers. We proved in 2010 that around the country, the strength of Hispanics is in the way that people vote, Reid said. Its gotten better, not worse, and its been compounded because of that worthless fraud running for president. The fraud, in Reids view, is Trump. Cortez Masto and Kihuen agree, but for them Trumps attacks are deeply personal. Cortez Masto, 52, is trailing Rep. Joseph J. Heck (R-Nev.) in a closely watched race to succeed Reid. Both candidates have faced more than $10 million in attack ads aired against them, including more than $7 million in ads against the Democrat paid by entities controlled by the industrialist Koch brothers, Reids longtime foes. Her father moved from Mexico at a young age and parked cars at a Las Vegas casino for a living; her mother was Italian. Cortez Mastos father occasionally spoke to her in Spanish, she said, but her parents insisted that she would speak English predominantly, especially outside the home. Very rarely did they speak it because at that time they felt it was all about assimilation, she said. Cortez Masto does not speak Spanish when campaigning among Hispanics she is somewhat unassuming on the stump but her aides distribute blue and orange Spanish-language campaign signs that say, Una de las Nuestras, or One of Us. [Tim Kaine can speak Spanish. But most Hispanics dont care.] Kihuen, meanwhile, campaigns flawlessly in both languages and is far more outgoing. Political forecasters give him the edge in a contest against first-term incumbent Rep. Cresent Hardy (R-Nev.) to represent the states 4th Congressional District. The 36-year-old, who pronounces his last name key-when, moved from Mexico in 1988. His parents first settled the family in California, then Nevada. Their first job was picking strawberries in the fields of California, Kihuen said. We didnt know where we were going to live, we had no connections, no friends, no family. Thirty years later, their son is a state senator running for Congress. Thats the essence of the American Dream. With less than two months to go, Cortez Masto and Kihuen can probably count on strong Hispanic support, but theres evidence that she especially may be struggling to connect. A recent Univision News poll released last week found that nearly 4 in 10 Hispanic voters do not know enough about Cortez Masto to register an opinion even though she leads Heck among Hispanics by a wide margin. The history of her candidacy should resonate more. Im not sure why its not resonating as much, said Gil Lopez, 29, a recent law school graduate at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas who is supporting Cortez Masto. Maybe because the whole election cycle, theres not that much excitement about Trump versus Clinton. But thats something weve got to really change. That will mean tracking down voters such as Sylvia Navarro, a Mexican American housekeeper, who lives in Las Vegass Winchester neighborhood. Standing at a street-corner food stand with her three teenage sons eating spiced mango and vanilla-flavored slushies, she said she had heard very little about Cortez Masto. Navarro was surprised to learn that she might have the opportunity to elect the nations first Latina senator. Really? she said. Maybe I havent been paying attention, but I havent seen anything about that yet. Dalton Bennett contributed to this report. The Afghan government on Thursday signed a long-anticipated peace deal with the political party led by fugitive Islamist militia leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, hoping it will help restore stability to the country and bring one of its most notorious warlords into the political mainstream. But domestic and international rights groups called the agreement an insult to the victims of Hekmatyar, 69, a ruthless leader whose rockets destroyed much of Kabul during the civil war of the early 1990s. He has been designated a global terrorist by the United States and blacklisted by the United Nations since 2003, which prevents him from returning publicly to Afghanistan. The agreement followed months of negotiations and has been personally championed by President Ashraf Ghani, who did not attend the ceremony. It was signed by his national security adviser, Hanif Atmar, and the head of the governments High Peace Council. It was signed on Hekmatyars behalf by a delegation of leaders from his Hezb-i- Islami party. We urge others to adopt the path of understanding like Hezb-i-Islami, said Pir Sayed Ahmed Gailani, who heads the council formed to promote peace talks with the Taliban and other insurgent groups. [Afghanistan has many problems. Its president may be one of them.] The U.S. Embassy, without mentioning Hekmatyars terrorist status, issued a statement welcoming the accord as a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end. It said the U.S. government supports an Afghan-led peace process that results in armed groups ceasing violence, breaking ties with international terrorist groups and accepting the Afghan constitution. Although members of Hezb-i-Islamis political faction hold senior positions in the Ghani government and in parliament, Hekmatyar and his armed followers have remained part of the panoply of Islamist militant insurgents, which is dominated by the Taliban. They have been actively fighting the Afghan government since 2002, at times in alliance with al-Qaeda. The key premises of the agreement are that it would pave the way for Hekmatyar to come in from the cold after nearly 20 years living underground in Pakistan and Iran, and that he would shift from being a provocative factor to being a calming one at a time when Afghanistan is racked by insurgent violence and political disputes. A preliminary accord was signed in May. It makes a difference if even one person joins the peace process, let alone an important leader like Hekmatyar, said Farouq Bashar, a political analyst in Kabul. He has huge influence in many parts of the country and has tens of thousands of supporters. However, analysts are divided on whether his return would have any significant impact on the Taliban and its violent designs on power, especially after a period of significant territorial advances by the insurgents, aggressive fighting in scattered parts of the country major attacks on the capital. Attempts at peace talks with the Taliban have broken down repeatedly. They have been totally stalled for more than a year. Hekmatyar is like the sharp edge of a fallen sword, both a liability and an asset, said Timor Sharan, the Afghan representative for the nonprofit International Crisis Group. The Afghan government is trying to show the Taliban and other groups that peace can be achieved and this is the only way forward. But the deal will have little impact on the conflict and intensify tensions among old rivals who already control the Afghan state. Moreover, Hekmatyar is a hated and feared figure for many Afghans, who would find it hard to accept his return to public life. The agreement includes provisions that would essentially pardon him for past abuses, including reported torture of detained opponents, assassinations and massive destruction caused by shelling from his militia stronghold outside Kabul during the civil war. [Kabul increasingly a target as Taliban launches shocking attacks] While the agreement was being signed in the Afghan capital Thursday, a group of protesters gathered in downtown Kabul, holding posters that depicted Hekmatyar with blood and rockets coming from his face. The posters read: We will never forgive the executioner of Kabul. In a statement, the Western-based rights group Human Rights Watch called the deal an affront to Hekmatyars victims and said his return to Afghanistan would compound the culture of impunity created by Afghan officials and foreign donors who have failed to press for justice against numerous ex-warlords. Adding to the bitter taste of Hekmatyars potential rehabilitation, critics said, is the fact that the deal will allow the release of all prisoners from his militia, permit his supporters to run for office and provide up to several million dollars for their security, housing and vehicles. Among those opposed to the agreement is Abdullah Abdullah, the governments chief executive and Ghanis partner in a unity government. Abdullah is strongly allied with powerful ethnic Tajik leaders, who worry that bringing Hekmatyar into the equation would add another ethnic Pashtun strongman to the tenuous political balance. A return by the Hezb-i-Islami leader to Afghanistans public life would cap a vertiginous career that followed the twists of U.S. foreign policy and Afghanistans internal conflicts. After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Hekmatyar became one of Washingtons most-favored champions of the armed resistance. After the war ended, he served briefly twice as prime minister, but also turned violently against the government. He has been a wanted international fugitive since 1997. Under the deal signed Thursday, Afghan officials agreed to press to have him removed from the international terror lists. They did not agree to Hekmatyars other major demand, which was that all foreign troops be withdrawn from the country. Constable reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. Read more U.S., European military advisers work to boost lagging Afghan combat readiness 11 killed, 30 injured as gunmen target American University in Afghanistan Taliban forces consolidate gains around Kunduz Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world A Pakistani Kashmiri takes part in a protest in Islamabad on Sept. 22. It was being led by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which is expressing solidarity with Kashmiris who are resisting Indian rule. (B.K. Bangash/AP) Military officials are calling it a routine exercise, but the thunderous spectacle of Pakistani fighter jets touching down on a major highway Wednesday and Thursday, with commercial flights suspended and traffic blocked for hours, has fueled public speculation that something much more ominous is afoot. The display of military readiness, which included a late-night jet flyover Thursday above this capital city, has come amid an unusually tense showdown with India, Pakistans nuclear-armed rival, following a militant attack Sunday that killed 18 Indian soldiers in the disputed border region of Kashmir. The air exercise led to the closure of commercial airspace over several regions of the country and triggered a sudden drop in the nations stock market. Indian officials have accused Pakistan of sending the armed attackers across the de facto border into the Indian portion of Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under public pressure to retaliate for Sundays assault, vowed that those behind the despicable attack would not go unpunished. So far, though, his government has taken no action. Pakistani officials have strongly denied the charges, and its military leaders have declared that they are prepared to defend Pakistani territory from any attack by India, and also to launch a counter-offensive in case of an Indian strike. The two neighboring countries have been adversaries for decades and have fought four wars. On Thursday, Indian naval officials issued a high alert for coastal areas after school children claimed to have seen four men moving suspiciously near a naval facility near the city of Mumbai, according to the Press Trust of India. Schools and some public buildings in the area were shut while a manhunt was conducted, and security was tightened at other coastal facilities. In New York, meanwhile, Pakistan and Indian officials have carried on a parallel war of words at the U.N. General Assembly. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif delivered a strident speech Wednesday, denouncing what he called ongoing Indian repression against unarmed protesters in Kashmir. In turn, Indian officials at the meeting criticized Sharif for praising a young militant commander in Kashmir, Burhan Wani, who was killed in July by Indian forces there, sparking days of rioting. Wani was a hero to many Kashmiri Muslims but had called for violent attacks on Indian forces. One Indian official at the U.N. said it was shocking that Sharif could glorify a self-declared. . . terrorist. The war of words gave an air of patriotic saber-rattling to domestic media coverage of Pakistans military exercises. On Thursday, one TV news channel broadcast repeated images of Pakistani Mirage and F-16 fighter jets touching down and taking off along the 240-mile high-speed motorway between capital and the city of Lahore. In response to Indian threats, Pakistani forces have also accelerated their preparations to safeguard the motherland and give a befitting response to any attack by the enemy, the accompanying voice-over repeated each time. It said the closure of air space because of these maneuvers and to precautions in northern Pakistan resulted in 10 domestic flights being cancelled. Some Pakistani press outlets also reported that the military exercises had caused a sharp drop in the nations stock market, based in Karachi. Pakistani air force officials described the activities as part of a routine air defense exercise, code-named High Mark, which they said had also been conducted in 2010. One official said that Pakistans new wide highways have been built in part so planes can land there in emergencies. It doesnt mean we are going to war. We are just exercising to check and increase our capacity, he said. But two security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue, said the exercises were more than routine and are part of a strategy to foil any possible Indian attack. We dont believe in aggression, but we will take any required action in our defense, said one official. We have taken air and ground defense measures. We dont want a war but we have the right to defend our land. Several Pakistani analysts said official concern about Indian attacks was justified, given the high degree of tension and the especially deadly nature of Sundays attack. Indian press reports have speculated about possible strikes against what India calls terrorist infrastructure targets, such as reported militant training camps inside Pakistan. Shahid Latif, a former deputy air force chief, said it was important to remind India of Pakistans military and nuclear strength as a deterrent to any impulsive act. He said the air force now has upgraded F-16s and JF-17 Thunder fighter planes. India is very frustrated and it could do something rash, such as launching surgical strikes, he said. Our forces are well prepared to counter any Indian attack, our air force is doing the exercises and the motorway is also being used for that. If India attacks, he said, our military command knows what it has to do. Pakistani officials said that on Wednesday and Thursday, Pakistani fighter planes landed and took off repeatedly at several points along the six-lane highway linking Islamabad with the eastern city of Lahore, near the Indian border. Highway officials said they were informed only shortly before each landing, and that they then diverted traffic to other roads. They said the fighter jets also landed Wednesday on another six-lane motorway that connects Islamabad to the western city of Peshawar to Islamabad. They said flights from Islamabad to the northern areas of Gilgit, Chitral and Skardu were suspended and will remain so for the next several days, with local airports being used by the air force. Annie Gowen in New Delhi contributed to this report. Read more: Scores of attorneys among the dead in suicide bombing in southwestern Pakistan Deadly attack in Indian Kashmir renews war of words with rival Pakistan Indian army suffers worst loss in years to militants, as 17 soldiers die in Kashmir Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 22 (PTI) Prominent civil society members Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar and Prashant Bhushan today urged the government not to approve the release of GM mustard citing "non-scientific, opaque and deceptive" processes adopted by countrys biotech regulator in studying it. In a letter to Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave, they said, "We write to you to communicate our rejection of transgenics in our food, farming and environment and to urge you to stop your regulators from providing any regulatory clearances to GMOs and their environmental release." advertisement "This applies to the current case of GM mustard in particular (all the 3 GMOs) but also all GM foods," said the letter written by citizens, which also include former health and agriculture ministers, eminent academics cutting across different disciplines and senior retired bureaucrats. They referred to the report on GM mustards biosafety datasubmitted by a sub-committee which was constituted by countrys biotech regulator- Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). After the sub-committee examined the data, the report was placed on the Environment Ministrys website inviting comments from stakeholders within a period of 30 days before the biotech regulator took a decision. "We urge you to extend the public feedback time to 120 days," they said. The report claimed that the hybrid variety did not pose any risk to biodiversity or agro-ecosystem. "We are alarmed at the non-scientific, opaque and deceptive processes being adopted by the regulators in the name of collecting public feedback on GM mustard," they said. They also urged the government to ask the regulator to put out the full biosafety dossier in the public domain for independent scientific scrutiny as has been done with other GMOs in the past. "...and make sure that feedback is collected in all forms without any prescribed formats," the letter said. Terming the GMOs as herbicide-tolerant, the letter said the adverse impacts of such crops including greater agri- chemical usage, more chemical residues in food and environment, entrapping of farmers in a seed-and-chemicals market trap and creation of super-weeds are well documented. "Importantly, in a socio-economic-cultural context where millions of women in India find employment in manual de- weeding, displacing them from existing employment opportunities has huge implications for livelihoods of the poorest in India," the letter said. (MORE) PTI TDS TIR RG KIS --- ENDS --- Police officers stand around Lin Ru, the wife of civil rights lawyer Xia Lin, after her husband was sentenced to 12 years in prison on fraud charges. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) A Chinese lawyer who defended activists and others in politically sensitive cases was convicted of fraud and given 12 years in prison Thursday, his lawyers said. It is the harshest sentence to date in the relentless crackdown on Chinas legal community. Xia Lin was sentenced in Beijing after being held in detention for two years, but human rights groups maintained that the charges were fabricated: Xias real offense, they said, was his determination to fight injustice and refusal to publicly confess to his crimes against the Communist Party and Chinese state. The fraud charge is just a smokescreen to cover the governments real intent: to clamp down on lawyers who are willing to defend clients in politically sensitive cases, said William Nee, a researcher with Amnesty International in Hong Kong. This excessively harsh punishment most likely reflects his unwillingness to cooperate and is probably meant to send a signal to other lawyers. Xia was seized in November 2014 as he prepared to defend Guo Yushan, the head of the Transition Institute, a private think tank that advocated for political and economic liberalization. [The Internet was supposed to foster democracy. China has different ideas.] Guo, who had expressed support for the pro-democracy Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong, was released on bail after a year. But he said Xia has been kept behind bars because he refused to supply a confession. Under President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party has engaged in the harshest crackdown on civil society in China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations protests that Xia attended as a teenager. Xia had gained a reputation for taking on sensitive cases, including an environmental activist investigating the shoddy school buildings that collapsed during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and a hotel employee who killed a local official after she said he tried to rape her. He also defended artist and dissident Ai Weiwei in 2011, and worked alongside prominent lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, who was himself disbarred and given a suspended jail term last December for criticizing the government on social media. In the summer of 2015, Chinese authorities rounded up around 300 activists and lawyers, and although most were subsequently released, more than a dozen remain behind bars. A first batch of four went on trial in August and were given sentences ranging from 7 years to a suspended three-year prison term. All four were shown on television making humiliating public confessions, renouncing their own actions and warning against hostile foreign forces and subversive ideas, such as human rights and democracy. Another prominent lawyer, Wang Yu, was released on bail after making a similar televised confession. She had been held for more than a year on subversion charges and remains under tight surveillance akin to house arrest along with her family, Radio Free Asia reported this week. Amnestys Nee said there was speculation that the remaining lawyers and activists in detention are those who have yet to cooperate, and this heavy sentence of Xia Lin could be a way to intimidate them into submission. Xias attorney Ding Xikui said his client was innocent and planned to file an appeal. This is persecution of Xia Lin, and procedurally it is illegal, he said. Xia was convicted of having swindled around 5 million yuan ($750,000) from other people to pay off gambling debts. But his lawyer said the loans had been freely given without any fraud. This was just borrowing and lending among people, Ding said. The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders listed a range of legal violations in Xias case, including the deprivation of legal counsel, grueling interrogation sessions, punishing him with bright lights, and the extensive use of shackles. The court did not give defense counsel access to evidence, nor did it allow the defense to call its own witnesses or question the other witnesses, the network said. Ding said the prosecution had made a mockery of the Communist Partys vow to govern according to the rule of law. Maya Wang at Human Rights Watch in Hong Kong said the harsh verdict did not bode well for Chinas civil society or the rule of law. President Xi said, in early 2015, that the law should become a knife held firmly in the hands of the Party; the harsh sentence reflects such ambition, she said. In a tribute to his friend, the Transition Institutes Guo said Xia had made an open vow as a student never to be a lackey or collaborator with evil. In May 2014, the pair had discussed the possibility of arrest and had now paid the price we expected, Guo said. I was detained because of Occupy Central, and Xia Lin chose to stand up at the most dangerous time, when the atmosphere was the most intense, he said in a telephone interview. He did the bravest thing, and now the government has imposed the crime of fraud onto him, stigmatized him and put him in prison. The two men, along with many other people, are all fated to be the stepping-stones, the paving stones for the age of the future, Guo wrote on the China Change website. Accepting this humble place in history is our honor. Gu Jinglu contributed to this report. Read more: As lawyers trials begin, China cites Western plot to topple regime Jailed Chinese lawyers confession has familiar ring She was a quiet commercial lawyer. Then China turned against her. Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Diplomats meeting here said revenue from Libyan oil, which has begun to flow again, should be used to support a new unity government and strengthen Libyas economy for the benefit of all Libyans. The country remains riven by rival authorities claiming power, an array of powerful militias and militants with the Islamic States strongest affiliate, but a fragile new government, which emerged from United Nations-brokered talks, is backed by the United States and its allies. Diplomats from 22 countries and four international organizations said in a communique Thursday that the various factions in the country should stop their infighting and unite to restore governance and face the terrorist threat in Libya. The meeting, chaired by Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, was attended by diplomats from Europe, Africa and the Middle East, all of whom are in town for the U.N. General Assembly. It came one day after a tanker carrying more than 770,000 barrels of crude oil left the port of Ras Lanuf for the first time since 2014, heading to Italy. But the port was seized this month by Khalifa Haftar, a powerful military figure who does not recognize the unity government in Tripoli. He instead supports a rival administration in eastern Libya, and it is unclear which of the two competing governments will end up getting the oil revenue if exports continue and grow. Libyas National Oil Corporation has said it wants to produce 900,000 barrels per day by the end of the year; current production is about 390,000. Oil revenue is seen as key to reviving the fortunes of Libya, where more than 200,000 would-be migrants are lined up on its shores waiting for boats to take them to Italy. Oil was the backbone of Libyas economy until former dictator Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. Though rich in oil, Libya will run through its cash reserves by next year. The diplomats who met in New York called on the unity government, known as the Government of National Accord, and the administrative Presidency Council to hold elections by next year and knit together an inclusive military composed of people from across the country. They offered training and equipment and said they would scale back an arms embargo so a national military could fight terrorist groups. We share the Libyan peoples desire to transform Libya to become a secure, democratic, prosperous and unified state, where state authority and the rule of law prevail, the communique said. This can only be achieved peacefully through inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation. The race is on to succeed U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, center, shown at the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 21. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) Amid all the speeches over urgent issues of war, refugees and climate change, one of the great uncertainties hanging over delegates to the United Nations is who will be the next secretary general. Secretary General Ban Ki-moons term expires at the end of the year, and no clear consensus has emerged on his successor. Straw votes among member states have winnowed the field to nine official candidates, including four women. But any of the five permanent members of the Security Council China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States could veto the candidate with the most support, for any reason. The leader by straw poll is Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal and until 2015 the U.N. high commissioner for refugees. But since no one knows who the Security Council five favor, the race is considered wide open. [With talk of Ban running for S. Korean presidency, his home town is abuzz] Tensions between Russia and the West, particularly the United States, threaten to spill over into the leadership selection. Washington reportedly leans toward Susana Malcorra, the Argentine foreign minister, but the United States has not publicly stated a preference. We select someone who we believe is the best candidate for this crucial position someone who we believe can be a strong advocate for an ambitious agenda that includes climate change, refugees and counterterrorism cooperation, said deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner. Moscow is said to insist on an Eastern European, in particular Irina Bokova, a Bulgarian who is the director general of UNESCO. Though it is not required, in practice the position goes through a geographic rotation. When it was considered Asias turn, for example, Ban emerged as a candidate China and the United States could agree on. This time it is widely presumed to be Eastern Europes turn, so Russia and the United States would have to find someone they can agree on at a time when they are at odds over Syria, cyberespionage and Ukraine. The halls of the United Nations are abuzz with rumors. Will Moscow veto Guterres? Will Washington nix Bokova? Will Bulgaria put forward another female candidate in her stead? And if the Security Council makes an unpopular choice, will the General Assembly revolt, putting forward its own candidate? The extreme and fierce dissension between the big powers on the Security Council undermines everything, said William Pace, a member of 1 for 7 Billion, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations campaigning for a new process for selecting the U.N. leader. If that now undermines the process of a merit-based selection of secretary general, the General Assembly will be very, very unlikely to go along with a rubber stamp as it has done for the last 70 years. The secretary general of the United Nations has the ultimate bully pulpit, but the position comes with little real power. There are very few problems we face at the moment that dont require an international response, said Natalie Samarasinghe, one of the founders of 1 for 7 Billion. The secretary general can provide sorely needed leadership. Others say it is essentially a managerial position. At the end of the day, what the job entails is not leader of the world, said Brett Schaefer, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation who has studied the United Nations. The members are sovereign states and set policies. The secretary general can raise issues, he can hector them. But he cant in the end make them do anything. This years process has so far had an unprecedented degree of transparency. Early in the year, countries publicly put forth candidates who traveled to world capitals introducing themselves especially the Security Council capitals. They answered some three dozen questions in a public question-and-answer session before the General Assembly and answered more questions posed in private before the Security Council. Im not campaigning, in the usual political meaning of the word, said Danilo Turk, a former president of Slovenia and a secretary-general candidate who gained experience and U.N. contacts as deputy secretary general for political affairs. This is more a diplomatic process. Im consulting. Im talking with representatives of the member states, especially the Security Council members, explaining myself and answering their questions. Im not involved in horse trading. Earlier this year, there had been high hopes that a woman could become secretary general for the first time. But most of the female candidates have not fared as well as the men in the straw polls, and several have dropped out. A group of 35 female ambassadors to the United Nations signed a letter this week calling for a woman to be selected. If the next secretary general of the U.N. is a woman, that will mean a commitment to gender equality and a role model for all the fantastic women and girls around the world to feel strong and empowered, said Natalia Gherman, a former acting prime minister of Moldova, during a visit to Washington last week. While some laud the new openness, others find it a little unseemly. My feeling is its uncomely and unnecessary to have this high school popularity contest, with Im up by one, youre down by two, said Ruth Wedgwood, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a former U.S. member of the U.N. Human Rights Committee. Hopefully it will be someone who has U.N. experience. That takes a long time to learn the ways of being skillful and respectful and seductive. You have to know what you have to do to get to yes. In this Oct. 22, 2105 file photo, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Two senior Democratic lawmakers with access to classified intelligence on Thursday accused Russia of making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election, a charge that appeared aimed at putting pressure on the Obama administration to confront Moscow. The jointly issued statement from Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Adam B. Schiff Californians who are the ranking Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees, respectively described recent cyber penetrations of the Democratic National Committee and other U.S. political entities as intrusions that were likely directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the least, this effort is intended to sow doubt about the security of our election and may well be intended to influence the outcomes, the statement said. We believe that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government. Feinstein and Schiff said they reached their conclusion based on briefings we have received from U.S. intelligence agencies. The blunt language goes far beyond the more equivocal characterizations issued by the White House and U.S. intelligence agencies, which have so far been unwilling to explicitly blame Moscow. Speaking with The Posts David Ignatius Sept. 20, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. said Russia has a history of trying to interfere with U.S. elections. (Washington Post Live) Speaking this week at a public event hosted by The Washington Post, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr., cited a long history of Russian efforts to influence elections abroad, and said that it shouldnt come as a big shock to people that Moscow might seek to use cyber capabilities for that purpose. But he stopped short of drawing aa direct link between the DNC hack and Russian intelligence services, amid an ongoing debate within the administration over whether to publicly blame Russia. White House officials have repeatedly insisted that they are awaiting the outcome of a formal FBI investigation, even though U.S. intelligence are said to have concluded with high confidence that Russia was responsible for the DNC breach and other attacks. The White House hesitation has become a source of frustration to critics, including senior members of Congress. The statement from Schiff and Feinstein did not critize President Obamas handling of the matter and called on Putin to immediately order a halt to this activity. In an interview, Schiff said that he and Feinstein think its important to deter Russia from continuing this kind of conduct that they be called out on it. Weve urged the administration to do that. He said the timing of the statement was not driven by any new developments in the investigation of the hacks. Its been in the works for longer than that, Schiff said, adding that evidence is strong in terms of attribution. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday accused the United States of failing to uphold its end of the historic nuclear agreement by delaying licenses for legitimate transactions and warning banks they could still run afoul of U.S. sanctions. In a lengthy news conference with reporters in New York, Rouhani allowed that the U.S. government has granted Airbus and Boeing permission to sell aircraft to Iran, a transaction announced Wednesday. But he said it should have been granted eight months ago, when the nuclear deal lifting sanctions for curbs on Irans nuclear program was implemented. He called the delay severe, and said the U.S. Treasury Department had reminded banks that U.S. sanctions remain in place for missiles and human rights violations. They frighten the big banks with the threat of potential action, he said. Large international banks with lots of exposure in the United States have acknowledged being concerned about violating U.S. sanctions and incurring huge fines. But they also have said they are reluctant to invest in Iran in large part because of a culture of corruption with virtually no transparency as required in modern day banking. Along with Russia, Iran is the biggest backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as well as a member of a multinational group trying to stem the violence and negotiate an end to the war. But Rouhani said he could not back a proposal by U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry to ground Russian and Syan warplanes so humanitarian supplies could be safely delivered. It has nothing to do with grounding flights, he said, speaking through an interpreter. If you ground flights, all you do aid the terrorists. They have mortar rounds, tanks, missile systems and artillery. The only thing they lack is an air force. Grounding flights is a step against the righteous and for the terrorists. Earlier in the day, Rouhani addressed the United Nations in which he criticized what he portrayed as a deliberate attempt by Washington to block Iranian access to the international banking system. Rouhani cited as one example an April Supreme Court ruling that Irans central bank must pay almost $2 billion to victims of terrorist attacks linked to Iran. The court held that Congress acted within its authority in passing a law enabling families of Americans killed in those attacks to recover damages awarded them in several lawsuits. Among them were relatives of those who died in the Marine Corps barracks bombing in Beirut in 1983. Rouhani started his speech with a mention of the terrorist attack on New York City that happened 15 years ago this month. On that day, no one imagined that this occurrence would lead to larger disasters, resulting in a devastating war in the Middle East and the spread of insecurity across the globe, he said. This war has sown the seeds of borderless terrorism everywhere on earth. Rouhani also slammed neighboring Saudi Arabia, its regional rival that has been engaged in a war of words with Iran over numerous issues: the wars in Syria and Yemen and the death of many Iranians who were among at least 750 people who died on pilgrimage to Mecca during a stampede last year. If the Saudi government is serious about its vision for development and regional security, it must cease and desist from divisive policies, spread of hate ideology and trampling upon the rights of neighbors, accept its responsibility for the protection of the lives and dignity of pilgrims and construct its relations with the nations in the region on the basis of mutual respect and accountability Rouhani said. Just as Secretary of State John F. Kerry was telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov late Thursday that the only way to salvage Syrias collapsed cease-fire was to immediately ground the Syrian air force, his chief of staff handed Kerry his BlackBerry. The Syrian government, Kerry read in a headline, had just announced a new offensive against surrounded rebels and civilians in eastern Aleppo. An hour later, a weary Kerry told reporters that the United States will continue to pursue every avenue of progress that we can, because its the only way to ease the suffering in Syria. He was no less determined today than I was yesterday, Kerry said, but I am even more frustrated. At the closed-door session with Lavrov and representatives of more than a dozen other nations involved in Syria, Kerry said, he had told the group that the only way forward was if the ones who have the air power in this part of the conflict simply stop using it. . . . Absent a major gesture like this, we dont believe there is a point in making more promises, issuing more plans. Kerrys proposal to ground Syrian and Russian aircraft in areas of Syria, first made at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, was the major topic of conversation in the hour-long session Thursday, one of a series of urgent meetings this week on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly. Russia, said a senior administration official, offered little response. While making clear after the meeting that he had no substantive progress to announce, Kerry said that if Russia comes back to us with constructive proposals, we will listen. Asked what the United States will do if the Russians do not agree to take extraordinary steps, another senior official said that was something were giving a lot of thought to. . . . I dont think tonight and right now, as were approaching a climactic stage of this, is the time to say where we go from here. . . . But that is very much on our minds. Officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Throughout the day in Aleppo, warplanes suspected of belonging to both Syria and Russia pounded rebel-held areas of the city, with residents and activists describing strikes as intense as they have ever been. Scores of people have been killed in airstrikes since Monday; 21 died Thursday evening when bombs landed on two residential neighborhoods, according to activists living in Aleppo. It is a moment of truth for the regime and for the opposition, Kerry told reporters, and for all of us who are determined to try to end this war in Syria and defeat the terrorist groups. Kerrys got the reputation of Mr. Optimist, an aide acknowledged. But inside the meeting, other members of the group who could feel and hear the frustration in his voice urged him not to abandon the effort, the aide said. Kerry said he would await a response from Lavrov, even as Washington and Moscow continued to exchange charges over responsibility for an attack on an aid convoy in Syria this week that spelled the conclusive end to a partial cease-fire that began just a week earlier. In the one gleam of hope, the United Nations announced that it had made a humanitarian delivery to one besieged town and was prepared to begin several more. Although they have made a handful of strikes in the past two years against terrorist forces that are fighting alongside the rebels, U.S. aircraft have focused on Islamic State targets to the north and east of where the Russians and Syrians have been striking. I would not agree that coalition aircraft ought to be grounded, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in congressional testimony Thursday. I do agree that Syrian regime aircraft and Russian aircraft should be grounded. Theres no reason to ground our aircraft, Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Were not barrel-bombing civilians; were not causing collateral damage. [U.S. admits carrying out airstrike that Russia says killed 62 Syrian soldiers] Dunford was also asked whether the military was prepared to share intelligence with Russian forces under the now-suspended cease-fire agreement, provided it could be reinstated and sustained. Assuming a cease-fire and aid delivery proceed, the agreement calls for the United States and Russia to coordinate their counterterrorism airstrikes. According to a leaked copy of the terms of the agreement, published Thursday by the Associated Press, it calls for discussion and sharing of information necessary for the delineation of territories controlled by the opposition and the Front for the Conquest of Syria, formerly al-Qaedas affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, and sharing actionable Nusra and Daesh [Islamic State] targets . . . in a way that allows strikes to commence as soon as the agreement is in place. We dont have any intention of having an intelligence-sharing operation with the Russians, Dunford said, although he was not asked to distinguish between intelligence and the territorial and target information sharing called for in the deal. In its latest statement, the Russian Defense Ministry repeated both its denial of any involvement in the convoy strike, in which at least 20 aid workers and civilians were killed, and its charge that it has proof that an armed U.S. drone was in the area at the time. The Pentagon has denied that it had any aircraft in the area. A spokesman for the Russian ministry, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said that Dunford and Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, who also testified Thursday, were expressing their personal opinions and the fear of responsibility for yet another blunder or deliberate provocation. Russia has repeatedly seized opportunities to drive a public wedge between the State Department, which negotiated the deal, and the Pentagon, which has questioned it. In a social-media post Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova seized on Dunfords statement that he could not say conclusively that Russia was responsible for attacking the aid convoy from the air. Just hours after Kerry had accused the Russians at a Security Council meeting, she wrote, The Pentagon is shooting him in the back. . . . This is how stupidly and mercilessly they framed the State Department. But while Dunford testified that he didnt know for sure, he said that what we know are two Russian aircraft . . . were in that area at the time. My judgment would be that they did [strike the convoy]. There were also some other aircraft in the area that belonged to the regime at or about the same time. So I cant conclusively say that it was the Russians. But it was either Russians or the regime. Asked about an internal disagreement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters in Washington: There is unanimity of opinion across the U.S. government that there wont be any cooperation militarily with the Russians unless and until the Russians live up to the commitments theyve made. There is no disagreement about that. In an early Thursday news conference in Geneva, U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said that in recent hours the Syrian government had granted permits for aid deliveries that had previously been withheld. Later in the day, a convoy of food and medical supplies arrived in the Damascus suburb of Moadamiya. But no convoys reached Aleppo. Eastern Aleppo, occupied by the rebels, with 250,000 civilians, is militarily encircled, it is impossible to get in with our aid, he said. Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border . . . and the drivers are sleeping at the border and had done so now for a week. Liz Sly in Beirut, Carol Morello in New York and Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: U.S. Special Operations forces begin new role alongside Turkish troops in Syria A breakdown of some of he gear U.S. Special Operations forces are using in Syria How U.S. Special Operations troops secretly help foreign forces target terrorists Israeli border police stand guard at Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sept. 22. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) A 13-year-old Palestinian girl approaches an Israeli checkpoint and is shot in the legs when she refuses to stop. A 16-year-old Palestinian boy tries to stab Israeli soldiers at a different checkpoint and is immediately shot and killed. A Jordanian holding a kitchen knife in each hand and shouting Allah Akhbar (God is great) attempts to stab Israeli police officers. He, too, is fatally shot. These and other incidents over the past week show a sudden uptick in violence in Israel and the West Bank. Six Palestinians who Israelis say carried out attacks or attempted to have been killed, plus the Jordanian. At least six Israelis civilians and security forces have been injured. One of the officers is in critical condition in a Jerusalem hospital. The attacks follow a roughly four-month lull in the violence that started almost a year ago. Throughout the spring and summer, there were only a handful of violent incidents, although some deaths occurred on both sides. When the violence began last fall, the stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks happened almost daily. Since Oct. 1, 2015, 36 Israelis, as well as two American citizens and an Eritrean, and more than 230 Palestinians have been killed. [A stormy alliance between Obama and Netanyahu reaches its end in New York] Israelis are calling it the knife intifada. They say it is not organized by a terrorist group, as in the past, but is spurred by incitement in the mainstream and social media, copycat attacks, personal distress, or maybe the desire to be a martyr or die a hero for the Palestinian cause. Palestinians say the attacks are a natural reaction to a situation of hopelessness fostered by the growth of Israeli settlements on land they want for a future state, a rightward shift in government policies and ineffective Palestinian leadership. It is like an accumulation of water in a glass; each drop adds to the water, and eventually it spills over, said Diana Buttu, a Palestinian analyst who was once involved in peace negotiations. There is no progress. The Israeli army is present all the time, and there is no hope for change. The Palestinian people are just fed up. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said there is no way to defeat terrorism and extremism and achieve security and stability in our region without ending the Israeli occupation. An hour later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that it was the Palestinian leadership that was filling its young people with hatred and hopelessness by celebrating the actions of those who have killed Israelis and for refusing to reach a peace deal. I call on President Abbas: You have a choice to make. You can continue to stoke hatred, as you did today, or you can finally confront hatred and work with me to establish peace between our two peoples, Netanyahu said. The prime minister invited Abbas to address Israels parliament, the Knesset, and said that in return he would like to address the Palestinian Legislative Council. [Palestinian leader says he is proud to be branded a global terrorist by U.S.] Moshe Maoz, a professor emeritus in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the violence is a product of the strife in Israel. Netanyahu likens what is happening here to the global terrorism threat, but it is different, he said. It is a nationalistic issue and a very important one. It is a situation that is unique to the area. Maoz called the lull in violence over the summer superficial. The Israeli occupation has gone on for 50 years without a break, he said. Palestinians say they dont have anything to lose. They have no hope. It is a deadlock, and they dont see any future. The incident involving the Palestinian girl occurred Wednesday morning. She approached an Israeli military checkpoint and was shot in the legs after refusing to stop. Unarmed, she told investigators that she had come here to die. A day earlier, a Palestinian boy tried to stab soldiers at another checkpoint. The youth, who was killed, was a relative of another young Palestinian, who in July fatally stabbed a 13-year-old Israeli girl as she slept in her bed in the nearby Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba. The renewed violence began last Friday, when a Jordanian national tried to stab Israeli police officers stationed at Jerusalems Damascus Gate. He was shot dead. Later that day, two Palestinians a man and a woman said to be cousins rammed their car into a bus stop. After wounding three Israeli civilians, the man was killed and the woman injured. Also last Friday, a knife-wielding Palestinian was shot by soldiers in Hebron. Another attack took place in the same area Saturday. The assailant also was shot and killed. On Sunday, a Palestinian tried to enter the Israeli settlement of Efrat. He stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli police officer before being arrested. On Monday, a Palestinian man was killed after stabbing two Israeli police officers, seriously wounding one. She remains hospitalized. Said Ayman Daragmeh, a representative of Hamas on the Palestinian Legislative Council, the stabbing phenomena are unexplainable, but as long as there is an occupation, these actions will continue. These are attacks of individuals. People have lost hope in their leadership, and as long as there are no political solutions, this will continue, he said. Qadura Farres, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, also pointed to a certain hopelessness driving the attacks. All the policies of the Israeli occupation and the settlement activities have shut down hope for the Palestinians to establish a state and have pushed them toward confrontation with Israel, he said. Taha reported from Ramallah. Read more Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world By PTI: From Yoshita Singh United Nations, Sep 22 (PTI) Slamming Pakistan at the UN for providing safe havens to terrorists, Afghanistan said Pakistan has been waging an "undeclared war" on its people by plotting "merciless" terror attacks and training and financing groups like the Taliban and Haqqani network. Speaking at the UN General Assembly yesterday, Afghnaistans Vice President Sarwar Danesh said his country has repeatedly asked Pakistan to destroy known terrorist safe havens but there has been no change in the situation. advertisement "Taliban and Haqqani network are trained, equipped and financed there," he said, adding that Pakistan has a dual policy of discriminating between what it views as "good and bad terrorists". He said that an "undeclared war" continues to be waged against Afghanistan and its people are still subject to "merciless attacks of terrorist groups". Citing the recent attack on the American University of Afghanistan and against a peaceful demonstration in Kabul, Danesh said based on "existing evidence", these attacks were planned and organised from inside the Pakistani territory. Danesh said that more than 10 Pakistan-based terrorist groups were creating obstacles for its state-building efforts and preventing the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan. He drew the global leaders attention to the presence in Pakistan of past and current leaders of terror groups like Al- Qaeda, Taliban and the Haqqani network. "We ask all all of you: Where were the previous leaders of the Taliban and A1-Qaeda residing, and where were they killed? At this very moment, where are the leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani network located?" he said. Afghanistan has always desired peaceful relations with all countries in the region, however, the government reserves the right to do whatever is necessary for the defense and protection of its people, he said. He also called on the international community to ensure that no distinction is made between good and bad terrorists in the global fight against terrorism. Despite security challenges, Afghanistan has kept the doors of peace and negotiations open for those Taliban elements and other armed opposition groups who are willing to give up violence, return to peaceful life and adhere to the Afghan Constitution. "In this connection, a peace agreement is about to be signed between our government and Hizb-e-Islami Party. This will be an important step for progress in our peace process," he said. He added that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) composed of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US can remain a useful platform to further peace efforts, so long as the government of Pakistan acts in good faith to meet and fulfill its commitments. PTI YAS SUA SAI SUA --- ENDS --- advertisement Syrian men remove a child from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported airstrike in the Qatarji neighborhood of Aleppo. (Ameer Alhalbi/AFP/Getty Images) Violence surged in Syria on Thursday as Syrias government made it clear it has no intention of abiding by U.S. calls for the restoration of the failed U.S.-Russian cease-fire deal. Late Thursday night, the Syrian army announced the launch of an offensive to recapture the rebel held eastern portions of the city of Aleppo, which has been completely surrounded by government forces for the past three weeks. Syrian rescue workers and activists reported heavy bombing in rebel controlled areas early on Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 40 air strikes from midnight onwards. The head of civil defense, the acclaimed White Helmets rescue service, in the eastern part of the city said three of its four centers had been hit by bombs, knocking two of out commission. Today, we can say our work has stopped because of the lack of fuel, the destruction of the equipment and the intensity of the bombardment, Ammar al-Selmo told Reuters news agency. The announcement of the offensive suggested that Syrias government has no intention of complying with any further cease-fire requests from the international community, despite appeals by Secretary of State John F. Kerry the day before to revive the failed attempt to stop the fighting. In an interview with the Associated Press in Damascus, a defiant President Bashar al-Assad said he takes no notice of what U.S. government officials say. American officials they say something in the morning and they do the opposite in the evening, he said. You cannot take them at their word, to be frank. We dont listen to their statements, we dont care about it, we dont believe it. Throughout the day, warplanes pounded eastern Aleppo. Residents and activists described strikes as intense as they have ever been in the countrys five-year-old war. Scores of people have been killed in the airstrikes since the cease-fire collapsed on Monday, and another 21 died on Thursday evening when bombs landed on two residential neighborhoods, according to activists living in Aleppo. The bombs continued to rain down as the evening progressed, and activists said they took the ferocity of the bombardments of the past 24 hours as a sign that a big battle is coming, said Ahmed Aziz, an activist living in the rebel-held areas of Aleppo. This means welcome to hell, said Abdulkafi Al-Hamdo, a teacher who lives in rebel-held Aleppo. We expect extermination. [10 new wars that could be unleashed as a result of the one against ISIS] The government, meanwhile, claimed victory over another small corner of the country, in the central city of Homs. Some 300 rebels and their families piled onto buses in the neighborhood of Al-Waer after accepting the terms of government surrender deal to leave their homes in return for safe passage to rebel-held territory further north. The official Syrian news agency SANA said Russian troops helped supervise the evacuation, which has been condemned by the United Nations and the Syrian opposition as a form of forced displacement. The capitulation of the rebels in Waer means that the city of Homs is now entirely under government control for the first time in nearly five years. The deal was similar to others that have been implemented in neighborhoods elsewhere that had joined the original revolt against Assad only to find themselves surrounded by government troops and cut off from food and medical supplies. The Syrian opposition and the United Nations have condemned the surrender deals, proclaimed as forced displacement, but they have proved an effective way for the government to slowly reassert its authority in areas that had slipped beyond its control during the rebellion. In the interview, Assad said he expected the war to drag on as long as the United States and its allies continue to support what he called terrorists in Syria. He refuted U.S. claims that Russia was responsible for bombing a U.N. aid convoy on Monday and denied that his government was bombing civilians. He also said that it was clear the U.S. attack on a Syrian army base in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Saturday that killed dozens of Syrian troops and contributed to the collapse of the cease-fire could not have been a mistake. Fighters with the Islamic State attacked right away after the American strike. How could they know that the Americans are going to attack that position to gather their militants to attack right away and to capture it one hour after the strike? he asked. So it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed. Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world From ELLE Two years ago, Emma Watson launched HeforShe at the UN with a history-making speech calling for gender equality (one that has been viewed on YouTube alone over 1.7 million times). Over a million men have pledged support to the UN Women movement, and while there is still work to be done, Watson is overwhelmed by the progress made in just two years. "We've seen seismic shifts in culture recently," she told a crowd at the New York City Museum of Modern Art last night. Watson was one of the last speakers in a stacked lineup that included speeches by Finland's President Sauli Niinisto, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Watson presented Trudeau a HeforShe pin on stage. She was very excited about it). Photo credit: Getty "I couldn't believe my eyes when I turned on the TV to see that Bud Light was pledging gender equality and equal pay as part of their current advertising campaign. We already have some amazing things happening, some amazing female leaders, but I don't know if I would have believed you if you had told me two years ago before I made my HeForShe speech that we might have the first female President of the United States-please don't let me down, America!-a female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and possibly for the first time in history, a female UN Secretary General." #HE4SHE Champion Pres #Finland, Sauli Niinisto joining forces w/ Emma Watson, Global Goodwill Ambassador of UN Women pic.twitter.com/sMRb37qYM6 - Kai Sauer (@sauerka) September 21, 2016 "While women still only make up such a small percentage of political leadership, to quote the awesome Michelle Obama, 'because of these women, girls and boys all over the world will have real-life examples that women are leaders.' In the last two years if I have learned anything, if they have shown me anything, it is that nothing-nothing-is impossible. And that's why tonight, as well as saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done, I ask you to recommit yourselves to be a part of gender equality. I genuinely feel that we are closer to a gender equal world." Watson ended on a personal note: "I am proud to have been part of lots of amazing things in my life, but there is nothing that I am prouder of than being part of this." Photo credit: Getty Watch and read Watson's full speech below: Gosh, I'm so overwhelmed. Thank you to everyone that has shared their story tonight and has contributed to what has been the most heart-warming moment of my year. Good evening. Being a part of HeForShe for the last two years has been an incredible learning experience for me. There have been some really hard moments and a lot of amazing ones: ones I never could have imagined. The UN Secretary General, the entire EU Commission, the NATO Secretary General, the President of the International Olympic Committee, numerous heads of state and politicians from around the world, including those that you've heard from tonight, and everyone from Usain Bolt to Tom Hanks are now all HeforShe. We've crashed the UN website on multiple occasions-sorry about that! We have lit up the Empire State Building, seen HeForShe in Times Square, and made it a term in the Urban Dictionary. After two billion media impressions, 1.1 million pledged HeforShes have made practical commitments, as have some of the world's leading universities and companies, to make gender equality a priority in their work and within their communities. Surprisingly though, it was during the hard moments that I made the best discoveries about what it means to be part of this movement. There is genuinely a spectrum of amazing feminists out there who have not only given me invaluable advice but also broadened my perspective and reinforced my belief that we are all linked. We all belong to a long history of people who have made sacrifices, some groups much more than others, in order to make indefinably large contributions to our modern lives. We've seen seismic shifts in culture recently. I couldn't believe my eyes when I turned on the TV to see that Bud Light was pledging gender equality and equal pay as part of their current advertising campaign. We already have some amazing things happening, some amazing female leaders, but I don't know if I would have believed you if you had told me two years ago before I made my HeForShe speech that we might have the first female President of the United States-please don't let me down, America!-a female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and possibly for the first time in history, a female UN Secretary General. While women still only make up such a small percentage of political leadership, to quote the awesome Michelle Obama, "because of these women, girls and boys all over the world will have real-life examples that women are leaders." In the last two years if I have learned anything, if they have shown me anything, it is that nothing-nothing-is impossible. And that's why tonight, as well as saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done, I ask you to recommit yourselves to be a part of gender equality. I genuinely feel that we are closer to a gender equal world, certainly closer than we were two years ago, and I know that each and every HeForShe has played such a huge part in that. I am proud to have been part of lots of amazing things in my life, but there is nothing that I am prouder of than being part of this. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful night. You Might Also Like Last Wednesday, Kanye West took offense to some less-than-complimentary words Kid Cudi had tweeted about him. Never one to bite his tongue, the Famous rapper fired back at Cudi in the middle of a concert in Tampa, Florida that night. Kid Cudi, dont ever mention Ye name. I birthed you, West, 39, said from the stage. We all dealing with that emo s all the time a me, Pat, Don C. Dont ever mention 'Ye name. Dont try to say who I can do songs with. You mad 'cause Im doing songs with Drake? Aint nobody telling 'Ye who to do songs with! Respect the God! But now it looks like relations are thawing between the hip hop titans. Last night during a show in Houston, West had a much kinder message for his fellow artist. I just wanted to take time out to say Kid Cudi is my brother, he said, calling him the most influential artist of the past 10 years, and I hope hes doing well. Kanye Wests updated response to Kid Cudi at the #SaintPabloTour in Houston, Texas cc: @TeamKanyeDaily pic.twitter.com/HPfx8fPgia a David Bullock (@AlaskasVeryOwn) September 21, 2016 The trouble began when Kid Cudi tweeted, I need y'all to know I got so many haters within the industry and these clowns know Im bout to crush their entire [existence]. Everyone thinks theyre soooo great. Talkin top 5 and be having 30 people write songs for them. He then turned his attention to West specifically. My tweets apply to who they apply. Ye, Drake, whoever. These n dont give a f about me. And they aint fin with me. Its unknown what prompted Kid Cudis criticism. He had been signed to Wests G.O.O.D Music label, before departing in 2015. Despite the business split, Cudi made an appearance on Wests recent album, The Life of Pablo. Mia Farrow with son Thaddeus in 2000. (Photo: AP Photo) Mia Farrows month has been one with incredible highs and lows. On the heels of the birth of her 12th grandchild comes word that one of her 14 children 27-year-old son, Thaddeus committed suicide. Thaddeus, who was a paraplegic, was adopted from India. According to a 2013 Vanity Fair profile on Mias family, in which many of her children were interviewed, it was noted that he was discarded in a railway station and forced to crawl on his hands and stubs of legs to beg for food. Later, while living in an orphanage, he was chained to a post and kids would hurl rocks at him. However, when the actress and humanitarian set eyes on him for the first time, she said, Thats my son, and brought him home in 1994. While she was told he was 5, doctors determined that he was actually 12. He had to overcome many issues beyond his physical ones, including a tendency to bite Farrow and try to rip out her hair. It was scary to be brought to a world of people whose language I did not understand, with different skin colors, Thaddeus who became a car mechanic and was studying to become a police officer told the magazine. The fact that everyone loved me was a new experience, overwhelming at first. Farrow issued a statement about his death on Thursday afternoon. Farrow had previously shared a photo of Thaddeus as well as Frankie-Minh not long after they joined the family. When Minh and Thaddeus joined the family #TBT pic.twitter.com/6T6yX4caYe mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) July 30, 2015 Farrow is the original Angelina Jolie when it comes to building a blended family. Shes a mother to 14 though now only 11 are living. This is her third adopted child who has passed away. However, having a big family wasnt her goal. Story continues I never thought I would have so many children, she told Vanity Fair. That was never a plan. Farrow with some of her kids in 1996. From left: Thaddeus, Frankie-Minh, Farrow, Isaiah, Tam, and Dylan. (Photo: AP Photo) Farrows growing family started with her second husband, Andre Previn, with whom she had three biological children. Twins Matthew and Sascha Previn were born in 1970 and are now a litigator and stay-at-home dad (married to a pediatric cardiologist), respectively. Another son, Fletcher Previn, was born in 1974 and is a vice president at IBM. It was with the conductor that Farrow adopted her first three children. First there were Vietnamese infants Lark (in 1973) and Summer, who later went by Daisy, in 1976, and they were followed by a Korean daughter, Soon-Yi, in 1978 a year before Mia and Previn divorced. Soon-Yi had been abused and left by her prostitute mother before Mia took her in when she was 7. We all know what happened with Soon-Yi, who embarked on a relationship with Mias longtime partner Woody Allen as a teen and is now married to him. Shes famously estranged from her mother. Lark, a mom of two, died of complications from pneumonia in 2008. As for Daisy, she is a construction manager in Brooklyn. After Mias marriage with Previn ended, she adopted Moses, who has cerebral palsy and was born in Korea, followed by daughter Dylan, who was born in Texas in 1985. By then she was in a relationship with Allen, and the director and frequent Farrow collaborator co-adopted them. After five years of trying, Allen and Farrow also had a biological child, Satchel, who changed his name to Ronan in 1987. Ronan and Mia Farrow at the Time100 gala in 2015. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Time) Ronan is the brainy TV personality (he graduated from college at 15) who stood by his sister Dylan, who accused Allen of sexual abuse, which she spoke publicly about for the first time in 2014. Dylan, a writer, just welcomed her first child, making Farrow a grandmother for the 12th time. Moses, now a family therapist and photographer, does not keep in touch with any of his siblings or with Farrow. He sided with Soon-Yi and Allen and suggested that his mom convinced Dylan that she was sexually abused by Allen when she wasnt, as some type of payback for his relationship with Soon-Yi. (Allen has repeatedly denied that he abused Dylan.) After Farrows relationship with Allen ended, she opened her home and heart to even more children five to be exact. First there was Tam, a girl from Vietnam, who was blind, in 1992. In 2000, she died, at just 19, of a heart-related issue. At around the same time that Tam was adopted, Farrow who in later years would ask her children to offer their opinions before she adopted any new children also adopted Isaiah, an African-American born to a crack-addicted mother. Now 24, he attended the University of Connecticut and later worked at a call center there. Quincy, who is also African-American and was also born to a drug-addicted mom, was adopted in 1994. A few years ago, she was still living at home while attending college. Thaddeus was also adopted in 1994. Finally, there is Minh or Frankie-Minh. Like Tam, she is blind and hails from Vietnam. She was adopted in 1995. In a 2013 interview with the Guardian, Farrow said, I dont know if you know anything about my family, but they are drawn from a large number of countries and different cities. Most of us are not related by blood but by love and the deepest commitment. As for her hopes and dreams for her eclectic family, she said, I certainly dont expect them all to follow in my footsteps. I want them to be happy whatever they do. But I have taught my children that the things that matter are the two Rs respect and responsibility. If you are guided by that, you cant go far wrong. SAN SEBASTIAN In a triple triumph for Argentina, Javier Van De Couters 7:35 am, Maura Delperos Hogar and Juan Pablo Felixs Malambo King won the top plaudits at the San Sebastian Festivals 5th Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, now firmly established as a key meet for producers on both sides of the Atlantic working the fertile axis between the two regions. Produced and co-written by Anahi Berneri, a distinguished director in her own right, whose Aire Libre played in competition at 2014s San Sebastian, 7:35 am marks the second feature from Van De Couter, a co-scribe on Aire Libre. Set up at Varsovia Films, the film company Berneri heads up with Diego Dubcovsky, Daniel Burmans producing partner for 20 years, it turns on one of the major current themes of Latin American cinema: Violence. 7:35 am refers to the time on Sept. 28, 2004 when a 15-year-old walked into a classroom in Carmen de Patagones, some 600 miles south of Buenos Aires, drew a handgun and shot dead four classmates, wounding five more. Set 12 years later, 7:35 am follows two of the school massacre survivors, one with scars, another with a bullet in one lung, as they attempt to track down the attacker. The film is a journey which may bring some relief, and asks the questions: Why did he do it? Why them? Why him? Van De Couter commented. Lead-produced by Nico Avruj and Diego Lermans Buenos Aires-based Campo Cine, producer of all Lermans movies, Hogar won two awards, the Arte International Prize, adjudicated by Arte France Cinema, its French co-production arm and offering 5,000 ($5,500) to the projects lead producer; and a special mention from the Co-Production Best Project Award jury. Co-produced by Italys Vivo Film (Le Quattro Volte) and Disparte. Hogar has already tapped coin from an Argentina-Italy bilateral development fund. Set at Hogar, a Buenos Aires home for teen mothers, Delperos film explores various forms of female desire: One inmates longing for a boy outside the home, and the birth of maternal instinct in a young Italian nun who looks after the this teen mothers baby when she escapes to see her boyfriend. Story continues The intensity of adolescence plus motherhood all in the same body, this is a problem, Delpero said when presenting the project Monday at the Co-production Forum. The first feature of Argentinas Juan Pablo Felix, Malambo King took home a new prize: the Efads-Caci Europe-Latin America Co-Production Grant, worth $22,000 and given by the powerful associations of European and Latin American public film agencies respectively. Set up at Argentinas Bikini Films, the movie underscored how even a debut can now command strong co-production support, Malambo King hitting San Sebastian with strong partners: Veronica Curas Utopia Group in Argentina, Santiago Seguras Bowfinger Intl. Pictures in Spain, and Frances Melocoton Film. Part road-movie, part father-daughter family drama, Malambo King turns on a con who gains a permit to leave jail for a few days to visit his daughters, but uses it to stage a highway hold-up. His daughters, however young, are far better without him, they finally decide, positioning Malambo King as a film which talks about the generation disconnect between parents and their children a major focus of movies this year at San Sebastian. Related stories Toronto Film Review: 'Rage' San Sebastian: 'Rey's Education' Tops Films in Progress Film Review: 'Colossal' Slovakia has submitted Eva Nova, Marko Skop's story of an aging actress, to the Oscars in the foreign-language category. The film, Skop's feature helming debut after a career as a documentary director, had its world premiere last year at the Toronto International Film Festival and has since screened at a raft of international fests, including this year's 51st edition of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. Emilia Vasaryova - who has a long and distinguished career in Slovak and Czech film - plays the title role where selfishness competes with compassion as the curtain comes down on her screen life. Skop says he was inspired to write the script for the film after an interview he once had with French actress Annie Giradot, who, though bitter, alcoholic and disillusioned, rose to the occasion and performed a version of her screen self. Eva Nova picked up the FIPRESCI prize at TIFF last year. This year it also has been nominated for the European Film Academy awards. The film, supported by the Slovak and Czech national film funds, is a co-production by Artileria with Sirius Films, RTVS and Filmpark. Slovakia has been submitting films to the Oscars since 1993 following the split-up of Czechoslovakia, but has never made the shortlist. There was controversy in 2008 as Juraj Jakubisko's Bathory, starring Anna Friel, was blocked from consideration for Oscar submission as it was shot in English. Read more: Bathory Leonardo DiCaprio is undoubtedly the highest-profile Hollywood name connected to the 1MDB Malaysian corruption scandal, which, in addition to more than a billion dollars of alleged money laundering, helped to finance his hit drama The Wolf of Wall Street. But another A-list name has appeared several times in the same orbit as the central figures in the fraud case, which is now part of a major U.S. Department of Justice complaint and ongoing criminal investigation. On April 16, 2010, Robert De Niro was among the guests at a star-studded event at the St. Regis in New York. The ceremony, also attended by Jamie Foxx and Charlize Theron, was held in honor of Najib Razak, the prime minister of Malaysia, and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, who was there to receive the inaugural International Peace and Harmony Award presented by the Business Council for International Understanding. Razak, who set up the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund at the center of the corruption scandal, now is understood to be "Malaysian Official 1" in a list of "relevant individuals" featured as part of the DOJ's record-breaking seizure complaint, which describes a "high-ranking official in the Malaysian government." A recent demonstration in Malaysia calling for Razak's arrest used the term "Malaysian Official 1" prominently. Three months later, De Niro visited Razak and Mansor in Kuala Lumpur, with Mansor telling Malaysian press at the time that she had offered him a personal invitation so he didn't "listen to all the wrong things" about the country and "put things in the right perspective." Read more: Leonardo DiCaprio, the Malaysians and Marlon Brando's Missing Oscar As De Niro, 73, was getting to know the Malaysian PM and first lady, Jho Low - their close associate and the businessman at the heart of the DOJ investigation who is alleged to have used 1MDB as his personal piggy bank - was doing a spot of shopping in New York. Story continues In February 2010, he splashed $23.98 million on a penthouse at the Park Laurel luxury condominium in Lincoln Square, and later made several inspections of a 76th-floor unit at the Time Warner Center overlooking Central Park where Jay Z and Beyonce once lived, eventually snapping it up for $30.55 million in early 2011. The listing agent representing the sellers for each purchase: Robert De Niro's son Raphael. Speaking by phone to THR on Aug. 20, the elder De Niro says he "was aware" that his son had dealt with Low on property sales in New York, although he asserts that he didn't know how their relationship had come about. Both New York properties are alleged to have been purchased using diverted 1MDB funds and now are facing seizure by the feds, with the Park Laurel apartment having been flipped in late 2012 to Riza Aziz - Razak's stepson (Mansor's son), another "relevant individual" in the DOJ's filing and the co-founder of Red Granite, which produced The Wolf of Wall Street. De Niro also confirms to THR he knew Razak and Mansor, having met them "a couple of times," adding that there had been early talks for him to star in one of Aziz's films at Red Granite. "But it never happened." The Oscar winner also says he met Low at a notoriously expensive A-list birthday party the Malaysian threw for himself in Las Vegas in 2012 and that Low initially had been interested in funding The Irishman, Martin Scorsese's long-gestating thriller in which De Niro is set to star, now moving ahead with STX. "But that was just talk and a long time ago," he adds. Read more: Red Granite Co-Founder Riza Aziz's Mother Is the "Imelda Marcos of Malaysia" De Niro's links to Low don't stop with a birthday party, however. According to the Jynwel Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Low's personal Jynwel Capital investment fund (which is itself accused by the DOJ of being used to make property investments in the U.S. via diverted 1MDB funds), it donated money to De Niro's Tribeca Film Institute, specifically the Tribeca Teaches program. A spokesperson for the Tribeca Film Institute tells THR it does not comment on individual contributions, but doesn't deny that the Jynwel Foundation had made a donation. Meanwhile, De Niro says he "didn't know" how much Low's organization had contributed. A donation to Tribeca Teaches wouldn't be unusual for Low, who has a habit of offering expensive gifts to the charitable organizations of his celebrity friends. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has received several donations from Low, including a Roy Lichtenstein sculpture that was auctioned last year, while Alicia Keys' Keep a Child Alive charity also has benefitted, with Low underwriting its annual Black Ball fundraiser in New York. When asked what his response would be should the Tribeca Film Institute be found to have accepted corrupt money via Low, De Niro is suitably direct: "What do you think?" he says, adding that he would aim to pay it back. But when THR inquired about his link to the 1MDB scandal and those involved, De Niro is less enthused to speak out. "I don't care whether my name is associated with it. I didn't do anything," he says. "I'm aware of it, but I don't give a shit. When I have to tell something to somebody, I'll answer to them and that will be it." Read more: Leonardo DiCaprio, the Malaysian Money Scandal and His "Unusual" Foundation As for the property sales, a spokesperson for Raphael De Niro's company, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, tells THR "nobody had any idea" Low's funds "were illegitimate," adding that brokers are "not required to vet the legitimacy of finances of buyers/sellers." The firm didn't respond when asked if it would return any fees or commissions earned from the two sales. But while quietly paying back any alleged 1MDB money received is one thing, voices from panic-stricken Malaysia, where Razak's government has moved to contain any criticism in the wake of the DOJ filing, are calling for the A-list names connected to the scandal - inadvertently or not - to voice their condemnation. "It's not just a mere moral imperative; I would expect them to follow through. There's no excuse to avoid being implicated or absolving themselves," says Nurul Izzah Anwar, a member of Malaysia's parliament and daughter of jailed opposition leader and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. "Initially you can say that you were not privy to the details," she adds. "But right now it necessitates quick action, quick recourse on their part. And it begins with a clear-cut denunciation of any wrongdoing and any persons who have been implicated in this whole sordid, kleptocratic episode." This story first appeared in the Sept. 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. The Avengers alumni have come together to urge people to cast their vote in the upcoming US presidential election, and they are making a not-so-subtle hint of rejecting the Republican nominee Donald Trump. By India Today Web Desk: With the US presidential elections looming around the corner, The Avengers decided to keep aside their superhero costumes and do their duty as responsible citizens. The Avengers alumni Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo, among other 'famous people', features in the video named Save The Day, urging people to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election. advertisement But that's not all. The Avengers are urging Americans to think twice before voting for a particular US presidential. "A racist, abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society," says Don Cheadle. "Do we really want to give nuclear weapons to a man whose signature move is firing?" adds Leslie Odom Jr, driving the point home. Okay, people. No cookie for guessing whom the actors are bashing indirectly: Donald Trump. But most importantly, the actors promise that if people vote, Mark Ruffalo will give the world a gift: a nude scene in his next movie. "Wait-wait, what!" stutters the The Incredible Hulk actor after the revelation on screen. Along with the Avengers, the campaign features actors Julianne Moore, Nathan Fillion, Leslie Odom Jr, Jesse Williams, etc.. The video also has "not so famous people" standing with the celebrities, making the same request. The video is part of Hollywood writer and director, Joss Whedon's new PAC (Political action committee) which is "dedicated to the idea that voting is a necessary and heroic act." Well, Americans or not, Donald Trump or no Donald Trump, we'll all hold Mark Ruffalo to that promised nude scene. --- ENDS --- If you're interested in exploring far-off corners of the globe by ocean or river, you're in luck. With a robust selection of itineraries, cruise lines and amped-up onboard experiences to pick from, cruises are well-suited for a variety of traveler preferences, pursuits and price points. "Don't get too hemmed in by defining bucket-list cruise vacation destinations as exotic or expensive. Your bucket list can be as simple or as exotic as you decide," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of cruise advice site CruiseCritic.com. Whether you're itching to explore Cuba's captivating streets or take in Iceland's stunning natural wonders, there's an unforgettable voyage for you. [See: 10 Bucket-List Destinations That Don't Cost a Fortune.] Soak in Cuba's History and Culture With looser U.S. travel regulations and increasing accessibility to the once out-of-reach island nation, Cuba should be on your radar in 2016 and 2017, Brown says. "So far, one U.S.-based mainstream line -- Carnival Corporation's Fathom -- has been granted access, but it's anticipated that as Cuba opens up, more cruise lines are poised to offer trips there," she explains. Fathom's 704-passenger Adonia offers seven-day voyages to Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and Havana. Prices start at $2,320 and include shore-side diversions, such as walking tours of Havana's Old City. Tour Distant Ports Across Japan "It's amazing how the cruise industry really is global," says Lorri Christou, senior vice president of strategic marketing and communications at the Cruise Lines International Association, noting an increasing number of itineraries across Asia in recent years. Wendy Perrin, founder and editor of travel-planning site WendyPerrin.com, highlights an 11-day cruise aboard Ponant's brand new L'Austral in May 2017 as a voyage to remember. The ship navigates Japan's west coast, from Osaka to Muroran and makes stops in off-the-beaten-path areas, she says. Prices start at $7,940 and are based on double occupancy. Highlights include exploring the Shinto Shrine in Hiroshima and Kanasawa castle on the island of Honshu. Story continues Explore Iceland's Other-Worldly Landscapes Iceland is no longer a best-kept secret, with increasing demand for accommodations far exceeding the supply and stretching the country's tourism infrastructure, Perrin says. That said, you can still experience the country's charms on a "small-ship cruise that sails along the coast," Perrin says. "While a lot of ships are touching on Iceland, Lindblad Expeditions is doing a 10-day circumnavigation in July. Sure, it's expensive -- prices start at $9,130 per person -- but these days a high-caliber land-based trip will give you sticker shock, too," Perrin adds. The July 2017 voyage starts in Reykjavik and sails past the Latrabjarg cliffs before continuing onward to the Arctic Circle and the Western Islands. Sail from Sri Lanka to Tanzania "A cruise is most enjoyable, and makes the most financial sense, when the ship's itinerary covers a group of islands that would be logistically difficult, time-consuming and cost-prohibitive to see any other way," Perrin says. She points to a 17-day itinerary aboard Silversea's Silver Discoverer in December 2017 that sails from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary. "More than 152,000 giant tortoises -- the world's largest population of them -- live on isolated Aldabra Atoll, the world's second-largest coral atoll, in the Indian Ocean," she explains. Plus, the ship hits fascinating places along the way, such as Seychelles. Prices start at $10,665 per person. Take in Rare Wildlife on a Northwest Passage Sailing "The biggest once-in-a-lifetime trip debuting this year was Crystal Cruises' trek along North America's Northwest Passage, a seriously small ship expedition destination that was a first for a larger vessel,"Brown says. The 32-day journey aboard the Crystal Serenity starts in Anchorage, Alaska, and sails across Greenland and the Arctic, weaving past striking glaciers and impressive fjords and polar bears and harp seals, among other residents. Prices for the August itinerary start at $21,855 per person, based on double occupancy. [See: 10 Affordable Last-Minute Cruise Vacations.] Or Sail Along the Northeast Passage If you're itching to tour wild, far-flung destinations, consider sailing along the Northeast Passage. "Few expedition vessels have transited it, but [Russia's Northern Sea Route] is now accessible, thanks to the recent changes in sea ice conditions," Perrin explains. "A history-making expedition aboard the Russian research ship, the Akademik Shokalskiy, will set sail on July 31, 2017," she says, highlighting that the itinerary offers the chance to explore isolated isles and catch sight of Arctic creatures, such as polar bears and arctic foxes. Prices start at $20,800 for the 29-day itinerary, which starts in Alaska, and ends in Norway. Explore Antarctica's Breathtaking Landscapes Luxury cruise line Abercrombie & Kent is offering a 17-day naturalist guide-led journey across South Georgia, the Falklands and Antarctica, with the chance to visit a penguin colony in Port Stanley, spot birds and whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and navigate the Drake Passage. And for its Dec. 13 sailing, the luxury tour operator is offering a 25 percent discount on select balcony suite cabins and the chance for a second child to sail for free. With the promotion, prices start at $15,995, down from the standard $18,995 rate. Explore East Africa According to Christou, there's a cruise for every style and budget, whether you're searching for cultural immersion or a family-friendly itinerary. And soft adventure travel is one of the top emerging cruise trends, Brown says. "Sure, it's best known for transporting passengers to seriously off-the-grid places like the Galapagos, South Pacific, Antarctica and the Arctic, but lines like Abercrombie & Kent, Lindblad Expeditions and Ponant also offer trips that focus on lesser-known places in popular regions," she explains. Africa also flies under the radar, Brown adds. AmaWaterways' Zambezi Queen offers a 16-night sailing in November that includes seven nights in a Tanzanian luxury safari lodge; prices start at $11,995 per person. Check Out New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands If you're searching for a one-of-a-kind itinerary, consider cruising to the Subantarctic Islands. Perrin points to a January 2017 Ponant itinerary as a less-traversed route through pristine environments across New Zealand and the Subantartic islands. "Very few permits are ever granted for Macquarie Island, but the expedition ship l'Austral has secured access for its 260 passengers," she explains. The itinerary particularly caters to animal lovers, she adds, noting that passengers "get to see penguins, albatross, sea lions, fur seals, southern elephant seals." Prices start at $12,810 per person for the 16-day sailing. [See: 10 Extraordinary European Cruise Ports You Shouldn't Skip.] Admire Wildlife on a Small Expedition Ship to Alaska ... or Belize and Guatemala. The 100-guest National Geographic Quest launches next June and will offer off-the-grid itineraries designed to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities. "It's made for exploring coastal waters and shallow coves where wildlife congregate," Perrin says, highlighting that nearly half of its cabins will be appointed with balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows. On the Alaska voyage, guests can explore spectacular national parks, while on the Belize and Guatemala itineraries in winter 2018, "passengers can snorkel, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or dive the largest reef in the Northern Hemisphere, then explore the ruins of Tikal," Perrin says. Prices for the nine-day Belize to Guatemala sailing start at $5,490 per person. More From US News & World Report If you're interested in exploring far-off corners of the globe by ocean or river, you're in luck. With a robust selection of itineraries, cruise lines and amped-up onboard experiences to pick from, cruises are well-suited for a variety of traveler preferences, pursuits and price points. "Don't get too hemmed in by defining bucket-list cruise vacation destinations as exotic or expensive. Your bucket list can be as simple or as exotic as you decide," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of cruise advice site CruiseCritic.com. Whether you're itching to explore Cuba's captivating streets or take in Iceland's stunning natural wonders, there's an unforgettable voyage for you. [See: 10 Bucket-List Destinations That Don't Cost a Fortune.] Soak in Cuba's History and Culture With looser U.S. travel regulations and increasing accessibility to the once out-of-reach island nation, Cuba should be on your radar in 2016 and 2017, Brown says. "So far, one U.S.-based mainstream line -- Carnival Corporation's Fathom -- has been granted access, but it's anticipated that as Cuba opens up, more cruise lines are poised to offer trips there," she explains. Fathom's 704-passenger Adonia offers seven-day voyages to Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and Havana. Prices start at $2,320 and include shore-side diversions, such as walking tours of Havana's Old City. Tour Distant Ports Across Japan "It's amazing how the cruise industry really is global," says Lorri Christou, senior vice president of strategic marketing and communications at the Cruise Lines International Association, noting an increasing number of itineraries across Asia in recent years. Wendy Perrin, founder and editor of travel-planning site WendyPerrin.com, highlights an 11-day cruise aboard Ponant's brand new L'Austral in May 2017 as a voyage to remember. The ship navigates Japan's west coast, from Osaka to Muroran and makes stops in off-the-beaten-path areas, she says. Prices start at $7,940 and are based on double occupancy. Highlights include exploring the Shinto Shrine in Hiroshima and Kanasawa castle on the island of Honshu. Story continues Explore Iceland's Other-Worldly Landscapes Iceland is no longer a best-kept secret, with increasing demand for accommodations far exceeding the supply and stretching the country's tourism infrastructure, Perrin says. That said, you can still experience the country's charms on a "small-ship cruise that sails along the coast," Perrin says. "While a lot of ships are touching on Iceland, Lindblad Expeditions is doing a 10-day circumnavigation in July. Sure, it's expensive -- prices start at $9,130 per person -- but these days a high-caliber land-based trip will give you sticker shock, too," Perrin adds. The July 2017 voyage starts in Reykjavik and sails past the Latrabjarg cliffs before continuing onward to the Arctic Circle and the Western Islands. Sail from Sri Lanka to Tanzania "A cruise is most enjoyable, and makes the most financial sense, when the ship's itinerary covers a group of islands that would be logistically difficult, time-consuming and cost-prohibitive to see any other way," Perrin says. She points to a 17-day itinerary aboard Silversea's Silver Discoverer in December 2017 that sails from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary. "More than 152,000 giant tortoises -- the world's largest population of them -- live on isolated Aldabra Atoll, the world's second-largest coral atoll, in the Indian Ocean," she explains. Plus, the ship hits fascinating places along the way, such as Seychelles. Prices start at $10,665 per person. Take in Rare Wildlife on a Northwest Passage Sailing "The biggest once-in-a-lifetime trip debuting this year was Crystal Cruises' trek along North America's Northwest Passage, a seriously small ship expedition destination that was a first for a larger vessel,"Brown says. The 32-day journey aboard the Crystal Serenity starts in Anchorage, Alaska, and sails across Greenland and the Arctic, weaving past striking glaciers and impressive fjords and polar bears and harp seals, among other residents. Prices for the August itinerary start at $21,855 per person, based on double occupancy. [See: 10 Affordable Last-Minute Cruise Vacations.] Or Sail Along the Northeast Passage If you're itching to tour wild, far-flung destinations, consider sailing along the Northeast Passage. "Few expedition vessels have transited it, but [Russia's Northern Sea Route] is now accessible, thanks to the recent changes in sea ice conditions," Perrin explains. "A history-making expedition aboard the Russian research ship, the Akademik Shokalskiy, will set sail on July 31, 2017," she says, highlighting that the itinerary offers the chance to explore isolated isles and catch sight of Arctic creatures, such as polar bears and arctic foxes. Prices start at $20,800 for the 29-day itinerary, which starts in Alaska, and ends in Norway. Explore Antarctica's Breathtaking Landscapes Luxury cruise line Abercrombie & Kent is offering a 17-day naturalist guide-led journey across South Georgia, the Falklands and Antarctica, with the chance to visit a penguin colony in Port Stanley, spot birds and whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and navigate the Drake Passage. And for its Dec. 13 sailing, the luxury tour operator is offering a 25 percent discount on select balcony suite cabins and the chance for a second child to sail for free. With the promotion, prices start at $15,995, down from the standard $18,995 rate. Explore East Africa According to Christou, there's a cruise for every style and budget, whether you're searching for cultural immersion or a family-friendly itinerary. And soft adventure travel is one of the top emerging cruise trends, Brown says. "Sure, it's best known for transporting passengers to seriously off-the-grid places like the Galapagos, South Pacific, Antarctica and the Arctic, but lines like Abercrombie & Kent, Lindblad Expeditions and Ponant also offer trips that focus on lesser-known places in popular regions," she explains. Africa also flies under the radar, Brown adds. AmaWaterways' Zambezi Queen offers a 16-night sailing in November that includes seven nights in a Tanzanian luxury safari lodge; prices start at $11,995 per person. Check Out New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands If you're searching for a one-of-a-kind itinerary, consider cruising to the Subantarctic Islands. Perrin points to a January 2017 Ponant itinerary as a less-traversed route through pristine environments across New Zealand and the Subantartic islands. "Very few permits are ever granted for Macquarie Island, but the expedition ship l'Austral has secured access for its 260 passengers," she explains. The itinerary particularly caters to animal lovers, she adds, noting that passengers "get to see penguins, albatross, sea lions, fur seals, southern elephant seals." Prices start at $12,810 per person for the 16-day sailing. [See: 10 Extraordinary European Cruise Ports You Shouldn't Skip.] Admire Wildlife on a Small Expedition Ship to Alaska ... or Belize and Guatemala. The 100-guest National Geographic Quest launches next June and will offer off-the-grid itineraries designed to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities. "It's made for exploring coastal waters and shallow coves where wildlife congregate," Perrin says, highlighting that nearly half of its cabins will be appointed with balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows. On the Alaska voyage, guests can explore spectacular national parks, while on the Belize and Guatemala itineraries in winter 2018, "passengers can snorkel, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or dive the largest reef in the Northern Hemisphere, then explore the ruins of Tikal," Perrin says. Prices for the nine-day Belize to Guatemala sailing start at $5,490 per person. Liz Weiss is the Travel editor for Consumer Advice at U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn, circle her on Google+ or email her at eweiss@usnews.com. It's been five years since Prince William and Princess Kate took a trip to Canada their first tour as a married couple. Now, as they prepare for their return to Canada on Saturday, here's a look at what's changed in the lives of the royal family since their 2011 trip. 1. They became parents (twice!) The biggest change? Will and Kate's family grew by two in the past five years, with the additions of Prince George in July 2013 and Princess Charlotte in May 2015. And it's safe to say that since then, the royal family's cuteness factor has skyrocketed. 2. Prince William left the military. Two years after their first visit to the Great White North, Prince William announced that he was retiring from the Royal Air Force after seven years in the British military. 3. And got a new job. The prince loves to fly the skies! After 18 months out of the military, William took on a civilian job as an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglia Air Ambulance. 4. Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games. Two years after William left the military, Harry followed suit, but he hasn't stopped working with the armed forces. In 2014, he launched the paralympic-style Invictus Games for wounded veterans have been a smash success in London and Orlando. The third installment is set for 2017 in Toronto. 5. And grew a beard. In personal grooming news, Harry grew a beard in 2015, which has been going strong (albeit, at varying lengths) ever since. 6. Kate's worn a tiara multiple times. We don't see Kate rock a tiara very often, but in the past five years, she's done it three times: At the Queen's annual diplomatic reception in December 2013 and again at the same event in December 2015, and at the China state dinner in October 2015. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. 7. They've gone on five more overseas tours. As well as making appearances all across the United Kingdom, Will and Kate have traveled to destinations as far as New Zealand and the Solomon Islands to a hop-across-the-pond jaunt to New York City. 8. The Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth marked 60 years on the throne and was celebrated throughout Great Britain. The festivities included a boat parade on the Thames in London. 9. And became the United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch. If you thought the Diamond Jubilee was a big deal, just wait. In September 2015, Queen Elizabeth officially passed Queen Victoria as the U.K.'s longest reigning monarch. 10. And turned 90. If the past few years weren't exciting enough for the Queen, she celebrated her 90th birthday in April 2016, a milestone Will, Kate, Harry and other members of the royal family were there to comment on in the documentary Our Queen at 90. South America, with its diverse collection of natural and urban wonders, stretching from staggering snow-capped peaks to sprawling metropolises decorated with towering skyscrapers, beckons to travelers of all kinds. Across the region, you'll find lush islands, storied ruins, world-cuisine, larger-than-life parties, endangered wildlife and so much more. But as enchanting as the continent's illustrious past and mixture of cultures and climates can be, visiting can also be overwhelming for first-time visitors. If you're itching to tap into the best of South America, follow these tips to explore the region's fascinating countries with ease. [See: Best Trips for Adventure Junkies.] Learn Local Phrases Picking up a few key phrases before you traverse South America's dynamic cites will go a long way. If you're planning to visit Spanish-speaking countries, make sure to master a few simple phrases to get you around with ease, like " Me lo escribe por favor?" (Can you write that down, please?) . Of course phrases such as " gracias" (thank you) and "Discuple" (Excuse me) help too. Also remember that if you're planning to travel to Brazil, the primary language is Portuguese, so be sure to learn a few essential phrases before your trip. Understand Visa Guidelines Each country in South America determines its own visa regulations for U.S. citizens. Some countries offer a nearly open border, while others require detailed visa documents. For example, Brazil requires U.S. passport-holders to obtain a visa for $160 before departure. Make sure to consult going current entry and exit requirements on the U.S. State Department's website. Time Your Trip South America is one of the world's largest and most diverse continents, so the best times of year to visit vary drastically. Argentina and Chile, which boast breathtaking landscapes are best seen in the summer. But for a more peaceful, crowd-free exploration of Torres del Paine or the El Chalten glacier, visit during the shoulder season (spring and fall). For those looking to visit the Amazon rainforest, October to November is the best time to visit, as there are less crowds and less rain, making it easier to spot local wildlife. If you don't mind the crowds, December to March ushers in festivals like Carnival in Brazil, along with pleasant conditions for exploring Ecuador and the famed Galapagos Islands. Story continues [See: Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to the Galapagos.] Follow the Festivals If you want to party while visiting South America, follow the continent's iconic festivals, many of which are known the world over. Brazil's Carnival, the largest in the world, is well worth planning a trip around thanks to weeklong parties, elaborate parades and ornate costumes. But Brazil isn't the only place with a lively festival and nightlife scene, however. The famous Mendoza wine region in Argentina hosts a National Grape Harvest Festival in March, which features the lights and parades of Carnival along with samplings from the area's top wineries. Know the Local Currencies Unlike the U.S., South America doesn't rely on one currency. Instead, there are a variety of types of currency used throughout the continent with different exchange rates, from the Argentinean peso to the Brazilian real to the Columbian peso. Also, keep in mind, the exchange rates fluctuate often, so use a reputable online currency converter to familiarize yourself with the current exchange rate before your trip. Bring Snacks Food is certainly not lacking in most of South America, but if you have a sensitive stomach, loading up on safe snacks before you depart from home is always a smart idea. If street food makes you weary and you're on a budget, bring ample things to keep you fueled between larger meals, especially if you're doing strenuous hiking, biking or climbing, such as peanut butter, granola bars, protein bars, trail mix and mixed nuts. Build a Bucket List The best tip to see the best of the continent without feeling overwhelmed? Arrive with well-thought-out list. Luckily, most of South American's top attractions provide multiple once-in-a-lifetime experiences. If you want to hike, head to Patagonia and trek through Torres del Paine National Park and Route of the Seven Lakes. If you've always dreamed of visiting Machu Picchu, trek the Inca trail, head to the ruins and then climb up to Huayna Picchu for unrivaled views. Even better, cap off your trip by exploring around the Sacred Valley. If you want to see multiple countries, pick destinations that require less travel time, such as Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay or Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Embrace All Modes of Transportation If you're used to traveling in the lap of luxury, you might be in for a bit of a rude awakening after crossing the border. Though there are many lavish ways to reach South America, one of the most popular (and cost-effective) ways to travel from town to town (or even country to country) is by public bus. While some public buses are pleasant, with air conditioning and comfortable seating, others lack plush seats and offer few stops while commuting from point A to B. Do your research ahead of time to ensure you find the best mode of transit for your itinerary. Flying is also easy and budget-friendly for many connections between major cities, thanks to low-budget airlines such as LATAM Airlines and Andes Lineas Aereas. Try the Local Cuisine South American cuisine is some of the most eclectic in the world, and each country has its own regional specialties worth sampling. If you've got the stomach and curiosity, make your way to vibrant food markets, which sell everything from fresh produce and exotic fruits to hearty dishes. When in Peru, you can't skip sampling ceviche or a pisco sour. In Venezuela, make sure to try arepas (flatbread sandwiches filled with cheese or meat). And while visiting Argentina, don't miss digging into a hearty steak paired with a classic Malbec. And in Colombia, you can't skip ordering a Dulce de Leche; street carts around Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena sell waffles or cones slathered with the sweet treat. [See: 9 Ways to Travel Better.] Allow for Spontaneity Whatever you do, if you're visiting South America for the first time, don't plan an overly involved itinerary. While you'll want to secure hotel reservations, plane tickets, bus transfers and tours, there are some details you'll want to wait to book until you arrive to embrace unique, off-the-beaten-path attractions and experiences. Plus, plans can change -- so allow for some impromptu trip-planning decisions -- whether that means a few extra days to cultivate a relationship with locals in Peru or skipping a well-traversed landmark to discover a local gem. More From US News & World Report The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or graduate school search. Different students prefer colleges of different sizes. And in many cases, the undergraduate population of a university plays a significant role in deciding where to apply. Among the 1,271 ranked schools that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average undergraduate enrollment for fall 2015 was 6,176. The average among the 10 schools with the highest undergrad enrollment was more than seven times higher at 43,936. [Explore six factors to determine the right college fit.] All 10 of those schools are National Universities, which offer a range of undergraduate majors plus master's and doctoral programs. Nine of them are public schools, with the exception being Liberty University in Virginia. None of the 10 schools on the list ranked higher than No. 50 in U.S. News' 2017 Best Colleges rankings. The University of Central Florida topped the list for the third consecutive year, enrolling 54,513 undergraduates in fall 2015. Liberty University and Texas A&M University--College Station followed in the second and third spots, respectively, as they did in the previous version of this list. Indiana University--Bloomington was the only school new to this year's list, replacing DeVry University in Illinois. [Discover the key steps to successfully complete college applications.] On the opposite end of the spectrum was Marlboro College in Vermont, which had the lowest undergrad enrollment in fall 2015 at 192 students. Below is a list of the 10 institutions with the highest undergraduate student enrollment in fall 2015. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report. Story continues * RNP denotes an institution that is ranked in the bottom one-fourth of its ranking category. U.S. News calculates a rank for the school but has decided not to publish it. Don't see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find enrollment data, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights. U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2016 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News' data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News' rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The enrollment data above are correct as of Sept. 22, 2016. Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com. Grow your portfolio internationally. International small-capitalization stocks are one of the best segments of the market where investors are better served by investing in funds rather than individual names. But they can be difficult to research. Small-cap stocks have less analyst and media coverage, and it can be difficult to find much English language coverage of all but the biggest foreign stocks. Combine the two, and you'll often find yourself wandering in the dark. These exchange-traded funds take the weight off your shoulders, giving you access to numerous flavors of international small caps. iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (ticker: SCZ) The SCZ is the largest international small-cap fund on the market at nearly $6 billion in assets. It focuses on small-cap stocks in the developed-market MSCI EAFE Index, and it has a decided bent toward Japanese and U.K. stocks, which comprise a respective 31 percent and 18 percent of the fund. You might expect tech or health care to feature prominently, but industrials lead at 22 percent, followed by discretionary stocks at more than 15 percent. One thing to love: No stock makes up more than 0.33 percent of the fund; France telemarketing specialist Teleperformance SE currently holds that top weight. Expenses: 0.4 percent, or $40 per $10,000 invested. Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) If you're looking to capture the world with a much broader stroke, Vanguard's VSS might be more your speed. While SCZ invests in 1,623 stocks across 12 countries, the VSS invests in more than double that (3,300) across roughly 45 countries. That isn't to say VSS is without lopsided geographical weights, but they're much less pronounced; Japan is more than 15 percent of the fund, Canada is more than 14 percent and the U.K. is close to 12 percent. Meanwhile, you also get exposure to bigger emerging markets such as China, and smaller ones including Egypt and the Philippines. Expenses: 0.17 percent Story continues Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) If you're simply focused on finding the cheapest way to invest internationally, you'll be unsurprised to find that Schwab can get you into the world's small caps for cheaper than anyone else. That said, there's nothing much novel about this one. It's similar to VSS in that Japan, the U.K. and Canada make up the biggest chunks of the fund, and it's like both SCZ and VSS in that industrials and consumer discretionary top the sector weights. Expenses: 0.16 percent WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend Fund (DLS) While most would consider small-caps to be a growth play, WisdomTree's DLS attempts to squeeze income out of the world's tinier companies. DLS invests in more than 900 companies across 23 companies, including a tiny allocation (0.17 percent) to the U.S. Japan and the U.K. lead at a combined 40 percent-plus of the fund. Nearly a quarter of the ETF's holdings are industrials, with roughly 20 percent more apiece to discretionary and financials. That makeup results in a fund yield of about 3 percent based on the past four payments. Expenses: 0.58 percent SPDR Euro Stoxx Small Cap ETF (SMEZ) There are a number of ways to target specific regions with a small-cap bent, including the SMEZ, which invests in the Euro Stoxx Small index. Heavy weights to industrials (18 percent) and consumer discretionary (17 percent) stocks are par for the course, but a thin holdings roster isn't. SMEZ holds just 93 stocks across 10 countries, with French and German companies alone accounting for about half the fund. The top holding, however, currently belongs to Finland, with food packaging specialist Huhtamaki Oyj making up 1.8 percent of the fund. Expenses: 0.45 percent WisdomTree Europe Hedged SmallCap Equity Fund (EUSC) WisdomTree specializes in "hedged" funds -- ETFs that not only invest in a particular area's stocks, but also hedge against fluctuations in their currencies. The EUSC is one such fund, investing in dividend-paying European small-caps while using currency hedges that help the fund perform better when the euro is weak -- which currently is the case. While industrials lead here, too, at 24 percent, financials make up a whopping 20 percent of the fund. Geographical distribution is good, too, with five countries (Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Finland) at double-digit weights. EUSC also is a strong dividend play at a nearly 4 percent yield. Expenses: 0.58 percent iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) You might be disappointed to find out that the Japanese small-cap ETF isn't overloaded with technology stocks, but an important thing to remember is how much industrial companies are intertwined with technology nowadays. Take SCJ top component Misumi, whose U.S. division is responsible for some 9 million-plus automation components for numerous industries, from health care to vehicles. All told, SCJ provides ample exposure to consumer, IT, real estate and materials. Energy and utilities are practically an afterthought. Expenses: 0.48 percent IQ Australia Small Cap ETF (KROO) MainStay Investments' Index IQ fund, KROO, has just $9 million in assets and trades literally only thousands, and sometimes just hundreds, of units each day. But anyone in KROO this year has enjoyed 23 percent returns -- quadruple both the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the large-cap iShares MSCI Australia (EWA) fund's 5 percent returns. KROO's also a refreshing change in that industrials aren't even a top-three holding. Instead, materials lead at about a quarter of the fund, followed by discretionaries (20 percent) and health care (14 percent). Top holding is Ansell, which manufactures surgical gloves and condoms, among other products. Expenses: 0.7 percent IQ Global Agribusiness Small Cap ETF (CROP) Index IQ also offers a few industry-specific funds, such as CROP, which invests in companies involved in businesses such as farming, livestock, ag machinery, chemicals and crop production. CROP is as focused a fund as there is in the small-cap world, featuring just 49 companies currently across a handful of countries. Top holdings Nisshin Seifun Group and Nichirei Corp. make up 9 percent and 5.6 percent of the fund, respectively, and make up a large part of Japan's 38.5 percent country weight. Next highest? The U.S., so CROP isn't an entirely international fund. Expenses: 0.76 percent IQ Global Oil Small Cap ETF (IOIL) The final fund on this list of international small-caps is also the least international. IOIL holds 67 companies, more than half of which are American. You only have to travel a little farther north to Canada to find another 14 percent; eight countries split the remaining 30 percent. IOIL covers the spectrum, from E&P to refining to services, and is like other energy funds in that it has struggled for years, but is poised to rebound smartly when oil prices rebound. One word of warning: This and the other Index IQ ETFs are thinly traded and have sparse assets under management. Expenses: 0.76 percent More From US News & World Report Bucharest (AFP) - Around 2,000 people protested in Romanian capital Bucharest late Thursday over the Senate's refusal to lift the immunity from prosecution of a former interior minister for "involuntary homicide". The protesters briefly blocked traffic in front of the upper house of parliament, waving placards bearing slogans such as "Corruption kills" and "Shame on You". Romania's powerful anti-corruption agency opened an enquiry last October into the death of a police motorcyclist who was escorting the former interior minister, Gabriel Oprea. Prosecutors allege that Oprea had abused the police outrider service and illegally purchased a luxury car from the account of his ministry's in-house secret service, the DIPI. At the time of the police motorcyclist's death the ministerial cortege was said to be travelling at an excessive speed. "Those elected cannot act however they please, they have to respect the mandate the voters give them. They can't just defend each other," one young protester said. Hundreds more angry protesters took to the streets in other Romanian towns on Thursday, according to local media. Oprea, who served in the social-democrat government until November 2015, has maintained his innocence and had called on the Senate -- which is dominated by social-democrats -- to reject the anti-corruption agency's call for his immunity to be lifted. The Senate vote on Monday was criticised by President Klaus Iohannis and by US ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm, who stressed that no person should be above the law. Romania, which entered the European Union in 2007, has come under strict surveillance from Brussels in the areas of corruption and judicial reform. In its annual reports, the European Commission has criticised the Romanian parliament over its refusal to lift the immunity of many figures targeted by the anti-corruption agency. Earlier this month Petre Toba, who succeeded Oprea as interior minister, resigned after becoming embroiled in an embezzlement scandal in which the in-house secret service is alleged to have improperly purchased dollhouses, playing cards and an oven. The World Health Organizations (WHO) announcement regarding the Zika virus scaling to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern status has been the talk of the nation for long. Zika, like many other mosquito borne diseases, took the shape of an endemic in many densely inhabited nations. However, things took a serious turn in the U.S.when a growing number of cases started cropping up. The Outbreak at a Glance Zika virus infections are spread through Aedes aegypti mosquito bites. Also, the disease can be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy and through sexual transmission. People infected with Zika may have symptoms such as mild fever, rash, muscle and joint pains or conjunctivitis. The infection may cause microcephaly and other birth defects during pregnancy. The Zika virus disease is believed to have taken a pandemic form, quite similar to AIDS. Since 2015, 70 countries and territories recorded evidence of vector-borne Zika virus transmissions. As of Jul 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a number of such cases with major outbreaks in the state of Florida. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total number of cases registered (locally acquired and travel-associated) in the U.S. and the U.S. territories were 20,870 as of Sep 14, 2016. Out of these, 3,176 cases were solely within the U.S. Among the 50 states, 639 identified cases were in Florida, with 43 of those cases locally acquired. Initiatives CDC has its own set of criteria to accurately detect Zika virus infection. Its Zika Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Antibody Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Zika MAC-ELISA) gained the U.S. FDAs authorization for emergency use on Feb 26, 2016, which was reissued on Jun 29, 2016, for the detection of Zika virus IgM antibodies in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (collected alongside a patient-matched serum specimen). This apart, there are drug stocks which are actively working on developing vaccines, and also a number of leading commercial laboratories in the U.S. that are working on tests to diagnose Zika infections in a comprehensive manner. According to the U.S. Association of Public Health Laboratories, the commercial laboratories can play a pivotal role in public health response to emerging infectious diseases like Zika. These organizations have the expertise, scale and logistics support, as well as access to healthcare providers and patients that support and extend the capabilities of the nation's public health laboratories. 3 Stocks in Focus Let us take a look at some of the commercial lab stocks that are actively combating and restricting this pandemic. These stocks, while still at their pipeline of success related to Zika, should be considered by investors for handsome returns. Quest Diagnostics DGX On Sep 21, this leading provider of diagnostic information and infectious disease testing services announced the launch of Zika Antibody Test Service based on CDCs Zika MAC-ELISA. Notably, Quest Diagnostics was the first commercial laboratory to receive FDA emergency use authorization for a Zika test for the qualitative detection of RNA from Zika virus in human serum specimens. On Sep 6, the company extended this molecular assay with the introduction of an RT-PCR Zika test service for the qualitative detection in serum and paired urine specimens. Story continues With the new test service, Quest Diagnostics offers access to Zika virus antibody and molecular laboratory test services in the U.S. as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. Healthcare providers in other countries may also refer specimens for Zika testing to Quest Diagnostics. Molecular RT-PCR tests detect the presence of Zika virus RNA and is most useful up to 14 days as the symptoms start, depending on sample type and other factors, compared to Zika MAC-ELISA which is useful two to 12 weeks following the onset of symptoms. Quest Diagnostics currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. QUEST DIAGNOSTC Price QUEST DIAGNOSTC Price | QUEST DIAGNOSTC Quote Hologic, Inc. HOLX On Sep 8, Hologic announced that the FDA extended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the company's Aptima Zika virus diagnostic assay to be used with urine samples (collected alongside patient-matched serum or plasma specimens). Hologic's Zika virus assay was authorized for emergency use with serum and plasma (blood) samples in Jun 2016. Its new use with urine samples lengthens the time period during which patients can be tested for Zika from seven days to 14 days following symptoms, as recommended CDC. The Aptima Zika virus assay by Hologic is a molecular diagnostic tool for comprehensive detection of Zika virus RNA (Ribonucleic acid) in human specimens. RNA is a type of molecule which has substantial genetic information. The assay or trial runs on Hologics Panther System which is a market leading integrated platform that entirely automates all aspects of nucleic acid amplification testing. This platform reduces time, labor and energy for manual errors. The Aptima Zika Virus assay has not received any FDA approval for commercial use and has only been authorized for Zika virus detection in in-vitro diagnostic tests. The assay is available for use in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. Hologic currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). HOLOGIC INC Price HOLOGIC INC Price | HOLOGIC INC Quote Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings LH or LabCorp On Jun 6, LabCorp announced the availability of Zika virus test using the RealStar Zika Virus RT-PCR Kit U.S. from altona Diagnostics GmbH. The assay has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for the qualitative detection of Zika virus RNA in serum or urine. RT-PCR tests for Zika virus can be used as a primary test only up to the first 7 to 14 days after the onset of symptoms, depending on the sample type tested LabCorp currently has a Zacks Rank #3. LABORATORY CP Price LABORATORY CP Price | LABORATORY CP Quote Conclusion As per Market Research Media report, the global Zika virus preparedness market is expected to reach $4 billion by 2022 and grow at CAGR 11% in the period 2017--2022. The above stocks are working hard to offer physicians and patients easy access to Zika infection testing services and respond to the alarming number of cases being registered in recent times. Now See Our Private Investment Ideas While the above ideas are being shared with the public, other trades are hidden from everyone but selected members. Would you like to peek behind the curtain and view them? Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' secret trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HOLOGIC INC (HOLX): Free Stock Analysis Report QUEST DIAGNOSTC (DGX): Free Stock Analysis Report LABORATORY CP (LH): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term. This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today lets focus in on Asure Software, Inc. ASUR as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for ASURs status as a solid momentum stock below: Short Term Price Change for Asure Software A great place to look for finding momentum stocks is by inspecting short term price activity. This can help to reflect the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand right now. It is especially useful to compare it to the industry as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area. With a one week price change of 14.30% compared to an industry average of 0.68%, ASUR is certainly well-positioned in this regard. The stock is also looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the four week price change compares favorably with the industry at large as well. Longer Term Price Change for Asure Software While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metricssuch as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful. And in the case of ASUR, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten out the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 33.55% to 7.39% while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of8.70%. Clearly, ASUR is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors. Story continues ASUR Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with ASUR as of late too. Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates have gone higher compared to none lower for the full year, while we are also seeing that 2 estimates have moved upwards with no downward revisions for the next year time frame too. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate as two months ago ASUR was expected to post earnings of 8 cents/share for the full year, though today it looks to have EPS of 19 cents for the full year now, representing a solid increase which is something that should definitely be welcomed news to would-be investors. ASURE SOFTWARE Price and Consensus ASURE SOFTWARE Price and Consensus | ASURE SOFTWARE Quote Bottom Line Given these factors, investors shouldnt be surprised to note that we have ASUR as a security with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Score of A.You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep ASUR on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near term. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Tale of the Tape, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ASURE SOFTWARE (ASUR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By PTI: Hoshiarpur(Pb), Sep 22 (PTI) Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh today alleged that the Akali-BJP government in the state has "lost all moral right" to continue "as it has no clue as what was happening in the state." He also expressed sorrow over the death of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja, saying the murderous attack on him reflected the "failure" of the government to protect the life of people. advertisement Addressing a farmers dharna organised jointly by the PCC Kisan Cell and the District Congress Committee here today, Amarinder reiterated that if voted to power in the 2017 assembly polls in Punjab, the Congress government will repay all the loans of the farmers and urged them not to resort to desperate measures like the suicide. The PCC president said, Gagnejas killing was only one in a series as earlier the Namdhari Mata Chand Kaur was shot dead. There was a murderous attack on Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and before that there were incidents of sacrilege and the government was totally clueless. "The situation and circumstances in Punjab today are such that no Punjabi is feeling safe as the Badals had given up on governance and it was better to sack this government", he said, adding, the "sooner it was done the better it will be". The former Chief Minister questioned the BJPs silence over what is happening in Punjab today. "I am shocked that they (the BJP leaders) have not been moved even by the murder of the one of their senior colleagues (Gagneja)," he said. "You have seen five years of my rule (2002-07) and now you have seen their ten years also. Now make a choice yourself", he appealed to the people. He asked Badal to clarify as how his government was going to procure the paddy as banks had "refused to sanction" Cash Credit Limit (CCL) for the purpose. Amarinder said, he was worried that despite the likelihood of a bumper paddy crop the farmers may not get right prices as there may be no buyers. Amarinder also warned people against the Aam Aadmi Party which, he said, was "worse than the Akalis". "Beware of the AAP lest you end up taking Punjab from lawlessness to anarchy and see what they have done to Delhi", he said. He asked Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to clarify himself whether he was in race for Punjab Chief Ministership or not. PTI SUN EMY RG --- ENDS --- advertisement The simplest method to decide on whether a stock is overvalued or discounted is to determine its price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) and compare it with the P/E of the market or peer group. If you find the stocks P/E is higher than that of the market, you can conclude that it is an expensive bid and vice versa. However, the problem arises when a stock apparently with an attractively lower P/E faces a dearth of catalysts to propel future growth. In such a case, if you buy the stock depending solely on its lower P/E, you might still end up paying more on the risk that the stock may falter soon. To avoid such value traps, Warren Buffett advises investors to focus on the earnings growth potential of a stock while judging the intrinsic value. And here lies the importance of a not-so-popular value investing metric, the PEG ratio. The PEG ratio is defined as: (Price/ Earnings)/Earnings Growth Rate A low PEG ratio is always better for value investors. While P/E alone fails to identify a true value stock, PEG helps to find the intrinsic value of a stock. Unfortunately, this ratio is often neglected due to investors limitation to calculate the future earnings growth rate of a stock. There are some drawbacks to using the PEG ratio though. It doesnt consider the very common situation of changing growth rates such as the forecast of the first three years at a very high growth rate followed by a sustainable but lower growth rate in the long term. Hence, PEG-based investing can turn out to be even more rewarding if some other relevant parameters are also taken into consideration. Here are some of the screening criteria for a winning strategy: PEG Ratio less than X Industry Median (P/E Ratio (using F1) less than X Industry Median (For more accurate valuation purpose.) Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), 3 (Hold) (whether good market conditions or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1, #2 or #3 have a proven history of success.) Market Capitalization greater than $1 Billion (This helps us to focus on companies that have strong liquidity) Story continues Average 20 Day Volume greater than 50,000 (A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.) Percentage Change F1 Earnings Estimate Revisions (4 Weeks) greater than 5% (Upward estimate revisions add to the optimism, suggesting further bullishness.) Value Score of less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a Style Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential. Here are five of the 13 stocks that qualified the screening: Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation SWHC: This is a provider of quality products for shooting, hunting, and rugged outdoor enthusiasts in the global consumer and professional markets. The company reports under two segments, Firearms and Outdoor Products & Accessories. This stock can be an impressive value investment pick with its Zacks Rank #1 and Value Style Score A. Apart from a discounted PEG and P/E, the stock also has an impressive expected five-year growth rate of 10%. Guess', Inc. GES: This company is a renowned designer, marketer and distributor of lifestyle collections of casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children matching American lifestyle and European fashion sensibilities. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 and a Value Style Score A. The company also has an impressive expected five-year growth rate of 16.3%. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation NTT : This popular name in the field of mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services, telecommunication equipment, system integration, and other telecommunications-related services has a Value Style score A. The company also has an impressive expected five-year growth rate of 9.5%. It carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. NTT DOCOMO, Inc. DCM: This company provides mobile telecommunications services in Japan. This Zacks Rank #2 and Value Style Score B company also has an impressive expected five-year growth rate of 23.4%. Western Refining, Inc. WNR: This is an independent crude oil refiner and marketer of refined products. This stock can also be an impressive value investment pick with its Zacks Rank #3 and Value Style Score A. The companys five-year historical earnings growth rate stands at 42.9%. Get the rest of the stocks on the list and start putting this and other ideas to the test. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and backtesting software. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today. Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance. Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NIPPON TELE-ADR (NTT): Free Stock Analysis Report SMITH & WESSON (SWHC): Free Stock Analysis Report WESTERN REFING (WNR): Free Stock Analysis Report GUESS INC (GES): Free Stock Analysis Report NTT DOCOMO -ADR (DCM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A recent announcement from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is causing an outcry: Users of a drug called kratom, which the DEA said it will ban, are arguing that the plant has beneficial effects for their health, according to the The Washington Post. The DEA announced in August that it is planning to ban kratom, and the ban could come into effect this month. But users of the drug, including people with chronic pain and people who previously used opiate medications, argued that the plant relieves their pain and helps them stay off opiates, The Washington Post reported. Here are five things to know about kratom. What is kratom and how is it used? Kratom comes from a tree in Southeast Asia called Mitragyna speciosa, according to the DEA. The leaves of the tree have psychoactive properties and can be crushed and smoked, brewed into tea or put into capsules, the DEA said. Why do people take kratom? Pain relief is one of the big reasons why people use kratom, said Marc Swogger, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, who published a study last year that focused on why people use kratom. Kratom appears to be a good analgesic, or painkiller, Swogger told Live Science. People have also reported taking kratom to help them stop using other drugs, particularly opiates, Swogger said. Some people reported "using kratom to ease symptoms of opiate withdrawal, and many indicated that they had success in discontinuing opiates," Swogger's study found. The findings support earlier research that suggested that kratom may have therapeutic potential as an opiate substitute, the study said. Other people in the study reported using kratom to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety, Swogger said. Although the drug may cause people to experience some euphoria and a sense of well-being, Swogger said he didn't think many people were using kratom specifically to get high. However, the drug is advertised as a "legal high" in smoke shops, he added. Story continues What does kratom do in the body? Researchers aren't entirely sure how kratom works in the body, Swogger said. "It's not an opiate, but it binds to the opiate receptor," he said. Most people think that a compound called mitragynine is the main active ingredient in kratom, but kratom hasn't been studied enough to know for sure, Swogger added. [Facts About Opioids Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Codeine & Others] Unlike opiates, which have a sedative effect, kratom seems to have a stimulating effect at lower doses and a relaxing and sedating effect at higher doses, Swogger said. People who have used the drug have reported that it provides pain relief but doesn't knock them out, he said. What are the risks? The common side effects of kratom are similar to those of opiates, including upset stomach, vomiting, itching and mild sedation, according to Swogger's study. However, the risks appear to be relatively mild, particularly when compared to those of opiates, Swogger said. While there have been deaths attributed to use of kratom, it's not clear in these instances that the person died directly as a result of using the drug, Swogger said. The people who died had taken other substances as well, he said. Overdosing on the drug is "almost unheard of," because people will start vomiting long before they overdose, he said. There have been two cases of liver problems in kratom users, Swogger said. Indeed, "given the preliminary data on kratom and a lack of controlled human studies, chronic ingestion is of unknown safety," according to his study. Is kratom addictive? Kratom has addictive properties, according to the DEA. Some people have reported experiencing withdrawal when they have stopped using kratom as well as developing a tolerance to the drug, according to the study. "Withdrawal symptoms and developing tolerance to the substance were generally, though not uniformly, reported to be mild relative to opiates," the researchers wrote. About one in 10 people in the study reported withdrawal symptoms after a period of heavy use followed by at least one day without using the drug, the study found. The findings highlight the importance of educating people about the potential risks of kratom use, the researchers wrote. People who have had substance use problems in the past "should carefully weight the potential pros and cons" of kratom use, namely that while it may be a less harmful substitute for other drugs, it may also be difficult to stop using the drug, the researchers wrote. Originally published on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. From Harper's BAZAAR Despite the long-mysterious season theme finally being revealed in last week's episode of American Horror Story, we didn't actually get a whole lot of information about the meaning of My Roanoke Nightmare. And while episode two still didn't get into the actual story of the lost Roanoke colony, we did find out a lot more about Matt and Shelby's nightmarish new homestead. Here are six key things we learned. 1. Shelby maybe has a death wish. Shelby's forest nightmare from the end of last week's episode culminates here as she stumbles onto a human sacrifice overseen by Kathy Bates, who is somehow making a northern English accent sound terrifying. Matt drives to the rescue just in time but seeing a man literally roasted on a spit while wearing a pig's head isn't enough to convince Shelby to move. "We will find somewhere else to stay," Matt insists, but she says no, refusing to "sit there cowering under the covers" like any normal person would. Later, the pair discover what appears to be a blend of human and pig meat roasting around a fire outside their house, which Matt calls "beyond having a cross burned on your lawn". Quite. 2. Lee's daughter is in danger. As soon as adorable little Flora mentioned her imaginary friend Priscilla, it was clear she was in trouble. Priscilla likes to talk about blood, among other things, and so it's no surprise that Priscilla is to blame when Flora suddenly goes missing at the end of the episode, her jacket hanging ominously from the top of am impossibly tall tree. We learn from Lee earlier in the episode that Flora is extremely adaptable and can "make any place her place" which is a skill that should come in handy now that she is potentially living in the forest with colonial ghosts. 3. Killer nurses used to live in Matt and Shelby's house The forest colony doesn't play a huge role in this episode once Matt comes to Shelby's rescue, largely because there is even creepier shit going on inside their own four walls. Matt has a vision of two demented nurses torturing and killing an elderly lady named Margaret a hat tip to season one's murder house nurses. Story continues A boatload of semi-crazy exposition delivered by Denis O'Hare in a videotape (the same guy Shelby saw in the basement tape last week) tells us that the nurses were two sisters who ran an assisted care facility in the house. Miranda and Bridget loved each other almost as much as they loved violently killing elderly people. They liked to kill victims whose names began with specific letters and in a specific order, spelling out their favorite word: MURDER (they could at least have spelled it REDRUM, but whatever.) The sisters' killing career came to an abrupt end before they could finish with the final "R", leaving "MURDE" on the wall of the house for Matt and Shelby to uncover. Crazy videotape guy's theory? "They were stopped by something even more evil than themselves". 4. There really is no such thing as "a good deal" in real estate Oh sure, you might think you're getting that beautiful North Carolina mansion for a steal, but what you are actually doing is moving into a former assisted living facility where vulnerable elderly people were murdered for fun. Once Matt and Shelby discovered the origin story of their new home, they tried to get a refund from the bank, unable to move because their every cent is tied up in the house. And the bank were dicks about it, because even with killer nurses this is still basically reality. 5. All three main characters are now having visions of evil in the house Matt and Lee both got their turn this week Matt was treated to the nurses murdering poor Margaret, while Lee's visions ended up being the creepiest part of the episode. She glimpsed the nurses too, followed by some bloodied wiggling pig tails on the wall, and the pig man from last week dancing in the mirror. When she groggily wakes up later, there are several knives stuck into the ceiling above her head, which Matt and Shelby chalk up to a drunken moment of rage on Lee's part because these people are deeply in denial. Reenactment Matt tells us it's "amazing how long a person can rationalize the irrational", and he ain't wrong. 6. Twitter found Lady Gaga Blink and you'll miss her in that forest opening. You Might Also Like Over the past few decades, the investment vehicles and strategies available to investors have increased drastically. Sometimes the wide number of choices can baffle seasoned investors, let alone new ones who are planning to enter the uncharted world of jam-packed trades with the hope of making some fast bucks. Each strategy comes with its own share of risks and benefits and requires investors to exercise reasonable caution before it can be pursued. The task of singling out one particular strategy can be quite daunting. Thanks to our investment screens, investors can now save on time and make prudent choices to create a solid portfolio. In this screening article, we discuss a particular approach which advises investors to bet on stocks that have scaled to 52-week highs. This particular strategy is designed on the philosophy of buy high and sell higher that challenges the old school doctrine of buy low and sell high. Though skeptics may raise a brow on the mettle of this 52 week-high investment strategy, we believe that this time-tested strategy, when clubbed with the right set of parameters, will help rack up sizable gains. An Insight into 52-Week High Stocks Stocks nearing 52-week high often instill the presumptive adjustment and anchoring bias principle in the minds of investors. This principle works on the belief that investors use the 52-week high price as a reference point and value stocks against this anchor. Many a times such stocks are prevented from scaling higher despite robust potential, due to the psychological bias of investors who fear that the stocks are overvalued and a price crash is impending. A few of the stocks remain undervalued due to prolonged under reaction on part of investors, despite bullish growth drivers. Meanwhile, news pertaining to robust sales, surging profit levels, bullish earnings prospects and strategic acquisitions can drive the stock higher. However, when a string of positive developments start dominating the market, investors find their under-reaction unwarranted and the renewed interest might drive stocks beyond the 52-week high bar. Wall Streets fast paced trading makes it imperative for investors to step in before the market gets a whiff of it. Story continues Also, recent academic research reveals that if a stocks current price is near its 52-week high, there are high chances it will outperform peers in the subsequent period. According to researchers George and Hwang, holding 52-week high stocks for six months has resulted in an average monthly gain of 0.45% between 1963 and 2001. Encouragingly, this is twice the gain that can be garnered from similar momentum-based strategies. Setting the Right Filters Our diligent screening technique has been deployed to find 52-week high stocks that hold tremendous potential compared to their respective industries. The added parameters are strong earnings growth expectations, sturdy value metrics and positive price momentum. These stocks are relatively undervalued compared to their peers, in terms of earnings as well as sales, which make us believe that they will continue their rally for quite some time. Current Price/52 Week High >= .80 This simply is the ratio between the current price and the highest price at which the stock has traded in the past 52 weeks. A value greater than 0.8 implies that the stock is trading within 20% of its 52-week high range and is likely to touch the 52-week high mark soon. % Change Price 4 Weeks > 0 It ensures that the stock price has moved north over the past four weeks. % Change Price 12 Weeks > 0 This metric guarantees a continued upward price momentum for the stock over the past three months as well. Price/Sales <= XIndMed Lower the ratio, the better. P/E using F(1) Estimate <= XIndMed This metric measures the amount an investor puts into a company to obtain one dollar of earnings. It narrows down the list of stocks to those that are undervalued compared to their peers. One-Year EPS Growth F(1)/F(0) >= XIndMed This metric helps choose stocks that have higher growth rates than the industry median. This is a meaningful indicator as decent earnings growth adds to investor optimism. Zacks Rank = 1 No screening is complete without our proven Zacks Rank, which has proved its worth since inception. It is a fundamental truth that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have always managed to brave adversities and beat the market. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here Current Price >= 5 This parameter will help screen stocks which are trading at $5 or higher. Volume 20 days (shares) >= 100000 Inclusion of this metric ensures that there is a substantial volume of shares that can be traded easily. Here are seven of the 17 stocks that made it through the screen: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. FDP: This company and its subsidiaries are engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables across the globe. The company registered a solid beat last quarter, surpassing estimates by 41.1%. Berry Plastics Group Inc. BERY: The company is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of value-added plastic consumer packaging and engineered materials. Berry Plastics beat estimates in three out of the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 14.0%. ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ANIP: Headquartered in Baudette, MN, it is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing & marketing of branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals. ANI Pharmaceuticals managed to beat estimates twice in the trailing four quarters, resulting in an average positive surprise of 46.9%. Stoneridge Inc. SRI: The company is a designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical & electronic components, modules and systems for the automotive, medium and heavy-duty truck, and agricultural vehicle markets. With an earnings beat in all the four quarters, Stoneridge has an average positive surprise of 21.8%. Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. CPS: The company is a supplier of systems and components to the automotive industry. Its products include sealing and trim, fuel and brake delivery, fluid transfer, thermal and emissions and anti-vibration systems. Cooper-Standard managed to surpass estimates in all of the trailing four quarters, clocking an average positive surprise of 51.2%. Amkor Technology, Inc. AMKR: Amkor is the world's largest independent provider of semiconductor packaging and test services. Also, the company is one of the leading developers of advanced semiconductor packaging and test technology. The company beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters at an average of 131.2%. Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SBS: The company provides public water and sewage services in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which includes Sao Paulo, one of the largest cities in the world. The company's principal shareholder is the Sao Paulo government. The company has three healthy earnings beat in the trailing four quarters. You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your trial to the Research Wizard today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today. Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance. Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SABESP -ADR (SBS): Free Stock Analysis Report FRESH DEL MONTE (FDP): Free Stock Analysis Report STONERIDGE INC (SRI): Free Stock Analysis Report AMKOR TECH INC (AMKR): Free Stock Analysis Report BERRY PLASTICS (BERY): Free Stock Analysis Report COOPER-STANDARD (CPS): Free Stock Analysis Report ANI PHARMACEUT (ANIP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From paletas to the penthouse, 89-year-old Fidencio Sanchez has received a huge payday from a GoFundMe campaign and will no longer have to sell ice pops on the streets of Chicago to make a living. Joel Cervantes Macias started the GoFundMe page with the small goal of $3,000 after seeing Fidencio struggling to push his cart down the street in the areas Little Village. Sanchez's daughter had recently died and he had to take on extra hours, Cervantes Macias said. In less than an hour, the fundraising goal was exceeded. Read: Two Strangers Raise More Than $165G for Man, 89, Who Sells Ice Pops for a Living Sanchez and his wife, who also sold ice pops until she was sidelined by illness, were presented with a check Wednesday for more than $380,000. The couple will now spend the rest of their lives relaxing with no plans to work again. My body won't let me [work] anymore. I did it out of necessity, but now I don't have to struggle anymore," Sanchez said in a press conference. "I'm so happy and grateful to be here and grateful for the people who have helped me and to the community whose big hearts have helped me and my wife in our old age." Sanchez sold the treats for a shop, Ponchos Paleteria, whose co-owner, Gustavo Pedraza, said Sanchez has been working for the shop since Pedraza was a small boy. He worked there for more than a decade. "He's been with us since I was a little kid. He's very humble, innocent, but a very hard worker," Gustavo Pedraza told the Chicago Tribune. "It's just amazing what happened here in Little Village because it became a national and international thing. We're going to miss him, but we're always going to be in touch." Sanchez said he has no idea how he will spend the money and that its a lot to think about. The campaign broke the Illinois record for money raised through GoFundMe and ranked in the top 25 in the United States. People from 69 countries poured into the campaign with donations ranging from $5 to $2,000. Story continues As Cervantes presented the check to Sanchez he said, This is so you can enjoy the rest of your life with your wife and your family without working so much. Read: Bride Raps to Vanilla Ice's Hit Song During Wedding Speech: 'He Got Me Ice, Ice, Baby' Cervantes is also very grateful for all of the support of something he didnt think would become so big. It just give me a different outlook on humanity, said Cervantes Macias It showed you that people want to be part of a feel-good story. Watch: Kind Cop Raises $50,000 For Family After Finding Son Crying Over Mom's Cancer Related Articles: By Arshad Mohammed and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Britain should apologize for its 1917 declaration endorsing the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and should recognize Palestine as a state, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, Abbas said that the Palestinian people had suffered greatly because of the Balfour Declaration in which Britain said it favored the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine but that this should not undermine the rights of others living there. "We ask Great Britain, as we approach 100 years since this infamous declaration, to draw the necessary lessons and to bear its historic, legal, political, material and moral responsibility for the consequences of this declaration, including an apology to the Palestinian people for the catastrophes, misery and injustice this declaration created and to act to rectify these disasters and remedy its consequences, including by the recognition of the state of Palestine," Abbas said. "This is the least Great Britain can do." The British mission to the United Nations had no immediate comment. Abbas raised the 1917 declaration - named for Arthur Balfour, then the British foreign secretary - in the context of other milestones, including the 1948 U.N. General Assembly resolution partitioning Palestine into two states and the 1967 war when Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking a short time later at the annual gathering of world leaders, derided Abbas for focusing on the declaration and alluded to the possibility of the Palestinians suing Britain for it. "President Abbas just attacked from this podium the Balfour Declaration. He is preparing a lawsuit against Britain for that declaration from 1917. Thats almost 100 years ago. Talk about being stuck in the past," Netanyahu said. An online video depicts Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki reading a speech on behalf of Abbas in which he asks the Arab Summit meeting in July to support the Palestinians in the preparation of a legal case against the British government over the declaration. MUTUAL RECRIMINATIONS The mutual recriminations in Thursday's speeches underlined the low expectations for any revival of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. As it happened, the sole speaker between the two Middle East neighbors was the prime minister of Norway, where the secret Israeli-Palestinian peace talks took place leading to the 1993 Oslo accords. The central issues to be resolved in the conflict include borders, the future of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which most nations regard as illegal, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem. Peace talks last collapsed in 2014 and there are few hopes for a resumption anytime soon in part because of Israeli anger at Palestinian attacks and Palestinian criticism of Israel's construction of settlements on occupied land where Palestinians want to establish a state. The Balfour Declaration states: "His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country," it said. Critics argue that Arabs were in the majority at the time and that the declaration failed to adequately take that into account. In his speech, Netanyahu excoriated the United Nations for routinely passing resolutions critical of Israel, saying: "The U.N., begun as a moral force, has become a moral farce." He said this would change as nations increasingly seek Israeli cooperation on terrorism, cyber-security, intelligence-sharing and areas such as health and agriculture. He invited Abbas to speak at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, saying he would "gladly" come to Ramallah to speak at the Palestinian Legislative Council. It was unclear if his offer was meant seriously. The Palestinian parliament has not met since 2007 and the first Arab leader to make a speech at the Knesset, Egypt's Anwar Sadat in 1977, was assassinated in 1981 after making peace with Israel. (Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy at the United Nations, Luke Baker and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Editing by Howard Goller) By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese leader to visit Communist-ruled Cuba on Thursday, landing in Havana to hold talks with Cuban President Raul Castro on topics from boosting trade to curbing North Korea's nuclear program. Abe's visit to the Caribbean island is one of a slew by western leaders since it began normalizing ties with the United States nearly two years ago. U.S. President Barack Obama visited Cuba in March. In an interview published in Cuba's Communist Party newspaper Granma on Thursday, Abe said he wanted to discuss trade, investment, cooperating on development and strengthening tourism exchange. "I also want to exchange opinions with a Cuba that holds great influence among the non-aligned countries about the reform of the United Nations Security Council, nuclear disarmament, the situation in Asia and other topics involving the international community," he was quoted as saying. Abe flew in to Cuba from New York, where he told the annual U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear program this year was "substantially more serious" than it was in the past. Cuba is one of North Korea's few diplomatic allies and a fellow member of the non-aligned movement formed in 1961 by states wanting to avoid siding with the United States or Soviet Union. Japan has a long history of trade with Cuba, importing seafood, tobacco and coffee while exporting machinery. Abe said he hoped to expand that economic relationship in a new era heralded by Cuba's detente with the United States and business-friendly reforms. "I believe firmly that Japanese companies can, as reliable partners, make a notable contribution to a Cuba that is updating its socio-economic model," Abe said The reorganization of Cuba's debt towards Japan, signed this week, should help towards that goal, he said. Cuba's other long-term trading partners have already used debt forgiveness, swaps and new financing to try to win investment opportunities on the island. Japanese firms wanting to gain a foothold in the country of 11 million people ahead of their competitors have descended there en masse in recent months, scouting for openings. Trading house Mitsubishi Corp opened a Havana office in July, telling Reuters it was keen to establish some infrastructure projects in Cuba which the Japanese government might help finance.. "I want to cooperate with Cuba, joining forces as much in the public sector as in the private one," Abe said. (Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Abigail Breslin wore a butterfly bomber jacket wed like to flutter away with Abigail Breslin wore a butterfly bomber jacket wed like to flutter away with We were super excited to see our girl Abigail Breslin make a triumphant return to the small screen in Scream Queens this week, but we were also so proud of the fact that she was honored by the National Womens History Museum (NWHM) on September 17th! The NWHM recognized Breslin for her achievements as a woman in Hollywood which include an Oscar nomination for her role in Little Miss Sunshine and for her work with Project Sunshine, a nonprofit that supports families living with medical challenges. We didnt think it was possible to love Abigail anymore than we already did but consider us convinced! To the awards brunch, Breslin donned what can only be described as an utterly fabulous bomber jacket. Covered top to bottom in butterflies and flowers, her embroidered bomber is definitely on our fall must-have list. Youre obsessed too, right?! We think that Breslin, who plays Chanel #5 on Scream Queens, was an awesome choice for the Women Making History honor. Shes long been an advocate for womens rights, and frequently posts on social media about social injustices, such as the too-short sentence for convicted rapist Brock Turner and the plight of carriage horses in New York Citys Central Park. Breslin was awarded alongside fashion maven Rachel Zoe, actress Tracee Ellis Ross, and NYX Cosmetics founder Toni Ko. An all-around amazing group! The post Abigail Breslin wore a butterfly bomber jacket wed like to flutter away with appeared first on HelloGiggles. The Daily Beast Patrick Pleul/AFP via GettyJust days after he promised advertisers that Twitter would not become a free-for-all hellscape, Elon Musk used the platform he now owns to amplify a baseless conspiracy theory about the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosis husband by an intruder.There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye, Musk tweeted Sunday morning in reply to a tweet by Hillary Clinton blasting the Republican Party for creating a toxic environment that lays the gr According to analysts, the BJP is trying to widen its presence not just in Kerala but in entire south India through Kerala. By Revathi Rajeevan: Kozhikode in northern Kerala is all set for a massive get together of the Bharatiya Janata Party. As the party holds it national council meet from September 23-25 with the presence of more than 2000 delegates, it becomes an important event not just for the party but for Kerala politics too. The party is trying to widen its presence not just in Kerala but in entire south India through Kerala, say analysts. advertisement "Kerala is a stepping stone for south India. The focus is entire south India. If they can have a substantial place here, way to other states where they do not have a significant presence will be easier. This is the most important state for them at the moment," says J Prabhash, head of Department of Political Science, Kerala University. READ: Uri attack, Pakistan to figure in BJP national council meet in Kerala But the BJP's interest in Kerala is not new. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh held its party conclave in Kozhikode in 1967. Its late president Deendayal Upadhayaya's centenary celebrations is to be concluded on September 25. Upadhyaya was elected president from Kozhikode. However, the venue of the meeting is seen more as political even while the reasons cited are sentimental. "The party has a sizeable presence in north Kerala starting from Kasargod, the northern most district. They will expand their presence in Kerala through north Kerala," adds Prabhash. Kerala is the most important but not the easiest for the party to conquer. Its stand and remarks associated with Kerala have often backfired. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Somalia" comment to Amit Shah's vamana jayanthi wishes for Onam. Its attempt for Hindutvaisation has not many supporters. What works for the party in the rest of the country is unlikely to work here. "It is important for the party to show that they are capable of changing. It has been showing indicators of adjustment. For example, party president Kummanam Rajasekharan had said one can eat anything one wants to. Because the anti-beef policy won't work here," says BRP Bhaskar, a veteran journalist and political analyst. READ| Kerala shocker: 90-year-old cancer patient raped During its three day meet, not only is the party expected to discuss strategies to increase their vote share in the next election in Kerala, it is also expected that the party would make repeated attempts to portray the Left government in poor light, its traditional rival party specially in north Kerala. The eye-for-an-eye activities by BJP and CPM in Kannur has cost the lives of hundreds of party workers in past decades with neither of them willing to put an end to it. The BJP's three-day meet will also be a showcase of its strength in Kerala. advertisement "The party is look at increasing their vote share to 20-25 per cent in the state. And the BJP is going to do this by joining with other parties or splitting other parties, sooner or later," says P Rajan, senior journalist. --- ENDS --- Kabul (AFP) - Afghanistan Thursday signed a peace agreement with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for him to make a political comeback despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. Hekmatyar, who heads the now largely dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group, is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. The deal with Afghanistan's second-biggest militant group marks a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani, who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taliban. A Hezb-i-Islami delegation shook hands with members of the High Peace Council (HPC), responsible for reconciliation efforts with militants, and the national security adviser at an official ceremony in Kabul. "This is not just a peace deal between Hezb-i-Islami and the government of Afghanistan," Mohammad Amin Karim, head of the insurgent delegation, said at the ceremony, which was not attended by Hekmatyar. "It is a beginning of a new era of peace all around the country." The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by Ghani and Hekmatyar, the government said, though no date has been set. "Destruction is the only consequence of war. So I urge all the opposition groups to pursue peace and reconciliation," said HPC chief Sayed Ahmad Gilani. Hekmatyar, derided widely as the "butcher of Kabul", was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war. He is widely believed to be in hiding in Pakistan, but his group claims he remains in Afghanistan. The deal paves the way for him to make a comeback in mainstream politics in a pattern well established by other warlords, such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum, currently the country's first vice president. But it has sparked revulsion from human rights groups and residents of the capital who survived the civil war. Story continues A group of activists protested in Kabul holding placards portraying Hekmatyar with blood spilling from his mouth and a rocket piercing his nose. It read: "We cannot forgive the executioner of Kabul." - 'Culture of impunity' - "His return will compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s," Human Rights Watch said last month. According to the agreement, the government will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity "in all past political and military proceedings" as well as release Hezb-i-Islami prisoners in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. Hekmatyar is designated a "global terrorist" by the US and is blacklisted by the UN. The Afghan government will work towards lifting those restrictions. "Afghanistan has been failing in negotiating peace with militant groups for the last 15 years, and this deal marks the first practical success in that regard," Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir told AFP. "This could be a template for peace deals with other militant groups and marks an achievement for Ghani ahead of the Brussels" development aid conference in October, he added. The deal is not likely to have an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan. Hezb-i-Islami has been largely inactive in recent years, with its last big attack in Afghanistan in 2013. It killed 15 people including five Americans. But it was welcomed by the country's international partners including the United States, which hailed the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" process. "The initialling of a peace agreement... sends a strong signal of hope for Afghanistan," the European Union said, expressing hope for an early implementation of the deal. "It demonstrates that political processes can succeed where conflict cannot." The government took the opportunity to renew its offer for peace talks to the Taliban, who have persistently refused to engage in negotiations as they ramp up their nationwide offensive against the Western-backed regime. Afghanistans government signed a peace deal with an insurgent faction led by a notorious warlord on Thursday, after months of delays in negotiations. Members of the Hezb-i-Islami faction that follows Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed the deal in a ceremony with the government negotiators and a national security advisor to Afghanistans president, CNN reports. Hekmatyar has been called the butcher of Kabul, accused of killing thousands of civilians during the civil war that took place in Afghanistan in the 1990s. As we sign peace agreement with Hezb-e-Islami, we invite #Taliban to pick peace over violence and secure a better future for themselves, wrote Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in a tweet. Hematyar was at one point known as an ally of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. Pres.@AshrafGhani congratulates HPC on peace agreement with Hezb-e-Islami and encourages others to join the Afghan led peace process. (@ARG_AFG) September 22, 2016 The United States Embassy called the agreement a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end, as Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani has worked towards peace talks with the Taliban, among other groups involved in the conflict. Human Rights Watch did not approve of the deal, and said in a statement that striking peace with a warlord despite past crimes would add to a culture of impunity. Hekmatyar has been prominent in Afghanistan for more than 30 years. Before the accusations of war crimes and he went into hiding, the U.S. sent him $600 million as it supported Afghan mujaheddin who were Anti-Soviet commanders against occupation. [CNN] (Adds executive comment and background in paragraph 7) Sept 22 (Reuters) - The commercial aircraft unit of Airbus Group SE is confident in plans from engine maker Pratt & Whitney to solve production delays for its next-generation single-aisle planes, the A320neo, Chief Operating Officer for Customers John Leahy said Thursday. "It is disappointing the situation we find ourselves in. But it's a good engine for everything we can see. They have some production difficulties that they're working their way through," Leahy told reporters in New York after a gathering of aviation executives and analysts known as the Wings Club. United Technologies Corp said earlier this month it would deliver 150 of its Pratt & Whitney engines this year, missing its target of 200 and pressuring cash flow. Separately, Leahy dismissed doubts over demand for the world's largest passenger plane, the double-decker A380, after Airbus lowered production targets in July. "Every 15 years, the industry is doubling in size," Leahy said. "So here you have London Heathrow, totally congested. JFK, congested. Los Angeles, congested. Hong Kong, congested. How are we going to double the traffic flows in the next 15 years if we don't use larger aircraft like the A380?" Despite that longer-term optimism, Airbus now is lacking in new orders for the A380. In 2018, the company plans to cut the A380's delivery target to 12 a year from 27 in 2015 and about half what is projected for this year, to prevent a glut of unsold planes. Singapore Airlines Ltd said this month it will not extend a lease that expires next year for one of its A380s. Leahy said the move was not surprising because Singapore tends to fly newer aircraft and has A380s still in the queue for delivery. The airline was the first to put A380s into service and currently has 19 in its fleet. (Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) Singapore (AFP) - Global airlines are expected to post record profits of almost $40 billion this year, the head of industry body IATA said Thursday, but he warned the sector faced threats from terrorism, a sharp rise in oil prices and protectionism. Alexandre de Juniac, who took the reins at the International Air Transport Association on September 1, also called on Southeast Asian nations to invest in infrastructure to cope with surging demand for air travel in the fast-growing region. The former Air France-KLM chief executive told the group's symposium in Singapore that collective net profit for the airline industry worldwide would hit $39.4 billion, up from $35.3 billion in 2015. Speaking at his first international keynote address since taking over from Tony Tyler, de Juniac said carriers had benefited from a sharp fall in the price of oil -- fuel costs are their biggest single expense -- and a resilient travel market despite slow global economic growth. IATA data shows that the fuel bill for airlines worldwide is expected to fall to $127 billion this year, down 44 percent from 2014 when oil prices peaked at more than $100 a barrel. It will be the first time since 2004 that fuel will represent less than 20 percent of airlines' total operating cost, IATA said. Oil prices have tumbled for the past two years and hit a near 13-year low below $30 a barrel in February owing to a global supply glut and overproduction. But he sounded a note of caution for the future. "I am not here to predict an end to the good times, but it would be unrealistic to expect them to last forever," de Juniac warned. "What if oil prices suddenly rise as fast as they fell? What if terrorist activity spreads further and intensifies? What would happen if a major economy had a hard landing? Could the current protectionist rhetoric dent demand for global connectivity?" The IATA chief also urged Southeast Asian governments to invest in airports and air traffic control systems to keep pace with the rapid increase in passenger numbers, driven by low-cost carriers. Story continues While Asian economic growth is slowing, demand for travel has mushroomed as an booming middle class look to travel further afield. "We are concerned that the gap is widening between the growth in passengers and the capacity of the existing infrastructure," de Juniac told reporters after his speech. Leading Asia-wide growth is China, which airplane maker Boeing recently said will become the world's first trillion-dollar aviation market within 20 years. The world's most populous country is expected to add more than 6,800 new aircraft to its commercial fleet worth $1.03 trillion by 2035, it said in its annual China Current Market Outlook. Brian Krebs The cloud-hosting giant Akamai Technologies has dumped the website run by journalist Brian Krebs from its servers after the site came under a "record" cyberattack. "It's looking likely that KrebsOnSecurity will be offline for a while," Krebs tweeted Thursday. "Akamai's kicking me off their network tonight." Since Tuesday, Krebs' site has been under sustained distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, a crude method of flooding a website with traffic to deny legitimate users from being able to access it. The assault has flooded Krebs' site with more than 620 gigabits per second of traffic nearly double what Akamai has seen in the past. To put it more plainly: It's the digital equivalent of jamming a bunch of gunk into a drain pipe. Eventually, water won't be able to pass through. Websites targeted by this type of attack typically go down for a short period and then come back online. And for hosts, the attacks mean shifting resources to different servers to mitigate the damage. "I can't really fault Akamai for their decision," Krebs added. "I likely cost them a ton of money today." It doesn't seem as if the site's removal from Akamai's servers is because the company couldn't handle the attack. Instead, it's more likely that Krebs had worn out his welcome on the service, which is probably losing money handling such a cyberattack for a website it was hosting at no charge. Before everyone beats up on Akamai/Prolexic too much, they were providing me service pro bono. So, as I said, I don't fault them at all. briankrebs (@briankrebs) September 23, 2016 The attack may be related to Krebs' recent reporting on a website called vDOS, a service allegedly created by two Israeli men that would carry out cyberattacks on behalf of paying customers. Soon after Krebs reported on the site, the two men were arrested and the site was taken offline. Story continues Akamai declined to comment. This post was updated with new information from Brian Krebs that his site was hosted pro bono. NOW WATCH: NASA just took these incredible images of mysterious rock formations on Mars More From Business Insider Amal Clooney just wore a printed short dress covered in (wait for it) secret skulls Amal Clooney just wore a printed short dress covered in (wait for it) secret skulls Amal Clooney can pretty much do no wrong when it comes to fashion (and, oh yeah, that whole incredible human rights activist/lawyer thing she does, too). While making the world a measurably better place, Clooney always looks incredible, and that was definitely true, on Tuesday, at the U.N. Leaders Summit on Refugees. Attending with her husband, George Clooney, on behalf of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, Amal donned a printed, collared dress by Alexander McQueen. Were smiling just like George right now: This dress is both totally appropriate for the occasion, and also totally badass. Why, you ask? Because of the secret skulls hidden throughout her frock! amal So. Good. Fabulous dress aside, the Clooneys were at the summit to announce the launch of an initiative to educate tens of thousands of Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon who are not attending school. Their project part of a package of refugee-aid initiatives announced by President Obama and financed by corporations such as Google, Facebook and Airbnb has received a $1 million investment from Google. We cant lose an entire generation of children only for being born in the wrong place and in the wrong time, said George Clooney of the initiative. We are applauding their efforts wholeheartedly! The post Amal Clooney just wore a printed short dress covered in (wait for it) secret skulls appeared first on HelloGiggles. Thakur had gone for a morning walk on Wednesday and did not return back. Consequently, Thakur's personal security officer lodged a missing complaint. By Rahul Noronha: BJP MLA from Dharampuri constituency in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh Kalu Singh Thakur, who went missing yesterday, returned to his house today. Thakur had gone for a morning walk on Wednesday and did not return back. Consequently, Thakur's personal security officer lodged a missing complaint. However, the MLA returned on Thursday noon and said that he had gone to his farm house to find some isolation. advertisement "We were informed about the MLA being missing but he has now returned," said SP, Dhar, Rajesh Hingankar. Thakur said that he was upset at the way the local administration was treating him and therefore he had gone to his farm Umaria tehsil as he wanted to be left alone for sometime. After Thakur's missing was report the Dhar police and administration went into a tizzy and teams were formed to look for him. Teams fanned out to probable places where he could have gone but returned without any clues on the whereabouts of the MLA. --- ENDS --- The sixth season of American Horror Story is moving full speed ahead, but where is star Evan Peters? The question has fans frenzied after the second episode of My Roanoke Nightmare debuted on Wednesday night with no sign of the actor. At least, thats what they think. Theories have begun emerging as to where the now-redhead (he told TheWrap that he dyed his hair for this season) could be, especially because he is listed in the shows credits and on IMDB for this season. See Video: Evan Peters' Own American Horror Story: Watch Actor Squirm Over Season 6 Questions One social media user claims Peters shoulder made an appearance in the premiere, when Shelby (Sarah Paulson) and Matt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) first moved into the house and a weird pig-headed creature was seen lurking in the woods. This also raised questions over whether this related to Piggy Man from Murder House, the storyline of the series first season. Another theory claims that Peters will be the talking head of the redheaded police officer (Colby French) from both episodes so far this season, which is shot documentary-style and set years after the characters Roanoke Nightmare. In Episode 2, Matt finds nurses committing murder in his dining room and runs outside to the station car parked outside for protection. Lily Rabe and Andre Holland star as the talking heads for Shelby and Matt. Also Read: 'American Horror Story' All Stars: 17 Best Characters Played by Recurring Cast (Photos) One last theory floating around is that Peters is the leader of the Lost Colony, of which Kathy Bates, Wes Bentley and Lady Gaga are also a part. Either way, fans are freaking out that they havent caught a proper glimpse of the actor in the two first episodes. So evan peters is still not in episode 2 of roanoke E (@twftgrier) September 22, 2016 American Horror Story: Roanoke airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. Related stories from TheWrap: Why Jimmy Kimmel, Evan Peters and Grace VanderWaal Are TV's Social Media MVPs of the Week Emmy Quickie: How 'American Horror Story' Star Evan Peters Was Saved by a Dictionary (Exclusive Video) 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Star Evan Peters Wants Deadpool-Quicksilver Movie (Video) Iranian president Hassan Rouhani spoke before the United Nations General Assembly Thursday despite protests from Iranian-Americans who feel Irans human rights situation has worsened after sanctions were modified earlier this year. Pastor Saeed Abedini, one of four American hostages released from Iran in January, shared his disbelief of Rouhanis annual speech during an interview with FOX Business Networks Trish Regan. I was just telling people that imagine leader of ISIS come to the United States after 30 years of all the executions that they did and leaders of the world shaking his hand. Its unbelievable, Abedini said. Abedini said he and other hostages were left to fend for themselves after flying from Iran to Germany when they were released after the Obama Administrations $400 million payment to Iran. After spending a few days in a hospital in Germany, Adedini was surprised to hear that he needed to buy his own plane ticket home. We were actually all shocked because I came out; I just had prison clothes and [they] just told us you need to buy your own ticket. Abedini said he was physically and psychologically tortured in the Iranian prison to the point where his stomach was bleeding for months from all the beatings. The whole last three to five years that I was there, it was just torturing, it was so hard, Abedini said. Related Articles Ancient Roman ruins that lie hidden below the surface at the Apennine Mountains of Italy have largely escaped discovery because the rugged terrain makes them difficult to spot by foot and dangerous to find by airplane. Now, using small airborne drones, archaeologists have found that an ancient settlement in the Apennines was much more dense and organized than previously thought, a new study reveals. The study offered evidence that dronescould help uncover more unknown sites in mountains worldwide. Scientists investigated the area of Le Pianelle in the Tappino Valley in the mountainous southern Italian region of Molise. This area was known as Samnium in antiquity. [7 Bizarre Ancient Cultures That History Forgot] "The way this mountain society was organized remains poorly understood," said study author Tesse Stek, a Mediterranean archaeologist at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Previously, construction accidentally unearthed two ancient temples in the area. However, "there was no good knowledge about other sites, such as villages, farms, villas, graveyards and so on, that could tell us more about the ancient inhabitants in the area that visited the cult sites," Stek told Live Science. "They seemed to be cathedrals in the desert, so to say." [5 Surprising Ways Drones Could Be Used in the Future] One theory is that these temples served as road stations and places of commerce along routes where sheep, cattle, goods and information traveled. Another theory suggests that these temples marked the frontier of a large state, such as the territory of the ancient Samnites. Looking for hidden ruins Archaeologists might want to conduct aerial surveys to help discover any ruins hidden beneath the surface. These require slow, low-altitude flights where researchers can take pictures of sites from the right angles and with the right lighting reveal ancient complexes. For instance, on farmland, ancient walls may present themselves "as stripes where the grain is lower," Stek said. "Sometimes this is hard to see from a distance, but it becomes especially visible when the sun is low, and shadow effects enhance the differences in corn height." Story continues However, in rugged terrain, "flying low is very difficult, dangerous, and time-costly," Stek said. "In the mountainous, fragmented area where we work, previously normal aerial archaeology had not had success. "Drones now change the picture completely," Stek said. "They offer a fast and entirely noninvasive method for discovering and mapping sites hidden in the ground." [Photos: Drones Explore Mysterious Plain of Jars Site] In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the researchers investigated Le Pianelle using small commercial DJI Phantom quadcopter drones with cameras capable of taking photos both downward and from the side. The scientists remotely programmed the drones with flight plans to examine areas where researchers had discovered artifacts on foot. The main advantage of using drones "is that you can choose very precisely which angle to take photos at the time you want," Stek said. "You can wait for the exact right moment in a specific field, make a flight of, say, 10 to 20 minutes' length, and take photos from all directions. With a normal airplane, you would need to be very lucky to catch the right moment, or you'll fly too high for good visibility or resolution, or the moment may not be right." Revealing Le Pianelle The elements made drone-flying difficult at times. "We actually lost one drone during a long, automated flight due to strong winds in a narrow valley," Stek said. Despite such challenges, the drones helped reveal what appear to be the remains of several likely related archaeological complexes. "I could not believe it at first, but as they showed up on the computer screen at our base camp, the whole team started to yell, 'Wow!'" Stek said. [Incredible Drone Photos: Contest-Winning Images from Above] Artifacts previously found in the area suggest these ruins date from the Classical to Late Roman period spanning from about the fifth century B.C. to the seventh century A.D. The researchers found that settlements at Le Pianelle were "much more dense, organized and articulated than previously thought," Stek said. "We have a very complete overview of the internal organization of the settlement, including its disposition along the road, storage spaces, domestic areas and so on." These new findings suggest the temples that were previously discovered in this area were not located away from civilization, but were rather "actually located at the center of dense, rural communities," Stek said. Drones will not replace traditional archaeology, Stek emphasized. "If you do not see anything on drone footage, it does not mean that there is nothing underneath," he said. "There are many different factors influencing the detectability of sites by drones, so other types of research, such as field surveys, geophysics and excavations, remain fundamental, too." The scientists are talking with local authorities to excavate these sites. "Protecting the site from damage from agricultural use and robbing is the first priority now," Stek said. Stek added that in the spring, "I plan an aerial campaign in which we aim to investigate a large swath of territory in two weeks." In addition, the scientists are experimenting with near-infrared cameras to detect even more hidden details, "with very good results," Stek said. Stekdetailed his findings online July 4 in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In 2014, Yik Yak was one of the hottest apps on college campuses. The anonymous app worked like a location-based Twitter and let college students gossip and share opinions from behind a virtual mask. But since then, Yik Yak has seen its fair share of troubles. Some colleges tried to ban it, alleging that its anonymity facilitates hate speech. Founders Tyler Droll and Stephen "Brooks" Buffington seem to have tried to get out in front of that problem by adding things like handles that make the app less anonymous (though these user names can be whatever you want: HelloItsMe962, for instance). The founders have always insisted that the app's main purpose is building a local community. But Yik Yaks main problem might be simpler than that: Its not cool anymore. Every year, since its founding, Yik Yak has seen a bump when students go to college. Yik Yak shoots up the App Store as summer turns into fall. But that bump has been steadily going down. Here is data from App Annie that shows Yik Yak's peak chart position each year around back-to-school time: yikyakchart10 While in 2014, Yik Yak peaked at the No. 3 overall position in the US iOS charts, it peaked at No. 109 in 2015, and just No. 447 this year. Here's what Yik Yak's downloads look like over time, from App Annie: Screen Shot 2016 09 21 at 10.34.05 AM Business Insider spoke to a handful of college students who put those numbers into a bit of perspective: In short, college kids don't use Yik Yak like they used to. In fact, none of them really used it or saw it have much of a pull on campus. "I remember going on it a lot freshman year," one junior said, before declaring it "three-quarters dead." "Maybe my freshman year, otherwise no," another said. Consensus: It used to be a big deal 1-2 years ago, but not anymore. Ah, there is nothing quite as painful as the indifference of the young. And it's not good news for Yik Yak. Though Yik Yak has seen some adoption outside colleges, Droll told Business Insider last month that Yik Yak was "still focused on the college market." Story continues Yik Yak provided this comment to Business Insider: "We're focused on engagement and have been with all our product changes for the past year we're building for local, community, and connections." Previous reporting by Biz Carson. NOW WATCH: Tesla made a big software update after a Chinese company remotely hacked the brakes of a Model S More From Business Insider Fall is approaching: leaves are beginning to change in Wisconsin, my wife is excited about pumpkin spice chai tea, and of course, the threat of yet another government shutdown is looming. If Congress does not pass a funding measure by September 30, the federal government will be shuttered until an agreement is reached. If this sounds familiar, that's because it is. Although the federal government has only actually shut down once in the last decade, there is a shutdown threat at least annually and usually more than once a year. This uncertainty harms American businesses and our image abroad, as Congress and the President are willing to play chicken with financial chaos in order to score political points, particularly in election years. When Republicans took back control of the House in 2010, getting our fiscal house in order was our first priority. On balance, we've had success reducing the annual deficit, but our record on passing a budget couldn't be worse: this year, the House failed to pass a budget, and only one concurrent budget resolution has been passed in the last six years. Congress is required by law to pass twelve appropriation bills annually in order to fund all federal agencies. Out of the seventy-two that were required to be passed in the last six years, two have made it to the President's desk and been signed into law. To fill the gap, we have passed five enormous omnibus spending bills and nineteen continuing resolutions since 2010. Omnibus bills pile everything and the kitchen sink into one mammoth annual appropriation bill, and lawmakers usually have only 24 hours to read thousands of pages and no ability to amend them. Continuing resolutions-known affectionately as CRs-are nothing more than short-term spending bills that just punt the ball forward a few months. In both cases, the contents of these measures are negotiated by Congressional leadership behind closed doors, denying elected representatives the chance to weigh in on how their constituents' tax dollars are spent. Story continues The good news is that there is budget process reform legislation with broad bipartisan support in both houses of Congress that would take the first steps necessary to correct this problem. My bill, the Biennial Budget and Enhanced Oversight Act, would move budgeting to a two-year system, removing budgeting from contentious election years and allowing Congress to spend the second year in each biennium fulfilling the oversight responsibilities we currently neglect. Two hundred and thirty-seven House Members support the billone hundred and eighty-two Republicans and fifty-five Democrats, including bipartisan majorities of the Budget and Ways and Means Committees. Senator Isakson has a similarly popular bill in the Senate, and even the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Mike Enzi, is pushing hard for budget process reform. It's tough to imagine that House leadership would let another year pass without voting on a widely-supported bill that would go a long way in fixing a widely-acknowledged problem, but with only a few congressional work weeks left this year, the verdict seems clear. Unfortunately, the failure to fix our broken budget system is more about lack of interest than lack of ability. It's one thing to defend the status quo when the results support it; in this case it's defending the indefensible. This fall, I am imploring my colleagues in Congress to do better. We have failed the American people by not doing our most basic job over and over. When we pass the twentieth stopgap funding measure of my time in Congress, let's finally address the broken process that keeps leading us here. Let's use these last few weeks to work together to move legislation incorporating provisions from my Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act and the budget reform proposals of Senators Enzi and Isakson. I, for one, would like to make a change that we can share proudly with people at home and even more importantly, I would like to make a change because, simply stated, we are the only ones who can. Commentary by Reid Ribble, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin. Follow him on Twitter @RepRibble. For the latest commentary on the markets in U.S. and around the world, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. This summer, Hillary Clinton unveiled a long list of major business leaders supporting her campaign, including three chief executives of Fortune 500 firms. Since then, more notable CEOs have come on board, some of whom have leaned Republican in the past. Slideshow: 12 Top CEOs For Clinton, 1 For Trump On the other side, Donald Trump has a few notable company executives backing his candidacy, though not as many as might be expected for someone with close ties to the business world. But does the support from these company chiefs, many of them millionaires many times over, mean anything in this years populist election? According to a recent study by three business school professors, the answer is yes especially if you work for a CEO who makes his political preferences known. Employees donate nearly three times more money to political candidates that are backed by their CEOs than to candidates their CEOs dont support. And that effect grows as CEOs become more politically active. Overall, our evidence indicates that CEOs are a political force, with potentially important implications for firms they manage and for the nature of democracy, the study concluded. Thats good news for Clinton. The CEOs of nine Fortune 500 companies have formally endorsed her, while three others Apple CEO Tim Cook, Disney CEO Bob Iger and DISH Network CEO Ergen have thrown fundraisers on her behalf. Employees at those companies have contributed more than $1.5 million directly to her campaign, according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks campaign donations of $200 or more. Related: Worried About Trump, GOP Donors Back Paul Ryan and His Congressional Firewall Trumps business connections havent been nearly as lucrative. Only one Fortune 500 CEO is tepidly backing Trump: Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands, which owns casinos and resorts. Adelson recently promised to contribute $5 million to Trump. But that hasnt translated into dollars for Trump. Instead, almost $1.1 million in individual contributions from Las Vegas Sands employees went to various Republican Party committees, not the presidential campaign. Story continues The study also noted that employees seemed to change their political leanings to match an incoming CEO, rather than sticking with the views of the departing CEO. That means that the dozen of former big-name CEOs supporting Clinton and the four backing Trump have little influence on what their one-time employees do, either in the voting booth or at fundraisers. But the study didnt test how other C-suite executives could affect employees political contributions or votes. For instance, Carl Icahn the founder, majority shareholder and chairman of Icahn Enterprises, but not the company CEO has officially endorsed Trump, but OpenSecrets has no entry for the company or donations from its employees. The total contributions to Trump from Icahns hedge fund, Icahn Associates, is a paltry $350. Related: The Biggest Threat to the Economy? It Could Be the Election Clinton has several high-profile founders, chairmen and other chief officers backing her. Three senior execs at Facebook (including COO Sheryl Sandberg), two at Alphabet (Googles parent company), two at Qualcomm and one each at four other Fortune 500 firms are supporting the former secretary of state. Individual contributions from those companies total more than $1 million. More CEOs could declare Im With Her or Make America Great Again before November, with Clinton having the likely advantage. A Fortune survey in June found that 58 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs plan to vote for her in November, compared to 42 percent for Trump, whose stands on trade and immigration troubled the execs. Click here to see the Fortune 500 CEOs backing Clinton and Trump. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By PTI: Kozhikode, Sep 22 (PTI) The Uri terror attack, which left 18 army men dead and triggered an outcry for punitive action against Pakistan, will be deliberated upon in the three-day BJP National Council meeting in which top party brass is also expected to articulate its garib kalyan agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like Dalits and OBCs. advertisement BJP President Amit Shah arrived here today for the meet, which starts tomorrow and coincides with the birth centenary of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday and speak at a public meeting, his first such address after the attack in Uri. He will address the Council on Sunday. Party leaders and cadres expect him to speak on Uri attack as the saffron outfit has been under fire over repeated incidents of Pakistani terrorists targeting defence facilities, more so as Modi had often flayed the UPA government over its alleged soft attitude to Pakistan in the face of terror incidents. BJP National Secretary and Kerala in-charge H Raja told reporters that the party leaders will deliberate the Uri incident. The Uri attack has forced the party to recalibrate its agenda for the Council, likely to be attended by over 1,700 delegates, including all its chief ministers, all its union ministers and top brass from all states. The party is likely to use the occasion to reprise the poor-centric ideology of Upadhyay, who was elected its president in 1967 at the same venue and whose 100th birth anniversary falls on September 25. The party had earlier formed a committee under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to prepare a garib kalyan (welfare of poor) agenda under which its state governments will be asked to achieve certain key objectives in various welfare schemes. BJP believes that effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out more to the marginalised sections, especially Dalits and OBCs, as it has been facing flak over Dalit issues from Opposition parties and some Dalit groups. Raja also cited Upadhyays thrust on antyodaya (uplift of the last man) and the Centres "pro-poor" schemes as he spoke about the Councils planned emphasis on welfare of poor. Modi on September 25 will inaugurate Upadhyays birth centenary celebrations which will go on for over a year. advertisement The party leadership is also expected to deliberate over assembly polls in several states scheduled for early next year, including in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. BJP has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over 14 years and Shah has claimed that it will make a come back with two-third majority by trouncing formidable regional rivals like Samajwadi Party and BSP. Cases of violence against BJP and RSS functionaries in the Left-ruled Kerala are also expected to be referred to by the leadership which has blamed CPI(M) for these incidents. PTI KR TGB UD ZMN --- ENDS --- Neither Gary Johnson nor Jill Stein cleared the 15% polling mark they needed to make it into the first debate. But theres another magic number they can still reach that could provide a huge boon to their parties: 5%. Thats because if a political party draws 5% of the popular vote in a presidential election, it qualifies for public funding under Federal Election Commission guidelines. So if Johnson or Stein meet the mark in November, in 2020 the Libertarian Party or the Green Party could get access to tens of millions of dollars. (The exact figure would be determined by the ratio of each of their votes to the average of Donald Trumps and Hillary Clintons.) The two major-party candidates often reject public funds, because they come with strings attached that ban private contributions, and a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate stands to rake in much more money fundraising on his or her own. But with the 2016 public funding pot for a major party candidate set at $96 million, even a portion of that would be significant for minor parties whose candidates are fundraising below $10 million each so far in 2016. (According to Center for Responsive Politics, Johnson has raised about $8 million and Stein about $2 million. By comparison, Trumps campaign has raised more than $165 million and Clintons more than $370 million, not including spending by outside groups.) Johnsons team has been putting the 5% goal on the back-burner as it pushes instead to reach the more ambitious 15% polling average needed to make it on the next debate stage. There are more polls and more debates, and we plan to be on the debate stage in October, Johnson said after he was barred from the first debate. We are obviously setting our sights far higher than the 5% that would secure major party status. It isnt part of our strategy, Johnson spokesman Joe Hunter told TIME in a statement. Rather, it is a benefit, albeit a historic one, of what we fully expect to accomplish in this election. Story continues But the 5% is playing a larger role in the strategy of Steins campaign. While neither candidate is using the lure of funding as an explicit pitch to voters, David Cobb, Steins campaign manager, says their campaign is using the promise of future change to try to inspire skeptical voters. Our message is not waste your vote on the failed policies of the two-party system. Invest your vote in a party committed to the real change we so desperately need, he told TIME. The key is in the word invest Cobb hopes voters, particularly millennials, those who supported Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and those who are cynical about the whole electoral process, will understand that supporting Stein now could pay off for the Green Party in future elections. We know a real political movement cant only be run in one election cycle, he says. A real political revolution requires a sustained effort. According to a Real Clear Politics poll average, Johnson is currently at about 9% and Stein at about 3%. Earlier this year, Malcolm Astell left his job after 13 years teaching high school science in Yorkshire, U.K., and began considering how to use his skills before he took a new position. One option seemed most useful, he says: Teaching the refugees in the migrant camp in Calais, where thousands are now crowded into tents and rickety shelters in the unofficial settlement known as the Jungle, on the edge of the Channel that divides northern France and Britain. Arriving in Calais in early September, Astell was stunned by what he found. While his previous school had playing fields, laboratories and well-pressed school uniforms, the Jungles migrants his new students have lost their homes, countries and possessions, and mostly survive on donations of food, clothing and other basic items. Yet, he says, every day dozens of people crowd into four makeshift classrooms, separate rectangular structures made of wood and plastic sheeting, which the aid group Jungle Books has hammered into the dirt tracks on the edge of the camp. The camps residents, Astell told TIME during a recent visit, are clamoring to learn English, French or anything else he and others can teach. Teaching here is intense, says Astell, who plans to remain teaching in the camp entirely for free at least until January. I have never been in an environment where there are people so eager to learn. Read more: The Migrant Kids of the Calais Jungle Refusing to Wait for the World to Act Although Astells story sounds unusual, the number of volunteers in Calais Jungle has proliferated sharply as the population of the camp has rocketed. Relief groups say the total has risen from about 400 or so in 2014 to about 20 times that number now, amid the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. The U.K.-based Help Refugees this month estimated there were about 10,188 migrants and refugees in Calais, more than 8,000 of whom are camping rough in the mud-slick scrub of the Jungle. Among those, it says, are more than 1,000 unaccompanied children younger than 18. Story continues Among the volunteers in the Jungle all unpaid some have upturned their entire lives to be there. Many say they have left families and jobs behind, or snatched time away from their studies. I couldnt bear the fact that there were people drowning in the Mediterranean and nobody was, or is, doing anything about it, says Clare Mosley, 46, who left her company and her husband at home in the British city of Liverpool. She arrived in Calais a year ago, after seeing the widely publicized photograph of Alan Kurdi, a 4-year-old Syrian boy whose dead body lay on a Turkish beach. Mosley, who spent years as a senior manager at the accounting firm Deloitte and is a director of Dark Horse Design Ltd. in Liverpool, says she did not originally intend to stay in Calais. But she changed her mind after seeing the mammoth needs of the Jungles residents, and the paltry number of groups helping them. In November she founded Care4Calais, an organization that now distributes crucial items to thousands of refugees, including toothpaste, razors, warm clothes, shoes and even toilet paper. There was a desperate need, she says, sitting in Care4Calais large warehouse near the Jungle, where about 20 young volunteers have arrived to sort piles of donated clothes, cooking utensils and toilet items. Most stay a few days, or a week or two. Mosley will remain there for the foreseeable future, she says. Once I started, I couldnt stop. I just carried on. In fact, since the Jungle is an illegal settlement, the aid organizations operate with no government or U.N. oversightwith far darker implications at times. On Friday the Independent revealed a heated debate among the groups over sexual relations between volunteers and refugees, and cited an unnamed man on a Facebook group for Jungle relief groups saying one volunteer had had multiple sexual partners in the Jungle, while another had sex with minors, according to the Facebook post; he apparently offered no proof for his claims. Mosley told me such claims only prove the need for the Jungle to be made official by the British and French governments. If this was an official refugee camp we would not be having these problems, she said. You have grassroots organizations with no training. Care4Calais bans all sexual relations between its volunteers and the Jungles residents, a guideline Mosley says she copied from U.N. agencies code of conduct. The refugees are in a vulnerable position, she says. They are not in a position to make that choice. Yet relationships between refugees and aid workers are, in fact, tolerated within LAuberge des Migrants (the Migrants Inn), one of the Jungles oldest relief groups. On Friday, Maya Konforti, a former jeweler who lives in Calais and has worked in the Jungle for the organization since 2014, reacted angrily when asked about the issue on Friday. There are love stories happening in every part of society, she said. It is normal that it sometimes happens between volunteers and refugees They fall in love. They fall out of love. It is only normal. Konforti said the organization would, however, dismiss a volunteer who was just looking for sex in the Jungle. Where there is more unanimity among the volunteer groups is anger at their governments perceived unwillingness to help those in the camp. Many believe France and Britain have deliberately withheld aid to the Jungle, for fear of transforming it into a more permanent refugee camp. There are signs that might be partly true. French officials, for example, ban all building materials from entering the Jungle camp, where there are police checkpoints at the entrances. And far different from refugee camps elsewhere in Europe, there are no U.N. agencies or Red Cross organizations here. The French government has tried to ignore the problem, Konforti says. The groups volunteers serve 2,500 meals a day up from 400 a day in 2014 as well as distribute tents, sleeping bags and clothes to newcomers. Volunteers say small, lightly equipped aid organizations are being forced to plug giant holes. We are standing in one of the richest countries in the world at the moment, and children are living in absolutely deplorable conditions, says Karen Moynihan, a child-protection worker from Dublin, who began working in the Jungle last February for Refugee Youth Services, one of several small aid groups that have sprung up over the past year. She helps run a social center for unaccompanied minors, about 1,000 of whom are believed to have arrived in the Jungle during the past year in a desperate attempt to make it to Britain. The only reason volunteers are here is because the governments are not doing the job they are meant to be doing, she says. In fact, governments are not entirely absent. French authorities support officially sanctioned aid organizations, which offer temporary accommodation to about 2,000 migrants in Calais. But French officials say they intend to demolish the Jungle where the remaining 80% of migrants in Calais live within the coming months; Calais Mayor Nathalie Bouchart said this month the demolition would proceed with the greatest determination. The camp has become a hot political issue at a time when French President Francois Hollande faces an uphill re-election contest next spring. High fences topped with barbed wire cordon off Calais tunnel and ferry port on the Channel to England. And this month workers began pouring the foundation for a mile-long, 14-ft. wall to reinforce that barrier, at an estimated cost to Britain of about $2.5 million. That seems like wasted money to the volunteers in the Jungle, who are attempting to feed and clothe people with no government help. It is like Gaza here, with the fences and walls, says Anneliese Coury, Calais coordinator for the French group Doctors Without Borders, or MSF. But all it does is block peoples passage, she says, sitting in the groups container office in the Jungle on Sept. 16. At that moment, two men from Birmingham, U.K., burst into the MSF office carrying large cargo bags, which they said they had filled with candy for children in the Jungle. They said they had accompanied a Muslim relief organization headed to Calais to serve hot meals to residents. It took us about seven hours to drive here, said Sahel Mushtaq, one of the Birmingham pair. We did not know what you might need. But we wanted to get children smiling again. For all these acts of individual kindness, volunteers say refugees themselves have shown the most initiative, opening grocery stores and restaurants amid the Jungles dirt tracks, and selling services like haircuts. All of the main businesses inside the Jungle are founded by, run by, led by, residents of the camp itself, says Neha Shah, 19, a literature student at Oxford University, who spent her long summer break volunteering as a teacher in the Jungle Books classrooms and working in its children-only cafe. Whilst I think volunteers and aid organizations help a tremendous amount, it is also important to remember that humanity usually finds a way, she says. Arnon Milchan, the founder and chairman of New Regency, will receive the annual industry tribute at the 2016 Gotham Independent Film Awards, as part of a slate of Gotham tributes that already includes Amy Adams, Ethan Hawke and Oliver Stone. The Gotham Awards will honor Milchan for a career that includes Brazil, Once Upon a Time in America, Pretty Woman, Fight Club, 12 Years a Slave, Birdman and The Revenant. This year, he and New Regency have on tap Rules Dont Apply, headlined by Warren Beatty, and Assassins Creed, the videogame adaptation starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. Steve Golin, Jeff Skoll and Ted Sarandos are among the names who have previously received the industry tribute from the Gothams. The special tributes are handed out each year in addition to the evenings roster of competitive awards, which includes trophies for feature, actress, actor, screenplay, breakthrough actor and director, and breakthrough series (short form and long form). Presented every year by New Yorks Independent Filmmaker Project, the Gothams recognize indie film and media, and often turn an early spotlight on the independent fare that goes on to make a splash at the Oscars. The years edition of the Gothams will be held Nov. 28 at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan. Related stories Warren Beatty to Be Honored by Santa Barbara Film Festival Amy Adams, Ethan Hawke, Oliver Stone to Receive Tributes at 2016 Gotham Awards Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Movie 'Rules Don't Apply' to Open AFI Fest AutoZone Inc. (AZO) reported its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results before the markets opened on Thursday. The company said that it had $14.30 in earnings per share (EPS) on $3.4 billion in revenue. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters called for $14.25 in EPS on revenue of $3.43 billion. The same period of last year reportedly had EPS of $12.75 and $3.29 billion in revenue. Domestic same-store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, increased 1.0% for the quarter. During the quarter, AutoZone opened 71 new stores and relocated two stores in the United States, opened 25 new stores in Mexico and opened one new IMC branch. The company has 5,297 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 483 stores in Mexico, 26 IMC branches and eight stores in Brazil, for a total count of 5,814. ALSO READ: America's Richest (and Poorest) States Under its share repurchase program, AutoZone bought $370 million worth of its common stock during the quarter. Currently, the company has $395 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization. On the books, AutoZone's cash and cash equivalents totaled $189.7 million at the end of the quarter, versus $175.3 million at the end of the previous fiscal year. Bill Rhodes, board chair, president and chief executive, commented on earnings: We are pleased to report our fortieth consecutive quarter of double digit earnings per share growth For the year, we reached many milestones which included generating $10.6 billion in sales, opening 156 new domestic AutoZone stores, 43 AutoZone stores internationally, and six IMC branches. Additionally, the ongoing rollout of our inventory availability initiatives, including expanding our multi-deliveries per week to stores and opening mega hub locations, has gone very well. We expect to continue with these initiatives in 2017 while expanding our supply chain network with the already announced planned openings of two or three new domestic distribution centers over the next few years. In order to continue to meet our customers needs across all selling channels, we continue to invest capital in our product availability initiatives across our businesses. While investing to grow, we will remain committed to our disciplined approach to increasing operating earnings and utilizing our capital effectively. Story continues ALSO READ: Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: American Electric Power, Broadcom, Ford, GM, JD.com, Sarepta, Valeant Pharmaceuticals and More Shares of AutoZone closed Wednesday at $751.45, with a consensus analyst price target of $857.19 and a 52-week trading range of $681.01 to $819.54. Following the release of the earnings report, the stock traded up slightly at $754.00 in early trading indications Thursday. Related Articles Close on the heels of National Executive meet being held in Allahabad, the decision of this venue is being seen through the prism of an assertive BJP trying to expand its footprint in Kerala. By Brijesh Pandey: BJP president Amit Shah was greeted with a grand welcome at Calicut airport when he arrived here for three-day BJP national council meet. Close on the heels of National Executive meet being held in Allahabad, the decision of this venue is being seen through the prism of an assertive BJP trying to expand its footprint in Kerala. National Council meet will start on Friday September 23 at 9 am with meeting of national office bearers which will go on till September 24. advertisement READ: BJP to strengthen its presence in Kerala with party's national council meet On the evening of September 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public gathering and after that he will go to the school which had been the focal point of political and social work of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. PM Modi will also honour senior social workers like O Rajgopal from the days of Jan Sangh. On September 25, the day will begin with the presidential address of Amit Shah. After this a political resolution will be brought which will be passed after suggestions from the National Council. The Council will end with a speech by PM Narendra Modi. During this National Council meet, an exhibition on the life and work of Deendayal Upadhyay and the history of Jan Sangh and the BJP will be held. Two short films on life of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay may also be released during the event. This venue has been selected as a mark of respect to one of the founding fathers of the saffron movement, Deendayal Upadhyaya. He was appointed president of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh in Kozhikode in December 1967. READ: Uri attack, Pakistan to figure in BJP national council meet in Kerala September 25, will be the 100th birth centenary of Deendayal Upadhyaya and the National Council meet will be focused mostly on the topic of upliftment of the poor. BJP's National Secretary Shrikant Sharma, while detailing the Council itinerary, said that the Council will hold discussions dedicated to welfare of the downtrodden. He said, "This will be a true homage to Deendayalji, who always strived for the poor and his slogan of 'antyodaya' benefit reaching to the last person in the queue". One another thing which will be high on everybody's agenda is Pakistan. The question arises if Pakistan will be discussed? Sources within BJP said that any issue which is of concern to national security will always be discussed. Srikant Sharma said that PM's tweet has made it very clear about what we feel and think about this issue and all important issues will be discussed. --- ENDS --- advertisement AwesomenessTV, which has built its business on the output of young YouTube video creators, is launching a new initiative to discover and sign deals with the next generation of music stars. The company has reached a pact with Kobalt Music Group, a music-services company whose investors include Google, to identify music talent and connect them with Kobalts publishing, label services and neighboring rights. Under the terms of Kobalts deals with artists, musicians retain full control, ownership and monetization of their audio and video content. With the Kobalt deal, AwesomenessTV will launch a new ad-supported vertical brand, Awesomeness Music, aimed at enabling artists to grow their fanbases. The two companies have a revenue-sharing agreement as part of the deal. Weve been involved in developing digital stars and talent from the day weve started, AwesomenessTV founder and CEO Brian Robbins said in an interview. When you follow that line, the same thing is happening in music. We want to offer the ability for kids anywhere in the world who are super-talented to create content, upload that content, and monetize it. Los 5 (pictured above), an L.A.-based band in the AwesomenessTV network whose members hail from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, is the first act to sign on under the new partnership. In addition, AwesomenessTV and Kobalt have lined up an agreement with Omnicom Media Group for a first look for at music talent at the ad agencys annual Final Front idea auction in L.A. hosted this year at Fox Studios. We were founded to take the music industry into the digital age, said Kobalt CEO Willard Ahdritz, who founded the London-based company in 2000. The AwesomenessTV partnership, the first of its kind for Kobalt, is an example of how we are taking on the restrictive legacy of the traditional music business and replacing it with transparent, smart, artist-friendly solutions that help creators stay in control of their careers in todays digital world, he added. Story continues Kobalts roster of clients includes Beck, Big and Rich, Bon Iver, Dave Grohl, Joe Satriani, Kate Pierson, Kelly Clarkson, Kid Rock, Lionel Richie, Moby, Neil Finn, Paul McCartney, Pitbull, Sam Smith, Skrillex, Trent Reznor and Zedd. The company says it serves more than 8,000 songwriters and over 500 publishing companies worldwide. Unlike traditional record deals, the AwesomenessTV-Kobalt tie-up is geared toward music discovery and consumption on video platforms like YouTube, Robbins said. Its not just music content, but all the other content music artists do today, he said. Added Robbins, We have a relationship with our audience We can introduce them to artists, and Kobalt can take the cream of the crop and monetize them. AwesomenessTV previously had a relationship with Universal Music Group to sign digital talent to record deals, but Robbins said the UMG pact is no longer in effect. AwesomenessTV is majority owned by Comcast (which acquired DreamWorks Animation) with minority stakes held by Hearst and Verizon. The companys lines of business include ATV Network multichannel network; talent-management division Big Frame; DreamWorksTV; millennial-mom focused network Awestruck; and Awesomeness Films. Related stories ABC's Samie Kim Falvey Joins AwesomenessTV-Verizon Premium Service as Head of Content AwesomenessTV Seals Sales, Production Deal with U.K.'s ITV Mario Lopez Signs With AwesomenessTV's Awestruck, Sets YouTube Channel Launch DUBAI (Reuters) - An appeals court on Thursday dismissed a challenge to the dissolution of Bahrain's main Shi'ite Muslim opposition group, a newspaper reported, in effect affirming a lower court decision condemned by the United States and the United Nations in July. Bahrain's Sunni Muslim-led government has come under criticism from its Western allies and rights groups for its handling of dissent. Activists say a major crackdown is underway targeting Shi'ite and secular opposition. Bahrain's Shi'ites say they suffer discrimination, though the government denies this. Manama accuses Shi'ite power Iran of fomenting unrest on its soil, and before shutting down al Wefaq the Justice Ministry accused it of working in a "foreign framework". On Thursday the presiding judges threw out the appeal cases on grounds al Wefaq's lawyers did not have legal capacity, Arabic-language newspaper al-Wasat reported, without elaborating. Al Wefaq, a bloc of mainly Shi'ite groups who have been at the forefront of calls for democratic reforms, has 45 days to file another appeal at the court of cassation, the group's lawyers told al-Wasat. Host of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, Bahrain is seen by other Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdoms like Saudi Arabia as a bulwark against Iranian influence. But the tiny island has seen years of violence between Shi'ite protesters and security forces, and the government has repeatedly come under criticism, accused of heavy handed tactics. In 2011, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates helped Manama put down Shi'ite-led Arab Spring protests. (Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Dubai (AFP) - A Bahraini appeals court on Thursday upheld an order dissolving the country's main Shiite opposition group despite international criticism of the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom's intensified crackdown on dissent. A lower court had ordered the dissolution of the Al-Wefaq association in July over accusations including "harbouring terrorism" and ordered its funds to be seized by the government. The accusations also included inciting violence and encouraging demonstrations which threatened to spark sectarian strife in the Shiite-majority country. Al-Wefaq was the largest group in parliament before its lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the crushing of Arab Spring-inspired demonstrations in 2011 calling for an elected government. The court order drew criticism from UN chief Ban Ki-Moon, and the kingdom's allies in Washington and London. The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, had labelled the crackdown on Al-Wefaq "alarming" and repeatedly appealed for "reform and reconciliation". Shiite-dominated Iran, which is accused by Gulf foes of meddling in Bahrain's affairs, also condemned the court order. Al-Wefaq's defence team had withdrawn from court proceedings in June in protest at the government's push to accelerate the proceedings, which had initially been set for October 6. And a judicial source said the court still refused to grant lawyers access to the group's offices to prepare their defence. The court had ordered the closure of Al-Wefaq's offices earlier in June. - 'Flagrant attack on freedom' - Amnesty International condemnd Thursday's ruling as "flagrant attack on freedom of expression and association and a brazen attempt to suppress criticism of the government in Bahrain." "The Bahraini authorities have not presented any credible evidence that Al-Wefaq is anything but a peaceful opposition movement which has been seeking reform in the country in the face of increasing government repression," said Amnesty's Research and Advocacy Director, Philip Luther. Story continues "Silencing critical voices encourages further human rights violations and abuse of power," he said. In October 2014, the administrative court banned Al-Wefaq for three months for violating the law on associations. Political parties are banned in Bahrain, as in other Gulf Arab states, so Al-Wefaq operated as an association. Also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, Al-Wefaq is heir to the Bahrain Freedom Movement which played a key role in Shiite-led protests in the 1990s that sought the restoration of the elected parliament scrapped in 1975. In recent months, Manama has intensified its crackdown on leading Shiite figures. Al-Wefaq's leader, Shiite cleric Ali Salman, is serving a nine-year jail term on charges of inciting violence after a court in May more than doubled his sentence. His arrest in December 2014 sparked protests in Bahrain. Authorities have also stripped at least 261 people of their citizenship since 2012, according to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, including the country's Shiite spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassem. BANGKOK (Reuters) - The Thai capital of Bangkok has beaten London to be crowned the world's most popular travel destination this year, according to an annual ranking by global payments and technology company Mastercard released on Thursday. Tourism has been one of the rare bright spots for Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which has grappled with weak consumer confidence and exports after a 2014 coup the military said was aimed at ending months of political unrest. Last month's wave of bomb blasts in southern Thailand, which police have blamed on Muslim separatists, appears to have had a limited impact on tourism. Bangkok, also known as the 'city of angels', topped the 2016 listing of 132 cities, beating London, Paris and Dubai to become the city most visited by international travelers in the Mastercard Index of Global Destination Cities. "It isn't a flash in the pan. Bangkok is in a strong position to be the top destination city for a long time," Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Mastercard chief economist, told Reuters. "There's the value for money, especially for visitors coming from high-income countries." Thailand expects to welcome a record 33 million visitors this year, thanks to a jump in the number of Chinese tourists. Sprawling Bangkok is projected to receive 21.47 million international visitors in 2016, just ahead of second-ranked London, with 19.88 million visitors. "The pollution makes it a less than ideal city to stay long term, but the food is second to none," James Donnelly, 31, a tourist from Britain who was visiting the city on his way to Vietnam, told Reuters. Elsewhere in Asia, the Japanese city of Osaka has shown the strongest growth in international visitors over the past seven years, attracting tourists from neighboring countries, particularly China and South Korea, said Mastercard. The British capital topped the 2015 ranking of global destinations, but Mastercard did not say why some of its shine had rubbed off for travelers this year. The two cities have topped the ranking for most of its history. (Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Pairat Temphairojana; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Clarence Fernandez) Bangkok is projected to be the most visited city in the world for 2016 ahead of London and Paris, according to a new ranking. In the latest Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index, the Thai capital is projected to receive 21.47 million international overnight visitors in 2016, pulling it ahead of London, which is estimated to receive 19.88 million visitors by the end of the year and Paris, which is predicted to draw 18.03 million visitors. For the report, analysts used public data and custom-made algorithms. The company says that figures do not represent Mastercard volumes or transactions. One of the most interesting findings show that while Dubai is the fourth most visited city on the list, it's expected to rake in the most visitor spending at $31.3 billion. That compares to $19.8 billion for London. Analysts also delved deeper into the figures this year, identifying what motivated travelers and how they spent their money. With the exception of Shanghai, for instance, analysts found that people traveled to the top 20 cities for leisure. And while visitors to most of the top 20 cities spent more money shopping, hitting up boutiques and snatching up souvenirs, cities in Europe seem to buck that trend, with tourists spending more on meals in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Istanbul, Milan, Paris, Prague and Vienna. Meanwhile, a look at the fastest-growing cities in the world reveals that interest is growing most in Asia and the Middle East with Osaka leading the charge and showing a 24 percent growth in international visitors over the last seven years. Overall, the Asia Pacific region dominates both the top 10 cities list and the top 10 fastest growing cities index. In Latin America, Lima was identified as both the top destination and fastest growing city, whereas Punta Cana boasts the most visitor spending. And New York is the top-ranked city for North America, with 90 percent of international visitors coming from London, Paris, Sao Paulo, Toronto and Beijing. Here are the top 10 cities on the Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index 2016 1. Bangkok, 21.47 million visitors 2. London, 19.88 million visitors 3. Paris, 18.03 million visitors 4. Dubai, 15.27 million visitors 5. New York, 12.75 million visitors 6. Singapore, 12.11 visitors 7. Kuala Lumpur, 12.02 million visitors 8. Istanbul, 11.95 million visitors 9. Tokyo, 11.7 million visitors 10. Seoul, 10.2 million visitors LONDON (Reuters) - Britain still faces a "challenging period" for financial stability despite resilience seen after the European Union referendum, and rules for banks must remain tight, the Bank of England said on Thursday. Britain's government is keen to ensure London retains its place as Europe's leading financial centre even after the country leaves the EU, but the BoE said there was no case to loosen bank capital rules. "Although financial stability has been maintained in the United Kingdom through a period of volatility ... the United Kingdom faces a challenging period of uncertainty and adjustment," the BoE's Financial Policy Committee said in a quarterly statement. With UK-regulated banks' future access to EU markets unclear, Britain's government is likely to come under pressure from the industry to make London a more attractive location. The Confederation of British Industry has already called for banks to be removed from the "naughty step", after a prolonged regulatory crackdown following the financial crisis. But the BoE said that "irrespective of the particular form of the United Kingdom's future relationship with the EU", Britain's financial system needed "robust prudential standards". The FPC said the government's 'Help to Buy' mortgage guarantee scheme had not posed a risk to financial stability during the past year of its operation. The central bank said use of the scheme had declined significantly, and accounted for just 25 percent of high loan-to-value lending in the first three months of 2016, down from 70 percent in 2014. The scheme is due to come to an end later this year, and new finance minister Philip Hammond will have to decide whether to extend his predecessor George Osborne's project. The BoE said it did not expect a big impact on lending if the scheme closed. The FPC made no new regulatory recommendations, and stood by its decision in July to reverse a move made earlier in the year that could have increased banks' capital requirements. The increase recommended in March was linked to an expected upturn in lending, but the central bank now expects economic growth to slow sharply over the coming year. However, it said it would undertake a regular review of banks' lending in November "to insure against the risk of a marked loosening in underwriting standards and a significant rise in the number of vulnerable households." The BoE will also publish its stress test of banks, which will include looking at how they would cope with the risks created by China's rapid lending growth. One area where the BoE said risks had already materialised was in Britain's commercial real estate sector, where it said transactions were now at the lowest since 2009. In July and August, several real estate funds blocked withdrawals as investors rushed to take out their money before the value of properties was marked down. (This story has been refiled to remove word 'stay' in the first paragraph) (Reporting by David Milliken and Huw Jones) Warsaw (AFP) - Poland's abortion battle will resume Thursday when the devoutly Catholic country's parliament debates rival initiatives to either liberalise or further tighten a law that is already one of the strictest in Europe. While the governing rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which controls parliament, generally favours banning abortion, its leaders are well aware that most Poles support existing legislation. Passed in 1993, the current law bans all terminations unless there was rape or incest, the pregnancy poses a health risk to the mother or the foetus is severely deformed. A poll published this week by the Newsweek Polska magazine showed that 74 percent of Poles want to keep the existing law. But anti-abortion activists want to allow terminations only if the mother's life is at risk and to increase the maximum jail term for practitioners from two years to five. The citizen's initiative tabled in parliament by the Stop Abortion committee of various pro-life groups would also make mothers liable to prison terms, though judges could waive punishment in their case. Poland's influential Catholic Church gave the initiative its seal of approval earlier this year, though its bishops have since come out against the provisions to jail women. The proposal, which the Council of Europe called a "serious backsliding on women's rights", has inspired several large pro-choice marches and a rival drive to liberalise the law. The country of 38 million people sees less than 2,000 legal abortions a year, but women's groups estimate that another 100,000-150,000 procedures are performed illegally or abroad. - Half a million signatures - The anti-abortion proposal garnered almost half a million signatures in support, much more than the 100,000 required for a citizen's bill to be tabled in parliament. In addition to punishing practitioners, the proposal would require state and local governments to offer support to women and families with handicapped children as well as those born out of rape or incest. Story continues "We hope the measure will be adopted as soon as possible and will take effect before the end of the year," pro-life activist Sylwia Zborowska told AFP. She has some reason to be optimistic, as the PiS had backed a similar initiative that ultimately failed while the party was in the opposition, before it came to power in November. But the lack of broad public support for a near-total ban on abortion has now made the governing PiS wary of fully endorsing it, preferring instead for party members to vote according to their convictions. - 'Save women' - Though the make-up of the current parliament leaves pro-choice activists little reason for hope, they have not given up. They launched a committee called "Save Women" and tabled an initiative in parliament that would allow abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy, garnering 215,000 petition signatures in support. Parliament will also debate a bill put forward by MPs intended to limit in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), the so-called "test-tube baby" treatment that involves fertilising an egg outside a woman's body to produce an embryo that can then be implanted in her womb. The measure would notably make it illegal to freeze embryos, which are considered human beings from the moment of fertilisation by proponents of the bill. It would also only allow women to fertilise one egg at a time, thus considerably reducing the chances of a successful pregnancy. Lille (France) (AFP) - Two Belgian policemen were arrested for helping a group of migrants return to France after they wound up in Belgium by mistake while heading to Calais, officials said Thursday. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve summoned Belgium's ambassador to France, Vincent Mertens de Wilmars, to "ask for an explanation (and) express his displeasure", the ministry said. The Belgian officers were arrested by their French counterparts in the border town of Nieppe late Tuesday after they brought the 13 Iraqi and Afghan migrants across the frontier. French police said the migrants had originally been in a truck believing they were heading for Calais -- the northern French port from where they wanted to try to travel on to Britain -- but got out after realising that they had crossed into Belgium. The Belgian police then picked them up on the side of the road, according to one of the Belgian officers, Georges Aeck. He told Belgian broadcaster RTBF: "We didn't want to leave them... on the side of the road to walk to the border. "So we took them... in the direction they wanted to go." The Belgian police took the migrants back to France in a police van, "but without respecting the re-admission procedure under which you have to inform the authorities," a police source told AFP. French authorities expressed "their strongest condemnation after this initiative, which does not conform to the normal work practices agreed between France and Belgium". An official French source said the two Belgian police officers had been questioned "as witnesses" and were able to leave the French police station during Monday night. - 'Border not very visible' - Belgium however denied that Cazeneuve had summoned its ambassador in Paris after the incident. "The precise rule is that you bring refugees to the border. The problem here is that the boundary in that street was not very visible," Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon told public broadcaster RTBF. Story continues "This is a minor incident, not a big thing, They entered French territory because they didn't see exactly where the border was," he added. The Belgian police union on Wednesday said the French police had handcuffed their Belgian colleagues before questioning, a claim denied by French authorities, and the union took it back. Union president Vincent Gilles said about the circumstances of the Belgian police arrest that "there was nothing bad to say about our French colleagues." A police source said the incident was "a first" and that the Belgian and French police "get along well". The migrants were taken to a border police station in the northern French city of Lille. Three minors were placed in the care of local authorities and the adults have been temporarily detained while their status is assessed. Calais is a magnet for migrants who try to board lorries there to reach Britain. The migrant crisis and immigration are hot topics in France seven months ahead of presidential elections. The French government has begun dismantling the sprawling migrant camp in Calais known as the "Jungle", a squalid collection of tents and temporary shelters holding between 7,000 and 10,000 people. More than 300,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year to seek asylum or a better life in Europe, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Villagers, top police officials told India Today, that they have been told to stay on guard against suspect phone calls, WhatsApp messages and Facebook posts and messages. By India Today Web Desk: Spies from Pakistan may vigorously use social media and honeytraps to collect intelligence from border villages as tensions sour with India, residents living along the international boundary have been warned. In Rajasthan's Barmer district, authorities are holding public camps to raise awareness about various tactics the rogues from the neighbouring country may deploy to obtain sensitive information. advertisement READ: How people in Uri sector are living in fear after the attacks Villagers and top police officials told India Today, that they were warned against suspicious phone calls, SMSs, WhatsApp messages and Facebook posts. "We are fully cooperating with authorities and spreading this warning across to our friends and neighbours not to share any information about the security situation or any other sensitive matter on social sites," said Vijay, a villager. According to district police chief Gagandeep Singla, officials of various government departments have been warned about possible Pakistani attempts to secure intelligence through what may appear to be innocuous phone calls and Facebook messages. Spies on the other side of the border may also try to honeytrap young men here, cautioned a senior administrator. Female Pakistani agents can lure vulnerable targets into revealing security-related information via social sites, said Jitendra Singh, a sub-divisional magistrate in Barmer. READ| Uri attack: India summons Abdul Basit, offers evidence of involvement of Pak-based terrorists Authorities are also on a high alert for malicious propaganda Pakistanis may unleash on mobile messaging applications and bogus emails to trigger communal unrest. Top police officials have appealed to the people not to get swayed by rumours and reckless WhatsApp messages and emails. At Sri Ganganagar, also in Rajasthan, the BSF was seen mounting a foot patrol along the tall border fences separating India and Pakistan. For residents, it was a routine day. Farmers were sowing the crops and schoolchildren attending class as usual. "We want peace. But if Pakistan didn't stop terror, India will lose its patience," said a young local farmer. "Pakistan will suffer most if India hits back at it." READ| Uri attack: Parrikar seeks report from Army on how terrorists managed to infiltrate camp India Today also visited villages of Pathankot, a border district in Punjab. In quiet fields, farmers were seen reaping the harvest with sickles. Many of them were angry and anxious. "Let there be a decisive war. But before that, people like us living in these villages should be shifted to safer places," said a woman resident. advertisement A male farmer told India Today that people working in fields faced hostilities from Pakistani border guards when tensions spiral. "That's a terrorist country. Let there be a war," he said. The farmer, however, also urged authorities to ensure safety of border residents in the event of any escalation. Also read: Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terroristsAvenge Uri attack, all-religion group urges PM Modi in letter with blood --- ENDS --- (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned Ukraine needs to live up to its promises economic and political reforms or risk seeing the European Union walk away from its sanctions on Russia. "We know that if they give an excuse to the EU, there are at least five countries right now that want to say 'We want out'" of sanctions against Moscow, Biden said, speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Europe imposed sanctions after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. Fighting has continued in the east of the country, despite the so-called Minsk ceasefire agreement, and Western powers fear peace efforts could unravel. In exchange for financial support from the United States and other Western allies, Ukraine promised reforms, but progress has been mixed. Biden's comments came a day after he met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the United Nations, pushing on reforms in Ukraine's energy and justice sectors, while saying conditions had been met for a third U.S. sovereign loan guarantee of up to $1 billion. Biden said he has spent two to three hours a week on the phone with Ukrainian leaders since the crisis began, urging them to persist with reforms, while also pressuring Germany, France and Italy to hold fast on sanctions. "There's an overwhelming instinct in Europe to say, Hey: before [Poroshenko] became president, this was owned by Russia anyway. They had a puppet there. What difference does it make? What the hell's the difference? Why are you making us engage in these sanctions? Biden said. Noting a crisis of "self-doubt" in Europe caused by the United Kingdom's referendum decision to leave the bloc and the Syrian migration crisis, Biden said he has warned Poroshenko to make sure that the failure of the Minsk deal is not blamed on Ukraine. "I've been the guy on the back of Ukrainians - which was a thoroughly corrupt system when they came in - making the case that, You have to understand: everybody's willing to blame the victim, and you better straighten up and fly right," Biden said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Alan Crosby) BJs Restaurants, Inc. BJRI opened its new restaurant at Cary, NC on Sep 19, 2016. The 7,300 square feet restaurant is located on Dillard Drive at the Centrum at Crossroads shopping center and can accommodate close to 225 guests. The outlet features BJs Restaurants extensive menu, including its signature deep-dish pizza, award-winning hand-crafted beer and the famous Pizookie dessert. In addition, BJs unique contemporary decor creates an ideal environment for dining. This marks its second restaurant opening in North Carolina, following the success of the one located in Winston-Salem at Hanes Mall. The company has opened 11 new restaurants year to date and currently operates 181 casual dining restaurants across 23 states of the U.S., under its brand names BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse, BJs Restaurant & Brewery, BJs Pizza & Grill and BJs Grill. However, BJs Restaurants loses out in terms of international presence. While several other restaurateurs including Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM, McDonalds Corporation MCD and Papa Johns International, Inc. PZZA are capitalizing on the emerging market potential, BJs Restaurants seems to be weak on this front. Moreover, the restaurant industry in the U.S. has been experiencing low consumption over the last few quarters. Consumers are unwilling to dine out due to higher spending on other necessities like health care and the still-tightened credit availability. Thus, the company is in dire need to spread its presence beyond the U.S. in order to offset the impact of the saturated domestic market and cutthroat competition. Further, BJs Restaurants posted weak second-quarter 2016 results wherein both earnings and revenues lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Despite menu innovation and efficiencies derived from their initiatives such as the Project Q, the companys comps declined and were softer than anticipated due to a difficult operating environment. BJ'S RESTAURANT Price BJ'S RESTAURANT Price | BJ'S RESTAURANT Quote Going forward, increase in labor costs as well as marketing and pre-opening expenses are expected to continue to keep profits under pressure. Additionally, social and political issues, weakening consumer confidence and rising global uncertainties might keep revenue growth under check. BJs Restaurants currently holds a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report YUM! BRANDS INC (YUM): Free Stock Analysis Report BJ'S RESTAURANT (BJRI): Free Stock Analysis Report MCDONALDS CORP (MCD): Free Stock Analysis Report PAPA JOHNS INTL (PZZA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Cosmopolitan On Tuesday, Amy Schumer took to Instagram to share a photo you may or may not have seen on Facebook: a side-by-side comparison of recent covers of Girls Life and Boys Life magazines. The Girls Life cover includes stories like Fall fashion youll love, Your dream hair, Wake up pretty, and a First Kiss confessional while the Boys Life cover asks its young readers to Explore your future: Astronaut? Artist? Firefighter? Chef? Heres how to be what you want to be. Shortly after Amys post, Blake Lively regrammed the photo and voiced her frustration over the seemingly sexist message. Wow. @amyschumer I second that emotion, Blake wrote. Ladies, lets not let this happen anymore Katie Holmes also joined in, along with a hashtag #ThisNeedsToChange: The magazine covers first went viral in late August when Matt Frye, a father of three, noticed the display at his local library in Kansas City. A sad microcosm of what our society says being a girl vs being a boy means, he wrote on Facebook, along with the original photo. With three girls to raise, this breaks my heart. Ill fight like hell for my girls to not exist in this reality. Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll, a mother of two girls and three boys, shared the photo two days later and addressed a letter to the editors of the magazine. WHAT in the name of all that is and ever was good are you teaching girls?? she wrote. Is this the message you want for your daughters?? You are women. Working, professional women. Is this the message you are proud of? Is this why you became publishers, writers, graphic designers? To tell girls they are the sum of their fashion, makeup, and hair? Karen Bokram, the publisher and founding editor of Girls Life, defended the magazines cover in a Facebook post published Sept. 2. To be clear, I feel no need to apologize for anything on our cover or in our magazine, she wrote. And its probably beside the point that all of the haters who have contacted me admit they have never actually read ANY issue of Girls Life, no less the one being slammed (as one snarkily said 'let me guess, you have all sorts of empowering articles on the inside.' Well mam, yes). The only thing that mattered to them was the fact they could shame us for talking about hair, clothes, beauty and boys (and ignore whatever our actual magazine might contain). Story continues As the Today show notes, Girls Life and Boys Life are not affiliated with each other. In fact, the latter is the official trade magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. Katherine Young, a graphic artist, has since reimagined a more appropriate cover for young girls. It is 2016 after all. Follow Peggy on Twitter. You Might Also Like ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / Today, Stephan Bogner from Rockstone Research published an article on BonTerra Resources Inc. (BTR.V) as earlier today the company has published an interesting infographic about both its high-grade gold projects in the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt of Canada. In mid-June, the company announced the start of a 10,000 m drilling program on its 100% owned Gladiator Gold Project located north of Val d'Or, Quebec. Since then, no drilling assays have been reported. In case significant gold grades are disclosed by the company, Rockstone will initiate coverage with more details on the company, the district, and the gold mining space. The full article incl. technical stock analysis can be accessed with the following link: English: http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/en/research-reports/1631-BonTerra-at-the-end-of-a-triangle German: http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/de/research-reports/1632-BonTerra-Aktie-am-Ende-eines-Dreiecks For smartphones, an APP from Rockstone Research is available in the AppStore for Apple devices and in the GooglePlayStore for Android devices. Recently, Zimtu Capital Corp. launched the Beta Version of its Advantage APP, in which all interlisted stocks (i.e. all public companies listed in Canada and Germany) can be tracked. After a cost-free registration, the full features of the APP are unlocked, e.g. sorting all stocks with the biggest daily trading volumes on all German or Canadian exchanges (see instructions in the section "How To Use"): www.zimtuadvantage.com Disclaimer: Please read the full disclaimer within the full research report as a PDF as fundamental risks and conflicts of interest exist. SOURCE: Rockstone Research Legendary oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, the founder of BP Capital, says that theres no question that Donald Trump will be a better candidate for energy. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Pickens, whos been supporting Trump since the spring, criticized Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over her views on fracking. He thinks that she agrees with Sen. Bernie Sanders view that fracking should be banned. That cant happen. Let me tell you what would happen to us, for instance. The world uses 95 million barrels of oil a day. Seventy percent of that goes to transportation fuel. If you shut down fracking Theyve both said they d like to shut down fossil fuels. Im not here stomping for fossil fuels, Pickens said. Im here to tell you thats the only thing you have. If you dont have oil for transportation fuel or natural gas, what will happen to you? Your transportation will stop. And that cant happen. He said that President Barack Obama has been a complete loser for energy. He has never promoted energy and never pays attention to it that I can see, Pickens said. Pickens has called Americas dependence on foreign oil the greatest threat to the US. Specifically, Pickens has said that Americas reliance on OPEC-imported oil threatens the countrys economy, environment, and national security. Were a lot better off today than we were five years ago, 10 years ago, Pickens told Yahoo Finance, pointing out that the US had been importing more than 8 million barrels per day from the Mideast. Now, that number is closer to 1.5 million per day because of lower oil prices. Pickens sees no reason for the US to use OPEC oil. Instead, hes for forming a North American Energy Alliance among the US, Mexico, and Canada. The idea is that the US would be the market for Canadas and Mexicos oil. Eight years ago, he kicked off The Pickens Plan, which aims to get the US to reduce its reliance on foreign oil by using natural gas and other American resources. The crux of the plan is to get heavy-duty trucks to switch to natural gas, which is cheaper and emits less carbon dioxide than oil. Story continues Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Read more: Boone Pickens: This election scares the hell out of me Soros outlines 7-pillar plan to solve refugee crisis When Jim Koch left his consulting job to launch a company around a family beer recipe in 1984, he had an impressive resume: three degrees from Harvard, including a law degree and MBA, plus six years at the Boston Consulting Group. "I had what you would think is a very good business background and education," he said at the Iconic conference in Boston on Thursday. Shortly after starting Boston Beer, which has evolved into a $2 billion craft beer empire , Koch realized that in order to get Samuel Adams to market, he first needed to learn how to sell it. And that's something the Harvard Business School alum said the hallowed Ivy never taught him. "Harvard, to this day, has dozens of courses on marketing and no courses on selling," Koch said. "I think they look down their nose at it intellectually. Nobody goes to school to be a salesman but that's what I had to learn to do." Koch went to the HBS bookstore and bought the one relevant book he could find: "How to Master the Art of Selling" by Tom Hopkins. The self-taught salesman realized that selling isn't "the sleazy stuff" many of us are led to believe it is. In fact, figuring out how to sell Samuel Adams "turned out to be the most intellectually challenging thing that I had encountered in business," Koch said. "We've been culturally trained to think that selling is an ignoble activity but I learned, against all my expectations, that done right, it is very noble. You are helping the customer achieve their objectives, so you have to learn to listen and empathize." More from iCONIC: 12 of the most famous Harvard grads -- and dropouts -- of modern time Bogle: What I learned from my biggest investing mistake How 9 iconic American brands discovered their names More From CNBC A 6-year-old boy is captivating the internet with a letter he wrote to President Obama about the bloodied and dirt-covered Syrian child photographed in the back of an ambulance in the war-torn country this summer. Alex, who lives in Scarsdale, New York, put pen to paper with a compassionate heart and a simple idea. Read: 'Abhorrent' British Mother Who Took Her Son to Syria So She Could Join ISIS Gets 6 Years in Prison Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to our home? Park in the driveway or on the street and well be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers and balloons, he wrote on yellow legal paper. The missive so moved the president that he read it aloud at a United Nations refugee summit in New York this week and posted it on his Facebook page, where it has gone viral. We should be more like Alex, Obama said. Imagine what the world would look like if we were. Imagine the suffering we could ease and the lives we could save. Alex, with the clarity of a childs reasoning, tells Obama that he and his little sister, Catherine, will share their toys with the refugee and give him a family and he will be our brother. He also volunteers his little sisters services to collect butterflies and fireflies for the 5-year-old shell-shocked boy named Omran who was captured on video being carried from the rubble of his bombed home in Aleppo. Video of the boy, showing him wiping away blood, stunned the world and refocused attention on the everyday horrors of Syrias brutal civil, which has been raging since 2011. Read: Teen Who Killed French Priest Tried to Enter Syria Twice and Had Been Imprisoned Prior to Attack "The humanity that a young child can display, who hasnt learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where theyre from, or how they look, or how they pray, and who just understands the notion of treating somebody that is like him with compassion, with kindness we can all learn from Alex," Obama said. Story continues Alex's letter filled three pages (Facebook) The American boy also knows another child from Syria, he said. In my school I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omar and we can all play together, Alex wrote. He also offers the use of his bicycle and Catherines bunny, as well as the opportunity to smell Catherines lip gloss penguin, which is green. She doesnt let anyone touch it. In closing, Alex told the president, Thank you very much! I cant wait for you to come! Watch: 17-Year-Old Syrian Refugee Carries Puppy 300 Miles to Safety Related Articles: By India Today Web Desk: The world has come crashing down, and another celebrity marriage has broken up in full public view. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, better known as Brangelina are separating after 12 years of togetherness and couple of years of marriage. Jolie cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the divorce. ALSO READ: How the Internet reacted to the Brangelina breakup advertisement ALSO READ: Brangelina's last film together By The Sea mirrored their relationship As reported by TMZ, one of the major reasons why Jolie was unhappy with Pitt was some of his parenting decisions, she didn't agree with. Jolie filed for full physical custody of all their 6 children. Pitt now, reports have suggested is fighting for the physical as well as legal custody of the children. Jolie had initially allowed for periodic visitations as well as joint legal custody, but insisted on the fact that he does not have physical custody of the children in any manner. Sources close to the Allied actor said, "he only found out a day before she went ahead and filed the divorce. Right now, he's just trying to make sure that the kids are okay and being appropriately cared for." There were reports floating that suggested Pitt was a strict parent with anger issues, quite the opposite to Jolie's bohemian version of a parent. The two are working on defusing all the negativity surrounding the divorce for the sake of their kids. --- ENDS --- Brad Pitt is not being investigated by Los Angeles police following accusations of child abuse, the department said Thursday. Reports emerged Thursday morning that the actor was being probed after he allegedly became abusive with one of his children in front of estranged wife Angelina Jolie and some of their other kids. The family was in their private plane on a tarmac at about 8 p.m. last Wednesday when Pitt allegedly lost it, screaming and getting physical with one of his six children with Jolie, TMZ first reported. According to reports, an investigation was launched after an anonymous tipster alerted authorities to the incident, during which Pitt was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. But later Thursday, the LAPD denied it is investigating the reported accusations against Pitt, saying in a statement to KTLA on Thursday: "The abuse child unit with LAPD has no open investigation on Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie." Pitt reportedly did not return to the familys Los Angeles home after the incident, an apparently common course of action for the actor, who allegedly often spent nights at a hotel after arguing with his wife. Read: Angelina Jolie Was Reportedly Fed Up with Brad Pitt's Weed and Alcohol Use He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children, a source close to Pitt told TMZ. Its unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light. Jolie separated from Pitt a day after the alleged incident and filed for divorce days later, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple were married for two years and have been together for 12. Read: The Beginning of Brangelina's End: Pitt, Jolie Reportedly Lived Separate Lives as Marriage Crumbled Jolie has requested sole physical custody of Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8. Story continues This decision was made for the health of the family, Jolie said of the divorce in a statement released by her attorney. In a separate statement, Pitt said of the divorce: I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time. Watch: An Inside Look at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 12-Year Relationship Related Articles: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fans were left reeling Tuesday morning after news broke that the couple is getting divorced. According to the Associated Press, in the divorce papers she filed, Jolie Pitt cited "irreconcilable differences," a vague term that could apply to any number of reasons. The most common cause for divorce, however, comes down to communication differences, said Nicholas Wolfinger, a professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah. [The Science of Breakups: 7 Facts About Splitsville] Communication problems are a huge predictor of divorce, Wolfinger told Live Science. For example, women may not communicate their emotional needs, or men may not hear them, Wolfinger said. Indeed, after a divorce that was initiated by a woman, men will often say that they don't know what happened, Wolfinger said. Women initiate divorce about two-thirds of the time, he added. Early reports on the reasons for Jolie and Pitt's divorce announcement cited their different approaches to parenting as a reason for the split. Pitt and Jolie have six children. But there isn't much evidence that shows having different parenting styles is a common cause of divorce, Wolfinger said. Every couple has differences about parenting, he added. The question is how they communicate these differences, he said. Other factors that may mean a couple is more likely to get divorced include if they get married young or if they are less educated, Wolfinger said. In addition, people who divorce and then remarry also have higher divorce rates, Wolfinger said. If a person has already shown that they're willing to resort to divorce, they're more likely to do it again, he said. Both Pitt and Jolie were previously married. Before their own wedding in 2014, the couple had been together for nearly a decade. Interestingly, research has shown that couples who live together before marriage have higher divorce rates than those who do not, Wolfinger said. The findings seem counterintuitive, because living together before getting married can seem like a "trial marriage," he said. Story continues Indeed, experts disagree about why this is, but one possible explanation is that people who are more likely to live together out of wedlock are also more likely to get a divorce, Wolfinger said. For example, very religious people are less likely to divorce, and also less likely to live together before marriage, he said. [5 Facts About Couples Who Live Together] Brangelina's breakup, however, doesn't mean that marriage is dead in America. Divorce rates have actually been decreasing over the past 35 years, Wolfinger said. And surveys have shown that Americans do value marriage and disapprove of adultery, he said. It's also important to keep in mind that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's actions don't represent trends in America, Wolfinger added. The lives of celebrities such as Pitt and Jolie are fundamentally very different from those of the average American, he said. Originally published on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Brangelina split has made headlines around the world. The morning after Angelina Jolie announced she was filing for a divorce from Brad Pitt, Germany's leading tabloid, Bild, splashed news of the split on its front page and atop its home page under a headline purportedly quoting Pitt saying that Jolie "had unleashed hell" with the filing. The country's more somber broadsheets were less sensational and pushed news of the split below the fold or further down on their home pages, with the bulk of coverage focused on the he-said-she-said aspect of the story. But Germany's flagship news program, Tagesschau on public broadcaster ARD, decided news of the bombing of an aid convoy in Syria and the plight of refugees was more important, bumping any Brangelina coverage off the air. The divorce filing heard 'round the world did not fall on deaf ears in France, where the Jolie-Pitts have a home. Chateau Miraval, the family's mansion nestled in the terraced hills of Var between Cannes and Marseille in the south of France, was the site of their wedding just two years ago and is the home of the eponymous rose wine that has made a splash in supermarkets across the country. The story received news coverage in daily papers Le Figaro and Le Parisien, topping the news of the hospitalization of former French President Jacques Chirac. It dominated blogs and tabloid websites like Closer, Public and Gala, while the French version of The Huffington Post led with a screaming headline Wednesday: "The role of a lifetime: 'Brangelina' - The end of the mythic, but not perfect, couple." Read more: Angelina Jolie Files for Divorce From Brad Pitt Mostly, the French news media has stayed away from fanning any speculative fires about the role of Pitt's Allied co-star Marion Cotillard. Cotillard appeared on the cover of this week's Closer, which proclaimed the actress pregnant with her and long-term partner Guillaume Canet's second child based on a paparazzi shot of her with a belly and a baggy dress at the premiere of It's Only the End of the World. (Canet previously was married to Diane Kruger.) Story continues And while the tabloids dissected the innocuous words of Canet on the TV chat show C a vous Monday night, when he joked, "I don't know her very well," when questioned about Cotillard's least favorite vegetable, the publications carefully repeated American rumors without generating any of their own. They've reported that Cotillard is "devastated" by the link. It's not just speculation that French tabloids avoid, as some have been successfully sued for breach of privacy for reporting true stories. European code, and particularly French law, has much tougher privacy protections than the U.S. Actress and producer Julie Gayet successfully sued tabloid Closer in 2014 for exposing her relationship with French President Francois Hollande, winning a 15,000 euro judgment from the magazine for breach of privacy. Gayet argued that she had not chosen to publicize the relationship previously, having tried successfully to keep her private life out of the tabloids since her divorce in 2006, and that the magazine profited from exposing her private life. Read more: What Films Are Next for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt After Their Split Publishing company Mondadori attempted to argue that the story - which briefly caused chaos inside the Palais de l'Elysee, as former first lady Valerie Trierweiler was hospitalized and subsequently moved out - was in the public interest, as it raised questions about state security, but the courts didn't buy it. The same magazine lost a suit after publishing topless paparazzi photos of Kate Middleton in 2014. It was required to turn over all the photos and fined 2,600 euros. Still, French tabloids have long been speculating about a Jolie-Pitt split, due to rumors that the couple were quietly floating their French property on the market since June, with Jolie pushing the sale while Pitt wanted to keep the Var vineyard. In the U.K., The Sun has been one of the most active outlets on the Brangelina story. "Never-before-seen pictures show Brad and Angelina having furious row during day out at Legoland," it said online on Wednesday in what it called an exclusive. Italian news was saturated with the break of Brangelina. Media outlets from RAI to Sky to La7 aired footage of the couple in happier times traveling around Europe promoting films and focusing on Jolie's refuge work. The couple last filmed By the Sea on Malta's Gozo island, just south of Italy. Many are now interpreting that film as a message about the couple's failed marriage. Newspapers such as La Repubblica, Italy's national paper, dedicated a front-page column to the divorce news. Stories focused on the hyped-up media animosity between Jennifer Aniston and Jolie, with galleries dedicated to Italian memes of Aniston basking in the news, similar to the English-language memes. Galleries dedicated dozens of photos to recent high-profile splits, from Joshua Jackson and Kruger to local celebs such as Valentino Rossi and Linda Morselli. Read more: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt Wax Figures Separated at Madame Tussauds Museums The Corriere della Sera focused on Cotillard's shock at affair rumors. And an op-ed in the paper stated that the end of the supercouple marks the end of their "sickening" love story and a return to normalcy because, even though we don't know the reasons behind the split, it proves even the most money, beauty and glamour cannot buy happiness. It makes the two seem human again, and in turn makes them just like us. Indian media, from print to TV, largely covered the Pitt-Jolie divorce via international news feeds. Social media also was in focus, with tweets from some stand-up comics, such as Vir Das, who soon will tape his first Netflix comedy special, who posted: "Don't let the Pitt Jolie divorce shake your faith in marriage. You don't have those kind of looks or options....you're gonna be fine." Tuesday's revelations that Jolie had filed for divorce from Pitt came just in time to headline Australia's breakfast TV programs. By day's end down under, the story was still a part of the evening news bulletins, while tabloid magazines stretched their weekly print deadlines to include the news. In Australia, reporting on the split put Today show host and Australia's highest-paid TV presenter, Karl Stefanovic, in a too-close-to-home situation, coming two days after it was revealed that he had split from his wife of 21 years. "You can obviously argue it's no one's business, what's going on inside there," said Stefanovic while discussing Pitt and Jolie's divorce on air. "They're high-profile, it's a tough one. It is a big media story." Stefanovic should know in part how the Hollywood system works. He is a close friend of Mariah Carey's fiance, billionaire Aussie businessman James Packer, and has reportedly sought sanctuary from his marriage split at Packer's Bondi Beach apartment. Read more: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: A Timeline of Their Relationship (Adds comment from Mantega's lawyer) By Brad Haynes and Brad Brooks SAO PAULO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Brazilian police arrested former Finance Minister Guido Mantega on Thursday as a sweeping corruption investigation struck further at the heart of the Workers Party (PT) that ran the country for 13 years. Police investigators told a news conference they took Mantega, long a confidant of recently impeached former President Dilma Rousseff and an early member of the PT, into custody at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. He was there accompanying his wife as she prepared for surgery. Mantega, 67, was ordered released from custody a few hours later. The investigators said Mantega in 2012 requested a payment of 5 million reais, about $2.5 million at the time, from Brazilian business tycoon Eike Batista, a billionaire who has since lost his fortune, to pay PT campaign debts. At the time, Batista's shipbuilding unit OSX Brasil SA was discussing an oil platform project with state-led oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, known as Petrobras, and loans from state-owned development bank BNDES. Brazil's longest-serving finance minister of the past 70 years, Mantega in 2012 was also the chairman of Petrobras, the company at the center of a sprawling political-kickback scheme. Mantega's lawyer Jose Roberto Batochio told reporters late Thursday that his client never requested money from Batista and said his arrest was "absolutely exaggerated." "What I can say and what the minister has affirmed to me with total assurance is that he never discussed a donation of any value to pay campaign debts from Mr. Eike Batista," Batochio said. A few hours after his arrest, federal Judge Sergio Moro ordered Mantega released from custody. Moro ruled that Mantega's cooperation with authorities, the fact they had already searched his home, and the fact that Mantega was supporting his wife as she fights cancer all suggested the former minister was unlikely to interfere with the investigation. Story continues His arrest came two days after Moro decided to put former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on trial for allegedly accepting more than $1 million in bribes from an engineering company in the Petrobras scandal. Mantega served as finance minister for almost nine years under Rousseff and Lula, a close friend whom he helped become elected president in 2002. He helped steer Latin America's largest economy through a commodities boom at the height of Workers Party rule, but came under withering criticism in 2011 and beyond as the economy began sliding into its worst recession since the 1930s. Mantega left office in 2015 at the start of Rousseff's second term after years of complaints from critics about faulty economic forecasts and ineffective industrial policies. Mantega's political allies attacked the decision to arrest him. Workers Party President Rui Falcao called the arrest "arbitrary, inhuman and unnecessary" and questioned the timing of the operation just over a week before municipal elections throughout the country. Police executed warrants for eight arrests and 32 search and seizure operations in five states and the capital Brasilia on Thursday, according to prosecutors. They said the operation targeted Mantega and engineering firms Mendes Junior and OSX, part of Batista's former commodities empire. Police named the latest phase of the two-year-old Petrobras probe "Operation X Files" in a reference to the letter X that Batista included in the name of his oil, mining, shipbuilding, and port-operation and energy companies. Prosecutors said Batista contacted prosecutors of his own volition to tell them about Mantega's alleged request in November 2012 for the 5 million real payment to the PT. Prosecutors said Batista eventually made an overseas payment of $2.35 million, to Joao Santana, Rousseff and Lula's former campaign adviser, and his wife, Monica Moura. Both were arrested in February for allegedly laundering money in the Petrobras scheme. Prosecutors said they believe the payment was a bribe destined to pay debt from Rousseff's 2010 campaign, a conclusion denied by Batista, who is under investigation but was not targeted in Thursday's operation. A lawyer for Batista and press representatives for OSX and Mendes Junior could not immediately be reached for comment. (Additional reporting by Patricia Duarte, Alexandre Caverni and Nacho Doce in Sao Paulo, and Pedro Fonseca in Rio da Janeiro; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler) By Guy Faulconbridge and Marton Dunai LONDON/BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Britain has raised concerns with Hungary over a description of areas of London, Paris and Brussels as "no-go" areas dominated by illegal immigrants who increase the risk of militant attacks. Ahead of an Oct. 2 referendum on whether to reject European Union migrant quotas, Hungary released an official leaflet setting out the government's case for voting "No", including its views on the impact of migration on major Western cities. In one section, under the title "Forced resettlement poses a threat to our culture and traditions", the leaflet includes a map of Europe detailing -- in red -- what it said were no-go areas where the authorities could not keep control. Cities so identified included London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin. Other pages of the leaflet include a section on how "Illegal immigration increases the terror threat". "Immigrants mostly come from areas where European countries are carrying out military actions. This greatly increases the security risk," the Hungarian leaflet said. "Terrorists deliberately and in a well-organized fashion take advantage of the lack of control to melt into the crowds of immigrants." Britain's embassy in Budapest raised concerns about the leaflet with the Hungarian government, whose head, Viktor Orban, says the EU should round up and deport all illegal immigrants. "This leaflet is clearly inaccurate," a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said. "There are no areas in the UK in which the laws of the UK cannot be enforced." London, the European Union's biggest city by population, is sometimes portrayed abroad as a tense, immigrant-dominated capital awash with a mix of poor immigrants, highly paid bankers and wealthy foreign oligarchs. Many Londoners, including mayor Sadiq Khan, say such portrayals are false. Khan says London has benefited from immigration and portrays the city as a beacon of tolerance, cohesion and integration. Donald Trump, who is now U.S. Republican presidential nominee, said last year that parts of London and Paris were now so radicalized they could no longer be policed by officers, who feared for their lives. That claim was denied by London police. Earlier this month, state-owned Air China withdrew an in-flight magazine that warned visitors to be careful in parts of London populated by members of ethnic minorities. "Precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people," the state-owned airline's Wings of China magazine said in an article offering advice to visitors to London. (Editing by Catherine Evans) Paris (AFP) - Britain will travel to Canada for the first round of the 2017 Davis Cup after Thursday's World Group draw that cast 2016 finalists Argentina and Croatia against Italy and Spain. Britain's title defence ended with defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals last weekend, while Canada, semi-finalists in 2013, beat Chile to maintain their World Group status. The winner of the tie from February 3-5 would face either France or Japan. The French, this year's beaten semi-finalists, travel to Japan, who have fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori among their ranks. The Japanese, who returned to the World Group in 2011 after 26 years absence, were beaten in the first round by Britain this year. Marin Cilic's Croatia are enjoying a run of success advancing to the 2016 final which they will host from November 25-27 after sweeping France aside 3-2 in Zadar. Next year they will start their campaign at home against Raphael Nadal's Spain, who have just won promotion to the World Group. The Spanish generally do better on clay, rather than Croatia's hard courts. Argentina also prefer clay, and drew a home tie against Italy, led by 2015 Australian Open doubles winner Simone Bolelli. The United States take on Switzerland, while Lleyton Hewitt's Australia, who can count on the talented Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, drew a home tie against the Czech Republic. The 2017 format has been shortened to the best-of-three sets rather than five and will be played over two days instead of three. A match is made up of two singles rubbers followed by a double rubber and two further singles games. World Group 1st round Argentina v Italy Germany v Belgium Australia v Czech Republic United States v Switzerland Japan v France Canada v Britain Serbia v Russia Croatia v Spain Britain's new International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, leaves Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett By Lin Taylor LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Britain said on Thursday it will give 40 million pounds in humanitarian aid to Iraq, anticipating a wave of displaced people as government forces prepare to recapture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State. The advance on Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city which fell in 2014 to the militant group, could begin as soon as next month. The United Nations says the Mosul offensive risks triggering a major humanitarian crisis, with one million or more people potentially fleeing the city. "New UK support will put in place critical stocks and supplies for basic life support such as food, shelter, sanitation facilities, and protection assistance ahead of Mosul military operations," said Britain's international development secretary, Priti Patel, in a statement. The funding announced on Thursday is in addition to the 169.5 million pounds the UK government has already spent on aid in Iraq since 2014. This commitment comes a week after the United States pledged to give Iraq $181 million (138.7 million) in humanitarian aid ahead of the Mosul assault. Lise Grande, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, on Monday appealed for more funding to help people displaced by the conflict. "We're very worried that we won't be able to prepare in time" for the Mosul battle, she said in a statement. The United Nations estimated it would need $284 million to respond to the expected displacement of civilians from Mosul, and up to $1.8 billion to deal with the aftermath of the offensive. U.S. and Iraqi officials are also concerned there has not been enough planning for how to manage Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and a mosaic of ethnic and sectarian groups, if and when Islamic State is kicked out. (Reporting by Lin Taylor @linnytayls, Editing by Katie Nguyen; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian issues, conflicts, global land and property rights, modern slavery and human trafficking, women's rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories) Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston are human beings first. Stars, brands or hashtags later. To reduce a matter as grave and serious as a divorce to slanderous memes and gifs is disgusting. By Devarsi Ghosh: When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie began dating in 2005, the media went on hyperdrive. When they had their first baby, People magazine published 'EXCLUSIVE' photos of the couple with the newborn. The same happened for their pair of twins born in 2008. So, obviously, when news broke that Angelina has filed for divorce with Brad Pitt, what was a human tragedy and an intimate affair became the new drug to get high on. advertisement ALSO READ: Angelina Jolie files for divorce with Brad Pitt ALSO READ: Here's how Twitter reacted to Brangelina Divorce (with Jennifer Aniston gifs) ALSO READ: Brad Pitt wants physical custody of children, after Angelina Jolie filed for visitation Here, it was a matter of not just two people separating but also the future of six children. As of this moment, news is that, while Jolie has filed for full physical custody of their six children, Pitt has filed for both physical and legal custody. Quite contrary to a matter so grave and tragic, showbiz media was busy celebrating #Brangelina being the top twitter trend while Twitterati just could not have enough of Jennifer Aniston memes and gifs. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had a very public divorce eleven years ago. Since then, the Friends actor has moved on with her career and personal life. She married screenwriter Justin Theroux in 2011 while Pitt was living happily with Angelina Jolie. To drag her into this mess, so many years after her divorce with Pitt, is tasteless, crass and abominable. Worse of all, #TeamJen began trending soon after the news of the divorce got public. Jennifer Aniston fans and/or fans of her Friends character, Rachel, began tweeting about their hedonistic pleasure on seeing Brad Pitt getting a divorce. Well, of course, no one cheats on their Rachel... ...when your ex husband cheats on the woman who he cheated on you with #teamjen pic.twitter.com/DbDUOFezgJ Katlin Boeker (@kboekshow) September 20, 2016 Or, is it symptomatic of the classic case of pitting a woman against woman? Some news outlets published unsubstantiated reports which hinted at Pitt developing an affair with Marion Cotillard on the sets of Allied, which is why Jolie sought divorce. Did Pitt or Jolie offer any official statement of that sort? Or did Cotillard admit to having an affair? Hell, there weren't even photos of Pitt and Cotillard lunching, dining or hanging out together outside of the sets of Allied. advertisement In a post-TMZ world, gossip culture has created an environment where stars are not stars anymore, but keywords and news pegs to latch on to and ride to the top of Google Analytics. It is understandable that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are global superstars, whose appeal cut across markets, cultures and countries. If such a thing has a divorce happens in their lives, it is bound to become news. But instead of treating it as the sombre affair it is, both Twitterati and the media pounced on it like a bunch of hungry wolves, chewed it, spat it out, and then chewed it ad nauseam in the most vile, deplorable manner possible. And just because Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are stars, do they stop being human beings? This is about a marriage at stake, not a merger where both sides have stopped sharing business interests. As much as people would like to think that Brad and Angelina do not hold themselves accountable to normative moralistic standards and values, at the end of the day, they are human beings and people need to respect that. ( The writer tweets as @devarsighosh ) --- ENDS --- advertisement London (AFP) - Britain scrambled fighter jets from an airbase in Scotland to intercept two Russian bombers approaching UK airspace, the Ministry of Defence said Thursday. The Russian planes flew from the direction of Norway and passed to the west of Britain's Shetland Islands, northeast of the mainland. A Royal Air Force spokeswoman said: "Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth intercepted two Russian Blackjack bombers and escorted them while they were in the UK area of interest. "At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK territorial airspace." Two aircraft were also launched from an airbase in eastern England as "precautionary measure" but were not required. In December last year, British military officials held talks with their counterparts in Moscow over "incursions" of Russian aircraft around the UK. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the talks were aimed at finding ways of heading off any "miscalculation or accident". BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A senior British official made clear during a meeting with ambassadors from European Union countries in London this week that his government wants a signal from the EU about what kind of Brexit deal it is willing to accept before triggering divorce talks, EU sources said. The meeting, the first of its kind, was held on Tuesday so that Oliver Robbins, the top civil servant in the British Department for Exiting the European Union, could brief UK-based diplomats from EU states on the status of Brexit preparations. It was held at the invitation of the Slovak presidency of the EU, according to one source. The Slovaks declined to confirm or comment on the meeting. A British government source said: "We don't recognize what's clearly a muddled and contradictory account of the meeting." That it took place at all is a sign the process of sounding each other out on the nature of a deal has begun, despite the EU's insistence that no negotiations can take place before Theresa May's government invokes Article 50 of the EU treaty. Sources who were briefed on the exchange said Robbins gave no signals at the meeting about when May might do so. One source said he had made clear that controlling migration would be the government's top priority and that retaining access to the single market in financial services was another goal. But several other sources said it was not clear that the British government had settled on any clear priorities, and that London had been mainly interested in ascertaining what options might be possible in negotiations before triggering the process. "The message was: We want to be able to look into your faces and get a sense of whether what we propose is reasonable. We want to avoid surprises," one of the sources told Reuters. Another said: "They do not seem to have made up their minds about anything." European Council President Donald Tusk and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny have both said in recent days that May's government is indicating it could be ready to launch formal negotiations to leave the EU in January or February of 2017. Because this would start the clock ticking on an extremely tight two-year deadline for completing the divorce, British officials have been pushing behind the scenes for early consultations with the EU. "The British have realized that the timeline is very short and issues very complex," the first source said. EU member states have sent out different signals on what kind of agreement might be acceptable. But there is a broad consensus that if Britain places limits on free movement it will be difficult for it to retain access to the EU's single market. Above all, EU member states want to avoid granting Britain a generous deal that might encourage exit referendums in other EU countries, with some saying a final agreement must be painful. Former French foreign minister Michel Barnier, appointed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to lead the Brexit negotiations with Britain, is expected to travel to EU capitals after he starts the new role on Oct. 1 to gauge the mood, sources told Reuters this week. (Editing by Mark John and Kevin Liffey) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A senior British official made clear during a meeting with ambassadors from European Union countries in London this week that his government wants a signal from the EU about what kind of Brexit deal it is willing to accept before triggering divorce talks, EU sources said. The meeting, the first of its kind, was held on Tuesday so that Oliver Robbins, the top civil servant in the British Department for Exiting the European Union, could brief UK-based diplomats from EU states on the status of Brexit preparations. It was held at the invitation of the Slovak presidency of the EU, according to one source. The Slovaks declined to confirm or comment on the meeting. A British government source said: "We don't recognise what's clearly a muddled and contradictory account of the meeting." That it took place at all is a sign the process of sounding each other out on the nature of a deal has begun, despite the EU's insistence that no negotiations can take place before Theresa May's government invokes Article 50 of the EU treaty. Sources who were briefed on the exchange said Robbins gave no signals at the meeting about when May might do so. One source said he had made clear that controlling migration would be the government's top priority and that retaining access to the single market in financial services was another goal. But several other sources said it was not clear that the British government had settled on any clear priorities, and that London had been mainly interested in ascertaining what options might be possible in negotiations before triggering the process. "The message was: We want to be able to look into your faces and get a sense of whether what we propose is reasonable. We want to avoid surprises," one of the sources told Reuters. Another said: "They do not seem to have made up their minds about anything." European Council President Donald Tusk and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny have both said in recent days that May's government is indicating it could be ready to launch formal negotiations to leave the EU in January or February of 2017. Because this would start the clock ticking on an extremely tight two-year deadline for completing the divorce, British officials have been pushing behind the scenes for early consultations with the EU. "The British have realised that the timeline is very short and issues very complex," the first source said. EU member states have sent out different signals on what kind of agreement might be acceptable. But there is a broad consensus that if Britain places limits on free movement it will be difficult for it to retain access to the EU's single market. Above all, EU member states want to avoid granting Britain a generous deal that might encourage exit referendums in other EU countries, with some saying a final agreement must be painful. Former French foreign minister Michel Barnier, appointed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to lead the Brexit negotiations with Britain, is expected to travel to EU capitals after he starts the new role on Oct. 1 to gauge the mood, sources told Reuters this week. (Editing by Mark John and Kevin Liffey) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday gave her clearest signal yet that she is ready to enter the race to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations. Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist who is backed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said it was up to the Bulgarian government to decide on whether to nominate her as a candidate to succeed Ban Ki-moon. "I'm very honored that many people are encouraging me to run," Georgieva said at an event organized by the International Peace Institute, a think tank that closely follows UN affairs. "As a Bulgarian national, I would say that this is a decision for the Bulgarian government." There are currently nine candidates in the race to become the next UN chief and the Security Council has already held four straw polls to gauge support for the contenders. Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Guterres was the frontrunner in all four polls, but veto-wielding Russia has said the next UN chief should come from eastern Europe, the only region that has yet to be represented in the top post. Council members are also facing calls to pick the first woman for the top job, after eight men. Bulgaria already has a candidate in the race, UNESCO chief Irina Bokova, but her poor showing in the straw polls -- she came in fifth in the last round -- has cast doubt about the success of her bid. A new straw poll will be held on Monday after which Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has said he may well switch candidates and put forward Georgieva instead. "If after the 26th (Bokova) is not first or second, there will not be the means to pursue this and we will see together what to do," Borissov said earlier this month. Georgieva, in New York during the UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders, dismissed reports that other eastern European countries could present her candidacy. "I am not seeking or willing to be nominated by a different country, because this is my country, I love it. There is no way I would do anything that puts me at odds with being a Bulgarian," she said. The 63-year-old economist who serves as the European Union's budget commissioner has long been tipped as a possible contender to be the first woman to lead the United Nations. Speculation intensified after Merkel discussed her possible run with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G-20 summit this month. A Just like most 11 year olds, Braden Garnett wants to celebrate his birthday with friends. But the Pekin, Illinois, native who has Asperger's, strabismus (a misalignment of the eyes) and dyslexia has been bullied because of his conditions. "Braden only has the same two kids show up for his parties every year. This year, we invited 36 boys, but as of the day before, only three had RSVP'd," his mother, Carrie Garnett, tells PEOPLE. So Carrie decided to take matters into her own hands to make sure her son's birthday dreams came true. She reached out to the Pekin Police Department to ask if one or two officers would surprise Braden at his paintball party on Sunday. "He loves anyone in uniform police, fire, military!" Carrie shares. "Much to our amazement, we had a fire truck show up with four or five firefighters, at least 10 police officers, the police chief and the Mayor of Pekin," Carris says. Detective Mike Eeten from the Pekin Police Department received Carrie's initial email. "She said her son is sometimes bullied and has some not very nice things said to him," Eeten tells PEOPLE. "We thought, 'We've got to do something to help this kid.' He's just the sweetest kid." Moved by Braden's story, the police officers decided to not only attend the party on Sunday, but to pool some money for gifts and bring some of their own kids along, too. News quickly spread and some firemen jumped on board as well. Bullied Illinois 11-Year-Old Surprised by Police, Firefighters and Mayor at Birthday Party: 'He Is Glowing,' Says Mom| Good Deeds, Real People Stories Braden's mother dropped hints of a special birthday surprise to her son. But when the day of his party came around, nothing could have prepared Braden for the arrival of police officers, fire fighters, some new friends and Mayor John McCabe. Not only did they come ready to play some paintball, but they brought presents, too, including a police station Lego set. A K9 officer even brought his dog, Ahen, for the kids to meet. Story continues Bullied Illinois 11-Year-Old Surprised by Police, Firefighters and Mayor at Birthday Party: 'He Is Glowing,' Says Mom| Good Deeds, Real People Stories Braden kept repeating the phrase, "I'm breathless," in response to his surprise guests. "Perkin has the most amazing police and fire to do this for my little guy," Carrie says. Bullied Illinois 11-Year-Old Surprised by Police, Firefighters and Mayor at Birthday Party: 'He Is Glowing,' Says Mom| Good Deeds, Real People Stories For Eeten, the birthday party was meaningful in defining the role of a police officer. Bullied Illinois 11-Year-Old Surprised by Police, Firefighters and Mayor at Birthday Party: 'He Is Glowing,' Says Mom| Good Deeds, Real People Stories "It was fun to see the kids of the officers interacting with Braden and for them to see that this is something important. Mom and dad as officers do more than arrest people they do something for the community." The following day, Braden came to the police station with treats for the officers as a thank you, saying, "You guys were so sweet to me, I wanted to do something sweet for you." Bullied Illinois 11-Year-Old Surprised by Police, Firefighters and Mayor at Birthday Party: 'He Is Glowing,' Says Mom| Good Deeds, Real People Stories In return, Braden received a tour of the police and fire station, as well as some dinner invitations. "This is one of the best things I've been a part of in my long time as an officer," Eeten tells PEOPLE. Brayden's Birthday Our Officers and Firemen had a great opportunity to celebrate a birthday with a special kid named Brayden! We hope that you will take a couple minutes to watch this video and share! Posted by Pekin Police Department on Monday, September 19, 2016 And Braden's birthday party has gained a bit of fame and recognition, particularly from students at his school. "This entire experience has made a big difference socially, too," says Carrie. "Now that all the kids and staff at the school have seen the videos of it, they are giving him some positive attention that he is handling wonderfully. He is absolutely glowing from it all." GERMANY NOVEMBER 12: Photo of Krist NOVOSELIC and Kurt COBAIN and Dave GROHL and NIRVANA; L-R: Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, posed, group shot (Photo by Paul Bergen/Redferns) Over the past 23 years, drummer and producer Butch Vig has established his band Garbage, who just released their critically heralded sixth album, Strange Little Birds, as elder statespersons of alternative rock. But Garbage represents Vigs second successful music industry in the venture. In fact, long after Garbage were already successful, Vig was still being asked regularly about his career in the 90s as a record producer and his most successful project, Nirvanas Nevermind, which turns 25 on Sept. 24. For years, Vig downplayed talking about the album; he had his own music to promote, alter all, plus it was just too painful to talk much about Nevermind and the late Kurt Cobain. However, now that enough time has passed, Vig is looking back at the past with renewed fondness. Here, in his own words, he recalls working on one of the most successful alternative rock releases of all time. UNITED KINGDOM JANUARY 01: Photo of Butch Vig (Photo by Hayley Madden/Redferns) (as told to Jon Wiederhorn) My relationship with Sub Pop Records started when I produced a couple albums for them. One of them was Tads Eight Way Santa, which the label was quite happy with. While I worked with them, the guys in Tad were saying, Oh, youve gotta work with Nirvana. Theyre amazing! And Id say, Yeah, OK, maybe, Not really expecting it to happen. Then one day, Jonathan Poneman, the co-founder of Sub Pop, called me and asked me if I would produce a record for Nirvana. You should work with these guys. They could be as big as the Beatles, he said. I thought that was a pretentious statement for him to make but in a way, it turned out to be true. He sent me their first album Bleach so I could check out Nirvana, and to be honest, I was sort of unimpressed. A lot of the sounds were cool and the record had a great vibe, but I thought the songs were pretty one-dimensional except for About a Girl. To me, that sounded like a Lennon/McCartney composition. The way the melody was juxtaposed over the chord progression sounded brilliant. There was a real sophistication in the writing and, as it turned out, thats where Kurt Cobain and Nirvana were headed. They wanted to get much more ambitious with how they approached song structure and melody. Story continues I told Jonathan Id love to work with them and they showed up about three or four months later at the door of [my place in Madison, Wisconsin], Smart Studios. We were ostensibly making an album for Sub Pop. Chad Channing was on drums, and he, Kurt, and bassist Krist Novoselic showed up in the Sub Pop van. The guys were pretty grubby. They had been playing shows through the Midwest and probably hadnt had a hot shower for a week. But we just got right to work. We loaded in on a Monday and started setting up, and by late afternoon we started tracking. Kurt was outgoing, funny, and very witty, but he could also get extremely moody. Those sides of his personality flipped back and forth the whole time I was working with him. Sometimes a light switch would go off in his head and he would go sit in the corner and wouldnt say anything for a couple hours. Chad was cool on the drums, although he seemed to be having some issues right off the bat with Kurt, who wasnt particularly pleased with his drum parts. Even on the first song Sappy, at one point Kurt got up and said, No, you should play something like this, and he tried to show Chad how he wanted the part to go. It was frustrating for Chad because Kurt obviously was not a good drummer. But I could understand Kurts frustration because Chad wasnt quite getting the arrangement down the way Kurt heard it in his head. There was definitely some tension between them. Krist was great because he was really easygoing, funny, and he rolled with whatever was happening. He kept the sessions really loose. No matter what kind of darkness fell on Kurt in the studio, he would help him get back out of it by joking around or just talking to him. We had six or seven days scheduled to record before they had to do more shows, so we jumped right in. Nirvana really wanted to get takes of the songs that were tight and had a good flow. They didnt want it to drag or rush too much, but I could tell that Kurt didnt have a lot of patience. Im one of those guys who can do a lot of takes until I feel like Ive gotten the best performance I can from an artist. But if Nirvana didnt get a good take in three or four tries, they had to move on. We struggled with a couple of songs especially when Kurt wasnt happy with one of Chads drum fills but by day four we had done eight songs: Sappy, Lithium, Dive, In Bloom, Immodium [later renamed Breed], Pay to Play, the Velvet Underground cover Here She Comes Now, and Polly. Right after they did Polly, they played a show at Madison at a club called Bunkys and it was downstairs in an Italian restaurant. It held, maybe, 120 people, and the room was packed. I went to the gig and they were amazing. I had never seen them play live before and they were incredibly intense. But they had a really crappy PA and horrible monitors, so Kurt sang even louder then he normally did and he completely blew his voice out. By the end of the set he couldnt even sing. We couldnt work on any vocals the next day. We tried to do a track but no noise came out of his mouth when he tried to sing. We kind of had to blow off the last couple days of vocals, and I spent that time cleaning up and mixing the songs that we had done. The whole time we were in Madison, Nirvana were serious and dedicated. They didnt really seem like a band that wanted to go out and party. Krist liked to drink beer and Jack Daniels, but they didnt seem interested in going to a club or a bar to chase girls or anything. They were pretty focused on the music. There was a corner bar right across from Smart Studios, and they had cheap beer there and really cheap food. You could get a grilled cheese and a cup of tomato soup for $1.50 and get a big beer for another 50 cents. They were into that. But Kurt didnt seem to be much of a drinker. Even then I could tell he was having some problems with his stomach because he would always have Maalox or antacid that he would take pulls off of to try to calm his stomach down. Before they left Wisconsin, Nirvana planned to come back in two months to finish the recordings. They were happy with how the tracks we did sounded and Sub Pop was certainly happy. Jonathan Poneman flew out on the last day to see how things were going and he loved the mixes. I finished the mixes and sent them to Sub Pop and I sent some copies to the band. Nirvana pressed up 100 cassettes and ostensibly bootlegged themselves. They sent them out to all their friends, who made more copies and sent them to their friends. All of a sudden people were coming up to me and saying, Hey man, I heard the Nirvana sessions. And I said, Well, thats funny. We havent even finished recording it. But enough people at the big record labels heard it and that led to a bidding war. It got on Sonic Youths radar and Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore were huge fans, which is one of the reasons Nirvana signed with Geffen. They had much respect for Sonic Youth. Then, on my end, nothing happened for a while. Initially, I thought I was going to be doing a second session with Nirvana because thats what Sub Pop requested. But things changed after all the major labels jumped on board. At that point they were just interested in signing to a major label. Kurt wanted his band to be very successful. He was very ambitious. If youve ever looked through any of his notebooks youd see that he used to make drawings of the band playing these enormo-domes for 100,000 people. And he put together lists of what he was going to do when they were massively successful. He had a pretty intense work ethic when it came to songwriting and rehearsing. Nirvana may have come across as punk slackers, but thats definitely not who they were. But at that point I could never see them becoming these huge rock stars. There was no way to know something like that could even happen. Before Nirvana called me again they talked to three or four other big-name producers, who I knew and respected. At one point they checked with me about the possibility of me engineering for one of those guys because they felt comfortable working with me. I didnt know if I wanted to engineer for someone else, and luckily the band held out for me to produce. But I didnt really know that, because Nirvana had kind of fallen off my radar at that point. I had just finished doing Gish with Smashing Pumpkins. Their vocalist Billy Corgan was well aware of what was going on with Nirvana and he kept asking me if I was going to work with them. And I said, I dont know if I am. It doesnt seem like it. Then I got the call and booked a flight to go to Los Angeles a week later. The day before I left, I received a tape from Kurt that they had recorded in their rehearsal space. It started out with the message: Hey Butch, we got a new drummer, Dave Grohl. Hes the best drummer in the world. Were gonna play some of the new songs. And then they clicked into Smells Like Teen Spirit. I could hear the guitar, but as soon as Dave kicked in with the drums, the boombox recording became unbelievably distorted so I couldnt hear any finesse at all in the songs. But I could hear the riff and I could feel the rhythmic power. And I could hear the hello, hello back and forth with the vocal part, which I liked. They ran through 12 or 13 songs on the cassette, and even though it sounded horrible because of the distortion, I could tell that Kurts songwriting had jumped up another step. It was quite powerful to hear Teen Spirit and Come as You Are even in their really crude form. I flew to Los Angeles and went straight to a rehearsal studio in North Hollywood with the band. The hugest difference I could tell right way was the way they sounded with Dave on drums. He was so rock-solid in terms of his groove and he hit the drums really, really hard. It made their sound way more powerful than I had ever heard it in any sort of live setting in the studio. And Dave brought this great levity to the band because he was such a goofball and he had this manic energy. Thats just part of his personality and hes really a joy to be around, because he has this incredible lust for life and music. The band was riding high. They had just got their first credit card. We put them in the Oakwood Apartments on Barham Avenue, which is right over the 101 as you cross over the Hollywood Hills. Everyone always called it to the Cokewood apartments because there were a lot of B-actors and actresses who always stayed there. We got Nirvana a three-bedroom apartment and the band Europe was staying there. They were working on the follow-up to their album The Final Countdown. They were good-looking blond guys from Sweden. Nirvana would go and sit by the pool in their long, grubby flannel shirts, tattered jeans, and unkempt hair, and the comparison between the two bands was ridiculous. Nirvana were miles away from the post-glam metal that had been dominating rock music for the last three or four years. As they were sitting there and quietly making fun of the guys in Europe, no one knew that a profound change was going to happen in music. While they were staying at the Oakwood complex they totally trashed their apartment. Kurt wrote all over the walls and they had these big food fights. Kurt told me he had never lived in place that spacious and well kept. He felt like he was living in a mansion, even though it was just a corporate apartment. We did three days of rehearsals in North Hollywood, and that was when I met Dave Grohl. We had set them up in a pretty big room to practice and Kurt said, Were gonna play that new song Teen Spirit. It was the first song on the cassette they had sent me, so I said, Cool, man. I dig the song. Lets hear it. And they kicked into the song and it was so fing loud and intense it completely floored me. I got up and I was pacing around listening to them. I kept thinking, How am I gonna harness this energy in the studio? They finished the song and Krist said, Whadya think, Butch? I said, Man, this sounds great. Play it again. Play it again. Then I settled in a little bit, calmed down, and was able to focus. I watched Daves drumming to see how they were interacting. We did a few things to the arrangement, but they were very subtle. We just tightened up a couple sections. At the end theres a little break when they come out of the chorus. Theres a musical part and then Kurt goes, Yeah, and they go back into the rest of the riff. They did that over and over and over again sometimes four or eight times. I said, Thats cool, but just do it two times as a little transition. Get out of the chorus and get right back into the verse. That was one of the final arrangements we did that day. There were a couple options for how Kurt was going to sing the melody for the verse of Teen Spirit. He tried them all for me and I told him I liked the one he wound up using, which moved around more and I thought it was more like a Paul McCartney melody, which fit the song well. After three days of pre-production we went right into Sound City to record the album. We had 16 days, which seemed like plenty of time. I would get in at noon and the band would roll in at around 1 or 2 p.m. Wed record all afternoon into the evening and then they would go out at around 10 p.m. By that point they had developed a taste for going out at night. We saw the Butthole Surfers play at the Palladium. Kurt saw Rick Rubin and chased after him around making comments about Ricks beard. That was the night Krist got arrested. We had tracked in the day and Kurt did some vocals while Krist dove into a bottle of Jack Daniels. We knew we were going to see the Butthole Surfers so we stopped working at about 7:30 p.m., and for some inexplicable reason we all decided Krist was fine to drive. He drove the van over one of the canyons to get down from Ventura Blvd. all the way to the other side. I was in the passenger seat and it was the scariest ride Krist was talking crazy and cranking the Meat Puppets really loud. When we got there I got the keys from him and told Dave, You cannot let him drive! I lost them during the show. The Buttholes had these strobe lights onstage that made it impossible to see and we all got split up. I got a ride home from a friend. The next day I went to the studio and didnt hear anything. At about 3 or 4 p.m. I called Nirvanas management and said, Wheres the band? Has anyone seen them today? Then I got a call back informing me that Krist was in jail. He had tried to drive and got pulled over and arrested. They left the van there along the freeway and in the middle of the night Kurt walked back to the hotel, which was probably five miles from where they had been. So they were all exhausted the next day and they didnt come in the studio until 6 p.m. Another night, they were hanging out with L7 and they all went to the beach in Santa Monica and took mushrooms and tripped all night long. I was in the studio going, Wheres the band, wheres the band? And they showed up at about 5 in the afternoon kind of sleepy-headed. Nirvana had their fun when they were in the studio, but when it came to recording they were pretty focused. I didnt know it at the time, but Dave told me later that they had rehearsed every day for six months and they wanted to songs to be really tight. So I didnt have to do a lot. I just gave them some suggestions for arrangements here and there if I thought something was too long. Sometimes Id suggest a drum fill to Dave. Kurt had some alternate areas where he could sing melodies but they were all really good choices. It wasnt like I had to struggle to whip the band into shape. I had heard Come as You Are on the boombox cassette demo tape they sent me but it was so distorted that I couldnt really hear the part when Kurt plays the riff clean. We really liked the idea of keeping the guitar trippy and watery-sounding and waiting until the bridge to really kick into the heavy guitars and let those carry it through til the end. I got Kurt to double-track his guitar. And then I got Krist to double-track the bass. The biggest battle was getting Kurt to double-track the vocals. They recorded a lot of the songs live and we overdubbed some guitars. I would keep the live vocal, but I always liked Kurt to go back and redo the vocals because I could get a clean performance without any bleed from the rest of the band on the microphone, so you can really control the vocal sound in the mix. Kurt didnt want to double-track all of his vocals because he was afraid they would come out sounding too produced and polished. I said, Thats what John Lennon did, Kurt. And he paused and said, If thats good enough for him, its good enough for me. We had some problems at first recording Lithium. For some reason the band kept speeding up and it took away from the power of the song. After the fourth take that didnt come out right Kurt went right into Endless Nameless. He didnt even tell anyone he was going to do it and the rage and frustration on his face was so fin scary. All of us were like, Whoa! The band just went into it with him and I was rolling tape so I recorded the whole thing. And then Kurt smashed his guitar to bits at the end of it. The beginning of Territorial Pissings starts with Krist doing a really smarmy version of the Youngbloods song Get Together. That was my idea. He sang it after he had about a half a bottle of Jack Daniels in him, so its kind of loose. It was supposed to be a little bit of a knock against hippie flower power and it set the song up nicely. It was very different from a song like Drain You, which to me has this joyful melody thats almost like Mozart. The way Kurt sings it sounds sort of celebratory but the lyrical content has a lot of pain. And I think thats one of the reasons Nevermind connected with so many people. Even though they didnt know what Kurt was singing about necessarily, they could hear the fragility and pain and frustration coming through his vocal cords. Yet the melodies were these super-upbeat pop hooks, and no one was really writing anything like that at the time. After we were done recording I went to Devonshire Sound Studios in North Hollywood to mix. That was a bit of a disaster because when I had mixed the Sub Pop stuff I did it on my own. The band was not around. It was impossible to mix with the band there. Kurt would come up to the console and say, Turn the treble off everything. I want to hear it more like Black Sabbath. And hed come up and turn the treble all the way off and it sounded terrible. He didnt know what he was doing from an engineering standpoint. So the mixes sounded flat. The label thought they could make the recordings better so they sent us a list of all these hot mixers. I was excited to get it because I figured wed be able to get someone really good. We started going down the list. There were the names of the best guys mixing rock music. And Kurt kept saying, Scott Litt. No. I dont want to sound like R.E.M. No to Ed Stasium. I dont want to sound like the Smithereens. He kept going down the list. And at the bottom it said, Andy Wallace: Slayer. Now, it turns out Andy also did Madonna, but Slayer was the first name on his credits so Kurt said, Call this guy. So Andy came to L.A., mixed the album, and did an amazing job. They werent really that different from my mixes, he just put a little more fairy-dust on there, but theyre still pretty dead-simple mixes. When I listened by to the recording I thought it came out great. I knew they had written some amazing songs and I thought we captured them well, but I was already starting to focus on my next project. I was back in Madison and the Smashing Pumpkins came in to finish some B-sides at Smart. They were there on the 4th of July so we had a barbecue. At one point somebody said, Hey, put that Nirvana record on. I had a cassette of it, so I put it on the boombox on the picnic table in the backyard. There were 30 or 40 people there and while it was playing no one said anything. It sort of made me nervous. It ended and someone just said, Play it again! And during the second run through someone said, Oh my God, this is going to change the world. I said, Really? Its a good record, right? I think people were starting to hear something that I couldnt be objective about. And the day after the 4th, I was back in the studio and there were all these phone calls on Smarts answering machine from people I didnt even know. Marketing guys from Geffen called to tell me how much they liked it. They kept piling up all these calls. And I was like, Wow, somethings going on here. Then they played a show in Chicago at the Metro. I called up an artist friend of mine, Bill Rock, in Chicago and asked him if he wanted to come with me to the show. And he goes, Whos Nirvana? We got to the gig and there was a massive line around the block. It was oversold and there were a thousand extra kids trying to get in. There was an insane buzz in the air. The started out with a cover of the Vaselines song Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, and it was like Beatlemania. It wasnt even their song, and there were people in the audience crying and freaking out. That was the first time I realized the record was going to take on a life of its own. And it changed my life completely. By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen declared a political "ceasefire" on Thursday following a wave of prosecutions of opposition members that government critics say is politically motivated in the run-up to elections that Hun Sen fears losing. Tension between the country's two main political parties has risen in recent months, with the opposition complaining of a crackdown on critics in a bid to intimidate the opposition before a general election in 2018. In July, Kem Ley, a political commentator and critic of Hun Sen, was murdered, exacerbating fears that political violence was on the rise. Police say he was killed over a debt. On Monday, Hun Sen said he would "eliminate" opposition supporters if they went ahead with protests but he was conciliatory on Thursday. "I should not talk much because there is a ceasefire," Hun Sen said in a speech at a university graduation. "I want the situation to be quiet, I don't want any exchanges." Hun Sen said rivals should put aside differences for the Pchum Ben religious festival at the end of the month, when Cambodians pay their respects to their dead. The festival is a solemn occasion in a country where almost every family lost loved ones during the Khmer Rouge "killing fields" rule of the 1970s. Son Chhay, a senior member of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), welcomed Hun Sen's declaration. "This is a good sign," he told Reuters. Son Chhay said his party, which has been boycotting parliament since last year, would return to the assembly to promote dialogue. "We would participate in parliamentary work again," he said. "We would like to have a solution through talks." The boycott was to protest against the treatment of its leaders and a violent assault on two of its legislators. The CNRP's top leader is in self-exile to avoid arrest over a case he says was raked up for political reasons, and its acting leader has been holed up in his headquarters to avoid what he says are separate trumped up charges. The government denies using the judiciary to hound opponents. In the latest case against the opposition, Ny Chakrya, an election official and former rights activist, was jailed for six months on Thursday for criticizing the judiciary. Hun Sen's party faced its toughest election test in 2013 and his critics say he fears losing in 2018. Hun Sen, who has ruled for three decades, has warned that a CNRP victory in 2018 would see a return to civil war. (Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Robert Birsel) If you love international power couples, you're in for a treat next week Prince William and Princess Kate are all set to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau during their royal tour up north. Both couples are good-looking, young, glamorous and have perhaps provided a boost of interest in their respective countries thanks to their high-profile status. To celebrate the meeting of the Trudeaus and the Cambridges, we're looking at a few things they have in common. 1. Sophie and Kate are both fashion icons How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Former TV host Sophie has brought glamour and excitement to 24 Sussex Drive thanks to her unconventional fashion choices. In July it was revealed that she was showered with gifts of clothes and accessories when her husband took office and she also often works directly with fashion designers to borrow their designs for high-profile events. Of course, Kate's impact on the fashion world is well-documented. She only needs to wear an item of clothing for a few minutes for it to completely sell out. 2. And William and Justin are both heartthrobs How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William With his tousled raven hair and boyish good looks, Justin quickly won over the hearts of Americans when he took part in a state visit in March. (Even normally straight-laced newspapers couldn't stop themselves from referring to him as "hot.") Meanwhile, William knows a thing or two about being a literal pin-up. When the sweet eldest child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana grew into a dreamy teen with ruffled blonde hair and stunning blue eyes, he became the literal Prince Charming for many young folks around the world. And in our opinion, he's aged into an equally-as-handsome young dad. 3. Both William and Justin's parents went through high-profile divorces How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Trudeau is the eldest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his much younger and glamorous wife Margaret. The Trudeaus, who married in 1971, became celebrities in their own right, with Margaret photographed partying at Studio 54 and mingling with rock stars. However, their relationship quickly fell apart, with Margaret later claiming she had an affair with the late Ted Kennedy and getting linked to Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger (according to Keith Richards, at least). The pair separated in 1977 and divorced in 1984. Story continues How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William William, of course, knows a thing or two about seeing your parents go through a high-profile divorce. Charles and Diana separated in 1992 and eventually divorced in 1996, all of which was played out in the international press. Related Video: President Obama Jokes That Prince Harry Has 'Gotten to Know Michelle Very Wella 4. William and Justin both know the benefits of yoga Earlier this year, a resurfaced photo of Justin showing off his mayurasana pose on a desk in 2013 went viral for obvious reasons. RT @gregkolz: JT is level-headed & able to bring Canada to new heights. That's why he's my choice for #Liberal Leader pic.twitter.com/ooUfOLVnfX a Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 8, 2013 How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William William is no stranger to making headlines for embracing his inner yogi. Earlier this summer, photos showing William doing a series of cat-cow poses ahead of a charity polo match caused quite a bit of excitement online. (We're betting it has something to do with his outfit of choice a breezy linen button-down and tight white jeans.) Naturally, the photos of William's flexibility instantly became a meme: When you're chilling at Buckingham Palace and 'Work' comes on... pic.twitter.com/yhBpl0hEaa a UNILAD (@UNILAD) June 17, 2016 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. 5. They both have growing families! How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Sorry Justin and Sophie, but Hadrien is the coolest Trudeau https://t.co/aOz6AkwfDk pic.twitter.com/WAQy8Jdwtz Parents Magazine (@PrntsMgzine) July 17, 2016 William and Kate are enjoying life as a family of four. Three-year-old Prince George and 1-year-old Princess Charlotte will make the trip to Canada alongside their royal parents. Justin and Sophie are the proud parents of three children: Xavier, 8, Ella-Grace, 7, and Hadrian, 2. How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Obama is also friendly with the British royal family especially the younger royals like William, Kate and Prince Harry. POTUS is on such good terms with the Cambridges that he was even invited into their private apartments in Kensington Palace earlier this year where he got an adorably infamous meet-and-greet with none other than Prince George. 6. William and Justin are both bros with President Barack Obama How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Seeing as how Canada is the United States' friendly neighbor to the north, it's only natural that the countries' two leaders would become pals. Justin and Obama's bromance is well-documented, so much so that it has inspired its own hashtag (#TruBama). However, their friendship failed on one spot when the two leaders went in for the always-tricky triple handshake with Mexican President Enrique PeAa Nieto in June. How Canada-Bound Prince William and Princess Kate Stack Up Against the Glamorous Trudeaus| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Obama is also friendly with the British royal family especially the younger royals like William, Kate and Prince Harry. POTUS is on such good terms with the Cambridges that he was even invited into their private apartments in Kensington Palace earlier this year where he got an adorably infamous meet-and-greet with none other than Prince George. A Royal Canadian Mint employee has been accused of stealing gold coins worth 180,000 dollar by sneaking them out in his bottom. By India Today Web Desk: An employee at the Royal Canadian Mint is said to have sneaked out gold coins worth 180,000 US dollars in the most redonkulous way possible. He literally shoved the loot up his butt. The Ottowa Citizen reports, 35-year-old Leston Lawrence has been accused of stealing 18 unmarked gold nuggets from the Canadian Crown corporation, Royal Canadian Mint, which produces Canada's circulation coins. Props to this fellow for stuffing 9 pounds of gold up there. advertisement Canadian Mint employee smuggles $180K of gold https://t.co/6NLz71rqKO Emin Gn Sirer (@el33th4xor) September 21, 2016 However, his foolproof plan got busted by a bank teller when Lawrence was cashing the checks. The teller, then, alerted the Mint and police. During investigation, police found four of the gold nuggets in Lawrence's possession. But Lawrence's lawyer has come up with a stunning argument in his defence: the gold was just "sitting around in open buckets" in the Mint offices. The lawyer also claims that there is "no record of the thefts". Despite what he and his lawyer has to say, Lawrence has been charged with theft, laundering the proceeds of a crime, possession of stolen property, and "breach of trust," which is considered a crime in Canada. Turns out, Lawrence's icky plan of smuggling booty in his booty did not quite work out at the end of the day. Read more: Pokemon Go: Armed Missouri gang uses mobile game to rob players Swagger robber: Armed man wears ball gown, heels and hat to rob bank in New York Crow with 22,000 Facebook followers chased by Police for stealing knife from crime scene Nut now: Squirrel steals GoPro camera, shoots incredible treetop footage --- ENDS --- By Rod Nickel WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The closure of one of Canada's biggest cattle feedlots is likely to depress prices of young cattle and the grains used to fatten them, and may increase sales to the United States, industry officials say. Alberta-based Western Feedlots said on Wednesday that it will shut feeding operations early in 2017, citing poor market conditions and unfavorable economic factors in the province. "The market we're in now can't get much more depressed," said Martin Zuidhof, chairman of Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association, a rancher who also runs a feedlot. The price of young cattle is likely to face pressure, and if it leads to fewer cattle raised in the province, could jeopardize profits in the packing industry, he said. The price of slaughter-weight cattle has dropped 30 percent from a year ago. Alberta's two biggest beef packers, Cargill Ltd and JBS USA Holdings Inc, declined to comment. Barley and wheat are fed to cattle to fatten them for slaughter, and Western's closure may also weigh on prices of those grains if feeder cattle numbers dip, Zuidhof said. Canada is the world's sixth-largest beef exporter, and Alberta raises more cattle than any other province. Canadian cattle prices are mostly affected by U.S. prices and the value of the Canadian dollar, although domestic conditions play a role, said livestock industry analyst Kevin Grier. Consumer meat prices are unlikely to be affected by one feedlot's closure, he said. "In principle, it's going to depress the demand for feeder cattle," he said. Western's closure may result in ranchers selling more young cattle to U.S. feedlots, he said. Despite Western's plan to stop fattening cattle, Alberta is not likely to lose more feedlots, the province's agriculture minister said. Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier said he spoke with a feedlot industry group last week. "No one indicated that to me," Carlier said in an interview. "There is good news on the horizon and I'm hoping the decision taken by Western Feedlots was ... not going to affect the rest of the industry." Carlier said his government, criticized by Western, has supported the cattle industry, including increasing a loan guarantee program for producers. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Leslie Adler) (Adds comment from union leader, context from second analyst) By Allison Lampert MONTREAL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main autoworkers union, Unifor, said on Thursday that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was its next target in negotiations, after securing a tentative deal with General Motors Co this week. The Canadian union uses pattern bargaining, in which the first deal it reaches with one of the three big unionized automakers sets a template the other two are expected to follow. After securing increased investment in Canadian plants from GM, Unifor will ask Fiat Chrysler to upgrade an outdated paint shop at a Brampton, Ontario plant which makes the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Challenger and Charger sedans. Unifor said it represents 9,750 Fiat Chrysler manufacturing workers in Canada. Unifor president Jerry Dias has turned bargaining with GM, Fiat Chrysler and Ford Motor Co into a campaign for the future of Canada's once-thriving auto industry. The union made concessions to GM on pensions in exchange for new investments. FCA said in a statement it has "a long-standing history of working collaboratively with Unifor." Nearly 4,000 Unifor GM members are scheduled to vote Sunday on a deal that Dias says would guarantee the survival of the automaker's Oshawa facility and bring some engine assembly from Mexico to a second plant. If members approve the four-year contract, Unifor said it would resume Fiat Chrysler talks. Fiat Chrysler would benefit from the union's GM deal where Unifor agreed to a pure defined-contribution pension plan for new workers. Veteran employees have defined-benefit pensions and those hired since 2012 have a hybrid plan. Talks are expected to be easier with Fiat Chrysler than with GM, where a deal was reached with Unifor just minutes before a Sept. 19 strike deadline, industry analysts say. Fiat Chrysler said it has invested C$3.7 billion and created 1,200 jobs in Canada since 2014 to develop and produce its Pacifica hybrid minivan. Story continues "GM was the toughest," said Arthur Schwartz, a former GM negotiator. "Chrysler would not take a strike in Canada because of the minivans." Dias said by phone he is "very concerned about Brampton." But upgrading the aging paintshop would cost "hundreds of millions of dollars," said a source familiar with the facility. And Fiat Chrysler, the weakest of the three automakers, won't be eager to invest in Brampton after pouring money into the Windsor plant which builds the Pacifica, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions LLC. "Fiat Chrysler is not anxious to put money into anything." (Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal; Additional reporting by Susan Taylor in Toronto; Editing by Nick Zieminski and James Dalgleish) By John Tilak CHICAGO (Reuters) - Canada's RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust is looking to invest about C$1.3 billion ($998.62 million) over the next five years in the development and redevelopment of properties in urban markets, its top executive said this week. With the pace of rental rate growth slowing and its acquisition strategy taking a backseat, Canada's biggest REIT has been looking for new ways to expand. RioCan owns about 300 properties across Canada, and its biggest tenants include Loblaw , Canadian Tire , Wal Mart and Cineplex . "We're budgeting C$250 million per year for the next five years," RioCan Chief Executive Edward Sonshine said in an interview on the sidelines of a BMO Capital Markets real estate conference in Chicago. The investment in what RioCan calls urban intensification projects would be a sharp increase from recent years, when the average spending was C$100 million to C$150 million per year, he said. RioCan's expansion strategy calls for transforming some of its assets. This can involve emptying the property, encouraging tenants to leave, tearing down the existing building and constructing new residential, retail or office spaces. "We're adding a lot of residential to our shopping centers. We're intensifying some of the retail, changing the configuration," Sonshine said. "That's where we see the biggest growth." The company's biggest urban intensification project underway is The Well, a roughly 3 million square-foot property in downtown Toronto. A joint venture with Allied Properties REIT and Diamond Corp, The Well will have 1 million square feet of office space, about 500,000 square feet of retail and 1.5 million square feet of residential. The Well is expected to be completed in 2021, Sonshine said. RioCan and Allied own 40 percent each, while Diamond owns the remainder. Other projects include the Yonge Eglinton North East Corner in Toronto, where the total estimated costs are about C$450 million, and King and Portland in Toronto, where the total investment would be about C$220 million, he said. RioCan has partners in both these projects, so its investment would be a part of total costs. RioCan is also pushing into rental residential projects where it could spend, along with partners, "a couple of billion dollars" over a period of "many, many years," Sonshine said. The company recently sold its U.S. operations, a move that helped significantly reduce its total debt to total assets ratio. (Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by Chris Reese) Chemical and advanced materials maker, Celanese Corporation CE declared that it has commenced production at its latest vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) production unit. The unit is located at the Celanese manufacturing facility on Jurong Island, Singapore, and will support the rising demand for eco-friendly materials in the Southeast Asia region including Australia, India and New Zealand. The facility is close to raw material suppliers that leads to improved transportation logistics. It also gives Celanese the opportunity to increase production capacity so that it can provide more high-demand, high-quality VAE emulsions products in Singapore as well as across Asia, an area focusing on low-emission products and production. The new unit adds a third facility to the Celaneses VAE investment in Asia and the fourth production unit within the Singapore plant. Celanese's VAE technology produces clean, eco-friendly, water-based emulsions that the building, construction and paper industries worldwide use to meet quality, marketing and economic goals. Celaneses EcoVAE is an emulsion that can be formulated into low-odor and low-to-near-zero volatile organic compounds interior paints and coatings. Celanese remains committed to providing local formulation and application expertise to enable its customers in Asia to deliver high-value, high-quality products and build on their success. Manufacturers use VAE to produce environmentally friendly products including paints, architectural coatings, carpet backings and adhesives for woodworking and paper packaging as well as apparel and textile finishing. One of the products with very high demand is Celaneses EcoVAE, an emulsion that can be formulated into low-odor and low-to-near-zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) interior paints and coatings. EcoVAE addresses formulation and regulatory concerns and appeals to environmentally conscious consumers. Celanese is the world leader in VAE production and sales. Further, it is the only producer of a low-emissions emulsion. Story continues CELANESE CP-A Price CELANESE CP-A Price | CELANESE CP-A Quote Celanese kept its earnings streak alive with a beat in second-quarter 2016. The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.59 per share in the quarter. The figure was a penny higher than the prior-year quarter tally and above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.55. Celanese reported quarterly sales of $1,351 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,418 million. The top line declined roughly 8.5% year over year. Celanese is exposed to pricing pressure and is still witnessing soft acetyl demand in China given the sluggish economic conditions. Acetyl intermediates margins are anticipated to remain strained in the near term. Celanese currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the chemical space include Innophos Holdings Inc. IPHS, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation MTLHY and Innospec Inc. IOSP, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CELANESE CP-A (CE): Free Stock Analysis Report INNOPHOS HLDGS (IPHS): Free Stock Analysis Report INNOSPEC INC (IOSP): Free Stock Analysis Report MITSUBISHI CHEM (MTLHY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Deborah M. Todd SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan on Wednesday pledged more than $3 billion toward a plan to "cure, prevent or manage all disease within our children's lifetime." Speaking through tears at a San Francisco event to announce the initiative, Chan said she hoped to spare parents the pain she had seen while delivering difficult news as a paediatrician. "In those moments and in many others we're at the limit of what we understand about the human body and disease, the science behind medicine, the limit of our ability to alleviate suffering. We want to push back that boundary," she said. The event was attended by business and political luminaries including former Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) Chairman Bill Gates, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. Zuckerberg said science and the medical community have made rapid advancements over the last 50 years, including eradicating smallpox and nearly eliminating polio without the aid of modern technology. "Today, just four kinds of diseases cause the majority of deaths," Zuckerberg added in a posting on his Facebook page, citing cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurological diseases. "We can make progress on all of them with the right technology." The plan includes creating a bioscience research centre, called the Biohub, developing a chip to diagnose diseases, and ways to monitor the bloodstream continuously and map cell types in the body. Chan and Zuckerberg will donate $600 million over the next decade to the Biohub in San Francisco, bringing together Bay-area researchers and scientists from the University of California at San Francisco, the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. Two initial Biohub projects will be a Cell Atlas, a map of cells controlling the body's major organs, and the Infectious Disease Initiative to develop new tools, tests, vaccines and strategies for fighting diseases such as HIV, Ebola and Zika. Story continues The Biohub will be led by University of California, San Francisco professor Joseph DeRisi and Stanford University professor Stephen Quake, whose work includes small molecule screening and biological measurements. Dr. Cori Bargmann, a Rockefeller University neuroscientist, will lead all of Chan Zuckerberg's science initiatives. Any research, tools and material coming out of Biohub, which will work with a network of 10 to 15 laboratories across the world, will be "available to every scientist, everywhere," Bargmann said. "If you take great people and set them loose on important problems in an intelligent way and give them a long time horizon there will be progress." (This version of the story was refiled to remove hyphen in between Chan Zuckerberg in headline and third-last paragraph) (Reporting by Deborah M. Todd; Editing by Peter Cooney and Richard Chang) By Andy Sullivan and Greg Lacour CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - Pressure on Charlotte police intensified on Thursday to release a video showing the fatal shooting of a black man by officers that has sparked two nights of violent protests in North Carolina's largest city. The video will only be shown to the family of Keith Scott, 43, who was shot dead by a black police officer in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Tuesday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said. "I'm not going to release the video right now," Putney told reporters, the morning after nine people were injured and 44 arrested in riots over Scott's killing. He said the video supported the police account of what happened but does not definitively show Scott pointing a gun at officers. The Scott family had not seen the video as of 4 p.m. EDT (on Thursday, but expected to see it later in the day, said attorney Justin Bamberg. He said they would express an opinion on whether it should be released to the public afterward. "We have become desensitized to killing in this country and these videos have contributed to that," Bamberg told reporters, referring to videos of police shootings of black men that have been made public this year. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in the midst of Wednesday night's rioting, during which one man critically wounded by a gunshot. At least eight more civilians and four police officers were injured and 44 people arrested for charges ranging from assault to failure to disperse. Many of the protesters dispute the official account of Scott's death. Police contend that he was carrying a gun when he approached officers and ignored repeated orders to drop it. His family and a witness have said he was holding a book, not a firearm, when he was killed. The decision to withhold the footage from the public was criticized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and members of the clergy from the Charlotte area. "There must be transparency and the videos must be released," Reverend William Barber, who sits on the national board of the NAACP, told a news conference. Charlotte's reluctance to release the video stands in contrast to Oklahoma, where officials on Monday released footage of the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher by police after his vehicle broke down on a highway. Tulsa County prosecutors on Thursday charged the officer who shot Crutcher with first-degree manslaughter and issued a warrant for her arrest. 'ONE IS TOO MANY' The killings were the latest in a long series of controversial fatal police shootings of black men across the United States, sparking more than two years of protests asserting racial bias and excessive force by police and giving rise to the Black Lives Matter movement. Scott's killing was the 214th of a black person by U.S. police this year out of an overall total of 821, according to Mapping Police Violence, an anti-police violence group created out of the protest movement. There is no national-level government data on police shootings. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus walked to the Justice Department on Thursday to deliver a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch demanding action. "Enough is enough. One is too many," said Representative G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina. "The Department of Justice must aggressively pursue investigations, indictments, and yes, prosecutions against any and all law-enforcement officers who harm or kill innocent, unarmed African-American citizens." Overnight, protesters were seen smashing windows and grabbing items from a convenience store as well as a shop that sells athletic wear for the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets. Protesters also set fire to trash cans. Hundreds of additional state police officers and National Guard troops will be deployed to Charlotte's streets on Thursday to prevent a repeat of the violence, Putney said. But officials said they had no plans to impose a curfew. "It should be business as usual," Putney said. "We don't see the need to definitively shut the city down at a specific hour." Officials initially said that a man had died during the protests and also that he had been shot by a civilian. Putney on Thursday said the department was looking into allegations that he had been shot by a police officer. Authorities have said the officer who shot Scott, Brentley Vinson, was in plainclothes and not wearing a body camera. But according to officials, video was recorded by other officers and by cameras mounted on patrol cars. Todd Walther, the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police official, said releasing the video would satisfy some people, but not everyone, he added. "The clear facts will come out and the truth will come out. It's unfortunate to say that we have to be patient, but that's the way it's going to have to be," Walter said. (Additional reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Mohammad Zargham and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas, Dan Freed and Laila Kearney in New York and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Daniel Wallis and Scott Malone; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Alan Crosby) The students, who have been disturbed with the growing unrest in Karnataka, also expressed concern about missing so many classes. The young children have been writing on postcards and inland letters, criticising the way the protests broke out in the city. By Rohini Swamy: "We have seen enough of violence on the streets," says Prajwal, a sixth standard student of Blossoms School in Bengaluru. Young students from various schools in Bengaluru are writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to intervene and stop the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. These young children have been writing on postcards and inland letters, criticising the way the protests broke out in the city. The unrest has brought about a sense of fear among the young minds. advertisement Taking a stand on the ongoing Cauvery dispute, schpols that fall under the Karnataka Private Unaided Schools Association (KAMS) have not only condemned the actions of the protestors but also sought intervention from the Centre. KAMS has issued a circular to the management boards of various private schools, instructing teachers to educate children on the need for peace and to take a look at issues in a non-violent way. While writing a letter to the PM, a student Apeksha said that they have missed a lot of classes and with a lot of subjects to cover, it is putting pressure on them. Also read: Karnataka defers release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 23 --- ENDS --- Fresh off a triple merger with former rivals Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, Charter Communications CEO Tom Rutledge extended an olive branch, or at least an olive twig, to the streaming and OTT video services his merger was designed to compete against. "I don't think of Netflix as a substitute for what we sell," Rutledge told investors at a conference in New York Wednesday afternoon. "I see it as more of an ancillary service. We're trying to put things like Netflix and Hulu into our services. We want to integrate it all." Integration between cable and on-demand television appears to be the management strategy du jour, or the buzzword, anyway, for cable executives who've been put on guard by the ascent of internet television and subscription-based VOD. The philosophy behind services like HBO Now and Dish's OTT skinny bundle Sling is, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Read more: Viacom Interim CEO Tom Dooley to Depart, Company to Consider "All Options" Rutledge said a major problem with OTT is password sharing, which cuts into company revenues. "The security on OTT is poor," he said, "and it's changing the valuation of the core product." The biggest issue for the exec, however, is still the cost of a cable box, which he sees as the main reason the cable industry is losing subscriptions. "When we do direct response marketing, the internet-only customers have the highest response rate, which shows they want the product," he said. "The price is the main pressure point." Since the merger with Time Warner and Bright House, which was announced last year and completed on May 18, Charter stock has been climbing steadily. Shares are up more than 20 percent since the transaction completed, from $227 to $274. The company is now valued at more than $74 billion, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of around 12. Read more: Disney CEO Bob Iger Deems 'Star Wars: Rogue One' "an Experiment, of Sorts" The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago releases its nationally focused Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) each month, and the reading for August was negative, after having been positive in July. Thursday's economic report showed that CFNAI was 0.55 in August. It had been +0.24 in July. The report also showed that all four broad categories that make up the index fell from July, and that all four categories made negative contributions to the index in August. The indexs three-month moving average ticked up to 0.07 in August from 0.09 in July. The three-month average is shown to suggest that growth in national economic activity was slightly below its historical trend. ALSO READ: America's Richest (and Poorest) States Only 19 of the 85 individual indicators made positive contributions to the CFNAI in August, and some 66 of them made negative contributions. Only 21 of the 85 indicators improved from July to August, while 63 indicators had deteriorated and one indicator was unchanged. And of the indicators that improved, 13 made negative contributions. Thursday's release also broke down several components individually for August, as follows: The contribution from production-related indicators to the CFNAI fell to 0.33 in August from +0.15 in July. Industrial production moved down 0.4 percent in August after rising 0.6 percent in July; and manufacturing industrial production decreased 0.4 percent in August after increasing 0.4 percent in the previous month. The sales, orders, and inventories category made a contribution of 0.05 to the CFNAI in August, down from a neutral reading in July. ALSO READ: Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: American Electric Power, Broadcom, Ford, GM, JD.com, Sarepta, Valeant Pharmaceuticals and More Employment-related indicators contributed 0.09 to the CFNAI in August, down from +0.15 in July. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 151,000 in August after rising by 275,000 in July; and civilian nonagricultural employment decreased by 37,000 in August after increasing by 515,000 in the previous month. Story continues The contribution of the personal consumption and housing category to the CFNAI ticked down to 0.08 in August from 0.06 in July. Housing starts decreased to 1,142,000 annualized units in August from 1,212,000 in July, and housing permits edged down to 1,139,000 annualized units in August from 1,144,000 in the previous month. Related Articles Chicago Med scrubs in for season two on a new night - Thursdays at 9 p.m. - with several new faces set to check in (Elementary's Ato Essandoh and 90210's Mekia Cox) as well as new positions for several of Chicago Medical's finest docs. However, for everything that's changed on the NBC drama, much is the same when the Dick Wolf-produced series returns for its sophomore season. Ahead of Thursday's return, The Hollywood Reporter spoke with showrunners Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov about what they learned from season one, what's coming up for the core characters and their thoughts on tackling the Zika virus. Going into the second season, what kind of changes can viewers expect? Diane Frolov: We're, of course, delving into the characters even more so we're going to find out about Dr. Charles and meet his daughter. Andrew Schneider: We're going to meet some of Ethan's family Frolov: There's a triangle, obviously with Natalie, Will and Jeff. Schneider: But also, some of the doctors will have new roles which will affect how we see them working. Ethan will now be the chief resident, so he will have certain administrative duties he didn't have before. Connor is starting his fellowship as a cardiothoracic surgeon, and there will be a big surprise for Sarah Reese. She was still footloose at the end of last season. Frolov: Also, in terms of Connor, we have a new mentor for him because Dr. Downey died. He's going to be coping with a new teacher Schneider: who's very different from his last mentor. When you started writing for season two, were there things you saw that worked well in season one, or conversely, things that maybe you thought didn't work the way you expected? How was that part of the process? Frolov: We discovered it didn't work so well for our show to spend a lot of time out of the hospital on personal stories. It didn't seem to fit our rhythm. ... Other shows do that, but it didn't feel like it worked for what we were doing. Story continues Schneider: What always seems best for us if we can discover our characters' personal lives and pasts through the cases that they're working on. Read more: 'Chicago Med' Star on "Repercussions" for Connor, Team "Friction" and Expanding Outside the ER Colin Donnell mentioned that the show expands outside of the ER more this season. Do you agree with that assessment? What motivated that shift? Frolov: That allows us to follow a story through because usually in the ER, you come in and you go out. You're either bumped to a floor or you're released. So our doctors follow their patients through their stories, and that automatically takes us to other floors. We also have Connor now, who is doing heart surgery so he's in a different department. Schneider: His cases often come through the ER so let's say Natalie might do the intake on a patient but she sends the patient up to cardiothorapy so then he and Natalie work together on the patient. Frolov: She's following through with the patient so she's up there. Schneider: We're going to see some of Charles' psych ward. We're going to expand that a little bit. Frolov: There's a psychiatric residency that opens up and he asks Sarah to be the resident so she's a psych resident. Schneider: So she's going to have a big learning curve from someone who was, at one point, wanted to be a pathologist and now is going to wind up training to be a psychiatrist. It brings up her own psychological issues, which she's been very good at keeping down so it's going to be both a learning curve and a growing experience for her both emotionally and professionally. Frolov: Charles too is going to have to reveal some of his skeletons. Because those things inform his decisions at times, and maybe they shouldn't, and so her presence brings that to the forefront. Read more: 'Chicago Med' Adds 'Undercovers' Grad in Recurring Role for Season 2 What can you say about the introduction of Dr. Charles' family members? Schneider: His oldest daughter, who's in her mid-twenties, is an epidemiologist who will start working at the hospital. He has a complex relationship with her because when she was a little girl, he was divorcing her mom Frolov: And he was also going through his first depression. Schneider: So he has issues not related to her, but about feeling his own inadequacy as a father at that time in his life. The way he has to rediscover his relationship with his daughter, we also meet his youngest daughter, who's eight years old and who is part of a generation that he is trying to understand. The Dr. Downey storyline and the debate about the right to die at the end of the first season was very interesting. What made you want to explore that and what can you say are the repercussions of that for Connor looking ahead? Frolov: He's asked that question in the first episode by his mentor. Schneider: It's always going to be a question and it may come back in some ways but his relationship with Downey is always sort of present in him. Downey was the father he never had. How will that loss impact him in season two? Frolov: In a way, he's more on his own now because he doesn't have that father figure anymore. He's truly thrown into the fire. Schneider: And you have to deal with a very different personality type in his new boss and it's just very challenging. He doesn't have the kind of emotional support that he had from Downey, he's challenged in ways that he hadn't expected, but he's determined to be a great surgeon. Frolov: He has to face, at times, his inadequacies and what he needs to learn. What can you say is coming up for Will? Frolov: He has a big financial obstacle. We find out that when you become an attending physician in a hospital, you have to pay your own malpractice so because he was sued, he has a huge malpractice bill to pay. On top of that, as soon as you become an attending, you have to start paying off your medical school loans. So he's hit, in the first episode, with these two financial realities. So he's going to have to moonlight and do other things. It's a pressure on him. Schneider: Since he's now an attending physician, he has to assume the role of the responsible, teaching doctor which is very much against his nature. He has to sort of make the residents and medical students toe the line in terms of protocol and that's who he's been. Frolov: So it's a big role-reversal for him. Read more: 6 Things We Learned About 'Chicago Med's' Second Season What can you say about him and Natalie going forward? Schneider: He's going to start a new romance, but his feelings for Natalie will always be there. So that relationship continues to be very important although in this season. Natalie there is a triangle with Jeff Clarke. We'll still be looking at the Will-Natalie relationship, but at the same time, they are going to have separate relationships. What do you think the Jeff Clarke character offers for Natalie that will doesn't? What brings them together? Schneider: He reminds her of better times. Frolov: She's at ease with him. He comes from the same kind of background as her deceased husband, the military, so he's very familiar to her and kind of safe. What do you think the Jeff character adds that wasn't there before? Schneider: It's always great to have a med student there because they're really learning and they can be sort of the eyes and the ears of the audience. Frolov: What's fun is that, again, we're reversing a role here, because Sarah really knew very little. She was really a newbie, but Jeff is quite experienced because of his past as a firefighter and his past in the army, so he's very eager and knowledgeable. So it's quite different than Sarah. But that in itself can cause friction and causes friction with Will, who wants people to stay to their roles. Schneider: He always wants to jump in and take over and that's not his position as a medical student. Moving on to Goodwin, there was a big change for her personally at the end of season one. What is her emotional state going into season two? Frolov: She is going to, initially, grieve a bit for her marriage, but she will have to go on. And we're going to arc her personal life in a different direction, where she gets to express another side of herself in a new relationship. Is it safe to say this new person is someone at the hospital? Schneider: He does do something in the hospital. She meets him through the hospital and through Connor. Ethan struggled with PTSD and now he's the chief resident, dealing with more pressure and responsibility. What will that PTSD struggle look like going forward? Frolov: He's resolved a lot of those issues as we come into it. What's kind of fun with him is he wants to bring his military expertise and organizational skills to the hospital. So in the first episode, we see him attempting to do that. We're also going to see the Navy sends Corpsmen to the emergency wards in Chicago to learn about treating gunshot wounds. Schneider: Ethan will be part of that program, he will be mentoring Navy Corpsmen, and he also continues his relationship with Vicky and so we like to reflect his military training in stories. Another big event at the end of season one was April's tuberculosis diagnosis. What is the next step of that? Frolov: She's got a long road with that. As we come back, you know her TB is latent. Schneider: So she can work, but there will always be the question of, will it remain latent or will it become active? In which case, she'll have to move to the hospital in isolation. Frolov: It's affecting her relationship - in fact we will find out she doesn't stay over at Tate's house anymore. Her fear is that she will give it to him and to his son so its affecting their relationship. How does that affect her as a nurse? Frolov: We'll see that it's really deeply affecting her. She's constantly being checked and she is not contagious but it's still eats at her. And the story develops further and it becomes active at some point. What made you want to tackle TB on the show? Frolov: it's fairly common. Schneider: It's a growing issue. Frolov: with health care professionals that they get these things. Schneider: And TB is a very hard disease to manage. If you don't stay on your meds for the proper length of time, it can develop into a resistant strain. Frolov: So it's something we were attracted to, because we wanted to show that these people sacrifice a lot doing what they do, and they're vulnerable to a lot of things that we don't even think about. One issue that was in the headlines this summer with the Olympics was Zika. Is that something you're planning or hoping to address on the show? Frolov: We might. In some ways, our TB story with April touches on some of the issues that Zika does because the treatment for TB can be damaging to a fetus. So I'll just throw that out there. (Laughs.) What I'm saying is some of those things we're playing with April - we don't want to play the same beat and the same issues with the Zika virus. Chicago Med's second season premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. on NBC. CHICAGO (Reuters) - A Chicago policeman who was indicted on federal civil rights charges after being captured on a dashboard camera firing into a car full of teenagers, wounding two of them, pleaded not guilty on Thursday, a court official said. Marco Proano, 41, was charged last week in a two-count indictment in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly using unreasonable force with a dangerous weapon. A clerk for Judge Gary Feinerman confirmed by telephone the plea which had been reported by local media. Proano's attorney, Daniel Herbert, could not be reached for comment on Thursday. A video of the incident, which has been widely published online, shows Proano shooting his gun multiple times at close range into the teens' vehicle as it backs away from him. The shooting took place in December 2013. Incidents like this have provoked intense criticism of Chicago's police force. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was scheduled to give a major speech on Thursday night on public safety, the police and the city's plans to combat crime. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Richard Chang) While Karnataka CM Siddharamaih has already gone to present his state's case to the Centre, TamilNadu has yet not announced it course of action. By Akshaya Nath: The Cauvery water issue has been the bone of contention in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for decades now. The farmers living along the Cauvery delta region have been repeatedly voicing their helplessness on cultivating alternate crops as the delta soil is only suitable to grow Paddy. According to farmers, the growth of paddy requires at least 90 TMC of water. The cultivation of paddy begins in August and goes on till January and this is the crucial persons when farmers require water. advertisement The first few months is of importance because it decides on the growth and the fate of the crops during the northeast monsoon. If the crops don't develop well before the northeast monsoon it tends to get destroyed once the monsoon hits the state. Even though there has been written rules on the sharing of the Cauvery water, every year the two states witness unrest. UNREST EVERY YEAR The political parties in both states have a separate role to play altogether. While the Karnataka government moves forward with its plan only after an all party meeting, the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu accuse the ruling party of "making surprise steps." "The state government should have approached the Karnataka government in June when the crop season was to begin, but they moved the court only after the farmer unrest in the state," said DMK spokesperson TK S Elangovan. While Karnataka CM Siddharamaih has already gone to present his state's case to the Centre, TamilNadu has not yet announced it course of action. "The government should have called for an all party meeting long back, but that has not happened. It is unclear what the government is planning to do. There is no point in writing letters to the centre. Action for the people should be taken, but this government isn't doing anything," said TKS Elangovan. The hope among people is that the Karnataka government can not act against the Supreme Court order. "It will be unconstitutional to not give water to Tamil Nadu after the Supreme Court directing Karnatala to do so," said Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Su. Thirunavakarasar. Almost 12 percent of Tamil Nadu's area is used for rice cultivation and the crop is grown by farmers in a condition where the crops are flooded to ensure healthy and now, because of water shortage the farmers are facing a drought situation. This rising tension between the two state will cause only more unrest along delta region, if the two state governments don't come to an amicable understanding. ALSO READ: Karnataka defers release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 23 advertisement Cauvery row: Siddaramaiah heads to Delhi after decision to defer release of water to Tamil Nadu --- ENDS --- By David Ljunggren OTTAWA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Canada and China have agreed on a solution to a trade dispute over C$2 billion worth of annual canola sales, lasting to 2020, leaders of the two countries said on Thursday. The solution is "predictable, science-based and stable," ensuring access for Canadian shipments to China, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Ottawa at a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. He gave no details. China has twice this year backed down on plans to toughen its standard on foreign material, called dockage, in Canadian canola shipments. The dispute was an irritant as the two countries seek to broaden trade ties. The crop is crushed in China, Canada's biggest export market, to produce vegetable oil and animal feed. China, which has said it was concerned about the foreign material spreading a crop disease called blackleg, had intended to make the change on Sept. 1 before agreeing to continue negotiations with Canada leading up to meetings in Ottawa. The maximum level of dockage China accepts will continue to be 2.5 percent of a shipment during the time of the agreement. China had intended to lower the maximum to 1 percent. Canadian exporters, which include Richardson International, Glencore PLC unit Viterra Inc, and Cargill Ltd, have raised concerns that the tougher standard would result in fewer sales to China as it raises their costs. Industry analysts have said China's stance was likely linked to high domestic stockpiles. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola, also called rapeseed. ICE Canada canola futures rose 1.4 percent, touching the day's highs after news of the agreement. Li said until 2020, China would apply its previous inspection standard on Canadian canola shipments. In the meantime, the countries will study the risk dockage may pose, he said. "For China, we have pretty sufficient amount of time to increase the quality of exports to China," Li said through an interpreter. "That agreement is in the larger picture of Canada-China relations." (Writing by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) BEIJING (Reuters) - China has conditionally lifted an import ban on some shipments of U.S. boneless beef and beef on the bone, and will also ease restrictions on Canadian beef, the Asian nation's agriculture ministry and its premier said on Thursday. The lifting of the ban applies to imports of beef from cattle that are under 30 months old, according to a statement posted on the Ministry of Agriculture's website. The move remains subject to completion of quarantine requirements, which will be issued later, the ministry said, without providing further details. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a business dinner in New York on Tuesday that China would soon allow imports of beef on the bone from the United States. On Thursday in Ottawa, Li said China was also ready to lift restrictions on bone-in Canadian beef. China banned U.S. beef imports after the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in Washington state in late 2003. "I welcome the announcement from China's Ministry of Agriculture that it has lifted its ban on U.S. beef following a recently concluded review of the U.S. supply system," U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement on Thursday. China's action is a critical first step in restoring market access for beef from the United States, and Washington is looking forward to prompt discussions with Chinese authorities on specific conditions to allow trade to resume, said Vilsack. Some U.S. meat groups also embraced China's move, but said further negotiations are needed between both countries to formally end the 13-year ban. "This is great news for U.S. beef producers, Kent Bacus, director of international trade for the National Cattlemens Beef Association, said via email. While the immediate news is positive, the next step is for USDA officials to work with China regarding export protocols, Bacus added. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng called China's announcement an "important first step in the process of resuming beef exports to China." Seng said USMEF awaits details of remaining steps needed to officially open the market to allow U.S. suppliers to begin shipping product. In 2003, China imported 12,000 tonnes of beef valued at $15 million, including $10 million from the United States, according to the USDA. The agency said that in recent years overall Chinese beef imports have grown significantly, hitting a record $2.3 billion in 2015, fueled by a growing middle class. (Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Theopolis Waters in Chicago; Editing by Paul Simao and Matthew Lewis) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China is planning to allow qualified foreign institutions to borrow and lend on the interbank foreign currency market to help meet their financing needs, the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) said in an online statement on Thursday. The latest move is an incremental step to further open up the country's financial markets. China's central bank has already allowed some foreign institutions to participate in the onshore interbank forex market, where they may trade spot products, forwards, swaps, FX swaps and options. The People's Bank of China said late last year that it would allow more overseas banks to enter the market. And it also extended onshore yuan trading hours to overlap with European trading hours, as Beijing moves towards internationalizing its currency. (Reporting By Winni Zhou and Nathaniel Taplin; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Ottawa (AFP) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang landed in Ottawa to meet with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and press for an extradition treaty. But even before the Chinese leader's plane rolled up to the terminal, Trudeau faced political heat from opposition parties for even considering sending Chinese expatriates back. Canadian opposition parties fear they could be subjected to human rights abuses and the death penalty in China. The meeting comes barely one month after the two leaders held talks in Beijing. Trudeau last week tasked his national security advisor with mapping out an agenda for possible cooperation on security and related matters. Canada and China have begun discussions on an extradition treaty, Trudeau told parliament. "We have created a dialogue," he said. "The benefit to Canada is having a high-level security dialogue where we can talk about issues that are important to us and issues that are important to the Chinese government." Tory opposition leader Rona Ambrose linked the issue of extradition to concerns about Chinese hacking and a recent revelation that Chinese agents are active in Canada. Trudeau shot back, saying the previous Conservative government for a decade had been "hot and cold with the world's second-largest economy." "The fact is, Canada has extraordinarily high standards for extradition treaties, and those will always be upheld with anyone around the world," he said. The Canadian leader ruled out any extraditions to countries where those convicted would face the death penalty. Seeking to reassure Canadians, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said these would be "discussions, not negotiations." - Closer ties - Canadian diplomacy has been very active since Trudeau's Liberals swept to power last year, contesting a rotating seat on the Security Council, pledging peacekeeping troops for UN missions and hosting thousands of Syrian refugees. Story continues With China, Trudeau wants closer ties. "We needed to renew and deepen the relationship between the people of Canada and people of China for the long term and I think it's safe to say we have accomplished just that," he said at the end of his trip to Beijing. China is Canada's second largest trading partner after the United States, with trade exceeding Can$85 billion ($64.5 billion USD) last year. Last month, Canada said it would apply to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which has been criticized by its neighbor and closest ally, the United States. Beijing, meanwhile, just prior to Li's visit released a Canadian national held since 2014 on espionage charges. After landing in Ottawa, the Chinese premier was to have a private dinner with Trudeau. An official welcome was scheduled for Thursday morning, followed by a bilateral leaders' meeting. A state dinner is to be held Thursday evening at Ottawa's Museum of History. Li will conclude his visit Friday in Montreal, where he will participate in a trade and economic cooperation forum. China has removed an almost 13-year-old ban on some US beef products, its quality inspection regulator said Thursday. A ban on imports of "American bone-in beef and boneless beef for cattle under 30 months" has been lifted effective immediately, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said, according to a document posted on its official website. The Asian giant stopped most beef imports from the US over a decade ago after mad cow disease was found in Washington state in December 2003. In a statement from Washington, the office of US Trade Representative Michael Froman called the move a "critical first step" to restoring US access to Chinese beef markets but said more remained to be done. The announcement comes after years of delays in which US producers and trade officials expected restrictions to be lifted, and years after China said in 2006 that imports of some beef products would resume, though this never occurred. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the decision signalled Beijing's desire to improve commercial ties with the US, the Wall Street Journal reported, and it coincided with the announcement that a Chinese bank had been approved to clear transactions in the yuan currency in New York. Speaking with US business groups in New York on Tuesday, Li had implied that the ban would soon be lifted, the Wall Street Journal reported, saying: "We also recognise that the United States has very good beef, so why should we deny Chinese customers this choice?" China is already the world's largest consumer of pork, and demand for beef is surging as its burgeoning middle class adds more meat to its diet. Before the ban was lifted many Chinese shoppers bought smuggled US beef on online portals, state media reported last year, with a US official saying a "huge amount" evaded import restrictions. US producers had long complained of the restrictions, which were in place while China's cattle herds grew over the last decade. Story continues Beijing has also kept in place bans on imports from the European Union due to mad cow disease concerns 16 years ago, but is reportedly in talks with Ireland to lift restrictions sometime this year. The US Trade Representative said it and the US Department of Agriculture looked forward to talks on restarting the beef trade following a Chinese audit report. "True access to China's beef market -- consistent with science-based, international standards for trade -- remains a top priority for the United States," the statement said. Annual beef consumption in China has risen to 3.8kg per capita in 2015, according to OECD data, up from less than 3kg in 2005. By 2025, an additional 2.2 million tonnes will be needed to satisfy booming Chinese domestic demand, according to research by Netherlands-based Rabobank, with importers supplying 20 percent of the meat. "Beef prices in China have been increasing and are now more than four times higher than in 2000," it said, noting that Chinese consumers have a "higher tolerance" for soaring beef prices. China was the second-largest importer of American agricultural products in the world in 2015, according to the US Department of Agriculture, having grown more than 200 percent in the past decade to total more than $20 billion. China launched a cache of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir vines into space on the orbiting Tiangong-2 lab during this years Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 15, in an experiment that hopes to yield a sturdier plant by exposing them to the harsh climates and radiation of space. According to DecanterChina.com, scientists hope the experiments will create a vine that is more drought, cold, and virus resistant making the vines more suitable for Chinese weather. The auspicious launch date is perhaps a nod to Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival folklore, as legend tells the story of the moon goddess, Change, levitating all the way in to space after getting drunk on the elixir of life. Chinas burgeoning vineyards particularly in the Ningxia and Xinjiang regions are marred by arid climates. Farmers often bury their plants during winter months to protect them from freezing over. The National Space Administration told Decanter China that when the vines are returned to earth they will be compared to a control group grown in the Ningxia region. According to a report by International Wine & Spirit Research, a London-based industry research group, China is the fifth largest red-wine market in the world. Despite the countrys slowing economic growth, industry groups still see moderate growth in Chinas wine market, particularly among affluent millennials who are driving the countrys relatively new demand. Zhou Lina pleaded guilty at the State Courts and was sentenced to jail. (Yahoo Singapore file picture) A 38-year-old Chinese national was sentenced to six months jail for her part in a counterfeit casino chip scam last year at Marina Bay Sands (MBS). Zhou Lina, who is married to a Singaporean, pleaded guilty before District Judge Salina Ishak on Thursday (22 September) to one charge under the Casino Control Act. Six other charges were taken into consideration. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jordon Li revealed that Zhou was part of a transnational counterfeit casino chip syndicate and recruited to exchange more than 1,000 fake $1,000-denomination casino chips at MBS in November 2015. Court documents showed that Zhou was recruited by Chia Wai Tien, a 47-year-old Singaporean who had earlier recruited a friend of Zhous, Lin Shuang. $20,000 worth of fake chips On 22 November 2015, Lin, a 32-year-old Chinese national, and Zhou met Chia at Peoples Park Complex. Chia handed over $20,000 worth of counterfeit $1,000 chips to the two women and told them to exchange the chips for cash at MBS. He instructed them to exchange a few chips at a time at gaming tables for chips of smaller denominations. Thereafter, they were to mix the genuine chips with the counterfeit ones, which would then be exchanged for cash at the casino counters. To avoid detection, they were told not to exchange more than $5,000 worth of chips at any given time. The counterfeit chips were detected by MBS on 29 November 2015. MBS then conducted an immediate recall of all $1,000 chips and reported the matter to the police. As a result of the scam, the casino suffered total losses exceeding $1 million. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of multiple persons linked to the syndicate, including the suspected mastermind, recruiters, runners and a lookout. In mitigation, Zhous counsel Sunil Sudheesan appealed for a shorter jail term than the six months recommended by the prosecution, saying that Zhou is married to a Singaporean with a three-year old daughter. The imprisonment will be an additional hardship for her and her family and I am urging the court to lessen the measure of suffering that they are going through, said Sunil, who added that Zhous husband was present in court. When the trial ended, Zhous husband was seen confronting a journalist from a local Chinese newspaper at the public gallery. The man raised his voice at the journalist and had to be calmed down by police officers. Chipotle As Chipotle's summer rewards program comes to a close, the results are looking less than positive. In July, the chain launched Chiptopia, a three-month promotion tied to the number of times customers visit Chipotle. The program had some of the best rewards in the restaurant business, with tons of opportunities for customers to get free food. By late July, the program had more than 3.6 million participants and accounted for 30% of all transactions. Today, Chipotle says more than 3.1 million customers have registered and used their Chiptopia cards. According to the company, 1.2 million users signing up in August and 85,000 participants are on track to earn the catering reward, meaning they visited at least 11 times each month for the last three months. More than 3 million participants means spending a lot of money on free burritos, especially after the company gave away roughly $70 million in free-food coupons from February to May. Free food has been key to Chipotle's game plan to win back customers after E. coli outbreaks helped drive away business, with the chain's same-store sales dropping 30% in the first quarter of 2016. However, as September ends and the program comes to a close, it seems it has failed to address one of Chipotle's biggest problems: customer perception. The chain has hit a wall in terms of brand perception, according to YouGov BrandIndex data. On July 1, the day Chiptopia launched, consumer perception of the brand's quality was 9.4, on a scale of -100 to 100. On September 20, that rating had dropped to 6.8, after almost three months of staying roughly the same. YOUGOV BRANDINDEX Chipotle (Buzz and Quality) Earlier this week, Chipotle marketing director Mark Crumpacker said in an interview that the chain was losing customers to fast-food giant McDonald's. On Wednesday, the chain launched a new campaign attempting to convince customers the food is safe to eat, after the E. coli outbreaks that drove away customers. Story continues "Chiptopia was not a perception tool, though other programs have been having a positive impact on consumer perceptions," Chipotle's communications director, Chris Arnold, said in an email to Business Insider, noting the ad A Love Story has helped boost customer perception. "The program we launched yesterday, to update people on some of the important food-safety changes we have made, serves yet a different purpose," Arnold continued. "We promised our customers that we would establish Chipotle as an industry leader in food safety, so we wanted to be transparent about many of the food-safety advancements we have put in place." Still, a rewards program seems like it should earn some goodwill from customers, especially one with rewards as good as Chipotle's. Chiptopia is, by all measures, a great deal one of the best in the restaurant industry. If you buy 12 burritos over the three months (four a month), you get four free burritos. That means it has a return rate of roughly 33% for customers. That's an incredibly high return rate. For example, look at Starbucks, which has an incredibly successful rewards program. Starbucks Rewards members earn a free food or drink item after spending $62.50. A semi-pricey Starbucks drinks is $5, meaning you're generously receiving an 8% return. Chipotle's rewards program seems to be facing two big problems when it comes to driving customer perception: It is too confusing to the average customer and not sustainable for Chipotle in the long-term. Chipotle From the start, Chiptopia has been aimed at Chipotle loyalists in part because the program is too confusing for any other customers. The three-tiered system takes quite a bit of studying to sort out, with each level having slightly different rewards and a long list of qualifiers. In August, Morgan Stanley wrote in a research note that the program had helped convince loyal Chipotle customers to resume their prior frequency, but had not impacted the more casual customers that make up 75% of the chain's customers. While the most loyal quarter of the chain's customer base make up 60% to 70% of visits, if Chipotle wants to reach its former level of customer perception and sales, it needs to recapture the average consumer as well. Which brings us to the second problem: Chiptopia wasn't designed to perform in the long-term. Just as Chipotle can't afford to keep giving out free burritos forever, a rewards program with a 33% return rate would end up being extraordinarily expensive for the company. That could be a problem for Chipotle. Chipotle "The program's end in September could alienate some customers just as they are getting accustomed to the rewards," BTIG analyst Peter Saleh wrote in a July research note. Chipotle said two months ago that it was already working on a permanent program to prevent backlash once Chiptopia ends. The new program has not yet been announced by Chipotle, though the company is insistent that it is on the right track to make a comeback. "Recovery is happening," says Arnold. "Since the investigation ended about seven months ago, we have recovered about 40% of the sales we lost from the low point in January (as of our most recent reporting period at the end of the second quarter), and introduced programs to help stimulate frequency and restore trust. These things are also moving in the right direction. But none of this happens overnight." A new rewards program is likely another program with the goal of moving things in that direction in the near future. Hopefully for Chipotle, an updated program will be less confusing even if rewards are less bountiful. NOW WATCH: Bill Ackman takes a massive stake in Chipotle calls it 'undervalued' More From Business Insider In line with its strategy to trim international business, Citigroup Inc. C took a step ahead by entering into a negotiation with Brazilian lender Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ITUB to offload its retail banking operations in Brazil. The news was first reported by a Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico. Itau Unibanco had outbid Spain-based Banco Santander, S.A. SAN. In Aug 2016, some sources with the knowledge of the matter stated that the deal value is likely to be around $350-450 million. Nevertheless, there is no official confirmation about the on-going negotiations. Further, the Brazilian newspaper reported that Banco Santander is in negotiation to buy Citigroups Argentinean retail banking unit, while Canada-based Bank of Nova Scotia BNS is likely negotiating on the companys Colombian unit. The news of the Argentinean units sale was first declared by the Argentinean newspaper La Nacion early this month. Why the Move? Since the economic downturn in 2008, Citigroup has been focusing on growth in core businesses through restructuring (shrinking all the loss-making and non-core business units) and streamlining its international business. Additionally, recent regulatory pressure over the companys global operations and concerns of weak returns contributed to the reasons. In Oct 2014, Citigroup announced its plan to exit its consumer businesses in 11 markets including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru, Japan, Guam and its consumer finance business in Korea and the Czech Republic, Egypt and Hungary. Effective Jan 2015, these businesses are being reported as part of Citi Holdings. In Feb 2016, Citigroup had announced plans to reduce its footprint in Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, with an aim to cut costs and improve profitability across its international operations. Road Ahead Citigroup and other banking players have been under pressure to curb costs and streamline their business owing to increased regulatory oversight and changing economic conditions. However, with adoption of thoughtful strategies, like the ones implemented by Citigroup over the past few years, the company can combat the headwinds and focus more on boosting its capital position and operational efficiencies. The deal announcement of Brazilian and Argentinean retail banking unit is expected to be made later this month. Citigroups stock gained around 1% in the last trading session to close at $46.90. Citigroup Inc. currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CITIGROUP INC (C): Free Stock Analysis Report BANCO ITAU -ADR (ITUB): Free Stock Analysis Report BANCO SANTAN SA (SAN): Free Stock Analysis Report BANK OF NOVA SC (BNS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Earlier, the apex court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from tomorrow till September 27, the next date of hearing. By Asian News International: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, where it has asked the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within four weeks, and said that as per the new order, 6,000 cusecs of water to be released from Karnataka will not be sufficient for Tamil Nadu. Saravanan told ANI that the Central Government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won't be any loss of life or property in future. advertisement "Even though the Supreme Court has ordered 6,000 cusecs of water has to be released from Karnataka. I don't think that will be sufficient for the state of Tamil Nadu. But, the significant aspect is that the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to constitute Cauvery management board within four weeks, I think that is a very welcomed decision," Saravanan said. "It shows, if the Tamil Nadu government has pointed out our leader MK Stalin, if the Tamil Nadu government have acted in expeditious manner, I think Cauvery management board would have come into existence long time back. But anyway, better late than never. We welcome this decision of constituting this Cauvery management board," he added. INTERNAL POLITICS Stating that it is the internal politics between Karnataka, Congress and BJP over the Cauvery issue, Saravanan said, "I think, they should oblige by the Supreme Court's verdict and the Central Government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won't be any loss of life or loss of property like what we have seen in Bengaluru." Saravanan further said that that peculiar politics is being play upon in Karnataka, where the Congress in Tamil Nadu is supporting the Cauvery dispute, Congress in TN is supporting the issue but BJP didn't support the bandh which is called by all the parties. Earlier, the apex court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from tomorrow till September 27, the next date of hearing. The Supreme Court also directed the Centre to constitute a Cauvery management board within four weeks and notify the same. The ruling came a day after the Cauvery Supervisory Committee ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water from the river to Tamil Nadu daily between September 21 and 30. The Supreme Court also allowed both states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to file their objections to Cauvery supervisory committee report within three days. 12000 CUSECS OF CAUVERY WATER TO BE RELEASED Union Water Resources Secretary and Chairman of the committee Shashi Shekhar asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 30. As per Supreme Court orders, Karnataka has to release 12000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. More than 5000 cusecs of water will be released from Mettur Dam for delta irrigation and this will be raised up to 15,000 cusecs as per the need of delta farmers. advertisement The water released from Mettur will first reach upper Anaicatu Mukombu in Tiruchirapalli and from there to Grand Anaicutu Kallanai by weekend. From Kallanai, water will be released for samba crops in delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur. This year release of water from Mettur has been considerably delayed due to shortage of water in Cauvery. Delta farmers hope that north east monsoon will start by third week of next month to save samba crops. Also Read: Cauvery row: Pro-Kannada groups to intensify agitation, raise slogans slamming SC order Cauvery row: BJP decides to boycott all party meet called by Siddaramaih --- ENDS --- By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND (Reuters) - The family of a African-American man who died in 2010 after being tasered by Cleveland police will receive a $375,000 settlement from the city, the mayors office said on Thursday. Rodney Brown died on New Year's Eve after a police radio caught him telling officers "I can't breathe." First responders were unable to resuscitate the 40-year-old, 12 minutes after two Cleveland Police officers pulled him over, tasered him, subdued him with a blow to the neck and placed him in a patrol car on Dec. 31, 2010, according to court documents. Browns death was a result of tasering on an enlarged hypertensive heart and ruled a homicide caused by "cardiopulmonary arrest following physical exertion during law enforcement activity," according to the Cuyahoga County coroners office. The settlement is the latest of a number of payouts to families of African- Americans who have died as a result of encounters with the city's police. In April, the city agreed to pay $6 million to the family of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy shot dead by police while holding a replica gun in 2014. The families of Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell were paid a combined $3 million after the two were fatally shot by officers. In the latest case, Shirley Brown, Rodneys mother, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in 2011 against the city of Cleveland and the police officers involved in the arrest, alleging excessive force, assault and battery and wrongful death. She also said that the officers did not have probable cause to stop Browns vehicle. Officers said Brown was slurring his words after he was pulled over for not having his headlights on and that he tried to flee the scene. Brown, officers said, then engaged in a prolonged and vigorous struggle that took the collective effort of eight police officers, six who arrived as backup and that he pulled out a knife during the struggle. Shirley Browns attorneys submitted an audio exchange between Rodney Brown and one of the officers picked up on the dispatch radio where Brown said I cant breathe. and the officer responded, So? Who gives a (expletive). A trial in the matter scheduled for next month has been canceled and the settlement is awaiting probate court approval. (Editing by Sharon Bernstein and David Gregorio) Washington (AFP) - Ready to do almost anything to attract young voters, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appeared Thursday on a parody celebrity show where she was asked: "What happens if you become pregnant?" Visibly uncomfortable, Clinton -- 68 and presumably well past her child-bearing years -- however gamely played along with comedian and actor Zach Galifianakis, host of "Between Two Ferns." "I could send you some pamphlets that might help you understand," she offered. Galifianakis, whose career had a breakthrough with his role in the 2009 hit comedy film "The Hangover," has a strong following for his online show, where he lobs absurd, sexist or just aggressive questions at his guest as they sit between two potted ferns. With the November 8 election around the corner and the race with Republican nominee Donald Trump tightening, Clinton's appearance on the buzz-generating show appeared aimed at showing a more playful side. Opinion polls show that Clinton has difficulty attracting young voters, a demographic that had strongly supported President Barack Obama. "Not to take away from the historic significance of perhaps you becoming the first female president, but for a younger, younger generation you will also become their first white president, and that's pretty neat, too," Galifianakis said. Clinton, lips clamped into a tight smile, nodded her head as if to say move on. "As secretary, how many words per minute did you type? And how does President Obama like his coffee? Like himself, weak?" he asked, referring to her stint under Obama as secretary of state. The host seemed to go too far with a joke about guns. "I really regret doing this," Clinton said -- but she brightened when asked to talk about Trump. "When you see how well it works for Donald Trump, do you think to yourself, oh, well, maybe I should be more racist?" the host said. She grinned, shaking her head as in disbelief. Story continues Asked if she would flee to Canada if Trump is elected, Clinton said: "I will stay in the United States. I'd try to prevent him from destroying the United States." The host wound up the interview with a sly reference to the scandal that has dogged Clinton's campaign -- her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, including for classified documents. "This has been a lot of fun, Mrs. Clinton. We should stay in touch. What's the best way to reach you? Email?" (Adds details on plan, reaction) By Emily Stephenson WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday proposed raising taxes on inherited property to 65 percent for the largest estates as she bolstered plans for tax hikes on the wealthiest Americans. Known by conservative opponents as the "death tax," the estate tax, levied on property such as cash, real estate, stock or other assets transferred from deceased persons to heirs, currently is imposed only on inherited assets worth $5.45 million or more for an individual. Clinton's plan, posted on her campaign's website, would raise the estate tax from the current 40 percent to 45 percent, the rate that existed in 2009. But the biggest estates would face rates of up to 65 percent for property valued at more than $500 million for a single person or $1 billion per couple, under her proposal, an update of an earlier plan. Clinton's proposed top rate of 65 percent would be the highest estate tax since the 1980s, and is in line with a proposal made during the Democratic primaries by her former rival for the party's presidential nomination, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Her campaign said the boosted estate tax and a change in the rules to tax capital gains associated with inherited assets would help pay for other proposals to benefit middle-class people, such as expanding a tax credit for working parents. Clinton's campaign said the plan would hit only the wealthiest people. "Hillary Clinton has made a commitment throughout this campaign to make sure there is a plan to pay for the progressive policies we have laid out," said Mike Shapiro, an economic adviser to Clinton. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group focused on budget issues, said Clinton's new tax proposals including the estate tax changes, taxes on capital gains of inherited assets and other provisions would together raise $260 billion in revenue over a decade. Story continues Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, a wealthy real estate developer, wants to eliminate the estate tax. Clinton's proposal prompted criticism from conservatives ahead of her first debate with Trump on Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Jason Miller, a Trump spokesman, issued a statement decrying Clinton's "dramatic hike in the death tax." Republicans want to eliminate estate taxes altogether because they believe the system penalizes families who want to pass down businesses, said U.S. Representative Kevin Brady, chairman of the tax-writing House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. Brady said in a statement that Clinton's plan was "dead on arrival." The nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said this month that only the estates of the wealthiest 0.2 percent of Americans, about two out of every 1,000 people who die, currently owe any estate tax because the first $5.45 million per person is exempt. Clinton would lower that exemption to $3.5 million. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson, Steve Holland and Amanda Becker; Editing by Will Dunham) Hillary Clinton took another move to the political left on Thursday when her campaign released changes to her tax plan that, among other things, would tax large estates at a level once proposed by her rival in the Democratic primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. She also made an appearance on an offbeat internet comedy series And those two things arent as unrelated as they might seem. Related: Trump Is Trouncing Clinton When It Comes to Running Up the Debt In a fact sheet available on her campaign website, Clinton said that she agrees with President Obama that the tax on estates -- which Republicans have re-named the death tax -- should be returned to the basic parameters that were in place before 2009, with a lower exemption (it is currently $11 million for married couple) and higher rates. And she will go further than that for estates valued in the tens and hundreds of millions, with higher rates as values rise, up to a 65 percent rate on estates valued at over $1 billion per couple, the campaign fact sheet notes. The 65 percent tax on estates valued at over $1 billion is straight out of the Sanders campaigns tax plan, and marks the second time in a week that Clinton has leaned on the politics of her former rival. Earlier in the week, she called for stronger oversight of the financial services industry after revelations of wrongdoing at Wells Fargo brought the banks CEO before an angry congressional panel. Clinton called for, among other things, clawing back salary and bonuses paid to executives who oversee illegal or unethical behavior and possibly breaking up financial institutions that become too large to regulate effectively. Related: Study Challenges Clintons Tax Plan for $1 Trillion in New Spending Clinton has been struggling to attract the support of younger voters, many of whom were attracted to Sanders, the self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist who came in second in the race for the nomination, and adopting Sanders-esque policy positions isnt the only thing shes doing to try to win them over. Story continues She also taped an appearance on the FunnyorDie.com staple, Between Two Ferns with actor Zach Galifianakis. The show, with its trademark awkward questions and uncomfortable pauses is a favorite with younger Americans. President Obama made a memorable appearance on the show to pitch Obamacare several years ago. Viewers can decide for themselves whether shes got the same comedy chops as the outgoing president: Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: Hillary Clinton from Funny Or Die Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: From ELLE Amal Clooney and her husband, George, know how to do work conferences right! The Power Couple is in New York this week attending the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. As part of their duties they attended a breakout session where they were seated at a roundtable one seat away from President Obama. NBD. Just another work conference. Photo credit: Jim Watson/Getty Just another day at the grindstone for the Clooneys. Check e-mail, try to get the copier unjammed, make small talk about last night's episode of Scream Queens, attend a roundtable moderated by the President of the United States, check Facebook a few times too many, accidentally reply-all with a Beyonce gif that was only meant for the work spouse. The usual. I can't get over this. Photo credit: Getty I don't know about you but every work conference I've ever been to has involved sharing a room at the Courtyard by Marriott with Jaleel from Accounting who, honestly, I really don't know but shares my excitement about the make-your-own-waffle bar. So, he's fine in my book. In any case, there are rarely famous people at the work conferences I go to. Usually the most famous person at the conference is an inspirational speaker I follow on Instagram or, like, a really dynamic local magician. Rarely is it the President. Not so for Clooney, an international human rights lawyer, and her husband. Out here hobnobbing with world leaders, dressed to the nines. I'll bet they don't even have time to go to the waffle bar at their Courtyard by Marriott. Photo credit: Getty But whatever. Important people importanting is not why I've gathered you here today. What we really need to talk about is important people cute-ing. Look at these two! Photo credit: Jim Watson/Getty Not only are they at an important work conference, changing the world and probably showing off some bomb Powerpoint skills, but they are holding hands while they do it. In front of the President! I can't! This is ultimate work goals: a seat at the President's table, a little skinny microphone (you know you've made it when you don't have to pass a handheld mic back and forth like an audience member on Sally Jesse Raphael), a little placard with your name on it and someone to hold hands with. Story continues I'm obsessed. I honestly forgot that Amal and George Clooney were a thing. I don't know how. I used to think about them all the time. That's totally a normal thing. I wasn't thinking about them in a weird way. It was more "Oh, hey, Amal Clooney is married to Sandra Bullock's co-star from Gravity. I love that!" Just a normal thought that pops into one's head. Like how you sometimes you say to yourself "Oh, hey, remember that time Liza Minelli accosted Lupita N'yongo with a hug when Lupita won her Oscar. Hilarious." Or sometimes you say "Oh, hey, I wonder what Amy Yasbeck is up to." (FYI, I checked on her Facebook page. She's doing great, y'all.) Anyway, these are all normal things to spend two to 24 hours a day thinking about but none is more important than remembering that Amal and George Clooney are married. A couple this smart, powerful and beautiful should float into your mind pretty much constantly. Like a pop-up ad made of joy. Set a reminder on your phone if you need to. "Meditate on the Clooneys. Also send some energy to the Knowles-Carters. And ruminate on Kyra Sedgewick and Kevin Bacon for 20 seconds." I'm practicing Celebrity Contemplation these days. It's really changed my life. I feel much less concerned with my life and my problems and much more focused on things that matter, like imagining what the Beckhams are eating for lunch. I'm available to give motivational speeches on it at any and all conferences held at Courtyard by Marriotts. I accept payment in the form of waffles. And love! Photo credit: Jim Watson/Getty Follow R. Eric Thomas on Twitter. You Might Also Like Chinese offshore giant, China National Offshore Oil Corp. or CNOOC Ltd. CEO recently announced that the Enping 18-1 oilfield has begun production. Located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin of the South China Sea, Enping 18-1 is an independent oilfield that lies in an average water depth of about 90 meters. CNOOC is the operator of Enping 18-1 oilfield with an interest of 100%. The oilfield will fully utilize the existing facilities of Enping 24-2. Additionally, it has joined forces with Enping 23-1, Enping 23-2 and Enping 23-7 oilfields for regional joint development. Currently, there are three wells that yield about 2,010 barrels of crude oil per day. The project is anticipated to touch its ODP designed maximum production capacity of about 11,800 barrels of crude oil per day within 2016. CNOOC LTD ADR Price CNOOC LTD ADR Price | CNOOC LTD ADR Quote CNOOC is one of the three leading oil companies in China and one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies of the world. It is Chinas dominant producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas and engages in the exploration, development, production as well as sale of crude oil, natural gas, and other petroleum products. The companys oil and gas properties are located in four major production areas in offshore China Bohai Bay, western South China Sea, eastern South China Sea, and the East China Sea. Over the next three to five years, CNOOCs growth profile is expected to benefit from numerous development projects in offshore China, international growth from recent acquisitions, and intensive exploration and development programs with its partners. CNOOC currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players from the energy sector are Enbridge Inc. ENB, NGL Energy Partners LP NGL and Murphy USA Inc. MUSA. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CNOOC LTD ADR (CEO): Free Stock Analysis Report MURPHY USA INC (MUSA): Free Stock Analysis Report ENBRIDGE INC (ENB): Free Stock Analysis Report NGL ENERGY PART (NGL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A coalition of family and civil-rights groups launched a national campaign Wednesday to end the regular presence of police, armed security and truancy officers posted inside schools. The Dignity in Schools coalition took its Counselors Not Cops campaign to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, and held briefings at the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The harsh disciplinary actions of police assigned to schools, detailed in a series of Center for Public Integrity reports, have become increasingly controversial in recent years, creating worries that criminalization of minor indiscretions has created a counter-productive school-to-prison pipeline. We decided to take this position as a campaign for full removal of police in schools (because of) the day-to-day experiences of criminalization that have become routine in many schools across the country, and the high-profile incidents that have brought more attention to this issue, said Dignity in Schools national coordinator Natalie Chap. Federal officials have expressed concerns as well, but have stopped short of calling for removal of cops entirely. This month, the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice released a set of tools for school districts to responsibly incorporate officers into the learning environment. In 2014, the departments released a volume of recommended discipline practices to help schools move away from suspensions that were robbing large numbers of kids of class time. Officials have urged schools to limit the use of school police because of the negative impact on students who are handcuffed and sent into courts for common adolescentor even prepubescentbehaviors that might better be handled by teachers, counselors and parents. I am concerned about the potential for violations of students civil rights and unnecessary and harmful introduction of children and young adults into a school-to-prison pipeline, U.S. Department of Education Secretary John B. King also wrote in a letter this month to school districts about the issue. Story continues Since 2012, investigations by the Center for Public Integrity have shown that arrests, ticketing and rough physical contact fall most heavily on student with disabilities and students of color. National data from 2011-2012 pointed to Virginias rates for police-student contact as the highest in the country; local police data showed that thousands of black children, many in middle school, were arrested for disorderly conduct in disproportionate numbers. An autistic 11-year-old sixth grader, for example, was charged with disorderly conduct for kicking a trash can and felony assault for trying to wiggle free from an officer. In California, juvenile court judges have objected to Los Angeles school police sending thousands of middle-school childrenalmost all Latino or blackinto courts with citations for disturbing the peace. First graders were cited for fighting, 10-year-olds for trespassing; students arriving minutes late were caught in police sweeps that charged them with daytime curfew violations in low-income neighborhoods. In San Bernardino, California, a student with Down syndrome was hogtied and arrested and a boy who hugged his girlfriend was sprayed with pepper spray and charged with assaulting a school officer. The charges were later dismissed against the student, who dropped out of high school. At the U.S. Senate briefing on Wednesday, Tanya Clay House, a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, addressed Dignity in Schools affiliates. Secretary King and the Department of Education hear you, House said, and we really respect the work youre doing. Dignity in Schools, which operates in 27 states, has more than 100 city and state member groups, among them the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. House agreed with Dignity in Schools affiliates that schools are sorely lacking counselors and other adult support at schools to help them with problems and tension at school. We know, right now, that 1.6 million schoolchildren have a school resource officer, but no counselor, House said. In response to concerns about crime or school shootings, many school districts nationwide have added school resource officers, and a number of large districts have developed their own school police forces. We understand there are may be rare occasions when it might be appropriate for law enforcement to enter a school building, Chap said. But we want to make sure there are agreements in place with police departments that limit the cases where law enforcement can be called in. If police go into schools, Chap said, officers and educators should have clear agreements in place that restrict the role of police, protect students due process rights and ensure that officers arent getting involved in disciplinary matters. Chap said her members can provide examples of reforms in their schools proving that conditions in schools can get better with the use of counselors and trained behavior intervention staff to support students. We want to create safe schools, she said, with positive safety and discipline measures. This story is part of Criminalizing kids. Scrutinizing the use of law enforcement and courts to respond to kids conduct at school or other circumstances. . Click here to read more stories in this series. Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. By Seemi Pasha: As the Karnataka government defers the Supreme Court order of releasing 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, the Siddaramaiah government is staring at legal trouble. Speaking to India Today, Brijesh Kalappa, legal advisor to the the Karnataka government said, "We'll have to see how the Supreme Court reacts to it. We will also have to see how we can convince the top court that this is an impossible order to implement." advertisement When asked about the assembly getting ready to pass a unanimous resolution on Friday against releasing water and whether that will lead to a stand-off between the legislature and the judiciary, Kalappa said, "There is going to be legislative session tomorrow. It's taking place under difficult circumstances. Our counsel has told the SC that is an extremely precarious situation for us. He also did not rule out the possibility of the state government approaching the President as a last resort, "This is an extra ordinary situation which calls for extra ordinary measures and we will explore every extra ordinary measure possible." When asked how the state will respond if Tamil Nadu decides to file a contempt petition in the apex court, the CM's legal advisor said, "We will have to calibrate it realistically. I don't want to hypothesise but again we will get an opportunity to tell the court about the kind of difficulties we are facing with the order that has come." Talking about the BJP's decision to boycott Wednesday's all party meeting called by Siddaramaiah, Kalappa said, "We have been faced with water disputes involving two rivers, Mahadayi and Cauvery. The PM has a primacy as far as the federal structure is concerned. The state went to the PM asking for his intervention in the Mahadayi matter and he decided not to intervene, despite of protests going on for a year. As far as the Cauvery water issue is concerned, previous Prime ministers have intervened including Vajpayee, Indira Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda. Here we are faced with a situation where the CM has written as many as eight letters to the PM but has received no response. The BJP is embarrassed about the issue." Sources close to the Chief Minister's office say a resolution against releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu is likely to be moved by KS Puttannaiah, Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha MLA from Pandavapurataluk in Mandya district on Friday. --- ENDS --- El Diamante (Colombia) (AFP) - Colombia's FARC rebels will keep Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez as their leader when they relaunch as a political party under a historic peace deal, a commander said Thursday. "There's no doubt that Timochenko will be confirmed" as head of the organization that replaces the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) under the peace process, commander Carlos Antonio Lozada told AFP. Jimenez, 57, whose real name is Rodrigo Londono, has worked to guide the FARC toward a negotiated end to the conflict since becoming their commander in chief in 2011. After taking over from Alfonso Cano, who was killed in a military raid, Jimenez wrote a letter to President Juan Manuel Santos proposing fresh peace talks. Now, after nearly four years of negotiations, he and Santos are set to sign the final accord Monday. Under the agreement the FARC -- a Marxist guerrilla army launched in 1964 -- has pledged to disarm and turn itself into a political party. The rebels are currently holding what leaders hope will be their last conference as a guerrilla army, where they are due to vote on the peace deal. FARC leaders say they have overwhelming support from their delegates. Once the deal is signed, Colombians will vote on it in a decisive referendum on October 2. A new study has reaffirmed the crucial importance of the early detection colorectal cancer, which, if discovered in time, can be cured in 90% of cases. Gastroenterologists who monitored 2,325 patients between 2000 and 2015 report that 85% of operations to treat the disease were conducted on advanced tumors. Five years later, only 49% of those treated had survived. These results will be presented at the AFC (French Surgeons Association Congress) congress to be held in Paris from September 28 to 30. The second most prevalent cancer among women and the third most prevalent among men, colon cancer is often fatal. However, with early detection it can be cured in approximately 9 out of 10 cases. Thereafter, the new study reports, if the disease is detected when intestinal occlusion has already occurred, the 5-year survival rate dwindles to less than 50%. For gastroenterologists, this finding underlines the importance of preventive examinations for those over 50. Between 2000 and 2015, researchers monitored 2,325 patients (1,226 men and 1,099 women), who were treated as a matter of urgency in 58 centers for localized and metastasized colon cancer. The average age in the study group was 74.2 years, with 1,306 under 70. The study found that the majority of patients (87% of those with right colon cancer and 82% of those with left colon cancer) who underwent emergency surgery for locally advanced tumors, which had not been diagnosed early enough, spent two weeks in hospital: a stay that would have been much shorter if the disease had been detected sooner. Five years later, the survival rate was just 49% For patients with cancer on the right side of the colon, the postoperative mortality rate was 10% with an overall complication rate of 52% (36% medical morbidity, and 28% surgical morbidity). For patients with cancer on the left side of the colon, the mortality rate was 9% with an overall complication rate of 50% (32% medical 30% surgical), and a 20% rate of definitive stoma. It is worth noting that more than 15% of patients who underwent emergency surgery required a permanent artificial anus. Story continues "If it is detected sufficiently early, colorectal cancer can be cured in 90% of cases. There are major differences in short-term results (mortality and postoperative complication), but also in the long term (five-year survival rate) that depend on the stage of the disease and the possible need for emergency surgery," points out Patrick Pessaux, the Head of the hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgical unit at the University Hospital of Strasbourg. Preventive colonoscopy for those over 40 For those with a family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, doctors strongly recommend preventive colonoscopies after the age of 40, whose goal is not to detect a cancer, but to prevent the disease from declaring. People in this category are up to ten times more likely to develop colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy performed under general anesthetic allows a doctor to examine the intestinal wall and to detect the presence of polyps (benign tumors), which can be removed during the procedure. These findings will be presented at the AFC (French Surgeons Association Congress) congress to be held in Paris from September 28 to 30. (The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters. Note strong language in graph 12.) By Alison Frankel NEW YORK Sept 22 (Reuters) - On Oct. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a question that has created considerable confusion in lower courts: When the government claims a corporate outsider has profited from trading illegally on inside information, what must it prove about the motive of the insider who supplied the tip? The Securities and Exchange Commission, meanwhile, just brought its biggest insider trading case in years, against hedge fund manager Leon Cooperman of Omega Advisors. The SEC's complaint, filed in federal district court in Philadelphia, accuses the legendary investor of earning about $4 million in illicit profits from trading in Atlas Pipeline Partners after a corporate insider gave him confidential information about a big divestiture. Cooperman has declared his innocence Wednesday in a five-page letter to investors and a widely reported conference call. The SEC has framed its case, as I'll explain, to avoid the question at the Supreme Court. But I think there is a way Cooperman's lawyers at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison can take advantage of the case before the justices. My theory takes a bit of explaining, so first, some background. ALL IN THE FAMILY In the case at the Supreme Court, Salman v. U.S., Bassam Salman was convicted of trading illegally on the basis of information that originated with a Citigroup investment banker. The banker talked to his brother about companies in play. His brother, in turn, passed tips to Salman, who matched his trades to those of the banker's brother. Insider trading law is quirky. Congress has never defined insider trading in a statute, so the law has been shaped by judges watching over federal prosecutors and Securities and Exchange Commission regulators asserting violations of securities fraud statutes. As the law has developed - most notably in the 1983 Supreme Court case Dirks v. SEC - to prove insider trading by a corporate outsider, the government must show that the insider who leaked confidential information benefited from supplying the tip. Otherwise, courts have held, there's no fraud. Story continues In the Salman case, the justices have been asked to decide how tangible the tipster's benefit must be. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed Salman's conviction, held the close family relationship between the Citi banker and the brother he tipped is enough to establish the banker's personal benefit. The 2nd Circuit suggested in a landmark 2014 decision, U.S. v. Newman, that the government must prove tipsters received a benefit "that is objective, consequential, and represents at least a potential gain of a pecuniary or similarly valuable nature." The justices will have to reconcile the two circuit court standards. MISAPPROPRIATION THEORY The SEC contends its suit against Cooperman case falls into a different category than tipster cases. Cooperman, according to the commission, was the beneficial owner of more than 9 percent of Atlas Pipeline in 2010. As such, he had much easier access to top corporate officials than ordinary shareholders, the SEC alleges. Through the first half of 2010, that access apparently did not give him much confidence in the company. Cooperman dumped holdings worth millions of dollars and allegedly told an Omega consultant that Atlas was a "shitty business." In July 2010, however, an Atlas executive allegedly told Cooperman that the company planned to sell an important operating facility for more than $700 million. The SEC claims that the unnamed Atlas official believed Cooperman had an obligation not to use the information to trade Atlas securities. According to its complaint, "Cooperman explicitly agreed that he could not and would not use the confidential information to trade." The SEC, of course, alleges that Cooperman did, in fact, trade on his advance word of the divestiture, reaping about $4 million in profits in various Omega funds. The SEC claims Cooperman committed securities fraud by misappropriating information given to him in confidence by an insider who trusted him not to use the information for his own trading. The U.S. Supreme Court gave its blessing to the government's so-called misappropriation theory of insider trading in the 1997 case U.S. v. O'Hagan, when the justices upheld the conviction of a Dorsey & Whitney lawyer who traded options in a firm client that was about to place a tender offer. In broad strokes, the misappropriation theory presumes that corporate insiders are disclosing confidential information only to those with a duty to protect the corporation's secrets. In those cases, insiders are victims of fraudulent misappropriation so their personal benefit for supplying confidential information doesn't come into play. The government's burden is to show the alleged fraudster violated the trust of the corporate insider, not the trust of the company. The O'Hagan case, of course, involved a lawyer who breached a fiduciary duty when he traded a client's securities based on inside information. The SEC and the Justice Department have also brought misappropriation cases against defendants with no fiduciary duty to the insider who disclosed confidential information. The SEC's case against billionaire Mark Cuban, for instance, alleged circumstances very similar to those described in the Cooperman complaint. Cuban received advance word of a private placement by an Internet search company in which he held a large stake. Despite supposedly telling the company he wouldn't reveal the confidential information, Cuban sold shares before the offering was announced to avoid losses when his ownership stake was diluted. Cuban persuaded the trial judge in his case that he never agreed not to trade on the basis of the advance tip he received. The case was dismissed, then revived by the 5th Circuit, which said that Cuban obtained additional inside information about the private placement after telling the company he wasn't going to sell his shares. Ultimately, a federal jury in Dallas cleared Cuban of wrongdoing. In the 3rd Circuit, where the SEC filed its case against Cooperman, the appeals court recently upheld the SEC's expansive view of who can be liable under the misappropriation theory. A defendant named Timothy McGee found out about an impending corporate deal from a buddy he'd befriended at Alcoholics Anonymous, who confided in McGee when the stress of the deal led him to start drinking again. McGee said he owed no duty of confidentiality to his friend, but the 3rd Circuit affirmed his conviction. DID ATLAS WANT TO INFLUENCE COOPERMAN? Believe it or not, all of the preceding is necessary background for how the Salman case may be useful to Cooperman. We know from the McGee and Cuban cases that courts (if not juries) are open to the idea that the government need not show a fiduciary relationship between a corporate insider and an alleged fraudster who misappropriates inside information. That's bad news for Cooperman. But what if the insider at Atlas tipped Cooperman about the divestiture to influence the hedge fund manager's trading in the company? Remember, Cooperman was dumping shares until he heard about the planned sale of the facility and I'm sure Atlas executives were not thrilled about a sell off by the owner of a nearly 10 percent stake in the company. It's not unreasonable to wonder if Atlas was hoping news of the big deal would change Cooperman's mind about his stake. (Interestingly, holding onto shares because you've gotten a tip they will rise in value is not securities fraud, which requires buying or selling securities.) To be sure, the SEC complaint explicitly said Atlas gave Cooperman inside information under the proviso that he not use it to trade. I suspect Cooperman's lawyers are going to probe exactly what was said in the conversations between the hedge fund manager and Atlas insiders. And if they can show Atlas tipped Cooperman to influence his trading decisions, then this case could turn on whether the tipper received a personal benefit from supplying information - the issue before the Supreme Court in Salman. If the justices come up with a very restrictive definition of what constitutes a personal benefit for a tipster, that could help Cooperman. I know this hypothetical depends on a big pile of ifs but it's worth thinking about. It's also worth a reminder that insider trading law would be a lot clearer if Congress enacted a statute. (Reporting by Alison Frankel. Editing by Alessandra Rafferty.) By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader called on Wednesday for the imposition of international sanctions against security officials responsible for the deaths of protesters in two days of demonstrations against President Joseph Kabila. "Without sanctions, they will continue killing people like mosquitoes," said Moise Katumbi, a business tycoon and former Kabila ally. He was convicted in absentia of corruption and sentenced to 36 months in jail after he fled the country in June. At least 37 protesters and six police officers died this week in the violence, according to Human Rights Watch. The government, which has blamed the opposition for the unrest and vowed to punish the ringleaders, put the death toll at 32, including four officers. Katumbi, who put the number of dead at more than 50, denies the corruption charges, and said that African Union mediator Edem Kodjo, a former Togolese premier appointed to arbitrate between the government and opposition, should be replaced because he is biased toward Kinshasa. He spoke to Reuters after some three dozen people died in clashes this week between police and protesters that erupted during demonstrations demanding that Kabila relinquish power when his second term expires in December. Opponents of Kabila think he is trying to retain power in the mineral-rich country by delaying elections due in November or amending the Constitution to eliminate a two-term limit. "President Kabila is just fooling everyone. He doesn't want to go. He wants to remain in power and is killing his own people," said Katumbi, who plans to run for president. The United Nations should send an "independent commission" to the DRC to investigate the deaths of protesters, he said. Moreover, the African Union and international community should impose sanctions on senior security officials, including Minister of Justice Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, he added. "If there are sanctions, there is going to be stability in Congo," Katumbi said. "There is instability because there are no sanctions." The United States in June imposed "targeted sanctions" on a senior DRC police official, citing his role in what it called the violent repression of opposition protests and dozens of deaths. The government denied the allegations. Tom Perriello, the U.S. special envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region, warned on Tuesday that Washington is ready to slap sanctions on more DRC officials "involved in abuses or violence." (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; editing by John Walcott, G Crosse) Lyle Denniston, Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent, examines the future of a 2008 Supreme Court decision recognizing, for the first time, an individual right under the Second Amendment to have a gun for personal use. THE STATEMENT AT ISSUE: The National Rifle Association released its latest ad in support of Donald Trump on Tuesday, claiming a vote for Hillary Clinton would leave the people defenseless. The NRAs new commercial, which is part of a $5 million campaign, depicts a woman reacting to a break-in at her house. A narrator claims: Hillary Clinton would take away her right to self-defense, and with Supreme Court Justices, Hillary can. Excerpt from an online story September 20 on AOL News. WE CHECKED THE CONSTITUTION, AND Undoubtedly, it is very hard to gather the support necessary to propose and ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution, using the procedures spelled out in Article V. That has been done only 27 times, and 10 of those amendments (the Bill of Rights) were adopted all at once. The infrequency of that may be due either to the fact that the obstacles are so high, or it could be due to the Founders vision in having written an instrument that would be quite adaptable to changing times. If the document is flexible in that way, one would assume the Supreme Court might be inclined to change its mind fairly often about its interpretation of what the basic document means. But, in 229 years, the court has only overruled one of its constitutional decisions 95 times. (Perhaps the most famous, at least to modern Americans, was the decision in 1954 in Brown v. Board of Education, overruling the 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson and, thereby, ordering an end to racial segregation in the nations public schools.) The Supreme Court has told the nation that it does not lightly overrule one of its decisions. In 1992, when it declined to overrule its abortion rights ruling (the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade), the court said that it was not enough that the members of a current court believed that a prior ruling was wrong. The decision to overrule, it said, should be guided by prudence and pragmatism. It gave several examples of the influencing factors: whether the prior decision had become unworkable as a legal precedent; whether and how much the public has generally come to rely on the precedent; whether changes in legal principles have undermined the prior ruling; and whether there has been a change in the facts that bear on the constitutional question. Story continues In this presidential election year, there is much debate in the political class about the future of gun rights in America specifically, whether the Supreme Court will continue to follow its 2008 decision recognizing, for the first time, an individual right under the Second Amendment to have a gun for personal use, especially in defending ones self in ones own home. When the court pronounced the existence of that right, and spelled out some of its dimensions, in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, it did so by a 5-to-4 vote. Only four of the Justices who were in the majority then remain on the court now; Justice Antonin Scalia, the fifth, died in February. Today, the court is split 4-to-4 along philosophical or ideological lines, with four more or less conservative Justices and four more or less liberal Justices. If a case were now to reach this court, with a plea to overrule that Second Amendment decision, what would be likely to happen? Without a ninth Justice, the court might wind up splitting split 4-to-4 (assuming that it even would agree to hear such a plea). And, since no lower court has the authority to overrule a Supreme Court precedent, the lower court ruling at stake in such a case would have left the Second Amendment undisturbed, and the Justices 4-to-4 split would uphold that result. Thus, gun rights would remain as protected as they were before. It is easy to see, then, why the NRA and gun rights advocates in general, would be nervous about who will be elected president with the opportunity to appoint a new ninth Justice, and thus probably hold sway over many major constitutional controversies, perhaps including the scope of the Second Amendment. But the fact is that there is no certainty, even if a new Justice with strong liberal leanings were to join the court, that there would be an automatic majority to reconsider and overrule the 2008 decision establishing a quite broad right to have a gun. Assume, for the sake of discussion, that the court would apply the factors that it listed in 1992 on whether to overrule that precedent. There is absolutely no indication that the current court thinks the 2008 precedent is unworkable. The court has left the lower courts entirely alone, in those intervening years, to work out the details of the right; repeatedly, it has refused to second-guess the lower courts results. And those results show that lower courts have been quite capable to allowing reasonable limitations on gun rights without destroying or even seriously compromise the basic right to have a gun. Very likely, the Justices would perceive that a many Americans have come to rely on the 2008 precedent to protect their gun rights, and that would include many law-abiding folks who do not abuse those rights. Also, there has been no change in legal doctrine underlying the Second Amendment in the past eight years; the Second Amendment precedent stands largely on how the modern court interpreted past history, and that record has not changed. The one factor that might be perceived differently would be the facts of gun violence. Would the court, looking at what has actually happened in America since 2008 in terms of violence traceable to guns, be inclined to perceive that the Second Amendment was the actual cause of the increase? That is too simplistic, it would seem, to be seen as a strongly influencing factor. If members of the court do sense that there is a need for government to do something about the abuse of gun rights, it is very likely that they would feel that change should come from Congress or the state legislatures. Within the range of reasonable probability, the Second Amendment is probably on a quite solid constitutional foundation whatever the next president may have in mind for it. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011. Denniston has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Does conviction of a serious crime always mean the loss of gun rights? The Emancipation Proclamations other anniversary Supreme Court steps into new health care dispute Coral fish become stressed and lose weight if they are separated from each other, hampering their chances of survival, an Australian study revealed on Thursday. Scientists from James Cook University in Queensland state monitored blue-green damselfish from the Great Barrier Reef, isolating some, while allowing others to remain in their shoals to better understand why they prefer to socialise. Lauren Nadler, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, said the isolated damselfish lost weight and had a higher metabolic rate, which is an indicator of stress. We have suspected that shoaling fish gain a 'calming effect' from living in a group. But up until now we have been unable to measure how widely spread this effect is in individual fish, she said. "The fish that were isolated lost weight after the first week, which meant they were less healthy than those in groups. "Fish were calmer and less stressed when they had their shoal-mates around, with a 26 percent decrease in metabolic rate compared to individuals tested alone." She said the results showed "how important group living is for healthy fish populations". Damselfish are often found in 1,000-strong shoals and fellow researcher Mark McCormick said separation, which can occur during wild weather which impacts currents, put them at greater risk from predators. Parts of the Barrier Reef were hit by powerful Cyclone Nathan last year with researchers noticing a lot of blue-green damselfish living by themselves. If these fish were out in the ocean by themselves, in order to stay alive they would need more food to keep up their energy. Since they dont have their buddies around to help look out for looming predators, foraging for food would be riskier, McCormick said. "The extra energy fish gain from shoaling is so important because it allows them to survive and reproduce and to pass on their genes to the next generation of fish. Researchers hope to conduct more studies to see what the longer-term impacts of separation are among damselfish and other species. At the ongoing United Nations General Assembly session, China's Prime Minister Li met Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, reminded him of its firm support for the country and asked them to protect Chinese personnel. By Ananth Krishnan: China's Premier Li Keqiang has told Nawaz Sharif to "enhance security risk prevention" in Pakistan and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel there, amid renewed concerns in China over its on-going economic corridor plan. Meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly session, Li also said China has "always firmly supported Pakistan" and their friendship is "unbreakable" - a sentiment routinely expressed by the leaders of the "all-weather" allies. advertisement LI MEETS SHARIF In an official statement on the meeting between Li and Sharif, the Xinhua news agency quoted the Chinese Premier as expressing" the hope that the Pakistani side could enhance security risk prevention and take measures to guarantee the safety of the Chinese project staff." In recent meetings, Li has publicly voiced fears over the security situation in Pakistan. A number of top Pakistani officials, including Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, have recently visited China to assuage Beijing's concerns. While Li noted the China Pakistan Economic Corridor plan had "made positive progress", he also "urged the two sides to carry out the planned construction of the corridor, accelerate the building of the Gwadar Port as well as its supporting facility, and bring more companies into industrial parks." CHINA CONCERNED OVER URI ATTACK His comments came as China expressed concern over the terror attack in Uri, and reiterated its worries over "strained relations between India and Pakistan over this". The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday repeated Monday's call for both parties "to step up communication and dialogue". Last week, a Chinese State run daily expressed concerns over the project, telling Beijing to "not put all eggs in one basket" and instead invest more in Southeast Asian countries. Chinese companies have expressed fears over their safety and the security situation in PoK, through which the corridor passes, and also in Balochistan, where the Gwadar port project is being built. Following the Uri attack, China has appeared to mount a careful balancing act, saying it was "shocked" by the violence and "condemned terrorism in all forms". Beijing also called on India and Pakistan to resolve their issues through dialogue. --- ENDS --- London (AFP) - Jeremy Corbyn is set to be re-elected head of the Labour Party on Saturday despite a power struggle with his own MPs that threatens to tear apart the historic movement. Corbyn is expected to win out against challenger Owen Smith, who launched his bid after a parliamentary rebellion in the wake of the shock Brexit vote that critics partly blamed on Corbyn's lacklustre campaign. The prospect has prompted some commentators to warn that Labour's weakness in opposing the government could increase the chances of Prime Minister Theresa May opting for a "hard Brexit" that would take Britain out of Europe's single market. Labour members have voted by postal ballot but the result, due to be announced at the party conference in Liverpool, is unlikely to end a dispute that experts say could condemn the party to many years in opposition. The 67-year-old veteran socialist says he has energised Britons who would not normally vote and enjoys support from older leftists as well as a younger group of anti-austerity campaigners. He has said he wants to bypass his party's generally centrist MPs by going straight to the grassroots to decide party policies and appointments to key posts. His deputy Tom Watson instead wants MPs to be given more of a say in appointments to the shadow cabinet in a bid to heal the rift between the two sides. "This is the biggest crisis the Labour Party has faced since at least the 1980s," Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP. "It could even be the worst it has faced since its founding in the early 20th century," Bale said. "There is a possibility it might split." Many Labour MPs say Corbyn's policies are too far to the left for Labour to have a chance at governing again. - 'Democratic revolution' - Corbyn has been in parliament since 1983 and was a staunch opponent of the party's New Labour prime minister Tony Blair, who won three elections. Story continues His election in September last year was immediately criticised by MPs and the divisions have widened since, reaching breaking point with the EU referendum. Following that June 23 vote, around 20 members of Labour's shadow cabinet resigned and 172 out of the party's 230 MPs backed a no confidence motion. "Most leaders... tend to resign under those circumstances," said Steven Fielding, a Labour expert at the University of Nottingham. But Corbyn and his allies realise "this is the one golden opportunity for the far left and they won't give up voluntarily," he said. The bearded vegetarian, who set up a mass protest movement against the Iraq War, has a messianic appeal to supporters, with some 300,000 joining since summer 2015 and turning Labour into what they say is now Europe's biggest political party with 550,000 members. The problem is that Corbyn's "democratic revolution" project does not appear to have resonated with the public and the party lags far behind May's Conservatives in the opinion polls. "Unless things change radically, and rapidly, it's very doubtful I'll see another Labour government in my lifetime," former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who is 74 years old, told the BBC's Panorama programme on Monday. - A political Somme - Smith has accused his rival Corbyn of aiding an infiltration of the party by radical leftists, particularly through the new Momentum movement. "There is nothing comradely about setting up a party within a party, still less in trying to use our movement as a host body, seeking to occupy it, hollow it out, until it's outlived its usefulness when you throw it aside like a dead husk," he said. Some Labour lawmakers have said they are thinking about creating a new centre-left party although analysts say most will do everything to avoid this. "There has been one example really, the SDP, and that didn't end well," said Fielding, referring to the creation of the Social Democratic Party in 1981. Corbyn has said he wants to heal the party but that prospect appears unlikely after a summer of venom. "It's the political equivalent of the Somme... an ongoing battle which never really achieved anything, just the death of the participants," Fielding said. "There will be no victor in the short term apart from the Conservatives, of course, who are laughing all the way to the next election," he said. London (AFP) - Jeremy Corbyn's year in charge of the Labour Party has been marked by a string of controversies ranging from Brexit and the national anthem to a row with billionaire businessman Richard Branson. Here are some of his highest-profile squabbles as Corbyn prepares for an expected triumph at the party's annual conference on Saturday against a leadership challenge backed by rebellious Labour MPs. - National anthem 'snub' - On September 15, 2015, three days after being elected party chief, Corbyn hit the headlines for refusing to sing the national anthem "God Save the Queen" at a World War II commemoration event. Tabloid newspapers let loose on the new socialist leader. The Sun ran with headline "Corb snubs Queen", while the Daily Star splashed "Corby a zero: Leftie refuses to sing national anthem" on its front page. Speculation mounted as to whether long-time republican Corbyn would join the Privy Council, an elite group that advises Queen Elizabeth II, and which usually counts the opposition leader as a member. It wasn't until November that it emerged Corbyn had joined the council, but the Guardian reported he had avoided kneeling before the queen while taking the oath, a tradition dating back to Tudor times. - No to nukes - The decision whether to renew Britain's fleet of Trident nuclear submarines soon exposed rifts between Corbyn -- a veteran pacifist -- and many of his MPs. The party leader insisted he would "never" push the nuclear button if elected prime minister, causing "great concern" to Chief of Defence Staff Nicholas Houghton, who warned such a stance "completely undermined" the point of a nuclear deterrent. Parliament in July overwhelmingly voted to replace the ageing submarines that carry the arsenal, shortly after Prime Minister Theresa May came to power. - Brexit blame - Corbyn's lacklustre performance in campaigning to keep Britain in the European Union -- the party's official position -- raised questions over his true loyalties and broke the uneasy truce between Labour's leadership and its MPs. Story continues Many within the party questioned whether their leader, who spoke out against EU free-trade policies for decades, was actually in favour of Brexit and partly blamed him for the fact that 37 percent of Labour supporters voted to leave the union. Former minister Peter Mandelson accused him of "sabotaging" Labour's campaign to stay in the bloc, claims that weren't helped when Corbyn's brother was seen at a pro-Brexit party on the night of the vote. Following the June 23 referendum, parliamentarians immediately launched a no-confidence vote against their leader, which passed with around 80 percent support. - Israel-IS comparison - A week after the EU referendum, Corbyn invited further criticism by drawing equivalence between Israel and "so-called Islamic states", interpreted by some as a reference to the Islamic State jihadist group. The Labour leader hoped to quash claims that the party had a problem with anti-Semitism by commissioning an independent report, but caused further upset with the comments made at its launch. "Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu government that our Muslim friends are for so-called Islamic states or organisations," he said. Britain's chief rabbi immediately called the remarks "offensive", while a Jewish Labour MP left the presentation in tears after being singled out for sharp criticism by a guest speaker as Corbyn watched. - The 11:11 train mystery - Last month Corbyn, as long-time campaigner for railway re-nationalisation, recorded a video sat on the floor of the 11:11 Virgin Trains service from London to Newcastle, claiming there were no seats on the "ram-packed" carriages. "Passengers across Britain will have been in similar situations on overcrowded, expensive trains," he said, blaming the current system. But the plot thickened when billionaire businessman Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Trains, released CCTV footage apparently showing Corbyn walking past several unoccupied seats before setting up camp on the floor. The Labour leader was initially unavailable for comment, his team revealing he was busy "making jam" at home, but later said he was forced to sit on the floor as he was unable to find two neighbouring seats for him and his wife. Political journalists dubbed it "Traingate". By Alex Whiting ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A drive to give six million severely malnourished children life-saving treatment every year by 2020 twice the current number will only succeed if governments prioritize it alongside other killers and treatment costs are cut, hunger experts said on Thursday. The number of children treated for severe hunger has plateaued at just over 3 million in recent years, comprising a fraction of the 16 million who need it, the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said. "Severe acute malnutrition is a silent emergency," said Diane Holland, senior nutrition advisor at UNICEF in New York. "Greater advocacy around the issue is essential, so that governments, companies and civil society organizations mobilize and make treatment ... a priority," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. A child suffering from severe hunger is up to nine times more likely to die from malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea, according to Saul Guerrero, director of nutrition for Action Against Hunger UK. "The performance and impact of absolutely every intervention worldwide addressing malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea will be significantly enhanced if the children ... are simultaneously treated for severe acute malnutrition," he said from New York. UNICEF and Action Against Hunger are part of a coalition which aims to double the numbers of children treated for extreme hunger. No Wasted Lives also includes the European Union, UK government and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. Two thirds of children who are severely malnourished are in Asia, and a third in Africa. The majority of cases are in countries where there is no hunger emergency, UNICEF said. Severe acute malnutrition is treated with a paste of peanuts and dried milk, which costs between $150 and $200 a child, but to boost the number of children on treatment, that price tag needs to drop to less than $100 per child, the coalition said. Many of the treatments are made in Europe and north America. So producing more treatments in countries where they are needed, finding cheaper but equally effective ingredients - perhaps chickpeas or sesame seeds - would help cut costs, Guerrero said. Children also need treatment nearer home - at the moment many have to be taken long distances to a health clinic. The coalition is proposing that community health workers who treat malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea, are also trained in treating severe hunger. No Wasted Lives was launched in New York on Tuesday. A high-level U.N. meeting on how to end hunger by 2030, is taking place in New York on Thursday. (Reporting by Alex Whiting, Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) Nearly three decades after the wealthy Menendez brothers' crimes captivated the nation, a new documentary is casting a spotlight on their grisly killings once again. "Snapped: Notorious - The Menendez Brothers," which airs October 2, delves into the infamous case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents at their $4 million Beverly Hills mansion. Read: America's Most Notorious Killers Now, more than 20 years after their convictions, the documentary suggests a new California law, which concerns the testimony of sexual assault victims, could bring the case to light again. Erik was just 18 and Lyle was 21 when they gunned down their parents, Jose and Kitty, inside their Beverly Hills mansion on August 20, 1989. For seven months after the killings, the duo spent their parents' money lavishly. They bought expensive watches and cars, dined at the city's finest restaurants and stayed in posh hotels. Their spending aroused suspicion of investigators, but it was Erik's full confession to a psychotherapist that ultimately led to their arrests. When their first trial was broadcast on Court TV in 1993, it became one of the most-watched trials in television history. During the trial, the defense said the brothers killed their parents after years of sexual, emotional and physical abuse. The jury deadlocked, making way for a retrial. In the second trial, which was not broadcast, the judge did not permit defense witnesses to argue the brothers had been sexually abused. Read: Mom Attacked by 2 Sons Begs for Help in Chilling 911 Call: 'My Children Are Trying to Kill Me' They were convicted of two counts each of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In 1996, they were sentenced to life in prison without parole. The new documentary revisits the brothers' entitled upbringing and family life. It takes another look at the case using original recordings and through interviews with former Beverly Hills Police Captain and murder scene investigator Russ Olson. Friends of the brothers, as well as Erik's former girlfriend, Tracey McEnaney, also give an insight into the killers' minds. Story continues Watch the trailer for the documentary above. The two-hour special, Snapped: Notorious - The Menendez Brothers premieres on Oxygen Media on Sunday, October 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Watch: Could JonBenet's Brother Have the Key to Finding Her Killer? Related Articles: The first debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton may be the most anticipated in American history, with a worldwide audience expected for Monday night's faceoff to surpass 100 million viewers. Read: Only in America: Don King Spews N-Word in Bizarre Speech as Trump Smiles CNN's media correspondent Brian Stelter told Inside Edition: Every single American who is home on Monday night is going to be watching this debate. It is going to be the Super Bowl of politics." Ahead of the debate at Hofstra University on Long Island, Hillary Clinton is said to be hunkered down at her home in Chappaqua, New York, with a team of advisers helping her prepare for the event that could change the outcome of the presidential race. There's even chatter that she's hired a psychologist to advise her on how best to rattle Trump. Dr. Bart Rossi, a political psychologist, said: "I think the psychology here would be to hit him on his business failures, bankruptcies and other failures." Stelter said Trump knows how to "create a show, create a scene that everyone is going to be talking about. Clinton has to practice for that as well as his policy positions." Clinton is said to be using stand-ins who play the role of her opponent, speaking and putting on a performance just like the bombastic Donald Trump. Political pundit James Carville is reportedly playing Trump and billionaire businessman Mark Cuban has offered his services but was reportedly turned down. Comedian Jon Stewart and actor Alec Baldwin have also been mentioned as surrogates for the GOP presidential candidate. "One of the hardest things about debate prep is finding someone who can stand there against the candidate and attack them," Stelter said. "It is incredibly hard this year because Donald Trump is an incredibly unusual candidate." Read: Michelle Obama Responds to Melania Trump's Plagiarism, Says She Has 'No Sympathy' for Political Spouses On Trump's side, daughter Ivanka may take a turn playing Clinton. Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham is another stand-in possibility. Story continues This gladiator battle is the show we have been waiting for all year," Stelter said. Watch: Trump Doubles Down on Need for Profiling After Bombings: 'We Have No Choice' Related Articles: How's this for commitment? Courteney Cox's longtime boyfriend, Snow Patrol frontman Johnny McDaid, recently got the actress' initials tattooed on the inside of his wrist, and proudly showed off his new ink on Instagram. "Ta-two," McDaid captioned the post on Wednesday, which also showed Cox adorably cuddling next to him. Ta-two. A photo posted by Johnny McDaid (@jmd_snowpatrol) on Sep 21, 2016 at 10:35am PDT WATCH: Courteney Cox Opens Up About 'Brutal' Breakup With Johnny McDaid and Criticism About Her Appearance From the looks of it, 52-year-old Cox and 40-year-old McDaid are stronger than ever after calling off their year-and-a-half engagement last December. The two had been dating since late 2013 and got engaged in June 2014. By April, the two were back on, as evidenced by the couple sharing a steamy smooch in London. Last month, the former Friends star opened up about their "brutal" breakup during her appearance on NBC's Running Wild With Bear Grylls. "I definitely have learned a lot, and no matter what, I will be a better person from that breakup, even though it was so brutal," Cox admitted. "There's something about you know, he's from Ireland. And the way he regards love is precious. We have to treat it in a different way. It's more special. You coddle it." "It's just everything's new," Cox added about how their relationship has changed the second time around. "And we have both really worked on ourselves on the parts that needed the most attention. And it feels really different." WATCH: Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox Play 'Friends' Trivia Game, Completely Slay Interestingly enough, Cox's bestie, 47-year-old Jennifer Aniston, has also found herself in the headlines this week due to her love life -- specifically, her relationship with Brad Pitt, who recently split from his wife of two years, Angelina Jolie. Story continues Watch the video below to revisit Aniston's comments on Pitt over the years, who famously began dating Jolie after meeting on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and shortly after Aniston filed for divorce in 2005. Related Articles And Grab's grisly ad sparks furor in Indonesia. Greater focus on Indian markets and less on China caused Singapore-based hedge funds to outperform Asian peers in from January to July this year, according to data provider Eurekahedge Pte. Funds headquartered in Singapore returned 2% through July. Read more here. RedMart, an online grocer backed by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, is looking at selling the grocer in the face of intensifying market competition. The company has reached out to potential buyers including Singapore supermarket chain NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd. to gauge their interest. Read more here. Singapore-based Grab pulled an online video advertisement in Indonesia that features a blood-covered woman. Mediko Azwar, marketing director for Grab Indonesia, said the firm had hoped the video would be "thought-provoking." Read more here. More From Singapore Business Review And why local home prices are still uninspiring. Singapore scored highest in HSBCs 2016 Expat Explorer survey, taking the top spot for a second year. New Zealand took the crown in the experience subcategory, while Switzerland dominated in economic terms and Sweden won on childcare. Some 27,000 people participated in the annual poll. Read more here. Singapore-based hedge funds outperformed Asian rivals during the first seven months of the year thanks to a greater focus on India and global markets, according to data provider Eurekahedge Pte. Read more here. Singapores housing market is still weak, with house prices falling 2.94 percent during the year to the second quarter of 2016, revealed a report from Global Property Guide. But demand is now stronger, with 2,256 new units sold in Q2, up 59 percent from the previous quarter and 6.6 percent higher than a year ago, data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) shows. Read more here. More From Singapore Business Review The Bombay High Court today rapped the civic authorities for the "deplorable" state of rivers in the city. Tonnes of sewage have been dumped in the Mithi river in the past few years. (Photo: PTI) By Vidya : With dengue and chikungunya epidemic spreading across the country, the Bombay High Court today rapped the civic authorities for the "deplorable" state of rivers in the city, which leads to drainage issues and waterlogging during monsoon. As a result, "viral diseases like dengue and chikungunya are on the rise", the court said. The court further directed the civic authorities to consider the recommendations made in a National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) report and implement those on a war footing. advertisement TAKE STEPS TO TACKLE WATERLOGGING A division bench headed by Justice VM Kanade was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Atal Dubey. The petition sought departments concerned to take necessary steps to tackle drainage problems and waterlogging in the city during monsoon. ALSO READ: Sri Sri Ravishankar's AOL pays compensation for damaging Yamuna floodplains The petitioners informed the court that following the July 2005 deluge, civic authorities had carried out dredging and rock excavation at the Mithi river. However, in the past few years, several tonnes of sewage have been dumped in the river on a daily basis, says a NEERI report. The petitioner informed the court that the depth of the Mithi river, which was originally 16 feet, is now less than 7 feet. 'A DANGEROUS SITUATION' At this point, Justice Kanade observed that "this is a dangerous situation... if this is true... all concerned authorities have to sit together and find a solution". "This is not the time to fight over jurisdiction. It is a matter of serious concern," the Justice said. The court said that because the civic authorities are not complying with the mandatory provisions of treating sewage before dumping them, the rivers in Mumbai are in a "deplorable" state. "This leads to drainage issues and waterlogging and then viral diseases like dengue and chikungunya are on the rise," Justice Kanade said. ALSO READ: Delhi govt lifeguards dive into toxic Yamuna without body suits, oxygen masks The bench has directed the Bombay municipal corporation and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to take immediate measures to check the trend. The court also directed the authorities to consider the recommendations made in the NEERI report and implement those on a war-footing basis. The petition has been posted for a further hearing on October 5. ALSO READ: Yamuna polluted beyond control: Even its treated water can kill you --- ENDS --- From Esquire The Trump campaign is deeply tied to conspiracy theories. The movement's fearless leader made his name in politics by disputing the first black president's citizenship-something that flared up again this week-and attracted the Alex Jones crowd in the process. First they wanted the birth certificate; then they wanted the "long-form" version; and now, it seems, only a non-family witness to Barack Obama's birth will convince them that he's a red-blooded American. At least, that's according to one of the smiling loons The Daily Show's Jordan Klepper found at a Trump rally recently. .@JordanKlepper goes to a Trump rally to uncover the hottest new conspiracy theories around Hillary Clinton and President Obama. pic.twitter.com/uV4W23xIIr - The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 21, 2016 Actual voters believe that: -Hillary has AIDS, which she got from Bill, who got it from "messing around with that Magic Johnson." -Hillary has a stunt double. -Obama "acts like a Muslim. He talks like a Muslim. He also does the Muslim principles as far as jewelry is concerned." Something spiraled out of control here, an unleashing of the hateful, paranoid id at the expense of logic, reason, and common decency. Obviously some of these people were just dumb, like the guy who wanted to "get to the bottom" of why Obama wasn't in the Oval Office on 9/11. (Hint: It may have been because he was an Illinois state senator at the time.) But there was more at play here. It was a reckless and gleeful disregard for facts, evidence, and truth. "Obama's a Muslim, he's a terrorist, and nobody will ever tell me different," said one woman, smiling wildly. What a way to go through life: My president is a terrorist, and no information disproving that will affect my belief that he is a terrorist. Story continues Klepper demonstrated how the phenomenon works. The exercise of showing people the exact same photo of Hillary Clinton side-by-side was particularly instructive, as you can see the conspiracy being crafted in real time. The scar was different on her neck; she looked younger. People simply saw what they want to see, then started molding it to meet a conclusion they decided on years ago. Klepper even tried to spell it out to the supporter: "Don't you feel like if you look at something long enough, and you kind of have a paranoid mind, eventually you'll find a difference and make a big deal of it?" The man agreed, but still didn't seem to realize what's going on. The dark heart of birtherism ran through it all. People threw out wild accusations about the president-which, as they readily admitted, they have no evidence for-some of which were totally incongruous. The only thing uniting the claims was that they made Obama something Other Than Us. Whenever Klepper used their logic against them, their brains short-circuited. You Might Also Like Convicted California serial killer Rodney Alcala was charged with murder Tuesday in the cold case slaying of a Wyoming woman nearly four decades ago. Alcala, a former photographer and typesetter for the Los Angeles Times, was previously convicted of the strangulation murder of a 12-year-old ballet student in Huntington Beach, California, as well as four Los Angeles-area women. He was nicknamed the "Dating Game Killer" because he was the winning contestant on the ABC prime-time game show in 1978 during his reign of terror. A smooth talker with a near-genius IQ, Alcala preyed on young attractive women, luring some of them by telling them he was a professional photographer who wanted to enter their pictures in a photography contest. After killing them, Alcala placed their bodies in grotesque poses, sometimes photographing them. On Tuesday, prosecutors said Alcala is responsible for the murder of 28-year-old Texas native Christine Ruth Thornton. Alcala met Thornton in San Antonio around August 1977 and then allegedly dumped her body on a ranch in Granger, Wyoming. She was strangled to death. "All of this was before the 1978 appearance on The Dating Game," Sweetwater County and Prosecuting Attorney Danny Erramouspe tells PEOPLE. "I think the last thing he would have guessed is that somewhere up in Wyoming a case like this would be solved." A rancher found Thornton's body in a field in 1982, but her identity remained a mystery for more than three decades. She was finally identified in 2014 after DNA linked her to her sister. "Fortunately Ms. Thornton's sisters had provided their DNA to the CODIS system and they were able to get an identification because her sisters never gave up looking for her," says Erramouspe. "If it wasn't for Christine's family continuing to look for her ... we wouldn't be here. " 'Dating Game Killer' Rodney Alcala Charged with 30-Year-Old Wyoming Cold Case Murder| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime " Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Erramouspe says Thornton's family recognized a photo of her at six-months pregnant sitting on top of a Kawasaki motorcycle wearing a yellow top: Thornton's photo was one of hundreds released by the Huntington Beach Police Department in 2010 after Alcala was sentenced to death. The photos were found in a Seattle storage locker owned by the convicted serial killer. Erramouspe says he and the police have no doubt that Alcala took the photo in Wyoming in August during his cross-country road trip from New York to Los Angeles. "The area is very distinct," he says, adding, "The photo was taken very close to where her remains were found." He says, "The clothing that she is wearing in the picture is the clothing that were with her remains. The jewelry that was on her hand in the picture is the jewelry that was there with the remains. She was pregnant when the picture was taken and with her body was the remains of the unborn child as well." On Sept. 6, Wyoming authorities flew to California State Prison in Corcoran where Alcala has been housed since receiving a pacemaker in 2015. "We were able to speak to him and he was able to answer some of our questions," says Erramouspe. "He admitted he took her picture. He admitted that he knew her. He said they did not leave together. When I questioned him "Was she alive when you left?" he stated, 'She was alive before I left.'" Erramouspe says they gave Alcala an aerial photo of the area and he told them, "This is my area." "We asked what he meant by that and he stated, 'I have been here before,' " Erramouspe says. Erramouspe says Alcala was "somewhat cooperative" during the interview. "I think he enjoys the process of the questioning, but he is not going to give you everything you want" In 1980, Alcala was sentenced to death for the murder of Robin Samsoe, who disappeared on her way to ballet class riding a yellow bicycle. But his conviction was overturned twice on different technicalities before he was finally sentenced to death for her murder and the 1970s rapes and murders of Georgia Wixted, Jill Parenteau, Charlotte Lamb, and 18-year-old New York runaway Jill Barcomb, all of them in Los Angeles. While on California's death row, Alcala pleaded guilty in New York in 2012 to the rape and murder of Cornelia Crilley and Manhattan socialite Ellen Jane Hover. Crilley, a TWA flight attendant, was found raped and strangled with her own pantyhose in her apartment on New York City's Upper East Side on June 24, 1971. At the time of her murder, Alcala was wanted for the rape and attempted murder of an 8-year-old girl in Hollywood, for which he was later convicted. Hover's skeletal remains were discovered in 1978 on the Rockefeller estate in Westchester County, New York. Former Los Angeles Police Department cold case detective Cliff Shepard tells PEOPLE that the charges in the Wyoming homicide don't surprise him. "I am sure there are other victims out there," he says. When people say David Ortiz is going out in style, they really mean it. And not just because of all the home runs. The final weeks of David Ortizs MLB career are here, and like the man himself, theyll come with a special bit of flair and heart. Ortiz has partnered with Teespring to release a limited-edition retirement T-shirt that looks cool and will raise money for the David Ortiz Children Fund. And get this, it was designed by Ortizs daughter Alex fitting for a guy nicknamed Big Papi, right? Were giving you the first look at it, right here at Yahoo Sports: David Ortiz's daughter designed his exclusive T-shirt for her dad's retirement. (Teespring) Retired But Not Expired. That fits him and his amazing farewell season to a T. These are on sale as of 10 a.m. Thursday exclusively at Teespring, but only for a limited time. Sales stop Oct. 6. Want more from the world of Big Papi fashion? In addition to these shirts, Boston-based shoe company New Balance has designed custom cleats for his final games to help him walk off with a bit more style. Hell wear a different pair in each of his final series. The cleats get inspiration from the opposing cities. In the Yankees series, for instance, hell wear cleats inspired by a New York City yellow taxi. For the series with the Baltimore Orioles that the Red Sox just finished, Ortiz wore orange/black/white cleats with a crab on them. The Toronto-inspired cleats have a maple leaf on the back. And the cleats for his final home game at Fenway Park have Walk Off across the back, Ortiz on the tongue and they list all of his walk-off homers on the toe. The Boston-inspired cleats from New Balance. (New Balance) The Boston cleats and sneakers shown in Fenway Park. (New Balance) Big Papi's Baltimore-inspired cleats have crabs on 'em. (New Balance) These Toronto-inspired cleats feature the city's skyline. (New Balance) Hello, Maple Leaf. (New Balance) Yep, that's a shark on the Tampa-inspired Ortiz kicks. (New Balance) The NYC cleats feature the Statue of Liberty on the back. (New Balance) New York City = taxi cabs. (New Balance) Each pairs of cleats also has a sneaker created to match it, with limited editions available to the public. (Hint, the Toronto-inspired ones are flames). Get more details on New Balances site. More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Senior healthcare organisations forecast to take up 40%. Demand for medical malpractice insurance by senior healthcare organisations in Singapore is forecast to grow by 40 per cent over the next five years, according to AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd. ('AIG Singapore'). Driving this demand is the number of residents aged over 65 years here, which is expected to double from 440,000 to 900,000 by 2030[1], as well as rising incidents of chronic and complex conditions. These factors are putting the healthcare system under pressure, potentially increasing the risk of medical errors. Similarly, the take-up rate for malpractice insurance for general healthcare institutions is projected to increase by 25 per cent in the next five years. A survey undertaken by AIG in Asia[2] revealed that the top concerns for Singapore healthcare organisations and their patients include inadequate patient handovers between caregivers, failure to correctly conduct independent double checks, and medication prescription errors as more patients get treated by multiple public and private health care professionals. These risk areas align with complaints received by the Singapore Medical Council in 2015[3]. Out of 141 complaints, one of the most common causes was professional negligence or incompetence which accounted for 28 per cent of complaints. AIGs Head of Casualty Risk Consulting Healthcare, Dr Aileen Killen, said AIG Singapore has seen a 300 per cent increase in medical malpractice insurance enquiries in the last year by both healthcare institutions and professionals, with a significant proportion from senior healthcare organisations. While hospitals and healthcare professionals have no legal obligation to insure themselves, we are seeing a strong rise in demand for medical malpractice insurance due to the increased pressures on medical staff driven by factors such as an ageing population. Dr Killen added, There is a need to proactively address the risks that can arise from these pressures and for healthcare organisations to build preventive solutions into their systems. This ensures that healthcare professionals are better equipped to proactively manage risk instead of reacting to issues after the fact. In this way, healthcare organisations can keep their staff safe, and this has a major positive impact on patient outcomes and safety. Research has found that there is a direct correlation between workplace safety culture scores and higher burnout rates. Aggressive patients, falls caused by unstable patients, and injuries from lifting patients are all risk areas for healthcare workers. Creating a safety culture begins with the well-being of healthcare professionals. It is vital to ensure adequate support for these workers for a coordinated approach to patient safety, which will ultimately create a safer environment for both patients and workers, said Dr Killen. More From Singapore Business Review (Repeats to additional clients) COPENHAGEN, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Danish shipping and oil conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday it will separate its businesses into separate transport and energy divisions in a bid to better tackle the problems facing its struggling businesses. The focus will be on establishing an integrated transport and logistics company, while its oil and oil-related business will either individually or in combination be separated from the company, Maersk said. The 112-year-old group said in June it had asked new chief executive Soren Skou to look into potentially breaking up the group, whose shipping and energy operations are both struggling. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; editing by Jason Neely) By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Rocked by low freight and oil prices, Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk will split itself up and focus on transport and logistics while seeking a way out of energy in a keenly anticipated revamp aimed at reviving its fortunes. The 112-year-old conglomerate will focus on its core businesses, comprising Maersk Line, APM Terminals, Damco, Svitzer and Maersk Container Industry, while seeking "solutions" for its smaller energy operations. Investors gave the news a cautious welcome, with Maersk shares trading slightly higher on Thursday. But some said the $30 billion company had not gone far enough. "It might be one of the most pain-free solutions relative to other scenarios, but they could have gone even further, Nykredit analyst Ricky Rasmussen said on Thursday. The weak market has hit the big lines which have invested heavily in "mega-ships", largely to operate the main Asia to Europe trade route. Industry sources have questioned whether there is enough work for the biggest container vessels on the high seas at the moment, putting more pressure on profits. "Separating our transport and logistics businesses and our oil and oil related businesses...will enable both to focus on their respective markets. Both face very different underlying fundamentals and competitive environments," Chairman Michael Pram Rasmussen said in a statement. Maersk said it would look for solutions for its oil and oil-related businesses, which are to be split from the main company either individually or in combination "in the form of joint-ventures, mergers or listing". The company gave no details on how far this process had already progressed or whether it was already talking to any possible partners, but said it would be done within 24 months. Maersk Drilling boss Claus V. Hemmingsen will lead Maersk's energy division through the change and serve as vice CEO of the group, beginning on Oct. 1. "Maersk Oil...is a small player, so there are many players big enough to take (it) in. Drilling is relatively large, but its competitors are under extreme financial pressure, so it's less likely to find an sale opportunity there," Morten Imsgard, an analyst at Denmark's Sydbank, said. Story continues CONGLOMERATE DISCOUNT Maersk will hope that by splitting up it can shed any conglomerate discount by allowing markets to value its businesses individually. The group, controlled by the Maersk family, was founded in 1904 by A.P. Moller and was turned into a conglomerate operating in 130 countries by his son, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, who had an active role in the company until he died in 2012 aged 98. Sydbank estimates the new transport and logistic division could be worth 174-229 billion Danish crowns ($26-$35 billion), while the energy division could be valued at 74-153 billion Danish crowns ($11-$23 billion). Driven by the container shipping downturn and a slump in oil prices, A.P. Moller-Maersk group's chief executive Nils Smedegaard Andersen left in June and Soren Skou, head of Maersk Line, was named group chief executive. The company has also appointed a new group chief financial officer, Jakob Stausholm, effective Dec. 1. The world's biggest container shipping business and its competitors are suffering from record low freight rates as growth in global trade has failed to keep pace with a big expansion in shipping fleets. South Korea's Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd, the world's seventh largest container carrier, filed for court receivership in late August and has grappled for funds to allow it to unload an estimated $14 billion in cargo stranded on its ships. Meanwhile, Maersk's oil business is struggling with a 60 percent drop in crude prices since mid-2014 and in August, the group posted a second-quarter net profit of $101 million, well below the $196 million expected by analysts. Otto Friedrichsen, equity strategist at Danish asset manager Formuepleje, with around 45 billion Danish crowns allocated in bonds and equities, has shunned the shipping industry including Maersk, and was sceptical about the split. "I still want to see changes in the underlying markets and don't see this as creating any value here and now." Maersk shares have risen more than 20 percent since June in anticipation of the strategic review and at 1026 GMT, they were trading 0.9 percent higher at 9,990 crowns. Some said Maersk had done as much as it could given market conditions. "It was as far as Maersk could go right now, because they could not have a ready-made solution for the energy division in these markets, if they also want to realize a decent price for the assets," Sydbank's Imsgard said. ($1 = 6.6351 Danish crowns) (Additional reporting by Annabella Pultz Nielsen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard in Copenhagen and Jonathan Saul in London,; Editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith) By PTI: faculty in IIMs New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Amid a raging debate on the issue of reservation for faculty in the IIMs, HRD ministry has said that constitutional provisions are supreme, apparently indicating these management schools should also enforce them. "Everyone is aware of the provisions in the Constitution on this issue. The Constitutional provisions are supreme," a senior HRD ministry functionary said when asked about the issue of reservation in faculty positions in IIMs. advertisement It is learnt that some of the IIMs, especially the older ones like at Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Chennai do not strictly provide quotas in teaching faculty. "As per a DoPT circular, some technical institutions have been exempted from providing reservation. Some of the IIMs have also been citing the circular," a source said. Sources said that as far as HRD ministry is concerned, there is a view that the constitutional provisions should be held supreme adding that provisions for reservation are there in the Constitution. It is learnt that there are enabling provisions for providing reservation in the draft IIM Bill, which the ministry intends to bring in the Parliament soon. PTI ADS ZMN --- ENDS --- In the wake of calamity, Designated Survivor Tom Kirkman got sworn in as the unlikely President of the United States this Wednesday night. Does ABCs new D.C.-set drama get your vote? RELATEDKiefer Sutherlands New Designated Survivor Blends West Wing, House of Cards, Homeland Dez (as I am choosing to call it around the office) stars 24 alum Kiefer Sutherland as the aforementioned Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who was on the verge of being demoted to the Chairman of the International House of Pancakes (or the like) when the President and his entire Cabinet are killed in a bombing of the Capitol. Kirkman learns of his DESIGNATED SURVIVOR incredible ascension while being whisked from the place he was quietly watching the State of the Union to the White House, where he meets with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get the 411 on the attack which, right now, is zero. Kirkman suffers expected jitters, as witnessed by speechwriter Seth Wright (Houses Kal Penn), who unwittingly speaks for the many in expressing massive doubts about the new POTUS. Still, Kirkman is all theyve got for right now, so hell do the best he can do. Kirkman has a wife, Alex (Californications Natascha McElhone), who is an attorney; a son, Leo (Tanner Buchanan), who after going missing is eventually tracked down at a dance club, where he was peddling drugs, by Secret Service agent Mike Ritter (The Last Ships LaMonica Garrett); and an adorable moppet of a daughter, named Penny (McKenna Grace). RELATEDDesignated Survivor: Virginia Madsen Joins ABCs Kiefer Sutherland Drama Meanwhile at DESIGNATED SURVIVOR the bombing site, we meet FBI analyst Hannah Wells (Nikitas Maggie Q) and the investigations lead agent, Jason Atwood (Malik Yoba). (Thank your lucky stars the revised pilot scrapped Hannahs comically bad blind date.) Theres little for the FBI to go on at first, until the search team uncovers a dud bomb that failed to detonate. Maybe its mechanics/materials will offer a clue? Hannah meanwhile cannot help but notice that there has been no chatter, no bragging or chest-puffing, on the dark web, where terrorists are typically happy to lay claim to an attack. That, to her, suggests that whomever was behind the Capitol bombing is not done. Story continues Ultimately, Kirkman is informed by JCS Deputy Chairman Cochrane that Iranian destroyers appear to be moving to cut off the channel through which a bulk of the worlds oil supply travels. Kirkman allows Cochrane to get some jets in the air, but before declaring war he takes a meeting with the ambassador to Iran. Borrowing a suit from a staffer, the President assures the ambassador that he is as straight a shooter as you will find in D.C., so he means it when he says that unless Iran pulls back its destroyers, the morning headlines wont be about the United States Capitol being destroyed. The ambassador, having claimed no awareness of his countrys military aggression, agrees to make sure the destroyers are docked within three hours. RELATEDDesignated Survivor Adds 24 Alum Mykelti Williamson His first eighth of a day or so on the job done, Kirkman then sits himself down before the television cameras and doffs his horn-rimmed glasses, bracing to addresses the nation for the first time as POTUS, to be the Presidential voice they need to hear during this horrible time. What did you think of Dez? And just for fun, Ive embedded below the poll The West Wings designated survivor scene: Related stories Quantico Premiere Video: Ryan's Going to Propose?! Plus, 6 Pieces of Intel That'll Help You Infiltrate Season 2 Once Upon a Time Sneak Peek: Emma, Regina and Snow Take on Mr. Hyde How to Get Away With Murder Season 3 Premiere Recap: Burning Sensation Photos: ABC No, this is not The President Jack Bauer Show (though we feel its important to reiterate that if anyone can make that series happen any time in the future, it is a show we would so watch). But ABCs Designated Survivor, in which Kiefer Sutherland trades in his terrorist-thwarting CTU badge to play a (hopefully) terrorist-thwarting President of the United States, is promising, too. In Wednesdays series premiere, we meet Tom Kirkman (Sutherland), a mild-mannered Cabinet member whos just been told hes being relieved of his duties as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, but rewarded with the new position of Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (a real thing, by the way). In Montreal. A place which his attorney wife Alex (Natascha McElhone) does not want to relocate their family, who has spent three years getting used to living in D.C. The cherry on top of Toms crappy day: its State of the Union address night, and not only has the President cut any mention of his housing initiatives from the speech (for reasons that became obvious after his promotion), hes also been chosen as the designated survivor (a real thing), which means he gets locked away in a secure location and called into duty as acting POTUS should the current POTUS, Cabinet, Congress, etc. be killed all at once. Related: Ken Tucker Reviews Designated Survivor Which is exactly what happens. Just three minutes into the action-packed pilot if there are any comparisons to 24 to be made, its that the pace of the premiere is so swift that it doesnt feel like its an hour-long episode Tom and his wife are noshing on popcorn and beer in the secret room, when his security detail, Mike (LaMonica Garrett), bursts in to whisk them away. The TV goes out, and as chaos ensues, Tom looks out the window and sees the U.S. Capitol explode. He and Alex are in a car with Mike when they get confirmation that no one, including the President, survived. Sir, you are now the President of the United States, Mike tells Tom, as he drives the Kirkmans to the White House so Tom can be sworn in. What works: Tom Kirkman is not Jack Bauer, but hes not Donald Trump, either. Or Hillary Clinton, if that better suits your political leanings. By which we mean, he doesnt have a polarizing personality, and hes a fairly inexperienced politician. We learn hes spent most of his life in academia, not politics. And part of the reason hes axed from the HUD gig is because he refused to play, well, politics, during his short time in D.C. Theres an endearing everyman-ness to Tom, right down to the fact that he wears doofy glasses and is sworn in as POTUS wearing jeans and a Cornell hoodie (previously, Cornells best known TV land alum was The Offices Andy Bernard). Tom takes very seriously the unbelievable situation he finds himself in, so much so that when the full weight of it hits him for the first time, he locks himself in a bathroom stall and hurls. But he also takes the weight on his shoulders, and instead suits up literally. In the middle of the crisis, he swaps his hoodie for a smart suit and tie, so he can take an important meeting with the Iranian ambassador. Leading to one of the pilots best moments Pushy General Cochrane is trying to make an end run around Prez Tom, who he clearly does not respect. The Iranians are trying to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, Cochrane says, taking advantage of U.S. vulnerability after the attack. Just as were on our knees, theyre going to step on our throats, Cochrane says. But Tom is trying to keep cool and prevent World War III. He points out that the Iranians have been trying to do this for years, so no assumption should be made about the timing of their move now. But when Tom meets with the Iranian ambassador, hes polite, calm, and firm in his insistence that Iran removes its destroyers from Hormuz, in the next three hours. Im about as straight a shooter as youre gonna find in D.C., Tom tells him. Dock your destroyers, or the lead story on the morning news will not be about the attack on our capital, but the devastating attack on yours. What needs work: Pilots are tough in terms of how deeply you can dive into any characters backstory. We learn enough about Tom to want to know more, and to be excited about the possibilities of seeing his character act as the leader of the free world, under the most challenging circumstances possible. Ditto Adan Canto (The Following) as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Aaron Shore, who at first seems impatient with Tom, but is impressed with how he sees the new president handle the Iranian ambassador, and Kal Penn as speechwriter Seth Wright, who is honest with Tom about doubting the newbie POTUSs abilities to run the country (which, were guessing, will lead to a friendship between the two). But, the lead female characters get precious little fleshing out. New First Lady Alex Kirkman is an attorney who may or may not be working on a big case she tells Tom to wish her luck when she leaves in the morning. And with so little to work with, McElhones performance in the premiere is serviceable, but forgettable. Then theres Maggie Q as FBI agent Hannah Wells. Shes investigating the attack, and theres a hint that someone important to her may have died during the Capitol bombing. She also believes that, because no country or group has taken credit for the bombing, it means whoever is responsible is just getting started. Again, pilot ep, lots of set up, not a lot of time to build on it, but Hannah is clearly going to play a major role in the storyline, and it would have been good to have the chance to know a little something more concrete about her from the beginning. One thing we already feel pretty certain about: the Kirkman kids, specifically teen son Leo, whos pulled out of a nightclub where hes selling drugs by Secret Service agent Mike. Prediction: if Leos going to treat us to a season full of Kim Bauer-like antics, getting himself into avoidable trouble while his dad is trying to save the world, were gonna hunt down that mountain lion that wanted to eat Kim in Season 2. And thats the last 24 reference well make, promise. Our burning questions: What is the shows focus going forward: journey of Tom Kirkmans unexpected presidency? Action-packed terror investigation? Political maneuverings by the many power-hungry Cochrane types who will certainly see Toms inexperience as an opening to take control of the new government themselves? All of the above? What is Hannahs backstory? Whats the history of the relationship between Aaron Shore and Toms former Chief of Staff Emily (Italia Ricci)? Their brief meetup at the White House post-attack hinted that they share a history of some sort And of course, who is behind the attack on the Capitol? And if, as Hannah theorizes, wiping out almost the entire leadership of the federal government is their way of getting started, what are they going to do next? Will you watch Designated Survivor again? Take our poll! Designated Survivor airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC [Warning: This story contains spoilers from Wednesday's series premiere of Designated Survivor.] If you thought Kiefer Sutherland already lived through some very bad days, you don't know jack. The veteran star of 24 returns not only to television, but to the world of high-octane political thrillers, in the form of Designated Survivor, the new ABC series that sees low-level cabinet member Tom Kirkman (Sutherland) thrust into the role of President of the United States after every single person further along in the line of succession dies in a massive terrorist attack during the State of the Union. Tom is presented as an everyman, comfortable sipping a Presidente beer while lounging in his favorite Cornell University hoodie, having cooked an awful breakfast for his family earlier in the day. That everyman is about to face some of the most impossible scenarios to imagine, beginning with how to respond to another nation's apparent escalating aggression - with violence in turn, or with diplomacy. It's only the first of several difficult decisions Tom will have to make as Designated Survivor moves forward. "He goes from a mild-mannered family man, to literally the most important leader in the free world," showrunner Jon Harmon Feldman tells The Hollywood Reporter. "I think what [series creator and pilot writer David Guggenheim] did was create a great arc for this character whose life, in an instant, turns 180 degrees." For a closer look at the series premiere, and a sense of what's ahead, The Hollywood Reporter sat down with showrunner Jon Harmon Feldman to discuss Sutherland's return to television and moving on from Jack Bauer, the once and future Tom Kirkman, and more. Read more: 'Designated Survivor': TV Review Early in the premiere, Tom learns that not only will his initiatives as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development not make the State of the Union speech, but that he's on the cusp of losing his job. How did Tom find himself in this losing situation? Story continues Again, this was all baked into David's script. It's the idea of a guy who is an independent. He's not a member of the party of the President, the party that's in power. He was a low-level, some would say the lowest level, cabinet member, whose own politics as an independent was, to some degree, out of step with the politics of the administration. Even while serving in the administration, he was an outsider. He was excluded from the main center of power. We set up this man who, even in his professional world, is a bit of an outsider and is going to become in a matter of moments the ultimate insider. It's a great juxtaposition of this guy's life, and the massive changes it's undergone in a matter of a few hours. It's pretty clear that Tom is not a political animal. He's an academic at heart. Right. Unlike a lot of politicians who go to Washington seeking power, he's the rare bird who went there seeking change and seeking to help people. What he quickly realized is helping people in Washington is easier said than done. His politics are out of step with the administration, his character to some degree is out of step with the administration, and this contributed to a sense that he's expendable, that he was offered a reassignment. Pejoratively we could say he was fired in the pilot. He's named the designated survivor simply because he's a guy who doesn't matter. He was an after-thought. Tom receives the call that he's not going to attend the State of the Union, and instead has been named designated survivor. Can you share some insight into how this process works, based on your research? Basically, someone is chosen from the party in power, from that presidential administration, to sit out and be in a secure location when the rest of the government is assembled. It's a failsafe that's obviously never been activated, but it's a process I believe was started during the Cold War, and continues to this day. In real life, you can look it up - there are prominent politicians who have been asked to sit out and be the designated survivor. On our show, what's fun about it, is that the person who sits out is someone we posit didn't matter to this administration. Should we be suspicious of Tom's selection as the designated survivor? Why it's him specifically who was placed in this position? That's a great question. I will say that it's a question that will be asked as we get deeper into the show: Why was he chosen? The cabinet and congress are decimated, and Tom is instantly swept up by secret service, brought into a secret bunker, and thrust into action. In terms of the procedural element, how closely does this mirror what would actually happen, as far as your research tells you? David researched that extensively. The script kind of hewed to what David's research and what our researchers and consultants on the show kind of vetted as the most credible way these events would take place. David's script tried to hew as closely toward a real-life situation as possible - should the improbable have ever happened. Tom meets speechwriter Seth Wright, Kal Penn's character, in the bathroom, bonding over their mutual nausea and anxiety over Tom's presidency. Things certainly start on the wrong foot between them, but what can you say about how their relationship will grow? Kal is such a great actor and he brings so much personality and humor to the character of Seth Wright. And White House experience, as well. Exactly. Real-life White House experience. In fact, Kal is one of the consultants on our show, because he actually worked in the White House. We have some great stuff planned for Seth. His stature within the administration will grow, because remember, the bombing claimed over a thousand lives, and now not only must Kirkman step up and fill a role he's never played before, many people must step up and fill roles they've never filled before. Kal will become one of those people as he sees his professional duties expand, and the challenges that face his character grow over the course of the series. Read more: 'Designated Survivor' Team on Launching the Show Amid "Divisive" Political Climate Can you elaborate on that idea a bit more, that this show takes place in the aftermath of this horrific attack? What does the world look like, moving forward? It's a challenge, right? Not only do they have to repopulate the government, they have to get a Senate, they have to repopulate the House, Kirkman's going to need to appoint Supreme Court justices and a new cabinet. They also, simply on a day-to-day level, have to govern. Like we saw after 9/11, for all of the myriad challenges it created for our leaders, they also simply had to govern day-to-day with the events that come across any president's desk. That's the combination that Tom Kirkman and the supporting characters will face: Not only moving forward after arguably the worst, or one of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil, but handling the day-to-day challenges - national and international, personal and political - that any leader and administration must deal with. It's really a twofold challenge, for someone like Tom and his family who are thrust into this position they could have never prepared for or imagined. There's the additional challenge of a man, who was an everyman up until the explosion, suddenly becoming the leader of the free world. There are challenges he faces, and every character on our show faces on every level. Tom is faced with a choice between acting with violence toward Iran, or leaning on diplomacy. He goes with diplomacy, meeting with the Iranian ambassador minutes before giving his first address to the nation. What does Tom's first real act as President reveal to us about his leadership style? Tom Kirkman, and this is something Kiefer inhabits beautifully, is an everyman - but under pressure, you see him rise to the occasion. There's the old saying about how pressure makes diamonds, and I think he's never been tested in this way, but what he's going to do is step up and handle them, much to his own surprise and much to the surprise of people around him. As the series goes on, he'll be able to step up and handle situations, but he will also lose in other situations. I think there will be a sense of forward growth, but losses along the way. That's one of the fun things about writing this character and one of the great things Kiefer inhabits. He brings the everyman quality, but also the sense of a man who can rise to the challenge when necessary. Let's turn toward the enemies lurking in the shadows here. How much will the show focus on this "whodunnit" angle? Will we be following that thread throughout the year? Oh, yeah. It's a thread that will take a lot of different twists and turns, and will be inhabited and personified by different characters along the way. We are principally tracking that through Maggie Q's character, Hannah, and her boss at the FBI, Deputy Director Jason Atwood, played by Malik Yoba. But these worlds will ultimately intersect with the White House world, as this conspiracy being tracked by the FBI closes in on the White House itself. In terms of Tom's immediate foils, the one we see most readily in the pilot is General Cochran... As you'll see in the series, there will be other obstacles and people that will start to emerge as soon as episode two and three. While Cochran will be a challenge for Kirkman, he will be one of many that Kirkman will face over the course of the initial episodes. The episode ends just as Tom starts his speech. Maybe this is a better question for David, but for you, do you feel like this mirror's the show's State of the Union address - the abruptness of cutting to black, echoing that very jarring moment where this whole world changes? That's a great question. The goal of that, and again I give all props to David, was to leave us with a sense of not knowing what effect this speech will have. When we come back in episode two, we will pick up and try to answer that question of what kind of impact did that speech have. Collectively, we thought, beginning with David, that this was a very compelling way to end, with a sense of uncertainty. How will this new president be embraced by the country? Read more: 'Designated Survivor': Saluting 7 of Kiefer Sutherland's Previous Presidential Encounters Kiefer is so iconic on television already as Jack Bauer. Coming out of this pilot, he's now embodying a very new person in Tom Kirkman. What has the process been like, crafting this character alongside Kiefer moving forward from the pilot? He inherently embodies this character. He inherently fills the rhythms of a guy who vacillates between embracing challenges and being overwhelmed by them, asking himself if this is something he can do, and consequently being able to do it, between wins and losses, between the call of family and the call of duty. It's something he so inherently embodies that, simply from a writer's perspective, it's fun to watch being embodied by Kiefer in this way. The next episode is called "The First Day." What can you say about what's coming up next week? It is President Kirkman's first full day as the President of the United States. The challenges - domestic, international, professional and personal - come flying at him fast and furious. Designated Survivor airs Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. The face of Peru's iconic Lord of Sipan has finally been unmasked some 1,900 years after his death, all thanks to technology which has built a 3D reconstruction of the ancient warrior's face. With the help of Brazilian experts, archaeologists have created a 3D model of the Lord of Sipan's face. The team of investigators who worked on the project included odontologists and forensic experts, replicating the ancient face of the warrior down to the smallest details. The Lord of Sipan is from the ancient Moche civilization. His tomb was discovered untouched in 1987 and has provided with archaeologists with new insights into the Mohican society. The discovery was hailed as one of the greatest in archaeologist in recent decades and its significance has been compared to Egypt's King Tut. "Relatively speaking the Lord of Sipan and Tutankhamun are the two most important personalities of their cultures, given their location and their era. The Lord of the Sipan was the head of a sacred dynasty and the Pharaoh at the time was also part of a sacred dynasty," said archaeologist, Walter Alva. The Moche civilization flourished on Peru's northern coast between about the years 1 and 800 CE, a rural area of the South American country made up largely of farmers and fishermen. According to Alva, the 3D reconstruction of the Lord of Sipan's face shows that many of the region's residents still possess many of the same physical characteristics as the ancient warrior. "This brings us closer too, connected us especially to the current indigenous population. We see that the face of the Lord (of Sipan) is very similar to the Mohicans of Lambayeque who still survive to this day. The faces of the fishermen, the farmers of the region are direct descendants of this creative race," he added. Alva told media that the process of building the Lord of Sipan's face was a delicate one. "The condition of the skull has been well preserved. It has been preserved with its deformation which has been caused over time. The process of disassembling the different pieces so that they remain anatomically compatible took us a great amount of time. After that was the technical application of forensics processes," he told media. The Lord of Sipan has been carbon dated back to 290 CE. His Moche Culture is believed to be the predecessor to Peru's might Inca civilization. Peru is a country rich in ancient treasure. It has hundreds of sites that date back thousands of years and span dozens of cultures, including the ancient Incan empire that was in power when Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1500s. Disney has pulled its controversial Moana costume after consumer complaints. The outfit, based off of Dwayne Johnsons character Maui in the film, consists of a brown zip-up suit with tribal tattoos and leaf skirt. Your little one will set off on adventures in this Maui costume featuring the demigods signature tattoos, rope necklace, and island-style skirt, the product description read before it was taken down. Plus, padded arms and legs for mighty stature! A matching black wig was also for sale. As we previously reported, some took offense to the costume and accusing Disney of brownfacing. One user, who identified as Polynesian tweeted, Our Brown Skin/Inks NOT a costume. The team behind Moana has taken great care to respect the cultures of the Pacific Islands that inspired the film, and we regret that the Maui costume has offended some, Disney said in a statement released Wednesday. We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores. A female costume, consisting of a crop top with folk art pattern and skirt with a Polynesian inspired print and sarong remains on the Disney Store website. Disney went to lengths to cast Polynesian actors in the film. Johnson and newcomer Aulii Cravalho, who voices the title character, are of Samoan and Hawaiian descent, respectively. In the animated tale, Moana teams up with demigod Maui in search of a fabled island. The film is slated for release on November 23, 2016. Related stories San Sebastian: Disney, Telefe, Santiago Segura, FilmSharks, Esta Por Venir Team on 'Legends' (EXCLUSIVE) 'Star Wars: Rogue One' Not Expected to Do 'Force Awakens' Business, Disney CEO Says Disney Under Fire Over 'Moana' Halloween Costume If you only read one thing: Donald Trump tried making an emotional appeal to African American voters Wednesday following a pair of police-involved shootings of black men. Speaking in Ohio, he said he thought the officer in the Tulsa incident choked and for the first time seemed to empathize with the victims. It comes as a critical moment for Trump, who is betting on lower African American turnout in 2016 because Obama is not on the ballot, but is also seeking to reverse Hillary Clintons gains among that community. But in typical Trump fashion, his attempt was clouded by comments that the African American communities were in their worst shape ever, which is demonstrably false on all accounts, and his what do you have to lose argument that seems to ignore specific policy concerns. Trumps economic plans would dramatically increase the national debt, a new analysis finds, as Trump continues to reshape old political battle lines over fiscal policy. Clintons plan would essentially maintain the current-law baseline, while Trumps massive tax cuts and increases in spending would greatly expand the deficit. The findings mark something of a role-reversal for the two parties, as GOP voters who have been hawkish about deficits for years seem to be ignoring the impact of Trumps policies, while Democrats, who havent shied away from deficit spending, are touting the fiscal responsibility of Clintons plan. Obama is dogged by Trump. Bill Clinton defends his foundation. And Trump reveals he dropped the birther issue for political expediency. Here are your must reads: Must Reads Donald Trumps Plans Would Add $5.3 Trillion to the National Debt Analysis from hawkish fiscal group is damning for Trump, TIMEs Haley Sweetland Edwards reports Its Almost Impossible for the Russians to Hack the U.S. Election. Heres Why. Elections are decentralized, most voters will use paper ballots and voting machines arent connected to the internet [TIME] Story continues Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview Says situation in Syria haunts me constantly [Vanity Fair] Obama Speaks, and Listeners Hear Nothing But Donald Trump Presidents final months are overshadowed by the campaign [Associated Press] At Shareblue, Activating Hillary Clintons Outrage Machine Inside the liberal group taking over your social media feeds [New York Times] Bill Clinton on CGI Legacy: You Have to Keep This Alive The former president defends the Clinton Global Initiatives work and urges supporters to carry on its mission [Politico] Sound Off That was so special. Hes an amazing inspiration to so many people, including me. Donald Trump at a church in Ohio Wednesday minutes after Don King used the n-word in his introduction Well one of the things Id do is I would do stop and frisk. I think you have to. We did it in New York, it worked incredibly well. And you have to be proactive. Trump to Fox News Sean Hannity in a town hall Bits and Bites Clinton, Trump decry latest police shootings of black men [Associated Press] Michelle Obama Has No Sympathy for Spouses of Presidential Candidates [TIME] Trump: I reversed birther stance to get on with campaign [Associated Press] Pro-Donald Trump Super PAC Mistakenly Publishes Private Donor Information [Center for Public Integrity] Donald Trump Makes Faith-Based Pitch to Black Voters [TIME] Gross Mismanagement Added Millions to Cost of VA Hospital, Federal Inquiry Finds [Associated Press] Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen Fires Back at Donald Trump: We Do Not Take Politics Into Account [TIME] Corey Lewandowski to be paid severance by Trump campaign through 2016 [Politico] Mylans Chief Is Chastised by Lawmakers Questioning EpiPen Pricing [New York Times] Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump continued his effort to woo the oil and gas industry in a speech Thursday with a promise to slash regulations and cut taxes. The speech, delivered before the Shale Insight conference in Pittsburgh, comes as Trump tries to shore up support in the oil and gas industry. Working-class employees in that sector, located in places like Pennsylvania and Ohio, are essential pieces of a Trump victory in November. Trump has promised the upper management of energy companies essentially everything they could want. He said Thursday that he would repeal a slew of regulations including the Clean Power Plan, Obamas Climate Action Plan, the ban on new coal mining leases on federal land and other regulations. (Notably, Trump did not mention the Paris Agreement which will likely take effect this year making it difficult for him to scuttle it). It will be a future of conservation, prosperity and great success, for all the people in this room and all the people you employ, he said Thursday. Some energy executives have supported Trump enthusiastically, including businessman Harold Hamm, who is thought to be Trumps chief advisor on energy matters. But, for a Republican, the lack of widespread support has been visible. A recent Wall Street Journal report found that oil and gas employees have donated significantly more to Hillary Clinton than Trump. Thats a remarkable turnaround after years of staunch support for Republicans in the industry. There are a number of reasons why they may remain skeptical of Trumps promises. For one, he has bungled the fundamentals in public settings. Trump suggested this past summer that he believes local communities can decide whether they want to ban fracking on their own, an idea anathema to the industry. He backtracked, but the damage was done. Trumps plan at time also appears removed from certain basic industry realities. He has promised to revitalize the coal industry, while also pushing for more oil and natural gas drilling. But achieving both of those ends could prove difficult given that cheap natural gas is precisely what has led to a decline in coal in the first place. Presumably, more natural gas drilling would only reduce its price, making it even more competitive with coal. More clear in Trumps comments on energy is what he opposes: government support for renewable energy and measures to protect the environment. My environmental agenda will be guided with true specialists in conservation, he said Thursday, not those with radical political agendas that are putting our country behind the eight ball. By PTI: As per the GMR counsel, a total of 17 cases have been As per the GMR counsel, a total of 17 cases have been filed against Kingfisher Airlines in different courts over outstanding amount of Rs 22.5 crore, which it owes to GMR. The cases are in different stages of trial. The magistrate told Raghunathan that he has been found guilty under relevant sections of Negotiable Instruments Act. advertisement Raghunathan told the court that "I was only an employee of United Spirits Limited. I was on rolls of United Spirits. My services seconded to Kingfisher Airlines Limited. I was always an employee of United Spirits and retired in July 2013." The magistrate, in his order, sentenced Raghunathan to undergo one year and six months imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 in each case. The magistrate further said Raghunathan can file appeal against the judgement of this court in the case. Ashok Reddy, citing certain court rulings, submitted that this court can pass sentence against the company and also against Vijay Mallya. "One of the accused is present in the court and the court is requested to also sentence Kingfisher Airlines and Vijay Mallya, to avoid delay. Not withstanding absence of Vijay Mallya, the court can sentence and impose fine against Vijay Mallya," Reddy submitted. "Entire country knows where he (Mallya) is staying...he may not come back. It will take years to bring him back to India. At least fine can be imposed against the company," he further said. PTI VVK GK DV --- ENDS --- Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton tell very different stories about who belongs in America and who doesnt. Trump describes a country under siege from refugees and immigrants, Mexicans, and Muslims. Clinton talks about a nation made stronger by diversity. The narrative each campaign creates matters. It may even influence the way Americans treat their fellow citizens. A new report from California State University-San Bernardinos Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism suggests that political rhetoric may play a role in mitigating or fueling hate crimes. The report shows that anti-Muslim hate crimes in the U.S. rose sharply in 2015 to the highest levels since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. It also suggests that Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric could have contributed to this backlash against American Muslims. Theres very compelling evidence that political rhetoric may well play a role in directing behavior in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, Brian Levin, the author of the report said in an interview. I dont think we can dismiss contentions that rhetoric is one of the significant variables that can contribute to hate crimes. Recommended: Is Ted Cruz About to Endorse Donald Trump? The report from the non-partisan center examined the incidence of hate crimes in the aftermath of two reactions to terrorism from political leaders. First, George W. Bushs speech following the 9/11 attacks declaring: Islam is peace and the face of terror is not the true faith of Islam, and the second, Trump calling for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. after the San Bernardino terror attack. The report found a steep rise in hate crimes following Trumps remarks and a significant drop in hate crimes after Bushs speech, relative to the number of hate crimes immediately following the initial terror attacks. Trump has seized on peoples fears and anxieties. Story continues A wide array of factors contribute to the incidence of hate crimes. Ignorance and isolation may play a role; most Americans say they do not personally know any Muslims, although those who do report positive views of Muslims in general. The nature of the threat groups of people are perceived to pose can also be a factor; prejudice catalyzed by a terrorist attack, for example, may be particularly likely to inspire hate crimes. Political rhetoric is only one ingredient in that mix, and the many messages in circulation after an attack can make it harder to determine the impact of any one particular reaction from a political leader. Before Trumps call for a ban on Muslims entering the country, President Obama delivered a speech to the nation on the San Bernardino attack stressing tolerance. Still, the report looked at daily data following terrorist attacks, and found that a tolerant statement about Muslims by a political leader was accompanied by a sharp decline in hate crime, while a less tolerant announcement was followed by a precipitous increase in both the severity and number of anti-Muslim hate crimes. It notes that there have been very few incidents of actual hate crime where Mr. Trumps name was uttered since his candidacy, but adds that the increase of 87.5% in anti-Muslim hate crime in the days directly following his announcement is a troubling development and worthy of concern. Recommended: Taking Trump Seriously, Not Literally Aside from calling for a ban on Muslims entering the the United States, Trump has said that Islam hates us, and accused American Muslims of protecting terrorists. The research does not demonstrate a direct causal link, nor can it rule out the role of other factors. Its possible that the documented increase reflects an increase in hate-crime reporting due to heightened awareness of Islamophobia, which has become a topic of discussion during the presidential race. Nevertheless, the research does raise the possibility that Islamophobic political rhetoric may have devastating consequences. A Georgetown University report released in May similarly found that threats, intimidation and violence against Muslim Americans have surged over the course of the presidential election. Engy Abdelkader, the author of the report, believes that trend is linked to Trumps political rise. Trump has seized on peoples fears and anxieties, Abdelkader said. I think that has translated in a number of instances not just to hostility, but acts of violence. Islamophobia existed in America long before Trump. Muslims have long been particularly vulnerable to backlash driven by negative stereotypes in part because they make up a relatively small slice of the overall U.S. population. But when a major-party nominee endorses and reinforces those stereotypes, researchers warn, American Muslims face serious risk of increased marginalization and outright violence. Recommended: When Donald Meets Hillary: Who Will Win the Debates? When Trump called for a ban on Muslims entering the country, Clinton called the idea shameful and inconsistent with our values as a nation in a message on her campaign website. She has denounced Islamophobia and made clear that Islam is not our adversary. At a town hall in Iowa, Clinton said that one of the most distressing aspects of this campaign has been the language of Republican candidates, particularly the frontrunner, that insults, demeans, denigrates different people. She went on to say that American Muslims deserve better, adding we cannot tolerate this and we must stand up and say every person in this country deserves to be treated with respect. Still, some Muslim Americans have their frustrations with Clinton. When she condemned Trumps call for a Muslim ban, she emphasized that it would play into the hands of radical jihadists. Advocates caution that political leaders must be careful not to inadvertently amplify potentially stigmatizing associations between Muslim Americans and terrorism. Political leaders should also make clear, they argue, that Islamophobia must be condemned because it denigrates and threatens the lives of American citizens, and not on the grounds that it threatens national security. Muslims cannot just be presented as pawns in this global security game, and thats how many Muslim Americans feel, said Laila Abdelaziz, the director of legislative and government affairs for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida. A lot of the rhetoric coming from the Democratic nominee and Democrats in general is absolutely well-intentioned but its important to draw out the problematic and reductionist aspects of it as well. Most national-security experts agree with Clinton that Islamophobia can undermine security. If anti-Muslim rhetoric from Trump and his allies is left unchecked it breeds mistrust and mutual suspicion, said John Horgan, an expert on terrorist psychology at Georgia State University. Thats hugely problematic and corrosive to our national security strategy. Trust between American Muslims and law enforcement has been strained as a result of surveillance and ethnic profiling, and anti-Muslim rhetoric from political leaders stands to further erode trust. Muslim American communities play a crucial role in alerting law enforcement to terrorist threats, making trust integral to prevention. The father of Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man charged in connection with bombings in New York and New Jersey, told reporters he contacted the FBI two years ago, though there have been conflicting reports as to whether he contacted the agency directly. The irony of Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric is that the candidate who promises to be tough on terror may be making America not only less safe for American Muslims, but for all Americans. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. After five years as the most famous member of the so-called birther movement, Donald Trump's sudden about-face on President Barack Obama's citizenship was just about playing politics. The Republican presidential nominee was asked Wednesday why, after years of calls for proof of citizenship and casting doubt, he now says he's sure Obama was born in the U.S. The GOP nominee told Ohio's WSYX he announced his change of mind because he wanted the issue to be over. "Well, I just wanted to get on with, I wanted to get on with the campaign," he said backstage before his rally in Toledo Wednesday. "A lot of people were asking me questions." [READ: Hillary Clinton Keeps Fundraising Edge Over Donald Trump in August] "We want to talk about jobs. We want to talk about the military. We want to talk about ISIS and get rid of ISIS," he continued, using another name for the Islamic State group. "We want to talk about bringing jobs back to this area, because you've been decimated, so we just wanted to get back on the subject of jobs, military, taking care of our vets, et cetera." On Friday, Trump hyped a "major announcement" on Obama's citizenship, but the event turned out to be little more than a publicity tour of his new hotel in Washington, D.C.. After more than 20 minutes of military officers and award winners offering their endorsements of him -- carried live by the major cable networks who were waiting for the announcement -- Trump spoke for about 30 seconds and took no questions. "President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period," Trump declared. "Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again." But while trying to put one conspiracy theory to rest, Trump stoked another: That his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, was the original source of the lie that Obama was not born in the U.S. While some of Clinton's supporters when she first ran for president in 2008 mused about Obama's birthplace, fact checkers have debunked any connection to the Clinton campaign, or Clinton herself. Story continues After his Friday announcement, Trump and his surrogates declared the birther issue "over," and that Trump had "ended it" in 2011 by demanding that Obama release his birth certificate. Clinton's camp seized on the revived controversy, preferring not to let Trump "get on with" it. "After spending five years championing a conspiracy theory to undermine our first African American President, Donald Trump hasn't actually changed his mind," campaign spokesman Jesse Ferguson said in a statement. "He only gave his 36-second press statement last week to try to change the subject -- and it didn't work." Gabrielle Levy covers politics for U.S. News & World Report. Follow her on Twitter (@gabbilevy) or email her at GLevy@usnews.com. LONDON (Reuters) - Denmark's DONG Energy (DENERG.CO) said on Thursday it would build a multi-million pound maintenance hub in Grimsby, northeast England, to provide services for its offshore wind operations. The new facility would, subject to planning approval, be built at the town's Royal Dock and provide maintenance support to the company's wind farms in the region. Britain is the world leader for installed offshore wind capacity, according to data from the Global Wind Energy Council, with 5 gigawatts of capacity in 2015, around 40 percent of global total. "It represents a massive vote of confidence to the UK offshore wind industry and confirms our commitment to the Humber region where by 2019 we expect to have invested around 6 billion pounds," Brent Cheshire, DONG Energy's UK country chairman, said in a statement. A spokesman for DONG said the facility would cost 10-20 million pounds and the company expects it to be fully operational by March 2018. Grimsby, where many blame European Union fishing quotas for destroying jobs since the 1970s, was home to a fleet of 600 trawlers in its 1950s heyday but now there are hardly any and the town is struggling with poverty and unemployment. Many British fishermen were vocal supporters of the successful campaign for Britain to vote to leave the EU in a referendum on June 23. The Brexit vote has raised concerns about foreign direct investment in the country. DONG already has two operational wind farms on the east coast of England, Lincs and Westermost Rough, and two further projects, Race Bank and Hornsea One, under construction. These wind farms combined are expected to provide electricity to around 1.5 million homes. Offshore wind farms typically have annual maintenance checks, which are one of the largest running costs due to their location several kilometres out at sea. The Grimsby site would house service operation vessels, supplied by Norwegian shipping company Ostensjo Rederi and designed by Britain's Rolls-Royce (RR.L), which will be capable of accommodating up to 60 crew and technicians and remaining at sea for long periods, DONG said. Once operational the site is expected to create around 250 direct jobs, the spokesman said. (Reporting by Susanna Twidale; Editing by Dale Hudson and Alexander Smith) Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at an organizing event for Hillary Clinton in Lebanon, N. H. (Photo: Darren McCollester/Getty Images) Down Ticket is Yahoo News complete guide to the most fascinating House, Senate and governors races of 2016. Coming to you every Tuesday and Thursday until Nov. 8. What you need to know today. _____ Bernie Sanders wont be president. Can he still spark a down-ballot revolution? Remember the political revolution? Its been a while now at least 70 days, which is like an eternity in the Snapchat era but during this years Democratic primary campaign, barely an hour went by without underdog candidate Bernie Sanders boasting, in his cantankerous Brooklyn yawp, that he and his supporters were on the verge of ushering one in. We need a political revolution of millions of people in this country who are prepared to stand up and say, Enough is enough, the Vermont senator declared at rally after rally. Ostensibly the political revolution would have been triggered by (first) Sanders nomination in Philadelphia and (later) the successful election of the only self-declared democratic socialist ever to run for president as a major-party candidate. Galvanized by Sanders demands for a single-payer health care system and free public college, tens of millions of Americans would have realized that deep down, theyd actually been closet European-style liberals all along and as such theyd flood the polls and send a Democratic Congress to Washington to enact President Sanders proposals as well. As you may have heard, this particular political revolution didnt really pan out. Sure, Sanders unexpectedly potent candidacy had its effect, pushing the conversation, the platform and even eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to the left on the minimum wage, free trade and a variety of other issues. But he didnt win the nomination in Philly, and he definitely isnt going to be Americas next president. The CW is that Sanders Cinderella story and all attendant hopes for political revolution will pretty much end there. But Sanders and his most devoted fans beg to differ. On Aug. 24, Sanders launched Our Revolution, an advocacy group designed not to get Sanders elected president but to get a lot of like-minded progressives elected to various local, state and federal offices and thus to spark a political revolution from the bottom up, rather than the top down. Story continues Sen. Bernie Sanders campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, speaks to the media in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP) Is the plan working? Is Our Revolution making any progress? And what are its prospects? We here at Down Ticket figured that 30 days after launch with another 45 or so to go before Election Day was as good a time as any to check in for a status update. First thing to note: Our Revolution means business. After Barack Obama won the 2008 election, his official campaign apparatus, Obama for America, metamorphosed into Organizing for America. Not only did this save OFA the trouble of coming up with a new acronym, but it also allowed the group to pursue its own political goals with the same email list, the same talent and the same technological innovations that propelled Obama to the presidency. Our Revolution follows in OFAs footsteps. It controls Sanders estimated 5.2 million-name email list aka the most coveted and valuable catalog of potential voters and donors in the Democratic Party at the moment. It can instantly tap into the small-donor pool that sent a staggering $228 million to Sanders during the 2016 cycle. Its run by Jeff Weaver, the longtime staffer who managed Sanders presidential campaign. And, like the latest iteration of OFA, Organizing for Action, it has been incorporated as a 501(c)(4) social welfare group, which means it can raise unlimited amounts of money without disclosing the identity of its donors. The 501(c)(4) bit is key, because it determines what Our Revolution can and cant do and therefore, what it is and what it isnt. As a social welfare nonprofit, Our Revolution is allowed to spend only half its money on electoral politics; the rest must be spent on causes. Also, the group isnt allowed to work directly with Sanders or the candidates he endorses. Supporters and delegates of Sen. Bernie Sanders protest from inside and outside the glass of the convention arena after they stormed off the convention floor in Philadelphia. (Photo: Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters) In short, instead of transforming his campaign operation into a platform that would let Sanders himself influence down-ballot races, the senator has deliberately chosen to create a group that advocates for his agenda just this week, for instance, Our Revolution kicked off a grassroots campaign to topple Obamas Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact while relying on long-distance endorsements and big-money advertising blitzes for its electoral clout. This choice has caused some consternation in Sanders Land. On the eve of the official Our Revolution rollout, eight of the groups 15 staffers resigned, citing related objections: the fact that Our Revolution would be drawing from the pool of dark money that Sanders has long condemned for lacking transparency; a focus by Weaver on traditional television advertising that would fail to reach many of Sanders young, online supporters; Sanders lack of direct involvement; and even the presence of Weaver himself, whom they accused of mismanaging the campaign. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the only way to know if Weavers approach is working is to watch whats happening on the ground. Lets start with the big races. So far, Our Revolution has endorsed 85 candidates for elected office. Only three of them are running for the U.S. Senate. One, Misty Snow of Utah, has little chance of winning: A new poll shows her trailing incumbent GOP Sen. Mike Lee by 37 percentage points in a battle for a seat that no Democrat has held since 1951. Even so, the endorsement is notable for its symbolism: Snow is the first openly transgender major-party nominee for the Senate. Misty Snow, Democratic Senate candidate from Utah, talks with supporters at a campaign barbecue event. (Photo: George Frey/Getty Images) Our Revolutions other Senate endorsements have come in more winnable contests. In Wisconsin a prime Democratic pickup target the group has backed former Sen. Russ Feingold, a longtime progressive. The polls show Feingold with a consistent lead over incumbent GOP Sen. Ron Johnson. And on Tuesday, Our Revolution added former North Carolina State Sen. Deborah Ross to its endorsement list. Ross is challenging Sen. Richard Burr in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest races in the country. Meanwhile, Sanders himself recently blasted out a fundraising plea on behalf of four Democratic Senate challengers Pennsylvanias Katie McGinty, New Hampshires Maggie Hassan, Ohios Ted Strickland and Nevadas Catherine Cortez Masto but none has yet received the official Our Revolution seal of approval. If we had to guess, Our Revolutions impact on the next Senate will be minimal. Sanders didnt endorse anyone in any key Senate primaries, when he might have boosted progressive candidates over more moderate Democrats, and now so much money and attention are being lavished on these contests that his proxy endorsements will probably get lost in the flood. At best, they might persuade a few scattered young Bernie fans to vote in Senate races they would have otherwise skipped. The U.S. House lineup is more intriguing. All told, Our Revolution is backing 14 congressional candidates. Four of them are incumbents in safely Democratic seats: Raul Grijalva (AZ-3), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2), Keith Ellison (MN-5) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9). No real impact there. Sen. Bernie Sanders waves with Rep. Raul Grijalva during a campaign rally in Fort Collins, Colo. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP) In other instances, its too early to tell. There are at least three swing-seat House races where Our Revolution has endorsed and could conceivably exert some influence: CO-6, where state Sen. Morgan Carroll is challenging incumbent Republican Mike Coffman; WI-8, where Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson is competing against Republican Mike Gallagher for a GOP-held open seat; and MN-8, where incumbent Democrat Rick Nolan is trying to fend off perennial GOP rival Stewart Mills III. All will be close in November. Which isnt to say Sanders hasnt had any influence so far: Several of his House primary endorsements, in fact, have already had their desired effect. With the senators early backing, human rights activist Pramila Jayapal defeated three challengers in Augusts Seattle-area primary, virtually guaranteeing her a seat in Congress. Civil rights champion Jamie Raskin another Sanders primary pick is the clear frontrunner to win an open seat in Maryland. And in New Yorks 19th Congressional District, which was previously held by the GOP, liberal favorite Zephyr Teachout is leading Republican John Faso in the latest polls. And yet Sanders House track record isnt perfect. In June, the senator backed three candidates in Nevadas Democratic primaries, and all three were routed including Lucy Flores, 36, the first Latina member of Nevadas legislature. In New York, Eric Kingson, a professor whom Sanders not only endorsed but also stumped for, lost his primary as well. And perhaps Sanders most spectacular failure was in Floridas 23rd Congressional District, where he directed millions of dollars in donations to law professor Tim Canova in a high-profile attempt to unseat former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz only to bail on Canova in the homestretch. Wasserman Schultz eventually won by more than 13 percentage points. Colorado state Sen. Morgan Carroll, right, talks with a constituent. (Photo: Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) Former Our Revolution staffers blamed Canovas loss on the groups 501(c)(4) status as did (indirectly) Canova himself. The rule against me and my campaign having contact with Our Revolution and Senator Sanders did indeed make it more difficult to work with the group, and perhaps impeded our efforts to solicit assistance for my campaign, Canova told the Atlantic. We were in the middle of selecting dates for Senator Sanders to campaign for me in South Florida when the 501(c)(4) status of Our Revolution prevented any meaningful communication, and the plans went nowhere. Ultimately, Our Revolutions impact on federal races might be limited for this very reason: The bigger the race, the more coordination it requires and the less influence a proxy endorsement will have. It may be, then, that Our Revolution will only really gain traction, at least at first, on the lower rungs of the electoral ladder. When Sanders began to wind down his presidential campaign, he called on supporters to run for school boards, city councils, county commissions, state legislatures. The idea was to recruit a new generation of progressive leaders who could move the needle on the local level first where the GOP currently dominates then maybe vie for higher office later (which is exactly what the religious right did in the 1980s). Theres a reason, in other words, why 80 percent of Our Revolutions current endorsees, many of them women or minorities, are running for state legislatures and the like: These are low-turnout races where a television ad, or an email blast, or vote of confidence from Sanders Land in other words, the sort of stuff Our Revolution is designed to do can actually make a difference. Tim Canova joins union members and community activists at a Verizon protest in Florida. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) In a new interview with the Nation, Sanders seemed to acknowledge as much. I dont know if you know this, but Our Revolution candidates have already won a lot of primaries, the senator said. In Massachusetts, with the support of Our Revolution, a young attorney, a very progressive guy, beat a long-term incumbent. In Rhode Island, the majority leader in the House got knocked off. Sanders examples are telling. In 2012, Mike Connolly, the Massachusetts attorney, ran against a longtime state representative as No Money Mike he refused to solicit or accept campaign donations and lost. In 2016, with Our Revolutions backing, Connolly defeated the same representative in the Democratic primary. Earlier this month in Rhode Island, Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, a Jamaican immigrant working as a special education teacher at Providence Career and Technical Academy, squeaked past John DeSimone, the highest-ranking Democrat in the states House, by a mere 17 votes. I think Our Revolution is beginning to do what its goal was, and that is to focus not only on high-profile races, but to get down into the state legislatures, Sanders added. Thats going to push those legislatures. A few people can make a significant impact. Every political revolution, in other words, has to start somewhere. Well find out in November if Bernies has any real force behind it. _____ New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte was losing big in August. Now shes ahead. What changed and what will it take for her to win? Sen. Kelly Ayotte talks to diner patrons in Manchester, N.H. (Photo: Elise Amendola/AP) By Jon Ward Since Labor Day, Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte has led Democratic challenger Maggie Hassan in the three polls that have been released. Ayotte backers look at that dynamic and are encouraged, given the fact that during the summer Democrats pounded the Republican senator on the airwaves with attack ads tying her to Republican nominee Donald Trump. Democrats spent $12.1 million on TV from July 25 to Sept. 5, compared with just $6.2 million for Ayotte from Republicans, according to RealClearPolitics. Democrats have thrown everything they can at Kelly the last six months and shes been able to withstand it, said Manchester-based Republican consultant Jim Merrill. Ayotte had somewhat of a dip during the summer because of the deluge of ads, said Ryan Williams, a Republican consultant with ties to the New Hampshire GOP and the Ayotte campaign. As the campaign hits the homestretch, Ayotte is likely to have a slight edge in spending, as she has over the course of this race, going back to 2015. New Hampshire station WMUR estimated that $77 million has already been spent or reserved in TV airtime, with more to come. Williams said Ayotte survived the summer because New Hampshire voters havent bought the line that the first-term senator is identical to Trump. She has her own brand thats different than Trump, he said, pointing out that Trump talked about Ayotte as if he were running against her Im beating her in the polls by a lot, he said simply because she hasnt wholeheartedly endorsed him, even while saying shell vote for him. However, Ayottes lead remains slim, at 47.3 percent to Hassans 44.8 percent in the RCP average. The bottom line is that this race is tied, said Hassan spokesman Aaron Jacobs. The latest line of attack on Ayotte from Democrats is that shes in the pocket of big donors like Koch Industries, and has voted for their priorities in Washington in return for political donations. However, RCP also reported that the Koch political operation is not spending any money in support of Ayotte out of frustration over her vote in support for the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan. Maggie Hassan speaks to supporters as she kicks off her Senate campaign. (Photo: Jim Cole/AP) Ayotte has also maintained that Republican Rep. Frank Guinta should resign over a fundraising violation, even after Guinta won his primary last week. Shes done a good job of proclaiming her independence, Merrill said. But Ayottes rising numbers are clearly linked to the tightening presidential race as well. On Aug. 25, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton led Trump, 45 to 35 percent, in the Granite State, according to the RCP average, and Hassan led Ayotte, 45 to 41 percent. Now Clintons lead has been cut in half, and she leads Trump in New Hampshire by only 43 to 38 percent. Ayotte is now ahead in the polling average by 2.5 points, having gained 6 points of support. Trumps fortunes will undoubtedly have an impact on Ayottes, Merrill said. If Trump is within 5, I think Kelly is going to win, he said. If its beyond that, it will be harder, though not impossible. _____ The best of the rest How did we get to a place where Missouri could decide the Senate majority? #MOSEN https://t.co/4NoUEUBbvp Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) September 22, 2016 Next year's Senate is guaranteed to be narrowly split may mean messy nomination wars next year. w @burgessev https://t.co/9CxggnvotR Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) September 21, 2016 Top GOP donors are spending big on Senate races not Trump https://t.co/VJuBNXFAPv pic.twitter.com/nq4RfnaYX9 Bloomberg (@business) September 22, 2016 That sound of Republican free-traders flip-flopping on the campaign trail https://t.co/4EUc5ZehYA Susan Glasser (@sbg1) September 22, 2016 My latest: whoever the 45th president is, they'll be unpopular with a vague mandate and will need Congress more than 43 or 44 ever did. https://t.co/3tCWiOBTP2 Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) September 22, 2016 _____ Countdown _____ Aden (AFP) - An apparent US drone strike killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members Thursday in Yemen, including a mid-ranking commander, security officials said. A missile destroyed a vehicle which the three suspects were using in the region of Sawmaa in central Baida province, the officials said. One security official said jihadists had recently sought refugee in the vicinity following military operations against the extremists in nearby Hadramawt, Abyan and Lahj provinces. Two suspected Al-Qaeda members were killed Wednesday in a similar strike in central Marib province. The United States has been involved in a years-long unmanned drone campaign in Yemen and is thought to have carried out dozens of strikes against what it says are members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). AQAP and the Islamic State group have exploited a power vacuum created by the conflict between the government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand their presence in the Arabian Peninsula country. The US has vowed to continue its campaign against AQAP, which it considers to be the Al-Qaeda network's deadliest franchise. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government against the Huthis has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes. The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP. More than 6,600 people have been killed in the Yemeni conflict since March 2015, the UN says. By Lisa Baertlein Sept 22 (Reuters) - Dunkin' Brands Group Inc on Thursday said it hired David Hoffmann, the McDonald's Corp executive in charge of high-growth markets, including China and Russia, to lead its U.S. and Canadian business. Hoffmann, 48, is the latest long-time McDonald's executive to leave the company, which is in the midst of a major turnaround effort. His departure after 22 years comes just weeks after the hamburger chain said Michael Andres would retire as president of McDonald's USA at the end of the year. Chief Administrative Officer Pete Bensen retired on Sept. 2. McDonald's said in a Sept. 21 regulatory filing that Hoffmann failed to execute a non-compete agreement and forfeited benefits, including all unvested cash and equity incentive awards. Joseph Erlinger, who had been the chief financial officer for McDonald's high-growth markets, will succeed Hoffmann, who starts his new position on Oct. 3. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Dan Grebler) The separatists, who are spearheading the current agitation in the Valley, have extended the protest programme till September 29. Protests erupt in Jammu and Kashmir between civilians and security forces. By Press Trust of India: Curfew was today imposed in south Kashmir's Anantnag town, while it remained in force in three police station areas of Srinagar city in view of the separatists call for a protest march. Normal life, meanwhile, remained affected in the Valley for the 76th straight day. Curfew has been imposed in Anantnag town in view of the separatists call for a march to the district. The curbs also remain in force in three police station areas of downtown (interior city), a police official said. advertisement He said the three police station areas of the summer capital where the curfew was in force are Nowhatta, MR Gunj and Khanyar. SECTION 144 CrPc CONTINUES The official said restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc continued to remain in force in the Valley. The separatists have called for a march to Anantnag and Srinagar uptown areas. The separatists, who are spearheading the current agitation in the Valley, have extended the protest programme till September 29. They have announced periodic relaxation in the strike on some days. Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain disturbed in Kashmir for the 76th consecutive day due to restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. LIFE DISRUPTED Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps continued to remain shut in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley, while public transport was off the roads. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also continued to remain shut. Mobile Internet services also remained suspended, while the outgoing calls on prepaid numbers continued to remain barred across the Valley. As many as 81 people, including two cops, have been killed in the unrest that broke out a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir on July 8. Kashmir unrest: All you want to know --- ENDS --- For Immediate Release Chicago, IL September 22, 2016 Zacks Equity Research highlights Edwards Lifesciences (EW) as the Bull of the Day and DaVita HealthCare Partners (DVA) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysisCorcept Therapeutics Inc (CORT) and CryoLife Inc (CRY). Here is a synopsis of all four stocks: Bull of the Day : The growth of Edwards Lifesciences (EW) into a $25 billion provider of cutting-edge heart surgery alternatives is an amazing success story of American ingenuity and medical business innovation. I last wrote about the company as a Zacks #1 Rank stock in April when I owned it and shares leapt from $90 to new all-time highs above $105 on the company's latest data proving superiority, or at least equivalency, of its Sapien 3 valve replacement procedure to open heart surgery. Pump Engineer Designs Cardiac Replacement Parts It all began with the vision of the founder-inventor, a hydraulic engineer named Miles "Lowell" Edwards, who in 1958 set out to build the first artificial heart. By dialing down his dream a bit, was able to create an important life-saving industry. Here's the official story from the company website... Edwards was a 60-year-old, recently retired engineer holding 63 patents in an array of industries, with an entrepreneurial spirit and a dream of helping patients with heart disease. His fascination with healing the heart was sparked in his teens, when he suffered two bouts of rheumatic fever, which can scar heart valves and eventually cause the heart to fail. With a background in hydraulics and fuel pump operations, Edwards believed the human heart could be mechanized. He presented the concept to Dr. Albert Starr, a young surgeon at the University of Oregon Medical School, who thought the idea was too complex. Instead, Starr encouraged Edwards to focus first on developing an artificial heart valve, for which there was an immediate need. Story continues After just two years, the first Starr-Edwards mitral valve was designed, developed, tested, and successfully placed in a patient. Newspapers around the world reported on what they termed a miraculous heart surgery. From there, the company built an impressive pedigree for R&D in heart devices and minimally-invasive cardiovascular procedures. In 1966, Edwards Laboratories was purchased by American Hospital Supply Corporation and became American Edwards Laboratories. Then, in 1985, American Edwards was acquired by Baxter International. In early 2000, the company was spun-off as an independent, publicly-held corporation and began trading on the NYSE under the symbol EW. Bear of the Day: I last wrote about DaVita HealthCare Partners (DVA) as the Bear of the Day in mid-August when shares were trading above $68. I wanted to revisit this story now because while we don't have any upward EPS estimate revisions to get the stock out of the Zacks Rank cellar, we did get a ratings upgrade from a respected firm that may soon mark the beginning of a turnaround for this important business. Before I share details of that upgrade news, let's recap what has happened. DVA became a Zacks #4 Rank Sell in mid-July as analysts began lowering estimates before the company's Q2 report. On August 8 the company delivered a 3% EPS beat but disappointed with lowered guidance for the year due to difficulties with a recent acquisition. Since the earnings report, shares tumbled 13% up to August 16, the date of my first article, as most analysts have moved their estimates down again. Then from August 17 on, DVA dropped further but found support near $63, just above the 52-week lows of February at $61.36. The Business of Dialysis DaVita HealthCare Partners is the second-largest US provider of dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. They serve roughly 180,000 patients through a network of 2,179 owned and managed dialysis facilities. The company offers outpatient, home-based, and hospital inpatient hemodialysis services, ESRD laboratory services and provides management and administrative services to outpatient dialysis centers. DaVita had revenues of $13.78 billion in 2015 and trailing 12-month (TTM) sales are at $14.36 billion as of June 30. DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., formerly known as DaVita Inc., is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. With the acquisition of HealthCare Partners (HCP), the company became the largest operator of medical groups and physician networks in the US. The Quarter Analysts Saw Coming... Mostly Total revenue increased 8.8% year over year to approximately $3.72 billion and narrowly surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2%. The year-over-year improvement was mainly attributable to a rise in patient service revenues. Analysts knew that the HealthCare Partners acquisition was not going according to management's plans. That's why they were lowering estimates in July. But they weren't expecting a $70 million drop in segment guidance. Here's how analysts at Raymond James broke down the news... Drivers behind HCPs lowered 2016 guidance include: 1) fee for service revenue growth of 3% vs. management 6% target, 2) an overestimation of Medicare Advantage reconciliation payments; 3) Medicare Advantage mentorship growth lower than expected and; 4) an acceleration in the re-branding of HCP to the DaVita Medical Group - $5/$10 million more than expected. And here was the fallout for EPS estimates... In the last 30 days, the 2016 full-year consensus fell from $3.95 to $3.77, representing negative annual growth of -1.7%. 2017 consensus profit projections dropped from $4.42 to $4.18, for 11% growth if all goes well. The Upgrade from RJ On September 20, analysts at Raymond James talked again about concerns in the market over DaVita's exposure to the ACA exchanges, noting that as the dust settled the risks appeared to be lower than they initially estimated in August. And finding shares attractively valued after the sell-off, they felt compelled to move their rating on DVA shares from Market Perform to Outperform. They also issued a new $75 price target. DaVita is a strong business and clear leader in its industry. But until the estimates picture turns around, it's probably best to stay on the sidelines. If the move by this investment bank becomes a new trend, and estimates head back up, then the turnaround could be in motion. The Zacks Rank warned you in July before the drop and it will let you know when it's safe again. Additional content: 2 Momentous Healthcare Stocks to Buy Now Finding companies with the criteria you want isnt always easy. You could spend hours searching ticker after ticker, only to find companies which arent worthy of your hard earned cash. An easier way to navigate through this is by using high quality stock screeners . Screening helps investors narrow down companies to invest in based on their ability to meet every criteria selected. Any company who misses even one of the criteria requirements will be filtered out. This lets one easily choose ideal metrics. Screens are effective because they sift out bad stocks and only keep the cream of the crop in. It isnt always easy to create an effective screen. Our Zacks Premium Screens have helped with this, bringing profits to many investors over time. Our predefined criteria are chosen carefully to capture special kinds of companies. Today, weve dug up two healthcare stocks using one of our premium screens known as Zacks #1 Rank Uptrends. Some of the metrics of this screen requires a stock to have an average daily trading volume of at least 100,000 shares over the last 20 days, a price change greater than 10% over the last 12 weeks, and a positive price change over the last week. We added an additional metric which allowed us to screen for stocks from the healthcare sector. Without any further ado, lets take a look at what our modified premium screen has found for us today. Corcept Therapeutics Inc-(CORT) Corcept Therapeutics is focused on developing and commercializing drugs which treat severe metabolic, psychiatric, and oncologic disorders. CORT is build around treating conditions that are associated with the steroid hormone known as cortisol. CORT is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and it has a market cap of $659 million. Corcept has multiple drugs which are progressing through trial phases so that they can receive FDA approval. The company has one approved drug on the market known as Korlym. Korlym was made for treating hyperglycemia associated with Cushings syndrome, a rare but debilitating endocrine disorder. The company reported results from its second quarter in early August. Over the quarter, revenues came in at $19.7 million, picking up by 65% compared to Q2 of 2015. The company is bullish on seeing further growth in sales from Korlym, and it has reiterated its 2016 sales guidance of $76-$81 million. Over the last 12 weeks, Corcepts share price has grown by about 12%, and over the last week alone, the stock has picked up about 5%. CORT has an A for Growth in our Style Scores. For this fiscal year, EPS and sales are forecasted to grow by 267% and 59% respectively. The pharmaceutical company has done well to surpass our earnings expectations over each of the last four quarters, and it is expected to yield a positive EPS of $0.05 this year, according to our consensus estimate. CORCEPT THERAPT Revenue (Quarterly) | CORCEPT THERAPT Quote CryoLife Inc-(CRY) CryoLife develops and sells implantable living human tissues for use in cardiovascular, vascular, and orthopedic surgeries across the US, Canada, and Europe. The firm has multiple products which are approved for marketing in the US and abroad. CryoLife is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and it has a market cap of $609 million. CryoLife has a range of products which include surgical adhesives, heart valves, grafts, and more. The companys adhesive products (BioGlue and BioFoam) accounted for about two thirds of quarterly sales. Sales from these two products have increased, but their dominating presence in CryoLifes portfolio has decreased, thanks to the companys acquisition of On-X Technologies. On-Xs artificial heart valve helped in boosting the companys overall quarterly revenue by $9.5 million. In the companys Q2 quarterly earnings release, sales grew by about 33% compared to the same quarter last year. Sales came in at $47.1 million for the quarter. CryoLifes stock has been very momentous over the last three months. Shares have climbed 48% higher since CRY released its Q2 earnings results on the 25 th of July. In the last week alone, shares have been trending upwards as well, pushing up 4% higher. Two months ago, our current year EPS consensus estimate forecasted earnings of $0.21 per share. Now, our consensus for this year estimates EPS of $0.34. CRYOLIFE INC Revenue (Quarterly) | CRYOLIFE INC Quote Bottom Line One magical screening ingredient which cant be overlooked is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) or better. The rank helps to find companies which look like dependable earnings candidates. In addition to this great metric, the Zacks Premium Screenshelp you to add other criteria to find the most superior investment choices. 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Click to get this free report EDWARDS LIFESCI (EW): Free Stock Analysis Report DAVITA HEALTHCR (DVA): Free Stock Analysis Report CORCEPT THERAPT (CORT): Free Stock Analysis Report CRYOLIFE INC (CRY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research CAIRO (Reuters) - Nine more bodies have been recovered from the Mediterranean a day after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off the coast of Egypt, officials said on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 52. Police arrested four members of the boat's crew. Security sources said it had been loaded with almost 600 migrants. The boat sank early on Wednesday off Burg Rashed, a village in Egypt's northern Beheira province where the Nile meets the Mediterranean. Rescue workers and fishermen have rescued 169 people, suggesting hundreds might have perished at sea. A survivor whose comments appeared in a video posted online said the migrants had been told that about 200 people would be on board but the smugglers had added another 50, causing the boat to founder. It was not immediately possible to verify the differing accounts, but the survivor's comments suggest fewer people might be missing than initially thought. Prosecutors ordered that the four crew who were rescued from the shipwreck be detained for four days pending an investigation. Rescued migrants have been questioned and freed. Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail pledged the government's full support for the rescue mission and said those responsible for the incident must be brought to justice. The boat was carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants, officials said. It was not immediately clear where the vessel was heading, though officials said they believed it was going to Italy. More and more people have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity, But Egypt has come under closer scrutiny this year because a growing number of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are using it as an alternative route. The International Organization for Migration urged Egypt to impose tougher penalties on human traffickers and address the concerns driving people to undertake the perilous journey. "Entire families, children and young people entrusted their lives to human smugglers, and risked everything aboard an unseaworthy boat that capsized and sank in the middle of the sea," Amr Taha, head of IOM's Egypt office, said in a statement. "We urge the parliament to pass (a) new anti-human smuggling law that should be a strong deterrent for smugglers." The IOM said that 3,213 migrants had died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to date this year, while an estimated 298,474 migrants had reached European shores. Some 1.3 million migrants reached Europe last year fleeing war and economic hardship, prompting bitter disputes among European countries over how to share responsibility. If they survive the journey, migrants this year face much tougher European Union border controls. Many of those interviewed in the aftermath of the shipwreck off Egypt spoke of their desire to flee in search of a brighter future. Most cite a lack of jobs, low incomes, poor prospects and growing political repression in Egypt since general and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi seized power in mid-2013. Five years after the 2011 revolt brought expectations of more freedom and social justice, some Egyptians have lost hope. "I want to flee. If I could, I would; I can't get married... or live (here). Everything is destroyed in Egypt. We are no longer Egyptian," said Gamal Abdel Dayem, a neighbor and relative of one of the drowned migrants. (Additional reporting by Amina Ismail writing by Ahmed Aboulenein and Lin Noueihed; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Eric Knecht CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has reversed its controversial zero-tolerance policy on the common grains fungus ergot, the government said on Wednesday, backtracking on an import regulation that had all but blocked its access to global wheat. Egypt, the world's largest buyer of wheat, has seen its imports grind to a halt since it imposed a ban on ergot last month, with three successive state tenders cancelled on the back of mass boycotts by suppliers who say the condition is impossible to guarantee. Ergot can cause hallucinations when consumed in large amounts but is considered harmless in low quantities. The government said it was reinstating a 0.05 percent tolerance level for ergot, a common international standard it had used before the ban, and was applying it to both outstanding and future wheat contracts. The decision to apply last month's ban retroactively to outstanding contracts had led to the suspension of 540,000 tonnes of wheat en route to Egypt after being suspected of ergot contamination, the government said. A flurry of cargoes held up and rejected at ports after last month's ban infuriated traders, who argued their contracts, made under the old 0.05 percent rule, should be honoured. Russia, a top supplier of wheat to Egypt, banned Egyptian fruit and vegetable imports shortly after one of its cargoes was rejected before setting sail from Novorossiysk. An Egyptian delegation is expected to arrive in Russia next week to discuss the impasse. TRADERS SKEPTICAL Egypt runs a massive food subsidy programme that provides bread for tens of millions of its poorest citizens and which may have come under threat had it not eased its import restriction. After announcing the policy reversal the government said it had enough wheat to sustain the country for four months. It said it would compensate for the recent slowdown in wheat inflows by "operating all ports." "Egypt had no real choice but to cancel the zero ergot policy if they want to feed their people with large scale wheat imports. It has been said so many times during this affair that no country anywhere in the world can provide wheat with zero ergot in bulk volumes," one European trader said. Still, some traders expressed scepticism at what they saw as just the latest flip-flop in a months'-long saga that has seen decrees overturned and contradictory policy announcements from different ministries. "There needs to be new legislation. This is not enough for any supplier to participate," one Cairo-based trader said. Wednesday's reversal restores 2010 standards that permit 0.05 percent ergot tolerance but makes no mention of agriculture quarantine legislation that still allows for zero tolerance, the trader added - a contradiction that in the past allowed rejections to continue. As part of the rule reversal, the government said it will contract an international firm to conduct ergot inspections on wheat shipments and discontinue the practice of sending foreign delegations led by officials from three of its ministries. For a timeline on Egypt's on again, off again relationship with ergot click (Additional reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Cairo, Maha El Dahan in Abu Dhabi, and Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Susan Fenton, Greg Mahlich) Rosetta (Egypt) (AFP) - Rescuers brought more bodies ashore Thursday after a boat crowded with migrants capsized off the Egyptian coast, leaving at least 55 people dead and dozens missing. Survivors said up to 450 migrants had been aboard the fishing vessel when it sank on Wednesday about 12 kilometres (eight miles) from Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta. A health ministry official said 55 bodies had been retrieved. According to the military, 163 survivors have been rescued. Authorities have arrested four suspected human traffickers over the tragedy, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean. Military boats were seen bringing corpses to shore in body bags, one containing the body of a child whose grandfather recognised him and knelt down in shock. Rescuers said the search would focus on the boat's cold storage room where witnesses said about 100 people had been when the vessel flipped over. "The death toll is going to rise," a medical source told AFP. "On the boat there is a hold used to store fish. It hasn't been opened and there must be a lot of people inside." The accident comes months after the EU's border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound migrants were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous journey. Traffickers often overload the boats, some of them scarcely seaworthy, with passengers who have paid for the crossing. On a beach near Rosetta on Thursday, a small crowd gathered with some reading verses from the Koran and others desperately seeking information on relatives who may have been on board. Many survivors were in police custody. A prosecution official said they would be treated like "victims and not perpetrators" and would be released. Witnesses spoke of the harrowing moment their vessel keeled over due to overcrowding, as well as the agonising hours-long wait for help to arrive. Story continues - 'Like the apocalypse' - "There were 200 of us and the boat was already full, 200 more then arrived. The boat tilted to the side then began to sink," said Ahmed Mohamed, a 27-year-old Egyptian. "It was like the apocalypse. Everyone tried to get out alive. I swam for 10 kilometres." Another survivor, 17-year-old Ahmed Gamal said: "I just wanted to reach Europe and live a decent life". A municipal official in Rosetta said the dead included one child, 10 women and 31 young men. The International Organization for Migration said those rescued included 111 Egyptians, 26 Sudanese, 13 Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian. Judicial and security officials said the four people detained over the tragedy were accused of involuntary manslaughter and human trafficking. More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations. After Balkan countries closed the popular overland route in March and the EU agreed a deal with Turkey to halt departures, asylum-seekers turned to other ways to reach Europe. Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said in June that the dangerous crossing from Egypt to Italy, which often takes more than 10 days, was becoming increasingly popular. More than 300,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year from various points of departure, the UN said this week. The number is down from 520,000 in the first nine months of 2015. But fatality rates had risen, with 2016 on track to be "the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea," said the UN's refugee agency. The European Union launched "Operation Sophia" last year to destroy smuggler boats that could be used to ferry migrants across the Mediterranean. An EU official told AFP this month that almost 300 smuggler boats had been put out of commission in the past year. By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Data showing how many Russian citizens in Syria took part in a weekend election for a new Russian parliament suggests the Kremlin may have around 4,000 military personnel based there backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian Defense Ministry has declined to divulge the size of its contingent in Syria, which is largely deployed at the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, but also based at a naval facility, in Damascus and in other locations in government-controlled territory helping Assad fight rebels. But figures from Russia's Central Election Commission published on its site after parliamentary elections on Sunday, which were won by the ruling United Russia party, offer a clue. They show that 4,378 Russian citizens cast their votes using mobile ballot boxes outside Damascus, the Syrian capital, where just 193 Russians voted. The data did not break down whether the voters were civilians or military personnel, but many Russian civilians who lived in Syria before its civil war have fled. In the last Russian parliamentary election, in 2011, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that only 35 Russian military personnel, then based at the Tartous naval facility, had voted. The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), a group of Russia-based investigative bloggers who specialize in analyzing the Russian military, said the election commission data "offered a rare glimpse of the actual size of Russian force in Syria. "(The figure of 4,378) should reflect Russian numbers in Syria pretty closely, as turnouts at Russian military base polling stations tend to be 100 percent," a CIT note said. Russia launched air strikes in Syria on Sept. 30 last year, a move that altered the course of the conflict in Assad's favor. President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial withdrawal in March, though experts said that what followed resembled a reconfiguration of forces rather than a meaningful drawdown. Russian state TV broadcast footage of military personnel voting at the Hmeymim air base on Sept. 18. The RBK news portal cited Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov as saying at the time that all military personnel had taken part in the vote. Russian diplomats say that around 700 Russian citizens living in Syria used to take part in Russian parliamentary elections in peace time. Many of those voters, some of whom used to work in Syria's energy sector, have since left. Central Election Commission data showed a total of 5,360 Russian citizens in Syria were registered to vote this year, and that 62.7 percent of the 4,417 valid Russian voting slips had plumped for Putin's United Russia. (Editing by Mark Heinrich) Theres a great line in the satirical novel The Restaurant At the End of the Universe, from author Douglas Adams, about the kind of person who should not be President. Specifically: people who want to be President. One of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them. To summarise: it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it, Adams wrote. To summarise the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. Designated Survivor, which made its debut on ABC Wednesday night, provides a different scenario: somebody who has no desire to become President suddenly thrust into that role after the Capitol is bombed during the State of the Union, killing the President and everyone in front of him in the line of succession. Also Read: 'Designated Survivor' Review: Kiefer Sutherland Saves America Again That somebody is Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Thirteenth in the line of succession and, having been sequestered away during the SOTU as the titular designated survivor, hes now actually the President. Kirkman is the sort of character youd probably describe as such a dad you know, one of those middle aged dudes who makes lame jokes his teenage son doesnt think are funny, and then notes, with a half-frowny face, that you used to laugh at my jokes. Kirkman is just a nice guy. Square. Not really an interesting human being. Lacks any kind of real ambition. But I should point out that hes not a total pushover he takes great exception to the President excluding all his stuff from the State of the Union speech. On the other hand, when he learns hes about to be fired, hes kinda cool with it. Anybody whos cool with being fired is not the kind of guy who gets elected President. Story continues And when Kirkman ends up with the job, he knows hes not ready. The first thing he does after being dragged into the PEOC, deep underground beneath the White House, is excuse himself so he can find a toilet to puke in. Also Read: 11 Fall TV Shows We Can't Wait to See: From 'Designated Survivor' to 'The Good Place' (Photos) Its not grief puke. Thats not sadness thats infecting his gut. Its the pressure. He didnt want this. He doesnt think he can handle it. Hes terrified of ruining everything. The speech writer puking in the next stall (Kal Penn) tells him he should quit. Kirkman himself wants to quit. He wont quit, obviously, since the whole premise of the show demands he stay in office. But in the show, Kirkman very quickly realizes that he might be the only one who can keep the U.S. from going to war with Iran. If the bombing of the Capitol was one trainwreck, then Kirkman now finds himself at the front of another train thats about to barrel into the wrecked one. So he decides its his duty to stop it. And maybe he can, because being president is not his thing. Because hes kind of an outsider. He was going to be fired as HUD secretary, after all, because he wasnt good at playing politics. Maybe that inability to be a politician is exactly what makes him fit to be President. Also Read: How the 'Designated Survivor' Works in Real Life Whats funny about that is Donald Trumps campaign ads and his army of supporters say the same thing about him. Hes an outsider, ready to clean up the government. He tells it like it is instead of playing politics. But theres a big difference between Kirkman and Trump. For one, its hard to imagine President Trump turning down an opportunity to bomb Iran whereas turning down an opportunity to bomb Iran, during an unprecedented national crisis, is President Kirkmans first act in office. Designated Survivor is positioning Kirkman as a new sort of Jefferson Smith, from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, while the best analogue for Trump in that movie would be the villain. As that comparison would suggest, Kirkman is a TV President made of TV President tropes. Right now, that might be exactly what we need an American figure who when thrust into the biggest and brightest spotlight in the world doesnt revel in it. Hes calm, and thinks things through. Hes ready to head in the direction his well calibrated moral compass is pointing, even while it puts him in jeopardy with those who disagree with his decisions. He wants to do whats right, and what he thinks is right doesnt involve killing people from other countries for no reason. Also Read: Kiefer Sutherland: Here's Why Jack Bauer Would Like My New Show Kirkman comes off in the pilot episode as an exemplar of American ideals ideals that are so often preached by racists and xenophobes who dont actually believe in liberty or due process or the concept that every person is created equal and that they all deserve the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. I grew up in Alabama, okay, so Ive seen a lot of that brand of hypocrisy in my life. And weve all seen it this year every time Trump stands in front of a camera. Through one episode, President Kirkman has been thus far positioned very sincerely as Not One Of Those People. And if we ever needed that on our screens, its right now. Lets hope Designated Survivor can keep it up. Related stories from TheWrap: How the 'Designated Survivor' Works in Real Life 'Designated Survivor' Review: Kiefer Sutherland Saves America Again Kiefer Sutherland: Here's Why Jack Bauer Would Like My New Show President Abraham Lincoln altered the course of the Civil War and American society when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863. But the Proclamation actually had its roots in a key announcement made on September 22, 1862. In what became known as the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln made the threat clear, and in public, to the Confederate states that if they didnt return to the Union by January 1, 1863, the President would make a proclamation freeing slaves in those rebellious territories. Link: National Archives content about the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln said that on the first day of January . . . all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free. He was also quick to cite that the Proclamation came under Lincolns executive powers in relation to the Constitutions Commander in Chief clause. I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, do hereby proclaim and declare that hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prosecuted for the object of practically restoring the constitutional relation between the United States, and each of the States, and the people thereof, in which States that relation is, or may be, suspended or disturbed, he stated. President Lincoln had given the states in rebellion about three months notice to lay down their arms and give up their desire for a separate nation. Historian Harold Holzer detailed the debate within Lincolns cabinet over the preliminary Proclamation, which had been ongoing for about two months prior to the September 22, 1862 announcement. Lincoln was persuaded by Secretary of State William Seward to wait until the Union had won a significant battlefield victory. The Union forces had just repulsed an attack by General Robert E. Lees forces at the Battle of Antietam, which Lincoln saw as the sign that the time had come for the Proclamation. Story continues I made a solemn vow with God that if General Lee was driven backI would crown the result with a declaration of freedom for the slaves, Lincoln told his cabinet members. The Proclamation was controversial even in its preliminary form and it only freed slaves in the 10 rebellious states not controlled by Union forces, and let slavery intact in four Union states where it was still legal and several other areas. Lincoln and his advisers understood that an act to free all slaves in the United States would be on shaky constitutional grounds and would most likely require a constitutional amendment. The 10 states in rebellion as of September 22, 1862 had no intention of returning to the Union, and on January 1, 1863, Lincoln signed the final Emancipation that had several changes, including a provision that allowed freed slaves to fight in the Union army. Both the preliminary and final proclamations were executive orders. And they also made the end of slavery one of the principle objectives of the war for the Union side. Recent Constitution Daily Stories About Lincoln 50 interesting facts about Abraham Lincolns life On this day, Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation changes history The forgotten man who almost became president after Lincoln If Abraham Lincoln had died 1861, who would have replaced him? Emma Watson gave a speech about sexual assault on campuses and its SO important Emma Watson gave a speech about sexual assault on campuses and its SO important Emma Watson may have totally won our hearts by playing Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, but the 26-year-old actress has gone on to become a feminist spokesperson, activist against gender inequality, and humanitarian. Earlier this year, Watson told Paper magazine that she was taking a year off acting to become a better intersectional feminist. The move came after the young star was appointed the U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador and following the launch of her #HeForShe campaign. Watson has previously spoken out against how the press sexualized her early by taking up-the-skirt pap shots, and has commented on how her experiences, as a woman, have varied from those of her Potter cast mates. Emma Watson Feminism Now, however, Emma Watson is speaking about another important issue: sexual assault on campus. According to statistics gathered by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, between 20-25% of women on higher education campuses have either been raped or been the victim of attempted rape (thats basically 1 in 5 women!). Of these counts, only 5% of all incidents are reported to law enforcement. Similarly, cases like Stanford rapist Brock Turner and, and films like The Hunting Ground have highlighted how sexual assault on American college campuses has become an epidemic. Well, Emma Watson has decided to speak up on the issue and were totally applauding her. Emma Watson Speaking at the #HeForShes IMPACT report on gender equality in universities to the United Nations on Tuesday (September 20th), Watson spoke about her own experiences studying at Brown and questioned why colleges werent doing more about sexual assault on campus. What if our experience at university shows us that women dont belong in leadership? What if it shows us that, yes, women can study, but they shouldnt lead a seminar? she asked. What if, as still in many places around the world, it shows that women dont belong there at all? What if, as is the case in far too many universities, we are given the message that sexual violence isnt actually a form of violence? Story continues Watson then went on to say that the university experience needed to value women, that there needs to be a greater equality between genders in educational establishments, and that safety was paramount. Importantly right now, she continued, the [university] experience must make it clear that the safety of women, minorities, and anyone who might be vulnerable is a right and not a privilege. Watch Emma Watsons full speech below. Watson has helped spearhead the #HeForShe Impact 10x10x10, which gathers 10 heads of state, 10 global CEOs, and 10 university presidents from eight countries to discuss and propell gender equality in governments, businesses, and college campuses. A university should be a place of refuge that takes action against all forms of violence, Watson said. For more information on the #HeForShe campaign and how you can get involved visit the website. If you or anyone you know is need of someone to talk to, please visit Not Alone. The post Emma Watson gave a speech about sexual assault on campuses and its SO important appeared first on HelloGiggles. LA ESCOBILLA, Mexico (Reuters) - Nesting endangered marine turtles have arrived at La Escobilla beach on Mexico's Pacific coast, in their annual migration, a sign that life is about to burst forth from scorched grains of sand. "We hope to receive some 150,000 nestings which means 15 million eggs. Of those, not all will make it," said Erika Peralta, who is in charge of the Olive ridley sea turtle Sanctuary Cooperative on La Escobilla beach in Oaxaca state. Only 10 percent of the 15 million eggs are expected to hatch in 45 days, according to biologists. Once they hatch, the tiny black baby reptiles will haul themselves to the sand's surface and painstakingly crawl to the sea. Small enough at birth to fit into a child's palm, females will hit land again as adults in 25 to 30 years' time, thanks to a genetic homing device that makes them return to the beach where they hatched so as to carry on the reproductive process. Males will never return. The endangered Olive ridleys, whose numbers worldwide have plummeted in recent decades after mass exploitation, are one of the smallest sea turtles, weighing up to 100 pounds (45 km) and reaching some 2 feet (65 cm) in length as adults. Their hatching is a natural spectacle and local families have taught their children to protect the marine turtles. "I'm looking after them. So that they (poachers) don't come and steal their eggs, kill them. So that dogs, black vultures don't kill them," said Benito Cortes, a young boy. The turtles come to nest along 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of protected coastline. Volunteers at the Olive ridley sea turtle Sanctuary Cooperative on La Escobilla beach, in the town of Santa Maria Tonameca, battle for turtle conservation in the Pacific Ocean. Populations of several species of Gulf Coast turtles have collapsed after being hunted to the brink of extinction. "In arrival beaches it's common the percentages of survival are low due to the number of eggs being laid," Peralta said. For several years, she and dozens of volunteers have worked to protect the beach and the region's ecotourism. This beach sees between seven and eight nesting arrivals per year of marine turtles to nest. This year's third season is the largest. There are 12 beaches where Olive ridley turtles nest around the world, according to Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), marine turtles have been around for over 100 million years. Natural predators have been around for thousands of years but it is the impact of humans which is affecting their numbers, either through hunting or entanglement in fishing nets. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Editing by Melissa Fares and Sandra Maler) As India plans its next move to corner the neighbour, a defiant Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif today said that his army is fully prepared to face any scenario. By Kaswar Klasra: With India mulling several options, including military, to give a befitting reply to the Uri terror attack, Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif today said that his army is fully prepared to face any scenario. A Corps Commanders' Conference was held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi where General Sharif reviewed the external and internal security situation and the operational preparedness of the army. advertisement MILITARY PREPAREDNESS The Army chief expressed his satisfaction over the military preparedness and said that Pakistan is keeping a close watch on the latest happenings in the region and their impact on Pakistan. ALSO READ: Uri attack: Pervez Musharraf denies terrorists used Pakistani weapons Sharif said that the "armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to respond to entire spectrum of direct and indirect threat". WILL FOIL SINISTER PLOT At the meeting, the General said that the army is ready to thwart any sinister plot against the country. "Pakistan's Armed Forces, together with our resilient nation, have surmounted every challenge and will thwart any sinister design against integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan in future as well," Sharif said. The meeting also saw the Army chief praising the success of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Pakistan's military offensive against militant groups in north Waziristan. Sharif paid glowing tributes to the officers in the army, Rangers and the police who lost their life fighting terrorists. ALSO READ: Pakistan aware of 'nefarious designs' of enemies: General Raheel Sharif --- ENDS --- Nesting female marine turtles arrived at La Escobilla beach on Mexico's Oaxaca Pacific coast, in their annual migration, a sign that life is about to burst forth from scorched grains of sand. Every year from the start of August to the end of September, these tiny black baby reptiles haul themselves to the sand's surface and painstakingly crawl to the sea. Small enough at birth to fit into a child's palm, females will hit land again as adults in 25 to 30 years time, thanks to a genetic homing device that makes them return to the beach where they hatched so as to carry on the reproductive process. Males will never return. It's a natural spectacle and local families have taught their children to protect the marine turtles. "I'm looking after them. So that they (poachers) don't come and steal their eggs, kill them. So that dogs, black vultures don't kill them," said Benito Cortes. The turtles arrive along 15 kilometers of protected coastline. Members of the Olive ridley turtle Sanctuary Cooperative on La Escobilla beach, in the town of Santa Maria Tonameca, battle for turtle conservation in the Pacific Ocean. Populations of several species of Gulf Coast turtles have collapsed, hunted to the brink of extinction. "We hope to receive some 150,000 nestings which means 15 million eggs. Of those, not all will make it. In arrival beaches it's common the percentages of survival are low due to the number of eggs being laid," said Erika Peralta, who is in charge of the sanctuary. For several years, Peralta and dozens of volunteers have worked to protect the beach and the region's ecotourism. Many are repentant fishermen who used to hunt turtles prized for turtle soup and their meat. According to biologists from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) this number of eggs does not remove the species from the threat of extinction because only 10 percent of the 15 million eggs will hatch in 45 days. This beach sees between seven and eight arrivals per year of marine turtles to nest. This third season this year is the largest. There are 12 beaches where Olive ridley turtles nest around the world, according to the CONANP. The most important one is this one, due to the number of nestings. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), marine turtles have been around for over 100 million years. Natural predators have been around for thousands of years but it is the impact of humans which is affecting their numbers, either through hunting or via entanglement in fishing nets. Olive ridley turtles have slightly up-turned shell edges and can weigh up to 45 kilograms. The species has to recover from centuries of over-exploitation. In the 1960s, over one million Olive ridley turtles were butchered each year for their meat and skin on Mexico's Pacific coast. The species is classified as endangered together with five others out of seven marine turtle species, the WWF says. Conservation efforts such as this one has seen turtle populations recover in some areas but without urgent global action the future of these magnificent creatures still looks grim. Seasoned investors know that political volatility is always a consideration when investing in emerging markets and that consideration becomes all the more important when evaluating single-country exchange traded funds. Although the Philippines usually is not the first developing economy to mind when thinking of political volatility, that could be changing as global investors grow increasingly concerned about the antics of newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte. Earlier this year, Philippine presidential race weighed on investor sentiment as Rodrigo Duterte had been tight-lipped on what he would do to support the economy, fueling uncertainty over the economic outlook. In the weeks before the election, investors dumped Philippine equities, expressing uncertainty over Dutertes economic plans and lack of policy-making experience, reports Lillian Karunungan for Bloomberg. SEE MORE: Politics Pushes This ETF Higher Foreign investors are pulling money out of the countrys stock market rapidly, riled by a series of remarks made by the acid-tongued Duterte against key ally U.S. and China that have cast doubts over the future of the countrys foreign policies as well as his handling of the economy, according to CNBC. Trending on ETF Trends 5 Reasons Why Active Management Works A Look at How Portfolio Evolution Meets Technology Revolution Pharma ETF Looks Healthy in a Sick Market After Endo Names New CEO Social Media ETF Strengthens as Twitter Woos Buyers Taking a Step Back From REIT ETFs Following Fed Stance Philippine stocks currently traded at a slightly higher multiple than their Thai counterparts and are about inline with Indonesia, two markets against which the Philippines is frequently compared. Year-to-date, iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (EPHE) , the lone ETF dedicated to the Philippines, is higher by about 11%. That is a solid showing though one that lags many emerging markets single-country ETFs, including the equivalent Indonesia and Thailand funds. Story continues The Philippine presidential race weighed on investor sentiment as Duterte had been tight-lipped on what he would do to support the economy, fueling uncertainty over the economic outlook. However, stocks there rallied after he emerged victorious in the June election. Related: Philippines ETF Remains an Emerging Markets Star Many observers had expected the new regime to continue with policies that have ensured the Philippines has clocked some of the fastest growth rates in the world, reports CNBC. Now there are worries that the presidents erratic outbursts may end up distracting from the task at hand. For more information on the ETF Emerging Markets market, visit our Emerging Markets category. iShares MSCI Philippines ETF ephe The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product. * Swedish daily cites internal documents * Union rep says no such decision made * Ericsson says job cuts to be made worldwide, Sweden not excluded (Updates late Wednesday story, adds Ericsson and union comment) STOCKHOLM, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Mobile telecoms equipment maker Ericsson plans to close the last of its Swedish manufacturing sites as part of planned savings, cutting about 3,000 jobs, Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet reported. Ericsson said in July that it would step up cost cuts in the face of deteriorating market conditions, having already announced a 9 billion Swedish crown ($1.1 billion) cost-cutting programme in 2014. Manufacturing facilities in the cities of Boras and Kumla will be closed, the paper reported, citing internal documents. The decision ends 140 years of production in Sweden for the company that began as a producer of telegraph and telephony equipment. The planned closures are expected to save about 3 billion crowns, Svenska Dagbladet reported. Union representative Per Norlander, however, told Swedish radio that negotiations had not resulted in a final decision. "It's absolutely not certain they will be closed," Norlander said. Ericsson told Reuters on Thursday that it would reduce staff worldwide. "We have large operations in Sweden, which are not excluded," its communications department said in an email. "Our employees and, where applicable, union representatives will always be informed first." Svenska Dagbladet reported that the affected jobs are in the network products division, the company's biggest business area. Ericsson, which has about 120,000 employees worldwide including 17,000 in Sweden, has been contending with stagnant demand in developed markets where the most advanced networks have largely been built already. ($1 = 8.5308 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Mia Shanley, additional reporting by Olof Swahnberg; Editing by Toby Chopra and David Goodman) Ethan Hawke was on The Late Show to promote his new movie The Magnificent Seven. While there, Hawke told host Stephen Colbert about a particularly painful moment from his early acting days. Fresh off his role as Todd Anderson in Dead Poets Society, Hawke landed a meaty role for his Broadway debut. He would play Constantine in a stage production of Anton Chekhovs The Seagull. It was something Hawke, in his early 20s at the time, was excited about. Dead Poets Society comes out, people think you might have a chance of making it, Hawke said, going through his mindset at the time. You audition for and get your chance, in your Broadway debut, in Anton Chekhovs The Seagull. Youre playing the ultimate young mans part as Constantine, youre making your Broadway debut. You fantasize in your head, Hawke continued. You cant help it. You know youre not supposed to be results oriented, you want to share and express yourself, but you do think, maybe people will think Im great, you know? You might read what Marlon Brandos debut was like, and you read the great notices, and you think, I wonder if mine will be like that. Marlon Brandos first years on Broadway are the stuff of legend. According to The New Yorker, in Brandos second play, Truckline Cafe, after one of his brief scenes, the rest of the cast sometimes had to wait for nearly two minutes after Brandos exit while the audience screamed and stamped its feet. But back to Hawke. Youre rehearsing and feeling so confident, the four-time Oscar nominee said about the days leading up to his taking of the stage. You know, its really going well and your mom, who is very supportive, comes, and shes like, Wow, Ethan! Youre really doing it. And then The New York Times comes. The New York Times did come, and according to Hawke, they werent so kind. Recalling a bad write-up from memory, Hawke shared the review: Ethan Hawke plays Constantine more concerned with his pimples than his poetry. Perhaps he should spend less time at the Actors Studio and more at the dermatologist. Story continues We couldnt find that actual line, but we did find a New York Times review that mentioned Hawkes performance. Critic Frank Rich wrote, [Constantine] is acted by the promising Ethan Hawke with an arm-waving display of unfocused nervous energy. Harsh. But fortunately, Hawke has had a career many would envy, and he knows it too. But Im still here, man, he shouted. Im 45! Im on the Colbert show! Also on The Late Show, Michelle Obama Shares the Highs and Lows of Being First Lady: 3rd Party Embed Code: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. Ethan Hawke reveals the meanest thing a critic ever said about him, and OUCH! Ethan Hawke reveals the meanest thing a critic ever said about him, and OUCH! Its no secret that actors aka people who essentially are forced to live their lives in the public eye thanks to a little thing called the Internet kind of have to develop a thick skin. But that doesnt mean that what a critic says doesnt legitimately hurt sometimes. And recently, actor Ethan Hawke got super, painfully real on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert about basically the worst thing anyone has ever said about his acting. And it was VERY OUCH. ICYMI, he tells the audience that after his first Broadway performance as a young, eager actor, the New York Times wrote, Ethan Hawke plays [the character of] Constantine more concerned with his pimples than his poetry. Perhaps he should spend less time at the Actors Studio, and more at the dermotologist. Schitt's Creek AHHHHH! WAY HARSH! Hawke now 45 tells the story with a huge grin on his face and clearly has a major dose of perspective about the whole thing. But still, wow. We feel for you, dude. And, with hits like Reality Bites, Before Sunrise, and the upcoming The Magnificent Seven (oh, not to mention the fact that he just received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. NBD) the jokes really on that NYT critic, dont ya think? Okay, were off to grab some aloe for that second-hand BURN. H/T Vulture The post Ethan Hawke reveals the meanest thing a critic ever said about him, and OUCH! appeared first on HelloGiggles. BRUSSELS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Thursday it was looking into whether to take action against former EU commissioner Neelie Kroes for failing to declare a directorship of an offshore firm in the Bahamas. Kroes, who was the Commission's anti-trust chief and then oversaw digital affairs under former president Jose Manuel Barroso for a decade until 2014, confirmed to newspapers which published leaked Bahamas documents that she should have declared her interest in the offshore company. A spokeswoman for the Commission said: "Mrs. Kroes has now informed us and we will analyse and check the information before commenting." EU officials said that a failure to declare such a directorship would be a breach of EU rules. The revelation comes at an awkward time for the Commission, which is battling to regain public trust following the British vote to leave the Union. Against a rise of nationalist and anti-establishment parties across Europe, it is fighting to change an impression that it is too close to big business. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has already made clear his irritation with his predecessor Barroso for taking a job with U.S. bank Goldman Sachs this summer. Kroes also came in for criticism from the Commission earlier this month after she publicly questioned the decision of the current competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, to demand 13 billion euros in back taxes from Apple Inc in Ireland. A Commission spokesman noted in reaction that the Dutch former digital commissioner now holds a position at U.S. ride-sharing company Uber, which she had openly supported during her mandate as tech commissioner in its legal battles with taxi drivers' organisations in Europe. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; @macdonaldrtr; Editing by Francesco Guarascio and Hugh Lawson) * Ex-antitrust, tech commissioner in spotlight after Bahamas leaks * Commission's president Juncker seeks clarification from Kroes * Bahamas documents trigger new calls to fight tax avoidance (adds new comments from Commission, political reactions) By Francesco Guarascio and Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Thursday it was looking into whether to take action against former EU commissioner Neelie Kroes for failing to declare a directorship of an offshore firm in the Bahamas. Kroes, who was the Commission's anti-trust chief and then oversaw digital affairs under former president Jose Manuel Barroso for a decade until 2014, confirmed to newspapers which published leaked Bahamas documents that she should have declared her interest in the offshore company. A spokesman for the European Commission said the EU executive is seeking further clarification from Kroes in addition to information now provided by the former commissioner. He did not rule out sanctions for Kroes if it was established that she failed to declare the directorship in the Bahamas. The revelation comes at an awkward time for the Commission, which is battling to regain public trust following the British vote to leave the Union. Against a rise of nationalist and anti-establishment parties across Europe, it is fighting to change an impression that it is too close to big business. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has already made clear his irritation with his predecessor Barroso for taking a job with U.S. bank Goldman Sachs this summer. Though the Commission does not think Barroso breached its code of conduct, an ethics panel will report soon on whether his move to a bank which some Europeans blame for the EU financial crisis was in line with an obligation to act with integrity. "There are certain things that even the strictest rules like ours cannot fix," the Commission spokesman said. "This was the case of our former president who made a choice to go to work for a certain bank, and this is now the case of the former commissioner who apparently did not respect the rules and did not tell the Commission about it," he added. Story continues "Commissioners' conduct past and present must be exemplary," European Parliament President Martin Schulz tweeted, saying the Bahamas incident placed a "shadow on Kroes". Kroes, a Dutch liberal politician, also came in for criticism from the Commission earlier this month after she publicly questioned the decision of the current competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, to demand 13 billion euros in back taxes from Apple Inc in Ireland. A Commission spokesman noted in reaction that the Dutch former digital commissioner now holds a position at U.S. ride-sharing company Uber, which she had openly supported during her mandate as tech commissioner in its legal battles with taxi drivers' organisations in Europe. FIGHT TO TAX AVOIDANCE "As with other similar revelations, we should be very cautious and deal with this in an orderly manner, avoiding any premature conclusions," said a spokesman for the centre-right group, the largest in the European Parliament. "The leaks have yet again underlined that what we are facing is a structural problem and not a scandal about individuals," he added, calling for a quick adoption of an EU blacklist of tax havens. The European Commission wants to establish a common blacklist by the end of next year, and impose sanctions on listed countries. It published in September a preliminary list of 81 countries and jurisdictions that have a higher chance of facilitating tax avoidance, on which "the Bahamas were flagged as a high-risk country in terms of problems with its taxation system", the commissioner responsible for taxation, Pierre Moscovici, said. Anti-corruption advocacy group Transparency International called on countries worldwide to publish the details of who owns and controls companies established in their jurisdictions. The EU Commission proposed in July new transparency rules on company ownership, which will need approval from the 28 EU member states. (Editing by Catherine Evans) The Hague (AFP) - Former European competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, under fire Thursday over an undeclared link to a Bahamas-based firm while in office, rose from a distinguished career in Dutch politics to become one of Europe's most powerful women. But her close ties with business raised eyebrows in the European Parliament even after "Steely Neelie", as she was dubbed, earned a reputation in Brussels for taking on global companies and their dominance in the markets. Kroes, 75, started her political career in 1971 as an MP for the Dutch Liberal and business-friendly People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). The party is today headed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and governs the Netherlands with its junior Labour Party coalition partner. Between 1982-89 she served two terms as transport, public works and communications minister in the Dutch cabinet and helped put the state-run post and telecoms company on the road to privatisation. It was in 2004 however, when Kroes joined European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to serve as competition commissioner that her star began its meteoric rise. Even then, the immaculately-dressed Kroes's close ties to business caused rumblings. But she brushed aside criticism, vowing not to return to business after her first term. It was a pledge that she was later to break. During her time in Brussels, Kroes earned a reputation as a tough no-nonsense enforcer after taking on Microsoft, E.ON, GDF Suez and other corporate giants in her monopolies-busting role and slapping them with hefty fines. - Conflict of interest? - In 2010 she was inaugurated for a second term in Brussels -- this time as the Commission's vice president responsible for Europe's digital agenda, a passion which she pursued with vigour. A champion of cutting mobile roaming costs across the continent and supporting internet start-ups, her dream was to have every EU citizen hooked up online by 2020. Story continues While serving as commissioner, she vigorously defended Uber in 2014 after a Brussels court decided to ban the ridesharing company. She maintained the decision was not about "protecting or helping passengers -- it's about protecting a taxi cartel." In May this year, Kroes joined Uber's policy board, which among others include a former Peruvian prime minister and a Saudi princess. She also joined US tech company Salesforce's board of directors in April and was appointed special adviser to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch last year, making her return to the private sector. Kroes denies any wrongdoing after revelations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists this week showed she had been a director of Mint Holdings Ltd in the Bahamas between 2000 and 2009 -- a conflict of interest while she was in office. She said she never knew she had remained listed as a director until her removal in 2009, saying it was a mistake made in "good faith." By Maria Sheahan and Victoria Bryan FRANKFURT/BERLIN (Reuters) - After 12 years chasing a comet across more 6 billion km of space, European scientists will end the historic Rosetta mission by crash landing the spacecraft on the surface of the dusty, icy body at the end of the month. Data collected by Rosetta, which has captured the public's imagination thanks in part to the European Space Agency's cartoon depictions of it and lander Philae, is helping scientists better understand how the Earth and other planets formed. The spacecraft has managed several historic firsts, including the first time a spacecraft has orbited a comet rather than just whizzing past to snap some fly-by pictures, and the first time a probe has landed on a comet's surface. It was also the first mission to venture beyond the main asteroid belt relying solely on solar cells for power. After more than two years of circling comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko, collecting a treasure trove of data that will keep scientists busy for years to come, the comet's distance from the sun is nearing the point where solar power becomes too weak to operate the spacecraft and download data from its computers. In the final hours of its controlled descent on Sept. 30, Rosetta will be able to take close-up pictures of the comet and collect data on gases closer to the surface before joining Philae and shutting down forever. "We haven't been in those last two kilometres (to the surface) with Rosetta and we believe it's fundamental in understanding how gases and dust get from the surface out to the outer atmosphere," Matt Taylor, ESA's Rosetta project scientist, told Reuters ahead of Rosetta's end-of-mission event at ESA's Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. "COOL SCIENCE" Those who have worked on Rosetta say it by far exceeded their expectations by surviving the trip for as long as it did. It successfully sent its 100 kg (220 lb) washing-machine sized lander down to the surface in November 2014 in what was considered a remarkable feat of precision space travel, even if the lander ended up bouncing and coming to rest in the shade where it could not be recharged. Story continues "We were going into the unknown," Paolo Ferri, head of mission operations at ESA, told Reuters. "The spacecraft really surprised us." Rosetta has detected key organic compounds in the comet, bolstering the notion that comets delivered the chemical building blocks for life long ago to Earth and throughout the solar system. The Rosetta mission has inspired artists as well as scientists. Electronic music composer Vangelis has produced a new album called Rosetta, with the release timed for the end of the mission. "We knew Rosetta was going to have a big impact but didn't know it was going to be this big and that people would be that interested in it. It had all the components - a long journey, adventure, technological challenges and danger and of course, the reason we are there for: cool science!" Taylor said. (Editing by Andrew Heavens) Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling aren't walking down the aisle just yet. Reports surfaced on Wednesday that the pair had recently tied the knot in a secret wedding ceremony, however, sources close to the couple tell ET that the reports are simply not true. WATCH: Ryan Gosling Says Living With Eva Mendes and Their Two Daughters Is 'Heaven' While they may be holding off on marriage, the two are clearly in it for the long haul. The couple recently welcomed their second child together, a daughter named Amada, in April. Mendes and Gosling were already parents to Esmeralda, 2. Gosling couldn't help but gush about his family just last week, while promoting his new film, La La Land, at the Toronto International Film Festival. "They're angels," he told ET of his little girls. "It's the happiest time of my life." WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Gosling Gushes About His Two Children: 'It's the Happiest Time in My Life' Mendes similarly boasted about their daughters last month. "We're constantly playing Cuban music. I speak to them in Spanish, and my mom speaks to Esmeralda in Spanish," she told Latina. "Well, now she speaks to both of them in Spanish. Any time I have an opportunity to introduce her or them -- I have to say 'them' now, though my newborn just sleeps all the time -- to my culture, whether it's through music, or through food, I do. That is a main priority, for sure." WATCH: Eva Mendes Makes Stunning First Public Appearance Since Giving Birth Just 2 Months Ago See more in the video below. Related Articles While Delhi government and municipal bodies are busy with anti-mosquito fogging drives, experts believe the technique is not only ineffective but also harmful. Data suggests that mosquitoes have in fact become resistant to the chemical used in fumigation and may not die. By Shashank Shekhar: Is fogging helpful for Delhi residents in this season of dengue and chikungunya? Even though the Delhi government and the municipal bodies have been busy with the fogging exercise, experts feel that it is ineffective and doesn't help in getting rid of the vector-borne diseases. "The data to suggest that fogging actually decreases number of mosquitoes is not very strong. Fumigation is not a preventive measure but only a containment measure. It is a high-risk formula with only psychological effects. It makes people feel safer," said Dr Randeep Guleria, head of department of pulmonary medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). advertisement Also Read: Exposed: Anti-mosquito drive launched by politicians in Delhi, a mere photo-op FOGGING NOT EFFECTIVE, IS VERY HARMFUL According to Guleria, there are some data which suggest that mosquitoes have in fact become resistant to the chemical used in fumigation and may not die. "Fumigation is not foolproof. Dengue has to be controlled at the larval stage," he said. The fogging machines used by the municipal corporations in Delhi spray 95 litres of diesel mixed with insecticides in an hour. According to doctors, one of the insecticides used for fumigation is malathion which can be hazardous for humans, especially for the vulnerable groups. Malathion is harmful both in the long and short term. In the long term it can have chronic effects, while in the short term it can cause breathing problems and headaches in a normal person. It is especially harmful to persons with compromised breathing ability. "It has an adverse effect on those who are asthmatic and allergic. Lot of people cough, sneeze and their eyes burn due to chemicals used in fogging. Fumigation is no more effective but has negative impact on human health," said Dr SP Byotra, senior consultant and chairman of the department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. "Fogging is mostly done outside the houses which can be effective only for 5-10 minutes and then it gets mixed in the air and hence there will be no impact on the mosquitoes," said Leader of House in SDMC and former South Delhi mayor Subhash Arya. CHIKUNGUNYA, DENGUE STINGS DELHI Delhi is witnessing a steep rise in cases of chikungunya and dengue that have claimed at least 34 lives so far. About 41 private and 35 government hospitals are treating the dengue and chikungunya patients. The three municipal bodies in Delhi are conducting fumigation in residential and commercial areas. Last week, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and volunteers went across the city armed with fogging machines. Following severe criticism, the AAP has sought help of Bharatiya Janata Party MPs, MLAs and other prominent leaders to control the outbreak of vector-borne diseases. advertisement Delhi's Water Minister Kapil Mishra had appealed to all MPs, MLAs and councillors to keep aside political differences and fight the diseases together. In an open letter, Mishra urged everyone to come together and fight dengue and chikungunya. The Delhi Congress also launched a helpline number 9891620771 to receive complaints on viral fever like chikungunya and dengue on WhatsApp and SMS. Also Read: Delhi govt prepares roadmap for fogging As Delhi battles dengue, chikungunya, NGT slams civic bodies for 'horrible ground reality' Over 1,500 people infected in Delhi: It is high time we know everything about Chikungunya --- ENDS --- From ELLE Milan Fashion Week kicked off today with the Gucci-est Gucci show we've seen from creative director Alessandro Michele thus far. According to show notes, all of the pieces in this collection, titled Magic Lanterns, "tell a story steeped in wonder, phantasmagoria, and unorthodoxy." This explains the bold ruffles, mad-cap styling, signature prints, and loads of color that took over the runway. It also explains the show venue that featured over 250,000 mirrored sequins that moved and reflected surrounding models as they walked down a carpeted, curved runway marked with the House of Web stripe and stars. Here, a crash course on what you need to know about that show. '80s inspiration is still going strong. Logo tees, leggings, and stirrup pants, new takes on the power suit, and red leather were all spotted on the runway. Photo credit: Getty Every one will be talking about the hats. Why? Because they were over-the-top and out of this world in the best way possible. Photo credit: Getty Exhibit A Photo credit: Getty Exhibit B Photo credit: Getty Exhibit C Ruffels reigned supreme. From dresses and hats to coats and gowns, many pieces were decked out with frilly touches. Photo credit: Getty Speaking of gowns, this season's are the stuff red carpet dreams are made of. Awards season is just a few months away and I predict that the coolest, more daring red carpet fixtures (Saoirse Ronan, Brie Larson, Kerry Washington-I'm looking at you) will want to wear these pieces. Photo credit: Getty This is the coat of the season. Much like the pastel pink fox fur coat that made its way down the runway for fall 2016, this is the topper that everyone will be lusting after. Photo credit: Getty You Might Also Like Two words probably come to mind when you think of Nashville, TN: Music City. And music is what gives this town its soul. From fiddle playing to the Grand Ole Opry to what Rolling Stone calls the Best Music Scene, Nashville is the place to be if youre in the music industry or if you just love music. But thats just one of the reasons Nashville is one of the hottest home-buying markets in the US. I have a musician husband, so that has a lot do with why we live here, says Laura Gummerman. But the music scene isnt the only thing she enjoys about the city. Theres such a great local restaurant scene, so many unique shops, pretty parks, and lots of concerts, says Gummerman. I love all the options I have when I want to go out. Photographer Lisa Diederich, who recently moved to Nashville from Chicago, IL, agrees. For me, Nashville seems like the kind of town where everyone is friendly, creative, and welcoming. Although Diederichs fiance, a musician, songwriter, and composer, was the driving force for their relocation, Diederich loved the idea of moving south. Nashville was always calling us, she says. Because this town draws all sorts of musicians, creative types, nature lovers, and just all-around friendly folks who give Nashville that small-town feel, it can be tough to snag your dream house to buy or rent. Why? High competition. But Gummerman and Diederich are happy to share their stories in the hope that youll also find your dream house when youre hunting for homes for sale or rent in Nashville. 1. Be prepared to act fast Both Gummerman and Diederich made long-distance relocations to Nashville, which made things crazy for them. Buying from another city made the process more chaotic than usual, says Gummerman, who is from Pittsburgh, PA. Diederich house-hunted for her home rental from Chicago. We were driving back and forth between the cities, she says. Fierce competition combined with the process of scrutinizing online listings, scoping out neighborhoods, and working with real estate agents from afar, the odds for finding the right place were not exactly in Gummermans or Diederichs favor. We basically spent hours every day looking up listings, says Gummerman. The market is so hot here, we were in a six-way bidding war for houses on opening day! But after three months and five offers made, the Gummermans succeeded in buying a home. Story continues Similarly, Diederichs process to find a rental property was no piece of cake either. We were finding places on Trulia that were beautiful, looked like our style, and were in the perfect area for us, but a lot of the times they were pulled off the site, already rented, in a matter of days or sometimes even hours, says Diederich. So, when in town, Diederich and her fiance made a daily ritual of perusing listings while having their morning cup of coffee. We would send out an email as soon as we saw a property we liked and would see it that day. Perseverance paid off. Diederich and her fiance rented a place that fits their lifestyle after two weeks of active searching (spread over a three-month period). 2. Discover the great Nashville neighborhoods All great cities have iconic neighborhoods (or at least areas that stand out in some way) think SoHo in New York, NY, the Mission District in San Francisco, CA, or Little Five Points in Atlanta, GA. Nashville is no exception. Gummerman and Diederich both name the same three neighborhoods as favorites and in the same order: East Nashville, 12South, and Germantown. We love East Nashville for the local feel and the brunch locations, says Gummerman. Its amazingly fun, with the great music scene, little shops, and independent restaurants, agrees Diederich. 12South is a great place for strolling, shopping, and stopping for a paleta (homemade ice pops), and Germantown has unique shopping and is close to the main farmers market thats across from a park, so thats a good option for a Sunday afternoon, says Gummerman. 3. Narrow down your neighborhood must-haves It can be overwhelming to start a home search without first setting some parameters. Once you have a sense of the citys neighborhoods, honing in on specific areas where youd like to live and can afford will help you find your best options quickly. We wanted an area that had a yard and some privacy, says Gummerman. She and her husband decided to live 15 minutes outside the city for a little breathing room but with easy access to all that Nashville has to offer. Diederich and her fiance also chose a home outside the city but still close to all the action. Their must-have feature? Extra bedrooms, since they each need a home studio. We were ready to have a yard and a few bedrooms, and we got really lucky with an amazing property, says Diederich. 4. Know (and stay within) your budget Being preapproved for a mortgage tells you how much house you can buy. But thats not always the number you should use. Spending the maximum you are approved for could leave you with little extra money each month. We stuck to our budget, says Gummerman. Its hard when you get house fever for a unique house, but ultimately I wanted to be in a comfortable spot financially so we could do a few changes to the house. Sometimes buying less of a house or a fixer-upper is the way to go. This is especially true in a market like Nashville, which is a hot spot for young buyers, ranking at number seven on Trulias best real estate markets for college grads in 2016. 5. Dont buy until youre ready Diederich and her fiance were inundated with opinions about renting versus buying. Ultimately, the pair decided to set aside all that helpful real estate advice and make their own decisions about whats best for them. Because the couple had never lived in Nashville before, they decided to rent for a year to test the waters and find out where they would like to settle in the long term. Theres not one blanket rule for everyone. Do whats right for you, says Diederich. 6. Be businesslike, not emotional Although tough to do, its wise not to get too attached to any one house. Because Diederich had this mindset, We werent disappointed when a house we liked went off the market, she says. When you dont get the house you bid on, it just means it wasnt the house for you, and your house is still out there somewhere, says Gummerman. What makes you feel #AtHomeHere? Nows your chance to win $1,000 per week! To enter, follow @Trulia on Instagram and register at Trulia.com/athomehere. Lean In Work From Home Woman Baby Make no mistake, the gender wage gap is real. For every $1 a man earns, a woman working full-time in the same field tends to earn just $0.79. But as Sarah Kliff recently explained for Vox, that statistic represents a symptom of a much larger problem inherent in the way Americans do their jobs. Based on the best available data, the fields where the wage gap is largest have one thing in common: They do not offer flexible work hours. If employers want to ensure they're doing everything possible to pay people fairly, they should therefore create some wiggle room as far as when people can do their work. One of the most compelling studies that Kliff cites in arguing for flexible hours comes from Claudia Goldin, an economist at Harvard. By Goldin's measure, the fields that offer the least flexibility law, business, finance, and some health professions have the biggest gender wage gaps. Those with more flexibility, such as pharmacy and science work, have smaller gaps. These inequalities grow as people move deeper into their careers. Most college graduates, male or female, earn about the same amount in a given industry when they start out, Goldin explained on the Freakonomics podcast. "Further down the pike in their lives, by 10 to 15 years out, we see very large differences in their pay," she says. Goldin explains that this gap arises because women have a stronger preference than men for "temporal flexibility" the ability to work at odd hours so they can tend to children, family emergencies, and the like. But because of how many industries are structured, those flexible roles often tend to pay lower wages. Men, on the other hand, tend to value income growth and take on the caretaker role less often, so they don't seek flexible hours in their jobs as much. Goldin offers the example of a female lawyer who doesn't necessarily want to work 80 hours a week at a big firm because she has priorities outside of the office. A male lawyer might be more willing to put in the hours required to make partner, whereas the female lawyer is more likely to seek a role that allows her to do some work from home, even though it pays less. Both work in the same field, but the man's salary will likely be higher. Story continues If companies want to help close the gender wage gap, they could try to treat their employees more like scientists and less like businesspeople, focusing less on when people punch in. Of course, it's not always feasible to offer total flexibility, particularly for doctors who own their own practice or consultants who travel for work. But for industries in which one employee can "sub in" for another, thereby giving the other more flexibility, fair pay is very possible. Providing that wiggle room won't be a cure-all, but it could go a long way toward creating happier, more fairly treated employees. NOW WATCH: A Starbucks worker's act of gratitude for NYC police officers guarding the scene of the explosion is going viral More From Business Insider Its been 43 years since The Exorcist first hit theaters, quickly becoming one of the most influential and parodied horror movies. Many have tried to replicate its creepy vibe and pea-soup-spewing terror, only to fall short of director William Friedkins Oscar-winning original. Now adapted for television, Foxs The Exorcist isnt just battling that legacy but also the films many copycats. The series is appreciably unsettling, but thus far it wont make your head spin. Judged by its pilot, The Exorcist looks to ground its demonic-possession drama in somber realism and gotta-see-what-happens plot twists. Alfonso Herrera plays Father Tomas, a sensitive Chicago priest whose sermons advocate the importance of doubt and humility as ways to be closer to God which is appropriate for a man suffering from a deep-seated concern that his own faith isnt strong enough. As if on cue, a member of his congregation, Angela Rance (Geena Davis), tells him she believes a malevolent spirit has invaded her familys home. Tomas is suspicious, but when he starts having eerie dreams in which he encounters a radical priest, Father Marcus (Ben Daniels), performing an exorcism in Mexico, he wonders if, at last, God has provided him with his calling. Based on William Peter Blattys novel, the Exorcist film established a character dynamic that the new series, created by Jeremy Slater, follows. Once again, a goodhearted but tormented young priest teams up with an idiosyncratic older man of the cloth to confront a supernatural presence thats wreaking havoc on an innocent suburban family. Also Read: Fox's 'Exorcist': Here's Why You Won't Hear Much of 'Tubular Bells' Theme Music As directed by Rise of the Planet of the Apes filmmaker Rupert Wyatt, the pilot establishes the shows central figures and overall mood, and one episode in, its fair to say that atmosphere trumps character so far. Although the Fox series sometimes leans too heavily on jump-scare tricks to create dread, theres a general unease that keeps things intriguing. But Tomas, Marcus, Angela and the rest of her family dont get much room to make us care about the stakes which is surprising considering that, by pilots end, its clear that something terribly wrong is going on in the Rance home. Story continues Thats not to say that Slater doesnt labor to give us some interesting interpersonal relationships within the Rance clan. Played by Davis with weary resilience, Angela struggles to keep her family together after her husbands (Alan Ruck) mystery illness leaves him practically catatonic. Meanwhile, her eldest daughter Katherine (Brianne Howey) has sunk into depression since surviving a fatal car accident. With only her sunny younger daughter Casey (Hannah Kasulka) able to offer moral support, Angela fears shes losing her mind, which makes her concerns about hearing strange sounds through the walls all the more upsetting. Loaded with dream sequences, possessed foreign children, bellowed Biblical incantations and perpetually gloomy skies, this Exorcist wants to pay homage to its source material by taking seriously its questioning of Gods existence and its exploration of how loving families can be shattered by inexplicable trauma. Unfortunately, the pilot misjudges its tone, giving viewers a clenched-jaw solemnity that doesnt leave much room for wit or surprise. Likewise, some of the performances particularly Daniels as the rebellious, tortured older priest feel so mannered that its difficult to imagine following the characters exploits from week to week as they try to deduce what demon is assaulting the Rances. Also Read: Geena Davis: What I Learned From Launching a Film Festival More than anything else, though, familiarity haunts the proceedings. From the Exorcist sequels to The Exorcism of Emily Rose to The Devil Inside, if youve seen one exorcism, apparently youve seen them all. This Fox series doesnt seem to have much new to say about these particular paranormal activities and thats a problem that may bedevil the show. The Exorcist premieres Friday, Sept 23 on Fox. Related stories from TheWrap: Fox's 'Exorcist': Here's Why You Won't Hear Much of 'Tubular Bells' Theme Music Geena Davis Joins Fox's 'Exorcist' TV Pilot NEW YORK (Reuters) - At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency amid a second night of unrest following the fatal police shooting of a black man. The circumstances surrounding the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, remain in dispute: Authorities say Scott was shot after refusing police orders to drop his handgun. His family and a witness say he was holding a book, not a firearm, when he was killed. Below are details on what the state of emergency means: ** The North Carolina state of emergency applies to the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg county. It remains in effect until rescinded by the governor. Link to declaration: (http://bit.ly/2deq8az) ** It gives the state permission to send the state's National Guard to Charlotte to provide support for the State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement. It also allows the governor to use contingency and emergency funds. ** By declaring a state of emergency, the governor has the flexibility to impose a curfew or a ban on the sale of alcohol and firearms neither of which has happened in Charlotte. ** A state of emergency can be declared state-wide or locally. In the case of a natural disaster, local officials must declare a state of emergency in their jurisdiction in order to tap into state or federal funding after the disaster. ** North Carolina officials have previously declared states of emergency for racial unrest. In 1975, for example, the mayor of Hamlet issued a state of emergency following the arrest of a young black woman who said she was shot by a white policeman. ** Then-governor Jim Hunt declared North Carolina's first state-wide state of emergency in 1966, because of Hurricane Fran. ** A state of emergency has to be declared in order for a state to seek any federal reimbursement, which is more often the case after natural disasters. (Reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Jason Fields and Alan Crosby) (Reuters) - Keith Scott, the black man fatally shot by a black police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday, was remembered by family members and neighbors as a "likeable" person as the city braced for possibly more rioting triggered by his killing. ** Scott, 43, lived in Charlotte and had seven children, his mother, Vernita Walker of Charleston, South Carolina, told the Charlotte Observer. "He was a family man," Walker told the newspaper. "And he was a likeable person. And he loved his wife and his children." ** Scott was born and raised in Charleston, about 200 miles (322 km) south of Charlotte, and went to college, a woman who answered the phone at his mother's house said. ** The circumstances surrounding the shooting remained in dispute on Wednesday. Police said he was armed, while family and a witness instead said he only had a book. ** Scott often waited in his car on weekday afternoons for his son to get dropped off by his school bus, said Taheshia Williams, who lives in the apartment complex where the shooting occurred. "He speaks to me every day. He was a nice man. He was very courteous," she said. ** A woman who said she was Scott's daughter angrily confronted Charlotte police officers while broadcasting on Facebook Live on Tuesday. In the video, later posted to YouTube, she said her father was disabled and did not have a gun. ** Scott was convicted in 2004 of misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, the Observer reported. Other charges stemming from that date, including felony assault, were dismissed. Scott was found guilty of driving while intoxicated in April 2015, the newspaper said. (Reporting by Greg Lacour and David Ingram; Editing by Alan Crosby) Johannesburg (AFP) - Global conservationists and policymakers meet in South Africa from Saturday to chart a way forward in the fight against escalating wildlife trafficking that could drive some species to extinction. The plight of Africa's rhino and elephants, targeted for their horns and tusks, is expected to dominate 12 days of talks in Johannesburg on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Illegal wildlife trade is valued at around $20 billion a year, according to CITES, and is ranked the fourth largest illicit business in the world after arms, counterfeit goods and human trafficking. The gathering is expected to assess whether to toughen or loosen trade restrictions on some 500 species of animals and plants. "Much of the international attention will focus on the ivory of the African elephant and the horn of the Southern White Rhinoceros, and on combating their illegal trade," said CITES secretary general John Scanlon ahead of the event. CITES banned the trade in rhino horn 40 years ago, but prohibition has not reduced illicit hunting, which has recently boomed in South Africa. Around 5,000 white rhino -- a quarter of the population -- have been slaughtered over the past eight years, with the majority killed in South Africa, home to 80 percent of the world's rhino. Rhino poaching is driven by insatiable demand in Vietnam and China for the horn, which is mistakenly believed to have medicinal powers curing everything from hangovers to cancer. - Divisive proposal - Swaziland has put forward a divisive proposal asking for the total ban on international trade in rhino horn to be eased so that it can sell its stockpile of legally and non-lethally harvested horns. The plan is backed by some private rhino owners who say the black market can be ended by supplying legal horn sawn off anaesthetised live animals and the funds used to fund conservation. "It's costing an absolute fortune. Just every cent we have goes into protecting the rhino, it's not sustainable for the long term," South African private rhino owner Lynne MacTavish, told AFP at Pilanesburg game reserve where an anti-poaching helicopter was unveiled this week by non-profit organisation Rhino911. Story continues But Swaziland's proposal stands little chance of success in the face of a fierce campaign by conservation groups who fear legalised trade would only boost the appetite for horn. The Humane Society International has urged Swaziland to withdraw its proposal, citing the strictly controlled legal ivory trade that has opened up opportunities for the laundering of illicitly acquired tusks. "As a consequence, African elephants have undergone a catastrophic decline," it said in the letter to Swazi King Mswati III, warning that "the same will happen to rhinos if the legal international horn trade is approved." - Ivory trade - Results from the world's largest wildlife census, released last month, showed that savannah elephant populations have declined by 30 percent over seven years to 2014. CITES in 2008 allowed for a one-off ivory sale, a move which some anti-trade advocates blame for the spike in elephant poaching. Zimbabwe and Namibia are asking that the ban on commercial ivory trade be lifted to allow them to sell stockpiles accruing from elephants dying naturally and those confiscated from poachers. Proceeds would go towards local villagers living near elephants who are helping to protect the animals. "We are supporting Namibia and Zimbabwe on their proposal because we do think it is very understandable," said South Africa's Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa. But there are fears that allowing a resumption in trade -- albeit just for the two countries -- would signal that trade is opening up and fuel demand. Vietnam, a key consumer of rhino horn, is expected to come under severe scrutiny at the CITES conference, which is held every three years. "Vietnam's poor law enforcement record speaks for itself: ending the illegal rhino horn trade and helping to save Africa's rhinos is clearly not a priority for the government," said Ginette Hemley, WWF head of delegation. "CITES must take a tough line," by forcing Vietnam to swiftly prosecute traffickers and traders or face trade sanctions in all other regulated species, she said. Rosewood plundered from forests, lions, pangolins and sharks will also be hotly debated on an agenda that Molewa admitted was full of "controversial and thought-provoking" dilemmas. Organisers hope one strong message to emerge will be that corruption must be tackled if trafficking is to be reduced. The meeting, described by organisers as the largest and most important CITES event since its founding in 1975, will be attended by around 3,500 delegates from 182 member nations. In a written complaint to the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said the ruling AAP set up these mohalla (neighbourhood) clinics at properties of its own workers and legislators without following due process. Mail Today has a copy of the document. By Mail Today: The Congress painted a murky picture on Wednesday of the Delhi government's sparkling free clinics, alleging a raft of irregularities in the primary healthcare project kicked off by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last year to unburden ageing state-run hospitals. In a written complaint to the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said the ruling AAP set up these mohalla (neighbourhood) clinics at properties of its own workers and legislators without following due process. Mail Today has a copy of the document. advertisement "The Delhi Government not only by-passed the tender process but also shunned the obligation to ascertain the market rate while renting the multiple premises in Delhi, as the intention was to convey illegal monetary gain to the office bearers/ members of the ruling party, through the said project," Maken said in the complaint. As part of a pilot programme launched in July 2015, the AAP administration opened 105 mohalla clinics across Delhi and promised about 1,000, claiming innovative diagnostic technology and sharply-dressed doctors. When Mail Today contacted the Delhi government for its reaction on the charges, it refused to comment. WHAT THE CONGRESS' COMPLAINT SAYS In the complaint, Maken cited examples to explain how the clinics in areas such as Vikas Vihar, Paschim Vihar, Todapur and Indra Park were being run in properties owned by AAP workers. "The Congress party through its Jan Sarvekshak (public surveyors) volunteer team has done a survey of all 105 mohalla clinics in Delhi. Most Jan Sarvekshak teams surveyed the mohalla clinics between August 18-20," Maken wrote in the complaint. "These clinics have been opened on the properties of AAP members on high rents. They are being paid much more than the market trend." The Congress will release a report on Thursday of its findings, with details of many other "glaring anomalies" in the mohalla clinic project and its faulty implementation. "Our findings have confirmed that not only many clinics are operated in unsuitable premises owned by AAP members/ office bearers, but in absence of any transparent process of acquiring premises for mohalla clinics on lease/ rent, large number of such accommodations have been leased at 'inflated rents' as compared to the actual market value," Maken says in the complaint. "This, inter-alia, establishes that primarily the Government machinery and funds have been misused to benefit private individuals associated with AAP." The opposition BJP, which is locked in a bitter battle with the Aam Aadmi Party, had also made similar allegations soon after the healthcare project was launched. DELHI EXTENDS PILOT PROJECT Meanwhile, the Delhi government has extended the pilot programme for a year. The administration also issued orders to keep all mohalla clinics, polyclinics and dispensaries open on all days, including Sundays and gazetted holidays, till October 30, in view of the mounting cases of dengue and chikungunya. Delhi government data released in August showed that nearly eight lakh patients were treated in five months at the mohalla clinics that provide consultation, 110 free essential drugs, immunisation for children, 212 basic tests and counselling. advertisement Results of most of the tests are known within two minutes and are uploaded onto an IT cloud for access by patients and their doctors on their smart phones and the health centres' Swasthya tablets. Also read: Aam Aadmi Mohalla clinic gets an automatic medicine dispensing machine and here's how it works Mohalla Clinic pilot scheme extended by a year --- ENDS --- Having kids eat eggs and peanuts early in life may reduce their risk of developing allergies to these foods later, a new analysis suggests. Researchers analyzed information from nearly 150 previous studies involving more than 200,000 children. These studies looked at exactly when certain foods were introduced to children during their first year of life. The results showed that kids who were fed eggs when they were ages 4 to 6 months old were 40 percent less likely to develop an egg allergy, compared with those who were introduced to eggs later, the study found. In addition, kids who were fed food that contained peanuts (such as peanut butter) when they were 4 to 11 months old were 70 percent less likely to develop a peanut allergy, compared with those who were introduced to peanuts later. The findings suggest that "introducing egg and peanut at an early age may prevent the development of egg and peanut allergy, the two most common childhood food allergies," study co-author Dr. Robert Boyle, a pediatric allergy researcher at Imperial College London, said in a statement. However, children who already have a food allergy, or those who have another allergic condition such as eczema, should not automatically be fed eggs or peanuts early in life, Boyle said. Parents of these children should speak with the doctor before introducing these potentially allergenic foods, he said. Boyle also noted that babies and toddlers should not be fed whole nuts, because there is a risk of choking. Instead, they should be given smooth peanut butter, Boyle said. The researchers also estimated that early introduction of eggs could prevent 24 cases of egg allergies per 1,000 people (in a population where the rate of egg allergy is 5.4 percent); and early introduction of peanuts could prevent 18 cases of peanut allergies per 1,000 people (in a population where the rate of peanut allergy is 2.5 percent), according to the new findings published today (Sept. 20) in the journal JAMA. [8 Strange Signs You're Having an Allergic Reaction] Story continues Doctors once recommended that children who were at high risk for food allergies avoid potentially risky foods such as eggs and peanuts until they were 2 to 3 years old. But as new studies emerged on the possible benefits of introducing these foods early, recommendations were revised to say that parents should not delay the introduction of these foods. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued temporary (interim) guidance recommending early introduction of peanuts to kids with a high risk of peanut allergy. And soon, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is expected to release guidelines that may formally recommend early peanut introduction for kids with a high risk of developing allergies to peanuts, according to an editorial accompanying the new study, also published today in JAMA. This upcoming recommendation "reflects confidence in the evidence suggesting potential benefit of early peanut introduction with minimal risk, is supported by [the new study findings], and reflects a reasonable starting point to help deter the recent increase in prevalence of peanut allergy," Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, of Childrens Hospital Colorado in Aurora, wrote in the editorial. Still, the new study has limitations: Of the 146 studies included in the analysis, just five studies (involving a total of about 2,000 kids) were used to estimate the risk of egg allergy, and just two studies (involving about 1,500 kids) were used to estimate the risk of peanut allergy. More studies are still needed to validate the findings, the researchers said. They noted that estimates of exactly how much early introduction lowers the risk of developing egg and peanut allergies could change with future studies. The study also looked at early introduction of milk, fish (including shellfish), tree nuts (such as almonds) and wheat, but did not find a link between early introduction of these foods and a reduced risk of allergy to them. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2016 / For esteemed teacher and famed musician Fernando Pullum, serving the talented youth of Los Angeles is a source of pride. Following decades as an inspiring educator who earned a reputation for singlehandedly rejuvenating the city school system's music program, he was moved to take his commitment to an even higher level of investment. Noting that his students who excelled in the performing arts required more attention to foster their abilities than daily school hours could allow-or, in many cases, finding that a large number of local institutions simply lacked the resources-he established the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center (FPCAC) in South Central Los Angeles. Offering a wide-ranging, immersive schedule of instruction completely free of charge, Pullum proudly works through his non-profit organization to enrich the lives of 600 underserved students. Fernando Pullum and his fellow teaching staff provide a structured program and well-planned curriculum at FPCAC that builds self-esteem, develop civic responsibility, and become lifelong learners who remain devoted to their academic efforts. With specialized classes geared toward either elementary or upper division students, children learn how to play piano, guitar, brass instruments and drums, while being taught to read and write sheet music. By stressing collaboration, the center's choir, drumline and jazz band groups offer the chance for students to apply performance techniques while creating something new together. Technical courses focusing on software-based skills such as music recording and filmmaking help students to cultivate their own voices and to document their personal stories. Students drawn toward drama studies are introduced to theater and playwriting techniques, while dance classes encourage expression through creative movement, technique and discipline. There is something for every arts-minded child in need of training and support of their talents. The culmination of FPCAC's impactful philosophy shines through in the organization's treasured musical theater productions, which are created twice each semester. As wonderful as those shows are for participants and audience members alike, many of FPCAC's most important accomplishments are often less obvious. As Fernando Pullum notes, through the center's effective and rigorous programs, FPCAC has assisted thousands of children in gaining acceptance to college. In addition to performing arts-related courses, FPCAC's Academic Focus Program offers tutoring and homework help directly after school, ensuring that students maintain their grades across all disciplines of their education. The arts instruction that students receive has changed their lives as musical involvement has been proven to raise test scores, improve reading ability, communication skills, school attendance and reduce the number of high school dropouts. Over the years, Pullum has enjoyed seeing his students excel and perform for President Ford and Prince Charles alongside award-winning stars such as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton and Wynton Marsalis; four students of the program have won Grammys. Though he has traveled to perform with his students in New York and abroad in Cuba, Brazil, and Spain, ultimately teaching them to become supportive members of their home communities comprises Pullum's and FPCAC's most crucial work. Renowned educator and professional musician Fernando Pullum has achieved international appreciation both for essential contributions to the youth of Los Angeles and landmark work with legendary artists. Earning a bachelor's degree in music education in 1981 and a master's in trumpet performance in 1983, the Chicago native relocated to LA to teach as well as perform professionally. Having revolutionized the music department at George Washington Prep High School, the program thrived and was lauded as the first music magnet in the southern region of the city by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Throughout his tenure, Pullum's efforts and successes have been recognized by significant organizations and individuals, including Oprah Winfrey, VH-1, the John Lennon Foundation, and the State of California as its teacher of the year. The Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center (FPCAC): http://pullumcenter.org/ Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pullumcenter/ Fernando Pullum Arts Center Doc - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqn3BL6VIEw Contact Information PR Agency Contact: ControlPR.com info@controlpr.com 202.759.4575 www.ControlPR.com SOURCE: Fernando Pullum Ferrari GTC 4 Lusso T Ferrari revamped the FF, its all-wheel-drive two-door, and renamed it the Lusso. The car debuted with a massive V12 motor, but now Ferrari has added a second and presumably less expensive version. The FF's base price was about $300,000. The GTC4 Lusso T, slated to roll out at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, will get a lower horsepower version of the turbocharged V8 engine that's currently impressing Ferrari-turbo skeptics in the 488 GTB. Ferrari said in a statement that the GTC4 Lusso T will be the "first four-seater in Prancing Horse history to sport a turbo-charged V8 engine, hailing a whole new Ferrari GT concept aimed at owners seeking a car that is sporty and versatile, as well as perfect for driving on a daily basis." Ferrari GTC 4 Lusso T The Italian automaker added that the "V8 turbos characteristics suit day-to-day driving in urban contexts: a rich powerful soundtrack in acceleration that becomes more muted at lower speeds, rapid pick-up from low revs courtesy of versatile, modular torque delivery and, last but not least, excellent range." The Lusso, and the FF before it, is something of an impressive oddball in the automotive world. I really enjoyed the FF when I sampled it two winters ago. And because Ferrari has pledged to never, ever build an SUV, the two-door wagonish "shooting brake" is all that those Ferraristi who crave AWD have to choose from. Ferrari GTC 4 Lusso T Ferrari is clearly trying to make sure that anyone who wants a Ferrari that can handle snowstorms, mudslides, and weekends of duck hunting in the country won't be excluded due to cost. The 610-horsepower turbo V8 is unlikely to be a slouch in comparison with the 680-horsepower V12 option, the layout of the car is obviously the same. In this sense, the GTC4 Lusso T will assist Ferrari in moving global sales from around 7,000 per year to something more like 9,000 to 10,000, according to the mandate of CEO Sergio Marchionne, who is also CEO of former Ferrari parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Story continues Ferrari hasn't yet announced pricing for the vehicle with the new engine. Ferrari GTC 4 Lusso T NOW WATCH: The cheapest new Ferrari money can buy is absolutely gorgeous More From Business Insider By Michelle Nichols and Tom Perry UNITED NATIONS/BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry demanded on Wednesday that Russia and the Syrian government immediately halt flights over Syrian battle zones, in what he called a last chance to salvage a collapsing ceasefire and find a way "out of the carnage". An impassioned Kerry faced off with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the U.N. Security Council in New York, during a tense televised showdown, saying the bombing of an aid convoy in Syria raised "profound doubt whether Russia and the Assad regime can or will live up to" ceasefire obligations. Speaking before Kerry, Lavrov told the 15-member Security Council: "One needs to refrain from emotional instincts, from rushing to the microphone immediately to comment on something; a probe should be conducted (into the aid convoy attack)." Listening to Lavrov made him feel like he was living in a "parallel universe", Kerry said. "To restore credibility to the process we must move forward to try to immediately ground all aircraft flying in those key areas in order to de-escalate the situation and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded," Kerry said. The key areas are places where humanitarian aid needs to be delivered and where Syrian government forces have been accused of targeting civilians. The aim of the ceasefire deal between the United States and Russia, which took effect on Sept. 12, is to facilitate aid access to besieged areas and allow the pair to jointly target Islamic State jihadists. More than 300,000 people have been killed and half of Syria's 22 million people have been uprooted since a crackdown by President Bashar al-Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 sparked a civil war. Islamic State militants used the chaos to seize territory. AID DELIVERIES MAY RESUME The United Nations suspended aid deliveries after the convoy attack two days ago, which the Syrian Red Crescent says killed some 20 people, but the world body said on Wednesday it was gearing up to resume deliveries. [nL8N1BX50K] On the ground, rebels battled the forces of the Assad government on major frontlines near Aleppo and Hama, and air strikes reportedly killed a dozen people including four medical workers. "I emphasise this to Russia. The United States continues to believe there is a way forward that, although rocky and difficult and uncertain, can provide the most viable path out of the carnage," Kerry said. U.S. officials believe Russian aircraft are responsible for the attack near Aleppo, but Moscow has denied involvement and the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday a U.S. Predator drone was in the area when the convoy was attacked. [nL8N1BX4CU] French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault distributed a document on Wednesday to the U.N. Security Council outlining a new mechanism for monitoring the truce that it wants major powers to discuss later this week. [nL2N1BX18T] The ceasefire is probably the last hope for a settlement on Syria before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, and has been Kerry's main focus for months. But it has become a repeat of previous peace efforts: abandoned by the warring parties even as diplomats far away debate it. "I call on every country to cease providing support of any kind to any party that is trying to sabotage this plan," Kerry said. The Syrian army is backed by Moscow, Iran, Shi'ite militias and fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah, while the rebels are supported by countries including the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed Kerry's demand on Wednesday, telling NBC News that such a move would only benefit Islamic State and jihadists Nusra Front. Kerry said it was a moment of truth for the opposition, which he said must do more to distance itself from the Nusra Front, long al Qaeda's Syrian wing but which changed its name and disavowed al Qaeda two months ago. Nusra is still characterised by both the West and Moscow as a terrorist group excluded from the ceasefire. Other rebels say Moscow and Damascus use this to justify broader attacks. Tensions between the United States and Russia escalated over a Sept. 17 attack by the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State that killed dozens of Syrian soldiers in the eastern Deir al-Zor province. Washington said that strike was carried out by mistake with the intent of hitting Islamic State militants. BOMBING ALL NIGHT Overnight fighting was focused in areas that control access to Aleppo city, where the rebel-held east has been besieged by Russian and Iranian-backed pro-government forces and completely encircled for all but a few weeks since July. Syrian state media said the army had recaptured a fertiliser factory in the Ramousah area to the southwest of the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring body, confirmed the advance and said government forces had pressed forward near an apartment complex nearby. A rebel fighter in the Aleppo area said warplanes had been bombing all night in preparation for an attack. But "the regime's attempts to advance failed," said the rebel, speaking to Reuters from the Aleppo area via the internet. A Syrian military source said insurgent groups were mobilising to the south and west of Aleppo and in the northern Hama area. "We will certainly target all these gatherings and mobilisations they are conducting." The army reported carrying out air strikes on seven areas near Aleppo. The Observatory said one air strike killed four medical workers and at least nine rebel fighters in the insurgent-held town of Khan Touman south of Aleppo. The medical staff killed were working for the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), it said. UOSSM confirmed in a statement that at least four of its staff had been killed. Syrian government forces also launched a major advance in Hama province in the West of the country. (Additional reporting by John Davison in Beirut and Yara Bayoumy, John Irish and Denis Dyomokin at the United Nations; writing by Peter Graff and Tom Perry, editing by Peter Millership and Howard Goller) The Puerto Rican Authority of Electrical Energy released a statement confirming that there was a fire at their power plant in Central Aguirre, Puerto Rico, that affected nearly 1.5 million clients. The statement said that the fire was controlled and they are working to reestablish power. Media reports said that the entire system is down and power is out across the island. Javier Quintana A. Mendez, director of the Authority of Electrical Energy, said: We are working hard to recover the system and reestablish the service of our clients. We ask the public to stay calm during this situation and our workers remind you that the most important thing is that everyone is safe. Credit: Twitter/Angel Crespo First American Financial Corporation FAF recently closed the buyout of RedVision Systems, Inc. Post acquisition, RedVision Systems will operate as a business affiliate under the current brand and management of First Americans Data and Mortgage Solutions division. The completion of the transaction will mark RedVision Systems official entry to the First American family of companies. The acquirer, on the other hand, will be able to further expand its industry leading position in title and property data. Headquartered in New Jersey, RedVision Systems is the largest independent national provider of title and property research. The company helps its clients with title evidence solutions, which include data, technology and managed services pertaining to the procurement and processing of title information. RedVision Systems has made a name for itself through its proprietary technology, which comprises its production platforms TitleVision and Nova. These platforms provide clients a customizable and scalable solution for title research and production. RedVision Systems data, technology and services will be a valuable addition to First Americans already strong title search and title evidence production. The deal will integrate the acquired companys nationwide title production platform with the acquirers title and property data as well as billions of recorded documents. Thus, the buyout will result in unparalleled quality, coverage and operational flexibility. RedVision Systems data will be leveraged by First Americans Data Trace group for building additional title plants more swiftly and efficiently. The addition of RedVisions Systems to the inorganic portfolio is a well-thought-out strategic move on First Americans part. The acquisition will help the insurer offer its clients a more sophisticated and effective title and property data services. Moreover, the transaction will allow the company to strengthen its presence in the property and casualty space. First American has been boosting its inorganic growth profile through various strategic acquisitions. This April, the insurers subsidiary, First American Mortgage Solutions, LLC, purchased Forsythe Appraisals, LLC. This acquisition should support First American Mortgage to help lenders and appraisers in the delivery of defect-free mortgage and render robust customer experience. Story continues FIRST AMER FINL Price FIRST AMER FINL Price | FIRST AMER FINL Quote Acquisitions are a well-accepted strategy for growth among insurers. Recently, Brown & Brown of Connecticut, Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc. BRO, acquired the assets of Kronholm Insurance Services, Inc. Also, On Aug 15, Arch Capital Group Ltd. ACGL announced its decision to acquire United Guaranty Corporation and AIG United Guaranty Insurance Limited from the parent company, American International Group, Inc. AIG. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BROWN & BROWN (BRO): Free Stock Analysis Report AMER INTL GRP (AIG): Free Stock Analysis Report FIRST AMER FINL (FAF): Free Stock Analysis Report ARCH CAP GP LTD (ACGL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research New York (AFP) - The first priority in Syria is for the international community to get humanitarian aid to those in desperate need, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday as a ceasefire unravelled. "We must all focus on getting this aid to those who need it, which has nothing to do with grounding flights," he told a news conference in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "If you ground flights, you're aiding terrorists whether you like it or not." Rouhani made the remarks in response to a question from a journalist about why Iran was backing the Bashar al-Assad government and whether Iran would support calls to ground Russian and Syrian airplanes. But on Thursday the Syrian army announced the launch of an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of Aleppo, despite Russian and US attempts to convene last-ditch talks in New York to save a ceasefire plan. US Secretary of State John Kerry had demanded Wednesday that Russia force the Syrian government to ground its air force in order to revive hopes of a ceasefire after a UN aid convoy and a field clinic were bombed. Rouhani said the second priority was a "fully engaged fight against terrorism" and third, paving a proper path towards governance for all. Nearly 60 percent of Syrian territory is under the control of extremist groups Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front -- recently renamed Fateh al-Sham Front -- who behave like "savages" in beheading people and burning them alive, Rouhani said. Iran had welcomed the Russian and US-brokered ceasefire plan, but warned Sunday that a monitoring system was needed to stop it being exploited by "terrorists". Iran is a principle backer of Assad and calls for a political solution to the civil war, which is now in its sixth war. More than 300,000 have been killed and millions have been forced from their homes. Washington (AFP) - Lester Holt knows how to manage pressure. He anchors the most-watched nightly news show on US television. But as moderator of the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump next Monday, the pressure could go through the roof. Democrat Clinton and Republican rival Trump are waging a tightening and often sensational battle for the White House with the election less than 50 days away. Even before the debate, Trump, who accuses much of the media of liberal bias against him, took aim at the anchor. "Lester is a Democrat. Look, it's a phony system. Lester is a Democrat. I mean, they are all Democrats. Okay? It's a very unfair system," Trump said early this week on the conservative television network Fox News. Holt is actually a Republican, registered as such in the state of New York -- and Trump went on to soften his stance in the days building up to his duel with Clinton. "I have respect for Lester," Trump said of the 57-year-old African American who became the NBC Nightly News anchor in 2015. The program draws an average of eight million viewers daily. "I think that Lester Holt is going to be very fair," the real-estate tycoon told thousands of supporters Tuesday at a rally in Kenansville, North Carolina. "But a lot of people are going to be watching to see if that's true," he added. The journalist, a 35-year television veteran with 16 years under his belt at NBC, has selected three topics for the debate: America's direction, achieving prosperity and securing America. The 90-minute debate will be organized into six 15-minute segments, with two dedicated to each of the topics. Holt will be the only person on the set with the two candidates. He has not revealed how he is preparing for the face-off, the first of three presidential debates ahead of the November 8 election. The much-anticipated first debate is expected to draw tens of millions of American viewers. The two remaining debates, on October 9 and October 19, will be moderated by other journalists. Story continues Holt, known for his calm and courteous manner, and a bass player in his spare time, probably will have uppermost in mind the recent flap caused by one of his NBC colleagues. Matt Lauer, a star of the morning news show, on September 7 did separate interviews with Clinton and Trump at a live prime-time forum in New York focused on national security. He was highly criticized, with some accusing him of being ill-prepared, or posing questions that were too easy on Trump or failing to challenge the Republican's erroneous assertions. - Jam against pressure - Trump, who declared Lauer "very professional" and "fantastic," saw the criticisms as encouraging a more aggressive approach by the moderator of the presidential debate. "I think there's a lot of pressure on Lester," Trump told Fox News Thursday, "because of Matt Lauer." "A lot of people are watching to see whether or not he succumbs to that pressure." Holt, who broadcasts his show from the NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, was out on the streets Saturday reporting live on the bombing attack that injured 29 people. If he is nervous about the debate, it is well-hidden. Tuesday night, right after his show, Holt picked up his bass and played with his band the 30 Rockers on a rooftop, celebrating the 25th anniversary of NBC's weekly newsmagazine Dateline. Holt is also the anchor of Dateline. The Maharashtra government opposed granting of parole to Gawli arguing that his wife was not very seriously ill for him to have to visit Mumbai. By Press Trust of India: The Bombay High Court has refused to grant parole to former don Arun Gawli for taking care of his wife during her surgery at a Mumbai hospital. A division bench comprising of justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Atul Chandurkar yesterday disposed of a petition in this regard filed by Gawli observing it was unclear whether she would need surgery at all. advertisement However, the bench allowed Gawli to approach the court again if a date for the surgery was fixed. The Maharashtra government opposed granting of parole to Gawli arguing that his wife was not very seriously ill for him to have to visit Mumbai. Gawli had approached the high court after his plea for parole, citing his wife's critical illness which required surgery, was recently rejected by Divisional Commissioner Anup Kumar. Before rejecting the plea, Kumar had sought opinion from Mumbai police. The Mumbai police informed that Gawli's return to his residence in Dagadi Chawl might affect law and order in the state capital and this led to the rejection of his plea. Gawli is currently serving life imprisonment in Nagpur Central Prison here for murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar. The former don was brought to Nagpur Central Prison in March last year. --- ENDS --- Airfare prediction service Hopper has highlighted a major sale on Icelandair. Seats on hundreds of flights to four popular European destinations are selling for as little as $343 round-trip, including taxes. Fly from Boston to Copenhagen this February for as little as $343, or from Chicago to Stockholm in March for as little as $369.Flights departing from New York Citys John F. Kennedy International Airport go to Helsinki between January and March, with seats available for $383 round-trip. And Icelandair is offering flights in December and January to Reykjavik, in Iceland, for just below $400, departing from Newark Liberty International Airport. The latter is part of the airlines dedicated flash sale to Iceland, which ends September 25 at midnight. Flights from Washington D.C. are $399 round-trip, and $419 from both Minneapolis as well as Chicago. Winter is the best time to warm up in the Blue Lagoon, and this year is a great one to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Icelandair also has cheap flights to Norway, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. All are available from various U.S. cities for less than $450. Additional flights can be found departing from Minneapolis, Orlando, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Portland. Melanie Lieberman is the Associate Digital Editor atTravel + Leisure.Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at@melanietaryn. Related Articles FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Frankfurt Zoo is celebrating a new addition at its enclosures - a baby gorilla. Mother Shira gave birth to the young one, whose sex is still unknown, on Sept. 15. The zoo said staff had yet to identify its gender body parts as the baby remains too closely attached to its mother. "When a gorilla is born, that's always a very special event. We are all very happy," zoo director Manfred Niekisch said, adding the newborn "looks pretty big and quite strong". (Reporting By Reuters Television) The appointment is effective October 1. Effective October 1, food and beverage firm Fraser & Neave (F&N) will have two new chief executive officers. 51-year old Edmond Neo was appointed to oversee and drive the strategic growth of F&Ns beer business. He will succeed Mr. Prapakon Thongtheppairot who will focus on his new role as Spirit Product Group CEO at Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev). Prior to his appointment, Mr. Neo was previously General Manager, Regional Brand Development at F&N, and played an instrumental role in the success of CHANG beers rebranding on secondment to ThaiBev. Mr. Neo has over 25 years of extensive international experience primarily in the areas of general management, commercial operations, global brand management and strategic marketing in the food & beverage industry. This includes more than two decades in Asia Pacific Breweries Limited (APB Group) where he held several senior positions, the last being Director, Group Commercial. 47-year old Bennet Neo meanwhile joints the Group as CEO for F&N's food business. In this newly created position, Mr. Neo will be responsible for the building and implementation of the strategies of F&Ns food business. Mr. Neo has 22 years of extensive experience in the beer, oil and gas, marine and supply chain industries and has held several assignments in Asia, the USA and the UK. He held several senior positions in the APB Group where his last role was Regional Director. Prior to joining F&N, Mr. Neo was the CEO of YCH Group. Mr. Edmond Neo and Mr. Bennett Neo will report directly to the F&N Board Executive Committee. We are pleased to have Edmond and Bennett join F&Ns senior leadership team. Each of them possesses extensive knowledge of the fast-moving consumer goods industry and has operational experience in multiple leadership roles. Given their proven track record in the food and beverage industry, we are confident that Edmond and Bennett will build upon F&Ns strengths to realise the Groups vision of becoming a stable and sustainable food and beverage leader in ASEAN, said Mr. Koh Poh Tiong, Chairman of the F&N Board Executive Committee. Extending the Groups appreciation to outgoing CEO, Beer, Mr. Prapakon, Mr. Koh said, On behalf of the Board and Management, I would like to thank Mr. Prapakon for his sterling contribution as CEO, Beer. He will continue to serve on the F&N Board of Directors and we look forward to his continued contribution to and involvement with the Group. More From Singapore Business Review By Silke Koltrowitz and Paul Arnold GENEVA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Freeports springing up around the world as more investors store and trade physical assets are coming under increased scrutiny as potential black holes for dodging taxes, laundering money or financing extremists as bank secrecy erodes. Looted Turkish and Italian antiquities seized at the biggest Swiss freeport in Geneva raise the possibility that many artefacts illegally excavated from Libya, Syria or Iraq could lurk in these secretive storage sites, or be stowed there in the future. Quite apart from the loss of such treasures from the public eye, there is the fear they could be used to help fund shady practices and the activities of militant groups. Aware of this, some freeports - zones usually near ports or airports where goods can be stored and traded without facing customs duties or sales tax - are taking a proactive stance to help head off tighter regulation of a business that has become a backbone of the global art world. "We know that lootings helped finance terrorism in the past ... To avoid this happening again with Islamic State or others, we decided to systematically check incoming antiquities, starting Sept. 19," David Hiler, chairman of the Geneva Freeport, told Reuters in an interview. The company that manages two sites in an industrial area and at the airport is pressing ahead at its own expense to avoid further damage to its reputation that could hurt business. Founded in 1888 and majority-owned by the local government, the Geneva Freeport rents out space to 230 tenants, mainly logistics firms, but also lets many small customers store goods. SAFE AND DISCREET Freeports were created to facilitate trade by exempting goods in transit from import duties or sales tax, but are now used mainly to store high-value goods discreetly and safely. Some small centres in Switzerland have closed, leaving 10 Swiss freeports including two near Zurich. But the Geneva Freeport has grown briskly. It opened a high-security art facility with over 10,000 square metres in 2014, taking total capacity to 52,000 square metres. Story continues Swiss customs, in charge of checking goods in freeports since they became a part of its remit in 2007, does not publish the value of goods declared by customers. A 2014 Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) report quotes estimates of over $100 billion for the Geneva sites. The 2008 financial crisis and a crackdown on tax havens that diluted banking secrecy in Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland piqued interest in relatively confidential freeports, suited to store physical assets coveted at times of market volatility. A boom in the art market up until 2014 - followed by a slight slowdown to $63.8 billion in 2015, according to the TEFAF art market report - led to art freeports opening in Singapore in 2010, Monaco in 2013, and Luxembourg and Beijing in 2014. New facilities in U.S. tax haven Delaware mainly cater to the busy New York art market. Not just storage sites, freeports offer art-related services ranging from restoration and framing to display showrooms. Testing and inspection firm SGS launched its own art services last year, with an on-site lab at the Geneva Freeport. The New York Times reported the Geneva site alone stores treasures from ancient Rome, museum-quality paintings by old masters and an estimated 1,000 works by Picasso. ASSESS RISKS Experts cite risks of fraud and money laundering if dirty or untaxed funds are used to buy art stashed away at a freeport. "If a wealthy German stores his art in a Swiss freeport, it is almost impossible for German tax authorities to gain access to it," said German tax lawyer Thomas Koblenzer. The 2014 SFAO report faulted insufficient checks by customs, triggering somewhat tighter rules for freeports. Since Jan. 1, inventories of sensitive goods such as diamonds, art or weapons need to state the owner's name. But if the owner is an offshore company, the real beneficiary can stay hidden, as in the case of an Amadeo Modigliani painting of disputed ownership seized in Geneva in April after documents leaked in the Panama Papers scandal drew attention to its presence. "The freeports ... should be considered as a kind of financial intermediary with the obligation to identify and document the beneficial owner for each good that is or was stored there", said Claudio Mascotto, prosecutor in Geneva. "They should be compelled, like banks, to announce every suspicious transaction," he said, adding this required a change to federal laws but was the only way to trace and seize looted or stolen art and honour Switzerland's international commitments. The Financial Action Task Force, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, visited Switzerland and the Geneva Freeport this year and will soon publish its assessment. The fact that freeports exist in many countries with different legal regimes makes Swiss politicians hesitate to tighten rules that may put the Swiss art market at risk. The major Art Basel fair and Geneva auctions rely on the freeport. Hiler said Swiss freeports should follow the example of Luxembourg where the freeport can only work with operators approved by customs, a measure also recommended by the SFAO. (Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt; Editing by Richard Balmforth) By Silke Koltrowitz and Paul Arnold GENEVA (Reuters) - Freeports springing up around the world as more investors store and trade physical assets are coming under increased scrutiny as potential black holes for dodging taxes, laundering money or financing extremists as bank secrecy erodes. Looted Turkish and Italian antiquities seized at the biggest Swiss freeport in Geneva raise the possibility that many artefacts illegally excavated from Libya, Syria or Iraq could lurk in these secretive storage sites, or be stowed there in the future. Quite apart from the loss of such treasures from the public eye, there is the fear they could be used to help fund shady practices and the activities of militant groups. Aware of this, some freeports - zones usually near ports or airports where goods can be stored and traded without facing customs duties or sales tax - are taking a proactive stance to help head off tighter regulation of a business that has become a backbone of the global art world. "We know that lootings helped finance terrorism in the past ... To avoid this happening again with Islamic State or others, we decided to systematically check incoming antiquities, starting Sept. 19," David Hiler, chairman of the Geneva Freeport, told Reuters in an interview. The company that manages two sites in an industrial area and at the airport is pressing ahead at its own expense to avoid further damage to its reputation that could hurt business. Founded in 1888 and majority-owned by the local government, the Geneva Freeport rents out space to 230 tenants, mainly logistics firms, but also lets many small customers store goods. SAFE AND DISCREET Freeports were created to facilitate trade by exempting goods in transit from import duties or sales tax, but are now used mainly to store high-value goods discreetly and safely. Some small centers in Switzerland have closed, leaving 10 Swiss freeports including two near Zurich. But the Geneva Freeport has grown briskly. It opened a high-security art facility with over 10,000 square meters in 2014, taking total capacity to 52,000 square meters. Swiss customs, in charge of checking goods in freeports since they became a part of its remit in 2007, does not publish the value of goods declared by customers. A 2014 Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) report quotes estimates of over $100 billion for the Geneva sites. The 2008 financial crisis and a crackdown on tax havens that diluted banking secrecy in Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland piqued interest in relatively confidential freeports, suited to store physical assets coveted at times of market volatility. A boom in the art market up until 2014 - followed by a slight slowdown to $63.8 billion in 2015, according to the TEFAF art market report - led to art freeports opening in Singapore in 2010, Monaco in 2013, and Luxembourg and Beijing in 2014. New facilities in U.S. tax haven Delaware mainly cater to the busy New York art market. Not just storage sites, freeports offer art-related services ranging from restoration and framing to display showrooms. Testing and inspection firm SGS launched its own art services last year, with an on-site lab at the Geneva Freeport. The New York Times reported the Geneva site alone stores treasures from ancient Rome, museum-quality paintings by old masters and an estimated 1,000 works by Picasso. ASSESS RISKS Experts cite risks of fraud and money laundering if dirty or untaxed funds are used to buy art stashed away at a freeport. "If a wealthy German stores his art in a Swiss freeport, it is almost impossible for German tax authorities to gain access to it," said German tax lawyer Thomas Koblenzer. The 2014 SFAO report faulted insufficient checks by customs, triggering somewhat tighter rules for freeports. Since Jan. 1, inventories of sensitive goods such as diamonds, art or weapons need to state the owner's name. But if the owner is an offshore company, the real beneficiary can stay hidden, as in the case of an Amadeo Modigliani painting of disputed ownership seized in Geneva in April after documents leaked in the Panama Papers scandal drew attention to its presence. "The freeports ... should be considered as a kind of financial intermediary with the obligation to identify and document the beneficial owner for each good that is or was stored there", said Claudio Mascotto, prosecutor in Geneva. "They should be compelled, like banks, to announce every suspicious transaction," he said, adding this required a change to federal laws but was the only way to trace and seize looted or stolen art and honor Switzerland's international commitments. The Financial Action Task Force, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, visited Switzerland and the Geneva Freeport this year and will soon publish its assessment. The fact that freeports exist in many countries with different legal regimes makes Swiss politicians hesitate to tighten rules that may put the Swiss art market at risk. The major Art Basel fair and Geneva auctions rely on the freeport. Hiler said Swiss freeports should follow the example of Luxembourg where the freeport can only work with operators approved by customs, a measure also recommended by the SFAO. (Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt; Editing by Richard Balmforth) LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - French actress Marion Cotillard on Wednesday denied any involvement in the sudden split between Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, wishing that the two will "find peace," and confirming her pregnancy with her long-time partner. Cotillard, 40, posted a statement on her verified Instagram page a day after Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, amid some media reports that Cotillard and Pitt may have been romantically involved. Pitt and Cotillard star together in the upcoming war drama "Allied." The Oscar-winning French actress said the statement would be her only comment on the "whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into." "As this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up. Firstly, many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting. He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need," Cotillard said, referring to French actor Guillaume Canet. She signed off by saying: "I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment." Cotillard's name was mentioned in some reports as media outlets and fans tried to understand what led to the sudden divorce of one of Hollywood's most visible couples, known for their good looks, successful films and activism. Jolie, 41 and Pitt, 52, known collectively by the tabloid press and gossip sites as "Brangelina," married in 2014 after a decade together and have six children. They were steady fodder for tabloids with reports focusing on what role Jolie played in the breakup of Pitt's marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston and, more recently, possible trouble in the marriage. (Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by G Crosse) Paris (AFP) - French employers on Thursday urged efforts be redoubled to keep alive a contested massive free trade deal between the EU and the United States. European trade ministers will Friday try to salvage the mooted accord, just days after large-scale public protests, notably in Germany. French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl has also urged the EU to walk away from negotiations on the planned pact. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) would create the world's biggest market of 850 million consumers, stretching from Hawaii to Lithuania -- if politicians can drag it over the line. French businessmen say they hope the effort will succeed. "French firms call for negotiations between the European Union and the United States to be pursued, without naivety," said a joint statement from France's largest employers' federation Medef, the GFI industrial federations' group and textiles association, UIT. "Simply to abandon this historic trans-Atlantic project after just three years of discussions would seem to us to be a most serious act," it said. The group warned that "to put oneself outside the alliances created would weaken our firms' capacity to export and be competitive in a globalised (market)." While calling on Paris to maintain a dialogue on the thorny issue with fellow European negotiators, the French groups recognised that some US proposals on the table were "not acceptable". There are, for example, fears on the European side that an accord could undercut the 28-nation bloc's standards in key areas including health and welfare. Fekl was expected to demand at Friday's meeting of EU counterparts in Bratislava to pull the plug on the proposed deal, while Brussels has said the European Commission is pursuing discussions in Washington. The deal, under negotiation since 2013, has become a hot potato as elections approach in the United States, France and Germany, despite hopes it could break down trade barriers to give a fillip to a doggedly sluggish economic climate. Paris (AFP) - French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian left on Thursday for New Delhi where he is expected to sign a long-delayed deal to sell 36 Dassault fighter jets to India. Dassault CEO Eric Trappier was part of Le Drian's delegation, an AFP reporter accompanying the minister on the flight said. Paris has stopped short of confirming the deal approved Wednesday by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet committee on security, with government spokesman Stephane Le Foll saying France was waiting for "things to be said officially". But a senior Indian defence ministry official said that Le Drian and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar would sign the accord on Friday. The long-delayed deal is the biggest order for the Rafale after Egypt and Qatar each ordered 24 of the jets last year. India entered exclusive negotiations four years ago on buying 126 Rafale jets, but the number of planes was drastically scaled back in tortuous negotiations over the cost and assembly of the planes in India. Details of the agreement -- notably the price tag -- "will become clear after the signing event", the Indian official said. A report by the Press Trust of India estimated the value of the deal at 7.9 billion euros (8.8 billion dollars). Villarreal gave the response during a forum sponsored by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York that featured the Presidents of Peru, Chile and Colombia, with Villarreal standing in for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. By Reuters: Mexican Economic Minister Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said on Wednesday that Mexico was prepared to "talk to the devil" should Republican Donald Trump win the US presidential election in November. Villarreal gave the response during a forum sponsored by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York that featured the Presidents of Peru, Chile and Colombia, with Villarreal standing in for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. advertisement "We cannot afford to risk a very important bilateral agreement," Villarreal said at the event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly when asked about the possibility of Trump becoming president. "If we have to talk to the devil to guarantee the safety and future of the Mexican people in the US, Mexico will talk to the devil." Trump, who is facing off with Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 election, has infuriated Mexicans by vowing if elected to build a border wall with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants - which he said that country would pay for. He has also threatened to carry out mass deportations, renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement among the United States, Mexico and Canada, and in announcing his candidacy last year, referred to some immigrants from Mexico as rapists and drug runners. When other leaders at the event were asked about Trump, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said in a joking manner: "Oh, no, we're not worried at all." He then added: "That's the thing Trump doesn't understand. The Latins have helped the US immensely. They have kept the US young ... and Social Security that was supposed to go bust years ago is still working because of (Latino immigration)." Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said: "I just want to give a general perspective: I think the world needs more female presidents." The leaders also discussed opening relations with Venezuela, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the role of the Pacific Alliance, which includes Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, as a major trade partner with the United States. The United States and 48 other nations are so-called observer states within the alliance. --- ENDS --- El Diamante (Colombia) (AFP) - Young and idealistic, Natalie left her native France to join the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) because she dreamed of a better world. Tanja, her Dutch comrade in arms, landed in the Marxist guerrilla army by an accident of fate. But today, after 13 years at war, the two expatriate rebels want the same thing: peace in Colombia. "I came to build something, not be part of a war," said Natalie Mistral -- her nom de guerre -- a blond-haired, blue-eyed Frenchwoman who joined the FARC in 2003. "I like that phrase," agreed Tanja Nijmeijer -- whose alias in the FARC is Alexandra Narino -- a Dutchwoman who found herself swept up in the leftist rebellion the same year. Both women are participating this week in a national meeting of the FARC deep in their stronghold in southeast Colombia. Here, the rebels will vote on a historic peace deal that aims to end the group's 52-year war. As Colombia seeks to turn the page on half a century of violence fueled by poverty, ideology and drug trafficking, Natalie and Tanja say they want to work for peace in their adopted home. "This is the moment when you have all the possibilities to build something, to offer something, to create something. That's the most beautiful part," said Natalie. - Radical idealism - Sitting in a plastic chair at the edge of a remote field in the region of El Caguan, where the FARC is holding its conference, Natalie, 43, told AFP the story of how she came to Colombia to join the guerrillas. It was, she said, "an exercise in political analysis." "The idea was to contribute to the struggle of a people who had a chance to change their political structure and their reality," said the former social worker, who worked in Montpellier for France's largest labor union in her previous civilian life. "It was an exercise in internationalism. It's not separate from the struggle for my own country," she said, speaking Spanish. Story continues The FARC took her in and put her to work on logistics and coordination for their 57th Front in the impoverished department of Choco -- "a huge change," she said. She has never seen combat, she hastened to clarify. "My motivation wasn't to be a guerrilla. I didn't want to grab a rifle. I wanted to help," she said, smiling and dressed in civilian clothes -- a blue blouse, brown leggings, hiking boots for the rough terrain. - Jungle destiny - Sitting beside her, Tanja, 38, recounted how her own winding path led her to the same place. She came to Colombia on a university exchange program in 2000, stayed on when it ended, and wound up in the FARC three years later. "Life brought me to the mountains," she said. A passionate linguist, she gave up speaking her native Dutch, which she did not use for the 10 years she spent hiding out with her comrades in the jungle, she said. She was named to the FARC's negotiating team after peace talks opened in 2012 in Cuba, where she handled the group's international media relations. She told AFP she felt immense "expectation" and "relief" for Colombia when the peace accord was finally concluded last month. Now, "we're in that brief moment of transition toward a new Colombia," said Tanja, a slender brunette dressed in olive-green cargo pants and a sleeveless blouse with diagonal stripes in earthy tones. Under the peace deal -- which will be signed Monday, then put to a referendum on October 2 -- the FARC have pledged to disarm and relaunch as a political party. Tanja said it will be "interesting" to see how the new party does in upcoming elections. But she herself has "no ambition for politics," she said. "My plan is to keep contributing to the struggles of people around the world," she said. "If I can do that by teaching English classes in (rural Colombia), for example, then I'll go there happily." On Sep 22, 2016, Zacks Investment Research upgraded FTI Consulting, Inc. FCN to a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Founded in 1982, FTI Consulting is based in Baltimore, MD. It provides specialized consulting services across 26 foreign countries with a total headcount of more than 4,200 employees. The company has a team of highly qualified professionals, who provide problem-solving and technology services primarily to major corporations, financial institutions and law firms. The company's client list comprises a large percentage of the Fortune 500 companies, the FTSE 100 companies, as well as the majority of the largest 25 banks and the top 100 law firms in the world. The companys five main business segments include Corporate Finance and Restructuring, Forensic and Litigation Consulting, Strategic Communications, Technology, and Economic Consulting. The company remains focused on expanding its business organically as well as inorganically. On Sep15, 2016, the company expanded its Houston Energy practice, which is part of its Economic Consulting segment, by appointing Rick Porter as the Senior Managing Director to be based in Houston. In addition, it has also recently upgraded its visual analytics software platform, Radiance. This updated system is fully integrated with features that will facilitate partition visualization, social networking, similarity searching, enhanced data filtering and finding indebt reports. Such improvements in technology will augment the companys top-line growth, going forward. Acquisitions on a global basis in high-growth segments and significant investments in technology could turn around the companys fortunes. FTI CONSULTING Price and Consensus FTI CONSULTING Price and Consensus | FTI CONSULTING Quote Internationally, FTI Consultings unique capabilities of bringing together damage assessment, accounting, economics, statistics, finance and industry make it an excellent partner for global clients dealing with international arbitration issues, thereby leading to continued revenue growth in the existing international operations. FTI Consultings international expansion remains strong and will likely continue in the future as well. Story continues However, despite improving corporate earnings and a strong liquidity, clients spending patterns remained cautious, given the concerns over the current market environment, volatile financial markets and a lack of visibility regarding the impact of future tax and regulatory policies. The changes in capital markets, legal or regulatory requirements and general economic factors could hamper demand for services, thereby affecting the companys profitability. The company is also highly exposed to foreign exchange rate risks. Any unfavorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates might adversely influence its top line, thereby affecting its long-term growth. The revamped market dynamics from the Brexit referendum are expected to affect its trade relationship with the U.K. The company is likely to be stifled by the renegotiated deals and restrictions imposed on trade with other European Union members. Brexit could further result in higher tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade between the U.K. and the European Union, lowering the productivity of the company. Certain parts of the business have been experiencing sustained weak demand and pricing pressure. Moreover, the company has multi-year business plans which include significant investments in its technology business. These investments may hurt the bottom line in the coming quarters. FTI Consulting currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the same industry include CRA International Inc. CRAI, CBIZ, Inc. CBZ and Navigant Consulting Inc. NCI , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NAVIGANT CONSLT (NCI): Free Stock Analysis Report CRA INTL INC (CRAI): Free Stock Analysis Report FTI CONSULTING (FCN): Free Stock Analysis Report CBIZ INC (CBZ): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Edward McAllister and Gerauds Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - The scars from earlier violence in Gabon's palm-lined capital warn of what may lie ahead: the parliament building gutted by fire; the opposition headquarters riddled with bullet holes; shops looted and their windows smashed. They are traces of the riots that erupted in Libreville after a disputed Aug. 27 election handed victory to President Ali Bongo, enabling him to extend his family's half-century in power in a result rival Jean Ping denounced as fraudulent. A final court ruling that is expected on Friday represents Gabon's last chance of solving the dispute by constitutional means. And the Gabonese are bracing for a fresh explosion of violence if, as many fear, it fails to do so. When Elvis Abagha didn't come home after attending an anti-government protest in Libreville, his elder brother Bekale became worried and he called several friends. None had any news. Two weeks later, on Sept. 13, Bekale got a call from the morgue. Elvis' dead body was laid on a table, bloody where a bullet had pierced his chest. He never got an explanation. "I was shocked and angry," he told Reuters, explaining why he had joined the opposition. "If Ali Bongo wins, I will find another way to fight." Ping says that between 50 and 100 were killed in clashes with police after Aug. 27; the government just six. Either way, many Gabonese feel the body count could be about to rise. Oil workers are staying at home until after the ruling to protect their families, potentially jeopardizing the central African country's 200,000 barrels-per-day output. "WE WON'T LET THEM AGITATE" Whenever opposition formed to the rule of Bongo's father, Omar Bongo, he proved adept at subduing it by using patronage from oil funds to buy off opponents. The strategy enabled him to stay in power for 42 years, until his death in 2009. But dwindling revenues from lower production and prices has whittled away the family war chest, and falling living standards have triggered a desire for change in this small, central African country of 1.8 million people. Gabon has a GDP per capita of $10,000 a year, making it one of Africa's richest, yet this is less in real terms than it was in the 1980s, and most is concentrated in the hands of elites. With Ping digging in, chances for a settlement seem slim. Ping wants a recount in the Haut-Ogooue province, a Bongo stronghold where the president won 95 percent of the votes on a 99.9 percent turnout. Any court decision that upholds these numbers is likely to be rejected by Ping. On Thursday, people scrambled to buy food in supermarkets, the army erected checkpoints around the capital and security forces patrolled the streets in increased numbers. The government threatened to refer Ping to the International Criminal Court for inciting violence. Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet said the previous day that he had beefed up "visible and invisible" security and warned against anyone planning violence. "We know who they are, we know where they are. We are not going to let them agitate," he said. "BIG BONGO FAMILY" Libreville, a green and hilly oceanside city of 600,000, has bounced back since the violence. Buses have resumed and bread sellers stack their street stands high with baguettes, one of the many signs of Gabon's French colonial legacy. But the fear is palpable. "This was the first time I saw anything like this," said fruit hawker Moussavou Mouboki, gesturing past the stands of vegetables and sardines to a pharmacy gutted by fire. Mouboki has sold bananas in Libreville's PK8 neighborhood of Libreville for the past 23 years. Now, she says, "we are scared that the riots will happen again ... We are afraid of the army and the people." Some Ping supporters remain undaunted. Jeremy Pambu, an unemployed 29-year-old, examined a notice board outside the opposition headquarters which showed photographs of people killed or missing since Aug. 27. He said two of his friends were killed in clashes with the police. "I am ready to sacrifice my life," he said, visibly angry. But in a country with a small elite who in many cases have family ties, it is not clear how many Gabonese believe Ping represents the kind of real change for which it would be worth dodging bullets. The mixed-race son of a wealthy Chinese trader, Ping is a lifelong insider who was close to Bongo's father Omar and even fathered two children with Omar Bongo's daughter, Pascaline. And the head of the Constitutional Court that will rule on the election result, Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, was the long-time mistress of Omar Bongo. U.S. Ambassador Cynthia Akuetteh was quoted in the French press last week as comparing Gabonese politics to "Dallas", a 1980s soap opera about a superrich Texan oil family constantly feuding and plotting against one another. "Ping is part of the big Bongo family," said Stephane Ndong Mba, a mechanic in the Nkembo area of Libreville, explaining why he wouldn't stick his neck out for either side. (Editing by Tim Cocks and Giles Elgood) By Edward McAllister LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon's Constitutional Court said it would issue a ruling on Friday on an election that opposition leader Jean Ping said was rigged to give President Ali Bongo victory. The court's nine judges held a hearing on Ping's election complaint on Thursday, a Reuters witness said. They are expected to announce a recount of ballots cast in the Aug. 27 vote or final results. The election has drawn unwelcome scrutiny on Bongo, whose family has ruled the oil-producing country for almost half a century. France has called for a recount and the European Union questioned the integrity of the results. Six lawyers for Bongo and two for Ping sat at tables about five meters apart in the glass-domed courtroom. All wore black robes and white cravat-style collars. At least 12 armed security personnel stood guard outside the courthouse. The top document on a pile stacked on the opposition's legal table was titled Province Haut-Ogooue, a stronghold region for Bongo who won 95 percent of the vote there on a 99.9 percent turnout, according to electoral commission results. Ping has said that result was rigged. At least six people died in clashes after the result was announced. "What we are asking for is a confirmation of the voting tallies. Why not make this comparison? I think that this (court's) analysis doesn't conform to reality," Ping's lawyer Jean Remi Batsantsa told the court in an animated speech. Bongo's lawyer said the court should reject Ping's complaint, in part because it was wrong to single out one province for a recount. Bongo became president in 2009 on the death of his father, who ruled for 42 years. Ping has said that he has no faith in the court because of its ties to the president. (Additional reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Toni Reinhold) Businesswoman standing alone in conference room. Source: Getty Images. Photo taken by Martin Barraud In a new study on gender diversity, Credit Suisse analysts found that investors focusing on companies where gender diversity was an important strategy were rewarded with higher return. After reviewing 3,400 large companies around the world across all industries, the analysts found excess compound returns of 3.5% per year since 2005 in companies with women on the board compared to companies where the boardroom is entirely male. This supported the firms 2014 study, which found that gender diversity in senior roles was linked to excess stock market returns along with higher corporate profits. Increase in female representation but off of small base There has been a 16% increase in female representation on boards since the survey was last conducted in 2014. This marks progress toward more diversity, but notably its off of a low base. The starting point is a low one and the pattern of improvement uneven, Credit Suisses Julia Dawson wrote. Substantial female representation is still a mark of differentiation rather than the norm. Women currently occupy just 14.7% of board seats, marking a 54% increase since 2010. However, the report added that the positive trend does not carry over to the participation of women in senior management. Whereas the female overboarding seen in the US and European boardrooms enabled rapid achievement of diversity targets, it also tends to reduce the pool of women available for senior management roles, the report said. This is particularly important as female CEOsin our sample, these represent a mere 3.9%often promote women and help shape the much needed talent pipeline. In the study, there are 61 companies where women account for 50% and above of senior management. The 50% club is clustered in consumer discretionary (the majority which is apparel and and luxury goods) and financials (the majority of which are real estate companies), as seen below. Those with a higher percentage of women have performed better over time, according to the study. Story continues Better returns for less risk Lower leverage, higher payouts and higher return on capital employed lend support to the idea that diversity implies better returns for lower risk, according to the report. Continued recognition of these financial benefitsin addition to social oneshas encouraged improvement in board rooms, particularly in Europe, which has seen an 80% increase in female boardroom positions in the last six years, helped by new quotas. The 24.4% representation of women in European boardroom today is of course a significant positive, a long overdue recognition of the benefits that diversity in its many guises brings to the decision-making process and stewardship of companies, according to the report. Credit Suisse researchers say this is an encouraging data point that they see the US following in years to come. Given that women have been appointed with relative ease in Europe, it must give us confidence that further progress will be made globally, they wrote in the report. General Motors Company GM provided a strategic and operational overview ahead of its third-quarter 2016 earnings release. The company reiterated its EPS guidance in the range of $5.50$6.00 for 2016, which is higher than $5.02 recorded in 2015. It also aims to generate free cash flows faster to maximize shareholder value by delivering 910% margins early next decade. General Motors strategy to generate profitable growth is focused on four targets: creating a long-lasting customer base, concentrating on using state-of-the-art technology and innovation, expanding its brands globally and driving core efficiencies. The company is set to launch a new electric car, Chevrolet Bolt EV, in late 2016. It will have an EPA-estimated 238 mile range on a completely charged battery. The car is expected to be priced at $30,000, post government incentives. This would price it cheaper than Teslas TSLA Model 3 car, which starts at $35,000. General Motors is focused on sustainable growth, with a target of $5.5 billion in cost savings by 2018. The company has already achieved cost savings of $3.1 billion through the first half of 2016, and expects to exceed the target by 2018. The automaker is also focused on growing its brands worldwide. It is working toward restoring Cadillac as an iconic luxury brand, expecting the brands portfolio to cover 90% of its luxury segments volume by 2020 compared to 50% at present. Further, the company plans to launch over 60 new or revamped vehicles in China by 2020, to take advantage of the countrys high growth. Also, 29 new models are likely to be launched in Europe over the same time frame. General Motors expects growth in the China market to be in the range of 35% in the near term, and industry volume to grow to over 30 million units by 2020. Its Chevrolet global car program in partnership with SAIC, primarily aimed at emerging markets, is projected to grow to over a million vehicles annually and generate huge savings as the company replaces existing products. Story continues General Motors is currently in Phase III of its Captive Expansion plan, which commenced in 2010. In this phase, the company aims to increase its share of prime loan channel and grow its floorplan business in North America. It also intends to expand its geographical footprint and product portfolio in the rest of the world. Finally, the company aims to increase loyalty among users by expanding its customer relation management activities. The company expects the implementation of this strategy in North America to result in modest EBT growth in 2016. However, the adjusted EBT is expected to double the 2014 level by 2018 on the achievement of the complete captive penetration levels. GENERAL MOTORS Price GENERAL MOTORS Price | GENERAL MOTORS Quote Zacks Rank General Motors currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked auto stocks include Standard Motor Products Inc. SMP and Douglas Dynamics, Inc. PLOW, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TESLA MOTORS (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report STANDARD MOTOR (SMP): Free Stock Analysis Report DOUGLAS DYNAMIC (PLOW): Free Stock Analysis Report GENERAL MOTORS (GM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. From Esquire When a biographer says that George W. Bush "is in many respects the founder of ISIS," some will question the source. After all, in his capacity as a Donald Trump shill, Rudy Giuliani has said similar things about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But Jean Edward Smith, author of the recent biography Bush (Simon & Schuster), is no carnival barker. People on both ends of the political spectrum praise Smith's work. Conservative commentator George Will once lauded Smith as "America's greatest living biographer." Smith claims Bush's decision to nation-build in Iraq will "easily go down in history as the worst foreign policy decision ever made by an American president," but that's not where his criticism begins. In his estimation, the 43rd president made some of his most consequential errors in the months leading up to September 11, 2001. It wasn't that Bush was merely "asleep at the switch;" it's that he ignored the explicit warnings included in nearly one out of every five intelligence briefings that crossed his desk in that period. And then there's Iraq. Have we ever had a president so publicly open about the role of religion in their policymaking? No president other than Bush has believed he was God's agent placed on earth to lead the fight against evil. Woodrow Wilson, a devout Presbyterian, believed in predestination, but that is significantly different from seeing yourself as God's agent. Bush's belief that he was implementing God's will is the common denominator behind the domestic excesses of his administration, such as the Terrorist Surveillance Program, enhanced interrogation techniques, extraordinary rendition, and the foreign policy blunders, such as the war with Iraq. Bush believed that removing Saddam Hussein was the final showdown before the last judgment depicted in the Book of Revelation. No other president has been so determined. Story continues Photo credit: Stephen Jaffe/Getty Bush took a long time deliberating his decision on embryonic stem cell funding, and even wrote a lengthy New York Times op-ed about it. Yet no such public debate or explanation occurred in the months leading up to the invasion of Iraq. Bush did not think the invasion of Iraq was a debatable issue. He genuinely believed he was fulfilling his duty as God's agent and that Saddam [Hussein] was the personification of evil. No one in his administration argued with that. What is not generally recognized is that after 9/11, the administration was strictly chain-of-command. Bush wanted war, and that was that. It is a failure of the American system that a president can do that. Rumsfeld, Powell, and the military did not object and saw their role as one of implementing the president's decision. You can trace this back to FDR in World War II, but when it comes to military action, the president is commander-in-chief and his subordinates salute and fall into line. When told a preemptive war on terror went against international laws, Bush reportedly exploded in response and said, "I don't care what international lawyers say, we are going to kick some ass." He was also quoted as asking [deputy Defense Secretary] Paul Wolfowitz if Germany was a member of NATO. Do these examples show the seeds of a new strain of Republicanism that took pride in ignorance and that remains today? Bush knew little about the world or international relations and the results were tragic. If you genuinely believe you are God's agent, the law of nations is irrelevant. Does this lead to where the GOP is today? I don't think so. Donald Trump has many flaws, but he does not assume he is God's agent put here on earth to destroy evil. There is an arrogance similar to Bush's "kicking ass," but I don't think it is the same. As for taking pride in ignorance, that is a common failure of American politics, and might apply to members of both parties. You call the decision to invade Iraq "easily the worst foreign policy decision ever made by an American president." Yet, by June 2015, six and a half years after he left the White House with an approval rating of 25 percent, Bush's approval was at 52 percent, which was higher than Obama's at the time. What does that mean, and does it give us any indication of how his presidency will be viewed a century from now? Bush's approval rating has gone up since he left the White House because he has been an exemplary ex-president. He has not taken part in politics, has not criticized President Obama, and has stayed out of the limelight. By the time Bush left office, he realized that he had messed up and was glad to be out. I don't think Bush's new approval ratings have anything to do with the policies he followed. To the contrary, rejection of the war with Iraq is now common wisdom. And I don't think Republicans miss Bush. Look at Jeb's aborted campaign. Bush's new ratings reflect the fact that he is a nice person with no political connections. You begin the book by stating, "Rarely in the history of the United States has the nation been so ill-served as during the presidency of George W. Bush." By the end, however, you concede that he "may not have been America's worst president." Who else could take that mantle, and why? Bush made many mistakes, but he also accomplished some important things. He contained the financial meltdown in 2008, aided the auto industry, took positive action to improve public education, added prescription drugs for seniors to Medicare, and led the international fight against AIDS. He also championed immigration reform and had no racial prejudice. These are important achievements and so I don't think he is without merit. The worst president by a long shot is Herbert Hoover, who stood by and took no action to avoid the Great Depression. It was also Hoover who ordered the Army to displace the bonus marchers in Washington in 1932. Some historians think James Buchanan was the worst for not taking action to avoid Southern succession, but I think that is a long shot. Bush was bad, but Hoover was worse, and with no redeeming features. How much can we credit the rise of Donald Trump to voters rejecting the Bush family White House legacy represented in Jeb Bush's campaign? That's a good question. I think Trump owes a great deal to the failure of the Bush family. Note that Trump has been much more critical of the war in Iraq than has Hillary Clinton. And of course the Bush family has hit back at Trump, which probably helps him even more. Jeb was a poor candidate, and Trump pummeled him, and you're right that much of Jeb's demise related to the fact that he was just another Bush. Photo credit: Paul J. Richards/Getty Some conservatives argue Bush couldn't have prevented the attacks on 9/11 because the warnings were drowned out in a chorus of threats. But your book indicates almost 1 in 5 intelligence briefings detailed bin Laden's determination to strike in the U.S. Why did they ignore the signs? Bush and his staff ignored the warnings about a possible 9/11 because they were concentrating on other issues and had no interest in al Qaeda or the situation in the Middle East. The staff of the National Security Council and Condoleezza Rice were Cold War specialists from another era. They were not cognizant of the threat posed by al Qaeda and resisted advice to the contrary. That's what happens when you avoid staffing an administration with recognized experts. In a 2006 speech, Bush said, "We do not create terrorists by fighting terrorists." Yet an intelligence report found "the Iraq conflict has become a 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters of the global jihadist movement." How much is the rise of ISIS linked to the invasion of Iraq-or would a new group have sprung up in their place either way? Bush is in many respects the founder of ISIS. Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator, but he kept the lid on sectarian violence. Under Saddam, Iraq was the most secular country in the Middle East. The Baathist party ruled Iraq, and there was no ISIS or al Qaeda presence. By invading Iraq and toppling Saddam, the United States set the stage for the founding of ISIS. And by dissolving the Baathist party and disbanding the Iraqi army, the Bush administration contributed further. Bush's decision to bring democracy to Iraq, announced on the carrier Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, is the root cause for the instability in Iraq that led to ISIS. It is again illustrative of Bush's failure to grasp the fundamentals of international affairs. And it is directly responsible for the rise of ISIS. You Might Also Like The dwarf couple has a son together and is now UK's smallest married couple. By India Today Web Desk: Britain's shortest couple has tied the knot in a fairytale wedding, The Sun reported. Life wasn't easy for this dwarf couple, who are also Britain's shortest couple, but beating all odds they got together and even have a son called Nathan. Picture courtesy: Twitter/Laura Whitfield Laura Whitfield and Nathan Phillips, from Sunderland in East England recently got married in a fairytale ceremony. advertisement Laura, who is 4 ft 2in, proposed to Nathan Phillips, who is 3 ft 11in, a month before the birth of their miracle baby. The baby is the only "double dwarf" in Britain as he posses two different types of dwarfism--anachondaplasia like his mother and pseudochondaplasia like his father--and was not expected to survive more than a few hours. But proving all medical theories wrong, little Nathan, at two-and-a-half-years of age, acted as the ring bearer on his parent's wedding and looked totally adorable. Talking about her love story, the 26-year-old professional entertainer told The Express, "We met when we were doing a panto in Bath back in 2012. "It was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, he was playing Grumpy and I was playing Dopey. It was amazing because it was the perfect fairy-tale start to our life together--now we are married and the wedding was simply magical. We waited so long to get married so that little Nathan could be old enough to carry the rings, but in the end the cushion was too heavy for him." Laura, who has also acted in several movies including the Harry Potter series said, "I was just so worried because when I am nervous I can't help but laugh, but the last thing I wanted was for Nathan to propose and for me to just laugh--I didn't want to ruin the moment. "I just took matters into my own hands and he was so surprised, but it was so unique and lovely--it's nice to do something a bit different." --- ENDS --- Berlin (AFP) - Germany's lower of house of parliament on Thursday ratified the Paris agreement on climate change, following in the footsteps of 60 other countries that have committed to the landmark agreement designed to stem the planet's rising temperatures. Lawmakers in the Bundestag unanimously approved the accord, which will on Friday go before the upper house Bundesrat for a widely expected final green light. Germany's commitment brings the deal a step closer to reality after a string of countries ratified the climate rescue pact during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. The accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise of temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. For it to enter into force, it needs to be ratified by 55 nations accounting for at least 55 percent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. Not including Germany, the 60 countries that have formally signed up so far represent some 48 percent of global emissions. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he was confident the accord would come into legal force by the end of the year. China and the United States, the two largest emitters, gave a major boost to the accord when they signed on during a summit earlier this month between Presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama. German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks described the Paris agreement as "a great sign of hope" in the fight against global warming. BERLIN (Reuters) - German unemployment, which has been falling for nearly 10 years, is expected to drop further in 2017, despite the influx of nearly a million migrants last year, the research arm of Germany's Federal Employment Agency said on Thursday. The agency's Institute for Employment Research (IAB) said it expected about 2.62 million people to be jobless in Europe's largest economy in 2017, a drop of 70,000 people from 2.69 million this year. Germany's working population is expected to rise by 480,000 to 44.03 million, including a record 31.93 million people who will be subject to social insurance deductions, the institute said. That would be 5.6 million more people than during the peak unemployment period in 2005, when 4.86 million were jobless. "Given the massive challenges associated with the integration of refugees, the positive developments on the unemployment front are noteworthy," said Enzo Weber with the government research institute. Unemployment has fallen steadily in Germany over all but two of the past 10 years. It is expected to drop by 110,000 to 2.69 million in 2016. The Federal Labour Office reported last month that unemployment fell more than expected in August, and the jobless rate remained at 6.1 percent, the lowest level since German reunification in 1990. In coming years, the integration of refugees into the labour market could lead to temporary increases in unemployment, the institute said. Migrants were expected to account for 90,000 of the country's jobless both this year and next, while increasing the ranks of the working population by 80,000. "If the integration of refugees succeeds, the working population could increase significantly over the medium term," the report said. (Reporting by Holger Hansen; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) BERLIN (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for a temporary no-fly zone for military aircraft in Syria of up to seven days following the bombing of an aid convoy near Aleppo. "The situation in Syria is now on a knife edge," Steinmeier said according to a statement tweeted by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on Thursday. "If the ceasefire is to stand any chance (of succeeding), the only path is a temporary, but complete ban of all military aircraft movement in Syria - for at least three days, better would be seven days," Steinmeier said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry demanded on Wednesday that Russia and the Syrian government immediately halt flights over Syrian battle zones, in what he called a last chance to salvage a collapsing ceasefire. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Madeline Chambers) ACCRA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The World Bank will provide up to $500 million to Ghana in the form of a partial risk guarantee for use if the country defaults on payments for gas from the Sankofa field, the state oil company said on Thursday. The guarantee is the largest of its kind to be granted by the Bank and provides security to Ghana over gas expected to flow in 2018 from the $7.9 billion offshore oil and gas field being developed by Italy's ENI. The deal was signed with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). Chief Executive Alex Mould said the country would take 180 million standard cubic feet of gas from the field per day. "This guarantee will also give investors the confidence that GNPC will have the wherewithal to deliver on the purchases from its partners," Mould told Reuters after the deal was signed in Accra. ENI holds a 44.4 percent stake in Sankofa, upstream trader Vitol holds 35.6 percent while GNPC holds a combined carried and participating interest of 20 percent. The World Bank will loan $200 million to the Sankofa partners. The gas project is expected to generate about 1,000 megawatts of power to Ghana, Mould said. Ghana has yet to fully recover from a prolonged energy shortfall that crippled industry and angered voters ahead of an election in December. Gas from Sankofa and two other new fields could eliminate the need for Ghana to import gas from Nigeria through the West African Gas Pipeline Company, said a report on Wednesday. (Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) Photo: Courtesy of Max Mara Supermodel Gigi Hadid opened the Max Mara show in a visor. Why would you ever put a visor on the face that sells out anything? Oh wait The visor might soon be the best seller! Other notable models include sister Bella, Lindsey Wixson, Dilone, and Mica Arganaz. Photo: Courtesy of Max Mara Max Mara launched the BoBag with Gigi Hadid the night before the show at their Milan flagship store. This is the bag du hour for the house this season and no doubt we shall we seeing it on at least som of Gigis 22 million Instagram followers soon. Photo: Courtesy of Max Mara The designers of Max Mara took a little trip to Brazil and got inspired by the tropical feel and its artists, from Lina Bo Bardi to Carmen Miranda. Photo: Courtesy of Max Mara The visors, the palm-tree prints, and the track suits were all fun and Florida approvedin the best way! Yahoo Style is live from #FashionMonth! Keep it here for your front row view of the best looks and buzziest moments from Fashion Month. Gigi Hadid did not appreciate one over-eager onlooker in Milan on Thursday. The 21-year-old supermodel was walking the streets to attend a Milan Fashion Week event when a man in the crowd lunged at her, grabbing her from behind. The individual wrapped his arms around Hadid's waist and lifted her into the air. Hadid flailed and elbowed the man until she was released, then yelled at him, "Who the f**k are you, you piece of s**t!" X17online.com After a Twitter user slammed a headline condemning Hadid for fighting back, the model thanked her. PHOTOS: Gigi Hadid Ditches Pants, Steps Out in Nude Bodysuit During Milan Fashion Week Getty Images "THANK YOU Rachel," she tweeted. "To unknown article writer: fan?!!! The ACTUAL fans that were there can tell you what happened. I'm a HUMAN BEING and had EVERY RIGHT to defend myself. How dare that idiot think he has the right to man-handle a complete stranger. He ran quick tho." THANK YOU Rachel. To unknown article writer: fan?!!! The ACTUAL fans that were there can tell you what happened. I'm a HUMAN BEING https://t.co/G7Pbp0G8yP Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) September 22, 2016 TMZ has identified the man as notorious red carpet prankster Vitalii Sediuk. In the past, the Ukrainian comedian has made headlines for kissing Will Smith, attacking Brad Pitt and rushing the stage during the 2013 GRAMMYS. and had EVERY RIGHT to defend myself. How dare that idiot thinks he has the right to man-handle a complete stranger. He ran quick tho Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) September 22, 2016 Hadid has been turning heads in Italy for Milan Fashion Week. After walking in the MaxMara show on Wednesday, she hit the Fendi catwalk the next day in an entirely sheer dress and no bra. Story continues Had to hold back tears of pride & joy watching my beautiful lil sis open the @fendi show today!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for having me @karllagerfeld @amandaharlech @pg_dmcasting A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Sep 22, 2016 at 6:28am PDT MORE: Kendall Jenner, Gigi and Bella Hadid Rock Rainbow Dreadlocks Inspired by Lana Wachowski at Marc Jacobs NYFW Show But it was her younger sister, Bella Hadid, that Gigi was gushing over after the runway show. Getty Images "Had to hold back tears of pride & joy watching my beautiful lil sis open the @fendi show today!!!!!!!!" she captioned a pic of her 19-year-old sibling. "Thank you so much for having me @karllagerfeld @amandaharlech @pg_dmcasting." EXCLUSIVE: Gigi Hadid Confirms Taylor Swift Has New Music On the Way After Tom Hiddleston Split Related Articles (Corrects current and future production estimates from AutoForecast in fifth paragraph) By Allison Martell and Susan Taylor TORONTO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - General Motors Co's Oshawa plant will do final assembly work on at least 70,000 pick-up trucks a year once investments promised in its Canadian unit's new labor agreement are complete, according to two sources close to negotiations. GM reached a tentative labor deal with Unifor, the union that represents its Canadian manufacturing workers, early on Tuesday, saving thousands of jobs at the Oshawa plant, but the two sides declined to say what new vehicle would be produced there. On Wednesday Reuters reported that the plant would do final assembly of Silverado pick-up trucks using bodies shipped from the GM plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, boosting the automaker's production of the strong-selling model. But production volume, crucial to staffing levels at the plant, was not immediately clear. On Thursday, the sources said Oshawa would finish at least 70,000 of the trucks a year once necessary investments were made, and perhaps as many as 80,000. The volume is material to Oshawa. The plant is on track to produce about 210,000 vehicles this year, according to Joe McCabe, president of AutoForecast Solutions. Without new investment, production would have fallen to 130,000 vehicles next year. Wall Street analysts, citing GM documents filed with U.S. regulators, say that GM could reap an average profit of about $13,000 per vehicle on large trucks similar to those to be made at Oshawa. That would suggest a potential increased profit of about $900 million a year. However, building more trucks could lead to oversupply and lower prices, which cut into profitability. Another risk for GM is that North American sales will fall, as most analysts have said they expect. Ford Motor Co also has said it expects North American sales to decline from last year's record levels. Adding to the risk of making more trucks, analysts have said, is the possibility that gasoline prices will spike. Gasoline prices have been relatively low during the North American auto industry's recovery that began in 2010 after the recent recession. A General Motors spokesman declined to comment. (Additional reporting by Bernie Woodall in Detroit; Editing by James Dalgleish) Lav Diazs Venice winner The Woman Who Left has been added to the lineup for the 60th BFI London Film Festival, which also added the new documentary from legendary filmmaker Errol Morris and two new Screen Talks to its program Thursday. Actors Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel, who co-star in Lion, and Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook will participate in career-retrospective talks at the festival as part of its regular Screen Talks series. Having Kidman and Patel (pictured), whose new film is receiving a gala premiere at the London fest, take part in a joint Screen Talk is unusual but not unprecedented: At the 2015 festival, directors Walter Salles and Jia Zhang-ke took part in a joint talk tied to the fests screening of Salles documentary about the Chinese auteur, Jia Zhang-ke, a Guy from Fenyang. Controversial Korean director Park, who will also participate in BAFTAs Screenwriter Lecture series, presented in partnership with the BFI, later in October, joins a roster of maverick filmmakers giving Screen Talks at the fest. Screen Talks with Werner Herzog, Paul Verhoeven and Ben Wheatley were previously announced. Parks latest film, The Handmaiden, also receives a gala screening, fronting the fests Dare strand. Hot off its Golden Lion win at the Venice Film Festival, Diazs The Woman Who Left will join Morris The B Side: Elsa Dorfmans Portrait Photography as additions to the fests lineup. Diazs film, nearly four hours long and shot in black and white, tells the story of a schoolteacher who, released after serving 30 years in prison for a crime she did not commit, returns home with vengeance on her mind. Morris documentary, about the life of photographer Elsa Dorfman, will receive its European premiere at the festival, which runs October 5-16. Related stories Four Young Filmmakers Vie for Generous New British Prize Venice Golden Lion Winner, Almost Four Hours Long, to Get Italian Theatrical Distribution Toronto Film Review: 'The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography' A recent report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that Ganga water quality has worsened at places between Haridwar and Kanpur with heavy presence of fecal coliform bacteria and pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides. Tests show fecal coliform content at one stretch in Kanpur is 40,000 MPN/100 ml. It should be below 2,500 MPN/100 ml. By Mail Today: Crores of rupees spent on cleaning the Ganga over the years have gone down the drain with the holy river becoming filthier. A recent report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that water quality has worsened at places between Haridwar and Kanpur with heavy presence of fecal coliform bacteria and pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides. The 2,510-kilometre long river that runs from a glacier in the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal supports more than 400 million of India's 1.25 billion population. advertisement In the study "Restoration and rejuvenation of Ganga",the board has said, "Now, the River Ganga is blocked and dammed at many places (Upper Himalayan stretches and on the plains such as Haridwar, Bijnor, Narora and Kanpur) and water has been diverted for various uses. As a result, the water quality and ecological sanctity is threatened." WHAT THE REPORT REVEALS The report has made many startling revelations about the water quality due to discharge of untreated sewage into the river. It says that at present 823.1 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage is being discharged, without treatment, over a distance of 543 km between Haridwar and Kanpur. Also, the stretch is affected by 1,072 polluting industries. The latest data show that the water quality worsens as the river flows from Haridwar down to Kanpur. While the quality criteria mentions that the fecal coliform content should be less than 2500 MPN/100 ml, in a part of Kanpur it reached 40,000 this year. In 2015, the figure it was 20,889 at that location. The CPCB has suggested that 30 storm water drains carrying sewage, sullage and other wastes joining the Ganga at various locations, should have flow measuring systems at the terminal points for assessing the quantity of wastewater being discharged. Also, these drains should be hygienically maintained and properly dredged at regular intervals. The dredged material should be disposed of properly without any adverse environmental impacts. The board has also recommended that all the factories discharging industrial effluents should transmit online data of their waste matter quality to pollution control boards both at the Centre and state. "These industries should also submit fortnightly data of effluent-quality based on samples collected manually and getting it analysed through laboratory recognised under the Environment Protection Act," it said. The BJP-led government recently launched the Namami Gange programme on the banks of the river in Uttarakhand when 250 projects worth Rs 1,500 crore were launched. These projects were also launched at 108 places situated on the banks of sub-tributaries. Officials said that from the Gangotri to Ganga Sagar, "Namami Gange" will ensure cleanliness of the river for which Rs 20,000 crore have been earmarked. advertisement Also read: NCRG under PM to fast track Namami Gange implementation Bihar grapples with flooded Ganga, Lalu says victims lucky to get Gangajal at home Villages along Ganga to be open defecation-free by Dec --- ENDS --- Larry Page Airbnb just got a big cash infusion and Google is one of its big investors. According to a new financial filing, the company has raised $555 million at a $30 billion valuation, part of a desired $850 million round that it filed to raise last month. Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures led the deal, Business Insider has confirmed, after an earlier The Wall Street Journal report. A person close to the company confirmed that Airbnb plans to file a Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday with details of the raise, and that the round has not closed yet. Airbnb still plans to raise the total $850 million, the person said. Google Capital is part of Alphabet, Google's parent holding company. It invests in late-stage startups primarily for financial gains, but puts an emphasis on brokering connections with Google. It's led by David Lawee, who used to run mergers and acquisitions for the search giant. It's different from GV (formerly known as Google Ventures), which invests in early-stage startups and functions more like a traditional VC. The Journal also reported that Airbnb employees were able to sell some of their shares as part of the deal. That's important for employee retention: As companies like Airbnb stay private for longer than venture-funded tech companies in past eras, employees have fewer options to turn their stock options into usable cash. Deals like this provide much-needed liquidity for those employees. The company's current valuation makes it the second most valuable US startup behind Uber, which investors have valued at around $68 billion. The home-sharing company has been experimenting with new business areas. Last month, it launched a "community center" in Japan that functions like a hotel it will allow tourists to rent rooms and it's experimenting with ways to provide more guidance to customers when they're planning trips; for instance, a feature called Experiences would pay locals to conduct tours of particular sights. Story continues Airbnb is also facing legal fights, which could get expensive. In New York, the state Senate passed a bill that would prevent people from advertising short-term rentals, which would basically make it impossible for Airbnb to operate in the state if the governor signs it into law, and the company's home city of San Francisco passed legislation holding Airbnb responsible for enforcing laws related to short-term rentals. NOW WATCH: 7 incredibly tiny iPhone details only superfans know about More From Business Insider By Andrew Swick Best Defense guest columnist Amidst the drama of the Republican convention, the nation missed the passage of a historically conservative platform, which included a call to roll back the Barack Obama administrations policies regarding women in the military. While accusing the administration of using the military for social experimentation, the platform language called for exempting women from direct ground combat units and infantry battalions despite the ongoing integration of women into these very units. The Republican stance is hardly surprising. From the debut of the Department of Defenses integration studies in 2013, Republicans voiced fierce opposition to the policy changes. When Secretary of Defense Ash Carter opened all jobs to women last December, that opposition got louder. Republicans in Congress launched a debate over requiring women to register for the draft in an attempt to polarize the issue, even naming the legislation Draft Our Daughters an intentionally provocative title. That criticism, previously unorganized and dispersed throughout the conservative political sphere, became a point of official Republican record this month with the passage of the 2016 party platform. Even as the military drives forward with plans to integrate combat roles, and even with women already entering Army infantry units and competing for Special Forces roles, the Republican party is still trying to put the administrations personnel policy back in the box. Yet while the partys platform specifically argues that its objections to the Obama administrations social experimentation in the military are due to the effect on readiness, Republican politicians have failed to make a compelling case that the changes have had a negative affect on readiness. While this years Republican platform may not reflect the positions of all Republicans indeed, one committee member moved unsuccessfully to strike the language regarding women and combat roles this is the official direction of the Republican party in 2016. After all, in 1999 the Republican vice presidential nominee accused the Disney movie Mulan of sowing liberal propaganda regarding women in combat before declaring that the integration of women into the military had been an almost complete disaster. While Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pences opinions regarding female service may have changed since then, what he said then still found a home in the Republican partys proposed policy. Between Pence, the fight this spring over female draft registration, and the language in this years platform, the GOPs positioning is clear: The party wants to undo the work done by the DoD since December to integrate women into combat units. Story continues In order to make the case against placing women in combat arms units, the Republican platform attempts to make a clear, reasoned argument. It says readiness must be the top priority for the military and claim the administrations personnel actions prioritize politics over readiness. As the logic goes, women are less physiologically capable than men to perform the grueling physical tasks required of service members in combat arms roles, and therefore, admitting any women into those roles degrades the militarys readiness. Furthermore, the platform calls for an objective review of the impact on readiness, and promises corrective administrative, legal, or legislative action in response. Such an academic, nearly scientific, argument for keeping women out of combat requires a degree of intellectual rigor from its proponents and so far, the evidence for their case isnt so convincing. While studies conducted by the Army and Marine Corps found that women participating in ground combat training sustained injuries at higher rates than men, that finding alone doesnt equal a degradation of readiness. As Carter notes in his December memo on his decision, those same studies outline appropriate steps to mitigate this injury rate. Analysis by prominent nonpartisan research groups hasnt found a negative effect from the integration of women on military readiness either. A 1997 RAND study, published two years before Pence declared such social experiments a complete disaster, argued that the integration of women into the military non-combat roles, at that time had a relatively small effect on readiness, cohesion, and morale. The report even went as far as to say that compared to other factors like a units training, operational tempo, leadership, and materiel, gender [was] not perceived as affecting readiness. Opponents to women in combat roles often attempt to connect the idea of readiness to negative effects on unit cohesion, oversimplifying a complicated relationship. In another RAND study, commissioned by the U.S. Marine Corps in 2013, researchers note a distinction between cohesion and task cohesion, pointing out that effective leadership and maintaining high standards helps to foster effective task cohesion in integrated units. Unit cohesion is more a measure of the unity of culture in an organization, and isnt necessarily congruent with effectiveness. Cohesion around poor standards is certainly no contributor to readiness, and a college fraternity can be highly cohesive without coming close to combat effectiveness. Indeed, in my conversations with current company and field-grade Army officers, both male and female leaders agree that the focus instead must be on maintaining high gender-neutral standards. The 2013 RAND study also emphasized the importance of up-to-date, validated gender-neutral physical fitness standards for an effective, methodical integration of women into combat arms. Furthermore, these officers argued to me, commanders need to be allowed the proper authority to hold all soldiers to these standards, male and female. As long as military leaders are effectively able to enforce high standards, they will allow for more diverse and adaptive units, while upholding the readiness that Republicans rightfully deem to be so important. Thus far in the implementation of Carters orders toward integrating women, the services appear to be performing their due diligence to ensure the same standards are applied to men and women in specialized schools. The introduction of women to U.S. Army Ranger School is a notable step. Following the graduation of the first two female Ranger School graduates, Jim Hathaway, the executive officer for the Ranger Training Brigade, emphatically argued that the participating women received no special treatment, and former Secretary of the Army John McHugh reinforced the idea that women were held to the same standards as men. Even fellow classmates of the first female Ranger graduates, including the class honor graduate, insisted that they had met the same tough standards as the men and proved their worth. Discussing the opening of Special Forces Assessment and Selection for two women in July, Army spokeswoman Maj. Melody Faulkenberry also emphasized the neutrality of the standards both before and during selection. She went on to argue that there would be no requirement difference based on gender or age, and all who even apply must pass those standards. Despite the successes of our all-volunteer force in the past fifteen years, the force has demonstrated fragility when it needed to rapidly expand to meet challenges abroad. In particular, the Army notably lowered standards to make recruitment targets in 2006, during the height of conflict in the Iraq War. Even 10 years later, the Army still faces significant hurdles in achieving its recruitment goals. Though the Army plans on making its targets for 2016, recruiters cite problems resulting from a shrinking pool of qualified individuals and competition for talent. As one female officer pointed out to me, the military needs to cast the widest possible net for qualified soldiers. They must at least make the effort, she argued, to open all positions up to qualified women before lowering their standards to meet their recruiting goals. In the short term, the 2013 Rand study argues there will likely be small numbers of women who will qualify and/or request to enter combat arms at least initially. Regardless, now that women have the right to the same opportunities for jobs and advancement in the military as men, they deserve effective male and female as SMA Dailey notes military leadership. Women in the military demonstrate that they can help bring a diversity of thought and new ways to approach problems, along with unique capabilities, to combat units. In order to effectively integrate these characteristics while maintaining readiness, the military needs to extend its gender-neutral standards, from its elite schools to every line combat unit. Thankfully, the Department of Defense seems committed to rolling forward in the most effective way, despite Republican attempts to stop a train in motion. Andrew J. Swick is the Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Intern with the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. He is a former Army infantry officer and worked as a field director on the presidential campaign of Governor John Kasich. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Charlotte (AFP) - Hundreds of National Guard troops and police reinforcements converged on Charlotte, mobilized to prevent a third night of violent protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man. The tense southern city was under a state of emergency amid growing complaints that the authorities were slow to respond to crowds protesting the death of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American, on Tuesday. One person was shot and seriously wounded and 44 were arrested as the protests swept through downtown Charlotte late Wednesday and early Thursday, triggered by the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States. Nine protesters and two officers were hurt as clashes broke out with riot police firing tear gas, shutting down a transport hub in the city, officials said. The seriously wounded protester died in the hospital on Thursday, local media reported. The city had said he was shot by a civilian, not police. North Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, activating the National Guard and state highway police to reinforce the city's police force. President Barack Obama spoke with Governor Pat McCrory for an update on the situation, the White House said. "The president believes strongly in the right of individuals to protest," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "It is also important that people do not use public protest as an excuse to engage in violence or vandalism." Several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers have been deployed to protect city infrastructure and businesses, Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney said. "We are going to be a lot more proactive," he told a news conference. "We made 44 arrests last night because we are not going to tolerate the behavior." Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier that a curfew was under consideration, but Putney said he did not intend to impose one unless "we need to clear the streets sooner." Story continues - Shooting video - Scott was shot and killed in an apartment complex parking lot on Tuesday during an encounter with police officers searching for another person wanted for arrest. Conflicting versions of what happened -- police say Scott was armed with a handgun while his family says he was holding a book -- fueled the angry protests. The authorities have so far resisted mounting pressure to release police video of the incident, saying it would harm the investigation's integrity. However, members of Scott's family were set to watch the video later Thursday, a lawyer for the family told reporters. Putney has said a handgun was recovered at the scene, and that no book was found, contrary to the family's assertion. The video footage "does not give me absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun," he told CNN on Tuesday. But later he said the footage indicates the officer identified as having shot Scott -- Brentley Vinson, who is also black -- was justified. "If I felt laws were broken, I would have taken action by now," he told The Charlotte Observer, referring to criminal charges against the officer. However, the final determination about whether to charge Vinson will fall to the State Bureau of Investigation, which began investigating the shooting on Thursday. - Protesters 'seething' - Although Wednesday night's protest started with a peaceful vigil for Scott, the atmosphere changed dramatically when demonstrators marched to the police headquarters and a protester pulled the American flag to the bottom of its flagpole. By the time the protesters walked the few blocks to uptown and encountered riot police standing like statues on Trade Street, the marchers were seething. Some stood on cars and hurled rocks and bottles at police, who responded by firing tear gas, which sent the crowd scattering. Basketball legend Michael Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets NBA team, issued a statement appealing for calm. "It is more important than ever that we restore calm and come together," he said, "in constructive and non-violent ways." Scott's shooting came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, on Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa authorities charged the police officer who killed Crutcher with first-degree manslaughter on Thursday. The troubles in Charlotte reverberated on the US presidential campaign trail, with Republican candidate Donald Trump suggesting that drug use in the inner city was somehow responsible. "And if you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night," he said during a speech in Pittsburgh. Democrat Hillary Clinton discussed the unrest in calls Thursday to the Charlotte mayor and US Congresswoman Alma Adams, her campaign said. "Too many black Americans have lost their lives and too many feel that their lives are disposable," the campaign cited her as saying. "There are good, honorable police officers serving their communities across our country, and we must all work together to mend the wounds that exist and build the America we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in." Athens (AFP) - Greece has rejected the asylum claim of a Turkish military officer who fled after the failed coup of July 15, his lawyer said Thursday, vowing to appeal the decision. Lawyer Stavroula Tomara told AFP that an asylum committee on Wednesday had "rejected" the officer's request and "frozen" those of two others. A judicial source said this meant the court had ruled the two officers' arguments against extradition inadmissible. Tomara said she would appeal against the rejection and request a re-examination for her other two clients, which she said could be done in the next nine months. She represents eight Turkish officers, who are seeking asylum in Greece after landing a military helicopter in the northern city of Alexandroupoli in July, four days after Turkish army units attempted a government takeover. Wednesday's decision does not mean the immediate deportation of any of the officers, a Greek government source told AFP, adding that the asylum claims of the other five officers are still under examination. Turkey has formally requested the extradition of the men -- two commanders, four captains and two sergeants -- on suspicion of involvement in the failed coup. The men deny the accusations. In late July, the court of Alexandroupoli sentenced the eight -- who face a military trial in their homeland if sent back -- to suspended two-month prison terms for illegal entry. The men were subsequently relocated to Athens and are in police custody. The eight say they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey, where the authorities have detained thousands of people over the coup, including top generals. If sent home, their lives could be in danger, one of their lawyers has said. Rights group Amnesty International has said it has "credible evidence" of the abuse and torture of people detained in sweeping post-coup arrests -- something Ankara has denied. The case threatens to strain ties between the uneasy NATO allies, with Ankara labelling the eight "terrorists". Tunisia is the lone success story of Arab Spring or, at any rate, so we hear. The story goes like this: While the rest of the Middle East and North Africa struggles with wars and authoritarianism, Tunisians should be congratulating themselves on their good fortune, having somehow managed to preserve the fruits of their revolution. This mantra has been repeated so relentlessly, in fact, that one is sometimes left with the feeling that Tunisians have lost their right to speak up, to express any kind of frustration with their present political and economic situation. Indeed, the current celebration of Tunisia as the good student of democracy is eerily reminiscent of the 1990s and early 2000s, when the international community lavished praise on President Ben Alis regime for his good economic example the alleged structural reforms he was carrying out at the time. The comparison is revealing. In both cases, the enthusiastic approval serves as cover for the tendency to prioritize stability and flawed consensus over genuine equality and justice, privileging elite maneuverings over the peoples concerns. The hype about Tunisias political progress has become completely disconnected from the reality on the ground. That reality is stark: Tunisian democracy is at risk. The corrupt media, business elites, and the politicians of the old regime have joined forces, with the support of some regional powers, to hijack our post-revolutionary institutions. The much-touted national unity government that currently rules the country has become a vehicle for the revival of the old regime and the careers of its stalwarts. When current Prime Minister Youssef Chahed was appointed as the head of the government on August 3, his first act was to appoint 12 new governors nine of whom were officials of the old regime. There is good reason to believe that his appointments to lower positions in the administration will follow the same pattern. Story continues The current ruling coalition is based on a set of three key ideas: political consensus, reconciliation, and the fight against terrorism. These are noble and necessary principles, but the ways our policymakers apply them obscure truly needed reforms and undermine Tunisias democratic experiment. As a result, they may ultimately serve to harm democracy more than they reinforce it. First, let us address the notion of political consensus. Since the revolution, many of our leaders have harped on the need for political stability, claiming that the government should be based on a pact between the two main former adversaries: the secular party Nidaa Tounes, which includes many veterans of the old regime, and the Islamist Ennahdha Party. What this coalition misses, however, is that a true consensus necessarily represents the reality of all political and social forces, no matter how divided or divisive. Such a consensus would have the ability to politically channel and address the needs of the Tunisian people. This is not the case today. The current government of national unity in reality represents only particular segments of Tunisian society, and acts merely as a pretext for those two parties to keep their hold on power. Second, there is the complicated issue of reconciliation. Needless to say, this is a term of vital importance in transitional justice. The National Constituent Assembly, the interim parliament that emerged soon after the revolution, created an independent institution the Truth and Dignity Commission designed to oversee the process of bringing to justice those who committed crimes under the old regime. Today, however, the parties in the governing coalition have joined together to support President Beji Caid Essebsis plan, known as the Reconciliation Bill, that allegedly aims to revive the economy by offering amnesty to businessmen accused of corruption under the old regime in exchange for their ill-gotten wealth. Several international organizations, such as the International Center for Transitional Justice and Transparency International, have criticized the bill for failing to deal with the root causes of corruption. Tunisians have also attacked it for undermining the process of transitional justice already established by the Truth and Dignity Commission. What Tunisia needs is a full-fledged fight against corruption, not reconciliation with the corrupt. Third, the fight against terrorism. The challenge here is to find a way to guarantee both security and human rights. The current political elite has instead exploited the premise that security can only be achieved at the expense of human rights. Take, for example, the recently adopted anti-terrorism law, which assumes an extremely broad definition of what constitutes an act of terrorism (such as damaging property during a demonstration), and gives the police the authority to hold in custody someone without a lawyer for 15 days. This approach is unnervingly similar to that of the Ben Ali regime, which was happy to channel the publics fears into anti-terrorism measures that focused purely on security. Instead we need a strategy that goes beyond needed security reforms, incorporating de-radicalization programs that both work and respect civil rights. Rather than the current fairy tale of success, Tunisia urgently needs a government that is politically stable because it truly represents the people. The country has already experienced two administrations in the past two years. Reform of the economy, public health, and education is impossible in such a transient and precarious context. Even more ominously, we now see a growing gap forming between the political elite and the increasingly frustrated populace. We need to rebalance the make-up of the government to ensure proper representation of the growing mass of young people and the poor who feel alienated from the national unity governments top-down version of consensus. One solution to this problem would be to promptly hold free and fair local elections. Currently these elections, which have been repeatedly postponed, are scheduled to take place at some point in 2018. That is not soon enough. Local elections could provide a desperately needed breath of fresh air, a chance for people to reconnect with their political representatives. Unfortunately, those currently in power simply do not have the will to speed up the process, and the reasons have little to do with concern about the quality of Tunisias democracy. Specifically, Nidaa Tounes, the party of the president, is plagued by internal disarray that is degrading its capacity to compete effectively in the elections hence the postponements. The consequences of the resulting delay are incalculable. I am convinced that we can achieve sustainable democracy and make the economy work for the people and the environment only by forming a broad, centrist, and progressive coalition that goes beyond current political representation in the parliament. Such a government would emphasize four major issues. First, it would resist any attempts to use needed reforms as a pretext for imposing the kind of austerity that leads to greater economic hardship for many Tunisians. By increasing public spending rather than cutting it, this administration would avoid layoffs and loss of revenue for the private sector so that aggregate demand would increase, leading to economic growth. Second, the government would oppose the controversial Reconciliation Bill, which represents only the restoration of a corrupt elite, and let the Truth and Dignity Commission continue its work as originally mandated. Third, it would defend the basic rights highlighted in the 2014 constitution, notably freedom of speech, free media, and all guarantees of free and fair elections; such a commitment is a key condition for maintaining the integrity of democratic institutions. Fourth, it would speed up the consolidation of local democracy, as guaranteed by the constitution, by pushing for municipal and regional elections as soon as possible. The government should also work to ensure the fairness of the next national elections in 2019. I am determined to contribute to efforts to challenge the current stagnation, and will work to create a constructive channel for the frustrations and aspirations of those who are not represented by the narrow and rotten consensus of Islamists and old regime figures. This is the objective of the Irada Party, which I created last year based on the lessons of my 2014 presidential campaign. Contrary to the ideas of those currently in power, our partys platform is not based on a fairy-tale unity between foes. Drawing on the economic and political precepts of social democracy, it takes as its starting point the everyday reality experienced by most Tunisians. While Western commentators and organizations outdo themselves in the celebration of Tunisias democratic success, it is vital that the Tunisian people begin to experience this success in their daily lives. We see the objective of our party in precisely these terms. We aim not for a consensus among those at the top, but for the establishment of genuine dignity on the ground, among the people. In the photo, Tunisians protest the economic reconciliation bill in Tunis on July 25. Photo credit: FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images Charlotte (AFP) - The loud crack of a gunshot startled protesters as they hurled objects and clashed with riot police in Charlotte, North Carolina, where racial tensions soared a day after a black man was killed by officers. One man near the center of Wednesday night's confrontation was on life support after being shot by another civilian, the city said in a tweet, reversing its earlier statement that the man had died. The unrest turned violent after a peaceful vigil to mark the previous day's shooting death of African-American Keith Scott at the hands of Charlotte police. It was the latest in a long series of controversial police killings of black men which have inflamed tensions in several US cities, and sparked a national debate about race and whether Americans can come together to reduce police brutality. The Charlotte protesters came face to face with helmeted security forces in riot gear, who massed uptown but were briefly outnumbered by the hundreds of demonstrators who took over the streets, kicking police vehicles and breaking storefront glass. The police were forced to retreat to the safety of an upscale hotel lobby. Protesters tried to push their way inside but were blocked, and police eventually established a perimeter at the hotel's entrance. When agitators got too close, or projectiles rained down, police used rubber bullets, pepper spray and flash grenades to disburse the crowd. Some appeared undaunted, surging back toward the police. "Your life is in danger, you need to move!" an officer yelled. As the protest turned chaotic, a reporter heard the clear sound of a gunshot, which sent several people into a run. The shooting victim fell to the sidewalk two yards (meters) from an AFP photographer, and riot police and other protesters helped move the injured man behind the police perimeter. A pool of blood was left on the sidewalk. Wednesday night's mayhem followed a dusk vigil for Scott, a 43-year-old father killed by police in a Charlotte apartment complex under disputed circumstances. Story continues The police chief said Scott was holding a gun and posed a threat to officers, and that the policeman who shot him was black. But neighbors told a dramatically different story, saying Scott was reading a book, not holding a firearm, and that the officer who shot him was white. - 'It's too much' - While the vigil was peaceful -- several attendees brought their children -- the atmosphere changed dramatically once demonstrators walked to the nearby police headquarters, where one protester pulled the American flag to the bottom of its flagpole. Other people banged angrily on the front doors and chanted "No justice, no peace," and "Fuck the police." By the time they walked the few blocks to uptown, and encountered riot police standing like statues on Trade Street, protesters were seething. "It's too much. It's too much," winced one woman, wiping tears from her eyes as she stood before riot police. "We've got brothers and sisters and children and fathers who think we're not going to live to see the next day. Nobody should have to live like that," she said. "Not every black person is a drug dealer, a crackhead, or a gangster." Several protesters raised their arms as they stood before police, chanting "Hands up, don't shoot." North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency, saying he was bringing in the National Guard to help maintain order. But while officials are eager to defuse the anger on the streets, many protesters were outraged that the police department has so far refused to release the body-cam and dashboard footage from the officers at the scene of Scott's death. One woman standing near the riot police held up a sign that read "Release the Tapes." A top EU lawyer on Thursday said Islamist movement Hamas and Sri Lankan rebel group LTTE should be taken off the bloc's terror list because procedural mistakes invalidated the decision to put them on it. The European Union imposed travel bans and asset freezes against Hamas and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam under 2001 rules. The groups subsequently contested being kept on the bloc's terrorist black list. The General Court, second to the European Court of Justice, found in their favour in 2014 on the grounds the EU had based its decision on publicly available information, not on a finding by a competent authority. The European Council of the 28 member states in turn appealed that finding. Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston of the ECJ said the EU "cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, rather than in decisions of competent authorities, to support a decision to maintain a listing." Given that "some of the reasons advanced could not justify the decision to maintain the listing of LTTE and Hamas," the General Court was correct to dismiss the EU appeal when it could find no other sufficient reasons for their listing. Accordingly, the ECJ "should annul the measures maintaining Hamas and LTTE on the EU list of terrorist organisations on procedural grounds." Advocates general of the ECJ are regularly called on to give their view on a case before a final ruling and in most instances their opinions are followed. Officials said they could not comment on Sharpston's opinion and would wait until the final ruling in the case. For the moment, nothing is changed and Hamas and LTTE remain listed. By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Harvard University's investment arm, which oversees America's largest endowment, on Thursday said its portfolio lost 2 percent during the 2016 fiscal year, marking the single largest yearly decline since the financial crisis. Stock investments contributed significantly to its overall loss with public equity investments falling 10.2 percent, Harvard Management Company (HMC) said in its annual report. During the same time the broader Standard & Poor's 500 benchmark was flat. The fiscal year ended June 30th. The Ivy League school's endowment now stands at $35.7 billion, down from a record $37.6 billion a year ago when Harvard earned a 5.8 percent return on its investments. Harvard, whose investment performance was once the envy of the financial world, has lagged its rivals for some years now. The school continues to grapple with considerable turnover in its top investment ranks as well as a reassessment of how the endowment is invested. "This has been a challenging year for endowments and clearly these are disappointing results," Paul Finnegan, chair of the HMC Board of Directors, said in a statement. Harvard has had three investment chiefs since 2005 and is currently searching for a new one. Stephen Blyth, who held the position for only 18 months and last year vowed to improve performance, resigned unexpectedly in July after having taken a medical leave in May. Robert Ettl, HMC's interim president and chief executive officer, said in a statement that steps have been taken to strengthen the organization in order to improve long-term performance. A number of other universities have also been hurt by volatile market conditions. The University of California and Ohio State University each lost 3.4 percent in the last fiscal year while the University of Virginia lost 1.5 percent. But Harvard's neighbor, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology produced a 0.8 percent gain last year. Yale, Harvard's arch rival, has not yet released its returns. Story continues The school has been trying to mount a comeback since it lost 27.3 percent in 2009 during the financial crisis. For decades, Harvard has been different from most other schools, including Yale, in that it managed some of its money internally while farming the rest out to external managers. Earlier this year, Harvard decided to have outside managers make more of its equity investments and scaled back its internal stock picking operation. But the outsiders had some trouble too during the most recent year, Ettl said. Some of them had similar stock investments, particularly in health care, which helped contribute to the 10.2 percent drop, he said. Natural resources investments also fell 10.2 percent, trailing far behind its benchmark. Real estate investments, which have been winners for some time, produced a 13.8 percent gain, beating its benchmark which climbed 9.4 percent. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Daniel Bases) Mylan MYL CEO Heather Bresch responded to questions from the House Oversight Committee Wednesday as Congress continues its probe into the companys price hikes on EpiPens. Despite their usual partisan gridlock, members of Congress united to absolutely grill Bresch over the scandal. Unconvincing Talk Bresch attempted to explain to the House committee that Mylan made less than $100 on a standard two-pack of EpiPens, which retails for nearly $609, but the representatives didnt buy her logic, especially when she refused to admit that her company raised the price of the medication in an attempt to make more money. Ms. Bresch was also seemingly unprepared for many of the committees questions; the embattled chief executive didnt come with the information about the companys revenue and patient assistance programs that Congress previously requested. The Roast of Heather Bresch Both Republicans and Democrats took Breschs appearance in Congress as an opportunity to skewer her and her company for their pricing strategy that saw the cost of EpiPens increase by over 400% in just a few years. I am a very conservative and pro-business Republican, but I am sickened by what Ive heard, said Rep. John Duncan, a Republican from Tennessee. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, questioned Bresch about the companys EpiPen4Schools program, which is currently the subject of an antitrust probe in New York. Duckworth questioned Mylans decision to make schools sign non-compete agreements, calling the practice an unfair monopoly. Duckworth also mentioned that schools were unaware that the president of the National Association of State Boards of Education, which pushed state governments to mandate that schools keep EpiPens in stock, was actually Breschs own mother (also read: Mylan CEO's Mother Pushed Schools to Buy EpiPens). Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland likened Mylans conduct to that of Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals. Story continues After the hearing, you know what he called us? Imbeciles. You know why he said that? Because he knew he would go back and do the same thing. So he took his puncheshe rope-a-doped us. Even worse, he took the Fifth, Cumming said in reference to Shkrelis congressional testimony earlier this year. Another visibly upset lawmaker was Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah. Chaffetz seemed baffled when Bresch attempted to argue that Mylan doesnt actually make that much profit on the drug. That doesnt make any sense, Chaffetz said. This is why we dont believe you. Rep. Eleanor Norton, a Democratic delegate from Washington D.C., also called Breschs personal income into question. What have you done to earn this 671% increase?, she asked, referencing Breschs salary increase and stock gains since taking over as Mylan chief. Bottom Line Wednesdays hearing was the second time this week that Congress put its partisan rivalry on hold to gang up on a corporate CEO. On Tuesday, a Senate committee roasted Wells Fargo WFC CEO John Strumpf for his role in the companys fraudulent accounts scandal (also read: Wells Fargo CEO Grilled By Congress). With this years rather contentious election continuing to heat up, I dont expect Congress to be getting along much longer. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report WELLS FARGO-NEW (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report MYLAN NV (MYL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By PTI: Mumbai, Sep 22 (PTI) The government is working on a plan to end dependency on coal imports in next 3-4 months in order to facilitate consumption of the surplus fossil fuel produced by Coal India. "When I took charge in 2014, I was faced with the challenge of inadequate supply of fuel. But now after two years we have come to a point where we have surplus coal and we are worried how to sell the surplus," Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said here late last evening. advertisement He was addressing a gathering at the 50-year celebration of council for fair business practices (CFBP). "To tackle this problem of surplus, my ministry has drawn up an entire programme to see how we can completely eliminate import of coal by any state government or state discom in the next 3-4 months," he said. For almost 6-7 decades after independence, the country had got used to power and coal shortage but today there is a situation of surplus production, he said. "The one billion target (of coal production )that I announced was an off the cuff remark for meeting of shortage of coal and I was criticised for this. But today we are worried how are we going to sell the excess production," he said. Goyal said there is an availability of almost 20 days stock and there is not a single plant in the country which is shut due to shortage of coal. It was earlier reported that the government has decided to push back its target of coal production of one billion tonne by 2020 as it does not have takers for the produce. Coal India had set a target of 598 MT of production in 2016-17. PTI PSK ARS ANU --- ENDS --- From Esquire At the end of his thorough roasting in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday morning, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf found himself on the business end of some tough questions from Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon. Merkley cited the accounts given by a number of Wells Fargo employees-the kind of people on whom Stumpf, who makes $19 million a year just in salary, has pinned the entire scandal at his firm-about the intolerable boiler-room culture that exists at the firm's various outposts. It was Merkley's contention, backed up by considerable anecdotal evidence, to say nothing of common logic, that this culture put the firm's grunts under so much heat from above to meet sales quotas that many of them succumbed to the pressure and started creating fake accounts under the names of real people. Merkley asked Stumpf to respond to this. And Stumpf said the following: "Sir, that sort of thing has no place at Wells Fargo and nothing we did would encourage that." Annnnnnnd, scene! [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="Elizabeth%20Warren%20Stood%20Up%20for%20Our%20Country%20Today" customimages="" content="article.48758"] On Wednesday, inevitably, CNN Money talked to some former Wells Fargo employees andwell, you know what's coming next. "They ruined my life," Bill Bado, a former Wells Fargo banker in Pennsylvania, told CNNMoney. Bado not only refused orders to open phony bank and credit accounts. The New Jersey man called an ethics hotline and sent an email to human resources in September 2013, flagging unethical sales activities he was being instructed to do. Eight days after that email, a copy of which CNNMoney obtained, Bado was terminated. The stated reason? Tardiness. Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf made precisely that point on Tuesday when he testified before angry Senators. "Each team member, no matter where you are in the organization, is encouraged to raise their hands," Stumpf told lawmakers. He mentioned the anonymous ethics line, adding, "We want to hear from them." But that's not the experience of some former Wells Fargo workers. One former Wells Fargo human resources official even said the bank had a method in place to retaliate against tipsters. He said that Wells Fargo would find ways to fire employees "in retaliation for shining light" on sales issues. It could be as simple as monitoring the employee to find a fault, like showing up a few minutes late on several occasions. "If this person was supposed to be at the branch at 8:30 a.m. and they showed up at 8:32 a.m, they would fire them," the former human resources official told CNNMoney, on the condition he remain anonymous out of fear for his career. Story continues Didn't lying to Congress used to be a big deal, or did I just dream that? The firing certainly took a huge toll on Bado's life. It put a permanent stain on his securities license, scaring off other prospective bank employers. Today, the New Jersey man's house is on the verge of being foreclosed on and he's working part-time, at Shop-Rite. "You wonder where the justice is," Bado said. Ken Springer, a former FBI agent who runs a firm that offers a whistleblower hotline service, was alarmed by the allegations made by former Wells Fargo employees. "That's retaliation. It's a big problem -- and a perfect example of what shouldn't happen," Springer said. "It looks like there's been a terrible breakdown of checks and balances at Wells Fargo." Some people who get pretty big checks sound like they were pretty unbalanced. I'll buy that. Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page. You Might Also Like A Los Angeles school crossing guard has been hailed a hero after allegedly thwarting a woman's attempts to kidnap an 8-year-old girl from a local elementary school. Read: 911 Call Reveals Boy, 8, Frantically Describing How He Saved Brother, 2, From Kidnapper An 8-year-old girl was leaving campus on her first day of school last month when a woman she didn't know, later identified as 50-year-old Maria Ramirez, grabbed her firmly by the hand, and said, "Come on, come on," the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. That's when the girl spotted school crossing guard Adrian Young, who was off duty, and called out to her. "She kept saying to me, 'Please help me, Miss Crossing Guard, please help me,'" Young, who stands at only 4 feet 8 inches tall, told KTLA. She told the girl to "hold on to me as tight as she can, because both of us were very small, and the lady was bigger than me." Young was able to free the 8-year-old from the accused kidnapper by punching her, according to KTLA. "I'm very thankful for you," the girl's mother, Sharon Arellano told Young as she pulled her in an embrace. "If it hadn't been for her, I don't know where my daughter would be right now." Read: Boy Gets Locked Inside School Bus, Misses First Day of Kindergarten: 'I Cried Myself to Sleep' Ramirez was booked on felony kidnap charges by the LAPD Wednesday and is currently being held on $100,000 bail. The heroic crossing guard who went above and beyond the line of duty was also formally honored by the city. "Sometimes superheroes come in small packages," a representative said. Watch: 'We Want to Play': 4 Arrested After Creepy Clown Threats Force School Lockdown Related Articles: I had a memorable experience in Jackson, Ohio, in 2012. This is hillbilly country, the northwestern edge of Appalachia. Susan Rogers, who works for a local public-service agency, asked me to come visit. She put together an extraordinary group of peopleministers, government workers, the mayor, the state representativeall of whom, it seemed, had friends, family or neighbors who were in jail or rehab, victims of the methamphetamine plague. They were reeling, unable to comprehend what had hit them; emotions were running strong. I decided to go back this year, to hear what the group had to say about the presidential election. This is a big Trump area, Rogers told me. People who never were involved in politics are coming out of the woodwork. Unfortunately, not many of those folks showed up at our meeting, which was held at Rowdys Smokehouse, a new restaurant in town that is a small sign of optimism in an economically struggling area that has since moved from meth to heroin, which is cheaper. The remainder of the group tended to be educators, social workers, government employeesthe Hillary faction in town. The mayor, Randy Heath, was there, but he was a lonely moderate Democrat. Six of the seven members of the city council are Republicans, he said, and theyre all for Trump. Mary Deel, a retired teacher who works for the election commissionand a strong Clinton supportertold me that there were a lot of local Democrats who had changed their registration to vote for Trump in the primary. But when I asked why so many of their neighbors were vehemently supporting a candidate they considered unqualified, they didnt have much to say. Just as the meeting seemed to be losing steam, Rogers whispered, There are a bunch of Trump supporters out in the kitchen whod like to talk to you. And so I met with them, afterward. They included Nathan Kitts, the owner of Rowdys, who had opened the joint on a Monday night to accommodate the meetingand the local sheriff, Tedd Frazier, who had helped Nathan cook the excellent barbecue buffet, as well as several of Nathans friends. Im a Trump supporter, I guess, said the restaurant owner. I know hes a loose cannon and he has trouble with diplomacy, and you wonder, will he get us into some bad stuff? But Nathan had another business, an urgent-care medical clinic. He was outraged by how the health-insurance system worked and doubted that Clinton could fix it. It works if youre poor or youre rich, but if youre in between, making $25-$30,000, your deductibles are so high, youre essentially self-insuring. Story continues Jason Gillum, a local insurance agent and musician, agreed about the medical-insurance situation and said maybe the government should get the private insurers out of the way. Ive run your numbers, Nate, he said. Youre paying $740 a month with a $6,500 deductible. Ten years ago, I had you at $282 a month and a $1,500 deductible for the same coverage. Gillum was voting for Trump, though: Yeah, I know hes a narcissist. But hes a businessman, and were all entrepreneurs. He knows that if you think big and put your mind to it, you can make things happen. Maybe he can make this country proud again. He gives me a sense of hope. I asked the group about Trumps rather weird relationship with Vladimir Putin, and Gillum said, I havent researched that issue. Indeed, it seemed the Trump supporters were less obsessed with the daily run of campaign controversy. They didnt seem to care much about Trumps lies or exaggerations, nor did they mention immigrants or Muslims. Trump lived in the world of business, as they did. He knew all about the paperwork they had to fill out, the financial risks they took, the month-to-month vagaries of keeping a small business open. Clinton had absolutely nothing to say to them about their daily livesand I wondered where her vaunted small-business initiative, announced early in the campaign, had gone. The only thing she says about us is she wants to put our coal miners out of business, said Donald Willis, the local jail administrator. I asked the Trump supporters why they hadnt joined the larger group earlier in the evening. They smiled, knowingly. They knew who the Hillary folks were. They were neighbors, so why risk unpleasantness? In Ohio, routinely labeled a battleground state, some battles are too toxic to be fought in public. This appears in the October 03, 2016 issue of TIME. Hilary Clinton just reunited The West Wing cast for the best possible reason Hilary Clinton just reunited The West Wing cast for the best possible reason Its hard to believe that its been over 10 years since the cast of The West Wing graced our TV screens. Well, great news! The cast has announced that they will be hitting the campaign trail again. No, not for a reunion episode, but for some IRL political organizing. West Wing fans, how fast do you think you can make it to the Midwest? The cast, who are no strangers to the last 50 day grind, will be joining Hillary Clinton in Ohio to join in the push to register voters and rally behind the Democratic nominee. With Ohios voter registration deadline just around the corner on October 11, its crunch time. NEW --> The gang is getting back together: the cast of The West Wing will campaign for @HillaryClinton in stops across Ohio this weekend. pic.twitter.com/ZwyoIyiIDX Ian Sams (@IanSams) September 21, 2016 Cast members Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, and Bradley Whitford will be joining upcoming stops in the battleground state, including Columbus and Toledo. And though President Bartlet himself aka Martin Sheen wont be joining in, he showed his support for the Clinton campaign in an ad directed by Joss Whedon. Important Its just a no-brainer, the election is far too IMPORTANT for you to think of November 8th as any other day. When you step into that voting booth, make your mark and make it count! #SaveTheDayVoteRobert Downey Jr Mark Ruffalo Neil Patrick Harris James Franco Clark Gregg Nathan Fillion Matt McGorry Yvette Nicole Brown Leslie Odom Jr. Jesse Williams Keegan-Michael Key ROOKIE Scarlett Johansson and many more! Posted by Save The Day on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 While its not quite a Leslie Knope endorsement, were super stoked to see the gang back together. giphy The post Hilary Clinton just reunited The West Wing cast for the best possible reason appeared first on HelloGiggles. Hillary Clinton took a page out of President Obamas playbook by appearing on Funny or Dies Between Two Ferns hosted by Zach Galifianakis. In the reoccurring sketch, Galifianakis plays a rude talk show host who batters his guests with inappropriate questions. Most of the comedians material this time around centers around being blatantly sexist. At one point he asks Clinton, As secretary how many words per minute could you type? Those are really out of date questions. You need to get out more, she replies. Clinton got a few jabs in against Donald Trump when Galifianakis also asks if shell move to Canada in the event that Trump wins the presidency. I would stay in the United States, Clinton says. I would try to prevent him from destroying the United States. When he asks if she would lead a Civil War she says, I wouldnt take up arms. That would be a little extreme. Toward the end of the sketch, Galifianakis says he needs to break for a commercial sponsor and plays a pro-Trump ad. Why would you play a commercial for my opponent in the middle of our interview? Clinton asks. He paid me in steaks, Galifianakis replies. Id be afraid to eat them if I were you, Clinton says. To wrap up the skit, the comedian slips in an email jokes. Well this has been a lot of fun Mrs. Clinton, he says. We should stay in touch. Whats the best way to reach you email? Barack Obama appeared on Between Two Ferns in 2014 to try to get young people to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Watch the full video with Hillary Clinton below: Related stories Advertisers Flock to Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton Presidential Debates 'The West Wing' Cast to Campaign for Hillary Clinton Sigourney Weaver Talks Hillary Clinton, 'Alien,' David Fincher, J.A. Bayona Following in the footsteps of our current president -- and, uh, Justin Bieber -- Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton dropped by the Zach Galifianakis-hosted Funny or Die mock-interview series "Between Two Ferns." Justin Bieber Gets Slapped Around on 'Between Two Ferns': Watch In the six-minute clip, Galifianakis asks the presidential hopeful hard-hitting questions about being "the first girl president," what she plans to wear to the debates, and if she plans to move to Canada "when [Trump]'s elected President and Kid Rock becomes Secretary of State." (She doesn't.) The host also tries to creep up on Clinton wearing a skeleton mask before the interview -- trying to "get in the Halloween spirit of it all," he later explains -- but gets tackled by Secret Service agents. The video plays well to the former Secretary of State's comedic strengths, allowing her to respond to Galifinakis' buffoonery with dry humor and endless side-eye. "Those are really... out-of-date questions," she dispassionately responds to her interviewer's inquiries about her words-per-minute typing skills, and President Obama's coffee order. "You need to get out more." Watch the clip here. By Maytaal Angel LONDON (Reuters) - UK steelmakers are likely to win lucrative deals to supply the 18 billion pound ($23.5 bln) nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, not enough though to secure the future of Britain's troubled steel sector, industry experts say. UK steel firms are slowly emerging from a crisis that has seen around 5,000 jobs, or a fifth of the workforce, axed since last October, thanks primarily to rising steel prices and a falling pound making exports more competitive. Britain approved the controversial, China-backed Hinkley Point project last Thursday, firing optimism its construction will also help arrest the steel sector's decline. But to ensure its ultimate survival, the industry needs more infrastructure projects that use British steel, lower energy costs and, crucially, more measures to prevent dumped or subsidised steel from China and elsewhere from entering the country. "It's good (news) ... but I don't think a Hinkley Point can sustain British steelmaking for the next decade," Ben Orhan, senior economist at consultants His, said. EDF, the French utility that will build Hinkley Point C in southwest England, has said more than 60 percent of construction spending on the project will go to British companies. Wales-based Express Reinforcements was named preferred bidder to supply Hinkley Point with 200,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel, which it will source from Celsa Steel UK. This is 25 times more steel than was used in London's Olympic Stadium and is worth $84 million, according to Reuters calculations based on current steel prices. EDF declined to comment on Hinkley Point's total steel needs, but even if, as some experts expect, the project will require at least a million tonnes of steel, this will be spread over nearly a decade. That is a fraction of the 10.8 million tonnes of steel produced last year in the UK, according to the World Steel Association. TRADE DEFENCES EDF also declined to comment on whether Chinese steelmakers will supply the project, though some worry this might be the case given Hinkley Point is backed by $8 billion worth of Chinese funding. The European Union has ramped up trade defences in steel over the past couple of years. It currently has 37 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures in place for steel products, 15 of them concerning China. Since April, British government rules mandate that all public sector projects must consider the social and environmental impact of the steel they source, and cannot just opt for the most cost-effective bidder. "This is the first major project announced since the (government) procurement rules changed. As such it is the first test for government," Gareth Stace, head of industry group UK Steel, said. The British government said Hinkley Point was not a public sector project, but added: "UK companies have already been successful in securing over 250 million of manufacturing contracts ... and 64 percent of the (Hinkley Point's) construction value is expected to come from British companies. EDF has said the largest forgings, used in the nuclear reactors, will be procured overseas as UK steelmakers do not produce them. An industry source said French engineering group Areva and a Japanese firm will supply the forgings. EDF has a controlling stake in Areva NP, the group's reactor business. Areva was not immediately available to comment. Tata Steel UK, Britain's largest steelmaker, said it has the capacity to supply much of the high-quality steel required for Hinkley Point. "We hope the wider value of using local supply for projects like this is fully taken into account," a Tata spokesman said. The UK's Liberty House Group said it will look to supply products like plates for Hinkley, while British Steel, owned by Greybull Capital, makes construction steel 'sections' and is expected to bid. It was not immediately available to comment. EDF estimates it will need 600,000 embedment plates and about 50,000 tonnes of structural sections. "Whenever something big comes up people get excited but we need a multitude of infrastructure projects," a UK-based steel industry source said. "No one project is ever going to solve an industry's problem." (Additional reporting by Susanna Twidale; editing by Pratima Desai and Susan Fenton) Hong Kong police have arrested more than 2,000 people in raids on suspected criminal triad gangs, with the city's underworld in the spotlight after a lawmaker received death threats. The raids, which started in late July, have netted 2,120 people believed to be connected with triad, vice and dangerous drugs offences, Hong Kong's organised crime chief told reporters. The operation, named Thunderbolt 16, also seized HK$62 million ($8 million) worth of drugs including heroin, cocaine and ketamine. The announcement comes a day after police said separately that six men believed to have triad links had been arrested in connection with threats to newly elected city lawmaker Eddie Chu. Chu has taken on pro-establishment rural strongmen accused of having criminal links and colluding with the government and business figures for their own benefit. The 38-year-old lawmaker is also calling for more autonomy from China for Hong Kong. Chu says he and his family have not been able to return home since elections on September 4 because of death threats. Acting senior superintendent of crime Li Kwai-wah said Thursday the six men arrested in Chu's case had been detained for "criminal intimidation" linked to his allegation that he had been followed on election day. Chu's accusations have renewed speculation over triad links to Hong Kong politics. Triad gangs have traditionally been involved in drug-running, prostitution and extortion but increasingly operate in legitimate ventures such as property and the finance industry. Some are believed to have links with the political establishment and there have previously been claims of triads sending paid thugs to stir up trouble during protests. The Indian Army has foiled two more infiltration attempts in Nowgam sector of Jammu and Kashmir, vigil along the border with Pakistan has been stepped up. By India Today Web Desk: Two more infiltration attempts have been foiled by the Army in Nowgam sector of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control. In the wake of the Uri terror attack and escalation of tensions along the LoC, the Army has stepped up vigil along the Pakistan border. ONE MILITANT KILLED IN BANDIPORA advertisement Meanwhile, a militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Thursday morning. "One militant has been killed in the gunfight in Bandipora," an army official said. Police said security forces surrounded Aragam Chitti Bandi village following information about some holed-up militants. ENCOUNTER STILL ON As the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter, an Army official said. Firing was going on at the encounter site when last reports came in, the official said, adding more details about the operation were awaited. ALSO READ | 10 terrorists gunned down in Uri after Pakistan violates ceasefire again Days after Uri attack, suspicious bag found near Army unit in Pathankot NIA registers FIR in Uri terror attack, seizes GPS and ammunition from slain terrorists India slams Pakistan at UN after Uri attack, rakes up human rights violations in Balochistan Uri attack: India to respond at multiple levels, but will the stand be aggressive? --- ENDS --- space shuttle discovery launching A new, high-profile hedge fund has made some big hires. Ben Melkman, a former partner at Brevan Howard, is launching a new fund called Light Sky Macro in New York. The fund is targeting $400 million and a launch date in the first quarter of next year, Business Insider previously reported in our roundup of upcoming launches. Melkman is known for his lead role at Brevan's $500 million Argentina fund, which delivered an 18% return since its inception. Melkman's new hires include Barry Schachter, who is joining as chief risk officer and a partner. Schachter previously held the same role at hedge funds Caxton Associates, SAC Advisors, Balyasny Asset Management, and Moore Capital. His most recent hedge fund job was at 40 North Management, which he left at the end of last year, according to a LinkedIn profile. Alberto Ades is joining the new launch as head of research. He was previously cohead of global economics and head of global emerging-markets fixed-income strategy at Bank of America Merrill Lynch from 2010 through March of this year, according to a LinkedIn page. He has also held macro research roles at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Douglas Spiegel is joining as CFO and CCO, and he previously held the same roles at Realm Partners, an event-driven hedge fund, from 2009 through last year, according to a LinkedIn page. Before that, he held the same roles at Sanno Point, a credit relative-value hedge fund, from 2004 through 2009. Joseph Mauro, a Goldman Sachs partner, is joining the fund October 1. Mauro previously headed Goldman's European hedge fund coverage across fixed income, emerging markets, FX, credit, and commodities. Business Insider reported his departure in June. While he was at Goldman, Mauro wrote a memorable memo to junior staff that put the industry's troubles in perspective. NOW WATCH: Wall Street's deadliest terror attack remains unsolved after 96 years More From Business Insider Its remarkable to sell your company for $900 million. But it only gets sweeter when you find out youve become a billionaire in the process. Div Turakhia, 34, sold his 5-year-old ad-tech company, Media.net, to Beijing-based Miteno Communication Technology last month. The near-billion dollar acquisition is the third-largest in the industrys history, behind Microsofts (MSFT) acquisition of aQuantive for $6 billion in 2007 and Googles (GOOGL, GOOG) purchase of DoubleClick for $3 billion also in 2007. The Media.net deal stands out in the competitive ad-tech industry. Apart from a few hot exits, including Wednesdays IPO of California-based The Trade Desk, the ad-tech industry has cooled down significantly. Turakhia said Media.nets primary differentiator is its focus on the technology behind auto-generating ads on websites. More than 1,000 ad tech companies have been funded, but very few of them have a large enough platform, he told Yahoo Finance in an interview Thursday. Most of them have been so focused on sales and marketing. Media.net by the numbers Media.net delivers more than 800 million paid ad clicks every year to advertisers, most of which are large publishers. Last year, the company generated $48 million in net income. Undeniably, Turakhias ability to generate profits as a private company contributed to Media.nets appeal to potential buyers: Turakhia whittled down the final list to seven bidders. Media.net received offers of around $700 million to $750 million, mostly from the private equity world. But ultimately, he said, Miteno was the best fit not only because it offered the highest bid, but also because it opens the door to China the worlds second largest ad-tech market. If you dont have a local partner you cant really grow in China, so we saw this as a huge advantage, he said. And with 90% of Media.nets revenues coming from the US, this deal allows Turakhia to double down on international expansion, particularly in Asia and Europe. Story continues Bootstrapping the business When building the company, Turakhia did not take any venture capital and owned 100% of Media.net prior to the sale; it was funded entirely by the profits of his other companies. I didnt raise separate funds for it. Bootstrapping is definitely harder but this is also not my first bootstrap business. Ive built a bunch of businesses with my brother, and they were all bootstrapped. Ive been able to identify what I can build, he said. Ultimately, Turakhia says hes always followed his passion and hasnt sought out money though making the billionaire list doesnt hurt, of course. Its never about the money. The money is great because it allows you to keep score. It allows you to know youre moving in the right direction when youre building incredible things, he said. If youre really passionate and you build cool things, the money will follow. Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. Follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm. Read more: Theres an $18 trillion asset class that a VC-backed startup wants to unlock Theres one clear winner in the music-streaming price wars How a 28-year-old realtor used Snapchat to rent out an $80,000/month home sight unseen Greys Anatomy actor brings star power to app that connects students to scholarships BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's Prime Minister said the European Union should round up and deport all illegal immigrants and assemble them in EU-supervised refugee camps beyond the bloc's borders where they can then file for asylum. "This could be an island, it could be a coastal area in North Africa, but the security and supplies of that area must be guaranteed by the EU in its own interest," Viktor Orban told the news website Origo in an interview published on Thursday. The firebrand premier has provoked controversy with a tough rhetoric about migrants and a razor wire fence along Hungary's southern border, as well as a referendum against mandatory resettlement quotas on Oct. 2. "Those who came illegally must be rounded up and shipped out," Orban said. "We must set up large refugee camps outside the EU, with armed security and financial support provided by the Union. Everyone who came illegally must return there. There they can file for asylum." He said this was a "grave moral task" that was the only alternative to the migrants staying in Europe and being relocated around the continent, creating further problems. Resettlements were an exercise in futility as those who wanted to be in Germany would promptly return there after resettlement. "There is only one solution that befits everyone, including us who are not yet in trouble because we defended ourselves and countries like Germany which are in trouble: Taking (migrants) out of the Union." He reiterated that the external borders of the EU must be strengthened to prevent a repeat of the 2015 flow of migrants. "Borders must be used, because they protect us," he said. "Some imagine a globe without borders...I am one of those who would not like to see the civilization of the world change." (Reporting by Marton Dunai; editing by Ralph Boulton) By Hyunjoo Jin and Tony Munroe HANAM, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Motor <005380.KS> will launch its standalone premium auto brand Genesis in China within two to three years, betting on a luxury lane to profit as competition bites at the lower end of the world's biggest auto market. Genesis brand chief Manfred Fitzgerald told Reuters in a recent interview the company is considering building Genesis models in China "For sure. But there are also other examples of (automakers) who live pretty well off of importing cars," he said, citing Toyota Motor Corp's <7203.T> Lexus. The plans come as Hyundai tries to reverse out of 10 straight quarters of falling profit, hit in part by weakness in China. Rolling out Genesis in key markets like China marks a shift for a company better known for making value-for-money cars and lacking the brand cachet and tradition of Germany's BMW , Mercedes-Benz and Audi. That trio dominates the luxury market globally - and in China. "The luxury customer in China is very brand-conscious," said U.S. national Fitzgerald, 53. The former executive with Audi's Lamborghini brand was speaking at the first, and so far only, standalone Genesis store, in a glitzy mall in Hanam on the outskirts of Seoul featuring cars like G80 sedans that can fetch up to 74 million won ($67,100). "If you don't get your brand right, you can have the best product in the world, it won't work," said Fitzgerald. "In two, three years' time we will be entering China," he said, declining to give sales targets for a global rollout that will follow launches in Korea late last year and in the United States last month. In China, imported cars carry a duty of more than 20 percent, putting pressure on automakers to produce locally. DISTRIBUTION DEBATE Genesis will open more standalone outlets, said Fitzgerald, and is exploring unspecified locations for its first U.S. store. The Genesis line-up currently features two models, a range that the company plans to expand to six by 2020, including two sport utility vehicles. Consultants like Eric Noble, president of California-based consultancy CarLab, say getting the sales channel right for premium cars is as important as the product itself. For now, over 300 of Hyundai's more than 800 U.S. dealerships will also be selling the Genesis brand, posing an added challenge for differentiating it from Hyundai. By comparison, Toyota's Lexus is sold through separate dealerships. "From a product standpoint, the prospects of the (Genesis) brand are encouraging," said Noble. "But from a distribution standpoint, at least here in North America, it is much more problematic." 'TIPPING POINT' Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, now 78, took the helm in 2000 and turned Hyundai and its Kia Motors <000270.KS> affiliate into the world's fifth-largest automotive group by making inexpensive but reliable small cars. But the veteran's 45-year-old son and vice-chairman Chung Eui-sun has sought to move Hyundai up the value chain. He spearheaded the move last November to hive off the Genesis sedan into a standalone brand, tapping a segment growing faster than the mass market to generate higher margins. Fitzgerald said meeting with the younger Chung was a "tipping point" in his decision to join a company long known for promoting from within. "He definitely gave me the feeling that no matter how long and how troublesome and how tedious this might be, they are in for it and they want to succeed." ($1 = 1,102.6100 won) (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Tony Munroe; Additional reporting by Jake Spring in BEIJING and Yun Hwan Chae in SEOUL; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) (Corrects name of IATA official to Cerda from Cerba in paragraphs 4, 11, 13) BRASILIA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The International Air Transport Association urged Brazil on Thursday not to list Ireland as a tax haven, a decision that would increase taxes on aircraft leases for Brazilian carriers struggling to regain profitability. In an effort to dissuade Brazilian companies from moving to tax havens, Brazil's government announced a week ago it would add Ireland, Austria, Curacao and Saint Martin to its list of countries denominated as such, as of Oct. 1. Brazilian law requires companies registered in listed tax havens to pay a 25 percent tax rate on their contracts. IATA, a trade association of the world's airlines, said Brazil was already a very expensive place for carriers to do business and the tax ruling would undermine efforts to compete with rivals in nearby Chile and Argentina. "It will cause havoc and have a catastrophic impact on the ability of Brazilian airlines to become financially sound," Peter Cerda, IATA vice president for the Americas, said by telephone from Miami. Brazilian airlines lease 60 percent of the 520 aircraft flying commercially in Brazil from companies registered in Ireland, where they enjoy favorable tax rules. Listing Ireland as a tax haven would add 1 billion reais ($306 million) a year to the cost of leasing the aircraft, according to the Brazilian airline association ABEAR. ABEAR is hoping to convince Brazil to reverse its decision or make an exception for aircraft leases, which have been tax exempt since 1996. Association President Eduardo Sanovicz met on Wednesday with tax authorities. He gave them data projecting the costs the ruling would cause Brazilian carriers, hurting their competitiveness, he told Reuters by telephone. Brazilian officials promised to come back with an answer in one week, Sanovicz said, adding that the industry was hopeful for an exemption because the rule change was not deliberately meant to target the business. Story continues Brazil is already a difficult market for airlines. In addition to high taxes, it has one of the world's highest fuel charges, about 14 percent higher on average than other countries, according to IATA. Cerda said Brazilian airports are not cheap and that doing business in the country was not easy. Generous consumer rights provisions, such as having to reimburse travelers when bad weather cancels flights, also push up costs. Brazil's aviation market has expanded rapidly in the last decade, from 30 million to 100 million passengers a year. "If the government wants to stimulate a strong economy and boost business they should be using aviation as an enabler," Cerda said. "Implementing this kind of regulation is going in the opposite direction." (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Richard Chang) BRASILIA (Reuters) - The International Air Transport Association urged Brazil on Thursday not to list Ireland as a tax haven, a decision that would increase taxes on aircraft leases for Brazilian carriers struggling to regain profitability. In an effort to dissuade Brazilian companies from moving to tax havens, Brazil's government announced a week ago it would add Ireland, Austria, Curacao and Saint Martin to its list of countries denominated as such, as of Oct. 1. Brazilian law requires companies registered in listed tax havens to pay a 25 percent tax rate on their contracts. IATA, a trade association of the world's airlines, said Brazil was already a very expensive place for carriers to do business and the tax ruling would undermine efforts to compete with rivals in nearby Chile and Argentina. "It will cause havoc and have a catastrophic impact on the ability of Brazilian airlines to become financially sound," Peter Cerba, IATA vice president for the Americas, said by telephone from Miami. Brazilian airlines lease 60 percent of the 520 aircraft flying commercially in Brazil from companies registered in Ireland, where they enjoy favorable tax rules. Listing Ireland as a tax haven would add 1 billion reais ($306 million) a year to the cost of leasing the aircraft, according to the Brazilian airline association ABEAR. ABEAR is hoping to convince Brazil to reverse its decision or make an exception for aircraft leases, which have been tax exempt since 1996. Association President Eduardo Sanovicz met on Wednesday with tax authorities. He gave them data projecting the costs the ruling would cause Brazilian carriers, hurting their competitiveness, he told Reuters by telephone. Brazilian officials promised to come back with an answer in one week, Sanovicz said, adding that the industry was hopeful for an exemption because the rule change was not deliberately meant to target the business. Brazil is already a difficult market for airlines. In addition to high taxes, it has one of the world's highest fuel charges, about 14 percent higher on average than other countries, according to IATA. Cerba said Brazilian airports are not cheap and that doing business in the country was not easy. Generous consumer rights provisions, such as having to reimburse travelers when bad weather cancels flights, also push up costs. Brazil's aviation market has expanded rapidly in the last decade, from 30 million to 100 million passengers a year. "If the government wants to stimulate a strong economy and boost business they should be using aviation as an enabler," Cerba said. "Implementing this kind of regulation is going in the opposite direction." (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Richard Chang) Several pathological laboratory technicians, who were on a strike demanding higher pay and other facilities, have been suspended in Gurgaon. By Ajay Kumar: A health crisis is looming large on Gurgaon following suspension of pathological laboratory technicians who have been striking to press for higher pay scale and other facilities. And it's not a good news in this season of dengue and chikungunya. Gurgaon Civil Surgeon Pushpa Bishnoi has asked that contractual technicians be appointed to mitigate the situation. There are 14 laboratory technicians in the Civil Hospital and half of them are currently facing suspension. advertisement The suspension of these technicians has been ordered by Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij. Also Read: Gurgaon hospitals gripped with fever patients, doctors face tough time WHAT HAPPENED He, however, claims that a delegation of suspended technicians met him and expressed their views. The delegation, however, did not hint whether they will resume work. As a result, the hospitals are still facing staff crunch. On Wednesday, patients waited for hours outside the Civil Hospital laboratory to undergo blood tests and to collect reports. "For any dengue, chikungunya or other vector-borne diseases, doctors recommend complete bed rest. My son waited for four hours in the queue," said Kamla Sharma, a resident of Shivaji Nagar. Gurgaon Civil Surgeon Pushpa Bishnoi told Mail Today that every day about 700 patients suffering from vector-borne diseases are visiting the Civil Hospital. She said that orders have been issued to ensure extra beds for the patients. "Earlier patients were placed on the floor. But now we have decided to put extra six beds in the corridor of the emergency unit for critical patients and 20 more in the general ward," Bishnoi said. Bishnoi said that due to shortage of laboratory technicians, she has asked Gurgaon deputy commissioner to sanction appointment of at least four contractual technicians. The laboratory technicians are on the strike seeking enhancement of their pay scale and other facilities. Their grouse is over the transfer and posting of the technicians. According to sources, about 300 new doctors are not taking up their posts as their salaries are low. Also Read: Iraq woman molested in Gurgaon's Fortis hospital Girl dies waiting in queue at Gurgaon hospital, doctor shunted --- ENDS --- How many awards ceremonies include Nobel Prize-winning presenters, performing chemists, a miniopera and a double deluge of paper airplanes? Just one the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony. This offbeat yearly event celebrating somewhat strange scientific studies from around the world is the brainchild of Marc Abrahams, editor of the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research (AIR). And on Thursday (Sept. 22), at Harvard University in Boston, scientist winners will take the stage for the 26th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony to accept accolades for their gloriously weird research. [8 Strange Things Scientists Have Tasted] The presentation is officially identified as both the 26th and the first of its kind because "every year is a new beginning," Abrahams told Live Science in an email. The ceremony will be webcast live on Live Science starting at 5:40 p.m. ET. Like the more mainstream Nobel Prizes, the Ig Nobels for science are awarded for outstanding achievements; however, the science they showcase is unusual, to say the least. The winners of the 2015 Ig Nobel in biology attached weighted sticks to chickens' backsides, to investigate how certain types of bipedal dinosaurs with long tails might have walked. Chemistry winners that year managed to partially unboil a hard-boiled egg, while a winner of the prize for physiology and entomology submitted to honeybee stings on 25 locations on his body, to find out which regions were the most painful. Even the dress code for the event reflects its lighthearted tone recommendations on the AIR website include "your old wedding gown," "suit of armor," and "labcoat or longjohns." A winner of the 2015 Ig Nobel in physics wore a toilet seat around his neck, a nod to his research on how long it takes mammal species of different sizes to empty their bladders. Every year, Nobel laureates hand out Ig Nobel prizes; the 2016 presenters will include past winners of Nobel Prizes in chemistry, physics and medicine. In a so-called "IgBill" a theatrical Playbill-like outline of the evening the event is divided into two parts: "Pointless Preamble" all activities up until the awards presentations and "Everything Else," which includes the awards, introductions of past winners and, intriguingly, "Other Things." Story continues An especially novel addition to the Ig Nobels this year is an anniversary celebration commemorating a wedding that took place at the Ig Nobel ceremony in 2001, between two NASA scientists. Other scientist guests will be delivering 24/7 Lectures, in which they describe their science in two challenging presentations: one that lasts 24 seconds and one made up of only seven words that "anyone can understand," according to the IgBill. The festivities will also feature a premiere performance of the original miniopera "The Last Second," a nod to the 2016 ceremony's designated theme: Time. Written by Abrahams his 21st libretto for the Ig Nobel ceremony it describes a stealthy scheme to add a leap second to all the clocks of the world, for nefarious criminal gain. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. India may have just spent billions of dollars on hi-tech French fighter jets, but experts say it needs to do a lot more if it is going to face up to an increasingly assertive China. The world's top defence importer has signed several big-ticket deals as part of a $100-billion upgrade since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014. But it has been slow to replace its dwindling fleet of Russian MiG-21s -- dubbed "Flying Coffins" because of their poor safety record. An agreement to buy 36 cutting edge Rafale jets from France's Dassault aims to fix that. "It will give the air force an arrowhead. Our air force has old aircraft, 1970s and 1980s generation aircraft and for the first time in about 25-30 years we will have a quantum jump in technology," defence analyst Gulshan Luthra told AFP. "Rafale is loaded with (the) best of the technologies and we need it." The air force says it needs at least 42 squadrons to protect its northern and western borders with Pakistan and China. It currently has around 32, each comprising 18 aircraft. Air force representatives warned India's parliament last year that the number of squadrons could fall to 25 by 2022, putting India on a par with its nuclear-armed neighbour and arch-rival Pakistan. - 'Pakistan we can handle' - But the real concern is China, an ally of Pakistan whose military capacities are way in excess of India's. "Pakistan we can handle. Pakistan we can muscle our way, but China, no way we can handle," said Luthra. "And if China comes to the aid of Pakistan, then we're stuck." China and India fought a brief war in 1962, and the border between the neighbours has never been formally demarcated, although they have signed accords to maintain peace. The Rafale deal, due to be signed in New Delhi on Friday, will supply another two squadrons, although it will be three years before delivery of the jets begins. Story continues It falls way short of previous proposals for India to buy 126 of the jets, which stalled over costs and assembly guarantees. Currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq, the Rafale can fly distances of up to 3,800 kilometres (2,360 miles). Experts say it will allow the air force to strike targets in Pakistan and China from within Indian territory. But critics argue the Rafale purchase is a costly solution to the problem, even after India bargained hard to get the price down to a reported 7.9 billion euros ($8.8 billion). - 'Can't afford Mercedes' - Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reportedly said last year the larger Rafale deal was too expensive. "We are not buying the rest. I also feel like having a BMW and Mercedes. But I don't because I can't afford it." Modi has said he wants to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer and to have 70 percent of hardware manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. His government lifted a cap on foreign investment in defence to 49 percent last year. Many now believe India will use the money saved from scrapping the larger Rafale order to invest in its first domestically developed light fighter plane, the Tejas. The aircraft, touted as the smallest and lightest supersonic fighter aircraft of their class, are designed and manufactured in India, although some components are imported. Defence analyst Ajai Shukla said the purchase of 36 Rafales would "placate Dassault, the Indian Air Force and public opinion" after the larger deal was scrapped, but did not make good operational sense. "You don't replace a small, light fighter plane with an extraordinarily expensive heavy monster like Rafale," he said. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dedicated the bulk of his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday to addressing an increasingly hostile dispute with India over Kashmir, furthering the war of words between the two countries following a militant attack on one of the regions Indian army bases. Peace and normalization between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute, Sharif said, adding that peace talks are no favor to Pakistan and are in the interest of both countries. He also urged an independent inquiry into the extrajudicial killings, and a U.N. fact-finding mission to investigate what he called brutalities against the Kashmiri people by Indian armed forces in the region. India responded to Sharifs statements by condemning Pakistan, yet again, as a terrorist state, with Indian U.N. representative Eenam Gambhir labeling it the Ivy League of terrorism. The worst violation of human rights is terrorism, Gambhir said. When practiced as an instrument of state policy, it is a war crime. Indian government officials also pointed out that Sharif did not mention Sundays attack near Uri, in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, which left 18 soldiers dead. Pakistan previously denounced what it says are baseless and irresponsible accusations of its involvement, and asked India for actionable intelligence. Kashmir has been a thorn in the two neighbors relationship for almost seven decades, with three of their four wars since gaining independence in 1947 fought over the mountainous territory that both countries claim. The simmering dispute has escalated in recent weeks, with the death of a young Kashmiri separatist leader sparking internal protests that have left dozens dead from Indian police gunfire. The Uri attack is seen as the last straw, with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi under public pressure to respond in kind. However, after being warned against reckless military retaliation by government and military officials (both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons), he appears to have opted for diplomatic censure instead. The region, however, remains fraught with emotion, with Indian broadcaster NDTV reporting that hundreds of young men signed up in an army recruitment drive in Kashmir three days after the attack. By Tommy Wilkes and Manoj Kumar NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is to make a renewed drive to overhaul labour laws, hoping to create millions of new jobs by making it easier to hire and fire, the labour ministry's top bureaucrat said on Thursday. Modi made a shake-up of India's labour market a part of his reform agenda after coming into office in 2014, but opposition from unions and a bruising battle to pass other crucial pieces of economic legislation have stalled those efforts. Shankar Aggarwal, the ministry secretary, told Reuters that the government felt the time was right to prioritise labour reform again after parliament in August passed India's biggest overhaul of indirect taxes, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a victory for Modi's bid to boost the economy. "We have to tweak the law. Employers want flexibility in hiring," Aggarwal said in an interview. Two key bills, covering industrial relations and wages, would be sent to the cabinet this month, he said. Subject to cabinet approval, the bills would be presented in parliament's next session, beginning in November. A rule requiring firms to seek rarely granted government permission for laying off large numbers of workers, which employers say has discouraged permanent hiring and kept factories small, are among restrictions to be loosened. "It is a question of priority. We thought that it will be a good idea to put GST first so that we don't fritter away our energy," Aggarwal said. The government says freeing up labour markets will boost employment, lure foreign investment and encourage firms to expand. Trade unions argue that the reforms will put jobs at risk and make it tougher for employees to form unions or strike. More than a million workers went on strike on Sept. 2 to protest against the policies. Under the reforms, 44 labour laws, some of them dating back to the end of British rule and as anachronistic as providing spittoons in the work place, will be grouped into four new labour codes. Story continues Bills on social security and working conditions remain under discussion with states and trade unions. India's two-decade streak of fast economic expansion is often derided as "jobless growth" since the service sector-led model has been capital rather than labour intensive. More than 200 million Indians will reach working age over the next two decades, and creating sufficient jobs for perhaps the largest youth bulge the world has ever seen is among the toughest challenges for the country. In 2009, 84 percent of India's manufacturers employed fewer than 50 workers, compared to 25 percent in China, according to a study by consultancy firm McKinsey. Nine out of 10 Indians are employed in the informal sector, where labour laws are rarely enforced. (Editing by Sanjeev Miglani) India's navy was put on high alert Thursday in the city of Mumbai, an official said, after reports that four men dressed in black and carrying weapons were seen near a base. Security has been strengthened at several naval facilities along the coast in and around India's financial capital, while officials investigate the reports. "The navy is at a high state of alert in Mumbai and adjoining areas after receiving inputs regarding suspicious activity reported by school children," Navy spokesman Captain DK Sharma told AFP. Sharma did not reveal the nature of the activity, but local media reported that the children had seen gunmen, their faces covered, near a naval facility at Uran, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Mumbai. "We are taking utmost care and precautions," Mumbai police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe also told AFP. Mumbai is particularly sensitive to security threats after gunmen, who arrived by sea, went on a three-day rampage in 2008 in the western city that left 166 people dead. India blamed the attacks on Pakistani militants. India has also been on guard since militants raided an army base on Sunday near the defacto border that divides the northern Kashmir region with Pakistan, killing 18 soldiers. The government of India's northern Himachal Pradesh state on Wednesday (September 21) raised the incentive for citizens to kill monkeys from INR 300 (USD 4.48) to INR 500 (USD 7.46). Various attempts, including sterilization, by Himachal government to contain the population of monkeys yielded no results. The incentive was first introduced early this month and is meant to cover the cost of the cartridge or any other expenses which person might incur in killing the monkey. State forest minister, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, said that the amount was revised as people complained it was too low. "People were demanding that the incentive be increased to INR 500 (USD 7.46). So we have raised it," said Bharmouri. Himachal Pradesh has about 200,000 monkeys and they lead to annual losses of around 2 billion rupees ($29 926 571) to agriculture and horticulture, government data reveals. Monkeys roaming around are a common sight in Shimla. These primates often pose a threat to the lives and livelihood of people. They also cause large scale agriculture destruction, incurring massive loses to farmers. Monkeys were declared 'vermin' in Himachal Pradesh by federal government for six months to allow culling. The six-month period ended on September 14. Himachal government has sought an extension of vermin status of monkeys for another year, while it prepares a "comprehensive plan" to deal with their growing population. Rapid urbanization has led to destruction of natural habitats of wild animals forcing them to head to human settlements for food and shelter. DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesian authorities on the resort island of Bali on Thursday detained a ship from Malaysia carrying around 30 tonnes of fertilizer which police believe may have been intended for making bombs. Customs and police were questioning the crew and investigating the material for potential links to radical networks as the world's largest Muslim-majority nation remains on high alert for militant attacks. Bali police official Hendra Suhartiyono said authorities were looking into whether the material was on its way to the eastern island of Sulawesi, a region known for militant violence. "We are not closed to the possibility that this chemical material ... could also be for the benefit of terrorist groups in Sulawesi to make low-impact and high-impact bombs," he said. Indonesia's most-wanted man, a militant called Santoso, was killed by security forces in Sulawesi earlier this year. Santoso, who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State, cultivated a small radical network in the Poso area, which has now been severely weakened by a lengthy security operation. "At the moment the crew are being intensively examined on explosive material ammonium nitrate that was carried, shipped from Malaysia," Bali customs official Thomas Aquino said. "They confessed that the boat was rented to be shipped to Sulawesi. They thought the material in the sacks was fertilizer. We will detain the ship crew to be processed legally." Indonesia saw its first militant attack in several years in January in which four people were killed. The gun-and-bomb assault in the heart of the capital Jakarta was claimed by Islamic State. Last month, authorities tightened security in Bali after reports of a suspected militant plot on the island. A nightclub bombing on the island in 2002 carried out by home-grown militants killed 202 people, mostly Australians, and prompted a nationwide security crackdown. (Reporting by Reuters stringer in DENPASAR; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Nick Macfie) By PTI: into service Vijayawada, Sep 22 (PTI) Very heavy rainfall under the influence of a low pressure area over Bay of Bengal have left Palnadu region in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh battered and rail and road transport disrupted due to flooding, while NDRF have been deployed for rescue and relief operation. This is the second time in less than a fortnight that Palnadu have witnessed very heavy downpour of up to 22.8 cm which threw normal life out of gear. advertisement Many passenger trains were cancelled on Nadikudi-Guntur section, while express trains from Secunderabad, which normally pass through Guntur, have been diverted as the rail tracks near Piduguralla were inundated. Three teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the Palnadu region for rescue and relief operations even as the weather forecast said rains are likely to continue till tomorrow. About 40 passengers of an APSRTC bus were rescued after it was stuck midstream on a causeway at Krosuru and flood water gushed in from Utukuru rivulet. Locals used ropes to rescue the stranded passengers. The K L Rao Sagar Project, downstream Nagarjuna Sagar, has been receiving heavy water inflows due to downpour in the catchment areas of neighbouring Telangana. It is currently holding over 25 tmc ft of water and the government has decided to fill it up to 30 tmc ft and release excess water into the sea through Prakasam Barrage. With Munneru rivulet also in spate, the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada is full to the brim. Accordingly, Krishna district authorities have started discharging 10,000 to 20,000 cusec of water from the barrage into the sea. Rivulets in Guntur district are in spate, inundating housing colonies in Sattenapalli town and nearby villages. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation from the Command and Control Centre here and directed the officials to keep two copters ready for emergency operations. Deputy Chief Minister (Home and Disaster Management) N China Rajappa and Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao were rushed to Guntur district to oversee the rescue and relief operations. (MORE) PTI DBV DK NSD --- ENDS --- Two days after the premiere of his film Nocturnal Animals at the Venice Film Festival, film director and THR top red-carpet fashion designer Tom Ford held a premiere of another sort, his first "see-now, buy-now" show at New York Fashion Week. (Instead of showing to a fashion insider group of editors and buyers six months ahead of time, 'see now, buy now' shows feature in-season merchandise available in stores or online to be purchased by anyone.) Read more: Hollywood's Top 25 Red Carpet Designers 2016 Held in the glittery former Four Seasons Restaurant in midtown Manhattan, Ford's fashion event was produced to resemble an awards show, complete with red carpet. He enlisted his Hollywood pals as his supporting cast - 40 celebrities in all, wearing Tom Ford - including Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Neil Patrick Harris, Cindy Crawford, Zayn Malik, Jon Hamm and Rita Ora. Seasoned Golden Globes director Louis Horvitz worked 22 cameras to film what was happening on and off the runway - from the models to reaction shots from the crowd - for a live stream at TomFord.com. To cap off the evening, Leon Bridges performed three songs. Says chief event architect Ford, "It only makes sense that you spend millions of dollars promoting a collection when the things are actually in the store." So that anyone could buy something from the show - if not the $12,450 blouson midi-dress - the designer launched a special lipstick to coincide with the event, Lip Contour Duo Runway for $53. The exclusive, invitation-only fashion world depicted in The Devil Wears Prada is over. Ford's show - along with Burberry and other luxury brands experimenting with the 'see now, buy now' model - encapsulates much of what is rocking the fashion world right now. Immediacy is the new currency; buzz is built in minutes, not months; and the value of a person, product or brand can be quantified and monetized through followers and impressions, all developments that have the power to change image building in media, advertising and on the red carpet. Story continues "It used to be if you had an arresting silhouette, like what Armani did, you could influence consumers," says Teri Agins, author of the 2014 book, "Hijacking the Runway: How Celebrities Are Stealing The Spotlight From Fashion." "Now, it's about getting people to look up. Designers can no longer survive on their own aesthetic or taste. Today, for a fashion brand to break out, get traction and attract customers, it has to have some celebrity component." To succeed in fashion, designers must cleave to celebrities (Gucci's Alessandro Michele to Jared Leto, for example), collaborate with them (Tommy Hilfiger and Gigi Hadid), or become one (Tom Ford). And with retail sales in the doldrums, and social media accelerating how people consume fashion trends, designers are being forced to reinvent their runways and ad campaigns, with an eye toward capturing the attention of elusive, experientially oriented millennials. THR top red-carpet designers Carolina Herrera and Chanel are featuring such young and beloved (or provocative) celebrity models as Kiernan Shipka, 16, Willow Smith, 15, and Lily-Rose Depp, 17 (Herrera also debuted her ad campaign on Snapchat). New hires Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga and Raf Simons for Calvin Klein are expected to reboot these fashion institutions using a streetwear edge to connect with a new generation, while designers like Christian Siriano are vaulting to Hollywood red carpets by embodying inclusiveness, a.k.a. political correctness in a new form. Most significantly, celebrities increasingly are being deployed by brands for their social media prowess, creating a bifurcated landscape where those with followings of millions will get different deals than those without. And shoppable runways already are having deal makers salivating over potentially shoppable red carpets. A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Sep 9, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT Consider how fashion shows are being "eventized" like music festivals. After taking his bow, designer Alexander Wang launched a surprise Adidas collaboration and turned his runway show into #WangFest, complete with food trucks, a graffiti tagger, a DJ and performances by South Korean bad girl CL, rapper Travis Scott and Desiigner, all attired in Wang's Adidas clothing, some of which was available to buy on site. "The whole thing was so clever; is it any wonder young kids were hanging outside trying to get in like it's a rock show?" says producer-director Baz Luhrmann, who made the rounds at New York Fashion Week because he "likes fashion shows" and goes whenever he's in town. Gucci's domination of the red carpet this year stemmed in part from its incredibly Instagrammable clothes and accessories, underlining that social media is the new currency. Celebrities with followings are in a unique position to market collections for brands, says fashion industry analyst Robert Burke. "That's the channel to reach the customer today. The reach a celebrity has and power they've always wielded on the red carpet is now being channeled into social media." Read more: Beverly Hills Housewife Annoyed at Buying $100,000 Dresses Seen on Actresses: "I Dont Want the Sloppy Seconds" During NYFW, Tommy Hilfiger demonstrated his ability to harness the powers of celebrity and social media by hosting a fashion carnival on Pier 16 at South Street Seaport, debuting a collection designed in collaboration with reality TV royalty Gigi Hadid that was live-streamed on more than 300 fashion and lifestyle sites and sold in real time. The show was presented to 1,000 industry guests, including Hadid's friend Taylor Swift, and 1,000 members of the public. A Ferris wheel, popsicle carts and booths where customers could buy the collection rounded out the 360-degree experience. The Tommy Pier was open to the public for free the following day, when Hadid took selfies with the crowd. According to insiders, the extravaganza cost between $5 million and $7 million. The results exceeded expectations, Hilfiger tells THR. The Tommy x Gigi event generated more than 2 billion impressions online (last season's show generated 984 million impressions), including Hadid's dozen Instagrams to her 22 million followers that garnered up to 3 million likes each. There was a 900 percent increase in traffic to Tommy.com in the two days the carnival was open to the public and a 154 percent increase in sales from Sept. 9 to 12 year-over-year. Hilfiger sums up the secret to his success: "The consumer wants to see something on the runway or their favorite model or celebrity, buy it that day and wear it that night." Observes Avery Baker, chief brand marketing officer of Tommy Hilfiger: "You see the power of celebrity in the looks we've sold out of, the first look Gigi wore in the show and the top Taylor wore to the show." The brand will be continuing the partnership, with a new phase being announced via social media in October. TOM FORD'S FRONT ROW: Tom Ford and Rita Wilson (left); David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris; Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. (Photos: Getty Images) As for how this affects talent in Hollywood? Think cha-ching. "If you work in Hollywood, you have to be very happy because there's finally an ROI associated with celebrity," says Burke, the analyst. "Gigi Hadid's fee [for brand deals] just skyrocketed." Rachna Shah, executive vp of New York-based PR firm KCD - who works on digital strategies with celebrities and fashion brands Tommy Hilfiger, Alexander Wang and Givenchy, among others - seconds the assumption. "From a PR perspective, celebrity endorsements in the past 15 or 20 years have grown in importance, from dressing and attending an event to, more recently, social media posts and activation with celebrity partners," she says. "With brands transitioning to 'see now, buy now,' the impact of an endorsement will be that much stronger." (Not all brands - and their backers - consider such endorsements critical for success. On the runway after wife Georgina Chapman's Marchesa show at NYFW, Harvey Weinstein shrugged off paying attention to social media followings: "I pay attention to talent.") Explains Sharon Ainsberg, co-founder of VIP services firm SHO + Co., who has been working in celebrity brand placement for 15 years: "It puts talent in a great position. If they have a very big exciting social footprint across different platforms, from Snapchat to Instagram, Twitter to Facebook, and they are excited to communicate with fans, women want to buy off their backs." Shah singles out Chrissy Teigen as a celebrity "who can create authentic storytelling on social media around what [she's] wearing and really succeed. You hear her authentic voice when she's putting something on as opposed to she's a plate." Read more: Red Carpet in the Age of Feminism: "It's All So Double-Edged" A-listers without a social presence soon may be adopting frowny-face emojis: The days of earning a one-time appearance fee to arrive 15 minutes before a runway show starts, pose for a few photos and leave, are passing. "It's beyond a red-carpet appearance or a campaign face, getting paid to come to a fashion show, or being on the cover of a magazine, which have been the norm for so long as a way for personalities to work with brands," says Trey Laird, fashion branding guru and creative director and founder of Laird + Partners, who spent a year working on the Tommy x Gigi partnership, from soup to nuts. "It takes more effort. There's more content required now. It's about things that are surprising or pop up, that happen in real time or at events." Hollywood could learn from the new fashion experiment, too, adds Laird. "Buzz is important, but now it's immediate," he says. "I don't know if in the summer, you want to see a trailer for a movie that comes out on Christmas Day. Both industries, fashion and film, have been speaking to consumers using models built decades ago. And the world's changed." One casualty of all this immediacy could be the exclusivity that has traditionally elevated both fashion and Hollywood. Some don't mind wearing a frock to a premiere that could be owned by a civilian, like Malin Akerman, who sat front row at the Marc Jacobs show that closed New York Fashion Week: "I've worn things on the red carpet that are in stores. It's nice when things can be accessible." At the Thakoon show, actress Priyanka Chopra praised the equalizing aspect of the new "see now, buy now" runway model, which has designer Thakoon Panichgul delivering fresh product to his store every two weeks, but wondered about the greater effect on fashion. "I can understand it's great for business - I can have an outfit whenever I want. But will it kill the role of anticipation and aspiration?" she asks. "I'm debating that." Read more: Is New York's Exclusive Polo Bar Restaurant Coming to Beverly Hills? Not to worry, Hollywood still will get preferential, first-look treatment - for now. Some brands in the "see now, buy now" selling cycle this season let stylists get a sneak peek at their collections in February. Top stylists including Kate Young and Cristina Ehrlich were shown collections ahead of time so they could pull for the upcoming awards show red carpets. And Shah says custom looks by many of the European luxury brands for stars attending major events still will reign: "There are brands for which the selling structure is different and the fantasy of the red carpet will remain." INSTANT GRATIFICATION: Margot Robbie wears Gucci dress on 'Suicide Squad' press tour (left); Gucci rose print cotton poplin dress available on Gucci.com. (Photos: @kateyoung/Instagram; Gucci.com.) Beyond fantasy, new revenue streams may emerge: With the runway proving shoppable, the red carpet could follow. WME-IMG - which produces a large share of fashion shows in New York (but not the major eventizing ones with 'see-now, buy-now' components like Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren or Alexander Wang) - might want to take note. Stylist Kate Young sees an opportunity to curate online trunk shows around press tours. "For Margot Robbie's Suicide Squad press tour, she had four premieres and 20 looks that online retailer ModaOperandi.com was already selling. I could take the whole mood of what I'm doing [for any given event] and create a shoppable thing around it." Helping the consumer buy into what social media already is selling 24/7 is the next step. "I'm very interested in changing the idea that only the privileged can access top stylists," says Brooke Wall, founder of the WME-IMG-owned Wall Group, who represents Young and other top stylists, including Karla Welch and Leslie Fremar. "How, through technology, can we bring their expertise to consumers? I would love some of our stylists to follow me around and tell me what to buy," she says, suggesting how an app, such as the newly-launched HEED, a joint venture between WME-IMG and AGT International, could evolve in the future. "Fashion is becoming much more inclusive," adds Catherine Bennett, senior vp and managing director of WME-IMG Fashion. "The industry needs both Hollywood and consumers - it doesn't serve anyone to be exclusive and inaccessible. It wasn't working." Malaysian movie "Interchange" set to open this year's SGIFF. 22 Sep Noir fantasy thriller "Interchange" will be the opening movie for the upcoming Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). Scheduled to open SGIFF on 23 November, it will also mark the movie's Asian premiere, having successfully been screened previously at this year's Locarno International Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival. "Choosing it as SGIFF's opening film shows our commitment to celebrating our own voices," said Yuni Hadi, Executive Director of SGIFF. "Highlighting the capability of our creative industry, and welcoming a wider audience to the promise of Southeast Asian cinema." The third movie from Malaysian filmmaker Dain Said is based on a true incident, taking place a century ago when Norwegian explorer Carl Lumholtz was exploring central Borneo and he captured a photo showing a group of tribal women attempting to rinse off the evil effects of being photographed. Starring award-winning actors, Malaysia's Shaheizy Sam and Indonesia's Nicholas Saputra, alongside rising Malaysian actor Iedil Putra and Indonesian actress Prisia Nasution, the movie has yet to receive a theatrical date in Singapore, though it has been confirmed for release in Malaysian cinemas from 1 December. The 27th edition of SGIFF is taking place at various venues, including National Museum of Singapore Gallery Theatre, Shaw Theatres Lido, National Gallery Singapore Auditorium, The Arts House Screening Room, Filmgarde Bugis+ and Objectifs Chapel Gallery. SGIFF runs from 23 November to 4 December 2016. New York (AFP) - The United States and Russia are to chair a meeting in New York on Thursday bringing together world powers with a stake in Syria's civil war, officials told AFP. The 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG) was set up to push for a ceasefire and an eventual political resolution to the bloody five-year-old conflict. A US official confirmed a meeting was being set up, and diplomats said it would take place at 2 pm (1800 GMT) in a New York hotel. Foreign ministers, already gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, held an emergency meeting of the ISSG on Tuesday after a week-old truce broke down. But they made little progress amid bitter recriminations between the ISSG co-chairs, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Washington blames Russia for carrying out a deadly air strike on a UN aid convoy in northern Syria after Bashar al-Assad's military declared the ceasefire over. Moscow denies any role in the attack and in turn accuses US leaders of failing to ensure that the US-backed opposition forces fighting Assad respected the truce. Kerry and Lavrov sparred bitterly in the UN Security Council on Wednesday, but ministers agree the US-Russian effort is the only way available to impose a ceasefire. Kerry has demanded that Russia order Assad to ground his air force in order to re-establish the credibility of the peace effort in the eyes of the suspicious opposition. Lavrov has countered that the UN Security Council should consider adding some more of the anti-Assad rebel groups to its list of proscribed terrorist organizations. Asked whether the ceasefire could be salvaged, Kerry said he would meet with Lavrov once again to try to narrow their differences. But he added: "It's going to be very difficult. We'll see what people are willing to do." If either side is able to come up with concrete measures to restore the truce, they could be endorsed by the ISSG at the meeting and the peace process would continue. Failing that, Kerry has admitted that Syria's future is "hanging by a thread." LISBON (Reuters) - Angolan investor Isabel dos Santos signalled on Thursday she had agreed for her telecoms firm Unitel to take control of Banco BPI's Angolan arm, allowing the Portuguese bank to sidestep risk provisions that could have strained its finances. BPI, which is subject to a takeover bid from Spain's Caixabank, offered on Tuesday to sell a 2 percent stake in its Angolan bank BFA to Unitel, which is indirectly controlled by dos Santos, the daughter of Angola's president. In return, dos Santos, who has an 18.6 percent stake in BPI, dropped her long-standing opposition to the Caixabank deal. Caixabank formally launched its bid late on Wednesday and slightly upped the price. "I salute the solution found to resolve the situation at BPI, which reflects shareholders' consensus," she said in e-mailed remarks to Reuters. "The conditions are in place for both BPI and BFA to consolidate their positions in the Portuguese and Angolan markets, contributing to economic growth in both countries," wrote dos Santos, who has recently become the CEO of Angolan state oil company Sonangol, a major shareholder in another Portuguese bank, Millennium BCP. Since BPI's stake will now drop below 50 percent it will no longer consolidate BFA on its books, which the BPI board believes will allow it to avoid additional provisions on risky assets demanded by new European Union rules that would have strained its capital ratios. Investors have been concerned about the weakness of Portugal's banks after two messy bank rescues in 2014 and 2015. The solution may be far from ideal, however, as it still leaves BPI - and likely soon Caixabank - with a large illiquid stake in a bank it does not control. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves, Writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Axel Bugge and Mark POtter) Well, that didnt take long. The iPhone 7 came out just a few days ago and it has already been jailbroken. Sadly, early buyers looking to jailbreak the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus and install Cydia apps don't have anything to be excited just yet. The author of the jailbreak is keeping the exploit private. DONT MISS: 7 ways Apples iPhone 7 is much better than any Samsung phone Security researcher Luca Tedesco posted an image on Twitter that shows a jailbroken iPhone 7 (iPhone9,3), running iOS 10.0.1 with Cydia version 1.1.26 installed, discussing the jailbreak in subsequent messages. However, the developer did not share the method he used to jailbreak the iPhone, and theres no tool available that you can use to jailbreak your device. It's also not clear if this is an untethered jailbreak. https://twitter.com/qwertyoruiopz/status/778519133302427648 Its very likely that numerous other hackers, as well as intelligence agencies, are also working on similar jailbreaks, and the usual suspects who release them to the public will probably come out with a public version in the future. As always, though, you can expect Apple to patch the vulnerabilities that let hackers jailbreak the phone with upcoming software updates. After all, thats how this iPhone jailbreak cat-and-mouse game is played. Should you jailbreak the iPhone 7 in the first place? Its probably not necessary for most users, especially considering the many advancements Apple made with iOS in recent years, some even inspired by jailbreak apps. Not to mention that a jailbroken iPhone is also more susceptible to malware. Power users who want apps and resources that are only available from Cydia will probably want to do it though, and they likely know how to guard themselves against iOS malware. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com By PTI: Coimbatore, Sep 22 (PTI) Two of the three Tamil Nadu police personnel wanted in connection with a Rs 3.90 crore highway robbery from a Kerala-bound car last month, were nabbed near Karur today, police said. A police inspector allegedly involved in the case was arrested recently. Police said they received information that the two police personnel, an inspector and a head constable, had tried in vain to file anticipatory bail petitions at a court in Madurai. advertisement They later received a tip-off that the two were near Karur, following which they were arrested and brought here early this morning for questioning, police said. On August 25, a five-member van-borne gang, including three dressed as policemen, had intercepted the Kerala-bound car on the pretext of carrying out a search. They had ordered the four occupants to get into the van and two of their accomplices followed the vehicle in the car. At a major road junction, they were forced to get out and the gang escaped with the cash and car, which was later found abandoned at Thrissur in Kerala. Police said their probe led to the arrest of three persons, who revealed the hand of the police personnel in the robbery. The trio also said that Rs 2 crore cash was taken by police and the balance distributed among them. PTI NVM APR TIR MVV --- ENDS --- Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq announced Thursday that its forces have recaptured a northern town from the Islamic State group in an operation launched ahead of a push for the city of Mosul. Security forces began the operation on Tuesday to oust the Islamic State group from Sharqat, a town near supply lines needed for the battle to retake second city Mosul from the jihadists. Iraqi forces "completely liberated the Sharqat district and raised the Iraqi flag over the government headquarters" in the town, the country's Joint Operations Command said in a statement that hailed the speed of the operation. Both Iraqi aircraft and the US-led coalition provided air support for the operation, the statement said. The town lies on the west bank of the Tigris river in Salaheddin province, 260 kilometres (160 miles) northwest of Baghdad and around 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Mosul. Iraqi forces bypassed Sharqat to retake a key military base to its north as well as the neighbouring town of Qayyarah, but then turned their attention to the continued IS presence behind their front lines. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and training have since retaken significant ground including the cities of Tikrit, Ramadi and Fallujah. Top US military officers have hinted that the final push for Mosul could begin next month, but there are still significant military, political and humanitarian obstacles between the launch of the operation and entering and retaking the city. Once the push is launched, a coalition of heterogenous and sometimes rival Iraqi forces will have to fight through IS defences -- in some cases over distances of dozens of kilometres (miles) from their current positions -- to reach the city. Then, if Iraqi strategy for Mosul follows that used in previous operations, they will seek to surround and seal off the city prior to an assault, which will involve street-by-street fighting against die-hard jihadists. Story continues The Mosul operation also poses major humanitarian challenges, with the United Nations saying that up to one million people may be displaced by the fighting. "Humanitarian agencies are racing against the clock to prepare for the humanitarian impact of the military campaign," the UN said. While there has been much recent discussion about the launch of the drive on Mosul, operations to prepare for it began months ago. Iraq announced in March that it had launched the offensive to retake the city, and the top US envoy to the coalition, Brett McGurk, has said several times that the Mosul operation was already under way. MANILA (Reuters) - Islamist militants have freed an Indonesian captive on a remote island in the southern Philippines, an army commander said on Thursday, days after six hostages were turned over to a rebel group which signed a peace deal with the government. Herman bin Manggak was released by the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf on Wednesday to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and was turned over to the army the following day, said army brigade commander Brigadier-General Arnek dela Vega. "The release of the victim is the result of relentless focused military operations, combined with efforts of different sectors, particularly the local government unit of Sulu and other stakeholders," dela Vega told reporters. Dela Vega said they had no information on whether ransom was paid for the release although it is widely believed that no captives are freed by the Abu Sayyaf without payment. The 30-year-old captive asked for food and was in high spirits after arriving at an army base on Thursday, an army spokesman said. Last week, the Abu Sayyaf, known for kidnappings, extortion nd beheadings in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines, freed a three Indonesians, two Filipinos and a Norwegian on the island of Jolo. The Norwegian was seized from an upscale resort on Samal island in Davao del Norte along with a Filipina, who had already been freed, and two Canadians, whom the militants executed. The militants are still holding 15 hostages - five Indonesians, five Malaysians, four Filipinos and a Dutch national. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Nick Macfie) Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli authorities have arrested at least 35 Palestinians over the last few days in raids following a spike in violence ahead of upcoming Jewish holidays, officials said Thursday. The arrests have occurred in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank for reasons ranging from stolen property to suspicions of "terrorism." Israeli police carried out raids in Issawiya and the Shuafat refugee camp in east Jerusalem over the last two days, arresting 23 people, they said. "Police operations took place to locate and seize arms and weapons, finding suspects involved in terrorist activity, in riots and criminal activity," a statement said. Weapons and ammunition had been seized, it said. "As part of the police operation 23 suspects were arrested on suspicions of terrorism, rioting, possession of illegal weapons, drugs and stolen property," police said. Israel's military confirmed 12 Palestinians had been arrested overnight in various parts of the West Bank, including four accused of being Hamas operatives and others suspected of unspecified illegal activity. A spike in violence since Friday has shattered several weeks of calm, with at least nine attacks or attempted attacks by Palestinians since then, according to Israeli authorities. Nearly all of the incidents have been stabbings or attempted stabbings, carried out by lone-wolf attackers, an Israeli military official said. After a policewoman was left in serious condition from being stabbed in the neck, authorities confirmed officers were wearing a protective collar to block such attacks. Palestinian officials have decried an increased Israeli security presence, saying there have been new checkpoints, with more villages closed off. Israeli authorities have been keen to reduce the amount of guns in east Jerusalem and the West Bank in order to prevent a further escalation in violence. The shooting deaths of two Israelis in the West Bank on October 1, 2015 helped set off a wave of violence that lasted months. Story continues The unrest included clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem around the time of the Jewish high holidays. The compound is the third holiest site for Muslims and the most sacred for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. The Jewish high holidays in October see an increase in Jewish visitors to the site. The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it. Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis. Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest. Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a main cause of the violence. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli authorities made their first arrests in a tax evasion investigation focused on the Swiss arm of HSBC, taking into custody four diamond dealers who allegedly held undeclared accounts at the bank, the tax authority said on Thursday. The four Israeli men are accused of holding close to 100 million shekels ($21 million) at the bank that was not reported to the Israel Tax Authority. A Tel Aviv court later agreed to release them after posting bail. All four have denied the allegations. Israel's tax authority had been working since February 2015 to obtain a list of Israelis with accounts at HSBC Switzerland. In August, it said that French authorities handed over a list of more than 8,000 Israeli customers. HSBC early last year acknowledged "past compliance and control failures" that may have allowed some customers to evade taxes. Having a Swiss bank account is not illegal in Israel as long as it is reported to authorities and taxes are paid. ($1 = 3.7609 shekels) (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Ralph Boulton) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that Israel's settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank was destroying any hope of a two-state solution. Abbas, who has been Palestinian president for 11 years, urged countries at the gathering to recognize Palestine as a state and once again offered the hand of peace, albeit slamming Israel's intentions. "What the Israeli government is doing in pursuit of its expansionist settlement plans will destroy whatever possibility is left for the two-state solution along the 1967 borders," Abbas said. The Palestinian leader said his officials would "exert all efforts" to get the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on settlements and the "terror of the settlers." "The settlements are illegal in every aspect," Abbas said. "We are undertaking at the moment extensive consultations with Arab countries and other friendly countries on this matter," he said. Washington said on August 31 that it was "deeply concerned" following an announcement that Israel had approved the construction of 463 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. The approvals mostly involved new housing units, but a retroactive green light was also granted to 179 existing homes in the Ofarim settlement, said the Peace Now organization. Nickolay Mladenov, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the Security Council in August that Israeli settlement expansion had surged in the past two months. The recent report by the diplomatic Quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the UN and the United States -- said construction of settlements on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state is eroding the possibility of a two-state solution. "Those who believe in the two-state solution should recognize both states, and not just one of them," Abbas, who was first elected president in 2005, told the General Assembly. "We extend our hands to those who want to build peace. But the question remains and persists: is there any leadership in Israel, the occupying power, that desires to make a true peace?" he asked. "It is Israel's breach of the agreements it has signed and its failure to comply with the obligations that have led us to the deadlock and stalemate that we remain in now." United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The Israeli and Palestinian leaders Thursday stood poles apart at the UN General Assembly Thursday, clashing over the cause of their decades-old conflict and Jewish settlements in the West Bank. A flare-up in violence has killed 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis since last October, which analysts say has been fueled by Palestinian frustration with Israeli settlement building, fractured Palestinian leadership and zero progress on peace efforts. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who was elected 11 years ago and whose control is limited to autonomous areas in the occupied West Bank with radical group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, took the podium first at the General Assembly, slamming Jewish settlement expansion. "What the Israeli government is doing in pursuit of its expansionist settlement plans will destroy whatever possibility is left for the two-state solution along the 1967 borders," Abbas warned. Shortly aftwards, and separated by just one speaker -- the prime minister of Norway -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the platform to directly contradict Abbas. "This conflict has never been about the settlements or about establishing a Palestinian state," said Netanyahu. "It's always been about the existence of a Jewish state, a Jewish state in any boundary," he added. Israel has just secured an historic, 10-year $38 billion military aid package from the United States, drawing a line under years of fractured relations with President Barack Obama stemming partly in White House perceptions that Netanyahu is reluctant to broker peace. Netanyahu told the General Assembly that Haifa, Jaffa and Tel Aviv, all cities in Israel, were "the real settlements they are after." The issue of settlements in the West Bank was "real," he conceded, but said it "can and must be resolved in final negotiations, final-status negotiations." Abbas said Palestinians were working to "exert all efforts" with Arab and other "friendly countries" to get the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on settlements and the "terror of the settlers." Story continues - Recognition - "The settlements are illegal in every aspect," Abbas said. Netanyahu levelled extensive criticism against the United Nations for showing anti-Israeli bias but said his country was building closer relationships every day with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America rooted in Israeli expertise in fighting terror and technology. "Those who believe in the two-state solution should recognize both states, and not just one of them," said Abbas. Last year the United Nations raised for the first time the Palestinian flag -- a symbolic gesture supported by the majority of UN members after the latest US peace initiative collapsed in 2014. Palestine is not a full UN member state, though it has observer status. "We extend our hands to those who want to build peace," said Abbas, albeit slamming Israeli attitudes. "It is Israel's breach of the agreements it has signed and its failure to comply with the obligations that have led us to the deadlock and stalemate that we remain in now." Israel says Palestinian incitement is the main cause of violence that has swept the region over the last year. Most of the Palestinians who died were killed carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israel says. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Washington said on August 31 that it was "deeply concerned" following an announcement that Israel had approved the construction of 463 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. The approvals mostly involved new housing units, but a retroactive green light was also granted to 179 existing homes in the Ofarim settlement, said the Peace Now organization. A recent report by the diplomatic Quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the UN and the United States -- said construction of settlements on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state is eroding the possibility of a two-state solution. Amona Outpost (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - On a wind-blown hill in Palestinian territory, Elad Ziv, wearing sandals, a T-shirt and a Jewish skullcap, stands outside his home and speaks about the Old Testament's Book of Joshua. Across the dry, rocky valley that slopes behind him, Fuad Maadi says he just wants his land back. Both men have become embroiled in a drama which has now taken on international importance because of concern over Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967. An Israeli court has ruled that the wildcat Jewish settlement of Amona, where Ziv lives alongside around 40 other families in mainly caravan homes, is on Palestinian property and must be evacuated by December 25. But Israeli nationalist politicians, settlement advocates and Amona residents have resisted the move, and the international community is watching closely over whether the court order will be obeyed. There are concerns over how any evacuation will play out. In 2006, the demolition of nine permanent houses in the outpost led to clashes between settlers and Israeli forces. This time, there have been suggestions that the court order could be complied with -- by simply moving the settlement nearby. That's where Maadi comes in. Maadi says part of the land being considered as a new location for the outpost belongs to his family and he has been unable to access it since the building of nearby Israeli settlements. Standing near his home in the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, he points to the spot across the valley and downhill from Amona where he says his family once grew olives, grapes and figs. "It's difficult to hear about that, that your land will just go," said the 60-year-old shopowner, former mechanic and father of five who has a picture of the Virgin Mary on his living room wall. - 'Cut the West Bank' - Israeli settlers began to arrive on the hilltop they would call Amona around 20 years ago. Story continues The settlement takes its name from the Book of Joshua and is in the central West Bank, northeast of Ramallah, the Palestinian political capital. All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are seen as illegal under international law, but Israel differentiates between those it has approved and those it has not. Settlements such as Amona are called outposts -- those that Israel has not approved. Outpost residents hope such authorisation will one day be provided, as has occurred in other cases. Amona, one of the largest outposts with between 200 and 300 people, has come to represent a list of issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States and European Union have grown increasingly frustrated by Israel's settlement building and the retroactive legalisation of outposts. They have warned that the expansion of settlements is eating away at the possibility of a two-state solution, and many analysts say it contributes to the frustration of Palestinian youths who have carried out knife, gun and car-ramming attacks in recent months. Gilad Grossman of Israeli rights group Yesh Din, which is helping Maadi and others in their legal fight, said it seemed the Israeli authorities were trying "to find a way to cut the West Bank from east to west with Jewish settlements". "And that way there won't be an option -- a viable option -- of creating a Palestinian state in the future," he said. Amona is next to the Israeli settlement of Ofra, which houses around 3,500 people. More than 370,000 Israeli settlers now live across the West Bank, compared to around 2.6 million Palestinians. - 'This is our home' - Ziv, a 46-year-old father of seven, is like many Israeli religious nationalists. He points to Jews' historical connection to the land from the biblical era, and sees Israel as extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. That includes the West Bank, leaving no space for an independent Palestinian state. He moved to Amona more than 18 years ago, when only three other families were there. "This is our home," he said at his caravan house overlooking the valley, patio furniture outside and grapevines growing nearby. "We are not going anywhere from here." One of Ziv's neighbours, Nahum Schwartz, grew up nearby in the Ofra settlement. A bearded 42-year-old with six children who runs a sheep and raspberry farm, Schwartz said Amona was started as an expansion of Ofra, but he believes it has since developed its own character. The land was considered by those who started the settlement to be abandoned, he said. The Israeli government eventually helped connect it to the electricity grid and instal other infrastructure, residents and anti-settlement activists say. Asked why he felt so strongly about living there, Schwartz mentioned his belief that Jews should return to their ancient land, as well as practical concerns since he had made his home on the hill. "I don't think there's a place for a Palestinian state there," he said, referring to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. While many Israelis view Amona residents as particularly hardline, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also presides over what is seen as the most right-wing government in the country's history. Prominent members of his coalition also do not support an independent Palestinian state. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said the order to evacuate Amona must be obeyed, but how that will be achieved has not been answered. After nearly 50 years of Israeli occupation, Maadi and other Palestinians have little faith. His land will be returned to him "if there is justice", he said. But "I don't think that there is justice", he quickly added. By Steve Scherer and Tony Gentile POLISTENA, Italy (Reuters) - Benedetto Zoccola wore a wiretap to put a mob boss in jail. To pay him back, the mafia planted a small bomb on the window sill of his office last year. He was less than a meter (3.3 feet) away when it exploded, permanently damaging his hearing. Zoccola, deputy mayor of the small town of Mondragone north of Naples, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and says he often feels depressed and isolated. "I can count my friends on one hand," the 34-year-old told Reuters. "Sometimes I'm so down I don't feel like living." To help people like him, a network has been established to bring together state officials who openly oppose the mafia. The group, called Avviso Pubblico or Public Warning, offers mostly moral support to administrators who fight organized crime in their towns. Last year Italian mafia groups threatened a public official every 18 hours on average, and the mob has murdered 132 local administrators over the past four decades. Arson attacks, dead animals and bullets through the post were among the methods used to deliver 479 threats to public officials in 2015, a third more than the previous year, according to Avviso Pubblico. Zoccola himself has received numerous death threats, the latest within the past month, and has spent the past three years under 24-hour armed guard. CORRUPT COUNCILS Sicily's Cosa Nostra, Calabria's 'Ndrangheta and Campania's Camorra dominate the economies in their regions, often with the help of corrupt or complacent administrators, and in the 21st century they have spread their tentacles to northern Italy. Since 1991, 212 town councils have been dissolved for mafia infiltration. Last month, Italy's central government sacked the local administration of Corleone in Sicily, the fictional hometown of Mario Puzo's "Godfather" and the real birthplace of two of Cosa Nostra's most feared bosses. Italy's Senate approved a bill in June that would give police and magistrates more tools to crack down on threats, but the legislation has yet to be passed by the lower house. In June, some 200 local administrators who belong to Avviso Pubblico were joined by residents and state officials in a march in Polistena, Calabria, the heartland of the 'Ndrangheta, to show solidarity for those menaced by the mob. The 'Ndrangheta, which investigators say is the biggest cocaine broker in Europe, has racked up the most threats to public officials so far this year. Polistena's Mayor Michele Tripodi received a bullet in the mail in March. The 'Ndrangheta burned the car of Rosario Rocca, mayor of Benestare, who said of his town: "The state is absent". Northern mayors have also increasingly come under threat. Roberto Monta, mayor of Grugliasco outside the northwestern city of Turin, found five bullets carefully placed on the windscreen wipers of his car. In Polistena, Zoccola met up for the first time with others who had taken the same dangerous stand. Many have also received death threats. "Since I've met them, they haven't let me feel alone," he said. (Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Step aside, Hugh Grant! James Corden was ready for his close-up as the new British male lead in Bridget Jones's Baby, and on Wednesday night, The Late Late Show released the comedian's "audition tape" with star Renee Zellweger. "This is so exciting. Thank you so much for the opportunity," Corden gushed to Zellweger. "I love all of the films. I watch them all the time. My wife's like,'Turn them off!' and I'm like, 'No, I'll watch what I want!'" WATCH: Renee Zellweger Talks Her 'Difficult Transition' to Fame, Says Bad Things in Her Past Have Made Her 'Unafraid' Corden asked if he could improvise the script a bit, using the opportunity to play some famous British characters. After Bridget tells Corden she's pregnant, he whips around dressed as the chimney sweep from Mary Poppins and declares, "Blimey, Bridget Jones, I don't believe me ears!" before doing a jig. When Zellweger rejects that character, Corden comes back out dressed as Sherlock Holmes. "I've eliminated the impossible and what remains highly improbable is that this baby belongs to another man," he says. via GIPHY WATCH: James Corden, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Alan Cumming Turn 'Stranger Things,' 'Breaking Bad,' and 'Game of Thrones' Into Inappropriate Musical Numbers: Watch! The late night host also dresses as Harry Potter, Gandalf the Grey, and even Queen Elizabeth, pet corgi and all. Watch the clip to see what happens when Patrick Dempsey shows up! Bridget Jones's Baby premiered last week to rave reviews. For more on Zellweger's return to the spotlight, watch the video below! Related Articles Heaps of toxic froth drains through the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad and people living in the nearby area now suffer from skin irritation. By India Today Web Desk: After the not-so-pleasant sight of frothing lakes catching fire in Bangalore, Hyderabad's Hussain Sagar lake has become a victim of the froth scourge. The frothing, putrid waters, mixed with chemicals ails the local residents living in the nearby areas. Not just rains & damaged roads wreak havoc in Hyderabad,Hussain sagar lake pollution pose health concerns @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/sLsWuzmg9o SAKSHI KHANNA (@tweetsakshi) September 21, 2016 advertisement The heavy rains which lashed the city on Tuesday aggravated the situation. The toxic waters mixed with petroleum discharge from vehicles overflowed and inundate the neighboring areas. According to a report, the froth-ridden and smelly lake flows right through the place where the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is headquartered. Is it snowing in Hyderabad? Well, not just Bengaluru,high pollution level in Hyderabad lakes too @CNNnews18 @KTRTRS pic.twitter.com/K9Tula4HU2 SAKSHI KHANNA (@tweetsakshi) September 21, 2016 The report blames the apathetic attitude of the municipal corporation who "seem oblivious of the deadly cocktail". The 'chemical nala' not just poses serious health concerns to the locals who live nearby, but is also highly inflammable. People living in the locality have been complaining of skin rashes caused by the polluted water. The Deccan Chronicle quoted Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) member secretary Anil Kumar as saying, "Our officials visited these colonies on Wednesday and collected samples. We will be testing them. But our officials maintain that no effluents from industrial areas have joined floodwaters or entered water tanks.(sic)" --- ENDS --- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Cuba on Thursday for the first-ever visit to the country by a Japanese premier, saying he wants to "open a new page" in relations. Abe is due to meet Cuban President Raul Castro on Friday morning, in a visit that comes after Tokyo's close ally Washington restored ties with the communist island last year. "I sincerely hope my stay here becomes an opportunity to open a new page in the relationship of friendship between both nations," Abe said in an interview published in the Cuban communist party's official newspaper, Granma. He called for "open dialogue" to stimulate trade and investment, development cooperation and tourism. Trade between the two countries has been on a long decline since 1985. It totalled about $35 million in 2014. Abe said he also wanted to discuss nuclear disarmament. Cuba is one of the few countries that maintains relationships with North Korea, whose nuclear weapons are considered one of Japan's biggest security threats. tadashi ishii Dentsu, Japan's most powerful advertising company is facing a huge over-billing scandal that threatens to seriously damage its reputation in the country. AdNews first reported on Wednesday that Dentsu Japan admitted its Japanese performance marketing subsidiary DA Search and Link had over-billed Toyota in Japan for at least five years. AdNews said the problem was serious enough that "several Toyota brands have either fired or are reviewing Dentsu digital assignments in Japan." The Financial Times reported later on Wednesday that Dentsu is now in emergency talks with "more than 100 clients" in Japan who have questioned "more than 160 possible incidents of overcharging." Dentsu sent Business Insider this statement: "This is an issue confined to Dentsu in Japan. We are taking this matter extremely seriously and investigating the issue to fully understand the facts. All clients who may have been impacted have been communicated with already." Toyota told The Financial Times it had been notified "of irregularities in some digital media business transactions," but did not provide further detail. Dentsu claims to control 25% of the $61 billion annual ad spend in Japan. It is the fifth largest advertising agency holding group in the world by revenue. ad agency holding group revenue It owns agencies including Carat, iProspect, and Isobar, which form part of its international Dentsu Aegis Network. Dentsu also has stakes in Japanese newspapers and TV networks and is also the sole company responsible for negotiating sponsorship deals with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. News of the overbilling scandal comes at a time when trust between clients and their media agencies is at a particularly low ebb. A high-profile report looking into the US media agency landscape published in June alleged non-transparent business practices such as rebates were "pervasive" in the US ad-buying ecosystem. The Association of National Advertisers, which commissioned the report, recommended marketers "meticulously review" all the terms and conditions of their contracts and, if necessary, audit their agencies. Story continues However, advertising agency groups denounced the report. They denied wrongdoing and said the choice to only publish anonymous findings made the report sensationalist and one-sided. NOW WATCH: Astronomers discovered a second alien megastructure star thats even stranger than the first one More From Business Insider Following the shooting of an African-American man by a police officer in North Carolina Wednesday, protests erupted in Charlottethe states largest city. Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by an African-American police officer, after refusing to adhere to the officers commands to drop a handgun, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. Jesse Jackson, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and civil rights leader, joined the FOX Business Network to discuss the violent protests. I would urge us to look at the context of this rebellion, Jackson said. These public executions are a lot to take. Its Walter Scott, its Baton Rouge, its, in the case of Tulsa, Okla., thats fueling this. The Reverend added: In the case of Charlotte there is suspicion theyre covering something up. So you have this cloud of public, kind of legal lynchings. That is deeply emotional and people react with their gut. [Its] one thing for neighbor on neighbor to have a shootout. But, when the ultimate authority with the gun and the badge has authority to be the arresting officer, the profiler, and the executioner, that is a lot to take. When asked if violence and looting, as opposed to peaceful protests, was acceptable, Jackson said no, but likened the situation to the recent Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) scandal, in which more than 5,000 employees were fired after creating false bank and credit card accounts. One of the biggest looters last week was the bank, that had 5,300 people, another big looting, he said. In Oklahoma, an unarmed black man was shot last Friday by police. Video appears to show Terence Crutcher with his hands in the air before being killed by a white officer. Jackson said society has gone too far. Weve become much too violent period when the police literallyand as the camera becomes the conduit of justiceshoot somebody with their hands up in the air again, thats wrong. And those who do it should face the full weight of quick justice, he said. Story continues In order to help calm tensions in the U.S., Jackson explained what needs to be done. Ultimately there needs to be a policy conference on violence, causes and cures, and racial disparities which are substantial and very open, and suffering as well as a plan for reconstruction. We cannot keep limping along. He added: I think we should ban assault weapons, we should have background checks. Open-carry guns is very risky and very dangerous and very wrong. Related Articles JetBlue Airways Corp. JBLU recently announced that it has signed a unilateral codeshare agreement with Hyannis, MA-based Cape Air, expanding its partnership with the latter. Per this deal, JetBlue will be tagging Cape Air flights between certain destinations with its code B6. The agreement will be highly beneficial for customers as a single ticket can be used for flights operated by both airlines. Customers also stand to gain from ease of travel through options such as one-stop check-in and baggage transfer. The agreement will cover Cape Air flights operating between Boston and San Juan, which are important cities for JetBlue, as well as Cape Air destinations across northeast and the Caribbean. The JetBlue code for Cape Air flights operating between Bostons Logan International Airport and San Juans Luis Munoz Marin International Airport are already available for booking on JetBlues website. JetBlue and Cape Air have been collaborating since 2007. Some other initiatives between the two companies include University Gateway Program and interline ticketing, as mentioned by Cape Airs President Linda Markham. JETBLUE AIRWAYS Price JETBLUE AIRWAYS Price | JETBLUE AIRWAYS Quote Route Expansion JetBlue has been consistently expanding its routes to tap into growing markets and boost its top-line growth. Some notable announcements in this regard include expansion of services from Long Beach to several destinations across the U.S., new service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Aruba in the Caribbean, non-stop service to Atlanta, and the expected increase in the number of flight departures from Boston. Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider JetBlue currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A stock in this industry with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is Copa Holdings SA CPA. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Investors might also take a look at better-ranked stocks in the airline space like ANA Holdings Inc. ALNPY and SkyWest Inc. SKYW. Both these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Story continues Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JETBLUE AIRWAYS (JBLU): Free Stock Analysis Report COPA HLDGS SA-A (CPA): Free Stock Analysis Report SKYWEST INC (SKYW): Free Stock Analysis Report ANA HOLDINGS (ALNPY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research With a state of emergency declared for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina in the wake of the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein weighed in on the situation in Charlotte as well as mounting concerns over the broader issue of police shootings. Stein responded to questions of how she would respond to the situation in Charlotte if she were the commander-in-chief. Well, as commander-in-chief I think we badly need de-escalation. I think police need de-escalation techniques. This was clearly, you know, the guy was sitting in his car, whether he happened to have a gun or not, you know, a lot of Americans have guns. But clearly this was a case that was initiated by the cops and a guy waiting to pick up his son at a bus stop, Stein told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo. Stein also pointed out the police shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma just days before the incident in Charlotte. So, there is an issue here of aggressive policing in the context of another shooting just a couple days before in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the case of a man that had his hands up who was absolutely complying with police orders, whose car had broken down in the street, thats why he came to police attention. Stein then discussed the broader issue of the troubling trend of police shootings. In all these cases its a matter of very aggressive policing and people feeling like the video tape that keeps running over and over, were stuck in a loop that, in which there is police violence. Theres been about 700 cases of deaths at the hands of police this year. Along with Steins concerns about aggressive policing, she viewed the climate of fear as adding to the tension. There are background elements here in which there is fear across the board. We live in a Garrison State now, we live in a society divided by fear. Thats why we call not only for accountable policing and community control, but also for a truth and reconciliation commission. Story continues Stein says these fears are particularly prevalent in the African-American community. People are up in arms and feel like they are on the firing lines simply for sitting in their car while black. If she were elected president, Stein says she would address those fears as well as what she views as aggressive police practices. I would also be moving to address this underlying climate of fear in which these tragedies happen. And I would be working with police to train them in de-escalation techniques, not aggressive intervention that precipitates this kind of a crisis. Related Articles On the heels of his very public divorce from Amber Heard, Johnny Depp has decided to part ways with his five-penthouse condo spread inside one of downtown Los Angeles' most iconic buildings - the Eastern Columbia Building. The asking price for the entire portfolio is $12.78 million. It is a highly unusual spread. There are a total of five condo units, four of which are two-bedrooms with an additional one-bedroom, all nestled atop the art-deco structure famed for its four-sided clock tower, now a centerpiece in the revival of downtown L.A.'s Broadway district. When Depp started purchasing the units back in 2007, the area was a far cry from the hip, bustling destination for music fans and foodies that it is today. Other than adding a few doorways that connected several of the units, the layouts of all the apartments were left as is. Three connected units served as living and entertaining space and the other two were used as an art studio and a guest suite, according to Kevin Dees of Partners Trust, who is the listing agent along with his colleague Nick Segal. This being L.A., even the listing agent has some notoriety - Dees is the son of the legendary disc jockey Rick Dees. Read more: Hollywood's Top Real Estate Agents: Meet the New Players in L.A.'s "Knife Fight" The sprawling condo is just one of many residences owned by Depp; while he rarely was sighted there, residents were tickled that such a high-profile actor had opted for a residence in downtown L.A. With its signature turquoise hue and gold leaf tiles, the building's opulent grand lobby and tower have been featured in a number of movies including Zero Dark Thirty and Transformers. It also served as the opening setting for Selena Gomez's 2015 music video for her song, "Same Old Love." "It's inspiring being in the space," Dees told The Hollywood Reporter. "It is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in L.A. and one of the finest examples of art deco in L.A. and maybe even in the United States." Story continues When Depp bought a unit there the area was basically a ghost town. But now Ace Hotel is a half-block away, the Swedish fashion label Acne Studios has a 5,000-square-foot store and designer eyewear shop Mykita is opening this week just a few steps away from French fashion label A.P.C.'s retail store. One resident recalled seeing Depp's longtime friends and creative partners Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter (before those two divorced) traipse through the lobby; though Depp was rarely present, Heard frequently could be seen with her two teacup terriers, Pistol and Boo - the same pups that found themselves at the center of an international row when she brought them into Australia with her last year. Depp is getting out just as a major development battle is brewing. In August, the L.A. Department of City Planning approved developer Trammell Crow's plan for a 305-unit residential tower known as the Alexan, which would be built directly across the street from the Eastern Columbia Building, obstructing the views of a number of current units in the building (according to Dees, none of the five units that are for sale would be obstructed by the Alexan development). An organization calling itself the Society for the Preservation of Downtown Los Angeles formed last year to oppose the development. Dees said the penthouses also are available for purchase individually. News of the listing was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Read more: Meet the Former MTV VJ Who Now Sells Multimillion-Dollar Homes to Adele and Emilia Clarke In raising her two sons, Julian and Rowan, Jordana Brewster might be teaching them a few things that she regrets. During her Tuesday appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, The Fast and the Furious star revealed that her 3-year-old son, Julian, has picked up one of her habits. WATCH: Jordana Brewster Welcomes Baby No. 2 via Surrogate "Julian drops the F-bomb a lot," Brewster admitted. "I'm a New Yorker so I have a potty mouth and my husband's constantly telling me, 'Jordana, you have to clean it up.' I'm so petrified what's going to come out of his mouth, what he's going to say." While she's hoping to keep him from using the word, she is proud of how he uses it. "I do have to give my son credit, because he does use it in context - and in the correct context," she said. Brewster and her husband, producer Andrew Form, are also the parents to 3-month-old Rowan, and they couldn't be more proud of how Julian has reacted to being a big brother. WATCH: Jordana Brewster and More Celebs Read Mean Tweets "He's been really good," Brewster gushed. "He's been very, very sweet. He asks for his baby ... Julian was eating in his high chair when we came home and he was like, 'Where's my brother?' That's the first thing he said." If Julian follows in his mother's footsteps career-wise, he might find himself as the next big action star. Brewster revealed that her son has developed a keen interest in superheroes. "He says he wants to go to bed with Wonder Woman. He just loves her," Brewster said with a laugh. "He's very adult." Hey buddy A photo posted by jordanabrewster (@jordanabrewster) on Sep 10, 2016 at 8:22pm PDT Birthday Boy A photo posted by jordanabrewster (@jordanabrewster) on Sep 10, 2016 at 8:24am PDT Julian loves superheroes so much that his parents hired Wonder Woman, Spiderman and Batman to come to his birthday party. Story continues RELATED: Jordana Brewster on Paul Walker: He Didn't Want the Drama Spotter A photo posted by jordanabrewster (@jordanabrewster) on Aug 31, 2016 at 8:42am PDT "He was very shy around [Wonder Woman]. He was like a little gentleman," Brewster said. "Then later he regretted that he didn't hug her. So he wants a redo." Late Night With Seth Meyers airs weeknights on NBC. Related Articles Amman (AFP) - Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has made a return to parliament after winning 16 seats in the 130-member house, according to results announced Thursday by the country's electoral commission. The Brotherhood's Islamic Action Front (IAF) contested Tuesday's polls after having boycotted two previous parliamentary elections in the kingdom, in 2010 and 2013, in protest at the electoral system and alleged voting fraud. As in past elections, most seats went to businessmen and tribal figures close to the monarchy, the preliminary results showed. The election came as Jordan, a key ally of Western countries, wrestles with the spillover of wars in neighbouring Syria and Iraq and the burden of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. As well as the performance of the IAF, attention was focused on the low turnout, with just 1.5 million voters out of a 4.1-million strong electorate casting ballots. Experts say the figure reflected a lack of enthusiasm among voters for a parliament with limited power to affect government policy. King Abdullah II can appoint and sack Jordan's military and intelligence chiefs, senior judges and members of parliament's upper house without government approval. Latest results on Thursday for seats in Jordan's parliament with a four-year mandate showed at least 21 women were elected, six above the quota reserved for women. Nine Christians also won seats reserved for their minority community, alongside three each for the Arab state's Circassian and Chechen minorities. Final results are expected next week. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has gained a foothold in parliament after ending a decade-long boycott and returning to the fray as the mainstay of a broad civic alliance, according to preliminary results released on Thursday. The Islamists, easily Jordan's biggest organized political grouping, had shunned previous elections in protest at a system that skews representation toward thinly populated rural areas dominated by tribal politics, rather than the cities, where the Brotherhood is strong. But under pressure from a government crackdown that followed Islamist-led protests in the wake of the Arab Spring, the Brotherhood's political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), ditched its "Islam is the Solution" slogan and joined Christians and prominent national figures to create the National Coalition for Reform (NCR). Preliminary results from Tuesday's election indicated that the NCR had won at least 16 of the 130 seats. Zaki Bani Rusheid, a prominent Brotherhood leader, said the NCR would seek alliances with others to try to form an effective opposition. Although Jordan has no ruling party, its government, appointed by King Abdullah, has for years faced little or no opposition from a parliament dominated by pro-government tribal leaders, businessmen and ex-security officials, often elected on promises to address local rather than national concerns. MODEST STEP Although the NCR will not be able to block legislation or cabinet appointments, it should nevertheless bring livelier debate to what has been almost a rubber-stamp assembly whose passivity has allowed successive governments to enact draconian temporary laws restricting public freedoms. Although the vote represents a modest step in the democratization process launched by the king, a staunch U.S. ally, as he seeks to insulate Jordan from the conflicts at its borders, the NCR is likely to use the platform to air demands for a more representative electoral system. The alliance won at least one seat in nearly every major multi-member constituency, according to initial results. In the capital's affluent third district, home to many government agencies as well as much of the business and political elite, the alliance won three of seven seats. Although the national turnout was a mere 37 percent, analysts said it would have been significantly lower if the Islamists had not taken part. International observers praised Jordan for holding relatively well-administered elections at a time of regional turbulence, but urged broader political representation. "There is no equality of the vote. Under the current districting, large urban areas are under-represented, and sparsely populated or rural areas are considerably over-represented, the EU's chief observer, Jo Leinen, told reporters. Many of the citizens in the major cities, where over two-thirds of the population live, are of Palestinian descent. Their political empowerment in a country where native Jordanian tribes hold power is a sensitive issue. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Kevin Liffey) By PTI: treated with seriousess New Delhi, Sept 22 (PTI) India today hoped that the bill introduced by two senior American lawmakers in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, will be treated with "utmost seriousness". External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said India has raised with China the recent Uri attack and Pakistans involvement in it as well as the issue of UN designation for Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar by the 1267 Sanctions Committee. advertisement Replying to a query on the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act (HR 6069) bill by two US Senators, Swarup said, "It reflects the acknowledgement in the US Congress that a country to which the US had channelled so much aid is actually the epicentre of terrorism which has also targeted Americans and American interests. "The US Congress has also blocked USD 300 million aid to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) due to Pakistans insufficient action against the dreaded Haqqani network. Earlier, the US Congress had also objected to the sale of F-16s (planes) to Pakistan. "The present bill has been introduced by two of the seniormost and highly respected members of the Congress and I am sure it will be treated with utmost seriousness." The bill has been moved by Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher, who is a ranking member of the influential Congressional Committee on Terrorism. "It is time we stopped paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism," said Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism. Swarup also mentioned that India has taken up with China the Uri attack and banning of Azhar. However, he did not elaborate further. It is understood that the issues have been taken at the "diplomatic level". China had blocked Indias effort to get Azhar, a Mumbai terror attack mastermind, banned by the UN. Reacting to reports that Russia has cancelled the joint exercise with Pakistan in PoK, he said Indias "sensitivities" towards Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism are well-known and same was also conveyed to its strategic partner, Russia. (More) PTI PYK SC --- ENDS --- The laidback acoustic trio of musicians from Malaysia, Jumero, is going to Japan and Korea for a tour! The band announced the exciting news on their Facebook along with the full details of their tour dates which will begin by the end of this month. This won't be the boys' first time in Korea as they have already performed there and had even received the third-place prize at the International Campus Song Festival (ICSF) 2015. However, this will be their first visit to Japan. Set to kick off at Nami Island on 30 September 2016, the trio will first perform at four different locations in South Korea before going to three different venues in Japan which includes Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, starting on 6 October onwards. The tour will be an opportunity for the band to introduce their music via their debut album, "Stepping Stones" which was launched at Laundry, The Curve in August last year as part of the Guinness Amplify: Curates series. (Photo source: Jumero's Facebook) Jimmy Kimmel presented an all new installment of "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets" on Wednesday, and this round had some of the most ridiculously hateful tweets yet, being read by some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Hugh Grant was the first to call out an online hater, reading a tweet that stated, "Watching Hugh Grant and his stutteringly pathetic 'charm' is about as appealing to me as closing my scrotum in a DVD case." WATCH: President Obama Reads Mean Tweets On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' "Are these real or do you make them up to be especially nasty?" Grant asked, looking up from his phone with a crestfallen gaze. For the record, they aren't made up -- the internet really is home to some terrible people. Kate Hudson found her needlessly mean tweet quite a bit funnier, as she broke into laughter while reading, "Kate Hudson is a dead eyed trash bag that smells like low tide." WATCH: Tyler Oakley, Grace Helbig and More YouTube Celebrities Read 'Mean Tweets' While some of the mean tweets were overtly hateful (or, in the case of Norman Reedus, just an offer from one Twitter user to have some very graphic sex), not every hurtful comment was filled with rage. For Paul Rudd, the insult was simply that he seemed like a nice, normal guy. "Paul Rudd is the most boring, vanilla dude," the Ant-Man star read off of a phone. "You know he just sits at home with his wife having a bland spaghetti dinner talking about his day." WATCH: Sarah Paulson Has the Best, NSFW Comeback to a Mean Tweet A lot of the attacks were based solely on the star's physical appearance. For example, Zac Efron read one tweet that asked, "Has Zac Efron ever been in a film where he didn't play a total douche? I've never seen one of his films, I'm just judging by his face." Even the notoriously mercurial Russell Crowe got in on the fun, and could help but chuckle when he read, "Russell Crowe is delightfully paradoxical in that he is a huge d**k with a small penis." Story continues WATCH: George Clooney, Susan Sarandon and Taraji P. Henson Read Hilarious 'Mean Tweets' in New Movie Star Edition The new installment also features mean tweets read by Greg Kinnear, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Evans, Jane Lynch, Margot Robbie, Anthony Mackie, Judd Apatow, Olivia Wilde, Ryan Gosling, Wanda Sykles, Bryan Cranston and Kiefer Sutherland. Check out some other stars, including George Clooney, Taraji P. Henson and Susan Sarandon, reading mean tweets in the video below. Related Articles By Steve Bittenbender LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - Kentucky's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the state's Republican governor does not have the authority to cut public universities' budgets. The 5-2 decision reinstates more than $18 million in funds to eight of Kentucky's nine public universities and its community college system, and handed a victory to the state's Democratic attorney general who has opposed the governor on several issues. Governor Matt Bevin sought the reduction, which amounted to a 2 percent cut for each affected institution for the last quarter of fiscal 2016, to fund the state's cash-strapped pension program. He initially had sought cuts totaling $41 million, or 4.5 percent, but reduced the amount after schools complained. However, Attorney General Andy Beshear questioned whether the governor was empowered to order the reductions unilaterally, suing in April to block them. He argued the cuts violated budget laws and the separation of powers enshrined in the state's constitution. In its ruling on Thursday, the state Supreme Court noted the governor has the ability to order cuts in certain circumstances, such as when there is a budget shortfall. However, while Kentuckys pension ranks among the least funded in the nation, this did not meet that criteria. The Governor, as the chief executive of this Commonwealth, has only the authority and powers granted to him by the Constitution and the general law, wrote Deputy Chief Justice Mary Noble in the courts opinion. In a statement, Bevins press secretary said the governor strongly disagreed with the ruling, saying the universities, which participate in the pension program, should participate in funding its $35 billion liability. Gov. Bevin recognizes that preserving our retirement systems for state workers and retirees is both a legal and moral obligation, Amanda Stamper said. Bevin and Beshear have had their share of conflicts since both won election last year. Bevin, who succeeded Beshears father, has revamped several state boards, including the University of Louisville. Beshear has challenged that order as well. Beshear said in a statement that he hoped after today, the nasty press releases and name calling stop, and the governor joins us for the real work that needs to be done to help Kentucky families. (Reporting by Steve Bittenbender; Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis) Moscow (AFP) - Russia and the United States discussed the Syrian conflict in New York, hours after clashing over the issue at the United Nations, the Russian foreign ministry said Thursday. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov talked first by telephone "at the initiative of the Americans", the ministry said in a message on Facebook. The diplomats then met, accompanied by their delegations, "to continue discussing the problem of a settlement (of the conflict) in Syria." Russia and the United States negotiated the latest ceasefire plan, but Syria ended the truce on Monday following an apparently accidental US-led coalition strike on Syrian soldiers. Shortly after the truce ended, a UN aid convoy was hit, killing 20 humanitarian workers and destroying 18 trucks carrying food for desperate civilians in Aleppo province. On Wednesday, an angry Kerry demanded at a UN Security Council meeting that Russia force Syria to ground its air force, which Washington blames for the attack on the aid convoy. Kerry said the bombing raised "profound doubt" about whether Russia and its Syrian ally were committed to upholding a ceasefire. In his address to the Security Council, Lavrov declared on Wednesday that there would be "no more unilateral pauses" by Syrian government forces, arguing that opposition fighters on the ground had previously used those ceasefires to regroup. He insisted that all sides must rein in rebel groups on the ground to ensure they comply with the ceasefire and said a list of terror groups not covered by the truce should be reviewed. The United States and Russia are to chair a meeting in New York later on Thursday of the 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which brings together world powers with a stake in the civil war. Kevin McKidd wants Sandra Oh (aka Christina) to return to Greys Anatomy and we 100% agree Kevin McKidd wants Sandra Oh (aka Christina) to return to Greys Anatomy and we 100% agree After what feels like EONS, Greys Anatomy is finally back tonight (September 22nd)! Okay, so eons might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the show has been off our telly boxes since May and thats waaay too long for a fix of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Of course weve definitely been watching it while the show has been on hiatus (who else dips into their favorite episodes when the show isnt on air?), and weve been seriously missing some of the old characters, like George ( ), Izzie ( ), and, of course, Christina Yang ( ). And, it seems, were not the only ones, too. Kevin McKidd, who plays Dr. Owen Hunt on the long-running ABC medical drama, has said that hed LOVE Sandra Oh, who plays Christina to return. Christina Oh Now, you might remember that at the tail-end of last season, Owen could be seen getting married to Amelia Shepherd (played by Caterina Scorsone), the troubled younger sister of the late-Derek Shepherd ( ). Owen had previously been embroiled in a dramatic and emotionally intense relationship with Christina, and the pair had even married following the shooting at the hospital. However, this hasnt stopped Kevin from going on record to talk about how hed love to have Yang back. Id love it if she came back, he told Digital Spy. I think she might eventually for fun, for maybe a couple of episodes. I dont think shed come back for anything long term, but who the hell knows? OMG the thought of Christina returning to Seattle, even if it is just for a few episodes, is the stuff of our dreams! We would LOVE to see her reaction to Merediths new life post-Derek ( ), and we bet shed have some opinions about both Amelia and Merediths long lost sister, Dr Maggie Pierce, who is played by Kelly McCreary. Story continues Kevin went on to say that he still sees Sandra all the time and he even talked to her about his characters recent storyline and marriage. She was joking, but she was a bit like, you didnt tell me you were getting married!' he said. You left, Sandra! Shes happy for Owen, really. I think shes happy he married another Canadian actress. Sandra3 Greys Anatomy is just about to start its 13th season, and things look like theyre gonna be SUPER dramatic (but, then, when arent they, eh?). Earlier this year it was reported that the upcoming episodes would focus back on the original characters, including Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pomeo) and Alex Karev (played by Justin Chambers). So, this season does seem like the perfect time to bring back a couple of old favorites, like, say, Christina Yang. This is Greys Anatomy after all, and anything is possible Greys Anatomy returns tonight (September 22nd) on ABC at 8/7c. The post Kevin McKidd wants Sandra Oh (aka Christina) to return to Greys Anatomy and we 100% agree appeared first on HelloGiggles. By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) The Indian government made 139 account information requests involving 495 accounts during January to June 2016 to social media site Twitter, according to its biannual Transparency Report. Information requests include worldwide government requests Twitter received for account information, typically in connection with criminal investigations, the report explained. According to the report, Twitter received 42 requests for removal of content from Indian government, police and other law enforcement agencies, while one request was based on court order. advertisement Globally, the US topped the list of countries in terms of number of account information requests with 2,520 requests covering 8,009 accounts of which Twitter produced information on 82 per cent of the cases. Twitter said that despite decrease in number of requests from the US, the country still remains the "top global requester", comprising 44 per cent of total requests received. Other governments that made a large number of requests for account information to Twitter were that of Japan with 732 requests (988 accounts), the UK with 631 requests (1,071 accounts), and France with 572 requests (687 accounts). Turkey was just above India with 280 requests for information covering 443 accounts. In case of India, Twitter shared some information in 31 per cent of the cases. Pakistan placed only 6 account information requests with Twitter, covering 22 accounts. "We have received two per cent more government requests for account information affecting 8 per cent more accounts during the first half of 2016 than in the the previous reporting period," Twitter said. Turkey topped the list of countries requesting Twitter to remove content from its site -- it received 712 court orders and 1,781 requests from Turkish government and police involving 14,953 accounts. Next came Russia, which made 1,601 requests involved 1,698 accounts, followed by France (466 requests, 758 accounts). "In the first half of 2016, Twitter received 13 per cent more removal requests compared to the previous reporting period. Removal requests originated from 37 countries, five of which are appearing in the report for the first time: Azerbaijan, Chile, Israel, Maldives, and the Philippines," Twitter said. Overall, removal requests affected a total of 20,594 accounts -- 2,600 had some content removed for violating Twitters Terms of Service, 2,799 accounts had some content withheld (account-level or Tweet-level), and no action was taken on the remaining 15,195 accounts, it added. PTI PRS MBI ABM --- ENDS --- Kim Kardashian West wants to take after her late father, Robert Kardashian, Sr. In an interview with Wonderland magazine (via Daily Mail), the 35-year-old reality star talks about furthering her education, and going into law like her dad, who was best known as one of O.J. Simpsons attorney during his double-murder trial. EXCLUSIVE: Kim Kardashian Gushes Rob Will Be a Great Dad, Reveals Kanye West Gives Parenting Advice If things slow down and I had time, I really want to go to law school, she says. Just something I can do in my older age. COMING SOON! @wonderlandmag A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Sep 12, 2016 at 10:28am PDT Kim, however, would first have to get her undergraduate degree as she did not attend college after graduating from Marymount High School, an all-girls school in Los Angeles, California. In fact, Kourtney Kardashian is the only one of Kris Jenners six children that has a college degree. WATCH: Kim Kardashian Says She Loved The People v. O.J. Simpson, Drops Bombshell on Real-Life Trial In the past, Kim has expressed an interest in another field. I would be a forensic investigator and live a normal life, she told the June issue of Vogue Australia. Im gonna be that annoying, pushy mom and say I want to live vicariously through my kids and have them be a forensic investigator. She added, Ive always been into the most morbid things. I was really nosy when my dad was working on the O.J. trial, and I would look through all his stuff, and I just wish I was in that field. WATCH: O.J. Simpson Predicted That Keeping Up With the Kardashians Would Fail While Kim may fantasize about another career path, when ET spoke with her after she graduated 8th grade, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star was ready for the limelight. Does everyone get a tape of this? she asked. I hope you do so you can see me when Im famous and remember me as this beautiful little girl! Related Articles Kinshasa (AFP) - Next to a mountain of still smouldering papers, Gaston wipes away tears. "That's my desk. It's completely burnt," he says, his voice trembling. The archives of the Kinshasa court where he worked went up in smoke in an attack on the building during two days of deadly clashes in the city earlier this week. Gaston says he watched helplessly as the fire set by a "very angry" crowd swept through the courthouse on Tuesday, leaving him able only to save himself. The attack took place on the second day of the unrest which pitted security forces against young people demanding the resignation of President Joseph Kabila. According to police at least 32 people were killed, while the opposition put the death toll at over 100. "My job is finished, the day after tomorrow I'll be unemployed," says the court worker, in his sixties, who lives in a city of 10 million where good, secure jobs are hard to come by. The violence erupted ahead of a planned opposition rally on Monday to call for Kabila, who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001, to step down when his mandate ends on December 20. Kabila is yet to call elections, fanning fears he plans to stay in power despite pressure to step aside from his domestic political opponents, as well as the United Nations and Western powers. Without justifying the bloodshed, some Kinshasa residents say they can understand that people are exasperated over miserable living conditions and the desire for political change. "Kabila must leave power," said Thomas Mbudi whose home, rented from a Chinese merchant, was destroyed and vandalised. The police station a few dozen metres away was also ransacked. - 'Getting poorer and poorer' - The head of administration at the courthouse in the city's Ndjili district was matter of fact about the unrest. "It was a popular uprising which demonstrated the discontent," said the administrator who gave his name only as Francois. Story continues A nearby grain storage warehouse was completely looted. "Most people can't afford the corn produced in Congo," said a man who gave just his first name Patrick. "It was anger that made people loot," he added. He added that in his view there wasn't a particular problem with Kabila, "but we want him to say publicly he that he does not plan to run for another term and for the president who succeeds him to bring jobs for the people". While life in the capital largely returned to normal on Wednesday, many residents were unwilling to comment on the violence. Ndjili, one of the areas of the capital most affected by the clashes, saw petrol pumps, police posts and businesses run by Chinese nationals attacked. A heavy police and military presence remained in place on Wednesday with police and soldiers making sure that crowds were not allowed to form. "We are angry," said Tresor, a young unemployed engineer. What happened "was to warn those who govern us to govern the country well". "We don't intend to put up with seeing them enrich themselves more and more while we get poorer and poorer." Remember the self-tying shoes from Back to the Future? Nike has been rumored to be developing a real-life version of those sneakers for years, and now theyre finally about to hit stores. Nikes PR director, Heidi Burgett, revealed via Twitter that the Hyperadapt 1.0 will see a limited release beginning on November 28. The video above features Nike employees discussing the technology, and details are out about the shoe via The Verge. Related Links: HyperAdapt 1.0 will be available in the U.S. at select Nike retail locations. Appointments to experience & purchase begin 11.28.16. pic.twitter.com/t3YVLa8Rsl Heidi Burgett (@heidiburgett) September 20, 2016 The shoe is pretty sophisticated the laces have different settings for different levels of tightness, and the shoes light up when theyre in the tying process and when the battery is low (a three-hour charge lasts about two weeks, according to Nike). The self-lacing technology is activated by a pressure sensor in the heel, and it automatically conforms to the shape of your foot. Theres no word yet on how much the shoes will cost, but you have to imagine they wont be cheap. For as long as these shoes have been in the works, Nike wouldnt release them to the public if the technology wasnt at a point where it was actually usable. That theyre putting these on sale in November means theyve gotten there. The future is here, and its exciting. (The Verge) By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - Korea Development Bank (KDB), the lead creditor of Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd said on Thursday it will offer a 50 billion won (34.51 million pounds) credit line to help Hanjin unload stranded cargo. An estimated $14 billion of cargo was trapped on Hanjin ships when the world's seventh-largest container carrier collapsed late last month, creating havoc ahead of the crucial holiday shopping season. The credit line is to be used only when all available funds from Hanjin Shipping, top shareholder Korean Air Lines, Hanjin Group's chairman and a former Hanjin Shipping chairwoman meant to help unload cargo are used up, KDB said in a statement. Korean Air Lines , Hanjin Shipping's largest shareholder, agreed late on Wednesday to lend 60 billion won to help unload cargo. The airline's loan is in addition to 40 billion won provided by the Hanjin Group's chairman, and 10 billion won provided by the former Hanjin Shipping chairwoman. KDB's credit line, like Korean Air's loan, also takes Hanjin Shipping's accounts receivables as collateral, KDB said in a statement. However, KDB's loan will take higher priority than Korean Air's claim, and the funds are not meant to support Hanjin Shipping as a company but to address cargo delays, KDB said. Even with KDB's credit line, the total is still well short of the 270 billion won Hanjin estimates it will need to clear all the cargo, a Seoul Central District Court judge said on Thursday, citing the company's most recent figure submitted to the court. Some 31 of Hanjin's 97 leased and owned container ships have completed unloading, Hanjin Shipping data showed on Thursday. All chartered vessels have been ordered to be returned to their owners but dozens remain waiting at sea while funds are raised and protection from creditors is organised. With debt of about 6 trillion won at the end of June and the South Korean government's unwillingness to mount a rescue, expectations are low that Hanjin Shipping will survive. Story continues One opposition lawmaker angrily criticized the government in parliament on Thursday for not stepping in to save the company. "It is heartbreaking that our biggest shipping company is in this situation, but we believed it would create a bigger problem if we started using taxpayers' money to resolve this problem," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said in response. (Additional reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast) LIMA (Reuters) - A key panel of Peru's opposition-controlled Congress rejected a request by President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski to expedite his economic reforms, the first blow to his bid to revive flagging domestic demand. All but one member of the budget panel on Wednesday voted against giving Kuczynski's centrist government special powers to legislate the reforms, saying they appeared to be unconstitutional and needed in-depth review, according to a statement from Congress. Kuczynski's government has been pressing lawmakers to clear the way for new policies it says are urgently needed to jumpstart private investments after a three-year slump. Kuczynski, who took office July 28, has proposed boosting infrastructure development through private-public partnerships, trimming the value added tax rate to help small businesses and raising corporate taxes to rein in the fiscal deficit. Every Peruvian president this century has been granted special powers for legislating initial reforms. But the rightwing party of Kuczynski's defeated rival Keiko Fujimori, which controls some 70 of 130 seats in Congress, has said it needs more time to evaluate the reforms. The opposition has especially criticized a proposal to raise the deficit ceiling. Kuczynski, a 77-year-old former investment banker, won this year's presidential election with one of the weakest recent mandates, beating Fujimori by less than a quarter percentage point and securing just 18 seats for his party in the single-chamber Congress. But his approval rating climbed to 63 percent in September, and 91 percent of Peruvians think Congress should give him special powers to legislate his economic reforms, according to an Ipsos poll published Sunday. The request will ultimately be decided by the plenary. (Reporting by Marco Aquino Writing by Mitra Taj; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) President Barack Obamas top military advisor told senators Thursday that the U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are the only rebel group capable of taking the Islamic State bastion of Raqqa. But theres no solid plan for holding the city once they do. The 30,000-strong SDF is dominated by about 15,000 hardened Kurdish fighters that Washington has long backed in the struggle against Islamic State. But the Americans are trying to balance supporting their most capable ally on the ground with intense opposition from another ally Turkey which views the Kurds as terrorists. Dunford called the group the most effective force that we have right now and the force that we need to go into Raqqa, but admitted that given its mainly Kurdish makeup, the group is not intended to hold Raqqa once it falls. That role, potentially, could be filled by the roughly 14,000 Arabs in the SDF, which may make up part of the holding force, he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. When asked at the hearing if the Pentagon had a plan to take and hold the city, Dunford admitted, we have a plan but it is not resourced. On Wednesday, the general lauded the work of U.S.-backed rebels, particularly the effort to boost the number of Arabs in the SDF. Last year at this time we probably had a few hundred vetted Syrian opposition forces on the ground we were supporting, so there has been significant growth, he said. American officials have for months touted the SDF as the only group capable of taking Raqqa away from the Islamic State. But with Turkish concerns mounting over Kurdish gains on the battlefield and U.S. support, Washington has made more of an effort to build up the capabilities of the Syrian Arab rebel groups aligned with the Kurds. Tensions with Turkey, which last month deployed 1,000 Arab rebels along with Turkish special forces and heavy armor into northern Syria, remain high. The Turkish incursion over the border which initially took Washington by surprise was quickly supported by American commandos on the ground and warplanes overhead. Ankara considers the Kurdish fighters in Syria to be part of the Kurdish PKK rebel group fighting to gain an autonomous region in southeast Turkey, and has bristled at U.S. military support for the Kurds. Turkey fears a Kurdish state forming on its southern border that could inflame its own Kurdish minority. One of the invasions explicit aims was to push the Kurds away from Turkeys border with Syria. Story continues The Kurds have also objected to U.S. support of the Turkish incursion into Syria, as it forced Kurdish troops to leave the city of Manbij which they had taken from Islamic State and move back to Kurdish-held areas east of the Euphrates river. A team of American special operations forces accompanying the Turks last week were pulled into the middle of these tensions, when some Turkish-backed fighters accused the Americans of siding with the Kurds over Arabs. Turkish officials moved the rebels who had complained to another area of the battlefield, and the Americans are still on the ground in northern Syria, according to U.S. Defense officials. Were working very closely with our Turkish allies to come up with the right approach to make sure we can conduct effective and decisive operations in Raqqa with the Syrian Democratic Forces and still allay the Turkish concerns about the Kurds long term political prospects, Dunford said. Photo Credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images Kuwait City (AFP) - Kuwaiti lawmakers on Thursday requested an emergency session of parliament to debate a government decision that increased petrol prices by up to roughly 80 percent. Kuwait's parliament is in summer recess until mid-October but a majority of the 50-member house can demand an emergency session to debate pressing issues. MP Ahmad al-Qhudhaibi said 35 lawmakers signed the motion to discuss why the government raised its heavily subsidised petrol prices for the first time in almost two decades. The increase, which came into effect on September 1, was harshly criticised by a large number of MPs and civil society organisations. In their motion, lawmakers said the move had resulted in a rise in the prices of commodities and goods. MPs want the government to compensate Kuwaiti citizens who comprise around 30 percent of the 4.3 million population, which also includes about three million foreigners. The date of the meeting will be worked out with the government. The cabinet has said the decision is part of a series of measures to meet a budget deficit due to a sharp drop in oil revenues which previously made up around 95 percent of the country's total income. The oil-rich Gulf state liberalised the prices of diesel and kerosene in January 2015 and revises them monthly. Other oil-rich Gulf states had already raised fuel and electricity prices. In April, parliament approved a government-sponsored bill to raise electricity and water prices paid by foreign residents and businesses, but exempted Kuwaiti citizens. The OPEC member recorded a budget shortfall of 4.6 billion dinars ($15.3 billion) in the fiscal year which ended on March 31, Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh said last month. It was the first shortfall since the fiscal year to March 1999. Kuwait City (AFP) - A Kuwaiti court on Thursday sentenced Shiite lawmaker Abdulhameed Dashti to 11 years' jail in absentia for insults against the emirate's ruler and its neighbour Saudi Arabia. Any criticism of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah can result in charges of insulting him, and dozens of opposition activists have been jailed for the offence in the past few years. The verdict against Dashti, announced in a court statement, comes two months after he was sentenced to 14 years and six months for a similar offence. Dashti has been living abroad for several months, after leaving Kuwait in March to seek medical treatment in Britain. In the latest ruling, the criminal court in Kuwait City deemed as offensive his remarks about the emir and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The outspoken lawmaker was also convicted in July of endangering ties with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and for calling on people to join the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia. Dashti confirmed the latest court ruling on Twitter, saying he expects more sentences that could amount to 100 years' jail as he is facing about a dozen similar cases. The verdicts are not final but Dashti can only challenge once he returns to the oil-rich emirate. He has not said when he will go back. Dashti is a staunch supporter of Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a critic of the royal families of both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He denounced as an "invasion" the 2011 Saudi military intervention in Bahrain to support the government against Shiite-led protests. The next ruling against him is scheduled for October 10. There are nine Shiite lawmakers in the 50-seat parliament of Kuwait, and the minority comprises about 30 percent of the country's native population of 1.3 million. For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS. The Los Angeles Police Department is not investigating Brad Pitt for child abuse, nor has any allegation been made against the actor, Sgt. Barry Montgomery told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday morning. Multiple outlets were reporting Pitt allegedly was recently verbally and physically abuse toward at least one of his children and that is among the reasons why Angelina Jolie is seeking a divorce. Police tell THR those reports are not accurate. We have no criminal investigation that we are actively pursuing, Montgomery said. To my knowledge, [Pitt talking to police] never happened. And right now, that is where our office is. We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt. We understand how rumors get spun up and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest. We have no investigation involving Mr. Pitt. L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services could not confirm nor deny it was involved with an allegation involving Pitt. We have very strict confidentially laws that dont allow us to confirm or deny the subjects of our investigation, spokeswoman Amara Saurez told THR. She added that the departments media team did not confirm any investigation reports to any news outlets. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, citing irreconcilable differences. The news was first reported Tuesday morning. The Hollywood power couple has been married a little more than two years. The Associated Press reported Jolies attorney, Robert Offer, said Jolie filed for dissolution of the marriage, with a decision made for the health of the family. Pitt said in a statement to People: I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the wellbeing of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time." Sept. 22, 8:50 a.m.: This story has been updated with a comment from L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services. Read more: Angelina Jolie Files for Divorce From Brad Pitt Yellowknife (Canada) (AFP) - Deep in the Canadian wilds, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the nearest city as the crow flies, the world's largest diamond mine outside of South Africa is being dug. The Gahcho Kue mine is only accessible by air, except for a few weeks in the dead of winter when trucks may travel across an ice road on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Its name is derived from a term for "big rabbit" in the local indigenous Chipewyan language. It took Johannesburg-based De Beers and its Canadian partner Mountain Province Diamonds nearly 20 years and US$1 billion to get the project off the ground. Some 530 employees using massive trucks and mining equipment now work round the clock in shifts, digging three pits in the Earth's crust that are visible from space to reveal the diamond-rich kimberlite formations underground. Nearby an ore processing plant was set up, as well as a mechanical repair shop, and diesel storage tanks. Workers are housed on-site in sparse quarters, but have access to a gym, a games room and other amenities. "This mine would never ever (have) existed without the winter road," De Beers official Rob Coolen commented. He explained that temperatures plunge to -40 degrees Celsius (same in Fahrenheit) in winter, creating thick layers of ice on the many lakes in the remote region, making it possible for heavy trucks to drive across them. The one-meter thick layer of ice is capable of carrying loads weighing up to 55 tonnes. The ice road starts in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, and extends 400 kilometers (250 miles) into the barren tundra, serving several mines along its path before ending at the Gahcho Kue mine. - Umbilical cord - More than 3,800 truckloads of mining equipment, supplies, building materials, diesel and crates of food crossed this way to Gahcho Kue over the past two winters, in preparation for the mine opening. Without this lifeline, which is open only six to eight weeks each year, the mine would never have opened. Story continues In order to access the kimberlite deposits, miners first had to drain part of Kennady Lake, which sits on top of the carrot-shaped deposits. De Beers said it expects the mine to produce 54 million carats of rough diamonds by 2028. Over the next decade and a half, the company expects to pour Can$5.7 billion into the economy of the Northwest Territories, which derives more than half of its gross domestic product from mining activities. Partnering with local indigenous communities, which have a say on the use of resources in their ancestral lands, has provided workers for the mine, as well as about Can$4 million in royalties for area tribes, noted De Beers chief executive Bruce Cleaver. Tlicho First Nation Grand Chief Edward Erasmus explained that work at the mine has helped ease band members's traditional reliance on hunting caribou for sustenance. About 30-40 percent of the mine's staff are aboriginal. "We want jobs just like everybody else," he told AFP. "Our citizens are building homes, driving vehicles and they have jobs, and they are happy and that's what we want for our citizens too, just like everybody else," he said. Mining royalties also fund social programs, and scholarships for local young people to attend major universities in the south of Canada. Mining, however, is not without health and safety risks. Officials are also concerned about social ills that come with "fast money," including drug and alcohol abuse. Chief Eddy Sangris of the Yellowknife Dene First Nation described the recent death of a young man, ruled a suicide. "He worked in another mine, he had a lot of money and he wasted it (on drugs and alcohol)." In the immediate aftermath of the Uri attack, India termed Pakistan the Ivy League of terrorism and said the effects of its toxic curriculum were felt across the globe. By Maha Siddiqui: India hit back at Pakistan in its right to reply at the 71st session of the UNGA after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif levelled allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir. First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Eenam Gambhir said it was "ironical that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism." India reinstated that Pakistan is using terrorism, the worst kind of human rights violation, as an instrument of state policy. advertisement In the immediate aftermath of the Uri attack, India termed Pakistan the Ivy League of terrorism and said the effects of its toxic curriculum were felt across the globe. Gambhir said, Pakistan "attracts (terror) aspirants and apprentices from all over the world." India minced no words in pointing out that Pakistan was diverting billions of dollars, much of it available as international aid in training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. Gambhir highlighted that the Uri terror attack was part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by India's neighbour and tasked to carry out terrorist attacks in India. She also added terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam its streets freely and operate with the state support. "With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations." Earlier in the day, Sharif raised the Kashmir bogey at the UNGA calling Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a "young leader" murdered by Indian forces. He also said Pakistan will continue to support voices in Kashmir for self-determination. India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is going to speak at UNGA in the coming week and is expected to come back with an even more hard hitting response. Also Read: Nawaz Sharif glorifies terrorists in UN speech, India rubbishes his Kashmir claims HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT INDIA SAID IN ITS RIGHT TO REPLY The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy, it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism. It is ironical that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism. Shortly before Pakistan gave its hypocritical sermons in this august house today, its envoy in New Delhi was summoned in the context of the most recent of the terror attacks in Uri that claimed 18 Indian lives. Pakistan is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. We heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistan is a country with a democracy deficit. In fact it practices terrorism on its own people. advertisement Also Read: Afghanistan attacks Pakistan at UNGA, Vice President says "world knows where Taliban leaders live" Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets Uri attack: India to respond at multiple levels, but will the stand be aggressive? Uri attack: Parrikar seeks report from Army on how terrorists managed to infiltrate camp --- ENDS --- As David Gebremariam walked through Stockholms leafy, park-lined Troppstigen neighborhood early one summer evening in 1991, the Eritrean refugee and students dark skin stood out from that of his mostly white Swedish counterparts. When Gebremariam happened to glance down, he noticed a red light floating against his body. As he turned to see where the light was coming from, a shot rang out and pain ripped through his right hip. Police suspected that the shooter had used a rifle with a laser sight, but they had no motive or leads. Terrified residents, convinced that they had seen red lights floating around the neighborhood, responded by not letting their kids go outside to play. But without any developments, the story quickly fell from the headlines, giving way to news about the upcoming parliamentary elections in September. How long before our Swedish children have to turn their heads towards Mecca? Earlier in the year, Bert Karlsson and Ian Wachtmeister, two well-known Swedes, had emerged on the political scene, pushing their conservative populism and New Democracy party, which many Swedes embraced with enthusiasm. The party started off wanting lower taxes, says Ulf Hannerz, professor emeritus of social anthropology at Stockholm University. But as the party became increasingly disorganized, they became more clearly xenophobic, Hannerz says, noting how Karlsson and Wachtmeister played on resentment and fear in a bid to win votes. By the early 1990s, many Swedes had begun to fear that their borders were too open. Since the 1970s, refugees had been arriving from Iraq, Somalia, Chile and Kurdistan, and the New Democracy party offered a response to fears that the country might lose its typically Swedish look. Its first party plan called for all immigrants to be tested for AIDS, and while that idea was dropped for being too controversial, the xenophobic sentiment remained. How long before our Swedish children have to turn their heads towards Mecca? one party supporter infamously asked at a rally. Party Vice Chairman John Bouvin railed against aid to foreign countries, claiming it led to overpopulation, and said many outrageous things that he claimed Swedes were thinking but were too polite to say. Story continues Ian wachtmeister and bert karlsson Ian wachtmeister (left) and bert karlsson (right) Source CC There was a strong anti-immigrant opinion, says Jerzy Sarnecki, professor of criminology at Stockholm University, and some people were powerfully influenced by the propaganda the party was peddling. At the end of October, a month after the New Democracy party received 6.7 percent of the popular vote, the terror began. An Iranian student was targeted, then a homeless Greek man; shortly after, a Brazilian musician was shot. Then, on November 8, Iranian student Jimmy Ranjbar was shot in the head at close range and died from his injuries. Serial killers are rare in Sweden, but there was no denying this was a spree. In 1991, police reported a total of 91 murders and 132 assaults resulting in death. Three attempted murders and one murder in two weeks with all of the victims appearing to be foreign-born and all but one having seen a red light immediately prior to being shot could mean only one thing: A serial murderer was on the loose. The police and media dubbed the killer Laserman, for the laser sight he used, and a manhunt commenced. Nydemo se copy Source CC Police had a description from a witness who thought she had seen the killer a man with dyed red hair and blue eyes who dressed like a yuppie. They werent sure how accurate the description was, but they had little to go on and needed help from the public. A sketch of the suspect was released on November 14, and the media reported on how scared immigrants and second-generation Swedes were in Stockholm. Fearing the Laserman and the rising tide of racism nationwide, they didnt want to leave their homes or show their faces on TV. As the holidays approached, there were no new victims. Authorities began to hope that the terror had ended. But in January 1992, three more immigrants were shot with a different weapon. Police thought the attacks might have been committed by the same perpetrator, and they started developing a criminal profile. They also followed the only lead they had: A white Nissan Micra had been seen at a few of the crime scenes. It was hard to track because it had stolen plates, but when authorities looked at records of rented Nissan Micras, they came across the name John Ausonius. Ausonius rap sheet made him their first person of interest; as time passed, police became more certain that Ausonius was their killer, even though no new crimes were committed. John ausonius John Ausonius, the Laserman Source CC It wasnt until June 1992 that authorities finally nabbed Ausonius during an attempted bank robbery. He denied any wrongdoing in court and employed a curious psychology to account for his xenophobic violence: He believed that general support for the racist right-wing party would translate into support for him and his actions. Curiously enough, Ausonius himself had an immigrant background. Born Wolfgang Zaugg to German and Swiss parents, the dark-haired Ausonius was teased as a child for his darker complexion. Perhaps, some analysts speculated, his murderous spree stemmed from a desire to be accepted as a real Swede. Ausonius understood the New Democracy party to be saying that if it was better for the children in Africa to die, that means that he should shoot and kill Black Swedes today, journalist Gellert Tamas told Radio Sweden in a 2005 interview. Tamas book The Laserman: A Tale About Sweden examines the culture in Sweden in the early 1990s and how racism and anti-immigrant sentiment served as a backdrop to the Lasermans rise. Heleneborgsgatan 2009 Heleneborgsgatan, where Ausonius was arrested in 1992. Source CC The killer himself now serving a life sentence claims his actions were not politically motivated. But Sarnecki believes the New Democracy partys messages ultimately drove Ausonius to kill. And he fears that it could happen again in the current increasingly xenophobic environment. A similar mood exists in society today, and the risk exists that people who are affected [by this kind of propaganda] in the same way can emerge, he warns. Related Articles Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - As he laid flowers recently at the grave of Uzbek strongman Islam Karimov, neighbouring Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev could have been forgiven an extra pause for thought. After Uzbekistan's veteran leader was buried this month, 76-year-old Nazarbayev is now the last surviving Soviet-era leader to still be in charge of one of the countries that emerged from the USSR. Appointed in 1989 by Communist Party boss Mikhail Gorbachev to run Kazakhstan when it was still controlled by Moscow, authoritarian Nazarbayev has clung on since independence to dominate the energy-rich nation for some 27 years. And while he may still appear healthy, the demise of Karimov across the border at 78 could not but help sharpen focus on what will happen when the Kazakh leader leaves the stage too. "He must have drawn some conclusions at a personal level," Luca Anceschi, a Central Asia expert at the University of Glasgow, told AFP. "They were practically the same age. This is the nature of mortality." - Heir today...? - Nazarbayev does not give others much opportunity to gain public recognition in his homeland. He dominates the news broadcasts and is officially known by the title "Father of the Nation." The leader has given few hints about any potential heirs, meaning that the chief question facing Kazakhstan is who could eventually take over from him. Karimov, who brutally crushed all dissent during his nearly three decades in charge, had no clear successor when a stroke laid him low, and his death appeared to briefly paralyse Uzbekistan's ruling elite. Quickly enough, however, long-standing Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev slipped smoothly into the empty spot and looks set now to take over long-term. But while the transition in Uzbekistan seems to be passing off without a hitch, some analysts say that with its vast oil wealth Kazakhstan could pose its own problems. "Succession in Kazakhstan differs from Uzbekistan. The Kazakh economy is much more developed," said Kate Mallinson of the London-based GPW consultancy. Story continues "There are a significantly larger number of vested interests that could be threatened from any change of leadership." With no designated successor in sight, most attention has focused on Nazarbayev's daughter Dariga, 53, who is now a senator after rising up the ranks in recent years. But a recent shake-up in the face of an economic crisis sparked by the drop in oil prices saw her lose her post as deputy prime minister and left observers struggling to read the tea leaves about her future prospects. "There are certain doubts that Dariga Nazarbayeva has the capacities or experience needed to run the country," political expert Daniyar Ashimbayev told AFP. "Most probably she was moved to the senate to shield her from criticism of the government during this ongoing economic crisis." - Lasting imprint - While the elite in Kazakhstan may be jostling for position, many ordinary people in the country still appear as attached as ever to the only president the country has known since independence. At the top of the Bayterek observation tower overlooking the futuristic capital Astana -- which Nazarbayev has transformed from a Soviet backwater -- visitors queue up to make wishes as they touch an imprint of the leader's hand. "Our president is a politician on the world stage. They respect him everywhere," said Gulmira, 45, who teaches at a secondary school named after Nazarbayev in the provincial town of Kokshetau. "Most importantly, our country has a future. We have raised a generation of children who are great patriots." Libreville (AFP) - Security forces fanned out in Gabon's capital Thursday as the west African country remained on edge awaiting the constitutional court's decision to end its post-election crisis and the uncertainty over who will be the next president. Lawyers for incumbent President Ali Bongo and his rival Jean Ping were to appear at the court's first hearing in Libreville Thursday on the highly-disputed poll. It is down to the wire as the expiry of a 15-day deadline for the Constitutional Court to resolve electoral disputes is Friday, and the court is expected to announce its ruling that day or on Saturday. The small nation of 1.8 million people has been traumatised by the violent protests that erupted after Bongo was declared the winner of the August 27 election by a wafer-thin margin of less than 6,000 votes. The opposition charged that the vote was fraudulent and on September 8, Ping, an internationally-respected diplomat who himself claimed victory, filed a legal challenge, demanding a recount. "The (election) observers will present their report. Then the lawyers from both sides will speak for around 10 minutes," Ping's lawyer Jean Remy Bantsantsa told AFP. Bongo's lawyer Francis Nkea was not immediately available for comment. In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family who have ruled Gabon since 1967. Ali Bongo won more than 95 percent of votes there on a reported turnout of more than 99 percent. Following the poll, EU election observers said there had been a "clear anomaly" in the final results from Haut-Ogooue. - Heading off unrest - With suspense hanging over the court's deliberations, security forces in anti-riot gear were deployed around the capital Libreville Thursday preparing to head off any more unrest should the judges decide against Ping. Gabonese ministers, who have vowed to maintain order, warned the 73-year-old former head of the African Union Commission that his actions could be held responsible if new violent protests break out. Story continues Ping's supporters say "more than 50" people were killed in the wave of post-electoral violence, but the interior ministry says the toll is three dead. In the shops, the Gabonese stood in long queues to buy provisions to last through the weekend should the streets be manned with checkpoints. On Tuesday, lawyers for the two sides said they had agreed to a recount although they disagreed over the scope of it. Ping has made clear he believes Bongo has the court in his pocket, referring to it as "the Tower of Pisa that always leans the same way". On Thursday Ping's entourage accused the court and its president Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo of already being guilty of a "miscarriage of justice", citing an interview with a weekly. "I have to say that it is rare that the choice of reversal (of the vote results) is used," she told the weekly Jeune Afrique on September 15 -- a statement that infuriated the pro-Ping supporters. Mborantsuo, a former beauty queen from Haut-Ogooue, caught the attention of the late leader Omar Bongo and was named to the country's top court when she was only 28. She had an affair with him and bore him two children. According to the opposition and the Gabonese media, she has amassed a formidable real estate portfolio at home and abroad. "Nobody want to be in Mborantsuo's shoes," said a diplomatic source. "She is under enormous pressure from both camps." When Google unveils the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones on October 4th, well say goodbye to a bunch of things, including the Nexus brand, vanilla Android experience and low-cost Google devices. Recent leaks revealed almost everything there is to know about the new Google phones, but it looks like the company has more surprises in store, especially on the software side. DONT MISS: 7 ways Apples iPhone 7 is much better than any Samsung phone Google Now is dead This isnt going to be a Pixel-only feature. In fact, you can already get it. It appears that Google has grown tired with Google Now and Google Now on Tap. In version 6.5.26 of the Google Search app that began rolling out on Wednesday, Google Now cards have been renamed to Feed, and Now on Tap is Screen search. The move is likely tied to the launch of the Google Assistant, which will probably arrive when the Pixel phones come out as part of the rumored Android 7.1 Nougat update. Of course, you can already try Google Assistant now in the company's new Allo app. Reset button If computers have reset buttons, why cant smartphones have the same option? Thats one thing you may have wanted for years, and Google is finally adding it well, others have done it before, but Google is now supporting it. According to Android Police, the Pixel phones will have a reboot button in the power menu that will let you restart the phone. Round is the new square A teardown of the Pixel Launcher reveals that Google is going to go all in on round launcher icons. Thats not necessarily a major change, but you wont miss it, as all apps will have circular icons moving forward. Its not clear at this point whether the circular shape has anything to do with potential Pixel Launcher features that are yet to be uncovered. Of all the new round icons, the Calendar app is getting a special feature: Itll automatically change the image to display the current date. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com At least three people are dead in Athens, Tenn. after a lone gunman opened fire inside a factory on Thursday, authorities said. The shooter, identified by authorities as 45-year-old Ricky Swafford, killed two people inside a Thomas and Betts plant building about 4 p.m. before fatally shooting himself, WBIR reports. Swafford was an employee at the factory, Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said at a news conference. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Susan Niland said Swafford became upset while talking with two supervisors and left the building before coming back and fatally shooting James Zotter, 44, and Sandra Cooley, 68, according to the Associated Press. Swaffords body was found inside one of the buildings bathrooms with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the police chief said. Ziegler said it appears Swafford used a semi-automatic pistol. The incident is under investigation. BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said it had arrested a leader of a local Islamic State group on the outskirts of the Palestinian Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in south Lebanon on Thursday. In a statement published by state media, the army said Imad Yasin was wanted "in connection with terrorist bombings on military positions, infrastructure and tourist facilities, markets and popular gatherings". Ain al-Hilweh, near the city of Saida, is often the scene of fighting between competing factions inside the camp. Security in the Palestinian camps is the responsibility of a joint Palestinian force, not the Lebanese security services, meaning that the army hardly ever enters. A security source said Yasin, who had been a member of other Islamist groups before the rise of Islamic State, was wanted in connection with bombings in the south and the central Mount Lebanon region. A number of people fled the area where he was arrested, local media and a witness said. There had been shooting overnight in the camp's central market area between members of the Palestinian political group Fatah and various Islamist groups, a witness and Lebanon's National News Agency said. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Sidon (Lebanon) (AFP) - Lebanese security forces on Thursday arrested a Palestinian at a refugee camp on suspicion he had links to the Islamic State jihadist group and was planning bomb attacks, the military said. Imad Yassin -- known as an "emir of IS" -- was detained at Ain al-Hilweh, the biggest of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and located near the southern city of Sidon, the military said in a statement. Yassin was taken into custody by intelligence agency officers. "He wanted to carry out terrorist attacks on several army positions, vital and tourist facilities, shopping centres, rallies and residential districts in more than one Lebanese region," the military charged. Yassin had received "help from terrorist organisations abroad", it added, without elaborating. LBCI private television said he was alleged to have recruited people to fight in Syria for the Islamic State group. Yassin is said to be a founder of Jund al-Sham, a Salafi group based in Ain al-Hilweh. The refugee camp is considered a powder keg, with frequent clashes between rival factions and security left in the hands of Palestinian forces. More than 450,000 Palestinians are registered in Lebanon with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and many live in squalid conditions in the 12 official camps. Responding to PM Nawaz Sharif's attacks on India during his speech to the General Assembly, Indian diplomat Eenam Gambhir said, "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime." By Indo-Asian News Service: India has raised the possibility that Pakistan is guilty of "war crimes" by sponsoring terrorism as an instrument of state policy, delivering one of the harshest criticism of its neighbour in an international forum in recent times. "WORST VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS TERRORISM" Formally responding to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's attacks on India during his speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday, Indian diplomat Eenam Gambhir said, "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime." advertisement Gambhir, who is a First Secretary at India's UN Mission, was exercising the right of reply to Sharif's caustic statements about India. She accused Pakistan of being "a terrorist state, which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours." Also read: After Nawaz Sharif's Kashmir rant at UN, India calls Pakistan 'Ivy League of terrorism' Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists Pakistan is a terrorist state, carries out war crimes: India to United Nations Gambhir invoked the 9/11 attacks on New York's World Trade Center that killed about 3,000 people in 2001 and marked a tectonic shift in the international recognition of the horrors of terrorism. "The world has not yet forgotten that the trail of that dastardly attack led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan," she said. Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden who was responsible for the attack was found hiding in Abbottabad close to the Pakistan Military Academy and killed on May 2, 2011, in an operation led by the US. Terrorist organisations and their leaders, "continue to roam its streets freely and operate with state support," Gambhir said, adding "With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations." Gambhir traced the web of terror spanning the world that converges on Pakistan and said, "It is ironical, therefore, that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism." "The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism," she said. "The effect of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe." She brought up Sunday's terror attack at an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri town that killed 18 soldiers. "That terrorist attack is part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbour and tasked to carry out terrorist attacks in my country," Gambhir said. Referring to Sharif's glowing remarks about Burhan Wani, she said, "Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation, Hizbul Mujahideen." advertisement WHAT SHARIF SAID Sharif had accused India of starting an arms race on the subcontinent. He had asserted that Islamabad acted responsibly as a nuclear power and made a pitch for his country's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an international group whose membership facilitates trade in nuclear materials for civilian use. Also read: Nawaz Sharif calls for peace, then praises terrorist in UN speech "Pakistan, whose nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit, (is) talking about restraint, renunciation and peace," Gambhir said. "Similar false promises it has made to us -- the international community - on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start." Exercising Islamabad's right of reply to India's right of reply, a Pakistani diplomat appealed to the international community, especially the Security Council members, to take up the Kashmir issue. The Pakistani diplomat again brought up Burhan Wani calling his killing the spark for the recent wave of protests in Kashmir. --- ENDS --- If youre getting too old for this ish, you probably remember the original Lethal Weapon franchise: a series of buddy-cop films that launched in the late 1980s and capitalized on the chemistry between leads Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. Foxs TV-series reboot of the movies updates the action but follows the same formula: Its co-stars Damon Wayans (in the Roger Murtagh role) and Clayne Crawford (as Martin Riggs) play off each other incredibly well, injecting a ton of humor into what is, essentially, just another police procedural. In a moment, well want to hear what you think of the pilot. But first, a brief recap: RELATEDFall TV 2016: Your Handy Calendar of 120+ Season and Series Premiere Dates We meet Riggs as hes chasing some bad guys with a fellow cop in Texas. Hes all cocksure and yeehaw, but he knows whats important: When his pregnant wife, Miranda, calls to let him know that shes gone into labor, he quickly pulls over and takes out the bad guys with a shot from very far away in order to meet her at the hospital on time. (We later learn he was a Navy SEAL, but still) But Miranda is in a terrible car accident on her way to the hospital. Both she and the baby die, leaving Riggs a sobbing wreck who moves to California six months later and spends his days getting blind drunk and considering suicide in a trash-filled trailer by the beach. Meanwhile, 50-year-old Det. Murtagh is preparing for his first day back at the force following his heart attack and subsequent surgery. Hes got three kids, the youngest of which is a baby, and hes completely healed. Murtaghs life aside from circumstances conspiring to thwart him from receiving promised oral sex from his hot lawyer wife (Girlfriends Keesha Sharp) is pretty good until he gets to the precinct. His old partner, Brooks (Mad Mens Kevin Rahm), is now captain. And his new partner is Riggs. PHOTOSFall TV Predictions: Greys Husband Twist, TWD Death, a Criminal Send-Off, Presidential Debate Hiccup and More Story continues Murtagh and Riggs meet after the latter waltzes into a hostage situation at a bank, challenges the thieves to kill him in order to get their demands met, shoots all the bad guys, inadvertently sets off the detonator one of the criminals bomb vests and then saunters out, snacking on a piece of pizza, just before the blast goes off. The point the Fox drama repeatedly makes is that Riggs just doesnt want to live anymore now that Miranda is gone; at the end of the hour, he admits to having a death wish but says he cant do the deed himself cause shed be ashamed of me. So instead, he places himself and Murtagh, who chafes at first but eventually comes around in several death-likely situations, such as a high speed car chase that crosses the path of a grand prix race and another hostage situation in which Riggs is headed for the angels until a quick-thinking Murtagh shoots his partner in the foot, making it possible for him to drop and grab a rifle, offing the bad guy and saving a 12-year-old kid in peril. RELATEDLethal Weapon Star Talks Reviving Martin Riggs: Hes a Badass The case Murtagh and Riggs investigate a faked suicide to cover a drug plot gone bad is inconsequential; Jordana Brewsters brief appearance as a police shrink, as well as the revelation that Mirandas father is the city attorney smoothing over any fallout from Riggs unorthodox approach to police work hints, that the drama plans to mine the younger detectives widowhood and mine it deep. Now its your turn. What did you think of the episode? Grade the premiere via the poll below, then hit the comments to back up your thoughts! Related stories Ryan Murphy Admits to 'Infighting' on the Glee Set: 'We All Got Too Personal' New Girl Casts David Hornsby (aka Mr. Emily Deschanel) as Jess' Adversary Gotham's Ivy Is (Literally) Bigger and Badder Than Ever -- Watch Out, Selina! Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries on Thursday touted a recent deal to integrate Netflix in more than 30 countries and its content investments, once again signaling no interest in a big content acquisition. "The Netflix deal is an indication of the fact that we want to be a multiplatform provider of content," the exec told the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference in New York in a session that was webcast. "We want to be able to give customers the option of sitting back on their couch or wherever they are watching television and have access to all the great shows. Why should you have to change platforms to watch a great show on an OTT provider?!" Fries said in the U.K., where 800,000 subscribers of Liberty Global's Virgin Media have the Netflix box built into their cable box already, the experience is that "they watch more television, they pay us more ... they churn less. Why? Because they have everything right there." "They have great content, and it is not disruptive, it is additive to the overall content product that we are offering," he said about Netflix, calling the relationship a "win-win." Asked about Liberty Global's appetite for content deals, Fries mentioned its small stake in ITV and the joint ownership, with Discovery Communications, of All3Media. The latter "is starting to provide benefits in Ireland where we [are putting] the best shows they have onto our broadcast networks," he said, calling most deals and opportunities incremental. "I don't see any massive vertical integration big-bangs," said Fries. "The ITV thing is a great investment for us. That is a great company." He added that in the U.K., "maybe some day it could be an interesting thing for Virgin to take another step, but not today." Read more: Verizon Won't Buy Dish, Telecom Giant's CFO Says After several months of silence, Lido has released "Murder," the second single from his hotly anticipated album Everything. The first single, "Crazy," was released in April along with its impressive self-directed music video. The Norwegian producer describes "Murder" as an integral part of Everything's narrative, which chronicles a breakup and its aftermath. "'Murder' is the beginning of the story and a good example of how the storytelling of the album works," Lido says in an interview with Complex. "It's the breakup, so there's a lot of tension and release in the song. The vocal is chopped to sound nervous and stuttering before the words finally come out in the second verse, followed by an emotional chaos of a 'drop' when the breakup has happened and then the sad anti-climax of silence portrayed by a 80-piece orchestra we recorded in Norway." The track's animated visual is crafted by Les Vandales, and features graphics from Lido's recent tour flyers. Watch the visual for "Murder" above, and check out Lido's tour dates below. NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 10/1 San Diego, CA - Crssd Festival 11/2 San Francisco, CA - Herbst Thater 11/4 Seattle, WA - Washington Hall 11/7 Vancouver, BC - Rio Theater, 11/9 Los Angeles, CA - Ave Theatre 11/11 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center 11/12 New York, NY - Apollo Theater 11/15 Montreal, QC - Phill Center, 11/16 Toronto, ON - The Great Hall, 11/18 Chicago, IL - Lyric Opera House Grand Foyer EUROPEAN TOUR DATES 9/22 Oslo, Norway - Jakobkirken 9/23 Hamburg, Germany - Reeperbahn Festival 9/27 Paris, France - Badaboum 9/28 Amsterdam, Netherlands -Bitterzoet 9/29 London, United Kingdom - Internatonal Festival Forum (PRIVATE) Continue Reading On Complex When Hillary Clinton takes to the debate stage next week, in the opener of a three-act tragedy that will rivet most of the nation, she should keep in mind that the campaign really isnt about her. I say this not because, when she talks to voters, Clinton too often has a tendency to frame her campaign as the necessary capstone of her long, lonely, twilight struggle of a career, rather than as a vehicle for reform although she does. I say it not because Clinton can come across as aggrieved, a victim of venal Republicans and craven media who is biding her time until she can settle all the old scores, like Carrie at the prom. No, I say it because at this point the campaign really isnt hers to win or lose, and probably nothing she says will change its trajectory. Its all about her opponent now. Barring some cosmic meltdown from Clinton, these debates will unfold as a test for Donald Trump. Were about to find out whether he can pass himself off as a credible entrant for the job and, perhaps more to the point, whether he actually wants it. At bottom, presidential debates are always about something, beyond all those banal answers to predictable questions. The 2000 debates, for instance, were essentially a test of whether George W. Bush knew enough to be president. The 2004 debates were a chance for John Kerry to show he had some clear convictions about terrorism and economics. Yahoo News photo Illustration; photos: AP/Getty If Clinton had almost any other opponent (like someone who was, say, an actual Republican), the debates would probably be a clear referendum on her and on the Obama years. She is running effectively as an incumbent, seeking an exceedingly rare third term for the party in power. She is the oldest Democratic nominee in history, the first woman in either party and a controversial figure in American life for 25 years and counting. But thats not where we find ourselves. Whether from incompetence or instability, Trump has managed to make himself not the default alternative to a candidate who is deeply distrusted by the electorate, but rather the dominant and more divisive figure of the two. Story continues Rather than play along with Trumps Dancing With the Stars kind of campaign, Clinton has largely receded to the shadows offstage, content to watch while Trump gyrates and boogies himself into all kind of grotesque poses, alternately amusing and reviling much of the viewing audience. And so, improbably, the election is now a referendum on him. Clintons support is probably inelastic at this point; assuming she slogs cautiously through the debates in her admirable if uninspiring way, she can do little to change the minds of those who already know how they feel about her, which is pretty much everyone. Whether thats enough to deliver her the White House is almost entirely a question of whether Trump can yet persuade some segment of disenchanted, moderate voters that he meets the very lowest threshold for a plausible president someone who wont destroy the world, at a minimum, and who might not embarrass them every day of the week for the next four years if they get really lucky. Specifically, were talking about white voters with college degrees, who make up more than a third of the likely electorate. According to some fascinating research from the Democratic group Third Way, its been more than 60 years since any Democratic candidate won that population outright. Four years ago, Mitt Romney carried these voters by 14 percentage points. In recent polling, however, Clinton continues to lead among college-educated white voters by as much as 7 points. Clinton may not be able to replicate President Obamas numbers among more heavily Democratic constituencies, but if the trend among these historically Republican voters holds, its hard to see how Clinton isnt elected. This is the most critical audience among the 100 million or so Americans who are likely to watch the debates and assess Trumps fitness to serve. If he lapses into more assurances about the size of his member (and yeah, I know no one wants to relive that moment, but we have to acknowledge it happened and talk about it before we can really move on as a nation, people), chances are nothing else will matter. If, on the other hand, Trump can appear more candid than crude, more disruptive than dangerous, he might yet vault himself over the absurdly low hurdle of acceptability especially if Clinton offers a contrasting study in insincerity. If Clinton were to ask my advice (and believe me, the phone isnt ringing), Id tell her to do herself a favor and leave home without the canned zingers that some comedy writer is probably typing up for her right now, because thats a thing candidates have felt the need to do ever since Wheres the Beef? and Youre no Jack Kennedy entered the political lexicon at the zenith of broadcast televisions cultural influence. All thats going to achieve is to make her seem more scripted and condescending next to a candidate whose core appeal for a lot of voters is grounded in shattering the tired artifice of modern politics. You dont beat reality TV with a laugh track. Trumps objective ought to be far simpler. For months now, ever since he locked down the nomination and replaced the partys brand with his own, voters who didnt much like Clinton have been trying like mad to get their heads around a Trump presidency. All he ever had to do, really, was to walk on two feet and not constantly remind everyone of how crass and ignorant he could be. Even now, were Trump to just lapse into a coma and stay submerged until three days before the election, hed stand a reasonable chance of winning. That a man as preternaturally stage-savvy as Trump hasnt been able to meet this standard tells you something about his labyrinthine psyche. That Trump manages to melt down in spectacular fashion every time his poll numbers rise beyond respectability suggests that he is, at best, deeply conflicted about the prospect of actually being president. Trump doesnt want to be a Loser, of course, because thats the worst thing he can ever imagine being. But I also seriously doubt he wants to wake up every day and govern. My guess is that, in his dream scenario, Trump loses by a few points, succeeds in persuading his followers that the election was stolen by the party establishment or the media or Mexican criminals, and then repairs to the comfort of Trump Tower to consider how best to exploit the whole affair. So this is the high drama of the debates. We get to watch a man wrestle with his own fears and insecurities, struggling for just a few crucial hours to behave like someone other than a guy whom no one in his right mind would describe as presidential. If theres one thing weve learned this year, its that dispiriting politics makes for great TV. Lindsay Lohan talked about her respect for Vladimir Putin on one of Russia's most popular television shows, Pust govoryat (Let Them Talk), also denying allegations that she ever demanded a meeting with the Russian president to snap a selfie with him. Speaking on the show, Lohan said she "respects" Putin and "admires" his persistence. It aired in primetime on Russia's top network, Channel One, on Wednesday evening. According to Lohan, she wanted to meet with him to discuss charitable activities, as she plans to set up a charity to fight human trafficking and to broaden people's awareness of it. But a selfie was not the goal as had been reported in Russian media, she said. Last month, the network complained that Lohan had high demands for her appearance on the show. In addition to an audience with Putin, she allegedly asked for a fee of $860,000 (650,000). A spokesperson for Channel One declined to comment on Lohan's compensation. The hourlong talk show, which has been compared to The Jerry Springer Show, airs at 8 p.m. Moscow time. Last year, it averaged a rating of 9.3 percent, meaning 9-million-plus people watched it, with an audience share of 24.9 percent. The "special edition" of the program was entirely devoted to the interview with Lohan (whose comments were dubbed into Russian via a voiceover) conducted by the show's host Andrei Malakhov. The discussion mostly focused on the actress' romance with and breakup from Egor Tarabasov, a 23-year-old London-based son of a Russian oligarch. Among other things, she talked about his alleged abusive behavior. Read more: Kremlin Praises Oliver Stone's 'Snowden' as "Brilliant" and "a Must-See" LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Lloyd's of London insurance market posted a 22 percent rise in pre-tax profits to 1.46 billion pounds ($1.91 billion) in the first half of 2016, as it cautioned on the impact on its business of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Lloyd's of London, which houses around 90 insurance syndicates, focuses on specialty insurance such as marine, energy and political risk. Investment returns also rose, to 1.8 percent, from 0.6 percent a year ago, Lloyd's said in a trading statement on Thursday. Lloyd's of London chairman John Nelson has said the world's leading specialty insurance market would have to operate some business from the EU after Brexit if Britain fails to keep so-called passporting rights for financial companies to sell products across the bloc. The Brexit vote was "a major issue for us to deal with," Chief Executive Inga Beale said in the statement. "We are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe." Lloyd's saw a sharp rise in its combined operating ratio to 98 percent, compared with 89.5 percent a year earlier. A figure below 100 percent indicates an underwriting profit. The insurance group said claims had increased in 2016, mainly due to wildfires in Fort McMurray, Canada. ($1 = 0.7653 pounds) (Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Adrian Croft) LONDON (Reuters) - The Lloyd's of London insurance market posted a 22 percent rise in pre-tax profits to 1.46 billion pounds in the first half of 2016, as it cautioned on the impact on its business of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Lloyd's of London, which houses around 90 insurance syndicates, focuses on specialty insurance such as marine, energy and political risk. Investment returns also rose, to 1.8 percent, from 0.6 percent a year ago, Lloyd's said in a trading statement on Thursday. Lloyd's of London chairman John Nelson has said the world's leading speciality insurance market would have to operate some business from the EU after Brexit if Britain fails to keep so-called passporting rights for financial companies to sell products across the bloc. The Brexit vote was "a major issue for us to deal with," Chief Executive Inga Beale said in the statement. "We are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyds continues trading across Europe." Lloyd's saw a sharp rise in its combined operating ratio to 98 percent, compared with 89.5 percent a year earlier. A figure below 100 percent indicates an underwriting profit. The insurance group said claims had increased in 2016, mainly due to wildfires in Fort McMurray, Canada. (Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Adrian Croft) The largest shareholder in South Korea's Hanjin Shipping has agreed to provide an emergency loan to the cash-strapped firm, sending its share price soaring some 30 percent Thursday. The world's seventh-largest shipper is seeking bankruptcy protection at home and in the US after creditors refused to further help the firm, which is groaning under $5.37 billion of debt. The board of Korean Air approved a 60 billion won (US$54 million) loan late Wednesday -- part of a 100 billion won emergency fund earlier pledged by Hanjin Group, the conglomerate that has both Hanjin Shipping and Korean Air under its wing. Earlier, the board had refused to approve the funds for the troubled affiliate, citing difficulties in securing collateral from the company. "The board agreed to lend the money to Hanjin Shipping, taking Hanjin Shipping's accounts receivable as collateral", a Korean Air spokesman told AFP. Hanjin, whose collapse has sparked turmoil worldwide on the high seas, is seeing debts including charter fees mount every day, with many ships marooned at sea. It entered court receivership earlier this month after its creditors rejected the company's 500-billion-won self-rescue plan. To contain growing chaos in global shipping, Hanjin Group had earlier promised to offer 100 billion won to the firm -- with the other 40 billion won personally offered by group chairman Cho Yang-Ho. The share price plunged 21 percent Wednesday after news that a Seoul court had warned the shipper it must deal with daily accumulating debts or face bankruptcy. But news of the loan sent it soaring 29.6 percent to 1,160 won in early trade Thursday, while Korean Air was up 5.9 percent to 34,100 won. As many clients cancel shipping contracts and dock operators refuse to handle cargos for the crippled firm, the Seoul court on Monday told Hanjin to return its chartered vessels to save charter fees. Under the Seoul court receivership, Hanjin must submit a business revival plan by November 25 before it decides whether to put it under a recovery programme or declare it bankrupt. Of its fleet of 141 ships, Hanjin has returned 37 chartered ships to their owners since it entered receivership. As Louisiana continues to rebuild its homes, schools and businesses after more than six trillion gallons of rain fell on the state last month, one local elementary school is thanking superstar Taylor Swift for her help. "A great big THANK YOU goes out to Taylor Swift for her generous donation to the Central Community School System. We put together a 'thank you' video featuring some of our Tanglewood Elementary students and staff," Central CSS wrote on their Facebook page on Tuesday. "We invite Taylor to visit our district any time!!" Dressed in their school uniforms, the pint-sized students are seen happily showing off their best moves and getting in formation to spell out "Central Schools Heart Taylor Swift." Watch the sweet clip here. RELATED VIDEO: Taylor Swift Dedicates Song to Her Godson "It's okay because we're Central Schools and we're going to shake it off," one student says in the video (set to Swift's hit "Shake It Off"), which also shows the devastating effects caused by the flooding. Earlier this month, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, the Salvation Army and Ascension Public Schools all revealed Swift had allocated funds to their organizations after she made a $1 million pledge in mid-August. DUBAI (Reuters) - A senior leader of Yemen's al Qaeda branch was killed on Thursday in a raid by a U.S. drone strike in central Yemen, an official of the exiled government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said. The official said Abdallah al-Sanaani, a regional commander in Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), was killed along with his bodyguard while traveling in a vehicle in the al-Sawma'a district of al-Bayda province. "He was killed, along with an escort, and the vehicle was completely burned," the official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. The United States has been using drones to target the Islamist militant group, which has exploited Yemen's civil war to carve out a foothold in the impoverished country. U.S. officials have said AQAP is one of the most potent security threats in the Middle East. The group, whose attacks have mainly targeted the Yemeni government and the Iran-allied Houthi group, claimed responsibility for an attack last year on the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. (The story was refiled to correct the name of the province in para 2.) (Reporting by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Gareth Jones) The floods hit the Garut area, about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday after torrential rain. Rescuers search through debris for victims in a village badly hit by a flash flood in Garut. Photo: AP By Reuters: Indonesian search and rescue teams worked on Wednesday to find victims of flash floods that killed 20 people and damaged hundreds of homes, authorities said. GARUT AREA WORST HIT The floods hit the Garut area, about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday after torrential rain. "We've reported that we found 20 bodies and we've identified 15 of them," said Endah Trisnawati, a member of a police disaster victims identification unit. advertisement It was not clear how many people were missing but some officials in the area said it could be up to 15. Some media reported 20 people were unaccounted for. RESCUE OPERATIONS UNDERWAY Authorities said search and rescue operations would go on. Military personnel and volunteers helped evacuate about 1,000 residents of the area. Debris floated in gradually receding floodwater in inundated villages and there appeared to be widespread damage to vehicles and buildings. Flash floods and landslides are common in Indonesia, often caused by heavy rain at this time of year. Also read: 10 killed, 30 injured in flashfloods and landslides in Indonesia China hit by world's strongest typhoon this year: 11 dead, millions stranded, streets flooded --- ENDS --- From Popular Mechanics Lockheed Martin just won a $147 million contract to build a vehicle capable of flying at speeds of Mach 20. The goal is to create a high-speed delivery system that could bomb targets thousands of miles away in an hour or less. It's similar to what other countries, including Russia and China, are working on. Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) will be an air-launched boost glide weapon system. The TBG itself is a aerodynamic, arrowhead-shaped vehicle fitted on the nose of a rocket. The rocket in turn is carried by a large aircraft such as a B-52 bomber, which would carry the rocket to high altitude and then launch it. The rocket boosts TBG to an even higher altitude, whereupon a scramjet or ramjet kicks in and quickly accelerates it up to hypersonic speeds. TBG then glides unpowered the rest of the way to the target. How fast will TBG go? A nearly identical program concluded in 2011 reached speeds of Mach 20. At that speed, a hypersonic vehicle could travel from New York City to Los Angeles in 12 minutes, or London to Sydney in 49 minutes. Hypersonic is the next frontier in weaponry. The super-fast speeds could make it possible to destroy a faraway but time-critical target-say, a North Korean missile fueling on the launch pad or a terrorist meeting in a remote location. Hypersonic speed also makes interception very difficult-and makes the actual vehicle a weapon when the kinetic energy of an object traveling at Mach 20 is transferred to a target. Boost glide systems are difficult to shoot down. Their high speeds reduce reaction times, giving the defender less time to respond to the incoming threat. The launch profile of boost glide weapons is much like a traditional ballistic missile but stops short of entering low-earth orbit. This makes them tricky targets for existing, slower-moving interceptor missiles. According to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which awarded the contract, Tactical Boost Glide will build on "knowledge and lessons learned from development and flight testing of previous boost glide systems, including the Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2." HTV-2 was that previous Mach 20 hypersonic program that last flew in 2011 for nine minutes. The stress of flying at Mach 20 subjected it to shockwaves one hundred times what it was designed to endure, as well as temperatures of up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, before it was intentionally ditched in the Pacific Ocean. Story continues Hypersonic weapons are also the next arms race. China is working on its own hypersonic weapon, the DF-ZF, which uses a DF-21 intermediate range ballistic missile instead of TBG's bomber and rocket system. DF-ZF has been tested seven times, the latest in April 2016, with six tests judged by outsiders as successes. China's hypersonic weapon travels at a more modest Mach 5 to Mach 10. The Russian Yu-71 system has been tested five times, with four failures. Source: UPI. You Might Also Like Defense prime Lockheed Martin Corp.s LMT Space Systems business unit won a modification contract for the development of GPS III Space Vehicles (SV) 09 and 10. Valued at $395 million, the contract was awarded by the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA. Work, expected to be completed by Aug 8, 2022, will be executed at Littleton, CO. The contract will utilize fiscal 2014 and 2015 advanced procurement funds as well as fiscal 2016 space procurement funds. GPS III and Lockheed Martin Global Positioning System (GPS), originally developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), is a space-based navigation system. GPS III is the next-generation satellite version of original GPS. GPS III promises more advanced navigation services and can deliver signals three times more accurate than the current GPS spacecraft. Due to its advanced design, GPS III has operational life expectancy of over 15 years, more than 25% longer than the newest Block IIF satellites. In 2008, Lockheed Martin was awarded the original contract for the design, development and production of the GPS III Non-Flight Satellite Testbed (GNST) and the first two GPS III satellites (SV 0102), with priced options for up to 10 additional satellites. Recently, Lockheed Martin delayed the delivery of the first GPS III satellite to the U.S. Air Force from August to December, citing a problem detected in the navigation payload. The satellites launch is now expected sometime in the first half of 2017, marking a delay of two years from the oiginal schedule. LOCKHEED MARTIN Price LOCKHEED MARTIN Price | LOCKHEED MARTIN Quote Our View Being the prime contractor in the governments $5 billion GPS III program, Lockheed Martin's Space Systems business segment will likely get a major boost from the latest modification. In the second quarter of 2016, revenues at the segment increased by $25 million. Management has also raised the 2016 sales outlook for the segment by $50 million. Story continues Earlier this year, the Space and Missile Systems Center awarded three GPS III SVs 11+ Phase 1 Production Readiness Feasibility Assessment contracts, one each to Lockheed Martin, The Boeing Company BA and Northrop Grumman Corp NOC. These contracts aim at evaluating each of the contractors' readiness efforts in preparation for the Phase 2 competition, production of next-generation SVs, and demonstration of navigation payload capability. At the end of the 36-month period, the Air Force will choose one of these three defense primes for awarding a contract to build as many as 22 new GPS III satellites. Seeing that the winner will capture a huge share in the defense space, the companies are currently in head-to-head competition over the deal. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Lockheed Martin currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), while both Boeing and Northrop carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the aerospace and defense sector is Engility Holdings, Inc. EGL, with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NORTHROP GRUMMN (NOC): Free Stock Analysis Report BOEING CO (BA): Free Stock Analysis Report LOCKHEED MARTIN (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report ENGILITY HLDGS (EGL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Big Data Gets Organized with a Real-Time News Analytics System for Capital Markets LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / Almax Analytics, a software platform delivering actionable insights, announced today they have emerged from stealth (development) with a customer ready product for the Financial Markets. Almax debuted in January 2016 as an Innovative Company to Watch by KPMG Luxembourg and quickly built demand and investor interest, thereby closing the seed round April 2016 to develop this first to market technology. "We are excited to present our product to the market and have worked hard to deliver this technology," says Balazs Klemm, Chief Executive and Founder. "On behalf of the company I need to thank our loyal supporters and the Almax team for their commitment and patience. We look forward to growing the business and already engaged in Series A financing discussions." Almax Analytics solves the problem of information overload with actionable insights by putting the content of news into context and by running deep analysis across the entire network of affected companies. The software applies and combines cutting edge technologies of natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, network analysis and data visualization in a novel way for an existing problem. The technology is easily accessed and deployed through a web-based platform and is subscription based. It is common practice to make quick decisions on the basis of earnings reports, but the window of opportunity to trade on new detailed information that is available in filings and in news is still open. "Almax Analytics is taking event-driven trading to a new level by enhancing standard rule-based event extraction engines with data-driven deep learning components," says Peter Sarlin, Head of Research and Co-Founder. "We can see an immense value in directly incorporating our advanced natural language processing engine with our proprietary quant models for automated trading strategies." Story continues "It is simply not feasible for humans to read and absorb the sheer quantity of news available. This is a real and painful problem for asset managers and one that is impossible to manage in real time with the current systems," says John Superson, Chief Executive of SUMO Capital and the beta customer for Almax. "The analytics output of the Almax Analytics platform is highly valuable as it helps to generate alpha and manage risk and improves trading with efficient intelligence and data gathering." See Dr Peter Sarlin & Almax Analytics at the Deep Learning Summit in London by Re-Work 22-23 2016 with Google DeepMind, University of Oxford, Bell Labs Cambridge & others. About Almax Analytics Founded in 2015 by Balazs Klemm, former Portfolio Manager, Almax Analytics is addressing one of the greatest challenges facing capital market practitioners; feasability for humans to read and absorb the sheer quantity of news available. For this reason, many important events and relationships are going undiscovered. almax analytics delivers actionable insights by putting the content of news into context and running deep analysis across the entire network of affected companies. Categorically falling under the FinTech subsector of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analysis, Almax Analytics offers a "first to market" solution for traders and asset managers building and executing on strategies across all asset classes. Honored in 2016 as a leading Innovator in 2016 to watch by KPMG, the technology is easily accessed and deployed through a Web-based platform and the company plans to expand into others sectors where its insights generating artificial intelligence technology is advantageous to the bottom line. Almax Analytics is headquartered in London, UK and funded by former Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, State Street and MSCI executives. More information: Almax Analytics Media Contact: Karen Bertoli Non-Executive Director karenbertoli@almaxanalytics.com +1 (305) 216 4190 Balazs Klemm Chief Executive balazsklemm@almaxanalytics.com + 49 162 8362840 SOURCE: Almax Analytics Good Canary is a very good film. Trouble is, its on stage. Directed for the third time by John Malkovich, after productions in French and Spanish, Zach Helms boulevard tragicomedy is a firm feminist reproach, and an urgent one at that, but its story hasnt found the right shape. The rhythms are off, the structures askew and yet its recriminations still land, its sadness still stings. In Annie, a brilliant, brittle twentysomething agonizingly played by newcomer Freya Mavor, Helm portrays a woman pinioned by the patriarchy. Canaries were living alarm bells; their deaths, deep beneath the earth, were signs of a noxious atmosphere. Annies the same: a fiercely bright, outspoken young woman, reliant on amphetamines to function. The pills keep a severe eating disorder at bay and just about hold her together, but three becomes four, and four becomes a stash. (Its the closest Ive come to having a corporate policy, drones her dopey dealer.) Annies habit is self-destructive, but the alternative, life without speed, is doubly so. Her husband Jack (Harry Lloyd) has just become the toast of literary New York with a critically-acclaimed debut novel. Big offers have followed, a lifeline not just for him and Annie, but for his small-time indie publisher Charlie (Steve John Shepherd) as well. However, cash comes with (unspoken) conditions: falling in with the right people at the right parties, maintaining an image of balanced togetherness and, of course, a new book. For various reasons, all that hinges on Annie. And she, in turn, hinges on Jack. All he can do is support her and Lloyd plays him with loving patience stretched to its limits. Its a tight moral bind, one with no easy answers. Forcing Annie off drugs not only impedes her independence, it risks exacerbating other harmful behaviors. Annies addictions have deep roots in abuse. Her issues arent just part of her past, theyre part of her. Mavor is extraordinary: angular and jittery, lacerating and frank. She treats her toast as if shed been asked to swallow a razorblade. Story continues Yet Annies tragedy isnt simply personal, its political. Her millennial angst finds structure in submission and, when high, she literally speed-cleans the flat, and Helm suggests that the feminine mystique has lost its mystique. Mouthing off at a literary critic, as drink mixes with drugs, matching him argument for argument, Annies dismissed as a disgrace. Her inebriated mishaps recounted impersonally are laughed off as legendary until she reclaims them, as a woman. Suddenly, theyre alarming, undignified, unladylike, out of control. A troubled, troubling and troublesome woman, Annies a pain in the patriarchys ass. However, by the time her brilliance comes out too late to count shes celebrated as a tragic symbol of that very system: a victim, a warning, a canary. Malkovichs production is keenly attuned to the nuances of Annies situation, but theres a reason Helms script has taken so long to reach this stage. Its a screenplay. Though individual moments gain searing intensity onstage one in particular scours the insides its rhythms are peculiar. Certain sequences cry out for the camera. One domestic scene plays out in silence, its dialogue projected overhead. Another glitches on repeat. Good Canary needs speed-cleaning montages and split-screen phone calls. Relying on Pierre-Francois Limboschs projected backdrops and limp physical theater, Malkovichs staged solutions too often feel second-rate. However, despite the ungainly staging and the Rose Theatres inhospitable open stage, Malkovichs direction of actors is first-rate. Each performance is fine-chiseled yet playful: Ilan Goodman as a lethargic dealer, always one beat behind; Simon Wilson as an egotistical critic who cares more for the art-form than for its artists, and Michael Simkins, pricking the entire publishing world, as a superficially sensitive big-shot who wont let his Stepford-style wife (Sally Rogers) shift the sofa. The support provides the laughs, but its Lloyd and Mavor that do the heavy lifting and, in the process, get Good Canary to sing. Related stories John Malkovich Heads to Comic Book Convention Comedy 'Supercon' John Malkovich Joins Fantasy-Drama 'Valley of the Gods' (EXCLUSIVE) John Malkovich and Robert Rodriguez Made a Movie That Won't Release Until 2115 With the surge in popularity of Nutella (the chocolate-hazelnut spread), Biscoff Cookie Butter, and other sweetened spreads from Europe, its no wonder many big brands are now getting in on the flavored nut butter action. Consumers see these products as a permissible indulgence, says Mimi Bonnett, director of food and drink reports at Mintel, a market research firm. In our review of 12 chocolate- and honey-flavored nut spreads, all but four hit that sweet-but-not-too-sweet spot. On the whole, the honey-flavored spreads struck a nice balance of sweet and salty. The Bees Knees from Peanut Butter & Co. had a distinct honey flavor and was among the lowest priced of the six products we tested (36 cents per 2-tablespoon serving). It did have the most sugars, with 2 teaspoons per serving. Three products had 1 teaspoon of sugars or less per serving. Justins Honey Almond Butter and Justins Honey Peanut Butter Blend both had good roasted nut flavor with a hint of honey. Barney Butter Almond Butter Honey + Flax had just a half-teaspoon of sugars but not much honey flavor. If youre looking for a chocolate-infused spread with less sugar, we found three that stood out for taste. Saratoga Peanut Butter Companys Chillin Chocolate had 1 teaspoon per serving. It was peanutty and mildly sweet. Justins Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Blend and Dark Chocolate Dreams from Peanut Butter & Co. were also good choices. The nutrition clunkers were chocolate spreads from the big brands: Hersheys Spreads Chocolate with Almond, Nutella Hazelnut Spread, and Reeses Spreads Peanut Butter Chocolate. They each had about the same amount of sugars (and more calories and fat) as Duncan Hines chocolate frosting, about 20 gramsthats 5 teaspoonsin a serving of 2 tablespoons. Thats too much, our experts say, and those brands arent tasty enough to be worth the calories. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the November 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Story continues More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. HTC probably has a new phone coming. According to noted phone leaker Evan Blass, itll be called the Bolt, and itll arrive on Sprint sometime in October. Blass tweeted an apparent press photo of the device on Wednesday, showing a phone that looks largely similar to the HTC 10 flagship the Taiwanese manufacturer launched earlier this year. HTC Bolt in silver. pic.twitter.com/vAFVInwnbc Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 21, 2016 Looks pretty good, right? Well, if youre still snippy about Apple ditching the headphone jack with the iPhone 7, you might not want to look too closely at the top or bottom of the device. Whereas the HTC 10 put a 3.5mm connector on the top of the phone, the Bolt appears to hold nothing but a lone USB-C port at its bottom. Now, if HTC does ditch the jack, it wouldnt be unprecedented for Android. Motorola omitted the longtime audio connector with its Moto Z phone earlier this year. The issue for devices like these, though, is that the USB-C headphones market is much less developed than the Lightning headphones one. The iPhone 7 is massive enough to develop some sort of market for the latter, but on the Android side, its less clear if the likes of Motorola and HTC can drum up enough interest to force headphone manufacturers hand just yet. Instead, youd likely have to go Bluetooth, which has its own set of oft-repeated issues, or use a dongle, which is a dongle. Either way, if you thought the headphone jack conundrum was going to end with the iPhone 7, you might want to think again. More From Business Insider The pilot diverted Indigo flight 6E 202 to Raipur and made a priority landing, but the baby, who was suffering from a heart ailment for which the parents were taking the infant to Bengaluru, died midway. By Anindya Banerjee: An infant on-board an Indigo flight died despite the aircraft making an emergency landing. The baby was suffering from a heart ailment for which he was being taken to Bengaluru. Indigo flight 6E 202 made a priority landing at Raipur airport today due to the medical emergency. The flight flying from Kolkata to Bengaluru made an emergency landing when the infants medical condition deteriorated. The baby, who was suffering from a heart ailment for which the parents were taking the infant to Bengaluru, died midway. advertisement The pilot diverted the flight to Raipur and made a priority landing after contacting the Air Traffic Control. But despite the best efforts, the infant could not be saved. ALSO READ: Jet Airways flight makes precautionary landing at Delhi's IGI airport --- ENDS --- A Magnum P.I. sequel series from Eva Longoria and John Rogers (Leverage) has been given a script commitment by ABC. The project will follow Magnums daughter, Lily Tommy Magnum, who returns to Hawaii to take up the mantle of her fathers PI business. She and her tribe of friends mix tropical beaches with the seedy underbelly of international crime and modern espionage, even as she tries to unravel the mystery of the blown spy operation that ended her career in Navy Intelligence. Rogers will write the drama from Universal TV and serve as executive producer. Longoria will also executive produce with UnbeliEVAbles Ben Spector and Kung Fu Monkeys Jennifer Court. Also Read: Zayn Malik, Dick Wolf Boy Band Series in the Works at NBC The original Magnum P.I. series starring Tom Selleck was created by Glen A. Larson and Donald P. Bellisario in 1980, and ran for eight seasons on CBS. The project follows a wave of reboots and adaptations this season, which includes MacGyver, Training Day, Lethal Weapon, Frequency, 24, The Exorcist and Taken. Related stories from TheWrap: Patrick Moran Promoted to ABC Studios President ABC to Keep Oscars Through 2028 Under AMPAS Extension Toni Colette to Star in Action Dramedy From Kenya Barris at ABC Marion Cotillard took to Instagram on Wednesday to shoot down rumors of an affair with Allied co-star Brad Pitt that precipitated the shock announcement of the actor's divorce to Angelina Jolie. The Oscar-winner posted an abstract picture on her personal Instagram account along with a statement in both English and French. Cotillard forthrightly denied she was in any way involved in the Jolie-Pitt imbroglio, highlighting how the innuendo and conjecture had hurt her loved ones, including her longtime boyfriend, actor-director Guillaume Canet. Read more: How the Brangelina Split Will Impact Pitt's Upcoming Movie With Marion Cotillard Cotillard went on to reveal that she is expecting a second child with Canet. In a pointed reference to the "media and the haters" who were passing judgment, she wished them a "swift recovery." The Edith actress ended her note by wishing that both Jolie and Pitt "find peace in this very tumultuous moment." Read more: What Films Are Next for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt After Their Split Cotillard's full statement is below: "This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into. I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up. Firstly, many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting. He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need. Secondly to those who have indicated that I am devastated, I am very well thank you. This crafted conversation isn't distressing. And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery. Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love Marion" Read more: Angelina Jolie Versus Brad Pitt at the Box Office: Who Wins? Story continues This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into. I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up. Firstly, many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting. He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need. Secondly to those who have indicated that I am devastated, I am very well thank you. This crafted conversation isn't distressing. And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery. Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love Marion Ceci sera la premiere et seule reaction que j'aurai concernant la deferlante inouie qui a commence il y a de ca 24 heures et a laquelle je suis melee malgre moi. Je n'ai pas pour habitude de commenter ni de prendre au serieux le tas d'absurdites deversees a mon sujet mais la situation prenant une telle tournure et affectant des gens que j'aime, je me dois de m'exprimer. Pour commencer, j'ai rencontre il y a quelques annees l'homme de ma vie , le pere de notre fils et du bebe que nous attendons aujourd'hui. Il est mon amour, mon meilleur ami et le seul homme dont j'ai besoin. Ensuite, a ceux qui me pretendent devastee, je vais tres bien merci. Ce genre d'inventions aberrantes ne m'affectent en aucun cas. Et pour finir, a la "presse", a tous les haters, trolls et consorts qui ont le jugement si rapide je vous souhaite sincerement... un prompt retablissement. Ceci dit et un peu plus serieusement, je souhaite a Angelina et Brad, deux personnes pour qui j'ai un profond respect, de trouver la paix dans ce moment tumultueux. Avec tout mon amour. Marion A photo posted by @marioncotillard on Sep 21, 2016 at 4:43pm PDT p=""> Sept. 22, 8:39 a.m. An earlier version of this story incorrectly indicated that Cotillard and Canet are married. The Hollywood Reporter regrets the error. Leon Cooperman, outspoken billionaire chief of hedge fund Omega Advisors, now under scrutiny for civil insider trading charges is getting some support from another outspoken billionaire who beat back similar charges just a few years ago, the FOX Business Network has learned. Internet entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told FBN hes dubious about the case brought against Cooperman by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Wall Streets top cop when it comes to enforcing insider trading laws. When it comes to insider trading, if the trade happened years ago and there is no criminal case, there is a very good chance he did nothing wrong, Cuban said in an email to FBN. His remarks echoed a similar defense he made of Cooperman on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), in which he called the SECs action a witch hunt and said it looks to be straight out of the show Billions, a popular cable-television series of a factional hedge fund manager who makes money by trading on inside information and is under scrutiny by a sometimes overzealous prosecutor. The lack of a Justice Department criminal case against Cooperman might show that the SECs evidence isnt as strong as it should be, Cuban said. The SEC can only bring civil cases, meaning it cant seek jail time in its enforcement action, but it can fine defendants and take other remedial actions, such as barring the target from being an officer of a public company or running an investment portfolio open to the public. The Justice Department, which does have criminal authority to jail targets as it has done in recent years regarding insider trading, hasnt joined the SEC in its suit against Cooperman in part because it must meet a higher bar including more evidence and prove that Cooperman has a clear intent to commit fraud. While Cuban isnt a lawyer, he knows a good deal about insider trading and has some insight into Coopermans troubles. In 2013 a jury cleared Cuban of civil insider trading charges based on facts remarkably similar to those in the Cooperman case. Both men were accused of profitably trading stock after receiving material non-public information from company officials. In both cases, the Justice Department did not join the SEC in the enforcement action. Story continues Like Cuban, the amount of money gleaned through the alleged insider trade is negligible compared to Coopermans enormous net worth. Cooperman is said to be worth $3 billion, and the trade in question earned him around $4 million. In addition, there was no evidence showing that either Cooperman or Cuban made a payment to the company official as part of a deal to receive the non-public information. Providing a tipper a so-called benefit is considered a key requirement under current insider trading statues. After fighting the SECs charges for five years, Cuban was cleared of any wrongdoing, and since then has become an outspoken critic of the SEC. Immediately following his acquittal he told reporters that the lawyer for the commission stood up there and lied during the trial. Cooperman has been among President Obamas most outspoken critics from the business community. He has attacked the president for his rhetoric on race relations and his remarks on Wall Street, calling financial executives fat cats. Cooperman is promising a similar spirted public defense against the SEC. After the SEC filed its civil case, he sent a five-page letter to his hedge fund investors providing his side of the story, stating that it is illogical, and defies common sense, that the SEC would bring an insider trading case based on (his) trading pattern." Some legal experts concur with Coopermans assessment. Veteran white-collar attorney Stanley Arkin, said the prosecution will struggle to prove Cooperman had intended to break the law since no payment or benefit was passed to the tipper. Proving intent is a key component of prosecuting any insider trading case, though the bar is lower for civil cases brought by the SEC. Still, Arkin said, Its unlikely that somebody like Cooperman would intentionally try insider trading for $4 million since hes unusually wealthy and unusually sophisticated. It doesnt make any sense. Arkin said it is possible that SEC could have evidence that shows the tipper, who gave Cooperman the information on a company called Atlas Pipeline in which Omega held shares, had received some sort of benefit and thus has a stronger case than what appears in the initial case filing. The SEC would not have overlooked that requirement, Arkin said. Consideration for the tipper must be there or else how could the agency proceed? Related Articles Nouakchott (AFP) - Mauritania denied Thursday that a suspected jihadist cell uncovered by the authorities had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS), after its members appeared in court accused of targeting a recent Arab League summit. Government spokesman Mohamed Lemine Ould Cheikh said the group were "amateurs" and denied a formal link with IS central command during a news conference. "This group was made up of 10 amateurs who were planning activities in support of a terrorist group," Ould Cheikh said, insisting there was no IS cell in Mauritania. However a judicial source, speaking to AFP on Wednesday when the group appeared before a prosecuting magistrate, painted a different picture of what it said were 10 men "apprehended just before the Arab (League) summit which took place on July 24." They had intended to "terrify" Arab leaders by raising the IS black flag and scrawling graffiti on buildings to assert the presence of the group in the Mauritanian capital. In addition "a Salafist was pulled out of prison in Nouakchott to help with the enquiry", the source said, while "the other 10 had links to this Salafist", using the word for an adherent of an ultra-conservative brand of Islam. Local press said the gang's leader was a former faith healer turned extremist and IS supporter. All remained in custody on Thursday. Mauritania jailed three men for between five and 10 years for links with IS in June 2015, with the court shown a video in which all three pledged allegiance. In August of that year a young Salafist leader was arrested and accused of spreading IS propaganda. Kidnappings and attacks by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) were frequent when Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz came to power in 2008. But he boasts that he has turned his nation into a regional haven of peace thanks to his reorganisation of the military and security forces. The mainly Muslim republic, sandwiched between the west coast of Africa and the Sahara desert, is seen by Western leaders as a bulwark against militant Islamist groups. The spotlight has been thrown on the growing threat of Islamist extremism across Africa's vast Sahel region since a French-led military intervention drove Al-Qaeda-linked groups out of the towns of neighbouring Mali's desert north in 2013. The BJP and the RSS are planning year-long programmes to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, known for his contribution to social-political philosophy in the form of his idea of 'Integral Humanism'. By Siddhartha Rai: This year is the 100th birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyaya, known for his contribution to social-political philosophy in the form of his idea of 'Integral Humanism'. By the next year the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), would make him a household name. This at least is what they have envisioned. advertisement Upadhyaya, along with anti-Nehru figure and Kashmir crusader Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, make for the two major ideological inspirations for the BJP RSS Parivar and the significance of Upadhyaya is so central for the rightwing that the BJP is holding its national council meet at Kozhikode in northern Kerala as he was elected the president of the Jan Sangh, predecessor to the BJP, for the first time here in 1967. Also read: PM to visit Kozhikode on Sep 24 to attend 3-day national BJP MEGA EVENT TO BE ORGANISED As part of the scheme of things, a mega event would be organised on October 9 at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch the "Complete Works of Deendayal Upadhyaya" compiled in 15 volumes. RSS' second in command Bhaiyyaji Joshi too would attend the programme. The indoctrination bid is so strong that Upadhyaya's message would also be taken to national as well as state-level administrative academies such as the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, the prime seat for training IAS officers for the country. "We have planned to take the message to such institutes of significance. We propose to do it at the Mussoorie academy too," said Atul Jain of the RSS-affiliated Deendayal Research Institute (DRI). UPADHYAYA TO BE MADE A HOUSEHOLD NAME The party along with its affiliated organisations has planned a year-long programmes to make Upadhyaya a "household name". "The council is dedicated to Deendayal Upadhyaya and his philosophy. The PM will formally launch a year-long programme for the dissemination of these ideas. He will outline the initiatives of the party in this respect in his council speech," said national secretary Shrikant Sharma. Also read: Centre sanctions Rs 133 crore to Himachal Pradesh under DDUGKU The DRI would be organising seminars all across India throughout the next one year. "These seminars will deal with a host of aspects of Upadhyaya's ideology of 'Intergral Humanism', from social to economic, and touching all aspects of national life. We want to educate the people of India about the contribution of Upadhyaya and we want to take the message right to the bottom of the social-economic ladder, to villages and not just the cities," said Jain. advertisement RSS TO LAUNCH BOOK ON UPADHYAYA'S LIFE The institute has also planned over 100 lectures from right-inclined eminent personalities and thinkers of the country, especially at educational institutions, some possibly at Left-dominated campuses such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University too. The Parivar also plans to launch an illustrated book on the life of Upadhyaya. "Storytelling has been a powerful tool of spreading ideas in India as elsewhere in the world and we shall thus be launching this book on the lines of the Amar Chitra Katha," Jain said.Also read: Modi to inaugurate BJP birth centenary celebrations of Deendayal Upadhyaya --- ENDS --- Nine-year-old Saif Mustafa Lateef has recently been awarded the title of the youngest memorizer (hafiz) of the entire holy koran in the Iraqi city of Basra. Competing with thousands of Koran memorizers from ten Iraqi provinces in a Koran reciting and memorizing contest, held recently in the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala, Saif came first as the youngest hafiz, beating hundreds of memorizers of his age. The contest is part of a program launched in 2009 by the administrative body of Imam Hussein Shrine in Kerbala city to teach males and females of different ages to recite and memorize the Koran, with the aim of reaching the target of 1,000 Koran memorizers. With some 4,500 participants in the program so far, it has now produced 550 Koran memorizers, with the lion share of 250 memorizers of the entire Koran in Basra alone, including Saif. Saif was only eight-years old when he joined a local center for reciting and memorizing Koran in his district of Al-Medina, 100 km ( 62 miles) north of Basra city. But his ability to memorize a large number of chapters in a relatively short time caught the attention of his teacher, prompting him to give the child more attention. "In the beginning, my father and my mother did not know that I have the ability to memorize (the Koran), but when the teacher, my teacher who teaches me, called them and told them how many pages I memorized, they started to realize and pay more attention to me. As a start I used to memorize three to five pages (of Koran) a day and after that the number of pages increased to 10 and then to 13 pages a day," said Saif. According to his father, Mustafa, the youngster followed a strict timetable, spending five hours a day at the center after school learning to recite and memorize the holy book, and spending another three hours reading for revision when he returned home after sunset. Mustafa said that he and Saif's mother initially didn't notice their son's talent. "When he came home he memorized one to two pages (a day), but we did not notice what he was doing until his teacher called us and asked us to pay more attention to him, telling us that he had a good reputation at the center and he had a strong memory and that we should give him more attention. He also asked us to cooperate with the center to help him make further progress, thus the cooperation started," said Mustafa Lateef. Soon Saif's fame spread across Basra city and his ability to quickly remember and recite the Koran from memory attracted people's attention. "He became famous and people started to recognize him when they saw him walking in the street or in the market. They also started to follow up on his progress and knew how many pages he memorized and this had given us a boost to exert more efforts. This year he comes first as Iraq's youngest Hafiz (memorizer)," said Saif's father. The young boy's Koran teacher also praised his student's commitment to the task. "Saif Mustafa Lateef is one of the students at one of our courses and he is one of many other Huffaz (memorizers). He demonstrates obedience to the instructions of the teacher and he also enjoys support of his parents. He, and the other students all have a strong memory, and they are obedient when it comes to the instructions from the teacher, and this has enabled them to memorize the Koran in a short time, about one year,'' said Hamza Sabah Jassim who is also deputy head of the center. Iraq holds an annual festival for the world's Koran memorizers and reciters. In addition it also organises numerous festivals and competitions for Koran memorizers in Iraq to promote love for the holy scriptures among the young generation. The Legend of the Saint Laurent Coat (hereby known as the #SLC) goes something like this: After debuting on Hedi Slimanes final catwalk for the brand, it was fiercely guarded in Saint Laurents Paris atelier until Cara Delevingne finally freed it from its garment bag. (Think The Sword in the Stone, with outerwear instead of Excalibur.) Cara flaunted the #SLC in the Fall Saint Laurent campaign, and on the cover of W magazine and then it went back to the vault. Cara Delevingne on W Magazines June/July 2016 cover. That is, until Rihanna got ahold of the #SLC this September, where she sported the massive fox fur during a New York heatwave just after news broke that she was back with Drake. (Aww.) Photo: Splash News Since then? The #SLC has been MIA until this morning, when Insta-babe Erica Pelosini arrived at the Fendi show in Milan wearing the fuzzy heart coat on her back. The former Grazia editor has friends in haute places, but stillhow did she get THE coat? Photo: Getty Images I think it came to me because I am in love, she said coyly. Thats why I was given a heart. I am in love with so much right now, but especially with my new dog, Cashmere. He is the sweetest thing, and I love him so much. I love this animal. Okay. But what about the other animalslike the foxes repurposed as her outerwear? You know, whats funny is that I am normally against fur. I would never buy fur in my life. But this coat was a gift, and since it arrived in my closet, I cant not wear it. But I hope they make new ones with fake fur. We should all wear fake fur. Pelosini tried to slide into her show seatbut the coat was too big to fit. I deal with this a lot today, she laughed. Thats why today, I have a van driving me around instead of a car. It can fit in the van. Want your own? We hear Barneys has a scarce few this week in one size (small, natch) for $15,500, plus tax. Just more proof that in the fashion world, love may be blindbut its never free. Yahoo Style is live from #FashionMonth! Keep it here for your front row view of the best looks and buzziest moments from Fashion Month. Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has acknowledged that his finance minister resigned this month due to the fallout from his role in organizing Donald Trump's unpopular visit to Mexico. Pena Nieto had never revealed the reason for Luis Videgaray's resignation, but local media widely reported that his close confidant had played a central role in the White House hopeful's August 31 visit. Pena Nieto has come under fire for meeting with the Republican candidate, who has called Mexican migrants "rapists" and threatens to make his government pay for a border wall. The president told Radio Formula in an interview broadcast on Thursday that Videgaray had been "greatly weakened" because he "had been involved in the arrangement that we made with the Trump campaign team" for the meeting. "This weakening prompted me to take a decision and accept the resignation," Pena Nieto said. Pena Nieto named Jose Antonio Meade, his social development minister and former foreign minister, as finance minister on September 7. The Mexican leader admitted in another radio interview on Wednesday that he had maybe been "hasty" in inviting Trump and "didn't ponder the social reaction" that it would cause. But the unpopular president insisted that he was "correct" to meet with someone who could become the next US leader. A survey by pollsters GEA-ISA shows that 15 percent of Mexicans see the Trump visit as Pena Nieto's biggest mistake, above any other issue. Despite Donald Trump's repeated inflammatory comments, a key Mexican official said his country is prepared to negotiate if the GOP nominee wins the election. "There are many countries that are related to the U.S. economy, but very few that are so related (as) Mexico," Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said Wednesady night at a panel hosted by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. He noted that 80 percent of the country's exports go to the United States. The panel, which also featured the presidents of Chile , Colombia and Peru , focused on the future of the Pacific Alliance, a trade bloc comprising those three nations and Mexico . The four countries collectively account for more than a third of Latin America's gross domestic product and 46 percent of the region's exports. CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera moderated the discussion. When asked about what would happen if Trump were to win, Guajardo indicated that Mexico would be willing to talk. "For Mexico, we have to be out there," he said. "If we have to talk to the devil to guarantee the safety and the future of the Mexican people in Mexico and the U.S., we will talk to the devil." To watch a video of the full panel, click here. Trump has drawn the ire of many people south and north of the Mexican border by saying he plans to build a wall between the countries a physical division he says Mexico will pay to construct. He also says that all illegal immigrants in gangs will be deported and that birthright citizenship will end, even though the latter is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Amid Trump's hard line on immigration, his support among Hispanics has badly trailed Hillary Clinton's by 48 percentage points. The Democratic nominee has 65 percent support among likely Hispanic voters while Trump has just 17 percent, according to a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Telemundo survey. Regarding Trump, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said, "I think the world needs more female presidents," presumably a nod of support for Clinton. Story continues Meanwhile, Juan Manuel Santos, president of Colombia, said he's learned not to intervene in other countries' elections. While he said he knows Clinton, he does not know Trump. "I don't know Mr. Trump. I have not ever exchanged a word with him," he said, "so it's very difficult for me to comment about what he's thinking about Colombia." Still, he does not like Trump's policies on trade or migration. But he noted that politicians often say one thing on the campaign trial but do another once they have taken office and face the reality of what is and isn't possible. More From CNBC Morelia (Mexico) (AFP) - A priest has disappeared in Mexico's troubled western state of Michoacan along with a teenage boy, officials said, the same week two more clerics were killed in another region. Jose Alfredo Lopez Guillen vanished on Monday and his parish house in the village of Janamuato, within the municipality of Puruandiro, was "looted," Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda said. Suarez, the archbishop in the state capital Morelia, called it a "kidnapping," but the state prosecutor's office said no ransom has been demanded so far. "We beg that the life and personal integrity of the priest are respected so that he can return to his pastoral work as soon as possible," Michoacan's cardinal said in a statement issued by the Mexican Episcopal Conference. "This barbarity is not justified in any way," he added in a video posted on YouTube. Governor Silvano Aureoles said the priest was with a boy who was around 16 years old and that they had ordered sandwiches and soft drinks to be delivered. "After that, nobody heard from them again," Aureoles told Radio Formula, adding that a vehicle had been taken, without providing further details. A phone was also taken that could help the investigation, the governor added without elaborating. "The first thing is to find the two people alive," he said, adding that the disappearance was reported to the authorities only on Wednesday. Magdalena Guzman, spokeswoman for the Michoacan prosecutor's office, said earlier that Lopez Guillen had met with some people at his house on Monday night. His assistant reported that the priest was missing after "she returned to the place on Tuesday morning and she didn't find him," Guzman told AFP. At least 14 priests have been killed and two others remain missing in Mexico since President Enrique Pena Nieto took office in December 2012, according to the Catholic Multimedia Center, which tracks violence against clerics in the world's second biggest Roman Catholic country. Story continues Two other priests, Alejo Nabor Jimenez Juarez and Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, were found dead on Monday in the eastern state of Veracruz. The clergymen knew their killers and had been drinking with them at the church on Sunday, the Veracruz state prosecutor said, adding that the meeting turned violent and the priests were taken away along with $250 in collection money. But the brother of Alejo Nabor rejected the prosecutor's account, saying the authorities were trying to cover up a murder committed by "organized crime." Michoacan and Veracruz have endured years of drug cartel violence. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The financial affairs of hundreds of Mexicans mentioned in a cache of documents dubbed the "Bahamas Leaks" will be checked for tax violations, the Tax Authority of Mexico (SAT) said on Wednesday. More than 400 Mexicans, including lawyers, former officials, and owners of offshore companies in the Bahamas, were named in leaks published in a database on Wednesday by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and other media outlets. "Regarding the use of structures or companies incorporated in countries that are so-called tax havens, the SAT will review, in cases where appropriate, the taxpayers mentioned," the authority said in a statement. The SAT also said it could rely on data sharing agreements with other countries to obtain more information. The leaked files, which were based on data from a corporate registry in the Bahamas, reveal the names of politicians and others linked to more than 175,000 offshore companies, trusts and foundations. In April, Mexican authorities said 33 people were being investigated for possible tax evasion or financial crimes following the leak of documents known as the "Panama Papers." (Reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez, Writing by Natalie Schachar; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Mia Farrow attends a gala. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Actress Mia Farrows son Thaddeus has died, People confirms. He was 27. Farrow was found inside of his vehicle on Wednesday in Connecticut suffering from a life threatening injury, according to a police report. He was taken to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. There is no criminal aspect to the case, although it is under investigation. His mother, the 71-year-old actress, adopted him in 1994 from Calcutta, India. He was paraplegic due to polio and the adoption came years after Farrow separated from partner Woody Allen. He had nine other siblings, including Ronan Farrow, who is a journalist. At the time of a Vanity Fair article in 2013, Thaddeus was studying to become a police officer and offered insight into what it was like to be adopted by a movie star. It was scary to be brought to a world of people whose language I did not understand, with different skin colors, he said. The fact that everyone loved me was a new experience, overwhelming at first. Tuesday with Evangeline pic.twitter.com/CdHv2YpJ6q mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) September 20, 2016 Farrow has not released a statement on her sons death but spent Tuesday with her granddaughter, Evangeline. By Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - A 49-year-old Michigan man was charged on Thursday with torturing his wife and murdering his two kids and two stepchildren, in a crime with parallels to a prior conviction for stabbing to death in 1991 his previous wife who was pregnant, officials said. Gregory V. Green, according to authorities, called police early on Wednesday to report he had killed family members at their house in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn Heights. Officers entered the house to find a grisly killing scene. Similarly, in 1991 Green also called police to tell them he had killed his then-wife at the couple's Detroit home, where he waited for them to arrive, said Chris Gautz, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. Green pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in 1992 and was sentenced to 15 to 25 years in prison, Gautz said. Green was released on parole in 2008, he said. Following the latest crime, Green appeared in court on Thursday to face charges that include four counts of first-degree murder, assault, torture, unlawful imprisonment and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Green is accused of binding his 39-year-old wife with zip ties and duct tape in the house's basement, cutting her face with a box cutter and shooting her in the foot, prosecutors said. He then shot her two teenagers, who were his step-children, in front of her, prosecutors said in a statement. Chadney Allen, 19, and Kara Allen, 17, were pronounced dead at the house of multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics later rushed the wife to the hospital and police have said she is expected to survive. Green is accused of murdering his two children, Koi Green, 5, and Kaliegh Green, 4, with carbon monoxide by placing them in a car in the garage and running the engine. Police have not said what the motive was. "The alleged evidence in this case will show an appalling level of domestic violence that was cataclysmic," prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. Story continues Green, who is in jail, could face life without parole if convicted. He did not appear in court with an attorney on Thursday according to the Detroit Free Press. Representatives from the public defender's office could not be reached to confirm if they were representing him. Green's wife filed for divorce last month, the newspaper reported. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis) Microsoft Corporation MSFT recently announced that it intends to solve cancer within the next decade by the use of computer programming. Microsofts Take on Cancer Just like a virus affected PC requires an antivirus to debug it, Microsoft is planning to take on the disease of cancer by reprogramming the diseased cells into healthy cells. In other words, Microsoft is planning to develop a chip made of human DNA that can be placed inside the cells. It can then identify the diseased cells and then get rid of the same by rebooting the computer. In order to achieve the desired results, Microsoft has already started roping in some of the best biologists from all over the world who will work at its laboratory in the UK. Competition We note that there is fierce competition in the oncology space with the presence of major tech players such as International Business Machines Corporation IBM and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL owned Google. While IBM with its Watson Oncology project is working on targeted medicine, Microsofts attempt to develop a programmable cell will be the first of its kind. Moreover, following the footprint of Googles DeepMind, which has played a pivotal role in the treatment of neck and head cancers, Microsoft intends to use artificial intelligence in radiology through the use of machine vision tools to analyze CT scans for tumors. Our Take Though the cure for the king of maladies could take some time to develop and reach the masses, Microsofts approach toward the disease is unique and holds promise. MICROSOFT CORP Price MICROSOFT CORP Price | MICROSOFT CORP Quote Zacks Rank & Key Picks At present, Microsoft carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the broader technology space is Avid Technology, Inc. AVID sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report INTL BUS MACH (IBM): Free Stock Analysis Report MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report AVID TECH INC (AVID): Free Stock Analysis Report ALPHABET INC-A (GOOGL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that his country's conflict with the Palestinians had "never" been about Jewish settlements. "This remains the true core of the conflict: the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize the Jewish state in any boundary," he said, directly contradicting Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. "This conflict has never been about the settlements or about establishing a Palestinian state," Netanyahu told the United Nations. "It's always been about the existence of a Jewish state, a Jewish state in any boundary," he added. An hour earlier, Abbas told the General Assembly that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank was destroying "whatever possibility is left for a two-state solution." But Netanyahu said that Haifa, Jaffa and Tel Aviv, all cities in Israel, were "the real settlements they are after." The issue of settlements in the West Bank was nonetheless "real," he conceded, saying that it "can and must be resolved in final negotiations, final-status negotiations." By PTI: New York, Sep 22 (PTI) Iran today expressed desire to become part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), that links western China with Gwadar deep-sea port in Balochistan and runs through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir. This was conveyed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in their meeting here on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session. advertisement "President Rouhani lauded the vision of the Prime Minister for translating CPEC into reality and expressed his desire to be part of the CPEC," a statement by Sharifs office said. It said that connectivity projects were recognised by both Pakistan and Iran as vital to the progress of the region. "In particular, the two leaders reiterated the complementarity between Gwadar and Chabahar sea ports that could boost regional trade exponentially in the decades ahead," it said. India has concerns over the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being laid through PoK. He apprised President Rouhani of alleged Indian brutalities in Kashmir, particularly in the past two months. Sharif shared the latest situation in Kashmir, which continues to remain tense in the wake of the uprising that has surfaced in response to Indian barbaric acts in the Valley. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been victims of heinous acts of state-sponsored terrorism at the hands of Indian occupation forces," the statement said. The lifting of international sanctions against Iran has paved the way for resumption of economic relations between the two countries. Current trade volume remains low at USD 268 million per annum. Border management and security were also discussed, according to the statement. Opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, especially oil, gas and electricity were also discussed. The two sides noted that progress on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity import from Iran would help overcome Pakistans energy shortages in the coming years, it said. Rouhani said Iran can install a power plant on border with Pakistan to supply electricity. "We consider Pakistans economic development as our development," the President was quoted as saying. According to the statement, Rouhani said Pakistans security is security of Iran and that there is a need for defence cooperation between Iran and Pakistan as there is a history of defence cooperation between the two countries. "Iran is a brotherly country. Our interests are same; we need to further consolidate our economic cooperation," he was quoted as saying. PTI SH SAI AKJ SAI --- ENDS --- advertisement *THIS* might be who Evan Peters is playing in American Horror Story: Roanoke *THIS* might be who Evan Peters is playing in American Horror Story: Roanoke American Horror Story: Spoilers. Another week, another great episode with American Horror Story star, Evan Peters!! Just kidding. Mr. Evan Peters is still nowhere to be seen anywhere in, near, or around Roanoke, North Carolina. What gives? What the heck? His name is proudly listed in the end credits as a main cast member, but now were two episodes into this season and he is completely MIA. Why are you teasing us so much, AHS? First the 4,000 different promos leading up to Season 6, and now you keep dangling the promise of Evan Peters in front of us. Ugh. Cs7hS6OUkAMGi7f But, before we get too up in arms about it, we might have actually seen Evans character tonight. Maybe. This is just a hunch, but what happens if Evan is playing the Roanoke cop? Quick, whats the only thing we know about Evans character for this season? He has red hair. During Chapter Two we actually saw someone with red hair: The cop stationed outside the Murde House. Say hello to this nice Roanoke police officer (uh, dont think he actually has a name yet). After Matt finds the ghost-sister-nurses in his dining room, he runs outside to the cop car and the nice officer comes inside to check it out. At first, this nice officer is pretty freaked out, but after finding nothing, hes just like \_()_/. AND HE HAS RED HAIR. Screen Shot 2016-09-21 at 10.27.36 PM Screen Shot 2016-09-21 at 10.27.41 PM Heres why this theory makes sense: Talking Head Shelby and Matt are significantly younger than their Actor counterparts in the reenactment. This officer does appear to in fact be older than real life Evan Peters, which means that in the My Roanoke Nightmare story, they could easily end up playing two sides of the same character. evan ALSO, theres been a whole lot of police presence and police talk so far on the show, so it would only make sense that eventually, one Roanoke officer sits down for his own Talking Head moment and yeah, at this point were desperate to see Evan Peters character up on the screen, even if its only from the waist up. The post *THIS* might be who Evan Peters is playing in American Horror Story: Roanoke appeared first on HelloGiggles. Florence (Italy) (AFP) - Red dinghies hang from the facade of a Renaissance palace in Florence in Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei's latest exhibition, a homage to those refugees who risk all to reach Europe by boat. "I have visited dozens of refugee camps in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel and the Gaza Strip and talked with all these people," said the 59-year old, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government who was once arrested for falling foul of the authorities. "Those who are fighting for their freedom are the heroes of today and my work is none other than telling them the profound respect that I have for them," he told a press conference in the Italian city as he presented the largest retrospective of his work to date. Dubbed "Ai Weiwei libero" (free), the exhibition opens Friday and runs until January 22 at the Strozzi Palace in the Tuscan capital. The show includes some 60 works, from installations to sculptures or photographs, by China's most controversial artist. It begins outside with "Reframe", an installation made up of 22 rubber dinghies which "frame" the second-floor windows of the 15th-century palace in a political statement which has provoked both admiration and outrage among tourists and locals. "I chose Florence for the exhibition because Italy is the country with the most refugees, it never rejects them, unlike other nations," said Ai, who hit the headlines in February by posing for a photograph as the washed-up body of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi. His bid to draw the world's attention to the migrants' plight did not stop there: the artist decked out the columns of Berlin's Konzerthaus with 14,000 orange life jackets donated by the Greek island of Lesbos, where vast numbers of people have landed. - Treasure trove - More than one million people reached Europe's shores in 2015, the majority fleeing war and persecution in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and a further 300,000 have come by sea since January this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Story continues "Reframe" has not failed to ruffle feathers too, with messages posted on the Strozzi Palace Facebook page denouncing the "horror", "vandalism", "aesthetic affront" and "ideological attack on one of the finest buildings in the world". Inside the Palazzo lies a treasure trove of Ai works, some dating back to his time in New York in the 1980s and 90s under the influence of masters Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol, and others from the 2000s. Photographs of Ai's "middle-finger salute" to the most famous sites in the world -- from the White House in Washington to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Tiananmen Square in Beijing -- line one of the rooms. The exhibition also features a new installation made just for the occasion: a series of portraits in Lego of famous Florentines who were unafraid to take a stand for what they believe, from the exiled poet Dante to executed friar Girolamo Savonarola. "These figures from history challenged (the status quo) to change things, it will not be forgotten," the soft-spoken, bearded Ai said. The painter, sculpture and photographer helped design the Bird's Nest stadium for the Beijing Olympics, but was detained in 2011 for 81 days and had his passport confiscated for four years. He later travelled to Berlin where his wife and son live. Ai told journalists he may soon return to China. Migrants rescued from boat capsized off Egyptian coast Migrants who were rescued from a boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea are pictured in Al-Beheira, Egypt on Sept. 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany) A senior Egyptian official says a total of 115 bodies were pulled out of the waters off the Egyptian coast, three days after hundreds of migrants heading to Europe drowned. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province, told The Associated Press that dozens more are feared dead. The migrants boat capsized on Wednesday, nearly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta. The UNHCR estimated that the boat was packed with some 450 people, while the state news agency MENA said earlier that the number might be as high as 600. Some 150 people, mostly Egyptians, survived while many of the dead are women and children who were unable to swim away from the wreckage. Egypt has been a traditional route for migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea. (AP) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr. It's been a while since I've traveled to Milan for fashion week, probably about 5 years or so, and the city feels more vibrant, young and hip than I remembered. On Tuesday night at the pedestrian shopping area Corso Vittorio Emanuele, people were dressed to the nines and clogging the streets and stores until midnight. The occasion? Fashion's Night Out. Apparently, the Camera Moda, which is Italian fashion's governing body, was inspired by the success of the Milan Expo in 2015, to try to make fashion week more inclusive of the city of Milan. And while there's nothing like the Tommy Hilfiger carnival open to the public here this week, having Fashion's Night Out kick off the shows did feel good, even though the global shopping event, which started in 2009, has since been abandoned by most other cities. Read more: Beverly Hills Housewife Annoyed at Buying $100,000 Dresses Seen on Actresses: "I Dont Want the Sloppy Seconds" The foodie revolution has arrived here, too, with several gourmet food halls popping up around the city, including one in the basement of the new concept store Excelsior, which has the most beautiful selection of tomatoes I've ever seen. Only in Italy, right? And still, from what I've heard, public relations executives at fashion brands have had a hard time wrangling celebrities to come to the shows here. "There's no direct flight from L.A.and no one really wants to come to Milan," a PR vet told me Wednesday. Even Gucci, the one fashion brand that's on top of the world, had a relatively lightweight front row on Wednesday, with just one major A-lister, Dakota Johnson. At Gucci, Hollywood Forever Not that the brand is short on celebrity love (in the last month, it has released ad campaigns with both Jared Leto and Vanessa Redgrave). Creative director Alessandro Michele loves L.A., traveling to the city often, according to his Instagram feed, and frequent sightings at Chateau Marmont. And it showed more than ever in this cinematic runway outing, featuring a cast of ghostly characters, a dreamlike pink boudoir set with velvet cushions and 250,000 hand set pink mirrors casting a rosy glow on everything, and "Hollywood Cemetery Forever" scrawled on several looks. Story continues GUCCI GIRLS: Looks from Gucci's spring 2017 presentation. (Photos: Getty Images) The spring 2017 collection was a continuation of Michele's fanciful, granny-meets-street story, with sporty, cardigan-style hoodies, embroidered denim jackets, silky pajama tops, studded flared denim suits, platform satin slippers, the new oversized Marmont handbag, paper fans as accessories and more, more, more. The designer collaborated with San Francisco based illustrator Jayde Fish on artwork on some of the pieces. I also noticed quite a bit more cocktail and evening wear, including a minidress with a single ruffled sleeve, and delicate tiered chiffon dresses embroidered with sprays of sequins, all of which will be useful come November when Gucci once again sponsors the Art + Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Lot more cocktail and evening wear in this @gucci collection #MFW pic.twitter.com/CjoY2PPdDG - @Booth (@Booth) September 21, 2016 The collection was rich, wonderful and chockful of stuff to buy. Michele has created such an incredibly identifiable aesthetic in less than 2 years time at the helm of Gucci, and everywhere you look you can see his influence (pleated skirts, floral blouses, kiltie loafers, patched and embroidered everything) reverberating in other labels. Between the Gucci Ghost painted buses and the windows at department store Rinascente, his creative coup has elevated the entire city. Fausto Takes Us to the Theater Fausto Puglisi, the Sicilian designer who has created stage wear for Madonna, Katy Perry and many more celebs, staged his own fashion performance, inspired by the Comagnia della Fortezza, a theater company inside a prison. The subject was heavy. (The idea was "for everyone to absorb the horror of my homeland," he wrote in the show notes, nodding to the invasions that have befallen his home country, by the Greeks, the Normans and so on.) But the clothes were street cool. GOTHIC: Looks from Fausto Puglisi's spring 2017 presentation. (Photo: Getty Images) The show was set behind bars, with heavy religious overtones, including crosses on either side of the stage, and an icon of the Virgin Mary above. Models rattled the cage, as guests strained to catch a glimpse of the print dresses and matching boots, studded leather bustiers and oversized "Fausto" T-shirts. Most notable, though, may have been the throwback, 1980s cowboy belts, because they were also spotted on the runways at Ferretti and Cavalli on Wednesday as well. Time to start scanning Etsy. .@faustopuglisi takes us to the gates of somewhere for his #MFW presentation pic.twitter.com/s22p5Tc4Uk - @Booth (@Booth) September 21, 2016 Ferretti Goes Folkloric Alberta Ferretti is a designer I've long associated with sweet, romantic, diaphanous looks (hence the label's popularity on the red carpet, as worn by Laura Dern at the 2015 Oscars, Kate Beckinsale and others). Folkloric vibe @AlbertaFerretti #MFW pic.twitter.com/wvsUznegEf - @Booth (@Booth) September 21, 2016 But this season, she pivoted to something saucier with a folkloric-looking collection of jewel tone ruffled skirts and leather bandeaus; off-the-shoulder dresses with colorful embroideries, corset-laced broiderie anglaise shirts and shorts, all worn with the label's sumptuous velvet slip-on mules - and often, those aforementioned cowboy belts, too. It was a welcome change of pace. At Cavalli, The Flying Burrito Brothers Roberto Cavalli designer Peter Dundas seemed to have The West on his mind, too. "The mood of the pioneer," is how he put it, emphasizing a melange of references, including the famous North Hollywood-based rodeo tailor Nudie Cohn, who dressed everyone from Gram Parsons to Elvis Presley. Flying Burrito Brothers @Roberto_Cavalli #mfw pic.twitter.com/eKfirea0St - @Booth (@Booth) September 21, 2016 Add to that a little Buffalo Soldier and Victoriana inspiration, and it made for a heady mix of flared pants suits (one fabulous one in flame orange velvet); fringed kimonos and ponchos, patchwork jacquard gowns, concha belts, beaded purses and more. The collection was rock n' roll, decadent and very L.A. WEST COAST VIBES: Looks from Roberto Cavalli's spring 2017 collection. (Photos: Getty Images) From Seventeen Watching supermodels strut their stuff up and down the cat walks at fashion week, it's hard to imagine that they, with their angelic strides and glowing skin, could possibly go through anything as mundane as acne or period leaks. But, obviously, they do. They're human like the rest of us - it's just their job to look superhuman. Now, 19-year-old model Victoria Cain is opening up to the Independent about what it's like having your period when you're a model. There's the constant fear that you're going to leak on the clothes. "The first time I realized periods could be a problem was at a photo-shoot where I was the only girl," the model told the Independant. "I got a surprise [period] attack in the middle of the day and I had to fake a cigarette break and go to find a shop." (Because in the world of fashion, ditching a shoot to smoke is more acceptable than needing to grab a tampon, apparently.) "All I could think was, 'I can't leak on the clothes.' It makes me stressed just thinking about it." It's hard to take care of yourself when you're on the casting grind. "Fashion week is just castings, castings, castings, castings," Victoria explained about the fast-paced nature of rushing from auditions to fittings to shows and not having time for much else. "It can be exhausting especially if you have your period and you don't have time to eat properly." Changing your tampon could mean losing a job. "It's hard to find five minutes to do what you've got to do," Victoria said about waiting in endless lines to land a modeling gig. "It's horrible because you can feel it and you can't go to the toilet because you lose your spot. You think, do I lose a possible job or wait for another half an hour?" Getting acne makes you feel like throwing in the towel. Sometimes, Victoria avoids auditioning altogether when her skin becomes spotty on her period. "The thing that stresses me out most about getting my period during fashion week is my acne-prone skin," Victoria explained to the Independent. "It's like my period is smack bang on my face." Story continues Victoria isn't the first woman to speak out about the reality of balancing your profession with your period. Chinese Olympic swimmer Fu Yuanhui was applauded for her honesty earlier this summer when she spoke out about competing during that time of the month. Given that so many people still freak out at the mere mention of period blood, it's awesome to hear high-profile women who aren't afraid to talk about it in a real way. "Periods are a natural thing and they happen to half the population," Victoria told the Independent. "I feel that often others regard it as a taboo subject, when really it's just human nature." You Might Also Like This Florida mother is standing her decision to let her 6-year-old daughter have rainbow-colored hair after she was blasted on social media. Read: Sign of Bad Taste: A Walmart's 9/11 Soda Display Removed After It Sparks Outrage Mary Thomaston, a hairdresser from Panama City Beach, recently shared photos taken by Kiersten Grant on Instagram of her daughter's blue, purple and yellow dyed hair. My very own baby unicorn A photo posted by Mary Thomaston (@marythomaston) on Aug 21, 2016 at 7:35pm PDT "I really didn't want the dark blonde anymore, so I decided to color it," 6-year-old Lyra told InsideEdition.com. Her mom added, "I'm always doing fun colorful hair. She sees it all the time, and I have it myself so of course she's going to want it." But not everyone believed the decision was that simple. "Sometimes we forget theyre little and not a little doll," one person commented. Another wrote, "Oh no I would never let my baby do this [...] she can wait [until] she is older." But, Thomaston said she pays the negative comments no mind, responding in another post: "Don't worry folks it'll wash out. She wasn't harmed in the process. [...] It's hair....it'll grow back!" Thomaston told InsideEdition.com that in the three times Lyra has asked for her hair to be dyed, she used Manic Panic NYC's semi-permanent hair dye, which are advertised as non-toxic, ammonia-free, vegan, and temporary, despite people worrying the chemicals will harm her young daughter. This kid... So damn cool. All her own idea. She's been asking for this for awhile. I finally gave in. #minime#iloveher#myworld#unicorntribe#buzzcutfeed#coolkid#kidswithundercuts#shavedsides#hairtattoo#kidswithcoolhair#manicpanic#6yearsold A photo posted by Mary Thomaston (@marythomaston) on Aug 21, 2016 at 6:26pm PDT In fact, she said the hair dye even helps her daughter embrace her individuality. Story continues "It helped her come out of her shell," Thomaston said. "She definitely likes to talk about it to everyone she sees, and it's really made her shine." Read: Concerned Mom Speaks Out After She Said She Witnessed Man Pull Daughter by the Hair Through Walmart Clearly, Lyra has no plan to stop dyeing her unicorn-colored hair. "The next hair-do is going to be galaxy," the 6-year-old decided Watch: Daughter, 3, Promises to Keep Seat Belt on After Mom Reports Her to Cops Related Articles: By Jessica Jaganathan and Nidhi Verma OSLO/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's diesel exports are expected to hover near a three-year high in September, as monsoon rains reduce the need to use the fuel in irrigation pumps, according to traders and refinery sources. Reflecting this trend, state-owned Indian Oil Corp exported diesel for the first time in more than five years and the ramp-up of a new refinery could also temporarily keep exports high after the monsoon draws to a close this month. The increase in shipments from the world's no. 3 oil consumer has driven the profit margin for refining diesel in Asia to a seasonal six-year low. India is expected to ship out similar volumes in September compared with August, when it exported 2.85 million tonnes, according to traders. Last month's volume was the highest since September, 2013, when India shipped out 3.371 million tonnes, government data showed. "Diesel demand has not been that good during this monsoon season and has generally been flattish," a source at an Indian-refiner said. Indian Oil Corp exported its first low-sulphur diesel cargo in more than five years in August and followed up by offering a second cargo this week. While the first cargo was sold at a deep discount due to a low flash point making it more difficult to blend, any additional spot cargo will weaken an already oversupplied diesel market in Asia, traders said. IOC's diesel demand during the monsoon was lower than the company's initial estimates, while its inventory was high, leading to the unexpected exports, but this is likely to be temporary, a second source close to the matter said. Refineries in India are also running at near maximum capacity due to healthy refining margins driven by low feedstock prices, a third refining source said. IOC's 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) new Paradip refinery, which was commissioned in late 2015, will run at full capacity by the last quarter of the current financial year, a company executive said this week. Story continues The refinery is expected to boost IOC's diesel output by 200,000 tonnes next month, which will reduce its offtake of the fuel from private refiners by a similar amount, one of the sources said. This in turn could drive up exports from private refiners like Essar Oil and Reliance Industries, traders said. "Diesel demand was so good over the first half of this year, but fell during the monsoon season," the third refining source said. "Demand should pick up after the monsoon but as of now that is still to be seen." India's monsoon season typically runs from June to September. (Editing by Ed Davies) Rabat (AFP) - Moroccan police have arrested four "dangerous" suspected jihadists linked to the Islamic State group who were planning attacks across the country, the government said on Thursday. Investigators apprehended an individual on Wednesday in the northern city of Meknes who had been "planning terrorist attacks in Morocco," according to a statement from the interior ministry. The suspect had "acquired vast experience in the manufacture of remote-detonated explosives" and was "about to procure essential materials to make" a bomb, it added. Last week three suspected extremists were arrested around Tangiers, in northern Morocco, reportedly in the process of preparing "extremely serious terrorist acts", the statement said. The head of the cell had allegedly been contacted by a Moroccan IS member and had planned to travel to join the jihadists in Iraq or Syria. Rabat says more than 150 "terrorist cells" have been uncovered since 2002, including dozens in the past three years with ties to jihadists in Iraq and Syria. A study by the US-based Soufan Group said last December that at least 1,200 Moroccans had travelled to fight alongside IS in Iraq and Syria in the previous 18 months. What its like to move back into your old college house as a post-grad What its like to move back into your old college house as a post-grad Its been five years since I graduated from college and moved out of my quirky Northern California college town. I experienced many feelings as a post-grad: happiness, worry, anxiety and the overall sense that I had no clue what I was going to do with my life. In the years following, Ive had life-changing moments. Ive reevaluated relationships and grown in tremendous ways. But as someone who is overly nostalgic, Ive always reminisced about my college days (and nights). Though I took some amazing classes and met lots of interesting people, living with four of my best friends was the real highlight of my early twenties. francesha For three years, we lived together in two distinctly unique houses both of which were likely not build to code. As questionable as the condition of the houses may have been, we had no doubts about living together so much so that we created our own faux sorority, an alternative sisterhood of sorts. In our two different homes, we hosted many a Friendsgiving and Halloween. We threw countless birthday parties and lots of low-key hang seshes. We looked to each other for advice, and helped each other get through the general chaos that was college. Though we stayed close following graduation via Facebook and group texts, it just wasnt the same. This all changed when I had one of the most surreal moments of my more recent life. beer This spring, I got a new job in my college town. I was excited and nervous but ready to make the move back to the place that had been my second home. As I began my apartment search, I came across a familiar image online: the second house I lived in during college with all of its overgrown flowers and mismatched paint. Honestly, if those walls could talk. There it was on Craigslist, of all places, as a summer sublet. At first I thought it was a joke. And then it seemed like a sign. I immediately sent it to my old college roommate who encouraged me to reply to the posting. Story continues Id initially written it off as an option for a place to live. How crazy would I be if I lived here again? Who even does that? I thought to myself. Clearly, someone deeply rooted in the past. But after pondering the idea for a while, I decided to consider it as a serious option. I crafted a message, replied to the post, received a response within an hour. animalhouse I spoke on the phone with the landlord, who was both amused and confused that Id decided to move back in for the summer: It is sort of strange youre moving back in, he said, Just be sure to drive safe on the freeway! If nothing else, I knew that this would be a good transition as I embarked on my new career adventure. workingwomn Fast forward to one month later: Im moving back into my old house, which I had never imagined I would live in again. I drive up the infamous driveway, and my car immediately bottoms out so I know that nothing has changed. As I approached the front door, I was greeted with piles and piles of mail stuffed in the mailbox, some of which was addressed to my former roommates. I was slightly surprised, but then remembered that this was, in fact, a typical college house where everything was a little off. A photo posted by Iconic Offices Dublin (@iconicofficesdublin) on Sep 22, 2016 at 12:30pm PDT Living in the house as a 27-year-old was strange in so many ways. I recognized every noise I heard from the neighbors playing beer pong into the wee hours of the morning, to the homeless man singing outside. It was comforting and jarring at the same time. I had attached recollections to nearly every noise and sight in the neighborhood the notorious rooftop deck where we had so many dinner parties, the streets wed walk down in the middle of the night, the paper thin walls that made us feel like everyone in the house was together in the same room. My new ~college roommate~ was friendly even though our lives were in totally different places she was studying for tests and had a summer internship. I was concerned about making good impressions at my new job and on strange Tinder dates. One wasnt better than the other our lives were just different. On the night before my first day of work, she told me Just be yourself and ask a lot of questions! I immediately laughed it off but she was right. Maybe it was as simple as that. car Over the summer, I found myself stuck in some of the same daily patterns I had in college. I would go to the same grocery store and drive my car on the same bus route, even if there were quicker ways to get to my destination. At times, I had to remind myself that there was an entire world to explore outside of my college bubble. I didnt need to go to the same coffee shop around the corner there were lattes being served beyond a 5-minute walk. I had been so conditioned to do the same thing, day-after-day that I had to break free. Though I loved living in nostalgia, I could only re-meet so many neighborhood cats. It was almost like living in a twisted fantasy. By the end of my sublease, I felt slightly uncomfortable in my own home it was a sign. As much as I loved my college years, I didnt need to relive them. And thats okay. Those four years were precious on their own because I was a different person having experiences that Ill never have again. Looking back on my college self, I see someone who was both naive and fearless, always ready for the next thing. And after reliving parts of 2007-2011, I can say with full confidence that my next chapter doesnt involve paper thin walls or Tuesday night beer pong tournaments but I still appreciate the sentiment. The post What its like to move back into your old college house as a post-grad appeared first on HelloGiggles. By India Today Web Desk: On September 21, women in Ireland went to work in their wedding dresses. The 'Wear Your Wedding Dress Wednesday' was an idea initiated by radio station Today FM which runs a 'cancer-busting campaign' called Dare to Care. "We want you to drag that wedding dress out of the back of the press, get it cleaned and wear it again (and get people to sponsor you a few bob to do it to make up for the shame of it all!)," they explain on their website. advertisement They told them to 'wear it with pride knowing that you are going to be part of something amazing and raising lots of money for the Irish Cancer Society.' 'Get the ladies in your office involved so you're not alone, get your sisters and friends on board and don't pretend you don't want to put it on again and relieve all those happy memories!' Women across Ireland uploaded pictures donning their beautiful wedding gowns on social media That's such a sweet gesture, isn't it? --- ENDS --- The searing heat deep inside Earth is what keeps the planet churning creeping tectonic plates, erupting volcanoes and a working magnetic field but how much of this sizzling energy does the planet have in its tank? Scientists have long wondered how much energy remains in the planet today, 4.6 billion years after the rocky world formed. Now, a team of researchers plans to have an answer to the gargantuan question by 2025. By determining how much energy Earth has left, scientists will better understand the building blocks of the planet and its energy-spending processes. When all of the energy is used up, that means Earth will "die" in the sense that the moon is "dead" because it does not have the energy for mantle convection, volcanism, and other planetary processes. These planetary processes run on two types of energy: primordial energy, which is the heat left over from Earth's violent formation, and nuclear energy, or the heat produced during natural radioactive decay. [Photos: The Strangest Places on Earth] Earth energy Past calculations of Earth's inner energy have varied. "We're in a field of guesses," one of the study's authors, William McDonough, a professor of geology at the University of Maryland, said in a statement. "At this point in my career, I don't care if I'm right or wrong. I just want to know the answer." Here's how McDonough and his team will tackle the problem: As has been done for past estimates, the scientists will measure Earth's geoneutrinos, or the antimatter partners of neutrinos ghostly subatomic particles that pass right through Earth relatively unscathed. The antineutrino particles are byproducts of nuclear reactions, resulting from radioactive decay of elements such as thorium and uranium. "The particles will tell us about how many atoms of uranium and thorium are inside the Earth. Therefore, that will tell us about how much radioactivity potential there exists," McDonough told Live Science. "We know the Earth radiates 46 terawatts of heat, or power, and so what we determine for nuclear energy, the difference would amount to the primordial energy left." Story continues Previous research has demonstrated that these heat-producing radioactive elements alone are insufficient to account for the 46 TW the Earth radiates; therefore, residual primordial energy must be present. Determining the amount of energy left from both sources will also offer insight into how the Earth is burning its fuel, its consumption rate in the past and its future fuel budget. "There are two gas gauges one primordial energy and one nuclear energy," McDonough explained. "If we have lots of nuclear energy, we used up our primordial energy. If we have a little bit of nuclear energy, then we have not used up our primordial energy." McDonough said the amount of fuel left could be the difference between the planet continuing to function for 5 billion years or 10 billion years. When the fuel does run out, which McDonough said will happen, then the planet will essentially "die" as its planetary processes no longer function. The detectors used to find the antineutrino particles are each the size of a small office building, housed about a mile underground. Antineutrinos are identified inside the detector when the particles crash into a hydrogen atom, causing two characteristic light flashes. There are currently two such detection facilities, in Japan and Italy, which record only about 16 collisions per year. Three new detectors one in Canada and two in China are expected to come online in 2022. "Once we collect three years of antineutrino data from all five detectors, we are confident that we will have developed an accurate fuel gauge for the Earth and be able to calculate the amount of remaining fuel inside Earth," McDonough said in the statement about the team's 2025 goal. The study was published Sept. 9 in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Kyle Winkfield knows a thing or two about how life insurance has the power to change lives. The managing partner at financial firm O'Dell, Winkfield, Roseman and Shipp in the District of Columbia has seen how life insurance payouts have impacted many of his clients, but one particular case sticks out in his memory. [Read: 10 Things You Didn't Know Life Insurance Could Do.] After one of his clients passed away, the surviving spouse was surprised with a multi-million dollar check from a life insurance policy purchased nearly 40 years earlier. Winkfield's client had been a person of modest means and the initial death benefit was much smaller, but it grew as money was reinvested into the plan over the years. Along with the check was a letter from Winkfield's client explaining the money was meant as a legacy for the family to compensate for opportunities he didn't have as an African-American growing up in the mid-20 th century. "It's a financial love letter," Winkfield says of life insurance. "[It says] I love you so much that I don't want you to struggle when I'm gone." For those looking to create their own financial love letter to their family, here's how finance experts say people should go about picking the perfect policy. The biggest mistake is underestimating needs. Financial experts say most people underestimate the amount of life insurance they should buy. "People undervalue themselves all the time," says Thomas O'Connell, president of International Financial Advisory Group in Parsippany, New Jersey. "If [your employer] paid you $5 million upfront, you'd look at the money differently. You would protect that money differently." O'Connell says high earners could conceivably make $5 million over the course of their career, but they don't think in those terms when buying life insurance. "They've got $500,000 in life insurance, but I explain that if it were put into investments, it generates only a $20,000 income," says Scott Moffitt, president and CEO of Summit Financial Group in Loveland, Ohio. To avoid a situation in which a family is left with too little money on which to live, Moffitt says people should skip using general rules of thumbs and instead take a more comprehensive review of their family's needs. Story continues [Read: Do You Need Life Insurance in Retirement?] How to choose the right life insurance death benefit. Traditionally, people have been advised to buy life insurance with a death benefit that is seven to 10 times their annual income. However, Moffitt says this rule of thumb could leave many people underinsured. He suggests that lost income, future expenses such as college and the ability of the spouse to earn an income should also be taken into consideration when calculating life insurance needs. Moffitt also cautions against assuming a stay-at-home spouse will immediately be able to jump back into the workforce. "We typically add in a few years' worth of additional income [into the life insurance benefit] as a buffer," he says. That gives a spouse a cushion to either stay at home longer with the kids or take the time needed to update work skills. "You need to think, God forbid, something happens to me today," says Rick Rivera, partner at Safeguard Investment Advisory Group in Corona, California. "What position is my family in today, and where do I want them to be?" Instead of buying life insurance solely to replace income, people should consider whether they want their policy to allow their family to pay off the mortgage or other debt, cover the cost of college or offset potential estate taxes. Unlike many other assets, the death benefit from life insurance is not taxable, meaning it can be a simple and versatile way to provide money to loved ones left behind. Other factors to consider. While the death benefit is usually the most important consideration when it comes to buying life insurance, there are other factors to review as well. "Traditional long-term care insurance is becoming a financial nightmare for many people," O'Connell says. However, some of today's life insurance policies bundle long-term care coverage, making them a more affordable option. Other people may use permanent life insurance as part of a retirement income strategy. Loans against the cash value are tax-free, which can make them an attractive option to supplement income when funds in IRAs or 401(k)s may be affected by a down market. [Read: 9 Factors to Consider Before Buying Long-Term Care Insurance.] However, in the end, the most important aspect of deciding how much life insurance to buy is how it will allow family members to live after a person's death. As Winkfield says, "If you plan correctly, you might be physically and emotionally gone, but you'll financially always be present." More From US News & World Report A group of humans migrating out of Africa some 40,000 to 70,000 years ago mingled with an as-yet unknown branch of humanity, researchers say. Modern humans originated about 150,000 to 200,000 years ago in Africa. However, scientists have long debated when and how the modern human lineage spread out of Africa to nearly every corner of the globe. Nearly everyone outside Africa descended from an exodus that occurred between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago, but recent archaeological findings and climate models suggest that migrations of modern humans from Africa began at least 100,000 years ago. One way to find out whether, in the past, modern humans dispersed from Africa in one wave or many and to see if they intermingled with any other human lineages along the way is to examine the genomes of present-day modern humans. [See Photos of Our Closest Human Ancestor] "We're interested in understanding how our species has come to be how it is through the lens of ancient DNA," said Swapan Mallick, bioinformatics director at Harvard Medical School in Boston and lead author of one of the three studies appearing in the Sept. 22 issue of the journal Nature. Previous human genetic databases often sampled a relatively narrow range of populations, which could skew results or miss key details about the migrations of modern humans out of Africa. Now, three studies have collected new, high-quality data from 787 human genomes from more than 280 geographically diverse populations around the world, including typically understudied and rapidly disappearing groups. Among the understudied groups researchers looked at are African populations, which have considerable genetic, linguistic and cultural diversity. They also examined genomes from Australia, where previous research uncovered some of the earliest archaeological and fossil evidence of modern humans outside Africa. New branch of humanity? The genetic analyses revealed the genomes of present-day aboriginal Australians might harbor evidence of ancient interbreeding with an unknown human lineage. Story continues "Who these people are, we don't know," said Eske Willerslev at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and senior author of one of the three studies. Previous research unearthed bones from a mysterious extinct branch of the human family tree from Denisova cave in Siberia's Altai Mountains. Analysis of DNA extracted from the fossils suggested these "Denisovans" shared a common origin with Neanderthals, but were nearly as genetically distinct from Neanderthals as Neanderthals were from living people. [Denisovan Gallery: Tracing the Genetics of Human Ancestors] Recent work suggested that Denisovans have contributed about 5 percent of their DNA to the genomes of present-day people of the Pacific islands of Oceania. However, these new findings suggest that what seemed to be evidence of Denisovans in the Pacific were actually signs of an unknown human lineage. "These guys were very distantly related to Denisovans, but by no means Denisovan," Willerslev told Live Science. "They were even more distantly related to Neanderthals, and they might have been even more distantly related to modern humans. We believe that they interbred with modern humans shortly before modern humans crossed into the ancient continent of Sahul what is now Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania some 50,000 to 60,000 years ago." Leaving Africa The new findings also shed light on the controversy over whether modern humans dispersed from Africa in a single exodus or in multiple distinct waves at different times. When it came to people from Papua New Guinea, "we could discover, in the genomes of the Papuan individuals analyzed here, small traces of an additional, early expansion out of Africa that was previously hypothesized only from archaeological remains," Mait Metspalu, an evolutionary geneticist at the Estonian Biocenter in Tartu, Estonia, and senior author of one of the three studies, told Live Science. The researchers suggest that at least 2 percent of the Papuan genome harbors traces of an early migration that happened about 120,000 years ago. Previous research suggested that non-Africans largely descend from an exodus that happened between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago. "Our results, while for the most part confirming the already accepted model of a single expansion out of Africa as the source event of all non-African populations, show that additional expansions were not as unlikely as we thought," Luca Pagani, a molecular anthropologist at the Estonian Biocenter and lead author of one of the three studies, told Live Science. Oldest living population The scientists also discovered that aboriginal Australians "are one of the oldest living populations on Earth, and have been in the same area for the past 50,000 to 60,000 years," Willerslev said. There was a great deal of controversy "over whether or not aboriginal Australians directly descend from the first humans entering Australia," Willerslev said. "The answer to that question is yes our data is completely consistent with aboriginal Australians descending from the first humans to enter Australia. It shows a very long connection between those people and the land. [How Did Life Arise on Earth] "I can't think of any other place in the world where humans have been so long in the same spot as Australia," Willerslev said. "Yes, there are populations in Africa that are older, but we have no idea if they stayed in the same area in Africa for as long a time." This is the first comprehensive population-level whole-genome study of human genetic diversity in Australia. "We found that because aboriginal Australians have spent such a long time in Australia, they are very genetically diverse," Willerslev said. "An aboriginal Australian from eastern Australia and one from southwestern Australia are almost as different genetically as an Asian is from a European." The researchers noted that about 90 percent of aboriginal Australians speak languages belonging to a single linguistic family, "but some people in northwest Australia speak other language families," Willerslev said. "It'd be very interesting to see what the story is there when it comes to how they migrated to Australia." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency late Wednesday night, as violent protests against the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott continued to rock Charlotte for a second night. One man was shot and critically injured during the chaos when rioters, who flooded the downtown area, tried to storm the Omni hotel and police responded with tear gas, according to The Los Angeles Times. The victim, who was at first said to be dead, was shot by a civilian, not by the police, the city said. ALERT: Fatal shot uptown was civilian on civilian. @CMPD did not fire shot. -- City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) September 22, 2016 CORRECTION UPDATE: Civilian who suffered gunshot wound during protests is on life support, critical condition. Not deceased. -- City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) September 22, 2016 Some protesters believe the police shot the unidentified man, which has sparked even more outrage against local law enforcement. "It was an ambush. The victim was shot while he stood between two ministers, and we believe he was shot by police," said Minister Steve Knight of the city's Missiongathering Christian Church. Four police officers and two others were also injured, as protesters smashed windows of hotels and looted businesses, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department tweeted early Wednesday morning. 4 officers injured during demonstration. All non- life threatening -- CMPD News (@CMPD) September 22, 2016 Employees working at some businesses located in central Charlotte were told not to come into work Thursday, The Washington Post reported. Scott, a 43-year-old black man, was fatally shot by a black police officer Tuesday, outside an apartment building. Officers and officials say they are reviewing video surveillance, worn by officers at the scene, but not by the officer who shot Scott. They also assert that Scott was armed and posed a threat. But many people believe the man was unarmed and was sitting in his car, reading a book while waiting for his son to arrive home from school on the bus when he was killed. Story continues Mayor Jennifer Roberts announced Scott's family will watch the footage Thursday, The Charlotte Observer reported. But the police chief has made it clear the department will not be publicly releasing the video until after the investigation due to state policies. Roberts, however, has said she is trying to find a way for other community leaders to gain access to the videos, she told The Washington Post. "I've asked to see it. I'd like to invite some folks like the chair of NAACP to see it with me. I don't know what's in it. I don't know how complete it is. There may be gaps including where other officers were," she said. Some say police should share the video since it's the only way to end the debate over whether or not Scott was carrying a gun. "We must work together to ensure the process is swift, just and transparent. That begins with actions like releasing the video and calling for transparency, accountability and collaboration," Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., said. A new state regulation, beginning Oct. 1, will require a court order for police to make body camera footage public. But Roberts says officials have told her the law would not require them to this case, since it occurred before Oct. 1. Wednesday night's violence was the second evening of violence. Protests began Tuesday night, when rioters took to the streets of Charlotte, leading to a dozen police injuries and a temporary closing of Interstate 85. Scott's death follows the fatal shooting of another black man, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, by a white officer in Tulsa Oklahoma. [SEE: Tulsa Police Department Releases Video of Officer Shooting Unarmed Black Man] Casey Leins is a staff writer and producer at U.S. News & World Report. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Native American tribes took their fight to Washington on Thursday to stop development of a $3.7 billion oil pipeline, as Democrats in the U.S. Congress urged the federal government to scrap construction permits and reconsider the project. Representative Raul Grijalva, the senior Democrat on the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, called on the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers "to withdraw the existing permits for Dakota Access pipeline." He said the agency should then initiate a new, "transparent permitting process" that includes "robust" consultation with tribes and environmental review. The underground pipeline would traverse both federally-managed and private lands in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. Spokesmen for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers were not immediately available for comment. Thousands of activists, including the Standing Rock Sioux of North Dakota, have been protesting the 1,100-mile (1,886-km) project being developed by Energy Transfer Partners LP, arguing it poses an environmental risk to the tribe's water supply and would violate sacred sites. Their encampment on the North Dakota prairie marked the largest Native American protest in decades. Republicans control the U.S. Congress but several House Democrats organized a "forum" to provide a platform for Native American tribes to voice their opposition to the pipeline and the government's permitting process. Proponents of the pipeline were not present. In yet another fight, aboriginal tribes from Canada and the northern United States signed a treaty on Thursday to scrap proposals to build more pipelines to carry crude from Alberta's oil sands. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe is among the treaty's signatories. Grijalva said the pipeline threatened the natural resources of the Standing Rock Sioux and the project was part of a "long history of pushing the impacts of pollution onto the most economically and politically disadvantaged people and communities across this country." Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault complained to the Democratic panel that there was no "meaningful consultation" before permits were issued to bring the pipeline through his tribe's territory. Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners has countered that worries about oil contamination to local waters in the Missouri and Cannon Ball rivers were "unfounded" and that the company would address safety concerns. President Barack Obama is set to meet with Native American tribal leaders next week at the White House. On Sept. 9, the administration temporarily blocked construction of the project to deliver transport oil. (Reporting By Richard Cowan; editing by Diane Craft) A Spanish trekker and three Nepali guides were killed and six others injured Thursday when a landslide hit their route in western Nepal, an official said. An overnight downpour sent mud and stones hurtling down the slopes along the popular Manaslu route in the hilly district of Gorkha, trapping the trekkers. "One Spanish trekker and three Nepalis have died in the accident," Gorkha district chief Narayan Prasad Bhatta told AFP. Bhatta said the injured six, as well as other trekkers, were airlifted to Kathmandu. "We don't think anyone else is trapped, but our teams are continuing a search and rescue operation," he said. Scores of people die every year from rain-triggered disasters during the monsoon season in the Himalayan nation. Over 70 people were killed across the country in floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in July. Nepal's snow-capped peaks are a popular hiking destination, with around 150,000 trekkers visiting the Annapurna and Everest regions every year. But the industry has suffered since a massive earthquake hit the country in April 2015, killing almost 9,000 people. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / NetCents Technology Inc. (CSE: NC) ("NetCents" or the "Company") is very pleased to announce that its users are now able to make purchases online with more than 100,000 merchants. NetCents are now able to easily and securely make purchases online with many of the well-known names that accept digital currency for their goods and services such as Amazon, Overstock, Ebay, Bloomberg, Shopify, Dell, and Expedia. "NetCents is rapidly expanding its reach! Earlier this week we announced the that our users could make purchases online from companies such as Overstock.com, Amazon, Expedia, which allowed our tech`s to ramp up work on our Merchant API to add as many merchants as possible. Their hard work and dedication made this to become a reality immediately." commented Clayton Moore, CEO and Founder of NetCents. "NetCents is becoming an industry leader while Capturing the migration from cash to digital currency by utilizing innovative Blockchain Technology to provide a payment solution that is simple to use, secure and worry free." About NetCents NetCents is an electronic payments technology company offering consumers and merchants online services for managing electronic payments by a variety of payments methods through its processing platform. NetCents works with its financial partners, mobile operators, exchanges, etc. to streamline the process and user experience of transacting online. The NetCents platform is integrated into the Automated Clearing House ("ACH") through the Royal Bank of Canada ("RBC", "Royal Bank"). NetCents is available for deposits from 194 Countries around the World, providing you with the freedom to choose to Pay. Your Way. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.netcents.biz or contact Robert Meister, Capital Markets at Ph: 604.676.5248 or email: Robert.meister@net-cents.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors NetCents Technology Inc. Clayton Moore, Founder/CEO NetCents Technology Inc. Suite 1500, 885 West Georgia Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3E8 Story continues The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: NetCents Technology Inc. By India Today Web Desk: Seems like the government is all set to explore the true potential of India's lesser-known destinations, especially the coastal belt. Soon after Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma's announcement on the development of cruise tourism in India owing to the country's 7,500 km-long coastline, now the Centre wants to focus on the country's islands. Also read: Cruise tourism might be the next big thing in Incredible India advertisement As many as 26 islands, most of which are in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, will be developed in such a way that they attract tourists. According to media reports, infrastructure facilities needed to cater to the tourists will be developed on them. The Times of India quoted an official release from the Prime Minister's Office which says, "The PM was given a presentation on the vision for holistic development... India has a total of 1,382 offshore islands, out of which officials have initially proposed 26, which could be considered for holistic development." Also read: India's e-tourist visa will now let travellers stay for 100 days The PMO release also mentioned that the development work slated to be carried out on these islands will mostly focus on the building or improvement of basic infrastructural facilities, tourism, agriculture (including organic agriculture and fisheries) and carbon neutral energy generation (renewable energy). While the development of tourist facilities seems like a part of it, all of these developmental activities will collectively work in favour of attracting tourists to these islands. In fact, PM Narendra Modi has stressed upon the tourism potential held by these Indian islands. The release says that the PM has urged the officials to speedily firm up plans for island development. Also read: Kaziranga National Park to open on Oct 1, a month earlier than the usual date Although this sounds great, but the development work on ground will vary from one island to the other, depending upon the prevailing environmental conditions. The biggest concerns for the officials at the moment is to provide these islands connectivity to the mainland. --- ENDS --- Alopecia can cause disfiguring hair loss, but this drug offers hope. (Photo: Gallery Stock) Alopecia areata is having a moment in the medical community, even if youve never heard of this condition yet. More and more information is coming out about the disfiguring autoimmune disease, which causes patchy or total hair loss all over the body, including areas like the eyebrows and lashes. And new study from Yale and Stanford researchers shows that a rheumatoid arthritis drug may be the answer for hair regrowth. According to Brett King, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, there were snippets of scientific results in the medical literature indicating that the arthritis drug Tofacitinib may interrupt the signals driving hair loss in alopecia areata. Those tiny bits of data, including in mice, made me think to use the rheumatoid arthritis drug in a person with the disease, and it worked extraordinarily well, King tells Yahoo Beauty. In fact, in June 2014, his team published the first case of complete hair regrowth across the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, face, and body in a patient using the drug. Related: You Wont Believe How Many Women Are Losing Their Hair In the current study, King and researchers administered the drug to 66 patients at Yale and Stanford. Each took the drug for three months, and hair growth was evaluated. Most of the patients were completely bald before they started the trial, but almost two-thirds of patients showed hair growth during the study, and close to a third of patients recovered more than 50 percent of the hair they were missing before they began treatments. The results of this study are very promising for alopecia areata, a condition that currently has less-than-effective treatment options. This is an enormous step forward, both because alopecia areata is the second most common cause of hair loss and because there is a suggestion recently in the basic science literature that the class of medications that the drug belongs to, JAK inhibitors, may influence normal hair follicle development, King says. If this is indeed the case, then there are potential benefits for the most common form of hair loss. Story continues King says his teams next steps is to see what happens when the drug is taken over longer periods of time, and if patients will regrow all of their hair. Researchers also need to determine the drugs impact in adolescents with some of the toughest cases of alopecia areata. After all, severe hair loss during childhood is devastating, and can rob children of important years of development, King explains. Related: New Report Says Stress Can Cause Hair Loss in Men Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, a professor of dermatology and immunology at Mount Sinai Hospital and vice chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine, has also taken a keen interest in this condition. Whats unique about alopecia areata is that, when you look at the patches of hair loss, the scalp looks normal, Guttman-Yassky tells Yahoo Beauty. But studies show lots of inflammation. Guttman-Yassky and her team at Mount Sinai currently have the largest pool of ongoing alopecia areata trials in the country. She has been studying ways to encourage hair regrowth in patients with the autoimmune disease, like targeting the cytokines that tend to interfere with therapies. Right now, theres just not enough to help these patients. Current treatments for alopecia areata include topical steroids, intralesional steroids, and contact sensitizers, which arent very effective, she says. Systemic treatments that are broad are not safe for long-term use. Its a very poor treatment for adults and kids. Just yesterday, Mount Sinai hosted an event for alopecia areata. Guttman-Yassky says shes excited to see the wave of interest and research for the condition that carries a 1.7 percent lifetime prevalence and is currently not being discussed enough in everyday circles. It is very devastating, and theres a lot of emotional distress involved, she explains. This is one condition in which Im pushing for more awareness. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / NFM Lending is pleased to announce the opening of a new branch in Clearwater, Florida. The branch will focus its lending platform throughout Clearwater and the surrounding area. NFM Lending offers Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, FNMA, Jumbo, and many other loan options. "We at NFM are so pleased to announce that Bill Mantooth has decided to join our team," said Bob Tyson, COO/CAO of NFM Lending. "Bill brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, coupled with the highest level of customer service that makes him a leader in the industry and a perfect fit at NFM. His team mentality and dedication to formulating a process that leads to success is something that I truly appreciate and am humbled by." Mantooth said he looks forward to continued success with NFM Lending. "I looked for a company that would give me and my team the resources we need to continue to provide a smooth experience for our clients," said Mantooth. "NFM Lending has the leadership, operational support, and culture to allow us to continue to exceed our customers' expectations and build our business." Mantooth is also opening a second branch location in Sarasota, Florida. Both branches are currently hiring qualified Loan Originators for full and part-time positions. The branch's goal is to provide top-notch service, commitment, and dedication to borrowers, ranging from first-time home buyers to seasoned buyers looking for their next home, a second home, or investment properties. Visit the branch page to learn more: http://www.nfmlending.com/FL328. For more information, please contact: Bill Mantooth NMLS # 309568 Phone: 727-316-5115 bmantooth@nfmlending.com www.nfmlending.com/bmantooth About NFM Lending NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 29 states across the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as "America's Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender." Story continues For more information about NFM Lending, please contact: NFM Lending Toll-Free: 1-888-233-0092 pr@nfmlending.com Twitter: @nfm_lending SOURCE: NFM Lending via Submit Press Release 123 By Chijioke Ohuocha LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria has said it is owed a total of $12.7 billion by more than a dozen companies for allegedly not declaring exports of crude oil to the United States between 2011 and 2014, according to court documents seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The documents are part of a lawsuit the Nigerian government filed on June 7 against one of the companies - Nigerian AGIP Oil Company, a subsidiary of Italy's ENI and it was not immediately clear from the documents exactly how many of the companies Nigeria is suing. Reached late Wednesday, Garba Shehu, a government spokesman, declined to comment. The suit alleges that companies exported a total of 57 million barrels oil crude oil to the United States over the period and did not declare all of this to Nigerian government as required by law, according to the documents. ENI had said on Tuesday the claim against it amounted to $160 million, that there were "no grounds" to the claim and that it would contest it in court. ENI was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. U.S. oil company Chevron and France's Total have both previously been named as defendants but were not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. (Writing by Libby George; Editing by William Hardy, Mark Potter, Greg Mahlich) ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's president said on Thursday he would be open to U.N. bodies coming in to act as intermediaries in any talks with Boko Haram Islamist militants on the release of about 200 kidnapped schoolgirls. Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to free the girls, whose abduction almost two and a half years ago from the northeastern village of Chibok triggered international campaigns and piled pressure on his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan. Nigeria would "welcome intermediaries such as U.N. outfits, to step in", Buhari told U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly in New York, a statement issued by the president's office said. Buhari last year said for the first time his government was ready to negotiate over the girls. In August said he would let the Islamist militant group choose a non-profit organization as an intermediary but the group has not commented on the proposal. Any negotiations would be the first publicly known talks between the government and Boko Haram, whose seven-year insurgency to create an Islamic state in the northeast has killed 15,000 people and displaced more than two million. "The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with," said Buhari. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to Islamic State last year but signs of a rift emerged after IS announced a new leader for what it described as its West African operations. Boko Haram's hitherto leader Abubakar Shekau appeared to contradict the appointment in a later video message. "The split in the insurgent group is not helping matters. Government had reached out, ready to negotiate, but it became difficult to identify credible leaders," said the president. Nigeria's failure to find the kidnapped children prompted an outcry at home and abroad. Critics of Buhari's predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, said his government was too slow to act. Boko Haram published a video in August which apparently showed recent footage of dozens of the girls and stated that some had been killed in air strikes. Authorities said in May that one of the missing girls had been found and the president vowed to rescue the others. Nigeria is battling the jihadist group on the ground and with air strikes. A multi-national joint task force - comprising troops from Nigeria and neighboring Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin - is also fighting the militants. (Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Larry King and Andrew Heavens) By Manolo Serapio Jr DALIAN, China (Reuters) - Surging coal prices are prompting many Chinese steel mills to opt for higher grade iron ore to boost efficiency and use less coal, forcing suppliers of low-grade ore from India and Iran to offer deep discounts to attract buyers. At an annual iron and steel conference in China's port city of Dalian, low-grade iron ore suppliers scoured for steel mills in a packed hotel lobby, hoping to find new business. "No discount, no buyer," said a Chinese trader who sells Indian iron ore with iron content of less than 60 percent, which is considered low grade. On average, he said, he sells 57-percent grade material at 18-19 percent discount to the Platts pricing index. Another supplier of Indian iron ore said he was giving the same discount to his clients, a practice that started in January. It came to 20 percent in June when iron ore prices dropped to near four-month lows. "It's very difficult to sell because of excess supply," he said. The glut has hammered iron ore prices in the past three years and the surge in coking coal prices in recent months has made it harder for lower grade material to enter the Chinese market. That in turn boosts appetite for high-grade iron ore produced by Australia and Brazil, which together supplied 83 percent of China's iron ore imports in January-July. "Right now everybody wants to buy only 62 percent (grade) iron ore. When coal went up everybody wants to buy higher grade so their coal consumption is lower," said Keyvan Ja'fari Tehrani, head of international affairs at Iranian Iron Ore Producers and Exporters Association. The problem is the average grade of iron ore produced by mines in Iran is less than 60 percent, said Tehrani, forcing many to shut. From 200 mines in 2013, iron ore producers in Iran have dropped to 20, he said. The spot price of Australian premium hard coking coal (.PHCC-AUS=SI) has surged more than 160 percent this year, dwarfing a 29 percent gain in iron ore . Story continues Lower coal output in China and supply disruptions in top exporter Australia combined to lift coal prices while expectations of more supply limited iron ore's upside. Still, many are hoping to get new clients in one of China's biggest gatherings for the steel and iron ore industry. "I'm looking for traders and end-users," said an iron ore supplier based in Tehran. "The goal is get to know people and make business eventually," he said, clutching a bunch of business cards. (Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Michael Perry) Washington (AFP) - The top US military officer on Thursday blasted Russia over the attack on an aid convoy in Syria, calling the strike an atrocity and squarely blaming Moscow for the incident. General Joe Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said two Russian aircraft were in the area over Orum al-Kubra, a town in Aleppo province, where Monday's air strike on the convoy occurred. He said planes from the Syrian regime were also in the area, so he couldn't definitely say who dropped the bombs. "There is no doubt in my mind that the Russians are responsible, I just don't know whose aircraft actually dropped the bomb," Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Russia has been conducting military operations and air strikes in Syria over the past year to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. "It was an unacceptable atrocity," Dunford said of the deadly strike that killed around 20 civilians late Monday. Trucks carrying food and medical equipment from the United Nations and other agencies were unloading aid into a warehouse in Orum al-Kubra at the time of the strike. Speaking at the same hearing, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also said the Russians were responsible. "Whether they conducted it or not -- because they've taken responsibility for the conduct of Syrians by associating themselves with the Syrian regime," Carter said. Moscow has strenuously denied responsibility in the strike and offered several differing explanations for what might have happened. On Wednesday, Russia insinuated the United States might have been involved by claiming a Predator drone was in the area at the time of the strike. The Pentagon strongly rejected the claim. Dunford also said he supports calls to ground Syrian regime and Russian aircraft. A ceasefire that went into effect last week in Syria has collapsed, despite last-ditch diplomatic efforts to salvage it. Had the truce held, Russia and the United States were due to exchange information about targets in Syria. The Pentagon was deeply skeptical about the possible cooperation, and Dunford said it would not be "a good idea" to share intel with the Russians. The premiere of The Birth is a Nation went off without a hitch and without any protesters. Perhaps audiences and Oscar voters will decide that it should be judged on its own merits and not on the long ago allegation the films director, Nate Parker, and story co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin, raped a fellow student at Penn State. Parker was acquitted at the end of the 2001 trial, and Celestins conviction for sexual assault was later overturned and the case was never retried. But with the buzz surrounding The Birth of a Nation since the films Sundance premiere, the story resurfaced, threatening to derail the films Oscar hopes, particularly after it became known that the accuser committed suicide in 2012. But the matter wasnt on the minds of many people attending the premiere. fullsizerender-1 Asked if shed heard about the accusations, a young woman standing in line for the movie shook her head and said, I dont know anything about that. Asked the same question, an older African American gentleman looked incredulous and asked, Dont you have the Internet? Walking to enter the theater, he then paused and said: at the moment, were trying not to think about that. at the moment, were trying to think about the film and the filmmaker. There were lots of police, paparazzi, private security and a bomb-sniffing dog named Bo on hand for the premiere however. Police presence was not unusual for this type of event, said one officer, who was unaware of any controversy surrounding the film. Half a dozen uniformed cops were stationed outside the Dome, and one stood sentry at the door. Asked why a bomb-sniffing dog was needed, Bos handler shrugged and said, They asked me to come so I came. Related stories Sony Pictures Classics Seals Deal For Donald Sutherland-Helen Mirren Road Trip Pic 'The Leisure Seeker' - Update Story continues 'Paris Can Wait' Lands At Sony Pictures Classics - Toronto Lachlan Murdoch To Join The Cast And Star Supporters At LA Premiere Of Nate Parker's 'Birth' The governor of North Carolina has declared a state of emergency after a second night of protests in Charlotte over the police killing of an unarmed black man. Read: TV Hosts Like Whoopi Goldberg and Presidential Candidates Rip New Wave of Police Shootings of Black Men Outside the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte, protesters faced off with police, and a man was shot in the chaos. Authorities say the shooting was "civilian on civilian." The victim is on life support and in critical condition in an area hospital. Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated," Governor Pat McCrory said in a statement. "I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation." Following the shooting outside the Omni, police fired flash grenades and tear gas and the crowds dispersed. In an interview with Fox News, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney defended his officers actions. We're trying to disperse the crowd," Putney said. "We've been very patient, but now they've become very violent." A Bank of America branch became the site of protests as people stood silently outside the bank with Black Lives Matter and Stop Killing Us signs. On Thursday, bank employees were told to stay home. Read: Cops Say They Found PCP in SUV of Police Shooting Victim, Family Calls It 'Red Herring' It was the second-straight night of protests, which came after the shooting of 43-year-old father of seven Keith Lamont at the hands of police. Lamont was unarmed and shot after police mistook him for someone else. The cop who shot him was identified as Officer Brentley Vinson. He was in plain clothes during the time of the shooting and therefore not wearing a body camera. He has been placed on administrative leave. Story continues Vinson joined the police academy in July 2014. In December, he was assigned to the citys metro division. Watch: 'Black Lives Matter' Chant Erupts as 9 Moms Who Lost Children to Police and Gun Violence Speak at DNC Related Articles: By PTI: medical colleges New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar today welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court which cancelled the counselling conducted so far by private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh for admissions in undergraduate medical course and ordered that a combined counselling be held afresh. Welcoming the order, Javadekar said Supreme Court has today given a decision about Madhya Pradesh and tomorrow they are going to give a decision about Maharashtra and other states. advertisement "I believe the whole concept of NEET is giving admissions on merit. Nobody need to pay more than the fees and that is the basic concept of merit in admissions. And as a government we are always trying that they get it on the basis of their merit and not money power. Therefore, I welcome todays decision. But let the whole process be completed," he said adding that the courts are likely to hear related cases tomorrow. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice A R Dave today asked the Madhya Pradesh government to complete within a week the combined counselling process for both private and government colleges. It said two representatives of private medical colleges would participate in the counselling process to be conducted by the state government. The order came on a recent contempt petition filed by the Madhya Pradesh government alleging that private medical colleges have been refusing to admit students, who have taken part in the centralised counselling being conducted by it. The state government, while seeking initiation of contempt action against private medical colleges, alleged that they were conducting the counselling on their own. PTI ADS RG --- ENDS --- Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata star in Notorious. (Photo: Kevin Foley/ABC) A powerful defense attorney (Gracelands Daniel Sunjata) and a clever TV producer (Covert Affairs Piper Perabo) collude to help his clients and her ratings. Thats the premise for ABCs new drama Notorious, premiering on Sept. 22. The elevator pitch for the show is it examines the point of intersection between headlines and alibis, Sunjata said when he visited Yahoo TV for a Facebook Live interview. How do the world of the legal system and the world of the media intersect for mutual [benefit]? When do they bump heads? How are headlines massaged sometimes? How is consensus created? How are seeds of doubt planted in the minds of potential jurors when certain late-breaking news hits our TV screens and our tickers? Its interesting. One of the things that drew me to the project was that I hadnt quite seen that [explored] before. But, he noted, That particular thematic underpinning or plot point was not a new idea to me; I kinda subscribe to a conspiratorial view of history, so Ive always kinda thought that there was collusion behind the scenes when it came to news and infotainment. Sunjatas Jake and Perabos Julia are loosely based on attorney Mark Geragos and Wendy Walker, who was the senior executive producer of Larry King Live for 18 years. They actually are good people, executive producer Josh Berman says of his characters. Both Julia and Jake have a strong moral compass, but they also work within systems that are broken. Jake is very aware that our legal system doesnt always get the just result that it should. Because of that, he has no problem bending the law if it helps his client. Especially when his clients are innocent. Viewers may wonder if theyre supposed to ship the duo. While Sunjata admits that he and Perabo like to think theres a Moonlighting vibe between Jake and Julia, he knows that cant be fully explored for, fingers crossed, seasons both for the shows sake, and for the characters. Theyre too valuable as colleagues to risk a romance, at this point, he said. Story continues Related: Fall TV Preview: The Scoop on 35 New Shows How does Berman view the relationship? Wendy tells the story about how [she and Mark] were completely at odds over the Scott Peterson case. Mark was convinced Scott was innocent, and Wendy was certain that Scott is guilty. After Mark lost the case, he came over to her house for a drink, and she was supportive of him. [Its] that kind of unique relationship, where you can be at each others throats but, at the end of the day, this is the person that comforts you. Key to the relationship is the pact between the characters that, even as theyre manipulating others through guest appearances on Louise Herrick Live, theyll never lie to one another. The notion of what is a lie and what is truth, it permeates the entire series, Berman says. The fact that these two characters maintain that code is really important and relationship-defining. That being said, I believe in todays world, if you were an alien looking at our media now, turning from CNN to Fox, you would believe the truth is subjective because its reported so differently. We definitely plan to explore the notion of the subjectivity of truth. J. August Richards, left, and Daniel Sunjata. (Photo: Eric McCandless/ABC) Right from the premiere, the show will dive into Jakes and Julias separate and very sticky personal lives. But theres something else on that front that Sunjata hopes the show has time to mine something he hadnt yet had a chance to discuss with Berman before he sat down with us (when he was just four episodes into their 13-episode order). It involves Jake and his brother, fellow attorney Bradley Gregorian (J. August Richards), who together inherited their fathers law firm. Its very clear, and its not even commented on, that we are men of color who have risen to a level of supreme success in a world the world of legal criminal defense in Los Angeles that is predominantly not dominated by men of color. Thats a story in and of itself, Sunjata said. These are black guys with an Armenian last name, and they look nothing alike and theres reasons for that, and were gonna get into exploring all of that. As black men, as men of color in general, both J. August Richards and myself, weve had private conversations about the fact that, you know, that kind of needs to be shown or explored in some way [too], that we know where we came from. We know how hard it has been for us to get where we weve gotten, and weve done it as brothers. And as brothers. We want to put a little element of that into the show. So well see how that manifests. Watch the complete Facebook Live interview with Sunjata to hear more of his thoughts on the show, his supreme thanks to Kerry Washington for her pregnancy (which allowed Notorious to temporarily step into Scandals time slot), and what he learned from Denis Leary on Rescue Me. Notorious premieres on Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes of Notorious for free on Yahoo View. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Thursday against embracing the "stop and frisk" police tactic that he said would worsen relations between police and community in the country. Trump has praised the anti-crime tactic in which police stop, question and search pedestrians for weapons or contraband and said on Fox News on Thursday it "massively changed" the crime statistics in New York City. "Stop and frisk worked," Trump said on Fox & Friends on Thursday. He said the crime-ridden city of Chicago needed to adopt the tactic. De Blasio rejected that claim and attributed the sharp drop in crime to another strategy adopted by Bill Bratton, the city's longtime police commissioner who retired less than a week ago. Bratton championed the "broken windows" policing strategy that emphasizes pursuit of crimes no matter how minor. In his resignation letter he attributed the decline in crime in New York City, the nation's largest with 8.5 million people, to additional officers and an emphasis on building bonds within neighborhoods. "Donald Trump talks about stop and frisk like he knows the facts," de Blasio said in an interview with CNN. "He has had no experience with policing, no experience with public safety. "He should really be careful because if we reinstitute stop and frisk all over this country, you would see a lot more tension between police and community." Police tactics and deadly encounters with African-Americans, many of them unarmed, have sparked protests and unrest across the country. A state of emergency was declared in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a second night of unrest sparked by the fatal police shooting of a black man. There have also been protests in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in recent days demanding the arrest of a police officer seen in a video last week fatally shooting an unarmed black man who had his hands in clear view at the time. The stop and frisk policy gained traction in New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a top Trump supporter. De Blasio promised to end the practice during his 2013 mayoral campaign. De Blasio also credited the continued drop in crime in New York City in recent decades to a crime reduction strategy adopted by Bratton called CompStat, which adopts statistical strategies to achieve more effective policing. "That's what changed things in New York City," de Blasio said, adding crime has gone down in the three years since his administration curtailed the use of stop and frisk. (Fixes ninth paragraph to say protesters demanding arrest, officer not arrested.) (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Daniel Bases) By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama awarded 24 American giants of the arts and humanities with medals on Thursday, lauding their accomplishments - and sharing some laughs. Comedian Mel Brooks, who Obama has said he admires for his over-the-top Western satire "Blazing Saddles," looked as if were dropping down to receive a knighthood after a citation for "a lifetime of making the world laugh." In fact, Brooks, 90, was miming that he was pulling down Obama's pants. Obama laughed, shook Brooks' hand, and warned that he would catch him if he tried to sell his National Medal of Arts on eBay. Obama also joked with Broadway star Audra McDonald, whose citation was misplaced, and admired the spiked sneakers of poet Louise Gluck. "I do think Mel Brooks kind of set the tone for this thing," Obama said afterward. "Historically, this has been a much more staid affair." Also among the honorees: Motown producer Berry Gordy and composer Philip Glass as well as authors Sandra Cisneros, Ron Chernow, Rudolfo Anaya and James McBride. "We believe that the arts and the humanities are in many ways reflective of our national soul. They're central to who we are as Americans: dreamers and storytellers and innovators and visionaries," Obama said. "They're what help us make sense of the past - the good and the bad - and how we chart a course for the future," he said. Obama gave a medal to Spanish celebrity chef Jose Andres, whose restaurants have been favorite haunts during his time in Washington, and who has worked with the White House on immigration reform issues. Left unmentioned: Andres' battle with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who sued Andres for backing out of a deal to open a restaurant in his new Washington hotel after Trump made disparaging comments about Mexican immigrants. Actor Morgan Freeman was honored, but was a no-show. Obama deadpanned that Freeman, who has been involved with the foundation raising money for his presidential library in Chicago, "undoubtedly is off playing a black president again." "He never lets me have my moment!" Obama quipped. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by G Crosse, Toni Reinhold) San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) - US film director Oliver Stone on Thursday accused President Barack Obama's administration of implementing a surveillance system worse than that of the feared Stasi secret police in East Germany. Speaking at the San Sebastian film festival in northern Spain, where he presented his film "Snowden," Stone said many in the US had grown disillusioned with a president they once saw as "a man of great integrity." "On the contrary, Obama has doubled down on the (George W.) Bush administration policies," said Stone, whose latest movie is a biographical political thriller about Edward Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who revealed a vast US surveillance programme in 2013. Obama "has created... the most massive global security surveillance state that's ever been seen, way beyond East Germany's Stasi, way beyond that." "In the name of one thing -- terrorism -- to change all the rules is not a marginal response, it's an extreme response," he told reporters. "Let's beware of fascists and tyrants who tell us 'we are going to protect you'. I don't want that." This is far from the first time that Stone has dabbled in politics, having directed "Platoon" about the Vietnam War, "JFK" and "Nixon" among a host of other films. He insisted "there was no agenda" behind the release of his latest movie just weeks ahead of US elections, but said he hoped Obama would pardon Snowden, who currently lives in Russia after escaping his homeland. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Snowden and met with him to prepare for the role, said the former contractor "was embarrassed" that a film had been made about him. "He's a private person, he felt awkward about it," he said. The San Sebastian film festival, which takes place in the northern Basque country until Saturday, is the highest-profile film event in the Spanish-speaking world. Washington (AFP) - Barack Obama will on Friday veto legislation allowing 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, risking public outrage and the first congressional override of his presidency. The White House confirmed Thursday that Obama would veto the legislation -- unanimously passed by Congress -- allowing 9/11 families to launch civil suits against Riyadh. "We believe this is a bad bill," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "It's why the president's going to veto it." The White House argues the legislation would undermine sovereign immunity and potentially expose US officials and service members to litigation. That technical legal argument will struggle to be heard over emotive accusations that Obama is putting relations with Saudi Arabia before 9/11 victims. Republican nominee Donald Trump has already tried to paint Obama and his would-be successor Hillary Clinton as weak on terrorism. Clinton has preemptively voiced support for congressional efforts "to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terror to hold accountable those responsible," according to Jesse Lehrich, a campaign spokesman. But with the election less than 50 days away, the Republican-led Congress will try to deal Obama a significant political blow by overriding his veto. Such overrides are rare and this one would show the White House to be almost cripplingly weak as Obama tries to tick off remaining legislative goals in the twilight of his presidency. Obama has issued 11 vetoes so far in his presidency, none of which have garnered the two-thirds opposition needed for an override. But Republicans will need the backing of Democratic lawmakers, who the White House is lobbying furiously. Congressional sources said Thursday that White House appeals to security minded senators like Dianne Feinstein may have been enough to avoid a override vote. That would be a blow to families of 9/11 victims, who have campaigned for the law -- convinced that the Saudi government had a hand in the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people. Story continues Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens. Declassified documents showed US intelligence had multiple suspicions about links between the Saudi government and the attackers, but no link has definitively been proven. "While in the United States, some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government," a finding read. But a victory for the White House could help ease relations with Saudi Arabia, already strained by Obama's engagement with Iran and the July release of a secret report on Saudi's involvement in the attacks. A senior Saudi Prince reportedly threatened to pull billions of dollars out of US assets if it becomes law, but Saudi officials now distance themselves from that alledged threat. The White House is getting some backing from diplomatic allies who share concerns about the United States becoming a venue for citizens to sue governments. In a diplomatic protest note obtained by AFP, the European Union warned the rules would be "in conflict with fundamental principles of international law." "State immunity is a central pillar of the international legal order," the "demarche" noted, adding that other countries could take "reciprocal action." In a letter to lawmakers, also seen by AFP, former secretary of defense William Cohen, former CIA boss Michael Morell and Stephen Hadley, George W. Bush's national security advisor were among a group of high profile security figures to warn the legislation would hurt US interests. "Our national security interests, our capacity to fight terrorism and our leadership role in the world would be put in serious jeopardy," they said. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama intends to veto by Friday evening legislation allowing survivors and families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, the White House said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the president will veto Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act within the constitutionally mandated 10-day window, which ends Friday evening. The Obama administration opposed the bill on grounds that other countries could use the law as an excuse to sue U.S. diplomats, service members or companies. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and David Alexander; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Gregorio) For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS. (Betty Shelby.Tulsa Police Department via Reuters) The Oklahoma police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man last week has shared her side of the incident through her attorney, ABC News reported on Wednesday. Betty Shelby fired the shot that killed Terence Crutcher, who appeared in video recorded by a police dashcam and a helicopter to have his hands raised at the time. The police encountered Crutcher after coming across his vehicle stopped in the middle of a road in Tulsa. While attorneys of Crutchers family have said a window of Crutchers car that he was standing near when he was killed was raised citing blood splattered on the window Shelbys attorney, Scott Wood, insisted that the window was open and that Crutcher reached into it, failing to listen to several of Shelbys commands. Wood said Shelby believed Crutcher was retrieving a weapon from his car. She told homicide detectives afterward, I was never so scared in my life as in that moment right then, according to her attorney. Shelbys attorney and the Tulsa Police Department are standing behind her story. Wood said the encounter between Shelby and Crutcher began more than a minute before the start of the released video. A 911 caller reported that a man was running from an abandoned SUV parked in the middle of a street. Shelby, while responding to an unrelated call, came across the SUV and found Crutcher in the middle of the road, according to Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan. According to Wood, Shelby said she thought it was odd that the SUVs engine was still running, having initially assumed the vehicle was disabled. Wood said Shelby approached the empty car and saw that the windows were open and that the doors were closed. Shelby then turned around to look into the drivers side and saw Crutcher walking toward her, the attorney said. Shelbys attorney says Crutcher was uncooperative up to the point when the officer opened fire. Story continues NOW WATCH: My friend died: Watch this emotional exchange between Joe Biden and a protester More From Business Insider Kareena Kapoor Khan ring in her 36th birthday with Ranbir Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor and Malaika Arora Khan. By India Today Web Desk: As birthday girl Kareena Kapoor Khan turned a year older, her family and close friends came to shower her with love on her special day. From Karisma Kapoor to Ranbir Kapoor to Malaika Arora Khan, many made their way to Kareena's home for her birthday bash. ALSO READ: 5 times Kareena Kapoor Khan proved she is Bollywood's coolest mom-to-be advertisement ALSO READ: 5 quotes from Kareena Kapoor Khan that can inspire every expecting woman Kareena and Saif are known to be private people, and unlike their contemporaries, they like to keep their parties and get-together restricted to only family and close friends. And that's what exactly happened at Kareena's 36th birthday bash. Kareena, who is expecting her first child with Saif in December this year, looked beautiful in a black dress. Karisma shared a few inside pictures from the birthday bash on Instagram. Hanging Out ????#family#friends#birthdayfun#cousins A photo posted by KK (@therealkarismakapoor) on Sep 21, 2016 at 12:04pm PDT Apart from the cousins, also present at the party were Bebo's parents Babita and Radhir Kapoor, Saif's daughter Sara Ali Khan, and brother-in-law Kunal Kemmu. Family Love ??#togetherness#happiness A photo posted by KK (@therealkarismakapoor) on Sep 21, 2016 at 12:02pm PDT Birthday Moments??????#birthdaygirl#family#togetherness#happiness A photo posted by KK (@therealkarismakapoor) on Sep 21, 2016 at 11:59am PDT In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Kareena said, "My birthday will be a private affair with family, close friends and great food. For me, it's not really about the parties, quick getaways or ever discussing work, but spending time with the people I love." The daily further suggests that birthday celebrations are nowhere to end soon as Kareena and Saif would leave for Dubai next weekend. Where the expecting couple will indulge in lavish brunches, spa sessions and luxury shopping. On the work front, Kareena will soon begin shooting for Rhea Kapoor's Veere Di Wedding. --- ENDS --- Ask your typical politicians in the north Indian city of Varanasi to talk policy, the impending 2017 elections or all the graffiti advertising various parties including lotuses, elephants and the face of the prime minister and they inevitably turn to broad-canvas conversations instead. They mention identity, ideology and what this sacred Hindu city located in Indias most populous state deserves. But voters are a different story. Their concerns may touch on identity which candidate is which caste or religion, and who has their back but mostly they are focused on highways, potholes and the quickly rising river waters that are flooding the streets around the holy river Ganges. This city is a crucial political gauge for the rest of the country, and not just because it sits in a state with a population of 200 million almost two-thirds that of the entire U.S. or high representation in the national parliament. This sprawling metropolis also happens to be Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency, famous and ancient and yet riddled with case studies of the problems facing the rest of India too. The long list includes unequal water distribution, disastrous waste management and towers of garbage by the sides of the road that look like burlesque modern-art sculptures. What are any of the politicians doing for any of us? asks Ahmed Mohamad, a boatman on the Ganges who cant take his vehicle out on the water because the river is so high it has submerged nearly all the ghats, the places pilgrims come to bathe. Two years into Modis much-lauded reign, the nations political terrain is shifting as voters make up their minds about just how many of his development promises the prime minister has followed through on. Modis party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is facing in the state of Uttar Pradesh a microcosm of trends nationally that shed light on the challenges Indian national parties face when pitted against local parties. Its not that ideology doesnt matter, says Gilles Verniers, an assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University in Haryana, who is writing his dissertation (at Sciences Politique in Paris) on politics in Uttar Pradesh. Its that anything related to tangible development tends to be rewarded more. Bicycle availability, road construction, electrification all these are tickets to voters hearts, Verniers says. Yes, even in this state, which for several decades was politically defined by its highly polarized caste voting blocs. Story continues UP embodies a lot of the trends of Indian politics and is basically seen as a political laboratory. Gilles Verniers, assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University Fascinatingly, though some politicians and scholars have seen shifts largely along caste and religious lines in other parts of the country, such as Maharashtra, thats not the case in Uttar Pradesh, where polarization on caste lines is being replaced by voting lines reflecting that desire for concrete development. Today, Verniers says, very few groups vote as a bloc. One that still does, he adds, is Dalits the lowermost caste, who vote overwhelmingly for the Bahujan Samaj Party and remain inspired by that partys former chief minister Mayawati Prabhu Das. Theres also the Yadavs, a historically peasant caste who tend toward the Samajwadi Party, known for its socialist outreach to both urbanites and pastoral communities. Which leaves much of the rest of the states various communities up for grabs and what Verniers says is a floating electorate, including the high-caste Brahmins, the Muslims as well as the so-called Other Backward Castes and Most Backward Castes each of which encompasses other downtrodden groups. Gettyimages 599085228 A supporter of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Source Sanjay Kanojia/Getty Winning those groups is crucial for Prime Minister Modis BJP, Verniers argues, and helped them clinch support in 2014. For its part, the BJP did not reply to requests for comment through its national spokesman, Nalin Kohli, though longtime BJP local staffer and Hindu cultural activist Rakesh Tripati, through a thick mouthful of chewing paan, is shocked at the suggestion that voters could choose anyone but Modi. He has started to follow through on the promises hes trying, Tripati says, reasonably blaming many of the local urban problems facing Varanasi on local government. Even so, other parties are seizing on the chance to nab these voters Rajkumar Jaisal, city president of the Samajwadi Party in Varanasi, says his party will do so by talking socioeconomics and preaching true socialism. Jaisal criticizes the Bahujan Samaj Party (whose spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment) for their narrow focus on caste. Meanwhile, some watchers still arent sure whether the identity play has totally faded, especially among Other Backward Castes so says A.K. Verma, chair of the political science department at Christ Church College in the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His research involves extensive door-to-door polling of the states voters and Modi hails from an Other Backward Caste. People still think that if someone comes from their caste, they will support them, Verma says. Seeing a candidate from ones own turf, Verma says, becomes even more important when development has yet to trickle down here, and around the country. What happens in Uttar Pradesh doesnt stay there. The state has massive political weight, embodies a lot of the trends of Indian politics and is basically seen as a political laboratory, says Verniers. A lot of the trends that started [there] have started appearing in other states afterward. Related Articles Manhattanhenge 2016 Rafi Letzter at 34th Street RRL_5841 I live in New York City, but this week I'm working from Boston. And I gotta tell you: Moving through this less-crowded, more-walkable, less garbage-scented city feels like taking a deep breath after holding my head underwater for too long. This city feels like it exists on a human scale. While here, I visited MIT's Media Lab and spoke with Kent Larson, who studies how cities develop and how urban policy makers can make them better homes for their people. Larson, an architect by training who now works on futuristic plans to adapt urban centers for the 21st century, said that the overriding mistake of last century was building cities around cars. "Cars kill innovation," he said. "They lower density, they lead to traffic congestion and parking problems, and waste land for storing cars 24 hours a day." Up until about 1880, he said, cities functioned more like networked villages. A person likely worked, relaxed, and shopped all within about 20 minutes of their home. Cities of that era of course had plenty of their own challenges, but they functioned as cohesive units. Residents were more likely to interact and function together. But the modern era, and the introduction of the car, changed that. "The early modernists saw the future as defined by separate functions: housing, commercial, industry," he said. "So people had these quiet, high quality residential areas, in large part in reaction to tenement slums and the awful living conditions that were quite often found in cities." Many wealthy, white people moved out to suburbs, and commuted to work in city centers on major highways. Those highways divided up the neighborhoods of those who remained in cities, and isolating and ghettoizing many poor and minority populations. "By the 1950s we were redesigning cities to privilege the needs of machines over the needs of humans," Larson said. The result was urban spaces that were more and more crowded but less dense. If you're in a city right now, the space around you is likely a mix of buildings and areas for people to walk and relax, all chopped up by wide streets and parking spaces. All that room given over to cars takes away from and interrupts the spaces human beings use to live and move around. It reduces the number of people who can fit in a square mile, while making that same square mile feel more crowded and uncomfortable. (Cut that space for cars down drastically, and you're left with a much more human city.) Story continues bi graphics what cities could look like in 100 years lead image This history won't shock anyone who's paid attention to the history of cities over the course of the last 100-plus years. But it's a key element of the theory that informs trends in urban planning that people like Larson hope will define the 21st century. A return to the neighborhood-as-village model would see more people packed, hopefully thoughtfully, into cities themselves, but streets and parking areas given over to communal spaces and modes of transport that don't involve hauling tons of steel around on four wheels. The most vital cities, he said, will offer more personalized, shared transportation options and walkable spaces, and privilege the needs of urbanites over suburbanites. You can already see it happening: Bike shares, roads like Broadway in New York turned over to communal spaces, European cities banning private cars from downtown areas. But cities still have a long way to go. NOW WATCH: Scientists discovered something 'shocking' that could rewrite a key part of human evolution More From Business Insider One of the occupiers in the armed standoff in Oregon was a government informant who tipped off law enforcement about Ammon Bundys location before his arrest on Jan. 26, according to court testimony on Wednesday. Mark McConnell, who drove the Jeep Bundy rode in before his arrest, gave Oregon State Police information about the occupiers vehicles, their location and a basic threat assessment that led to a traffic stop and the arrest of Bundy and other occupiers Brian Cavalier, Ryan Bundy and Shawna Cox, The Oregonian reported. Oregon State Police Trooper Jeremiah Beckert said McConnell alerted police that Bundy and the other occupiers, including Robert LaVoy Finicum, who was fatally shot after he fled the traffic stop, were traveling to a community meeting north of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 26, the Associated Press reported. Beckert, testifying in a trial against Bundy and six co-defenders who are charged with conspiring to impede federal officers from doing their jobs, said he did not see what happened to Finicum. U.S. District Judge Anna Brown warned attorneys not to bring up the circumstances surrounding Finicums death, saying this trial is not about the shooting. By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - As far as OPEC decision-making is concerned, Algeria, which plays host to oil ministers next week, has always been the land of surprises. The last two meetings of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held in Algeria -- in 2004 and 2008 -- shocked the market with unexpected production cuts to prop up prices. The stars could align for OPEC again next week when its ministers return to Algiers and look ready to curb output for the first time in eight years, according to OPEC officials and sources. Saudi Arabia and Iran, arch-rivals in oil markets and in politics, are sending conciliatory signals that they want to work together, along with Russia which is involved in talks although not a member of OPEC. This comes despite their backing for different sides in conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Behind the scenes, OPEC experts are trying to work out last-minute details for an output-limiting deal that would impress the market but also allow oil ministers to claim victories at home in front of their respective domestic audiences. "This time I think (things are) a little bit different because circumstances are a little bit better, helping (producers) to reach a deal," Iraq's OPEC governor Falah Alamri said on Thursday. He said OPEC had to act when it meets Russia on the sidelines of an energy producers and consumers conference in Algeria next week simply because current oil prices at $45-50 per barrel were not acceptable to the group's members. [O/R] Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have all ramped up output to historic highs over the past year to fight for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States where production has been declining due to low oil prices. Iraq is seen as one of key stumbling blocks to a global oil production deal given that it wants to increase output further next year, while Russia and Iran have probably both hit peak capacity and Saudis have never tested higher production levels. Story continues But Alamri said Iraq would not kill the deal: "We are not intending to flood the market, we are intending to support the market.... we will not participate in any action that will reduce the price." OPEC EXPERTS MEETING OPEC last reduced supply in 2008 when the global economic crisis crippled demand. The first attempt at an output freeze deal between OPEC and Russia collapsed earlier this year after the Saudis said Iran needed to contribute to it as production recovered following the end to Western sanctions in January. Tehran has argued its production needs to reach pre-sanction levels before it agrees to any action. In the past three months, Iranian oil output has stagnated but Tehran is still insisting on certain exemptions from any OPEC deals to curb supplies. Saudi Arabian and Iranian OPEC officials are meeting in Vienna this week, according to sources, to try to figure out the shape of a possible output deal. "It seems that they all want to get some sort of consensus in Algiers. You can see that in the amount of meetings and diplomacy taking place. There is a real push," an OPEC source said. Other sources said the main debate was about baseline production figures from which output could be frozen or cut. OPEC has two sets of figures, estimates by countries themselves and estimates by independent market experts known as secondary sources. The latter estimates have recently been lower and a more accurate reflection of actual production numbers. Gulf producers are insisting on using these in any output deal, according to sources, in order to help better monitor supply levels. One OPEC source familiar with discussions suggested that if output was frozen at levels seen at the start the year or the average of the first six months of 2016, it would effectively represent a cut from current real production levels. "Logically speaking, it could be viewed as a cut if (all) agreed on using secondary sources," the OPEC source said. Several other OPEC sources said that Libya and Nigeria could be granted exemptions as their output is curtailed by unrest. SCENE OF SURPRISES OPEC's last two meetings in Algeria produced surprise, bullish outcomes. In the city of Oran in December 2008, ministers emerged from hours of talks to announce a huge supply cut of 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd), causing prices to jump. The number actually included earlier cutbacks from previous meetings in the year. And in 2004, when growing Chinese demand was straining supply, OPEC met in Algiers and announced a surprise supply cut. Prices jumped and within weeks the decision was reversed. Now, OPEC produces a third of global crude or around 33.5 million barrels per day with Russia and the United States producing around 10-11 million bpd each. Record OPEC production has led to a massive spike in global oil stocks, currently standing at over 3 billion barrels. The International Energy Agency said this month oil supply will outpace demand at least until the second half of 2017, meaning prices will remain depressed and further stretching the budgets of OPEC producers and Russia. Several OPEC officials have publicly suggested levels by which global output shall drop to help prices recover. Algeria's oil minister said this week supply should be reduced by at least one million bpd. Russia said it was in theory ready to cap output by 5 percent. OPEC's secretary general has said the output freeze deal shall last to October 2017. "It is the closest OPEC has come to a deal in a long time but of course challenges remain and the elephant in the room is Iran and to a certain extent Iraq," said Amrita Sen from Energy Aspects. She said that if OPEC cut output by 1 million bpd it would help rebalance the market as it would reduce stocks by 290-330 million barrels over the course of the year, even if U.S. production started to recover due to higher oil prices. (Additional reporting and writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Keith Weir) By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - As far as OPEC decision-making is concerned, Algeria, which plays host to oil ministers next week, has always been the land of surprises. The last two meetings of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held in Algeria -- in 2004 and 2008 -- shocked the market with unexpected production cuts to prop up prices. The stars could align for OPEC again next week when its ministers return to Algiers and look ready to curb output for the first time in eight years, according to OPEC officials and sources. Saudi Arabia and Iran, arch-rivals in oil markets and in politics, are sending conciliatory signals that they want to work together, along with Russia which is involved in talks although not a member of OPEC. This comes despite their backing for different sides in conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Behind the scenes, OPEC experts are trying to work out last-minute details for an output-limiting deal that would impress the market but also allow oil ministers to claim victories at home in front of their respective domestic audiences. "This time I think (things are) a little bit different because circumstances are a little bit better, helping (producers) to reach a deal," Iraq's OPEC governor Falah Alamri said on Thursday. He said OPEC had to act when it meets Russia on the sidelines of an energy producers and consumers conference in Algeria next week simply because current oil prices at $45-50 per barrel were not acceptable to the group's members. [O/R] Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have all ramped up output to historic highs over the past year to fight for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States where production has been declining due to low oil prices. Iraq is seen as one of key stumbling blocks to a global oil production deal given that it wants to increase output further next year, while Russia and Iran have probably both hit peak capacity and Saudis have never tested higher production levels. But Alamri said Iraq would not kill the deal: "We are not intending to flood the market, we are intending to support the market.... we will not participate in any action that will reduce the price." OPEC EXPERTS MEETING OPEC last reduced supply in 2008 when the global economic crisis crippled demand. The first attempt at an output freeze deal between OPEC and Russia collapsed earlier this year after the Saudis said Iran needed to contribute to it as production recovered following the end to Western sanctions in January. Tehran has argued its production needs to reach pre-sanction levels before it agrees to any action. In the past three months, Iranian oil output has stagnated but Tehran is still insisting on certain exemptions from any OPEC deals to curb supplies. Saudi Arabian and Iranian OPEC officials are meeting in Vienna this week, according to sources, to try to figure out the shape of a possible output deal. "It seems that they all want to get some sort of consensus in Algiers. You can see that in the amount of meetings and diplomacy taking place. There is a real push," an OPEC source said. Other sources said the main debate was about baseline production figures from which output could be frozen or cut. OPEC has two sets of figures, estimates by countries themselves and estimates by independent market experts known as secondary sources. The latter estimates have recently been lower and a more accurate reflection of actual production numbers. Gulf producers are insisting on using these in any output deal, according to sources, in order to help better monitor supply levels. One OPEC source familiar with discussions suggested that if output was frozen at levels seen at the start the year or the average of the first six months of 2016, it would effectively represent a cut from current real production levels. "Logically speaking, it could be viewed as a cut if (all) agreed on using secondary sources," the OPEC source said. Several other OPEC sources said that Libya and Nigeria could be granted exemptions as their output is curtailed by unrest. SCENE OF SURPRISES OPEC's last two meetings in Algeria produced surprise, bullish outcomes. In the city of Oran in December 2008, ministers emerged from hours of talks to announce a huge supply cut of 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd), causing prices to jump. The number actually included earlier cutbacks from previous meetings in the year. And in 2004, when growing Chinese demand was straining supply, OPEC met in Algiers and announced a surprise supply cut. Prices jumped and within weeks the decision was reversed. Now, OPEC produces a third of global crude or around 33.5 million barrels per day with Russia and the United States producing around 10-11 million bpd each. Record OPEC production has led to a massive spike in global oil stocks, currently standing at over 3 billion barrels. The International Energy Agency said this month oil supply will outpace demand at least until the second half of 2017, meaning prices will remain depressed and further stretching the budgets of OPEC producers and Russia. Several OPEC officials have publicly suggested levels by which global output shall drop to help prices recover. Algeria's oil minister said this week supply should be reduced by at least one million bpd. Russia said it was in theory ready to cap output by 5 percent. OPEC's secretary general has said the output freeze deal shall last to October 2017. "It is the closest OPEC has come to a deal in a long time but of course challenges remain and the elephant in the room is Iran and to a certain extent Iraq," said Amrita Sen from Energy Aspects. She said that if OPEC cut output by 1 million bpd it would help rebalance the market as it would reduce stocks by 290-330 million barrels over the course of the year, even if U.S. production started to recover due to higher oil prices. (Additional reporting and writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Keith Weir) The new version of The Magnificent Seven arrives in theaters Friday, with Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent DOnofrio, Byung-Hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Martin Sensmeier filling the saddles of the seven cowboys who made the 1960 movie of the same name a Western classic. The 1960 version was, per TIMEs critic, the best movie in that genre to be released in that year: The Magnificent Seven (United Artists) suggests that, after many a disappointment with Hollywood and television westerns, U.S. reviewers and distributors are so saddle-sore and range-blind that they cannot tell a ring-tailed snorter from a bucket-foot mule. Greeted by a flurry of inattention from the critics, this western has been hastily remaindered into the neighborhood circuits in the hope that it will soon get profitably lost in the Christmas rush. The loss will be bearable: Seven is not a great picturenot nearly as good as the Japanese Magnificent Seven (TIME, Dec. 10, 1956), the brilliant episode of chivalry, directed by Japans Akira (Rashomon) Kurosawa, from which it is adapted. Nevertheless, it is the best western released so far in 1960, a skillful, exciting, and occasionally profound contemplation of the life of violence. In the Hollywood version of the Kurosawa story, the seven samurai become seven Texas gunmen (Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter). One day, Bravo Brynner is approached by some Mexican farmers who offer him everything they have if he will protect their village from a bandit chieftain (Eli Wallach). Unexpectedly moved, he accepts their minuscule fee, recruits the other six, and together they ride out on their errand of mercy. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter But it wasnt as good as the original originalthe 1954 Japanese film that was released in the U.S. in 1956, originally under the title The Magnificent Seven. As Seven Samurai, the English title its known by today, it is not just a great example of one genre in one year, but rather a great movie, period. TIMEs 1956 review explained why: Story continues Arms and the men have seldom been more stirringly sung than in this tale of bold emprise in old Nippon. In his latest film, Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon) has plucked the epic string The story is set in medieval Japan, when the common people groaned beneath the rule of outlaw and disorder. A village in a valley is its hero and its theme. Loud are the wails of its inhabitants when a farmer who has overheard some bandits plotting on the hill comes down to tell the village that it will be raided as soon as the rice is cut. But one man, Rikichi (Yoshio Tsuchiya), whose wife was carried off in the last raid, does not wail; he resolves to fight. And the wise old man who lives in the mill reveals to the villagers a way to fight: hire soldiers to fight for you. But how can poor farmers possibly afford to pay soldiers? Let them be hungry soldiers, the sage explains, and pay them with rice. Not that the film was perfect: In The Magnificent Seven, as in Rashomon, Kurosawa has provided a feast of impressions, but has skimped on some of the more essential vitamins, the critic noted. The characters are clearly written and admirably played, especially the leader of the Samurai (Takashi Shimura). But only rarely does the story seem to drop through the floor of everyday reality into the moral hell that war really is. But either of them, and likely the new version too, could still be proud to be better than yet another version of the story: the 1966 sequel, Return of the Seven, which TIME called a ludicrous reprise of the subject matter. Israel has picked Elite Zexer's feature directorial debut Sand Storm, an Arabic-speaking desert-set family drama, as its submission for the Oscars in the best foreign-language film category. The film won six Ophir Awards, awarded by the Israeli Academy of Film and Television, including supporting actress honors for Ruba Blal-Asfour, director honors for Zexer and the all-important best film honor, in a ceremony Thursday in the city of Ashdod. The moment was upstaged, however, by political uproar as Minister of Culture & Sport Miri Regev left the theater in silent protest during a musical number by Arab-Israeli rapper Tamer Nafar, whose lyrics sampled the work of controversial Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Upon returning to present the best film category, Regev was met with loud booing as dozens exited the theater in response to her earlier actions. Following Zexer's win at the First Look Work-In-Progress Competition in Locarno last year, Sand Storm had its official world premiere at January's Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic section. The film's critical acclaim continued at such festival circuit stops as the Berlinale and TIFF, with Kino Lorber picking up North American rights in June. Sand Storm will be released stateside Wednesday at New York's Film Forum and expand throughout the coming weeks. This is Israel's 49th submission for the best foreign-language film category, with a total of 10 films earning a nomination over the years, the last of which was Joseph Cedar's Footnote in 2012. Israel has never won the foreign-language Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce its 2017 shortlist of foreign-language film nominees on Jan. 17. The final five nominees will be announced Jan. 24. The Oscars will be held Feb. 26. Read more: Oscars: India Selects 'Interrogation' for Foreign-Language Category Kareena Kapoor Khan, who is pregnant with her first child with husband Saif Ali Khan, is setting several trends. By India Today Web Desk: Kareena Kapoor Khan is pregnant with her first child, and her friends and relatives cannot contain their excitement. Kareena, who is married to actor Saif Ali Khan and the couple is all set to welcome their baby in December this year. ALSO READ: Kareena Kapoor on Shahid becoming a dad - Only good things are in store for him advertisement ALSO READ: Kareena Kapoor flaunts her baby bump, says she'd love to have a girl Ever since the news of Kareena's pregnancy broke, B-Town and her fans have all been going crazy for every bit of news about her. And the actor has not let her fans down. She has always been a trendsetter, either by way of her fashion, her style or her films. But the fact that she is setting trends during her pregnancy by being active at her work, makes her sister-in-law Soha Ali Khan happy and proud. Kareena has not been hiding her baby bump from the media in any way. In fact, she flaunted it proudly at the Lakme Fashion Week ramp last month, and she has also signed up an endorsement deal. She has also maintained that she won't let pregnancy slow down her career. Soha, who is the younger sister of Saif, said there is a lot of excitement in the family in anticipation of the baby. "(There is) a lot of excitement, of course! I am very excited for her. She (Kareena) is going to be a mother for the first time. She is looking beautiful, and she is really setting trends. I think she stands for something that is wonderful in today's world... Talking about working through her pregnancy," Soha told IANS. The 37-year-old actor says even in general, women work till the last trimester of their pregnancy. So, why should it be any different for stars, she asked. "I have banker and lawyer friends, and they all work till their last trimester or till the eighth month even. Kareena is doing that as well. Why should celebrities be any different as long as she is healthy, which she is? So, I have a lot of respect for her," the Tum Mile actor said. Soha says Saif and Kareena make a beautiful couple. "I am really excited for them because I think they make a beautiful couple," said Soha. --- ENDS --- Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f21707%2feager-giraffe An adoring giraffe got a little too close for comfort during a news broadcast earlier this week. Ashley Jacobs, a reporter with CBS 8 in San Diego, delivered a report Monday about the Zoo Food, Wine and Brew Celebration, a zoo gala and wildlife conservation fundraiser. But while we're sure this 9-month-old giraffe cares about that issue, it cares more about proving his devotion to Jacobs, its best new human friend. Yes, physical touch is certainly this giraffe's love language. And Jacobs's co-anchors, who do not have to endure the unwanted nuzzles of a giant mammal on live TV, thought it was hilarious. SEE ALSO: Baby otters scamper happily, oblivious to Brangelina news So are Jacobs and the giraffe actually friends? We're not sure. They might need to discuss this incident over tea and a few giraffe crackers. Fortunately, Jacobs doesn't seem mad or anything. Hahaha giraffes need love too https://t.co/qsyFbxmjSL Ashley Jacobs (@AshleyCBS8) September 19, 2016 [H/T: The Daily Dot] OTTAWA (Reuters) - The share of homes purchased in British Columbia by foreign buyers decreased as of the end of August, data from the provincial government showed on Thursday, suggesting a new tax in the city of Vancouver was discouraging overseas buyers. The share of property transfers in the province that involved foreign nationals stood at 5.8 percent between early June and the end of August. That was down from 8.4 percent between June 10 and Aug. 1, the last data released by the government. Foreign buyers made up 1.4 percent of transactions between Aug. 2 and 31, when a 15 percent tax on foreign home buying in Vancouver went into effect. Foreign purchases in metro Vancouver made up just 0.9 percent of purchases during the month of August. From June to the end of August, purchases by foreign buyers totaled 9.3 percent in Vancouver, down from 13.2 percent between June and the beginning of August. A large number of transactions in Vancouver involving foreign nationals were completed on July 29, the last business day sales could be registered before the tax took effect, the report said. The value of home sales involving foreign buyers dropped to C$46.9 million ($35.92 million) during August from C$2.3 billion in slightly more than the seven weeks before the tax went into effect. The tax was put in place to address issues of affordability for local residents after a rapid acceleration in home prices in Vancouver, partly due to buyers from abroad. Some have suggested that Toronto, where the market has also been exceptionally hot, should consider a similar move. There were 60 home purchases in Vancouver that involved foreign nationals between Aug. 2 and 31, the report said, which raised about C$2.5 million in additional tax revenue. Some of these purchases included both foreign purchasers and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident on the title. Auditors with British Columbia's finance department are reviewing these purchases to determine if any were designed to avoid the tax, the government said. ($1 = 1.3057 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) Venom that snails use to paralyze their prey before gobbling them up could inspire a new drug for diabetes. The venom that sea-dwelling cone snails squirt is an ultrafast-acting version of the hormone insulin, the molecular key that helps cells take in sugar from the blood and use it as fuel. And now, researchers have discovered that the chemical hack that makes cone snail venom so fast acting, could also be used to make human insulin act faster, which could lead to better blood sugar control for people with diabetes. "The venom insulin has to work quickly, so we could use those same principles to make a human insulin therapeutic, to use the same tricks that the snail uses to attack fish," said study co-author Mike Lawrence, a structural biologist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Victoria, Australia. [See Video of a Venomous Cone Snail Eating a Fish] Predatory snails Cone snails are a large family of predatory mollusks that lurk in seas around the world. The slimy fish hunters use a hypodermic-needle-like tooth to squirt a deadly venom into the water. Some cone snail species, such as Conus geographus and Conus tulipa, release a venom that paralyzes their prey. And then the snail will devour those fish whole, using its elastic, tube-sock-shaped mouth. But how exactly do the snails immobilize fish while slowly gobbling them up? In a 2015 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists reported that they discovered one secret behind this fast-acting paralyzing venom: It contains a unique form of insulin. The molecule enters the fish's bloodstream through the gills and then causes a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar known as hypoglycemic shock. The mollusks' venom-insulin is more similar to fish insulin than to the version of the hormone the animals use to regulate their blood sugar, according to that study. The stunning speed at which a cone snail's venom stuns its prey intrigued Lawrence and colleagues. Many of the nearly 422 million people worldwide with diabetes take insulin because their body cannot either make or use enough of the hormone to regulate blood sugar, according to the World Health Organization. But most of the insulin drugs that are available act very slowly. Story continues One problem is that the insulin that people with diabetes use does not directly enter the bloodstream. Rather, a needle is used to inject the drug into the skin, and the drug must then diffuse through fat and connective tissue before entering the blood. People typically need to take insulin about 15 to 20 minutes before eating, and a mismatch between when the insulin starts working and when the body needs it can cause organ-damaging high blood sugar or dangerously low blood sugar, according to the American Diabetes Association. Simple substitution Lawrence and his colleagues wondered whether the secret behind a cone snail's weaponized insulin could be harnessed for people with diabetes. They analyzed the chemical structure to see why it so quickly entered a fish's bloodstream. They found that the molecule which is the smallest form of insulin that is known in nature was unique in its molecular structure. For instance, human insulin is made up of two parts that are connected by a molecular hinge. Past work has shown that without the hinge, insulin doesn't work in the human body. That same hinge makes the molecule bulky, however, causing it to diffuse slowly through tissue, Lawrence said. But cone snails have discovered a unique insulin hack: Instead of this large hinge, their insulin has just a single amino acid. "That single change substitutes for the entire hinge. That's the trick that the snail has got," Lawrence told Live Science. This makes the insulin molecule tiny and also much quicker to act, the researchers reported Monday (Sept. 12) in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. In lab experiments, the team found that the insulin from the Conus successfully bound to human insulin receptors. The new findings suggest a molecular strategy for designing faster-acting human insulin: The hinge in human insulin could be snipped out and replaced with the amino acid that cone snails use in their insulin. Of course, the research is still early and there is no guarantee that the modified insulin would be safe for humans: After all, cone snails don't care if the insulin they use has side effects the whole point of the drug is to kill its victims, Lawrence said. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. It was an ordinary day at Walmart for Erika Burch, who was picking up some groceries for her kids when she saw something out of the ordinary. A man was leading his daughter through the store by her hair, which he had wrapped around the handle of the grocery cart he was pushing, causing his daughter to follow awkwardly alongside. She [was] begging him to stop! She was saying please stop, I promise I wont do it again please stop! wrote Burch in a Facebook post that has since gone viral. Burch quickly snapped a few photos and told the man to let the girl go but he told her to mind her own business. I said no Im not! Right now this little girl is my business and you need to let her hair go now! wrote Burch. He said I grew up just fine! [So] I called the police! A cop who happened to be in the vicinity heard the commotion and came running but was unable to do anything until his sergeant arrived. When he did, they were told that the man could not be arrested unless there were visible signs of bodily injury to the child. This was despite Burch showing the sergeant photos of the man pulling the girl along. The sergeant in Cleveland TX said, He has the right to discipline his children! wrote Burch. Dragging a little girl by the hair if [sic] her head is not proper discipline! Now this baby had to go home with this monster thinking that nobody cared about her and its okay for this animal to pull her by the hair of her head! wrote Burch before urging people to share the post and contact the Cleveland Police Department. Burchs post, which has garnered more than 7,500 likes and 130,000 shares, has sparked a lively debate, with people weighing in on whether the man was parenting or abusing the child. This is wrong! No child should be pulled by their hair through a store. I dont care what the child did there are so many other ways to handle this problem, wrote Audrey Griffith-DAngelo. If someone would do this in public, what would happen behind closed doors? asked Deborah Simpson. Story continues All you people are why children now a days think they can do whatever they want. Parents should be able to discipline their child as longs as, like the police officer said, no bodily harm. Grow up and mind your own business, wrote Tasha Lee Herrlott. Burchs enraged post also seems to have struck a chord amongst others, resulting in the Cleveland Police Department receiving numerous calls. In a statement published on Facebook, the department assures people that this case is currently being investigated by our Detective Division. Do you think the man was simply discipling his child or being abusive? Let us know by tweeting us @YahooStyleUK. Parenting through a divorce: How to keep stress and sadness for children to a minimum Would you sign a parenting pre-nup? Local government efforts to preserve a seven-century-old stretch of Chinas Great Wall have been roundly pilloried after pictures of the smooth cement restoration job surfaced on social media. The work on the Xiaohekou section of the Great Wall in Chinas northeastern Liaoning province was carried out in 2014, local media reports, though the shocking result has only just been revealed to the world following an article in Beijing News. This cultural relic is now worthless, fumed one commenter on Chinas Twitter-like microblog Weibo. Is this restoration? No, its destruction! Suizhong countys Cultural Relics Bureau deemed the work necessary to protect tourists from loose masonry and falling debris, say local officials. But they have neglected to explain why a more sensitive repair job wasnt ordered for one of the worlds most famous historical landmark. And their efforts, as one might imagine, have had contrary to the desired effect on local tourism. Ms. Yu, 60, who runs a small hotel in nearby Yonganpu village, says that visitor numbers have plummeted following the restoration. My clients have also complained, she tells TIME. Many of them are photography fans and students majoring in painting. They wont come back again. Cement trail built on 700-year-old "wild" stretch of China's Great Wall has sparked outrage https://t.co/FeyzGusyPk pic.twitter.com/jJ4rgMwkXZ CNN International (@cnni) September 21, 2016 Still, its not the first terrible idea to swirl around the Great Wall, which is in fact a jumble of separate fortifications constructed over several centuries that stretch for 13,000 miles by some calculations. In 1931, Chinas Nationalist government even had (thankfully aborted) plans to turn the wall into a freeway. Although, with a dose of irony, thats exactly what the refurbished section of the Xiaohekou wall now most resembles. Story continues Its strange that they made the Great Wall into a road, says Ms. Yu. The crenels are all flat now. Its slippy and feels dangerous when I walk on it. Also ironic is that the hullabaloo comes just days after the state-backed China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation launched a crowdfunding campaign to help protect dilapidated sections of the wall, with a goal of raising 11 million renminbi ($1.6 million) by Dec. 1. It attracted $18,000 in its first week, though some of that money may now have to be diverted to remedy the catastrophe at Xiaohekou. I was born here, the wild Great Wall was my favorite childhood playground, but now the original shape has gone, says Ms. Yu. I wish the local government would return our old Great Wall. But its the officials decision. As villagers, we can do nothing about it. With reporting by Yang Siqi / Beijing By Giulia Segreti MILAN (Reuters) - Roberto Cavalli took guests at his catwalk show on a long journey around the globe, wrapping his models in bright textiles and patchworks from different countries and showcasing hippy-meets-native-American in his spring/summer 2017 collection. A season made of patchworks, of influences, materials, cultures and times. Past a lantern-studded courtyard, in a sixteenth century palazzo in the heart of Milan, models perched on high wedged heels were draped in shawls, stoles, vests, ponchos and multi-colored fabrics. Gipsy layered dresses alternated with flared trousers, suede fringed coats and kimonos made spectators travel around the world in just a few minutes, on Wednesday night, at the end of Milan's first day of its fashion week. Denim decorated with patchworks and native American motifs gave way to velvet trousers with intricate crystal decorations and suede embroidered with roses. The color palette used by creative director Peter Dundas, who took over from the founding designer last year, was bright, varied but focused mainly on a range of blues and oranges. "The mood of a pioneer, the wanderlust of a pagan traveler exploring the universe... a melange of inspirations and influences, times and placea... combining different cultures in a mix, read a catwalk note. In July, Cavalli appointed former Versace head Gian Giacomo Ferraris as its new chief executive. The brand is undergoing a transition since Italian private equity fund Clessidra took over in April last year and is seeking to revamp the Florentine label, famous among celebrities and known for its animal prints. Milan's six-day fashion events run until Monday. Peacock Productions has voted in favor of unionizing with the WGA East, a result that comes more than three years after writers and producers at the NBCUniversal reality/nonfiction production subsidiary first cast their ballots. NBC and Peacock had filed an appeal with the National Labor Relations Board after the original June 2013 union vote, arguing that the writer-producers are supervisors and therefore not allowed to unionize. The NLRB had impounded the ballots until August 26 of this year, when its board ruled that they are employees as defined by the National Labor Relations Act and have the right to unionize. The voting result, in which 60% of ballots favored unionization, was a long time coming. Writer-producers first filed a motion for union election with the NLRB in October 2012. While NBC has been dragging its feet the past three years, nonfiction workers have won union elections at New Yorks biggest production companies. We are transforming this industry. Now producers and APs at Peacock can join in the progress were making towards reasonable working conditions and sustainable careers, said David Van Taylor, a producer at Peacock Productions. Its clear the majority of creative professionals in this industry are behind us. Peacock workers now expect to negotiate a contract that protects their rights, just as Writers Guild contracts have protected the rights of NBCs fiction writers for years. Said WGA East executive director Lowell Peterson: The writer-producers at Peacock join their colleagues across the nonfiction TV industry who have joined with the WGAE to unionize, to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that will enable them to build sustainable careers doing this work. It is past time for NBCU to stop playing lawyerly games, to honor the decision of Peacocks employees to engage in collective bargaining and to sit down at the table with us to hammer out an agreement. Story continues Related stories WGA East Council Election Sees Incumbents Go 6-For-6; Women Win Half Of Seats NLRB Dismisses Complaint Vs. Actors Equity In 99-Seat Theatre Dispute Ballots To Finally Be Counted In WGA's Bid To Unionize Peacock Productions Producers A view of the flooded localities after heavy rain in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (PTI Photo) By India Today Web Desk: Heavy rains in Hyderabad and Mumbai since last night have thrown normal life out of gear as water entered low lying areas creating huge traffic blocks at most of the important locations and junctions and forcing people to vacate their houses. Here are the updates. - Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner B Janardhana Reddy said Hyderabad city has witnessed about 164 mm rainfall during last night resulting in several localities getting inundated - Due to heavy rainfall, financial capital Mumbai has also come to a standstill, Met department predicts more rainfall for Maharashtra NEWS ALERT :TORRENTIAL RAIN since past 72 hours disrupts normal life in Mumbai. #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/uuZRn1mcBT; ALL INDIA RADIO (@AkashvaniAIR) September 22, 2016 advertisement WATCH: Guntur (Andhra Pradesh): Heavy rainfall triggers flood-like situation; rescue operation underway. pic.twitter.com/NAu9jOo8nR; ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 --- ENDS --- A Pennsylvania man survived a terrifying car crash after crawling from the wreckage for three days. Sadly, the accident killed his girlfriend who was in the passenger seat. Police responded to a one-vehicle crash on U.S. 50 near the Jennings-Ripley County line in southeast Indiana on Tuesday evening, and found Kevin Bell, 39, who had injuries to his legs that prevented him from leaving the vehicle to call for help sooner. Bell, who was the driver, had escaped from his smashed Ford Explorer that slid down an embankment and struck a tree head on Saturday, Sept. 17, authorities confirmed in a statement. His girlfriend Nikki Reed was found dead at the scene. Police noted that the couple's car was well off the roadway and not visible from the road. Local news outlets reported that 37-year-old Reed was a mother of three who had picked up Bell from his Dover, Pennsylvania home on Friday to attend her youngest son's birthday in Seymour, Indiana on Sunday. "As soon as I heard that she was not here, I knew something was wrong," Reed's best friend, Kristie Bevers, told local ABC affiliate WHAS-TV. Family members last heard from Reed early Saturday, when her daughter called to ask about the birthday cake for Sunday's party. "I went to call her and she didn't answer her phone," Reed's daughter Brooklyn recalled to WHAS-TV. On Sunday, Indiana State Police issued two missing person investigations for Bell and Reed. Bell's family had not been able to contact him since Saturday. Police had Bell transported to a local hospital, and is expected to make a full recovery. The cause of the crash in addition to the investigation are ongoing. The United States is helping Southeast Asian allies do more to prevent the Islamic State group from gaining a greater foothold in the area, senior Pentagon officials said Thursday. The IS has already established a presence in several countries across the region including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, and authorities worry both about domestic attacks and nationals traveling to join the jihadists in Iraq and Syria. General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the United States is helping partners share intelligence and information on extremist groups. "We're trying to work with them to develop a framework within which they can share information, share intelligence," Dunford testified at the committee hearing. "We are absolutely working close with our partners, and frankly, the limit of the support we provide is often what they are willing to accept politically," he added. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said he was meeting with regional defense ministers next week at a summit in Hawaii and IS would be one subject of discussion. "Southeast Asia clearly is a place (IS aspires) to spreading," Carter said. Islamic militants in the Philippines on Thursday freed an Indonesian sailor abducted at sea, days after the gunmen released a Norwegian captive and three other Indonesians. The group, the Abu Sayyaf, is a loose network of a militants that has in recent years pledged allegiance to IS, though analysts say the group is mainly focused on a lucrative kidnapping business rather than religious ideology. The Philippines's new president, Rodrigo Duterte, last week called for the small number of US military advisers to leave the southern part of the country, though top officials quickly moved to downplay his comments. In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, there has been a surge in attacks and attempted attacks this year due to the growing influence of IS. According to Dunford, more than 1,000 Indonesians have left to join IS in Iraq and Syria, and hundreds from the Philippines. Washington (AFP) - Washington is considering arming Syrian Kurdish forces who will join the offensive to retake the Islamic State group's stronghold of Raqa, the US military's top officer said Thursday. Though the United States has already helped arm Kurdish fighters in Iraq, a similar move in Syria is more contentious as key ally Turkey regards the group as terrorists and allies of PKK separatists fighting within Turkish borders. "We're in deliberation about exactly what to do with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) right now," General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. The SDF numbers about 30,000 fighters and is made up largely of Kurds, though Syrian Arabs also form a significant component. While the Pentagon has already provided military equipment to the SDF, it insists these shipments have only gone to the Arab part. The United States is helping train and advise the SDF, as they are expected to conduct the eventual push to retake Raqa, the de-facto capital of IS's self-declared "caliphate." "They are our most effective partner on the ground. It's very difficult as you know, managing a relationship between our support for the Syrian Democratic Forces and our Turkish allies," Dunford said. "We're working very closely with our Turkish allies to come up with the right approach ... and still allay the Turkish concerns about the Kurds' long-term political prospects." When asked by a lawmaker if arming the Syrian Kurds would make the SDF more effective, Dunford said: "I would agree." "If we would reinforce the Syrian Democratic Forces' current capabilities, that will increase the prospects of our success in Raqa," he said. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said no "specific decision" had been taken on the issue. He did not directly respond when asked if he would support arming the Syrian Kurds. Story continues "I support whatever is required to help them move in the direction of Raqa," Carter said. Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's regime were pushed out of Raqa, which lies on the Euphrates River, in 2013, making it the first provincial capital in Syria to fall out of government control. IS rapidly infiltrated the city, which is strategically located near the Turkish border, and declared a caliphate in 2014. Ousting IS from the city would be a turning point in the conflict and mark a huge blow to the jihadists. wave crash fall It's been a rough year for mutual funds. Goldman Sachs' equity strategists on Wednesday published an in-depth look into the year-to-date performance of 435 mutual funds that collectively oversee $1.5 trillion in assets. Even after a stock-market rebound to all-time highs in the third quarter, most mutual funds, which manage various pools of money from 401(k) plans to college endowments, still lag their benchmarks. Only 16% of large-cap mutual funds are outperforming their benchmarks year-to-date, Chief US Equity Strategist David Kostin and his team found. That's below the 10-year average of 37%. Just 9% of large-cap growth funds are outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index, versus the 10-year average of 39%, Kostin said. Admittedly, nine months of 2016 is a very short time horizon to judge mutual funds on. But Goldman's note shows that the main reason for this underperformance has been managers investing in sectors that underperformed the market and shying away from those that did well this year. Sectors that were most favored, like financial services, have seen the worst underperformance relative to the market. However, strong sectors like utilities and telecoms so-called "bond proxies" because of their reliable returns were among the least loved by big-money managers. The utilities sector is the biggest year-to-date outperformer on the S&P 500 and has gained 17% this year. The S&P 500 is up almost 6%. The chart below shows that the stocks that mutual funds are overweight have underperformed those they are underweight relative to the S&P 500. Screen Shot 2016 09 22 at 8.47.53 AM This same misstep by fund managers can be seen at the individual stock level. Small-cap mutual funds increased their holdings of J2 Global, a tech and media company, by the most for any stock, Goldman said. J2 Global shares have fallen 19% this year. And the funds decreased their position in homebuilder Cavco Industries by the most; its shares are up 14% year-to-date. Story continues Kostin wrote that investors have preferred domestic Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) over international ones in the past few months, amid the uncertainty around China and the UK referendum. But that could soon change. "We expect rising political uncertainty in the US and a more stable environment in China and Europe compared with 1H 2016 will tilt investor preference towards international equity funds vs. domestic during the remainder of 2016," Kostin wrote. NOW WATCH: KRUGMAN: Obamacare was done 'on the cheap' and now it is struggling More From Business Insider The good news continues for Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson. The People v. O.J. Simpson producers, who both took home Emmys on Sunday for best limited series, have signed a new overall deal with FX Productions, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. As part of the pact, Jacobson, Simpson and their production company, Color Force, will draw on relationships with writer-producers and pursue literary properties for all TV platforms. The agreement extends the first-look deal Jacobson, Simpson and Color Force signed with FXP back in 2012. "For the past four years, we have had the honor of working with Nina and Brad, and we're grateful that they will continue to call FX Productions their home for television," FX Networks and Productions' original programming presidents Eric Schrier and Nick Grad said Thursday in a statement. "Nina and Brad are two of the most accomplished producers in the business, and their Emmy Award-winning limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story speaks volumes about their extraordinary talents. We're looking forward to working on many more great projects with them." Read more: FX Chief on Network's 18 Emmy Wins: "We Made the Right Sacrifices" Jacobson and Simpson added: "[FX CEO] John Landgraf and his team at FX have the taste, talent and conviction to inspire the creators who work with them. Their unwavering support and encouragement made The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story one of the most creatively gratifying experiences of our careers. We are proud to be partners with the most innovative people in the business and thrilled to call FX our home." The deal comes days after The People v. O.J. Simpson nabbed nine Emmys on Sunday night: best limited series, actress in a limited series, actor in a limited series, supporting actor in a limited series and writing for a limited series, among others. In addition to acclaim, the 10-part series garnered impressive ratings for FX earlier this year and is set to debut internationally on Netflix in 2017. Story continues Read more: Inside TV's Retrial of OJ Simpson: A Saga of Race, Redress and, Yes, Robert Kardashian's Kids The project, which they produced with Ryan Murphy, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, marked the pair's first foray into television. Color Force is working with Murphy on the upcoming second season of American Crime Story, which is centered on Hurricane Katrina, and developing an adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan's graphic novel Y the Last Man for FX. The FXP deal does not cover film projects. Color Force has an existing first-look feature-film pact at Fox 2000, with which it is producing the fourth Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, and adaptations of best-selling books The Goldfinch and Crazy Rich Asians. (Likewise, The People v. O.J. Simpson was based on Jeffrey Toobin's book, The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson.) A former president of the Walt Disney Picture Group, Jacobson's other credits include the Hunger Games franchise. Simpson's credits include World War Z, Far From Heaven and Boys Don't Cry. They are both repped by CAA, which negotiated their FXP overall deal. Following their triumphant Emmy wins Sunday night, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson have inked a new overall deal with FX Productions, Variety has learned. Jacobson and Simpson originally signed their first television production pact with FX Productions in 2012 with a first look deal. The new agreement puts the pair under an overall deal with the studio by way of their Color Force production company. Under the new deal, Jacobson and Simpson will draw on relationships with writer-producers and pursue literary properties for all TV services and platforms. The agreement does not include their film projects, though it complements Color Forces existing feature film first look deal with Fox 2000. For the past four years, we have had the honor of working with Nina and Brad and were grateful that they will continue to call FX Productions their home for television, said Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, presidents of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. Nina and Brad are two of the most accomplished producers in the business and their Emmy Award winning limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story speaks volumes about their extraordinary talents. Were looking forward to working on many more great projects with them. Jacobson and Simpson commented, John Landgraf and his team at FX have the taste, talent and conviction to inspire the creators who work with them. Their unwavering support and encouragement made The People V OJ Simpson: American Crime Story one of the most creatively gratifying experiences of our careers. We are proud to be partners with the most innovative people in the business and thrilled to call FX our home. This weekend, The People v. O.J. Simpson which the duo produced with Ryan Murphy, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszweski swept the Emmys with nine wins and a whopping 22 nominations. The critically-acclaimed project won for outstanding limited series, among its other major awards. Story continues People v. O.J. Simpson marked the first TV project for Jacobson and Simpson, whose film credits include The Hunger Games franchise for Jacobson and World War Z for Simpson. By way of the Fox 2000 feature film deal, Color Force is currently in production on Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Long Haul, which marks the fourth film in the series. Also on Color Forces film slate are movie adaptations of novels The Goldfinch and Crazy Rich Asians. Up next in the TV space, Jacobson and Simpson are working on the upcoming seasons of American Crime Story with Season 2 revolving around the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The duo is also working on the television adaptation of the novel Y The Last Man for FX. CAAs Joe Cohen and Danny Grover negotiated the overall deal on behalf of Color Force. Related stories Jon M. Chu in Talks to Direct 'Crazy Rich Asians' Adaptation 'The Hunger Games' Producer Nina Jacobson, 'Empire' to Be Honored by Human Rights Campaign 'Mockingjay' Berlin World Premiere: Jennifer Lawrence Says Final 'Hunger Games' Film Will Be Your Favorite From Country Living If you've ever taken shampoo from a hotel, you're not alone. Heck, you may have even swiped bibles or towels-we're not judging! But at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts, guests have been stealing all sorts of valuable antiques from pewter serving pieces to stamped silverware. "Sadly, we've even had some historic prints and paintings unscrewed from the walls and disappear," innkeeper Steve Pickford told the Boston Globe. As part of its 300th anniversary celebration, the inn, which first opened as Howe's Inn and Tavern in 1716, is launching an amnesty program to encourage past guests to turn in historic items. You can return whatever you took to the front desk or by mail, no questions asked. Steve told the Boston Globe that he was inspired by similar amnesty programs. He's heard of people returning items that they took without realizing their historic importance. And apparently, there's one item in particular that the inn is hoping to get back: A copy of the Declaration of Independence, which was owned by the Wayside Inn's second innkeeper, Ezekiel Howe. It was even rescued from a fire in 1955 before it went missing. "That's a valuable artifact that we would want to display here," said Steve. "We have CSI type stuff so if we ever came across it the real one, we would know." Download the free Country Living Now app to stay up-to-date on the latest country decor, craft ideas, comfort food recipes, and more. (h/t Mental Floss) You Might Also Like NEWS BRIEF The United Nations will resume deliveries of humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of civilians in Syria days after an attack on one of its convoys killed at least 20 people. UN spokesman Jens Laerke said Wednesday that several convoys are expected to reach their destinations as early as Thursday, but he did not name the locations, the Associated Press reported. Laerke said the convoys will not go to Aleppo, the epicenter of Syrias civil war, which is in its sixth year, and the humanitarian crisis it created. Deliveries came to a halt after an air strike hit a convoy of Syrian Arab Red Crescent trucks in northwestern Syria Monday night. The bombing engulfed 18 of the 31 trucks in flames and killed 20 civilians, including Omar Barakat, the organizations local director. The trucks were carrying UN-supplied food, medicine, and other aid to the 78,000 people of Urm al-Kubra, a rebel-held town near Aleppo. The attack occurred hours after Syrian forces called off a weeklong, nationwide cease-fire brokered by Russia and the U.S., who are on opposing sides of the civil war between Bashar al-Assads government and Syrian opposition groups. Recommended: The Shattering of Charlotte's Myth of Racial Harmony Responsibility for the attack is disputed, and U.S. and Russian officials have spent the days since trading blame. White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said U.S. intelligence suggests the convoy was hit by an air strike, and pointed to the fact that Syrian rebel groups dont have an air force. He did not say whether the strike came from Russian or Syrian aircraft, but said the U.S. holds Russia responsible because, under the terms of the failed cease-fire, Moscow was supposed to keep Syrian forces in check. The Kremlin says Russian and Syrian forces are not at fault, and on Wednesday the Russian Defense Ministry claimed a U.S. drone was flying near the area just minutes before the convoy was bombed. Story continues The failed cease-fire brokered earlier this month had allowed aid workers unrestricted access to Aleppo and nearby besieged neighborhoods. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. A lost Humboldt penguin wandered into a house on Monday (September 19) in the northern Peruvian town of Chimbote, 300 km (186 miles) north of Lima. After shuffling through the streets all night, the penguin made its way into Mary Tancheva's kitchen, on the hunt for food. Tancheva said the noise of pots and pans crashing to the floor woke up the family, who thought they were being robbed. When she made her way to the kitchen, sure she would confront a thief, she said she and her children were shocked to see the bird, "We don't know where he come from. He just walked in and when we saw him we were startled by him just walking in. We all screamed," she said. Local police arrived at the house in the Vista del Mar neighborhood and took the penguin into custody without incident. The penguin was examined by government officials and then taken to the Chimbote zoo, where he was released into a large man-made lake. There, veterinarians will examine the penguin and manage his return to the sea. Scientists believe the penguin wandered from his usual habitat in search of food. Diversity is still the hot cause in Hollywood, but heres one side of the issue thats been under-reported: Theres growing evidence that Hollywood is ignoring its senior audience in terms of marketing, casting and choice of subject matter. And new studies have dramatized the harmful impact. Thats one reason why Clint Eastwood has a big smile on his face these days. At a time when tentpole releases aimed at the younger demo are fading quickly, his new film Sully likely will gross $150 million domestic. Clint, age 86, made his hit with an older star (Tom Hanks, 60) for an older audience (80% over the age of 35). Fully 20% of the audience turned out principally because Clint was the director. Hollywood likes to think young, which is ironic since we are about to witness a presidential debate involving the two oldest candidates in debate history. Still, in terms of TV and movies, consider the data: The sector of the film audience age 50 or older were talking 25% of filmgoers is actually buying more tickets than it did a decade ago. In contrast, male filmgoers between 18 and 24 are purchasing 20% fewer tickets. Further, a new study from USC and Humana indicates that only 11% of the characters who populate film and TV are age 60 and older compared with 18.5% of the actual population. Google is developing new algorithms to identify and quantify gender and age speaking time for characters in films and TV. The prevalence of negative stereotypes among old people is having an adverse influence on the mental health of senior citizens, the report declares. In other words, the seniors are depressed at the manner in which they are depicted or ignored. So thats the ultimate bummer: Not only is Hollywood disdaining its most loyal customers but its also portraying them in a negative way. And lets take this a step further: If youre out there talking with top media executives, you learn that ageism is more prevalent today than at any time within memory. The careers of writers and filmmakers hit the wall by 50, despite a symbolic victory a few years ago in a class action suit. Talent agencies like CAA and WME start easing out their agents by that age, except for the top revenue producers. Ageism even affects the top management elite: Foxs Jim Gianapolis, 65, Lionsgates Rob Friedman, 66, and Viacoms Tom Dooley 64, are high-profile examples of seniors who have lately been consigned to emeritus status, and the Viacom exodus surely will add to that list. Even the ubiquitous Jeffrey Katzenberg, 65, is seeking new pastures. Does ageism represent sound policy? Some industry veterans believe that Hollywoods best minds are now sitting on the sidelines leaders like Bob Daly, Michael Eisner and Dick Cook. Two years ago, Warner Bros made a dubious decision in ousting Alan Horn, age 70, but he was soon recruited by Disneys perceptive Bob Iger. Story continues Yet the beat goes on for the young demo. Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner, came out loud and clear this week that TNT and TBS would revise their agendas to pursue a younger audience one that relates more directly to social media. In film and TV, the younger demo is a tempting target because the kids faithfully respond to fusillades of advertising and show up on opening day. Senior filmgoers and TV binge-watchers read the critics and listen to friends, thus may wait two or three weeks before signing on to a new show. Still, new studies demonstrate that the 50-plus demo has become vastly more responsive to social media; indie film companies like A24 and Bleecker Street that focus on social media marketing report that the senior audience is responding ever more positively to their campaigns. Hence some companies are resisting the push to the younger demo. Echo Lake, a management and production company, has focused counter-intuitively on product aimed at an older, more sophisticated following witness its involvement with Nebraska and Truth. Under Mike Marcus, Andy Spaulding and Doug Mankoff, Echo Lake also is prepping Hot Sets, about a group of older women who put together an Olympic volleyball team (Howie Deutch will direct). Movies that deal with the older demo, to be sure, have to pursue their own exotic means of funding. One Echo Lake client, Rosemary Rodriguez, a busy TV director (The Good Wife, etc), put together a wide web of funding for Silver Skies, a geriatric survival movie about a band of geezers whose condo complex is about to be torn down. Industry vets like Barbara Bain and Mariette Hartley lead the cast; George Hamilton, 77, plays a geezer who retains his charm and ambition despite total memory loss. Amidst all this, Clint Eastwood can take pride in becoming a new type of role model. Once the king of spaghetti Westerns, he can now claim honorary leadership of the geezer brigade. And can laugh all the way to the bank. Related stories Rob Moore Exiting As Paramount Vice Chairman Viacom Looking Inside For Next CEO? Tom Dooley To Leave Viacom As Board Scraps Paramount Deal And Cuts Dividend India Today reached Naugam Patwari, which is the last hamlet before the LoC in Handwara, to get a first-hand account of the unrest in the area. By Jugal R Purohit: The one place which has attracted the most number of recorded infiltration bids following Sunday's massacre at Uri, is Naugam. The region or the 'sector' as the Army calls it, lies nestled in the hills of northern Kashmir, located above the town of Handwara. It has seen at least two infiltration attempts and the Army countering the same. SELECTIVE ACCESS BY ARMY AND BSF advertisement Driving up from Handwara, along a broken but picturesque road, one crosses multiple check points manned either by the Army or the Border Security Force (BSF). Uniformed personnel, at these points, permit selective access by lifting the barriers from within their fortified bunkers. A short distance before the last barrier, this one manned by Army men who resolutely disallow further access, is the last village before the Line of Control (LoC). Naugam Patwari is the name. "The nearly three-month-long protests in Kashmir have hit us hard. Because all vehicular traffic is shut, hardly any ration is coming up to us. If you ask me whether or not there should be a war, what do you think I will say?" asked Nazeer Ahmed Khan who is called 'sarpanch' (village headman) by the others. VILLAGE THREATENED BY GROWING UNREST With barely 200 families, most relying on jobs pertaining to labour either with the Army or with the civil works, Naugam Patwari is hardly on anyone's map. The only exception is an Army school, which imparts primary education. Having worked as an Army porter, Hafees ur-Rehman is currently out of work. "In the news, the scenario being spoken of is scary. There is hunger and poverty here. Any escalation of matters will mean many innocents will die", he said. Before long, there are many who arrive to shout 'Azaadi' slogans. Some question the Army on the lapses in Uri. A second year student, Zakir Hussain Khan took the lead. "How did a brigade headquarters become such a soft target? This is the Army's inefficiency which resulted in their 18 jawans being killed. A war is hardly a response then," he said. WAR OR PEACE? He pleaded that the little development achieved will be lost. "As such, Kashmir today is years behind mainstream India," he added. Next to him was 18-year-old Talib Hussain Khan, who said he ran a shop. He took a contrarian view. "Let there be a war so that once and for all matters are decided. We are boxed between the security forces and those who pelt stones," he said. advertisement Last rites of Havildar Madan Lal, who was killed on September 20 while countering the infiltration bid in Naugam, were held in Punjab where his mortal remains arrived. Also read: Living under shadow of fear along LoC --- ENDS --- PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / Drunk drivers cause a disproportionate number of injuries and deaths due to car accidents. Although alcohol-related crashes accounted for about 9% of the total vehicle crashes in 2014 they caused 20% of vehicle accident fatalities. Philadelphia accident lawyer Rand Spear says that these avoidable, preventable accidents injure people every day. He discusses the topic on a podcast available on YouTube. "About 75% of drunk drivers were male and the age group between 21 and 30 had the highest percentage of drinking drivers. That's where we really need to focus our attention and energy to try and get them to understand that it's just not possible to drink and drive safely. At that age, we think we're invincible, which just isn't the case," accident attorney Spear says In 2014 there were 333 alcohol-related crash fatalities in Pennsylvania; most of them were in the car being driven by the drunk or drinking driver. Statistically, there are about 29 alcohol-related crashes every day, injuring on average twenty people. "Most of the accidents occur after dark and on the weekends. That's really when you know people are taking off from work, they want to relax and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, after they consume alcohol they get behind the wheel and that's just a recipe for disaster. It's just not safe to do that," attorney Spear says. He says that education is the first step to try to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents. "Even if you have a child who's in their twenties; I have a child who is 24 years old and I'm always having conversations at the kitchen table talking about their friends, who's drinking, who's driving. They can call me at any time day or night no questions asked. I'm going to go pick them up and bring them home," Spear says. "You need to come up with a plan if you have too much to drink or if you have anything to drink, I should say," Spear says. Some possible solutions are alternate means of transportation or someone agrees not to drink and drive others home. Story continues "I tell my son if you have any alcohol whatsoever I just don't want you to get behind the wheel of a car. Equally as important is that I don't want him to get in the car with someone who he knows has consumed alcohol because that's just as dangerous. The fatalities we find are the people who are in the car of the person who's consumed too much alcohol." "You have to protect your loved ones. You can't expect they're going to go out get intoxicated and then make the right decision how they're going to get home. The conversation needs to be held before the first drink is consumed," Spear says. If you or a family member are injured by an intoxicated driver in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, contact Philadelphia accident lawyer Rand Spear today at 888-373-4LAW or through his website for a free consultation. You can discuss what happened, how the law may apply and your best options for obtaining compensation for your injuries. source: http://randspear.com/2016/09/20/philadelphia-accident-lawyer-reports-drunk-driver-crashes-twice-likely-end-death/ SOURCE: Personal Injury Lawyer Rand Spear via Submit Press Release 123 By Daria Sito-Sucic and Gordana Katana SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Bosnia's autonomous Serb entity is set to defy its highest court with a referendum on a national holiday on Sunday that may stoke separatist sentiment lingering since the 1990s war. The referendum, on whether to mark Jan. 9 as "Statehood Day" in the Serb Republic part of Bosnia, will be the country's first since a 1992 plebiscite on secession from then-Yugoslavia that ignited three years of ethnic war in which 100,000 were killed. The Sarajevo-based Constitutional Court ruled on Saturday that this "Statehood Day" was illegal since it coincides with a Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday and so discriminated against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats living in the Serb Republic. The court also banned the planned referendum. Jan. 9 was the day in 1992 when Bosnian Serb legislators declared the creation of an independent Serb Republic after Bosniaks and Croats voted for independence from Serbian-dominated federal Yugoslavia. Many believe that by defying the court ruling, Milorad Dodik, the current Serb Republic's nationalist president, aims to highlight the weakness of Bosnia's central authorities in Sarajevo and set the stage for a vote on secession. The court's rulings are formally binding, but more than 90 of them have been ignored by the autonomous regions that were set up by negotiators to hold Bosnia together after the war. The United States, which brokered the 1995 Dayton peace deal, and Aleksandar Vucic, prime minister of neighboring Serbia, have all warned of the risk of renewed instability in the economically deprived Balkan region. The European Union also opposes the Serb referendum. But President Vladimir Putin of Russia, a traditional ally of the Bosnian Serbs, has endorsed the referendum, and invited Dodik to Moscow for consultations on Thursday. ETHNIC WAR IN 1990s The Bosnian Serbs' rejection of an independent, multi-ethnic Bosnia in 1992 triggered an avalanche of bloodshed in which Serbs and Croats carved ethnically pure statelets out of Bosnia with the backing of kin in neighboring Serbia and Croatia. It was Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War Two. Zeljko Kovac, an unemployed war veteran from the largest Bosnian Serb city, Banja Luka, said he would vote for Statehood Day "because I fought for the Serb Republic". "We will not take orders from Muslims on what we are going to celebrate," Kovac told Reuters, echoing a widespread belief among Serbs that the Sarajevo court is biased against them. The U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo said that pursuing the referendum in defiance of the high court posed a "threat to the rule of law and thus a threat to the stability, security and prosperity" of Bosnia. "The Dayton Peace Agreement is an international peace treaty that cannot be challenged without consequences. We will not accept attempts to obstruct implementation of the DPA or weaken (Bosnian) institutions," the embassy said in a statement. The ambassadors to the international peace implementation body for Bosnia urged the Serb Republic to cancel the referendum, but fell short of specifying what the consequences would be. Russia abstained from a joint statement. The European Union believes strengthening Bosnia's complex, ethnically-balanced federation is essential for peace in a region still afflicted by ethnic tensions, and a precondition for its eventual membership of the EU. EU foreign ministers this week accepted Bosnia's membership application, raising hopes in Sarajevo of eventual admission to the bloc. (Editing by Thomas Escritt and Mark Heinrich) Betty Shelby Betty Shelby, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man, was charged with first-degree manslaughter on Thursday, according to the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office. A warrant was issued for Shelby's arrest. Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced the charge Thursday, nearly one week after the shooting that killed Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old father who encountered Shelby on Friday while she was responding to an unrelated call. Crutcher's death, along with that of another black man killed at the hands of police this week, has sparked protests nationwide. "The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Crutcher are on the hearts and minds of many people in this community," Kunzweiler said as he announced the felony charge against Shelby. Attorneys representing Crutcher's family and an attorney for Shelby offered conflicting accounts of what happened when Shelby encountered Crutcher. A still image captured from a video from Tulsa Police Department shows Terence Crutcher seen with his hands in the air during a police shooting incident in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. on September 16, 2016. Video taken September 16, 2016. Courtesy Tulsa Police Department/Handout via REUTERS Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, said that the officer shot and killed Crutcher after he failed to obey multiple commands and then reached into the open window of his vehicle, which was stopped in the middle of the road. Attorneys Benjamin L. Crump and Damario Solomon-Simmons, who represent Crutcher's family, say that the window was up, "evidenced by the blood spattered on it when he was shot," ABC News reported on Wednesday. Police dashboard camera and helicopter video footage appear to show Crutcher's hands raised when he was shot. More From Business Insider Prince William is on a mission to save one of our planet's most treasured species. For the last few years, the 34-year-old royal has spoken out against illegal wildlife trade, which he reiterated during a passionate speech at the Time 4 Change global awareness event in London on Thursday. NEWS: Prince Williams Gets Candid About Rewarding Job as Emergency Pilot: 'I Am One of the Team' Speaking on behalf of the wildlife charity and event sponsor, Tusk, William shared polarizing statistics on the number of African elephants that have been slaughtered since 1982. "When I was born there were one million elephants roaming Africa," said the father of 3-year-old Prince George, and 1-year-old Prince Charlotte. "By the time my daughter Charlotte was born last year, the numbers of savanna elephants had crashed to just 350,000." MORE: Watch Prince William Getting Scolded by the Queen Over and Over and Over Again William warned that if the "current pace of poaching continues," the beloved creatures will be "gone from the wild" by the time his daughter turns 25. The speech also included a message on rhinos, another animal facing extinction due to the illegal ivory trade. It is estimated that more than 5,000 African rhinos were killed by poachers between the years of 2008-2015. "I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild," William explained. "I am not prepared to explain to our children why we lost this battle when we had the tools to win it." The Duke of Cambridge's poignant address, coincides with the announcement that he will head to Hanoi, Vietnam on Nov. 17-18 for the third Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference. In addition to attending the conference, William plans to meet with conservationist in the South Asian country. "We have the opportunity to end, once and for all, the mixed messages we have to sent for too long about the value and desirability of wildlife products," he added. "We have a chance to say that ivory is a symbol of destruction, not of luxury, and not something that anyone needs to buy or sell. We have the chance to say that rhino horn does not cure anything and does not need a legal market." Story continues See how William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, continue to honor their mother, Princes Diana, through charity work in the video below. Related Articles Heres whats happening Thursday in Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with The Associated Press, said the civil war was likely to drag on because of outside support for groups opposed to him. Rebel-held parts of Aleppo saw some of the worst bombings after the collapse this week of a nationwide cease-fire. In New York, diplomats from the U.S., Russia, and other countries were set to meet to discuss a possible resumption of the truce. The U.N., which suspended humanitarian deliveries this week after an aid convoy was struck, said it would resume those deliveries. Assad has granted few interviews to Western news organizations since the civil war erupted more than five years ago. In his comments to the AP, Assad said the he doesnt believe the United States will be ready to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria. He also rejected U.S. claims that a Syrian or Russian airstrike hit a humanitarian aid convoy this week near Aleppo, killing 20 people, and said the U.S. deliberately struck Syrian soldiers in Deir el-Zou last week, during the cease-fire, killing 60 of them. But its his remarks about when the protracted conflict, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives and spawned a massive humanitarian crisis, will end that are likely to garner most attention. Recommended: Shattering Charlotte's Myth of Racial Harmony When you have many external factors that you dont control, its going to drag on, and no one in this world can tell you when the conflict will end, he told the AP. Assad is now more firmly entrenched as Syrias president than at any time since the civil war began in 2011, and he has little incentive to stop the fighting. The conflict pits Assad, backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, against a coalition of rebel groups who range in affiliation from moderate to Islamist, backed individually, or in a combination of, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar. With his Russian and Iranian military backers, Assad has wrested back much of the territory lost since the fighting began in 2011. The U.S. and its allies, as well as Syrian government troops and their allies, are striking ISIS and al-Qaeda, perhaps the most potent of all of Assads foes. Aleppo, parts of which are controlled by a coalition of opposition groups, is the last major rebel redoubt, and it was the scene of some of the deadliest bombings Thursday since the cease-fire was declared over this week. The Guardian reported dozens of people, including children, had been killed. An Agence France-Presse reporter in the city said his entire street was left burning after overnight bombing raids. Story continues In New York, John Kerry, the American secretary of state, was set to meet with Sergey Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, and other members of the 23-nation International Syria Support Group to push for a resumption of the cease-fire. The sticking points, according to Al Jazeera: Kerry has demanded that Russia order Assad to ground his air force in order to re-establish the credibility of the peace effort in the eyes of the suspicious opposition. Lavrov has countered that the UN Security Council should consider adding some more of the anti-Assad rebel groups to its list of proscribed terrorist organizations. Relations between the two countries are tense following the end of the cease-fire and the bombing of the humanitarian convoy. The U.S. blamed Russia for that strike, but Moscow rejected that allegation. It's going to be very difficult, Kerry acknowledged Wednesday. Well see what people are willing to do. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Informed sources in the AMU said there were three options available: one, Shah resigns on his own; two, the Union HRD ministry requests the court to let him continue for one more year till a suitable replacement is found (the process has already begun); three, the apex court reserves its judgment to allow all stakeholders to come to a workable solution. By Indo-Asian News Service: Will the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice chancellor, Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd), exit before the September 26 hearing in the Supreme Court challenging his appointment for not fulfilling the laid-down norms or will the Union HRD ministry plead for allowing him to continue till his term ends in May 2017? These questions are doing the rounds in the academic corridors in Aligarh after the apex court earlier this week pointedly asked for the rationale behind appointing Shah despite his not fulfilling the academic requirements defined by the University Grants Commission (UGC). advertisement After successfully postponing the inevitable for the past several years, the AMU administration finds itself cornered as it has failed to put forward convincing arguments to defend Shah's appointment. The case has been hanging fire since 2010 following a petition in the Allahabad High Court against his appointment. Earlier this week, the case was about to be postponed again but for the dogged persistence of senior advocate Prashant Bhushan who wanted to be heard. OPTIONS FOR SHAH Informed sources in the AMU said there were three options available: one, Shah resigns on his own; two, the Union HRD ministry requests the court to let him continue for one more year till a suitable replacement is found (the process has already begun); three, the apex court reserves its judgment to allow all stakeholders to come to a workable solution. The anti-VC lobby in the AMU, which is fairly strong as the AMUTA teachers' body, is opposing Shah for his alleged high-handedness -- while a number of corruption charges have been made against him -- will definitely push for his removal. "We are opposing him because he does not follow rules. I have been a victim of his high handedness. Without any justification he suspended me. The campus looks like a cantonment, as all top positions are held by ex-army men," AMUTA secretary Mustafa Zaidi told IANS. Naseem, an elected member of the university's Executive Council, told IANS: "Since the matter is under the consideration of the court, it is not proper to comment. Whatever the apex court decides will have to be followed." UGC NORMS MANDATORY Several other important academics, without wanting to be named, opined that the UGC norms are mandatory and have to be followed in letter and spirit. The present VC has to go if the UGC support in terms of grants has to continue, they said. "AMU is definitely not in a position to lose grants from the UGC," a source said, indicating the university was not really in a position to take on the establishment in standing up for Shah, the elder brother of actor Naseeruddin Shah. advertisement When the Supreme Court judges pointedly asked what the VC's academic qualifications were, there was no clear-cut response from his lawyers, including former Congress minister Salman Khurshid. The plea advanced was that the AMU is a minority institution and had the right to follow its own rules. "You are a central university. UGC regulations apply to you as they are mandatory. The VC must be an academician and he should be a person who has worked for at least 10 years as a professor in a university," a bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said. "If every other central university follows the regulations why can't AMU? Why appoint a former army officer? We are not questioning his abilities. We are on the question whether his appointment is as per the UGC regulations," the bench added. According to UGC guidelines on the appointment of vice chancellors, it has been clearly stated that he/she should be a distinguished academician with a minimum of 10 years experience as a senior professor in a reputed institution. Also Read: There will be trouble on the campus: AMU vice-chancellor on university's minority status --- ENDS --- advertisement By Marcin Goclowski WARSAW (Reuters) - The Polish government's tightened hold on public media, its conflict with the highest court and recent anti-terrorism legislation have jeopardized free expression in the country, according to Europe's main rights and democracy watchdog. Since taking power last year, the conservative nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has given the government the right to appoint state broadcaster chiefs, given security forces more surveillance powers and tried to curb the Constitutional Court. The moves have put Poland at odds with allies in the west of the EU and the United States, who fear the eurosceptic PiS's approach is eroding democracy and the rule of law in Poland, a ex-communist state admitted to the EU in 2004. "What we are facing at the moment is a very complex situation that is definitely undermining the independence of public service broadcasting in Poland," said Dunja Mijatovic, the representative for media freedoms for the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "The problems in Poland ... are very much related to the constitutional changes that are affecting among other things also free expression," she told Reuters in an interview. Mijatovic said that more than 120 broadcast journalists had been sacked. Polish media said they were fired because they were insufficiently supportive of the PiS. "What has happened is definitely a reason for concern - the appointment procedures of board members, political control over those boards, and appointments to public media." She recalled that Poland was in the forefront of east European countries that broke away from Soviet domination and embraced democracy and free speech a quarter century ago. "(Without this), it takes you to the dark ages." The PiS has also signaled that foreign ownership of private news outlets should be reduced, although senior party officials concede this would be difficult to bring about. Germany's Bauer Media owns the most popular Polish radio station, RMF, while Swiss-German Ringier Axel Springer owns Poland's bestselling tabloid Fakt. In July the European Commission urged Poland to implement within three months measures to protect the powers of the constitutional court after a series of new appointments and reforms raised fears for the tribunal's integrity. PiS officials say the changes to the court are aimed at streamlining the institution and that it has a broad social mandate to carry out reforms. It accuses critics of taking sides with their political rivals. (Reporting by Marcin Goclowski; editing by Mark Heinrich) Moscow (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday appointed the country's hawkish former parliament speaker as the new head of his foreign intelligence agency. Putin nominated former Duma boss Sergei Naryshkin -- widely reported to have served with him in the Soviet-era KGB -- to take over as head of the SVR from Mikhail Fradkov, days after a thumping win for the ruling United Russia party at legislative elections that will now see a new speaker take over. The change comes with Russia locked in its worst standoff with the West since the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine and Moscow's backing for Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The spike in tensions has reportedly pushed the levels of spying from both sides back up to that seen before the fall of the Iron Curtain. "You are well aware, as we all are, what situation we are in now and how important success for this service is for the stable, secure development of our country," Putin told Naryshkin in televised comments. "It is important to head off threats that arise in relation to Russia promptly, not to let them grow but on the contrary to act in such a way so that they don't arise -- to neutralise these threats at an early stage." Naryshkin is a long-standing Putin ally from the president's hometown Saint Petersburg who Russia media claims served as a KGB spy in the West. According to Naryshkin's official biography he served at the Soviet embassy in Brussels in the 1980s before working with Putin in the Saint Petersburg mayor's office. The SVR emerged from the KGB's first directorate after the agency was split up following the collapse of the USSR and is tasked with carrying out Russian intelligence operations. Fradkov -- a former prime minister who headed the spy agency since 2007 -- will now move to the board of directors at the state-run Russian Railways. Putin has recently reshuffled some of his top allies in moves analysts say could show the Kremlin strongman is blooding a new generation of loyalists as he looks towards the next presidential polls in 2018. By Denis Pinchuk MOSCOW (Reuters) - One of Vladimir Putin's closest friends said on Thursday he believed Donald Trump would be the next president of the United States and that Western leaders were no match for the Russian president. Sergei Roldugin, a childhood friend of Putin's and godfather to his eldest daughter, made international headlines earlier this year after his name featured in the leaked Panama Papers as the owner of a sprawling network of offshore accounts. Some Western media said the papers suggested Roldugin, 64, was looking after Putin's money. Putin called such reports "a provocation" and said Roldugin, a famous cellist, had done nothing wrong and spent the money he earned from business on buying expensive musical instruments. Speaking to reporters in the Kremlin on Thursday before Putin bestowed a state award on him, Roldugin said: "I know who will win in America. You may check it later. Trump will win." He went on to say that politicians changed their behavior once they were in power. "I can't say I feel euphoria about Trump winning because he said he was with Putin and Hillary (Clinton) hasn't said that. Putin has said he will work with either and he's right." Trump, the Republican candidate, has been criticized by Clinton, his Democratic Party rival, for praising Putin as a strong leader and saying ties with Moscow should be improved at a time when Moscow and Washington are at odds over Syria and Ukraine. The Kremlin has tried to take a neutral stance on the U.S. election, saying it will respect the choice of the American people, though Kremlin-backed TV channels have tilted their coverage in favor of Trump, whom Putin called "very talented." Roldugin told reporters Putin was a more impressive leader than his various Western counterparts. "The one thing I've always admired about him is that he is not afraid to assume responsibility. He often comes under heavy criticism, but he is not afraid (of that) and says: 'Yes that's what we decided, that's what I decided.'" "He is not afraid of taking responsibility, unlike many Western politicians and American politicians who, as far as I understand, can't bring themselves to say 'That's what I decided and that's how it will be.'" Roldugin listed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and U.S. President Barack Obama as being guilty of not taking responsibility and of concealing the true nature of agreements they had struck. (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) A 20 feet rock python was caught on camera in Junagadh district of India's western Gujarat state with a swollen stomach after it consumed an antelope on Tuesday (September 20). Residents informed authorities at Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary after they spotted the reptile lying in discomfort in a field. In view of the massive swelling of the python's stomach, the forest authorities suspect that it gobbled up a full-grown 'nilgai' or blue bull. The python - unable to move now - was rescued by the forest personnel and has been put under observation. "We will keep it (python) under observation. We will release it back in the wild once it digests the antelope and the swelling subsides," said Assistant Conservator of Forest, S.D. Tilala. A blue bull is far larger than an ideal prey for pythons and digesting the mammal could prove to be a great struggle for the reptile. When unable to digest an unusually large prey, pythons are known to regurgitate them. SuZen, a muralist and noted cat lover in New York City, is taking her passion for felines even more public by hosting a dedicated Cat Purrrty this month, the first annual purrrty for cat lovers. The artist is known for a longstanding mural in Times Square (its been up since 1984) and for her prolific cat-centric art works, from a book documenting the love story of her two pets Sushi and Sashimi, to her design for the JacCAT, an Indiegogo-funded jacket that recreates a feline silhouette on its front. At the Cat Purrrty on September 28 which SuZen plans to host in the Westbeth Community Space in Manhattans iconic Greenwich Village attendees will listen to a carefully curated playlist of cat-focused tunes, DNAInfo reports (so that would include tracks like Whats New, Pussycat? and music from the soundtrack of Cats). There will also be cat ears available to wear, and a face painter specializing in whiskers and noses to help guests get fully into cat character. New York (AFP) - A defiant Syrian regime launched a new assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Thursday as the United States and Russia failed to revive a floundering peace plan. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gathered two dozen international envoys at talks in New York to address the crisis. But the meeting of the International Syria Support Group broke up after Russia refused US demands that it promise to immediately ground the Syrian regime's air force. Kerry said he was ready to meet the Russians again on Friday to see if there are any means to revive the truce that failed this week, but diplomats were pessimistic. "The only way to achieve that is if the ones that have the air power in that part of the conflict simply stop using it," Kerry told reporters after the talks. "Not for one day or two, but for as long as possible so that everyone sees that they are serious." UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura called it a "long, painful and disappointing meeting" but insisted that Washington and Moscow are serious about the truce. He blamed unnamed other parties among the delegates for "undermining" the US-Russian initiative and added "they are still trying, so declaring it dead would be wrong." But he had a less rosy view of events on the ground. "Meanwhile, what is happening in Aleppo is under attack and everyone is going back to the conflict," he said. "The next few hours -- days at maximum -- are crucial for making it or breaking it." In Damascus, the Syrian army urged residents of Aleppo to stay away "from the positions of terrorists" as it launched its new offensive in defiance of the truce. London-based watchdog the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the latest assault as "a large-scale land offensive supported by Russian air strikes." - Rebel neighborhoods - An AFP correspondent in the rebel-held east of Aleppo witnessed a dozen families fleeing the Soukkari district for other rebel areas further north. Story continues Rebel-held neighborhoods of Aleppo had already suffered large-scale fires after a night of bombardment from what activists called phosphorous bombs. The estimated 250,000 residents of east Aleppo, which rebels against Bashar al-Assad's have held since 2012, have been living under siege since early September. The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives since 2011, during which time more than half the population was uprooted from their homes. On September 9, Kerry and Lavrov met in Geneva and agreed to call a ceasefire, with Moscow responsible for forcing Assad's forces to stand down and allow in UN aid convoys. The United States was to pressure opposition rebel forces to obey the truce but both sides cried foul and on Monday this week the Syrian army declared the ceasefire over. Diplomats believe the US-Russian Geneva process is the only available hope to end the five-year conflict, but Moscow and Washington have fallen out spectacularly. - Phosphorous bombs - Russia says Kerry failed to deliver a rebel ceasefire, and was furious when US-led coalition warplanes bombed a Syrian base, a strike Washington says was an error. Washington in turn accused Russian jets of carrying out a deadly strike on a UN aid convoy on Monday, and Kerry and Lavrov exchanged angry words at the Security Council. "I listened to my colleague from Russia and felt a little bit like we are in a parallel universe," Kerry declared on Wednesday after Lavrov tried to blame the rebels. Kerry told the Council the only hope of reviving the ceasefire would be for Russia to order Assad to ground his air force and stop hitting civilian targets. Food aid promised for Aleppo under the US-Russia deal has been stalled at the border since last week and will go bad in just a few days. "Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border. The food will be expiring on Monday," the head of the UN humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, said. "The drivers are sleeping at the border and they have done so now for now a week, so please, President Assad, do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo." The UN resumed aid deliveries on Thursday after a pause in the wake of a strike on the convoy in Syria's north that killed 20 civilians and destroyed 18 aid trucks. - Talks in 'next few weeks'? - Nevertheless, the United Nations' deputy envoy for Syria said Thursday he hoped talks could resume in the coming weeks, despite "grim" events on the ground. Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said De Mistura is in talks with the parties to organize "direct negotiations," a departure from past rounds where the sides met with mediators. Over the next two days (Sep 22-23) the Raindance Film Festival will partner with the Guadalajara Film Festival (FIGC) to present its second annual Co-Production Forum, with a special focus on Ibero-American films and filmmakers. As part of the festivals industry arm, the Forum includes a series of panels, conferences, seminars and workshops including a pitching skills workshop with festival founder Elliot Grove and a product placement lecture from Aaron Wileman intended to help strengthen links between the U.K. and American film industries. Says David Martinez, Raindance Film Festival Assistant Producer, Since Raindance Film Festival started bonding with FIC Guadalajara in 2012 to promote Mexican cinema, the strand evolved into hosting the first Co-Production Forum Focused on Mexico. Now in its second year, the Co-Production Forum extends to Ibero-American projects and promises to be a friendly space of collaboration between both industries. For this years Forum, five projects, currently in development, have been selected three from Spain and two from Mexico with the aim of giving the filmmakers the opportunity to secure funding and U.K. co-productions for their projects. The first of the Spanish titles is Tiahoga Ruges The Bicycle, which tells the story of Dutch painter Nancy Van Overveldt. A resident of Holland and Mexico, Van Overveldt made history in the latter in 1952 by becoming the first woman to ride a bicycle there. The film is narrated by the artists travel paintings, which, according to the directors statement, reflect the parallel social, cultural and environmental development of Mexico and Europe The Bicycle is followed by two more Spanish titles. First is Sonia Albert-Sobrino and Miriam Albert-Sobrinos Melita, the tale of a deaf 10-year-old girl who, when the prophecy of her gathers death is fulfilled, must adopt the ingrained magical elements of the reality she lives in, or her reckless behaviour will have devastating consequences. Similarly enigmatic is Horacio Alcala and Aitor Echevarrias The Icarus, described as a love story wrapped in a slowly unfolding mystery set in the context of a bio-political dystopia. Story continues Mexico presents the latest project from Jesus Magna Vazquez, who recently wrapped El Alien Y Yo and whose Alicia en el Pais de Maria won Best International Film at Raindance last year. Human Resources promises to be a dark and violent story of workplace tensions, as a printing supervisor takes gleeful revenge about the colleague who stole his promotion. Also from Mexico, with a Spanish component, is Mexico Eduardo Naranjos I Faust, in which a Mexican tormented by family issues travels to Barcelona to study photography. He falls in love, is diagnosed with a serious illness, and returns home to face the sickness, frustration and depression that will take the story to a tragic climax. Related stories Raindance Opening Weekend: Elliot Grove's Highlights - Shorts Programme, 'After Adderall' and 'A Plastic Ocean' Raindance Film Festival Widens Its Reach Raindance Founder on How This Year's Film Festival Reflects Society's Anxieties A scuba diver, who found a golden wedding ring, posted its photo on Facebook and found its owner who had lost the ring 37 years ago. By India Today Web Desk: A golden wedding ring lost over 37 years ago has been returned to its owner after a scuba diver found it in the waters off the eastern coastal city of Benidorm last month. She posted a photo of the ring on Facebook in the hope to find its owner. Diving instructor Jessica Cuesta gave the ring back to Agustin Aliaga this Monday at his bar in a village near the northeastern city of Zaragoza. advertisement Cuesta posted the photo last month and mentioned the date inscribed on it - February 17, 1979. She asked people to share the post and more than 80,000 people did. The news finally reached Aliaga and his wife Juani Sanchez. Aliaga said he lost it while swimming only a few months after his marriage. --- ENDS --- Raytheon Company RTN has won a contract, worth $254.6 million, from the U.S. Navy for the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD. Details of the Contract Per the contract, Raytheon will design, develop, manufacture, integrate, demonstrate and test the JPALS. The company will continue with the development of eight existing engineering development models (EDMs), and deliver two additional EDMs to support initial operational requirements for F-35B/C and MQ-25 test and primary operational supplies aboard nuclear aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. The contract also includes the supply of weapons replaceable assemblies, a technical data package, and support for developmental and operational tests. Work is scheduled to be complete by Sep 2022. The majority of the work will be performed in Fullerton, CA, while the rest will be carried out in Cedar Rapids, IA; Marlborough, MA; and Indianapolis, IN. The contract will use fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds. RAYTHEON CO Price RAYTHEON CO Price | RAYTHEON CO Quote What is JPALS? The JPALS is an all-weather, all-mission landing system based on real-time differential correction of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal. It is intended primarily for use by the military. This system offers assistance in landing carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and features anti-jam protection during events of electronic warfare. It facilitates high mobility and rapid response to military forces on a global basis. Why Raytheon? The JPALS program is a collaboration between the U.S. Navy and Raytheon. The Raytheon team, led by Raytheon Network Centric Systems, includes Rockwell Collins Inc. COL, Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC and Science Applications International Corporation SAIC. It provides solution to improve safety, reduce the total cost of ownership during the program's lifecycle, and provide higher flexibility and efficiency for the JPALS. Raytheon is one of the best-positioned large-cap defense players due to its non-platform-centric focus. It is a technology leader focusing on defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. The company has been heavily investing in technological upgrades. It aims to provide the best-in-class security solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense. Zacks Rank Raytheon currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NORTHROP GRUMMN (NOC): Free Stock Analysis Report ROCKWELL COLLIN (COL): Free Stock Analysis Report RAYTHEON CO (RTN): Free Stock Analysis Report SCIENCE APP INT (SAIC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. From Good Housekeeping Our worst fears became reality when a creepy clown recently began terrorizing kids near a South Carolina apartment complex. In the city of Greenville, local news outlets reported, at least one person dressed as a clown was attempting to lure children (some say with cash) into the woods. That was back in August - and since then, the epidemic of creepy clown sightings has only spread. If you've been keeping an eye on the news, you've probably heard one of the stories about reports of clowns stalking or terrorizing residents in no less than seven states. First it was South Carolina, then it was North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia and, most recently, Alabama. (Clowns have reportedly been spotted in Kentucky and Maryland as well, but the Kentucky sighting was only posted about on Facebook and not reported to police, and the Maryland sighting was quickly determined to be a hoax.) According to a recent article from the Washington Post, some of these clowns have reportedly attempted to lure children into dark, wooded areas or suspicious vehicles, while others have sinisterly watched or waved at residents from afar. Others still have supposedly created social media accounts, via which they're sending threatening messages to schools. As a result of these clowns' supposed antics, countless police officers have been dispatched, and several schools have gone into lockdown. The stories are undoubtedly eerie, and if you live in any of the areas where these sinister figures have been spotted, you might want to keep a watchful eye out. With that said, however, police departments across the country are finding that at least some of these reports might actually be elaborate hoaxes. As the Post reports, investigators have yet to find physical, non-testimonial evidence that these creepy clowns actually exist - and in those cases where they have found evidence, the clowns have exposed themselves as pranksters or promoters for scary movies or other projects. Even the clown in this terrifying viral video was ultimately exposed as more fraud than frightening: Story continues The regular calls and reports of creepy clowns across the country have certainly become a time-consuming chore for the police. Law enforcement officers have to treat the calls and reports seriously (it's their job to do so, after all), but when any given case is exposed as a hoax or prank, they end up having wasted their time, effort and resources, which could have been allocated to far more serious - and legitimate - investigations. Unamused police officers have even started making arrests, prosecuting those who knowingly obstructed the law with false 911 calls and reports. Ultimately, the creepy clown cases have yet to be resolved. Until they are, it's not a bad idea to keep your eyes peeled for a threatening person dressed in clown's clothing - but be wary of making (or perpetuating) false reports. Your local police department will thank you. [h/t Washington Post] You Might Also Like Before leaving the State Department in early 2013, Hillary Clinton wrote President Barack Obama a final note on Russia. The hoped-for reset with Moscow, she said, was in the end a setback. She urged Obama to set a new course by taking a harder line against Russian President Vladimir Putin. It would be several months until the Obama administration would accuse the Moscow-backed government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of crossing the White Houses red line on chemical weapons, and roughly two-and-a-half years until a Russian official would show up at the American Embassy in Baghdad with an hours warning before Moscow began dropping bombs in Syria. But the Syrian conflict had already begun to emerge as a new fault line in a tectonic clash between the United States and Russia. Clinton cautioned Obama that the relationship between Washington and Moscow would likely get worse before it got better, and he had to be realistic about the danger Putin posed to both his neighbors and the world order, she wrote in her 2014 memoir, Hard Choices, which was published before her campaign for president her second this year. We should hit the pause button on new efforts. Dont appear too eager to work together. Dont flatter Putin with high-level-attention, she said, imploring Obama to cancel a summit in Moscow that September. And make clear that Russian intransigence wouldnt stop us from pursuing our interests and policies in Syria and elsewhere. Strength and resolve were the only language Putin would understand. Obama ultimately canceled that meeting, after Putin granted asylum to National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. But the White House overruled Clintons broader advice on taking a harder line toward Moscow and doing more earlier to train and equip the moderate Syrian opposition. And now, as she seeks to burnish her national security experience in her run for the presidency against Republican nominee Donald Trump, Clinton is increasingly distancing herself from Obamas foreign-policy failures even as she tries to balance them against her credentials as his secretary of state. Story continues In the Democratic primarys first presidential debate last October, she made one of her clearest breaks from Obama, calling for a no-fly zone in Syria, a demand later echoed by many of the Republican candidates. Its important, too, that the United States make it very clear to Putin that its not acceptable for him to be in Syria creating more chaos, bombing people on behalf of Assad, she said. And we cant do that if we dont take more of a leadership position. In pushing for a no-fly zone, Clinton said: Im trying to figure out what leverage we have to get Russia to the table. You know, diplomacy is not about getting to the perfect solution. Its about how you balance the risks. When asked in a later debate if she was prepared to order the shoot-down of Syrian or Russian aircraft, she said she doubted it would come to that. Clintons aggressive approach to Moscow that Putin cannot be trusted and must be met with force diverts sharply from Trumps cozy take. But it also commits her to a far more confrontational policy in Syria if elected, giving the clearest indication yet that there and elsewhere, shed try to handle the Russian bear head-on. Moscow already sees Clintons call for a no-fly zone in Syria as a signal shes ready to go to war with Russia. And so do many senior Republican officials, including those who agree with her foreign-policy strategies over Trumps. Wed all be well served to have done that years ago, former Trump rival Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said of the prospects of a no-fly zone. So I appreciate her saying it. Skeptics say that could lead to even more bloodshed. If youre going to tell Russia, We will shoot you down, its hard to see Putin saying, Im not going to fly anymore, said Stephen F. Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies at New York University and Princeton. He called Clintons endorsement of a no-fly zone merely a bumper sticker slogan in a campaign where national security issues serve as a key dividing line between the two candidates. For all the election-year talk of how to deal with Russia, neither Trump nor Clinton has detailed their planned policies toward Moscow. The Clinton campaign declined to comment for this article, and the Trump campaign did not respond. But Clintons years of experience in dealing directly with the Cold War adversary give insight into how shed approach the blood-soaked and intractable Syrian conflict facing her on Day One if shes elected. Putin welcomes Clinton during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in September 2012. (Photo by MIKHAIL METZEL/AFP/Getty Images) This week, a Syrian cease-fire agreement brokered by Washington and Moscow erupted into flames. Even as U.S. military officials and their Russian counterparts were to begin sharing targeting lists as part of the agreement, American warplanes conducted a deadly strike Saturday that killed as many as 60 Syrian soldiers. U.S. officials say they meant to kill Islamic State extremists, but Moscow claims it was an intentional attack on Assads forces. On Sunday, Damascus unilaterally called off the cease-fire, though bombings had never completely stopped. And on Monday, a U.N. convoy delivering humanitarian aid near Aleppo was attacked by what U.S. officials say were Russian strikes. At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Moscow and Damascus to ground their air forces and give the cease-fire which he already referred to as a last resort one final chance to succeed. The future of Syria is hanging by a thread, and I urge this council not to give up, Kerry said as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov looked on. And I urge the entire international community to get behind the best chance that we have yet had. On Thursday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee, For now, for us to control all the airspace in Syria would require us to go to war with Syria and Russia. Still, in comments last week, Clinton made clear that she, like many still in the Obama administration, remains cynical about the latest attempts to persuade Russia to help negotiate a political resolution in Syria. It is up to whether or not Vladimir Putin decides that its time to do what the Russians can do to bring this conflict into a period where there can be the beginning of political discussions, Clinton at a news conference. She renewed her call for a protective zone in Syria that is free of airstrikes and a commitment from Moscow to go after the Islamic State, rather than U.S.-backed rebel groups. But theres another reason for Clinton to be cynical. With the inevitable collapse of the latest cease-fire, it is unlikely that Washington and Moscow will find agreement on Syria before American voters elect their next commander in chief on Nov. 8. And yet, each days developments dictate the contours of the conflict that will remain on the new presidents desk on Jan. 20, 2017. As the first debate between Clinton and Trump approaches on Monday, Russia remains central to the argument the Democratic nominee has embraced in the tough fight against her Republican rival: Experience trumps instinct. In contrast with Clinton, Trumps years of experience with Russia have consisted largely of a Miss Universe contest in Moscow, an earnest admiration for Putins strongman tactics, and murky business ties to Kremlin cronies, as the Clinton campaign seized on Thursday amid new revelations. The New York real estate magnate has bucked conventional Washington wisdom by warming up to the Kremlin, ringing alarms from Asia to Eastern Europe. Hes also encouraged Russian hackers to cyberattack Clintons email, and said hed weigh nervous NATO allies financial commitments before deciding whether to defend them against a Russian invasion. A Syrian man carries a baby after removing him from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported airstrike in Aleppo on Sept. 21. (Photo by AMEER ALHALBI/AFP/Getty Images) Trump has not commented on the crumbling cease-fire, but his uncharacteristic consistency in calling for the United States to work with Russia in Syria has defied the elusiveness of the rest of his so-called America First foreign policy. Russia wants to defeat ISIS as badly as we do, Trump said on Sept. 7 during a televised Commander in Chief forum where Clinton also spoke. Wouldnt it be wonderful if we could work on it together and knock the hell out of ISIS? Wouldnt that be a wonderful thing? Had Clinton been in the room to answer, she might have said: Not quite. Clinton spent years of her life with these guys, however insufferable it might have been, said Julianne Smith, who served as Vice President Joe Bidens deputy national security advisor and now co-leads Clintons working group on Europe and Russia. At some point, Youve got to decide youve tried enough, Smith said. Past experience has to make one skeptical, Mike McFaul, who served from 2012 to 2014 as Obamas ambassador to Moscow, said of relying on Russia to negotiate an end to the Syrian war. I do find it odd that a cease-fire agreement is announced between the U.S. and Russia when, in fact, we are not fighting. Smith said one of the few remaining options worth examining in Syria, should the cease-fire agreement fail, could be the no-fly zone Clinton endorsed. But that wouldnt necessarily mean shooting Russian planes out of the sky, said McFaul, who also leads the Clinton working group. A start would be for the United States to forcibly ground Syrian aircraft making Moscow choose between defending Damascus and working with Washington. By backing away from Obamas own red line in Syria, the White House painted itself into a corner and left an opening for Putin to demonstrate strength among foreign powers, said Leon Aron, the director of Russian studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, who was born in Moscow. But the administration has also cornered Clinton. While a no-fly zone would not be enough to stop the war, Aron said, Its a necessary first step. If Putin, Russia, and Syria remain an election issue and obviously Trump is actually doing his best to make it an issue Hillary Clinton would not be able to back away from it once elected, he said. During the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, Clinton again played the role of the more hawkish candidate by disparaging her less-experienced rival then-Sen. Barack Obama for being naive about Russia. Still, though she remained deeply distrustful of Putin, she served as the primary U.S. emissary for Obamas reset with Russia. In March 2009, during Clintons first meeting with Lavrov, she brought a red button she believed was labeled with the Russian word for reset. Prophetic in hindsight, it instead said overcharged. For a while, on issues from cutting nuclear weapons stockpiles, to allowing the United States to transport military supplies across Russia to Afghanistan, to slapping sanctions on North Korea and Iran, the Obama administration had an amenable working relationship with Lavrov and then-President Dmitry Medvedev. That began to change in 2011, when Russia abstained from a U.N. Security Council vote backing a no-fly zone in Libya. According to several people familiar with the diplomatic talks, Clinton personally assured Moscow that the operation wasnt a ruse to overthrow Libyan President Muammar al-Qaddafi. Then videos emerged of U.S.-backed rebels killing Qaddafi, and Clinton separately quipping, We came, we saw, he died, confirming for many Russians their mistrust. At Clintons first meeting with Lavrov in March 2009, she brought a red button she believed was labeled with the Russian word for reset. It instead said overcharged. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) In 2012, before elections that would re-install Putin as president despite widespread reports of fraud, Clinton said Russians deserved fair, free, transparent elections and leaders who are accountable to them. Putin blamed Clinton directly for the large protests in Russia around the election. She set the tone for some actors in our country and gave them a signal, he said. Putin had real suspicions of Clinton in particular, Smith said. As soon as he arrived in office, the wheels came off. But Aron said the reset was always doomed to fail. Putin simply concluded the benefits of working in even limited partnership with the U.S. werent worth the costs in terms of domestic political legitimacy, he said. Cohen agreed that the reset would not have worked if for a different reason. Among foreign policy officials and experts in the United States, he said, everything is reduced to evil Putin. On her way out of the State Department in 2013, Clinton concluded that Obama needed to be ready to take a harder line, as she wrote in Hard Choices. Later that year, Obama weighed strikes against Assad for crossing his red line of using chemical weapons against the Syrian people. Clinton, who by then had left office, suggested Obama cajole Russia hawks in Congress, such as Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), to authorize the use of military force in Syria and strengthen Obamas hand with Putin. But prospects for congressional approval looked grim. And within days, Kerry inadvertently gave Damascus and Washington an out with a deal to remove Assads illicit chemical weapons arsenal, though officials believe Damascus maintains a stockpile. That agreement gave Putin the opening he sought to become the major player in the Middle East, Aron said. Looking to Russia to essentially help us save face, and continuing to hope again and again against experience that Russia would do for the U.S. what the U.S. itself cannot do in Syria, is an utterly unrealistic goal, he said. Corker has endorsed Trump but disagrees with the GOP nominees coziness with Putin, and says Clintons no-fly zone should get another look. The partys 2008 standard-bearer, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), maintains the United States shouldnt be negotiating with Moscow. McCain, who is up for re-election, is known for his own hawkish stance against Russia but has pledged to support Trumps candidacy. He said he no longer hears Clinton talk about establishing a no-fly zone in Syria, which he supports. And as for Trump? I have no idea what his approach to Russia is, McCain said. Cohen calls this across-the-aisle, anti-Russian convergence the new Cold War wilderness that we have. Clinton said she was not surprised when Moscow invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea; the move was consistent with Putins intent to re-establish Russia as a world power, and most U.S. officials have united in condemning it. Russias military entry into the Syrian conflict, however, caught many off guard. More than two years ago, Clinton argued that the United States should have been more forceful about its responsibility as a global leader. To not do more in Syria was to become complicit in the bloody stalemate, she wrote in 2014. As it continues, the United States and its allies will not be able to ignore it. Reporting contributed by Paul McLeary. Top image credit: Getty Images/Foreign Policy illustration FARMINGTON HILLS, MI / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / Retirement Strategies, a financial planning company based in Farmington Hills, MI, is very happy to announce that they are in the process of finishing their new office building. Scott and Andrew Briggs are the second generation of Retirement Strategies and both have 20+ years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Having been mentored by their (now retired) father and founder of Retirement Strategies, Ronald Briggs Sr., the two brothers look forward to the future of the company. Having children of their own, they hope to keep the family tradition alive by mentoring the next generation and continuing to grow their family's business. Further details about the opening of the new office will be released on their website at http://www.retirementstrategiesmi.com/. Scott Briggs, CSA, of Retirement Strategies, says: "It is our goal to have the finishing touches done and be all moved in by the late summer of 2016. Farmington Hills has been our home since the 1970's and we hope to brighten and give back to our community through the addition of our building that compliments the landscape here in Farmington Hills." Having made a healthy investment in their local area by completely renovating an old machine shop that dates back to the 1940's, Retirement Strategies looks forward to the completion of their new office as well as the smiling faces of their new neighbors, when they move in. Retirement Strategies specializes in annuities, wealth transfer, and asset preservation from one generation to the next. By the looks of their new office, it is truly a testament to the success this second generation family business has had in providing sound retirement advice and helping retirees reach their retirement goals. Scott and Andrew have been at the heart of the construction and renovation of the new office and already feel they have a real bond with it. They will keep people up to date about its progress, as well as make an official announcement about the official opening date once they have it. People are encouraged to checking on the company's website regularly to stay up-to-date. Story continues Contact Retirement Strategies: Scott Briggs (248) 473-1111 info@retirementstrategiesmi.com 21999 Farmington Rd Suite 500 Farmington Hills MI 48336 SOURCE: Retirement Strategies It began like an ordinary purse snatching. The credit card reader on the gas pump at her Houston neighborhood station wasnt working, so Deborah Ford went inside to pay. By the time she returned to the car, her purse and wallet were gone. Ford filed a police report, canceled credit cards, and requested a new drivers license and health insurance card. She checked with the bank several times to be sure nothing was funny, then forgot about it. Two years later, the retired postal worker received an unsettling call from a bail bondsman; she was about to be arrested for acquiring more than 1,700 prescription opioid painkiller pills through area pharmacies. I had my mug shot taken, my fingerprints taken, she says. Ford suffers from psoriasis, and she was so stressed that she broke out in the signature rash. The policemen looked at my hands and said, Thats what drug users hands look like. They just assumed I was guilty. Later, a judge dismissed the charges. What saved me from going to jail was that I had filed that police report, Ford says. Turns out the thief altered Fords drivers license and used that and her stolen health insurance card to go to doctors to seek prescription painkillers. Eventually, Ford says, a pharmacist became suspicious and called police. Boy, the thieves messed me up, Ford says now of her lengthy and expensive ordeal, which began with the theft in 2008 and didnt end until she got her name cleared of the arrest record last year. Once theyve got your identity, theyve got you, she says. Inside Medical Identity Theft Fords story is but one glimpse of what medical identity theft can look like these days and why it has become a fast-growing strain of identity theft, with an estimated 2.3 million cases identified in 2014, a number thats up almost 22 percent from the year before. Your personal health insurance information, including your Social Security number, address, and email address, is valuable and vulnerable. When it gets into the wrong hands it can be used to steal expensive medical serviceseven surgeriesand prescription drugs or to procure medical devices or equipment such as wheelchairs. Story continues Your medical identity is a commodity that can be hijacked and used to falsify insurance claims or to fraudulently acquire government benefits such as Medicare or Medicaid. Your personal medical information may also be sold on the black market, where it can be used to create entirely new medical identities based on your data. And more often than you might imagine, people outright share their own medical coverage with an uninsured friend or family member in need of care, which is against the law. (More on that later.) Because current consumer protections arent specifically designed for medical identity theft, experts warn, people need to understand that they may have to take on extensive work to clear up fraudulent bills. Some frustrated victims of medical identity theft simply give up and pay the bills themselves. But theres another, far more dangerous problem with medical identity theft: The thiefs own medical treatment, history, and diagnoses can get mixed up with your own electronic health recordspotentially tainting and complicating your care for years to come. And that isnt a hypothetical problem. About 20 percent of victims have told us that they got the wrong diagnosis or treatment, or that their care was delayed because there was confusion about what was true in their records due to the identity theft, says Ann Patterson, a senior vice president of the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance (MIFA), a group of several dozen healthcare organizations and businesses working to reduce the crime and its negative effects. Havoc in Victims' Lives The long tail on medical identity theft can create havoc in victims lives. Take Anndorie Cromars experience. A pregnant woman reportedly used Cromars medical identity to pay for maternity care at a nearby hospital in Utah. Soon, officials from child protective services assumed the infantborn with drugs in her systemwas Cromars baby, and Cromar says the state, not realizing her medical identity had been hijacked, threatened to take her own four children away. A DNA test she took helped to get her name off of the infants birth certificate, she says, but it took years to get her medical records corrected. That first stage was the most terrifying thing Ive ever experienced in my life, getting the call from CPS and having them say, We are coming to take your kids, Cromar told Consumer Reports. An Insidious Kind of Fraud Financial identity theft is nothing new: Perhaps you or someone you know has had to deal with undoing the mess that happens when someone illegally obtains your personal financial information and uses it to drain your bank account or rack up charges on credit cards fraudulently taken out in your name. Setting credit accounts back to normal can be a hassle, but your money is, for the most part, protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Youre liable for only $50, at most, of unauthorized charges on a credit card if you follow simple notification steps. And there are defined reimbursement rules if money is illegally withdrawn with a stolen ATM or debit card. But when consumers become victims of medical identity fraud, stopping the damage and clearing up the bills is much more difficult and time consuming. Deborah Ford had to quickly figure out what had been done in her name and try to undo the damage. She got on the phone and wrote letters and even tried to track down doctors the criminal had used. All I have is my name, my integrity, she says. Investigators later told her that the thieves were savvy at knowing the system, always waiting 45 days between trips to the same pharmacy to avoid being identified by store video. They were so slick about it, Ford says. To this day, I dont know who they were. But they were slick, thats for sure. Spotting It, Preventing it Experts say detecting the fraud in the first place can be the most difficult part. Medical identify theft and fraud is much harder to spot than financial fraud, says Michelle De Mooy, acting director of the Privacy & Data Project at the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology. The bank calls you if they see charges in the system that raise an alarm. This kind of fraud is much easier to hide for a longer time. Thats why consumers need to be especially smart and careful about how and when they share their personal, medical, and insurance information. Here are a few basic ways you can safeguard your medical privacy and identity: Read those explanation of benefits letters as if they were bank statements. Carefully check all of the correspondence you receive from health insurers and healthcare providers for accuracy and for bills of service that you dont recognize. Also review your credit reports for unfamiliar debts. Be stingy with your personal health information, Social Security card, and insurance cards. If someone asks for them, inquire whether it is really necessary. And dont post news of an upcoming surgery on Facebook or other social media outlets, Patterson recommends. You cant really be sure who might see it. Consider, for example, that a criminal could scoop up the notice of your impending hip replacement and add it to other information he or she can easily find about you online, creating a more robust, more exploitable personal profile. As Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the ITRC, says, Our rule of thumb is if its not something youd want plastered on a billboard, dont post it. Because essentially every single thing you post has that potential. All in the Family Ronnie Bogle, a museum supervisor from San Jose, Calif., says that for more than a decade, he had no idea that his brother Gary had been stealing his identity to secure healthcare across several states. Gary had a simple routine, Ronnie says: He would move to a new town or city, purchase a picture ID, then present the IDalong with Ronnies Social Security numberto get treatment, often at hospitals. Gary often claimed to be uninsured when he sought care. After he was treated, the bills were later sent to his given address, not Ronnies. Ronnie told Consumer Reports that he only learned what Gary was up to in 2010 after applying for a new credit card and being turned down. He says his credit report contained listing after listing of unpaid debtfor his brothers hospital visits and treatments over the years. Eventually, Gary was arrested and pleaded guilty to 10 counts of criminal impersonation in California. Hes facing more charges in Washington state for allegedly stealing his brothers identity there. It has taken two years for Ronnie Bogle to straighten out his credit and get his brothers medical bills off his financial record. He destroyed my credit history multiple times, Ronnie says. So-Called Friendly Fraud Sometimes victims of medical identity theft know exactly how the crime occurred, but for others it remains a mystery. The Ponemon Institute, a private cybersecurity research firm, surveyed 1,005 people whose medical identity was most likely assumed by someone else. In the study, published last year, 10 percent of victims said their event was the result of a healthcare provider or insurer data breach, and an additional 12 percent believe they were tricked into giving up personal information via a fake email or phony website. But 47 percent of respondents said that their identity theft was perpetrated by a relative or someone else they knew. Twenty-four percent said they had a situation like Bogles, where a relative stole their identity without their knowledge or consent. And surprisingly, an additional 23 percent of respondents said they willingly shared their credentials with someone they knew. Thats why the crime sometimes is referred to as friendly fraud. Of those who said they shared healthcare credentials in that way, 91 percent reported that it was because the other person had no health insurance and 86 percent said it was because the other person couldnt afford medical treatment. Sixty-five percent said it was done in an emergency. Most of the people who voluntarily let someone they know use their medical information said they didnt consider their actions wrong or criminal. They think of it as a Robin Hood crimethat no one is getting hurt and that if a family member is ill, they can help them, says Larry Ponemon, chairman of the Ponemon Institute. Those in our studies who did recognize it as a crime saw it as minor, like driving 5 miles above the speed limit. They dont recognize the cost burden to insurance companies or healthcare providers, or that it ultimately ends up in the lap of consumers. Knowingly allowing a friend or relative to use your medical insurance is illegal, an act of fraud against insurance companies and health providers. And wrongfully sharing Medicare or Medicaid benefits is a crime against the federal government and state programs. Pinpointing how much money fraud costs the medical industry each year is difficult. One estimate from 2012 put the total economic impact of medical identity theft in the U.S. at $41.3 billion. Providers are working on new strategies to prevent it. Theyre using software to detect fraud in billing, training staff and consumers to recognize warning signs and asking for photo IDs, explains James Quiggle of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. He says consumers can expect to see more extensive verification screening in the future, such as the use of fingerprints or palm prints. And soon Medicare cards will no longer bear Social Security numbers. A Dramatic Rise in the Crime As recently as six years ago, your medical information was kept in paper files, but now it has a more robust virtual lifein electronic health records and in details you share online. All of that can increase the likelihood that the wrong people could gain access to your data. Now theres electronic data traveling through all kinds of devices and networks, and its much harder to lock it down, Patterson says. Big data breaches in the medical care industry have been on the rise over the past decade, including the hack of health insurer Anthem in 2015, when about 70 million of its records were reportedly stolen. And yet its still unclear how often medical identity fraud stems from those kinds of hacks, Patterson explains. Most at Risk for Medical Identity Theft What industry analysts do know is that some people are more likely to become targets, including people on Medicare. That Social Security number on the card is a gateway, not just to medical fraud but to all kinds of fraud, Patterson notes. Older adults might also be more susceptible to scams because they tend to be less circumspect about giving up personal health information, she adds. Childrens health records are aggressively pursued by criminals, it turns out, because a minors credit reportwhich would list unpaid debtsisnt usually seen by parents until a child is old enough to secure credit in his or her name. Also particularly vulnerable to medical identity theft, says Pam Dixon, executive director of the nonprofit World Privacy Forum, are new mothers, surgery patients, and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or serious illnesses such as cancer. Thats because the more interaction you have with the healthcare system, the more opportunity for records to be breached. Anyone who casually puts a lot of personal information on social media sites and apps, such as millennials, might attract medical identity thieves, too. Criminals, Patterson explains, are very good at aggregating social media information and pairing it with health and other data theyve gotten, like dates of birth and addresses. The Chaos in Care The effects of medical identity theft can be far-reaching, costing victims time, money, and aggravation. A 2016 report from Javelin Strategy & Research found that, on average, identity fraud victims spent only $55 out of pocket to resolve financial account problems in 2015. But 65 percent of the medical identity theft victims surveyed by Ponemon said they spent an average of $13,500 to pay the healthcare bills run up in their name, to recover their health insurance, and to pay lawyers fees, among other things. Ponemon also found that it took an average of more than three months for victims to even detect the fraud and more than 200 hours to undo the mess. Mary Levine of Lake Charles, Louisiana, says she has been logging time on the telephone with the police, hospitals, doctors, and Medicaid almost every day since she learned in mid-June that someone had racked up some $20,000 in fraudulent medical bills using her identity. Although Levine is working closely with the nonprofit ITRC and her local sheriff's department, the bills continue to arrive, and her worries are mounting. "I keep telling the hospital that I've never been there," says Levine. "I've been calling nonstop. They just say they have not clarified anything at all and they'll call me whenever they make a decision." Theres much more to do to safeguard consumers from medical identity theft, experts say, including creating a defined process for resolving medical and financial problems. But, says Orly Avitzur, M.D., M.B.A., Consumer Reports medical director, one thing that healthcare experts dont want is to completely lock up our medical data. Its important for doctors to be able to share your health needs, diagnoses, and treatment information with each other, and to do so quickly in the event of an emergency, she says. Be Ever-Vigilant Deborah Fords encounter with medical identity theft may have been extreme, but the way she handled it was impressive. Once she found out about the fraud, she got on italerting every entity involved and stayed on it until it was over. They never used my credit card or checking account; I checked. But lo and behold, they did more than that. They got what they wantedmy insurance information, she says. Still, it cost her $1,500 in fees and took five more years to expunge the drug arrest. On that day, Ford says, I got my name back. More on Medical Privacy Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the October 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. The "Growth & Opportunity Project" commissioned by the Republican National Committee following the 2012 presidential election was supposed to be the party's blueprint for a rebound back to power. The 97-page document -- more commonly and grimly known as "the autopsy" -- was a noble, ambitious enterprise that listed a series of specific recommendations for how the GOP could improve its campaign mechanics, messaging, candidate recruitment and fundraising. No priority was greater than making inroads on demographic diversity: increasing the party's appeal to minorities, women and youth. After Mitt Romney's loss, despite the support of traditional GOP coalitions like white men and evangelical Christians, it was deemed a matter of survival. "Unless the RNC gets serious about tackling this problem, we will lose future elections," the report's authors warned. In many cases, the recommendations in what RNC Chairman Reince Priebus called "the most comprehensive postelection review" in electoral history were pursued -- at least to some extent. "Whether it's a complete 'check the box' here, or that we did positive action to achieving that recommendation, I think that we did that on almost everything," says Ryan Mahoney, the RNC's deputy communications director. But nearly four years after its submission, a U.S. News investigation -- which included interviews with more than three dozen Republicans at all levels across the country -- shows that some of the most significant changes sought, particularly on demographic outreach, haven't come to pass. And the emergence of Donald Trump is not wholly to blame -- though it is a significant factor and the reason cited by one of the report's authors, Sally Bradshaw, for leaving the party. The report touched off a flurry of hiring and enthusiasm, which led its authors to praise the RNC in a one-year checkup published in March of 2014. They commended the committee for its progress on data and digital initiatives and for national and state-based hires it had made. Story continues But as the party turned toward another turbulent presidential election, it appeared to lose some of the focus and precision demanded by the report to address the deep demographic hole it had dug itself into. "There was never any discussion, 'Well, we're going to implement 83 percent of recommendations' or anything like that," says Henry Barbour of Mississippi, one of the autopsy's authors. "There's some things that might be a little pie in the sky and there's some things that are really practical and had been done on a smaller scale and we wanted to see it grown." A high level of staffing turnover has hurt the committee's efforts to follow through on report recommendations, and even to track whether things have been implemented. Turnover is common in the taxing business of politics. But in the past year, there's been a significant RNC exodus of minority staffers, highlighted by the loss of the head of Hispanic media relations and all five top-ranking black staffers. During interviews only agreed to on background, many newer RNC staff members revealed they didn't know the status of particular recommendations inside their departments. And one RNC official admitted there hasn't been continuity on relaying the priorities of the 2012 report to new hires. "There's not any like, 'Here's your first day, here's the Growth and Opportunity report.' It's more like, a lot of these people, their positions exist primarily because of the Growth and Opportunity report," the RNC source says. Meanwhile, key staffing benchmarks -- like the hiring of minority communications directors and political directors in battleground states -- have not been met. And many at the grass-roots level remain disengaged or disillusioned with party leaders, and are confused about the overarching message. This is where the emergence of Trump further complicated the task. Achieving any unity on comprehensive immigration reform -- one of the report's most ambitious and advertised goals -- was torpedoed once Trump built his movement, leaving the RNC to de-emphasize policy in favor of tactics and organizational muster. "The RNC wanted to give the perception they were doing something," says Ron Christie, a black GOP political consultant who served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush. "Actions speak louder than words. I wish they had spent more time merging policy with a political campaign rather than penning a postmortem." Winning, sometimes, can inhibit the urgency to act as well. And win the GOP did in the 2014 congressional midterms, posting a gain of nine Senate seats to wrest chamber control from the Democrats and adding 13 seats to its already robust House majority. That year, the RNC notes, the GOP captured 50 percent of the Asian vote. "A lot of people in my party have been whistling past the graveyard, saying we did OK in 2014, and letting the strength of some of our state parties fool us that we are strong nationally," says Daniel Ruoss, southern regional vice chairman of the Young Republicans. But a White House victory was always the ultimate target, and many Republicans are dour about whether they'll see much improvement, if any, with minorities at the ballot box this year. Indeed, they're likely to experience a slide. According to the latest Economist/YouGov survey, Trump is winning just 23 percent of the Hispanic vote -- 4 points behind Romney -- 37 percent of the female vote -- 7 points behind Romney -- and 3 percent of the black vote (Romney won only 6 percent in a contest against the country's first black president, while President George W. Bush captured 11 percent of the black vote in his 2004 re-election). "I think everything that was a mechanical piece the party did," says Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary for Bush and an autopsy author. "What's not happened is the bigger, more important component, which is the message. What has not been done is what the candidate is responsible for. Donald Trump has not been welcoming and inclusive as recommended in the report." Perhaps due to a combination of these complicating factors, several RNC officials were leery about talking to U.S. News on the record about specific benchmarks and their progress toward them, though they insist such things were tracked internally in the past. But now, on the brink of another potential presidential defeat in a campaign that also threatens their congressional majorities, the GOP's resurrection effort looks like it's largely dead in the water. What They Didn't Do One of the guiding principles of the autopsy was that in order to court more Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans, the party's faces needed to reflect them. That's why the No. 1 recommendation listed under each specific demographic in the autopsy was to hire minority communications directors and political directors for key states across the country. That hasn't happened. Instead, the party has turned its resources to employing lower-level field operators -- who focus their time on phone banking or canvassing goals rather than leading the overarching charge -- dedicated to the task of minority outreach. In 11 battleground states identified by the RNC, the committee says it has 104 staffers devoted to African-American engagement, 76 devoted to Hispanic engagement and nine devoted to Asian-American engagement. Florida has the biggest Hispanic-dedicated staff, totaling 37. Thirty-five staffers in Ohio are dedicated to African-American outreach, the highest of any state. The RNC says 17 percent of its total field staff -- including 4,500 youth volunteers -- is Hispanic. Eleven percent is African-American and 6 percent is Asian. But the committee decided that the top recommendation -- integrating high-level minority personnel into states on a widespread level -- either wasn't possible or wasn't imperative. There is an RNC communications director who is Hispanic in Colorado and one who is Filipino in Florida. "We have communications directors in each of these states, not Hispanic-centric communication directors in these states. I don't know if that's necessarily something that needs to be done," Mahoney says. It's a goal they may never have reached, even if they'd tried. Last month, Wadi Gaitan -- a Hispanic and chief spokesman of the Florida Republican Party -- resigned, fed up with having to defend Trump. Bettina Inclan, the RNC's director of Hispanic outreach in 2012, says the top recommendations to hire minority directors missed the point, in that it's more important to have effective managers who hit their targets for contacting voters than to make hires based solely on ethnicity. Besides, she says, there are only so many people qualified for those jobs. "In a perfect world I'd have as many people as possible, as diverse as possible, that are bilingual and can reach out to those communities. But I think the most important thing is that we're meeting the metrics and talking to people, rather than anyone's one job title," Inclan says. "I think we get hung up on, 'Does someone have this title?' And I think it should be, 'Does someone have this priority?'" To better appeal to women, the report recommended exploring changes to the RNC's committee member process so more women would be placed in leadership roles. Indications point to that being left to the dustbin. Additionally, the RNC has scrapped tenets of the autopsy's recommendations regarding youth. It does not advertise in college newspapers and has evaluated pitching party surrogates to college media as a bad investment. Shortly after the 2014 elections, it disbanded its youth advisory committee, transitioned new hire Elliott Echols out of his role as national youth director, and has squashed quarterly discussions between young voters and Priebus or another notable Republican. The youth efforts were distilled into a new entity headed by Echols and called the Republican Leadership Initiative. The party says the program paves the way for young Republicans to engage with local GOP groups in their communities, instead of their having to take time off from school to work with operatives in Washington. More than 4,500 fellows have completed a six-week training program as part of the initiative and are now an integral part of localized get-out-the-vote efforts, the RNC says. Yet some inside the party say the program hasn't done much to widen the GOP tent. Echols "attended a lot of Young Republican and College Republican events," says a 20-something press secretary working on a campaign in a battleground state who is familiar with the program. "But those people were already Republicans. He didn't do anything to bring in new people." The RNC declined a U.S. News request to speak to Echols about the change of strategy. A Local Disconnect Republicans at the grass-roots level complain there hasn't been a united effort to convince local branches of the party to implement the autopsy's demographic recommendations, creating an uneven national framework. "It doesn't seem like there was really any kind of plan to go to the states and go to the local level and say, 'Here, here's what works. Implement this," Ruoss says. "A lot of these people that hold local party positions, they've been there for a long time. They're used to doing things the same old way." In Florida, 31-year-old Elizabeth Granite decided to run for state committeewoman in St. Johns County after working with local Republican parties in several Florida counties for a decade. She says she was told by Republican Executive Committee members in various counties that she was too young, that she should wait her turn and that millennials don't belong in office. She went on to win anyway, and says the opposition only strengthened her commitment to supporting young Republicans running in the state. "Young Republicans are feared," she says of her intraparty experience. The autopsy also recommended the formation of a new Growth & Opportunity Inclusion Council that would work "to develop statewide initiatives designed to expand and diversify the base" of state parties. But the RNC moved instead toward a more siloed approach, creating national Hispanic, African-American and Asian-Pacific advisory councils, along with various state advisory councils. On Asian-American outreach, Jason Chung is the RNC's point man with local leaders and has earned plaudits for keeping a consistent and direct line of communication. Chung, a Virginia resident, often holds listening sessions in Asian communities inside Fairfax County, Virginia -- one of the richest counties in the U.S. and home to twice the proportion of immigrants as the national share -- to get a feel for their pressing issues. He also shows up at swearing-in ceremonies to introduce new U.S. citizens to the Republican Party, as recommended by the report. "It shows that we are an inclusive party and we are not what those in the media or others might portray us as," he says. But as with many of the recommendations, there wasn't a centralized strategy for deploying party reps to such events. Mahoney says teams were never formally organized and dedicated to the goal as the report suggested. Instead, who attended and how often was up to local parties, local RNC staffers and their availability -- an approach that still netted 40,000 new voters over the past year at hundreds of naturalization ceremonies. The return on voter registrations was small, the RNC concedes -- yet it's a result that could have been bolstered by a more concerted effort. An original recommendation for the inclusion council, meanwhile, was for it to conduct "nationwide grass-roots educational programs through symposiums, lectures and forums," but there's little evidence that level of sustained engagement is taking place via the RNC's alternative advisory groups. Puneet Ahluwalia, a member of Virginia's Asian-American and Pacific Islander Advisory Council, says his group holds "occasional conference calls" with allied community leaders but couldn't recall the names of any of the four RNC field staffers dedicated to Asian outreach in the commonwealth. "They have one lady working on the ground with the RNC. It kind of escapes me at this point," he says. Names escaped Jim Cheng, another member of the Virginia council, as well. "I don't know the names of the folks who have been hired," he says. "For me, it's mostly through Jason and getting the updates of what's going on." This points to a scattered, highly informal effort that is powered by Chung at RNC headquarters but lacks robust, persistent action at the local level. And in Virginia, that chasm could be costly, given the competitive trajectory of the presidential race there. "Putting your arms around it is very hard," Ahluwalia says of Virginia's varied Asian population, which includes Chinese, Filipino and Korean communities, among others. "Each community has a need and a desire. It's a big bear to do it." Though it requires a delicate balance, expanding the party brand also is tied to showing up when bad news emerges or tensions are raw -- in the aftermath of a police shooting, for example, or during a Black Lives Matter march. But "we're just not there. There's not a Republican there," Ruoss says. "There's not a county party leader who's showing up to these things and saying, 'Hey look, we want to be engaged with you' ... just showing that we actually care enough to show up." In battleground Florida, GOP leaders say the party has shown up, and has had a presence at 500 Hispanic community events since 2013 -- whether that means a single staffer or elected official attending a festival celebrating Colombian independence or setting up a voter registration table at a Nicaraguan heritage festival. Nationwide, the RNC says it's had a presence at 3,700 minority-specific events since 2013. Florida State Sen. Anitere Flores, chair of the state's Hispanic Advisory Council, says her group convenes by phone four times a year, and that's an increased level of engagement and improvement itself. But will a greater number of Hispanics pull ballots for Republicans this year? "No, I don't think anybody can say that," Flores says. "We'll measure success by not just percentages of turnout. I think the success will be measured on races up and down the ballot. There are some major challenges when it comes to Trump." Indeed, smooth and seamless coordination between local parties and the national campaign has become even more problematic with Trump's ascendance, due to the nominee's haphazard and uneven organization. But that's likely not what Flores meant. When asked if she would vote for the GOP nominee, she pauses and says, "Can you not ask me that question?" In other words, the head of a GOP Hispanic outreach effort in the closest battleground state in 2012 could not say whether she would vote for her party's presidential nominee in 2016. There's not a white paper recommendation in the world that can overcome that. Wrong From the Start Last month, Ashley Bell, the RNC's new national director of African-American political engagement, appeared on Roland Martin's "NewsOne Now" program as part of his media tour touting a game plan to attract more black voters to the GOP banner. Martin, an aggressive interviewer with a progressive bent, posed a thorny question for Bell: "How can Republicans talk about competing for black votes when the party in different states ... has tried to suppress the vote?" Martin cited the flurry of Republican-led states that have imposed voter identification laws and a GOP congressman's resistance to refurbishing the Voting Rights Act. He told Bell he'd like to see Priebus tell the obstructor, Virginia's Bob Goodlatte, to "stop blocking the bill." Bell's answer, essentially, was that there was nothing the RNC could do. "That's not our job, we don't do policy. We do politics at the RNC," he replied. Martin wasn't buying it, and the resulting headline on the NewsOne website after the interview was brutal: "RNC Grilled About Flawed Plan To Woo Black Voters." The autopsy report said the RNC should emphasize GOP-backed policies that could unite voters, such as education initiatives attractive to young voters, economic ideas that would find favor with Asian-Americans and the party's support for school choice, which could help win over Hispanics. Yet the committee's inability or refusal to weigh in on certain policy fights is one of the biggest barriers the party faces in trying to build trust with minorities, even though it certainly has chosen its battles before. For instance, when Priebus embarked on a listening tour of the country in 2013, he routinely plied African-American leaders for their thoughts on criminal justice reform -- a topic that's gained bipartisan support of late. And just ahead of the Republican National Convention, the party adopted a platform that hearkened back to its 2012 statement and mentioned modifying mandatory minimum sentences for drug and nonviolent offenses, along with diverting nonviolent offenders from prison. RNC staffers highlighted this area as a tangible sign of policy-related progress. Still, critics say the RNC should weigh more heavily into policy debates on Capitol Hill by coordinating with congressional leaders and committees. Raynard Jackson -- a longtime African-American political consultant based in Washington -- contends that black RNC staffers have virtually no relationship with congressional leaders, making it difficult for them to push the importance of embracing issues on the minds of black voters, like voting rights and affordable housing. Telling black voters you can't influence policy, in other words, is the equivalent of trying to sell a car missing an engine. "If the RNC can't tie policy in with our congressional leadership and then go into the black community ... They don't make the connection," chides Jackson, who says he is now in litigation with the committee over rights to an event for black Republicans he helped get off the ground. "The RNC is totally incapable. It's going to be people like me from the outside." Christie agrees that policy must take priority over meeting any staffing quotas, and was critical of the emphasis on minority hiring from the start. "Placing X number of press directors or Y number of political directors in key states isn't going to do it," Christie says. "You have to coordinate policy with politics and vice versa. Talk about how your education plan is going to make a difference. Talk about why an immigration bill will stem illegal immigration and allow more people to have jobs." Christie says the RNC should follow the template that Gov. John Kasich of Ohio used in his re-election bid: Stand by your core beliefs, just explain how they lift all boats. "One of the things I think they missed is to connect with people as people rather than connect with people on the skin color," he says. "I've said this for a long time: Stop talking to black people like they're black people." But tone is an ongoing challenge for Republican leadership. When Trump announced his candidacy based in part on the premise that many Mexicans were criminals, drug runners and rapists, most GOP leaders looked the other way, even though it directly contradicted the spirit of the autopsy report. Artemio Muniz, a GOP activist in Texas, says he received a personal promise from Priebus during the chairman's listening tour that he would speak out against anyone who engaged in rhetoric harmful to Hispanic engagement. An RNC spokeswoman confirmed Priebus made this pledge, and claims he kept it. Yet while Priebus has called Trump's comments about Mexicans "not helpful" and reportedly asked the GOP nominee during a phone conversation to tone his rhetoric down a bit, his reaction came off as less a strident condemnation than a half-hearted shoulder shrug. Muniz says Priebus didn't have the guts to follow through when it mattered most. "I think that was a huge failed test for the RNC and for Reince Priebus," Muniz says. "Just publishing a report doesn't really -- now we see that it doesn't help. You gotta stand by what you publish. You gotta stand by it. You gotta fight for it. You gotta be aggressive. "I think they should've kept their word and spoke out." An Uncertain Future What happens in November is for the election gods to decide. But it's more likely than not that Republicans will lose their third straight bid for the White House. And it's more likely than not that the party will perform extremely poorly with minorities and women. Michael Fauntroy, an associate professor of political science at Howard University, recently suggested Trump could end up with historically low support among black voters. "If he comes out at about 2 or 3 percent, that's a third to a half of what Barry Goldwater got in 1964," Fauntroy said. "I think that speaks to just how deep a hole he has created for himself." Still, it's a loss -- albeit a painful, soul-crushing one -- that might spur a more dramatic round of action and urgency going forward. At least that's what the reform-minded contingent of the Republican Party hopes. "We're jumping off the cliff again, and election night we're going to have Sean Hannity again like he did last time crying about, 'Maybe we should do immigration reform cuz we got our asses kicked!' That's going to happen again. It could happen again where the only way we realize we're messing up is until we lose, and it's sad really because we have so much positive stuff that we can work with and really win the hearts and minds of the Hispanic community," Muniz says. "I think it's slowly happening, and I think it's going to happen even faster once we see the disastrous results on election night with the Hispanic community for the GOP." Maria Teresa Kumar, president of the nonprofit Voto Latino, said recently at a Brookings Institution event that Republicans have to undergo "a cleansing ... a tsunami election of opposition to Trump so that the [GOP] can actually say, 'This is not something that is good.'" To be sure, the RNC did complete some autopsy initiatives that can be built upon. Between 2013 and 2014, as the report recommended, the committee set up pilot projects in cities holding mayoral races like Detroit, San Diego and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to identify better practices for reaching minority voters. The RNC says the operations helped localize its pitch and expand outreach beyond traditional door-knocking and phone banking to attendance at local events already integrated into the community, and that they resulted in an increase in the GOP share of the minority vote in each race. Well-oiled programs aimed at pinpointing the next generation of talent also are churning along outside the RNC, doing their work exclusive of the report's recommendations. For example, the Republican State Leadership Committee -- dedicated to getting down-ballot, state-level Republicans in office -- has helped elect 73 diverse candidates since 2012. Right Women, Right Now, an offshoot group of the RSLC, has helped elect 229 women to state-level office during the last four years. And Priebus has been conscientious about engaging with organizations that represent people of color, attending events like the National Association of Black Journalists convention, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference and the 50th anniversary of the march on Selma, Alabama. Yet there are glaring breakdowns. Hilary Shelton, Washington bureau director for the NAACP -- an organization specifically highlighted by the autopsy as one where the RNC should "establish a presence" -- says post-report relations "began very well." But he says efforts ceased about a year ago, especially after black staffers like Kristal Quarker Hartsfield, national director of African-American strategic initiatives, and Orlando Watson, communications director for black media, left the RNC. The group heard second- and thirdhand that the approach touted in the report had been axed. Trump, for his part, snubbed the NAACP when he declined an invitation to speak at its annual convention. "The sadness in this is that they seem to abandon those programs," Shelton says. "They don't recognize that you have to give new programs at least as much time to repair breaches as it took to create them." Christie, the GOP operative who in the past appeared frequently on television as part of the RNC's surrogate program, says he hasn't heard much from the committee since Watson left his post earlier this year. The newest four hires dedicated to the black vote just came on in August. "Perhaps they don't like the message I'm carrying," he says. Jackson complains the committee isn't tapping former African-American government officials with White House, Capitol Hill and business experience to spread the word. "There's a lot of good black Republicans just sitting on the sidelines," he says. "No one from the RNC would return their phone calls. When you get down to the issue of getting more blacks, it's so far down on the totem poll. They're not worried about five to 10 years down the road, they're worried about the next quarter." In fact, when Jackson put out word that he had organized a group of black Republicans willing to speak to the media at the national convention, an intermediary received an abrupt reply. "I don't have any need for them," Ryan Price, an adviser to the convention's Committee on Arrangements, wrote back to the source, according to an email exchange shared with U.S. News. Christie says he already has had conversations with a prominent black operative who wants to organize another postmortem analysis around the spring Republican Governors Association meeting, gathering a wider net of voices from academia and policy circles, as well as from politics, to prescribe a path forward. As for the last report, the RNC's failure to produce few measurable gains wasn't due to inherent neglect or disregard, but occurred rather because the party itself was at odds over what really should change in the first place. Disagreements within about which solutions would be the most useful highlight an enduring disconnect between the party elites, the campaign workers tasked with making these lofty goals a reality and the restless grass-roots. RNC officials maintain the most profound impact of the report has been a change in culture. Now, in every political equation, the needs of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans are considered. So will this year's presidential election be the ultimate test of the autopsy's success? "I wouldn't say that it's the ultimate test," replies Mahoney, downplaying expectations. "Election Day will tell." Multimedia editor Ethan Rosenberg contributed to this report. David Catanese is senior politics writer for U.S. News & World Report and founder of the blog The Run 2016. You can follow him on Twitter and send him feedback at dcatanese@usnews.com. By Emma Thomasson BERLIN (Reuters) - German e-commerce investor Rocket Internet reported progress on Thursday in cutting losses at its main start-ups with three set to generate profits by the end of 2017, while its shares were lifted by a plan to buy back convertible bonds. Rocket Internet shares, which have been hit by concerns about mounting losses and cuts to the valuation of some of the company's leading start-ups, were up 10.4 percent by 0920 GMT, but were still down a quarter on the year. Finance chief Peter Kimpel said Rocket was still working towards a goal of a public listing for one of its 10 main start-ups in food delivery, fashion and home furnishings in the coming months, but said timing would depend on market conditions. Rocket was forced to pull the listing of its HelloFresh recipe ingredients business last year, but markets have become more receptive recently to technology flotations, with rivals such as Takeaway.com and Blue Apron preparing to go public. Along with HelloFresh, Rocket's other most likely candidates for a listing are seen as food site Delivery Hero and emerging market ecommerce firm Global Fashion Group (GFG), which reported last week it had managed to stem its losses. Rocket did not publish any figures on Thursday for Delivery Hero, the second-biggest in its portfolio, but Kimpel said it would give more information in due course. He also declined to comment on a recent funding round for the business. "They are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Bringing companies to profit," said Berenberg analyst Sarah Simon, who has a "buy" rating on the stock. Kimpel said a decision to spend up to an additional 85 million euros on convertible buybacks by Sept. 30, 2017 was taken because Rocket now felt it had "excess capital". Rocket, which listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange in 2014, saw its shares tumble in July 2015 when it said it would sell 550 million euros worth of convertible bonds. In February, it said it would buy back up to 150 million euros of them. Story continues Rocket reiterated a target set a year ago to turn three of its 10 main start-ups profitable by the end of 2017, pointing to smaller losses at home furnishings site Westwing and at GFG. Aggregate first half revenue rose 32 percent to 1.043 billion euros ($1.17 billion), compared to the 34 percent gain achieved in the first quarter as the rapid pace of expansion at HelloFresh, Rocket's biggest investment, slowed. Neil Campling, tech analyst at Northern Trust Capital Markets, said that was a major concern: "It would appear that the focus on improving profitability (or rather, less losses) is dragging on growth." Earlier this month, Rocket reported a first-half consolidated loss of 617 million euros, mainly due to impairments on its GFG stake. On Thursday, it also said that figure included writedowns on its stake in Latin American ecommerce site Linio. [L8N1BD5O7] Rocket said it had decided against participating in a funding round for Linio involving Swedish investor Kinnevik , which cut the valuation of the business to 150 million euros from a previous 370 million. ($1 = 0.8927 euros) (Reporting by Emma Thomasson; editing by Jason Neely and Adrian Croft) A jury will decide whether Rolling Stone defamed the University of Virginia's dean in its since-retracted article about a gang rape at a campus fraternity, after a federal judge on Thursday denied summary judgment on key issues in the lawsuit. Nicole Eramo sued Rolling Stone in May 2015, claiming the story cast her as the chief villain and painted the school as one that is indifferent to rape on its campus. During the time of the alleged incident, Eramo was in charge of performing intake of sexual assault complaints, providing support to victims and participating in panels and conferences related to the issue. She claims the November 2014 article destroyed her reputation as a supporter of sexual assault victims and triggered hundreds of threatening messages from the public. Within weeks of publication, Rolling Stone issued an editor's note acknowledging that there were discrepancies in the story "Jackie" told reporter Sabrina Rubin Erdley - who admittedly did not attempt to contact any of the men Jackie claimed raped her or even confirm their full names. Chief U.S. District Judge Glen E. Conrad on Thursday concluded that Eramo is a limited-purpose public figure, which means she will have to prove the magazine acted with actual malice to prevail on her defamation claims. "The volume of her media appearances, and in some instances their depth, supports the conclusion that Eramo attempted to influence the outcome of the controversy," writes Conrad. "[Th]e court's analysis of the five requirements for limited-public figure status, and its overall review of the record, lead to the conclusion that defendants have met their burden of establishing that, at the time of publication, Eramo warranted the limited-purpose public figure designation." The judge explains that Eramo will have to prove the magazine "entertained serious doubts as to the truth" of its story. Rolling Stone had moved for summary judgment on the issue of actual malice, but Conrad dismissed it Thursday. Story continues The judge also tossed the magazine's argument that the statements in the article concerning Eramo were protected opinion and not actionable under Virginia law. "After reviewing the Article, the court believes that it is not 'clear to all reasonable listeners' that all twelve statements targeted by the plaintiff are 'exaggerated rhetoric' or 'the opinion of the author," writes Conrad. "On the contrary, Erdely has written at least five other similarly-styled, solemn and fact-intensive articles about rape. These circumstances support the notion that 'A Rape on Campus' was largely a report of a factual occurrence." Conrad stopped short of answering whether or not Eramo was defamed, finding that question should be left to a jury. (Read his full opinion below.) Earlier this summer, the magazine beat a different lawsuit from a handful of Phi Kappa Psi brothers who also claimed to be defamed in the story. There, a New York federal judge found the "the article's details about the attackers are too vague and remote from the plaintiffs' circumstances to be 'of and concerning' them." By PTI: Kolkata, Sept 22 (PTI) Rebel Congress leader Manas Bhunia will help the Trinamool Congress, which he recently joined, expand its base in Tripura by winning over the Congress voters there. Bhunia, along with senior TMC leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee, will soon pay a visit to Tripura. A senior TMC leader said the main reason behind Bhunia leaving the Congress was his unhappiness over Congress decision to tie up with the CPI(M) in Bengal. advertisement "Just like him, many Congress leaders, workers and supporters of Tripura are unhappy with the Congresss decision to align with the CPI(M), which is their main opponent in the state," he said. The TMC leader said that he would focus on the pitfalls of forging alliance with the CPI(M) and how the Congress lost credibility in the state. Manas, however, did not like to dwell on his impending Tripura visit, but said, "I am ready for any assignment given by party chief Mamata Banerjee". The Trinamool Congress has already carved a place for itself in the Marxist bastion emerging as the principal opposition party after six dissident Congress MLAs had joined it last June. Sudip Ray Barman, who led the Congress dissidents in the sensitive Northeastern state said,"the people of Tripura had become fed up with the Left Front regime and disapproved of the tie-up between the Congress and the Left Front in West Bengal,". After her landslide victory in West Bengal, Banerjee and her trusted lieutenant Mukul Roy have been working to expand her partys influence in the Northeast with Tripura being the prime target. The Bengali population there forms the largest ethno-linguistic group in the state with nearly about 70 per cent of the population. According to TMC sources in Kolkata, Tripura and the Northeast hold a key to TMCs pan-India political ambition with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha poll where TMC wants to play a vital role. PTI PNT MD AYP --- ENDS --- LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Rolls-Royce named Stephen Daintith as its new Chief Financial Officer as CEO Warren East completes a shake-up of his executive team at the aerospace and defence company which is in the middle of a turnaround. Daintith, who is currently CFO at Daily Mail and General Trust, will replace Rolls-Royce's incumbent finance boss David Smith in 2017, Rolls-Royce said in a statement on Thursday. Daintith will join Rolls-Royce as East, who took the reins in July 2015, tries to streamline the company after difficulties in its aero-engine and marine businesses mean that profit is expected to halve this year. Smith was appointed by East's predecessor John Rishton in 2014 and will leave Rolls-Royce to pursue other business interests, the company said. Daintith, 52, is Rolls-Royce's second top management appointment in as many weeks, after the company said British high-speed rail boss Simon Kirby would be its new Chief Operating Officer earlier in September. Daintith has been at the Daily Mail publisher since 2011, having previously been CFO at News International, publisher of The Times newspaper amongst others. East said Daintith's restructuring experience would be valuable to Rolls-Royce. "His (Daintith's) deep understanding of international business and his record of achievement in change management are particularly relevant to Rolls-Royce as we build our business and respond to the growing global requirement for our technology," East said. Daintith will be paid an annual salary of 680,000 pounds ($888,284) at Rolls-Royce plus a potential performance share award of 225 percent of his salary. ($1 = 0.7655 pounds) (Reporting by Sarah Young, editing by James Davey) American border control agents are used to dealing with people of many different nationalities crossing into the country from Mexico. But in the past couple of years, officials have noticed a slight but curious uptick in a specific group of European citizens claiming refugee status. As nationalism and xenophobia grow in Europe, the number of Romanians entering the country claiming to be part of the persecuted Roma minority has also been steadily rising: Nearly 1,800 Romanians were apprehended through July this year, up from less than 400 in 2015. Almost all applied for asylum, citing fear of hate crimes and persistent discrimination that limits their opportunities in Europe. Mark Endicott, a border control agent in San Diego, told Foreign Policy that the 731 Romanian newcomers who crossed the citys patrol area this year were extremely easy to spot. Unlike many other nationalities who try to reach established smuggling networks, they didnt try to elude U.S. patrols in the slightest. They just immediately look for a border control agent and flag them down and try to get apprehended so they can start their fear claim, he said. Almost all of them are claiming credible fear for asylum. Most were women and children. The surge in arrivals has roots in a long history of forced migration. The Roma, sometimes mistakenly called gypsies, a racist slur, are an ethnic minority found throughout Europe. Originally from India, theyve endured segregation, persecution, disenfranchisement and evictions for centuries, often by the state, and many still live in abject poverty. Waves of Roma migrated to the U.S. throughout history, particularly around the early 20th century. The new influx is tiny in comparison, but a sign of increasing desperation with Europes inability or unwillingness to protect their rights, Roma activists say. At this moment, Roma are not welcome, migrants arent welcome, the environment is hostile and marked by violence, even in Western Europe, Ethel Brooks, a professor at Rutgers and chair of the Board of European Roma Rights center, told FP. In some Romanian cities, its still common to encounter segregated public spaces and signs that read no dogs or gypsies, she said. Story continues Only a decade ago many Roma were hopeful that a move towards market capitalism, democratic elections, and freedom of movement would change attitudes and have an impact on their prospects, Zeljko Jovanovic, director of the Open Society Roma Initiatives Office, told FP. Around 2003 and 2007, when Central European nations were in talks to join the EU, the possibility of membership acted as a carrot to push countries like Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria to start cleaning up their act. They were urged to shore up human rights, and implement new programs aimed at supporting and integrating Roma communities who often live in squalid conditions on the margins of society and are stereotyped as serial beggars or thieves. But Jovanovic called this a broken promise. We have seen a huge change in the last couple of years for the worse. he said. When these countries joined the EU, they lost interest in implementing their policies. Some Roma, taking advantage of the EUs freedom of movement policy, initially tried to move to Western Europe in search of jobs. But with Europes debt crisis, the Syrian refugee influx, and heightened fears of terrorist attacks whipping up anti-immigrant sentiment, and the climate for vulnerable populations became increasingly hostile in almost every country. Over the past few years, Pew surveys have consistently found overwhelmingly negative feelings towards Roma across Europe. In 2016, they were seen much more unfavorably than Muslims and Jews in Italy, France, and Germany. Rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch continue to document systemic discrimination against Roma in EU countries. The U.S. State Departments 2015 human rights report on Romania, the country where the recent crop of asylum-seekers is emigrating from, pointed out discrimination against Roma as a major problem, citing complaints of harassment and police brutality, denial of service in public places, school segregation, and inadequate health care, among other related problems. Nevertheless, gaining asylum status in the United States is notoriously difficult, and there is no U.S. or United Nations policy specifically classifying Roma as meeting refugee criteria. Brooks has seen some Romani asylum claims succeed in the United States, but they have to give a lot of evidence and its a long shot. She worries that U.S. policy might be moving towards classifying them as economic migrants because they are poor and their countries are not at war. Jovanovic said it would be a mistake to label Roma as migrating only for economic reasons. Roma have been poor in Europe for many centuries, he said. The main issue is that they dont have any hope anymore. He added that the EU has funds designated to promote Roma welfare, but believes they arent being used effectively. When we started some of the major initiatives on Roma rights in 2003 and 2004, we saw more political will and less money than we have today available for addressing the situation for Roma in Europe, he said. We dont have a scarcity of resources, we have a scarcity of political will. Experts say the United States is a destination in part because it is seen as more open, a country where Roma can easily blend in and go under the radar. Most Americans arent even aware Roma is a persecuted ethnic minority or that the word gypsy is a pejorative. Of course, the United States has its own problems with minorities as this election cycle has clearly shown. Even if they manage to gain residency in America, Roma often still deal with racism and exclusion depending on where they move, especially if they have darker skin. Photo credit: SEAN GALLUP/Getty Images By Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of Romanians protested on Thursday against the Senates decision to shut down a potential manslaughter investigation into a former deputy prime minister over the death of a police motorcycle outrider. Gabriel Oprea, a member of the Senate, was traveling in a motorcade to which he was not entitled in late 2015 when Bogdan Gigina, one of his police escorts, crashed when his bike hit a pothole in rainy conditions. Anti-corruption prosecutors had asked senators to approve an inquiry into whether Oprea, by using the motorcade, was responsible for the accident. Under Romanian law, senators can only be investigated with lawmakers approval. Oprea, who denies the charges, told senators on Monday that he could not have been responsible for the death from the back seat of the car and asked them to vote against. A majority did, drawing criticism from President Klaus Iohannis and foreign diplomats. "It is a political vote that is blocking justice," chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi told reporters. "A mother is left waiting." Lawmakers have rejected several similar requests in recent years with no clear legal reason. The European Commission, which keeps Romanias justice system under special monitoring, has repeatedly criticized parliament for this in its annual reports. Some 2,000 people protested outside parliament in Bucharest, carrying banners that said "Solidarity with the Gigina family" and "Nobody is above the law". They shouted: "We want justice, not immunity" and "Shame on you." Protesters also gathered in the cities of Cluj, Iasi, Galati and Timisoara, state news agency Agerpres reported. Earlier on Thursday, Oprea said on Facebook that he may have been wrong to ask his colleagues to reject the investigation and that he would request the vote be repeated. "I know I am innocent and I am not running from justice," he said. "I also know that this case raises too many question marks. If you were me ... would you accept being told you killed a man even though you had absolutely no connection with any of the accidents causes?" It was unclear whether the vote could be repeated. Prosecutors have launched several high-profile investigations in recent years - against ministers, lawmakers, mayors, magistrates and businessmen - in a crackdown that has exposed widespread graft. (Editing by Robin Pomeroy) By Isla Binnie ROME (Reuters) - Rome is reopening its famed Spanish Steps after a privately funded restoration but has urged visitors to treat the 18th century staircase with greater respect to prevent it falling again into disrepair. The site of one of cinema's most famous ice cream breaks in the film "Roman Holiday" has been largely shut since last October while technicians cleaned and repaired the monument. Roman jeweler Bulgari paid 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million) to spruce up the 135 steps, which had become loose, stained and cracked under the strain of daily use by city-dwellers and hordes of selfie-snapping visitors. The steps where Audrey Hepburn met Gregory Peck in the 1953 film underwent both chemical and mechanical cleaning. Large pieces of stone were added in some places and invasive weeds were removed from the balustrades. Standing halfway up the staircase which joins Piazza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti church, Rome mayor Virginia Raggi said she had ordered police to monitor more closely people's behavior on the steps and to stop anyone "camping out" there. "I think it is essential to let people use these assets and also make them feel responsible for that use," Raggi said, adding "this use has often become abuse". Bulgari is one of several companies to have responded to Italy's call for private investors to help prop up monuments whose condition has deteriorated after years of spending cuts. Paolo Bulgari, great-grandson of the jeweler's founder, caused controversy this month when he proposed fencing off the steps to help preserve the expensive restoration from "barbarians" who have left them strewn in the past with chewing gum, coffee and wine stains. But Bulgari chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin said he was confident the steps, which are a few meters from the brand's flagship store, would be better looked after in future. "I walk there myself virtually every day to go the store and I have an eye on the steps - not to check, but just to admire," he said. ($1 = 0.8903 euros) (Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Gareth Jones) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Iran used the UN General Assembly on Thursday to accuse the United States of failing to meet its commitments under a historic nuclear deal. President Hassan Rouhani complained that America is dragging its feet on its side of the bargain. "The lack of compliance (with the deal) on the part of the United States in the past several months represents a flawed approach that should be rectified forthwith," Rouhani told the world body. The agreement between Tehran, Washington and five other major powers came into force in January. Iran accepted curbs to its nuclear program in exchange for their lifting sanctions. While observers say Iran has met its commitments, Tehran accuses Washington of continuing to block the Islamic republic from the international banking system, limiting its ability to benefit from the lifting of sanctions. Iran says the deal has already boosted its oil exports, but that international banks are concerned they may be prosecuted by the US Treasury if they do business with Iran. "They scare, they frighten the big banks with the threat of potential action by the United States Treasury. This is something that we oppose," Rouhani told reporters following his address. He accused the United States of causing delays, a "complete lack of transparency" and failure to take action on its commitments. "Other nations are working hard to realise their commitments," he said. - 'A victory' - On returning to Iran on Friday, Rouhani told reporters that the United States had promised to comply with the deal. The US made the pledge during a meeting of foreign ministers of world powers who signed the deal, he told reporters at Tehran airport. "The US promised to correct the procedure," he said. The other parties to the deal also told the US it was not complying, he said. "This is very important in my opinion," he said. "It was a victory." Story continues Tehran has threatened to take action in the International Court of Justice against the United States if $2 billion in frozen assets belonging to its central bank is diverted to American victims of terror attacks. "We see this as an international heist to be quite frank," Rouhani told reporters in New York. "I am certain that we will be legally victorious and the United States will be fined for this transgression," he added. But he also gave a staunch defense of the nuclear deal as in the best interests of Iran, its economy and its people, saying that trade with the European Union was up more than 44 percent already this month. "The question then becomes what will we do if the United States continues non-adherence," he said, referring to complaint mechanisms built into the deal. "A complaint would be brought to this joint commission and the ministers of foreign affairs from seven countries would talk," he said. Asked about November's US presidential election, with Democrat Hillary Clinton competing against Republican Donald Trump, Rouhani said it made no difference to Iran who won as long as the incoming US administration respected Iran and decreased tension. The nuclear agreement has faced opposition from ultra-conservatives in Iran and the United States, led by Republican opponents of Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. Addressing reporters in Tehran on Friday, Rouhani said Iran was meeting its side of the deal. "Of course, we ourselves, as always and as the supreme leader has stressed, meet our commitments according to our Islamic duties, as long as the other side meets its commitments," he said. MOSCOW (Reuters) - OPEC is not expected to discuss an idea for oil producing nations to cut output by 5 percent at a meeting this month, the RIA news agency cited Russia's energy minister as saying on Thursday. "There is a proposal on an (oil) output freeze," the agency quoted Alexander Novak, the minister, as saying ahead of the oil cartel's meeting in Algeria next week. But it cited him as saying the proposal was not on the agenda for now. Other agencies cited Novak as saying he expected constructive talks in Algeria however and that Russia was ready to coordinate its actions on the market with other producers. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister on Wednesday called for a "thorough and impartial investigation" into an attack on a humanitarian convoy in Syria on Monday. Sergei Lavrov told a United Nations Security Council briefing on Syria that a ceasefire brokered with the United States on Sept. 9 would only work if there was a comprehensive approach with simultaneous steps taken by all parties involved in the war. "Otherwise nothing will happen. There will not be any unilateral pauses." (Reporting by John Irish, Yara Bayoumy and Michelle Nichols and Denis Dyomkin; editing by Grant McCool) From Harper's BAZAAR Update, 9/22: After word spread yesterday that Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes secretly wed earlier this year, sources have told TMZ that the rumors are not true. However, the couple is still happily together after dating for five years and having two children together. We'll be on the lookout for engagement announcements in the future, then! Original post, 9/21: Fans rooting for longtime couple Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes to finally get married can chill-they already are. The pair secretly wed earlier this year after five years of dating, Us Weekly reports. They had a low-key ceremony with small group of close family and friends. "Eva and Ryan have always felt like a married couple. They are infatuated with each other," a source close to the couple told Us. Gosling, 35, and Mendes, 42, started dating in 2011 while filming The Place Beyond the Pines, which they both starred in. They have two daughters together: Amada, 4 months, and Esmeralda, 2. Though the private parents have kept their children fairly out of the limelight, that won't stop Gosling from gushing about them and his family. "I'm a lucky man. We couldn't be happier. They are so sweet," he said of his girls. Not all Hollywood relationships are dead after all. Congratulations to the happy couple! You Might Also Like Local Nonprofit to Receive Proceeds from Santa's Presidential 2016 Campaign DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / Santa Claus came to town a little bit early this year, but he's not here delivering presents: he's here to run for President of the United States (POTUS) under the Christmas Party. With campaign support from Dallas branding firm Spire Agency, Santa will be working with a team of top political elves to provide the electorate with the best gift of all: a candidate they can believe in. As a part of his run for the Presidency, Santa announced his partnership with Heroes for Children, a unique nonprofit organization that provides financial and social assistance to families with a child battling cancer. The organization is the official beneficiary of all donations and proceeds from the SANTA for POTUS race. "Santa is a hero for so many children. He understands how important it is for families to feel like they are not alone as they battle a childhood cancer diagnosis," says Larissa Linton, co-founder and executive director of Heroes for Children. "Through Santa's partnership, we will be empowered to be a hero for many more families as they fight the good fight because no family with a child battling cancer should ever fight alone." Like any political campaign, Santa will accept donations and have campaign swag available for purchase with all proceeds going to Heroes for Children, building up cheer for this year's holiday season. Santa's recent announcement of his race for Commander-in-Chief not only promises to make America jolly again but will benefit children and their families who need some extra help as they face a cancer diagnosis. Santa's stances range far and wide, but his focus has always been on helping children. Saint Nick's motto has always been, it's better to give than receive. Whether children are writing a letter to him or he is delivering presents to them, Santa is always concerned with the happiness and well-being of our country's children. Story continues "America's children are our future. I am pleased they will be the ones to carry on the merry smiles and jolly attitudes," Claus said. "I am running for President to make America jolly again for this nation's children. Ho! Ho! Ho!" To make a donation to Santa's campaign or to purchase Santa yard signs, bumper stickers, t-shirts and more in support of Heroes for Children, please visit www.SANTAForPOTUS.com. About Heroes for Children Heroes for Children is a unique nonprofit organization that provides financial and social assistance to families with children battling cancer. Since 2005, Heroes for Children has helped alleviate families' worries, giving them comfort and a brief respite from the everyday challenges of fighting cancer and caregiving. Since its inception, more than $5.5 million has been given to 4,500 families in need. To learn more about Heroes for Children, please visit http://www.HeroesforChildren.org. About SANTA for POTUS Santa Claus recently announced his candidacy for President of the United States. He has been the leader of the largest nonprofit in the world, distributing millions of toys to the deserving each year. He maintains a boisterous and joyful workforce, while successfully driving manufacturing at the North Pole. Now, as President of the United States, he promises to make America jolly again. SANTA for POTUS is a work of satire created by Dallas, Texas branding firm Spire Agency. For more information, go to www.SANTAforPOTUS.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/SANTAforPOTUS or https://twitter.com/SANTAforPOTUS. Media Contact: Katie Mudd TrizCom PR Katie@TrizCom.com O: 972-247-1369 C: 214-676-4254 Jo Trizila TrizCom PR Jo@TrizCom.com O: 972-247-1369 C: 214-232-0078 SOURCE: SANTA for POTUS via Submit Press Release 123 By PTI: London, Sep 21 (PTI) The Pakistani-origin mastermind of a 113 million-pound high street bank cyber-fraud, who made so much money that he flew team of valets from Scotland to Lahore to polish his fleet of luxury cars, has been jailed for 11 years by a UK court. Feezan Hameed Choudhary, 25, mastermind of the biggest cyber-fraud Scotland Yard has ever seen ? was jailed for 11 years last week at Southwark crown court, The Sun reported today. advertisement Nicknamed Fizzy, the Glasgow-based criminal, partied with pop stars while splashing out on Rolex watches, jewellery, trips to Dubai and shopping sprees in Harrods. He owned several luxury motors including a Bentley and a Lamborghini after the scam raked in more than 3 million a month. He was so obsessive about his motors he flew staff from Platinum Polish in Glasgow on an 8,000-mile round trip to buff up his fleet of Porsche Cayennes at his luxury villa in Lahore. He also flew the polishers to Dubai to treat a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. He fleeced 750 business customers of Lloyds, RBS and other banks after tricking them into revealing their account details by claiming they had been hacked, the report said. Funds were then moved to other accounts "in the blink of an eye" before being withdrawn in cash by a team mules. In total 66 million pounds was laundered abroad to Dubai and Pakistan. Pitman Blackstock Solicitors were fleeced out of 2,260,625.89 pounds after getting a call from "Peter" claiming he was calling from the security department Lloyds Bank. Prosecutor Michael Shorrock described the fraud as "a nationwide conspiracy to defraud companies and businesses by hacking into their bank accounts and stealing large sums of money" between January 2013 and last October. He said: "Literally within a blink of an eye this money was being moved from one account to another. "On occasions the breach is accomplished by corrupting bank employees who pass on customers information to those committing the fraud. "The fraudsters were able to interfere with the telephone system of the bank customers so the customer was unable to receive calls while the fraud was taking place." Fizzys personal take from the racket was between 500,000 pounds and 1.5 million pounds a month ? which he lavished on a pop star lifestyle. He even hung out with Pakistani singing star Bilal Saeed and claimed to have been producing a music video for the star, the court heard. PTI AKJ AKJ --- ENDS --- By Ted Siefer SALEM, Mass. (Reuters) - The international headquarters for the Satanic Temple, which says its mission is to promote separation of church and state not devil worship, is set to open on Thursday in a Massachusetts city known historically for persecuting witches accused of being possessed by the devil. It was in Salem, the home for the new center, that 20 people were executed in the notorious witch trials in the 1690s, an important event in the history of colonial America. Gallows Hill, where the accused witches are believed to have been hung, is less than a mile (1.6 km) from the Satanic Temple's center, a Victorian-style house that once served as a funeral home. "The irony that a town which one executed people because of alleged ties to Satan will now be hosting the headquarters of the world's largest satanic organization is not lost on us," said Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucien Greaves in a statement. "The fact that we have a home in Salem is a testament to the progressive mentality of the people there, and the local government's support for plurality." The group, which does not promote worship of the devil as described in the Bible, says its mission is to reinforce the separation of church and set, encourage benevolence and empathy among all people and promote "practical common sense and justice." The building will house the group's one-ton, 7-foot (2.13-m) bronze statue of Baphomet, a goat-headed winged deity that has been associated with satanism and the occult. The group is perhaps best known for attempts have the statue positioned next to monuments to the Bible's Ten Commandments in Oklahoma and Arkansas, in a protest to perceived state support for one religion over another. Officials in those states fought off the efforts. So far, officials and residents in Salem have expressed few objections to the Satanic center. "It's not really that big a deal," said Salem City Council President Josh Turiel "We've had weirder things pretty much on every other street corner." The seaside community about 20 miles (32 km) north of Boston has taken to playing up the darker aspects of its history. The downtown features the Salem Witch Museum, as well as occult shops alongside upscale boutiques, all major tourist draws in the lead up to Halloween on Oct. 31. (Editing by Scott Malone and Cynthia Osterman) Aden (AFP) - Saudi-led air strikes killed 20 civilians in the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida just hours after the rebels celebrated the second anniversary of their seizure of the capital, a government official said. The raids hit the Suq al-Hunod district of the Red Sea port, the official in the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi which is supported by the Saudi-led coalition told AFP. The strikes were also reported by the rebel administration in the capital Sanaa, which said there were civilian casualties but gave no specific toll. The loyalist official said the residential neighbourhood was "probably hit in error." He said the presidential palace in Hodeida was also hit. Pictures from Suq al-Hunod showed residents combing the rubble under arclights in a search for survivors. Children were among the dead photographed at a city mortuary. Dr Khaled Suhail of Hodeida's Al-Thawra hospital said his facility alone received 12 dead and 30 wounded from the strikes. The Saudi-led coalition has been repeatedly criticised for the high civilian death toll from its 18-month-old bombing campaign in support of Hadi's government. More than 6,600 people have been killed since the intervention began, the majority of them civilians, according to the United Nations. The intervention has pushed the rebels out of much of the south, but they remain in control of nearly all of Yemen's Red Sea coast as well as the capital Sanaa and much of the central and northern highlands. Aden (AFP) - Saudi-led coalition air strikes killed 20 civilians in a rebel-held port city of western Yemen, a government official said Thursday in a rare admission of a possible "error" by the alliance. The coalition's spokesman, however, said the raid on Wednesday night targeted rebel leaders. The strikes came as Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its 18-month campaign against Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies in Yemen. The Suq al-Hunod district of the Red Sea port of Hodeida was hit, the official in President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government told AFP. He said the residential neighbourhood was "probably hit in error". General Ahmed Assiri, the coalition spokesman, told AFP the raid targeted "Huthi leaders" but the coalition did not have a count on the number killed because it is "not on the ground" there. "We had information that they were having a meeting, then we hit them." Assiri said any allegations of wrongdoing would have to be verified. "We will investigate to know what has happened exactly," he said. US officials -- whose country supplies bombs dropped by the coalition -- have regularly urged their Saudi allies to avoid harming non-combatants. The rebel administration in the capital Sanaa also reported the Hodeida strikes, saying there were civilian casualties. The Huthi rebels had been celebrating the second anniversary of their seizure of Yemen's capital city. Khaled Suhail, a doctor at Hodeida's Al-Thawra Hospital, said his facility received 12 dead and 30 wounded from the strikes. Pictures from Suq al-Hunod showed residents combing the rubble under arc lights in a search for survivors. The body of one child lay in a morgue, his head bloody above a left eye which remained open in death. Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition are suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths in Yemen, a United Nations report said last month. Story continues It called for an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations by all sides in Yemen, where nearly 4,000 civilians have died. -- 'Growing pressure' -- "In this case a misguided munition hit a neighbourhood by error, which is densely populated," said Andreas Krieg of the Defence Studies Department at King's College London. "It is tragic but unfortunately the reality of air power warfare in complex environments where the enemy intentionally mingles with the civilian population," he told AFP. Peter Salisbury, an associate fellow at London's Chatham House think-tank, said British and US arms suppliers were coming "under growing pressure" to explain their failure to influence the Saudis over civilian casualties. "It's difficult to see what strategic advantage the Saudis are gaining from their bombing campaign outside of the front lines," he told AFP before the Hodeida incident. Last month, the US military said it had slashed the number of intelligence advisers directly supporting the Saudi-led coalition's air war in support of Hadi's government. The reassignment of personnel, around June, came because "there was not the same sort of requests coming in for assistance", Fifth Fleet spokesman Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey said. US cooperation with Saudi Arabia mostly involves "imagery that allows them to better assess the situation on the ground, and then advice and assistance", he said. Targeting is ultimately decided by the Saudis, McConnaughey added. Riyadh formed the Arab coalition which began air raids in March last year, and later sent in ground forces, to support Hadi's internationally recognised government after the Huthis and their allies overran much of Yemen. The coalition has told AFP it uses highly accurate laser- and GPS-guided weapons and verifies targets many times to avoid civilian casualties. The mother of a British schoolgirl found dead on an Indian beach in 2008 fears her daughter will not get justice when a court delivers a long-awaited verdict on two men accused of involvement in her death. Fifteen-year-old Scarlett Keeling's bruised and half-naked body was discovered in shallow water on a beach in the popular Indian resort state of Goa eight years ago, making international headlines. After years of delays and controversy an Indian judge will on Friday finally deliver rulings against two local men accused over the drugging, sexual assault and death of the teenager. "I don't know how I'm going to feel tomorrow. I'm getting more and more nervous about the judgement," Fiona MacKeown, Keeling's mother, told AFP in an interview on Thursday. "It's been a long time. I've been waiting, waiting and waiting and I have no idea which way the verdict will go," she said at her lawyer's office in Goa's state capital Panaji. Keeling's death drew attention to the dark side of a tourist destination that has long been a hangout for Western hippies and later highlighted India's notoriously sluggish justice system. Police initially dismissed the teenager's death as an accident but opened a murder probe after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved the teen had been drugged and raped. Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, using force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty and of administering drugs with intent to harm. The trial started in 2010 but has been plagued by numerous delays, including infrequent hearings due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings. - 'I regret it forever' - "If it's a guilty verdict I think they'll appeal. If we get not guilty then hopefully the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) will appeal so it might not be the actual end of it but it's pretty close to the end," MacKeown said. Story continues Police allege D'Souza and Carvalho plied Keeling with a cocktail of drink and illegal drugs, including cocaine, before sexually assaulting her and leaving her to die by dumping her unconscious in shallow water where she drowned. Prosecutors argued that dozens of bruises on Keeling's body were evidence of a struggle, while defence lawyers claimed the teenager died of accidental drowning after taking illegal drugs of her own accord. MacKeown said she had been "devastated" by the decision of a key witness not to testify at the trial. "I felt we had a watertight case before then and without him it's made it a much more precarious balance about which way it might go," she told AFP. The family was on a six-month holiday to India when MacKeown, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a Valentine's Day party. "I gave in and let her go back. Things went wrong and that's why she never came back to me. I will regret it forever," said MacKeown. Whichever verdict is handed down MacKeown said there will never be closure for her. "I can't close the door on losing a child. I think about Scarlett every day. I miss her. There's a hole in our family and there always will be," she said. By Robin Emmott and Andrea Shalal BRUSSELS/BERLIN (Reuters) - Britain will resist new European Union defence proposals if it feels they undermine NATO, British officials say, in a warning to France and Germany that London will defend its military interests even as it negotiates to leave the EU bloc. Paris and Berlin proposed last week reviving EU common defence plans long blocked by Britain, partly to give the bloc a sense of purpose after Britons' vote to quit the EU and also to counter the loss of the union's biggest defence spender. Those plans include a joint and permanent EU headquarters for civilian and military missions, possibly in Brussels, which London says will drain away finite resources when NATO already has its military command centre, also in Belgium. Most EU members, including Britain, France and Germany, are also NATO allies. But Europe wants to be able to act independently of the United States in its neighbourhood. While not proposing an EU army, Paris and Berlin see security and defence cooperation as one of the few areas where the remaining 27 EU governments could find common ground and show that the EU is still relevant after a British departure. But Britain's Secretary of Defence Michael Fallon told The Times newspaper on Sept. 16 that London would resist any attempts to duplicate infrastructure that already existed in NATO, also saying there could be no "rival" to NATO. Fallon said Britain vowed to be an active member of the Council of EU governments until the country leaves the bloc and he will attend an EU defence ministers meeting in Bratislava next Tuesday where plans for EU military cooperation will be discussed. British diplomats have also stressed to EU colleagues that London would oppose "ideas that would hamper the relationship with NATO and Britain," according to someone present at the meeting in Brussels this week. "Britain may not be as constructive as we expected," another source, with knowledge of the discussions, said. London supports working with EU militaries in some areas, such as in disaster relief or confronting cyber attacks. It welcomes more efficient security coordination between governments, which the EU proposals also seek to promote. But Britain's attitude is a sign that despite momentum, the EU's biggest push on defence since the 1990s could still fail. Britain maintains full EU voting rights until it leaves the bloc and is expected at diplomatic meetings as the proposals are discussed and slowly implemented. Britain's exit negotiations are expected to take two years, starting from early 2017. "We expect Britain to abstain when it comes to a vote on the issue of increased European defence cooperation," said Rainer Arnold, parliamentary defence spokesman for Germany's Social Democrats, the junior partner in government. "They can't prevent anything from happening in the long run, so it would make sense if they stayed out of it," he said. ALLIES IN THE EAST Majority voting means Britain alone cannot derail all EU plans, but Germany and France want all 28 leaders to back the plans at a summit in December in Brussels, or at least have Britain acquiesce. German politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel may try to persuade British Prime Minister Theresa May to let the proposals go ahead, German lawmaker Arnold said. "The Brits usually block all the major defence initiatives and we would still have to negotiate this as 28. Who knows if they'd let it through as part of their negotiating tactics," said one EU diplomat involved in defence cooperation discussions. London has allies in the eastern European countries that also worry about undermining NATO, particularly after the U.S-led alliance has committed to sending troops to Poland and the Baltic states to deter what they see as a hostile Russia. Britain also believes military matters are central to national sovereignty. Germany and France, facing rising threats and smaller defence budgets, are more open, saying no European nation has the resources alone to confront failing states on Europe's borders, Islamist militants or a resurgent Russia. (Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Richard Balmforth) By Alex Bregman Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, the ranking member in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee spoke to Yahoo News and Finance Anchor about that committees questioning of Wells Fargo CEO after the bank admitted its employees created more than 2 million fake accounts so that they could meet their sales goals. He also weighed in on police and race relations in the wake of the latest protests in Charlotte, N.C. and Donald Trumps Mahoning County Campaign Chair in Ohio stepping down after some controversial comments about racism and President Barack Obama. Sen. Brown, who has called what happened at Wells Fargo a fraud, told Golodryga, Ultimately what happened is most of the employees that were fired were making less than $15 or $16 an hour. They took the fall. The person in charge of that section gets a $120 million bonus retirement package when she announces her retirement just a few weeks ago. He said hes not sure if the false accounts will lead to a criminal case, but he explained, I know what we need to do to make sure Wells Fargo makes whole the customers who held these two million unauthorized accounts including what it might have done to their credit rating. He also said, The board and the CEO need to claw back the bonuses that Ms. [Carrie] Tolstedt got. He explained, She was in charge of the 5,000 employees that were fired. The CEO seemed to have known nothing about it until 2013, which is a bit curious. On the latest tensions over police involved shootings from Charlotte, NC and to Tulsa, Okla., he said it comes down to training: Most police officers are pretty well trained and most police officers are obviously honorable people and want to be good public services. In far too many cases we dont do the right kind of training. He continued, Its the community responsibility all of us to do much better with training, body cameras, and when police act improperly going to trial. Story continues On the resignation of Donald Trumps Mahoning County Campaign Chair in Ohio after saying in an interview that she did not think there was any racism until [President] Obama got elected, Sen. Brown agreed: She shouldve resigned. He blamed that kind of rhetoric on the Republican presidential candidate: Donald Trump has helped to create that atmosphere amongst his supporters. The Republican Party has been dog-whistling about race for two generations. He continued, We have not had a presidential candidate quite this bad since George Wallace. Finally, on Trump leading in the latest polling out of Ohio, Sen. Brown said that Trump has hit his ceiling in the state: Donald Trumps number has not really gone up. Its Hillarys dropped with some unfortunate last two weeks, but Trump I think has a ceiling. I dont think Trump can get close to 50 percent in my state. Too many people are on to his bigotry. Too many people are on to his own business practices, how hes defrauded people, how hes not paid his contractors what hes promised in his charities and not done, and his demeanor and his temperament. KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2016 / Marapharm Ventures Inc. ("Marapharm" or the "Company") (http://www.marapharm.com ) Further to its news release dated June 16, 2016, the Company is pleased to announce it has concluded the acquisition of a 75% interest in two additional medical marijuana licenses in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Company currently controls a provisional grow license in Las Vegas, where it is planning to build a medical marijuana facility of up to approximately 300,000 square feet. The plan is to merge all three licenses onto the 7-acre parcel of land and operate as a campus. The City of North Las Vegas has approved the special use permits for all three licenses to be constructed on the land owned by Marapharm Las Vegas LLC. "Once the campus is complete, we will be one of the largest producers of Medical Marijuana in Nevada." For further information, please refer to the Company's annual information form dated July 12, 2016 and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR on July 12, 2016. About Marapharm Ventures Inc. http://www.marapharm.com/ Additional information on the operations or financial results of Marapharm are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the CSE website (http://www.thecse.com/) and Sedar website (http://www.sedar.com/) under the profile for Marapharm Ventures Inc. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: info@marapharm.com Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumption but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. SOURCE: Marapharm Ventures Inc. IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit was 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 yet. 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 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 some jurisdictions. Contacts Joon M. Khang, Esq. Telephone: 949-419-3834 Facsimile: 949-225-4474 joon@khanglaw.com SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP TV reports said two children saw men in black clothes carrying arms near the Navy ammunition dump in Uran, 50 km from Mumbai. By India Today Web Desk: The Indian Navy has been put on the highest alert in Mumbai after a few school children spotted suspicious men near the Uran naval base. TV reports said two children saw at least four men in black clothes carrying arms near the ammunition dump in Uran, 50 km from Mumbai. READ: Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets advertisement The children reported the matter to the police, which in turn notified the Navy. The mandate of the Navy is limited when it comes to land, but coastal areas are being checked. The Navy has issued a State 1 alert, which is the highest alert within the forces. Naval warship INS Abhimanyu is close to Uran. READ: Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists The Navy said at around 11 am today, school children saw four men in pathan suit, talking to each other in a different language. They were spotted near Karanja island, which is about eight miles away from naval base, Abhimanyu. Sources said the school children heard two words repeatedly: "ONGC" and "school". The ONGC has offshore installations close to the area. Security has been beefed up at Mumbai's sensitive locations along the coast, including the iconic Gateway of India, the Raj Bhawan, Bombay High, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and other major establishments near the sea. READ: Uri attack: Parrikar seeks report from Army on how terrorists managed to infiltrate camp Defence sources told India Today TV that all the agencies including the Anti-Terror Squad and the intelligence have been alerted. Meanwhile, a team of NSG stationed in Navi Mumbai is on stand by. They have no role to play in the ongoing combing operation. The alert came amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Uri army camp attack last week, in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed by suspected Pakistani terrorists. WATCH: ALSO READ: Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location Uri attack: Bangladesh slams Pakistan, says will stand by India Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar among 3 Pakistanis India believes are behind the Uri attack Exclusive: Has the Punjab Police learnt no lessons from terror attacks in Uri and Pathankot? --- ENDS --- advertisement Ottawa (AFP) - Championed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the nation's first Afghanistan-born lawmaker, Maryam Monsef said Thursday she was shocked to learn she was actually born in Iran. The 31-year-old democratic reform minister is the youngest member of Trudeau's cabinet. His Liberals held her up as an example of the country's strength of diversity, a bright, young refugee from Afghanistan who traveled around the world, including partway by donkey, to find safety and make a new home in Canada. US President Barack Obama picked up on this during a visit to Ottawa in June, highlighting her roots and dramatic journey in a speech to parliament. In a statement, Monsef blamed the contradiction of this key narrative that she had nurtured since entering public life on her mother, saying the information had been withheld from Monsef and her two sisters. Monsef said she pressed her mother about it after the Globe and Mail newspaper dug it up as part of an investigation into the family's elusive past. She said she had been "led to believe for my whole life" that she was born in Afghanistan but in fact was born in Mashhad, Iran, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the Afghan border. "My sisters and I asked my mother why she never told us we were born in Iran," Monsef said. "She told us she did not think it mattered. We were Afghan citizens, as we were born to Afghan parents, and under Iranian law, we would not be considered Iranian citizens despite being born in that country." Setting the record straight, Monsef explained that her parents had fled fighting in their hometown of Herat in Afghanistan and found safety across the border in Iran. After some back and forth, and the death of her father, the family eventually fled the Taliban in Herat and traveled by donkey to Islamabad, Pakistan and beyond, before eventually landing 20 years ago in Montreal, where they claimed asylum. The city-state expects 12.11m visitors in 2016. Singapore has grown more popular in 2016 as a top global destination for business and leisure, as it has been ranked second in Asia and sixth in the world by international visitor arrivals. According to study by Mastercard, Singapore has moved up one rank from 2015, posting a 4.1% jump from the 2015 Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index. In Asia, it was bested only by Bangkok, which is expected to receive 21.47m visitors in 2016. The top five are rounded out by Kuala Lumpur (12.02m visitors), Tokyo (11.7m visitors), and Seoul (10.2m visitors). The index revealed that Singapore is expected to receive 12.11m visitors in 2016, with more than 77% of visitors arriving for leisure or personal purposes. It is projected that international visitor spending in Singapore will reach US$12.5 billion, with large proportions dedicated to local services (31.8% of total expenditure), accommodation (29.0% of total expenditure) and shopping (22.5% of total expenditure), Mastercard stated. More From Singapore Business Review They're advised to take extra care in complying to corruption rules. According to Trace Matrix, a research firm which measures bribery risk in all countries, companies continue to choose Singapore as an investment hub in Southeast Asia because of its comprehensive and effective legal system. The low level of corruption is widely attributed to very tough laws against bribery and fraud, very strict enforcement and high salaries for government officials to incentivize good behavior. However, precisely because of Singapores low corruption-risk rating, Trace warns that foreign companies operating in this country should take extra care not to be lax with respect to compliance issues. "Surprisingly, many companies operating in Singapore have no written anti-bribery and corruption policy or have yet to implement risk-based and ongoing due diligence on third parties," said Trace. According to Trace, recent corruption cases reveal situations where foreign companies funnel bribes to foreign officials through Singaporean subsidiaries or consultants. For instance, companies have been known to use intermediaries operating in Singapore as a conduit for illicit payments heading to Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. This trend and Singapores inherent risks as a leading international financial center, it said, have led the government to crack down on money laundering and to impose stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) rules. In turn, these measures have resulted in long delays in opening bank accounts, as well as an acute shortage of qualified local compliance officers. More From Singapore Business Review The investment is for a 2-year contract with Secura Group. As it seeks provision of additional security at certain premises, Singtel recently awarded Secura Group Ltd. a $7.9 million security services contract. The 2-year contract was given through Secura's wholly-owned subsidiary, Soverus Pte. Ltd. It comprises of $7.2 million provision of unarmed security guarding services and a provisional amount of $0.7 million for the provision of additional security services. Secura CEO Paul Lim said in a statement that this has been one of the largest contracts the group has won to date. "With Singtel being one of the largest and most prominent corporate brands in Singapore, we believe this will open up more opportunities with other organisations for our services, he stated. The Singtel contract raises Secura's orderbook to $27.9 million. Over $23 million is expected to be fulfilled by the end of 2017. More From Singapore Business Review Back to Iraq. With the ceasefire in Syria in flames and tensions between the U.S. and Russia at their highest level in years, the war in Iraq has taken a bit of a backseat over the past two weeks. Thats all changing. On Tuesday, the Islamic State launched either a mortar or artillery attack on U.S. and Iraqi troops at the Qayyarah West base outside of Mosul, and at least one of the shells might have contained a mustard agent, the Pentagon said Wednesday. No troops were hurt or showed symptoms of mustard exposure, and tests on the fragments are ongoing, a spokesman for the U.S. military said. The attacks doesnt come as much of a surprise, as Peshmerga troops in the area had previously been attacked by with mustard agents, as FPs Dan De Luce has reported. More troops might be on the way. There are officially about 4,400 American troops serving in Iraq, but when temporary deployments and Embassy guards are added, the number rises to almost 6,000. And more might be gearing up to head out soon, if the Defense Department gets its way. The Wall Street Journal reports that defense planners are asking the White House for 500 more troops to help the Iraqis with their coming push into the ISIS-held city of Mosul, which Gen. Joe Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday might come as soon as October. He told an audience at an Air Force conference, we assessed today the Iraqis will have, in early October, all the forces marshaled, trained, fielded and equipped that are necessary for operations in Mosul. Syrian opposition numbers. Dunford also lauded the work of U.S.-backed Syrian rebels, telling the crowd that there are now 30,000 Syrian Democratic Forces, with 14,000 Arabs among the Kurds that dominate the group. Last year at this time we probably had a few hundred vetted Syrian opposition forces on the ground we were supporting, so there has been significant growth, Dunford said. More talk. Dunford joints Defense Secretary Ash Carter Thursday morning on Capitol Hill, where the two will field questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m. We suspect the committee will have some thoughts on the long, violent summer in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine. Livestream here. Story continues Syria, still Syria. Secretary of State John Kerry scrapped with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the U.N. Wednesday, saying the Russians comments on the war in Syria make him feel like theyre sort of in a parallel universe here, FPs Colum Lynch reports. Kerry called for a grounding of all aircraft in areas in northern Syria near where U.S. officials say Russian planes bombed a U.N. aid convoy Monday, killing 20 aid workers and destroying 20 trucks. Monitoring group Bellingcat has published a very detailed examination of all of the publicly available data on the attack, finding that many of the Russian claims about it actually being an opposition attack are simply not true. Adding an exclamation point to the end of the ceasefire, Syrian and possibly Russian warplanes pounded Aleppo Wednesday, in what one monitoring group said was the heaviest air strikes for months inside Aleppo city. It was very intense. In that area we didnt see heavy fighting recently. The race continues. Amid all of this, there are five people running for president of the United States of America. One of them, who jumped into the race just last month, is former CIA agent Evan McMullin a Republican running as an independent who is trying to peel votes away from Donald Trump while reasserting a conservative foreign policy vision that the Republicans have all but abandoned this election cycle. The candidate told FPs Paul McLeary that Trump is weakening us, and is doing the bidding of Vladimir Putin, referring to the Republican candidates verbal attacks on NATO, refusal to condemn Russias annexation of Crimea, and repeated adulation of the Russian president. Theres a wave of isolationism that has blown over the country in response to Iraq, [but] its a huge mistake for us to withdraw from the world, McMullin said. Good morning and as always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley North Korea Is China clamping down on its troublesome ally in Pyongyang? The AP reports that Chinese police have charged Hongxiang Industrial Development Co with serious economic crimes. That might be code for violating sanctions against North Korea, as American diplomats say the company has been helping the North gather components for its nuclear weapons program. With a fresh nuclear test and Kim Jong Uns confrontational mood giving Chinese diplomats headaches, though, Beijing might be more willing lately to put the squeeze on illicit trade to the North. Iran Iran held its annual Sacred Defense Week military parade on Wednesday, commemorating the beginning of the long and bloody Iran-Iraq war. Irans newly-installed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri used the occasion to warn that thered be no halt to Iranian defense exercises. Irans armed forces use the parade to show off its latest military hardware. This years debut of the new Zulfiqar missile float, according to one expert, may be less than it appears. Tal Inbar of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies tweets that the Zulfiqar is just a mockup of Irans shorter-range Fateh 110 missile. Business of defense The U.S. Senate passed a $1.15 billion arms deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, rebuffing a small but noteworthy effort to block the sale and the conduct of the Saudi-led coalitions war in Yemen. Roll Call reports that Senate tabled Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Christopher Murrays (D-CT) resolution to stop the sale by a margin of 71-27. Opponents of the deal say that the vote nonetheless puts Saudi Arabia on notice that the Senate is paying close to attention to the U.S. military relationship with the Kingdom. Air Force The last F-35 hasnt even rolled off the production line but the Air Force already has its mind on a son-of-Joint-Strike-Fighter. Defense One reports the top Air Force officer Gen. David Goldfein emphasized penetrating counter-air capability for the next generation of aircraft while speaking at an Air Force conference Wednesday. 2016 The latest poll of active duty U.S. military personnel shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a dead heat with Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. Military Times conducted the poll along with Syracuse Universitys Institute for Veterans and Military Families and found Trump just barely edging out Johnson 37.6 to 36.5 percent, well within the two point margin of error. Enlisted personnel tended to favor Trump more while officers expressed a larger preference for Johnson. Photo Credit: John Moore/Getty Images London (AFP) - Leftist Jeremy Corbyn is set to be re-elected head of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Saturday despite a power struggle with his own MPs that threatens to tear apart the historic movement. Corbyn is expected to win out against challenger Owen Smith, who launched his bid after a parliamentary rebellion in the wake of the shock Brexit vote that critics partly blamed on Corbyn's lacklustre campaign. The prospect has prompted some commentators to warn that Labour's weakness in opposing the government could increase the chances of Prime Minister Theresa May opting for a "hard Brexit" that would take Britain out of Europe's single market. Labour members have voted by postal ballot but the result, due to be announced at the party conference in Liverpool, is unlikely to end a dispute that experts say could condemn the party to many years in opposition. The 67-year-old veteran socialist says he has energised Britons who would not normally vote and enjoys support from older leftists as well as a younger group of anti-austerity campaigners. He has said he wants to bypass his party's generally centrist MPs by going straight to the grassroots to decide party policies and appointments to key posts. His deputy Tom Watson instead wants MPs to be given more of a say in appointments to the shadow cabinet in a bid to heal the rift between the two sides. "This is the biggest crisis the Labour Party has faced since at least the 1980s," Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP. "It could even be the worst it has faced since its founding in the early 20th century," Bale said. "There is a possibility it might split." Many Labour MPs say Corbyn's policies are too far to the left for Labour to have a chance at governing again. - 'Democratic revolution' - Corbyn has been in parliament since 1983 and was a staunch opponent of the party's New Labour prime minister Tony Blair, who won three elections. Story continues His election in September last year was immediately criticised by MPs and the divisions have widened since, reaching breaking point with the EU referendum. Following that June 23 vote, around 20 members of Labour's shadow cabinet resigned and 172 out of the party's 230 MPs backed a no confidence motion. "Most leaders... tend to resign under those circumstances," said Steven Fielding, a Labour expert at the University of Nottingham. But Corbyn and his allies realise "this is the one golden opportunity for the far left and they won't give up voluntarily," he said. The bearded vegetarian, who set up a mass protest movement against the Iraq War, has a messianic appeal to supporters, with some 300,000 joining since summer 2015 and turning Labour into what they say is now Europe's biggest political party with 550,000 members. The problem is that Corbyn's "democratic revolution" project does not appear to have resonated with the British public and the party lags far behind May's Conservatives in the opinion polls. "Unless things change radically, and rapidly, it's very doubtful I'll see another Labour government in my lifetime," former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who is 74 years old, told the BBC's Panorama programme on Monday. - A political Somme - Smith has accused his rival Corbyn of aiding an infiltration of the party by radical leftists, particularly through the new Momentum movement. "There is nothing comradely about setting up a party within a party, still less in trying to use our movement as a host body, seeking to occupy it, hollow it out, until it's outlived its usefulness when you throw it aside like a dead husk," he said. Some Labour lawmakers have said they are thinking about creating a new centre-left party although analysts say most will do everything to avoid this. "There has been one example really, the SDP, and that didn't end well," said Fielding, referring to the creation of the Social Democratic Party in 1981. Corbyn has said he wants to heal the party but that prospect appears unlikely after a summer of venom. "It's the political equivalent of the Somme... an ongoing battle which never really achieved anything, just the death of the participants," Fielding said. "There will be no victor in the short term apart from the Conservatives, of course, who are laughing all the way to the next election," he said. A new survey finds that bosses believe its better for business when female employees wear heels and makeup whether they like it or not. (Photo: Gallery Stock) Turns out your boss is not only assessing how well you do your job, but also how you look if youre a woman, that is. One in five women say they feel their bosses pay more attention to their appearance than to that of their male colleagues, a recent survey by law firm Slater and Gordon found. The law firm recruited 2,000 U.K. employees to explore sexism in the workplace by way of dress code, and the findings are embarrassing in 2016. The survey shows 28 percent of women have been advised that changing their appearance would be better for business. More specifically, 7 percent of the women surveyed say their bosses have urged them to wear high heels in the office or with clients because it makes them more appealing. Almost one in 10 women have been told by their bosses to wear more makeup at work so they look prettier. Of course, more than half of men say they have never received comments about their appearance, and just 3 percent have occasionally been told to dress more smartly by their senior colleagues. Sadly, we arent that surprised were enraged. Weve heard too many stories proving these findings recently. Nicola Thorp was sent home without pay from her temp job for turning up at the companys headquarters in flats. When going to a job interview at the Body Shop, Brenna MacPhee received an email with the time and location of the interview, as well as this detail, according to CBC News: ***DRESSCODE: Please wear all black business attire and a full face of makeup as it is our dress code in the store. Um what? The worst part is that Slater and Gordon found 86 percent of those who deal with this form of discrimination feel their career might suffer if they dont dress the way their boss wants. Plus, the study found that women feel they have physically suffered as a result of dress code demands such as caking on makeup and wearing killer heels or too-tight clothing and that pain and suffering inhibits productivity. Story continues Take note, bosses: If you want a job well done, its time to lay off these ridiculous dress codes. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. todd chavez bojack So you've recently ended a long relationship and want to split your Netflix profiles? Or you're thinking about stepping up and getting your own account after years of mooching? Bad news: Netflix still won't let you move your profile to a new account. "We have discussed that, but no plans at the moment," said Carlos Gomez-Uribe, Netflix's Vice President of Innovation. "Its a good thought though." Netflix introduced profiles several years ago to allow personalization for multiple users on the same subscription. Personalization makes Netflix a lot better. The thing is, it gets a lot more precise over time, so users might be loathe to start again when moving to a new account. How long does it take for personalization to get good on a new account? Depends on the user. "Different people are going to have different levels of diversity in terms of the content that they watch," Gomez-Uribe said. "You can imagine that a movie critic that has watched many different types of content and likes many different types of content will be harder to figure out ... so well need more inputs from that person than someone who likes two or three different types of content." "That said, on average we do see that once we know roughly five-to-ten videos that you like, that you have watched in a good way, our recommendations tend to be pretty good," he added. NOW WATCH: The 7 best TV shows on Netflix you've probably never heard of More From Business Insider The security in and around Mumbai has been tightened after two students informed the police of sighting some suspicious men in Uran. By Vidya : The security in and around Mumbai has been tightened after two students informed the police of sighting some suspicious men in Uran. "Indian Navy's Western Naval Command, expeditiously reacted to the situation by first initiating an alert and informing all coastal security stakeholders. Searches and other actions as per procedure have been initiated. The situation is being closely monitored in liaison with the police. No person has been located or apprehended till now." said a senior public relations officer in the ministry of defense. advertisement Maharashtra Director-General of Police Satish Mathur said two students had informed the police of sighting some suspicious men in Uran. "While one student has claimed spotting one person, the other has claimed to have seen five. After this information, multiple agencies are probing it," Mathur said. Meanwhile, a team of NSG stationed in Navi Mumbai is on stand by. They have no role to play in the ongoing combing operation. The news spread like wildfire in Uran and nearby areas, resulting in the closure of schools and colleges for the rest of the day. Navy on highest alert in Mumbai after school kids spot men with arms near ammunition dump --- ENDS --- By Se Young Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it ordered Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS> to take additional measures to ensure that batteries used in Galaxy Note 7 handsets are safe, as the firm prepares to resume sales of the smartphone in South Korea. The world's top smartphone maker announced earlier this month a recall of at least 2.5 million Note 7s across the globe due to faulty batteries causing some of the phones to catch fire. The firm is already issuing replacement devices using what it says are safe batteries in several markets including South Korea and the United States. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, in a statement, formally approved the recall plan and said the new batteries being used are safe. The agency ordered Samsung to have its supplier conduct x-ray tests on the batteries prior to shipment. It also ordered Samsung to carry out inspections on its own as an additional safeguard and to extend the refund deadline to Sept. 30 from Sept. 19 previously. Samsung declined to comment on how many phones are being recalled in South Korea, but the firm's report to the agency dated Sept. 2 seen by Reuters showed that 429,000 Note 7 phones had been sold prior to the recall. The firm said it is in talks with domestic carriers to offer a 30,000 won ($27.21) mobile tariff credit to affected customers for their October bill. The South Korean firm is pushing to get its recall completed as quickly as possible in order to limit damage to its reputation and earnings, and resume sales. Some analysts said the recall could cost Samsung nearly $5 billion in lost revenue. Samsung, which halted Note 7 sales in countries affected by the recall, plans to resume new sales of the Note 7 in South Korea on Sept. 28. ($1 = 1,102.3600 won) (Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) A woman in Oregon got the fright of her life when a spider fell from her car mirror, and the ensuing panic caused her to flip her car over, rendering it undriveable. Read: Cops Respond to Calls of Man Shouting 'Die! Die!' To Discover He's Trying to Kill a Spider On Wednesday morning around 8:20 a.m., the 45-year-old woman was driving in Portland when the spider dropped from her rearview mirror and dangled in front of her face, causing her to lose control and go off the road, according to authorities. Her car rolled into a ditch, and when sheriffs deputies arrived on the scene, they said the car was totaled. Spider season in full swing.Driver not injured after crash when spider drops from mirror on NW Thompson Rd today.BR pic.twitter.com/oV3woHyv9Z WC Sheriff's Office (@WCSheriff) September 21, 2016 Officials said the driver suffered a minor scratch on her hand. Given the damage of the car, she was lucky to have been able to walk away from such a dramatic scene. The Washington County Sheriffs Office closed the road to one lane to handle the crash site. Sgt. Bob Ray told InsideEdition.com: It is a good reminder we can expect the unexpected and not be distracted when driving. Think about what happens before it happens. Sgt. Ray added that the situation could have been much worse. He credits the design and safety features of new vehicles, like the 2011 Toyota Camry she was driving, for helping her walk away from the accident. Read: Family Freaks Out Over Spider... And It Was All Caught on Home Surveillance Camera Distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents in America, Sgt. Ray said, but in his 23 years on the force, he said he has never heard of a spider causing an accident. The spider may have fled the scene and was not found following the wreck. Story continues Watch: This Weatherman's Epic Freak Out After Spotting a Spider During Live Broadcast Related Articles: STOP EVERYTHING: You can now learn your patronus, thanks to Pottermore STOP EVERYTHING: You can now learn your patronus, thanks to Pottermore For Harry Potter fans everywhere, knowing your patronus is up there with knowing what Hogwarts house you belong to. Its pretty important, to say the least. Now, thanks to Pottermore, fans can take a quiz to see what their patronus would be! For those unaware of the patronus importance to the Harry Potter series and fanbase: The Patronus Charm, introduced in the third novel (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) is used to ward of soul-stealing dementors. Additionally, each person casting a Patronus Charm has a patronus animal unique to them, based on their experiences and emotions. Since the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Patronus Charm and the form it takes on has been crucial to Harry and the gang. giphy In a statement, Pottermore CEO Susan L. Jurevics said, We are so delighted to be bringing J.K. Rowlings most famous spell magically to life on Pottermore, for everyone to enjoy and discover their authentic Patronus, for free. Its been fantastic working with J.K. Rowling and our creative and development teams to realise her vision, using the latest technology to create this little piece of magic for our site. Since its inception in 2009, J.K. Rowlings official Harry Potter website has given Harry Potter fans the opportunity to continue their experience with the beloved book and film series by releasing new information and opportunities, such as having the chance to be sorted into their Hogwarts house, getting their wand, and most recently, allowing members to be sorted into houses of the American wizard school, IIvermorny. Now, shall we? Expecto Patronum! The post STOP EVERYTHING: You can now learn your patronus, thanks to Pottermore appeared first on HelloGiggles. With the recent, sudden closing of all ITT Technical Institute locations, the Student Loan Ranger has been receiving many worried emails from current, recent and not-so-recent students wondering how to move forward. This month's mailbag will focus on those issues. Below are some recent messages we've received. The following questions are real but may have been edited for grammar or clarity. If you have a question the Student Loan Ranger can help with, please reach out to us at studentloanranger@usnews.com. [See how to avoid turning into a scary student loan statistic.] Bogus Degree? Q: I have a bogus degree from ITT and about six or seven thousand dollars in student loans. Can I get some help? How do I prove they committed fraud against me? The labs hardly ever worked properly and that is the "hands-on" they boasted about and promised. I gave up looking for a job when my bachelor's degree didn't help me get a decent job. A: I'm sorry to hear about your college experience. At this time, you would not be eligible for discharge based on the situation you describe. In general, unless the school actually makes such a promise, there is no guarantee of employment or salary threshold when you take on debt to attend school. Failure to obtain a job, or a certain type or level of job, is also usually not a reason for loan forgiveness unless the school promised such a thing. The exception to that is if the school violates state consumer protection laws, in which case federal student loan borrowers can file for a borrower defense to repayment discharge. Although several students and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office have filed lawsuits alleging such violations against ITT, as of this publication, the school has yet to be found guilty of such abuses in court or by another government agency. [Learn three ways a student loan could be discharged.] With that said, keep an eye on this space because changes are coming. As we discussed this past summer, the Department of Education is working on expanding the eligibility criteria for borrower defense to repayment discharges. Story continues If the final regulations are anything like the draft and you, the Department of Education, a court or another agency can find proof that ITT misrepresented its program to you, it's possible you might be eligible for full or partial discharge of your federal student loans if you consolidate them after the new rule takes effect July 1, 2017. One last caveat is the statute of limitations, which based on the draft regulations, will apply in some cases to amounts that the borrower already paid either voluntarily or involuntarily. Loan Discharge or Finish School? Q: I am -- or was -- an ITT student who was attending when it closed. What do I do now? I've heard all my loans will be forgiven. A: What do you want to do? I hope it's to complete your degree or certificate. While it may be tempting to pursue student loan discharge, which it sounds like you'd be eligible for under closed school provisions, remember that you can't get back the time you spent racking up those credits or hours. [Here are three times college closings can affect student loan repayments.] If you discharge your loans through closed school discharge, that means you cannot use those credits toward a comparable program of study, so -- essentially -- you'll have to start all over again. Studies show that students who complete their degree have fewer problems with student loan repayment and other financial achievements. To determine which schools are accepting ITT credits and how to obtain your transcript, check out the ITT information site that the Department of Education is hosting and frequently updating. Incidentally, the Student Loan Ranger recommends that every ITT student, regardless of when they attended, look into obtaining a copy of their transcript now in case you need it down the line. To be eligible for closed school discharge, you would have had to have been attending -- or on an approved leave of absence -- within 120 days of the school's closure date of Sept. 6, 2016, and unable or unwilling to transfer your credits to a comparable program. If you decide to pursue this discharge, you can apply directly through your loan holder. Betsy Mayotte, director of consumer outreach and compliance for American Student Assistance, regularly advises consumers on planning and paying for college. Mayotte, who received a B.S. in business communications from Bentley College, responds to public inquiries via the advice resource "Just Ask" and is frequently quoted in traditional and social media on the topics of student loans and financial aid. The girl had seen a group of 5-6 armed men dressed in black pathani, faces covered, and carrying bagpacks close to the school. By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: It was a routine day for the Uran Education Society school in the sleepy town of Uran on Thursday. Right next to the busy Navi Mumbai Municipal Bus Depot, the school with 3200 students started its day like any other with the school assembly. None of the school children had the slightest clue that the school will hit national headlines in the next few hours. Within couple of hours after the assembly, a surprise holiday was declared. The school campus was buzzing with cheerful noises after the unexpected holiday. Many thought it was because of the incessant rains. advertisement But, in the principal's cabin the atmosphere was far more serious. At the centre stood a girl studying in class 10, frightened and shivering. What she was narrating was perhaps equally scary for the teachers as well. The girl had seen a group of 5-6 armed men dressed in black pathani, faces covered, and carrying bagpacks close to the school. GIRL NARRATES SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Class teacher Sarita Pradhan knew well that the girl in question would never lie. "Immediately after the attendance, she came to me and said she wants to talk to me. She narrated the entire sequence of event to me. Though I knew she would never lie, I still asked her whether she is serious. But she was trembling with fear...She told me that the armed men were talking about a school and ONGC. They also spoke about splitting themselves in groups of two," informed Sarita Pradhan. Simran Dahiya, an English language teacher initially thought that this could have perhaps been a mock drill. "The Karanja naval base is close by. There are regular security check exercises there. So we decided to check with the authorities immediately." said Simran. SCHOOL DECLARES HOLIDAY Meanwhile, the school administration sprung into action as another student from the school also narrated of seeing similar suspects in the vicinity. "Two of our school children spoke about the same incident ... We were also scared because the girl narrated that these suspects were talking about a school and we immediately decided to vacate the school and announce a holiday. We reported this to the police and the navy immediately" said Swati Shiralkar, Principal of the UES school. FRANTIC SEARCH OPERATION What followed later was a frantic search operation in the school and vicinity. The news shook the nation as it reminded them of the two of most dreaded terror strikes that were carried out through the sea route. While the navy called it a high alert situation, massive search operations and a combing operation were launched by the Mumbai police with other security agencies. POLICE RELEASE SKETCH OF SUSPECTS Police on Thursday evening released the sketch of one the five suspects in connection with the Uran high alert. advertisement Two students-a girl studying in tenth standard, and a boy of ninth standard- of coastal town of Uran near Mumbai, who reported about seeking masked men with guns earlier today, have helped the cops prepare a sketch of one of five suspects. Consequently, the sketch was circulated to all the investigating agencies. All the local informers have also been roped in to find the person in the sketch. A high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas today after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations. SCHOOL DECLARES TWO HOLIDAYS The school is yet to come to terms with the unexpected turnout of events. The students who saw the suspects were questioned by local police for more details. "We are taking down every detail very seriously. We do not want to take any chances. The student showed the courage to report it but we also appreciate the school teachers who took it seriously and reported it to authorities", said a police officer. advertisement The school meanwhile has declared a holiday on Friday so that there is no panic among students or parents. Also Read: Navi Mumbai terror alert: Police releases sketch of a suspect after kids spot masked gunmen --- ENDS --- Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan has freed 21 child soldiers who were captured in war-torn Darfur last year during fighting between government troops and rebels, the United Nations said Thursday. Their release on Wednesday came just days after President Omar al-Bashir declared in North Darfur that he would order all detained children from the rebel side be freed. The child soldiers were captured in Darfur in 2015 during fighting between government troops and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). "The United Nations welcomes the release yesterday by the government of Sudan of 21 children associated with armed groups," the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement. "Sudanese children cannot continue to be robbed of their future ... no child should take part in hostilities," Martin Uhomoibhi, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, said in the statement. The released children will be housed in a government transit centre that will enable their re-integration into their families and communities, UNICEF said. On September 7, Bashir declared at a ceremony in the North Darfur state capital El Fasher that peace was returning to the war-torn region of five states. At least 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur -- a region the size of France -- where ethnic minority groups took up arms in 2003 against Bashir's Arab-dominated government. Bashir, who has mounted a brutal counter-insurgency against the rebels, is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes and genocide charges related to Darfur, which he denies. In August, talks in Addis Ababa between Khartoum and rebels on a ceasefire in Darfur and two other conflict zones failed, with an African Union mediating panel blaming insurgent groups JEM and Sudan Liberation Army-Minnawi. It is unclear when fresh talks will start. Geneva (AFP) - A former member of the Algerian rebel Armed Islamic Group, who is wanted in France, was arrested Thursday in Switzerland and is seeking asylum, Swiss authorities said. Merouane Benahmed had been living under house arrest in the town of Evron in northwest France since 2015. On September 8 he failed to show up for one his mandated meetings with local police, which triggered the arrest warrant. "Today, the Algerian citizen Merouane Benahmed was arrested in Vallorbe," in the Swiss canton of Vaud, justice ministry spokesman Folco Galli told AFP. "The man is currently being detained in view of extradition," Galli added. Federal migration office spokesman Gieri Cavelty told AFP that Benahmed was seeking asylum, while a statement from police in Vaud said he was opposing his extradition. The 43-year-old Benahmed fled Algeria in 1999 before being sentenced to death in absentia. He was slapped with the 10-year prison sentence in France over his links to a suspected insurgent organisation known as the "Chechen Network." He was released in 2011 and has since lived in several parts of France. Algeria's Armed Islamic Group, known by its French acronym GIA, waged a deadly war against the country's secular military government through the 1990s. It is now considered largely dormant. Benahmed's lawyer, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, has described her client's house arrest as "illegitimate." Damascus (AFP) - Syria's army announced the launch Thursday of an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the battleground city of Aleppo, warning residents to keep away from positions held by anti-regime fighters. "The military operations command announces the start of operations in eastern districts of the city and calls on residents to stay away from the positions of terrorist groups," it said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, using the regime's term for the opposition. The announcement came just minutes after the United States and Russia convened a last-ditch meeting in New York to save their Syria ceasefire plan and followed several hours of intensive bombardment that left Aleppo in flames. The army also said it would take "all measures to facilitate the reception" of civilians and that those who arrive at its checkpoints would not be arrested. Aleppo, Syria's second city and former economic capital, has been divided since 2012 with western districts controlled by the regime and the east in rebel hands. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was "a large-scale land offensive supported by Russian air strikes aimed at taking bit by bit the eastern sector of Aleppo and emptying it of its residents". The initial targets were the Amiriyah, Sukari and Sheikh Said sectors, to the south, said the monitoring group's head, Rami Abdel Rahman. Late Thursday intense air raids battered the area. The Observatory said the rebel areas of the town suffered the most intense strikes for several months. An AFP correspondent in the rebel-held east of Aleppo witnessed a dozen families fleeing the Soukkari district for other rebel areas further north. The Britain-based Observatory said earlier that bombardment and air strikes since Wednesday night targeting the rebel-held neighbourhoods of Bustan al-Qasr and Al-Kalasseh had triggered "massive fires". The estimated 250,000 residents of east Aleppo, which rebels have held since 2012, have been living under government siege since early September. Story continues The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives since 2011, during which time more than half the population have been uprooted from their homes. The renewed heavy fighting follows the breakdown on Monday of a short-lived truce that had been brokered by Washington and Moscow. The top diplomats from the United States and Russia were meeting Thursday with other key players in New York, after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Syria's peace process was facing a "make or break moment". AMMAN (Reuters) - The Syrian army announced the start of a new military offensive in the rebel-held east of the city of Aleppo on Thursday, signaling a potential further escalation in a bombing campaign by Russian and Syrian jets that rebels say has already intensified in the last 24 hours. State media quoted the army's military headquarters in Aleppo as urging civilians in eastern parts of the city to avoid areas where "terrorists" were located and saying it had prepared exit points for those who wanted to flee, including rebels. The army announcement did not say whether the campaign would also include a ground incursion. Rebels said Russian and Syrian jets had escalated strikes in the past 24 hours on areas that control access to the city, whose rebel-held east has been besieged by Russian and Iranian-backed pro-government forces and completely encircled for all but a few weeks since July. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed the intensification of raids on residential areas in eastern Aleppo, saying at least 14 people had been killed on Thursday, mostly civilians. The United States and Russia have been leading diplomatic efforts to negotiate a lasting ceasefire and have been discussing how to coordinate attacks on militants from the Islamic State and the group formally known as the Nusra Front. A seven-day-old ceasefire brokered by Washington and Moscow collapsed last week. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) BEIRUT (Reuters) - The planned evacuation of several hundred Syrian rebels from their last foothold in the city of Homs began on Thursday, with around 120 fighters and their families scheduled to leave by bus, witnesses and state media said. The fighters, carrying their personal weapons, and their families will head from the al-Waer neighborhood to the rebel-held northern Homs countryside, then travel on to rebel-held Idlib province, Homs Governor Talal Barazi said on Thursday. The evacuation is part of the Syrian government's attempts to conclude local agreements with rebels in besieged areas that have resulted in rebels being given safe passage to insurgent-controlled areas. Rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad say the agreements are part of a government strategy to forcibly displace populations from opposition-held areas after years of siege and bombardment. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates several thousand rebel fighters remain in Waer. Barazai has said Waer contains around 40,000 civilians and 800 fighters. He expects the neighborhood to be free of weapons and fighters in around 20 to 25 days, if all goes according to plan. The latest evacuation of fighters from Waer was postponed from Monday, and the rebels were originally expected to head to the insurgent stronghold of Idlib province in northwestern Syria. (Reporting by Reuters TV in Homs; Writing by Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Editing by Larry King) Telecom and pay-TV behemoth AT&T Inc. T is gearing up for the launch of its online streaming service over the top (OTT) DIRECTV Now by the end of 2016. By foraying into the OTT space, the company has joined the likes of Dish Network Corp. DISH and Sony in offering OTT services such as Sling TV and Playstation Vue, respectively. The customers of DIRECTV can access the service on their mobile devices through a DIRECTV app. Notably, AT&T has been strengthening its DIRECTV Now portfolio by entering into agreements with content providers. Recently, the company inked a deal with HBO that will enable the former to deliver Time Warner Inc. TWX-owned HBOs content across multiple platforms. Benefits for AT&T The online streaming service is gaining momentum which is evident from the growing success of companies like Netflix Inc. NFLX, which is a leading player in this space. This has resulted in massive subscriber losses for the pay-TV operators. To put a check on customer churn, many pay-TV operators are adopting this model and AT&T is not an exception. Moreover, since AT&T operates its own wireless network, the company can price its DIRECTV Now offering by bundling wireless data packages with the OTT service. This will help draw new wireless customers. Additionally, with the advent of a streaming app, AT&T can generate revenues from mobile advertising a fast growing industry. The Bottom Line AT&Ts DIRECTV Now can prove to be a major revenue driver for the company in the coming years. However, aggressive pricing related to non applicability of data caps for the DIRECTV service in wireless plans may be subjected to net neutrality scrutiny. AT&T INC Price AT&T INC Price | AT&T INC Quote AT&T currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TIME WARNER INC (TWX): Free Stock Analysis Report NETFLIX INC (NFLX): Free Stock Analysis Report AT&T INC (T): Free Stock Analysis Report DISH NETWORK CP (DISH): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By J.R. Wu TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said it is asking Google to blur satellite images showing what experts say appear to be new military installations on Itu Aba, Taipei's sole holding in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The revelation of new military-related construction could raise tensions in the contested waterway, where China's building of airstrips and other facilities has worried other claimants and the United States. The images seen on Google Earth show four three-pronged structures sitting in a semi-circle just off the northwestern shoreline of Itu Aba, across from an upgraded airstrip and recently constructed port that can dock 3,000-ton frigates. "Under the pre-condition of protecting military secrets and security, we have requested Google blur images of important military facilities," Taiwan Defence Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said on Wednesday, after local media published the images on Itu Aba. The United States has urged against the militarisation of the South China Sea, following the rapid land reclamation by China on several disputed reefs through dredging, and building air fields and port facilities. Taiwan's defence ministry and coast guard, which directly oversees Itu Aba, said details about the structures are confidential and have not commented on their nature. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, said it was reviewing the request from Taiwan, but that to date such requests have not resulted in Google blurring imagery. Satellite images used on Google Earth and Google Maps come from third-party providers, which Google purchases for use in its mapping system, according to the search giant. "We take security concerns very seriously, and are always willing to discuss them with public agencies and officials," Google spokesman Taj Meadows said in an emailed response. Defence experts in Taiwan said that based on the imagery of the structures and their semi-circular layout, the structures were likely related to defence and could be part of an artillery foundation. "I think definitely it will be for military purposes, but I cannot tell if it is for defending, attacking or monitoring," said Dustin Wang, a scholar and a former government advisor who has regularly visited Itu Aba. Wang said given the structures' location which faces the main seaborne traffic, they may relate to surveillance. China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts or all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes. In July, an international court ruled against China in a case brought by the Philippines that rejected China's claim to a vast swathes of the disputed maritime area. Both China and Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province, vehemently rejected the court ruling. (Editing by Lincoln Feast) Taiwan's government has ordered a freeze on the opposition Kuomintang's bank account, officials said Thursday, as part of an investigation into its allegedly ill-gotten political assets. The order comes as political tensions remain high on the deeply divided island after the Beijing-friendly KMT were ousted by a landslide in January elections. The new Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party government announced a probe into the assets of all parties in late July, but it is only the KMT that has faced questions. The KMT is thought to be one of the richest political parties in the world and registered total assets of Tw$18.96 billion ($600 million) by the end of last year, compared with Tw$478.72 million by the DPP. The party traces its wealth to its origins in pre-communist China -- KMT forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to the Chinese communists on the mainland. It also inherited assets nationalised by the Japanese, who ruled Taiwan as a colony from 1895-1945. However, critics have long accused the party of stealing from the people of Taiwan and illegally amassing fortunes through cosy business links during its half-century grip on power. Government investigators say the KMT withdrew Tw$520 million ($16.6 million) from Taiwan's Bank SinoPac soon after the asset probe got under way and exchanged it for 10 cashier's cheques from the state-run Bank of Taiwan. One of those cheques has already been cashed. KMT officials say it was used to pay salaries and pensions. But investigators say the money should not have been moved since the probe had already started. The party has slammed the investigation as a witch-hunt. "The KMT violated the law which prohibits it from moving its assets," the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee said in a statement. "Bank SinoPac has been notified to halt withdrawing or transferring money from that account." The freeze was the asset committee's first major action against the KMT. Story continues KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu called it a "vendetta" and said the party should rally outside president Tsai's home. "The action we took is just and for the purpose of fulfilling our legal duties," KMT spokesman Chou Chih-wei told AFP. Tsai and the DPP took power on the back of increased public concern over warming ties with China, following an unprecedented eight-year rapprochement under the previous KMT government. Taiwan is self-ruling, but China still sees it as part of its territory. Voters feared the island's sovereignty was under threat as the KMT forged closer relations with Beijing. Since Tsai took power, relations have rapidly deteriorated and Beijing has cut off all official communications with Taiwan. From Cosmopolitan Did you see it coming? NBC's heartstring-tugging new drama This Is Us wrapped up its premiere Tuesday with a spectacular twist that had a lot more to offer than shock value. Throughout most of the episode, it appears that you're watching three loosely connected stories about people who share the same birthday. There's young couple Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore), who are expecting triplets; B-list actor Kevin (Justin Hartley) and his twin sister Kate (Chrissy Metz), both struggling with their life choices; and businessman Randall (Sterling K. Brown), who's confronting his long-lost birth father. Here's the twist: Jack and Rebecca's story takes place in 1980, and the other characters we're watching are their adult children in the present day - Kate and Kevin biological, and Randall adopted. The third of Rebecca's triplets didn't survive her pre-term labor, and the episode wraps up with a dazed Jack spotting baby Randall on the ward. Randall has mentioned earlier in the episode that he was abandoned outside a fire station by his father, and so when a kindly fireman explains to Jack that he brought the baby in, the dots suddenly connect. So, what does this mean for the show going forward? The opening title card proclaiming that "18 million people share the same birthday" set up an expectation for a story about randomness and fate. This twist transforms it into something at once more conventional - since these people are all part of the same family - and much less so, since the show will now be hopping back and forth in time. "We have four main stories," creator Dan Fogelman told The Hollywood Reporter. "Well be cutting back and forth between those the same way that we do in the pilot. They start commenting on each other because of the way the series progresses and all the stuff that happens in the pilot." Fear not, Mandy and Milo fans - they will not spend the rest of the show caked in aging prosthetics. Future episodes will tell the story of Jack and Rebecca raising their family, but even that storyline will jump around in time, Fogelman has promised. Story continues "The pilot may have ended with them having the babies, but the second episode starts in 1988 and you see them eight years after having those kids," he explained. "Then the third episode will go right back to the day they brought the babies home from the hospital." Meanwhile, the present-day story just got a lot richer thanks to the twist, since there's still so much to discover about what this family looks like in 2016. Kate and Kevin are clearly close, but how do they relate to their adopted brother? Are both parents still in the picture? Then there's Randall's conflicted feelings toward his biological dad; having spent months trying to track him down, he can scarcely bear to be around him. That dynamic gets even more interesting when his siblings and adoptive parents are in the mix. This Is Us doesn't feel like it'll be a twist-packed show going forward, and there's a strong chance its initial buzz will die down now that the surprise is out. But when it lays this much groundwork for drama, conflict, and character development, one twist goes a long way. Follow Emma on Twitter. You Might Also Like By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Indias High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna was today appointed as Ambassador to the US, a high-profile posting where he will face the task of engaging with a new administration in Washington following the November 8 Presidential poll. Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1980 batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted in London in January. He succeeds Arun Singh, who is due for retirement. advertisement The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the MEA. He had held the post between 2002 and 2008. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the External Affairs Ministry said. Government has also appointed 1988-batch IFS officer Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the next High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. He will replace Yash Sinha. In Washington, Sarnas main task will be to ensure continuity in Indo-US relations when a new dispensation takes charge. Sarna has authored many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life released last year. He was also Indias Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012. For two years from August 2012, Sarna had served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations in the MEA. Sarna had served at various Indian missions including in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington. Yash Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner to the UK, is a seasoned diplomat and, in his career spanning 35 years, he has handled several important assignments at the MEA and in Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. PTI MPB RT --- ENDS --- Tamela Mann's fourth studio album, One Way, vaults 39-1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart (dated Oct. 1). In its first week of wide release (ending Sept. 15), it sold 10,000 copies, according to Nielsen Music. Mann earns her second Top Gospel Albums No. 1; Best Days began a 30-week reign on the Sept. 1, 2012-dated chart. Michael Sweet & Grace Notch No. 1 Debuts on Christian & Gospel Charts Mann's 2009 set The Master Plan opened and peaked at No. 2 on Top Gospel Albums, and her 2005 debut, Gotta Keep Movin', arrived at its No. 3 high. Mann has also released the concert album The Live Experience (2007), which peaked at No. 29. "God Provides," the launch single from One Way, holds at its No. 3 high on the Gospel Airplay chart. On Top Christian Albums, the top debut belongs to worship collective New Hope Oahu, as the Honolulu, Hawaii-based group's Future + Hope starts at No. 6 with 4,000 sold. The set is New Hope Oahu's fourth appearance and fourth top 10 on Top Christian Albums, following 2015's Greater Together (No. 2); 2014's Victorious (No. 6); and 2013's Hope Is Alive (No. 4). Concurrently on Top Christian Albums, The Afters' fifth studio set, Live On Forever, bows at No. 7 (3,000 sold). The Texas-based rock band scores its fourth top 10; 2008's Never Going Back to OK is its lone No. 1 and scored the band its best sales week (16,000 in its first frame). The other top 10 debut on Top Christian Albums is Artifex Pereo's Passengers (No. 10, 2,000 sold). The hard-rockers from Louisville, Kentucky, previously charted the No. 26-peaking Time in Place in 2014. Lastly, on Christian Airplay, Casting Crowns ' "One Step Away" jogs 11-9 (7 million in audience, up 7 percent). It's Casting Crowns' 22nd Christian Airplay top 10, tying the band with Mercy Me for the most among groups. Among all acts, they trail only Chris Tomlin, the overall leader with 24. girl shopping target Target has removed hundreds of kid-sized shopping carts from its stores after some shoppers declared them a "nightmare." The company rolled out the mini carts to 72 stores in August, hoping that they would entertain Target's youngest guests and, in turn, please its core demographic of shoppers: parents. But the shopping carts turned out to be a spectacular failure for many parents. Kids went wild with the carts, dumping shelves of merchandise into them and slamming them into other shoppers at top speed, bruising their ankles, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. One blogger called the carts "vehicles of mass destruction" and said they turned her previously "magical" shopping experience at Target into "madness." She called her post, which has been viewed more than 230,000 times, "MASTC" for "Mothers Against Stupid Tiny Carts." The carts were rolled out at 50 stores in Minnesota and 22 stores in New York. Many other shoppers complained about them as well, according to the Star-Tribune. "They make shopping trips into torture!" shopper Lizzy Charles wrote on Facebook. "Especially with three kids, all wanting their own tiny cart, triple the headache. Or fighting over one! I abandoned purchasing anything and focused on survival." Not all shoppers hated the carts, however. Many said they made shopping with kids easier. Story continues One parent wrote on Facebook that the carts were "great for keeping the kids busy and motivated to help out." Another said his child burst into tears when they visited Target this week and noticed that the carts had been removed. But the critics were greater in number, so Target decided to remove them from stores after a few short weeks of availability, the company said. "At Target, our guests are at the center of everything we do, and we value their feedback," Target spokeswoman Kristy Welker told Business Insider. "We briefly tested kiddie carts at 72 Target stores, and after reviewing guest and stores feedback, we have made the decision to stop the test." NOW WATCH: Why mens and womens shirts button on opposite sides More From Business Insider Athens (AFP) - Cash-strapped Greece, under pressure from creditors to improve chronically poor tax collection, has landed a surprising windfall from a cluster of high-end tourist islands, revenue officials said Thursday. In August, the height of Greece's busy tourist season, sales tax proceeds exceeded targets across the country by nearly 10 percent, the finance ministry said. In the main tourist islands, proceeds were 83.4 million euros ($93 million) -- 32 million euros or 62.3 percent higher than the authorities had budgeted for. Mykonos led the way, with proceeds from the island that has been a magnet for the international jet set for decades rocketing by 170 percent. Similarly, Rhodes clocked an increase of over 165 percent while Santorini added another 114 percent over forecasts. The government last year scrapped tax breaks for the top tourist islands, and this year introduced a temporary shutdown for businesses caught evading tax. In June, maximum sales tax was increased by a point to 24 percent, to loud complaints by tourism operators. Inspector raids were also stepped up, while the greater use of credit cards owing to capital controls in force since last summer also helped. Payments on cards, instead of cash, are easier to track by authorities. Greece, rescued by three multi-billion bailouts since 2010, has been habitually told by its international creditors to improve its tax collection in order to plug its chronic budget shortfalls. An online campaign to raise money for the children of Terence Crutcher the unarmed black man who was shot and killed last week by a white Tulsa, Okla., police officer has raised more than $120,000 in less than a day. The fundraising campaigns GoFundMe page, which was created by the law firm representing the family, received more than 4,800 donations since its launch Wednesday morning. The fund, which will be used to assist Crutchers four children as they deal with the tragic loss of their father, is about $50,000 shy of its $175,000 goal. Crutchers killing attracted national attention this week after the Tulsa Police Department released videos from a police helicopter and a police cruiser dashcam that show the 40-year-old Crutcher walking to his SUV with his hands over his head before he was shot. The officer, 42-year-old Betty Shelby, was placed on paid administrative leave as homicide detectives investigate the case. An attorney for Shelby said she had recently undergone drug-recognition training and believed Crutcher was acting erratically and under the influence of PCP. Tulsa police say they found the drug inside Crutchers car. I think that the police are trying to figure out a way to justify blaming Terence Crutcher for his own death, Benjamin Crump, one of the familys attorneys, said on CNN. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched its own investigation to determine whether a civil rights violation occurred during Crutchers death. If he would have been a Caucasian, it would have been totally different, Crutchers father said in the same interview. And if the circumstances were in reverse, Terence would have been charged immediately. Both presidential candidates quickly weighed in on the case. How many times do we have to see this in our country? Hillary Clinton said Tuesday. In Tulsa? An unarmed man? With his hands in the air? I mean, this is just unbearable, and it needs to be intolerable. You know, maybe I can, by speaking directly to white people, say, Look, this is not who we are. Story continues Clintons opponent, Donald Trump, said the officer choked. I must tell you, I watched the shooting in particular in Tulsa, and that man was hands up, the Republican nominee said at a church event in Ohio Wednesday morning. That man went to the car. Hands up. Put his hands on the car. To me it looked like he did everything youre supposed to do. And he looked like a really good man. According to the familys lawyers, none of the money raised through the online fund will be used for legal fees. We never charge clients for legal services hourly or in advance, the firm said in a statement. Legal fees are only paid out of funds recovered from unrelated parties. Tesla on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Michigan officials in an effort to strike down a law that prohibits the company from selling vehicles directly to consumers in the state. The electric car company said in its complaint that the lawsuits aim is to vindicate the companys rights under the U.S. Constitution to sell and service its vehicles at Tesla-owned facilities in Michigan. The suit comes a week after Michigan officials rejected Teslas request for a license to open a Tesla dealership in the state, Fortune reports. It names Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Gov. Rick Snyder as defendants. Tesla said it has been battling state officials since 2014 when Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill that forbid Tesla from selling directly to consumers in the state. Tesla will continue to fight for the rights of Michigan consumers to be able to choose how they buy cars in Michigan, the company said in a statement. Snyders office said it does not comment on pending lawsuits. (New throughout, adds details of legal fight, Tesla comment, no immediate Michigan comment) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc Thursday sued Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials in federal court over the state's refusal to allow the Palo Alto, California automaker to sell vehicles directly to consumers. The suit at U.S. District Court in Michigan comes days after the state rejected the electric vehicle manufacturer's application to directly sell vehicles to consumers. Unlike other automakers, Tesla does not sell vehicles through franchised dealers. Tesla's suit says it is seeking on an expedited basis an order that it is "entitled to a vehicle dealer license." A spokesman for Snyder said the governor had no comment. Tesla currently operates stores in 23 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and 20 other countries. Tesla has said it cannot get a license to sell vehicles in four states: Michigan, Texas, Connecticut and Utah, and it faces limits in some states on how many stores it can operate. Tesla said in a statement it filed the suit to ask a judge to strike down a 2014 Michigan law that bars Tesla from selling or repairing vehicles in the state. Tesla said for two years it has pursued a legislative solution. All U.S. states bar manufacturers with dealers from selling directly to consumers. Auto dealers have lobbied states for several years to bar Tesla from operating or to limit its operations. "Unfortunately, the local auto dealers and local manufacturers have made clear that they oppose any law that would allow Tesla to operate in Michigan," Tesla's statement said. "As one leading legislator told Tesla: the local auto dealers do not want you here. The local manufacturers do not want you here. So you're not going to be here." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc Thursday sued Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials in federal court over the state's refusal to allow the Palo Alto, California automaker to sell vehicles directly to consumers. The suit at U.S. District Court in Michigan comes days after the state rejected the electric vehicle manufacturer's application to directly sell vehicles to consumers. Unlike other automakers, Tesla does not sell vehicles through franchised dealers. Tesla's suit says it is seeking on an expedited basis an order that it is "entitled to a vehicle dealer license." A spokesman for Snyder said the governor had no comment. Tesla currently operates stores in 23 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and 20 other countries. Tesla has said it cannot get a license to sell vehicles in four states: Michigan, Texas, Connecticut and Utah, and it faces limits in some states on how many stores it can operate. Tesla said in a statement it filed the suit to ask a judge to strike down a 2014 Michigan law that bars Tesla from selling or repairing vehicles in the state. Tesla said for two years it has pursued a legislative solution. All U.S. states bar manufacturers with dealers from selling directly to consumers. Auto dealers have lobbied states for several years to bar Tesla from operating or to limit its operations. "Unfortunately, the local auto dealers and local manufacturers have made clear that they oppose any law that would allow Tesla to operate in Michigan," Tesla's statement said. "As one leading legislator told Tesla: the local auto dealers do not want you here. The local manufacturers do not want you here. So youre not going to be here." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) For two years, the fate of 23-year-old Christina Morris, last seen walking with a man into the parking garage of an upscale shopping center in a Dallas suburb, has remained a mystery. But on Wednesday jurors convicted that man, Enrique Arochi, 26, of the aggravated kidnapping of Morris, who vanished after the two were spotted together on surveillance video in the early morning hours of August 30, 2014, reports the Dallas Morning News. Arochi, of Allen, Texas, faces five to 99 years in prison when he is sentenced Monday, reports the Allen American. Morris' stepmother, Anna Morris, reacted to the verdict afterward, telling reporters on the steps of the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, "We can breathe," according to WFAA. "I feel like the right thing happened." Texas Man Guilty in 2014 Kidnapping of Christina Morris, Who is Still Missing| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime, Real People Stories Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Arochi's defense attorney Keith Gore had objected during closing arguments to the state's sole focus on his client. "There's no evidence of what, when, where or how," he said in attempting to dismiss the case against Arochi, which he said was circumstantial. But prosecutors had the surveillance video that showed Morris, of Fort Worth, and Arochi walking together into the parking garage at The Shops at Legacy in Plano at 3:55 a.m the day Morris disappeared. Three minutes later, Arochi's 2010 Chevrolet Camaro pulled out of the garage, they said. An hour after that, cell tower data indicated that Arochi's and Morris' phones still were together. Prosecutors also told jurors that Morris' DNA was found on the mat in the trunk of Arochi's car. Police found Morris' vehicle in the parking garage three days later, after she was reported missing. Arochi's defense challenged the DNA finding, and presented an expert who testified that the cell tower data could be unreliable. Defense attorney Gore also suggested police overlooked the possible alleged involvement in Morris' disappearance of her boyfriend, Hunter Foster, who is currently serving a 33-month federal prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute MDMA. Foster earlier testified that he was given immunity from further criminal prosecution in exchange for his testimony about Morris. Prosecutor Zeke Fortenberry told jurors who deliberated for 17 hours before reaching a verdict that they didn't have to agree on what happened to Morris to determine who abducted her. "Where is Christina Morris? We don't know," he said. "Imagine how difficult it is when you can't say goodbye? When you can't have a funeral because you don't know where her body is?" "There's only on reasonable explanation to all the facts: that the defendant is responsible for the disappearance of Christina Morris." Fortenberry added: "DNA evidence is what puts Morris in that trunk." Sept 22 (Reuters) - Texas regulators voiced "deep concern" on Thursday over some terms of NextEra Energy Inc's $18.4 billion acquisition of reorganized Energy Future Holding Corp, the owner of an 80 percent stake in transmission company Oncor Electric Delivery Co. Public Utility Commission of Texas member Kenneth Anderson Jr told a public meeting held by the regulator that the biggest issue revolves around a $275 million termination fee in the agreement. He said he planned to file a memo next week that lays out his concerns. Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Donna Nelson said she agreed with Anderson, according to a recording of the meeting published on the regulator's website. Energy Future Holding declined to comment, while NextEra did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) India has slammed Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's speech at UNGA for his Kashmir rant and called for Islamabad to be tried for its war crimes. India has slammed Pakistan for supporting extremist groups and using international aid for financing terror modules. PTI Photo By India Today Web Desk: Slamming Pakistan for glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani at the United Nations, India's senior diplomat Eenam Gambhir on Wednesday tore into Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech for his Kashmir rant, and called for Islamabad to be tried for its war crimes. Here is the full text of Gambhir's speech, now going viral, as she exercised India's Right of Reply during the general debate of the 71st UN General Assembly session: advertisement Mr President, I take the floor to exercise the right of reply in response to the long tirade of Pakistan about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. TERRORISM BIGGEST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION The biggest violation of human rights is terrorism. When practised as an instrument of state policy, it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region. Mr President, Only last week, the international community honoured the memory of thousands of innocent victims from around the world, who lost their lives not far from here in New York fifteen years ago in a most horrifying terror attack. 9/11 VICTIMS REMEMBERED The world has not yet forgotten that the trail of that dastardly attack led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan. The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. Also read: Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists The effect of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe. It is ironical, therefore, that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism. Mr President, Shortly before Pakistan gave its hypocritical sermons in this august house today, its envoy in New Delhi was summoned in the context of the most recent of the terror attacks in Uri that claimed 18 Indian lives. That terrorist attack is part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbour and tasked to carry out terrorist attacks in my country. Also read: Uri attack: Radio sets, GPS devices recovered from terrorists may hold key to investigations INTERNATIONAL AID USED TO FUND TERROR What we see in Pakistan, Mr President, is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. advertisement Terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam its streets freely and operate with State support. With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organizations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations. Mr President, Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistan is a country with a democracy deficit. In fact it practices terrorism on its own people. It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws. WON'T LET TERRORISM PREVAIL: INDIA As a democracy, India is firmly resolved to protect all our citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail. Finally, Mr President, we have heard Pakistan, whose nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit, talking about restraint, renunciation and peace. Also read: Nawaz Sharif addresses UN General Assembly, says terrorism sponsored from abroad Similar false promises it has made to us - the international community - on terrorism. advertisement Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start. I thank you Mr President. --- ENDS --- (Adds Anderson quote, background) By Jessica DiNapoli Sept 22 (Reuters) - Texas regulators voiced "deep concern" on Thursday over some terms of NextEra Energy Inc's $18.4 billion acquisition of reorganized Energy Future Holdings Corp, the owner of an 80 percent stake in electricity transmission and distribution company Oncor Electric Delivery Co. Public Utility Commission of Texas member Kenneth Anderson Jr said during a public meeting held by the regulator that the biggest issue revolves around a $275 million termination fee in the agreement. He said he planned to file a memo next week that lays out his concerns. "There are some provisions in there that raise deep concern and I wanted to get them out there," Anderson said. The conditions that trigger the breakup fee amount to an "improper attempt" to limit the commission in its duty to regulate for the public interest, he said. Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Donna Nelson said she agreed with Anderson, according to a recording of the meeting published on the regulator's website. Energy Future Holdings and NextEra declined to comment. In court papers, Energy Future said the $275 million termination fee is comparable on a percentage basis to fees in other transactions of publicly traded utility companies. Regulatory issues have dogged the bankruptcy of Energy Future, which filed in April 2014 with $42 billion in debt. It won court approval for the bulk of its operations to exit bankruptcy last month, but the Oncor stake remains in Chapter 11, with a confirmation hearing scheduled for later this year. Other plans to sell Oncor to a group of creditors and investors led by privately held Hunt Consolidated Inc of Texas collapsed last year after it hit regulatory hurdles. Hunt Consolidated and Berkshire Hathaway Inc's energy subsidiary MidAmerican Energy have both shown interest in reorganized Energy Future and its Oncor stake, according to a person familiar with the matter. Story continues Oncor, which operates the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas, is prized for its steady cash flow. When its deal to acquire the Oncor stake was announced, NextEra said it expected it would be meaningfully accretive to its earnings. The merger between NextEra and reorganized Energy Future Holdings received approval from a U.S. bankruptcy court earlier this week. They plan to soon file a joint application to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for approval of the deal, but on Thursday one had not yet been received, according to a spokesman for the Commission. (Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Meredith Mazzilli) Kristian Guerrero suffered an unspeakable loss on August 2. The then-18-weeks-pregnant 24-year-old and her husband, Fabian Guerrero-Moreno, were driving on a highway in San Marcos, Texas, when a drunk motorist in the oncoming lane collided with their Toyota Corolla. Guerrero-Moreno, who was sitting in the passenger seat, died at the scene. Two days later, after nearly 24 hours of induced labor, Kristian delivered a stillborn baby boy. Shana Lee Elliott, a 21-year-old Texas State University student, faces two charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle. When police spoke to Elliott, she admitted that prior to the accident she consumed beer and liquor while tubing on the Guadalupe River, KXAN reported in August. She remains in jail on $385,000 bond, per the Houston Chronicle. Its been nearly two months since the tragedy and Kristian says she misses her best friend every single day. Something will happen and I want to come home and tell Fabian about it, then I realize hes gone, the cosmetology student tells Us Weekly. Im living a nightmare. She continued: Every night I have to go to bed and hes not there next to me, and I just lay awake because he used to provide that feeling of security and safety. And now hes gone. A joint funeral for Guerrero-Moreno and their baby was held August 12. Kristian named the child Fabian James, after his dad. He looked just like his father, says Kristian, who was able to hold the newborn in her arms. I thought when I delivered my baby that my husband was going to be there loving on me and supporting me like he always did. That chance was taken away from us. But Kristian knows Guerrero-Moreno is watching over her. I literally walked to the ambulance. The only injury I have to deal with for the rest of my life is a scar above my right eye. And I really feel like thats for a reason. On September 8, Kristian shared two photos on Facebook: one of their totaled car, and another of herself in the hospital cradling Fabian James. Everybody has been seeing photos of our wedding and its just a beautiful couple, Kristian tells Us. I wanted people to see the hurt, the pain and all the damage that a drunk driver caused. Story continues According to madd.org, every day in America, 27 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. Related Content: It was a painful moment for Donald Trump. As he sat in his tuxedo at the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner, President Obama mercilessly mocked him as a loony conspiracy theorist. The real estate mogul, grim-faced, watched helplessly, unable to respond, while hundreds of journalists and their celebrity guests convulsed in laughter. But it may also have been a transformative moment, according to a new Frontline documentary on the presidential race, called The Choice 2016, which airs next Tuesday night on PBS. I think that is the night that he resolves to run for president, Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser and confidant, says in the film. I think that he is kind of motivated by it. Maybe Ill just run. Maybe Ill show them all. The idea that Trumps public humiliation on the evening of April 30, 2011, steeled his resolve to run for president has been raised before and disputed by Trump himself. Its such a false narrative, Trump told the Washington Posts Roxanne Roberts last April. I had a phenomenal time. I had a great evening. But The Choice marshals the evidence in a compelling way, intersplicing footage of Obamas cutting jokes and Trumps grimace with fresh interviews with others who were there, including some who are sympathetic to Trump. Omarosa Manigault, the former Apprentice star who now serves as director of African-American outreach for the Trump campaign, notes that when she talked to Trump at the start of the evening he was a guest of the Washington Post, no less he was in just such a great mood. And he was very jovial. During his speech at the White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington on April 30, 2011, President Obama watches the accompanying video poking fun at Donald Trumps presidential aspirations. (Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) But as the president kept going and going and he just kept hammering him, Trumps mood changed, she says. His face became incredibly serious. He just put on a poker face. And by the time the skewering was over, she suggests, Trump wanted payback. Every critic, every detractor will have to bow down to President Trump, Manigault says. Its everyone whos ever doubted Donald, whoever disagreed, whoever challenged him. It is the ultimate revenge to become the most powerful man in the universe. Story continues What is unmistakable, in watching The Choice, is that Obama (who, unknown to all those in the crowd, had just approved the raid that would kill Osama bin Laden) wanted his own revenge. For months, Trump had grabbed headlines with his baseless birther conspiracy theories, telling every talk show host who would listen that the president may not have been born in this country and was refusing to release his full long-form birth certificate because maybe it says hes a Muslim. I will tell you this. If he wasnt born in this country, its one of the great scams of all time, Trump can be heard in the The Choice telling Bill OReilly (to which the Fox News host replies, Absolutely!). For most in the country, and certainly virtually everybody at the correspondents dinner that night, the entire controversy was nutty. The Obama campaign in 2008 had released his short-form birth certificate showing he was born in Hawaii. Hawaiian state officials had vouchsafed its authenticity. There was even a contemporaneous notice in a Honolulu newspaper reporting Obamas Aug. 4, 1961, birth in a local hospital. (Had the birth notice been planted, the birth conspiracy theorists demanded to know. Was it a false cover so that the infant Obama could grow up and 47 years later run for president?) Finally, Obama, fed up, directed the White House to retrieve and release his full long-form birth certificate on April 27, 2011, seemingly putting the entire matter to rest. And so, at the correspondents dinner three nights later, the president was determined to have his fun at Trumps expense. No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate to rest than the Donald, Obama said in his talk that night. And thats because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter like did we fake the moon landing? Left, a video mockup that accompanied President Obamas remarks at the 2011 annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington shows what Obama said a Donald Trump White House would look like if the celebrity businessman were to win the 2012 presidential elections; right, Trump arrives for pre-parties before the dinner on April 30, 2011. (Photos: Jason Reed/Reuters, Jim Bourg/Reuters) And it didnt stop there. Obama sarcastically mocked Trump for his credentials and experience, making tough decisions as host of Celebrity Apprentice. And the idea because even then, Trump was publicly toying with running for president that he certainly would bring some change to the White House. The cameras covering the event then cut to an overhead screen showing the White House with a mock Trump White House Resort and Casino sign on it. The audience loved it, cracking up time and again at the presidents timing and delivery. But Trumps face was frozen. Hes being treated like a pinata by the president of the United States, says Tim OBrien, a Trump biographer. And I think he felt humiliated. For another Trump biographer interviewed in The Choice, it was a painful wound and a long-lasting one. Donald dreads humiliation, and he dreads shame, says Michael DAntonio, author of Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success. And this is why he often attempts to humiliate and shame other people. So in the case of the president ridiculing him, I think it was intolerable for Donald Trump. Intolerable to the point that five years later, Trump would be back nearly neck and neck in the polls, offering him a chance to put his real mark on the White House and exact the ultimate revenge. _____ FRONTLINEs The Choice 2016 premieres on PBS this Tuesday, September 27, at 9 p.m. ET and PT and 8 p.m. CT (check local listings). By Brad Marshland When the White House announced that Malia Obama would be taking a year off after high school before attending Harvard, it turned a spotlight on the idea of a gap year. And yet its not just presidential family members taking time off, and not just Harvard thats encouraging its students to consider deferring their enrollment. Academic deans and provosts around the country see the value in young adults taking the time to figure out what they want to get out of a college education before they begin that college education. Former Stanford Dean of Freshmen and author of How to Raise an Adult Julie Lythcott-Haims says, As dean, I noticed that kids whod taken some time away before coming to college were more mature than their counterparts who had come to college straight from high school. Their social behavior was that much more mature. Their ability to engage in the classroom was more mature. They had a clearer sense of What do I want to make of these four years? J.I. Cruz lived and worked as a teachers assistant in Senegal before going to American University in Washington, D.C. Real-world experience really helped me give a sense of purpose that I feel is much stronger than many grad students have when theyre graduating, says Cruz. For example, I knew that I wanted to study science, but for what reason? What do I want to investigate? Once I lived in Senegal and noticed, from a different perspective, different issues regarding our environment and waste management, I knew immediately that thats what I wanted to do with my education. Jabari Gambrel is just embarking on his gap year, and hes doing it with a similar intent: I want to major in African studies and international relations, and its extremely important for me to have direct contact with the people who Im going to be studying and hopefully policy-making for one day before I go to school. Says Joan Hanawi, who spent the better part of a year volunteering in Ecuador before going to UCLA: I came back incredibly focused. I knew what I wanted to study. I wasnt interested in partying. I wanted to have conversations; I wanted to go to class. I was like that nerd who was like Whens office hours? Story continues While a gap year may not be right for everyone, Stanford Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Richard Shaw says, We consider the gap year a very valuable experience for young people who really have an objective a mission. To be clear, taking a gap year generally does not improve ones chances for admission to a selective university. Most of the gap years are designated after admissions, says Shaw. I dont want students to take a year off before applying because they want to enhance their chances of getting in. If thats the purpose of the year off, thats unfortunate. Because Id rather have them taking a year off because its something they truly in their heart feel they want to do. The main criticism leveled at formal gap year programs is that they often dont come cheap some cost over $30,000 for a 7-to-9-month program so the young adults who take them tend to be from more privileged backgrounds. Indeed, Malia Obamas news spawned a flurry of headlines like Malia Obamas Gap Year Is Part of a Growing (and Expensive) Trend and Malia Obama taking a gap year is the ultimate sign of luxury. Abby Falik, founder and CEO of Global Citizen Year, has made it her lifes mission not just to make gap years more common but also to make them more accessible. So much of what we are advocating for at Global Citizen Year is a leveling of the playing field, a figuring out how we can provide access and opportunity to young people who wouldnt otherwise have had it. Global Citizen Year has raised over $10 million, which enables it to have a need-blind admissions policy and to support over 80 percent of their fellows with some level of need-based financial aid, with over one-third receiving fully funded scholarships. At its core, a gap year is time off between high school and college. But words like gap and time off connote a slacker mentality and conjure images of rich kids bumming around Europe on Daddys dime and less privileged kids working as baristas while they try to figure out what to do with their lives. This leads to another common criticism that gap years are an indulgent waste of time. Falik sees this as largely a branding problem. The word gap, she says, suggests that somebody is falling into a gaping hole that they may or may not come out of. Her goal is to rebrand the gap year as a bridge year, paving the way from one life stage into the next, with that sense of purpose that Shaw mentioned. Shaw also points out that one does not have to travel halfway around the world to find a volunteer opportunity: We have many of the same challenges right in our communities that other parts of the world have. Falik makes a passionate case for the bridge year with a litany of statistics, noting that the U.S. has the highest college dropout rate in the developed world: One-third of college freshmen dont come back for a second year; on average, kids are taking six years to get through four-year colleges; and for low-income kids or underrepresented groups, often first in their family to go to college, only 8 percent get a college degree by the time theyre 24 years old. On the other hand, she notes that 94 percent of our alums are on track to graduate college in four years or less. And for our low-income subset of the cohort, its 91 percent on track to graduate in four years or less, which is really extraordinary. Of course, one could argue that these numbers are skewed by the fact that this is not a randomized experiment; the students who apply to and get into programs like Global Citizen Year are already highly motivated individuals who are likely to excel wherever they go, with or without a gap-year program. Falik acknowledges that this may be true but says 95 percent of Global Citizen Year alumni cite the program as the most important input in giving them the confidence, sense of focus, and purpose that have helped them navigate their college careers successfully. Furthermore, one of Faliks missions is leadership development taking young adults with great potential, but not necessarily with great opportunity, and giving them the skills and experiences to become, well, global citizens. The challenges that we face on this one planet are global in nature whether its migration, climate change, poverty, disease. These things dont know borders, she says, adding, It has never been more important or more urgent that we are preparing a new generation of young people to be leaders and global citizens. For this years cohort of Global Citizen Year fellows, setting off for Ecuador, Brazil, India, and Senegal, the first steps onto the bridge year are thrilling. Says Kai Milici on the day just before departing for Quito: I have no idea who Im going to be when I come back. And thats the most exciting thing ever. Seattle Washington Wall Street dealmakers used to be sent to Hong Kong or London to win new business. Now they're being sent to Seattle, Atlanta, and Denver. Bank of America, JPMorgan, and Citigroup have been taking steps to do more business with midsize companies in regional centers in the US, outside the traditional hubs like New York, Houston, and San Francisco. They have moved and hired dealmakers there, and they have them focused on so-called middle-market companies. The potential rewards are significant: Middle-market companies in the US and Canada paid $8.2 billion in deal fees in 2015, according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch presentation. That's more than the fees netted in most of Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America combined. "This is a key focus for us as we have developed the other areas of our investment bank," Christian Meissner, the head of global corporate and investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, told Business Insider. "Relatively speaking, this represents a greater opportunity than some traditional avenues of growth." Local expertise Each bank cuts it slightly differently, but broadly speaking the largest multinational corporations are serviced by the corporate banking divisions within big global banks. These companies think Apple, GE, Ford, and the like have bankers crawling over them, trying to win every last piece of business they have to offer. Departure boards show some Delta flights as cancelled flights after Delta Air Lines' computer systems crashed on Monday, grounding flights around the globe, at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. August 8, 2016. REUTERS/Tami Chappell - RTSLUJF The commercial banking divisions typically serve tens of thousands of smaller (but by no means small) companies, and it is the commercial banking clients that the banks are hoping to do more business with. Story continues "The premise behind regional investment banking starts from extending relationships from the commercial bank," James Roddy, who oversees the regional investment banking and M&A business at JPMorgan, told Business Insider. JPMorgan drew up plans in 2012 to focus on middle-market banking and now has about 50 people in the investment bank dedicated to this group of clients, having hired local, senior, experienced bankers in a handful of regional centers over the past three or four years. Each location including Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC will typically have a managing director, an executive director, a vice president, and an associate on the ground. "This isn't about doing smaller deals," Roddy said. "It is working with people where we're already providing treasury services or commercial banking, and we have an opportunity to provide a full service that includes investment banking." The effort is paying off. Doug Petno, the chief executive of JPMorgan's commercial bank, cited growing investment-banking revenue from commercial banking clients at the bank's investor day in February. Revenue from this client segment hit $2.2 billion in 2015, and the bank has a long-term target of $3 billion. Screen Shot 2016 09 22 at 10.33.00 AM It's a similar story at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Many of the bank's clients told the bank they felt that it wasn't local enough and that they would get only occasional coverage from investment bankers who would fly in from New York or another major city. To remedy that, the bank has assigned about two dozen bankers over the past couple of years to focus on this segment of clients. "These are almost always existing clients of the firm," Meissner told Business Insider. "We have the commercial bank, the midmarket lending business, where we have something like 30,000 clients across the US. What's new is whereas previously they would have gotten episodic investment-banking attention, now they have a dedicated investment banker in addition to their existing relationship banker from commercial banking." Citigroup, meanwhile, is reviewing plans to put a banker in Denver as part of its energy coverage team, in addition to its existing presence in New York, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. An opportunity that was always there The opportunity to win business in these regional cities isn't new it's just that banks had been more focused chasing opportunities elsewhere. The renewed interest in less glamorous clients and locations comes at a time when many of these more exotic growth markets are slowing. Screen Shot 2016 09 12 at 3.05.50 PM The $8.2 billion fee pool for US and Canadian middle-market companies is comparable with the fees paid by companies in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific excluding Japan put together. "This isn't a new idea; it's a different approach," Meissner said. Given the challenging market conditions, any area showing growth is sure to become competitive. And sure enough, the middle-market investment-banking business is now more keenly fought over than in the past, Roddy said. "It is happening right now," he said. "People are waking up to it. We've been doing it for a while, so it is nice to be ahead of the curve." NOW WATCH: This behavior could kill your chances in a Goldman Sachs interview More From Business Insider By James Davey LONDON (Reuters) - Three former senior executives of Tesco (TSCO.L), Britain's biggest retailer, will plead not guilty to fraud and false accounting charges, their lawyers said as the men appeared in court for the first time since being charged earlier this month. Christopher Bush, 50, who was managing director of Tesco UK, Carl Rogberg, 49, who was UK finance director, and John Scouler, 48, who was UK food commercial director, were charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on Sept. 9 with one count of fraud by abuse of position and one count of false accounting. During a brief appearance at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, they spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and ages. However, lawyers for the men said their clients would plead not guilty. Judge Vanessa Baraitser said the trio would face trial at Southwark Crown Court in London and granted them unconditional bail until their next court appearance on Oct. 20. The SFO said the alleged crimes occurred between February 1 and September 23, 2014. Tesco issued a statement to the Stock Exchange on Sept. 22, 2014 saying that during its final preparations for a forthcoming interim results announcement it had identified a 250 million pound ($327 million) overstatement of first half profit, mainly due to booking commercial deals with suppliers too early. The discovery led to the suspension of eight senior members of staff including Bush, Rogberg and Scouler, saw Tesco's shares plummet and plunged the firm into the worst crisis in its near 100-year history. The profit overstatement, identified three weeks after Dave Lewis took over as chief executive from the sacked Philip Clarke, was later raised to 263 million pounds. The court clerk read to the court further details of the charges against the trio. The first charge alleges they dishonestly abused their positions as senior employees of Tesco and failed to safeguard the financial interests of the company, its investors and creditors. Story continues The clerk said they are accused of concealing that Tesco's financial accounts included improperly recognised income and/or that they failed to correct the fact that the accounts did not reflect the true financial position of the firm. The second charge alleges the three dishonestly falsified Tesco accounts or concurred in their falsification - "by the inputting of and/or reliance upon commercial income figures which gave a false account of the commercial income earned by Tesco Stores Ltd and a false account of the financial position of Tesco Plc and/or Tesco Stores Ltd." The SFO investigation into Tesco continues. When the trio were charged Tesco issued a statement saying the last two years have seen an "extensive programme of change" at the firm. It declined to comment further. (Editing by Stephen Addison and Adrian Croft) The sun has yet to rise over Lhasa, but dozens of colourfully dressed pilgrims are already gathered and reciting prayers at the entrance to Jokhang, the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism. Many of those gathered -- Tibetans and Han Chinese visitors -- say religion is flourishing under Beijing's rule, with adherents enjoying the freedoms they need to follow their faith. But this sense of freedom does not extend to the men who live inside the monasteries, analysts and monks say. Their lives and their movements are heavily regulated by a government eager to avoid any hint of disobedience in the restive region which, although technically autonomous, is tightly controlled by Beijing. "We are not free," said a 33-year-old monk from the neighbouring province of Sichuan. AFP is not naming the man. "To get into Tibet from another province, you need a certificate with your name, address and identity card number. "Everything has to be stamped by the monastery, the Bureau of Religious Affairs and the police," he said outside the Jokhang monastery. Nearby, groups of policemen -- some from Tibet itself -- are discreetly patrolling, some holding walkie-talkies and others guns. This area of the capital is calm for now, but authorities are not taking any chances. In 2008 it was the site of deadly riots which erupted following protests by monks against Beijing's rule in the region. The government clamped down after a period of violence against non-Tibetans, in particular the Han Chinese -- who remain a minority in Tibet. Faith is an integral element of Tibetan identity and nationalism and is therefore perceived as a potential threat to the authority of the Chinese state, explained Kate Saunders of the US-based NGO International Campaign for Tibet. - 'Keep your mouth shut' - Some ordinary Tibetans dismiss the idea their religious freedom is being curtailed. "I come here morning and night. I have never had any problem," the 31-year-old Tibetan taxi driver Zangmai says at the temple. Story continues "I've been praying here since I was about five or six, and one day I'll bring my son here too," he adds as he throws dried grass into a large incense burner, which belches out grey smoke. For Zhaxi Nima, a 37-year-old Tibetan pilgrim whose left leg is amputated below the knee, faith remains an integral part of his routine. "Why do I come to pray, despite my handicap? Tibetans are just like that, it's our way of life," he explains. It is not so simple for religious figures and institutions, experts say. "Temples, monasteries... Of course, they are controlled," said Jens-Uwe Hartmann, a specialist in Buddhism at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and an expert on Tibet. "What they are doing is very closely observed." If religious leaders emerge who are not approved by the Chinese Communist Party, they simply disappear, Hartmann said, adding: "So you'd better keep your mouth shut." - Cultural dilution - Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951 and insists it has brought development to a previously backward region. But many Tibetans accuse the Chinese government of exploiting natural resources, as well as promoting Han activities and business at the expense of locals and the environment. They also accuse authorities of diluting their culture and faith as a way of exerting further influence. China recently unveiled an initiative to get tens of millions more tourists to visit the region, and many of them wander through Jokhang along with the faithful. Barkhor, the road around the temple that pilgrims walk in a clockwise direction as a sign of respect, displays little Chinese flags on the first floor of buildings. The street is dotted with shops and restaurants to cater to visitors from other regions. "People's faith here is very impressive. It's not something you see anywhere else in China," says 22-year-old Peng Meng. "In the rest of China, because of the Party, countless temples were destroyed," says a young Han, miming a fist coming down on a building. "In Tibet, Buddhism is preserved," he adds, although many religious structures were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. Wang Xiaobin of the China Tibetology Research Center, an official body based in Beijing, said monks were required to use travel certificates after a wave of self-immolation which began in 2009. A total of 145 Tibetans, the majority of them monks, have set fire to themselves in the past seven years in protest against Beijing's rule and 117 of them have died, according to International Campaign for Tibet. "Most of them came from Tibet's neighbouring provinces. And the regional government is worried that some of them are coming to self-immolate in Lhasa," Wang said. "China recognises 'freedom of religious belief', not 'religious freedom'. Those are different things," he added. "Clearly one has the right to believe, but there are limits to religious activity." Lots of statements made by Nawaz Sharif at UNGA just don't add up. So we decided to fix a few things. By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday is receiving fiery criticism from Indian leaders. And why shouldn't it? Sharif talked of peace, and went on to glorify a Hizbul terrorist in the same breath; his address was riddled with lies and inaccuracies; and he had nothing to say on the Uri terror attack, which India is sure was sponsored by Pakistan. So we decided to pick up seven statements he made in that address, and debunk them with simple pictures. #1 "Our priority goal of economic development requires internal peace and stability." advertisement The government of Pakistan and nationalist militants have committed unaccountable human rights abuses in the Balochistan region, a situation highlighted by PM Modi in his Independence Day speech. Baloch community protests against Pakistani brutalities. Read | Balochistan: How PM Modi tore into Pakistan in a deliberate yet risky move #2 "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada" Burhan Wani was a self-declared commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen - an organistation identified internationally as a terror group. Burhan Wani (right) poses with a fellow militant. #3 "Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions." Map showing parts of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan. (Source: Quora) Not only has Pakistan illegally taken control of the northern territories of Indian state Jammu and Kashmir, it has even ceded a part of it to China under the 1963 Sino-Pakistan Agreement. #4 "We demand the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners; an end to the curfew; freedom for the Kashmiris to demonstrate peacefully; urgent medical help for the injured; abrogation of India's draconian 'laws'; and removal of the foreign travel ban on Kashmiri leaders." Here's proof of Pakistan's connection with separatist leaders in Kashmir: Pakistani flags being hoisted at a rally by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Watch video: Pakistani flags waved at Syed Ali Shah Geelani rally in J&K #5 "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices. The people of Kashmir have waited 70 years for implementation of this promise. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions. This General Assembly must demand that India deliver on the commitments its leaders solemnly made on many occasions." The UN resolution on Kashmir clearly states that the first step required for a plebiscite in Kashmir, is that Pakistan withdraws its troops from the state. So if Sharif is upset that the plebiscite never happened, it's his own fault considering Pakistan never the first condition. Excerpts from the UN resolution on Kashmir. Excerpts from the UN resolution on Kashmir. advertisement #6 "As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan will continue to cooperate with all international efforts that seek to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and non-proliferation challenges." Here's what Pakistan's Defense Minister told Geo News just a day before Uri attacks: "If pakistan's security is threatened we will not hesitate in using tactical (nuclear) weapons" says @KhawajaMAsif pic.twitter.com/wPR0cAH40kMuaaz Ahsan - Geo (@MuaazAhsanGeo) September 18, 2016 #7 "Pakistan has a vital stake in ending conflicts, fostering peace, fighting terrorism, strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, generating global growth and overcoming the challenges of environmental degradation." Osama Bin Laden who was hunted for 10 years for being the mastermind behind 9/11 attacks was found residing in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The compound Osama Bin Laden was staying at in Abbottabad, Pakistan. --- ENDS --- By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A "superstar" medical student at Stanford University was killed after plunging down a steep slope while climbing a nearly 14,000-foot (4,267-meter) California mountain peak, police and the university said on Wednesday. Maria Birukova, 26, slipped and fell some 800 to 1,000 feet as she sought to ascend Bear Creek Spire in the John Muir Wilderness over the weekend with her climbing partner, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office said. Her body was recovered on Tuesday. "Maria was one of our superstars," Stanford professor Dr. Paul Utz said in a statement on the university's website. "We in the program are devastated that she won't now be able to fulfill her other dream of becoming a physician-scientist." Utz said that Birukova, a native of Moscow who came to Stanford after graduating from Yale University with a degree in biomedical engineering, was an avid climber and mountaineer. "In fact, she struggled to choose whether to attend Stanford or the University of Utah for her graduate training because in Utah the mountains are so close," he said. According to the university, Birukova was awarded the Bio-X Bowes graduate student fellowship earlier this year in recognition of her groundbreaking research into the treatment of antibiotic-resistant wounds. She also served as a consulting project manager for the volunteer-run Stanford Healthcare Consulting Group and was a 2015-16 Graduate Voice and Influence Program Fellow through Stanford's Clayman Institute for Gender Research. "The medical school community has suffered a tremendous loss," Dr. Lloyd Minor, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine said. Birukova's climbing partner saw her lose her footing and fall as they were attempting to traverse the route to Bear Creek Spire on Sunday, the sheriff's department said, but by the time he reached her at the bottom of the steep chute she was deceased. Story continues Search teams attempted to recover her remains on Monday but were deterred until the following morning by high winds on the mountain, according to the sheriff's department. Bear Creek Spire is a 13,726-foot-high peak in the Sierra Nevada Mountains southeast of Yosemite. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb, editing by G Crosse) By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. general told Congress on Thursday it would be unwise to share intelligence with Russia and stressed that would not be one of the military's missions if Washington and Moscow were to ever work together against Islamist militants in Syria. The United States and Russia clinched a ceasefire deal earlier this month that held out the possibility of joint targeting of Islamic State and other militants after a cessation of hostilities and delivery of humanitarian aid. But neither the U.S. nor Russian governments disclosed details about how precisely any possible future military coordination would work between the former Cold War foes. And the ceasefire quickly collapsed, making the possibility of future U.S.-Russia cooperation look remote. Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested any such coordination at a so-called "joint integration cell" would be extremely limited. The military, he said, had no intention of forging an intelligence sharing arrangement with Russia. "I do not believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee, without elaborating. Working with Russia on targeting could risk linking Washington to any Russian misconduct in the war. The Pentagon has repeatedly accused Russia of crude bombing techniques that result in civilian casualties. The United States and Russia are on opposite sides of the 5-1/2-year-old war in which more than 400,000 people have died and 11 million displaced. Moscow backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Washington supports rebels seeking to topple him. Both countries share a commitment to defeat Islamic State militants who control parts of Syria and Iraq and have sympathizers worldwide. U.S. intelligence officials also have voiced concerns about sharing precise information on the positions of U.S.-backed rebel forces, given that Russia has targeted them in the past. Republican Senator John McCain, the committee's chairman, fiercely criticized the possibility of future cooperation and called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who brokered the ill-fated deal, "delusional" for seeking it. "It would mean that the U.S. military would effectively own future Russian airstrikes in the eyes of the world," McCain said. Advocates for the initiative have said the world has run out of good choices in Syria's war. Dunford criticized an attack on a U.N. aid convoy on Monday, calling it an "unacceptable atrocity." "I don't have the facts. What we know are two Russian aircraft were in that area at that time. My judgment would be that they did (it)," Dunford said. He said a Syrian government role could not be completely ruled out. Russia has denied involvement. Assad, in an interview with AP News, said that Russia was not behind it and suggested that "militants" and "terrorists" were to blame. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Grant McCool) Tory Lanez earns his second chart-topper on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart as "Luv" skips 3-1 in its 10th week on the airplay chart. The rise is due to a 6 percent increase in spins at the format in the week ending Sept. 18, according to Nielsen Music. Tory Lanez on Getting Signed by Justin Bieber Stations in Southern states largely support the track. Memphis' KXHT championed the track with 94 spins, while WQBT in Savannah, Georgia, played the track 93 times. The third-most spins also came from the South - WZHT, Montgomery, Alabama contributed 91 weekly plays. The new No. 1 comes one year after the Canadian act's debut on the chart, "Say It," arrived at No. 37 on the Oct. 3, 2015-dated list. It went on to spend four weeks at the top, peaking on the Dec. 26 chart. Over on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, "Luv" reaches a new peak, stepping 4-3, and logged 9.3 million streams in the week ending Sept. 15 (up 1 percent). Meanwhile, Lanez's debut set I Told You spends a fourth consecutive week in the top 10 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, rising 10-9 with 4,000 copies sold (down 26 percent). The album debuted at No. 2 on the Sept. 10 chart with 32,000 copies sold in its first week. "Fade" Flies: Kanye West leaps 39-12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (dated Oct. 1) with "Fade," following the track's release to digital retailers. The song sold 23,000 downloads in the week ending Sept. 15, also scoring a No. 5 debut on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs. Streams for "Fade" also boost it up the chart, with 6.6 million domestic weekly streams supporting the climb (up 34 percent). "Fade" is West's highest charting single as a lead artist since "All Day" (featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney) peaked at No. 6 on the March 21, 2005-dated list. The August 1, 1966 sniper massacre perpetrated by Charles Whitman from the clock tower on the University of Texas Austin Campus remains a particularly gruesome milestone in modern American history. There have certainly been far worse mass public killings in the decades since, but the Austin attack was for decades the defining example of such tragedies. 18 people, including Whitman himself, ultimately died, and it remains a defining moment for the University of Texas. The documentary Tower, using a combination of rotoscoped reenactments and archival footage, recounts the story, detailing its tragedies and the surprising heroism of those on the scene. The first trailer has been released and you can watch it now above. The film bears an interesting aesthetic to be sure, particularly the dreamlike effect, thanks to the rotoscoping, that recalls in particular Richard Linklaters A Scanner Darkly. The film has been getting rave reviews both for how it looks and how it approaches the horrific subject matter, and if you live in New York City or Los Angeles youll be able to see for yourself next month. Directed by Keith Maitland, Tower will see limited release next month, opening in NYC on October 12th at the Film Forum, and in L.A. October 14th at the Laemmle Royal. Along with the trailer, the official poster was also released check that out below. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTzNkfgM1vE&w=970&h=546] Related stories 'Enemies Within' Optioned By Killer Content For 'Tower's' Keith Maitland To Helm SXSW Documentary Winner 'Tower', About 1966 University Of Texas Mass Shooting, Sells To Kino Lorber SXSW Awards: 'The Arbalest' & 'Tower' Nab Top Film Prizes In a town of 20,000 people, a train station should not be difficult to find. But Kiruna is like that; up here, 100 miles inside the Arctic Circle, the quotidian can be surprisingly elusive. In summer, Kiruna has months of midnight sun; in winter, perpetual darkness illuminated only by the aurora borealis. A hotel nearby gets rebuilt annually, entirely of ice. Soon, the town will even have a spaceport. But not, it appears, a train station. More From Our Partners Object Lessons With half an hour before my train leaves, I try my halting Stockholm Swedish on two men unloading goods into a warehouse on the edge of town. One of them points at a bus station 50 yards away, backed by leagues of open plain. No, nothe train station, I say. Recommended: Why Do So Many Rich People Work So Much? One mile away, he responds. You have to take the bus. The mistake is mine. Anybody whos been to Kiruna knows that what youre looking for might already be elsewhere, because anybody whos been to Kiruna already knows that the most remarkable thing about Kiruna isnt the midnight sun, or the northern lights, or the ice hotel, or the spaceport. Its the fact that the town is moving. * * * Kirunas movethree kilometers east, street by street, over 17 painstaking yearsowes to the same thing that caused the town to spring up in the first place: a seam of iron ore that currently provides 90 percent of the iron for all of Europe, at a rate of more than six Eiffel Towers worth a day. More than a century after mining began, nobody knows quite how deep the seam runs. What is known is that the ore lies at an angle. For more than a century, the Luossovaara-Kiirunavaara mine has not just been getting deeper; its underground detonations have been shifting laterally, exploding rock into the gaps left behind by the extracted iron, and causing cracks to appear on the surface above. In recent years, those ominous fissures have been edging ever closer to the town. Story continues Kiruna is, quite literally, being undermined. The mine isnt going anywhere, so the town has to. There is no town without the mine and no mine without the town. Recently, I visited Kiruna to see the mine and the town it would reposition. Knowing that the sun will still be up at midnight, spending your day in the depths of a mine makes more sense than it might a few parallels south. A tour of the mine lasts almost three hours. Some people on the tour were worried about claustrophobia, and as we rode a bus down the narrow, pitch-dark tunnels into the mines bowels, the worry seemed well founded. But as we reached a depth of 540 meters, the roadway opened into a cavernous space lit with the dull glare of a midnight hospital. There was a cafe, and a visitors center, and a tour guide about to repeat the same 5,000-odd words for what might be the 5,000th time. All the numbers she shared are big: the number of years since the first spade struck rock, the number of trains that ferry the iron to the ports of Narvik and Lulea, the number of miles those trains travel, and the number of wagons hitched up behind them. The lengths are big, and the heights, and the widths, and the depths. Above all, the volume: the sheer mass of material that is blown out of this underground in any given unit of time. We were shown the living conditions of the very first miners. We were walked through the crushing and grinding processes, after which the iron is spit into the sunlight. We were given coffee. Through a muddied convex sheet of safety glass, I saw some anonymous detritus being catapulted down a shaft. In what must be one of the worlds deepest-lying cinemas, we were shown what seems suspiciously like a promotional video aimed at prospective investors. Finally, we were each given a parting gift: a small plastic bag filled with tiny balls of iron. One the way back to the center of Kiruna, the atmosphere on the bus was subdued. Maybe people were tired. But I think were all recovering from those numbers, too, pondering them as one ponders the stars. Kiruna never looked like a large place, but it now somehow looked small enough to move. Recommended: H.W.'s Unprecedented Dis of Donald Trump * * * The town and the mine live in symbiosis, says Kirunas deputy mayor, Niklas Siren. There is no town without the mine and no mine without the town. Siren is almost right. The town and the mine are indeed symbiotic: Without either one of them, the other would be pointless. But at the risk of pedantry, the town isnt there because of the mineits there because of the iron. Without the iron there would be no settlement; without the settlement, no mine. These semantics are important. To say that the mine was there to begin with is to say that the iron was waiting to be extracted. But thats not true. Siren makes the town/mine dynamic sound like an unwanted pregnancy: a relationship between equals that got out of hand, resulting in a major upheaval. It may look like that now, but it wasnt always so. In the beginning was the iron. What developed thereafter was a system of causality that the sociologist Andrew Pickering calls a dance of agency. At a certain point, the mine began to threaten the very thing it was supposed to support. Consider, as Pickering does, the Mississippi River: a behemoth that, once upon a time, fashioned its own three-foot banks of sediment. Occasionally prone to be overtopped, these natural levees by and large did a good job. But when the European settlers founded New Orleans, they decided to raise the levees. Flooding couldnt be a rarity; it needed to be impossible. But the plan didnt work. In response to the epic feats of human engineers, the water levels began to rise. And the rise has been remarkable. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pickering reminds us, first noticed that the Mississippi was suddenly 30 feet higher than the river into which it runs. They attempted to regain control of the situation by building a giant weir. But when storms hit, the weir was battered. Soon it wasnt merely the water and the levees that were rising, but costsand, with them, concerns. (And we all know what happened next.) Recommended: Seth Meyers Proves He's the Anti-Fallon The iron is Kirunas Mississippi; the mine, its artificial waterways. At a certain point, the mine began to threaten the very thing it was supposed to support. In the dance of agency, the mine took the lead; now, humans are wrestling it back. * * * Kiruna doesnt look like its about to move. There are no cranesat least not that I could see. No people in high-visibility jackets taking measurements along the streets; no piles of boxes accumulating in the central square. Behind the glass-covered balconies I imagined the people of Kiruna packing kitchen utensils, or taking picture frames from their wallsone a day, maybe one a weekin slow preparation. Thats not how it works, of course. There wont be one moving day; there will be thousands. Like a child, the town will change in increments. One day, people will look at it and notice that everything has changed, and wonder when that happenedhow it could have happened like that, all in plain sight. At one point on my visit, I sat on a terrace at a campsite overlooking the twin peaks of the mine, and my thoughts turned to lost cities, ghost towns: Prypiat, Kowloon, Atlantis. One poisoned, one disinherited, one swamped. Kiruna wont join those ranksnot for a while, anyway. The town is being moved precisely in order to avoid such tragic, fabled company. But this Kirunathe one I can see from here, under a sun that refuses to setwill be lost, chased into a new location by a proliferation of cracks. When I do find the train station, it is small, and clean, and isolated. Its not embedded yet; it hasnt been here long enough. There are tracks that disappear into the north, but not for the train that Im about to board. For todays human cargo, this is the end of the line: one among the countless extremities of Europes great, webbed hand. Its not the end of the world, but its close. In its way, its still a frontier. And because its a frontier, its vulnerable. * * * Eventually, back in my Stockholm apartment, I empty the iron balls from Kiruna into a small bowl. Dull grey spheres less than a centimeter in diameter. They look like they might be made of licorice, a popular delicacy here in Sweden. For the benefit of visitors, I wedge a little sign taped to a toothpick: Do Not Eat. Sometimes, sitting at my deskreading Pickering, perhaps, or thinking about the incomprehensible mountains of stuff we will continue to extract from the ground, and the disasters waiting to happen when we doI pluck one of the balls from the bowl and look at it for a while. The poet William Blake once conjured a world in a grain of sandand, in the very next breath, infinity in the palm of your hand. Im not so sure. The world does perhaps lie in this tiny ball of iron, but it is todays world, not tomorrows. One day, the iron below Kiruna will be exhausted, or else too costly to access. The town will not have to move again; it will sit there, abandoned, like the outposts of so many frontiers. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Donald Trump Donald Trump addressed the violence in Charlotte, North Carolina, during a speech on Thursday, saying America "desperately needs unity" to fix the country. At least nine civilians were injured and 44 were arrested during Wednesday night's riots in Charlotte, following the fatal police shooting of 43-year-old Keith Scott. Charlotte remains under a state of emergency, and the National Guard has been brought in to assist the police department in handling the protests and protecting infrastructure. "Our country desperately needs unity, and it needs the spirit of togetherness that has not only got us through our toughest times but which has lifted us up, in the past, to our greatest achievements as a nation," Trump said. "Every day, I see people of different backgrounds working together for a common good, and we need to bring that spirit to every part of our country and become one American nation, united by our shared values and principles as American citizens." The message of unity and people from different backgrounds coming together is somewhat foreign for a presidential nominee who is often criticized over what some see as divisive rhetoric, particularly against immigrants. Trump addresses unrest in Charlotte: There is no right to engage in violent disruption. https://t.co/YrKC9I1rXm MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 22, 2016 More familiar were his statements on the country being broken, and other countries taking notice. "We all have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, see things through their eyes, and then get to work fixing our wounded country," Trump said. "Many Americans are watching the unrest in Charlotte unfolding on their TV screens. Others are witnessing the chaos and the violence firsthand." He continued: "Our country looks bad to the world, especially when we are supposed to be the leader. How can we lead when we can't even control our own cities?" Story continues Trump also criticized violent protesters and said that "law-abiding African-American residents who live in these communities" would suffer the most from riots. "It is their jobs, housing markets, schools and economic conditions that will suffer and the first duty of government is to protect their well-being and safety," Trump said. "There is no compassion in tolerating lawless conduct. Crime and violence is an attack on the poor and will never be accepted in a Trump administration." He continued: "Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the violent disrupter, but to make life more comfortable for the African-American parent trying to raise their kids in peace." NOW WATCH: Trump: 'Places like Afghanistan are safer than some of our inner cities' More From Business Insider Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his promise to roll back regulations and unleash "a treasure trove of untapped energy" in the United States, but economists seriously doubt his numbers. "Producing more American energy is a central part of my plan to making America wealthy again, especially for the poorest Americans," Trump told a conference organized by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, in Pittsburgh. "It's all upside for this country. More jobs, more revenues, more wealth, higher wages, and lower energy prices," he said. "I'm going to lift the restrictions on American energy and allow this wealth to pour into our communities." The Republican presidential candidate has repeatedly claimed that he will boost economic output, create millions of new jobs and put coal miners back to work. But the windfalls Trump touts fail to take into account the real reason the coal industry is struggling, and originate from an industry-linked report whose findings rely on a forecasting model that often overstates the economic benefits of drilling, according to economists who study U.S. shale oil and gas. The Trump campaign was not immediately available for comment on Thursday, and it did not respond to a separate request for comment when CNBC first published the economists' opinions. Immigration and trade have dominated much of the policy conversation this campaign season, but the next president will take office at a crucial time for the energy industry. America's revolution in high-tech oil production has been sidetracked by and has contributed to a two-year crude price rout that has bankrupted dozens of domestic energy companies. Trump said in August that lifting restrictions on oil and gas would increase GDP by more than $127 billion, add about 500,000 jobs and increase wages by $30 billion each year over the next seven years. Those figures come from the Institute for Energy Research, a nonprofit that advocates for a free-market approach to energy. It typically casts fossil fuels as the most economic form of energy generation, promotes research that says green energy jobs are unsustainable and claims there is an "enormous volume of sensationalized, simplistic and often plain wrong information" on climate change. Story continues The IER is affiliated with the American Energy Alliance, one of a number of groups funded by a network of donors who have been marshaled to action by prominent conservatives Charles and David Koch. The brothers' Koch Industries and its subsidiaries explore for and produce oil and natural gas, market coal and operate or own 4,000 miles of oil, fuel and chemical pipelines. The Koch brothers have not endorsed Trump. The IER study does not actually attribute the gains to a lifting of restrictions, as Trump indicated, but to opening all federal lands to oil, gas and coal leasing. It is currently barred or temporarily blocked in some parts of the U.S. lower 48, the outer continental shelf, the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. To be sure, America's shale oil and gas revolution has transformed sleepy hamlets like Williston, North Dakota, into boomtowns and made millionaires of many landowners. But economists say measuring drilling's impact on GDP, wages and jobs is not as easy as Trump suggests. The IER report uses a method of forecasting called the input-output model, which is frequently used by consultants and government agencies to make projections about the effects of economic activity. But a number of economists say that model is not well-suited to predicting how more drilling will produce windfalls in other sectors, and academics are skeptical of the method because the results, or outputs, rely so heavily on the assumptions, or inputs. "This is not academic research and would never see the light of day in an academic journal. The pioneering research ... from years ago is rarely employed anymore by economists," said Thomas Kinnaman, chair of the Economics Department at Bucknell University, who reviewed the IER report for CNBC. Kinnaman said the technical assumptions used throughout the study are not "egregious," but he noted that the paper makes no attempt to weigh the environmental and social costs of opening federal lands against the benefits. Joseph R. Mason, the author of the IER study and professor of banking at Louisiana State University, acknowledged that input-output models are not published in academic journals "because economics has moved on" from the method developed by Wassily Leontief, for which he won a Nobel Prize in economics in 1973. But he said it is still a useful tool, and one that is widely utilized by the government in a wealth of economic impact studies. Further, input-output forecasts are not designed to create absolute, measurable results in the real world, Mason said. As such, they should not be compared against studies conducted after the actual activity takes place, he noted. Peter Maniloff, assistant professor of economics at the Colorado School of Mines, said the IER study is based on a questionable assumption. "The IER report assumes that policy restrictions are the major factor holding back coal, oil, and gas production," but it has more to do with straightforward economics, he said. "Domestic oil drilling on available land has dropped by three-quarters since 2014 due to low prices." U.S. drillers have slashed capital spending and laid off tens of thousands of workers to survive an oil price collapse brought on by massive oversupply. A chief contributor was surging U.S. production over the last decade as wildcatters harnessed the power of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, a method of releasing oil and gas from shale rock by pummeling it with water, minerals and chemicals. More drilling would delay rebalance and an ultimate price recovery, keeping the pressure on beaten-down American producers. Mason counters that oil prices are expected to eventually recover, and it makes sense to lease federal lands ahead of that rebound. The IER report makes similar assumptions about coal production that discount the effects of regular economic factors, according to Maniloff. "Coal production and prices have been soft due to pressure from cheap natural gas and soft international demand," he told CNBC in an email. But IER Director of Communications Chris Warren said one cannot ignore the effect of government forces on energy. Congressional research shows oil and gas production on federal lands has lagged output on state and private property, he noted. Indeed, oil and gas drillers often complain that it takes too long to get approval to drill on federal lands and too few auctions for leases have been held. Further, the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and its carbon dioxide regulations have put pressure on coal miners, Warren said. The U.S. Energy Information Administration does ascribe part of the effect of coal-fired power plant retirements to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rules, but concurs with Maniloff that the chief culprit in reduced coal consumption is that it can't compete with cheap and abundant natural gas. Of the hypothetical $127 billion in increased economic output that IER ties to scrapping restrictions, the group attributes more than half of the supposed gains, or $68 billion, to "spillover" effects into other industries. IER says, for example, that increased drilling in offshore fields "might lead to more automobile purchases that would increase economic activity in Michigan." Similarly, most of the 552,000 jobs hypothetically gained would not be directly related to the oil and gas sector. IER believes 75 percent of the employment gains would be in high-wage, high-skill employment like health care, education, professional fields and the arts. Maniloff's research into the economic effects of increased drilling show a substantial boost in employment and wages in the boomtowns where drilling takes place, and finds that most statistically significant labor gains outside the energy industry are in the construction and retail sectors. Though Maniloff acknowledges energy executives and investment bankers typically have more cash to spread around during boom times, he said it is too difficult to draw a straight line between increased activity in the oil patch and an improvement in complex urban economies. Maniloff also noted little impact on the transportation sector, which led him to believe that many of the truckers who haul water to fracking sites came from beyond the regions where drilling occurred. That reflects one of Kinnaman's findings from his study of shale gas production in Pennsylvania: Not all the windfalls remain in the regions that must deal with the pollution, noise and potential health impacts that are part and parcel of industrial activity. Mason, the IER study author, acknowledged to CNBC that he did not attempt to quantify the environmental costs of more drilling and mining, but he noted that he also left out a potential economic benefit: Oil, gas and coal production inevitably leads to environmental damage, which requires the services of remediation companies. "I know it's a perverse argument, but it is there," he said of the economic benefits that can come from environmental damage. "As economists, we're caught. ... This is not about what should be, but about what is." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has vowed to ramp up clean energy while reducing America's dependence on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Trump has vowed to throw out President Barack Obama 's hard-won Paris climate change deal. CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report. More From CNBC The Delhi High Court had on February 6 rejected the plea for giving a death sentence or enhancing life imprisonment to Vikas and his cousin Vishal to 25 years in jail without any remission. By Asian News International: The Supreme Court will on Thursday hear the plea of Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year jail term without any remission for brutally murdering Nitish Katara in 2002. Yadav has appealed for his prison term to be reduced. Yadav had made the plea for leniency yesterday, and Senior Supreme Court advocate UR Lalit appearing for the convict who is the son of former parliamentarian, DP Yadav, told a division bench of the apex court headed by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C Nagappan, that his client had already served over 14 years of his jail sentence. advertisement He also said that his client has been serving his jail sentence without parole, despite both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court granting him custodial parole several times. The division bench, which was hearing the case, then posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday to allow the state to argue its case. Senior counsel Dayan Krishnan will be appearing for the Delhi government before the apex court. The Delhi High Court had on February 6 rejected the plea for giving a death sentence or enhancing life imprisonment to Vikas and his cousin Vishal to 25 years in jail without any remission. The high court had then held that the murder of Katara, who was in love with Vikas's sister Bharati, was an "honour killing" which was done in a very "carefully planned and premeditated" manner with "extreme vengeance". The high court had decided to enhance the sentence awarded by the trial court, saying "amplitude of the gravity of the offence", "cries for the need" that they (the convicts) be "adequately punished". Also Read: No honour killing in Nitish Katara case, Yadav brothers won't hang: Supreme Court --- ENDS --- By Emily Flitter PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - Donald Trump on Thursday praised aggressive police tactics and condemned attacks on officers amid criticism of his plan to use "stop-and-frisk" tactics to reduce crime, in a speech following a second night of unrest that shook Charlotte, North Carolina. The Republican presidential nominee said drugs were "a very, very big factor" in urban unrest and that those suffering the most from the violence were "law-abiding African-American residents who live in these communities." "Crime and violence is an attack on the poor and will never be accepted in a Trump administration," Trump told an energy conference in Pittsburgh, as a room full of natural gas and coal industry executives listened in silence. "The violence against our citizens, and our law enforcement, must be brought to an end," he added. Trump has portrayed himself as the "law-and-order" candidate. Stop-and-frisk, in which police stop, question and search pedestrians for weapons or contraband, has drawn protests and successful legal challenges because it is seen as unfairly targeting minorities. At the same time, Trump has recently reached out to African-American voters as the gap in many opinion polls has narrowed between him and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. Clinton, who did not immediately respond to Trump's remarks on Thursday, has pushed for stricter gun controls to help rein in gun violence and called for the development of national guidelines on the use of force by police officers. In Pittsburgh, Trump, a New York businessman, called for better training of police and more community engagement. "If youre not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what youre watching on television at night," Trump said. "My administration will work with local communities and local officials to make the reduction of crime a top priority." Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said later in a statement that Trumps comments were not referring specifically to the violence in Charlotte, but addressing a major concern that authorities and moms across the country are raising with him, which is indiscriminate drug use and opiate addiction. The fatal police shooting of a black man sparked the protests in Charlotte, and a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday. There have also been protests in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in recent days after a fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man who a video showed had his hands in clear view at the time. A white Tulsa officer was charged with first-degree manslaughter on Thursday in the shooting. Police tactics and deadly encounters with African-Americans, many of them unarmed, have sparked protests and unrest across the country in recent years. Clinton said on Wednesday that the deaths in Charlotte and Tulsa added two more names to the list of African-American victims of police killings. Its unbearable, and it needs to become intolerable, she said. 'THEY'LL TAKE THE GUN AWAY' Trump was at an African-American church in Cleveland on Wednesday when he praised stop-and-frisk, which had triggered protests and court rulings that it was unconstitutional or required outside monitoring in cities like New York, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey. Before going to Pittsburgh, Trump was asked on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" program to define the tactic. He said: "If they see a person possibly with a gun or they think may have a gun, they will see the person and they'll look and they'll take the gun away." "They'll stop, they'll frisk, and they'll take the gun away. And they won't have anything to shoot with," he said. In Washington, White House spokesman John Earnest pointed to what he said was a contradiction in Trump's remarks. "It does raise questions that a politician would be so dogmatic about protecting Second Amendment rights (to bear arms) yet rather cavalier about protecting the constitutional prohibition against illegal search and seizure," he told a news briefing. While Trump did not mention stop-and-frisk by name in Pittsburgh, he used the speech to repeat his praise for the policing tactics fostered by former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, now a major Trump supporter, who promoted the practice. Trump again credited policing under the Republican mayor with reducing crime in the candidate's hometown. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio rejected that argument on Thursday, warning Trump against embracing a tactic that would worsen relations between police and the minority community. De Blasio attributed the sharp drop in crime to another strategy adopted by Bill Bratton, the city's longtime police commissioner, who retired less than a week ago. Bratton championed the "broken windows" policing strategy that emphasizes pursuit of crimes no matter how minor. In his resignation letter, he attributed the decline in crime in New York, the nation's most populous city with 8.5 million people, to additional officers and an emphasis on building bonds within neighborhoods. De Blasio, who supports Clinton, said in an interview with CNN that Trump "should really be careful because if we reinstitute stop-and-frisk all over this country, you would see a lot more tension between police and community." (Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney) This years grueling U.S. presidential campaign has had the occasion to discuss the Ku Klux Klan, Tim Kaine, and Don King, but not the K-word that every citizen of South Asia instantly knows by shorthand: Kashmir. In all likelihood, Americans will soon recognize this as a costly omission. Whoever wins the White House in November will likely be forced, early in his or her administration, to address a crisis that is quickly coming to a head one involving jihadi terrorism, nuclear weapons, and military conflict, with the potential to unsettle American allies and interests across Asia. Kashmir is the unresolved business of Indias bloody partition in 1947, when the departing British colonialists carved out the new nation-state of Pakistan for the Muslims of the subcontinent. A large part of Muslim-majority Kashmir remained a part of India while Pakistan seized a smaller portion, leaving it as a major bone of contention and the site of multiple wars between the two countries. Seventy years have passed, but there is no end in sight to the India-Pakistan rivalry to reclaim the whole of the territory. The root causes of the present crisis in Kashmir are political changes outside that restive region. Pakistan has always been a conventionally smaller power than India, but in recent years it has seen its neighbors economic and diplomatic power grow rapidly, especially relative to its own stagnation. Pakistan has tried to stay relevant by using all means to up the ante against Indian control of Kashmir. In the past two months, there has been a sustained separatist upheaval in Indian-administered Kashmir, with street battles between alienated local Muslim youth who demand secession or integration with Pakistan and Indian security forces in riot-control gear. On Sept. 18, four heavily armed jihadi militants ambushed an Indian Army camp in the Kashmiri town of Uri, near the Line of Control separating the region between India and Pakistan, and killed 18 soldiers. It was the worst such cross-border incident in years. Story continues An outraged Indian government rightly believes the civilian unrest and armed extremist attacks in Indian Kashmir are the handiwork of the Pakistani intelligence and military. Most of the world tends to agree. Islamabads efforts to raise the Kashmir problem in international forums are mostly being met with shrugs and snubs. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appointed nearly two dozen emissaries to lobby world capitals to galvanize opposition to Indias occupation of Kashmir and has also been ratcheting up mentions of the K word at the U.N. General Assembly but to no avail. Most of the international community, barring some countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, is saying that if Kashmir matters at all, it is not as a freedom struggle but as a flash point for jihadis acting on Pakistans behest. But the U.S. presidential contenders seem not to be moved by the present crisis at all. India and Pakistan, governments and citizens alike, have been scrutinizing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, for signals of how they would fashion their South Asia policies. The Democratic Partys platform promises to maintain President Barack Obamas definite tilt toward India the worlds largest democracy, a nation of great diversity, and an important Pacific power while continuing to apply pressure on Pakistan to deny terrorists sanctuary on its soil. The Republican Partys platform echoes similar sentiments to its counterpart by calling India a geopolitical ally and a strategic trading partner while wryly noting about Pakistan that a working relationship is necessary, though sometimes difficult. Republicans also call for ridding the region of the Taliban and securing Pakistans nuclear arsenal, highlighting American anxieties about Islamabads status as a sponsor of jihadis and host to the worlds fastest-growing nuclear weapons arsenal. This is all part of a tendency by the U.S. government to view India and Pakistan primarily as potential partners that can serve American interests in Asia, with India considered the preferred alternative and Pakistan seen as a problem to be managed. Washington favors abstracting from the Kashmir crisis in service of its own regional interests, rather than addressing it in specific terms. But to that extent, its approach to crisis diplomacy there has not kept pace with events. The United States still feigns a studied neutrality in Kashmir, when it should be actively intervening in a way to clear a path for its deepening alliance with India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been leveraging the countrys soft and hard power to isolate Pakistan on Kashmir. Yet, as the Uri attack demonstrated, marginalizing Pakistan on Kashmir is not enough to shut down Islamabads jihadi proxies or mitigate civilian disenchantment in Indian-administered Kashmir. Moreover, Modi is sensitive enough to public opinion in India that he feels compelled to retaliate each time Pakistani-trained jihadis cross over the Line of Control and perpetrate brutal violence on Indian soldiers and civilians. Options including the hot pursuit of terrorists inside Pakistani territory and the assassinations of jihadi leaders are not off the table in New Delhi. All of which suggests the Kashmir crisis will get much hotter in the time ahead. Already, the Indian prime minister has delivered a tit-for-tat blow to Islamabad by mounting a diplomatic and unmentioned covert action strategy to support anti-Pakistani separatists in the war-torn Pakistani province of Baluchistan. The Pakistani military establishment, for its part, has traumatic memories of the Indian military intervention that severed Pakistan in 1971 and birthed the new nation of Bangladesh. Modis strategy of hitting Pakistan where it hurts, i.e., in regions where the states control is shaky, is bound to have a reflex reaction in the form of intensified Pakistani-inspired protests and attacks in Indian Kashmir. It would be an understatement that matters in Kashmir are coming to a head after a few years of quiet. A relatively weakened and cornered Pakistan, like North Korea, is also a more dangerous Pakistan. Somethings going to give, and when it does, it wont just be Kashmir on the line. Another full-scale or quasi-war over Kashmir is sure to have spillover effects, as India and Pakistan are both nuclear-armed and share a tense international border, along which the populous provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan lie. Hopes of containing the Taliban in Afghanistan will be set back if Pakistan returns to total war with India, since Islamabad would view domination over Kabul via a resurgent Taliban as necessary for strategic depth with respect to India. Kashmir is a trigger for mayhem in South Asia. Clinton and Trump cannot ignore this tinderbox. The winner of their contest will have to find a way to tamp down the terrorism emanating from Pakistan that has made Kashmir a simmering hotbed. But assuaging the interrelated fears and concerns of both Pakistan and India will require sustained American strategy not the diplomatic cliches devoid of substance that have long marked Washingtons policy prescriptions. Whats clear is that Pakistan would like formal U.S. mediation on the territorial dispute in Kashmir, which is precisely what India will not countenance. Creative diplomats, however, can create confidence-building measures to help break that impasse. If a President Clinton or Trump uses civilian and military aid as a lever to pressure Pakistan to have its jihadi allies in Kashmir cease their attacks, Modi can then be persuaded to ease the massive Indian military presence that antagonizes civilians in Kashmir and can encourage more democratic administration in the restive region. By pressing Pakistan to abandon its proxy war in Kashmir and reduce its hostility toward India, Obamas successor can meet Americas bigger need for a strong Indian strategic partner that can counterbalance China in Asia. But that will first require that he or she diagnoses early on the true roots of the current Kashmir crisis and realizes that it is building up to explode. Photo credit: TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images A volunteer coordinator for Donald Trumps presidential campaign in Ohio resigned on Thursday afternoon after the Guardian published a video interview in which she said there was no racism until President Obama came into office and that black people whove struggled to succeed since the 1960s have no one to blame but themselves. If youre black and you havent been successful in the last 50 years, its your own fault, Kathy Miller, chair of the Republican nominees campaign in Mahoning County, Ohio, said in the interview. Youve had every opportunity, it was given to you. Youve had the same schools everybody else went to, Miller continued. You had benefits to go to college that white kids didnt have. You had all the advantages and didnt take advantage of it. Its not our fault, certainly. She added: I dont think there was any racism until Obama got elected. We never had problems like this. Now, with the people with the guns, and shooting up neighborhoods and not being responsible citizens, thats a big change, and I think thats the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America. Miller subsequently apologized for her remarks. My personal comments were inappropriate, and I apologize. I am not a spokesperson for the campaign and was not speaking on its behalf, she said in a statement. I have resigned as the volunteer campaign chair in Mahoning County and as an elector to the electoral college to avoid any unnecessary distractions. Her resignation comes as Trump continues his attempted outreach to African-American voters in crucial swing states like Ohio. At a Fox News town hall focused on black issues in Cleveland on Wednesday night, Trump proposed that police departments launch or reinstate controversial stop and frisk policies in high-crime cities like Chicago. Trump gave a grim assessment of black neighborhoods at a rally in North Carolina the night before. Our African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape that theyve ever been in before, ever, ever, ever, he said. Story continues Trump began his pitch to Ohios black voters last month. What the hell do you have to lose? Trump said at a rally before a predominantly white crowd in Akron on Aug. 22. Give me a chance. Ill straighten it out. Hillary Clinton and her fellow Democrats have been critical of Trumps remarks. You may have heard Hillarys opponent in this election say that theres never been a worse time to be a black person, Obama said at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner in Washington on Saturday night. I mean, he missed that whole civics lesson about slavery and Jim Crow. He says we got nothing left to lose, Obama continued, so we might as well support somebody who has fought against civil rights and fought against equality, and who has shown no regard for working people for most of his life. Well, we do have challenges, but were not stupid. Its time to anticipate Donald J. Trump in the Oval Office in just the sort of fashion such a scene demands a comic strip. In TRUMP, the Presidency, OZY explores how a President Trump might make America great again. Watch for our latest installment every Thursday. In this second volume The Great Wall of America labor problems threaten to derail President Trumps first big domestic project. In our first volume Congress, Youre Fired President Trump precipitated a constitutional crisis after the Senate refused to confirm his rather unorthodox pick for the Supreme Court. Panel1 ep2 Panel2b ep2 Panel3 ep2 Panel4 ep2 Panel5 ep2 Panel6 ep2 Related Articles Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Thursday that the white and black communities could use more spirit between them. It just seems that theres a lack of spirit between the white and the black. I mean its a terrible thing that were witnessing. You are seeing it. Im seeing it, Trump said. He made this reflection during a Fox & Friends interview, in which he was asked about the ongoing turmoil in Charlotte, N.C. A second night of protests hit the city in the aftermath following the fatal shooting of Keith Scott by a police officer on Tuesday. Multiple officers have been injured in the protests, and one person was left on life support after being shot during Wednesdays demonstrations. Police said it was the result of a civilian on civilian confrontation. Slideshow: Protests erupt after deadly police shooting in Charlotte, N.C. >>> Some Charlotte residents feel Scotts shooting fits a pattern of police violence against black men, although the officer who shot Scott is also black, the Charlotte Observer reported. Authorities say Scott had a gun, which was found at the scene; his family says he was unarmed. Well, its, Wow, here we go again, Trump said on Fox News when asked for his thoughts on the Charlotte situation. Its very sad. When you look at whats going on, its very sad. Its very divided, our country. And its getting worse, so Im not overly surprised to see it. But its happening. Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP) The day before, Trump said he was more disturbed by another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, whom authorities say was unarmed. The attorney of the Tulsa, Okla., officer who shot Crutcher said the officer believed he was reaching for a gun when she opened fire at the end of last week. That man was hands up. That man went to the car, hands up. To me, it looked like he did everything youre supposed to do, Trump said, describing a video of the Tulsa incident. He looked like a really good man. Story continues Slideshow: Terence Crutcher fatally shot by Tulsa, Okla., police officer >>> Since he secured the GOP nomination, Trump has been softening some of his strident rhetoric and positions on racial issues. For example, while his comments Thursday were sympathetic to protesters, during the primary, Trump said the Black Lives Matter movement was looking for trouble. And he has muddled his vow to deport all of the estimated 11 million people who illegally immigrated to the U.S. During his Fox & Friends interview, Trump also called for bringing the NYPDs controversial stop-and-frisk program which was curtailed in New York City and ruled unconstitutional by a judge to Chicago. Most of the people frisked by the NYPD during the program were black and Latino. Some people think thats a great idea. And some people probably dont like it. But when you have 3,000 people shot and so many people dying, I mean, its worse than some of the places were hearing about like Afghanistan, he said. I think Chicago needs stop-and-frisk, he added. For her part, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said the police-involved shootings in Tulsa and Charlotte highlighted an intolerable situation. We have two names to add to a long list of African Americans killed by police officers. Its unbearable, and it needs to become intolerable. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 21, 2016 Istanbul (AFP) - Two rockets launched from an area in Syria held by Islamic State (IS) jihadists slammed into the centre of a Turkish border town Thursday, injuring nine people including children and prompting the army to strike back in retaliation. The first rocket hit a market area in the centre of the Turkish border town of Kilis, shattering windows and causing panic. Seven people -- six children and one adult -- were wounded, said Kilis governor Ismail Catakli, quoted by Turkish media. The adult, aged 34, was said to be in a serious condition. The youngest of the children wounded is a 10-month old baby and the oldest just 13, the Dogan news agency said. All those wounded were refugees from the war in Syria, who now make up over half of the town's population. Shortly afterwards, a second rocket hit the town, wounding two people, one Syrian and one Turk, NTV television said. The strikes come one month into an unprecedented incursion into Syria by Turkish forces aimed at rooting IS jihadists and Kurdish militia from the border area. The necessity of ending cross border rocket strikes like the latest attacks on Kilis was one of the reasons given by the government for the operation. Following the rocket strikes, the Turkish army said it shelled IS targets in Syria 64 times and also launched air strikes on two IS positions inside Syria from where the rockets had been launched. "Many Daesh (IS) terrorists in the area were neutralised," it said in a statement, without elaborating further. Kilis has come under repeated attack from rocket fire from Syria in the last months, with 22 people killed, over half of them Syrian refugees. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish fighter jets hit Islamic State targets in Syria following a second rocket attack on the border town of Kilis on Thursday, and many militants were "neutralized", security sources said. At least seven people were wounded in the attacks, several of them children, security sources and officials said. Kilis, which is on the border with Syria, has been a frequent target for Islamic State rockets this year. (Reporting by Nevzat Devranoglu and Can Sezer; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) By PTI: Mumbai, Sep 22 (PTI) Normal to heavy rainfall has disrupted normal life in the city in the last 48 hours with the weatherman predicting rainfall at regular intervals in the next 24 hours. From Wednesday 8 AM to 8 AM this morning, the island city recorded 84.7 mm rainfall, western suburbs recorded 95.89 mm, while eastern suburbs registered 76.27 mm rainfall, according to civic body weather stations. advertisement "Heavy to very heavy rainfall at regular intervals are likely to occur at one or two places in the city today," a senior official at Met Department, Mumbai regional office, said. The official informed that other parts of the state have also recorded adequate rainfall. According to Met department figures, weather station at Dahanu Road recorded 111.5 mm rainfall, Alibaugh 72.8 mm, Ratnagiri 38.9 mm, Mahabaleshwar 106.2 mm, Harnail 218.9 mm, Nashik 11 mm and Satara 25.4 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. According to an official attached to Disaster Management Control Room at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), no untoward incident was reported so far including instances of water logging. Met department has also issued high tide warning at 3:56 PM and 10:11 PM today. Meanwhile, the steady spell of rains has resulted in full supply stocks of water in all the seven reservoirs which supply water to Mumbai city. "We are happy to inform that all lakes have reached upto the full supply level (FSL) marks and we wont be having water scarcity for entire year," said a senior official of BMCs Hydrological department. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) Sudhir Naik said transport services under BEST and suburban rail services were running normal and no major water logging was reported in the metropolis. However, traffic snarls on few routes in the city was experienced due to rains. PTI APM ARS DV --- ENDS --- Screen Shot 2016 09 22 at 11.24.43 AM Twitter briefly suspended USA Today columnist Glenn Reynolds better known as Instapundit over a tweet he posted in reference to the unrest in Charlotte on Wednesday evening. Reynolds manually retweeted a local television affiliate reporting that protesters had stormed a highway and blocked traffic. Run them down, the conservative personality wrote. Twitter suspended his account soon after and only restored access under condition the offending tweet would be removed, Reynolds wrote when he was permitted back on the social-media platform. Twitter has unblocked my account on condition of deleting the offending tweet. I've done so, but it's here, he tweeted, linking to a copy of his original tweet on a website. I don't want to be accused of airbrushing. Earlier, the USA Today columnist and University of Tennessee law professor defended the tweet on his popular blog. Sorry, blocking the interstate is dangerous, and trapping people in their cars and surrounding them is a threat, he wrote. Driving on is self-preservation, especially when weve had mobs destroying property and injuring and killing people. But if Twitter doesnt like me, Im happy to stop providing them with free content. Reynolds also discussed the incident with conservative radio-talk-show host Hugh Hewitt: HEWITT: Now let me do what I did with Donald Trump last week, ask you to expand. I think I know what you meant. If you are threatened, you can defend yourself. Is that what you meant, Glenn Reynolds? REYNOLDS: Yeah, Ive blogged about that before where weve had other interstates blocked and people surrounded by mobs. Ive always said I would just keep driving. HEWITT: And so do you regret being pithy? Might you have said something along the lines of if threatened, you can run them down? REYNOLDS: I mean, I guess, although I, you know, its Twitter. Pithy is what you do on Twitter, and you sort of expect people to figure out what youre saying from context. Story continues HEWITT: Do you expect Twitter to shut off your opportunity to expand, expound, and argue, maybe even apologize if people are offended and you believe its legit? But theyve cut you off. Thats what I dont understand. How can they cut you off? REYNOLDS: Well, I guess its just a button they push. I dont really know. They seem to have been doing this to a lot of people lately. And you know, if I were a cynic, I would say that this is sort of an effort to shape the media battle space between now and the election by silencing voices. And you know, if I were a cynic, thats certainly what Id think was going on. HEWITT: If you had it to do over again, would you post the same tweet? REYNOLDS: Oh, I dont know, maybe, maybe not. Probably not. Its got me on the radio with you this morning talking about it instead of having my normal morning. HEWITT: Yeah. REYNOLDS: But I have to say I dont apologize for the sentiment. I think that this tactic of blocking people on the interstate and surrounding cars is itself violent. It is threatening. It is not peaceful protest, and it should not be permitted. HEWITT: Do you think that the University of Tennessee will yield to the pressure, which is already mounting, to somehow punish you? REYNOLDS: I have no idea. Ive heard nothing from anybody. Twitter has come under fire from free-speech advocates in recent months as it tries to cut down on abuse from individuals using the platform. Milo Yiannopoulos, a conservative provocateur, was permanently banned from the social-media service in July over tweets he published about "Ghostbusters" actress Leslie Jones. NOW WATCH: DATA SCIENTIST: There's an easy way to tell if one of Trump's tweets came from him or his campaign More From Business Insider San Francisco (AFP) - Twitter saw a jump in official requests to remove posts in the first half of this year, the company said Wednesday. Removal requests were up 13 percent, with the largest volumes coming from Turkey and Russia, which have historically led the pack asking Twitter to get rid of content, according to a transparency report released by the US-based social media firm. The requests typically concerned content deemed illegal by local law, Twitter said. Its report did not detail whether efforts to prevent extremists from using the platform to spread violent messages were a factor in the requests. Overall, Twitter received 4,434 requests for content removal from governments or police agencies during the first half of this year. There were an additional 761 court orders, according to the report. The requests targeted a total of 20,594 accounts targeted, with no action taken on 15,195 of them, Twitter said. Officials in Turkey made 2,493 of the requests, while 1,601 came from Russia, it added. Requests came from 37 countries, with the United States making 98 requests, of which one were granted, the report said. However, the United States led when it came to government requests for information about Twitter accounts. It made 2,520 account information requests, getting at least some of what it asked for in 82 percent of cases. "As Twitter, Inc. is based in San Francisco, California, the majority of global government requests for account information we receive continue to come from the United States," the report noted. The "top requesters" in the US were the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service and the New York County District Attorneys Office. Japan was second when it came to asking for information, accounting for 732 of the overall 5,676 requests. Britain, France and Turkey rounded out a list of the top five countries requesting Twitter information. Twitter noted a spurt in requests from Belgium, saying the rise was related to extremist attacks there early this year. Story continues The US National Security Agency chief said last week that he was "perplexed" over Twitter's move to block US intelligence from accessing data that may help thwart violent attack plots. NSA director Admiral Michael Rogers made the comments at a congressional hearing in response to Senator John McCain's criticism of Twitter for refusing access to a real-time analytics service called Dataminr. Twitter has said it allows both government and business to use the data as long as it is not for "surveillance" purposes. Twitter, which owns a stake in Dataminr, did not want to appear to be too close to US intelligence, media reports have said. "Due to privacy concerns, we have not authorized Dataminr or any third party to sell data to a government or intelligence agency for surveillance purposes," Twitter said in a released statement at the time. A protester stands on a car in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday. (Jason Miczek/Reuters) Twitter temporarily suspended the account of a conservative blogger and law professor Wednesday following a tweet that appeared to urge motorists to run over demonstrators blocking traffic in Charlotte, N.C. The suspension occurred during the second night of protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man. Glenn Reynolds, a University of Tennessee law professor and USA Today columnist who created the popular Instapundit website, retweeted a link to local news report of protesters stopping traffic along I-277 along with a three-word message: Run them down. The tweet sparked immediate outrage on Twitter, with several users urging both the paper and school to reprimand Reynolds. @UTKLaw are you aware of the statement that Glenn Reynolds made? https://t.co/4N8MLYDZym Amber Dawn (@Amber_Aquarius) September 22, 2016 Twitter reinstated Reynolds account on Thursday afternoon. Story continues Twitter has unblocked my account on condition of deleting the offending tweet. I've done so, but it's here:: https://t.co/DDkZd2el6Y Instapundit.com (@instapundit) September 22, 2016 A spokesman for Twitter said the company would not comment on individual accounts for privacy and security reasons, but pointed to a rule that prohibits abusive behavior: Violent threats (direct or indirect): You may not make threats of violence or promote violence, including threatening or promoting terrorism. Sorry, blocking the interstate is dangerous, and trapping people in their cars is a threat, Reynolds wrote in a blog post on Thursday morning. Driving on is self-preservation, especially when weve had mobs destroying property and injuring and killing people. Reynolds continued: Ive always been a supporter of free speech and peaceful protest. I fully support people protesting police actions, and Ive been writing in support of greater accountability for police for years. But riots arent peaceful protest. And blocking interstates and trapping people in their cars is not peaceful protest its threatening and dangerous, especially against the background of people rioting, cops being injured, civilian-on-civilian shootings, and so on. I wouldnt actually aim for people blocking the road, but I wouldnt stop because Id fear for my safety, as I think any reasonable person would. Run them down perhaps didnt capture this fully, but its Twitter, where character limits stand in the way of nuance. I dont even know that this is why I was suspended, as Ive heard nothing from Twitter at all, he continued. They tell users and investors that they dont censor, but they seem awfully quick to suspend people on one side of the debate and awfully tolerant of outright threats on the other. Reynolds added: Twitter can do without me, as I can certainly do without Twitter. ____ Slideshow: Protests erupt after deadly police shooting in Charlotte, N.C. >>> Two fans in the crowd at a concert headlined by T.I. at Irving Plaza in Manhattan on May 25 are suing the venue and its owner, Live Nation, according to a report from TMZ. The two allege they were trampled in a panic caused by gunshots in the backstage area that left one person dead and three people wounded, including Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave. How Did the Irving Plaza Shooting Happen? 'A Man Had a Beef and a Gun' The report says both fans were left with "serious" injuries and mental anguish from the stampede of people rushing out of the venue after shots were fired. The suit alleges the venue is at fault for not screening attendees thoroughly enough, a situation that allowed the gun to be brought into the venue in the first place. Neither fan was among those wounded in the actual shooting. Troy Ave's bodyguard, Ronald "Banga" McPhatter, was killed in the shooting that erupted after a fight broke out in the green room of the venue, during which Troy and two others were also shot. In the ensuing moments, surveillance video allegedly shows Troy walking out into a hallway on a balcony in the backstage area and firing a gun; attorneys for the rapper have insisted that the 11-second clip does not show the whole story and that Troy (real name: Roland Collins) and McPhatter were the real victims. Troy Ave Suing Irving Plaza & Live Nation Over 'Negligence' in Security Measures Police are currently investigating the incidents in the green room and in the hallway separately. No arrests have been made in the green room situation; Troy was arrested and charged with attempted murder for the hallway incident and was released on $500,000 bond on July 11. On Aug. 8, Troy's attorneys announced that he was suing Irving Plaza and Live Nation over negligent security measures. Both a rep for Live Nation and lawyer Vincent Provezano, the attorney for the two fans in the new lawsuit, did not return requests for comment. By Humphrey Malalo NAIROBI (Reuters) - Two policemen are missing after Somali Islamists attacked a police base in northeastern Kenya early on Thursday, a police spokesman said, the latest in a string of cross-border raids by the al Shabaab militia. Fighters in two Landcruisers attacked the patrol base "but the officers in the camp managed to repulse them amid (a) fierce exchange of fire," said a statement from police spokesman George Kinoti. One policeman was wounded and two were missing, he said, adding that one attacker was killed. Al Shabaab claimed the attack in Kenya's Garissa County. "We attacked a police station in a small town near Garissa last night," al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters by phone. Al Shabaab have repeatedly attacked Kenya, saying it is in retaliation for Kenyan troops entering Somalia in 2011 in a bid to secure the porous border between the two nations. Somalia has been ravaged by war since 1991. Al Shabaab, which once ruled most of the country, wants to topple the Western-backed government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. (Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Andrew Heavens) One market offers yields of up to 6.02%. Despite the uncertainties the recent Brexit may bring to the economy of United Kingdom, Singaporean investors still have their eyes on UK properties, particularly in Manchester and Liverpool. According to a report by IP Global, there is an ongoing investment surge in the two UK metropolitan sites. The report noted that Manchester currently has the strongest property market outside London, with its rental yields at 6.02%. Fueled up with expected increase in employment in the next five years, the lively residential market in the city might see demand from the 2.5 million strong population. Meanwhile, Liverpool's average private rents were at a high 11% in 2015 and is forecast to increase further to 22% in the next four years. IP Global Director Mei Sha said despite any initial apprehension following the vote to leave EU, the UK has remained a safe haven for overseas property investors. For Singaporean investors, Manchester and Liverpool offer very attractive rental yields. Weve seen interest in Manchester increase by 25% compared to this quarter last year...I am confident this trend will continue further and expand to cities such as Liverpool, she said. More From Singapore Business Review Airbus A350 XWB jet The World Trade Organization turned up the heat on Europes aerospace industry today by ruling that Airbus was continuing to benefit from whats now estimated at $22 billion in subsidies from the European Union and its member countries. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman hailed the decision as a sweeping victory in a dispute that has been simmering for more than a decade, with the Boeing Co. cast as the principal victim of Airbus subsidies. This long-awaited decision is a victory for fair trade worldwide, and for U.S. aerospace workers in particular, Dennis Muilenburg, Boeings chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. Both of Washington states U.S. senators and several House members praised the development as well. The WTOs latest action marks one more step toward imposing retaliatory trade sanctions that could amount to as much as $10 billion a year. However, U.S. trade officials acknowledge that there are likely to be further appeals and deliberations over the months and years ahead. Speaking on background with reporters, they said they hoped the ruling would bring European officials to the negotiating table for a resolution of the long-running Boeing-Airbus dispute. In addition to the U.S. governments complaints about Airbus subsidies, the WTO has been considering the European Unions complaints about Boeing subsidies including $8.7 billion in tax breaks that Washington state provided to get Boeing to build its 777X jet in Everett. The WTO is expected to rule on how well the U.S. is complying with limits on subsidies sometime next year, and theres a chance the ruling will go against the federal government. But even if that happens, trade officials argue that Europes subsidies are much more egregious. The global trade organizations compliance panel found that the European Union as well as Germany, France, Britain and Spain were continuing to flout previously mandated restrictions on subsidies, primarily by providing launch aid for new airplane models. Such aid generally takes the form of loans made to Airbus on terms that are more advantageous than whats available commercially. Story continues Todays report confirmed the WTOs previous rulings that European countries provided $15 billion in launch aid for Airbus jet models ranging from the A300 through the A380, plus $2 billion in other subsidies. In an added twist, the WTO found for the first time that Airbus received almost $5 billion in launch aid for its superjumbo A350 XWB. The compliance report determined that Boeing lost tens of billions of dollars in sales because of the subsidies. Those lost sales included 271 Boeing 737s due to the A320 subsidies. Fifty lost sales in the twin-aisle market, which includes the 767, 777 and 787, were attributed to European subsidies to the A330, A340 and A350 XWB. And the A380 subsidies were blamed for 54 lost sales of Boeing 747 jets. In a previous ruling, the WTO said that without the subsidies, Airbus would not have existed and there would be no Airbus aircraft on the market. Todays report upheld that view, sparking sharp comments from J. Michael Littig, executive vice president and general counsel at Boeing. The World Trade Organization has now found that Airbus is and always has been a creature of government and of illegal government subsidy, he said. The day of reckoning for launch aid has finally arrived. However, the European Union took issue with that interpretation. An important win for the EU is that the panel rejected new U.S. claims that repayable support for the Airbus models A350 XWB and A380 are prohibited subsidies,' the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal quoted an EU spokesman as saying. Airbus said only tiny tweaks would be required to bring its launch aid arrangements into full compliance. Almost 80,000 employees work for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, accounting for a little more than half of total Boeing workforce. Most of those employees live in Washington state, and Boeings jet manufacturing operations in Everett and Renton support hundreds of smaller suppliers in the region. For that reason, politicians from Washington state were among the first to hail todays WTO action. Heres a sampling of the comments: Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.: This ruling is so important to my home state of Washington and to all the American workers who show up every day in this country to build world-class products. When other countries get away with breaking the rules, it puts our industries and so many family-wage jobs up and down the supply chain at risk. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.: This is the largest trade ruling from WTO in history and they have sided with U.S. manufacturers. The $22 billion in unfair trade subsidies to Airbus from the Europeans are illegal and must stop. This is a huge victory for Northwest aerospace workers who have been building world-class airplanes for years. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash: Todays announcement confirms what the U.S. has suspected for some time: that the European Union was unfairly subsidizing Airbus at the expense of American companies and workers including many in my district. I will continue to work so that American workers get a fair shot and so that U.S. trading partners who break the rules are held accountable. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash.: Todays confirmation that the EU continues to illegally subsidize aircraft and must be held accountable is not only a huge victory for the United States and the over 260,000 workers employed by the aerospace industry in my home state of Washington, but it is a win for the rule of law and for all those who believe that trade rules are critical to empowering U.S. workers and consumers to compete in the 21st-century economy. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash.: This ruling is a major win for Washington workers, who deserve equity in a competitive global marketplace. More from GeekWire: By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has again thrown out a $3 billion lawsuit by investors in two "feeder funds" that sent money to Bernard Madoff, one of the largest lawsuits tied to his Ponzi scheme, after her original dismissal had been overturned. In a 145-page decision released on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts in Manhattan said the investors lacked standing to pursue all 28 claims against Tremont Group Holdings Inc and other managers, consultants, administrators and auditors for Kingate Global Fund Ltd and Kingate Euro Fund Ltd. Applying the laws of Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, Batts said the investors' claims overlapped those belonging to the funds themselves, and that letting them go forward could result in a "double recovery" from the defendants. "Plaintiffs have not alleged sufficient wrongdoing on the part of the defendants that would incapacitate the funds from bringing their claims, as is required," Batts wrote. The decision is dated Wednesday. It was issued 17 months after the federal appeals court in Manhattan revived the case, saying a 1998 federal law meant to thwart abusive securities litigation did not preclude the lawsuit. Investors accused the Kingate funds of investing $1.73 billion with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC from 1994 to 2008. They said the value of these investments had grown to more than $3 billion, based on account statements from Madoff now known to be bogus, by the time the con man's Ponzi scheme was uncovered in December 2008. In her decision, Batts said 10 of the 28 claims were precluded under the 1998 law, and there was not enough evidence supporting eight claims. She said the final 10 claims, including gross negligence, did not exist under Bermuda and British Virgin Islands law. Batts previously dismissed the case in March 2011. Seth Schwartz of law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom representing Tremont said the decision "finally lays to rest the numerous claims" brought by the investors. Story continues David Barrett, a Boies, Schiller & Flexner lawyer representing the investors, said his clients are reviewing their next steps. "We are gratified that the court ruled in our favor on some issues," he said. Litigation by Madoff feeder fund investors is separate from litigation by Irving Picard, a court-appointed trustee who has recouped $11.22 billion for investors with Madoff himself. Madoff, 78, is serving a 150-year prison term. The case is In re: Kingate Management Ltd Litigation, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 09-05386. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) By Tom Miles and Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations said it was possible that countries backing the Syria peace process would agree on Thursday to salvage a collapsed ceasefire, and that it was still working to restart peace talks within weeks. U.N. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy told reporters in Geneva that the United States and Russia had the backing of other states in the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which was to meet later on in New York for the second time this week, to reinvigorate their joint truce plan. "Clearly, the resumption of the talks would be greatly helped by revitalising the cessation of hostilities, and I think that is a possibility," he said. "That is the objective of the meeting of the ISSG." Ramzy said he hoped to hear a positive outcome within hours. A relaunch of the U.S.-Russia peace plan would require all sides to swallow their anger over attacks committed since the ceasefire was supposed to take hold on Sept. 12, including a U.S. air strike on Syrian forces and an attack on a U.N. aid convoy. Ramzy's boss, U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, had conceded at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that a U.N. plan for a new constitution and free and fair elections sounded like "a dream". But with no other prospect of peace and a U.S. presidential election looming, diplomats say failure to revive the plan would doom Syria to months or years more war. "This is where the situation is right now: a grim picture on the ground in terms of humanitarian aid and in terms of the cessation of hostilities, but at the same time a determination by the ISSG, and particularly the co-chairs, to make things work and to jump-start the political process," Ramzy said. De Mistura said on Wednesday he was ready to bring the warring sides together for direct talks for the first time, and Ramzy said preparations would begin immediately, "with a view to holding these talks hopefully within the next few weeks". (Reporting by Tom Miles and Stephanie Nebehay; writing by Tom Miles) The last rites of Havildar Madan Lal, who died in a gunbattle with terrorists in Nowgam sector of Jammu and Kashmir on September 20, were performed today in Gharota village in Pathankot. By Asian News International: The last rites of Havildar Madan Lal, who had laid down his life in Jammu and Kashmir's Nowgam Sector on September 20 while leading his team in the operation that foiled an infiltration bid by armed terrorists, were today performed in his hometown Gharota in Punjab with full military honours. The entire family bade a tearful farewell to the braveheart. advertisement Also read: Army foils 2 more infiltration bids in J and K's Nougam sector, steps up vigil along Pak border ARMY BIDS ADIEU Earlier, the Indian Army paid homage to the martyr in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantt in Srinagar. Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Satish Dua and other army personnel paid rich tributes to the 37-year-old braveheart from the Dogra Regiment. Havildar Madan Lal, who hailed from Gharota village in Pathankot, is survived by his wife Bhawna Devi and two children - a six-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. Also read: Pakistan is a terrorist state, carries out war crimes: India to United Nations --- ENDS --- The United Nations passed its first resolution to combat antibiotic resistance, a problem that kills 700,000 people around the world every year, including 23,000 in the U.S. This is the health crisis of our generation, Consumer Reports CEO Marta Tellado told U.N. delegates at Wednesdays High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. Among other issues, Tellado discussed the importance of both consumer education and government accountability in combating the problem. The new resolution calls on member states to develop better systems for managing antibiotics, support research for new diagnostics and treatment options, and improve their surveillence of resistant bugs. The World Health Organization will develop an action plan in the coming months for combating antibiotic resistance. Throughout the day, global health experts conjured a future in which even the simplest surgeries and most common infections (think hip replacements and urinary tract infections) carry the risk of death; and one in which standard medications (including those given for psoriasis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and organ transplants) can no longer be used because there are no antibiotics to complement them. Many treatments we rely on now are immunosuppressive, said Tom Frieden, M.D., director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We need to be able to treat those infections for those medications to work. A recent report from the U.K. estimated that antibiotic resistant infections are on track to outpace cancer as a leading cause of death globally by 2050. A 2015 Consumer Reports survey found that 41 percent of U.S. adults were completely unaware of the problem of antibiotic resistance. That statistic, Tellado said, presents both a problem and an opportunity: Consumer behavior can have a huge impact on whether antibiotic resistance persists or abates in the coming years. For example, a growing consumer demand for food produced without antibiotics has led to some positive changes. A recent report from several groups including Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports, found that nine of the 25 largest fast food chains in the U.S. are adopting strong policies that prohibit the routine use of antibiotics, or medically important antibiotics, in the meat and poultry they serve. That's up from five chains last year. Story continues While antibiotic resistance is typically described as a problem of medicine, factory farms play as much of a role as hospitals do. In the U.S., 80 percent of all antibiotics are used on farm animalsnot exclusively to treat diseases, but also to prevent them from occurring, and to speed up the growth (and thus increase the profit potential) of cattle, chicken, and swine. In doctors' offices and hospitals, the CDC estimates that up to a third of all antibiotic prescriptions are written for inappropriate uses, including viruses like the flu and other ailments that the drugs cant work against. (Read more about when antibiotics are and aren't needed.) In addition, a 2015 Consumer Reports survey found that one in five antibiotic prescriptions are written at patients requests. Thats a problem that can be solved through consumer education, Tellado said. But while consumer awareness is necessary, Tellado and others say that consumers cant conquer antibiotic resistance on their own. We need leadership on a scale that we have not yet seen, she told delegates. Individual governments need to craft and put in place policies that combat the overuse of existing antibiotics and support the development new ones. Todays resolution is a promising step in that direction. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. By Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebel groups on Thursday to allow aid convoys to enter eastern Aleppo as U.N. relief operations in Syria resumed after a 48-hour suspension due to a deadly attack. U.N. trucks loaded with food, medical and other supplies for 35,000 people arrived in the rebel-held besieged Damascus suburb of Mouadamiya, U.N. spokesman Jens Laerke said. The U.N hopes to send others to besieged areas in Idlib and near the Lebanese border in coming days. The world body suspended land deliveries after a 31-truck convoy was attacked on Monday night at Urem al-Kubra in western Aleppo. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent says a staff member and around 20 civilians were killed and a warehouse destroyed. "Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border, the food will be expiring on Monday. The drivers are sleeping at the border, and they have done that now for a week," U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland told reporters. "So please, President Assad, do your bit to enable us get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas. We also have to get assurances in the east Aleppo case from the armed opposition groups to enter," he said of the divided northern city. U.S. officials believe Russian aircraft were responsible for the strike, but Moscow has denied involvement and the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday a U.S. Predator drone was in the area when the convoy was attacked. "The devastating sustained attack at our convoy at Big Urem outside Aleppo this Monday is the worst attack ever sustained on a cross-line, cross-border convoy," Egeland said on Thursday. The attack left a "tremendous cloud" over the whole system for obtaining authorizations from all warring sides "that is the pre-condition for a lifeline to millions of people", he added. Mouadamiya was "a very important town where people have been suffering for very long and where they feel squeezed by all armed actors." Egeland said the United Nations also hoped to deliver aid to rebel-besieged towns of Foua and Kufreya in Idlib and government-blockaded Madaya and Zabadani near the Lebanese border within days. "Madaya is a place where people have been starving and where there was a meningitis epidemic. We're loading, we hope to go soon," he said. "We need a re-boot, we need a re-start for security assurances, guarantees for the humanitarian lifeline." (additional reporting by Marina Depetris; Writing by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Toby Chopra and Peter Graff) By Amedee Mwarabu KINSHASA (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief strongly condemned this week's fatal shooting of anti-government protesters in Democratic Republic of Congo and urged the government on Thursday to seek dialogue with the opposition. Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said the death toll from clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital Kinshasa on Monday had risen to at least 50. The government has said 32 people died. Congolese authorities have said elections due in November cannot be held until at least next year due to logistical problems. President Joseph Kabila denies opponents' charges of trying to cling to power beyond a two-term limit in the vast central African country, a producer of gold, diamonds and copper. "The writing is on the wall and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition," Zeid said in a statement. "Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital," he said in Geneva. Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende criticized French President Francois Hollande for comments in New York on Tuesday in which he blamed authorities for the deaths and urged them not to delay the election. "Hollande, with the accent of a schoolteacher, has poured scorn on the Congolese government which he blames for the violence," Mende said, adding that Hollande had ignored attacks by protesters on buildings of pro-government political parties. Mende played down an incident at the weekend in which Washington said its Special Envoy to the Great Lakes of Africa, Tom Perriello, was obstructed and harassed at the airport as he was leaving Kinshasa. Mende said there was no aggression from security officials or from ruling party deputies, who instead engaged in "lively debate" with Perriello. Congo's attorney general vowed on Wednesday to hunt down and punish those responsible for Monday's riots. The same day, Kabila's office said security was restored and invited people to return to their daily activities. World powers, especially the United States, have heaped pressure on Kabila to respect the constitution and hold elections on time. (Additional reporting by Tom Miles in Geneva; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Mark Trevelyan) By Emily Flitter CLEVELAND (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, in remarks at an African-American church on Wednesday, praised "stop-and-frisk" policing methods that have aroused protests and successful legal challenges, for singling out minorities. The anti-crime tactic in which police stop, question and search pedestrians for weapons or contraband, gained traction in New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a top Trump supporter. But opposition to the practice led police departments in New York, as well as Chicago and Newark, New Jersey, to agree to cut back on its use, in some cases submitting to outside monitoring and improving police training. "I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to," Trump said, according to excerpts of a Fox News "town hall" in Cleveland, after a listener asked what he would do to reduce crime in predominantly black communities across the nation. "I see what's going on here, I see what's going on in Chicago, I think stop-and-frisk. In New York City it was so incredible, the way it worked," he added. Ending the practice in New York was a key plank of Democrat Bill de Blasio's successful 2013 run for mayor. As the race between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton tightens ahead of the Nov. 8 election, he has been reaching out to African-American voters, shown by opinion polls to largely favor Clinton. Trump has portrayed himself as the "law-and-order candidate." But Clinton has criticized many of his proposals as unconstitutional attacks on American freedoms. Clinton's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's statement. "Stop and frisk" had saved lives and reduced crime in New York City under Giuliani, the Trump campaign said in a statement. "Mr. Trump believes that a locally tailored version of stop and frisk should be used in Chicago to help reduce skyrocketing violence and make our Chicago safe again," spokesman Jason Miller said. 'WE ARE VICTIMS' Anger over police tactics has risen as their fatal encounters with African-Americans, many of them unarmed, have sparked protests and unrest across the country. In his appeal to African-American voters, Trump has lamented the woes of black communities, asking those who traditionally vote Democratic to take a chance on him. But his often dire portrayals of their lives have left some black voters unmoved. Connie Tucker, a pastor at Father Heart Ministries in Columbus, Ohio, said she liked policies that brought results, so if stop-and-frisk helped cut crime, she backed it. But Tucker, who is white, said she sensed discomfort in the room at Trump's remarks. "I felt like there was a pause," she said. Another attendee, Geoff Betts, 38, who is black, said he felt dismayed by Trump's response. Betts, a hair products distributor, said he was registered to vote as an independent and attended to learn how Trump would try to win over black voters. He said he thought police unfairly discriminated against black citizens and that he opposed stop-and-frisk. "We are victims," he said, adding that he had walked out of the meeting. "I just couldn't take it anymore, I had to go. I don't think that Donald Trump gets it." (Reporting by Emily Flitter, Additional reporting by Emily Stephenson in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney and Clarence Fernandez) (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican rival Donald Trump face off on Monday in the first of a series of televised debates that could prove crucial to who wins the White House on Nov. 8. The first debate will take place at Hofstra University on New York state's Long Island. The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled two more such presidential matchups and a vice presidential debate in October. The rhetorical contests, which first appeared on television in 1960, have provided some of the most memorable moments and quotations in modern American political history. Here is a look at the highlights over more than five decades. 1960: Seventy million viewers watched the first televised American presidential debate, which pitted Republican Vice President Richard Nixon against Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy. Nixon was recovering from a hospital visit and had a 5-o'clock shadow, having refused makeup. In contrast, Kennedy's delivery was smooth and charismatic. Viewers focused on what they saw, not what they heard. Kennedy won the election. 1976: In the first TV debate in 16 years, Democrat Jimmy Carter faced off against unelected incumbent President Gerald Ford. This was also the first time vice presidential candidates debated on television, with Republican U.S. Senator Bob Dole squaring off against Democratic U.S. Senator Walter Mondale. Carter benefited when Ford said: "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, and there never will be under a Ford administration." News media played up Ford's remark as a major blunder, and many analysts thought it helped Carter win the election. 1980: Carter appeared only in a second debate with Republican Ronald Reagan after boycotting the first one because it included a third-party candidate, John Anderson. The president accused Reagan of planning to cut Medicare healthcare funding for the elderly. Reagan, who had complained Carter was misrepresenting his stands on any number of issues, said: "There you go again," and chuckled, prompting audience laughter and coining a catchphrase. Reagan won the election. The encounter attracted 80.6 million viewers, the highest number ever for a presidential debate, according to ratings company Nielsen. 1984: Reagan, 73, successfully defused the issue of his age during the second debate with Democratic candidate Walter Mondale, 56, when he quipped: "I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." Reagan was re-elected. 1988: The second presidential debate involving Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush and Democratic challenger Michael Dukakis opened with a question to the Massachusetts governor on whether he would favor the death penalty for someone who raped and murdered his wife. The question was posed to bring out the human side of a candidate dubbed "the Ice Man." His laborious response on an emotional issue did just the opposite. Bush won the election. The vice presidential debate came alive when U.S. Senator Dan Quayle, Bush's running mate, compared himself politically to John F. Kennedy. Democratic U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen replied in quiet, deadly tones: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." 1992: This year's three debates became the first time three candidates - Bush, Democrat Bill Clinton, and independent Ross Perot - shared the platform. Clinton won the election. 1996: In the second debate between Republican Bob Dole and Clinton, Dole was asked by a student whether at 73 he was too old to understand the needs of young people. He replied that at his age, intelligence and experience meant he had the advantage of wisdom. Clinton retorted: "I can only tell you that I don't think Senator Dole is too old to be president. It's the age of his ideas that I question." Clinton was re-elected. 2000: Vice President Al Gore and Republican contender George W. Bush took part in three debates. "We all make mistakes. I've been known to mangle a syllable or two myself," Bush said during the second of the debates, purposely mispronouncing the word "syllable." During the first encounter, Gore drew negative reviews for sighing loudly while Bush spoke. The Texas governor and son of George H.W. Bush won the election. 2004: The last debate between Bush and Democratic U.S. Senator John Kerry offered voters a stark contrast in styles, with Bush sticking to simple arguments while Kerry released an array of facts to make his case. Bush was re-elected. 2008: The three Obama-John McCain encounters averaged 57.4 million viewers, more than the average for the three debates in 2004, according to Nielsen. Republican U.S. Senator McCain, his back against the wall, turned in his best performance in the last debate, but Democratic U.S. Senator Barack Obama won the White House. The vice presidential debate riveted about 69.9 million Americans, and thus tied as the second most-viewed debate ever. Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Biden clashed on the economy and Iraq during a lively but polite debate. She frequently displayed a folksy style. At one point, she said: "Aw, say it ain't so, Joe," adding a "doggone it" for good measure. Biden and Palin both said they would work to change current U.S. economic policy to make it more friendly to middle-class workers, but Biden said that McCain had called the fundamentals of the economy strong as the financial crisis broke out. 2012: Obama stumbled in his first debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney, surprising and worrying his supporters. But in the second debate, Romney, responding to a question about gender pay equality, said he had "binders full of women" as candidates for Cabinet posts. The phrase became a meme on social media, with tweets, original artwork and a Facebook group spoofing the former Massachusetts governor. (Reporting by David Cutler; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney) NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive a ceasefire in Syria on Thursday as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington cannot be the only one trying to hold open the door to peace and urged Russia and the Syrian government to do their part. "If the Russians come back to us with constructive proposals we will listen," Kerry said after a meeting of the International Syria Support Group on the sidelines of the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "Make no mistake, the United States will continue to pursue every avenue of progress that we can because it is the only way to stop the killing, it is the only way to ease the suffering and it's the only way to make possible the restoration of a united Syria," Kerry said. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton, Writing by Michelle Nichols; editing by Stuart Grudgings) In an uncharacteristically testy speech before the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry blamed Russia for wrecking an already shaky cease-fire in Syria by launching airstrikes Monday at a U.N. convoy and then suggesting that either the aid trucks had spontaneously combusted or been attacked by rebels. This attack has dealt a very heavy blow to our efforts to bring peace to Syria, and it raises a profound doubt about whether Russia and [Bashar al-Assads] regime can or will live up to the obligations that they agreed to in order to implement the cease-fire, Kerry said, sitting across the table from his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, during a high-level Security Council debate. The session, hosted by the Security Councils current president, John Key of New Zealand, was initially intended to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Syria. But it quickly devolved into a big-power brawl between Kerry and Lavrov over who should bear the blame for the apparent collapse of a Sept. 9 cease-fire. Lavrov said the Syrian opposition violated the terms of the cease-fire at least 300 times, and he said opposition units failed to withdraw their forces from a vital road leading into besieged Aleppo. He called the accidental U.S.-led coalition bombing Saturday of Syrian troops a clear violation of the cease-fire. Lavrov also said Syrian and Russian forces would not silence their guns until the opposition did the same. There wont be any unilateral pauses, the Russian diplomat said. Kerry fired back, saying that Lavrovs account of the breakdown in the cease-fire was far-fetched. I listened to my colleague from Russia, and I sort of felt a little bit like theyre sort of in a parallel universe here, Kerry said. But whatever doubts he may harbor about the trustworthiness of his diplomatic sparring partner, Kerry made one thing crystal clear: Russia remains essential to any American hopes of seeing an ease in the violence in Syria before President Barack Obama leaves office next January. Story continues The cease-fire, as troubled as it is, gives us the best chance available to bring relief to the people of Syria, Kerry said. I emphasize this to Russia: The United States continues to believe there is a way forward that, although rocky and difficult and uncertain, can provide the most viable path out of the carnage. Kerry asserted that there is still time to salvage the agreement but that Syria and Russia need to halt flying in areas where the cease-fire is intended to take effect. I believe that to restore credibility to the process, we must move forward to try to immediately ground all aircraft flying in those key areas in order to give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded, he said. Following Kerrys remarks, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main Saudi-backed coalition of Syrian opposition groups, welcomed his call to ground the Syrian air force but said the demand needs to be backed up with the threat of military force. The only way to ensure that Russia and the Assad regime halt their brutality is through a clear, public guarantee that indiscriminate killing of civilians will trigger limited retaliation against Syrian regime targets a no-bomb zone, said Bassma Kodmani, an HNC spokeswoman, in a statement. Such a guarantee must apply not just to certain areas in Syria, but all of Syria. The Obama administration has not supported punitive strikes against the Assad regime for its atrocities against civilians, which would amount to a major U.S. escalation in the conflict. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who at Wednesdays debate called the attack on the U.N. convoy an outrage, also backed the U.S.-Russian cease-fire accord as the best opportunity to calm the violence in Syria. He instructed the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to restart stalled political transition talks between the Syrian government and opposition as soon as possible. In his tongue-lashing of the Russians, Kerry noted that there is powerful evidence implicating Russia in Mondays attack on the aid convoy, and he urged Moscow to assume responsibility. One eyewitness, Kerry said, saw warplanes in the sky just as the trucks came under attack. Thats an eyewitness report the place turned into hell, and fighter jets were in the sky, he said. Kerry also cited another incident Tuesday night, in which a medical facility near Aleppo was hit by airstrikes, killing four aid workers. There are only two countries that have airplanes that are flying during the night or flying at all in that particular area: Russia and Syria, he said. Kerry pressed Russia to assume responsibility for the attack, noting that the United States had owned up immediately to its role in the mistaken strike on Syrian forces. We said, yeah, its a terrible thing, it happened. Defense Department apologized, and we tried to find out how that happened, he said. I really want the key here to be an acceptance of responsibility to change this equation by everybody here. Diplomats gathered at the U.N. are still trying to conjure up a brokered political solution to the conflict, which has dragged on for more than five years, cost more than 400,000 lives, and displaced millions of people. During the Security Council meeting, de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy, outlined a five-point draft framework for a political transition that he hopes to present to the warring parties, with the ultimate goal of coaxing them into their first direct talks since the war began in March 2011. Any viable plan, he said, would require that all parties agree to a genuine power-sharing arrangement. The government, he added, must accept a genuine devolution of power and not just the absorption of the opposition into the government as it currently exists. For its part, the opposition would have to accept that Assad will not likely step down before the transition is complete. Despite the horrors, he is pleasantly surprised by the degree of convergence so far on basic governing principles for a future Syrian government, he told the gathering of prime ministers, presidents, and ministers in the U.N. Security Council. I know, he conceded, it sounds like a dream, but thats the plan. Kerry said the best way to stem the suffering is for the cease-fire to take hold and for the warring parties to sit at the peace table with de Mistura. But he expressed concern that may be impossible if the violence doesnt stop. How can people go sit at a table with a regime that bombs hospitals and drops chlorine gas again and again and again and again and again and again and acts with impunity? he asked. Are you supposed to sit there and have happy talk in Geneva? FP senior reporter John Hudson contributed to this report. Photo credit:FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eight U.S. Democratic senators asked the Labor Department on Thursday to launch a probe into whether Wells Fargo (WFC.N) may have violated wage and working hour laws by failing to pay overtime to tellers and sales representatives who stayed late to meet sales quotas. The request comes after Wells Fargo earlier this month was ordered to pay $190 million to settle civil charges alleging its employees had set up about 2 million accounts and credit cards in customers' names that may have not been authorized. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleged in its complaint that Wells Fargo had a system in place which financially rewarded employees for each new account opened. A spokeswoman for Wells Fargo said the bank strived to make all employees "feel valued, rewarded and recognized" in an environment that includes "market competitive compensation, career-development opportunities, a broad array of benefits, and a strong offering of work-life programs." A spokesman for the Labor Department said the department cannot discuss details of law enforcement decision-making, but that it takes "the concerns raised in the letter very seriously." The bank is facing mounting scrutiny over the issue. Federal prosecutors have also launched a criminal investigation into the matter, a source previously told Reuters. Earlier this week, lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee grilled Wells Fargo Chief Executive John Stumpf about the accounts, with some calling on him to resign and forfeit his earnings and hold other senior executives accountable. In the letter to the Labor Department, the lawmakers expressed concerns about how the high-pressure sales culture at the bank could also give rise to violations of federal labor laws. "In the wake of the CFPB's announcement, dozens of former and current Wells Fargo employees have come forward to describe the lengths they went to in order to meet the bank's aggressive sales quotas," they wrote. Story continues "For years Wells Fargo employees have described a management culture characterized by 'mental abuse,' being forced to work overtime 'for what felt like after-school detention' during the week and on weekends, and being 'severely chastised and embarrassed in front of 60-plus managers.'" The letter was signed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senate Banking Ranking Minority Member Sherrod Brown, Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Alan Crosby) LONDON (Reuters) - Britain expects to start the divorce procedure to leave the European Union early next year and may not need two years to negotiate a deal, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Thursday. London is under pressure from fellow EU members to invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which triggers the start of the exit from the bloc. After that, Britain will have two years to negotiate a deal. Aides to Prime Minister Theresa May have suggested she hopes to trigger the procedure early next year to assuage any fears in her ruling Conservative Party and among millions of British voters that their decision to leave will not be heeded promptly. But some lawmakers and government officials say the government has not had time to form a clear negotiating stance and that, by triggering proceedings too early, Britain may land a poor deal. Johnson, speaking to Sky News television in New York, said Britain was already talking to its fellow members about future ties. "What we're doing is talking to our European friends and partners now in the expectation that, by the early part of next year, you will see an Article 50 letter, we will invoke that, and in that letter I'm sure we will be setting out some parameters for how we propose to take this forward," Johnson told Sky News television in New York. "You invoke Article 50 in the early part of next year. You have two years to pull it off. I don't actually think we will necessarily need to spend a full two years but let's see how we go." Some officials and politicians say that the unprecedented negotiations will take much longer than two years. May has promised to deliver a "unique deal" for Britain - to get trade deals on good terms while limiting immigration, a combination ruled out by European leaders, who say free trade is only possible with free movement of people. Johnson, a former London mayor who was one of the most prominent campaigners to leave the EU, said the bloc's stance that there was an "automatic trade-off between what they call access to the single market and free movement of people" was "complete baloney". "What I reject is the idea is that there is some automatic link (between trade and migration), and this particularly applies to the negotiation with the EU," Johnson said. "The two things have nothing to do with each other. We should go for a jumbo free-trade deal and take back control of our immigration policy." He also said gaining control over migration did not mean that Britain was going to be "hauling up the drawbridge or slamming the gates" on those wanting to work in Britain, which many businesses fear. "What we are going to do is take back control," he said, using the oft-repeated catchphrase of Britain's "Leave" campaign. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kevin Liffey) A six-year-old American boy sought President Obama's help to bring Omran Daqneesh, the boy whose bloodied photo had gone viral, to his home. Obama mentioned about this letter at the United Nations Summit on Refugees. By India Today Web Desk: US President Barack Obama recently quoted a letter from a 6-year-old boy at the United Nations Summit on Refugees. It was the heart-wrenching picture of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, sitting silently covered in dust and blood due to a massive air strike Syria, that moved young Alex. The New York resident wrote a letter to President Obama and asked for his help for bringing Omran to his home. advertisement "We will give him a family and he will be our brother", Alex's letter read. Alex tells Omran that he and his family will be waiting for him with flags, flowers, and balloons and his younger sister Catherine will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him. Photo: White House Also read: Syrian boy Omran's older brother dies of wounds from Aleppo airstrike "In my school, I have a friend from Syria, Omar, and I will introduce him to Omran. We can all play together. We can invite him to birthday parties and he will teach us another language. We can teach him English too, just like my friend Aoto from Japan." He was praised by President Obama who shared his letter with the world leaders at the summit and said we should all be like Alex. "I will teach him additions and subtractions in math. And he [can] smell Catherine's lip gloss penguin which is green. She doesn't let anyone touch it", wrote Alex who is being praised by the masses. Also read: CNN anchor in tears as she reads report on Syrian boy found in rubble You can watch Alex read his letter here: --- ENDS --- (Adds comment from Alexion) LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A new drug to treat a rare inherited bone disorder that was developed by Alexion Pharmaceuticals and could cost up to 1.5 million pounds ($2 million) a year per patient has been cleared for limited use by Britain's health cost watchdog. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which had turned down Strensiq as too expensive in December, said on Thursday it had decided the drug could offer a lifeline for a handful of babies and young children. But it urged the U.S. rare diseases specialist, which is already offering the National Health Service a confidential discount to cap costs for each patient, to find further ways to reduce the price. Strensiq costs 58.80 pounds per milligram, meaning it would cost 165,000 pounds a year for babies weighing up to 9 kg and as much as 1.5 million pounds for adults and young people up to 80 kg, NICE said. The NICE recommendation covers the medicine's use in perinatal- and infantile-onset hypophosphatasia, a condition affecting the development of bone. It is estimated that only one to seven people are diagnosed each year in England with this form of hypophosphatasia. Alexion said it was disappointed the draft NICE guidance did not cover patients with juvenile-onset hypophosphatasia, putting it in "direct conflict" with the drug's European approval, which covers all patients with paediatric-onset disease. The company said it had reached an agreement for Strensiq funding in Germany that ensured such full access. Left untreated, hypophosphatasia causes weakening of bones and can lead to chronic debilitating pain, muscle weakness, generalised seizures because of vitamin B6 deficiency, as well as life-threatening renal and respiratory complications. ($1 = 0.7654 pounds) (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by David Clarke) Tokyo (AFP) - Once a modest beach party in Miami, the uber-hip Ultra Music Festival has bold plans to further expand the global juggernaut after another year of empire building. While techno-heads accuse Ultra of helping to 'commercialise' electronic dance music, or EDM, in recent years, 120,000 rain-soaked revellers appeared to heartily disagree after being whipped into a frenzy in Tokyo this past weekend. "There's a place for all genres of electronic music," co-founder Russell Faibisch told AFP. "A festival is all about having different genres. "In the last few years, EDM has worked on the main stage for the masses but underground music always has and always will have its place. "Everything feeds off each other." A glittery haven for hardcore EDM junkies, Ultra's mega-rave has pitched up in 19 far-flung locations: including Argentina, Brazil and Chile in South America, and across the Atlantic in Spain and Croatia. Farther east, Ultra has extended its reach in Asia from Seoul to Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok and Hong Kong -- with organisers set to announce "major additional expansion plans" for next year. "We've always had a master-plan," said Faibisch, who staged the first edition of Ultra in 1999. "During the mid to late nineties in South Beach the club scene was really thriving. "There were a lot of great clubs like Liquid and Shadow Lounge so it was the right timing for everything to come together. It was just like the perfect storm." A powerful typhoon failed to dampen spirits at last weekend's Ultra Japan, where over 70 acts, including chart-topping headliners Hardwell, Tiesto and Deadmau5, rocked enormous crowds with throbbing electronic beats over three days in Tokyo. A less radio-friendly 'Resistance' tent featured top house and techno artists such as Dubfire and Art Department -- the yin to the cheesier yang on offer on the main stage, where it was often hard to work out where one track ended and the next began. Story continues - 'Dig below the surface' - "In society, there's the commercial end of the spectrum, and then there's the alternative," said Dubfire, addressing the issue of processed electronica. "The same can be said of the electronic music scene. There are a lot of people who, once they dig below the surface of EDM, they find there is music there that is more interesting." British techno heavyweight Carl Cox has been the driving force behind Ultra's underground stage production, while organisers will launch stand-alone 'Resistance' events in South America next month. "When something's happening in the underground, it affects the mainstream and the other way round," Dutch artist Hardwell told AFP. "They need each other: like the bright side needs the dark side to keep going. "Commercial EDM is a great introduction for young kids to get into dance music, since the underground music styles never play on the radio." Outside in the rain, the heaving mass of fresh-faced Japanese 'Ultra-nauts' blowing whistles and pumping their fists -- many in outlandish fancy dress -- just wanted to party. "You get a pretty young crowd at a festival, so I'll have a look in the first 15 minutes of my set to see what's what," said Japanese techno king Ken Ishii. "They might not know much about techno, but it's a genre with a long history and is one of the core pillars of dance music. It's never going to just fall off a cliff." Dubfire admits he has evolved with the changing dance scene. "I'm an old-school artist playing a new-school sound," he said, offering an insight into the potential rewards of becoming a DJ. "These days if you want to have a career in electronic music, you don't have to battle your parents anymore. They understand what's at stake -- they understand you can make a very successful career out of it." Geneva (AFP) - The UN's deputy envoy for Syria said Thursday that he hoped peace talks could resume in the coming weeks, despite "grim" events on the ground. Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said his boss, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, was in discussion with warring parties to organise "direct negotiations", a departure from past rounds where the sides met separately with moderators. The UN is working "with a view to holding these talks hopefully in the next few weeks." De Mistura's recent target dates to relaunch talks have all been missed, amid a failure to contain the fighting. While the UN has said it would clearly be preferrable to host talks with a ceasefire in place, future negotiations should not have preconditions. The latest truce agreed by the United States and Russia has collapsed, but Ramzy insisted both Washington and Moscow "are determined to make the agreement work." Regardless of the setbacks, the UN "will never give up on the political process" to end Syria's five-year war, he added. Kinshasa (AFP) - The UN rights chief on Thursday said DR Congo had used "excessive force" during deadly clashes with demonstrators in the capital and called on Kinshasa to reach out to the opposition to avert a "large-scale crisis" "The authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement issued in Geneva, in the wake of confrontations between security forces and opposition protestors in Kinshasa on Monday and Tuesday. Zeid said the violence, marked by many civilian deaths, large-scale looting, and destructive attacks on government and opposition premises, "provide a stark warning that a large-scale crisis could be just around the corner." "The writing is on the wall," he said. On Wednesday, police in the Democratic Republic of Congo said 32 people had been killed during the violence, while the opposition reported "more than 100 dead", some of them burned alive. Zeid's office put the toll at at least 50, with four police officers among the dead. Opposition groups had organised demonstrations on Monday to demand the resignation of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled since 2001 and, under the constitution, is barred from running for another term. Although Kabila's current term ends on December 20, no date for new elections has been announced and there are fears he plans to stay in power. "Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest, and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defence and security forces against demonstrators in the capital," Zeid said. The human rights chief called on the government to withdraw personnel of the Republican Guard -- a military unit under the direct control of the head of state -- from the streets of the capital and to instead deploy "properly trained police forces with appropriate equipment for crowd control." Story continues The Congolese government's spokesman Lambert Mende responded to the UN rights chief saying "the United Nations official who made this appeal obviously does not have all the information." He also accused the organisers of the opposition protests on Monday of fooling authorities about their intentions. He charged that they had intended to create "an insurrectional movement, obviously planned for long time." More than a 100 soldiers were posted on Thursday at the Limete junction where the protest march began three days ago. - Spat with France - Also Thursday, Kinshasa lashed out at French President Francois Hollande over his criticism of the DRC government's handling of the protests. Mende said he wondered "whether DRC had become a new overseas territory resulting from new (French) conquests." He accused Hollande of scolding Kinshasa "in the tone of a schoolmaster" and of being selective in his compassion towards the victims of the unrest. At a news conference at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, Hollande called the violence "unacceptable and intolerable" and denounced the burning of opposition premises. "The constitution must be respected and elections must take place," he said. - 'Day of national mourning' - Kabila's political foes have formed a "Gathering" around the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party founded by veteran Etienne Tshisekedi. The 83-year-old has called himself the country's "president elect" since the last presidential poll in November 2011, which was marred by massive fraud. Leaders of the Gathering were set to meet later Thursday to "decide on a day of national mourning during the burial of our fighters killed by the regime", UDPS spokesman Bruno Tshibala told AFP. "We plan to go in a cortege to the cemetery, with president Tshisekedi at our head," he added. Tshibala accused Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi of doing the rounds "of the morgues to take away the bodies of our fighters", a charge Numbi denied to AFP. Kabila's office has accused the opposition of having transformed Monday's march into "bloody riots", while Tshibala described the violence as a "fire" planned by a "bloodthirsty government". The head of state, who was first placed in power at the height of the Second Congolese War after his father Laurent-Desire Kabila was murdered by a palace adjutant, is under pressure from the international community to ensure fair elections are held quickly. The UN Security Council called on Wednesday for the restoration of calm and for "credible elections" in the vast, mineral-rich country. By Manolo Serapio Jr DALIAN, China (Reuters) - China's international commitment to cut its massive steel capacity has to result in a reduction in exports, an official from the World Steel Association said, as countries around the world scrutinise Beijing's progress tackling a chronic glut. While the world's biggest steel producer appears to be throwing more weight behind efforts to cut capacity, China's 2016 exports remain on track to beat last year's record 112 million tonnes and domestic production rose for a sixth straight month in August. "They have to reduce exports. Unless they reduce exports.. (the capacity cuts) are not effective," Kazuo Tanimizu, head of the raw materials committee at the World Steel Association, told Reuters on the sidelines of a Chinese steel and iron ore conference. "It's an international commitment." Faced with global anger from Asia to the United States and Europe over a flood of cheap Chinese steel products, Beijing promised to cut steel capacity this year by 45 million tonnes and by 100-150 million tonnes over five years. By the end of July, China had only achieved 47 percent of its 2016 target and steel exports in the first eight months had risen 6.3 percent from a year ago to 76.35 million tonnes. China's surplus steel capacity stands at around 300 million tonnes, according to industry estimates, or about triple the 2015 output of the world's second-biggest producer Japan. "We are monitoring how they will achieve their target," said Kanimizu. "Honestly speaking their production isn't going down." The World Steel Association represents more than 150 steel producers covering 85 percent of the world's production, including some major Chinese producers. Crude steel production by member mills of the China Iron and Steel Association rose 4.7 percent in the first 10 days of September from late August to 1.76 million tonnes per day, the highest since June, according to Macquarie. China's own steel demand has peaked, said Kanimizu, while demand in some other emerging economies, such as India, which is driven by its infrastructure boom, is gaining momentum. Story continues Jeremy Platt, an analyst at UK steel consultancy MEPS, believes China's steel exports will remain high at around 100 million tonnes a year for the foreseeable future. The capacity cuts have to mean a reduction in net capacity and not just a case of outdated plants being replaced by new ones, said Platt. (Editing by Ed Davies) UnitedHealth Group Inc.s UNH pharmacy care services business, OptumRx, recently announced that it would be recruiting 120 workers for its customer service jobs in Costa Mesa, CA. These new customer service providers will be entrusted with the duty to improve the health care experience for the companys customers by catering to the varied needs of patients. OptumRx specializes in the delivery, clinical management and affordability of prescription medications and consumer health products. Its high quality, integrated services successfully deliver optimal member outcomes. The company also facilitates its clients in saving more through its superior customer service. Hence the bilingual (Spanish and English) assistance from the customer service desk will help OptumRxs clients and more than 64 million members achieve better treatment at substantially low costs through the companys innovative prescription drug benefits management services. OptumRx and UnitedHealth Group have a long history of recruiting workers from Costa Mesa to expand their customer service team in the region. Mark Knutson, the senior vice president of Customer Service at OptumRx, said, Costa Mesa is a place where we have recruited talented, committed people focused on working with our members to navigate very important and personal pharmacy care services needs. The latest initiative will ensure better and more customer-centric services going forward. UnitedHealth Group is a Minnesota-based health and well-being company with robust Medicaid and Medicare businesses. Continued growth at OptumRx is also boosting the companys revenues. Effective capital management is another major positive for the insurer. The company presently carries Zacks Rank #2(Buy). UNITEDHEALTH GP Price UNITEDHEALTH GP Price | UNITEDHEALTH GP Quote Other Stocks to Consider Investors interested in the same industry can also consider stocks like Aetna Inc. AET, WellCare Health Plans Inc. WCG and The Joint Corp JYNT. Each of these stocks carry the same Zacks Rank as UnitedHealth Group. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AETNA INC-NEW (AET): Free Stock Analysis Report UNITEDHEALTH GP (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report WELLCARE HEALTH (WCG): Free Stock Analysis Report JOINT CORP/THE (JYNT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By PTI: From Yoshita Singh United Nations, Sep 22 (PTI) India today called Pakistan a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif racked up Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistans streets freely and operate with State support. advertisement Exercising Indias Right of Reply to Sharifs "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir said "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism." "When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. In a reference to JeM chief Masood Azhar and Mumbaiterror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Gambhir said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam thestreets of Pakistan freely and operate with States support. "With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistans international obligations," she said. She said while Pakistansnuclear proliferation record is markedby "deception and deceit," it talks about restraint,renunciationand peace. "Similar false promises it has madetous - the internationalcommunity?on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start," Gambhir said. India also strongly slammed Shariffor glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces. "Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation," she said. Gambhir said Pakistan was a democracy deficit country and practises terrorism on its own people. "It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws," she added. (MORE) YAS MRJ --- ENDS --- Half of the funds will be used for global office expansion. As it upholds its commitment to supporting startups and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients, UOB unveiled the $98 million worth of funds raised by its equity crowdfunding partner, OurCrowd. To recall, UOB tapped Israeli Fintech OurCrowd in March to help small business clients obtain funds through the fintech's equity crowdfunding platform. According to UOB Head of Group Channels and Digitalisation Janet Young this is a way for the group to help emerging enterprises grow into sustainable businesses. "We look forward to working closely with OurCrowd to further develop their platform to support the startup ecosystem both in Singapore and the broader Asian market, she said. OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved said half of the funding will be invested in the expansion of the fintech's seven global offices and to further develop the technology platform. "The other half will be used for OurCrowd to invest our own capital alongside the crowd investors into the companies raising funds on the platform. We envision that this new capital will power the next $1 Billion to be invested on OurCrowd. To date, OurCrowd invested in 100 portfolio companies and funds in its platform, with funds already surpassing $300 million. More From Singapore Business Review Washington (AFP) - Two US lawmakers who are members of their respective intelligence committees said Thursday that a spate of recent cyber attacks suggests Russia is trying to disrupt the November election. "Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the US election," said a statement from Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Adam Schiff, both Democrats from California. "At the least, this effort is intended to sow doubt about the security of our election and may well be intended to influence the outcomes of the election -- we can see no other rationale for the behavior of the Russians." US officials have stopped short of blaming Moscow for the wave of computer intrusions, but many analysts have said the attacks appear to be from Russian hackers. Feinstein and Schiff, who as members of their intelligence committees receive classified briefings, said they believe that the hacks "could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government" and called in Russian President Vladimir Putin "to immediately order a halt to this activity." "Americans will not stand for any foreign government trying to influence our election," they said. "We hope all Americans will stand together and reject the Russian effort." The recent breach of Democratic National Committee data, along with other electronic intrusions, has raised concerns about cyber incidents that could affect the outcome of the US presidential race, or other contests. The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said one of the hacks had accessed an analytics data program. Cybersecurity experts see a potential for more hacks and incidents in the coming months which could hurt the integrity of the election campaign. Chicago (AFP) - Prosecutors in the southern US city of Tulsa charged a police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man with first-degree manslaughter. The shooting of Terence Crutcher on Friday, recorded by dashboard cameras and a police helicopter, lead to heightened tensions between yet another US police department and African-Americans. In the video, the 40-year-old man is seen with his hands up, leaning against his car. He is then shot once by officer Betty Shelby and falls to the ground. In a court filing, the Tulsa district attorney's chief investigator Doug Campbell said Crutcher was shot when reaching into his car's driver's side front window. Another responding officer used a Taser at the same time. Campbell also said Crutcher had been mumbling to himself and that Shelby had made statements after the shooting that she had been "in fear of her life" during the confrontation. "Officer Shelby reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation from a confrontation with Mr Crutcher, who was not responding to verbal commands and was walking away from her with his hands held up, becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted," Campbell said. Crutcher, who did not have a gun, died at a hospital from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Shelby was charged with a felony count of first-degree manslaughter -- heat of passion, which carries a minimum sentence of four years in prison if convicted. In the charging document, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweller called her actions "unreasonable." Responding to the charges during a news conference, the victim's twin sister Tiffany Crutcher applauded the quick action of the district attorney. "We will stay vigilant as this process moves forward and join the others, peacefully, in demanding greater accountability and transparency from law enforcement," she said. "We're demanding full prosecution. We want a conviction." Story continues The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights probe, parallel to the investigation being carried out by local authorities. Demonstrators in Tulsa, in the state of Oklahoma, had demanded that the officer be punished. But protests have remained peaceful so far, unlike in Charlotte, North Carolina where the shooting death of a black man at the hands of police on Tuesday set off violent clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators. New York (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday convened a crisis meeting of governments with a stake in the Syrian civil war. Ministers from the 23-nation International Syria Support Group gathered at a New York hotel for the second time in three days to seek a way to revive a plan to re-impose a ceasefire that collapsed this week. Istanbul (AFP) - The United States has warned of the risk of a terror attack in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep close to the Syrian border on businesses frequented by Westerners, including the popular coffee chain Starbucks. The US embassy in Ankara said in a message to citizens that there are reports of a police investigation into a "terror cell" in Gaziantep, which in August was hit by a deadly suicide bombing on a wedding blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists. It said the information suggests the jihadists are "possibly targeting" shopping centres, Starbucks, the popular upscale Turkish restaurant chain Big Chef or other businesses frequented by Western customers. "US citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronising these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible," it said in the notice published late Wednesday. A major city lying just 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the Syrian border, Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country. The Turkish authorities have acknowledged that IS jihadists had built up a presence in the city with the aim of staging attacks. But the US embassy did not specify which group was suspected of planning to carry out the attacks. Turkey has suffered a string of attacks in the last 12 months in Ankara, Istanbul and elsewhere blamed on Kurdish militants and IS. In June, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, with authorities pointing the finger at IS. Fifty four people were killed in the August 20 suicide bombing on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said was carried out by a child bomber acting on the orders of IS. Embassies are also on a high state of alert after a man wielding a knife tried to attack the Israeli embassy in Ankara on Wednesday, while the British embassy was closed last Friday for security reasons. Separately, the official Anadolu news agency reported that 16 people were detained early Thursday on suspicion of membership of IS, in the latest of a series of raids in Istanbul. It said that there was intelligence some could have been planning attacks in the city and some had also taken part in the conflict in Syria. CARACAS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Venezuela's government would benefit from state oil company PDVSA's proposed $7 billion debt swap through improved cash flow and fewer difficulties in obtaining external financing, ratings agency Moody's Investor Service said on Thursday. PDVSA, struggling under low oil prices and an economic crisis at home, this month offered investors the chance to exchange bonds maturing in 2017 for a new 2020 bond backed by shares in its U.S. subsidiary Citgo Holding Inc. "From a sovereign credit standpoint, PDVSA's exchange is credit positive for Venezuela ... because at a time of severe external liquidity stress, it frees up hard currency that the government can use for other payments, including its own debt service," Moody's analysts wrote. Venezuela and PDVSA are frequently seen as similar credit risks because of the close relationship between PDVSA's management and the ruling Socialist Party. The OPEC nation depends on oil for almost all of its foreign currency revenue. PDVSA's bonds gained across the board on Thursday, led by the PDVSA 2035 that was up 1.200 points to a bid price of 49.550. Venezuela's sovereign bonds were also up, with the 2018N bond up 2.500 points to bid 64.500. Wall Street initially panned PDVSA's swap offer as insufficiently attractive. But investors have in recent days warmed to the idea that the Citgo guarantee would make the new bond safer than PDVSA's other outstanding issues. The company says it will continue paying down its other bonds even if investors turn down the swap, which requires 50 percent bondholder participation to take effect. Ratings agency S&P this week described the proposed operation as "tantamount to default" if completed. Fitch Ratings said it expected to rate the new 2020 bond "CCC/RR4(exp)", which it said "suggests a real possibility of default." PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino responded by describing ratings agencies as "professional speculators" who were contributing to a negative perception of the swap. Story continues The company borrowed heavily during the oil boom and now faces falling production and an unraveling socialist economy whose currency controls and hefty subsidies have taken a toll on the oil industry. President Nicolas Maduro says the country's problems are the result of an "economic war" led by political adversaries to weaken his government. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's electoral authority ruled out a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro this year, all but dashing opposition hopes to oust him at the ballot box. The National Electoral Council declared in a statement after meeting with the opposition and the government that "the event could be held in the middle of the first quarter of 2017." The council also set the rules for the next step in the process, deciding that four million petition signatures, which represent 20 percent of voters, must be gathered over three days between October 26-28. The opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) had hoped to hold the referendum before January 10 because it would trigger new elections if Maduro lost by then. But if the vote is held later, his vice president would finish his term, meaning that the socialist government inspired by late leader Hugo Chavez would remain in power until 2019. - Opposition vows to press on - MUD leader Jesus Torrealba however remained defiant, insisting that a vote in 2016 remained the goal. He said the opposition group was meeting to decide what specific measures it will take to pressure the electoral council. "We are working on the strategy for our fight," he said. "We are quite sure of this: Millions of Venezuelans are going to mobilize and hand (Maduro) a resounding electoral defeat -- as well as political and moral defeat," Torrealba said. If enough signatures are not collected, the ballot would be called off. "This is nothing but an admission from the government that it has nothing to offer the Venezuelan people at the polls. Far from a sign of strength, it's just the opposite," he said. That would extend the socialist "revolution" launched in 1999 by late president Hugo Chavez to at least 20 years. Oil-rich Venezuela has skidded into crisis as global crude prices have plunged since mid-2014, pushing Chavez and Maduro's socialist model to the brink. Story continues Venezuelans spend long hours lining up outside supermarkets and pharmacies only to find bare shelves and soaring prices inside. Shortages have triggered outbreaks of looting and riots. The country is facing its third year of deep recession this year, with inflation set to top 700 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund. The opposition alleges the electoral authorities are in bed with Maduro -- along with the Supreme Court, which has systematically blocked opposition bills since it took control of the legislature in January. Seeking leverage, the opposition has organized a series of protests. It estimates a million people took to the streets in the largest one on September 1. Maduro calls his opponents "fascists" who are waging an "economic war" to destabilize his government, backed by "American imperialism." To alleviate growing hunger, he has launched an emergency supply plan overseen by 18 army generals -- one each for rice, beans, toilet paper and 15 other staples. A Pakistani journalist today tweeted about the presence of fighter jets soaring in Islamabad sky. By India Today Web Desk: A journalist in Pakistan has tweeted about the presence of a group of fighter jets flying over Islamabad. The tweet came after Pakistan cleared its highways and air space in anticipation of India's retaliation after Sunday's terror attack in Uri. Twitter has been flooded with many panic posts mentioning the presence on F-16 fighter jets roaring in the skies. advertisement READ: Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets READ | Rafale to give Indian Air Force edge over Pakistan According to reports, people came out on roads and around 5-6 jets were seen in the sky. Peshawar-Islamabad highway is also reportedly closed. F-16 planes flying at 10:20 pm over Islamabad Hamid Mir (@HamidMirGEO) September 22, 2016 His tweet was later replied by one Malik Anwar who assured Hamid that Pakistan was fully prepared for any kind of war. @HamidMirGEO dont worry it is just to assure people of islmabd that our forces are fully aware and ready to fight ??? ??????? ??? (@malikanwerpmln) September 22, 2016 @HamidMirGEO Scary sounds really.I was sitting in the lawn of hostel with friends but now we moved to the rooms due to thunderous sounds. Moazzama Ali (@moazzamaali) September 22, 2016 Earlier it was also reported that all of the air traffic and flights from Islamabad to Northern areas were cancelled. READ: Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? Pakistan's air force closed a major highway on Thursday to let it practice landing jets on the road, in what it said was routine training not related to heightened tension with India after a deadly attack in Kashmir. India has accused Pakistan of being behind Sunday's attack on an army base that killed 18 soldiers in Uri. READ: Uri attack: India to respond at multiple levels, but will the stand be aggressive? Pakistan has rejected the allegation and accused India of apportioning blame before the incident had been investigated properly. On Thursday, traffic on Pakistan's busy main highway between Islamabad, the capital, and Lahore was diverted to an older mountain road during the two-day air force exercise, dubbed High Mark. Also Read: Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar among 3 Pakistanis India believes are behind the Uri attack Exclusive: Has the Punjab Police learnt no lessons from terror attacks in Uri and Pathankot? Days after Uri attack, suspicious bag found near Army unit in Pathankot advertisement Uri attack: Pakistan can't go unpunished, PM Modi has approved effective retaliation 10 terrorists gunned down in Uri after Pakistan violates ceasefire again --- ENDS --- Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's opposition vowed Thursday to stage "overwhelming, forceful" protests after authorities quashed its hopes of ousting President Nicolas Maduro's government in a recall referendum. The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), the center-right opposition coalition, said Venezuelans fed up with a disastrous economic crisis would not accept the authorities' ruling that a recall can only be held next year -- too late to trigger new elections. "They are violating Venezuelans' right to remove the president via the constitutional path of a referendum. What is coming now is a massive, peaceful, overwhelming, forceful protest," said MUD spokesman Jesus Torrealba. The warning came a day after the National Electoral Council (CNE) said that the referendum the opposition has spent months working for could only be held "in the middle of the first quarter of 2017." The timing is the catch. Polls indicate eight in 10 Venezuelans want a change in government. But if Maduro loses a recall vote after January 10 -- four years into his six-year term -- he will simply be replaced by his hand-picked vice president. And the leftist "revolution" launched in 1999 by late president Hugo Chavez will in that case continue until at least 2019. Torrealba said the opposition would soon announce an updated strategy for a "legal path" to oust Maduro's government, which it blames for severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods. But there are no easy strategy options for MUD. A fractious coalition that spans the political spectrum, it has often struggled to mobilize large-scale protests despite Maduro's deep unpopularity. It meanwhile faces in Maduro a determined adversary with an iron grip on the levers of power. Even the opposition's landslide victory in legislative elections last year has done little to chip away at his hold, with the Supreme Court and National Electoral Council (CNE) blocking every move against him. Story continues "The government is trying to divide MUD. It figures internal disagreements will escalate," said Francine Jacome, head of the Venezuelan Institute for Social and Political Studies. "Its other plan is to generate hotspots of violence, in which case we would see more repression (by police and the army) and the authorities would halt the recall referendum process," she told AFP. - Risky business - The opposition has warned that Venezuela risks exploding into unrest if a recall vote is not held this year. The country is still haunted by violence that erupted in 2014 at rival pro- and anti-government demonstrations, leaving 43 people dead. Maduro stayed home Thursday from the United Nations General Assembly, where he dispatched his foreign minister to give Venezuela's annual address in his place. The opposition has indicated it will move ahead with its referendum push despite losing the battle over the date. Maduro can still be voted out of office after January 10. It would be a humiliating defeat, even though he would be replaced by the vice president of his choice. In the next stage of the process, MUD must collect four million signatures -- 20 percent of the electorate -- from October 26 to 28. But the details for that are also in dispute. The opposition says the 20-percent threshold should be nationwide, but the CNE ruled it must be reached in every single state. And the CNE said it will only set up 5,392 of the machines used in the process -- less than one-third the number MUD was asking for. The opposition is hoping to get more than 7.5 million signatures -- the number needed to oust Maduro in an ultimate recall vote -- in a symbolic show of his government's unpopularity. Mobilizing support may be difficult for both the signature drive and an eventual referendum. "It's very difficult to get people to vote if they know the same government will stay in power. It will all depend on how bad the situation gets," said electoral analyst Eugenio Martinez. On the other hand, however, the government's strategy could backfire. "The government is trying to demotivate people, but it could have the opposite effect and stoke indignation," said Jacome. One person has been left in critical condition after being shot Wednesday night during protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the City of Charlotte. In a tweet following the victim's hospitalization, the City of Charlotte wrote that the civilian was on life support, correcting an earlier tweet that stated the shooting had ended in a fatality. CORRECTION UPDATE: Civilian who suffered gunshot wound during protests is on life support, critical condition. Not deceased. a City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) September 22, 2016 According to the city's Twitter account, the shooting occurred between civilians. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not shoot. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory issued a state of emergency and sought deployment of the National Guard. I have declared a State of Emergency & initiated efforts to deploy the Nat'l Guard & Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in CLT a Pat McCrory (@PatMcCroryNC) September 22, 2016 McCrory called in to Fox News minutes after, saying, "The main thing that I'm doing is providing assets to the police department." The protests began Tuesday night after a police officer fatally shot 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, an African American, outside a Charlotte apartment complex. A Hanoi court upheld the five-year sentence of an anti-government blogger Thursday, his lawyer said, as rights groups accused authoritarian Vietnam of crushing dissent. Nguyen Huu Vinh, more commonly known as Anh Ba Sam, was arrested in 2014 and accused of disseminating anti-government articles on his wildly popular website. Vinh, a 60-year-old former policeman, was convicted in March on charges of "abusing democratic freedoms" along with his assistant Thi Minh Thuy who was given three years in jail. The crime carries a maximum penalty of seven years. "This is a totally imposed verdict, it isn't based on any proof," said his lawyer Ha Huy Son after the day-long appeal hearing. There was a heavy police presence around the Higher People's Court, with surrounding streets cordoned off and plainclothes and uniformed officers manning roadblocks as the hearing got under way. Vinh, who appeared in court alongside Thuy, was sentenced under article 258 of the criminal code, which rights groups have condemned for being vaguely worded and used to silence dissidents. Vinh's site Ba Sam, which means "talking nonsense" in Vietnamese, attracted 3.7 million page views before it was taken down shortly after his arrest. He founded the website in 2007, initially to store articles for his own reference, but the site later became a news aggregator with links to stories from state-run newspapers and also posts from activists. All newspapers and television channels are state-run in Vietnam and private media is banned. But blog sites and social media forums have become an increasingly popular arena for citizens to air anti-government grievances. Bloggers, activists and lawyers are routinely subject to arbitrary detention and arrest. Human Rights Watch said ahead of the appeal hearing that the conviction was politically motivated and accused Vietnam of jailing "courageous bloggers". "Given how angry the authorities are at these two dissident bloggers for exposing the government's abuses and ridiculing their policies, there was really never any hope that their sentences would be reduced," HRW Asia deputy director Phil Robertson said Thursday. Vietnam ranks 175 out of 180 on Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index. On Tuesday, land rights activist Can Thi Theu was jailed for 20 months after accusing the government of snatching plots for developers, her second conviction since 2014. Vimeo is focusing on female-driven stories with its newest slate of original projects. The IAC-owned streaming service has given the green light to three new originals that are part of its Share the Screen initiative, which was established to bridge the gender gap in Hollywood. Among the projects that Vimeo has funded is a feature-length documentary about Marina Abramovic. The Space in Between: Marina Abramovic and Brazil will follow the performance artist as she goes in search of personal healing and artistic inspiration. Directed by Marco Del Fiol, the film hails from Elo Company and is produced by Jasmin Pinho and Minom Pinho. It will be released in October. Vimeo's other two projects are comedy focused. Stand-up special Loyiso Gola: Live in New York will debut in November to showcase the comedian's frank and outspoken comedy. Gola executive produces alongside Trina DasGupta, who also directed the special. Single Palm Tree Productions is producing. Miniseries 555, which will be released in January, is a comedy about the cinematic underbelly of Hollywood. Comedians Kate Berlant and John Early star in the project, which is directed by Andrew DeYoung. All three are executive producing with Abso Lutely Productions. This is Vimeo's third slate of originals. It made waves when it brought cult favorite High Maintenance back for two new seasons in 2014, but the series was quickly scooped up by HBO for a new season that premiered Sept. 16. Its second batch of originals included a short film from Saturday Night Live's Aidy Bryant and a standup special with RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio. "This round is focused on a more international audience, with projects hailing from talent in South Africa and Brazil," says Sam Toles, head of global content acquisition and distribution. "Vimeo's audience is 70 percent outside of the United States, and with our recent decision to provide a global transactional VOD destination for hit series from Lionsgate and others, it made sense to expand our investment towards international filmmakers and creators." Story continues In June, Vimeo announced that CEO Kerry Trainor would be leaving. IAC CEO Joey Levin has stepped in as interim CEO until Trainor's replacement is named. The turnover comes as Vimeo is exploring how to compete in the Netflix-dominated streaming-video space while also continuing to offer the filmmaker tools for which it is known. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference on Thursday, Levin acknowledged that Vimeo doesn't yet have an answer to that question. "The way Vimeo works right now, it's very hard to define the consumer experience," he said. "It's not one consumer experience. The reality is that it's tens of thousands of consumer experiences that can be very different." He added that while Vimeo is focused on its creator tools, it does have an audience of more than 250 million that it needs to address. "We are now in the process of figuring out the answer to the question, which we haven't really answered yet, of how to make content on Vimeo more discoverable, which it's not right now." Red-carpet menace Vitalii Sediuk has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was the bearded man who lifted Gigi Hadid off the ground following a fashion show in Milan on Thursday. Moments before the violation, the Ukraine-born troublemaker - whose past victims include Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Brad Pitt at the 2014 Hollywood premiere of Maleficent - brazenly snapped a selfie with Carine Roitfeld, former editor of Vogue Paris and Hadid's mentor and close friend. He also took a selfie with Wintour, who notices the camera in the corner of her eye as she holds a gold smart phone to her ear. "Anna be like: 'Is it him?? Vitalii, is it you?? Again? Encore!!!' But I'm nice to Anna this time," Sediuk captioned the photo on Instagram. But it was the Hadid ambush that is grabbing headlines - a prank that, even for Sediuk, who once crawled beneath America Ferrera's dress at Cannes, was more aggressive and unsettling than usual. As captured on video, Sediuk can be seen approaching the 21-year-old, Los Angeles-born supermodel from behind, then wrapping both arms around her waist and firmly clasping his hands together. He then lifts her several feet off the ground. Hadid responds by thrusting her elbow in Sediuk's face. After Sediuk releases her, Hadid chases him down the street, shouting, "Who the f - are you, you piece of shit?!" Security was slow to respond. In a statement issued exclusively to THR, Sediuk - who has been living in Europe since being ordered out of the U.S. following the Pitt incident - explains the motives behind the assault. "While I consider Gigi Hadid beautiful, she and her friend Kendall Jenner have nothing to do with high fashion. By doing this, I encourage the fashion industry to put true talents on the runway and Vogue covers instead of well-connected cute girls from Instagram," Sediuk says. "You can call it a manifest or a protest. This is also a wake-up call for Anna Wintour, who turned Vogue into a tabloid by putting Kardashians and other similar celebrities on a cover of a well respected magazine," he adds. Story continues Asked how he responds to allegations that his latest "stunt" amounts to nothing more than an assault on a woman, Sediuk responds, "Don't be over-dramatic." #carineroitfeld #gigihadid #mfw A photo posted by Vitalii Sediuk (@vitaliisediuk) on Sep 22, 2016 at 1:43am PDT Anna be like: "Is it him?? Vitalii, is it you?? Again? Encore!!! But I'm nice to Anna this time #cavalli #milano #annawintour #mfw A photo posted by Vitalii Sediuk (@vitaliisediuk) on Sep 22, 2016 at 1:33am PDT Crazy mess in the streets of Milan..even ambulance was blocked due to "so important" celebrities The Dalian Wanda Group is accused in a new complaint of using foreign money to influence the outcome of a ballot measure in Beverly Hills. UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents hotel workers, filed the complaint on Thursday with the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Federal Election Commission. It accuses the Wanda Group of funneling overseas money into a committee to oppose a ballot measure sponsored by the Beverly Hilton. Wanda and the Beverly Hilton are locked in a bitter fight over the fate of two adjacent parcels on the west end of Beverly Hills. The Wanda Group wants to build a $1.2 billion project that would include 193 condominiums and 134 hotel rooms. The project would sit on the former Robinsons-May department store site, which is just west across Merv Griffin Way from the Beverly Hilton. The Hilton has attacked the project at the Beverly Hills Planning Commission, raising particular concerns about a loading dock that would sit across from the Hiltons entrance. The Hilton, owned by Beny Alagem, has its own plans to build a 375-foot condominium tower at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Merv Griffin Way. The Hilton opted to bypass the typical city approval process and take the plan directly to voters in November. Wanda has now launched a campaign to defeat the initiative, sending mailers arguing that the tower would be twice as tall as the next highest building in Beverly Hills. One mailer depicts the tower as taller than Big Ben, taller than the Columbia Records tower, and taller than three Statues of Liberty stacked on top of each other. The mailers state that they were paid for by American affiliates of the Wanda Group, including Wanda Beverly Hills Properties LLC and Lakeshore East Parcel P, LLC. The latter is related to a Wanda joint venture development in Chicago. UNITE HEREs attorney, Gary Winuk, alleges in the complaint that the contributions were made with the participation of Chinese nationals, including Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin. It alleges that this would violate state and federal law against the use of foreign money in elections. Story continues There appears to be little chance that funding a very public, high profile opposition campaign against a neighboring project would have been done without some participation or direction from the parent corporation, Winuk wrote. In a statement, a Wanda spokesman maintained that the opposition campaign was funded by U.S. entities. Although we have not been sent a copy of the complaints or been contacted by any agencies, we are confident that all allegations are baseless, as our campaign reports clearly show that this is a campaign fully funded and controlled by American interests with no foreign control or money in any way, shape or form, said spokesman Adam Englander. This lawsuit is just another unethical campaign tactic by the Beverly Hilton and their surrogates to bully those who oppose the Hilton Skyscraper Initiative and their circumvention of the public review process. UNITE HERE represents workers at the Beverly Hilton. According to Wanda, the union has not had conversations with Wanda about potentially representing the workers at the new Wanda hotel. The union has spoken against the Wanda project at the Beverly Hills Planning Commission, and raised traffic concerns in a letter to the city. Marie Garvey, a spokeswoman for the Hilton, emphasized that UNITE HERE was acting on its own. We are not part of this complaint and have nothing to do with this, she said. Related stories Beverly Hilton Launches Attack on Wanda Hotel Project Wanda's Beverly Hills Hotel Plans Spur Heated Battle Wanda to Unveil Investment in France's EuropaCity India today claimed to have diplomatically scored over Pakistan at the UN amid deteriorating bilateral ties following the killing of 18 soldiers in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. By India Today Web Desk: The aggressive diplomatic assault on Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri terror attack seems to be showing results. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Thursday said that no country accepted the Pakistan's version of fight against terrorism. READ: Uri attack: Pervez Musharraf denies terrorists used Pakistani weapons "No one and I mean no other country at UN has spoken on the subject (Pakistan prime minister) Nawaz Sharif devoted 80 per cent of his time to during his speech at the UNGA. Four of the five members of the UNSC have spoken but even they did not support Pakistan's stand," Swarup said.\ advertisement READ: Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? On the question of the dossier that Sharif handed over to UN secretary general Ban ki-Moon, Swarup said, "As far as the so called dossier Nawaz Sharif spoke of in his speech, we find no mention of it in UN." The UN secretary general did speak about threat posed by terrorism but he did not mention Kashmir in the way Pakistan wished to. INDIA NAILS PAKISTAN The MEA spokesperson said that India was successful in "sensitizing the world" about how Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism. "Our actions speak for themselves and you can see our actions are already delivering results," Swarup said. "You would have seen the very strong condemnation of Uri Attack by most countries including UK, France, Saudi Arabia and many others," Swarup said, adding, "The onus is now squarely on Pakistan to act against terror groups, who find safe havens in Pakistan." India will raise the issue of Pakistan sponsored terrorism during its engagement with China at diplomatic level, Swarup said. PAKISTAN A TERRORIST STATE Meanwhile, a bill was introduced by two senior legislators in the US Congress seeking to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state. The MEA spokesperson termed it as a favourable development. He said, "Surely it will be treated with the utmost seriousness (in US Congress." On a question as to whether India was also considering a similar move, Swarup said, "We don't have a process to declare a state a sponsor of terrorism; we need to bring changes internally." WILL INDIA GIVE ANOTHER DOSSIER? Though, India will expose Pakistan on every international platform, it will not hand over another dossier to Pakistan. "We don't need a dossier, the whole world is aware of Pakistan's role in promoting terror," Swarup said. "Yesterday (Wednesday) Pakistan's high commissioner was summoned. At UNGA also, our first secretary fairly put India's view by using right to reply. Now responsibility is on Pakistan," the MEA spokesperson said. Foreign secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit to remind him of his country commitment of not letting its soil for use of any terror activities against India. Referring to this meeting, Swarup said that it was in the interest of Pakistan to act against terror groups. advertisement WILL MODI ATTEND SAARC SUMMIT? As the diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorates further, it is still not clear as to whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to Islamabad for SAARC summit. Swarup also skipped a direct answer to a query regarding Modi's participation in SAARC summit. "Every question doesn't have a yes or no answer," Swarup said. There have been demands to skip SAARC summit to put pressure on Pakistan. Bangladesh and Afghanistan have already indicated to go India's way after the Uri terror attack, in which 18 jawans lost their lives on September, 18. ALSO READ: Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists Pakistan aware of 'nefarious designs' of enemies: General Raheel Sharif Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location --- ENDS --- When the Occupy Wall Street movement emerged as the voice of the 99 percent of Americans who were hit hardest by the Great Recession, the protest put a spotlight on big banks and financial service companies. They were ultimately responsible for the housing crisis that cost millions their homes, their jobs and their savings. Some of the banks were dicing and splicing subprime mortgages into what were ersatz mortgages and selling them to other banks in the U.S. and globally. In short, they were pushing snake oil, which ultimately led to a massive number of new federal banking regulations good and bad and put a laser focus on income disparity and greed. Related: How Big Pharma Lobbyists Make the Opioid Crisis Worse Today, except for the recent Wells Fargo mess, the banks have been swept off the front pages by another business sector the pharmaceutical industry. Its not just that drug companies have lobbied state lawmakers to resist legal restrictions on OxyContin, Vicodin and Fentanyl three addictive opioids connected to the heroin epidemic. Its not just that some specialty drugs, code for injectable biologics, have annual price tags for chronic conditions like arthritis and psoriasis that may exceed the average household income. Its that some drugs that have been on the market for years have seen price increases of 1,000 percent to 5,000 percent -- like Turings lifesaving Daraprim, now $750 a pill, or Mylans EpiPen, which went from $100 a few years ago to $608 for a two-pen set. An estimated 15 million Americans have eczema, a common chronic skin condition made worse in dry weather. The skin itches, you scratch and infections are common. Another common skin disorder, acne, affects about 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 at some point, according to the National Institutes of Health. Related: Epi-Pen Maker Enters the Pharmaceutical Industrys Hall of Shame Imagine you have one of these conditions, have been using medical creams for years, and then bingo: Your insurance company denies your claim because of a huge price increase, and your doctor has to scramble to find an equitable replacement. Story continues Since 2009, the prices of prescription skin creams have quintupled or more. A report in The Washington Post last November said, Of the 19 brand-name drugs included in the study, certain outliers showed massive price surges -- a 60-gram tube of a gel for a type of skin cancer increased from $1,686.78 for a tube to over $30,000. The gel is made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, a company that has come under Senate investigation for its drug hiking practices. Targretin Gel The Postpoints out that shortages of antibiotics had some effect on price increases, but after those shortages had been resolved, the prices did not come down. In fact, one private drugmaker based in Chicago, Novum Pharma, is now charging nearly $10,000 for a 60-gram tube of Aloquin Gel for the treatment of eczema and acne, an 1,100 percent increase from its already high price of $241.50. Heres the kicker: The gel is only possibly effective, which indicates the FDA is not exactly convinced that it works as intended. Gouging? You bet. The good news in the case of Aloquin, at least, is that there are cheaper alternatives. Related: Teva, World's Largest Generic Drugmaker, Looks to Get Even Bigger Antiprotozals How do consumers, medical professionals, and the federal government fight this war on drug gouging? As in any battle, you have to know your strengths and how best to use them. However, you also need a full picture of the enemies position. An AP story last September 15th identified six reasons drug prices are going through the roof: Unlike other countries, Medicare/Medicaid does not set price controls. Patents are filed during testing, giving drugmakers a monopoly for roughly 12 years. Limited competition due to low profitability of generic drugs. Limited markets for expensive-to-produce drugs. Development and production costs; industry groups say it can take about a decade and well over $1 billion to get a new drug approved. Fewer generics due to fewer patent expirations. Related: Want Lower Drug Prices? Start by Fixing the FDA So what should we do? The Federal Government: In the simplest terms, the open-ended payment structure of Medicare Part D has to go. In its place negotiated prices, with some consideration for costly innovations. Also, the FDA needs to make innovative drug development less burdensome by eliminating some old, 20th-century regulations that no longer apply in a computer age. Medical Professionals: First, hospitals have to stop wasting $3 billion worth of high-tech drugs each year. Doctors should stop taking money or trips from pharma companies since there is voluminous evidence that drug prescriptions increase as a result. Insurance Companies: Insurance companies should negotiate reasonable prices for essential medications for their clients. Consumers: The internet makes it easy to shop for the best prices on drugs. GoodRx is one site that does just that. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: BEIRUT (Reuters) - Warplanes mounted the heaviest air strikes in months against rebel-held districts of the city of Aleppo overnight, rebel officials and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military on the reports, or mention of Aleppo air strikes on state media. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry demanded on Wednesday that Russia and the Syrian government immediately halt flights over Syrian battle zones, in what he called a last chance to salvage a collapsing ceasefire and find a way "out of the carnage". "It was the heaviest air strikes for months inside Aleppo city. It was very intense. In that area we didn't see heavy fighting recently," said Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman. Zakaria Malahifji, head of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim rebel faction's political office, said it was the most intense bombardment since April. "There is no weapon they didn't use," he said, speaking to Reuters from Turkey. A senior official in the Levant Front, another Aleppo-based rebel group, also said it was the most intense bombardment in many months. There were 15 raids alone targeting two areas where his group had a presence, he added. The rebel officials said weapons used included incendiary bombs. "This is a type of pressure on the opposition. The Russians only want surrender. They have no other solution," the Levant Front official said. Much of the recent fighting in the Aleppo area has been in a district of military colleges and industrial sites on its southwestern outskirts, rather than inside the city itself. (Reporting by Tom Perry and Angus McDowall; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Larry King and Pravin Char) While the US-led coalition continues its air campaign against ISIS targets in northern Iraq, the terrorist group's units in neighboring Syria have also been hit by airstrikes. In the footage below, an August 30 airstrike conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve knocks out a ISIS tank inside a building near Al Raqqa, the group's capital and most important city in Syria. The campaign against ISIS in Syria has been characterized by deadly confusion in recent weeks, as a cease-fire brokered by the US and Russia and declared on September 12 appeared more unsteady this week after an airstrike hit a UN aid convoy, killing as many as 20 on Monday and leading the UN to suspend aid deliveries. The Syrian regime declared the cease-fire over on Monday, though the US said it was prepared to continue working on it with Russia. The US has blamed the airstrike on the convoy, which came amid other strikes in and around Aleppo by the Syrian regime, on Syrian government or Russian forces. Damaged Red Cross and Red Crescent medical supplies lie inside a warehouse after an airstrike on the rebel held Urm al-Kubra town, western Aleppo city, Syria September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah The Russian military said Syrian strikes on Aleppo came in response to an offensive against government positions southwest of the city. The Russian government also said on Wednesday that neither Russian nor Syrian forces had struck the convoy, and that the destruction of the convoy's vehicles was "the direct consequence of the cargo catching fire." A US official said the attack on the UN convoy "raises very serious questions about whether the Russians can deliver their end of the arrangement" to rein in the Syrian regime. The US-led coalition also admitted this week that its airstrikes over the weekend had killed 62 Syrian regime troops in eastern Syria. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called for all aircraft over key humanitarian routes in the war-torn country to be grounded so aid could flow to Syrian civilians. Story continues See the full video of the August 30 airstrike below: NOW WATCH: 'Well you can look on the map' watch Hillary Clinton mock Gary Johnson over his Aleppo gaffe More From Business Insider clinton between two ferns funny or die final Hillary Clinton has become the latest politician to go on Zach Galifianakis' fake Funny or Die interview show "Between Two Ferns." The Democratic presidential nominee sat down with the comic to dish out the jokes as well as take them. The interview opens with Galifianakis, dressed in a Halloween mask, attempting to scare Clinton. He is quickly detained by the secret service. Clinton, whose name comes up on screen as "Hilary Clinton, Had Pneumonia," is then hit with a barrage of silly questions from Galifianakis like "Are you excited to be the first girl president?" "As secretary [of state] how many words-per-minute could you type? And how does President Obama like his coffee, like himself, weak?" "What happens if you become pregnant?" Clinton also takes some jabs at her opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump. When Galifianakis asks if Clinton would move to Canada if Trump won, she says she would stay in the US and "try to prevent him for destroying the United States." Later in the interview Galifianakis interrupts Clinton to play a Trump ad. When Clinton asks why he would play the ad, he says Trump paid him in steaks. "I'd be afraid to eat them if I were you," Clinton replies. In March 2014, President Obama went on "Two Ferns" to urge people to sign up for health insurance. The video instantly went viral. Watch the complete interview below: Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: Hillary Clinton from Funny Or Die NOW WATCH: How Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson makes and spends his millions More From Business Insider Warning: Clip contains explicit language. Religion is omnipresent in The Birth of a Nation, Nate Parkers acclaimed (if controversial) biopic about slavery rebellion leader Nat Turner. As portrayed in the film by Parker, Turner was a mild-mannered preacher who traveled Virginia at the behest of his master (Armie Hammer), delivering sermons to fellow slaves. Its ultimately through the use of scripture that Turner would orchestrate the 1831 uprising that has become synonymous with his name. In the exclusive clip above, you can see how the interpretation of biblical text fueled not only debates, but Turners increasingly fiery drive to take up arms against slave owners. Nat Turner is being reprimanded by Hammers Samuel Turner for baptizing a white man. He references the King James Bible in his defense, inciting a furious quote-off with Samuels cohort the Rev. Walthall (Mark Boone Junior) that crescendos with Nats impassioned proclamation to Beware of false prophets who come dressed in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves. The Birth of a Nation opens Oct. 7. Watch the trailer: CNN reporter Charlotte Demonstrations in North Carolina turned violent for a second night amid outrage over a fatal police shooting in the city of Charlotte. One person was on life support after being shot during Wednesday night's protest, according to Charlotte city officials. The protesters were out in support of Keith Lamont Scott, who was fatally shot by the police on Tuesday. The police say the shooting occurred after Scott, who is black, refused their orders to drop a handgun, though there have been conflicting accounts of what exactly transpired. Relatives of Scott have said he was not carrying a gun during his encounter with the police. Authorities have not released any video of the shooting, but the city's mayor said they planned to do so. During heated demonstrations on Wednesday night, some participants clashed with reporters. One person could be seen knocking over CNN reporter Ed Lavandera. That incident was caught on video: The man reportedly later returned to apologize. Another protester confronted Fox News reporter Steve Harrigan live on camera. "You wanna make a f-----" fabricated story," the woman can be heard saying. More From Business Insider Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f217407%2fea498b00274e4a6e8b8b78ea73966c6c Orcas made a spectacular showing this summer near British Columbia in Canada. And, lucky for us land-dwellers, many of those underwater moments were caught on camera. Explore.org's network of live cameras shows the killer whales swimming to and fro near Hanson Island, where salmon swim upriver from June to October and attract the hungry orcas. As the salmon runs wind down in the next few weeks, the whales may soon slip out of the cameras' sight. SEE ALSO: Dolphins have a 'highly advanced' spoken language, study finds But galleries of photos and videos will remain on the website. Many of these files were captured by so-called citizen scientists as they watched the feeds in the hopes of glimpsing some blackfish glory, said Charlie Annenberg, a filmmaker and philanthropist who founded the multimedia organization Explore.org. "They're observing animals in the wild like no other scientist has ever done, because you can observe it 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he told Mashable by phone from California. A viewing of the live cam on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. PDT showed a flurry of black fins albeit grainy and distant slicing through the surface of the Queen Charlotte Strait. The 10 camera set-up around Hanson Island captures more than just the sight of killer whales too. In the full video posted below, the shrieking, echoey sounds of orcas burst through your earbuds. Paul Spong, a renowned whale expert, built an underwater recording system called a hydrophone to accompany the visuals. Image: explore.org What exactly are the orcas saying? Researchers aren't sure. While a recent study found that dolphins can carry on conversations in an advanced spoken language, it's not known if orcas have words or languages. "We think they have signature calls (names) and recognize each other," Carl Safina, a conservationist, previously explained in a National Geographic blog post. "We do know they can hear each other over tens of miles." Story continues Explore.org's live cameras are also trained on brown bears, bison, bee hives and kelp forests, among other creatures. A quick visit to the cameras in Alaska's Katmai National Park revealed three bears splashing around in the bubbling waters of Brooks Falls. They looked rather cuddly with thousands of miles and various screens in between them and the viewer. Annenberg said the mix of wilderness and voyeurism can act as a "bridge" between observing animals in captivity a controversial practice, particularly for orcas and watching them first-hand in the wild. He said he hopes that link can spur viewers to conservation. "The mission is really simple: to allow the public to get up close and personal with nature, with the hope they develop a relationship with the outside world," he said. "You take care of that which you love." By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) For overweight adolescents, experiencing discrimination or bullying in the first year of middle school may contribute to emotional issues seen in the third year by worsening loneliness and anxiety, a U.S. study suggests. We know that heavier youth are likely to be dissatisfied with their bodies at any one time, said lead author Jaana Juvonen of the University of California, Los Angeles. However, we were surprised at our longitudinal findings: that we can predict emotional problems during the last year in middle school (8th grade) based on youths BMI during the first year (6th grade) in middle school when taking into account whether they have been mistreated by peers because of their weight, Juvonen told Reuters Health by email. The researchers used data from a larger long-term study of 26 California middle schools, where data on body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to height, was collected for about 5,000 kids in the spring semester of sixth grade their first year in middle school - and again in seventh grade and eighth grade, the final year of middle school. The kids, who were racially and ethnically mixed and about 52 percent female, also answered questions each year about their own emotional health, including body dissatisfaction, social anxiety and loneliness. They rated their experiences of bullying on questionnaires including items on exclusion, disrespectful treatment, threats or name calling by their peers because of their weight. At each grade level, almost a quarter of kids were overweight or obese based on BMI categories, and one third of the entire group said theyd experienced at least one weight-based discrimination in seventh grade. Researchers found that individual kids perceptions of weight-based discrimination in seventh grade were a better predictor than actual BMI of their body dissatisfaction, social anxiety and loneliness in eighth grade, according to the report in Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. For girls, this was also true for so-called somatic (physical) symptoms of emotional issues, such as headaches and nausea. The results document an important process by which being overweight potentially leads to poorer mental health, said Joseph P. Allen of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, who was not part of the new study. Even after accounting for where they started, adolescents who experienced discrimination were more symptomatic two years later, he said by email. With non-experimental research, we can never prove causality, Juvonen said. And we can obviously not randomly assign heavy youth to conditions where some get discriminated by their peers and others do not. Still, when no one wants to sit with Skyler, or Skyler never gets invited to parties or is publicly humiliated in front of others, it is easy to see why Skyler feels lonely or socially anxious, Juvonen said. Not only do we see peer discrimination predicting loneliness and social anxiety over time for both boys and girls, but we also see that girls who report such discrimination feel increasingly sick, she said. Feeling physically sick, lonely, and socially anxious are likely to make youth withdraw from social situations. Some body dissatisfaction can happen without peer discrimination, she noted. Social comparisons to others (e.g., Facebook pictures, magazine photos) are likely to increase body dissatisfaction especially among girls because they compare themselves to (thin) ideals, Juvonen said. If looks are important to them, they may also have low self-esteem or feel depressed. Bullying shapes social norms by indicating what is not accepted or tolerated, and may extend even to kids in the healthy weight range, she said. Explicit efforts to address weight and body shape issues might be needed especially in middle school when bodies change at different rates and ways due to pubertal maturation, she said. Adults should let students know just why making a harmless joke at someone elses expense reflects badly on the students using it, Allen told Reuters Health. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2cTOZhE Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, online September 12, 2016. By Dan Freed (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co Chief Executive John Stumpf, under fire over problematic sales tactics, resigned from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's advisory council on Thursday. "John made a personal decision to resign as the Twelfth District's representative to the Federal Advisory Council. His top priority is leading Wells Fargo," Wells Fargo spokesman Mark Folk said in an email. A spokesman for the San Francisco Fed declined to comment beyond a press release from the regulator announcing Stumpf's resignation. The Federal Advisory Council has 12 banking industry representatives and ordinarily meets four times a year. Representatives typically serve three one-year terms. Stumpf's second term would have ended at the end of this year. Maine Senator Angus King, a political independent, wrote a letter on Thursday to San Francisco Fed Chairman Roy Vallee asking him not to appoint Stumpf for a third one-year term. Four Senate Democrats also signed the letter. Wells Fargo has fired some 5,300 employees for opening as many as 2 million accounts in customers' names without their authorization. On Sept. 8, a federal regulator and Los Angeles prosecutor announced a $190 million settlement with Wells. (Additional reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru and Patrick Rucker in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Chris Reese) Presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the heaviest hitters of Indian state are weighing the gamut of military options. By Manjeet Negi: Presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the heaviest hitters of Indian state are weighing the gamut of military options - from counterterrorism, cross-border special operations, surgical strikes to a full-blown escalation - to tackle the surge of Pakistani terror, highly-placed official sources said. On Tuesday night, the prime minister spent an hour-and-a-half at the nerve centre of the Indian Army: the war-room of the defence ministry located in South Block, according to most senior security officials. This centre is also called the military operations directorate. advertisement Responding to Pak on Uri: PM has held series of high-level meetings in secret war room Modi was briefed from 9.30 pm to 11 pm on Tuesday at the same war room in a meeting attended by defence minister Manohar Parrkar, army chief Gen. Dalbir Singh, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, naval chief Adm. Sunil Lanba, DGMO Lt-Gen Ranbir Singh and national security advisor Ajit Doval, the sources told India Today. In this top-secret room, the prime minister was shown large maps of key Pakistani installations. He was given an extensive briefing on intelligence about enemy movements and its plans, the sources said. Thereon, the PM saw a big sand table depicting Pakistan's topography as he was briefed about Indian military strategies in the event of an escalation, according to top officials. He was also given the lowdown about the capabilities of the Indian army, air force and navy. In the highest-profile war-room meeting, almost all options to respond to cross-border terror with an iron fist were discussed, including tough response to any Pakistani retaliation, the sources said. Plans, highly-placed officials said, were fine-tuned to hit the Pakistani terrorists hardest after their audacious assault on the Uri camp on Sunday. Something might have gone wrong in Uri, I'll ensure it doesn't go wrong again: Parrikar Uri attack: India to respond at multiple levels, but will the stand be aggressive? Uri attack: Pakistan can't go unpunished, PM Modi has approved effective retaliation 10 terrorists gunned down in Uri after Pakistan violates ceasefire again --- ENDS --- The news that Wells Fargo employees opened thousands of unauthorized bank and credit card accounts for existing customers may make you wonder if you got scammed, too. The San Francisco-based banks own analysis identified more than 1.5 million deposit accounts and 565,443 credit card accounts that were possibly opened illegally between May 2011 and July 2015. Of those, about 85,000 of the deposit accounts and 14,000 of credit card accounts incurred $2.4 million in fees, and Wells Fargo is refunding those fees now. Customers who were affected by these illegal practices and were identified by Wells Fargos analysis dont have to do anything to get a refund. Some of the refunds already have been paid, while others will be sent in the next few months. Wells Fargo says it will invite all its banking customers to review their accounts with a banker and will call its credit card holders to check if they really wanted their card. The bank also says it will extend its account review back to 2009 and 2010 as well. Related: The Real Scandal at Wells Fargo: Execs Got Rich by Sandbagging Clients If you think an account was opened without your permission, you should be able to find all accounts under your name by logging into the Wells Fargo site. You can also go to your local branch or call the bank and review all the accounts linked to your name. You can also find all accounts under your name by requesting a free credit report from http://www.annualcreditreport.com/. If you find a problem that you cant get resolved with the bank, submit an online complaint to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau or call 855-411-2372. The bureau will help get the bank to respond to your issue. Some affected Wells Fargo customers are filing a lawsuit against the bank for the unauthorized accounts. Three plaintiffs filed a proposed class-action suit in the U.S. District Court in Utah last week, alleging invasion of privacy, fraud, negligence and breach of contract. The suit could be thrown out because Wells Fargo customers must use arbitration to resolve any problems, per the account-opening agreement. Arbitration applies even in cases when the account was opened without permission, according to previous lawsuits against the bank for the same practices. Story continues If youve had sham accounts opened in your name and want to share your story or have additional questions, email us at asktft@thefiscaltimes.com. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: The gang is getting back together in an effort to once again work for the White House. Castmembers from The West Wing, including Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Joshua Malina, Dule Hill and Mary McCormack, will campaign for Hillary Clinton in Ohio this weekend. Malina, who played Will Bailey in the iconic political drama created by Aaron Sorkin, told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday he is thrilled to get out the vote with his friends. "I support Hillary Clinton and the idea of being a part of any effort to get her elected is exciting to me," Malina tells THR. "[This election] really is the kind of thing that is going to have ramifications for decades to come." The group of six will campaign around the state, including in Cleveland, Dayton and Columbus. McCormack was the first to send out an email to reunite the cast to stump for Clinton. "It all came together on the fly," Malina says. "As a California Democrat, in order to have any effect on the general election, you have to leave town. The idea of going to a battleground state is thrilling for me." He added, "My sense is that our mission statement isn't about changing hearts and minds, it's more about mobilizing the voters and getting people to reach out beyond their usual comfort zone to get other family members and friends to go out and vote." Malina, who currently plays David Rosen on ABC's Scandal, says there will be some who'll react to the faux White House staffers' efforts with cynicism, but the work to be done is worth it. "I know there will be some who go, 'Oh, they played political staffers and now they think they're the real thing.' And they have a point, we are just actors. But, that being said, anybody can get out there an encourage others to vote, and that's a positive thing," Malina says. "And I am happy to tell anyone at any of these stops why I am going to vote for Hillary Clinton." The campaigning in Ohio will be kept positive, Malina says, focusing on why the cast supports Clinton. Still, in regard to Donald Trump he added, "To me, it is very, very scary, the possibilities for the near future." Read more: 'West Wing' Uncensored: Aaron Sorkin, Rob Lowe, More Look Back on Early Fears, Long Hours, Contract Battles and the Real Reason for Those Departures The Writers Guild of America East has won a four-year battle with NBCUniversals reality-documentary arm Peacock Productions to unionize producers and associate producers. The guild announced Wednesday that three-year-old ballots counted by the National Labor Relations Board show that the writer-producers at Peacock Productions voted decisively in favor of unionizing about 100 freelance producers and associate producers. Peacock Productions had no immediate comment. The dispute began in October of 2012, when writer-producers at Peacock Productions filed for a union election with the NLRB. Peacock Productions attempted to block a vote but the NLRB Region 2 in New York ruled against Peacock and ordered the election to go forward in 2013. NBCU filed an appeal, and after the election, the NLRB impounded the ballots until a decision was made by the board. The ballots were counted shortly after the NLRBs board ruled on Aug. 26 that the employees did have the right to unionize under federal labor law. Since that time, the WGA East have unionized reality TV writers and producers at Vice, Gawker, ThinkProgress, and Salon. While NBC has been dragging its feet the past three years, nonfiction workers have won union elections at New Yorks biggest production companies, said David Van Taylor, a producer at Peacock Productions. We are transforming this industry. Now producers and APs at Peacock can join in the progress were making towards reasonable working conditions and sustainable careers. Its clear the majority of creative professionals in this industry are behind us. Peacock workers now expect to negotiate a contract that protects their rights, just as Writers Guild contracts have protected the rights of NBCs fiction writers for years. Related stories Writers Guild Objects to Univision's Removal of Gawker Posts WGA East, New York City Agencies Launch Diversity Initiative for TV Writers Gawker to Live on via Writers Guild Contract at Surviving Sites Here's their top 10 cities to cath-em all. Online booking platform Hotels.com research reveals Singaporean holiday priorities when planning for a getaway: most are happy to plan a Pokemon-inspired getaway, with over 7 in 10 planning to play on their next trip, 4 in 10 choosing their destination based on Pokemon stops, and planning in time for finding Pokemon Go Gyms or lures. Most expect to spend between 2-3 hours per day of their holiday playing even more time than when they are at home. Singaporeans want to catch-em-all they think there are more Pokemon available in destinations like Bangkok, Tokyo, Sydney and Melbourne, each destination ranking high in the list of locations they would be prepared to visit to increase their chances of a good catch. If they visit to go hunting, they want to make sure theres a good reward! Even if theyre not playing Pokemon, the most popular feature when choosing a hotel is to find one near famous landmarks. Curiously, this is also where 63% of people most expect to find a Pokemon! But it seems Singaporeans want it all. They want a Pokemon getaway but they also prefer non-Pokemon activities. 6 in 10 hope to explore more whilst seeking Pokemon, and are looking for free hotel Wi-Fi for Pokemon Go just as much as a free breakfast. Yet at the same time the biggest influence when booking the next trip is great food, over and above music, film, or the celebrity appeal, with Pokemon being least important. They also say they would prefer a romantic walk on the beach or time alone with a loved one, rather than a Pokemon hunt. Jessica Chuang, Director, Regional Marketing G. China, SEA & IN, Hotels.com adds: The Pokemon holiday is a complicated mix of Pokemon-hunting, going to the Pokemon-gym, and exploring destinations through the eyes of the Pokemon world. Yet there might be some confused girlfriends and boyfriends, expecting the romantic walk on the beach whilst their other half is secretly steering them towards the nearest Lure. Despite this, its clear the Pokemon Go phenomenon is influencing our holiday destinations, opening our minds to new adventures in new destinations. The top 10 cities that Singaporean travellers believe theyre most likely to find Pokemon success are: Tokyo, Japan (51%) Story continues New York, The United States (36%) Bangkok, Thailand (31%) Sydney, Australia (31%) Taipei, Taiwan (29%) Singapore (28%) Osaka, Japan (23%) Melbourne, Australia (23%) San Francisco, The United States (22%) London, The United Kingdom (22%) More From Singapore Business Review By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The leaders of hundreds of Native American tribes will meet with President Barack Obama at his eighth and final Tribal Nations Conference at the White House next week, while thousands of activists are encamped on the North Dakota prairie protesting a $3.7 billion oil pipeline. The conference, designed to improve the relationship between Washington and the tribes, offers the last chance for this administration to hear from tribal leaders about the shortcomings of the current consultation system, which has been a source of conflict over the pipeline and other projects. Federal agencies take different approaches to consulting with the tribes. Obama, who will leave office in January, likely wants to do what he can before his term ends to fix the consultation system. The North Dakota encampment represents the largest Native American protest in decades. Along with environmentalists, the tribes say the 1,100-mile (1,886-km) Dakota Access pipeline, being developed by Energy Transfer Partners LP, would threaten the water supply and sacred sites of the Standing Rock Sioux. The administration stepped in unexpectedly on Sept. 9 to temporarily block construction of the pipeline and called for "a serious discussion" about how the tribes are consulted by the government in decisions on major infrastructure projects. "There are going to be hundreds of tribes interested in this consultation process. It will not be easy logistically, politically or substantively," said Gabe Galanda, an attorney in Seattle who represents tribal governments. VARYING APPROACHES At present, the Army Corps of Engineers, which manages many infrastructure projects for the government, takes one approach to consulting Native American tribes. The Interior Department and its Bureau of Indian Affairs take another. Laws overlap. The result can be confusion and sometimes anger, as with Dakota Access, said Bryan Newland, a lawyer and former adviser to the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the Interior Department until 2012. Story continues A goal of the upcoming discussions will likely be simply to clarify what is meant by "consultation." The Interior Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs tend to hold face-to-face bilateral meetings with tribal leaders. The Corps often is accused of "checking marks on a checklist and moving on with what the developer intends to do," said Galanda. Ron His Horse is Thunder, spokesman for the Standing Rock Sioux, said: "There's an issue between what the Corps believes is consultation and what the tribe believes is consultation." Before the Dakota Access protest erupted, tribe members voiced specific concerns with the government about the proximity of the pipeline to sacred burial sites, but these concerns were ignored, according to His Horse is Thunder. But Amy Gaskill, public affairs chief for the Corps' northwest division, said the tribe canceled several scheduled meetings. This was documented in a judge's decision to reject the tribe's request for an injunction, she said. "We redoubled our efforts to work with the tribe to make sure their voice was heard in the process," Gaskill said. Energy Transfer Partners said last week it remained committed to the pipeline project, which had been slated to begin carrying oil south from the Bakken shale field by the end of 2016. TOWARD REFORM Sixteen years ago, President Bill Clinton issued an executive order requiring agencies to consult with Native Americans on matters affecting them. Obama in 2009 issued a memo intended to strengthen consultations with the tribes. But doing that requires constant attention, said David Hayes, a former deputy secretary of the Interior under Clinton and Obama. "It is the kind of thing that requires diligence in terms of federal officials ensuring they are not simply treating tribes like any other stakeholder," Hayes said. Some agencies do not treat the tribes as sovereign nations, as they should under law, said Wizipan Garriott Little Elk, a former Department of Interior official. "So often you see the agency request the consultation with the president of a tribal nation, but the agency will send a low-level bureaucrat to the meeting and simply check off the consultation box," Garriott said. The Corps also weighs a narrower geographic scope for projects than other agencies, so it can overlook impacts outside the immediate range of a reservation, Newland said. Talks between tribal leaders and the administration are likely to expose a consultation system that makes tribes feel disadvantaged, said Emily Mallen, a lawyer with Van Ness Feldman specializing in pipelines. "It is unknown how the federal government might seek to resolve this issue. The only thing that is sure is that the tribal consultation process will likely see significant changes as a result," she said. (Additional reporting by Ruthy Munoz in Washington; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Matthew Lewis) By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leaders of hundreds of Native American tribes will meet with President Barack Obama at his eighth and final Tribal Nations Conference at the White House next week, while thousands of activists are encamped on the North Dakota prairie protesting a $3.7 billion oil pipeline. The conference, designed to improve the relationship between Washington and the tribes, offers the last chance for this administration to hear from tribal leaders about the shortcomings of the current consultation system, which has been a source of conflict over the pipeline and other projects. Federal agencies take different approaches to consulting with the tribes. Obama, who will leave office in January, likely wants to do what he can before his term ends to fix the consultation system. The North Dakota encampment represents the largest Native American protest in decades. Along with environmentalists, the tribes say the 1,100-mile (1,886-km) Dakota Access pipeline, being developed by Energy Transfer Partners LP , would threaten the water supply and sacred sites of the Standing Rock Sioux. The administration stepped in unexpectedly on Sept. 9 to temporarily block construction of the pipeline and called for "a serious discussion" about how the tribes are consulted by the government in decisions on major infrastructure projects. "There are going to be hundreds of tribes interested in this consultation process. It will not be easy logistically, politically or substantively," said Gabe Galanda, an attorney in Seattle who represents tribal governments. VARYING APPROACHES At present, the Army Corps of Engineers, which manages many infrastructure projects for the government, takes one approach to consulting Native American tribes. The Interior Department and its Bureau of Indian Affairs take another. Laws overlap. The result can be confusion and sometimes anger, as with Dakota Access, said Bryan Newland, a lawyer and former adviser to the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the Interior Department until 2012. Story continues A goal of the upcoming discussions will likely be simply to clarify what is meant by "consultation." The Interior Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs tend to hold face-to-face bilateral meetings with tribal leaders. The Corps often is accused of "checking marks on a checklist and moving on with what the developer intends to do," said Galanda. Ron His Horse is Thunder, spokesman for the Standing Rock Sioux, said: "There's an issue between what the Corps believes is consultation and what the tribe believes is consultation. Before the Dakota Access protest erupted, tribe members voiced specific concerns with the government about the proximity of the pipeline to sacred burial sites, but these concerns were ignored, according to His Horse is Thunder. But Amy Gaskill, public affairs chief for the Corps' northwest division, said the tribe canceled several scheduled meetings. This was documented in a judge's decision to reject the tribe's request for an injunction, she said. "We redoubled our efforts to work with the tribe to make sure their voice was heard in the process," Gaskill said. Energy Transfer Partners said last week it remained committed to the pipeline project, which had been slated to begin carrying oil south from the Bakken shale field by the end of 2016. TOWARD REFORM Sixteen years ago, President Bill Clinton issued an executive order requiring agencies to consult with Native Americans on matters affecting them. Obama in 2009 issued a memo intended to strengthen consultations with the tribes. But doing that requires constant attention, said David Hayes, a former deputy secretary of the Interior under Clinton and Obama. "It is the kind of thing that requires diligence in terms of federal officials ensuring they are not simply treating tribes like any other stakeholder," Hayes said. Some agencies do not treat the tribes as sovereign nations, as they should under law, said Wizipan Garriott Little Elk, a former Department of Interior official. So often you see the agency request the consultation with the president of a tribal nation, but the agency will send a low-level bureaucrat to the meeting and simply check off the consultation box, Garriott said. The Corps also weighs a narrower geographic scope for projects than other agencies, so it can overlook impacts outside the immediate range of a reservation, Newland said. Talks between tribal leaders and the administration are likely to expose a consultation system that makes tribes feel disadvantaged, said Emily Mallen, a lawyer with Van Ness Feldman specializing in pipelines. "It is unknown how the federal government might seek to resolve this issue. The only thing that is sure is that the tribal consultation process will likely see significant changes as a result," she said. (Additional reporting by Ruthy Munoz in Washington; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Matthew Lewis) Oklahoma prosecutors filed a first-degree manslaughter charge Thursday against a white officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man in Tulsa. Officer Betty Shelby was booked at the local county jail early Friday and released on $50,000 bond, authorities said. She was charged in the shooting death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, whom officials say she shot last Friday after his vehicle stalled in the middle of a road. The officer's "fear resulted in her unreasonable actions which led to her shooting" Crutcher, a criminal complaint viewed by CNN said. Read: Family of Unarmed Man Fatally Shot by Police Demands Justice: 'It Feels Like A Nightmare' Dashcam and aerial footage showed the man with his hands up, walking away from officers. There were no clear images of Shelby firing the single round that killed Crutcher. She claimed Shelby was not following police commands and that she opened fire when he started to reach inside his SUV. Video shows Crutcher with his hands raised above his head before his death, walking away from Shelby and toward his car when the shot rang out. No weapon was found in his car. Shelby joined the Tulsa Police Department in 2011. She was answering an unrelated domestic dispute call when she encountered Shelbys vehicle in the center lane. She did not activate her dash cam, so there are no images of their encounter before other officers came on the scene. If convicted, she faces four years to life in prison. Read: TV Hosts Like Whoopi Goldberg and Presidential Candidates Rip New Wave of Police Shootings of Black Men Prosecutors said they had been in contact with Shelby and were making arrangements for her to turn herself in. Watch: PCP Found in Car of Unarmed Oklahoma Man Killed By Police, Cops Say Related Articles: From ELLE There's always one MVP during Fashion Month-a celebrity who shows up for shows with such enthusiasm (and carefully planned outfits) that our hearts burst forth like Powerpuff Girls GIFs. The thing is, it's usually a girl. Not this time. Musician, tech geek, and Voice UK judge will.i.am has taken the front-row crown, appearing at more runways this season than Karlie Kloss, including Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Opening Ceremony, Hood by Air, and Gareth Pugh. What's in it for him? A gizmo launch, for starters: He's partnered with FarFetch to sell a new range of wireless headphones with his i.am+ brand. (It's called Hear.i.am. See what he did there?) We spoke with the polymath about Hillary Clinton, Kendall Jenner, and being a dude in the fashion bubble. Photo credit: Getty Farfetch is a fashion site, but you chose to sell your headphones there. Why? Our team was really excited about our Gucci [smartwatch] collaboration. We thought, "What are we doing next? What's just as sexy as a Gucci store?" Are you an e-commerce fan? Eh. I shop at boutiques. I go to Maxfield and Traffic in LA; places like that. And I like the H. Lorenzo guys because they call me all the time, and say [in an Italian accent], "Will! You must come see these things we have found for you!" Lorenzo knows I'm going to come every season and buy out half of his floor. And he sells on Farfetch. Traffic sells on Farfetch. It just kind of solidified that it was the route we should go down. Likeminded folks shop in the same circles. And it gave me confidence. Photo credit: Getty You're going to a lot of runway shows, but most are for women's collections. Do you think fashion is becoming genderfluid? Or do you just like the models? [Laughing] Let me ask you something. The phone you've got: Is that a girl's iPhone or a men's iPhone? I mean, it's the rose gold one? Fashion is becoming the same thing as our devices. These walls keep being broken down. Your rose gold iPhone works on a guy, too. It's not all the way there yet for fashion, but it'll get there. It'll get there the way running shoes have gotten there, and backpacks have gotten there. And jackets. Story continues Let the record show: We're wearing the same jacket! Except yours is designer and mine is from American Eagle. Yours is dope! [contentlinks align="left" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Stories" customtitles="The%20Best%20Looks%20from%20Milan%20Fashion%20Week%20%7C24%20Times%20These%20Celebs%20Gave%20Zero%20F*cks" customimages="|" content="gallery.28859|gallery.28852"] Yeah, but yours is Varsity Fashion and mine is like Junior Varsity. We're in Europe. Nobody here knows what that means! And with unisex fashion, you know, females were doing it first. You're the reason we have unisex clothing. It's because girls said, "Wait, I can wear jeans, too! I can wear a suit, too." Although, okay, in Scotland, the boys wear the skirts. But as far as pop culture, women were on the forefront of the unisex movement and I'm grateful to you. Because you want to wear a kilt? No, but there's a lot of other awesome shit that's only made for women. I can't tell you how many times I've gone into a boutique asking for a jacket or a T-shirt, and they'll say, "Sorry, sir, that's a women's item." And I'm like, "Okay, but does it come in a big girl size? Because I'll wear that shit." What's the last piece of "women's" clothing you bought for yourself? I can't tell you that! Okay. It was a long, awesome shirt with a lot of incredible detail at the collar. It was a rare brand. [Laughing.] But I don't want to tell people where to go get all my cool stuff. You have a lot of readers! Photo credit: Getty You studied fashion design at FIDM, became a renowned musician, run a tech company...can you tell younger readers about creative cross-training? Is that what you're calling it? "Creative cross-training." Okay, yeah. If you want to be a better musician, hang out with a computer coder. If you want to be a better web hacker, hang out with a painter. You don't have to stay in your lane when it comes to friendship or ideas. Have different people in your fold. Have cross-disciplinary collaborations. When you think outside of what you know, that brings out the best in you. You have to have non-traditional ways of collaborating. But better is relative. But you're a musician. You know when a song sounds "better." No. That's relative, too. I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute. You've voiced your support for Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign. Will she get a song from you, like Obama did? The world is getting a song now. We have a new version of Where Is the Love. It's for Paris, it's for Belgium, it's for Turkey, it's for Orlando. It's for Philando Castile. It's for Alton Sterling. It's for Mike Brown. It's for every unthinkable, distorted, heart-wrenching, "I can't believe we do this to each other" thing that's happened. Photo credit: Getty Kendall Jenner is featured in that song. And you hosted a dinner for her during New York Fashion Week. How did you connect? Andre Leon Talley works at i.am plus, so he brought us together...she's a hard worker and she's achieved an incredible amount of things in the fashion industry, and that should be celebrated. It takes a lot of work and commitment! And-wait, what month is it? September? Okay, so she's also working with us at i.am plus. Does that mean you and Kendall Jenner are working on a secret project? It just means we like her. All right, Varsity Fashion. Great to talk with you. No, you're varsity now, too. You just moved up! You Might Also Like By PTI: Patna, Sep 21 (PTI) Scholars, researchers and noted personalities from around the world will congregate here tomorrow for a three-day global conclave to celebrate the legacy of Sikhism and Sri Guru Gobind Singh ahead of the grand 350th birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the event at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall which would be followed by a visit to the gurudwara in Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Sri Guru Gobind Singh. advertisement The International Sikh Conclave is being held from September 22-24 as a precursor to the impressive ceremony lined up by the Bihar government in January to mark the 350th year of the birth of the tenth Sikh Guru. "Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union minister S S Ahluwalia, former chairman of National Commission for Minorities Tarlochan Singh and New Zealand MP Kanwal Singh Bakshi are among the personalties scheduled to attend the programme. Besides, some Sikh ministers in Canada have also been invited," a senior official told PTI. Patna Sahib gurudwara or Taht Shri Harmandir Sahib, located in the old city in east Patna, is considered one of the holiest places in the world by the Sikh community, and with the grand anniversary celebrations next year, Bihar is also seeking to reposition itself on the global tourist map by leveraging his iconic legacy. "This conclave also is to spread the word about the grand event to be held on January 5, preparations for which are in full swing. We want to present Bihars best and all departments are working in tandem to execute it successfully," the official said. The conclave to be attended by around 200 delegates would also have scholars of Sikhism, who would present papers on different aspects of the religion. "On September 23, three panel discussion are lined up -- Sri Guru Gobind Singh: A spiritual saviour and crusader of rights, Sri Guru Gobind Singh: A poet par excellence and Sikhism: A faith of love and humanity. On the last day, a discussion would be held on the topic of Contributions of Sikhs to the Nation," he said. Cultural programmes would be an added attraction to the global event. Musicians like Rabbi Shergill and Diljit Dosanjh would also be performing, he said. A coffee-table book on Sri Guru Gobind Singh would also be launched on the occasion. "The event would be closed by Governor Ram Nath Kovind. This would be an important event as Bihar gears up for the mega Prakashotsav (festival) next year," he said. PTI KND PMS DV PMS --- ENDS --- advertisement North Carolina is one of the only places in the United States where judges can refuse to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies. If magistrates have a religious objection to same-sex marriage, state law says, they can tag themselves out of issuing any marriage licenses, for either gay or straight couples, for at least six months. In the past year, various groups have sued the state over religious accommodations for North Carolina judges. But as two decisions this week show, they havent been very successful so far. Before North Carolina passed its exemption law, two judges, Gilbert Breedlove and Thomas Holland, sued a state administrative office for telling them that they had to perform same-sex marriages. They had asked for religious accommodation, but officials refused to give it, so they resigned from their respective posts. Although the legislature later addressed this issue by specifically putting a religious exemption for judges in place, Breedlove and Holland kept pursuing their suit. Meanwhile, in another case, three couplesone married lesbian couple, one interracial couple, and one engaged lesbian couplechallenged the new magistrates law. These plaintiffs have argued that the measure essentially uses public money, in the form of paychecks, to get judges out of fulfilling their duties. On Tuesday, the North Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed a lower courts dismissal of the first challenge. The same day, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina filed its dismissal of the second case. Neither decision had to do with the merits of the arguments; both found that the plaintiffs bringing the suits dont have standing, meaning they dont have the legal right to bring their respective challenges. While these cases will likely be appealed, both decisions suggest that, once passed, laws like North Carolinas will prove difficult to take down in court. Recommended: Trump's Black Outreach Repackages Racism as Earnest Concern Story continues Not many states have put laws like this in place, even if legislators have wanted to. North Carolinas law was passed in June of 2015, shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage to be legal. Some legislatures, like Florida, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Virginia, have introduced similar legislation but have not yet passed it. Others have been thrown out: A sweeping law in Mississippi, for example, created exemptions for judges, along with select exemptions for other people who have religious objections to same-sex marriage or gender-reassignment surgery, but a federal judge blocked it from going into effect in July. The other major state that has taken up this issue is Kentucky, where the Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was jailed for refusing to sign same-sex-marriage licenses or affix her offices name to the certificates. A law signed in April addressed that issue by removing the requirement that a clerks signature or office name be included on marriage licenses. North Carolinas judge law doesnt affect a huge number of public officials: One of the suits alleges that at least 32 magistrates across North Carolina who had previously performed marriages for opposite-sex couples invoked religious beliefs to recuse themselves. But it has become a symbol in a much bigger fight. Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the United States, what rights should religious people have to avoid involvement in the ceremonies based on moral objections? Legislatures are also dealing with this question when it comes to other LGBT rights: Less than half of states forbid discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in housing, hiring, and public accommodations, and LGBT advocates are pushing for new legislation in the states where those protections dont exist. Recommended: When Donald Meets Hillary: Who Will Win the Debates? While many states have become paralyzed on this issue, stuck in the back-and-forth between LGBT rights and religious-freedom claims, North Carolina is one of the few that has taken action. H.B. 2, a law passed in March, orders transgender residents and visitors to the state to only use bathrooms that correspond to their biological sex at birth, rather than facilities that match their gender identity. The statute further forbids states and counties from passing their own public-accommodations protections that would allow transgender people to use facilities of their choice. Because of these laws, North Carolina has made a name for itself as the state where LGBT rights and religious-freedom claims have come into conflict. While the lawsuits that were dismissed this week are narrowly about the magistrates law, the stakes are really about this bigger fight: Those involved are trying to affirm or deny a religious individuals right to stay out of the gay-marriage business. The details matter, though. Unless these plaintiffs can persuade a judge that they have the legal right to take these questions to court, they wont be able to make changes with litigation. Perhaps one set of plaintiffs will win their challenge on appeal. Or maybe a better case, involving people who are more clearly affected by this law, will come along. Either way, the law will stay in place for now, and for the foreseeable future. North Carolina judges will continue to be able to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. And the Tar Heel state will remain the primary battleground for legal fights over LGBT rights and religious freedom. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. From Country Living Pugs, shih tzus, bulldogs, and French bulldogs are some of the cutest dog breeds out there. Their flat faces and wrinkly noses give them a comical appearance and tons of personality, and they can be terrific companions. But with those adorable features come a host of health problems that have been bred into them for generations. According to the BBC, things have gotten so bad that a British veterinary group is warning dog lovers to steer clear of these breeds-for their own good. The British Veterinary Association is warning that the boom in popularity for these dog breeds has "increased animal suffering." That's because dogs are being bred for their cute looks, and not necessarily for lasting health. The dogs, who are called brachycephalic or short-muzzled, are bred to have short noses, and because of that tend to have small or flat throats and breathing passages. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Brachycephalic Syndrome is a combination of a too-long soft palate that interferes with air moving into the lungs, malformed nostrils that make it difficult for the dog to breathe, and tissue in the windpipe that obstructs airflow near the vocal cords. Dogs with this syndrome typically make a lot of noise when they breathe, have a hard time exercising, and sometimes collapse when they've had too much activity or heat. The bulldog is the fourth most popular breed in America, and the French bulldog ranks sixth, up from 11th in 2013. Other flat-faced dogs, like boxers, cavalier King Charles spaniels, and shih tzus, are also high on the American Kennel Club's popularity list. Because of this newfound popularity, the BBC also notes, animal shelters in the U.K. are seeing an uptick in short-muzzled dogs, and these shelters have to perform surgeries to clear out the dogs' airways and widen their nostrils. In a 2011 article in its magazine, the Humane Society blamed these health problems on the culture surrounding purebred dogs. Because breed standards are so strict, they say, the number of dogs that are suitable to breed is quite small, which can inadvertently lead to inbreeding and subsequent problems. Other purebreds have health problems, too; for example, basset hounds and dachshunds tend to have back problems because they're bred to have short legs. Story continues But bulldogs are often in the spotlight as the most extreme example of breeding for looks, not health. "It is the most extreme example of genetic manipulation in the dog-breeding world that results in congenital and hereditary problems," Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society, told the New York Times Magazine in 2011. "Inbreeding and other reckless breeding practices may not be as bloody as dogfighting or as painful to look at as puppy mills, but they may ultimately cause even more harm to the well-being of dogs." The Bulldog Club of America notes that breed standards mandate a dog with wide nostrils and the ability to move around without restrictions. "It is a myth that the bulldog is inherently unhealthy by virtue of its conformation," their website reads. "When responsible breeders use healthy dogs in their breeding program, the offspring excel in conformation and companion events." The British vets are encouraging prospective owners to find other breeds, or adopting mixed-breed pups instead. But if you simply must have a Boston terrier, the veterinarians urge you to make sure you have thoroughly researched its breeder-and don't even think of buying a pet from a puppy mill or a pet store that uses one. You Might Also Like A new survey has revealed that women feel under pressure to dress a certain way at work [Photo: stokpic.com via Pexels] Earlier this year we brought you the news that a woman had been sent home from work for not wearing high heels. Shocking though it was we chalked it down to a one-off setback in the strive for equality in the workplace. But turns out, it wasnt such a rarity with new research revealing that women are regularly being told to put on makeup and wear high heels and short skirts. Just to check we are in 2016 right? In a survey of 2,000 employees commissioned by employment lawyers Slater and Gordon, 86% of women said they felt pressured to dress sexier in order to protect their careers. Meanwhile, 7% of female employees said their bosses urged them to wear high heels in the office or with clients because it made them more appealing. Yikes! Sadly the survey seems to reveal that sexism in the workplace is very much alive and kicking with 28% of women claiming they had been advised that changing their appearance would be better for business, while 13% said they had decided to flaunt more flesh at work after suggestions by more senior employees to sex-up their appearance. Women are being told to wear more make-up in the workplace [Photo: kaboompics.com via Pexels] A further 19% of women workers said they felt more attention was paid to their appearance by their bosses than to their male colleagues. In contrast, 54% of men said their appearance had never been commented upon, and a mere 3% said they had been told to dress more smartly by their more senior colleagues, though some male employees did report that they had been told to remove hair dye, jewellery and cover any visible tattoos. And there are other, less tangible, pressures on women in the workplace. 52% feel that wearing the same outfit is frowned upon, and 37% said they felt expected to refresh their wardrobe on a regular basis. Speaking about the results Josephine Van Lierop, an employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon said: The findings of this survey are very disappointing but not surprising. Story continues There are still far too many employers that think it is acceptable to make disparaging remarks or comments about a womans appearance. This sort of sexism is all too prevalent in the workplace particularly in certain sectors such as financial services, hospitality and The City. Current UK employment law states a dress code can be used but this is usually imposed for health and safety reasons, or to promote a particular image, for example, of smartness and efficiency. Were pretty sure wearing high heels and slicking on the lipstick wont have much bearing on safety in the office, nor should it have any impact whatsoever on your ability to do your job. A dress code must not be discriminatory on protected grounds such as gender or religious belief, and disable employees have the right to have adjustments made to alleviate disadvantage, Josephine Van Lierop continues. Heels at work are a must according to some employers [Photo: Getty] Earlier this year, Nicola Thorp, the woman who was sent home for daring to wear flats to the office claimed that employers demands on their female staffs looks are discriminatory. Her official petition to make it illegal for employers to impose heels on their female staff gathered over 150,000 signatures and she was heard in Parliament by the Women and Equalities Committee in June. In the end Portico, the agency who placed her as a temporary receptionist at a city firm, agreed to review its uniform policy, but now Nicola is turning her attention to companies stipulating female employees should wear make-up. For an employer to stipulate you have to wear make-up what is that saying to women? she told the Telegraph. I initially decided to focus on high heels because its clear discrimination and it causes women pain. But there should be questions about women being expected to wear make-up at work, too. Have you ever been told to change your appearance at work? Share your stories @YahooStyleUK Its 2016 And A Woman Was Sent Home From Work For Not Wearing Heels Shocking Figures Show How Little Weve Advanced When It Comes To The Gender Pay Gap Washington (AFP) - The arm of the World Bank serving the poorest countries has received its first-ever public credit ratings, allowing it to borrow on international capital markets, the global lender announced Thursday. The International Development Association, which offers grants and concessional loans to the world's 77 poorest countries, received the top triple-A rating with a stable outlook from the agencies Moody's and Standard & Poors. The IDA is currently negotiating a new round of cash contributions from sovereign governments covering 2017 to 2020 and access to capital markets could boost these resources by half, according to Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for Development Finance. "We're still negotiating but the ambition is certainly to significantly increase our resources," van Trotsenburg told AFP. "A fifty percent increase could be a possibility." The previous package agreed in 2013 totalled $52 billion, he said. In a statement, Moody's said it had based its rating on IDA's high capital adequacy and liquidity as well as strong support from member countries. "Although IDA lends to some of the poorest nations worldwide, its asset performance has been high," Moody's said. "Non-performing loans have averaged 2.4 percent over the last seven years, and fell below 2 percent" in the 2016 fiscal year. dna editing CRISPR human embryos A scientist in Sweden has begun editing the genes of healthy human embryos for the first time in known history, according to an exclusive report published by NPR. NPR's Rob Stein watched biologist Fredrik Lanner of the Karolinska Institute and a graduate student thaw five embryos that had been donated for research before having the student inject the embryos with the genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas-9, which can essentially find and cut out or replace sections of DNA to activate or even replace specific genes. CRISPR basically works like "a molecular scalpel for genomes," as Jennifer Doudna, a biologist frequently credited as one of the co-discoverers of this revolutionary genetic editing system (and one of the first to use it), previously described it to me. "All the technologies in the past were sort of like sledgehammers ... This just gives scientists the capability do something that is incredibly powerful." Lanner's plan is to use the tool to study early embryonic development, the process by which embryonic cells first begin to divide as an embryo grows during its first days. None of the embryos will be allowed to develop for longer than two weeks. Still, editing healthy embryos is a big step, as it's the same technology that could permanently alter the human genome. This technology could allow us to eliminate deadly genetic diseases from people before they are born (and remove these genes from the human genetic library, eventually) but could also in theory be used to engineer desired traits into children. Since Lanner does not plan to implant the embryo into a person, none of that is an issue here. Still, NPR notes that some are concerned that if he shows it's possible to accurately edit human genes in healthy embryos (something we don't know yet, and something that this research could reveal), people could use that knowledge to actually edit and implant embryos in the future. That would make genetically edited human babies possible scientifically, if not legally. Story continues dna editing CRISPR In states that don't regulate embryo research in the US, the experiments that Lanner is doing would be legal, since there are no plans to implant edited embryos into people. That sort of procedure one that could result in an actual birth would need to be approved by the FDA, and the current budget bill does not allow the agency to accept a proposal to do so. The National Academies gene editing committee expects to publish a report with specific recommendations on governance of gene editing research for the US government in early 2017. While Lanner is the first to do this research in healthy human embryos, other researchers have similar plans in the UK. Researchers in China have also already published data on their efforts to edit non-viable human embryos. You can read NPR's report on the Shots blog or listen to the Morning Edition segment about the experiment below. NOW WATCH: Watch science writer Carl Zimmer explain CRISPR in 90 seconds More From Business Insider Three policemen were arrested by the Coimbatore Police, in Tamil Nadu, for looting Rs 3.5 crore suspected hawala money. Three policemen have been arrested for looting Rs 3.5 crore hawala money. (Photo for representational purpose) By Pramod Madhav: Three policemen were arrested on Wednesday by the Coimbatore rural police for looting Rs 3.5 crore suspected hawala money, in Tamil Nadu. Investigations have revealed that one of them, Karur police station inspector Muthukumar, had been involved in similar robberies in the past. THE PLOT A five-member gang, including Muthukumar, sub-inspector Saravanan, and head constable Dharmendran in police uniform, intercepted a car on August 25 near Eechanari in Coimbatore under the pretext of a vehicle check. advertisement ALSO READ: Delhi Police arrest accused in daylight robbery of 80 lakhs The car was carrying associates of Anwarsada, a businessman dealing in gold jewellery in Malappuram in Kerala. On checking the car, the policemen found Rs 3.5 crore of unaccounted money. They asked Anwarsada's associates to get into the police car, in this case a Bolero, for questioning. In the meantime, another member of the gang drove Anwarsada's luxury car away. After driving for a while, the men in uniform asked Anwarsada's associates to get down in the middle of a highway, and drove away. It soon dawned on the men that they were robbed of the car and the money. One of them, Muhammad Musheer, called Anwarsada who, in turn, filed a complaint. SMELLING A FOUL PLAY The cops smelled foul play when during the investigation they found out that Anwarsada had filed a complaint regarding the missing car, and not the missing Rs 3.5 crore his associates complained about. They questioned Anwarsada but couldn't get a clear answer from him. A special police team arrived from Chennai and started investigating the matter. Police recovered the CCTV footage of the highway toll gate and were shocked to find their own men behind the robbery. The Trichy SP immediately suspended the three officers. TRIED AND TESTED FORMULA "Muthukumar would use his sources to find out about the route in which the hawala money would travel. He would then intercept the specific car and take the money," an officer said. Since the money is unaccounted, its owner would seldom file a complaint. The police are now searching Muthukumar's properties to find further evidence against him. ALSO READ: Daylight robbery attempt foiled in Delhi's Khichripur area, 1 held --- ENDS --- After a report this morning by tech news site Recode, Yahoo has disclosed that the data of 500 million users was breached in 2014 "by a state actor," according to The New York Times. The hack, which came to light in August and was claimed by a cybercriminal named Peace, is unwelcome news to the company, currently in the process of selling its core assets to Verizon. The breach allegedly involved usernames and passwords, along with birth dates and backup email addresses. In Yahoo's case, Peace has claimed that he was going to sell the data trove for 3 bitcoin, which amounts to $1,860. A report on the hack was published by Vice's Motherboard only a week after Verizon announced it was buying Yahoo for $4.8 billion. Verizon Acquires Yahoo for $4.83 Billion Yahoo has said little about the hack, other than admitting they were "aware" of the situation. The company has yet to inform users of any breach or urge them to reset their passwords (just go ahead and do that). Aden (AFP) - Yemen's premier-in-exile returned home Thursday along with seven ministers to the southern city of Aden, the temporary capital as rebels continue to rule Sanaa. Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher flew from Riyadh to the port city where he said upon arrival that his return is "final". The premier's voyage is the first since his predecessor Khaled Bahah fled Aden in October last year after surviving a bombing attack, only weeks after he had returned with a handful of ministers. Government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition had pushed Shiite rebels and their allies out of Aden and four other southern provinces in the summer. The coalition launched a military campaign against the rebels in March 2015 as they closed in on President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after he took refuge in Aden, forcing him into exile in Riyadh. Hadi has not made any suggestion of returning to Yemen soon. Bin Dagher said his return follows a decision by Hadi to withdraw the central bank from rebel-held Sanaa to Aden. His government has 32 ministers. Some are expected to move from Riyadh to Marib, east of Sanaa, a region that is also mostly controlled by loyalists. Huthi rebels and their allies of forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh still control vast parts of the country, including northern regions and the capital Sanaa which they overran unopposed in September 2014. Since the coalition intervened in March 2015, more than 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen, according to the United Nations. Sanaa (AFP) - Yemeni rebels and their allies on Thursday accused an American detained in the capital of providing target coordinates for air strikes by their foes in a Saudi-led coalition. Masked gunmen wearing the uniform of the rebels' national security service seized Peter Willems on Tuesday from the principal's office of the Exceed Language Center he heads. Students described scenes of panic as he was hauled off without any immediate explanation. "Here is the American spy Peter Willems, director of the Exceed Language Center," a member of the rebels' Revolutionary Committee, Nayef al-Qanes, tweeted alongside a photograph of the detained school head. "He was arrested in Sanaa after it was established that he was providing coordinates" to the coalition, Qanes added. The same accusation was levelled by a close aide of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose supporters in the army helped the rebels capture Sanaa in September 2014. "He was providing information and coordinates to the coalition," tweeted Ibrahim Saryi, chief of staff of Saleh's powerful son Ahmed. Willems is not the first American to be detained by the rebels. In April, a US citizen was flown out of Sanaa to Muscat after successful negotiations for his release by Oman, the only Gulf Arab state which is not part of the Saudi-led coalition battling the rebels. Last November, Oman evacuated three Americans who had been detained for spying by the rebels. And in September last year, Oman helped to negotiate the release of a Briton, two Americans and three Saudis. Hostility to Washington has long been a key part of the rhetoric of the Huthi Shiite rebels. They chant the same "Death to America" slogan at their rallies as used by the Shiite regime in Iran. The hostility has increased since the Saudi-led coalition launched its military intervention in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March last year with reconnaissance and refuelling support from Washington. Western embassies have long since quit the capital, with most diplomats now based in neighbouring countries. Only a small number of Westerners remain in Sanaa. New York (AFP) - The New York authorities seized $4.5 million worth of illegal elephant ivory items in what they described as the biggest bust in the state's history, officials said Thursday. Ivory items put on display for reporters included scores of statuettes, a carved column, two pairs of tusks and a chess set. Two pairs of tusks -- an adult elephant's and another from a young adult -- were valued at $200,000 and $150,000, respectively. The ivory came from at least 12 slain animals, officials said. "We are going to dry up... a market that only fuels the slaughter of elephants," Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said. "It is inexcusable, it is immoral." New York City is a hub of illegal elephant ivory trade, ahead of California and Hawaii, said Basil Seggos, head of the state's Department of Environmental Conservation. His office participated in the probe. "This type of behavior will no longer be tolerated," he said. New York was one of the first states in 2014 to adopt strict laws banning ivory sales to protect elephants, Vance said. Undercover police posing as buyers seized the latest items at a midtown Manhattan art and antiquities store. Although officials said they were not certain where the items came from, they did say most ivory craftsmen are found in China. It is illegal to sell elephant ivory without a special license. But New York's rules were tightened so much in 2014 that they effectively banned ivory sales except under limited circumstances. Although the store had a license, it expired two years ago and could not be renewed because of the new restrictions. The store owners were indicted on charges of illegal commercialization of wildlife. They face hefty fines and up to three years in prison. The United States and China, among the world's biggest ivory consumers, have agreed to enact near-total bans on their domestic markets. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned the international commercial trade in African elephant ivory in 1989. But illegal poaching of endangered elephants for their tusks persists at dangerous levels. Savanna elephants have declined at a rate of 27,000 -- or eight percent -- per year, with a total of 144,000 lost in less than a decade. bill de blasio New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unleashed on the New York Post over a reporter's question about whether his exercise routine was insensitive to city residents this week. During a press conference, the Post reporter asked whether de Blasio's decision to delay a recent visit to the Chelsea bombing site so he would have more time to work out was appropriate. The reporter asked how de Blasio could "justify spending an hour and a half at the gym" considering he was the mayor of a city "famous for its work ethic." "I'm quite aware of what you guys are up to," the mayor said. "Again, you're a paper with a clear right-wing agenda. Let's be real about it. You're a propaganda rag." De Blasio continued: "I work seven days a week all parts of the day. Anyone whose been mayor of New York City will tell you, you can't ever stop working at this job. I'll also tell you guys if someone isn't taking care of themselves so you can have maximum energy, you're not doing your right thing by obligations to the people." When the reporter asked the decision to postpone the meeting sent a message, de Blasio snapped back. "It doesn't send any message," de Blasio quipped. "Stop wasting my time." The comments are probably some of the strongest he's made toward the Post, though he's hardly hidden his disdain for the right-leaning local publication. A representative for the Post could not immediately be reached for comment. NOW WATCH: Heres the joke Hillary Clinton and the mayor of New York performed that some are calling racist More From Business Insider In Uttar Pradesh, policemen of Vikramjot chowki were beaten up by few men and took away five sand laden tractor-trolleys. By India Today Web Desk: In Basti district of Uttar Pradesh, policemen of Vikramjot chowki were beaten up by few men who also took away five sand laden tractor-trolleys. This incident took place in Chhawani area of Basti and political parties have expressed concern and demanded a strict action against the sand mafia. While BJP district president Pawan Kasaudhan has criticised the incident and said if police is not safe how can common people expect protection. Congress district president Virendra Pandey blamed the hooliganism in Samajwadi Party. advertisement It was yesterday that the police confiscated the tractor-trolley with sand illegally mined near Sarayu river. A while later, a group of men attacked the chowki and took away the tractor-trolley after injuring two policemen, reported Punjab Kesari . In connection with this incident, the police charged 9 known and 35 unknown people with Section 143, 307, 332, 353, 352, 342, 504, 506, 323, 7 under the Criminal Law Act and Section 21 under the Mining Act. Illegal sand mining is a major problem in Uttar Pradesh. Even the Supreme Court has observed that unrestrained mining disturbs marine ecosystem and disrupts the lives of many people. The use of illegal machines got banned under the UP Minor Minerals Act (1963) and by various Government Orders, but are still being used. --- ENDS --- (Reuters) - Yum China Holdings Inc, which is being spun off from KFC owner Yum Brands Inc , filed with regulators on Wednesday to issue 10 million common shares to certain participants in Yum incentive plans. Yum Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut, said in October that it would spin off its China operations through a distribution of common shares to its shareholders. The 7,200-restaurant China division, which operates in over 1,100 cities, is higher risk and potentially more rewarding, while Yum Brands sans the China division is likely to be more stable with greater cash flow. The China business has been besieged by food scandals, marketing missteps and a weakening Chinese economy. Last year, Yum Brands was put under pressure by activist shareholder Keith Meister of hedge fund Corvex Management who was later appointed to the company's board. Yum China had applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "YUMC". (Corrects headline to say Yum employees, not Yum Brands shareholders. The story was earlier corrected to remove incorrect reference to Yum China receiving proceeds) (Reporting By Sudarshan Varadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) For Immediate Release Chicago, IL September 22, 2016 Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Steel, Part 3, including Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD), United States Steel Corp. (X), ArcelorMittal (MT), Nucor Corp. ( NUE) and Tenaris S.A (TS). Industry: Steel, part 3 Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/91140/what39s-ailing-the-steel-industry The steel industry is poised to benefit from solid demand in the U.S and emerging markets like India. However, steel stocks have to struggle with equity market volatility and a host of other broader factors. Below, we discuss some of the key reasons and what investors in the steel sector can look forward to in the coming months and years. A Rise in Cheap Imports in the U.S. A slump in the domestic property market, which accounts for a significant part of Chinas steel consumption, severe credit crunch and weak infrastructure investment are hurting steel demand in China. Chinas steel exports crossed the benchmark of 100 Mt for the first time last year in the wake of shrinking domestic demand amid a flagging economy. Notably, China is the worlds top steel producer, contributing around half of the total global output. The country has built up massive excess capacity, posing a threat to the global steel industry. The worsening gap between supply and demand, along with barely any sign of a recovery, further clouds the picture. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the Chinese steel industry has stayed below the mark of 50 for the past two years, indicating a noticeable disparity between supply and demand. These cheap imports hurt the margins of American steel players like Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD), United States Steel Corp. (X), ArcelorMittal (MT) and Nucor Corp. ( NUE). Slowdown in China As discussed above, demand in China has slowed down due to the country's tepid property market and weaker infrastructure investment. Chinas economy grew at an annual rate of 6.7% in the second quarter of 2016, flat with the first quarter, marking its slowest in seven years. For 2016, the government anticipates the growth rate to remain in the range of 6.57%. Story continues While rebalancing progresses, the Chinese economy continues to slow down. Lower construction activities are leading to a slowdown in the manufacturing sectors, especially metal products. A recovery in the construction sector is not expected any time soon either. In fact, steel demand in China is projected to be in the negative territory with respective declines of 4% and 3% in 2016 and 2017. Geopolitical Tensions Performance of some key emerging and developing economies has deteriorated due to internal structural issues, lower commodity prices associated with Chinas economic slowdown, and escalating political instability. Russia and Brazil are experiencing severe contraction in steel demand. Geopolitical tensions and political instability in the Middle East, Africa continues to have a negative effect. Political uncertainty in the Brazilian economy has resulted in a sharp decline in steel demand. In fact, the countrys steel demand is estimated to contract 8.8% in 2016, followed by a recovery of 3.1% in 2017. Excess Capacity a Perennial Problem The biggest obstacle to persistent growth and profitability in the steel industry is excess capacity. The industry is under relentless pressure caused by years of excess steel-making capacity, further aggravated by weak demand and uneven economic growth. To solve this problem, steelmaking capacity needs to be reduced for the industrys profit margin to reach a sustainable level, and to raise the capacity utilization rate from below 80% levels. The industry remains highly fragmented compared to other global businesses and the restructuring and consolidation needed to eliminate overcapacity is progressing at a slow pace. Impact of Low Oil Prices The energy sector, which was once buoyant due to shale discoveries and rising production of crude oil, accounts for 10% of steel consumption in the U.S. Steel is necessary to make rigs and transport oil. Steel demand from the energy sector is being impacted as exploration companies have reduced their capital expenditure budgets in the wake of tumbling oil prices. Steel products used by the energy industry are also known as oil country tubular goods (or OCTG). U.S. Steel being the biggest supplier of these goods in North America is bearing most of the impact. Steel demand from the energy sector could weaken even further in 2016. Falling oil prices would urge energy companies to preserve capital to shore up their balance sheets instead of spending money on new exploration. Thus, leading suppliers to the energy sector, such as United States Steel and Tenaris S.A ( TS), could continue to be under pressure throughout the year. Low Crude Steel Capacity Utilization The crude steel capacity utilization ratio remained stubbornly below 80% in both 2014 and 2015. The average capacity utilization in the first quarter of 2016 was 67.6%. Excess steel capacity has been a perennial problem for the steel industry as steel prices generally move in tandem with capacity utilization rates. To remain competitive and rationalize operations, some major steel companies have resorted to idling their steel plants. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Click here for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/performance Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report STEEL DYNAMICS (STLD): Free Stock Analysis Report UTD STATES STL (X): Free Stock Analysis Report ARCELOR MITTAL (MT): Free Stock Analysis Report NUCOR CORP (NUE): Free Stock Analysis Report TENARIS SA-ADR (TS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. On Wednesday, September 28th, BlackBerry Limited (BBRY) will release its Q2 earnings results before the bell. The company is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), and they were downgraded within the last 30 days due to downward revisions in their earnings estimates. Dave will investigate BlackBerrys past earnings, look at what is currently going on with the company, and give us his thoughts on their upcoming earnings announcement. Furthermore, Dave will uncover some potential options trades for investors looking to make a play on BlackBerry ahead of earnings. BlackBerry Ltd. in Focus BlackBerry is involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of wireless solutions for the mobile communications market. Its integrated hardware, software and services provide platforms and solutions for seamless access to information which includes e-mail, voice, instant messaging, short message service, Internet and intranet-based applications and browsing. The company operates in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry Limited, formerly known as Research In Motion Limited, is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada. BlackBerry is expected to report earnings at -$0.10 per share according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Last quarter they reported an earnings at -$0.02 per share beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of -$0.10 per share, and they have an average surprise of 22.32% over the last four quarters. BLACKBERRY LTD Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise BLACKBERRY LTD Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | BLACKBERRY LTD Quote BlackBerry is trading just shy of $8 per share, and for the last 52-weeks they have been trading between about $5.96 to $9.46 a share. The Zacks Industry Rank classifies BlackBerry Ltd. in the Wireless Non-US industry, and their industry is in the bottom 34%. The wireless industry, especially with cell phones, has been dominated as of late by Apple Inc (AAPL) and Samsung. Roughly 10 years ago BlackBerry along with Nokia (NOK) was a very common brand name among cell phone owners, but they eventually fell behind their competitors when the market shifted towards smart phones. Story continues Bottom Line Will David be Bearish or Bullish on BlackBerry Limited? David will be giving us his earnings predictions when he goes live on Monday. But how should investors play BlackBerry ahead of their earnings report? For insights on the best options trades, make sure to watch Dave Bartosiak at 1:30pm Central time on Monday. If you are interested in Daves exclusive live streams and service, then sign up for Zacks Live Trader. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NOKIA CP-ADR A (NOK): Free Stock Analysis Report APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report BLACKBERRY LTD (BBRY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Cable companies have typically taken a beating in our annual surveys, earning low scores for value and overall satisfaction. So how would you like one to be your cell-phone service provider? If you're a Comcast subscriber, you can find out next year, when the company launches a wireless phone service that will run on some 15 million WiFi hot spots, and then tap into Verizon's wireless network when you're out of range. The company announced its plans, which will be limited to those within Comcast's cable footprint, at an investor conference Tuesday. According to a transcript of the conference, which Comcast sent Consumer Reports, the company expects the service to launch by the middle of 2017. A Bigger Bundle Details of the plan are sketchy at this point. The company didn't elaborate on which phones would be able to access its service, for example, or how much plans would cost. But the ability to offer cell-phone plans bundled with services such as TV, internet, and regular phone service could be a helpful tool in retaining subscribers as Comcast and other cable companies continue to shed pay TV service customers. We believe there will be a big payback with reduced churn, more stickiness, and better satisfaction, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said at the conference. The move also underscores Comcast's wireless ambitions. The company is bidding for airwaves via the federal government's auction of wireless spectrum. It also reportedly has considered acquiring a cellular company, such as T-Mobile. Comcast isn't the first cable company to attempt to launch a wireless phone service for its customers. Cox abandoned a similar effort back in 2011, saying it couldn't compete with the bigger players. And Cablevision tried a $10-per-month WiFi-only service called Freewheel last year, but the service was killed after Cablevision was acquired by Altice. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's three established mobile phone operators have declined to buy fourth-generation (4G) service licences, two Egyptian telecoms officials told Reuters on Thursday. The companies, Vodafone, Orange and Etisalat, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The Egyptian officials declined to be named as no official announcement had yet been made. The Egyptian government is selling four 4G licenses as part of a long-awaited plan to reform the telecoms sector and Thursday was the deadline for the three mobile companies to respond to the government's offer. Egypt gave companies that already operate in the country priority in obtaining 4G licences but has said it will launch an international tender should any of them decline the offer. Telecom Egypt, the country's fixed-line monopoly, last month acquired its 4G licence at a cost of 7.08 billion Egyptian pounds ($797 million). The move will allow it to enter the mobile phone market directly for the first time. [nL8N1BC2XT] But the three established mobile operators objected to some licence terms, which the government revised last month. Kuwaiti mobile operator Zain, China Telecom, Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA have all expressed an interest in acquiring Egyptian 4G licences should the established carriers reject them. (Reporting by Cairo bureau; Writing by Lin Noueihed and Ola Noureldin; Editing by Mark Potter) (Reuters) - Facebook Inc's Instagram said on Thursday its advertising base more than doubled to exceed 500,000 in the last six months. Instagram, the popular picture-sharing app that uses Facebook's ad technology to target highly specific audiences, has gained traction as the preferred platform used by ad agencies for social media campaigns. The app, which has more than 500 million users, also said more than 1.5 million businesses had switched to its Business Tools program in the two months since its launch earlier this year. The program allows businesses to promote posts and create custom profiles on Instagram that allows potential users to contact them by phone, e-mail or text messages. The company, which was bought by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012, is expected to generate $1.5 billion in advertising revenue this year, according to research firm eMarketer. Instagram said in February that it had more than 200,000 advertisers. (Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) The court has given two weeks to the ministry of women and child development, the law and justice ministry and parliamentary affairs ministry to respond. By Vidya : Bombay high court has not only asked politicians to restrain from demeaning women but also asked the Centre whether there are any guidelines concerning public statements made by politicians about women. The court has given two weeks to the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry to respond . advertisement A public interest litigation (PIL) had been filed by Dr Poornima Advani, former chairperson of the national commission for women in the "interest of women and of the Indian society in general". Advani in her petition has citied July 30 2015 incident where a Congress leader Gurudas Kamat had called the then HRD minister Smriti Irani poncha lagane waali (one who mops floors). "Smriti Irani is her name...education minister (her earlier portfolio before textile ministry) she lives in our constituency but has settled there after she moved from Delhi to Mumbai. The first job she started doing in Mumbai was cleaning things using a cloth. Nothing wrong in that. I don't feel there is anything wrong in that. If a 'chaiwala' (Referring to narendra modi) can become the prime minister then why can't a cleaning lady become education minister?," the petition quotes Kamat. MISOGYNIST AND DEROGATORY COMMENT Advani argued that this was an 'abrasive, belittling, misogynist and derogatory comment which is not commensurate with the post a union leader occupies and casts aspersions on her character by implying that her post was an unfair gratification for an immoral relationship she may have with the honorable Prime minister of India. The petition further quotes Kamat saying, "what is the whole deal about this Smriti Irani, the entire nation wants to know. What kind of freedom has been given to her that she can choose 4 private secretaries in one year with your consent and no other minister can do anything about it. So in delhi, the conversations of the mind are becoming the conversations of the hearts. This is something which we are all required to think about." Soon after the incident Kamat had denied demeaning Irani and had said that he would reply to the NCW, which had sent him a notice regarding this issue. In the petition, Advani has asked for the formulation of guidelines regarding the nature and content of the statements or representations made by MPs, MLAs of states and others connected with the state machinery and national political parties in any capacity whatsoever. advertisement ALSO READ: Gurudas Kamat supporters' show of strength outside Mumbai Congress office Home coming: Congress leader Gurudas Kamat back as AICC General Secretary --- ENDS --- Similar to last years Mr. Robot Season 1 finale, creator Sam Esmail leaves us with an epilogue cliffhanger which points us in the direction of next season. A year ago, we learned from the finales coda that rival hack group Dark Army leader Whiterose (B.D. Wong) was in bed with E Corp as she arrived in mens clothing to a meeting with the companys new chief Phillip Price (Michael Cristofer). Instead of a limo, which cruised toward a mansion in last years final moments, here we see a Cadillac slowly creep through Frys Electronics parking lot (is that the Burbank location? No, its the Phoenix location). We see fsociety hackers Mobley (Azhar Khan) and Trenton (Sunita Mani) who look as though theyre in witness protection clad in store clerk uniforms. Trenton isnt even wearing her hijab. If what I discovered is real, do you know what that means?, she tells Mobley, It means we could potentially undo this whole thing; put everything the way it was. Does she mean reversing the big 5/9 hack which shook down the evil conglom E Corp and sent the nation into a recession? Not if Whiterose has anything to say about it. Hows that? Leon (Joey Bada$$) appears. And if you remember from eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme, Leon is a Dark Army disciple. USA Network has not set any airdates yet for Mr. Robot 3.0, but the writers room will convene soon. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ-WzFdlBMs&w=970&h=546] Related stories 'Mr. Robot's Carly Chaikin Joins 'F*cking People' 'Mr. Robot' Emmy Winner Rami Malek On His Movie 'Buster's Mal Heart': "Man's Need For One Love & For Freedom" 'Mr. Robot' Season 2 Finale: Sam Esmail On Shocking Twist & Possible Donald Trump Season 3 Impact North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (L) appl Getty Image At around 10 p.m. pacific time on Monday, North Korea accidentally opened access to its nameserver long enough for an American security engineer to take a look at all of the websites registered to the secretive government. And apparently, North Korea a country that is no fan of the Internet has only 28 registered domain names for its top-level domain suffix, .kp. Now we have a complete list of domain names for the country and its surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly) very small, Matt Bryant, the security engineer who discovered the mistake, told Motherboard. Bryant dumped all of the information he gathered about North Koreas minuscule web on GitHub. Bryant said he caught the error and downloaded the data because he scans all top-level domains for exactly these sort of issues. Because many governments keep their domain name servers (DNS) confidential, he likes to grab it when it becomes available. The shorter version is just that Im a nerd whos obsessed with DNS, he said. Users on the website Hacker News have been combing through North Koreas registered domains, most of which are pretty commonplace. For example, North Korea owns domains for its state-owned Air Koryo airline and Kim Il Sung University. The state-owned official newspaper of North Koreas communist party was also readily available for perusal, with headlines such as Kim Jong Un Sends Birthday Spreads to Veteran Scholars and Narcotic-related Crimes Increase among S. Korean Youngsters. Hacker News users were able to spot North Korean clones of Facebook, Yahoo, and movie4k, a movie pirating website. (Via CNBC & Motherboard) Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f217785%2fnorth_korea_internet One of North Korea's many secrets is the structure of its internet, which is not only tightly controlled by the government, but also inaccessible to foreigners. That last part changed Monday, when someone in North Korea made an apparent error, allowing anyone to access the country's top level DNS data. This revealed the list of web domain names residing on the country's top level domain, .kp. The folks working on a Github project accessed the data and discovered that there are just 28 sites there. SEE ALSO: North Korea makes rare admission of struggle after flood damage These web domains are mostly accessible from other parts of the world (albeit likely unbearably slow to open) but this appears to be the first time that someone outside the secretive state has published a full list of them. Rodong, North Korea's official news source. Image: Mashable The list, which has been thoroughly analyzed by folks on Reddit, includes some known web domains, such as rodong.rep.kp, which hosts the country's official news website, Rodong. The Maritime Administration of DPR Korea Image: Mashable Some were easy to guess; airkoryo.com.kp, for example, is the website of the country's airline, Air Koryo, and knic.com.kp hosts the Korean People Total Insurance Company. The web domain knic.com.kp appears to host a national insurance company. Image: mashable Some, like friend.com.kp, remain a relative mystery could it be some sort of North Korean Facebook clone? and some are inaccessible at the time of this writing. The full list of .kp domains is as follows: North Korean internet made the news in Dec. 2014, when it went offline for nine and a half hours for no apparent reason. It was then speculated that the country's entire internet, which is connected to the world through China, could be taken down by a simple DDoS attack. Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island is part of the Spratlys archipelago in the South China Sea (AFP Photo/Chiang Chi-chen) (Chiang Chi-chen/AFP/File) Taipei (AFP) - Taiwan's defence ministry has asked Google to blur images of a new development believed to be for military use on a disputed South China Sea island. Tensions remain high in the region over conflicting territorial claims, particularly over the strategically important Spratlys chain. Taiwan administers Taiping island, which is the largest in the Spratlys archipelago. The island chain is also claimed in part or whole by the Philippines, Vietnam and China. Google satellite images show a circular structure with four Y-shaped attachments, jutting out to sea on Taiping's northwestern coast. The development comes after Taiwan last year inaugurated a solar-powered lighthouse, an expanded airstrip and a pier as part of efforts to strengthen defence capabilities on Taiping. The defence ministry said it was in the process of contacting Google Thursday to ask them to blur the satellite images, but would not comment further on what the structures are. "It is classified information," the ministry's spokesman Chen Chung-chi said when asked the reason for the request to Google, which was made after images of the structures surfaced in local media. Fears over possible military confrontation in the area have grown since an international tribunal ruling in July which rejected Beijing's sweeping claims to almost all of the South China Sea -- even waters approaching coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. China outlines its territory using a vague map that emerged in the 1940s, resulting in an overlap with Taiwan's claims. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war on the mainland, but Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing angrily vowed to ignore the verdict from the tribunal in The Hague, prompting a warning from US President Barack Obama who emphasised that the ruling was binding. Crucially for Taipei, the ruling stated that Taiping was legally a "rock" that did not give it an exclusive economic zone, undermining its claims to the surrounding waters. Story continues Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, who has yet to visit the island since taking office in May, has said the verdict "severely jeopardised" Taiwan's rights. Her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou visited Taiping in January to press Taiwan's claims, a move that triggered criticism from the US as well as protests from Vietnam and the Philippines. Tensions have also been stoked by China's rapid development of reefs in the South China Sea into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. The company's logo is seen at a Model X car of U.S. manufacturer Tesla in Zurich, Switzerland August 17, 2016 REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann (Reuters) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc Thursday sued Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials in federal court over the state's refusal to allow the Palo Alto, California automaker to sell vehicles directly to consumers. The suit at U.S. District Court in Michigan comes days after the state rejected the electric vehicle manufacturer's application to directly sell vehicles to consumers. Unlike other automakers, Tesla does not sell vehicles through franchised dealers. Tesla's suit says it is seeking on an expedited basis an order that it is "entitled to a vehicle dealer license." A spokesman for Snyder said the governor had no comment. Tesla currently operates stores in 23 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and 20 other countries. Tesla has said it cannot get a license to sell vehicles in four states: Michigan, Texas, Connecticut and Utah, and it faces limits in some states on how many stores it can operate. Tesla said in a statement it filed the suit to ask a judge to strike down a 2014 Michigan law that bars Tesla from selling or repairing vehicles in the state. Tesla said for two years it has pursued a legislative solution. All U.S. states bar manufacturers with dealers from selling directly to consumers. Auto dealers have lobbied states for several years to bar Tesla from operating or to limit its operations. "Unfortunately, the local auto dealers and local manufacturers have made clear that they oppose any law that would allow Tesla to operate in Michigan," Tesla's statement said. "As one leading legislator told Tesla: the local auto dealers do not want you here. The local manufacturers do not want you here. So youre not going to be here." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) The actress reveals her favourite song, and explains why she thinks Alex (her character's name in Quantico) will really relate to it. By India Today Web Desk: Trust Priyanka Chopra to lay it down as it is. The queen of Bollywood recently slayed at the Emmy Awards 2016, and stunned everybody with her beauty and sass. Also read:Countdown to Quantico Season 2 premiere begins; Priyanka Chopra prays for the show's success But there is something else that happened on the red carpet. The Quantico star was asked which song helped her prepare for her character, Alex Parrish, in Quantico and her answer was as cool and unique as ever. advertisement Priyanka said, "There isn't really a song that helped me prepare for Alex Parrish, but if I had to think about it, one of my favourite songs is Bitch?I think that (song) represents Alex well. I am a bitch, I am a lover, I am a fighter?it has so many aspects of a woman, and she is unapologetic, and Alex is that." Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon even tweeted Priyanka's answer. A screenshot of Reese Witherspoon's tweet. Picture courtesy: Twitter/RWitherspoon Quantico Season 1 showed Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra) being wrongly accused of masterminding a terror attack against America. While towards the end of Season 1, charges against Alex was eventually dropped, however she was still asked to leave the FBI. Quantico Season 2 will see Alex back in action, but in CIA, as she again tries to save everyone from another global attack. So tune in to Star World on September 26 at 9 pm to join Alex on yet another mind-boggling adventure. --- ENDS --- The Rafale fighter jets come equipped with state-of-the-art Meteor and SCALP missiles that will boost the morale of the IAF pilots and help them destroy enemy aircraft and missiles in beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air combat. By India Today Web Desk: Although relatively small compared to its competitors like the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-22 Raptor, the French war bird Rafale packs a powerful punch. The fighter jet will act as a force multiplier for the IAF as it has the capability to hit targets deep inside both Pakistan and China if refuelled mid-air. The government has cleared the much anticipated deal with France for 36 Rafale fighter jets which will cost 7.878 billion Euros and will be signed on Friday in the presence of French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian. advertisement RAFALE PACKS A POWERFUL PUNCH - The multi-role fighter jet is superior to Pakistan's Mirage-2000s, F16s and the latest version of China-manufactured J-10 fighter jets in many aspects. - The Thales-manufactured RBE2 AA active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar has a target detection range of at least 130 kilometers and it can track many targets (enemy aircraft and incoming missiles). - Rafale will also receive a new missile launch detector and an optronic search and track (IRST), improving target detection and identification performance while maintaining low observability and minimum emission by radar. - The Meteor missile is seen as a game changer for India as neither China nor Pakistan currently possess a weapon of this class. It has been designed to knock out enemy aircrafts and cruise missiles more than 100 kms away while Pakistan currently has only a BVR with 80 km range only. - SCALP, a long-range air-to-ground cruise missile with a range in excess of 300 km also gives the IAF an edge over its adversaries. - It can fly at speed of Mach 1.8 (2,000 kilometres per hour) to evade enemy missiles with superb manoeuvrability. - Composite materials and state-of-the-art combat awareness system makes the jet almost invincible. - The fighter jets will replace the ageing Russian MiG-21s. PROVEN TRACK RECORD The first multi-role Rafales were sent to Afghanistan where they demonstrated high mission availability and impressive combat capability. The aircraft proved its mettle in destroying Islamic State positions in Syria and bombing missions in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. India is the third international customer to buy Rafale jets. Qatar bacame the first overseas customers with a purchase of 24 jets while Egypt became the second nation to buy the planes. ALSO READ: PM Modi-led committee all set to approve 36 Rafale fighter deal today --- ENDS --- The merger of the Rail Budget with the General Budget will help the Indian Railways cut down on major expenses such as salary, pension and fuel expenditure. By Ankur Sharma: Post merger of Rail Budget with the General Budget, the Finance Ministry will be exploring ways to cut short railway expenses particularly concession and subsidy on passenger fares. The government will form a committee to look into the aspect of concessions to as many as 53 categories, including senior citizens, sportspersons, freedom fighters and differently-abled among others. advertisement Indian Railway incurs a whopping Rs 34,000 crore annually towards social service obligations, which essentially includes cross-subsidies involving fares and freight and nearly 53 types of concessions. Also Read: Rail budget scrapped after 92 years, to merge with general budget RAILWAY OFFERS HUGE SUBSIDIES It offers 43 per cent subsidy on a single train journey to its passengers. Comprehensive data shows the railways incurred the expenditure of Rs 34,000 crore on 'social service obligation' for the year 2015-16. Out of this, Rs 1500 crore was spent on myriad concessions on train travels. This is in addition to the free journeys permitted to certain sections like MPs, MLAs and railway officers. "As far as the burden of concessional fare in different categories including sportspersons and patients is concerned, the government will constitute a separate committee to find out a way forward for it," a senior railway ministry official said. CONCESSIONS POPULIST MEASURES He, however, said these concessions were essentially populist measures announced by successive governments. "With scrapping of the railway budget, the finance ministry may consider cutting short on these concessions," he indicated. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu claimed that merger of the two budgets will not affect the 'distinct identity' of the railways and its functional autonomy. "The government will also take an initiative to ensure that there is a separate discussion to the railways expenditure each year so that there is a element of detailed Parliamentary scrutiny and accountability," Prabhu said. RAILWAYS NOW RELIEVED However, on financial implications of the move, officials claimed that the railways will now also be relieved of the burden of major expenses on salary and pension and fuel expenditure. This assumes greater significance in wake of the additional burden of nearly Rs 32,000 crore on salary and pension after implementation of the 7th pay commission. At present, the wage bill of railways is around Rs 70,000 crore and pension bill amounts to nearly Rs 45,500 crore while the annual fuel bill is more than Rs 30,000 crore. While it spends Rs 18,000 crore on diesel purchase, Rs 12,000 crore is the annual cost of electricity purchase. Salary and pension bill along with fuel expenses account for nearly 75 per cent. advertisement Also Read: Google's free Wi-Fi service now available at 10 Indian railway stations Upper hand on lower berth: Man asked to give up seat for woman exposes everyday sexism faced by men Indian Railway adds 8 new stations to free Wi-Fi list in Mumbai --- ENDS --- By PTI: Vijayawada, Sep 22 (PTI) Copious rains due to formation of low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal paralysed normal life in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and affecting train services on Guntur-Nadikudi section that provides a crucial link to Secunderabad. Several express and passenger trains between Guntur and Secunderabad had to be stopped at several places as flood waters flowed over railway tracks. The South Central Railway has set up helplines at various stations to provide updates on the situation. advertisement The affected trains include Falaknuma, Palnadu, Amaravati Express and Macherla-Bhimavaram Passenger. Rivulets in Guntur district are in spate, inundating housing colonies in Sattenapalli town and nearby villages. Revenue officials have made arrangements to provide drinking water and food packets to the affected people. Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, who represents Sattenapalli, is monitoring the rescue and relief operations in there and put the revenue and police officials on alert to help the affected people. Most places in Guntur district like Nakarikallu, Sattenapalli, Narsaraopet, Muppalla, Medikonduru received 10 to 21 cm rainfall since yesterday. Transport services were disrupted in Sattenapalli, Narsaraopet and Pidiguralla. Many villages in the Palnadu region remained cut off as rivulets caused flooding and disrupted transport services. The APSRTC bus station in Machilipatnam was marooned following heavy rains, paralysing the services. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to Collectors of the rain-hit districts and directed them to undertake all precautionary and relief measures. Krishna, Prakasam, East and West Godavari districts have also been receiving moderate to heavy rainfall under the influence of the low pressure area in Bay of Bengal. The MeT department forecast the situation is expected to continue till tomorrow. PTI DBV DK NSD RYS --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Rash and negligent driving by "adventurist" motorists needs to be curbed with "iron hand", Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court today, seeking stringent punishment for checking the menace. The top law officer told the apex court that the provison of the Motor Vehciles Act and section 304A (causing death by rash and negligent act) of the IPC, which provides for maximum two years jail term, was inadequate to deal with the menace of rash and negligent driving. advertisement "On a query being made whether the said provision (of the MV Act) is sufficient for adequate handling of the situation in praesenti (at the present time), the answer of Attorney General is an emphatic No. "We appreciate the concern shown by Rohtagi and we are sure he will apprise the competent authorities to have a revisit of the relevant provisions," a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan said. The bench had sought the assistance of Rohatgi to know the fate of apex courts suggestions, given in two earlier verdicts, to Parliament to re-visit the law dealing with mishaps causing death and injuries to innocents on roads due to rash and negligent driving. Referring to an earlier order, the bench said, "the Court had also expressed its agony about the number of vehicular accidents that take place in this country and how lakhs of people breathed their last or lose their limbs in such accidents because of the attitude, behaviour and conduct of the drivers. "A suggestion was given in the said authority that Section 304-A of the IPC requires to have a re-look because the punishment provided therein is absolutely inadequate in the context of the modern day." Rohatgi shared the concern of the bench on inadequacy of penal provisons to deal with the menace and said the manner in which vehicular accidents take place required "stern handling". He also submitted that the IPC provision covers "all kinds of deaths by negligence and, therefore, mere providing of higher punishment may not sub-serve the cause of justice". "Needless to say, there cannot be any dispute about the same but this Court is really concerned with the vehicular accidents that extinguish the life-spark of many because of the whim and fancy, adventurism and harbouring of the notion that they are larger than life of the men at the wheel," the bench observed. PTI SJK MNL RKS ARC --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Regional cinema is like the ugly cousin compared to the glitzy, glamorous Bollywood universe. However, some really interesting movies have been made in the regional languages, which transcend boundaries of languages and become popularall over the country. Take the recent Marathi movie Sairat, which was a blockbuster and along with the good word of mouth was seen by even the non-Marathi speaking audience. advertisement ALSO READ: Vishal-Shekhar get back on their feet like men possessed with Banjo's music There are interesting directors with interesting stories to tell, who deserve the exposure a Bollywood film gets. We look at a few such directors who started off in regional cinema and then made the successful transition to Bollywood. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury Pink's director has made movies like Antaheen, Anuranan for the Bengali audience and got tapped by fellow director Shoojit Sircar to make the movie starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu. The cross-over was more than successful as the glowing reviews meant the film saw a steady increase in theatre occupancy over the weekend. Mani Ratnam The director was already a legend in Tamil cinema for films like Nayakan and revered across the country for his films like Roja, Bombay (which got dubbed in Hindi), however he made Dil Se in 1998 with the biggest superstar of that time Shah Rukh Khan. The film even though not a box office success, now has a cult following. And it meant he went on to make movies like Yuva and Guru which have very loyal fans. Gautham Menon The director struck gold with his very first film Minnale (Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein in Hindi) thanks to a charming performance from R Madhavan and some sensational music by Harris Jayaraj, lifting a done-to-death love triangle to a somewhat respectable film. The film was a huge success in both Tamil and Hindi. Menon later made Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya, which he remade in Hindi as Ek Deewana Tha. Paresh Mokashi The maker of Harishchandrachi Factory is all set to make his first Hindi film called Bhaykatha Heer Ranjha Ki, which sounds like a hilarious take on the epic romance of folklore Heer-Ranjha. After the unprecedented success of his first film, all eyes on Mokashi for his Bollywood debut. Shankar Maker of socially-charged movies fused with mind-boggling sci-fi elements, S Shankar made his one and only Hindi film in Anil Kapoor's Nayak, which holds the record for being the film to be telecast for the maximum times, by showing up every now and then on Sony Max. The film was a monster-hit, his recent movie have been getting dubbed for the Indian audience including Rajinikanth's Enthiran and the upcoming 2.0. AR Murugadoss Having made his debut with Surya-starrer Ghajini and then remade the blockbuster in Hindi with Aamir Khan. The film went on to be a monster-hit as a Hindi film too. Murugadoss, being hailed as Shankar's successor of making socially-relevant films recently made the Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Akira. advertisement Priyadarshan The Malayalam filmmaker made his Hindi debut almost a decade after he started making films with Jackie Shroff's Gardish which had admirable grit in a common's man fight against the system. He struck gold with Virasat starring Anil Kapoor and then with the crime caper Hera Pheri. He went on to make many movies by what came to be known as the Priyadarshan formula, however, he won a National award for 2008's Kanchivaram. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Eminent citizens write to govt against nod to GM mustard New Delhi, Sept 22 (PTI) "Alarmed" at the "non-scientific, opaque and deceptive" processes being adopted by biotech regulator GEAC, a group of civil society members today urged the government to stop the body from giving any clearance to GM mustard. In a letter to Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave, they said, "We write to you to communicate our rejection of transgenics in our food, farming and environment and to urge you to stop your regulators from providing any regulatory clearances to GMOs and their environmental release." advertisement "This applies to the current case of GM mustard in particular (all the 3 GMOs) but also all GM foods," said the letter shot off by social activists like Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar and Prashant Bhushan. They referred to the report on GM mustards biosafety data submitted by a sub-committee which was constituted by countrys biotech regulator- Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). After the sub-committee examined the data, the report was placed on the Environment Ministrys website inviting comments from stakeholders within a period of 30 days before the biotech regulator took a decision. "We urge you to extend the public feedback time to 120 days," stated the letter which has also been signed by former health and agriculture ministers, eminent academics cutting across different disciplines and senior retired bureaucrats. The report claimed that the hybrid variety did not pose any risk to biodiversity or agro-ecosystem. "We are alarmed at the non-scientific, opaque and deceptive processes being adopted by the regulators in the name of collecting public feedback on GM mustard," they said. They also urged the government to ask the regulator to put out the full biosafety dossier in the public domain for independent scientific scrutiny as has been done with other GMOs in the past. "... and make sure that feedback is collected in all forms without any prescribed formats," the letter said. Terming the GMOs as herbicide-tolerant, the letter said the adverse impacts of such crops including greater agri- chemical usage, more chemical residues in food and environment, entrapping of farmers in a seed-and-chemicals market trap and creation of super-weeds are well documented. "Importantly, in a socio-economic-cultural context where millions of women in India find employment in manual de- weeding, displacing them from existing employment opportunities has huge implications for livelihoods of the poorest in India," the letter said. (MORE) PTI TDS TIR RG KIS KIS --- ENDS --- Senior RSS leader and vice-president of the outfit's Punjab unit Jagdish Gagneja, who was shot at in Jalandhar by unidentified assailants in August, died at a hospital in Ludhiana today morning. By Press Trust of India: Senior RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja, who was shot at in Jalandhar by unidentified assailants in August, died at a hospital in Ludhiana today morning. He was also the Vice-President of the Punjab unit of the Sangh. Gagneja, 65, breathed his last at 9.16 am at the Hero DMC Heart Institute, Dr GS Wander, Director of the Institute, said. advertisement GAGNEJA ATTACKED IN JALANDHAR Retired Brigadier Gagneja was attacked by bike-borne assailants on August 6 in Jalandhar. He was rushed to the Ludhiana hospital in a critical condition the next day. Also read: Senior RSS leader shot at in Punjab, critical MURDER CASE HANDED OVER TO CBI After police failed to make any breakthrough in Gagneja's murder, the case was handed over to CBI recently. Apart from family members of the deceased, many senior RSS and BJP leaders including Phul Chand Jain, Anil Sareen, Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Dr Rishi Pal, ADC Ludhiana district were present at the hospital to pay their last respects. Also read: Sukhbir must own up failure of investigative agencies, says Channi --- ENDS --- Located in Titan's stratosphere, the cloud is made of a compound of carbon and nitrogen known as dicyanoacetylene, an ingredient in the chemical cocktail that colours the giant moon's hazy, brownish-orange atmosphere. By Indo-Asian News Service: NASA's Cassini probe has found a strange ice cloud over Titan that appears to be made up of compounds that barely exist in the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon. "The appearance of this ice cloud goes against everything we know about the way clouds form on Titan," said lead author of the study Carrie Anderson from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. advertisement Located in Titan's stratosphere, the cloud is made of a compound of carbon and nitrogen known as dicyanoacetylene, an ingredient in the chemical cocktail that colours the giant moon's hazy, brownish-orange atmosphere. And it is not the first time NASA scientists spotted the mysterious cloud. NOT THE FIRST MYSTERIOUS CLOUD Decades ago, the infrared instrument on NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft spotted an ice cloud just like this one on Titan. What has puzzled scientists ever since is this: they detected less than one percent of the dicyanoacetylene gas needed for the cloud to condense. Recent observations from NASA's Cassini mission yielded a similar result. Using Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer, or CIRS -- which can identify the spectral fingerprints of individual chemicals in the atmospheric brew -- researchers found a large, high-altitude cloud made of the same frozen chemical. Yet, just as Voyager found, when it comes to the vapour form of this chemical, CIRS reported that Titan's stratosphere is as dry as a desert. The puzzling appearance of the ice cloud seemingly out of thin air prompted the scientists to suggest that a different process than previously thought -- possibly similar to one seen over Earth's poles -- could be forming clouds on Saturn's moon Titan. Although Earth's stratosphere has scant moisture, wispy nacreous clouds (also called polar stratospheric clouds) can form under the right conditions. In these clouds, chlorine-bearing chemicals that have entered the atmosphere as pollution stick to crystals of water ice, resulting in chemical reactions that release ozone-destroying chlorine molecules. "It's very exciting to think that we may have found examples of similar solid-state chemical processes on both Titan and Earth," Anderson, a CIRS co-investigator, said. The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. --- ENDS --- The AAP MLA allegedly put pressure on his sister-in-law to get into a physical relationship with him. By India Today Web Desk: Aam Aadmi Party legislator (AAP) from Okhla Amanatullah Khan, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in sexual harassment case filed by his sister-in-law, has been granted bail by a Delhi court today. The AAP MLA allegedly put pressure on the woman to get into a physical relationship with him, an officer deployed with the Jamia Nagar police station said. advertisement However, the MLA, in his defence, has denied the charge. ALSO READ: --- ENDS --- In the interview, SM Krishna talked about the challenges in front of the state government as well as what remedy the state could look at. By Rohini Swamy: Senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Karnataka SM Krishna, in an exclusive interview to India Today, said that when the state is reeling under severe water shortage, the decision given by the apex court was a 'perverted' one. He went on to say that the state of Karnataka is heading towards a constitutional crisis. In the interview, SM Krishna talked about the challenges in front of the state government as well as what remedy the state could look at. advertisement Q. You have called it a 'pervert' judgement, but what are the challenges that Karnataka faces as judgement after judgement seem to be going against the state? I don't know why Karnataka has been subjected to such unjust treatment when it comes to the successive decisions taken by the Supreme Court. Now I think we should go before a larger bench and then tell them that the court has passed an order which cannot be implemented. Considering the fact that we have to make sure that there is water for our drinking purposes in various towns including the city of Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Tumkur and various other places. So, if the court passes an order which cannot be implemented there is what is known as 'Equity'. There is something that is called the Equity of Law. So, I think it is that Equity of Law that needs to be conveyed to the Supreme Court and that we cannot implement this order. Q. But are these the only options that are in front of the state at this point of time? Do you think that Karnataka is being pushed into a constitutional crisis ? But I don't see any other options before the state because I have gone through this as well. The prime Minister tried his level best to bring some consensus but successive meetings have been a failure because of the adamance of Tamil Nadu. So, I think I see the same degree of adamance in Tamil Nadu. I find the future ridden with too many pitfalls and I am afraid that we are heading towards a constitutional crisis. Q. When you were the Chief Minister, you faced a similar situation, but what do you think would be a possible solution. Do you think that Cauvery water board could be a solution, with the distress formula worked out? I think the supervisory committee took a very very sensible decision. They have all the facts on the table and there were representatives from various states, the Chief Secretaries, the Irrigation Ministers and the other officers were all there. As laymen, judges are not irrigation experts, so it is very difficult for them to make an assessment. I think they would have been wiser in telling the concerned parties that they should go to the supervisory body and then be guided by them. advertisement Q. But do you think that the State Government has done enough in terms of the arguments put in court and also in terms of handling the situation in the state? I think this is not the time to go into the lapses, if any, because there is no point especially when grim situation is starring at us. We should not go into the past. I think there will be a time when we can make an assessment of what we went wrong but, right now we should think for the future! and try to create consensus amongst our people and various political parties. Q. What would be your advice at this point of time ? Look at the ground realities and then take a decision. Also Read: Karnataka defers release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 23 Cauvery row: Can't approach the President against SC order, says Karnataka Law Minister Cauvery row: Pro-Kannada groups to intensify agitation, raise slogans slamming SC order --- ENDS --- advertisement Smoking impacts the human DNA for more than 30 years even after one quits, according to a new study. By Indo-Asian News Service: Of course we all know that smoking is bad, and its effects take quite a while to leave the body, but according to this new study, smoking leaves its "footprint" on the human genome in the form of DNA methylation--a process by which cells control gene activity. Even 30 years after quitting. Also read: What happens to your body after you quit smoking? advertisement "Our study has found compelling evidence that smoking has a long-lasting impact on our molecular machinery, an impact that can last more than 30 years," said lead author Roby Joehanes, the instructor at Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts, US. For people who stopped smoking, the majority of DNA methylation sites returned to the levels that are seen in those who never smoked within five years of quitting it. However, some DNA methylation sites persisted even after 30 years of quitting. Even decades after stopping, former smokers are at long-term risk of developing diseases including cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke. The most statistically significant methylation sites were linked to genes enriched for association with numerous diseases caused by cigarette smoking, such as cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Also read: A desk job is deadlier than smoking; 5 ways you can cure those sitting-job health woes DNA methylation could be an important sign that reveals an individual's smoking history, and could provide researchers with potential targets for new therapies, the researchers said. For the study, the team conducted a meta-analysis of DNA methylation sites across the human genome using blood samples taken from nearly 16,000 participants. The researchers compared DNA methylation sites in current and former smokers to those who never smoked. Smoking-associated DNA methylation sites were associated with more than 7,000 genes, or one-third of known human genes. The researchers suggest that some of these long-lasting methylation sites may be marking genes potentially important for former smokers who are still at increased risk of developing certain diseases. The discovery of smoking-related DNA methylation sites raises the possibility of developing biomarkers to evaluate a patient's smoking history, as well as potentially developing new treatments targeted at these methylation sites. The results were published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. --- ENDS --- AAP legislator Somnath Bharti was today granted bail by a court, just hours after his arrest for allegedly damaging a fence at the AIIMS and misbehaving with its security guards. By Anindya Banerjee: In a huge setback to Delhi police, AAP legislator Somnath Bharti was today granted bail by the Saket court, just hours after his arrest for allegedly damaging a fence at the AIIMS and misbehaving with its security guards. Court has also ruled out section 353 against the accused since AIIMS security guards are not public servant. READ: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti does it again, misbehaves with AIIMS guards, FIR lodged advertisement Metropolitan Magistrate Anuj Agarwal granted the bail after asking him to furnish a personal and security bond of Rs 30,000. Bharti was taken into custody from his residence and taken to the Hauz Khas police station. The AAP leader, a former law minister, has denied the allegations. "Why was the delay of two days in filing the FIR. He was arrested because he had to appear in the Amanatulla case. JCB was hired by PWD and the chief engineer of PWD had said that AIIMS stopped PWD work," the defence lawyer said. Police registered an FIR against Bharti and his supporters on September 11 following a complaint from the Chief Security Officer of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, RS Rawat. READ: AAP leader Somnath Bharti arrested in AIIMS assault case Prosecution said, "Delhi police says we have statement of the driver of the JCB recorded where he says I was called in to demolish the speed-breaker but was forcefully taken to demolish the structure. PWD in their official letter has said this land doesn't belong to them. Delhi police demanded judicial custody of the accused. Bharti has committed this kind of the offence in the past also. Despite being a lawmaker he can be seen demolishing a government property. We have video footage of the incident." Somnath Bharti told India Today, "Modi is digging his own grave. My request to Modi is to stop implicating us in false cases. Remember there's judiciary who is keeping a close watch on you." CSO AIIMS alleged that Bharti, around 9.45 am on September 9, "provoked (a) mob to damage the fence of government property (AIIMS)". Rawat added that Bharti gave permission to unauthorized persons with JCB machines to get access inside the AIIMS and also misbehaved with security personnel. The complaint said six security personnel were injured while trying to intervene. Bharti and his supporters were booked for rioting with deadly weapons, obstructing public servants as well as assaulting or using criminal force against public servants. --- ENDS --- advertisement Supreme Court has slammed the ban on liquor in Maharashtra's dance bars and called the state govt's order weird and obnoxious. By Harish V Nair: As the Supreme Court continued its hearing on the "weird and obnoxious" licence rules brought in by the Maharashtra government for the state's 800 dance bars, most of them in Mumbai, judges on Wednesday questioned how there could be a ban on serving of liquor in the performing area of a place designated as a "bar". advertisement The apex court made it clear to the state government that it just cannot single out the dance bars for a liquor ban and if it was indeed doing it on the ground of improving the law and order and better policing, then it may implement it in all hotels, restaurants besides the dance bars. Also Read: Don't serve liquor, install CCTVs in dance bars, orders Maharashtra government, SC intervenes 'WHAT AN OBNOXIOUS RULE? IT IS A BAR' "What an obnoxious rule? No alcoholic beverage should be sold? It is a bar. You may take steps to ban liquor in all hotels, restaurants and dance bars across the state of Maharashtra but you cannot single out just the dance bars for a ban," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra told lawyers representing the Maharashtra government. The court, acting on a petition filed dance bar owners' association, said the regulation prohibiting liquor during performance of dance was "absurd". The remarks came as the Maharashtra government defended the new law, saying that it was part of their inherent power to police the state. HOW DANCE BARS WERE BANNED Dance bars were banned in Maharashtra in 2005 but were allowed to reopen eight years later by the Supreme Court which overruled the state government's argument that these establishments were a "bad influence on society and encourage prostitution". The owners of the bars were asked to reapply for licences. In April, the state government had passed a new law banning serving of liquor in the dance area, set a 11.30 pm deadline for dances, banned liquor in the bars and ordered CCTVs inside. Dance bar owners are also unhappy with the new licence condition which has a vague definition for 'obscenity', which if detected will lead to cancellation of the licence of the bar. The government had latched on to the SC order which while lifting the ban on dance bars had given them full power to crack down on 'indecent' and 'obscene' performances. Also Read: advertisement Supreme Court allows Maharashtra's dance bars to operate under old rules, for now Dance bars: Supreme Court slams cops' take on obscenity Better to dance in bars than beg on streets: Supreme Court to Maharashtra --- ENDS --- RJD President Lalu Prasad's son and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday carried out a quality inspection in a reputed pizza outlet in Patna. By Rohit Kumar Singh: RJD President Lalu Prasad's son and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday carried out a quality inspection in a reputed pizza outlet in Patna. In a surprise visit, the health minister along with his officials from the health department reached a pizza outlet and straight away headed into the kitchen. Posting the pictures of his visit at the pizza outlet to carry out quality test, Tej Pratap wrote he was responsible for the health of the people in the state. advertisement "Being the Health Minister and "janta ka sevak" of the state, it is my responsibility to take care of the health of the people in the state," posted Tej Pratap. The opposition has, however, lashed out at Tej Pratap's quality inspection at a pizza outlet. Danish Rizwan, spokesperson of Hindustani Awam Morcha said that the visit of the Minister was a publicity stunt. "The poor people of the state does not eat pizza, the Health Minister should realize. The state govt is bothered about the people who eat pizza but not about poor people", said Danish Rizwan. Rizwan said Tej Pratap instead of visiting pizza outlets should carry out quality inspection in schools where mid day meals are served to children. "The Minister should also go to a govt school to check the quality of the food given to children under mid day meal scheme", said Rizwan. Earlier, Tej Pratap has also conducted surprise checkings in government hospitals in Patna. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Natasha Chaku Melbourne, Sep 22 (PTI) Flamboyant Indian billionaire couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal have reached a settlement with a top Australian bank in a 2.5 billion dollar dispute over the collapse and sale of their fertiliser business. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) today told the Australian Securities Exchange it has reached a settlement with the Oswals relating to Burrup Fertilisers. advertisement "The settlement, the terms of which are confidential, resolves the AUD 2.5 billion (USD 1.9 billion) claim madeby the Oswals with ANZ having previouslyrecovered all outstanding loans made from 2005to the Burrup/Oswal groups totalling around AUD 1.3 billion," an ANZ statement said. "The net pre-tax impact of the settlement will be reflected in an additional provision charge of approximately AUD 145 million to be taken at the Full Year 2016 results," it said. But a spokesman for the Oswals said this figure "does not reflect the size of the settlement but the Oswals are bound by confidentially to not disclose the details." The banks chief executive officer Shayne Elliott said "ANZ does not accept many of the claims made in court and we completely reject the allegations made against our staff." "However, we believe the settlement is the right decision for shareholders bearing in mind the residual risks in a case of this size and complexity," Elliott added. According to reports,Oswals havesettled their dispute with Australian Taxation Office over a tax bill estimated to be over AUD 100 million. Thespokesman said the couple was now planning to leave Australia after the court lifted departure prohibition orders linked to their tax issues. OnANZ settlement, the spokesman said"They (Oswals) were very satisfied with the settlement. They were very pleased to be able to put the facts before the court and theyre pleased that its over." "They wont be staying in Australia. They are now planning their futures," he said. He saidthe Oswals "find it curious that the ANZ rejects all the allegations yet is prepared to pay a significant sum to stop them." Oswals had been suing the bank and receivers PPB for as much as AUD 2.5 billion over ANZs seizure and sale of their majority stake in Burrup Fertilisers in 2010 as part of a dispute over AUD 1 billionthe couple owed to the bank. In turn,ANZ had alsoaccused Oswalsof misappropriating AUD 150 million towards their personal use tofurnish their laving lifestyles with luxury cars, boats and a sprawling mansion in Perth. advertisement ANZ and the Oswals will cover their own legal costs, which could extend to the tens of millions. PTI NC ABH AKJ ABH --- ENDS --- A group of Turkish engineers have come up with a real-life driveable BMW Transformer, and it is almost as cool as in the films. By India Today Web Desk: How would you like to have your own Transformer? It may not come cheap, but it can now come true. Turkish R&D Company Letrons has build a real-life driveable Transformer out of a BMW. And while it may not be able to do everything a Transformer can in the movies, it still runs via remote control on car mode, and most importantly, it's real. Source: Giphy/ YouTube advertisement Who knows? We might just be one step closer to a real-life Optimus Prime. Check out how this awesome car-cum-robot works: --- ENDS --- In a strong rebuttal to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the UNGA, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistan's streets freely and operate with state support. By Press Trust of India: India today called Pakistan a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif racked up Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session. In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the UN continued to roam Pakistan's streets freely and operate with state support. advertisement Exercising India's Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir said "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism." "When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. ALSO READ: Nawaz Sharif glorifies terrorists in UN speech, India rubbishes his Kashmir claims In a reference to JeM chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Gambhir said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with state's support. "With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations," she said. She said while Pakistan's nuclear proliferation record is marked by "deception and deceit," it talks about restraint, renunciation and peace. ALSO READ: Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets "Similar false promises it has made to us - the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start," Gambhir said. India also strongly slammed Sharif for glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces. "Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation," she said. Gambhir said Pakistan was a democracy deficit country and practises terrorism on its own people. "It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws," she added. --- ENDS --- advertisement Two students - a girl studying in tenth standard, and a boy of ninth standard - of coastal town of Uran near Mumbai, reportedly saw five masked men with guns earlier today. By Saurabh Vaktania: Police on Thursday evening released sketches of the two suspects in connection with the Uran high alert. Two students-a girl studying in tenth standard, and a boy of ninth standard- of coastal town of Uran near Mumbai, who reportedly saw five masked men with guns earlier today, helped the cops prepare a sketch of one of five suspects. advertisement Consequently, the sketch was circulated to all the investigating agencies. All the local informers have also been roped in to find the person in the sketch. A high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas today after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations. "As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks," Naval spokesperson Cdr Rahul Sinha said in a statement. NSG commandos may be deployed in Navi-Mumbai. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to citizens not to panic and said all precautions are being taken after a high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas. Fadnavis who is enroute to Mumbai from United States, spoke to the state Director General of Police Satish Mathur, Mumbai Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar and Intelligence Commissioner. A high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas today after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations by multiple agencies. Here are the updates: NSG officials-Navi Mumbai cops hold meeting. More sketches of the terror suspects are being prepared. Locals allege that there has been no patrolling at the Karanja coast for past many years. The police station at the Karanja beach has been abandoned. Locals have been demanding a police station for years. All schools have been shut in Uran over the alert today. Armed policemen are guarding the schools there. ALSO READ: Mumbai: Security tightened after school kids spot men with arms near ammunition dump --- ENDS --- Speaking to the press in Patna on Thursday, Pappu said that he and her wife will sharing the pain of the martyrs families and provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs to daughters of the martyrs at the time of their marriage. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan and her husband MP Pappu Yadav have declared to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs to the daughters of 18 martyrs of the Uri terror attack. "Those soldiers laid their lives for the motherland. We also have some responsibility for the families of the martyrs. This is our national responsibility", said Pappu Yadav, President of Jan Adhikar Morcha. advertisement Speaking to the press in Patna on Thursday, Pappu said that he and her wife will sharing the pain of the martyrs families and provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs to daughters of the martyrs at the time of their marriage. "We are collecting all the details regarding the martyrs' families. We will soon contact them and made aware of our decision. We will provide Rs. 5 lac assistance to daughters of the martyrs at the time of their marriage", announced Pappu Yadav. Ranjeeta Ranjan is MP from Supaul while her husband Pappu Yadav is MP from Madhepura in Bihar. Meanwhile, Bihar government too had declared to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs to the martyrs' families. However, the martyrs families complained of the amount being insufficient. Subsequently, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar raised the compensation amount to Rs 11 lakhs. ALSO READ: Was my husband a drunkard who died in a drain? Uri martyr's wife refuses Rs 5 lakh by Bihar govt Stop sending love letters to Pakistan, says Bihar deputy CM Tejaswi to PM Modi --- ENDS --- A report in TheQuint.com claims that two units of the army's elite 2 PARA conducted the operation in the Uri sector and attacked three terror camps in PoK. By India Today Web Desk: Has the Indian Army already killed 20 terrorists by flying across the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan in a covert operation to avenge the martyrdom of 18 of its soldiers killed in Uri last week? A report in TheQuint.com published today claims that two units of the army's elite 2 PARA conducted the operation in the Uri sector and attacked three terror camps in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). advertisement WHAT WAS THE PoK OPERATION ABOUT? The report, which has not been confirmed by any defence authority or the government so far, further claims that the total casualties in the operation could have been nearly 200. The operation by about 18-20 soldiers of 2 PARA who flew into PoK in choppers was reportedly conducted during the night of September 20-21, two days after the Uri army camp attack. Citing sources in the army, The Quint said it "stood by its story" even as many on social media questioned the veracity of the report. The army, however, has officially denied carrying out the operation. "In light of the reactions to this article, The Quint decided to reconfirm the information from its sources. We stand by our story," said the disclaimer on top of the story. Both the armed forces and the government have denied this. When India Today reporters contacted highly-placed individuals in the government, they called the story a 'figment of a fertile imagination'. But they didn't want to come on record. Also read: Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists Avenge Uri attack, all-religion group urges PM Modi in letter with blood To further substantiate its story, The Quint has pieced together Pakistan's declaration of a no-fly zone over the PoK on the night of September 20 - as reported by India Today TV - as well as the cancellation of various flights to northern Pakistani cities. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's call to his Army chief General Raheel Sharif from New York is also being cited as another evidence of the rumblings within the Pakistani establishment over the PoK operation. Back home, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday said the Uri attack may need a "knee-jerk" reaction. "We won't go into details of what India can do, but sometimes knee-jerk reaction is required," he said. SO, HAS INDIA AVENGED URI? Did Parrikar mean the PoK operation as the knee-jerk reaction that the Indian government had approved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tweet that the Uri attackers "would not go unpunished". advertisement Has India really avenged the killing of 18 of its soldiers, even as New Delhi corners Pakistan on the global stage by calling it a state sponsor of terror? If it is so, why is the government not confirming the operation, despite a massive clamour within the country calling for a befitting reply to the Uri massacre? Also, why hasn't Pakistan raised a hue and cry yet if its airspace was violated by the Indian soldiers to carry out the killing of 20 terrorists in the PoK? As the frenzy over a possible India-Pakistan war builds up over Uri, it is perhaps too early to expect any confirmation from the government. Watch this space for more. SOCIAL MEDIA STORM Meanwhile, on social media, while many were elated to believe this to be true, many others ridiculed the report. BREAKING NEWS: URI AVENGED. Commandos kill Pak Army Chief, setup identical dummy in his place. Delhi denies covErt op, but dont they always? Ajai Shukla (@ajaishukla) September 22, 2016 India isn't a knee-jerk nation when it comes to its military. The Army wasn't bullshitting when it said 'time & place of our choosing'. Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) September 21, 2016 advertisement Meanwhile, a Tweeter claimed she was the source of the story. Her Twitter bio reads: World's 1st woman to do Sukhoi & MiG-35 sorties before Prez of India, Limca record holder, Award winning defence journo. I am the source https://t.co/NuZobtApVO Sumann Sharrma (@SumannSharrma) September 21, 2016 And this was the tweet that started it: Indian Army's 2 Para Special Forces conducts covert ops across LoC, avenge Uri Sumann Sharrma (@SumannSharrma) September 21, 2016 How people in Uri sector are living in fear after the attacks Uri attack: India summons Abdul Basit, offers evidence of involvement of Pak-based terrorists Uri attack: Parrikar seeks report from Army on how terrorists managed to infiltrate camp --- ENDS --- The investigators of NIA face a tough challenge in establishing the route taken by terrorists, who attacked battalion headquarters at Uri, as the attackers deleted GPS logs and used matrix codes to find their target. By Mausami Singh: The National Investigation Agency is trying to gather every piece of evidence possible about the terrorists, who attacked Uri army base on September, 18. Sources told Aaj Tak that terrorists were well trained and used digital codes so that their location could not be traced. The NIA investigation could hit a wall as terrorists seem to have deleted their last location from GPS logs. However, NIA is banking on two radio sets recovered from terrorists to work backwards. advertisement In one of the deadliest terrorists attacks in recent years, 18 jawans lost their lives while 19 others were injured. All the four terrorists were also killed in retaliatory action. READ: Uri attack: Radio sets, GPS devices recovered from terrorists may hold key to investigations TERRORISTS IMPROVISED Uri terrorists seemed to have become smarter and learnt from Pathankot terror attack. Intelligence sources said that tracking the route map of the terrorists, who attacked Uri army base, might not be easy. Another hurdle in the investigation is that in both the GPS devices, recovered from the terrorists, logs of last location had been deleted by the attackers. ICOM satellite sets, made in Japan, were used for communication by the terrorists. The use of ICOM sets requires a highly trained hand and military expertise. Sources said that these equipment were highly sophisticated and they could not have been operated without the support of the Pakistani army. READ: Uri attack: India summons Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit, offers evidence of involvement of Pak-based terrorists RADIO SETS- CRUCIAL EVIDENCE Two radio sets, seized from the Uri attackers, could prove to be crucial piece of evidence to establish that the terrorists came from across the LoC. However, intelligence sources told Aaj Tak that one of the radio sets was badly burnt in the fire and might be damaged. The NIA has sent both sets to National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) in Delhi to find out the radio frequency. NTRO will try to retrieve data and corroborate radio frequencies that might have been used by the terrorists to communicate with people in Pakistan. READ: Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets RADIO SETS TO REVEAL CONSPIRATORS The NTRO investigation may reveal the identity of the conspirators and attackers. The accurate data about radio frequency used by the terrorists may help the investigators find out as to which terror outfit carried out the Uri attack. Based on their modus operandi, the intelligence agencies know that Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists use a particular frequency while the other outfits use a different radio frequency for communication. advertisement The findings will help establish as to whether the attackers were only JeM militants or there was a mix of Jaish and Lashkar terrorists in the suicide squad. READ: Uri attack: Pakistan can't go unpunished, PM Modi has approved effective retaliation LASHKAR TERRORIST HOLDS THE KEY The NIA is all set to question Lashkar-e-Toiba operative, Bahadur Ali, who was arrested in July. Similar set of recoveries have been made from the Uri attackers as Bahadur Ali. And, also it was Bahadur Ali, who had first told the NIA about the strategy to use matrix code and ICOM radio devices to carry out terrorist attacks in India. NIA thinks that Lashkar militant Bahadur Ali, who is in his 20's, could be a key angle to the Uri attack. Bahadur Ali had also told the NIA that he trained with nine other militants. The NIA may show him the photographs of the Uri attackers to find out if they also trained with him in PoK. The connection could prove a formal collaboration between erstwhile competitors, JeM and LeT in order to carry out attacks in India. ALSO READ: Twitter goes 'nuclear' in its anger over Uri terror attack Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar among 3 Pakistanis India believes are behind the Uri attack advertisement --- ENDS --- The two radio sets were tuned to a frequency that is used by the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) cadre, sources said. By Shuja-ul-Haq : Two radio sets recovered from the slain terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri hold the key to investigations. The probe agencies are analysing the radio chatter made on the frequencies used on these sets. The radio sets were tuned to a frequency that is used by the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) cadre, sources said. The sleuths are also relying on the two handheld GPS devices that were seized from the four militants. The two sets, out of which one was damaged in fire, have been sent to National Technical Research Organisation for detailed analysis. advertisement As per reports, the coordinates of GPS indicate the militants had crossed the LoC few days before the attack. ALSO READ: Uri attack: India summons Abdul Basit, offers evidence of involvement of Pak-based terrorists Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar among 3 Pakistanis India believes are behind the Uri attack --- ENDS --- A ground report from Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector after the terror attacks. By Padmaja Joshi, Jugal R Purohit: A soldier peers through nets of barbed wires around his post as men and children walk past in eerie silence. Some distance behind him an army operation is underway to deal with infiltrators. At picturesque Lachipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector, life has turned hard as tensions sour along the Line of Control. Home to mostly porters, farmers and small store owners, Uri town and its neighbourhoods are suffering substantial collateral damage from militant intrusions. advertisement SCHOOLS SHUT, DAILY LIFE DISTURBED Schools are shut, daily businesses have gone down. Troops have escalated anti-infiltration measures in the wake of Sunday's deadly terror raid on the Uri army camp. On Wednesday, India Today TV's crew reached the last accessible point beyond which a massive combing exercise was being conducted following a fierce gun battle a day earlier with a new group of 10 to 12 terrorists. Fear pervades through the lush-green mountains standing between residents of this neighbourhood and the LoC, three kilometres away. 'WE WERE SCARED. WE ARE POOR PEOPLE, SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO RUN FOR SAFETY' "I heard the booms and then the loud bangs," said an elderly Kashmiri, sitting under a dilapidated, wooden shelter. Frightened, he locked himself in his house as the deafening noise from Tuesday's shootout with terrorists continued unabated. "We were scared. We are poor people. Sometimes we just have to run for safety," said the man, perched on a bamboo plank. A young man sitting around called the phenomenon fairly new. "This type of situation is happening after almost 15 years. It's scary," he said. Several children, as young as 10, were seen walking and playing in the unpaved lanes as unrest prompted authorities to close down schools temporarily. TALES OF KASHMIRIS Senior Kashmiris were worried. "I want my children to become pen men, not gunmen," lamented an 80-year-old retired schoolteacher. "I hope everything will become normal soon." In Uri town, markets were open, but largely deserted. Some residents put a bold face on adversity. "Why should we be scared? We have the army to protect us," remarked a man. Homeowners said they were hit with a double whammy, with chronic poverty on the one hand and prolonged curfews on the other. "Ours is a backward village. We are virtually under a siege," said a villager of Patwari Naogam. Patwari Naogam is the last hamlet of 200 houses before the LoC in Handwara. None of the villagers India Today TV spoke with favoured escalation between India and Pakistan. advertisement Also Read: Red alert in Jammu, at least 50 militants may be waiting to infiltrate India Kashmir hoga, Pakistan nahi hoga: Powerful poem by Indian soldier goes viral India shouldn't fear nuclear reprisal on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism: Defence expert Christine Fair --- ENDS --- India may withdraw the Most Favoured Nation status granted to Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri attack as a measure of economic crackdown against that country By Devina Gupta: Upping its ante against Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri terrorist attack, the government of India may withdraw or downgrade the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan. Union Minister of State for Finance, Arjun Meghwal told India Today that the matter was under consideration of the Modi government. The MoS Finance confirmed that the economic diplomatic crackdown against Pakistan is very much on the agenda of the NDA government. "Thought process is on to isolate Pakistan on economic front in view of their consistent support to acts of terror," Meghwal said. advertisement SITUATION WARRANTS CHANGE Meghwal asserted that country's security takes priority over trade relations. "When Pakistan was accorded the Most Favoured Nation status, the situation was different. Now, the conditions have changed," the minister said. "We have different conditions now. So, we are seriously reviewing the MFN status given to Pakistan. India's security is always our priority. Trade makes our nation strong but our priority will be security," Meghwal said. This is the first time that the finance ministry has admitted that MFN status to Pakistan is under review. READ: Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists ISOLATE PAKISTAN GLOBALLY Meghwal, the minister who made news for using bicycle to attend Parliament session, also said that the government is striving to isolate Pakistan globally with more vigour after the Uri attacks. The prime minster has assured that the government would take action at international level. On the question of isolating Pakistan on trade front, Meghwal said, "trade routes are reviewed by the BSF and Home Minister. We will act accordingly to make sure Pakistan is isolated." Earlier, several retired army officers and political leaders raised the demand for withdrawing MFN status granted to Pakistan. Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday to press for the demand. MFN STATUS MFN status is granted to a country in accordance with international trade practices and WTO regime. A country that has MFN status from another country gets an assurance that it would not be treated disadvantageously in the matter of international trade. India granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. By virtue of the MFN status Pakistan gets a low trade tariff and high import quota. On the other hand, despite its assurance, Pakistan has not returned the favour to India till date. ALSO READ: Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location --- ENDS --- A group of people from different religions yesterday sent a letter written in blood to PM Modi, urging him to take stringent action against Pakistan to avenge the Uri terror attack. In one voice, everyone has appealed to PM Modi to take the sternest possible action against Pakistan. By Press Trust of India: In a gesture conveying justified outrage, a group of people from different religions yesterday sent a letter written in blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take stringent action against Pakistan to avenge the Uri terror attack. The letter-writing initiative, conducted by Brahmin outfit Sarv Brahaman Maha Sabha (SBMS), included representatives from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities, SBMS spokesman BK Sharma said. The move comes in the wake of the recent Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 18 jawans dead. advertisement Also read: Uddhav Thackery on Uri attack: Delhi should decide India's answer to Pakistan Sharma said everyone's coming together showed that people belonging to all religions had the same blood in their veins. PAK DESERVES A BEFITTING REPLY "Strict action is required to check the massacre which is being perpetrated by Pakistan," he added. In one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years, 18 jawans were killed and 19 others injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in Uri town in the wee hours on September 18. Also read: Presidents of Afghanistan, Lanka call up PM Modi over Uri attack --- ENDS --- The United States raps Pakistan, asks Islamabad to cooperate with New Delhi in probing the Uri terror attack. US Secretary of State John Kerry met Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. (File photo:PTI) By India Today Web Desk: Coming down heavily on Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack, the United States has asked Islamabad to cooperate with New Delhi in probing the attack. With the US rapping Pakistan, and asking it to "act on terror", Pakistan now stands completely isolated on the international stage. This is the second time in a week when the US has spoken out strongly against Pakistan. On Monday, the US had asked Pakistan to prevent terrorists from using its territory as a "safe haven". advertisement ISLAMABAD MUST COOPERATE The US Secretary of State John Kerry met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session and "the two discussed the incident", a State Department official said today. "The Secretary urged Pakistan to cooperate in the investigation," the official said. ALSO READ: Uri attack: Bangladesh slams Pakistan, says will stand by India The US has offered assistance to India in the probe on the terror attack on the Army camp in Uri on Sunday. "We are still awaiting further information. We have offered our assistance to the Government of India, and we also urge Pakistan to cooperate in the ongoing investigation," the State Department official said. A SAFE HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS In Kerry's earlier meeting with Sharif on Monday, he had asked the Pakistani Prime Minister to prevent terrorists from using the country as a safe haven while expressing concern over the violence in Kashmir, in particular the Uri terror attack. State Department Spokesperson John Kirby had then said that Kerry "reiterated the need for Pakistan to prevent all terrorists from using Pakistani territory as safe havens, while commending recent efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter extremist violence." "The Prime Minister and Secretary Kerry expressed strong concern with recent violence in Kashmir - particularly the army base attack - and the need for all sides to reduce tensions," he had said. ALSO READ: Uri terror attack: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemns act Nawaz Sharif calls for peace, then praises terrorist in UN speech (with inputs from PTI) --- ENDS --- Vetri Maaran's Tamil crime-drama Visaaranai has been selected as India's official Oscar entry to the 89th Academy Awards to be held next year. By India Today Web Desk: Vetri Maaran's Tamil film Visaaranai has been selected as India's official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards to be held next year. The news was tweeted by south film industry insider Ramesh Bala. Silverscreen.in confirmed it soon. advertisement The film, produced by Tamil actor Dhanush, revolves around four Tamil labourers, working in Andhra Pradesh, who are arrested and tortured for a robbery they haven't committed. MOVIE REVIEW: Visaaranai ALSO READ: Anurag Kashyap advised Vetri Maaran to split Dhanush's next into two parts The critically acclaimed film won three National Awards (Best Feature Film in Tamil, Best Supporting Actor for Samuthirakani and Best Editing) at the 63rd National Awards. Visaaranai was adapted from the novel Lock up, written by a Coimbatore-based auto rickshaw driver M. Chandrakumar. The film is Dhanush and director Vetri Maaran's fourth collaboration. While Dhanush acted in his first two films, Polladhavan (2007) and Aadukalam (2011), which won six National Awards, the actor only produced his next two - the children's film Kaaka Muttai (2015) and Visaaranai (2016). Dhanush and Vetri Maaran are currently shooting their fifth collaboration Vada Chennai. The film is a gangster trilogy and stars Dhanush in the lead role. --- ENDS --- Insurance Back ICAR 2016: Henning LUDOLPHS, Hannover Re talks about the ILS use in Nat Cat risks transferring Henning LUDOLPHS , Managing Director, Retrocessions & Capital Markets, Hannover Re will explain the main aspects of the Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) use in relation to the Nat Cat risks insurance at the forthcoming edition of the ICAR 2016 - International Catastrophic Risks Forum As a responsible for buying retrocessions to protect Hannover Re's balance sheet, and the Insurance-Linked Securities department, Henning LUDOLPHS is a high rated specialist in his field, with an outstanding experience in third party reinsurance risks transferring into the capital markets. As recent studies show, both at a European and international level, there is growing awareness of the need to develop and implement strong disaster risk management policies that aim to build resilience against natural disasters. In this context, as recently stated by reinsurers, including Hannover Re, on the occasion of the Monte Carlo "Rendez Vous de Septembre", the demand for ILS will continue and is likely to grow. In the CEE emerging markets, although the countries' exposure to Nat Cat risks is in many cases quite high, the existing insurance coverage of these risks is by large insufficient. Therefore, the re/insurance and ILS markets could be utilized to increase penetration levels and ultimately narrow the country's protection gap. However, placing insurance risk in the capital markets is not necessarily easy. Companies wishing to diversify their reinsurance panel in this way may have to overcome the difficulties involved by choosing the best parameters. Yet, many of them have already decided that the challenges are outweighed by the benefits of a capital market placement. Some of these main benefits are: the removal of some credit risk in their reinsurance structure; diversification of the panel of reinsurers; additional capacity; the expansion of business relations with capital markets. ICAR's 2016 edition lines up an exquisite team of speakers who will share their views on the Nat Cat current issues in Bucharest, on October 11th. The effects of the climate change, the available solutions for mitigating the Nat Cat losses, as well as the newest strategies for claims handling in the property field insurance and the main issued of the Forum's agenda. The 13th edition of the International Catastrophic Risks Forum - ICAR 2016 will take place on October 11th, 2016, at the Sheraton Hotel in Bucharest, with the official support of the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Strategic Partnership of PAID - the Romanian Insurance Pool against Natural Disasters. Main Partners: JLT Re and PCS-Property Claims Services, a VERISK Analytics business. SAFETY Broker is Partner of ICAR 2016. More details and registration at ICAR 2016 Author: Daniela GHETU on 22.09.2016 Archive Comment this article 0 comments Atention! "Comment" and "E-mail" are mandatory Name: If you are logged on and you do not fill in your name, will be used the name that you used when you registered If you are not logged on, your name will appear preceded by '(Anonymous)'. For authentication, click here If you are logged on and you do not fill in your name, will be used the name that you used when you registered E-mail: Comment: < 10.000 car. Fill in the code from the image: In 2012, seven migrant farmworkers sued the agricultural giant Monsanto, charging that the $4-per-acre piece rate they were paid for corn detasseling in Indiana was substantially less than the federal minimum wage. That was not the only way they were cheated, according to the initial complaint filed by the nonprofit Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: Hermilo Cantu Jr., a labor recruiter for Monsantoalso named as a defendantpromised the farmworkers free housing with kitchen facilities. But the workers were instead housed in a cramped motel, then moved to a former nursing home and charged $300 per room. The kitchen was a school bus that had been outfitted with stoves and refrigerators, but lacked proper ventilation or adequate space to accommodate the more than 30 migrant farmworkers. Asked for comment, Monsanto spokesperson Charla Lord said, We are committed to working quickly and collaboratively with state legal aid groups to address any worker concerns, as we did with this case. We expect that all housing provided for use by workers providing services to Monsanto meets all required federal, state and local safety and health standards. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in 2013 and dismissed with prejudice. Millions of migrants who pick and process Americas fruits and vegetables face difficult and dangerous working conditions, including high risks of heatstroke, dehydration and exposure to toxic pesticides. The Monsanto lawsuit highlights that their plight often doesnt end there. When workers leave the fields, many return to housing riddled with health and safety hazardshousing thats often owned or arranged by employers or employers agents. An investigation by In These Times and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting reveals that both small-scale farmers and multibillion-dollar Big Ag corporationsDuPont Pioneer and Monsanto among themroutinely use third-party labor recruiters who crowd workers in trailers, dilapidated motels and ramshackle apartments. While state and federal officials are charged with overseeing migrant housing, thousands of inspection records obtained from eight states under the Freedom of Information Act show that some facilities continue racking up housing violations year after year. Fearful of complaining, migrant farmworkers often spend months living in the substandard housing, some even paying substantial rent fees out of their meager paychecks. The circumstances this year are far different, however, both domestically and internationally. This year the opportunity to challenge Rouhani and his colleagues on their human rights record and their supposedly moderate credentials, presents itself, as it will occur amidst an unprecedented awareness of his administrations role in crimes committed in the past. This past August, an audio recording was published on a website maintained by the son of a former top cleric, Hossein-Ali Montazeri, who had been once been the heir-apparent to the founder of the Islamic Republic in the 1980s. He was removed from his position and placed under house arrest as a result of the contents of the recording. Shocked Iranians, expatriate activists, and their foreign supporters heard Montazeri chastise four other officials for their involvement in the massacre of political prisoners that took place that summer. In a matter of months, 30,000 dissidents were reportedly killed. The long-suppressed recording upholds this report, confirming details, including the executions of teenage girls and pregnant women. Many innocents were hanged for merely expressing sympathy for members of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK), who are the largest and best-organized pro-democracy opposition movement in Iran. Ridge reports that, One of the individuals heard on the 1988 recording is today the justice minister in the Rouhani administration, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who was the Intelligence Ministrys representative on the Tehran death commission, which held the minutes-long trials to determine which of the local political prisoners would be put to death. On the recording, Pourmohammadi eagerly defends the activities that Montazeri described as the worst crime of the Islamic Republic. And today he characterizes the massacre as the enactment of Gods commandment regarding the MEK. Further, Pourmohammadi said that he was proud to have participated in the carnage, as he spoke to provincial officials. His unrepentant attitude about responsibility for a crime against humanity underscores the irony of his role as justice minister. Moreover, the fact that Pourmohammadi was Rouhanis personal choice for the position casts profound doubt upon the assumption, by President Obama and other Western policymakers, that the Rouhani administration is a moderate alternative to the hardliners associated with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Not to mention that under Rouhanis tenure, the regime has continued to defy Security Council resolutions banning ballistic missile tests, and has continued to support terrorism and extremist groups around the globe, which undercut the fallacy about moderation in Tehran, writes Ridge, and adds, The international community and U.S. Congress should have already disabused President Obama of the notion that the Rouhani administration could be reasoned with over such issues as human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. That should have been obvious during the first two years of Rouhanis presidency. Executions skyrocketed, to the extent that nearly 1,000 people were hanged in 2015 alone. Most were condemned for political crimes like enmity against God, the same charge that doomed most victims of the 1988 bloodbath. According to Ridge, It is difficult to understand how the Obama administration failed to notice or elected to ignore recent human rights abuses. Whatever the case, the growing knowledge of Tehrans past abuses cannot be so easily ignored, especially since the Rouhani administrations complicity in the 1988 massacre is by no means limited to the justice minister. In a press conference last week, the MEK, which maintains an extensive intelligence network inside Iran, revealed 60 names of those individuals who can be connected to the massacre in 1988. Many hold important positions, even in the Rouhani administration, or in other government entities. Many hold positions in financial institutions with government ties. These revelations make it abundantly clear that the current Iranian government has in no fashion moved away from its past crimes against humanity crimes for which no one has been held accountable. Indeed, those who participated willingly, even proudly like Mostafa Pourmohammadi, have been rewarded, Ridge said. He concluded his article, saying, The complacency of the UN General Assembly and its American hosts year after year may have gone largely unnoticed in the recent past, but that will no longer be the case in the new circumstances of this years gathering. A dialogue has started both inside and outside of Iran in the month since the publication of the Montazeri recording. There is now unprecedented awareness about the lack of justice for the 30,000 who died. And as such, the Iranian people and the world will be watching more closely if the Obama administration and its allies once again choose to turn a blind eye to crimes for which the Rouhani government shares so much responsibility. Participants urged the UN Security Council to investigate the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran, which they view as one of the largest atrocities since World War II, calling for the prosecution of regime officials involved in the crime. Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Rouhanis justice minister, recently proclaimed that he is proud to have been involved in the killings. Inspirational musical performances and a reenactment of the 1988 mass executions made the rally stand out, especially with its display of photographs of the massacres victims. According to the article, Rouhanis three-year record is seen as a troubling continuation of the regimes repressive policies, marked by a staggering 2,500 executions, the arrest of thousands of disaffected Iranians, execution of political prisoners, and a massive crackdown on women and youth. Iran is now the leading executioner of prisoners in the world on a per capita basis. Participants of the rally in New York cited Rouhanis policies, and denounced the international communitys silence as they described it, about the human rights atrocities committed by the ruling regime, saying western political and economic relations with Tehran should be predicated on a halt in executions by the theocratic regime. Former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, British Barrister and President of the UN Court for War Crimes in Sierra Leone, Sir Geoffrey Robertson, QC, who reported on the 1988 massacre, and Pastor Saeed Abedini, who was recently imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith, were all speakers at the rally. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)s President-elect Maryam Rajavi in her remarks, said, As long as the United States allows the leaders of a regime that Washington itself describes as the leading state sponsor of terrorism to set foot on American soil, and so long as the United Nations hosts them at the General Assembly instead of arranging for the ruling mullahs to face international tribunals for crimes against humanity, it means that they are standing against the Iranian peoples desire for freedom and democracy. She added that without the eviction of the Iranian regime from Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, there is no conceivable end in sight for the crises in the region. Appeasing this regime and standing on its side is a policy that has harmed the entire world. Former Senator Lieberman said, We say to the United Nations dont be fooled by Rouhanis smile. The Iran nuclear agreement has not changed the behavior, civilized or moderated the behavior of the regime in Iran. The only way to change the regime in Iran is for the people in Iran to rise up and oust the regime that suppresses them and threatens most of the rest of the world. Robertson told the crowd, By mid-August 1988 thousands of prisoners had been killed in this manner by the state, without trial, without appeal, and utterly without mercy. What happened in 1988 was a crime against humanity. Crimes against humanity are of a special hideousness. This dreadful act has never been punished, has never even been investigated They cannot be forgotten and they cannot be forgiven. There is a duty on the world community represented by the United Nations to take action. Pastor Abedini said, Still we stand with the victims. Still we stand with people in prison. Still we are going to be a voice for them. You are alive in our heart. You are alive in our voice, and still we are standing with you. Fellow compatriots, Friends and supporters of the Iranian Resistance, Your demonstration and rally against admission to the UN of the President of the religious dictatorship in Iran is cause of pride of the Iranian nation that expresses her protest loud and clear despite massive reign of repression and executions prevailing the country. So long as the U.S. admits on its soil the leaders of a regime which it calls the central banker of terrorism, and so long as the U.N. receives them at the General Assembly instead of arranging for their international prosecution for committing crimes against humanity, this is tantamount to their standing up to the desire of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy. Rouhani represents a regime which has executed 120,000 political prisoners, and massacred 30,000 political prisoners upon a criminal edict in summer 1988. Khomeini ordered execution of anyone who was loyal to the PMOI/MEK. At the time, Rouhani was one of the top decision-makers in the Iranian regime. Today, the movement to obtain justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre is spreading. The highest officials of the regime have publicly defended the carnage. Rouhanis Justice Minister declared that he was proud of the massacre. Such admissions which constitute irrefutable evidence of their complicity in crime against humanity, double the United Nations responsibility in prosecuting the leaders of the clerical regime. Rouhani does not represent the Iranian nation; he represents the most vicious enemy of the people of Iran. In addition to his active engagement in all the crimes of the Iranian regime since the first day, his own presidential record is studded with killings, devastation, and plunder of Irans national wealth and resources, including: Over 2500 executions; Repeated attacks and blood baths against the PMOI/MEK freedom fighters in Ashraf and Camp Liberty; Several fold increase in the number of executions of political prisoners; Stepped up suppression of and discrimination against ethnic and religious nationalities; Supporting a ruthless dictator like Bashar al-Assad and warmongering in the region; Proliferation and testing of ballistic missiles by violating UN Security Council resolutions; And plunging the country more than ever before in economic recession, unemployment and grievous poverty of the general public. These are the defense shields of a wobbly and crisis-riddled regime whose existence is threatened by deep-seated and acute social discontent and an organized resistance movement. We emphasize that any party that is truly seeking to contain war, terrorism and instability in the Middle East, it must evict the Iranian regime from the entire region as the first step. The emergence of Daesh was the outcome of suppression of the peoples of Iraq and Syria by the clerical regime and its puppets. There will be no conceivable end to the crises in the region without driving out the IRGC from Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. The policy of appeasing the Iranian regime and standing by its side has hurt all the world. We urge all governments and the United Nations to put an end to this defeated policy and stand by the people of Iran, condition their relations with the Iranian regime on end to executions and freedom of political prisoners, and respect the Iranian peoples struggle to bring down the regime and achieve freedom. I urge the international community, particularly the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to investigate the crimes of the Iranian regime, particularly the massacre in 1988, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this great crime against humanity. This is the most serious yardstick of respect for human rights in contemporary history. Secretary of State John Kerry made a statement on September 12, 2016, when he said a significant American diplomatic initiativehas assured the safety of more than 3,000 MEK members whose lives have been under threat. His words reflect a shift away from the Iranian regime, and toward the Mujahedeen e-Khalq, or MEK. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) came over to the side of Iranian dissidents, as well. The efforts of UN envoys, American diplomats, and former officials gave meaning to the UN doctrine of Responsibility to Protect. Tanter and Martin write, Although States are obligated for the safety of civilians on its territory, the international community has responsibility to assist States. Consider prior activities of main players in the drama of refugee resettlement. They go on to explain, Baghdad held Iranian dissidents in prison-like custody in camps Ashraf and Liberty, although they committed no crimes. Iranian dissidents have been attacked by Iraqi forces in 2009, 2011, and 2013, forces that held them under protective custody, and then they raise the question: Who will guard the guardians? Tanter and Martin talk about the history and reasoning for the responsibility to protect: First, during 2004, Washington provided each dissident with an ID card stating the U.S. military would protect them based on Article 27 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention for the protection of civilians caught up in a war zone. Second, upon start of withdrawal of American forces from Iraq in 2009, Washington turned over to Baghdad responsibility to protect the dissidents. Because of Iraqs prior violation of its duties, Washington continued to share responsibility to protect, e.g., using diplomatic means to induce Iraq to meet its obligations. Third, United Nations shared responsibilities with the United States and Iraq for the humane treatment of the Iranian refugees in Iraq. They say that the State Department encouraged the refugees to accept the UNHCRs plan, under which residents who survived of the assaults of 2009 and 2011 at Camp Ashraf were to be safely transported to Camp Liberty. It was meant to be a stopping point for the residents, who were to be relocated to Europe. However, little was done until 2016. The UNHCR finally facilitated flights to exit Iraq for Albania. According to Tanter and Martin, Because Iraq had either participated or given prior green lights for Iranian proxies to attack, it was a remarkable flip-flop by Baghdad, largely as a result of pressure from the U.S. Congress. And the State Department spoke kindly about the MEK as people who are in need of international protection, after it played a positive role in the resettlement process. Singled out by Kerry, State Department Special Envoy, Jonathan Winer, is called an unsung hero by Tanter and Martin. He fought to turn around years of hostility against the residents. Former New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli, as well as many other former American officials, worked with Winer to help him overcome tremendous challenges. Tanter and Martin also give credit to, A bevy in Congress played a major role on Capitol Hill, including Senate Armed Services Committee chair, John McCain (R-AZ), as well as senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Ed Royce (R-CA), and the committees ranking member Eliot Engel (D-NY). John McCains press release of September 9 stated, Given the history of the Iranian regimes brutal crackdown on these residents and the subsequent violence directed against them during their stay in Iraq, I believe it is imperative that the residents continue to be recognized as people of concern and entitled to international protections underscored in the 1951 Geneva Convention. He added,The safe resettlement of these Iranian dissidents is a vital step in countering the Iranian regimes malign influence in the region, and it serves as an important reminder to our allies and adversaries that the United States stands by its commitments. The joint release of September 9 by Royce and Engel stated, The safety and security of the residents has always been our primary concern, and they have now been effectively placed beyond the immediate reach of Iran and its terrorist proxies operating in Iraq. While the completion of this resettlement is good news, we know that attacks on Camp Liberty as well as Camp Ashraf cost far too many lives. Thirty-six former U.S. national security officials sent an open letter to President Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on August 19, warning that Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Intelligence will attack Iranian dissidents in the near term. On August 2 the MOIS stated on its website, that it opposed the residents of Camp Liberty being allowed to leave Iraq. Senator McCain led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to unanimously approve S. CON. RES. 42, on July 14, 2016. It states, in part, that the United States would work with the Government of Iraq to ensure that all residents of Camp Liberty are safely and expeditiously resettled in Albania. Tanter and Martin say that, Because of such pressure, Baghdad had no choice but to permit the last groups of dissidents to depart. And the remaining residents departed Sep. 9, 2016. The good news: They are safe; the bad news: Although the tide has turned, resettlement requires resources to make up for hundreds of millions of dollars of their material assets denied to them when departing Iraq. [September 21, 2016] Fitch Downgrades Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute's Revs to 'BBB-'; Outlook Negative Fitch Ratings has downgraded the rating on the following Pulaski County Public Facilities Board health facilities revenue bonds issued on behalf of the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (d/b/a CARTI): --$49 million series 2013 to 'BBB-' from 'BBB+'. The Rating Outlook remains Negative. SECURITY The bonds are secured by a pledge of gross revenues, a first-mortgage lien, and a debt service reserve fund. KEY RATING DRIVERS OPERATING CHALLENGES; MISSED COVENANT: The downgrade to 'BBB-' is prompted by CARTI's third consecutive year of missed operating targets in fiscal 2016 (unaudited, June 30), which is expected to result in a missed debt service coverage covenant. CARTI produced a -4.2% operating loss and weak -0.2% operating EBITDA loss, versus the 0.7% operating EBITDA margin in fiscal 2015. Losses were driven in part by clinical volume volatility, operating costs in the new facility, and challenges with payor contracts. BALANCE SHEET LOW POINT: As expected, CARTI's $40 million total equity contribution to its cancer center project resulted in balance sheet erosion. At unaudited fiscal year end June 30, 2016, CARTI had $36.6 million in unrestricted liquidity, equal to 83.4 days cash on hand (DCOH), 10.7x cushion ratio, and 73.2% cash to debt. Improved operating performance and significantly lower capital expenses should allow for incremental replenishment over the near to medium term. CAPITAL PROJECT COMPLETE: CARTI opened its $90 million cancer center project in November 2015, largely on time and within budget. Future capital needs are expected to be minimal over the near term now that CARTI is operating in its brand new stand-alone center. However, full interest and depreciation expenses will necessitate operating improvements in light of CARTI's now full debt service payment requirements in fiscal 2016 and beyond. SOLID MARKET FOOTPRINT: Additional rating pressure is currently precluded given CARTI's leadership in outpatient cancer services within the Little Rock and surrounding market. Still, CARTI's relatively small operating revenue base of $158 million in fiscal 2016 (unaudited) means it remains vulnerable to changes in its clinical staff and payor arrangements, as evidenced by its operating losses in fiscal 2016. RATING SENSITIVITIES IMPROVED OPERATING PERFORMANCE: Additional rating pressure is possible should Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI) not reverse its downward trend in profitability, which is expected in light of CARTI's fiscal 2017 budget. Failure to preserve liquidity and produce better than 1.5x coverage of maximum annual debt service (MADS) per its covenant calculation in fiscal 2017 would likely result in a rating downgrade. CREDIT PROFILE CARTI is a freestanding outpatient cancer care provider, serving the Little Rock area and central Arkansas region with radiation, medical, surgical, and other cancer treatment services. Total revenues were $148 million in fiscal unaudited 2016 (year end June 30). MISSED COVENANT EXPECTED CARTI is expected to miss its fiscal 2016 debt service covenant requirement of 1.2x, projecting 0.69x coverage for fiscal 2016. CARTI took steps in early calendar 2016, retaining a consultant which is expected to grant it a pass on its 2016 and 2017 debt service covenant requirements. However, should CARTI fail to produce at least 1.0x coverage in fiscal 2017, it will be an event of default. This is the tird consecutive year of below-budgeted results. Based on unaudited interim financial statements, CARTI produced an operating loss of $7.8 million (-4.9%) versus a budgeted $2.3 million in operating income. Performance in fiscal 2016 was impacted by various items, resulting in the loss of clinical volumes due to physician staff issues, and some slowdown associated with the move into the new facility in November 2015. In addition, payor contract issues with Blue Cross and with Caremark have hindered the revenue growth associated with new services in the new facility as well. While several initiatives are well underway to reverse the operating losses, CARTI's budget for near breakeven in fiscal 2017 will require significant improvements. Fitch plans to review forthcoming recommendations from the retained consultant, expected along with second quarter (Dec. 31) disclosure in early 2017, and may take rating action as appropriate. PROJECT COMPLETE CARTI has now completed its single-site multidisciplinary cancer treatment center in Little Rock, which they moved into in November 2015. This is a bit behind the original plan which projected the opening on Oct. 17, 2015. Still, the project finished just under the $90 million budget, including nearly $2.5 million in added scope, and they found approximately $8 million in value engineered savings. As expected, CARTI spent approximately $40 million total (approximately $25 million in fiscal year 2016 [FY16]) in equity contributions to the project. The associated capital campaign was successful, raising over $11 million against its $10 million initial goal. DEBT PROFILE As of unaudited June 30, 2015, CARTI had $49 million in long-term debt outstanding, which was all fixed rate series 2013 bonds. MADS is measured at $3.4 million, and debt service is level. CARTI has no swaps/derivatives, nor does it have a defined benefit pension obligation. No additional debt is planned. DISCLOSURE CARTI provides quarterly disclosure within 60 days of quarter end and annual disclosure within 150 days of fiscal year end (June 30) to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's EMMA system. Disclosure includes balance sheet, statement of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Applicable Criteria Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 16 Jun 2014) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/750012 U.S. Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Systems Rating Criteria (pub. 09 Jun 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/866807 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=1012019 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1012019 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160921006577/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Agrinnovation, Yissum's Agritech Investment Fund, Invests in Medical Cannabis Startup, Cannabi-Tech REHOVOT, Israel, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the technology-transfer company of the Hebrew University, announced today that Agrinnovation, an investment fund focused on agricultural inventions, has entered into an agreement for an investment in Cannabi-Tech Ltd., a medical cannabis company established in 2015, and based on research preformed in the laboratory of Prof. Oded Shoseyov from The Hebrew University's Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Cannabi-Tech is developing the world's first accurate, affordable and easy-to-use device, for the non-destructive detection, analysis and automated sorting of individual medical cannabis flowers. The Company's proprietary technology combines Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectrometry and imaging tools to provide a sensitive method to detect and quantify the active compounds of the cannabis plant and a unique spectral fingerprint for each flower. The addition of a sorter will enable automated sorting of cannabis flowers by pre-set criteria suitable for mass production. An optional attachable label generator and automated packaging unit will pack flowers individually ensuring full composition and potency traceability and tracking for each and every flower from farmer to patient. Currently inadequate testing protocols depend on sampling (statistics) for estimating the composition and potency of an entire batch of cannabis flowers based on the average of the results obtained from a selection of samples. Results are unreliable due to the heterogeneous nature of the cannabis plant. This creates a substantial risk for patients in need of exact composition and dosage for effective care. At present, no means are available to accurately examine cannabis flowers without destroying them in the process. This shortcoming reduces flower efficacy and commercial value. Prof. Oded Shoseyov, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Cannabi-Tech, said, "Cannabis composition and potency varies drastically between different flowers from the same plant and across different plants within the same strain. As a result, the only way t guarantee cannabis composition and potency is to test each and every flower independently. Furthermore, the benefit of herbal cannabis lies in the synergistic effect of its compounds. The medical cannabis opportunity cannot materialize in full until doctors do not have 100% confidence that each time they prescribe medical cannabis, it comes in a controlled and standardized condition, with the precise composition of active ingredients matching their patient's therapeutic needs." Dr. Guy Setton, Co-Founder and CEO, Cannabi-Tech, stated, "We are excited to partner with Agrinnovation, which enables us to leverage the resources and capabilities of Yissum, a longtime leader the field of technology transfer with a successful track-record of commercializing early stage scientific research. Cannabi-Tech will use the proceeds to fund its R&D activities and initial business development efforts. In addition, we are in the midst of a financing round and are seeking additional funding." "Cannabi-Tech's breakthrough technology is another example of the kind of innovative applied technologies originating from The Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture which includes over 100 researchers working on novel inventions in diverse fields such as agriculture, food, nutrition, veterinary medicine and clean-tech," added Dr. Ido Schechter, General Manager, Agrinnovation. "As the medical cannabis industry expands worldwide, there will be a significant rise in regulatory oversight, increased quality assurance and quality control testing, while growing market demand will need to be fulfilled by mass production, all which will drive Cannabi-Tech's growth." About Medical Cannabis Medical cannabis is provided to patients for relief from disease symptoms and pain, as well as physical and mental stress. The international medical cannabis market is forecasted to be worth approximately $20 billion within a decade. About 1% of the global population are potential medical cannabis users during their lifetime. Growth will be driven by increasing public support and endorsement by the medical community, better understanding of the plant's healthy attributes, the roll-out of high quality and standardized products, and new markets coming online. About Agrinnovation Founded in 2015, Agrinnovation is an investment fund focused on agricultural inventions originating from The Hebrew University's Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Its portfolio currently includes four technologies: protective coating for extension of shelf-life of fruits and vegetables; injectable controlled release platform for single-dose veterinary therapy; a new approach for electronic pest and insect control; and non-destructive detection, analysis and sorting of medical cannabis flowers. Investors include Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd., UBS Agri Ventures Pty Ltd., Provident Fund of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. and Kingenta Livnat Agri-science Development, Limited Partnership. About Yissum Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. was founded in 1964 to protect and commercialize the Hebrew University's intellectual property. Products based on Hebrew University technologies that have been commercialized by Yissum currently generate $2 Billion in annual sales. Ranked among the top technology transfer companies in the world, Yissum has registered over 9,325 patents covering 2,600 inventions; has licensed out 880 technologies and has spun out 110 companies including Mobileye, Briefcam, Orcam, Avraham Pharmaceuticals, Betalin Therapeutics, CollPlant and Qlight Nanotech. Yissum's business partners span the globe and include companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Roche, Merck, Teva, Syngenta, Monsanto and many more. For further information please visit http://www.yissum.co.il. Media Contact: Tsipi Haitovsky Global Media Liaison, Yissum Ltd. Tel: +972-52-598-9892 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Wombat Security Dynamic Reporting Enables Detailed Data Visualization and Gamification of Security Awareness Training Programs for End Users PITTSBURGH, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wombat Security Technologies (Wombat), the leading provider of cyber security awareness and training, today announces Dynamic Reporting capabilities to provide security administrators the enhanced ability to discover and visualize trends and patterns in security awareness data. Through a new Leaderboard report, Wombat offers organizations a detailed view into user performance and the ability to deploy gamification of security education programs to further motivate employee engagement in training initiatives. According to Amy Baker, vice president of marketing for Wombat, "As reported in our recently released Beyond the Phish report, too few companies measure the effectiveness of their security education programs. As the number of effective attacks continues to rise, organizations will be looked upon to show results, with metrics like these, that they're doing all they can to implement a multi-layered defensive strategy which must include cyber savvy end users." Dynamic Reporting allows customers to refine the reports and zoom in on specific areas of interest, such as time frames, specific security topics, groups, or individuals. The Leaderboard report builds on these enhancements, empowering customers to create, save and share refined dashboard-like views of their users' training module performance in real time or over time. It ranks users with a formula that uses time to complete an assignment and module scores across any combination of training modules. When end users see their department or location is ahed or behind compared to others, it encourages training completion. Administrators can use individual scores or group scores to increase attention and drive training penetration across the organization. Other Wombat reports already enhanced with Dynamic Features include: Training Assignment Comparison - Shows completion rates and other statistics. Administrators can filter the report to view multiple assignments by date, completion status, and/or users participating in the assignment. - Shows completion rates and other statistics. Administrators can filter the report to view multiple assignments by date, completion status, and/or users participating in the assignment. Training Assignment User Details - Provides comprehensive user-level information for training assignments. Administrators can drill down to the user level and module level and view a number of data points, including a user's module score percentage, time to complete the module, and total questions answered. There is also a chart view that shows the overall user progress against any assignments showing in the data set. - Provides comprehensive user-level information for training assignments. Administrators can drill down to the user level and module level and view a number of data points, including a user's module score percentage, time to complete the module, and total questions answered. There is also a chart view that shows the overall user progress against any assignments showing in the data set. Training Module Completion Summary - Tracks all end-user interactions with the training modules. Administrators can filter by module, date range, assignments, and a myriad of other criteria to find data on user participation in any Wombat module. - Tracks all end-user interactions with the training modules. Administrators can filter by module, date range, assignments, and a myriad of other criteria to find data on user participation in any Wombat module. Most Missed Training Topics - Alerts admins to the topic areas users are having the most trouble with in Wombat training modules. By highlighting weaknesses, admins can more effectively focus your training efforts. The report can be filtered by module, date, and/or assignment. - Alerts admins to the topic areas users are having the most trouble with in Wombat training modules. By highlighting weaknesses, admins can more effectively focus your training efforts. The report can be filtered by module, date, and/or assignment. Training Module Performance - Shows the average score for each module, as well as the module score for each user. A chart view highlights the top 25 user scores. The report can be filtered by training module, date, and/or assignment that allows administrators to find exactly the data necessary to make an action plan for users. - Shows the average score for each module, as well as the module score for each user. A chart view highlights the top 25 user scores. The report can be filtered by training module, date, and/or assignment that allows administrators to find exactly the data necessary to make an action plan for users. Company Policy Acknowledgement - Offers a detailed view of learners who have responded to a policy acknowledgement statement that was added to a training module through our Training Jacket feature. Administrators can filter by module, date range, assignment name, and policy acknowledgement response. Two chart views show the status of policy acknowledgment responses. Additional customization features including the ability to add or remove fields, and export to CSV and Word to provide the executive level a comprehensive view of results from the security education program. Customers who adhere to strict Data Privacy can obfuscate individual end user scores while still benefiting from aggregated data views. About Wombat Security Technologies Wombat Security Technologies provides information security awareness and training software to help organizations teach their employees secure behavior. Their SaaS-based cyber security education solution includes a platform of integrated broad assessments, as well as a library of simulated attacks and brief interactive training modules. Wombat's solutions help organizations reduce successful phishing attacks and malware infections up to 90%. Wombat is helping Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 customer in industry segments such as finance and banking, energy, technology, higher education, retail and consumer packaged goods to strengthen their cyber security defenses. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160921/410677 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160831/403360LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wombat-security-dynamic-reporting-enables-detailed-data-visualization-and-gamification-of-security-awareness-training-programs-for-end-users-300332322.html SOURCE Wombat Security Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Altia Systems to Showcase Huddle Room Video Optimization with PanaCast 2 at Microsoft Ignite Altia Systems - a CES 2016 Innovation Awards Honoree and recipient of the 2016 Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) New VC Product innovation Award - today announced new functional capabilities for the PanaCast 2 camera based on new computer vision algorithms developed and implemented in the in-device PanaCast video processor. Altia Systems will demonstrate the latest features at Booth 458 at Microsoft Ignite 2016. The event will be held in Atlanta, GA this year at Georgia World Congress from September 26-30, and will host more than 25,000 senior decision makers and developers. The field-programmable PanaCast video processor synchronizes, stitches and optimizes video from three miniaturized cameras to create an immersive 180 wide by 54 tall video stream with 3840 x 1080 pixels per frame. Aiming to transform how people see and connect virtually, Altia Systems provides a natural, human perspective to today's collaboration services. The higher resolution, wider field of view and natural perspective give remote participants the ability to "be there from anywhere" and truly engage in team discussions. Since PanaCast 2 began shipping in September 2015, Altia Systems has continued to deliver technology breakthroughs in the video collaboration landscape. "With our latest computer vision algorithms, PanaCast 2 cameras dynamically auto align to the environment they are placed in within a few seconds of being turned on, to automatically deliver optimal Panoramic-4K video. The enhanced experience is seamlessly made available to popular collaboration services. The functionality simplifies huddle room design and has been delivered to customers already via a simple firmware upgrade," explained Yash Gupta, Director of Engineering for Camera Systems Development at Altia Systems. PanaCast usage is growing worldwide, particularly in the high-growth huddle room market. "PanaCast 2 gives every participant a virtual seat at the table, helping people communicate and collaborate more effectively. More than 450 companie and 50 universities, in 28 countries, use it every day to improve productivity in video collaboration, higher education, live streaming, broadcasting and distance learning," said Aurangzeb Khan, President and CEO of Altia Systems. The PanaCast video processor synchronizes, stitches and optimizes video from three miniaturized cameras to create an immersive experience. Aiming to transform how people see and connect virtually, Altia Systems provides a natural, human perspective to today's collaborations services. The higher resolution, wider field of view and natural perspective rendering gives remote participants the ability to "be there from anywhere" and truly engage in discussions. Availability and pricing PanaCast 2 is available now, through Altia Systems' network of value added resellers, system integrators and distributors, on Amazon.com (News - Alert) or from Altia Systems. Pricing starts at $995. About Altia Systems, Inc. Altia Systems (getpanacast.com), a venture-backed company based in Cupertino, California, is the creator of the PanaCast camera system and PanaCast Experience real-time interactive software-as-a-service. Funded by Intel Capital (News - Alert) and other leading investors, Altia Systems' PanaCast products and technology deliver industry-first results in real-time, in-device stitching of panoramic video from multi-camera systems, enabling a unique experience in immersive video collaboration. PanaCast 2 is the world's first Panoramic-4K Plug-and-Play USB video camera. It delivers a 180 wide field of view which replicates the natural human visual perspective. It works with popular web collaboration services such as Microsoft Skype for Business, Skype, Cisco WebEx, Google (News - Alert) Hangouts, Citrix GoToMeeting, Vidyo, Zoom, etc., without requiring any driver or software installs. It is widely used for video collaboration and education. For more information, visit getpanacast.com, or see a demonstration video at getpanacast.com/solutions. Follow @PanaCast1 on Twitter (News - Alert) for updates. PanaCast and Altia Systems are trademarks of Altia Systems, Inc. All other trademarks, trade names, brand names, company names and/or logos appearing in this news announcement are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005338/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 22, 2016] Expanding Customer Success Drives Confirmit's Momentum in H1 2016 NEW YORK and OSLO, Norway and LONDON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Confirmit has reported that revenues from new customers more than doubled in the first half of 2016 over the same period in 2015, while existing customers have delivered clear evidence of the ROI by using the company's solutions. In Q2, Confirmit, the leading global solutions provider for Customer Experience, Voice of the Employee and Market Research, also launched Version 20 of its Confirmit Horizons platform and achieved advancements and growth stemming from mobile-focused initiatives that helped push the company to new heights. "We succeed when our customers succeed and in the first half of this year, it's very clear that our customers are achieving great things with our solutions" explains Henning Hansen, President and CEO, Confirmit. "The combination of our ever-evolving technology and the vision and ambitions of our customers is a powerful one, and I'm confident that the rest of 2016 will bring more excellent results for the companies using our world-class solutions." Customer Success There was a significant increase in new customers joining Confirmit's ranks in the first half of the year, with companies including Aldermore Bank, Deloitte CE, Ipsos Japan, Magna International, Inc., PMF Planmarktforschung, Scandinavian Hospitality Management, Transport Focus, Wilke Research and Wyndham Vacation Resorts. The company also announced its ACE (Achievement in Customer Excellence) Award winners, recognizing Confirmit clients who demonstrate excellence and innovation in Voice of the Customer programs. Winners reported exceptional business results around three key areas of revenue increase, cost reduction and culture change. Highlights of winners' results include: 88.7% increase in NPS score in 2015 25% growth in policy renewals as adirect result of making it easier to resolve issues in the customer's channel of choice The Overall Customer Service Satisfaction Score rose to 96.3% in 2015 A 10.5% increase in satisfaction scores for the Sales Center and 5% increase for the Service Center following the implementation of a closed-loop feedback process. Wolseley , CyberSource, Dell Software, Inc, Digital Insight, Erie Insurance, Grant Thornton LLP, The Hanover Insurance Group, Homesite Home Insurance, Infor, Lloyds Banking Group, McKesson Ireland , Moore Medical, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, ReachLocal, Screwfix, Siemens Building Technologies, Sony Mobile Communications, Synoptek, Sysmex America, Inc., Telegraph Media Group, Tyco SimplexGrinnell, Virgin Money, W5 with Gas Networks Ireland, and Waters Corporation. "Asurion is a proud recipient of both Confirmit ACE Awards as they affirm our dedication to innovation and delivering an exceptional customer experience," said Tim Stadthaus, senior vice president of marketing and customer experience at Asurion. "The recent innovations in our Voice of the Customer program has allowed us to leverage multiple touch points to authentically capture the voice of our customers. We are now able to deliver actionable information across several business units that drives continuous improvement and results in a best in class customer experience throughout a customer's lifecycle." Product Innovation In H1, Confirmit launched Version 20 (V20) of Confirmit Horizons, its award-winning multi-channel software platform. V20 boasts advanced features focused on increased agility, flexibility and mobility for organizations. The mobile-optimized capabilities give organizations a real-time view of data, allowing faster and more efficient responses to feedback. In an effort to improve collaboration and communication across the organization, V20 allows mobile-optimized access to Confirmit Horizons directly from the home screen of their mobile device. Feedback capture is also improved for mobile working, with an enhanced face-to-face interviewing module (Confirmit CAPI) that works seamlessly across Windows, iOS and Android Devices. Confirmit's mobile applications continued to report an increase in data and media collection, demonstrating the channel's importance. June 2016 boasted a record month for mobile media file collection, with almost one file collected every second throughout the entire month. Industry Influence and Recognition During the first half of the year, Confirmit hosted a number of milestone events, celebrating the company's 20th anniversary. At these highly successful sessions, attended by over 250 industry experts and practitioners, attendees heard success stories from a number of Confirmit's customers, including Canon Solutions America, GfK, Lightspeed GMI, Moore Medical, Screwfix, Philadelphia Insurance, RS Components, TycoSimplexGrinnell and Wyndham Hotel Group. During Q2, Confirmit was also named a winner of CUSTOMER Magazine's 2016 CRM Excellence Award for the 7th consecutive year. *All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Net Promoter, Net Promoter Score, and NPS are trademarks of Satmetrix, Inc., Bain & Company, Inc., and Fred Reichheld. About Confirmit Confirmit is the world's leading SaaS vendor for multi-channel Voice of the Customer, Voice of the Employee, and Market Research solutions. The company has offices in Oslo (headquarters), Chengdu, Grimstad, London, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Vancouver, and Yaroslavl. Confirmit's software is also distributed through partner resellers in Madrid, Milan, Salvador, and Tokyo. Confirmit powers Global 5000 companies and Market Research agencies worldwide with a wide range of software products for feedback / data collection, panel management, data processing, analysis, and reporting. Customers include Aurora, British Airways, British Standards Institution, Cross-Tab, Dow Chemical, GfK, GlaxoSmithKline, GMO Research, JTN Research, Keep Factor, Morehead Associates, Nielsen, Research Now, RONIN, RS Components, Sony Mobile Communications, and Swisscom. Visit www.confirmit.com for more information. Media Contact Emma Walter Matter Communications 978-518-4820 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160127/326621LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expanding-customer-success-drives-confirmits-momentum-in-h1-2016-300332855.html SOURCE Confirmit [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Jesus in Love supports lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ) spirituality, with an emphasis on art and literature. It promotes artistic and religious freedom and teaches love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It is based on these beliefs: God loves all people, including sexual minorities. The creative process is sacred. The queer visions, especially the gay Jesus and LGBT saints, will free people to experience the divine in new ways and lead to a more just world. Jesus in Love was founded by lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry as her personal project. It is her gift to the world. Many thanks to everyone who supports her vision. CHARLESTON -- The U.S. presidential elections have stirred up debate not only amongst Americans but also people in China and Hong Kong as well, according to a current Hong Kong leader. Jasper Tsang, who serves as president of Hong Kongs Legislative Council and, as such, Speaker of the Hong Kong Parliament, mentioned during his brief visit to Eastern Illinois University on Wednesday that he has noticed a significant amount of buzz for the upcoming general American presidential election in the fall among Hong Kong people. We have just held our legislative council elections early this month, and most Hong Kong people are more interested in the presidential election in the United States than the elections in Hong Kong, Tsang said. Tsang was invited to speak at EIU by the Eastern Public Policy Institute on the current state of Hong Kong and anything else asked about the city in general Wednesday evening. The university invited me here to talk about Hong Kong, and I am very glad that people here in the United States are still interested in Hong Kong, he said. In his discussion about the election, Tsang said the Hong Kong people are tuned in to the election cycle, and what candidates the American people have been looking at. From his perspective, the opinion from his constituents has been largely divided. We discuss among ourselves in Hong Kong as well about who would we like more to become the president of the United States, he said. But let me tell you this, people in Hong Kong are divided. We do have some supporters for Donald Trump and others supporting Hillary as well. However, he said from his dealings with Americans in Hong Kong, the general belief is that Clinton will likely win. That was quite a while ago and maybe their views have changed, Tsang said. In general, he said many Hong Kong people are actually surprised by the candidates considered for nomination. Most of us in Hong Kong were somewhat surprised to see the two candidates, he said. From a foreign perspective, the presidential election is being highly watched even overseas. Tsang said, when discussing the election with other Hong Kong and Chinese officials, there is general agreement that U.S. and China relations should rank high on their agenda. This relationship is so important that (I think) the new president would take it really, very seriously, he said. For one thing, China is now the second-largest economy in the world. Tsang also cited Chinas growing investment in the U.S. and vice versa to the importance of the relationships between the two nations. Many other countries in the world would not want to see the relationship between the two countries going down, he said. During his visit, the Hong Kong leader also overviewed issues currently being worked out in Hong Kong, namely the relationship between mainland China and the city-state. As previously reported, July 2017 will mark the 20th anniversary since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the Peoples Republic of China. And, although the city remained semi-autonomous after the transfer, friction between many Hong Kong residents and the mainland government has continued. The two entities run under a one-country, two-systems arrangement, where Hong Kong is technically still a part of China but also, in a majority of ways, remains independent of the country. However, this arrangement has a sunset time period of 50 years and is set to technically end in 2047, giving reason for worry among the Hong Kong people who live under more democratic rule. Tsang said this is leaving both peoples to wonder what will happen after that date. Friction between the two peoples also stems from distrust as to whether the other is actually following those rules. In some cases, Hong Kong people feel China bearing down on them, he said. In other cases, Chinese feel that Hong Kong is not following rules set out through the arrangement. Tsang is stepping down from his current position in a month and is considering retiring from the political game or seeking to take on the position as Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The election, set to take place in March, will have him vying against the incumbent, Leung Chun-ying, and Financial Secretary John Tsang. If he does seek the position, a win seems likely for the 69-year-old who, according to an annual survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong, is the citys most popular lawmaker. CHARLESTON -- The Charleston school board got some news Wednesday on the outlook for reductions in state reimbursements as it approved a budget based on full state funding. The board voted to adopt the district's 2016-17 budget that projects revenues of nearly $25.8 million and expenses of just less than $25.2 million. Financial consultant Dean Keller said he based on the budget on expectations that the district would receive all its state aid and reimbursement for expenses for special education and transportation. But he never gave the board the idea that that would actually be the case, and his news Wednesday bore that out. Keller said the latest estimates from the Illinois State Board of Education are that the state will pro-rate transportation reimbursements, actually paying school districts 69 percent of what they're supposed to receive. That would amount to a loss of just more than $300,000 for the current school year, Keller said. He told the board that it was better to budget for full state funding "so we can see how we're doing as the year goes through." The budget also projects an increase in overall fund balances of just more than $586,000. Keller said the budget's in the black because of the $1.2 million in cuts the board made earlier this year, though it "cost programs in order to do that." He also said there's a "red flag" with the budget's operations and maintenance fund, which projects to have a balance of just more than $116,000 at the end of the school year. "That's not nearly enough money to operate all your buildings," Keller said. The board approved the budget by a 4-0 vote. President Ron Miller and members Jason Coe and Kevin Oakley didn't attend the meeting. The board was also expected Wednesday to vote to hire a new assistant superintendent for the district, starting July 1. The vote was scheduled to follow a closed session for discussion of personnel and other matters and hadn't taken place by press time, however. Superintendent Jim Littleford announced earlier that he would recommend Chad Burgett, currently principal of Charleston Middle School, for the position. Burgett has been the CMS principal since 2014 and before that he was principal of Carl Sandburg Elementary School. His other positions with the district have been assistant principal of Carl Sandburg and sixth-grade teacher. With the board's approval, Burgett will replace Todd Vilardo as the district's assistant superintendent. In May, the board voted to name Vilardo as the district's superintendent following Littleford's retirement at the end of the current school year. Also Wednesday, Littleford told the board that the district's enrollment for the sixth attendance day of the school year, Aug. 24, was 2,736, a decrease of 43 from the same point last year. However, he also said enrollment by the end of the month "might be even closer" to last year's figure. There have been additions in students at each of the district's schools since the year began, he explained. CHARLESTON -- It's the time of the year when large, slow-moving vehicles will occasionally be a part of traffic. That's because farmers sometimes need to travel public roads to get to their fields to harvest their crops. And it can try motorists' patience to be stuck behind a piece of machinery traveling well under the speed limit and covering most of the road. But patience is, in fact, what's needed to avoid an accident in those situations, police and farm representatives say. "The biggest problem is the driver who doesn't have a background in farming doesn't realize what it takes for these vehicles to maneuver or pull over," said Lt. Tyler Heleine of the Coles County Sheriff's Office. The sheer enormity of farm machinery means the equipment can cover a good part of the road, more than just the lane in which it's traveling. A farmer can't pull over to let other vehicles to pass if there's a ditch, sign, mailbox or other obstacle alongside the road, Heleine said. That's when patience comes into play, he said. "A lot of times, these farmers aren't going that far," he said. "Be patient and don't pass unless you know it's safe to do so." Farmers who drive their equipment on public roads need to remember they're supposed to have flashing lights and the orange, triangular slow-moving vehicle emblem attached to the back, said Mary Cox, manager of the Coles County Farm Bureau. It's a good idea for motorists to react as soon as they see those warning devices, as the farm equipment is probably traveling at speed of around 15 mph, she added. "You quickly come up on that equipment so it's best to start slowing down," Cox said. Most farm equipment will travel on rural roads that aren't as wide as main highways, Heleine noted. He urged farmers to avoid driving equipment on heavily traveled roads if possible. But, he added, farmers still have to use those routes on occasion so motorists will still need to look for them there. Another thing to keep in mind is that standing corn can reduce drivers' visibility at rural intersections, Heleine also said. Cox said farmers will try to be aware of other traffic around them but, as with other vehicles, their equipment has blind spots. Motorists also need to make sure farm equipment isn't turning when they try to pass, she said. The harvest season also means more grain shipments by rail, so motorists should also be more careful at rural railroad crossings, said Tim Allen, general manager of the Eastern Illinois Railroad. The Charleston-based railroad operates a grain and lumber transport line from Neoga to Metcalf. Allen said the heaviest rail traffic will depend on the location of the best grain markets, so there will be more southbound traffic this year. He noted that rural railroad crossings often don't have warning gates, so motorists need to pay more attention and look for oncoming trains. Cox said the typical duration of harvest time means the traffic conditions will likely be in place for another five weeks or so. "The harvest season is just kicking off," she said. "Farm equipment traffic will definitely be picking up." Also, Heleine noted, harvesting and the start of hunting season mean deer will likely be on the move more. Motorists need to be ready to encounter the animals along roads to avoid accidents, he said. Products carrying the brands of Germanys Metro AG and Auchan of France are visibly for sale on the shelves of the retailers Crimean subsidiaries, Reuters reports. People involved in transporting the goods say they arrived via a ferry that serves the Crimean port of Kerch. European companies are banned from doing business with the ferry and the port under EU sanctions imposed on Russia after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Both retailers said they were not violating the sanctions because the stores are operated by their Russian subsidiaries, which are not subject to the EU sanctions. A representative of the Kerch port referred questions about Metro and Auchan to the ferry operator, saying the port only controls shipping, not cargo. A representative of the ferry operator said it does not have contracts with Metro or Auchan and does not know if they use the ferry. Legal experts said the transfer of goods to Crimea may fall in a grey area of the sanctions regime because the relationship between parent companies and sub-contractors is often hard to define. In emailed comments in response to questions, Metro and Auchan did not contest that their goods were being shipped via the Kerch ferry and port to their subsidiaries stores in Crimea. A spokesman for Metro said Metro stores in Crimea are operated by independent Russian entities and staff that are not subject to EU sanctions. He said Metro is fully aware of and complies with the EU laws and regulations, and, in this particular case, the applicable sanctions. A spokesman for Auchan, which operates one store in Crimea, said the company always operates within the rules that are in force, including European Union decisions. Asked about the activities of the EU retailers in Crimea, an EU official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: This is against the spirit of the sanctions. But in the absence of a trade embargo, there is always a fine line between compliance and non-compliance. A European Commission spokeswoman, Maja Kocijancic, asked if Brussels was worried about whether the sanctions were being respected, said implementing sanctions was the responsibility of EU member states. The French government had no immediate comment. Germanys Economy Ministry said it could not comment on specifics, but that violators of EU sanctions face penalties. It said in cases involving a German firm, it was up to the German Customs Investigation bureau to asses if sanctions have been breached. The bureau declined to comment. The acting director of Project Extra Mile on Wednesday challenged findings of a state audit that said the organization misused state and federal grant money to lobby, and allowed "unreasonable" expenses to be paid with those funds. "When you have five auditors sent to scrutinize a five-and-a-half person nonprofit, you're bound to find some inadvertent errors," Diane Riibe said. Auditor Charlie Janssen spent a lot of state resources on a nonprofit with a pretty small budget, she said. The nonprofit will make improvements that need to be made, but the audit seemed aggressive, politically motivated and nit-picky, she countered. "We have behaved in ways that are pretty courageous in protecting our kids and our communities," Riibe said. "And sometimes that makes people unhappy." Over the years, there have been issues that have spurred private, aggressive attacks. Those issues have included the regulation of alcopops -- sweet, premixed alcohol concoctions -- and those surrounding Whiteclay liquor sales to Natives on the Pine Ridge reservation. Riibe, a founder of Nebraska's Project Extra Mile who formerly led the organization 17 years, became interim director this summer after Nicole Carritt stepped down from the position in May to work at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and seek an advanced degree. Riibe moved to North Carolina in 2012 to do national consulting. The audit, released Wednesday, was critical of the nonprofit's spending of grant money during the fiscal year ending June 30. Project Extra Mile is a nonprofit in Douglas and Sarpy counties, with a network of community partnerships, working to prevent and reduce underage drinking and excessive alcohol consumption. It gets 98 percent of its money -- $397,310 -- from government grants. The remainder of its funds in 2015-16 were from contributions, gifts and youth training and investment income. Mary Avery, who worked on the audit, said the State Auditor's office got several calls asking for it. The callers "just didn't think they were spending their money appropriately," she said. Lobbying is against federal regulations, and the group appears to have dipped into grant funds to do it, Avery said. "Especially last year, they were doing some extensive lobbying," she said. The nonprofit also spent grant funds in ways auditors don't normally see, Avery said, especially on airline tickets and other travel expenses they paid for nonemployees. A Nebraska Office of Highway Safety grant reimbursed Project Extra Mile for activities that included trying to influence senators about a 2016 bill (LB1105) with had a provision that would have allowed teens ages 16-18 to serve alcohol in the course of their employment, the audit said. On March 8, Project Extra Mile held a legislative day at the Capitol, during which citizens were encouraged to meet with senators, the audit said. The grant was used to pay $728 for printing of informational packets and $567 for hotel rooms for participants. Staff also charged the grant for work done preparing for the day, it said. Federal law says organizations are not allowed to use grant funds to influence the introduction of federal or state legislation, enactment or modification of pending legislation through communication with lawmakers, or by urging the public to contribute to or participate in any lobbying campaign. Riibe said a couple of items should not have been logged on the time reports, and the group probably should rename its legislative day. It uses the day to teach kids and community partners about the lawmaking process, but does not ask anyone to lobby, she said. "That we lobby is not a secret to anybody in the state of Nebraska," Riibe said. "As a nonprofit we can. ... But you have to be smart about how you do it, and you can't use grant tax dollars to do that." Project Extra Mile pays for lobbying with undesignated gifts and contributions, she said. The audit also said Project Extra Mile had spent grant funds on items not allowed under federal regulations, such as: * More than $4,600 related to a recognition dinner. * Almost $3,300 in conference registration fees and travel expenses for people who were not employees, charges for flight changes or travel insurance, hotel rooms for nonemployees, and travel expenses for employee commutes from home, rather than from work. Avery said those conference expenses were for community partners, two of whom were conference speakers. The organization has done a "yeoman's job over many years" of keeping close track of time allowed by the grant, she said. "But you can always do better, we're happy to do better, because no one wants to make those kinds of mistakes even though they're very little," she said. A judge Wednesday sent a 30-year-old Beatrice man to federal prison for 10 years and a month for his part in a methamphetamine conspiracy in Lincoln. Creston Christlieb told Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf he wished to remain silent at the hearing. Then, Kopf asked if the folks in the courtroom were his family, and upon learning they were told Christlieb to take a look at them. "How does it make you feel?" the judge asked. "It hurts," Christlieb said, adding that he knows his family is hurting, too. Statistically, Kopf said, Christlieb has a 43.5 percent chance of going back to prison after completing his sentence and asked him if seeing his family hurting was enough to keep him from doing so. Christlieb, who was indicted in January, said it was. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Christlieb was involved in trafficking more than 3 pounds of meth in the Lincoln area between Jan. 1, 2013, and Sept. 30, 2015. "I sold drugs with some other guys from around the area, and I have to pay the consequence," he said at a hearing in May, when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth. LOUISVILLE -- Green spray paint on the street and a torn strip of police crime scene tape fluttering in the Thursday afternoon breeze were the only remaining signs that a Louisville man was shot to death by a Cass County Sheriff's deputy Wednesday evening. County Attorney Nathan Cox identified the dead man as Austin M. Baier of Louisville, and the deputy as Tyler Reiff, 25. Reiff stopped Baier at 7:12 p.m. near First and Cherry streets in Louisville because Baier's maroon 1992 Buick Century matched the description of a car that was reportedly driving recklessly earlier Wednesday, a Nebraska State Patrol spokesman said Thursday. About a 20 minutes earlier, a man had called the Sheriff's Office to say a car was spinning around in circles in the front lawn of his home east of town, according to radio transmissions. Cox said Baier stopped when Reiff pulled him over, then drove off and then stopped again, got out of the car and confronted Reiff, who is a four-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. At some point during the altercation that followed, Reiff shot Baier with his service weapon, Cox said. Medical personnel and Reiff tried to revive Baier, but he died at the scene, Cox said. The shooting took place just north of a pocket of homes in this town of about 1,100 people. Austin Baier lived behind the dental office near Third and Main streets and had cooked at the Main Street Cafe a year ago, according to Louisville residents who described him as a nice guy who kept to himself. Baier, who has no criminal record that shows up in state court files, went to Weeping Water High School, where he was on the wrestling team, according to newspaper files. Reiff has been placed on administrative leave. Asked if Baier was armed, Cox said the investigation is ongoing. An autopsy was to be done Thursday. Baier's death will be investigated by a grand jury as is required by Nebraska law whenever someone dies in custody or while being apprehended. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a scoop of macaroni and cheese, spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread, or a side salad, steak and asparagus with desert to top it off. Which meal would you choose? High school students didnt have a choice Wednesday evening. What they had for dinner was determined by the random-colored card set before them. Each card shared a story of a Lincoln family and determined whether the student would be eating a low-income, middle-income or high-income family meal. The first Hunger Banquet kicked off the fourth annual Student Hunger Drive -- this year renamed Food Fight. Annually, high school students in Lincoln and surrounding Southeast Nebraska schools compete to collect the most food, which goes to the Food Bank of Lincoln to help feed students and their families. We really want the students to run the show and make the food drive a success, said John Mabry, the Food Bank's development director. Last year, students from nine participating schools collected 42,887 pounds of food, enough to feed 32 families three meals a day for an entire year. This year, 10 schools are participating and the goal is 50,000 pounds. The Hunger Banquet was Lincoln East High School senior Ojus Jains idea to motivate students. Jain first pitched the idea in January. As I was going through the preparation process, I realized it was a very feasible idea that could carry a tangible impact, Jain said. Jain said students seem to be aware of the problem of food insecurity in Lincoln but believes there's a detached understanding. We dont really know, as people who have been lucky enough to eat dinner at the table every night, what a family that combats food insecurity daily has to go through, he said. So when a high-income family here gets a PB&J and a little bit of mac n cheese, it makes food insecurity a very concrete idea. It conceptualizes it. Alynn Sampson, the Food Bank's youth and family program director, hoped students would look to their neighbors and see poverty doesnt have certain physical features. It shows that sometimes its just luck of the draw, and you dont know what cards youll be given, Sampson said. We want them to think about what it feels like to see someone next to you with a better meal, and to be open, to be compassionate. This is what some of our families are experiencing. Pius X High School took home last year's massive fork -- the hunger drive trophy -- after collecting 14,000 pounds. Senior Claire Morehouse said Pius X students are motivated to do it again. Its really fun to do a competition, but its really about helping the kids and the people in Lincoln," Morehouse said. "We really are collecting fuel for learning. Students take part by going door to door and hosting donation events through Homecoming week and Halloween. This year's competition runs through Nov. 2. Jain said there's a sense of pride in participating with so many others in the community. One of the greatest things about millennials, in general, is that we understand that the future is in our hands, Jain said. What motivates students and my peers is that we know that we care about the Lincoln community. We want to continue to see it grow and really continue on the path of excellence. A federal grand jury has returned a 20-count indictment charging eight current and former Omaha Tribal Council members and one tribal employee with various offenses related to illegal payments they made to themselves from federal funds. Nebraska U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the indictments Thursday and said they were the result of an investigation by the FBI and Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Maurice Johnson, attorney general for the northeast Nebraska tribe, declined to comment, calling the situation an ongoing criminal matter. Those named in the indictment are: Jessica Webster-Valentino, 46, Barbara Freemont, 64, Amen Sheridan, 55, Rodney Morris, 62, Doran Morris Jr., 45, Forrest Aldrich, 66, Mitchell Parker, 68, Tillie Aldrich, 47, and Jeff Miller, 52. Each is charged with conspiracy, conversion and misapplication of funds from a program receiving federal funds, and conversion and misapplication of funds of a health care benefit program. Arraignments for the nine defendants likely will be in late October. Conviction on the conspiracy charge carries a penalty of as many as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine and conviction on the other two each is punishable by as many as 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the indictment, the Omaha Tribe had filed claims against the federal Indian Health Service alleging the agency owed the tribe $8.9 million in unpaid contract support costs. The defendants then granted themselves nearly $389,000 in incentive payments on account of the claim filings, despite the claims not being paid to the tribe until late 2015. In order to pay for the bonuses, the defendants took federal funds meant to provide health care to Omaha tribal members through the Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center. Webster-Valentino and Freemont each received bonuses of $89,693, while Sheridan, Rodney Morris, Doran Morris Jr., Forrest Aldrich, Parker, Tillie Aldrich and Miller, as tribal council members, each received bonuses of $13,400. Webster-Valentino and Freemont are charged with conspiring to obtain money to which they were not entitled. The indictment alleges they misrepresented the level of their involvement in preparing claims submitted to Indian Health Service and made a proposal to the tribal council for authorization of unreasonable bonuses for each of them. They also proposed giving unreasonable bonuses to tribal council members to induce the council to approve the proposal, according to the indictment. Freemont and Webster-Valentino also got checks for themselves from the Health Education Center without going through the tribes normal review and issuance procedure. They then distributed and cashed checks before the tribal council approved the bonuses. They exchanged emails discussing what bonus amounts to propose and in one, Freemont suggested increasing the amounts to be paid to the tribal council to make it easier to gain approval for their own bonuses. Sheridan, Rodney Morris, Doran Morris Jr., Forrest Aldrich, Parker, Tillie Aldrich and Miller are charged with conspiring to obtain money to which they were not entitled. The indictment alleges their bonuses werent in compliance with tribal provisions, were unreasonable in amount, were prematurely paid and werent related to the purposes for which they were meant pursuant to the Indian Health Service contract. The indictment also alleges that on Nov. 5, 2012, the same day the tribal council approved the bonuses, the council passed a second motion to pay a bonus of $7,500 apiece to former tribal council members dating back to 1994 for their purported oversight of the Indian Health Service claims dispute. However, the indictment alleges, the bonuses were not paid because Webster-Valentino refused to allow funds from the Health Education Center to be used for this purpose. In addition to conspiracy, the indictment charges each of the defendants in separate counts with substantive acts of converting or misapplying funds from a program receiving federal funds and converting and misapplying funds of a health care benefit program. These individuals used their elected positions to enrich themselves by betraying the trust of their peers, said Randall C. Thysse, special agent in charge of the FBIs Omaha Division, in a news release. The FBI Omaha Division will remain steadfast in aggressively investigating those responsible for perpetrating schemes like this. In Florida Monday, following the bombings in New York and New Jersey, Donald Trump referred to the captured bombing suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, as an evil thug. He then added, Hillary Clinton is a weak and ineffective person and I will tell you, if you choose Donald Trump, these problems are going to go away far, far greater than anybody would think. Whatever one thinks of Trumps rhetoric, his is a voice of certainty at a time when a growing number of Americans appear fed up with a seemingly ineffective government, weak statements and even weaker responses. Example: Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said on CNN: What I can tell you is that we are, when it comes to ISIL, we are in a fight, a narrative fight with them, a narrative battle. Are words the cause of so many American deaths from terrorists attacks and on battlefields in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Syria? Or did bombs and bullets take their lives, limbs, minds and sense of well-being? Many Americans believe their government cares more about the sensitivity of Muslims than it does for them. From releasing detainees from Guantanamo prison, some of whom have gone on to plot terrorist attacks against Americans, to the acceptance of thousands of refugees from Islamic countries where terrorism appears to be a major export, people are rightly concerned. Adding to those justifiable concerns is this Associated Press story: The U.S. government has mistakenly granted citizenship to at least 858 immigrants who had pending deportation orders from countries of concern to national security or with high rates of immigration fraud, according to an internal Homeland Security audit. Why? The Department of Homeland Security says their fingerprints were missing from government databases. This is the same administration that promised robust vetting of all immigrants. Its not the kind of storyline that builds confidence among a populace that is increasingly skeptical about their governments ability to protect the homeland. Many people are afraid to say what should be said for fear of being labeled an Islamophobe. Those who deny the threat of Islamic extremism in this country are quick to brand those in opposition with that term, even though in many cases their only sin is taking seriously the virulent rhetoric of racial Islamists, who blatantly admit to wanting to destroy western countries, especially the United States. Srdja Trifkovic is not afraid. He is a Serbian-American writer on international and foreign affairs and editor of the paleoconservative magazine Chronicles. In the September issue Trifkovic writes: The enemy is Islam, a supremacist ideology of permanent conflict and conquest, which is and has always been structurally unamenable to compromise with non-Islam. It has a highly developed legal, political, and moral doctrine, rooted in its core texts, which denies the legitimacy of any other belief system and form of social organization. Its exponents are state actors (most notably Saudi Arabia), groups with some state attributes (ISIS), decentralized terror networks (Al Qaeda), and self-starting radicalized cells and individuals in most Western countries that have a sizable Muslim diaspora. All Muslims do not buy into these doctrines, but those who dont are regarded as heretics by those who do. Dont take my word for it. Do the research. The motives and goals of radical Islamists are in their writings, sermons and media. The latest terrorists attacks, and the possibility of more to come before the election, can only benefit Donald Trump. While some politicians wring their hands, Trump wants to wring necks. His is a voice of certainty amid voices of timidity. Whether good or bad, that resonates with a lot of people who dont enjoy life in that safety bubble protecting our elected officials. Americans are tired of losing wars. This one they want to win. To those who want to win, Trump is Gen. Patton. Hillary Clinton reminds them of a conscientious objector. CHICAGO -- In our internet-connected world where cute is king and issues of substance tend to be discussed only if there's a catchy meme to share, people are far likelier to know that Sept. 17 was National Apple Dumpling Day than that it marked the beginning of Constitution Week. Pity the starry-eyed individual who wrote the official proclamation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day 2016, which the White House sent out to its press list late last Friday: "The vision of self-government laid out in our Constitution is dependent on Americans doing the hard and sometimes frustrating -- yet always essential -- work of citizenship," read the proclamation signed by President Obama. It's difficult to imagine a time when our nation's young people were less suited for the responsibilities of citizenship, given public schools' neglect of civics education. In May 2015, the National Assessment of Educational Progress released its report card on history, civics and geography and found that only 18 percent of all eighth-graders assessed were at or above proficiency (defined as demonstrating competency of subject-matter knowledge, application of such knowledge to real-world situations, and related analytical skills) in U.S. history. Only 23 percent were at or above proficiency in civics. This came as no surprise to anyone who knows what passes for "history" class in districts across the country. If you have children in public schools, you know the curriculum is heavy on personal essays about hot-topic "social issues" and light on reading historical texts or having to remember historical dates, figures or events. In 2015, the conservative-leaning Thomas B. Fordham Institute analyzed public schools' mission, vision and values statements to see whether the educational system views the preparation of students for participation in democratic life as central to education and an essential outcome. The Fordham Institute found that 60 percent of the country's 100 largest school districts (which represent about 11 million students) had mission statements that did not mention civics, citizenship or democracy. Of all the mission statements they examined, the term "U.S. citizenship" appeared only once. Along those lines, the Fordham Institute found, the words "patriotic" and "patriotism" did not appear at all in any of the public statements they reviewed. In a recent column about the ways in which American patriotism can be used to provoke positive political change, The New York Times' David Brooks lamented that "many schools no longer teach American history, so students never learn the facts and tenets of their creed. A globalist mentality teaches students they are citizens of the world rather than citizens of America." As someone who trained in a social-justice-focused teacher preparation program and has seen a whole lot of social studies homework both as an educator and a parent, I can vouch for Brooks' assertion: There's a lot of overtly anti-American "American History" instruction going on in public schools. There's an argument for public schools teaching history and civics in a manner that is both rigorous and critical in order to prepare students to make smart choices about their role in a democratic society. But most students on the last National Assessment of Educational Progress civics test could not correctly answer questions about checks and balances or understand the policy implications of a trend using a graph. And they're supposed to someday understand the implications of our current reality-TV presidential election? "Presidential elections have always been the ultimate 'teachable moment,'" Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the Fordham Institute, said in an email. "Given the strong feelings created by Trump and Clinton, and widespread disappointment in both as reflected in polls, it would be lovely if the election led to an enhanced interest in civic education, or a civics and history revival. We could certainly use it." No, no, no! The Board of Regents gave University of Nebraska President a 6.3 percent raise ("Regents OK pay hike for Bounds," Sept. 17) No one needs to make more than $200,000 on a government paycheck. If he needs that much money, then he can go work in the private sector, where he actually makes something rather than just spends the taxpayer money. With a more than $500,000 salary, he should be able to pay for his own house and car. Those of us who only make $60,000 can, and we also support his outrageous pay. The university needs to understand that we can't afford this. People were so valuable to William Wilberforce, and men of the same courage and valor of whom he long labored, that he literally gave his time, energies and wealth for the purpose of seeing slaves set free from bondage. John Quincy Adams felt so much the same that he refused to honor the gag rule, continuing to fight against slavery and chipping away at the institution to make room for Abraham Lincoln to finish the job. There was Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas and many, many more. Susan B. Anthony spoke up for women, and the people of New England condemned child labor in 1832. People saw people being hurt, came together unselfishly to solve problems and worked it out for the common good. They didnt burn a flag and blame the government, a race, the military or something else ("On free speech," Sept. 13). This is America and you certainly have the right to do those things. America does have its problems but, by far, it has many more wonderful things. When you burn a flag, you spit ungratefully and disrespectfully in the face, hands and blood of the people who toiled to give you that freedom; you do not understand what you have and what you will lose. Rebecca Lehmkuhl, Lincoln A management class at the University of NebraskaLincoln College of Business Administration is accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations focused on impacting the lives of children, to receive as much as $10,000 in funding from the Learning by Giving Foundation. This semester, the senior-level class, Leading People and Projects (Management 411), will provide a funding opportunity empowering organizations to make a positive difference in the Lincoln community as students gather knowledge of philanthropy through working with nonprofit organizations. Meanwhile, the class will learn how to initiate a funding process, create a grant application, evaluate applications and make decisions on providing grants for community betterment. The Strive to Thrive Lincoln course is supported by funding from the Learning by Giving Foundation, and is one of 43 partner schools teaching philanthropy classes nationwide. At each institution, students may distribute Learning by Giving Foundation funds to local nonprofit organizations to address those communities greatest needs. The Nebraska effort seeks to provide money to help impact children. Partnering with colleges and universities, and funded by a $5 million gift from Doris Buffett, the foundation is now providing, a platform for students to become thoughtful and effective givers by making real dollar grants to nonprofit organizations in their local communities according to board member Howard W. Buffett. Local nonprofit organizations can apply by Oct. 7 for awards of a minimum of $2,000 or up to $10,000. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and propose a project consistent with the organizations mission and within the mission of Strive to Thrive Lincoln. Within the application, applicants must provide their Form 990 and IRS letter, give a brief description of their organization and its relevant achievements, and outline the proposed project along with how it aligns with their organizations mission and goals. For more details, contact Amber Messersmith, Ph.D., lecturer for the Department of Management at UNL's College of Business Administration, at amessersmith3.unl.edu or call (402) 472-5222. KENOSHA COUNTY A Town of Burlington man who perished in a vehicle fire last week was a dedicated employee who worked for more than 23 years at Best Bargains Inc. in Wheatland, an employer said Wednesday. He was an absolutely indispensable cog in our machine. One of the most dedicated men and employees I have ever seen, Doug Helnore, an owner of Best Bargains, said of Paul H. Hoffman. A warehouse supervisor at Best Bargains, a wholesale foods business at 6515 352nd Ave., Hoffman did everything from health inspections to helping out in the deli, Helnore said. On Wednesday, the Kenosha County Medical Examiners Office identified the 64-year-old resident of the Waters Edge Circle area of the Town of Burlington as the victim in the vehicle fire in the store parking lot Friday. Hoffmans burned body was discovered by Kenosha County Sheriffs Department deputies after they and Wheatland firefighters were called to Best Bargains just before 8 a.m. that day. While en route, deputies were advised that the vehicle was occupied and bystanders were trying to remove the occupant, a press release stated. When deputies arrived, they found Hoffmans Chevy S-10 pickup truck engulfed with him still inside. Although co-workers presumed the man trapped inside was Hoffman, a Kenosha County Sheriffs Department press release states that the identity of the victim was confirmed through dental records. Grieving the loss Attempts to reach family members of Hoffmans were unsuccessful on Wednesday, but Helnore described Hoffman as an intelligent man who was deeply religious, and who loved reading and the people he worked with. Helnore shied away from talking about the incident in detail, but described it as an immediate shock. It is a very tight-knit family here. There are about 50 employees and everyone knows which vehicles we drive to work. Everyone is still numb, Helnore said. It was a surreal, shocking episode. Best Bargains is located in the unincorporated New Munster community of Wheatland, just south of Highway 50 and about four miles south of the Burlington city limits. While a cause of the fire is still under investigation, Kenosha County Sheriffs Department spokesman Sgt. Eric Klinkhammer said there is no reason to believe the public is any danger at this time. RACINE COUNTY A Kansasville man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly forced a woman into his van and caused the woman to be thrown from the vehicle. Ryan J. Kubera, 31, of the 24800 block of Wilson Street, allegedly came to the womans home intoxicated, according to the criminal complaint. After Kubera tried to force the victim into the van, the victim tried walking away. While walking away, Kubera followed the victim in his van, the complaint said. Kubera eventually got out of the van, threatened to kill the woman and forced her into the van, according to the complaint. The victim attempted to get out of the vehicle multiple times as the van slowed down, but Kubera would speed up every time so she could not exit the vehicle, the complaint said, In an attempt to get out of the vehicle, the woman began exiting the vehicle as the car was slowing down in the 27600 block of Washington Avenue. As she was getting out, Kubera sped up in a U-turn fashion causing the victim to be thrown from the vehicle along with a few items from the van. The van almost ran her over, according to the complaint. The woman suffered a 6-inch abrasion to her arm and a concussion as a result of being thrown from the vehicle, the complaint said. Kubera stopped the vehicle and asked if the victim was okay and began picking up the items that had fallen out of his vehicle. As witnesses came near the scene of the incident, Kubera got back in his vehicle and fled west on Washington Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to the complaint. The victim was taken to the emergency room at Ascension All Saints Hospital. Kubera was taken into custody near his home later Tuesday, the complaint said. Kubera faces two felony charges for false imprisonment and second degree recklessly endangering safety. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Sept. 28 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. He remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon at the Racine County Jail, online records showed. RACINE A Waukesha man faces three felony charges in connection to a chase on Interstate 94 last week that reached speeds of more than 100 mph and ended when the suspect crashed his car on a freeway ramp. Terrence J. Anderson, 28, of the 400 block of Arcadian Avenue, Waukesha, appeared in Racine County Circuit Court on Wednesday and was charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to elude a traffic officer and possession of a fireman by a felon all felonies in connection with the chase, which began at about 10:50 a.m. on Sept. 14. He was also cited with about a dozen traffic offenses, court records indicate, including: speeding, lane deviation, following too closely, operating while suspended, operating without insurance, failing to signal a turn, failure to stop at a stop sign, unsafe passing and failure to fasten seat belts. According to the criminal complaint, Anderson was initially stopped on Interstate 94 near Highway 20 by a Racine County Sheriffs deputy. The deputy told Anderson to wait in the vehicle while the stop was being processed, according to the complaint. Instead, Anderson drove away from the traffic stop and headed south, moving erratically from lane to lane, according to the complaint. Anderson cut off several cars causing other cars to take evasive action nearly rear-ended a vehicle, and was observed moving at one point at 101 mph, according to the complaint. Deputies chased Anderson, who then slowed to 85 mph and abruptly exited the interstate at Highway KR, according to the complaint. Anderson was going about 80 mph when he got on the exit ramp, went through the intersection at KR without stopping, then lost control of vehicle on the entrance ramp and crashed, according to the complaint. Anderson sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, police said. Inside the car, deputies reportedly found a firearm loaded with 11 rounds, according to the complaint. Anderson was convicted of false imprisonment as domestic abuse in Waukesha County in 2012. Anderson was in the Racine County Jail on Wednesday night, according to jail records. A preliminary on the charges is scheduled for Sept. 28, court records showed. As an 82-year-old Korean conflict veteran, I just want to say that I will sleep much sounder after Jan. 20 knowing that when three in the morning call comes, all Hilary Clinton has to do is turn over and say, "What do you think about this, Bill?" God bless America. Bhaktapur police launch campaign to control untoward activities during festivals The Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur has launched a door-to-door campaign in a bid to create awareness and curb any unwanted activities during upcoming festivals like Dashain and Tihar. Building a career in engineering Engineering has been a popular subject with Nepali students ever since it was introduced as a distinct area of study in the 1930s Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice. Consolidation or fragmentation With different practices of defining local governments size around the world, a plausible model for Nepal should be home-grown Foreign Minister Mahat meets US Prez Obama in NY Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is in New York, USA, to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday held a brief meeting with US President Barrack Obama. Fringe Morcha forces worried about being overshadowed With some influential Madhesi politicians looking to secure long-term electoral interests of their parties in revising the federal boundaries, many smaller forces in the plains appear apprehensive as they fear a new deal on boundaries might give unfair advantage to some Tarai parties instead of serving the larger interest of the Madhesi people. Health insurance-related bill soon: Minister Thapa Health Minister Gagan Thapa has said the government is expected to present a bill relating to health insurance at the parliament within the next two months. Hongshi-Shivam speeds up road construction Hongshi-Shivam Cement has sped up the construction of a 36-km road linking Nawalparasi and Palpa from where it will bring limestone to its manufacturing plant. The road will be 10 metres wide, the China-Nepal joint venture company said. International Day of Peace: Serious crimes will be prosecuted, says PM Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Wednesday that those found guilty of committing serious crimes during the decade-long conflict would be prosecuted. International Day of PeaceL Conflict victims demand justice Even a decade after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, those who were subjected to sexual violence during the decade-long armed conflict are still yet to get justice. Minister Mahat bats for making SAARC more effective Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat has spoken of the need to make SAARC more effective and relevant. Narayangad-Muglin highway: Authorities order to fix road section pronto The Narayangad-Muglin road section, which is more often than not the bane of travellers, may see some improvement in coming days, officials said. NEA chief appointment: SC issues show cause to govt The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to the government over the appointment of Kulman Ghising as Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Nepal, El Salvador establish formal diplomatic relations Nepal and El Salvador have established formal bilateral diplomatic relations. The two countries on Wednesday signed a protocol to this effect on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st session of United Nations General Assembly (NGA) in New York. One year on Twelve months after constitutions promulgation, there hasnt been much progress in negotiations Opportunities galore in Hospitality Until a decade ago Nepali students had no choice of joining government owned Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management to study hospitality management if they wished to study within the country. SC shoots another letter to PMO over Karkis appointment The Supreme Court on Wednesday sent a letter to Prime Ministers Office, seeking minutes of the Constitutional Council meeting that recommended Lokman Singh Karki as chief commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Seven dead in landslides, floods Seven people died and five others were injured in separate incidents of water-induced disasters in various parts of the country in the last two days. State of emergency for Charlotte as unrest over police shooting continues The governor of North Carolina has declared a state of emergency in the city of Charlotte, sending in the National Guard, as unrest over a police shooting continues. Syria conflict: Warplanes set rebel-held Aleppo ablaze Rebel-held areas of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo saw the heaviest air strikes in months overnight, activists say, as a week-old truce collapsed. The future is IT Information Technology (IT) has today transformed our livesmaking it easier and exponentially more efficient. The silver lining: Despite having a relatively young history, university education in Nepal continues to see a positive paradigm shift Upgrading to bachelors level from Plus Two is not just a promotion of grades but a shift from school education to university education World renowned investigative journalists gather in Kathmandu The second Asian Investigative Journalism Conference is beginning in Kathmandu on Friday. The three-day conference is jointly organised by Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has criticized government for overloading parliament with local government audit reports which he says frustrates House business. Oluanyahs criticism during a parliamentary session on Thuursday evening follows an outcry by Aswa County MP, Reagan Okumu who chairs parliaments committee on Local Government Accounts. Okumu says he is overwhelmed by Audit reports from two financial years; 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, which he is supposed to present to parliament and have them debated and passed in only six months. The reports include 1,086 Sub Counties, 176 Town Councils as well as all the 44 Municipalities and 112 districts including all public hospitals and schools. Oulanyah says this is too much work for parliament to handle and asks government to find another avenue of handling the reports from lower local government units. Parliaments Local Government Accounts Committee is reported to be grappling with a cumulative backlog of audit reports. Story By Moses Kyeyune URL http://edunet002.synapse-blog.jp/konan/ No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results KENDALLVILLE Parkview Noble Hospital will host its 11th annual community health fair Saturday from 8-11 a.m. at the hospital, 401 Sawyer Road, Kendallville. Screenings and reduced-cost blood tests will be located inside the hospital in the main floor meeting rooms. The tests available include: Chem 17, $20, which checks 17 metabolic functions, including cholesterol, glucose, liver and kidney (this test also requires a 10-12 hour fast). Hemogram, $8, which looks at red and white cell counts in the blood, as well as hemoglobin. TSH, or thyroid test, $20, which checks the function of the thyroid. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) for men, $20. Hemoglobin A1C, $20, which is a test for people with diabetes or those who are suspected of having diabetes. Vitamin D, $35, which checks a persons level of vitamin D in the bloodstream. Payment for these tests needs to be made at the time of the blood draw. Personal checks or cash are accepted. No doctors orders are needed, and appointments arent necessary. Light refreshments will be available after the tests for those people who are fasting. New this year will be the Francines Friends mobile mammography coach. It will be in the front parking lot and accessible for women to get mammograms. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred and can be made by calling 800-727-8439, ext. 68120. The remainder of the health fair consists of booths showcasing hospital services and offering information on nutrition, diabetes, endoscopy, outpatient therapy, surgical services, volunteer opportunities, EMS house calls, family birthing center, cancer services, sleep lab and more. There also will be free blood-pressure checks and bone-density screenings. For more information, call the Parkview Noble community relations office at 347-8161 or toll-free 888-737-9311, ext. 78161. INDIANAPOLIS Auburn native John Ketzenberger will moderate the second debate between Indianas candidates for governor, Oct. 3 at the University of Indianapolis. Ketzenberger serves as president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. The Oct. 3 debate will focus on issues involving jobs and the economy. It will be televised live throughout the state from 7-8 p.m. Ketzenberger moderated a 2012 debate for the governors race at the University of Notre Dame. It was a really interesting experience in 2012, and I look forward to doing it again, he said Wednesday. Ketzenberger said he expects he will formulate approximately two-thirds of the questions for the debate. The remaining questions will come from people who submit them on the Indiana Debate Commissions website. Ketzenberger said he encourages Hoosiers to send their questions on indianadebatecommission.com. In choosing his own questions, Ive asked people around here, the folks that I trust at the Statehouse and other policy-makers, what they are thinking about, Ketzenberger said. He will receive the selected questions from the public three days before the debate, and he will try to fill gaps in those questions and avoid duplication, he said. Candidates will not know the questions in advance. I will challenge the candidates if what they say is not consistent with what I know about these topics. I will be courteous and firm, Ketzenberger said. Its really a straightforward and simple job. By serving as a moderator in 2012, Ketzenberger said, he has gained respect for people who fill the same role in presidential debates. You want to make sure you have lots of questions prepared, he said. An hour seems a lot longer when youre on the podium. Ketzenberger, a graduate of DeKalb High School, became president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute in the fall of 2009. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan government research organization, it studies the states tax policies and budget practices. We try to inform the public policy debate, Ketzenberger said. Before joining the institute, Ketzenberger worked as a reporter for the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal. His assignments included covering the Indiana Statehouse. Three debates are scheduled for Indianas candidates for governor Democrat John Gregg, Republican Eric Holcomb and Libertarian Rex Bell. The first debate will take place Tuesday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. The third is scheduled for Oct. 25 from 7-8 p.m. at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. Only the evening debates will be carried on live television. ANGOLA Pleasant Township is weighing its options on how to provide fire protection to residents, including looking at creating its own department. Pleasant Township Trustee Craig Rice said Wednesday all avenues are being explored but nothing has been determined. I want to emphasize we have not decided to have a fire department, Rice said. Weve been pondering if going alone is best We believe its a possibility. Angola Clerk-Treasurer Deb Twitchell said the township currently contracts with the city for fire protection for $418,710 a year. Twitchell said the city is requesting a 1 percent increase for 2017 to $422,896. There is no deadline for signing, Twitchell said. The contracts begin Jan. 1. Angola also contracts to provide fire protection to Jackson, Scott and York townships. Pleasant Township is budgeting for one individual and vehicle to start a fire department, just in case its needed, Rice said. He said the township is pondering whether to sign the 2017 contract with the city. Were like the city theres been no determinations. You cant start a department in six months, he said. Angola Councilman Dave Martin raised the issue at Mondays Angola Common Council meeting saying the issue is under consideration. They have informed us they are checking into the feasibility of their own department, Martin said. They have budgeted money for a fire chief and vehicle, but theres no budget for volunteer firefighters. The township has talked about developing a fire territory in the past, but again, Rice stressed no decisions have been made. A fire territory is a separate taxing unit. Rice said the township realizes it wont be able to start up or run a fire department for under $400,000. Theres the necessary capital outlay, with firetrucks, equipment and a building needed. We kind of know what we can do with (certain amounts of money). Volunteer fire departments are becoming more difficult, he said. Were not doing this to make history. Were out to do whats best for taxpayers. Martin said he can appreciate Rices sentiment and want to best serve township residents. But Martin pointed out the trend is away from volunteer fire departments because of the difficulty with finding volunteers to provide adequate staffing and coverage. Angola officials feel service to township residents would decline. Theres no doubt in mind they wouldnt be able to get the same, said Angola Mayor Dick Hickman at Mondays Council meeting. Twitchell said the citys fire budget is $1.5 million. If the township opts to take its budgeted $400,000 to create its own fire department, that would mean a 28 percent hit on the citys budget. If that were the case, Twitchell said it would be up to the Angola Common Council as to the ramifications. Martin said if the township were to create its own fire department, response time could be affected. Township fire and rescue responders could pass by Angola City Hall and its Public Safety Building when responding to an incident in the south side of the township, he said. Martin also said homeowners insurance rates could increase. Angola Fire Chief Mike Meek said he couldnt comment on the issue because he hasnt been presented with facts. Something similar happened in 2014 in Huntington, the Indiana State Board of Accounts website says. At that time, Huntington Township opted to end its fire protection contract with that city and contract with four volunteer fire departments within Huntington County. The reason was to save taxpayers money. Angola officials and Rice will continue to have talks related to fire protection. Pleasant Township will have a public meeting to approve its 2017 budget on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 4:30 p.m. at Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, 322 S. Wayne St. The La Crosse County Board and the countys health department are so worried about the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources failure to oversee holders of wastewater discharge permits that the board passed a resolution urging the agency to follow whats already the law. When roads are in bad shape, its easy to tell before things get to a crisis level. The ride gets bumpy, and motorists see cracks in the pavement. Its different with water. Only regular testing and regulatory vigilance can guard against contamination of surface and groundwater from industrial, agricultural and municipal wastewater. The county boards resolution was prompted largely by a report from the states nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau in June that revealed significant problems with the DNRs monitoring, enforcement and permitting of the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or WPDES. (The DNR is) supposed to be doing certain things to make sure the state water supply remains pure, drinkable and healthy, said county board member Monica Kruse, who who is chairwoman of the boards Health and Human Services Committee. These are statutorily required services that are supposed to be provided at the state level, and theyre just washing their hands of them. The Legislative Audit Bureau report, which looked at WPDES permits and enforcement for industrial, municipal and concentrated animal feeding operations from 2005 to 2015, included findings that the DNR was not issuing violation notices in the vast majority of cases when violations were found, was not reviewing permit renewals properly or in a timely manner while issuing permit renewals nonetheless, was falling short on required inspections of CAFOs, and was not keeping records in a way that ensured they were accessible to staff, let alone the public. The countys resolution, which was sent to Gov. Scott Walker, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and local legislators, requested the DNR take the following actions for the 17 WPDES permit holders in La Crosse County: Ensure the records of all inspections and determinations are electronically recorded and available in a timely fashion to DNR staff responsible for monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations. Conduct inspections of permit holders within 12 months of expiration of their current permits and not reissue permits before inspections are conducted. Reissue permits only when the permit holder is in substantial compliance as required by state statute. Follow enforcement policy and issue notices of violations when permit holders violate the terms of their permits. Provide the county with a report of the compliance status of all permit holders in the county. The resolution is asking basically that the DNR follow whats already the law, said Jim Steinhoff, who supervises the countys Health Department lab operations. We have these laws and we know if you dont follow them the water gets contaminated and that causes illnesses. In La Crosse County, the DNR has issued 17 WPDES permits. Of those, 11 are sewage treatment facilities ranging from the regional treatment plant in La Crosse to two facilities serving mobile home parks. The other permit holders include Xcel Energys waste-to-energy incinerator on French Island, the Metallics facility on Brice Prairie, Bills Pumping Service near Holmen, the U.S. Geological Survey operation on French Island, Stella Jones near Bangor, and Babcock Genetics, a concentrated animal feeding operation for swine near Holmen that has a permit for up to 4,100 animal units (a pig weighing more than 55 pounds counts as 40 to 50 percent of an animal unit). Groundwater contamination has been a big issue in Kewaunee County, which has a large number of CAFOs and an underlying geology that allows manure and other contaminants to quickly migrate from the surface to the groundwater from which wells are drawing drinking water. Last fall, more than a third of the wells in the county were found to have unsafe levels of bacteria and/or nitrates, with CAFOs being the likely source of the contamination. In several towns, every well was contaminated. Kruse said it was like the Wisconsin form of the Flint water crisis, referring to elevated lead levels in residential drinking water in Flint, Mich., caused by the city switching to a more acidic water source that readily leached the hazardous metal out of old pipes. You should be afraid. You should be very afraid, said Sharon Hampson, vice chairman of the La Crosse County Board. Its a real and present danger. In a way, Steinhoff said, Kewaunee Countys contamination could be worse than Flint because bacterial contamination can cause immediate health problems. It could very quickly be life threatening, he said. Some communities in Kewaunee County (as well as Midwest Environmental Advocates) have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to have the DNR removed as the responsible agency for enforcing the federal Clean Water Act. Its probably unlikely that is going to happen, but it shows you the amount of concern a lot of people in that part of the state have, Steinhoff said. According to Steinhoff, La Crosse Countys Babcock Genetics CAFO was referenced in the audit bureau report, noting that monitoring wells on the site had found nitrogen concentrations exceeding the limit starting in 2005. Steinhoff said the audit bureau asked the DNR specifically about the Babcock Genetics CAFO. The response was that theyre still studying it, he said. The question the people of La Crosse County should be asking is, How long does this take to come to some resolution. Steinhoff found it especially disturbing that about 98 percent of the required 1,900 self-monitoring annual reports from CAFOs from 2005-14 were not electronically logged when they were received. That information is basically lost. People in the DNR who rely on that software, like managers in Madison, for example, would never see the information that was reported, he said. Basically, youre blind and dont know whats going on with water pollution because these reports dont go into their system. The audit bureau report noted that the annual reports were not electronically recorded because staff members did not have time. DNR staff also told the audit that they do not have time to thoroughly review each annual report. Although there were 558 cases from 2005 to 2014 where DNR policies called for issuing notices of violation (403 for exceeding effluent limits, 155 for late reporting), only 33 permit holders actually received violation notices, according to the audit bureau report, which disturbed both Steinhoff and Kruse. Lack of enforcement when violations are found coupled with a lack of monitoring basically sends a signal that WPDES permit holders dont have to worry about compliance. Its carte blanche. They can do whatever they want, Kruse said. I think all of them should be held accountable. Kruse puts the blame for the DNR shortcomings on Walker and the GOP-led Legislature, arguing that Walker and Republican lawmakers have never met a regulation they didnt hate and that the DNR has backed off on water contamination enforcement as a matter of policy to help the business community, especially big agriculture. They are trying to be as business friendly as they can be, Kruse said. In the process, they are leaving the citizens of Wisconsin vulnerable to some very bad things. State Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, agreed that the DNR under the Walker administration has had minuscule oversight. It seems like the message coming out of this administration and that agency is that there arent really penalties or consequences, said Shilling, who is the Senate minority leader. Its his department thats responsible for enforcing these rules, and there generally has been poor enforcement. The audit, it should be noted, covers 2005 to 2015, and problems with the DNR enforcement predate the beginning of the Walker administration in 2011. DNR staffing has been on the decline for many years, falling 15 percent the past 20 years. Staffing reached a critical point in the summer of 2011, when a wave of resignations and retirements after Act 10 (which took away state employee bargaining rights) left one in five DNR positions vacant. The DNR vacancy rate has improved but last summer it had climbed again to 14.2 percent after falling from 2012 to 2014. Not only were DNR managers not hiring staff to fill vacancies; they saw fewer positions authorized. In the most recent budget, Walker proposed trimming 67 jobs from the DNRs staff of 2,647 full-time equivalent positions; the budget bill he signed cut 92 jobs. When the states Natural Resources Board brought discussed the LAB report with Stepp, she told the board that lack of money for staff was a big part of the reason why the DNR couldnt keep up with WPDES enforcement and permitting work. Also, she said, rules prevent the agency from bringing on new employees while experienced retiring staff members are still on board so they can help train the new hires. Stepp told the board that an internal staffing analysis underway could improve WPDES enforcement. Stepp did not respond to a request for a response to the La Crosse County Boards resolution, but James Dick, the DNRs communications director, said the county board will get a response from the DNR about supervisors concerns. Dick defended the DNRs approach to WPDES violations, saying that the tiny number of violation notices doesnt mean that violations are being ignored or going uncorrected. The DNR is committed to a step enforcement approach where we try to resolve violations at the level appropriate for the circumstances. Minor violations may be resolved first through an informal discussion or notice of noncompliance and can be escalated to a more aggressive approach, such as a notice of violation, Dick said. The goal is to achieve compliance, not set a record for the most NOVs issued. Dick said the DNR is taking the LAB report seriously, even if there is some disagreement over some of the allegations. We are working on our electronic recording efforts while having our staff focus on maintaining or increasing the number of inspections. We set inspection goals that are approved by the EPA and those goals are being met, Dick said. Walker has said he wouldnt rule out increasing funding for the DNR in the biennial budget that will be debated next year. In addition, State Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, has called for an increase in funding for the DNR by having more of the permit fee revenue it collects stay with the agency rather than going into the general fund. According to the audit bureau report, in 2014-15 only about $72,000 of the $5.4 million collected went into accounts dedicated to environmental management, and the numbers in the report were similar going back to 2005. The disconnect between fees and amount spent on enforcement and permit oversight doesnt sit well with state Rep. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska. We are now basically shaking down these entities, but the service that is being provided doesnt seem to have any relationship at all to that fee, he said. That just to me feels wrong. Doyle also is a member of the La Crosse County Board, and while he was not present for the vote on the boards resolution regarding WPDES enforcement, he said he fully supports the resolution. If other counties and municipalities follow suit as expected, it could make a difference come budget time. This is part of a concerted effort to have a small voice turned into a much larger voice, Doyle said. Of course, he added, it really takes the majority party to pull the trigger and say something has to happen. The scrutiny coming from the EPA could help, too. If the federal government starts to threaten to impose sanctions that may be what it takes to make action finally occur. Its important, Doyle said, that something be done to drastically improve WPDES enforcement and permitting processes before the EPA steps in to take over enforcement. We shouldnt rely on the federal government to do the right thing, he said. Did you know the Bible talks about apples? No, its not the fruit that Eve ate and gave to Adam. In fact, the Book of Genesis doesnt name the fruit. The Bible mentions apples a handful of times. In fact, Moses writes in Deuteronomy about the Lord watching over Jacob and being the apple of his eye. Being the Apple Capital of Minnesota, we should appreciate this phrase: the apple of his eye. To be the apple of someones eye means to be something most precious. Did you know or ever think of yourself as the apple of Gods eye? In Psalm 17, King David prayed: I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye. (6-8a) David understood the wondrous love of God. He lived and was uplifted in Gods great forgiveness. He knew that God was his refuge from trouble and struggle in life. He knew that he was the apple of Gods eye. Was this presumptuous arrogance? No. If we read the rest of Davids psalms, we know that he was brought to the depths of despair over his sins. He knew what he deserved for his sins, but he also knew and trusted that the savior who was promised to come was the one who changed Davids status in the eye of God. Because of Christ, David was the apple of Gods eye. Could you also be the apple of Gods eye? The savior that David knew and trusted is Jesus Christ. We have to be honest, our status in Gods eye without Christ, if an apple, would be rotten to the core. This is sin. And as much as we polish it, as much as we do to make it look good, as much as we try to remove the sting of death which is the wages of our sin, it doesnt change our status in the eye of God. We are the apple of Gods eye because we believe that Jesus has changed that status. Jesus perfect life in our place and his death on the cross for our sins has won our salvation. Trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life, God sees us as his most precious children, the apple of his eye. Could you also be the apple of Gods eye? Yes, you are. Rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for Jesus and the faith to believe. We just celebrated the greatest festival around, that being Applefest. We celebrate the bounty of apples, we celebrate community and friendship. But we should also be reminded and celebrate that through faith in Jesus Christ, God sees us as the apple of his eye. Keep Christ first. Applefest goers got a taste of orchard life Saturday afternoon, sampling freshly picked apples, watching the fruit make its way down the antique packing line and taking a trip through the trees of Van Lin Orchards. Rick Van Lin led the tour, telling about 30 people the history of the farm and the complex process of growing and harvesting apples on the 40 acres. Originally a dairy farm, Ricks parents bought the land in 1959, and the couple planted every tree themselves. It was five years before any apples were produced, but the business grew swiftly and was eventually purchased by Rick, who lives on the property with his three children, and one of his brothers, Dan. Tour goers had plenty of questions for Rick about growing techniques and varieties, with children fascinated by the 40-year-old apple sorting conveyor belt. The machine pulls apples from a vat of water, polishing them and sorting by size. The machine is rarely used today, as most of the packing is outsourced, but it was a mainstay in earlier years. Rick discussed the the history of the Honeycrisp (created by the University of Minnesota in the late 1980s) and the future of the universitys M55 apple, a yet unnamed SweeTango hybrid developed for summer harvest. This summers heat wave was not kind to the crops, according to Rick. Temperatures above 88 degrees can cause the apples to stop growing and ripen prematurely. The orchard uses the Brix scale to measure fructose content in order to pick the apples at their peak. Many people on the tour were curious about the rows of wires crossing through the 10 varieties of apple trees. Rick explained the goal is to keep the trees small for better quality apples. The purpose of the first three years is to grow the trees up, not out, Rick explained. Were trying to grow apples, not trees, and were always chasing after the best varieties. Honeycrisps expanded the market and got people interested in apples again. Ricks daughter, Leah Van Lin, 8, helped dole out slices of Riverbelle and Pazazz apples, her favorite part of the afternoon. I pretty much enjoyed the tour because I got to steal some apples, Leah said. Im going to have to say RiverBelles are my favorite because I gave samples and its really good. I pick em and eat em. Tour-goer Satish Jeejula of La Crosse brought 3-year-old twins Adarsh and Asish to the orchard after hearing La Crescent was the Apple Capital of Minnesota. Having it so close to La Crosse, 15 minutes away, I couldnt resist, Jeejula said. In India (where Jeejula grew up), the orchards are hundreds of miles away. Ive always been eating apples, but I never knew the whole process of how they grew. It was very interesting to learn, and the land is so beautiful here with the rolling hills. And the kids are having a great time, he added. They ate about an entire apple of samples each. Van Lin Orchards will offer tours and wagon rides on Sundays throughout the fall. To schedule a tour, call 895-4492. The hydroelectric dam in Black River Falls lost one of its gates and several Jackson County roads remain closed after major flooding in the region last week. Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Kristina Page said Jackson County which declared a state of emergency largely was spared compared to flooding impacts in the region, but damage estimates already are near $600,000 and rising. Actually, it could be a lot worse, Page said. It looks bad, but it could be a lot worse. We were lucky that yesterday we didnt get the heavy rains that surrounding counties did. The Black River at Black River Falls was at 58.9 feet as of Thursday afternoon and peaked at over 60 feet later Thursday for the rivers third-highest recorded crest. The mark put the water level just below the 61.47-foot record crest set Sept. 24, 2010. The hydroelectric dam in Black River Falls, which was replaced in 2012, lost one of its gates when a large pine tree traveled through it Thursday, and several boats and docks were broken away in Hatfield on Lake Arbutus and also were sent over Hatfields hydroelectric dam. However, Page said both units are structurally sound and dont pose public safety concerns. (The water) is high dont get me wrong, she said. Its high and they call it major flooding (but) right now, I want to emphasize that the hydroelectric dams in both Hatfield and Black River Falls structurally are in good shape. Black River Falls Municipal Utilities is working on a plan to recover the gate, which is resting downstream, to see if it can be repaired or needs to be completely replaced. The impoundment has been drawn down and the work to replace the gate and bring up the water levels could take several weeks to months, Utility Manager Jerry Ewert said. Its unfortunate that the damage occurred, but we cant control the water or the environment, and we always have to be prepared for these types of things, he said. Its necessary to get it back in service for the purpose it was built for, and thats power generation and recreational uses. Its unfortunate, but its Mother Nature and those things happen. We just go on. Several roads were closed across Jackson County because of high flood waters, including Highway VV in North Bend, Perry Creek and Hawk Island roads in the town of Manchester, E. Fork and E. Staffon roads in the town of Komensky and Highway Z in City Point. Hawk Island, Perry Creek and E. Staffon roads remain closed as of this week. All of Jackson Countys ATV trails were closed in addition to the west and east Arbutus county parks. The Melrose Fire Department was on alert with a command center in Melrose given the rising water levels and assisted with providing sand bags at a Stetzer Road home in the town of Melrose to help prevent damage, Fire Chief Tim Kunes said. It came faster than anybody thought with that heavy rain, he said. Every foot more would be a whole host of troubles for everybody in that area. I just didnt want to see it get any higher. The flooding didnt prompt an evacuation of the Grove area in the city of Black River Falls, which occurred in the record 2010 event, but officials closely monitored water levels. No. 1, stay away from flood waters, Page said last week. We understand people are curious and rightfully so, but really the best thing to do it stay away from flood waters as much as possible. Dont drive through flooded roadways. Jackson County communities got anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rain since Wednesday night, exacerbating the flooding but not putting the county at the 6 to 10 inches other areas in Wisconsin and Iowa have received. With all the rain the past few weeks, its really saturated, so the rain that fell (Wednesday) night had really nowhere to go but sit on top of the soil, said Clint Aegerter, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Jackson County did pretty well, all things considered, but theres still flooding pretty much everywhere. Additional rainfall originally was in the forecast for last weekend, but the county received far less than expected, which helped waters recede more quickly, Page said. Were still pretty wet and soggy, but it did at least help with letting the water levels decrease in the rivers, she said Monday. Really, were doing quite well. We did, obviously, have some damage, but it could have been a whole lot worse. Officials are encouraging homeowners with wells near floodwaters to acquire a free testing kit from Jackson County Health and Human Services. Its just one of those things better to be safe than sorry and to get it tested, Page said. Property owners with damage due to the flooding are encouraged to report it so that the figures can be included as Jackson County looks to determine whether it will receive federal assistance. To report damage, call 211 or (800) 362-8255. Enrollment is rising at La Crosses three colleges and universities this year. Viterbo Universitys enrollment growth ends a five-year slide at the university, while the University of Wisconsin-La Crosses numbers show growth from last year, when a drop in enrollment resulted in additional cuts and belt-tightening at the university. In fall 2010, Viterbo reported 349 first-year students and a total headcount of 3,244, falling last year to 279 first-year students with a 2,677 headcount. Things are beginning to reverse as the university has seen a 10 percent increase in first-year students this fall as well as a more than 30 percent bump in the number of transfer students enrolled. Were trending in the right direction, Admissions Director Brian Weber said. A big portion of the new class at Viterbo will be first-generation students, and the university has also worked hard in marketing itself to two-year college students who want to complete a four-year degree. Of the 240 first-year students who answered the question, Weber said 44 percent indicated they would be the first in their family to attend or complete college. Reaching out to underserved students is a big part of Viterbo and its shared heritage with the Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, who first founded the campus. Viterbo has recently begun offering a college readiness scholarship for students who complete programs such as AVID, which the La Crosse School District adopted in recent years to help at-risk students pursue their college dreams. This has resulted in Viterbo seeing a 1.3 percent bump in undergraduate enrollment as well as a 3.61 percent bump in on-campus graduate students. Total graduate enrollment is seeing a decline, but Vice President for Academic Affairs and incoming President Glena Temple said several online graduate programs were not counted in this years fall enrollment numbers due to when they are offered. The universitys master of business adminstration program is seeing a more than 12 percent increase in enrollment this year and the educational leadership program saw 10 percent growth. Viterbos flagship master of arts in servant leadership program saw a decline this year, with 16 fewer students enrolled in the program, a drop of more than 28 percent. In addition to our strong traditional undergraduate enrollment this fall, we continue to see growth in our on-campus and off-campus graduate programs, Temple said. Western Technical Colleges first-day fall enrollment is down a little from last years 4,216, but isnt an accurate picture of attendance the college serves students year-round. The college is on a trimester system, and so far has enrolled 6,809 students this summer and fall, almost as many as in all three trimesters of 2015 combined. The positive numbers help keep the college on track for its Vision 2020 goal of serving 10,000 each year by the end of the decade. Western President Lee Rasch is confident the headcount will continue to rise into the spring as the college rolls out new flexible learning sessions. I feel really good on that snapshot of enrollment for the year, Rasch said. More than 10,540 students were enrolled at UW-L this fall, up 1.3 percent from last year and nearing the record enrollment of 10,558 reported in 2014. Of those students, 2,086 were first-year students, a gain of 32 for the university. Last years enrollment drop of 150 students resulted in the loss of several dozen positions at the university, and last spring administrators predicted additional cuts if enrollment continued to decline. While the number of students attending UW-L has risen, one key demographic, international students, has seen continued declines. Last year, the international student population declined by 25 percent to 245 students; this year the decline was 28 percent to 177, resulting in nearly half as many international students as two years ago. The university is working to shore up the International Education and Engagement office by hiring a new director and adding two recruiter positions. Both out-of-state and graduate student enrollment have increased at UW-L. Graduate enrollment was at 818, up 60 students from last year. Graduate and out-of-state students, which includes International students, pay higher tuition and have not been beholden to the state-imposed tuition freeze during the last four years. UW-La Crosse was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top-ranked comprehensive universities in the Midwest Region, and our near record enrollment is a reflection of the quality and excellence of UW-L, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Bob Hetzel said of the enrollment numbers. Our university has continued to achieve and maintain such strong enrollment because of the dedication and commitment of our faculty, staff and students. BLACK RIVER FALLS The hydroelectric dam in Black River Falls lost one of its gates and several Jackson County roads are closed as a flood warning continues for the Black River. Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Kristina Page said Jackson County which declared a state of emergency largely was spared compared to flooding impacts in the region, but shes still urging residents to use caution. Actually, it could be a lot worse, Page said. It looks bad, but it could be a lot worse. We were lucky that yesterday we didnt get the heavy rains that surrounding counties did. The Black River at Black River Falls was at 58.9 feet as of Thursday afternoon and was expected to crest at 59.6 feet later Thursday. The mark puts the water level below the 61.47-foot record crest set Sept. 24, 2010. The hydroelectric dam in Black River Falls, which was replaced in 2012, lost one of its gates when a piece of debris traveled through it Thursday, and several boats and docks were broken away in Hatfield on Lake Arbutus and were sent over Hatfields hydroelectric dam. However, Page said both units are structurally sound and dont pose public safety concerns. (The water) is high dont get me wrong, she said. Its high and they call it major flooding (but) right now, I want to emphasize that the hydroelectric dams in both Hatfield and Black River Falls structurally are in good shape. There are several roads that are closed or set to close across Jackson County because of high flood waters, including Highway VV in North Bend, Perry Creek and Hawk Island roads in the town of Manchester, East Fork and East Staffon roads in the town of Komensky and Highway Z in City Point. All of Jackson Countys ATV trails also are closed in addition to the west and east Arbutus county parks. The flooding hasnt prompted an evacuation of the Grove area in the city of Black River Falls, which occurred in the record 2010 event, but officials are monitoring water levels, Page said. No. 1, stay away from floodwaters, she said. We understand people are curious and rightfully so, but really the best thing to do is stay away from floodwaters as much as possible. Dont drive through flooded roadways. Jackson County communities got anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rain since Wednesday night, exacerbating the flooding but not putting the county at the 6 to 10 inches other areas in Wisconsin and Iowa have received. With all the rain the past few weeks, its really saturated, so the rain that fell last night had really nowhere to go but sit on top of the soil, said Clint Aegerter, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Jackson County did pretty well, all things considered, but theres still flooding pretty much everywhere. Additional rainfall tonight is expected to largely miss Jackson County, but there is more rainfall in the forecast that could prompt the Black River to rise again during the weekend. La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat advocated Thursday for more inclusive economic development programs. The citys Economic Development Commission will meet next month to discuss city planning objectives in 2017, specifically business assistance programs and issues relating to the citys economic vitality. As a preview to that planning session, Kabat asked the group and the citys planning department to consider what the city can do to help minorities get connected with city investment opportunities. We have a very large growth of African-American and Hispanic people coming here to La Crosse and there has got to be markets for all those types of cultural businesses they can bring, Kabat said. Commission member Chong Cher Lee, a Hmong business owner who also sits on the Hmong Cultural and Community Center board, suggested the city focus on small businesses. I think there are still opportunities, Lee said. One thing is just the outreach. People starting their own small business can get a bit overwhelmed with business plans and other requirements for new businesses. Theyre up to the neck in knowledge and information they need, Lee said. We can be a resource. Were here to help. The city can help either with education or with sharing educational opportunities provided by other La Crosse groups, such as the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. or University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Small Business Development Center. Additional outreach will also share what city projects are available for businesses. Economic development planner Andrea Schnick said the biggest challenge is how to reach everyone and let them know what opportunities are available. Im amazed by the talents that are out there in this community and everyone should be aware of that, Schnick said. The relatively new employee has been meeting with business owners, but she hopes to step up efforts to connect with minority-led businesses, rather than relying on grassroots efforts. Id love to knock on every single door, but thats just not possible, Schnick said. Members of the commission suggested the city look to partner with other groups for outreach and focus on setting achievable goals. In order to avoid being too insular, there are also a lot of entities that are working on these issues, commission member David Morrison said. Its big enough that we arent going to solve six items in one year or even six years. Kabat stressed that he didnt know what the answer was, but hopes members of those communities will have ideas as well. It seems like were missing something, he said. I dont know what. Once set by the commission, the plan will give the citys planning department direction as it considers new projects next year. Vernon County authorities today recovered the body of a man after mud pushed his town of Wheatland home from its footings down a bluff side amid days of heavy rainfall. Michael McDonald, 53, was inside his house when it slid onto Hwy. 35 some time before 5 a.m. today, according to the Vernon County Sheriff's Department. Authorities found his body at 1:17 p.m. Torrential rain has triggered landslides, flooding and multiple road closures throughout the region and contributed to a train derailment in Crawford County. Some areas have received more than 5 inches of rain since Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, which has issued flood warnings through Thursday afternoon. The 3.17 inches of rain measured at the La Crosse Regional Airport was the third highest 24-hour rainfall ever for the month of September. Mike Dagnon lives on Rush Creek Road near Ferryville, which he said was covered with 2 feet of water, mud and a jumble of downed tress. I saw a fish swimming down the road, Dagnon said. Ive never seen anything like it. La Crosse County weathered Wednesdays storm fairly well, according to county officials, with all state and county roads open on Thursday. Keith Butler, La Crosse Countys emergency services coordinator, said there might well be some issues with town roads being impassable. Things are settling down, Butler said late Thursday morning. We escaped the brunt of it today. Yesterday was the worst. The operator of the Lake Neshonoc dam near West Salem issued a yellow alert at about 11 p.m. Wednesday prior to opening the dams flood gates wide. Butler said yellow alerts are common in the spring but rare in connection with storm events. West Salem Village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler, who lives on the shore of Lake Neshonoc, said the lake water level had risen to 8.6 feet before the flood gates were opened, well above the 8 foot level the dam operator shoots for as a maximum. He had to open it, she said. It was a lot of pressure on the dam. The release of water from the lake contributed to a 4 foot rise in the La Crosse River levels from Wednesday to Thursday, but Butler said there had been no major issues from the high water levels so far. As a precaution, eight campers were moved to higher ground late Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Park campground east of West Salem, but campground manager Darlene Guinn said it turned out the campers would have been OK without being moved. We were lucky, she said. We thought there would be more water coming down after they opened the dam. The worry now, Butler said, was additional rain triggering mudslides. Im thinking that the slopes are still a little fragile right now, he said. Butler said his department had no reports from residents or businesses of flooding, although there were plenty of people with wet basements. He did note that Bangors Veterans Memorial Park was hit hard by flooding. Flooding in the park last year knocked out a bridge over Dutch Creek. Jackson County is under a state of emergency with the Black River in Black River Falls expected to crest at 58 feet this afternoon, although flooding in the city isnt likely. Sheriffs authorities urge motorists and pedestrians to avoid flooded areas because of unseen hazards. While we understand that people would like to survey the damage, the conditions could be very unsafe, sheriffs Sgt. Evan Mazur said. Two hydroelectric dams in Jackson County are structurally sound and not expected to fail, Jackson County Emergency Management Coordinator Kristina Page said. One gate at the Black River Falls dam was damaged by debris and released from the main supports, although no extra water was released because all gates were open at the time. The worst of the rain was over by Thursday morning, with the National Weather Service expecting 1 to 2 inches through this afternoon, mostly south of Interstate 90. Hourly rainfall of a quarter inch or less was predicted. Even with the subsiding storms, the National Weather Service extended a flash flood warning through 1 p.m. for Vernon, Crawford and Richland counties in Wisconsin and Allamakee County in Iowa. A flash flood and flood watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. for a wide area north of the area, with the flash flood warning, including La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, Buffalo and Jackson counties in Wisconsin and Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota. Hwy. 35 is closed between De Soto and Prairie du Chien, and other major road closures are affecting Vernon, Crawford and Jackson counties. Officials in the Vernon County town of Sterling are requesting no unnecessary travel there because of roads damaged by the flooding. Several homes along Main Street in the Gays Mills area were evacuated due to flooding. Those residents are staying with family and friends. The Gays Mills Apple Festival, originally scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed until Oct. 7-9. Bliss Road in La Crosse, which has been prone to washouts in severe weather, was open as of Thursday morning. While the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Lang Drive project has been delayed by the rain, project manager Todd Waldo said workers still expect work to finish by Sept. 29. As long as we dont get another week of rain, well definitely be done by Oktoberfest, Waldo said. Once we get a dry day here, that will pretty much wrap things up for the project. Waldo expects work to finish early next week. A river flood warning also has been issued for the Black River near Galesville. At 3:45 a.m., the river stage was 7.3 feet, with crests expected 3 feet above the 12-foot flood stage by Saturday evening. National Weather Service meteorologist Pete Rogers cautioned people to be safe. "Our main point is people should understand the severity we're dealing with," Rogers said. "If there is water over roads, don't drive through it. Mudslides and washouts are being reported. There were some swift-water rescues reported in Crawford County near the Vernon County border overnight. Safety is key." Rogers said rain fall may stop late this afternoon, but it will resume and continue through the weekend. "We are in a moist air mass, and we have several more days of heavy rain to go through," Rogers said. "The situation is changing rapidly, and both our office and the (Vernon County Sheriff) dispatch office is receiving a lot of calls." Rogers said that after flooding comes to a halt, historic comparisons will have to be made between current flooding and the 2008 floods. "We've had 30-to-60 days of wet conditions and we're looking at setting several records," Rogers said. "As of yesterday in the La Crosse area, we were 11 inches above normal for rainfall for the year." Vernon County residents should expect flooding along local branches and in the Kickapoo River, Coon Creek and other areas hit hard by flooding in 2007 and 2008. A BNSF freight train derailed and leaked diesel fuel Thursday morning after tracks washed out north of Ferryville as a second night of heavy rains triggered flooding and mudslides. Two locomotives and five rail cars left the tracks around 5:40 a.m. as the result of a washout north of a bridge over Rush Creek, according to the railroad. The crew was not injured but were transported to a local hospital as a precaution, said BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth. Two of the derailed cars were empty tankers; one was last used to haul ethanol and the other vegetable oil. The others were carrying drywall panels. McBeth said about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from one of the locomotives. Sabrina Chandler, refuge manager for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, said it appeared most of the fuel spilled into the ballast and its not clear how much may have ended up in the river. I would say its pretty mild compared to what it could be, Chandler said of the environmental threat. Anytime anything goes in the river that doesnt belong there it does create a concern. McBeth said BNSF crews placed absorbent boom around the site Thursday afternoon to prevent any diesel from seeping into the water and have had boats on the river. She did not have an estimate for how long it would take to clean up the site or restore service on the line, which follows the Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to the Illinois border. McBeth said an inspection found no damage to the concrete bridge over the creek. Officials from the federal Environmental Protection Agency were heading to the scene Thursday morning, but access to the site is difficult because of damage from two days of heavy rains. Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Marc Willis said the agency is aware of the derailment and has sent inspectors to the scene. According to the National Weather Service, more than six inches of rain fell over parts of Vernon and Crawford counties between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, triggering numerous mudslides and flooding roadways. A resident of nearby Victory, Wis., died when his home was swept down a hillside. Within hours of the derailment, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind called on members of the House to pass his rail safety bill, which would bring federal, state, local and private sector officials to review training, resources, best practices, and unmet needs related to emergency responders to railroad incidents. The bill was unanimously approved last week by a House committee. The Senate approved a companion bill this spring. Todays derailment further proves that we can no longer wait to take action, Kind said in a statement. I am calling on the House to immediately pass my legislation to give our communities and first responders the resources they need to protect our citizens and property. AmericInn Hotel and Conference Center Riverfront is the new name of the former Best Western Riverfront Hotel at 1835 Rose St. in La Crosse. Also, the hotels Black River Bar and Grill has been renamed Moxies Pub, while its seasonal outdoor tiki bar has been renamed Moxies on the Water. The hotels restaurant operated as Moxies from 1983 to 1999. The hotel was purchased Monday by Brian and Vicki Campbell of Soldiers Grove through their Trout Creek 1 LLC and was immediately renamed. The Campbells bought the hotel for an undisclosed price from Shree Sahajanand LLC, which had owned it for about seven years. The hotel has 119 guest rooms and opened in 1972 as the Midway Motor Lodge and Hoffman House Restaurant. The Campbells have owned the AmericInn hotel in West Salem since 2013. And they built The River Inn & Banquet Facility in Boscobel in 1998. They sold the Boscobel hotel and banquet facility Aug. 29. Vicki Campbell said Thursday that she and her husband are hands-on owners. Their son, Chase Campbell, is the hotels new general manager. Chase Campbell said many improvements will be made in the coming months, such as installation of new boat slips by mid-October, new carpeting in the pool area this winter and improvements to banquet rooms and the bar and grill. The bar and grill will have a new menu as of Jan. 1. The previous owner had renovated more than three-fourths of the guest rooms since 2013 and the new owners will renovate the rest in the near future, Campbell said. Moxies used to be the place to be on the North Side, Campbell said of the decision to rename the bar and grill and the tiki bar. We want to get it back to what it was. Its an up-and-coming brand, Campbell said of the new owners decision to switch the La Crosse hotel to the AmericInn brand. Its a great brand and the AmericInn chain is very customer- and owner-oriented, he said. With the planned upgrades, Campbell said, Theres going to be a different feel and attitude about the establishment. It has about 75 employees. We plan to keep the staff, Campbell said. For more information, visit www.americinn.com or the La Crosse hotels Facebook page. The website www.moxieslax.com is under construction. ARCADIA The Arcadia, Whitehall, Independence and Blair-Taylor school districts are looking to the past in order to prepare their students for the future. The four districts have been in negotiations to create an educational cooperative, revitalizing an old agreement that served the districts from the 1970s until the 1990s, when it faded away. The four districts have already partnered on an offsite alternative education program located at the Arcadia Elementary and Middle School building and hope to begin offering an industrial academy to students next fall. This will allow us to run programs we cant run individually, Arcadia Superintendent Louie Ferguson said. Maybe only one person in all the districts has that skill. Rural districts adapt to increased competition for teachers Intensifying competition over a shrinking pool of teachers is making it harder to fill openi The alternative education program started class on Sept. 12 with 15 students from the participating districts, program coordinator and Blair-Taylor special education instructor Dennis Hakes said. The program works with students at-risk of not graduating and gives them an environment where they learn to succeed. The program offers several plans and options for students in order to help get them motivated and involved in their education. Students also learn life skills, such as building a resume, and are exposed to careers and options after they leave high school. Hakes said he challenged the students in the program on their first day to figure out what they want to do after graduation. High school isnt the finish line, he said, and he wanted them to think about what they will be pursuing that Monday after graduation, whether that is college, university, a career or serving their country. Weve built graduation up into this accomplishment, he said. But for students, it is just a turning point. Josue Olmos, a senior from Arcadia, said he was introduced to the alternative education program due to poor attendance in school. As a freshman, he wasnt too excited to go class and missed a lot of days. He said he didnt want to be put in that box with his other classmates where he went to school, then took on student loans for college and then worked his whole life to pay them off. The alternative education program has really helped motivate him in these first few weeks. The teachers made it clear he has to take his own education seriously, and a visit to Western Technical College motivated him to pursue an education in the trades after high school. Their welding program really got me going, Olmos said. They have this big shop with a lot of equipment. The program epitomizes what the four districts are trying to do. While he was working with students in the education program in Arcadia Thursday morning, Hakes was also able to work with his own students at Blair-Taylor over video conference. Ferguson said the industrial academy would use technology such as this, along with transporting students and staff to offer programs in agriculture science, family consumer education, technical education and business education as well as advanced courses in STEM fields to students. The districts hope to partner with local businesses as well as colleges and universities to offer classes and dual-credit options, he said, with the hopes of offering the advanced types of courses and programs that can typically only be found at large high schools or districts. This gives us an economy of scale, Whitehall Superintendent Mike Beighley said. We can provide more offerings for our students with the same resources. We can do more and better things for our kids. The following editorial appeared in Wednesdays The Capital Times. As he engaged in a desperate hunt for national money to help Republicans retain control of the Wisconsin Senate in a series of 2011 recall elections, Gov. Scott Walker reached out to Karl Rove. The governor, whose grip on state government was at risk after a mass uprising of Wisconsinites who opposed what they decried as assaults on labor protections, public services and public education, was asking for a big assist from the former political director of the Bush-Cheney White House, who controlled a conservative super PAC known as American Crossroads. In his May 4, 2011, email to Rove, Walker asked for an email list, names of big donors to call, and a million or two from American Crossroads. Even in the world of big-money politics, a million or two does not come simply for the asking. A case must be made for that kind of money and for the names of individuals who could give more of that kind of money. So Walker explained that a veteran Republican operative, R.J. Johnson, would make things work. R.J. was the chief adviser to my campaign, wrote Walker, who added that I always called him my Karl Rove Bottom line: R.J. helps us keep in place a team that is wildly successful in Wisconsin, wrote Walker in an email highlighted by The Guardian newspaper last week in a story about documents associated with a John Doe inquiry into allegations that Walker and his associates engaged in criminal wrongdoing. Previous revelations and leaks regarding the John Doe have shined light on the governors outreach to Rove and Walkers bragging about how his team ran things in Wisconsin. But the details contained in the Guardian story, and in the leaked documents themselves, focus particular attention on a line in Walkers email that described the critical role Johnson played in shaping the state Supreme Courts conservative majority. He ran the effort that defeated the first incumbent Supreme Court justice in decades back in 2008 and Club for Growth-Wisconsin was the key to retaining Justice Prosser, wrote Walker. Johnsons name has long been associated with the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a highly secretive, politically aggressive operation that refuses to disclose the sources of funding for the campaigns it runs. Justice David Prosser had just been re-elected in a brutal April election, which saw the incumbent jurist prevail over his challenger by barely 7,000 votes out of 1.5 million cast. The favorite of Walker and his allies in the 2008 election was Justice Michael Gableman. Four years after Walkers email declared that Johnson and the Wisconsin Club for Growth were vital to electing Prosser and Gableman, these two justices cast decisive votes in a state Supreme Court decision that shut down an investigation targeting the actions of Walker, Johnson and others. That investigation sought to determine whether the governor and his allies engaged in a conspiracy to illegally coordinate campaign activities in the recall fights of 2011 and 2012. The opinion in that 2015 high court ruling, which was written by Gableman, was so sweeping that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported it could reshape how campaigns are run in Wisconsin because it makes clear campaigns can work closely with outside groups, allowing more political money to flow without the names of donors being disclosed. Prosser and Gableman were asked to recuse themselves from the John Doe case, but both refused to do so. In light of Walkers assertion in his email to Rove and all the information that has been made available over the past several years with regard to the John Doe inquiry it is now evident that the refusal put the justices at odds with established law. The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that the due process clause of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment requires jurists to recuse themselves when there is evidence of actual bias and when so-called extreme facts create a probability of bias. That standard was established in the 2009 case of Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., which established that major campaign activity on behalf of a jurist by a party to a case that comes before the jurist creates an appearance of a conflict of interest so extreme that the jurists failure to recuse himself constitutes a violation of due process protections. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the high courts majority opinion: We conclude that there is a serious risk of actual bias based on objective and reasonable perceptions when a person with a personal stake in a particular case had a significant and disproportionate influence in placing the judge on the case by raising funds or directing the judges election campaign when the case was pending or imminent. In a request that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn the Wisconsin Supreme Courts decision to shut down a John Doe inquiry into illegal campaign activity, a group of Wisconsin prosecutors argue that Prosser and Gableman should not have heard the case because their campaigns benefited from work by individuals and groups that were a focus of the investigation. Under any reasonable reading, the prosecutors argue, those involved in the case did not receive a fair and impartial hearing from Wisconsins high court. No matter what action the U.S. Supreme Court takes with regard to evidence of bias and the abandonment of ethical standards by justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, there can no longer be any question that Wisconsin legislators, prosecutors and members of the state judicial commission have a responsibility to address clear evidence that Justice Gableman and retired Justice Prosser failed to respect and honor their positions as a public trust and, further, failed to strive to enhance and maintain confidence in our legal system. Heroin use is a statewide problem that is getting worse. Recent data indicate heroin and opiates were a factor in one-third of Wisconsin drug deaths. About 163,000 Wisconsinites struggle with this issue. It is likely most people know an opiate or heroin user. However, the Food and Drug Administration-approved Naloxone is one tool that can reduce the number of fatal overdoses and end these tragedies. Naloxone reverses the effects of heroin and other opioids. Administered while someone is fighting an overdose, it's the best and likely only chance to save that person. More needs to be done, and there has been progress. Gov. Scott Walker recently announced that pharmacies can provide the lifesaving Naloxone without a prescription. Initiatives championed by state Rep. John Nygren to address the growing epidemic also are helping. The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin has helped save more than 4,000 people since 2006, when it began distributing Naloxone to heroin and opiate users. We provide Naloxone for free, along with training on how to administer it. Anyone can contact the center to receive this lifesaving service. Every community can help get Naloxone to those who could benefit from it. There are many reminders that regardless of geography, gender or age, opioid abuse and the heroin epidemic have our state in their ugly clutches. Making Naloxone more accessible is a step in the right direction and a commitment that the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin is ready to make. However, this scourge demands the attention and collective effort from everyone in the state. Two men were convicted and sentenced this week for hitting and locking an employee of their former Madison cellphone store in a box after he stole from the store. The employee said Eyad Y. Abdel-Jalil, 38, of Orland Park, Illinois, and Firas S. Yasin, 36, of Tinley Park, Illinois, locked him in a large toolbox for a few hours after the employee admitted stealing money and merchandise from Freedom Wireless, 1203 N. Sherman Ave., last year. In a plea agreement, Abdel-Jalil and Yasin pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and disorderly conduct in connection with the June 7, 2015, incident. Dane County Circuit Judge Ellen Berz in turn sentenced both men to each pay a $1,000 fine for being a party to the crime of battery. She also sentenced each man to five days in jail for the disorderly conduct charge, but deemed those sentences served by time that both men spent in jail after their arrest last year. Abdel-Jalil was sentenced Wednesday and Yasin was sentenced Thursday. Both Abdel-Jalil and Yasin also each pleaded no contest to a felony count of making threats. But Berz ruled those counts will be held open for two years and will be dismissed for both men if they stay out of trouble. Other charges, including kidnapping and robberym were dismissed. Abdel-Jalils brother, Ahmed Abdel-Jalil, said in court Wednesday that he was co-owner of the store where the incident happened, and that his brother was only two days into training with the stores other owner, Yasin, when the incident happened. The business has since been lost, Yasin said in court on Thursday. Assistant District Attorney Robert Jambois said the employee who was put in the box was accused of stealing money and phone accessories from the business but was not prosecuted for those crimes. He suffered enough for what he did do, Jambois said. Jambois called what Yasin and Abdel-Jalil did extreme vigilante justice," but acknowledged neither man having any previous criminal record was a mitigating factor. Jambois asked Berz for a $4,000 fine for Yasin, calling him the "principal actor" in the incident, but Berz said that without a trial she could not determine if that was true. Berz also said the victim had "no substantial (physical) injuries" as a result of the incident. Six months after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced the appointment of a student loan debt specialist for the state, a website is expected to launch soon with resources for current and future student loan borrowers. "Look Forward to Your Future," due to launch later this month, will "help raise the awareness level of the importance of planning ahead for college and provide resources to help keep student debt load manageable," said state student loan debt specialist Cheryl Weiss in an email. Weiss, whose role was announced by Walker and the state Department of Financial Institutions in March, sent emailed answers in response to an interview request earlier this month. The new position works within DFI's Office of Financial Literacy as an outreach coordinator not acting as a financial adviser, but as a conduit for information and resources. "My focus will be to work with existing stakeholder groups to raise the awareness about the importance of preparing for college to help students maximize investment in their education and minimize the need to incur unnecessary student debt," Weiss said. Her efforts are geared toward students and families preparing for college, current college students and graduates with debt, she said. According to White House figures, 815,000 Wisconsinites have student loan debt and the average debt for someone with a bachelor's degree is about $28,400. Total student debt carried by Wisconsin residents is a little more than $19 billion. Wisconsin has the third-highest percentage of graduates with student debt, at 70 percent, according to the Institute for College Access and Success. The creation of the new student debt position came shortly after lawmakers last spring approved most of the initiatives proposed by the governor in a package of bills aimed at making college more affordable. Bills that made emergency grants available to University of Wisconsin and state technical college students, increased funding for need-based tech school grants, funded positions to help connect students with internships and required schools to provide financial literacy information to students were all signed into law, while a proposal that would have eliminated the cap on the state's tax deduction for student loan interest failed to pass. Walker, at the time, said the student debt specialist position would build on that legislative package, along with a four-year tuition freeze for the University of Wisconsin System. Weiss, who worked previously as a public information officer and information technology specialist for DFI, said her first few months on the job have been "very active" with outreach to stakeholders including the Department of Public Instruction, UW System financial aid directors, EdVest, Great Lakes Higher Education, the Credit Union League and others. She has also spoken at several financial literacy conferences. She has also been working on the website, which will include resources like loan calculators and scholarship information. Asked about the kinds of questions she's received from students and families, Weiss said she expects questions to ramp up once the new website is launched and promoted. "I will be providing students (grades K-12) and their families with access to information and resources about the importance of planning for college from career planning to financial planning to the selection of the right post-secondary institution," she said." I will assist current and future college student loan borrowers by directing them to relevant information and applicable resources." Democrats and those on the left have been skeptical of the Walker administration's commitment to college affordability, in large part because state Republicans have not supported a Democratic proposal that would allow borrowers to refinance their student loans at a lower rate. Mike Browne, deputy director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, questioned why Weiss hasn't been more visible, noting DFI's website doesn't appear to offer any contact information for the student loan debt specialist position. "Wisconsin is third in the nation for percentage of graduates with student loan debt, and its going to take more than a bureaucrat and a website to undo the damage done by Gov. Walker and his gang," he said. "This is just the kind of thing you get from an administration and a legislature that prefer to govern by press release a bureaucrat who you can't find and who isn't available to answer inquiries in person or in real time." But Weiss said DFI will make an effort to let people know she's available once the website launches later this month. In the meantime, she said, people can email her at lookforwardwi@wisconsin.gov or call her at 608-266-3289. Ed Shemelya told the story of a Kentucky 17-year-old who overdosed on THC and stopped breathing for 90 seconds before being revived and placed on a hospital ventilator. Less than a month later, the teen was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol and fleeing the scene of an accident. Shemelya said he and teen were having a come to Jesus talk when he told Shemelya, Im scared to death of pot. I thought the pills would be safer. Shemelya said he was chilled by the teens response. Shemelya, director of the National Marijuana Initiative, delivered an unrelenting two-hour indictment of marijuana and efforts to legalize the drug during a presentation sponsored by Monroe County Safe Community Coalition at F&M Bank. He said that sharply elevated THC levels in marijuana are making the drug increasingly addictive and dangerous. Most Americans have no idea what theyre talking about when it comes to todays marijuana, said Shemelya, a 38-year law enforcement veteran who is retired from the Kentucky State Police. The dope of the sixties and seventies ... I would say that dope back then was pretty harmless, a pretty benign drug, but thats not what we have today ... We have no idea what todays marijuana is doing to the brain. He said THC levels in marijuana are substantially higher now and can be concentrated into forms with extreme toxicity levels. He said only 30 percent is smoked; the rest is consumed as edibles and concentrates. Edible forms range from cookies to candy bars to lollipops to gummy bears. Edibles, Shemelya said, are particularly dangerous, especially for an inexperienced user. He said someone who eats a marijuana cookie doesnt feel an immediate effect and will continue consuming in pursuit of a high, which can trigger an overdose. He also showed slides of marijuana in highly concentrated forms that go by names such as green crack, ear wax, and hash oil capsules. They take a hit off that, its lights out, and they go down, he said. This is what scares me. This is to marijuana what crack was to cocaine. He said edibles and concentrates are driving the sales of marijuana in states that have approved marijuana for medical or recreational use. Shemelya dismissed medical marijuana legislation and said its simply a ruse to validate recreational use. He said there is no evidence that medical marijuana as commonly described has any medicinal value. This isnt about grandma in a wheelchair, he said. Its about our kids ... who will be adversely affected by this drug. The invitation-only meeting was attended by about 15 people, including state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse. She said while there are bills in the Wisconsin state legislature to either legalize marijuana or approve it for medical use, she said neither bill has majority support. I dont see at this point a strong energy to legalize marijuana, Billings said. Shemelya said people in states that have gone the farthest in legalizing marijuana, particularly Colorado and Washington, are beginning to regret those decisions. Denver used to be a beautiful town, he said. Now you cant walk two blocks without being higher than a pine with all the marijuana consumption. He said promises of a tax windfall revenue from legalization are illusory. They havent built the first school in Colorado, he said. Theyve built a few playgrounds. He said even if a majority of voters favor legalization, lawmakers have an obligation to tell them theyre wrong. Sometimes acquiescing to what you think is the will of the people isnt always in the best interest of the people, he said. Shemelya has nothing but contempt for pro-marijuana activists. He said they are spending up to $100 million to lobby state legislatures. He called their political tactics vicious. What is driving this is greed pure, unadulterated greed, he said. We are wholly underfunded ... Im a one-man show trying to educate people about whats going on. I dont have a media platform. I dont have a marketing arm. He acknowledged that law enforcement alone wont solve the problem. He said drug education in the 1980s, led by Nancy Reagans Just say no campaign, had a positive impact and that federal anti-drug education has lagged since then. It has to be a holistic approach, he said. Were not going to arrest our way out of this problem. Were not going treat our way out of this problem. Were not going to educate our way out of this problem. As my children ages 12 and 14 as of next week have gotten older, they have come to look forward to the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival almost as much as my husband and I do. So, as local Walt Disney World passholders, we plan several visits to the festival each fall. On Sunday, the kids and I had a few hours to make our way around World Showcase for dinner, and we couldnt pass up the opportunity to visit during opening weekend. We knew we would not be able to try everything we desired, so we actually tried a strategy new to us we didnt have a strategy! We didnt study the menus, and I had not been to any media previews this year so I did not have any insider insight. Instead, we did what many festival-goers do: We followed our stomachs from marketplace to marketplace. For this culinary trip, my kids and I focused just on the food and not the specialty (and alcoholic) drinks. Well save those for the next lap around World Showcase when my husband is with us. To begin our adventure, we purchased festival gift cards with wristbands at one of the festival kiosks that are located on either side of the planting bed that features Minnie Mouse in a hot air balloon. (The gift cards also are available in the Festival Center in Future World. You cannot purchase the cards in World Showcase, but you can reload money onto them at any festival marketplace.) Over the years, we have found these cards to be really useful for this event; its so much easier to swipe and eat than to have to dig out cash or credit cards at each marketplace. Plus, we allow the kids to wear the gift cards and pay for the food our family is sharing, which they like to do. We usually only add $50 at a time on each gift card to limit losses if a child misplaces the gift card. But Disney World has a system in place to help you recover lost gift cards, as well, so be sure to ask when you purchase yours. Also, know that if you have money left on your gift cards when you are finished eating and drinking, it can be used anywhere gift cards are accepted on Disney properties, and the cards do not expire. We also grabbed a few of the complimentary Epcot International Food & Wine Festival passports. These pocket-size booklets have the menus for each marketplace, plus stickers for guests to keep track of when they have visited each country. This is different from past years when guests could collect stamps as they made their way around World Showcase. Im not sure stickers hold the same cache because youre not required to visit the country, but they certainly will cut down on lines. And kids will enjoy the process, either way. Gift cards on our wrists, we walked a few yards ahead to the Hawaii marketplace, the first on the right of the central walkway to the promenade. There, we each had what has become an annual favorite: The Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise. Tip: Picky eaters and those with food restrictions should not be afraid to ask if a dish can be altered to suit their needs. I had the Kalua Pork Slider as is, but my son asked for the meat naked, and my daughter asked for the mayo on the meat and the chutney on the side. Cast members were happy to oblige. Usually, you will pay at the register and then ask the cast member who is serving the food if your request can be accommodated. Next, my son and daughter got a beef empanada from Patagonia to share. They both enjoyed it, and it was what you would expect a tasty beef empanada. There was nothing unusual about it, and that was just fine. They were hungry and wanted a dish they knew they would like. Tip: If you are looking for foods that children are likely to enjoy, kid-friendly items are marked with a symbol in the festival passport. The beef empanada is one example. After Patagonia, we all wanted to try something from the new marketplace, Islands of the Caribbean. We chose the Jamaican Beef Patty and the Quesito, a puff pastry with sweetened cream cheese and guava sauce. My son liked the beef patties there are two in each serving better than my daughter did because they were a little spicy. My daughter, who has a sweet tooth, enjoyed the quesito more. I liked both dishes. Tip: Islands of the Caribbean is located in the feature spot and can be accessed from the promenade in front of the lagoon or from Imagination Walkway, which runs parallel to the central path on the right if you are facing World Showcase. Then, we hustled over to France, where the marketplace is again serving my daughters absolute favorite dish: Cabernet Sauvignon-braised short ribs with mashed potatoes. This flavorful dish is actually one that my whole family enjoys. Although we were tempted by the caramel and chocolate crAme brulee, we skipped it in favor of sampling more hearty fare. Another must-do for our family is the Belgium marketplace, where you can get Belgian waffles, of course. They are served with either berry compote or warm chocolate ganache and whipped cream. Both versions are equally delightful, though younger kids may opt for the chocolate topping over the berries. Although we hated to bypass Morocco and Japan, my son had his eye on Italy, so we pressed forward around World Showcase. My pasta-loving boy initially was disappointed to see ravioli had been replaced on the menu with a baked ziti and chicken parmigiana dish, but he decided to give it a try. Both he and his sister enjoyed the dish and would recommend it to other kids. They also said they would go back for seconds. The Germany marketplace serves two kid-friendly dishes, and we usually do not skip the bratwurst in a hard roll, but the three of us were feeling full and we each had one more dish in mind to finish the evening. My son joined the line at the South Korea marketplace so he could try this years version of the Korean-style BBQ beef. Its served with steamed rice and cucumber kimchi, which he didnt care for, but he practically inhaled the BBQ beef. Tip: If youre like us and not sampling the specialty drinks or alcohol, bottles of water are available at most of the marketplaces. If you prefer a fountain drink, dont pass by the Refreshment Cool Post or the Refreshment Port, which are on opposite sides of the promenade. For our final dish, my daughter and I wanted to hit up the Chocolate Studio in Future World West. We both wanted to revisit the Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel from last year. If you havent tried this dish, it is, of course, very cold, which is perfect for these still-hot Florida days. The texture is like a hard ice cream, and the combination is delicious! At that point, it was time to head out because none of us could eat another bite. But well be back the Epcot Food & Wine Festival runs through Nov. 14. You can see complete menus (and pricing) for the Global Marketplaces on the AllEars.Net resource page. Follow @Kristin_B_Ford Post a Comment People suffering from depression are finding help when electromagnetic waves enter their brains. Mental health experts estimate that depression affects more than 120 million people worldwide. It severely affects the persons quality of life and, in extreme cases, can lead to suicide. Anti-depressant medicines have been shown as an effective treatment for many patients. But the drugs are unable to help some people with the disorder. For such persons, doctors may suggest deep transcranial magnetic stimulation, or DTMS for short. In this treatment, patients wear a helmet a large hard hat on their head. The helmet is connected to a machine. An electric coil in the helmet sends out regular pulses of electromagnetic energy. These beating sounds produce changes in the brain area responsible for the disorder. In the treatment room, patient Wayne Sarles says he felt an improvement after four weeks of DTMS. Since I started this treatment Ive only had one cycle of deep depression and thats uncharacteristic for this time frame so Im very relieved. The first results are felt in about five days. Wagdi Attia is a mental health expert. He uses this treatment on his patients. In three to four days later they said yes, Im out of it. Yes, I am more energized. Yes, I sleep better and could function. I can go out I have a good relationship with my husband or my wife. Electromagnetic brain stimulation is not new. It was first used to treat depression over 30 years ago. Now, a new generation of wiring can direct the energy on one part of the brain. DTMS starts with daily 20-minute-long treatments for 20 to 30 days. The patient then returns for treatment two to three times a week for several weeks. The only side effect is sometimes minor head pain. Aaron Tendler is the chief medical officer of Brainsway, the company that makes the machine. He told VOA on Skype that it is hard to say how long the effects of DTMS last. We do know that if a person continues maintenance, meaning if a person gets better from TMS and then continues some form of maintenance, meaning twice a week for 3 months, theyll more than likely stay better. DTMS is being used in Europe to treat both depression and other conditions. Patients there are getting treated for dementia, Alzheimers, and Parkinsons disease. And DTMS is even being used to help some Europeans stop smoking. But in the United States, the federal Food and Drug Administration has approved it only for the treatment of drug-resistant depression. But clinical tests are continuing on other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Both of the disorders, like depression, can get in the way of a person working and getting along with people. Im Anne Ball. George Putic reported this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story transcranial adj. passing through the skull stimulation n. the act of exciting to activity or growth coil n. a number of turns of wire wound around a core center to create a magnetic field for an electromagnet regular adj. happening at the same time in the same way uncharacteristic adj. not typical or usual relieved adj. feeling relaxed and happy because something difficult has stopped obsessive-compulsive disorder n. an anxiety disorder when a person has thoughts or actions over and over again that cause distress or interfere with normal daily living post-traumatic stress disorder n. a mental condition that can affect a person who has had a very shocking or difficult experience A United States government agency mistakenly offered citizenship to over 800 immigrants who had been ordered to leave the country. This information comes from a report this week by the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The inspector general, John Roth, has the job of investigating problems at the agency. Here is what happened, according to the report: At least 858 immigrants had been ordered expelled or removed from the United States. But they then requested citizenship under a different name, or provided a different date of birth. When applying for citizenship, foreigners are required to provide fingerprints. But the fingerprints from their earlier immigration records were not saved on computers. That meant the government could not find the prints from the earlier records. It did not find out about the removal orders and, as a result, approved people for citizenship who should have been rejected, Inspector General Roth said. Computer records, unlike paper records, can be searched quickly. This situation created opportunities for individuals to gain the rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship through fraud, Roth said. Roth did not identify any of the immigrants who gained citizenship through fraud. But he said they were all from special interest countries. Those are nations that present a national security concern for the United States, or have high rates of immigration fraud. The Department of Homeland Security said it has long had a problem with paper fingerprint records that have not been made part of computer records. The department said it is working to add those paper records to computers and will examine every file listed as possible fraud. But it said that not all people who asked for citizenship without computer fingerprint records were offered citizenship. Businessman Donald Trump is the presidential candidate of the Republican Party. He has promised to tighten rules for people seeking to immigrate to the United States. Trump made a statement that connected the inspector generals report to the terrorist attacks last weekend. The attacks included a bombing and attempted bombings in New York and New Jersey. In addition, a man armed with a knife attacked people at a shopping center in Minnesota. There were injuries, but nobody was killed except the person who Minnesota police said carried out the knife attacks. Trump said the inspector generals report puts this weekends attacks in a broader perspective. That is why Trump said he wants extreme vetting for immigrants from troubled parts of the world where terrorists live and train. Vetting are the investigations done when someone seeks citizenship, jobs and loans. Hillary Clinton is the Democratic Partys presidential candidate. Clinton said she has long supported tough vetting for making sure that we dont let people into this country who might represent a danger. But let us remember, there are millions of naturalized citizens from all over the world, she said. There are millions of law-abiding peaceful Muslim-Americans. Im Bruce Alpert. Megan Duzor reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story apply - v. to ask formally for something, such as citizenship, a job or admission to school fingerprints - n. the mark that is made by pressing the tip of a finger on a surface opportunity - n. chances to do something -- such as to become a citizen or get a job privilege - n. a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person broader perspective - adj. see something from a larger point of view naturalized - adj. to allow someone who was born in a different country to become a new citizen The presidential election is well underway and that means the mud being slung during the campaign is at a premium. During a speech at the Democratic National Convention, Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine took aim at Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump saying Florida retirees and families, lost tens of thousands of dollars, in deposits on failed Trump condo projects, but he, pocketed their money and walked away. PolitiFact Florida heard the claim and gave it a HALF TRUE rating. Writer Josh Gillin says it has to do with the so-called Trump Tower Tampa and similar projects. Trump had a secret agreement with the buildings developers saying hed put his name on the building but was not actually affiliated with construction. When the projects failed, fold who had put down deposits did not receive full refunds. From that, they accused Mr. Trump. Trump was really never found at fault for any of this. He had legal protection. The agreement had said this is how it was going to work, Gillin said. So its not like he walked away. He was just protected legally. For that reason, Kaines statement received a HALF TRUE rating. SOURCES: Trump takes retirees money according to Kaine Tim Kaine, remarks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 27, 2016 New York Times, "Buying a Trump Property, or So They Thought," May 12, 2011 Miami Herald, "Donald Trumps tower of trouble," March 25, 2012 South Florida Business Journal, "Donald Trump sues Stillman over troubled Fort Lauderdale hotel project," June 4, 2015 PolitiFact Florida, "The Clintons really did attend Donald Trump's 2005 wedding," July 21, 2015 Tampa Bay Times, "Buyers still feel burned by Donald Trump after Tampa condo tower failure," July 31, 2015 Tampa Bay Times, "Site of Trump Tower Tampa sold to new developers for $12.1 million," Nov. 30, 2015 Foreign Policy, "Teflon Don: How Trump Survived a Real Estate Deal Gone Bad," Nov. 30, 2015 CNN, "Buying a Trump? Better read the fine print," Feb. 22, 2016 Tampa Bay Times, "Those burned in failed Trump Tower Tampa project may still vote for its namesake," March 11, 2016 Miami Herald, "Failed Donald Trump tower thrust into GOP campaign for presidency," March 12, 2016 News Service of Florida, "Court sides with Trump in failed Fort Lauderdale project," April 27, 2016 USA Today, "Trump's 3,500 lawsuits unprecedented for a presidential nominee," June 2, 2016 South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Trumps name pulled from beachside hotel," Nov. 11, 2010, accessed via Nexis South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Trump testifies in condo failure," March 11, 2014, accessed via Nexis Interview with Tim Hogan, Kaine spokesman, July 28, 2016 Andres Arauz, 18, has a prosthetic arm but that hasnt stopped him from discovering his impressive musical talents. Andres Arauz was a longtime Tampa Shriners patient 18-year-old Ecuadorian has had arm prosthetic adjusted yearly He marked final fitting with a musical performance Arauz has been a patient at Tampa Shriners Hospital since he was a toddler. Doctors there said a condition called amniotic band syndrome caused him to be born without his left arm. With occupational therapy and yearly adjustments to his prosthetic arm, Arauz was still able to learn to play both the piano and guitar. "It's great to just play, Arauz said. The young musician lives in Ecuador with his family but travels to Tampa for appointments with a doctor. Because he's now 18, Tuesday marked his last one. "It's kind of sad to see him go, prosthetist Bryan Sinnot said. It's like your own kid graduating from high school. You know he's moving out into the world." As a farewell, Arauz played for staff and patients one last time. The young man said he is sad to say goodbye but eager to move forward. Arauz said he has one semester left at the conservatory he attends in Ecuador and then plans to attend college. For the first time, Burmese python hatchlings have been reported in the Florida Keys. FWC: Burmese python hatchlings reported in Keys Burmese pythons have been reported in Keys for a while Several hatchlings seen in Key Largo The hatchlings were seen on Key Largo, state wildlife officials said Thursday, suggesting that the snakes are reproducing on or near the island. An 18-inch-long Burmese python was found Aug. 2 and another of similar size a day later, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said. A third hatchling was found Aug. 23 in north Key Largo. The sightings are the first known hatchling-sized Burmese pythons found in Key Largo. They suggest that pythons have reproduced in the Keys, though no nests or eggs have been reported, FWC officials said. While we have documented Burmese pythons in the Keys for a while now, this is the first time we have documentation of hatchlings in the area, FWC official Kristen Sommers said in a news release. This 18-inch-long python was found in north Key Largo on Aug. 23, 2016. (Courtesy of Jeremy Dixon, U.S. Fish and Widllife Service via FWC) Postcards are being sent to Key Largo residents, asking for help in finding the snakes and providing a number to call if one is spotted. "We worry about pythons becoming established in the Keys because there are several at-risk populations of small mammals, like the Key Largo woodrat and the Key Largo cotton mouse, that would be easy prey for Burmese pythons, Bryan Falk, a biologist with the United States Geological Survey, said in the release. Residents and visitors who see Burmese pythons are encouraged to call FWCs Exotic Species Reporting Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681), go to IveGot1.org or to download the IveGot1 smartphone app. She stars opposite Brad Pitt in the upcoming romantic thriller Allied. But French actress Marion Cotillard has been in the news less as Pitt's co-star and more the 'other woman' in the actor's high-profile divorce from his wife of two years (and partner since 2004) Angelina Jolie. As news of 'Brangelina's' separation was disseminated over Tuesday night and Wednesday (20-21 September), reports that Pitt had an affair with Cotillard while working with her on Allied also began to do the rounds. Since Pitt and Jolie had also met while working on a film (Mr and Mrs Smith), while the former was still married to Jennifer Aniston, the speculation around the Pitt-Cotillard "affair" gained further traction. Some tabloids even claimed that Joli had hired a "private eye who confirmed her suspicions about an affair between her husband and Cotillard". However, Cotillard took to social media on Wednesday to disabuse the world of any ideas they may have concerning a relationship between her and Pitt. In an Instagram post written in both English and French, she announced that she and her longtime partner, the French actor-director-screnwriter Guillame Canet were expecting their second child, and that she wished Angelina and Brad "peace in this tumultuous time". Cotillard and Canet began dating in 2007 and their first child Marcel, was born in 2011. In Allied, Cotillard and Brad Pitt play assassins on a mission to kill a German official in 1942 Africa. After they fall in love, and get married however, they discover that one of them is a double agent who the other must eliminate. Comparisons with the plot of Mr and Mrs Smith in which Jolie and Pitt played married assassins who're given an assignment to kill each other are bound to arise. In the meantime, a short film that Cotillard featured in back in 2010 (Forehead Tittaes), that sent out a message against workplace sexism, has been once again trending on social media: Directed by Leena Yadav, Parched is undoubtedly a movie to look out for this weekend. The movie revolves around thee lives of 3 women in a remote village and is about patriarchy, freedom and liberation. Every single actor in the movie has contributed immensely to this masterpiece. Among hundreds of jaw dropping moments, here are five best moments about the film: 1. Radhika Apte: She has proven her mettle as an actor over and over. While we saw her portray a girl affected by Agoraphobia in Phobia beautifully, here she plays Lajjo, a village girl who is beaten up and thrashed by her husband because she is though to be infertile. She is confident and endearing in her role. The much talked about nude scene was nothing less than grace, beauty and perfection. To say Radhika Apte is one of the best actors we have in this country right now would be an understatement. She is what this industry needs. 2. Surveen Chawla and the portrayal of prostitution: Surveen Chawla's character Bijli is a prostitute in a film that shows women in their most black and white form. While she is confident and strong, she also dreams about a tomorrow when she probably wouldn't have to sell her body to earn a living. She is obviously the more adventurous one in her friend circle which includes the other two women characters: Lajjo and Rani played by Radhika Apte and Tannishtha Chatterjee respectively. What stand outs about Parched's portrayal of prostitution is that it doesn't seem to apologise for it or give a tragic backstory. 3. Shah Rukh Khan's phone call: Rani, the character played by Tannishtha Chatterjee, gets a prank call from someone who called himself 'Shah Rukh Khan', while she is still learning how to use the phone. While she is scared in the beginning, she enjoys it later. Apart from the fun and humour involved in this scene, there is much passion and pain when she finally talks about her real self to the guy on the phone. "I am Rani, a widow and have not been touched by a man for more than a decade. Will you meet me", she yells at him. Because a dysfunctional marriage that ended long ago, she yearns for love and affection. This scene shows that it's completely normal for women to continue to want companionship inspite of having lost a partner 4. Lajjo releasing that men can be impotent too: One of the best moments in the movie is when Bijli tells Lajjo that she should get her husband tested too. Lajjo gets surprised because she didn't even think that a man could ever be impotent. The village's idea that the woman is the sole reason for a dysfunctional marriage had engraved in her head that men are always fertile. It's beautiful and empowering when she says, "I don't want a baby to complete my womanhood, but if there is a child written in my destiny, I don't wanna not have it because of my husband's impotency." Her character grows stronger and bolder when she decides to have sex with another man. 5. Why 'M****ch*d and not B***ch*d?': There is an extremely funny yet through provoking part in the movie where Bijli played by Surveen Chawala, uses an expletive alluding to the mother. She later asks why are only women are a part of these curse words, and goes to a hill top and screams curse words that include men in them. While these are just a few moments from the movie, Parched is full of so many of these beautiful nuances which makes it a must watch. If you've seen the first official trailer for Stephen King's IT the film remake of the '90s TV miniseries based on the bestselling novelist's 1986 book of the same name then you know that is seriously spooky and scary. If you haven't, then here's a short synopsis and a link to the trailer itself. IT introduced to the world Pennywise, the scariest clown in the world, and contributed to the rise in coulrophobia the fear of clowns among its viewers. IT, fans will tell you, is among Stephen King's finest stories, but there are several others that take up the spook quotient several notches higher stories written over the 39 years since the writer published his first novel Carrie in 1977. King has captured the genre of horror and fantasy perfectly by writing more than 54 books that have terrified us. His books are a mixture of horror, drama, fantasy, fiction and non-fiction, and have made him one of the greatest American writers alive. King's fantastical storytelling begs to be converted into a visual medium for a retelling and there have been amazing transformations of his work for film and TV not just IT. Here are our top five movies based on Stephen King books, which have not only adapted the source respectfully and effectively, but also work on a cinematic level. (We haven't included Carrie and The Shawshank Redemption on the list because they deserve their own space.) Misery (1990) Take a look at the dark side of fame, in the black comedy Misery. Kathy Bates won an Oscar for her role as the antagonist Annie Wilkes for this film. The plot follows novelist Paul Sheldon (played by James Caan) who is known for writing romantic novellas starring his trademark character 'Misery' Chastaine. On a drive to New York, Sheldon is injured in a car accident which Annie Wilkes saves him from. The former nurse takes care of him in her remote house, but becomes irate when she discovers that the author has killed Misery off in his latest book. Annie keeps Sheldon prisoner while forcing him to write a book that brings Misery back to life. You dont need werewolves, ghosts, vampires or witches to scare you in this film. Kathy Batess Annie Wilkes psychotic behavior will chill you to the core; whether it is prim-girl swearing or her eating Cheetos in bed while watching Family Feud. Memorable Quote: Im your number one fan. Theres nothing to worry about. Youre going to be just fine. I will take good care of you. Im your number one fan. Annie Wilkes The Shining (1980) Welcome to the hotel that will be the scariest holiday of your lifetime, in The Shining. Only director Stanley Kubrick can make the Road Runner theme sound creepy. Made in the pre-vfx era where story-lines still mattered, The Shinning takes you to the chilling Overlook Hotel that has had a history of evil attached to it. Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy, and their young son Danny move into the Overlook Hotel, where Jack has been hired as the winter caretaker. Torrance hopes to recover from his bouts of alcoholism and uncontrolled rage by peacefully writing a play in this period. But all is not well as the evil forces in Overlook try and possess Dannys body because of his precognitive powers. Though the film didnt win any awards, it successfully launched Jack Nicolsons career and the film reached cult status as 'the horror film' to watch. Memorable Quote: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Jack Torrance The Mist (2007) The apocalypse is here, and there is nowhere to run in the chilling The Mist. David Drayton and his son Billy are among a large group of terrified people who are trapped in a local grocery story enveloped by a strange, otherworldly mist and the deadly creatures that lurk in it. As the mist takes its toll on the nerves of those trapped in the store, a religious zealot, Mrs. Carmody begins to play on their fears to convince them that this is Gods vengeance for their sins and that a sacrifice must be made and two groups those for and those against are aligned. As reason crumbles in the face of fear and panic, David begins to wonder what terrifies him more: the monsters in the mist or the ones inside the store, the human kind, those who were his friends and neighbours? Memorable Quote: The end of times has come. Not in flames, but in mist. Mrs Carmody The Green Mile (1999) For an insiders view at what goes on in a death row penitentiary, watch The Green Mile. One of the best film adaptations of Stephen Kings' works, this film is more about emotions than supernatural powers. They call death row at Cold Mountain prison The Green Mile. John Coffey is sentenced to be executed for the rape and murder of two young girls. Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) the ward superintendent, discovers that there is more to John Coffey than meets the eye, for this friendly giant has the power to heal. Memorable Quotes: People hurt the ones they love. Thats how it is all around the world. John Coffey IT (1990) Discover how Stephen King made crowns extremely creepy with IT. While there's still some time for the film to hit the theatres, you might revisit the TV series and acquaint yourself with Pennywise, a shape-shifting clown who is definitely what nightmares are made of. The TV miniseries follows a group of childhood friends, Richie Tozier, Eddie Kasbrak, Stan Uris, Beverly Marsh, Mike Hanlon, Ben Hanscom, and Bill Denbrough, known as The Losers Club, who are reunited to fight an old enemy, Pennywise aka IT after more than two decades. IT is a shape shifting monster from a different dimension which disguises itself as a clown to attract its preferred prey (young children). The miniseries achieved cult status, so small wonder this film remake (directed by Andres Muschietti) was planned. The miniseries has King's trademark themes of childhood trauma, and the ugliness lurking behind a facade of traditional small-town values. We wonder if the film will live up to the hype the miniseries created? Memorable Quotes: They all float down here. Pennywise Whether or not the timings was deliberate remains a matter of conjecture. The fact is, however, that the trailer of Allied the romantic thriller starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard was released online by paramount Pictures on 20 September. Right in the midst of news that Angelina Jolie had filed for divorce from her partner of 12 years (and husband of two) Brad Pitt. Even as speculation flew fast and thick, rumours that Pitt had an affair with his Allied co-star gained ground. So much did the talk grow that Cotillard took to Instagram on Wednesday, 21 September, to quickly dismiss the reports. She announced that she was expecting her second child with longtime partner (the actor-screenwriter-director) Guillame Canet and only wished Angelina and Brad "peace in this tumultuous time". It is unlikely, however, that Allied will escape the intense scrutiny it is now destined for. Allied tells the story of intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt), who in 1942 North Africa encounters French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard) on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Reunited in London, their relationship is threatened by the extreme pressures of the war. Another description for the film states that Pitt and Cotillard's characters are assassins who fall in love and get married, only to find out later that one of them is a double agent who must be eliminated. Parallels with Pitt's 2005 film with Jolie Mr and Mrs Smith in which they played married assassins who are given the task of killing each other , are already being drawn. Incidentally, it was while working on the film that Jolie and Pitt's relationship started. Coming back to Allied, the Robert Zemeckis directed film does seem wonderfully stylised and we can't wait for the full length theatrical trailer that will reveal a little more of the plot. In the meantime, here's the minute-long teaser: If you do not do it, your competitor will, is what Bob Herold, former COO of Microsoft said when he was asked about how often successful businesses should change. Businesses are posed today with a challenging duality where they have to simultaneously run their existing business and, change or disrupt their business. Running businesses effectively The effective application of data solutions on Run the Business activities drives improved efficiency and incremental revenue growth which can free up funds and bandwidth in an organization. These funds can subsequently be leveraged on Change the business activities. It is no surprise that data and algorithms significantly impact company valuations today. Recently Salesforce acquired Quip, a small 40 people firm for $500 million, and then BeyondCore, an enterprise analytics firm. This is not an isolated incident. Large corporations such as Google and Apple are fast acquiring AI and analytics startups for their intellectual property, not only to bolster their core offerings but also create new ones in specific verticals. Data and algorithms are providing insights into aspects of the business, that until now, only human intuition could guide. Data has brought in transparency and evidence based decision making has become the new norm. Operational efficiency is now something that can be controlled and monitored, with tools that automatically capture how the organisation is performing across markets and customer segments. Resources can now be allocated more efficiently, reducing costs and risk. One of the worlds largest FMCG giant is rewriting its supply chain optimization model from scratch to drive global optimization across its supply chain, rather than localized optimization in individual stages. This rewrite is backed by big data platforms and event based architectures. Banks are using similar models to streamline back-office operations, drug development companies to accelerate clinical trials and airline companies to optimize flight schedules, crew shifts and aircraft maintenance. With the emergence of data and analytics, the concept of a market of one has become a reality. Businesses, that earlier had little visibility into what their customers true needs are, can now, create personalised offerings for each individual customer. Loans can be curated by the user, to specific durations (could even be a specific number of days or weeks) with affordable payment amounts and payment schedules as per their convenience. These are backed by algorithms and platforms that can support uniquely computing payment details for each individual user, amongst millions of users. B2C businesses, from media to gaming to publishing are looking to get a more intimate insight into their follower communities and their interests. These insights help them identify new customers, curate and reform their digital experiences while also informing their social campaigns across all channels. Data tools help measure the efficacy and ROI of these campaigns, so the campaigns can be continuously tested and iterated upon. Transforming business Itself Data and algorithms are enabling business models that were not possible before. One of the earliest examples of businesses that used data and algorithms to drive profits, was in the world of algorithmic trading. Algorithms were developed, that acted on the signals (the price and volume data) to generate buy or sell recommendations and often execute on them without human intervention. Algorithmic trading is not just automating trading activities but also shaping the financial markets. The online advertising industry is founded on the data thats constantly being collected by Google, Facebook and others. The origins of this industry coincided with the emergence of new technologies for data collection and storage (such as the Hadoop Platform and the Map-Reduce paradigm for distributed computing) as well the widespread use of Machine Learning in the industry. Intelligent (data driven) products are being introduced by several businesses. For example, today one can avail of car insurance linked to miles driven, where the premium could depend on your driving quality as calculated using vibrations in your mobile phone or telemetry signals from the car itself. Similarly, your health insurance premium could depend on your workout schedule, as measured by your wearable device. AI driven services such as Robo Advisors are providing financial investors with an intelligent assistant that provides goals driven investment advice and curated investment portfolios, all at a significantly lower cost. This is enabling fintech startups as well as large investment advisors reach the mass affluent without linearly increasing their staff, thus dramatically transforming customer experience and creating a fresh source of income. Conversational commerce is making a strong entry into retail, with the advent of chatbots and voice driven devices such as the Amazon Echo, and Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR). These tools are backed by algorithms that help in Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision and continuously providing contextual recommendations. How to cope with new world What will it take for an organisation to adopt and ride this wave? How should an organisation prepare itself, so that it can begin utilizing its data assets to achieve its business goals? Identification of data opportunities and the realization of their business value requires changes in the organizational mindset. Experimentation has to become a first class citizen within the organisations culture. A dual track closed loop approach is needed where discovery and experimentation of data use cases need to go hand in hand with building these cases into data products. Not every experiment will succeed and risk taking and failure will need to be embraced. This experimentation culture requires self-driven teams, which have the autonomy to pursue these experiments and bring them to fruition. This implies an organisational structure that is based on the principles of lean portfolio management . These teams need be cross functional, with a variety of embedded skillsets. Data Scientists and Business SMEs will be needed to define, prioritize and run these experiments. Data engineers, software engineers and product managers will need to take these experiments from prototypes to full-fledged products. Data and algorithms are playing a significant role in shaping the world we live in. They have the power to be critical business differentiators. Businesses need to be run and transformed in a Data Guided way. (Kini is a Big Data Practice Lead and Venkataraman, Lead Data Scientist, ThoughtWorks India) Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, with a net worth of $22.7 billion, tops the Forbes magazine's India rich list for 2016, followed by Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries at a distant second with a net worth of $16.9 billion. The third in the list is the Hinduja family. The brothers -- Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok, who control the group, have a net worth of $15.2 billion. The others in the top 10 are Azim Premji of Wipro ($15 billion), Pallonji Mistry of Shapoorji Pallonji Group ($13.9 billion), Lakshmi Mittal of ArcelorMittal ($12.5 billion), the Godrej family of the Godrej group ($12.4 billion), Shiv Nadar of HCL Technologies ($11.4 billion); Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla group ($8.8 billion), and Cyrus Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India ($8.6 billion). (See the full list here.) The list of the top 100 rich people in India, an annual list compiled by the magazine, is arrived at by calculating the value of their shareholding and other financial details available publicly. There are no surprises in the list this year at the top level, but towards the bottom there are a few interesting names and trends. Here are seven takeaways from the list: 1) Acharya Balkrishna debuts: Balkrishna, who holds about 97 percent stake in Patanjali Ayurveda and has a net worth of $2.5 billion, has debuted in the list at 48th spot. This is the second time he has figured in a rich list in as many weeks. Earlier this month, Balkrishna was at the 26th spot in Hurun's India rich list for 2016, which estimated his net worth at Rs 25,000 crore. While controversial yoga guru Baba Ramdev is the face of Patanjali Ayurved, founded in 2006, Balkrishna is the one who runs the company. The company, which first sold ayurvedic products, has recently diversified into fast moving consumer goods and gives a run for the money to multinational giants like Unilever and Colgate Palmolive. 2) $1.25 billion threshold: The threshold for entering the top 100 wealthy Indian list has hit a record of $1.25 billion, says the magazine. Last year, the cut off was at $1.1 billion and had 10 people below the $1.25 billion. The rise in the "entry price", as the magazine calls is it, is indication of the rising wealth of the wealthy. 3) 6 new entrants: There are six new entrants in the list this year. After Balkrishna, the notable among them are the brothers Divyank and Bhavin Turakhia of the Directi Group. They have a net worth of $1.3 billion. They sold their company Media.net last year to a Chinese consortium for $900 million, which has propelled them into the list. In a recent interview to Firstpost, Bhavin said he is now focusing on biotechnology, which he thinks will be the next business opportunity globally. His brother Divyank is focussing on online advertising. "Our goal is not to make money, attain success or fame. We are focused on making a difference in peoples lives our employees and customers. Money in our scheme of things is irrelevant as that is not our goal," he had said. 4) Flipkart Bansals fall off: There are 13 dropouts this year. The notable among them is Flipkart's Scachin Bansal and Binny Bansal (not related). Both the entrepreneurs had made their grand entry into the list last year, which also pointed to the digital storm that was taking over the country's businesses. However, over the last one year, their company witnessed a slew of valuation markdowns from about $15 billion to $9 billion, which reduced the value of their holding. 5) 8 returnees: As many as eight have returned to the list this year due to the rise in the stock market last year. The notables among them are Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon and Tulsi Tanti of Suzlon. 6) Govt policy boost: The Narendra Modi government's focus on business-friendliness is a much discussed and debated fact. A few of the businessmen who figure in the list have majorly benefited from the government's policies. Key among them are Benu Gopal Bangur of Shree Cement and Ashwin Dani of Asian Paints. "The governments infrastructure push and housing-for-all policy boosted cement and paint fortunes," notes the magazine. Bangur has catapulted into the top 20 for the first with a fortune of $5.9 billion and is at 14th spot. He witnessed his wealth rise by $2 billion and Dani by more than $1 billion due to the rise in the prices of their shares. 7) 4 women in the list: There are four women in the list -- Savitri Jindal (rank 19, $5.3 billion); Vinod Rai Gupta of Havells (rank 46, $2.5 billion); Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon (rank 65, $1.83 billion); and Leena Tewari who chiars privately held pharma company USV India (rank 79, $1.6 billion). Mumbai: The overall value of top 50 brands in the country witnessed a marginal dip of 2 percent this year, almost entirely driven by the decline in brand value of state-owned banks, according to a recent study. However, the brand value of India's top 50 brands has increased by 30 percent over the last three years, as per the BrandZ study conducted by research agency Millward Brown and commissioned by WPP, which was released on Wednesday. The total value of the country's top 50 brands stood at $90.5 billion from $92.2 billion in 2015. "The 2 percent adjustment is primarily attributable to state-owned banks, which declined 33 percent in brand value because of loan performance difficulties. With the same state-owned banks removed from the 2015 and 2016 rankings, the value of the India BrandZ Top 50 actually rose 2 percent year on year," it said. Private sector lender HDFC Bank topped the rankings for the third consecutive year with a brand value of $14.4 billion, following a 15 percent growth over last year. Telecom major Airtel and the country's largest lender State Bank of India retained the second and third spot, respectively. Asian Paints was placed at fourth, followed by ICICI Bank, Bajaj Auto, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Maruti Suzuki, Hero and Axis Bank in that order. The list is dominated by banks and financial companies, accounting for 38 percent of the total value of the top 50 brands. Retail and aviation brands have entered the top 50 for the first time with Indigo (26) and Jet Airways (36) representing the airline industry while Reliance Retail secured the 50th position. The study covered 60,000 consumers with over 600 brands across 50 categories in the country. "Over the past year, brands have had to work hard to hold on to their position in the top 50. 20 brands have witnessed a drop in their ranking within the top 50. Brands which have managed to sustain their ranking over the past two years have only been able to do so by increasing their brand value by over 35 per cent," Kantar Millward Brown South Asia Managing Director Dinesh Kapoor told reporters. The study claimed that people who invested in these top 50 brands over a two-year period, would have earned a better return than the ones who invested in Sensex companies. An investment of $1,000 in BrandZ India top 50 companies in 2014 would have yielded USD 1,108, the study claimed. In comparison, the same amount invested in Sensex companies would have returned USD 965. "The stock portfolio of the BrandZ Top 50 most valuable brands increased 10.8 percent in value between August 2014 and August 2016, while over the same 24-month period, India's Sensex, a weighted index of 30 stocks on Bombay Stock Exchange, declined 3.5 per cent," the study said. The number of Indian origin brands increased to 38 in 2016 from 35 in 2014. "There is a huge potential for Indian brands to become strong regional brands or even global brands. If you look at the top 100 global brands, there is one Indian brand compared to 14-15 Chinese brands. Indian brands are under-represented. In another 5-10 years, we should see a number of Indian brands becoming contenders at global level," The Store WPP Chief Executive Officer for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia David Roth said. The study noted that consumers are becoming less loyal to brands and the key driver for that is technology. "Access to the Internet and increased mobile penetration has seen the aspirational gap and purchasing patterns between rural and urban Indians narrowing. Mobile has become an enormous social and demographic equaliser," Kantar Insights South Asia CEO Preeti Reddy said. "It is changing the consumer-brand relationship. Consumers are empowered and more informed. They are actively participating rather than passively listening and are willing to trade up and select quality over quantity," Reddy added. The Indian Army is pulling crowds, and the crowd is not here to throw stones at them, but to join them. Hundreds of young men lined up for Armys open recruitment rally in the volatile south Kashmirs district of Anantang, which has been the epicenter of an ongoing unrest in the Valley that has left over eighty people dead and more than ten thousand injured. We want to change the perception about the youth of Kashmir. If given an opportunity it would be an honor to serve this nation, said Irshad Ahmad, who travelled 30 kilometers from Pulwama district to attend the recruitment rally in Anantnag. South Kashmir has been the epicenter of the pro-azadi protests in the Valley since they broke out in July after the death of militant commander Burhan Wani. Wani was from south Kashmir; so were most of the victims of the unrest. Few hundred meters from the Army camp, where the recruitment was being carried out, curfew and restrictions remained in the place in the main market of the Anantnag town for the 75th straight day. More than 6,000 youth from south Kashmir had applied for the different jobs using online registration system but only 400 could turn up at the High Grounds in Anantnag due to the ongoing unrest. But for the Army the response was mindboggling. The movement boys started gathering outside the camp, we realised we have won in our mission, an Army officer said at the rally venue. Those who made it to the recruitment camp had to leave their homes in the dead of the night to escape the wrath of stone-throwing crowds. Some of the aspirants had to face the fury of pro-azadi protesters, who thrashed them and tore apart their documents, a sign of the anger on the streets. A majority of these cases were reported from Pulwama district were protesters caught hold of aspirants and beat them up at many places. It was not easy to reach here but I had long waited for this day and come what may I would not have allowed this opportunity to go to waste, said Tariq Qurashi, another aspirant who qualified the test, no less enthusiastic than the thousands like him who have joined pro-azadi protests. "I want to request the youths to leave stone-throwing and instead prove their talent," said Zakir, a youth from Kokernag, in Anantnag district. As the Army officers at the venue called out their names, these young men would pounce on the space reserved for the aspirants. Most of the recruits carried certificates in plastic bags and without an iota of fear on their faces of stone pelters who had called for a boycott of the rally. This rally is being conducted for the youth of Kashmir valley. The online response to the registration saw 11,500 youth applying for the jobs. The number of aspirants who had applied from south Kashmir is 6,000, said Brigadier JS Sanyal, Deputy Director-General, Recruitment (Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir), who is overseeing the recruitment drive in Kashmir valley. "The candidates are being screened for physical fitness... and documentation. Successful candidates will undergo a written test on 23 October at the same venue. Basically, our aim is to provide an opportunity to unemployed and educated youth. That is the reason why even those aspirants who had not registered online were provided the opportunity , Brigadier Sanyal added. Hundreds of youth also lined up for SPO (Special Police Officer) posts during the recruitment rally organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in violence-torn Pulwama district, defying separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call for Kashmiri youth not to join the police force in the state. We came here to make our future secured and earn some money," said Adnan Ahmed, a resident of Tral village. The SPOs are engaged on a monthly salary of Rs 6,000, which was raised from Rs 3,000 a month since January this year. They are given a training and work with the Kashmir Police in maintaining law and order situation. "We got a very good response. Many youths from Tral, Awantipora, Lethipora areas have appeared for fitness tests for SPOs post. Many have qualified as well," said Iftikhar Chaudhary, DSP DR, Member Recruitment Board of the Jammu and Kashmir police. Bengaluru: In a move that may set the state on a collision course with the judiciary, a special session of both Houses of Karnataka legislature will be held on Friday to take a call on the Supreme Court's direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu. Ahead of the session, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in Delhi on Thursday, a day after the cabinet decided to defer the release of water and convene the legislature session amid escalating row between the two neighbouring states. Apprising the Union Minister of the ground realities on its inability in implementing the Apex Court order, the chief minister requested the Union Government to file an objection against the court's direction to constitute Cauvery Water Management Board. "It is difficult for us to release water, already as per the Supreme Court order we have released 12,000 cusecs for 14 days.There is no water in our reservoirs. What is remaining in four reservoirs is only 26 TMC water,whereas we need 27 TMC to supply drinking water to Mandya, Mysuru, Bengaluru and nearby areas," he told reporters in Delhi after meeting Bharti. Pointing out that Tamil Nadu is seeking water for irrigation and the Mettur reservoir there has storage of 52 TMC water, he said "I have explained all this to the Minister." Noting that the Apex Court had also asked the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, he said "it was uncalled for, neither us nor they (Tamil Nadu) had made a prayer for it. "I have requested that Solicitor General or Additional Solicitor General who represents government of India file an objection for it on 27 September." The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on 19 September asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from 21 September to 30 September, but the Apex Court had on 20 September doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from 21 to 27 September after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop. It had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. Siddaramaiah on Thursday also met Governor Vajubhai Vala and former Chief Minister SM Krishna ahead of his visit to Delhi. Last Sunday, after an army camp came under attack in Uri, Kashmir valley witnessed a day of calm after seventy days. There was no stone-pelting as protesters chose to stay indoors. The main hospital in Srinagar, which has treated fifteen injured protesters on an average since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on 8 July, received none. Unprecedented traffic hit Srinagar's main city square and the police had to deploy its men after long to manage it. After two days, the protesters have returned. There is a lesson to be learned here: the Indian state needs to send a clear message that it has zero tolerance for assault on its security forces. While buzzwords like Insaniyat (humaneness) and Mamata (love) should be practised in letter and spirit, it cannot (and should not) mean that a mob can start attacking security personnel just because they have done their job and killed a terrorist. But how did things become so grim in Kashmir this time? While we must study the Uri attack, it is imperative that it should not wean attention from the situation in Kashmir. It has been seventy-five days since the latest turmoil began. The media is not saying it, but from one end of Kashmir to another, Pakistani flags are all out. Analysts sympathetic to the current establishment will dismiss this occurrence, saying the flags have always been there. But this time, it is different. Remember, in March 2015, on Pakistan Day, Asiya Andrabi, the head of the radical Islamist group, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, hoisted a Pakistani flag in a closed room somewhere in downtown Srinagar and the ceremony was over in a few minutes. And now, the Pakistani flags are a part of every small and big protest. The fact is that the civil and police administration in Kashmir valley is paralysed. A majority of policemen are afraid of going to duty and many of them have not gone back to their homes in weeks for fear of retribution. Sources say that many of them, including senior police officers, have got civilian identity cards made in case they find themselves confronted by a violent mob. Hospitals are refusing to admit injured police personnel. A sub-inspector of police, who suffered a heart attack, was refused treatment at Kashmirs premier hospital in Soura. He died while being shifted to another hospital. The MLA from Pulwama and a senior leader of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Khalil Bandh, who was injured as his driver tried to pull away the car from a mob, could not be admitted at the district hospital and had to be taken to the army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. Senior officials of the administration avoid travelling for work. Even in cases of normal crime, the police are scared to go to the spot and instead prefer to gather details over the phone and then register a First Information Report. A journalist friend says that a file involving a simple government sanction that his friend requires has been stuck at the Secretariat for more than two months. The trouble has spread to hitherto peaceful areas this time. In Budgam, for example, there has hardly been any militancy for more than twenty years. But now, the district is witnessing pitched battles between protesters and security personnel. This time, an organisation called Ittehad-e-Millat has come into being; it constitutes of elements from radical organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat-e-ahle Hadith. Its leaders have been addressing big rallies, especially in south Kashmir, asking people to take oath of shunning mainstream political parties. Several prominent people in Baramulla have been asked to apologise for their association with political parties. Police sources reveal that from next month onwards, plans are afoot to begin collecting taxes from people as terrorist organisations often do in their strongholds. What will I do? says a friend, who hails from Budgam, suppose I am in Jammu and these guys come to my house and tell my family members: tomorrow, he will have to address a public rally and ask for azadi from India. And my family says: Well, he is in Jammu. And they will say: if he wants to live here, ask him to return immediately and do as we say. Then what choice will I have except to return immediately and do their bidding? Since the houses and properties of politicians have been targeted, the journalist friend said, they had been wondering how the house of a PDP leader in south Kashmir remained unscathed. We made queries locally and realised that to save his family from the wrath of violent mobs, the politicians brother has also been indulging in stone-pelting. And, of course, the politician has not even set foot in his house since the first day of the trouble, he said. How did it begin? Even when the accused in the Parliament attack, Afzal Guru, was hanged in Tihar jail in 2013, there was minimal protest in Kashmir valley. The problem, police sources reveal, began after the late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed became the chief minister in the PDPs alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Soon after he took over, Mufti decided to release the radical Islamist, Masarat Alam, who had been arrested for his role in the 2010 turmoil in Kashmir. Sayeed also had plans to release the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist and the husband of Asiya Andrabi, Qasim Faktoo. This is what happened after Alam was released: every year, the radical separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chooses to spend Kashmirs harsh winter months in Delhi. He returns around April, an event largely ignored by the Kashmiris. But on 16 April, 2015, after his release, Alam organised a big reception to welcome his mentor. As Geelani was accorded a heros welcome, he addressed a public rally, his first in almost two-and-a-half years. As the rally passed the Director General of Polices office, the crowd shouted: "Pakistan se kya paigaam, Kashmir banega Pakistan (What is the message from Pakistan? Kashmir will become Pakistan!)" and "Jeevay, jeevay Pakistan (Long live Pakistan!)." Upon Muftis instructions, no attempts were made to stop the procession. It bolstered youngsters who had grudgingly reconciled to the fact that azadi is a mirage, said a senior police officer. It is also roughly around this time that the legend of Burhan Wani was created. Till then, nobody had even heard of Wani, said the police officer, and suddenly journalists land from Delhi and picture him as the new poster boy of militancy. As Wani made effective use of social media to influence the youth, the final straw came in February this year when a group of Kashmiri youth shouted slogans for Indias destruction at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University. The intelligence agencies have identified all of them. But none of them has been touched. Instead, a scapegoat was made out of Kanhaiya Kumar, said the police officer. As a result, the entire separatist machinery got together in what they saw as a big opportunity, permanently damaging what had been achieved in Kashmir in the last many years. The separatists became so confident that they refused to budge while mainstream politicians begged for an inch. As protests ceased to ebb, Narendra Modis ministers made one infantile remark after another. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that normalcy would be restored in seven days. How he came to such conclusion remains mysterious. The Union Minister of State in Prime Ministers Office, Jitendra Singh, said that the reason India is giving security to separatist leaders in Kashmir is because they face threat from Pakistan, which might attack them to blame India. If the separatist leaders were acting in accordance with Pakistan, why would Pakistan kill them? And if India offered them security because the separatists are assets, why are then they damaging Indias cause so much in Kashmir? The fact remains that Kashmir has become like the elephant and those who handle Kashmir for the BJP the proverbial blind men. In a remarkable 2011 piece, the Pakistani writer, Mohammed Hanif, wrote about the night when Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos elected government was about to be toppled by the then army chief, General Zia ul Haq. Hanif describes how Zia took aside a senior army officer who was his right-hand man and whispered to him: Murshid, marwa na dena. (Guide, dont get us killed). Someone ought to go to the BJPs main handler of Kashmir and tell him: Mahashay, marwa na dena (Sir, dont get us killed). The Cauvery water dispute is getting messier by the day. During its last hearing on 12 September, the Supreme Court had asked the Karnataka government to release 12,000 cusecs of water every day till 20 September. It had mandated the Cauvery Supervisory Committee (CSC) to decide on the quantum of water to be released by Karnataka for the next 10 days till 30 September. The chairman of the CSC, the Union water resources secretary, decided on 19 September that Karnataka must release 3,000 cusecs of water daily from 21 till 30 September. But on the very next day (20 September), the Supreme Court overruled the decision of the CSC chairman and asked the Karnataka government release 6,000 cusecs of water for the next seven days till 27 September. What does one make of this utter confusion? How did the CSC decide on the discharge of 3,000 cusecs of water daily and, on what basis, did the Supreme Court overturn that decision and increase it to 6,000 cusecs? It is obvious that such decisions are being taken largely based on the gut feeling of the deciding authority, be it the CSC or the Supreme Court, because each has at its disposal only half-baked information. Consider the following facts: The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had, in its final report in February 2007, asked for the constitution of a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) to monitor the ground reality of the Cauvery basin on a regular basis and decide on the interstate disputes. But in so many years, the government of India did not bother to constitute the CMB. It was only on last Tuesday (20 September) that the Supreme Court gave a direction to the Centre to set up the CMB within a month. Without a CMB, no credible data is there on the table for any body to make a decision based on facts. Whether it was the CSC or the SC, both were confronted with the competing, and often cooked-up data provided by the bitterly hostile neighbours Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. That is why, all decisions, whether by CSC or the SC, are bound to be controversial. Much of this controversy would have had no basis if the decision was based on solid data and scientific analysis. That is simply not the case. Take the case of the CSC meeting on 12 September as per the mandate of the Supreme Court. It remained inconclusive for want of adequate data about the utilisation of water, variation in rainfall and related issues in the Cauvery basin areas. The committee met a week later, on 19 September, only to be confronted with the conflicting claims of the two warring states. Nevertheless, in order to carry out the instructions of the Supreme Court, the CSC chairman, disregarding the opposition of both the disputing parties, issued a perfunctory order (3,000 cusecs per day discharge). It was only in this meeting that the CSC decided to put in place a protocol for the real-time transmission of the river water flow data among the states of the Cauvery basin, so that decisions based on facts to be made. What does it all say about the functioning of our government? After all, the Union water resources secretary heads the CSC and the chairman of the Central Water Commission is a member of the committee. Why these individuals and the bodies they represent should exist, at huge cost to the exchequer, if they did not have the basic information in all these years to arrive at a fact-based decision? As a matter of fact, the Cauvery mess reflects the ineptitude of all the three vital organs of the state executive, legislature and the judiciary. The 50-year-old Cauvery water-sharing agreement signed between the princely state of Mysore and the Madras Presidency in 1924 came to an end in 1974, but the Union government did not bother to put up a fresh mechanism in place till the Supreme Court directed it in 1990 to set up a Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The VP Singh government carried out the SC order and set up a three-member tribunal headed by the retired justice NP Singh. But the tribunal also acquired the work culture of the Indian government it took more than 16 years to deliver its verdict in 2007. And what did it deliver? After 16 years, it seemed as if the mountain went into labour and produced a mouse. The tribunal worked out a water-sharing formula during the normal monsoon years. But then in the normal monsoon years, there has never been a conflict between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in fact, Karnataka has had no problem in releasing more water than what the tribunal has mandated in the normal years. Invariably, the conflict between the two states has erupted in the distress years when the monsoon water has been scarce. Surprisingly, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal did not prescribe a formula for these years it merely incorporated a banal provision that water sharing might be decreased proportionately among the states, keeping in view the extent of availability of rain water! So much in 16 years! No wonder such banality kept the pot boiling. That negated the very purpose behind the setting up of a tribunal to resolve the interstate disputes! What is a greater irony is that the life of the tribunal and the salaries and perks of the members continued even after 2007, ostensibly to allow for the resolution of the appeals and petitions by the contending parties. Justice NP Singh continued in his position till 2012 when he resigned on health grounds at the ripe old age of 85. The government chose another retired Justice, BS Chauhan for this post-retirement perk after Justice Singh demitted office. The taxpayer continued to bear the burden of the extended term of the tribunal, despite the fact that the tribunal was out of work, for the simple reason that both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Cauvery tribunals award in 2007 itself and the Supreme Court had admitted the petition. The tribunal had no locus standi to dispose of any petition as the matter had become sub judice. But then our Supreme Court too did not acquit itself well in this case. It admitted the petition in 2007 and decided in 2008 for the constitution of a three-judge bench to adjudicate upon the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. But eight years have passed and there has been no progress in the case. Here is a strange situation the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had become defunct because the Supreme Court took up the appeal, but the Supreme Court did not hold any hearing, let alone come to a decision. That led to the conflagration of the dispute between the two states, spilling over to the streets. Ironically, the Supreme Court has been responding only to the emergency situations both in 2012, and again in 2016 to announce an interim decision to tide over the immediate crisis, while the final adjudication is nowhere in sight. The Cauvery mess reflects the ineptitude of all the three vital organs of the state executive, legislature and the judiciary As a matter of fact, the Supreme Court should not have involved itself in the adjudication of the Cauvery water dispute at all. The Article 262 of the Indian Constitution states: (1) Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter State river or river valley. Then the same Article goes on to state categorically: (2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1). Despite this express provision, the Supreme Court is dabbling in the matter only because our Parliament has shirked its responsibility to enact the legislation mandated by the Constitution. It is indeed unfortunate that all the three major organs of the state executive, judiciary and legislature have failed to discharge their assigned task competently, leading to a major crisis involving millions of farmers spread over two major south Indian states. Much water has flown, quite literally, under the Cauvery bridge, ever since the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was formed in 1990 to resolve the issue of water sharing between the two states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. After more than two decades of its formation, the tribunal that gave its final verdict in 2007 remains a motionless body. As it happened, after the tribunal gave its award in 2007, both the state governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu moved the apex court via a special leave petition (SLP), which was admitted by the apex court, and the tribunal was put to the backburner. The Indian Constitution which attaches a special status to interstate water disputes, had elaborate provisions that states that such disputes will neither fall under the Supreme Court nor any other courts jurisdiction. These disputes can only be adjudicated by temporary and ad hoc interstate water dispute tribunals. The CWDT is one such tribunal. Article 262 of the Constitution provides for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of interstate rivers or river valleys wherein it states that the Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-state river or river valley. Most significantly, it adds that notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Parliament may by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1) coordination between the states. But this exclusion of Supreme Court and other courts was qualified by the apex court in State Of Tamilnadu vs State Of Karnataka. The apex court observed: "Thus, we hold that this Court is the ultimate interpreter of the provisions of the interstate water dispute act, 1956, and has an authority to decide the limits, power and jurisdiction of the tribunal constituted under the act. The court has not only the power, but the obligation to decide as to whether the tribunal has any jurisdiction or not under the act, to entertain any interim application till it finally decides the dispute referred to it. After the tribunal passed the interim award, the matter found its way to the Supreme Court in Cauvery Presidential Reference, and the Supreme Court held that an interim award was an award within the meaning Section 6 of the Act." Hence enters the apex court and as future would tell, most of the awards by the tribunals were challenged in the Supreme Court. The outcome was ironical. The existence of the institution which owns its genesis directly to the constitution became irrelevant, and in no time it turned into the post-retirement abodes of retired judges. While the Tribunal pronounced its verdict in 2007, it was after full six years in 2013, the central government on the instance of the Supreme Court, notified the 2007 award. But did it lead to the resolution of the problem? Obviously not. Ramaswamy R Iyer, former secretary of ministry of water resources and eminent water policy expert, in his very informative and analytical piece on the Cauvery dispute, published in Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) in 2013 wrote, "The Cauvery dispute has been adjudicated but remains unresolved." Among the various reasons listed by him for the failure to resolve the issue was the fact that "Supreme Court has not been supportive of the Tribunal". Highlighting the chinks in the armour, Iyer said that the tribunal had a 'chequered history'. He wrote that the "tribunal was torn by internal dissensions, giving rise to the apprehension that its report might not be unanimous. Fortunately, it redeemed itself in time and gave a unanimous Final Order after 17 years of hearings." He also criticised the tribunal as it failed to entertain the clarificatory petitions filed by the states. "When the parties submitted clarificatory petitions, the Tribunal put them on hold on the ground that they had gone to the Supreme Court with SLPs. Considering that there was no stay order on its Final Order or on its functioning, it could have heard the petitions and issued a supplementary or clarificatory order." Iyer was extremely critical of the apex court as he felt that the "Supreme Court was not markedly supportive of the Tribunal". "When the state governments went to the Supreme Court in 2007 with SLPs against the Tribunals Final Order, the Supreme Court promptly admitted the SLPs, without any discussion of the bar on the jurisdiction of the courts provided for by Article 262 and enacted by the Parliament in the ISWD Act 1956. The questions whether the SLPs should be admitted despite the bar, and if so on what grounds, and what implications this would have for the ISWD Act and Article 262, were not explicitly raised and answered. Ironically, having admitted the SLPs and made things difficult for the Tribunal, the Supreme Court has not taken them up for hearing in six years time," Iyer remarked. Indeed, it was ironical that CWDT, a body with constitutional backing had so many functional flaws and was in many ways extremely toothless in enforcing its order. But once the states moved the apex court, and with the Supreme Court admitting the SLP, the Tribunals fate was sealed. As in the case of peninsular rivers which are monsoon dependent, sharing of the water of Cauvery also becomes a contentious issue and source of conflict between the two states, every time monsoon plays truant. The present tussle between the two states is resultant of similar circumstances. On 6 September, the apex court directs Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs a day till 15 September, following which massive protests break out in the state. Senior Supreme Court Advocate Harish Salve, in his essay on interstate river water disputes, published in The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution writes, "In recent times, scholarly opinion on the value of a judicial settlement over a political settlement for inter-state river disputes have been fraught. Indias leading constitutional law scholar HM Seervai, in 1991 attempted an evaluation by comparing the period of time required for political negotiations to the period of time for adjudication by tribunals. Finding no significant difference, he concluded that the proper belief that the political settlement of the river water dispute would be more satisfactorily reached is demonstrably incorrect... Per contra, Professor Ramaswamy Iyer, while recognising the force of such arguments, has suggested that 'adjudication is an unsatisfactory way of dealing with such dispute; a negotiated settlement is infinitely superior; adjudication is divisive and leads to exaggerated claims by both sides." The Indian Constitution had elaborate provisions that states that such disputes will neither fall under the Supreme Court nor any other courts jurisdiction Views of both the scholars can be corroborated by the experience of the way water disputes in India have been handled. However, while political solution has not any favourers, experience in respect to judicial settlement through tribunals has not been entirely positive either. And CWST is an important case in point. CWDT was functioning without a chairman since April 2012 (when Justice NP Singh resigned on health grounds) till January 2014 when Justice BS Chauhan was appointed as chairman of the Tribunal. However, in March 2016, Justice BS Chauhan resigned as chairman of the Tribunal following his appointment as chairman of the law commission of India. The first chairman of the Tribunal also had resigned. Currently, with only two members' applications filed by the Centre, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala seeking clarification on the final award of the Tribunal cannot be heard. When the Tribunal met on 10 July, 2007, the Tribunal headed by Justice NP Singh had refused to hear the applications saying it would be improper to take up clarificatory applications when the Supreme Court had admitted special leave petitions filed by the three states. Subsequently, Justice Chauhan also could not hear the appeal as there were other appeals that were pending before it. According to a report by The Asian Age, the central government is not in a hurry to appoint a new chairman, as it is contemplating constituting a one five-member Tribunal to take up all the water disputes among the various states. Once the Tribunal is set up, the Cauvery Tribunal will be wound up. An inevitable conclusion, perhaps. As the water war between the contending parties intensifies, there are some questions that needs to be answered. Why was the Tribunal left in the lurch for almost two years? Why its majority of chairman called it quits? What is the utility of such a Tribunal when the final decision will be taken by the court? What will be the purpose and functions of the five-member Tribunal? How far different will it be from its predecessors? These are the questions that need to be asked and answered for any genuine reform in 'resolution mechanism' through which we are trying to resolve many water disputes that India has to grapple with. High alert was issued along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas after a group of armed men were allegedly spotted by a few school children in Uran on Thursday leading to a massive search operation launched by multiple agencies. Few children from Uran Education Society's school have reportedly first spotted the suspects, and their teacher informed the police. However, according to IANS, Maharashtra Director-General of Police Satish Mathur said, "One student has claimed spotting one person, the other has claimed to have seen five. After this information, multiple agencies launched the probe." "Search operation is still on. Navi Mumbai police and coastal police along with the Navy are involved in a search operation which will be carried out throughout night. We have stationed one NSG platoon and 70 commandos of Force One (a state government force) in Navi Mumbai," Mathur told PTI. The Western Naval Command (WNC) later issued a "highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts where several sensitive establishments and assets are located. Indian Navy's Chief PRO Captain DK Sharma said the search operation was launched along with Maharashtra Police and other agencies. The National Security Guard (NSG), state police's specialised commandos Force One and ATS, apart form the Mumbai police and Coast Guard have been roped in for the search operation. The Mumbai Police, however, said that none of the suspects have been been traced yet. The NSG teams, drawn from its Mumbai hub, have been deployed at three locations in Mumbai and another team is on alert at NSG base in IGI airport in Delhi, official sources said, reported PTI. As the news spread, conflicting reports emerged on whether the suspects were sighted in Pathan suits or in army fatigues. According to some reports, the children also said that they overheard the men conversing in an unfamiliar language, but could make out words like 'ONGC' and 'school,' which were reportedly being used repeatedly, according to ANI. Uran: School children claimed of seeing a group of armed men, near Naval base in Maharashtra's Uran. Search operations on. pic.twitter.com/eUuhLcqMPB ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 They were spotted by students opposite to the Naval base,as per students they heard the men say 'ONGC' and 'school' repeatedly: Navy sources ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 The Defence PRO later said that though the situation is being monitored, no person has been located or apprehended. Situation closely monitored in liaison with Police. No person located or apprehended till now: Defence PRO Mumbai on suspicious persons seen ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted later in the evening that his government is taking all precautions and the state and central forces are keeping a close vigil. He also appealed to people to remain calm. CM @Dev_Fadnavis spoke to DGP , @CPMumbaiPolice and Intel Comm. All precautions are being taken. Massive combing operations are on. 1/2 CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016 State &Central forces are working in close Cordination.CM @Dev_Fadnavis has appealed citizens not to panic. Situation under close vigil. 2/2 CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016 According to Times Now, Maharashtra Additional Home Secretary KP Bakshi has briefed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs about the situation in Uran. He told the news channel that the probe is being supervised by the DGP, Navi Mumbai and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is keeping a close eye on the developments. Advising the people to maintain calm, Bakshi claimed that the forces deployed on the ground are fully equipped to handle all terror threats. He has also asked the deputy general of police of Maharashtra to file a report on the terror alert by Friday. ACS Home KP Bakshi asks DG Police Maharashtra to submit a detailed report on Uran alert by tomorrow ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 The Navy pressed its choppers for aerial surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats. Security was also beefed up in parts of Mumbai and Raigad district following the terror alert. According to All India Radio, Mumbai police check-posts are scanning all vehicles around Girgaum Chowpati area while CNN-News18 reported that heavy security has been deployed in Uran. Moreover, Colaba police station has sent out an alert to fishermen asking them to report any suspicious persons, or movement of unfamiliar boats around the Mumbai coast, according to a Firstpost correspondent. Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar said that the government has taken the incident very seriously and urged people to remain calm. "There is no reason to doubt the information provided by the students. But it needs to be cross-checked. We already have the experience of (tackling) terror attacks in Mumbai," Kesarkar told PTI. Meanwhile, Gujarat was also put on alert and security agencies have been asked to keep a close vigil on the coastline, officials said. Additional DGP, Law and Order, Tirth Raj, said the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of coastal districts of Gujarat, along with officials handling the coastal security, have been asked to keep a tab on the activities. "After a high alert sounded along the Mumbai coast today, we have also issued an alert along the Gujarat coast. All the district SPs of coastal areas have been asked to remain alert and step up security along the coast through continuous patrolling," he said. Coastal security has been a top priority after the 26/11 attacks, in which multiple locations in Mumbai were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed using the sea route. The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern water front of the financial capital. The base located close to the town also houses units of MARCOS, the Navy's elite strike force. With inputs from agencies New Delhi: India's High Commissioner to Britain Navtej Sarna was on Thursday appointed as the next Ambassador to the US as that country prepares for a presidential transition. "Navtej Singh Sarna (IFS: 1980) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United State of America," an External Affairs Ministry statement said. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added. He takes charge after Arun Kumar Singh retired last month-end. Both Sarna and Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington's closest allies. Sarna was moved to London as the High Commissioner barely eight months back. Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002. Before moving to London, Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting last October of the India-Africa Forum Summit that was attended by a record number of 53 African countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally very happy with the organisation of the Summit and had congratulated External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for it. It is clear Modi wanted someone in Washington he was confident would be able to steer the multi-faceted India-US relations into a new phase with a new administration. Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu. Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, the most recent being Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life that was released last year. He was a big hit in London's literary circles and had also become, in a short span, a popular figure in the Indian community in the Britain. Auto refresh feeds According to reports by All India Radio heavy police force has been deployed in the region and vehicles are being checked near Girgaum Chaupati. According to CNN-News18, students from the SCS High School in Uran have said that the two students who claimed to have spotted the suspected terrorists were around 12 years of age and were students of standard eight. According to the students, the kids appeared 'scared' when they approached their school teacher. According to the DG (Control Room) in Mumbai, a platoon of NSG commandos have already reached Navi Mumbai. The special unit of the Mumbai Police, Force One is also assisting the local police. "Two witnesses sighted five suspects today morning around 7 am in Uran town. As per witnesses The suspects were carrying arms and were wearing Pathani dress and covering their faces. Police with support of other security agencies have launched operations to trace out these suspects. Till now the version of Witnesses could not be confirmed either way. Efforts are on," Navi Mumbai, Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale told Firstpost. The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern water front of the financial capital. Coastal security has been a top priority after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in which multiple locations in the city were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed using the sea route. The alert comes four days after the terror attack in Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed. A high alert has already been sounded along the Maharashtra coast after the group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations by multiple agencies. Precautionary action taken in Mumbai to cut down reaction time in case of any emergency situation, sources said. Teams of National Security Guard, drawn from its Mumbai hub, pre-positioned at three locations in Mumbai and another team is on alert at NSG base in IGI airport in Delhi, official sources said. Teams of elite anti-terror commando force NSG have been deployed in three locations in Mumbai and another team has been kept ready in Delhi to be flown if required after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base along Maharashtra coast. "After a high alert sounded along the Mumbai coast today, we have also issued an alert along the Gujarat coast. All the district SPs of coastal areas have been asked to remain alert and step up security along the coast through continuous patrolling," he told PTI. Gujarat was also put on alert and security agencies have been asked to keep a close vigil on the coastline, officials said after a high alert was in Mumbai and adjoining areas. Additional DGP, Law and Order, Tirth Raj, said the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of coastal districts of Gujarat, along with officials handling the coastal security, have been asked to monitor the situation. CM @Dev_Fadnavis spoke to DGP , @CPMumbaiPolice and Intel Comm. All precautions are being taken. Massive combing operations are on. 1/2 In what could be a shocking breach of security, few school children have claimed that they saw movement of some suspicious persons near Uran Navy Base in Raigad, Maharashtra according to ANI. The children reportedly spotted some men dressed in black camouflage uniform carrying ammunition around the ammunition dump, near the Uran Navy base, following which the kids alerted the local police, according to a report by NDTV. The NDTV report also said that the men had reportedly hidden their faces, which is why the children became suspicious. The children, according to Firstpost correspondent, were students of the SES School in Uran. So far, there has been no corroborative statement from any other witness has come to light. Hemant Nagrale, the police commissioner for Navi Mumbai, told Firstpost that the police is verifying whether the threat is genuine. DGP Maharashtra has said that following the complaint of two school kids who spotted four to five suspicious men in Uran near Mumbai, a search operation has been initiated in the state. He said that the men were spotted at around 06.30 am on Thursday morning. As seen in visuals aired by news channels, the Navy has also deployed helicopters for aerial surveillance. Following the development the Indian navy has launched search operations in and around Mumbai, according to Times Now. NDTV further reported that the Indian Navy has been put on the highest state of alert. Meanwhile, a red alert has been sounded in Maharashtra. Force-I, a special wing of Mumbai Police, has been deployed to investigate the matter, DCP, Navi Mumbai, Arvind Salve told Firstpost. Naval bases at Thane and Raigad as well as the Indian Air Force are also on high alert, according to CNN-News18. Although local police were the first to respond to the incident, the matter is being investigated in coordination with the Maharashtra anti-terror sqaud. It should be noted hat the Uran Navy Base is very close to vital installation like Bhabha Atomic Centre, as reported by NDTV. This comes at a time when cross-border infiltration is at it's highest in the recent years. The army has on Thursday foiled two infiltration bids along the Line of Control by militants trying to sneak into Kashmir Valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Apart from this, two ongoing encounters are underway in Uri and Nowgam sectors for the past two days in which one soldier has been killed. There were reports of at least eight militants getting killed in the Uri operation but no bodies have been recovered so far. The spokesman said Army has enhanced vigil in view of increased infiltration attempts along the LoC . "In the wee hours of today (Thursday), two separate groups, trying to sneak in, were intercepted and forced to flee back," he added. Considering the sensitive nature of the Uri attacks, any reportage around the issue has to tread the fine line of stating facts and developments in relation to the attacks without being jingoistic or sensational. The Quint, on Thursday morning, didnt tread lightly when they published the contentious story titled Exclusive: Uri Avenged As Spl Forces Cross LoC, Kill 20 Terrorists. The story in question reports that the Indian Army conducted a daring cross-LoC operation where at least 20 terrorists have been neutralised. The story, which is dangerously light on official quotes and vague on its sources claims that two units of the elite two Paras comprising 18-20 soldiers flew across the LoC in the Uri sector in military helicopters and carried out an operation that killed at least 20 suspected terrorists across three terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The story sparked a debate as soon as it was published on the sites social media pages. The Twitterati wondered how no other news source could get such sensitive information and questioned the veracity and timing of the story. @TheQuint No other media is reporting this, except you .. How can be believe on its authenticity?? Stop spreading the fake news Ashish Vaish (@iOnly_Ashish) September 22, 2016 @TheQuint Don't published until it's verified and confirmed by related authorities. Avenge 'The Martyrs' (@BleedSaffron) September 22, 2016 Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also expressed surprise in a series of tweets against the piece by The Quint. https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/778845812201705472 https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/778846141634916353 https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/778846458824896512 https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/778847428908752896 Following the immediate and rampant backlash, The Quint added that they would reconfirm the information of the story. Just an hour after publishing the story, the site asserted that they reconfirmed information about the cross-LoC operation. A number of journalists and army experts bashed the story and the way the controversy was dealt with. Veteran journalist Nitin Gokhale deemed the story as nonsense. If it was so easy why wasn't such and action taken all these years? Nonsense. https://t.co/bC25XWrqCz Nitin A. Gokhale (@nitingokhale) September 22, 2016 India Todays Shiv Aroor also dismissed the story, adding that it endangers real operations that the Indian Army may engage in. Standing by story means zilch. No official comment ever on covert ops. Story endangers real ops / our troops on ground. Alerts Pak. https://t.co/XFVNgoYpwe Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) September 22, 2016 Senior Fellow at Royal United Services Institute, Shashank Joshi questioned Aroor, saying that covert operations can and has been covered by the global media. But he added that considering how the story was reported not even a day after the alleged military operation, he reconsidered the fact that the story could in fact endanger lives. @shivaroor Oh fair enough, agree. No need to endanger lives when theres no downside to waiting a day or two. Shashank Joshi (@shashj) September 22, 2016 Senior journalist Barkha Dutt also commented on the issue. @shashj @ShivAroor though there were also questions about veracity and substantiation apart from endangering barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 22, 2016 She questioned the facts of the story and also echoed Business Standard columnist Ajai Shuklas assertion that the story aimed at spreading motivated disinformation. Surprised it was published given firm & consistent Army denials on and off record for last 36 hours. https://t.co/wzQVy9Y4Da barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 22, 2016 Some journos are hallucinating... or perhaps motivated disinformation thru chosen plants! This has been formally denied by the military. https://t.co/IyEp1NsJsv Ajai Shukla (@ajaishukla) September 22, 2016 When asked about whether this story was an error on The Quints part or whether the Indian Army planted the story, Dutt had quite a provocative response. @BDUTT Is there evidence to suggest that govt. planted this story or is it more likely just random kite flying by Quint? @shashj @ShivAroor Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) September 22, 2016 The Quint still asserts that they stand by their story. Controversy has been trailing Maharashtra Minister for Women and Child Welfare Pankaja Munde's visit to the tribal-dominated Mokhada tehsil of Palghar district where several malnutrition deaths have taken place. After the opposition cried foul on the imposition of Section 144 ahead of Munde's visit, she drew more flak as another child lost his life due to malnutrition during the minister's visit to Palghar. According to a report in The New Indian Express, Rahul Kashiram Wadekar, a two-year-old from the Ruighar village of Jawhar taluk passed away in a Nashik Hospital due to chronic malnutrition as Munde was on a tour of his native village. The boy reportedly weighed a mere 5 kg at the age and passed away due to anemia which led to high fever and infection, as reported in DNA. While Munde, rapidly tweeting out updates from her tour, said that she met the representatives of the Shramajivi Sanghatana, an organisation working on malnourishment in the region, and assured them of all government help, Vivek Pandit a member of the organisation complained of government inaction to the media. He alleged that the local hospital was ill equipped to handle critical cases. The issue is that of the sensitivity of the administration. How many more deaths are needed for them act sensitively, Pandit told The New Indian Express. Met representatives from Shramjivi Sanghtana n assured them to resolve their demands at the earliest. Appaised all ppl abt govt schemes pic.twitter.com/VSSyq4Isdn PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) September 21, 2016 The delegation of the Shramjivi Sanghatana, led by Pandit told the minister that 20 percent of posts of health officials in the district were vacant, and also demanded upgradation of Jawhar rural hospital into a district civil hospital. Munde, however, assured the media that the administration has geared up to deal with the crisis and she will personally monitor developments in the issue, stating that she's "working in co-orditn (coordination) with other depts (departments) to put in place permanent soln (solution) for malnutrition." Speaking to the press during her visit, Munde said that she will visit the seven tribal districts in the state in every two months and will personally ensure that the benefit of government schemes for the tribal people are reaching there designated benefactors, according to a report in Navbharat Times. Munde has also said that a joint task force will be formed to tackle the issue on "war footing." The minister further tweeted out that she will personally ensure that the benefits of schemes reaches those who need it the most. Met sr. govt officials of all 7 dists affected by malnutrition along with ministers. Forming a joint task force to tackle it on war footing PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) September 20, 2016 Visited bereaved fmly in Palghar dist n counseled them Working in co-orditn with other depts to put in place permanent soln for malnutrition pic.twitter.com/pC7om0PcJG PankajaGopinathMunde (@Pankajamunde) September 21, 2016 However, Opposition has been crying foul over the steep number of malnutrition deaths in the region even though the minister tried to do a course correction by visiting the tribal village. District collector Abhijit Bangar had said on Tuesday that as many as 212 children have died in the district since April this year due to malnutrition. Vivek Pandit also points out in DNA report that according to the government report released in August 2016, there are 7240 malnourished children in the region. According to another report in IBN 7, 13 children have died in Palghar in the past two months while 15 other kids are hospitalised in the local government hospital. The report claims that according to the state government estimate, there are 563 cases of malnutrition in Palghar district alone. Earlier, as Munde was due to visit the region, the imposition of Section 144 by the local administration drew considerable flak from the government. A few days ago, Tribal Development minister and district Guardian minister Vishnu Sawra had faced people's wrath when he visited the area, and had to leave after which the decision to impose Section 144 was taken by the administration. No untoward incident happened during Munde's visit, but the administration's evocation of section 144 of CrPC (restricting movement of people) at Koch and Kalambawadi fearing trouble drew criticism from local organisations and opposition parties. Former chief minister Ashok Chavan had condemned the move, saying if Munde was scared of visiting the tribal villages, she should not only abandon her tour but quit the cabinet. Munde's brother and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde also criticised the move. "If Pankaja is so afraid of the common man, she should rather stay at home," Dainik Bhaskar quoted Dhananjay as saying. Following the criticism, the preventive order was lifted but heavy police presence was seen at all the places where Munde visited. Munde was accompanied by BJP MP Chintaman Wanga, MLAs Pascal Dhanare and Manisha Chowdhari and others. With inputs from PTI Kozhikode: The Uri terror attack, which left 18 Army men dead and triggered an outcry for punitive action against Pakistan, will be deliberated upon in the three-day BJP National Council meeting over the weekend in which top party brass is also expected to articulate its 'garib kalyan' agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like Dalits and OBCs. A report in The Economic Times detailed that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bringing up the Kashmir issue in the United Nations has put considerable pressure on the ruling BJP government to address the growing sentiments against Pakistan. Although the BJP's original plan was to use the National Council meet at Kozhikode to focus on the commemoration of Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay's birth centenary, the focus will now shift to Pakistan's presence in the Kashmir Valley, according to a delegate quoted by The Economic Times report. According to a report in NDTV, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Kozhikode on Saturday and address a public meet, reportedly his first after the Uri attack. The Indian Express, meanwhile, said that Modi will be attending the council meetings on 24 and 25 September, and is expected to inaugurate the birth centenary celebrations of Deen Dayal Upadhyay. BJP President Amit Shah arrived on Thursday for the meet, which starts on Friday and coincides with the birth centenary of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Party leaders and cadres expect him to speak on Uri attack as the saffron outfit has been under fire over repeated incidents of Pakistani terrorists targeting defence facilities, more so as Modi had often flayed the UPA government over its alleged soft attitude to Pakistan in the face of terror incidents. BJP National Secretary and Kerala in-charge H Raja told reporters that the party leaders will deliberate the Uri incident. The Uri attack has forced the party to recalibrate its agenda for the Council, likely to be attended by over 1,700 delegates, including all its chief ministers, all its union ministers and top brass from all states. The party is likely to use the occasion to reprise the poor-centric ideology of Upadhyay, who was elected its president in 1967 at the same venue and whose 100th birth anniversary falls on 25 September. The party had earlier formed a committee under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to prepare a garib kalyan (welfare of poor) agenda under which its state governments will be asked to achieve certain key objectives in various welfare schemes. BJP believes that effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out more to the marginalised sections, especially Dalits and OBCs, as it has been facing flak over Dalit issues from Opposition parties and some Dalit groups. Raja also cited Upadhyay's thrust on 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) and the Centre's "pro-poor" schemes as he spoke about the Council's planned emphasis on welfare of poor. Modi on 25 September will inaugurate Upadhyay's birth centenary celebrations which will go on for over a year. The party leadership is also expected to deliberate over assembly polls in several states scheduled for early next year, including in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. BJP has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over 14 years and Shah has claimed that it will make a come back with two-third majority by trouncing formidable regional rivals like Samajwadi Party and BSP. Cases of violence against BJP and RSS functionaries in the Left-ruled Kerala are also expected to be referred to by the leadership which has blamed CPI(M) for these incidents. With inputs from PTI The decision of the government to announce the Union Budget early (probably the first day of February every year) and merge the Railway Budget with the general budget has been welcomed by most economists. Its big break from the past. It was in 1924, during British raj, that the Railways began to have a separate budget. The British attached tremendous importance to the Railways as it was crucial to move their goods and forces. The practice continued for long also because of the substantial size of the Railways budget in relation to the total budget expenditure. But that scenario has changed. The political and economic rationale that warranted a separate Railway budget during the British raj has lost its relevance long back and it was only a matter of time before we revisited this practice and brought in reforms in the way budget is presented. Secondly, the day for the general budget presentation has been the last day in February every year since 1948-49, after Independence. Advancing it will help to take decisions early and follow the process faster to get on to the implementation stage. The government also wants to do away with the distinction of plan and non-plan expenditure, which too is a logical move given that Planning Commission itself is non-existent now and Five Year Plans are being replaced. Thus, prima facie, all the three changes ---merging the railway and general budget, plan/non-plan expenditures and advancing the general budget presentation date--are small but significant reforms steps which may not have major tangible impacts on any stakeholder, but will give more clarity on tax proposals and expenditure. This is because the Finance Bill will be approved in the first half of the budget session itself, not towards the end after the recess as is the case now. This will mean the government and the private sector can plan the new fiscal year a bit early and not in the middle of the fiscal year. Presently, the Finance Bill is approved towards the end of the budget session. The proposed changes in presentation will ease the time lag in the budget process and subsequent decision-making by government departments and the private sector. It is wrong, however, to term these as reforms that can do wonders in the economy. Beyond the fact that general budget is going to be bigger (post Railway budget merger) and the entire process is going to start early with the budget advancing, there arent much changes expected due to the budget overhaul in the economy, said Devendra Pant, chief economist at India Ratings and Research. As Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the presser post the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the government will seek GDP data for budget preparation from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in January itself, instead of 7 February, for Budget preparation. Early presentation of Budget would mean that the entire exercise is over by March 31, and expenditure as well as tax proposals come into effect right from the beginning of the new fiscal, thereby ensuring better implementation. Railways autonomy under threat? Lets look at the Railways budget merger specifically. The brighter side of the change is that there will now be presentation of a single Appropriation Bill, including the estimates of Ministry of Railways, thereby saving precious time of Parliament by not having to hold a separate consideration and passing of two Appropriation Bills, Jaitley said. But it also raises obvious questions. The first is: Will the Railways, which enjoyed a special autonomy and financial independence compared with other ministries for nearly a century, continue to have functional autonomy? Or will it end up just as another department of the government? Former railway minister Nitish Kumar (read here ) and former finance minister, Yashwant Sinha (read here ) have flagged this issue. Look at the numbers. In terms of size, the Railways is the third biggest budget (Rs 1.71 lakh crore in 2016-17) after defence (Rs 2.49 lakh crore) and infrastructure (Rs 2.21 lakh crore). The carrier, which runs around 11,000 trains everyday, of which 7,000 are passenger trains, has pegged a capital expenditure of Rs 1.21 lakh crore in 2016-17, most of which is planned through joint ventures with states and PPP model. For years, Railways has its own independent planning and strategy. The public carriers operations are too critical and sensitive (both passenger and freight movements) for the government to mess with. So far, the Railways had financial autonomy on account of its separate budget. Can the government afford to kill its operational autonomy in the first place? It will be too risky for the Modi-government to do and it wouldnt want to interfere, too. The signal from Jaitleys presser too was that the government wouldn't want to meddle with the Railway's functions. Consider these comments from Jaitley: One, the government doesnt intend to supersede the functional autonomy of the Railways but will only present its accounts in the budget, the FM said. Two, even on the issue of fare and freight rates too, Jaitley said, the decisions will continue to be taken by the Railways. Three, the government has also promised to hold a separate discussion on Railways expenditure every year. Four, Railways fund its expenses (employee salaries, pensions) from its revenues and also draws government subsidies. All these will continue to be the same except that accounting will be different. If one takes these comments at face value, the Railways will not end up as just another department of the government at the mercy of the Finance Ministry. The bottomline is this: The fear that the countrys largest public carrier will lose its autonomy post the budget merger is unlikely to come true. The government cannot afford to experiment with the Railways' functions. (Data support from Kishor Kadam) New Delhi: Amid raging row over sharing of Cauvery water, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday met Union minister Uma Bharti and explained to her his state's "difficulty" in releasing the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu as per Supreme Court order, which he termed as "unfair". The apex court had on 20 September directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of the river water per day to lower riparian Tamil Nadu from 21 to 27 September. The order led to widespread protests in both the states. In his meeting with the Union Water Resources Minister, Siddaramaiah apprised her of the "grim" situation in the state due to lower water levels in its four reservoirs and its struggle to meet drinking demands in the backdrop of two consecutive drought years. "He also informed Bharti that the Supreme Court order was unfair to the state and how the Centre should make future policies taking into account such grave situation," an official source said. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, "We have explained to her about situation in the state. We told her that it is difficult for us to release the quantum of water as per the Supreme Court order. We have already given 12,000 cusecs of water per day in 14 days as directed. We don't have adequate water in reservoirs." He told Bharti that Karnataka is left with only 24 TMC water in four reservoirs, while its drinking water requirement is of 27 TMC in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya districts. "As we struggle in meeting drinking water demand, they (Tamil Nadu) are asking water for irrigation purpose," the chief minister asserted. He said the Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu has water to the tune of 57 TMC. "We have only 24 TMC water in four dams. We have problem in supplying water for drinking not only for human beings but also for livestock and other animals. We require 27 TMC of water, while the total storage is 26 TMC in dams," he explained. To a question, Siddaramaiah also said he wrote several letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter, but is yet to receive any response. Meanwhile, according to sources, Bharti gave a patient hearing to the delegation and said she was aware of the problem of Karnataka and agreed to the assertion made by the chief minister. Minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting of top ministers to discuss the government's strategy following the Uri attack, news broke that the name of the road, which houses the official residence of the PM, had been changed to Lok Kalyan Marg. Nothing could be more ironic than the timing of the move. It came at a time when the nation was eagerly awaiting to know how India would respond to the attack. How it would show its shakti (force) if you will, flowing from the might and decisiveness of its shaktiman (powerful) prime minister to a perennially errant neighbour in Pakistan. The government of India, by announcing the decision, officially told the world that on that day, the concerns of the political brass were different. In doing so, the government showed that it was more concerned about an image makeover by stating that the reigning prime minister lives on Lok Kalyan Marg, and hence lives for lok kalyan (public welfare). True, that the prime minister's basic mandate is to work for public welfare, but does that mean that he has to necessarily live on a road that bears lok kalyan (public welfare) as its name? Prime Minister Modi, the first in the last 30 years to have a clear majority on his own, represents lok shakti, and hence becomes sarv shaktiman thus, he is required to assert power when the situation demands. Given the national mood in the aftermath of the Uri attack and the hype generated by the series of meetings on Wednesday, it would have been more appropriate if the government had renamed Race Course Road as Lok Shakti Marg. Though a race course might be considered as elitist, but it's a fact that only the mightiest of political horses have lived on Race Course Road, either driven by circumstances or by being clear winners in the race. What's in a name, they say. It seems that the pratham sewak and his government clearly believe in it, quite a lot. The issue that is agitating the minds of more than 120 crore Indians is much bigger than the name of the road where the prime minister resides. The nation is concerned with its honour, the lives of its people and teaching a lesson to a rouge neighbour in a manner that ensures that it does not dare repeat any such ghastly terror act. As this author had written earlier, the real test of Modi's supposed 56-inch chest lies in how he rises to the occasion and in the kind of response he gives to Pakistan following the Uri attack. Former Finance and External Affairs Minister in the Vajpayee Government, Yashwant Sinha, in an article in the Indian Express wrote: "India should, however, not be deterred in the pursuit of its goal. I have repeatedly said that the fight against Pakistan sponsored terrorism is Indias fight alone. Others will sympathise with us, commiserate with us, condemn the terror strike and forget about it. We should not. We must remember every wound Pakistan has inflicted on us, every hurt, every humiliation it has caused us and every martyr who has made the supreme sacrifice for the nation," "Indira Gandhi showed this courage in 1971, we should show it now...We, in the BJP, must remember that the people of India will judge us by our standards and our utterances on the strength of which we came to power, not by the standards of other political parties...We all want peace with Pakistan but we must remember that sometimes the road to peace passes through war," Sinha wrote. PM Modi has not spoken on the subject since Sunday and the only indication of what he thinks of the issue and how he wants to deal with the situation is evident from his first response, made public through a tweet: https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/777417302912430080 Incidentally, the CCS did meet on Wednesday morning ahead of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and the Cabinet meeting, though only for a few minutes. Apparently, the meeting was held to clear the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in order to augment the fighter power of the Indian Air Force. Sources said that the Uri attack was not discussed in that CCS meet and that only the ministers met with the concerned officials, in the absence of the three armed forces chiefs. The government and the BJP, it seems, are reading too much into the prime minister's words, "those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished". Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, at a function on Wednesday, reiterated Modi's words to give a sense of confidence and assurance to people. "I don't think the PM's initial words that "those responsible will be punished" will go as a mere statement. How to punish, that is for us to work out," Parrikar said. He talked about a fast and furious reaction, which made the headlines, but then himself ruled that out saying that as a responsible nation India had to make a considered move. "Sometimes I can have a knee jerk reaction too. But we are a responsible nation," he said. The nation would be keenly awaiting Modi's address at a public rally in Kozhikode on Saturday, to get a sense what kind of retribution people can expect for the Uri and Pathankot attacks on army bases. Modi and the entire BJP leadership top to some tiers below would be in Kozhikode for three days beginning from 23 September for the party's national executive and council meeting. Though the meet is officially dedicated to the party's foremost ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya's birth centenary, all the party leaders and workers would be curious to understand how Modi plans to walk the talk vis-a-vis Pakistan, for much of BJP's future prospects would depend on the way Modi chooses to shape the party's and his own image. The Indian mind, living in its opulence of spirituality and self-belief in all things good, refuses to see the harshness of the truth inherent in the order of the nation states. Every Indian is a yoga guru. Every yoga guru, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, believes that he can engineer the rise of India as a great power without suffering a wound. But the international society of nation-states is a hostile place. This hostility was on display again on 18 September, when eighteen Indian soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on the Indian Army camp at Uri, planned, sponsored and executed by Pakistan. This is a known enemy. Every Indian is an anti-Chanakya. The known enemy attacks us in known ways and in known places. We are taught that Mahmud Ghazni launched 17 attacks on Indian cities during 10001027 CE, through known means, through known routes, seizing the Somnath temple in Gujarat in the final invasion. But we are not taught that each time we waited for him to do so, we did not go beyond our borders to prevent him, to tame him, to fight him, to eliminate him. In history, you wouldn't find instances when a known enemy torments an entire people so many times and they don't respond. Much like Mahmud Ghazni, Pakistan, the known enemy, torments us in Jammu & Kashmir. Each time, we have prior intelligence input. Each time, we wait. Each time, we do not engineer a response. The 18 September attack at Uri is perhaps the worst Pakistani attack since the Kaluchak attack of 14 May, 2002 when three soldiers, 18 relatives of Indian soldiers and ten civilians were killed. On 2 January this year, the enemy stormed the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot, killing seven soldiers. It succeeded because Indian policemen in Punjab were hand-in-glove with the enemies to earn money via illicit drugs routes. Similar attacks have taken place in Jammu & Kashmir regularly. Even after the enemy invaded Kargil in 1999, the largest jihadist war in modern times executed by Pakistan, we chose to serve biryani to General Pervez Musharraf, our tormentor in chief. Both India and Pakistan have nuclear bombs. It is only the Indian mind that feels threatened. Pakistan the enemy camouflages successfully for modern times. It calls its state-backed terrorists "non-state actors", the world believes in this phrase. It calls its terrorists "good Taliban", it takes years to explain it to Europeans and Americans that "good" in this context means evil. It sends a writer to visit Sufi shrines of Delhi and write a book. Indians develop trust in the author of the book, Delhi by Heart, a title given by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the creator of Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Taliban. The book's purpose is to insert the author in Track II diplomacy. The enemy sends a saree to the mother of its enemy leader. The cost of the saree is: seven soldiers killed in Pathankot and the bruised confidence of 1.25 billion Indians. In warfare, camouflaging your way into the enemy's defences is a successful strategy. Pakistan does it well. Lieutenant-General A A K Niazi, the commander of Pakistani troops who surrendered at the fall of Dhaka in 1971, had served during the World War II on the Burma front. In 1964, Niazi, then a brigadier, argued that a weak state like Pakistan must rely on a strategy of infiltration which "implies bypassing of enemy posts by relatively small parties which penetrate deep and unseen into the defences and converge at a pre-designated objective" or "lie down in the enemy area and remain there for extended periods if needed." "The adoption of these [infiltration] tactics by the lesser developed nations like ours is a compelling necessity," he added. Niazi's strategy and the jihadist mindset of the Pakistani army is detailed by C Christine Fair in her book, Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War. Pakistan has always used this strategy of infiltration and guerrilla warfare either during the Operation Gibraltar that led to the 1965 war, in Kargil in 1999, on 26/11 in Mumbai and later through the attacks by the Indian Mujahideen in parts of India, and consistently, persistently and aggressively through past nearly three decades in Jammu & Kashmir. The behaviour of the enemy is familiar; its strategy is known to us. Even if India were to hand over Kashmir to Pakistan, the nature of the enemy is such that it will begin targeting other regions of India. Despite knowing this enemy, India's strategy to counter it is not ready, not known, not effective, not consequential. But the enemy, like Mahmud Ghazni, will strike again and again. This tactic has Islamic lineage. In his book, Pakistan Mein Tehzeeb Ka Irtiqa, Sibte Hassan (1912-1986), an Indian-Pakistani Marxist who graduated from the Aligarh Muslim University, narrates how Muhammad bin Qasim was not the first Islamic invader of India. The Islamic attacks against Sindh and Balochistan had begun as early as during the era of Umar ibn Khattab, the second caliph of Islam who ruled from 634 to 644 CE. The first attack, which Sibte Hassan says was without consent from Umar but authorised by a local governor in Bahrain, was led by Mugheera ibn Abi Al-Aas and targeted against a port at Debal, near Karachi. Usman ibn Affan, the third Islamic caliph who ruled from 644 to 656 CE, considered an attack on Sindh by land. At that time Makran, a part of Balochistan, was already ruled by a Muslim governor. When Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (reigned 661680 CE) the first ruler of the Umayyad dynasty became the caliph, he sent several military expeditions: led by Abdullah bin Sawwar Abdi, by Rashid bin Umru, by Sanan bin Salmah (all names as per phonetics). All of these military raids ended in defeat. Sibte Hassan writes that when Hajjaj bin Yousef became the Governor of Iraq in 694 CE, he finally made up his mind to conquer Sindh and selected his son-in-law Muhammad bin Qasim to lead the invasion. Qasim registered many victories during 712-715 CE. The Muslim conquerors before Muhammad bin Qasim and after him have not stopped in their glories because Islam requires Muslims to conquer all the lands. The Quranic verse 8:39 commands: "And fight them until there is no fitnah and (until) the religion, all of it, is for Allah" The word fitnah is translated as mischief but in Islamic literature, it means everything that is not Islamic. Similarly, the word "fight" in this verse is actually: Qatelu-hum, whose accurate meaning is "kill them." The Kashmir conflict today is rooted in Pakistan's religious identity. The Kalima, or the words proclaiming one's faith in Islam, reads: La Ilaha Illalah Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah. Its actual translation is: there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger. But in Pakistan, Islamic clerics have translated it differently as reflected in the wildly popular slogan among Pakistani people: "Pakistan ka Matlab kya (What is the meaning of Pakistan), the chorus: La Ilaha Illalah Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah."Nowhere in the Islamic world, Kalima is translated this way. Unless Pakistan's identity undergoes some radical transformation, it is unlikely that it will not view itself as the vanguard state of the Muslim Ummah. In Pakistan, the common understanding is that Pakistan has two types of borders: geographical and ideological. The ISI, which creates, nurtures and shields terrorist groups, considers itself as the ideological guardian of Pakistan, the second state to be established in the name of Islam, the first being Medina. People of India must reconcile to the idea that the jihadist attacks in Kashmir will continue as long as Pakistan retains its identity in its current form. However, the Indian state needs to evolve a 100-year strategy against this known enemy. The strategy must be for India to behave like neighbours behave in our villages. When your neighbour hurts you, you shun eye contact and refuse to attend their wedding. When a neighbour encroaches onto your land, you push back. When your neighbour occupies your land, you break their nose. There is a slight distinction in the case of Pakistan. This enemy is not trained to sit idle, not even in its glories, not even in Ramzan. While India's strategy must be to empower Balochs, Sindhis, Kashmiris and Pashtuns, a successful strategy must be to break up Pakistan by striking at the heart of the enemy: the Punjabi elite, right in Punjab, across the shared international border. Former BBC journalist Tufail Ahmad is a contributing editor at Firstpost, and executive director of the Open Source Institute, New Delhi. He tweets @tufailelif New Delhi: As part of the government's Africa outreach, Vice President Hamid Ansari on Monday will embark on a five-day tour of Nigeria and Mali to further strengthen India's bilateral engagements with the two nations. He will go to Nigeria first at the invitation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters in New Delhi . On the second leg of his trip, Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, four MPs and senior officials. In Abuja, Ansari will hold talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives and deliver an address at the National Defence College of Nigeria. He will also meet the governor of Lagos and deliver an address at the joint business forum at the University of Lagos. The vice president will inaugurate the High Commission of India Chancery complex at Abuja and interact with members of the Indian community both in Abuja and Lagos. "The vice president's visit (to Nigeria) intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic engagement and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of shared common interest," Swarup said. In Mali, Ansari will meet the president, the prime minister and also address the National Assembly. The visit to Mali is aimed at boosting the relationship between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation to expand and diversify bilateral relationship, the spokesperson said. In its sharpest attack on Pakistan, India on Thursday called it a "terrorist state" which carries out "war crimes" by using terrorism as an "instrument of state policy", after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations. India also strongly rejected Sharif's call for "a serious and sustained" bilateral dialogue "without any conditions", saying that Pakistan, which "seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government", wants talks with a "gun in its hand". Meanwhile, India, along with the United States and Afghanistan reaffirmed their shared interests in combating terrorism and advancing peace and security in the region as they explored ways to "coordinate and align" assistance in the war-torn country with priorities of the Afghan government. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson met in New York on Wednesday on the margins of the 71st UN General Assembly for a round of trilateral consultations. They exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and on "regional issues of mutual interest". Curiously, across the border, Pakistan media on Thursday "reaffirmed commitment" between the country and the US "to continue cooperation for promoting peace, security and stability in the region". According to Pakistan's Express Tribune, the US recognised its "progress" in disrupting militant networks in its tribal areas even as two pro-India US lawmakers moved a resolution in Congress to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. The said acknowledgement came during the meeting of US-Pakistan Defense Consultative Group (DCG) held at the defence ministry in Rawalpindi. After the meeting, a joint statement said that the delegates recognised the centrality of the US-Pakistan bilateral security partnership to their overall bilateral relationship and acknowledged that continued cooperation remains vital, reports Daily Times. According to the report, the US reiterated its support for the Armed Forces of Pakistan in their ongoing operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and recognised the progress made in disrupting militant networks that have helped enhance security on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The Pakistani side was led by Defence Secretary Lieutenant general (retired) Zameerul Hassan, while the American delegation was headed by US Deputy Defense Secretary David Shear, reports Radio Pakistan. With inputs from agencies New York: Several Baloch and Indian activists held large-scale demonstrations outside the UN headquarters in New York while Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly as they were joined by other groups demanding that it stop "exporting" terror into India. The protestors converged across the street from the world body's headquarters to condemn atrocities and human rights violations by Pakistan just as Sharif was addressing the General Debate of the General Assembly. The crowd shouted slogans of 'Free Balochistan', 'Down Down Pakistan', 'Save World from Pakistan Terror' as they waved banners and placards that read 'US Government stop giving funds to Pakistan', 'Kashmiri Hindus are Humans, Wake up to their sufferings', 'Remove Pakistan from the UN', 'Stop Atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir' and 'Killing Fields of Pakistan - Sindh and Balochistan'. "Pakistan is a terror state and does not want the people of Balochistan to live in peace," Ahmar Musti Khan, founder of the American Friends of Balochistan told PTI. He said Pakistan and its leaders are committing crimes against the residents of Kashmir, demanding that the country to stop "exporting terror and let its neighbours live in peace". He added the Pakistani leadership should respect the right to self-determination of the Baloch people. Khan said the Baloch people are "indebted" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi "for speaking out for Balochistan's right and the right of the Baloch people to be the masters of our own destiny". He slammed the Pakistani army for its brutalities against "innocent Balochis", saying "the Pakistan Army is IS in uniform". The Baloch National Movement (BNM) condemned the Pakistani atrocities and the 'ongoing military operations' in Sindh and Balochistan. "Baloch and Sindhi people appeal to the freedom loving citizens of America and the world to support our demands for freedom, peace, and justice. We, the victims of Pakistani state aggression and crimes against humanity, want to tell the world that 'Pakistan is a nuclear-armed terrorist state' and must be stopped," the group said. Condemning the "barbaric" terror attack on the Uri camp in Kashmir and Pathankot air base, BNM said such attacks are part of Pakistan's policy of "aggression, employing terrorist methods and outfits to escalate war in the region". It said the Baloch people are grateful for the support extended by the Indian Prime Minister at "such a critical juncture when our nation is struggling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948". Jayesh Patel, the former President of the Overseas Friends of BJP, said Pakistan should stop terrorism against India, saying countless innocent lives have been lost due to attacks in Kashmir, mostly recently on the army base in Uri that killed 18 jawans. "The families of our soldiers are the worst sufferers," he said. The BNP yesterday said since 2003, more than 20,000 Baloch political activists have gone missing, illegally abducted by the Pakistani state security forces. "The victims of enforced disappearances are being tortured and executed in custody in thousands," it alleged. Charlotte: Authorities in Charlotte tried to quell public anger after a police officer shot a black man, but a dusk prayer vigil turned into a march that ended with a protester critically wounded by gunfire and the governor declared a state of emergency in the city. The man was not shot by police, who had massed in riot gear to keep the marchers outside an upscale downtown hotel, Charlotte officials announced on Twitter. City officials originally announced the man was dead but later reversed that statement and said he was on life support. The second night of violent protests added Charlotte to the list of US cities that have erupted in violence over the death of a black man at the hands of police. With officials refusing to release any video of the Tuesday shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, anger built as two starkly different versions emerged: Police say Scott disregarded repeated demands to drop his gun, while neighborhood residents say he was holding a book, not a weapon, as he waited for his son to get off the school bus. The killing inflamed racial tensions in a city that seemed to have steered clear of the troubles that engulfed other places. Gov. Pat McCrory announced late on Wednesday he was accepting a request from Charlotte's police chief, declaring a state of emergency and calling in the National Guard and state troopers to help restore order and protect downtown. Destructive protests on Tuesday that included shutting down eight-lane Interstate 85 and burning the contents of a tractor-trailer turned violent on Wednesday. Along with the man critically injured, paramedics said two other people and six police officers suffered minor injuries. Wednesday's protest started as a downtown prayer vigil, but an angry group left the peaceful event and marched through downtown Charlotte. They shouted "Black lives matter" and "hands up; don't shoot" while cursing at officers with bicycles blocking intersections in Charlotte's flashy and vibrant downtown. As the protesters approached the Omni hotel, officers in riot gear lined up outside arm in arm and a few marchers threw bottles and clods of dirt. Immediately after the shooting, police began firing flash grenades and protesters threw fireworks. Police then fired tear gas, and the crowd of hundreds dispersed. But not all the marchers left. Police in riot gear then began marching arm in arm through downtown Charlotte intersections, shooting tear gas at people who charged them. At least one protester knocked down a television reporter during a live shot and several other media outlets said on Twitter they had employees taken to hospitals. New Delhi: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India was on Thursday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it. "We have received Bugti's application for political asylum and it is under examination," a Home Ministry official said. Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva three days ago and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry. India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy. As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them. The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process. In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government. "Ultimately, it is a political decision at the highest level but we need to follow the process for the requisite paperwork," the official said. Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law. India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services host states must provide refugees. Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year. Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year. The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, the official said. On Thursday, Bugti said that he was hoping for a positive response from India, ANI reported. He further referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nations General Assembly and said that raising only the issue of Kashmir shows their hypocricy. Taking up only J&K issue at #UNGA shows their hypocrisy: Brahamdagh Bugti on Pak PM Nawaz Sharif's speech. pic.twitter.com/R2XsA0EhoG ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 He also said that Pakistan should be declared a terrorist state. In the wake of the Uri attack, India has vowed to isolate Pakistan internationally in forums such as UN as a strategic response. Whereas, Pakistan's efforts of internationalising the Kashmir dispute seems to have has gained no support, amid fears of isolation. Pakistani Prime minister Nawaz Sharif met with the leaders of the US, the UK, Japan and Turkey and sought their intervention. At the UN General Assembly 71st session, rejecting Pakistan's repeated pleas to the UN to resolve the Kashmir dispute, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Pakistan and India should address their outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through "dialogue". PM Nawaz Sharif expressed a readiness for serious and sustained dialogue with India over Kashmir, emphasising that without the resolution of Kashmir dispute, peace cannot be achieved. He said in his speech to the UNGA on Wednesday, "talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries", reports Indian Express. He said that Pakistan too has been a victim of terrorism and made a plea for encouraging tolerance. He listed action taken by the Pakistani government to combat terrorism such as the National Action Plan and the Zarb-e-Azb anti-terrorism campaign. To combat terrorism, Sharif said that the international community has to work together and look at the root cause: human rights violation, something that has been rampant in Kashmir. Touting that there has been a growing peaceful protest in Kashmir which has been suppressed brutally by India and that the right to self-determination is largely denied to the people of Kashmir, he urged a UN fact-finding mission to Kashmir to take stock of extrajudicial killings and demilitarization of Kashmir. He handed over a dossier to the Secretary General containing evidence of alleged human rights violations by Indian forces in Kashmir and stated that the shooting of Burhan Wani, a Kashmiri protest leader is one such human rights violation. Strongly reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister's remarks at the UN, India described them as non-factual and full of "threat bluster" and said glorification of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani by him at the world forum is an act of "self-incrimination" by Pakistan. Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar rejected Sharif's offer to enter into talks for a peaceful resolution, saying, "talks and guns don't go together". Further, on Sharif's terming of India's claim over Kashmir as 'occupation by India', Akbar said that "the only occupation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a part of India, is the occupation of a part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan occupation army". India exercised her Right to Reply with the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, with Eenam Gambhir saying that the worst violation of human rights is terrorism, practiced as an instrument of state policy in Pakistan, stating this to be a war crime. Pakistan was described as hypocritical. Gambhir quoted examples of recent terrorism in the US tracing back to Pakistan and said, "(Pakistan's) nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit". She said that instead of vacillating between threats and lies, Pakistan should take corrective steps before sermonising upon human rights violations, "talking about restraint, renunciation and peace". According to Anirudh Bhattacharyya of Firstpost, the main theme of India's response is encapsulated in Gambhir's pronouncement, What we see in Pakistan, Mr President, is a terrorist state, which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbours. Afghanistan backed India, according to India Today, second vice president Sarwar Danish said "world knows where Taliban leaders live", adding, "Pakistan doesn't act against terrorists." And China has called upon India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and re-engage in dialogue according to the Hindu. Secretary General Ban's office has repeatedly said that the UN Chief's good offices are available on helping resolve the Kashmir dispute only if both India and Pakistan request for it, a clear message that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral one between the two nations and should be solved by them only. Baloch activist advocate Mohammad Anwar said that Sharif should have talked about Balochistan instead of Kashmir, "where houses are being looted and razed, the people are being kidnapped and murdered", reports ANI. Following Sharif's speech, Balochis and Indians held protests against Pakistan on Wednesday across the street from the UN office in New York city. Anti-Pakistan NGO, American Friends of Balochistan protested over the repression in the Pakistani province and pleaded for UN intervention to protect the Balochis. About 40 people participated in the demonstration held behind steel barricades in the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Later some of them joined a protest by the Indian American Community, where slogans were shouted and placards raised in support of the Balochistan people. With inputs from agencies New York: India, the US and Afghanistan have reaffirmed their shared interests in combating terrorism and advancing peace and security in the region as they explored ways to "coordinate and align" assistance in the war-torn country with priorities of the Afghan government. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson met in New York Wednesday on the margins of the 71st UN General Assembly for a round of trilateral consultations. They exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and on "regional issues of mutual interest". "Reaffirming their shared interests in advancing peace and security in the region, as well as countering terrorism, all sides welcomed the discussions focused on political, economic, and development goals in Afghanistan, including the regional dimension," a trilateral statement issued after the meeting said. It added that the meeting provided a forum for the governments of India and the US to explore ways to coordinate and align their assistance with the priorities of the Afghan government. "They agreed that the dialogue helps advance shared values and goals, and decided to continue these consultations on a regular basis," it said. US Secretary of State John Kerry had said late last month during his visit to New Delhi that Washington would launch trilateral talks, which had stopped in 2013, with New Delhi and Kabul at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. During the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) in the national capital earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said, "In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation, India looks forward to resuming the meeting of the trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year". New York: Iran expressed its desire to become a part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), that links western China with Gwadar deep-sea port in Balochistan and runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Thursday. This was conveyed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in their meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session. "President Rouhani lauded the vision of the Prime Minister for translating CPEC into reality and expressed his desire to be part of the CPEC," a statement by Sharif's office said. It said that connectivity projects were recognised by both Pakistan and Iran as vital to the progress of the region. "In particular, the two leaders reiterated the complementarity between Gwadar and Chabahar sea ports that could boost regional trade exponentially in the decades ahead," it said. India has concerns over the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being laid through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). He apprised President Rouhani of alleged Indian brutalities in Kashmir, particularly in the past two months. Sharif shared the latest situation in Kashmir, which continues to remain tense in the wake of the uprising that has surfaced in response to Indian barbaric acts in the Valley. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been victims of heinous acts of state-sponsored terrorism at the hands of Indian occupation forces," the statement said. The lifting of international sanctions against Iran has paved the way for resumption of economic relations between the two countries. Current trade volume remains low at $268 million per annum. Border management and security were also discussed, according to the statement. Opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, especially oil, gas and electricity were also discussed. The two sides noted that progress on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity import from Iran would help overcome Pakistan's energy shortages in the coming years, it said. Rouhani said Iran can install a power plant on border with Pakistan to supply electricity. "We consider Pakistan's economic development as our development," the President was quoted as saying. According to the statement, Rouhani said Pakistan's security is security of Iran and that there is a need for defence cooperation between Iran and Pakistan as there is a history of defence cooperation between the two countries. "Iran is a brotherly country. Our interests are same; we need to further consolidate our economic cooperation," he was quoted as saying. New York: References to Kashmir and tensions arising out of Uri terror attack were conspicuously absent in Chinese official media coverage of the meeting between China Premier Li Keqiang and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif here. As all-weather strategic partners of cooperation, China and Pakistan have always firmly supported each other and their friendship is unbreakable, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Li as saying while meeting Sharif on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session. China stands ready to deepen all-round practical cooperation with Pakistan and is willing to make joint efforts with Islamabad in injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, Li said. While noting that practical cooperation focussing on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has made positive progress, Li urged the two sides to carry out the planned construction of the corridor, accelerate the building of the Gwadar Port as well as its supporting facility, and bring more companies into industrial parks, the report said. China is willing to maintain close high-level contacts and continue to strengthen coordination with Pakistan on global and regional affairs, Li said. However, contrary to reports in Pakistan media, there were no references to Kashmir situation or Uri attack in Xinhua's story on Li-Sharif meeting. A report in Pakistani daily Dawn had said "Li had assured that China would continue to support Pakistan's stance on Kashmir". The Dawn report quoted Li as telling Sharif that: "We support Pakistan and we will speak for Pakistan at every forum." China attached great importance to Pakistan's position on Kashmir and said "Pakistan itself was a victim of terrorism", it said. The Chinese premier hoped that there would be better understanding of Pakistani position on Kashmir by the international community, the report had quoted Li as saying. Sharif showed his satisfaction on the state of Pak-China relations and welcomed the statement of China on the 'atrocities' being committed in Kashmir, the report had said. Li expressed the hope that situation between India and Pakistan would not escalate. He said China was ready to play constructive role in improvement of relations between Pakistan and India. Xinhua quoted Sharif as telling Li that Pakistan and China are time-tested friends and partners who have firmly supported each other. As their relations develop very smoothly, bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields has also entered a new phase. The Pakistani side cherishes friendship with China, and is committed to promoting bilateral cooperation, Sharif was quoted as saying. Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday glorified slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a "young leader" even as he expressed readiness for a "serious and sustained dialogue" with India for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Here is the full text of the speech: Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. We congratulate Mr Peter Thomson on his election as President of the 7lst Session of the General Assembly. We agree that implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda should be the focus of this Session. We also pay tribute to Mr Mogens Lykketoft for his capable stewardship of the 70th Session. Mr President, Today, three decades after the end of the Cold War, our multipolar world is more free and vibrant, yet still chaotic and turbulent; more interdependent, but more unequal; more prosperous, yet still afflicted with poverty. We see spectacular progress, but also unprecedented human suffering. The world is at a historic inflection point. The international order established after the Second World War is passing away, but a new order has yet to emerge. Competition between the major powers is becoming more confrontational. This can pose serious threats to peace across Asia. A new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe. The momentum there towards "greater union" has already reversed. Barricades and walls are going up, especially against the tide of misery flowing out of a turbulent Middle East. In many countries, intolerance has revived the ghosts of xenophobia and Islamophobia. Turmoil is intensifying in the Middle East. International efforts to defeat Daesh are therefore urgent. For this, it is essential to reconcile the divergent objectives and priorities of regional and external powers. Peace cannot be built when injustice prevails. The long-festering tragedy of Palestine demands determined action by the international community. Mr President, After decades of strong growth, the world economy has reached a plateau. Despite this adverse international economic environment, my government has, in three short years, moved the country towards robust growth. We have fully integrated the 2030 Development Agenda into our own economic and social strategy. This rests on our conviction that people are the true wealth of our nation and that it is human development, which will determine our future destiny. Mr President, Our priority goal of economic development requires internal peace and stability. My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad. We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilization to cause turbulence in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of our citizens and thousands of our security personnel have been killed or injured in terrorist attacks. This has only reinforced our resolve to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Our comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations has produced remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism. Pakistan's Zarb-e-Azb Operation is the largest, most robust and most successful anti-terrorism campaign anywhere in the world, deploying 200,000 of our security forces. Our comprehensive National Action Plan has the complete endorsement of our people and our Parliament as well as our security forces, all of whom have made heroic sacrifices to defeat terrorism. Mr President, Terrorism, however, is now a global phenomenon, which must be addressed comprehensively and in all its forms, including State terrorism. The international community must coordinate its efforts to accomplish this. These efforts should be taken collectively and not unilaterally by the passage of any laws with extra-territorial application targeted against certain countries. We will not win the fight against terrorism and violent extremism so long as we do not address their root causes. These lie in poverty and ignorance, political and social injustice and oppression, foreign intervention and occupation and denial of the legitimate rights of peoples and nations, especially the right to self-determination. Until these underlying causes are addressed, it will be difficult to counter the twisted narrative of violent extremists and terrorists. Mr President, After 15 years of the current war in Afghanistan, the international community agrees that the only road to a lasting peace in that country is through a dialogue between the Government in Kabul and the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has long proposed this as the most viable course to end decades of conflict and suffering in Afghanistan. Based on this belief in a negotiated peace, and in response to requests from President Ashraf Ghani, we have been facilitating the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan. There have been setbacks. That, however, is not a sufficient reason to abandon the path of peace and rely on the military option, which has failed, for the past decade and a half, to stabilise Afghanistan. Progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war, and work assiduously, through a meaningful dialogue process, for achieving reconciliation and peace at home. Mr President, Over three and a half decades of conflict and chaos in Afghanistan has had grave security and economic consequences for Pakistan. Almost three million Afghan refugees, to whom we opened our homes and hearts, remain in Pakistan. We hope to see them return to Afghanistan, voluntarily and with dignity. Until they do, the international community must shoulder its responsibilities to sustain them. Mr President, Confrontation should not be our destiny in South Asia, Pakistan wants peace with India. I have gone the extra mile to achieve this, repeatedly offering a dialogue to address all outstanding issues. But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue. Let us be clear: talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation. Mr President, Peace and normalisation between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position. Our predictions have now been confirmed by events. A new generation of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against India's illegal occupation - demanding freedom from occupation. Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris, young and old, men and women, armed only with an undying faith in the legitimacy of their cause, and a hunger for freedom in their hearts. Mr President, This indigenous uprising of the Kashmiris has been met, as usual, with brutal repression by India's occupation force of over half a million soldiers. Over a hundred Kashmiris have been killed, hundreds, including children and infants, blinded by shotgun pellets and over six thousand unarmed civilians injured over the past two months. These Indian brutalities are well documented. I would like to inform the General Assembly that Pakistan will share with the Secretary General a dossier containing detailed information and evidence of the gross and systematic violations of human rights committed by Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. These brutalities wilt not suppress the spirit of the Kashmiris; it will only intensify their anger and fortify their determination to see India end its occupation of Kashmir. From Srinagar to Sopore, the men, women, and children come out each day, defying curfew, to demand freedom. Mr President, Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions. Their struggle is a legitimate one for liberation from alien occupation. International law and the declarations of the United Nations on self-determination give the Kashmiri people the right to struggle for their freedom. Every year, the General Assembly unanimously adopts the resolution, which reaffirms "the right of all people's to self-determination" and calls on the states concerned to immediately end their occupation and "all acts of repression." Mr President, On behalf of the Kashmiri people; on behalf of the mothers, wives, sisters, and fathers of the innocent Kashmiri children, women and men who have been killed, blinded and injured; on behalf of the Pakistani nation, I demand an independent inquiry into the extra-judicial killings, and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate brutalities perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces, so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished. We demand the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners; an end to the curfew; freedom for the Kashmiris to demonstrate peacefully; urgent medical help for the injured; abrogation of India's draconian laws; and removal of the foreign travel ban on Kashmiri leaders. Mr President, The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices. The people of Kashmir have waited 70 years for implementation of this promise. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions. This General Assembly must, therefore, demand that India deliver on the commitments its leaders solemnly made on many occasions. To this end, steps should be taken by the United Nations to de-militarize Jammu and Kashmir and undertake consultations with India, Pakistan and the true representatives of the Kashmiri people to implement the resolutions of the Security Council. In this context, we welcome the offer of good offices by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. We will also open consultations with members of the Security Council to explore the modalities for implementation of the Security Council resolutions on Kashmir. Mr President, The international community ignores the danger of rising tensions in South Asia, at its own peril. For its part, Pakistan is committed to the establishment of strategic stability in the region. It neither wants nor is it engaged in an arms race with India. But we cannot ignore our neighbor's unprecedented arms buildup and will take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence. We have consistently urged the conclusion of bilateral arms control and disarmament measures between Pakistan and India to prevent conflict and avoid wasteful military expenditures. We are open to discussing all measures of restraint and responsibility with India, in any forum or format and without any conditions. We are ready for talks to agree on a bilateral nuclear test ban treaty. Today, from this rostrum, I would also like to reiterate our offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Mr President, As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan will continue to cooperate with all international efforts that seek to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and non-proliferation challenges. We have introduced 'state of the art' measures to strengthen the safety and security of our nuclear materials and facilities. We have adopted a comprehensive export control regime that is fully consistent with international standards. Judged on the basis of objective criteria, and without discrimination, Pakistan is fully eligible for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group. Mr President, In our turbulent and interdependent world, the United Nations remains an indispensable Organization to restore order and ensure global peace, stability, and prosperity. Its principles remain the crucial pillars of international legality, the guide for the conduct of the Member States and the guarantor of the legitimate rights of all nations and peoples. The UN must regain its credibility as the central instrument for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and liberty. To that end, it should become more representative, transparent and accountable. A comprehensive and democratic reform of the Security Council, which Pakistan supports, should enhance its relevance and representation. Creating new centers of privilege will do the opposite. Mr President, Pakistan's unwavering commitment to the UN is well established. We have played a pioneering and consistent role in UN Peacekeeping. Despite our own security requirements, we will remain one of the world's largest troop contributing countries and maintain our record of success in multiple UN peacekeeping operations. Mr President, Pakistan has a vital stake in ending conflicts, fostering peace, fighting terrorism, strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, generating global growth and overcoming the challenges of environmental degradation. We can achieve these goals, and create a new and peaceful world order, only through the United Nations and by strict adherence to the principles of its Charter. I thank you, Mr President New York: Strongly reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister's remarks at the UN, India on Wednesday described them as non-factual and full of "threat bluster" and said glorification of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani by him at the world forum is an act of "self-incrimination" by Pakistan. "We just heard a speech full of threat bluster and rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts," Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said at a press conference at the India's permanent mission here after Sharif's address to the UN General Assembly. He also criticised Sharif for glorifying Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on 8 July, and said India "will not succumb to blackmail tactics of the Pakistan government that seem eager to use terrorism as policy". "We heard the rglorification of a terrorist. Wani is declared commander of Hizbul, widely acknowledged as a terror group. It is shocking that a leader of a nation can glorify a self-advertised terrorist at such a forum. This is self-incrimination by Pakistan PM," Akbar said. Rejecting Sharif's offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, the minister said, "Talks and guns don't go together". "Pakistan at this moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government. Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a terrorist gun in its hand," he said. He also rejected Sharif's allegations against India with regard to the current unrest in Kashmir and said, "Kashmir occupation is by Pakistan occupation army. The world also knows that Pakistan has been indulged in an ethnic cleansing of its own people," he said. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday raised the issue of Kashmir and accused India of human rights violations in the region during his address at the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. India reacted sharply on Thursday by declaring his speech as non-factual. Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, who was at the UNGA, said at a press conference, We just heard a speech full of threat bluster and rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts. MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup too briefed the media on Thursday and denounced Sharifs speech while referring to the global support that India is receiving since the Uri terror attack on 18 September against Pakistan. Swarup said that the onus is now squarely on Pakistan to act against terrorist groups and those who find safe haven in the country. He called Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism. While responding to a question about Pakistan being designated as a terrorist state by the US, he said that the Bill was introduced by two American lawmakers Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher and India hopes that it will be treated with seriousness. Surely it will be treated with the utmost seriousness: MEA on lawmakers move bill in U.S Congress to designate Pakistan as a terrorist state ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 The Bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. Terrorism is being recognised as a larger regional concern because the international community is also suffering from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Swarup added. Terrorism is not just directed towards India now, he said. Referring to Sharifs speech, he reminded everyone that almost 50 countries have spoken at the UNGA until now, but no one referred to the issue (Kashmir) that Sharif devoted 80 percent of his speech to. On the contrary, Swarup said that everyone talked about terrorism as a growing menace. Sharif mentioned sending a dossier to the UN Secretary-General about the violence in Kashmir, but Swarup said that the handout given by Ban Ki-moon's makes no mention of any dossier and has said that the issue needs to be resolved unilaterally. India, however, does not need any dossier because the entire world is aware of Pakistans role in promoting terrorism. We don't need a dossier, whole world is aware of Pakistan's role in promoting terror: Vikas Swarup,MEA pic.twitter.com/KXqLXeE8zs ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 Swarup also refrained from answering if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Islamabad for the Saarc summit. Every question doesn't have a yes or no answer: Vikas Swarup,MEA on if PM Modi will visit Islamabad for SAARC summit ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 Indias Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had on Wednesday summoned Pakistans High Commissioner Abdul Basit for talks and according to Swarup, Basit was apprised of the Uri attack and the earlier attacks on the Indian soil as well. He said that the demarche underlined that Uri was the latest, in a series of attack, that have emanated from Pakistan. Swarup further advised Pakistan to act swiftly for their own interest. Jaishankar also shared details of the evidence found in the Uri attack with Basit. He told Basit that if they want to investigate, India will fully assist Pakistan. However, Swarup made it clear that unlike the Pathankot attack, they did not offer Pakistan to send a team to India. Instead they are willing to share the finger prints of the terrorists with them so that they can check their database to ascertain that the terrorists belonged to Pakistan. He also referred to Russia and said that there has been continuous communication between the MEA and its Russian counterparts and everyone knows Russias stand on terrorism. With inputs from agencies "Relationship with Pakistan will no longer be as it was" after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while talking to Times Now. He reiterated that through the speech, Pakistan has exposed itself to the world as a country which cannot be trusted. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reach to Pakistan and said that he went out of his way to ensure good relations. He even went to Sharif's grand-daughter's wedding defying all conventional norms. Prasad picked up two vital points from Sharif's speech. Sharif said that India has put unacceptable conditions for dialogue with the country during his speech. Prasad asked during the interview if asking for 'taking action against terrorism' is an unacceptable condition? Second, Sharif referred to the human rights violations in Kashmir by India. Prasad raised the issue of the human rights of the 18 innocent soldiers who were killed in the Uri attack on Sunday. "What about the human rights of the people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) or Balochistan or Gilgistan?" he asked. Prasad also said that the people of who wrote Sharif's speech exposed Pakistan as a patron of terrorism. He declared Burhan Wani as a freedom fighter even when the Hizbul Mujahideen is acknowledged as a terrorist group, he said. He called Pakistan a hypocrite for raising the human rights issue but not sending even a world of condolence about the Uri attack. Slamming Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for glorifying slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the UN, India on Wednesday said his remarks show Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism. Here is the full text of First Secretary, Eenam Gambhir, exercising Indias Right of Reply during the general debate of the 71st UNGA session on Wednesday. Mr President, I take the floor to exercise the right of reply in response to the long tirade of Pakistan about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region. Mr President, Only last week, the international community honored the memory of thousands of innocent victims from around the world, who lost their lives not far from here in New York fifteen years ago in a most horrifying terror attack. The world has not yet forgotten that the trail of that dastardly attack led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan. The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The effect of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe. It is ironical therefore that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism. Mr President, Shortly before Pakistan gave its hypocritical sermons in this august house today, its envoy in New Delhi was summoned in the context of the most recent of the terror attacks in Uri that claimed 18 Indian lives. That terrorist attack is part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbour and tasked to carry out terrorist attacks in my country. What we see in Pakistan, Mr President, is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. Terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam its streets freely and operate with State support. With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organizations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistans international obligations. Mr President, Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistan is a country with a democracy deficit. In fact it practices terrorism on its own people. It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws. As a democracy India is firmly resolved to protect all our citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail. Finally, Mr President, we have heard Pakistan, whose nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit, talking about restraint, renunciation and peace. Similar false promises it has made to us - the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start. I thank you Mr President. Editor's note: This article was originally published on Thursday. It is being republished in light of the signing of the Rafale deal on Friday. As news broke late Wednesday evening that India and France had finally agreed upon the terms and conditions for the purchase of 36 Rafale jets by the former from the latter, it was probably greeted with relief rather than joy. Dassault, the French aviation company that manufactures the Rafale, had won the tender in January 2012 but had been locked in negotiations with the Indian government over the technical details ever since. When Narendra Modi came to office, he tried to break the impasse and India initiated talks directly with the French government for an inter-government agreement but even that, until just a month ago, seemed to be going nowhere. The conclusion of the deal, to be signed on 23 September, will be a relief to the Indian Air Force as well as Dassault. The first planes will begin to arrive 36 months hence and the entire order will be completed a further 30 months from then. In fact, India's search for a medium multi-role combat aircraft had begun almost a decade ago in August 2007 when finances finally allowed the IAF to begin replacing its aging fleet of MiGs. Four companies participated in the competition - Saab, Mikoyan, Lockheed and of course, Dassault. The Rafale's similarities to the Mirage 2000 that the IAF already operated, its lower life-cycle costs, and its naval and nuclear strike variants clinched the deal for Dassault. Although the deal was originally envisaged to be for 126 aircraft with an option of 74 more, the final agreement has settled around 36 jets. Projected to cost $12 billion in 2012, that figure has also come down to $7.88 billion. However, India has managed to negotiate for several bells and whistles in the smaller deal and it is reported that the agreed upon price is around $750 million less than what the previous government was willing to pay. Dassault has agreed to make India-specific modifications to the planes, allowing the integration of Israeli helmet-mounted displays. Additionally, MBDA, the European missile manufacturer, will provide Meteor, an air-to-air missile with a beyond-visual-range over 100 km, and Storm Shadow (known as Systeme de Croisiere Autonome a Longue Portee Emploi General or SCALP in the French military), an air-launched cruise missile with a range of over 560 km, with the Rafales. Both these acquisitions will significantly improve the reach of the IAF, allowing them to shoot deep into enemy airspace or territory without crossing any international boundaries. Integration of the Brahmos-NG, a smaller version of the Brahmos supersonic missile, will make the Rafale a lethal platform by land or sea. A complete transfer of technology, including for the Thales RBE2-AA radar and software source code, spare parts, maintenance, training, and a guarantee of 75 percent operational availability for the first five years takes the price of the package up from a base price of $3.8 billion for just the Rafales to the final number. A 50 percent offset agreement obligates Dassault to re-invest half the money from the deal in India again, creating hundreds of new jobs. India's decision to buy only 36 planes, barely two squadrons, seems puzzling at first. They will not fill the gap in the IAF's numbers and nor will the Rafale's nuclear capability add much to the Indian offensive toolkit. One can only assume that once the first set of jets are delivered, a further order will be placed to augment the existing numbers, including naval variants. This is even more likely if Dassault begins to manufacture in India - with the transfer of technology, it would be easy to domestically ramp up numbers as India has done with the Sukhoi. The Rafale's primary role is to replace the IAF's retiring fleet: while the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is expected to step in at the low end, the Rafale will occupy the mid-level force structure with the expectation that an advanced indigenous descendant of the Tejas or the fifth generation fighter that India is jointly developing with Russia will form the top of the line component. Immediately, the Rafale is expected to give India the dominant status in the air. Wedded to airborne control systems, the Rafale and its armaments can essentially hit enemy targets while staying out of range of their fighter jets. Though not the essential component of a future cross-border strike, the Rafale can provide the additional firepower if needed. As the IAF's description of the tender suggests, the Rafale is a multi-role platform that can be deployed for air dominance, ground support, aerial reconnaissance, and nuclear delivery. The Rafale has already been used in all these capacities - except the last, of course - in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, and Iraq and maintained a high operational rate throughout. Neither the Rafale nor any other weapons system will give the side possessing it the ultimate advantage in battle and such expectations are foolish. Nonetheless, the Rafale, when it arrives, will substantially augment the Indian Air Force's capabilities in several mission profiles and put India's hostile neighbours on notice. An additional acquisition of domestically manufactured Rafales post-2021 would buy the Indian defence establishment time to complete its advanced fighter aircraft for the IAF. For an enervated service, the arrival of the Rafales will be a breath of fresh air. New Delhi: Saudi Arabia and India are cooperating closely in "countering the menace of terrorism" and the "robust security cooperation" between the two countries is "important not only for us but also for the entire region and beyond," the Saudi envoy has said in New Delhi. In a message on the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the National Day of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India, said the continued growth and expansion in the multifaceted relations between Saudi Arabia and India was one of the highlights of the Kingdom's international relations. "The two countries are strategic partners, and among the top trading partners for each other. We have extensive socio-economic relations, both as nations and as peoples. Saudi Arabia remains a major pillar for India's energy security," he stated. "The economic partnership in the fields of investment, joint ventures and transfer of technology projects is steadily growing. Major Saudi and Indian companies are present in each other's market. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the exchange of visits between the senior officials of the two countries as well as between industry and business leaders... leading to an increase in investments from both sides." The envoy pointed out that Saudi Arabia hosts over three million Indian nationals who contribute to the progress and development of both the Kingdom and India and are serving as an important cultural bridge between the two peoples. "Haj and Umra pilgrimage is another important component of the people-to-people contacts. The air traffic between the two countries is estimated to be around four million passengers per year. In 2015, more than 70,000 Saudi citizens visited India for various purposes, which is a record," he said. "Saudi Arabia and India are partners in promoting peace, stability and security in the region. We are closely cooperating in countering the menace of terrorism, including through exchange of information and intelligence. The robust security cooperation between the two countries is important not only for us but also for the entire region and beyond," he said. He said the two countries also have close defence ties. "Officers from both countries have been attending courses so that we can learn from each other's experience and share wisdom. There have been frequent goodwill visits by Indian Navy ships to the ports of Jeddah and Jubail." He said the vist in April this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia "has significantly contributed to further consolidation and deepening of the strategic partnership, expanding the excellent bilateral relations in various political, economic, security, cultural and technological fields." Nawaz Sharifs speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was expected to throw no surprise, and it didnt. If Pakistans prime minister was reading from the same tired script, updated with some recent information on Kashmir, all over again then this is how it was supposed to be. Such speeches are basically meant for the consumption of the audience back home. Since in actual terms the approval points from them matter more than the opinion of world leaders at the UN, theres no way a leader can withdraw from a position he has emphatically conveyed to the home crowd. Of course, he cannot look intimidated or defensive. So we had Sharif revisiting the familiar tropes the UN resolution on Kashmiri self-determination, the home-grown freedom movement, occupation of the state by the Indian military, extra-judicial killings among others. The only new addition to the script giving it an updated feel was Burhan Wani, the Hizbul commander killed by security forces, and the subsequent widespread protests in the Valley. The fact that Sharif would raise the issue of Burhan, leader of a Kashmiri terrorist outfit, is a bit odd its self-incriminatory, BJP leader MJ Akbar has said. However, if the home audience is the target group then such things hardly matter. When Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj speaks at the UNGA, she would have the domestic audience on her mind too. After the Uri attack a vocal section of the population wants India to initiate punitive action; if it means war so be it. The media on its part has been doing a good lot of war-mongering. The foreign minister will be mindful to this sections needs while making her address. In the absence of right action from the government she will need to find the right words to placate this lot. It wont surprise anyone if its combative, war-like and openly provocative. The war of words is maybe good for egos, the real question, however, is does it serve any real purpose? UNGA is just another forum where both sides present their cases, and a few your proof vs my proof dossiers on each other, to influence world opinion. Pakistan likes to draw the worlds attention to Kashmir and India to terror. While both sides acknowledge the strong connection between the two, interpretation of the nature of it varies. The call the UN body may take depends on how members weigh Kashmir and terror. Even if it is in Indias favour it may not be satisfying to it substantially. Branding of Pakistan a terrorist state by several nations may be a psychological victory, but it hardly changes anything on the ground in Kashmir. Moreover, it would like the Kashmir issue to be discussed in a bilateral framework. If it gets internationalised as Pakistan wants it to be it opens up several complexities. The best option for the government is to re-assess its approach to Kashmir while it continues its terror-focussed diplomatic offensive on Pakistan. With Kashmir on the boil there will always be an excuse a legitimate one for its own audience - for Pakistan and the world to intervene. It has to douse the fire quickly, even if takes swallowing pride. Its clear by now that we have no policy on Kashmir. Or if theres one its condescending to the people. If that were not the case the government would have been more careful about a section of the media running a hate campaign that almost alienated the Valley from the country. Another area where it could have acted is the foolish linking of the leaders of the Hurriyat and a section Kashmiri agitationists to Pakistan. The correct approach would have been to treat them as separate from each other even though that might not be the case. The government can make amends. But there has to be intent in the first place. Making Pakistan miserable everywhere and in every way is fine, but that is not the solution to the core problem. Pakistan loves the United Nations, especially its annual General Assembly in New York. This provides it with an international platform to project its positions, often born of paranoia. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at the 71st session of the UNGA, though, took the stridency up another notch. His focus was obvious. He mentioned Kashmir and Kashmiris 17 times, almost as many times as he referred to Pakistan and Pakistanis, and nearly twice the number of times he mentioned terrorism (though, of course, Burhan Wani wasnt described as such). His use of the K-word this year passed the total for the previous two years, combined. What he may not have counted on, however, was the sort of rhetorical response he would receive from the Indian delegation. Each country has a right to respond and India always uses this since the United Nations is also considered a legal structure and utterances from its podium enter the record, somewhat like statements made in a court. Though in this instance, India appears more to be prosecuting the case than reverting to its usual mode of playing defence. India gave the practice of exercising that right quite a workout. The designated hitter was Eenam Gambhir, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations. And she set the tone early, describing the Pakistan PMs speech as a long tirade. Thereafter, she moved on to the topic of Pakistans sponsorship of terrorism, and the words used were less than diplomatic: The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The effects of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe. That this statement was also directed at the United States is apparent, since two of the recent terror attacks on American soil, in San Bernardino last year and in New York itself last week, have tangible Pakistani connections. Describing Pakistan as the global epicentre of terrorism and then moving on to the attack in Uri, Gambhir underscored the main theme: What we see in Pakistan, Mr President, is a terrorist state, which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbours. This is the sort of response that would leave not just the speaker but also the audience breathless. Of course, those turning up to listen to these RoRs are scant, and this speech was meant more for sending out a wider message and setting the stage for Indias formal address at this UNGA session. You could sense the fingerprints of the two Akbars, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar and Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, all over the prepared statement. This is also a critical time for India to speak up. Theres a power vacuum in Washington as the White Houses current incumbent Barack Obama prepares to depart in less than four months. Meanwhile, the two contenders to replace him have public policies towards Pakistan that dont really deviate from whats been the norm in recent years chiding and charity. This is an opportune period to attempt to occupy some mindspace even before the first of the Presidential debates is scheduled for Monday. Meanwhile, if this was occurring within the Turtle Bay edifice of the global organisation, for once, there was also a response outside its barricaded perimeter. Each year, supposed Kashmiri and Khalistani activists protest outside the UN. This year, there was a counter: Members of the Baloch National Movement of North America gathered there to protest the Pakistani atrocities and the ongoing military operations in Sindh and Balochistan. In recent years, the United Nations has been a happy haranguing ground for Pakistan. This seems to be the year India has decided to holler back. The author tweets @anirudhb Termed as one of the deadliest attacks on the army base in Kashmir since militant attacks began in 1989, the recent Uri attack which claimed lives of 18 soldiers and cross-border terrorism became the central topic of debate at the United Nations General Assembly. Government won't sleep over terror being pushed from across border: Parrikar Responding to questions about what India's response to the attack will be, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday said the government is "serious" about punishing those responsible for the deadly attack as it will "not sleep over" terror being pushed into India from across the border, reported PTI. He also dismissed reports about Pakistan's threat of use of tactical nukes, saying that "An empty vessel makes the most noise" and asserted that steps will be taken to ensure that incidents like Uri strike are not repeated. "We take a proper reading of everything and I don't think Prime Minister's initial words that 'those responsible will be punished', will go as a mere statement. How to punish, that is for us to work out. We are quite serious about it," Parrikar said. "When something goes wrong, while you try to correct it, you should also ensure that it does not happen again. We will definitely find out what went wrong and also take steps to ensure it does not go wrong again. The country needs to ensure that repetition of wrong does not repeat again and again," he said. Despicable attack will not go unpunished: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Taking a tough stand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation that those behind the "despicable" strike won't go unpunished. Modi held a nearly two-hour meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, NSA Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and other top officials to discuss India's response. Modi saluted the soldiers who were martyred in the attack and said their service to the nation will always be remembered. "We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished," Modi had tweeted. We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 18, 2016 As part of the plans discussed in the meeting, the Director General of Military Operations will hand over all the evidence linking Pakistan's involvement of the four terrorists using Pakistani-marked weapons, food, energy drinks and GPS trackers which they carried to enter Jammu and Kashmir from across the Line of Control in Uri attack to his Pakistani counterpart. Pakistan's take on attacks on Kashmir and terrorism On Wednesday, during the United Nations General Assembly debate, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz brought up Kashmir topic and hailed Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a "young leader" even as he expressed readiness for a "serious and sustained dialogue" with India for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif devoted much of his 20-minute speech to Kashmir and the current situation in the Valley and said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination". "This indigenous uprising of the Kashmiris has been met, as usual, with brutal repression by India's occupation force of over half a million soldiers. Over a hundred Kashmiris have been killed, hundreds, including children and infants, blinded by shotgun pellets and over six thousand unarmed civilians injured over the past two months," Sharif said. He said a "new generation" of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against India's "illegal occupation - demanding freedom from occupation". Sharif also urged the US to help resolve issues between Islamabad and New Delhi as he met US Secretary of State John Kerry in New York on Monday. However, Kerry "reiterated the need for Pakistan to prevent all terrorists from using Pakistani territory as safe havens". Furthermore, the US has asked Pakistan to cooperate with India in probing the Uri attack. Kerry also "stressed the need for restraint in nuclear weapons programs". However, in an outright denial to curtail its atomic activities, Pakistan's UN envoy Maleeha Lodhi said that the country won't limit its nuclear programme. "Pakistan's nuclear programme cannot be limited," Lodhi said at the joint press conference with Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry. "The world should first put an end to nuclear activities undertaken by India." However, she said it had been conveyed to the US Secretary of State that the proposals which were expected from Pakistan should also be implemented by India. On Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz's meetings with the foreign ministers of Austria, Switzerland, and Japan, Lodhi said, "Pakistan's inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group was discussed during the meeting." Chaudhry claimed that no other state had acted against terrorism as much as Pakistan. Stand on Balochistan On the 70th Indian Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 93-minute speech made clear references to Pakistan's mistreatment of Balochistan and the atrocities meted out in the region and in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Modi's words did not just appease the Indian masses but have also been celebrated by leaders from Balochistan. Brahumdagh Bugti of Balochistan Republican Party, quoted by ANI, said that he thanks "Prime Minister Narendra Modi sahab on behalf of the whole Baloch nation. And we hope that the Indian government and Indian media and whole nation will not only raise voices for the Baloch nation but also strive to help practically the Baloch independence movement." Baloch activists protested outside the UN General Assembly headquarters in New York on Wednesday during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address to the General Debate, to highlight "atrocities" and human rights violations by Pakistani forces in Balochistan. However, there was no mention of Balochistan in Sharif's UN speech. The 'Coalition of American Friends of Balochistan' and Indian-American Organisations said they will hold a "peaceful protest" against Pakistan for "its state-sponsored atrocities and terrorism on the people of Balochistan, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir and minorities". Grateful for the support extended by PM Narendra Modi, the Baloch National Movement of North America said that, "Baloch people have welcomed and are grateful for the support extended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at such a critical juncture when our nation is struggling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948." The group said that since 2003, more than 20,000 Baloch political activists have gone missing, "illegally abducted" by the Pakistani state security forces and victims of enforced disappearances are being "tortured and executed" in custody. With inputs from agencies "We can all play together. We will give him a family and he will be our brother." This letter from a six-year-old boy, who wanted to do his bit to help a refugee in need, is what the world needs right now. Alex, a resident of Scarsdale, New York sent a letter to US President Barack Obama offering his home to Omran Daqneesh, a five-year-old boy from Aleppo, Syria. The President shared the contents of the letter at the UNGA in New York during the Leaders' Summit on Refugees. Omran, whose haunting image caught the attention of the media across the world, also caught the attention of Alex and his family. The little boy says that he will wait for Omran with 'flags, flowers and balloons' and that he and his little sister Catherine will share their toys with him. While sharing the story at the summit, Obama stated that everyone could learn more about humanity from the little boy. He said, "The humanity that a young child can display who has not learned to be cynical or suspicious or fearful of other people because of where they come from, how they look, or how they pray. We can all learn from Alex." Obama declared in the summit that the United States and organisations participating in the summit increased their contributions to humanitarian appeals in 2016 by $4.5 billion. As AidRefugees.gov, the White House's venture help refugees states, 65 million people have been forced to flee their homes by violence, persecution, and instability. In light of the increasing hostility towards refugees, Alex's story comes as a breath of fresh air. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Um blog sobre Macau Antigo! A blog about Old Macau ! The Macau Civil Servants Association (ATFPM) will conduct a public survey, in order to gauge public opinion regarding the performance of the Chief Executive (CE) as well as the governments five secretaries. The survey also enquires about public opinion towards the need to expand the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly (AL) that are occupied by lawmakers who have been directly elected by universal suffrage, the association informed yesterday in press conference held at its headquarters. According to the president of the ATFPM, Jose Pereira Coutinho, the seven-question survey will collect public opinion on the performance of the CE, as well as the secretaries, by using a graduated scale from 0 to 10, in which 10 represents the best performance. The survey will be run by the association over a period of one month via telephone interviews, and aims to collect information from a sample of about 3,000 interviewees. As the Chairman of the General Assembly of ATFPM Rita Santos further explained, the total pool of interviewees will be constituted by 30 percent ATFPM members and 70 percent non-members. Among the 3,000 [interviewees] we will do everything possible not to focus too much on the civil servants but to turn it [the survey] more to the population [in general], she said. Thirty percent will be members [of ATFPM] and the others will be acceding members (non civil servants) and others. Santos will coordinate the execution of the survey and will also analyze the data with the help of other members of ATFPM. The former deputy secretary-general of the permanent secretariat of Forum Macau noted that after the results of the survey have been analyzed, they will be used to develop a report which will be delivered to the government with the purpose of improving the performance of the government leaders. Recognizing that the results from the survey might not be very accurate, Coutinho said: We expect that with 3,000 people [interviewees] we can reach to a confidence level of about 80 percent in relation to what people in Macau think. Im anxious and curious to know what will be the final result of the survey. I can guarantee that this survey will be fair, impartial and independent [] we will respect peoples opinion, he added. Regarding the last question of the survey which asks citizens whether they agree with an increase in the number of seats in the AL for lawmakers elected by universal suffrage, Coutinho said, me and my colleague [Leong Veng Chai] are unsatisfied with the outcome of the electoral law. We want to put pressure on the government on this matter because maybe there are many people in Macau that also want a different system [like us], he said. He explained that besides answering just yes or no to the question of adding more directly elected lawmakers, people can indicate how many they think would be an ideal number (options go from two to more than four seats). In response to a query regarding the database of telephone numbers that allows such a survey to take place, Coutinho mentioned that there is a total of about 40,000 people, both association members and other non-members who have participated in other activities with ATFPM, and that the files are safe and hacker free because the computer on which they are stored isnt connected to the internet. Rita Santos ponders AL candidacy Pereira Coutinho admitted yesterday that he still doesnt have a complete list to contest the next legislative elections. We dont have any list. We are waiting for the decision of Rita Santos, the lawmaker said. My colleague [Leong Veng Chai] is planning to retire, but if [Rita Santos] doesnt give [an affirmative] final world he has to continue to serve the people, he said. Coutinho took the opportunity to express his sorrow over the fact that the region does have more youngsters interested in joining and defending its values like [what] happened recently in Hong Kong. He went on to state in Macau we dont teach politics. We need to teach politics and to teach the history of Macau. On her side, Rita Santos explained that her decision is dependent on the popular support that the list, led by Pereira Coutinho, can guarantee it will be able to gather. Santos recalled that in the last election the list only managed to gather 16 votes more than Angela Leongs list, which puts us in an uncomfortable position. Santos remarked that other associations are clearly buying votes in advance by offering moon-cakes, supermarket vouchers and even red packets (lai si) with money, blaming the government for the lack of civic education over the years, and concluding that it is still not the right time to take a decision. MGMs Golden Lion Team member, Lao Sio Lei from the stewarding team, was bestowed with the Outstanding Employees with Disabilities Award, along with nine other winners. The winners were selected by a professional panel of judges, at an event co-organized by the Labor Affairs Bureau and the Social Welfare Bureau of the Macau. This years edition, the seventh of its kind, continued in the tradition of previous years in its aim to recognize talented individuals with disabilities who show exemplary on-the-job performance and attitude. Lao Sio Lei, the award recipient, possesses a positive working attitude and communicates with her colleagues and supervisors effectively, according to a statement from the gaming operator. MGM has won a total of six awards from the Hiring Disabled Staff Recognition Scheme and Outstanding Disabled Staff Recognition Scheme, both organized by the two aforementioned government bureaus. cem sends off singapore-bound delegation Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM) recently sent a 30-member delegation to Singapore to exchange views on power generation, power supply and energy-efficient buildings with Singaporean energy company, Power Automation Pte Ltd. CEM says that the purpose behind the visit was to use the similar experiences of Macau and Singapore in that both have seen rapid urban development in a short period of time to understand how they can both ensure the stability of their cities power supply. The companys statement said that members of CEMs Customer Liaison Committee were very interested in issues such as power grid and energy conservation, and they benefited a lot from the exchange activities. The delegation also visited the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore to understand the universitys efforts in energy conservation and emission reduction. Gene Capuano, Vice President of Convention & Exhibition Operations at the Venetian Macao, said he expects young people in Macau to show an increased interest in joining the MICE industry, as the number of large-scale events organized in Macau grows. This would guarantee the industry an ample supply of qualified professionals, complementing the well-developed hardware and other supporting infrastructure, he said, according to a statement from IPIM. He additionally noted that it would strengthen the competitiveness of Macaus MICE industry. Mega-conventions drive the development of the local sector and propel the economy, said Capuano. These activities also encourage young people to cultivate an interest in the MICE industry, and to serve as talented professionals in order to replenish the industry. By working for these kinds of large- scale conventions on a part-time basis, young professionals are able to learn through practice, he added. It is a crucial part of the training of professionals in this industry. The Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and International Dragon Awards (IDA) returned to Macau earlier this year after a decade-long break. This years gathering marked the 11th such event worldwide, and was held in August at the Convention and Exhibition Centre of the Venetian Macao. According to a statement issued yesterday by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), more than 7,000 professionals from the international insurance industry attended the event. To date, 17 countries and regions including Macau, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, have each hosted at least some part of the annual event. According to IPIM, the awards are a prestigious event in the Chinese insurance industry. Seven cities bid to be the host for this years events. Aside from Macau, the applicants were Nanjing (China), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Hawaii (United States), Melbourne (Australia), Fukuoka (Japan), Jeju Island (South Korea) and Singapore. Richard Wu, Vice President of the 11th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and 2016 International Dragon Awards, was cited by IPIM as having claimed that Macau has transformed itself into a destination city in the past decade. IPIM explained that the Macau selection was also influenced by the cooperation of Macaus government departments and the citys renowned infrastructure. The large-scale convention is just one of a number of such MICE events to be held in the city in the second half of 2016. Others include the 9th Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia, which is expecting more than 5,000 participants. DB The Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) announced it will be presenting a second date for the contemporary ballet performance of Carmen. The ballet adaptation of Bizets operatic masterpiece by Spains National Dance Company (CND) is set to perform an additional show on November 3. CND is returning to CCMs Grand Auditorium, this time guided by Swedish choreographer Johan Inger. According to a press release issued by CCM, Inger will bring a pure, uncontaminated representation of a classic production conceived for dance and music lovers alike. Based on one of the most successful operas ever produced, Carmens plot revolves around a love triangle composed by Don Jose, the main prison guard; Carmen; and the Toreador, who in this version is portrayed as a pop star. By removing the stereotypes usually associated with the story, CCM stated that Ingers Carmen is a sober, contemporary version choreographed with a subtle hint of the 1960s. The production won him the Benois de la Danse prize in 2016. Founded in 1979, CNDs vast repertoire was developed by a number of renowned artistic directors and choreographers. World leaders from Pakistan to Ukraine unleashed their regional grievances yesterday [Macau time], taking the stage of the U.N. General Assembly to rage against their neighbors and presenting a picture of a chaotic world consumed by intractable conflicts. A few paces from the General Assembly hall, the United States and Russia bitterly attacked each other during a Security Council meeting meant to salvage Syrias faltering cease-fire. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon implored Syrias warring parties to lay down their arms. In the midst of the anger, a few bright spots emerged on the second day of the annual U.N. gathering of heads of states. Colombia basked in world praise when it presented its newly reached peace agreement with leftist rebels to the Security Council. Former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi made her first General Assembly speech since she formed a democratically elected government in Myanmar (see text on this page). But on the International Day of Peace, tensions from all parts of the planet filled the halls of the United Nations. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang voiced his countrys mounting frustration with ally North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons, highlighting the urgency of reaching a comprehensive political solution on the Korean nuclear issue. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe devoted about half of his address to North Korea, which earlier this month conducted its fifth nuclear test in defiance of repeated Security Council resolutions intended to constrain its weapons development. Abe said North Korea this year fired three missiles into Japans exclusive economic zone and it was a matter of luck that no ships or aircraft were damaged. He urged unity in the Security Council to confront the North Korean threat. We must concentrate our strengths and thwart North Koreas plans, Abe said. Some of the angriest words came from the rivalries between Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif delivered a blistering attack on neighboring India while, across the world, gunbattles raged for a second day between Indian soldiers and suspected rebels in the disputed territory of Kashmir. Sharif demanded a U.N. investigation against brutalities perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces, saying innocent Kashmiri children, women and men have been killed, blinded and injured. Moments earlier, Pakistan came under attack from Afghanistan. Vice President Sarwar Danesh said merciless attacks from terrorist groups against its civilians are being planned and organized on Pakistani territory. He said Afghanistan has repeatedly asked Pakistan to destroy known terrorist safe havens but there has been no change in the situation. Sharif shot back that Pakistan has suffered from spillover of Afghanistans internal conflicts for more than three decades and progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war. There was positive news in Ukraine, where the government and separatist rebels agreed yesterday to pull back troops and weapons from several areas in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to uphold a fragile peace agreement reached last year. But at the United Nations, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lambasted Russia for being the instigator and major participant in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The terrorist component of the undeclared hybrid war that Russia wages against Ukraine is evident, Poroshenko said. Respite from the invective came from Colombia, which appeared at the annual U.N. gathering as a country in peace for the first time in five decades. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos devoted almost his entire speech to the peace deal reached with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which will be signed in Cartagena later this month and must be submitted to a national referendum on Oct. 2. A new Colombia greets the international community today, Santos said. A Colombia full of hope. A Colombia that, without a war, is ready to reach its highest potential and to be a positive factor in the global context. He later met with President Barack Obama, who praised the peace accord as an achievement of historic proportions. Ban commended Santos for his vision and determination. In a time of armed conflicts in many other paces, peace in Colombia sends a powerful message of hope in the world, Ban said. Alexandra Olson, AP duterte to invite un chief, eu to probe philippine killings The Philippine president says he will invite the U.N. chief and European Union officials to investigate his bloody anti-drug crackdown, but only if he can question them in public afterward to prove their human rights concerns are baseless. President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed the offer in a speech yesterday in which he again lashed out at critics of his deadly crackdown, including President Barack Obama and European countries. He accused them of hypocrisy for raising concerns about his anti-crime campaign while launching military strikes that killed innocent people in the Middle East. More than 3,000 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since June and more than 600,000 others have surrendered for fear of being killed in the crackdown. Duterte says he wont stop the campaign. Chinese officials are being pilloried over the smoothing-over of a crumbling but much-loved 700-year-old section of the Great Wall of China a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the name of restoration. The widely mocked project involved an 8-kilometer unrestored Xiaohekou section of the wall that has become known as the most beautiful wild Great Wall. Defensive works and guard towers were knocked flat as part of the project, officially launched to prevent further deterioration caused by the elements. Reports said sand and other materials were poured on top, protecting it but giving it the appearance of an elevated bike path running through steep forested hills. The head of the Liaoning Provincial Antiquities Bureau, Ding Hui, was quoted by the newspaper Beijing News this week as saying the work was completed two years ago over the course of three months as part of a government restoration plan. It really was an ugly repair job, Ding conceded. The wall section built during the Ming Dynasty in 1381 lies in Liaonings Suizhong county along the border with Hebei province. An official reached by phone at the governments Culture Bureau in Huludao city, which oversees Suizhong, said he had been told the restoration plan had been approved at the central government level by the State Administration of Cultural Relics. The old wall was badly damaged over a long period of history and the restoration work was aimed at preventing it from falling apart and being washed away by the rain, said the official, who like many Chinese government bureaucrats declined to give his name because he wasnt authorized to speak to the media. Phones were not answered at county and provincial government cultural relics offices. Many of the reports on the restoration lamented its inconsistency, with different materials, including lime, mortar and concrete, used in different places. Dong Yaohui, vice chairman of the Great Wall Studies Society, called the restoration work basic and crude. This sort of repair work harms the peoples appreciation of the Great Walls history and culture, severing a channel of dialogue between the people and cultural heritage, Dong was quoted as saying by the Beijing News. This sort of behavior is ridiculous, he added. Online, commentators were scathing in their criticisms. China has passed legislation in recent years to protect the Great Wall, large sections of which have been bulldozed, pillaged for building materials or heavily restored and commercialized. The wall dates from 220 B.C., when China joined existing walls and fortifications to defend against invasions from northern tribes. Construction continued up through the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) until the wall became the worlds largest military structure, allowing troops and couriers to move long distances quickly. Estimates of its overall length vary, but according to UNESCO, which named it a World Heritage Site in 1987, it once ran for more than 20,000 kilometers Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP A grizzly bear attacked and injured two men who were recreating in the Shoshone National Forest in northwestern Wyoming. Wyoming Game and Fish says the men were injured Saturday while they off a forest trail searching for antlers shed by deer and elk. One man was flown to the hospital by helicopter while the other was taken by ambulance. State officials declined to release information on the men's conditions on Monday. The men were able to call 911 from near the scene of the attack and other people in the area were able to get them to the trailhead, where they met search and rescue teams. Officials say it appears the men surprised the bear. Three weeks into a trek across Idaho, we reached the last switchbacks of a 5,000-foot climb up Sleeping Deer Mountain above the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. An afternoon and morning Id trudged across hot sideslope, clambered over logs and fought chest-high brush in wet bogs the 9,881-foot white granite peak in my sights. The trail was cleared earlier this summer, but it was often hard to tell; newly fallen logs and vegetation from recent fire made slow going. Topping the ridge, I anticipated the best view of our trek from Hailey to Salmon the Pioneers, Boulders, White Clouds and Sawtooths we had crossed in more than 270 miles. Harsh winds met me. Below, smoke filled the valleys in every direction. No views today. When David caught up, we agreed to skip the steep trail climbing to Sleeping Deer Lookout. Why bother? Our Idaho revisit, 30 years after our hiking heyday, was marked by dry days, dead trees and fire old, recent and ongoing. My husband, an Idaho native, had planned his homecoming trip to favorite areas, crossing new and old wilderness: Hemingway-Boulder, White Clouds, Sawtooth and Frank Church-River of No Return. The first week over foothills behind our Hailey home, roads, trails and goat paths across the Pioneers and Boulders started like summer hikes in the wetter 1980s-90s. The first day was cool; on day two, hiking up Hyndman Creek toward Pioneer Cabin, darkening, growling skies soon pelted us with showers. Once the rain gear was on, the showers quit, and we did not see rain again until our fourth week in the Salmon River Mountains. We did see dead trees probably 30 percent of forested slopes. Looping through the White Clouds near Castle Peak, revisiting a favorite trailless basin became late-night disaster as we were led astray by horse tracks then cut back for two cold creek crossings and steep scrambles up a rocky ridge to Noisy Lake; the old game route was obscured by dead logs. At Upper Champion Lake, Davids favorite fishing hole, we enjoyed a lovely campsite but no fish; I wondered if that was the result of the Valley Road Fire of 2005, winter kill or no longer stocking this wilderness lake. At our first rest stop at Smiley Creek, 130 miles and 10 days in, we could see smoke creeping into Stanley on the north end of the valley. The Pioneer Fire, burning hot near Lowman, was sending smoke up Payette River drainages. Crossing the Sawtooths from Pettit Lake to Sawtooth Lake into Stanley, we smelled smoke and saw alpine lakes glowing red from dramatic sunsets enhanced by smoky skies, and we waded deep-dusty trails from dry days and heavy horse and hiker use. Stanley was smoky from the Pioneer Fire and a new start by Redfish Lake. Past fires dominated our third segment in the 2.3 million-acre Frank Church wilderness. To start we hitched three rides on Idaho 21 (which links Stanley to Boise); later that road closed due to fire at Stanley Lake. Hiking across the Salmon River Mountains, we climbed and dropped thousands of feet across steep ridges and big creeks perpendicular to the Middle Fork. Our first three days were through the burned remnants of the 2012 Halstead Fire, which burned about 340,000 acres: blackened tree skeletons, moonscape lake basins and fields of lupine, other wildflowers and shrubs. The first mile over boggy meadows and downed logs was almost impassable until we found a relocated trail on the ridge. We climbed steeply through flower-rich burned basins and crept along eroded contour trail on a high ridge with views of the White Clouds and Sawtooths and glimpses of smoke filtering up drainages. Roughneck Lookout and lakes below were spared from fire; we camped off trail in meadows and a fringe of trees by Island Lake. The next day we hiked more blackened lake basins above Falls Creek and slid down a jeep road by black sticks near Seafoam Lake. The riparian area around closed-up Seafoam Guard Station was intact. Our worst post-fire encounter came the next day. After climbing a steep road to Sheep Mountain, we followed a ridge trail surrounded by stony peaks. At a blackened boggy ridge, we dropped into Little Loon Creek and remnants of a 1975 fire. Unbeknownst to us, the main trail had been relocated. We hacked and clambered our way over logs and through Ceanothus/alder/willow jungles in the creek drainage one afternoon and most of the next morning, averaging a third of a mile per hour, until we met newer trail dropping steeply off the ridge. Our drought ended abruptly while camped on the Middle Fork. We descended 6,000 feet on ridge trail and route from Sleeping Deer to the river, took an R&R day at Flying B Ranch Resort, then camped on a sandbar. We awoke to pelting rain. Throughout that day and the next we were soaked by thunderstorms along the Middle Fork and on the steep climb up heavily burned Waterfall Canyon into the Bighorn Crags. Our days in the stark, scenic Crags were mostly cloudy, cold and windy, but rain only threatened. It wasnt enough moisture to end the Pioneer Fire; two new fires, Roaring Creek on the north end of the Crags and Roaring Lion Fire far to the east in Montana, added new colors to the sunsets reflecting in the high mountain lakes. STANLEY As soon as 2018, work could begin on a new 4.5-mile, fully accessible trail connecting the two biggest destinations in the Sawtooth Valley: the city of Stanley and the Redfish Lake recreation complex. It has spectacular views of the Sawtooth Range up here on the top that you dont really get anywhere else, Matt Phillips said, tracing the proposed trails route on a U.S. Forest Service planning map. From Stanleys Pioneer Park, the nonmotorized trail would head south skirting the Stanley airport and staying west of Idaho 75 and gain unimpeded views from the middle of a sage flat. The proposed route ends on a footbridge at the Redfish Lake entrance station, where it would connect with an expansive, all-new trail network for pedestrians and bicyclists which the Sawtooth National Forest hopes to build around all the Redfish Lake facilities. But even without that proposed trail network, the Redfish to Stanley Trail could become a major new recreation destination for hikers, cyclists and horse riders. This has been talked about for probably over a decade, said Phillips, a landscape architect for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and project lead for the Redfish to Stanley Trail. The first step was purchase of a trail easement though a private ranch for the north third of the proposed trail, and project planning began in earnest in 2013. Phillips also sees the trail opening a safer alternative for the families and commuters including Forest Service employees who bicycle between the town and the lake on Idaho 75, which has only a narrow shoulder. I think it would give you pause to go with your family, Phillips said. The SNRA completed its public scoping and surveys on the Redfish to Stanley Trail, and the design is finished. But a decision hasnt yet been signed; the SNRA is working with American Indian tribes on mitigating impacts to cultural sites, Phillips said Aug. 15. Ideally wed have the decision signed by the end of this year, he said. With that in hand, the SNRA will pursue funding from the Forest Service and from grant sources, then put a construction package out to bid. In the best case, he said, work could begin in 2018 and last one or two construction seasons. The plan is for a compacted gravel or natural surface, not a paved trail. Users will encounter some gentle climbs, but within accessibility standards; flat resting stretches intersperse the steeper inclines. The designs 6.5-foot width is meant to provide minimal passing space for bicycles but still feel like a trail. The route has only two road crossings, both near the Stanley Ranger Station, basically the midpoint of the trail. The route never crosses Idaho 75. An RV dump station and sewer ponds north of the ranger station are a rest stop for migratory waterfowl. The trail design aims to ensure that users wont disturb waterfowl, Phillips said, and smell shouldnt be a factor. The proposed route also skirts elk calving grounds west of the ranger station. Theres definitely some wildlife concerns built into the alignment, he said. Community action partnership seeks reps South Central Community Action Partnership is seeking applicants interested in serving as an elected low-income representative for Twin Falls County and as a private sector representative in Minidoka and Cassia Counties. Applicants must reside or work within an associated county. Applications for the opportunity to participate on the Board of Directors may be obtained by contacting the Twin Falls office at 550 Washington St. S. or by calling 1-800-627-1733 for more information. Applications and letter of interest must be returned to SCCAP, P.O. Box 531, Twin Falls, ID 83303-0531 or by fax 208-733-9355, by Sept. 29. Library director attends session to improve services OAKLEY AriAnn Hale from Oakley Free Library recently attended Idaho Commission for Libraries one-day networking session for new public library directors. The event provided an opportunity for twelve directors from rural communities to learn first-hand about the Commission programs, resources, and services available to them, and to start building a network of colleagues across the state. Libraries play a role every step of the way on the learning continuum throughout life by providing early literacy, economic development, community engagement, and broadband opportunities. said State Librarian Ann Joslin. We commend AriAnn Hale for her commitment to enhancing the library services in her community. Attendees received information and materials to target library services to diverse audiences, Identify valuable professional and leadership development opportunities, and build connections within the Idaho library community. They also had the opportunity to brainstorm with other public library directors and meet with Commission staff members who provide programs, training, and consulting services. Participants report coming away from the training feeling equipped, connected to support, and energized to better serve their communities, said ICfL continuing education consultant Shirley Biladeau. It was great to facilitate connecting people with relevant programs and services. Everyones confidence level was definitely elevated by the end of the day. Oakley is a small town library with big plans for a better future. September is get a library card we hope to see you soon Grief support group Auburn Crest Hospice is offering a new service to those in our community that have experienced any type of loss in their life. We are beginning a Grief Support Group on Thursday October 6th at 7 p.m. and we will gather at our office, located at 397 Blue Lakes Blvd, in Twin Falls. This support group will meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. for six sessions. The goals for this group are to come together to support one another, share memories of loved ones, process through stages of grief, gain tools to navigate the grief process, and to prepare for coming holidays. Questions, RSVP and information can be directed to facilitators Sandy and Sheri at (208)735-7450. All are welcome. Burley Community Fire Prevention Breakfast BURLEY The Burley Annual Community Fire Prevention Breakfast will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Burley Fire Station, 1235 Miller Ave. Pancakes, eggs, sausage and hash browns will be served. Cost is $5 a person or $20 for a family of five. Donations are welcome. FILER Police say a criminal investigation is still technically open into allegations of misconduct by three Filer School District employees, but unless someone comes forward with concrete evidence, the investigation will focus instead on trying to identify the sender of an anonymous letter that accused the employees of sex crimes. If someone wants to come forward with information or evidence against the employees, wed be more than happy to investigate, Filer Police Chief Tim Reeves said Wednesday. But we havent found anything in our investigation. The Filer School District received the anonymous letter Aug. 29 alleging inappropriate conduct by three of its employees. The district placed those employees on leave, notified police and opened its own investigation into the allegations. The Times-News also received a copy of the letter but did not report on the nature of the allegations or name those accused because the claims could not be verified. The anonymous letter writer did not send a copy to police. The school district turned over the letter to us, Reeves said. It was never reported to us by an anonymous source. We did not receive a letter from anybody but the school district. The district announced Sept. 2 it had opened its own investigation. On Friday, the district announced it closed its investigation and reinstated the three employees after finding no basis for the allegations. The districts statement said Filer Police would investigate the anonymous source of the claims. Reeves confirmed that his office is working with the Idaho State Police crime lab to figure out what the process would be to trace the letter back to its sender. Were going to see if we can get fingerprints were working with the state lab right now, Reeves said. The Filer police chief said its important to find the sender to help determine whether or not the allegations are founded. He could not say if there would be criminal charges for the letter writer if it was a hoax. The Twin Falls County prosecutors office was never involved in the investigation, Prosecutor Grant Loebs said. Speaking generally and not specifically about this case, Loebs said a misdemeanor charge of providing false information to an officer is likely the most serious crime someone could face for making false allegations. But if it was done just for malice, there are potentially civil cases that can be filed, Loebs said. But a person likely wouldnt face charges, the prosecutor said, if they made the accusations in good faith with reason to believe a crime was committed. TWIN FALLS A 19-year-old Twin Falls man was set to be sentenced Monday for raping a 14-year-old girl, but instead prosecutors requested a delay, revealing the teen could face new charges after a presentence investigation turned up evidence of another possible sex crime. Cody Duane Scott Herrera pleaded guilty in March to raping a 14-year-old girl when he was 18. He was originally charged with felony lewd conduct with a minor, but as part of a plea agreement, prosecutors amended the charge to rape and agreed Herrera would not have to register as a sex offender. The plea deal also stipulated Herreras sentence would rest largely on the findings of a psychosexual evaluation, with prosecutors retaining the right to argue for probation, a retained jurisdiction program or up to eight years in prison. Presentence investigations and psychosexual evaluations are always sealed, so the results of Herreras post-plea interviews are not public. But Deputy Prosecutor Julie Sturgill revealed Monday that Buhl Police have requested new charges against Herrera stemming from evidence uncovered during the presentence investigation involving a different girl. In being interviewed, he did admit that he did take pictures and video of an underage girl and had those on his phone, Sturgill told District Judge Randy Stoker. That could be one of two charges possession of sexually exploitative material or production (of sexually exploitative material). Herreras attorney, Daniel Brown, downplayed the new evidence. He was in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, which is legal in the state of Idaho, Brown told the judge. However theres an issue concerning apparently either recordings or photographs of that encounter. Sturgill requested the delay in sentencing so she could analyze the new evidence and determine what to do, including whether to bring new charges against Herrera or somehow add new charges into the current plea deal. Stoker cited two reasons for granting the delay, saying it would be difficult to sentence Herrera with potential charges hanging over the case and noting he needed more time to review the psychosexual evaluation. Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs on Wednesday declined to comment whether his office would charge Herrera with a new crime, saying Sturgill was still evaluating the evidence. He also explained that evidence uncovered in presentence investigations is fair game for prosecutors. The rule is, theyre not compelled to speak, they are not required to participate in presentence interviews, but if they do, they dont get immunity, Loebs said. Herrera is out of custody after posting $5,000 bond shortly after his arrest last October. A new sentencing hearing has not been set. TWIN FALLS The Twin Falls Fire Department put out three small fires Thursday officials believe to be linked. The first call came in at 3:24 a.m. to report a dumpster fire at 428 2nd Ave. E. near Prasais Thai Cuisine in Twin Falls. Shortly after, another came in to report a second dumpster fire in the same area. Josh Palmer, city spokesman, said the two fires were extinguished quickly. A third call came in at 3:28 a.m. to report a fire in a wood pile at the 200 block of Elm Street. Crews put out that fire in about 10 minutes with no damage to any structures. The third fire was near a home, but the house was not threatened, Palmer said. Palmer said the department believes the three fires are linked and are under investigation. BOISE State regulators have approved $35.2 million Idaho Power Co. spent on energy efficiency and demand-response programs during 2015. The Idaho Public Utilities Commissions annual review is to ensure the programs are cost-effective, meaning customers would be paying more for energy without them in place. It does not impact customer rates. However, an analysis revealed that since 2013 Idaho Power has collected, on average, about $13.5 million more than what it spends on efficiency programs. The company must decide by the end of the year what it will use that money for, and if it will decrease the amount of the 4 percent energy efficiency rider on customer bills. Its always a projection, PUC spokesman Gene Fadness said about the rider. A lot of their expenses is rebates to irrigation, industrial, residential and commercial customers. Theyre always kind of guessing how much participation theyll get. The commission also wants Idaho Power to consider offering more programs for residential and small-business customers and study what is being offered by utilities in neighboring states. Idaho Power offers 19 efficiency programs funded by the energy efficiency rider. It also offers three demand-response programs included in the annual power cost adjustment, which is part of the annual adjustment mechanism listed on customer bills. An energy-efficiency program is one in which less energy is used to perform the same function. A demand-reduction program is one that shifts consumption to non-peak times of the day, reducing demand on a utilitys generation system. The company claims these programs increased annual energy savings by 18 percent. About $28.5 million of the total $35.2 million investment during 2015 was related to energy efficiency. The remaining $6.7 million was spent on demand-reduction and included incentive payments to customer who volunteered to shift their consumption to non-peak times of the day. Energy efficiency programs resulted in 162,533 megawatt-hours of savings, which includes 21,900 MWh from Idaho Powers participation in market transformation initiatives offered through the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Demand-reduction programs reduced demand on Idaho Powers system by 376 megawatts, saving customers about $1.6 million. The commission will make the final decision for the energy efficiency rider, Fadness said. Suzanne delivered her first calf in a sleet storm, with 40 mph winds. Fearful that the baby wouldnt survive overnight, I took a big risk, lifting the heifer into my arms, backing out a gate and kicking it shut. Many cows would have run me down. But I trusted Suzannes sweet, obliging personality, and she trusted me. As if shed read my mind, she ran around the barn and was waiting in a dry stall when I arrived with the calf we named Violet. Although calves are as playful as puppies, its a rare cow with a sense of humor. Suzanne, however, would approach and lower her head for petting. Then shed toss her head, fling your hand up, and shuffle her feet in a little happy dance. The winter she kept Bernie the bull company in their private two-acre pasture, she imitated his habit of eating apple slices out of our hands. By the time Violet was 16 months, you had to look twice to tell them apart. I never wanted to sell her, but somebody had to go Violet or her 2,300-pound, charismatic father. The fellow who bought Violet also wanted Suzannes 8-month-old bull calf. They left on the same trailer. If I were entirely sentimental about my animals, I wouldnt have done that, because it left Suzanne alone in the herd. She soon became pregnant. By then, Bernies passion for tearing up fences, shoving the neighbors bull around and breeding his cows became intolerable. He also had three more daughters coming of age. The fellow whod bought Violet couldnt afford Bernie, but offered to return her as part of the deal. Sold. If youd witnessed the mother-daughter reunion they recognized each other at 100 yards and galloped joyously to be together you might think about giving up beef. They have strong emotions, cattle. And while theyre less interested in humans, hence less demonstrative toward us than dogs or even horses, their bonds are powerful. Anybody who doubts this should read Carl Safinas extraordinary new book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel. A marine ecologist, Safina has written an impassioned and deeply reported meditation on Darwins observation that Animals, whom we have made our slaves, we do not like to consider our equal. It is to me also deeply political: a plea for humans to acknowledge the shared inheritance informing all complex animals from hummingbirds to tortoises, and to relent in our collective desecration of the natural world. Anthropomorphic? You bet. Safina argues persuasively that behaviorists who use the word as an insult have trained themselves to ignore the most obvious evidence in the world. So do other animals have human emotions? he writes. Yes, they do. Do humans have animal emotions? he writes. Yes, theyre largely the same. Fear, aggression, well-being, anxiety, and pleasure are the emotions of shared brain structures and shared chemistries, originated in shared ancestry. Safina points out that the exact areas of the brain that produce rage in humans also do in cats. How blind do you have to make yourself not to recognize primal emotions in fellow mammals? Centering his reporting on large, social animals elephants, wolves, orcas and dolphins he visits specialists whove learned volumes about their complex and mysterious behaviors. How do elephants and orcas communicate at vast distances? Why do killer whales, natures most fearsome predator, observe a worldwide truce with human beings? Never mind why dolphins will break off feeding to rescue a drowning human miles out to sea. Safinas impassioned conclusion is that were all together on this earth, the only one weve got. Suzanne died giving birth to her next calf, and liked to break my heart, as people in Arkansas say. The baby presented upside-down and backwards on a 99-degree day. By the time I got veterinary help, the calf had died and Suzanne was too weak to survive a C-section. I talked about getting out of the cow business altogether. Two weeks later, Ruby, a peevish, suspicious animal on her good days, delivered a heifer calf all alone. I hadnt been certain she was pregnant. Yet there it was, tottering behind her. Next morning, Ruby was in a pine thicket alone, bawling. Two coyotes lurked nearby. Had they killed her calf in the night? I searched in vain, shadowed by Ruby highly agitated and threatening. I couldnt risk getting closer than 25 yards without being trampled. Ruby stayed in the woods all day. That afternoon, she visited the herd briefly. I figured that was that. Accursed coyotes. And then just before sunset, mother and lovely, sparkling daughter emerged from the woods together. Oh, happy day! Were calling her Star. Her mothers testy disposition had saved her life. Bereft of her own mother, Violet has made Star her special friend. Theyre together constantly. I believe I know exactly how she feels. I am writing in support of the re-election of Stephen Hartgen to the Idaho Legislature, District 24. I have known Stephen and his wife, Linda, for several years, and feel that he has served the Magic Valley well in the Legislature. Most recently, as chairman of the Commerce and Human Resources committee, Stephen helped carefully craft legislation passed nearly unanimously this year creating a firemen's workman's compensation benefit, extending coverage to certain cancers for firefighters. Stephen also serves on the Legislature's Millenium Fund Committee, which allocates monies from the tobacco settlement for health projects, especially focusing on teen smoking prevention. He has served on the Public Lands Interim Committee in 2014, which provided input regarding the cooperative management of federal and state lands in Idaho. He also serves ably on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, the Environment Committee, and is supportive of the needs and interest of agriculture the lifeblood of the Magic Valley. Stephen embodies clear-headed, no-nonsense conservative thinking that Magic Valley residents deserve in the Idaho Legislature. Please cast your vote for Stephen Hartgen for state representative, District 24, this Nov. 8. Tim Thompson Twin Falls The citys name is a point of political dispute, with unionists advocating the longer name, and nationalists advocating the shorter. A common attempt at compromise is to refer to the county as Londonderry and the city as Derry, but this is by no means universally accepted. Because of this, a peculiar situation arises as there is no common consensus either in politics or elsewhere as to which name is preferred; the city council is officially known as Derry, but the city is officially recognised as Londonderry by the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government. Whilst road signs in the Republic of Ireland use Derry, alongside the Irish language translation Doire, road signs in Northern Ireland will always read (unless vandalised) Londonderry. The news editor in chief at the Egyptian state-owned channel 1 has been laid off after the media wrongly aired an old interview of President al Sisi who is currently in New York for UN General Assembly. Mostafa Shehata told French AFP that he has been fired by Head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) Safaa Hegazy. His sacking occurred following broadcast on Tuesday of President al Sisis last years interview with American media PBS network instead of this years interview with the same US media. The interview was cut off from air as soon as the error was realized. The port of Ras Lanuf on Wednesday exported its first crude oil since 2014, as tanker Seadelta sailed off to Italy with more than 700,000 barrels. National Oil Corporation (NOC) chairman Mustafa Sanalla had put the revival of exportations on top of his priorities and stated that the increase of oil production will help earn more money and the revenues will go to the central bank. A second tanker is expected to be loaded at Ras Lanuf very soon. Libyas output has increased from around 260,000 bpd last month to between 350,000 and 400,000 lately and the number is expected to increase when the damages done to Ras Lanuf and Es Sider during the recent clashes are repaired. Production rose after the Libyan National Army under Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar took over Ras Lanuf and Es Sider from the Petroleum Facilities Guard last week and handed it over to the NOC. Sanalla has admitted that it had the approval of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) leadership before resuming operations at the oil ports. The NOC chairman wants production to reach 900,000 bpd before 2017 but admits that the lack of finance could hinder the goal. He acknowledged that the GNA had given them 310 million Libyan dinars ($220 million) and had promised another 300 million but was quick to add that these amounts of money are not enough but we take into account the difficult financial situation currently. Oil is the states main source of revenue The NOC has been careful not to be part of the political battle between the different competing authorities by maintaining its neutrality although it has issued statements blasting all sides when the facilities were attacked. Libya is yet to reach its post-war output of 1,6million bpd as fighting continues to affect the operations of the facilities. After US presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, met with the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Monday, the latter in an interview with CNN said he has no doubt that the Republican candidate Donald Trump would make a strong leader if elected in the November elections. Asked about the latters proposed immigration policy of a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States that has been watered down last month to extreme vetting to determine if they uphold US values before entering the country, President Sisi pointed out that campaign declarations and political realities are different things. I dont want to be unfair to anyone here. During election campaigns, there is a perception based on a certain vision and a point of view. Then that vision or point of view gets corrected and develops as a result of experience, reports and advice from experts. The Egyptian presidents remarks could be seen as a boost to the Trump camp that stated that the US will be a loyal friend not simply an ally- that Egypt can count on us in the days and years ahead if they are elected to the White House. The Sisi-Trump meeting also focused on fighting a common enemy by working together in defeating radical Islamic terrorism. President Sisi was not as appreciative of the Democratic Partys presidential candidate as he is of Trump. Asked whether Clinton will make a good president, Sisi responded by explaining that the political parties in the United States would not allow candidates to reach that level unless they are qualified to lead a country the size of the United States of America. Clinton had earlier this year criticized Sisis administration of taking Egypt back to basically an army dictatorship. Their meeting this week focused on fighting extremist groups although she raised concerns about the prosecution of Egyptian human rights organizations and activists. Egypt is a strategic ally of the US in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in the Arab World and the aspiring US presidents will need to work with Cairo to continue propagating their influence in the region. President Erdogans spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, has stressed that as much as Ankara is determined to get rid of the Islamic State, it has its principles and conditions on the issue. He pointed out that it is out of question for us to take part in an operation in which the PYD/YPG are present even though we support Raqqa and the other Syrian cities being cleansed from Daesh. The Peoples Protection Unit (YPG) is the military arm of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) but Turkey considers them as a threat to its national security and believes that they are a close ally of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that it has been battling for decades at the northern part of its border with Iraq. Kalin admitted that negotiations are still ongoing, probably with the US, but there is yet to be agreement because our principled stance is the same as it was with Manbij and Jarablus when Operation Euphrates Shield was launched almost a month ago. Defense Minister Fikri Isik expressed a similar position as he outlined that their current planning is collaborating with the opposition Free Syrian Army to conduct operations but that will not include Turkish infantries; thereby limiting their role to airstrikes and intelligence sharing. He said Turkey will continue Operation Euphrates Shield until it guarantees its own security. Ankara is planning to launch an offensive on the town of Al-Bab before attacking Raqqa, Islamic States self-declared capital, according to Foreign Minister Meclut Cavusoglu. Turkey considers the armed Kurdish groups as terrorist groups while Washington takes them as an ally in its fight against the Islamic State. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said they identify the PYD and YPG as the offshoot of the PKK while poking the US that one should not fight against a terrorist organization using another terrorist organization. Turkey is not comfortable having armed Kurdish groups along its border as the conspiracy of the Kurds planning to establish their own state will barricade its territorial connection with other Middle Eastern states if it shall become a reality. The PKK has long been fighting for its independence before the war in Syria began. King Mohammed VI of Morocco has hailed the role played by Central Banks in mitigating the gravity of the financial and economic crisis that hit the world about a decade ago. During the past decade, as governments found themselves with very little leeway, they relied heavily on central banks, the sovereign said in a message to the 40th Meeting of the Council of Arab central banks governors and of Arab monetary agencies, which kicked off Thursday morning in Rabat. These institutions actions went beyond the scope of traditional instruments of monetary policy, and new, unconventional approaches were explored, he said adding Central banks have indeed managed to a certain extent to mitigate the gravity of the crisis and its consequences. However, he pointed out, the excessive use of unconventional instruments has translated into new risks for markets and for financial stability in general. The sovereign warned however, that the economic and financial crisis, which erupted in 2008, has turned out to be much deeper and is lasting much longer than previously expected. The crisis has not remained confined to the financial sector, but has spread to the real economy as well, he said underlining that nearly a decade later, and in spite of the significant reforms undertaken by the international community in response to the crisis, its effects are still with us. In several developed countries, growth continues to be sluggish, unemployment rates especially among young people remain high, public debt is a cause for concern and banking systems continue to be fragile. Most major emerging economies are facing difficulties, and some of them are, in fact, facing a recession. As far as the Arab world is concerned, the King pointed out that in this part of the world, on top of the effects of the global crisis, the last decade has been marked by many political and social developments. Political strife, the deterioration of the security situation and the spread of terrorism continue to destroy institutions, ruin the economy and threaten the safety of citizens in certain countries. King Mohammed VI also touched on the collapse of oil prices, saying the downward trend in oil prices, since June 2014, is straining the economies of several oil-exporting countries, impacting economic and social investment programs. Yet, in many countries, economies have shown some resilience vis-a-vis these developments, thanks to the bold structural reforms introduced and the diversification of the economic fabric, he noted. After he expressed satisfaction at the significant progress made by Arab central banks and Arab monetary agencies to raise the funds needed to finance economic and social development in Arab countries, King Mohammed VI has, nevertheless, called on these institutions to be more vigilant in order to better manage the interplay between your institutions traditional mission and their new assignments as far as financial stability is concerned. While allowing for a certain flexibility of the financial system to ensure adequate financing for economic development and to support growth, your institutions are called upon to consolidate control and monitoring mechanisms to prevent any malfunction of the system and combat illicit financial flows, including those benefiting terrorist groups, he went on saying. He then expressed confidence that as Arab monetary authorities pool efforts, they will be in a better position to make the most of our diverse yet complementary economies in order to fulfil a long-held ambition, namely to build a solid, prosperous Arab economic bloc. Botswana President Ian Khama on Wednesday said Robert Mugabe should accept the reality of his age and retire. Mugabe should without delay exit the post of president of the southern African nation and allow new leadership because Zimbabwes political and economic implosion since 2000 is dragging down the whole of southern Africa, President Khama said. They have got plenty of people there who have got good leadership qualities who could take over. It is obvious that at his age and the state Zimbabwe is in, hes not really able to provide the leadership that could get it out of its predicament, Khama told Reuters. Botswana is home only to an estimated 100,000 Zimbabweans a fraction of the 3 million believed to be in South Africa although this is still enough to strain public services in a nation of 2.3 million people. Robert Mugabe has made pleas to the UN to lift sanctions imposed by western powers on Zimbabwe, saying that his country is being collectively punished for exercising the right to sovereign independence. Mugabe who made the request during his address at the annual opening debate of the United Nations General Assembly, said as a country, we are being collectively punished for exercising the one primordial principle enshrined in the United Nations charter, that of sovereign independence. We are being punished for doing what all other nations have done and do, that is possess, own their natural resources and listen to the basic interest of their people, he said. I repeat my call to Britain, Europe and the United States and their allies to remove the illegal and unjustified sanctions against my country and its people. Let us all be bound by our commitments to Agenda 2030 in which we agreed to eschew sanctions in favor of dialogue. Mugabe told delegates. For many of the most common pediatric operations performed in the U.S., the new American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator provides an individualized estimate of the chance of a young patient experiencing postoperative complications, according to research findings appearing online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The study will be published in a print edition of the Journal later this year. "The NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator is the first web-based tool to help surgeons estimate the surgical risk for a pediatric patient across multiple surgical specialties," said study coauthor Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, Director of the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, which administers ACS NSQIP. Although ACS NSQIP has offered its popular multispecialty Surgical Risk Calculator for adults since 2013, this new risk assessment tool is designed to give customized surgical risk estimates for patients younger than 18 years of age. Made available to the public in July, the NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator can, as part of a discussion with the surgeon, help a young patient's family make an informed decision about whether to go forward with a planned elective operation or even an emergency procedure, said Dr. Ko, who also is a professor of surgery at the University of California-Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine. A pediatric-specific risk calculator is needed because infants and children have different risk factors; may undergo similar procedures as adults do, such as colon operations, for entirely different reasons; and may undergo operations that are unique to the pediatric population, according to coauthor Shawn J. Rangel, MD, MSCE, FACS, a pediatric surgeon at Boston Children's Hospital who chairs the ACS Children's Surgery Data Committee. Children typically do not have cardiovascular disease and other chronic medical conditions often associated with adult patients undergoing surgery. However, they may have other serious conditions that are unique to the pediatric population, including prematurity, birth defects, and other conditions that may affect their immune system and ability to heal, he explained. "Currently pediatric surgeons often must quote surgical risk estimates from data that have been published in the literature, and often this information is markedly outdated and [comes] from single hospitals that are not their own," Dr. Rangel said. "Development of the NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator is an important milestone because it gives pediatric surgeons a tool to be much more precise in estimating a child's risk of complications." Until recently, there were insufficient pediatric data to support a risk calculator for a broad selection of procedures and potential unfavorable outcomes for children's surgery, according to Dr. Ko. In 2008, the ACS in collaboration with the American Pediatric Surgical Association developed a new database, ACS NSQIP Pediatric, so that participating hospitals could collect and share reliable outcomes data specifically for pediatric surgical specialties. Data collection began in 2011. To create the new risk prediction tool, the investigators used standardized NSQIP Pediatric data between 2012 and 2014, which included 181,353 patient cases from 67 hospitals and 382 standard Current Procedural Terminology codes identifying procedures performed in the U.S. Among the procedure codes that NSQIP Pediatric collects, only those that occurred at least 25 times in the dataset were used for this study. Specialties included general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology, gynecology, urology, and plastic surgery. The research team reported that each surgical case had a 30-day follow-up for complications. "NSQIP Pediatric has among the best, if not the best, data available for children's surgery," Dr. Ko said. From the three years of data, the researchers used a random sample of two-thirds as a training dataset and the other one-third as a test dataset to validate the accuracy of the calculator. Overall, they reportedly found excellent agreement between the predicted postoperative risks and actual outcomes, known as calibration. An exception was a small tendency to underpredict risk in the patients at highest risk, the authors wrote in the article. To use the risk calculator, a surgeon or other user enters, from drop-down menus, the planned surgical procedure by its procedure code or name; whether the operation is elective, emergent, or urgent; and whether it will be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Other selections to be completed are patient-specific preoperative risk factors, including age and sex; physical status (fitness for an operation); and whether the patient was admitted from home or transferred from the emergency department, intensive care unit, or other facility. The included risk factors are health conditions, such as a neuromuscular or bleeding disorder, heart problem, brain or spinal cord abnormality, developmental delay, infected wound, or recent bloodstream infection. The risk calculator then estimates a pediatric patient's chance, compared with an average person's risk, of experiencing any of nine potential complications within the first month after an operation. Those complications are pneumonia, a cardiac problem such as an irregular heart rhythm, infection at the surgical site, urinary tract infection, blood clot, kidney failure, tracheal reintubation (insertion of a breathing tube after removal of the anesthesia tube), any complication, or death. After receiving the risk score, the surgeon can adjust the score if needed based on his or her subjective assessment of the patient. Information from the risk estimates may lead to better patient outcomes after the operation, Dr. Ko suggested. "The risk calculator," he said, "calls out the chance of specific postoperative problems, some of which we can try to prevent before the procedure." As ACS NSQIP Pediatric continues to grow, Dr. Rangel said future versions of the calculator will be able to predict risk of more-specific complications, such as wound infections, thereby providing even greater value for parents in understanding the risks of a surgical procedure for their child. The NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator is available online at riskcalculator.facs.org/peds . Explore further ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator has good prediction accuracy, new study finds More information: Kari Kraemer et al. Development and Evaluation of the American College of Surgeons NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator, Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2016). Journal information: Journal of the American College of Surgeons Kari Kraemer et al. Development and Evaluation of the American College of Surgeons NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2016.08.542 (HealthDay)For people who suffer from a condition that causes disfiguring hair loss, a drug used for rheumatoid arthritis might regrow their hair, a new, small study suggests. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes patchy or complete hair loss, including on the head, body, eyebrows and eyelashes. Researchers found that more than 50 percent of 66 patients treated with the drug Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate) saw hair regrowth in three months. "There is hope now that we will have more to tell patients than get counseling and a wig," said lead researcher Dr. Brett King, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Conn. Xeljanz appears to work by stopping the immune system's attack on hair follicles, King said. In addition, the researchers have identified genes that might predict a patient's response to treatment, he said. King said it is doubtful that Xeljanz will work for the most common types of hair loss (such as male pattern baldness), which are not the result of an autoimmune disease. Whether the hair regrowth will last or how long someone would have to take the medication isn't known, King noted. "It may be that if we can treat people for long enough the condition might go into remission, but we don't know the answer to that," he said. For the study, King and colleagues treated the patients with 5 milligrams of Xeljanz twice a day for three months. Over that period, more than 50 percent of the patients saw some hair regrowth and one-third recovered more than half of the lost hair on their head, King said. Side effects were mild, he added. King hopes that a big drug company will look at these results and sponsor larger trials to seek FDA approval for using Xeljanz as a standard treatment for the 4 million to 11 million Americans with alopecia areata. Treatment with Xeljanz is expensive, costing as much as $40,000 a year. Because the drug is not approved for the treatment of alopecia areata, it may not be covered by insurance for that use, King said. Doctors, however, may be able to convince insurers to cover the cost, he added. The study was published Sept. 22 in the journal JCI Insight. Two dermatologists not involved with the study said the findings hold promise. "The results from this trial are very exciting," said Dr. Katy Burris, an assistant professor of dermatology at Northwell Health in Manhasset, N.Y. "Alopecia areata is a frustrating condition for patients as well as physicians, and current treatment options have mixed results," Burris said. Treatments included general immunosuppressants such as cortisone injected directly into the areas of hair loss, like the scalp or brows. More-involved treatments include oral medications or skin creams to try to suppress the immune response or to stimulate the immune system to overcome the hair loss, said Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Alopecia areata can strike at any age and can be devastating to the person suffering [from the disease]," Day said. "The great news is that Xeljanz has worked even in patients who had five or more years of hair loss. The hair begins to grow within a month, and the regrowth is significant, with the hair often regrowing at or near normal thickness and volume," she said. More research needs to be done to see how safe the treatment is, especially in children, Burris said. "However, these results keep us hopeful that a new, safe, effective treatment may be on the horizon shortly." Explore further Doctors help teen girl with alopecia areata grow hair using novel cream More information: Visit the Visit the American Academy of Dermatology for more on alopecia areata. Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. A genetically influenced condition, stuttering appears to originate when various aspects of a young child's development interact, and is best addressed with early intervention. No cure for it has been found, but behavioral treatment options are available. Currently, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug treatments are available. In an attempt to find a new medicine, a research team at the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, in partnership with the speech pathology laboratory at the University of Redlands, will conduct a study at CITrials in Riverside, Calif., to determine how effective ecopipam, an orally administered medication, is as treatment against stuttering. Ten volunteers will be selected to participate in the FDA-approved clinical trial. The study, scheduled to begin next month, is seeking volunteers, although space is limited. People interested in participating in the study may contact Gerald Maguire, M.D., the chair of psychiatry and neuroscience at UC Riverside and the associate dean for graduate medical education, who is leading the study: gerald.maguire@medsch.ucr.edu. "The study is exploratory," Maguire said. "We are the only site in the world conducting this trial; ecopipam has never been tested for stuttering. It has been tested for treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome, a neurological disease, with some encouraging results. Stuttering shares some similarities to the vocal changes seen in subjects with Tourette syndrome. We are hopeful ecopipam will yield beneficial effects in stuttering." Ecopipam is a first-in-class drug that selectively blocks the actions of the neurotransmitter dopamine at its receptor. Dopamine receptors can be broadly classified into two families based on their structures: D1 receptors and D2 receptors. Ecopipam blocks dopamine only at D1 receptors, and thus acts differently than other commercially available medications. This mechanism explains why ecopipam is being tested as a potential treatment for stuttering. The 10 patients selected for the clinical trial next month will undergo a physical examination and their medical history will be recorded. To ensure that their stuttering symptoms are sufficiently severe, their speech patterns will be analyzed by Professor Lisa LaSalle, a speech pathologist at the University of Redlands, and co-investigator on the study. Each patient will receive ecopipam for a limited time. "We believe we could have results from our analysis in as soon as nine months," Maguire said. "A placebo-controlled clinical trial may then follow, pending approval. If ecopipam is found to be effective in controlling stuttering, we may have a viable solution for a disorder that can be traced back centuries." The study is being funded through philanthropic donations given to UCR specifically to study stuttering. Psyadon, a pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for neurology and psychiatry, will donate ecopipam. Earlier this year, Maguire was elected chair of the board of directors of the National Stuttering Association (NSA), a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope and empowerment to children and adults who stutter. A professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and a stutterer himself, Maguire earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1991 and his residency in psychiatry in 1995 from UC Irvine. His research interests include the medical treatments of stuttering and the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and Alzheimer's dementia. His research on the pharmacologic treatment of stuttering has appeared in numerous scientific journals. He is the author of the book "Without Hesitation: Speaking to the Silence and the Science of Stuttering" (NSA, 2010). Explore further Babies' brains could unravel the mystery of stuttering (HealthDay)Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older people in the United States, and this health threat is likely to grow since 10,000 Americans now reach age 65 every day, a new federal report shows. Every second of every day, an older American falls. As falls increase, so do health care costs. In the report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged doctors to help prevent falls among this high-risk group. "Older adult falls are increasing and, sadly, often herald the end of independence," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in an agency news release. "Health care providers can make fall prevention a routine part of care in their practice, and older adults can take steps to protect themselves." Older Americans had 29 million falls in 2014, causing 7 million injuries. Falls cost Medicare an estimated $31 billion a year, the CDC report revealed. According to Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency room physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, "Falls among older persons and their attendant injuriesincluding head injuries, fractures and lacerationsare encountered on a daily basis by practicing emergency physicians." Fall risk increases as aging people's muscles weaken, they become less active and they develop chronic health issues, researchers have found. Injury rates from falls are seven times higher for seniors with medical issues than for those who are healthy, the CDC reported. Taking multiple medications adds to the danger. Glatter added that vision problems, poorly fitting shoes and loose carpeting can also lead to falls. To reduce your risk, the CDC suggests these steps: Ask your doctor how to prevent falls and tell him or her if you have fallen recently. Be sure your doctor knows all the medications you take. medications you take. Have your eyes checked at least once a year and be sure you use an up-to-date eyeglass prescription. Stay active and take part in programs to boost your strength and balance, such as tai chi. Ask your local Council on Aging for information about programs in your area. Remove all trip and fall hazards in your home. The CDC urges doctors to make fall prevention part of routine office visits. The agency suggests these steps to doctors: Ask patients if they feel unsteady, have fallen within the past year or worry about falling. Recommend vitamin D supplements. Stop, switch or reduce doses of medications that could increase the risk of falls. "It's vital to evaluate a patient's medication list for potential drug interactions that can make a patient drowsy, lower their blood pressure, and increase their risk of falls," Glatter said. The report was published in the CDC's Sept. 23 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Explore further Medication to treat high blood pressure associated with fall injuries in elderly Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. (HealthDay)For adults with acute Plasmodium vivax or P. falciparum, KAF156 shows antimalarial activity, according to a study published in the Sept. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Nicholas J. White, M.D., from the Mahidol University in Bangkok, and colleagues conducted a phase 2, open-label trial at five centers in Thailand and Vietnam to examine the antimalarial efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic profile of KAF156. They assessed parasite clearance rates in adult patients with vivax or falciparum malaria who were treated with multiple doses (400 mg for three days), and assessed cure rate in a cohort of patients with falciparum malaria treated with a single dose (800 mg). The researchers found that the median parasite clearance times were 45 and 24 hours for 10 patients with falciparum malaria and for 10 patients with vivax malaria, respectively, after treatment with the multiple-dose regimen, and 49 hours for the 21 patients with falciparum malaria treated with a single dose. During 28-day follow-up for patients treated with a single dose, one had reinfection and seven had recrudescent infections (cure rate, 67 percent). The mean terminal elimination half-life was 44.1 8.9 hours for KAF156. No serious adverse events were seen in the study; common adverse events included sinus bradycardia, thrombocytopenia, hypokalemia, anemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. "KAF156 showed antimalarial activity without evident safety concerns in a small number of adults with uncomplicated P. vivax or P. falciparum malaria," the authors write. Several authors disclosed financial ties to Novartis, which developed KAF156 and partially funded the study. Explore further Malaria combination drug therapy for children Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Vice President for Medical Affairs and Global Health Dr. Jerry Balentine leads a running group at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. Credit: Elaine Iandoli Can activity monitors, exercise, and monthly wellness seminars help medical students improve fitness, reduce stress, and score higher on tests? And, through those techniques, will those future doctors be more prepared to help their patients become healthier? In what they believe to be the first long-term study of its kind, researchers at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) have launched "Fit Physicians," a year-long, randomized pilot trial of 120 first-year medical students aimed at integrating healthy habits into the routines of tomorrow's doctors. As part of the project, 40 students have received Fitbit activity monitors, will attend monthly wellness lectures, and get regular feedback and motivational messages about their exercise regimens. The study is measuring their physical activity, academic scores, sleep patterns, and stress levels against a control group and a third group that will wear fitness trackers, but not attend wellness or exercise programs. Researchers have conducted metabolic tests and body compositions scans of all students and will run the group through new tests next year to compare results. Lead researcher Joanne Donoghue, Ph.D., an assistant professor and exercise physiologist at NYITCOM (and former Ironman competitor), says she believes Fit Physician is the only program of its kind in the nation and can serve as a model for integrating healthy habits into medical students' routines. "We want to help medical students stay active and educate them on health and fitness while they transition to the demands of their first year of medical school," says Donoghue. "Our project is the first to examine if activity monitors alone are effective, or if promotional wellness activities to motivate students are needed in addition to the trackers." Researcher Alex Stangle helps a first-year medical student with her new activity tracker. Credit: Elaine Iandoli She added: "This is the next generation of physicians that can influence healthy lifestyles. Are these interventions in our study improving the students' own physical health and activity levels? I've yet to see a FitBit study of this topic and duration, or for this population." Donoghue noted that the national Healthy People 2020 initiative calls for increasing the proportion of doctor office visits that include education and counseling on physical activity. Yet, medical students often receive little in the way of health promotion or physical activities in their curricula. Alexander Stangle, a student researcher on the Fit Physician study, says busy medical students often forgo exercise, skip meals, or develop unhealthy eating habits as they adjust to the pressure and time constraints of school. "You spend so much time studying and in labs where you're not active," says Stangle, who is spending an extra year at NYITCOM to study and conduct the research. "I'm also hoping people will gain an understanding of the health issues medical students face." The monthly wellness education seminars for the main study group will run from September to May. Topics include stretching, strength training, nutrition, biomechanics, and how to motivate patients to exercise. Many of those students also have joined the school's weekly running and walking sessions with Dean Wolfgang Gilliar, DO and Vice President for Medical Affairs and Global Health Jerry Balentine, DO, a co-investigator for the study. "As a medical school, we need to be a leader in promoting health and wellness for our students, our faculty members, our patients at the Riland Academic Health Care Center, and the patients of the future," says Balentine. Online Platform is Being Created for Georgian Winemakers by EU funded Program New opportunities are opening for Georgian winemakers and wine lovers through an EU funded programme, East Invest 2.The regional investment and trade facilitation programme is working to improve the SME sector across the countries of the Eastern Partnership. East Invest 2 has been launched to revitalize the Georgian wine industry.The project is twinning the Georgian Wine Association (GWA), an independent non-state organization, with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Through the project, an online platform is being developed that will promote Georgian wine producers and act as a one-stop-shop for key information and guidance to the wine industry, helping to spur growth and exports to the EU market.The BCCI will be bringing its experience in supporting the Bulgarian wine industry.The online platform being developed, in addition to providing key information and guidance on wine producers, will promote local vineyards. 100 companies mainly from Kakheti and Kartli regions have been selected and interviewed and will be featured on the site with information on their production, pricing and availability for export.In order to make the platform more sustainable, the Georgian Wine Association plans to link the site with the popular tourism portal georgianwine.travel. This will generate more traffic and offer new cooperation and partnership opportunities between the wine, grape and wine tourism fields. The News in Brief Ukrainian Delegation at the General Staff The Chief of the Hetman Petro National Army Academy of Ukraine, LTG Pavlo Tkachuk, is paying a three-day official visit to Georgia. Today, the Chief of General Staff of GAF, Major-Genral Vakhtang Kapanadze, welcomed his Ukrainian guest. Major-Genral Kapanadze thanked the Ukrainian side for their support: We are well aware of the situation around Ukraine and Georgia and we share the same vision. We are going to share our knowledge about our progress. The Ukrainian experience in hybrid warfare is very interesting, and sharing experience is good for both of us. We are planning exchange programs for students and lecturers of our educational institutions. This will give us opportunity to strengthen the development of our Armed Forces, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze said. At the meeting, the sides discussed bilateral cooperation issues in military education sphere, paying specific attention to the development of this direction. Id like to thank the Chief of General Staff for invitation. We met each other at the Lviv Academy recently, where Major-General Kapanadze became familiar with the educational process and trainings of the Ukrainian military personnel. The goal of my visit is to familiarize myself with your military educational systems. We are interested in the methodology of training military officers, sergeants and other ranks. Also, we want to find out your experience in transition to NATO standards and this will be one step forward in our future cooperation, LTG Pavlo Tkachuk declared. Today, Chief of the Hetman Petro National Army Academy of Ukraine will visit the Giorgi Antsukhelidze NCO Training Centre and the Krtsanisi National Training Center. He will also visit the Davit Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy of Georgia and General Giorgi Kvinitadze Cadets Military Lyceum. (mod.gov.ge) Yes, we do believe we are closer to NATO membership - Giorgi Kvirikashvili Yes, we do believe we are closer to NATO membership, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said in an interview with the Ashish Kumar Sen, Deputy Director of the Editorial Director of the Atlantic Council. According to him, the Warsaw Summit demonstrated that Georgia is progressing on its path towards NATO membership in terms of both political and practical cooperation. The allies reconfirmed that Georgia will become a member of NATO in accordance with the Bucharest Summit decision. They underlined that the integration process is moving forward and Georgia has all the practical tools to prepare for membership. In the context of practical cooperation, the allies agreed to provide additional support and assistance to strengthen Georgia's self-defense, security and resilience. These important new decisions include: affiliation of the Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) with training and educational activities of the Allied Command Transformation (ACT); a provision of support for the development of Georgia's air defense and air surveillance; and the establishment of a trust fund for financial support for effective implementation of NATO-Georgia projects. The allies have underlined that both the existing and new initiatives are helping Georgia, an aspirant country, progress in its preparations towards membership. And, in an event that sent a powerful message, just two months after the summit on September 7 and 8, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) visited Georgia to discuss the practical way to implement the Warsaw decisions. It was the Council's fourth visit to our country, said the PM. According to him, the decision to include Georgia in NATO was taken at the Bucharest Summit and has been reconfirmed by the subsequent decisions. Therefore, it is apparently not a question of "whether" but "when" will Georgia became a member. As it was underlined by the [NATO] Secretary General [Jens Stoltenberg] during the NAC's recent visit to Georgia, NATO has a fundamental principle that every sovereign nation has the right to decide its own path, including what kind of security arrangements or military alliance it enters. The decision on Georgia's membership will be taken solely by the Alliance members based on the merits of Georgia and how it can contribute to security of the Alliance. NATO membership is the sovereign choice of the Georgian people and the ultimate goal of our government. We are determined to do our very best to achieve this objective. At the same time, we understand that we have a challenging road ahead and we are ready to follow every step to accomplish this goal, said the PM. (IPN) Due to recent changes in the federal law known as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), approximately 200 members of Miami's unclassified staff who earn a salary of less than $913 per week ($47,476 per year) will become eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time on Dec. 1, 2016. Supervisors and newly eligible employees will receive a letter during the coming week explaining these changes. The university will hold open forums for newly eligible employees and their supervisors 9:1510:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, and 8:159:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, in the Heritage Room at Shriver Center. Miamis FLSA Working Group has been planning for these changes over the past several months in consultation with the president, vice presidents, deans, other heads of units, and the Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee (UPAC). The new FLSA regulations do not apply to the following exempt employees: Faculty, tutors, laboratory, and clinical instructors regardless of salary level Graduate teaching and graduate research assistants regardless of salary level Athletic coaches who coach student athletes Physicians and lawyers Because of staffing and budget implications, each division will be using multiple methods to meet the new requirements. Some employees will receive a salary adjustment in order to maintain their exempt status. Some departments will pay overtime and some will use compensatory timeonly programs. Some departments will also use alternative work schedules for employees in lieu of overtime work and/or limit employees to a 40-hour workweek. In order to comply with the regulations and to pay overtime and compensatory time to newly eligible employees, Miami will need to make several changes to its administrative and payroll practices. The chart below provides a summary of the administrative changes that will occur over the next several months for those employees who will become eligible for overtime pay and compensatory time. Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. Virginia Reeves said it's hard to believe her first novel, "Work Like Any Other," is out in the world after 4 years from start to publication. Then in July came the surreal part. The novel, published by Scribner in April, made the "long list" of 13 books for the Man Booker Prize, the prestigious honor open to writers across the world. Reeves' name was placed alongside J.M. Coetzee, the South African-born author who's won two Bookers and a Nobel Prize. The Helena High School and Carroll College graduate said she's "thrilled." "I don't actually believe them," she said with a laugh. "I think they're real." "Work Like Any Other" is set in 1920s Alabama. Roscoe, a trained electrician, leaves his job at the Alabama Power Company to work at his wife Marie's family farm. Failing at his new trade, Roscoe strings illegal lines to the farm to power the thresher and other farm equipment. Their newfound success is interrupted when a power company worker is electrocuted and Roscoe is sent to prison, where he must find his place in the system during a 20-year sentence, all the while contemplating his redemption to his estranged spouse and children. The novel originated with Roscoe, who Reeves reverse-engineered from a period-era study she discovered. "I found this amazing document a graduate thesis that studied convicts and their likelihood of committing additional crimes based upon all these different characteristics," she said. Those included whether the parolees were married, had families, their IQs and occupations at the time of their arrests. She found that that statistics were counter-intuitive. "Going in, I assumed that if you were single and had no children or affiliations, you might be more likely to commit another crime," she said. It was the opposite: People with a high IQ, children or family ties, or a skilled trade were more likely recidivists. "I made a list of all those characteristics and that became Roscoe," she said. *** Once the time period and prisoner were in place, Reeves discovered Kilby Prison, site of the state's first electric chair. The spread of electricity, a technological development that we take for granted, was heralded by some as a force of modernization, she said, while others were more skeptical. "You see electricity doing amazing things, like bring prosperity to a failing farm, and then also these horrific things, like electrocuting prisoners," she said, a juxtaposition she found "rich and fascinating." Reeves was familiar with Alabama her grandparents moved there when she was in the third grade. Her writing, buoyed by historical research, has a level of detail that resembles literary nonfiction. "I'm amazed by the amount of history that has now been digitized and put on the Internet," she said. She found the prison blueprints with design notes, giving her access to details that she included for a vivid recreation. "All of those details about what the wall was made of, the amount electricity and the wires, the layout of all the of the cell blocks and ventilation came from primary sources," she said, comparing the process to a "treasure hunt." "As I uncovered these elements, they seemed to speak so clearly to the present in a way that is almost more meaningful. If there's something directly in front of us, it's like we can't see it, or you're more defensive," she said. Reeves developed a voice that has a naturally punctuated rhythm and speech-like quality that flows seamlessly from narration to period-specific, rural dialogue. She said the style is somewhat unique to this book, with staccato rhythms that match the setting. Writing with a specificity about Alabama did require Reeves to keep a plant guide at the ready, and so she's relieved to be writing about her home territory. *** Reeves graduated from Helena High School and Carroll College. Afterward, she moved around a bit, including stints teaching at Willamette University, and the two lived in Missoula and Helena as well. She and her husband moved to Texas, where she attended the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas in Austin. After completing the three-year program, she got a teaching job and they remained in Texas. After she sold her novel, she and her family decided to move back to Helena. She's now at work on the followup, which centers on the Boulder River School and Hospital. "There's pretty gruesome history in this state of treatment of developmentally disabled and mentally ill," she said. Her book will start in the 1960s and continue through the 1980s, "focusing on a behavioral psychologist who works in Boulder and suffers a brain injury himself and is in this reverse role, of almost patient as opposed to doctor," she said. She's writing it in a "really close third-person" voice. "There's times when it will slip into this stream of consciousness where you're really in his brain," and "then you can zoom out as well into a more distant third person," she said. In contrast to the voice she employed in "Work," the new book will feel different, with longer, more rambling sentences because of the new landscape. She didn't intend to corner herself as a "writer of institutions" or even a historical novelist she simply found stories that spoke to the present. "We have such short-term memories, myself included. We are so interested in the now and what's happening around us. I'm reading about things that happened in Boulder, this community 40 minutes from Helena, that were happening in my lifetime and they're just atrocious. There just isn't the awareness," she said," she said. Research and writing about them, she said, can be a form of "awakening." When it comes to spending time hunting and fishing in the great Montana outdoors, some folks like to be accompanied by a partner to enjoy the adventure with them. For me, fishing is enjoyable with or without a partner, but I would rather hunt with someone than go it alone. That is especially true when it comes to archery hunting. I am much more comfortable going with someone. And because of my lack of experience in the sport of archery hunting, its a necessity to go with someone who knows the ins and outs of how to be successful. Josh Stewart from Missoula is an archery hunter who actually likes to go it alone. In a recent radio interview on "Hunters Breakfast," Stewart explains why he prefers to go solo: "I like to archery hunt elk alone because I dont have to worry about my partner being quiet, not wanting to go where I want to go, and because in archery, you need to get close to get a quality shot, so it just seems to be much easier if I am stalking and setting up by myself." He added, "It also easier to plan a hunting trip when you go by yourself." A week ago Monday, Stewart decided to head out elk hunting in the early morning hours and explore a new area where he had a good feeling there might be some elk. Here is how Stewart described his solo hunt that Monday morning: "After a couple hours of moving and calling, I finally hear something. It wasnt the answering bugle of a hot bull, but was definitely an elk. Ahead of me in the timber, I can hear the crashing and breaking of large sticks, branches and downed trees. I check the wind; its in my face. I think to myself: The bull is coming in. I move up 20-plus yards or so and knock an arrow. Listening, the sound gets more intense but the elk doesnt seem to be getting closer. I rush in another 20-plus yards to an opening that is about 40 yards across from the bull. He's just inside some timber and brush. I sat momentarily thinking of what to do next and checking the wind again to see if I could run in and ambush him. Suddenly, he stops racking the bushes and steps out walking towards me. Hes on a path slightly downhill and heading directly toward me. As he approaches, he walks behind a tree and when he does, I draw back. He steps out from behind the tree and stops at about 20 yards and stares down and ahead. I let my arrow fly. It hits the mark, slightly above and behind the shoulder. He spins a 180 and takes off as I cow call. I cant believe it, I just smacked a bull! I checked my watch, its 9:17 a.m. I wait and continually check my watch. Its been 20 minutes now and its time to find my bull. I push through the brush and there is a nice 5x5 bull, my second bull with a bow." I asked Stewart, who packed his elk back to his pickup by 5:38 p.m. that afternoon, if he had any pointers for hunters who have a desire to hunt alone. He gave me four basic steps: Number one, call a lot, using a combination of cow and calf calls and occasional bugles. If you get an answer or you hear something coming in, close the gap, move ahead 40-50 yards and get ready. Two, move a lot. Cover a lot of ground and dont stay put after calling, move 20-40 yards. Three, keep the wind in your face. Four, be aggressive, close the gap. If you are successful, be prepared to make three or four trips packing your elk out. To view Stewart's bull, log onto montanaoutdoor.com. Montanas prisons and jails are over capacity. What changes in statute and/or funding at the state level if any do you think are necessary? If no changes, why not? I support a corrections system that provides public safety, utilizes best practices to reduce recidivism, addresses the impact of crimes to victims, and requires community approval for community-based corrections programs. Generally, I believe in the concept of individual responsibility; that each person is accountable for their actions. I recognize both the power and the moral obligation vested in juries to secure justice by judging the facts of a case and application of the law. I do support registration, monitoring and supervision of convicted sexual offenders and timely notification to victims and local law enforcement of the offenders pending release. Has the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adequately guided the states hunting and fishing concerns, or does the Legislature need to give the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks more specific direction regarding topics such as land acquisition, wildlife management, predator control, and bison? I support responsible hunting, trapping and fishing that balance resource conservation with the rights of property owners. I support state management of all of Montanas wildlife species according to state law and encourage the delisting of the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species Act. I generally recognize a need to strengthen legislative oversight to ensure that the intent of legislation is not exceeded or lost. I also believe state management of public lands and resources is best. Generally, Im supportive of small, effective, and efficient government, while promoting legislation to return more local control. Many Montanans depend on the extraction of fossil fuels for jobs, yet there is a strong demand for clean and renewable energy in the region, especially since prices for the latter are falling. How do you propose to help workers in the coal, oil and natural gas industries find jobs in this new economic landscape? I support a natural resource development policy that promotes jobs in Montana, responsible stewardship and reduces our dependence on federal aid and foreign resources. I support the private development of energy resources, including alternative forms of energy. I generally oppose the war on dams, coal and other carbon fuels. I would support informed natural resource decision-making by government entities based on sound science. Additionally on the topic of natural resources, I would desire to improve the economic well-being of our timber communities by supporting timely harvesting, restoration of fire- and beetle-damaged forests and use of responsible logging. According to Montana University System records, as recently as 1992, the stated funded 76 percent of the university system. Now, though, state support has fallen to 40 percent, which means tuition funds 60 percent of the system putting higher education out of reach for some Montana families. Do you as a legislator have a responsibility to help and if so, how? If not, why not? I support quality educational opportunities for all Montanans. I believe the funding of public Universities can best contribute to helping fulfill our duty to educate future generations. However, current practices within higher educational systems are not sustainable. Montana must work to fix this. In his book, "Plunder and Deceit: Big Governments Exploitation of Young People and the Future," author Mark Levin states that, Unfortunately, the rising generation is the victim of an exceedingly expensive and inferior public education, too often driven by statist ideology and objectives, academic fads and social experimentation, and administrative and bureaucratic empire building. I agree. What do you regard as the most urgent problem facing Montana, and how do you propose dealing with it? Most importantly, I believe government should be efficient, effective, accountable and transparent. My objective in running is to improve how government works. Critical needs must be met along with human services and infrastructure requirements. Government plays a role in promoting opportunities for all, and this is best done by following the principles expressed in our founding documents. Im a real-world problem solver, a lifelong citizen volunteer and a common-sense wife and mom. My engineering experience has provided me with a proven record of working in collaborative processes among professionals, bureaucrats and public citizens to implement successful solutions to challenging problems. A man shot near the California Street bridge on Monday likely was hit by a bullet that ricocheted after being shot at the ground, an investigation has concluded. Jordan Branch Standingrock, who was arrested and initially held on suspicion of attempted deliberate homicide, has been charged instead with felonies for assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment. According to court documents, the victims mother called 911 at about 8:15 p.m. Monday to report that her son had been shot in the head by Standingrock. The victim was taken to the hospital where it was determined he had been grazed by a bullet. He allegedly would not identify the man responsible, only that his assailant had put a gun to his forehead after an argument between them. Standingrock allegedly walked away before firing the weapon. The victim refused to cooperate further with police. Detectives investigating the scene found a 9mm shell casing and a deformed bullet. During Standingrock's initial appearance Wednesday, deputy county attorney Brittany Santorno said the gun has not been recovered, and asked for a $75,000 bail. Public defense attorney Reed Mandelko asked for bail to be set at $20,000, saying Standingrock was a lifelong resident of Missoula, and stressing that the victim was not cooperating with investigators. It seems to me that theres a lot more going on than immediately meets the eye, he said. Justice of the Peace Marie Andersen set Standingrocks bail at $60,000 and allowed him to be screened for pretrial supervision. At a ceremony to honor Debra Magpie Earling, the first Native American director of the University of Montana's creative writing program honored others. Earling, a Bitterroot Salish tribal member, offered colorful blankets and other treasures to a line of people who had supported her and UM's writing students, and she most of all praised students for showing people the way to write the stories of their lives. When her ancestor, Chief Charlo of the Bitterroot Salish, left the land, he left in exile. But the sorrowful story is changing in the midst of the brilliant force of students, she said. "May Chief Charlo's sorrow be replaced with the magnificent hope and light that our students bring to us," Earling said. Wednesday at the Payne Family Native American Center on campus, friends, family and community members gathered to commemorate the lauded author's appointment to head of the creative writing program. Earling's novel "Perma Red" won the Western Writers Association Spur Award, WWA's Medicine Pipe Bearer Award for Best First Novel, a WILLA Literary Award from Women Writing the West, and the American Book Award, according to University Relations. Salish elder Arleen Adams began the ceremony drumming and singing, shaking the bones of the ancestors, she said, and she thanked Earling for blazing a trail as the group stood in a circle with the new director in the center. The faculty member wore a dark traditional Native dress with bright pink flowers and tall moccasins, and she held on one arm a lavender scarf with long white tassels. Sherwin Bitsui, a visiting professor in poetry who has known Earling some 20 years, said she profoundly inspired him, and he's grateful to have her as a colleague and director of the program. "Our child, you have returned to us," he said, reading the end of a poem. A few years ago, UM identified programs of national distinction, and creative writing was one, said President Royce Engstrom. A program at that level needs exemplary leadership, and he said Earling would provide it. "Your contributions to the creative literature of the West have been profound," Engstrom said. As part of the honoring, Earling received a gift as well, one that made the crowd exclaim. Former creative writing director Bill Kittredge and writer and filmmaker Annick Smith offered her a present from author Lois Welch, a blanket whose late husband James Welch had received from Fort Belknap Tribe after writing "Fools Crow." Around the community, students talk about the writing program, and all they want to do is study under Earling's tutelage, Kittredge said. "It's changed their lives," Kittredge said. People outside Montana talk about Earling as well, said Troy Felsman, member and secretary with the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribal Council. When he tells people he's with the tribe, they want to know if that's Earling's tribe too, and he's proud to respond. "You betcha it is," Felsman said. Dean Chris Comer was among the people Earling herself recognized as a friend of the program, and he said he was pleased to see a Native American woman take the helm of an institution so regarded at the national level. "With a long tradition of excellence, it is very exciting to see that tradition enhanced by new leadership and especially from a woman like Debra Earling who represents the Native people who inhabited the land where UM now stands," Comer said in an email before the ceremony. Other instructors joined the event, as did friends, family and community members. Faculty members typically lead the program for three years before passing the role onto another director. Carol Kleinert recently moved to Montana from New York, and she participated because she wanted to witness a ceremony that was different than anything she'd seen before. "I've never been an honoring ceremony, and I want to learn more about Native American culture," she said. Lisa Teberg-Johnson wanted to offer support to a teacher who had put so much time and energy into her classes. Now with Humanities Montana, Teberg-Johnson studied creative writing with Earling a few years ago. "She's clearly a very talented writer, and as a student, it was an honor to take classes from her," Teberg-Johnson said. CONDON A loudly divided crowd came to hear American Land Council representatives Jennifer Fielder and Kerry White pitch their reasons for demanding more local management of federal property. Nearly 100 people packed the Condon Community Center on Tuesday night for the presentation, which filled two hours with presentations, questions and debate. The gathering exposed a widening gap in this Swan Valley center of 431 residents at the northern edge of Missoula County. While the American Land Council was invited by the Condon Community Council, more than half the audience appeared opposed to their presence. All I wanted to accomplish was to have people listen, Council President Ken Donovan said after the session adjourned. We dont have too many meetings with this many people coming. It was far more than the number who joined Donovan, Fielder and White at the center for a comment-writing session earlier in the day to draft responses to the Flathead National Forest Plan. That document outlines how millions of public acres surrounding Condon would be managed for timber harvest, wildlife habitat, wilderness quality and recreation. It has not been this contentious since the This community supported by timber dollars days, said Kari Gunderson, a retired wilderness ranger and Swan Valley resident. She referred to a pro-logging movement in the 1980s signified by fluorescent-yellow stenciled signs that pitted timber industry and wilderness advocates against each other. Fielder represents Thompson Falls as a Republican in the state Senate, and White represents Bozeman as a Republican in the House. Both have introduced or supported legislation to study or advocate for transfer of federal lands to state management or ownership. In their talk, Fielder and White said the federal government was too tied down with regulations, dominated by Eastern political interests, and ignorant of local needs and interests to properly oversee the large tracts of public land it owns in the West. As a result, timber industry was declining as forests burned in wildfire, destroying communities, jobs, wildlife and recreation opportunities. Forests that didnt burn were succumbing to beetle kill and other forms of mismanagement, they said. They presented timelines displaying the number of acres logged and burned over the past 100 years, arguing there was a correlation between the level of federal activity in the woods and the severity of forest fires. After the fires of 1910, the mentality of the Forest Service changed, White said. They decided it was best to do more logging and reduce fuel loads in the forest. Thats why you saw more logging on that graph and a decrease in fires. But then in the 1980s, they didn't do as much logging, and that's been decreasing as the fires increase. Audience members like Tom Parker of Condon challenged that claim, citing alternate studies claiming logged areas were actually more prone to fires that untreated acreage. The suggestion that well just log our way out of this and get to a better place is ludicrous, Parker said after the meeting. The biggest water and forest health problems are in places where weve most intensively managed. The presentation included a number of unsubstantiated claims. Fielder claimed forest fires sterilized the soil 8 to 10 feet deep, preventing regrowth of trees and causing forests in the Bitterroot Valley to be replaced with grasslands. Montana forest soils are concentrated in the top 1 to 4 inches, and few places in the Rocky Mountains have soil depths of more than a foot, according to published research compiled by the Montana Natural History Center. White claimed that catastrophic wildfires usually occur on federal lands because the state (Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) is very successful getting onto fires before they get big, but the feds dont have local crews in place to respond. According to published state and federal reports, DNRC crews in Montana kept 94 percent of their fires below 10 acres in 2015. Forest Service crews across the Pacific Northwest were successful in initial attack almost 97 percent of the time in the same year, although their standard is keeping the fire under 100 acres in timber. That included fires suppressed by smokejumper crews, which Montana does not deploy. Several audience members supported the ALC proposals, including one man who ascribed the falling population and growing crime problems in Condon to the demise of logging on federal lands. Donovan adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. as audience members started arguing with the speakers. A 20-year-old man who allegedly crawled through a window and raped an intoxicated, sleeping woman told police that while technically that would be rape his situation was different because the two of them used to date. Jason Devon Lenoir faces felony charges for sexual intercourse without consent and burglary, as well as a misdemeanor for violating an order of protection. Justice of the Peace Marie Andersen set his bail at $100,000 during his initial appearance Wednesday. Law enforcement officers were called to a disturbance on Sept. 19 after the 18-year-old womans neighbor said Lenoir was refusing to leave the area despite being repeatedly told to do so, according to court documents. The woman told her neighbor Lenoir had raped her the previous day. Lenoir allegedly responded by implying she should be happy it was him instead of another person, according to a court affidavit. She told authorities she had gone to a concert on Sept. 17 and had consumed seven alcoholic drinks before going home and getting into bed. She woke up around 7:30 a.m. the next day and found Lenoir naked in the bed. She said he told her he had broken into her apartment and had sex with her, which she told officers she didn't remember. The woman said Lenoir had recently returned to Missoula and had been trying to contact her, and that police had previously warned him there was an order of protection in place preventing such contact. In an interview with a police detective, Lenoir said when he returned to Montana, he had emailed the woman, who had stopped having contact with him, that he intended to try to see her. When he first went to her home, the police were called, and he was told about the order of protection. He allegedly said he returned to her home around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 18 and when the woman didnt answer the door, he removed the screen from her window, opened it and went inside. Lenoir told the detective the woman was passed out drunk and did not even know he was there. During his appearance in Missoula County Justice Court on Wednesday, deputy county attorney Brittany Santorno said Lenoir was arrested for aggravated assault in Texas a month ago, shortly before returning to Missoula. In addition to setting his bond at the $100,000 Santorno requested, Andersen allowed Lenoir to be screened for pretrial supervision and ordered that if he is released he will be on GPS monitoring The developers who want to build a $30 million hotel at the site of the Missoula Mercantile downtown have received the go-ahead from city officials to begin environmental abatement. The Missoula Redevelopment Agencys board of directors approved a request by Mercantile, LLC to proceed without prejudice to begin removing asbestos from the roof and other areas of the building. That means that they are not affecting any future requests they make to the board or obligating any TIF funds. It is anticipated that the developer will ask for Tax Increment Financing money to help pay for deconstruction costs and perhaps facade preservation and sidewalk improvements to the site. We anticipate a full request for deconstruction depending on what happens with potential litigation, said MRA executive director Ellen Buchanan. The request could come as soon as the Oct. 19 board meeting. A local historic preservation group, Preserve Historic Missoula, has filed a petition in Missoula County District Court asking a judge to repeal the Missoula City Councils decision to grant Mercantile, LLC a partial demolition plan. The city attorneys office has asked the court to dismiss the petition. A scheduling hearing on the matter is set for next week. Alan McCormick, an attorney representing the Mercantile developers, Homebase Montana of Bozeman, said that abatement is expected to take 30 to 60 days. He expressed confidence that the developers would prevail over any legal motions and move ahead with the project. Following a lengthy and complex process, the City Council approved a partial demolition permit and a development agreement for Mercantile, LLC, to begin its project to deconstruct the structure known as the Missoula Mercantile, he wrote to the MRA. In its place will be a five-story building housing an approximately 150-room hotel and 24,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. The project is expected to cost between $30 and $35M, generating significant increases in TIF funding potential. The development agreement calls for the structure known as the Pharmacy building to be preserved in its entirety. Once the abatement is done, the developers intend to begin the complex and lengthy process of deconstructing the building and salvaging as much materials as possible. The MRA board also approved a $20,425 TIF request from the Missoula Housing Authority to help with alley paving, sidewalk construction and other costs associated with building six units of affordable housing at 110 S. California St., right next to the Milwaukee Trail bike/pedestrian path. The Housing Authority received a $700,000 state HOME grant to construct the 7,620 square foot building. It will have four one-bedroom units targeting families making below 80 percent of the area median income and two one-bedroom units targeting families making below 50 percent of area median income. HAMILTON With the boom in the hard apple cider industry, hard cider festivals are cropping up all over the nation as a way to celebrate this traditional beverage and educate those whove yet to give it a try. A fledgling Bitterroot Valley organization called BudWood will jump on that bandwagon next week with its own Montana Cider Week. BudWoods goal is the reinvigorate the apple industry in the area, said the organizations president, Lee McAlpine. We want to improve peoples knowledge of the current apple industry and hard cider. Hard apple cider is the fastest growing segment in the beverage industry and McAlpine said forecasts call for that trend to continue for at least another five years. In Montana, there are currently four licensed cideries and another three in the planning stages. It wont be long before we have seven cideries in Montana, McAlpine said. Right now, were at the phase when craft brewers are creating new styles and new flavors that give customers a wide palate to choose from. Its really a great time to be creative as a cider maker. That creativity will become apparent to anyone who takes advantage of the four different events that will be part of the inaugural Montana Cider Week that runs between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1. The celebration kicks off Sunday, Sept. 25, with the Fork to Farm bicycle tour organized by the bikewalkbitterroot.org and MSU Extension. People will visit different farms and orchards and end up at the Western Ag Research Center for a nice dinner with cider, mead and beer tastings, McAlpine said. That event is already full. On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Hamiltons Backroad Cider, 98 Marcus Street, will offer a cider and cheese tasting from 5 to 8 p.m. They will also be pressing apples on site and pouring fresh juice for people who stop by, McAlpine said. On Friday, Sept. 30, McAlpine will be working with the chef at the Little Blue Joint Restaurant in Darby, where shell pair her Montana CiderWorks cider with a dish thats yet to be decided. The week will conclude with the popular Liquid Apple Night on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Hamiltons Legion Park on Second Street. This years Liquid Apple Night will feature selections from all the Montana hard cider makers as well as four different varieties from Colorado. This year we were able to convince the Rocky Mountain Cider Association to have a table, McAlpine said. We will have four ciders from the southern reaches of the Rocky Mountains. It will be fun to have them there. The event will offer people a chance to sample a variety of different hard ciders that McAlpine is sure will leave many surprised. These more modern ciders are really a new style thats specific to northern America and tailored more toward the kinds of apples that we grow here, she said. The English-style of hard apple cider has a very high tannin content, which creates a more austere beverage that goes well with food. The American version is fruitier and is nice to drink on its own. Its very much wine-like, McAlpine said. Legally its considered a wine, not a beer. Its not brewed. Its fermented. It is more attune to champagne making. McAlpine is certain that people who come to Liquid Apple Night will find something to their liking. It will be a good chance for people to talk with makers of cider, McAlpine said. People will also be able to figure out what cider ready is their cider. Not every cider is for every person, but Im certain that you can find one that you really like there. A 10th-grade boy, age 15, needs a warm winter jacket, men's size large, jeans size 32 x 34, boxers, men's size medium (which must be new and in the packaging). He is also in need of warm flannel sheets and a warm winter blanket for a full size bed, and towels. New or gently used is wonderful. If you would like to help with this need you can donate gently used items or make a donation of $175 to My Student in Need and we will purchase a gift card so the teacher can purchase the items for the student. Sentinel No. 1723. A fourth grade girl, age 9, needs pants, hoodies and shirts women's size small. New or used is wonderful! If you would like to help with this need you can donate gently used items or make a donation of $150 to My Student in Need and we will purchase a gift card so the teacher can take the student shopping. Russell No. 1743. Dear Gov. Steve Bullock: The people of Montana expect their elected officials to be good stewards of their money. We are constitutionally required to spend no more than we take in and every session we work to plan ahead and to keep the state in a sound fiscal position. In recent sessions we have benefited from high commodities prices that swelled tax revenue and allowed the state to increase spending by more than 20 percent in your first term. Unfortunately, this boom time appears to be over, and with federal policies actively attacking our natural resource industry, tax revenue is declining precipitously. We have a crisis looming on the horizon for our state budget, and now is the time to begin to prepare for it. Montanas fiscal year 2016 ending fund balance was $99 million less than anticipated and the FY 2017 ending fund balance is now projected to be $109 million by the end of FY 2017, down from earlier projections of over $300 million and down from $527 million your first year in office. The Legislative Fiscal Division is projecting revenues from oil and gas production to be half of what they were just two years ago, dropping from $110 million in FY 2014 to less than $50 million in each year of the 2019 biennium (2019 Biennium Outlook, June 16, pg. 33). Montana coal production has declined sharply and is on track to be at a 30-year low. In FY 2016, coal tax collections were down by $7.3 million from the previous year, and the outlook for coming years is even worse. While coal tax makes up only a small portion of the general fund, local government funding and some special revenue funds will be negatively affected. Hundreds of Montanans have lost their jobs due to the downturn in our energy economy, and in the coming years thousands more jobs are projected to be lost. For the next biennium, we can expect those job losses to negatively impact state income tax revenues. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 2,700 fewer people are employed in the mining and timber sectors than when you first took office. Local governments who depend on natural resource tax revenues are going to continue to be hurt by this economic downturn and loss of revenue. Further evidence of the decline in the projected ending fund balance is the fact that the administration did not transfer the allowable $21.2 million to the fire fund. Instead, only $11.4 million was transferred, indicating the administration believes the full transfer would cause the ending fund balance to dip below the Oct. 1 threshold of $118 million outlined in MCA 17-7-140. It is not at all apparent that you have a plan to address these problems. In fact, we are doubly concerned that you continue to tout Montanas strong fiscal position and $300 million rainy day fund as part of your re-election campaign, when those claims are no longer the truth. We need leadership that will face these issues head on. We ask that you be honest with the people of Montana about state finances and join with us in being a part of finding solutions to this problem. We also ask that you take a strong stand for the interests of Montana against those who seek the destruction of our natural resource industries, including those in your own party and those who have donated to your campaign. Recent remarks by Margaret Gorski (guest column, Sept. 8) miss the mark in assessing Ravalli County. The current civic leaders and legislators of Ravalli County have a track record of leadership and accomplishments that Gorski seems to have overlooked. Replacing the old "drawbridge" attitude with a new "welcome mat" has been underway for a long time, as the record indicates. Her quote of, "gridlock, buck-passing and business as usual," is canned rhetoric, not fact. The first small-business meeting with valley legislators and valley businesses, facilitated by the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority office, was in 2014. From them came ideas and concerns that we could focus our energies on improving. Their priority list showed the most concern about: 1. internet access, 2. health costs and 3. reducing business taxes. The civic leaders of the county have been able to do much to improve business economic opportunities, which are adding new jobs. The city of Hamilton is working with the county commissioners to bring in state and federal funding to begin the infrastructure process into the newly formed Targeted Economic Development District. All six valley legislators have played key rolls in getting legislation passed to not only help our county, but also help all rural counties. For example, I brought House Bill 274, making it possible for all rural counties to also be eligible, not just the urban, to apply for infrastructure funding for business districts. Rep. Ron Ehli brought three bills, HB 33, HB 34 and HB 35, that create community-based health care options. Great for the patients and families, along with creating local good-paying jobs. Sen. Pat Connell created state funding for firefighting costs, Rep. Nancy Ballance is the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Sen. Fred Thomas heads up tax and revenue on the senate side, Rep. Theresa Manzella is on the Environmental Quality Committee. These folks are highly regarded and very effective in establishing good legislation that helps benefit Ravalli County. An example of local small businesses benefiting and starting up in our county, that have benefited directly from the efforts of our legislators, and from our Economic Development Office, would include B E Forest Products in Stevensville, over 15 employees and hiring more; Bitterroot Machine and Tool in Stevensville, over 25 employees and hiring more; Freight Monster in Hamilton, growing fast and creating new high-tech jobs. And just this summer was launched a new poultry growing and processing operation. Living Farms in Stevensville raises pasture-grown poultry, 2,500 birds at a time, and the new processing plant is at Homestead Organic Farm in Hamilton. New jobs, new ideas and great potential growth right here in our valley. I was able to help resolve an unexpected crisis when on the date the processing was to begin they were told that the required meat inspectors would not be available for a few months yet. With an attitude of "resolving this as quickly as we can," the Department of Livestock provided an inspector within days, allowing the first group of birds to be processed, and now have continuing processing lined up for several months. Civic leaders, meaning city officials and county commissioners, making the extra effort. The Ravalli County Economic Development office and state legislators leading the way have improved the business climate in our county. It is a community effort that brings opportunity. It is happening and it shows. The community welcome mat is working well. Unfortunately our state is not as fortunate as Ravalli County. The job-killing efforts of the present administration are quickly impacting our state's revenue and soon our ability to meet our budget commitments. Missing funds found in the state audit. Oil, gas and coal restrictions and sanctions. Not able to pass desperately needed infrastructure legislation. Vetoing over 70 bills; some were much-needed tax revisions, and business incentives. "Montana is in need of new leaders," however, as the record shows, that is not the case for Ravalli county. We're doing fine. Not so much for the rest of the state. The state of Montana is blessed with an abundance of energy resources. We have areas of high-quality wind and solar opportunities, and we have one of the nations largest reserves of high-quality coal, plus new reserves of natural gas. The recent announcement of the complete shutdown of Colstrip units 1 and 2 was met with a few celebrations in some areas of Montana, but a great deal of concern in the community of Colstrip and the surrounding area. One thing is abundantly clear: energy and economic security in our state remains uncertain. Consider a few of the fallouts from the closure. It will make the operation of units 3 and 4 more expensive because of the economic rule of efficiency in size. The loss of jobs both in the mining and plant operation, plus the loss of income tax, property taxes and reduction in the coal severance taxes will have significant impact to local revenues, school revenues and the many recipients of the coal-tax trust fund. The effects do not stop there. The main 500kv transmission line that runs from Colstrip to the West Coast population centers could possibly cease operation when Colstrip 1 and 2 close. If a transmission line does not have a full capacity of electricity available, the line will not work at all. If that happens, one of the causalities could very well be the REC plant in Butte that employs 100-plus well-paid individuals. REC is the largest consumer of Colstrip power in Montana. They produce the raw material used to make solar panels. The closure of REC could very well increase the cost of solar panels and would make solar energy more expensive. The loss of tax revenue, a core industry and exports to the state economy is difficult to deal with, however, the devastation to the families, the schools and the community of Colstrip is the greatest travesty. Colstrip and the state of Montana lose the most in this battle. If we discover one day that we have the opportunity to host an industry that would employ Montanans, pay strong wages, contribute to our tax base, but could not locate here because of our lack of base load generation, all of Montana would suffer. Fortunately, Montana has the comfort of a fleet of hydroelectric facilities, along with the Colstrip thermal generation, that provide the base load required to make the intermittent power supplied by the renewables useable. This is imperative, as Montana ratepayers must have reliable and affordable electricity 24/7. Montana has the greatest opportunity for energy generation in the nation. All we need to accept is that every source of power must be considered. We have large coal, natural gas and oil reserves, an abundant area of wind and solar potential, and a labor force that is ready to go to work. Given the opportunity, our young people are anxious to stay here in Big Sky Country and contribute to the future of Montana. The bottom line is, we all need to be objective and honest with ourselves. We need all sources of generation to keep costs under control. Montana is far too special of a place to allow personal bias or ideology to limit any source of energy generation. Lower energy costs help our seniors, our less fortunate, our young families, our schools, public buildings and businesses. Together we can continue to live, work and prosper in this amazing state of ours. This is in response to the article No more nitpicking: Missoula schools hope to erase stigma, misinformation around head lice (Sept. 17). I am a local registered nurse with an active fifth grader who attends a Missoula elementary school. This year my child came home with lice. I treated it many times, and informed the parents of close friends. They began to question why the school had not informed them, as had I since I certainly informed the school. I met with the principal who informed me of the new policy, and referred me to speak with Linda Simon, the Missoula County Public Schools health supervisor. A conversation did take place in which she explained the aim of the new policy, which is to minimize the stigma, and focus on more fatal ailments such as allergies. First of all, allergies are not contagious! A child cannot contract an allergy from sharing a hairbrush, or piling their backpacks together in gym class. An allergy is not something that requires careful hair-checking by an adult educated on what to look for. This is like comparing apples and oranges. By minimizing the issue of lice, parents who are uneducated to this issue, how to check, what to look for, and how to treat and prevent, are being done a huge disservice. Like it or not, many families look to the school to provide advice and public health information. Yes, parents should know to check their kids, but having a simple generic note or phone message to alert them of cases of lice will help stop the spread by providing that incentive to actually check. Lice are uncomfortable, psychologically damaging and a costly problem to irradiate. Im sorry it is not as posh of a subject as allergies, but is still a public health issue. Kate Marmorato, Missoula The undersigned urge that District Judge Dirk Sandefur be elected as a justice to Montanas Supreme Court. He has the temperament and the broadest professional background of any candidate for the Supreme Courtincluding the skills that are indispensable for analyzing and deciding all civil and criminal cases: Sitting as district court judge serving for 14 years in one of Montanas busiest and most populous districts. Elected and re-elected three times by the citizens of Cascade County; Serving as a designated Supreme Court justice at the request of the chief justice; Serving as a police officer for the city of Havre; Practicing law as a private attorney; Serving as a public defender of persons accused of crime; Serving as a deputy Cascade County attorney prosecuting persons accused of crime; Appearing before the Supreme Court representing litigants; Dealing with every conceivable type of civil and criminal case that may come before the Montana Supreme Court; Not beholden to any partisan or special interest; No partisan or special interest agenda. Sandefur is a third-generation Montanan. He is married and has three children. He and his wife worked and put him through the University of Montana Law Schoolfrom which he graduated with high honors. As a judge, Dirk Sandefur has committed himself to fairness, impartiality, independence and a level playing field for all. He will continue to serve with that same commitment as a justice on the Montana Supreme Court. Jim Nelson, Terry Trieweiler, John Warner, W. William Leaphart, Jim Regnier, retired Montana Supreme Court justices, and Karla M. Gray, retired chief justice, Montana Supreme Court APGAR There are only two ways to become a citizen of these United States, and the chances of either happening inside Glacier National Park have long fallen in the range of slim to none. Which makes Sandrine Tochem and her fiance, Samuel Redfern, the rarest of couples. He became a U.S. citizen by being born in the park, to Americans who were on a salmon-fishing and huckleberry-picking expedition in Glacier in 1977 and werent anticipating his arrival that day. Thirty-nine years later, Tochem, who came to the United States in 2007 to escape a civil war in the central African nation of Chad, became an American when she took the naturalization oath near the shores of Lake McDonald on Wednesday morning. The Missoula couples two daughters, 5-year-old Eve and 2-year-old Alexa, were among approximately 100 people who watched the ceremony. Ive been waiting for that, Tochem said after U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen of Missoula convened his court in the Apgar Campground amphitheater and administered the citizenship oath to 11 new Americans. Ive been waiting since I came to the United States. Im very proud. As rare as human births inside Glacier are, naturalization ceremonies appear to be even rarer. It was, as far as anyone knows, the first time anyone renounced all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and swore to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, by taking the oath of citizenship inside the parks borders. *** Such ceremonies have been occurring throughout public lands administered by the National Park Service during this, the services centennial year. The first, naturally, occurred on Ellis Island at the Statue of Liberty this spring. Since then, new Americans have taken their oaths in places such as the Everglades, Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. Wednesday it was Glacier Parks turn. Robert Looney, regional director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said his agency agreed to try to hold 100 naturalization ceremonies in parks and other NPS sites during the centennial year. And weve already crossed the threshold, Looney said. Were now at 105, in some of the most beautiful settings anyone can imagine. Their new citizenship comes with both benefits and responsibilities, and Eric Smith, deputy superintendent of Glacier Park, pointed out one of the former to the 11 people. You now own this national park, Smith told them. *** The new citizens come from Chad, Belarus, Germany, the Philippines (two people), Mexico, Ukraine and Canada (which accounted for four of them). Mandy Gad Dawson of Kila was the German. She came to the United States on a student visa in 1998, to study at the University of Miami, and has been in the United States since and in Montana since 2004. Her husband, Brian Dawson, and 7-month-old son Levi, were among the crowd in the campground amphitheater. Its just very special to me, Mandy said. Ive felt like this is where I belong, this is where my life is, for a long time. This is a country I love, and that has given me many opportunities. Although she arrived under far different circumstances, Tochem echoed some of those sentiments. For her, Tochem said, citizenship means freedom. We dont have that in Chad, she said. No political freedom, anyway. And there is a lot of opportunity here if you want it. She does. She is working on a degree in social work at the University of Montana after first studying business, and then, at Montana State University, architecture. She also works, in home health care, and is raising the two little girls with Redfern. Sandrines father was a diplomat in Chads capital city of NDjamena, and members of the family were targeted during the countrys latest civil war, which ran from 2005-10. Her dad worked to get her out, said Redfern. She was considered a refugee at the time, although legally, she came on asylum. Since she got here shes gone through the normal process, applying for permanent status and then citizenship. Its taken 10 years and a lot of money, but she feels a lot of pride. And a lot of people are proud of her. *** Musician Rob Quist, a friend of Judge Christensen, sang The Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful at the ceremony. Representatives of Montana U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines read letters from their bosses to the new citizens. The beauty of America is the right to hold elected officials responsible, Daines, R-Mont., said in his letter. Tester, D-Mont., told them the true challenge of citizenship is not blindly embracing another culture and way of life; it is more about contribution, sharing and dialogue. It is about reaching across to your neighbors, understanding the dynamics of your community, and actively engaging it. Democracy loses its luster when we choose not to participate. The judge who administered their oaths, meantime, told them that among the items with which the Daughters of the American Revolution would present them were voter registration cards. Your becoming an American citizen coincides with the great American pastime of voting every four years for a president, Christensen said. Please, please, exercise your right to vote. And dont limit your involvement to presidential politics, he asked the 11. Find out about your neighborhoods. Take an interest in your schools and local governments, Christensen said. You are now a part of the great and diverse American family. That family now includes a man born a U.S. citizen in Glacier National Park, and a woman who became one there by choice. Only in America, you might say. Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved There is currently too much dramatic news abroad in the world, mostly bad. What can an election in one single city mean, far from most fronts? Yet the voting in Berlin last Sunday (September 18th) was full of drama and meaning, also outside Germany. The results caused some to grieve, some to applaud, and analysts like soothsayers to turn to arithmetic. Angela Merkels party, the CDU, hitherto junior partner in the Berlin government with the SPD (Social Democrats),took one more painful beating in a growing series, with its lowest results in recent history, a measly 17.6%. Some of the blame rests on the beefy shoulders of the local party leader, whose campaign in a city full of problems jobs, rent, fares, education stressed more cops, the introduction of Tasers, and greater repression generally. He will now almost certainly have to swap his handsome office as deputy mayor for a chilly opposition seat in the city legislature. And poor Ms. Merkel had to face his gloomy adherents, eat some crow, and say that her famous Well manage it! slogan had led to unexpected and difficult consequences. Indeed, a major cause for the CDU losses lies with the immigrant issue and with those welcoming words of Merkel, among the few decent ones in her entire time in office, which led to last years arrival of a million refugees. Her welcome, however much she now dilutes and alters it, is being used against her by all those in politics or the media, whose constant straight, factual accounts of every foreigners crime or misdemeanor are overfull of dog-whistle hints to the racists. Her sister party in big, rich Bavaria (the only such single-state party), fearful of further slipping from its usual majority rule, is foremost in attacking its supposed sibling, always in proper suit-and-tie language but with the old lederhosen-dirndl distrust of outsiders visible underneath. Merkel is even being forsaken in her own party by further-right forces, and her sinking popularity ratings are already endangering her twin jobs as party leader and chancellor. She could well grieve at the Berlin results. But there was no loud rejoicing either at the headquarters of the SPD (Social Democrats), whose Mayor Michael Muller has been cultivating every possible difference with his till-now partners. They are indeed out, as desired, while he is still in and will remain in his prestigious office. But alas, although the SPD still stayed ahead of all the others, its results, 21.6% (2011: 28.3%), marked a bigger loss, the biggest in its history. With this grievous result, and with no two parties able to get the necessary 50% of seats in the legislature, the next ruling government (called the Senate in Berlin) will now require three parties to reach that number. Aside from the conservative Free Democrats, who now squeeze back into the legislature with 6.7 %, the party which really rejoiced at the results was by far the most dangerous, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which, in this first electoral try in Berlin, got 14.2 % giving them 25 seats out of 160. Though well under recent wins in bigger East German states, the number was higher than in Germanys two other city-states, Hamburg and Bremen, and was a nasty, frightening blow to a city which likes to boast of being open-minded and cosmopolitan. It was also an omen for the federal elections next year, when it may well get a similar vote. Indeed, it was an alarm call for the entire world. Based on hatred of foreigners, with a stress against Muslims, it was its anti-immigrant platform plank that won it most votes, especially from worried, insecure, and increasingly nationalist voters in some areas of East Berlin. What few of its supporters even noticed, it is also a party backing less taxes for the millionaires, less support for the needy, less equality for women, but more weapons and more aggressiveness outside German borders. Its rise is part of a wave, almost a tsunami, now engulfing one European country after the other; its ideas are established at the top in Poland, Hungary, and the Baltic countries, are shared by coalition partners in most of Scandinavia, and threaten to win out in Austria, the Netherlands, and France. It has not yet reached such strength in the strongest of them all, Germany, but it is gaining momentum. Back in Berlin, it looks as if the SPD will, or almost has to, choose both the Greens and the Linke as government partners, especially after the Linke surprised nearly everyone by gaining votes while others lost, with 15.6 % (2011: 11.7 %), even beating its Green rivals by a few hairs (they got 15.2 %). All three strongly opposed the AfD, a key point in bringing them together. There are other points of agreement. But in all coalitions which the Linke ever joined they diluted their positions so much that they were often undistinguishable from the other parties and for the voters, who always punished them, sometimes turning to the right and the AfD. Will they make too many compromises again this time or will they, though partners, take more aggressive positions and seek support in the population? It was interesting to note that the Linke party gained most of all in working-class areas of West Berlin, where its members were more militant than in East Berlin, whose often elderly members, holdovers from GDR days, were not too accustomed to demonstrating out in the streets. These issues also matter on the national scene. It seems possible that after the elections next September, the SPD may there, too, break its current ties with the CDU with or without Merkel and seek the votes of the Greens and the Linke, which could perhaps add up to a majority with new, different scenery. It would demand compromises from the Linke in such a case, especially the acquiescence to using German troops abroad even when that clearly furthers German expansionist policies. The Linke has hitherto said it will not agree to such a compromise and will for its part make demands. One of them is the rejection of the trade deals with the USA known as TTIP, and the equivalent deal with Canada, called CETA. Both are favorable only to big business, especially the ever smaller group of ever greater monopolies already dominating the world. The head of the SPD, Sigmar Gabriel, formerly favored both treaties, like Merkel. Under great pressure from huge numbers of Germans he qualified his support for TTIP (or at least seemed to much like a political candidate in the USA). But a CETA decision is due this year, and Gabriel insisted on approving it. Last Saturday, one day before the Berlin vote, there were demonstrations against CETA and TTIP in seven major cities, supported by many organizations on the left, ecological groups, and, most important, at least the two biggest unions, IG Metall and Ver.di (with workers mostly in city and state jobs). It was a wonderful protest. I took part in Berlin, with about 70,000 others, starting off on the street in front of my house and marching off all highly-motivated, determined and happy that the pouring rain at the start quickly ceased. The similar marches in the other cities were not quite so big as in Berlin, of course, but all big for their cities and adding up to over 300,000! Even the police estimated close to 200,000! On Monday SPD leaders met in secret session to decide on their partys position toward CETA. Many grassroots groups and initiatives, even the affiliated Young Socialists, all demanded a No to CETA. Gabriels reputation and future status were on the line. And he won. The influence of big business was stronger than that of even the biggest unions and the hundreds of thousands who demonstrated. He promised a few changes in CETA, compromises to overcome opposition, and in the end his prayers were answered he got the desired Yes vote. A question remains not unrelated to similar questions elsewhere in the world: Could one agree to join a government headed by a man like Gabriel, with all that stood behind him? The question is not quite so easy to decide in light of the nearly-fascist danger of the AfD. But it is certainly a question that will dominate German politics in the coming year and have unforeseeable results. Victor Grossman, American journalist and author, is a resident of East Berlin for many years. He is the author of Crossing the River: A Memoir of the American Left, the Cold War, and Life in East Germany (University of Massachusetts Press, 2003). Outdoor adventure books tend to fall into two categories: How I did it or Why I did it. Few take the trouble to probe What I did, after I did it. Brendan Leonards Sixty Meters to Anywhere forced its author into Option 3. He tried to explain not just how rock climbing helped him overcome alcohol trouble, but where life when from there. Id read a lot of substance-abuse memoirs, and they follow a similar pattern: 'Heres the extent of my problem, then I quit and get better,'" Leonard said shortly before coming to Missoula for the Festival of the Book this week. "Theres usually a detailed description of rehab, which can be fascinating. But they lacked anybody saying, Look at what my life became after look what I did next. Leonard argues the point isnt escaping a medical or mental malady as much as creating a personal identity. Learning to cling by fingertips to vertical cracks didnt leave the bottle behind. It led the way to a new sense of self. What we call adventure became that for me, Leonard said. Deciding to try something, with an uncertain result. Being outdoors, developing mental toughness, dealing with fear it gave me an identity after not being sure what Im supposed to do. Adventure bears its own potential of abuse, where the adventurer trades the cocoon of booze for the rush of thrill-seeking. Leonard acknowledged that swap, but cast it as a balanced choice. Substance abuse ends up being a very risky thing, he said. Replacing it with adrenaline, even if what youre doing is dangerous, is better up to a point. I never lowered myself off a rock to a police officer who was there to arrest me. Time in jail after a couple of DUIs in Iowa laid out the risks of wasting life, Leonard said. In an effort to restart his own story, Leonard moved to Missoula to pursue a masters degree in journalism at the University of Montana. He joked it was lucky the school didnt do criminal background checks on its entering students, or his recovery plan might have stalled. In a creative writing class with English professor Judy Blunt, Leonard struggled to come up with material. The problem, he said, was that he hadnt done anything notable because he was spending time in jail and rehab. She said not many people have done those things or seen those environments, he said of Blunts advice. I workshopped some things in class, and those first things became part of the book. That was in 2003. Overnight success came eight years later, after working day jobs and freelancing anywhere he could. Since then, he's piled up credits in National Geographic Adventure, Outside, Alpinist, and Men's Journal. Scrambling for writing assignments made him adjust the way he looks at storytelling. A story can be a sentence, a tweet, a paragraph, 2,000 words or 60,000 words, Leonard said. A book is just mapping out a larger story. You have X amount of words how do you tell the story in those words? Maybe its just a photo and a caption on Instagram. On his blog, Semi-Rad.com, Leonard stretches out on finer points, like the difference between a vacation and a trip. The entrys title was Your best vacation is someones worst nightmare. I did a fundraising climb on Mount Shasta a couple years ago with my old high school pal Robb, and he told me that he explained to his dad what we were doing getting up at midnight, et cetera and his dad, a sensible man, said: 'That is the dumbest. Goddamn thing. I have ever heard.' I laughed, because Robbs dad is right. Its absurd what we do for fun sometimes. You could probably say something about the fact that most of us spend 50 weeks a year getting soft behind a desk, and we need visceral experiences to recharge, not more inactivity. A development company that was awarded $200,000 in county tax money with strings attached is putting its $21 million retail plans for Butte on hold. Butte-Silver Bow commissioners voted 8-3 in June to a modified request from Idaho-based White-Leasure Co. for $200,000 in Hard Rock county economic development funds. But it was contingent on everything being lined up for the possible project including purchase of the land within six months. Developers were also required to update commissioners on progress toward that in three months. That three-month mark came this past week, but Community Development Director Karen Byrnes gave the council a letter from the company Wednesday night saying it had put its plans on hold after two years of pursuing it. "During this time the landowners have been extremely helpful and supportive in all our efforts to bring the project to fruition," Larry Leasure, chairman of the company, said in the letter dated Tuesday. But he said the major supermarket tenant which the company has never publicly disclosed had put the project on hold so it was withdrawing its requests for a tax abatement and Hard Rock money. The development company wanted to buy land on the northwest corner of Harrison and Elizabeth Warren for the project. It is one of the most coveted pieces of real estate in Butte because of the traffic volume. Leasure said the project would be worth $21.5 million if it could purchase the land. But its owners Helen and Sean ONeill said the 7.3 acres were not for sale at this time. Some commissioners questioned in June how the council could commit $200,000 in tax money to a project that was to be built on a property whose owners appeared unwilling to sell. Leasure said in June that the company had considered other possible sites in Butte but he would not say where they were, citing confidentiality. BILLINGS -- A man arrested Tuesday for promotion of prostitution is being investigated by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations for victimizing multiple women in several counties. Terrance Tyrell Edwards, 34, is being investigated by DCI after he was arrested Tuesday by the Billings Police Department. Chief of the Investigations Bureau John Strandell said Billings police requested the help of DCI due to the multiple jurisdictions involved in the case. At this time, law enforcement believes there may be multiple victims involved in the case, Strandell said. The case is being prosecuted in Yellowstone County District Court. Edwards has not yet appeared in court to be charged with the felony offense. The Montana attorney general's office spokesman John Barnes said the investigation is in its early stages, and additional charges could be filed. Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said in a statement that Edwards kidnapped a 22-year-old Polson woman and held her against her will for 11 days. He said authorities found and arrested Edwards after the woman called her mother from a cellphone. Barnes says that based on interviews with the woman, it does not appear that she was abducted initially. But he says investigators are looking at her case as an instance of human trafficking, which involves holding a person under threat or duress. In 2012, Edwards was given a five-year suspended sentence for forcing his girlfriend into prostitution. BILLINGS The death on Monday of Mike Fellows, a Libertarian candidate for Montana's U.S. House seat, has triggered a scramble in county election offices to determine how best to update the general election ballots. In Yellowstone County, the states largest county, officials are considering re-printing about 90,000 ballots at an estimated cost of $30,000. Chief Deputy County Attorney Dan Schwarz said Wednesday the issue will be discussed with county commissioners Monday. Yellowstone Countys general election ballots are being printed and list Fellows as the Libertarian Party candidate in the House race. Fellows, 59, of Missoula, died in a two-vehicle crash near Potomac on Monday night. He had participated in a Monday night forum hosted by Seeley Lake Community Council. Fellows chaired the Montana Libertarian Party and was on the board of the Libertarian National Committee. He was a frequent but unsuccessful candidate. Fellows ran for office every other year since 1996, when he ran for the Montana House. He ran for the U.S. House in 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010; for Secretary of State in 2000 and for the clerk of the Montana Supreme Court in 2012. Schwarz said he and Bret Rutherford, the countys election administrator, participated in a conference call with the Montana Secretary of States office and other county election officials late Tuesday afternoon to discuss what to do about the ballots. Rutherford was out of the office Wednesday. There were a number of scenarios discussed on how to address the situation, Schwarz said. The consensus was to simply reprint the ballots, he said. Yellowstone County believes the prudent response is to reprint the ballots to avoid legal problems down the road, Schwarz said. Secretary of State Linda McCulloch was unavailable for comment on Wednesday. BILLINGS Montana has the distinction of ranking No. 2 in the nation for auto versus deer, elk or moose collisions, according to a report by State Farm insurance company based on the number of claims filed. State Farm calculated the odds at 1 in 58 that a Montana driver will collide with one of the large ungulates and file an insurance claim for damage. West Virginia took the top spot in the United States with a 1 in 41 chance of an auto striking a deer. Coming in third was Pennsylvania with a 1 in 67 chance. Wyoming moved up to No. 8 in this years statistics with a 1 in 85 chance. According to State Farm the national average cost per claim for 2015-2016 was $3,995.08, down just slightly from $4,135 in 2014-2015. We know there is an increased risk of collision with deer around dawn and dusk, and also during the October-December breeding season, said Chris Mullen, director of Technology Research at State Farm, in a press release. However, drivers should be engaged, alert and on the lookout at all times, because you never know when you may need to react to a deer or any other obstacle that may suddenly be in your path. Montana has about 400,000 fewer licensed drivers than West Virginia. The high incidence of wildlife versus auto collisions in Montana came as no surprise to Lori Ryan, a public information officer for the Montana Department of Transportation. She said that Highway 83, which divides the Swan and Mission mountain ranges in northwestern Montana, is well known for its excess of wildlife versus automobile collisions. The evidence is also found in the number of carcasses that MDT crews pick up along the state's highways. Between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2014, more than 29,500 animals were picked up. The majority were taken from along Interstate 90, more than 4,000, followed by Highway 2 across the northern tier of the state and Highway 93 near Missoula. More than 21,000 white-tailed deer were counted in the tally. The high number of such large wildlife killed on Montana roadways prompted a legislator to carry and pass a bill that took effect in 2013, allowing people to pick up the animals their autos have struck to try and save some of the meat for consumption. The roadkill law requires those folks to log on to a computer to acquire a permit for the meat. In the first year, more than 180 people claimed roadkill, based on the number of permits issued. That figure climbed to more than 1,000 in 2014, more than 1,200 by 2015 and already almost 480 so far this year. In each year more than half of the permits were issued for white-tailed deer, followed by a close tie for second between mule deer and elk. Moose have accounted for just over 100 of the tags in the entire time period, 2013-2016. Some lawmakers and game wardens were worried that when the bill was passed it would encourage drivers to try and strike wildlife to claim the carcass. But even with a stout grill guard or bumper, Bob Barthel of Rocky Mountain Truck in Billings wouldnt encourage such an act. Those grill guards can only take so much, he said. The company gets a lot of references from body shops after someone hits a deer and is looking to beef up their vehicle before another accident. The guards start at around $500 and go up, he said, much cheaper than replacing the front end of a car or truck if State Farms calculations are accurate. In the Billings area, Highway 78 between Columbus and Absarokee, as well as Highway 212 between Laurel and Red Lodge are known for a high number of deer versus auto collisions. Both areas harbor plenty of white-tailed deer, the primary victims. That prompted Stillwater Mining Co., which operates shuttles to its Nye-area mine, to equip its vehicles with stronger front-end protection, Barthel said. The primary time of year that vehicles collide with wildlife are the months of November, October and December, all months when deer especially bucks are moving more during their annual mating season. APGAR There are only two ways to become a citizen of these United States, and the chances of either happening inside Glacier National Park have long fallen in the range of slim to none. Which makes Sandrine Tochem and her fiance, Samuel Redfern, the rarest of couples. He became a U.S. citizen by being born in the park to Americans who were on a salmon-fishing and huckleberry-picking expedition in Glacier in 1977 and werent anticipating his arrival that day. Thirty-nine years later, Tochem, who came to the United States in 2007 to escape a civil war in the central African nation of Chad, became an American when she took the naturalization oath near the shores of Lake McDonald on Wednesday morning. The Missoula couples two daughters, 5-year-old Eve and 2-year-old Alexa, were among approximately 100 people who watched the ceremony. Ive been waiting for that, Tochem said after U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen of Missoula convened his court in the Apgar Campground amphitheater and administered the citizenship oath to 11 new Americans. Ive been waiting since I came to the United States. Im very proud. As rare as human births inside Glacier are, naturalization ceremonies appear to be even rarer. It was, as far as anyone knows, the first time anyone renounced all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty and swore to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, by taking the oath of citizenship inside the parks borders. Such ceremonies have been occurring throughout public lands administered by the National Park Service during this, the services centennial year. The first, naturally, occurred on Ellis Island at the Statue of Liberty this spring. Since then, new Americans have taken their oaths in places such as the Everglades, Mount Rushmore, and the Grand Canyon. Wednesday it was Glacier Parks turn. Robert Looney, regional director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said his agency agreed to try to hold 100 naturalization ceremonies in parks and other NPS sites during the centennial year. And weve already crossed the threshold, Looney said. Were now at 105 in some of the most beautiful settings anyone can imagine. Their new citizenship comes with both benefits and responsibilities, and Eric Smith, deputy superintendent of Glacier Park, pointed out one of the former to the 11 people. You now own this national park, Smith told them. The new citizens come from Chad, Belarus, Germany, the Philippines (two people), Mexico, Ukraine, and Canada (four people). Mandy Gad Dawson of Kila was the German. She came to the United States on a student visa in 1998 to study at the University of Miami and has been in the United States since and in Montana since 2004. Her husband, Brian Dawson, and 7-month-old son Levi were among the crowd in the campground amphitheater. Its just very special to me, Mandy said. Ive felt like this is where I belong, this is where my life is, for a long time. This is a country I love, and that has given me many opportunities. Although she arrived under far different circumstances, Tochem echoed some of those sentiments. For her, Tochem said, citizenship means freedom. We dont have that in Chad, she said. No political freedom, anyway. And there is a lot of opportunity here if you want it. She does. She is working on a degree in social work at the University of Montana after first studying business and then, at Montana State University, architecture. She also works in home health care and is raising the two little girls with Redfern. Sandrines father was a diplomat in Chads capital city of NDjamena, and members of the family were targeted during the countrys latest civil war, which ran from 2005-10. Her dad worked to get her out, said Redfern. She was considered a refugee at the time, although legally, she came on asylum. Since she got here, shes gone through the normal process, applying for permanent status and then citizenship. Its taken 10 years and a lot of money, but she feels a lot of pride. And a lot of people are proud of her. Musician Rob Quist, a friend of Judge Christensen, sang The Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful at the ceremony. Representatives of Montana U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines read letters from their bosses to the new citizens. The beauty of America is the right to hold elected officials responsible, Daines, a Republican, said in his letter. Tester, a Democrat, told them the true challenge of citizenship is not blindly embracing another culture and way of life; it is more about contribution, sharing, and dialogue. It is about reaching across to your neighbors, understanding the dynamics of your community, and actively engaging it. Democracy loses its luster when we choose not to participate. The judge who administered their oaths, meantime, told them that among the items with which the Daughters of the American Revolution would present them were voter registration cards. Your becoming an American citizen coincides with the great American pastime of voting every four years for a president, Christensen said. Please, please exercise your right to vote. And dont limit your involvement to presidential politics, he asked the 11. Find out about your neighborhoods. Take an interest in your schools and local governments, Christensen said. You are now a part of the great and diverse American family. That family now includes a man born a U.S. citizen in Glacier National Park and a woman who became one there by choice. Only in America, you might say. MV Residential Construction is requesting bids from all trades for 4th Avenue Lofts. This is new construction of a 3-story, 48-unit multifamily project located in Clinton. Construction is expected to begin in March 2017 with completion in 12 months. All bidders are required to hold pricing for the duration of the bid and construction process. This project is being bid at the same time as Harrison Senior Lofts in Muscatine (see separate Bid Notice), but you do not have to bid both projects. Multiple project discounts are always appreciated and the bid forms have instructions for submitting your bid in that format if you choose to bid both. Section 3 companies and Minority, Women, Veteran, and Small Business Enterprises are strongly encouraged to participate in the bid process. The work to be performed on this project is subject to the requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1701u (Section 3). The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by HUD assistance or HUD-assisted projects covered by Section 3, shall, to the greatest extent feasible, be directed to low and very low-income persons, particularly persons who are recipients of HUD assistance for housing. Plans & bid forms may be purchased from Rapids Reproductions - 515.251.3222. If you have the capability to view or print plans yourself, e-mail MVRCestimating@mvg.com to obtain login directions for our free planroom. The bid deadline is Monday, October 10, 2016, at 3:00PM EDT. BIDS ARE REQUIRED TO BE ON OUR BID FORMS and can be e-mailed to MVRCestimating@mvg.com, or faxed to 1.855.845.8720, or mailed to MVRC Estimating / 4th Ave, 9349 WaterStone Blvd., Cincinnati, OH 45249. If you would like to verify we received your bid, or have other bid related questions, contact Estimating at 513.774.8400. We will analyze all bids and consequently award contracts for this project. The owner reserves the right to reject any, part of any, or all of said proposals, and to waive formalities in the bids. Miller-Valentine Group is an EEO/AA Employer. The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 A.M. with Howard, Kelly, Sorensen, Sauer and Bonebrake present. Chairperson Sorensen presiding. On a motion by Kelly, second by Howard, the agenda was approved as presented. Ayes: All. On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, claims dated September 12, 2016 were approved in the amount of $1,120,748.95. Ayes: All. The Board reviewed a variance granted by the Muscatine County Board of Adjustment on Friday, September 2, 2016. Case #16-09-01 is an application filed by Kenneth J. or Providence Shoultz, Record Owners and David Roy Rickey Jr., Proposed Buyer. This property is located in Fruitland Township, 2620 Stewart Road, West of Stewart Road in the NW of Sec. 28-T76N-R2W, containing approximately 10.14 acres, and is zoned R-1 Residential District. This request, if approved, would allow the Zoning Administrator to issue a Variance in order to allow the existing detached structure to remain in the front yard after a one family dwelling is constructed behind it. The Board of Adjustment approved this request. On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board accepted the variance. Ayes: All. The Board reviewed a Special Use Permit granted by the Board of Adjustment on September 2, 2016: Case #16-09-02 is an application filed by Dennis P. or Susan K. Boorn, Record Owners. This property is located in Moscow Township, in the NW of Section 9-T78N-R2W at the end of E. Hinkeyville, containing approximately 45 acres, and is zoned A-1 Agricultural District. This request would allow the Zoning Administrator to issue a Special Use Permit in order to build a Seasonal Recreational Cottage on this property. The Board of Adjustment approved this request. Muscatine County Planning and Zoning Administrator Eric Furnas stated he will be going before the Muscatine City Planning and Zoning Commission September 13, 2016 with the subdivision plat for County Park Subdivision. On a motion by Howard, second by Kelly, the Board set a public hearing for Monday, October 3, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. on a request from Kirk and Kim K. Latta to rezone approximately 75 acres located in Moscow Township from A-1 Agricultural District to R-1 Residential District. Ayes: All. County Engineer Keith White updated the Board on secondary road projects. On a motion by Kelly, second by Howard, utility permits were approved as follows: Windstream -bore across Moscow Road between Cedar and Washington Streets to serve a residence; Windstream - replace cable along 122nd street from a pedestal near 2542 122nd Street east to a pedestal at 2566 122nd Street; Eastern Iowa Light & Power - install overhead line across 121st Street to service 1337 121st Street. Ayes: All. Discussion was held with County Engineer Keith White regarding a letter from DD#13 demanding the County remove a beaver dam from 41st Street. Howard stated he did not see any issue that would require the beaver dam be removed. White stated he has already removed the beaver dam three times this year at a cost of $2,000 per removal. White asked the Board if they want to keep spending $10,000 per year to remove a beaver dam that is reconstructed within two weeks. Sauer stated he does not know how to address the problem when there is nothing to determine what water level causes damage. White stated he only recalls beaver dams located there for the last four years. Board consensus was to direct White to draft a letter for the Chairperson's signature to DD#13 stating the County's policy is to remove the beaver dam if it causes a threat to the road or the County could remove the culvert and close the road. On a motion by Sauer, second by Bonebrake, the Board approved a renewal application for a Class C Native Wine (WCN), Sunday Sales and Outdoor Service Area Permit for Ardon Creek Vineyard & Winery, LLC, 2391 Independence Avenue, Letts, IA 52754. Ayes: All. On a motion by Howard, second by Kelly, minutes of the September 6, 2016 regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All. No correspondence was noted. Committee Reports: Kelly attended a Muscatine Health Association meeting September 7th. Kelly attended a Seventh Judicial District meeting September 9th. Bonebrake attended a Muscatine County Safety Committee meeting September 7th. On a motion by Kelly, second by Bonebrake, the Board appointed Wes Wulf to the Benefitted Fire District #6 Board of Trustees for a 3-year term ending June 30, 2019. Ayes: All. The Scott County Board of Supervisors approved the appointment September 8, 2016. The Board reviewed the health/dental fund balance as of August 31, 2016. On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, the Board accepted a resignation of Wayne Corriell from the Muscatine County Historical Preservation Commission. Ayes: All. The Board thanked Corriell for his participation on the commission. Kelly thanked everyone who participated in the Community Block party held Friday, September 9th at the Discovery Center. Kelly especially thanked Monsanto for the sound system and HyVee for its donation of hotdogs and chips. The meeting was adjourned at 9:34 A.M. ATTEST: Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor Jeff Sorensen, Chairperson Board of Supervisors The Muscatine County Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Friday, October 7, 2016, starting at 10 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Office, Muscatine County Administration Building, 414 E. 3rd St., Muscatine, Iowa to discuss the following: Zoning Agenda Item #01. Jeffrey A. or Pamela R. Turkle, Record Owners, request rezoning their property from the current A-1 Agricultural District to the proposed I-1 Light Industrial District. This property is located in Fulton Township, South of Iowa Interstate Railroad, West of Vine Avenue, adjacent to the City of Stockton, in the NE of Sec. 5-T78N-R1E, containing approximately 0.39 acres, currently zoned A-1 Agricultural District. This case was tabled at the August 5, 2016, hearing. Any interested party may attend said hearing to express their views or correspond with us in time for the hearing. MUSCATINE COUNTY ZONING COMMISSION By Eric S. Furnas, Planning & Zoning Administrator Muscatine County Building ~ Zoning ~ Environmental Office 3610 Park Avenue West Muscatine IA 52761 Telephone 5632630482 FAX 5632884338 MUSCATINE, Iowa - Major flooding is expected along the Cedar and Iowa rivers in Muscatine and Louisa county's next week as heavy rain continues to fall over Iowa. The weather pattern is expected to remain in place for the next several days. Minor flooding may occur along the Mississippi River from Rock Island south to Keithsburg, Ill., including Muscatine, over the next week. Residents along the affected rivers are advised to be alert to rising water levels. For more information go to www.muscatinejournal.com/weather. A summary of the watches and warnings follows. The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Flood Watch for the Mississippi River at Muscatine until further notice. At 11:15 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 22) the river stage was 13.4 feet and is expected to rise to 18.3 feet by Thursday (Sept. 29). Flood stage is 16 feet. Moderate flooding is possible. The forecast suggests that the Mississippi River will exceed flood stage Tuesday (Sept. 27) and continue rising until Thursday (Sept. 29) morning. A Flood Warning remains in effect for the Cedar River near Conesville. At 11 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 22), the Cedar River was at 12.9 feet and rising. Flood stage is 13 feet. No flooding is occurring at the present time but major flooding is forecasted. The National Weather Service in Quad Cities states that the Cedar River will rise above flood stage late Thursday (Sept. 22) before falling below flood stage on Friday (Sept. 23). However, the Cedar River is expected to quickly rise above flood stage Sunday (Sept. 25) evening and continue rising to a major flood stage by Tuesday (Sept. 27) night, reaching 18.1 feet by Wednesday (Sept. 28) night. At 18 feet water affects several residences in the Rochester area and is at the bottom of the County Road F44 bridge. Water also affects the lowest areas of West Rochester Avenue and residences in Moscow. Repeated rounds of very heavy rain have occurred over the headwaters of the Iowa and Cedar Rivers over the past three days. A widespread three to five inches of rain has fallen with isolated amounts of six to nine inches. These extreme rainfall amounts will result in significant river level rises by early next week. Moderate on river levels reaching major flood stage. Persons impacted by flooding along the Iowa River should take the necessary precautions to mitigate the impacts of major river flooding. River forecasts include past precipitation and forecast rainfall for the next 24 hours. If you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and find an alternate route. Turn around, don`t drown. The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Flood Warning for the Iowa River at Columbus Junction until further notice. At 10:00 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 22) the stage was 17.4 feet and steady. Flood stage is 19 feet. No flooding is occurring but major flooding is forecasted. The forecast calls for the river to rise above flood stage Monday (Sept. 26) and continue rising to 27.0 feet Friday (Sept. 30) morning. The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Flood Warning for the Iowa River at Wapello until further notice. At 10:00 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 22) the stage was 18.8 feet and steady. Flood stage is 20 feet. No flooding is occurring but major flooding is forecasted. The forecast calls for the river to rise above flood stage Monday (Sept. 26) evening and continue rising to 28.6 feet Friday (Sept. 30). Water affects U.S. Highway 61 north of Wapello. MUSCATINE, Iowa - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will tour Muscatine and other Eastern Iowa towns Saturday to meet with local Democrats and voters. The former Iowa governor will speak at 2:30 p.m. at the Muscatine Democratic Headquarters, 810 Park Ave., Lincoln Center. Hes going to be here to discuss issues important to local voters and talk about opportunities to campaign to help elect Hillary Clinton president, said Jordan Pahl, one of the organizers of the events. We want everyone to know that the events are free and open to the public and that everyone is welcome to attend to learn more. In May of this year, a farmer in southeast Iowa was pinned by a piece of machinery and killed; later that month, an eastern Iowa man was killed when his tractor was struck by a semi. In June, a teenage farm girl died in an ATV incident. These are just a few of the tragedies that will become Iowas farm fatality statistics. This year, the theme for National Farm Safety and Health Week is Farm SafetyA Legacy to be Proud of. We talk a lot about farm transitions in Iowa, as we work hard to develop a new generation of farmers to continue our traditions. Unfortunately, we do not incorporate the health and safety of those new farmers often enough into the legacy of farming. Statistics from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) show that the fatality rate for farmers and farm workers is about 20 deaths per 100,000 workers. Compare this to the overall rate of occupational fatalities in the US (3.4 per 100,000 workers) and it becomes clear that we have a problem with our agricultural legacy. Research conducted in New York found that, within five years of a farm fatality, nearly three quarters of the families who operated the farms where the incidents occurred no longer operated them, and nearly half no longer lived on the farms at all. These numbers are startling, and should remind us all that a fatality in a farming family can eliminate the legacy of that farm all together. Tractors, particularly tractor rollovers, remain the leading cause of injury and fatalities on farms, in Iowa and nationwide. Nearly half of all tractors currently in operation do not have a rollover protective structure (ROPS), a requirement for any tractor manufactured after 1985. The use of a ROPS, with a fastened seatbelt, virtually eliminates the risk of a fatality if the tractor rolls over. Retrofitting a tractor requires some investment of time and money, but if it prevents a fatality, there is little question that its worthwhile. Tractors arent the only farm hazard, as recent fatalities in grain bins and manure pits in Iowa show. As our grain storage capabilities increase, and livestock production becomes more and more efficient, the hazards to workers can also increase. While fatalities clearly affect a farms legacy, so do the less catastrophic injuries and diseases that tend to come with farm work. If there is one primary operator, the profit loss associated with time lost to recover from an injury can be a major setback. And dont forget the loss of quality, and sometimes length, of life associated with hearing loss, chronic lung disease, or skin cancerall prevalent conditions in agricultural workers. The good news is that farm injuries, illnesses, and fatalities are almost always preventable. Engineered solutions on tractors, including ROPS as well as shielding and guarding of moving parts, reduce loss of life and limbs. Having a safety plan, as any business should, can do a lot to identify and reduce hazards, encourage safe work practices, and reduce injuries. Iowas farmers are the foundation of our most important economic industry, but the high rates of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities that come with farming put the legacy of agriculture at risk. For more information, go to www.i-cash.org. Iowas Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) is a collaborative effort between the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. I-CASH works to improve the health and safety of the agricultural population by developing statewide interventions and educational initiatives. Museum 2.0 is authored by Seema Rao. Seema has nearly 20 years of museum experience both as an employee and a consultant. Her work has mostly been at the edge of experience, inclusion, and technology. She has self-published three books on museum work and wellness. She is easy to find online at Twitter and Instagram 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 [] ICASA said it has noted recent media reports about the price of data in South Africa. There has also been requests for the regulator to respond to questions relating to data pricing. ICASA said it aims to protect consumers by setting regulations which licensees must comply with. One of these regulations is the End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations, which were amended in April 2016 to include more protection for consumers. The regulations state network providers must, at the point of sale, inform customers about in and out-of-bundle rates and the rules for the carry-over of unused voice minutes and data. Dont disconnect It said network providers are prohibited from disconnecting the services of consumers while a disputed bill is being investigated, provided the consumer continues paying the subscription amount. ICASA added that services like WhatsApp and Facebook have turned the focus of consumers from the price of voice minutes to the price of mobile data. Despite data prices dropping by 45% over the past six years, ICASA said the concerns raised by consumers around high data prices are not unfounded. Out-of-bundle rates were one area where ICASA said prices were still high. Another area of concern was the expiry of prepaid and post-paid data bundles. ICASA believes that this practice is to the prejudice of consumers. To this end, we are consulting with the National Consumer Commission to explore possible measures to deal with this practice. More on ICASA ICASA spectrum fight, the courts must decide: Minister DStv competition investigation delayed: ICASA Why Minister Siyabonga Cwele is suing Icasa YouTube will live-stream the US presidential debates on several channels. PBS, Fox News, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and Telemundo will show the 2016 US presidential debates on Googles video platform. You can also follow your favourite YouTube creators, who will be on the ground reporting from the debates, said YouTube. YouTube has also launched its voting campaign, #voteIRL, where it encourages young people to get to the polls. Here is where you can watch the US presidential debates live: More on politics Donald Trump wants to crack down on Internet porn Donald Trump asks Russia to go after Clintons emails The Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX) is now a regional Internet exchange point (IXP) for Africa. INX-ZA, the African Union, and the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services made the announcement at iWeek 2016. AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Elham Ibrahim said South Africa will host one of eight regional IXPs supported by AU grants. She said the launch of regional exchanges will eliminate the need to send local Internet traffic to overseas exchange points. This saves on transit costs and reduces the latency of local African traffic. INX-ZA is an autonomous division of the Internet Service Providers Association of South Africa that runs exchange points around the country. Graham Beneke, chair of the INX-ZA management committee, said with the support of the African Union grant, JINX will be able to reach markets through the SADC and Africa. This will support the growth of Internet traffic volumes across the region. More on INX-ZA exhange points Johannesburg Internet Exchange launches in Teraco INX-ZA Internet exchange port prices slashed 10Gbps upgrade for Hetzner-JINX link Hetzner becoming vendor-neutral data centre champion The DA has launched a petition against the Internet Censorship Bill, warning that it will infringe on the privacy of South Africans. The Films and Publications Amendment Bill, in its current form, is an attempt by government to censor the Internet, said the DA. The Bill is an attempt to force all social media users to register with the FPB before uploading videos to social media sites. The DA warned that if the Bill is passed it will be an infringement on the constitutional right to privacy. It said the Bill will have all viewers of X18-rated content placed on a list which the government will have unrestricted access to. The list will have your name, age, and address, said the DA. This attempt to censor South Africans use of the Internet threatens our democracy by limiting freedom of speech, said the DA. The DA urged South Africans to sign its petition to reject the Bill in its current form. It also demanded that the Department of Communications launches a Regulatory Impact Assessment before continuing with its deliberations on the Bill. More on this Bill South Africas Internet censorship Bill will stop people putting videos on Facebook, YouTube: DA ANC demands meeting with the SABC over censorship Court case launched against SABC censorship All 28 of North Koreas websites were taken down yesterday after their DNS addresses were exposed to the public. The addresses were posted on Reddit, causing a surge of visitors to the websites, reports The Mirror. While a number of North Koreas websites are unavailable to access, clues to their content can be derived from their addresses. is a website devoted to recipes while is a news agency. However there wasnt much to look at as two redditors were quick to point out: I think there are more websites on the internet in GTA 5 than NK, one commentator pointed out. Correct. North Korea 28 websites. GTA V 83 websites. I think its safe to say that San Andreas is more technologically advanced than North Korea, said another. More gaming news The game thats been in Early Access for over eight years Raspberry Pi Official Starter Kit South African pricing revealed 5 games that are flying under everyones radar Oops... This is embarrassing... We're Sorry, the page you're looking for may have been moved. Let's help you find the page you were looking for... First, try using the search form below. Type what you're looking for and search; If the search forms above won't help you find exactly what you're looking for, perhaps one of the links from our sitemap below will help you; If you prefer to visit a particular school's information page on this website, please select the school from the form presented on the Myschool Homepage by clicking here. 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The frightened creatures call on the heroes of Japanese storybooks and folk legends, from Momotaro (Peach Boy) and Kintaro (Golden Boy) to Issun-boshi (One Inch Boy) and Benkei, a warrior monk, to send American Imperialist Mickey packing.Mickey Mouse may be your hero, America, but our characters are older, more numerous, and way more beloved. Our pop culture is older than yours! More: Open Culture TORONTO More than 19,000 students on the small Canadian province of Prince Edward Island were evacuated Wednesday after police received a threat that bombs were placed at a number of schools. Police said nothing suspicious was found after officers searched all of the schools in the province. Threats were also received elsewhere in Canada. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Kevin Baillie said the Prince Edward Island threat came via fax Wednesday morning, and that schools on the normally sleepy island were notified within 10 minutes. Theres been no threat found. Everybody is safe, he told reporters. The threat was faxed to Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canadas capital of Ottawa, Baillie said. The message stated that the bombs been had placed at a number of schools and would be detonated today, he said. A senior police official said a swatting style computer distributed a threat to jurisdictions across Canada and in the U.S. and they are trying to locate the source. Swatting is when someone contacts emergency services to deceive officials and report a bogus threat so that emergency personnel go to a scene. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. Police in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the central part of Canada are also investigating a threat against the citys largest school division which appears similar to the one in Prince Edward Island. Police say the Winnipeg School Division received a faxed message around 8:30 a.m. that contained a threat to all schools within its jurisdiction. Schools were not evacuated or placed in lockdown. Students at more than 60 English language and French language schools in Prince Edward Island were taken to safe locations by staff outside the schools, where buses met them. Baillie said bomb threats are hard to evaluate for credibility, but said authorities like to they err on the side of caution. This disrupts a lot of lives, he said. Parents and guardians were asked to wait for further instructions before picking up their children. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he empathized with parents. As a parent I know how worrisome this type of situation can be. I know the affected parents must be having a difficult day, Trudeau said. Parker Grimmer, the islands director of public schools, said police contacted the school system Wednesday morning about a threat that was of a significant nature.and asked for the evacuation of all schools. He said he expects all students to return to classes on Thursday. This is new to us so we are reacting in a new way, Grimmer said. But we have plans and procedures and I think we followed them. At Holland College in the provincial capital of Charlottetown, a woman burst into the classroom to tell everyone to pick up their books and evacuate immediately, student Morgan McNeil said. Outside, everyone was in a panic and helicopters were flying overhead, he said. Baillie said similar threats were made to schools and colleges in the nearby province of Nova Scotia, where the NSCC Marconi Campus, Cape Breton University and the NSCC technology campus in Halifax were evacuated. At least one school in the United States also was threatened, he said. It wasnt immediately clear which one was involved or if it was evacuated. UNITED NATIONS World leaders from Pakistan to Ukraine unleashed their regional grievances Wednesday, taking the stage of the U.N. General Assembly to rage against their neighbors and presenting a picture of a chaotic world consumed by intractable conflicts. A few paces from the General Assembly hall, the United States and Russia bitterly attacked each other during a Security Council meeting meant to salvage Syrias faltering cease-fire. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon implored Syrias warring parties to lay down their arms. In the midst of the anger, a few bright spots emerged on the second day of the annual U.N. gathering of heads of states. Colombia basked in world praise when it presented its newly reached peace agreement with leftist rebels to the Security Council. Former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi made her first General Assembly speech since she formed a democratically elected government in Myanmar. But on the International Day of Peace, tensions from all parts of the planet filled the halls of the United Nations. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang voiced his countrys mounting frustration with ally North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons, highlighting the urgency of reaching a comprehensive political solution on the Korean nuclear issue. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe devoted about half of his address to North Korea, which earlier this month conducted its fifth nuclear test in defiance of repeated Security Council resolutions intended to constrain its weapons development. Abe said North Korea this year fired three missiles into Japans exclusive economic zone and it was a matter of luck that no ships or aircraft were damaged. He urged unity in the Security Council to confront the North Korean threat. We must concentrate our strengths and thwart North Koreas plans, Abe said. Some of the angriest words came from the rivalries between Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif delivered a blistering attack on neighboring India while, across the world, gunbattles raged for a second day between Indian soldiers and suspected rebels in the disputed territory of Kashmir. Sharif demanded a U.N. investigation against brutalities perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces, saying innocent Kashmiri children, women and men have been killed, blinded and injured. Moments earlier, Pakistan came under attack from Afghanistan. Vice President Sarwar Danesh said merciless attacks from terrorist groups against its civilians are being planned and organized on Pakistani territory. He said Afghanistan has repeatedly asked Pakistan to destroy known terrorist safe havens but there has been no change in the situation. Sharif shot back that Pakistan has suffered from spillover of Afghanistans internal conflicts for more than three decades and progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war. There was positive news in Ukraine, where the government and separatist rebels agreed Wednesday to pull back troops and weapons from several areas in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to uphold a fragile peace agreement reached last year. But at the United Nations, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lambasted Russia for being the instigator and major participant in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The terrorist component of the undeclared hybrid war that Russia wages against Ukraine is evident, Poroshenko said. Respite from the invective came from Colombia, which appeared at the annual U.N. gathering as a country in peace for the first time in five decades. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos devoted almost his entire speech to the peace deal reached with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which will be signed in Cartagena later this month and must be submitted to a national referendum on Oct. 2. A new Colombia greets the international community today, Santos said. A Colombia full of hope. A Colombia that, without a war, is ready to reach its highest potential and to be a positive factor in the global context. He later met with President Barack Obama, who praised the peace accord as an achievement of historic proportions. Ban commended Santos for his vision and determination. In a time of armed conflicts in many other paces, peace in Colombia sends a powerful message of hope in the world, Ban said. STOCKHOLM A volunteer group that rescues civilians from bombed-out buildings in Syria on Thursday won the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes referred to as the Alternative Nobel, together with activists from Egypt and Russia and a Turkish newspaper. The Syria Civil Defense group, also known as the White Helmets, was cited for their outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians from the destruction of the Syrian civil war. The 3,000-strong group grew out of networks of volunteer first responders who were rescuing victims from government shelling and bombardment in opposition areas. They will share a cash award of 3 million kronor ($350,000) with Egyptian womens rights activist Mozn Hassan and the Nazra for Feminist Studies; Russian rights campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina; and Turkish independent newspaper Cumhuriyet. Created in 1980, the annual Right Livelihood Award honors efforts that prize founder, Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, felt were being ignored by the Nobel Prizes. This years Right Livelihood Award Laureates confront some of the most pressing global issues head-on be it war, freedom of speech, womens rights or the plight of migrants, said the founders nephew, Ole von Uexkull, the prize foundations director. Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the White Helmets in Aleppo, called the award a pride for the Syrian revolution. The teams of civil defense are working in besieged cities in most areas, like Aleppo city, besieged for more than two months and we are having difficulties securing fuel and the equipment needed for work, he told The Associated Press in a Skype interview. Supporters of the White Helmets say the group deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced in two weeks. In an interview Wednesday with AP, Syrian President Bashar Assad scoffed at that idea. What did they achieve in Syria? he said. I would only give a prize to whoever works for the peace in Syria. Government sympathizers accuse the group of aiding terrorists, a catch-all term the government uses to describe its armed opponents. Hassan and her feminist organization were honored for asserting the equality and rights of women in circumstances where they are subject to ongoing violence, abuse and discrimination. The citation said the group has documented human rights violations and coordinated the response to sexual assaults on women participating in public protests during and after the 2011 uprising in Egypt. Gannushkina, a 74-year-old advocate for refugee rights, was cited for her work promoting human rights and justice for refugees and forced migrants and tolerance among different ethnic groups. The Turkish newspaper, Cumhuriyet, was praised for fearless investigative journalism in the face of oppression, censorship, imprisonment, and death threats. The papers former editor-in-chief, Can Dundar, and its Ankara representative, Erdem Gul, were sentenced to five years in prison in May for their reports on alleged Turkish arms smuggling to Syrian rebels. The two are appealing the verdict, which increased concerns over media freedoms in Turkey. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The adoption of a local master plan for more visual and performing arts in the classroom has garnered statewide attention and praise for the Napa Valley Unified School District. They are a model for others in this region to see whats possible when people make a commitment, said Joe Landon, executive director of the California Alliance for Arts Education, a statewide group dedicated to giving kids more opportunities to experience artistic creativity. The school board adopted NVUSDs arts education master plan in June. The plan, which took almost three years to craft, involved a broad range of people not just teachers and administrators, but also arts advocates and philanthropists in the Napa Valley to come together and work to broaden the K-12 curriculum so students could learn more than just math, English, history and science. The plan will need to be turned into a K-12 arts curriculum and implemented in schools in Napa, American Canyon and Yountville a process that is expected to take years. The districts public-private partnership approach to creating this plan started generating buzz among education professionals and arts lovers before the formal adoption, prompting Landons organization to come to Napa earlier this month. The California Alliance for Arts Education held its statewide summit on Sept. 9 at NVUSD headquarters, where teachers, administrators, and nonprofit leaders from around the state gathered to learn how the school district forged a 5-year plan to provide the arts to every student. Their plan will lead this district into a new era of access to arts education, said Landon. This is something we want to show to educators across California, so we were particularly interested in telling this story. Summit attendees included Steve Venz, a visual and performing arts coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education, overseer of 28 school districts, nearly all of which have incorporated arts learning into their curriculums. Venz said one impressive thing about NVUSDs arts master plan is its level of detail. It looks good in terms of concrete timelines, said Venz. Most of the plans Ive seen dont [have that]. Robin Hampton, coordinator for the Arts Council Napa Valley Education Alliance, was involved from the beginning in the master plans development. Exposure to the arts is something every child should have because of the lasting impact it can have on young minds, she said. The arts arent just an educational value its a life value, said Hampton. Its not just getting up on stage and singing a song. Its those kids now have more confidence when they do a presentation in their career. Two early and important players in the arts master plan were Festival Napa Valley and the Arts Council of Napa Valley. Festival Napa Valley, whose mission is to make the arts accessible to all residents, provided a $50,000 grant to support the early planning work that went into the master plan. Sonia Tolbert, the organizations general manager, said the goal [of the plan] is for every student to have equal access to arts education. Thats especially important in a district like NVUSD, which has thousands of low-income kids, officials said. All means all, said Superintendent Patrick Sweeney in reference to his districts goal of equitable access to opportunities. All students need the arts, he told the summit audience. The Arts Council of Napa Valley agrees. Its CEO and president, Olivia Everett, said they became involved in the master plan because of the need to create curriculum that is responsive to what students are going to live through and what their lives are because thats how you engage them. Everett said the plan is to incorporate both well-established art forms as well as those culturally relevant to todays student body, more than half of which is Hispanic. Thats not to say traditional, classical arts are going out. Those are still fundamentals, said Everett. But how do we blend those with non-traditional art forms, she asked. You want to meet them [students] where they are and introduce them to new things, she said. Everett said the arts can play an important role in creating global citizens who can relate to others from all walks of life. Introducing different cultures and ideologies, thats something the arts do really well, she said. Out of the mouth of babes Those attending the one-day summit heard from local students about how important arts education has been for them. Jori Herman, a Napa High School senior and choir member, gave a speech at lunchtime telling how early exposure to the arts changed her life and those of other students. Arts programs, she said, have provided students with a sense of family, a place of expression as well as providing traveling opportunities for kids to expand their worlds. As a member of Napa Highs renowned choral program, Herman has had the chance to perform not just in the District Auditorium, but in Carnegie Hall and in Irelands grand cathedrals. Arts programs are blessed with the brightest students on campus, said Herman, yet they are the silent majority who prefer to lock themselves in a room to work on a violin solo or spend nine hours on a canvas painting. Herman is an example of why NVUSD wants to expand the availability of the arts before kids reach high school. The district is committed to creating sequential learning of the arts, so children can have classes at all three levels of their public school education. There is marching band, said Hampton. Some elementary schools put on school plays, but whats needed is sequential arts education. Lisa Sullivan, a visual and performing arts teacher at Vintage High School, agreed that arts learning must begin sooner, even as early as kindergarten. We would not expect our child to walk into a college prep class or a high school English class and expect them to write a 200-page essay or take an algebra test if they didnt know their A-B-Cs or how to add one plus equals two, said Sullivan. But thats what were asking our children to do at the high school level in many visual or performing arts or the middle school levels, she said, but they cant because they werent taught it at the elementary level. NVUSD has promised to make the arts a key part of elementary education in part because its top official enjoyed that very opportunity when he was a boy. Sweeney grew up in Pleasanton, where in third grade he had instrumental music as well as visual arts during elementary school. His middle school made visual arts available for every student, allowing them to take classes in sculpture, drawing and painting. For many of us who grew up in California in the 60s and 70s, which I did, said Sweeney, we had arts everywhere. We had music in the elementary schools, we had robust band programs, we had drama, we had visual arts. But that changed in the 80s as a result of Proposition 13. That was then, this is now Adopted in 1978, Proposition 13 dramatically reduced property taxes for homeowners and businesses. It also had the related consequence of reducing revenues for government programs, including education. Arts programs were some of the first ones slashed by school districts in the early 1980s and going forward. Sweeney noted at the arts education summit that California was once in the top 10 among states for school funding. Were in the bottom 10 now, he said. But the way California schools are funded changed recently, thanks to a decision made in Sacramento. Starting in 2013, the California Department of Education was instructed by the Legislature to establish the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which replaced the existing K-12 finance system that had been around for four decades. LCFF was music to the ears of school district administrators. It granted them more freedom in deciding how to spend the monies they receive from the state for their schools. The LCFF did two really exciting things, said Sibyl OMalley, director of communications for the California Alliance for Arts Education. First, it allowed districts to personalize the education they provide to students, according to OMalley. The second was it gave them local control over their resources. In the old days, Sacramento created categorical funds and said, You have this much for this, and this much for that, she said. Now, districts can spend their state money as they see fit, as long as they meet eight priorities established by the state. We know the arts can contribute to many of those eight priorities, which include improving school climate, student engagement and academic achievement, said OMalley. We know it [the arts] improves school climate, we know that students come to school more when they have the arts, she said. The original posting of this story contained incorrect information about Jori Herman's exposure to the arts. Id like to start by heartily welcoming St. Helenas two new police officers. Melissa Brown is a former AmeriCorps member who graduated from the Santa Rosa Police Academy, and Jovi Oam is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a recent graduate of the Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center. If you see them around town, give them a friendly handshake and show them how much St. Helena values its public safety personnel. Also, congratulations to former sergeant Chris Hartley on his promotion to lieutenant. Much deserved. *** Just hours after I spied Rianda Houses Julie Spencer ducking into Sogni Di Dolci for a morning treat, she sent word of Riandas annual Casino Rianda Texas Hold Em poker tournament at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the senior center, 1475 Main St. Beginners and pros alike can draw upon their guile (lets see that poker face) or let their cards do the work (nothing beats a royal flush). A hundred bucks gets you $5,000 in chips, dinner prepared by John Sorensen and his elite crew, dessert, and two tickets good for Napa Valley wine and Mad Fritz beer. Event tickets are available at texasholdemcasinorianda.brownpapertickets.com, riandahouse.org, or at the senior center. *** If you attend Casino Rianda, youll be supporting programs like Riandas StopFalls Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28. StopFalls Napa Valley, a program of the Area Agency on Aging, will offer useful tips on how to avoid painful falls, with short videos called Falling Monologues and instructions for simple exercises to improve your balance. There will also be a free lunch (ah, so there is such a thing after all!). RSVP to 963-8555. *** One more Rianda House item thats of interest to everyone who ever flips a light switch: Learn how Marin Clean Energy, a renewable energy service that St. Helena now uses, works with PG&E to decrease our carbon footprint at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Rianda House. *** Clif Familys Velo Vino on Vidovich Avenue is holding a Sip & Support event for Give Big! St. Helena from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Twenty percent of the evenings sales will be donated to the organization that raises money for enrichment programs, extracurriculars and field trips at St. Helenas public schools. Helping local kids by enjoying a glass of wine? I can give that a passing grade. *** In closing, let me doff my cap to Jim Haller, who retired last week as St. Helenas city arborist. If a public tree is doing well, its probably thanks to him and if its not doing well, its surely in spite of his most valiant efforts. Ill miss seeing him tending to our downtown forest (I must say, he was rather handsome too). Fall is the truest season for hard cider. It's apple harvest season, for one, and it's also time to warm yourself up in advance of impending winter. But in recent years, the cider options have reached such a number and such a high level of quality that it can be hard to know what to buy. Here are some noteworthy picks to help you navigate your local shop's almost assuredly growing selection of craft ciders: Aaron Burr Cidery - Ginger Apple While the name Andy Brennan may register to fans of Twin Peaks as the sheriff's deputy who can't help but cry at murder scenes, to cider connoisseurs the name belongs to a modern-day Johnny Appleseed. This Mr. Brennan's natural apple wines from upstate New York are an effort to revive cider's former role as the American frontier's table beverage of choice. Brennan uses heirloom and unique seedling varietals offered by local old and neglected trees. One annual favorite is Ginger Apple, which his label Aaron Burr Cidery makes by fermenting apples in contact with grated ginger and carrot. It is immensely drinkable in just about any setting imaginable; spicy, freshly vegetal, and brightly vinous. Christian Drouin - Poire In Normandy, brilliant rustic cider pours as ubiquitously as water, with a dizzying number of amazing producers in close proximity. Of the few to export to the States, Christian Drouin is one of the very best. Its low-alcohol Poire (traditional pear cider) is perfectly executed, featuring Champagne-like gripping effervescence, addictive pear sweetness, and an acidic dry finish. Domaine Dupont - Cidre Reserve Another venerated Normandy cidre producer whose liquid thankfully gets exported stateside, Dupont is a reliably incredible family-run legacy institution. Since the brand is perhaps more famous in the world of spirits for its superlative calvados (the region's famed apple brandy), Dupont's Cidre Reserve is a unique, under-the-radar gem. A proprietary blend of apples (80 percent bittersweet + 20 percent acidic) is pressed and fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast, then transferred to barrels recently emptied of calvados for a six-month maturation. The result is modestly sweet, sharp, and terrifically oaky. Farnum Hill - Farmhouse Cider Farnum Hill has been at the forefront of U.S. craft cider since the '80s; its brewers were early proponents of bringing back true cider apple varieties. Accessibly priced and unpretentiously packaged, a Farnum Hill bottle is a perfect entry into the explosion of retro apple fermentation. Try its clean, light Farmhouse Cider, which contains just enough barnyard notes at the periphery to be interesting, but not too odd to drink in high volume. MillStone - Sidra Americana Fans of sour beer-Belgian limbic, in particular-will find a lot to like in the ciders of Maryland's MillStone. Committed to mostly natural fermentations and historical flavor profiles with modern twists, the cider maker produces beverages that can be divisively acidic. For its Sidra Americana, the aim was to produce a traditional Basque-style cider -cloudy, naturally sour, and bottled flat (meant to be poured into glass from a higher elevation for last-minute aeration). It succeeded, and the result was big apple flavor layered beneath the tart yeastiness. Shacksbury - Dry and Semi-Dry cans Vermont's Shacksbury did beach-bum cider drinkers a favor by introducing cans of its Dry and Semi-Dry craft crushers this summer. A genuine artisanal producer, its portfolio runs the gamut of production methods and apple sourcing. These two approachable offerings - now in the even friendlier can format - allow drinkers to pick their poison to personal taste: Do you like your delicious fruit-strong cider with or without residual sweetness? Crispin - the Saint Since it is parented by MillerCoors, the impulse is strong to write off Crispin Cider snootily as a cynical, faux-artisanal effort. The truth is, the ciders produced at Crispin's well-monied facility in Colfax, Calif., are exceedingly well-executed. Take one of their Artisanal Reserve ciders, such as the Saint, an unfiltered, nontraditional oddity fermented with Belgian Trappist yeast and pure maple syrup. The result evokes freshly baked apple pie yet never veers too cloying. West County - Redfield West County is another one of U.S. craft cider's '80s godfathers, making a persuasive, several-decade case for New England as the de facto Napa Valley of apple wine. The label has remained small and family-operated, ensuring no waning of quality. One of its more unique offerings is fermented from the pressings of the heirloom Redfield varietal, which is red-fleshed. The cider it yields pours a scarlet hue more striking than rose and packs a quenching balance of acidic character, bitterness, and fruitiness. YEREVAN. The staff of traditional Japanese theater Noh will be on tour in Armenia for the first time. In an interview with Armenian News - NEWS.am the leading actor and teacher of Hosho School of Noh Masayuki Fujii told about the forthcoming tours. The performances will take place on September 26 and 27 in Komitas Museum-Institute and Puppet Theater after Tumanyan. Fujii noted with a smile that they were in Europe many times and in Armenia for the first time. The group consisting of nine people will arrive to Armenia. Masayuki Fujii, his eldest son Shuga Fujii, Manjiro Tatsumi, his eldest son Kazuma Tatsumi, Satoko Kashiwayama, Eitaro Okura, Kayu Omura,, Takahisa Suda, Yoko Kamiyabu will please Armenian audience with their performance. The performance will consist of several parts, in general, it will last half an hour. The audience will see scenes from life of samurai and ordinary people, fight against a huge spider, a love story, performed in the form of flamenco, scenes from classical Japanese literature The Tale of Genji. All this accompanied by big and small drums, ancient Japanese guitars. Noh () is a form of theater involving music, dance and drama, originating in the 14th century. The theater became widespread among the elite. The greatest playwright and theorist of Noh theater Zeami developed direction under the auspices of the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and this art passed from generation to generation. Kabuki Theater also known as traditional Japanese theater, is founded much later, about 200 years ago, when Tokugawa Shogunate was dissolved and became popular among the ordinary people. The traditional Japanese theater Noh was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This is a symbolic dance-drama, deeply philosophical, reflecting spiritual beliefs and moral values. Distinctive characteristics are simple elegant scenic setting with intricate costumes. The play usually has two or three main characters, chorus and orchestra of drummers and flutists. Flamenco, as well as Nohoriginated in Northern India. By mixing Noh with flamenco, the East somehow meets with the West. In Noh theater actors perform in masks. Leading actor of theater and producer who is organizing seminars for children, Fujii said that this was a very important part for the theatre. He noted that the mask which was in his hands was 100 years old. There are masks that are over 200, 300, and even more years old. Masks are used by different actors, therefore there are special pads inside masks in order to suit different people. Actors do not usually show how they change clothes, but Fujii who will play a woman will show how his transformation is made. The idea of holding tours was realized thanks to the friend, Ambassador of Japan to Armenia Eiji Taguchi. Fujii noted that he was in Armenia for the first time and it was very interesting to show traditional Japanese theater here. Performance requisite is quite big. There are many tools, heavy costumes, precious mask. Like many other professions in Japan, profession of the actor has dynastic character. Fujii said that this passed from generation to generation. The father, the grandfather were actors. The son is an actor and the grandson, will be in theater too. Boys begin to play in the theater from 3 years old. If they continue to play for 50 years, they will be recognized as holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties. Another 20-year of career and they will be recognized as Living National Treasure of Japan. Fujii is one of the 50 holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties. Fujii emphasized that yesterday he went to Garni and saw the historical monument. Here, in Armenia, they want to show something very historically Japanese. It is very significant. As ancient Armenian culture allows people to estimate adequately rich culture of other ancient people. He added that he Armenian people understand what history is. Two other wishes of Fujii are to see Noah's Ark on the bible Mount Ararat and the most ancient shoe in the world that was found in Armenia. Free tickets for the upcoming September 26 performance are available in the puppet theater. YEREVAN. - By the end of September, the Armenian authorities want to adopt standard form agreement for connecting to the solar mini-plants. Deputy Minister of Energy, Hayk Harutyunyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News NEWS.am on Thursday. Now it is also possible to connect to the network with ones own solar panel, but this will become much easier with a standard form agreement. The document must be approved by the Public Services Regulatory Commission, Harutyunyan added. Since May, the owners of solar plants with a capacity of up to 150kW can supply energy to the network without VAT. The network doesnt pay them for that (Armenia has no tariff for solar power), but their payment for electricity is deduced in the amount of the supplies to the network. The law is in effect retrospectively since 1 January 2015 (in the interests of two large plants, which operate since then). And since May 2016, banks and leasing companies have already started offering solar panels on loan and for hire. Now we want to facilitate this procedure. And it is better to once again consult with the business sector and propose an accurate solution, rather than hurry and make a mistake, the deputy Minister added. US Congressman Adam Schiff congratulatedalso in Armenianthe people of Armenia and Armenians worldwide on the 25th anniversary of the independence of Armenia. Today, I join with my Armenian-American constituents and the vibrant Armenian community across the world in saying Oorakh Angakhootyan Or [i.e. Happy Independence Day], as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia. And while their path to independence has never been easy, Armenians persevered through foreign domination, outside threats and the first genocide of the 20th century. Theres no doubt that the Armenian community is an invaluable asset to our society, breaking new ground socially, economically and politically across the nation, and enriching our customs, traditions and quality of life. On this important day, I wish to say congratulations to the people of Armenia, to Armenians in America, to my Armenian-American constituents, and to all Armenians around the world, Congressman Schiff wrote on his Facebook account. Ferrari unveils 499P hypercar with all-wheel drive Reuters: Border Agency building set on fire in Britain Iran accuses Israel of organizing terrorist attack in Shiraz Reuters: NATO urged Russia to urgently resume grain deal Guterres intends to achieve resumption of Russia's participation in grain deal Resistance Movement calls rally on November 5 La Stampa: Italian farmers fear rising cereal prices due to disruption of grain deal Beglaryan: About 33% of the entire population of Artsakh gathered at the Renaissance Square in Stepanakert Sweden's new government is ready to supply Kiev with heavier weapons Babayan: Any proposal in which Artsakh will be considered part of Azerbaijan will be rejected Biden confuses number of states in U.S. Peskov: Russia cannot be someone's vassal Minibus carrying party members overturns in Ankara Dashnaktsutyun: Any document that will include Artsakh into Azerbaijan must be torn up Speaker: We hope that no document ignoring the Artsakh issue will be signed in Sochi Italian MFA comments on Russia's withdrawal from food deal Economist: High inflation took Western countries by surprise, which were wrong in their forecasts Artsakh National Assembly issues statement: Artsakh has never been and will never be part of independent Azerbaijan Parliament of Republic of Artsakh unanimously adopts statements NA holds extraordinary meeting in Artsakh: Big rally takes place on Renaissance Square (photos) Lavrov confirms Putin's readiness for negotiations with Ukraine La Repubblica: Italy supplied Kiev with 20-30 M109L artillery guns and PzH 2000 howitzers Typhoon in Philippines affects more than 932,000 people Source: Turkey conducts 'telephone diplomacy' on food deal Television and partially radio broadcasts will be turned off in Armenia for two hours on October 31 Borrell: The EU urges Russia to revert its decision Haiti PM Ariel Henry: The leader of a political party was murdered in the republic Armenia MFA expresses condolences to South Korea over Seoul tragedy Seoul receives more than 3,700 missing persons reports after crush Armenian Defense Ministry: Private received fatal gunshot wound Toivo Klaar: I emphasised the European Unions continued strong engagement in the peace process Arrested for assaulting Speaker Pelosi's spouse faces charges Major crush in Seoul: There are victims Britain needs air defense in connection with war in Ukraine 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 STEPANAKERT. The adversary violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces around 70 times, from late Tuesday night to early Wednesday morning, and on Wednesdays 25th anniversary of the independence of Armenia. During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired more than 700 shots toward the Armenian position-holders, and by way of rifle weaponry, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) Defense Army informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. In addition, the adversary fired 36 shots from large-caliber machine guns, in a southerly direction of the NKR Defense Army. But the Defense Army vanguard units are in full control over the frontline, and they continue confidently carrying out the military task set before them. We will help Armenia become more secure and prosperous. US Senator Robert Bob Menendez noted the aforesaid at Wednesdays festive event that was held in the US Congress, and to mark the 25th anniversary of Armenias independence. Senator Menendez stressed that by celebrating this anniversary, it is also worth mentioning the huge contribution that the Armenian community of the US has made in the development of America. Menendez added that he has helped in every way to strengthen Armenian-American relations, to create a more secure and prosperous Armenia, and that they will continue to work in this direction. More than a dozen US Congress members attended this event. An extensive report, whose cornerstone was Wednesdays military paradewith the display of new weaponsin Armenias capital city of Yerevan, was aired several times by Russia-24 Russian-state-owned news channel, and on the occasion of the 25th Independence Day anniversary of Armenia. The report also noted that Armenia is the sole country to which Russia has sold such weapons, albeit many oil-rich countriesapparently referring to Azerbaijanare waiting for their turn to acquire such weaponry. In addition, the report reflected on Russian President Vladimir Putins congratulations on Armenias National Day, and the preparations for the Independence Generation concert to be held on the same day, in Yerevan. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged to introduce no-fly zone over Syria for 3-7 days, TASS reported quoting Foreign Minister of Germany. He said that the situation in Syria was on a knife-edge. The truce was only possible in the case of ban on military flights over Syria at least for three and preferably for seven days. According to him, it would give an opportunity to achieve concrete arrangements of International Syrian Support Group (MTT) on coordinated fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda. According to Steinmeier, it would give sides a chance to negotiate on the creation of a transitional government in Syria. He also added, in case of introduction of the aforesaid restrictions, the UN will be able to restore delivery of humanitarian aid to the people who are in need. YEREVAN. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Armenia is pleased to announce the call for applications for the annual National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which will take place in Armenia on 28-30 October 2016. The ICRC has been a long-standing organizer of this competition since 2005, it informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The moot court is one of the most important IHL learning events for the ICRC organized every year in Armenia. The objective of the event is to raise awareness of international humanitarian issues among law students and to enhance their knowledge of application of IHL rather than the black letter law. This moot court competition is an opportunity for law students to penetrate the depths of international humanitarian law as well as other relevant areas of public international law. Thanks to this kind of event, students can gain many practical skills, which are impossible to include in a university curriculum, says Vladimir Vardanyan, judge and former participant of the moot court. What is IHL? International humanitarian law is also known as the laws of war and law of armed conflict. As a set of rules and principles, IHL aims, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects people who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. How does the National IHL Moot Court Competition differ from your standard mooting competition? The competition aims to take the law out of the books exposing students to a variety of simulations and role-plays. Teams will present a verbal submission related to an area of international humanitarian law. Two weeks prior to the competition the selected teams will be invited to take part in preparatory courses to prepare for their role-plays, improve their mooting and public speaking skills, and trainers will be assigned for the teams. The competition also adopts a round-robin style format, with finals held at the end for the teams who have done the best throughout the preliminary rounds. By doing away with the standard elimination format, it means that competitors are guaranteed to participate in several moots without the risk of being knocked out straight away. Registration Requirements and Details To register teams must consist of three students (undergraduate or above in Law, Political Science or International Relations) of Armenian higher educational institutions, including military academies. Members of the teams shall be from the same institution, none of whom has taken part in the competition before. They shall submit a collective application form and answer the international humanitarian law related questioned suggested below. Completed applications (either in English or in Armenian) should be submitted to the ICRC Delegation in Armenia (73/1 Nairi Zarian Street, 0014 Yerevan, Armenia) or sent to [email protected] The deadline is 6 PM on 12 October 2016. Successful teams will be notified by October 16 2016. Selection and Awards Only selected teams will take part in the competition. The ICRC will cover all expenses related to the transportation and accommodation during the event. The winning team of the competition will receive an opportunity to participate in a similar international event abroad. For further information, please contact: Iren Aloyan, Legal Programs Officer, ICRC Armenia / Tel: +374 10 29 74 15 / 16 / 17 QUESTIONS In your opinion, which are the main challenges that medical staff, humanitarian organizations and their employees face while providing assistance in conflict zones? (max 900 words) In your opinion, what are the legal challenges in the regulation of operations undertaken by multinational or peacekeeping force in armed conflicts? (max 900 words) YEREVAN. An investors operative consultation center will be established at the government, Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan said at Thursdays Cabinet meeting. In his words, the Ministry of Economy needs to be given extended powers to work with investors. In particular, the matter of granting privileges to investors will be resolved faster. And if a company does not meet the criteria for being granted privileges but informs that it needs them, this matter will be taken up separately. Legislative changes are needed to extend the powers of the Ministry of Economy, noted acting minister Artsvik Minasyan. [But] a working group is already set up to prepare the [respective] bills. YEREVAN. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in New York City within the framework of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday met with Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore. They reflected on the steps to be taken toward further development of bilateral relations, expansion of legal framework, promotion of trade and economic cooperation, and achieving of closer cooperation within international organizations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The ministers also exchanged views on the key present-day regional and international issues. Separately, Nalbandian briefed Balakrishnan on the current situation with respect to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada issued a statement in recognition of Armenias Independence Day. Today, we join the Armenian community here in Canada, in Armenia, and around the world in celebrating the countrys 25th Independence Day. Canada and the Republic of Armenia enjoy a dynamic and friendly relationship, rooted in the shared values of democracy and freedom, bilateral relations, and our collaboration in international organizations such as La Francophonie. I look forward to working with President Serzh Sargsyan and newly-appointed Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan to further strengthen the relations between our two countries, and to work together on global and regional issues including peace, security, and development cooperation. On behalf of the Government of Canada, [my wife] Sophie and I invite all Canadians to reflect on the important contributions of Canadians of Armenian descent to our national fabric, and offer our best wishes to everyone celebrating today, the statement reads. YEREVAN. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan has proposed to rename three ministries, and dissolve another. At Thursdays Cabinet meeting, Government Chief of Staff-Minister Davit Harutyunyan informed that it is proposed to rename the Ministry of Economy as the Ministry of Investments and Entrepreneurship Assistance; the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resourcesas the Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources; and the Ministry of Transport and Communicationas the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology. In addition, it is proposed that the Ministry of Urban Development be dissolved. And the State Committee for Architecture and Cultural Values Protection will be established in its stead. These proposals, however, are preliminary. Sometime thereafter, when the government will develop a new program and introduce it, these structural changes also will be considered, if needed. YEREVAN. The information technology (IT) and aviation sectors will be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan said at Thursdays Cabinet session. In Karapetyans words, since the Ministry of Economy will start to assist the entire private sector of Armenia, it is illogical to leave separate sectors such as IT and tourism under its coordination. As per the PM, IT is closer to the communication sector, and the newly appointed transport and communication minister has experience in this domain. The matter of transferring the [Armenian government-affiliated] General Department of Civil Aviation to the Ministry of Transport is also being discussed, added Karen Karapetyan. So as to create a single agency for the resolution of all transport issues. The international human rights organization Freedom House commented on statements of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in its address at the meeting with representatives of European Parliament on September 20. The acting president of Freedom House Daniel Calingaert sharply criticized Ilham Aliyev's government. President Aliyev is the person most responsible for Azerbaijans appalling human rights record of the last decade, including the baseless imprisonment of civil society activists and efforts to stifle all political dissent, Daniel Calingaert said. Aliyev has remained in power thanks to sham elections while family members have enriched themselves. Freedom House will continue to do its work of bringing greater attention to his governments abuses, the statement emphasized. President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation of the EU-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary cooperation on September 20. At this meeting the head of state accused Freedom House organization of bias and pro-Armenian position. YEREVAN. National Assembly (NA) of Armenia President Galust Sahakyan on Thursday met with a delegation led by Luc Carvounas, a member of the French Senate. Welcoming the guests to the National assembly, Galust Sahakyan emphasized their visit to Armenia on the 25th anniversary of the countrys Independence, the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The head of Armenian Parliament expressed gratitude to friendly France for the permanent support in matters that are crucial for Armenia. Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, Galust Sahakyan highlighted the delegations visit to Artsakh. In this context, the NA Speaker highly appreciated the French parliamentarians condemning reaction to the large-scale military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan in April. The NA chairman, condemning the severe terrorist acts in Paris and Nice and in several other places, earlier, assured that Armenia always stands with friendly France . Considering Frances contribution to the recognition and condemnation of Armenian Genocide to be undeniable, Galust Sahakyan mentioned that the French law on Armenian Genocide recognition, which passed in 2001, will become perfect together with the law on defining accountability for genocide denial. The NA Speaker expressed the hope that, considering French President Francois Hollandes commitment, the French parliament will be consistent in submitting and passing the new respective bill. The head of the Armenian Parliament expressed confidence that Senator Carvounas will continue his efforts to further strengthen and expand cooperation between Armenia and France . Luc Carvounas, expressing gratitude for the warm reception, congratulated on the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia. He also conveyed French National Assembly President Claude Bartolones and head of the France-Armenia Friendship Group Bruno Le Rouxs warm greetings to Galust Sahakyan. Carvounas, touching upon the events in April, also highlighted their visit to Artsakh and meetings with the NKR President and National Assembly Speaker. He noted that during their talks, they conveyed Frances solidarity with the people of Artsakh, on the events that occurred as a result of Azerbaijans violation of the ceasefire. Luc Carvounas noted that he had done his best to present the four-day April war precisely to the French government. Touching upon the matter of Armenian Genocide recognition, the French parliamentarian stated that they are doing everything to pass the law on criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial. Several other issues of mutual interest also were discussed at the meeting. Armenian-American relations have been dynamically developing for 25 years, Armenia's Ambassador to U.S. Grigor Hovhannisyan told the Voice of America. Although relationship has not been developing at the speed and the pace that I would like to see as an ambassador here, however, there were positive developments. Armenian-American relations have never stayed at the same level. And today, in terms of political contacts, visits, these relations are on the highest level, but it is important to have tangible content. It is necessary to introduce goods, companies, universities in the United States to the public and vice versa, the Ambassador said. As compared with other countries, they know about Armenia in U.S., but the diplomat would like to see closed relationship between the two countries. The United States is home to one quarter of our nation, and they cannot be strangers to us, he added. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the government will not ratify the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine , taking into account the results of April referendum , reports the BBC. "I think that eventually we will not ratify the agreement ," said Rutte. In accordance with the EU rules, the agreement before entering into force must be ratified by the governments of all the member states . Rutte expressed a hope that Ukraine will be able to continue the negotiations with 27 member countries of the European Union . In April the residents of the Netherlands voted against the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, with 61 % of citizens against and 38.2 % for the agreement. The voter turnout made 32 % against the background of the necessary 30 % . When fear reigns in the world, countries are turning away from each other. This was announced by the President of the European Council Donald Tusk during his speech at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. According to him, people need to regain the sense of security they had lost. Tusk believes that the main task of the international community today is to provide assistance to refugees. "In the last months, Europe has been confronted by the refugee crisis to a particularly large degree. Nevertheless, in all our actions aimed at solving the problem of refugees, the European Union is driven by empathy and the readiness to offer help to those in need, even if the world turns its back and pretends not to see, said Tusk. He stressed that the European Union has already allocated billions of dollars to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants and is ready to allocate more resources in the coming two months. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, has urged the Azerbaijani authorities to rethink its punitive approach to civil society. He noted the aforementioned at the end of his visit to the country. Over the last three years, the civil society of Azerbaijan has faced the worst situation since its independence, the UN Special Rapporteur said, In his words, dozens of NGOs, their leaders, employees as well as their families have been subject to administrative and legal persecution: the authorities seize their assets and bank accounts, ban them from travelling and impose enormous tax penalties on them. At least 20 journalists and bloggers have been sanctioned in some way for the expression of critical views, and independent media outlets have had their licences revoked, Mr Forst noted. In his statement, the Rapporteur also mentioned the restrictions on the freedom of assembly, including the use of force to disperse the peaceful protests. He also documented at least 45 cases of pressure on individuals who were going to take part in the peaceful assembly on 17 September. The protest was connected with the upcoming referendum on constitutional amendments, which is slated for 26 September. Mr Forst urged the Azerbaijani government to observe the recommendations of the international organizations and establish human rights protection mechanisms. Moreoevr, he expressed readiness to provide support in this process. Mr. Forst will present his final report to the Human Rights Council in March 2017. Economic free-zone between Armenia and Iran can help with the work of the Iranian goods , said Manuchar Kutateladze, one of the managers of the Russian company X5 Retail Group, in an interview with the NEWS.am. Manuchar Kutateladze is currently in Armenia to participate in " Made in Armenia" exhibition . The officials of Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Commission introduced perspectives of the new zone. The zone can make the Iranian products reach the Russian market easily. "We contact with the Iranian companies. Currently, Iran is provides fruits and vegetables for our shops but our cooperation can be expanded , " said Kutateladze. Financial institutions, in their turn, are ready to offer insurance mechanisms for currency risks. Moreover, it is not only about the currency hedge. "In this case we, in any case, are close to dollar, but we can withdraw from it. What I say is that each country that has its own currency can work with that currency. There are mechanisms. Business provides an idea, while the financial sector starts seeking possible means, he added. The Russian X5 Retail group concern merges with "Pyatyorochka," "Perekryostok" and "Carousel" supermarkets. YEREVAN. - Armenia will have an entirely new government by the end of next week. Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmaznaov, who is also the Vice President of the National Assembly (NA), said the aforementioned to journalists after the RPA Executive body session on Thursday. In his words, the process of changes in the government will be continuous. Definitely, faults have always been and will be. Our issue must be to govern efficiently. We, the RPA members, are fully responsible for PM Karapetyans Cabinet, and will do our best for his Cabinet to be a success, Sharmazanov said. Referring to Wednesdays military parade, he noted that there should be no doubt in regard to the technical replenishment of Armenian armed forces. I positively assess the work carried out. Possessing strong security system will still long remain No. 1 issue for Armenia, he said. Commenting on the information disseminated by media regarding the possible division of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) and dismissal of its Chairman Hovhannes Hovsepyan, Sharmazanov said that he personally knows Hovsepyan. He is a principled and professional person. His name is not connected with import or export, or lobbying of any goods. This is very important, since this means that he has no interest. Hovhannes Hovsepyan works very efficiently in the post of the SRC Chairman, the RPA spokesman said. To the question as to whether the SRC Chairman became a millionaire by virtue of running a political office, Sharmazanov said: Being a millionaire isnt bad [per se] unless you have become one dishonestly and not through your own efforts. YEREVAN. - The arrest of Sasna Tsrer group member Pavel Manukyan has been extended for two months. The Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevans Kanaker-Zeytun administrative districts made the following decision on Thursday, satisfying the investigators motion. Pavel Manukyan was brought to the court by Ambulance. He got nervous during the hearing and in the middle of the hearing asked to take him out of the courtroom and move to the Prisoners Hospital. Pavlik Manukyan and his son Aram were wounded in their legs during a shootout in the captured police station on July 27. They face charges under Article 218.3 (Occupation of buildings, facilities) and 235.3 (Illegal procurement, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices.) of the Armenian Criminal Code. The member of the U.S. Congress House of Representatives Brad Sherman has demanded the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to consider the ties with Armenia not only from merely financial but also geopolitical viewpoint. During the Finance Committee session in the Congress, reference was made to the strategic significance of Armenia, as reported by Armenian News NEWS.am correspondent. In his speech, Sherman tried to explain why he considers the signing of a tax treaty with Armenia a priority. According to him, Canada, whose relevant ministry has one tenth of its U.S. counterpart, has signed such a treaty with Armenia. Having signed treaties with Luxembourg, Malta and many other countries, the U.S. is missing a very important circumstance: it considers everything exclusively in terms of economy, whereas the geopolitical and foreign policy context should also be kept in mind, Sherman noted. He thus urged the agency to take relevant measures. Explaining the importance of the issue for the Congress, Department of State and Department of Defense, the Congressman noted that the Congress has provided billions of dollars support to Armenia during the past 25 years. The executive is for its part running a policy aimed at the fully-fledged independence of the former Soviet states, trying to free them from Moscow, he added. In this context, he underscored the importance of not only signing tax treaties with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but also including Estonia in NATO at risk. Noting that the U.S. may appear in war with Russia and can lose soldiers in the battlefield, Sherman stressed that he is not asking the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to put on the scales someones life, but merely to initiate a simple thing, since the Armenian side has developed the treaty exactly on the basis of the agencys sample. Considering that the Congress has provided billions of dollars to that end, Sherman asked whether the agency can provide a lawyer for several months to finalize the drafting of the tax treaty with Armenia. In response, Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew noted that he realizes the strategic significance of Armenia and appreciates the reasons behind the Congressmans concern. According to him, they consider the tax treaties in the context of economic and tax policy, the main issue here concerning the prospects for avoiding double taxation. For his part, Sherman noted that the same answer was given the previous time. According to him, this is the story of a chicken or the egg: there are no investments, since there is no tax treaty, since there are no investments. Rus Drew has been named Emory's new police chief, effective Nov. 1. Drew comes to Emory from Columbus State University, where he has served as the school's top law enforcement officer for 10 years. Courtesy photo. More than three decades into his law enforcement career, Rus Drew remains inspired by the simple goal that first motivated him to be a police officer. "At the end of the day, what we are doing out there is helping people," Drew explains. "Whether it is helping someone cross the street in heavy traffic or solving a significant crime, it is ultimately about being there for people and helping on a very basic level in their day-to-day lives." Drew has been named Emory's new police chief, effective Nov. 1. He comes to Emory from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, where he has served as the school's top law enforcement officer for 10 years. "Emory has been a long-term goal of mine," he says. "I love policing on a college campus, and to be able to do that not only in Georgia, where I can maintain the contacts and relationships I have spent years building, but at the premier institution in the state it is absolutely a lifetime opportunity." Coming to Emory will mark a return to familiar territory for Drew, who worked in the Atlanta area for two decades before becoming police chief at Columbus State in 2006. He served as police chief at Agnes Scott College for 16 years, followed by four years as assistant dean of students and director of campus safety at Oglethorpe University. Drew holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice administration from Bellevue University and a masters of public administration from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Crisis Leadership in Higher Education program. Matthew Early, Emory's vice president for Campus Services, describes Drew as an "excellent fit" for the Emory community. "Chief Drew practices a leadership style that emphasizes a community policing philosophy that integrates crime prevention, problem resolution, and community involvement to provide the support and service deserved by students, employees, and guests of the university community," Early says. The Emory Police Department has 57 police positions and 23 civilian positions providing services to three campuses: Emory, Oxford and Midtown. Shared values Drew will report to Craig Watson, who served as Emory's chief of police from 1995 until February of this year, when he was promoted to assistant vice president for public safety. The move came as the University consolidated public safety services under the newly created Emory Department of Public Safety, which oversees the delivery of services provided by the Emory Police Department, Fire Safety and Emory Emergency Medical Services. Like Early, Watson says he is confident that Drew is not only highly qualified as a campus police chief, but also the "right fit" for Emory. "He has a very high level of integrity and ethics, and a very conscious focus on customer service," Watson says. "That's sometimes hard to find in law enforcement, but in the campus community, that is really what we are we are service providers, and Rus gets it." Drew says he recognized early in his career that campus law enforcement is significantly different than traditional policing. "It is critical for us to realize in policing college campuses that students are encouraged to ask questions and to challenge theories and concepts in the classroom," he says. "So even if it is something as simple as walking out and finding a parking ticket on their car, they are going to articulately make their case." While traditional law enforcement officers may not have time between calls for such engagement, "in most campus police departments, you have time to respond and talk with the student, and actually be part of the educational mission of the institution," Drew notes. Emory's new police chief "values what we value," Watson says. "In Campus Services, our values statement emphasizes 'Do the right thing, do it the right way, do it for the right reason,'" Watson says. "I think Rus Drew embodies that." Praise from Columbus leaders Drew has garnered similar praise from leaders at Columbus State University and in the broader law enforcement community. Last month, CSU President Chris Markwood presented the university's inaugural "Living Our Values" award to the CSU Police Department, led by Drew. "We established this award as a special recognition for a group that frequently goes beyond what is expected but expects nothing in return for those unsung heroes who do what they do because they care, not because its their job or for any accolades or attention that may come their way," Markwood said during the award presentation. Ricky Boren, chief of police for the city of Columbus, commended Drew in an interview with the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. He has done an outstanding job for CSU; and I am confident he will do an outstanding job at Emory," Boren said. "There is no question that our relationship with CSU would not have been as smooth without Rus. Regional troops battling against Boko Haram insurgents have recaptured a town on the shores of Lake Chad from Boko Haram, Nigeria's military said on Wednesday. Confirming the clash, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said that several of the insurgents were killed in the ongoing operation. According to him, the troops were able to overpower the insurgents at Mallam Fatori during the operation, which also involved the fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force. Usman said that the terrorists left the area and had gathered around the nation's border with Niger. He said, "As part of Operation Gama Aiki, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Joint Task Force captured Mallam Fatori in the northern part of Borno State, after a fierce battle closely covered by air operations. "However, the terrorists reinforced around the border with Niger Republic. "This was while the troops were consolidating on this success. The troops killed several of the Boko Haram terrorists in the resulting encounter and subsequently had to withdraw to a vantage position. The operation continues." In an emailed statement, Usman said Nigerian troops and counterparts from the Multinational Joint Task Force had "captured Mallam Fatori after a fierce battle backed by air support. "But the terrorists reinforced around (the) border with Niger, while the troops were consolidating on this success." Mallam Fatori, in Borno State, was liberated in March last year as part of a regional counter-offensive against the Islamists, who had captured swathes of territory in north-eastern Nigeria in 2014. But the town was re-occupied by Boko Haram fighters, after troops left. The MNJTF is made up of soldiers from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin. 23:33 In a series of tweets, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that expectations are raised that looking to the enthusiasm of people for making IDS declaration, the date for income disclosure scheme would be extended. "We want to make it very clear that the last date for Income Declaration Scheme will not be extended," Adhia tweeted. Under the IDS, people can disclose their undeclared income and escape prosecution. The scheme, which was launched on June 1 to uncover black money, closes on September 30. "We, therefore, appeal to people to file their declarations in time before 30th September," Adhia said. Those disclosing assets under the IDS will have to pay 45 per cent tax plus penalty. Also the payments can be made in three installments till November 2017. The government on Friday ruled out any extension to the September 30 deadline for filing income disclosure under the black money compliance window. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] UC Santa Cruz art professor and multimedia artist Elizabeth Stephens and her artistic collaborator Annie Sprinkle will participate this weekend in Documenta 14 --one of the most prestigious art exhibitions in Europe.Stephens and Sprinkle are creating a water performance in an effort to help cleanse a former police station of some of its violent history surrounding events that happened there during Greeces fascist period.In a late night email from Athens, Greece, Stephens described what she and Sprinkle will be doing at the public program that takes place Friday night at the Athens Municipality Arts Center at Parko Eleftherias.This portion of Documenta 14s program is entitled, The Parliament of Bodies and consists of 34 Exercises in Freedom, said Stephens. The understanding of freedom here is premised on Michel Foucaults notion that freedom is never a given, a natural state of being, or an automatic right; freedom is a practice. Like all practices, freedom must be exercised on a regular basis, so Paul B. Preciado, the curator of Public Programs, titled the acts in this program as a series of numbered exercises.Our exercise is #25, she added. We will be giving an hour-long lecture about our collaborative work titled Post-Porn Activism and Ecosexual Freedom. Then we are going to perform a collaborative ritual with 8 to12 artists and the public that shows our love and respect for water, as well as our concern for the well-being of H2O--the substance which allows life to flourish on Earth.Titled the Wet Dreams Water Ritual, the event is billed as an invitation to partake of the pleasures and perils of water--in collaboration with local artists, activists, musicians, sex workers, refugees and other humans and non-humans.Since its inception in 1955, the city of Kassel in Germany has been the host of Documenta, which takes place every five years and features artists and cultural practitioners from around the globe. This year for the first time, Documenta 14 will take place in Athens, Greece, during 2016, and then in 2017 it will continue at its more traditional location in Germany.We are thrilled, Stephens noted. An invitation to be in Documenta is one of the most significant honors that an artist can receive. Japan's top currency diplomat said on Thursday that Japanese financial authorities are watching for speculative currency market moves and would respond if needed.Masatsugu Asakawa, vice finance minister for international affairs, said "We are worried that there are nervous moves in the currency market."He added that authorities will continue to monitor the currency market in the evening even more carefully than usual."If speculative moves continue to be seen, we are ready to take necessary action," he said.Asakawa was speaking after a meeting involving the finance ministry, Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan.In the meeting, the officials discussed global market issues including the BOJ's new framework. REUTERS JW VP1255 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-944851.Xml New Delhi [India], Sep 22 (ANI-NewsVoir): Mobvista, Asia's leading global mobile advertising platform, today announced the launch of Mintegral, a native and video ad mediation platform. This powerful mobile Supply-Side Platform (SSP) developed by Mobvista provides developers a global monetization solution for maximized revenue. Smart algorithms and mediated top quality international ad sources combine with customizable native ad formats for optimal performance. Launched today in Beijing, by Robin Duan, founder and CEO of Mobvista, the Mintegral kick-off ceremony also saw Erick Fang, Chief Product Officer of Mobvista, and leaders from top app partners Camera360 and SHARE it in attendance. Touted as the first of its kind platform in China, Mintegral also promises to be an important milestone for the Indian market. After having set-up its India operations in 2015, this move will help Mobvista establish itself very early in the programmed purchase ad market, which is still at a nascent stage in India. Easy to Use for High Revenue, Seamless Integration and Low Maintenance Mintegral is a comprehensive monetization system, including native ad resources mediation, intelligent ad targeting, a complete operation dashboard, dedicated account teams and more. According to Erick Fang, Chief Product Officer of Mobvista, "High revenue, low maintenance and ease of usemake up" the DNA of Mintegral. First, Mintegral's mediation concept is more advanced than traditional platform-based mediation, and solves the problem of higher quality traffic wasted when allocated to lower quality campaigns. Mintegral first mediates campaigns on all platforms and retrieves the optimum ad sources through smart and dynamic cross-locking algorithms. This is based on developers' requirements to match each ad spot with the right ad for maximized benefits. Today, Mintegral mediates over 60 industry leading ad platforms and enables the classification and retrieval of native ads. Eliminating risks and traffic waste, in trials for developers on multiple platforms Mintegral delivered a 100 percent fill rate of ad spots in apps. Erick also mentioned, "Secondly, developers have traditionally had challenges to efficiently monetize without compromising the user experience. Mintegral enables smooth integration with the UIs of developers' products for truly seamless integration and minimal disruption. We have invested heavily in optimizing our SDK and have designed a wide variety of UI templates, to address the various ad demands in line different app scenarios." Mobvista has partnered with over 1000 apps from all over the world, with 180 million daily active users from our SDK with partners like Camera360, SHAREit, 360 Security and Clean Master. "We are positioned as the monetization team for developers, which determines the way we think, act and work with a developer's best interest at heart." Erick Fang said "Some of the developer-friendly services provided by Mintegral include: a monetization solution customization by a senior monetization consultant and design team, an estimation of ad revenue, technical support and bridging tests from senior experts (including former Baidu Fengchao team), as well as data optimization support from our operation team." Integration of NativeX Video Ad and GameAnalytics Data Analysis Video advertising is one of the trump cards for Mintegral. NativeX, a US-based pioneer in mobile video ad industry with their Lightning Play Video solution, was acquired by Mobvista in February. After the business integration, NativeX's high quality video ad technologies are integrated into mediation platform. Through an easy to integrate SDK, developers can easily implement various rich media ad formats, enabling higher conversion rate and benefits for developers while ensuring positive user experiences. Game Analytics, a respected European mobile game data analytics company acquired by Mobvista in July, also enhances the data analytics capabilities of Mintegral. By providing a powerful data analysis service for developers, Game Analytics can deliver more precise advertising at the monetization stage to improve eCPMs and relevance. Build Full-Stack Products from SSP and Mobile Productivity Engine "In the future, only full-stack service providers can survive," Robin Duan, founder and CEO of Mobvista, revealed as he explained the company vision. Programmatic ad buying and native advertisement is the general trend of advertising industry. SSP, DSP, DMP, and Ad Exchanges are major builders in this ecosystem. Digital Advertising spends will account for Rs. 12.7 percent of total spends at around Rs. 7,300 crore. With the gradual evolution of mobile ecosystem, the stock proportion of programmatic advertising buys in mobile platforms is now rapidly increasing. With one billion mobile connections and counting, mobile is now emerging as the gateway to the connected world, driving awareness, engagement and commerce for advertisers, leading to a lion's share of the digital marketing mix. Therefore, Mobvista is committed to taking comprehensive efforts from DSP, Ad Exchange, DMP and SSP. From a business perspective, Mobvista is building up its data capabilities and providing developers with one-stop solutions for everything from promotion, statistics to monetization. In closing, Robin Duansaid, "Mobvista is more than just a top advertising network. We are also a data-driven service company for developers. And we look forward to continuing the strong growth and success of our developer partners with Mintegral." (ANI-NewsVoir) New Delhi [India], Sep 22 (ANI- Business Wire India): As part of the international outreach programme for the eighth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017, a high-level delegation led by Punamchand Parmar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, Government of Gujarat visited Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa from 12th - 14th September, 2016 and Nairobi in Kenya from 15th - 16th September, 2016. The aim of the visit was to further strengthen the brand India and facilitate meetings with prominent businessmen in South Africa and Kenya to discuss the potential of investments in the countries. As Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit has seen a transformation from an investment exercise to India's largest growth propelling event, the State Government has put significant impetus on inclusive and sustainable growth. In order to achieve this, the delegation spoke about the strengths of Gujarat, showcased the investment opportunities across various sectors which include Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Tourism, Gems and Jewellery, Agro and food processing and Energy and invited the participants to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017. "In all our meetings in South Africa and Kenya, we found a significant convergence of mutual interests and a genuine deep-seated desire for closer cooperation. Four MoUs in all have been signed between the Government of Gujarat and chambers of commerce in both the countries to foster the mutual interest in trade and economic development and cultural interaction between both sides. There is an increasing awareness about growing business opportunities, especially in Tourism and Medical Tourism areas. Therefore we expect to have a significant participation from both the countries during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017," said IAS, Punamchand Parmar. In South Africa, the Government of Gujarat organized road shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Puneet Kundal, the Consul General of India in Cape Town, attended the road show in Cape Town. Dr. S Janakiraman, the Deputy High Commissioner of India to South Africa was present at the road show in Johannesburg. The delegation met senior government officials from the department of International Relations and Cooperation, Trade and Industry, Tourism and Human Settlements in Pretoria. The delegation also had a series of meetings with the CEO's and the top management of companies such as Old Mutual Properties, WESGRO, Compsol, Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Alternative Tourism in South Africa. In Kenya, the Government of Gujarat along with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) organized a road show in Nairobi. H.E. Suchitra Durai, the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, graced the road show with her presence. She talked about the historical relations between India and Kenya and was pleased about the visit of the delegation from Gujarat. The Deputy High Commissioner of India to Kenya and the National Vice Chairman of KNCCI were also present at the event. The delegation met senior government officials from the department of Tourism, Trade and Housing and Urban Development. High profile meetings with ARM Cement Ltd., Abacus Group, Pharmaken, Devki Group, Hindu Council of Kenya, Aslan Adventure Tours and Travel Ltd were also held in Kenya. It was therefore a remarkable achievement for the Vibrant Gujarat delegation as it received a very positive response, both in South Africa and Kenya. (ANI- Business Wire India) ALS damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These cells control many vital muscle functions, including speaking, swallowing and breathing. Though no cure for this disease has been found, scientists have identified several risk factors, including genes, gender, age and underlying health issues. For this study, researchers explored the link between tobacco and development of ALS. They collected data on the smoking habits of 650 people diagnosed with ALS between 2007 and 2011 in northern Italy. They also looked at chronic lung disease (COPD) among these patients. Nearly 19 percent of the ALS patients were regular smokers when they were diagnosed. Researchers noted that 28 percent were ex-smokers and about 53 percent had never smoked. 44 of the ALS patients had COPD; half were former smokers. On average, patients with COPD had shorter lives than those without. But smoking appeared to shorten patients' lives whether or not they had COPD when their ALS was diagnosed. On average, smokers with ALS lived 21 months after diagnosis, compared to 27 months for ex-smokers. Those who never smoked lived the longest after diagnosis, 31 months, on average. Researchers also said smokers were usually younger than others when their ALS was diagnosed. The study authors, led by Dr. Adriano Chio, although cautioned that no firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn from their observational study. The study was published online in The Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. (ANI) "The BJP during the elections are trying to keep everybody in Karnataka guessing on the water issue. The Centre wants to solve the problem while the Karnataka BJP wants the problem to remain," Tyagi told ANI. The Karnataka Cabinet has decided to hold a special session of the legislative assembly on September 23, which will discuss the state's response to Tuesday's Supreme Court order. Till the assembly reaches a decision, the Cabinet has decided to defer the release of water. Former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy expressed the view that no Cauvery water should be released to Tamil Nadu now despite the Supreme Court order. Karnataka is opposing the release of more water, claiming that with the rainfall being deficient, there is not enough water for drinking purposes. More than 80 percent of the water requirements of key cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru are met from the Cauvery waters. The livelihood of more than four lakh farmers and 16 lakh farm labourers in Tamil Nadu are dependent on the release of Cauvery water. The apex court earlier this week directed Karnataka to supply 6,000 cusecs daily to Tamil Nadu till the next hearing. (ANI) Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday said it is high time that Pakistan is declared a terror state post Uri Attacks. "We are witnessing a global condemnation of Pakistan and all the nations of the world look at Pakistan with the view of a terror state. In America, two lawmakers have introduced a Bill to declare Pakistan a terror state. I also think and I submitted a resolution to be passed in the Winter Session of Parliament, which unambiguously states that Pakistan is a terror state," Chandrasekhar told ANI. Chandrasekhar advised the government to review its relationship with Islamabad in the wake of the increasing terror attacks from the other side of the border. "We are suffering these terror attacks of Pakistan for many years... We need to review all these and all Pakistan whatever it really is, that is a terror state," Chandrasekhar said. "A message will also be then sent to the selective few who consider Pakistan something other than terror state, that all of us countrymen consider Pakistan a terror state," he added. Chandrasekhar talked about how the world is becoming increasingly concerned about Pakistan being a terror state. "This shows the increasing concern of the whole world that Pakistan is not a failed state, it is now a terror state," he said. Two infiltration bids were made from across the border in Kashmir on Tuesday just days after the Uri terror strike, but they were foiled by the Army in an encounter in which 10 terrorists and a jawan were killed even as the Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian positions. The infiltration bids and the ceasefire violation came after four Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad militants stormed an army base in Uri Sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, killing 18 soldiers and injuring several others. All the four militants were killed in the gun battle. (ANI) Hitting out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for 'glorifying' slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations, India has asserted that his statement only proves Islamabad's attachment to terrorism. Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Sharif glorifying Wani in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, which is one of UN's highest forum, shows Pakistan's continued connection with terrorism. "PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India's only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable? Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA in complete denial of Uri terror attack. 19 infiltration attempts stopped at LoC this year. Indigenous??!!," Swarup said in a series of tweets. Earlier in his address at the 71st UNGA in New York, Sharif invoked Wani, who was slain by the Indian security forces in an encounter, and branded him as a young leader saying that he has become the face of the Kashmiri movement. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif. He said Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani (22) was killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter on July 8. He was prolific on social media and used the same to reach out to the youth while spreading the message of jihad. His killing triggered massive protests in Kashmir that injured hundreds of civilians as well as security personnel. (ANI) In a statement here, NFF Chairperson M Illango said that Mr.Sirsena had assured to initiate speedy measures to resolve the Indo-Sri Lankan fishermen issue when he had a discussion with Union Minister of state for External Affairs M J Akbar in the UN headquarters. Mr.Srisena further said this would be executed with the support of the government of India and the representatives of fishermen from both the countries. Mr.IIlango said that this was possible because of the initiatives taken by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who had invited fishermen to New Delhi to have a discussion on the issue and later held talks with the Sri Lanka government. He also expressed hope that because of the initiatives taken by Ms.Swaraj and cooperation of the Sri Lankan government an amicable settlement in the issue would be reached after the fourth round of talks.UNI PAB CS 1000 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-944675.Xml Delegations from Afghanistan, India and the United States have met in New York on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly, for a round of Afghanistan-India-US consultations. Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra and the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson, met yesterday to exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan and on regional issues of mutual interest. Reaffirming their shared interests in advancing peace and security in the region, as well as countering terrorism, all sides welcomed the discussions focused on political, economic, and development goals in Afghanistan, including the regional dimension, a joint statement said after the meeting. The meeting provided a forum for the US Government and the Government of India to explore ways to coordinate and align their assistance with the priorities of the Afghan government. They agreed that the dialogue helps advance shared values and goals, and decided to continue these consultations on a regular basis.UNI MK PY ADG 1016 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-944681.Xml This north Kerala coastal city isall geared up for the crucial three-day National Council meeting ofthe Bharatiya Janata Party that would chart its plan of action forthe state Assembly and Parliamentary elections due till 2018 end. Party brass will descend for the all important meetingcoinciding with the birth centenary of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya in northKerala which is all decked up to host the three-day national councilmeeting of the BJP from tomorrow. At least 2,500 delegates,including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team of ministers, arescheduled to attend the meet. The entire city has been painted in saffron hues with posters and buntingsof various leaders adorning strategic points. The national council meeting will be dedicated to its ideologueDeen Dayal Upadhyaya who became the president of the Jan Sangh, theBJP's forerunner. Upadhyaya was elected president of the Jan Sanghin 1938 at the party conclave here. He was assassinated 41 dayslater in Mugalsari railway station in Uttar Pradesh. With a series of polls ahead beginning with the UttarPradesh Assembly elections in February next year and culminatingwith the Lok Sabha hustings in 2018, the party is likely toannounce its poll plank of Garib Kalyan Agenda. The Agenda documentis likely to be discussed at the Council meeting on September 25 andadopted. It had been prepared by a committee of three ChiefMinisters headed by Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The other memberswere Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and his Jharkhand counterpart Raghubar Dasbesides BJP vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. The intention of Mr Modi was to draw up common social welfareprogrammes for all states, especially those ruled by the BJP andwhere the party was a coalition partner. A massive air-conditioned tent covering an area of 1.50 lakh sqfeet has been built and the venue named as Swapna Nagari (dreamworld). A German technique, sans pillars and poles, has been used toerect it. The three-day event would trigger off with a meeting of officebearers to be held in the Kadavu resort tomorrow afternoon. It wouldbe followed up by a massive rally to be held at the Beach here. Before the rally, the party leaders might hold internal discussions onvarious issues, including the intrusion by terrorists in the Jammu and Kashmir' s Urisector recently in which 18 jawans were killed. Other prominentissues facing the country would also come up for discussion. Theparty is also likely to castigate the Left Front for frequentattacks on the RSS and BJP cadre in the state, especially the latestone at Kannur recently. Party president Amit Shah will arrive here this afternoon and agrand reception would be hosted for him at the International Airport. Over the next three days he would be holding consultations withleaders from various state party leaders. He would set the tone forthe National Council meeting on Sunday. Mr Modi is scheduled to arrive in the afternoon of September 24and would directly head to the Rally venue. He would spend the wholeday at the council meeting and is expected to deliver the concluding remark. The government guest house in the city has been spruced up toaccommodate him. For the first time, the Prime Minister of thecountry has opted to stay in the guest house in the city. Mr Modi, along with Mr Shah, would interact with party veterans,who had participated in the Jana Sangh meet in the city in 1967, atSmirti Sandhya (memorial meet) to be held at Samoothiri HigherSecondary School. Many activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghand Jana Sangh, who were victims of 1975 Emergency, would also behonoured at the function. Prime Minister's Office would also function at the venue.Tight security arrangements have been made in the entire city.UNI CNR RP 0940 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-943589.Xml Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, where it has asked the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within four weeks, and said that as per the new order, 6,000 cusecs of water to be released from Karnataka will not be sufficient for Tamil Nadu. Saravanan told ANI that the Central Government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won't be any loss of life or property in future. "Even though the Supreme Court has ordered 6,000 cusecs of water has to be released from Karnataka. I don't think that will be sufficient for the state of Tamil Nadu.But, the significant aspect is that the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to constitute Cauvery management board with four weeks, I think that is a very welcomed decision," Saravanan said. "It shows, if the Tamil Nadu government has pointed out our leader M.K. stalin, if the Tamil Nadu government have acted in expeditious manner, I think Cauvery management board would have come into existence long time back. But anyway, better late than never. We welcome this decision of constituting this Cauvery management board," he added. Stating that it is the internal politics between Karnataka, Congress and BJP over the Cauvery issue, Saravanan said, "I think, they should oblige by the Supreme Court's verdict and the Central Government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won't be any loss of life or loss of property like what we have seen in Bengaluru." Saravanan further said that that peculiar politics is being play upon in Karnataka, where the Congress in Tamil Nadu is supporting the Cauvery dispute, Congress in TN is supporting the issue but BJP didn't support the bandh which is called by all the parties. Earlier, the apex court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from tomorrow till September 27, the next date of hearing. The Supreme Court also directed the Centre to constitute a Cauvery management board within four weeks and notify the same. The ruling came a day after the Cauvery Supervisory Committee ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water from the river to Tamil Nadu daily between September 21 and 30. The Supreme Court also allowed both states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to file their objections to Cauvery supervisory committee report within three days. Union Water Resources Secretary and Chairman of the committee Shashi Shekhar asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 30. As per Supreme Court orders, Karnataka has to release 12000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. More than 5000 cusecs of water will be released from Mettur Dam for delta irrigation and this will be raised up to 15,000 cusecs as per the need of delta farmers. The water released from Mettur will first reach Upper Anaicatu Mukombu in Tiruchirapalli and from there to Grand Anaicutu Kallanai by weekend. From Kallanai, water will be released for samba crops in delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur. This year release of water from Mettur has been considerably delayed due to shortage of water in Cauvery. Delta farmers hope that north east monsoon will start by third week of next month to save samba crops. (ANI) Mr. Narayanasamy will take part in the GST council meeting scheduled to be held this evening. He would put forth demands in the meeting like providing compensation by the Central government for the revenue loss to the Union Territory after implementation of the GST, excemption of tax for certain commodities and among other things. The Chief Minister during his visit is expected to meet Union Ministers and Congress leaders tomorrow before leaving for Puducherry.UNI PAB CS 1348 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-944939.Xml As part of constant endeavour to provide fora for views on contemporary socio-legal issues and trying to understand the society in its dynamic equilibrium, Hyderabad-based NALSAR University will be hosting its inaugural edition of the Student Bar Debate here tomorrow. The University will host some of the most eminent names in the country, to help us understand the politicisation of college campuses through the motion - "This house will ban all organized political activity on Indian campuses". From Delhi to Hyderabad to Kashmir to Calcutta, this year has seen some of the most path breaking political activity on university campuses, and this has seen both strong support and criticism, the University said in a statement here today. The speakers at the bar debate will provide insights into the motion like never before. Mr. Syed Sultan Ahmed, educator, film-maker, and mediaperson and Mr. Adithya Reddy, eminent lawyer, and freelance journalist will be joined by a student speaker as they propose this motion. Opposing the motion would be Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Cabinet minister, journalist and writer; Mr. AK Khan, ACB Chief of Telangana and Prof. Haragopal, ICSSR National Fellow with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad. The debate will seek to dissect the issue on socio-legal, economic, political and pedagogical parameters. The Law University appealed the media and student community to be part with intellectual stimulation and discourse at the debate.UN KNR CS 1400 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-944950.Xml Mr Shah was accorded a grand reception by hundreds of party workers led by State Unit Chief Kummanam Rajasekharan on his arrival at Calicut International Airport by a special flight from New Delhi. Former state unit President C K Padmanabhan and P K Krishna Das, among others were present. Later he was escorted by the workers to Kadavu Resort where he would preside over the leadership meet tomorrow. Mr Shah would be in the city for the next five days to preside over the Council meet which is expected to deliberate in detail the attack by terror module on an Indian Army base camp in Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 killing 18 soldiers and developments thereafter. The meet is also expected to streamline strategies for the five state assembly polls in 2017 and strengthening the party in Kerala where it was able to open its account by winning Nemam seat in Thiruvanthapuram in May 16 Assembly poll and fetching 15 per cent votes as against six per cent polled in the previous election.UNI PCH CS 1330 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0328-944921.Xml Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today further stressed over his demand for an Union Farmer budget saying ''farmers are afraid of loosing their rights in the present Narendra Modi government.'' " Every farmer in the country knows the real motive of the BJP government at the Center. Hence, the Centre should make a separate budget for the farmers after they have merged the railway budget with the general budget " he stated. Addressing series of road side public meetings on his 15th day of the Deoria se Delhi Kisan yatra in Kanpur and Unnao, Mr Gandhi ,replying to the question of Union Finance minister Arun Jatiely that why Congress did not go for separate farmers budget, said ''the farmers had full faith in the Congress that they will protect the interest of the farmers but in this BJP government they have all apprehension about it.'' Mr Gandhi had yesterday suggested PM Modi that they should bring a separate budget for the farmers. This Kisan budget should exclusively deal with the budgetary provisions schemes and projects to benefit the farmers, Mr Gandhi said. He also said that he will raise the issue in the Lok Sabha pressing for the 'Kisan budget'. He said along with this, the issue of waiver of loan of the farmers, increasing the Minimum Support Price(MSP) and reducing the power tariff down by 50 per cent, would also be raised in the Winter session of Parliament. Meanwhile, further attacking the Prime Minister the Congress vice-president said , "when Congress launched farmers loan waiver of Rs 70,000 crore during the previous regime and the introduction of MGNREGA, it was announced in a big farmers rally in Delhi and other places. But it is unfortunate, that BJP even after giving a waiver of Rs 1.10 lakh crore to the industrialists, has not announced it in any public meeting." Mr Gandhi said that this shows that BJP government was ''trying to hide'' the facts about how just 12 people were given Rs 1.10 lakh crore." Why Arun Jatiely and Nitin Gadkari were not saying a word on the matter," he questioned. The yatra would now go to Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, this evening and will reach Lucknow tomorrow.UNI MB ADG RK1300 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-944822.Xml Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah todaycalled on Governor Vajubhai Vala and appraised him of the latestdevelopments and his government decision to defer the release of water fromriver Cauvery to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court andalso requested him to issue notification for convening the one-dayemergency Legislative Session tomorrow. The State Cabinet had decided last night to convene the one-daysession to discuss the Cauvery water issue after the government hadcalled for an all-party meet. Talking to newsmen after meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Mr Siddaramaiah said "I have in detail appraised the Governor aboutthe developments that took place after the Apex Court direction torelease 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for seven days and aboutthe views of all political parties for not releasing the water due todepleted levels in Cauvery basin reservoirs." Mr Siddaramaiah, also called on former Chief Minister and veteranCongress leader S M Krishna and he received his full support. Mr Krishna told newsmen that the steps taken by the Karnatakagovernment, including convening all party meeting and SpecialSession tomorrow, is in accordance with the law. ''We are not in aposition to release water now and I fully support the government onthis issue. I appeal to all the political parties to strengthen thehands of the government at this tricky situation,'' he said. During Mr Krishna's tenure as Chief Minister, similar situationhad arised and he had defied the Apex Court direction since theState was under distress due to failed monsoon. Meanwhile, Mr Siddaramaiah will be leaving for New Delhi latertoday to meet the Congress High command. He is expected to hold ameeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and explain the latestdevelopments in the state.UNI MSP-RS CS 1236 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0285-944850.Xml The spring 2017 collection had begun a day earlier with sporty, cardigan-style hoodies, embroidered denim jackets, silky pajama tops, studded flared denim suits, platform satin slippers, the new over-sized Marmont handbag, paper fans as accessories and more, reports Hollywood Reporter. Without further ado, the second day could have very well started with Max Mara featuring the easy-breezy labeled overcoats and accessories. The luxury Italian fashion house had hired American fashion model, Gigi Hadid to be the face of its accessories campaigns. High-end leather retailer, Fendi is likely to put on yet another Karl Lagerfeld exercise in refined grandeur while Emillio Pucci's resonance of geometric designs is expected to be less splashy under the direction of Massimo Giorgetti, its young and energetic creative director. One of the biggest and most creative names on the Milanese calendar, Prada will make rounds off the full day turning its journey under the creation of Mrs. Prada. (ANI) Trans-border and inter-state smuggling of liquor from Nepal continued to unabated as excise sleuths seized a consignment of Nepalese liquor from a peddler under Laheriasarai police station area in the district today. Excise Superintendent Deenbandhu said here that 23 bottles of Nepalese liquor were seized from the smuggler near Officers' Colony following a tip off. The nabbed peddler has been identified as Rupesh Sahni, a resident of Union Tola under Jainagar police in Madhubani district. In another seizure in Katihar district, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel recovered 24 bottles of foreign liquor at Katihar and Barsoi railway stations in the district this morning. Similarly, excise department sleuths arrested eight people involved in manufacturing and selling liquor from Ambedkar market under Town police station area in Katihar district. UNI XC DH PL ADG AS1410 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-944961.Xml Globally renowned higher education analysts QS, has given five star rankings for employability and campus facilities to UPES. According to the latest ratings released, the University has also been rated as one of the best institutes in India for its teaching. UPES, with overall three Stars, is currently the only Indian education institution with live QS Star Ratings. The Dehradun based private university, widely acknowledged for its unique and innovative courses, has taken the pole position for having a robust employability ecosystem, securing 128 out of 150 points. It has also scored full points in the career service support. Over 300 companies visited the campus this year, hiring over 1200 students from the University. "UPES is proud to be rated five Stars for placements and campus facilities and four stars for teaching, a global recognition that clearly reflects our commitment towards our students," said CEO and President UPES, Utpal Ghosh. "QS is an international benchmarking measure in higher education and we are excited to be the only Indian University currently to be QS Rated and join the league of some of the best international universities," he underlined. The QS Stars ratings system is a new international standard identifying excellence and diversity among the world's universities. The rating system evaluates universities against a range of important performance indicators based on a rating method. Unlike QS Rankings, QS Star Ratings are not dependent on the performance of other institutions and include thorough evaluation of specialist components that may not be easily included in rankings. Employability: Five Stars QS Stars ratings system recognizes that graduate employability encompasses more than academic strength, focusing on 'work-readiness' - the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural team, to deliver presentations, to manage people and projects. Five Stars rating on employability reflects University's strong performance on key indicators like Employer reputation / Campus employer presence, Graduate employment rate and Careers service support. Facilities: Five Stars The facilities category talks about the physical infrastructure of a university, providing students with some insight into the environment they can expect for their university experience. UPES has received five stars basis key parameters like sporting facilities, student's accommodation, IT infrastructure, library facilities, medical facilities and student societies. Teaching: Four Stars QS Stars ratings system recognizes that a key role of a university is to nurture tomorrow's finest minds, inspiring the next generation of potential research academics. UPES has been rated four stars on key indicators like students' satisfaction with teaching, overall student satisfaction and faculty student ratio. (ANI) An agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale from French Dassault Aviation will be signed tomorrow noon in presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Yves Drian Jean. The visiting dignitary has arrived here with top representatives of the fighter manufacturer. The Defence Ministry and the French Embassy in New Delhi have confirmed the pact. The contract, which will become part of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the deal, which is pegged at 7.878 billion Euro (approx Rs 59,000 crore), was being negotiated between the two parties for the past more than 17 months. The decision to acquire 36 fighter jets in flyaway condition was conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France's President Francois Hollande, when he visited Paris in April last year. A joint statement issued after the visit had said that in view of the critical operational necessity for Multirole Combat Aircraft for Indian Air Force, the Government of India would like to acquire 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible. The sides agreed to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement for supply of the aircraft on terms that would be better than conveyed by Dassault Aviation as part of a separate process underway; the delivery would be in time-frame that would be compatible with the operational requirement of IAF; and that the aircraft and associated systems and weapons would be delivered on the same configuration as had been tested and approved by Indian Air Force, and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France. More UNI MK AE 1519 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-945044.Xml Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today said travelling to Goa from Mumbai by road may soon take only six hours after construction of a new concrete four-lane highway connecting the two places. Speaking at a function held in the city, he said it would take only six hours to travel from Goa to Mumbai and vice-versa after the completion of four-lane concrete highway. He informed that his ministry was building road at the rate of 22 km per day. The Union Minister proposed to shift a port to be developed in Betul in South Goa to Maharashtra or Karnataka, if the series of protests against the port continued. Mr Gadkari signed a concession agreement between the Mormugao Port Trust and Goa Seaport Pvt Ltd for redevelopment of two berths and other barge berths at the central government facility. He also announced construction of an eight km highway which would connect the upcoming Mopa airport in North Goa, located 40 kms from here, to the National Highway-17 at the cost of Rs 300 crore. UNI AKM NV AE RAI1455 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-944993.Xml Several people, including a minor, were injured when security forces burst teargas shells and fired pellets to disperse demonstrators, demanding the body of a militant killed in an encounter in north Kashmir district of Bandipora this morning. Immediately after the killing of militants in an encounter this morning, residents of several villages hit the streets and staged a massive protest near an Army camp at Chapran Gujjarpati Aragam, demanding body of the militant for identification. "If the person killed is of foreign origin, then why are security forces not showing us the body. We think the person is a Kashmiri and was killed in a fake encounter," the protestors alleged. As the demonstrators were heading towards main Bandipora, security forces swung into action and resorted to lathicharge which had no impact. Later, security forces burst teargas shells and fired pellets to disperse the demonstrators, who were pelting stones and raising anti-security force slogans. Several persons, including a minor, were injured in the clashes which were still going on when the reports last came in as demonstrators refused to disperse, demanding body of the militant. Meanwhile, the injured minor was rushed to local hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition. Official sources said troops on specific information about the presence of militants, launched a search operation at village Chapran Gujjarpati Aragam in north Kashmir district of Bandipora this morning. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons. Security forces also retaliated and in the initial fire-fight a militant, believed to be a foreigner was killed.UNI ABS QAB AE NS1634 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-945236.Xml Terming the omission of the Uri attack in the speech by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a public admission of direct involvement of his country in the onslaught, the Congress today said his glorification of Burhan Wani was a pointer to the international community that Islamabad's state policy is to provide an umbrella support to all those who wreak havoc across the world, including in France, Bangladesh, US, Britain and Belgium.In a statement on Mr Sharif's address yesterday at the UN General Assembly session in New York, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said the Pakistan Prime Minister's speech at the UNGA was a confirmation that his country is indeed a 'renegade state' that has emerged as the 'central processing unit' (CPU) of global terror.''Conspiratorial omission to Uri Attack in his speech is a public admission of guilt by Pakistan, of its direct involvement in this act of cowardice. In his jarring and impudent address to United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday, Mr Nawaz Sharif repeated the same shrill and clichd statements to belie Pakistan's diabolical support to terrorism. In glorifying a terrorist like Burhan Wani, Mr Sharif only reiterated where his and his country's sympathies and support lies,'' Mr Surjewala said.Terming Mr Sharif's speech at the UNGA as an example of 'misleading posturing', Mr Surjewala said, ''There was nothing new in his address, except glorification of terrorists and extremism which Pakistan has adopted as 'state policy'.'' Mr Sharif came to the UNGA after taking his brief from his real handlers i.e. the military establishment and Inter Services Intelligence in Rawalpindi, Mr Surjewala said.' ''All that Mr Sharif did was characteristically misleading posturing. Is it not a fact that the masterminds of the 26/1, Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Pampore and Uri attacks operate from Pakistani soil with complete impunity?,'' Mr Surjewala wondered. ''Is it not a fact that hundreds of dreaded international terrorists of the ilk of Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim are operating under the tutelage of rogue agencies like ISI of Pakistan? Is it not a fact that terrorism from Pakistani soil is not only emanating against India, but also against neighbors like Afghanistan and Bangladesh? Has the world forgotten that Osama Bin Laden found shelter in Abbottabad. Pakistan. next to an Army Garrison? Travesty is that Pakistan still has the audacity to speak on terrorism,'' he added.More UNI AR AE RP1737 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-945405.Xml The Assam government has asked UK and Australia to immediately withdraw their travel advisory to their citizens against visiting the state describing it as a "disturbed" area.Assam Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a statement, "Assam was a fine abode of natural beauty while its peace loving people give immense love and affection to all those who come here. Any misrepresentation of the actual situation creates unnecessary fears besides impacting the tourism potential of the state, as this can have a spiralling effect".Dr Sarma said clubbing Assam with some disturbed parts of the country was not right and urged UK and Australia to address this "careless oversight" and avoid inadvertently alluding Assam as a forbidden destination. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had issued advisory to its citizens saying, that the overall security situation in North-East of India was improving but some areas within the region, especially in Manipur and Assam, still experienced sudden and random outbreaks of violence. The FCO had cited the shooting in Kokrajhar on August 5 in which 14 people died, and grenade explosions in Lakhimpur, Karbi Anglong and Guwahati. The Australian advisory had asked its nationals to reconsider their travel due to risk of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and separatist and insurgent violence.Mr Sarma said that Kokrajhar incident was a rare occurrence and one which could sadly be experienced by any modern society, but the law and order situation in Assam was perfect and any fear or apprehension was unfounded.Dr Sarma asked the nationals of both the countries to visit the state and experience the rich flora and fauna, magnificent cuisines, mesmerising landscapes and the world famous Kaziranga National Park. "Any representation of minor skirmishes as state wide disturbance amounts to inexplicable exaggeration and causes unnecessary anxiety for our esteemed tourists who wish to visit the state," Mr Sarma said.UNI RBE AE 1727 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-945435.Xml Vedanta Limited, an Indian diversified natural resources company, today signed the concession agreement for redevelopment of berth numbers 8, 9 and Barge Berths at Port of Mormugao in Goa.The company had received the 'Letter of Award' for the project, to be built on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis, on April 15.The agreement was signed by Vedanta's Iron Ore business chief executive officer Kishore Kumar, also the director of the newly formed special purpose vehicle, Goa Sea Port Pvt Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Sterlite Ports and I Jeyakumar, chairman, Mormugao Port Trust, in the presence of Road, Transport, Highways andShipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Paresekar.Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gadkari said, ''My best wishes to Vedanta which is working on the redevelopment of the Mormugao Port which will help improve the infrastructure and enable development of the state. The project has a huge potential and will usher in a great deal of progress to the state of Goa and its people.''''It is very important to develop the port infrastructure in a country like India that has a huge coastline. Such projects will help reduce the logistics cost most important for trade and generate employment opportunities to socio economic progress,'' he stated.Mr Parsekar said, ''This day of partnership between Vedanta and the Mormugao Port Trust is a significant one. The project will modernise the port infrastructure and enhance efficiency to stimulate maritime traffic providing a boost to the State economy.''Mr Kumar said, ''We are excited about the project and the opportunity to partner with the government of India. This public-private partnership enables Vedanta partner in the growth story and vision of building a progressive India through innovation. Vedanta is the largest exporter of iron ore from Goa and this project wouldprovide logistics integration to our iron ore business apart from handling other cargo. The re-developed berths are planned to handle all types of cargo including iron ore, coal, limestone, bauxite and general cargo with an expected capacity of 19.22 million tonnes per annum. ''With this, Vedanta's Sterlite Ports will have a strategic presence on both west and east coasts in the traditional iron ore and coal hubs respectively,'' he added.The project will be handled by Goa Sea Port Pvt Ltd which is a subsidiary of Sterlite Ports. It currently owns and operates a 14 MMTPA capacity fully-mechanised coal terminal in Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh. The project has been awarded through a competitive bidding process on DBFOT Basis for the 19 MMTPA capacity multi-cargo port terminal in Mormugao Port, Goa. The total estimated project cost is Rs 1,145 crore and construction is expected to be completed in five years.Goa Minister for Power, Milind Naik, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar and chief secretary R K Shrivastava were present on the occasion.UNI AKM SS NP1851 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-945781.Xml The Assam Mahila Congress today staged a demonstration in Guwahati against price rise of essential commodities and vegetables. Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi and state Congress president Ripun Bora also participated in the demonstration, attended by a large number of Mahila Congress workers. The protestors raised slogans against the BJP-led government in the state, demanding steps to check price rise. They also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, through Kamrup metro deputy commissioner, over the price rise issue. UNI SG AKM SHS AE VN1841 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-945596.Xml The Amur Falcon Roosting Area Union (AFRAU) Pangti has issued an ultimatum to Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang regarding the ongoing project on Amur Falcon under Swadesh Darshan scheme 2015-16 under Wokha district. The ultimatum appended by AFRAU Pangti president Zanthungo Shitiri and secretary Nribemo Merry lamented that despite repeated pleas, the government has failed to give any positive response to their demands till date. The union and landowners have therefore urged the Chief Minister to meet their demands on or before September 30. The ultimatum stated that the AFRAU president on behalf of the union had submitted a representation to Nagaland parliamentary secretary for tourism on July 28, 2016 on the issue and reminder letter to the Chief Minister on August 30, 2016, followed by open letter on September 7, which was published in a local daily. The union warned that failing to give them positive reply within the stipulated time, "the union will give up our selfless service in protecting the international species Amur Falcons, the pride of Nagaland, which have been doing for the past three years. The government shall be solely held responsible in case of any unwanted eventuality that may arise," the ultimatum said. UNI AS AKM SHS AE RAI1848 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-945643.Xml Punjab Congress Chief Capttain Amarinder Singh today said the Akali-BJP government in the state had lost all the moral right to continue, as it had been deafening over the fastdeteriorating law and order situation in the state and virtually had no clue as what was happening in the state.Expressing sorrow over the death of RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja, Capt Singh said the murderous attack on him reflected the failure of the government to protect the life of people.Addressing a farmers' dharna organised jointly by the PCC Kisan Cell and the District Congress Committee here today, the PCC chief reiterated that his government will repay all the loans of the farmers and urged them not to resort to desperate measures like the suicide.He said Brig Gagneja's killing was only one in a series as earlier the Namdhari Mata Chand Kaur was shot dead. Later, he added, there was a murderous attack on Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and before that there were incidents of sacrilege and the government was totally clueless."The situation and circumstances in Punjab today are such that no Punjabi was feeling safe as the Badals had given up on governance and it was better to sack this goverment", he said, adding, "the sooner it was done the better it will be."Capt Singh said the current situation was a natural consequence of the indulgence of the Badals in things other than the governance."The way they have destroyed and devastated Punjab, they deserve no mercy and I will have no mercy for them either", he said, while pointing out how they have pushed Punjab on the one hand toward bankruptcy and on the other hand towards drugs and ruined an entire generation.MORE UNI XC DB SHS AE VN1833 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-945573.Xml RSS Punjab unit deputy chief Brig (retd) Jagdish Gagneja was given a tearful adieu at the Ram Bagh cremation ground in Jalandhar Cantonment this evening.His body was brought here from Ludhiana this afternoon where he breathed his last at a private hospital this morning.Thousands of citizens, including RSS and BJP leaders and workers were present at the time of cremation. Brig Gagneja was shot at in front of the local Red Cross market near busy Jyoti chowk market on the evening of August 6 when he was moving towards his car after doing shopping with his wife. The assailants opened fire indiscriminately on him and fled after injuring him seriously. He was rushed to a private hospital from where he was shifted to Ludhiana hospital the following day. Gagneja was kept on ventilator for most of the time during the 48 days of his struggle for life.Jalandhar commissionerate police failed to crack down the murderous attack on Gagneja. The state government constituted a Special Investigation Team to crack down the case. It handed over the case to the CBI also to probe the matter. Jalandhar police took four persons lodged in Ludhiana jail including a Shiv Sena leader on productions warrant for interrogation but it also failed to yield any kind of results.Both RSS and BJP cancelled their scheduled programmes for today after the news of demise of Brig Gagneja broke out in the morning. UNI XC DB AE VN1851 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-945659.Xml Confirming Indian stand against terrorism, Director, Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma today asked the SAARC nations to strictly enforce internationally mandated sanctions against terrorist entities and individuals. Speaking during second meeting of the High Level Group of Eminent Experts to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism here, he called upon the delegates to take up 'Terror Financing and Money Laundering' and 'Cyber Crime' as new agenda items.He also called upon the eight member nations to ratify and enable various Conventions enacted by the SAARC grouping, including the Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and Additional Protocols and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.Mentioning the sacrifice of lives of 18 brave army men recently in a terror attack in Uri sector of Kashmir, Mr Sharma said that the incident was only one in a series of such dastardly acts during the last few decades for which planning, financing, training, arming and indoctrination on religious lines owed their origins to sources beyond the borders of India.Mr Sharma said that close cooperation and sharing of real time intelligence among the countries needed to combat menace of terrorism that was spreading in the entire world. He also said that the terrorist organisations use easily accessible technology to attack both soft and hard targets. "Self-radicalisation over internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State all over, including in our country, has added new dimensions to the threat," said Mr Sharma. He said countering financing of terrorism was one of the most important tools to fight the terror menace. Similarly, cyberspace has become an important area for radicalisation and spread of jihadi materials. Pointing out that the First Meeting on the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism in February 2012 had stressed upon the need for immediate operationalisation of the newly created SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk and SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk at Colombo for creating database which could be used by all members, Mr Sharma said not much progress seems to have taken place on this initiative. Meeting of a High Level Group of Eminent Experts to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism was recommended by the SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism (adopted by the 31st Meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers in Colombo, February 2009).India had hosted its first meeting in New Delhi from 9-10 February 2012. UNI XC RSA AE 1917 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0440-945727.Xml To Mali, it will be first ever high-level visit from India Dr Ansari, who will be accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Arjun Meghwal, four MPs and senior officials, will make his first halt in Nigeria, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here briefing media about the visit. He said India and Nigeria had strong trading ties and India imports 12 per cent of its crude oil needs from the country. The two countries had elevated their relations to strategic partnership in 2007. Dr Ansari's second and last destination would be Mali, which is special as it is the first ever visit at such a high level from India. India had advanced several Lines of Credit to Mali for the development of its infrastructure. Dr Ansari will address the National Assembly in Lagos.UNI NAZ RSA 2015 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-945983.Xml Pakistan today violated air space along international border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, Intelligence sources said. "A highly sophisticated camera fitted drone reportedly hovered over Indian side near village Bobiya in Hiranagar Sector for around two minutes," the sources said here. They said that it flew back to Pakistan before the Border Security Force(BSF) reacted. "Panic gripped the bordering hamlets due to an object," they added. BSF authorities said that facts are being ascertained. "Some balloon like object was spotted by the locals," Neeva Jain, SSP Kathua told UNI adding "whether it belonged to Pakistan or not is being ascertained".UNI VBH SHS SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0440-945988.Xml Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today met Mr Modi at the latter's official residence and extended the invitation besides urging the Premier to participate in an ex-servicemen's convention that very day. The names of every soldier, who hailed from this state and made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, will be inscribed at the approximately Rs 40-crore Memorial spread over about 12 acres.UNI SN-AC RSA AN2206 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-946130.Xml The AAP leader said that although ideology of Gagneja was different of AAP but his services for the society can not be ignored. In a statement here, Ghuggi said that law and order situation in the state has gone from bad to worst. The every day killings in broad daylight exposes the hollow claims of Punjab being one of the safest state in the country. He said that due to the failure of Punjab police, Mata Chand Kaur of Namdhari sect was killed inside the Dera. The police have failed to catch the killers till date. Ghuggi alleged that Punjab government itself is protecting the bad elements in the state. He also criticised state government for failing in taking action against the attacker of Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrian Wale.UNI DB RSA AN2143 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-946018.Xml Dr N Taher, Superintending, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today revealed that the mortal remains of Georgian Queen Ketevan were found in the picturesque coastal of Goa.The 16th century connection between Goa, a part of the Deccan peninsular, and Georgia, was brought to light here by Dr N Taher while delivering a lecture titled Personality of a Monument: A Case Study of St Augustine Complex in Deccan's Old Goa, threw new light on the history of Goa, organised by H K Sherwani Centre for Deccan Studies, a research institution of MANUU, here, Referring to a long research project spread over 22 years here, Dr Taher said, "We have been able to establish that the remains found in St Augustine Complex in Goa were that of Queen Ketevan of Kakheti in Georgia."Ketevan was the queen of Kakheti during the 1600s. The city was attacked and her husband killed. The Persian ruler Shah Abbas seized the kingdom and took Ketevan a prisoner.She was held in Shiraz for 10 years where she died a mysterious death. Her remains were smuggled out of Iran to Goa. Later Ketevan was canonized as a saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church.Georgia wanted to find where the relics of their Queen were. The investigation was started by ASI and 26 years later it was revealed that her remains are in Goa. It was for the first time that DNA testing was done on a bone relic in India at CCMB in Hyderabad, he said. The lecture was also significant as it encompassed facets of disciplines such as archaeology, history, genetics, and chemistry. It was reflective of the multi-disciplinary character of academics that the Centre focuses upon. The lecture also formed an important part of the Centre's geographical jurisdiction of five states in the DeccanAndhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.The lecture was chaired by Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Registrar, Maulana Azad National Urdu University.UNI KNR SHS RSA 2300 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946186.Xml The opposition Congress in Goa today accused Chief Minster Laxmikant Parsekar of threatening the people of the state due to their opposition to mobile towers and said a police complaint against Mr Parsekar will be filed besides seeking the Governor's intervention. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the city, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said, ''The Chief Minister yesterday said that the government will use its weapons against people opposing the erection of mobile towers. This is threatening peaceful protesters.'' ''Such threatening and intimidating language does not suit a chief minister and its reflection of the Bharatiya Janata Party's good governance. The Chief Minister should clarify what weapons will be used,'' Mr Kawthankar said, adding, no chief minister in India would have made such a statement. "We will file a complaint with the police alleging intimidation and also seek Governor Mridula Sinha's intervention in this matter,'' he stated. The Chief Minister had yesterday warned those who were protesting against the installation of mobile towers in the state in view of BRICS Summit 2016 to be held next month.UNI AKM SS RSA AN2323 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-946193.Xml The lawyers of the Kangra Bar association today called off their protest against Himachal Pradesh High Court notification following the clarification by the SecretaryDistrict Legal services Authority Dharamshala. The lawyers boycotted the courts on the second day today against the notification of the High Court to shift the complaint cases filed under section 138 of the Negotiable instrument Act to the court of District Secretary Legal services Authority at Dharamshala. Aman Guleria, President, Kangra Bar association said that it was following the clarification by the Secretary, Legal Services Authority Dharamshala to the protesting lawyers, the protest was called off today. He said that the lawyers will resume the court work from tomorrow. Neha Dahiya, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kangra today told UNI that cases under section 138 of the Negotiable instrument Act pending disposal in the courts at Dharamshala will be transferred to Secretary, District Legal Services Authority at Dharamshala. She said that those cases pending at the Sub Divisional courts will not be shifted to Secretary District Legal Services Authority at Dharamshala. Ms Dahiya said that there was no such mention in the High Court notification that Sub divisional cases will be shifted to Dharamshala Secretary District Legal Services Authority, however, it was misinterpretation of the language. MThe lawyers of Dehra Bar association today abstained from their court work following an emergency meeting of the Association under the chairmanship of Bar President BK Dixit in protest against alleged shifting of the NDPS Act cases to Dharamshala. Amit Rana, Vice President of the Bar Association said that Himachal Pradesh High Court on July 16, 2016 through a notification said that the NDPS cases were shifted to Dharamshala which was putting the litigants to inconvenience. He said lawyers were protesting because litigants had to suffer and had to travel a distance of 120 to 200 kms to reach Dharamshala in connection with these cases. He said that litigants of higher reaches of Dadaseba were the worst sufferers and demanded revocation of the notification in public interest. The lawyers protested outside the Dehra court in support of their demands. UNI XC RSA AN2247 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-946084.Xml New York [USA], Sept 22: The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has said that Beijing is supporting Pakistan in the mass killing of the Balochi people courtesy the China Pakistan Corridor Project (CPEC). "China is Pakistan's strategic partner in the economic plundering and mass murder of Baloch civilians particularly in the coastal belt of the Makran region of Balochistan. The deep sea port of Gwadar has been sold to China for military buildup and expansion into the Arabian Sea," read a statement issued regarding the joint protest of Baloch and Sindhi activists held outside the United Nations to condemn the Pakistani atrocities and the 'ongoing military operations' in Sindh and Balochistan. The statement further said, "The 47 billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a death trap for the Baloch people in the name of development. An estimated 300,000 Baloch tribal and coastal population has been forced out of their ancestral lands and fishing villages to make room for the Chinese and their security establishment." Highlighting the rampant human rights violations in the region, the statement said, "Since 2003, more than 20,000 Baloch political activists have gone missing, illegally abducted by the Pakistani state security forces and their death squads. The victims of enforced disappearances are being tortured and executed in custody in thousands and their lifeless, mutilated, bullet-riddled bodies are then dumped in the fields." "The Pakistan army soldiers and helicopter gunships attack civilian settlements and villages on regular basis across Balochistan and entire populations are forced to migrate leaving behind a trail of burned down houses and bodies of executed youth," it added. The protestors appealed to the United States and the international community to support their demands for freedom, peace, and justice. They also condemned the recent terror attack on an Indian Army base camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and alleged that Pakistan is responsible for the incident as well as for the Pathankot air base attack that happened earlier this year in January. "We condemn the barbaric terror attack on the Uri camp in Jammu and Kashmir in which 17 soldiers of the 12th Brigade of the Indian Army lost their lives. The recent attack and the earlier one at the Pathankot Indian Air Force Base in January 2016 are part of Pakistan's policy of aggression, employing terrorist methods and outfits to escalate war in the region," it said. They also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "The Baloch people have welcomed and are grateful for the support extended by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at such a critical juncture when our nation is struggling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948." (ANI) Branding Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address at the United Nations General Assembly as 'immature' and full of 'threats', Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar scoffed at Islamabad for wanting dialogue while holding a gun, adding India will never succumb to their tactics and blackmail. Addressing a press conference here moments after Sharif's address, Akbar stated that Pakistan at the moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government. "Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a gun a terrorist gun in its hand. Talks and guns don't go together. Our position on a dialogue has been consistent. We have always been ready for a dialogue, but we will not succumb to the blackmail and tactics of a government in Islamabad that seems eager to use terrorist and terrorism as policy," he said. Reacting to the Pakistan Premier's glorification of slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in his address, the Union Minister asserted it was shocking that the leader of a nation can glorify a self declared, self- identified terrorist at such a forum. "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Burhan Wani is a self declared Commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen. This organisation is widely acknowledged as a terrorist group internationally. This is self incrimination by the Pakistan Prime Minister," Akbar said. Coming down heavily on Sharif's address in which he attacked India over Jammu and Kashmir, he further said that the speech was simply full of threats and missing facts. "The only occupation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a part of India, is the occupation of a part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan's occupation Army. The world also knows that Pakistan has indulged in ethnic cleansing of its own people," he said. Akbar emphasised that Islamabad's consistent use of war and terrorism has been at the cost of development of the people of Pakistan, adding that the people there are paying the price of a malevolent policy. Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy with Pakistan from charges of being unsure and always see-sawing, the MoS stated that the former's policy with the hostile neighbour has been consistent since day one. "In the very first invitation that was extended to the SAARC leaders, it was made clear that India was always ready for a dialogue with anyone, but not if there was any use of terrorism. You will recall even in the first weeks that the dialogue process was disrupted because India's stand has been unfavouring and unchanging," he said. Extending his full support to the protests being carried out by Baloch activists across the globe, Akbar said that the Baloch people have every reason for protest against a policy of serious hostility against them, which has a very long history of violence that has included the use of Air Force and massive Armed Forces against them. The Pakistan Prime Minister earlier told the United Nations that his country wants peace with India but asserted there can be no peace and normalization of relations between the two Asian neighbours until the Kashmir issue is fully resolved. "Peace and normalization between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position," said Sharif while addressing the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He said that talks are necessary for solving all pending disputes including Kashmir with India while adding that Islamabad would accept any pre-conditions. "Talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation. But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue," he said. He further extended his support to Kashmiris and went on to glorify slain Hijbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a young leader, who has become the face of the Kashmiri movement. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif. The Prime Minister said Islamabad fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. The dialogue between both sides was suspended after an attack on an Indian air base at Pathankot earlier in January which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. (ANI) "Judged on the basis of objective criteria and without discrimination, Pakistan is fully eligible for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group," he said in his remarks at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). "We have introduced state of the art measures to strengthen the safety and security of our nuclear materials and facilities. We have adopted a comprehensive export control regime that is fully consistent with international standards," he said. He also asserted that Pakistan is not engaged in an arms race with India. The Prime Minister, however, added, "We cannot ignore our neighbour's unprecedented arms buildup and will take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence." He further said Islamabad is ready for talks to agree on a bilateral nuclear test ban treaty. He said Pakistan is open to discussing all measures of restraint and responsibility with New Delhi in any forum or format and without any conditions. "We have consistently urged the conclusion of bilateral arms control and disarmament measures between Pakistan and India to prevent conflict and avoid wasteful military expenditures," he added. Pakistan and India are the two non-NPT states aspiring for the membership of the 48-member international nuclear trade body. Many countries, including China, had opposed India's bid to join the NSG at its last meeting in June citing that the latter has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the basic criteria to enter the NSG. (ANI) Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the United Nations that his country wants peace with India but asserted there can be no peace and normalization of relations between the two Asian neighbours until the Kashmir issue is fully resolved. "Peace and normalization between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position," said Sharif while addressing the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He said that talks are necessary for solving all pending disputes including Kashmir with India while adding that Islamabad would accept any pre-conditions. "Talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation. But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue," he said. He further extended his support to Kashmiris and went on to glorify slain Hijbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a young leader, who has become the face of the Kashmiri movement. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif. The Prime Minister said Islamabad fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. The dialogue between both sides was suspended after an attack on an Indian air base at Pathankot earlier in January which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Of late, the tension between the two sides escalated to a new level with India demanding that Pakistan be "isolated" globally post the terror attack on the army base camp in Uri Sector, close to the Line of Control (LoC). (ANI) Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the slain Hijbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was a young leader and has become the face of the Kashmiri movement. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif while addressing the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Prime Minister, who earlier declared Wani a 'martyr' post his death even as India branded him a terrorist, said Islamabad fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani (22) was killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter on July 8. He was prolific on social media and used the same to reach out to the youth while spreading the message of jihad. His killing triggered massive protests in Kashmir that injured several civilians as well as security personnel. (ANI) At least 42 persons were killed after a boat with some 600 refugees on board capsized off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, authorities said. The accident occurred on Wednesday near Kafr al-Shiekh governorate. A senior official told EFE news that the boat was carrying mainly Egyptians, Syrians, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants. At least 10 women and two children were among the victims. According to local media, the coast guard have rescued some 150 survivors from the boat, meaning some 400 were still missing. A local government spokesperson could only confirm that the number of people found alive was 105, and that some 100 of them have been transferred to the public hospital in the city of Rashid, Al Bahira province. The boat departed from a point between Rashid and Baltim, where the coast is not very populated. The boats carrying migrants usually depart from this area with most of them bound for the Italian mainland. The number of migrants trying to reach Europe using Egypt as a departure point has increased in recent months. So far this year, until September 20, some 2,766 people, mainly from Libya, have died trying to reach Europe via the so-called central Mediterranean route. --IANS ksk ( 214 Words) 2016-09-22-08:18:08 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused nuclear-armed rival India on Wednesday of putting unacceptable conditions on dialogue with Islamabad and said the world would ignore the dangers of rising tensions in South Asia at its own peril.Sharif told the annual United Nations General Assembly Pakistan could not ignore India's "unprecedented" arms build-up and would "take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence."India has accused Pakistan of being behind a deadly attack on an army base in the disputed Kashmir region on Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed and said it had the right to respond when and where it chose.Pakistan has rejected the allegation and accused India of apportioning blame before the incident had been investigated properly.Sharif said Pakistan wanted peace with India and had repeatedly offered dialogue."But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in dialogue," he said. "Talks are in the interests of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation."India has long accused Pakistan of playing a role in the 27-year-long insurgency against its rule in Jammu and Kashmir, its only Muslim-majority state. Pakistan denies sending fighters into Indian-administered Kashmir.New Delhi has said it would only discuss terrorism-related issues, whereas Pakistan wants a wider agenda that would, among other things, discuss the Kashmir question.Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, is at the heart the neighbors' seven decades of mutual distrust. Two of their three wars since independence from Britain have been fought over the region.India's portion of Kashmir has been under a major security lockdown during more than two months of protests sparked by the July 8 killing of a popular young commander of a Kashmiri militant group.Sharif repeated a Pakistani call on the United Nations and the international community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by Indian security forces in Kashmir."The international community ignores the dangers of rising tensions in South Asia at its own peril," he said.India rejected Sharif's remarks in a statement to the UN General Assembly from Eenam Gambhir, a senior diplomat at its UN mission."It is ironical ... that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism," she said.She said Sunday's attack was "part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbor" and tasked to carry out attacks in India."What we see in Pakistan ... is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbors," she said. REUTERS PY PM0835 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-944646.Xml The Thai capital of Bangkok has beaten London to be crowned the world's most popular travel destination this year, according to an annual ranking by global payments and technology company Mastercard released today.Tourism has been one of the rare bright spots for Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which has grappled with weak consumer confidence and exports after a 2014 coup the military said was aimed at ending months of political unrest.Last month's wave of bomb blasts in southern Thailand, which police have blamed on Muslim separatists, appears to have had a limited impact on tourism.Bangkok, also known as the 'city of angels', topped the 2016 listing of 132 cities, beating London, Paris and Dubai to become the city most visited by international travellers in the Mastercard Index of Global Destination Cities."It isn't a flash in the pan. Bangkok is in a strong position to be the top destination city for a long time," Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Mastercard chief economist, told Reuters."There's the value for money, especially for visitors coming from high-income countries."Thailand expects to welcome a record 33 million visitors this year, thanks to a jump in the number of Chinese tourists.Sprawling Bangkok is projected to receive 21.47 million international visitors in 2016, just ahead of second-ranked London, with 19.88 million visitors."The pollution makes it a less than ideal city to stay long term, but the food is second to none," James Donnelly, 31, a tourist from Britain who was visiting the city on his way to Vietnam, told Reuters.Elsewhere in Asia, the Japanese city of Osaka has shown the strongest growth in international visitors over the past seven years, attracting tourists from neighbouring countries, particularly China and South Korea, said Mastercard.The British capital topped the 2015 ranking of global destinations, but Mastercard did not say why some of its shine had rubbed off for travellers this year. The two cities have topped the ranking for most of its history. REUTERS JW PM1045 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-944715.Xml US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in remarks at an African-American church praised "stop-and-frisk" policing methods, which have aroused protests and successful legal challenges on grounds they single out minorities.Yesterday the anti-crime tactic, which involves police officers stopping, questioning and searching pedestrians for weapons or contraband, gained traction in New York City under the administration of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a top Trump supporter.But opposition to the practice led police departments in New York, as well as Chicago and Newark, New Jersey, to agree to cut back on its use, in some cases submitting to outside monitoring and improving police training."I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to," Trump said, according to excerpts of a Fox News "town hall" in Cleveland after an audience member asked what he would do to reduce crime in predominantly black communities across the nation."I see what's going on here, I see what's going on in Chicago, I think stop-and-frisk. In New York City it was so incredible, the way it worked," Trump said.Ending the practice in New York was a key plank of Democrat Bill de Blasio's successful 2013 run for mayor.With the race tightening between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton ahead of the November 8 election, he has been reaching out to African-American voters, who opinion polls show largely favor Clinton.Trump has portrayed himself as the "law-and-order candidate." But Clinton has criticized many of his proposals as unconstitutional attacks on American freedoms.The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his statement, nor did Clinton's.'WE ARE VICTIMS'Anger over police tactics has escalated as fatal police encounters with African-Americans, many of them unarmed, have sparked protests and unrest in communities across the country.In his appeal to African-American voters, Trump has lamented the woes of black communities and invited people who traditionally vote Democratic to take a chance on him. But his often dire portrayals of life for African-Americans have fallen flat with some black voters.Connie Tucker, a pastor at Father Heart Ministries in Columbus, Ohio, said she liked policies that yielded results, so if stop-and-frisk helped reduce crime, she was for it. But Tucker, who is white, said she sensed discomfort in the room at Trump's answer."I felt like there was a pause," she said.Geoff Betts, 38, who was also in the crowd at the town hall event and who is black, said he felt dismayed by Trump's response.Betts, a distributor of hair products, said he was registered to vote as an independent and attended the town hall because he was curious about what Trump would say to try to win over black voters. He said he thought police unfairly discriminated against black citizens and that he opposed stop-and-frisk."We are victims," he said, adding he walked out of the town hall while it was still under way."I just couldn't take it anymore, I had to go," he said. "I don't think that Donald Trump gets it." REUTERS AKC 0408 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-944612.Xml Friends of Gilgit Baltistan, an international organization set up by a few Members of the European Parliament, held a seminar last week on the sidelines of the 33rd UNHRC session in Geneva, on the exploitative nature of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The speakers included Alberto Cirio, Member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum, Junaid Qureshi, prominent Kashmiri human rights leader and Mehran Marri, Baloch Representative to the UN. Paulo Casaca moderated the seminar. During his speech, Paulo Casaca mentioned that though the CPEC has been termed by Pakistani leaders as a game changer time and again, they had glossed over and failed to acknowledge the negative impacts of the project. He opined that though the government harped on the expected economic benefits of the CPEC, little attention was given to the fact that the CPEC would fail to provide economic benefits, including jobs, to the locals and instead only enrich a few. The CPEC, he stated, had become more of a project championed by the Pakistani government and its military to divert attention from all the failures of the civilian government in all other areas including human rights. Later, responding to an intervention, Casaca stated that the most worrying factors with regard to Pakistan was its support to cross border terrorism and there was an immediate need for this to stop as otherwise it would impact the security of not only South Asia but also the world. In his speech, Alberto Cirio, MEP, highlighted the lack of economic and social benefits to the people of Gilgit Baltistan from the CPEC. Giving the example of earlier Chinese investments in the Karakoram Highway and Gwadar Port, he stated that neither of these investments had benefitted the local people and it was important that the Pakistan government realized that the local population had basic rights on the natural resources of their area. In his presentation, Junaid Qureshi raised the issue of the illegal nature of the CPEC as it passed through disputed territory. He expressed strong reservations about the large Chinese investment in Gilgit Baltistan, which he said was a part of the undivided State of Jammu and Kashmir. He opined that China, by investing in projects in this disputed area, was also becoming one of the players in the dispute, which was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir. He concluded that it was necessary for Kashmiris to be masters of their own land. In response to a comment on recent human rights violations in Indian Kashmir, he said that while in India people were free to express opposition to policies, in Pakistan leaders like Arif Shahid were being shot dead by the State machinery. Mehran Marri described the CPEC as an illegal project and expressed concern that China's interest in pursuing the CPEC was not just economic but also to increase its military footprint in Pakistan, and especially in Gwadar Port in Balochistan. He added that the Chinese need for security for its personnel along the CPEC had further jeopardized the Baloch rights and also facilitated the deployment of Chinese military personnel in the area. All the speakers who spoke at this event, emphasized the disputed nature of Gilgit Baltistan, through which the CPEC would be traversing. (ANI) Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused nuclear-armed rival India of putting unacceptable conditions on dialogue and said the world would ignore rising tension in South Asia at its peril.Sharif yesterday told the annual United Nations General Assembly Pakistan could not ignore India's "unprecedented" arms build-up and would "take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence".India has accused Pakistan of being behind a deadly attack on an army base in the disputed Kashmir region on Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed and said it had the right to respond when and where it chose.Pakistan has rejected the allegation and accused India of apportioning blame before the incident had been investigated properly.Sharif said Pakistan wanted peace with India and had repeatedly offered dialogue."But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in dialogue," he said."Talks are in the interests of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation."India has long accused Pakistan of playing a role in the 27-year-long insurgency against its rule in Jammu and Kashmir, its only Muslim-majority state. Pakistan denies sending fighters into Indian-administered Kashmir.India has said it would only discuss terrorism-related issues, whereas Pakistan wants a wider agenda that would, among other things, discuss the Kashmir question.Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, is at the heart the neighbors' seven decades of distrust. Two of their three wars since independence from Britain have been fought over the region.'FREEDOM MOVEMENT'India's portion of Kashmir has been under a major security lockdown during more than two months of protests sparked by the July 8 killing by Indian security forces of Burhan Wani, a popular young commander of the Kashmiri separatist group Hizbul Mujahideen, whose leader is based in Pakistan.Sharif praised Wani as "as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement", drawing an immediate response from the Indian foreign ministry."Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism," the Indian ministry spokesman, Vikas Swarup, said on Twitter.Sharif repeated a Pakistani call on the United Nations and the international community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by Indian forces in Kashmir."The international community ignores the dangers of rising tensions in South Asia at its own peril," he said.India rejected Sharif's remarks in a statement to the UN General Assembly from Eenam Gambhir, a senior diplomat at its UN mission."It is ironical ... that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicenter of terrorism," she said.Sunday's attack was "part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbor" and tasked to carry out attacks in India, she said."What we see in Pakistan ... is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbors," she said.REUTERS JW RK1215 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-944794.Xml German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for a temporary no-fly zone for military aircraft in Syria of up to seven days following the bombing of an aid convoy near Aleppo."The situation in Syria is now on a knife edge," Steinmeier said according to a statement tweeted by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin today."If the ceasefire is to stand any chance (of succeeding), the only path is a temporary, but complete ban of all military aircraft movement in Syria - for at least three days, better would be seven days," Steinmeier said.US Secretary of State John Kerry demanded yesterday that Russia and the Syrian government immediately halt flights over Syrian battle zones, in what he called a last chance to salvage a collapsing ceasefire.REUTERS JW AS1426 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-945009.Xml Afghan officials signed a peace deal today with a party led by one of the country's most notorious Islamist warlords, a move that inspired both hope and fear as it dredged up tension dating back decades.The militant faction of Hezb-i-Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has been waging a decades-long battle to establish a unified Islamic state in Afghanistan.Government officials praised the accord as a step towards peace, while critics said it opened the door to one of the most infamous figures in Afghanistan playing a role in the country's already divisive politics."I hope that this is the beginning of a permanent peace in our country," said Sayed Ahmad Gilani, head of the government's High Peace Council and one of the signatories of the agreement.Hekmatyar is a controversial figure, having been accused of killing or wounding thousands of people when his troops fired on civilian areas of Kabul during the civil wars of the 1990s.Compared to other militant groups like the Taliban or Islamic State, however, Hezb-i-Islami has played a relatively small role in the insurgency recently and analysts say the accord is mostly symbolic."The deal will have little impact on the dynamics of conflict," said Timor Sharan, a Kabul-based analyst for the International Crisis Group. "The government's rationale is that by luring Hekmatyar on board, other insurgent groups might be encouraged to consider peace too."During the 1980s, Hekmatyar received significant aid from the United States, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia to fight Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan.After the US-led campaign that toppled the Taliban regime in 2001, Hekmatyar, having split from his international backers, narrowly survived an American drone strike. Later he was designated a "global terrorist" by the United States for his suspected ties to al Qaeda and the Taliban.Washington has welcomed signs of an agreement with Hezb-i-Islami and the State Department has said it hopes a final agreement will help to end violence in Afghanistan.The agreement will grant Hekmatyar amnesty for past offences and the release of certain Hezb-i-Islami prisoners. The Kabul government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar.Several hundred protesters gathered in Kabul, carrying signs calling the deal a "crime"."Any deal with Hekmatyar and other criminals is treason," said Sealy Ghaffar, a protest organiser. "Peace will never be achieved by sacrificing justice."Welcoming Hekmatyar poses challenges for an Afghan regime already split between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who are each surrounded by other warlords and power brokers, many with histories of ethnic divisions.Abdullah's mainly Tajik supporters have been alarmed by the prospect of a powerful Pashtun bloc upsetting the uneasy equilibrium that has held since the disputed 2014 election was resolved with the creation of a national unity government."(Hekmatyar's) arrival is likely to intensify tensions within an already fragile state by opening up historical grievances among different factions and strongmen," Sharan said. "The key question is whether some of these rival leaders are ready to give up a piece of a pie to their arch enemy."Other former warlords, notably Vice President Rashid Dostum and second Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq, have also faced accusations of rights abuses and have still been included in the government.Hekmatyar's return "will compound the culture of impunity", said Human Rights Watch researcher Patricia Gossman, who called it an "affront" to victims of abuses.Peace talks with the Taliban, the largest insurgent group, have yet to get off the ground, but both sides have said they are open to the idea. REUTERS SDR AS1451 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-945059.Xml Egyptian authorities have arrested four crew members of a boat carrying almost 600 migrants which capsized off Egypt's coast, killing at least 43, judicial sources said today.The boat sank yesterday in the Mediterranean off Burg Rashid, a village in Egypt's northern Beheira province where the sea and the Nile meet. Rescue workers have so far saved 169 people, which means the death toll could hit several hundred.Prosecutors ordered the crew members jailed for four days while an investigation takes place. The rescued migrants have been released.Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail pledged the government's full support for the continuing rescue mission and said those responsible must be brought to justice. The military said in a statement it was conducting the rescue operation.The boat had been carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants, officials said. It was not immediately clear where the boat had been heading, though officials said they believed it was going to Italy.More and more people have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity, but also from Egypt.Migrants who survived a shipwreck off the Greek island of Crete in June said their boat had set sail from Egypt. About 320 migrants and refugees drowned in that incident.Some 206,400 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.More than 2,800 deaths were recorded between January and June, compared with 1,838 during the same period last year.Some 1.3 million migrants reached Europe's shores last year fleeing war and economic hardship, prompting bitter rows among European countries over how to share responsibility.If they survive the perilous maritime journey, migrants this year face much tougher European Union border controls.Reuters SDR AS1725 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-945466.Xml A rocket fired from Syria hit a market in a Turkish border town today, wounding people, CNN Turk reported, without elaborating on the casualties.The ammunition hit the town centre of Kilis, which straddles the Syrian frontier, the private broadcaster said. The ordnance was fired from Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria, Dogan news agency said.Dozens were killed in Kilis, which was regularly attacked by Islamic State rockets earlier this year. However, the Turkish military entered Syria in August to back Free Syrian Army rebels and cleanse its border region of Islamic State militants. REUTERS SDR BL1749 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-945562.Xml Turkey's army returned fire at Islamic State targets in Syria after a rocket hit the Turkish border town of Kilis, the military said in a statement on Thursday.Six people, including five children, were wounded in the rocket attack, officials said, the first such strike since Ankara-backed rebels cleared Islamic State from Turkey's southern border this month.REUTERS SDR RAI1837 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-945722.Xml Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Pakistani Prime Minister yesterday in New York. When asked about the Pakistani media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said their stance on the Kashmir issue is consistent. Lu said China hopes that parties concerned will pursue a peaceful settlement through dialogue. Lu said China is deeply concerned about the violence and casualties caused by attacks in the Kashmir region as well as the strained relations between India and Pakistan over this. "We are constantly opposed to all forms of terrorism, maintaining that terrorist threats be addressed through enhanced international cooperation in order to safeguard the human society. Both India and Pakistan are significant countries in the region. We hope that the two countries will step up communication and dialogue, properly deal with their differences and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability and security," he added. He further said that China holds a consistent position on anti-terrorism. (ANI) Two Spanish men have been arrested in Madrid accused of publicly praising Islamic State attacks on Paris and planning to join the militants, the interior ministry said today.Police detained the elder of the two after learning he had travelled to Turkey before returning to Spain several days later, the ministry said in a statement. Turkey borders both Syria and Iraq where Islamic State has seized territory.The 27-year-old had told college classmates that he planned to fight for Islamic State, publicly criticised moderate Muslims and called for Spain to be ruled by the militant group, the ministry said.The statement said he had once interrupted a minute's silence held at his college for the 130 victims of last year's Paris attacks and shouted out justifications.He and an 18-year-old man were accused of glorifying terrorism, a crime in Spain, making threats and planning to join the jihadist group, according to the statement.Spain has now detained 33 people this year with suspected links to Islamist militancy. REUTERS SHS VN1959 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-945970.Xml The convicts were involved in committing offences related to terrorism, including killing of civilians,police officials and armed forces personnel, daily Dawn reported quoting a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR). "They were also involved in sectarian killings. Firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession,'' the report said. Convicts who are awarded the capital punishment are--members of proscribed organisation Mohammad Qasim Tori, Abid Ali and Mohammad Danish for attacks on law enforcement and possession of firearms and explosives..,..Syed Jehangir Haider and Zeeshan - Involved in the sectarian killings and attacks of law enforcement and members of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)Mutabar Khan and Rehman-Ud Din for attacks on armed forces, law enforcement and peace committee members. The convicts have admitted their offenses in the trial court. Military courts were set up for trying terrorists under amendments made to the Constitution andthe Army Act. Political parties had unanimously agreed for setting up military courts to tackle terrorism cases in the country following the gruesome attack on the Army Public School(APS) in Peshawar in December 2014. Parliament subsequently had passed the 21st constitutional amendment in January 2015 to set up the military courts.UNI XC SS 2203 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-946147.Xml Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today called on Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia to "cease and desist" from division if Riyadh was serious about regional peace and security.Rouhani also said in a speech to the annual United Nations General Assembly that the United States' "lack of compliance" with a nuclear deal reached with six major powers and Iran in 2015 should be "rectified forthwith."On Saudi Arabia, Rouhani said that if the government "is serious about its vision for development and regional security, it must cease and desist from divisive policies, spread of hate ideology and trampling upon the rights of neighbors." REUTERS SHS AN2200 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946163.Xml Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today called on Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia to "cease and desist" from division if Riyadh was serious about regional peace and security."If the Saudi government is serious about its vision for development and regional security, it must cease and desist from divisive policies, spread of hate ideology and trampling upon the rights of neighbors," Rouhani told the United Nations General Assembly.The leading Shi'ite Muslim power, Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia are both fighting Sunni militants of Islamic State, which controls parts of Syria and Iraq and has supporters and sympathizers worldwide who have carried out bombings and shootings of civilians.Tehran has sent in troops to confront the movement and other militants in Syria's civil war while Riyadh has been hit by a series of attacks claimed by the militants.Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran in January after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad following Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric.In his speech, Rouhani criticized the United States for Washington's "lack of compliance" with a landmark nuclear deal reached with six major powers and Iran in 2015 aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.Iran is pressing the United States to ease banking obstacles to the reopening of trade under the deal.Major foreign banks are reluctant to get involved because of concerns that they could be caught up in restrictions applying to US banks, which are still banned from doing business with Iran because of core US sanctions that remain in force."The lack of compliance with the deal on the part of the United States in the past several months represents a flawed approach that should be rectified forthwith," Rouhani said.REUTERS SHS VN2216 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946169.Xml Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov rejected a proposal by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for Russia and Syria to halt flying over Syrian battle zones as unworkable, the RIA news agency reported today.Kerry made his proposal at the United Nations Security Council yesterday, calling it a last chance to salvage a collapsing ceasefire and find a way "out of the carnage".Russia and the Syrian government spurned his plea with warplanes mounting the heaviest air strikes in months against rebel-held districts of the city of Aleppo overnight, burying any hope for the revival of a doomed ceasefire.RIA cited Ryabkov as explaining why Moscow had rejected Kerry's idea."This (Kerry's) plan won't work," it cited him as saying."At least not until such time as not just the United States but also other players in this process ... have ensured that those groups who remain convinced that war is the only way of resolving the problem and that violence is the only way of toppling (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad embrace the non-use of force."Ryabkov said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kerry would continue discussing Syria at the UN today.REUTERS SHS VN2217 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946173.Xml Britain will resist new European Union defence proposals if it feels they undermine NATO, British officials say, in a warning to France and Germany that London will defend its military interests even as it negotiates to leave the EU bloc.Paris and Berlin proposed last week reviving EU common defence plans long blocked by Britain, partly to give the bloc a sense of purpose after Britons' vote to quit the EU and also to counter the loss of the union's biggest defence spender.Those plans include a joint and permanent EU headquarters for civilian and military missions, possibly in Brussels, which London says will drain away finite resources when NATO already has its military command centre, also in Belgium.Most EU members, including Britain, France and Germany, are also NATO allies. But Europe wants to be able to act independently of the United States in its neighbourhood.While not proposing an EU army, Paris and Berlin see security and defence cooperation as one of the few areas where the remaining 27 EU governments could find common ground and show that the EU is still relevant after a British departure.But Britain's Secretary of Defence Michael Fallon told The Times newspaper on Sept. 16 that London would resist any attempts to duplicate infrastructure that already existed in NATO, also saying there could be no "rival" to NATO.Fallon said Britain vowed to be an active member of the Council of EU governments until the country leaves the bloc and he will attend an EU defence ministers meeting in Bratislava next Tuesday where plans for EU military cooperation will be discussed.British diplomats have also stressed to EU colleagues that London would oppose "ideas that would hamper the relationship with NATO and Britain," according to someone present at the meeting in Brussels this week. "Britain may not be as constructive as we expected," another source, with knowledge of the discussions, said.London supports working with EU militaries in some areas, such as in disaster relief or confronting cyber attacks. It welcomes more efficient security coordination between governments, which the EU proposals also seek to promote.But Britain's attitude is a sign that despite momentum, the EU's biggest push on defence since the 1990s could still fail.Britain maintains full EU voting rights until it leaves the bloc and is expected at diplomatic meetings as the proposals are discussed and slowly implemented. Britain's exit negotiations are expected to take two years, starting from early 2017."We expect Britain to abstain when it comes to a vote on the issue of increased European defence cooperation," said Rainer Arnold, parliamentary defence spokesman for Germany's Social Democrats, the junior partner in government."They can't prevent anything from happening in the long run, so it would make sense if they stayed out of it," he said.ALLIES IN THE EASTMajority voting means Britain alone cannot derail all EU plans, but Germany and France want all 28 leaders to back the plans at a summit in December in Brussels, or at least have Britain acquiesce.German politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel may try to persuade British Prime Minister Theresa May to let the proposals go ahead, German lawmaker Arnold said."The Brits usually block all the major defence initiatives and we would still have to negotiate this as 28. Who knows if they'd let it through as part of their negotiating tactics," said one EU diplomat involved in defence cooperation discussions.London has allies in the eastern European countries that also worry about undermining NATO, particularly after the U.S-led alliance has committed to sending troops to Poland and the Baltic states to deter what they see as a hostile Russia.Britain also believes military matters are central to national sovereignty. Germany and France, facing rising threats and smaller defence budgets, are more open, saying no European nation has the resources alone to confront failing states on Europe's borders, Islamist militants or a resurgent Russia. REUTERS SHS VN2218 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946175.Xml Baloch Republican Party (BRP) chief Brahamdagh Bugti on Thursday said the raising of Kashmir issue by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and not mentioning the atrocities committed in Balochistan shows Islamabad's hypocrisy. "He (Nawaz Sharif) just read out whatever he was given. He doesn't even have permission to talk in front of the army. Taking up only the Kashmir issue and not discussing Balochistan at the UNGA shows their hypocrisy. What are they doing in Afghanistan and Bangladesh? Every neighbour is tired of them," Bugti told ANI. He emphasised that Pakistan should be declared as a "terrorist state" by the entire world, adding that their army should be blacklisted and should not be provided support by any country. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup yesterday said Sharif's glorifying Wani in his UNGA address shows Pakistan's continued connection with terrorism. Addressing the 71st UNGA in New York, Sharif termed terrorists Burhan Wani, who was killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter, "a young leader", who has become the "face of the Kashmiri movement". When asked about his application to the Indian Government for seeking political asylum, Bugti said he was expecting positive response from India in this regard. Early this week, Bugti along with Mehran Marri, visited the Indian consulate in Geneva to inquire about the process of seeking asylum in India. "We met officials and the discussion has been very fruitful. We discussed about the political asylum and other issues. I hope everything will go well," Bugti told ANI, adding that it would be immature to talk about it now. (ANI) Eight people, including children, were wounded when rockets fired from Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria hit a Turkish border town today, officials and security sources said.The attacks on Kilis were the first since Ankara-backed rebels swept into northern Syria last month to clear Sunni Islamist fighters from Turkey's southern border. That operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield" by Turkey, was launched after months of attacks on Kilis reduced parts of the town to rubble."We entered Syria because these rockets are damaging property and human life. We want to establish security," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters in Ankara. He said six people, most of them children, were injured in the initial barrage.The Turkish military said two rockets fired from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria had hit the town in the first incident. The military said it tracked the origin of the rockets using radar and returned fire.Around two hours later, another rocket hit Kilis and the military said it retaliated with air strikes. "Many Daesh targets were neutralised," it said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.Security sources said two more people were lightly injured in the second round of rocket fire.At least six of the injured were Syrian nationals, Mayor Hasan Kara said. Kilis is home to many refugees from the Syrian civil war.Cross-border rocket attacks have killed 21 people and wounded 80 in Kilis since January, security sources said.Rockets have reduced some parts of the town to rubble and provoked outrage against the Turkish government, which some residents say is failing to protect them. In April police used tear gas to disperse dozens of people protesting after a rocket attack killed one person and wounded 26.EUPHRATES SHIELDTurkish tanks rolled into Syria from Kilis province this month as part of the "Euphrates Shield" operation, which has helped Turkish-backed rebels sweep Islamic State from a 90-km (55-mile) stretch of Turkey's border.The campaign, launched in August, is also intended to stop the advance of fighters of the Syrian Kurdish YPG, which Turkey sees as an extension of the outlawed Kurdish militant PKK it is fighting in its own largely Kurdish southeast.While the Turkish-backed rebels have made swift gains in Syria, the wedge of land they control is shallow, and beyond it lies Islamic State territory.President Tayyip Erdogan said this week the rebel alliance of Syrian Arabs and Turkmen fighting under the banner of the "Free Syrian Army" could extend their zone of control in northern Syria by pushing south and attacking the Islamic State-held town of al-Bab.Turkey's "safe zone" in the region could eventually span an area of 5,000 square km (1,900 square miles), from around 900 square km now, he said.Turkey has long argued for a "safe zone" or "no-fly" zone along its Syrian border, with the aim of clearing out Islamic State and Kurdish fighters and stemming a wave of migration.Western allies have so far balked at the idea, saying it would require a significant ground force and planes to patrol. REUTERS SHS VN2240 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946179.Xml The UN human rights chief strongly condemned this week's fatal shooting of anti-government protesters in Democratic Republic of Congo and urged the government today to seek dialogue with the opposition.Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said the death toll from clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital Kinshasa on Monday had risen to at least 50. The government has said 32 people died.Congolese authorities have said elections due in November cannot be held until at least next year due to logistical problems. President Joseph Kabila denies opponents' charges of trying to cling to power beyond a two-term limit in the vast central African country, a producer of gold, diamonds and copper."The writing is on the wall and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition," Zeid said in a statement."Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital," he said in Geneva.Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende criticized French President Francois Hollande for comments in New York on Tuesday in which he blamed authorities for the deaths and urged them not to delay the election."Hollande, with the accent of a schoolteacher, has poured scorn on the Congolese government which he blames for the violence," Mende said, adding that Hollande had ignored attacks by protesters on buildings of pro-government political parties.Mende played down an incident at the weekend in which Washington said its Special Envoy to the Great Lakes of Africa, Tom Perriello, was obstructed and harassed at the airport as he was leaving Kinshasa.Mende said there was no aggression from security officials or from ruling party deputies, who instead engaged in "lively debate" with Perriello.Congo's attorney general vowed on Wednesday to hunt down and punish those responsible for Monday's riots.The same day, Kabila's office said security was restored and invited people to return to their daily activities. World powers, especially the United States, have heaped pressure on Kabila to respect the constitution and hold elections on time. REUTERS SHS AN2333 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-946220.Xml Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli(2nd R) meets with a large Japanese business delegation headed by Chair of the Japan Business Federation Sadayuki Sakakibara, President of the Japan-China Association on Economy and Trade Shoji Muneoka, and Chair of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Akio Mimura in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on Wednesday called for more contributions from Japan's business community in deepening economic ties and improving relations. "Japan's business community has always advocated and promoted friendly cooperation between the two countries," Zhang said while meeting a large business delegation from Japan in Beijing. The delegation was headed by Chair of the Japan Business Federation Sadayuki Sakakibara, President of the Japan-China Association on Economy and Trade Shoji Muneoka, and Chair of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Akio Mimura. Zhang welcomed the visit of Japan's three major economic organizations and spoke highly of the role of Japanese business community in promoting exchanges and cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached an important consensus on improving and developing China-Japan relations during the 11th G20 summit early this month, said Zhang. He urged the two sides to abide by the principles defined in the four political documents and the four-point principled agreement reached between the two countries. The two sides should develop their relations in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future, stick to the main direction of peace, friendship and cooperation, and properly deal with sensitive issues in bilateral ties, he said. Japanese business leaders hoped that the two nations could maintain a sound and stable relationship. They expressed interests in strengthening cooperation with Chinese businesses on technology, intelligent manufacturing, medical care, energy conservation and environmental protection. They also voiced the willingness of making contribution to economic and trade cooperation as well as the improvement of relations. The Japanese delegation was invited by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. URUMQI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Wang Yang has called for targeted and efficient measures to eradicate poverty in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, noting that it is vital to ensure the regional stability. Poverty alleviation is of great significance to long-term stability in Xinjiang, Wang said during his four-day tour that ended on Wednesday. He urged comprehensive efforts to address the symptoms and root causes of poverty in the region, and focus on major poverty-stricken areas to fulfill the mission. Agricultural water conservation facilities should be enhanced and water-efficient agriculture should be promoted. Local authorities should strengthen education of local language and Mandarin, as well as vocational training, to enable local residents to find jobs. Official data showed around 1.74 million people in Xinjiang have risen above the poverty line in the past five years. The per capita annual income of farmers in counties classified as the most impoverished increased to 6,690 yuan (around 1,029 U.S. dollars) last year from 3,543 yuan in 2011, the local government said. LISBON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Exports of goods rose by 3.7 percent in 2015 compared to 2014, reaching 49.29 billion euros (55.05 billion U.S. dollars), the Portuguese National Institute of Statistics revealed on Wednesday. Imports of goods grew 2.2 percent, reaching 60.31 billion euros, according to the statistics institute. "Angola lost its position as the main extra-EU partner of Portugal. The United States became the main destination for national goods outside the EU and China the main extra-EU supplier of goods," the report pointed out. The national institute of statistics recently revealed that Portugal's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded in the three months through to June, faster than in the first quarter, with exports growing more than imports. The country's GDP grew 0.3 percent from the first quarter, when it expanded 0.2 percent. The Socialist government led by Antonio Costa, which took office in November 2015, forecast growth to be 1.8 percent of GDP this year. Enditem Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with his Mongolian counterpart Tsend Munkh-Orgil in New York, the United States, Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Mongolian counterpart Tsend Munkh-Orgil here Wednesday, saying the two countries should further expand bilateral cooperation. China appreciates that Mongolia puts developing ties with China top on its foreign policy agenda, Wang said during their meeting on the sidelines of a series of UN conferences. The two countries should implement the consensus reached by their leaders and bring China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative together with Mongolia's Prairie Road program so as to further tap potentials for cooperation, Wang said. Besides maintaining cooperation in traditional areas such as energy and minerals, Wang said, China and Mongolia should expand their cooperation into other areas, such as housing construction, agriculture and animal husbandry. Meanwhile, the two should expand party-to-party communication and strengthen exchange on governance as well as maintain coordination in international affairs, Wang said. For his part, Munkh-Orgil said Mongolia has always given priority to developing the relationship with China and will continue to maintain that policy. Meanwhile, Mongolia will incorporate China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative into its own national development and enhance practical cooperation with China in infrastructure and other areas, he added. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and sought Iran's support in the efforts to resume peace talks on Syria and Yemen. "The secretary-general stressed the need to find a political solution to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, and sought Iran's support in facilitating the resumption of peace talks for both countries," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened here Tuesday and runs through Sept. 26. The secretary-general said that the Houthis needed to come to the table in a spirit of pragmatism and compromise, and he urged Iran to encourage them in this respect, the spokesman said. "The same applied with regard to the Government of Syria." Meanwhile, Ban also underlined the importance of the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, and Security Council resolution 2231, adopted in 2015, the spokesman said. In July, Ban called for comprehensive implementation of the agreement between Iran and major world powers on Iranian nuclear issues, one year after the Security Council endorsed the deal. On July 20 last year, the Security Council adopted a resolution to endorse the JCPOA, clinched between Iran and P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany. According to the resolution, the council will terminate its sanctions against Iran upon receiving a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that verifies Iran's fulfillment of its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the general debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York Sept. 21, 2016. Premier Li called for joint efforts to address sustainable development, global challenges. (Xinhua/Li Tao) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday took the floor at the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly to expound China's views on international affairs and proposals to promote sustainable development as well as address global challenges. This was the first time for Li, who took office as Chinese premier in 2013, to address the 193-member General Assembly. The theme of the general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly is "The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world." Stressing that China attaches great importance to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Li said the country played a role in promoting leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) to reach agreement on the sustainable development and map out an action plan during the G20 summit held in the east China city of Hangzhou in early September, which help to add new impetus into the global sustainable development efforts. He called on the international community to jointly tackle the global challenges so as to build an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive global structure of sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda, endorsed and launched at the UN Summit for Sustainable Development last year, is a blueprint for eradicating poverty across the world for the years leading up to 2030. Implementation of the Agenda, including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, is high on the agenda of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, which opened last week. On behalf of the Chinese government, Li released the country's national plan for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday when he chaired a roundtable on SDGs. Li said it is in line with the common interests of the people all over the world and an important guarantee to achieve the SDGs to firmly safeguard the current international system with the United Nations as its core and the international relations norms on the basis of the UN charter. The premier called on countries to support the United Nations and the Security Council in playing a leading role in international affairs and continue to better the global governance mechanism. Countries should also stick to the general direction of seeking political solution to hot issues and building a global partnership featuring dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, he said. On the current economic challenges, Li said the world economy is facing problems of insufficient demand and prominent structural contradiction. He suggested countries apply various policy tools to address the economic problems, combining both need-side management and supply-side reform as well as long-term and short-term policies. All countries need to map out macro policies in a responsible manner and take measures to deal with the impacts brought by economic globalization, said Li. He urged countries to firmly oppose protectionism in all forms and safeguard the free trade system represented by the World Trade Organization in order to promote the world economy to develop in the path of robust, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, and strive to create an international environment that is conducive to reduce inequality and imbalance of global development. International organizations need to first allocate newly-added assistance to developing countries and developed countries should carry out its promise of aid to developing countries in the hope of helping them explore a development path suitable for their national situation, said Li. China's economy has maintained a rapid growth since the reform and opening up policy adopted three decades ago, Li said. In spite of serious internal and external challenges, the economy still maintains medium-to-high growth due to the innovation and reform, he said. The first half of this year witnessed a growth rate of 6.5 percent of China's economy, which is in the forefront in the world, said the premier, adding that China contributes 25 percent of the world economic growth. He pledged that China will continue to deepen its reform and follow the opening up policy, promote the construction of Belt and Road Initiative and international cooperation on production capacity so as to realize win-win. As a big developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China has earnestly carried out its due international obligations, Li said. China has provided 400 billion RMB (some 59.9 billion U.S. dollars) to 166 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations, and trained some 12 million personnel in various sectors for other developing countries, said Li. Besides, China has become one of the first countries to deposit instruments of joining the Paris Agreement on climate change, Li said. The country will also provide 300 million dollars in humanitarian aid to relevant countries and international organizations to address the refugee crisis, he added. China stands ready to further deepen reforms and expand opening-up so as to work with the international community to build a better world in which each individual can enjoy the freedom from want, an opportunity to develop and be treated with dignity, said Li. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) on Wednesday received 151 million U.S. dollars in pledges from 26 member states at its Pledging Conference held here on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Fund said. The pledges cover the years 2017-2019 and will go toward projects the Fund underwrites in more than 20 countries with the aim of sustaining peace and preventing violent conflict. The event was co-hosted by the governments of Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The conference sought pledges totaling 300 million U.S. dollars over three years. "Three hundred million dollars for the years 2017-2019 will only begin to redress the imbalance between what the world spends on warfare and crisis response, and what it devotes to preventing conflict and building peace," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the conference. "Without the Peacebuilding Fund, we will be forced to stand by as we witness the preventable loss of countless lives and the extinguishing of hope for millions more," said the secretary-general. The total amount pledged falls short of the Fund's goal of a working capital of 100 million U.S. dollars per year, but is enough to allow the PBF to continue its work in the short term while member states and the UN seek solutions for long-term funding. "In the weeks and months ahead, let us transform the political commitments made today into a tangible financial commitment to the Fund," said Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson in his closing remarks during the event. "Let us work together to make sure that the secretary-general's Peacebuilding Fund has the resources it needs to continue to be a strong and reliable partner to countries and people striving to sustain peace," Eliasson said. "This is a task more critical than ever." The co-hosts underscored the importance of the Peacebuilding Fund and the UN combined focus on sustaining peace. "A change of mind-set in how we go about doing the business of peace also requires a different kind of players, a different kind of willingness and commitment in how we invest in the peacebuilding complex, including prevention," said Amina C. Mohamed, the cabinet secretary for foreign affairs of Kenya. "Today we saw a good initial step in that direction. There is still much work to be done." Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, the secretary of foreign affairs of Mexico, said, "It is imperative to create a new paradigm for peace: It is not only about a shift of terms, but a truly different way to understand, build, and practice peace." "A peace that is sustainable also implies a collective responsibility to provide the necessary financial resources to the initiatives that promote this approach," she said. "Peacebuilding is a core business for the UN and core business needs sustainable funding," said Albert Koenders, the foreign minister of the Netherlands. "Our pledges today will lay a foundation for the path toward sustaining peace," said Yun Byung-se, the foreign minister of the Republic of Korea. For his part, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said, "Our commitment to the sustaining peace agenda must be backed by sufficient investments in conflict prevention and peacebuilding." "The Peacebuilding Fund provides fast, flexible finance to fragile states to enable vital peacebuilding activity to take place when it is needed the most," said Baroness Anelay, the British minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "I was delighted to attend this Conference and pledge the UK's support, alongside so many other countries, so that the fund can continue its vital role in preventing conflict." The PBF was created in 2006 as a fast and flexible pre-positioned fund to help other UN agencies by funding peacebuilding efforts at a time when countries emerge from conflict and other funds are not yet available. The Sustaining Peace Agenda, based on twin resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council in April, extended the role of the PBF to also include conflict prevention. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The University of California, San Francisco, Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, said they will join forces in a new biomedical science research center funded by a 600 million U.S. dollars commitment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, an independent collaboration among three of the leading research universities in the United States, is part of the Chan Zuckerberg Science (CZS) program announced on Wednesday by Priscilla Chan and her husband Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer (CEO) of Facebook, Inc., at an event in San Francisco. The couple pledged on the occasion a total of 3 billion dollars for the CZS over the next 10 years to help cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the 21st century. In December 2015, they launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, or CZI, as a philanthropic organization for the birth of their daughter, Maxima Chan Zuckerberg. While UCSF, Stanford and UC Berkeley are all located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Biohub will be headquartered next to UCSF's Mission Bay campus in San Francisco, with a satellite site at Stanford. "The Biohub will be the sinew that ties together these three institutions in the Bay Area like never before," said Dr. Stephen Quake, Stanford professor of bioengineering and of applied physics, who will co-lead the Biohub with Dr. Joseph DeRisi, professor and chair of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF. Calling the new center "an extraordinary opportunity," DeRisi said "we have three great research powerhouses ... and this nexus will forge highly productive partnerships to advance human health." Jennifer Doudna, UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and chemistrya member of the Biohub's Science Advisory Group, said she is "excited to see such a generous and timely investment in fundamental scientific work across the Bay Area." In initiating the CZS program, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative aims at accelerating basic science research by seeking to support new ways of enabling scientists and engineers to work together to build new tools that will empower the whole scientific community and advance progress. Former Stanford President John Hennessy, who was instrumental in helping establish the program by working with the CZI on its inception, will serve on the board of the Biohub. "The Biohub capitalizes on the strengths of our Bay Area universities, and also makes a major investment in early-stage research of the type that cannot be readily funded elsewhere," he said. "It is large-scale collaboration at its best, and with tremendous promise for solving the world' s greatest health challenges." "This exciting new venture by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative brings together private philanthropy with some of the best minds in the world," said Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California, in a statement. "Collaboration in the name of science and the public good among the Bay Area's three leading research universities will surely speed the development of new treatments and cures for diseases once deemed intractable." SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative said on Wednesday it would commit 3 billion U.S. dollars over the next 10 years to help cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the 21st century. An emotional Priscilla Chan, wife of Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer (CEO) of Facebook, Inc., told an event in San Francisco about her educational experience growing up in a Chinese-Vietnamese family, and experience as a pediatrician and as a mother. When Zuckerberg took the stage and talked about the couple's new commitment, he asked: "Can we cure all diseases in our children's lifetime?" "Today, just four kinds of diseases cause the majority of deaths," Zuckerberg said via his Facebook account, citing cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurological diseases. "We can make progress on all of them with the right technology." The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, or CZI, was launched as a philanthropic organization in December 2015 for the birth of the couple's daughter, Maxima Chan Zuckerberg, on a mission of advancing human potential and promoting equality. The new program, called Chan Zuckerberg Science (CZS), is part of the CZI that will bring together teams of scientists and engineers to build new tools for medical research. Saying that "as a pediatrician I've worked with families at the most difficult moments of their lives," Chan pledged "we'll be investing in basic science research with the goal of curing disease." "We can do better than that," Zuckerberg said about research funding and the status quo that the United States spends 50 times more on treating people who are sick than on finding cures so people do not get sick in the first place. Of the 3 billion dollars donation for CZS, 600 million dollars will be for the Biohub, a new research center at the University of California, San Francisco, which will be joined by researchers from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Cori Bragmann, a neurobiologist who will head the CZS, said output from the organization will be available to all doctors and researchers. "We are excited to see such a generous and timely investment in fundamental scientific work across the Bay Area," said Jennifer Doudna, UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and chemistry. "The Biohub will allow researchers at leading institutions to collaborate and accelerate the development of breakthrough scientific and medical advancements, applications and therapeutics." Doudna, best known for her pioneering work on CRISPR-Cas9, a gene-editing technology that has the potential to revolutionize genetics, molecular biology and medicine, is a member of the Biohub's Science Advisory Group. UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said in a statement that "in bringing together three world-class research universities in UC Berkeley, UCSF, and Stanford, the Biohub represents the type of cross-institutional collaborative environment that will be critical for addressing the most pressing life sciences challenges of our time." MELBOURNE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The University of Melbourne has once again been rated as the top educational institution in Australia, according to a prestigious global rankings survey. Six Australian universities are among the top 100 of the Times Higher Education world university rankings, released on Thursday, but it came with a warning that the rise of Asian universities could threaten Australia's position. The University of Melbourne retained its ranking at 33rd overall and was joined by the Australian National University (No.47), the University of Queensland and University of Sydney (equal 60), Monash University (74) and the University of New South Wales (78) in the top 100. "In general, Australia's leading universities produce highly influential research and are successful at both attracting top international talent and collaborating with scholars from across the world," Phil Baty, editor of the list, told News Limited on Thursday. However, Baty warned that Australia needed to be aware of the "higher education superpower" that was Asia. Four universities from China's Hong Kong, South Korea and China made the top 200 for the first time this year while China also had two institutions in the top 40. "Australia's success at the top of the rankings cannot be guaranteed in the long-term while more of Asia's leading universities soar to join the world elite," Baty told Fairfax Media on Thursday. Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Margaret Sheil, said the rankings were important because they helped attract international students. "It is wonderful that all that effort is reflected in Melbourne being consistently rated as one of the finest institutions in the world," Sheil told Fairfax. Universities were ranked on 13 criteria including citations, industry outcome, teaching and international outlook. Only five percent of all universities worldwide made the list of 980, with the United Kingdom's Oxford University coming in at No.1. Simon Birmingham, Australia's Education Minister, said he hoped the list would promote talk about higher education reforms. "The latest Times Higher Education rankings highlight the increasing competitiveness of universities in our region and the need for Australia to continue to foster innovation and excellence," Birmingham told Fairfax. RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil will begin testing a vaccine against the mosquito-borne Zika virus in humans in the next two months,a leading researcher told reporters on Tuesday. The so-called DNA vaccine was jointly developed by Brazil's state-run Butantan Institute and researchers from the United States. "It is an absolutely revolutionary technology," said Jogre Kalil, director of Butantan Institute, adding that it was also safe even for pregnant women. The virus is a particular menace to women who are expecting, as it has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by infants born with abnormally small heads. The vaccine is said to work by incorporating Zika DNA, via a synthetically produced Zika virus protein, to induce the body's immune system into fighting off the disease. The approval of the vaccine will depend on the success of the trials. According to the World Health Organization, the virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of the aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. In Latin America, Brazil has been the hardest hit by the virus, which it linked last year to a spike in cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis in people. CANBERRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Victoria has been identified as Australia's fastest growing state by population, comfortably beating out New South Wales and Queensland, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. After Australia's overall population ticked over 24 million in March this year, the ABS has found that Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital city, was the fastest growing state, having experienced a 1.9 percent population increase to the year ending March 31, 2016. ABS acting Director of Demography Phil Browning said Victoria was not only the the fastest growing state by population, but it also hit the population milestone of 6 million for the first time. Browning added that Victoria's population growth was 0.5 percent more than the next fastest growing state, New South Wales, and he cited net interstate migration as a major factor in the state's rapid growth. "This is the fastest population growth for Victoria since 2009 and is well above Australia's growth rate of 1.4 percent. New South Wales was the next fastest state, increasing by 1.4 percent. Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory were not far behind, with both growing at 1.3 percent," Browning said in a statement on Thursday. "The last time Victoria was growing this fast, back in 2009, the breakdown of Victoria's growth was different, with net overseas migration at 84,200 (compared to 62,800 in 2016), natural increase 34,600 and a net interstate migration inflow of just 500 people." In the year ending March 31, 2016, net interstate migration was at 14,500 - a difference of 14,000 compared to 2009 - while Browning said he expects the Victorian population to reach 7 million in 2024. Overall, the ABS said it was net overseas migration that was the major contributor to population change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, whilst natural increase was the major contributor in all other states and territories. MELBOURNE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- One of Australia's biggest banks, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), has settled with an Indian couple who sued the company for 1.9 billion U.S. dollars. Panjak and Radhika Oswal alleged that ANZ short-changed them 580 million U.S. dollars when selling the Oswal's majority stake in Burrup Fertilisers after the company went into receivership. ANZ said the terms of the settlement were confidential but the deal with the Oswals meant the bank would take a 110 million U.S. dollar hit to its bottom line this year. A spokesperson for the Oswals said the couple, who also settled a tax bill with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) worth an estimated 76.4 million US dollars, would be leaving Australia. "They're very satisfied with the settlement. They were very pleased to be able to put the facts before the court and they're pleased that it's over," the spokesman said in a statement on Thursday. "They won't be staying in Australia. They are now planning their futures." "The (110 million US dollars) does not reflect the size of the settlement but the Oswals are bound by confidentiality to not disclose the details." Shayne Elliott, CEO of ANZ, said that the settlement does not mean the bank has accepted guilt. "ANZ does not accept many of the claims made in court and we completely reject the allegations made against our staff," Elliott said in a statement to shareholders. "However, we believe the settlement is the right decision for shareholders bearing in mind the residual risks in a case of this size and complexity." The Oswals' spokesman said it was "curious" that the bank would be willing to pay a significant amount of money to stop allegations that it claimed were untrue. The Oswals were forced to abandon the construction of their Perth mega-mansion, dubbed "the Taj on the Swan" due to its position on the Swan River, in 2010. A local council announced in September that the 6,600 square meter house, which the couple planned to spend 53 million US dollars to build, would be demolished and turned into road-building material. NANNING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- State-owned Guangxi Non-ferrous Metals Group Co. in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has been declared bankrupt, despite a nine-month restructuring push. According to an announcement published by the intermediate people's court of Nanning City on Sept. 12, the company had neither submitted a restructuring plan within six months of the court's initial ruling, nor had it applied for an extension. The court decided to end the restructuring procedure and declared the firm bankrupt. The group was founded in 2008 with a registered capital of 2.1 billion yuan (314.8 million U. S. dollars). It had 18,000 employees on its books. The company had filed for bankruptcy with the court in December 2015. Sources with the court revealed in March that the company had over 14 billion yuan in liabilities. Analysts said the decline of the company was a result of sluggish demand for bulk commodities and illegal investment and corruption due to inadequate supervision. MEXICO CITY, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's Environment and Natural Resources Minister Rafael Pacchiano, representing Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, delivered the ratified Paris Agreement on climate change to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday. The delivery took place during an official ceremony held as part of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly which is taking place in New York. Through a press release, Pacchiano said that ratifying the Paris Agreement "materializes years of work from people who are very committed to the environmental sector." "On Sept. 14, Mexico ratified the aforementioned agreement before the Senate," said Pacchiano. The Latin American country joins the other countries that have already ratified the agreement. China and the United States are the most notable countries among them. The Paris Agreement was adopted on Dec. 12, 2015 at the end of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. It seeks to reinforce the world's response to the threat of climate change. LA PAZ, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group in Bolivia presented a draft bill Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage. The draft bill, which goes under the title "Family Life Agreement," is to protect the rights and obligations of LGBT people when it comes to goods, social security and health, said Wendy Molina, a representative from Bolivia's LGBT group. History demands that same-sex couples are entitled to the rights that heterosexual couples enjoy, she said. The draft bill proposes that same-sex couples be recognized under the principles of equality, non-discrimination, diversity, social integration and family protection. The draft bill does not include adoption. Ombudsman David Tezanos Pinto received the proposal from the group in his office and agreed to bring it before the the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, the national legislature of Bolivia. "We will take up the social duty given to us by the LGBT population and address this challenge to put the discussion about family life (of LGBT people) on the agenda (of the Assembly)," said Tezanos Pinto. Tezanos Pinto revealed that the draft was developed by over 800 leaders of the LGBT movement in Bolivia on the basis of articles 13, 14 and 62 of Bolivia's constitution as well as the Law Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination. The draft bill is also based on various international treaties Bolivia has signed with the United Nations and the Organization of American States on protecting the human rights of the LGBT population, he said. On May 21, Bolivia enacted the gender identity act which enables transsexual persons to update their personal information in terms of gender and identity on legal documents. However, this does not give them the right to form a family and does not allow marriage between members of the same sex. SYDNEY, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A captain of a luxury charter boat has joined in the bandwagon and become the latest person to personally invite Hollywood heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio on a free trip to visit conservation efforts undertaken at the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia. DiCaprio had previously described the Great Barrier Reef as a natural attraction that was full of "dead zones". Last week, the Oscar winner reiterated the matter at the "Our Oceans Conference" held in Washington D.C. and was particularly vocal on the impact coral bleaching and global warming has had on the Great Barrier Reef. "This year, Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffered what is thought to be the largest bleaching event ever recorded," DiCaprio said. "Over 600 miles of reef previously teeming with life is devastated. We are seeing this level of impact on coral reefs around the world," he said. Since that speech, DiCaprio has been inundated with offers to visit the reef coming from scientists to non-governmental organizations who had extended a "non-political" offer to the actor to show him the impacts of coral bleaching once again. Queensland deputy premier Jackie Trad was quoted as saying in Brisbane last week that the actor was "absolutely welcome to come to Australia, to come to Queensland and to come to the Great Barrier Reef." "I know he's been there before and I really applaud his passion and his commitment to conserving and protecting the earth's oceans," she said. The latest invitation from Aroona Luxury Boat Charters operator Ross Miller was for a week-long trip to the reef, News Corp reported on Thursday. The eight-night voyage, worth 54,000 thousand Australian dollars (40,000 thousand U.S. dollars), would visit several key dive and snorkelling sites, including the stunning Ribbon Reefs, Miller said. Miller, who has previously hosted billionaires on-board his boat, said he wanted to show the Revenant star that the Great Barrier Reef wasn't in as bad a condition as many believed due to the recent widespread bleaching event. "There's many locations that we have been diving for the last 15 years that show serious signs of coral bleaching and other issues," Miller said. "There are also other sites that we are going to that still look pristine," he said. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York, Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to deepen all-round practical cooperation with Pakistan and is willing to make joint efforts with Islamabad in injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Wednesday. Li made the remarks when meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly that opened earlier last week. As all-weather strategic partners of cooperation, China and Pakistan have always firmly supported each other and their friendship is unbreakable, Li said. China is willing to maintain close high-level contacts and continue to strengthen coordination with Pakistan on global and regional affairs, Li said. While noting that practical cooperation focusing on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has made positive progress, Li urged the two sides to carry out the planned construction of the corridor, accelerate the building of the Gwadar Port as well as its supporting facility, and bring more companies into industrial parks. Li also called for strengthening cooperation in fields concerning public welfare such as education, medical service and health care and drinking water projects, to benefit more Pakistani regions and people. The premier also expressed the hope that the Pakistani side could enhance security risk prevention and take measures to guarantee the safety of the Chinese project staff. For his part, Sarif told Li that Pakistan and China are time-tested friends and partners who have firmly supported each other. As their relations develop very smoothly, bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields has also entered a new phase. The Pakistani side cherishes friendship with China, and is committed to promoting bilateral cooperation, said the prime minister. Islamabad is pleased to see the positive progress in the construction of the economic corridor as well as Chinese companies' high efficiency and their high-quality work in the construction of the project, said the minister. Sharif said Pakistan will make more efforts to accelerate the construction of the economic corridor, vowing to take measures to guarantee the safety of the Chinese project staff. ZHENGZHOU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were injured after a school bus collided with a truck at an intersection in Suixian County, central China's Henan Province, on Thursday. Two of the injured in the accident, which happened at 8:53 a.m., are in critical condition. Police have detained the truck driver. OTTAWA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday for an official visit to Canada to continue discussions about how to deepen bilateral relations. China-Canada relations have a deep foundation, huge potential and a great development opportunity, said Li upon his arrival, adding that the exchange of visits by him and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau within one month shows that both sides value their relations. Li said that during his visit, the annual dialogue mechanism between the Chinese premier and the Canadian prime minister will be formally launched, and both sides will further exchange ideas on issues of common concern and promote exchanges and cooperation in all fields, in a bid to inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations in the new period. In Ottawa, Li and Trudeau will hold talks and witness the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation documents. Li will also meet Canada's parliament leaders and other officials. Three weeks after their meeting in Beijing, Li and Trudeau are expected to discuss various issues during this visit, including a free trade pact between the two countries, according to Trudeau's office. Canada expected that trade and investment, along with environmental cooperation, legal and judicial collaboration, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties would be discussion points when both leaders meet in Ottawa, said the office. Much was already accomplished during Trudeau's recent eight-day visit to China and attendance at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, it added. Trudeau paid an official visit to China and attended the G20 Hangzhou summit from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6. During his stay in China, the Canadian government announced that Canadian and Chinese companies had signed a number of new commercial contracts and agreements. The Canadian government also said that it would open seven more Canadian visa application centers in China, and by the year's end, Canada will apply to join the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. "There is tremendous potential for a stronger, more stable relationship with China than there has been for Canada in the past," Trudeau told reporters in Montreal recently, building on remarks he delivered late last month in Beijing. "Any economic strategy that ignores China, or that treats that valuable relationship as anything less than critically important, is not just shortsighted, it's irresponsible," said Trudeau. It was Trudeau's father, Pierre, who as prime minister led negotiations with China to establish formal diplomatic relations in the 1970s. There are now high hopes for Justin Trudeau to build on his father's legacy. Bilateral economic ties are already significant since China is now Canada's second largest trading partner behind the United States. Economic cooperation and trade is the driving force of China-Canada relations. Currently, China-Canada trade only accounts for 1.4 percent of China' s total foreign trade and 8.1 percent of that of Canada. Li's visit to Canada this week, which so quickly follows Trudeau's first official visit to China, suggests the connection between both countries' leadership is quickly becoming stronger. Both sides are expected to break through barriers to further enhance their relations. KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Three foreigners and one Malaysian have been arrested between Aug. 2 and Sept. 17 for their alleged involvement in multiple terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (IS), Malaysian police said in a statement on Thursday. One suspect, a 37-year-old Bangladeshi man, was arrested on Aug. 19 for smuggling weapons for an un-named international terrorist group, according to the statement. The man's name was also on the Interpol's Red Notice. Another suspect, a 38-year-old Nepalese man, was accused of falsifying documents to facilitate the travels of terrorists. The third suspect, a 26-year-old Moroccan man, was suspected to be a member of the IS. He once got arrested by Turkish authorities for trying to enter Syria. After that, he somehow managed to illegally enter Malaysia. All the three suspects have been deported to their home countries, said the statement. The local suspect is detained for links with Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, the man believed to be the mastermind of Malaysia's first IS-linked attack in June. He was found to promote IS propaganda and ideologies through his Facebook page. SYDNEY, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A 12-year-old Australian boy charged with raping a six-year-old girl at a primary school at Sydney's northern beaches has entered into a not guilty plea. Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that the boy has been charged with three counts of aggravated indecency in company, two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and one count of indecent assault. Court documents alleged that the girl was attacked between June 24 and August 16 this year and between 0800 local time (AEST) and 1600 local time (AEST). The boy was accused of raping the girl twice on separate occasions, and was with another 12-year-old boy when he allegedly indecently assaulted her three times. At a Children's Court on Thursday, the boy's defence barrister James Viney formally entered a not guilty pleas to the charges on the boy's behalf. Viney had also applied to adjust bail conditions, that meant the boy had to reside with his parents at their home in northern Sydney, so he could attend a week holiday. Magistrate Louise McManus granted the bail variation, and ordered that a brief of evidence be served by November. The boy sat in the front row of the courtroom and was supported by his mother, father and aunty. He was also excused from attending the court session in the next occasion. The case has been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions, the court heard. The boy nodded when asked by the magistrate whether he understood the result of his court appearance. A second boy, 12, has also been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10. He has been granted bail and is due to appear in court for the first time on October 20. In legal argument about whether members of the media should remain present while the boy's matter was heard, Viney said this was the first time his client had appeared in a court and he was of a "delicate age". Magistrate McManus also expressed concern about the impact the media presence could have on a boy his age, and said the court tried to make the legal process as informal as possible for children. The matter is due for court again on November 24. "Parents and carers of students at the school are in the process of being notified, and police request the community respect the privacy of the young people involved," police said in a statement after the two boys were arrested last month. "NSW Police Force works closely with the Department of Education and Family and Community Services to ensure the safety of all students, and additional support has been made available at the school." The two boys were arrested at Chatswood police station after a two-week investigation earlier this month. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and his wife Cheng Hong are welcomed by Canadian senior officials upon their arrival at Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 21, 2016. At the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived here Wednesday for an official visit to Canada. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) OTTAWA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China-Canada relations enjoy a solid foundation and bright prospects as the two economies are highly complementary and the two peoples have a long-time friendship, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said. "My visit to Canada ... is to inaugurate the new annual dialogue between our heads of government and further promote mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries," Li said in an article published in Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on Wednesday. Li recalled the traditional friendship between China and Canada, saying there have been more "handshakes across the Pacific" and his official visit aims to make policy communication between the two nations "more timely and effective." "Mutual trust is the cornerstone of friendly relations and cooperation between China and Canada," Li said, voicing the hope of stepping up communication and coordination with Canada at various international forums to promote world peace and stability as well as help global economic recovery. "The two sides should respect each other's concerns on issues of vital interests and the right to independently choose the path of development and overcome distractions to make sure that the ship of China-Canada relations power ahead on the right course," he added. Citing figures to prove booming China-Canada trade, Li called economic cooperation and trade "the driving force of China-Canada relations." Against the backdrop of a steep decline in global trade, China-Canada trade continued to rise last year and Chinese companies' investment in Canada increased by 126 percent in the same year, he said. "China is willing to open its markets wider and further increase imports of high-quality agricultural and hi-tech products from Canada," he added. "We welcome Canadian companies to make investments and do business in China to share the opportunities that come with China's economic growth." Besides enhancing political communication and economic ties, people-to-people exchanges are "a powerful catalyst for China-Canada friendly cooperation," the premier noted. "Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations." Each week, 90 or so flights ply between the two countries, and the number of Chinese students studying in Canada has exceeded 150,000, the premier said. Meanwhile, the Chinese language and culture are getting popular with Canadians, which can be shown by the fact that Chinese calligraphy and Kung Fu attract more and more Canadian fans, Li said. "I will make use of this visit to further boost China-Canada people-to-people and cultural exchanges," Li said. The year 2018 has been designated as the year of tourism between China and Canada, according to the article. Comparing the symbol of fiery maple to the prosperity of China-Canada all-round cooperation, Li said: "China will work with Canada to enrich our strategic partnership and tap the potential of practical cooperation to bring more benefits to the Chinese and Canadian peoples." 1 2 1 2 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L) meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez (2nd R) at the UN headquarters in New York Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Venezuela on international affairs, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday. Wang made the remarks while meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of a series of UN General Assembly high-level events. China expects the two nations to stay united, jointly overcome difficulties and achieve their respective national development goals, said Wang. China has been paying great attention to its relations with Venezuela. It is willing to deepen and enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all fields with the Latin American country, Wang said. Rodriguez voiced appreciation for China's support for Venezuela during difficult times, saying that China has set an example for Venezuela on development. Venezuela is willing to further expand cooperation with China and is going to maintain close communication and collaboration with China on international affairs, she said. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Several delegates addressed regional conflicts and refugee issues during the second day of the general debate at the United Nations General Assembly here on Wednesday. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan said the more than three-and-a-half decades of conflict and chaos in Afghanistan "have had grave security and economic consequences for Pakistan." "Almost 3 million Afghan refugees, to whom we opened our homes and hearts, remain in Pakistan," he said, "We hope to see them return to Afghanistan, voluntarily and with dignity." President Donald Tusk of the European Council said no challenge highlighted the power of fear and conflict more clearly than refugee protection and massive displacement across borders, a crisis which the European Union had confronted over the past few months. The EU's actions had been driven by empathy and a readiness to help those in need and its commitment to assist would remain a top priority, Tusk said. Having spent billions of euros in humanitarian assistance, it would spend much more in years to come. Aung San Suu Kyi, state councilor and foreign minister of Myanmar, pointed out that recently the world has focused its attention on the situation in her country's Rakhine State troubled by an ethnic and religious conflict. "We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the state," the Nobel laureate said. "To buttress our efforts to address the issue ... we have also established an advisory commission on Rakhine State" chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, she said. The mandate of the nine-member commission will cover humanitarian, development, basic rights and security issues in Rakhine State. President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia initiated his remarks by reminding delegates that after more than half a century of internal armed conflict, "the war in Colombia has ended." He said that since an Aug. 24 agreement was reached in Havana for a cease-fire beginning Aug. 29, there hasn't been "a single death, a single wound, a single bullet fired." The conflict-ending agreement is to be officially signed in Colombia's Cartagena on Monday, and is expected to be approved in a plebiscite on Oct. 2. "America, the vast American continent, with all of its islands, from Patagonia to Alaska, is now a zone of peace!" Santos claimed. The general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly opened here Tuesday and runs through Sept. 26, with a theme of "The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world." SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday expressed worry about possible provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) amid signs that Pyongyang may have completed preparations for another nuclear test and ballistic missile launch. Park said during a meeting with senior presidential secretaries that the DPRK will no longer come to a dialogue table for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula to deepen nuclear and missile provocations further. She said one of the worst case scenarios is becoming real to enable Pyongyang to conduct any type of provocations at will based on its advanced nuclear and missile capabilities. Her comments followed the DPRK's announcement on Sept. 9 that it carried out a successful explosion test of nuclear warhead that can be mounted on ballistic rockets. Pyongyang said on Tuesday that it conducted a successful engine test on the ground of a carrier rocket for geo-stationary satellite, which Seoul sees as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). South Korean government sources were quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying the DPRK covered entrances to two tunnels with camouflage nets at its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site, an indication of preparing for another nuclear detonation. The DPRK is expected here to conduct another nuclear test at any time or launch a new ballistic rocket at or around the 71st anniversary on Oct. 10 of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Describing the DPRK's nuclear and missile ambitions as "fanatic adherence," the South Korean president said Pyongyang can conduct unexpected provocations further as tougher sanctions are in discussion from the international community. Park vowed to do whatever she can in order to protect people and her country from the DPRK's nuclear and missile threats, saying South Korea will make best efforts to introduce fresh, strong sanctions on Pyongyang while adopting unilateral measures to pressure the DPRK. TIRANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Head of the Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) Gent Beqiri met with German Ambassador to Albania Susanne Schutz on Wednesday to discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation. Sources from AIDA said Beqiri and Schutz discussed how to promote investment prospects in Albania, and create a favorable cooperative climate for business organizations in both countries and help them establish direct contacts. Beqiri confirmed his agency's commitment to assist German companies currently operating in Albania and all potential investors seeking to invest in the country's strategic sectors, including tourism, agriculture, energy and infrastructure. In addition to many leading German companies already operating in Albania, others are showing an increased interest in investing in the country, Beqiri said. Albania and Germany have increased their economic and trade cooperation over the past years. The Albanian government has had a long and successful cooperation with Germany and the country welcomes German investors, Beqiri noted. CANBERRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A piece of debris featuring "scorch marks" and thought to be from THE missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been examined in Canberra and cleared of burn damage, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Thursday. The debris, brought to the ATSB in Canberra by well-known American amateur investigator Blaine Gibson on Sept. 12, was initially thought to display clear scorch marks, but investigators determined the discoloration of the pieces was not the result of a possible on-board fire. The ATSB's latest Debris Report, published on Thursday, said the Madagascan piece of debris featured an applied resin which had turned the debris a darker grey, giving off the appearance of scorch marks. Despite the absence of widespread burning, the ATSB did find three small marks which had suffered "localized heating", though the age of such marks are yet to be determined. The ATSB remains unsure as to whether or not the piece is indeed from MH370, though the location of where the piece was found points to it being from the Boeing 777. "No manufacturing identifiers, such as a part numbers or serial numbers, were present on either item, which may have provided direct clues as to their origin. At the time of writing, the items had not been identified," Thursday's report said. "The dark grey coloration on the outer surfaces of the items related to an applied resin and was not the result of exposure to heat or fire." "Three small marks on the larger item were indicative of localized heating. The age and origin of these marks was not apparent," it said. The ATSB has said it would undertake further tests to determine whether or not the debris is from the missing jetliner. MH370 was a scheduled passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. It disappeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board. SYDNEY, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A well-known film-maker and reptile specialist Robert Harold Bredl has been attacked by a 4.5 metre crocodile during a feeding demonstration at a wild life farm owned by him in Queensland, Australia. Bredl also known as "The Barefoot Bushman" and for his famous crocodile documentary series worldwide was reportedly grabbed by a 4.5m-long male crocodile in front of tourists at his wild life farm in Bloomsbury, north of Mackay, just after noon, Nine News reported on Thursday. The 66-year-old man managed to break free from the reptile's jaws as the reptile tried to drag him into the water. He was later flown via helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital and is currently reported to be in a serious but stable condition. It is understood that Bredl was undergoing surgery and is likely to lose a part of his hand. Queensland Ambulance advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said that Bredl was "extremely lucky" to have survived the attack. "He said it happened on land, it was attempting to drag him into the water but he's got away before he was submerged," she said. Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever said Bredl had worked with crocodiles all his life. "He's one of the last persons I'd expect to be nailed by a crocodile, he's very experienced," Lever said. "Our hearts go out to him." "It's the last thing you want to happen to anyone," he said. Lever said it was the time of year where crocodiles spike up because they become sexually active and territorial. This is not the first time a crocodile has attacked someone in Bredl's farm. In 1997, Bredl niece Karla suffered a broken pelvis and thigh bone when she was attacked by a four-metre saltwater crocodile at the Barefoot Bushman's Wildlife Park in Cannonvale. Born in South Australia to Austrian migrant parents, Bredl's documentaries have been shown on TV stations worldwide in more than 45 countries and has been translated into 36 languages. He is best known for his documentary called "Kissing Crocodiles" which was aired in over 100 countries. HANOI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam said Thursday that in the past year, the country had "maintained stable and positive developments and added more substance to cooperation with China." The remark was written in Vietnam's first-ever "Diplomatic BlueBook 2015" launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in capital Hanoi. According to the book, significant developments in Vietnam's bilateral relations with neighbor countries in 2015 included "enhancing the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, deepening Vietnam-Cambodia ties, and maintaining stable and positive developments and adding more substance to cooperation with China," among others. Concerning border issues with neighboring countries, the book said progress was witnessed in 2015 as "Vietnam continues to maintain the exchanges on maritime issues with China." The first-ever BlueBook of Vietnam's foreign ministry consists of six chapters, providing an overview of the international and regional situations, the foreign policy of the Vietnamese Party and State, and developments in bilateral relations in 2015 and in the past five years among others. SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korean parliamentary speaker asked the government to discuss whether to deploy a U.S. missile shield in its soil as it is a state affair of very importance. National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun told a press conference that such an issue as the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) should be discussed between the government and the parliament as it is a very important state affair, according to local media reports. Chung said the government had maintained a stance that it would need no parliamentary ratification, but he called for the government to change its stance as situations have changed. Seoul's defense ministry is contemplating whether to alter the designated site for the U.S. missile defense unit from the current Seongju county in southeastern South Korea to another place near there. If the site alteration is decided upon, the government would be required to set a separate budget aside to purchase a new site, which requires parliamentary approval. The six-term lawmaker said the South Korean government's lack of communications with its own people and neighboring countries caused troubles domestically and diplomatically, which can do damages to national interests. Seoul and Washington agreed in July to install one THAAD battery by the end of next year despite strong oppositions from almost half of South Koreans and neighboring countries, especially China and Russia. DHAKA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of Wednesday's ferry capsized in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district has risen to 18 on Thursday after another four bodies were retrieved from River Sondha, the district's police chief SM Aktaruzzaman told Xinhua. The ferry carrying scores of passengers sank at about 11:30 a.m. local time Wednesday in the river of Sondha in the country's Barisal district, some 169 km south of capital Dhaka. "Another four missing children's bodies were recovered on Thursday morning which takes the number of total death toll to 18 from 13 on Wednesday," Aktaruzzaman told Xinhua on Thursday. He said eight people were still missing. Nearly after a day of relentless efforts rescue vessel "Nirbhik" managed to drag the sunken ferry to shore and lift up it on Thursday morning, he added. Ferry disasters are common in Bangladesh, as the country is criss-crossed by about 250 rivers, and ferry is a key means of transport. Scores of people are killed each year from ferry disasters in the country. He said a search for the missing are still under way by the Fire Service and Civil Defence authorities in collaboration with law enforcers and locals. The cause of the incident is attributed to the inclement weather conditions. "At least 18 people are still missing as the small ferry capsized amid violent winds and huge waves," Aktaruzzaman said. Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers. Ferry is still a key means of transport in the country, most of them are often overcrowded. SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Revenue among South Korean companies declined for more than two years through the second quarter of this year, indicating a continued slowdown in the export-driven economy, central bank data showed on Thursday. Average corporate revenue declined 1.9 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, keeping a downward trend since the second quarter of 2014, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The result is based on the sampling of 3,062 companies subject to external audit. The corporate revenue reduced 2.4 percent last year. The continued reduction is attributable to lower export prices of oil products amid falling global crude oil prices as well as a drop in orders won by local shipbuilders and lackluster exports of metal products. Revenue among manufacturers, many of which depending on exports, retreated 2 percent during the April-June period compared with a year earlier. It was a faster decline than a 1.7 percent fall among non-manufacturers. Combined corporate assets rose 0.6 percent in the April-June period, but it was a lower growth than a 1.2 percent increase in the same period of last year. Corporate profitability was enhanced due mainly to lower energy costs. The ratio of operating profit to revenue was 6.3 percent in the second quarter, up from 5.8 percent a year earlier. It was the highest since the first quarter of 2011. The ratio for big corporations stood at 6.3 percent in the quarter, higher than 0.3 percent among small businesses. Photo taken on Aug. 25, 2016 shows the Hangzhou International Expo Center and stadium of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. The 11th G20 summit was held in Hangzhou from Sept. 4 to 5. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) MEXICO CITY, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- As host of the recent G20 summit, China has shown a new path for world economy and international politics, a Mexican political science expert told Xinhua in a recent interview. "China presented the foundations of what is going to be the new structure of international politics and the foundations of a new path towards international trade and finance," said Ignacio Martinez Cortes, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. At the summit, held in Hangzhou in early September, G20 leaders came together to discuss ways to spur the flagging global economy and promote equitable and inclusive growth. China's political stability, coupled with its economic weight, strengthens its role as a global guide, said the academic. "China is marking the path in the global context, both in terms of economy and politics, given its national power. And national power comes from a strong internal market," Martinez said. Beijing also demonstrated its leadership by choosing to focus the summit on matters of global concern, such as combating climate change, which is among the sustainable development goals prioritized by the United Nations, the professor said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama ratified the Paris Agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions the day before the summit, setting an important example of global cooperation for other countries, Martinez added. RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer said on Wednesday that he didn't notice a protest by several Latin American representatives during his speech at the United Nations. While Temer made a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, representatives of Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba, Nicaragua and Costa Rica left the room and only returned after he stopped speaking. "I confess I did not even notice," as there are 193 countries in the UN, Temer said during a press conference, adding that "the relations are not between people, they are institutional relations, from state to state, from government to government." The retreat of Brazil's neighbors was interpreted as a protest against the impeachment of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, which many considered illegal due to a lack of concrete evidence. They say if Rousseff was wrongly forced to step down, a Temer administration would be unjustifiable. In response, Temer defended the legitimacy of his government, saying that one only needs to "read the Brazilian constitution" to see that he took office legally. On Aug. 31, the Brazilian Senate approved Rousseff's impeachment, who was tried for fiscal irregularities such as delaying payments to public banks and taking out new loans without congressional approval, in violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Law. A few short hours later, Rousseff's former vice-president and political ally-turned-enemy, Temer, was sworn in as her successor. Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2016 shows the accident site of a school bus-truck collision in Suixian County, central China's Henan Province. At least 13 people were injured after the school bus collided with the truck at an intersection in Suixian County Thursday morning. The 37-seat bus had 30 kindergarten kids, two teachers and a driver onboard when the accident happened. All of the injured are children, two of whom are in critical conditions. (Xinhua) ZHENGZHOU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people sustained injuries after a school bus collided with a truck at an intersection in Suixian County, Henan Province, central China, Thursday. The 37-seat bus had 30 kindergarten kids, two teachers and a driver onboard when the accident happened at 8:53 a.m. All of the injured are children. Two are in a critical condition. Police have detained the truck driver. The investigation continues. HEFEI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Xu Gang, former vice governor of the southeast China's Fujian province, stood trial here Thursday for accepting bribes. Xu was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 2002 to 2013 to seek benefits for others in regards to their businesses, promotion and reassignment. In exchange, Xu accepted bribes worth 19.77 million yuan (around 2.97 million U.S. dollars) either by himself or through his wife, Yu Na, from 2005 to 2014, according to the indictment from the People's Procuratorate of Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. The procuratorate filed the charges with Hefei Intermediate People's Court. Xu confessed to accepting bribes and expressed remorse to the court. The court ruling will be announced at a later date. The maximum penalty for those convicted of accepting bribes of at least 3 million yuan in an "extremely serious case" with "extremely vile impact" is death penalty, according to a judicial explanation issued in April. However, a two-year suspended death sentence may be issued if there are mitigating factors. Nearly 50 people, including journalists and members of the public, observed Thursday's hearing. TOKYO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Defense Ministry said Thursday that a U.S. fighter jet had reportedly crashed off the coast of the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. The ministry quoted local media as saying that a U.S. Air Force Harrier fighter jet crashed off the coast of Okinawa on Thursday afternoon after taking off from Kadena Air Base. Officials from the ministry said they are trying to confirm the report, with public broadcaster NHK stating that an Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) plane had been deployed to the potential crash site to gather more information. HOUSTON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of Texas Wednesday threatened to withdraw from the federal refugee program if Washington does not meet its security demands. The dispute came as federal government announced a new goal of resettling 110,000 refugees in the nation next year, including more refugees from war-torn Syria. Texas has taken in 7,205 refugees over the past 12 months, more than any other state in the country. In a letter sent on Wednesday to Robert Carey, director of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission threatened to quit the program unless the Obama administration "unconditionally" gives the green light to the Lone Star state's new plan to control placements in the state by Sept. 30. Texas will join states like Kansas and New Jersey in exiting the program over the U.S. government's vetting procedures to screen out potential terrorists from the refugees if it can not reach an agreement with the federal government on this issue. The state's letter, signed by state refugee coordinator Kara Crawford, was sent in response to the ORR's "unwillingness" to approve the state's new refugee plan, which requires national security officials to ensure that refugees do not pose a security threat to the state, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement. "Empathy must be balanced with security, Texas has done more than its fair share in aiding refugees, accepting more refugees than any other state between October 2015 and March 2016," said Abbott. "While many refugees pose no danger, some pose grave danger, like the Iraqi refugee with ties to the IS who was arrested earlier this year after he plotted to set off bombs at two malls in Houston," he added. The letter said that Texas would continue to provide services and benefits to private and non-profit refugee agencies until next January. U.S. federal government officials said that it is impossible for them to guarantee that none could potentially pose a problem, even though the United States has a thorough vetting process for incoming refugees. Despite the threat, state officials do not have the authority to prevent the federal government or private agencies from placing or relocating refugees in the state. WUHAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Long positioned as China's Motor City, Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, has set up a fund to invest in the industry for the hydrogen energy automobiles of the future. On Wednesday, the city government signed a deal with two top Chinese universities -- Tongji and China University of Geosciences -- to jointly set up a fund worth 200 million yuan (30 million U.S. dollars) in efforts to initiate the industry. Wuhan is China's major auto production base, home to the Shanghai General Motors resposible for the Buick Excelle, the Dongfeng Renault plant, PSA, Honda and dozens of auto part-makers. The auto industry now supplies 20 percent of the city's industrial output and employs more than 1 million residents. The government hopes the fund can obtain 10 billion yuan from the provincial fund for regional economic belt development, for clean energy auto development. According to the deal, the government will encourage domestic auto makers to establish independent hydrogen vehicle brands. This year trial production of prototype hydrogen-powered buses and logistic vehicles is expected. Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean energy source used in the automobile industry. In 2015, China became the first country to utilize hydrogen-powered tram technology, with China South Rail's hydrogen-powered tram. TOKYO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. fighter jet crashed off the coast of Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on Thursday afternoon shortly after taking off from an air base in the region, the Defense Ministry and local government officials here said. Local media quoted the ministry, local government officials, as well as a Japanese coast guard representative as saying that a U.S. Air Force Harrier fighter jet crashed off the east coast of Okinawa on Thursday afternoon at around 1:55 p.m, shortly after taking off from the United States Air Force (USAF) Kadena Air Base. The base is located in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture. The plane is believed to have crashed into the sea around 130 kilometers east of Cape Hedo located at the north end of the southern island prefecture, local reports said. Public broadcaster NHK said that an Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) plane had been deployed to the potential crash site to gather more information, while Japanese authorities also said the coastguard has been dispatched, with a helicopter and patrol vessel also searching for the downed jet. Local media in Okinawa said the jet is believed to be an AV8B Harrier II ground attack aircraft. As with all "Harrier Jump Jets," the iconic plane is capable of vertical or short takeoffs and landings. Mohammad Amin Karim (2nd R), head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation, Pir Sayed Ahmad Gilani (C), chief of the government-backed peace body the High Peace Council, and Mohammad Hanif Atmar (2nd L), Afghan Presidential Advisor on National Security, attend the signing ceremony of a peace agreement in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Sept. 22, 2016. The much awaited peace agreement between Afghan government and the Hekmatyar-led Islamic party the Hizb-e-Islami was inked here on Thursday to boost peace process and national reconciliation in the insurgency-ridden country. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The much awaited peace agreement between Afghan government and the Hekmatyar-led Islamic party the Hizb-e-Islami was inked here on Thursday to boost peace process and national reconciliation in the insurgency-ridden country. The agreement was signed by Mohammad Amin Karim, head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation and Pir Sayed Ahmad Gilani, chief of the government-backed peace body the High Peace Council, at a ceremony attended by ranking officials and supporters of Hizb-e-Islami in Kabul. The deal is "the first step towards achieving durable peace and security across the country," Amin Karim said after signing the agreement. Expressing his support to intra-Afghan dialogue, Amin Karim also called on other armed groups fighting against the Afghan government to join the peace process and solve their problems through negotiation and peaceful means. However, Amin Karim noted that the Hizb-e-Islami would continue its struggle until the expulsion of all foreign forces from Afghanistan. Speaking on the occasion, Afghan Presidential Advisor on National Security Mohammad Hanif Atmar called for the early implementation of the peace agreement. He said the peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami is based on the country's constitution and the Hizb-e-Islami has committed to working for peace, stability and reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. This is the first peace agreement inked by Afghan government with an armed opposition group since the overthrowing of Taliban regime in late 2001. The agreement would come into effect after putting signature by President Ashraf Ghani and leader of his own faction Hizb-e-Islami party Gulbudin Hekmatyar. They are expected to ink the agreement within days. TOKYO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A pilot was rescued following a U.S. fighter jet crashing off the coast of Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on Thursday afternoon, officials from the coastguard and the U.S. military said. The Japanese coastguard dispatched a rescue team shortly after the crash at around 2 p.m. local time, with officials here saying that one person believed to be the pilot had been rescued from the crash site located around 130 kilometers east of Cape Hedo, at the north end of the southern island prefecture. According to the Defense Ministry here, as well as local government officials, and the coast guard, a U.S. Air Force Harrier fighter jet crashed off the east coast of Okinawa on Thursday afternoon at around 1:55 p.m. local time, shortly after taking off from the United States Air Force (USAF) Kadena Air Base, located in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture. Along with the coast guard's fast-response unit, a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) plane was deployed to the crash site to gather more information, along with a helicopter and patrol vessel from the coastguard, local media reported. The downed jet is believed to be an AV8B Harrier II ground attack aircraft, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (currently Boeing) and known globally for its ability to take off and land vertically. The jet is traditionally a single-seat plane, however some versions with double seats are used for pilot training operations. The U.S. military has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and the Japanese coastguard is currently combing the crash site, officials from both parties said. WELLINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Genome sequencing of remote peoples of the Pacific and Australia is shedding light on how early humans moved out of Africa and spread across the world, New Zealand scientists said Thursday. Genome sequencing of Papuan and Australian aboriginal people supported the theory that humans emigrated from Africa in multiple waves, rather than a single wave, and possibly earlier than previously believed, they said. Some theories suggested that non-Africans could trace their ancestry back to a single migration event around 40,000 to 75,000 years ago. But Massey University molecular anthropologist Professor Murray Cox, who co-authored a new international study, said it uncovered an earlier and now largely extinct wave of humans that moved from Africa to Eurasia between 100,000 and 120,000 years ago. While this early wave of humans was extinct, DNA analysis of modern Papuans revealed at least 2 percent of their genetic material was retained from the earlier population, Cox said in a statement. "The study is able to provide some remarkable results and puts forward a strong case for more investigations into the DNA of smaller, more remote ethnic groups," said Cox. "These are under-explored regions from a genetic standpoint, as traditional studies have focused mainly on the standard categories of Europeans, Asians and Africans. While these have been a treasure trove of knowledge of our early movements and makeup, it's now time to cast the net wider and discover what these other regions have to tell us." Further studies would clarify the timing and route followed during such an early expansion and the data would be used to analyze modern human immunity to certain diseases or tolerance to certain substances. University of Otago bioanthropologist Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith, who took part in an international genome analysis of modern Aboriginal Australians and modern Papuans -- the Australians' northern neighbors, said the study showed the Aboriginal Australians and Papuans split from Europeans and Asians about 58,000 years ago. They also found that Aboriginal Australians and Papuans later diverged around 37,000 years ago, long before the prehistoric Sahul continent separated into Australia and New Guinea due to rising seas, some 10,000 years ago. "The genetic diversity among Aboriginal Australians is amazing," Matisoo-Smith said in a statement. "Perhaps because the continent has been inhabited for such a long time, we find that groups from southwestern desert Australia are more genetically different from groups of northeastern Australia than are for example Native Americans and Siberians, and this is within a single continent." KINSHASA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 32 people were killed in the violence witnessed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) between Monday and Tuesday, National Police Spokesman Pierre Mwana-Mputu said on Wednesday. "Since Sept.19 to 20, the provisional death toll stands at 32," said the spokesman. However, the opposition categorically rejected the figure advanced by the police. According to opposition leaders, over 50 people were killed by gun shots while others were burnt by police officers during their "peaceful protest". On Monday and Tuesday, the opposition called for protests across the Congolese national territory to demand organization of presidential elections within the constitutional timeline. COLOMBO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday launched the first phase of the "Techno City" initiative aimed at transforming the country into a strong economic and technological hub in the Indian Ocean region. The "Techno City" initiative which will begin from Homagama in the outskirts of the capital aims to uplift the living standards of Colombo and its outskirts and help attract new foreign investments. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Wickremesinghe said that the "Techno City" was Sri Lanka's first step towards development and it will help promote Sri Lanka's strategic location in the region. He invited all Sri Lankan academics and professionals residing overseas to return to the country and help develop the nation. "I do not think there is any other country which is as well located as Sri Lanka. Our aim is to now transform this country into a strong economic and technological hub and the Techno City is our first step towards it," Wickremesinghe said. The regions from Malabe to Homagama in the country's Western Province has been selected as the most suitable environment for the construction of the new Techno City as those regions have been identified as heavily populated. Accordingly the construction of the new Techno City will commence by dividing Malabe into three technical zones and Homagama into seven technical zones, the government said. The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development said that issues such as unemployment, poverty and the lack of opportunities for the youth which pose a great threat to the country's economy will be addressed through these development projects. A new direction is now needed for the country to move forward, the ministry said, adding that the Techno City will address all those issues. Sri Lanka is to construct new cities and strategic towns as parts of its mega development projects which will then transform the island country into an ideal location for investors. HOHHOT, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A two-day international bicycle race with routes set around populus euphratica forest kicked off Thursday in the Alxa League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Categorized into professional and amateur groups, 501 cyclists from Canada, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Uzbekistan competed for awards worth 750,000 RMB (112,452 U.S. dollars) in total, with the champion winning 15,000 RMB (2,249 U.S. dollars). On the first race day, 300 professional cyclists competed on a 100-kilometer route, with Zhao Jianyu from China winning first place at 2 hours 30 minutes and 57.156 seconds. The second place went to Hu Zhichao from China, who finished the race a mere 0.702-seconds behind Zhao. What's more, 201 cyclists in the amateur group participated in a 58-kilometer race. The top three contestants all came from the city of Baotou in Inner Mongolia. Wang Bing, who won first place with 1 hour 34 minutes and 36 seconds, is followed by Wang Ruiping and Yang Li with slim margins. Both routes take the contestants around the populus euphratica forest, an endangered species and a symbol of the local scenery in Ejina County of the Alxa League. All the prizes will be presented after the second-day of races, including awards for the most dynamic cyclist and the best team. Additionally, contestants who finished the race within the time limit are each awarded 1,500 RMB (225 U.S. dollars). BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Wang Meng (pseudonym), a billionaire from southwest China's metropolis of Chongqing, has not slept well for the past eight years. Wang, 50, a successful businessman, has been annoyed by myriad of daily trifles to deal with. "I want to put aside my job, but I could not find one to handle it," complained Wang. While in his driver's eyes, Wang is too picky. A stain on the car or foul smell at the toilets would make Wang agitated. He was diagnosed with depression. Unable to escape from lingering anxieties, Wang has been visiting a psychiatrist for eight years. "Depression is a top cause of suicide," said Qu Wei, director of the clinical psychology department with the Southwest Hospital in Chongqing. "Some 15 percent of patients with serious depression have engaged in suicidal behavior," said Qu. It is estimated that China has millions of people with depression and the number is rising all the time. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 350 million people with the disorder worldwide. It is estimated that by 2020, depression will become the second most common disease in the world. Depression is a frequently occurring mental disorder with symptoms including sadness, a loss of interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and feelings of tiredness and poor concentration, according to Wang Gang, deputy head of Beijing Anding Hospital, a leading hospital for mental disease treatment. Medically, it is considered a disease caused by genetic, biochemical, environmental and personality factors, Wang said. In China, where competition to outperform others, especially in education, can be intense, depression among adolescents is on the rise, according to Zhu Zhuohong, a psychology professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "My parents always tell me my classmates are competitors. So I take them as my enemies and feel upset whenever I see them," said Xiao Min, a 13-year-old sufferer of depression. ACTIVE TREATMENT NEEDED Although depression can sometimes be fatal, few patients go to hospital for treatment as seeing a psychiatrist is taboo, and many sufferers and their parents view it as as shameful. Only 30 percent of people with depression in China have been identified as having the condition and just 10 percent of them resort to medical treatment, according to an official survey. According to plans for 2016-2020 released by the State Council in August, the government is moving to enhance screening for mental illnesses that may cause disability, including schizophrenia, depression and autism. Qu, who opened a psychological clinic more than 20 years ago, said only two to three patients visited the clinic each day in the 1990s, but 72 visited in the morning of last Sunday, many accompanied by their parents. Thanks to the development of antidepressants in the 1980s, depression can be relieved to a degree. Yet the current clinical cure rate for depression is only about 30 percent, which leads to many sufferers quitting treatment, said Qu. The more understanding and care parents can give to sufferers of depression, the better therapeutic effects they will receive, she said. Meanwhile, the psychiatrist also called for more public attention and financial support to the treatment of depression as well as training medical personnel in the fields. SHENZHEN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China National GeneBank (CNGB), located in Shenzhen, was officially opened Thursday, aiming to promote human health research and the conservation of global bio-diversity. Initiated by China's National Development and Reform Commission in 2011, the project was established by Shenzhen-based BGI, one of the world's leading genomics organizations. Covering an area of over 47,500 square meters, the gene bank has saved more than 10 million bio-samples and established cooperation and research with over 100 organizations in areas such as human health, bio-diversity, and biological evolution. BGI president Wang Jian said the mission of the CNGB is to "preserve the essence of a billion years of evolutionary history and deposit the life foundations of billions of people." Mei Yonghong, director of the CNBG, said the gene bank was not only a database, but combined a bio-information bank, a bio-samples and genetic resources bank and a living resources bank of plant, animal and microbe species. It also includes a digitization platform and a synthesis and editing platform, he said. "Generally speaking, we collect biological resources in the world, read the genetic data of living things with sequencers, use super computers to obtain the results and write the gene code on the synthesis and editing platform," Mei said. Gene research is not only an effective way to prevent birth defects and discover genetic diseases in their early stages, but also of great significance in the treatment of diseases and protection of bio-diversity. "Stored human cells may help cure many diseases in the future, with the improvement of medical technology," said Xu Xun, executive director of the CNGB. "For example, skin stem cells saved at a young age may be able to help people restore youthfulness by enabling skin reproduction. Immune cells stored at a good health stage may help restore people's immune systems later in life." The CNGB also aims to create a network to foster global collaboration and communication, and to promote innovation in the community, he added. The gene bank has established guidelines to enable the exchange and sharing of data and genetic resources with the world's major databases, such as NCBI, EMBL-EBI and DDBJ, and with biobanks including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Heidelberg University and the Smithsonian Institute. The establishment of the CNGB has been applauded by the international community. "Large collection of individuals in national cohort studies will allow us to better predict and eventually prevent the onset of diseases. The China National GeneBank will be essential to improving the life and health of future generations," said Irina Lehmann, department head of environmental immunology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Germany. "The grand opening of the China National GeneBank is a major leap forward in China's ongoing effort to position itself at the very top of worldwide genomics," said Roland Eils, professor of Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics at Heidelberg University. TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Thursday retook control of the government compound in Shirqat, a town in the northcentral province of Salahudin, from Islamic State (IS) militants, a provincial security source told Xinhua. Government troops and allied Sunni paramilitary tribal fighters, covered by U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft, entered the central part of Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, and seized the local government compound, the main hospital building and police headquarters, the source said on condition of anonymity. At least 33 IS militants were killed in the operation, the source said without disclosing casualties among government forces and allied fighters. Sporadic clashes continued in Shirqat as the troops push further into the remaining neighborhoods in the central part of the town, the source said. The operation to liberate the town was launched on Tuesday with heavy artillery and mortar barrage on IS positions. The liberation of the town, which is the last one under IS control in Salahudin province, is part of a major offensive to liberate the major IS stronghold in Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, is the second largest city in Iraq. It has been under IS control for more than two years since the extremist group seized parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the Leaders summit on Refugees at the United Nations headquarters in New York Sept. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao) LUSAKA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Experts in Zambia have welcomed China's latest move to further promote international humanitarian causes. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a UN summit in New York on Monday that China will provide 100 million U.S. dollars in additional humanitarian aid to help solve problems brought about by massive movement of refugees and migrants. It was "heartening" to hear the Chinese leader's pledge of contribution to help refugees and migrants who are fleeing their countries in the Middle East and Africa, said Dr Vernon Mwaanga, Zambia's former foreign affairs minister and ambassador to the UN, in an interview with Xinhua. "This is commendable and consistent with Chinese government policy of helping people who are in distress all over the world," said Mwaanga. "China has walked the talk, by doing something practical" to help these people," he added. The refugee and migrant problem being witnessed in Europe was unprecedented since the end of World War Two and requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, said Mwaanga. The Southern Africa Center for the Construction of Disputes (SACCORD), an organization involved in conflict management in the region, also commended China's move. "We welcome the announcement by China and we believe that this will go a long way in dealing with the problem of refugees and migrants who have been displaced due to wars in certain parts of the country," said SACCORD director Boniface Chembe to Xinhua. "We would like other big powers to emulate China and do more in order to deal with the problem of migrants which has become a global phenomenon," said Chembe. The director said that enhanced cooperation to address the problem of mass movement of migrants and refugees was required in order to find lasting solutions to the problem. China's call for enhanced international cooperation should be supported by all concerned countries, said Chembe. China, he said, has been a good supporter of humanitarian works in the world. Even during the period when it had challenges of its own, the Asian nation was keen to support others in humanitarian needs, said Chembe, citing the example of its financial support for the construction of a joint railway line between Tanzania and Zambia in the 1970s. MANILA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday that representatives from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) are welcome to probe the drug-related killings in the Philippines. "Come to the Philippines," Duterte said in a speech before troops and policemen in a military camp in Cagayan de Oro. "I will write them a letter to invite them for an investigation," said Duterte. Duterte on Tuesday slammed the EU parliament for issuing a statement calling for the government to "put an end to the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings in the Philippines." Specifically, the EU parliament expressed concern over what it described as "extraordinary high numbers killed during police operations." Duterte on Wednesday demanded the EU to show him some respect because he is the president of the Philippines, and not a city mayor anymore. Duterte has earlier lambasted the UN, the United States and its President Barack Obama for voicing concern over the spate of drug-related killings. Duterte, who took office June 30, is waging an all-out war against illicit drugs and criminality in the country. From July 1, police statistics showed more than 3,313 suspected drug paddlers and users have been killed. The police have carried out nearly 19,000 police operations that led to the arrests of more than 18,000 drug suspects. More than 700,000 drug suspects have also surrendered, the police said. NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday evening attended a welcoming dinner party organized by American economic and business groups. In his speech, Li reviewed how China-U.S. relations and practical cooperation has grown from scratch to its present stage, saying that China, the world's largest developing country, still has a long way to go before it achieves modernization. The steady growth of the Chinese economy not only generates more jobs for China, but also offers a boost to the U.S. economy, he said. "The two economies are highly interdependent." The welcoming party was organized by the Economic Club of New York, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and the U.S.-China Business Council. Li said that China will stay committed to reform and opening up and continue to follow a path of peaceful development. China stands ready to work with the United States in a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation to expand their common interests, jointly uphold the international order established since the end of the Second World War, and promote strong, sustainable and inclusive global economic growth, the premier said. Below is a transcript from the question and answer period following the premier's speech. William Berkley, founder of W.R. Berkley Corporation and Board of Trustees Chair at New York University: Premier, as Chinese companies seek to do business and make investment around the world, it's important that its market becomes open to investors around the world. How do you see that evolving, and how do you see the market of China becoming more open? Premier Li: In the early days of China's opening-up, we put most of the emphasis on "bringing in" foreign investment. But today, in this age of globalization, China needs to work with multinationals, and Chinese companies are making investment overseas. So now, we are paying equal attention to "bringing in" and "going global." For a developing country like China, it is still important to attract massive foreign investment, which helps boost the Chinese economy. As you may know, total paid-in foreign investment made in China has reached 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars. For 24 years in a row, China has been the largest recipient of FDI among developing countries. And going forward, we hope that China will remain an attractive destination for foreign investment. We need foreign investment for economic growth. And more importantly, we need new managerial expertise and advanced technologies that foreign investment brings to China. But let me make one thing clear. We place no preconditions on technological cooperation, and we don't have a mandatory requirement for technology transfer. At the same time, I have heard business leaders of foreign invested companies complaining about restrictions in accessing certain sectors of the Chinese market. To them I want to say this. It has not been that long since China launched its reform and opening-up program. Many sectors are still in a maturing process, which is also a process of further opening up. The areas of the Chinese economy open to foreign investment will only increase. China will open its door wider, and this door will never close. For those of you who have the capital and intention to invest in China, you are more than welcome to do so. Specific projects can be discussed later. (Laughter) Thomas W. Farley, chief operating officer of New York Stock Exchange Group: Premier Li, thank you so much for being here and thank you for having us in your hotel. It truly is an honor and thank you very much. The U.S. and China need each other more than ever, and are the two strongest economies. You've spoken in your speech about mutual respect, and there is no doubt about mutual respect. At the same time, we have noticed the problem of mistrust between the two countries. In the U.S., there are negative articles in the press about currency rate setting or the respect for intellectual property in China. And the Chinese press also finds negative things about the U.S. My question truly is what can we do about this mistrust and how can we reduce the level of mistrust and increase the level of cooperation? Premier Li: It's true that there are misconceptions and differences between our two countries. But I believe the level of mutual understanding between our two countries far outweighs that of misconception and differences. It is natural to have differences on specific matters, and they need to be properly viewed and handled. Just now you said "coming to my hotel." But I want to make a correction here for the record. That is, as far as I know, a Chinese private company has acquired stakes in the hotel, but the hotel is still under long-standing management of American businessmen. (Applause) So I'm still staying at a hotel run by Americans. (Laughter and applause) Talking about media coverage of each other's countries, I think we need to take a look at the whole picture. If you read news from certain media, I will not name them to avoid advertising it, perhaps you will find some reports on the other country. Sometimes truthful and objective coverage may not get people's eyes. But nitpicking does. Certainly if it is a well-intentioned report, even if it is critical, I believe it is welcomed, because it helps both sides to improve what we have been doing. As for the question of the RMB exchange rate, it will take quite some time to dig into the details. In a word, there is not a basis for continuous devaluation of the Chinese currency, and China has no intention to use the devaluation of the currency to boost exports, because that is not good for China's economic upgrading. As for how to boost mutual trust and narrow misconceptions, I think the key lies in closer mutual exchanges. As far as I know, last year, Chinese tourists made over 2.6 million visits to the United States, and now there are some 600,000 Chinese students in the U.S. But I also know that many Americans have not been to China yet. So the key to removing misconceptions and increasing mutual trust lies in strengthening people-to-people exchanges and promoting candid discussions among them. (More) Susie Gharib, senior journalist with Fortune Magazine: Premier Li, thank you very much for your very refreshing speech and your encouraging words. Many American business leaders tell me that they are very worried about the current backlash to globalization and global trade that's building here in the U.S. And I am sure you've heard that the candidates who are running for president here in the States have very harsh words about the loss of American jobs and unfair global trade agreements. Given that China's economic growth really depends on global trade and you said that there is a mutual interest between our country and China, how concerned are you about this developing trend? What would you say to the presidential candidates in terms of advice, and also to the American public to reassure them that they shouldn't worry about this? Premier Li: I am coming to New York to attend high-level UN events. Before I came here, some American friends of mine said to me that they don't think I am coming to the city at the right time, since the U.S. presidential election is at a dead heat. This is an internal affair in the United States. So for me, the things I can say about this topic are very limited. But I recall that in the 1980s, during my visit to the United States, I visited the headquarters of the two presidential campaigns. At both places, I was asked whether I liked the presidential candidates. To both of them I said that no matter who gets elected, I have confidence in the continued growth of China-U.S. relations.(Applause) Considering my current capacity, I can only repeat what I said years ago. That is, no matter who gets elected in the U.S. presidential election, I believe that China-U.S. ties will continue to grow in a positive direction.(Laughter and applause) Tomorrow I will give a statement at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. In my statement, I will definitely say something about globalization and trade liberalization and investment facilitation. But don't misread it as having anything to do with the U.S. presidential election.(Laughter and applause) Globalization may have some adverse impact on certain sectors and groups. But I believe that to address these downsides, we must rely on continued globalization, trade liberalization and investment facilitation, just as one must not give up eating for fear of choking on food, as a Chinese saying goes. Following on the heels of the United Kingdom, the United States has been the biggest beneficiary of globalization and trade liberalization, and China is also one of the beneficiaries. So China wants to work with all members of the international community to continue to advance trade liberalization and advance globalization as appropriate. In the meantime, we should also pay high attention to the calls of relevant groups and see to it that their concerns will be properly addressed. But all in all, I believe that the world will continue to move forward. Robert Hormats, former under secretary of State: Premier Li, first, let me thank you for your very thoughtful and comprehensive speech. You've honored us with your leadership and your vision. My question is about global trade. As you correctly pointed out in your speech global trade growth has been sluggish over the last several years. You also pointed out how interdependent our two countries and many others are. One of our concerns is that in many countries throughout the world, we see increased economic nationalism. We see huge domestic pressures for localization of production. We see people who are against globalization rather than improving the global trading system. Those pressures occur in the United States, China, and many other countries. So my question is what can China and the U.S. together reverse this deterioration in support for the global trading system, to make sure that it thrives and becomes more open? And in particular, how can the United States and China seize the opportunities brought by the bilateral investment treaty negotiation to take the lead together in strengthening international trading rules and create more opportunities for prosperity and growth? Premier Li: I believe China and the United States should send a common message to the international community. Both of our two countries are strong supporters of the existing global trading regime. And we both believe that we need to advance trade liberalization and investment facilitation under the WTO framework. So China and the U.S. should work together with all other countries to send out a strong and common message. And I believe this will help prevent the anti-globalization trend from further evolving and help prevent the trade barriers and a beggar-thy-neighbor approach from emerging, so that they will not stand in the way of global economic recovery. Secondly, I believe our two countries need to further open up to each other in both trade and mutual investment. China is sincere in further opening up its market. We have completed the quarantine procedures for the import of U.S. beef. And we will soon have imports of beef from the United States. China is a large producer of agricultural products and animal husbandry. The United States also has very good beef. Why should we deny Chinese customers more choices? (Applause) I'm sure there would be louder applause if I say this in the U.S. Midwest. (Laughter and applause) As I'm in New York, I would also like to mention that we have decided to designate a Chinese bank as a RMB clearing bank in New York. We also welcome banks in New York that meet the eligibility requirements to apply for the setting up of RMB clearing banks. I'm sure that will enable smoother cross-border settlement between us. Now China and the United States are engaged in the BIT negotiation. The negotiation in itself has sent out a positive message to the business communities of both countries. China has exerted strong effort in this respect, and in just two years, has put forward revised offers three times. Now, the two countries are engaged in the 29th round of negotiation. We need the U.S. side to meet us halfway. I believe that as long as both sides take a pragmatic and flexible approach, we will be able to arrive at a high-standard and mutually beneficial BIT. Photo taken on May 8, 2015 shows Somali refugees at the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya. Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeastern Kenya. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) MOGADISHU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN and Somalia's Jubaland state authorities have resolved to form a joint committee tasked with addressing the reintegration of returnees from Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp. A statement from the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) said that representatives of UN agencies, the World Bank and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation met Monday in the southern Somali port city of Kismayo with Jubaland's Second Deputy President Abdulkadir Haji Mohamud-Luga Dhere. The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Peter de Clercq, said Tuesday the meeting discussed "the return and reintegration of refugees from Dadaab... as well as the host communities that have to bear the burden of these big challenges that are coming at them." Somali refugees prepare to get on a bus heading for Somalia at Dadaab in Garissa, Kenya, July 1, 2016. The Kenyan government on Friday kicked off voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees at the Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeast part of the country. (Xinhua/Stephen Ingati) Clercq said the coordination committee will be based in Kismayo and will discuss concrete programs for the reintegration of the refugees and internally displaced people. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the Kenyan government are repatriating Somalis living in Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northern Kenya and home to more than 300,000 Somalis, as Kenya says it will close the camp, citing mainly security reasons. The UNHCR said late last month that some 18,000 Somali refugees had returned to their homeland this year. Jubaland state is an autonomous region in southern Somalia with its western side bordering Kenya. Dhere expressed his satisfaction with the talks, which he said also touched on the initiation of development projects in Jubaland. "I welcome any other organizations working on humanitarian aid in Jubaland region to work with us," Dhere said. An estimated 3,000 Somali refugees were reportedly stranded at the Dadaab camp and the Kenya-Somalia border early this month after the Jubaland administration blocked their return. It is said the stranded refugees were to resettle in Jubaland. They have also been reportedly struck off the UNHCR's database, meaning they are likely to be left without food rations and other essentials. KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has welcomed the draft peace agreement inked between Afghan government and the Gulbudin Hekmatyar-led Islamic party the Hizb-e-Islami here on Thursday, said a statement of the world body's office. "UNAMA supports the efforts by Afghanistan's National Unity Government to engage all those interested in establishing an equitable peace. This agreement demonstrates the preparedness of Afghanistan's government to seek peace with armed anti-government elements," the statement said. "A credible peace process must remain owned and driven by Afghans," added the statement. UNAMA in the statement added that, "The UN welcomes agreements that will contribute to a lessening of violence in Afghanistan and allow Afghans to live in peace. After decades of war in Afghanistan we welcome steps towards reconciliation, inclusive peace and a lasting end to the conflict." The much awaited peace agreement between Afghan government and the Hekmatyar-led Islamic party the Hizb-e-Islami was inked here on Thursday to boost peace process and national reconciliation in the insurgency-ridden country. The agreement was signed by Mohammad Amin Karim, head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation and Pir Sayed Ahmad Gilani, chief of the government-backed peace body the High Peace Council, at a ceremony attended by ranking officials and supporters of Hizb-e-Islami in Kabul. The draft peace deal will come into effect after inked by President Ashraf Ghani and Hizb-e-Islami leader Hekmatyar. They are expected to ink the agreement within days. DAMASCUS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Rebels and their families started evacuating their last stronghold inside the central city of Homs on Thursday, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported. As many of 42 rebels have already reached the Dar al-Kabira area in the northern countryside of Hama, as part of a deal between the government and the rebels in al-Waer neighborhood, the last rebel-held neighborhood in the city of Homs. By the end of Thursday, 120 rebels and their families are expected to reach rebel-held Dar al-Kabira, and 140 other rebels will evacuate al-Waer next Saturday toward rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The governor of Homs, Talal al-Barazi, said the civilians who are evacuating al-Waer are the families of the rebels, and civilians who have nothing to do with rebels will remain inside that neighborhood. "Today mainly the rebels and their families are leaving," al-Barazi told reporters in Homs. "If a rebel wants to take his mother, his sister or daughter with him, he can do so, but for the civilians who are not related to the rebels, we want them to stay inside al-Waer." The deal in al-Waer has been conducted between the rebels and the government, without any mediation of the United Nations. Al-Barazi said that Russia has helped in creating a positive environment for the evacuation process. The rebels evacuating the neighborhood are allowed to take with them their light weapons. With al-Waer free of insurgency, the entire city of Homs will be rebel-free, except the countryside, where rebels still hold some key bastions. Thursday's evacuation represents the second stage in the implementation of a deal reached in 2015 in al-Waer. In the first stage, nearly 300 rebels evacuated toward Idlib in December 2015. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday lifted a decade-plus ban on some beef products from the United States, according to agriculture and quarantine regulators. The ban on bone-in and boneless beef from cattle under 30 months old from the United States was removed effective immediately, said a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Authorities will formulate rules on traceability and quarantine for the beef products, said the statement. China halted beef imports from the United States in 2003 to prevent the spread of mad cow disease. But due to surging demand, some Chinese consumers started to purchase smuggled beef via online stores. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signaled the lifting of the ban Tuesday when speaking at a welcoming dinner party organized by the Economic Club of New York. "The United States also has very good beef. Why should we deny Chinese customers more choices?" he said. The two countries should open wider to each other, both in trade and investment, Li said. China's central bank announced on Wednesday it has authorized Bank of China's New York branch to provide clearing services for the Chinese yuan, the first time China has set up a clearing bank in the United States. The world's top two economies are in the middle of talks on a bilateral investment treaty, which is expected to further deepen economic ties between the two. MANILA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. and Philippine militaries are scheduled to hold joint amphibious landing exercises in the Philippines next week amidst recent diplomatic spat between the two treaty allies, a spokesman for the Philippine armed forces said on Thursday. Capt. Ryan Lacuesta of the Philippine Marines said the amphibious landing exercises will open on Oct. 4 at the Philippine Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in the Philippine capital. The U.S. Embassy in Manila has yet to issue an official statement on the scheduled landing exercises next week. U.S. President Barack Obama has called off a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Laos early this month, following Duterte's tirade against Obama after the latter criticized Duterte's violent war against drugs in the Philippines. In a speech at the inauguration of a power plant in Misamis Oriental in southern Philippines on Thursday, Duterte reiterated that he would not allow Philippine military to participate in joint patrols in the South China Sea. Earlier this month, Duterte also said he wanted the more than 100 U.S. Special Forces posted in Mindanao out. "(Those special forces), they have to go. They have to go," he said during a speech at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila. In the same event, Duterte again showed pictures of U.S. operations in Mindanao at the start of the 20th century in which U.S. troops subjugated Moro rebels. He went around using the pictures sourced from the "U.S. archive." NEW DELHI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- India has cleared a deal with France to procure 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition, officials said Thursday. According to officials, the two countries will ink the deal on Friday. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Thursday. Reports said Drian would be accompanied by CEOs of Dassault Aviation, Thales and MBDA to seal the multi-billion dollar deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets. Indian government's cabinet committee on security has already cleared the contract. Defense officials feel the purchase of Rafale jets would bolster the country's military image in the region and help modernize Indian military's ageing fleet of combat aircrafts. The Indian government signed an memorandum of understanding in January this year with the French government for the purchase of the aircrafts. The procurement of Rafale jets was first initiated in 2012. Indian government then intended to buy 126 fighter jets. However, the purchase faced delays and hurdles during the past four years over the cost and assembly of the planes in India. The procurement was finally scaled down to 36 aircrafts. India for upgrading its military arsenal depends on imports from countries like Russia, the United States, France and Israel. ANKARA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Embassy in Ankara has warned of potential terror attacks targeting Western businesses in the Turkish border province of Gaziantep. The embassy issued a warning to U.S. citizens on Wednesday following a reported investigation into an Islamic State (IS) terror cell. "There are reports of a police investigation into a terror cell in Gaziantep. The information suggests the terrorists are possibly targeting shopping centers, Starbucks, Big Chef Restaurants and/or other businesses catering to Western customers," the advisory said. "U.S. citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible." The embassy noted that foreign tourists have been explicitly targeted by international and indigenous terrorist organizations in Turkey. "Most recently, they have threatened to kidnap and assassinate Westerners and U.S. citizens," it said. "U.S. citizens are reminded to review personal security plans, monitor local news for breaking events, and remain vigilant at all times." On Aug. 20, a bombing attack hit a street wedding in Gaziantep, killing 56 people. Members of a cultural exchange delegation from China's Tibet Autonomous Region attend a symposium in Riga, Latvia, Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Guo Qun) RIGA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Tibetan cultural delegation raises attention from people from all walks of life in Latvia during its visit from Wednesday to Thursday. Laimdota Straujuma, former prime minister of Latvia, held meeting with the delegation. Ojars Eriks Kalnins, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Latvia's parliament, Sergejs Potapkins, Chairman of Latvia-China Friendship Group of Latvia's parliament, Indrikis Muiznieks, Rector of the University of Latvia, also separately met with the delegation during its two-day visit to the Baltic country. Kalnins noted that Latvia respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the visit is at a good timing since recent years saw rapid development of bilateral ties on economy and trade and dynamic cultural exchanges. According to Potapkins, the delegation made it possible for people in Latvia to directly hear the voice from China's Tibet. He said it's a quite rare opportunity. During a seminar on today's Tibet, the Chinese delegates introduced economic and social development of Tibet, preservation of its culture, usage of Tibetan language, the reincarnation system of living buddhas to local audiences, and exposed the lies deliberately made up by the Dalai Lama and his followers. Scores of Latvian members of parliament, experts, scholars, media representatives attended the seminar. Wrapping up its visit to the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia, the delegation heads back to China on Thursday. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently exchanged congratulatory messages with his Lithuanian counterpart, Dalia Grybauskaite, on the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Since China and Lithuania established diplomatic ties in 1991, the two countries have constantly strengthened political trust and enhanced pragmatic cooperation on the basis of respect and equality, and bilateral ties have witnessed remarkable progress, Xi said. China attaches great importance to its relations with Lithuania and is willing to push forward bilateral ties and bring more benefits to both peoples, the Chinese leader added. For her part, Grybauskaite said that the Lithuania-China ties have witnessed profound development in the past few years, and closer contacts as well as deepened economic and cultural cooperation have laid a solid foundation for further bilateral development. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius recently exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In the message, Li said that China pays great attention to its relationship with Lithuania, and sees the Baltic state as an important partner in the region and within the European Union. China is willing to take the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation and exchanges in various fields and push forward China-Lithuania and China-CEE (Central and Eastern European) relations to yield more achievements, he said. Butkevicius said that Lithuania-China relations have reached a new high and enjoy broad political dialogue and economic and trade cooperation. Lithuania pays close attention to China's Belt and Road Initiative and ties between China and the CEE countries, said Butkevicius, who believes such engagement will help promote the development of Lithuania-China ties and Europe-China relations, as well as enhance cooperation around the world. HANOI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- "The greater role of the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB) in the world market will offer positive support to the development of Vietnam-China trade, economic, investment and financial ties," said a renowned Vietnamese economist. Dr. Vu Dinh Anh, a Vietnamese economist, made the remarks in a recent interview with Xinhua in Vietnam's capital Hanoi. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to include the RMB in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket as a fifth currency, along with the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the pound sterling, effective Oct. 1, 2016. According to Anh, the economic and financial ties between Vietnam and China have been developing rapidly. "In terms of trade, China is the largest market for Vietnamese imports and among the top markets for Vietnamese exports. In addition, investment activities and financial and other monetary ties between the two countries have also flourished," Anh said. Given its upcoming inclusion into the IMF's SDR, the expert said, "The RMB will become a strong currency worldwide." "In the near future, the RMB will join other main currencies in the world like the U.S. dollar, euro, and the Japanese yen, to be commonly used in transactions of Vietnamese companies with foreign countries," said the expert, predicting an ever-increasing role of the RMB in Vietnam-China economic and financial relations. "The RMB will play a role as important as that of major currencies used in the past," Anh stated. Among Vietnamese companies, Anh said the RMB has been used as an international payment currency and will continue to be used with an expanding role. "For example, in relations with Chinese or foreign companies, instead of using the U.S. dollar or the euro, Vietnamese companies will be able to use the RMB as payment currency," the expert said. Also, the currency may be used in investment projects by Chinese investors or in Chinese loans to Vietnam, Anh elucidated. "I think there will be a closer link between investment inflows, both direct and indirect, by Chinese investors in Vietnam and the RMB forthwith," said Anh. The economist went on to explain that both countries want to reduce bilateral trade imbalance, expressing his hope that, "With the greater role of the RMB, exchange rates between it and the Vietnamese dong (VND), as well as between the RMB and other key currencies, will be well managed to help narrow the gap in the trade relations between Vietnam and China." The expert also proposed the two countries pay more attention to the management of the exchange rate policy between their respective currencies as well as to keep an eye on cross-linkages of exchange rates between the RMB and other major currencies. People wait as the search and rescue operations are carried out by Egyptian Coast Guard members and fishing boats at Port Rashid in Beheira, Egypt on Sept. 22, 2016. Egyptian authorities on Thursday ordered the arrest of four crew members of a migrant boat that capsized Wednesday near Egypt's northern coast in which 42 migrants died, state-run MENA news agency reported. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian authorities on Thursday ordered the arrest of four crew members of a migrant boat that capsized Wednesday near Egypt's northern coast in which 42 migrants died, state-run MENA news agency reported. The four were accused of human trafficking and involvement in illegal migration. Prosecutors in Egypt's coastal Beheira province have also ordered the arrest of five others suspected of being involved in the boat accident. The migrant boat, which carried about 600 people and sank near Beheira, was supposedly heading for Italian shores. Egyptian border guards have saved dozens of people from the boat. Rescue efforts are continuing. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the general debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2016. Premier Li called for joint efforts to address sustainable development and global challenges. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday expounded China's proposals to promote global development, which were warmly welcomed by experts. Speaking at the annual high-level debate at the UN General Assembly, Li reiterated China's commitment to sustainable development and its international obligations. China attaches great importance to the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will push forward the action plan authored by G20 leaders earlier this month, said Li. He called on the international community to jointly address global challenges and build an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world, referencing the theme of the G20 summit held in early September in China. "The conceptualization of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is a Chinese contribution which was articulated at G20 Summit in Hangzhou," said Dolla Varaprasad, a professor with Jawaharlal Nhru University in New Delhi, India. "The premier's announcement showed China's determination, sincerity and passion to achieve the sustainable development goals," said Saleem Khilji, director of Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Pakistan. Indian prof. R.K. Chaudhury, formerly of Delhi University, also hailed Chinese premier's speech, saying that the ultimate goal of China's modernization is to have some 1.3 billion people live a well-off life and "that's very much achievable." As the largest developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China has earnestly met international obligations to raise standards of living at home, Li said. China has provided 400 billion RMB (some 59.9 billion U.S. dollars) to 166 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations, and trained some 12 million personnel in various sectors for other developing countries, said Li. "China's contribution to the South-South Cooperation, especially to countries in African is unique and exemplary in the world," said Khilji. "The China-initiated assistance fund for South-South Cooperation and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund likely to start formally later this year, will further help in poverty alleviation and improve the security situation in the world," he added. Meanwhile, Laurie Pearcey, international executive director of the University of New South Wales, told Xinhua that "China's role in Africa for example is breaking the traditional mould forged by old world imperial powers which sought to assert influence on the African continent through the lens of post colonialism." Fay Chung, former minister of Elementary Education of Zimbabwe also spoke highly of China's role in Africa. "China considers the African nations as his brothers, and always try its best to safeguard their interests in international affairs. Because of this, many African countries show their full support to China," said Chung. China stands ready to work with the international community to build a better world in which each individual can be treated with dignity and can enjoy the benefits of development, the Chinese premier said at the UN. James Laurenceson, deputy director of Australia-China Relations Institute at University of Technology Sydney, says China has laid the groundwork for playing a crucial role in the world. "If China follows through on these statements with concrete action then it will have made an important and welcome step towards exercising global leadership," he said. MOSCOW. Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States has not fulfilled its obligations under a ceasefire deal in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday. "We are concerned about the way the agreement is being sabotaged by a number of structures and of course, the anti-government forces in Syria and their foreign supporters," he told local media. "The U.S. side cannot guarantee the fulfillment of a whole number of elements of this agreement, which we saw in the past few days," he said, adding that Washington "did not separate moderate Syrian rebel forces from terrorists." The recent air strike by the U.S.-led coalition on the Syrian military "is a very dramatic development regarding the agreement that we are talking about. It's a direct strike on its foundation," he said. Meanwhile, Ryabkov said that the U.S. proposal to ban any aircraft operations in a number of Syrian regions will not work. "I do not think this plan will work, at least until the United States and other sides engaged in this process make sure that the relevant actors, which see war as the only way to resolve the problem, stop using force," Ryabkov said. The Syrian military announced Monday the end of a seven-day truce brokered by the United States and Russia, without talk of a possible extension, according to SANA. The Kremlin said Tuesday that the hope for restoring the ceasefire in Syria was weak following U.S.-led coalition attacks against the Syrian army and the bombing of a humanitarian convoy. TIRANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The association of the foreign investors in Albania (FIAA) made an appeal Thursday to the Albanian state, seeking the latter to provide more protection for their investments in the country. Such request comes two days after one of the biggest investors here, OMNIX company, declared that it had decided to withdraw its 450 million euros (about 504 million U.S. dollars) investment in Albania following the physical attack to its owner by unidentified persons. The foreign investors association condemned the attack and violence exerted against the general administrator of OMNIX group, Fadi Mitri, while although it considered this an isolated case, FIAA asked the Albanian government to prevent such incidents. This incident took place in a moment when FIAA, international partners and the Albanian government are intensively working together to improve the business climate and attract more foreign investments, which are so necessary for the country's development and improvement of life standards, the press statement of FIAA said. Mitri was physically attacked on Sept. 10, while on Sept. 20 he made public the decision of his company to leave Albania and withdraw the investments here. Actually, such incident has spurred many heated debates in Albania. This was also the main topic discussed during Thursday plenary session, during which the opposition lawmakers blamed the government for not protecting foreign investors. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Following media reports that a section of the Great Wall in northeast China had been paved, the state cultural heritage watchdog on Thursday said investigators have been sent to verify the reports and carry out an investigation. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) said in a statement that it will publicly disclose results of the investigation in time, and if problems do exist, those responsible for the damage will be held accountable. A post widely circulated online claimed that a Great Wall section not open to tourism in Suizhong County, Liaoning Province, had been defaced. The post featured photos of the Great Wall's paved-over surface, which appeared jarringly modern. Media reports speculated it was a result of poor preservation techniques applied by local cultural heritage authorities. According to a statement by SACH, the Great Wall section in Suizhong, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), has long suffered from severe structural problems and was placed under a preservation project from 2013 to 2014. Preservation plans were approved by SACH experts at the time, the statement said, adding the investigators who have been sent will evaluate the outcome of the preservation project and investigate the project management and supervision. The Great Wall was built from the third century BC to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The existing sections are mainly the Ming wall, which stretches over 8,800 kilometers. Less than 10 percent of the wall is considered well-preserved. This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's national regulation on Great Wall protection. The SACH has launched a special law enforcement campaign in 15 provincial-level regions where the wall is located. HONG KONG, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- "One country, two systems" policy is the key framework that makes Hong Kong "special" and competitive, Kurt Tong, U.S. Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau said here on Thursday. "U.S.'s view on this is crystal clear," he said, "The United States recognize that Hong Kong is part of China. We also very much value the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong enjoys under the 'one country, two systems' policy," Tong addressed a luncheon held by the American Chamber of Commerce. Tong said the construct of "one country, two systems" has been highly successful in protecting Hong Kong's open society and institutions. Hong Kong's specialness not only lie in the geography, economy and culture sectors, while the most important factor is the strong rule of law, transparency and openness, which cerate the basis for business and trade to succeed, he added. He said the relationship between the United States and China's Hong Kong has been quite "successful" in areas such as finance, trade, investment, education and exchange programs, and the United States aims to streamline the visa appointment process in future to attract more students and visitors. It was the first public speech Tong has made after he assumed the duties on Aug. 26 this year. Prior to his service in Hong Kong, Tong was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the Department of State. Two injured children receive medical treatments at a hospital in Suixian County, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 22, 2016. Two children were killed and 11 others injured after a school bus carrying a kindergarten class collided with a truck at an intersection in Suixian County Thursday morning. Police have detained the truck driver, and an investigation is underway. (Xinhua/Yang Zhenghua) ZHENGZHOU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Two young children were killed and 11 others injured after a school bus carrying a kindergarten class collided with a truck at an intersection in Suixian County, central China's Henan Province, Thursday morning. The two children died after failing to respond to emergency treatment. The injured are all in stable condition, according to a county government statement. Carrying 30 children, two teachers and a driver, the 37-seat bus collided with the truck at 8:53 a.m.. There were no traffic lights at the intersection, according to the statement. Police have detained the truck driver, and an investigation is underway. LANZHOU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines has launched an air route linking Moscow and Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province. The flight operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It departs from Lanzhou at 3:10 p.m. (Beijing Time) and makes a stop in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, before landing in Moscow at 8:10 p.m. local time. The maiden flight left Lanzhou for Moscow on Thursday. It is the third intercontinental air route for Lanzhou and is expected to enhance the city's business exchanges with Europe and contribute to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative. More international flights will be launched in the future, according to Lanzhou's airport authorities. Zhang Dejiang (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Sept. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) JERUSALEM, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Israeli leaders have pledged to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields such as innovation, environmental protection, agriculture and biology as well as in the implementation of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The consensus was made during meetings between Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset (parliament) Speaker Yuli Edelstein earlier this week. Zhang, who met with Netanyahu shortly after his arrival in the region Monday on a four-day official goodwill visit to Israel and Palestine, told the Israeli leader that there are great potential and a broad vista for China and Israel to enhance their cooperation. It is important to implement key consensus reached between leaders of the two countries and contribute to the achievement of further positive results from bilateral cooperation in various fields, Zhang stressed, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping has brought countries in the Middle East more opportunities to promote their development. The initiative refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia wiht Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes. China stands ready to work with Israel to bring into full play the role of the committees on bilateral cooperation in economy and technology as well as in innovation, to strengthen their close cooperation in science and technology innovation and talent development, and to push for early progress in their free trade talks in order to create a better environment for the development of bilateral ties, he said. China has been committed to contributing to a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue and supports all efforts facilitating the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks and the achievement of peaceful co-existence of the two countries, Zhang said. Netanyahu agreed with Zhang's pragmatic proposals, saying that Israel regards China as a priority cooperation partner. The advantages of the two countries' economic development are mutually complementary and there are broad areas for them to conduct cooperation, he said, expressing the hope that both sides will expand cooperation in such fields as innovation, environmental protection, agriculture and biology. Israel is willing to participate in Belt and Road Initiative and the activities of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he added. While meeting with President Rivlin Tuesday, Zhang said that Chinese-Israeli relations have enjoyed sound and stable development since the two countries established diplomatic relations, particularly in recent years, bringing about tangible benefits for both countries and their peoples. Noting that China and Israel will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year, Zhang hoped that both countries will take the opportunity to lift bilateral relations to a new height. Rivlin said Israel has been grateful to the Chinee people for their help to the Jewish people during the Second World War and is willing to seize cooperation opportunities and deepen bilateral relations. During his meeting with Knesset Speaker Edelstein on Tuesday, Zhang said that the exchanges of the Chinese and Israeli legislatures are a key component of bilateral relations. The two sides should maintain friendly cooperation at all levels, enhance the sharing of experience regarding legislative contributions to national development, and keep optimizing the legislative environment to facilitate cooperation between enterprises of the two countries and their people-to-people exchanges, Zhang said. Edelstein said that there is a broad consensus in the Knesset on the development of ties with China and that the Israeli parliament is ready to deepen its exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese National People's Congress, and play an active role in consolidating friendship, promoting development, improving the people's livelihood and protecting the environment. Before their meeting, Zhang and Edelstein signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a mechanism for regular exchanges between the Chinese National People's Congress and the Knesset. Zhang also held talks with Isaac Herzog, chairman of Israel's opposition Labor Party. During the meeting, Zhang said that contacts between political parties are important for promoting relations between countries. The Communist Party of China is willing to conduct exchanges with all Israeli parties including the Labor to push forward the development of Chinese-Israeli relations in an all-round way, he said. Herzog said his party attaches importance to and looks forward to the strengthening of dialogue and exchanges with China and learn from each other's useful experience. During his stay in Israel, Zhang paid a visit to Israel's Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, and laid a wreath there to honor millions of Jews perished during the Second World War. He also visited the Weizmann Institute of Science in central Israel and met with Israeli scientists on science and technology innovation and the commercialization of technology innovations. After winding up his visit to Israel and Palestine, Zhang traveled on to Finland to continue his current four-nation tour, which also includes France. Photo taken on Aug. 31, 2016 shows a night view of Hangzhou Grand Theater in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) MEXICO CITY, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- As host of the recent G20 summit, China has shown a new path for world economy and international politics, a Mexican political science expert told Xinhua in a recent interview. "China presented the foundations of what is going to be the new structure of international politics and the foundations of a new path towards international trade and finance," said Ignacio Martinez Cortes, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. At the summit, held in Hangzhou in early September, G20 leaders came together to discuss ways to spur the flagging global economy and promote equitable and inclusive growth. China's political stability, coupled with its economic weight, strengthens its role as a global guide, said the academic. "China is marking the path in the global context, both in terms of economy and politics, given its national power. And national power comes from a strong internal market," Martinez said. Beijing also demonstrated its leadership by choosing to focus the summit on matters of global concern, such as combating climate change, which is among the sustainable development goals prioritized by the United Nations, the professor said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama ratified the Paris Agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions the day before the summit, setting an important example of global cooperation for other countries, Martinez added. A couple is taken from hands during a mass wedding ceremony for couples of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite, Transsexual, Transgender and Intersexual (LGBTTTI) community, in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Nov. 22, 2015. (Xinhua/Pedro Mera) LA PAZ, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group in Bolivia presented a draft bill Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage. The draft bill, which goes under the title "Family Life Agreement," is to protect the rights and obligations of LGBT people when it comes to goods, social security and health, said Wendy Molina, a representative from Bolivia's LGBT group. History demands that same-sex couples are entitled to the rights that heterosexual couples enjoy, she said. The draft bill proposes that same-sex couples be recognized under the principles of equality, non-discrimination, diversity, social integration and family protection. The draft bill does not include adoption. Ombudsman David Tezanos Pinto received the proposal from the group in his office and agreed to bring it before the the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, the national legislature of Bolivia. We will take up the social duty given to us by the LGBT population and address this challenge to put the discussion about family life (of LGBT people) on the agenda (of the Assembly)," said Tezanos Pinto. Tezanos Pinto revealed that the draft was developed by over 800 leaders of the LGBT movement in Bolivia on the basis of articles 13, 14 and 62 of Bolivia's constitution as well as the Law Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination. The draft bill is also based on various international treaties Bolivia has signed with the United Nations and the Organization of American States on protecting the human rights of the LGBT population, he said. On May 21, Bolivia enacted the gender identity act which enables transsexual persons to update their personal information in terms of gender and identity on legal documents. However, this does not give them the right to form a family and does not allow marriage between members of the same sex. GENEVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- An aid convoy is expected to reach besieged Madamiyet in rural Damascus on Thursday, 72 hours after 18 aid trucks were destroyed by an air strike in the north of the country, senior advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria Jan Egeland said. "Today we hope to enter Madamiyet, a very important town, where people have been suffering very long and where they have been squeezed by all armed actors," he said. This comes after road deliveries were temporarily suspended by the UN following a deadly attack on trucks attempting to deliver food, medical supplies and non-food items to Urum al-Kubra, northwest of Aleppo. Egeland hoped that if successful, Thursday's delivery would be a "turning-point," allowing further aid to reach Madaya, Al-Waer and other besieged areas in the coming days. East Aleppo, where some 275,000 civilians are trapped by fighting pitching forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebel groups, has yet to be reached however. Forty humanitarian trucks set to deliver aid there have been stuck on the Turkish-Syrian border since a shaky truce came into being on Sept. 12. "The food will be expiring on Monday, the drivers have been sleeping at the border for a week," Egeland warned. BAGHDAD, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Thursday retook full control of Shirqat, a town in Salahudin province, after pushing out Islamic State (IS) militants from the central part of the town, the Iraqi military said. "Our forces fought a 72-hour battle (against the IS) that culminated in the full liberation the town of Shirqat and the raising of the Iraqi flags over the government headquarters," the Joint Operations Command said in a statement. "The Armed Forces are looking forward to the decisive battle in Mosul in order to teach the terrorist Daesh (IS group) a lesson," the statement said. Earlier in the day, a provincial security source told Xinhua that security forces and allied Sunni paramilitary tribal fighters partially seized Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The source said that the troops entered the central part of the town, and seized the local government compound, the main hospital building, and police headquarters, but sporadic clashes continued in some small pockets in the town. At least 33 IS militants were killed in the operation, the source said without disclosing casualties among government forces and allied fighters. The operation to liberate the town was launched on Tuesday with heavy artillery and mortar barrage on IS positions. The liberation of the town, the last one under IS control in Salahudin province, is part of a major offensive to liberate the IS stronghold in Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, is the second largest city in Iraq. It has been under IS control for more than two years since the extremist group seized parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014. BRATISLAVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is still being negotiated, but political statements of certain EU leaders regarding suspension of negotiations can't be ignored, said Slovak MEP Ivan Stefanec here on Thursday. According to Stefanec, scrapping TTIP negotiations between the United States and the European Union (EU) is a matter of internal policy in France and partly in Germany. Their attitude is also influenced by the upcoming presidential election in the United States. "(U.S.) President Barack Obama wanted to finish the negotiations during his electoral term. However, the important thing is to have a good contract, and not a contract that needs to be quickly signed in a few months," said Stefanec, referring to the U.S. presidential election set to take place in November. "The largest trade agreement in the EU's history should be well prepared, as it's important for the EU and the world as a whole," stressed Stefanec, adding that mainly trade standards should be set well. There have already been 14 rounds of negotiations on TTIP so far, but the EU and the U.S. representatives haven't agreed on any of its 27 chapters. "Regarding the abolition of customs duties on goods and services, TTIP is completed on 97 percent. A great deal of progress has been reached in this matter," pointed out the Slovak MEP. "The question of regulatory standards, which is different in the EU and the USA, as well as the issue of resolving disputes still remain open," he added. Both points have been criticised mainly from the part of the EU, as many European companies, professional associations and NGOs are afraid of easier access of American companies to the stricter EU market. However, Stefanec doesn't share these concerns, as the agreement will have to go through the approving procedure in the European Parliament (EP) and in national parliaments of the EU member states. Meanwhile, an informal meeting of EU trade ministers is set to take place in Bratislava on Sept. 22-23. French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl earlier this month said that, as he sees the current round of negotiations on TTIP as a failure, he will demand on behalf of France the suspension of negotiations at the informal meeting in Bratislava. GENEVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Thursday issued a strong statement warning about the deteriorating situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He stressed that as part of the effort to avert a major crisis, there must be accountability for the killing of dozens of civilians and other human rights violations that took place during the outbreak of violence earlier this week. At least 50 people, including at least four police officers, were reportedly killed during clashes and violence in the capital Kinshasa on Sept. 19 and 20, and at least 77 others were injured. "The high number of civilian casualties, the burning of the headquarters of several political parties, and continuing high tension provide a stark warning that a large-scale crisis could be just around the corner," the UN rights chief said. "The writing is on the wall, and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition," he added. The UN official said in the statement that he was particularly shocked at reports that some men in uniform took a direct part in some of the attacks against the headquarters of six opposition political parties. "This is a clear assault against democracy and fundamental human rights. What DRC needs now is a climate more conducive to inclusive dialogue and to free and fair elections," he added. Earlier on Wednesday, the UN Security Council also called on all the political parties in DRC to "refrain from further violence or other provocations and to address their differences peacefully." Turkish security force members work at the bazaar after a rocket fired from northern Syria hit a bazaar area in Turkish province of Kilis, Sept. 22, 2016. A rocket fired from northern Syria hit a bazaar area in the southern Turkish border province of Kilis on Thursday, injuring six, governor Ismail Catakli said. (Xinhua/Mert Macit) ANKARA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A rocket fired from northern Syria hit a bazaar area in the southern Turkish border province of Kilis on Thursday, injuring six, governor Ismail Catakli said. Catakli said five children and a woman were injured, but CNN Turk, a local broadcaster, put the number of injured at seven, including one in critical condition. The rocket, which landed in a bazaar in the center of the province's capital city that bears the same name, came from an Islamic State-controlled area in northern Syria, Dogan News Agency reported. The Turkish military said it has fired back in retaliation. Turkey has been under rocket attacks from Syria since mid-January, leading to the death of more than 20 and the injury of over 80 others in Kilis alone. On April 22, three people were killed and six others wounded in the province by rocket fire from Syria. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for strengthened efforts towards an effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "We want to ensure the SDGs are held up as a beacon for all future General Assembly sessions until the year 2030," he said. The statement came when the UN chief was speaking to the SDG Advocacy Group, which met here on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly. "As advocates, I am relying on you to continue to promote the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of the SDGs, and commitment to leave no one behind," Ban said. The SDGs were unanimously adopted by world leaders in September 2015 to serve as the blueprint for global development efforts in the years leading up to 2030. The 17 goals aim to end poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while leaving no one behind. The secretary-general also commended the SDG Advocacy Group for its excellent work in presentation, which he hopes will "inspire and serve as a model for similar presentations in the future." In January, Ban announced the appointment of this group of eminent persons to assist in the global efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, by adding powerful voices to spur action. PYONGYANG, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday warned of "military counteraction" against recent U.S. and South Korean military moves, in particular the U.S. sending B-1B strategic bombers to South Korea. The U.S. military on Wednesday sent two strategic bombers to South Korea in a show of force against Pyongyang. The two B-1B Lancers flew low over the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 km south of capital Seoul, at about 1:10 p.m. local time (0410 GMT). A spokesman for the General Staff of the DPRK military called that in a statement "anti-DPRK military provocations," saying that the provocations "have pushed the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the uncontrollable and irreversible phase of the outbreak of a nuclear war." The statement, carried by the official news agency KCNA, threatened that the nuclear warheads of the military will completely reduce Seoul to ashes. "Should they escalate the danger of military provocations by letting B-1Bs fly over the air of Korea, the KPA (Korean People's Army) will sweep Guam from the surface of the earth," it added. On Sept. 9, the DPRK announced that it had successfully conducted an explosion test of nuclear warhead to fit on ballistic rockets. The fifth nuclear test was staged just eights months after the fourth in January. The fifth test was seen as the most powerful nuclear detonation ever by the DPRK as it produced an explosive yield of 10 kilotons, stronger than 6 kilotons recorded in the previous test. Pyongyang said Tuesday that it tested an engine jet on the ground of a carrier rocket for geo-stationary satellite, which the Seoul military saw as a long-range missile. Related: S.Korean president expresses worry about possible DPRK provocations SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday expressed worry about possible provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) amid signs that Pyongyang may have completed preparations for another nuclear test and ballistic missile launch. Park said during a meeting with senior presidential secretaries that the DPRK will no longer come to a dialogue table for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula to deepen nuclear and missile provocations further. Full story U.S. sends B-1B bombers to S. Korea in show of force against DPRK's nuke test SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military on Wednesday sent two strategic bombers to South Korea in a show of force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its latest nuclear test. ISLAMABAD, Sept 22 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif, confirmed the death sentence on Thursday to another seven "hardcore terrorists", who were involved in committing heinous offences related to terrorism. "They were also involved in sectarian killings. Some were involved in attacks on the Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies while fire-arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession. These convicts were tried by military courts," an army statement said. Some of the convicts were the active members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a statement from the army's Inter-Services Public Relations said. The convicts admitted their offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. The army courts were set up after the terrorist attack on an army school in December 2014 for the speedy trial of the terrorism-related accused. The convicts have the right to appeal to the president under the law. The president has previously rejected all mercy petitions in terrorism-related cases. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had advised the president to reject all mercy petitions of the militants as they have been responsible for the killing of the security personnel and civilians. VILNIUS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania's defense and agriculture ministers are to face interpellation procedure next week, revealed the speaker of the country's parliament on Thursday. On Thursday, the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament Loreta Grauziniene announced that the country's defense minister Juozas Olekas and agriculture minister Virginija Baltraitiene must reply to interpellation questions by next Tuesday and then face a voting at the Seimas, the country's parliament. If the ministers' answers are dismissed by the parliament, they will face a vote of confidence, according to Grauziniene. Interpellations against Olekas and Baltraitiene poses a threat of "political chaos", thinks the speaker of the Seimas. Olekas and Baltraitiene losing the vote of confidence would mean that the current social democrats led government would have more than half of its ministers replaced during the term. "Then the prime minister and the government would have to receive their mandates anew," Grauziniene told a press conference. The possible vote of confidence would take place just before the country's parliamentary elections to be held on Oct. 9. "A political chaos could emerge before the elections," noted Grauziniene. Interpellations against the ministers have been initiated by the parliament's biggest opposition group Homeland union -- Lithuanian Christian democrats. MPs question Olekas' responsibility over the control of defense spending. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Lithuanian army had bought kitchen utensils for around eight times the market prices in 2014. Following the scandal, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite required Olekas to take personal responsibility. Meanwhile, Baltraitiene faces questions about corruption scandals at the ministry's controlled authorities and her personal responsibility. The most recent scandal involved the country's chief veterinary officer and a suspected abuse of office and forgery of documents to hide information about human health-threatening bacteria found in frozen dumplings. Baltraitiene is also questioned over the scandal of the ministry's overpriced procurements of food. KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghan government and the radical Islamic party the Hizb-e-Islami led by Gulbudin Hekmatyar finally inked a draft peace agreement after lengthy talks here on Thursday vowing to cement peace process and national reconciliation in the insurgency-ridden country. A former prime minister and dissident warlord Hekmatyar, according to Afghans, had played a significant role in the bloody factional fighting erupted after the fall of the then Najibullah's government in 1991 until Kabul was captured by Taliban group in 1996. Some Kabul residents have been accusing Hekmatyar of involvement in fueling factional fighting and firing thousands of rockets into Kabul and killing countless people including civilians. The peace deal with Hekmatyar, has granted him judicial impunity, a privilege opposed by many Afghans. "The rockets fired by Hekmatyar's men during factional fighting in Kabul had claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent citizens therefore he should be tried," a Kabul resident Ahmad Farid told Xinhua. Farid, who had experienced the factional fighting in 1990s, asserted that Hekmatyar's war mongering policies have badly damaged the country, besides inflicting loss of lives and properties to the people. On the other hand, another Kabul resident, Abdul Shah has backed inking peace deal with Hekmatyar-led party, saying that peace with Hekmatyar's group could encourage other armed oppositions to follow the step. The Hekmatyar-led party Hizb-e-Islami, the third largest militant group, has been opposing the U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and Hekmatyar himself was designated by the U.S. as a "global terrorist" in 2003 and his name had been blacklisted by UN. However, the peace deal inked here in Kabul on Thursday has obliged Afghan government to work to delist Hekmatyar's name from the UN's list terrorist outfits. In his address after inking the peace deal with government side, the Hekmatyar's representative Amin Karim noted that the Hizb-e-Islami would continue its struggle until the expulsion of all foreign forces from Afghanistan. Speaking on the occasion, Afghan presidential advisor on National Security, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, while stressing for the early implementation of the peace agreement, categorically stated that the peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami is based on the country's constitution and the party has committed to working for peace, stability and reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. More than 100 Kabul residents also staged a peaceful demonstration here in Kabul protesting Hekmatyar's involvement in committing crimes and registered their opposition to peace deal with the Hekmatyar-led party. "I think it's a big step towards peace and Hekmatyar like other Afghans has the right to come to his homeland and serve his country and people," a vegetable seller Hajji Muslim told Xinhua. A view at the thermo power plant Stanari, in Stanari, 180 km North-west from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sept.20,2016.(Xinhua/Haris Memija) SARAJEVO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Given the strong complementarities of the industries between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the two countries' cooperation enjoys broad prospects, Chinese Ambassador to BiH Chen Bo said here on Wednesday. During an interview with Xinhua and Fena, the Federal News Agency of BiH, Chen said the Chinese businesses are known for their strengths and expertise in energy and transport infrastructure development, fields that the BiH have huge demands. A ceremony was held on Tuesday to officially mark the launch of the Chinese-built Stanari power plant in BiH. The power plant, located in the northern BiH town of Stanari, was built by China's Dongfang Electric Corporation and financed with the help of a 350-million-euro (390.54 million U.S. dollars) loan from China Development Bank. (L-R) Deputy Head of Mission of Great Britain to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Matthew Lawson, Chairman of "Dongfang Electric Corporation" Zou Lei, ambassador of People's Republic of China to BiH Chen Bo, President of Republika Srpska of BiH Milorad Dodik and Chairman of "EFT" Vuk Hamovic walk inside the thermo power plant Stanari, in Stanari, 180 km North-west from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sept.20,2016.(Xinhua/Haris Memija) Chen stressed that the plant is the first major joint infrastructure project between China and BiH, but definitely will not be the last one. She added that the power plant is the first project to utilize the 10-billion-U.S. dollar Special Credit Line under the frameworks of the 16+1 mechanism, which refers to a cooperative platform between China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries. Its successful story represents a concrete result in the 16+1 format. Stanari is not just a bilateral project between China and BiH, but also plays an exemplary role in the 16+1 cooperation. Chen emphasized that 16+1 cooperation covers a wide range of areas, such as economic cooperation and trade, financial services, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, science and technology, health and local cooperation. She said she is confident that 16+1 cooperation will offer more opportunities for BiH on its path to development and prosperity, especially in areas such as energy and transport infrastructure, investment, tourism, culture and education. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 160 Chinese police have passed a UN selection and assessment process with good grades, and now expect to become part of the UN rapid deployment force, said the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday. They will be the first to join the force if they pass another assessment on equipment in October. From Sept. 19 to Sept. 21 at the China Peacekeeping Police Training Center, UN officials tested the 160 on their language abilities, driving skills and use of weapons. They carried out interviews and assessed test scores on strategic subjects. The police are an elite selected from border forces with outstanding expertise. More than 50 of them have previous peacekeeping experience in Haiti, South Sudan or Liberia. Before the UN test, the 160 officers received three months of intensive training, the first such course undertaken by the ministry. GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Energy Authority in Gaza said on Thursday that the only power plant in the strip will be shut down temporarily due to fuel shortage. "The power plant will be shut down temporarily as there is no fuel to operate it these days," the authority said in a statement on its website. The decision was made following an interruption at the Karm Abu Salem commercial crossing, one of two operating Israeli crossings out of the blockaded coastal enclave through which Gaza's goods are transported, including fuel, the statement said. Gazans require 480 to 500 megawatts of power daily, but can get only 210 megawatts, which include 120 megawatts exported by Israel and 30 megawatts from Egypt, while the rest is generated by the plant. Under "normal" circumstances, Gazans would get eight hours of power supply followed by eight hours of power outage. When fuel is in shorter supply, people in Gaza have to endure 12-hour power outages before the six hours of power supply. On Wednesday, the Palestinian National Authority said that the commercial Karm Abu Salem crossing was closed by Israeli authorities due to a mugging attack and sabotage by unknown assailants. On Thursday morning, the crossing was reopened. The Gaza Strip, with a population of more than 1.8 million, has been under Israeli blockade since 2007, when the Islamic Hamas movement took control of the enclave. RABAT, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 40th Meeting of the Council of Arab Central Bank Governors and of Arab Monetary Agencies kicked off Thursday in Rabat. The meeting, organized by Bank Al-Maghrib, Morocco's central bank, and the Arab Monetary Fund, will examine regional and international economic developments in the presence of officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a message to the participants, Moroccan King Mohammed VI said the 2008 financial crisis was much worse and long-lasting than previously expected, adding that its impact was not confined to the financial sector, but has also spread to the economy. Almost a decade later, and despite significant reforms undertaken by the international community in response to the crisis, growth in several developed countries remains sluggish. Unemployment rates, especially among the youth, remain high, public debt is a concern and banking systems are fragile, the King said. He insisted that during the same decade, central banks managed to mitigate the crisis and its consequences to a certain extent, adding that excessive use of unconventional solutions presented markets with new risks and caused general financial instability. In the Arab world, in addition to the global financial crisis, the last decade was defined by deteriorating security due to widespread global terrorism which destroyed institutions, ruined the economy and threatens citizens' safety in certain countries, he said. BANGKOK, Sept.22 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok has edged out London as the world's most visited city, according to the 2016 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index released on Thursday. The Thai capital is projected to welcome 21.47 million international visitors in 2016, just ahead of second-ranked London with a forecast of 19.88 million overnight visitors, according to an annual ranking of the listing of 132 cities by global payments and technology company MasterCard. "Asia Pacific has been the fastest growing region for international tourism since 2005, with underlying growth momentum expected to continue especially with the burgeoning middle class in Southeast Asia, China and India seeking new travel experiences within the region," Eric Schneider, MasterCard Advisors' senior vice president for Asia Pacific said. The index showed that Asia Pacific dominates five cities of the global top 10 and seven of the top 10 fastest growing destinations. The index also revealed that, among the top 20 cities, more people travel internationally for leisure than business. This is most common in Bangkok where 85.6 percent of visitors travel with purposes for leisure while Shanghai is the only top 20 city where the majority of visitors are business travellers. Thailand expects to receive a record 33 million visitors this year, thanks to a jump in the number of Chinese tourists, who are believed to number over 10 million in 2016. Thailand's tourism has been considered as the only engine driving the economy of the country facing headwinds from public spending, domestic consumption and exports. Despite of a spate with bomb blasts in southern provinces in August and crackdowns on zero-dollar tour operation, the number of arrivals to the country is still growing. BEIRUT, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese army intelligence on Thursday arrested Imad Yassine, known as the emir of the Islamic State (IS), in a Palestinian refugee camp, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to the report, Yassine, who was arrested in the Ain el-Hilweh camp, received orders from IS foreign operations chief Abu Khaled al-Iraqi to stage major Iraq-style bombings throughout Lebanon. Traditionally, the army does not enter the 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, leaving Palestinian factions in charge of security. That, however, resulted in lawlessness in many camps, and Ain el-Hilweh, home to over 54,000 registered Palestinian refugees, gained notoriety as a refuge camp for extremists and fugitives. More than 450,000 Palestinians are registered in Lebanon with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. VIENNA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Norbert Hofer, the third president of the National Council of Austria, seeks closer ties and more intensive cooperation with China, he said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Relations between China and Austria are amicable and important, but there is still potential to further deepen diplomatic ties, said Hofer, who will take part in the presidential runoff on Dec. 4. "My goal is that if I win this election, I will officially visit China," Hofer, presidential candidate of the Freedom Party, told Xinhua. The Austrian politician believes that China and Austria could benefit a lot from each other in terms of economy and culture, adding that his country should make more efforts to further develop relations with China. China is Austria's largest trading partner in Asia with some 11.2 billion euros (12.49 billion U.S. dollars) trade volume in 2015, according to Austrian statistics. Hofer said China and Austria could cooperate in different fields, including renewable energy, mechanical engineering and wine trading. "I have found that there are more and more wine lovers in China, which is obviously of interest to us because in Austria there are a lot of high quality wines. We see this as a big chance to introduce our good wines there," he said. Cultural exchange between the two countries has been promoted, Chinese tourists are coming to Austria for architecture and music, while Austrian travelers are also visiting China to learn more about the history, culture and the development of the country, Hofer added. He said these exchanges between the two states, not only in tourism but also investment, would benefit both sides. Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Isaac Herzog, chairman of Israel's opposition Labor Party, in Jerusalem, Sept. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) JERUSALEM, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Israeli leaders have pledged to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields such as innovation, environmental protection, agriculture and biology as well as in the implementation of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The consensus was made during meetings between Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset (parliament) Speaker Yuli Edelstein earlier this week. Zhang, who met with Netanyahu shortly after his arrival in the region Monday on a four-day official goodwill visit to Israel and Palestine, told the Israeli leader that there are great potential and a broad vista for China and Israel to enhance their cooperation. It is important to implement key consensus reached between leaders of the two countries and contribute to the achievement of further positive results from bilateral cooperation in various fields, Zhang stressed, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping has brought countries in the Middle East more opportunities to promote their development. The initiative refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia wiht Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes. China stands ready to work with Israel to bring into full play the role of the committees on bilateral cooperation in economy and technology as well as in innovation, to strengthen their close cooperation in science and technology innovation and talent development, and to push for early progress in their free trade talks in order to create a better environment for the development of bilateral ties, he said. China has been committed to contributing to a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue and supports all efforts facilitating the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks and the achievement of peaceful co-existence of the two countries, Zhang said. Netanyahu agreed with Zhang's pragmatic proposals, saying that Israel regards China as a priority cooperation partner. The advantages of the two countries' economic development are mutually complementary and there are broad areas for them to conduct cooperation, he said, expressing the hope that both sides will expand cooperation in such fields as innovation, environmental protection, agriculture and biology. Israel is willing to participate in Belt and Road Initiative and the activities of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he added. While meeting with President Rivlin Tuesday, Zhang said that Chinese-Israeli relations have enjoyed sound and stable development since the two countries established diplomatic relations, particularly in recent years, bringing about tangible benefits for both countries and their peoples. Noting that China and Israel will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year, Zhang hoped that both countries will take the opportunity to lift bilateral relations to a new height. Rivlin said Israel has been grateful to the Chinee people for their help to the Jewish people during the Second World War and is willing to seize cooperation opportunities and deepen bilateral relations. During his meeting with Knesset Speaker Edelstein on Tuesday, Zhang said that the exchanges of the Chinese and Israeli legislatures are a key component of bilateral relations. The two sides should maintain friendly cooperation at all levels, enhance the sharing of experience regarding legislative contributions to national development, and keep optimizing the legislative environment to facilitate cooperation between enterprises of the two countries and their people-to-people exchanges, Zhang said. Edelstein said that there is a broad consensus in the Knesset on the development of ties with China and that the Israeli parliament is ready to deepen its exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese National People's Congress, and play an active role in consolidating friendship, promoting development, improving the people's livelihood and protecting the environment. Before their meeting, Zhang and Edelstein signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a mechanism for regular exchanges between the Chinese National People's Congress and the Knesset. Zhang also held talks with Isaac Herzog, chairman of Israel's opposition Labor Party. During the meeting, Zhang said that contacts between political parties are important for promoting relations between countries. The Communist Party of China is willing to conduct exchanges with all Israeli parties including the Labor to push forward the development of Chinese-Israeli relations in an all-round way, he said. Herzog said his party attaches importance to and looks forward to the strengthening of dialogue and exchanges with China and learn from each other's useful experience. During his stay in Israel, Zhang paid a visit to Israel's Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, and laid a wreath there to honor millions of Jews perished during the Second World War. He also visited the Weizmann Institute of Science in central Israel and met with Israeli scientists on science and technology innovation and the commercialization of technology innovations. After winding up his visit to Israel and Palestine, Zhang traveled on to Finland to continue his current four-nation tour, which also includes France. ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A commander of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch was killed Thursday in a U.S. drone strike in the country's central province of al-Baydha, a security official told Xinhua. The U.S. drone attack killed Abdullah Sanaani and his bodyguard, who were travelling in a vehicle in al-Sawmah, a town in al-Baydha province, the source said on condition of anonymity. Sanaani participated in several terror attacks in Yemen, the official said. Local residents near the scene confirmed to Xinhua saying that the strike was conducted by a drone, which had hovered over the area for several hours. Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East. The AQAP, also known locally as Ansar al-Sharia, emerged in January 2009. It has claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks on Yemen's army and government institutions. U.S. drones have been active over skies of Yemeni cities since years ago, conducting hundreds of strikes that killed scores of al-Qaida leaders and many other extremists. There have been accusations that many innocent civilians were also killed in the U.S. drone attacks. Yemen has recently seen a rise in al-Qaida activities in the eastern and southern provinces, due to a chronic security vacuum resulting from the 19-month civil war between the exiled government and Houthi rebels who seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. An Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in March 2015 to help restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, who was forced into exile. According to the United Nations, airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition and fighting on the ground have left more than 6,400 people dead and many more displaced, throwing the country into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr arrived in the country's temporary capital Aden on Thursday after months of exile in Saudi Arabia, a government official told Xinhua. It is a permanent return to the homeland, the official said on condition of anonymity. Most of Bin Daghr's cabinet members also came back to Aden, with the goal of strengthening the government-controlled provinces in closer cooperation with local authorities. A source close to Aden's governor confirmed that the government decided to return to Aden since the security situation in the port city has become more stable. Newly trained security forces launched several attacks against the Islamic State (IS) militants inside and around Aden over the past months, he said. Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi issued a decree on Sunday to sack the board of the central bank and move it from the Houthi-controlled Sanaa to Aden. Local sources said the decree came after intensive consultations between the Yemeni government and the Gulf Cooperation Coucil countries. The economic and political situation in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, and the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Houthis and Saleh's forces hold most of Yemen's northern regions while government forces backed by Saudi-led military coalition share control of the rest of the country including seven southern provinces. The civil war, ground battles and airstrikes have already killed more than 6,400 people, half of them civilians, injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over two millions, according to humanitarian agencies. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari exchanged views on the fighting against the extremist group Boko Haram in the West African country, a UN spokesman told reporters here Thursday. The meeting took place late Wednesay on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened here Tuesday and runs through Sept. 26, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said here. "The two leaders discussed efforts by Nigeria and the Multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram in the northeast of the country," Dujarric said. Boko Haram has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths in Nigeria since 2009. "The secretary-general reiterated the UN's continued support for those efforts and underscored the need to ensure full respect of human rights, international humanitarian and refugee law in all operations," he said. During the meeting, the secretary-general commended the president's efforts against corruption and insecurity and to promote economic development, said the spokesman. "The secretary-general thanked President Buhari for Nigeria's invaluable contribution to international peace and security, including political mediation in the region," he added. ASTANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Nine terrorist attacks have been prevented in Kazakhstan since the beginning of this year, Deputy Chairman of the National Security Committee Nurgali Bilisbekov said Thursday. Since 2011, 64 extremist actions were prevented at the early stages of preparation, Bilisbekov said during a meeting in Astana. Mostly the attacks were planned to happen in crowded places, he said. Some 45 Kazakhstan citizens have been involved in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, Bilisbekov said. During the last five years, more than 400 people in the country have been convicted of committing crimes linked to terrorism, Bilisbekov said. Capitol NashvilleLuke Bryan releases his first-ever Farm Tour EP this Friday, and hes been giving fans on his Kill the Lights tour a preview. But he admits the first time he ever played the track Southern Gentleman, he hadnt exactly planned it. What was funny was I totally did that performance off the cuff, so I'm glad it turned out that good... 'cause most of the time when I go off the cuff like that, I screw 'em up, you know. So I didn't mess that one up, he laughs. So, what exactly is the CMA Entertainer of the Years definition of a Southern Gentleman? I mean, there's a lot of parameters of that, I think. It's just, I think, holding women in the utmost highest respect and being polite and just being a classy person is certainly a definition of a southern gentleman, and conducting yourself with manners and etiquette, and being a good person, Luke says. The five-song Farm Tour Heres to the Farmer EP comes out Friday, before Luke kicks off his 8th annual Farm Tour October 5 in Gaston, South Carolina. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A general view shows destroyed buildings in the government-held Jouret al-Shiah neighbourhood of the central Syrian city of Homs on September 19, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua) MOSCOW. Sept. 22 (Xinhua)-- The United States has not fulfilled its obligations under a ceasefire deal in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday. "We are concerned about the way the agreement is being sabotaged by a number of structures and of course, the anti-government forces in Syria and their foreign supporters," he told local media. "The U.S. side cannot guarantee the fulfillment of a whole number of elements of this agreement, which we saw in the past few days," he said, adding that Washington "did not separate moderate Syrian rebel forces from terrorists." The recent air strike by the U.S.-led coalition on the Syrian military "is a very dramatic development regarding the agreement that we are talking about. It's a direct strike on its foundation," he said. Meanwhile, Ryabkov said that the U.S. proposal to ban any aircraft operations in a number of Syrian regions will not work. "I do not think this plan will work, at least until the United States and other sides engaged in this process make sure that the relevant actors, which see war as the only way to resolve the problem, stop using force," Ryabkov said. The Syrian military announced Monday the end of a seven-day truce brokered by the United States and Russia, without talk of a possible extension, according to SANA. The Kremlin said Tuesday that the hope for restoring the ceasefire in Syria was weak following U.S.-led coalition attacks against the Syrian army and the bombing of a humanitarian convoy. Liu Fang, secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) addresses the UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2016. The UN Security Council on Thursday called on all countries to honor their responsibility "to protect the security of citizens and nationals of all nations against terrorist attacks on air services operating within their territory." A new resolution, unanimously adopted by the 15-nation UN body, expressed grave concern over terrorist attacks against civil aviation and strongly condemned such attacks. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday called on all countries to honor their responsibility "to protect the security of citizens and nationals of all nations against terrorist attacks on air services operating within their territory." A new resolution, unanimously adopted by the 15-nation UN body, expressed grave concern over terrorist attacks against civil aviation and strongly condemned such attacks. The Security Council expressed concern that "terrorist groups continue to view civil aviation as an attractive target, with the aim of causing substantial loss of life, economic damage and disruption to connectivity between States," the resolution said. "The risk of terrorist attacks against civil aviation may affect all regions and member states," it said. At least 34 people were killed in explosions at a Brussels airport and on a city subway train in March. The resolution reaffirms that "terrorist attack against civil aviation, like any act of international terrorism, constitute a threat to international peace and security," and "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed." "The global nature of aviation means that States are depending on the effectiveness of each other's aviation security systems for the protection of their citizens and nationals and relevant aspect of their national security," the resolution said. The Security Council called on all states to ensure that effective, risk-based measures are in place at the airports within their jurisdiction, including through enhancing screening, security checks, the resolution said. Meanwhile, the Security Council also recognized the vital importance of the global aviation system to economic development and prosperity, and of all states strengthening aviation security measures to secure a stable and peaceful global environment, said the resolution. The resolution also called on all states to work within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to "ensure that its international security standards are reviewed and adapted to strengthen and promote the effective application of ICAO standards and (relevant) recommended practices," the resolution said. The resolution was adopted at the open meeting of the Security Council on the threat to civil aviation, which heard a briefing by Liu Fang, secretary general of ICAO. ICAO has been contributing to the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy since 2006, as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions, Liu said. "ICAO is one of the 38 entities of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) which is mandated to strengthen the coordination and coherence of counter-terrorism efforts in the United Nations system," she said. "The primary objective of aviation security assistance is to support member states in resolving significant security concerns identified through the ICAO Aviation Security Audit Programme, and to assist them in implementing security standards and the ICAO Traveller Identification Programme Strategy," she said. ICAO was set up in 1944 upon the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in the U.S. city of Chicago. The agency work with 191 member states and industrial partners to adopt international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible aviation sector, she added. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Following are quotable quotes from speakers at the General Debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22: "The universal, comprehensive and indivisible 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a common reference point for all of us and our guiding tool to tackle effectively the universal challenges that transcend boundaries and threaten regional and international cohesion." -- Nicos Anastasiades, the president of Cyprus. "Security has become a global problem at a time when major powers are mainly focusing on advancing different methods of repression and military intervention under the pretext of creating a secure environment for their citizens. The genesis of borderless violent extremism and terrorism could be attributed to the security strategies developed by major powers in the past 15 years. The main lesson to learn from the analysis of this trend is that security in one region at the cost of insecurity in others would only be impossible but it could also lead to more insecurity everywhere." -- Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran. "Yet, the agreed actions were only partially implemented. We deplored the situation at that time, right here: we failed to honor all our commitments, especially financial. We did not fulfil all the hopes and aspirations of our peoples." -- Paul Biya, the president of Cameroon. "Yes, Africa's position is about righting historic wrongs. Yes, Africa's position is about enhancing African voices at the United Nations. But more than everything, Africa's position is our contribution to making the United Nations more effective, more democratic and more forward-looking." -- Ernest Bai Koroma, the president of Sierra Leone. "Climate change is a global challenge that requires universal transformation. We simply cannot afford to continue with business as usual. The future of the most vulnerable, like my people and my country, are at stake. We need a major change of global mindset, a major change in global development pathways, and a major change in ways we do business." -- Taneti Maamau, the president of Kiribati. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter(L) testifies to Senate Armed Services Committee during the hearing on national security and military operations on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Sept. 22, 2016. Influential U.S. Republican Senator John McCain on Thursday lashed out at President Barack Obama for his Middle East policy, describing it as "unmitigated disaster" that created a vacuum filled by terror groups. McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the accusations in his opening remarks to the committee's hearing on national security and military operations, at which Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford testified. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan) WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Influential U.S. Republican Senator John McCain on Thursday lashed out at President Barack Obama for his Middle East policy, describing it as "unmitigated disaster" that created a vacuum filled by terror groups. McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the accusations in his opening remarks to the committee's hearing on national security and military operations, at which Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford testified. The veteran senator said his committee has held such hearings regularly, with special attention paid to the chaos engulfing the Middle East and the U.S. military campaign against the rising terror group Islamic State (IS). "It will be up to future historians to render a final judgment on this administration's stewardship of U.S. interests in the broader Middle East, but in the opinion of this one senator, it's been an unmitigated disaster," McCain said. He criticized Obama for seeking to pivot away from Middle East, one of the most strategically vital regions of the world, out of a misplaced hope that "the tide of war was receding," and the U.S. should focus on "nation-building at home." The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq created a vacuum that was filled by "all of the worst actors" in the region, including Sunni terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida and IS, Iran and its proxies, and Russia, the senator claimed. "Over the past eight years, this administration has overseen the collapse of regional order in the Middle East into a case of chaos where every country is a battlefield for regional conflict, a party to that conflict or both," he said. The IS and Al-Qaida terrorist networks have expanded their influence from West Africa to South Asia and everything in between, McCain added. He also criticized the Iranian nuclear deal that the Obama administration has touted as a diplomatic breakthrough in preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb. "The administration may have postponed Iran's nuclear programs, but this has come at the cost of unshackling Iranian power and ambition, both of which will grow in the coming years as billions of dollars in sanctions relief is transformed into advanced military capability and support for terrorism," he said, referring to the U.S. easing of sanctions on Iran as part of implementing the nuclear deal. McCain also pointed out that Russia has reclaimed a position of influence in the Middle East that is not enjoyed in four decades. But the senator did commend Obama for sending U.S. troops back to the region to fight IS militants. The military campaign is making progress though it is often "slow, reactive and excessively micromanaged by the White House," he said. On Syria, McCain strongly criticized the Obama administration for failing to produce "a plausible vision of an end-state" for the country, where a protracted civil war has left more than 400,000 dead and half the population displaced, and created the worst refugee crisis in the century. McCain attacked a recent truce deal reached in Syria brokered through the U.S.-Russian partnership, saying "it would be deeply problematic, even if it were implemented." This agreement would strengthen Syrian military position, "thereby undermining our own strategic objective of a political transition," he added. Lindsey Graham, another Republican hawk, also blasted the Obama administration for lacking a coherent strategy for ending the Syria conflict. He also described the U.S. failure to establish a no-fly zone in Syria as a mistake. In response to the criticism, Carter repeated three objectives of the U.S. military campaign in the region, namely destroying IS, combating IS metastases everywhere they emerge around the world, and helping protect homeland security. The U.S. military has taken many steps to continually accelerate its campaign and the results of its effort are showing, though "we have much more work to do," the Pentagon chief said. For his part, Dunford said he was encouraged by the progress being made in Iraq and Syria, and by the fact that the IS capabilities in Libya, West Africa and Afghanistan were degraded. The top U.S. military officer also made it clear that the U.S. military did not intend to share intelligence with Russia in fighting IS. At the same time, Dunford said he had "no doubt" that Russia is responsible for the airstrike on Monday that struck a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria, which killed 20 civilians. Dunford said two Russian aircraft and Syrian military planes were in the airspace over Orum al-Kubra in Aleppo province when the airstrike took place. But he added that he was not sure which aircraft launched the strike. Former French President Jacques Chirac speaks during the closing ceremony of the 22nd General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 12, 2010. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) PARIS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former French President Jacques Chirac is still in hospital in Paris after suffering a lung infection at the weekend, Frederic Salat-Baroux, his brother-in-law said, rejecting a rumor about his death. "There is nothing to add, President Chirac is being treated for a lung infection," Salat-Baroux, who was also Chirac's chief of staff at the Elysee, was quoted as saying by local media. "We ask during this period of hospitalization to respect his peace, that of his wife, his daughter and his grandson," he added. Salat-Baroux's remarks came after former French housing minister Christine Boutin made mention of the "Death of Chirac" on her Twitter account. Former First Lady Bernadette Chirac was also hospitalized on Wednesday "to rest and recuperate," according to Salat-Baroux. The 83-year-old ex-head of state was taken to the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris on Sunday. Former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, a close ally of Chirac, sent a Twitter message hoping he would be able "to defeat the illness and recover quickly." On his Twitter account, ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as interior minister in Chirac's government from 2005 to 2007, wrote, "I'm thinking, at the moment, of Chirac. I hope he recovers as soon as possible." Chirac was France's president between 1995 and 2007. Starting his career as a high-level civil servant, the center-right lawyer was prime minister under the Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. Prior to this, he was in charge of the interior ministry and agriculture portfolios during President Georges Pompidou's rule in the 1970s. WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The police in the U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina, said Thursday they would not release the video of a fatal shooting to the public, despite two days of violence in the city. Kerr Putney, chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, told a news conference in Charlotte that he has no intention of releasing the dashcam video of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man, by a police officer Tuesday afternoon. Putney said that it would be inappropriate to present footage of "a victim's worst day" for public consumption. But he said he was working to honor the Scott family's request to watch the video. This could help resolve the dispute between the police and Scott's family on whether Scott was armed with a gun when the shooting occurred. The police alleged that officer Brentley Vinson, also an African American, shot and killed Scott at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon while searching for someone with an outstanding warrant because Scott was holding a gun when he exited his car. But Scott's family rejected the claim, saying that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts told the media Thursday that there was no time frame for releasing the camera footage of the fatal shooting. Releasing the video "depends on the investigation and its progress, and it depends on the discretion of the (police) chief to some extent," she said. The killing of Scott has sparked two nights of violent protests in Charlotte since Tuesday, where rioters clashed with riot police, smashed windows, vandalized cars, and assaulted innocent people and journalists. So far 17 police officers and nine civilians have been wounded in the unrest, and 44 arrests have been made by the police. A state of emergency was declared in Charlotte Wednesday night by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who ordered the deployment of the state's National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist with local law enforcement forces to restore the order in the city. District Attorney Andrew Murray, the chief state prosecutor in Charlotte, said in a statement Thursday that he was asking for a state investigation into the shooting as requested by Scott's family. Reykia Scott, Scott's wife, released a statement Thursday, urging protesters to be peaceful. She said she understands people's frustrations, but hurting people or damaging property is not the answer. The latest riots and violence once again highlight the tense racial relations in the U.S. between the police and African Americans, who have long complained about racial discrimination and the racial profiling by police that often lead to the police killing of innocent black people. MOSCOW, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia is strongly against establishing a no-fly zone in Syria and calls for solutions that benefit all conflicting parties, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said here on Thursday. "There are proposals again, including at a very high level, of enforcing a no-fly zone over Syria to stabilize the situation. This solution is completely unacceptable to us," Ryabkov told local media. Meanwhile, Ryabkov called on all sides in Syrian conflict to stop breaching the peace plan brokered by the United States and Russia on Sept. 9. According to Ryabkov, the implementation of Syria ceasefire by all conflicting parties will top the discussion agenda at Syria Support Group meeting on Thursday. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on the international community to work harder to provide better opportunities for women and girls as gender equality remains the greatest human rights challenge of our time. "I look forward to a time when all societies everywhere can reap the benefits of gender equality," Ban said at the high-level panel on women's economic empowerment event at UN Headquarters in New York, co-organized by the panel's secretariat and UN Women. "As I said this week to the General Assembly -- and the world -- I am proud to call myself a feminist," he said, referring to his speech delivered at the opening of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. "I firmly believe in a '50-50 planet'," Ban said. "One way of achieving this goal is through women's economic empowerment," the secretary-general said. "This is a uniquely potent way for women to have greater choice and exert control over their own lives. At the same time, it will benefit their families, their communities and their countries' economies." The high-level panel is backed by the UN Women, the UN International Labour Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, with support for its work provided by the British Department for International Development. The UN chief said that he has "great faith" in the panel, and he also thanked the panel for its strong commitment and leadership. by Justice Lee Adoboe ACCRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its global partners are working to support Africa's Rice Initiative, seeking to bridge the gap in rice supply, Bukar Tijani, FAO Regional Representative for Africa, said here on Thursday. He noted that Africans' taste was shifting fast from traditional staples to rice, causing an increase in the import bill for the commodity. "The African Development Bank is putting import bills in excess of 35 billion dollars on a yearly basis," Tijani pointed out while opening a two-day Regional Technical Workshop for 10 counties benefiting from Venezuela's support for the Africa Rice Initiative. He said, in the face of global dwindling economies, there was the need to look inward to see how best African countries could save themselves and their partners the high import bills. Tijani stressed: "It is not just for the food security and the nutrition aspect but also for the businesses that it could bring and the savings that we could get if we put sustainable systems in Africa; savings in terms of our import bills." The Rice Initiative supported by Venezuela seeks to assist smallholder farmers increase their yield and make their finishing competitive enough for local consumers. National Coordinators from Benin, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda are attending the workshop. Out of the 47 countries under its purview in Sub-Saharan Africa, the FAO under the Coalition for Africa Rice Development (CARD) supports 23 countries, including Ghana in their rice development strategies. Peter Annadumba, Director for South-South Cooperation, said the FAO was also in a big partnership with China in helping African countries to increase rice production to ensure food security. "FAO also has a big partnership with China and currently under the Rice Initiative, China is supporting Madagascar in terms of rice production, they are going to be supporting Cape Verde also in rice production. "There are other Chinese programs that FAO is partnering with where we know that in Cameroon and in Tanzania, China has set up these agriculture demonstration centers for rice production where we are doing rice breeding over there. This is solely funded by China. As a result of these initiatives, rice production in the last two years has doubled," Annadumba added. Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Ramallah. Zhang made an official goodwill visit to Palestine on Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) RAMALLAH, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Palestinian leaders have expressed the willingness to further promote the traditional friendship, implementing the relevant initiatives Chinese President Xi Jinping raised earlier this year. The agreement was made in the meeting between Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Wednesday. During the meeting, the visiting top Chinese legislator said that in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a strong appeal in a speech on activating the peace process and promoting reconstruction at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Carrying forward the tradition, the historic ties between China and Palestine have entered a new stage with the concern of leaders from both sides, said Zhang, adding that the purpose of his visit also focuses on strengthening traditional friendship and promoting cooperation in the fields of investment, culture, education and talent training. Calling Palestine a good brother and friend, Zhang said China-Palestine relationship has set a good model for Sino- Arab relations and South-South cooperation. He reiterated that China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their national rights and backs Palestine to join more international organizations. Furthermore, China thanks Palestine's open stance backing China on South China Sea, said Zhang. Regarding the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Zhang said the international community is responsible to support Palestinian people restoring their legitimate national rights. He stressed that China has been always and will keep its objective and fair stance towards the Palestinian issue, firmly support the peace process and continue to play an active role in regional issues. Expressing appreciation of China's long-time support, Hamdallah agreed with President Xi that the Palestinian question should not be marginalized or forgotten. He hoped China will make a bigger role in the Palestinian-Israeli issue, helping further promote the Palestinian issue in the international arena. Hamdallah said that China has provided help to Palestine in many areas without political conditions, bringing concrete benefits to the Palestinian people. He believed China's successful experiences are valuable for the Palestinians. Palestine wants to actively participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative, hoping more favorable policies of China will benefit the Middle East. During his visit, Zhang also laid a wreath to the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. After winding up his visit to Israel and Palestine, Zhang traveled on to Finland to continue his current four-nation tour, which also includes France. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Thursday underlined the importance of effective international cooperation for the efforts to deal with poverty, conflicts, climate change, migration and terrorism. The statement came as the prime minister was taking the floor at the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, a week-long event which opened here Tuesday. "The response should not be to isolate ourselves, but to cooperate and find solutions," she said, adding that Norway will continue to provide assistance to the countries where conflicts are going and the people in need of humanitarian assistance. In today's interconnected world, instability in the Middle East and North Africa is causing widespread human suffering and also leading to violent extremism in Europe, she noted. The humanitarian situation in Syria "simply cannot be tolerated," she said, calling on global and regional powers to act to secure an enduring ceasefire and ensure that humanitarians have urgent access. Meanwhile, the prime minister also called for strengthening the capability of the UN to help countries emerging from conflict, and said the international community has a clear responsibility to fight terrorism and prevent violent extremism. "In order to do so, we need to work closely with civil society, women, young people, faith leaders, and with local communities," she said. DAMASCUS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army announced Thursday new military operations on rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, a few days after a U.S.-Russia brokered truce expired, according to the state news agency SANA. The new military offensive will target the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo city, said the statement, urging the civilians to stay away from the positions of the rebel groups. It added that the authorities in Aleppo have taken all measures to facilitate the accommodation of the civilians who are leaving the rebel-held areas. The military offer also includes the rebels who want to abandon the insurgency. Earlier this week, tens of civilians left rebel-held areas upon the renewed calls of the Syrian authorities for people to abandon rebel-controlled areas in eastern Aleppo. A source told Xinhua that the political intelligence branch in Aleppo offered invitations to the civilians in eastern Aleppo to come to the government areas. "You have 48 hours only, that's the time-frame the leadership has set," one of the messages said. Battles in Aleppo, Syria's largest province, have raged over the past few months between the Syrian army and an array of rebel groups. When the U.S.-Russia brokered truce went into effect in Syria on Sept. 12, calm prevailed Aleppo and other Syrian cities, but the violence renewed after the truce expired this Monday. The Syrian army announced on Monday the end of the week-long ceasefire, without extending it, as part of the Syrian government dismay with the U.S.-led attack against Syrian military positions in Deir al-Zour earlier this week, which killed 90 Syrian soldiers, and the violations the rebels were said to have committed during the truce time. Aleppo, located near the borders with Turkey, is Syria's largest city and once an economic hub. It has been a focal point of clashes between the Syrian army and the rebels. The rebels laid siege to western Aleppo districts after cutting the international road to Aleppo in 2014, a siege broken later by the Syrian army with the help of Hezbollah. File photo taken on Nov. 1, 2015 shows the crash site of a Russian passenger plane at the Hassana area, north Egypt. Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Nov. 17 announced that the Oct. 31 plane crash in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula was the result of terrorist attack. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday called on all countries to honor their responsibility "to protect the security of citizens and nationals of all nations against terrorist attacks on air services operating within their territory." A new resolution, unanimously adopted by the 15-nation UN body, expressed grave concern over terrorist attacks against civil aviation and strongly condemned such attacks. The Security Council expressed concern that "terrorist groups continue to view civil aviation as an attractive target, with the aim of causing substantial loss of life, economic damage and disruption to connectivity between States," the resolution said. "The risk of terrorist attacks against civil aviation may affect all regions and member states," it said. At least 34 people were killed in explosions at a Brussels airport and on a city subway train in March. The resolution reaffirms that "terrorist attack against civil aviation, like any act of international terrorism, constitute a threat to international peace and security," and "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed." "The global nature of aviation means that States are depending on the effectiveness of each other's aviation security systems for the protection of their citizens and nationals and relevant aspect of their national security," the resolution said. The Security Council called on all states to ensure that effective, risk-based measures are in place at the airports within their jurisdiction, including through enhancing screening, security checks, the resolution said. Meanwhile, the Security Council also recognized the vital importance of the global aviation system to economic development and prosperity, and of all states strengthening aviation security measures to secure a stable and peaceful global environment, said the resolution. The resolution also called on all states to work within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to "ensure that its international security standards are reviewed and adapted to strengthen and promote the effective application of ICAO standards and (relevant) recommended practices," the resolution said. The resolution was adopted at the open meeting of the Security Council on the threat to civil aviation, which heard a briefing by Liu Fang, secretary general of ICAO. ICAO has been contributing to the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy since 2006, as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions, Liu said. "ICAO is one of the 38 entities of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) which is mandated to strengthen the coordination and coherence of counter-terrorism efforts in the United Nations system," she said. "The primary objective of aviation security assistance is to support member states in resolving significant security concerns identified through the ICAO Aviation Security Audit Programme, and to assist them in implementing security standards and the ICAO Traveller Identification Programme Strategy," she said. ICAO was set up in 1944 upon the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in the U.S. city of Chicago. The agency work with 191 member states and industrial partners to adopt international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible aviation sector, she added. Protesters hold signs during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 21, 2016, following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott the previous day. A protester shot during a second night of unrest in Charlotte, North Carolina was critically wounded, the city said, after earlier reporting that the person had died. (AFP PHOTO/NICHOLAS KAMM) WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The police in the U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina, said Thursday they would not release the video of a fatal shooting to the public, despite two days of violence in the city. Kerr Putney, chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, told a news conference in Charlotte that he has no intention of releasing the dashcam video of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man, by a police officer Tuesday afternoon. Putney said that it would be inappropriate to present footage of "a victim's worst day" for public consumption. But he said he was working to honor the Scott family's request to watch the video. This could help resolve the dispute between the police and Scott's family on whether Scott was armed with a gun when the shooting occurred. The police alleged that officer Brentley Vinson, also an African American, shot and killed Scott at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon while searching for someone with an outstanding warrant because Scott was holding a gun when he exited his car. But Scott's family rejected the claim, saying that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts told the media Thursday that there was no time frame for releasing the camera footage of the fatal shooting. Releasing the video "depends on the investigation and its progress, and it depends on the discretion of the (police) chief to some extent," she said. The killing of Scott has sparked two nights of violent protests in Charlotte since Tuesday, where rioters clashed with riot police, smashed windows, vandalized cars, and assaulted innocent people and journalists. So far 17 police officers and nine civilians have been wounded in the unrest, and 44 arrests have been made by the police. A state of emergency was declared in Charlotte Wednesday night by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who ordered the deployment of the state's National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist with local law enforcement forces to restore the order in the city. District Attorney Andrew Murray, the chief state prosecutor in Charlotte, said in a statement Thursday that he was asking for a state investigation into the shooting as requested by Scott's family. Reykia Scott, Scott's wife, released a statement Thursday, urging protesters to be peaceful. She said she understands people's frustrations, but hurting people or damaging property is not the answer. The latest riots and violence once again highlight the tense racial relations in the U.S. between the police and African Americans, who have long complained about racial discrimination and the racial profiling by police that often lead to the police killing of innocent black people. NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese PremierLi Keqiangon Tuesday evening attended a welcoming dinner party organized by American economic and business groups. In his speech, Li reviewed how China-U.S. relations and practical cooperation has grown from scratch to its present stage, saying that China, the world's largest developing country, still has a long way to go before it achieves modernization. The steady growth of the Chinese economy not only generates more jobs for China, but also offers a boost to the U.S. economy, he said. "The two economies are highly interdependent." The welcoming party was organized by the Economic Club of New York, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and the U.S.-China Business Council. Li said that China will stay committed to reform and opening up and continue to follow a path of peaceful development. China stands ready to work with theUnited Statesin a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation to expand their common interests, jointly uphold the international order established since the end of the Second World War, and promote strong, sustainable and inclusive global economic growth, the premier said. Below is a transcript from the question and answer period following the premier's speech. William Berkley, founder of W.R. Berkley Corporation and Board of Trustees Chair at New York University: Premier, as Chinese companies seek to do business and make investment around the world, it's important that its market becomes open to investors around the world. How do you see that evolving, and how do you see the market of China becoming more open? Premier Li: In the early days of China's opening-up, we put most of the emphasis on "bringing in" foreign investment. But today, in this age of globalization, China needs to work with multinationals, and Chinese companies are making investment overseas. So now, we are paying equal attention to "bringing in" and "going global." For a developing country like China, it is still important to attract massive foreign investment, which helps boost the Chinese economy. As you may know, total paid-in foreign investment made in China has reached 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars. For 24 years in a row, China has been the largest recipient of FDI among developing countries. And going forward, we hope that China will remain an attractive destination for foreign investment. We need foreign investment for economic growth. And more importantly, we need new managerial expertise and advanced technologies that foreign investment brings to China. But let me make one thing clear. We place no preconditions on technological cooperation, and we don't have a mandatory requirement for technology transfer. At the same time, I have heard business leaders of foreign invested companies complaining about restrictions in accessing certain sectors of the Chinese market. To them I want to say this. It has not been that long since China launched its reform and opening-up program. Many sectors are still in a maturing process, which is also a process of further opening up. The areas of the Chinese economy open to foreign investment will only increase. China will open its door wider, and this door will never close. For those of you who have the capital and intention to invest in China, you are more than welcome to do so. Specific projects can be discussed later. (Laughter) Thomas W. Farley, chief operating officer of New York Stock Exchange Group: Premier Li, thank you so much for being here and thank you for having us in your hotel. It truly is an honor and thank you very much. The U.S. and China need each other more than ever, and are the two strongest economies. You've spoken in your speech about mutual respect, and there is no doubt about mutual respect. At the same time, we have noticed the problem of mistrust between the two countries. In the U.S., there are negative articles in the press about currency rate setting or the respect for intellectual property in China. And the Chinese press also finds negative things about the U.S. My question truly is what can we do about this mistrust and how can we reduce the level of mistrust and increase the level of cooperation? Premier Li: It's true that there are misconceptions and differences between our two countries. But I believe the level of mutual understanding between our two countries far outweighs that of misconception and differences. It is natural to have differences on specific matters, and they need to be properly viewed and handled. Just now you said "coming to my hotel." But I want to make a correction here for the record. That is, as far as I know, a Chinese private company has acquired stakes in the hotel, but the hotel is still under long-standing management of American businessmen. (Applause) So I'm still staying at a hotel run by Americans. (Laughter and applause) Talking about media coverage of each other's countries, I think we need to take a look at the whole picture. If you read news from certain media, I will not name them to avoid advertising it, perhaps you will find some reports on the other country. Sometimes truthful and objective coverage may not get people's eyes. But nitpicking does. Certainly if it is a well-intentioned report, even if it is critical, I believe it is welcomed, because it helps both sides to improve what we have been doing. As for the question of the RMB exchange rate, it will take quite some time to dig into the details. In a word, there is not a basis for continuous devaluation of the Chinese currency, and China has no intention to use the devaluation of the currency to boost exports, because that is not good for China's economic upgrading. As for how to boost mutual trust and narrow misconceptions, I think the key lies in closer mutual exchanges. As far as I know, last year, Chinese tourists made over 2.6 million visits to the United States, and now there are some 600,000 Chinese students in the U.S. But I also know that many Americans have not been to China yet. So the key to removing misconceptions and increasing mutual trust lies in strengthening people-to-people exchanges and promoting candid discussions among them. Susie Gharib, senior journalist with Fortune Magazine: Premier Li, thank you very much for your very refreshing speech and your encouraging words. Many American business leaders tell me that they are very worried about the current backlash to globalization and global trade that's building here in the U.S. And I am sure you've heard that the candidates who are running for president here in the States have very harsh words about the loss of American jobs and unfair global trade agreements. Given that China's economic growth really depends on global trade and you said that there is a mutual interest between our country and China, how concerned are you about this developing trend? What would you say to the presidential candidates in terms of advice, and also to the American public to reassure them that they shouldn't worry about this? Premier Li: I am coming to New York to attend high-level UN events. Before I came here, some American friends of mine said to me that they don't think I am coming to the city at the right time, since the U.S. presidential election is at a dead heat. This is an internal affair in the United States. So for me, the things I can say about this topic are very limited. But I recall that in the 1980s, during my visit to the United States, I visited the headquarters of the two presidential campaigns. At both places, I was asked whether I liked the presidential candidates. To both of them I said that no matter who gets elected, I have confidence in the continued growth of China-U.S. relations.(Applause) Considering my current capacity, I can only repeat what I said years ago. That is, no matter who gets elected in the U.S. presidential election, I believe that China-U.S. ties will continue to grow in a positive direction.(Laughter and applause) Tomorrow I will give a statement at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. In my statement, I will definitely say something about globalization and trade liberalization and investment facilitation. But don't misread it as having anything to do with the U.S. presidential election.(Laughter and applause) Globalization may have some adverse impact on certain sectors and groups. But I believe that to address these downsides, we must rely on continued globalization, trade liberalization and investment facilitation, just as one must not give up eating for fear of choking on food, as a Chinese saying goes. Following on the heels of the United Kingdom, the United States has been the biggest beneficiary of globalization and trade liberalization, and China is also one of the beneficiaries. So China wants to work with all members of the international community to continue to advance trade liberalization and advance globalization as appropriate. In the meantime, we should also pay high attention to the calls of relevant groups and see to it that their concerns will be properly addressed. But all in all, I believe that the world will continue to move forward. Robert Hormats, former under secretary of State: Premier Li, first, let me thank you for your very thoughtful and comprehensive speech. You've honored us with your leadership and your vision. My question is about global trade. As you correctly pointed out in your speech global trade growth has been sluggish over the last several years. You also pointed out how interdependent our two countries and many others are. One of our concerns is that in many countries throughout the world, we see increased economic nationalism. We see huge domestic pressures for localization of production. We see people who are against globalization rather than improving the global trading system. Those pressures occur in the United States, China, and many other countries. So my question is what can China and the U.S. together reverse this deterioration in support for the global trading system, to make sure that it thrives and becomes more open? And in particular, how can the United States and China seize the opportunities brought by the bilateral investment treaty negotiation to take the lead together in strengthening international trading rules and create more opportunities for prosperity and growth? Premier Li: I believe China and the United States should send a common message to the international community. Both of our two countries are strong supporters of the existing global trading regime. And we both believe that we need to advance trade liberalization and investment facilitation under the WTO framework. So China and the U.S. should work together with all other countries to send out a strong and common message. And I believe this will help prevent the anti-globalization trend from further evolving and help prevent the trade barriers and a beggar-thy-neighbor approach from emerging, so that they will not stand in the way of global economic recovery. Secondly, I believe our two countries need to further open up to each other in both trade and mutual investment. China is sincere in further opening up its market. We have completed the quarantine procedures for the import of U.S. beef. And we will soon have imports of beef from the United States. China is a large producer of agricultural products and animal husbandry. The United States also has very good beef. Why should we deny Chinese customers more choices? (Applause) I'm sure there would be louder applause if I say this in the U.S. Midwest. (Laughter and applause) As I'm in New York, I would also like to mention that we have decided to designate a Chinese bank as a RMB clearing bank in New York. We also welcome banks in New York that meet the eligibility requirements to apply for the setting up of RMB clearing banks. I'm sure that will enable smoother cross-border settlement between us. Now China and the United States are engaged in the BIT negotiation. The negotiation in itself has sent out a positive message to the business communities of both countries. China has exerted strong effort in this respect, and in just two years, has put forward revised offers three times. Now, the two countries are engaged in the 29th round of negotiation. We need the U.S. side to meet us halfway. I believe that as long as both sides take a pragmatic and flexible approach, we will be able to arrive at a high-standard and mutually beneficial BIT. A little girl visits the 19th Nairobi International Book Fair with her mother in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 21, 2016. Being one of the oldest book fairs in eastern Africa, the 5-day 19th Nairobi International Book Fair kicked off here on Wednesday with publishers from across the continent and the world as well. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) ...But will Tobago buy in? While the Tobago House of Assembly has reported a high degree of satisfaction among the majority of stakeholder attendees in the initial talks with the chain, Patricia Turpin, President of Environment Tobago said the environmental impact of the proposed development is yet to be discussed and she is asking the Chief Secretary and the resort chain when are they going to speak to Tobagos environmentalists. Turpin referred to a comment she said was made by Minister Young, who told the meeting that environmentalists were being consulted and that the project was being Tobago driven. She contradicted this saying that it was being run from Trinidad. This is something I totally disagree with. It is being driven from Trinidad. Nobody has been consulted on Sandals. This is the whole point. The transparency towards the project has been nil. We have never had questions answered and we would like some answers. And I believe it is not going to happen until we get that plan in hand. Turpin said based on the presentation, it appeared that the plan for the hotel was the one from the previous application for a certificate for environmental clearance made by Angostura more than a decade ago. Other persons who considered themselves worthy of an invitation to the talks were upset that they were left out. One such person was Curtis Douglas, the Progressive Democratic Patriots Plymouth Golden Lane candidate in next years THA elections. Douglas, who said he was there to represent the All Tobago Fishing Association said he was told by a representative of the Chief Secretarys office that he would be unable to enter. That is disturbing for the people of Tobago. I want to know if Tobago is being sold out privately. I am concerned about the fishing community and I have to make my contribution. The people of Tobago will all become bellboys here. We do not need another hotel in Tobago. What we need is proper marketing. I saw the consultation on the news and thought it was a public consultation. But instead it is for a chosen few. However, Chief Secretary London has said that a committee is being set up to get the views of those stakholders not included in the initial phase of discussion. In our position, you have to make a choice between the kind of forum that will make for a particular kind of interaction and once you exceed that number the quality and the tone of the interaction changes and that was the challenge that we had. So yes, we to make some choices and once you make choices, there are going to be some people who didnt make the cut and there are reasons for that. However, the process in which we are engaged allows everybody to have an input. London said that soon anyone who felt left out would have the opportunity to make their contribution. He also said public consultation was built into the Environmental Management Agencys process for approval for any development and that these would take place in due course. Regarding concerns raised by Environment Tobago, The Chief Secretary and Adam Stewart, Sandals CEO, told those present that discussions on environmental impact were still in the future but were going to happen at some point, as yet undetermined. Invited stakeholders included the Tobago Chapter of the Chamber of Commerce, the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, the Crown Point Community Partnership Association, the Canaan Bon Accord Community Council, representatives from the Buccoo village council, the Tobago Agricultural Society, Save Our Sea Turtles, the Buccoo Reef Trust, the Dive Association, as well as various divisions of the THA. A future in coconuts? The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently reported that the Caribbean is running out of them. Across the Caribbean, the total number of coconut plantations has shrunk by about 17 per cent since 1994, according to the FAO. This isnt great timing at all as demand for this unique fruit, nut and seed has skyrocketed across the globe. There has been an increase in popularity of coconut based drinks, food and beauty products that are continuing to attract an ever growing consumer base. There have been many challenges to the Caribbeans coconut production. From storms and droughts to the Lethal Yellowing disease spread by insects, entire farms have been wiped out. The search to find coconut varieties that are resistant to this disease and others is still on-going. On top of this, coconut growers have failed to invest in new trees, or fertilizers to improve their yields. Twenty years ago the demand for coconuts was nothing like it is today. In fact, most health professionals warned against the derivable coconut oil for its effect on cholesterol, but this advice has since changed from negative to positive. Today coconut water is one of the most demanded derivable from the plant. The product itself has long been a popular and low-cost refreshment across the Caribbean with vendors from the beaches to the streets regularly cracking open coconuts with machetes for consumers to sip. Datamonitor Consumers latest research on the global coconut water market has uncovered that global coconut water consumption reached 3.9bn litres in 2015, with the US dominating the market share. According to the research, the global coconut water market demand in the UK is quickly catching up with the US, and the market for Japan has the potential to be worth almost $500m by 2019 as coconut water directly appeals to growing demands for wellness products. Its clear to see profitability of producing coconuts. Earlier this year small farmers, processors, researchers and technicians came together in Jamaica to discuss nursery and seedling management, varietal selection, hybridisation and tissue-culture production of coconuts. The forum was financed by the European Union (EU) implemented jointly by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute and International Trade Centre with the aim to revive and create sustainable coconut production in nine CARIFORUM countries. With demand growing worldwide, exporters are buying all the coconuts they can as their sale has increasingly become more lucrative. But domestic production is losing out as a result of the shortage. Grocery shelves have been filling up with thinned-out or even fake versions. Trinidad and Tobagos Health Ministry in May confiscated bottles labelled as coconut water from stores as they contained only water and chemicals. With better farming education and harvesting of coconuts, the Caribbean can cash in on its production better. But the Caribbean is still a relatively small player in coconut production. No countries in the region are actually in the top 10 of the worlds coconut producers, of which the top three are Indonesia, the Philippines and India. Other countries have been stepping up their production to meet demand as farmers worldwide have increased the amount of land planted with coconuts by 14 per cent since 1994 according to the UN. But there are downsides to producing what the world loves. For example, many consumers in Bolivia, one of the biggest producers of quinoa were priced out when the protein-rich crop surged in popularity in the US. The Caribbean must be careful of becoming too export driven as this is largely sensitive to external forces. Natural disasters, political turmoil and even terrorism threats are just a few things that can disrupt the supply chain. The Caribbeans coconut production is a part of global economy. Ramping up production depends on the reliability of that supply chain now and in the near future. An important point to note is that it is the land in the region itself that is increasing in value; the crops and livestock on it are, in investment terms, almost incidental. Ultimately The Caribbean is not able to meet the growing global demand for coconut products, especially water - a situation not likely to be resolved any time soon. But accountants can assist in improving production as their influence can target investment in the areas that are needed to improve yields, such as water costs etc. With food security rising up the agenda, todays accountants are coming under pressure to develop specialised agricultural knowledge to help production efficiency. Its certainly an interesting area of finance to influence and support. Thats my seat! This exercise [seating protocol], can be a very touchy subject, as if the seating plan is not conducted according to some level of precedence, not only will great offence be taken by the persons who may not have been seated correctly, but so too would offense be accorded to the host of the event, whether the host is the State, or a business enterprise. Seating protocol is also extremely important in the business context, as a similar protocol should be followed when developing seating plans for business/board meetings, corporate visits and other client-to-client interactions. Prior to the development of the seating plan, a few areas to take into consideration include: Numbers It is important to have a solid idea of the number of persons attending your meeting as this information will guide the format style for your placement. If the meeting is a smaller, less formal engagement, a round table may be better suited, whereas if the meeting is more formal, with a larger number of guests, a rectangular set up may be more suitable. Rationale The reason for hosting the meeting is key, as it adds to development of the seating plan. If the meeting is being held to honor a particular guest, then this automatically means the guest of honor should be seated at the right of the host. Similarly, if the meeting is to engage a new or existing client, said invited client is also seated at the right of the meeting host. This follows the simple principle of the most important guest, or guest of honor being placed to the right of the host. If the meeting is being co-facilitated, then the second most important invited guest should be seated to the right of the co-host. The host is usually seated at the head of the table. If there are meeting co-hosts, they are seated directly opposite, at the other end of the table. The second most important person is seated to the right of the co-host, with the third most important person seated to the left of the host. The placement essentially follows this order. Style The style of the meeting is instructive, as a less formal meeting may observe a less stringent seating protocol, than a more formal meeting. If the meeting is one which will like to encourage discussion, then a round table will be more suited, with the host and co-host [or second on team] should be seated on opposite ends of the table. If the meeting is more formal with a sterner tone, then perhaps a rectangular table may present a more focused seating option. The meeting style will also dictate if the host will operate as the lead for the meeting, thus will be the person leading the discussion. Guests It is important to have a well-defined understanding of your guests, as this will present you with a clear picture of the placement planning prior to your meeting. In many Corporate Scenarios, the host will wish to view and approve the seating of guests and it is advisable to ensure that they too, are presented with a solid baseline to make the appropriate judgment call. If the engagement is a corporate meeting, the considerations above should be taken into account. Additionally, it would help to note, if per say, your guests may be competing clients, it would be helpful to ensure they are seated where direct eye contact with each other is as limited as possible. If your engagement is a business lunch or dinner, a few areas to note include, guests who are married are usually not seated together. The seating should also be arranged so that no two men or no two women sit next to each other, with the host and hostess usually sitting opposite each other. Nicole Dyer Griffith is trained and certified with the European School of Protocol, and the International School of Protocol and Diplomacy. Comments or questions can be sent to NDG Communications & Consulting c/o Tishanna Hughes @ ndgccmarketing @outlook.com. Point Fortin chamber hopes for highway, hospital In an emailed statement, Chamber president, George Alexis noted that the continuation of work on the highway to Point Fortin was a reasonable expectation with provisions made for its continuation in the 2017 budget. Given the challenging economic climate, it will be wishful thinking to expect full completion of the project at this time but if the segment between Grant road and the southern main road in way of the oilsand quarry is completed, we will be very happy indeed, Alexis stated. As it stands now, the Point Fortin highway is connected to everywhere else on the way except Point Fortin! Completion of this segment will about halve the travelling time between San Fernando and Point Fortin, he pointed out. He observed that the second item on the Chambers wish list was the completion of the Point Fortin hospital as this project has been a very long time in the making and we would certainly want to see the project continue and hopefully at an accelerated pace. And regarding the current decline in oil and gas prices, he pointed out that the South Western peninsula has been and still is very dependent on the petroleum sector and the decline in production over the last few years coupled with the current prices is cause for concern to say the least. It is likely that some petroleum based business may be negatively impacted resulting in layoffs and we would want to suggest to the Government that the conversation on diversification should focus on the south western peninsula, he concluded. Man granted $50,000 bail for sexual grooming Neil Bissessar of Longdenville was also ordered to stay away from the 11-year-old victim before senior Magistrate Jo-anne Connor in the Chaguanas First Magistrates Court. Bissessar first appeared before Connor on Monday, but was refused bail to have his records checked. It is alleged that on September 15, on two occasions, Bissessar engaged in conversations via telephone and social media with a child for the intent of sexual grooming. The charge was laid indictably by PC Corey Williams under the Childrens Act 2012. Bissessar was not called upon to enter a plea. Yesterday, police court prosecutor Sgt Ken Ali told the court that the accused man had one previous conviction for possession of marijuana. However, attorney Taradath Singh said he represented Bissessar as well in that matter and it was dismissed. In the first hearing, Singh told the magistrate that his client who worked as a transport provider also suffered injuries as he was assaulted by persons and suffered spinal injuries. Singh also stated said his client had visible bruises and his right middle finger was broken. The magistrate granted $50,000 to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace. The case was adjourned to October 19. Burke/Triolo Productions/Thinkstock Chris Stapleton took home Artist of the Year honors at the 15th Annual Americana Awards Wednesday night at Nashvilles Ryman Auditorium. Charlie Daniels raised more than $100,000 for The Journey Home Project during his September 13 dinner at The Palm in Nashville. The non-profit helps members of the armed forces transition back to civilian life. President George H.W. Bush presented Jimmy Wayne with the Points of Light Award this week at a private ceremony in Kennebunkport, Maine. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Hard times for jurors Sources at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain say they were told that there was no money to purchase basic items for jurors selected on panels for trials. Among these items are tea, coffee, milk, sugar, juice and toilet paper. At the Port-of-Spain High Court, juries in five of the six criminal courts were selected for trials while in the San Fernando High Court, one jury panel was selected for a rape case. Two members of staff at the Port-of-Spain Court confirmed that the items usually purchased for empanelled jurors were not purchased in time for the start of sitting of the criminal courts. Jurors in these courts are expected to take up their duties at varying times next week, when the trials are to get underway. Some of the trials are in the stage where the jurors presence is not needed at this time. This is one of the reasons some of the cases cant start yet. There are no provisions for jurors, one source said. The staffers said while the provision of lunch should not be a problem since meals are provided by a caterer who is paid over a period of time, they have no idea whether the provisions will be made available when jurors are expected to return next week. Senior Court Protocol and Information officer, Shelly Dollabille, said yesterday she was in the process of gathering information on the situation and would issue a response by late yesterday evening. Seizure of firearms up from last year Speaking at the weekly press briefing hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) at its Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Public Information Officer, ASP Michael Pierre said the fact that more firearms have been recovered also suggests that there is more still to be found. Pierre said that in their effort to remove firearms off the streets and reduce violent crimes in this country, they will continue to sensitise the public of the dangers of firearms, and how members of the public can partner with the TTPS to deal with the scourge. Meanwhile, Head of the Tobago Division, Ag Snr Supt Joanne Archie noted that there has been no increase of crime on the island. She said Tobagos detection rate for crime stands at 25 percent, and the organisations target is 30 percent. We have arrested 33 persons for breakings, Archie said. This is an area we have a little challenge with. We have nine firearms seizures for the year so far and, while it may sound like a small figure, it certainly is not an indication of our efforts. We have also had a slight increase in woundings and some of those arose out of small disputes and domestic incidents, she explained. Archie said they have had one murder for the year and it is one too many. We have been working and have a close partnership with the key stakeholders on the island such as the Hoteliers Association, the reef boats owners and the businessmen to ensure we maintain Tobagos status as a land of paradise, she said. However, Archie said they would like to see more resources placed into acquiring scanners for the Scarborough Port. 17 days later, drowned boys father still in jail Henry, father of fiveyear- old Josiah Henry, who drowned in a drain outside his Belmont home after heavy rainfall two weeks ago, has been unable to access bail for the last 17 days, after he was granted bail by Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John. Henry was granted bail in the sum of $75,000 on charges of wilfully neglecting the boy and his seven-yearold sister. In a statement yesterday, Feeles said Henry was unable to secure bail due to a terrible blunder made by the court. For the past ten days, the family has been back and forth from the Port-of-Spain Prison to the magistrates court, in an attempt to have the court rectify and resend the warrant with the accurate bail conditions to the prison, Feeles said. This father is still grieving and is in the need of the support of his family and loved ones. He is yet to see his sons grave and we are calling on the Portof- Spain Magistrates Court to get their act together and do the necessary to assist Mr Henrys family when they return to secure his bail, Feeles implored. Henrys family again went to the court and up to late yesterday, they were waiting on the necessary corrected documentation to be sent to the prisons. Henrys arrest was criticised by MP for Laventille West, Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, who described the polices actions as insensitive and said a softer approach should have been taken with the grieving father. The charges against the father, who had gone to work when his son fell into a drain at his Serraneau Road, Belmont, home, are that Henry wilfully neglected the boy which caused him injuries resulting in his death and that he also wilfully neglected his daughter Christine Gray in a manner causing her to suffer injuries to her physical and mental health. Henry will next appear in court on October 5. Murder appeal for six men adjourned The six brothers Shiva, Ryan and Vishan Bajnauth and their half-brother Soman Rampersad and friends, Junior John and Kenny Mohammed were convicted in June of last year of setting fire to a home in Freeport in 2009, killing sisters Sangeeta, six and Sarah, three. When the matter came up for hearing before Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Rajendra Narine and Mark Mohammed, attorneys for three of the men indicated they were not ready to proceed with the appeal and asked for an extension of time to file skeletal submissions, grounds of appeal and their authorities. As a result of this, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions George Busby said the prosecution could also not proceed as it was still awaiting the documents in an effort to reply to the grounds of appeal. Only attorney Ravi Rajcoomar who appears for one of the brothers said he was ready, having filed all his necessary paperwork. The extension was granted but Justice Yorke-Soo Hon urged attorneys to keep to the December 6 and 8 time-line as the court will not be generous again if they fail to do so. View Local It was blue devils and the grit of real life. It was a story of grandmothers whose hopes hinged on a child to remove the shawl of poverty and uplift a family . Of men fighting to prove their manhood. Of defining ones sexuality . In the Trinidad and Tobagos Film Festival (ttff) premiere film, Play the Devil, there is a view of TT . A view, albeit, that some might not wish to a see but a real view, nevertheless. The film won best film at the Qflix Film Festival in Philadelphia . The film heralded the opening of this years festival, one in which its founder and director, Bruce Paddington noted, it was time for TT to view local. The festival opened at the Central Bank Auditorium last Tuesday . As Paddington addressed the audience, he said, People do enjoy the big blockbusters but there is a growing audience for independent films especially films from the Caribbean where we can view our stories and see ourselves on the screen. Films help to brand a country and can influence behaviour and consumption patterns. We need to eat local, buy local, export local and view local. We are doing our part. The festival, in its 11th year, opened with a coming-ofage film directed by Bahamian Maria Govan and produced by Trinidadian Abigail Hadeed . Its synopsis reads: In this powerful coming of age drama, a young man is caught between expressing his true creative nature and desires, and surrendering to societys dictates about what it means to be a man. As he takes his first tentative steps toward self-discovery, family pressures and his friendship with a successful businessman derail his plans and set him on a collision course with heartbreaking consequences. The narratives are not unlike those read about in daily newspapers or heard of via electronic media. A grandmother sitting on a couch in a leaking, rundown house hoping for a brighter day is a narrative many of us have lived or knows someone who experienced. A young man in a advantageous society whose only escape is the marijuana, and, therefore, who runs afoul of the law because of it. A wealthy man/woman who shows a younger person from a lower socio-economic background what a dream looks like in reality . What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to love a man when you, too, are a man? It is set against the backdrop of a real TT of bush and rundown streets and bare-backed men with who smoke cigarettes and pose for a picture, too. It is someones perspective on that screen but it is the perspective of someone who has lived in TT , who has been a part of what it means to be Trinbagonian. It was finally a story of real life in TT with Carnival only being a backdrop . For Paddington and the festival team this years week-long event paves the path for the growth of a local audience. This would also help to grow an audience for local and regional films. The festival is an occasion when local film-makers will be able to enjoy and learn from film and film-makers from countries like Cuba, Columbia that have advanced film industries. The festival has organised a series of industry events and invited experienced, international film professionals to showcase their films and meet with local film-makers . All this is designed to help and develop the TT and Caribbean film industry, he said . Noting as well that the festival has partnered with the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (Costatt) to offer a media critics programme. He said, The relationship with Costatt is especially exciting as it is sponsoring the youth jury prize while we are working with the School of Journalism and Communications to develop a future critics programme. We feel it is vitally important that we develop film and media literate persons, especially young people so that they can have a critical perspective of the films they love to watch. The ttff showcases four feature films from this country . As the country moves to tell greater stories of itself, Paddington noted, We are also aware of the need for international funding. We are honoured to welcome a delegation from the European Union and the EU supported African/Caribbean and Pacific group of countries that would be issuing a call for film projects in 2017. The festival continues today at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain and Tobago, Costatt, the UWI , Big Black Box, Akimbo Boutique, OWTU and Trinidad Theatre Workshop. For more info: ttfilmfestival . com Death threats over La Brea roadworks The $10 million project, which is overseen by the ministrys Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency (PURE) unit, is already 60 percent complete and, before this latest roadblock, had been scheduled to be completed by the end of this month well ahead of the projected November 11 deadline. PURE officials, however, told Newsday that after these latest threats of bloodshed, if the site is not provided with proper security from the Police Service by today, they would have no choice but to abandon work, regardless of the state of completion. The newest impediment comes one week after protesters from the area and La Brea Member of Parliament Nicole Olivierre exchanged sharp words about the status of the road upgrades. The majority of workers 61 people are from La Brea and have been hired through local subcontractors sourced through the Office of the Member of Parliament, PURE sources told Newsday, while main contractor Jusamco Pavers Ltd had initially hired 18 workers. Jusamco subsequently fired about eight workers earlier this week because they just came in to sign the register and then disappeared for the rest of the day, Newsday was told. Workers were unwilling to say definitively who made the threats. These people just making it hard for everybody else, one disgruntled bricklayer grumbled. I would say about 90 percent of the workers hired for this project are from the community. First it was the people protesting because they couldnt sell their produce on the side of the road; now our workers are being threatened on site. These people want a road but theyre harassing us when were working, one of the senior PURE officials overseeing works said. Olivierre called the disruptions unnecessary, unfortunate and disturbing, leading to delays and prolonged inconvenience for residents and business owners. I therefore plead with those persons to cease and desist and allow the Government to complete its infrastructure programme to improve the living conditions of the people in La Brea, she said in a statement to Newsday. She added that the Works and Transport Ministry would be responsible for liaising with the TTPS to work out a patrol plan. Newsday made several attempts to contact Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, but calls to his mobile phone went unanswered. Attempts to contact a spokesman from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service were also unsuccessful PM Rowley commends police Rowley summoned Phillip and Snr Supts Basdeo Ramdhanie, Simbonath Rajkumar and John Trim to an emergency meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns to discuss the crime issue. Also present at the meeting were Minister of Finance Colm Imbert, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and Minister in the Office of the Attorney Gerald Stuart Young. Although the senior officers were told to report to the Diplomatic Centre for 9 am, it was not until 11 am, that the Prime Minister and his team invited them to the closed door meeting. During the one hour meeting, Acting CoP Phillip spoke on behalf of the three senior officers, giving the Prime Minister a breakdown of the number of guns and ammunition seized. Phillip also spoke of anti-crime initiatives adopted in the three divisions which included meetings with businessmen; town meetings and an increase in patrols, exercises and surveillance. The Prime Minister and his team were also told of the detection rate in the three divisions where serious crimes are concerned. Following the presentation, Newsday understands that PM Rowley commended the police for the initiatives in place and urged them to continue to inspire their charges so that morale could be boosted in the Service. He also called on the officers to partner with the public in the fight against crime saying the public can be the eyes and ears of the police service. He assured that government will continue to support the police by providing the necessary resources. Sources revealed that the Prime is expected to meet with Divisional commanders of another three police divisions next Wednesday. JTUM gives Rowley alternative economic plan Roget said the meeting did not discuss the elements of the plan, but the labour delegation reminded Rowley that the plan had been presented on three occasions to three bodies including Finance Minister, Colm Imbert who, they presumed, would have told the prime minister about it. Roget said the plan did not involve any government financing and JTUM was not asking for new money or for the government to put any money into it. We can very well find money within the current economy of Trinidad and Tobago - the different sectors that will be able to contribute to that. And once that plan is given the light of day it will see us not having to go down the road of austerity measures. Roget said Rowley was very interested in the labour movements economic plan and there will be follow up discussions around the plan between now and next Tuesday where fuller explanations will be given. Roget said the JTUM delegation had asked to have as many elements of the plan as possible included in the upcoming budget albeit at this 99th hour. He said it was a good plan. Everybody has said it is a good plan and at some subsequent point we will share all of the details of that plan with the media but the movement thought that it should first be presented to the Ministry of Finance; the National Tripartite Advisory Council and the National Economic Advisory Council. He said none of these bodies were able to find any flaws in the plan. Caricom IMPACS trying to end diversion of firearms This is according to presenters at yesterdays opening of a twoday sub-regional consultative meeting of senior law enforcement officials from CARICOM countries at Caricoms Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) head office in Port-of-Spain. The meeting is sponsored by IMPACS and United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). In opening remarks, IMPACS Officer-in-Charge, Tonya Ayow, said the rise of gun-related crimes and its negative impacts on victims and their families, and the longer-term social and economic implications, trouble every law abiding citizen. When weapon seizures are featured in the media, she said, one has to wonder how military grade weaponry has ended up in the hands of common criminals as well as large criminal syndicates, and not in the hands of trained law enforcement officials to protect the citizenry. Noting new and merging threats due to illegal trafficking of psycho-tropic substances, human trafficking, the emergence of foreign terrorist fighters in the region, money laundering, other financial crimes and the effects of climate change, Ayow said each will benefit from the diversion of arms if the issue was not addressed and proper measures put in place. IMPACS Regional Crime and Security Strategy Coordinator, Callixtus Joseph said the problem of the use of the gun in TT was a critical issue as seven out of every ten persons were murdered by a gun. The last murder count for the year, he noted, was now over 330. Noting that gun violence was the biggest problem in the region in terms of crime and security, Joseph said, tackling the issue of diversion of arms was at the top of most governments priority, particularly in TT and Jamaica. In the coming months, he said, IMPACS will facilitate a firearms assistance programme to member states that would include ballistic training for improved detection of gun crimes, and training of national points of contact to build capacity of law enforcement agencies in the region to curb gun violence. In his remarks project manager, UNIDIR, Himayu Shiotani said that in the hemisphere, Central and Latin America have the highest levels of homicides in the world due to the use of guns. The firearms are in the regions and they are moving around, he said. TT, US sign Customs pact A statement issued by the US Embassy said the agreement was signed by Finance Minister Colm Imbert and US Ambassador John Estrada. The embassy explained, The CMAA is an important part of the strong cooperative relationship between our two countries. It said the agreement will allow our governments to cooperate more effectively to track and interdict shipments of narcotics, illegal weapons, and other contraband. The statement added, In many cases, effective coordination between our law enforcement and customs bodies will prevent contraband from ever entering our countries. Under the CMAA, law enforcement agencies from TT and the US will be able to coordinate the investigation of complex money-laundering cases, and make it more difficult to hide ill-gotten gains by moving them across national boundaries. The CMAA will also allow both countries to continue strengthening bilateral economic ties through expediting trade procedures. The embassy statement concluded, Our customs services will be able to set up programs to expedite shipments to and from the United States with a high degree of security, and minimal risk that drugs, weapons, or other contraband are being transported under the cover of legitimate trade. TT and US joint military exercises underway Tomorrow they will be in the Queens Park Savannah. The TTDF and the US military are currently engaged in a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) operations and exercises in various parts of north western Trinidad. On Sunday they will carry out a naval exercise in the Gulf of Paria, and on Monday, they will conduct evacuation drills in the West Shore area. Yesterday they were at the Radar Station in Chaguaramas. A release from the TTDF thanked the public for their cooperation during this time of heightened training in a bid to better secure citizens. Japanese Nobel laureate visits Garcia We are happy to have you and to facilitate this meeting, said Garcia. The teaching of science in our primary and secondary schools is something we want to keep on the front burner. Any opportunity that we have to embrace information that will assist in the teaching of science, we welcome it. Negishi will deliver a public lecture at the Learning Resource Centre of the University of the West Indies today at 5 pm on Pursuit of Many Lofty Dreams with Eternal Optimism over Half-a-Century. It is the first lecture for the Annual Cariscience Nobel Laureate Lecture Series. Cariscience is affiliated with UNESCO, the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, UWI, the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the Southern Caribbean. Negishi jointly won the Noble Prize in chemistry in 2010 for his work on palladium- catalysed cross coupling in organic synthesis. Joint Select Committee business goes ahead Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the Government still plans to convene a Parliament committee to study details of legislation to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance ACT (FATCA) of the US. The Opposition has refused the support the bill and asked for the matter to be sent to a JSC. Following a meeting with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on September 2, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Government and Opposition agreed to use the National Security JSC as a mechanism to collaborate on the passage of effective anti-crime legislation in the Parliament. He said this this JSC, which was chaired in the last session by Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, will be chaired by an Independent Senator. Fridays opening is not a ceremonial opening of Parliament, where the President addresses members of the House and Senate. Both Houses will meet at the same time, the proclamation will be read in both Houses, and both Houses will conduct preliminary business before adjourning. Meeting of some other JSCs have been arranged ahead of the Fridays opening of the new parliamentary session. Rowley: Nothing new for Opposition to blank FATCA Bill He was addressing a Peoples National Movement (PNM) meeting at Mount DOr on Tuesday. Rowley sought to paint the Opposition as historically obstructionist by listing at least a dozen laws (including anti-kidnapping and anti-terrorism legislation) that the Opposition had not supported from 2002 to 2007. He also alleged that the Opposition had flip-flopped on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), and recalled the Oppositions initial rejection of this countrys Independence in 1962 until Dr Suren Capildeo relented to the suasion of Dr Eric Williams during a one-on-one meeting at the Marlborough House talks in England. Hitting the Oppositions failure to support the FATCA legislation on the grounds that they just saw these 125 pages of laws, he said 100 pages of the document is the exact same document previously seen that shows the US law. He accused the Opposition of being prepared to risk this countrys future, fulfilling their vow at the Opening of Parliament to give the Government thunder, and in contrast to the PNMs record of supporting 93 percent of legislation when in Opposition. Rowley warned that unlike Canada, which is the USs largest trading partner, this country is in no position to try to defy FATCA. He said Parliament can try to rush the FATCA legislation into a Joint Select Committee (JSC) but otherwise failing that, this country will be at the mercy of the US which might not agree to give TT an extension to comply. He recalled talks on this touchy topic of correspondent banking being held at two Caricom leaders meetings last February in Belize and last July in Guyana, and recalled attending former British prime minister, David Camerons anti- corruption meeting in London last May. Rowley alleged that on his trip to South Africa for Nelson Mandelas funeral, Persad-Bissessar as then prime minister had agreed with him to try to improve the terms of judges and pay and pension of MPs, but upon a public outcry she had not had the fortitude to keep her stand, even as one of her MPs then attacked Rowley on the matter. He said this episode had led him to think he could not trust Persad-Bissessar ever again. Rowley said TT is now in one of the most difficult periods ever, and that the Opposition might seek to blame the Government over economic woes. Earlier Finance Minister, Colm Imbert, warned that if this country does not pass the FATCA legislation, anyone doing business in the USA will have to pay a 30 percent tax, such as for every credit card transaction. He said FATCA legislation will mandate the TT Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) to notify the United States tax authorities of any US citizens doing business in TT. If TT doesnt pass the FATCA legislation, all US banks will be debarred from sending money from TT to the USA. Your credit card gone through! Imbert warned. He said non-compliance with FATCA had caused severe damage to the economy of Belize. Imbert said the Opposition wants to know if TT citizens living in the USA will have the US authorities send their details to the TT BIR, in a reciprocity of the treaty. UNC: Govt reckless with FATCA Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie made the charge at a news conference at the Opposition Leaders Office in Port-of-Spain, in response to statements by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at a Peoples National Movement (PNM) meeting in Mt Dor on Tuesday night. Tewarie also agreed with an earlier statement issued by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar calling for Parliament to establish a joint select committee (JSC) to deal with the Tax Information Exchange Bill 2016 tomorrow, when the Second Session of the 11th Parliament opens. Persad-Bissessar, who did not attend the briefing, denied what she said were Rowleys claims that she was being obstructionist on the issue of ensuring TT is FATCA compliant. Underscoring Persad-Bissessars previous commitment to a JSC, ensuring the Bill is passed and TT is FATCA compliant, Tewarie rejected Rowleys argument that the Opposition does not care about the country. Stating the Opposition could select its members from the House of Representatives and the Senate to sit on this JSC, Tewarie declared, Nobody wants to pass the Bill more than the Opposition. Why didnt UNC sue China Jiangsu? Imbert was addressing a Peoples National Movement (PNM) meeting on Tuesday at Mount DOr. He also said only two of the nine apartment blocks at Las Alturas had collapsed and that neither Noel Garcia (former HDC managing director) nor Dr Keith Rowley ( then Housing Minister) were in oversight offices at the time of construction of the fated buildings. He said Garcia left office in June 2008, and Rowley left office as housing minister in 2007, but that construction of Las Alturas began in December 2009, this being initiated under two new post-holders in each case. Imbert hit the former UNCled government for spending $40 million on the Las Alturas Commission of Inquiry when in fact the material loss on that construction project was just $26 million. Next on stage, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, said attorneys hired during the commission of inquiry became millionaires from these earnings. He condemned the commissioners for issuing a report after which they then made changes by issuing an Errata. It is now seen as a political witch hunt which failed. Rowley alleged that the former UNC-led government had tried to use the Las Alturas probe in a similar way to trying to use the Milsherv controversy to try to tarnish Tobago House of Assembly (THA) head, Orville London, as corrupt, an effort that Rowley said had clearly failed, as shown by the THA election results soon after. Share We all knew that 5G was going to be something amazing to see, especially since many of us remember what it was like to go from 3G to 4G. 5G's commercial arrival in a little over three years should probably be even more impressive, given some are already describing it as fiber without the fiber. Recent tests from Nokia (News - Alert) and T-Mobile, meanwhile, are showing just what this technology can do, and we should be in for one doozy of a ride once this starts up in earnest. The newest tests put T-Mobile (News - Alert)'s spectrumin the 28 GHz rangeto work alongside Nokia's AirScale radio platform, which already has some commercial applications and is regarded as 5G-ready. The combined efforts of these two platforms have already produced big results. The initial tests yielded a connection that could offer multiple gigabits per second of throughput, and managed to stream four 4K videos, simultaneously, with a latency of just 1.8 milliseconds. Take a moment and catch your breath from that concept; I certainly needed one. This partnership arrangement doesn't stop there, as the duo is also engaged in creating application demonstrations like industry automation, multi-connectivity, and the new ultra-definition 360 Virtual Reality system, all of which call for incredible amounts of high-speed bandwidth. The amazing rates that Nokia and T-Mobile have already achieved are one thing, but the duo will need every kilobit of bandwidth to pull some of this off. T-Mobile's chief technology officer Neville Ray (News - Alert) commented, We've now brought 5G out of the lab and into the field. With Nokia's partnership, we're seeing the kind of astounding data speeds and low latency that are hallmarks of 5G and set the standard for future network performance. Most already know that we're in something of a bandwidth crunch, even as many places find bandwidth largely unavailable. The growth of the mobile workforce has only increased that demand, and we're often finding it hard to get a hold of. 5G, when backed up by technologies like small cells and the like, has a great potential to not only bring high-speed Internet access to places that couldn't have it before, but also to provide more bandwidth in areas where supply is short due to extreme use. The testing going on right now is paving the way for that future where there's finally enough broadband to go around, and even the countryside can get in on this. Tests currently run by Nokia and T-Mobile will help pave the way forward for 5G, and when it arrives, it's going to shake up most of communications as we know it today. Knowing what we know so far, however, one ominous question remains: how long before we find another bandwidth crunch waiting thanks to new uses for all this new bandwidth? Edited by Alicia Young We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Israeli Prime Ministers office has warned Israeli Jews of Moroccan descent to avoid traveling to the North African country to mark Hiloula due to serious threats of terrorist attacks. Hundreds of Jewish tourists of Moroccan origin flock every year to the Kingdom to mark Jewish religious rituals but the celebration this year, according to Israeli authorities, is endangered by terrorist threats, Moroccan Arabic daily Al Massae reports. According to the Moroccan media, which quoted Israeli sources, Jews from Moroccan origin willing to travel to Morocco have been advised to cancel their plan because the North African country has been placed on the black list of 34 countries with high possibility of terror attacks. The black list also includes Egypt and Turkey where risk is even higher. The Israelis are also warned to avoid popular tourist sites, malls, hotels, airports, and cultural sites, reports say. A Jewish cemetery, a Jew-owned restaurant, and a Jew community center came under attack in 2003 in the city of Casablanca during the deadliest terror attacks which ever hit the North African country. The Attacks perpetrated by several suicide bombers killed 33 victims. The Jewish tourists usually visit Marrakech, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, and Agadir to celebrate Hiloula. Israelis of Moroccan descent constitute the second largest (1 million) community in Israel. The Moroccan Jewish community, which exceeded 250,000 at its peak in the 1940s, is currently assessed at about 3000. Algerias trade deficit slipped into 14 billion dollars in the first 8 months of 2016 because of the fall in oil revenues, propelling the government to draft an austere appropriation bill for 2017 with the introduction of new taxes in a bid to minimize losses. Algerias trade deficit worsened despite an 11% decline in imports totaling $31.56 billion, against $35.78 billion during the same period of reference, down by $4.22 billion, official statistics issued by Algerian customs say. Hydrocarbon exports, which represent more than 94% of Algerias sales abroad, dropped by $7 billion to stand at $16.46 billion compared to $23.4 billion during the same period in 2015. Non-hydrocarbon exports remained low not exceeding 6.3% of the overall export with a total value of $1.1 billion, down by 16% from the $1.32 billion registered in 2015. The deficit took a toll on Algerias reserves, which plummeted since oil prices started to drop in June 2014 from $194 billion to $116 billion in the first quarter of 2016. The IMF estimates that Algeria needs a barrel price of 110 to maintain macro-economic balance at a moment economic analysts warn of an upcoming budget crisis if oil prices remain at current levels of $50 per barrel. In response to the current budget strain, which may further decrease foreign exchange reserves to $9 billion in four years, the Algerian government prepares austerity measures as part of its 2017 appropriation bill including new taxes. A number of recent developments noticed both in Mauritania and Morocco have heralded normalization of diplomatic ties between the two Maghreb countries following a recent tension in their relations, after a change in Mauritanias stand vis-a-vis the Polisario Front, which disputes Moroccos sovereignty over the Western Sahara territory. One strong signal of a thaw in the two countries relations is the official invitation extended by King Mohammed VI to President Mohamed Abdel Aziz to attend the COP22 summit in Marrakech from November 7 to 18. The invitation was sent to the Mauritanian leader on September 16 via the Mauritanian foreign ministry. It is worth noting that King Mohammed VI had scorned the Arab League summit held in Nouakchott last July. The summit, which failed to attract major Arab heads of State, was deemed a fiasco for Mauritania diplomacy while critics aligned with Nouakchott pinned the blame on Morocco for sabotaging the conference. Also, as a sign of the end of bickering, Nouakchott has reportedly allowed the return of Moroccan workers of Mauritel; a Mauritanian telecommunication company, where Moroccos Maroc Telecom holds a majority of shares. Four of the banned workers have been reportedly re-instated while three others are expected to re-gain their posts in the coming days. Mauritania, in a fit of anger and for so-called Mauritanization of the company, had last June banned the Moroccan workers from accessing their posts in the company. Nouakchott has also claimed its neutral position on the disputed Western Sahara conflict as it called for a peaceful settlement of the prolonged conflict, a move marking a change in the Mauritanian regimes recent stance on the issue. Nouakchott had endorsed the Polisario, which is opposed to Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara territory, a plan hailed by a majority of world countries as credible and serious. The Mauritanian regime had also angered Rabat after it decreed three days of morning following the death on May 31 of the separatist movement leader Mohamed Abdelaziz. When it comes to paid ads for and against these candidates, its an uneven battle. Its been well known for a while that Hillary Clinton is investing a lot more in paid media than is Donald Trump a whole lot more. But still, the expenditure numbers for TV ads through September 12 as reported by Politico from data compiled by a media buying group are stunning: $126 million for Clinton, $17 million for Trump. But hey, maybe outside groups backing Trump are making up for this lopsided margin, right? Wrong. When you count all advertising on behalf of the candidates, you get an even bigger Clinton edge: $244 million to $33 million. Thats more than a seven-to-one advantage, folks. Im guessing you would probably have to go back to Nixon-McGovern to find a similar domination of the airwaves by one major-party candidate over the other. Now, it is true that all of the research suggests the value of paid media in presidential general elections is often overrated. TV ads work best for little-known candidates, not for familiar pop-culture figures like Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, whose brands, for better or for worse, have been shaped via billions of dollars of earned media over the years. In the cable/multimedia era, it is obviously a lot harder to target voters via TV ads as well. But say all you will about the declining efficacy of paid media, especially old-school broadcast TV ads, but theres still an important qualifier to keep in mind: Campaigns can neutralize each other in paid media only if they invest roughly equivalent resources. Largely unopposed efforts in any significant area of campaigning can have an outsize impact. Money spent on TV ads can seem wasted if it only serves to keep a candidate even in an apes-on-the-treadmill arms race. But dont spend it at all and suddenly you have a big problem. Its possible, I suppose, that Team Trump has decided to hold back its ad spending until very late in the contest. There is, after all, some evidence that late TV ads are more effective, mainly because the effect of ads generally tends to decay in a short period of time. But if a vast amount of Trump money is in the pipeline, ready to rock and roll in October, its not evident in bookings, and indeed, the most peculiar thing about Trump ad spending is the campaigns tendency to run spots for a week and then suddenly go dark. Consistency is not a hallmark of the Trump paid-media strategy, such as it is. According to Advertising Age on September 16: In terms of booked TV and radio ad time from today through election day, Team Clinton is tracking at roughly 33 times the outlay of Team Trump. The later the buy, the higher the price. And early voting is already under way; about a third of the electorate will have already voted by the time last-minute ads run. The other important thing to remember about Trumps concession of the airwaves to Clinton is that it is not being offset by larger investments in some other area of campaigning. Its not like the man has a big field operation (other than in the occupied West Bank) or a massive data-analysis effort. All in all, its increasingly clear that Trump is relying to a remarkable, probably unprecedented extent on earned media to deliver his message and mobilize his voters. Keep that in mind when trying to figure out what the wiggy dude will do next in this campaign: He has to make news ten times a day to offset all of his opponents advantages. That cuts sharply against any desire he may have to pivot to a more normal candidacy. Normal candidates run ads, open field offices, and spend money on Big Data. That aint our Donald. Bharara. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images A total of nine people, including two former top aides to Governor Andrew Cuomo, are facing federal corruption charges, reports the New York Times. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, perpetual thorn in Albanys side, formally announced the charges, which stem from two corruption schemes between state officials and private companies that had millions of dollars worth of business before New York state, including those awarded contracts under the Buffalo Billion program one of the governors key initiatives meant to draw businesses to upstate New York to revive the flagging economy. This case, Bharara said, showed another sordid side of the show-me-the-money culture that has so plagued Albany. He added: It turns out the state legislature does not have any monopoly on crass corruption in New York. @PreetBharara announces corruption charges against ex-NY Gov. aide, SUNY official as well as developer and energy co. execs. pic.twitter.com/8oe73OKPRA Stewart Bishop (@stewartbishop) September 22, 2016 Two close Cuomo associates are at the center of these pay-to-play allegations, say federal prosecutors. Joseph Percoco, the former deputy executive secretary to the governor, has had long-standing ties to the political family. According to WABC 7, Andrew Cuomo once said Percoco was like my fathers [former governor, Mario Cuomo] third son, who sometimes I think he loved the most. The other is Todd Howe, who worked for the father during his governorship, and for the son during his tenure as Housing and Urban Development secretary. Howe, who was a lobbyist who also worked as an adviser to state officials on development projects, has reportedly pleaded guilty to charges of bribery, extortion, and wire fraud, and is cooperating with authorities. Federal prosecutors say Howe was involved in both schemes. Percoco is at the center of the first investigation. According to the New York Times, Percoco is charged with taking more than $320,000 in kickbacks from two companies that had business before the state. That cash allegedly bought official actions that favored those two firms: COR Development, a real-estate-development firm that was awarded several state contracts, and Competitive Power Ventures Holdings LLC, an electric-power company that needed state approval to build a power plant in the Hudson Valley. Both of those companies were Todd Howes clients, who had been allegedly hired to help them in their dealings with the state. Executives at those companies are named in the complaint, including Peter Galbraith Kelly Jr., an executive at Competitive Power Ventures, who oversaw lobbying and public relations for the firm; and Steve Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, the president and and general counsel, respectively, at COR Development. Howe allegedly facilitated the kickbacks between Percoco and executives at the firms. Two called the bribes ziti, a code for money, ripped from The Sopranos. Bharara described Percoco as persistent in demanding cash. Kelly, with Competitive Power Ventures, helped deliver approximately $287,000 to Percoco starting in 2010, plus other perks like a Hamptons trip. Kelly also created a position at the firm for Percocos wife who was not listed in the complaint. The job paid her a salary of approximately $90,000 per year, though she never did more than 25 hours of work per month, and sometimes worked as little as two or three hours, according to Bharara. In return, Percoco repeatedly found ways to assist Competitive Power Ventures, including an agreement with the state involving that power plant, which allegedly saved the company about $100 million in development costs. Percoco also took about $35,000 in kickbacks from COR Development, a major player in Syracuse, for what amounted to on-call assistance in the companys official business with New York state. Percocos favors included freeing up millions in state funds for the Syracuse developer and helping to get a raise for Aiellos son, who worked in the governors office. So thats corruption scheme Number 1. The second involves a little fraud, extortion, and bribery at the signature economic program, Buffalo Billion, with some of the same cast of characters. State contracts worth nearly a billion dollars meant to revitalize and renew upstate New York were instead just another way to reward cronies willing to pay to play, Bharara said. This scheme also involves Howe, and Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, the head of the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, which helped administer many of the Buffalo Billion programs contracts. (Kaloyeros, a physicist, is reportedly the states highest-paid employee.) Howe, despite being a lobbyist, advised Kaloyeros, helping him pick developers for Buffalo Billion programs. Kaloyeros and Howe are accused of conspiring together to make it seem that developers were competing through a fair and open bidding process, but behind the scenes they were rigging the whole process go to handpicked friends of the administration, Bharara said. Adding, thats a euphemism for large donors. Aiello and Gerardi, of the Syracuse development firm that was also paying Percoco under the table, also threw a little cash Howes way to get favorable treatment in the contract-bidding process. Three other defendants were also named: Louis Ciminelli, a Buffalo developer whos in charge of a solar-panel factory to be built in that city; and Michael Laipple and Kevin Schuler, executives for Ciminellis firm. Those developers were allegedly allowed to draft RFPs (request for proposals the official pitch for those competing for state projects) themselves, thereby handpicking exactly which qualifications the state required, which, wouldnt you know, always happened to fit those firms qualifications. In an email exchange between Howe, Aiello, and Gerardi about an RFP, Gerardi scanned a copy of a draft document with handwritten notes in the margins, asking was that too telegraphed? I would leave out these specific programs. According to the criminal complaint, investigators believe they were worried that it was becoming too obvious they were jiggering the bidding process. All defendants, except Howe who pleaded guilty Tuesday were taken into custody Thursday morning. These charges are just allegations, Bharara said Thursday, guilt [is] to be determined or not, at trial. I will tell you, I really do hope that there is a trial in this case so all New Yorkers can see, in gory detail, what their state government has been up to. "If we prove the allegations in this case...[it's] a systemic problem," @PreetBharara says. "This is big-time stuff." erica orden (@eorden) September 22, 2016 Governor Cuomo is not named in the corruption scheme, but these charges are an enormous blow to one of his major economic programs, and to his political allies. Cuomo responded to the allegations against his former aides, saying I have zero tolerance of abuse of public trust from anyone. What is clear is that some of the defendants were large donors to the governor, and that was known to Howe and Percoco. To pull a few examples from the complaint: In May 2011, Howe emailed Aiello, saying you should hold on making any political $$ contributions to any state federal electeds, so we can make sure you can [get] the most leverage out of them. And in November 2013, Ciminelli whose firm was being considered for a state contract at the time hosted a fundraising dinner for Governor Cuomo, which raised 250,000. Cuomo has made a point of cutting ties with both Howe and Percoco, and also ordered an independent review of the Buffalo Billion program after investigators allegedly subpoenaed his office this April. When Bharara was asked if he could give the governor a clean bill of health, the prosecutor replied: There are no allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct by the governor in this complaint. Thats all Im going to say. This post has been updated with new details from Bhararas press conference and the criminal complaint. Anthony Weiner. Photo: John Moore/2013 Getty Images Were looking to see if a crime was committed in New York and if theres a complainant, an NYPD official told the New York Post, after allegations surfaced that Anthony Weiner sent sexual text messages and explicit photos to a 15-year-old girl. According to reports, the Special Victims Unit and the Manhattan district attorney are reviewing the claims, which were first published Wednesday in the Daily Mail. An unidentified high-school student said the 52-year-old disgraced politician sent her sexual photos and messages under the alias T Dog over a period of several months, starting in January. In addition, CNN reports that prosecutors from the office of Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, have issued a subpoena for Weiners cell phone and other records, and the FBI has opened a preliminary investigation into the matter. Weiner offered the following statement: I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgment about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt. While I have provided the Daily Mail with information showing that I have likely been the subject of a hoax, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this position. I am sorry. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan D.A., declined to comment on any possible investigation. This is just the latest trouble for the former congressman, who resigned his House seat in 2011 after his first sexting scandal. His online antics as Carlos Danger got him in trouble again and foiled his run in the 2013 mayoral Democratic primary. In August, Weiner made headlines again after reportedly sending a crotch shot with his 4-year-old son in the photo. The incident led to the public separation of Weiner and his wife, Clinton aide Huma Abedin, and had reportedly been examined by the New York City Administration for Childrens Services. This post has been updated to include the subpoena issued by the U.S. Attorneys office. Protests raged in Charlotte for a second night. Photo: Brian Blanco/Getty Images Protests in response to the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, became increasingly violent as they entered a second night. The city of Charlotte has confirmed that one person was shot during the protest on Wednesday evening and is now on life support. Earlier, the city said the man had died. CORRECTION UPDATE: Civilian who suffered gunshot wound during protests is on life support, critical condition. Not deceased. City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) September 22, 2016 Protests began on Tuesday after police shot and killed Scott, a 43-year-old black man and father of seven, who was sitting in his car outside an apartment complex near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Police claim Scott was brandishing a gun and posed an imminent deadly threat to officers, while witnesses say he was only holding a book while waiting to pick up his child from the school bus. Initially the demonstrations were peaceful, but as the crowd grew larger and angrier on Tuesday police donned riot gear and fired tear gas and rubber bullets in an effort to disperse the crowd. Early on Wednesday morning demonstrators shut down traffic on Interstate 85. Some took boxes from tractor-trailers and set fire to them in the highway. There was also looting in a nearby Walmart. Police said 16 officers were injured, including one who was hit in the face with a rock. At least 11 civilians were hospitalized and treated for life-threatening injuries. The violence died down during the day on Wednesday. Hundreds turned out for a prayer vigil that morphed into a protest march through downtown Charlotte. But just after nightfall, protesters were once again clashing with police in riot gear. Then came a report that one person had been shot. The injured man was transported to the Omni Hotel, and police confronted protesters again as they attempted to keep them from entering. Police have not identified the victim. Its unclear whether he was taking part in the protests or who shot him. Though some protestors accused police of shooting the man, the city of Charlotte tweeted that it was a civilian on civilian shooting. Officials say police did not fire any live ammunition just several volleys of tear gas. They reported that one officer was slightly injured in the scuffle. ALERT: Fatal shot uptown was civilian on civilian. @CMPD did not fire shot. City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) September 22, 2016 Police in Charlotte use tear gas to try and control protesters after police shooting of Keith Scott https://t.co/SwkVJ6qa8U pic.twitter.com/uaSJo5DG1w NBC News (@NBCNews) September 22, 2016 As the protests grew more chaotic CNN reporter Ed Lavandera was shoved and knocked down during a report. The unrest has mostly been concentrated in Charlottes high-end city center, where there have been many reports of looting and damaged property. The Hornets have confirmed that their team store has been looted and chairs were thrown through the window of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. BREAKING: Hornets confirm that the team store at the arena is being looted by protestors. pic.twitter.com/Q2QKfJDXaA WSOCTV (@wsoctv) September 22, 2016 Windows and glass doors were also broken at a nearby Hyatt by protestors who, according to a hotel manager, punched two hotel employees who had been standing outside. Hyatt crews confirm, no one came inside the building, but employee in blue was punched while standing outside. pic.twitter.com/qHQis19XRB Kristen Hampton WBTV (@KHamptonWBTV) September 22, 2016 Ongoing looting and tear gas in Charlotte pic.twitter.com/BaJYkPa6Ma Marcus DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) September 22, 2016 Broken glass at the Ritz. Someone busted it with a metal chair. pic.twitter.com/jZJXUZSbfZ Cleve R. Wootson Jr. (@CleveWootson) September 22, 2016 Sign through a window at Nascar Hall of fame #KeithScott #clt pic.twitter.com/7FZOGRdywc Ely Portillo (@ESPortillo) September 22, 2016 The windows of the Charlotte Observers lobby were also shattered. Some protestors expressed disappointment at the crowds destructive behavior and called for peace. Just saw a patron helping to clean up the shattered windows at the Hilton Garden Inn. Not a worker, just helping. Good people exist. pic.twitter.com/3ea5CCrIHE Ely Portillo (@ESPortillo) September 22, 2016 Earlier in the night, the Scotts family did the same. As a family, we respect the rights of those who want to protest, Scotts wife, Rakeyia, wrote in a statement, but we ask that people protest peacefully. Please do not hurt people or members of law enforcement, damage property, or take things that do not belong to you in the name of protesting. Rakeyia Scott, the wife of Charlotte shooting victim #KeithScott, issued this statement today: pic.twitter.com/tle5Lqml9r Dianne Gallagher (@DianneG) September 21, 2016 North Carolina governor Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard and state highway patrol. I have declared a State of Emergency & initiated efforts to deploy the Nat'l Guard & Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in CLT Pat McCrory (@PatMcCroryNC) September 22, 2016 National Guard troops arriving in Charlotte pic.twitter.com/IqYhN69mE6 Kevin S Wardlaw (@wardlaw_s) September 22, 2016 This post has been updated throughout. Trader traitor. Photo: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images In April of last year, Marco Rubio wrote that the Trans-Pacific Partnership would further our strategic goals in Asia and increase prosperity at home, in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal. Seventeen months and one humiliating presidential campaign later, Rubio still supports the concept of the trade deal, but isnt sure he supports the agreement in its current form. Id love to have a free trade agreement with the Asia-Pacific region. But it has to be the right deal, Rubio, who is in a tight race to retain his Senate seat, told Politico this week. Just like I support home ownership, but it has to be under the right terms. Rubio isnt the only (historically) pro-trade Republican to suddenly turn his back on the Club for Growth: In 2015, Pat Toomey heralded the TPP as a boon to economic growth and job creation in Pennsylvania. Now Toomey is calling on Obama to shelve the deal. Officially, Toomey discovered his antipathy for the agreement when reading its fine print. While many progressives have complained about the TPPs protections for drug patents which would export Americas high pharmaceutical prices to the developing world Toomey believes those protections arent extensive enough. He also (officially) thinks the agreement doesnt provide American dairy farmers with sufficient access to the Canadian market. Heres a more plausible explanation for Toomeys change of heart: Republican opposition to free trade agreements increased dramatically in the past year https://t.co/Z5PU96oQh1 pic.twitter.com/A3w0MAqtIs Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) August 18, 2016 One month before Donald Trump launched his campaign for the presidency, Pew Research asked Republican voters whether free-trade agreements had been a good or bad thing for the United States. Fifty-one percent said that such deals had been good for America, while 39 percent said the opposite. When Pew took the temperature of those voters again last month, those numbers had flipped. In 2016, a full 61 percent of Republicans say free trade has hurt America. GOP voters have never taken that dim view of trade, since Pew first began soliciting their views on the subject in 2009. Which makes sense: The partys mercantilist nominee has spent most of the past 14 months linking the TPP and every other trade agreement from the past two decades with stupid Democrats who couldnt negotiate their way into an extra ketchup packet at a McDonalds drive-through. Even Ohios Republican senator Rob Portman a former U.S. trade representative felt the shifting winds, declaring his opposition to the TPP way back in February. Its far from clear that the GOPs newfound trade skepticism will last long past November. The fact that rank-and-file opinions on the subject could change so dramatically, over such a short time horizon, suggests Republican voters opposition to free trade is only skin-deep. If Trump loses, the partys next standard-bearer may be able to rebrand the concept with the right symbology. And if Trump wins, any trade agreement he negotiates will be seen as a great deal, by definition. Regardless, though, Trump may have succeeded in poisoning the waters for the TPP. While the American public as a whole still has a warm association with the phrase free trade, Politico reports that few insiders believe Capitol Hill will take action on the agreement during the lame-duck session, as the TPPs boosters had once hoped. If you arent enthusiastic about expanding the reach of an unaccountable global super-court that allows corporations to fine countries for passing public interest regulations then you might consider this one of the few redeeming features of Trumps terrifying political ascent. Photo: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images In the last NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, voters judged Donald Trump to be more honest than Hillary Clinton by a ten-point margin. It is a finding that boggles the mind. Americans deem Clinton less honest and trustworthy than a man who lies in public about opponents in both parties with a frequency and brazenness unsurpassed in national politics, who has broken precedent by refusing to disclose his tax returns, who routinely refused to pay contractors for services rendered, who abused a charitable foundation for personal and political gain, who once boasted in a best-selling book about his habit of lying, and who is currently facing trial for bilking thousands of victims in a massive fraud. Clinton, as I have conceded, has done some bad things born of secrecy and paranoia. But those bad things have not merely tainted her image but defined it. The email story has utterly dominated the publics impression of Clinton, who is the second-most-unpopular nominee of all time and whose shortcomings compare in the public mind with those of her grossly unqualified, authoritarian opponent. Open up any interview with undecided voters, and you will find them equating Trumps shocking lack of qualifications with Clintons mundane transparency issues. (For instance, this Florida voter: Mr. Trump scares him, Mr. Lewis said. Mrs. Clinton, he believes, is dissembling about her health. He, too, is considering sitting out the election.) The ongoing normalization of Trump is the most disorienting development of the presidential campaign, but the most significant may be the abnormalization of Clinton. The news medias obsession with the emails has, without necessarily intending to do so, conveyed the impression that Clinton committed not just run-of-the-mill political scandals but extraordinary offenses of a historic scale. Indeed, this is exactly what most Republicans, even staunch critics of Trump, believe for all of Trumps flaws, she too is disqualified. Hes awful, conservative columnist John Podhoretz tells the Huffington Post. But so is she, and all these arguments about how hes unprecedentedly awful fail to take account of the fact that the Democratic nominee for president was all but indicted by the director of the FBI. Which means she is too. Unprecedentedly awful is a high bar. It seems fair if ones precedent is limited to the current administration, which has had two terms remarkably free of real scandals (that is, scandals that exist outside the conservative fever swamps). But what if we delve farther back into history? Not all the way, to Andrew Jackson profiting off the land he seized from Native Americans, or even to Watergate, Teapot Dome, and IranContra, but to the presidential administration immediately prior to Barack Obamas? The funny thing about the scandal surrounding Clintons private email account is that there was a similar scandal in the Bush administration. Dozens of White House staffers, including Karl Rove, improperly used email accounts provided by the Republican National Committee, which were supposed to be for political work only, for their official duties, thus evading public-records requirements. They then deleted some 22 million emails, thus systematically flouting the same public-records principle that Clinton evaded. If you forgot about this episode, it is because it was merely a secondary scandal within a larger one, involving a Bush administration scheme to politicize the Department of Justice. The administration pressured federal attorneys to find and prosecute vote fraud, which they believed Democrats were committing on a wide scale. When the (Republican) attorneys were unable to find any significant evidence of such vote fraud, the administration fired eight of them, an unusual breach of norms designed to insulate the legal apparatus from partisan politics. If you dont remember that scandal, its because it was subsumed beneath a torrent of other scandals. Here are some highlights: The misappropriation of many billions of dollars by contractors in Iraq, much of which was awarded without bids or any recordkeeping. (When testifying before Congress in 2007, L. Paul Bremer, the former head of reconstruction in Iraq, was unable to account for as much as $12 billionabout half of his budgetas the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority between May 2003 and June 2004.) The illegal, and probably retaliatory, exposure of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Massive bribery of officials in the Department of the Interior. Bribery, and obstruction of justice thereof, in the General Services Administration. The appointment of wildly unqualified cronies to important administrative posts, of which horse-show judge turned FEMA director Michael Brown was merely the most glaring case. The official sanctioning of torture, and subsequent cover-up. The administrations flouting of a Supreme Court ruling by refusing to acknowledge the findings of it own climate scientists. Undisclosed payments to putatively independent political commentators Maggie Gallagher, Armstrong Williams, and Michael McManus to promote the administrations policies. Plus, of course, the administrations intentional manipulation of intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There is widespread confusion about this, because the administration suffered both from genuine intelligence mistakes and also manipulated the intelligence at its disposal to support its preferred conclusion. Senate Republicans blocked any investigation into the administrations manipulation of intelligence, but when Democrats gained control of the chamber, a bipartisan investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee found the Administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even non-existent. Many of these episodes read to the public at the time less as evidence corruption than incompetence (which, to a large extent, it was). But the endemic corruption of the Bush administration reflected ingrained contempt for ethics and good governing norms. Bush filled his administration with people who abused their official power for political or personal gain. One cant directly compare the many ethical failings of the Bush administration with those of a single person. But even if we saddle Hillary Clinton with every ethical failure of her husbands administration alongside her own tenure as secretary of State, and include those of the Clinton post-presidency, it simply does not compare with Bushs. And it should go without saying that the comparison does not excuse Clintons very real failures of ethics and judgment. Yet the question is not whether Clintons ethics problems exist at all but whether they ought to separate her from normal politicians. The inability to contextualize these flaws has been a signal failure of the general election. A man who has a great relationship with the blacks. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images On Tuesday, a Charlotte police officer shot and killed Keith L. Scott, a 43-year-old African-American man. At the time of his death, Scott was either reading a book or waving a gun at cops, depending on whose account of the incident you chose to believe. The citys police chief has said that a video of the shooting does not establish definitive, visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun. However, the department refuses to release said video to the public. For the past two nights, protests have raged in the streets of Charlotte, with demonstrations occasionally giving way to violence. Given this sequence of events, you might think that the unrest in Charlotte was caused by outrage over Scotts killing, and the long history of state violence against African-Americans that preceded it. But on Thursday, the Republican nominee suggested that the unrest had little to do with police brutality in black communities and a lot to do with all of the narcotics in black peoples veins. If youre not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what youre watching on television, Trump explained to a crowd of supporters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in reference to cable news coverage of the protests. According to Politicos Eli Stokols, this was one of the few ad-libbed lines in Trumps remarks. Had the GOP nominee only stuck to the teleprompter, he might have gotten through an entire speech on crime and police violence without saying anything conspicuously racist. There is no compassion in tolerating lawless conduct. Crime and violence is an attack on the poor, and will never be accepted in a Trump administration, the mogul said near the beginning of his remarks, folding his law-and-order stance into his black outreach message. Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the violent disrupter, but to make life more comfortable for the African-American parent trying to raise their kids in peace, to walk their children to school and to get their children a great education. We have to cherish and protect those people. When teleprompter Trump addressed the issue of police shootings, he offered platitudes that wouldnt be out of place in a speech by Barack Obama. Police are entrusted with immense responsibility, and we must do everything we can to ensure they are properly trained, that they respect all members of the public, and that any wrongdoing is always vigorously addressed, Trump declared. All in all, this is about as fair-minded a take on police violence as youre going to get from a Republican politician in 2016 America. If only Trump hadnt taken that moment to speak from his heart. Photo: Barry King/Getty Images Remember the old days, when celebrities got divorced and everyone always imagined the husband as some delightfully feral animal that the poor jilted wife could never tame? Youd read that Bogart or Sinatra went out boozing and carousing with women until their marriages fell apart, and youd think, (insert brassy 40s-heroine voice) That poor broad was foolin herself, thinking she could pin Ol Blue Eyes down once and for all! Something has shifted. Because when we read about the end of Brangelina and the allegations that Brad Pitt has been drinking and smoking pot too much and has anger problems, as reported by TMZ, or the darker rumors of hard drugs, Russian call girls, and an affair with Marion Cotillard on Page Six we feel something we never expected to feel in our lifetimes: pity for Brad Pitt. Because even though Pitt seems to be living what we once considered every mans best life, boozing and sexing it up like a rock star, he now conjures the same specter that Sad Affleck does: the depressed boy who didnt know how to grow up and live up to the expectations of his wife. He clearly intended to become the loyal husband and endlessly patient and loving dad that Jolie assured us he already was when she was casting her dreamy word-spells on the press. Brad wanted to be good! But Brad still liked cigarettes. He just liked them, goddamn it! Liking them meant he was weak, Angie always told him, but he liked them anyway, so screw her! These are the kinds of absurd little cartoons playing out in my treacherous mind at the moment, at any rate. Jolie is the evolved (if slightly manipulative) adult and Pitt is the petulant (if slightly vulnerable and therefore slightly more sympathetic) child. Although thats obviously the kind of story that Jolies publicist and lawyer might encourage when seeking full custody (as Jolie apparently is), even when the question of divorce isnt on the table, Jolie and Jennifer Garner and a slew of other female celebrities today have a habit of putting their high-achieving, clean-cut maternity front and center at all times. This is how you play well in Peoria: You make it clear that your enormous ego takes a distant second to the maternal thrills of playing Monopoly with your offspring for the 16 thousandth time in a row. Whats interesting is that, against the backdrop of the modern, supportive egalitarian partnership, cheating is no longer seen as a scandalous but exciting crime so much as a pathetic grab for personal power. Even if you dont buy the idealistic spin that seems to be offered up by Jolies team, the one that casts Pitt as the wrecking ball (but please note, while assiduously avoiding making Jolie look like The Other Woman done in by Yet Another Other Woman), its still hard to shake off the picture of a strong woman, who doesnt want to waste her energy on anything that doesnt bring her life joy and meaning, being trailed around by a guy whos a little depressed and confused and not sure whats worth living for, beyond the temporary fixes of drugs and booze and lady companions. If celebrities are a blank canvas upon which we project our own aspirations, desires, and, fears, then its interesting that the portrait were painting as a culture has shifted so drastically. Instead of seeing a man who has more adventurous, exciting things to do than savor the company of his army of offspring, we see Brad Pitt as a kind of fallen hero, once dashing and devil-may-care, who has slowly lost his grip on happiness. We dont see a guy like Sinatra, one whos too busy, confident, and callous to slow down for his lady. (As Sinatra famously boasted to a crowd, upon marrying Mia Farrow, I finally found a broad I can cheat on.) We see a man who seems haunted by his partners clear vision of how her life should look, and who couldnt stand to have all of his weaknesses and insecurities shoved in his face by the mature, empowered woman by his side (or, you know, off saving Syrian refugees while he putzes around with her semi-estranged, similarly lost dad, Jon Voight). For a married man in 2016, playing the villain is just a lot less fun (and acceptable) than it used to be. Go on a drug bender while your kids are at home, and the world doesnt cheer you on the way it did back when Jimmy Page was snorting cocaine and sleeping with teenagers. Sure, its a little easier to cheer on Jolies humanitarian pursuits than it is to root for Pitts alleged wild nights or Afflecks dalliances with the nanny (an incident that Garner would only deign to hint, in the most disappointed-parent tone possible, amounted to making bad choices). But maybe were privileging charity and playground photo ops over activities that might feel just as invigorating and life-affirming albeit far less easily photographed and placed on the pages of People magazine. Maybe were hesitant to admit that merely playing house (as my own restless dad liked to call it) gets old not just for men but for all of us at some point. Not that were all designed to cheat, but were all designed to want a more balanced life than the one we now treat as the Platonic ideal of domestication: total surrender to kids agendas, around the clock. Maybe we need more excitement and adventure built into our lives even after weve been thoroughly domesticated. Maybe were at a strange cultural juncture where we expect way too much from each other, and the truth is that few human animals are built to savor spending all of their downtime with small humans particularly doing so in the vacuum-sealed isolation of an overseas celebrity compound staffed by an army of strangers. It takes a village. And although most of us only have two adults and one small hut, maybe that kind of intimacy is friendlier to a marriage than an actual village of paid employees who make life very easy but who are also always around, witnessing your slow downward spiral. When you live in a kind of Disneyland thats also a prison, and you cant step outside without being photographed with headlines like MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS and BRAD IS MISERABLE, how could you be anything but miserable? (And then your wife writes a screenplay about a broken marriage in which you both star.) The easiest, laziest answer to this puzzle is that Jolie surpassed Pitts ability to deal with her or satisfy her needs. But the more complicated answer is the one that plays out in our relationships, marriages, and families privately all the time: Even when youre suspicious of gender roles and utterly dedicated to an egalitarian partnership, its still hard to find a balance of work and power that allows both partners to feel satisfied and at ease. Theres a vulnerability that comes with having babies and relying on your partner not to get bored and wander off while youre immobilized under a pile of suckling humanity. But theres also a vulnerability that comes with trading in your childhood notions of being the leader, hunter, gatherer, and big boss of every room you enter for a role as loyal sidekick to a seemingly wiser, more courageous, more formidable matriarch. Ultimately, though, we dont have to choose between one story of a jilted broad who some restless fella up and left for a brand-new dame, and another story of a depressed wimp who was emasculated by his overbearing wife as the patriarchy slowly but surely collapsed around him. When you subtract our gendered allegiances from the picture, what you see in the Jolie-Pitt divorce are two people trying to build a life under extraordinary circumstances. When youre bouncing between the rarefied habitats of studio back lot, Parisian compound, and diplomatic mission to Ethiopia, your darkness has a lot of fertile acreage on which to grow. Maybe the hothouse of celebrity life, like marriage itself, simply tends to expose which individual has a better handle on their own darkness. Update: Brad Pitt is now reportedly under investigation for child abuse. Plaids, feathers, Diana Ross lyrics. Photo: Getty Images Todays Prada show at Milan Fashion Week was a 70s fever dream: plaids, feathers, feathered plaids. Inside the Fondazione Prada a contemporary art and cultural venue co-chaired by Miuccia Prada and CEO Patrizio Bertelli a severely industrial runway echoed the aesthetic of the Prada mens spring show: Cold steel, metal-grate seating for guests, and a giant cage contrasted with the usual warm-tone sets of spring collections this season (in Guccis case: disco). The metallic runways backdrop was a multi-screen film installation created by Oscar-nominated, Golden Globewinning director David O. Russell (of American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook fame). Russells collaborative short film Past Forward (which Prada released last week) stars Allison Williams as a Hitchcock blonde along with Connie Britton, Freida Pinto, and other house favorites. Fragmented scenes from the movie flickered behind models throughout the show. The cinema poem (per the program) aimed to construct a surreal, futuristic silent dreamscape in which moments, characters, and costumes repeated and morphed, playing with notions of time. Pradas designs played with time as well, sharply contrasting with the futuristic steel runway. After a simple red-belted black dress opened the show, colorful 70s plaids in muted, mod tones (browns, yellows, reds) and marabou-like accents dominated the collection. Photo: Getty Images Models like Raquel Zimmermann and Saskia de Brauw walked in Asian-influenced styles that riffed on travel, similarly to Pradas mens collection. Orchestra music opened the soundtrack, which blended with dreamy, reinterpreted 70s-era Motown lyrics (think Diana Ross: Reflections, Love Hangover). Photo: Getty Images Feathers accented nearly every look, lining the sleeves of trench coats and plaid jackets, slits of silky skirts, scarves, and handbags. Plumes were either white or brightly colored to contrast with a garments fabric, like purple feathers on a red skirt. Models wore flatform shoes or kitten heels (often feathered how to walk in feathers?). The beauty look: smoky, minimalist makeup by Pat McGrath. The hair was simpler, parted to one side and sleekly pulled back. Wonderfully odd pairings of mod patterns gave way to softer, simpler silhouettes and sequin-embellished dresses. After all of the looks streamed down the metal runway like a muted rainbow, Miuccia Prada made an unusually long appearance to thank her guests. Known to peek out ever so briefly after Pradas shows, this time she really went for it, waving to the crowd in all black and gold sandals. A final shot from Russells film appeared on every screen throughout the room: No longer blurry, this image was perfectly clear one womans face in profile, alone. Photo: momcilog/Getty Images/iStockphoto Though maternal-mortality rates fell globally by more than one-third between 2000 and 2015, in the United States, the rate is rising. Maternal mortality death in pregnancy or by complications from childbirth rose from 23 out of every 100,000 births in 2005 to 28 in 2013, according to new data released yesterday. The study provides a comprehensive look at global trends in maternal mortality (which are encouraging overall) and was conducted by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. In fact, it found that very few countries have mortality rates that are rising. A New York Times report about the study said that Americas increase put it above a number of poorer countries whose rates had declined with the global trend, including Iran, Vietnam, Russia and Romania. The findings back up previous research that found maternal-mortality rates steeply rising in many states, particularly the District of Columbia, Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas, where they have reportedly doubled. Many of the deaths nearly a quarter are from cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Other contributing factors are thought to be obesity and and diabetes, but doctors and researchers are still puzzled as to why rates began to rise starting around the year 2000. Glory is FLAWLESS Reply Thread Link Glory be glorious Reply Thread Link Idgi.all this damn promo for a comatose single and no second single? I'm just confused. Good for her getting out there again though! Reply Thread Link I am confused too lmao but I do love all the interviews. Reply Parent Thread Link hopefully she'll announce Do you wanna come over?/Slumber Party/Change your mind as the second single Edited at 2016-09-22 12:20 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link praying 4 slumber party Reply Parent Thread Link ia I really hope they don't keep Private Show as the next single. It's my least fav song on the album. I don't HATE it (the "work it, work it" line is one of my fav parts of the album to sing) but it really is not single worthy. Too much baby voice. Edited at 2016-09-22 12:38 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I am over most of Glory right now but I do listen to some of the tracks occasionally still. Reply Thread Link Those two white bottoms would love Glory. Reply Thread Link Where the fuck is the second single? Reply Thread Link amen Reply Thread Link It's so weird to have consistent promo. It's been 84 years since she promoted beyond week 1 of an album release. Reply Thread Link mte, this almost feels like uncharted territory Reply Parent Thread Link She seems cute Reply Thread Link my friend and i are going lol Queen! Reply Thread Link welp guess i'm going to my first jingle bash then. how random that she's performing there lol Reply Thread Link I literally live for dramatic intros: LEGENDARY. ICONIC. PRINCESS OF POP Reply Thread Link Same lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Promoteney Reply Thread Link It Makes me Ill, Lance? FLOP It's gonna be me? I thought she knew? No strings attached? Digital Get down? Giddy Up? Just the two of Us? I want U Back? Reply Thread Link I've been listening to Glory every day in my car on the way to/from work. I keep thinking I'll get sick of it but ofc that is not physically possible with this masterpiece. Reply Thread Link it has a lot of replay value. while i liked some songs on BJ, i had to force myself to listen to it. Reply Parent Thread Link Honestly, it's a three way tie between "I'd like to be excluded from the narrative", "Take it to Capitol Hill", and "This is the year of realizing stuff" for quote of the year. Reply Thread Link There are more important things to talk about... Why can't people use their voice for something that fucking matters? Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) July 18, 2016 And Reply Parent Thread Link omg lol i'm dying, those four quotes are truly the quotes of 2016 Reply Parent Thread Link Ooh yeah, let me drag ha for having no opinion on anything since posting this tweet. Reply Parent Thread Link lmao yes Reply Parent Thread Link It's a classic. I'm going to find a way to use it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "Please have a little compassion." - Mark Ruffalo Reply Parent Thread Expand Link To the Trans community. I hear you. It's wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It's time. Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 31, 2016 I read "it's time" in a completely different context and cracked up the other day. This tooI read "it's time" in a completely different context and cracked up the other day. Reply Parent Thread Link who said the first and second? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link wait who said "take it to capital hill"? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link & I can't believe take it to capitol hill was this year! It feels like I've been making fun of that forever. Reply Parent Thread Link Can we have "think about it" from Marc Jacobs as well lmao Reply Parent Thread Link IA!!! iconic phrases Reply Parent Thread Link People are being so gross in her comments. I feel bad for her and I truly don't think she had anything to do with it. But someone please explain to me how she's problematic. I've never heard any dirt on her? Reply Thread Link apparently she's anti-feminist and believes in conspiracy theories(like the moon landing being fake). i found out in another post yesterday lol Reply Parent Thread Link she said some dumb shit about 9/11 Reply Parent Thread Link Film-making is not about gender, she said. You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist. We need to fight for womens rights but I dont want to separate women from men. Were separated already because were not made the same and its the difference that creates this energy in creation and love. Sometimes in the word feminism theres too much separation. Reply Parent Thread Link And you know she thinks she's really deep for saying this. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt that she didn't at the time even know what feminism meant, tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link LOL what the user above said. She's kind of dim-witted, like she think 9/11 was done by the U.S. government and the moon landing was a hoax. Reply Parent Thread Link She's a complete dumbass. Reply Parent Thread Link She is a 9/11 truther who believed it was an inside job. She has made some pretty dumb comments about feminism. And they way she hooked up with Canet was suspect. Canet was married at the time. Canet himself is an asshole so he deserves equal blame. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link re: 9/11 I think were lied to about a number of things. We see other towers of the same kind being hit by planes. Are they burned? [There] was a tower, I believe it was in Spain, which burned for 24 hours. It never collapsed. None of these towers collapsed. And there [in New York ], in a few minutes, the whole thing collapsed. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link moon landing: Did a man really walk on the moon? I saw plenty of documentaries on it, and I really wondered. And in any case I dont believe all they tell me, thats for sure Reply Parent Thread Link she's french Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The amount of justified glee they must be getting from harassing a preg lady in honor of girl power. Reply Parent Thread Link She said some dumb stuff. Like dumb things related to 9/11, women's rights, race, etc. Reply Parent Thread Link She's a very nice person from a friend that's worked with her, but pretty daffy. The 9/11 comments were almost a decade ago, and she hasn't said anything horrible since then (dumb, yes, offensive on that level, no), so she's pretty harmless compared to some of my other faves tbh. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link honestly marion is the kind of person who could honestly be convinced to stop believing in the moon itself. but i still love her. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She is a woman with an open mind and who has her own opinions ..... so obviously ONTD hates her Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lol at this whole thread. Srsly. Reply Parent Thread Link That's actually a pretty good response, lol. Good job, Marion Reply Thread Link Aww. She's having another baby? Reply Thread Link I think this was her pregnancy announcement actually. Sucks that she has to announce it this way. Reply Parent Thread Link aw, that's pretty sad actually :( Reply Parent Thread Link Damn, that's a horrible way to break the news. Poor woman. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah. I figured that was it. Reply Parent Thread Link brad's the daddy Reply Parent Thread Link it sucks that she basically had to announce she's pregnant this way Reply Thread Link Good for her. Let's see who the media is going to drag into this next. Reply Thread Link Lol Selena Gomez is already being dragged... Reply Parent Thread Link And she's probably thrilled Reply Parent Thread Link Selena probably started that rumor, lbr. Reply Parent Thread Link lol she really used the word "haters" Reply Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link mte. I automatically check out when someone uses that word in an argument. Reply Parent Thread Link when normal ppl use haters, i rme, but when celebs use it, i kind of get it. they really do have psychos who hate them for no reason. Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously Reply Parent Thread Link It sucks she even had to say anything, but perfect and classy response. Reply Thread Link I feel really bad for her tbh like everyone just straight up assumes she fucked him, her newborn is Brad's, and it's her fault the marriage is over. She doesn't need to get dragged by the crazy fans for this. Reply Thread Link Let's talk about the picture tho. I wonder why she chose that to go with her announcement... Reply Thread Link she probably just thought it was pretty? Reply Parent Thread Link She's French and artsy Reply Parent Thread Link That's all she posts on her insta. Just have a look. Edited at 2016-09-22 12:32 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Bird flying high. You know how I feel. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link right? it looks like what one of my friends call their "art" aka doing a bunch of random filters and ending up with something that looks like a disease. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Her instagram is all rocks and trees and shit like that. Reply Parent Thread Link Not an apology tho? Reply Parent Thread Link marion on tuesday most likely: Reply Thread Link OMG, Troy <3 Reply Parent Thread Link This is hilariously accurate. Somebody should shop Marion's face onto Troy. Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO honestly Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO Reply Parent Thread Link lmaoooo Reply Parent Thread Link lmao pretty much Reply Parent Thread Link omg perfect Reply Parent Thread Link this sounds so authentic. i feel like she actually wrote it herself Reply Thread Link She probably did considering she used the word 'haters' in a serious tone, lol Reply Parent Thread Link lol exactly Reply Parent Thread Link I assumed that she did, it definitely doesn't sound like PR speak. Reply Parent Thread Link She forgot to say she didn't fuck brad Reply Thread Link Don't know why celebs feel the need to write such convoluted novellas on this shit when all they need to say is "No I haven't had an affair with him" Reply Parent Thread Link Messy bitches who live for the drama, all of them. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm dying Reply Parent Thread Link "Please exclude me from the narrative that I fucked Brad." Reply Parent Thread Link bc she prob did Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That immediately stood out to me. She probably did fuck him tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link don't forget watch after the credits! I wonder why they decided to split up the last two episodes though. Originally Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 were supposed to air on the same night. Reply Parent Thread Link I remember one time on NCIS the computer hacker was doing some *serious hacking* (i.e. typing really fast) but she was like "XX is moving to fast* so the guy next to her leaned over and started typing on the keyboard with her, like it was *double hacking* or something and I died laughing. Reply Thread Link lmao this is phenomenal Reply Parent Thread Link iconic scene Reply Parent Thread Link oh my god, I forgot that he unplugs the computer to stop the hacking this is hilarious. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link omg this is fucking amazing Reply Parent Thread Link screaming Reply Parent Thread Link i am crying of laughter rn omg Reply Parent Thread Link http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/csi-cyber-recap-computers-will-kill-you.html If you haven't before, check out Vulture's recaps of CSI: Cyber. They just ripped the show to shreds for similar reasons and it's amazing. Reply Parent Thread Link i finally started watching this! i'm on ep 2 of the first season! Reply Thread Link zup nerds! zup nerds! Reply Thread Link this should be the official gif of the comic book round-up posts. Reply Parent Thread Link def need to start watching this show. Reply Thread Link start tonight you won't be confused at all! Reply Parent Thread Link Waiting for this season to end before I start watching it tbh. I'm a binge-watcher. Reply Thread Link https://www.whoismrrobot.com/endgame/ here's a game to play while waiting for the episode to start Reply Thread Link omg this is so stressful Reply Parent Thread Link i'm in this season has been half excellent, half disappointing, very much depending on which characters had the lion's share of focus in each episode. i'm curious to see how this ep ties it all together (or doesn't). Reply Thread Link I'm so excited but I'm west coast so I won't be hanging around this post for too long. Also I know ONTD is kinda split on Angela but if we have to lose someone tonight (not saying someone is gonna die, just typical of finales) I'd rather it be her over the rest of the cast \_()_/ Reply Thread Link i'm glad you can't make this post Reply Parent Thread Link Lol I knew you'd be the first to respond Reply Parent Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link i can't tell if i'm hyped or dreading this finale lmfao. they've saved so much shit for this final hour that i feel like it's either gonna be immensely satisfying or a historic disappointment. but if my girl angela survives, i'll tune in next season regardless. Reply Thread Link backstage at the Emmys he was asked to give two words to describe season 3. he said absolutely not Reply Parent Thread Link I hate that this show, AHS, and Big Brother are all on at the same time D: Reply Thread Link link for watching anyone? Reply Thread Link couchtuner2 [dot] to has it Reply Parent Thread Link What. the. fuck. is wrong with men. Reply Thread Link men are the fucking worst Reply Thread Link I wonder what everyone's reaction would have been if he didn't have that fucking douche ass hat on and a knife instead? Overreaction, my goddam muthafuckin ass. Reply Parent Thread Link While I agree, female fans are also guilty of this. Fandom culture in general has become gross as fuck. Reply Parent Thread Link I hate that they're brushing this guy off as a ~prankster~ he's just basically assaulting ppl and making them feel unsafe how is that a prank???? And good on her for fighting back I would've been so thrown off I would've just froze. Reply Thread Link i think youre giving yourself too little credit, i bet you'd react the same way Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I suck on this type of things, i thought i didn't until i was in a car crash and knew i can't handle stress situations very well. Reply Parent Thread Link It this the same guy who looked up America's dresss? Reply Parent Thread Link I think it is. Reply Parent Thread Link motherfucker needs to be locked up Reply Parent Thread Link It is, and the one who kissed Will Smith (I think), and I feel like he did something to Ben Affleck too. He's fucking disgusting. Reply Parent Thread Link It's the same guy?!! WTF? Reply Parent Thread Link I hate the fact that this guy is still being called a "prankster". Sexually assaulting women is not a "prank", ffs. Reply Thread Link omg it's him again I checked his wiki... "Occupation Reporter, Celebrity prankster Known for harassing American celebrities" Reply Parent Thread Link WOW Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, it's just like Sam Pepper. He's just a ~jokester~ guys!!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is this guy famous? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link 99% of youtube prank channels: *literally assaults someone* IT'S JUST A PRANK BRO IT'S JUST A PRANK Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is that the same guy who tried to look under America Ferrera's dress at Cannes? My god, when the hell is he going to get sued? Also, I remember when he tried to kiss Will Smith. Lol the post was a mess. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link How is that dude still allowed to go to these red carpet functions? Reply Thread Link This wasn't even on a carpet. This was just her walking to her car on the street, which must have made it even scarier. Reply Parent Thread Link fucking hell, and people still acting like she's overreacting to what was definitely an assault and what probably felt like a kidnapping? Reply Parent Thread Link Is this the guy that tried to crawl up America Ferrera's dress, kissed Will Smith, and put his face in Bradley Cooper's crotch? Fuck him, these people have every right to defend themselves. Reply Thread Link I was going to ask. Didn't he go to jail over the Ferrera situation? It's the same guy: Vitalii Sediuk Edited at 2016-09-22 02:50 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link oh he did? Good, but he should have a restraining order from even being near any of these events. Reply Parent Thread Link I know he definitely was jailed for something he did, but he's done so much I don't remember exactly what it was for. I think he's not allowed in the U.S. anymore and thank God for that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This guy is going to get himself killed or seriously beat the fuck down with one of his "pranks." Reply Parent Thread Expand Link IDK what men get out of this? A few years ago at Cannes someone tried to crawl inside America Ferrera's gown. Reply Thread Link Same guy :( idk why they don't permanently ban him from all events. Reply Parent Thread Link this guy is heinous. how has he not learned how disgusting his actions are?? he needs to go to prison. Reply Thread Link this is so gross embarrassed to be milanese tbh Reply Thread Link celeb gossip is bleak and disgusting today Reply Thread Link This whole year has been bleak. We were expecting fun, dishy celebrity divorces and got Johnny Depp's abusive ass and now Brad Pitt. Reply Parent Thread Link god, yeah. I wanted marriage impossible 2.0 not.... these Reply Parent Thread Link I hate saying this but Taylor Swift is the only person this summer that has given us fun/embarrassing/not completely depressing gossip. Not the hero we need, but the hero we deserve and all that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The fact this even happens to celebrity women with security WHILE CAMERAS ARE AROUND is just frightening. So much more goes unseen.... GOD MEN ARE THE FUCKING WORST. Reply Thread Link why hasn't this man been arrested yet?!? Reply Thread Link bc he's a man and it's a ~harmless prank~ Reply Parent Thread Link That guy's a fucking moron Reply Thread Link I'm glad she elbowed him in the face. You go girl! Reply Thread Link mte fuck yeah Reply Parent Thread Link yasssss, she elbowed him and punched him as he was running away. That's the spirit. Fuck this dude. Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link She tried to follow him, too. I think she'd have curb-stomped his ass if she'd caught up to him. And now I'm kind of fangirling her. Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. That really made me like her, and especially how she tried to chase him down. Reply Parent Thread Link Same!! lmao I love her for trying to go after him and beat him up Reply Parent Thread Link she elbowed the shit out of him too. gj gigi Reply Parent Thread Link Mte Reply Parent Thread Link I know! Good for her. Reply Parent Thread Link yesssss Reply Parent Thread Link tbh he's lucky all he got was an elbow to the face. I get squirmy when my friends playfully pick me up, if a stranger did it I'd be throwing my legs and arms at whatever I could make contact with Reply Thread Link Neither are particularly talented so... Reply Thread Link This comment with that username... Bye. Reply Parent Thread Link lol little mix and ariana are probably the most talented girls out of the new generation of artists. their management just hate them. Reply Parent Thread Link lmao stop. Reply Parent Thread Link lmaoooo Reply Parent Thread Link lmao I love this thread Reply Parent Thread Link yeah ok girl. Reply Parent Thread Link lmfao. the delusion Reply Parent Thread Link Lol damn people are mad. Ariana is a boring performer, that's true. Reply Parent Thread Link sorry for your flop taste bb. little mix are amazing live <3 Reply Parent Thread Link Yawn Reply Thread Link In the US tho? Bc if not idgaf Reply Thread Link She has only announced US dates, so I want to believe they're touring the US with her. Reply Parent Thread Link did you read the post? Reply Parent Thread Link Two flops sharing stage together. Can't wait! Reply Thread Link I didn't ring honey. I don't stan Meghan so I don't know what you are doing here lmao Reply Parent Thread Link US dates? Reply Thread Link Apparently Reply Parent Thread Link She should have let Fifth Harmony open for ha since they can't carry their own tour. Literally nobody cares about Trail Mix. Reply Thread Link but keep pushing that narrative boo except most of the US tour dates were sold out, positive reviews and they're about to continue their tour in Mexico and Europe.but keep pushing that narrative boo Reply Parent Thread Link yas hunny!!! shine the light on the lessors!!! Reply Parent Thread Link get ha Reply Parent Thread Link I love Victoria Monet! OP you wrong for shunning ha! Reply Thread Link PLEASE COME TO BRASIL I love both, it would be awesome. Reply Thread Link Excited! What are the tour dates with Little Mix?? Reply Thread Link good luck filling out them seats guys Reply Thread Link I'm buying an entire row. Reply Parent Thread Link you dont have to buy it, just buy a seat the row will be empty for you for free sis!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link smart, because little mix can't sell out their own tour Reply Thread Link neither can FH Reply Parent Thread Link and the tour is about to continue in Mexico and Europe, but keep telling yourself those lies boo and the tour is about to continue in Mexico and Europe, but keep telling yourself those lies boo Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Did you miss their sold out Get Weird Tour? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yep! This is gonna give them more exposure than touring with Demi! Reply Parent Thread Link They sold out in the UK though..wyd sis. People keep acting like the US is the only country that matters. lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ohhhh interesting. I hope there will be US dates! I'm not really an Ariana fan but I'd go for LM and probably stay to watch at least some of her. :) Reply Thread Link http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/09/ariana-grande-dangerous-woman-us-tour-dates The tickets go on sale saturday The US dates are already out lmaoThe tickets go on sale saturday Reply Parent Thread Link LOL oops @ me...thanks! Reply Parent Thread Link toronto, montreal, and van dates... Reply Parent Thread Link I legit screamed when I read her caption LOL YESSSSSSS Reply Thread Link Girl same. I was like, idk who this Victoria is, then I scrolled and saw the Little Mix pic and DIED. Edited at 2016-09-22 07:03 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link and none for Fifth No Harmony! Reply Thread Link Ariana went to see them on tour a week ago lmao. 5H are doing great headlining their tour in SA, NA and Europe Reply Parent Thread Link how are Flex and Thats My Girl doing on the charts boo? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It all looked so promising: Saddam Hussein is overthrown, post-war Iraq needs help with getting back on its feet, and foreign oil companies are quick to respond. The Middle Eastern country has one of the worlds most abundant crude oil reserves, and whats more, the reserves are relatively easy to extract. Indeed, the future looked bright when Shell, BP, and Lukoil entered Iraq and went to work. A few years later, things look significantly less rosy. Oil prices are down to levels last seen in 2009. Iraq is fighting the Islamic State. The Iraqi government has no money to invest in developing those famous oil reserves. As a result, Big Oil is finding it increasingly hard to keep the ball rolling, and according to the Wall Street Journal, is right now basically on hold, biding its time and probably waiting for the situation to change. Following the price crash that began in 2014, several production expansion projects at the fields operated by the three majors were suspended as the government found itself unable to pay them for the fields development. In May this year, Baghdad asked the field operators directly to cut their investments into the fields because it would be unable to repay these investments. That request came at the worst possible moment, when Iraq had just become the largest exporter of crude to India and needed to pump more oil. Last month, however, media reported that BP, Shell, Lukoil, and the Iraqi government had reached agreements to restart the projects, with Baghdad pledging the investments it had suspended earlier due to the low oil price. The agreements should bring an additional 250,000-350,000 bpd to the countrys output, which in August averaged 4.6 million bpd. However, these agreements also concerned the companies budgets. All three agreed to cut their allocations for the Iraqi fields by a significant portion, which would limit their opportunities to expand production in a way that would be meaningful in view of their individual bottom lines. Related: Long Term Consequences Of The Oil Price Crash Thats why, as the WSJ reports, BP is working on boosting output from its operating wells at the giant Rumaila field, instead of drilling new ones, and thats why Shell is in no rush to double the 200,000-bpd output at the Majnoon field but is for now just focusing on sustaining production. Thats also why Lukoil has put on hold its output expansion plans for West Qurna-2, after lower revenues from the field affected its Q2 financial results. The developments are kind of ironic, given the rush to enter Iraq when the dust settled after the 2003 invasion. Just this week details from the Chilcot report were released by the Financial Times, showing that ex-Vice President Dick Cheney had met with Russias then-PM Evgeny Primakov to offer an easier entry of Russian energy companies into Iraq in exchange for their support of the invasion. The FT went on to cite British government officials who met with local oil companies that were worried they might get passed by for entry into Iraqs oil and gas. Well, they didnt get passed by, and at least one Russian company joined them in Iraq. But, alas, the Iraqi dream has so far proven to be a disappointment. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Qatar always wanted to punch above its weight. In Syria, it got the chance. In 2009, Qatar, a leading natural gas producer, approached Syria about routing its planned 1,500 mile pipeline to the gas markets of Europe through Syrias Aleppo province. Qatar wanted a pipeline straight to Europe as its current gas transport modes were limited to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker, mostly to Asia with limited spot shipments to Europe or the Dolphin pipeline to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The pipeline would head north and end in Turkey after crossing Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria. Syria declined Qatars offer, which would have cut the European market share of its partner, Russia, and instead agreed to participate in the Friendship Pipeline between Iran and Iraq that was considered a Shia Pipeline to some and a target for the Sunni monarchies of the Gulf. Not understood, or ignored, was Syrias longstanding support of the Iranian regime, especially during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, and its long relationship with Russia, dating from 1944, which should have been a warning of who might appear if things hotted up. In 2010, Israel and Syria held back-channel talks that reportedly included Israels return of the Golan Heights to Syria in exchange for security guarantees. The talks lagged due to mutual suspicions about the other sides ability to deliver and, by early 2011, the Arab Spring had erupted across the region and leaders attentions turned to more immediate concerns. At this point, America had the opportunity to strike a blow against the Islamic Republics ally, the Assad regime. In 2011, Turkey provided a home for the opposition Syrian National Council and, in August 2011, the U.S., its allies, and the UN were calling on Bashar Assad to step down. In 2011, Syria, Iran, and Iraq agreed to build a pipeline to connect Irans South Pars gas field to Europe. The pipeline would run from Assalouyeh, Iran to Europe via Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, with Syria as the center of assembly and production. What remains unclear is why, when Syria turned down its original pipeline proposal, it didnt pursue its second option for the pipeline route: Saudi Arabia Kuwait Iraq. Aside from the challenging terrain in Iraq, the mostly likely reasons are the discovery of vast gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, and Saudi opposition to a pipeline through Kuwait. If a more Qatar-friendly regime were to gain control of Syria, Qatar would be able to garner more profit and have influence over the state, something it is unable to do with Saudi Arabia, which vehemently opposes Qatars historic support of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan, a U.S. ally, or Iraq, an Iranian ally. At that point it was nothing personal, just business, and the Assads had to go. Related: Why Oil Markets Should Brace For OPEC Disappointment This was Qatars best chance to influence the affairs of the region. It has a tiny native population guest workers make up almost 90 percent of Qatars population of 2.2 million and an unhealthy one, so some options are limited as it has a very small military. It does, however, have a healthy check book and was able to use it to help finance the Syrian opposition forces. To better understand the war in Syria, remember the surge in natural gas discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean starting in 2009. Israel, Cyprus, and Egypt have found large gas deposits, and offshore Lebanon has the potential for significant gas resources. Israel has the potential to export gas to Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey. (Israel and Turkey have discussed a pipeline to Turkey, but Cyprus has objected as it does not have diplomatic relations with Turkey.) If the pipeline from Iran to Syria it could create an energy hub in Syria, and could block Qatar gas sales to Europe at a time when Qatars gas exports to the U.S. have dropped to zero, largely due to increasing U.S. domestic production of natural gas. Thus Qatar would be limited to the Asian LNG market as it scrapped for the EU market with Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Russia. And the only thing that could make it worse is happening: Europe is forecast to take more than half of U.S. LNG exports by 2020. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and their confederates are in it to win it, and the fighting in Syria has focused on the pipeline routes. Aleppo province, which would host the Qatari pipeline, is where Turkey wants to establish a buffer zone to support moderate rebel forces. If Turkey can control this territory, it will bolster the Qatari pipeline and ensure its own preeminence as the energy hub in southern Europe, where it would gather oil and natural gas from Russia, Central Asia, the Caspian, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East, and become less reliant on Russian gas, which accounted for over 50 percent of its imports in 2014. But Russia hasnt been standing still: it has surrounded Turkey on three sides by occupying Crimea, sending more troops to Armenia, and deploying the S-400 air defense system to Syria, creating a no-fly zone, and maybe a no-buy zone for potential customers of Qatari gas. Related: Tensions Spike As Kenya And Somalia Battle For Oil Rich Offshore Blocks The Pashas increasingly autocratic behavior may spur hedging behavior in Europe, such as balancing the Pasha with the Tsar and completing Russias Nord Stream pipeline, negotiating better deals with key suppliers Norway and Algeria, importing LNG from the U.S., and getting serious about fracking for shale gas. Turkey turned the flow of refugees to Europe on and off to get what it wanted, and the possibility remains that it will one day do the same with energy. And Qatar may have to write some more checks in addition to the ones it has sent to Assads opposition. Turkey has some serious policy and infrastructure shortfalls that work against it becoming a serious energy hub soon: weak domestic gas regulation, state subsidies, monopoly control of the gas transmission network, only two LNG terminals, and a lack of storage capacity. Syria may be too wrecked to be a hub and Turkey lacks the infrastructure for the role. Russia may be interested in investing in increasing Turkeys hub capacity and Turkey, which is making amends with Russia, may take the money over Qatars for a pipeline that may never be built. Russias good relations with Cyprus and Israel could propel movement towards a resolution of the Cyprus dispute so the gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey becomes a reality, having the knock-on effect of attracting more outside investment to Turkey. To succeed in its pipeline goals, Qatar will have to make serious investments in the Turkish end of its project as well as resisting political pressure from Russia. Until then, it will be limited to making LNG shipments to Europe by tanker. In the meantime, these pipeline geopolitics have contributed to serious consequences for the Middle East. By James Durso for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: There is a strong possibility that OPEC disappoints the oil markets in the coming days, offering either no production limit or a toothless agreement that may not even be finalized until some future meeting. OPEC talked up an oil price rally in August by floating the possibility of a freeze deal, but has since all but admitted that nothing would come of the Algeria meeting, at least not right away. In any event, a freeze on record high production was always going to be an underwhelming result, even if the oil markets did not catch on to that fact right away. Thus, next week OPEC might push down oil prices with a disappointing result from Algeria. But the problems for any oil price rally might only get worse from there. That is because more supplies are set to come online in the coming months. First there is Libya, which has quietly brought back about 190,000 barrels per day of oil production since August, according to Bloomberg. Output is now up to 450,000 barrels per day as several oil fields resumed operations. The Seadelta oil tanker left the Ras Lanuf port on September 20, the first shipment from the countrys third-largest oil export terminal since 2014. The tanker carried 781,000 barrels of oil and headed for Italy. Production and exports could climb from there Libya is hoping to hit 950,000 barrels per day by the end of the year. With the export terminal back online, Libya could succeed in boosting its output for the first time in years. Related: Are Low Interest Rates Bad For Energy? Even if the nearly 1 million barrels per day (mb/d) objective proves to be too optimistic in the near-term, if Libya can ratchet up production from todays levels, it would extend the slump for crude, ensuring a longer period of low oil prices. Nigeria is also throwing more barrels onto the already oversupplied market. The Niger Delta Avengers have called off attacks and are negotiating with the Nigerian government, allowing for the return of some supply. Nigerias Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, said that the country has succeeded in bringing back more than 200,000 barrels per day in recent weeks, taking output up to 1.7 mb/d. The violence in the Niger Delta is far from over, and new militant groups could still emerge to threaten the countrys energy infrastructure a bomb from a new group hit an oil pipeline operated by state-owned NNPC a few days ago but if Nigeria can continue to bring back lost production, the oil markets could see several hundred thousand barrels per day of additional supply. Then there is Russia, which just hit a record high for oil production in the post-Soviet era. Russias production topped 11 mb/d in September, the highest monthly total in decades. The achievement means that Russia is more than willing to agree to an OPEC freeze deal, because doing so will lock in record levels of production. Russias energy minister Alexander Novak said a few weeks ago that Russia would be willing to sign on to a freeze, using any of Russias monthly totals from the second half of this year as its cap, a small concession given the latest record-breaking total. Related: EIA Boosts Oil Prices With Huge Draw Report Iran, too, could add more production in the coming months, although that could be a heavier lift since much of Irans low-hanging fruit has already been brought back online. More gains will likely require more investment, but still, any surprise from Iran will be on the upside. We are about to see a big jump in production once the Libyan situation resolvesthe Nigerians are coming back online, and the Russians of all people are going to bring 200,000 barrels more to the market by the end of the year from a big field theyve got going in the Caspian. So, I mean, its just a joke, John Kilduff of Again Capital Partners, said on CNBC, referring to the possibility of a price increase. I think we reach $40 on the way down, he added, predicting more declines ahead for crude oil. The oil markets will put an excessive and unwarranted amount of attention on what happens in Algeria. Meanwhile, global supplies could climb in the next few months. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Gazprom Neft launched commercial-scale production at the Messoyakha field, the northernmost land oilfield in the world, in the Russian Arctic. The field has swallowed US$1.3 billion in investments, and tax revenues from it are seen at some US$13.6 billion by 2040. The field, which is being developed by Gazprom Neft in partnership with Rosneft, should yield some 600,000 tons of crude by the end of the year, equal to around 4.2 million barrels. Next year, the operators eye output of 3 million tons, to expand to 5.5 million by 2020. This would equal a daily production rate of 60,000 barrels in 2017 and 110,000 barrels in 2020. The oil from the field, which is basically in the middle of nowhere in the northeastern Siberia region of Yamal-Nenets, will be pumped from 50 wells and fed into the Arctic-Purpe pipeline after being heated at the wellhead. The output from Messoyakha will add to Gazprom Nefts annual estimated output of 59 million tons of oil and condensate this year, and the planned 62 million tons next year. This, Reuters notes, is more than what Algeria is currently producing. At the same time, the output from Messoyakha will help maintain an already record-breaking national production rate, which passed the 11-million-bpd on September 8. Average oil production in Russia is estimated to continue at this level until the end of the year, with ambitions to reach 11.1 million barrels daily. While this will solidify Russias place as the worlds number-one oil producer, it reinforces questions about the point of any production freeze that might be agreed by OPEC and Russia next week in Algiers. Deputy Energy Minister Kiril Molodstsov said earlier today that in theory the country could cut its daily output by 5 percent, adding that this option has been discussed with local oil companies. However, he noted that no formal agreement had been reached with any of them. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Gas extracted from shale fracked in the United States will arrive in Britain next weeka first for Britainwhich could prompt Scotland to rethink its strong opposition to fracking. The petrochemicals company Ineos will deliver a shipment of ethane - a product used to create plastic, anti-freeze and detergents next Tuesday. A lone Scots piper will greet the shipment at dawn in Scotlands Firth of Forth, the company said. The shipment is a precursor to large deliveries of liquefied natural gas sourced from fracked U.S. shale, which will reach European shores by 2018, according to Reuters. The Zurich-based company stands against the Scottish moratorium on fracking. The firm is Britains largest shale gas firm in acreage, and promises to share six percent of revenues with local residents. Supporting fracking would create thousands of new jobs, according to Ineos Chairman Jim Ratcliffe one of the richest men in Britain. "Shale gas can help stop the decline of British manufacturing and this is a first step in that direction," he said in a statement, pointing to Scotlands soon-to-be struggling economy if/when Brexit is implemented. Scotland implemented its fracking moratorium in 2015, arguing that the government needed to see more research on the issue before allowing the practice to continue. Britain has been more receptive to the practice in recent months. In a 7-4 vote in May, Councilors of the county of North Yorkshire approved industrial tests that will allow fracking in the country for the first time in five years. The last fracking incident in Britain occurred in 2011, when the U.K.-based oil and gas company Cuadrilla Resources admitted that two minor earthquakes in north-west England had been caused by the companys use of the controversial drilling practice. David Cameron and his ministers welcomed the tests, and the prime minister said in 2014 that his government was going all out for shale. The Wall Street Journal said the British leader is eager to replicate the success of the United States shale boom. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: ConocoPhillips, Husky Energy, Shell and MGM Energy are set to get exclusive, lifetime drilling rights to an area 2,485 square miles in size in the Canol shale area, located just south of Normal Wells in Canada, situated in the countrys Northwest Territory. Earlier in September, a panel commissioned by the territorys regulator, the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operation (OROGO), confirmed that a ConocoPhillips well drilled in 2014 had found a significant discovery" of hydrocarbons. ConocoPhillips can now acquire a discovery license that would permit it to explore the area in perpetuity. Wally Schumann, the minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment would be the official to issue the license. That same panel determined that due to the immense size of the deposit, other companies with exploration licenses that are located near ConocoPhillips could also apply for significant discovery licenses. Usually in exploration cases, companies must wait until they receive their own significant discovery licenses. ORGO Executive Director James Fulford said that the panel calculated the size of the discovery area based on data provided by the companies. Doug Matthews, energy analyst and former director of the oil and gas division for the Northwest Territory, called the panels move hasty. According to Matthews, the decision puts the Canol shale oil play in the hands of four companies at a very early stage of development. Matthews stated A significant portion of the Central Mackenzie Valley is, for all intents and purposes, closed. Matthews also expressed concern that once the four companies acquire their exclusive licenses, the land may sit idle. In March of last year, ConocoPhillips said that it was not planning any work for its parcel. Although a significant discovery declaration and subsequent significant discovery license is a positive indication for a play, it does not indicate commercial viability," said a spokesperson for ConocoPhillips at the time. Lincoln Brown for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Falah Al-Amri, Iraqs governor to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), claimed on Thursday that the time is right for top oil producers to come to an agreement over lowering output of the valued commodity. Speaking at an energy event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Al-Amri claimed the price of oil would not cross the US$50 per barrel threshold unless the fourteen OPEC member states reach a pact to curb output. This could come as soon as next week, as OPEC representatives might hold an extraordinary meeting following informal talks on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF) next week in Algeria. Al-Amri, who also serves as director general of Iraq's Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), advocated a cap as the only way to support the oil price prior to a conference similar to the IEF last April in Doha, Qatar. His suggestion was ultimately rejected, though he was confident that the upcoming talks in Algiers would be a little different. There was no deal because the circumstances weren't ready to strike a deal. This time they have to do something, said Al-Amri, according to Albawaba Business. Energy secretaries of other key oil producing states are not as enthusiastic as Al-Amri regarding freezing output. We are not targeting a decision, we are meeting for consultations, cautioned UAE energy minister Suhail Mohammad Faraj Al Mazroui. Government representatives of Saudi Arabia, whose oil production reached a record high of 10.67 million barrels per day in July, have given mixed signals. According to the Investors Business Daily, oil minister Khalid al-Falih said in August that a freeze wasn't necessary, while Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir claimed the government would accept a production cap. Nevertheless, the possibility of unity over oil production, along with a variety of other factors, has given a boost to investors, who on Thursday pushed up West Texas Intermediate and Brent oil futures by 2.6 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. "The Saudi talks with Iran increase the likelihood of an agreement next week," said Bob Yawger, director of the futures division at Mizuho Securities USA Inc., to Bloomberg. "The Iraqis are saying its the right time for OPEC to make a deal, which is also supportive." By Erwin Cifuentes for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: There was a time when removing a building from the landscape was a dramatic affair. Buildings were imploded with a boom and a plume of grey dust, or they were pounded by the repetitive thump of a wrecking ball. But these days, thankfully, theres a growing approach that seeks to keep as much waste out of landfills and reuse and recycle as much material as possible. The nonprofit WasteCap, for example, salvages architectural elements and materials from city-owned homes before theyre demolished. And when Northwestern Mutual took down the 16-story "east building" in 2014 to make way for its new tower and commons project, it salvaged much of the material, too. While Habitat for Humanity is best known for constructing urban homes, the nonprofits deconstruction team also does salvage work. And a lot of it. Theres so much residential and commercial deconstruction work from rescuing cabinets before a kitchen rehab in a private home to pulling out in-demand barn wood from an old factory that Milwaukees ReStore team is scheduled out at least three months ahead these days. "We have a lot of people both commercial and residential that will reach out to us when they're going and taking down a building like this as a way to make sure some of the materials just don't end up in the landfills," says Jake Brandt, Milwaukee Habitats marketing and communications manager, as we stand in a giant old Vilter Manufacturing shed on the western edge of Bay View. "We do charge a small fee of only $250 and that's a donation to Habitat to bring our team out there, which is typically significantly less than a standard deconstruction a salvage team would do." Founded in 1867, Vilter produces industrial refrigeration equipment, and during its long history it installed the first unit cooler in a small butcher shop in Milwaukee, and built cooling equipment for breweries, ice houses and meatpacking plants. It built the air conditioning equipment for one of the arenas at the 1960 Rome Olympics and in 2010 Vilter was the official sponsor of the U.S. bobsled team. Now based in Cudahy, the company long occupied this complex of buildings on South 1st Street, between Lincoln and Becher. The buildings are a hodgepodge, built and added to as needed over the decades. As such, theres a wide variety of material here. Habitat was salvaging everything from beam equipment to a scale to painted barn wood to metal and wood shelving, to doors, signs, fixtures, hardwood floors and much more. Basically, anything that would be of interest to customers in the ReStore shops at 420 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, and 3015 N. 114th St. in Wauwatosa. The guard tower: exterior and interior. And, below, the view out the windows. As we check out the work going on at the site, deconstruction manager Jake Weiler tells me that most of whats being taken out of the old Vilter complex has been going straight to the shops and, in large part, is being sold within a day. Sometimes items are sold on their way out to the sales floor, he says. Sales at the ReStore outlets directly benefit Habitat for Humanitys work building homes in Milwaukee. "On top of that, anything that we salvage out of here, we provide a complete detailed list of what we've salvaged to the donor, and they can write that off on their taxes," Brandt says. In 2015, Brandt says that Milwaukee Habitat did about 75 deconstruction jobs, of which about 43 were commercial. "It's been leaning a little bit more towards the commercial side, but we do both. We were just, a couple weeks ago, at a home in Whitefish Bay that was being completely gutted and took out all these beautiful cabinets, wood flooring, pretty much anything and everything. "This team last year salvaged over $343,000 worth of materials from those deconstructions. That's all stuff that would have just been tossed in a dump, but instead, it's going to raise money for Habitat for Humanity." Deciding what to take and what to leave is key to the process. Anything hazardous lead painted covered in asbestos, etc. is not salvaged by the ReStore folks. Beyond that, its important to understand what will bring returns on the investment of removal. "We've got a couple amazing team-leader volunteers that have been volunteering with us since about 2010," says Brandt. "One of them comes from an interior design background, so she's got an eye to kind of know what's there going to be a market for. "For example, right now we're salvaging all the barn wood off of this building here. That's the kind of stuff that people are just eating up. Sometimes it's trial and error. We'll pull things that we think we see value in and got to put it in the ReStores to find out, but typically it's on our staff to look at the items and see what's there is going to be a good resale market for." The day I visited there were perhaps a dozen ReStore volunteers working on the long factory building that runs along the east side of South 1st Street the one with that little guard tower turret on the corner of Becher while a demolition team worked to clear a previously deconstructed building behind it. They were taking apart metal shelving units and wooden storage cabinets. They were pulling apart workbenches built into one of the walls up in the mezzanine. Outside, a couple was taking red-painted barn wood clapboards off the exterior. There were some other cool materials, like wooden paving "stones" that had been used to "tile" the factory floor. The ones that had been removed were piled up like a heap of coal. Alas, these were being left behind because they were laced with creosote. These folks were working hard and seemed to be having a great time, too, despite or maybe because of the fact that it wasnt a paid job. "This team is absolutely all rock stars," says Brandt. "These guys are out here every single week. Some of them are retired teachers. One was an interior designer before this. Another one of our volunteer leaders used to work at U.S. Bank. So it's really kind of diverse backgrounds coming together because they see how much value that they can bring to Habitat for Humanity. "Every Wednesday, they are at a new deconstruction project and, like I said, they're all volunteers. We have anywhere from to 10 to 20 volunteers on this team that are coming out every single week. It's really amazing. Amazing people." Reprinted from Counterpunch Hillary Clinton supporters are freaking out. And rightfully so! Eight weeks from Election Day, she and Trump are basically neck and neck. And that's before the three presidential debates, which I not only expect him to win but can't imagine a scenario in which she does not lose. Democrats are wallowing in the Anger stage of the Kubler-Ross model of grief. How on earth, they howl on op-ed pages and cable-news talking-head shows, can this be? Why doesn't the electorate -- that useless "basket of deplorables" -- not see what is plain for all to see, that Hillary possesses more qualifications for the nation's highest political office in her tiniest pinkie toe than The Donald has in his whole 267-pound body? For that matter, why isn't the media holding him accountable for his lies? "Donald Trump, who lies whenever he speaks and whose foundation is a Ponzi scheme compared to the Clintons, is being graded on a ridiculously generous curve," Michael Tomasky companied at The Daily Beast. Hillary says she's tired of watching the media treat Trump with kid gloves -- but she's happy that some people (her allies and surrogates) are finally paying attention: "I've been somewhat heartened by articles recently pointing out the disparate treatment of Trump and his campaign compared to ours -- I don't understand the reasons." And here we have it: the biggest reason Hillary Clinton shouldn't be president. She is an atrocious politician. Hillary's political incompetence manifests itself in two ways. First, she repeats her mistakes. Everyone messes up. When smart people screw the pooch, however, they learn from their mistakes. When they make new mistakes, they make a whole new different kind of mistake. Not Hillary. Hillary keeps going back to the disaster well for another cup. Take her vote to invade Iraq. It was unforgivable for a Democrat to support Bush. So Democrats didn't forgive her. That vote, and her refusal to apologize, is the main reason she lost to Obama in 2008. An intelligent politician would have recognized that her party's base is generally antiwar, and acted accordingly. Hillary pushed Obama to arm and fund radical Islamist insurgents in Libya and Syria, two of the Arab world's most prosperous countries. Thanks in large part to her, both nations are embroiled in endless, brutal civil wars. As far as we can tell, she's still a nasty George W. Bush-style interventionist -- a stance that may well cost her 2016 too. Then there's the email thing. Polls have consistently shown that voters don't trust her. Why? Because she's too secretive. Given that knowledge, you'd think Clinton and her advisers would act as transparently as possible. Straight and narrow! By the book! But no. Not only does she illegally use a private email server for her State Department email, she deletes thousands of them. When she gets caught, she blames Colin Powell. Then she claims none of those emails were classified -- but some were. The email thing never goes away -- so what does she do next? She lies about catching pneumonia. (I'm fine. Just mild seasonal allergies. Wait, I was overheated/dehydrated. Actually, I have pneumonia. Had. Two days ago. Gonna be just fine now.) Which is why the DNC may be asking themselves if it's too late to bring back Bernie Sanders. The second half of Hillarian political malpractice is her stubborn refusal to accept something that she can't do anything about: the media, and the voters, really do give Trump a pass on a lot of stuff for which they hold her feet to the editorial fire. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. You Must Be Kidding! Adventures in an American World of Frustration By Tom Engelhardt Recently, sorting through a pile of old children's books, I came across a volume, That Makes Me Mad!, which brought back memories. Written by Steve Kroll, a long-dead friend, it focused on the eternally frustrating everyday adventures of Nina, a little girl whose life regularly meets commonplace roadblocks, at which point she always says... well, you can guess from the title! Vivid parental memories of another age instantly flooded back -- of my daughter (now reading such books to her own son) sitting beside me at age five and hitting that repeated line with such mind-blowing, ear-crushing gusto that you knew it spoke to the everyday frustrations of her life, to what made her mad. Three decades later, in an almost unimaginably different America, on picking up that book I suddenly realized that, whenever I follow the news online, on TV, or -- and forgive me for this but I'm 72 and still trapped in another era -- on paper, I have a similarly Nina-esque urge. Only the line I've come up with for it is (with a tip of the hat to Steve Kroll) "You must be kidding!" Here are a few recent examples from the world of American-style war and peace. Consider these as random illustrations, given that, in the age of Trump, just about everything that happens is out-of-this-world absurd and would serve perfectly well. If you're in the mood, feel free to shout out that line with me as we go. Nuking the Planet: I'm sure you remember Barack Obama, the guy who entered the Oval Office pledging to work toward "a nuclear-free world." You know, the president who traveled to Prague in 2009 to say stirringly: "So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons... To put an end to Cold War thinking, we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same." That same year, he was awarded the Nobel Prize largely for what he might still do, particularly in the nuclear realm. Of course, that was all so 2009! Almost two terms in the Oval Office later, our peace president, the only one who has ever called for nuclear "abolition" -- and whose administration has retired fewer weapons in our nuclear arsenal than any other in the post-Cold War era -- is now presiding over the early stages of a trillion-dollar modernization of that very arsenal. (And that trillion-dollar price tag comes, of course, before the inevitable cost overruns even begin.) It includes full-scale work on the creation of a "precision-guided" nuclear weapon with a "dial-back" lower yield option. Such a weapon would potentially bring nukes to the battlefield in a first-use way, something the U.S. is proudly pioneering. And that brings me to the September 6th front-page story in the New York Times that caught my eye. Think of it as the icing on the Obama era nuclear cake. Its headline: "Obama Unlikely to Vow No First Use of Nuclear Weapons." Admittedly, if made, such a vow could be reversed by any future president. Still, reportedly for fear that a pledge not to initiate a nuclear war would "undermine allies and embolden Russia and China... while Russia is running practice bombing runs over Europe and China is expanding its reach in the South China Sea," the president has backed down on issuing such a vow. In translation: the only country that has ever used such weaponry will remain on the record as ready and willing to do so again without nuclear provocation, an act that, it is now believed in Washington, would create a calmer planet. You must be kidding! Plain Old Bombing: Recall that in October 2001, when the Bush administration launched its invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S. was bombing no other largely Islamic country. In fact, it was bombing no other country at all. Afghanistan was quickly "liberated," the Taliban crushed, al-Qaeda put to flight, and that was that, or so it then seemed. On September 8th, almost 15 years later, the Washington Post reported that, over a single weekend and in a "flurry" of activity, the U.S. had dropped bombs on, or fired missiles at, six largely Islamic countries: Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. (And it might have been seven if the CIA hadn't grown a little rusty when it comes to the drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal borderlands that it's launched repeatedly throughout these years.) In the same spirit, the president who swore he would end the U.S. war in Iraq and, by the time he left office, do the same in Afghanistan, is now overseeing American bombing campaigns in Iraq and Syria which are loosing close to 25,000 weapons a year on those countries. Only recently, in order to facilitate the further prosecution of the longest war in our history, the president who announced that his country had ended its "combat mission" in Afghanistan in 2014, has once again deployed the U.S. military in a combat role and has done the same with the U.S. Air Force. For that, B-52s (of Vietnam infamy) were returned to action there, as well as in Iraq and Syria, after a decade of retirement. In the Pentagon, military figures are now talking about "generational" war in Afghanistan -- well into the 2020s. Meanwhile, President Obama has personally helped pioneer a new form of warfare that will not long remain a largely American possession. It involves missile-armed drones, high-tech weapons that promise a world of no-casualty-conflict (for the American military and the CIA), and adds up to a permanent global killing machine for taking out terror leaders, "lieutenants," and "militants." Well beyond official American war zones, U.S. drones regularly cross borders, infringing on national sovereignty throughout the Greater Middle East and parts of Africa, to assassinate anyone the president and his colleagues decide needs to die, American citizen or otherwise (plus, of course, anyone who happens to be in the vicinity). With its White House "kill list" and its "terror Tuesday" meetings, the drone program, promising "surgical" hunting-and-killing action, has blurred the line between war and peace, while being normalized in these years. A president is now not just commander-in-chief but assassin-in-chief, a role that no imaginable future president is likely to reject. Assassination, previously an illegal act, has become the heart and soul of Washington's way of life and of a way of war that only seems to spread conflict further. You must be kidding! The Well-Oiled Machinery of Privatized War: And speaking of drones, as the New York Times reported on September 5th, the U.S. drone program does have one problem: a lack of pilots. It has ramped up quickly in these years and, in the process, the pressures on its pilots and other personnel have only grown, including post-traumatic stress over killing civilians thousands of miles away via computer screen. As a result, the Air Force has been losing those pilots fast. Fortunately, a solution is on the horizon. That service has begun filling its pilot gap by going the route of the rest of the military in these years -- turning to private contractors for help. Such pilots and other personnel are, however, paid higher salaries and cost more money. The contractors, in turn, have been hiring the only available personnel around, the ones trained by... yep, you guessed it, the Air Force. The result may be an even greater drain on Air Force drone pilots eager for increased pay for grim work and... well, I think you can see just how the well-oiled machinery of privatized war is likely to work here and who's going to pay for it. You must be kidding! Selling Arms As If There Were No Tomorrow: In a recent report for the Center for International Policy, arms expert William Hartung offered a stunning figure on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. "Since taking office in January 2009," he wrote, "the Obama administration has offered over $115 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia in 42 separate deals, more than any U.S. administration in the history of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The majority of this equipment is still in the pipeline, and could tie the United States to the Saudi military for years to come." Think about that for a moment: $115 billion for everything from small arms to tanks, combat aircraft, cluster bombs, and air-to-ground missiles (weaponry now being used to slaughter civilians in neighboring Yemen). Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Alon Ben-Meir Website Turkey's President Erdogan has claimed that military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) will continue until "the very last rebel is killed." What is puzzling about this statement is that after more than 30 years of violence that has claimed the lives of over 40,000 Turks and Kurds, Erdogan still believes he can solve the conflict through brutal force. However, he is fundamentally mistaken, as the Kurds' long historical struggle is embedded in their psyche and provides the momentum for their quest for semi-autonomy that will endure until a mutually accepted solution is found through peaceful negotiations. To understand the Kurds' mindset, Erdogan will do well to revisit, however cursorily, their history and the hardship they have experienced since the end of World War I. An independent Kingdom of Kurdistan lasted less than two years (1922-1924) before it was parceled out between what became Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria, regardless of ethnicity or geographic relevance. Nevertheless, they have clung to their cultural heritage, the rejection of which by Turkey remains at the core of their grievances today. From the time Kurdistan was dismantled, and despite the discrimination against the Kurds and the precarious environment in which they found themselves, they remained relentless in preserving their way of life, fearing that otherwise their national/ethnic identity and language will gradually fade away. In Iraq, there are seven million Kurds (roughly 15 percent of the population). Since 1991, they have consolidated autonomous rule under American protection and now enjoy all the markers of an independent state. In Syria, the two million Kurds (about 9 percent) have been largely politically inactive under the Assad regimes. In the past five years, they took advantage of the civil war and established a semi-autonomous region which Erdogan vehemently opposes, fearing that it could prompt Turkish Kurds to seek autonomy of their own la the Iraqi Kurds. The eight million Kurds in Iran (nearly 10 percent) officially enjoy political representation but have historically experienced socio-political discrimination, which emboldened the militant wing of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iran (KDPI) to turn to violence, making the Iranian Revolutionary Guard their main target. Turkey houses the largest Kurdish community (15 million, approximately 18 percent). Although they are largely Sunnis like their Turkish counterparts, their national aspirations for autonomy and cultural distinction trumps their religious beliefs. Prior to the formation of the PKK, Abdullah calan and his followers raised awareness about the Kurds' plight in Turkey through political activism throughout the 1970s. However, after becoming the target of a government crackdown, they moved toward guerilla warfare, forming the PKK in 1978 and launching its insurgency in 1984 during the premiership of Turgut zal. In 1999, calan was arrested and sentenced to death, but under European pressure and due to the prospect of EU membership, Turkey abolished the death penalty and calan's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. The fact that he was not executed allowed him to continue his role as a leader and assume a moderate voice, which remains essential for future negotiations. In 2006, the imprisoned leader called for peaceful negotiations to end the conflict. His call was not heeded by Erdogan, who was unwilling to grant the Kurds any significant concessions that would allow them to enjoy their cultural tradition, including the use of the Kurdish language in their public schools and universities, and be permitted to run some of their internal affairs. He partially relented in 2013 and granted the Kurds small concessions by increasing Kurdish-language education (only in private schools), allowing Kurdish town names, and lowering the parliamentary threshold to allow Kurdish and other smaller parties to enter parliament. During scores of conversations I had with many Kurdish MPs and academics who have firsthand knowledge about the Kurdish problem, no one suggested that the Kurds want independence, but rather certain socio-economic and political freedoms consistent with Turkish democracy. Conversely, Erdogan insists that the Kurds already enjoy full Turkish citizenship in a "democratic Turkey" and are full-fledged Turkish nationals. He proudly points to the fact that the People's Democratic Party (pro-Kurdish party) has 59 seats in the parliament and is part and parcel of the legislative body. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Knute Buehler for State Representative Rep. Buehler works for policies that support small business, grow tech sector and strengthen education A cross section of local business owners and business advocacy groups have announced their endorsement of Knute Buehler for state representative of Bend. This year Rep. Buehler has toured a broad range of local businesses from tech companies to manufacturers and craft distillers, where hes heard consensus on the need to strengthen the states education system to improve Oregons economy, grow jobs, and increase wages. As I talk with local business owners about their challenges and opportunities, I consistently hear about the need for a well-educated workforce, said Rep. Buehler. Thats why Ive worked across aisle to support increased funding for STEM education and am endorsing Measure 98 to combat Oregons high school drop-out rate. Im proud to have the support of our local business community, and Ill continue to work closely with them so I can represent their interests in Salem. Buehler also supports connecting local high schools and colleges to the tech industry to develop custom curricula to ensure graduates can compete for the jobs of the future, and he continues to be a strong advocate for higher education, including expansion of OSU-Cascades into a four-year university. LOCAL BUSINESS GROUPS: Bend Research BasX Solutions Cascade Lakes Brewing Cement Elegance EarthCruiser EagerLaw PC G5 GL Solutions GraceBio Insite LGA Leading Edge Aviation Les Schwab McConnell Labs Nashelle Designs Newport Market Northland Furniture Oregon Spirit Distillers Oregrown Shell Stop & Go Sun Mountain Fun Center Webfoot Painting BUSINESS COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENTS: Rod Ray Dino Vendetti Connie Druliner Kent Couch Mike Hollern Steve Peters Bill and Trish Smith Neil Bryant Jeff Eager Scott Ramsay Matthew Tobolski Dave Benson Barbara Tate Stephanie Anderson Stroup Andie Edmonds Heather Straw AG-PAC Associated Oregon Industries National Federation of Independent Business Oregon Association of Nurseries Oregon Business Association Oregon Farm Bureau Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association Pakistan will not accept one-sided restrictions on its nuclear programme: Maleeha Lodhi UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has informed world leaders that his country will not accept one-sided restrictions on its nuclear programme, as international media continued to speculate over whether or not Pakistan and India were moving towards a war. The prime minister has reiterated Pakistans stance; one-sided restraint will not work. Indias cold start doctrine should also be contained, Pakistans permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi told a news briefing in New York. Any restriction has to be bilateral. We told the US to use their influence on India to make them do what you ask us to do, said Ms Lodhi when asked if US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the prime minister to consider nuclear restraint when the two leaders met in New York on Monday. A US State Department press release said that Mr Sharif and Secretary Kerry stressed the need for restraint in nuclear weapons programmes. No indicators yet to suggest war with India is imminent, says foreign secretary The Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons came under the spotlight this week when reports in the media suggested that India might launch air strikes on alleged terrorists inside Pakistan. The reports claimed that India began seriously considering the option after a militant attack on a military base in India-held Kashmir killed 17 soldiers. Some commentators suggested that the so-called cold-start doctrine, that is, hitting Pakistani installations before Pakistan retaliates to an Indian military strike, gave India a strategic advantage over Pakistan. But others warned that Pakistan had countered the advantage by developing tactical nuclear weapons. Michael Kugelman, a South Asian affairs expert at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, Washington, reminded India that it might be premature to point the finger at Pakistan. One cant rule out the possibility that Kashmiri militants, seeking revenge for the brutal tactics of the Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, pulled off the operation, he wrote. He warned that despite full-throated pleas from some Indian hawks to launch air strikes inside Pakistan, it is not an option, thanks to the nuclear weapons issue. He warned that even punitive measures short of all-out war such as targeted air strikes on terrorist facilities would be prohibitively risky. But in an interview to the Indian media, another US scholar, Christine Fair of the Georgetown University, said that India shouldnt exercise restraint fearing nuclear reprisal from Pakistan. Ms Fair, who is an expert on India-Pakistan relations, argued that Indias nuclear arsenal should give it immunity and impunity to launch punitive strikes. If Indian troops transgress into a populated city like Sialkot or Lahore, Pakistan will suffer more fatalities than on Indian troops. Therefore, this battlefield calculation gives India a lot of wriggle room to retaliate than to exercise restraint, she said. However, Ajai Shukla, a former Indian army colonel who is now the strategic affairs editor of the Business Standard, told CNN that India was not strategically prepared to launch an attack. One also cannot ignore the fact that Pakistan has the 11th biggest army in the world, he said. Were in a symmetrical relationship. The consequences of any form of attack are far worse than people realise. The question that everybody at Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and Dr Lodhis news briefing wanted answered was: are India and Pakistan going to war? Mr Chaudhry told the reporters that so far he had seen no indicators to suggest that a war was imminent. He claimed that India was encouraging such rumours to divert attention from the atrocities it was committing in held Kashmir. The foreign secretary advised the Pakistani media not to see Tuesdays telephonic conversation between Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif and the prime minister as anything more than what it was, a routine consultation between civil and military leaderships. Mr Chaudhry said that while US President Barack Obama did not mention the Kashmir issue in his speech, Pakistan had kept the American side fully informed about the developments in the Valley. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... Vistas de pagina en total Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro Archivo del blog PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR OTAN = Asesinos OTAN = NATO = Muerte Mas temprano que tarde los derrotaremos Hipocresia 3.0 El principe Carlos habla sobre el alto costo de la vida Es un chiste? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate 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! Gas well in Eagle Ford Shale. Credit: Jeff Williams of Brand Spells. An initial study by University of Texas at Arlington chemists of well water quality in the Eagle Ford Shale region found some abnormal chloride/bromide ratios, alongside evidence of dissolved gases and sporadic episodes of volatile organic compounds, all indicative of some contamination from industrial or agricultural activities in the area. "The infrequent detection of volatile organic compounds in the groundwater overlying the Eagle Ford Shale is certainly good news for citizens; however, there were instances of abnormalities on the water that we cannot quite explain," said Kevin Schug, UTA's Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry and director of the University's Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, or CLEAR lab. The study identified two highly differentiated types of chloride/bromide ratios in the groundwater: samples classified as A, which had normal levels, and samples classified as B, which all showed very high levels of bromide, indicative of contamination events. There were also multiple cases of water effervescence indicative of dissolved hydrocarbon gases and a few volatile organic compounds in areas near oil and natural gas extraction sites. "The next step in this research is to further characterize what these gases and chemicals are attributed to. Hopefully a closer collaboration with industry to gain a more intimate knowledge of the chemicals used during shale energy extraction will allow us to better assess whether or not unconventional oil and gas development is having a significant impact on groundwater quality in the south Texas region," Schug added. The research was published recently in Science of the Total Environment as "A reconnaissance analysis of groundwater quality in the Eagle Ford shale region reveals two distinct chloride/bromide populations." Schug was joined by co-author Zacariah Hildenbrand of Inform Environmental and scientists from the University of North Texas, Tarleton State University and Ohio State University also contributed to the study. This peer-reviewed study comes on the heels of another investigation by the same researchers in Science of the Total Environment, "Point source attribution of ambient contamination events near unconventional oil and gas development," which found that chemical emissions from specific surface components on oil well pad sites could be attributed to mechanical inefficiencies that can be monitored and remediated. CLEAR is dedicated to the development of remediation technologies and best management practices to effectively handle and decrease the occurrence of contamination events. The CLEAR team hopes to build on these findings to further understand the environmental implications of human activities, and to develop remediation strategies and best management practices to limit ecological impacts. Frederick MacDonnell, chair of UTA's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, underlined the importance of this research within the university's focus on global environmental impact within the Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions|Global Impact. "CLEAR continues to provide reliable information to the scientific community, industry and the public about the potential effects of large-scale unconventional oil and gas development on the environment," MacDonnell said. "This is a service we can provide to all these different sectors." Explore further Study finds air contamination near fracking sites result of operational inefficiencies More information: Zacariah L. Hildenbrand et al, A reconnaissance analysis of groundwater quality in the Eagle Ford shale region reveals two distinct bromide/chloride populations, Science of The Total Environment (2016). Zacariah L. Hildenbrand et al, A reconnaissance analysis of groundwater quality in the Eagle Ford shale region reveals two distinct bromide/chloride populations,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.070 Zacariah L. Hildenbrand et al, Point source attribution of ambient contamination events near unconventional oil and gas development, Science of The Total Environment (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.118 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment Human density simulated by UHM Human Dispersal Model, which shows a shift from Africa to Asia and Europe. Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa A small group of Homo sapiens left Africa around 100,000 years ago in a series of astronomically paced slow migration waves and arrived for the first time in southern Europe around 80,000-90,000 years ago, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. These results by a team of researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa challenge prominent anthropological models that assume a single exodus out of Africa around 60,000 years ago. The wobble of Earth's axis, with a period of about 20,000 years, and the corresponding changes in climate are known to have caused massive shifts in vegetation in tropical and subtropical regions. Such shifts opened up green corridors between Africa, the Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula, enabling some Homo sapiens to leave Northeastern Africa and embark on their grand journey into Asia, Europe, Australia and, eventually, into the Americas. Whether climate shifts really influenced the early human migration has been a matter of intense debate. Researchers from the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC) at UHM used one of the first integrated climate-human migration computer models in an attempt to re-create quantitatively the grand journey of Homo sapiens over the past 125,000 years and determine the role of climate in human dispersal. The model simulates ice-ages, abrupt climate change and captures the arrival times of Homo sapiens in the Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula, Southern China and Australia in close agreement with paleoclimate reconstructions and fossil and archaeological evidence. "One of the surprising results of our study is that the scenario that agrees best with all the Asian data is one that also simulates a very early arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe around 80,000-90,000 years ago, pre-dating the oldest fossil evidence by about 45,000 years," said Axel Timmermann, lead author of the study and a professor at UHM's IPRC and Department of Oceanography. "The green migration gateway that opened up between Africa and Eurasia 110,000-95,000 years ago would have also promoted a low-density migration into Southern Europe and possibly a weak early interbreeding with Neanderthals," explained Tobias Friedrich, post-doctoral researcher at IPRC and co-author of the study. This study documents that, about every 20,000 years, warmer and wetter northern hemisphere tropical summers boosted the migration and exchange between Africa and Eurasia. "In our model simulation we see a complex pattern of human dispersal out of Africa and back flow into Africa, that challenges the more unidirectional away-from-Africa perspective that is still very prevalent in anthropology and some genetic studies," said Timmermann. Previous ice core and marine sediment core studies have found evidence during glacial periods for rapid climate transitions between cold and warm periods on timescales of a human lifetime. The new UHM study addresses for the first time with a computer model whether these naturally occurring climate shifts influenced global human migration patterns. Comparing simulations of the human migration model with and without these climate fluctuations, the researchers find only regional impacts on simulated human density in areas extending from northern Africa to Europe. "According to our results, the global-scale migration patterns were not affected by past abrupt climate change events on timescales of decades," reported Timmermann. As a next step the team of researchers from UHM is planning to include Neanderthals in their computer model and account for food competition, interbreeding and cultural synergy. Explore further Migration back to Africa took place during the Palaeolithic More information: Axel Timmermann et al. Late Pleistocene climate drivers of early human migration, Nature (2016). Journal information: Nature Axel Timmermann et al. Late Pleistocene climate drivers of early human migration,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature19365 The laboratory with all the technical equipment and electronics is now in place at Summit in the middle of the Greenland ice sheet. This is the first step in the Deep Space project. Credit: Niels Bohr Institute Deep Space is a project that will use a new specially designed telescope to look far into space in order to observe radiation from the early universe. The equipment will be placed at Summit in the middle of the Greenland ice sheet and now the first step has been taken in this scientific mission. "The laboratory with the all the technical equipment and electronics is now in place at Summit, located in the middle of Greenland on the ridge of the more than three kilometre thick ice sheet. It has been a very difficult task because of the site's remote location in the middle of the ice sheet and the difficult transportation conditions," explains Pavel Naselsky, professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen. But the location is crucial for the project, as the atmosphere over Greenland is very clear because of the cold and the very low humidity. These are optimal conditions for seeing far into space in order to observe light from the earliest universe and to look for traces of cosmic microwave background radiation. This radiation is an afterglow of the Big Bang and can provide unique information about the creation and evolution of the universe. The research project is international and Pavel Naselsky is the scientific leader of the project. The next step in the project is to install the telescope in Greenland. The laboratory with technical equipment and electronics is now ready. Credit: Niels Bohr Institute The telescope itself is a collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara in the United States, which is responsible fro the basic construction of the telescope, while Denmark will contribute by adapting the telescope so that it can function in the Arctic environment. "The telescope is almost ready to installed. It has been tested at the University of California and we will install it next spring, when the extreme cold of winter subsides and the darkness is replaced by the return of the light. Shortly thereafter, we will be ready to begin the first observations," says Pavel Naselsky, who describes the Deep Space project as the first project in Greenland involving fundamental space research. The telescope that will be installed in the spring of 2017 when the light appears after half a year of around the clock darkness. Credit: Niels Bohr Institute Summit is located in the middle of Greenland on the ridge of the more than three kilometre thick ice sheet. Credit: Niels Bohr Institute Explore further Image: Final mirror installed in James Webb Space Telescope Experts from Cardiff University are developing a statistical tool that uses social media to make real-time predictions of where hate crimes may occur. The team, from the University's Social Data Science Lab, will be using Los Angeles County as a test bed for their study, thanks to over $800,000 in funding from the US Department of Justice. It is the first time that social media has been used in the United States to create predictive policing models of hate crime. Over the next three years, the team will be closely scrutinising data taken from Twitter and cross-referencing this with reported hate crimes in Los Angeles to develop markers, or signatures, which could indicate if, and where, a hate crime is likely to take place at a certain point in time, and then enable police officers to intervene. The term hate crime is used to describe a prejudice-motivated crime, often violent, which occurs when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her affiliation to a social group, such as their sex, ethnicity, disability or religion. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), in 2012 an estimated 293,800 nonfatal violent and property hate crime victimizations occurred in the United States. UK official data shows that there were 52,528 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in 2014/15, an increase of 18 per cent compared with 2013/14. Previous research from the Social Data Science Lab has already shown that Twitter data can be used to identify hot spots, such as certain states or cities, where hate speech has occurred but where hate crime has not been reported. One example is an area when recent immigrants may be unlikely to report crime due to fear of deportation. Professor Matt Williams, from the University's School of Social Science, said: "Developing a better understanding of hateful sentiments online and their relationship with crime on the streets could push law enforcement to better identify, report and address hate crimes that are occurring offline. "The insights provided by our work will help US localities to design policies to address specific hate crime issues unique to their jurisdiction and allow service providers to tailor their services to the needs of victims, especially if those victims are members of an emerging category of hate crime targets." The Los Angeles Police Department has a history of incorporating progressive and forward-thinking methods into their policing, having previously used mathematical models to predict other areas of crime, which have been shown to successfully lower crime rates. The huge volumes of data that social media now generates has provided researchers with large swathes of information that can be used to identify emerging patterns and trends in a number of areas across society, including crime. Dr Pete Burnap, from the University's School of Computer Science and Informatics, said: "This is the first study in the United States to use social media data in predictive policing models of hate crime. Predictive policing is a proactive law enforcement model that has become more common partially due to the advent of advanced analytics such as data mining and machine-learning methods. "New analytic approaches and the ability to process very large data sets have increased the accuracy of predictive models over traditional crime analysis methods and this project will evaluate if police departments can leverage these new data and techniques to reduce hate crimes." Explore further Communities must play greater role in police hate crime training after rise in incidents This artist's illustration shows a gas giant planet circling a pair of red dwarf stars. The Saturn-mass planet orbits roughly 300 million miles from the stellar duo. The two red dwarf stars are a mere 7 million miles apart. The illustration is based on Hubble Space Telescope observations that helped astronomers confirm the existence of a planet orbiting two stars in the system OGLE-2007-BLG-349, located 8,000 light-years away. The system is too far away for Hubble to photograph the planet. Instead, its presence is inferred from gravitational microlensing. This phenomenon occurs when the gravity of a foreground star bends and amplifies the light of a background star that momentarily aligns with it. The particular character of the light magnification can reveal clues to the nature of the foreground star and any associated planets. The Hubble observations represent the first time such a three-body system has been confirmed using the gravitational microlensing technique. Credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI) Two's company, but three might not always be a crowd at least in space. Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, and a trick of nature, have confirmed the existence of a planet orbiting two stars in the system OGLE-2007-BLG-349, located 8,000 light-years away towards the center of our galaxy. The planet orbits roughly 300 million miles from the stellar duo, about the distance from the asteroid belt to our sun. It completes an orbit around both stars roughly every seven years. The two red dwarf stars are a mere 7 million miles apart, or 14 times the diameter of the moon's orbit around Earth. The Hubble observations represent the first time such a three-body system has been confirmed using the gravitational microlensing technique. Gravitational microlensing occurs when the gravity of a foreground star bends and amplifies the light of a background star that momentarily aligns with it. The particular character of the light magnification can reveal clues to the nature of the foreground star and any associated planets. The three objects were discovered in 2007 by an international collaboration of five different groups: Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA), the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), the Microlensing Follow-up Network (MicroFUN), the Probing Lensing Anomalies Network (PLANET), and the Robonet Collaboration. These ground-based observations uncovered a star and a planet, but a detailed analysis also revealed a third body that astronomers could not definitively identify. "The ground-based observations suggested two possible scenarios for the three-body system: a Saturn-mass planet orbiting a close binary star pair or a Saturn-mass and an Earth-mass planet orbiting a single star," explained David Bennett of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, the paper's first author. The sharpness of the Hubble images allowed the research team to separate the background source star and the lensing star from their neighbors in the very crowded star field. The Hubble observations revealed that the starlight from the foreground lens system was too faint to be a single star, but it had the brightness expected for two closely orbiting red dwarf stars, which are fainter and less massive than our sun. "So, the model with two stars and one planet is the only one consistent with the Hubble data," Bennett said. Bennett's team conducted the follow-up observations with Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. "We were helped in the analysis by the almost perfect alignment of the foreground binary stars with the background star, which greatly magnified the light and allowed us to see the signal of the two stars," Bennett explained. Kepler has discovered 10 other planets orbiting tight binary stars, but these are all much closer to their stars than the one studied by Hubble. Now that the team has shown that microlensing can successfully detect planets orbiting double-star systems, Hubble could provide an essential role in this new realm in the continued search for exoplanets. The team's results have been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. Explore further Gas giant planet discovered near the Milky Way's bulge Dr Ziertiz examining the types of mussels she collected. Credit: UNMC Researchers in Malaysia revealed that Peninsular Malaysia hosts at least three rare mussel species, one of which (Hyriopsis bialata) is not found anywhere else on the planet. Another species (Ensidens ingallsianus) may have already gone extinct. In a ground-breaking study path-breaking for the Southeast Asian region, a research group led by The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) revealed that Peninsular Malaysia hosts at least three rare mussel species, one of which (Hyriopsis bialata) is not found anywhere else on the planet. Another species (Ensidens ingallsianus) may have already gone extinct. Most native species are severely threatened by ongoing nutrient pollution and acidification of freshwater habitats caused by atmospheric pollution, deforestation, oil-palm plantations and a lack of functioning wastewater treatment particularly in rural areas. As mussels are efficient filter-feeders and provide habitat for smaller organisms such as insect larvae, their loss can lead to algal blooms and further loss of aquatic biodiversity. An international group of scientists; Dr John-James Wilson and Pei-Yin Ng from University of Malaya; Samuel Walton from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu; Dr Khairul Adha A. Rahim from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; Dr Elsa Froufe and Manuel Lopes-Lima, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Portugal; Professor Ronaldo Sousa from University of Minho, Portugal; Dr Arthur E. Bogan from North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences (USA); Dr Suzanne McGowan from The University of Nottingham UK and Dr Alexandra Zieritz from The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, who is leading this research, surveyed 155 localities across all states of Peninsular Malaysia for mussels and recorded their environmental requirements. The team spent a total of 30 days in the field, scouring the sandy and muddy beds of Malaysia's rivers and lakes for mussels simply using their hands. Environmental conditions at each location, such as water pH and oxygen concentration, were also recorded. The findings of this study, worth USD 9,262 (RM 38269.19) and funded by The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund , are published in Science of the Total Environment, a leading international scientific journal. The group found nine Malaysian and one introduced Chinese species in the peninsula. Whilst the introduced species is rapidly spreading and posing an additional threat to native mussels, many of the native species are declining. Authors believe that another species previously recorded from the region may have already become extinct in the country. Dr Zieritz collecting mussels in Sungai Pahang. Credit: University of Nottingham Sungai Pahang and Sungai Perak, two of the longest rivers in Peninsular Malaysia are of particular importance to the conservation of very rare mussel species. One of these, holding the scientific name Hyriopsis bialata but simply called "layar" (sail) by the locals in the surrounding villages, cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. To protect these globally unique populations of mussels, the authors recommend establishing riparian buffers and improving waste water treatment for rivers running through agricultural and residential land. "I hope that the study will serve as an example for future projects of this kind in Southeast Asia and ultimately lead to the legal protection of these important organisms. Mussels and other invertebrates are often overlooked in this respect, because they are less charismatic than beautiful large mammals such as tigers. However, these small organisms represent an equally important part of our ecosystems, especially in freshwater habitats." said Dr Zieritz. "Our ultimate goal is to get concrete Action Plans for the most endangered species in Malaysia in place, which could involve habitat restoration and breeding programs. Whilst this might come too late for the presumably extinct Ensidens ingallsianus, taking action will be vital to preserve Malaysia's unique and rare species such as Hyriopsis bialata for future generations," Dr Zieritz said. "Freshwater mussels and many other freshwater animal groups show very high rates of endemism in Southeast Asia. This means that many of these species have a very restricted distribution, such as Hyriopsis bialata, which can be found exclusively in the lower Pahang river. That means if we lose these mussels in the lower Pahang, we have lost the entire species for good on the whole planet," Dr Zieritz explained. In collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Dr Zieritz and her team are currently revising the conservation status of the Malaysian species and developing a National Red-list of the freshwater mussels of Malaysia, including Sarawak and Sabah, which will be publicly available at the National Red List website. Readers interested in becoming involved in the project are encouraged to get in touch with Dr. Zieritz through her project webpage. Explore further Challenges to conserving freshwater mussels in Europe Benowen RecordsLongtime Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit's latest solo album, Leap of Faith, flies into stores this Friday, September 23. Schmit tells ABC Radio that he considers the record "a sister album" to his previous studio effort, 2009's Expando, because both collections of tunes were written solely by him. While the album doesn't necessarily have an underlying theme, Schmit says the various songs are about "having lived a longer life and hopefully living some longer still, and contemplating what it's all about and trying to live my life to the fullest." Some of the songs on Leap of Faith certainly are reminiscent of the country-rock sound of The Eagles and Schmit's previous group, Poco, while others are influenced by such genres as reggae, soul and modern rock. The 68-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer tells ABC Radio that while his new material might be "kind of all over the map," he feels that it all "seems to fit" together. Schmit co-produced Leap of Faith with frequent collaborator Hank Linderman, who also contributed vocals and guitar to the project. Timothy says that while he and Linderman played the bulk of the instruments, a few interesting guests artists also lent their talents to the record. These included Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, lauded session drummer Jim Keltner, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, Doobie Brothers multi-instrumentalist John McFee and famed Brian Wilson collaborator Van Dyke Parks. Coinciding with Leap of Faith's release, Schmit has a number of appearances lined up in the next few days. Tonight, he'll take part in a show at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee, that will be streamed live on MusicCityRoots.com. He also will perform at the City Winery in Nashville on Sunday and the City Winery in Atlanta on Monday. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. BALLSTON SPA A Moreau man was sentenced Thursday in Saratoga County Court to 18 months in state prison for a heroin sale case that led to his arrest last spring. Brenton M. Wrobel, 27, of Jamaica Avenue, pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, in connection with heroin sales in March and April in Moreau. He was arrested by the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office in April. Saratoga County Judge James Murphy imposed the prison sentence to be followed by 2 years on parole. The case was investigated by the Sheriffs Office, State Police, South Glens Falls Police and Saratoga Springs Police. FORT EDWARD The stepmother of a 4-year-old girl who was seriously hurt was charged late Wednesday with felony assault for allegedly causing serious injuries that include a fractured skull, officials said. Marissa T. Bickford-Rice, 22, of Lower Wright Street, was charged with reckless assault of a child after an investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and State Police. Court records allege she threw the child, Kaiden Starr Rice, resulting in her head hitting a hard floor. Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan said early Thursday that Bickford-Rice had "taken some accountability" for the injuries. "We do have a confession from the suspect," Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy said. Authorities did not say what precipitated the incident, but authorities said there had long been strife between Bickford-Rice and the child because she was not her biological daughter. Murphy said her prognosis was "not good" and the next 48 hours were crucial. She underwent surgery late Wednesday at Albany Medical Center and was in critical condition on a ventilator as of late Thursday morning. "The last I was told, there had been some improvement," Jordan said. Her head injuries included a fractured skull and brain swelling, and resulted in a "substantial risk of death," according to court records. Murphy said she also had a broken arm and clavicle, but it was unclear when those injuries occurred. Relatives of the girl have gathered at Albany Medical Center but they declined comment on Thursday. "Our main focus is Kaiden," said her aunt, Amanda Rouse of Greenwich. Kaiden lived at 603 Lower Wright St., where an ambulance was called at 10:51 a.m. Wednesday to assist the child. Her father and at least one other child lived with Bickford-Rice at the home. The sheriff said Bickford-Rice was the only adult in the home at the time. The Sheriff's Office said the girl was "unresponsive" when 911 was called. Washington County sheriff's officers later cordoned off the home with police tape and had it under guard into Thursday morning. Advertisement (1 of 1): 0:29 The charge alleges Bickford-Rice "recklessly caused serious physical injury to the brain of a child less than five years old by shaking the child, or by slamming or throwing the child so as to impact the child's head on a hard surface or object." Public records show Bickford-Rice is married to James Rice, and the two had a child together in January 2014. Kaiden was Rice's daughter from a previous relationship, of whom he has primary physical custody. Murphy said Rice has been fully cooperative with police. The home in which the family lives is owned by Bickford-Rice's father, John Bickford III. Neighbors said there were at least two children living in the home, where the family had lived for about two years. She was arraigned with counsel early Thursday before Fort Edward Town Justice Joseph Malvuccio and sent to Washington County Jail for lack of $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bail bond. Orders of protection were issued barring her from the home if she is released. The charge is punishable by up to 7 years in state prison, but charges would be upgraded to a homicide count if the girl does not survive. Authorities said Bickford, who is unemployed, has no prior criminal record. She was represented at her arraignment by Washington County Public Defender Michael Mercure, and waived a preliminary hearing in the case, which would be required within 120 hours of a defendant being jailed on a felony charge. "These are significant allegations but there is a presumption of innocence and we need to ensure the defendant's rights are protected," Mercure said. Jordan praised the efforts of police who had to find witnesses as they went to hospitals in Glens Falls and Albany and determine what happened. The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Forensic Identification Unit, Major Crimes Unit and Computer Crimes Unit all assisted the Sheriff's Office, said State Police Capt. Robert Patenaude. "Cases like this are very difficult," Patenaude said. "We all have families." The investigation involving police, prosecutors and the Washington County Department of Social Services was ongoing Thursday. Murphy asked that anyone who has information that could be relevant to the investigation contact the Sheriff's Office at 747-4623. He said the case should also serve as a reminder to those who suspect child, elderly or domestic abuse to report their suspicions to police or other officials. The region has dealt with a spate of six child homicides and several other serious assaults over the past 8 years, prompting efforts to improve programs and services for parents and children in Washington and Warren counties. GREENWICH The annual Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival isnt just for sheep-lovers this year. The author of The Sheepover, a picture book based somewhat on his own sheep, will be at this weekends festival to sign his book. Author John Churchman will also read from his upcoming book, Brave Little Finn. The first book was a bestseller and the second has already won book prizes. Were really honored hes going to be doing a reading and a signing, said festival spokeswoman Mary Jeanne Packer. She owns Battenkill Valley Fibers. The festival will run from Saturday and Sunday at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 392 Old Schuylerville Road, Greenwich. Admission is $5; children under 14 are free. There will be demonstrations, workshops, and yarn galore to purchase and admire. In addition to Churchman, older readers will appreciate blogger Tammy White, who writes about her Wing and a Prayer farm in Bennington, Vermont. Both will be at the festival Saturday. Churchman will read and sign from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; White will do readings from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Shes probably one of the best-known sheep farmer bloggers, said Parker, who happens to be a huge fan. When White wrote about the death of an ewe she tried to save, Parker found herself sobbing. It was so poignant, Parker said. Shes a wonderful writer. Shes also very funny. On Sunday, new events will include an auction for used fiber-related goods. If you dont have a spinning wheel, its a good way to get started, Parker said. Theres already some very cool stuff. The pieces Ive seen come in so far are top quality. The auction will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. At the same time Sunday, farmers with Romney sheep will be showing them in a professional show. This is a big deal for those with Romney sheep. An out-of-state judge is coming, Packer said. Romney sheep are popular here because they do well in the Southern Adirondack climate, she added. Very hardy. They can stay outside all winter, she said. Its a really nice yarn for hand-spinners. Also new this year is lamb meat: Vendors will add it to several menu items. A lot of people are excited about that, too, Packer said. Frankly, without the meat industry, its really hard for fiber producers to make a living. HUDSON FALLS Matt Rozells first book is ranked higher on the Kindle World War II best-sellers list than famed author Laura Hillenbrands Unbroken. It seems, then, a good time for the release of the Hudson Falls High School history teachers second book, A Train Near Magdeburg: A Teachers Journey into the Holocaust and the Reuniting of the Survivors and Liberators, 70 Years On. Rozell has dedicated much of his career to leading his students through research on World War II, interviewing veterans and recording their stories (many of which are featured in his successful book, The Things Our Father Saw: The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation from Hometown USA). One afternoon in 2001, he was interviewing World War II veteran Carrol Walsh. It was two hours worth of horrific World War II stories, being in a tank, being in combat constantly for 10 months with a lot of close calls, Rozell recalled. Then his daughter chimed in, Did you tell him about the train? Walsh was among U.S. soldiers at the scene of the liberation of a death train in a small town outside Madgeburg, Germany, in 1945. The retired state Supreme Court justice gave Rozell the name of a veteran who had a camera that day. Rozell reached out to George Gross and discovered a photograph that would forever change his life and, in a small way, history. Rozell posted the photograph a woman running uphill away from the train, holding the hand of a child, surrounded by other Holocaust survivors with Gross permission, on the schools website. It received little attention. Four years later, an Australian grandmother called Rozell, saying she was a 7-year-old on the train when it was liberated. Bergen-Belsen, a German historic site marking the spot where a concentration camp stood, started directing survivors to the schools website. It started to mushroom, Rozell said. I started to hear from survivors. In 2007, Rozell helped organize a reunion of Holocaust survivors rescued from the train and the U.S. veterans who were there. The Associated Press covered the event. It went everywhere, not just every major paper in the United States, but everywhere in the world, Rozell said. The schools server, unable to handle the traffic, was shut down. Within the next few months, 60 more people who were children on the train found Rozell. It just exploded in 2007, he said. Rozell started his now-popular blog, teachinghistorymatters.com, continued to meet veterans and survivors, and helped organize several more reunions, including one in Israel. (Veterans) got to meet the people they were over in Europe fighting for, Rozell said. It was very emotional, Henry Birnbrey, an Atlanta, Georgia, veteran said of a reunion. Birnbrey had himself been rescued from Germany as a 14-year-old, taken out of the country as a kindertransport and sent to the United States, where he later enlisted. The day the photograph was taken, Birnbrey arrived with his artillery battalion, looking for a gun position. He could smell something terrible and came upon the train being liberated. Its something you just dont expect to see, he said. Since the people coming out of the train were being shipped from the Bergen-Belsen camp, many were malnourished and ill. My biggest frustration was that I only had on combat gear no food to share, nothing to share with them and they were starving, Birnbrey said. I had no rations on me or nothing. Years later, even as he shared his story, Birnbrey didnt realize the scope of the liberation that day until he saw Rozells work. It all came out in Matts research, said Birnbrey, who was on page 174 of the book Thursday afternoon. A Train Near Magdeburg is really four books, Rozell said. First, he writes about the Holocaust, through the eyes of the people who lived through it and were saved on the train April 13, 1945. The event was totally buried, he said. The people in the book dont know the backstory; the story has a lot of research in it. And, as he did in The Things Our Fathers Saw, Rozell tells the experiences of the soldiers through their own words. I think its really important for people to understand, because they deserve credit, he said. They didnt have to do what they did. The war was not over, people were shooting at them. Some of them would be dead within a few days. A Train Near Magdeburg looks too at the liberation, with letters, soldiers accounts and after-action reports. And the book closes with the reunions, how they came about and how they grew from four survivors to more than 50, and from a few soldiers to dozens. Its not about, everyone hugs and kisses and goes home, Rozell said. It goes deeper. They all have incredible stories and the teacher in me is trying to educate people. As Rozell looks to the future retiring from teaching, continuing work on two more The Things Our Father Saw books hes cognizant of the impact his discovery of the train photo and ensuing research has had. The story is really incredible, and Im part of it now, he said. I cant explain it but somehow the cosmos tilted just long enough for past and present to blend, for time and space to be rendered irrelevant. Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether Read more Controversy around the Greater Church of Lucifer The opening of a Greater Church of Lucifer in Houston, Texas on October 30, 2015 has witnessed a spate of controversies and spiritual warfare with Christians around the United States. The website of the controversial organization states that The Greater Church of Lucifer is a foundation for the unique individual who dares to illuminate the inner-light of the Black Flame. As individuals, we seek to express our insight towards attaining apotheosis, Lords of our spiritual and carnal world. As a foundation, GCOL seeks to inspire the few in the masses towards self-excellence and change. The website of GCOL also claims that The Greater Church of Lucifer is only a church as a play on words. We are a gathering of like souls who seek to understand and live within the framework of Luciferianism as we understand it. Article by NewDelhiTimes.com However, most of the protestors against the Greater Church of Lucifer regard it as body that promotes the worship of Satan. The founders of the church allay notions that they are devil worshipers. One of the founding members has clarified that Lucifer is Latin for morning star or bearer of light, so the Greater Church of Lucifer roughly translates to a gathering of people of like mind who seek the bearer of light or the light. Greater Church of Lucifer co-president Michael Ford has stated: I always feel sorry for so-called Christians who feel so insecure in their belief that they have to come out here and waste their time when theyre not going to change our mind, and were not going to change theirs. Ford said the organization is philosophical and their services are more of a meeting of minds. There is no devil worship or animal sacrifice that takes place, and they have no intention of converting anyone. In crux, the key point of dispute is: The Luciferians say theyre not Satanists. The protesters insist they are. Advocates of Luciferanism argue that this is distinct from Satanism. Depending on the context, the names Satan and Lucifer dont always refer to the same entity. Satanists and Luciferians generally are two groups that have different philosophies. However, the Christian theologians do not buy the argument of the advocates of the church of Lucifer. They claim that the very principles of GCOL are the opposite of the Christian values and will hence promote the opposite of the Christian understanding of America as one nation under God. In defence of their arguments, they argue that church of Lucifer symbolism is decidedly Satanic. The church features figures of horned creatures, fallen angels and a Baphomet, a statue of a winged creature with hooves, the head of a goat and long horns. The locals of the area even submitted a petition message to governor of Texas which respectfully urged him to do everything legally in his power to safeguard the people of Spring, Texas, from the influence of Lucifer. The petition read: God is entitled to our love and honor, so we rise up in peaceful, legal, and prayerful resistance to this affront to Him and to the true interests and common good of your constituents and communities. May God bless your efforts. May He bless Texas, and may He keep America free from Lucifer, the infernal enemy of mankind. Echoing similar sentiments, a State Representative from Texas Debbie Riddle remarked that GCOL was an atrocity in the area. To quote him: It is a stick in the eye to Christians and Jews a stick in the eye to all who value and love the Godly values on which our country was founded. A stick in the eye to God. There are critics of the stance taken by CCOL opponents too. They say that those opposing the opening of Lucifer Church are impeding in the right to freedom of religion and say that freedom of religion is not practicing what merely a few approve and can have variants in worship. In conclusion, it can be said that an amicable solution needs to be found out between both the sides and religious figures from both sides should sit together to clarify and listen to the arguments of the other side. They announced their campaign agenda dubbed Agenda 57% 4 Nana Addo ahead of the December 7 polls. Agya Koo, in a press statement after the press conference has explained why he has decided to campaign for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo before the 2016 election. According to him, his decision was influenced by the fact that "Many Ghanaians today face unprecedented precarious economic hardships which have consequently led to job losses and high unemployment rate, poor healthcare provision and cut-throat utility bills," among other things. Read the full press statement below (Unscripted). PRESS STATEMENT BY KOFI ADU (AGYA KOO) ON THE LAUNCH OF AGYA KOO AGENDA 57% FOR NANA ADDO Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, I wish first of all to express my sincere gratitude to you all for honouring my invitation. I stand before you here today as a concerned Ghanaian who is deeply troubled by the direction this country is going. I speak the voice of the ordinary Ghanaian who is bearing the brunt of extreme economic hardships which has come about as a result of poor leadership. I have personally sat back and monitored critically how things are going and felt the need to join the crusade for change in the political administration of this country. Let me state emphatically clear that I am not here to compete with any individual or engage in any wayward political stunt. As a movie star, I have travelled far and wide across the country and have seen the conditions many Ghanaians are going through on daily basis trying to acquire one-square meals a day. Many Ghanaians today face unprecedented precarious economic hardships which have consequently led to job losses and high unemployment rate, poor healthcare provision and cut-throat utility bills. As a Ghanaian, I feel the pinch of the escalating prices of goods and services on the market and cannot keep quiet. I have therefore decided to join the call for change in the direction of leadership since it is the only way the country can see development and progress. I am very sure that most of you were around in 2008 and witnessed the economic conditions that prevailed at that time. I do not want to bore your ears with a reminder but we all were witnesses to the fact that goods and services were affordable and every ordinary Ghanaian could afford it. One would therefore wonder why conditions in this country have become so deplorable within the spate of eight years. Today, it is sad to compare how these same prices of goods and services have increased astronomically as a result of poor economic policies and performance of the current leadership. Now the ordinary Ghanaian cannot afford basic items like Milk, Sugar, Rice, Bread and other household commodities. We have taken the trouble to do a thorough research of prices of goods and services on the market and compared them to the time of the NPP administration. I challenge anyone who disagrees with me to do his or her own checks from the markets to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of this sad situation. Apart from being a movie star as many Ghanaians know to be, I am also a parent and know how expensive it is to give your children quality education in this country. It is for this and other reasons that I have decided to join the voice for change by declaring my support for the Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo. I have therefore decided to launch the THE AGYA KOO AGENDA 57% FOR NANA ADDO to support the campaign of the NPP in order to help bring the much needed change. My objective therefore is to interact with ordinary voters and share my experience on the need for change in leadership in the country since it is the only way this country can see progress. Thank you so much for honouring my invitation and God Bless. KOFI ADU (AGYA KOO)FOUNDER: AGYA KOO AGENDA 57% FOR NANA ADDO -0201701706 Kofi Adu who is popularly known as Agya Koo together with Matilda Asare, Big Akwes, and other Kumawood actors endorsed the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo at a press conference on Wednesday, September 21 in Kumasi. READ ALSO: A statement he released on Wednesday, September 21, said: "Many Ghanaians today face unprecedented precarious economic hardships which have consequently led to job losses and high unemployment rate, poor healthcare provision, and cut-throat utility bills," among other things. Below is full statement: Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, I wish first of all to express my sincere gratitude to you all for honouring my invitation. I stand before you here today as a concerned Ghanaian who is deeply troubled by the direction this country is going. I speak the voice of the ordinary Ghanaian who is bearing the brunt of extreme economic hardships which has come about as a result of poor leadership. I have personally sat back and monitored critically how things are going and felt the need to join the crusade for change in the political administration of this country. Let me state emphatically clear that I am not here to compete with any individual or engage in any wayward political stunt. As a movie star, I have travelled far and wide across the country and have seen the conditions many Ghanaians are going through on daily basis trying to acquire one-square meals a day. Many Ghanaians today face unprecedented precarious economic hardships which have consequently led to job losses and high unemployment rate, poor healthcare provision, and cut-throat utility bills. As a Ghanaian, I feel the pinch of the escalating prices of goods and services on the market and cannot keep quiet. I have therefore decided to join the call for change in the direction of leadership since it is the only way the country can see development and progress. I am very sure that most of you were around in 2008 and witnessed the economic conditions that prevailed at that time. I do not want to bore your ears with a reminder but we all were witnesses to the fact that goods and services were affordable and every ordinary Ghanaian could afford it. One would, therefore, wonder why conditions in this country have become so deplorable within the spate of eight years. Today, it is sad to compare how these same prices of goods and services have increased astronomically as a result of poor economic policies and performance of the current leadership. Now the ordinary Ghanaian cannot afford basic items like Milk, Sugar, Rice, Bread and other household commodities. We have taken the trouble to do a thorough research of prices of goods and services on the market and compared them to the time of the NPP administration. I challenge anyone who disagrees with me to do his or her own checks from the markets to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of this sad situation. Apart from being a movie star as many Ghanaians know to be, I am also a parent and know how expensive it is to give your children a quality education in this country. It is for this and other reasons that I have decided to join the voice for change by declaring my support for the Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo. I have therefore decided to launch the THE AGYA KOO AGENDA 57% FOR NANA ADDO to support the campaign of the NPP in order to help bring the much-needed change My objective, therefore, is to interact with ordinary voters and share my experience on the need for change in leadership in the country since it is the only way this country can see progress. Thank you so much for honouring my invitation and God Bless. KOFI ADU (AGYA KOO)FOUNDER: AGYA KOO AGENDA 57% FOR NANA ADDO -0201701706 The demonstration by the nurses was also meant to register their displeasure over delays in posting their members who have graduated. The Campaign Spokesperson of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joyce Bawa-Mogtari in an earlier interview on an Accra-based radio station said many of the nurses who come out of private institutions prefer to only work in urban communities where the jobs are limited. But speaking to Pulse.com.gh, the spokesperson for the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Trainees Association, Gideon Alale Akuob said Mrs Bawa-Mogtari is only trying to make a mockery of the nurses. He explained that: The Ministry of Health is aware that they have not provided financial clearance for the issuance of postings for newly qualified midwives and nurses in the country. And the same Ministry of Health, they are also aware that currently, they do a posting that is called national postings...now you can be posted to any other part of the country and you cant refuse the posting. According to the president, Ghanaians who embark on the risky journey to Europe are poultry farmers or entrepreneurs who "sell their shops and undertake the journey because they can no longer compete with the tons of frozen chicken dumped on African markets annually, or the adverse business environment they have to face." He continued:"Africa does not need your sympathy or Overseas Development Assistance. Africa needs a fair chance to trade with the rest of the world and amongst ourselves. The progress towards the creation of a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) is commendable and must be fast tracked." "Raising intra African trade alone from the paltry average of 15% will create better opportunities for Africa's youth. "We can achieve a lot in collaboration with the rest of the world and yet we must realize that a lot rests within our own capacity to achieve as Africans. Recently I took the decision to allow citizens of other African countries travelling to Ghana to obtain visas on arrival. This would stimulate trade and investment if it were replicated across the continent." He further called for a "re-ordering of the economic relations" to create a boundless opportunity that will keep young Africans at home instead of travel to Europe to seek for greener pastures. The president also bemoaned the building of new walls by countries due to fear of migrants. He accused extremists of hijacking the discussion on migration and spreading fear to young ones. Hate speech is becoming common. People complain of being tired of being politically correct. In many places xenophobia has taken over rational thinking. In the vote on Brexit, the spectre of a flood of refugees was used as the instrument for propelling an exit from the EU," he said "It's a paradox of our world, that nearly 30 years after Reagan called for the Berlin Wall to be torn down, new walls are springing up everywhere, he added. He said the world has enough resource to guarantee a decent life for everybody, citing how little resources advanced to some African countries have been put to good use in education and halving poverty. READ ALSO:UN General Assembly Mahama meets Ghanaian community in New York [Photos] The United Nations Security Council remains an important source of legitimacy for international action on peace and security. While Africa accounts to close to one-third of the UN membership and only two-thirds of the work of the council, it will mean it is woefully underrepresented in the permanent and non-permanent categories. Eleven long years after the African Union adopted the Ezulwini consensus, we are nowhere near achieving a more equitable reform for the UN Security Council. Mr. President, this will continue to remain a scar on the conscience of this world body if not remedied as quickly as possible, he said Speaking on Accra-based Class FM, the Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College specified that in spite of the presidents call, the permanent members of the council will stall any progress towards fair representation. What the president has put forward will not yield any result. It doesnt mean he is wrong but what Im saying is that unless we restructure the UN, Article 108/109 makes it possible for the United Nation to restructure itself through the General Assembly. Kofi Annans 16-member committee, which he formed to restructure the UN, was also thrown away and this is because there is a big problem. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! This is according to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). Charlotte Osei explained that the filing fees will also cut down on the number of contestants in the general elections. She said the high filing fees also tells that governing people is a serious matter and those who wish to govern must also be made aware of that in all they can. Speaking at the weekly event dubbed Ask the EC Charlotte Osei said if the parliamentary or presidential aspirant is the choice of the Ghanaian populace and electorates then they must help the aspirants pay the fees. The Electoral Commission increased the filing fees for presidential candidates from GHC10,000 to GHC50,000 for the December 2016 elections. This was after a meeting with all political parties. Parliamentary filing fees were also increased from GHC1000 to GHC10,000. READ ALSO: EC mulls reviewing filing fees following outcry The move drew different views from the political parties. Meanwhile, the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has filed a suit against the EC over the high fees. 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Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM he said it is also possible that it could be a leaflet. Anytime the president walks he does not carry cash on him and that is the tradition from generation so I will be very very surprised if the president had cash on him." Debrah said even though he has not seen the purported video he argued that from his knowledge of President Mahama he will not go about sharing money. Having worked with him closely I believe that under no circumstance will he be throwing money around, he said. READ ALSO: Mahama addresses 71st UN General Assembly on Wednesday A video making the rounds suggests President Mahama sharing something that looked paper-like in nature. The camera did not capture what exactly the paper-like item was. But it showed President Mahama taking something from his car and giving out to some traders in the market. However, Debrah insists that the President will not go sharing money no matter the circumstance. According to him, We are not here to sell the NDC to you, the Nkawkaw Zongo is NDC and so if we are here, we are home. We are only here to greet and pass through to propagate the gospel of the NDC to others that have not heard. Every government has done its part but ours surpass everyones. You are all witnesses to it so if [Mr Mahama] is seeking your mandate for another four years, lets support him. Addressing chiefs and people of Nkawkaw Zongo in the Eastern Region on Thursday, 22 September, he said no government since independence has brought development to Ghanaians as much as President John Mahama has done in his first four-year term. The Administrative Secretary to the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG), Alhaji Mohammed Osman Manaf, indicated the readiness of the Tamale International Airport, to receive the pilgrims who are scheduled to return to Ghana with the four return flights after the end of the 2016 Hajj pilgrimage. According to him, series of meetings have been held by stakeholders to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and consolidate the monumental achievements realised during the Hajj. Meanwhile, the National Chief Imam, Shaikh Dr Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has debunked allegation of maltreatment in Mecca saying that he is satisfied with the courtesy accorded him by the Pilgrimage Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) and the Ghana mission in Saudi Arabia. He has cautioned Ghanaians to refrain from making him a subject of socio-political discussion, while he worships his Lord in the Holy Land of Mecca. READ MORE:Hajj 2016 Stranded pilgrims to be airlifted on Sunday I am here for worship not for comfort. Any allegation of maltreatment meted out to me is false, he said Whatever seeming difficulty I have encountered is part of the conventions of Hajj which is not luxury but worship, he added. The absence of the Right to Information law makes it very difficult for the media to do so; having to rely on data from think tanks and personalities whose motivations are questionable. Daniel Obinim is one of Ghanas controversial pastors; never shy of making the headlines. In August, the self-styled bishop whip a teenage couple in his church for having sexual intercourse that resulted in a pregnancy. This incident was shown on television network he owns causing massive outrage in the country. He was also criticised for yelling at his wife publicly during the incident. In his response, he stressed how much he loved his wife repeatedly; but the area of interest was an analogy he used from the Bible. If you read the Bible; in Genesis it says, Joseph had made up his mind to divorce Mary privately. But an angel of God told him not to do so because she was pregnant with the Holy Spirit The facts There are 66 books of the Bible; divided into Old and New Testaments. The Old has 39 books while the new has 27 books. Joseph and Mary are not mentioned anywhere not just in the book of Genesis but the entirety of the Old Testament. The first mention of Joseph and Mary is in the book of Matthew instead in the story of the life of Christ. There is at least 400 years of between Malachi (the last book in the Old Testament) and Matthew according to some theologians. Some also say that the Old Testament (from Genesis to Malachi) spans at least 3,000 years. Bottom line Joseph is indeed mentioned in the book of Genesis for his life and times in Egypt. However, this is a completely different personality; very much unrelated to the situation with Mary and Jesus life story. The verdict So what is the verdict when you put Obinim under the microscope? This was just a slip or he probably just does not know the Bible that well for a bishop. King Sunny Ade a,k.a KSA is one of the greatest musicians in Nigeria, and regarded as one of the most influential artistes of all time. The legendary musician has over 123 albums to his credit. In 1982, Sunny Ade was signed to Island Records, that same year he released the album Juju Music. The album was received with great reviews. Rolling Stone Magazine called it 'breathtaking'. His follow up album Syncro System was nominated for a Grammy in 1983. President, Muhammadu Buhari sent his congratulatory message to the legend, King Sunny Ade in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. The statement read: "President Buhari joins friends, family and fans of the multi-talented instrumentalist, songwriter and dancer in celebrating his remarkable life. "The Septuagenarian had over the years brought pride to his country by mastering his art against all odds, taking the African musical genre to the global stage." Ghanaian actor Majid Michel is also our birthday boy today. Michel started acting fifteen years ago. Majid Michel is one of many Ghanaian actors that broke through to Nollywood in the mid 00's. His acting skills have seen him win the Best Actor in a Leading Role at the AMAAs in 2012. Information on the felicitation is contained in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity in Abuja on Wednesday. Adesina stated that President Buhari joins friends, family and fans of the multi-talented instrumentalist, songwriter and dancer in celebrating his remarkable life. The President noted with delight that Sunny Ade had been graced with numerous awards for outstanding performances, including nominations for the Grammy. Buhari added that the Septuagenarian had over the years brought pride to his country by mastering his art against all odds, taking the African musical genre to the global stage. He, therefore, commended him for not only bringing joy to many hearts and homes through his music, but for serving as an inspiration and a mentor to upcoming artistes. The President saluted King Sunny Ades love for humanity, especially the less privileged, by setting up a foundation that caters for the needs of others. He prayed that almighty God would grant the versatile entertainer longer life, good health and more strength. Born on Sept. 22, 1946, Sunday Adeniyi, the King of Juju and popularly called the minister of enjoyment, had been actively in music since 1960s. His father was a Church organist, while his mother was a trader. Ade left grammar school in Ondo under the pretence of going to University of Lagos but there in Lagos, his mercurial musical career started. Sunny Ades musical sound evolved from the early days. His career begun with Moses Olaiyas Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band, but he left to form a new band, The Green Spots in 1967. Over the years, Sunny Ades band changed its name several times, first to African Beats and then to Golden Mercury, for various reasons ranging from changes in his music to business concerns. In the 1970s and 1980s Ade embarked on a tour of America and Europe. His stage act was characterised by dexterous dancing steps and mastery of the guitar, which he played beautifully well to the admiration of the Americans and Europeans. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Ezeoke who was arraigned at the Hendon Magistrates' Court in northwest London, was said to have gunned down the Congolese woman and her nephew in a shooting at their flat in East Finchley on September 15, 2016. The Scotland Yard said Ezeoke, of no fixed address, is accused of the double murders though when he appeared in court, he was said to have 'strictly denied' any involvement in the murder. The Metropolitan Police say it fears the deaths of the pair were a case of mistaken identity, with detectives saying there has been no evidence to suggest they were the intended targets of the shooting. Four other people, including a child, were inside the flat in Elmhurst Crescent at the time of the attack but were not harmed. A Karimo, Grade 1 Area Court presided over by Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, after the cook pleaded guilty and begged for leniency, gave the convict an option to pay N5,000 as fine. Ibrahim, a resident of Jabi, opposite Dominion School in the FCT, had pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of theft. The Prosecutor, Zanna Dalhatu, had told the court that Umar Iliyasu of the same address with the convict reported the matter at Life Camp Police Station on September 2, 2016. ALSO READ: Domestic servant arrested for stealing from Turai Yaradua Dalhatu said that the convict stole Iliyasus Tiger generators after he had put it off and retired to bed around 2.20 a.m. The prosecutor said during police investigation,the defendant admitted stealing the generator and also confessed to have sold it to an unknown man at Jabi garage at the rate of N3000. Ndukwe is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretence. When the charge was read out to the accused, she entered a plea of not guilty. The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, granted Ndukwe bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum. The magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must possess land property within the courts jurisdiction. Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams had told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offence on March 9, at GRA, Ikeja. He further told the court that Ndukwe had asked the complainant, Ifeoma Isiuwa, to bring all her jewelry valued at N10million for her to commence prayers on behalf of Isiuwa. When the complainant asked that her jewelry be returned to her, the accused was unable to produce them, he said. The prosecutor said that rather than return the jewellery to Ndukwe, the accused told her that she had converted them into her own personal use. Adams said that the offences against the accused contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three year jail term while 409 states two years for offenders. Rose, the petitioner, who resides in Nyanya, said this when she testified in a divorce petition she filed against her husband. My husband said he will kill me and my children and use us for money ritual. He said that my father who handed me over to him for marriage is dead so he can do anything to me and nobody will say anything, she said. The petitioner told the court that her husband plans to bring another woman into their home. He said that the way he brought me into the house, he will bring another woman, that I cannot do or say anything She said that her husband had threatened to kill her if she did not move out of the house willingly, adding that the house he is asking me to move from is my house. My husband wants to bring another woman to come and leave in the house I built with my money. ALSO READ: Husband accuses wife of stealing N350,000 I gave my husband the money to purchase the land; he purchased the land in his name. When I got more money, I still gave him to start building the house, she said. She begged the court not to allow him throw her and the children out of the house, saying, I have used all my money to train our children up to university level, now I dont have money again. She also told the court that her husband does not provide for the family. When I complained to him that I am fed up of taking all the financial responsibility of children, he told me that his other children are been taken care of by their mother in the village, she added. Uko Effiong, the respondent, denied the allegations. ALSO READ: Cattle thieves arrested by NSCDC officials The joint patrol team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Department of Security Service (DSS) were in charge of the operation following a tip-off, arresting 50 suspects in the process. The three oil factories sealed up are Segma Oil Limited, Ogbondoroko in Asa Local Government area, Manner Business Ventures and Wobles venture in Offa Garage area of llorin. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Commandant of NSCDC corps in Kwara, Mr Pedro ldeba, revealed that the three companies have been operating and producing oil illegally, adding that the products produced have been confirmed to be fake by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Ideba also disclosed that the command arrested 50 persons which included the directors and staff of the three sealed factories. He said that some trucks, as well as equipments, were impounded by the command. ALSO READ: 3 cable thieves arrested by NSCDC ALSO READ: 11 armed robbery gang members killed in police shootout A source revealed that two other mobile police officers sustained bullet wounds during the shootout with the criminals at a construction site along Ikiri Road in the state. A witness at the site, Engineer Uche Isiodu disclosed his harrowing experiences to Daily Post via a telephone interview. When we were inside, we started hearing sporadic gunshots so all of us began to run. So we now ran into a nearby bush. After some time, we came and heard that some two MOPOL were gunned-down and they took their guns. We also found that two other MOPOLs were wounded and the rest ran away. ALSO READ: 2 armed robbers shot dead while robbing a Police Inspector This is the Morning Teaser where we raised the question: 'Whenever rape is mentioned, the idea that quickly comes to mind is that of a man forcefully having sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent. It is even worse when the victim is a minor. There are laws that stipulate tough punishments for rape offenders. For example, the criminal laws of Lagos State stipulate that any man who rapes a woman or girl without her consent is guilty of rape and is liable to imprisonment for life. But the law is somehow silent on the issue of women raping men as it makes it clear that it is only men and not women that can commit the offense called rape. There are quite a few misconceptions about both rape, and basic physiology that leads to questions like these are that it is naturally impossible for men to be raped by women, the assumption being that men are physically stronger than women, and as such, would be quite impossible for them to be raped. A sex expert, , has come to the conclusion that physical violence is not a necessary component in rape as sex with an incapacitated person who is unable to consent is seen as rape. Also coercing a person to have sex by way of making threats is rape. In some jurisdictions, all sex with people under the age of consent is considered statutory rape, meaning that if an older woman has sex with a younger male, even if he agreed to the act, then it is rape. According to Kjrstad, even in the cases where violence is involved, it is true that the average man is substantially stronger than the average woman, but it's not true that all men are stronger than all women. Psychological readiness to use violence is often as important as raw strength anyway, being physically capable of defending oneself does not always translate to being psychologically capable of doing so. In this part of the world, however, people do not think a man can be raped and even if a man comes out to report that a woman raped him, he would be looked at with scorn. Try reporting to the police that a woman raped you and the derision with which they will look at you would make you even regret making the report in the first place. Some others think a man should even enjoy the fact that a woman had sex with him without his consent.' The teaser for the day was: How Nigeria voted: Yes, there are women who can rape a man - 92% No, a man cannot be raped by a woman - 8% Such a man should even count himself lucky - 10% The society will mock any man who comes out to make such a report - 12% Emeka who was arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), of the Lagos State Police Command, said his friends, Ebuka Ubajide and Ifeanyi Okoye, sold the idea of robbing his Oga's shop and he fell into the temptation without thinking twice. My friends sold the idea of to me. I felt there would be money inside the shop, so I invited them to rob my boss. We were caught and arrested right in the act of breaking into my masters shop. I have never done this sort of thing before. This is my first time. I regret my action. Confirming the arrest of the three suspects, a statement from the Command reveal that two guns and an iron cutter were recovered from the gang. The victim whose name had been withheld suffered the cruel experience in the compound she and her family shares with the suspect in Idimu, Alimosho Local Government area of the state. ALSO READ: Businessman fingered in pregnancy of underage orphan girl in Sokoto According to the reports, the child had followed her older brother to their neighbour's apartment to watch TV but slept off after a few minutes. The suspect reportedly took advantage of the little girl while she slept after her brother left her in the room about one hour later. The inauguration came as some residents expressed reservation about the state of the road, saying the contractor that handled it needed to do more work. Ambode, represented by Mr Ganiyu Johnson, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, said that the road was part of the 114 roads being constructed across the state at a total cost of N19.4 billion. He enjoined the people of the community to take ownership of the project. Let me therefore appeal to our elders, the youths and indeed the entire residents to guard jealously the infrastructure provided by the government so that additional projects can come to your communities, the governor said. Ambode urged them to address the menace of cultism, kidnapping, miscreants, vandalism and hoodlums by providing timely information to security agencies. However, some residents of the area expressed their dissatisfaction with the government for going ahead with the inauguration in spite of some issues raised. From day one, we have been complaining about the road. From the beginning to the end, the road is very bad. We have been complaining until today that the road is not due for inauguration. We want the government to call the contractor to come and repair the road, he said The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the residents had earlier appealed to the government to halt the inauguration of the project due to its poor construction. The AI report alleged that a special unit of the police force had formed the habit of torturing detainees as a means of extracting confessions and lucrative bribes. Read the police statement below: The attention of the Nigeria Police has been drawn to the Amnesty International Report published on 20th September, 2016, captioned NIGERIA: YOU HAVE SIGNED YOUR DEATH WARRANT special Police Squad get rich torturing detainees and demanding bribes in exchange for freedom. The Nigeria Police Force after a careful study the report, wishes to state categorically that the report in its entirety is misleading, a clear misrepresentation of facts, unverified accounts and absolute distortion of the current situation in Special Anti Robbery Squad [SARS] throughout the country. The report is evidently the characteristic mindset and pattern of Amnesty International to deride and castigate public institutions especially in developing countries like Nigeria. The Amnesty Internationals Nigeria researcher, Damian Ugwus choice of words in describing the operations of SARS portrays the researchers apparent ignorance of the rules of engagement of SARS and the laws regulating criminal investigation in Nigeria. The researcher deliberately misconstrued the cautionary words, a prerequisite for suspects to sign before voluntary statement is taken from them as death warrant. For avoidance of doubt, word of caution is in accordance to Judges Rule 5, which states that, I have decided to make complaint against you in the court of law, do you wish to say anything? You are not obliged to say anything but remember that whatever you say shall be taken down in writing and may be given in evidence. The Nigerian Lawyers and the court system are aware of these words of caution but to Amnesty International, it translates to death warrant. The Nigeria Police Force has in place a functional and pragmatic disciplinary measure against erring officers and men, and has charged to court Police Officers involved in proven cases of violations of rights of suspects in detention. Facts are available for verification. It is incumbent on the Force to educate the writer that the Nigeria Police Force and its officers are committed to upholding the fundamental Human Rights of every Nigerian as enshrined in chapter 4 of the Nigeria constitution and also in accordance to Africa Charter of Rights and UN Declaration of Human Rights. Our guiding principles are democratic policing and International best practices in criminal investigation. The assertion of the Amnesty International Nigeria researcher that detainees are subjected to horrific torture methods, including hanging, starvation, beatings, shootings and mock executions, at the hands of corrupt officers from the feared Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] is a fantasy of Damian Ugwu. The Nigeria Police do not tolerate or condone torture in any form. The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris upon assumption of office conducted an audit of SARS rules of engagement. The Force has been working with critical stakeholders in the criminal justice system in the country and other local and international NGOs and partners including foreign embassies and international human rights organisations to train and retrain Police personnel to conform to International best practices on care and custody of detainees in its detention facilities across the country. It must be pointed out that suspects/detainees in police detention facilities generally have unfettered access to legal practitioners of choice, access to relatives at regulated time and care. Feeding and medical attention for detainees. It is the practice throughout Nigeria Police Force detention facilities across the country that detainees are fed by Police food contractors on reasonable meals on daily bases and medical attention are promptly given to those who fell sick while in detention before they are taken to court. However, it is on record that upon written request for a visit to SARS facilities in Abuja, Anambra and Enugu States by Amnesty International, the Inspector General of Police approved the following dates. (a) SARS Abattoir (an area in Abuja) Abuja-14th June, 2016. (b) SARS Akwuzu, Anambra State 16th June, 2016. (c) SARS Enugu, Enugu State 17th June, 2016. The Amnesty International team were given unguided access to the detention facilities in the above indicated States. Also, the Nigeria Police and Amnesty International jointly agreed to a roundtable discussion to avail the Police the right of reply, and verify facts on 20th September, 2016. In contrast, the Amnesty International with a predetermined motive reneged on the agreement but released an abridged report before 20th September, 2016 and pretentiously published the report on the date agreed to discuss the findings and harmonise facts. The bone of contention therefore is who is fooling who? Can Amnesty International and its orchestrated report be trusted? The obvious answer is NO. The Nigeria Police, therefore wishes to urge Nigerians and the International community to discountenance and disregard the so called Amnesty report on Police torture in Nigeria as a clear demonstration of mischief and calculated attempt to promote a campaign of calumny and hidden agenda of suppressing growth and development in countries like Nigeria. The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris wishes to reassure Nigerians and the International community that the Nigeria Police will continue to discharge its statutory functions according to all known laws and regulations despite obvious distractions. ALSO READ: Policeman murders man while trying to seize his motorcycle He told the court on Thursday that he fought Boko Haram sect using his commanders in the field. Ihejirika sued Nduka Obaigbena, Leaders and Company Limited and Stephen Davis, an Australian, who claimed to be a hostage negotiator working for the release of Nigerian Women held hostage by the Boko Haram at Chibok, Borno, in 2014. The former army boss is claiming N100 billion for damages from the defendants for defamation in the interview granted by Davis to Arise TV and the published in ThisDay He also asked for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further defamatory comments concerning him. Ihejirika want the defendants to publish a full retraction and apology in the front page of ThisDay Newspaper for the said false and libellous publication Ihejirika, who was cross examined by counsel to the defendants, Frank Chude, said that Boko Haram were terrorists and the Nigerian Army is fighting the group. On whether his duties a General is of public consumption, Ihejirika said he was a public figure and issues related to him were for public consumption. He admitted that he had heard about the tape of the interview and his name was not mentioned. But Ihejirika said he was the only Chief of Army Staff that retired in January 2014 as mentioned in the tape. He also said he had never granted ThisDay Newspaper any interview but read the said publication when his attention was drawn to it. His Counsel, A.B. Anachebe (SAN), had praised objection that his client would no answer the question by the defence if the story published in ThisDay Newspaper about Ihejirika was true. Anachabe said that the question and false publication was the reason why they were court Justice Valentine Ashi adjourned the case till Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 for continuation of cross examination and defence. Davis granted Arise TV, interview and it was aired in Abuja and published by newspapers, including ThisDay Newspaper and media houses in 2014. He his interviewers that a sponsor a former Chief of Army Staff retired in January 2014 or actually sacked by the president was a sponsor of Boko Haram The protesters, led by one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, described Jibrin as a professional blackmailer who is plotting to destroy the legislature. Their placards read: We demand the indefinite suspension and prosecution of Hon Jibrin for contempt of the House, operating of foreign account, scandalising the House, contract splitting, money laundering and living above his means. They also carried banners which read: EFCC prosecute Jibrin for operating 1.37 million pounds foreign account Africa media, Hon Jibrin is a professional blackmailer and Coalition in Defence of Democracy wants Reps to suspend Hon Jibrin for his failed plot to destroy the legislature. Falana said But for selfish considerations, a few legislators who may be queuing up to participate in the purchase of the nations assets are not prepared to defend the Constitution. If the senate is genuinely desirous to contribute meaningfully to the debate on the economy, it should, as a matter of urgency, propose a substantial reduction in the jumbo emoluments of federal legislators which are said to be the highest in the world. Adding that It is on record that whereas the federal government had spent billions of Naira to renovate the properties, each of them was fraudulently sold for about N50 million. Many other properties of the federal government in Abuja, Lagos and other cities were undersold to many public officers and their cronies. Apart from the recovery of the NET building in Lagos which was sold to the father of a legislator for N4 billon instead of the market value of N75 billion, the sale of the other 531 properties of Nitel and other agencies of the federal government located in the various parts of the country have not been accounted for. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki had earlier suggested that the nations assets be sold so as to stimulate the economy. Buhari told UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, that his government would welcome intermediaries from the organization to aid the exchange of the girls for Boko Haram prisoners. According to a statement released by Buharis media aide, Femi Adesina, the president made the comment while speaking at a bilateral meeting with Ban on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York. "The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with, Buhari said. The split in the insurgent group is not helping matters. Government had reached out, ready to negotiate, but it became difficult to identify credible leaders. We will welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in, he added. The UN boss on the other hand praised Buhari for giving Nigeria a positive image around the world. Concerns for the Chibok girls safety were recently renewed after Boko Haram released a video in August showing some of the girls with a terrorist. Idris made the disclosure at a meeting with Commanders of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Protection Unit (SPU) and the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) in Abuja. Therefore, in line with these responsibilities, it will be against force policy to deploy police mobile force personnel to guard individuals or fragment their personnel into smaller units,he said. He said that the PMF, CTU and SPU were currently undergoing reorganisation and restructuring in accordance with their responsibilities. The I-G said the force had put in motion strategy to ensure that PMF personnel were gradually replaced with SPU personnel who were saddled with the responsibility of close protection of VIPS. Idris said that the special police units occupied the central aspects of policing all over the world. It is therefore important that we as a nation ensure that our special police units are given adequate training and resources to enable them carry out their responsibilities,he said. He said that in order to enhance the capability of the SPU personnel they would be stationed in all police commands as against zonal commands. ALSO READ: Police deny fraud allegations against IG Idris restated his administrations resolve to ensure that all police training facilities operated optimally. He said that the force was also proposing the establishment of a Police SPU training school for enhanced service delivery. The I-G said the force would seek the support of the Nigerian Navy to establish a marine police training school in Bayelsa to enable the police dominate the creeks of Niger Delta region. He said that the measures being taken by the force would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the police and address the major security challenges in the country. Idris remanded the commanders of the police core values of integrity, accountability, and respect for diversity. He also advised them to operate within the concept of democratic policing to be responsive to the yearnings of the citizens. The I-G warned that any violation of the measures would be punished by the police management. In the coming days, we are going to start looking closely at our officers to ensure that they carry out these measures being put in place by the senior police management,he said. The Sectors Head of Operations, Mr Salisus Galadunci said that the accident occurred around 11 pm on Tuesday. Galadunci told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna that the 18 persons, who were from one family, were returning to Lokoja from Kano when the accident occurred. According to him, only one person survived the accident, adding that three bodies were recovered from the river. An 18-seater bus travelling to Lokoja from Kano plunged into River Rijana with about 18 persons, all related, returning from Sallah break. The incident was reported by the only survivor, a woman who manage to report to an FRSC ambulance stationed at Doka unit, along Kaduna-Abuja expressway, around 7 am on Wednesday. Rescuers from FRSC Doka, Katari and Kakau were immediately dispatched with ambulances, and with support of local divers to search for survivors. Eventually, only three bodies were recovered, while the remaining persons could not be found, including the survivors daughter, he said. He further said that the survivor explained that the accident happened in a flash, and attributed it to speeding and fatigue. The road marshal said that the recovered bodies have been buried by the river side by villagers, as efforts continue to rescue the 14 missing persons. It was reported that a new dimension was recently introduced to hunger-induced crime in Minna, as hungry youths now go about snatching food packs from nursery and primary school children. The report further narrated how a young pupil was robbed off her school meal by a hungry youth on her way to school in Kpakungu, Minna. According to Guardian, a nursery two pupil of Mega Stars Academy in Minna, Fati Sanusi, fell victim to a hungry youth whose food pack, prepared by her mother, was allegedly snatched from her by a grown up boy, who ran away even as she cried. ALSO READ: Another gas explosion rocks Minna The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkadir, gave the directive while addressing officers and men of the command in Isa and Sabon-Birni divisions on Wednesday. I dont want to hear any report of cattle rustling in your respective areas of jurisdiction, Abdulkadir said. He said that the command would not tolerate cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the state . He said effective operational order had since been issued to the Divisional Police Officers across the state to work toward ending cattle rustling in the area. ALSO READ: LG seeks patrol teams to tackle cattle rustling We will do all that we can to ensure the arrest and prosecution of criminals in our resolve to sustain the peaceful nature our state is known for, he said. The commissioner appealed to the people of the state to always give the command intelligence reports that could lead to the arrest of criminals. Three people who have demanded the ministers sack are: 1. Dino Melaye: The finance minister has not only displayed gross incompetence on the job, she also lacks the basic and rudimentary grasp of economic fundamentals necessary to run a critical sector of the Nigerian economy like the finance ministry, the senator said. 2. Ike Ekweremadu: The minister for finance can do much better in another ministry. At this critical time we need somebody who is more experienced to man the ministry of finance so that he can be able to coordinate the strategies for this recovery, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said. Dame Jonathan recently claimed ownershipof five Skye Bank accounts with billions of Naira, which were under investigation. According to Leadership, the groups spokesman, Udengs Eradiri, said The EFCCs indiscreet media trial of Tompolo led to the crisis in the Niger Delta that plunged the country into the current economic mess. Jonathans wife like most former First Ladies made her money from gifts and gratifications insisting that there was no law against such gestures. First Ladies in Nigeria do not do any work. A woman naturally attracts a lot of gifts from men let alone a First Lady who has the power to recommend you for something. They receive a lot of thank you and gratifications because most cases they recommend people who come back to thank them. Even when they do not recommend, people go and say good morning with a million dollar. It did not start with Patience Jonathan. We know how influential the former First Lady of this country and other First Ladies were. We know how powerful, rich and wealthy they are and the property they acquired as a result of gratification. if you say Patience should show how she made her money, you must start with all the First Ladies, otherwise, it is a witch-hunt. Patience Jonathan got her wealth from thank you and there is nowhere in the law that says we should not receive thank you. So, EFCC should stop this nonsense. If you have issues, go and follow the due process and dont begin to use the media to tarnish the image of the former first family. jaw youths would not tolerate further attacks and insults on Jonathans family adding that the former President deserved respect. Despite the humiliation Jonathan suffered from the wife of late former President Musa YarAdua, he never harassed the late Presidents family.Jonathan should be respected in Nigeria. You heard what happened during the time of late President YarAdua, Jonathan did not witch-hunt that family irrespective of the humiliation he suffered despite the position of the law. This is a witch-hunt and the EFCC must stop this attitude because very soon, people will begin to resist them. Nigerians will get to the point where they will no longer accept it. We support the fight against corruption. All of us know that corruption has eaten deep into our fabric but this selective fight especially geared towards the region must not be allowed. Eradiri also said Mrs. Jonathan has no case to answer, adding that the EFCC is out to shame any person close to former President Goodluck Jonathan. He also alleged that the Federal Government approved a University for late Gen. Sani Abachas wife, despite the corruption cases against the family. Adding that It is in this country that they talked about Abachas loot, yet a university had been approved for Abachas wife. In this same country where they said Abacha was corrupt. So, why you treating one former first family differently and then everybody are wants to humiliate Jonathans family in the best of their ability. The EFCC is investigating Mrs Jonathan for money laundering after it linked four company accounts containing $15 million to her. The group made the threat via a statement issued by its spokesman, Parkinson George-Amabo. The statement reads: As a matter of fact, the EFCC has launched a criminal investigation of Mrs. Jonathan and in the process, frozen her bank accounts domiciled with a Nigerian commercial bank without affording her opportunity to state her own side of the matter. Nobody is above the law. The NDPPVF does not support or condone corruption. If Mrs. Jonathan was found to be corrupt, we shall not hesitate to call for her prosecution. We, however, have a grouse with the modus operandi of Mrs. Jonathans investigation, given her status as the wife of a former deputy governor, former governor, former vice-president, former acting president and finally, former president. She is perhaps, the only Nigerian woman dead or alive with such an impressive and fortuitous pedigree; which accounts for why the EFCC needs to thread with caution. Recently, there have been calls on the attorney-general of the federation as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute the former First Lady for alleged money laundering. We shall simultaneously bomb the 4 wings of the NNPC Towers the day it is announced that MRS. PATIENCE GOODLUCK JONATHAN has been arrested by the EFCC. For today, September 22 2016: THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER Reps in rowdy session over move to suspend Jibrin For over an hour yesterday, proceedings of the House of Representatives were stalled due to an attempt by some members to block a move to suspend Dr. Abdulmumini Jibrin. Troops recapture border town, Boko Haram claims killing 40 soldiers The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has recaptured Malam Fatori, a border town on the shores of Lake Chad, from Boko Haram after a fierce battle, the military said yesterday. Gas flaring kills 13 in Delta communities No fewer than 13 lives have been lost in the last two months to gas flaring in six communities of Warri South West and Ndokwa West councils of Delta State. THE VANGUARD NEWSPAPER Recession: Rejig your cabinet, Senators tell Buhari ABUJA TO fast track Nigerias recovery from economic recession, some Senators, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack or redeploy some of his ministers, who are currently saddled with the onerous task of managing the economy. SIT-AT-HOME: Police warn group, as IPOB says no going back on protest AwkaTHE five-day standing committee of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, ended abruptly in Awka, on Wednesday, following the sit-at-home threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Budget padding: Reps in rowdy session as Jibrin supporters battle suspension motion ABUJATHE House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session yesterday, following a motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Orker Jev, over alleged infringement of members right and privileges by the former chairman of Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin. THE NATION NEWSPAPER House refers Jibrin to Ethics Committee Members of the House of Representatives began yesterday a major battle to defend their integrity, which has been soiled by allegations that this years budget was padded. Ekiti cuts relationship with bank over Fayoses frozen accounts EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has ordered the state to stop transacting business with Zenith Bank. Oyo to export Aso Ofi fabric to increase IGR Oyo State has concluded plans to export Aso Ofi local fabric as part of efforts to increase its internally generated revenue (IGR). THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER EFCC freezes Patience Jonathans personal $5m account The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen Patience Jonathans personal account, titled Patience Ibifaka Jonathan, which is domiciled in Skye Bank Plc. N7bn contract scam rocks Benue, two cashiers arrested The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, under the chairmanship of Dr. Philip Tachin, has allegedly awarded contracts worth N7bn without due process. Lagos, Kaduna, Edo owe foreign creditors $1.84bn Lagos, Kaduna and Edo, with a combined foreign debt profile of $1.84bn, are the most indebted states of the federation as far as subnational foreign debts are concerned, investigation has revealed. THE BUSINESSDAY NEWSPAPER Markets rise following unchanged key monetary policy rates Nigerian fixed income (FI) and equities markets were further upbeat Wednesday, after Tuesdays decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to hold key monetary policy rates, Business Day investigations reveal. Nigeria seen bridging rice deficit on Kebbi model Nigeria is inching close to bridging its current annual four million metric tonnes rice deficit as the success recorded in Kebbi State is seen encouraging other states to take interest in large and commercial scale production of the commodity. Withholding Tax hike to hurt construction sector Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi announced this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the NEC meeting, which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. The Vice President is the Chairman of the Council, which advises the President on economic affairs of the federation and in particular, on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning in the country. NEC is composed of governors of all 36 states of the federation, and the Central Bank Governor. He stated that the council specifically commended the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udu Udoma and Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun for their efforts towards finding lasting solutions to the economic challenges. The Ministers of Budget and National Planning and the Central Bank governor all made presentations and highlights of the presentations were sad news that the economy is in recession largely due to dependence on single commodity, which is crude oil, whose prices we could not control. Oil price collapsed to less than 30 dollars per barrel in the first quarter of 2016 and market expectations are that it will still stay lower for longer. The various members of the National Economic Team made presentations on measures to provide larger injection of funds into the economy, he said. He stated that the measures included asset sales, advance payment of licence renewals, infrastructure concessioning, use of recovered funds etc to reduce funding gaps, Others, he said, were the implementation of Fiscal Stimulus/Budget Priorities, fast-track procedures through legislation and implementation of Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the budget and meaningful diversification of the economy and cut down importation According to the governor, the recession provides an opportunity to restructure and reset the nations economy. Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Ogun, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, said the Minister of Finance reported to council that the balance in Excess Crude Account was 2.453 billion as at Sept. 20. He was represented Mr Yusuf Lasun, First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. The senate president said that violent conflicts and the proliferation of small arms, has remained a challenge that hampered peace and development in the sub- region. With more than 70 per cent of the West African population living below the poverty line of one dollar a day, civil unrest and grievances, both recipes for conflicts become widespread. Additionally, 77,000 of the small arms are allegedly within the control of West African insurgent groups; the circulation of illegal arms has increased the proclivity of conflicts within the sub-region. The restoration of resources peace to troubled states cannot be solved by one nation in isolation; that is why we are here. We can go through our collective experience from different backgrounds and nations, champion various causes that will encourage and improve the quality of lives for the citizens. Saraki said. He further called on member states to focus on modalities and programmes developed to facilitate sub-regional trade and reduce poverty. With an estimated population of 362 million people spread across 15 sovereign states, the advantages of a stronger trading link among states will make West Africa the business hub of the world. Regional trade lag behind compared to trade with developed and emerging countries outside Africa. Joint ventures between states in the development of infrastructure like roads and railway should be in the front burner of our deliberation, he said. In his address, Mr Roger Dang, Speaker of the Pan-African Parliament, also reiterated the call for member states to speak with one voice and enhance collaboration to address existing challenges. Solutions to the problems of Africa is to respect one Africa, one voice. In an exclusive chat with Pulse Nigeria, the actress who has been in the industry for over 10 years, spoke on what the 'new Nollywood' means to her. She also shared her inspiration as an actress and producer. On the term 'new Nollywood,' the "Miss Teacher" actress said, "I don't like to categorize it as 'new Nollywood,' we are all Nollywood." "I just think that it's because there are now more creative minds, and things are done a certain way now. We are now embracing the international market standard where we premiere our movies. It was not so before now. So that is why that word 'new Nollywood' was carved out. But I believe we are all Nollywood. Nollywood is Nollywood." The actress who has produced over three films this 2016, also shared her inspiration. "Whenever I wake up, I'm looking for the next new thing to do, how to impact in my society." "Basically, having the love for the art in my heart, has been a wonderful inspiration so far." Chika Ike's 2016 productions include "Yes, I Will," "Happy Ending," "One Fine Day," and the second season of her reality series, "African Diva." MTV announced the finalists as 23-year old Tomiwa Olorunfemi, 21 year old Tochukwu Onwubiko, 23-year old Olayinka Oladiran, and 19 year-old twins, Grace and Glory Danbaki. The above mentioned will battle for the grand prize at the third edition of the MTV Base VJ Search competition grand finale. After competing against thousands of applicants from across the country including Lagos, Abuja and Enugu during the MTV Base VJ Search auditions, the winner will join Ehiz Okoeguale on MTV Bases in-house talent roster, presenting their own shows on MTV Base. ALSO READ:undefined The winner will also win a contract with MTV Base worth 20million Naira as well as other exciting prizes. The winner in the MTV Base VJ Search will be announced during the televised MTV Base VJ Search Grand Final at 18:30pm on Friday, September 23, 2016. This followed a point of order brought under Matters of Privilege by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Emmanuel Oker-Jev. It would be recalled that former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC-Kano), accused the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara and some principal officers of padding the 2016 budget. Jibrin also demanded that Dogara should resign to allow investigations to be conducted into the matter. Moving the point of order, Oker-Jev called for the suspension of Jibrin, describing his allegations as sundry act of misconduct against the members and institution of the House of Representatives. ALSO READ: Speaker says Jibrin's allegations destroyed the integrity of the National Assembly According to him, Jibrin embarked on campaign of calumny and denigration by making publications in the media and internet against the entire membership of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly as an institution. Jibrins comments were contemptuous of the House of Representatives and a breach of collective privileges of the members of the house, he said. However, efforts to oppose the point of order by Rep. Ali Madaki (APC-Kano) failed. Madaki said that it would be an honourable thing for the accused persons to resign in order to allow for proper investigation into the matter. Reacting, Dogara said that since all the members of the house were accused, Madaki should be the first to resign. The Deputy Director of Publicity and Voter Education of INEC, Mr Nick Dazang, made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Dazang said that the aim of the forum was to address concerns arising from the postponement of the election from Sept. 10 to Sept. 28 based on security advice. The session will also be used to address reactions and assuage the anxieties of stakeholders, he said. Dazang said that 1,925,105 registered voters were expected to participate in the election. Total number of registered voters remains the same as issued on August 11, 2016 (30 days to the election) as demanded by law. However, distribution of PVCs (Permanent Voter Cards) is on-going as directed by the commission in all states of the federation. Asked if the commission was considering reshuffling personnel for the poll, Dazang said he was not aware of that. He added that the commission was not aware of any of those recruited and trained for the poll changing interest on participating in the exercise. We do not have any report to that effect. What INEC is doing now is to re-engage with the stakeholders, particularly the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), security agencies and others. We appreciate that there could be such fear by the ad hoc staff. So, what we are doing is to re-engage with the stakeholders. We are re-engaging to reassure them based on the assurance given to us by security agencies that the same level of security that they assured us is still in place. We will try and allay their fairs and anxiety so that they will feel strengthened to participate; we are working on that. We are also sensitising all stakeholders and that is why we are holding another stakeholders forum in Benin to address whatever concern that they may raise, Dazang said. He said that for now INEC had no challenge on getting the required ad hoc staff for the conduct of the election. Dazang said that one third of the ad hoc staff engaged were NYSC members, while the remaining two thirds were former corps members and students of tertiary institutions. Be that as it may, we are not taking things for granted, we are going to assure them of their security while on election duty. In fact since the postponement of the election, INEC offices have been under 24 hours surveillance and the same number of the security measures would be provided before the election proper. The security personnel are going to be present at the eve of the election with the ad hoc staff in the all the 192 Registration Area Centres. They are going to secure the ad hoc staff and our election materials, he added. Dazang said that the commission would continue to build on its engagement with stakeholders to ensure security and success of the election. Dariye, a former governor of Plateau state who represents Plateau Central Senatorial District announced his defection in a letter read by President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the end of plenary. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Thursday defection by Dariye was the second time he was dumping the PDP. In 2011, he defected from the party to Labour Party, where he contested the senatorial election. But, in 2014, the former governor returned to the PDP, and had explained that his decision to rejoin the party was because he was a founding member. He assured of his loyalty to the PDP at all times. In his latest defection letter, he said, after due consultations with my constituency, I write to notify you of my intention to cross over from the PDP to the APC. My decision is informed by the protracted division at the national level of the PDP that led to the massive movement of my supporters to the APC. Arising from this, I therefore write to formally inform you of my decision to go along with my supporters. I thank you for your understanding. Fielding questions from newsmen, Dariye said that his decision to dump the PDP was informed by the crack in the party. He added that most of his constituents had defected to the ruling APC and that he wanted to be with his constituents for effective representation. My people in the PDP have moved to the APC and there is no need to remain alone, he said. The APC executive called on the party Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun to call for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to deliberate on issues concerning Nigerians. Frank, who said the duty of the APC leadership is not to hold primary elections alone, added that the NEC can advise President Buhari on how to solve the current economic challenges. He said The role of the party leadership is not only to conduct primary elections but to add value to governance, adding that such meeting will give members of the party the opportunity to air their views and provide expert suggestions. Adding that I expect the leadership of my party to be worried because the country is in recession, though the problems were inherited from the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan but we are here to solve the problems. That is why I am demanding an emergency NEC meeting where all the leaders of our party will sit face to face and tell themselves the truth or invite experts to advise them on what quickly should be done. Frank, who said there were pending issues on ground for the NEC to resolve, added that It was agreed at the last meeting that there should be a mini- convention to fill some vacant positions of the National Working Committee (NWC) but nothing has been done almost six months after. The issue of Board of Trustees (BOT) is still pending and some other issues, including crisis all over the states, but the only thing our national chairman can do is to conduct primaries. As a governing party I believe Nigerians expect more than this from us. Though, President Muhammadu Buhari is doing his best to deliver on our change mantra but all hands must be on deck to support the president to achieve this because we owe Nigerians explanations at all time and the role of party leadership must also be felt in this government. Timi Frank also thanked members of the National Assembly for proffering solutions to the economic problem the country is facing. ALSO READ: ASUU laments poor funding They are slated to appear before the assembly on Tuesday, September 27. The summon was followed by a motion titled, Reviewing the Joint Ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: A Step toward Sole Ownership by Oyo State Government, by Mrs Olawunmi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North/LP) and co-sponsored by nine other lawmakers at the plenary session on Thursday. Mrs Oladeji noted that the move would allow for the critical issues and crisis tormenting the institution since co-owner, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, failed to fulfil his states financial responsibility to the institution, to be addressed. Osun State Government has defaulted, particularly in the payment of salaries of the institutions members of staff for about 15 months. This has made it difficult for the smooth-running of LAUTECH. The Internally Generated Revenue of the institution, which is meant for the payment of gratuity, pension of retirees, as well as other developmental projects within the university, has been depleted. This is due to the fact that the money is being used for the payment of workers salaries. This calls for the total hand-off of Osun Government from running of the university, and allows the Oyo State Government to take charge of sole and full ownership. Contributing to Mrs Oladeji's standpoint, Adesina (Ibadan South-East I/Accord), emphasised the need to resolve the issue of joint ownership of LAUTECH since Osun established its university and was no longer ready to fund it. The Chairman, House Committee on Parliamentary Matters, Mr Olusegun Ajanaku (Ibadan South-West II/APC), agreed, saying that the issue of LAUTECH was a national matter, adding that the issues require much more work between both parties involved. ALSO READ: Lawyer warns Governor not to sack LAUTECH workers He also urged the people of Ogbomoso to maintain patience and allow for amicable resolution of the issues between the two parties. "Building stronger commercial relationships with some of the world's fastest growing economies in Africa continues to be a top priority for the Obama administration," said Secretary Pritzker. "Private sector engagement through initiatives like the PAC-DBIA is driving our efforts to expand trade, speed investments, build new technologies, and grow new and transformative industries across Africa." The appointments are announced in conjunction with the second U.S.-Africa Business Forum. This event connects hundreds of American and African chief executive officers and business leaders, along with African heads of state, to discuss overall economic growth and to stimulate additional trade and investment between the United States and Africa. The appointees of the 2016-2018 Presidents Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa include: Jay Ireland, President and CEO, GE Africa (Chair); Laura Lane, President of Global Public Affairs, UPS (Vice Chair); Wale Adeosun, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Kuramo Capital Management; Mimi Alemayehou, Managing Director, Black Rhino Group; and Executive Advisor and Chair, Blackstone Africa Infrastructure LP; Kimberly Brown, CEO, Amethyst Technologies; Takreem El-Tohamy, General Manager of Middle East and Africa, IBM; Peter Grauer, Chairman, Bloomberg LP; Diane Hoskins, Co-CEO, Gensler; Denise Johnson, President, Caterpillar Resource Industries; Kusum Kavia, President, Combustion Associates, Inc.; Barbara Keating, President, Computer Frontiers, Inc.; Bill Killeen, President and CEO, Acrow Bridge; Tom Klein, President and CEO, Sabre; Jack Leslie, Chairman, Weber Shandwick; Edward Mathias, Managing Director, Carlyle Group; Ross McLean, President of Sub-Saharan Africa, Dow Chemical Company; Jehiel Oliver, Founder and CEO, Hello Tractor; Andrew Patterson, President for Africa, Bechtel; Martin Richenhagen, Chairman, President, and CEO, AGCO; Fred Sisson, CEO, Synnove Energy; Andrew Torre, President of Sub-Saharan Africa, Visa; Dow Wilson, President and CEO, Varian Medical Systems; Rahama Wright, Founder and Chief Executive Director, Shea Yeleen. President Obama signed an Executive Order (E.O.) at the 2014 U.S.-Africa Business Forum to establish PAC-DBIA. The PAC-DBIA has provided information, analysis, and recommendations on U.S.-Africa trade and investment priorities. Such priorities include job creation in both the United States and Africa, developing sustainable commercial partnerships, building entrepreneur capacity, and keeping the private sector engaged in developing policies and strategies on investment in Africa. Speaking on the appointment, Jay Ireland said, I am truly honored to continue serving on the U.S. Presidents Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. I am delighted to chair this group strengthening commercial links between Africa and U.S. for economic growth. GE is proud to remain a steadfast partner in Africa's sustainable growth and will continue to invest in people and infrastructure across Africa." Ogundipe, along with Sulaiman Balogun, Dapo Eludire and Seyi Ayeni, founded ToLet (known as Estatenode at the time) in 2012. It is a platform that helps users find property for sale or rent in various parts of Lagos. Listings include apartments, serviced apartment, luxury apartments, and office spaces.ALSO READ: Online events venue booking startup secures $45k funding from Spark, Hotels.ng Speaking on the investment, Frontier Digital Ventures founder/CEO, Shaun Di Gregorio, said, We are super excited to be making this investment into ToLet.com.ng, and look forward to being part of helping fuel their next stage of accelerated growth. We have full confidence in the ability of the founding team to continue with the awesome job they have already started and we look forward to the consolidation of their position as the Number One property classifieds portal in Nigeria. ToLet, one of the first thirteen companies to get seed funding from Spark.ng, the investment company setup by Jason Njoku and Bastian Gotter, in 2013, has since gone on to become one of the leading online real estate platforms in Nigeria. Spark cofounder Bastian Gotter, said, We are very excited to welcome Frontier Digital Ventures (FDV) to the ToLet.com.ng family, as a long term thinking and very knowledgeable partner. We believe this new fundraise gives the ToLet management team the capital to scale, and as well serves as validation for what they have achieved already. We are looking forward to seeing ToLet.com.ng win big and change the real estate industry in Nigeria. Fighters in two Landcruisers attacked the patrol base "but the officers in the camp managed to repulse them amid (a) fierce exchange of fire," said a statement from police spokesman George Kinoti. One policeman was wounded and two were missing, he said, adding that one attacker was killed. Al Shabaab claimed the attack in Kenya's Garissa County. "We attacked a police station in a small town near Garissa last night," al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters by phone. Al Shabaab have repeatedly attacked Kenya, saying it is in retaliation for Kenyan troops entering Somalia in 2011 in a bid to secure the porous border between the two nations. Women and children were among those killed in the raid on Tuesday in Sokna, 480 kilometres (300 miles) southeast of Tripoli, the parallel administration said in a statement on its website. The strike was carried out by "aircraft that took off from an air base in Misrata belonging to illegal militias and terrorist groups allied with them," it said, referring to forces loyal to the UN-backed unity government. A spokesman for the base called the accusations "wrong and biased", according to a Facebook page run by the unity government. "Flights (on Tuesday) did not reach those areas, but were only reconnaissance flights in the coastal area," said Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Qanunu. It was not immediately possible to contact independent witnesses in Sokna. UN envoy Martin Kobler wrote on Twitter that he was "shocked" by reports of air strikes in the area that killed "many civilians, among them women and children." "Civilian casualties are unacceptable," he said. Sokna lies in Al-Jufra district, 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Sirte, where forces allied with the Government of National Accord (GNA) are battling Islamic State group (IS) jihadists. Rival governments The GNA was formed following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, but it has struggled to impose its power across a country riven by violence since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The GNA, created last year as a UN-brokered power-sharing government, still needs a vote of confidence from the parliament based in the east. The parliament has so far withheld its support, instead backing the rival administration, which is also based in the country's east. Both governments depend on militias for their authority, and the parallel authority is backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Last week Haftar's forces seized four key export terminals in Libya's coastal "oil crescent", in a further blow to the GNA's efforts to extend its writ across the whole country. Meanwhile, GNA forces have been fighting for more than four months to oust IS from Sirte, Kadhafi's coastal home town. Suicide bombings and sniper fire from the cornered jihadists have slowed the offensive. Sixteen police were injured overnight on Tuesday and one person was arrested as officers in riot gear clashed with demonstrators who hurled stones, set fires and briefly blocked an interstate highway. Police and protesters offered widely differing accounts of the shooting. Officers said Keith Scott, 43, was armed and ignoring orders, while the victim's family and a witness said he was holding a book. Authorities have not released any video of the incident, but say they plan to. The trouble in Charlotte unfolded as demonstrators in Tulsa, Oklahoma, demanded the arrest of a police officer seen on video fatally shooting an unarmed black man who had his hands in clear view at the time. The deaths were the latest to raise questions of racial bias in U.S. law enforcement, and they stoked a national debate on policing ahead of the presidential election in November. Police shootings in cities including New York, Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri, have sparked more than two years of largely peaceful protests punctuated by days of rioting and arson and given rise to the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement. U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said such killings were unbearable. Her Republican rival, Donald Trump, questioned what the Tulsa officer was thinking in shooting a man he said seemed to pose no imminent threat. Criminal investigations have been opened in both cities, and the U.S. Justice Department has started a separate probe into the Oklahoma incident to see if officers' use of force amounted to a civil rights violation. Charlotte's police chief, Kerr Putney, said Scott was seen on Tuesday afternoon getting into a vehicle holding a handgun. Police surrounded the car, Putney said, and Scott was shot by a black police officer after he exited the car and did not obey orders to drop his weapon. "I can also tell you we did not find a book," Putney told a news conference. "We did find a weapon." Local resident Taheshia Williams said she saw the incident from her balcony about 100 feet (30 meters) away, and that she watched Scott get out of his car with his hands raised. "Hands up. No gun. When he got out of the car, a book fell off his lap," Williams told reporters on Wednesday. She said she heard Scott ask police what he had done wrong, could not hear their reply, but then heard four shots. "It's a cover-up. They made a mistake and they're doing their best to make sure they cover up that mistake," she said. 'OPEN TO SHOWING VIDEO' Black activists and pastors called for an economic boycott of the city, and a several dozen students held a "lay-in" protest at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina urged the body and dash camera footage be released. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts told CNN she had not seen any video from the scene, but that Putney told her footage was recorded by cameras worn by other police officers and mounted on patrol cars. "The chief is very open to showing that video ... not just to elected officials, but also to community leaders," she said. "We have done that in the past. We plan to do that this time." In 2013 a white police officer killed Jonathan Ferrell, an unarmed black man, in Charlotte. Ferrell's family received $2.25 million from the city in compensation. North Carolina allows for the open carry of handguns, including having a pistol in a vehicle. A friend of Vinson, Michael Scurlock, told CNN on Wednesday that the officer on Tuesday night. "I know he's torn," Scurlock said. "No matter if it's justified or unjustified, it's tough when you have to know that you had to take someone else's life." Protesters in Oklahoma, meanwhile, want Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby, who is white, to be arrested for the killing on Friday of Terence Crutcher, 40, whose sport utility vehicle had broken down and was blocking a road. Shelby's lawyer has said she feared for her life, believing Crutcher was reaching into his vehicle for a weapon. Lawyers for the Crutcher family released still images from police videos showing the car window was shut and said the use of force was not justified. Two police videos, one taken from a helicopter and one from a patrol car dashcam, show Shelby following Crutcher as he walked slowly to his vehicle with his hands up. Shelby shoots him as he puts his hands on the car, and he falls to the ground. Speaking in New York City alongside relatives of Crutcher, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton urged both presidential candidates to broach the topic of police shootings on Monday at their first head-to-head debate. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.5 million driven from their homes since a new conflict gripped South Sudan in late 2013 following its split from Sudan under a landmark peace deal. "The number of South Sudanese refugees registered by Sudanese authorities is 400,000," Sudan's Minister of State for Interior Babiker Digna told reporters in Khartoum. "The influx of South Sudanese continues until now... and the process of registering them is also ongoing." On Friday, the United Nations refugee agency said that the overall number of refugees from South Sudan had crossed the one million mark. The UN said that as of August 31 the total number of South Sudanese in Sudan had exceeded 247,000, of which about 90,000 had arrived since January this year. When asked about the discrepancy, Digna said: "Many times we don't agree on the numbers" with the UN. The UN refugee agency representative for Sudan, Noriko Yoshida, appealed for more global aid to help address the South Sudanese refugee crisis. "If we don't have sufficient resources, it is also difficult to protect and assist these refugees," Yoshida told reporters at the same news conference. Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic are the other countries hosting tens of thousands of South Sudanese refugees. South Sudan fell into civil war in December 2013 when fighting erupted between supporters of President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar, after Kiir accused his deputy of plotting a coup. Machar is now in Khartoum where he arrived last month for what the Sudanese authorities said was medical treatment. Democratic Republic of Congo has for months suffered simmering anger over what opponents of President Joseph Kabila believe are his efforts to hold on to power beyond his constitutional term limit, either by delaying elections or revising the constitution, as other African leaders have done. U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said the death toll from clashes between protesters and security forces on Monday in the Congolese capital Kinshasa had risen to at least 50. The government has put the death toll at 32. "The writing is on the wall and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition," Zeid said in a statement. "Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital," he said. The electoral commission has said that polls that were supposed to happen in November will now not go ahead until at least next year, increasing concerns that Kabila plans to hold on to power beyond his constitutional mandate. Kabila's office, in a statement on Wednesday, called for calm and invited "the entire population to go about their daily activities now that security is again fully ensured". Users will soon be able to pick a Twitter version they like better: Musk QUICK 9/22 NEW JAPAN DESTRUCTION IN HIROSHIMA RESULTS New Japan held their "Destruction in Hiroshima" event this morning. We will have a more detailed report later, but here are the quick results: *Ricochet & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Yoshitatsu & Captain New Japan & Togi Makabe. *ReDragon & David Finlay & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Tiger Mask & Tomoaki Honma & Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi. *The Guerillas of Destiny defeated RPG Vice. *Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi. *Juice Robinson & Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA & IWGP Intercontinental champion Michael Elgin defeated Tetsuya Naito & EVIL & Sanada & BUSHI. *IWGP Tag Team champions The Briscoes defeated IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions The Young Bucks. The Guerrilla of Destiny laid out the Briscoes to set up a future title match afterward. *ROH champion Adam Cole defeated Will Ospreay. This was Cole's first appearance in New Japan in several years. *Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Luck Fale. *Kenny Omega defeated YOSHI-HASHI. If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! Q. Is the island that is just off Credit Island called City Island? Bill A. If you are talking about the island on the northeast side of Credit Island, maps list it as Pelican Island. According to a story published July 13, 2010, in the Quad-City Times, future President Zachary Taylor's men "spent the night on Pelican Island, a small spot in the river next to Credit Island. "At dawn Aug. 6, 1814, the Indians attacked the Americans with sharpshooters. By the time the Americans had formed for battle, the Indians had waded across the channel to Credit Island." Staff at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library, said, "According to our 1899 city map, City Island was located where Centennial Park is now, running approximately between the foot of Fillmore and Gaines Streets." Other maps provided by the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center show Willow Island and City Island near what is now Centennial Park. To view more information about Pelican Island and City Island, visit qctimes.com/askthetimes. The people who love him say Brandon Ketchum would be pleased. Though too late for Brandon, his suicide now stands to help other broken veterans. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, this week introduced legislation that could just as easily be called the Brandon Ketchum Bill. The "Never Again Act" would require VA medical centers to provide in-patient psychiatric care for any veteran who asks for it. It's the kind of common-sense policy that many of us will be surprised to learn does not already exist. After Sgt. Ketchums heartbreaking suicide, I met with various veterans, Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) and community members to develop this legislation," Loebsack wrote in an announcement. "Our veterans have sacrificed too much to ever feel alone when struggling with mental health issues. "When these veterans reach out, we as a country owe it to them to answer their call." As most of us know by now, Brandon, 33, of Davenport, reached out. He made an emergency appointment with his psychiatrist at the Iowa City VA on July 7. The combat veteran with three deployments and the PTSD to prove it asked to be admitted. He was turned down. Several hours after leaving Iowa City, Brandon posted to Facebook his feelings of defeat: "I truly felt my safety and health were in jeopardy. "They gave up on me, so why shouldn't I give up on myself?" His partner, Kristine Nichols, found his body on July 8. He used a gun to escape the demons that followed him home from Iraq and Afghanistan. At least 18 other members of Congress from both parties are co-sponsoring the Never Again Act. When contacted Thursday, a spokesman for the VA Medical Center in Iowa City said he was forwarding my request for a response to a public information officer. No word, yet. "It sounds like one resolution," Nichols said Thursday of the proposal. "Nobody knows what would've happened if they had let him stay that day. I like to think he would have gotten the help he needed and moved on." Though Never Again is a good start, she said, other policy changes would be helpful, too. "I think they need to involve vets in their own care more," Nichols said. "They should be present in meetings about their care." She also wonders if Brandon would still be alive if someone from the VA had let her know what had happened in Iowa City. "I'm in the Caregiver Support Program, so there's no reason I couldn't have been involved," she said. The doctor who turned Brandon away later told Nichols he did not call her because he wasn't sure of the status of their relationship. Brandon had told the doctor that his PTSD and drug use were causing problems between them, she said. "That should've been another sign to the doctor of another stressor for Brandon," she said. In the two-plus months since his death, other veterans have rallied around Nichols and Brandon's family. Events in Iowa City and elsewhere have sought to raise money for his young daughter. His birthday is next month, and an Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention was last weekend in Rock Island. Last year, Brandon and Nichols did the walk together. He had great sympathy for and understanding of those struggling with depression and the temptation to end it all. "We had 36 people in our group walking for Brandon," she said. "He walked it last year, because so many veterans commit suicide, and he had lost so many of them. I could see how hard it was on him. He had to use a cane, because he'd just had leg surgery from a couple of falls he took while serving. "I remember when the speaker spoke, I held his hand, and he had tears in his eyes. We both did. "I hope something changes. That's what Brandon wanted." July 25 1. A 2007 Kia Optima and a 2014 Chevrolet Impala collided in the 3800 block of Tanglefoot Lane, resulting in $1,250 in damage. July 26 2. A 2010 Honda Civic and a 2012 Subaru IMP collided at 18th Street and Brown Street, resulting in $4,000 in damage. July 27 3. Burglary from an unoccupied vehicle was reported in the 900 block of Jones Street. Vehicle parts, valued at $70.89, were reported stolen. 4. DVDs, valued at $17.90, were reported stolen at Dollar General, 1224 State St. 5. A 2013 Ford EC2 and a 2001 Cadillac Catera collided in the 1300 block of Grant Street, resulting in $1,100 in damage. July 28 6. Suspicious activity was reported in the 800 block of Hillside Drive. 7. Jennifer Colette Vinson, 30, 12160 S. Utah Ave., Davenport, was arrested at the 700 block of Lincoln Road on suspicion of second-degree theft and forgery. The amount reported stolen as not listed on the police report. 8. A 2013 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2005 Ford F150 collided on Middle Road and Indiana Avenue, resulting in $1,300 in damage. July 30 9. Cash, valued at $800, was reported stolen at Bettendorf Health Care, 2730 Crow Creek Road 10. A 2011 Mitsubishi Galant and a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe collided on Interstate 74 near the State/Grant streets exit, resulting in $3,300 in damage. July 29 11. Grant Edward Bartow, 29, 1002 S. Starr Ave, Burlington, Iowa, was arrested at the 2600 block of State Street on suspicion of eluding and failure to maintain control. July 31 12. Earrings, credit cards, purses, IDs, ring, cash, and wallets, valued at $4,000, were all reported stolen at Isle of Capri, 1850 Isle Parkway. 13. Money and Sony PS4, valued at $500, were reported stolen in the 2700 block of Magnolia Drive. Aug. 1 14. Criminal mischief was reported at Simplex Grinnell Fire, 326 11th St., resulting in $100 in damage. Aug. 2 15. Criminal mischief was reported in the 2300 block of Tanglefoot Lane, resulting in $350 in damage. 16. Neil Anthony Fishburn, 55, 2524 Crestview Drive, was arrested on the 4600 block of 59th Avenue on suspicion of assault, open container, disorderly conduct and intrastate warrant. 17. A 2012 Chevrolet Impala and a 2016 Ford Escape collided at Interstate 74 and Middle Road, resulting in $600 in damage. 18. John Wesley Stahmer, 39, 3039 Magnolia Drive, was arrested at Spruce Hills Drive and Utica Ridge Road on suspicion of fifth-degree criminal mischief. Aug. 3 19. Diamond ring, valued at $4,293, was reported stolen at Sun Tan City, 844 Middle Road. Aug. 4 20. Gift card, drivers license, wallet, valued at $35, were all reported stolen in the 3200 block of Zimmerman Drive. 21. A 2003 Saab 93 and a 2000 Toyota Echo collided at 17th and Grant streets, resulting in $3,000 in damage. 22. Money, valued at $7,800, was reported stolen at Ascentra Credit Union, 2339 53rd Ave. 23. Collectible comic books, valued at $16,000, were reported stolen and second-degree fraud, totaling $4,500, were reported at the 5900 block of State Street. Aug. 5 24. Criminal mischief was reported at Veterans Memorial, 1645 23rd St., resulting in $950 in damage. 25. A wedding ring, valued at $26,000, was reported stolen in the 3800 block of Prairie Lane. 26. Marcus Dwayne Brooks, 48, 530 23rd St., Apt. 3, was arrested in the 900 block of Middle Road on suspicion operating while intoxicated. 27. A 2006 Toyota HGH and 2011 Ford Ranger collided at Halcyon Drive, Deerbrook Drive and Devils Glen Road, resulting in $1,400 in damage. 28. A 2012 Buick Lacrosse and a 2010 Chrysler Town Country collided on Sunburst and Fairview drives, resulting in $1,400 in damage. 29. A 2015 Chevrolet Trax 1LT and a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan collided on the 2600 block of Devils Glen Road, resulting in $10,000 in damage. 30. A 2000 Honda Accord and a 2009 Chevrolet HHR collided in the 1800 block of Oak Street, resulting in $10,000 in damage. 31. A 2004 Buick LeSabre and a 2004 Toyota RAV4 collided on Spruce Hills Drive and 18th Street, resulting in $800 in damage. Aug. 6 32. Ebony Russell, 26, Aurora, Ill., was arrested at 7-Eleven, 3232 Utica Ridge Road, on suspicion of carrying weapons and possession of controlled substance. 33. An air compressor, valued at $50, was reported stolen in the 1500 block of Robeson Avenue. Aug. 7 34. Ice, valued at $12, was reported stolen and a padlock was damaged, at Coffee Hound, 3451 Devils Glen Road. 35. A tool box, valued at $250, was reported stolen at Healthy Habit, 3441 Devils Glen Road. 36. Matthew A. Coon, 33, 11121 Ridgewood Road, Milan, was arrested at 7-Eleven, 3232 Utica Ridge Road, on suspicion of intoxication, second offense, and trespass. Aug. 8 37. Apple iPods and cases, valued at $1,850, were reported stolen in the 6500 block of Spring Creek Drive. 38. Burglary from an unoccupied vehicle was reported in the 5000 block of Mayfield Drive. Nothing of value was reported stolen. Aug. 9 39. Tools, valued at $1,900, were reported stolen in the 600 block of River Drive. Aug. 12 40. Propane tanks, valued at $750, were reported stolen at QC Pools & Spa, 1021 State St. Aug. 16 41. Domestic assault with injury was reported in the 2600 block of Tech Drive. 42. A 2012 Dodge Journey and a 2011 Toyota Camry collided on Learning Campus and Spruce Hills drives, resulting in $4,500 in damage. Aug. 18 43. A 2002 Pontiac Grand Am and a 2014 Jeep CMP collided on Interstate 74 and Middle Road, resulting in $1,000 in damage. 44. Money totaling $4,646, was reported stolen at Ascentra Credit Union, 1710 Grant St. Aug. 19 45. Georgia A Pultorak, 77, Dixon, Ill., was arrested at Isle of Capri Casino, 1700 Isle Parkway, on suspicion of simple trespass. 46. A 2002 Kia Sportage and a 2010 Toyota VNZ collided at 17th and Grant streets, resulting in $3,000 in damage. 47. Electronics, valued at $400, were reported stolen at Palmer Hills Retirement Home, 2617 Maplecrest Road. 48. Fraud/bad checks, totaling $4,900, were reported in the 2400 block of Crow Creek Road. 49. Tools, valued at $4,080, were reported stolen in the 4600 block of 59th Avenue. 50. A 2004 Harley Davidson and a 2005 Hyundai Elantra collided at 14th and State streets, resulting in $5,000 in damage. 51. A 2015 Toyota Highlander and a 2014 Toyota Highlander collided at 10th and Grant streets, resulting in $15,000 in damage. Compiled by Tracy Mesmer An Illinois man accused of robbing a Bettendorf credit union last month has been indicted in federal court. A federal grand jury on Tuesday returned a one-count indictment against Anthony Javon Brown, 32, of Bloomington, Illinois, in U.S. District Court, Davenport. He is charged with bank robbery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. As of Thursday, Brown has not yet appeared on the charge. Bettendorf police were called about 11 a.m. Aug. 18 to Ascentra Credit Union, 1710 Grant St., for a report of a robbery. According to federal court documents: A man, later identified as Brown, walked into the credit union wearing a black floppy hat, black sweatshirt, blue jeans and black Nike shoes with a white "swoosh." Brown waited in the lobby until other customers conducting business left. While waiting, he retrieved a credit union form that is used for deposits, withdrawals and fund transfers. He held onto the form in his bare hands while waiting in line. He then approached the counter and made a verbal demand for money from the teller. He produced a paper bag, which the teller filled with $4,646. He retrieved the bag but left the form at the teller's window. He left in a gold/brown Chevrolet Impala that was parked in an adjacent lot. Officers determined that fingerprints found on the transaction form belonged to Brown. They also compared Brown's driver's license photo to still images taken from surveillance footage at the time of the robbery. On Aug. 23, police arrested Brown at his relative's home in Bloomington. Officers found clothing that appeared to be similar to those worn by the credit union robber. They also found $3,031 in the pocket of a black sweatshirt that was recovered. Part of the money was in a plastic bag, while some was in a cup inside another bag. Officers also located a 2003 Chevrolet Impala, registered to Brown, in the driveway. Inside, they found a hat similar to the one worn during the credit union robbery. The next day, Brown was interviewed by Bettendorf police and the FBI at the McLean County Jail. Brown said during the interview that he robbed the credit union and that he used some of the money on food, gas, marijuana and a trip to St. Louis, according to court documents. Brown initially faced charges of first-degree theft and third-degree robbery in Scott County District Court. Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the charges Aug. 31 when Brown was first charged by criminal complaint in federal court. The German American Heritage Center is hosting the Saloon & Liquor Trade of Davenport and Scott County (1846-1933) program at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at 712 W. 2nd St., Davenport. Scholar Mike Burggraafs presentation will consist of an overview of the liquor trade in Davenport and the various prohibition attempts in Iowa. Burggraaf will utilize his newly published book for the outline of the presentation and will also have actual historical items on display, including photos, postcards, jugs, bottles, shot glasses and more. The German American Heritage Center is open on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 12-4 p.m., and closed on Mondays. For more information on current exhibitions and connected programming, call 563-322-8844, or visit gahc.org and like us on Facebook. CEDAR RAPIDS Combating ISIS is a bit like playing whack-a-mole, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said. Thats why the Iowa Republican is encouraging military and political leaders to broaden the focus of their efforts to defeat the jihadist military group she said is spreading to South America and Southeast Asia. We do have some areas where we see gains, Ernst said during her weekly conference call with reporters, but at the same time we see gains, we see ISIS will shift to a new region. As we slap them down in one region, theyre just popping up in another, she said after questioning Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford during a Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday. They are very concerned with what they see out there, she said, including her concern that ISIS planners and operators have found safe haven in Philippines. Ernst wants to make sure this is not a forgotten area as we focus so heavily on the Middle East." We want to make sure that were not taking our eyes off Southeast Asia because thats where they are starting to recruit now, she said. A recent recruiting video encouraged ISIS followers to go to that region if they are unable to get to the Middle East. Referring to the horrible acts of terror over the weekend, Ernst expressed thanks for military and law enforcement personnel but also said its time for a global and comprehensive approach to defeating ISIS. Steps should include engaging allies such as the Kurds, correctly utilized special operations forces, debating the use of force in Syria and ending sequestration so military has the tools necessary to defeat ISIS. MUSCATINE, Iowa The pungent aroma of sauerkraut mixed with bits of savory roasted pork will fill the halls of Zion Lutheran Church Thursday as it has every year on the day of the churchs annual Sauerkraut Supper. Mingle that with the scent of roast pork basted in apple juice and the sight of slices of homemade pie just waiting to be chosen, and you have the recipe for a proven fundraiser that has become a Muscatine tradition. Are you hungry yet? Organizers of the popular event at the church at 6th and Sycamore Streets are ready for as many as 400 diners to begin coming through the doors at 4 p.m. today. Tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for children 10-years-old and under. Tickets may be purchased from the church office or at the door. Carry-outs are available, with a ticket. Closing time is 6:30 p.m. Planning for the supper is pretty much down to a science, church members Stacey Ramos, Mike Carter and Sheryl Mercer acknowledged during an interview Tuesday. On Wednesday, Carter, who is property committee chairman at the church, picked up more than 300 pounds of fresh ham at Reasons Locker Service, in Buffalo Prairie, Ill. When asked, he quickly recited how he prepares them. The meat, with onions, carrots, celery, pepper and sage added, is divided up among 16 roasters for most of the day and then refrigerated overnight. Thursday morning the meat is sliced, put back in the roasters and basted with apple juice. The crusty trimmings sliced from the cooked pork go into the sauerkraut for an extra-special touch of flavor. Diners are treated to a family-style meal of sauerkraut and pork, mashed potatoes, noodles, green beans with bacon, applesauce, rolls, beverage and their choice of homemade pie. Tables are set with real plates and silverware and the food servers are quick to refill bowls of food that will quickly empty. Church members are donating 75 homemade pies for dessert. But while the food may be the star of the show, the dinner has a deeper meaning for the church and the estimated 60 to 80 congregation members who help with everything from seating guests to serving food to cleaning up. Its important for the life of the church because it brings the community in, said Ramos. We get phone calls every year before we even advertise from people wanting to know if we are having the sauerkraut dinner this year. Getting help from church members is not a problem. Ive had very few people that Ive called who ever said no to helping out, she said. I appreciate everyone who helps. Carter said the dishwashing job was considerably lightened a few years ago when the church purchased a larger size dishwasher with some of the proceeds from a Sauerkraut Supper. But theres still a lot of cleanup to do. Its just amazing when the partys over just how quickly everything is cleaned up, he said. Mercer says while there are some hectic spells during the supper, we dont mess with the system. It works. I just like the way everyone works together. While the event in its current form began in 1993, it actually had its origins decades before that, in a sauerkraut supper held at the old Zion School at the same location. In those pre-air-conditioning days, the aroma of simmering sauerkraut wafted out through the open windows to the downtown area, bringing in customers, Ramos said. The event was discontinued at some point, but when Ramos parents Charles and Phyllis Hoffman moved to Muscatine, they suggested starting it up again as they had been involved in a similar event at their church in Clinton, Iowa. Its been going strong ever since. Funds raised by the supper and the sale of 13 handmade quilts and the churchs cookbook will benefit charities in the community and beyond. Last year, proceeds went toward the churchs utilities, the Pastors Fund, Jesus Mission and the University of Iowa Campus Ministry. Leftover food from the supper is delivered to MCSA. While the event is marked by a friendly din of conversation, clattering dishes and accompanying piano music, Ramos remembers one supper that was considerably more quiet. It was September 11, 2001. And while church members decided that the supper would go on as the nation grappled with the tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it was pretty somber, Ramos said. Proceeds from that supper went to help those affected by the attacks, she said. Peppertree Alpacas invites the public to join them on Sept. 24-25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as it participates in national alpaca farm days. Participants can view, pet and feed alpacas, especially the two new babies, and can purchase a variety of alpaca products, including yarn and fertilizer. Peppertree Alpacas is located at 2 Peppertree Farm, Geneseo, Illinois, about seven miles east of Colona, Illinois, just south of Wolf Road (1030E). Alpaca breeders from across the U.S. encourage the public to meet alpacas, learn more about the animals and the luxury fiber they produce, and learn why the alpaca business is perfect for environmentally conscious individuals. For more information, visit www.NationalAlpacaFarmDays.com. To learn more about Peppertree Alpacas, call 309-721-3676 or visit https://www.alpacanation.com/farmsandbreeders/03_viewfarm.asp?name=22244 For decades, Democratic candidates ran their campaigns pitting Americans against Americans by stirring up racism and class warfare. This election is no different as President Bill Clinton said Making America Great Again" is a racially charged slogan. He must have forgotten he used the same slogan many times while running for office, as did President Ronald Reagan. Then Hillary Clinton calls 50 million Americans "a basket of deplorables" for supporting Donald Trump. Trump has been campaigning on building a wall to protect us from rapists, drug dealers, and other criminals that continue to cross our borders. He realizes no matter what the president says, our security is in danger. Let's not forget the 1995 State of the Union address by Bill Clinton where he says, all Americans, are rightly disturbed by the number of illegals entering our country. The jobs they hold might otherwise be held by citizens or legal immigrants. The public services they use impose burdens on our taxpayers. He went on to talk about deporting criminals, cracking down on illegal hiring, and barring illegals from welfare benefits. The reason for the backtracking by the Democrats is because Hispanics now outnumber blacks and it comes down to votes. CEDAR RAPIDS Dr. Alan Whitters knows the mental health care system in Iowa is struggling. There arent enough inpatient psychiatric beds, and so often patients are boarded in the hospitals emergency department, meaning theyre staying in the ER for more than four hours at a time. Thats not an effective use of the patients or hospitals time, he said. We stabilize our patients and they shouldnt be discharged, but they have nowhere to go, said Whitters, medical director of behavioral services at Mercy Medical Center. He was talking with former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, who was in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday for a mental health care roundtable and to promote presidential candidate Hillary Clintons mental health care plan at the Cedar Rapids Public Library downtown. Kennedy led the discussion that included nearly 30 mental health advocates, providers, law enforcement and local officials. For those of you who this issue is very important, I am entirely with you, Kennedy said. Kennedy, a mental health advocate and son of the late-Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, sponsored the 2008 Mental Health Parity Act, a bill requiring most health plans to have reimbursement rates for mental health services similar to physical illnesses. He discussed a wide range of issues with attendees, the over use of jails at mental health facilities to the lack of psychiatric beds at hospitals. A Treatment Advocacy Center report out earlier this summer ranked the state last for the number of state psychiatric beds per capita 2 per 100,000 residents. More than two-thirds of Iowa counties dont have a practicing psychiatrist, and there are only a handful of psychiatric residency slots at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Its my responsibility to run the county jail and that makes me the largest provider of mental health in the county, Linn County Sheriff Brain Gardner said. You dont need me to tell you we arent designed to do that. Because of Linn Countys size, he has more resources than smaller counties, including doctors and nurses who are able to treat inmates, he added. Having said that, my folks are unfit to be dealing with this, Gardner said. Kennedy said the closure of two of the states mental health institutions by Gov. Terry Branstad in 2015 shifted tax dollars rather than saved tax dollars, pointing out those individuals are likely to end up in jail or the states hospitals emergency rooms. All those costs are dramatic and they add up, he said. Clintons plan calls for integrating mental and physical health care and increasing community-based treatment opportunities; promoting early diagnosis and intervention; enforcing current mental health parity laws; training law enforcement to deal with people with mental health issues; and investing in brain and behavioral research. Im so excited as someone who is an advocate for mental health that there is such a crystal clear choice, he said. DES MOINES Retired public radio icon Garrison Keillor mixed homespun humor with political commentary Wednesday night in urging Iowans to support Democrat Patty Judge's bid for the U.S. Senate and encourage their neighbors not to buy what GOP presidential Donald Trump is peddling. Keillor, the creator and former host of "A Prairie Home Companion," said he traveled from neighboring Minnesota to support Judge in her "heroic venture" of trying to unseat a "deeply entrenched incumbent" in Republican Sen. Charles Grassley in the Nov. 8 general election. "I came because we don't have a statewide race in Minnesota. We have nothing, so I came down here for the excitement of it to see David against Goliath," Keillor told reporters before the start of a fundraiser in the back room of a downtown Des Moines jazz cabaret that drew about 150 supporters. "Patty Judge is courageous and she's funny. She's salt of the earth. She's what we up in Minnesota think of as Iowa, which is a state of sensible people that got all the good land and we had to make do with sandy, rocky soil up there," he said. Keillor noted that it is somewhat rare for him to hit the campaign trail but he occasionally likes to "go around and speak up for Democrats in endangered places." "I go when I'm asked and I like underdogs, as we all do," he added. Keillor spoke with amazement that people he knows with strong, life-long Midwest values who are "utterly detached from reality" and making an about face with plans to vote for Trump this year, turning away from GOP principles in a way that is a "modern-day tragedy." "The fringe has come into the middle now," he said. Keillor said Trump's lead role in the birther moment showed him to be a "shameless, shameless man" and his plan to deport 11 million people in America illegally flies in the face of the nation's history of human rights. "I hate to think of people that I know and respect and love voting for him so, let's save them from it," Keillor told the crowd. "It just cannot happen. We cannot let it happen. We have a short time to change it. Election Day is coming on us very quickly." Of Grassley, Keillor said: "This was the year when Senator Grassley was supposed to take a stand on behalf of conservative Republican principles and he failed the test, he failed the test of his own party and now this has to be put to the voters. I'm so glad you have a candidate who's going to put it to the voters." Keillor's political message was entwined in a rambling address in which he quoted poetry, mused about growing up in public school and let the crowd in sing-a-longs that ranged from patriotic, popular, religious and Iowa-themed songs that included Greg Brown's "Iowa Waltz" which he said should be the state's song. For her part, Judge said she was "thrilled" to have Keillor in Iowa campaigning for her, noting she has been a fan of his radio show "for many, many years" and still listens to reruns of "A Prairie Home Companion." "It's very special to me and I really appreciate it so much," she said. URBANDALE, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday he is concerned current state revenue growth may not be strong enough to support a statewide summer reading initiative designed to make sure third graders meet proficiency standards that are a key educational building block. State lawmakers grudgingly agreed last session to move back by one year from spring 2017 to 2018 the implementation of a new statewide literacy law after the governor did not include funding for the program in his two-year state budget plan and eroding state tax collections last spring further squeezed the funding priority list. Now, as Branstad and legislators look to their fiscal 2018 budget prospects, the governor said finances are "stressed" and revenue growth is being hampered by farm prices below production costs and bird flu after-effects. That could spell more trouble for school districts hoping for state money to accompany a summer reading requirement. "That will really depend upon the state's financial resources," Branstad said. He pointed to the December meeting of the state Revenue Estimating Conference as a key determinant in how much tax money will be available to budget for next fiscal year or for a supplemental appropriation early in the session that might get the early literacy program back on track for next summer. The effort is designed to identify struggling readers starting in kindergarten and require schools to provide intensive assistance. "We've been going through a challenging time," Branstad told reporters after meeting with teachers and administrators at an Urbandale elementary school and touring their successful reading program. "It does depend on what the budget situation is going to be like. It might be possible if all of a sudden revenues turn around and exceed expectations that we could pass early in the session a supplemental and move it up again. But that doesn't look very likely if you just look at what's happened to date. I think we have to be realistic about the financial circumstance. "Due to the financial conditions that the state is facing, it may be a year later than we had hoped. But I'm very optimistic that we're going to be able to continue to make progress." Evidence of that progress could come soon when the state Department of Education releases statewide test results in reading and math proficiency, the governor said. "I understand that preliminary statewide results show the same share of third-grade reading proficiency last year to be pretty comparable with the year before at about 76.1 percent," he said. Branstad also said he hopes to get results this fall from a pilot project this past summer that studied best practices. The $1.9 million research, conducted by the Iowa Reading Research Center under the auspices of the Iowa Department of Education, encompassed 120 schools in 44 school districts. On Thursday, Olmsted Elementary School Principal Elyse Brimeyer said her school has seen positive results from a collaborative, responsive classroom approach that focuses on academic, social and emotional development that is wrapped around the students' individual needs. Branstad said he was impressed and encouraged by what he saw but added that another key component is proactive parents who are reading to their children from an early age and then working with teachers to guide literacy development. "What I'm encouraged about is that school districts are not waiting," he said. "Many school districts are already moving forward, and they already have programs." The links provide the best Blake online:1. The Primer is Larry Clayton's online book with a comprehensive description of Blake's work especially emphasizing his spiritual dimension.3. The Blake Archive allows you to read the text and view the pictures of all of his illuminated works. SOUTHFIELD, Mich. | Ford Motor Co., pushing back against criticism by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for moving work to Mexico, is highlighting its booming business in big trucks after shifting production to an Ohio factory from south of the border. The Dearborn, Mich.-based company has sold 10,160 of its F-650 and F-750 trucks this year through August, up 59 percent from the same period in 2015 and the highest sales of those models since 1997, the automaker said in a statement. The big trucks are used as commercial vehicles, including beer haulers and tow, moving and dump trucks. Ford is firing back at Trump, who recently called the automaker "a disgrace" after CEO Mark Fields told investors that the second-largest U.S. automaker is moving North American small-car production to Mexico, where labor costs are lower than in the U.S. After Trump threatened to levy a 35 percent tariff on Ford's Mexican-built cars, Fields said the company is "absolutely not" cutting U.S. jobs to move small-car operations south because the Michigan plant currently building them will manufacture other models. "It's really unfortunate when politics get in the way of the facts," Fields said in a Sept. 15 interview on CNN. "And the facts are, Ford's investment in the U.S. and commitment to American jobs has never been stronger. I mean, we've created more than 28,000 jobs in the U.S. in the last five years." Ford began producing the F-650 and F-750 at its assembly plant near Cleveland a year ago after the company spent $168 million converting the factory from building Econoline vans. They previously had been produced in Mexico in a joint venture with Navistar International Corp. known as Blue Diamond Trucking Co., which disbanded in 2014. The automaker now builds its full-size van, known as the Transit, at an assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri. The company is focusing on building high-margin trucks, vans and sport-utility vehicles in the U.S., where labor costs are more expensive than in Mexico. Ford derives most of its profit from its F-Series truck line, Morgan Stanley has said. And the largest vehicles in the line generate the biggest return, according to analysts. By going it alone in the big-truck market, Ford no longer has to share profits with Navistar. After parting with Navistar, Ford redesigned the F-650 and F-750 to offer them in a variety of body styles and with either gasoline or diesel engines. General Motors Co. exited that segment of the truck market following its 2009 government-backed bankruptcy. "We're seeing growing interest in the new tractor from beverage and hauling fleets," Kevin Koester, Ford's marketing manager for the models, said in a statement. "Towing and rental customers have embraced the gas engine." The smell of chocolate wafts from the door of an artisanal shop that would not be out of place in Brooklyn. Founder Dana Mroueh takes in the sun while riding her stationary bicycle-turned-cocoa grinder on an ambitious journey that began just four months ago. She wants to introduce Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, to the taste of processed cocoa beans, in the form of chocolate bars that she says are 100 percent local. The 27-year-old Mroueh is among an emerging group of chocolate makers who are trying to show this steamy West African country that it can take more control over its cocoa industry, from bean to bar, and win over the local market. "I think it's criminal for the planters and for the Ivorians who don't know the taste of chocolate," said Mroueh, an Ivorian of Lebanese descent who grew up watching her grandfather, a former pastry shop owner, have a difficult time selling his chocolate. "We need to emphasize the value of the Ivorian territory." Her MonChoco Chocolate bars are priced for upper-class consumers, with prices of around $5 apiece and experimental flavors including chili and sea salt. Fellow chocolate maker Axel Emmanuel is aiming at the other end of the market. The 32-year-old says he wants to dispel the myth that chocolate is exclusively for the rich. "We've decided to officially make the most inexpensive chocolate bar on the African continent," said Emmanuel, who was recognized by the country's president as the 2015 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. His Instant Chocolate bars go for about 30 cents apiece. Emmanuel sees potential in Ivory Coast's 10 percent economic growth last year, and in a small but growing middle class in many parts of Africa. As with many of Africa's agricultural resources, the true earnings come from their transformation, he said, and farmers ought to benefit from the growing locally made chocolate market as well. Ivory Coast has long been known for its raw cocoa production, producing about 35 percent of the world's supply. But less than a third of what it produces is turned into finished products at home. Now the government is encouraging change. Recently, billboards sponsored by the National Coffee and Cocoa Council sprouted throughout Abidjan, the country's largest city, urging the consumption of Ivorian chocolate. President Alassane Ouattara has said that by 2020, he hopes the country will process at least half of its raw cocoa. Chocolate makers say the task can be done with little money and limited space, but some cocoa experts say many farmers don't yet have the skills to transform their raw product. "It's a lot easier to teach farmers good agricultural practices," said Suzanne Ndongo-Seh, director of the World Cocoa Foundation's Cocoa Livelihoods Program. She warned that chocolate makers will have to work hard to expand their clientele in Africa, especially among more rural populations. Even though 70 percent of the world's cocoa beans originate in places like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, chocolate is still considered a luxury. Some of Ivory Coast's young chocolate makers are pitching the healthy side of their products to win over consumers. "Our products are raw, not cooked, not roasted to conserve all the benefits of the cocoa bean because it's a product very, very rich in nutrients, to conserve also the antioxidants, minerals, and that's essential," Mroueh said. Olga Yenou, a former employee for the French chocolate manufacturer Cemoi, called cocoa good for the heart and nervous system. "It's good when used against stress, against fatigue, and it will be a shame to consider cocoa just like a candy," she said. Her Tafissa company turns local beans into finished products including a cocoa-and-cashew spread and a cocoa powder drink mix. Producing chocolate bars is a future ambition, she said. In a young market, she believes there's room for more local entrepreneurs. "We are all actors trying to spread the love of cocoa amongst Ivorians," Yenou said. "I believe the adventure will be long, as we are just getting started." A Pine Ridge woman accused of abusing her children and involuntarily killing one of them pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the offenses in federal court in Rapid City. Mona R. Goggleye, 31, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of her 4-month-old daughter in May. According to her charging document, Goggleye accidentally suffocated the infant sometime between May 6 and 7 while sleeping beside the child after excessively drinking alcohol. The act was committed without malice but with knowledge that her conduct was a threat to the lives of others, the document says. Goggleye is also facing a felony child abuse and neglect charge involving the deceased infant and another child, said defense attorney Erin Bolinger. Her charging document says Goggleye subjected the children to an environment which constituted mistreatment and was lacking in proper parental care. Both children were younger than 7. Goggleye cried silently while Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman read her charges in court. She faces maximum prison sentences of 15 years for abuse and neglect and eight years for involuntary manslaughter. Oglala Sioux Tribe authorities detained her in May. She was transferred to the Pennington County Jail on Tuesday. At her Wednesday hearing, a judge granted Goggleye a release with conditions, which include submitting to random alcohol testing and no unsupervised contact with children under age 10. She was also told to follow authorities instructions when visiting with her two surviving children. The U.S. Marshals Service will return her to Pine Ridge, where she has an arrest warrant from tribal court for the same incident. Kelderman said Goggleye has another outstanding warrant in Pennington County for driving under the influence. PIERRE | The South Dakota Railroad Board directed its staff Wednesday to open negotiations with Dakota Southern Railroad for a 10-year lease that would return service to the state-owned Napa-Platte line. Dakota Southern also holds the lease on the state-owned MRC line between Mitchell and Rapid City. The railroad has been running as far west as Chamberlain on the MRC and plans to be running trains to Presho this fall. Dakota Southern operator Mike Williams told the state board Wednesday he would like a 20-year lease on the Napa-Platte line and, sensing some resistance, then said he would accept 15 years. Board members have been displeased with Williams failure to properly maintain the MRC line. At the boards direction, he performed substantial repairs and cleanup on the MRC in the past few months and delivered to the board Wednesday his three-year plan for taking care of the line. He also now is required to report monthly to the board about maintenance efforts. The MRC line was revived through tens of millions of dollars in investments from Dakota Southern, its financial backers, the state board, the Legislature, the federal government, agricultural shippers and commodity groups. Wheat Growers built its grain-handling and fertilizer center at Kennebec with the understanding Dakota Southern would rebuild the MRC from Chamberlain to Presho using funds from multiple private and public sources. That $36 million project is weeks from completion. Todd Yeaton, the state boards chairman, is manager of the grain-loading and fertilizer complex along the MRC at Kimball and relies on Dakota Southern for service. Yeaton made clear Wednesday he wants service restored to the Napa line. Ralph Marquardt, a Yankton businessman, recently invested in a grain-loading facility at Tabor along the Napa line. Marquardt asked the board Wednesday about when he would see service. Yeaton said the board first needs an operator for the Napa line. Marquardt, who serves on the state Transportation Commission that oversees highways and bridges, said he intends to move 400 to 500 rail cars of grain annually from Tabor. He previously competed to lease the Napa line but now seems willing to work with Williams. The Napa Platte Regional Railroad Authority previously held the lease and sub-leased the line to Dakota Southern. But after years of deadlock, the state board let the lease expire because there wasnt any action by the regional authority to get service going again. The state board has since contracted with Dakota Southern in a series of short-term leases for storing rail cars along the line. State board member Jerry Cope of Rapid City, who works for Dakota Mill and Grain, suggested a 10-year lease for Dakota Southern on the Napa line. He asked that the lease include performance measures and a maintenance plan. State Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist said he and some of the staff would get to work on it and confer with Williams. Tub Harrington, chairman for the regional authority, told the state board he doesnt understand why the authority cant hold the lease again. Yeaton said the authority would continue to exist and any state loan for work on the Napa line would still flow through the authority. Williams and Stan Patterson purchased Dakota Southern in 2009 from Alex Huff, who sat Wednesday with Harrington and others from the regional authority. Williams said he had a good relationship with the MRCs regional authority but acknowledged that his relationship didnt click with the Napa Platte authoritys board. I think they dont like me. I dont know, Williams said. The Legislature passed the state law providing for the authorities in 1979. The law gives tax power to the authorities in case a railroad operating on a state-owned line couldnt pay debts for work on the line. State government purchased the lines when the Milwaukee Road went bankrupt. Yeaton said Wednesday the board has to get off dead center regarding the Napa-Platte line. Were moving forward, Yeaton said. We are making progress. Well take this one step at a time. Authorities have found a camper that was stolen last week, but are still looking for the people suspected of taking it. Brendyn Medina, spokesman for the Rapid City Police Department, said a tip from the public helped police find the camper this week in Meade County. He said police are still seeking the public's help identifying the suspects, one male and one female. The male is described as white, about 45-50 years of age, with thinning blonde hair; the female is described as a heavyset white woman, 23 to 28 years old, with blonde hair, wearing a black shirt and black pants. Anyone with information on the stolen vehicle should contact Detective Evan Harris at 394-4134, or send an anonymous tip by texting "RCPD" and the information to 847411. PIERRE | The numbers of high school graduates have stayed flat for the past 10 years in South Dakota, and that trend is reflected with enrollments at the six state universities and the four public technical institutes. The state Board of Regents released data Wednesday showing the headcount increased slightly and the credit hours went down slightly for the fall 2016 semester. Meanwhile the state Board of Education, whose members partially oversee the locally managed technical institutes, learned Tuesday that headcounts totaled 6,569. That was an increase of 246 students and the largest enrollment in at least the past six years. Black Hills State University at Spearfish was the only campus to show losses in both categories. BHSU lost 151 students for a head count of 4,244, a decline of 3.44 percent. The school saw full-time equivalents drop 57.6, to 2,824.9, a 2 percent loss. BHSU President Tom Jackson said a loss of 110 students at University Center in Rapid City affected his schools enrollment numbers. BHSU manages the Rapid City campus. On the other hand, BHSU had 92 percent retention of first-year students, he said. Freshmen enrollment is up at BHSU, the school reported. There are 587 new freshmen at BHSU this fall, a bump of 7.5 percent over last year, according to the school. The fact that we continue to graduate record number of students is a good problem to have, Jackson said in a news release. Ultimately that is our goal, to continue to graduate more students and provide South Dakota and the surrounding region with a career ready workforce. Retention was the positive news from many of the university presidents on a teleconference Wednesday morning. Generally their campuses reported higher percentages of students moving from the first year to the second year. Northern State President Timothy Downs said NSUs retention was 74.3 percent and he expressed confidence about reaching the schools 75 percent goal in the very near future. Downs said alumni in contiguous states are helping recruit students from those places and the freshmen class has 323 students, up from 308 last fall. This is a positive trend were going to continue to work on, he said. Mike Rush, executive director for the regents, said the campuses have been working hard on recruiting freshmen. He said there promises to be better times soon with more high school graduates starting in 2019 through 2024. The state universities saw head counts climb by 10,000 from 1996 through 2010, but there has been less than 1 percent change overall during the past six years. The same pattern held true for high school graduates during the past decade, fluctuating between a high of 8,594 during the 2007-2008 school year and a low of 8,082 for the 2014-2015 school year. The number of high school graduates during the 2015-2016 school year hasnt been publicly posted. Among the tech institutes, fall enrollment at Mitchell rose by two students to 1,272. Lake Area at Watertown climbed 215 students to 2,061. For both institutes, this was at least the fourth consecutive year of increases. Southeast at Sioux Falls slipped by 33 students to 2,163. Western Dakota at Rapid City gained 63 students to 1,073, recovering after two slimmer years. For the other state universities, there were positive developments. At South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, school President Heather Wilson said the overall number of students is up by 500 from five years ago and there is a 13 percent increase in freshmen this fall from South Dakota high schools. Mines saw a gain of 16 in headcount to reach 2,859, while full-time equivalents fell 10.4, a drop of 0.43 percent. The number of first-time, full-time freshmen enrolling at Mines who graduated from South Dakota high schools is up from 202 last fall to 229 this fall. Im particularly pleased to see so many more South Dakota students choosing to come to Mines, Wilson said. I hope these numbers mean that a larger proportion of South Dakota students overall are choosing engineering and science as their lifes work. Among the regents campuses, Northern State University at Aberdeen reported the largest increase in headcount. The gain of 91 put NSU at 3,587 students, an increase of 2.60 percent. However, when credits are measured against students, NSU lost the equivalent of 41.6 full-time students, a 2.10 percent decline. The only campus to report gains in both categories was Dakota State University at Madison. DSUs headcount increased 45, putting the school at 3,190 students, a 1.43 percent rise. Measured by credits, DSU added the equivalent of 37.8 full-time students, an increase of 2.03 percent. The six universities combined for a headcount increase of 92, or 0.25 percent, and a full-time equivalent decrease of 84.1, a loss of 0.32 percent. Overall there are 36,531 students at the universities this fall. That is one student shy of tying the record headcount set in 2014. The full-time equivalents this fall total 26,599.7 students. Thats the lowest in the past seven years. University of South Dakota President Jim Abbott said his schools headcount rose slightly up 67, or 0.67 percent, to 10,038 while full-time equivalents were flat at 7,400.4, a loss of less than one. South Dakota State University President Barry Dunn said the Dakota Return program offering scholarships to children of alumni who have moved away from South Dakota attracted 99 students this fall, double the number of two years ago. Its a good way to bring talent back to our state, said Dunn. SDSU gained 24 students, for a headcount of 12,613 and gain of 0.19 percent. The schools full-time equivalents slipped by 11.4, falling to 10,130.1, a loss of 0.11 percent. Lithuania demands to drop $621 million lawsuit by Russian businessman MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI) Lithuanias authorities have lodged a motion with the Moscow Commercial Court to drop a lawsuit by Russian businessman and former co-owner of the Lithuanian nationalized bank Snoras, Vladimir Antonov, demanding collection of more than 40 billion rubles ($621 million) from the country, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday. The defendant insists that Lithuania has legal immunity, in accordance with a bilateral treaty signed with Russia. Moreover, the Lithuanian Republic entered one more written motion seeking to dismiss Antonovs claim without prejudice because the dispute between parties must be considered by the court of the International Chamber of Commerce based in Paris. Lithuanias representative was absent from court on Thursday; Antonov was personally present. Representatives of the Lithuanian social organization responsible for protection of Snoras bank depositors interests also attended the court and filed a request for intervention. According to them, the trial may affect interests and rights of depositors of the bank which is currently in the process of bankruptcy. Antonov seeks to collect from Lithuania more than 20.2 billion rubles ($313.5 million) in compensation for property damage and over 19.9 billion rubles ($308.8 million) in business reputation damage. Moreover, the plaintiff demands to declare illegal information distributed by the countrys president Dalia Grybauskaite, who had criticized performance of Snoras managers before nationalization of the bank, and published in online media in 2011, the court papers read. Snoras was part of Antonov's Convers Group. The Convers Group held 68.10 percent of the bank and another 25.3 percent was held by Baranauskas. In addition, the government of Latvia also announced that the Krajbanka bank, currently on the verge of bankruptcy and 60% owned by Antonov, would be nationalized. Antonov has been charged by Lithuanian authorities with embezzlement of EUR 565 million, forging documents and fraudulent accounting and put on the European wanted list. Antonov and his partner Raimondas Baranauskas, were arrested on November 24, 2011 in the United Kingdom and put in detention but later they were released on bail. Antonov left the United Kingdom trembling for his life. He could face up to 10 years in Lithuania's prison if convicted. Russian Energy Ministry files second appeal with Supreme Court in dispute with Rosneft MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI) The Supreme Court of Russia has registered second appeal by Russias Energy Ministry against rulings of lower courts that ordered the Ministry of Energy to provide Rosneft with confirmation of the fact that the corporation was exporting oil from the field under the application of the customs exemptions, RIA Novosti reports on Thursday. Appeal in question reached the court on Wednesday. Similar appeal was filed by the Ministry on May 27. On May 13 the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the Ministry which asked this case to be reviewed in the court colleague board for economic disputes. The Ministrys representative said previously that if Rosneft wins the dispute it may demand return of about 60 billion rubles ($909,000) of customs duties overpaid. Earlier the Ministry of Energy and Russias Federal Agency on Subsoil Use (Rosnedra) refused to provide necessary documents to Rosneft that would allow the company to obtain customs exemptions for exporting oil from Verkhnechonskneftegaz (VCNG) field in 2012-2013.According to government entities, both Rosneft and VCNG failed to get documents in time. The companies have filed lawsuits with the Moscow Commercial Court. In June 2015 the court dismissed the appeals filed by the companies, but an appeal court and a regional court overruled that decision and ruled in favor of Rosneft. Verkhnechonskneftegaz is a company created in 2012 which is in charge of developing Verkhnechonsk oil field in the Irkutsk Region. VCNG is also an operator for 7 Rosnefts licensed sectors in the Irkutsk Region and Krasnoyarsk Krai. JFC ex-CEO Kekhmans appeal over his bankruptcy in UK set for November 7 MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI) The Commercial Court of North-West District has set November 7 as the date for considering an appeal lodged by ex-CEO of JFC Group Vladimir Kekhman against a lower courts refusal to recognize his bankruptcy, declared by the High Court of London, valid in Russia, according to court records. On August 3, the St. Petersburg Commercial Court ruled that Kekhman had not provided sufficient evidence of the London courts ruling coming into force in accordance with the Commercial Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. In addition there is no evidence of London court recognizing rulings of Russian courts declaring Kekhman bankrupt on territory of Russia. The St. Petersburg Commercial Court ruled that in the absence of international treaties signed by Russia decisions of foreign courts on bankruptcy cases are recognized in Russia on the basis of reciprocity, unless otherwise provided by federal law. Currently, Russia is not a party to international treaties on insolvency matters. On September 6, Kekhman filed an appeal against a ruling of the St. Petersburg Commercial Court declaring him bankrupt. Kekhman was declared bankrupt by court upon the application of Sberbank on July 28. Moreover, on July 21, a court in St. Petersburg dismissed a petition lodged Kekhman seeking the recognition of Londons High Courts judgment declaring him bankrupt. Kekhmans financial executive Mikhail Bologov, Russias Federal Tax Service, Sberbank, Rosbank, Promsvyazbank, Raiffeisenbank, UniCredit Bank, Aquamarine Company and Pulkovo Trade Company are named as interested parties in the dispute. A Kekhmans representative claimed during the bankruptcy hearings that the former head of JFC had no obligations before Sberbank because he was already been declared bankrupt by The High Court of Justice of England in 2012 and Sberbank received its share from sales of Kekhmans property. A Sberbanks representative, on the other hand, claimed that the bank was not involved in the process and did not receive any compensation. According to the Sberbanks representative, the bank had rulings of several Russian courts on debt recovery from Kekhman. Nevertheless, the representative of Kekhman insisted that the ruling of The High Court of Justice of England had been recognized by Sberbank and was to be complied with in Russia. In its ruling, the court pointed out that in the absence of international treaties, entered into by the Russian Federation, decisions on bankruptcies taken in foreign jurisdictions were to be recognized in Russia only on the reciprocity basis unless otherwise stipulated by federal laws. At present, the court stressed, the Russian Federation was not a party in any international treaty on bankruptcy issues. Russian Supreme Court to be asked to define scope of Professional Ethics Code operation MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) Disbbarred Russian attorney Igor Trunov told journalists during a news conference on Thursday that he would turn to the Supreme Court requesting to define the scope of the Professional Ethics Codes operation. Trunov said that he is going to apply to the Supreme Court because the Code of Professional Ethics went beyond the law. The Code is aimed to review advocacy within a framework of attorneys professional occupation but not their public activity, he added. It was reported on Wednesday that the Moscow Regional Bar Associations Counsel had ruled to disbar Trunov. The lawyer viewed the decision as strange and unexpected because the Association had recognized his public activity as a disciplinary case. I have spoken at a news conference about problems existing in the society, specifically about corruption in the bar. This particular speech at a public venue was declared a disciplinary case by the Counsel on the base of the Professional Code of Conduct. But the Code has never regulated public activities. Thats why I think, this decision has a political component, Trunov said. Igor Trunov has represented victims in several high-profile matters including the case over Airbus A321 plane crash in Egypt and 2011 Domodedovo terror attack case. He would not be entitled no longer to participate in these cases as victims attorney. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on the website. The purposes of using cookies are defined in the Privacy Policy of RAPSI If you agree to continue using cookies, please click the "Confirm" button. If you do not agree, you can change your browser settings. Link59 rendering September 2016 A rendering shows the planned Link59 office building on Euclid Avenue, just east of East 59th Street. Construction will start soon, and the building could be finished in summer of 2017. (Hemingway Development; Geis Cos.) CLEVELAND, Ohio - With a use-it-or-lose-it federal grant deadline looming, construction will start within weeks at a new business park in Cleveland's Midtown neighborhood. Hemingway Development expects to close on a $1.15 million land deal with the city of Cleveland this week, putting the company in control of 6.5 acres of vacant property between Euclid and Chester avenues east of East 59th Street. During summer of 2017, developers Fred Geis and Jim Doyle plan to open their first new building, a 62,000-square-foot, three-story structure - one that's completely speculative, at this point, without any tenants lined up. A rendering shows the former Ace Fixtures building, renovated and reimagined as modern office space. Hemingway Development has a deal to purchase the vacant building, which will become part of the company's second business-park project in Midtown. Separately, Hemingway will buy the former Ace Fixtures building to the east and spruce up the empty space. The transactions will add roughly 90,000 square feet of new or renovated offices to the city's growing Health-Tech Corridor, where turnkey buildings are hard to find. Jeff Epstein, executive director of MidTown Cleveland, Inc., showed a fresh image of the new building, called Link59, during the neighborhood group's annual meeting Wednesday. The offices will be the first new construction on a broader block where Hemingway could construct at least one more building and University Hospitals plans to build a primary-care health center for women and children. UH will acquire its land from the city in a separate purchase. "With UH being next door, we assume there are going to be some medical tenants," Geis said. "And there are going to be a lot of people who want to move to Cleveland for office space and not be completely downtown." At Hemingway's nearby MidTown Tech Park, a mix of newly constructed and renovated buildings, offices are 92 percent occupied. A few steps away, Dealer Tire is crafting a campus around the long-vacant Victory Center, where the company plans to move its Midtown headquarters and hundreds of workers. A rendering shows the planned Link59 building in Midtown. So there's an argument for adding more supply. But interest hasn't translated to leases yet, in the case of Link59. "We've had a number of tenants who could take the whole building and who would have been able to use all of it, but they didn't pan out," Doyle said. Nonetheless, he added, "we're pushing dirt next month." Chalk up that timeline to $13 million in federal money that the city and the developer don't want to lose. Cleveland secured the funding, a $3 million grant and a $10 million loan, in 2011 for rehabilitation of the dilapidated Warner & Swasey complex on Carnegie Avenue. That project never happened. In 2014, the city asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for permission to move the funding commitments to the land around East 59th and to extend the deadline for starting work to 2016. Hemingway needed to buy the land and tap the federal funds before the end of this month to keep HUD from rescinding the incentive package. That's why Doyle and Geis are charging forward. A city design-review committee and the Cleveland City Planning Commission are likely to review building renderings within the next few weeks. Hemingway started marketing the space Wednesday, charging $16 per square foot. The former Ace Fixtures building, on East 61st Street, could be ready for new occupants before the end of the year. Doyle said the developers are talking to an unidentified tenant who might move into the 30,000-square-foot building's second floor. "I have a confidence level that the demand will be there to fill up this space, particularly because of its location right next to UH on this dynamic campus and on the HealthLine," Epstein said, referring to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's rapid-transit bus line along Euclid Avenue. "If we have a company today that wants to be in space in a month or two, there are very few options for them left. A site plan shows the layout of a new business park planned along Euclid Avenue, in the middle of Cleveland's Health-Tech Corridor. Epstein said he's particularly pleased that both UH and Hemingway are planning three-story buildings along Euclid instead of requesting zoning variances to build shorter structures. There's also the possibility that Link59 will include retail, a use that's been slow to materialize in the center of the Health-Tech Corridor. Geis said a coffee shop was the first business to inquire about the Link59 building. "I think having dirt moving on the site is going to help people visualize what kind of campus it's going to be," Epstein said. 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Cut,cap and balance! You must have previous service to the organization, natch. There are four positions open: Directors-at-Large (three openings) and Vice... The dispute between China and Japan over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands has been rumbling along since the early 1970s, so why the sudden ramping up of tensions? Shaheli Das looks at the history of the dispute and what might be driving current developments. The presence last month of 230 Chinese fishing vessels and the recurrent intrusions by Chinese ships in the contiguous waters near the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea have sparked new tensions in the region. The row between China and Japan and the maritime territorial dispute in this body of water has escalated to a point where it is now one of the major combustible flashpoints in East Asia. Although Chinese naval activism, through incursions of jet fighters and coast guard vessels in the contiguous sea and airspace, has been a regular feature of the dispute for many years, such intrusions have dramatically increased of late Essentially, two intertwined territorial contentions remain unresolved between China and Japan in the East China Sea: maritime delimitation of this body of water, and the question of territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. Beijings interest in these seas surfaced in the early 1970s when the country became increasingly assertive about its alleged rights in the area. This newfound activism was primarily due to two factors : first, a report published by the United Nations in 1968, which suggested the likely availability of rich hydrocarbon resources in the area; second, the formation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) agreement during the 1970s, which was finally codified in 1982. The UNCLOS, which sets out the legal principles vis-a-vis the law of the sea, increased the economic value of both islands as well as the surrounding seas. This spurred Chinas assertiveness over its claims to the islands in the East China Sea. Although the East China Sea conflict had been brewing for decades, the row was amplified following a showdown between the two countries in April 2012, sparked by the Japanese governments decision to purchase the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Beixiao and Nanxiao Islands. This move was aimed at preventing an even more provocative development, procurement of the islands by right-wing Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara , but was viewed by China as highly unacceptable. The Chinese considered this act a violation of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1978 whereby the leadership of both nations had arrived at a consensus on leaving the issue of the Diaoyu Island to be resolved later. Soon after the 2012 incident, on 23 November 2013, Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Air Force Commander Xu Liangs vision of Building a Great Iron Wall in the Blue Sky became a reality through the establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea. The Peoples Republic of Chinas Ministry of National Defense declared that aircrafts flying in the ADIZ must maintain a two-way radio communication, report their flight plan and respond in a timely manner to identification inquiries or confront defensive emergency measures by the Chinese armed forces. Although the Chinese government has defended its actions by stating that an ADIZ had been launched with the aim of safeguarding state sovereignty, territorial land and air security, and maintaining flight order , the issue has been a source of increased regional tensions. The operation of an ADIZ is within the ambit of international law. However, Chinas unilateral and provocative attempt to alter the status quo in the area is objectionable. The establishment of the ADIZ clearly demonstrates Chinas strategic intention to implement jurisdictional control over the near seas. Intrusions by Chinese naval and research vessels intensified after the launch of the ADIZ in 2013 and have contributed to dragging Tokyo-Beijing relations to the current all-time low. In the past few years, the frequency of patrols by Chinese coast guard vessels in the vicinity of the disputed islands in the East China Sea has markedly increased. Chinese vessels have regularly intruded within 12 nautical miles of the contested territorial sea around the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands sparking security tensions in the region. These recurrent provocations suggest that the pursuit of economic interests is not the sole factor driving Chinas actions in the region. Hydrocarbon reserves in the East China Sea are imperative to Chinas economic development, yet the distinct attributes of the dynamics behind this pragmatic countrys intense engagements in the region must also be considered. First, Chinas long-term aim is to attain power parity with the United States. However, the countrys recent failure to win the Permanent Court of Arbitrations tribunal award in the case brought against it by the Philippines in the South China Sea dispute has been a blow to Beijings international status. Thus the Chinese leadership, especially President Xi Jinping, is seeking to deflect the attention of the domestic and international communities before the 19 th Party Congress scheduled for 2017, in order to cement his position as an effective leader. Second, anti-Japanese sentiment has deep roots in Chinas history and the East China Sea dispute, and generates a sense of nationalism in China. The quest for lost glory and the narrative of victimisation by the West and Japan has been central to the Chinese nationalist discourse, and Chinas leaders seek to use this tool to bind their people within the authoritarian framework of the country. Third, increasing naval activism in the East China Sea projects an assertive image onto the global arena and shifts consideration away from Chinas domestic challenges: its slowing economy, rising unemployment, corruption, aging population, and environmental degradation, to name but a few. While it is unlikely that China will relent from its position in this body of water, tacit agreement on adherence to confidence building measures, track two diplomacy, and joint military exercises between the two countries may be effective instruments that could bridge the fault lines in Sino-Japanese bilateral relations. Most importantly, since Japan is a key constituent of the US hub and spokes model, and the US has a definite interest in safeguarding its ties with China, it is likely that the US would strive to contain the tensions in the East China Sea in the near future. sacw.net - 22 September 2016 After hearing the reference to UN resolutions vis-a-vis Kashmir and demilitarization in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech in the United Nations General Assembly earlier today, I thought Id write a little something about the resolution adopted by the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), which underscores that demilitarization is a prerequisite for Pakistan as well before an impartial plebiscite could even be considered. In January 1948 India referred the Kashmir dispute to the United Nations (Rahman 1996: 15a19). Prime Minister Nehru took the dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir beyond local and national boundaries by bringing it before the UN Security Council, and seeking a ratification of Indiaas alegala claims over Kashmir. The UN reinforced Nehruas pledge of holding a plebiscite in Kashmir, and in 1948 the Security Council established the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to play the role of mediator in the Kashmir issue. The UNCIP adopted a resolution urging the government of Pakistan to cease the infiltration of tribal mercenaries and raiders into J & K. It also urged the government of India to demilitarize the state by awithdrawing their own forces from Jammu and Kashmir and reducing them progressively to the minimum strength required for the support of civil power in the maintenance of law and order.a The resolution proclaimed that once these conditions were fulfilled, the government of India would be obligated to hold a plebiscite in the state in order to either ratify or veto the accession of J & K to India (Hagerty 2005: 19). Sir Zafarulla Khan, Pakistanas Minister of Foreign Affairs, while discussing the volatile Kashmir issue at the UN on 16 January 1948, said that the maharajaas government had attempted to brutally quell the spirit of revolution in Kashmir: aThey were mowed down by the bullets of the State Dogra troops in their uprising but refused to turn back and received those bullets on their bared breastsa (United Nations Security Council: 65). This political stalemate led to the resumption of bitter acrimony in 1948. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah voiced his disillusionment with the wishy-washy role of the UN Security Council. He expressly declared on 22 April 1948 that the Security Council resolution was ayet another feature of power politics on which the Security Council has embarked ever since its inception.a The Sheikh condemned the machinations of imperialist powers like the US and the UK which asaw Kashmir only as the neighbour of Russia and therefore an essential base in the encirclement of Russia for future aggressiona (Krishen 1951: 19a20). A provisional cessation of hostilities, however, occurred in January 1949, with the establishment of a political and military truce. The ceasefire line left the Indians with the bulk of Jammu and Kashmiras territory (139,000 of 223,000 square kilometres, approximately 63 per cent) and population. The Indians had gained the prize piece of real estate, the Kashmir Valley, and they also controlled most of the Jammu and Ladakh regions. These areas became Indian Jammu and Kashmir (IJK). The Pakistanis were left with a long strip of land running on a northasouth axis in western J & K, mostly Jammu districts bordering Pakistani Punjab and the NWFP . . . a slice of Ladakh (Skardu), and the remote mountain zones of Gilgit and Baltistan (the Northern Areas or NA). (Bose 2003: 41) The de facto border carved in 1949 worked to Indiaas territorial and political advantage. The president of the UN Security Council, General A.G.L. McNaughton of Canada, endeavored to outline proposals to resolve the dispute. He proposed a program of gradual demilitarization and withdrawal of regular Indian and Pakistani forces, which were not required for the purposes of maintaining law and order from the Indian side of the cease-fire line. He also proposed disbandment of the militia of J & K, as well as of forces in Pakistani-administered aAzada Kashmir. McNaughton recommended continuing the administration of the Northern Areas by the local authorities, subject to UN supervision. He recommended the appointment of a UN representative by the secretary general of the UN, who would supervise the process of demilitarization and procure conditions necessary to holding a fair and free plebiscite (Das 1950). Although McNaughtonas proposals were lauded by most members of the Security Council, India stipulated that Pakistani forces must unconditionally withdraw from the state, and that disbandment of Pakistani-administered Kashmir troops must be accomplished before an impartial plebiscite could be held (Rahman 1996: 90a91). In the interests of expediency, the UNCIP appointed a single mediator, Sir Owen Dixon, the United Nations representative for India and Pakistan, Australian jurist and war-time ambassador to the US, to efficiently resolve the conflict. A meeting of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullahas National Conference was convened on 18 April 1950, in order to pass a resolution expressly warning the United Nations to take cognizance of Pakistanas role as the aggressor (Korbel 2002: 170). The Communist writer Rajbans Krishen wrote an entire book to establish that the UN, its Commission and its representative, Sir Owen Dixon, were instruments of the US and the UK to annihilate the progressive movement pioneered by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in order to create in Kashmir, with the aid of Indian and Pakistani capitalists, a military base for an attack on the Soviet Union (ibid.: 257). The Communist leader in Kashmir, G.M. Sadiq, underscored the skepticism prevalent in Kashmir at the time: . . . the time has come for India to withdraw the Kashmir question from the Security Council . . . [as] the Kashmiris realized that the talk of fair plebiscite was a mere smokescreen behind which the Anglo-American powers were planning to enslave the Kashmiris. Nothing will suit them better than the faAade of trusteeship in Kashmir behind which they can build war bases against our neighbours [sic]. (Delhi Express, 1 January 1952) Even as the Sheikh was aware of the infeasibility of withdrawing the Kashmir issue from the UN, the Sheikh-led NC reiterated its commitment to securing the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir. It was suspicious of the UN, which was subservient to the hegemony of the US and the UK and flinched when it came to holding a plebiscite in Kashmir (Korbel 2002: 259). Sheikh declared that if a plebiscite was held in Kashmir and the people of Kashmir did not validate the accession to India that would not imply that, aas a matter of course Kashmir becomes part of Pakistan. . . . It would regain the status which it enjoyed immediately preceding the accession [i.e. independence]a (The Hindu, 26 March 1952). In 1949, the Sheikh candidly told Michael Davidson, correspondent of the London Observer, that, aAccession to either side cannot bring peace. We want to live in friendship with both the Dominionsa (quoted in Saxena 1975: 33). The insistence on rejecting the trajectory charted out for them by the power structures of India, Pakistan and the west, and the urge to proclaim themselves a nation that is capable of exercising the right of self-determination has haunted the psyche of the Kashmiri people for decades. The distrust that pervaded the Kashmir political scene was outlined by the Communist paper Peopleas Age, which assessed the report of the United Nations Commission to the Security Council as an instrument of the political intrigues and machinations of imperialist powers against the engendering of democracy in J & K. It was critical of the complicity of Pakistan with these powers to destroy the beginnings of a democratic mass movement. It evaluated the attempt of the US and the UK to preside over a purportedly afree and faira plebiscite that would be held aunder the direction of the military and political agents of American imperialism, masked as the UNO Commission officers,a as a strategy on their part to create and secure war bases on the subcontinent against the Soviet Union and China (Krishen 1951: 38). As a placatory measure, in 1949 the UNCIP declared that athe Secretary-General of the United Nations will, in agreement with the Commission, nominate a Plebiscite Administrator who shall be a person of high international standinga (Dasgupta 1968: 402a03). Needless to say, the plebiscite was never held. The inability of the Indian government to hold a plebiscite is regarded by the Pakistani government as an act of political sabotage. The Indian government has been rationalizing its decision by placing the blame squarely on Pakistan for not demilitarizing the areas of J & K under its control, which was the primary condition specified by the United Nations for holding the plebiscite. Josef Korbel, the Czech UN representative in Kashmir, observes that ten weeks after the Security Council had passed an injunction calling on both India and Pakistan to demilitarize the Kashmir region within five months, Sir Owen Dixon found that not an iota of work had been done in that regard. Although both parties had agreed to hold a plebiscite in the state, they had failed to take any of the preliminary measures required for a free and fair referendum. Sir Owen Dixon, therefore, decided to take matters into his own hands and asked for the unconditional withdrawal of Pakistani troops. This was followed by a request to both countries to enable the demilitarization of Kashmir. The then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, agreed to initiate the process by calling for the withdrawal of his troops. But this request, which would have enabled the maintenance of law and order, was denied by India (Korbel 2002: 171). The rationale that India provided for its denial was the necessity to defend Kashmir and maintain a semblance of order. India vehemently opposed any proposal that would place Pakistan on the same platform as India, and which would not take into account the incursion of Kashmir territory by Pakistani militia and tribesmen. In order to neutralize the situation, Sir Owen Dixon suggested that while the plebiscite was being organized and held, the entire state should be governed by a coalition government, or by a neutral administration comprising non-partisan groups, or by an executive formed of United Nations representatives. But his proposal did not meet with the approval he expected. He noted, in 1950, that the Kashmir issue was so tumultuous because Kashmir was not a holistic geographic, economic or demographic entity, but, on the contrary, an aggregate of diverse territories brought under the rule of one maharaja. In a further attempt to resolve the conflict, Sir Owen Dixon propounded the trifurcation of the state along communal or regional lines, or facilitating the secession of parts of the Jhelum Valley to Pakistan (Ganguly 1997: 3a4, 43a57; Rahman 1996: 4). Despite the bombastic statements and blustering of the governments of both India and Pakistan, however, the Indian government has all along perceived the inclusion of Pakistani-administered Jammu and Kashmir and the NA into India as unfeasible. Likewise, the government of Pakistan has all along either implicitly or explicitly acknowledged the impracticality of including the predominantly Buddhist Ladakh and predominantly Hindu Jammu as part of Pakistan. The coveted area that continues to generate irreconcilable differences between the two governments is the Valley of Kashmir. Dixon lamented: None of these suggestions commended themselves to the Prime Minister of India. In the end, I became convinced that Indiaas agreement would never be obtained to demilitarization in any such form, or to provisions governing the period of the plebiscite of any such character, as would in my opinion permit the plebiscite being conducted in conditions sufficiently guarding against intimidation and other forms of influence and abuse by which the freedom and fairness of the plebiscite might be imperiled. (The Statesman, 15 September 1950) Sir Owen Dixon nonetheless remained determined to formulate a viable solution to the Kashmir issue and suggested that a plebiscite be held only in the Kashmir Valley subsequent to its demilitarization, which would be conducted by an administrative body of UN officials. This proposal was rejected by Pakistan, which, however, reluctantly agreed to Sir Dixonas further suggestion that the prime ministers of the two countries meet with him to discuss the viability of various solutions to the Kashmir dispute. But India decried this suggestion. A defeated man, Sir Dixon finally left the Indian subcontinent on 23 August 1950 (Korbel 2002: 174). There seemed to be an inexplicable reluctance on both sides, India and Pakistan, to solve the Kashmir dispute diplomatically and amicably. Sir Dixonas concluding recommendation was a bilateral resolution of the dispute with India and Pakistan as the responsible parties, without taking into account the ability of the Kashmiri people to determine their own political future. After Dixonas inability to implement conflict mitigation proposals, Frank Graham was appointed as mediator in 1951. Graham proposed the following: a reaffirmation of the ceasefire line; a mutual agreement that India and Pakistan would avoid making incendiary statements and that would reassert that Kashmiras future would be decided by a plebiscite; steady attempts at demilitarization. But he was unable to dispel the doubts raised by the governments of India and Pakistan on securing the approval of both governments on a strategy for withdrawal of forces from the state, and agreement of both governments on a plebiscite administrator (ibid: 239a40). Given the unviability of its proposals, the UN soon bowed out of the political quagmire, leaving an unhealed wound on the body-politic of the Indian subcontinent: the Security Council resolutions affirming that the future of the state should be decided by its denizens. Residents posed questions about public safety and immigration to those wanting to lead the city of Santa Maria during a forum for City Council Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Boy howdy does Keanu Reeves clean up good. Here is our first look at Reeves as the titular hitman brought out of retirement, John Wick. EW had the drop on everyone and they also spoke with director Chad Stahelski about the upcoming sequel. People kept asking us in the year after the movie came out, Wed like to see more about the hotel, Stahelski tells EW. Wed like to see more about all the different characters. What is this underworld where everyones the best? Stahelski promises that those subjects will be addressed in John Wick: Chapter 2 (out Feb. 10, 2017), which finds Reeves Wick dealing with the consequences of murdering many, many people in the first film. Whats it like to be in a world like this? Thats what we really wanted to expand on, the director says. You can follow the link to the full article where there are some other details about characters and cast. Mark February 10th on your calendars, folks. Truth is stranger than fiction. In 1978, famous South Korean director Shin Sang-ok and his ex-wife, actress Choi Eun-hee were kidnapped in Hong Kong by North Korean agents under order of Kim Jung-il, the future leader of North Korea. While they were held as captives, they made 7 movies in the hermit kingdom, until they made a daring escape in 1986 to Vienna. This bizarre and fantastic experiences that Shin and Choi went through reads like a crazy combination of a high-flying political thriller and a lurid tale from the dark underbelly of the movie business. And it's totally ripe for a movie adaptation that could easily be much more fascinating and entertaining than Ben Affleck's Argo. Two British filmmakers, Robert Canaan and Ross Adam, have a go at it in documentary form. Their approach here is pretty straight forward, using tons of archival footage, movie clips from Shin's filmography, tastefully staged reenactments shot in the style of grainy super-8, and interviews with the full participation of survivors surrounding the story. In the center of it all is director Shin. Once described as the 'Prince of the Korean cinema', Shin had a string of successes in the 50s and 60s with titles like A Flower in Hell, The Prince Yeonsan and Eunuch. Choi, his starlet, couldn't help but fall in love with the dashing movie director on set. They got married and had two children together. But because he was too much of an artist and not enough a realist and had no head for business, he fell into hard times after a couple of flops. Debtors sent gangsters to his office and house, ready to break his legs. It was President Park Jung-hee (father of current South Korean President Park Gun-hae)'s strict miltary dictator regime which censored his films and eventually shut his film company down in the 70s. Choi and Shin split up when she found out that Shin had a secret family with a younger woman. He hit rock bottom. After his ex-wife's abduction, he went looking for her in Hong Kong but also disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Was he also kidnapped or did he willingly defect? The film only speculates, but chooses not to elaborate further. And Shin, who died of complications after a liver transplant in 2006, isn't here to defend himself. On camera, Choi, now 89, comes across as an earnest, emotional person when remembering her harrowing (but also at times humorous) experience. She recounts her abduction clearly- She was chloroformed and taken by boat to the North. When she landed on the North Korean shore, she was welcomed by none other than the Kim Jung-il. He treated her like a VIP, all the while she was fearing for her life. Her preconceived notion of Kim, the heir apparent to the most feared regime in the world, was somewhat dulled by his self-degrading humor- "Are you surprised by my height? As short as a midget's turd, eh?" (He was 5'3" reportedly) After 5 years of captivity and re-educationing, Shin and Choi were finally reunited. In an audiotape, we hear Kim Jung-il admitting the abduction of the two and mistreatment of Shin as all 'but-a-big-misunderstanding'. Shin tells her his several escape attempts and imprisonment. Soon they start planning an escape. But in the mean time, with unlimited support and resources provided by Kim, Shin excels as a movie director, resulting in 7 feature films for their captors. The film touches upon many intriguing facts but none more so than a glimpse into the cult of Kim Jung-il. It is widely known that he was a movie buff- he was in charge of Ministry of Culture before he became the leader, overseeing every cinematic output of the communist country. Deeply unsatisfied by the lack of talents and typical lackluster sob stories the country's film industry was producing, he had ordered to kidnap South Korea's top talents - Shin and his muse Choi. Through the secret audiotape that Choi recorded, we hear Kim's giddy, accommodating voice that doesn't really go with the image of the secretive, all powerful dictator. When Choi and Shin sought an asylum in the US, those tapes were valuable to the CIA. It was the first time any Westerners heard the voice of Kim. The Lovers and the Despot is filled to the brim with amusing, entertaining anecdotes. But it could've been even better, considering how fantastic its subjects are. With all that great intrigue related to the abductions, one could easily make several films out of it. The life story of Shin would make a fascinating biopic alone, for instance. I wish the filmmakers asked Choi, Shin's lifelong partner who went through those troublesome, fantastic years with him, some pertinent questions regarding the real motives of his being in North Korea instead of softball questions. Yes, Kim Jung-il's statement on tape might prove that he was also abducted, but South Korean intelligence didn't buy it and Shin couldn't come back to South Korea until the 90s. It would have made a fantastic love story if Shin willingly went to North Korea to find his estranged but missing ex-wife and remarry her with Kim Jung-il's blessing. The Lovers and the Despot opens in Theaters in NY, LA, DC, Boston & Philadelphia and On Demand on Friday, September 23. Dustin Chang is a freelance writer. His musings and opinions on everything cinema and beyond can be found at www.dustinchang.com If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Oliver, rescued from Yulin, China Dog Meat Festival, appears at Berkeley City Council #berkmtg pic.twitter.com/KwDFYniUnU Tom Lochner (@tomlochner) September 21, 2016 Tuesday's meeting of the Berkeley City Council featured a very special guest: Oliver, pictured above, a dog whom activists say was rescued from a Chinese dog meat festival. At that meeting, heavily attended by the group Direct Action Everywhere, a vegan advocacy arm that decries all meat as violence, Berkeley's city council passed a "Resolution to condemn the Dog Meat Festival in Yulin, China, and urging China and all countries to end the slaughter of dogs and enact an animal anti-cruelty law with provisions banning the dog meat trade." The festivities to which the resolution alludes, held during the summer solstice, are at least according to my understanding of the calendar not exactly coming up any time soon. Nor, by my map, are they occurring too nearby. Yet Berkeley City Councilman Kriss Worthington wanted his town to go on the record against the allegedly cruel festivities all the same. The continued practice of abusing, killing, and eating dogs is a clear example of animal cruelty, Worthington said in a report to the council quoted by the East Bay Times. Millions of Chinese citizens have voiced their opposition to the Dog Meat Festival and have supported a ban on the dog meat trade in China altogether. Exploring the subject, the Chronicle talked to a spokesperson for the group Direct Action Everywhere, Zachary Groff. His organization most recently entered the news cycle when activists stormed Chez Panisse, the Berkeley restaurant credited with capturing or sparking a revolution in local and humane food, to berate diners for ordering meat and supporting such a cruel and unusual establishment. "The resolution reaffirms the city's commitment to animal rights," Groff emphasized to the Chronicle. "We see Berkeley as having the potential to be a leader in animal agriculture and violence against animals." In the end, the resolution passed with six votes, while three members abstained. As is often the case, Luke Tsai of the East Bay Express had the most valuable perspective on the matter a full two months ago, no less. "Im of two minds whenever I hear American activists and politicians make a big show of how horrified they are by Chinese cultural practices like eating dog meat or shark fins," he wrote. "On the one hand, I get it: I like dogs, too. And many accounts indicate that the Yulin dog meat festival goes way beyond the pale, in terms of the cruel treatment the dogs suffer before theyre killed. "On the other hand," he added, "isnt there room to acknowledge that different cultures have different norms about which animals are acceptable to eat? And moral grandstanding against Chinese dog eaters a relatively small percentage of people in China only helps feed into a certain kind of racism and xenophobia. Ask any Chinese American or Korean American about the dog-eating jokes they had to endure growing up." Related: Animal Rights Activists Storm Chez Panisse In Very Berkeley Protest The wheels of justice grind slowly, assuming that they do indeed grind. That, at least, appears to be true in the case of a former high-profile San Francisco politico who was arrested on child pornography allegations in May of 2015. You might recall the tale: Enrique Pearce, the political consultant behind campaigns like Jane Kim's for District 6 Supervisor and Ed Lee's first mayoral push was arrested on May 7, 2015, over the alleged possession of over 600 images of minors engaging in sexual acts. According to the San Francisco Police Department, police searched Pearce's home at McAllister Street near Leavenworth Street after an unnamed tipster started SFPD's Sex Crimes Unit on a child porn investigation focused on Pearce. The images included many of children "involving sexual sadism or sexual masochism," a police spokesperson said. Pearce also allegedly had a stolen parking meter (?!?) in his home, police said. Less than 24 hours following his arrest, Pearce, who at the time ran both the Pearce Law Offices and the Left Coast Communications consultancy, was out on $215,000 bail. That bail amount was increased to $400,000 following a hearing days later during which prosecutors said that Pearce had 4,902 images and videos of child pornography across two silver Apple laptops and 102 pictures and 96 videos (stored across two of Pearce's laptops and his phone) of boys (ages estimated at between 6 months and 12 years), some of them bound, as they are sodomized by adult males. But the finding that likely sealed Pearce's bail increase was this: 115 cell phone photos of 11 different fully clothed boys aged 8-12, all shot across SF apparently without the kids' knowledge, including at least one shot on the steps of City Hall. These seeemingly clandestine videos allegedly shot by Pearce were, Assistant District Attorney Alexis Feigen Fasteau argued at the time, indications that Pearce "was going beyond just looking at images and may have been potentially seeking a victim" and that he represented a significant enough public safety concern that his bail should be increased. The judge agreed, and Pearce was cuffed on the spot and was briefly returned to SF County jail until he supplied the additional bail amount. And that's all we've heard of the case since then, at least, until Wednesday night, when the Ex reported that Pearce's scheduled "status hearing" regarding the six felony counts (including possession of sadomasochistic child or youth pornography, possession and distribution of child pornography and possession of stolen property) to which he has plead not guilty would be postponed until mid October, which will make it over a year and a half since he was first freed on bail. A call to Pearce's attorney, Eileen Burke, was not returned at publication time. But back in May 2015, she said that Of course, we are going to fight [the allegations] in the courtroom, not the media" describing Pearce's arrest as "incredibly unfair." "I don't think he's a safety risk of any sort," Burke said at the time of Pearce's initial release. "He's lived and worked here for over 20 years." Pearce's new court date, the Ex reports, is October 19 at 1:30 p.m. It remains unclear when, assuming prosecutors move forward, a trial in the case might be expected. Previously: SF Political Consultant Enrique Pearce Jailed On Child Porn Charges SF Politico Accused Of Child Porn Possession Out On Bail, Allegedly Also Had Stolen Parking Meter Wednesday Court Appearance Reveals Disturbing Details In SF Politco's Child Porn Case If you look at San Francisco a little differently, you'll start to see skateboarding spots everywhere. That's what the sport does: radically repurpose the urban landscape. Steps are for leaping off, handrails are for grinding on, and hills are for bombing down. To guide skaters new to town, or to skating, as well as to treat non-skaters to a glimpse of the skate world around us, SFist turned to one of our favorite photographers, Sean Carabarin, who has been documenting the skate scene in San Francisco for more than a decade. Carabarin helped curate these spots, which range from sanctioned parks to well-worn ledges still devoid of skatestoppers. Oh, and for those unafraid of a little speed, our paved hills are a main attraction. For more on that, here's a dose of history from TransWord SKATEboarding: "[Skateboarding] is my favorite subject to shoot," Carabarin once told the popular local skate supply company FTC. "The best part of shooting skateboarding is what happens behind the scenes, its not just the trick I try to capture, but my surroundings and the people Im with." Have a look at Carabarin's blog, or for your daily fix of his shots, give him a follow on Instagram. The Island/Justin Herman Plaza/The Embarcadero San Francisco's iconic skate spots like the Embarcadero known to the in-crowd as EMB and Justin Herman Plaza aren't just popular contemporary spots to skate, they're the cradle of street skating itself. In a complete history of the area, the Ride Channel called it "one of the most storied spots in skateboarding," with stars like Mark Gonzales and Mike Carroll breaking new ground, inventing new tricks and styles, and marking their territory there. For a literal example, see the Gonz gap, named for the former. SoMa West Skatepark Carabarin likes San Francisco's most recently added skatepark because it's centrally located near transit and has "hella good food" within striking distance. The park was "designed to reflect iconic San Francisco spots," writes SF Rec and Parks, "with a special nod to ... Justin Herman Plaza." You don't say. Photo: Sean Carabin Potrero Del Sol Skatepark "BBQs, beers, friends and shenanigans" is how Carabarin summarizes the scene at the typically sunny Potrero Del Sol. There, an enticing bowl gets high marks from fans as the best park of the park. Photo: Sean Carabarin 3rd & Army If the scene at Potrero Del Sol isn't your thing, head down here: "It's a great place to skate with your friends away from the people in the city," Carbarin says. Still going by its former name Army became Chavez in 1995 this spot at the end of Indiana by the Islais Creek channel is known for its surplus of ledges. Photo: Sean Carabarin Fort Miley Fort Miley, a former military reservation atop Point Lobos, is much more than an inert landmark. "This spot has been skated for ages," Carabarin says, and with "amazing views of ocean beach" and "hours of fun on the old bunkers and BBQ pits," it likely will be for ages to come. The family of a San Francisco man who disappeared earlier this month hasn't given up hope that they'll find him, saying that his cell phone still appears to be active. The Richmond District Blog reports that 26-year-old Sunset resident Adam Li was last seen on September 15, on 45th Avenue between Fulton and Cabrillo Streets. Li, who reportedly suffers from bipolar disorder and depression, has disappeared before, but this is the longest he's been missing, his brother Aaron says. "The police pinged Adams cell phone on Tuesday night," TRDB reports, "and received a signal location around 42nd Avenue and Clement Street." "But when police arrived at the location, they did not see anyone resembling Adam, and his cell phone was turned off shortly after." He's described as a 5' 7" Chinese male with a slim build, weighing in at about 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes, his family says. According to a flier being passed out by the Li family, Adam is "a very timid person and can be unpredictable," and his brother says that he has "poor social skills and may get spooked and run if confronted." Therefore, if you do spot him you're urged to instead contact 911 (say you're reporting a sighting of missing person Adam Li), or call Aaron Li (415-867-9829), Alex Li (415-939-8229), or Mrs. Li (415-806-6889). Fruitvale Village, a transit-adjacent 255,000 square-foot real estate development with 47 housing units owned by a local nonprofit and completed in 2003, is getting a new commercial tenant: Google, the Alphabet, Inc.-owned technology company with a large Bay Area footprint in Mountain View and San Francisco. Far from a new corporate campus, however, Google's space in Fruitvale will instead serve as a tech lab, an education center with input from MIT that will serve local students by teaching computer science skills. The Business Times learned of the lease from two anonymous sources, speculating that the exact location of the space will be 3301 East 12th St., Suite 101. USA Today reports via an email it obtained that the lease will house something called Code Next Lab, a Google program that's already been in pilot mode and involves the MIT Media Lab. Neither Google nor MIT spokespeople commented directly, but it appears as if the Code Next Lab will work with the Oakland Unified School District. "It's incredibly exciting to have Google's presence in the Fruitvale," Claire Shorall, manager of computer science for the Oakland Unified School District told USA Today. "This really allows us to have a meaningful experience and exposure for middle-school students that plants the seeds of college and career readiness while still being in an environment that is sponsoring joy and creativity," she added. Google, along with most of its tech cohort, has been criticized for its lack of diversity, particularly as it pertains to black and brown employees and female employees. Until now, Google has not tread in Oakland, and though streaming radio company Pandora has long called the city home, far fewer tech tenants have touched down in Oakland than in San Francisco. That's beginning to change with the entry of Uber, who last year snapped up the massive former Sears building downtown and hope to open a headquarters there next year. What kind of neighbor will such a large, wealthy company be against the backdrop of a historically diverse city that's rapidly gentrifying? That remains to be seen but is already the subject of much speculation. Recently, Salesforce donated $8.5 million to Oakland public schools to support STEM education, a move the Business Times reported last month, and others such as Apple have made more modest donations in Oakland, with that company giving 40 iPads to the East Oakland Youth Development Center not long ago. Related: Did Prince Make An Anonymous $34 Million Donation To Help Oakland Before He Died? "This is the San Francisco America pretends does not exist," the writer James Baldwin said while surveying the historically black Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood in 1963. That quote, from the documentary Take This Hammer, offers a glimpse of a neighborhood literally and figuratively on the margins, isolated by forceful police, poverty, and discrimination. African Americans had come to the south-easternmost tip of San Francisco seeking jobs, as the Chronicle recently recalled: During WWII, the US Navy bought an existing shipyard in the area where, until then, slaughterhouses and fisheries were among the only landmarks. The navy was offering to hire workers from across the nation, and many African Americans from the south, which was deeply divided under Jim Crow, made the trek to seek better employment, living in quickly-built homes and dormitories. After the war, however, jobs became scarce. Living quarters deteriorated. Three years after Baldwin's remarks, on September 27th, 1966 exactly 50 years ago next week police in the neighborhood shot and killed a fleeing, unarmed 17-year-old black child, Matthew Johnson, who was sometimes called "Peanut" by his friends. Johnson and two friends had stolen a car for a joyride, though the officer who shot and killed Johnson couldn't have known that, because the car hadn't yet been reported stolen. Still, when stopped by police, the three young men fled, and the officer ended up chasing Johnson, firing at his back and killing him. An angry, grieving crowd formed around the naval yard, demanding that the officer who killed Johnson be charged with murder (he appears to have merely been suspended). Meanwhile the city's sole black Supervisor at the time, the NAACP and civil rights defense attorney Terry Francois, was insulted and assaulted near the Bayview Community Center. What followed that night were events sometimes termed "riots" or "rebellion." Whatever they were, they prompted an intense reaction or overreaction from city police and government, with the National Guard and Highway Patrol called in to the neighborhood. As the history website FoundSF writes of the scene: "Perhaps the best indication of both the essentially passive character of the response of black males in Hunters Point and the unreasonable magnitude of white fears is the fact that, aside from long-range brick throwing, less than a half dozen assaults by blacks against whites were recorded in the course of five days of rioting." One harrowing example of that appears in The Movement, a newspaper published by he Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). They wrote in an October 1966 issue that, after the arrival of the National Guard, cops had opened fired into a community center full of sheltering children whom they believed to be armed. But when the children escaped, police reportedly entered the building looking for weapons, of which there were none. Tensions ran high for several days. An untold number of black neighborhood residents were arrested, and all were essentially penned in, unable to leave the area. But by October 1, the "riots" were over, and the police and the National Guard presence was pulled. The significance, 50 years later, of the events most notably the murder of 17-year-old Matthew "Peanut" Johnson should need no elucidation. Instead, they are events that demand further consideration. For more, a documentary called Bay View Hunterss Point: San Francisco's Last Black Neighborhood? has some archival footage of the Hunters Point Uprising, and FoundSF also has two interviews with locals who lived through the events: Darrell Rogers and Thomas Fleming. Last, the entirety of Take This Hammer is available here, on Vimeo. Take This Hammer from SF Bayview on Vimeo. Related: Documentary Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The Compton's Cafeteria Riot This website is intended for U.S. visitors only. SIOUX CITY | For the second straight day, the four elementary schools without air conditioning will dismiss early. Bryant, Hunt, Riverside and Sunnyside will dismiss classes two hours early Thursday. Thursday's expected high of 80 is considerably lower than yesterdays, which crept into the 90s, but humidity is still more than 80 percent. Friday will be 85 degrees with a slight 20 percent chance of rainfall. Friday night will be clear and 66. Saturday will be mostly sunny and 81, with a 50 percent chance of rain moving in over the evening hours. Saturday night's low will be 60 degrees. Highs will drop into the much more "fall-like" lower 70s and upper 60s beginning next week. SIOUX CITY | In front of a group of high school students Wednesday, John Corey recalled a decision he made when he was their age. At age 17, he was ready to join the military a choice that led him to the Vietnam War with the Marine Corp. I dont regret it for one damn minute, he told a North High School class. Corey was one of 15 local veterans who gathered at North for a panel discussion with students in the Air Force Junior ROTC program and American Studies class. Veterans present ranged from Korean War era to current conflicts overseas. Consulting teacher Shawn Meth, who started the program as a history instructor, said this was the third year for the discussion. He said its a valuable experience for both parties. It lets veterans tell their stories and gives students the chance to hear about wars that shaped American history from the people who were there for it. They learn history through the people that lived it and to help them make sense of war, he said. East High Junior Corey John Kellen, a JROTC student, said he believed the discussion could be an eye-opener for him in more ways than one. He said he and his fellow ROTC students may have an interest in a military career, and this is one way to learn more about it. I know that a few of us are trying to go do what they did, so this may help us mentally prepare and physically prepare. He also said itll give him an opportunity to learn about war outside of news coverage and text books. It comes out of the textbooks and we read it on paper, but its another thing to be in front of those people and physically ask them questions, he said. Students split into groups of 20 and spent 20 to 30 minutes with a panel of four or five of the veterans present. The discussion was facilitated by an instructor, who asked questions selected by students. Some conversations touched on the basics. Where a veteran was, what he or she was doing and what it was like coming back home. Others allowed the panel to touch on how unpleasant war could be. Coreys group, mostly Vietnam veterans, spoke on the conditions they experienced. Corey explained wading through rice paddies chest deep in waste water and pulling giant leeches off of his body at the end of a mission. Greg Andersen, of Sioux City, said he remembers the smell of human waste mixing with incense and cooking food in the streets. They talked about the effects of PTSD and the need to be facing doors and knowing where exits are at all times after they returned home. Some of the things said werent the easiest to talk about. But Andersen said first-hand accounts like his and his fellow veterans show a side of war that some students may otherwise not see. What they see in movies is war glorified, he said after the panel. The guy never runs out of ammo and never gets hityou dont see the real horrors of war. The insight to war and the effects it has on lives long after the last soldier has gone home is a rare opportunity. Rachel Hodgins, a junior at North High School, knows that. I think that its nice to see the actual experience and hear firsthand whats going on versus just a stereotypical account from a history book, she said. I feel very privileged. I think its a very good opportunity to be exposed to this. SIOUX CITY | Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andi McGuire on Wednesday swung through Northwest Iowa to pitch early voting. Turning out as many voters as possible before the Nov. 8 election is a crucial element of the 2016 playbook to elect Hillary Clinton as president and other Democrats to statewide and local offices, McGuire said at a stop at the Journal offices. Early voting begins on Sept. 29 statewide. (Early voting starts on Friday in South Dakota and Oct. 10 in Nebraska.) "We start to vote for the next 40 days, until the election," said McGuire, who also stopped in Carroll and Storm Lake Wednesday. McGuire pointed to a strong ground game, with Democrats or Clinton running 33 offices in Iowa and having hundreds of paid staffers. "It is all about turnout...You have to keep marching forward and building it," she said. Clinton's late summer lead in polls nationally and in swing states has dropped off lately. Polls show a tight race with Trump slightly leading in Iowa for the state's six electoral votes. McGuire said Iowa will be tightly contested. "It is going to be a toss-up state all the way down to the end," she said. Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann spoke with the Journal in late August on the party's push to November. Kaufmann contended Republican political leaders are giving "unprecedented" state cooperation and that the party's presidential nominee Donald Trump understands the necessity of competing hard in battleground state Iowa. In the monthly September statistics from the Iowa Secretary of State office, the number of Republicans with active voter registrations outnumber Democrats by nearly 34,400. The totals were 648,866 Republicans and 614,477 Democrats. August stats showed a similar gap, as there were 649,579 Iowans with Republican voter registrations, compared to 615,365 Democrats. McGuire said she would like to pull ahead in the number of Democrats, while pointing to the necessity of landing independents, who comprise another one-third of Iowa voters. She said Clinton's message shows she is qualified with sound plans to help working families, which she contended will resonate with Iowans who don't have party affiliations. "I think the independents are going to be the deciding factor and come our way," McGuire said. McGuire said negatives some people have sought to tie to Clinton -- such as her pneumonia health issue and in calling half of Trump supporters "deplorables" -- won't derail her campaign. McGuire has Siouxland roots, as she married into the Democratic clan of McGuires from Holstein in Ida County. Her sister-in-law, Sheila McGuire Riggs, is a former congressional candidate from Northwest Iowa and was the state party chairwoman from 2001 to 2003. Also Wednesday in Sioux City, McGuire was to be joined by Iowa 4th District Democratic nominee Kim Weaver of Sheldon i a Women Win organizing event set by the Clinton campaign. "This election is very important to women," McGuire said. "(Trump) is insulting to women. He treats us almost as less than human." SIOUX CITY | Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott has been elected to serve on the Iowa League of Cities' executive board. The League instated Scott as one of its 14 board directors during the annual business meeting held Sept. 16 in Des Moines. "I am honored to serve as a director on this board and am confident that the Iowa League will continue to be a strong voice in advocating for Iowa cities," Scott said in a news release. The League of Cities' executive board consists of 14 board director positions and five officer positions. All are filled by current city officials representing cities of various populations and geographic locations. The board works to adopt policies to provide direction to the league, adopts the annual operating budget, establishes membership fees and provides overall direction to the organization. Scott, a Sioux City native, is the longest-serving mayor in Sioux City history. Scott was first elected to the Sioux City Council in 1985 and served 12 consecutive years on the council, including seven as mayor. In 2011, he was the second mayor elected by the residents of Sioux City and was re-elected in 2015. I am so angry, upset and flabbergasted by the actions of Donald Trump at the so-called press event at his hotel in Washington, D.C., last Friday morning. It was an infomercial that began with him bragging about his new hotel, then he had all of these endorsements by some members of our armed services, and then he had 30-plus seconds of two new lies and his pronouncement that our president was born in the United States. Trump is not a king who can just erase his five years of statements about the "birther" nonsense and all is forgotten. He has made too many deplorable statements that will not be forgotten or forgiven. Trump has said so many deplorable things about so many people. He has never apologized for the remark that Sen. John McCain (a true war hero) was a loser because he was captured during the Vietnam war. It shows his lack of integrity and honesty that he is unable to apologize for such insensitive remarks. Trump is a con man. He says now that he opposes many issues when only a few years ago he was on the record as supporting them. He is a small-minded man who thinks he is running one of those stupid reality shows. Anyone who thinks Trump is presidential material is being suckered into his warped world. Trump has sacrificed nothing for our country, he has no record of public service, he won't release his tax returns, and he does not have the moral values to be our president. In November, I will be supporting a qualified and competent candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton. She has the heart and the record of public service to be our first woman president. - Teresa Johnson, South Sioux City, Neb. There arent enough inpatient psychiatric beds, and so often patients are boarded in the hospitals emergency department, meaning theyre staying in the ER for more than four hours at a time. Thats not an effective use of the patients or hospitals time, he said. We stabilize our patients and they shouldnt be discharged, but they have nowhere to go, said Whitters, medical director of behavioral services at Mercy Medical Center. He was talking with former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, who was in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday for a mental health care roundtable and to promote presidential candidate Hillary Clintons mental health care plan at the Cedar Rapids Public Library downtown. Kennedy led the discussion that included nearly 30 mental health advocates, providers, law enforcement and local officials. For those of you who this issue is very important, I am entirely with you, Kennedy said. Kennedy, a mental health advocate and son of the late-Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, sponsored the 2008 Mental Health Parity Act, a bill requiring most health plans to have reimbursement rates for mental health services similar to physical illnesses. He discussed a wide range of issues with attendees, the over use of jails at mental health facilities to the lack of psychiatric beds at hospitals. A Treatment Advocacy Center report out earlier this summer ranked the state last for the number of state psychiatric beds per capita 2 per 100,000 residents. More than two-thirds of Iowa counties dont have a practicing psychiatrist, and there are only a handful of psychiatric residency slots at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Its my responsibility to run the county jail and that makes me the largest provider of mental health in the county, Linn County Sheriff Brain Gardner said. You dont need me to tell you we arent designed to do that. Because of Linn Countys size, he has more resources than smaller counties, including doctors and nurses who are able to treat inmates, he added. Having said that, my folks are unfit to be dealing with this, Gardner said. Kennedy said the closure of two of the states mental health institutions by Gov. Terry Branstad in 2015 shifted tax dollars rather than saved tax dollars, pointing out those individuals are likely to end up in jail or the states hospitals emergency rooms. All those costs are dramatic and they add up, he said. Clintons plan calls for integrating mental and physical health care and increasing community-based treatment opportunities; promoting early diagnosis and intervention; enforcing current mental health parity laws; training law enforcement to deal with people with mental health issues; and investing in brain and behavioral research. Im so excited as someone who is an advocate for mental health that there is such a crystal clear choice, he said. Kennedy spoke in Des Moines on Wednesday morning, and after the Cedar Rapids event headed to Iowa City to help launch a Women Win Phone Bank. We want to know what you think about the movies. You can Tweet us your reviews @scweekender or share them on Facebook, facebook.com/siouxcityweekender. We'll pick the best comments on Monday before the next Weekender. Here are this week's movies: Snowden Starring: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Shailene Woodley Story: The true and personal story of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information, is revealed. Rated: R for language and some sexuality/nudity Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Bridget Jones's Baby Starring: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth Story: Bridget Jones continues her misadventures as she enters her 40s and the notion of motherhood approaches. Rated: R for language, sex references and some nudity Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Blair Witch Starring: No one you know Story: The "brother" of the chick from the first movie is determined to track down what really happened to his sis. Rated: Rated R for language, terror and some disturbing images Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Sully Starring: Tom Hanks, Laura Linney Story: The true story of Chesley Sullenberger, a pilot who safely landed a plane into the Hudson River, saving everyone on board. Rated: PG-13 for some peril and brief strong language Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender When the Bough Breaks Starring: Regina Hall, Morris Chestnut Story: A surrogate mother to a couple starts to become obsessed with the soon-to-be father. Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexuality/partial nudity, thematic elements, some disturbing images, and language Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Morgan Starring: Kate Mara, Toby Jones Story: A risk management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificial life form. Rated: R for brutal violence and some language Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Mechanic: Resurrection Starring: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba Story: An ex-assassin tries to live a normal life but some jackass steals his girlfriend. And now he's pissed. Rated: R for violence throughout and language Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Don't Breathe Starring: An angry blind guy Story: Some teens decide to rob a blind guy, but they get more what they bargained for when he decides to fight back. Rated: R for terror, violence, disturbing content, and language including sexual references Verdict: Pleasing twists and comeuppance. You'll never want to use a turkey baster again. -@missclaireelyse Southside with You Starring: Not Barack Obama, not Michelle Obama Story: Before they became Mr. & Mrs. POTUS, Barack and Michelle were just a couple young adults enjoying a date in Chicago. Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language, smoking, a violent image and a drug reference Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Kubo and the Two Strings Starring: Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey Story: A young boy embarks on a journey to obtain a magical suit of armor that was once worn by his late father. Rated: PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Ben-Hur Starring: No one you know Story: A prince travels across land and sea after being falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, a member of the Roman army. Rated: PG-13 for sequences of violence and disturbing images Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender War Dogs Starring: Miles Teller, Jonah Hill Story: The true story of two young men who are contracted by members of the Pentagon to become arms dealers. Rated: R for language throughout, drug use and some sexual references Verdict: Your movie review could go here. Tweet us @scweekender Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company offers peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, and additional dialysis therapies and services; intravenous therapies, infusion pumps, administration sets, and drug reconstitution devices; remixed and oncology drug platforms, inhaled anesthesia and critical care products and pharmacy compounding services; parenteral nutrition therapies and related products; biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adhesion prevention; and continuous renal replacement therapies and other organ support therapies focused in the intensive care unit. It also provides connected care solutions, including devices, software, communications, and integration technologies; integrated patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies to help diagnose, treat, and manage a various illness and diseases, including respiratory therapy, cardiology, vision screening, and physical assessment; surgical video technologies, tables, lights, pendants, precision positioning devices and other accessories. In addition, the company offers contracted services to various pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. Its products are used in hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors' offices, and patients at home under physician supervision. The company sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through independent distributors, drug wholesalers, and specialty pharmacy or other alternate site providers in approximately 100 countries. It has an agreement with Celerity Pharmaceutical, LLC to develop acute care generic injectable premix and oncolytic molecules. Baxter International Inc. was incorporated in 1931 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. Carnival Corporation & plc is a leisure travel company operating a fleet of cruise ships, hotels, and resorts with international destinations. Brands under the Carnival Corporation umbrella include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America, P&O Cruises, Seaborn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Cunard. The companys goal is to provide extraordinary vacations at an exceptional value. As of 2022, the company laid claim to nearly half of the global cruising market share with several new ships in the works. Carnival Cruise Line was launched in 1972 with one second-hand ship and a tank of fuel. The first port of call was San Juan, Puerto Rico, but soon more were added. The original growth strategy included a festive atmosphere, features and amenities unlike any other cruise line at the time. Slow to start, the growth strategy shifted into overdrive in 1980 when Carnival shocked the world by building its own ship. The Tropicale became an iconic name in the cruising industry and sparked a wave of shipbuilding that is still underway. The companys growth hit a new stride in 1987 following the IPO which floated 20% of the company on the open market. The proceeds from the IPO allowed the company to embark on a voyage of acquisition and now Carnival is the worlds largest travel and leisure business. Today, Carnival Corporations 87 ships visit approximately 700 ports worldwide and employ more than 120,000 people while serving more than 13 million guests annually for a total of 85 million passenger cruise days per year. Net revenue, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, peaked out at over $6.5 billion annually. Carnival Cruise Line is the companys largest brand serving guests on all coasts of North America. The brand's 22 ships make 1500 voyages per year with trips ranging from 2 days to 3 weeks and ports of call from the Caribbean to Alaska. The company's largest ship is named Panorama and can accommodate more than 4,000 passengers. Carnivals 9 brands provide access to a wide range of cruising styles and destinations including the Caribbean, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, England, and ports in Asia. The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida and has offices around the world. The company also has the distinction of being the only company included in both the S&P 500 and FTSE 250 indices. Do you ever look at a piece of content and feel a sad swell of nostalgia? It did so well back then, when it was first published. Maybe it even hit viral status. But the ravages of time did their dirty work, and before you know it the traffic has dropped off to nothing. The online community has moved on to the next big thing, leaving your content lonely and gathering digital dust. How to Revive Old Content Re-Packaging For New Content The usual recommendation is to re-package old content and create something new. For the record, I am 100% in favor of doing this. It is a great way to extend your ideas and get the most out of every single piece you publish. Re-packaging your content includes: Creating more blog posts from the original idea to expand on that idea. Making slideshows that give the basic points. Creating comics about the idea. Making infographics Recording videos Recording podcasts Any other way of making new media from the old But however great this method is, it cannot be applied to all old content. Oftentimes, it makes more sense to get old content rank high rather than using it to create new content. 4 Ways To Make Old Content New Again This isnt a complete list, but I have found these methods to be easier, and most fruitful. 1. Check Longer Keyword Phrases So maybe your content is struggling to rank for whatever keywords you optimized it for. Its time to find easier keywords! Find phrases that target the long form search queries. They usually have lower competition and are easier to get higher in search results for. Serpstat has a very cool feature letting you discover various alternatives to your current term called Cluster Research. It shows the list of closely related terms based on how similar their Google search results are. The more identical URLs rank for the provided phrases, the closer they are related. Its a great way to discover alternative terms to optimize your content which is struggling to rank. 2. Add Links to Older Content Internal links are not to be ignored. Whenever you write a new article for your blog, use every opportunity to link back to your old content where you discussed a related issue or explained a mentioned concept. That is a good little way to bring attention to old posts, and send readers on a journey down the rabbit hole of your blog. Having a strip of suggested posts on the bottom of each page is a good way to do that. However in-content links have been found to work better for click-through. Internal link building plugin is a good way to increase the number of in-content internal links to any articles you pick. Simply specify the words you want to be linked and the URLs to link to and the internal links will be added automatically. This is a great way to push your old content to rank higher. 3. Buff Up Your Content For Better Content Value I had a piece of content that did insanely well, and kept getting regular traffic more than two years after it was originally published. It was one of my better pieces of evergreen, if I do say so myself. But then all traffic started declining gradually. This is a good sign that your content needs an update. Longer content mentioning related concepts and entities seems to be easier to rank these days. Some SEO checklists will recommend content longer than 500 words. Heres a quick guide that recommends content of at least 300 words. I suggest focusing on creating in depth content instead of counting the words. So I went back to that piece, added more to buff it up with some valuable content, and guess what? Gradually it started ranking again, and my traffic returned. See Also: Drive Real Content Marketing Results with These Expert Tips There is a chance your content may be considered lacking value or outdated. So you could go back and add a bit more, make it more substantial, and your traffic could come back. It is certainly worth a try, and it worked for me. 4. Add Some Rich Snippets For Better Search Rich snippets are a great way to stand out in search engines now. For example, did you do a tool review in the past? You can go back and add a ratings rich snippet that will display the review author and the star ratings next to the search result. Rich snippets easily catch an eye of the user and trigger extra clicks. Google loves anything that improves search results interaction and rich snippets certainly improve clickability. All In One Schema.org Rich Snippets is a nice free plugin that helps you to easily add rich markup to your articles. Use its widget when editing any of your articles to add rich data to your content: Also, remember that Google wont pick up all the rich markup to display in search but it will pick up some and youll notice more clicks coming from search if it does. Do you have any tips on making that old content shiny and new on the ranking scale? Let us know in the comments. My husband and I have been Staples customers through our businesses since 1999. Why have we stuck with Staples for over 15 years? Its a convenient and cost-effective place to shop for office supplies, printers, office furniture and more. Despite being regular Staples shoppers, we hadnt done much with the Staples Print & Marketing Services that is, until recently. Staples challenged us to test out its Print & Marketing Services. They gave us a gift card. They put no restrictions on using the gift card other than asking us to do at least two projects one involving a straight-forward quick print project and one more advanced project using in-store assistance. Heres the report of our test. What is Staples Print & Marketing Services? Think of Staples Print & Marketing Services as a print shop dropped inside your local Staples store. You can walk up to the counter with your marketing collateral on a USB thumb drive. Lets say you bring in a brochure on your thumb drive that youve already had designed. Then you pick your paper, quantity and other options, and have your marketing materials printed professionally. The in-store option is especially helpful when you want a human being to explain choices or assist with anything unique about your project. But Staples offers more than what you see in the store. Theres an online component, too and thats also attractive for small businesses. Lets say you have an important meeting coming up with a new prospect. You realize you are out of business cards or need a special marketing piece fast. It could be midnight, yet you can go online and create those materials using any of the many Staples marketing templates. Or you can upload designs that your designer has already created for you. Then you electronically submit them to be printed at your local Staples. If youre in a hurry, Staples advertises same day printing for many projects, provided you place your order before 2:00 pm. Or if you have a little more time, you can have printed items shipped to your office. In addition to the quick print options in the store, Staples can also send your project out to a production facility for printing. This is a great option if you require advanced binding, special paper or special finishes. So depending on your needs, your timing, your design choices and your budget, you have multiple options with Staples Print & Marketing Services. Our Projects We tried out three projects. We created two sets of business cards using an online business card template. We had them printed on glossy premium paper at the store. We printed some copies of our digital magazine. Normally the magazine is read online, but weve been asked for print samples occasionally. We took the opportunity to print some copies to better explain what we do as a business. (Yes, even as a digital publication it helps to have something tangible to show.) This project turned out to involve more than printing because of some font problems in our PDF file Ill explain later how Staples fixed the file. We set up and printed a postcard to use as marketing collateral at events using our own professional design. Our Results of Using Staples Print & Marketing Services How were our results? Overall, Staples Print & Marketing Services exceeded our expectations. We tried the online services and also visited our local Staples in Naples, Florida twice during the project. Here are seven takeaways from our challenge: 1. Multiple options One of the best things about Staples Print & Marketing Services is that you have multiple options. If youre a do-it-yourselfer, you can design your own marketing materials online and even get same day printing. For simple items like business cards or a marketing postcard, entrepreneurs will appreciate this. If you prefer to have your marketing items professionally designed, you can get them printed at Staples and it will do them justice. And if you want hands-on help from a human being to explain options and make sure your materials come out great, you can go to your local Staples store and get personalized help, too. 2. Speedy Quick Print and Same Day Printing Need quick print items? Staples is very fast. We essentially got 24-hour turnaround for our complex project. We received our order a day faster than had been quoted to us. For the business cards, we submitted the order online at 2:30 pm and got a call that the order was complete at 6:30 pm the same day! 3. Printing Professionals Who Actually Help You Are you ever frustrated thinking you cant get personalized help at a chain store? Well this is not the case at Staples. The Staples Print & Marketing Services in our local store was staffed with people who are knowledgeable about printing. We dealt with two different Staples personnel in the Print & Marketing Services area. Heres where they beat my expectations: they caught and fixed a problem with some fonts at no extra charge. The PDF of our magazine is a very large file and some of the letters in the header fonts showed up as error marks due to a problem in the PDF file itself (the large file might have been corrupted when I downloaded it). The Staples Print supervisor caught the issue through printing a sample and called us. When we first got the call, my heart sank. I feared wed have to delay a few days while we requested a different file from the designer. But I neednt have worried. The Staples supervisor requested a Word document showing the underlying content. After we emailed the Word doc, she fixed the messed-up header fonts on multiple pages of the PDF. A few hours later we got another call that our print job was complete. Hows that for service? 4. Marketing Templates That Prevent You From Making Mistakes For two of our projects, we used the Staples online marketing templates system. Heres why I was impressed: the output looked professional, the system was very easy to use, AND it kept me from making mistakes. First, we used the business card templates that qualified for same day printing. We chose a two-sided business card template, uploaded our logo and voila. In 15 minutes we had created and proofread our business cards. Everything was properly lined up. Even better, the template software prevented me from distorting the logo (i.e., stretching one side out of aspect ratio alignment), something I inadvertently seem to do without realizing it until I see the printed item. Second, we used the Upload your Own Design option for an 8.5 x 5.5 inch postcard that wed had professionally designed. When I tried to upload the design file initially, again the Staples online system saved us. It pointed out that our image size was too small and therefore would not look good when printed. It also alerted us that our words and logo were too close to the edges of the postcard, and that if we wanted the postcard trimmed around the edges, a corner of our logo might be cut off. I was able to send a screenshot showing the problems (below) to our designer and he turned around a revised image file. 5. Rewards and Discounts Weve been members of the Staples Rewards program for years the more you purchase the more savings you get. Staples Rewards pays members 2 percent back and gives other discounts. We got a nice rewards discount of 20 percent on our print order. 6. Business Advantage By talking in person with the Print & Marketing Services supervisor, we learned about another Staples program called Business Advantage. The Print supervisor signed us up on the spot for a Business Advantage membership. As I understand the program, it offers customized solutions for businesses with 10+ people working in them. Under the program, more than one person in your organization can place orders under your business account. You are also assigned a representative as a single point of contact. 7. Cost Effective Last but not least, prices are cost effective. Heres one comparison: Our last order of 500 business cards at a competing online provider cost over $50.00 (after discounts, but adding back in $14 for shipping), pre-tax. The same type of cards (double sided and glossy fronts) cost $39.99 for 500 cards at Staples, pre-tax. There was no shipping charge as I picked them up at the store which is five minutes away. What We Didnt Put to the Test I would be remiss if I didnt mention one thing that we did not put to the test. And that is: printing a large magazine on a regular production basis (i.e., monthly). Dont mistake me I was happy with the limited copies of our magazine printed at Staples. But keep in mind, I opted for a small number of copies to use as samples. I really didnt test Staples on producing thousands of copies of a printed magazine of 48 or 52 pages, month in and month out. Staples does offer saddle stitching and glossy heavyweight paper the kind of treatment a magazine in production deserves. But Id want to delve deeper into such advanced options and that was beyond the scope of this test which focused on quick print items and trying out Staples marketing templates. Were We Happy? So, were we happy? Definitely. For small businesses, Staples Print & Marketing Services is a fast, reasonably priced and professional option for getting quality marketing materials and business cards created and printed. If thats your goal, you cant go wrong. Disclosure: Just to be clear, this is a sponsored communication. Weve been Staples customers for over 15 years in our businesses, long before any relationship with Staples. But Staples underwriting compensation of this test made it possible for me to take the time to try multiple aspects of the Staples Print and Marketing Services, and write about it for our audience here at Small Business Trends. WASHINGTON SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Sept. 21, 2016)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is being awardedfor modification P00010 to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-14-D-0011) to exercise an option for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of approximately 200 T-45 aircraft based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Mississippi; NAS Kingsville, Texas; NAS Pensacola, Florida; and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Services to be provided include sustaining engineering, supply and government property management, and procurement of associated parts and materials required to prepare the aircraft for approximately 320 launchers per day across four sites, which fly an estimated total of 75,000 hours each year. Work will be performed in Kingsville, Texas (48 percent); Meridian, Mississippi (44 percent); Pensacola, Florida (7 percent); and Patuxent River, Maryland (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2017. Funds will not be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity., is being awarded acost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the design, development, manufacture, integration, demonstration, and test of the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System. This contract will utilize and continue development of eight existing engineering development models (EDMs); and deliver two additional EDMs to support fleet early operational capability requirements for F-35B/C and MQ-25 test and initial operational requirements aboard nuclear aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. In addition, this contract will deliver weapons replaceable assemblies, a technical data package, and provide developmental test and operational test support. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California (71 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (26 percent); Marlborough, Massachusetts (2 percent); and Indianapolis, Indiana (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2022. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,900,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0052), is being awarded acost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the design, development, manufacture, integration, demonstration, and test of the AN/SPN-50(V)1 radar system for air traffic control aboard Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. This contract provides for the delivery of three engineering development models. Work will be performed in Gothenburg, Sweden (47.1 percent); East Syracuse, New York (35.6 percent); Exeter, New Hampshire (17.2 percent); and Moorestown, New Jersey (.1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,500,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposals; two offers were received. The, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-5000)., is being awarded amodification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00174-15-D-0003) to exercise option one for Man Transportable Robotic System MK 1 depot level repair parts, spares, and depot services to include conversions and reconditioning. The work will be performed in Bedford, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by September 2017. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The, is the contracting activity.(Sept. 21, 2016)Saab Defense and Security USA has received an order from the U.S. Navy to provide the AN/SPN-50 (V)1 Shipboard Air Traffic Radar. The first award for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the program includes the initial procurement of three radars over a four-year period.The radar will be deployed to the US Navy's Aircraft Carrier (CVN) and Amphibious Assault (LH)Class ships, replacing the currently deployed AN/SPN-43C Air Traffic Radar.The SPN-50 system supports the deployment, sustainment and operation of aviation assets by providing aircraft position, radar signal, and weather data. Air traffic controllers use this data for air traffic control services, such as aircraft sequencing and separation, airspace identification and containment, safety alerts, traffic advisories, and landing guidance."The U.S. Navy is increasingly called upon to support missions involving manned and unmanned aviation operations. With the SPN-50, air traffic controllers can support joint coalition forces across the full range of military operations in all weather conditions," says Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab Defense and Security USA.Saab is a world leader in air traffic management as well as in military radar and sensor technology. The SPN-50 program allows Saab to leverage its knowledge, skills and capabilities from both domains."Saab's naval radars are a proven success with the U.S. Navy. Our AN/SPS-77 radar is currently deployed aboard the Navy's Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship and we look forward to a continued partnership with the new SPN-50 program," continues Mr. Smith.The AN/SPN-50 system acquisition, deployment and sustainment is managed by Naval Air Systems Command's Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office. The office is the Naval Aviation Enterprise's Program Office for all Navy and Marine Corps Air Traffic Management Systems.Saab Defense and Security USA LLC delivers advanced technology and systems to United States armed forces and other government agencies. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, the company has business units and local employees in four states. Saab Defense and Security USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saab Group.Saab Group serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers' changing needs. Tourissa Alcindor, age 28. (Photo provided by Office of the State Fire Marshal) ST. MARY'S COUNTY, Md. (Sept. 21, 2016)Deputy State Fire Marshals charged Tourissa Alcindor, age 28, after sheriff's office deputies apprehended her on a Malicious Destruction of Property charge. A previous arrest warrant was on file from the Office of the State Fire Marshal concerning multiple fires set outside an occupied dwelling located at 20913 Coronet Place in Lexington Park on September 18, 2016.At approximately 3:45 a.m., an occupant of the home awakened to the odor of smoke and discovered smoldering debris outside the front door of the dwelling. Additional small fires were located in multiple locations around the exterior of the home as well. The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department quickly responded to ensure the small fires were properly extinguished. Damage to the structure was estimated at $2,000.A joint investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office revealed Alcindor was responsible for setting the fires. Her whereabouts were unknown at the time of the investigation and an arrest warrant was obtained. She located yesterday and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and promptly served her warrant for arrest. She faces charges of: Attempted 1st Degree Murder, 1st Degree Arson, 1st Degree Assault, Threat of Arson and Violation of a Protective Order. Photo provided by Calvert Co. Republican Central Committee. HOLLYWOOD, Md. Two Donald Trump for President campaign signs were recently reported damaged in Calvert. The Calvert County Republican Central Committee is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone damaging a Republican candidate's campaign sign.For one sign on Route 4 in Huntingtown, the letter T and P were blackened out by a marker. The other damaged sign was on Route 231 in Prince Frederick and had its T and P cut out. Both signs were four feet by eight feet large and were on private property. The central committee has fixed both signs by replacing and repainting the letters."I understand that in a highly polarized election, people get frustrated and take actions," said Greg Ostrander, chairman of Calvert's Republican Central Committee. But Ostrander said he wouldn't support the act of anyone defacing a candidate's campaign signs, regardless of whether it's a sign for a Republican and Democrat running for office.Calvert has about two-dozen large Trump signs and 700 small signs all over the county, according to Ostrander."Everyone has a right to their political opinion," Ostrander said, adding that disagreeing with someone doesn't mean they can hinder other peoples' freedom of political speech.Ostrander said he hopes this reward would give residents incentives to monitor and report such behavior and stop people from doing it again.Last week's incident is the first time a political candidate's sign being vandalized in this election cycle. The act of damaging or stealing a campaign sign, however, is nothing new.County Commissioner Mike Hart said he lost more than a dozen signs when he ran for commissioner in 2014. At the time, he also gave out magnet bumper stickers to supporters. Often times people came to his liquor store in Lusby and asked him for a new bumper sticker because the one they had on the car got lost."Those were heavy magnet bumper stickers that can't slide off," Hart said. "It's sad when stuff like that happens. Men and women die for the right to vote."Calvert Public Schools' Board of Education Member Kelly McConkey experienced similar issues when he ran for school board in 2012 and then for commissioner in 2014."It happens every time," McConkey said. His signs were never vandalized, but some got stolen. He said he lost about five or six large signs in 2014.The cost could add up quickly if a candidate has a few large signs missing, McConkey said. The small yard signs cost about $4.50 a piece and large signs of four feet by eight feet cost about $80 a piece.The motivation behind vandalizing a political sign may not always be politically charged."The last time this happened was two years ago," said Todd Ireland from the Sheriff's Office."They were high-school-age kids who did it as a prank," Ireland said. "In lieu of being charged, the parents of the children agreed it would be best to make them replace the signs they destroyed."According to the Sheriff's Office, charges for damaging or defacing political campaign signs is destruction of property. If the signs were stolen, the individual responsible would be charged with theft. GREENBELT, Md. (Sept. 22, 2016)U.S. District Judge George Jarrod Hazel sentenced Paul Raymond Gray, a/k/a "PJ," age 35, of Lusby, Maryland, today to 66 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine, two counts of distribution of crack cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On September 6, 2016, Judge Hazel sentenced Kamau Muata Lumumba, age 53, also of Indian Head to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in the crack cocaine conspiracy.The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ExplosivesBaltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement AdministrationWashington Field Division; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George's County Police Department; Chief Stanley Johnson, of the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George's County Division; Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry; St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron; and Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans.According to their plea agreements and other court documents, from August 2011 through June 2015, Gray conspired with others, including Lumumba, to distribute crack cocaine. During the course of the conspiracy, Gray obtained powder cocaine from a number of sources, including through an intermediary whom Gray and Lumumba knew as "Jazz" or "Jazzy." Gray generally purchased one or two ounce quantities of cocaine several times a month. Gray used the powder cocaine to manufacture crack in the kitchen of the mobile home the he owned, using cutting agents to increase the volume of crack for sale. Over the course of the conspiracy several co-conspirators, including Lumumba, lived in the mobile home with Gray. Gray, Lumumba and the other co-conspirators who lived at the mobile home distributed powder and crack cocaine from that location to a variety of customers. When Gray was not at the mobile home Lumumba regularly sold crack for Gray and received a portion of the profits for his assistance. On occasion Lumumba also transported money and picked up drugs for Gray related to their drug trafficking.Gray admitted that he also possessed firearms and ammunition during the conspiracy, although he was prohibited from doing so due to several previous felony convictions in Charles County, including convictions for assault and unlawful possession of firearms.According to Lumumba's plea agreement, on May 22, 2015, after Gray learned that his drug trafficking was the subject of an active investigation, Gray called Lumumba and instructed him to remove incriminating evidence from the trailer and surrounding property, which Lumumba did. The evidence removed included containers in which Gray stored and cooked crack cocaine and several scales used by Gray and Lumumba to weigh their narcotics. After removing the incriminating evidence, Lumumba moved out of the trailer and fled Charles County in an effort to avoid apprehension by law enforcement. In August 2015, Lumumba learned that he and Gray had been indicted and Lumumba continued to make efforts to evade law enforcement. On April 14, 2016, the U.S. Marshals tracked down and arrested Lumumba.United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, DEA, Prince George's County Police Department, Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George's County Division, and the Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert County Sheriffs' Offices for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael T. Packard and Leah J. Bressack, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. The new Maryland Proud license plate. GLEN BURNIE, Md. (Sept. 22, 2016)Beginning Monday, September 26, Marylanders can display their pride in their home state as the Maryland Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) rolls out the new Maryland Proud license plate. Governor Larry Hogan unveiled the new design last month, which prominently features the state flag. The new standard-issue plate is available for all passenger cars, SUV's trucks, motorcycles and multipurpose vehicles.The new plate meets all state standards and has passed all law-enforcement testing for readability. The Maryland Proud plate will replace the War of 1812 plate, but customers who want to keep their existing plates do not need to get the new plate. Those who want to replace their existing license plates will pay the current $20 replacement cost. Registration renewal costs remain unchanged. All vehicles purchased on/after September 26 will be issued the new plate unless customers want to transfer their existing plates to their vehicles."We anticipate that the beautifully designed Maryland Proud plates will be very popular and strongly encourage our customers to order them online," said MVA Administrator Christine E. Nizer.To order the new Maryland Proud plate after September 26, visit the MVA website at mva.maryland.gov and click Online Services. The new plates will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.All Maryland license plates are manufactured by Maryland Correctional Enterprises, a division of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. MVA issues approximately 740,000 sets of license plates per year. Earlier this year, the MVA launched the new Maryland-themed driver's license and identification card. The new cards feature multiple layers of security to help prevent identity theft and fraud and are one of the most secure products in the nation.View the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to learn more: www.mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/press-releases/2016/MD-PROUD-LICENSE-PLATE-FAQs.pdf A cultural exchange delegation from the Tibet autonomous region wrapped up a three-day visit to Estonia on Tuesday that boosted exchanges with the Baltic country. Jinmeiwangcuo, head of the delegation and the director of the news office of the regional government, said that during its stay in Estonia the delegation met with parliament members, government officials, experts and scholars. He said that from the delegation the Estonian representatives learned about Tibet's development, inheritance and the preservation of its ethnic culture, as well as freedom of religion. The delegation also talked about the reincarnation system of living Buddhas, industrial development, income increases for farmers and herdsmen, the protection of the ecological environment and other issues. Mailis Reps, chairman of the Estonia-China parliamentary group in Estonia's parliament, expressed her keen interest in Tibet's development and her wish to visit Tibet. Officials from the Estonian Ministry of Culture held in-depth discussions with the delegation about cultural exchanges in the coming five years. The delegation arrived in Estonia on Sunday after visiting the Czech Republic and will later visit Latvia. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (Sept. 22, 2016)State police report that a four vehicle crash in Upper Marlboro yesterday resulted in one death. Nicole Antoinette Watkins-Barnette, 36, of Glen Burnie, suffered traumatic injuries from the collision. Watkins was pronounced deceased at Prince George's Hospital. The crash occurred at 12:44 p.m. at Northbound Pennsylvania Ave., north of Woodyard Road in Upper Marlboro. The crash involved the following vehicles and individuals: Vehicle 1: 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by William Eugene Grove, age 49, Oak Hill, Virginia 20171; Vehicle 2: 2002 Infiniti Q45, driven by Armondo Lynch, age 38, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772 and passenger Nicole Antoinette Watkins-Barnette, age 36, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21060 (DECEASED); Vehicle 3: 2003 Mercedes E320, driven by Thomas Maurice Hutchinson, age 67, and passenger Zelphia Ann Hutchinson, age 65, both of Clinton, Maryland 20735; and Vehicle 4: a 2013 Toyota Tundra, driven by Huy Nhat Tran, age 50, Lorton, Virginia 22079. Troopers from the Forestville Barrack, upon arrival on the scene, found that the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado had collided into the rear of the 2002 Infiniti Q45 in lane 2. The Infiniti collided into the 2003 Mercedes E320 causing the Mercedes to collide into the rear of the 2013 Toyota Tundra, which was hauling a trailer with a boat. The driver and passenger of the Infiniti, Armondo Lynch and Nicole Watkins-Barnette, sustained serious injuries from the collision and were transported to Prince George's Hospital for treatment. Ms. Watkins-Barnette succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Her next of kin were notified of her death at their residence. Preliminary investigation revealed that Grove, driving the Silverado, was traveling northbound in lane 2 on Pennsylvania Avenue south of Woodyard Road. Grove failed to control his vehicle and subsequently collided into the rear of the stopped vehicles in lane 2 on northbound Pennsylvania Avenue north of Woodyard Road. A collision reconstructionist responded to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. State Highway Administration assisted with the lane closure. All northbound lanes were closed for approximately three hours. Nick Berry didnt decide to install parking meters behind his restaurant, Courtyard Cafe on Wilton Drive, but hes paying the price literally. Berry estimates hes lost $10,000 since his landlord started charging for parking last month, a decision he and the other business owners say they had no control over. But despite having nothing to do with the decision, and working with the other business owners to get the owner to allow one hour of free parking for customers, Berry is being blamed by at least some people. In an anonymous letter mailed to Berry, a group of once loyal Courtyard customers wrote that they would no longer spend money at the restaurant because of the parking. The author of the anonymous letter said they were a regular customer at Courtyard for years and eats two or three meals a week. . . . this is the last straw they wrote. Our group and Im talking about 15 or more people are avoiding your cafe as well as the other businesses held captive by your landlord. We can go to many other cafes and diners with free parking. How can one enjoy a glass of wine, appetizers, one of your outstanding special meals followed by dessert and coffee in SIXTY minutes? Your food will be missed, but you are not the only choice for delicious meals. Your [expletive] up landlord has put the nail in the coffin as far as we are concerned. Berry denied it took most people more than an hour to eat at his restaurant but said its disheartening to suffer consequences for something out of his control. Why some people would not support us during this time for something the landlord did is beyond me. He also said he does much more for the community than many other restaurants. [Do they] support our community in any way? Do they do the 30 plus fundraisers a year and give back to our community? But not everyone blames Berry. Some commenters on Courtyards Facebook thanked him and the other owners for negotiating the free hour of parking. Shawn and Nick, thank you for arranging this for your customers. Many of us were concerned about what our options would be for parking. We are very happy with this solution, wrote Frank Bailey. To get free parking back without restrictions, Berry said that he and the owners of New York Grilled Cheese and Castelli Real Estate Services are suing the owner of the shopping center. The decision by the owner to charge for parking, including those with handicap permits, also resulted in an angry response. Iraq War veteran and Oakland Park Commission candidate Scott Herman said its disrespectful to charge disabled veterans and others with handicapped parking permits for parking. A representative of the owner said he is unable to comment on the matter. In his final address to the United Nations, U.S. President Barack Obama called for an end to the persecution of gay people. Speaking Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Obama said social traditions can be respected and practiced without violence or dehumanizing another group of people. I do not believe progress is possible if our desire to preserve our identities gives way to an impulse to dehumanize or dominate another group, Obama said. If our religion leads us to persecute those of another faith, if we jail or beat people who are gay, if our traditions lead us to prevent girls from going to school, if we discriminate on the basis of race or tribe or ethnicity, then the fragile bonds of civilization will fray. The world is too small, we are too packed together, for us to be able to resort to those old ways of thinking. The outgoing President said a collapse of colonialism and communism style governments around the world is bringing freedom to a new generation. In remote corners of the world, citizens are demanding respect for the dignity of all people no matter their gender, or race, or religion, or disability, or sexual orientation, and those who deny others dignity are subject to public reproach, Obama said. First elected in 2008 over fellow U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain and subsequently re-elected in 2012 over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Obama left no doubts as to his governing philosophy and legacy. I recognize not every country is going to follow the same model of governance, Obama said. I do not think America can or should impose our system of government on other countries. But there appears to be a growing contest between authoritarianism and liberalism right now. And I want everyone to understand, I am not neutral in that contest. I believe in a liberal political order an order built not just through elections and representative government, but also through respect for human rights and civil society, and independent judiciaries and the rule of law. Obama mentioned several of the 193 U.N. member states by name and directed challenging statements to some, including Russia. In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force, Obama said. On the homefront, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blasted Obamas speech via Facebook, chalking the occasion up as a missed opportunity. Mr. Obama would have done much better to use this opportunity to advance an American agenda, not a global one, and praise our nation as a model of liberty and tolerance, Cruz wrote. He should have called out oppressive regimes from the Russian Federation to the Peoples Republic of China for denying their citizens basic political freedoms. Cruz campaigned for the Republican partys Presidential nomination, finishing second to New York businessman Donald J. Trump. At the GOP convention in Cleveland, Cruz drew the ire of party faithful when he declined to endorse Trump, instead asking Republicans to vote your conscience. The southern tip of Italy is visible in this image taken by the Expedition 49 crew aboard the International Space Station on Sept. 17, 2016. Credit: NASA. NASA The United States and Russia are working to get a pair of cargo ships ready for a mid-October launch schedule to the International Space Station. While the new shipments are being processed, the Expedition 49 crew conducted eye checks, wore carbon dioxide monitors and prepared for a fuel combustion experiment. The U.S. company Orbital ATK is targeting the Oct. 9-13 time frame for the launch of its sixth Commercial Resupply Services mission to the space station. Its Cygnus spacecraft will be scheduled to launch atop an Antares rocket from Wallops Island, Va., after successfully completing operational milestones and technical reviews. The next resupply mission will be Oct. 20 when the Progress 65 cargo craft launches from Kazakhstan on a two-day trip to the space station. The new Russian space freighter will replace the Progress 63 after it undocks Oct. 14 from the rear port of the Zvezda service module. Back on orbit, astronauts Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi paired up for routine eye exams today with remote support from ground personnel. Rubins, from NASA, also wore personal devices to demonstrate the ability to monitor a crew members exposure to carbon dioxide aboard a spacecraft. Onishi, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, continued setting up gear to begin the Group Combustion experiment next week. That study will explore how flames fed by fuel droplets spread in microgravity. On-Orbit Status Report Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber Adapter Plate Attachment: FE-5 installed the Combustion Chamber adapter plate in the MSPR Work Volume. Next week, the crew will be installing and with ground support, initiating the Group Combustion experiment. The Group Combustion investigation tests a theory that fuel sprays change from partial to group combustion as flames spread across a cloud of droplets. In the Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack in the Kibo module, droplets of decane, a component of gasoline or kerosene, are arranged randomly on thin-fiber lattice points, and the flame and droplet positions and temperature distribution are measured as the flame spreads. Microgravity blocks convection, which on Earth would quickly disperse the droplets and combustion products before such measurements could be made. Personal Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitor: FE-6 donned four Personal CO2 Monitors, wearing them for several hours attached to various locations on the crews clothes. The crewmember then doffed the monitors, downloaded the data, powered off and stowed the monitors. The Personal CO2 Monitor demonstrates a new capability to continuously monitor the astronauts immediate surroundings on the ISS. All human spacecraft must be designed with environmental control systems that remove CO2 from the air that their crews breathe, but the space environment can still lead to pockets of CO2 that are difficult to detect and remove. The Personal CO2 Monitor demonstrates a system capable of unobtrusively collecting and downlinking individual crew members CO2 exposure for weeks to months. The Personal CO2 Monitor also demonstrates Modular Wearable Architecture Base Board, allowing rapid certification of future wearable devices. Story Time From Space: FE-6 was scheduled to record a demonstration using a balance scale to show how a balance can be used to compare mass in a free-fall/microgravity environment. The setup of the activity ran longer than expected, and the crew will perform the actual experiment in the morning. Story Time From Space combines science literacy outreach with simple demonstrations recorded aboard the ISS. Crew members read five science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related childrens books in orbit, and complete simple science concept experiments. Crew members videotape themselves reading the books and completing demonstrations. Video and data collected during the demonstrations are downlinked to the ground and posted in a video library with accompanying educational materials. Eye Exams: FE-5 and FE-6 assisted each other in performing routine eye exams using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and fundoscopy hardware. OCT is used to measure retinal thickness, volume, and retinal nerve fiber layer, and the fundoscope is used to obtain images of the retinal surface. Todays Planned Activities All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted. In Flight Maintenance Starboard Crew Quarters Light Installation JAXA Video Taking Part 6 JEM OA-5 Trash Preparation Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations Subject EHS Carbon Dioxide Monitor Data Download Biochemical urine test Regenegation of Micropurification unit (???) ?2 cartridge (begin) Manufacturing Device Print Removal, Clean and Stow Multi Omics FOS Preparation Meteor Hard Drive Swapout PILOT-T. Preparation for the experiment Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Combustion Chamber Adapter Plate Attachment. PILOT-T. Experiment Ops. Manufacturing Device Velcro Attach Environmental Health System (EHS) Coliform Water Sample Analysis Crew Arrival Prep PILOT-?. Closeout Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Setup Filling ??? (KO?) for Elektron Story Time from Space Balance Demonstration Story Time From Space Historical Photo Clean Bench (CB) Valve Checkout (Deferred) ??? maintenance Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System O2 Repress Part 1 Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Exam Cleaning of ??1 circulation fan mesh screen Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT Stow Personal CO2 Monitor Crew Survey Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System O2 Repress Part 2 Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Exam Fundoscope SPLANH. Preparation for experiment Health Maintenance System (HMS) CMO Fundoscope Health Maintenance System (HMS) Fundoscope Tear Down and Stow Completed Task List Items Node 1 Dragon Unpack EVA Tool Stow Part 4 (Active) Ground Activities All activities are on schedule unless otherwise noted. PCA Repress from NORS O2 Tank BEAM SSC software update TRRJ Survey Three-Day Look Ahead: Thursday, 09/22: Ultrasound Scan, Water Hydraulics Components R&R, MMS sample, Increment 48 Safety Video Follow-Up Friday, 09/23: Plant RNA, Cubesat Deployer Removal from MPEP, HRF Resupply, Lab MCA Pumpdown Saturday, 09/24: Weekly Housekeeping, Crew Off Duty QUICK ISS Status Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [???] 1 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1) Off [???] 2 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Idle Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Operate Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Standby Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up Here we are, together at last, sharing with you the final cafe featured in our 2016 Build-Outs of Summer series. Its been a whirlwind tour around the country together over the last few months, sharing the thrill of the build and checking out new coffee stuff happening hither, dither and yon. No build was too small, no project too ambitiousweve had a wonderful time sharing these build-outs with you, and expect a fun by-the-numbers post-mortem look back at the series coming soon. But for now, a final build. Milwaukee is an imperfect city full of some of the nicest people youll ever meet, and home to a coffee scene thats light-years ahead of most cities its size. Add to that roster the all-new Pilcrow Coffee, a roaster-retailer with big plans for a combined storefront & industrial warehouse space. Theyre stocking it with state-of-the-art gear and will even be operating a fleet of cold brew tricyclesonce the weathers nice, were assuming. From Milwaukee to your screen, and from all of us at Sprudge, thanks for being a part of this years Build-Outs of Summer series, and lets take a look at one more together. This is Pilcrow Coffee of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As told to Sprudge by Ryan Hoban of Pilcrow Coffee. For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company? Pilcrow Coffee is a new coffee roaster in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our focus will be to establish direct-trade relationship coffees and we also want to have a nitro cold-coffee bike arm of our business. Can you tell us a bit about the new space? We currently are building out a 700-square-foot storefront space that will be utilized as a training bar for wholesale clients along with being open to the public in a very limited capacity. We also just secured a grant from the city of Milwaukee to build-out our roasting operations behind our retail storefront in a 1800-square-foot industrial warehouse. The plan is to connect the two spaces once the rear is completed. Whats your approach to coffee? We like single-origin, well-developed, transparent, relationship coffee. Our approach is to do our best not to screw up all the hard work put in by farmers and producers, but to roast and serve their coffees carefully and thoughtfully. Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up? We purchased a single-group Slayer from a former wholesale client of the owner while he worked at another roaster in Chicago. We have two 20-gallon cold coffee brewing kettles from Spike Brewing here in Milwaukee. We have two white Mahlkonig EK 43 grinders for filtered coffee and a Mahlkonig Peak for espresso duties. We also have a FETCO batch brewer and a BUNN hot water tower. Oh, and we will have two nitro trikes cruising the Brew City streets in those rare moments when it is warm enough to ride. We also have it planned to purchase a 12-kilogram Probat for our roasting operations. Whats your hopeful target opening date/month? Front of house is hopefully going to be up and running by October 1. The roasting space will hopefully be finished for us by January 1. Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention? We have been working with Megan Jurvis to develop the branding guide and ensure we are staying true to what we want to be and communicate. Photos courtesy of Ryan Hoban. August is a popular month for tourists to visit Paris, but coffee-loving travelers will find their cups running rather dry while the majority of specialty coffee shops close up for weeks on end. Signs posted on doors (or with increasing frequency, on Instagram) note varying days of closure throughout the sweaty end of summer. In fact, other than the major tourist destinations, many of Paris cafes and boutiques will go dark for much of the month. What gives? These August closures and the subsequent rentree in September are an old and valued tradition in Paris. This time off is so engrained in Parisian culture that residents are expected to leave, and many residents expect that shops will close too. Unlike the US, where customers generally have an expectation of reliable year-round availability, the opposite is true in Paris. David Nigel Flynn, one of the owners of Belleville Brulerie and its remarkable Parisian sidewalk cafe, La Fontaine de Belleville, explains: Theres an expectation like, You should close. You need a vacation too. Its actually really hard to operate a business in August, Flynn mused. And it makes sensehere we are, moving into fall in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you havent had a few days off yet, chances are youre punchy, tense, and feeling a bit stressed. Compare that to our Parisian cafe friendstheyre in a groove now, fully rested and ready to face the changing season with joie de vivre and je ne sais quoi. A variety of realities contributes to this Parisian tradition, as Flynn explained to me. He summed up the decision as containing three major factors, all of which feed into one another: The first was that wholesalers close. Three of our main suppliers closed, and I think thats pretty typical, Flynn said, ticking off their baker, their charcuterie supplier, and their produce vendor. There are possible work arounds so a shop can stay open, but as Flynn says, owners cant just roll along through August without planning. After all, to have a cafe in Paris without charcuteriewhat kind of life is this? Meanwhile, Parisians are also leaving the city en masse. Eventually the scales tip and there stops being enough clientele coming in to support a business. Flynn called the drop in clientele at La Fontaine during August precipitous. Tourist-facing businesses dont experience this drop as much and can continue through August, but cafe culture in Paris is largely built around neighborhoods, not tourists. People mainly go to their local cafe, so when residents go away on holiday there arent a lot of new people coming in to continue that income flow. Between the additional waste and the lack of clientele, it costs many shops more to stay open than to close. Finally, vacations are a right in France; businesses are required to give all employees five weeks of paid time off. Time off is not something French employees dream about taking someday, but is regularly taken. The question is not if employees will take time off, but how and when. (And where to visit next.) The nature of running a cafe can make giving extended time off hard on the business. If someone is gone, his or her work cant just go undone; someone has to be behind the counter. Flynn points out that its actually a savvy business decision to close: Instead of having to cover shifts while someones vacationing, its advantageous to give everyone some of [those required five weeks] in a big chunk and cut down on the stress of replacements. The cycle of residents leaving Paris and cafes closing is a positive feedback loop; the less people there are to serve, the more likely shops are to close. But some shops benefit from all these closures. Fondation Cafe in the third arrondissement didnt close in August. Owner Chris Nielson kept Fondation open because theres still a bunch of people in Paris and they need coffee. Sounds logical to us. Fondation faced the same decisions Belleville did, and went into August knowing it was not going to be a money-maker of a month. Nielson shrugged as he explained, we were going to lose money either way, but that staying open worked better for them. They scaled back hours to save some money and let everyone relax a bit. Its good for yourself to take a break, Nielson insists. And the nearly empty relaxed atmosphere of Paris in August is exactly that. Closing up for a couple weeks of truly worry-free vacation is an attractive prospect. But this Parisian habit is very much a product of its environment: The limitations of French employment and the culture surrounding vacation and the rentree both force the hands of cafes and also make the time off possible. Without the required paid vacation for employees, it would be the height of irresponsibility for an owner to bail on their team for a month. On the other hand, US shops that face serious losses in their own hot and sweaty months of the year may want to consider whether it makes more financial sense to give everyone paid time off than try to keep running. Its not a particularly American thought, but you know what? Everyone needs a little vacation now and again. Valorie Clark (@TheValorieClark) is a freelance journalist based in Texas. Read more Valorie Clark on Sprudge. Occupied Smara, September 21, 2016 (SPS) - the Moroccan occupying authorities has brutally dispersed a peaceful demonstration of a group of marginalized young Sahrawi demanding their right to work and a decent life and to benefit from the wealth of their country, reported Sahrawi human rights source. According to the same source, the occupying authorities attacked the demonstrators in the streets of the city leaving fear among the citizens. It is not the first time that the Moroccan repressive authoritie deals with the Sahrawi legitimate demands for self-determination and freedom. It should be recalled that, SPS 125/090/TRA Third generation horseman and longtime trainer Kenneth (Ken) Pollard, 62, of Ilderton, Ont. passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Victoria Hospital London after a short battle with cancer. Ken was a devoted dad to his two favourite girls Brooke (Scott) of Milton, Ont. and Courtney (Ryan) of Ilderton, Ont. Predeceased by his parents Cecil and Florence Pollard. Ken was an avid animal lover and his passion for horses and horse racing will live on through his girls. As per Ken's request, cremation has taken place. A small private family service and internment will take place at Kincardine Cemetary, Kincardine, Ont at a later date. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Ken Pollard. Officials from the Delaware County Fair have issued a statement on the scratch of I Said Diamonds from the 2016 Jugette. "I Said Diamonds was scratched from todays Jugette by the Ohio State Racing Commission approved judges," the statement reads. "It was determined that an unlicensed individual was present in a restricted area in violation of detention rules. In the best interest of the race it was decided to withdraw her from the field." While not named in the statement, multiple reports indicate that the unlicensed individual was trainer Lou Pena, who has no connection to the filly. Trained by Matias Ruiz, I Said Diamonds was a recent purchase by Perry De Luna's A Piece Of The Action LLC of Culver City, California. Paul Fireman and Jeff Gural are today reluctantly announcing the suspension of the paid media component of the statewide OUR Turn NJ campaign. In doing so, they issued the following joint statement: We believe deeply that gaming expansion to Northern New Jersey is a remarkable opportunity that should not be squandered. We have committed $4 billion in private investment to this state to create world class resort destinations with gaming. The benefits include 43,000 new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in recaptured revenue -- a rare opportunity for New Jersey. In addition, as New York debates allowing gaming in New York City, it is critical that we beat them to market or risk losing this opportunity permanently. The data, however, speaks for itself. The current political climate in New Jersey and voters concerns about the lack of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming. Even knowing that an out-of-country gaming company that sends New Jerseyans gaming dollars to Malaysia is funding opposition ads does not have an impact. As such, with great reluctance we have decided to suspend the paid media component of the statewide campaign. Recent internal and third-party polling data have noted how difficult the current climate is. As noted in the attached internal polling summary, Voters have a very negative outlook on the direction of the state and have extremely low confidence that the revenue promised in the Casino Expansion Amendment will be delivered as it is promised. Just 19 percent of New Jersey voters believe that the state is headed in the right direction. And an even lower proportion (10 percent) have a high level of confidence that the state will deliver upon the promised revenue as stated in the ballot measure. The summary also notes that when asked to explain why they have low or no confidence in the revenue being delivered as promised in the amendment, 50 percent of respondents say it is because politicians will use the funds for their own priorities, while another 30% volunteer that it is a concern for them. The polling shows that, while there are strong arguments to be made for the benefits of gaming expansion, Respondents react very strongly to reasons to oppose the Amendment, which play to the lack of specifics and distrust directed at state government in Trenton. For comparison, the highest testing positive message is viewed as a very strong reason to support the measure by 48 percent of voters. The four negative messages tested in the survey all receive anywhere between 56 percent to 60 percent of voters who say that each one is a very strong reason to oppose the measure. Polling released earlier this week by Rutgers-Eagleton reinforces this voter dissatisfaction. In that poll, only 25 percent of those surveyed believe New Jersey is headed in the right direction, while 68 percent say the state has gone off on the wrong track. The poll is available at: The current campaign to expand gaming is mirroring New Jerseys first efforts to legalize casino gaming in 1974. In that year, the New Jersey voters rejected a ballot initiative to legalize gaming due to a lack of specifics in the ballot question about where casinos would be located. Two years later, a revised ballot question passed. One of the main reasons the 1976 question passed, unlike the 1974 one, was that it was more specific in nature. The 1974 campaign indicated that casinos would most likely be in Atlantic City, but the resolution itself did not indicate a specific location. Thus, proponents of the 1974 resolution later admitted that a large number of voters apparently rejected the proposal simply because they did not want to see casinos in their own community.[1] In 1976, the resolution clearly stated that casinos would only be legal in Atlantic City, making voters far more comfortable with the idea. (with files from Our Turn NJ) Thousands of Worldwide Marriage Encounter Couples Join with Pope Francis for a Year of Mercy Special Event at the Vatican Contact: Dick & Diane Baumbach, Worldwide Marriage Encounter , 321-544-3440, dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net ROME, Sept. 22, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- Pope Francis offered his blessings and support of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) here during a special celebration and Mass at the Vatican earlier this month. The Papal program, which was held on September 10, 2016, was attended by over 4000 couples, 70 priests and three bishops who are part of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement, said Joe & Sue Talarico, the WWME United States Ecclesial Team who serve with Fr. Tom Ogg."The celebration at the Vatican by Pope Francis is something that will be forever in our hearts," the Talaricos said adding, "We were brought to tears as the thousands of Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples and priests sang our theme song There Is A New World Somewhere."The Talaricos were joined by the WWME North American Ecclesial Leadership Team Gene & Maggie Tokraks, who serve with Bishop Bill Skylstad. "What a wonderful time for couples from across the world to be gathered together at the Vatican to celebrate our Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders," the Tokraks said adding, "Being at the audience with Pope Francis with over 4000 WWME people from around the world was an awesome experience and it is one we will cherish in our hearts forever!"WWME's International Ecclesial Team Daniel & Shelley Ee and Fr. Nathaniel Gomez met personally with Pope Francis. The pope offered them a special message and said, "For all you participants in Worldwide Marriage Encounter, I thank you for all the good you do to help families! Go forward!"The Ee's along with Fr. Gomez presented the Holy Father with a picture book of the WWME communities and its major events worldwide, as well as a report on the Movement. Daniel said, "The three of us felt immense joy and were humbled to be able to greet the Holy Father on behalf of WWME. We will always remember his warm smile and gentle clasp of hand as he said thank you and encouraged our movement to carry on serving."Leadership teams from Africa, Asia and Europe were also present for the event. The overall program was part of Pope Francis's Year of Mercy project.Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 48 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in almost 100 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. Priests are also encouraged to attend a WWME weekend, which offers insights into their relationship with the church and their parishioners, and how their Sacrament of Holy Orders interacts with the Sacrament of Matrimony. WWME offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org , or contact the WWME national office at 909-332-7309.Media inquiries should be directed to: Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here. Vancouver businessman Don Heimbigner has made a $1 million gift to Community Home Health & Hospice in Salmon Creek. The gift went towards a capital campaign for a new grief support center, bringing the total raised so far to over $3 million. Heimbigner made the donation in memory of his wife, Elaine, who died in February and was a hospice and in-home patient of Community. Groundbreaking for the new 9,000-square-foot project is set for spring. It will be modeled after the successful James Avery Grief Center in Longview. Meanwhile, Communitys 10-bed hospice care center will now bear the name Elaine and Don Heimbigner Hospice Care Center. It is an honor to name the existing hospice care center for Elaine and Don, Community Hospice president Greg Pang said in a press release. The Heimbigners gift will enable us to expand our nonprofit mission to thousands more in our community who need support. Cowlitz County planners say the intersection at Industrial and Oregon ways will need overpasses to ease vehicle and rail congestion and cope with growth along Longviews industrial corridor. At an open house Wednesday in Kelso, the county presented four potential layouts for the new intersection, all of which include road overpasses above existing and future rail lines. The new intersection will extend from the approaches of the Lewis and Clark Bridge to as far north as Alabama Street. Two of the options are fully elevated, with the highest point at the intersection about 30 feet above the ground. The other two are partially elevated and keep some lanes on the ground. One of the plans includes an elevated roundabout. Claude Sakr, project engineer, said the next step is to determine cost estimates for the options and continue to evaluate whether they address all the purposes and needs for the intersection. Thats really the cornerstone, the bedrock of everything when it comes to evaluating or developing alternatives, he said in an interview Tuesday. Initially the county considered nine options for the intersection. It eliminated five because they didnt relieve congestion and included significant train interruptions. One major factor was whether the interruptions would affect emergency response times. Sakr said the county will also account for the Port of Longviews plan to extend its Industrial rail corridor across the intersection to Barlow Point to appeal to more industries. The project will need approval from the Federal Highway Administration, the state Department of Transportation and the county Public Works and Planning Division. A draft environmental impact statement will be released in fall 2017, and construction is expected to begin sometime in 2020. The plan is to address worsening congestion and increasing vehicles. Sakr said by 2040 traffic volumes are expected to grow by 60 to 70 percent, causing the intersection to have long backups. The state identified the intersection as needing upgrades for safety purposes in 1968, but it got much-needed support when the Legislature allocated $85 million to the SR 432 project last year. An additional $5 million will be provided from local, state and federal funds, Commissioner Mike Karnofski said. I think the projects turning out really well, Karnofski said. The nine options were pretty varied so people had an opportunity to comment on those. ... Im really comfortable with the four options they came up with. The intersection averages more than nine crashes per year. Congestion at intersections is linked to increased collisions, according to the county. The county will receive the first batch of state funds, $1.5 million, in the 2017-2018 biennium. Another $14.5 million will be disbursed in 2019, the largest chunk of $65 million in 2021, and the remaining $4 million in 2023. According to reports from Chinese space agency, its Tiangong-1 space station that was orbiting Earth has lost its track and become out of control. China has confirmed that space lab module is falling towards our planet at an increasing speed and will crash into Earth in 2017. However, whats surprising is that China also doesnt know where the collision will occur as scientists have lost the track of space lab module. Launched back in 2011, Tiangong-1 was scheduled to orbit Earth and crash into the ocean or burn up in the air after completion of its mission. Since China has lost its track, no one knows where and when it will fall. However, it will strike our planet in the second half of the next year. Tiangong-1 was not a very big module and most of the debris will get burnt due to frictional force of atmosphere and chances are there that entire spacelab module gets burnt in the air itself. Even if it manages to crash into Earth, it will shrink into a very small size but it will be moving at a speed greater than of a bullet which can be catastrophic. Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, said Wu Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office, reports Xinhua. The unmanned part of space lab weighed over 8 tons. The space lab module has performed several key operations including a series of docking of exercises back in 2012. China wants to make its own version of International space station and Tiangong-1 (meaning Heavenly Palace) was the first brick. China recently launched the Tiangong-2 space lab module. The module was aimed at testing life support systems and refueling technology for its 60 ton modular space station. Tiangong-2 is placed in an orbit of 393 kilometers above the Earth and it will help in studying fundamental physics, biology, fluid mechanics in microgravity, space science and will monitor Earth from space. In addition, it has the capability to measure the topography of the oceans with very high precision which will enable scientists to study Earths gravity field. Tiangong-2 has another payload named POLAR which is gamma-ray detector. It was developed by the collaboration of three countries China, Switzerland, and Poland. POLAR will study Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), the most energetic event in the universe. According to reports, POLAR will work for two years and will observe a total of 20 GRBs. The loss of Tiangong-1 came as a shock for Chinese space agency as their mission for modular space lab of the class of International International Space Station will retire in 2024 and Chinese space station is a promising alternative. Other space agencies are looking forward to collaborate with China as Chinese station can become the international base for astronauts in coming years. hidden The world's biggest central banks have told regulators that banks must tighten security around their SWIFT messaging systems following the theft of $81 million from Bangladesh's central bank in February. The SWIFT Oversight Forum, a group of 10 of the biggest central banks, led by the National Bank of Belgium (NBB), has sent an update to bank regulators urging them to scrutinise banks' procedures, according to an undated document recently published on the NBB website. Financial institutions use SWIFT messages to send instructions for transfers worth trillions of dollars each day. Thieves hacked into Bangladesh Bank's SWIFT system in February and sent fraudulent payment instructions to the New York Federal Reserve in an attempt to steal $1 billion. The New York Fed rejected most of instructions but $81 million was paid and has not been recovered. The SWIFT Oversight Forum, which also includes the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, said that in response to "the escalating cyber threat environment" it would consider new security measures that financial regulators could require banks to fulfil. In the meantime, it said banks should follow SWIFT's recommended operating guidance closely and look at new ways to reduce security risks. The NBB declined comment. Reuters hidden U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump opposes a long-planned transition of oversight of the internet's technical management from the U.S. government to a global community of stakeholders, his campaign said in a statement on Wednesday. Congress should block the handover, scheduled to occur on Oct. 1, "or internet freedom will be lost for good, since there will be no way to make it great again once it is lost," Stephen Miller, national policy director for the Trump campaign, said in a statement. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a former presidential primary foe of Trump's who has refused to endorse the real estate developer, has led a movement in Congress to block the transition, arguing it could cede control of the internet itself to authoritarian regimes like Russia and China and threaten online freedom. Technical experts have said those claims are baseless, and that a delay will backfire by undermining U.S. credibility in future international negotiations over internet standards and security. Publicly proposed in March 2014, the transfer of oversight of the nonprofit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is expected to go forward unless Congress votes to block the move. A vote to delay the transition may come as an amendment to a temporary spending bill that Congress must pass by Sept. 30 to prevent much of the federal government from shutting down. Congressional negotiators on Wednesday were working to finalise an agreement on the spending package. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton supports the Obama administration's planned transition to a global community of technologists, civil society groups and internet users, according to policy positions available on her campaign website. Reuters hidden Global internet and technology conglomerate, LeEco has swiftly made inroads into the hearts of Indian users through its Super products. This is validated by the impressive sales records achieved by LeEco during its recently concluded EPIC 919 shopping extravaganza. LeEco kicked off its biggest global online shopping in India on September 19 which was extended by 24 hours due to unprecedented user demand. At the end of the festival, LeEco has created new sales records by selling nearly 70,000+ Superphones, 2000+SuperTVs and close to 20,000 accessories. LeEco had expected to achieve a sales revenue of Rs 100 crores during this shopping carnival which the company has proudly over-achieved. Commenting on the momentous occasion, Atul Jain, COO, Smart Electronics Devices, LeEco India said, 919 is LeEcos biggest online sales festival that is highly celebrated across the world. Were thrilled to bring it to India this year and are over-whelmed by the encouraging user response. In-line with the global record-breaking sales performance, weve achieved incredible sales milestones in India as well. It is truly humbling that user response that helped us exceed our target sales figure and notch up a Rs 100 crore+ record. We remain committed to extending similar rewarding deals on our Super products in the future as well to our swiftly expanding user community. It is interesting to note the response in India was very much in sync with the other markets such as China, Russia and USA. During EPIC 919, LeEco registered total sales revenue of nearly INR 5200 Crores across India, China and HongKong markets. In China, LeEco successfully sold more than 866,000 SuperTVs and 1,178,000+ Superphones during 919 this year. Accessories by LeEco that were exclusively available on LeMall.com also received unprecedented user response. LeMall.com registered sales of close to 20,000+ accessories that included Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth Headphones, CDLA Headsets, Reverse in ears, Ring Brackets and Cases, Covers and Screen Protectors. Speaking about the event, Ajay Yadav, Vice President- Mobiles, Flipkart, said, Our partnership with LeEco has come a long way. From being the Launchpad for the brand in India, Flipkart is currently working with the LeEco team to significantly expand their market share. Through this journey of hyper growth, LeEco has been a part of few record sale events at Flipkart. And the brand has also undertaken hugely successful stand-alone sale events on Flipkart." He added, "EPIC919 is a global sale event for LeEco, and we were happy to combine our efforts in making this signature brand event a huge success in India as well. The unprecedented success of the sale event in India not only reflects the dominant share Flipkart has in the smartphones segment but also stands testimony to the growing market share and consumer share of LeEco." The event went live from midnight of September 19 on LeMall.com and Flipkart and was concluded on September 20, 23:59 hours. As part of the shopping festival, LeEco extended never-before discounts and deals on its Superphones, SuperTVs and accessories. With highly attractive offers, LeEco won the hearts of millions of Indian users. LeEcos 919 online shopping festival has become hugely popular across the globe and is redefining online shopping experience of users.Buoyed by the massive success of the shopping festival this year, LeEco plans to make this event even grander in the coming years. This is a promoted post. hidden Ransomware has emerged as the most dangerous cyber threat for both organisations and individuals, with global losses now likely running to hundreds of millions of dollars, a new study says. Norton by Symantec, one of the global leaders in cyber security software, found that globally, consumers are the most likely victims of ransomware, accounting for 57 percent of all infections between January 2015 and April 2016. Between January 2015 and April 2016, the US -- followed by Canada and Australia -- were the countries most affected by ransomware. Accounting for nine percent of the total infections, India ranked number four globally among the affected countries. "Ransomware can vary from holding treasured family photos, hijacking unfinished manuscripts for novels, and blocking access to tax returns, banking records and other valuable documents to ransom. Moreover, there is no guarantee that paying the ransom will release those padlocks," said Ritesh Chopra, Country Manager, Norton by Symantec. While most major ransomware groups tend to be indiscriminate in their attacks, consumers are often less likely to have robust security in place, increasing the possibility of falling victim. "The average ransom demanded globally by attackers also saw an upward spike this year. The average ransom demanded to date in 2016 more than doubled from Rs 19,670 in 2015 to Rs. 45,428," the study highlighted. The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has multiplied the range of devices that could potentially be infected with ransomware. "New ransomware variants appear on a regular basis. Always keep your operating system and other software updated. Email is one of the main infection methods. Delete any suspicious-looking email you receive, especially if they contain links and/or attachments," said Norton by Symantec. Be wary of any Microsoft Office email attachment that advises you to enable macros to view its content. Unless you are absolutely sure that this is a genuine email from a trusted source, do not enable macros and instead immediately delete the email. Backing up important data is the single most effective way of combating ransomware infection, the study noted. IANS Aditya Madanapalle From healthcare, to research, to education, to environment, those who made billions from technology companies have the will and the resources to make the world a better place. Here are the plans and activities of philanthropists who made fortunes from technology companies. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: This is the largest private foundation in the world. Bill Gates is one of the co-founders of Microsoft, and has pledged to donate most of his wealth to charity. Gates has donated over $28 billion to the foundation so far. The major concern of the foundation is to reduce poverty and provide healthcare in the most impoverished regions of the world. They are working towards healthcare for very young children, to ensure better survival rates, and allow them to thrive. Healthcare for mothers is also an area of investment. They provide education for farmers and accelerate the adoption of new technologies by farmers. A focus on women and girl children is a way for the Gates Foundation to help make better families, communities and countries. Tackling and eradicating life threatening diseases is another major area of focus for the foundation. A major goal is eradicating malaria from the world. Removing the parasite entirely from the human ecosystem is the approach, not just stopping the spread of the disease. New drug regimens are being developed towards this end. A single dose treatment is being worked upon. For tackling HIV, the foundation plans to decrease the rate of infection, and improve the treatment options available. There are ongoing efforts to develop an HIV vaccine. Improving vaccines and preventive measures, as well as eradicating polio are associated goals of the Gates Foundation. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: Unlike the Gates Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is a for profit organisation, not a charitable trust or a foundation. Being a private limited company gives the organisation more powers to lobby and make political donations to forward its goals. Being a part of the policy making process, and advocacy groups, are methods through which the initiative plans to make an impact. While scientific institutions around the world develop new technologies to tackle diseases, the institutes themselves are not willing to engage in lobbying or advocacy. This is where the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative hopes to make a difference, with goals that are aligned with the institutions. The main goal for Chan Zuckerberg Science is to help medical professionals cure or manage all diseases with one generation. The idea is to accelerate scientific progress by creating better platforms for collaboration between researchers in the field. Chan Zuckerberg Science is primarily concerned with bringing engineers and doctors together to develop the next generation of medical tools and networks. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is interested in long term investments, spanning 25, 50 and 100 years. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has pledged to donate over $3 billion over the next 10 years to medical science. Michael and Susan Dell Foundation: Michael Dell is the founder of Dell Inc, and made his fortune with the sale of Dell Shares. The foundation has contributed $1.23 billion and counting towards education and health. Their primary focus area is to improve the quality of education available to children. This includes providing college education for disadvantaged candidates who do not have the opportunities for a higher education. The health and well being of children is another goal of the Dell Foundation. Ensuring financial stability of impoverished families is an associated goal, which allows for both the healthcare and education of the children. The foundation is active in the United States, South Africa and India. The Dell Foundation has been active in India since 2006. In August this year, Indian education startup ConveGenius raised Rs 6 Crore from the foundation. The foundation works with the Indian Government in improving the quality of education available to students. Beyond the education of children, Dell is also working with the Indian Government to improve job training, and entrepreneurship skills. The Dell Foundation is partnering with NGOs, businesses and community organisations in India, apart from the Government. Pierre and Pam Omidyar: eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam established the Omidyar Group in 2004. The Omidyar Network is a private limited company, and has donated over $992 million to charity. The Omidyar Network is just one of the organisations under the umbrella of the Omidyar Group. The Omidyar Network is an organisation that gives people the opportunities to make positive changes for others. The Democracy Fund was established to ensure a fair election and a productive Congress and is active in the US. The aim of the organisation is to make sure that the political system delivers on the promises made to people. The Ulupono Initiative works exclusively in Hawaii, for improvement in quality of life for the residents. Sustainable energy and waste reduction are focus areas. The Hope Lab designs technologies to help children and adults better combat diseases. This includes a game called Re-Mission 2 that helps children understand cancer, and how it works within their bodies. Kids gain a sense of control over the disease by fighting cancer on the cellular level with nano bots. Humanity United tackles some of the most difficult global problems. These include human trafficking, mass atrocities and violent conflicts. Gordan and Betty Moore Foundation: Gordon Moore made his fortune as the co-founder of Intel. He also authored Moore's Law. Gordon and Betty Moore established the private foundation in 2000. The Moore Foundation works primarily in the United States, in the areas of science, environment and medicine. The main philosophy of the foundation is to use a scientific approach to tackle intractable problems. The familiarity of the founders with San Francisco and prior activities there has made the foundation focus mainly on the Bay Area, although there are some ongoing conservation efforts in South America. The foundation hopes to strike a balance between environmentalism and development. The foundation accelerates scientific progress by choosing and picking areas of scientific applications and knowledge to invest in. There is a limited investment in improving healthcare, because of the scale of the problem. The Gordon and Betty Moore foundation has contributed to the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii, which can detect objects much fainter than what is possible through current telescopes, and this in turn will increase the scientific understanding of the universe. The Marine Microbiology Initiative hopes to better understand and study the role marine micro-organisms play in the global ecosystem. The Moores have made a long term commitment of $300 million to the California Institute of Technology, commonly known as Caltech for research projects. Elon Musk: Elon Musk is an accomplished capitalist, using the earnings from previous companies to launch new ventures. His ambitions for humanity are far reaching. These include permanent human settlements on Mars and beyond, fleets of self driving electric cars, and sustainable energy. Elon Musk has a vision for this technofuturistic utopia, and the stepladder of capitalism is the way to achieve it. The procedure is to re-invest earnings from low volume, high cost products into producing high volume, low cost products. Improving Autopilot to make a safer automated personal transportation system is high on the priority list. Analysts say some of his efforts are ahead of time, such as the acquisition of SolarCity by Tesla to bring the solar panels created by SolarCity and the batteries made by Tesla under one roof. Tesla became the world's first vertically integrated sustainable energy company with the announcement of the acquisition of SolarCity. The Gigafactory by SolarCity will be the world's largest battery factory. The factory itself will be powered by wind and solar energy, making it a net zero energy installation. Considering the abundance of Solar Power available in India, it would make sense for Musk to introduce solar products in India. There has been some interest, with PM Modi visiting a Tesla factory, and we cannot wait for these technologies to arrive here. Elon Musk has pledged to give most of his wealth away, like many of the other tech philanthropists in this list. Larry Page, one of the co-founders of Google, has not been particularly active at philanthropy, but wants to just give away his billions to Elon Musk. hidden Self-driving boats and assemblies of robotic platforms will one day shuttle people and goods along Amsterdam's centuries-old canals - if a project part-funded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology bears fruit. Researchers said on Monday they hope to launch the first prototypes of craft they have christened "roboats" in the Dutch city in 2017. "Imagine a fleet of autonomous boats," said professor Carlo Ratti of MIT, which donated 20 million euros ($29 million) to the project. "But also think of dynamic and temporary floating infrastructure, like on-demand bridges and stages that can be assembled (in) ...hours." With different prototypes due to be tested, one basic design under consideration resembles a square, flat-topped pallet a little less than two meters (six feet) a side. Dozens might assemble to form a new, temporary space, or a footpath across the water to relieve traffic congestion. Professor Arjan van Timmeren, scientific director of the institute leading the project, said the project envisages a high-tech return to the 17th century, Amsterdam's golden age when its canals were the main throughfare for transporting goods. Nowadays most boats in the city are recreational. The researchers hope roboats might find a home in other urban areas too, as many cities are situated on or near rivers - though the engineering challenges faced by Van Timmeren's Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions are far from straightforward. "(The problems) are actually greater than for self-driving cars," he said, because small craft are both less stable and more difficult to steer than land-based vehicles. Other participants in the project include the City of Amsterdam, the Delft Technical University and the City of Boston. Reuters tech2 News Staff Vodafone India today announced that it had become the service provider of choice for over 200 million customers in India. Celebrating this big number, the company also announced that it had received an equity infusion of INR 47,700 crore from Vodafone Group in the first half of its current fiscal year. On the occasion of being the brand of choice of over 200 million Indians and speaking about this record equity infusion, Sunil Sood, MD & CEO, Vodafone India, said, We are thankful to our customers for choosing Vodafone and delighted with the faith and support that our investors have shown in our business and India. With our commitment to support the Digital India vision, we are building one of the most modern and scalable telecom networks to deliver connectivity and the Vodafone SuperNet experience to all, for both voice and data. We are judiciously deploying a portfolio of technologies- 2G, 3G, 4G and IOT - to cater to the myriad connectivity needs of our retail and enterprise customers across the country. We have successfully increased our revenue market share by 0.6 percent in the first quarter of current fiscal. This equity infusion of INR 47,700 crore, which we believe is the largest ever in India, will enable Vodafone India to continue its investments in spectrum and expansion of networks across various technology layers delivering the best of experience to our hundreds of million customers. In India, Vodafone currently stands as the country's second largest telecom provider with a 22.5 percent revenue market share. At the announcement, MD and CEO Sunil Sood also gave a break up of of its users, who are divided into 3 types. Those who use just voice, others that are only on 2G and the third tier of premium or high-end user who use just 3G/4G services. The first type stands at 30 percent while the second with only 2G users takes up 40 percent. Lastly, we have the high-end users who take up another 30 percent out of which just 7-8 percent are hooked up to 4G services. Vodafone also explained how it is a global leader in 4G networks and a pioneer in Internet of Things (IoT). The telecom giant is rolling out its next generation broadband networks in India and has introduced IoT platforms, especially in the space of connected vehicles and Machine to Machine communication. hidden Europe's largest tech event, the Web Summit, will double in size when it is held for the first time in Lisbon in November to tackle everything from hot new startups to the race to make driverless cars, its chief executive said on Wednesday. Portugal has pulled off a coup by bringing the Web Summit to Lisbon after it was launched and held every year in Dublin since 2010, when just 400 people attended the event. The Lisbon version will have 50,000 participants, jumping from 27,500 last year in Dublin. It will be held at a huge conference venue built for Expo 98 and visitors will enjoy a city full of recently-built hotels that have fed a tourism boom. Portugal's government is hoping the event will help boost funding and other support for technology firms in an economy that is only recovering slowly after a 2011-14 bailout. Apart from tech startups, chief executives from leading companies like Renault Nissan are also taking part this year as the Web Summit becomes a meeting ground for technology and business, chief executive and co-founder Paddy Cosgrave said. "If you track the Web Summit, in 2010 it was a startup conference, the average age of attendees was in the mid-20s. But in 2014 it began to change, the average age is now 36, it has become very much a ... technology business conference." The Web Summit's rapid growth brought it to Lisbon as the venue "had simply run out of space" in Dublin, Cosgrave said. "If you look at Lisbon, something was already happening, and I hope that the Web Summit adds to the growing wave of interest in what's happening in Lisbon and Portugal. It's difficult to explain these things. Historians can look back and explain why a city is cool." He cited a growing number of startups in Lisbon and the decision by the founder of Berlin's co-worker startup campus "Factory" to open in the Portuguese capital as evidence of its growing attraction. The Web Summit's biggest point of interest this year could be in bringing together a large number of experts in the car industry on driverless cars, according to Cosgrave. He said he had a particular interest in driverless cars as he does not have a full driving license, and he believes automated vehicles are just around the corner. "When you see so many large companies in an arms race against each other (on technology for automated cars), that's where things happen." Reuters tech2 News Staff Your Yahoo account information and passwords along with that of several hundred million other users might have already been stolen. Tech website Recode reports that a number of sources have confirmed a massive breach of Yahoo's servers. Recode's sources tell them that the breach was "widespread and serious", possibly involving "several hundred million" user accounts. Yahoo is yet to announce the breach, but are expected to do so this week. It's not clear if the breach will have any implications on the sale of Yahoo's business to Verizon. Depending on the extent of the breach and the significance of its impact on registered users, the price of Yahoo's buyout might need to be renegotiated. The breach, which apparently occurred in August, was a result of hacker group "Peace" breaching Yahoo's servers. The group claims to have access to over 200 million accounts, possibly from 2012. The hacker group has reportedly been selling the data for the price of 3 bitcoins. The data is said to include usernames, date of birth, hashed passwords and other such information. Don't take heart from the fact that passwords are hashed, however. A hacker who knows what he's doing can breach the bulk of them in a few hours. As alarming as the thought of your data falling into the wrong hands is, the fact remains that many of us reuse our email and password combinations. Thus, it might not just be your Yahoo account that's compromised. Motherboard got their hands on a small sample set from the breach and discovered that most of the accounts they tested were either dead or unresponsive. Even if the number of affected users is a fraction of the entire data-set, the affected users could still number in the millions. If you haven't changed your Yahoo password already, it's time you did. Don't forget to change the password on accounts at other places that use the same username/email id/password as well. In February Express.co.uk reported the Scandinavian country has seen a huge surge in crime since the start of the migrants crisis in Europe with a rise in sex assaults, drug dealing and children carrying weapons. The forces increased lack of control in the country was revealed in a report by Swedens National Criminal Investigation Service, where attacks on officers were detailed, including police cars being stoned by masked groups. At the time around 50 areas were put on a blacklist which are then divided into three categories from risk areas to seriously vulnerable. The figure has now been increased to 55 as the Swedish police force are facing a crisis, with three officers handing in their notice every day. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the police officers are also considering changing professions, due to lack of funding and support to tackle the increasing levels of crime. Speaking to NRK, police officer Peter Larsson said: We have a major crisis. Many colleagues are choosing to quit. We are not investigating crimes, we dont have time to cover the call-outs we are tasked with. A drastically worsened working environment means many colleagues are now looking for other work. A regular shift for the Swedish force includes being attacked by thugs who throw stones at the officers and their patrol cars, vehicles being set ablaze, and in some cases personal injuries. A new report released last week revealed the situation in the country has worsened since the National Criminal Investigation Services document emerged in February. A report entitled A national overview of criminal networks with major impact in the local community said it was common place for unattended police cars to be attacked, for police officers to be attacked and to be exposed to threats. It added drug and gang violence are still flourishing in the no-go zones. Malmo in south Sweden was one of the cities which was flagged as a particularly hit area in the liberal country. Its time to realise the new Swedes will claim their space an ad insists, describing the Nordic nation as a safe space for migrants and concluding: There is no way back. Sweden will never be like it was. The campaign is called The New Country (hashtag #detnyalandet) with a website appearing alongside the film, arguing that residents should adopt foreign cultures and languages, rather than expect new arrivals to become Swedish. And they're probably fine with that. The UK Express (via Pamela Geller ) says:But don't expect Sweden to assign its own military to deal with any of this. Just recently, a Swedish government charity organization said that Swedes should integrate with the invaders. Here's the Breitbart report (also via Pamela Geller ):No doubt they also want Swedes to convert to Islam. If the Nazis had won WW2, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd introduce Islam into Europe at the time. Nor would I be shocked if any Nazis had converted to Islam during WW2. As for Sweden, it's clear they're plummeting into a civil war already as the invaders turn the place into a hellhole. Labels: dhimmitude, Europe, immigration, islam, jihad, misogyny, Moonbattery, racism, Scandanavia, terrorism Six BD nationals killed in Saudi road crash Dhaka, Sept 22 (UNB) - Six Bangladesh nationals, including two siblings, were killed while another was injured in a road accident near Qatif, a municipality in Saudi Arabia, on Thursday morning. The victims are Shahidul and his brother Babul, son of Abdul Hakim hailing from Ujirpur, Barisal; Rafiqul Islam, son of Shahidul Hawladar, Patuakhali, Sirajul Islam, son of Abdul Hakim, Rana Sahabuddin, Bhola and Sharif, son of Abu Bakar. Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Moshi told UNB over phone that six people are reported dead but awaiting final confirmation. He said another Bangladesh national - Saiful - was injured in the accident. He was admitted to a local hospital. The accident took place when a car carrying the workers collided with another one at Qatif town, 350 kilometres off capital Riyadh. Officials from the Bangladesh Mission moved to the spot to have further details, the envoy said. Lover kills teenage girl in Nabiganj Kulaura (Moulvibazar) Correspondent : Lawenforcers recovered the decomposed body of a teenage girl allegedly killed by her lover from the Borak River with a sack in Gormuria Bridge area of Akrampur village under Nabiganj Upazila of Habiganj district Tuesday. The lover is identified as Ranu Roy, 23, son of Kanu Roy in Shibpasa area under Nabiganj Municipal of Habiganj district. Police said Tonny Roy, 18, daughter of Bimol Roy, live in same area had an affair with Ranu for a long time. Tonny had been missing since last Saturday when she went to college but didn't return, said victim's Father Bimol. After missing we filed a GD in the Nabiganj police station. Ranu disturb my daughter every time, he added. On Tuesday afternoon, some fishermen found the body packaging by sack in Gormuria Bridge of Akrampur village under Nabiganj Upazila, Fishermen informed the police about the incident, who later recovered the body at 6:00pm. Although the body was badly decomposed, her relatives identified it from her clothes. Md. Abdul Baten, officer-in-charge of Kamalganj police station confirmed the matter to The New Nation King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud was born on December 31, 1935 in Riyadh. His Mother is Hessa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi. So he and his six brothers make up what is referred to as the Sudairi Seven. He was raised in Murabba Palace. He received his early education in the Prince's School in Riyadh, which was founded by his father King Abdulaziz to provide education to his children. He studied religion and modern science. At the age of nineteen the King starter his governmental work, when his father appointed him Emir and Mayor of Riyadh on March 17, 1954. On April 19, 1955 he was appointed by his half-brother King Saud mayor of Riyadh at the rank of minister. He remained in this office till December 25, 1960. In February 1963, King Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed Governor of the Riyadh Province. He stayed in this office until 2011. During his time in office he contributed in the transformation of Riyadh from a mid-sized town into a major urban metropolis, while he also attracted tourism, capital projects, and foreign investment inside his country. Reportedly, his administration of the Riyadh Province was free of corruption. King of Saudi Arabia Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz was proclaimed the seventh King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 3 Rabi' al Thani 1436H (January 23, 2015), upon the death of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. Salman's governmental experience On February 4, 1963 Salman was appointed governor of the Riyadh Province. His tenure lasted for 48 years from 1963 to 2011. In January 2011 he ordered action against Riyadh beggars who tried to take advantage of the generosity of people. All foreign beggars were deported and Saudi beggars were placed in a rehabilitation programme by the Ministry of Social Affairs. On November 5, 2011 Salman was appointed Minister of Defence, replacing his full brother, the late Crown Prince Sultan, and late Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz was named the governor of the Riyadh Province. He was also named a member of the National Security Council (NSC). On June 18, 2012 he was appointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia shortly after the death of his brother Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. He was also made Deputy Prime Minister. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud launched a Twitter account on February 23, 2013. The king and his family own the international newspaper "Alsharq Al-Awsat" as well as the Saudi daily newspaper "Al Eqtisadiah". His son, Prince Sultan, was the first person of royal blood, the first Arab as well as the first Muslim to fly in outer space when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51-G) in June 1985. Since 1956, King Salman has chaired various humanitarian and service committees that provide relief for victims of natural and man-made disasters. For his humanitarian services, he has been awarded many medals and decorations, including awards from Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Morocco, Palestine, the Philippines, Senegal, the United Nations, Yemen, and the King Abdulaziz Medal - First Class. He is a recipient of several honorary degrees and academic awards, including an honorary doctorate from the Islamic University of Madinah, the Prince Salman academic award, and the Kant Medal by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in appreciation of his contributions to the field of science. Message of His Excellency the Ambassador Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim All praise and thanks are Allah's, the Lord of the world, and peace be upon the trustworthy Prophet, his dynasty and his companions.The national day of Saudi Arabia is an important day at state and national level. It commemorates the 85th unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and return to the history in 1351 H. corresponding to 1932 AD. The founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia King Abdul Aziz bin Abdur Rahman Al Saud - may Allah bless him - was able to unify the kingdom and assemble the people of Arabian peninsula in one line and in political social unit.The hearts are filled up with pride and strength while we see that the flag of Tawheed is flattering in the sky of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It pushes us to look in the depth of the near history so that we can feel the greatness of events after which this flag has risen. The challenge faced by the risers of this flag under the leadership of the falcon of the peninsula King Abdul Aziz - may Allah make his grave delightful. At this moment we understand the importance of commemoration of the national day of the Kingdom. That is the day in which this holy land has said bye-bye to all ages of backwardness and dispersion, causes of ruin and destroy to stay on strong earth along with it will knock all doors of development and civilization so that it can promote after it to the peak of wide glory.King Abdul Aziz -May Allah make his grave delightful - planted a good blessed plant which undertook his honorable, children after him. The gripping was strong handhold with seriousness, loyalty and perseverance. Those works have spoken before utterance and production has witnessed before statement. So the Kingdom has become a model which may be followed up and a light which may be guide in development and growth in different fields of knowledge, economics, culture and civilization.In these days, while commemorating our national day, we try to present all values, thought, sacrifices and utmost endeavor which accompanied in building this gigantic territory in order to express love and appreciation which is hidden in our hearts for this blessed country as well as for those people to whom goes the credit after the Almighty Allah for welfare and stability which our country is enjoying.This is the blessing of the Almighty Allah on this sacred country that He has selected for it leaders according to its high position and characteristics. So its journey to welfare and growth did not stop since Allah has made this country unified by the hand of its founder - may Allah bless him - and his children after him till the era of prosperity of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.The Kingdom has witnessed in few years civilizational leaps which have no precedence in all sectors. The Kingdom has achieved within a short period of time what other countries did not achieve in hundreds of years. If we want to talk about these paramount productions, it is in need of enormous volumes for its explanation. What this country has achieved in the fields of economics, education and security it is difficult to describe it as well as it is hard to count it. It has become a model in its surrounding region in stability, prosperity and development.It is also obligatory to discuss on this occasion the great importance stressed by the country for Saudi people, their education, efforts to rehabilitate and train them in different fields. Basic education has been spread in all corners of the country. Big universities, specialized educational institutions, programs of education abroad which has already given and will give good fruit in general by the grace of Allah.It may be mentioned in this august occasion the enormous services rendered by the Kingdom for Arabic and Islamic nation. It is not a matter of strange for this country. It is a place of revelation, starting point of heavenly message and qibla of Muslims. It has given preference and emphasis since its establishment on Islam and Muslims. So it has built Alla's mosques in all parts of the world beginning the Two Holy Mosques which have witnessed in the rein of the Saudi government the biggest expansion throughout all ages. So, the Hajj rituals have become very easy after it had been very difficult. The Holy Mosques have become pride for all Muslims. The comfort of the pilgrims of Allah's house and the visitors of the mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him) has been given most priority to provide them with all sorts of comforts and services in all possible ways for this country witnessed by the farers and nears.After this it has begun printing of the Holy Quran for distribution of millions of copies translated into different languages so that it may be available for every Muslim whatever may be his language and place. To focus on its leading role in the region and its stress on the Muslims affairs the issues of the Islamic Ummah have got all support from the Kingdom in the international forums and making international decision, even it has formed a strong element for the Arabic and Islamic voice in the places of dialogues irrespective of different organizations, commissions and establishments supported by what Allah has bestowed upon it from spiritual and economic position. Its support has become very clear in its quick advancement towards relief of the affected by disaster whether it is in Islamic countries or others.So the Kingdom will remain always as the Kingdom of humanity as fast comer of relief for affected and needy people.The foreign policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the rein of its founder concentrated on the firm basis and strong principle derived from the fundamentals of true Islamic religion and original Arabian tradition, the important feature of foreign policy of Saudi Arabia is to work for supporting the Arabian and Islamic solidarity and to protect the righteous Arabian and Islamic issues and not to interfere into the internal affairs of any country.As regards foreign policy whether Arabic, Islamic and international, the Kingdom in the rein of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has recorded high quality of leadership in support of the Islamic issues, defence of Islam, manifest of highness of its message, adopt of stance of peace and moderation, fighting of extremism and radicalism of international dialogue among the followers of religion and culture, contribution to achieve the economic balance, equality of facilities provide facilities of standard livelihood for the nations, These are works and initiatives which contributed besides things attained by the King - may Allah protect him - distinguished characteristics of leadership and noble attributes in showing his positions as world leader. These activities have also participated in keeping up the position of the Kingdom as a leading country and led it to enter into the club of G-20 summit, so that it became the maker of the global economic decision.The terrorism faced by the Kingdom with bravery firmness and clear strategic foresightedness has been driven away by the firmness of the personalities and the struggle of leadership and people. The Kingdom has achieved unprecedented success in the field of combating terrorism by experiment which is praised by all. Moreover, it has become an example which is followed in global level. May I indicate to the international conference on combating terrorism held in Riyadh in 2005 under the kind patronization of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz which proves the seriousness of the righteous leadership to combat this criminal phenomenon?The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is ahead of the global countries since its aid towards the developing countries has reached to 5.45% of its GDP when the United Nations has taken a resolution for the donor countries to provide 0.7% from their GDP. The aid provided by the big developed countries did not reach the level provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards the developing countries.Saudi Development Fund is regarded as main institute of Saudi aid for growth of developing countries. The Kingdom is in leading position among the countries which run quickly for relief of the people affected by natural calamity, civil war by which some Arabic and Islamic countries have been already affected. That is through organizations and national committee supported by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.The relations between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh are strong and extra ordinary. The relations of the Kingdom with all presidents, prime ministers, governments and political parties in Bangladesh are very strong from the year 1971. The Saudi nation is tied with the Bangladeshi nation through strong relations as near about two and a half millions are working in the Kingdom in all sectors. They are participating in the works of development and building. The Kingdom has still been recruiting many people from of Bangladesh. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz - may Allah protect him - has issued a Royal decree to correct the position of Bangladeshi workers visiting the stay rules and approve on transferring sponsors.The Saudi nation and its leadership always appreciate Bangladeshi friendly nation wishing from the Almighty Allah to continue blessings of security and peace for the People's Republic of Bangladesh irrespective of governments and people and more progress and prosperity.In conclusion, I pray to Allah to continue the glory of the country, strength of its leadership, prosperity of its nationals and help us all to discharge duties in full manner so that the country may remain high above the peak of glory by the grace of Allah. May Allah protect our beloved King, leader of the Ummah Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz - may Allah bestow upon them good health, wellbeing and grant them long life as assets of Islam and Muslims.Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.Abdullah H. M. Al-MutairiAmbassador of the Kingdom ofSaudi Arabia to Bangladesh Saudi Arabia serves the global Islamic community ''We shall make every effort to strengthen our relations with our brothers in Muslim and Arab countries, and we shall do our best for the Muslim community''. This statement was made by the former Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz - May Allah bless him - reflecting the depth of Saudi Arabia's dedication to Islam and to the service of Muslims worldwide. Saudi Arabia's commitment to serve the Muslim community takes many forms. The Kingdom has provided tens of billions of Dollars in aid throughout the world. To allow Muslims to perform Hajj in safety and comfort, it has built a vast net work of airports, seaports, roads and other facilities, and it has spent huge sums on the expansion work of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. It is active in ventures to promote the interests of Muslims everywhere. Saudi Arabia has also undertaken multiple programs. One of those is the effort to serve Muslim minority communities in non-Muslim countries. Tens of millions of Muslims have settled outside the historic Islamic world. Their communities have prospered and grown and have been supplemented by the conversion to Islam of a large number of people. As the birthplace of Islam and its heartland, Saudi Arabia feels a special responsibility not only to the Islamic world, but also to Muslims living outside of it. To fulfill that responsibility, Saudi Arabia has over the past few decades undertaken endeavors to meet the spiritual needs of this vast and growing community of believers and to strengthen its ties with the Islamic world. To realize this objective, the Kingdom has approached it from several angles. The primary channel is to establish Mosques and Islamic centers in areas of large Muslim communities. This effort was accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s resulting in 210 Islamic centers throughout the world with funds from Saudi Arabia. These centers are complexes designed to meet not only the spiritual requirements, but also the cultural and social needs of Muslim communities. Generally, they include a big Mosque, classrooms for students, a library, and auditoriums and halls for conferences, exhibitions and cultural seminars. Once established, these centers attract Muslims from miles around who gather to pray, especially on Friday. The centers also perform important educational, social and cultural functions. They provide courses in Islamic studies; extremely popular offerings for Muslim families who want their children to receive proper religious training. Additionally these complexes are important gathering places where Muslims of different backgrounds get together for exhibitions and cultural events, thus bridging cultural differences for Muslims of varying origins. These centers range in size from vast complexes capable of accommodating thousands of visitors to those designed for small groups of Muslims. The most significant ones are located in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Madrid, London, Rome, Paris, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Lisbon, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. The two newest of these complexes were opened in suburban Los Angeles and Edinburgh, Scotland; both gifts were from the Late King Fahad to the Muslim communities in these two cities. The focal point of each of the new facilities is a large Mosque built according to traditional Islamic architectural designs. Standing out as attractive landmarks these Mosques are designed in a way to ensure that they are in harmony with their neighborhoods. Both of these complexes have large Islamic centers equipped with all necessary modern facilities. In areas where the Muslim community is not large, yet still in need of a spiritual center, smaller mosques have been built by the Saudi Arabian funds. Such Mosques have been established at 1500 locations in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and North and South America. In addition to directly funding the establishment of Islamic centers and mosques throughout the world, Saudi Arabia has either formed or supports the activities of a large number of specialized organizations dedicated to serving Muslims inside and outside the Islamic world. These include the Organization of the Islamic conference (OIC), the Muslim world League, the King Faisal Foundation, The World Assembly of Muslim Youth and other entities dedicated to serving Muslims throughout the world. The Kingdom has also formed special organization, such as the International Islamic Relief Organization and the Higher Committee for Collection of Donations for Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as numerous social and cultural institutions. These bodies are active throughout the world to support in religious, political and social causes that impact the Muslim community. They collect funds to alleviate the sufferings of disaster victims worldwide, both Muslims and non-Muslims and to rehabilitate societies hurt by manmade and natural calamites. These organizations are dedicated to serving the needy people throughout the world, regardless of their religion. They provide funding and technical assistance to build dams and irrigation networks, dig wells and setup farming communities in regions devastated by famine. They setup health clinics and conduct campaigns to vaccinate children and conduct a range of other humanitarian services. Saudi Arabia's and the Islamic organizations' supports were galvanized into action. Most mosques had been closed and there was a dire need for copies of the Holy Qur'an in the independent republics. Moving quickly, the Kingdom established large Islamic centers in the capitals of all six independent republics and mosques in their smaller cities. At the same time it began airlifting to the republics millions of copies of the Holy Qur'an printed in local languages at the King Fahd Holy Qur'an Printing Complex in Madinah Al-Mounawarah for free distribution at mosques and Islamic centers. Russia, US spar at UN as air strikes pound Aleppo John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are to sit down with key players on the conflict. AFP, United Nations : Russia and the United States clashed at the United Nations over the carnage in Syria on Wednesday, as air strikes pounded Aleppo following the collapse of a ceasefire. An angry US Secretary of State John Kerry demanded at a UN Security Council meeting that Russia force Syria to ground its air force, which Washington blames for an attack on an aid convoy. Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are to sit down with key players in the conflict on Thursday to try to revive the ceasefire and chart a new course towards ending the five-year war. "We are at a make or break moment," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the council, urging world powers to use their influence to help restart political talks so Syrians can "negotiate a way out of the hell in which they are trapped." Russia and the United States negotiated the latest ceasefire plan, but Syria ended the truce on Monday following an apparently accidental US-led coalition strike on Syrian soldiers. Shortly after the truce ended, the UN aid convoy was hit, killing 20 humanitarian workers and destroying 18 trucks carrying food for desperate civilians in Aleppo province. On Wednesday, heavy bombardment pummeled Aleppo city and the wider province, key battlegrounds in Syria's conflict, and a raid hit a medical team late Tuesday. Addressing the council, Kerry said the bombing of the aid trucks raised "profound doubt" about whether Russia and its Syrian ally were committed to upholding a ceasefire. "We must move forward to try to immediately ground all aircraft flying in those key areas in order to de-escalate the situation and to give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded," he said. Moscow denies that Russian or Syrian planes carried out Monday's strike on the aid convoy. A Russian military spokesman said a coalition drone was in the area when the aid trucks were destroyed, a claim the Pentagon denied. After halting aid operations in response to the convoy attack, the United Nations said it was ready to resume humanitarian deliveries. Canada schools evacuated over bomb threats A Charlottetown police vehicle drives into Sherwood Elementary School in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Inland on Wednesday. AFP, Montreal : Some 60 schools and universities in eastern Canada were evacuated on Wednesday over a series of bomb threats, including one received by police, that appeared to have been bogus. No bombs were found, but administrators said the schools would remain closed throughout the day as police conducted another sweep of the schools, with classes expected to resume in the morning. Authorities said they are investigating possible links between the threats, as well as to another that targeted at least one school in the United States. "At this point, we don't know who is responsible for the threats," Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Kevin Bailey told a press conference. He said the threats were received by fax machine. "The threat said there was a bomb in a school or a number of schools that would detonate today," Bailey said. So far, searches had uncovered nothing suspicious, he said. "If nothing is found, I'll be satisfied that the threat was a hoax." Earlier, the RCMP announced in a statement that all Prince Edward Island schools were being evacuated "due to a potential threat." Students at all primary and secondary schools across the Atlantic island province were taken to designated safe locations, federal police said, with parents anxiously awaiting information about where to pick up their children. In Nova Scotia, meanwhile, police were probing an anonymous bomb threat against three university campuses in the province. UN chief snubs Pakistan over Kashmir, stresses on dialogue with India UN Chief Ban Ki-moon told Pak PM Nawaz Sharif to have \'dialogue with India\' over Kashmir. PTI, United Nations : Rejecting Pakistan's repeated demand to the United Nations over Kashmir, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Pakistan and India should address their outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through "dialogue". Ban Ki-moon's remarks came as Mr Sharif handed over to him a dossier containing information of alleged human rights violations by India. "The Secretary-General stressed the need for Pakistan and India to address their outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue, saying it is in the interest of both countries and the region as a whole," according to a readout of Ban Ki-moon's meeting with Mr Sharif provided by his spokesperson. The UN chief met with Nawaz Sharif at United Nations yesterday on the margins of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. According to a statement by the Pakistan Mission to the UN, Mr Sharif handed over a dossier containing information of alleged human rights violations by India. Mr Sharif has been mounting massive efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, shooting off letters to the United Nations and its chief Ban Ki-moon, and raising the issue in all of his bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. However, his repeated calls to the UN over Kashmir appear to be gaining no traction as Ban Ki-moon made no reference to Kashmir and the situation in the Valley in his final speech to the UN General Assembly as UN Chief. Ban Ki-moon's office has said that the UN Chief's good offices are available to discuss Kashmir only if both India and Pakistan request for it, a clear message that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral one between the two nations and should be solved by them only. Nawaz Sharif Says At UN 'World Ignoring South Asia Tensions At Its Own Peril' United Nations: Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the terms set by India for the Indo-Pak dialogue were "unacceptable" to Pakistan and warned the international community that the world would ignore the dangers of rising tensions in South Asia at its own peril. Speaking to the annual United Nations General Assembly, Mr Sharif said Pakistan could not ignore India's "unprecedented" arms build-up and would "take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence." Abundant catching of Hilsa fish in Bay this yr Huge quantity of Hilsa fish are pouring in the fishery market of the port city from the sources of fishing boats and fishermen of Karnaphuli river and the coastal areas of Chittagong. The catching of Hilsa fish overcomed the previous years by this current season . Passing the off season of hilsa catching in last two or three years , the desired hilsa catching experiences this year, fish hoarders sources said. The fishery department sources said catchingof hilsa fish exceeds all previous records this year and hilsa fishes are available with cheaper price than earlier. Professor of Marine Sciece and Fisheries Institute of Chittagong Universtiy Prof. Dr.Saidu rRahman told the media that recorded hilsa fishes were caught from the Chittagong coast in 1998 and after one and half decades , the fishing recorded survived this year. According to the sources of District fishery offices, 1000 metric tons hilsa catched in 2012, 6207 metric tons catched in 2013, 1,952 tons in 2014 and 2,300 tons in 2015 and all previous recorded will be overcome this year. 10 pirates held with hijacked Hilsa fish : Patenga thana police of CMP rounded up ten pirates alongwith 10 maunds of hilsa fish loaded in a fishing boat from Patenga coast area . Police also detained the fishing boat. Sub Inspector of Patenga thana Monir Hossain told that an organized gang of pirates used to hijack Hilsa fish forcibly from the fishing boats from the estuary of Bay and Karnaphuli river since long.This piracy gang members were caught red handed at No.15 ghat of Patenga early morning yesterday while selling the hijacked fishes alongwith boat. The detained pirates identified as Mir Kashem, Abdur Rashid , Rubel, Alamgir, Yahya, Salek, Khokan, Babul, Jahirul Islam and Manik. Police sources said patenga thana police and coast guards were trying to round up these pirates since long. Police is searching the owner of the boat, sources said. Bollywood should make more socially conscious films, says actor Om Puri Om Puri has over four decades of experience in acting in television, theatre and film and was one of the first Indian actors to cross-over into the West. Reuters file photo Om Puri has over four decades of experience in acting in television, theatre and film and was one of the first Indian actors to cross-over into the West. Reuters file photo The Indian film industry needs to break out of its mould and produce more hard-hitting films that challenge its audience, veteran actor Om Puri said. Puri, who has acted in both Hollywood and Bollywood and was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire), said Indian filmmakers should draw on the country's rich culture and history. "We always say we give people what they want. That shouldn't be the attitude. Then why don't you give your child what he wants," Puri told Reuters in an interview. "Similarly, your audience, if you think that you need to develop their taste, then give them something that is tasteful." Puri has over four decades of experience acting in television, theatre and film and was one of the first actors to cross-over into the West. Some of his notable movies include 'East is East' and 'The One Hundred-Foot Journey' in which he starred with Oscar winner Helen Mirren. The actor, who comes from a modest background in Punjab and says he is a self-made man, is now also breaking barriers by acting in a Pakistani film. Puri plays the lawyer father of the protagonist in 'Actor in Law', a movie which explores social issues like corruption and gender discrimination. Unlike Bollywood, filmmakers for the Pakistani film industry work with much smaller budgets and are still trying to make a bigger impact on the international arena. Few Pakistani films have been shown in India, although Puri said he was going to try his best to get 'Actor in Law' distributed there, particularly because it would enable filmmakers to producer bigger budget films. Puri, who has also acted in several films examining religious extremism like 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', said he hoped playing such roles would help in changing the mindsets of people who are being drawn to terrorism especially in today's world. "I keep requesting to those people that listen, we have such a great planet," he said. "We've got everything. There's nothing you're going to achieve through bloodshed." UN refugee summit was a wasted opportunity James Munn : Sixty-five million people across the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes by conflict and disaster. Sixty-five million people live in the United Kingdom Stuck in camps, blocked at borders, waiting in limbo, sixty-five million people across the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes by conflict and disaster. Just so that this number, sixty-five million people, doesn't pass by unnoticed: sixty-five million people live in the United Kingdom; sixty-five million people live in France; sixty-five million people live in Thailand. Imagine every single person in one of these large, vibrant and diverse countries, forced from their homes, with little to show of their previous lives, stuck and waiting. Waiting to be able to recover, start over, and thrive. Without protection from violence and trafficking, without healthcare and shelter, without education, their presents and futures are stolen from them. Our global responsibility to these people has been understood for the past sixty-five years since the signing of the Refugee Convention, yet in reality, just six countries host over half the world's refugees (while the six richest countries host only nine percent). We need a better way of responding to refugee crises, so that no country is overwhelmed by millions of newcomers, and that each human who has been forcibly displaced has a chance to rebuild their lives. Earlier this week, on the 19th of September, states were offered a golden opportunity to work on such a solution, as a High-Level Meeting to Address Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants was held at the United Nations in New York. Initiated with the ambition of creating a mechanism for responsibility sharing of refugees, the summit has ended with the adoption of a declaration. A declaration which repeats the same human rights standards that everyone has already agreed on. A declaration which includes caveats such as 'where possible' and 'taking into account national legislation' so that states can shirk their international responsibilities. A declaration without an agreement on how to move forward, without a mechanism, without any way of measuring accountability. In essence, a lofty wish-list which is unlikely to amount to any change. States and some NGOs have praised the outcome document for its reinforcement of existing laws and norms. But how can we pat each other on the back for maintaining the status quo? A senior representative from UNHCR affirmed that so many states signing the declaration was a 'minor miracle'. But without anything new or any mechanism to implement, these are empty signatures; the equivalent of signing the office birthday card without putting in a contribution for the cake. Zero commitment, all the praise. Standing still isn't good enough for the millions living in limbo. They, we, need leaders who move forward and aren't afraid to support real solutions. After the talkshop that was the World Humanitarian Summit earlier this year, we hoped that there would be a real appetite for change rather than for another summit with no outcome. Yet states pushed back on any concrete measures to solve the issues at hand. For example, despite all previous legislation and expertise strongly agreeing that detention is never in the best interest of children, selective states managed to include language in the text claiming that detention is seldom in the best interest of the child: effectively a step backwards. Caveats such as these enable states to evade their responsibilities and weaken existing commitments. Furthermore, any reference to action for internally displaced persons was removed, effectively leaving out forty million people from the discussions. Strong solutions to global obstacles need innovation and creativity. This is not the first time that states have needed to come together to tackle a global issue. Yet the leaders of the negotiations omitted to draw from lessons and inspiration from other processes. The climate negotiations, for example, spent over twenty years dealing with mobilizing states for the common good, calculating national responsibility and ensuring accountability. Some of the elements of the most recent successful negotiations, such as national action plans, could have provided inspiration for the refugee summit. For example, once the national quota of responsibility for refugees had been fulfilled in one country, other states would have to step in to resettle refugees. States managing large populations of internally displaced persons could also be part of the scheme and count their efforts to provide protection and assistance to IDPs as part of their quota. The analogy to dealing with climate change can only go so far, yet there are similarities between the failure to deal with root causes, whether these are carbon emissions or conflicts, and in consequence the need for adaptation to a changing global reality. The negotiations also lacked the participation of non-state actors. NGOs, such as NRC, were granted limited inputs into the process but were prepared to push for a more ambitious outcome had we been consulted. What about the large resources that the private sector can contribute to resettlement, jobs, livelihoods and education? A mechanism to provide lasting solutions could only be enhanced if companies are given the chance to be involved and to create job opportunities, graduate training schemes, and business hubs that benefit both refugees and local communities. A truly strong mechanism to share the responsibility for refugees needs to involve all actors so that they can play to their strengths, and so that the negotiation outcomes rest not on the realpolitik of states, but on a communal desire for change. States have now been given two years to negotiate an actual solution. This respite cannot be an excuse for complacency or for more fruitless meetings to reaffirm existing laws. We are deeply disappointed with yesterday's outcome. But we must seize the coming months to ensure that a substantial, innovative and inspiring solution is put in place. This political process that has been launched is an opportunity to change the lives of millions of people. We cannot and must not waste it. Sixty-five million people are waiting. (Dr James Munn is the Director of Norwegian Refugee Council Geneva and heads the Humanitarian Policy Unit). Work together to fight militancy, terrorism UNB, New York : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the world community to work together to uproot militancy and terrorism, and plug the sources of funds, arms and ammunition as well as moral and material support to militants and terrorists across the borders. "Terrorists have no religion, caste or creed. We must unite in our resolve to defeat and degrade them in all forms and manifestations. We have to identify the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism," she said. The Prime Minister made the call while delivering her speech in the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA) general debate. Like previous years, she delivered her speech in Bengali. Sheikh Hasina also reminded all that she talked about terrorism and violent extremism last year as one of the two major global challenges of the time. "We see these menaces sweeping across borders. No country seems immune... no individual is beyond their target. The terrorists are killing now and often many innocent people everywhere from the USA to Europe, Africa to Asia," she said. The Prime Minister also laid emphasis on finding out the mentors, masterminds, abettors, financiers, arms suppliers and trainers of the terrorists and extremists, and taking strong action against them. "As a victim of terrorist attacks, I myself have a 'zero tolerance' approach to terrorism and violent extremism. Our government did succeed in disintegrating the homegrown terrorist groups, plugging their regular financing pipelines, and flushing out the regional operatives from our territory," she said. Hasina said with the vicious rise of certain international terrorist entities, it appears some of the local fringe elements have drawn inspiration and managed to regroup and rebrand themselves. "Bangladesh, a unique country of religious harmony, experienced a grisly attack on July 1 when homegrown terrorists killed 20 people at a Dhaka restaurant. We had been able to rescue 13 hostages unhurt. The horrific incident imprinted a deep scar on the hearts of Bangladeshi people. We're now in a battle with this new wave of terrorism. We've undertaken massive programmes to awaken people against radicalisation and stand against militancy and extremism," she said. Hasina mentioned that she had called for assistance from society and got unprecedented response. "Our women, youths, families and communities can be our vanguards in offsetting extremism and radicalisation. I'm confident, with our people's resilience and support, we'll make sure terrorists will have no place on our soil." Talking about some challenges in the globalised world, she said there are also potential opportunities and benefits for all, only if all know how to manage it right. "We're all gathered here to serve our 'One Humanity'. Let's work through our differences, and find common grounds to make pragmatic changes we wish to see in the world around us." She said the UN provides a unique platform to do so. "Let's renew our resolve to create an organisation of enduring relevance." Noting that the world is now at a juncture, Hasina said all have the end of these scourges in sight. "There're many creative and practical solutions in our hands. The amazing power of technology, ideas and global citizens make us imagine a 'brave new world'." About the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015, she said the political will behind the agenda needs to be translated into concrete and meaningful support for countries that are lagging behind. To catch up, Hasina said, the developing world needs access to transformative technologies. "The internationally agreed development commitments for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) must be fulfilled to pave the way for their graduation. The Technology Bank for LDCs should be geared at promoting innovation and predictable resource flow." In Bangladesh, she said, the government has already mainstreamed most SDGs into the national development plans. A platform under the supervision of Prime Minister has been created to coordinate and monitor the work. "Consultations are going on with the local governments, civil society, media and academia." Listing various development activities in Bangladesh, she said it has experienced one of the fastest poverty reduction rates in the world with a modest resource base. "We've brought down poverty from 56.7 percent in 1991 to 22.4 percent today. "We've already graduated from the UNDP's low human development category to medium, and also the World Bank's lower-middle income status." Hasina said despite global recession, the export earnings grew by more than 3 times to USD 34.24 billion; remittance flow increased nearly 3 times; and foreign currency reserve jumped by 8.5 times from US$ 3.5 billion to over US$ 31 billion over the last seven years. During the same period, the power generation capacity increased by almost 3 times and foreign direct investment also rose by 3 times. "A key to our development strategy is our focus on addressing inequality through social security, decent work and financial inclusion. We allocate over 13 per cent of our budget to social safety net spending, which is 2.3 per cent of our GDP." But, Sheikh Hasina said, the climate change threatens many of the country's development gains. She said the landmark Paris Climate Agreement recognises the importance of adaptation, loss and damage, and climate justice. In this connection, she mentioned that Bangladesh cabinet has ratified the agreement. "We hope that the large carbon emitting countries would ratify the Agreement soon." She said Bangladesh shall remain vocal about recognising the role of national judicial processes in ensuring accountability and justice for mass atrocities. "We have moved past decades of impunity to ensure the trial of the local perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity during our Liberation War in 1971." She mentioned that the recent efforts to resume the Middle East Peace Process and end hostilities against the brotherly Palestinian people must be pursued in the right direction. Six BD nat`ls killed in KSA road crash UNB, Dhaka : Six Bangladesh nationals, including two siblings, were killed while another was injured in a road accident near Qatif, a municipality in Saudi Arabia, on Thursday morning. The victims are Shahidul and his brother Babul, son of Abdul Hakim hailing from Ujirpur, Barisal; Rafiqul Islam, son of Shahidul Hawladar, Patuakhali, Sirajul Islam, son of Abdul Hakim, Rana Sahabuddin, Bhola and Sharif, son of Abu Bakar. Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Moshi told UNB over phone that six people are reported dead but awaiting final confirmation. He said, another Bangladesh national - Saiful - was injured in the accident. He was admitted to a local hospital. The accident took place when a car carrying the workers collided with another one at Qatif town, 350 kilometres off capital Riyadh. Officials from the Bangladesh Mission moved to the spot to have further details, the envoy said. Canada scraps Noor`s protection law Govt working to bring him back: Asad Sagar Biswas : In a major development, the Canadian government has scrapped the immigration contract of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's self-confessed killer Colonel [retd] SHMB Noor Chowdhury, officials confirmed on Thursday. Earlier on Monday, the Federal Court of Canada in a judgment ordered the authorities concerned to expel him [Noor Chowdhury] after rejecting his prayer for political asylum. He has been staying in Canada illegally, the court said, so the government can take step to expel him [from Canada] anytime. "The Canadian government didn't renew the contract for immigration to Bangabandhu's killer Noor Chowdhury It's a good news. The government is now working to bring back the killer to Bangladesh," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Thursday after attending an urgent meeting at Secretariat. Echoing the same, a senior official of Law Ministry said: "The Bangladesh Government is taking preparations to bring back the absconding killer [Noor Chowdhury] through consultation with Canadian Government. Noor Chowdhury has been defeated in the legal battle. Now it is time to bring him back." It is to be noted that Canada is against death penalty. And as per its law, the Canadian Government does not take any step to send a person, who has applied for political asylum mentioning his life threat, even if he/she is awarded death penalty for any crime in his own country. Despite the above law, the Bangladesh Government has long been trying to get back the killer from Canada. In line with its policy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 17 talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to find a way to the thorny issue of extraditing fugitive Noor Chowdhury, diplomatic sources said. Expressing his optimism, former Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed recently said: "We've waited a long time for this legal battle. Now, Noor Chowdhury has been defeated. So far as I think, he will be brought back through discussion with Canadian Government." "The initiative to bring back Noor Chowdhury was taken earlier and his passport was confiscated. But we could not proceed further as he went to Canadian court to settle the issue. After a defeat in legal battle, the Canadian Government now can take step to send him to Bangladesh. In this situation, the Foreign Ministry will have to play a vital role," he said. After the meeting between Hasina and Trudeau, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said that officials concerned of the two countries would sit in a meeting soon to chalk out a way about the extradition of Noor Chowdhury. "The motto of the meeting will be the execution of Bangabandhu murder case verdict," the Foreign Secretary said. President of Supreme Court Bar Association Yusuf Hossain said the talks between Sheikh Hasina and Justin Trudeau was fruitful. "The Canadian Government may send the self-confessed killer responding to the appeal of Bangladesh Government," the SCBA chief said. On August 15, 1975, a group of junior derailed officers of army attacked Presidential House at Raod-32 in the city's Dhanmondi area and killed Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most members of his family, including eight-year-old son Russell. In the operation, Bazlul Huda and Noor Chowdhury directly sprayed bullets on Bangabandhu from close-range taking position on the staircase of first floor. Ordering to expel Noor Chowdhury from Canada, Justice James Russell of Canadian Federal Court in the verdict said: "His easy movement beyond the army check post at the moment of Bangabandhu killing on August 15 night appears to be suspicious The possibility of Noor Chowdhury's involvement in the conspiracy for the planned and organized attack that took place on that night is beyond any doubt." The court further said: "The hearings and trial of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib's murder case were held [in Bangladesh] in a transparent way. Although the accused was not present physically during the trial, the appointed lawyers had got sufficient space to fight a legal battle in favour of him [Noor Chowdhury]. So, Noor's claim about depriving of justice in his own country [Bangladesh] doesn't seem true." According to information available from Foreign Ministry, the killer Noor Chowdhury fled away from Bangladesh along with his family soon after Awami League came to power in 1996, and applied for political asylum to Canadian lower court introducing himself a "terminated army officer and non-political person". In his application Noor had also expressed support to Ziaur Rahman's government condemning the Bangabandhu's tenure. But Canadian lower court outright rejected his appeal. Later, he had lodged appeal with the Federal Court of Canada, and also rejected by it finally. Meanwhile, the taskforce committee, formed on 28 March, 2010 to bring back the six fugitive killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has located the whereabouts of another killer Abu Mohammad Rashed Chowdhury in the USA. But the government is still in the dark about the whereabouts of four other killers -- Khandakar Abdur Rashid, Shariful Hoque Dalim, Abdul Mazed and Muslehuddin Khan. Unconfirmed sources said Rishaldar Muslehuddin was seen in Germany though he was earlier reportedly staying in India. Another one Abdul Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe a few years ago. Besides, Abdul Mazed is now in Senegal, Khandakar Abdur Rashid in Libya [sometimes in Pakistan], Shariful Hoque Dalim in Libya [sometimes in Pakistan or Zimbabwe], according to officials. President Obama`s last message to the world Abu Hena : "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players;". The man for whom Shakespeare wrote is Barack Obama ,the 44th President of the United States. He came to the world's stage in 2008 as the 21ST century President to transform the 19th century world. On Tuesday, 20 September, he made his last appearance on the world's stage to deliver his final message of hope to the citizens of the globalized world. Addressing the 71st UN General Assembly, he highlighted the forces of globalization, integration, inter-connectedness, and interdependence. "We all are stakeholders in this globalization", he said, admitting that there is a "deep fault- line in the existing international order", which needs a " course correction", and yet it will be self- defeating to try to reverse globalization. Globalization , he said, has made the world less violent and more prosperous. "We all face a choice - a better model of cooperation and integration or division ",he emphasized. Democracy and open market have reduced extreme poverty from 40% to 10%. World economy and 'our international order is successful', he claimed, stressing that global integration needs knowledge. "A world in which one percent of humanity controls as much wealth as the other 99 percent will never be stable," he warned. Nearly $8 trillion has been stashed away in tax haven. Pervasive sense of injustice is causing unrest. Centrally controlled economy is at dead end and oligarchies will rot from within. There is no place for so- called strongman from the top, he said, taking aim at Vladimir Putin's Soviet nostalgia and Donald Trump's narcissist megalomania. The world needs inclusive and accountable government, rule of law and independent judiciary. "The United States," he said, was built on the principles of " liberty, individual human rights, freedom and dignity and opportunity, and we reject fundamentalism, racism or ethnic superiority". He strongly denounced the mindset of sectarianism, dehumanizing and domination and said, discrimination frays "bonds of civilization". Market economy has helped billions. Number of democracies have doubled in 25 years. 'Build, rather than destroy', he urged but 'don't build walls', because 'the world is too small for walls'. 'Nations harm themselves, if they surround themselves with walls', he said, adding 'mosquitoes don't respect walls'. The President who is a strong advocate of free market economy and liberalized trade is a staunch supporter of NAFTA, EU, ASEAN, and TPP. His faith in democracy is unflinching." "True democracy remains the better path and the firmest foundation for human progress", he assured the world leaders, as he repudiated "crude populism" that has mushroomed in the United States and around the world. He had more direct message for his Russian counterpart, accusing Putin -who has invaded Ukraine and deployed forces to Syria-of using the military to gain global clout. "In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force," the President said. By the same token he cautioned China's increasingly powerful leader Xi Jinping that adhering to the rule of law offers "far greater stability than the militarization of a few rocks and reefs" in the South China Sea. He restated the case for multilateralism, 'a new era of engagement' and an America that knows its own might. And even as the Syrian ceasefire brokered by Secretary John Kerry lay in tatters , he insisted diplomacy, not force - is the only way to end the brutal five-year conflict. President Obama organized the Leaders' Summit on Refugees at UN headquarters the same day to address the global problem. A record 65 million people are currently displaced worldwide because of conflicts, both within their countries and outside their borders. The 1951 Refugee Convention, signed by most nations, obligates the signatories to offer protection to all those fleeing war and persecution. In his speech before the General Assembly, he made an impassioned appeal to the world community to help the refugees. The same day Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr. caused uproar on social media by comparing Syrian refugees to the fruit flavored sweets Skittles. Trying to suggest the U.S. should not accept any refugees, Trump Jr. posted an image that asked:" If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three will kill you, would you take a handful?" "That's our Syrian refugee problem, "he said, adding ,"This image says it all". The food analogy has been used to imply that, if a few people in a group are bad, it would be dangerous to take a single one in. The analogy applies to the Trump family even more accurately. In the RNC Melania Trump was found guilty of plagiarizing the speech of the U.S. First Lady Mitchel Obama. She was caught red-handed by the media and she admitted the guilt. So by the same Trump Jr. reasoning the entire Trump Family including Donald Trump himself should be ostracized and thrown out of the race which is not meant for thieves and criminals. Trump himself brought the insinuating charge against President Obama alleging that he was not born in the United States and then after launching the" birther" movement for long five years he shamelessly admitted in public that he was guilty of bringing false charge against the President of the United States who was elected by 52% of American voters. By the same reasoning isn't Trump Jr. guilty of the same offence? Does it not disqualify him and other members of Trump family from entering the White House alongside Donald Trump who can still be sued for the offence of bringing false allegations against an American citizen? The fellow is totally ill informed about the ground reality in Syria where, during last five years of conflict which is not their doing, 400,000 innocent men, women and children have lost their lives, 6 million are displaced and 2 million children are out of school for four years. Following the tweet by the Republican presidential candidate's son the company that owns Skittles Wrigley, stepped in:" Kittles are candy. Refugees are people," said Denise Young, Vice-president of corporate affairs for Wrigley America. " We don't feel it is an appropriate analogy," she said. Kids who love candy know this simple truth. But mindless adults remain ignorant even at their70s. No wonder former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a Republican who was Pentagon Chief under Republican President George Bush and Democrat Barack Obama and has worked with eight presidents posted an op-ed piece on Friday in the Wall Street Journal : "I believe Mr. Trump is beyond repair. He is stubbornly uninformed and temperamentally unsuited to lead our men and women in uniform. "He is unqualified and unfit to be commander-in Chief". President Obama won the election beating John McCain by 52% to 46%. On the momentous night, the Democrat swept to victory in almost all the battleground states, including Florida and Ohio. Indiana and Virginia voted for a Democratic President for the first time since 1964. As thousands of his supporters celebrated, Obama said that "change has come to America". Many people in the world reacted with cheers to America's election of a thrilling, new president -young, black, with political and intellectual gifts. International enthusiasm for America's new president was hardly surprising, given the rapturous welcome he enjoyed when touring Europe in the summer. 200,000 Germans turned out to cheer him in Berlin and he enjoyed tremendous global goodwill. He is a courteous, and celebral Harvard- educated lawyer with rare gift for inspiring and uniting people from most diverse backgrounds. His election marked a turning point in American history. President Obama is the great conciliator who coordinated the rescue of the world economy which faced the worst depression since 1930, tackled climate change, reformed global institutions and above all revived America itself and kept it safe. [Writer was elected MP in the 7th and 8th Parliaments of Bangladesh] DU `Kha` unit admission test today DU Correspondent : The first year honours admission test under Kha-unit of the Dhaka University for 2016-2017 session will be held from 10am to 11am today (Friday). The one-hour long test will take place in 73 centers of the Dhaka University campus and outside the campus, said a university press release on Thursday. The outside centers are: Bangladesh Engineering University School and College, Home Economics College, Dhaka City College, Azimpur Girls School and College and Badrunnesa Mohila College. A total of 34,606 admission seekers have applied for 2,241 seats, meaning that 15 students will compete for each seat. The seat-plan of the admission test is available on the university website admission.eis.du.ac.bd. Mobile phone sets and electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the examination halls. Mobile court will keep its eyes on the examinees. Hundreds feared dead in Egypt BBC Online : Survivors from a boat which capsized off the Egyptian coast on Wednesday have told the BBC that hundreds of people may have drowned. The boat was carrying about 550 migrants when it capsized eight miles (12km) off the coast, they say. Authorities have rescued 163 people and recovered 42 bodies so far off the port city of Rosetta. Four crew members have been arrested in connection with incident, Egyptian officials said. They are suspected of involuntary manslaughter and human trafficking, judicial officials were reported as saying. The incident came after the EU's border agency warned that increasing numbers of Europe-bound migrants are using Egypt as a departure point. The UN says that more than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean towards Europe since 2014. The boat was kept off the coast for five days as more and more migrants were brought on board, survivors told the BBC's Orla Guerin in Rosetta. Just over 100 of those rescued were Egyptians. Migrants were charged extra if they wanted to wear life jackets, she reports. The boat is said to have capsized after a final group of some 150 people were crammed on board. Authorities have been accused of failing to send help fast enough. "Anyone who was saved here, was saved by the local fishing boats," fisherman Abdelrahman Al-Mohamady told the Reuters news agency. The victims so far include one child, 10 women and 31 young men, an official in Rosetta told AFP. The boat was transporting Egyptian, Syrian, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants. Many survivors are now being held in police custody. Rescuers are focusing their efforts on the boat's cold storage room, where it is believed around 100 people took refuge during the capsize. Some teenage Egyptian survivors, huddled together in the basement of a police station, told the BBC they were trying to reach Italy to find work. The Egypt office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) say high birth rates and few job opportunities are pushing young Egyptians into taking the risk of a dangerous sea voyage. Authorities say Egyptians in police custody will soon be released but foreign nationals will be held for a few days for questioning as to how they entered the country. Human rights researchers warned last month of a "devastating" lack of information for families of migrants thought to have drowned in the Mediterranean, IOM figures, released in July, suggest 2016 could become the worst year to date for migrant deaths. It said about 3,000 migrants and refugees had lost their lives so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean. EU border agency Frontex says more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared with 7,000 over the same period in 2015. It says Egypt is the "new hotspot" for people smugglers, with concerns that its population of about 80 million people may pose a major problem should it descend into chaos. Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri said that work was being done to determine whether there was a link between the drop in numbers departing from Turkey - where only about 50 people a day are trying to make the journey to reach Greece compared to thousands this time last year - and the increase in numbers from Egypt. However, officials say Libya still remains the biggest departure point with flows at around the same level this year as last year. Warrants aganist Selima, 13 other BNP men Court Correspondent : The Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka on Thursday issued arrest warrant against 14 BNP leaders and activists, including Vice Chairman Selima Rahman, in a case filed with Pallabi Police Station under the Special Power Act. Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah of the court took cognizance of the case passed the order of warrant. The case was filed on the charge of violence. Other BNP leaders include- Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Personal Assistant to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, Press Secretary to the BNP Chief. BNP leaders Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia and four others secured bail in the case. Besides, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is now in the jail. On February, 2, last year, a vehicle was set on fire in front of Appayan Community Centre in Pallabi area of the capital during the BNP-led 20-party alliance sponsored non-stop blockade. 300 militants still active Staff Reporter : Around 300 trained members of different militant outfit organisations are active in the country in a bid to carry out terror attack at any place anytime, detectives say based on statements of some of its arrested members. In the face of massive hunts by the members of different law enforcement agencies, most of the militants have changed their hideouts as well as strategies. "And now they are framing fresh strategies that how and in what way they would be able to survive in a bid to execute their plan," the arrested militant was quoted as saying. They are collecting new members as well as continuing their organisational activities carefully as cops gathered vital information from the arrested militants, police said. "The militants are still active at different places of the country as their dens were found. If their rest dens remain untouched, their activities will also continue," a high official of police said. Police have claimed that they would be able to control the militant activities as many of them were either killed or arrested in the recent raids in city's Gulshan, Kallyanpur, Mirpur, Azimpur and Narayanganj district, Police Headquarter sources said. The law enforcers also have increased the vigilance on foreigners, private universities' students and other educational institutions as well as some retired and all sacked personnel of security forces, they said. Against this backdrop, Barisal's Sher-e-Bngla Medical College (SBMC) authorities increased surveillance on four Pakistani and 31 foreign students after getting a letter signed by Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, Deputy Secretary of Health Ministry on August 29, said Bhaskar Shaha, Principal of SBMC. "We have taken extra security measures on the college campus," the principal said. Besides, Barisal Nursing College (BNC) authorities have taken extra watch after getting alleged militant link of their five female students. Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque said, "We must find out the militants by conducting detective watch." Monirul Islam, chief of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, said, "After our raids in Kalyanpur, Azimpur and other areas, we have been able to bring down the strength of JMB down to 30-40 percent." Monirul Islam pointed out that it would not be possible to completely uproot militants from the country in the current global situation. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Intelligence Wing Director Abul Kalam Azad said the militants do not have any chance launch attacks. 5 Gulshan attackers, chef buried Staff Reporter : After 83 days of the sensational Gulshan cafe attack, five unclaimed bodies of militants and a chef were buried in the city's Jurain graveyard on Thursday afternoon, said Rezaul Karim Shammi, Assistant Director of Inter-Services Public Relations. The Combined Military Hospital (CMH) authorities earlier handed over the bodies to the Investigation Officer of the case. Three representatives of police and nine members of Anjuman-e-Mofidul Islam were also present there, he said. No one of the family members of deceased claimed for the bodies after collecting the DNA sample, he claimed. The Anjuman-e-Mofidul Islam buried the bodies around 1:30pm. The five militants, Nibras Islam, Rohan Imtiaz, Meer Saameh Mubasheer, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Uzzal were killed on July 2 in an operation conducted by the joint forces at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan. Besides, cafe chef Saiful Islam was also reportedly killed during the operation. Govt offices to remain open Saturday UNB, Dhaka : Government offices will remain open on Saturday next as the public servants will have to compensate the one-day additional holiday they had enjoyed ahead of Eid -ul-Azha on September 11. "All the government offices will remain open on Saturday (Sept 24)," said a handout on Thursday. It said the Public Administration Ministry in a notification on September 5 announced the one-day additional holiday for September 11 enabling the public servants to enjoy a non-stop 6-day Eid vacation from September 11 to 15. Eid -ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated in the country on September 13. Khoka`s property confiscated Staff Reporter : A six-storied house and 50 acres of land of BNP leader and former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka have been confiscated by the government as per the court order. The court declared the verdict in connection with the case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on charge of concealing information of wealth and illegally acquired assets as well as tax evasion. According to Dhaka district administration sources, a notice was hanged on Thursday to confiscate Sadeque Hossain Khoka's house situated on five katas of land at plot No 9, road No 72, Gulshan- 2. The estimated price of the house is Tk 2 crore 47 lakh and 60 thousand. The government also confiscated his 50 acres of land in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district yesterday. The upazila administration officially announced their confiscation of the lands in Tarabo and Golakandail areas in Rupganj. Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Rabbi Miah said: "the government is moving to acquire, appropriate and declare the land as 'khas' (state-owned)." Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Farhana Islam said, a court order in relation to a case by the ACC directed the move to confiscate about 50 acres of land in Kornogop, Tarabo and Golakandail areas in Rupganj. The land has been demarked and red flags have been erected on the land, the UNO said. Earlier, a Dhaka court has found senior BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka guilty of acquiring wealth through illegal means. He has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. The court said the charges leveled by the ACC were proven beyond doubt. The court of Dhaka's Third Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar gave the verdict on the case filed by the ACC in 2008 during the military-backed caretaker government's regime. It said Khoka acquired wealth worth around Tk 100.52 crore through illegal means and evaded taxes on assets worth Tk 96.5 crore. The court also ordered confiscation of his assets worth Tk 100.52 crore. Khoka, a former minister and mayor of Dhaka, has been in the US since May 2014 and the trial has been held in absentia. He has been given a three-year prison term and fined Tk 100,000 for providing false information on his assets. He would have to spend another month in jail if he fails to pay the fine. Another 10 years rigorous imprisonment has been awarded to Khoka for concealing wealth. He has been fined Tk 10 lakh for this offence, failing to pay which would mean another six months in jail. A court jailed 13 years to Sadeque Hossain in connection with a case of ACC in the last year. According to case, the ACC filed a case accusing Sadeque Hossain Khoka, his wife Ismat Ara, son Israque Hossain and daughter Sarika with the Ramna Police Station on April 2, 2008. The ACC investigation officer framed charge sheet against Khoka and his wife while their children escaped from the case the same year. End stalemate to Teesta water sharing agreement A NATIONAL daily reported on Wednesday that India is sidetracking the call by Bangladesh's Minister for Irrigation and Water Resource Management to hold immediate meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission to resolve Teesta water sharing issue. Anisul Islam Mahmud's recent request to his Indian counterpart for the meeting drew no response showing India's lack of interest to JRC meeting. Many fear it shows a visible crack in confidence level of the Indian government on how to continue ignoring Bangladesh's legitimate share of water from the common river at a time it has apparently no interest to solve the crisis. Earlier report said the JRC meeting did not take place at least over the last six years instead of twice annually. We would like to say that the relation between India and Bangladesh government is at its peak now at political level, but such relation that unfortunately deny meaningful people to people relation may not bring about any good at the end. It is quite ironic that even during the full rainy season Bangladesh feels uncertainty of water supply in the next dry season and this is why our Minister made the plea for the meeting but it passed unheeded. We must say Bangladesh has made all major concessions to India like connectivity to northeast and sacrificing other national interest. But as time passes on it appears we are receiving nothing except bullets in common borders. We must say such abhorrent attitude is not supportive to long-term interest of both the countries and it must see change in words and deeds. The Teesta water level drastically falls in Bangladesh from January to May each year due to India's unilateral withdrawal of water. Since time immemorial, farmers in the northern districts of Bangladesh depended on Teesta waters to irrigate their crop fields during the dry season. But India's unilateral withdrawal of water is now adversely affecting the livelihoods of millions and the ecology in northern districts. Teesta riverbeds turn sand dunes in dry season while discussion on water sharing is on the table since 1954. There are many who believe that such sidetracking to resolve the basic issues under different pretext amounts to betrayal and true friends can't resort to such duplicity. It may flare up anti-Indian sentiment in the border and affected districts and it is no secret it already exists based on such misgivings. In fact India missed the signing of the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement in 2011 during Indian Premier Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka. Again the opportunity was lost during Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka last year. Meanwhile the JRC meeting was postponed at the last minute in 2013. Question now arises how Bangladesh can repose faith in India to build a common future. Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 15, 2015. [Photo/IC] The number of Chinese mainland visitors to Taiwan keeps shrinking even with the mainland's weeklong National Day holiday being round the corner. When Ma Ying-jeou was the leader, the island used to be a popular holiday destination for many mainland tourists. The situation changed soon after Ma's successor Tsai Ing-wen, known for her equivocation on the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle, assumed office on May 20. Last week, more than 15,000 workers from the hospitality and tourism industries took to the streets in Taipei, demanding the island authorities change their policies, in order to help the ailing industry. Even if the number of tourists from the Republic of Korea increases by 100 percent, it cannot make up for a 5 or 10 percent drop in mainland visitors, according to a spokesperson for Taiwan Travel Agent Association. The number of mainland tourists visiting the island on group tours reportedly fell 8 percent from January to July, affecting the island's economy and people's livelihoods. For example, many tour guides now face unemployment, and their monthly income can be as low as only one-fifth of what it was while Ma was in office. That's why tourism and hospitality workers took to streets to urge Tsai to honor the 1992 Consensus. In response, Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party came up with the "new southward policy" encouraging the island's tourism sector to tap the markets in Southeast Asia, in a bid to fill the void left by mainland tourists. But such a move is no more than a wishful thinking, and will make little difference to the shrinking tourism and hospitality businesses on the island. It will take more than lip service to transform the tourism sector. For example, of the over 37,000 local tour guides, nearly 30,000, or 78 percent, mainly speak Chinese. So they are not ready to provide tailor-made services to visitors from Southeast Asia. Besides, tourists from the mainland are irreplaceable for the island's tourism and hospitality sectors in terms of their number and consumption capacity. A record 4.15 million mainland residents visited the other side of the Taiwan Straits last year, making up almost 40 percent of all tourists to the island and contributing nearly 230 billion new Taiwan dollars ($7.3 billion) to its economy. It is estimated that the drop in the number of mainland visitors will cost the island at least 36 billion new Taiwan dollars this year. Since further slump in the number of mainland visitors is feared, Tsai needs to review her "new southward policy", for it intends to sacrifice the lucrative mainland market. About 133 million mainland tourists are expected to travel abroad in 2016, up 11.5 percent year-on-year, says a report issued by the China Tourism Academy and UnionPay International earlier this month. Destinations popular with mainland residents, including Japan and the ROK, have done everything possible to attract more mainland tourists, while Taiwan seems determined to go the other way. Tsai's "look south" policy is unlikely to rid the island's tourism sector of its sufferings. Early October is the mainland's traditional travel season. This year, it could see the beginning of a tourism crisis for Taiwan if more mainland holidaymakers spend the weeklong holiday elsewhere. It is time Tsai changed her stance on cross-Straits ties to revive the island's tourism sector. The author is a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Beijing Union University. Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes. What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection? Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were. Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly. Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection: You get to see exactly what will happen to your money When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor. Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on. A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with. You find out about potential major repairs Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing. If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately. You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home. Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly. You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best. This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit. Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home. You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home. You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price. You can sell your home faster and for more money If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are. In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price. Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for. Your home will hold its value longer As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property. When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home. You can make smart decisions about property investments Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property. If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal. There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about. If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing. They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit. You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for. For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money. You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building. You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure. Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so. As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process. President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war? You voted: Hurricane Update: Fears arise that Gov. Ron DeSantis may reroute Hurricane Ian from Florida coast to Martha's Vineyard Study: People who define themselves by what they stand against, are usually afraid to tell people what they stand for Liz Cheney: Voters need to ask themselves, why they are so out of touch with their politicians White House: IRS toy guns for children are now politically correct, mandatory BREAKING: Biden's economic sanctions on the U.S. to be partially lifted prior to November election GOP's new slogan for midterms: Make Dissent Patriotic Again PSA: Due to high gas prices police departments will now be responding and making arrests via Zoom. NYT: Roe vs Wade to be renamed the "Don't Say Fetus" law Democrats insist on carrying unwanted presidency to term Elon Musk went to bed thinking he owns Twitter. Then the mail-in ballots arrived at 2am... Obama: "If you like your information you can keep your information" Fact checkers reveal Biden handler not a real Easter bunny Biden 2021: you'll save $0.16 on 4th of July BBQ! Biden 2022: you'll save a ton of $$ if you don't eat this 4th of July! Disney to buy Epstein Island for new theme park The Biology Underground is like the Weather Underground, except they are real biologists and they've had to go underground "Psssst. Hey you, kid. Ya wanna watch a Disney movie with me?" "I am not suicidal," says COVID-19 after being contracted by Hillary Clinton Trans-swimmer Lia Thomas's trophy is smaller than for male swimmers, and only 73% gold Sources: U.S. now considers majority of U.S. citizens a threat to U.S. BREAKING: Russian General claims he was beaten up outside Ukrainian bio lab by two Nazis who poured vodka and caviar over him and yelled "This is NATO Country!" Global warming news: 100,000 Russian migrants fleeing climate change about to march into Ukraine Future headline: Donald Trump to buy CNN for one dollar Georgia Governor Stacy Abrams feels honored to be the new Supreme Court justice President Biden: 'Vote for me or I'll shoot this foot' Fact checkers give Pinocchio's speech four Bidens Fauci: The only thing we have to fear, is a lack of fear itself! Study: Most people have had sex more violent than January 6th Facebook permanently bans Facebook from Facebook for violating Facebook community standards New remake of the 1950's horror movie Them to be titled Them/They Teachers Union: Idea that CRT is being taught in K-12 just a conspiracy theory by white supremacists trying to maintain their systemically racist police state Xze/She/He who controls the past controls the future; Xze/She/He who controls the present controls the past S ocialists vow to fight against Critical Socialism Theory A more perfect Soviet Union: the Party pretends it unites us, and we pretend we are united Biden solves border crisis with free direct flights from Central America to major metropolitan areas Critical race theory: destroy the world of systemic racism, build a world of systemic race-baiting In the future everyone will get canceled for fifteen minutes Biden proposes bill to spend two trillion dollars on more money printing factories Social unity: They pretend to hold elections and we pretend we voted Immigrants to Texas and Florida from New York and California break down and cry when they realize all their sacrifices for a better tomorrow were based on lies China anal swabs detect new 'silent but deadly' transmission of covid-19 variant Social science breakthrough: 'White' is the new way of saying 'Bourgeois' Biden administration swat teams make sweeping arrests of underground female-only track meets 'Green energy' to be renamed 'blackout energy' for easier comprehension of climate complexities New children's game: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Science Texas: Biden administration sends emergency wind turbines to help fight the blackouts BREAKING: Biden signs executive order canceling the number 45 ATTENTION: It is your duty to report anyone who says this is no longer a free country. Fact-checking commissars are monitoring all state-approved social media platforms for your convenience OUT: If you don't vote, you can't complain! IN: If you didn't vote Democrat, you can't complain! Social media justice: followers removed from pro-Trump accounts will be added to Biden's Twitter account Fact check: a democratic election is the one in which votes are counted until Democrats win JUST IN: China bans Twitter for being too totalitarian Pelosi introduces new House rule to replace 'gender' terms like mother, daughter, father, son with the word 'comrade'; the only acceptable pronoun will also be 'comrade' Sources: Biden transition team demands access to White House basement to begin renovations BREAKING: President Trump pardons America for its past Prime Minister Modi: to avoid accusations of racism India will change its name to Cleveland Biden creates Antifascist Librarian Justice Committee; the first book scheduled for burning is Fahrenheit 451 Media study: 148% of Americans believe voter fraud doesn't exist 2020 Election forecast: if Joe Biden emerges from the basement on Election Day and sees his shadow, expect four more years of Trump BREAKING: President Trump pardons Corn Pop Toobin, though on administrative leave, is still pulling for Biden Chinese whistleblower: Biden-20 was genetically engineered in a Wuhan lab Nancy Pelosi sponsors a bill to create the office of removal of the President New college humanities major: Critical Trump Studies Opinion: Joe Biden is just an idea CNN: Biden took a solid second place in the debate, while Trump only came next to last Having ordered that all Californians switch to electric cars by 2035, Gov. Gavin Newsom follows up by mandating them to have electricity by 2035 Election 2020: Joe Biden pledges to a peaceful post-election transfer of power to George Soros Out: Flatten the curve. In: Flatten the country. Breaking: the Democrat Party has finished transitioning from being the party of JFK to being the party of Lee Harvey Oswald Paradigm shift in Chromatics: Study shows Indigo (#3F00FF) mixed with Jamaic (#C0FF01) yields Black (#000000) Study: the trouble with wokeism is eventually you run out of victims Stacey Abrams refuses to concede to Harris; declares herself Biden's VP Election 2020: Spunky former presidential candidate wins VP slot by a head Churches in many states to hold services in opened up pubs and bars Election 2020: Xi Jinping still undecided on vice president for Joe Biden Reports: Republicans pounce on 'Republicans pounce' reports Minneapolis launches online looting app to combat Covid-19 DNC study finds lockdowns no longer necessary as the economy is now being destroyed more effectively by looters and rioters With America in lockdown, China offers to host Democrat primary Bernie Sanders tests negative for President In related news, Joe Biden follows other candidates in withdrawing from race and endorsing Joe Biden New York Governor Cuomo shuts down all 'non-essential' business, surprised to find himself out of a job Biden commits to picking a woman as running mate as long as she passes his sniff test Joe Biden's coronavirus prevention tips: always rub hand sanitizer on young girls before sniffing and fondling them Russian lawmakers warned that the American Democrats are meddling to re-elect Putin Joe Biden promises lucrative board member jobs as door prizes to get people to his rallies Democrats now worried they might even lose the illegal alien vote Soleimani's remains FedExed back to Iran and now no one knows what happened to the box BREAKING: massive search underway in Iran after Soleimani's boxed FedEx'd remains stolen off front porch Liz Warren harshly critical of Biden's suggestion to coal miners that they should learn to code, offers to have them trained as romance novelists instead Pelosi: "First we have to impeach Donald Trump before we can find out why we impeached him." Schiff calls his Amazon Alexa to testify: 'She knows absolutely everything' Iran answers to new Reagan statue in Berlin by erecting Obama statue at Tehran airport where he delivered pallets of cash California accepts award for most progressive environmental policies; further progressive developments to be announced as blackouts permit BREAKING: Romney DNA test reveals he is 1/1024th Republican California Governor Gavin Newsom blames electricity blackouts on Ukrainian kulaks, vows revenge Rat falling from White House ceiling fears for his life, begs reporters for protection, offers a tell-all memoir Latest UN climate report shows this month so far has seen the scariest climate pronouncements on record Climate science: there's no need for climate protests in China because China is already communist Islamic clerics split on whether Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib should be traveling around the world without an accompanying male relative Dem candidates call for the Beatles' song 'Get Back' and the 'White Album' to be banned; surviving two white guys of the group must pay reparations Bond's number is up: next 007 will be a black woman, played by Barack Obama NYT: moon landing was one small step for Man, one giant leap for White Male Supremacy HURRICANE WATCH: Tropical storm Barry has records sealed, once offshore expected to change name to Barack Trump politicizes the 4th of July, declares it henceforth to be called the 45th of July, or July the Trumpth Barack Obama critical of Trump for failing to insert 'I, me, my' into his 4th of July speech: "very unpresidential!" Congressional Democrats: John Dean's testimony proves Trump is Nixon in disguise and must be impeached Bernie Sanders admits to being a millionaire, promises to eat himself if nominated International Women's Day observed, women only paid 73% of attention afforded to men Democrats: anti-Semitism means never having to say you're sorry AOC: aborting babies helps preserve the planet for the next generation Bernie Sanders launches presidential campaign, promises to "build a great big beautiful Iron Curtain" around America if elected West Virginia renames itself Eastern Kentucky to avoid further embarrassment from Virginia BREAKING: Justice Ginsburg released from hospital after breaking 3 ribs at late night bar brawl in Adams Morgan DNA news: Senator Warren tanking in latest totem polls Orwell studies: 84% of academics believe problems raised in 1984 can be fixed with solutions from Animal Farm Progress in gender justice: online dating industry issues recommendations for men to wear body cameras, bring attorneys as chaperones Study: the only people who don't know what socialism is are the socialists Poll: 1 in 3 #FightFor15 activists believe movement is related to lowering the age of consent across America CNN expert: Kavanaugh confirmation will increase global warming by 3 degrees Harry Reid comes forth to say Judge Kavanaugh didn't pay any taxes in high school Hollywood to America: If you've got a flag on the Moon, you didn't plant that; some other country made that happen Protest march in straight jackets against Trump ends in chaos as participants try but fail to free themselves HEADLINES YOU WILL NEVER SEE: California Gov. Jerry Brown single-handedly stops wildfires in his state by issuing an immediate statewide ban on wildfires San Francisco closes all Planned Parenthood clinics after sting operation catches employees using plastic straws Vegan mother undergoes experimental surgery to force her breasts to produce almond milk With none of his emails answered, frustrated Nigerian man commits suicide and leaves $100bn fortune to charity California gives new meaning to strawman argument as caped Strawman battles supervillains in restaurants, bars, and fast food joints Violence increases in Mexico as cartels switch from smuggling drugs to plastic straws to San Francisco Obama proposes a Paris Economic Change agreement among nations to address how world will cope with future runaway economic warming Stormy Daniels plans border visit to give migrant children freebies San Francisco: man dumping off 20 lbs of human waste in plastic bag on street corner cited for using non-biodegradable plastic bag BREAKING: ICE renamed Planned Citizenship, immediately absolving it of all criticism Senate Democrats demand Supreme Court nominee not be unduly influenced by U.S. Constitution BREAKING: In 2018, Obama and Biden can finally celebrate Recovery Summer IG Report: the FBI broke the law, but since there was no criminal intent, no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case Pelosi on Trump's MS-13 "animals" comments: "Four legs good, two legs bad" Iran nuclear talks set to resume between the United States and John Kerry Report: The Mueller investigation has finally determined that the lyrics to Louie Louie are not about Trump and Russian collusion MARKETS: Demand for carbon credits spikes as Hamas seeks to undo damage to Earth's atmosphere caused by burning 10,000 tires on Gaza border BREAKING: After state reassignment surgery Pennsylvania will henceforth be known as Transylvania Experts: If we don't act now, unicorns will be extinct in just ten years. Children will ask, "Mommy, what's a unicorn?" Women and minorities will be forced to seek alternative hallucinations Korean war must continue: Hawaiian federal judge declares Trump's peace effort unconstitutional New York: feminists march on Broadway, demand the street be given new, non-misogynistic name Experts: California's planned transition of all state jobs from citizens to illegal aliens by 2020 will help to avoid bankruptcy and save money for social programs for illegal aliens Putin: If I didn't want Hillary to be president she would be dead Doritos maker PepsiCo to introduce snack line for women; new Doritas chips will be 77% as big as Doritos and won't make any scary 'crunchy noises' TMZ: Tooth Fairy accused of sexually assaulting millions of children, outs self as Transgendered Tooth Recovery Specialist RUSSIA COLLUSION: Trump offers Putin to trade Rep. Maxine Waters for two unnamed members of the State Duma Ikea founder dead at 91; his coffin arrived in a box with confusing instructions and took 3 hours to assemble This Thanksgiving ex-president Obama continues with his tradition of apologizing to turkeys everywhere for the injustice they suffered since America's founding Oslo, Norway: 2017 Nobel Peace Prize goes to advocacy group about which you'll forget immediately after reading this headline Cambridge, MA, library to replace racist 'Cat in the Hat' with inclusive 'Che in a Beret' Millions of men worldwide eagerly await broadcast of Hugh Hefner's funeral, solely for the articles Bill Gates offers to pay for Trump's wall on condition he gets to install Windows Bernie Sanders introduces single-payer public transportation bill to end America's unequal, unfair, and expensive private transportation system DNC embroiled in controversy after official Twitter account accidentally 'likes' pictures of US Constitution and Bill of Rights Hurricane Irma hits Cuba, causes millions of dollars worth of improvements to property and infrastructure Climate study: extreme weather may be caused by unlicensed witches casting wrong spells in well-meaning effort to destroy Trump Ex-president Obama declares Irma "Hurricane of Peace," urges not to jump to conclusions and succumb to stormophobia CNN: Trump reverses Obama's executive order banning hurricanes ISIS claims responsibility for a total solar eclipse over the lands of American crusaders and nonbelievers When asked if they could point to North Korea on a map many college students didn't know what a map was CNN: We must bring America into the 21st century by replacing the 18th century Constitution with 19th century poetry Pelosi: 'We have to impeach the president in order to find out what we impeached him for' BREAKING: As of Saturday July 8, 2017, all of Earth's ecosystems have shut down as per Prince Charles's super scientific pronouncement made 96 months ago. Everything is dead. All is lost. Life on Earth is no more. DNC to pick new election slogan out of four finalists: 'Give us more government or everyone dies,' 'Vote for Democrats or everyone dies,' 'Impeach Trump or everyone dies,' 'Stop the fearmongering or everyone dies' Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power" is humanity's last chance to save the Earth before it ends five years ago Experts: The more we embrace diversity the more everything is the same BOMBSHELL: TMZ offers Kathy Griffin $5 mil to keep any future sex tape private DEVELOPING: CNN, WaPo, NYT anonymous sources say Vladimir Putin may have ties to Russia BREAKING: Manning and Snowden have come out with strong condemnation of Donald Trump leaking classified information to Russia Gun store goes into lockdown over report an "active university professor" roving the grounds Dozens injured at Ralph Lauren & Louis Vuitton headquarters after Ivanka calls in missile strikes on rival fashion houses BOMBSHELL: Evidence proves Donald Trump conspired with his campaign to defeat Hillary Clinton University ranked "very intolerant of free speech" fights the accusation by banning the study and all involved Concerned that Russians don't consume enough alcohol in the month of March, Russia's Orthodox Church makes St. Patrick's Day official holiday Grassroots group calls for "The Million Regulators March" on Washington, supported by all who fear the loss of their betters telling them what to do Experts: Starbucks CEO Schultz's hiring of 10,000 Muslim refugees likely to blow up in his face Will the groundprog be frightened by its own shadow and hide - or will there be another season of insane protests? Trump signs executive order making California and New York national monuments; residents have two days to vacate Women's March against fascism completed with 400,000 fewer deaths than anticipated Feminist historians uncover ghastly concentration camps where so-called "housewives" were forced to live inauthentic lives slaving away in kitchens Dictionary of the future: Global Warming was a popular computer simulation game, where the only way to win was not to play "Anti-fascist" groups violently protest misspelling of their original name, "aren't-we-fascists" Post-inauguration blues: millions of democrats distraught as the reality of having to find real jobs sets in "Journalism is the continuation of war by other means" is exposed as a fake quote by mainstream media journalists Congressional Democrats: "We cannot just simply replace Obamacare with freedom because then millions of Americans will suddenly become free" Schoolchildren jailed for building only white snowmen Obama's reckless attacks on Russia serve as recruitment tool to create more Russian hackers Hillary: "I lost, so I'm going to follow our democratic traditions, poison the wells, and scorch the earth" Children in Venezuela cook and eat their Christmas toys Hillary: "I can hack Russia from my bathroom" Hillary suggests to counter "fake news" with government newspaper called "Truth" ("Pravda" for Russian speakers) BREAKING: Millions of uncounted votes found on Hillary's private voting machine in her Chappaqua bathroom New York Times: Fidel Castro world's sexiest corpse After years of trial and error, CIA finally succeeds with the "waiting it out" technique on Fidel Castro Post-election shopping tip: look for the PoliticsFree label at your local grocer to make sure you don't buy from companies that don't want your business anymore In Hillary's America, email server scrubs you Obama transfers his Nobel Peace Prize to anti-Trump rioters Democrats blame Hillary's criminal e-mail server for her loss, demand it face prison Afraid of "dangerous" Trump presidency, protesters pre-emptively burn America down to the ground Clinton Foundation in foreclosure as foreign donors demand refunds Hillary Clinton blames YouTube video for unexpected and spontaneous voter uprising that prevented her inevitable move into the White House Sudden rise in sea levels explained by disproportionately large tears shed by climate scientists in the aftermath of Trump's electoral victory FBI director Comey delighted after receiving Nobel Prize for Speed Reading (650,000 emails in one week) U.N. deploys troops to American college campuses in order to combat staggeringly low rape rates Responding to Trump's surging poll numbers, Obama preemptively pardons himself for treason Following hurricane Matthew's failure to devastate Florida, activists flock to the Sunshine State and destroy Trump signs manually Tim Kaine takes credit for interrupting hurricane Matthew while debating weather in Florida Study: Many non-voters still undecided on how they're not going to vote The Evolution of Dissent: on November 8th the nation is to decide whether dissent will stop being racist and become sexist - or it will once again be patriotic as it was for 8 years under George W. Bush Venezuela solves starvation problem by making it mandatory to buy food Breaking: the Clinton Foundation set to investigate the FBI Obama captures rare Pokemon while visiting Hiroshima Movie news: 'The Big Friendly Giant Government' flops at box office; audiences say "It's creepy" Barack Obama: "If I had a son, he'd look like Micah Johnson" White House edits Orlando 911 transcript to say shooter pledged allegiance to NRA and Republican Party President George Washington: 'Redcoats do not represent British Empire; King George promotes a distorted version of British colonialism' Following Obama's 'Okie-Doke' speech, stock of Okie-Doke soars; NASDAQ: 'Obama best Okie-Doke salesman' Weaponized baby formula threatens Planned Parenthood office; ACLU demands federal investigation of Gerber Experts: melting Antarctic glacier could cause sale levels to rise up to 80% off select items by this weekend Travel advisory: airlines now offering flights to front of TSA line As Obama instructs his administration to get ready for presidential transition, Trump preemptively purchases 'T' keys for White House keyboards John Kasich self-identifies as GOP primary winner, demands access to White House bathroom Upcoming Trump/Kelly interview on FoxNews sponsored by 'Let's Make a Deal' and 'The Price is Right' News from 2017: once the evacuation of Lena Dunham and 90% of other Hollywood celebrities to Canada is confirmed, Trump resigns from presidency: "My work here is done" Non-presidential candidate Paul Ryan pledges not to run for president in new non-presidential non-ad campaign Trump suggests creating 'Muslim database'; Obama symbolically protests by shredding White House guest logs beginning 2009 National Enquirer: John Kasich's real dad was the milkman, not mailman National Enquirer: Bound delegates from Colorado, Wyoming found in Ted Cruzs basement Iran breaks its pinky-swear promise not to support terrorism; US State Department vows rock-paper-scissors strategic response Women across the country cheer as racist Democrat president on $20 bill is replaced by black pro-gun Republican Federal Reserve solves budget crisis by writing itself a 20-trillion-dollar check Widows, orphans claim responsibility for Brussels airport bombing Che Guevara's son hopes Cuba's communism will rub off on US, proposes a long list of people the government should execute first Susan Sarandon: "I don't vote with my vagina." Voters in line behind her still suspicious, use hand sanitizer Campaign memo typo causes Hillary to court 'New Black Panties' vote New Hampshire votes for socialist Sanders, changes state motto to "Live FOR Free or Die" Martin O'Malley drops out of race after Iowa Caucus; nation shocked with revelation he has been running for president Statisticians: one out of three Bernie Sanders supporters is just as dumb as the other two Hillary campaign denies accusations of smoking-gun evidence in her emails, claims they contain only smoking-circumstantial-gun evidence Obama stops short of firing US Congress upon realizing the difficulty of assembling another group of such tractable yes-men In effort to contol wild passions for violent jihad, White House urges gun owners to keep their firearms covered in gun burkas TV horror live: A Charlie Brown Christmas gets shot up on air by Mohammed cartoons Democrats vow to burn the country down over Ted Cruz statement, 'The overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats' Russia's trend to sign bombs dropped on ISIS with "This is for Paris" found response in Obama administration's trend to sign American bombs with "Return to sender" University researchers of cultural appropriation quit upon discovery that their research is appropriation from a culture that created universities Archeologists discover remains of what Barack Obama has described as unprecedented, un-American, and not-who-we-are immigration screening process in Ellis Island Mizzou protests lead to declaring entire state a "safe space," changing Missouri motto to "The don't show me state" Green energy fact: if we put all green energy subsidies together in one-dollar bills and burn them, we could generate more electricity than has been produced by subsidized green energy State officials improve chances of healthcare payouts by replacing ObamaCare with state lottery NASA's new mission to search for racism, sexism, and economic inequality in deep space suffers from race, gender, and class power struggles over multibillion-dollar budget College progress enforcement squads issue schematic humor charts so students know if a joke may be spontaneously laughed at or if regulations require other action ISIS opens suicide hotline for US teens depressed by climate change and other progressive doomsday scenarios Virginia county to close schools after teacher asks students to write 'death to America' in Arabic 'Wear hijab to school day' ends with spontaneous female circumcision and stoning of a classmate during lunch break ISIS releases new, even more barbaric video in an effort to regain mantle from Planned Parenthood Impressed by Fox News stellar rating during GOP debates, CNN to use same formula on Democrat candidates asking tough, pointed questions about Republicans Shocking new book explores pros and cons of socialism, discovers they are same people Pope outraged by Planned Parenthood's "unfettered capitalism," demands equal redistribution of baby parts to each according to his need John Kerry accepts Iran's "Golden Taquiyya" award, requests jalapenos on the side Citizens of Pluto protest US government's surveillance of their planetoid and its moons with New Horizons space drone John Kerry proposes 3-day waiting period for all terrorist nations trying to acquire nuclear weapons Chicago Police trying to identify flag that caused nine murders and 53 injuries in the city this past weekend Cuba opens to affordable medical tourism for Americans who can't afford Obamacare deductibles State-funded research proves existence of Quantum Aggression Particles (Heterons) in Large Hadron Collider Student job opportunities: make big bucks this summer as Hillarys Ordinary-American; all expenses paid, travel, free acting lessons Experts debate whether Iranian negotiators broke John Kerry's leg or he did it himself to get out of negotiations Junior Varsity takes Ramadi, advances to quarterfinals US media to GOP pool of candidates: 'Knowing what we know now, would you have had anything to do with the founding of the United States?' NY Mayor to hold peace talks with rats, apologize for previous Mayor's cowboy diplomacy China launches cube-shaped space object with a message to aliens: "The inhabitants of Earth will steal your intellectual property, copy it, manufacture it in sweatshops with slave labor, and sell it back to you at ridiculously low prices" Progressive scientists: Truth is a variable deduced by subtracting 'what is' from 'what ought to be' Experts agree: Hillary Clinton best candidate to lessen percentage of Americans in top 1% America's attempts at peace talks with the White House continue to be met with lies, stalling tactics, and bad faith Starbucks new policy to talk race with customers prompts new hashtag #DontHoldUpTheLine Hillary: DELETE is the new RESET Charlie Hebdo receives Islamophobe 2015 award; the cartoonists could not be reached for comment due to their inexplicable, illogical deaths Russia sends 'reset' button back to Hillary: 'You need it now more than we do' Barack Obama finds out from CNN that Hillary Clinton spent four years being his Secretary of State President Obama honors Leonard Nimoy by taking selfie in front of Starship Enterprise Police: If Obama had a convenience store, it would look like Obama Express Food Market Study finds stunning lack of racial, gender, and economic diversity among middle-class white males NASA: We're 80% sure about being 20% sure about being 17% sure about being 38% sure about 2014 being the hottest year on record People holding '$15 an Hour Now' posters sue Democratic party demanding raise to $15 an hour for rendered professional protesting services Cuba-US normalization: US tourists flock to see Cuba before it looks like the US and Cubans flock to see the US before it looks like Cuba White House describes attacks on Sony Pictures as 'spontaneous hacking in response to offensive video mocking Juche and its prophet' CIA responds to Democrat calls for transparency by releasing the director's cut of The Making Of Obama's Birth Certificate Obama: 'If I had a city, it would look like Ferguson' Biden: 'If I had a Ferguson (hic), it would look like a city' Obama signs executive order renaming 'looters' to 'undocumented shoppers' Ethicists agree: two wrongs do make a right so long as Bush did it first The aftermath of the 'War on Women 2014' finds a new 'Lost Generation' of disillusioned Democrat politicians, unable to cope with life out of office White House: Republican takeover of the Senate is a clear mandate from the American people for President Obama to rule by executive orders Nurse Kaci Hickox angrily tells reporters that she won't change her clocks for daylight savings time Democratic Party leaders in panic after recent poll shows most Democratic voters think 'midterm' is when to end pregnancy Desperate Democratic candidates plead with Obama to stop backing them and instead support their GOP opponents Ebola Czar issues five-year plan with mandatory quotas of Ebola infections per each state based on voting preferences Study: crony capitalism is to the free market what the Westboro Baptist Church is to Christianity Fun facts about world languages: the Left has more words for statism than the Eskimos have for snow African countries to ban all flights from the United States because "Obama is incompetent, it scares us" Nobel Peace Prize controversy: Hillary not nominated despite having done even less than Obama to deserve it Obama: 'Ebola is the JV of viruses' BREAKING: Secret Service foils Secret Service plot to protect Obama Revised 1st Amendment: buy one speech, get the second free Sharpton calls on white NFL players to beat their women in the interests of racial fairness President Obama appoints his weekly approval poll as new national security adviser Obama wags pen and phone at Putin; Europe offers support with powerful pens and phones from NATO members White House pledges to embarrass ISIS back to the Stone Age with a barrage of fearsome Twitter messages and fatally ironic Instagram photos Obama to fight ISIS with new federal Terrorist Regulatory Agency Obama vows ISIS will never raise their flag over the eighteenth hole Harry Reid: "Sometimes I say the wong thing" Elian Gonzalez wishes he had come to the U.S. on a bus from Central America like all the other kids Obama visits US-Mexican border, calls for a two-state solution Obama draws "blue line" in Iraq after Putin took away his red crayon "Hard Choices," a porno flick loosely based on Hillary Clinton's memoir and starring Hillary Hellfire as a drinking, whoring Secretary of State, wildly outsells the flabby, sagging original Accusations of siding with the enemy leave Sgt. Bergdahl with only two options: pursue a doctorate at Berkley or become a Senator from Massachusetts Jay Carney stuck in line behind Eric Shinseki to leave the White House; estimated wait time from 15 min to 6 weeks 100% of scientists agree that if man-made global warming were real, "the last people we'd want to help us is the Obama administration" Jay Carney says he found out that Obama found out that he found out that Obama found out that he found out about the latest Obama administration scandal on the news "Anarchy Now!" meeting turns into riot over points of order, bylaws, and whether or not 'kicking the #^@&*! ass' of the person trying to speak is or is not violence Obama retaliates against Putin by prohibiting unionized federal employees from dating hot Russian girls online during work hours Russian separatists in Ukraine riot over an offensive YouTube video showing the toppling of Lenin statues "Free Speech Zones" confuse Obamaphone owners who roam streets in search of additional air minutes Obamacare bolsters employment for professionals with skills to convert meth back into sudafed Gloves finally off: Obama uses pen and phone to cancel Putin's Netflix account Joe Biden to Russia: "We will bury you by turning more of Eastern Europe over to your control!" In last-ditch effort to help Ukraine, Obama deploys Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson's Rainbow Coalition to Crimea Al Sharpton: "Not even Putin can withstand our signature chanting, 'racist, sexist, anti-gay, Russian army go away'!" Mardi Gras in North Korea: "Throw me some food!" Obama's foreign policy works: "War, invasion, and conquest are signs of weakness; we've got Putin right where we want him" US offers military solution to Ukraine crisis: "We will only fight countries that have LGBT military" Putin annexes Brighton Beach to protect ethnic Russians in Brooklyn, Obama appeals to UN and EU for help The 1980s: "Mr. Obama, we're just calling to ask if you want our foreign policy back. The 1970s are right here with us, and they're wondering, too." In a stunning act of defiance, Obama courageously unfriends Putin on Facebook MSNBC: Obama secures alliance with Austro-Hungarian Empire against Russias aggression in Ukraine Study: springbreak is to STDs what April 15th is to accountants Efforts to achieve moisture justice for California thwarted by unfair redistribution of snow in America North Korean voters unanimous: "We are the 100%" Leader of authoritarian gulag-site, The People's Cube, unanimously 're-elected' with 100% voter turnout Super Bowl: Obama blames Fox News for Broncos' loss Feminist author slams gay marriage: "a man needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" Beverly Hills campaign heats up between Henry Waxman and Marianne Williamson over the widening income gap between millionaires and billionaires in their district Biden to lower $10,000-a-plate Dinner For The Homeless to $5,000 so more homeless can attend Kim becomes world leader, feeds uncle to dogs; Obama eats dogs, becomes world leader, America cries uncle North Korean leader executes own uncle for talking about Obamacare at family Christmas party White House hires part-time schizophrenic Mandela sign interpreter to help sell Obamacare Kim Jong Un executes own "crazy uncle" to keep him from ruining another family Christmas OFA admits its advice for area activists to give Obamacare Talk at shooting ranges was a bad idea President resolves Obamacare debacle with executive order declaring all Americans equally healthy Obama to Iran: "If you like your nuclear program, you can keep your nuclear program" Bovine community outraged by flatulence coming from Washington DC Obama: "I'm not particularly ideological; I believe in a good pragmatic five-year plan" Shocker: Obama had no knowledge he'd been reelected until he read about it in the local newspaper last week Server problems at HealthCare.gov so bad, it now flashes 'Error 808' message NSA marks National Best Friend Day with official announcement: "Government is your best friend; we know you like no one else, we're always there, we're always willing to listen" Al Qaeda cancels attack on USA citing launch of Obamacare as devastating enough The President's latest talking point on Obamacare: "I didn't build that" Dizzy with success, Obama renames his wildly popular healthcare mandate to HillaryCare Carney: huge ObamaCare deductibles won't look as bad come hyperinflation Washington Redskins drop 'Washington' from their name as offensive to most Americans Poll: 83% of Americans favor cowboy diplomacy over rodeo clown diplomacy GOVERNMENT WARNING: If you were able to complete ObamaCare form online, it wasn't a legitimate gov't website; you should report online fraud and change all your passwords Obama administration gets serious, threatens Syria with ObamaCare Obama authorizes the use of Vice President Joe Biden's double-barrel shotgun to fire a couple of blasts at Syria Sharpton: "British royals should have named baby 'Trayvon.' By choosing 'George' they sided with white Hispanic racist Zimmerman" DNC launches 'Carlos Danger' action figure; proceeds to fund a charity helping survivors of the Republican War on Women Nancy Pelosi extends abortion rights to the birds and the bees Hubble discovers planetary drift to the left Obama: 'If I had a daughter-in-law, she would look like Rachael Jeantel' FISA court rubberstamps statement denying its portrayal as government's rubber stamp Every time ObamaCare gets delayed, a Julia somewhere dies GOP to Schumer: 'Force full implementation of ObamaCare before 2014 or Dems will never win another election' Obama: 'If I had a son... no, wait, my daughter can now marry a woman!' Janet Napolitano: TSA findings reveal that since none of the hijackers were babies, elderly, or Tea Partiers, 9/11 was not an act of terrorism News Flash: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) can see Canada from South Dakota Susan Rice: IRS actions against tea parties caused by anti-tax YouTube video that was insulting to their faith Drudge Report reduces font to fit all White House scandals onto one page Obama: the IRS is a constitutional right, just like the Second Amendment White House: top Obama officials using secret email accounts a result of bad IT advice to avoid spam mail from Nigeria Jay Carney to critics: 'Pinocchio never said anything inconsistent' Obama: If I had a gay son, he'd look like Jason Collins Gosnell's office in Benghazi raided by the IRS: mainstream media's worst cover-up challenge to date IRS targeting pro-gay-marriage LGBT groups leads to gayest tax revolt in U.S. history After Arlington Cemetery rejects offer to bury Boston bomber, Westboro Babtist Church steps up with premium front lawn plot Boston: Obama Administration to reclassify marathon bombing as 'sportsplace violence' Study: Success has many fathers but failure becomes a government program US Media: Can Pope Francis possibly clear up Vatican bureaucracy and banking without blaming the previous administration? Michelle Obama praises weekend rampage by Chicago teens as good way to burn calories and stay healthy This Passover, Obama urges his subjects to paint lamb's blood above doors in order to avoid the Sequester White House to American children: Sequester causes layoffs among hens that lay Easter eggs; union-wage Easter Bunnies to be replaced by Mexican Chupacabras Time Mag names Hugo Chavez world's sexiest corpse Boy, 8, pretends banana is gun, makes daring escape from school Study: Free lunches overpriced, lack nutrition Oscars 2013: Michelle Obama announces long-awaited merger of Hollywood and the State Joe Salazar defends the right of women to be raped in gun-free environment: 'rapists and rapees should work together to prevent gun violence for the common good' Dept. of Health and Human Services eliminates rape by reclassifying assailants as 'undocumented sex partners' Kremlin puts out warning not to photoshop Putin riding meteor unless bare-chested Deeming football too violent, Obama moves to introduce Super Drone Sundays instead Japan offers to extend nuclear umbrella to cover U.S. should America suffer devastating attack on its own defense spending Feminists organize one billion women to protest male oppression with one billion lap dances Urban community protests Mayor Bloomberg's ban on extra-large pop singers owning assault weapons Concerned with mounting death toll, Taliban offers to send peacekeeping advisers to Chicago Karl Rove puts an end to Tea Party with new 'Republicans For Democrats' strategy aimed at losing elections Answering public skepticism, President Obama authorizes unlimited drone attacks on all skeet targets throughout the country Skeet Ulrich denies claims he had been shot by President but considers changing his name to 'Traps' White House releases new exciting photos of Obama standing, sitting, looking thoughtful, and even breathing in and out New York Times hacked by Chinese government, Paul Krugman's economic policies stolen White House: when President shoots skeet, he donates the meat to food banks that feed the middle class To prove he is serious, Obama eliminates armed guard protection for President, Vice-President, and their families; establishes Gun-Free Zones around them instead State Dept to send 100,000 American college students to China as security for US debt obligations Jay Carney: Al Qaeda is on the run, they're just running forward President issues executive orders banning cliffs, ceilings, obstructions, statistics, and other notions that prevent us from moving forwards and upward Fearing the worst, Obama Administration outlaws the fan to prevent it from being hit by certain objects World ends; S&P soars Riddle of universe solved; answer not understood Meek inherit Earth, can't afford estate taxes Greece abandons Euro; accountants find Greece has no Euros anyway Wheel finally reinvented; axles to be gradually reinvented in 3rd quarter of 2013 Bigfoot found in Ohio, mysteriously not voting for Obama As Santa's workshop files for bankruptcy, Fed offers bailout in exchange for control of 'naughty and nice' list Freak flying pig accident causes bacon to fly off shelves Obama: green economy likely to transform America into a leading third world country of the new millennium Report: President Obama to visit the United States in the near future Obama promises to create thousands more economically neutral jobs Modernizing Islam: New York imam proposes to canonize Saul Alinsky as religion's latter day prophet Imam Rauf's peaceful solution: 'Move Ground Zero a few blocks away from the mosque and no one gets hurt' Study: Obama's threat to burn tax money in Washington 'recruitment bonanza' for Tea Parties Study: no Social Security reform will be needed if gov't raises retirement age to at least 814 years Obama attends church service, worships self Obama proposes national 'Win The Future' lottery; proceeds of new WTF Powerball to finance more gov't spending Historical revisionists: "Hey, you never know" Vice President Biden: criticizing Egypt is un-pharaoh Israelis to Egyptian rioters: "don't damage the pyramids, we will not rebuild" Lake Superior renamed Lake Inferior in spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness Al Gore: It's a shame that a family can be torn apart by something as simple as a pack of polar bears Michael Moore: As long as there is anyone with money to shake down, this country is not broke Obama's teleprompters unionize, demand collective bargaining rights Obama calls new taxes 'spending reductions in tax code.' Elsewhere rapists tout 'consent reductions in sexual intercourse' Obama's teleprompter unhappy with White House Twitter: "Too few words" Obama's Regulation Reduction committee finds US Constitution to be expensive outdated framework inefficiently regulating federal gov't Taking a page from the Reagan years, Obama announces new era of Perestroika and Glasnost Responding to Oslo shootings, Obama declares Christianity "Religion of Peace," praises "moderate Christians," promises to send one into space Republicans block Obama's $420 billion program to give American families free charms that ward off economic bad luck White House to impose Chimney tax on Santa Claus Obama decrees the economy is not soaring as much as previously decreeed Conservative think tank introduces children to capitalism with pop-up picture book "The Road to Smurfdom" Al Gore proposes to combat Global Warming by extracting silver linings from clouds in Earth's atmosphere Obama refutes charges of him being unresponsive to people's suffering: "When you pray to God, do you always hear a response?" Obama regrets the US government didn't provide his mother with free contraceptives when she was in college Fluke to Congress: drill, baby, drill! Planned Parenthood introduces Frequent Flucker reward card: 'Come again soon!' Obama to tornado victims: 'We inherited this weather from the previous administration' Obama congratulates Putin on Chicago-style election outcome People's Cube gives itself Hero of Socialist Labor medal in recognition of continued expert advice provided to the Obama Administration helping to shape its foreign and domestic policies Hamas: Israeli air defense unfair to 99% of our missiles, "only 1% allowed to reach Israel" Democrat strategist: without government supervision, women would have never evolved into humans Voters Without Borders oppose Texas new voter ID law Enraged by accusation that they are doing Obama's bidding, media leaders demand instructions from White House on how to respond Obama blames previous Olympics for failure to win at this Olympics Official: China plans to land on Moon or at least on cheap knockoff thereof Koran-Contra: Obama secretly arms Syrian rebels Poll: Progressive slogan 'We should be more like Europe' most popular with members of American Nazi Party Obama to Evangelicals: Jesus saves, I just spend May Day: Anarchists plan, schedule, synchronize, and execute a coordinated campaign against all of the above Midwestern farmers hooked on new erotic novel "50 Shades of Hay" Study: 99% of Liberals give the rest a bad name Obama meets with Jewish leaders, proposes deeper circumcisions for the rich Historians: Before HOPE & CHANGE there was HEMP & CHOOM at ten bucks a bag Cancer once again fails to cure Venezuela of its "President for Life" Tragic spelling error causes Muslim protesters to burn local boob-tube factory Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: due to energy conservation, the light at the end of the tunnel will be switched off Obama Administration running food stamps across the border with Mexico in an operation code-named "Fat And Furious" Pakistan explodes in protest over new Adobe Acrobat update; 17 local acrobats killed White House: "Let them eat statistics" Special Ops: if Benedict Arnold had a son, he would look like Barack Obama AD GOES HERE An intense courtroom drama will be playing out at Southern Illinois University Carbondale this month and audience members will serve as the jury. A public presentation of the Todd Logan play Defamation is set for 6 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Student Center Ballrooms and everyone is welcome to attend. There is no cost. In this interactive presentation, race, religion, class and gender clash when an African-American woman files a civil suit against a Jewish real estate developer alleging defamation. The legal battle centers on whether the plaintiff was falsely accused of stealing the developers watch, resulting in financial harm to her. Discussions and interaction occur between the actors and the audience and at the plays conclusion, audience members are polled by the judge, both before and after deliberations, to determine the outcome of the trial. A question and answer session with the playwright and cast afterward allows those attending to further explore the issues. Thousands of people across the United States have viewed Defamation since it premiered in late 2010. Logans goal in writing the play was to encourage greater tolerance and understanding by spurring self-examination and promoting compelling civil discourse. Codell Rodriguez Codell Rodriguez is the night editor for The Southern Illinoisan, and he writes a movie column for Scene618. Follow Codell Rodriguez Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Well, it took me a few weeks, but I finally got around to seeing "Hell or High Water." I'm not sure it'll stick around for another week at Showplace 8 in Carbondale, so if you want to see this, be sure and check the AMC website to see if it's carrying over. The movie stars Chris Pine and Ben Foster as two Texas brothers, Toby and Tanner Howard, who plan multiple bank robberies over several days. Toby is a divorced father trying to eke out a better future for his sons and to stop the foreclosure on his ranch and Tanner is an ex-con who helps out because he loves his brother. Jeff Bridges plays a Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton, who pursues them. He's joined by partner Alberto Parker, played by Gil Birmingham, who gets the pleasure of delivering one of the most poignant lines in the whole movie. One of the main themes of this movie is the damage caused by big banks on working families. At times, that theme is a bit heavy-handed as I can't even remember how many billboards are shown on the side of the road for banks and loan establishments, just to make sure the audience understands there's more than one type of robbery going on in this movie. Even though it can hit you over the head, it's not hilariously clumsy, like "Crash" where you want to stand up and scream "Yes! Racism is bad! So are over-the-top, clueless representations of it! How did you win the Oscar?" Speaking of Oscars, this movie should get some nominations. It probably deserves a Best Picture nomination, but there definitely better be some acting nods. The leading contender is Ben Foster, one of the most underappreciated actors out there. I mean, this guy has some straight up skill and does not hold back as the less stable older brother. Foster's Tanner Howard elicits so many emotions. At times, he's downright unnerving. When the bank robberies go down, he's definitely the loose cannon and you often worry about what he's going to do. When he's just spending time with his brother, he goes from violent to amazingly downright likable. He isn't some one-note psychopath who you hope gets his comeuppance. Tanner is a sympathetic character. He's a guy who was abused as a child, grew up and made some bad decisions. He's just very natural to the point where he doesn't feel like a fictional character at all. Again, this is a credit to Foster's superb talents. I'm not president of the Ben Foster fan club here (yet), so I don't know everything about the guy, but I walked out of the movie assuming that if the he's not from Texas, he's from somewhere in the deep south. I mean that would explain how authentic the character feels. Massachusetts, folks. He's from Massachusetts. Jeff Bridges plays off his past cowboy roles for his Texas Ranger, but that doesn't subtract from how good he is. Oh, and Chris Pine? Let it be said now. The dude is legit. Don't look at him and snicker, "Oh, it's just Captain Kirk." His performance is a little more restrained than Foster's, as it should be, but do not be surprised if he's considered for a gold statue. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the beautiful cinematography, whether it gives us a view of the sprawling Texas countryside or small towns suffering from a lack of economic progress. This is a movie I highly recommend. It's an excellent crime film with an interesting message. Plus, it's populated with some fascinating, sympathetic characters made so much better by the powerful performances of its actors. Local retired coal miners are praising a Senate panels approval of a bill that would protect the health insurance and pension benefits of 120,000 miners, retirees and widows. On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved the Miners Protection Act, 18-8. The measure is now awaiting a vote in the full Senate. Earlier this month, thousands of retired mine workers rallied on the U.S. Capitol lawn in support of the legislation, which would redirect excess funds from an abandoned mine restoration program to provide about $250 million a year in benefits to retired coal miners and their loved ones. Supporters of the bill say that it would uphold a promise made by the federal government 70 years ago to mine workers, who now face losing their benefits due to coal company bankruptcies and regulatory changes to the industry. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) said it could run out of some funds for benefits by next year if the bill fails to pass. Christopher Mayor Gary Bartolotti, a retired mine worker who attended the rally in Washington, was glad to hear the measure had taken a key step. Its a small hurdle, but its a hurdle anyway, said Bartolotti. As a retired coal miner under the Coal Act, I was glad to hear it get out of the Senate Finance Committee, and hopefully weve got enough votes to send it to the House. Bartolotti, 65, was seriously injured at the Ziegler 11 mine in 2000. He was hospitalized for a month and received plates in his back and an artificial ankle. His brother, Richard, 69, is also a retired miner who was injured on the job. Our medical insurance and pensions are directly tied into this bill, he said. Pinckneyville resident Arlen Carson was a mine worker for 32 years and is a member of the UMWAs International Pension Leadership Committee. He said the bill is badly needed. People think its a government bailout, but its not. Its monies that were paid into the federal (Abandoned Mine) Reclamation Fund, Carson said. What were doing, were asking for the interest money off that fund to bail us out. It wont cost a penny to anybody through taxes or anything else. Its just interest money lying there in Washington. Jack McReynolds, who worked in the mines of Southern Illinois for 40 years and retired from Western Fuels Brushy Creek Mine in 1994, said he was joyful to hear the news. Theres thousands of retired miners and their families, many of them disabled, depending on this to pass, he said. This was promise made in 1947 under the Krug-Lewis Agreement signed by President (Harry S.) Truman all were asking is for them to keep the promise. McReynolds developed black lung disease from working in the mines, and he has to use an inhaler to manage the illness, especially on hot days, he said. Despite his poor health, he has no regrets about attending the rally in Washington. I would go again every week. Whatever it takes to do this and Im 80 years old, he said. U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, who co-sponsored the bill, commended the committees approval in a statement Wednesday. The hardworking men and women who have served the Illinois coal industry for generations have helped make our state a leader in energy production and we must ensure they receive the health care benefits they earned and deserve when they retire, Kirk said. "I applaud the Senate Finance Committee for passing the Miners Protection Act and will work with my colleagues to ensure swift passage of this important legislation. UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts applauded the bills sponsors. Now that this important first step has been achieved, it is vital that Congress move as quickly as possible to finally pass this legislation that will mean so much to the lives of thousands of senior citizens across America. There is no more time to waste, he said in a statement Wednesday. All 12 Democrats on the committee supported the bill, along with six Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has been opposed to the measure. CARBONDALE Southern Illinois University Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell stood in front of hundreds of concerned individuals from the community and university Wednesday, and said SIU will survive. He said the university will be a strong if somewhat different university on the other side of current problems with financial uncertainty and enrollment decline. Two weeks ago, the university announced a 7.6 percent enrollment decline, or a loss of 1,305 students. The drop brings the number of students to 15,987. On top of the enrollment drop, the university had to make a $21 million reduction in its budget due to the cuts to higher education at the state level, and the lack of an official budget. The drop in enrollment translates to about a $6.5 million loss in revenue, but university officials say that money was expected in the initial reduction. On Wednesday, Colwell said the college is planning to take steps in several areas to continue to make SIU strong. Those addressed areas were: enrollment management, the academic experience, the student experience, diversity and inclusivity, regional engagement, and financial stability. Enrollment management Colwell said enrollment management has been described as job one by President Randy Dunn and the Board of Trustees. We will not fix overnight something that has developed over years, but we can take steps now to make progress, Colwell said. Increasing new freshman and transfer students by 10 percent each, increasing graduate enrollment by 10 percent and increasing retention of first-time freshmen to 70 percent, were all goals outlined by the chancellor for the fall of 2018. Additionally, for retention efforts, Colwell said the university has launched Degree Works, an online tool that helps advisers and students to track progress toward their degree. Also, he said SIU has placed emphasis on helping students understand the value of taking at least 15 credit hours a semester to graduate in four years. As for new students, Colwell said administration will work with deans to identify programs that will attract the most students. By identifying high-demand programs, we can make better decisions about resources in general, he said. Here is an example of success: by adding one nontenure-track faculty member, we were able to enroll an additional 25 new students in automotive technology this year. Making SIU affordable is also a key in bolstering enrollment, and Colwell said administration will recommend to the trustees to not increase mandatory student fees for one more year. He said the goal is to have no increase to the bottom line since SIUs fees have historically been higher than others. Every conversation is an opportunity to tell our positive story, and we hope a better understanding of that story will spread exponentially, Colwell said. As for graduate enrollment, the chancellor said the school needs to review its recruitment efforts. "I believe we have been relying too heavily on graduate assistantships as our primary recruitment tool, Colwell said. Graduate assistantships are important both to students and the university, but we have a culture of thinking that they are a requirement to be able to recruit. I think we must change this culture, especially in strong, high-demand programs that we can market to paying students. The Academic Experience Colwell bragged about the implementation of the new fermentation science degree and institute as a great example of development of a program that addresses economic needs, attracts students, and incorporates research. He also mentioned the closing of the masters program in law. He said the students who are currently enrolled in the program will be allowed to finish, but that the closing of the program is a good example of eliminating programs with low enrollment. The growth of online learning isnt lost on SIU. Colwell reported Wednesday that with the addition of intro English and communication classes, all of SIUs core curriculum is not available online. Colwell said it is critically important that SIU maintains its Carnegie status as a higher research active institute, regardless of the lack of state funding to support such programs. He said the university is seeing success in federally-funded research. While we have had to cut some student research programs due to budget constraints, we are still investing more than $700,000 annually in student research, Colwell said. We must do what we can to preserve this funding going forward. The ability for students to gain research and creative experiences early in their undergraduate careers sets us apart from other institutions and is a point of pride. The Student Experience Colwell said there is a direct relationship between engagement and retention, and the university must do everything it can to evaluate and enhance the students through increased engagement. He referenced a new website designed to help students identify ways to address concerns about financial or academic issues. Also, the website would help with personal and safety concerns. Additionally, the university has started a student food pantry to assist students in need. Colwell also addressed campus safety, saying SIU is just as safe as any other campus. However, the safety of the students, faculty, staff and guests is always a priority. We will assess student perceptions and views of safety and gender-based violence by conducting a campus climate survey this year, he said. While this is a requirement of federal law, it is also the right thing to do. This years survey will also be a baseline to track progress. Diversity and Inclusion Colwell said the university has significantly expanded student programming to facilitate open conversations about diversity and inclusive excellence. He said the deans are taking similar steps at the college level. We are ensuring that job descriptions advertising for upper administrative positions require cultural competency, he said. Further, a group looking at human resources broadly has explored ways to streamline the hiring process so we do not lose good candidates. Regional Engagement SIUs enrollment undoubtedly has an impact on Carbondale and surrounding communities, but regional engagement is more than just increasing enrollment, Colwell said. Its about sharing expertise, communicating clearly, and working collaboratively, he said. We understand that Carbondale is a college town and that we are in it together, thus we have a shared interest in each others success. The chancellor also mentioned the improved relationship with Carbondale leaders, including Mayor Mike Henry and Chamber of Commerce leaders. The university has also increased a relationship with John A. Logan College, as it is offering its first SIU course on the community colleges campus this semester. This is a commitment to the relationship as well as a step in the recruitment of community college students who have finished their associate degrees, Colwell said. The chancellor said he is also aware of comments from community members who dont know who to contact at SIU when situations arise, making many of its existing efforts disconnected and uncoordinated. Colwell said he will make an internal employee reassigned to community leaders, leverage existing relationships of faculty, staff, retires and alumni, and ensure the university is leverage its most attractive public resources to serve the region. Financial Stability Colwell said as the university takes immediate steps to address current issues, it has to take a long-term look at efficiencies and costs control, and identify new opportunities to grow revenue. We cant continue to cut our way of the budget challenges, he said. Colwell said the university has already taken step in this direction. He said the ratio of administrators to students and administrators to all staff are among the lowest in the state. And, of the $21 million reduction, more than $5 million were in administrative costs. That said, I will be asking the vice chancellors to make an additional 5 percent in administrative cost reductions over the next year, he said. Additional Thoughts After Colwell finished his checklist of items he wanted to address, he took some time to address what he called additional thoughts. He said housing is a significant factor in SIUs enrollment, and the university has to take steps to ensure that housing is competitive and up-to-date. Colwell said the trustees have requested that a plan to replace the Brush Towers with more modern housing be taken forward with discussion at its December meeting. He also said the university will move forward to remove the Southern Hills housing complex, and the unsightly blue barracks on the east campus. The chancellor also hit on optimal enrollment and footprint. It would be irresponsible to simply guess at a number, Colwell said. I believe we can arrive at a best estimate with an analysis of the competitive marketplace and demographic trends aligned with what we know about our programs, space and mission. He said his goal is to launch the effort in the spring. At the end of his address when talking about the future of SIU, Colwell showed a picture of Campus Lake, which is being drained to remove toxic algae. He said when the work is done, the lake may not look or smell the same, but it will still be Campus Lake. I view our future similarly. We have a history and mission to be proud of. We are taking steps to address our challenges even though the steps are difficult and sometimes messy, Colwell said. We will be a strong if somewhat different university on the other side. This editorial appeared in Wednesday's Washington Post: Even by the blood-drenched standards of Syria, the attack on a United Nations humanitarian relief convoy near Aleppo on Monday was horrific - and criminal. Aid workers say trucks that carried desperately needed aid for the rebel-held side of the city, along with a warehouse, were repeatedly bombed, killing at least 20 people. Senior U.S. officials told reporters there were "strong indications" that the attack came from the air and that either Russian or Syrian planes were responsible. Red Cross and U.N. officials rightly demanded an investigation and suggested the attack was a war crime. "There has been a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law," said Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. A logical U.S. response would have been to ask for an immediate meeting of the U.N. Security Council - like the one Russia demanded Saturday, after the mistaken bombing of a Syrian army camp by planes from the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State. There was no such summons. Instead, Secretary of State John Kerry declared that the cease-fire the attack had so gruesomely violated was "not dead" - and called for more talks with Russia. "There was still an imperative" to pursue "the arrangement reached last week in Geneva between the United States and Russia,"read a State Department statement. Kerry's optimism was at odds with that of the Syrian and Russian governments: The former declared the cease-fire over, and the latter said its prospects were "very weak." His optimism also showed a shocking tolerance for atrocities committed by forces with which the United States is proposing to ally itself. The Obama administration pledged that if the truce held for seven days and humanitarian supplies were delivered, it would join with Russia in launching airstrikes against Syrian rebel forces deemed to be "terrorists." It is hard to conceive of a more definitive trashing of the agreement than Monday's attack. When the convoy departed for Aleppo, "notification . . . had been provided to all parties to the conflict, and the convoy was clearly marked as humanitarian,"said U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien. Yet as the trucks were being unloaded, "the place turned into hell, and fighter jets were in the sky," said the White Helmets civil defense group's Aleppo director in a video. Predictably, Russian and Syrian officials denied their planes were involved - just as they have brushed off the well-documented reports of their air attacks on hospitals, food stores and other civilian targets. That only makes the offense - and the danger of the Kerry deal - greater. After all, the United States acknowledged the mistaken attack Saturday, which hit a military target. What will the State Department say when, after joining forces with Russia, there is another bombing of civilians or international aid workers for which Russia denies responsibility? The administration's evident willingness to overlook war crimes in its zeal to collaborate with Vladimir Putin was perhaps best explained by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: The Kerry-Russia deal, he said, "is the only show in town." That's because President Obama has refused to allow other options, such as a U.S.-defended safe zone for civilians or military action to ground the Syrian air force. With no other cards, Kerry is still pleading for cooperation from those who bombed the Red Cross. I know you are, but what am I? Maybe you remember that one from the schoolyard. It was one of those unanswerable taunts Im rubber, youre glue was another -- widely favored by smart-alecky kids, a bit of verbal judo that took an attackers thrust and turned it back against her. I know you are, but what am I? Most of us outgrew the riposte about the same time we outgrew passing notes in class. Apparently, Donald Trump never did. Far from leaving it behind, he has honed it into a potent political tool perfect for this era of post-factual lassitude and cognitive dissonance. As Campaign 2016 grinds toward a reckoning, we are seeing that tool employed with breathtaking shamelessness. It works like this: Whatever Trump is called or accused of, he turns it back on the accuser. Did you ever see that scene in The Equalizer where a bad guy points a gun at Denzel Washington and, faster than the eye can follow, Denzel snatches the gun and points it back at him? Its something like that, except with words. So the man who claims that hes always opposed the Iraq War (even though he didnt), the man who said the election is rigged, (even though it isnt), the man who told us Barack Obama founded ISIS (even though duh! he didnt), the man whose PolitiFact scorecard rules over 80% of his rated statements as half-truths and untruths that man complains that Hillary Clinton is a world-class liar. And the man whose idea of releasing medical information is a brief note from his doctor so loopy, imprecise and filled with wild, extravagant claims (Trump will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency) that one doctor dubs it medically illiterate that man tells us its the mysteries of Hillary Clintons health we ought to be concerned about. And the man who said a judge was unfit to judge because he is of Mexican heritage, the man who wants a ban on Muslim immigration, the man who retweets racists and anti-Semites, the man who is openly beloved by white supremacists to the point that former Klansman David Duke seems about ready to kiss him on the lips that man condemns Hillary Clinton as a bigot. In psychology, they have this phenomenon called projection. The Cambridge Dictionary of Psychology defines it as a primitive defense mechanism that involves the unconscious warding off of negative experiences or emotions by denying an experience, perceiving it in another person and then seeing that negative experience as being directed back at the projector. Which sounds like what were seeing here, except there is nothing unconscious about it. No, this is calculated, born of a conviction that there really is a sucker born every minute and that an alarming proportion of them vote in American elections. So the challenge here is simple: What will we say in response? How will we answer this insult to intelligence? Or are we too sick of it all to care? One has a sense of an electorate pummeled into emotional submission. Which is hardly surprising. Its been a long, dispiriting campaign largely bereft of ideas, proposals and uplift. But it is important to remember that November will be a moment of truth in more ways than one. Indeed, November will answer a critical question. You say Trump is an ignorant narcissist unfit for the White House? Yes, we know he is. But what are we? Major news broke Tuesday. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, possibly the most famous couple in Hollywood, broke up. Jolie filed for divorce, and both parties predictably issued a statement asking for privacy for the family, including the couple's children, during the difficult time. The news has been absolutely everywhere the past couple of days: It was all over my Facebook feed most of Tuesday and Wednesday. Heck, The Southern even posted an online look at the couples history Tuesday. And with the news came the usual griping. Pop culture critics decry the focus on the woes of celebs. "Why is this news?" many asked. "Isn't this other story bigger, more important news?" Yes, there was other major news breaking Tuesday. New information was coming out about Ahmad Khan Rahami, who was suspected of planting bombs in New York City and New Jersey over the weekend, and what may have motivated him to take such actions. Protests were erupting in Charlotte, North Carolina, after Keith Lamont Scott, an African-American man, was shot and killed by a police officer during an encounter in an apartment complex parking lot Tuesday night. Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer during an encounter Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Videos from the incident were made public Monday, and by Tuesday, the story and outrage was in full force. Susan Sarandon on Twitter called out CNNs coverage of the Brad/Angelina split, sharing a screen shot of the news channels homepage, which featured a blown-up photo of Brangelina under the giant headline, Its over. The Brangelina story took up most of the page, with other news stories in a smaller list off to the side. @CNN Priorities. #TerenceCrutcher, read Sarandons tweet. Sarandon may have over-simplified the situation a bit. But she has a point. The news cycle changes quickly. CNN, as a pioneer of the 24/7 cable news model, knows this maybe better than anyone. A news website can look completely different in the time it takes to reload the page. A story might be huge in the morning, and minuscule by the afternoon. Things move around. News happens, and some things might get bumped in the moment a big story breaks. But yes, CNNs homepage, which changes several times a day, showed where its editorial interests were Tuesday morning. News organizations wield incredible power. Its readers, viewers and listeners have revolted in recent years, as the Internet gave them the power to pick and choose where they get their news. But the stories news organizations choose to tell, and how they choose to tell them, have the power to change and influence public consciousness. So Sarandon was right to call out CNN. But celebrity worship is not a one-person dance. News organizations made a big deal of the Brangelina split because its leaders know readers and viewers are interested. We can gripe and complain endlessly about celebrity gossip making its way into our newspapers, news websites and social media feeds. But viral content doesnt become viral on its own. It takes a hungry audience, clicking and reading and sharing and commenting. So yes, when a news organization makes an editorial decision about coverage, readers, viewers and listeners should ask why. And they should ask their neighbors, too. Les Winkeler Sports editor Les Winkeler is sports editor and outdoors writer for The Southern Illinoisan. Follow Les Winkeler Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Its the kids. If there is a singular reason the Southern Illinois Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days has survived, nay flourished, for 28 years, its the kids. This weekends celebration, Sept. 24-25, will be the 29th year the event has been held at John A. Logan College in Carterville. Winkeler: Aerial view of Southern Illinois Last week the Winkeler family flew to Florida for a brief vacation. There are many reasons to attend the event, even for non-hunters and anglers. Theres the art show in the gym, the entertaining dock dogs, the spectacle of fox hunting, the history provided by the Buckskinners Village or even the competition offered by waterfowl contests and fishing tournaments. But, the events success ultimately comes down to the kids. Ron Allen, who has been one of the events organizers since its inception, noted last week that third generation visitors are coming to National Hunting and Fishing Days. Men and women, who came to NHFD with their parents a generation ago, are now bringing their kids to NHFD. The event has undergone cosmetic changes over the years, but most of the key elements remain. And, the key element in that long-running success is the kids fishing pond, the BB gun range and the kids archery range. There is a lot to be seen at the event, but one could be entertained all weekend simply by sitting in a lawn chair near the kids fishing area. Winkeler: Breaking news: Common sense prevails It is the measure of madness in Illinois that one feels compelled to call attention to commo Seemingly endless squeals of delight, and sometimes horror, emanate from the pond as youngsters catch their first fish. There is nothing quite like the look of accomplishment, that surge of pride, when a youngster catches his or her first fish. And, frankly, the looks of disgust when youngsters watch someone thread a worm on a hook can also be quite entertaining. The same emotions are on display when kids hit targets at the BB gun and archery ranges. A generation ago, giving kids an opportunity to catch a fish, shoot a bow and arrow and a BB gun didnt seem like such a big deal. It didnt seem important. It was just fun. Its a different story today. Todays kids are less likely to be exposed to hunting and fishing than a generation ago. I dont have actual facts and figures, but Id be willing to bet more kids catch their first fish on a video game than out of the creek. No, not every kid that pulls a bluegill out of the pond at John A. Logan College will be hooked for life. But, the experience will make an impression on some youngsters. It might be enough to bring them back next year, or it might open their eyes to activities that dont involve a television screen and a controller. Thats vital. Ive always considered fishing the gateway to other outdoors activities. As always, the event is free. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a kid. It could change his or her future. Antibiotics is shown in this photo taken on Oct 20, 2011 in Yichang, central China's Hubei province. [Photo/IC] For around 90 years, antibiotics have been the go-to medicine for many illnesses. However, their systematic misuse and overuse in human medicine and food production is making bacteria increasingly resistant to their effects. Resistance is also growing to drugs commonly used to combat viruses, fungi and other parasites. This phenomenon is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Imagine common surgical procedures such as a caesarean section, or a simple bout of pneumonia suddenly becoming life threatening because we can't fight infections with antibiotics or other antimicrobial drugsthat's the situation we face if we don't act on AMR now. Unless immediate action on a global scale is taken, the world is heading toward a post-antibiotic era in which common infections could once again kill. Resistance to antibiotics could be responsible for killing 10 million people every year across the world over the next 30 years. That's the equivalent to one person every 3 secondswhich is more deaths than cancer causes today. The impact on national economies will be equally staggering: during the same time frame, without action to tackle AMR, the global cumulative economic cost is projected to reach about $100 trillion. Clearly we cannot afford to sit idle if we care about the future of our families and those of coming generations. That is why the World Health Organization was especially pleased with the commitment shown by the G20 countries at their meeting in Hangzhou earlier this month to address the "threat to public health, growth and global economic stability" posed by AMR. Now is the time to build on this momentum. This week, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on AMR. That this is only the fourth time in its history that the General Assembly is holding such a meeting on a health issue is a further signal that global leaders recognize the catastrophic consequences of failing to tackle AMR. While this high-level meeting is a milestone, the true measure of its value will be what happens next. And this will require leadership and action. I believe the global war on AMR cannot be won without China's leadershipand China is well and truly stepping up to the plate. Last month, China issued the National Action Plan to Contain Antimicrobial Resistance. And the strength of China's research and development industry also makes it well suited to act as the global leader in the development of new drugs and technologies. China has a tremendous opportunity to serve as an example to the rest of the world by demonstrating how the same multi-sector collaboration that delivered its national action plan on AMR must be followed by multi-sector implementation. As with many of today's problems there is no silver bullet. Given the multi-sectoral nature of AMR, action is needed on the part of human medicine (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, patients), animal medicine (vets, farmers, the food industry), the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. We must improve awareness and understanding of AMR: among those who prescribe and dispense antibiotics, but also amongst patientsfor instance, awareness about taking antibiotics correctly. We need to reduce the incidence of infectionby getting people serious about washing their hands effectively, especially in hospitals. Washing hands can also prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans. And we need to increase investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions. That China is already doing many of these things shows that it is poised to lead the global fight on AMR. WHO hopes to see all countries build upon the momentum of the G20 Hangzhou Summit, and this week's High Level Meeting at the UN General Assembly, through the development of their own national action plans on AMR. And everyone, everywhere can and must do their bitby taking simple steps such as not pressuring doctors to prescribe antibiotics, and using them carefully if they are required. We are standing at a turning point. Now is the time for decisive action. Future generations will look back and judge us for the action we take on this issue today. The author is WHO representative in China. A former Carver-Edisto Middle School teachers aide is out on bond after being charged with third-degree assault and battery. The teachers aide appeared before Orangeburg County Magistrate Peggy Doremus on Wednesday morning. The judge set her bond at $2,500 cash or surety. According to an Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office incident report, an employee of the school witnessed the aide grab a 15-year-old student by his shirt collar and yell at the student, Once you come out of the room, you dont go back in! The employee told deputies the student was against the wall when the aide and student had the confrontation. The report states the aide initially denied grabbing the student by his shirt collar, saying she grabbed him by the backpack. However, the aide ultimately told deputies that she did grab the student by his shirt and demonstrated how she did it, according to the report. Law enforcement and a school administrative staff member visited the students mother the next day to discuss the situation, the report states. Initially the students mother declined to pursue charges, stating she would allow the school to handle the situation. However, the students mother later contacted law enforcement to say she wanted to pursue charges. Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman said he became aware of an incident involving a Carver-Edisto Middle School teachers aide last week. Newman said the aide was placed on paid administrative leave while district officials conducted their own investigation. Newman said the aide is no longer employed by OCDS4, but he would not say if she left voluntarily or if she was terminated. If the former aide is convicted of third-degree assault and battery, she faces a maximum fine of $500, imprisonment for 30 days or both. She is to appear in court on Oct. 6 at 9 a.m. BAMBERG Gov. Nikki Haley returned home Wednesday to celebrate the opening of Bamberg County's new barrel-making company. Black Water Barrels LLC is investing more than $3.6 million in the former Zeigler automotive facility to produce white oak barrels for the growing bourbon industry. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Black Water President Greg Pierce thanked the people of Bamberg County and the surrounding areas for their warmth and support. "Everybody's been very helpful. It's made it easy. They knew who I was before I knew who they were. Everybody's been outstanding. If I was in a big city, it wouldn't be like that," Pierce said. Black Water Barrels is expected to create up to 60 new jobs over the next five years. Haley spoke warmly of her native Bamberg. It is still neighbors taking care of neighbors. It is still that hometown that I remember, she said. Haley praised Pierce for transforming the former auto dealership into something the community can be proud of. She also touted the area's workforce, particularly the 21 workers currently employed with the company. "This is a top-notch group. They're ready, they're excited and if we do this right, we're working with the Department of Tourism. We want this to be a destination site. We want this to be a place that people travel to," Haley said. "As we're continuing to try to bring more jobs and opportunities to Bamberg, this is a great way to add to that," she said. Pierce said the company has surpassed its initial $3.6 million investment and is going to be pretty close to $5 million before we're done." SouthernCarolina Alliance Executive Director Danny Black said, "There are very few places you can go in the United States and see an actual barrel being made in the old-style cooperage form. Now you'll be able to do that here." "Black Water Barrels will use American white oak to make their 30-, 53- and 60-gallon barrels for the bourbon, wine, cider and whiskey industry," Black said. The former Zeigler automotive facility has been transformed into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with an additional 11,000 square feet, he said. Haley said Pierce could not have picked a better location than Bamberg after looking at eight counties in three states. "You really have come to one of the sweet spots in the state, and I am personally committed to you in every way to make sure this is a success. We were already -- as we were touring in the back -- talking about expansion," Haley said. This is an industry that you don't see a lot of, especially in South Carolina. So now we're on the map. To the team of workers assembled at the ceremony, the governor said, "Keep up the great work. ... You work hard, you play hard and at the end of the day, we all have a strong faith, and that's what makes Bamberg great." Black Waters operation includes the selection of wood, the preparation of the staves and the final construction of the barrels. Pierce said, "We have 17 pieces of equipment. The wood comes in, we process the wood into an inch-and-a-quarter or an inch-and-a-half thick pieces, seven inches long, and we assemble the barrels. We have to steam them, we soften the wood, put the rings on them, char the insides and pressure test them before they leave." He added, "It's a lot more to it than that, but we can make 150 barrels a day right now." Pierce emphasized quality. "We use very high-quality wood. We pressure test all of our barrels, which means they don't leave here if they're leaking. Not all of my competitors do that, Pierce said. We try to put out a quality barrel. And we're the only cooperage in the Southeast, so our shipping costs are much less than my competitors, which gives us an advantage," he said. Employee Chad Johnson said, "It's actually a good business. They're a good company and try to look for their employees. They started us off with learning how to make the barrels. They got us started with the ReadySC training program and helped us learn as we went along." Johnson said new industries strengthen communities socially and economically. "It feels good. It brings a lot to the community. A lot of people came out to show their support and gratitude," he said. State Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg; Bamberg Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Schwarting and Bamberg County Council Vice Chairman Evert Comer Jr. were among the many government officials on hand at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Bamberg said, "I grew up here in this town, in this county and we've been working hard to improve life for everyone living here." He said Black Water Barrels contributes positively to the effort to build the economy. A 19-year-old has admitted robbing a Santee convenience store. Trevell Garner of 259 Jack Branch Road, Santee, pleaded guilty to strong-arm robbery last week. Circuit Judge Doyet Early sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act to a maximum of six years in prison. He is to have no contact with the victim. Garner was charged in the March robbery of Mallards Grocery on Jack Branch Road. The store is 300 feet from Garners home and the clerk recognized him as a regular customer. After Garner demanded money, the clerk told him to get it. As she attempted to flee, Garner hit the clerk in the head, pulled her back into the store and ordered her to the floor, according to an incident report. While Garner took the few dollars from the register, the clerk fled, the report said. In other pleas: Randolph Torall Bush, 40, of 229 Cartoon Circle, Eutawville, pleaded guilty to manufacturing/possession of a narcotic. Early sentenced him to prison for three years and a fine of $1,000. However, upon the payment of $500, the balance of the sentence will be suspended to four years of probation. Bush must also complete 50 hours of public service employment, complete substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing. Christopher Jon Kinsey, 26, of 176 Beard Street, Bamberg, pleaded guilty to failure to stop for a blue light. Early sentenced him to the Orangeburg County Detention Center for 90 days or a $500 fine. Kevin Brown, 29, of 111 Fox Den Lane, Bonneau, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, first offense. Early sentenced him to jail for 30 days or a $1,000 fine. Lyle Brown, 50, of 4081 Haskell Lane, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic violence. Early sentenced him to prison for 10 years. After he serves 90 days, the balance is suspended to five years of probation. Brown must also complete 50 hours of public service employment, complete substance abuse counseling, undergo random drug/alcohol testing and complete an anger management program. Rebecca Lynn Horner, 20, of 736 Highway 6, Swansea, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and battery. Early sentenced her to time served. According to her indictment, she was originally charged with first-degree assault and battery for using a closed fist to strike a person in the face and head on May 9. Corey McGahee, 36, of 1103 Ellis Avenue, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic violence. Early sentenced him to 10 years in prison, suspending the balance to three years of probation. McGahee must complete substance abuse counseling, undergo random drug/alcohol testing and complete an anger management program. Wesley Thomas Jordan, 20, of 1041 Shillings Bridge Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and battery. Early sentenced him to 30 days, time served, in jail. Robert Wesley Warrant, 23, of 146 Melody Lane, Cope, pleaded guilty to the following charges: criminally receiving goods, possession of narcotics first offense and possession of cocaine first offense. Early sentenced him to 60 days, time served, at the jail. Breanna Alexis Casapit, 19, of 314 Menlo Drive, Columbia, pleaded guilty to hit and run involving minor personal injury and failure to stop for a blue light. Early sentenced her to 30 days, time served, in jail. Jamel Fruitquran James, 38, of 180 Cantey Drive Apt. 223, Santee, pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery. Early sentenced him to prison for two years and a $500 fine, provided that upon the service of two days, the balance will be suspended to five years of probation. James is required to pay $1,356 in restitution to the Bank of Clarendon. Early said that James may serve time on weekends and must complete substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing. Larentre Brown, 19, of 3428 Kennerly Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and battery, first offense. Early sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act to prison for five years and ordered him to pay $400 in restitution. Matthew Warren Ulmer, 25, of 3732 Homestead Road, Bowman, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, first offense. Early sentenced him to 73 days, time served, in jail. Charles Christopher Griffis, 46, of 3896 Oxford Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to failure to register on the sex offender registry, second offense. Early sentenced him to prison for 366 days. Joshua Dashawn Balaam, 25, of 1110 Whaley Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to breaking into a motor vehicle. Early sentenced him to prison for 115 days, time served. Shakayla Kenyette Conerly, 27, of 9130 Old State Road, Cameron, pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance within proximity of a school, park or playground and manufacturing or possessing a controlled substance. Early sentenced her to prison for five years and a $1,000 fine. Upon payment of $500, the balance is suspended to five years of probation. She must complete 50 hours of public service employment, substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing. Brian George Hamilton, 25, of 2231 Cannon Bridge Road, Cordova, pleaded guilty to possession of Xanax and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, first offense. Early sentenced him to 126 days, time served, in jail. Marcauel Clayton Riley, 31, of 577 Zion Church Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence. Early sentenced him to prison for 18 months and a $2,500 fine. Upon payment of $200, the balance is suspended to probation for three years. Riley must also complete substance abuse counseling, undergo random drug/alcohol testing and complete an anger management program. Shelton Bernie Wright, 43, of 621 Stanley Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence. Early sentenced him to prison for 18 months and a $2,500 fine. Upon payment of $200, the balance is suspended to three years of probation. Wright must complete substance abuse counseling, undergo random drug/alcohol testing and complete an anger management program. Labron Sellers, 32, of 124 Gaucho Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Early sentenced him to 60 days in jail or a $50 fine. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Trend An Iranian senior official has called for increasing the volume of trade turnover with Azerbaijan by at least 300 percent over the next year. Hossin Esfahbodi, an Iranian deputy minister of industry, mine and trade, told Trend that the volume of trade turnover between the two countries currently stands at about $100 million but it must increase considerably. Elaborating on existing trade capacities between the two countries, the deputy minister said that the current level of turnover is not satisfactory and it must surpass $300 million over the next year. Esfahbodi made the remarks on the sidelines of the ongoing Iran Project 2016 in Azerbaijan, Baku. Over 50 Iranian companies specializing in oil, gas, construction, pharmaceutical, car making and other industrial spheres have showcased their capabilities during the three-day exhibition. Saying that short distance between Iran and Azerbaijan creates a proper opportunity for traders from both countries, the deputy minister called for expansion of cooperation in both, oil and non-oil sectors. The volume of trade turnover between the two countries soared by 70 percent over the first seven months of the current year. According to Azerbaijani officials, Iranian companies have already invested $2.6 billion in Azerbaijans economy. About $145 million of the total amount has gone to the non-oil sector. This is while some 450 companies with Iranian share operate in Azerbaijan. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $122.08 million in January-August 2016, $30.66 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. By Azernews By Gunay Hasanova Webcams will be installed in 1,000 polling stations in Azerbaijan to monitor the referendum to be held on September 26, 2016. The decision was taken at a meeting of Central Election Commission (CEC) under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov). Initially, the protocol was approved by the Commission meeting held on September 10, 2016. In order to keep track from the beginning to the end of the election process at the polling stations based on the principle of full coverage of the territory of the country, with the exception of the occupied territories, it was decided to install web cameras at 1,000 polling areas in 119 electoral districts. The current issues were also reviewed at the meeting. September 26, 2016, was set as the date for the referendum on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan. The Electoral Code of Azerbaijan indicates that the day of the popular vote should be non-working. In a bill recently sent to the Constitutional Court, President Ilham Aliyev proposed amendments to 29 Articles of Azerbaijans current constitution. The changes envisage the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, the establishment of the first vice-president and vice-president positions in the country as well as the cancellation of minimum age limit for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has so far registered 846 observers for the upcoming referendum. The district polling stations have registered 37,429 observers. Final results of the Referendum will be announced until October 21. The last time changes to the Constitution were made seven years ago, following Constitutional referendum held in 2009. By Trend President of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang called Azerbaijan for more cooperation in oil and gas exploration at the meeting with the countrys Ambassador Anar Imanov in the city of Hanoi, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) News Agency reported on September 22. Quang welcomed the establishment of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Cooperation. Vietnamese President Quang proposed studying and soon signing an agreement on education and training to further bolster cooperation in this field. Azerbaijani ambassador in turn highlighted the important role played by the Vietnamese people who used to study or work in Azerbaijan in reinforcing the traditional relations between the two countries. He said he hopes the first meeting of the intergovernmental committee scheduled for October 2016 will open up new opportunities for broader cooperation in the future. By Azernews By Rashid Shirinov The leaders of countries drew attention to the settlement of international conflicts at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Speaking at the event, the presidents of Latvia and Estonia stressed the urgency for resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Stability and security of Europes eastern neighbors remain one of the strategic priorities for Latvia, the countrys President Raimonds V?jonis said on September 21 at the session. Settlement of conflicts in Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh should be an important focus of the international agenda, V?jonis noted in his speech. He emphasized that all countries must fulfill their obligations within the international law and respect the borders of sovereign states. In his speech at the session, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves reminded that the ban on the use of force and the principle of the inviolability of state frontiers are the basis of the United Nations Charter. The president noted that "frozen" conflicts still continue in Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria. Ilves said about the necessity of creating mechanisms that will ensure respect for norms of international law. He believed that if the UN does not begin to work in this direction, it could lose its relevance. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. By Azernews By Gunay Hasanova Russia and the countries of the Cooperation Council of Arab Gulf states can bring their positions closer on a number of issues and work together to improve the situation in the region, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Arab Council countries, RIA Novosti reported. He stressed that Moscow is interested in the development of political dialogue with the region. "We believe that we can bring our positions closer on a number of issues and work together to improve the situation in the region, which has suffered enough from instability," said the Russian minister. Lavrov added that another topic of discussion is "the deepening of economic and trade cooperation. "We have a lot of different projects, including joint investment platforms. We appreciate this format of communication," said the Russian minister. In turn, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Adel al-Dzhubeyr stressed that the Cooperation Council of Arab Gulf states "want to maintain closer cooperation with the Russian Federation." "We are ready to discuss cooperation with your country in the sphere of security, as well as trade," he said. Historically, Russia and Arab Gulf states had warm relations. As a result, Russia and other CIS countries are increasingly seen as attractive emerging markets by Gulf states, in which to invest, particularly due to their huge potential in bringing an abundance of raw materials to the international markets. Russia-CIS and the Gulf are now established as the worlds primary energy-producing regions. In 1992, the then Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Kozyrev visited all of the GCC countries in a series of official visits. It was the first official visit to the GCC states as a whole, and a sign of Russian willingness to develop full-fledged relations with the group. In May 2004, Russia and Oman signed a protocol on the completion of bilateral talks on Russias admission to the World Trade Organization. The delegation from the Sultanate of Oman participated in the joint meetings of the Russian-Arab Business Council. Oman and Russia expressed their readiness to establish a bilateral Russian-Omani Commission in the framework of the Council. In 2008, Russia and the GCC states started preparations for strategic dialogue. In November 2011 a memorandum of understanding was signed during a meeting in Abu Dhabi, establishing a formal mechanism for consultations and cooperation between the GCC as a regional organization and the Russian Federation. It was an attempt to try a new path of cooperation after a long period of mutual neglect. Moreover, in February 2014 the third ministerial meeting for GCC - Russia strategic dialogue was held in Kuwait. Hence, the will of two sides to cooperate closer in different spheres may serve as an intensive to move the relations between Russia and GCC to a more positive phase. By Azernews By Gunay Hasanova Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on September 21 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, Anadolu Agency reported. The White House said in a statement that Biden reiterated his unshakeable support for Turkish democracy and praised the Turkish people's commitment to democratic institutions and the rule of law. Biden also pledged that the U.S. would provide assistance to Turkey in its investigation into the illegal and violent coup attempt there this summer. Biden visited Turkey in August amid tensions between Washington and Ankara regarding the extradition of the U.S.-based Gulen, who is accused of masterminding the bloody failed coup attempt in Turkey in July. Turkey has asked the U.S. to hand over the leader of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a network within the Turkish state that carried out the July 15 coup attempt. The vice president also condemned the PKK terror groups violence against Turkish security forces and civilians. The sit-down at the Peninsula Hotel occurred on the same day Secretary of State John Kerry asked the UN Security Council to ground all aircraft flying above opposition-held areas in Syria to allow aid to flow to besieged areas. Turkey has pushed for a no-fly zone in Syria. Most observers believe Erdogan and Biden also discussed the situation in Syria and Operation Euphrates Shield launched by Turkey last month in northern Syria to clear Daesh along the Turkish border. Earlier, during his visit to Turkey Biden said that Turkey and the U.S. will continue the joint fight against militants of the Islamic State terrorist organization. On August 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. Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border. 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. Lukaku on track to return against Cherries , 22 September, The striker picked up a toe injury in last weekend's win over Middlesbrough, was substituted with 25 minutes to go and subsequently left out of the EFL Cup tie on Tuesday evening. Ronald Koeman told the media at his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm this afternoon that Lukaku had a separate training session from the main group today and that he expects the Belgian to train as normal tomorrow morning. "If that happens he is fit for the weekend," Koeman said before confirming that there are no injury concerns over Phil Jagielka was merely rested against the Canaries. He wouldn't be drawn over talk of a contract extension for Lukaku, insisting that it was not his job but that of the club's hierarchy to sort out with his agent. The manager also gave updates on Darron Gibson and James McCarthy who are both working their way back from groin surgery. GIbson isn't scheduled to resume running until next week but McCarthy has already resumed light training and should be ready to return, presumably after the upcoming international break. Koeman had no further updates on Muhamed Besic who continues his rehabilitation following an operation to repair an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in pre-season. Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer About these ads Top officials and businessmen from Pakistan started to arrive in Bahrain yesterday (September 21) to attend a key conference next week, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication. To read further, please visit GDNonline. Dubai government has announced plans to build a new municipal offices' complex at the Hor Al Anz area in the city at a total cost of Dh104 million ($28.3 million), said a report. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and also chairman of Dubai Municipality, has given approval for the new complex, according to the state news agency Wam. The move is part of the civic body's keenness to deliver the best of services to the public. It will also ensure an appropriate work environment for the service staff, it added. A team from Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, UAE, has successfully treated a patient who required a complex surgical implant of extremely powerful intraocular lenses (IOL) to treat her cataract (clouding of the eye's natural lens) and correct her high myopia (extreme short sightedness). As a result of implanting two lenses with the highest minus power ever implanted in the UAE, the patient's vision and quality of life have improved dramatically, said the hospital. Standard IOLs were not an option and the lenses were delivered from Germany, custom-made specifically for the patient. The patient had a complicated history of eye problems including cataract and was unable to see without very thick lenses, due to her extreme short sightedness. The complexity of the treatment included the challenge of very accurately calculating the power of the lenses required to correct the patient's vision, manufacturing the custom lenses, and finally the surgical procedure to implant correctly such powerful lenses. Professor Robert Scott, medical director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: "Though complex, the bilateral surgery to implant these special intraocular lenses was performed without complications and the results have been excellent. Our patient presented us with the challenge of treating her cataract and correcting her extreme short sightedness, which meant that we had to arrange the custom-made lenses with the most minus refractive reading ever implanted in the UAE. We are all delighted that she is now able to see very well and only needs her light glasses for reading; we believe the surgery to improve her vision will significantly enhance her life." According to the patient, opening her eyes for the first time after the surgery was "an amazing experience and the world seemed brighter and clearer without contact lenses and like seeing the world in a new light." Cataract refers to the clouding of the natural lens in the eye; it is the most cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40 and is the leading cause of blindness in the world. Myopia is a very common condition that affects around 25 per cent of the general population. High myopia (extreme short sightedness) is very difficult to treat/correct using standard contact lenses or spectacles, because of the thickness of the lenses needed to correct the vision. This is where an intraocular lens (IOL) - a synthetic artificial lens implanted into the eye to replace the natural lens - is a very effective treatment, the hospital said. -TradeArabia News Service The Internet Society has opened a new regional bureau in the Middle East and appointed Salam Yamout to the role of regional director. Yamout brings over 25 years of experience to her new role where she will be responsible for building awareness of the Internet Society and advancing its mission of promoting access to the Internet for the benefit of people everywhere. Prior to joining the society, Yamout was the National Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Strategy Coordinator for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in Beirut, Lebanon. She was responsible for planning and implementing national ICT projects in addition to advising on regulatory and legislative issues related to ICT as well as internet governance. The Internet Society has been looking for the right person who can help us engage with regional partners, policy makers and Internet communities throughout the Middle East. With her extensive experience in technology and working with various stakeholders in the region, she is well positioned to help the Internet Society promote the benefits of an open, trusted, Internet, said Raul Echeberria, vice president of Global Engagement for the Internet Society. The Internet Society is an independent source for Internet information and thought leadership from around the world. It is also the organizational home for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). - TradeArabia News Service Egypt's three existing mobile phone operators have declined to buy its fourth-generation licences, two Egyptian telecoms officials told Reuters on Thursday. The companies, Vodafone, Orange and Etisalat, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The Egyptian officials declined to be named as no official announcement had yet been made on the matter. Telecom Egypt, the country's fixed-line monopoly, last month acquired the 4G licence at a cost of 7.08 billion Egyptian pounds ($797 million). The move will allow it to enter the mobile phone market directly for the first time. Thursday was the deadline for the three existing mobile companies to respond to the government's offer to buy 4G licences. - Reuters Etihad Airways, UAE's national airline, has announced a First Class agreement with Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi to become one of the key partners of the malls Fashion Week YMFW16 this October. Etihad Airways will offer the winner of the Design your way to the Runway competition a trip to a leading fashion destination which will be revealed closer to the time. Saoud Khoory, general manager of Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, said: At Yas Mall Abu Dhabi, we are always looking to offer our visitors a first class experience like no other, and our partnership with Etihad Airways is a key testament to this ambition. We are very excited that Etihad will be taking part in our biggest fashion event this year, and with their partnership, we will be able to position Yas Mall Fashion Week as a global and international fashion event. Commenting on the partnership, Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways vice president UAE and GCC Commercial, said: Etihad Airways collaboration with Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi showcases the airlines dedication to supporting aspiring talent in the fashion industry. The ambition, innovation and creativity required by up and coming designers weaves nicely into our own brand attributes. Additionally, Etihad Airways will be running a promotional stand at Yas Mall from October 6 to 15 with a raffle draw of more prizes to fashion destinations for all visitors to be announced on October 15. The competition, which started in August, requires participants to submit a selection of sketches for a preliminary judging panel via the Design your Way to the Runway Website (http://www.yasmallfashionweek.com/). The deadline for submissions is September 22, 2016. The judges will announce the winner on October 12, 2016, during Yas Malls Fashion Week Opening Ceremony. - TradeArabia News Service World Travel Market London 2016, the leading global event for the travel industry, is calling on bloggers to apply for its hugely popular WTM London Bloggers Speed Networking event. The 90-minute session, which takes place on November 9 at 10.30am in Platinum Suite 3&4, will see 100 leading industry bloggers hold quick-fire business meeting with exhibitors interested in increasing their media exposure. WTM London Bloggers Speed Networking last year saw 300 exhibitor personnel discuss business opportunities with the 100 bloggers. The event launched in 2014 with 70 bloggers and was expanded to 100 bloggers in 2015. Bloggers will need to have registered for WTM London as members of the media to apply for a place, and then a separate registration for the speed networking will be available on the WTM website. World Travel Market Portfolio Press and PR Manager Paul Nelson said: The number of bloggers attending World Travel Market has increased dramatically over the past few years as the power and influence of bloggers continues to grow stronger. It has been a hugely popular event since its introduction in 2014, with the number of exhibitors taking part increasing each year. We expect this years event to be the biggest and the most successful yet. WTM Bloggers Speed Networking is in association with Traverse. - TradeArabia News Service A Casper man will serve up to eight years in prison for attacking his girlfriend and threatening to kill her with a hammer. Nathan Trost pleaded guilty in July to aggravated assault, applying pressure to her throat and domestic battery. A felony charge of felonious restraint and a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a peace officer were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. At the sentencing hearing Thursday morning, Trost admitted that he attacked the woman. He apologized when District Court Judge Catherine Wilking asked if he wanted to say anything before he was sentenced. Im just real sorry for this whole thing, he said. Its been devastating. The couple were living together in February when Trost became violent during an argument, according to court documents. He began throwing dishes and broke the coffee table before pushing the woman to the ground, ripping a ring off her hand and choking her. The woman told police she lost consciousness twice while he choked her, the documents state. When she regained consciousness she tried to escape the house, but Trost blocked her. The woman then reached into a kitchen drawer and found a knife to defend herself. Trost grabbed a knife as well before wresting the womans knife from her hand and tossing them both back into a drawer, according to the documents. Trost then shoved the woman to the floor, grabbed a hammer and held it to her head. I should just kill you, wrap you up, put you in the desert and come clean this up, he told the woman, court documents state. Trost released the woman, who went to sit on the living room couch and smoke a cigarette. Trost attacked her again and rammed the back of her head into the wall behind the couch multiple times, the woman told police. The woman persuaded Trost to go with her to a neighbors house and flagged down a neighbor passing by in a car. The neighbor took the woman to the Wyoming Medical Center after learning what happened. At the hospital, the woman was treated for bruising all over her body, including her neck and right eye, and a fracture in her hand, the documents state. Casper police arrived at the couples home to interview Trost later that day. When asked if he had any weapons in the home, Trost picked up a crossbow and refused orders to put it down. Officers grabbed Trosts arm to put it behind his back, but Trost continued to resist. Officers used pepper spray when Trost reached toward an officers duty belt. They were then able to put handcuffs on Trost, according to the documents. At the hearing Thursday, public defender Jared Holbrook said Trost took a great deal of responsibility for what happened. Natrona County law enforcement reported 385 incidents of domestic violence in 2015 the second highest number in the state after Campbell County, according to a report from the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation. County law enforcement reported 204 domestic violence incidents between January and June. Wyoming authorities said Thursday they received an anonymous email that included threats against state facilities, schools and the Cheyenne Regional Airport, but school officials in Casper said they later learned it was a hoax. The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security has shared the information with appropriate agencies, it said in a statement. The threat was later determined to be a hoax, according to the Natrona County School District. "There is no danger to students and Natrona County school will continue their normal school activities," the district said in a news release. Sweetwater County Sheriffs Office spokesman Detective Dick Blust, however, said that while there is so far no reliable evidence lending credibility to the threats, neither have authorities been able to confirm they are a hoax. Blust said similar threats have been received in other states today. DENVER The family of a Utah doctor who killed himself after his 2009 arrest in an artifact looting investigation that marked an early flashpoint in the rural public lands struggle in the western United States asked an appeals court Tuesday to revive an excessive force lawsuit against the federal Bureau of Land Management. James Redds family argues that he was treated unfairly when agents dressed in paramilitary gear overwhelmed him at gunpoint at his house in the Four Corners area of southern Utah. The family is challenging a ruling last year from a lower court judge who ruled against them in the 2011 lawsuit. Redds daughter said at least 50 officers showed up in an excessive show of force, the familys attorney, Shandor S. Badaruddin told a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. Federal officials contend the heavy presence of agents was needed to collect large amounts of evidence and because they were prepared for hostility from the suspects due to the towns historical opposition to federal public land control. Despite being heavily armed with assault rifles and wearing body armor, the agents were not behaving like a SWAT team, said Laura Smith, an attorney for Dan Love, the land management bureau agent who led the operation. James Redd, who maintained his innocence, was charged with one felony count of theft of Indian tribal property an effigy bird pendant valued at $1,000. He and his wife were among 24 people indicted after a two-year federal investigation that relied on a well-connected artifacts dealer-turned-undercover operative. During the June 2009 arrests, agents raided homes of 16 people in the small town of Blanding, Utah, including a math teacher and brother of the local sheriff. Most were handcuffed and shackled as agents confiscated stone pipes, woven sandals, spear and arrow heads, seed jars and decorated pottery. Prosecutors said those involved stole, received or tried to sell American Indian artifacts. The events triggered outcry from many southern Utah residents who claimed federal officials were heavy-handed and overzealous. It is still invoked frequently by people in the state when they criticize what they perceive as heavy-handed federal oversight of public lands. Redd killed himself on June 11, 2009, a day after the raid. Another suspect and the informant who helped government officials also killed themselves. In his ruling dismissing the lawsuit from Reids relatives, U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby acknowledged there was no evidence that James Redd was violent or posed a threat. But Shelby said the presence of federal agents in SWAT-like gear did not constitute an excessive show of force. The ruling cleared Love of wrongdoing. Wyoming recently cracked the top 10 in the nation for its number of auto versus deer, elk or moose collisions, according to a report by State Farm insurance company. The report, based on the number of claims filed in each state, concluded drivers in No. 8 Wyoming have a 1 in 85 chance of colliding with a large animal like a deer and filing an insurance claim for damage. Animal collisions account for 51 percent of all comprehensive claims filed in the state in autumn. Nationally, that number is 36 percent. West Virginia led the nation with a 1 in 41 chance. Drivers in Wyomings neighbor to the north, Montana, were second, with a 1 in 58 chance of such a collision and a filing. South Dakota also landed in the top five, with a 1 in 70 chance. According to State Farm, the national average cost per claim for 2015-2016 was $3,995, a slight decrease from $4,135 in 2014-2015. We know there is an increased risk of collision with deer around dawn and dusk, and also during the October-December breeding season, said Chris Mullen, director of Technology Research at State Farm, in a news release. However, drivers should be engaged, alert and on the lookout at all times, because you never know when you may need to react to a deer or any other obstacle that may suddenly be in your path. The primary time of year that vehicles collide with wildlife are November, October and December, all months when deer especially bucks are moving more during their annual mating season. In fact, such collisions increase by 67 percent across the country between September and November over the June through August period, according to Farmers Insurance. To limit the risk of such collisions, State Farm recommends the following: Travel at slower speeds, especially at dusk and dawn. If you see one animal, prepare to see more crossing the road. Note the placement of deer crossing signs. Always use your seat belt. Flick on your high beams for more visibility, except when traffic is headed toward you. Brake if possible but avoid swerving, which can make an accident worse. This story has been updated to reflect inclusion of statistics from Farmers Insurance. CHEYENNE Laramie County authorities have located an 18-year-old man wanted for information relating to a Cheyenne shooting death and have booked him into jail on suspicion of manslaughter. Sheriff's deputies had wanted to question Austin Daniels after 19-year-old Mark Dreiman was fatally shot at a home on Saturday. Sheriff's Capt. Linda Gesell says Daniels was found Wednesday at the Rodeo Inn in Cheyenne with a handgun. She says Daniels had initially been taken into custody on a warrant for failure to appear in court for a burglary case. He was later jailed for investigation of manslaughter. Dreiman died Saturday after being shot in the upper chest and neck area. His father, Karl Dreiman, says he believes the shooting was an accident. Addressing the nations entrepreneurs and small business owners from the Old Executive Office Building in August 1986, President Ronald Reagan lightheartedly observed that, under his predecessor Jimmy Carter, governments view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Reagans quip and wry observation about the tendency of government to tax and regulate, rather than allow the market to operate with minimal intrusion, drew laughter from those in attendance at the White House Conference on Small Business just over 30 years ago. But the three- or four-fold increase in the tax rate on wind-energy production a handful of Wyoming lawmakers are thinking about imposing on the states emerging wind energy industry is no laughing matter. Wyoming is the only state in the nation that imposes a $1 per megawatt tax specifically on power generation from wind, a distinction Republican lawmakers should not point to with any sense of pride. For a state whose Republican-dominated Legislature routinely invokes Reagans legacy, this latest proposal under consideration by Wyomings Joint Revenue Interim Committee to impose higher taxes on an emerging industry certainly should give policymakers and voters pause. The Power Company of Wyoming has spent nine years planning the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project near Rawlins and Sinclair in Carbon County. Construction was expected to begin this year on the $5-billion, 1,000-turbine project. When built, this project alone would generate up to 3,000 megawatts of clean energy and be the largest wind farm in North America. Just as states like Texas have seen cheaper per kilowatt-hour power for consumers as energy markets have been deregulated and additional capacity from renewable sources like wind and solar have come online, expanded energy-production capacity from Wyoming wind will help consumers, as well as the state and regional economy. When entrepreneurs decide to invest years and billions of dollars to develop and deploy new technologies, build significant infrastructure, create hundreds of new and well-paying jobs and expand energy-production capacity in ways that meet the important goal of reducing harmful emissions, they do so hoping that tax and regulatory policy will be sufficiently predictable to allow them to earn returns on their significant capital investment. But as Power Company of Wyoming CEO Bill Miller was recently quoted by the Los Angeles Times: Just about every legislator weve met with asks us, You tell us how much we can tax you before we put you out of business. That sort of question is one no business owner or entrepreneur should ever hear from his or her elected officials. Holy Scripture records the observation that: The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. (John 3:8, NIV). But in Wyoming, it appears certain state lawmakers have decided the sound of the wind mostly sounds like an opportunity for new tax revenue. Wyoming has already collected nearly $15 million in the four years since the Cowboy State first started taxing energy production from wind. As the High Country News recently reported, the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre project alone is projected to generate more than $1 billion in tax revenue and royalties at the federal, state and local level over its first 30 years. But a few lawmakers including House Revenue Committee Chairman Michael Madden, R-Buffalo have apparently decided that projected tax revenue is not enough. It makes sense for the state and federal government to impose severance taxes when oil, gas, precious metals and other minerals are permanently taken from the land. But taxing energy production from renewables like wind and solar in the same way just doesnt make sense. Nor does it make sense to single out a specific form of energy production that has the capacity to meet consumer demand and help reduce carbon emissions, as if the punitive tax on wind energy was somehow akin to sin taxes imposed on alcohol or cigarettes. Being the first state in the nation to impose a specific and arguably punitive tax on energy production from wind is bad enough. It discourages investment and development of cleaner forms of energy production from renewable sources. At the very least, state lawmakers should leave well enough alone and decline to pursue any plans to raise taxes on the emerging wind energy industry when the Joint Revenue Interim Committee meets in Buffalo later this week. The benefits of work lend more to day-to-day life than a regular paycheck. Theres also the comfort of a daily routine, the feelings of self-worth and connections with others. Aracely Solis knows this well. Shes been missing those extras since she moved to Tucson last year for her husbands job. Solis, 37, worked for 11 years in a real estate developers office in Nogales, Sonora, the city where she was born. After moving to Nogales, Ariz., in 2012, Solis crossed back into Mexico each day to handle payroll and human resources. She kept her job for six months after her family moved to Tucson but found the commute too much. I loved my career, said Solis. It was really hard for me to leave my job. Trying to find work here has been disappointing, she said. After several failed attempts, she took a cleaning job, but shes determined it will be temporary. To help herself along, Solis is participating in Literacy Connects Women RISE, a new job-readiness program for immigrant and refugee women funded by a $75,000 grant from the Womens Foundation of Southern Arizona. RISE stands for Refugee and Immigrant Self-Sufficiency through English. Solis is one of nine women selected out of 30 recruits from Literacy Connects summer ESL classes to participate in the first of six semester-long internships. The women practice English, learn networking skills and about cultural differences at play when searching for work in the U.S. Some of those subtle contrasts came as a surprise to Marisol Williams, who moved here with her American-born husband and daughter from Chile four years ago. When a prospective employer says the inevitable, Tell me more about yourself, Williams said she would be inclined to talk about personal things, such as her family, because thats what they would do in Chile. Shes glad to know now that its instead a chance to share more about her skills, work experience and goals. Another difference: In Chile, the longer the resume, the better. Also, people in most Latin American countries include a glamour shot with their cover letter. A lot of what were doing is teaching what the norms are considered here, said Jennifer Stanowski, director of Literacy Connects English Language Acquisition for Adults. The program also aims to help women feel empowered enough to make connections in their new community, Stanowski said. About 85 percent of people find jobs through their personal contacts, she said, and when you are new to an area, those connections can be hard to build. Thats especially true for newcomers who dont speak English. Nearly 30,000 families in Pima County are estimated to be linguistically isolated, data from Literacy Connects shows, which means no one in the household over age 14 is proficient in English. Williams said she stayed in her house during much of her first year here because her English language skills were poor, and she didnt have a drivers license. But Williams, 47, is not one to wait around for long. When a friend told her about English classes being taught at a library near her home, she signed up. She also has obtained her drivers license and has become a U.S. citizen. She credits her determination to growing up under Augusto Pinochets military dictatorship. As an older teen living in Ovalle, a city about four hours north of the Chilean capital, Santiago, she became involved in nonviolent efforts to overthrow the regime. Those experiences shaped her, she said. Now that shes in the United States, she wants to help immigrant and refugee women and children. She also plans to return with her husband next summer to Ovalle to help children learn English. The couple met in Antofagasta, Chile, a port city in a mining area in northern Chiles Atacama Desert. Williams worked there in a family-owned department store there, handling finances and helping manage the store. Like Solis and Williams, Blanca Hugues also worked in human resources and accounting in Nogales, Sonora. She left behind a career of 19 years when her husband moved to Tucson for work. Hugues, 68, continued working in Mexico for two more years before settling up here. She, too, found it challenging to find a job here. She took a factory job making medical devices, where she worked for 13 years before being laid off. Since then, she has earned her high school equivalency degree and started reaching out more, including taking classes with Literacy Connects. As part of the RISE program, she is helping with ESL classes at Valencia Branch Public Library. Hugues would like to take her new teaching experience, which she is really enjoying, and combine it with her other passion: children. Chris Bianco didnt want to close his namesake pizzeria in downtown Tucson, but on Saturday night thats exactly what he did. Just over two years after opening a restaurant many viewed could be a game changer for downtown, Bianco pulled out. Bianco said he is looking for a new Tucson location either in an old building that he can rehab as he did the 2,000-square-foot space at 272 E. Congress St., or build new on a vacant lot. He said he has not determined where he will go, but he wants a space where he can create a complete Pizzeria Bianco experience that would include more accessible parking and patio dining two things that Bianco said he could not accomplish at the downtown location. Bianco on Sunday said closing was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make in his 30-plus-year restaurant career that started with his flagship downtown Phoenix restaurant that he opened in 1994. This is the first time hes ever had to close a restaurant. For us, I think that the challenges that were presented were a little bit much to overcome, Bianco said, citing construction of the downtown AC Hotel by Marriott on East Broadway and South Fifth Avenue, behind the pizzeria. Biancos landlord Scott Stiteler is developing the hotel project. I understand the progress of construction. I think the hotel is going to be great when its built, but for us I didnt feel that we were capable to deliver the experience that I wanted to, Bianco said. Bianco said he and Stiteler mutually agreed to allow Bianco to exercise an early exit from his lease agreement for the 2,000-square-foot space thats next to Stitelers restaurant The Hub Restaurant and Ice Creamery and adjacent Playground Bar and Lounge. Bianco would not specify the terms of the original lease and Stiteler could not be reached to comment on Sunday. He said none of his 10 employees are affected by the closing. Most will continue working with Bianco in Tucson catering jobs using a portable wood-fired oven. Bianco announced in April 2013 that he planned to bring Pizzeria Bianco to Tucson at a time when East Congress Street was undergoing the beginnings of a major resurgence. New restaurants, including Flagstaff-based Proper and Diablo Burger, and several businesses including The Cadence student housing complex were driven by the prospect of the Sun Link streetcar, which was in the final stages of construction when Bianco started renovating the historic space in summer 2013. At the time he had anticipated opening that November or December. The restaurant, specializing in wood-fired artisan pizza, opened seven months later, in late July 2014. I am so grateful for all the support, said Bianco, 54, the James Beard Award-winning chef who operates several restaurants in the Phoenix area. I hate letting even one person down. I understand if people are disappointed; I know I am. We did all that we could do in that location. Epic Proportions is full of bad acting. And thats good. The Arizona Repertory Theatre production is a play about making a movie. And that movie an over-the-top Biblical epic is where the bad acting comes in. Of course it would; this is a broad comedy, and it wouldnt be as much fun if the acting in the movie werent so questionable. When the cameras in the movie within the play stop rolling, however, these University of Arizona students bring on the acting that got them into the school and will propel them out into the theatrical universe. The cast: Comedy aint easy. And broad comedy, especially, needs some solid talent if its going to work. And theres plenty of solid talent in Epic Proportions, which opened Wednesday, Sept. 21. Especially impressive was Zachary Zupke, who played Benny, a young man who longs to be in the pictures and travels to a remote Arizona site to play an extra in a movie directed by the great D.W. DeWitt. Zupke is just a sophomore, and his comedic timing is already well honed. It will be fun to watch him on stage over the next few years. Matthew Osvog played Phil, Bennys brother, with a schizophrenic hilarity. Phil follows Benny to the desert to bring him home to the rents, but instead the sweet young boy becomes the power-hungry director of the movie when it is clear that DeWitt is more interested in watching movies of naked women than shaping a Biblical epic. Other standouts include Shira Maas as a chain-smoking Egyptian queen, and Tyler Reaser in the role of Louise, who is in charge of the thousands of extras and finds love dangerous when the two brothers fall for her. The direction: Brent Gibbs knows that a thin, one-joke play needs much to keep the audience occupied, and he provided it. He infused it with more ham than a pig farm, and saw to it that the cast uses the fine art of mugging. While there were moments when the play dragged, they were just moments he mostly kept the action moving so furiously that we didnt have time to think about how stupid the play is. The play: And it is stupid. One might even say epically stupid. The story is about those two brothers who yearn for the same woman while they are stuck in the hot desert making a movie that is a nightmare . That all happens in about 75 minutes. Good thing: something this wispy needs to go by quickly. But: As stupid and silly it is, we laughed. Who can complain that about? Gov. Doug Ducey spent time in Tucson on Wednesday rallying local law enforcement and community leaders to help to defeat legislation that would legalize recreational use of marijuana. With Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk seated next to him in a midtown conference room, Ducey outlined a list of his reasons for opposing the citizen-led initiative Proposition 205. The measure would allow anyone 21 and older to possess and use up to an ounce of marijuana as well as grow their own plants. Polk runs the Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy political action committee, a group focused on defeating the proposition. Prop. 205 is something that needs to be stopped in November, Ducey told the group. This is winnable. However, those backing Prop. 205 said Ducey and his allies are trying to scare Arizonans to defeat the measure in November. The governor is simply making up facts as he goes along, said J.P. Holyoak, the chair of the pro-Prop. 205 campaign, in an interview. Ducey and Polk took turns outlining their reasons to opposing the initiative. It will bring in relatively little revenue for education after expenses. It strips control from cities and towns to regulate marijuana-related businesses. Marijuana legalization will hurt businesses in Arizona. Marijuana is going to make roads more dangerous. The initiative, if approved, will be difficult to amend by the Legislature. It will increase the number of teens using marijuana. This was sold to the voters in Colorado on the promise it would raise money for education, Polk said. It is, on its face, a ridiculous thought. Drugs dont make for better children or better schools. Ducey argued there would be long-lasting economic ramifications, arguing major employers like Raytheon might consider leaving the state if they could not ensure a drug-free workplace. It puts local employers at odds against a federal law. It is a trial lawyers dream, he said. Employers are going to reject that, they are going to leave the state of Arizona. They are not going to invest in the state of Arizona and they may not come to the state of Arizona. Ducey defended the massive cash infusion made by Chandler-based Insys Therapeutics, which gave $500,000 to Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy to help defeat the measure. The company makes a synthetic version of marijuanas active ingredient, THC, as well as the potent painkiller fentanyl. I want any resources we can have that allows us to communicate with voters about the lies that this initiative is being sold on, Ducey said. Inside the Southern Arizona Leadership Council offices, Duceys message found a receptive audience even across the political aisle. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democrat, said no sheriff in the state sees legalization as a step forward. I know I speak for the sheriffs association, perhaps for all law enforcement, when I say that we see this as a public safety issue, Nanos said. This is really about our kids and the future of our state. Holyoak says he doesnt need to go far to dismiss the various claims made by Ducey and his allies. Referring to the claims about work-place safety, he read directly from the text of the Prop. 205 legislation. This chapter does not require an employer to allow or accommodate the possession or consumption of marijuana or marijuana products in the work place and does not affect the ability of employers to enact and enforce work place policies restricting the consumption of marijuana and marijuana products by employees, he said. As for claims about increased consumption of marijuana by teens, Holyoak referred to a recent survey by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The study found no sizable increase in marijuana use by teens since marijuana was legalized in Colorado. As for driving while impaired on marijuana, he noted the state has ways to reliably test whether a person is impaired, not just whether they have traces of the drug in their system. State Representatives Mark Finchem and Vince Leach, Republicans, are joined by Democratic newcomer Corin Hammond in the race for two State House seats in District 11. Heres where the candidates stand on a few key issues. POLITICS AND RELIGION Finchem said the Bible is the source of law and a large part of his constituency agrees with him. I come from a Biblical world view. I dont come from a secular world view, he said. If someone comes from a different religious background? It can launch a discussion, Finchem said. I think a lot of people, whether theyre believers or not, subscribe to the idea that I am my brothers keeper, and that doesnt mean theyre kept by the government, he said. Hammond said she would keep her religion out of politics. She is running as a single-shot candidate, meaning shes asking voters to vote only for her, keeping votes away from the other two candidates. ABORTION On Twitter in January and March, Leach posted: Abortion doesnt make you un-pregnant. It makes you the mother of a dead baby. The messages came with a picture of a fetus and links to news about abortion. He said his strong pro-life stance is guided by his faith. I believe that it is wrong to kill something that has already been created, and I think that its abhorrent, that the utensils used to pull those newly created babies out piece by piece is terrible, disgusting, and further to take those parts and sell them on the market is disgusting, Leach said. Hammond said, Many Arizonans can appreciate that some issues arent completely right or wrong but somewhere in the middle, and many Arizonans can agree in life-threatening situations women should have the right to life, liberty and happiness without being poked, prodded and investigated by their legislators. She said people should have access to current and accurate reproductive health education, which helps build strong and healthy families. They should further have access to STD prevention, parent education programs, and access to quality reproductive medical support, she said. RECREATIONAL MARIJUNA Both Leach and Finchem are outspoken opponents of Proposition 205, which would allow any adult to use marijuana for any reason, including recreational, as well as grow their own plants. Hammond said shes tired of Big Brother-style government, believes in voter-enacted laws and will respect voters decision in November. Leach said he understands voters rights but wants them to know its hard to change once it passes and hard to have oversight at the legislative level. Finchem said it doesnt make sense for the government to have spent billions on getting people to stop smoking cigarettes, only to tell them its OK to smoke marijuana. Thats insanity, he said. We have ample intoxicants in our society, he said. Finchem also is worried about the candies and other products containing marijuana that could be used by children, and about an increase in driving-while-intoxicated incidents that could result from more recreational use of marijuana. STATE BUDGET Finchem and Leach are sunny on the Arizona budget and economy. Arizona at one time had a $3 billion deficit and now the state has some carryforward money, showing Arizona is pointed in the right direction, Leach said. Forecasted job growth is promising and new employers are coming to the Tucson area, he said. Finchem said its key that business leaders know the Arizona tax structure is predictable and steady. Hammond said Arizona relies too heavily on sales tax revenue, putting pressure on lower-income earners and the middle class. The state should re-balance state revenue between income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes, she said. She would like to increase teacher salaries and find ways to lower in-state university tuition. PHOENIX Comparing the states firefighting actions to Keystone Cops, the attorney for Yarnell residents who lost their homes in a 2013 blaze wants the Court of Appeals to let them sue the state. At a hearing earlier this week, David Abney acknowledged it may be an open question of whether the Forestry Division, which was initially battling the fire on state land, had an obligation to protect the residents of the community. But Abney said the agency, which was coordinating various local, state and federal efforts, voluntarily took on that duty. And having done that, he told the judges, it had an obligation to do it right. Abneys arguments have so far failed to get his clients their day in court. Last year, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Richard Gama threw out their lawsuits. He concluded that the state, in fighting the fire on public lands, had no duty to specifically protect Yarnell residents and their property. On Wednesday, attorney Brock Heathcotte, who represents the state, asked the appellate judges to uphold Gamas ruling. He said the state cannot protect everyone who chooses to live adjacent to the state-owned wilderness. But the risk can be spread to the people who choose to live in the urban-wilderness interface, he said. They have the ability to form fire districts to protect their homes, Heathcotte told the judges. They have the ability to insure their homes. They certainly have the ability to fireproof their homes. Abney did not dispute any of that. If the state had not been there, then the people of Yarnell would have taken extensive measures to protect themselves, he said, describing things like removal of rubbish, soaking the ground with water and removing portable propane tanks which exploded and spread the fire. But he said the residents were entitled to rely on the states assurance it would fight the fire and protect Yarnell and that it would do it competently. If they had known that the state, all this flurry of activity by the state, was simply just nonsense, Keystone Cops instead of actual acts to protect them, they would have cleared out of there and, Im sure, some of them would have stayed and fought to the end to protect their property, he told the judges. What the appellate judges finally rule will have implications beyond the affected Yarnell homeowners. It will set precedent for the states legal obligations and liability in future cases where it is fighting blazes. And it could spill over into other disasters like floods. The fire that started with a lightning strike destroyed more than 120 homes and resulted in the deaths of 19 firefighters. Abney said theres plenty of evidence that the Forestry Division botched the job evidence he will get to present to a jury only if Gamas decision is overturned. Under questioning from Judge Peter Swann, Abney conceded that the state is not required to have unlimited resources to be able to protect all people, all property and the wildlands from all risk. But he said there is an obligation to manage the existing resources in a way that is not negligent, which is what the state completely failed to do here. Quite frankly, its a miracle that no civilians were killed in all of this, with the late evacuation and the fire moving as fast as it was toward the end, all of which we allege was predictable, Abney said. Every day they had the same wind and weather pattern, blowing away from Yarnell in the morning and toward the community in the afternoon, he said. You could set a clock by it, Abney said. So why the state didnt take advantage of the weather conditions and do some burn-outs in the morning and protect the community and its people and its structures is just beyond belief. No it's not a glitch in the Matrix. Tucson's mother of Mexican spots El Charro is in the spotlight once again. (The downtown restaurant at 311 N. Court Ave. regularly makes it on sites like Thrillist, but was bitingly snubbed by tabelog.us last year.) This time El Charro is featured on a list of the "10 Best Mexican Restaurants in the United States" by a business website called Money Inc. The article itself is a little lacking in the originality department, but has some nice things to say about El Charro: "El Charro opened in 1922 and has been going strong ever since, being operated by the same family all this time and still serving up culinary delights in the form of enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, and other dishes that people cant get enough of. Their carne seca is still dried atop the restaurant as it has always been, giving their foods an old-school taste that cant be beat. After nearly a century in business its obvious theyre doing something right." Of course, the list puts El Charro in mixed company. I cannot speak for most of the selections on here, because restaurants like Tacos Tequila Whiskey aren't usually my first choice when I'm in Denver, Colorado. But I have actually been to the place in Tiburon, California, and I can say for a fact that it's supremely awful. (After my vomit episode on the Golden Gate Bridge, I still cannot eat oysters to this day!) Since we all know this is a joke, here are some funny lines for your enjoyment ... " ... this village-inspired grill makes full use of its natural resources in creating its entirely authentic and innovative dishes. ... While you eat you can also watch as the ferries carry passengers from one shore to the next." Guaymas in Tiburon, California Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up "From their sweet and sour pork belly agridulce to the quajillo honey mayo, this restaurant is a haven of delights that have people coming back again and again." Tacos Tequila Whiskey in Denver "This restaurant makes the list of anyone compiling the best Mexican restaurants in America. If not, then the reviewer either hasnt set foot into the restaurant or should consider a career change." Topolobampo by Rick Bayless, in Chicago "If theres any place in the world where Mexican food should be expected to be authentic and full of taste, it's Texas." Meso Maya in Dallas Help India! By IANS, Kolkata : Poverty had forced them to dropout of school and work for a livelihood. But their teacher did not give up. Support TwoCircles Manojit Dutta, a man on a mission to bring dropouts back to school, is now on Cloud Nine. His three students have scored well in the West Bengal Higher Secondary Examination this year. Howrah districts Pradipta Mondal had cleared his secondary (class 10) exams with flying colours only to become a worker in a brick kiln. Being the eldest son of the family, studying was luxury he could not afford anymore. Three years hence, Mondal, with over 75 percent marks in the higher secondary examination, is the topper of his school, courtesy the efforts of Dutta, his teacher at the Shibganj Bisalaxmi High School. Ever since I started my career as a teacher I would see many bright students dropping out due to poverty. I could not help but regret. Later, I took it up as a mission, a challenge, to bring them back to school, Dutta, who runs a hostel where students like Mondal stay and study, told IANS. Having retired from Shibganj Bisalaxmi High School, Dutta now teaches at the Jagacha Unsani Junior High School in Howrah. Like Mondal, sisters Priya and Priyanka Das too had dropped out of Shibganj Bisalaxmi High School and started selling incense sticks to jelp their family make ends meet. The Das sisters still sell incense but they are also students who passed the higher secondary with over 70 percent marks this year. Sixty-three-year-old Dutta, who has a family of three, spends almost all his money in ensuring that poverty does not come in the way of his bright students. I cannot ask the students not to work because then their family will starve. So they work in their spare time and send all the money to their families, said Dutta, who started his hostel in 2006. It now houses 14 students who had left studies midway due to poverty. Duttas contribution in bringing dropouts back to the school is immense, school principal Apurba Das said. Several of Duttas students are now pursuing higher education from prestigious institutions. Biswajit Mondal after clearing his class 10 had to work as helper to his mason father. But now he is in his final year of computer engineering at Jadavpur University. He has promised he will help me in my effort to bring dropouts back to school, said Dutta. Apart from running a hostel, he has been financing several poor students. My remuneration for all my efforts is the sense of pride I get seeing my students perform well, says Dutta, who is a triple M.A (in Bengali, ancient history and islamic history) and a B.Sc. degree in chemistry. Help India! By TCN News, Full text of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Speech at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly on September 21, 2016 Support TwoCircles Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. We congratulate Mr Peter Thomson on his election as President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly. We agree that implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda should be the focus of this Session. We also pay tribute to Mr Mogens Lykketoft for his capable stewardship of the 70th Session. Mr President, Today, three decades after the end of the Cold War, our multipolar world is more free and vibrant, yet still chaotic and turbulent; more interdependent, but more unequal; more prosperous, yet still afflicted with poverty. We see spectacular progress, but also unprecedented human suffering. The world is at a historic inflection point. The international order established after the Second World War is passing away, but a new order has yet to emerge. Competition between the major powers is becoming more confrontational. This can pose serious threats to peace across Asia. A new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe. The momentum there towards greater union has already reversed. Barricades and walls are going up, especially against the tide of misery flowing out of a turbulent Middle East. In many countries, intolerance has revived the ghosts of xenophobia and Islamophobia. Turmoil is intensifying in the Middle East. International efforts to defeat Daesh are therefore urgent. For this, it is essential to reconcile the divergent objectives and priorities of regional and external powers. Peace cannot be built when injustice prevails. The long-festering tragedy of Palestine demands determined action by the international community. Mr President, After decades of strong growth, the world economy has reached a plateau. Despite this adverse international economic environment, my government has, in three short years, moved the country towards robust growth. We have fully integrated the 2030 Development Agenda into our own economic and social strategy. This rests on our conviction that people are the true wealth of our nation and that it is human development, which will determine our future destiny. Mr President, Our priority goal of economic development requires internal peace and stability. My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad. We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilisation to cause turbulence in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of our citizens and thousands of our security personnel have been killed or injured in terrorist attacks. This has only reinforced our resolve to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Our comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations has produced remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism. Pakistans Zarb-e-Azb Operation is the largest, most robust and most successful anti-terrorism campaign anywhere in the world, deploying 200,000 of our security forces. Our comprehensive National Action Plan has the complete endorsement of our people and our Parliament as well as our security forces, all of whom have made heroic sacrifices to defeat terrorism. Mr President, Terrorism, however, is now a global phenomenon, which must be addressed comprehensively and in all its forms, including State terrorism. The international community must coordinate its efforts to accomplish this. These efforts should be taken collectively and not unilaterally by the passage of any laws with extra-territorial application targeted against certain countries. We will not win the fight against terrorism and violent extremism so long as we do not address their root causes. These lie in poverty and ignorance, political and social injustice and oppression, foreign intervention and occupation and denial of the legitimate rights of peoples and nations, especially the right to self-determination. Until these underlying causes are addressed, it will be difficult to counter the twisted narrative of violent extremists and terrorists. Mr President, After 15 years of the current war in Afghanistan, the international community agrees that the only road to a lasting peace in that country is through a dialogue between the Government in Kabul and the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has long proposed this as the most viable course to end decades of conflict and suffering in Afghanistan. Based on this belief in a negotiated peace, and in response to requests from President Ashraf Ghani, we have been facilitating the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan. There have been setbacks. That, however, is not a sufficient reason to abandon the path of peace and rely on the military option, which has failed, for the past decade and a half, to stabilise Afghanistan. Progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war, and work assiduously, through a meaningful dialogue process, for achieving reconciliation and peace at home. Mr President, Over three and a half decades of conflict and chaos in Afghanistan has had grave security and economic consequences for Pakistan. Almost three million Afghan refugees, to whom we opened our homes and hearts, remain in Pakistan. We hope to see them return to Afghanistan, voluntarily and with dignity. Until they do, the international community must shoulder its responsibilities to sustain them. Mr President, Confrontation should not be our destiny in South Asia. Pakistan wants peace with India. I have gone the extra mile to achieve this, repeatedly offering a dialogue to address all outstanding issues. But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue. Let us be clear: talks are no favour to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation. Mr President, Peace and normalisation between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position. Our predictions have now been confirmed by events. A new generation of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against Indias illegal occupation demanding freedom from occupation. Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris, young and old, men and women, armed only with an undying faith in the legitimacy of their cause, and a hunger for freedom in their hearts. Mr President, This indigenous uprising of the Kashmiris has been met, as usual, with brutal repression by Indias occupation force of over half a million soldiers. Over a hundred Kashmiris have been killed, hundreds, including children and infants, blinded by shotgun pellets and over six thousand unarmed civilians injured over the past two months. These Indian brutalities are well documented. I would like to inform the General Assembly that Pakistan will share with the Secretary General a dossier containing detailed information and evidence of the gross and systematic violations of human rights committed by Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. These brutalities will not suppress the spirit of the Kashmiris; it will only intensify their anger and fortify their determination to see India end its occupation of Kashmir. From Srinagar to Sopore, the men, women and children come out each day, defying curfew, to demand freedom. Mr President, Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions. Their struggle is a legitimate one for liberation from alien occupation. International law and the declarations of the United Nations on Self-Determination give the Kashmiri people the right to struggle for their freedom. Every year, the General Assembly unanimously adopts the resolution, which reaffirms the right of all peoples to self-determination and calls on the states concerned to immediately end their occupation and all acts of repression. Mr President, On behalf of the Kashmiri people; on behalf of the mothers, wives, sisters, and fathers of the innocent Kashmiri children, women and men who have been killed, blinded and injured; on behalf of the Pakistani nation, I demand an independent inquiry into the extra-judicial killings, and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate brutalities perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces, so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished. We demand the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners; an end to the curfew; freedom for the Kashmiris to demonstrate peacefully; urgent medical help for the injured and abrogation of Indias draconian laws. Mr President, The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices. The people of Kashmir have waited 70 years for implementation of this promise. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions. This General Assembly must demand that India deliver on the commitments its leaders solemnly made on many occasions. To this end, steps should be taken by the United Nations to de-militarize Jammu and Kashmir and undertake consultations with India, Pakistan and the true representatives of the Kashmiri people to implement the resolutions of the Security Council. In this context, we welcome the offer of good offices by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. We will also open consultations with members of the Security Council to explore the modalities for implementation of the Security Council resolutions on Kashmir. Mr President, The international community ignores the danger of rising tensions in South Asia, at its own peril. For its part, Pakistan is committed to the establishment of strategic stability in the region. It neither wants nor is it engaged in an arms race with India. But we cannot ignore our neighbours unprecedented arms buildup and will take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence. We have consistently urged the conclusion of bilateral arms control and disarmament measures between Pakistan and India to prevent conflict and avoid wasteful military expenditures. We are open to discussing all measures of restraint and responsibility with India, in any forum or format and without any conditions. We are ready for talks to agree on a bilateral nuclear test ban treaty. Today, from this rostrum, I would also like to reiterate our offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Mr President, As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan will continue to cooperate with all international efforts that seek to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and non-proliferation challenges. We have introduced state of the art measures to strengthen the safety and security of our nuclear materials and facilities. We have adopted a comprehensive export control regime that is fully consistent with international standards. Judged on the basis of objective criteria, and without discrimination, Pakistan is fully eligible for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Mr President, In our turbulent and interdependent world, the United Nations remains an indispensable Organization to restore order and ensure global peace, stability and prosperity. Its principles remain the crucial pillars of international legality, the guide for the conduct of the Member States and the guarantor of the legitimate rights of all nations and peoples. The UN must regain its credibility as the central instrument for the promotion of peace, prosperity and liberty. To that end, it should become more representative, transparent and accountable. A comprehensive and democratic reform of the Security Council, which Pakistan supports, should enhance its relevance and representation. Creating new centres of privilege will do the opposite. Mr President, Pakistans unwavering commitment to the UN is well established. We have played a pioneering and consistent role in UN Peacekeeping. Despite our own security requirements, we will remain one of the worlds largest troop contributing countries and maintain our record of success in multiple UN peacekeeping operations. Mr President, Pakistan has a vital stake in ending conflicts, fostering peace, fighting terrorism, strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, generating global growth and overcoming the challenges of environmental degradation. We can achieve these goals, and create a new and peaceful world order, only through the United Nations and by strict adherence to the principles of its Charter. I thank you, Mr President. Indias Rebuttal India on Wednesday exercised its right to reply to the statements made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Following is the full unedited text of the speech made by Eenam Gambhir, the first secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN at the UNGA: Mr President, I take the floor to exercise the right of reply in response to the long tirade of Pakistan about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region. Mr President, Only last week, the international community honoured the memory of thousands of innocent victims from around the world, who lost their lives not far from here in New York fifteen years ago in a most horrifying terror attack. The world has not yet forgotten that the trail of that dastardly attack led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan. The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The effect of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe. It is ironical therefore that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism. Mr President, Shortly before Pakistan gave its hypocritical sermons in this august house today, its envoy in New Delhi was summoned in the context of the most recent of the terror attacks in Uri that claimed 18 Indian lives. That terrorist attack is part of a trail of continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbour and tasked to carry out terrorist attacks in my country. What we see in Pakistan, Mr. President, is a terrorist state, which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. Terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam its streets freely and operate with State support. With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organizations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistans international obligations. Mr President, Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. Pakistan is a country with a democracy deficit. In fact it practises terrorism on its own people. It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws. As a democracy India is firmly resolved to protect all our citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail. Finally, Mr President, we have heard Pakistan, whose nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit, talking about restraint, renunciation and peace. Similar false promises it has made to us the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start. I thank you Mr President. Help India! By Saidalavi P.C. for TwoCircles.net A number of interesting and important questions have been raised in the context of Muslim students engagements with bahujan politics in the context of the spectacular performance of BAPSA in JNU. My intent here is to critique some of the arguments with the hope that there is furtherance of debates on the issues raised. Support TwoCircles There have been three kinds of responses so far, but each one has multifaceted arguments to its credits. I am interested here to engage with the articles already written using the idea of the social. By social, I mean the questions of issues pertaining to Muslims as a community, ranging from internal reform, to social hierarchy to womens question. I may reflect on these issues as I engage with the articles. The first article written by Waseem RS, apart from its polemics owing to the context of criticisms of SIO by mainly left parties, offers an interesting point in relation with the social question. He argues that SIO-JNU is very much interested in addressing intra-community issues like caste, gender, and so on, though certain forms of elitism is present among Muslim communities and even SIO units in other spaces. It is one thing to acknowledge the rampant social disparities among Muslim communities, and quite another to assert that SIO-JNU is distinct by its awareness and critiques of such disparities. This idea of idiosyncrasy is not a sole characteristic of SIO in JNU, but of the students politics in JNU in general. I have raised this issue elsewhere as well. In this kind of argument, SIO-JNU comes across as a Muslim student organisation, should I say the only, which is self-reflexive of the social question among Muslims. In the context of such self-righteous posturing, it is interesting to read Khalid Anis Ansaris article. He shatters the self-righteous posturing of SIO-JNU by asking simple, but quite practical questions. The weight of his arguments lies in the position that Muslim students politics cannot be imagined by a pure critique. That is, the nuances in the arguments in the academia is not enough to practice a new political imaginary; rather it should begin by problematizing the existing social hierarchies within the institutional structures themselves. To walk their self-righteous talk, SIO-JNU should take their own parent organisation to task on many issues. The third intervention to this debate is by Muhammed Shan. This article has already ignited raging debates in Kerala among Muslim circles, and as usual the debates are being reduced to bickering over the role of Jamaat-e-Islami and the relative merits of other religious organisations in the sustenance of Islam. In effect, what has happened is that the social question addressed by Shan has been relegated to the background. Shans attempt is to see how Jamaat-e-Islamis founder Abul Aala Maududi addressed the social question, particularly caste. Let me begin by engaging with his each argument. His first argument that it is because Maududi is a new historicist in understanding many issues pertaining to authority and power in Islam that he is controversial is only a part of the issue. The significant other part lies in Maududis disavowal of Islamic practices among the Muslim masses, inter alia, employing Thavasssul and Isthigaaza. The revolutionary Mappila in the nineteenth century is majorly a figure employing such methods for revolutionary acts. S/he is not a rational believer as Shan wants him/her to be. Shans other significant argument is that Maududi showcases a Muslim theo-politics that transcends caste. I have a set of issues with this assumption. First, let me start with a polemical question, drawing from Khalid Anis Ansari. Why is it that the shoora of Jamaat-e-Islami is constituted of only ashraf castes among Muslims, if Jamaat-e-Islami represents a theo-politics that transcends caste? Shan claims that caste is understood as an ethical question in Muslim students politics, and the discontent with caste is a matter of pure theological conviction. It provides a possibility to deconstruct the very self, it even has the radical potential for the annihilation of the remnants of caste practices among Muslim converts. This is in line with Imtiaz Ahmads understanding of caste, whereby it is understood as a matter of larger cultural environment in which a Muslim is placed. Recent studies by scholars like Masood Alam Falahi posit that caste finds its rationality within Islamic religious texts themselves. I have elsewhere argued in the context of Malabar that Islamic juristic concepts of purity, morality, knowledge, and so on, have reconstructed social hierarchy among Muslims today. So, social hierarchy among Muslims should be understood as an Islamic question, not as a remnant of the larger cultural milieu today. More importantly, the question is whether the theo-politics equipped to transcend the social hierarchy among Muslims. Shan claims that Maududi showcases a Muslim theo-politics that transcends caste. One of the examples he provides for such a transcendence is nineteenth century Mappila. But the rational believer posited by Maududi is not one with which the revolutionary Mappila of 19th century can be juxtaposed. Shans new historicism is quite imaginary to bring together Maududi and nineteenth century Mappila. It was to purify the Islam that the new historicist (as Shan would call them) organizations sprang up in Malabar since the third decade of the twentieth century. The new historicist organizations made their claim and space by initially disavowing the many practices of Muslim masses. So, to bring together two moments of Islamic movements, nineteenth century Mappila and Maududi is quite imaginary to say the least. In a sense, Shan contextualisation of Maududi as a new historicist is very ahistorical. To conclude, concurring with the arguments of Khalid Anis Ansari, I would say that the question of the social cannot be addressed within the Muslim students politics as a pure critique, as the mainstream savarna academia do. Neither self-righteous posturing of SIO-JNU, nor the heuristic arguments by Shan might be the way to think of the social question among Muslims. It should be a revolutionary praxis where, along with larger critiques of the mainstream, Muslim student groups also engage with the institutional structures themselves among Muslims. The author is a Ph.D candidate at Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU, Delhi. Help India! By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter Kozhikode: Three BJP activists were arrested on Tuesday for attacking an artist who participated in Onam celebrations on September 14. Support TwoCircles Nadapuram police has taken case against Aneesh, Pranav and Nandu, all of them local BJP activists, for assaulting Vattakkandiyil Sajesh, a local Theyyam artist, who dressed as Onappottan. Onapottan is a popular folk character that visits the households during Onam season in North Kerala. It is performed by Theyyam artists belonging to the lower castes. Malaya families, which are considered lower castes, dress as Onapottan. In an attempt to Hinduise Onam, the Sangh fold had carried campaigns across the state saying Onam was Vamana Jayanti. Onam is celebrated by people from all religions and castes to honour King Mahabali, who according to legend ruled the state once, under whom the people were equal, prosperous and happy. According to legends, it was on Onam days in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam when Lord Mahavishnu took his fifth avatar as Vamana, appeared in the kingdom of King Mahabali and sent him to the netherworld by placing his foots on the kings head. But, this year BJP observed Vamana Jayanti for the first time and BJP national president Amit Shah wished Keralites Vamana jayanti. To add to this, BJP and RSS activists had organised campaigns against Onappottan, the integral part of Onam celebrations in Malabar citing Onappottan was nothing to do with celebrations. Help India! By Sushree Panigrahi and Jeet Singh In Uttar Pradesh, the number of public health centres (PHCs), the frontline of the governments healthcare system, decreased 8 per cent over the last 15 years to 2015, a period when the states population increased by more than 25 per cent. Smaller sub-centres, the first point of public contact, increased by no more than 2 per cent over the 25 years to 2015, a period when the population grew by more than 51 per cent. Support TwoCircles These data, from the 2015 Rural Health Statistics (RHS), indicate how successive UP governments have neglected affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for the 200 million people only five countries have larger populations of Indias most populous state, home to nearly a fifth of all Indians. The result of this neglect is manifest in the major indicators of UPs health deprivation, according to various government data sets that we studied: * A new-born in UP is expected to live four years fewer than in the neighbouring state of Bihar, five years fewer than in Haryana and seven years fewer than in Himachal Pradesh. * UP contributed to the largest share of almost all communicable and non-communicable disease deaths, including: 48 per cent of all typhoid deaths (2014); 17 per cent of cancer deaths and 18 per cent of tuberculosis deaths (2015). * After Assam, UP has Indias second-highest maternal mortality rate (MMR); 285 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births (2013), with 62 per cent of pregnant women unable to access minimum ante-natal care. * The inaccessibility of institutional care is evident from the fact that around 42 per cent pregnant women, more than 1.5 million, deliver babies at home. * About two thirds (61 percent) of home deliveries in UP are unsafe. * UP has the highest child mortality indicators, from the neonatal mortality rate (NNMR) to the under-five mortality rate. Of 64 children who die per 1,000 live births before five years of age, 35 die within a month of birth, and 50 do not complete a year of life. *Universal immunisation plays a key role in decreasing child mortality: About half of UPs children are not vaccinated (2013). *Of those who survive, more than half of children (50.4 per cent) younger than five have recorded stunted growth (national average: 38.7 per cent), the highest stunting rate in India. * Between 2006 and 2014, on average, the proportion of stunted children below five in India fell from 48 per cent to 38.7 per cent. The comparable data for UP was 56.8 per cent to 50.4 per cent. Over the last decade, several surveys, reporting and independent studies have revealed wide healthcare disparities across India and the situation in social-economically backward states, such as UP, which is not alone. It is one of eight states that comprise the empowered action group (EAG) of backward states (formerly called the BIMARU states) UP, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand identified in 2005 for special attention. But over the last decade, that attention has not resulted in any significant progress in UP, one of the poorest-performing of the eight EAG states. Why a decade of progress across India escaped UP Healthcare has been low on the priorities of successive UP governments. The per capita expenditure on health in UP increased from Rs 260 to Rs 372 over four years to 2010, according to a 2012 National Institute of Public Finance and Policy report, compared to Rs 356 to Rs 580 in Kerala and from Rs 299 to Rs 579 in Tamil Nadu over the same same period. Among the major states of India, UP, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha account for the lowest life expectancy at birth, in contrast to the decade-long progress evident in most southern, western and eastern states. What are the reasons for UPs poor healthcare record? A combination of several factors, such as a shortage of healthcare professionals, increasing cost of healthcare, the mushrooming of private healthcare and a lack of planning. A third of the rural population in UP has been deprived of primary healthcare infrastructure, according to the norms of the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). The state requires 31,037 sub centres, 5,172 PHCs and 1,293 community health centres (CHCs) to meet the healthcare demands of its population. But UP is 33 per cent short of sub-centres and PHCs and 40 per cent short of CHCs, according to RHS-2015 data. This further impacts the implementation of centrally-sponsored health programmes, which in turn require an effective network of public health institutions. There has also been no expansion of public healthcare institutions over the last 15 years. Thus, low-quality private healthcare services thrive in UP. In India, the private healthcare system now provides two-thirds of medical treatment, according to this April 2016 Health in India report from the ministry of statistics. In UP, private health providers including unrecognised doctors and quacks meet 85 per cent of medical needs, according to the report. It appears that the people of UP have two choices: an inadequate, inefficient public healthcare system and a private healthcare system offering low quality and expensive services. UP patients incur highest medical costs among poor states, double national average With few other options, UPs people must frequent the private healthcare system, where the average per person cost of treatment of one ailment is highest amongst most poor (EAG) states. The average cost of treatment at sub-centres and PHCs in UP is Rs 660 per person, more than double the national average of Rs 312 per person, according to the ministry of statistics report. Currently, UP relies on a public healthcare infrastructure that is two decades old. A fifth of the population deprived of healthcare cannot contribute to the social or economic growth of the country. Climate scientist Dr. Peter L. Ward will be showcasing new research that details how the uptick in man-made greenhouse gases is too small to influence climate change. Furthermore, he says not a single scientist has conclusively provenat least to himthat greenhouse gases cause global warming. He even issued a challenge to pay $10,000 to anyone who can show man-made emissions such as carbon dioxide cause global warming. So far no one has won. Many may recall Bill Nye, the science guy, illustrating how greenhouse gases work through a tabletop experiment. In it, Nye fills one container with regular air and another with carbon dioxide (CO2) and exposes each to radiation from a sun-like heat lamp. According to greenhouse gas theory, the CO2-filled container should show a rise in temperatures, which it did. Nye ended up proving that convection, not infrared, raised the temperatures of the container. Convection has no role in climate change. Right result, wrong physics Thats according to a paper that reproduced Nyes experiment. The paper, published in the American Journal of Physics, used the non-greenhouse gas Argon as an experimental control gas because it has no greenhouse-gas properties, e.g., no infrared absorption. By reproducing what Nye did, even the Argon gas heated up. What Nye had proven, the authors wrote, was CO2s convective heat transport abilities and not its infrared properties. Not exactly HS Physics -> Climate change in a shoebox: Right result, wrong physics | #Science http://t.co/CrNnrXeWDw pic.twitter.com/QchZk5ELEC intrepidwanders (@intrepidwanders) August 9, 2014 The authors say this is an example of how "bias crept into the experiment and why its important to separate out the radiative and convective properties in these types of experiments. Other scientists have shown how the original Nye experiment, which Al Gore includes in his Climate 101 training program, was heavily doctored and Photoshopped to produce the now-discredited results. Al Gore and Bill Nye FAIL at doing a simple CO2 experiment https://t.co/JlLO0fFydK via @wattsupwiththat Contrarian Scientist (@MsContrarianSci) January 25, 2016 Ozone, volcanism, and climate Ward, a geophysicist, says it is physically impossible for man-made greenhouse gases to have caused the current warming observed. He has dedicated the past decade to compiling extensive data showing the relationship of volcanism to climate change. Changes in volcanism explain quite clearly the times, rates, and amounts of climate change throughout Earths history, Ward says. The eruption of Bararbunga volcano in Iceland explains the unusually rapid warming since 2014. Ward details on his website how the rapid surge in the use of chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs)before they were banneddepleted and thinned the ozone layer that protects us from the strongest ultraviolet light coming from the sun. He says that volcanoes also emit vast quantities chlorine and bromine, which also deplete our ozone layer. He says that restoring the ozone to pre-1965 levels will prevent further warming of the oceans that directly increases the Earths temperature. All told, he says the planet has warmed by one degree Celsius since recordkeeping began in the late 1800s. How much hotter? Hottest-year-ever assertions focus on changes as small as tenths of a degreewhich are also within the accepted margin of error. Notably, activists championing the alarmist warming narrative never say how much hotter these years are in actual degrees. One reason may be that after President Obama says 2015 was the hottest year since 2000, the media never asks, But by how much? The answer is 0.1 degrees, an alarmingly low number that doesnt invoke the same type of fear needed to motivate people to accept more regulations and taxes. Ward also says that quality data is the best thing we have in science. New scientific insights, he says, are rarely accepted by consensus scientists who garner the most media attention. He points out the more provocative the ideas, the more vehement the objections. Ward will present his latest results at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver this Monday. The biggest surprise of the 2016 election has been the success of Republican nominee Donald Trump. As Trump went from joke candidate to potential president, his candidacy has highlighted a political divide in the country, regardless his controversial history. Trump University trouble When Trump announced his candidacy for president last summer, he referred to illegal immigrants as "rapists" and "murderers," prompting potential voters and many in the media to quickly sour on the billionaire real estate mogul. Since that time, Trump has gone on to make alleged racist and sexist comments on the campaign trail, while openly mocking a disabled reporter. Despite the trouble, Trump was able to appeal to enough white conservatives and win the GOP nomination. While he's been able to weather the storm of controversy, there's one issue that he can't seem to shake, which was elaborated even further by a legal professor this week, pointed out by Raw Story on September 21. Law professor: Trump can be impeached for fraud and racketeering before he even takes office https://t.co/pDoqvSzkCE pic.twitter.com/5LCCcjYuEm Raw Story (@RawStory) September 21, 2016 One of the lingering issues that is hovering above the Trump campaign is the upcoming fraud cause involving Trump University. Nearly 5,000 former students are taking legal action against the school for allegedly being scammed out of as much as $35,000 each. Trump and his legal team have continued to deny any wrongdoing, but Professor Christopher L. Peterson of S.J. Quinney College of Law in Utah is looking at the bigger picture. [University] Trump University: The Scandal That Won't Go Away - The New Yorker: The New YorkerTrump Universit... https://t.co/JShUSJLU1k Tweeting Univs (@universitwit) September 8, 2016 "It is illegal for businesses to use false statements to convince consumers to purchase their services," Peterson writes in the paper titled "Trump University and Presidential Impeachment." Peterson notes that the school took part in the use of "systemic pattern of fraudulent representations" with the goal of tricking students into investing into the university. Impeachable offense Accusing Trump of possible "fraud and racketeering," Peterson referred to the university's actions as "impeachable acts" if Trump is able to win the election this November. In conclusion, if Trump is found guilty of fraud, he could spend up to four years in prison, and up to 20 years behind bars if he is guilty on racketeering charges, according to New York State law. Though Trump's legal representatives attempted to have the case thrown out, they were not successful, as the trial starts three weeks after Election Day on November 28. Judge denies request for five-week delay in Trump University trial https://t.co/SlWCPkwhD7 10News (@10News) September 15, 2016 Moving forward While the former host of "The Apprentice" is dealing with legal issues, he first has to handle the task at hand. According to the latest Real Clear Politics rolling average, Trump is trailing Hillary Clinton by just one point nationally. In important swing states, Trump has bounced back, pulling ahead in Florida and Ohio, though Clinton still has an advantage in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The biggest obstacle for Trump is his historic hole with minority voters, most notably with African-Americans, women, and Hispanics, which most political pollsters believe will cause him defeat in just 49 days. Iranian dissidents have been launching widespread protests in New York City ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to the United Nations. Rouhani is gathering with other world leaders at the September Summit at the U.N. headquarters in New York. The summit will mark one of the biggest meetings of world leaders since Iran signed deals with the United States and other world powers to limit its nuclear ambitions last year. Since then, numerous sanctions against Iran have been rolled back, but tensions remain high. Iran has been expanding its control in Iraq, and has been an ardent supporter of the Assad regime in Syria. Iran has also been accused of fueling the on-going civil war in Yemen. While Iran has been trying to reintegrate itself with the global community, many remain skeptical. Thousands of protesters, most of them Iranian-Americans, took to the streets to denounce Rouhani, and tensions with foreign governments, including the United States and United Kingdom, remain high.Further, the German government and others have also accused Iran of violating the treaty. Leading Iranian dissident group denounces Rouhani Rouhani swept into power as a supposed moderate, promising gradual reform, economic growth, and a lighter hand than the previous regime. However, his track record while in office is questionable, with executions seeming to accelerate under Rouhani's leadership, and oppression remaining wide spread. The NCRI claims that at least 2,000 Iranians, many of them juveniles, have been executed under Rouhani's regime. This claim is backed up by reports from Amnesty International, which in July claimed that Iran had executed nearly 700 people in just six months.The protesters also marked the 1988 mass executions of Iranian dissidents, many of them hailing from the Mojahedin-e-Khalq, and other dissident groups. It is believed that as many as 30,000 people were executed. UK prime minister pleads for release of citizen At the United Nations, British Prime Minister Theresa May met with Rouhani, which much of the conversation focusing on the imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British citizen currently jailed in Iran. The Iranian government has accused Zaghari-Ratcliffe of spying on Iran. Just last year, the British government re-established official diplomatic relations with the Iranian regime for the first time since the embassy siege. Yet, even as relations have been reestablished, Iran continues to persecute British and other foreign citizens, often on questionable charges with little to no evidence of wrong doing. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a 37-year-old British mother, worked from the charitable arm of Thomson-Reuters in Iran. She was arrested, charged, and found guilty, although the exact accusations remain unknown. It is believed that spying was one of the charges she was found guilty for. She has been sentenced to five years in jail. Bookings for Travel to Africa Up 11 Percent, East Africa shows double digit growth Overall international air travel to Africa has grown 5.6 percent this year through August compared to the same period last year, but North Africa has seen slow growth or even decline - people are scared to travel there -while East Africa has seen double-digit growth. Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have seen little growth, ETurbo News reported. However, despite the weak growth,North African countries still made it into the top 10 destinations in terms of volume of traffic but they have suffered from political instability and terror activities in the region, said Olivier Jager, CEO of ForwardKeys. Based in Spain, ForwardKeys focuses on big data and business intelligence for the travel industry, predicting future travel patterns by analyzing 14 million booking transactions a day. Among the worst-hit are Egypt and Tunisia, CNN reported. Visitor numbers peaked above 14 million in 2010 but sank to around 9 million in 2015 following aviation disasters and turmoil following the 2011 Arab Spring, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization. Numbers are expected to suffer as well in 2016. Tunisia saw a 20 percent drop in international visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2016 following terrorist attacks that targeting tourists. ISIS claimed responsibility. Tourism tends to take up to two years to recover after terrorists attack tourists, according to David Scowsill, CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, CNN reported. People will come to Tunisia again but right now (the country is) having a very tough time and people are losing their jobs, said Scowsill. Airline capacity to Tunisia was cut by 26 percent for the summer, according to ForwardKeys. Market share South Africa is the largest destination for international air traffic to Africa with 13 percent. Egypt is next with 9 percent, Morocco with 8 percent, Mauritius with 5 percent, Kenya, Algeria and Tunisia with 4 percent, Tanzania and Ethiopia with 3 percent and Nigeria with 2 percent. Nigerias small share of the market was further threatened this week when the countrys Arik Airline shut down operations. Fuel suppliers and insurers withdraw services for lack of payment, leaving hundreds of air travelers booked on Nigerian Arik Airline stranded across the country, according to Sahara Reporters. Arik has massive debts to major oil marketers, the report said. Arik is the third airline to shut down flight operations in Nigeria in the last three weeks. Top markets of origin to Africa Europe is the No. 1 market of origin for air travelers to Africa, with 46.1 percent of air traffic up 2.5 percent this year. Other origin markets have shown much stronger growth. The Americas are up 12.7 percent, Asia Pacific up 12.4 percent, the Middle East up 9.6 percent and travel within Africa is up 5.4 percent, according to ETurbo News. International bookings to Africa as a whole The rest of 2016 looks highly encouraging. International bookings for travel to Africa as a whole through December are up 11.1 percent compared to this time last year. Europe, with more than 60 percent of forward bookings is ahead 11.3 percent. Asia Pacific is ahead 14.3 percent, the Americas are ahead 12.5 percent, the Middle East 6 percent and travel within Africa is ahead 9.4 percent. www.afkinsider.com China sets up awards in honor of poverty alleviation efforts Updated: 2016-09-21 20:19 (Xinhua) BEIJING - China will officially recognize those who excel in poverty alleviation work, an official from the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development announced Wednesday. "The poverty alleviation prizes are comprised of awards for endeavor, contribution, dedication and innovation. Each award will be held by no more than 10 people at any time," said Zheng Wenkai, deputy head of the office at a press conference. The prizes will be issued once a year until 2020. There were still around 70 million Chinese last year living below the poverty line, many in harsh conditions without roads, water or power. Lifting them out of poverty by 2020 will be "the most arduous task" on China's path toward a moderately prosperous society in all respects, according to a key poverty alleviation instruction released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council last December. High-tech tools to fight fraudsters Updated: 2016-09-22 08:05 By Cao Yin(China Daily) The deaths of two young people who were scammed by telecom fraudsters is providing greater urgency for computer experts meeting in Wuhan for Cybersecurity Week. A senior official called on Chinese internet enterprises to fight harder against telecom scams through greater technological innovation. While warning users is important, it also is crucial that there are more technical safeguards, "as they can better combat online crimes, including telecom fraud and theft of privacy", said Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Liu spoke at the opening ceremony for the event, held by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet watchdog, in the capital of Hubei province. Liu, who is also deputy head of the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group, encouraged technology companies to be innovative and brainstorm, adding that the government will support them and "govern the web by rule of law". Zhou Hongyi, chairman of Qihoo 360, China's largest security software provider, said no one wants more cases like the two tragic deaths in Shandong province, "so it is urgent to take more action". In August, the two young adults in Linyi died after being scammed, causing an outpouring of sympathy and ire from the public. Xu Yuyu, 18, who was about to enter college, died of a heart attack after she was cheated out of 9,900 yuan ($1,490) in a call. The money she lost was what her financially strapped family had raised for her tuition. Song Zhenning died from cardiac arrest, five days after being swindled out of 2,000 yuan, his living expenses at college for three months. Crackdowns and measures against telecom fraud have been heatedly discussed by technology experts during the event, which runs to Sunday. "We've developed several applications to protect the security of mobile networks, and the most popular one helps users block telecom scams," Zhou said. In August alone, 360 Phone Guardian helped users to block 3.43 billion crank calls, of which 445 million were verified telecom frauds, Zhou said. There have been "great achievements" in work for the Android system, and "we've designed and provided a version for the iPhone system recently," he added. Guo Xunping, the CEO of iJIAMI, specializing in mobile security, said greater technical skills are needed in the fight against phone and text scams. Many systems now rely in part on the human element. "Many applications against telecom scams now rely on mobile phone users' reports. When a phone number is labeled as a scam, the applications will put it in its blacklist and block it from calling others," Guo said. "After all, technology cannot distinguish a scam among a huge quantity of numbers by itself. "We should specify and upgrade our technical skills to protect mobile security," he said. But he also added that "how to balance security and network convenience also needs to be taken into consideration". caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn A Chinese internet company displays its face identification technology, which increases security for online payments, at Cybersecurity Week in Wuhan.Cheng Hui / Xinhua (China Daily 09/22/2016 page3) Couple's vineyard takes root in China's Bordeaux Updated: 2016-09-22 08:11 By Xin Hua in Yinchuan(China Daily) In his vineyard along the foothills of the Helan Mountains, Frenchman Thierry Courtade is moving equipment with a forklift. In about one month, the grapes in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region will be made into wine. Thierry is busy taking care of the plants, preventing pesticides and diseases. "It's his daily routine," said Gao Yuan, Courtade's wife. "Although he is the boss, he lives in the vineyard throughout the year and oversees everything from the soil to planting and the harvesting." The Silver Heights vineyard is one of many wineries enjoying success thanks to the fertile soils around Mount Helan, often referred to as China's Bordeaux. By the end of last year, about 40,000 hectares of grapes were being grown in Ningxia, with the majority of the crops to be made into wine, according to statistics released at the China-US Tourism Leadership Summit held recently in Yinchuan, the regional capital. This makes the area the largest grape-growing region in China. There are about 85 wineries in Ningxia, which produce about 100 million bottles of wine annually, and there are 99 wineries under construction. Thanks to the couple's hard work, Silver Heights-branded wines have won several awards. From 2011 to 2013, one of their wines was named the "Best Wine in China" by the China Wine Competition. In 2012, two of their brands won the gold and silver prizes in the French wine and Chinese wine categories. However, the couple's story is not one of overnight success. In 2000, Ningxia's wine industry was starting to take off, with the government setting plans in motion to send young professionals to study overseas and help the local wine industry. Gao Yuan's father saw an opportunity and sent his daughter to a French vocational school for 10 months to learn about winemaking. "My father said that after I returned, we would make the best wine in Ningxia," Gao said. Despite the language barrier, Gao excelled during the 10 months and was accepted on to a more advanced course in Bordeaux. During this time, as an intern at Chateau Calon Segur, Gao met her future husband. In 2007, Gao left Courtade and their daughter to return to Mount Helan, where she and her father established Silver Heights. The foothills of Mount Helan are a perfect location for growing grapes. The soil is full of minerals and the area has about 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, with annual rainfall of less than 200 mm. Located just 1,100 meters above sea level, it is easy to use the Yellow River for irrigation. At 40 degrees north, the vineyard is located at the same latitude as the Bordeaux wine region. With favorable weather, hard work and government support, Gao's winery soon became one of the most successful in the region. In 2008, its wines were given top scores by Jancis Robinson, one of the three top wine testers in the world. In 2012, Courtade joined his wife in Mount Helan. "He uses processes developed by his own family," Gao said. "All our fine wine is made without chemical or physical filtration." Courtade said he is very happy to work in Ningxia, not only because he is with his family, but because he enjoys his work. "I have high hopes for the wine industry here," he said. The local government is offering support for entrepreneurs such as Courtade and Gao, with the Belt and Road Initiative drawing an increasing number of consumers to Ningxia. The regional government plans to extend the region's grape-growing area to about 47,000 hectares by 2020, producing about 200 million bottles of wine a year. "I hope to stay here for a long time and make the best wine in the world," Courtade said. Workers pick grapes at a vineyard on Mount Helan in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.Photos By Peng Zhaozhi / Xinhua An agriculture expert (left) checks grapes at a farm in Wuzhong city, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. (China Daily 09/22/2016 page7) Former Fujian vice governor stands trial for graft Updated: 2016-09-22 15:39 (Xinhua) HEFEI - Xu Gang, former vice governor of the southeast China's Fujian province, stood trial here Thursday for accepting bribes. Xu was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 2002 to 2013 to seek benefits for others in regards to their businesses, promotion and reassignment. In exchange, Xu accepted bribes worth 19.77 million yuan (around 2.97 million U.S. dollars) either by himself or through his wife, Yu Na, from 2005 to 2014, according to the indictment from the People's Procuratorate of Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. The procuratorate filed the charges with Hefei Intermediate People's Court. Xu confessed to accepting bribes and expressed remorse to the court. The court ruling will be announced at a later date. The maximum penalty for those convicted of accepting bribes of at least 3 million yuan in an "extremely serious case" with "extremely vile impact" is death penalty, according to a judicial explanation issued in April. However, a two-year suspended death sentence may be issued if there are mitigating factors. Nearly 50 people, including journalists and members of the public, observed Thursday's hearing. Earlier this year, an anonymous tweet titled "Do we still need so-called community leaders?"caused a stir among Chinese Americans. The author claimed that "community leader" is an outdated concept,and we don't need to follow the leader any more. Supporters believe community leaders used to play an important role in guiding the off-the-boat immigrants to better assimilate to the new environment. Several decades ago, resources were limited, and many of the immigrants had to start from scratch as laborers to survive. Now, a majority of the immigrants are well-educated individuals who are more independent and cherish the value of critical thinking. They don't need anyone to tell them to do anything in the name of compatriotism and ethnical bonds. However, opponents of this claim said that in order to unite overseas Chinese, someone must take the initiative to organize activities, sponsor events and raise awareness so that they maintain access to their Chinese heritage. Ultimately, they would be more likely to appreciate Chinese culture and civilization and feel proud of their ancestors and roots. He Konghua is such an initiator and community leader.Like many grassroots Chinese American community leaders,He believes overseas Chinese Americans should help refine the China-US relationship and promote bilateral understanding between peoples of the two world's largest economies on several fronts - China-US cultural exchanges, the Cross-Straits relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, and people-to-people exchanges. The chairwoman of the Greater China Women's Association, a board member of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and a founding member and vice-president of Chinese for Peaceful Unifi cation-Northern California, He for 20 years has been orchestrating "China Night", a variety show celebrating China's National Day Holiday on Oct 1, in the Bay Area. This year, she and her team of volunteers spent four months putting together a three-hour program and presented it on Sunday at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Chabot College in Hayward. At 7 pm, the lights faded as the curtains opened. The audience waited in silence. When a young girl about 10 years old in a red dress fi nished her last note of a Chinese classic lyric, Ode to the Red Flag, the crowd of 1,500 broke into thunderous applause. In a turquoise suit, He walked onto the stage to give her heartfelt thanks to the audiences and her supporters. "It's not an easy job to continuously organize an annual event on this scale for 20 years," He said. "However, I'm prompted by the inner urge, as a Chinese immigrant to the US, that I should take this opportunity and use the Chinese National Day as a topic to help boost the China-US friendship and understanding." Through the China Night platform, overseas Chinese can actively integrate into American mainstream society, learn to respect local customs and get along with people of other races. "We actually showcase our capacity to promote the social and economic development of the local communities," she said. With outreach to other communities,"we not only popularize the Chinese culture,deepen American people's understanding about China, but also help consolidate public support for the China-US relationship",He said. Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco,applauded the contributions the China Night team has made. "The China-US relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations in the world,and each and every overseas Chinese should help sustain the strong bilateral momentum," the ambassador said in his speech."May the China-US tree of friendship [be] evergreen!" Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com US, China urged to collaborate on new energy Updated: 2016-09-22 12:42 By Lia Zhu in San Francisco(China Daily USA) The United States and China,the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters, have the economic might to develop new energy technologies,said Steven Chu, former US secretary of energy. Chu spoke at the USChina New Energy Economy Forum on Wednesday in San Francisco,which attracted scoresof experts and entrepreneurs in the energy sector from both countries. He told the forum that three quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions occurred in the last 65 years and that the world is facing serious climate issues - the global temperature has increased, and glaciers are melting. A6 - to 9-meter rise in sea levels will likely create 500 to 700 million worldwide climate refugees, and tens of millions of people would be displaced in the Shanghai area alone, said Chu, a professor of physics and of molecular and cellular physiology at the Stanford University Medical School. In Beijing and other cities in China, air pollution has reached dangerous levels that could lead to an increase in lung cancers, he said. The solution is to transition from traditional fossil fuel energy to renewable energy, primarily wind, water and solar, Chu said. Ahead of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou earlier this month,China and the US formally committed to joining last year's Paris Agreement on climate change. China pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030, while the US pledged to cut emissions by 28 percent by 2025 compared with the level in 2005. "In the last three years, China appears more committed to the major climate agreements with the US," said Hillard Huntington,executive director of Stanford's Energy Modeling Forum. "China is shifting towards a low-carbon economic future at the central,provincial and local levels of government." But "one size may not fit all",said Huntington. "Provinces and industries may need to have different targets." He said regional interests could complicate any universal agreement to limit emissions, as uniform reductions across regions will increase China's costs because high-cost areas will be asked to match the efforts of low-cost regions. "If targets are greater in some areas but minimal in others, 'leakage'may emerge," he explained. liazhu@chinadailyusa.com Malaysia arrests four suspects linked to terrorism Updated: 2016-09-22 13:33 (Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR - Three foreigners and one Malaysian have been arrested between Aug 2 and Sept 17 for their alleged involvement in multiple terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (IS), Malaysian police said in a statement on Thursday. One suspect, a 37-year-old Bangladeshi man, was arrested on Aug 19 for smuggling weapons for an un-named international terrorist group, according to the statement. The man's name was also on the Interpol's Red Notice. Another suspect, a 38-year-old Nepalese man, was accused of falsifying documents to facilitate the travels of terrorists. The third suspect, a 26-year-old Moroccan man, was suspected to be a member of the IS. He once got arrested by Turkish authorities for trying to enter Syria. After that, he somehow managed to illegally enter Malaysia. All the three suspects have been deported to their home countries, said the statement. The local suspect is detained for links with Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, the man believed to be the mastermind of Malaysia's first IS-linked attack in June. He was found to promote IS propaganda and ideologies through his Facebook page. Russian cyber celebs find inspiration from China Updated: 2016-09-22 17:21 (chinadaily.com.cn) A screenshot from Kase Gasanov's video shows him trying Chinese convenient food. China has become a source of inspiration for online stars in neighboring Russia, helping them attract hundreds of thousands of fans on social media and sometimes, make a fortune. Russian citizen Kase Gasanov has garnered nearly 100,000 clicks for his latest video on YouTube by tasting six kinds of Chinese convenient foods, including instant Seafood noodles and suanlafen, sour and spicy rice noodles from Southwest China's Sichuan province. After a sip of the suanlafen soup, Gasanov, in his Russian-language clip, described the popular snack as the "taste of hell". But after finishing the whole bowl, he admitted that it was actually quite tasty. Most of the videos made by Gasanov, who lives in China's Guangzhou and boasts 150,000 fans on YouTube, are related to his daily life in China. He said he hoped to be a bridge linking Russia and China. London gallery puts Chinese talent on view Updated: 2016-09-22 17:25 By ANGUS McNIECE(China Daily UK) In a small Georgian building in the shadow of the British Museum in central London, the Bloomsbury Gallery is offering burgeoning Chinese artists in the UK an opportunity to showcase their work. London-based artist Zhu Xiaowen's exhibition Unrolled Silks is now on view at the gallery. Zhu traveled the world for a decade after leaving Shanghai and says the contingent of UK-based Chinese artists has grown steadily since she settled in the British capital. "There is a growing community of Chinese artists in London. I'd say the volume of creation and exposure has doubled or tripled over the past five years," she said. "There are more Chinese art students coming here to study and some of them are choosing to stay and create work after graduation." Showcasing film footage, photographs and intricately embroidered silk jackets, Unrolled Silks is part of a larger video project,Oriental Silk,which details the family legacy behind the first Chinese silk company in Los Angeles. Zhu met with store owner Kenneth Wu in the United States and documented the work at his shop, which is located incongruously among the high-end fashion stores on Hollywood Boulevard. "Instantly, I was intrigued because it reminded me of old-fashioned fabric shops that my mother took me to in Shangahai in the 1990s. She would teach me how to distinguish between silks and synthetic fabrics by feel,"Zhu said. "Kenneth only gets one or two visitors a day. The rest of the time, he sits by himself reading booksit's almost like he is a monk meditating in a temple." Jane Jia, owner of the Bloomsbury Gallery, discovered Zhu's work at an exhibition at the China Exchange cultural center in London and wanted to showcase her talent. "I want to represent Chinese artists because I understand their culture and want to promote them," Jia said. While established contemporary Chinese artists' work can find a home at London's leading galleries, Ying Tan, curator at the UK's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, says restrictions on post-study work visas in 2012 made it harder for up-and-coming artists to gain a foothold. "Interest in Chinese art has grown as the Chinese economy has strengthened, and the Beijing Olympics put China further on the map," Tan said. "The UK is definitely a desirable location for young Chinese artists to study, but the government is making it harder for graduate students to stay and work, which I think is unfortunate." After Unrolled Silk, the Bloomsbury Gallery will display a selection of ink-on-paper portraits in October by UK-based Qu Leilei. Qu's work can also be seen in the British Museum's permanent collection. Chinese universities move up in global rankings Updated: 2016-09-22 14:58 (AGENCIES) The University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world and feeder for the British elite, has topped a global education ranking for the first time. Oxford knocked the leader for the last five years, California Institute of Technology, into second place in the Times Higher Education's global league table, which also saw Chinese universities climb rapidly. The rankings showed institutions in Asia had made progress with two new Asian universities the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology now in the 100 and four joining the top 200. Peking University rose to 29th place from 42, and Tsinghua ranked 35, up from 47th last year. Asian universities were "powering up the rankings," said Phil Baty, editor of the rankings, with the Chinese government pumping billions of dollars into its universities at the same time that austerity in the West was squeezing budgets. Oxford, which educated four of the last six British prime ministers, ousted its US rival after its research funding rose 10 percent and overall funding rose to $1.83 billion, while the impact of its research increased, he said. While Oxford, the University of Cambridge and London's Imperial College make the top 10 along with ETH Zurich, the list is dominated by US universities. Stanford University is ranked third, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology fifth, Harvard sixth, Princeton seventh and the University of California, Berkeley and University of Chicago at tenth equal. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. A recent study conducted and released by global recruitment consultancy Robert Walters highlights a recent important trend. The study, titled "Return of the Asian Talent," polled 650 job seekers and hiring managers across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Notably, 86 per cent of the hiring managers polled in Southeast Asia see the hiring of Asians working overseas as a viable option to address the recruitment challenges in their country. Viet Nam News spoke to Gerrit Bouckaert, country manager for Robert Walters Thailand and Viet Nam, about the trend and about how Vietnamese companies can tap into it. The findings show that 70 per cent of overseas Vietnamese professionals are keen to return home to work. What are the implications for Vietnamese companies who are looking to recruit top talent? Outbound mobility in Viet Nam has increased significantly over the past decade and many companies in Viet Nam face a severe shortage of skilled local talent. Local businesses in Viet Nam are now very keen to hire skilled Vietnamese professionals who have gained international experience but understand the local culture and language better than any expatriate. This will enable organisations to develop high-potential local talent and prepare them to take on middle-management and senior positions Why do you think accounting and finance, banking and financial services and information technology are the top three main sectors to attract overseas Vietnamese professionals? The functional expertise of these three domains requires a technical knowledge that can be transferred across international borders. A software developer in Viet Nam can do the same job in the United States or Europe as they use the same programming language across the world, while the technical knowledge in finance can be acquired as international standards in accounting and finance are only slightly different in other countries. Most of the Vietnamese candidates who have found a job in another country have studied in that country and have been campus hires by large companies operating in that market. Alternatively, talented individuals who were working in Viet Nam, can also get the opportunity to rotate internationally through a mobility programme in their country. This is beneficial both to the employee in terms of broadening the skill set and cultural understanding and the employer in terms of employee engagement and internal development. Do you think the trend in Viet Nam is in line with other Southeast Asian markets? What are the similarities and major differences? It seems to be in line with the other countries in Southeast Asia. The top three reasons why overseas Asians will consider returning home are to care for ageing parents, the perceived ability to command higher pay after working overseas and an affinity with their culture back home. As a result, the top three factors they look for in an employment package are a salary increment over local rates, clear career progression and flexible working arrangements. Attracting overseas Asian professionals to return home has emerged as a viable alternative for regional firms looking to overcome the shortage of talent. Local businesses in Viet Nam might be keen to hire skilled Vietnamese professionals who have gained international experience and at the same time understand the local culture and language better. However, this also could lead to potential conflict as overseas Vietnamese expect a better package? What are your thoughts on this? As there is higher demand for talent in Viet Nam compared with the supply of candidates, companies are looking outside the borders to attract overseas talent. This talent pool needs to be given incentives to return to Viet Nam by offering holistic employment packages and benefits. The remuneration package depends on what the candidate can bring to the table and what value they can add in the short term and the long term. The opportunity cost of not having a crucial position filled in a company outweighs the cost of the remuneration package in most cases, so companies are open to offering additional benefits to ensure they have the right talent on board. Can you tell us more about Robert Walters outreach programme called "Come Home Pho Good"? Come Home Pho Good was officially launched earlier this year, but the outreach efforts started last year. The objective of this programme is to target overseas Vietnamese professionals by sharing market research, insights and updates on the job market in Viet Nam. With an increasing demand for local talent, Robert Walters Vietnam is also leveraging our international network of offices to attract Vietnamese professionals from outside the country who are potentially interested in a move back home. VNS HA NOI At a time when sustainable economic development is more important than ever in Viet Nam, experts urged that supervision be tightened to ensure the economy grows on the right track. The coastal pollution disaster caused by the Taiwan-owned steel factory Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation rang alarm bells for the lower middle income country regarding its development options. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has repeatedly emphasised that Viet Nam not trade off environmental integrity for economic growth. But challenges remain for the developing nation to harmonise economic growth and environmental protection successfully. The countrys growth model, institutional reforms and transparency are even bigger challenges which still remain. Viet Nam is still in the process of industrialisation. The gross domestic product per capita is only equivalent to 30 per cent of the world average, while environmental pollution already causes significant concern, experts said at a VnEconomy conference on Tuesday. The market mechanism was good, said economic expert Vo Tri Thanh, but it was not sufficient to resolve problems related to the environment and sustainable development. Economic growth and environmental production must be linked together, Thanh said. It is not the story for today only but for the future. The Director of the Viet Nam Institute for Economics, Tran inh Thien, said it was essential to transform the growth model and that attracting foreign investment should not merely rely on the provision of incentives. "The growth model of the past five years hardly improved confidence in the sustainable development of the Vietnamese economy," Thien said. Lessons learned from Formosa are opportunities for Viet Nam to push reform said Nguyen The Chinh, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment. Reform would need joint efforts, Chinh said, adding that the effort of just a single ministry alone would not work. Need for clean steel Experts agreed that the steel industry was essential for Viet Nam to achieve its industrialisation goals. After the Formosa pollution episode, the question of whether or not the country should continue to develop the steel industry was hotly debated. Yes, for the country to move towards industrialisation, said Ho Nghia Dung, president of the Viet Nam Steel Association. Dung cited statistics showing that the steel consumption of Viet Nam averages 200 kilograms per head per year - lower than the world average of 240 kilograms. Meanwhile each industrialized country had an average steel consumption of 500-600 kilograms per head per year. To meet its needs, Viet Nam imports steel worth billions of dollars each year, an expense for which the developing nation must budget. The country must also continue to improve the supervision of steel production to control its impact on the environment, yet another expensive undertaking. According to Thanh, steel appeared to be an appropriate choice for Viet Nam, considering the countrys economic development level and advantages. Truong Thanh Hoai, Director of the Heavy Industry Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the impacts of steel production on the environment could be controlled. As examples, Hoai cited Japan and Korea, where fishing near steel plants was still considered safe. Experts urged tighter State supervision, coupled with supervision of the community. - VNS After five years of aggressive restructuring, the number of securities companies here has reduced from 105 to 81 in 2016. Photo shs.com.vn HA NOI After five years of aggressive restructuring, the number of securities companies here has reduced from 105 to 81 in 2016. This decrease came after the Ministry of Finance made restructuring securities firm a priority in early 2012. The main purpose was to heighten operational quality, financial capability, corporate governance and risk management. The number of securities companies has reduced, but the quality has improved. Many firms now have the capacity to move to the higher model of investment banking, said Nguyen Vu Quang Trung, deputy general director of the Ha Noi Stock Exchange. Twenty-four businesses have closed through a variety of processes including operational termination, suspension, dissolution and merger and acquisition. Some firms have downsized their operating scale by eliminating brokerage services, self-trading or underwriting, while others have laid off employees or ended ineffective business operations. However, according to market insiders, the current number of firms is still too many, and a number of companies hardly contribute to the market. Some firms exist only to accommodate the needs of their parent companies or parent banks, said Le uc Khanh head of strategic investment at Maritime Bank Securities Co. According to the restructuring scheme, the number of securities firms will be reduced to around 20-30 in the future. Were preparing for the second-generation law on securities, which is expected to be issued in the late 2018 or early 2019. At that time, securities companies may have only two models, Vu Bang, chairman of the market watchdog State Securities Commission, said in an interview on the national television VTV1. One model is that securities companies will take on the complete functions of an investment bank. In the other model, firms can only act on a few business lines, Bang said. Viet Nams stock market is making an effort to upgrade its status from a frontier to an emerging market. During this process, securities companies are urged to build up financial capacity and reinforce corporate governance in order to keep up with market requirements. According to the State Securities Commission, securities companies should capital greater than VN1 trillion (US$45 million), and they need greater than VN2 trillion to be capable of underwriting businesses or providing margin lending. Sound financial resources are amongst the first criteria for securities companies who want to do business in the market once new investment products such as derivatives and exchange-traded funds are introduced. VNS Deputy Prime Minister Hue made the statement at a seminar on Viet Nam's start-up ecosystem and lessons from Israel in Ha Noi on September 21. Photo VGP HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue affirmed that a start-up ecosystem seminar is an opportunity for the Vietnamese Government and Ha Noi to learn from Israel, a successful start-up nation. Deputy Prime Minister Hue made the statement yesterday at a seminar on Viet Nams start-up ecosystem and lessons from Israel held by Ha Noi Peoples Committee, Israels Embassy and the FPT corporation. The Deputy PM said Viet Nam could learn from Israeli experts about building an entrepreneurship ecosystem at the macro and micro levels by focusing on specific policies in several key sectors. Hue said it was expected to propose action plans for the building of a start-up ecosystem in Viet Nam and affirmed the Governments commitment to supporting the start-up ecosystem to create a start-up nation and strengthen relations between Viet Nam and Israel. Hue hoped that Ha Noi will become a pilot location to outline suitable policies so as to make it a start-up centre of Viet Nam. The investment climate has improved compared in the last seven years. More foreign investment funds are pouring capital into Viet Nam and more start-up businesses are being established. Hue noted that this year, Viet Nam has seen 10,000 new businesses established each month. He warned that authorities and the start-up community need to be associated with innovation and have a close relationship with high-tech development. He said the process of starting a business was relentless. Corporations and big cities needed to support start-up businesses. Vo Tran inh Hieu of Dragon Capital Group told participants that the Government and the Ministry of Planning and Investment needed to issue a circular on foreign venture capital funds for start-up businesses. At the seminar, Israeli speakers shared their experiences in starting a business in Israel. Esther Barak Landes - Founder and CEO Nielsen Innovate Fund, who has years of experience in finding and investing in start-up businesses, outlined an overall picture of the current status of Israeli start-up businesses. Landes said Israel had innovative strategies to develop start-up companies. Israel conducted policies to encourage start-up businesses, especially start-up companies in the technology sector. It has also provided programmes and funding from the government, tax incentives for business, trade agreements, and technology incubators. Avi Luvton, Executive Director of International Cooperation Programs for the Asia Pacific Department at the Israel Innovation Authority said Israel was not similar to Viet Nam in that it does not have natural resources, including water shortages. Therefore, Israel had to develop start-ups. Avid said Israel became the worlds number one start-up nation and continued to innovate as were no other solutions for Israel. This became motivation and fuel to enable Israel to create a start-up ecosystem. Also at the seminar, The Vietnam Innovative Startup Accelerator launched its website for select start-up businesses in technology in Southeast Asia. Start-up companies can register for the website at www.viisa.vn. Start-up nation by 2020 Vietnamese policymakers are embracing an ambitious plan to turn the country into a start-up nation in the next four years. Recently, the Vietnamese government approved a package of initiatives aimed at paving the way for a boom in technology start-ups Under the project, the government will provide legal and financial support for an estimated 2,600 start-ups across the country over the next 10 years. The government plans to launch an online portal that will keep start-ups updated about technologies, policies and funding. The government will also set up co-working spaces where startup companies can gain access to operational infrastructure at low costs. Start-ups will even receive financial support from the government for training, product testing and marketing. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has developed a set of incentives that will draw local and foreign venture capital funds into the country. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam and South Korea began the 15th session of the Joint Economic Committee this morning, with talks focusing on ways to boost co-operation and address pending issues. Deputy minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong said the two countries had made significant achievements in cooperation in trade, investment, labour export, as well as energy and infrastructure development but there remained some pending questions. He hoped the joint committee meeting would generate fruitful results to pave the way for further co-operation in the future. Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho said South Korea observed that Viet Nam with its new government cabinet was developing into a stable economy. He expected milestone co-operation achievements next year to mark the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship. Currently, some 4,000 South Korean companies are doing business in Viet Nam, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and other major conglomerates. Bilateral trade between the two reached US$37.6 billion last year, up from a mere $493 million in 1992 when diplomatic relations were established. The two sides enacted a free trade deal last year under which they lowered trade barriers to boost commerce. Since 1993, South Korea has granted Viet Nam over $200 million for fields including infrastructure development, human resources, administration reform, climate change response and technology. South Korea committed to offer Viet Nam preferential loans of some $3 billion. The two countries are negotiating a credit frame agreement for the 2016-20 period with estimated value of $1.5 billion. Viet Nam has undertaken 19 investment projects in South Korea with capital of$14.4 million, mostly in trade and services. Some 54,000 Vietnamese workers have been sent to work in South Korea. Viet Nam imports electrical equipment, telephones, clothing and machines from South Korea and exports garments, aquaculture products, crude oil, timber and wooden products to the country. The Joint Economic Committee has been held since 1993 and aims at providing a platform for both sides to exchange views and ideas on economic cooperation in a wide range of areas. VNS By Le Huong South Korean journalist Koh Kyoung Tae is a familiar figure for many residents of Phong Nhat and Phong Nhi villages in the central province of Quang Nam. He has visited the area several times in the past 17 years in an effort to find the truth about the cruel American war in Viet Nam and the facts behind simple captions of shocking photos housed in the National Archives & Records Administration of the United States (NARA) showing a mass 1968 slaughter that South Korean soldiers committed in the area. Koh is displaying the photos at the Art Link Centre, Jongno District, in Seoul in an attempt to make more people understand the Viet Nam war. The exhibition runs till October 1. Many visitors who came to my exhibition yesterday said that it was the first time they had heard about it, he said, Some Japanese also thought its quite unusual for me as a Korean to document the case. Among more than 80 massacres committed by US-allied South Korean soldiers during the war in Viet Nam, the Phong Nhat and Phong Nhi masacre on February 12, 1968, is the most documented in the NARA. Koh got 20 photos from NARA in November 2000. All had been taken and captioned by Corporal J.Vaughn from the US Marines. According to a 550-page report about the massacre, 74 people were killed and 17 others injured. Many were women and children. In 2000, Kohs magazine, Hankyoreh 21, published the photos. Koh wrote the cover story for the weekly. As the cover photo he picked a photo captioned a young woman who was still alive and had her breast cut off". I suggested it to the editor and he approved. The photo reminded me of some images from the mass killing in the May 18 uprising in Gwangju, Korea in 1980. At that time, in Gwangju, there was a rumour that goverment forces had cut off a womans breast. Some of my colleagues thought it was not proper to use the photo as its too horible, but it eventually became the cover image. Yet curiousity about the soldiers cruelty sent Koh to visit the villages several times since then. During his visits to Phong Nhat and Phong Nhi villages, in May 2000, April 2001, January 2013, February 2014 and February 2015, Koh identified the people in the photos that he got from NARA and met their families. These meetings were also reported in Hankyoreh 21. In April 2001, I brought my magazine with images of the massacre to the villages, he recalled. Names of the dead were missing in the printed captions. I could not forget how local Nguyen Thi Hoa screamed when she recognised her elder sister in the cover photo. My heart hurt when some one confirmed the dead in the photos were their family members. Koh just listened to their stories. Some cried. For some, these photos were the last images they could have of the dead. There was a 12-year gap between 2001 and 2013 because I thought I needed to research more as it was a very important case in the history of both Korea and Viet Nam. With the research, I decided to write a book so I visited the villages again in 2013. Soldiers cruelty: Journalist Koh Kyoung Tae with a veteran soldier of North Viet Nams army in ien Ban District, Quang Nam Province in February 2014. Courtesy Photo of Koh Kyoung Tae In January 2013 and February 2014, each time for a week, he met survivors and victims families to ask more about the day February 12, 1968. He got more photos and stories about those killed from around 50 local people. There was a girl bandaging her own arm in a photo taken by an American soldier on February 12, 1968. Her name is Tran Thi uoc, Koh recalled. She was 16 at that time. She was shot by Korean soldiers even though she begged for her life after being found among the dead. When she recovered conciousness, she found that all her family members were dead and she had lost her fingers. She died of breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 47. He was told that she had become a soldier of northern Viet Nams army and been jailed for instaling a booby trap in a South Viet Nam army camp. She got maried after being freed in 1975. I felt so much sympathy for her. I was sad as I couldnt meet her. I wanted to see her family at least, but I couldnt find any, he said. His book titled February 12, 1968, was printed by publisher Hankyoreh in 2015. I tried to see the massacre in the context of the days around February 12, 1968, also in reference to events at the time in South Korea, North Korea, Viet Nam and the US, Japan and Europe. Koh said Korean people barely know about the masacre carried out by Korean soldiers in the war in Viet Nam. VNS * Koh Kyoung Tae started working at Hankyoreh in 1994. He worked as an editor in the weekly magazine, The Hankyoreh 21, between 2005 and 2006. He is now deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers speech at a meeting with leaders of the Ministry of National Defence yesterday. Photo zing.vn HA NOI Enhancing the application of military science is an important task in the present context, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said. The PM stressed the need for the defence sector to master cutting-edge weapons and equipment for training and fighting during a working session with leaders of the Ministry of National Defence yesterday. He urged the ministry to set forth policies boosting the development of the defence industry in order to produce high-tech modern military products. He also urged exemplary performance in defence external relations matters within the context of international integration. The ministry was also requested to keep discipline, to fight corruption and other bad deeds within the army, and to hasten the equitisation of military-run businesses to prevent losses of State assets. The leader asked the ministry to better fulfil its advisory role to the Party and the State with regard to making strategic decisions and policies on national defence, especially amidst complicated regional and international situations. Hailing the armys core role in protecting the countrys territorial sovereignty, PM Phuc said that despite the range of difficulties facing the country, the Government will create optimal conditions for officers and soldiers to fulfil their tasks. As for the development of the defence industry, the PM said Viettels operations have borne fruit and it has become a prestigious telecom group in the region and in the world. In addition to building and maintaining border friendships and peace with neighbouring countries, the military has coordinated well with local authorities and with people on socioeconomic development issues, the leader said. The military has also performed well during mass mobilisation efforts and search and rescue operations, he added. The PM voiced his belief that officers and soldiers will overcome all difficulties to attain more glorious achievements and to complete all assigned tasks, earning the continuing trust of the Party, State and the people. VNS President Tran ai Quang receives Dutch Ambassador Nienke Trooster yesterday in Ha Noi. VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang HA NOI Viet Nam wishes to boost co-operation with the Netherlands, to further the dynamic relations with the European nation, President Tran ai Quang stated while hosting Dutch Ambassador Nienke Trooster yesterday. President Quang said he is delighted at the development of bilateral relations, especially after the two countries set up their strategic partnership in water resource management and climate change response in October 2010 and signed a strategic partnership agreement on agriculture and food security in June 2014. He suggested both sides intensify co-operation in water resource management, agriculture, energy, logistics, judicial affairs as well as collaboration between their localities. Trooster said that her country has actively supported Viet Nam in building strategies to respond to this phenomenon in the Mekong Delta region and is also focusing on implementing its bilateral strategic partnership agreement in agriculture, with priority placed on agricultural restructuring. President Tran ai Quang (R) receives Azerbaijani Ambassador to Viet Nam Anar Imanov in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang Inter-governmental committee President Quang on the same day received Azerbaijani Ambassador to Viet Nam Anar Imanov, during which he urged the early organisation of the first meeting of their inter-governmental committee on economic-trade and scientific-technological co-operation. He said that the committee is an important mechanism to deepen bilateral ties on the basis of political co-operation and two-way trade. The ambassador said that potential in economic and trade co-operation has yet to be tapped fully, wishing that Viet Nam will open its embassy in the capital, Baku, in order to promote bilateral collaboration in economic, trade, cultural and tourism sectors. VNS HCM CITY Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced at the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants held on Monday in New York City that Canada would provide CA$5.5 million for a project to protect migrant workers in the ASEAN region. Canada will work in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to support ASEANs regional efforts to strengthen policies that defend migrant workers, particularly women. The project will ensure that migrant workers receive equitable economic and social benefits, and help improve job mobility across ASEAN. ASEAN is a dynamic region with 633 million residents and 300 million workers, and a combined GDP of over US$2.4 trillion. In 2013, there were an estimated 6.5 million ASEAN nationals who migrated to other ASEAN countries for work, and women accounted for 47.8 per cent of all migrants. For more than 10 years, Canada has played a leading role in promoting and protecting the human rights of women in ASEAN by supporting regional human rights bodies, womens participation in civil society and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The ILO has a global mandate and responsibility to set international standards on labour and employment and has been mandated by the UN to protect the rights of all workers. The ILO has adopted a tripartite structure that develops solutions together with governments, employers and worker organisations. VNS HCM CITY The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is drawing up plans for a project on sustainable forest protection, restoration and development in the Central Highlands in an effort to stop the loss of forest coverage. Costs for the project, to be implemented between now and 2025, will be VN19.85 trillion (US$886.16 million), with VN7.34 trillion ($327.67 million) sourced from the State budget. The existing natural forest of 2.24 million ha in the region will be strictly protected, including forests allocated to approved projects that have yet to be implemented. By 2025, the forest coverage will increase to 2.76 million ha from the current 2.56 million ha, reaching 49.6 per cent, up from the current 46 per cent. The proper protection, management and development of forest resources is expected to fuel the regions socio-economic development, enhance conservation of bio-diversity, and improve livelihoods of locals, as well as maintain the regions defence and security. Between 2010 and 2015, forest coverage fell by 312,416 ha and 5.8 per cent, respectively. Only 49,500 ha of forest were planted between 2011 and 2015. The disappearance of forests has been caused mostly by deforestation and massive conversion of forest land for cultivation. Poor management by State agencies and local authorities as well as forest owners who are responsible for local management has allowed residents to invade forested land. Speaking at a conference on forest management held on Tuesday in Gia Lai Province, Nguyen Viet Dung, deputy director of the nonprofit PanNature, said the restoration of forests was feasible if it brought economic benefits such as profits from cassava and coffee cultivation. He said it was difficult to prevent illegal deforestation as there was strong demand for wood. He said the national project goals might not be feasible as residents continued to take land for cultivation. A forest protection official in Zone 4 in ak Lak Province said it was vital to keep existing forests, but it was nearly impossible to accomplish. More than 791,000 ha in the region have been allocated for forestry plantation, but much of the soil is depleted and not suited for cultivation. Reclaiming forest land once used illegally by local people remains a difficult task. However, Nguyen Quoc Tri, deputy head of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry, said the projects draft had been carefully researched and that the targets could be fulfilled. The proposal is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval in the third quarter of the year. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am has urged ministries and agencies to enhance measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution from now to the end of the year, the Government Office has announced. A conference of the Standing Board of the National Committee for AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention to review work so far this year and set tasks for the remaining months on Tuesday heard that the country recorded some positive achievements during the period but many challenges remained. These challenges included the number of drug addicts in methadone treatment falling short of Government targets, slow renovation of drug detoxification, an increase in methamphetamine trafficking and use and a rising number of drug addicts. Communication works on HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution prevention and control remain limited and shortcomings still exist in regulations, heard the conference. To help tackle these difficulties, the Deputy PM asked the Ministry of Public Security to submit the 2016-2020 programme on drug prevention to the Government and help other agencies amend the Law on Drug Prevention and Control. The ministry was also urged to collaborate with the Ministry of Defence to tackle drugs in border areas. As Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention, am requested the Ministry of Health guide the use of methadone for drug addiction treatment and establish antiretroviral treatment management systems. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was asked to improve prostitution prevention while the Ministry of Justice will consider an administrative punishment on drug users. The Deputy PM instructed local peoples committees to mobilise resources from the community for the fight against AIDS, drugs and prostitution, and link the work with socio-economic development. Viet Nam had some 227,150 HIV patients by the end of 2015, and estimated that there were about 254,000 HIV-infected people in the country. The country aims to eliminate the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2030. More than 11,200 prostitutes work in Viet Nam, based on statistics from authorised agencies in 63 provinces and cities across the country. About 200,000 drug addicts have been identified and counted, as of January this year. - VNS HA NOI A technical assistance project funded by the Dutch government has been successful in enhancing training capacity for the Water Resources University and the Hanoi University of Natural Resources & Environment. The assessment was made at a review meeting held in Ha Noi yesterday by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Viet Nam. The project, worth nearly 1.32 million euros, was carried out from 2012 to 2016 and aims to help the two universities and other partners train high-quality human resources for the sustainable development of water resources in Viet Nam. Addressing the event, MoNRE Deputy Minister Chu Pham Ngoc Hien highlighted the positive contribution the Niche project has made to the two universities over the past five years. Increasing the capability of training personnel for the water resources sector is very important in the context of climate change, with droughts, salt intrusion, floods, pollution and natural resource exhaustion all affecting the country, Hien said. Echoing the deputy minister, Rector of the Hanoi University of Natural Resources & Environment Nguyen Ngoc Thanh expressed his hope that the project will help expand the water resource management training network at home and abroad. VNS ROSETTA, Egypt A boat carrying up to 450 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean off Egypts north coast on Wednesday, drowning 42 people and prompting a search operation that rescued 163 passengers, officials said. The vessel overturned off the port city of Rosetta, police and health officials said. Five survivors, handcuffed to beds in a Rosetta hospital room, said up to 450 people were on board. "The boat sunk. My three children died," said Badr Abdel Hamid, 28, before breaking into tears. "We were 450 people on board. We left at 2:00am. An hour an half later, it capsized. Whoever knew how to swim, swam. We even abandoned the women and children," said Ahmed Mohamed, 27. The boat sank some 12km from the coast and the victims included one child, 10 women and 31 young men, a municipal official in the Mediterranean city said. They were Egyptians, Eritreans, Sudanese and Syrians, said the official, Ali Abdel Sattar. "I just wanted to reach Europe and live a decent life," said Ahmed Gamal, 17. The tragedy comes months after the EUs border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of migrants bound for Europe were turning to Egypt as a departure point for the perilous sea journey. Smugglers often overload the boats, some of them scarcely seaworthy, with passengers who have paid for the journey. Egypts Prime Minister Sharif Ismail ordered police to arrest the smugglers responsible, a cabinet statement said. The military said in a statement that 163 passengers had been rescued so far, adding that they had stopped another boat elsewhere on the Mediterranean coast carrying 294 migrants. With the search operating ongoing for an unknown number of people, health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that hospitals were being prepared to receive more casualties. Egypt becoming departure country More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean for Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations. Asylum-seekers have been seeking other ways to reach Europe since March, when Balkan countries closed the popular overland route and the EU agreed a deal with Turkey to halt departures. "Egypt is starting to become a departure country," Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said in an interview with the Funke group of German regional newspapers in June. "The number of boat crossings from Egypt to Italy has reached 1,000 (so far) this year." More than 300,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year from various points of departure, the UN said this week. The number is down from 520,000 in the first nine months of 2015. AFP 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. ISIS brides and children repatriated from Syria should be in a jail forever 04:45 Iraqi refugee Salam Qaro says all ISIS brides and their children who have come from Syrian detention camps should be in a jail forever". Australian killed in South Korea stampede 00:12 It has been confirmed an Australian citizen has been killed in the Halloween stampede in South Korea. Federal government warned to act quickly on power prices 02:54 The federal government has been warned it must act before the end of November to stop power prices from climbing another 50 per cent next year.... TRAER Linda Wiges had no intention of writing a sequel to her debut book, Happy Dreams. In that novel, Liz Raines is recently released from prison after being exonerated in the murder of her mother. She returns to her hometown to take a job at Meskwaki Bingo Casino with the goal of tracking down the child she gave up at birth. After a series of twists and turns, she finds her now-adult child and must confront a shattering truth. After the book was out, I started getting questions from readers who felt like the story wasnt finished. I sort of did, thinking the reader could imagine their own ending. But I finally sat down and started to write a sequel, letting it take me where it wanted to go, says Wiges, a retiree from the University of Northern Iowa and a former high school English and speech teacher. The result is Give Me Glory. This story focuses on Austin Wapiti, Lizs son who left the Meskwaki Settlement after learning that the first 20 years of his life had been a lie. He isnt a full-blood Meskwaki, his mother wasnt his mother and the woman with whom hed hoped to spend his life with wasnt the person hed been told she was, reads the book cover. Now his real father is in crisis, and Liz is begging him to come home. Accompanied by his sweet and devoted bloodhound Murray, Austin returns home to discover whether he can start again, perhaps with a mysterious girl named Glory. I knew there had to be a dramatic reason to get him to come back, and it was to flesh out the character a little more. I felt like I knew them a lot better the first book I was more interested in plot, and this one I focused on the characters. I fell in love with the free-spirited Glory, explains Wiges, who is also familiar to Cedar Valley audiences as an actress, playwright and director. Wiges started the novel in November, designated as National Novel writing month, and plans to start another book this November. The book is available online at amazon.com and at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls. WAVERLY Homes on the southeast side of Waverly were evacuated Thursday due to anticipated flooding. The National Weather Service predicts the Cedar River will crest at about 16 feet Saturday which will likely overtake Seventh Avenue Southwest, cutting off several homes. They effectively will become an island, said Waverly Mayor Charles Infelt. Residents were asked to evacuate by this afternoon. A couple of potential shelter sites have been identified, but city officials arent sure if they will be needed. Were hoping folks take advantage of the lead time, said Waverly City Councilman Dan McKenzie. A sandbagging station was set up at 412 First Ave. S.E. behind Kwik Star. The forecast river crest is about 3 feet higher than flooding in May 2013 and about 6 inches higher than a 100-year flood event. The inflatable dam will prevent flooding from occurring in northwest and southwest areas of town, city officials said. Were certainly seeing the benefit of that dam, said McKenzie. Its been a long process, but Waverly has gotten to a better spot when it comes to flash flooding events or high river crests. The flooding is moving the first Waverly Oktoberfest to the 200 block of First Avenue S.E. behind the Cobblestone Inn. The event was initially set to take place on First Street Northwest along Kohlmann Park. The predicted crest will put a section of the park and some of First Street under water. Oktoberfest planners are encouraging festival volunteers to keep in touch if people need help moving things from affected homes or sandbagging. Organizers said they considered cancelling but decided the celebration is still needed. For us, its more that were determined not to let negative events affect us in bringing the community together, said Phil Jones, event organizer. WATERLOO Young people ages 8-17 will have a chance to take a free airplane ride Saturday when Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 227 hosts a Young Eagles Flight Rally. Those attending are asked to come to the Waterloo Regional Airport, Livingston Aviation, 2814 Betsworth Drive. Registration is on-site between 8 and 11:30 a.m., and a parent or legal guardian must be present. Rides will be given first-come, first-served. In case of rain, the rally will be Sunday. Pilots volunteer their time and aircraft so flights can be provided free of charge. For more information, go to www.eaa227.com, www.youngeagles.org, or call 240-8128. CEDAR FALLS Former Cedar Falls Mayor Jon Crews endorsed Democratic 1st District congressional candidate Monica Vernon in her bid for office. Im proud to stand with Monica Vernon in her campaign for Congress, Crews said in a statement. Working in local government as long as I have, you recognize who will actually roll up their sleeves and get things done and thats exactly what I know Monica will do in Congress. Crews is the longest-serving mayor in the history of Cedar Falls, serving for 30 years. He retired last year. He also served one year as Black Hawk County treasurer in between his mayoral stints, as a Democrat. Vernon is a former Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman and a businesswoman. She is running against first-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-1st District, a Dubuque businessman. Vernon said she is honored to receive Crews endorsement. We both believe the same thing all Iowans should have access to economic opportunity and a fair shot at success, Vernon said in a statement. CEDAR RAPIDS When the president delivers his annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress, one member of the Cabinet is not in attendance at the U.S. Capitol. Thats part of the presidential succession plan so that in the event something catastrophic causes the death of the president, vice president, speaker of the House and president pro tempore of the Senate as well as cabinet members, there will be one administration official to assume command. Its also the premise of Designated Survivor, a television drama about a low-level Cabinet member who becomes president of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union address kills everyone above him in the presidential line of succession. If it sounds familiar, its similar to the plots of a pair of Tom Clancys Jack Ryan novels, "Debt of Honor" and "Executive Orders." Iowa has a succession plan, too, but the designated survivor strategy is not employed when the governor delivers his annual Condition of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature. In fact, the members of the line of succession designated in the Iowa Constitution -- lieutenant governor, Senate president and House speaker -- attend the speech. The governor, speaker and president are usually within arms reach of one another. In the unlikely event they would be unable to serve, the state Supreme Court would convene the Legislature to elect a governor and lieutenant governor, and fill their respective leadership vacancies, according to the Constitution. Supreme Court justices attend the Condition of the State speech if their schedules permit, a court spokesman said. Many times, all seven are in attendance. Long-time Senate staffer Eric Bakker could not recall ever hearing a designated survivor strategy discussed. Former Sioux City Sen. Steve Warnstadt did work on a continuity of state government plan, but said it addressed issues with the Legislature, not the executive branch. The Capitol is one of the most secure buildings on the Capitol complex because anyone other than state employees and lawmakers entering the building must pass through metal-detecting security gates, according to Colin Tadlock, House Republican communications director. Security is increased during the Condition of the State Address including uniformed troopers in the House galleries, on the House floor and in the capitol rotunda. Iowa State Patrol is very comfortable with the measures taken every year to protect members of the public and General Assembly, he said. Like Bakker, Tadlock doesnt believe theres been any recent discussion of a succession plan. Perhaps this new show on ABC will spur a conversation, he said. Designated Survivor premiered Wednesday on ABC. DES MOINES - Retired public radio icon Garrison Keillor mixed homespun humor with political commentary Wednesday night, urging Iowans to support Democrat Patty Judge's bid for the U.S. Senate and not buy what GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is peddling. Keillor, the creator and former host of "A Prairie Home Companion," said he traveled from Minnesota to support Judge in her "heroic venture" of trying to unseat a "deeply entrenched incumbent" in Republican Sen. Charles Grassley in the Nov. 8 general election. "I came because we don't have a statewide race in Minnesota. We have nothing, so I came down here for the excitement of it - to see David against Goliath," Keillor told reporters before the start of a fundraiser in the back room of a downtown jazz cabaret that drew about 150 supporters. "Patty Judge is courageous and she's funny. She's salt of the earth. She's what we up in Minnesota think of as Iowa, which is a state of sensible people that got all the good land and we had to make due with sandy, rocky soil up there," he said. Keillor noted that it is somewhat rare for him to hit the campaign trail but he occasionally likes to "go around and speak up for Democrats in endangered places." "I go when I'm asked and I like underdogs, as we all do," he added. Keillor spoke with amazement that people he knows with strong, life-long Midwest values who are "utterly detached from reality" and plan to vote for Trump this year, turning away from GOP principles in a way that is a "modern-day tragedy." "The fringe has come into the middle now," he said. Keillor said Trump's lead role in the birther moment showed him to be a "shameless, shameless man" and his plan to deport 11 million people in America illegally flies in the face of the nation's history of human rights. "I hate to think of people that I know and respect and love voting for him so, let's save them from it," Keillor told the crowd. "It just cannot happen. We cannot let it happen. We have a short time to change it. Election Day is coming on us very quickly." Of Grassley, Keillor said: "This was the year when Sen. Grassley was supposed to take a stand on behalf of conservative Republican principles and he failed the test, he failed the test of his own party and now this has to be put to the voters. I'm so glad you have a candidate who's going to put it to the voters." Keillor's political message was entwined in a rambling address in which he quoted poetry, mused about growing up in public school and let the crowd in sing-a-longs that ranged from patriotic, popular, religious and Iowa-themed songs that included frequent Prairie Home guest Greg Brown's Iowa Waltz - which he said should be the state's song. Judge said she was "thrilled" to have Keillor in Iowa campaigning for her, WATERLOO A local atheist activist has won a national award after delivering the first secular invocation at a Waterloo City Council meeting earlier this year. Justin Scott, who now lives in Denver, was one of four winners of the 2016 Nothing Fails Like Prayer competition held by the national Freedom From Religion Foundation. The online voting contest honors nontheistic activists who give secular invocations before local government bodies. Scott and the other winners are receiving expense-paid trips to repeat their secular invocations before FFRFs 39th annual national convention in Pittsburgh Oct. 7-9. Each also will receive a formal plaque and a $500 honorarium. Scott, founder of Eastern Iowa Atheists, was among a group of Cedar Valley residents unhappy with Waterloo Mayor Quentin Harts decision in February to open council meetings with a prayer once each month. The same U.S. Supreme Court ruling which allowed sectarian prayers before government meetings opened the door for all religions or nonreligious groups to participate. Hart allowed Scott to deliver an invocation on behalf of Cedar Valley Atheists after turning down their request to end the practice. WATERLOO The rains came and came, and by Thursday morning the impact was felt. Communities in Butler, Chickasaw and Floyd counties were deluged with rising creeks and rivers, and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area quickly realized the waters are headed this way. More heavy rain Thursday night prompted fresh flash flood warnings in Bremer, Butler and Franklin counties. A levy on the Shell Rock River failed, prompting evacuations in Clarksville. Cities across the area already were grappling with flooding from Wednesday nights rains. Officials are telling people to brace for a flood crest on the Cedar River on Saturday afternoon and evening at a near-record level, though crest levels were slightly lowered later Thursday. That could change again today, though, after deluges overnight north of the Cedar Valley. Access to the North Cedar area of Cedar Falls was expected to be restricted to Lone Tree and Waverly roads on the north, with floodwater anticipated to close Center Street to the south, Public Safety Director Jeff Olson said. The previously closed Lone Tree Road fire station was to reopen to serve citizens and provide drinking water for residents with flooded wells. Firefighters and police were knocking on doors in low-lying portions of North Cedar to advise residents of the rising waters and give them the option to leave. Cedar Falls schools were closed today. Gas service is being disconnected to some Cedar Falls Utilities customers due to flood risk; CFU is notifying them by phone. In Waterloo, officials closed the Fletcher Avenue floodgates at Black Hawk Creek and planned today, depending on crest levels, to close the Park Avenue, 11th Street and 18th street bridges downtown as well as the railroad bridge near Sixth Street and the Westfield Avenue bridge over Black Hawk Creek. Those closings plans were based on a predicted 24-foot crest, but were announced before the prediction was downgraded below that level. City officials were meeting late Thursday and early today to reassess the situation, said Mayor Quentin Hart, noting the crest could fluctuate depending on additional rain. The city closed several storm sewer flood gates, activated lift stations and put up flood control walls at key locations downtown, such as near the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Flood gates prevent river water from backing up into the storm sewer system, and pumps will push storm water back into the Cedar River. Citizens whose properties are located in flood plain areas are urged to take precaution, Hart said. Black Hawk County Emergency Management Coordinator Lori Glover said the Cedar is expected to crest in Waterloo and Cedar Falls at levels second only to the flood of 2008. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service said the Cedar in Waterloo is expected to crest Saturday evening at 22 feet, slightly above the 1961 flood of 21.86 but below the 2008 flood of 27.01 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet. In Cedar Falls, which uses a different measuring system, the river is expected to crest Saturday afternoon at 97.5 feet, below the 2008 record of 102.10 feet and slightly above the 1999 flood at 96.2 feet. Flood stage is 88 feet. Were keeping an eye on the situation and praying for no more rain, Glover said. Evansdale called for volunteers to sandbag beginning this morning at the street garage at 130 Brown St. Waterloo and Cedar Falls are not calling for sandbag volunteers but will have sandbags available. Waterloo residents can pick up sandbags at the Public Works Building at Vinton and Glenwood streets and at the Iowa Department of Transportation highway maintenance garage on West Ridgeway Avenue. In Cedar Falls, sandbagging stations are located at 2806 Center St., the corner of Lincoln Street and Leversee Road and at the Ice House Museum. In Waterloo the garbage routes were to run as scheduled today and schools were open. The Cedar Falls recycling center was to be closed. The diking system protecting downtown Cedar Falls and CFU facilities was expected to hold, but authorities will patrol it, Olson said. Access to CFU facilities off Waterloo Road were to close Friday, with access to CFU offices available off Bluff Street or Grove Avenue to East 12th Street. The Taylor Morris Glowstick 5K benefit run will go on as scheduled today but will move to South Prairie Lake in Prairie Lakes Park. Access is off Viking Road. NE Iowa flooding Torrential rain left a swath of soggy ground and flooded roads from Mason City southeast generally across Floyd, northern Butler and Chickasaw counties. Greene was among the hardest hit communities, as overnight storms downed trees, limbs and power lines and torrential upstream rains caused the Shell Rock River to spill out of its banks. Many roads into town were impassible. Classes were canceled but students showed up to fill sandbags at North Butler High School, which served as a staging area for volunteers and emergency responders in Greene. Areas of Greene and Clarksville were evacuated as they were overtaken by the Shell Rock River. Many homes, businesses and the post office were under waist-deep water at noon Thursday as the water continued to rise. Audrey Smith was having a few anxious moments as she watched her husband and his tractor being rescued from flood waters after it was swamped as he was attempting to retrieve a freezer of meat from the couples flooded home. My son-in-law, my husband and his friend are all down there in the water, Smith said. A backhoe that went in to retrieve the tractor also got stuck before both pieces of equipment and the men were pulled out by an end-loader. Smith said the couple had been moving items from their home all night but were unable to get the furniture and freezer before the water rose too high. Its only stuff, though, she said. As long as nobody loses their life. We went through (another flood) in 2008 and it was 4 feet high in the main living area, but we rebuilt, she said. Guess what? We arent rebuilding again. As Smiths husband returned to safety, someone arrived to tell her flood waters were coming up the alley behind the couples downtown business. Mary Jane Ross said her family business, Ross Plumbing and Heating, was not taking on water as of noon Thursday. But some equipment inside was raised off the floor just in case. We had a lot of help this morning, she said. A lot of the kids came down and helped with sandbags. Sarah Dralle, a volunteer Greene ambulance worker, was taking a break from sandbagging along the river. She noted the city was going to have a mess of trees and limbs to clean up once the flood battle was over. Dralle had been out most of the evening on rescue calls and welfare checks related to the flooding. I started at 10 last night, went home for an hour of sleep and Ive been here ever since, she said. In Charles City, officials said the Cedar River is expected to crest at 24.2 feet sometime this afternoon, well over flood stage. Officials Wednesday night received reports of possible tornadoes three miles southwest of Rockford, four miles west of Greene, two miles west of Nashua, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Fowle. Buildings were destroyed and large sheets of tin and other debris were blown across the road at a farmstead just southeast of Marble Rock. Seventy-mile-per-hour wind gusts were reported in Floyd County. In Fayette County, two pickup truck drivers damaged their vehicles when they ran over the same downed tree in separate, consecutive accidents in the 14000 block of 240th Street northwest of West Union about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, during a storm and in poor visibility. Neither was injured. Deputies and county conservation personnel were enroute to remove the tree from the roadway when the crashes occurred. Molly Montag from the Mason City Globe Gazette contributed to this article. GREENE Storms blew trees onto houses and downed power lines in Greene Wednesday night as multiple tornado warnings were issued across Butler County. A county official reported that city was without power. Also, the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wis., issued a flash flood warning for Floyd County as county officials there reported most roads across the county were under water. Residents were urged to seek higher ground. A flood warning was issued in Black Hawk County for the Cedar River at Janesville where waters from the storm are expected to swell the river over flood stage by Friday. Today, North Butler Schools were closed, while schools at Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock were delayed two hours. The North Butler school is being used as a shelter today. Law enforcement and Emergency Management officials in Butler County today are asking the public to stay out of Greene due to many flooded streets, downed trees and power lines, etc. "The Shell Rock River has left its banks in many areas and travel is not recommended in the Greene and Clarksville areas. This is not a time for sightseeing. Please let emergency crews do their job. Thank you for your cooperation," their announcement stated. An estimated 5 to 9 inches had fallen by 8:30 p.m. with another 2 to 4 inches possible overnight. The warning included Charles City, which is on the Cedar River, upstream from Waterloo-Cedar Falls. Weve had multiple (funnel) sightings in Butler County around Greene, said Mitch Nordmeyer, Butler County emergency management coordinator Wednesday night. Currently theres a lot of trees down in the city of Greene, with trees down on houses. Our river (the Shell Rock) is bank full. Weve had four confirmed sightings of funnel clouds, Nordmeyer said, as tornado warnings worked their way eastward across the county. Were trying to ride it out. Nordmeyer did not know whether the tree damage was caused by straight line winds or a funnel. When you have multiple reports of funnel clouds, who knows? he said. Right now theres a lot of tree damage, houses with trees fallen on them, and thats not good. Power lines are down all around in town. Theres no power in Greene right now. The city is served by Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids. In Charles City, firefighters began going door-to-door on Wednesday to warn residents in flood-prone areas that evacuations could be necessary. Fire Chief Eric Whipple said the Cedar River is expected to crest at 20.7 feet in Charles City, which is at major flood stage, sometime Friday afternoon. According to the Floyd County Sherriff's Department, water was reported over numerous roadways throughout the county Wednesday night. Water was reported at mile markers 223 and 225 on the Avenue of the Saints. Floyd County was urging travelers against travel unless necessary. The National Weather Service reported by mid-evening Wednesday a large amount of rain had fallen in an area from Mason City to northern Butler County, with much of that precipitation anticipated to drain into Butler County overnight, raising the possibility of flooding across roads. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch through 7 p.m. tonight for much of north-central and Northeast Iowa, including Black Hawk County and Waterloo-Cedar Falls. WATERLOO Clifton Wilson is a satisfied customer. The Kansas City, Mo., native has lived at the Hotel President for nearly three years. Hes had a front-row seat to a recently completed $12 million renovation of the historic downtown hotel. Wilsons so happy with the results that when Josh Latter, a principal with the company redeveloping the building, arrived at the hotel Wednesday morning for an open house, Wilson surprised him with a big hug. Its a good job they did, said Wilson, who lives on the eighth floor. Its better than what it was. This man has done a wonderful job. Josh has done a wonderful job. Ive got to compliment him. I like what hes done. Wilson said the property is cleaner and more secure than when he first took residence. The former showcase hotel, at East Park Avenue and Sycamore Street, was built in 1929 and known as Park Towers Apartments the past 45 years. It has been renovated by Latters company, Huntley Whitmer Development, a Los Angeles development company specializing in such projects. An open house and grand opening celebration was scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today. Latter said work on the building will continue despite the major improvements being substantially completed. Theres just no shortage of things you can do, he said. But we wanted to make sure we got the bulk of the stuff done now to make sure that the historic integrity of the building has been preserved, as well as an overhaul of the buildings heating and cooling system to make the building more comfortable for residents. Latter initially became interested in the President through a broker. I love this stuff, Latter said. For me it was an incredibly attractive opportunity. When we walked in, my partner (principal Matthew Segerdal) and I just loved this. Even in the condition it was in, you saw all the promise this huge, beautiful ceiling, the floors, the archways. The rooms have new climate control equipment and finishings; the building has improved lighting and security and a community room with a small library in what was a lounge, along with an adjacent computer lab for residents who cant afford one. The building still has 84 units of federally subsidized Section 8 housing for low-income and disabled residents. Units are leased to tenants age 55 and older with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The building is nearing full occupancy; Latter anticipates it will be full Oct. 1. There is a waiting list. Latter praised Waterloo city staff, specifically Community Planning and Development Director Noel Anderson, for cooperation, as well as the Waterloo Police Department, whose officers worked off-duty part-time to address previously existing security issues in the building prior to the installation of security cameras. The project received tax credits through the Iowa Finance Authority and a 10-year graduated property tax rebate from the city of Waterloo. This project is a tremendous investment in downtown Waterloo, Anderson said, upgrading some downtown housing and helping preservation of historic places in the community. This is a great skyline building for us along the developing Park Avenue corridor. Latter indicated his company will be involved in the building for the long haul. Well be here for 15 years at minimum to guarantee a return to investors. He indicated his company may reapply to the city years down the road for assistance with future renovations. Latter said the city, at the companys request, is applying to put the building in the National Register of Historic Places. Mark Sinnwell, whos owned and operated of Catherine Doyles Pub inside the building for about 20 years, said he was so encouraged with the he renovated his bar. Its been great, he said. The downtown vibe has been different now that we have more people living down here. I think its a wonderful project, said longtime downtown developer Donna Nelson of Nelson Properties, owner of the historic Blacks Building across Sycamore Street. Like our family, they love preservation, love old buildings, and thats something Im really excited about. Some of the building history is shown in the hotel lobby. Famous visitors include actor Tab Hunter, 1960s folk band The New Christy Minstrels which performed at the National Cattle Congress, and Ferrante & Teicher, a popular easy-listening pop/classical piano duo who performed from the 1950s through the 1980s. More information on the Hotel President project and building may be obtained by calling 235-7754 or by visiting the buildings Facebook page. Freelance writer Scott Cawelti is having lunch and a conversation with area leaders. This is the seventh installment from his lunch with community leader Leon Mosley. Cross Crocodile Dundee, Dirty Harry and Charles Bronson and you have Leon Mosley. A vigilante. Yet hes still a family man, a church-going God-fearing community activist and an all-around concerned citizen who served on the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors for 16 years. A Republican, no less. He also served on a variety of volunteer boards all over the country and was a leading advocate for closing down Waterloo crack houses that were destroying whole neighborhoods. Call him a responsible vigilante. Id go to those houses with my big RCA video camera and get evidence video for the police. I was gathering documentary reports to help them make arrests. He became a consultant for several Iowa cities and well known for his effective drug-fighting activism. He never took the law into his own hands, never became a one-man army. But dont threaten him. Messing with me is like tickling a bobcat. He towered over me, and at 70 looks like he could take down most anyone. When he gets mad, watch out. If you see Leon in a fight with a bear, go help the bear is a joke Mosley tells with delight. I have a terrible temper, he told me over lunch. I get so mad at these bad kids that I have to watch myself. Hes been threatened, shot at, and insulted as an oreo and Uncle Tom because he works well with both whites and blacks. Afraid? Never, he said. I know when Im right, and I do it. When you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said. You just keep telling the truth. He certainly has the respect and friendship of both Waterloo Police Chief Trelka and Mayor Quentin Hart. I love both these guys and want them to succeed. His main weapon has been his phone number. He openly gives it to everyone, and says if theyre afraid to call the police to report lawbreakers, call him and hell report them. That takes plain guts, and the police consider him a valuable crime-fighting partner. Our lunch happened during the Trelka controversy, and I went to Mayor Harts news conference Monday afternoon, as did Mosley. It was clear to Mosley community support (including his own) had affected the mayor, and Mosley was pleased. He did the right thing, which only makes sense. Problems of respect for the police started long before Trelka took over, and Trelkas been doing his best to fix it. For Mosley, community crime problems begin at home. Too many parents have given up raising their children, and that infuriates him. Kids are raising each other on the streets. No parents or teachers they respect. They end up in jail or prison. Just days before he visited the National Cattle Congress, and a group of junior high schoolers mostly girls were at the grounds violently fighting among themselves. The next night, they shut down the entire Cattle Congress grounds due to kids fighting among themselves, menacing visitors. Theyre not really gangs just young teen girls all black fighting each other, Mosley observed. The police were there in two minutes, breaking them up, but I dont think they did much. Probably should have arrested them. To Mosley, these kids needed a good whoopin just what he got as a kid when he made trouble. My father whacked me good with a paddle, and I knew I deserved it. Thats how I learned respect. When they made corporal punishment illegal, thats when problems started, he insists, But I know we cant do that now. We have to find other solutions. Unfortunately, those solutions elude him. I really dont know how to make families more responsible. I can only report what I see and try to help. I asked what keeps him going, given all the threats and criticism. I learned a motto from my father, he said. If you dont know whats worth dying for, you havent lived. Making the community safe for the good kids is worth dying for, he says, and he means it. Really, its the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of our kids are fine, but we spend all our time dealing with problem kids. I asked what he thought would cause real change. I thought when kids get killed on the street by other kids wed wake up. That happened, but still nothing changed. Hes sure 200 young witnesses watched a murder on Airline Highway and not one came forward. We have to change that, and Im doing what I can. If more responsible citizens would routinely report crime and criminal activities, everything would change for the better. Leon Mosley has shown the way. Cops and climate HERMAN LENZ SUMNER Regarding Waterloo police officer disciplined in the Sept. 2 Courier: How do we know if that discipline was nothing more than a scolding? A prosecutor would not charge the sorehead cop who had verbally and physically attacked a downed and surrendering citizen, saying jurors would likely not convict him. That prosecutor did the thinking for a jury. It makes me wonder if he was really afraid a jury would convict him. If any citizen would do the same attack, such citizen would be charged. Were idiots to believe prosecutors and judges dont give favoritism to cops. Were stupid to believe we have equal justice for all. I'd like to thank The Courier for Climate Change editorial Sept. 8. Those who deny climate change are usually from 1) big money/big business, and 2) the religious extremists. Love letter PATTY VAN AUKEN FREDERIKA I hold a letter Id like to share, especially in this election year. The letter: Set your heart on the important gifts. The best gift is love. ... I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to martyrdom, but if I have no love, this does me no good. Love is always patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud. Love is not rude or selfish or irritable. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth. Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, to be patient until the end. These three last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love." Note: The letter shared is from <1 Corinthians 13, from Paul written to Corinth. Honor Flight SHIRLEY PRIES WATERLOO I would like to thank my daughter and brother for going with me and the 160-plus veterans and guardians on the Honor Flight Sept. 13. Also, a real big thank you to all who welcomed us home that night. I, myself, really appreciated it from the bottom of my heart. As one person said, its long overdue, and I said, thats an understatement. Thank you all, Vietnam vet. Shrines ROGER W. SMITH WATERLOO - The Courier is to be complimented for its recent article, "Burmese refugees build shrine, (Sept. 16). It certainly must please area Catholics to receive such generally positive coverage. The article's sub-heading, 'Sacred Heart Church volunteers can now worship at anytime," and opening paragraphs, however, incorrectly imply Catholics worship before a shrine, and Catholic prayers outside the liturgy (Mass) are only in the presence of shrines. Catholics worldwide always have been encouraged to pray at anytime and anyplace, with or without a rosary. To suggest we worship before a shrine does nothing but perpetuate the erroneous myth held by many non-Catholics that we worship or adore statues and images. The catechism of the Catholic Church precisely distinguishes veneration of saints from adoration and worship, "which are due to God alone." Advertisement By Adam Morton Sep. 20, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By Adam Morton Sep. 20, 2016 | 07:44 PM | PADUCAH, KY The Paducah Board of Commissioners is considering doing away with the city's muzzle ordinance for dogs at public events. The current ordinance requires dogs to be muzzled when in attendance at special community events, such as BBQ on the river, and the Lower town arts Festival. Mayor Gayle Kaler along with Commissioners, City Manager Jeff Pederson, Paducah Chief of Police Brandon Barnhill, and Lower Town resident and dog owner Patience Renzulli brought up several topics related to the dog ordinance. One point of discussion included the difficulty in enforcing the muzzle requirement. It was also noted that public education is needed to make pet owners aware of how bringing any pet to a special event may be stressful to the animal. The dog ordinance also says dogs that owners bring to special community events are required to be licensed, and must be on a leash that is no longer than three feet. Only the muzzle portion of the ordinance is under review right now. If passed, dogs would no longer be required to wear a muzzle. Police Chief Brandon Barnhill said, "Its roughly a twelve year old ordinance. I think it is in time for some review. [It] needs to be a comprehensive review to see what other options or other items need to be included in the overall ordinance. Not just the removal of muzzles themselves." Barnhill said he would like to see the city look at other types of animals in the review, not just dogs. He said that he is pro animal for Paducah, and even mentioned he had two dogs of his own, but his number one priority is protecting the public. The Paducah Board of Commissioners will vote on the change at their next scheduled meeting. 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(13) Nov 26 (16) Nov 25 (14) Nov 24 (18) Nov 23 (21) Nov 22 (21) Nov 21 (24) Nov 20 (20) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (17) Nov 17 (17) Nov 16 (34) Nov 15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) Reactor restarts pivotal to Japan's energy policy, says IEA 22 September 2016 Share The restart of Japan's nuclear power reactors is "critical" to the success of the country's energy policy, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, it says nuclear power can only be restored provided that the highest safety standards can be met and public trust regained. The IEA said Japan's energy policy has been dominated in recent years by its efforts to overcome the impact of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. According to the IEA, Japan's idling of its entire fleet of nuclear power plants after the accident left a gap of some 30% in electricity supply. This gap has been filled with expensive, imported fossil fuels. By the end of 2013, import dependence had risen to 94% from 80% in 2010. Meanwhile, annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from power generation had increased by 110 million tonnes. Electricity prices increased by 16% for households and 25% for industry. By the end of 2015, just two reactors had been restarted and accounted for 0.9% of Japan's electricity generation that year, compared with nuclear's share of 25.3% in 2010. In April 2014, the government adopted the fourth Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) and, based on that plan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry prepared the 2015 Long-Term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook to 2030, which was adopted in July 2015. This outlook assumes Japan's nuclear generating capacity will partially be restored, reaching 20%-22% of electricity supply by 2030. The country also announced plans in late 2015 to reduce CO2 emissions by 26% from 2013 to 2030. In its report - titled Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Japan 2016 Review - the IEA said, "The most cost-effective way to begin implementing the SEP is to restart nuclear power generation at plants that the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approves to be safe." However, the IEA warns, "If nuclear power generation falls short of the 20%-22% target for 2030 in the 2015 Outlook, it would be very challenging to fill the gap with renewable energy alone." The agency says it is important for Japan to re-establish its nuclear industry, "provided that safety is maintained at the highest standards possible". It suggests this restart not only depends on safety approvals, "but also on how effectively the critical issues related to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident are addressed. These issues, it says, include the decontamination and resettlement of affected areas and "the provision of appropriate compensation for the serious disruption in the lives of large numbers of citizens". Decommissioning of the damaged plant "must also continue as a high-priority project", the IEA says. "Of all the issues that must be addressed in order to revive Japan's nuclear industry, the loss of public trust may be the most challenging to overcome," according to the agency. "It is necessary to effectively listen to and deal with questions and concerns in a way that gradually builds trust." The IEA recommends the government ensures the NRA has all the resources required to do its "vital work". This includes retaining experienced staff, recruiting new staff and providing training to maintain expertise. It also says the government should encourage "industry efforts to benefit from international assistance". The report also recommends the government reviews the adequacy of the existing funding arrangements to cover the costs of decommissioning reactors and continue to seek "acceptable solutions and locations" for the disposal of high-level waste. To date, five Japanese reactors have been given final approval to restart, although two of these have remained offline due to a legal challenge. Another 20 reactors are moving through the restart process, which has been prioritised to bring on the most-needed reactors first, in the localities and prefectures more supportive of restart. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Egypt to Begin $10B Privatization Plan with Oil Firms Egypt is set to launch its initial public offerings in government-owned companies with oil sector businesses, aiming to collect up to $10 billion dollars within three to five years, the minister of investment said. The government is studying which companies will participate in the program, Minister of Investment Dalia Khorshid said in an e-mailed response to questions. The government will pick local and international investment banks to advise on the offerings. Many companies will be restructured in the coming period, beginning with electricity companies, to prepare them for share sales on the bourse, Khorshid said. Proceeds will be used, in part, to narrow the budget deficit, he said. The share sales are part of a broader government plan to help fund one of the Middle Easts widest budget gaps deficits and encourage foreign investment in an economy battered by almost six years of unrest. The most populous Arab country has also reached an initial agreement for a $12 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund. The ministry is surveying investors on whether to issue a new investment law or modify the current one, Khorshid said. It also plans to present a new bankruptcy law to the cabinet within weeks, she said. The law is meant to help investors exit failed projects and restructure debts. www.bloomberg.com Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir? Canl Bahis Nedir? Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir. Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir. Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr. Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr? Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr? Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr. Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr. Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Mobilbahis Tempobet Bets10 Bahigo 1xbahis Betboo Youwin Superbahis Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler. Canl Bahis Taktikleri Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir. Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir. Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz. Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr. Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz. Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz. Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz. Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz. Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz. Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir. Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr. Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak. Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir; Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi Banka hesap bilgileri Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura. Kacak Iddaa Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir. Kacak Bahis Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor. Illegal Bahis Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr. Yasads Bahis Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler. Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir? Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir? Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Iddaa Bilyoner Tuttur Birebin Oley Nesine Misli Iddaa 2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir. Bilyoner Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir. Tuttur Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr. Birebin Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor. Oley 2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr. Nesine Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur. Misli 2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur. Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir. Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir. Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr. Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir. Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz. CHICAGO, IL, September 22, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dovetail Brewery, a Chicago-based brewer of authentic continental European style beers using traditional brewing methods, is bringing a German Sunday morning beer drinking tradition to Chicago, at a special event in their taproom, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, September 25. Dovetail is located at 1800 W. Belle Plaine at North Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. This German custom, known as Fruhschoppen, is a weekly gathering of friends who come together at a pub or tavern Sunday to enjoy a late morning beer. On September 25, Dovetail Brewery will be joined by Sausage Konig to serve Blaue Zipfel, a traditional Franconian dish of Nurnberger sausages and onions. Chicago's beer lovers can purchase 1/3 liters ($5) or 1/2 liters ($7) of Dovetail's four signature beers on tap, Lager, Hefeweizen, Rauchweizen, and Grodziskie. Dovetail's taproom is a lively, dog-friendly gathering place that has become a popular spot for neighborhood locals as well as Chicago's beer aficionados. "My co-founder, Bill Wesselink, and I met when we were both students at the Doemens Akademie in Munich," said Hagen Dost, co-founder of Dovetail Brewery. "There is nothing like getting together on a Sunday morning to have a beer with sausage and great conversation, especially if it's a smoked beer like our Rauchweizen." Currently there are no plans to host Fruhschoppen every week, but if popular demand dictates, it may become a permanent fixture at this fast-growing, critically-praised brewery. About Dovetail Brewery Dovetail Brewery, located at 1800 W. Belle Plaine in Chicago, Illinois, is a craft brewery owned by brewers Hagen Dost and Bill Wesselink, specializing in delicious, balanced beers brewed using traditional German and Belgian brewing methods. Signature beers include unfiltered German-style lagers, traditional Hefeweizen, Rauchbier and Lambic-style sour beers. Dovetail Brewery also produces a variety of special seasonal beers. Taproom hours are: Tuesday- 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Wednesday- 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Thursday- 2 p.m. - 10 pm; Friday- 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Saturday- 11 a.m. - 11 pm; Sunday- 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. The 22,000 square foot brewing facility includes an attractive tap room that is open to the public for drinking and retail sales. The tap room and loft area are also available as a rental space for private events. Dovetail Brewery delivers beer by the keg to venues near the brewery and also to some select venues closer to the Loop. All bars, taverns and restaurants in the greater Chicagoland area that wish to serve Dovetail beer on tap are welcome to pick up kegs, in two sizes, at the brewery during normal business hours. For more information about Dovetail Brewery, please visit the brewery's website at http://dovetailbrewery.com (under construction), their newsroom at http://www.newsline360.com/dovetailbrewery or contact Bill Wesselink by email at [email protected] or Hagen Dost by email at [email protected]. For additional information, call 773-683-1414. Follow Dovetail Brewery on Twitter (www.twitter.com/dovetailbrewchi; @DovetailBrewChi) Follow Dovetail Brewery on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DovetailBrewery) # # # Journey to the Heart of the World...carries ancient wisdom, wrapped in a vision quest, inside an adventure story. -- Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club NEW YORK, NY, September 22, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Humanitas Media Publishing (http://www.humanitasmedia.com) has released its next offering, Journey to the Heart of the World, a Paulo Coelho-reminiscent work of fiction by author John Lundin that has been praised by such luminaries as best-selling author Marianne Williamson, National Geographic Explorer of the Millennium Wade Davis, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, Michael Brune, and environmental activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. Lundin, having previously written The New Mandala: Eastern Wisdom for Western Living in collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has with this work turned to fiction for a parable about humanity, indigenous wisdom, and the need for a more profound consciousness when it comes to environmental issues and spiritual insights necessary to not just survive, but thrive in a challenging world. The book had been written over the last three years while Lundin has lived among the indigenous tribes of the Sierra Nevada of Colombia. The Kindle version was released in 2015. Additionally, a portion of proceeds from the work will be going to help to preserve the indigenous culture, education, and the environment of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta where these tribes reside. An interview with Lundin about the book and its subject matter was published in the Huffington Post via http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kj-wetherholt/indigenous-and-environmen_b_7642056.html Advance Praise: The world is so weary and filled with fear; our souls are longing now for enchantment and hope. John Lundin has traveled to the heart of things, emerging with the light that guides our fearful hearts back home. -- Marianne Williamson, #1 New York Times best-selling author of A Return to Love John Lundin has written a book, Journey to the Heart of the World, that carries ancient wisdom, wrapped in a vision quest, inside an adventure story. -- Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club Every voice that comes out of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a vision of hope. John Lundin writes from the heart, and the heart that he invokes is the very heart of the world, the mountains of the Elder Brothers, the homeland of the Kogi, Arhuacos and Wiwa. His book, like their message, is a road map to a new dream of the Earth. -- Wade Davis, National Geographic Explorer of the Millennium and bestselling author of The Serpent and the Rainbow and The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World Journey to the Heart of the World is a journey home. Though life circumstances are different for each of us, we are all being called home again. We are being called to remember that we are all indigenous to this sacred Earth that gives us life. We are being called to understand that every action we take determines the kind of world we will leave for future generations. This story reflects this journey in such a beautiful breathtaking way that it will inspire readers to connect the dots in their own lives toward real change. Future generations are counting on it. - Xiuhtezcatl Tonatiuh Martinez, 15-year-old environmental activist and Youth Director of EarthGuardians.org A must read for every concerned and caring person on the planet! John Lundin's Journey to the Heart of the World is an epic adventure filled with ancient wisdom that has been handed down from generation to generation since humans first began to understand their place in the Universe. Our very survival depends on heeding its call - to choose wisely as we meet the difficult challenges of the 21st century and beyond! -- Laurence Overmire, poet, environmentalist and author of The One Idea That Saves The World: A Call to Conscience and A Call to Action One can only admire John Lundin's commitment to seeking personal enlightenment by integrating his search for spiritual meaning, his love and concern for the natural world and the expression of these passions in an artistic statement. This novel is the story of a personal journey seeking universal truths that only the natural world can offer. It's a tale for both young and old to learn and be inspired by. -- Photojournalist Ed Kashi/VII When we begin a journey it leads us through some of the most amazing trails! One of these trails can be an inspiring step into a world filled with experiences that perhaps would seem to be a dream. Yet, it is real, then it's surreal - because the sights and sounds around you are so illuminated by the elements in their most natural state, and the people are also illuminated in their relationship and understanding of the world. Journey to the Heart of the World, a novel by John Lundin, is a subtle reminder that there are experiences and trails that lead us to the top of the mountain where one will see the world from a whole new perspective. Reading the book gave me moments of wonder and a knowing smile - I could relate. - Mona Polacca, Havasupai, Hopi, Tewa, International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers Every now and then, a book comes along that uniquely and powerfully points the way toward a new and important wisdom that humanity must embrace: John Lundin's Journey to the Heart of the World is just this kind of book. Taking you from the mountains of New York to the mountains of Colombia and back again, this journey has so much of value to start the next generation on the right path, and to help those of older generations find the path that can bring harmony to our relations with one another and with the Earth. - Todd E. MacLean, Editor-in-Chief, Global Chorus: 365 Voices on the Future of the Planet There are other worlds on this beautiful planet of ours. What a tragedy that so many never experience them -- their flowers, birds, butterflies, trees, and the peoples who live among them. So, it takes a dream to get this story's hero to make his journey, but it is a profound one. Loving the natural world is not merely a spiritual prescription, but practical advice essential for our survival conveyed by those who live in closest contact to it. - Dr. Stuart Pimm, professor of conservation ecology at Duke University and president of SavingSpecies.org Journey to the Heart of the World is an imaginative adventure story which urges us to pay attention to our relationship to the Earth. A real reflection of the environmental destruction the planet faces today, the story inspires and reminds young readers to listen to the natural world to recover love for the Earth. It is a journey to help us remember the real magic of life that we have forgotten, to reconnect with the great conversation of life. - Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee Ph.D., Sufi teacher and author of Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth Humanitas Media Publishing, established in 2012 and featuring authors Red Shuttleworth, John Lundin, Ciara Shuttleworth, and Pamela Theodotou, is an independent publisher, distributed internationally by Ingram/LSI, publishing literary fiction, poetry, plays, art, and photography, focusing on works with literary, philosophical, environmental, historical, and psychological themes. # # # Sep 22, 2016 | By Alec 3D printing and space, it seems like a natural combination. Space organizations from all across the world are already seeing zero-gravity 3D printing as a flexible solution for keeping aerospace transportation costs as low as possible. After all, sending a few basic 3D printable supplies into space is far less costly than sending each and every necessary item up. But just reaching space costs $10,000 per pound, so the Mission to Mars will likely be astoundingly expensive. But a group of Danish students might have a 3D printing solution called CosmoCrops. While fully embracing the 3D printing space exploration principle, they are looking to grow all those 3D printable materials from food to drugs and plastics in space using a custom coculturing system. While still years away from becoming practical, the concept itself is fantastic. As Danish Professor of planetary biology Kai Finster from Aarhus University explains, bacteria could be the key. If programmed correctly, these single-celled organisms can theoretically produce the basic elements of everything around us, from screwdrivers to a steak. But when youre 50 million kilometers away from the Earth, you really want to be sure that it works. There are still lots of phases to test before it becomes a reality, but the students have come a long way and its really good, Finster says. So how does it work? Microalgae (cyanobacterium) can be programmed to harvest sunlight and produce sugars. Another bioengineered bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, will digest that sugar to produce whatever it has been programmed to manufacture from plastics to vitamins and minerals and food. Those materials, in turn, can be 3D printed into basic equipment. Our bacteria will help to make Astronauts baggage lighter, says Joachim Larsen, one of the projects students. If you need a screwdriver, then you can grab a Petri dish filled with bacteria that can make bio-plastics and place the bacteria in a bio-reactor, where the sugar-producing cyanobacteria is already present. The bio-plastic bacteria use the sugar from cyanobacteria to produce bio-plastics that can then be used in a 3D-printer. And voila, you have your screwdriver. CosmoCrops is perfect on paper because it needs so little equipment. The development of better ways to exploit sunlight in the production of biomaterials can lead to more sustainable and diverse production methods, and to essential onsite production in remote areas like a Moon or Mars base, the students write on their university website. They will be closely working with Professor Poul Erik Jensen, of the Copenhagen Plant Science Center, and Associate Professor of Plant Biochemistry Sotirios Kampranis as well, with astrobiology expertise coming from Associate Professor Morten Bo Madsen and master student Christina Toldbo. Whats more, they are building on similar coculture systems developed right here on earth. But it is in space where such an approach can be most valuable and cost effective. We ultimately wish to supply the International Space Station and future moon or Mars bases with more flexible bioreactors consisting of interchangeable cartridges allowing for onsite production of bioplastics and pharmaceutical compounds all from the same biological system, the students say. But its still a work-in-progress concept and the students hope to have a functioning coculture system in operation next month. Bacteria that can withstand space conditions could follow in 2018, but it will take years to develop all the strains of bacteria that can manufacture fats, carbs, proteins and everything else that makes up a single hamburger. Producing edible and tasty food will take even longer, but the students are very optimistic. So long as you know the synthetic path and the chemical recipe for what you want the bacteria to produce, then in principle they can make anything, including food and medicine, Larsen argues says. Even if all that works, the students will still have to tackle to sunlight problem on Mars, which receives far less intense light than we do here on earth. While they thus have a huge challenge ahead of them, the CosmoCrops concept can certainly make a huge contribution to space exploration. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Sep 22, 2016 | By Nick A newly qualified architect turned her back on the construction industry to spend her days building ornate cakes with the help of a 3D printer. Dinara Kasko was determined to be an architect and design landmark buildings, so she attended Kharkov University Architecture School in her home country. But, as soon as she started working in the industry, she just knew it wasnt for her. So the 27-year-old Ukrainian looked for a way to apply her skills to another arena. She worked as a designer, a photographer and then a 3D visualizer. She started baking in the background, as a hobby, before realizing that it was the thread that tied all of her ambitions and skills together. "I liked what I was doing as an architect well enough, but I'm just much more interested in patisserie," she explained to So Good Magazine. "It just feels more like me." And just like in architecture, pastry making allows Kasko to explore a wide range of influences. "I get to use ideas from modern architecture, art, nature, and more. Im trying to connect architecture, design, and patisserie. A beautiful cake as well as a beautiful building, needs preliminary design. Patisserie is not a job, its just my hobby. Many of my creations are concepts; their implementation takes a lot of time and numerous attempts. I have many unrealized ideas and a great desire to experiment. I dont want to imitate others; I want to create something new. She firmly believes that the design of a cake has a major influence on the taste and the experience. So when it comes to a new creation, she doesnt start with the ingredients. She starts with Autodesk 3DSMax. Kasko often starts with a complex mathematical theory, like the Voronoi diagram, a particular component of a landmark building or even cues from the natural world like biomimicry. She then goes to work on the computer and plays with the shape until its a visually stunning work of art. From there its a relatively simply case of 3D printing it in food-safe silicon to form the mold. When she has the concept in her hands and can visualize her cake, then she gets to work on the ingredients and colors that do justice to that first flash of inspiration. So far, Kaskos biggest clients are her friends and she also has 180,000 Instagram followers that love her clean cut designs and unusual shapes. It's a spectacular account and showcases Kasko's impressive food photography skills, as well as her unique baking skills. She hasnt turned professional just yet, but she is taking classes with the worlds elite chefs and the next step is to open her own shop. Kasko says she might eventually like to open a pastry school, teaching some of her patisserie techniques. Her distinctive shapes have also attracted the attention of the mass market and Silikomart is putting the Bubbles mold into production. The Bubbles mold will be available for sale in September. This could be a lucrative sideline for Kasko, but she is determined to focus on driving forward, innovation and pushing the limits of cake design. She wants to use far more architectural influences in her work and shes set her sights on building a cake that looks like the Sunwell Muse, a new building in Tokyo. There are limits to what she can do with the visual side of a cake, of course, and Kasko is the first to admit that she cannot sacrifice the taste and structure in the name of pure aesthetics. In that sense, the world of patisserie is lagging behind the rest of the world. Today, with the help of 3D modeling, you can create any shape, the imagination is endless, she said. New building materials and technologies make it possible to create almost any idea in a building process. But in patisserie, first of all, we are limited by material properties. Moreover, the main factor is that the product must be edible and tasty. Without the 3D printer, Kaskos approach to cake design simply wouldnt be possible. Making each mold traditionally would make each cake so expensive that it just could not happen. We can argue that these arent just cakes, they are grand designs that should be celebrated by her massive Instagram following and the world at large. But without the scientific brilliance of Autodesk 3DSMax and the 3D printer, they would never have happened at all. A video posted by Dinara Kasko (@dinarakasko) on Aug 19, 2016 at 1:25pm PDT A video posted by Dinara Kasko (@dinarakasko) on Jul 3, 2016 at 1:27pm PDT A video posted by Dinara Kasko (@dinarakasko) on May 9, 2016 at 11:53pm PDT A video posted by Dinara Kasko (@dinarakasko) on Sep 2, 2016 at 9:19am PDT A video posted by Dinara Kasko (@dinarakasko) on Aug 19, 2016 at 1:25pm PDT All images credit: Dinara Kasko Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Elijah wrote at 2/25/2018 10:06:19 AM:This is stupid. Just make normal cakes.John Dee wrote at 9/23/2016 2:08:26 AM:AmazingI.AM.Magic wrote at 9/22/2016 10:46:13 AM:drooling...so hungry now Sep 22, 2016 | By Alec Its no secret that UPS is very eager to integrate industrial on-demand 3D printing into their delivery services, but setting up a system worthy of the UPS label takes some time. Back in May, the United Parcel Service revealed a new collaboration with German software developers SAP, who will set up a platform to connect a clients factory floor with UPSs 3D printing systems. While the service itself wont be operational until 2017, the two partners are clearly making progress. They have just launched the SAP Distributed Manufacturing early adopter program, with the purpose of exploring their growing services and testing new industrial 3D printing solutions with new external partners. All this is being done in an attempt to set up what could be the most extensive, efficient and far-reaching 3D printing service around, which caters to every wish of professional clients. It should become possible, depending on the submitted part, to take an order in the early evening and have the part made and delivered the next day, Alan Amling, vice president of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, revealed back in May. This requires nothing less than the transformation of industrial 3D printing into a seamless distributed manufacturing platform. But as the case for every major distribution network, testing is everything. Thats why SAP and UPS have now launched their SAP Distributed Manufacturing website, which they hope will attract new partners to the program. SAP is seeking innovative companies to join our SAP Distributed Manufacturing early adopter program. This program will connect the manufacturers to the global network of industrial 3D printing service providers with on-demand production capabilities and global logistics networks. Get access to same-day 3D printing shipment for better customer satisfaction, they say. Of course this move will have advantages for clients as well, as they will have first-mover access for new and possibly paradigm-shifting 3D printing solutions. According to SAP, their system will definitely help partners get products to market faster and more cost-effectively. Design, manufacturing, logistics and entire business models can be affected, they say. If successful, SAP and UPS will in turn receive new assessment, validation and improvement feedback for their extended 3D printing supply chain. So far, the response has been good. Several big names in the industrial and 3D printing markets have already started experimenting with this SAP/UPS platform. Among others, Airbus APWorks, Fast Radius, HP Inc., Krones, Linear AMS, Moog Inc., Sealed Air Corporation and Stratasys have all participated in the early-stage production environment. At the same time, this new move highlights the challenges faced by major players in the 3D printing world who have collectively been stepping up their efforts to carve out a niche location in the growing industrial market. As industrial partners are representing a growing portion of 3D printing revenue, it makes sense to shift attention away from the stagnant consumer market. But industrial designs require a bit more 3D printing power and efficiency than a handful of nifty Etsy designs, and a complete integration of business IT systems is absolutely necessary. HP Inc. HPQ is already joining the SAP/UPS partnership for that very purpose. The successful transition of 3D printing from prototyping to manufacturing requires integration with business IT systems. HP understands the importance of end-to-end integration to maximize efficiency and technology adoption and is joining the SAP co-innovation program to help bring this to life, said Scott Schiller, vice president, 3D market development, HP. Powered by HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, HP delivers a manufacturing-ready solution for end-part production as well as an open software platform to connect to business IT systems. With leadership from SAP and collaboration with other innovators in the industry, 3D printing will more quickly move into mainstream manufacturing and streamline supply chains. SVP Hans Thalbauer is absolutely convinced that this new website move will support their efforts. SAP Distributed Manufacturing can enable unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize design, manufacturing, logistics processes and business models, Thalbauer said. We are bringing together the innovative power of our customers and partners with SAP in this exciting next phase of our initiative to extend our reach and enable our vision for digital manufacturing. Registration for the Early Adopters Program will be open until January 2017. At the same time, UPSs existing 3D printing network, run by Fast Radius, is growing. They already announced plans for opening an On-Demand 3D Printing Services factory in UPSs Singapore facility by the end of the year to cover growing demand from Asian partners. At UPS, we are embracing disruptive technologies and integrating them into our global logistics network, Ross McCullough, president of UPS Asia Pacific region, said. We believe that much like ecommerce digitized and transformed retail, 3D printing will have a similar impact on manufacturing. This makes them the first logistics provider to establish a 3D printing foothold in the Asian market. UPS is quickly becoming an integral part of the (industrial) 3D printing market. Posted in 3D Printing Service Maybe you also like: Sep 22, 2016 | By Alec The verdict is in, and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided that the online distribution of 3D printable gun designs remains illegal as national security concerns trump free speech. This 2-1 decision has just closed another controversial chapter in the history of Texas-based promotor of 3D printed guns Defense Distributed. The organization, which was first ordered to remove their 3D printable designs for the single-shot Liberator gun from the web in 2013, sued the State Department back in 2015 by referring to their right to free speech. Its an issue with a long history. Back in 2013, it was discovered that Defense Distributeds 3D printed gun designs were downloaded more than 100,000 times by people from all over the world. This worried the State Department and lawmakers throughout the US, as the guns in question can be completely made from plastic and remain virtually undetectable. Though they have a tendency to explode in the users hands after more than one shot, the Liberator is arguably a potent tool in the hands of terrorists for whom self-harm isnt a big concern. But banning anything related to guns isnt easy in the US, so the State Department turned to ITAR the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the set of rules design to regulate the exportation of military data and weapons. In this line of reasoning, the online sharing of 3D printable gun blueprints is the legally the same thing as shipping a crate of guns to another country. In this case, the State Department focused on 10 different designs, including those of the Liberator. While accepting the reasoning for some time, Defense Distributed eventually found financial and legal backing from The Second Amendment Foundation, which regularly finances gun rights-related lawsuits. In their filing against the State Department, the Defense Distributed legal team essentially argued that the Government is unconstitutionally censoring information and First Amendment-guaranteed free speech, rather than 3D printed guns. And that created a controversial legal issue, as the First Amendment protects unclassified information from prohibition. More problematically, most US states havent made the 3D printing of guns illegal at all. But the State Department has clearly won this round on the digital realm. While Defense Distributed hasnt been prohibited from handing out blueprints to Americans within the US, items from the US Munitions List cannot be exported abroad without the departments approval even in digital, reproducible form. Initially, the gun rights advocates asked a federal district court to issue a preliminary injunction that would prevent the State Department from enforcing their regulations. The court refused to issue that injunction, bringing the case up to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. And that court had just concluded the following: Ordinarily, of course, the protection of constitutional rights would be the highest public interest at issue in a case. That is not necessarily true here, however, because the State Department has asserted a very strong public interest in national defense and national security. Indeed, the State Departments stated interest in preventing foreign nationalsincluding all manner of enemies of this countryfrom obtaining technical data on how to produce weapons and weapon parts is not merely tangentially related to national defense and national security; it lies squarely within that interest. The reasoning essentially rests on the notion that the public interest outweighs the harm done to Defense Distributed. The State Departments decision to prevent the export of untraceable weapon technology thus received court backing. Under the 5th Circuit order, Defense Distributed will now be sent back down to the district court, which previously refused to comply with their injunction request. But they can still appeal further and ask for a re-hearing at the 5th Circuit as well. However, it is interesting to note that one of the three judges, Edith Jones, directly disagreed with her colleagues calling the case an irrational representation of export regulations. In sum, it is not at all clear that the State Department has any concern for the First Amendment rights of the American public and press. Indeed, the State Department turns freedom of speech on its head by asserting, The possibility that an Internet site could also be used to distribute the technical data domestically does not alter the analysis. The Government bears the burden to show that its regulation is narrowly tailored to suit a compelling interest. It is not the publics burden to prove their right to discuss lawful, non-classified, non-restricted technical data, she wrote in response to the ruling. In that, she certainly has a point. First Amendment rights usually trump all others, though the US government is certainly allowed to prohibit speech based on its content if there is compelling government interest. But some might argue that listing web-based data as exported totally misrepresents the internet. How can information be legal within the US and illegal on the web, where US citizens can access it? Regardless of where you stand in the 3D printed gun debate, this seems like a very strange legal construction. The next chapter in this controversy will likely follow soon. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Rod Halver wrote at 3/19/2017 3:30:14 PM:The NRA is about selling guns not making them at home.Nomen wrote at 9/28/2016 4:42:07 PM:"Anything you design may be used against you!" Guns in the us is synonym to internal terrorism in the first placeScottM wrote at 9/23/2016 11:04:07 PM:The horse is gone quick close the door! Like Americans are the only ones that can design a 3D printable gun. Wow let's slap the rest of the world in the face. And if you want to build a gun get a metal lathe, not a 3D printer. Just sayin...Scott wrote at 9/23/2016 2:42:30 PM:So printing is illegal, but selling 80% lowers is totally okay?? Seems legit.RobinLeech wrote at 9/23/2016 12:40:36 AM:Preventing the people from exercising their rights to defend themselves however they can is more of a national security threat than enabling citizens abroad to do the same. So when they argue it's a threat to national security, what they mean is it's a threat to what they call their "legitimate monopoly of force".Justin B wrote at 9/22/2016 10:19:39 PM:Who get's to decide what public interest is? Who gets to decide what national security means? To me, my interest is my freedom. To me, national security means protecting our freedom from threat. From my point of view, the State Department is the threat to the national security of our freedom. We've always been a nation that prefers dangerous freedom over safe slavery. Who gave the state department to make such ridiculous claims like this. I'm so mad right now. Where is congress and the NRA when you need them.... Sep 22, 2016 | By Tess German 3D printed orthopedic device manufacturer Emerging Implant Technologies (EIT) has just announced that it has received a significant investment from German private equity company SHS mbH. With the new funds, EIT, a pioneer in making 3D printed medical orthopedic devices, will seek to both expand its international presence, notably within the United States, and continue developing its range of innovative products. Emerging Implant Technologies was founded in 2014 in Tuttlingen, Germany and has established itself as a reliable manufacturer of 3D printed orthopedic medical devices and implants. Using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technologies, the young company has developed its own EIT Cellular Titanium(R) structures, which have properties such as 80% porosity and diamond pores the size of roughly 650 m, which in mimicking trabecular bone structure, help to promote natural bone growth. The company also offers patient specific implants, and a complete spinal fusion cage portfolio, including a Cervical Cage implant, PLIF cage, TLIF cage, and a soon to be released ALIF cage. Guntmar Eisen, founder and CEO of EIT, explains: Our EIT Cellular Titanium implants provide the answer to current challenges in implant design and choice of materials as well the extreme cost pressure in medical technology. The additive manufacturing technology allows us to tackle existing problems with new solutions. Thus we can improve the benefits for patients without increasing costs, which is a clear competitive advantage. EITs new investment, which comes from SHSs fourth fund generation (itself worth a total of 125 million euro), will facilitate the expansion of the 3D printed medical device manufacturer into other countries such as the United States and will allow them to develop more innovative and useful additively manufactured implants for the medical industry. As Dr. Bernhard Schirmers, Managing Partner at SHS Gesellschaftfur Beteiligungsmanagement, explains, "EIT's 3D-printed spine implants have already proven their superior functionality many times in practical applications, thus promoting EIT's growth. EIT Emerging Implant Technologies' management team is experienced and successful in the field of spine surgery. As a medical technology investor, we look forward to supporting them on their path to increased growth." SHS, which invests primarily in medical technology and life-science companies, is planning on making more investments and even acquisitions within the industry in the coming months. According to a press release, these additional investments will be for companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. SHSs investments are usually focused on expansion financing, changes in shareholder structures, and successor situations. Posted in 3D Printer Company Maybe you also like: Ferdinand Mount at the Times Literary Supplement: Marxs crucial premiss is that work constitutes mans essence: we are truly human only when we are engaged in self-chosen, purposeful activity. But how precisely were menial tasks to be de-alienated under socialism? How indeed were they to be allocated? When asked who would polish the shoes after the revolution, Marx snapped back, you should. In any case, that dismissal of mans animal function throws away three-quarters of what makes life worthwhile for most of us love and family and home. And what precisely is the nature of the harm that alienation does to us? Marx was not alone at the time in his assumption that the backbreaking grind of factory work degraded men to the condition of animals, and this is what you would expect from the central Marxist doctrine that social being determines consciousness. Something of the sort is to be seen in Disraelis description of Woodgate in Sybil. Yet Stedman Jones points out that Marx had scarcely met any flesh-and-blood workers until he arrived in Paris in 1843. And then he was highly impressed: the brotherhood of man is no empty phrase but a reality, and the nobility of man shines forth upon us from their toilworn bodies. Twenty years later, when he attended a trade union meeting chaired by John Bright, he recorded with a note of surprise, the working men themselves spoke very well indeed without a trace of bourgeois rhetoric. Nineteenth- century working-class culture was, after all, remarkably rich, as more recent historians such as E. P. Thompson and Jonathan Rose have reminded us. If this is alienation, one is tempted to say, it cant be all bad. more here. Jonathan Basile in 3:AM Magazine: After beginning with the end, we have ended up at the beginning. The newest of Jacques Derridas seminars is the oldest yet published, Heidegger: The Question of Being & History,which pre-dates the philosophers 1967 debut, the year he published three of the twentieth centurys most influential works of philosophy. Derrida died in 2004 and left behind more than 14,000 pages of lectures and notes from a half-century of teaching. Thanks to the critical work of the editors of the French editions and the Derrida Seminar Translation Project, five of his seminars have now appeared in book form in French and four in English translation. The editors began with the last seminars before his death, The Beast and the Sovereign andThe Death Penalty, courses taught from 1999-2003, before returning to 1964-5, to a young scholars inchoate reflections on Heidegger, who would endure as a focus of Derridas career and the frequent subject of his close reading practice, which came to be known as deconstruction. Theres an intuitive sense to this distribution. The seminars served as a sort of laboratory for Derridas published work, often presaging and developing the themes that would appear there. The final seminars, however, had not yet been elaborated in book form. The Beast and the Sovereign, begun in November of 2001 after the attacks of September 11th, dealt in particular with political themes that Peggy Kamuf, member of both the French editorial team and the translation project, described as most pressing. More here. Paul Rincon in BBC News: Present-day people outside Africa were thought to descend from a group that left their homeland 60,000 years ago. Now, analysis of nearly 500 human genomes appears to have turned up the weak signal of an earlier migration. But the results suggest this early wave of Homo sapiens all but vanished, so it does not drastically alter prevailing theories of our origins. Writing in the academic journal Nature, Luca Pagani, Mait Metspalu and colleagues describe hints of this pioneer group in their analysis of DNA in people from the Oceanian nation of Papua New Guinea. After evolving in Africa 200,000 years ago, modern humans are thought to have crossed through Egypt into the Arabian Peninsula some 60,000 years ago. Until now, genetic evidence has shown that every non-African alive today could trace their origins to this fateful dispersal. Yet we had known for some time that groups of modern humans made forays outside their homeland before 60,000 years ago. Fossilised remains found at the Qafzeh and Es Skhul caves in Israel had been dated to between 120,000 and 90,000 years ago. Then in 2015, scientists working in Daoxian, south China, reported the discovery of modern human teeth dating to at least 80,000 years ago. An additional piece of evidence recently came from traces of Homo sapiens DNA in a female Neanderthal from Siberia's Altai mountains. The analysis suggested that modern humans and Neanderthals had begun mixing around 100,000 years ago presumably outside Africa. In order to reconcile this evidence with the genetic data from living populations, the prevailing view advanced by scientists was of a wave of pioneer settlement that ended in extinction. But the latest results suggest some descendents of these trailblazers survived long enough to get swept up in the later, ultimately more successful migration that led to the settling of Oceania. More here. Adam Gopnik at The New Yorker: Jane Jacobss aura was so powerful that it made her, precisely, the St. Joan of the small scale. Her name still summons an entire city visionthe much watched corner, the mixed-use neighborhoodand her holy tale is all the stronger for including a nemesis of equal stature: Robert Moses, the Sauron of the street corner. The New York planning dictator wanted to drive an expressway through lower Manhattan, and was defeated, the legend runs, by this ordinary mom. Even after the halo above the saints head fades, however, we have to make sense of the ideas that rattled around inside. I. F. Stones independence remains thrilling to every blogger, or should, but his attempts in retirement to reconcile Jefferson and Marx seem less inspiring than impossible. Now, in the year of Jane Jacobss centenary, with the biography out there, along with a new collection of her uncollected writings, Vital Little Plans: The Short Works of Jane Jacobs (Random House), and an anthology of conversations between her and various friends, Jane Jacobs: The Last Interview and Other Conversations (Melville House), it seems fair to pay her the compliment of taking her seriouslyto ask what exactly she argued for, and what exactly we should think about those arguments now. more here. Adam Shatz in the NY Review of Books: In 1975, Miles Davis put down his trumpet and retired. Davis was famous for his dramatic silences in performance: the notes he chose not to play were almost as meaningful as those he did. But this silence would last for nearly five years, during which he all but disappeared into his Upper West Side brownstone. Visitors evoked a macabre dungeon swarming with prostitutes, drug dealers, hangers-on, and corpulent roaches. Davis, who styled himself as jazzs Prince of Darkness, later confirmed the rumors with unabashed relish in his 1989 autobiography, Miles, written with the poet Quincy Troupe. Yet for all this decadence, there was a noble, almost monastic aura to Daviss retirement at forty-nine, after one of the most extraordinary careers in postwar music. Davis had taken part in almost every phase in jazzs evolution since the mid-1940s. Born in 1926 into a prosperous black family just outside East St. Louis, he arrived in late 1944 in New York. His official reason was to attend Juilliard, but this was a smokescreen to placate his father, an oral surgeon who owned a three-hundred-acre farm. His real reason was to follow his idols, the alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and the trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, who were revolutionizing jazz at clubs in Harlem and on West 52nd Street. Parker, whose appetite for music was exceeded only by his appetite for heroin, taught Davis bebop, a form of small-group improvisation characterized by extreme velocity and complex chord progressions, and warned him to stay away from the needleadvice Davis ignored to his lasting regret. He was a classic bohemian rebel, irresistibly drawn to the sound, and the forbidden pleasures, of the street. Davis, who died of a stroke in 1991, played on some of Parkers finest sessions, but he was a somewhat tentative, even ambivalent bopper, because he couldnt play as high or as fast as Gillespie. He was searching for a mellower, less frenetic approach to bop, and found it in cool jazz, a style he developed in the late 1940s with the Canadian-born orchestrator Gil Evans. So fervently did he believe in his own vision that, at twenty-three, he turned down an offer from Duke Ellington. More here. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Film Societytwo of the biggest names in visual art and film in the countryhave joined forces to launch Modern Cinema, a new cinematheque-style film series kicking off October 7th at SFMOMA's gorgeous, newly renovated Phyllis Wattis Theater. Modern Cinema, which will be comprised of three annual seasons, explores the dynamic relationship between past and present cinema as one of the modern era's essential visual art forms. The collaboration begins with an inaugural season dedicated to the legendary exhibitors, distributors, and preservationists at the Criterion Collection and Janus Films. Founded in 1984, Criterion and Janus have championed filmmakers and films that have made a significant impact on critics, audiences and artists alike. The result is a canon of works that bring the defining moments of cinema to a wide audience, and Modern Cinema will present a diverse international cross-section of films from their remarkable catalog of classics. FIRST WEEKEND PICKS Rashomon (Akira Kurosawa, Japan, 1950, 88 min.) Friday October 7, 6pm With an introduction by local filmmaker Philip Kaufman! A riveting psychological thriller that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice, Rashomon is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Four people give different accounts of a man's murder and the rape of his wife, which director Akira Kurosawa presents with striking imagery and an ingenious use of flashbacks. L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, Italy, 1960, 143 min.) Saturday October 8, 8pm Michelangelo Antonioni invented a new film grammar with this masterwork. An iconic piece of challenging 1960s cinema and a gripping narrative on its own terms, L'Avventura concerns the enigmatic disappearance of a young woman during a yachting trip off the coast of Sicily, and the search taken up by her disaffected lover (Gabriele Ferzetti) and best friend (Monica Vitti, in her breakout role). Antonioni's controversial international sensation is a gorgeously shot tale of modern ennui and spiritual isolation. Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles(Chantal Akerman, Belgium/France, 1975, 201 min.) Sunday October 9, 7:15pm A singular work in film history, Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles meticulously details, with a sense of impending doom, the daily routine of a middle-aged widow, whose chores include making the beds, cooking dinner for her sonand turning the occasional trick. Whether seen as an exacting character study or one of cinema's most hypnotic and complete depictions of space and time, Jeanne Dielman is an astonishing, compelling movie experiment; one that has been analyzed and argued over for decades. Tickets & Information Tickets are $12 for the general public and $10 for SFMOMA and SFFS members. Tickets can be purchased online or onsite at the museum during regular business hours. Modern Cinema tickets do not include admission to SFMOMA galleries. Guests for Modern Cinema should enter through SFMOMA's Joyce and Larry Stupski Entrance on Minna Street. For up-to-date program information and tickets, visit sfmoma.org/modern-cinema. Our website uses cookies which are necessary for running the website and for providing the services you request. We would also like to set the following optional cookies on your device. You can change these settings any time later by clicking "Change cookie settings" at the bottom of any page. For more information, please read our Cookie Information. Please select the optional cookies we can set on your device: Get to know the candidates seeking three spots on Brown Co. Commission ACAs library of educational tools help members improve their business practices. ACA also holds the most popular industry conferences and offers credentialing for collectors, attorneys, and more. ACAs Training Zone subscription gives agencies access to almost all of our education for one low cost. IMGCAP(1)]Guess what, accountants? Americans really like you. In fact, in Gallups annual measure of U.S. business sectors, the accounting industry garnered the fifth-highest positive rating. And while accounting wasnt as popular as the restaurant industry or farming, it enjoyed a nearly 4-to-1 positive-over-negative rating in Gallups poll, released recently. Accounting continued to rate far more positively than pharmaceutical and health care companies, the federal government and the legal field. Accountings net positive margin remained well above those from earlier in the decade, even if it was slightly below last years margin (which was the highest in 14 years). The upbeat take on Americans view of accountants follows another Gallup poll released earlier this year that showed accountants continue to get high marks for their honesty and ethical standards. In that survey, accountants had higher ratings than journalists, real estate agents, building contractors and business executives. Being viewed positively by their communities and clients is nothing new for accountants. Over the years, accountants have been named as the most trusted business advisor in several industry surveys, including one in 2012 by Sage and another in 2013 by CCH (now Wolters Kluwer). But are you capitalizing on your respected and trusted status? Have you been able to grow your practice as a result of how clients and prospects view you, or have you simply been able to maintain current engagements? Michael MC Carter, founder of international marketing consultancy Practice Paradox, believes that accountants too often underutilize their assets of being trusted and being considered an advisor. He writes on his blog: Its fair to ask, Whats the value in being trusted as an advisor if you dont often advise? Its like being a naturally gifted athlete who never trains or competes. Accountants looking to truly advise clients and generate income from their status as trusted advisors must first identify clients who are currently receiving only one service or are tied solely to compliance-related services. Examine client lists for longtime clients who may be receptive to advice. This may also jog your memory for questions the client has raised in the past or some issues that come up every year. For each client identified, use a list of your current or potential services to find specific opportunities that may be timely for cross-selling to the client. Whether you offer forecasting, outsourced CFO services or valuations, you will be able to find current clients who could benefit from your expertise. Once youve conducted some due diligence, meet with the client and ask questions about their business and their challenges. Sageworks Chairman Brian Hamilton has noted that many entrepreneurs have a profound sense of isolation, because they lack a reference group and are buried in their work. Your business clients would probably welcome the chance to talk about their companyespecially with someone they trust. One easy way to start the conversation with clients is to look for financial insights. Accountants generally already have access to client financial data. With the right software, you can quickly and accurately analyze a companys financials, benchmark it against the industry or their peers, and isolate key insights that can start an advisory conversation with the owner. As soon as your client starts saying, I never realized that, or What does that metric mean for my business? or How can I change? you have the opportunity to add more value and suggest an advisory engagement. Mary Ellen Biery is a research specialist at Sageworks, a financial information company that provides financial analysis and valuation applications to accounting firms. Warren Averett LLC, CPAs and Advisors, is combining with Beason & Nalley Inc. to beef up its government contracting practice in the Southeast. As part of the deal Beason & Nalley will become part of Warren Averetts office in Huntsville, Ala., effective Nov. 1, 2016. Warren Averett, based in Birmingham, Ala., ranked 27th on Accounting Todays 2016 list of the Top 100 Firms and 2nd on the Regional Leaders list for the Top Firms in the Gulf Coast region, with $123.3 million in annual revenue. The addition of Beason & Nalley allows us to offer our clients and our team even more opportunities and solutions, said Ray White, managing member of Warren Averetts Huntsville office, in a statement. We are excited to expand our leadership position in the Huntsville market, while creating a leading government contracting practice group. Beason & Nalley is a full-service accounting firm, but many of its clients are government contractors. The firm provides accounting outsourcing, audit, business valuations, mergers and acquisitions, corporate tax advisors, R&D credit studies, human resources consulting and litigation support services. Beyond state and local government contractors, Beason & Nalley also services clients in the nonprofit, technology, real estate and medical sectors. Our firms have shared values and client service philosophies, so it is a natural fit. says Beason & Nalley president and CEO Cindy Hill. This will enhance our firms ability to serve the needs of our clients and business community well into the future. Four people from Beason & Nalley will join Warren Averett as members and one as principal, along with 16 other employees. The four new members include Cecelia C. Hill in Warren Averetts tax division, Jeremy H. Jefferys in the corporate audit division, J. Brett Holt in the corporate advisory division and S. Hobie Frady in the corporate advisory division. Sandra R. Baker will be a principal in the firms HR solutions division. In June, Warren Averett expanded in Florida by merging in Hutto & Carver in Pensacola (see Warren Averett Adds Hutto & Carver). Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, released draft legislation Thursday to provide tax credits to encourage the development of affordable rental housing for the middle class. The proposed Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit would work in conjunction with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which Wyden recently introduced legislation to revive for new homebuyers (see Senator Seeks to Revive First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit). The LIHTC for low-income taxpayers dates back to 1986 and was revived in the wake of the financial crisis to spur the depressed housing market. It was available for homes purchased after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009 for 10 percent, up to a maximum of $7,500, as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. The credit was later extended twice by Congress for homes purchased in 2009 and 2010, with the maximum amount of the credit increasing to $8,000. While it is not currently available for new homes, taxpayers who acquired homes in those years can still qualify for the tax credit. Wyden hopes to revive the LIHTC for new low-income homebuyers and introduce the MIHTC for the middle class. Patterned after the LIHTC, the new MIHTC for middle-income taxpayers would allocate funds to states based on their population. State housing authorities would then have to follow a competitive process to allocate the tax credits to developers for individual projects, whether new construction or renovations. In my state and nationwide, affordable housing is key to climbing the ladder of economic mobility, Wyden said in a statement. The bottom line: Americas housing policy needs a remodel. It should start by using proven tools to develop new homes for Americans earning low and moderate incomes. This new tax credit will work hand-in-hand with the tax credit for low-income housing, which has been a huge success for decades. Under the bill, the federal government would allocate tax credits to states based on their population. For 2017, the allocation would be $1 per capita, with a $1.14 million minimum for small states, and state housing authorities would then allocate the tax credits to developers via a competitive process. The tax credits would be provided to developers over a 15-year period. The credit amount would equal 50 percent of the present value of the qualifying costs, or 5 percent per year on an undiscounted basis. State housing authorities would only allocate enough credit to make a housing project feasible. To fit the new MIHTC program to the varied needs of cities across the U.S., the qualification standards for the MIHTC would be tailored to fit local economies and incomes. Tenants rents in the MIHTC properties would not exceed 30 percent of Area Median Gross Income, or AMGI, a figure calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that takes local economic factors into account. The MIHTC would also require at least 60 percent of a propertys units to be occupied by individuals or families with incomes between 60 and 100 percent of the AMGI. That would align the new tax credit with LIHTC, which caps the incomes of those in qualifying projects at 60 percent of AMGI. To keep the MIHTC program from discouraging investment in low-income housing, a states unused MIHTC dollars would be returned to an existing pool of funding for the LIHTC. Celebrating the success of its advanced customer-centric technology - the Combi Brake System (CBS) with Equalizer, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has unleashed its latest 360 degree marketing campaign to celebrate the milestone. Leading the innovation in technology that gives an extra edge to Honda 2wheeler customers worldwide, Honda introduced the unique Combi Brake System with Equalizer technology almost 30 years ago globally. In India too, Honda become the 1st two-wheeler company to introduce its proven CBS technology with the unique Equalizer advantage in 2009. Elaborating on this technology and its benefits, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said, In 2009, Honda became the first two-wheeler company in India to introduce the proven CBS technology with the unique Equalizer advantage. We are delighted to share that in just seven years, over 1.25 crore satisfied Indian customers are riding confidently with the CBS advantage that Honda has given them much ahead of the times. In the new TVC, get ready to see Akshay once again in his inimitable Khiladi style, sharing how Hondas unique CBS with Equalizer technology is lending balance to daily riding of crores of Indian customers. What is most significant is that this set of customers have chosen the Honda CBS with Equalizer technology over others well ahead of the government notifications on CBS to be made mandatory (almost a decade later). The biggest differentiator of Hondas CBS technology is the in-built EQUALIZER which distributes braking force PROPORTIONATELY between the front and rear wheels simultaneously by pressing just the left lever (in all Hondas automatic scooters) or foot paddle (in 4 Honda motorcycle models). Brake force proportions have been set as best balance for all situations based on Hondas 30 years of experience of CBS technology in the global markets. Noteworthy that already over 1.25 crore satisfied Indian customers are riding confidently with the CBS with Equalizer technology advantage in just 7 years since its introduction. The film opens with Akshay Kumar effortlessly juggling a globe and talking about the importance of balance in life relating it to the balance required in two wheelers for increased stability and confident braking. While balancing the globe (world) on his body, Akshay explains that Hondas Combi Brake System with Equalizer ensures the equal distribution of force between the front and rear wheels. The global technology has given confidence to more than 1.25 crore Indians and is backed by the trust of millions globally for the last 30 years. The film has a new version of the iconic Honda theme song Dekho Dekhe Ye Zamana as the background score reiterates the CBS with Equalizer in action and how it is giving added braking confidence to Honda 2Wheeler customers in India. The film ends with Akshay Kumar waving to a child sitting behind his father on Activa 3G equipped with the Combi Brake System (CBS). It was a challenging brief. We had to humanise technology and make everyone not only to understand things like Combi Brake System and Equalizer in a matter of few seconds but also make it engaging and memorable. The globe came handy. So did Akshay Kumars athleticism! said Titus Upputuru, National Creative Director - Dentsu One. What is most significant is that Honda 2Wheelers India was the first two-wheeler manufacturer to give its customers this technology benefit; that too, nearly a decade before the Indian government is now set to make CBS technology mandatory in all new 125cc and below engine capacity 2Wheeler models from April 1, 2018 and existing two-wheeler models from April 1, 2019. Celebrating this milestone, Honda 2Wheelers India has released its latest 360 degree marketing campaign where its brand ambassador and Bollywood khiladi Akshay Kumar highlights the importance of balance not only in life but also on the roads. Conceptualized by Dentsu One, a Dentsu Aegis Network Company, the TVC (running on air across channels) has received excellent response from the audiences. Hondas Combi Brake System with Equalizer technology personifies Hondas commitment to provide customer-centric and advanced technology two-wheelers. The objective of the latest marketing campaign hence, was to further cement Hondas imagery as the leader in bringing customer centric 2wheeler technology while highlighting how Hondas very successful Combi Brake System with Equalizer technology is superior & differentiated in the industry. From the technology point of view, Hondas Combi Brake System with Equalizer is more efficient compared to conventional braking systems as by distributing braking force proportionately between the front and rear wheels, and reduces stopping distance and improves stability while braking so that you can ride with the confidence of efficient braking in your hands. Thus, the brief to agency was to communicate the core benefit of the complex CBS with Equalizer technology in easily understandable way for maximum recall. The target audience of this campaign includes the existing and prospective Honda 2Wheeler customers. The film uses Hondas brand ambassador Akshay Kumar, as an influencer, to draw a parallel between the importance of balance in various spheres of life and an analogy with Hondas innovative technology. The film personifies balance to depict how simple things are the most difficult to achieve and only a combination of skill, technique and experience helps in achieving perfection. Akshay Kumar shares how Honda understood the importance of balance over 30 years back and introduced the Combi Brake System with Equalizer technology which have today given smiles and confidence of riding to more than 1.25 crore Indians. Hondas Combi Brake system with Equalizer is a big technological innovation by Honda 30 years ago. It reinforces the brands commitment to give the most advanced technology with best riding pleasure and utmost safety to its consumers. Hondas Combi brake System has given comfort and confidence to more than 1.25 crore Indians in just seven years of its launch and the number is increasing every second, said Abhinav Kaushik, Senior Vice President, Account Management - Dentsu One. NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agnieszka Markiewicz has been named associate director of the newly-established Shapiro-Silverberg AJC Central Europe Office. AJC Central Europe, the global advocacy organization's fifth post in Europe, will be based in Warsaw, Poland, and will focus on seven countries the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia. It was made possible by the generosity of John Shapiro, AJC's President, and his wife, Dr. Shonni Silverberg. Earlier this month, AJC announced the appointment of Ambassador Elena Poptodorova as director of AJC Central Europe. "By establishing its Central Europe office, AJC is making an important statement about its strong commitment to building relations with governments, civil society and local communities in a region rich in Jewish heritage," said Markiewicz. "The history of overthrowing communism and rebuilding democracy provides important opportunities for engaging Central European countries and fostering greater understanding of and relationships with Jewish communities and Israel." Markiewicz, a native of Poland, comes to AJC after a career focused on deepening understanding and expanding relations between Poles and American Jews and Israel. For the last eight years, Markiewicz served as Director of External Relations at Forum for Dialogue, a Warsaw-based NGO focusing on Polish-Jewish dialogue and reconciliation. AJC, together with the Forum, have partnered in a pioneering exchange program, launched in 1995, between Poles and American Jews. "I am delighted that Agnieszka is joining with Ambassador Poptodorova in leading our newest initiative in Europe," said AJC Chief Executive Officer David Harris. "Our Warsaw-based team has the experience to deepen our longstanding engagement with a region that offers so much hope and promise in the world today." Before the Forum she worked at the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, a Polish governmental institution for promoting Polish culture around the world. She led the institute's "Polish Year in Israel" initiative. She also has co-organized the Gniezno Convention, the largest multi-religious conference on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in Poland. A graduate of the University of Warsaw, she speaks Polish, English, and French. "Becoming part of AJC is also very emotional for me on a personal level, as my family history - and that's not unusual for Poland - is so intertwined with the whole complexity of the history that we all share," Markiewicz said. AJC's other European offices are in Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and Rome. AJC Europe, based in Paris, is directed by Simone Rodan-Benzaquen. The global Jewish advocacy organization has five additional international posts in South America, Asia, and the Middle East, and maintains 22 Regional Offices across the U.S., as well as 32 partnership agreements with Jewish communities around the globe. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-announces-associate-director-of-warsaw-based-central-europe-office-300332566.html SOURCE American Jewish Committee WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Clutch has just announced a review of the leading IT services firms in Ukraine. The research leverages Clutch's proprietary Leaders Matrix methodology, which maps each firm's focus on IT services against their proven ability to deliver results for clients. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410794 The top Ukrainian IT services firms are: SoftServe, Intetics, Intersog, Bytebrand, SteelKiwi, MLSDev, Devabit, and Itera. Each of the companies was selected based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis with emphasis on proven experience, client satisfaction, and market presence. The inputs for the review process were collected through verified reviews conducted by Clutch analysts. "By analyzing the services offered and examining client feedback, we've determined these companies comprise the top IT services firms in Ukraine," said Clutch analyst Clayton Kenerson. "These companies vary in their particular niches, but taken together, they are a strong representation of the IT services talent available in Ukraine, a popular IT outsourcing destination." The full-length client reviews and associated company profiles are available on Clutch.co. Clutch continues to research and refine its findings on IT service companies in Ukraine and elsewhere and encourages interested companies to apply for possible inclusion in later coverage. The full body of information can be found at the following links: https://clutch.co/it-services/ukraine https://clutch.co/it-services/ukraine/leaders-matrix About Clutch A B2B ratings and reviews firm in the heart of Washington, DC, Clutch connects you with the agencies and software solutions that can help you enhance your business and meet your goals. Our methodology maps agencies and software solutions based on consumer reviews, the type of services offered, and quality of work. Contact Clayton Kenerson 202.777.2063 Email To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clutch-recognizes-leading-it-services-firms-in-ukraine-300332537.html SOURCE Clutch Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) announced today that the Company has entered into a research collaboration with Inserm Transfert, the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research ("Inserm"). Evotec has entered into multiple collaborations with top academic institutions in the USA, Germany and the UK. This collaboration with Inserm marks the initiation of the first project under Evotec's and Sanofi's Academic Bridge, which was established as a result of the multi-component strategic alliance between the companies effective 01 April 2015. This Academic Bridge aims to accelerate the translation of promising cutting-edge science from French academic institutions into pharmaceutical product candidates. In this joint effort, Evotec scouts and incubates projects generated in France under its EVT Innovate strategy. A year after initiating the French Academic Bridge, the first collaboration between Evotec and Prof. Gilles Favre's team from Inserm/the Universite Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier/Oncopole de Toulouse has started. The research collaboration's goal is to characterise and develop new selective modulators of RhoB functions as a promising approach to increase therapeutic options in many cancers with high unmet medical need. RhoB is an exciting oncological target implicated in the control of cellular stress response, migration, tumour neovascularisation and progression. Dr Pascale Auge, Chairman of the executive management board of Inserm Transfert, commented: "We happily welcome the signing of this partnership with Evotec. It will allow Prof. Favre and his team to further develop their research in the cancer field and move to the industrial development." Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, added: "We are excited to be part of this great research initiative that combines the best-in-class ingredients of what is needed for highly innovative and differentiated drug candidates in oncology. This is Evotec's first of hopefully many more academic collaborations in France. We are very proud to add Inserm to our academic partners, thereby further broadening our efforts to bridge leading academic science into industry standard drug discovery programmes." ABOUT THE FRENCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH (INSERM) Founded in 1964, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) is a public science and technology institute, jointly supervised by the French Ministry of Education, higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Social Affairs, health and women's rights. The mission of its scientists is to study all diseases, from the most common to the rarest, through their work in biological, medical and public health research. Inserm supports more than 300 laboratories across France. In total, the teams include nearly 15,000 researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff, etc. Inserm is a member of the National Alliance for Life and Health Sciences, founded in April 2009 with CNRS, Inserm, the CEA, Inra, INRIA, the IRD, the Pasteur Institute, the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) and the Conference of Chairmen of The Regional and University Hospital Centres. For more information, please go to www.inserm.fr. ABOUT INSERM TRANSFERT Founded in 2000, Inserm Transfert SA is the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), dedicated to technology transfer (from invention disclosure to industrial partnership). Inserm Transfert also manages European and International research projects, supports large scale projects in epidemiology and public health. Inserm Transfert has run a proof of concept fund since 2009. The company also supports entrepreneurs in the biotech sector, in partnership with Inserm Transfert Initiative. For more information, please go to: www.inserm-transfert.fr. ABOUT EVOTEC AG Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry's need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery (EVT Execute). The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology and infectious diseases. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of more than 70 partnered product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term discovery alliances with partners including Bayer, CHDI or UCB and development partnerships with e.g. Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the field of Alzheimer's disease, with MedImmune and Sanofi in the field of diabetes, with Pfizer in the field of tissue fibrosis and with Second Genome in the field of inflammatory diseases. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Language: English Company: Evotec AG Manfred Eigen Campus / Essener Bogen 7 22419 Hamburg Germany Phone: +49 (0)40 560 81-0 Fax: +49 (0)40 560 81-222 E-mail: info@evotec.com Internet: www.evotec.com ISIN: DE0005664809 WKN: 566480 Indices: TecDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160921006654/en/ Evotec AG: Gabriele Hansen, +49.(0)40.56081-255 VP Corporate Communications & Investor Relations gabriele.hansen@evotec.com MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Fitness, the innovative health club franchise known for its Judgement Free Zone and affordable prices, was recently voted #1 fitness club in Michigan City by readers of the News Dispatch for the third consecutive year. To thank Michigan City for its continuous support, the Michigan City Planet Fitness is opening its doors to the public for a free day of fitness with free pizza and lots of giveaways on Monday, October 3 at the 4067 South Franklin Street location in the Marquette Mall. Local residents will be able to tour the club, win Planet Fitness gear, and enjoy FREE pizza and snacks from 4pm-8pm (CST). "We really appreciate everyone in Michigan City for voting our club number one, and would like to show our thanks by inviting everyone to workout with us for free on October 3 and experience what our Judgement Free Zone is all about. It's going to be a great day of fun," said Chris Witt, Planet Fitness Regional Manager. Planet Fitness prides itself on offering extremely affordable memberships and a unique Judgement Free Zone unlike any other gym, where members experience a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment. Each club also features the brand's iconic "Lunk Alarm" a purple and yellow siren on the wall used to gently remind people that grunting, dropping weights or judging others is not permitted. Membership includes a variety of other benefits, including unlimited small group fitness instruction by a certified trainer through the pe @ pf program. In addition, as a member appreciation gesture, Planet Fitness provides free pizza on the first Monday of every month, and free bagels on the second Tuesday of every month, while supplies last. The PF Black Card membership which is $19.99 a month includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 1,200+ clubs in the Planet Fitness chain, as well as use of Massage Chairs, HydroMassage Beds, Tanning, Total Body Enhancement Booths and 50 percent off select cooler drinks. Additionally, Planet Fitness spotlights its members with "Planet of Triumphs," an online community that celebrates all accomplishments and inspirational stories of Planet Fitness members. Planet of Triumphs provides an online platform for members to recognize their triumphs (big or small), share their stories and encourage others, reinforcing our belief that everyone belongs. Please visit PlanetOfTriumphs.com. For more information or to join online, please visit www.PlanetFitness.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness). *PF Black Card amenities may vary by location About Planet Fitness Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of June 30, 2016, Planet Fitness had more than 8.6 million members and more than 1,200 stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women. CONTACT: Jessica Sookradge (219) 809-4348 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planet-fitness-voted-number-one-fitness-club-in-michigan-city-for-third-year-in-a-row-free-day-of-fitness-to-celebrate-on-oct-3-300331968.html SOURCE Planet Fitness AFA: From the eyes of an Airman Airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air Education and Training Command represented their major commands at the American Airman Booth during the Air Force Associations Air, Space and Cyber Conference here Sept. 19-21. During the conference, Airmen discussed with attendees their military backgrounds and experiences in the service. They were also given the unique opportunity to interact with Air Force senior leadership and industry leaders. Were out there doing (the mission) and seeing so many of the things that are going right and going wrong, so we can offer that insight and experience, said Senior Airman Jessica Deal, a C-130J Super Hercules loadmaster from the 39th Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The Airmen spoke with numerous people, from cadets and retirees to generals. This is the first time Ive ever been in an arena where there are so many senior leaders in one place, said Maj. William Andreotta, an F-35A Lightning II Heritage Flight pilot from the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Today, weve seen probably four MAJCOM commanders, including our own AETC commander, the secretary of the Air Force, and others. Its a chance that many people dont have, to be able to ask your senior leaders questions right up front about issues and things that youre thinking about in todays Air Force. The Air Force is a technologically advanced branch of the U.S. military, with missions in the air, space and cyberspace that many times rely on the ingenuity of industry partners. While at the conference, the MAJCOM Airmen were able to meet with some of the companies that impact them on a daily basis. I talked to a lot of the people that make our parts, and that was just neat to put a face to those companies, Deal said, adding that she was able to tell company representatives how effective their products are in action. I talked to some of the guys that make the rudders. I went and talked to Boeing we get our headsets from them. And Ive been talking to a lot of people that have just come to stop by the booth and just ask what we do. Deal said she also had the opportunity to attend several of the briefings that took place during the three-day conference, and there was plenty of insight and advice that shell be able to take back to her squadron and share with fellow Airmen. Burundi: Tutsi and Hutu soldiers combine to plot coup The two ethnicities have often fought against each other over power Hutu and Tutsi military officers in the Burundi army have been arrested for attempting to overthrow the government. The army chief of staff, Major Gen Godefroid Niyombare said the soldiers were planning to oust President Pierre Nkurunziza- a former rebel leader elected under a deal that ended the years of conflict between the Tutsi army and Hutu rebels in Burundi. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader from Punjab Jagdish Gagneja, who was attacked by two motorcycle-borne assailants near Jyoti Chowk in August, passed away on Thursday at Ludhianas Hero Heart Institute. He was 68. Confirming his death, Dr. GS Wander, Director of Hero Heart Institute said, his health was deteriorating for the past one week and today early morning his BP fell. He was declared dead at about 9.16 am. He had multiple organ failure. Gagneja had sustained three bullet injuries in his abdominal area along with a head injury as he had fallen on road after being hit. The veteran RSS leader had been put on a ventilator ever since he was admitted to the hospital. As Punjab vice-president of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Gagneja was the key person on the RSS-BJP interface. A powerful interlocutor, he was an oversight for the BJPs political action plans in poll-bound Punjab. An FIR against two unidentified persons was lodged at police station, Division 4 in Ludhiana after the attack on Gagneja. Five weeks after the attack on Gagneja, a CBI team launched an inquiry. The police also announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh and a job to anyone providing information on the shooters. However, it has drawn a blank so far. The Jalandhar police had got hold of CCTV video of different places in which two youths, wearing patkas (a religious headgear worn by young Sikh boys) and with their faces covered with cloth, were seen moving around on a motorcycle. Apart from family members of the deceased, many senior RSS and BJP leaders including Phul Chand Jain, Anil Sareen, Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Dr Rishi Pal, ADC Ludhiana district were present at the hospital to pay their last respects. The United States and Russia are taking their differences over the conflict in Syria to new heights, after trading ferocious allegations of duplicity and malfeasance at the United Nations Security Council. After a fractious meeting of the council on Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were set to duel again over Syria at a gathering of the roughly 20 nations that have an interest in Syria. Thursdays meeting of the International Syria Support Group comes after the two men blamed each other for spoiling the countrys cease-fire that they had agreed to earlier this month. Each has blamed the other for violations. Kerry called for all warplanes to halt flights over aid routes, while Lavrov suggested a possible three-day pause in fighting to get the truce back on track. Thursdays meeting comes a day after Kerry and Lavrov abandoned diplomatic niceties in a fractious public debate over Syria, blaming each other for the failure of a week-old truce and offering only temporary patches to stem the bloodshed. In a U.N. Security Council session originally envisioned to enshrine the Sept. 9 truce, world powers rued the possibility of a darker phase in the conflict amid increased attacks on humanitarian workers. The councils nations all sought to revive the U.S.-Russian cease-fire deal, but once again illustrated why theyve been unable for more than five years to stop Syrias civil war. Supposedly we all want the same goal. Ive heard that again and again, a visibly angry Kerry told the council. Everybody sits there and says we want a united Syria, secular, respecting the rights of all people, in which the people of Syria can choose their leadership. But we are proving woefully inadequate in our ability to be able to get to the table and have that conversation and make it happen. While the U.S. and Russia have previously butted heads over several proposed resolutions critical of the Syrian government, Wednesdays agenda didnt even include a suggested course of action. Instead, the two-hour discussion served as a warm-up act for a Thursday meeting blocks away in New York that will include Kerry, Lavrov and their counterparts from more than a dozen European and Arab countries. The Cauvery supervisory committee has asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs water daily to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to September 30. Responsible citizens, governments and social activists must find a solution for addressing this issue. The Cauvery water sharing issue has become a political issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Politicians from both these states have often raised this matter for consolidating their vote banks. Cauvery is an inter-state dispute, but this is no reason to turn the issue into a raging controversy that draws the people of the two States into confrontation. The 124-year-old Cauvery water dispute is among the rare water disputes that have never been satisfactorily resolved. The Cauvery basin covers a large expanse of land including major chunks in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and also smaller areas in Kerala and Puducherry. Initially, the dispute was between Karnataka and TN but later Kerala and Puducherry also entered the fray. The Central government too must intervene in this matter and cant remain a mute spectator. Poor clearing of drains, water logging results in vector borne diseases and we claim that we are a developed nation. All high ranking politicians and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) officers are living in Delhi and yet no action is visible on ground. They only deliver speeches from Red Fort and click photos with long handle brooms. Dont you think it is awful, highly undesirable and highly intolerable? On the other hand, normal life continues to remain disrupted in Kashmir due to imposition of curfew and separatist sponsored strike. Dont you think that some better steps could have been taken by the government to address this issue? As many as 81 people, including two cops, have been killed in the unrest that broke out a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir on July 8. Wani was a young Hizbul Mujahideen commander from south Kashmirs Tral area. He was active on social media, using it to reach out to the youth and creating huge following. I know that the matter is complicated but competence is required for resolving Kashmir issue. The government must offer employment and business opportunities to Kashmir residents and militancy problem can be addressed effectively. If people remain unemployed then they might indulge in stone-pelting incidents as they are supported from militants across the border. The government should have political will to resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue process. (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) Defying the Supreme Courts latest order, Karnataka on Wednesday night decided not to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu till the state legislature discussed and decided on the inter-state dispute on Friday. However, Political parties and farmers bodies in Tamil Nadu condemned the Karnataka governments decision for defying the apex court order on Cauvery waters and urged the Centre to set up the water management board immediately. The state cabinet has decided to defer releasing the river water to Tamil Nadu till the state legislature debates and decides on the apex courts fresh order on Friday, Karnatakas Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah said the cabinet decided to convene the special session of the state legislature on September 23 in the backdrop of the apex court order on Tuesday, ordering Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water till September 27 from Wednesday. The cabinet also decided to request state Governor Vajubhai R Vala to convene a special session of the state legislature on September 23 to discuss the order, as the state is not in a position to release more water due to distress arising out of deficit monsoon rains in the river basin. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Courts decision, where it has asked the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within four weeks, and said that as per the new order, 6,000 cusecs of water to be released from Karnataka will not be sufficient for Tamil Nadu. Saravanan told that the Central government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there wont be any loss of life or property in future. Even though the Supreme Court has ordered 6,000 cusecs of water has to be released from Karnataka. I dont think that will be sufficient for the state of Tamil Nadu. But, the significant aspect is that the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to constitute Cauvery management board with four weeks, I think that is a very welcomed decision, Saravanan said. A DMK leader also echoed similar sentiments and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must intervene in the matter and its president M Karunanidhi asked the PM to set up the Cauvery River Water Management Board immediately. The Enforcement Directorate, Mumbai, has attached Rs. 306.70 crore worth assets belonging to Jignesh Shah-promoted Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL). In a filing to the BSE, FTIL said: The company has received a provisional attachment Order from the Directorate of Enforcement, Mumbai, attaching mutual funds amounting to Rs. 306.70 crores. The company is taking appropriate steps in consultation with its legal counsel, it added. Earlier this week, CBI arrested FTIL promoter Jignesh Shah in a case of alleged cheating and suppression of facts in getting SEBI extension to MCX-SX to continue as a private stock exchange in violation of norms. FTIL is in crisis following the Rs. 5,600 crore payment default at its subsidiary National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) in August 2013 affecting 13,000 investors. Earlier this year, the government had ordered a merger of scam-hit NSEL with its parent FTIL. The merger will allow for settlement of Rs. 5,600 crore dues of the now-defunct exchange. India on Thursday called Pakistan a terrorist state and accused it of carrying out war crimes against Indians through its long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raked up Kashmir issue at the U.N. General Assembly session. In a strong rebuttal, India said the terrorists designated by the U.N. continued to roam Pakistans streets freely and operate with state support. Exercising Indias Right of Reply to Mr. Sharifs long tirade about the situation in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the U.N. Eenam Gambhir said the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region, she said. India sees in Pakistan a terrorist state that channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. In a reference to JeM chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Ms Gambhir said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with state support. With the approval of the authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistans international obligations, she said. While Pakistans nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit, it talks about restraint, renunciation and peace. Similar false promises it has made to us the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start, Ms. Gambhir said. India also strongly slammed Mr Sharif for glorifying Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces. Even today we have heard support from the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation, she said. She said Pakistan was a democracy deficit country and practises terrorism on its own people. It extends support to extremist groups, suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights, including through draconian laws, she noted. Ms. Gambhir voiced Indias firm resolve to protect all its citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail, she said. Ms. Gambhir reminded the UN that the trail of the most horrifying and dastardly terror attack of 9/11 led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan, where al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hiding for years and was killed by U.S. forces. She pointed out that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. Four women have made it to this years Forbes Indias 100 Richest People list, including O P Jindal group Chairperson Savitri Jindal and Biotech pioneer Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. The other two women on the coveted list include Wife of Havells founder Vinod Gupta and USV Pharma Chairperson Leena Tewari. The four women have a collective wealth of USD 11.28 billion while the total networth of all 100 in the list amount to USD 381 billion. Jindal has retained the tag of being the richest woman in India with a networth of USD 5.2 billion, according to the annual India rich list compiled by business magazine Forbes. Jindal was placed at 19th position, as her fortune increased with recovery in steel prices. (Her) Mumbai-based son Sajjan saw shares of his JSW Steel almost double in the past year. In May, he agreed to acquire a 1,000-megawatt thermal power unit for USD 750 million from his struggling younger sibling Naveens Jindal Power & Steel, which is weighed down by USD 3.6 billion in debt, Forbes said. Among the four women on the list, Jindal was followed by Vinod Gupta at 46th position with a net worth of USD 2.5 billion, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (65, USD 1.8 billion) and Leena Tewari at 79th rank (USD 1.62 billion). Regarding Gupta, Forbes said buoyant sales of lighting and electrical fixtures boosted shares of Havells, founded by Guptas late husband and run by youngest son Anil Rai Gupta, who is listed with her this year. Havells sold its 80 per cent stake in troubled European light manufacturer Sylvania in December for USD 160 million to Shanghai Feilo Acoustics. The company has recently started selling home-automation products and solar streetlights. Mazumdar-Shaw, Indias richest self-made woman according to Forbes, was one of the eight returned to the ranks after their companies outperformed the stock markets 12 per cent rise in the past year. Biotech pioneer Kiran Mazumdar Shaws wealth climbed along with shares of her listed Biocon, which have more than doubled in the past year. The company, Asias largest insulin producer, is aiming for a 10 per cent share of the global market, Forbes said adding that shares of contract research arm Syngene are up 92 per cent since its IPO in August 2015. Mazumdar-Shaw was recently awarded with Frances highest civilian honour for her outstanding contribution to bioscience. Tewari, who chairs privately held USV India, was ranked 79th on the list. [dropcap]W[/dropcap]e feel fortunate that we are living in 21st century, but in many regions of India, girl child is still treated as in 12th century. We are yet living in a male chauvinist country. There is practice of aborting female foetus. Anyhow, if she comes to this country alive then evil waits for her to grow and get raped, molested and murdered. We all reacted in horror after a video emerged showing a 22-year-old school teacher being stabbed to death on a busy street in Delhi. As the man kicks and stabs the woman in the shocking footage, several passers-by run away, with two people meekly attempting to intervene. The woman, named by police as Karuna, had apparently rejected marriage proposals from the attacker, Surender Singh (34). He said, he had been in love with the woman for more than a year. Police said, he began to stalk her and threatened to kill her when she turned down his multiple marriage proposals. In the footage, Singh walks up to Karuna and stabs her. He then attacks her for several seconds, stabbing her at least 20 times as several people walk past some scurrying away when they see what is happening. Two men do appear to approach Singh, but back off quickly, apparently after seeing the knife. Karuna had reportedly gone to police few months ago, to complaint about the Singhs harassment and repeatedly calling her on the phone. Both Karuna and Singh were brought to the police station and advised to compromise. The fact that no-one intervened has caused outrage on social media in India. According to me, here the real culprit is our legal system. This beasts lawyers will find out some ways to grant him bail and he wont lose anything for killing the woman except attending court hearings once or twice a year. For hearings too, he can get exemptions if he is influential. This is what is happening in all rape and molestation cases. We all lack sensitivity towards such incidences. Here, I have examples from last year incidences which occurred in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, where women cannot afford to live with dignity. The father of one of the two girls, who were gang-raped and killed in Uttar Pradeshs Badaun district, lashed out at the governments offer of compensation. He needs justice instead of compensation, his daughters have gone through brutality and paying for their dignity is not enough. Rapist needs to be taught a lesson. Unless and until they are not awarded stringent punishment, such incidences will not stop. His 15-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old cousin had gone missing from their home after they stepped out to relieve themselves. They could have been saved if police had acted promptly. Law and order in these states has become a big joke. They were abducted by some men from the village. Their bodies were found hanging from a tree in an orchard the next day. After too much pressure from media, police arrested five accused in the gang-rape case. All five accused who had been identified are now under arrest. Two are yet to be identified. We have fast track courts in India for namesake but speedy trials is yet another challenge. Two policemen are among the five arrested accused. They have been arrested for not acting soon enough on the complaint filed by the girls family. Police will also probe their alleged role in the horrific act. Even after so much of chaos, Akhilesh Yadav made just a controversial statement. Only one leader, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, visited Badaun to meet the family members of the two girls. He later told media personnel, The family has said compensation is not enough, they need justice. There after so many brutal cases of rape and murder occurred in UP, Delhi and Haryana. Though it is not womens day, nor is it gender discrimination or superiority but, just giving a high-five to all the girl friends and re-telling them the events happening in our country with a pinch of womanhood in them. Delhis Nirbhaya gangrape victim is yet to get justice, rape cases are on the rise but none of the case is solved or culprits ever punished. Many political leaders escaped giving reasons for why rape happens but no one understood its girls life and her dignity is at risk and here verbal talks are not enough. With great faith, people elected Modi and BJP government to power, but nothing has changed so far. Follow me on Twitter @vaidehisachin and let us discuss out about power, politics, presence of mind and womens safety in our country. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) The Navy is on the highest level of alert after two schoolchildren in Uran about 50KM away from Mumbai reported that they saw five men dressed in black carrying weapons this morning. Police said that two school children claimed that they saw a group of five men dressed in black carrying arms near the navy base. The student of UES School in Uran first informed the principal following which the police was alerted. Two students have informed that they have seen suspicious men in Uran. While one student has claimed of spotting one person, the other has claimed to have seen five. Post the information, multiple agencies are probing it, said DGP Satish Mathur. Navy conducts search ops after school children in Maharashtra's Uran claimed of seeing 5-6 men carrying weapons near INS Abhimanyu base. pic.twitter.com/GM4LnMq0gE ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 The Indian Navy was put on alert along with Mumbai anti-terror squad and other security agencies. Marine commandos, MARCOS, are placed at Uran Navy base. Mumbai police have issued nakabandi and are reviewing the situation. The presence of the naval base in Uran triggered concerns of a repeat of Sundays militant attack on an army base in Kashmirs Uri town. They were spotted by students opposite to the Naval base,as per students they heard the men say 'ONGC' and 'school' repeatedly: Navy sources ANI (@ANI_news) September 22, 2016 However, a source said that nothing suspicious has been found yet. The students had told the police about suspect, but initial verification of the fact doesnt reveal anything. The Home Ministry of India on Thursday received Baloch Republican Paty leader Brahumdagh Bugtis application for asylum in India. Earlier last week, Bugti had approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva to file the application papers for asylum in India. The exiled Baloch leader of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) who was heading the movement in Balochistan had previously approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva to seek asylum in India. Speaking on that matter, the BRP leader, Bugti, said that he has held talks with the top Indian diplomats about his asylum as well as that of a number of other Baloch leaders currently staying in Balochistan, Afghanistan and in some other countries. Earlier, the Baloch leader said, Theres heavy deployment of Army & FC in Quetta. Its impossible for our political parties to carry out activities openly. People are frustrated; nobody wants to stay with Pakistan. There are just few people whove been threatened or bribed to stay with government. A senior government official on Thursday confirmed that the Home Ministry has received Bugtis request for an Indian ID card and travel papers. The report had suggested that the talks of a citizenship in India had been going on even before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the Balochistan issue in his Independence Day address. The Ministry of External Affairs of India, though, had denied these reports and said that no such decision had been taken yet. Bugti had also denied any such reports. High alert has been issued in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Navi Mumbai after five suspicious-looking men were spotted by school going children near a naval base in Uran. Security has been intensified at Gateway of India, Bombay High Court, Raj Bhavan, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and other major establishments near the sea. Children had overheard conversations of men dressed in Pathani outfits speaking in a language unfamiliar to them. They have been repeatedly using words like ONGC and school. The student of UES school in Uran first informed the principal following which the police was alerted. An ammunition dump of the Indian Navy and ONGC pant and JNPT are situated in Uran. After the Uri terror attack the Mumbai Police and Indian Navy are taking no chances and has enhanced surveillance in the city. Since Mumbai is known as the financial capital of India it has been on a hit-list of terrorists. Navy has already begun a search operation. All shops and schools were shut in Uran following the report of suspected militants in the city. Police are already questioning the children who have claimed to have spotted the men. Even Uran Sessions Court has been evacuated after the report. Police have issued nakabandi and are reviewing the situation. DK Sharma spokesperson of Indian Navy said, I am only confirming that Navy is at a high state of alert after getting this input regarding suspicious activity reported by some school children in Karanja near Mumbai. Fishermen have been alerted to report any suspicious looking people or movement of boats to Colaba Police. Maharashtra DGP Satish Mathur said, Suspected terrorists were spotted at 6:30 am. A search operation has been initiated in the state. Minister of State for Home Deepak Keraskar said, The security establishments are on high alert and people should not panic. They should report to police about any untoward incidents and must neither spread rumours nor believe in them. Deputy Commissioner of police Dilip Sawant said the searches were on and so far nothing had been found. WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2016 - Long-time carbon-pricing advocate Bill McKibben insists that putting a steadily increasing price on carbon emissions is essential but wont be enough to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. I n a Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies opinion piece , McKibben insists that because the world failed to launch carbon pricing 25 years ago, it now needs not only a meaningful carbon price but also: dramatic subsidies for renewables to speed their spread, an end to producing coal and gas and oil on public land, a ban on fracking, which is sending clouds of methane into the atmosphere, and, a dozen other major regulatory changes that have some chance of cutting emissions the 6 or 7 percent a year thats now required. In a key reversal, ExxonMobil is now on record in support of carbon pricing. But while McKibben insists that carbon pricing needs to be part of a suite of solutions, Exxon argues for eliminating other environmental regulations as the tradeoff for putting a price on carbon emissions. Resources for the Future Senior Fellow Raymond Kopp, co-director of the Washington think tanks Center for Energy and Climate Economics, tackled the controversial issue in an RFF forum last week. He said interest in carbon pricing is increasing whether through implementing a cap-and-trade allowances program to cap greenhouse gas emissions or through a straightforward fee or carbon tax mechanism. Kopp pointed out that even in the polarized U.S., interest in federal carbon taxes is growing among Democrats and Republicans, and among progressives and conservatives. Carbon pricing has already taken root in Canada and Mexico and, at least at the state level in the U.S., there are carbon pricing programs that are up and running. The central argument for an economy-wide federally-mandated price on carbon emissions is that, as Amy Myers Jaffe, executive director of energy and sustainability at the University of California, Davis, wrote in the Wall Street Journal last week, Having a carbon price, in other words, would allow the free market to do its best work. In theory, requiring industry and commerce to trade carbon allowances or initially pay perhaps $50 per ton for the carbon they emit would incentivize companies to find ways to reduce their emissions and the most innovative companies would thrive. Opponents counter that mandates are never the best way to allow the free market to work. And carbon pricing would depress economic growth by imposing new mandates and costs on business and make any country imposing these new costs less competitive internationally. Ultimately, those higher costs will follow on consumers who show little interest in paying more. A new poll indicates that more Americans are concerned about climate change, but few are willing to open up their checkbooks and address the issue. Sixty-five percent of Americans think climate change is a problem that the government needs to address, including 43 percent of Republicans and 84 percent of Democrats, according to a new survey from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, issued Sept. 14. While the major political parties have in recent years frequently clashed over the need to combat climate change, Americans are largely in favor of efforts on all fronts to combat climate change. But, Americans are fairly stingy with their climate change dollars. When asked whether they would support a monthly fee on their electric bill to combat climate change, 42 percent of respondents are unwilling to pay even $1, according to the EPI poll. Twenty-nine percent would pay $20, an amount roughly equivalent to what the federal government estimates the damages from climate change would be on each household. And, 20 percent indicate they are willing to pay $50 per month. Party affiliation is the main determinant of how much people are willing to pay, not education, income, or geographic location. Democrats are consistently willing to pay more than Republicans. Supporting the case against limiting carbon emissions, last week the Trump campaign promised in a press release to undo the damage of the last eight years in order to unleash an energy revolution that will bring vast new wealth to our country. The release said that once a Trump administration eliminates President Obamas restrictions on energy production, We will support coal production. We will support safe hydraulic fracturing. We will allow energy production on federal lands in appropriate areas. We will also open up vast areas of our offshore energy resources for safe production. But a compelling response to cost and competitiveness concerns comes from British Columbia. The Canadian province implemented a revenue-neutral carbon tax in 2008, now set at $30 per ton. This carbon tax in theory puts BC at a competitive disadvantage among Canadas 10 provinces. The only two other provinces with carbon pricing have lower prices. Albertas new carbon price wont reach $30 until 2018 and Quebecs cap-and-trade system, linked with California and soon Ontario, has a $16 price. John Roome, senior director for climate change at the World Bank, explains in a World Bank video that BCs carbon tax has turned out to be net positive. British Columbia has grown faster than any of the other Canadian provinces, he says, adding that if you look at the structure of their industry, they have lots of green industry growing there, but they have also taken that revenue and used it to reduce other forms of taxes to stimulate growth in the rest of the economy. Pointing to growing public and private sector interest in carbon pricing, Roome says that some 40 countries and 23 cities worldwide operate carbon pricing programs today, covering about 12 percent of the worlds total greenhouse gas emissions. He says the challenge is how to increase this coverage quickly to meet the World Banks goal of doubling the use of carbon pricing by 2020 and double it again by 2025. He says its particularly encouraging that more than 500 global companies already employ an internal price of carbon as a basis for their business and investment decisions. At the RFF forum, Rachel McCormick, a counselor at the Canadian Embassy in Washington and program manager for energy and environment, noted that Canadas new government came into office committed to carbon pricing and has already signed a trilateral clean-energy agreement with the U.S. and Mexico. She explained that carbon pricing plays a central role in Canadas climate plans. We see this as an effective and efficient way to reduce carbon, to encourage innovation, and to stimulate investment in the green infrastructure and the low-carbon economy, she said. Thanks to the provinces leadership, McCormick said that by 2017 Canada will have over 85 percent of our population living in a province that has a price on carbon, representing over two-thirds of Canadas carbon emissions. Keep up with ag and rural policy and energy news as it happens. Sign up for a four-week free trial of Agri-Pulse. Dallas Burtraw, also a senior fellow at RFF, said a promising sign in the U.S. is that the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan to limit carbon emissions was cited in the Democratic platform as evidence of the partys commitment to carbon pricing. He said he expects that at least 30 states, if not the vast majority of the states will develop carbon reduction programs to comply with the Clean Power Plan. Another reason to expect increasing support for carbon pricing is that more businesses are voluntarily switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Just ask the 70 major corporations that have joined RE100, a global alliance of businesses committed to 100 percent renewable electricity by a specific year. Members include BMW, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Nike, Starbucks, and Walmart. Last week RE100 member General Motors announced plans to get all its electricity from renewable wind, solar, and landfill gas energy by 2050, to supply its 350 facilities in 59 countries. So for GM and many other companies, carbon pricing would be just fine, giving them competitive advantage over their fossil-fueled competitors. GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra said that along with cleaner air, the benefits of the switch to renewables include strengthening our business through lower and more stable energy costs. GMs optimism aligns with the World Banks conclusion that with the right strategies and policies in place, businesses can remain competitive while implementing climate-friendly production methods. To learn more about carbon pricing, watch the World Banks webcast conference today, Sept. 21, from 2 to 6 p.m. Eastern, Innovating to Meet the Climate Challenge. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, John Roome, and other experts will discuss innovative approaches including carbon pricing. #30 For more news go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 - China has lifted its 13-year-old ban on U.S. beef, clearing the way for negotiations between the two countries over the specific conditions under which trade can resume. The National Cattlemens Beef Association said Chinas announcement indicates it will accept beef from animals under 30 months of age. This announcement is a critical first step to restore market access for U.S. beef and beef products, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. True access to China's beef market consistent with science-based, international standards for trade remains a top priority for the United States. Both NCBA and the U.S. Meat Export Federation welcomed the announcement, but USMEF noted its just the beginning of a process that will involve negotiations between USDA and Chinas Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. USMEF looks forward to learning more details about the remaining steps necessary for the market to officially open and for U.S. suppliers to begin shipping product, Philip M. Seng, president and CEO of USMEF, said in a brief statement. This is great news for U.S. beef producers, said Kent Bacus, NCBAs director of international trade. But, he cautioned, While these initial reports are positive, we must continue technical negotiations and undergo the process of formally approving export certificates. China is already the worlds second largest buyer of beef, and with a growing middle class, the export opportunities for U.S. cattlemen and women are tremendous. Are you tracking trade issues? Follow Agri-Pulse for more in-depth coverage. Sign up for a four-week free trial now. Bacus also used the news as an opportunity to push for passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation trade deal whose chances of congressional approval appear to be fading. Vice President Joe Biden told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City Wednesday that he thought the TPP stands a less than even chance of passage, according to Reuters. China banned U.S. imports in 2003 after mad cow disease was first discovered in the United States. In fiscal 2003, U.S. beef exports totaled $3 billion, or 900,000 tons, to 112 countries, but fell to $1.1 billion, or 300,000 tons, in FY 2004. By FY 2015, exports totaled $5.8 billion (800,000 tons) to 112 countries. #30 For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com. WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 - USDA this week unveiled a three-year $328 million restoration strategy to improve water quality and help coastal ecosystems damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. According to the plan, announced by USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie, the department will steer conservation efforts on private lands in more than 200 Gulf-area counties and parishes, leveraging local, state and federal partnerships. Were working side-by-side with farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to improve their operations while taking care of natural resources in the region, Bonnie says. With most of the land in the region privately owned, working lands on the Gulf Coast are pivotal to the regions recovery. The Deepwater Horizon spill, which began on April 20, 2010, is considered the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. Following the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, a sea-floor oil gusher flowed for 87 days, until it was capped on July 15, 2010. A U.S. district court later found that 4.2 million barrels had been spilled. USDA, as chair of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council), will work in partnership with the five Gulf states, other federal agencies and landowners to explore opportunities for how the funding can complement RESTORE projects and other funding from the settlement of the disaster. Through a variety of farm bill conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and as part of NRCS Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI), the three-year plan will direct technical and financial assistance to some 3.2 million acres in priority areas. A number of conservation practices are planned, such as managing for nutrients by using no-till, planting cover crops, and installing grade stabilization structures and water control structures. These practices trap and control pollutants like sediment and nutrients, reduce erosion and improve use of water. Modeling from USDAs Conservation Effects Assessment Project shows voluntary conservation efforts could reduce runoff of 11 tons of sediment and 2.65 million pounds of nutrients, according to the departments Natural Resources Conservation Service. Not an Agri-Pulse subscriber? Get our Daily Harvest email and Daybreak audio Monday through Friday mornings, a 16-page newsletter on Wednesdays, and access to premium content on our ag and rural policy website. Sign up for your four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription. NRCS will also work with Gulf producers to restore and enhance ecosystems by using methods such as prescribed burning, establishing trees and shrubs and managing wetland and upland habitats for wildlife. Coordinating the investments of multiple funding streams, such as the farm bill programs and USDAs existing $100 million partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF),will yield measurable outcomes for improving the health of Gulf Coast ecosystems and the communities that depend on them, and support a more vibrant agricultural sector, NRCS says. Additionally, NRCS and NFWF each plan to invest an additional $5 million in the five Gulf States over the next five years as part of an ongoing agreement between the two groups. To download the strategy, click here. #30 For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com Uganda and Ethiopia big winners at East African Power Industry Awards in Nairobi this week Uganda scored a double victory at the East African Power Industry Awards with the country not only winning the Special Recognition Award for outstanding leadership in the sector, but also scooping up the Award for Excellence in Power Transmission or Distribution for the second year in a row. Taking place during the East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC) in Nairobi this week, the East African Power Industry Awards gathered some 180 power professionals from the region at a glamorous gala dinner on Wednesday and recognised individuals, companies and projects based on the excellent work they have been doing in the power sector during 2015/2016. Ugandas Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development of Uganda was honoured for his work in the utility sector with the Special Recognition Award. Umeme Limited, Ugandas main electricity distribution company, won the Excellence in Power Transmission or DistributionAward. Uganda also had a strong presence at EAPIC in Nairobi this week with the Hon Eng Simon DUjanga, the Minister of State for Energy, heading up the delegation. Ethiopia also won two categories at the awards. The winners of the East African Power Industry Awards 2016 are: Special Recognition Award WINNER: Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary, Uganda Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda Dr Kabagambe-Kallisa was unable to accept his award in person, but sent his son, Henry Kaliisa, to deliver his acceptance speech on his behalf. He paid special tribute to his colleagues in the Ugandan energy sector, private sector players as well as international development partners: With my colleagues in Ugandas energy sector, with whom I have worked with for the last 20 years as the Permanent Secretary, to design and implement policies and laws which have created a conducive environment for private sector participation and investment in Ugandas power industry. Dr Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in the Government of Uganda. He has been Permanent Secretary since 1997 and has worked for the Government of Uganda for over 38 years. Dr Kabagambe-Kaliisa has played a central role in the reform of Ugandas electricity industry focusing on industry regulation and private sector participation. The team he led has since 2007 repackaged the development of Bujagali Hydropower project (250MW) which reached commercial operation in 2012, the development of several renewable energy generation projects, and other important public-private partnerships in power distribution, rural electrification and renewable energy development. These efforts have resulted into Foreign Direct Investment of US$1.50 billion over the last seven years in the power sector in Uganda and stabilisation of power supply in the country. Other finalists: -Ben K Chumo, Managing Director and CEO, Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited, Kenya -Grania Rosette Rubomboras, Programme Officer: Power Projects, Nile Basin Initiative NELSAP/ Regional Interconnection Project, Rwanda, Citizen: Uganda -Irene Margaret Nafuna-Muloni, Minister, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda -Kevin K. Kariuki, Head of Infrastructure, Industrial Promotion Services, Kenya -Ralph Nyakabwa-Atwoki, Technical Director, Sustnersol Uganda Limited, Uganda Award for Excellence in Power Transmission or Distribution WINNER: Umeme, Uganda It is a privilege for Umeme to win this award for the second time in a row. It is also a privilege to be recognised for the efforts put in and efficiencies we have achieved in the Ugandan distribution sector. It is wonderful that EAPIC is coming to Uganda next year and we look forward to sharing more of the progress we have made in Uganda with our peers from the region, Mr Sam Zimbe, Deputy Managing Director of Umeme, said on Wednesday evening after receiving the award on behalf of the utility. Umeme Limited is Ugandas main electricity distribution company. In 2015, Umemes income grew by 19% to Ushs 1.16 trillion compared to 2014, underpinned by 8% growth in sales units. The commencement of construction works for Isimba (183MW) and Karuma (600MW) hydropower projects affirms the governments commitment to the energy sector and increasing access to electricity across Uganda. On completion of these projects, among others, over the next 5-6 years, the countrys effective generation capacity shall be in excess of 1,600MW. Umemeplans to make significant investments to grow and ready the distribution infrastructure for the new generation capacity. Other finalists: -Azuri Technologies, Kenya -Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia -Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited, Kenya -KETRACO, Kenya -TANESCO, Tanzania Award for Outstanding Clean Power Project (under 5MW) WINNER: Mobisol East Africa We are very happy, proud and feel very overwhelmed; this was a surprise as we did not expect to win. Mobisol is growing very fast and so far we have electrified over 60,000 households in East Africa saidKlaus Maier, Mobisol Corporate Development Manager and Helen Tiemann, Mobisol, Partnerships and Expansion Manager, after receiving the award. Mobisol has developed an innovative product design and service offering fully adjusted to off grid customers needs: The mature product-service offer combines high quality solar products, innovative IT solutions and remote monitoring, microfinance via mobile banking and comprehensive customer services. Mobisols products are made affordable by a rent-to-own instalment scheme offering micro-finance loans over a period of 36 months in small, flexible instalments which are payable via Mobile Money. Other finalists: -M-KOPA Solar, East Africa -Solar Africa, Kenya -Solar Century, Kenya Community Development Programme of the Year Award WINNER: Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP) For most of development programs, the impact in terms of improvement of the living standards of women and the rural households is only perceived many years after the programme has been closed. With the ABPP, this impact is immediate, the moment the woman lights her biogas stove, she cooks in a clean and safe environment! Few months later, thanks to the use of bioslurry, the household significantly increase its agricultural production as well said Jean Marc Sika, ABPPs Renewable Energy Programme Development Manager in East Africawho along with Bert van Nieuwenhuizen, ABPPs Chief Technical Advisor, accepted the award. The Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP) is a partnership between the Dutch government, Hivos and SNV in support of national biogas programmes in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burkina Faso. This partnership is geared towards constructing 100,000 biogas plants that will enable half a million people to access a sustainable source of energy by 2017. Already in its second phase, the programme has established a viable market for domestic biogas through effective credit schemes and cost reduction. Successes include 60,000 biogas plants built, 300,000 people with access to renewable energy, improved living standards of175,000 people, contributes to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Other finalists: - Eco-Fuel Africa Limited, Uganda - CEFA, Tanzania - MAA Briquettes, Kenya - Iten Jula Kali, Kenya - Magiro Hydroelectric, Kenya - PAK Briquettes, Kenya Award for Excellence in Power Generation WINNER: Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia Ethiopia strives to be the hub of renewably sourced energy in the region and beyond. Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) is instrumental to this ambitious plan. EEP operates and maintains more than 12 hydropower and three wind power plants distributed in different parts of the country with installed capacity of more than 4290MW. There are two major hydropower projects under construction, namely the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (6000MW) and GenaleDawa 3 (254MW). EEP has a portfolio management unit with a track record in managing and administrating more than seven mega generation and transmission projects at a time in the last 10 years. Other finalists: -Contour Global, Rwanda -Eskom Uganda Limited, Uganda -Geothermal Development Company, Kenya -KenGen, Kenya -Songas Limited, Tanzania Outstanding Woman in Power Regional Award, East Africa WINNER: Azeb Asnake, CEO, Ethiopian Electric Power, Ethiopia Azeb Asnake was appointed CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Power Company after the former Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation split into two entities in 2013. Azeb commenced her carrier at the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority from junior expert to the Directorate of Engineering Directorate. She was transferred to the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation in 2006, to lead the Gibe III Hydro Power Project, which is expected to generate 1875 MWs of electricity. Azeb is the first woman engineer who had led the project at the capacity of a Project Manager. She is well known for her management skills and has also served as a focal person of UN Habitat Water for Africa Cities Program. Other finalists: -Catherine Adeya-Weya, Senior Representative East Africa, Fieldstone Africa, Kenya -Faith Wandera-Odongo, Deputy Director: Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya -Grania Rosette Rubomboras, Programme Officer: Power Projects, Nile Basin Initiative NELSAP/ Regional Interconnection Project, Rwanda, Citizen: Uganda -Irene Margaret Nafuna-Muloni, Minister, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda -Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Kenya -Therese Sekamana, Founder and Managing Director, LED Solutions & Green Energy Rwanda Ltd, Rwanda -Thozama Gangi, CEO, Eskom Uganda, Uganda Future Energy Leader Award WINNER: Faith Chege, Chief Financial Officer, Barefoot Power Africa Ltd, Kenya After accepting the award Faith said: this award is validating both as a young professional and a young woman in the energy sector. It's proof that the hard work and continuous strive to be a part of the solution in eradicating energy poverty has not gone unnoticed. I'm currently working on a pay-it-forward project for my upcoming 30th birthday where I will be installing 30 solar home systems for 30 households in rural Kenya. This will give 150 people access to clean energy and encourage my fellow young folk to be part of the solution. Faith Chege is the CFO at Barefoot Power Africa; with over five years experience in finance from the non-profit and for-profit private sectors. She is also a Mandela Washington Fellow 2015 and a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum and Global Entrepreneurship Delegate in 2016. From the for-profit private sector, she brings expertise in lean financial systems minimizing costs while maintaining maximum productivity, management of public private partnerships, project financing, overseeing financial audits, cash flow planning and management, keeping healthy accounts payable and accounts receivable ratios, and managing financial operations of business units in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana and Ethiopia. Other finalists: -Andrew Lamosi, Managing Director, Chevron Africa Ltd, Kenya -Charity Wanjikyu, COO, Strauss Energy, Kenya -Erica Mackey, Co-Founder & COO, Offgrid, Tanzania -Hasnaine Mohamed Yavarhoussen, Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Filatex, Madagascar -Sanga Moses, CEO, Eco-Fuel Africa Limited, Uganda -Tina Nduta, Founder/Managing Director, Eimara Africa Resources (Parent Company), East Africa Extractives Networks, Kenya Industry support for awards The East African Power Industry Awards have become a popular gathering for the whos who in the regions energy sector. Co-Operative Bank and Rosatom were awards sponsors while the results are verified by Mazars. www.eapicforum.com Syrian Archbishop: 'A Bullet Narrowly Missed My Head' Christians in Syria are being targeted by Kurdish militias according to a senior Christian leader in the region. Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo says Kurds in Hassake, a city in north-east Syria, and surrounding areas are responsible for "acts of violence and intimidation" against Christians. Hindo said he believes the aim is to get rid of all Christians from Hassake, one of the 10 largest cities in Syria. Parts of Hassake, which has a large Kurdish population, were lost to Islamic State terrorists but the People's Protection Unit (YPG) managed to seize them back last year. The city, the administrative centre of the region, is now largely under control of Kurdish militia but as in the rest of Syria, fighting is a consant as different groups battle for supremacy. Hindo told Agenzia Fides: "Whenever the Kurdish militia enter in action to reaffirm its military hegemony over the city, the epicenter of their raids and acts of force is always the area of the six churches, where most of the Christians live. Advertisement "In many cases they expelled the Christians from their homes under the threat of Kalashnikovs. And where they enter, they loot everything." He said he had a narrow escape himself when shots of gunfire were fired through the window of his house and a bullet narrowly missed his head. "At that moment, the area was presided over by Kurdish militias, and there were no other armed persons nearby." The status of authority in the city remains confused. The Archbishop said that Shaddadi, once an ISIS stronghold, is now controlled by Kurdish militia but some of these are locals who had previously served under Islamic State. Christians have been targets of Kurds for some time in Syria. In June, Christians were attacked by a suicide car bomber in the Kurdish city of Qamishlo. Turkey has also called on the United Nations to investigate crimes of ethnic cleansing it says the YPG has been committing in Syria. Turkey says YPG has been engaging in a campaign of demographic change in areas it has captured from ISIS. However, Kurdish forces deny the charges and say they are in fact collaborating with Arab and Assyrian fighters. September 22, 2016 BAGHDAD A weapons depot exploded in a residential area east of Baghdad on Sept. 2, killing four people and injuring 11 others. The depot belonged to a militia affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). Though no one has claimed responsibility yet, on Sept. 16, Muqtada al-Sadr, head of the Sadrist movement and Saraya al-Salam faction within the PMU, accused unnamed militias of responsibility for this incident and said that some militias keep their arms depots in residential areas intentionally to ensure their domination over these areas. According to official statements, the explosion caused dozens of missiles to fly over the neighborhoods of al-Obeidi, al-Mashtal, al-Batoul, al-Kamliya, al-Amari, al-Maamel, New Baghdad, Zaytouna, Palestine Street and the area around Shaab International Stadium. The incident resulted in massive destruction stretching over 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), leaving destroyed houses and a massive crater. The explosion angered Iraqi citizens at the government and militias for storing weapons and ammunition in residential areas, while militias accused each other of such practices. On Sept. 4, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered military commanders to empty and close all arms depots in Baghdad and other governorates and to use the military stores and warehouses of the Ministry of Interior. The Baghdad Operations Command formed a committee to investigate the incident but did not indicate that it would take measures to carry out Abadi's closure order. The Baghdad Provincial Councils security committee had previously called for removing the PMU weapons depots from residential areas and for coordinating with the Ministry of Defense to establish regulations for the storage of the factions weapons, according to Saad al-Matlabi, a member of the security council. The law prohibits the storage of weapons and military equipment in residential areas, Matlabi told Al-Monitor. He said that the gun depots are a point of contention between the different armed militias and factions. He believes that political pressure is likely to complicate investigation into the explosion. Matlabi also noted that the security committee does not bear any responsibility in this incident because, according to him, it is merely a monitoring authority and does not have the right to interfere or hold any faction or militias accountable. The governor of Baghdad, Ali al-Tamimi, called on the federal government Sept. 3 to prevent the PMU from storing military equipment in the cities. For its part, the PMU denied any knowledge of the weapons depot in a statement and said, The PMU will take swift measures once the results of the investigation by the Baghdad Operations Command are out. PMU spokesman Karim al-Nuri declined to comment on the incident to Al-Monitor, explaining that he was not authorized to do so. Youssef al-Kalabi, another spokesman for the PMU, also refused to comment on the incident, but noted that the results of the investigation will be announced in a timely manner and that the PMU has pursued a series of measures to prevent a recurrence. The Shiite Al-Ahrar Bloc, which has a military detachment within the PMU, accused the League of the Righteous of storing weapons inside residential areas in a bid to strengthen their influence. Rasul al-Tai a member of parliament for Al-Ahrar, told Al-Monitor that his bloc holds the government responsible for keeping silent on the weapons depots in residential areas. He demanded that a serious investigation be conducted into the cause of the explosion and the ownership of the depot, and that the results of the investigation be shared with the public. Tai indirectly blamed the League of the Righteous for the depot explosion, saying that his bloc is boycotting the league and will not engage in any dialogue with it. He also said that the Peace Brigades, affiliated with the Sadrist movement, are ready to prevent such a thing from happening again should the government fail to take decisive action. Jawad al-Talbawi, a leading figure in the League of the Righteous, denied the Peace Brigades' claim that the depot belongs to his group, stressing that the league does not have any arms caches in any city or residential area. In a statement to Al-Monitor, Talbawi called upon the militia that owned the arms depot to compensate the affected families of the martyrs and injured and the owners of the destroyed houses. There are two sources of armament for the PMU. The group receives military equipment both from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Iran that are openly transported across the border between the two countries in large quantities, including medium- and long-range missiles to be used in the war against the Islamic State (IS). Many observers said that Abadis decisions to remove weapons from cities was mere talk and will not be implemented. Political analyst Hisham al-Hashimi told Al-Monitor, Abadi is the commander of the armed forces, yet he is unaware of the number of arms and ammunition depots and the places of storage. He added, The militias and factions are storing their arms in residential areas in a bid to ensure control over and influence these areas, where they are popular. Hashimi went on, The disputes and disagreements between the different militias and factions are serious and sometimes lead to short, armed clashes. However, for the moment, these militias and armed factions are preoccupied with the war on IS, which is why they are not focusing on the infighting among themselves. The arms caches located in Shiite areas are not meant for use by Shiite militias against Sunnis in Baghdad. However, Iraq can expect to witness fierce battles between Shiite factions as part of the struggle for power, control and influence in the future. September 21, 2016 Since the January 25 Revolution of 2011, pollsters have taken a great interest in the opinion of the ordinary Egyptian citizen. After all, ordinary citizens had just shown themselves to be the most pivotal players in Egypt by toppling the Hosni Mubarak regime, which had controlled political life in Egypt for more than 30 years. As a result, civil society organizations, think tanks and perhaps even ordinary activists anyone hoping to gauge public sentiment have sought to embrace the widest possible segment of Egyptians, especially through online polls. But its an unrequited love. In recent years, ordinary Egyptians have shown a noticeable erosion of interest in these polls. Nevertheless, the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) unveiled a new poll-related app Sept. 6 at a conference titled "The Future of Arab Societies: Changes and Challenges, held at its Alexandria office. Nasalak, Arabic for Were asking you, aims to be the countrys first app to allow smartphone users to ask questions, respond to polls or solicit responses. Opinion-takers hope the app will revive the populations participation. But the value and credibility of social media polling is falling under increasing scrutiny. Subhi Asilah, a specialist in public opinion research at the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that online polls are likely to be just an expression of what social media and online leaders [believe]. That isnt a broad slice of the Egyptian public. He also noted, There are a large number of illiterate residents [of Egypt], and a significant percentage do not own a computer. Another not inconsiderable segment does not have access to the internet. Therefore, One cannot generalize about the results of a poll of Egyptian opinion [taken online] to the public as a whole. Results might not even reflect accurately opinions within that segment of the population, he noted. Many factors have to be considered, including mass fake accounts known as electronic battalions that can skew a poll and often involve non-Egyptians. Contemporary research on public opinion suffers from many problems in Egypt, Asilah said. The presidential elections in 2012 exposed these difficulties. At the time, many in social media expected, on the basis of online polling, that the candidates affiliated with the January 25 Revolution camp, such as Mohamed ElBaradei and Hamdeen Sabahi, would perform well. In contrast, field polls conducted by various newspapers and TV channels showed that Amr Moussa and Abu al-Futuh would lead. 'Asilah added, As it turned out, everyone was shocked when Mohammed Morsi and Gen. Ahmed Shafiq actually won and advanced to the second round of elections." He noted, The problem lies in the absence of a culture of participation in opinion polling or of [adequate] public opinion research among many Egyptians. Some refuse to participate [in polls], while others will go so far as to volunteer false information. Moreover, another problem lies in the fact that the political climate [as perceived by] ordinary Egyptians can rapidly shift. Hanan Gerges, the director of operations for Baseera, discussed the problematic issue of credibility. She told Al-Monitor, The Nasalak app [has already run] pilot polls of Egyptian society. We cannot construct a completely accurate measure of Egyptian public opinion on the basis of these [alone]. She clarified that the app can be used to gain preliminary indicators and to encourage [the public] to participate in opinions polls. Through the most frequently asked questions, one can get a sense of the app users interests. On the subject of engaging participants, Gerges also noted, The app encourages [users] by requiring that they obtain a certain number of points [at least 100] by answering 10 questions before the participant can pose his own questions. She noted that the goal is to accumulate 5,000 users within a month of the apps launch. Baseera founder Magid Uthman also addressed the issue of credibility. Online polls are not accurate, nor do they provide the best assessment of anyone but social media users, internet users and smartphone users. He continued, However, they are an indicator of the citizen's feelings about some of the questions he is asked, even if [he is] not fully truthful. Moreover, we note as much in the guidelines for using the app." Uthman also cited electronic battalions as a problem and addressed the decline in poll participation, which he ascribes to Egypts current state of political apathy. Some opinion polls have shown that two-thirds of Egyptians did not know when the parliamentary elections were scheduled, even several days beforehand. This demonstrates the extent of the political apathy, and also highlights that interest in opinion polling has waned because of a sense among some Egyptians that polls have sometimes been turned into a means of shaping public opinion rather than measuring it. Yasir Abd al-Aziz, an official responsible for training at a number of Egyptian and Arab journalism and media institutions, also spoke of such manipulation. Some civil society organizations and media outlets use opinion polls to convince [the public] that a party, or president, or candidate is gaining popularity or, conversely, to propagate the notion that this individual or entity is bleeding support. Or even sometimes to create a state of determined sympathy with the target person or group. This may well be a reason for the decline in opinion pollings popularity, he told Al-Monitor. Polls should not be trusted unless they originate from a civil media institution with a good deal of professionalism and credibility. He noted that online polling to measure Egyptians support for a second term for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2018 has sparked major controversy on social media. In media figure Ahmed Moussas poll on his personal Twitter account, most participants rejected another Sisi term. A similar result was produced from a poll conducted by Al-Jazeera.net which is affiliated with Al Jazeera, the Qatari network that Cairo has accused of bias. As for the Nasalak app, Baseera has opted out of disputing or defending the results of its polls in advance. The center concedes in principle that online polls are not accurate, even when participants follow the guidelines it issues to the apps users. The extent of the apps success in increasing Egyptians participation in online polling remains to be seen. Perhaps it will help counter Egyptians apathy toward most things political and their tendency to refrain from participating in them. September 22, 2016 The recent decision to appoint Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ali al-Sheikh as Egypts supply minister because of his military background has sparked major controversy in political circles. As Sheikh is the former head of the Armed Forces Logistics Authority, some people are concerned that his appointment will lead to the military controlling ministries and government institutions. But others consider the military institutions participation strictly a measure to cleanse the ministry, especially after former Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafi resigned Aug. 25 due to the wheat corruption case. Amid this controversy, several politicians, parties and public figures launched the campaign titled "The Army is the Solution," to garner public support for forming armed forces committees to eradicate corruption and reform the education, health and supply systems. Campaign leaders are taking advantage of the success of their last campaign No to Religious Parties according to Mohammad Atiyeh, who launched the new effort and distributed brochures supporting its goals to citizens. Atiyeh told Al-Monitor, In the coming days youth groups will be formed in all provinces to distribute [information] to citizens, to demand the armed forces supervise the ministries of Supply, Health and Education. The initiative wants military-supervised committees to restructure those ministries. Atiyeh added, The armed forces will capitalize on their values of discipline and strictness to implement a firm system in these important sectors plagued by negligence and chaos. The initiative will be public and will represent all of Egypts social groups. Any citizen who respects and trusts the army will participate to express their objection to violations. He rejected accusations that the initiative is a step toward militarizing the economy, saying, The mission of the committees is to train new cadres and reform the service systems within two years as a transitional phase. He said President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi trusts civilians, but was surprised at the corruption in the ministries of Agriculture and Supply, and felt he had to appoint a new supply minister with a military background. The initiative wants the ministries to benefit from the military institution without appointing people with a military background to ministerial positions. The armed forces can offer their disciplined and strict supervision over employees in those ministries, because they are the pillars of the system and they can also build real capabilities. When asked about the initiatives selection of the ministries of Health, Education and Supply, Atiyeh said, These fields affect citizens. The armed forces have excelled in these fields. The best hospitals in Egypt are affiliated with the army. The educational experience at the military schools was successful, and the committees will include civilians and military men, according to the armed forces vision. He noted, The consultative councils that the president formed offer a general overview of education and other sectors, but the committees suggested by the initiative will develop the same system. The armys response to this initiative will not distract it from its main mission of protecting the nation, he said, because the military institution already contributes to the service sectors. Atiyeh addressed the charges that the initiative was started by sovereign parties, saying, The people will respond to these accusations through surveys that will be distributed to citizens and that reflect public desire. He added, The initiative does not call on the army to manage ministries, but to supervise them. This guarantees that the armys popularity will not be affected due to crises and problems that these sectors have been inheriting for years. He said parties and public figures have widely responded to the initiative and want to participate because it is important to voice trust in the army, which can rescue Egypt from corruption, chaos and negligence. Parliament member Haitham al-Hariri rejected the initiative in his statements to Al-Monitor for putting too many responsibilities on the armys shoulders. He said that the military institution is involved already in several fields, such as road projects and construction of hospitals, schools, churches and mosques. This is a burden for the Egyptian army, Hariri said, and could work to the detriment of its main mission, which is to protect the country. Egypt is suffering from mismanagement, Hariri continued. Things cannot be solved through tasking the military with the management or oversight of certain sectors due to its disciplined nature. This is an escape from the real crisis and an abandonment of building strong state institutions. The military cannot take on the tasks of all state institutions, as this would harm it and the country as well. For her part, Basant Fahmy, a member of parliaments Economic Committee, told Al-Monitor she would like the military to manage not just oversee the service ministries to fight corruption. Armies around the world help solve economic crises in their countries. The Egyptian army has proven its ability to complete all service and economic tasks such as construction projects. As a result, citizens trust the militarys ability to reform any system and implement high-quality service projects in no time, she said. She added, The Egyptian army will remain popular, even if it handles the service ministries, because those are a mess and accept criticism from the military. September 22, 2016 NEW YORK Faced with mounting environmental challenges, Iran is implementing an ambitious program to reduce greenhouse gases and restore dried wetlands, but it would benefit from more international cooperation, including a resumption of lending by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a senior official says. In an exclusive interview Sept. 22 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's annual meeting, Majid Shafie-Pour, the deputy head of Irans Department of Environment, told Al-Monitor that US opposition to GEF support for Iran has hurt his country's ability to achieve even more. "Environmental challenges in Iran are really on a soaring path," Shafie-Pour said. He cited the impact of climate change, drought and a rise in devastating dust and sandstorms from dried-up lakes and wetlands. Tehran has also been experiencing a drop in water pressure as its population grows and reservoirs become depleted. Under the recently concluded Paris agreement, Iran pledged to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change by 4% by 2030. "If we have all the sanctions removed and gain the support and partnership [of international organizations] we would add another 8% on top of that," Shafie-Pour said. US opposition to projects in Iran by the GEF, an arm of the World Bank, has reduced Irans ability to deal with environmental threats. Shafie-Pour told Al-Monitor that of the $40 million allocated to Iran by the GEF in a period ending in 2013, about $35 million was never paid. "Although we had a number of projects endorsed, when it came to the board in Washington, we were surprised that no decision was ever declared," he said. As a result, the GEF reduced Iran's allocation to $17.7 million under the next funding cycle that began in July 2014, he said. "But even that, we have not been able to date to get the approval of even one single project." US law forbids US support for multinational lending to countries on the State Department's list of countries supporting terrorism. US officials have considered trying to waive the law for the purpose of facilitating environmental projects in Iran but fear an adverse congressional reaction. Shafie-Pour said his country was doing what it could on its own and through cooperation with the United Nations and some countries, such as France, whose environment minister, Segolene Royal, visited Iran in August. Wetland restoration has been a particular area of concern because of the impact of desertification on local communities and on air pollution in Iran's cities. "We are doing at the national level all that we have in our capacity to restore wetlands both in the west and the east, as well as Lake Urmia," he said. The condition of the lake, which has dried up at a frightening pace because of climate change and poor water management, threatens the livelihood of 14 million people in northwest Iran who rely on agriculture. Windstorms that whip up the salt and sand at the bottom of the lake have also been the source of devastating air pollution. Shafie-Pour noted that President Hassan Rouhani's first Cabinet meeting after he took office in 2013 was devoted to a discussion of Lake Urmia and that Iran was implementing a long-term project to try to restore the lake. Iran is facing similar challenges at the Hour al-Azim wetlands on the border with Iraq and the Hamouns on the border with Afghanistan, he said. Air pollution in Iranian cities is caused not just by sandstorms but by poor quality gasoline and inefficient fuel consumption by cars. Shafie-Pour said that eight large cities in Iran have "very poor air quality" and sometimes have to shut down schools and government offices because of the danger of breathing air outside. To deal with the problem, Iran is accelerating a program to upgrade refineries. Sanctions imposed on importing refined petroleum products led the prior government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to encourage production of poor-quality gasoline to meet domestic needs. Iran also suffered from sanctions that made it difficult to import catalytic converters, Shafie-Pour said. "We would very gratefully open our arms and encourage both private and public enterprises" to help obtain modern technology, he said. The Rouhani government has established an international environmental expo for companies to exhibit their products. Shafie-Pour said the next one will be held in Tehran on Feb. 25-28. Iran produces electricity exclusively with natural gas and does not rely on liquid fuels or coal as do many other countries. Shafie-Pour said Iran was looking to increase the efficiency of power plants by 40% and to increase the use of renewable sources of energy to produce 7,500 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2030. September 22, 2016 In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 20, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suggested that Israelis and Palestinians learn from the wonderful example of the peace between Israel and Egypt. Indeed, the peace treaty signed in 1979 between Israel and the worlds most important Arab state was joyous news for both sides. This wonderful example, however, also constitutes a grim chapter in the tragic annals of some quarter of a million Palestinians who were dispossessed of their homes in 1967 and whose lands are now being farmed by strangers. Egypt has been a bitter disappointment to hundreds of thousands of Arab people, specifically, the Palestinians uprooted from their homes in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Some 250,000 people, a quarter of the territories residents at the time, many of them refugees from the 1948 war, were forced into refugee camps in neighboring Arab states (in addition to some 100,000 Syrian refugees from the Golan Heights). Egypt sold them out for a song. In the Camp David Accords (1978), Egypt committed to establishing a standing committee along with Israel, Jordan and a self-governing administration from the territories that would formulate principles for the return of persons displaced from the West Bank and Gaza in 1967. This was made contingent on adopting necessary measures to prevent disruption and disorder. To be clear, this obscure article does not apply to the issue of the refugees from the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, the resolution of which was put off to eventual negotiations on a permanent settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in other words, until the coming of the Messiah. Not only that, in 1948, the rationale for prohibiting the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes had been the desire to limit the number of non-Jews in the nascent, sparsely populated State of Israel. Since 1967, uprooted Palestinians have been denied the right to go back to places that are not even under Israels territorial sovereignty. The continuing committee, as termed in the 1978 agreement, became a mechanism for avoiding implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 237 (1967), which calls for Israel to allow the residents of the territories who had fled at the start of the fighting in early June 1967 to return home. Fifteen years later, the problem of those uprooted in 1967 was inserted in the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo Accords, signed in September 1993. At a Knesset debate in January 1995, Michael Eitan, a Likud moderate, warned against a loophole that would allow Palestinians uprooted in 1967 and their descendants some 800,000 people in all into the Israeli-controlled territories. Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin explained, [We] simply copied the exact same sentence that appears in the Camp David Accords, which talks about a quadripartite committee to determine the parameters for the return of the displaced. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's government and all those that followed adhered to the same tradition of sitting on its hands on this issue. Unlike Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus imaginary ethnic cleansing of settlers from the West Bank, the refugees uprooted in 1967 are a wonderful example of real ethnic cleansing. In "The Bride and the Dowry: Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians in the Aftermath of the June 1967 War," the Israeli historian Avi Raz, from Oxford University, describes at length how Israeli soldiers used megaphones and radio broadcasts to tell Palestinians to leave their homes immediately, shooting above their heads to hurry them along. Some 20 towns and villages along the Green Line (delineating Israel and the West Bank) were partially or completely destroyed, and many of their residents headed east, across the Jordan River. In Jerusalems Old City, the Mughrabi Quarter, home to 650 Arab residents living in 130 houses adjacent to the Western Wall, was razed. Hundreds of uprooted Palestinians who tried to secretly cross the Jordan to get back to their homes were shot dead. After international protests and American pressure, Israel conceded to the request of 14,000 of the 170,000 uprooted Palestinians to return to the West Bank. What happened to the 1967 refugees is not only a wonderful example of the injustices of the Israeli occupation and its violation of international law, but taking their land also makes a mockery of the occupation laws that Israel itself has implemented in the territories. A 2005 report by the state comptroller general includes a warning by the office in charge of abandoned property in the territories against handing over private Palestinian lands, including those of absentee owners, to Jewish settlers. The comptroller cites an opinion by the deputy attorney general underscoring that Israel is simply a guardian protecting the property lest it be damaged while the owners are absent from the area. He stressed that Israeli authorities must not conduct any deal pertaining to the property that contradicts said protection obligation, and especially [their] duty to hand back the property to its owners once they return. In this regard, the wonderful example reaches truly Orwellian heights in the current push by elected Israeli officials to bypass the absentee ownership law by passing the so-called Regularization Law, which would retroactively legalize unauthorized Israeli outposts in the West Bank, specifically the Amona outpost. The authors of the proposed bill argue that it is designed to prevent a moral, human and social travesty that would be caused by the evacuation of hundreds and thousands of [Jewish] families that built their homes with the support of successive Israeli governments. This is not only an attempt to prevent the evacuation of the settlement homes of Amona, erected on private Palestinian lands. The proposed bill also states, If, one of these days in other words, at another stop on the Messiahs journey Palestinian landowners return to the territories, they would receive compensation such as that paid to the private landowners who remained in the West Bank and on whose lands settlements were erected. Real ethnic cleansing, with a price tag. US President Barack Obama referred this week to the settlement issue at his last speech to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 20. He called on Israel to recognize that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land. Once he leaves office, Obama will have time to tour the West Bank. He should invite Sisi to join him. They will have an opportunity to see up close that it is possible to conquer and occupy for 50 years and still be going strong. Afterward, they should pop into one of the refugee camps housing the uprooted of the 1967 war on the other side of the Jordan River. They will have an opportunity to meet human examples of a wonderful peace. September 22, 2016 ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan Omaima Hoshan, 14, wasnt really aware of early marriage until her best friend dropped out of school in the fifth grade. Omaima was very concerned. Her friend was an excellent student the best in their class and had always dreamed about becoming a doctor, so why would she leave school? Omaima learned from the teacher that her friend had married her 18-year-old cousin under pressure from her father. The girl hadnt even turned 13 yet. Omaima never saw her again. From that day, Omaima noticed more girls leaving school as young as 12, 13 or 14 years old. She remembered thinking it was totally wrong. They were just children, like her. She talked about it with her father, Thaer Hoshan, who had studied law back in Syria. He told me that I should speak up if something is wrong and encouraged me to talk to the girls about this subject in order to discourage the practice, Omaima told Al-Monitor in Jordans Zaatari refugee camp, where she has lived with her parents and four brothers since they fled Syria in 2012. Encouraged by her parents and inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai she read her biography Omaima, who will turn 15 in March, started campaigning against child marriage. First she spoke to her classmates and encouraged them to talk to their parents about it, and later she organized events such as art classes and drama workshops about the risks of early marriage for girls and their mothers in the camp. To do all this, Omaima works together with a child-protection group in the camp run by Save the Children. Like any other teenager, Omaima sometimes looks shy when she talks about sensitive subjects such as sexuality and boys, but when she speaks about her mission to end child marriage, she looks fierce and determined. Girls who get married at a really young age are more at risk of sexual or domestic violence as well as miscarriages because their bodies are not really ready for giving birth yet. Also, girls who get married at an early age are not mentally ready to raise children and are less able to complete their education and find a job, Omaima explained. Although it's illegal to get married under 18 in Jordan, the practice is increasingly common among Syrian refugees. In 2015, 35% of all Jordan marriages involved a minor, up from 18% in 2012, according to the Jordanian Higher Population Council, citing statistics from the Chief Islamic Justice Department. But religious judges in Jordan may authorize marriages involving children as young as 15, provided they believe the childs best interests are taken into account. For many Syrians in Jordans urban areas and refugee camps, marrying off girls at a young age is a desperate attempt to ease the financial burdens on families that have little or no income and are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. Another common reason for child marriage among Syrian refugees is the protection of young girls in places where they are at risk of sexual violence or harassment. However, tradition also plays a big role, as girls in some parts of Syria often marry at a young age, Omaima said. Most of the people in Zaatari are from the Syrian countryside. They think that marriage is the best option for young girls. Boys usually get married between the ages of 18 and 25 and all of them want a younger girl. In Zaatari, when a girl is not married at the age of 20, they consider you too old. Why isnt she married? people would say, thinking that something is wrong because she is not married yet, Omaima said, her gaze intense. In the refugee camps, it is not difficult to find girls who married early. A few blocks from Omaimas house in Zaatari, 17-year-old Nariman, who declined to give her full name, told Al-Monitor how she married her cousin at the age of 15. Now she is seven months pregnant. Her first pregnancy ended with a miscarriage. When asked if she thinks it had anything to do with her body not being ready to give birth yet, she said, I dont know, and added that she likes being married. Narimans sister, Busra, 14, said she didnt want to get married, but when her father asked her to say yes to a boy who spotted her in school, she was afraid to say no. On what would have been her wedding day, Busra took a shower and got dressed when the family received an unexpected call. A Jordanian employee of the governments Family Protection Department called my parents. They told my father he would get a fine of 3,000 dinars [$4,231] if he went through with the marriage as I was only 14 years old, Busra told Al-Monitor, clearly happy someone intervened. The family canceled the wedding. Omaima said it's easier to talk with the girls and their mothers and grandmothers than with their fathers. When she started this campaign, some told her to mind her own business and were uncomfortable with the idea of such a young girl raising awareness on a sensitive subject. When asked what would happen if she ever feels threatened by anyone, like her role model Malala was, Omaima answered that it is her right to speak up and set ambitious goals, just like men do. My life is not more important than the life of any other girl. If you can save a ship full of people by sacrificing your own life, what would you choose? I know what I need to do, she said. Omaima believes she has persuaded several girls in the camp to abandon their plans to marry young and continue their education instead. She hopes to continue her studies and become a famous womens and childrens rights activist in the future. Like her father, Omaimas mother, Rana, is very proud of her daughter. Omaima is only 14 and she already achieved so much. When Omaima grows older, she will be taken more seriously, I believe, she said. September 21, 2016 Hamas declared in its founding charter created in August 1988 that it bases its ideas, concepts and perceptions on Islam and refers to it for guidance on all of its activities. Hamas views itself as an Islamic movement with a moderate ideology. It does not accuse anyone of disbelief, does not condone any killing based on religion and according to its scholars, religious freedom is a right guaranteed by the Quranic verse 256 of Surat al- Baqarah, There is no compulsion in religion. But since Sept. 9, Khaled al-Khalidi, a professor of Palestinian history at the Islamic University in Gaza with ties to Hamas, has been posting statements on social media calling for the enactment of an anti-blasphemy law, provoking a storm of reactions online. It all started when Khalidi, whose studies have taken him from Palestine to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, called on the Legislative Council to enact an anti-blasphemy law to protect Muslims ideology from disbelief and misguidance and for professors of Islamic law to participate in its drafting to define "blasphemers" and the corresponding punishment according to Sharia. Khalidi, the head of the Palestinian Encyclopedia of Historiography Documentation, told Al-Monitor that his move is a response to the spread of destructive ideas among Muslims in Palestine, such as not believing in the Prophet Muhammads hadith, which open the door to intellectual deviation and ideological mistakes. He bemoaned the failure of Gazas authorities to fend off these ideas, especially the Ministry of Religious Affairs and associations concerned with the welfare of future generations. He added, As a result, I will soon form an association of scholars to defend Islam from the erroneous interpretations of some religious scholars. I was accused by some of those who departed from religion of adopting the ideas of the Islamic State, but this will not scare me. I will keep fighting them. The term "blasphemy" appeared in Islamic history for the first time in the Abbasid period to refer to individuals who deny Islamic dogma, mock Islamic teachings or do not believe in Islam. From an Islamic point of view, this term is closely related to infidelity, atheism and apostasy. The anti-blasphemy law would be the first of its kind in Palestine. On Sept. 9, Khalidi asked the Palestinian Legislative Council to set forth deterrent measures against individuals he believes are blasphemers. He also called on Palestinians to cut ties with these people, refrain from marrying them, employing them or even talking to them. Saleh al-Raqab, the former minister of religious affairs and endowments in the Hamas government and a professor of religion at the Islamic University, told Al-Monitor, The term 'blasphemy' is attributed to those who question Islam, deny anything in it or repeat the arguments of infidels, and therefore blasphemy is tantamount to disbelief. But we do not need to enact a law in the Legislative Council to confront this phenomenon. The Palestinian Penal Code should be amended to impose a penalty on insulting a divine being and to prosecute those who promote deviant ideas. The Ministry of Religious Endowments and the Palestine Scholars Association as well as satellite channels and radio stations are called to launch religious awareness campaigns to warn of the danger of blasphemy. The call for an anti-blasphemy law stirred a wild wave of reactions. Palestinian intellectuals across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank argued over Khalidis suggestion. On Sept. 10, journalist Bothaina Ashtowi expressed objections to Khalidis idea and called for solving more pressing problems in Gaza before demanding an anti-blasphemy law. On Sept. 14, one citizen, Abu Bakr al-Banna, expressed support for the idea, attacked "blasphemers" for "distorting the image of the companions of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad" and called them infidels, warning them they were headed for the "ash heap of history. Opponents of such a law recall what happened in some stages of Islamic history, when some enlightened figures such as al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Al-Ma'arri, Abu Bakr al-Razi and Ibn Rushd were accused of blasphemy and killed. Yousef Farhat, the general director of the public administration for preaching and guidance in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, fiercely attacked Khalidi. He told Al-Monitor, Calling for enacting an anti-blasphemy law is an intellectual scandal that brings us back to the medieval inquisition era in the 15th and 16th centuries, when people were persecuted and beheaded for their intellectual views. Todays calls to confront blasphemy are an extension of IS ideology. He added, Throughout history, Islam has witnessed numerous situations in which the right to disagree was admirably exercised but also witnessed unfair situations where differences of opinion were described as blasphemy. Some are trying to reproduce these unfair situations today by calling for an anti-blasphemy law. Satirical cartoonists produced a video mocking the call for an anti-blasphemy law while other social media users expressed fear that calling for such a law would return Hamas to the dark ages. Other social media users attacked the idea of an anti-blasphemy law, describing Khalidis call as worthy of IS. Islamic writer Ahmad Abu Ratima, who strongly and openly opposes the anti-blasphemy law, told Al-Monitor, The accusation of blasphemy is a black spot in Islamic history. It was used by dictators against every free voice, and many Muslim scholars were killed on charges of blasphemy. Today, some people want to assume the role of God and sit in judgment of human beings. This brings us back to the dark ages. The accusation of blasphemy may have dangerous repercussions such as physical violence against the accused individual. This is very similar to the extremist ideas of IS. Sheikh Mustafa Shawar, head of the Palestinian Scholars League and a Hamas figure in the West Bank, told Al-Monitor, Palestinians do not need an anti-blasphemy law, which may do more harm than good. We should not confront deviant ideas contrary to Islam through laws and sanctions, but rather through dialogue and persuasion. Such laws will tarnish our image before the international community in light of the international fight against IS and others terrorist groups. The debate continues. Hamas now faces a choice, and has a chance to establish its national Palestinian identity, Islamic ideology and moderate ideas as far removed from extremism. September 21, 2016 When the Palestinian High Court of Justice decided Sept. 7 to suspend the Oct. 8 municipal elections, it caught many people off guard. The Palestinian legislature has been paralyzed since 2007 because of the split between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and few expected any independent action of the Palestinian judiciary. Many asked the simple question: Was this a truly independent decision of the court or was it acting on behalf of the executive branch? Ali Ghazlan, the presiding judge of the high court, argued that elections can't take place in one place and not the other. The election can't take place in Jerusalem and its neighborhoods. Also, there are problems with the formation of courts in Gaza. Therefore the court decides to stop the election, the high court judge ruled. Both Fatah and Hamas blamed each other for the court's decision. Majed Arouri, the executive director of the Civil Commission for Judicial Independence, insists that the court acted independently, but confirmed in an interview with Al-Monitor that the courts independence is in jeopardy and that it is fighting off serious pressures. The Palestinian judiciary is under threat by politicians who are trying to control it in order to have their actions legitimized, Arouri said, adding that this threat is increased with the continued absence of general elections in Palestine. These leaders want to control the courts to extract their legitimacy by means of the judicial branch of government, he said. Ziad Abu Zayyad, a former Palestinian minister and veteran lawyer, echoed similar thoughts in his weekly column in the daily Al-Quds on Sept. 11, insisting that the court acted independently and that it has a long record of independent decisions. In recent years, the high court has produced many decisions that were not pleasing to the Palestinian leadership among them rescinding a decision against opponents of the leadership and the order to the executive branch to release journalists and others, he said. But despite these arguments, most believe that the court decision was made largely based on political, not legal considerations. Rasem Obeidat, a Jerusalem activist, said in a column also published Sept. 11 in Al-Quds that the decision was political. Under the headline, Jerusalem is not the excuse to postpone the elections, Obeidat explained why he believed that the decision was political. What the court said in its judgment is not convincing to a Palestinian child. The court is aware that the complaint against the municipal elections has political fingerprints all over them and therefore the decision was not legal, he wrote. Palestinians who doubt the legal justification were generally divided as to why the court made its decision. Hamas argued that the court was postponed to help protect Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement from a sure loss at the polls. For their part, pro-Fatah commentators said that the courts were upset with Hamas and the movement's disqualification of Palestinian candidates in Gaza, and that is why the courts acted to put a stop to the Hamas-appointed judges trying to meddle with the municipal elections. Noteworthy is that the delayed elections were municipal and not general elections, which means that they had more to do with local services than overarching political issues. However, because this was the first time since 2007 that both Hamas and Fatah were dealing with their differences at the polls, many were hoping that solving conflicts using the ballot box was a much more civilized mechanism. Since 2007, municipal elections took place in the West Bank in 2012, but not in the Gaza Strip, where no elections have taken place since pro-Hamas candidates won the 2007 parliamentary elections. Still, a genuine reconciliation appears to be behind rumors that a breakthrough in the form of a national unity government was in the works. A report published Sept. 18 on the Madar news website stated that the proposed national unity government would be headed by Fatah Central Committee member Mohammed Ishtayeh, and that his deputy from Gaza would be Ahmed Yousef, the former adviser to Ismail Haniyeh and a relatively moderate Islamist who can be easily accepted by Israel and the West. In addition, the report claims that part of the reconciliation would be to change the electoral system so that it favors individuals rather than parties or lists. The report says the secretly arranged agreement involving Fatah and Hamas senior leaders on the unity government and the new electoral system will suggest that elections be held in two installments, one in the West Bank to be followed within six months by elections in Gaza. A senior Palestinian government source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that serious and high-level discussions are ongoing between the Palestinian leadership and Hamas, and that the unity government stated in the report is one such possibility for a reconciliation breakthrough. There is no doubt that the Palestinian high court has shaken up the stalled political process. At a time that both the executive and legislative branches have been unable to cause any serious changes, the judiciary has shown that it can make a serious contribution to the current Palestinian debate. The independence of the judicial branch doesnt mean that it is blind to the overall political landscape; its intervention in the municipal elections is aimed at raising a red flag about the dangers of holding elections without a minimum of internal agreement. It is unclear how the Palestinian executive branch will respond to the court's wishes, but the court has shown enough independence to speak out forcefully for the need of an improved political atmosphere prior to elections that appear to aim at avoiding national unity rather than supporting it. In this case, the court has proved relatively independent. September 21, 2016 The Senate overwhelmingly agreed to proceed with arms sales to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 21, in effect casting the first vote on US participation after 18 months of war in Yemen. The upper chamber voted 71-27 to shelve an effort from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., that would have blocked a $1.15 billion proposed sale of tanks and other weapons. Opponents argued that Saudi Arabia needs all the help it can get in what they described as a proxy war against Iran in its backyard, but the bill's sponsors countered that it's Congress' responsibility to fully explore and debate what exactly the United States is getting involved in. "We now have a war in Yemen, and yes we are directly involved in that war," Paul said. "And yes, this is a vote not just about weapons; this is a vote about whether we should be at war in Yemen." Bill co-sponsor Chris Murphy, D-Conn., echoed the sentiment. Both he and Paul are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "This smells, this looks, this sounds like war," Murphy said. "We are providing the ammunition. We are providing the targeting assistance. The planes couldn't fly without US refueling capacity. American pilots may not be actually pulling the trigger to drop the bombs, but we're doing pretty much everything else that is necessary for this war to continue." Opponents, led by the Republican majority leader, offered a fierce resistance. Blocking the sale, said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would convince Saudi Arabia and other nations in the region that "the United States does not live up to its commitments." Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called the effort "ass-backwards" when Saudi Arabia is fighting against militias that have received Iranian weapons and other assistance. He pointed out that most members voted against the Iranian nuclear deal, which unblocks billions of dollars in assets that Iran can use to pursue its military objectives. And Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., insisted that the tanks wouldn't be used in Yemen but rather are for Saudi Arabia to protect itself from rocket launches and incursions by Houthi fighters across the Saudi border. He said the $1.15 billion deal includes the replacement of 20 tanks damaged by Houthi artillery while positioned inside Saudi Arabia. The proposed sale also includes upgrades to 133 Saudi-made tanks. "Let's be clear about what the arms sale is all about: It's about giving a nation that's under attack by Iranian-sponsored militias the arms that it needs to defend its people and its territory," said McCain, who went on to call the Houthis the "stooges" and "clients" and "agents" of Iran. "Make no mistake: This aggression is fueled by the Iranians." And Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the arms vote was the wrong vehicle to debate the war in Yemen. He also reminded senators that President Barack Obama himself personally promised Gulf state allies that he would expedite arms sales in exchange for their acquiescence to the nuclear deal with their regional nemesis, Iran. "I don't look at this as a proxy for some other issue relative to the declaration of war. That to me is a stretch," Corker said. "This is about a direct relationship ... and basically us demonstrating that we as a nation cannot be counted upon." Despite the bill's defeat, critics of the war found solace in the fact that Congress was finally forced to hold a very public debate on the US role in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people, many of them civilians. They also pointed out that the 27 senators who voted in favor of the measure represents an improvement over the 24 who voted to block arms sales to Pakistan in March, despite the considerable lobbying firepower of both Saudi Arabia and the US arms industry. "For nearly a year and a half, the United States has fueled a conflict that has threatened the lives of millions in Yemen without any meaningful debate," Oxfam America President Ray Offenheiser said in a statement after the vote. "Today, for the first time since the war in Yemen began, 27 senators voiced the first cries of dissent against our governments unconditional and unlimited support for the Saudi-led coalition." September 22, 2016 Turkey's more than 18 million students began school in mid-September this year as usual. Unlike normal times, however, they began their education year not with an introduction to mathematics or science, but rather by learning about the treachery the nation faced July 15 with the failed coup attempt. Teachers gave an account of how Turkish democracy was attacked by the traitors within, while praising the martyrs who defeated them. In some schools, a "Martyrs Corner" was set up with the photos and stories of the 241 victims Turkey lost on the night of the attempted coup. Other schools arranged theatrical presentations where young students wore army uniforms to salute the brave soldiers who resisted the coup. Students also took oaths, vowing to never forget this blessed saga that found life with the sacrifice of the martyrs. A seven-minute film prepared by the Ministry of Education was an important part of the campaign. The film, which you can see online, first reminds students of the great historical battles the nation has won, such as the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 and the War of Liberation fought between 1919-22. Then it moves on to the night of July 15, with impressive scenes of citizens resisting the tanks and flags flying in the shade of mosques. In the background, you hear President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reciting the lines of the national anthem, especially the parts about the independence of the Turks and their glory against enemies. What makes the July 15 narrative even more significant is that it is likely to become an integral part of the Turkish education system. The Ministry of Education announced that after this year the coup attempt would find its place in textbooks. Meanwhile, the ministry already distributed two booklets on this particular issue to all students. One is titled The Victory of Democracy and Our Martyrs. It begins with a foreword by Erdogan, tells the story of the coup and even gives a glossary that defines the exact nature of the traitors the Gulenists. The other one is titled July 15: The Attempt to Occupy Turkey, and tells the story of coups and rebellions against legitimate authority since the Ottoman Empire. It is written by a historian who also happens to write a column in the pro-government daily Sabah, and on its cover presents the Gulenists as an invasion army carried out by a Trojan horse. What is it that needs to be said about all of this? No one can blame Turkish society for being emotional about what happened July 15. Innocent Turks were killed by the planes, tanks and rifles of their own army. The civilians and policemen who gave their lives to resist the coup are indeed heroes whom Turkey must honor. Every nation commemorates its sacrifices, so Turks have every right to do the same. The reaction to the Gulenists, as the apparent masterminds of the coup, is also understandable. On the other hand, the particular political narrative that is built around the coup raises concerns, especially if it turns out be a perpetual worldview indoctrinated by the education system. The narrative depicts a black-and-white universe, where patriots defend the nation against enemies inside and out. It also depicts a commander in chief who guides the whole nation against these numerous threats. There is no trace of any self-criticism or soul-searching, such as asking how the nation had come to the brink of a military coup in the first place, what the root causes of these never-ending power struggles of Turkey are, or whether the state and its masters also have a responsibility in contributing to the very threats they are fighting against. One might wonder whether this is all new to Turkey. Erdogan, after all, constantly heralds a New Turkey. In fact, however, the Old Turkey that Erdogans supporters often condemn had a very similar founding myth. Accordingly, Turkey was founded only after defeating the foreign enemies and local traitors in World War I and the following War of Liberation. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the commander in chief, had led the nation to glory, which would never have been possible with his absence. This mythology was kept alive by textbooks, student oaths, public monuments, marches, parades and the media. It was not totally wrong, for Turkey indeed had suffered major threats and Ataturk was indeed the war hero. But it also was manipulative, for it helped to mobilize the nation around a single official ideology and anchor Ataturk as the undisputable national leader. As a result, the enemies of Ataturk became the enemies of the nation, and political opposition became tantamount to treason. It would be wrong to say that the New Turkey has reached that level, but a similar concept of official nationalism is in the air. In this new founding myth, Erdogan replaces Ataturk, and the July 15 failed coup replaces the War of Liberation. One major difference is that Islamic symbols are much more prominent this time, reflecting the values of Erdogan and the majority that supports him. While the Old Turkey always suffered from being a regime based on the secular minority, the "New Turkey" relies on the conservative majority. A more healthy nationalism would still honor the nations losses and condemn the attacks against it. But then it would focus on building an inclusive political system and culture in which even the traitors can be rehabilitated and the outside world is seen not as a den of enemies but a family of partners. Erdogan and his party, in fact, used to promote such a tolerant and self-confident nationalism in their earlier years. But power does change people. It also teaches, apparently, that it is better to adopt pre-existing patterns rather than try to change them. September 21, 2016 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's supporters were awed once again by his performance at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. He spoke at the summit about Syrian refugees and touched upon nearly every issue on in his agenda, as if he was addressing an admiring domestic audience in Turkey. While he was delivering his speech, his fans flooded social media with claims that he taught the world a lesson. The following day, pro-government media outlets hailed his speech with glowing headlines like Turkish Day at the UN, The World is Bigger than Five and Erdogan was very outspoken, lashed out at the whole world. The world is bigger than five is Erdogans favorite motto, a challenge to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council that hold veto power. Erdogan once again chose the UN rostrum to voice his resentment of the injustices of the international system. When he picked up the microphone at the General Assembly meeting, he did not mince his words nor try to be diplomatic. He was as blunt and populist as in his domestic political performances. In this respect, Erdogan increasingly resembles the fiery third world leaders of the Cold War period and perhaps more than anyone else former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Yet, it seems the overall international climate is not very interested in the parade of colorful orators at the rostrum of the United Nations. The pro-Erdogan reporters said nothing of the seats in the General Assembly hall. Erdogan gave his fiery speech in front of mostly empty seats. The world's leaders had not turned out to hear his lesson. No worries. The Turkish president was not deterred. He was as vibrant as ever, as if speaking in front of the tens of thousands of people he is used to. The substance of his speech was consistent with a message he had already directed to the US administration on his way to New York. At Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, just before his flight, Erdogan held a press conference and gave detailed information about Turkeys military operation in Syria. He said with Operation Euphrates Shield, an area covering 900 square kilometers (560 square miles) has been cleansed of elements of terror. He emphasized that the line held by the Turkish armed forces is moving south. Interestingly, Erdogan mentioned that 5,000 square kilometers (3,100 square miles) of the area under Turkish military control could be considered a safe zone where Syrian refugees could be resettled. He also reminded his audience that at the outset of the Syrian crisis, Turkey had defined three goals: a no-fly zone over northern Syria to prevent the regimes aircraft from attacking a safe zone where displaced Syrians could be resettled cooperation with the United States to train and equip the Syrian opposition fighting against the regime The Turkish military incursion that began on Aug. 24 with clearing the border town of Jarablus from the Islamic State (IS) and handing it over to Turkey-supported Syrian opposition groups created a de facto safe zone of the kind Erdogan has been proposing since the end of the year 2011. In Erdogans view, the creation of a safe zone in northern Syria, especially the northwestern tip west of the Euphrates, would not only weaken the hold of the regime in Damascus and provide an area for the refugees, but would also prevent the formation of a Kurdish corridor along Turkeys southern border. Thus, the safe zone was meant to contain Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People's Protection Units (YPG) more than anything else. In his press conference on the way to New York, Erdogan was explicit on the issue. In a veiled criticism of the US administration, he said, Tell Abyad is an Arab settlement. What is the point of taking it from the hands of [IS] and handing it over the PYD and YPG? What was the objective in doing this? Linking with Afrin so they could reach the Mediterranean?" He was speaking of the Kurdish objective of linking the three cantons of Qamishli, Kobani and Afrin to form an area stretching from Syria's borders with Turkey and Iraq on the east to the Syrian-Turkish border in the west. "After the Gaziantep bombing weve said enough is enough and we told them this was a mistake. During the Manbij operation, we declared that the PYD should not be in Manbij. Manbij is Arab. [The United States and the coalition partners] acted as if Manbij belonged to PYD. Weve told them they are doing wrong, he said. Erdogan, apparently alluding to Washington, added, They tell us not to move further. We will. We will move to wherever we need to move. We have to remove the threat against us from all those areas. We had negotiated this matter earlier. We had stated that we have to create a safe zone of 90-95 kilometers wide and 40-45 kilometers deep. We had spoken with President [Barack] Obama on this issue at the G-20 summit in Antalya, and he had accepted it. We had also discussed this with Putin. To be fair, Erdogan, even though he is at odds with Washington, is consistent in his Syria policy. He has been advocating for the creation of a safe zone in northern Syria for over five years. Neither is his anti-Kurdish stance in northern Syria new. Even while the so-called peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party was ostensibly underway in Turkey, he was dedicated to obstructing Kurdish autonomy all along the Turkey-Syria border. On Jan. 26, 2015, while on his way back from an official visit to Somalia, he had spoken to journalists accompanying him in unequivocal terms: I told Obama three things must be settled. One, no-fly zone. Two, safe zone. Three, train and equip. The US accepts the last one, but does not agree with the first two. And it does not acept regime change. It is not its target. But without that, there cannot be any resolution in Syria. What happens in its stead? Exactly what has happened in Iraq would repeat in Syria. We do not want it. What do I mean? Northern Iraq. Now, the birth of Northern Syria! It is impossible for us to accept it. I am aware how heavy the burden on Turkey is in regard to this. But we have to be resilient. Otherwise, following Northern Iraq, a Northern Syria could come into being. Such entities would create great troubles in the future. Many seem to have forgotten this statement by Erdogan, but he has remained committed to it, and that approach has guided all his actions regarding Syria since then. As long as he feels strengthened in the wake of the failed coup and the Turkish incursion into Syria, the Turkish president naturally will be adamant in pursuing his Syria policy. And as long as Washington does not extradite Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan's public enemy number one, and if the Obama administration does not step back from arming Syrian Kurds even against IS tensions may sharply escalate between Turkey and the United States and jeopardize the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. September 19, 2016 "The Dark Wind," a film directed by Hussein Hassan, sparked a large-scale objection among Yazidis at this year's Duhok International Film Festival. The film was screened the first day of the festival, held Sept. 9-16 in Dahuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, despite protesters' claims that the film presents a bad image and twists facts about Yazidi women who were captured by the Islamic State (IS) and escaped its grip. Murad Ismael, the executive director for the Houston-based nonprofit Yazda, told Al-Monitor, The [one] scene alone where a Yazidi father tells his survivor daughter that she does not befit them, and puts her at gunpoint is enough [for us] to perceive [the film] as offending to Yazidis. The Yazidi community had previously objected to the film and demanded that changes be made. Yet, the director did not respond to their call, Qader Hassan, a Yazidi activist, told Al-Monitor. He said the Yazidi Lalish Dahuk cultural center asked permission to watch the entire film before the festival, following which "we expressed reservations to the director [who attended the cultural center showing] and asked him to delete offensive scenes. He did not delete them, although he promised to do so. In an interview with al-Hurra channel Sept. 10, Hassan responded to the Yazidis' reservations: "I have no comment on the objections, because they did not come to watch it, but they came to say no to the film." He also used harsh expressions against them, saying, "With this behavior, they did not respect what has happened to them [IS massacres]." Yazda issued a statement Sept. 11 demanding that the judiciary intercede to stop the film from being shown in the future. The statement said, The film shows that the Yazidi community rejects its daughters, which is inconsistent with the reality. A few days following the genocide, the spiritual council issued a decision on how to deal with the victims and urged the Yazidis and the world to take care of the survivors and provide them with full support. The statement pointed out that Yazda collected more than 1,060 testimonies from female survivors as part of a documentation and assistance program. Not one of their stories aligns with the scenario in the film, the statement said. Khodr Domli, a Yazidi researcher and media figure, also expressed his objection to Al-Monitor, saying, The Yazidi survivors are an excellent example to be followed, not only in Kurdistan or Iraq, but also in all of the Middle East countries. They faced with courage captivity, rape and sexual slavery. They have overcome the ordeal and have become a symbol of bravery. In the same context, Vian Dakhil, a Yazidi member of the federal parliament, said in a statement, None of the survivors were abused [in their own community], although nearly 2,500 girls and women were rescued in the past two years. This is because we are a civilized community and we realize that what happened to our daughters was against their will. Dakhil also demanded that future showings of the film be halted, and said, We call on the competent authorities in the Kurdistan Region to stop the screening of the ominous film, and prevent it from being shown in any local or international festivals because thousands of youths and male relatives of the survivors view that they and their daughters are being offended in the film. [The film] is a seed of sedition that should not be allowed to grow." Speaking to Al-Monitor, former Yazidi parliament member Ameena Saeed warned, The screening of the film is very dangerous for the victims who are still in IS' grip. If they get to watch the film, they will believe that the Yazidi community will not welcome them if they ever escape and may make dangerous choices. Saeb Khodr, a Yazidi activist and the head of the Adyan Foundation, which advocates peaceful coexistence, believes the relevant parties including the director, the festival administrators and Dahuk provincial leaders deliberately provoked the Yazidis with the way the issue was handled. Khodr told Al-Monitor, "This is part of a series [of steps] designed to distract Yazidi youths from crucial issues concerning the future management of their own areas in the post-IS era in Iraq. Princess Oroub Bayazid Ismail, a member of the Yazidi royal family, wrote on her Facebook page that Kurdish media is deliberately distorting reality regarding the way the Yazidi community is dealing with the survivors and is providing misleading facts. This is a historical threat to us, the Yazidi community, which is a peaceful community that looks for peace away from hatred and malice," she wrote. Some aspects of the film also offend other Iraqis, said Zaid Bahr al-Ulum of the Najaf seminaries. One scene shows a man in the slave market displaying a Yazidi captive for sale. The man is wearing traditional Shiite clothing usually worn by descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. "This is a clear falsification of history," Ulum said. "The truth is that there are no Shiites within IS' ranks. The Shiites have even volunteered to free the Yazidi female captives. The Shiite religious institution has stood by the side of the Yazidis in their plight. The subject is especially sensitive as Iraqi forces are preparing to liberate Mosul from IS. Tensions are high because Mosul's predominately Sunni citizens fear reprisals if Shiite forces participate in the operation. Another sore spot is that the film was funded in part by Qatar through a Doha Film Institute grant. Qatar is suspected of supporting extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. Hissou Hormi, the head of Yazidis Foundation in the Netherlands, told Al-Monitor, Involving the Shiites in a scene where the Yazidis were being sold, the funding from a Qatari institution and the distortion of the reality regarding how the survivors are welcomed [back] turn the film into a new bomb that could ignite a conflict that goes beyond offending the Yazidis. The hype caused by the film and the messages received by the Yazidi community in particular, and the Iraqi community in general, show how difficult it is for Iraqis, regardless of their sects, to deal with the tragedy of IS occupation and subsequent massacres. This tragedy will always haunt any process to restore trust among the different Iraqi communities on the one hand, and between citizens and the political system on the other, in the post-IS area. 8bc0471b-bffa-4a4b-996a-ca1f75956d45-725-438.jpg A rendering of North Madison Corners from Colliers International. (www.colliers.com) Fresh Market will open its first specialty grocery store next year in Madison, a city leader told AL.com today. The City of Madison said Fresh Market will open in the former Star Market building next year. (Lucy Berry | lberry@al.com) Mary Beth Broeren, director of planning and economic development for the City of Madison, said the North Carolina retailer is expanding at the old Star Market building on 7950 U.S. 72 West. The property at North Madison Corners has been empty since Star Market closed at the site in October 2014. "They are moving forward with permitting for the interior tenant improvements, which we expect to start at the latter part of this year," Broeren said. " ... We do not as yet have an opening date other than it will be in 2017." In addition to its Huntsville location, Fresh Market operates six stores in Birmingham, Homewood, Daphne, Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa. The company has 177 locations in 24 states across the U.S. Atlanta-based BRAVE Public Relations, which handles media inquiries for the grocer, could not confirm the new location. The company said it has re-evaluated the timing of its new store opening announcements as it works to provide more flexibility in developing Fresh Market's long-term strategy. "The Fresh Market is continuously reviewing its investment priorities, which often results in shifting opening dates," the business said in a statement. "As such, the company does not plan on projecting or speculating on specific store opening timing prior to construction start." Marshalls at North Madison Corners. (Lucy Berry | lberry@al.com) Marshalls is opening a store this fall next to the future Fresh Market facility and will host a grand opening celebration there from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 27. The company indicates on its website that it will move from its current facility on 6275 University Drive to the new location. Attempts to reach Marshalls on Thursday for more details were unsuccessful. The off-price department store chain, which has locations in Huntsville, Hoover, Mobile and Trussville, operates more than 1,000 sites in 48 states and Puerto Rico. Here are the top stories in Alabama business for Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016: Huntsville's Piper & Leaf will host a grand opening on Sept. 24 to celebrate its second shop. It'll be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday on 7504 U.S. 72 in the same complex as Sprouts and Hobby Lobby. -- A Consul General of Canada will tour Innovation Depot in Birmingham to explore trade opportunities between Alabama and Canada. Canada is already Alabama's biggest export market. -- Another downtown Birmingham building is getting a makeover: this time, it's the former Parisian flagship store on 2nd Avenue North. The top two floors will host a portion of the corporate headquarters of Action Resources Inc. -- Four Birmingham-area Walmart stores are offering grocery pick-up service at no additional charge. The stores are in Alabaster, Gardendale, Chelsea and Birmingham. -- Mad Men may make advertising seem glamorous, but according to CareerCast, it's one of the most overrated jobs. Check out the other ones that top the list. -- Follow all of Alabama's business news here anytime. Junior League of Mobile Luncheon With Jenna Bush Hager Sept. 22, 2016 The Junior League of Mobile hosted a luncheon featuring Jenna Bush Hager at the Battle House Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in downtown Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell) (Mike Kittrell) Her mother, former First Lady Laura Bush, was a member of the Junior League of Dallas, and her grandmother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, belonged to the organization in Houston, but Jenna Bush Hager said she's never lived in one place long enough to join the Junior League - "sadly," she added. "I'm 100 percent behind women coming together to do positive things in the community." On Thursday morning, she was preparing to address some 400 members and guests of the Junior League of Mobile at a private luncheon at The Battle House Hotel in downtown Mobile. Before the luncheon, Hager sat down with al.com for a brief interview. She said she planned to talk about lessons learned from her parents and women around the world who have inspired her. Among her own female role models, she said, are literary types she's met through one of her jobs as a correspondent for the "Today" show, including the late Maya Angelou. Hager interviewed Angelou in 2013, when she was pregnant with her oldest daughter, Mila, now 31/2. Angelou, then 85, had just published "Mom & Me & Mom," a book about her mother. "I adore her," Hager said. "And Toni Morrison is brilliant." Through her high-profile job, which has included filling in for anchors on "Today," she has also become close to two of the show's hosts, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb. "We work in a place that's very empowering for women," she said. Hoda, who co-hosts the third hour of "Today" with Kathie Lee Gifford, "is so much fun." Jenna Bush Hager signs copies of her latest book, "Our Great Big Backyard," which she co-wrote with her mother, Laura Bush, at the Battle House Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in downtown Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell) Hager landed the "Today" gig in 2009, after she appeared on the show as a guest to promote her first book, "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," in 2007. She was inspired to write it by her travels in Latin America as an intern for UNICEF. After she was on the show, "the executive producer asked if I wanted to work there," she said. At first, she declined the offer. She was working as a teacher in an inner-city school, a job she loved. But a couple of years later, she took the position. "I love my job now with NBC," she said. Hager is a natural on "Today," with her easy smile, big laugh and down-to-earth personality. She's just as warm and approachable in person as viewers would expect her to be. She and her twin sister Barbara grew up in the public eye as granddaughters and daughters of two U.S. presidents. An English major at the University of Texas at Austin, Hager always loved to write, and always thought she'd be a teacher. "I always tell people to have a plan," she said - even though you never know where your path will lead. Though she doesn't teach anymore, she's passionate about the power of education. "Education is the great equalizer," she said. "It's the way to solve all the issues we have." Hager has written two children's books with her mother, "Read All About It!" in 2008 and their most recent collaboration, "Our Great Big Backyard." "We both love hiking and taking mother-daughter trips to the Grand Canyon," she said. "My husband and I were engaged at Acadia National Park" (in Maine). She and her mom had talked about the idea of writing about a young girl who explores the national parks with her family. When Hager was pregnant with her second daughter, Poppy, who is now a year old, her mom reminded her that 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. "She said, 'Get to writing,'" Hager said. "She's a very tenacious editor," she said of Laura Bush. "We had a great time." The book is intended for children from preschool age to about 8 years old, she said. "I read it to my 31/2-year-old," she said. Reading to her girls as part of their bedtime routine is "a special time" that's as important to her as it is to them. "I read to them every single night," she said. She usually reads three books, but "Mila would have me read 12 if she could. It's important for parents to have that cuddle closeness." Both of her girls were born in New York City, where she and her husband Henry have lived for the past seven years. "But they're honorary Texans," she said. Hager said she goes home to Texas as often as she can and stays with her parents while she works. She also stays in touch with her Southern roots by working as an editor-at-large for Birmingham-based "Southern Living" magazine - a job that came about in 2012, when the editor noticed her on "Today." "It's a perfect addition to what I do," she said. "I'm kind of a homesick Southerner." Hager writes a monthly column as well as travel and cultural pieces and "profiles of strong Southern women," she said. "I love being able to report on that." This month, she has been working on a new show, "Give," that will air on NBC on Saturday mornings. Along with her co-host, actor Blair Underwood, she will "travel around highlighting amazing nonprofits and surprising everyone." "Give" premieres on Oct. 1. According to the show's Twitter page, "celebrity philanthropists will go undercover to tell the stories of charities inspiring change." After the luncheon, Hager posted a photo of herself on Instagram with three of Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids: A second Birmingham teen is now charged in the April shooting death of a 55-year-old man fatally shot when he answered the front door of his home. Birmingham police announced a capital murder charge against 18-year-old Travis Walker. He was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon and is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Masiya Turner, 17, was arrested in May. Both teens are charged in the April 30 death of Ronald Earl Brown. The shooting happened about 9:30 p.m. that Saturday night. East Precinct officers were dispatched to Brown's home in the 1300 block of Lake Lane. When they arrived, they found Brown on the living room floor suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Brown was with his wife and son when he was shot. His wife told detectives that Brown went to answer a knock at the door. She heard a gunshot and went to the living room, where she found her husband on the floor. Police at the time said the shooting wasn't random. "The shooter was looking for someone in their home,'' Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said at the time of Brown's death. According to court records, Brown was killed in the course of a robbery of money and/or drugs. An Alabama jury found that Dollar General's inadequate inspection policies led to a customer's injuries, and returned a $1,725,000 million verdict against the corporation on Wednesday (Sept. 21). The incident occurred at Dollar General Store No. 7853 in Mobile on July 9, 2012 when a customer, Deborah Revette who was 60-years-old at the time, slipped and fell in clear liquid laundry detergent that was on the floor in the chemical aisle. She suffered severe leg and shoulder fractures that resulted in eight surgeries, 395 doctor visits, and over $470,000 in medical bills. Revette remains permanently disabled. This is the second large injury settlement Dollar General had ruled against them in Alabama in 2016. Back in April, a Dollar General store in Lauderdale County was forced to pay $925,000 to a delivery driver from Kentucky. The evidence showed that while Dollar General stores are open 14 hours a day, their corporate policy only requires employees to devote 10 minutes each day to safety inspections. Those safety inspections are informal, undocumented, and are not verified by a supervisor. Testimony in the case compared the method by which and how often other retailers in and around Mobile County conduct safety inspections made clear that Dollar General's informal policy of "visual safety checks" for 10 minutes each day was both unsafe and unacceptable. Revette was represented by Cunningham Bounds, LLC in the trial. Colonial Pipeline's Line 1 is flowing again -- which should eventually ease the regional gasoline shortages and price increases caused by the 12-day shutdown -- but significant work remains to cleanup the estimated 336,000 gallons of gasoline that leaked from the pipeline in central Alabama and to dig out the damaged section and determine what caused the leak. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says most of the gasoline flowed overland from the leak site to a mining retention pond about 500 feet away. Since the leak was discovered, Colonial employees and outside contractors have been pumping water out of the pond when conditions allow. Those efforts have been limited by high concentrations of benzene and gasoline vapors. At one point, the Pelham Fire Department was forced to close the site for 83 hours due to unsafe concentrations of gas fumes. There are three retention ponds on the property near the spill site. Pond 2 is thought to have collected most of the gasoline from the spill. Pond 1 is uphill from the presumed leak site and has shown no traces of gasoline. Pond 3 is connected to Pond 2 by an underwater culvert which has now been blocked, and has shown trace amounts of broken down gasoline components. Crews are also using skimmers to collect gasoline on the surface of Pond 2, and have used more than 6,000 feet of boom to corral gasoline and constructed multiple underflow dams prevent it from reaching Peel Creek, a tributary of the Cahaba River. According to EPA representatives and environmental group Cahaba Riverkeeper, which has been involved in the response effort, water samples in Peel Creek and the Cahaba have shown no evidence of gasoline or gasoline components in either waterway. Colonial said about 60 percent of the surface of the pond had been cleaned as of Wednesday morning. According to EPA situation reports, 85,732 gallons of gasoline have been recovered from Pond 2, along with more than 292,000 gallons of gasoline-contacted water. EPA on-scene coordinator Kevin Eichinger said remediation of Pond 2 will be a significant undertaking. "Ultimately we're fairly certain that Pond 2 is going to have to be pumped completely dry, all that water removed," Eichinger said. "Excavation of the sediment is going to have to occur, excavation of the impacted vegetative debris all around it." Pond 3, which has shown only dissolved traces of gasoline components, will likely need less remediation. "Pond 3 still has fish living in it, it's still an active ecosystem," Eichinger said. "Most likely, with that pond, we'll either do aeration to drive those organic chemicals out or do some sort of other treatment, but currently we don't plan to pump Pond 3 down or do any extensive remediation there because these are very low levels of the [gasoline] constituents." So far, EPA said seven dead mammals have been recovered at the site: a rabbit, two raccoons, one fox, one coyote, one muskrat and one armadillo. Four turtles and two birds have also been found. The leaking section of the pipeline is in Shelby County, Alabama, approximately 20 miles south of Birmingham, and about four miles from suburbs like Alabaster and Helena. According to the Alabama Surface Mining Commission, the mining permit for the site where the leak was discovered is held by Twin Pines II, LLC mining company. ASMC director Johnathan Hall said the mining operations at the site have been completed and the site is going through the reclamation process. What caused the leak? The section of pipeline containing the leak is still underground as of Thursday, and company officials said it would be premature to speculate on the cause of the leak before it can be excavated and inspected. Efforts to dig out the leaking section of pipeline were put on hold early in the response period due to the potentially unsafe vapor levels. Once Colonial Pipeline made the decision Saturday to build a bypass line around the leak site, priority was given to building the bypass rather than digging out the old line. Now that Line 1 is flowing again, crews can begin digging out leaking line when safe conditions allow. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is "investigating the cause of the failure, any factors that contributed to the severity of the incident, and the operator's adherence to Federal pipeline safety standards," according to its website. Randy Aldridge, an inspector from the Alabama Surface Mining Commission first reported the potential leak on Sept. 9, during a routine inspection of the mine site. EPA documents state the landowner last visited the site about two weeks prior to that inspection. Aldridge declined a request for an interview with AL.com. Colonial Pipeline said it had no indication of a leak prior to the inspector's report, either from pressure readings in the pipeline or from routine aerial inspections it performs on the line. Birmingham City Schools Board of Education terminated the employment of Superintendent Kelley Castlin-Gacutan Thursday evening in a 6-3 vote. Board member April Williams introduced the motion, which was seconded by Cheri Gardner at the start of the continuation of Tuesday night's special called meeting. Tonight's vote served as Castlin-Gacutan's 60 days notice of termination, per her employment contract. For those last 60 days, though, she will be on paid administrative leave. Castlin-Gacutan was terminated without cause, school board attorney Afrika Parchman said, and referred reporters to the superintendent's contract as to the terms of Castlin-Gacutan's severance package. According to the contract, the school system will have to pay out Castlin-Gacutan's remaining compensation and benefits, which could total more than $400,000 for the next two years. The money will be dispersed on a monthly basis and not a lump sum. Parchman said Castlin-Gacutan's severance package will be reduced if she obtains a similar position within the next two years. Castlin-Gacutan, a native of Hueytown, started as Birmingham City Schools superintendent on July 1, 2015. Her contract was set to expire on June 30, 2018. Castlin-Gacutan was being paid $202,000 a year, plus travel and in-town expenses and a technology allowance. She didn't attend tonight's meeting. Larry Contri, director of schools for zone four, was named interim superintendent. He has worked at the school system for 40 years. Board member Daagye Hendricks said Castlin-Gacutan was fired because she was making decisions that weren't fiscally responsible. "We have to be accountable for that," she said. Hendricks said the school system spent $2.5 million on a new reading initiative based on the superintendent's recommendations, but students haven't received their new books. She also said the superintendent was making large expenditures without the board's approval. Board member Randall Woodfin spoke out against Castlin-Gacutan's termination before the vote was taken. He said to terminate the superintendent after only one year of employment is an embarrassment. "The superintendent has been here one year," Woodfin said. "We just gave her evaluation last month and she met expectations. We just approved her strategic plan -- our strategic plan that she led us on - last week. So we agreed to her vision. We agreed to the direction she wanted to take us in. "This school year just started, and we are going to terminate her without cause," he continued. "That is inappropriate. That is wrong." Woodfin accused board members of terminating Castlin-Gacutan because she didn't listen to their personnel recommendations and due to "brick and mortar issues." He said some board members can't look past their districts and see the school system as a whole. Board Vice President Lyord Watson said firing the superintendent will cause the school system to start back at zero, in terms of moving education forward. The following board members voted for Castlin-Gacutan's firing: Williams, Gardner, Hendricks, Sandra Brown, Sherman Collins Jr. and board President Wardine Alexander. Brian Giattina, Watson and Woodfin voted against termination. Castlin-Gacutan came under fire last week when board members expressed concern over large sums of money being spent without board approval. During the Sept. 13 meeting, the board was asked to approve an $83,000 expenditure for construction work already completed at the former Wells Fargo building on First Avenue North, which was purchased by the board in 2012. According to state law, the superintendent must seek board approval for expenditures over $50,000. Board members Hendricks and Williams both questioned who approved the $83,000 expenditure. They said the board is being put on the hook for work they didn't approve. "It has definitely been a money pit for lack of better words," Williams said during the meeting, of the Wells Fargo building. She said the board hasn't been kept up to date on the status of the renovations and what is being spent. Sharon Roberts, chief financial officer for the school district, said during last week's meeting that the $83,000 sum and other expenditures for the Wells Fargo building weren't initiated by Castlin-Gacutan's administration. Hendricks told AL.com that the paperwork presented to the board last week showed the work was approved during Castlin-Gacutan's tenure. Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Citizens for Better Schools, sought to have Castlin-Gacutan fired for violating state law and insubordination for spending money without board approval. "We feel that this act of insubordination is official grounds to terminate her contract, and that is what we hope will happen tonight," he said, prior to the meeting. Birmingham American Federation of Teachers leadership also supported Castlin-Gacutan's termination. Parent Juliet Easlick launched an online petition supporting Castlin-Gacutan and attended Thursday night's meeting in support of the superintendent. Easlick wrote that Castlin-Gacutan's job performance was deemed satisfactory during an August evaluation. "One year of working in the district after much turmoil where there is a historical lack of parental and community investment, a population of extreme poverty and a long history of micromanagement by the previous BOE where all but two were voted out," Easlick wrote. "It is absurd to think that anyone could control all of those factors and magically turn that history around in one year. "Firing Dr. G is not only unwarranted, it is irresponsible," she continued. The petition has received 41 signatures as of Thursday afternoon. Donna Thomas, president of the Birmingham Council of PTA, called the board's decision to fire the superintendent "sad. "Our children are the ones who will suffer," she said. Before the meeting, Thomas hoped that the board wouldn't rush to judgment. Castlin-Gacutan has worked in education since 1991, serving as a teacher, an assistant principal, principal and administrator. Before starting her post in Birmingham, she briefly served as interim superintendent of the Bibb County School system in Macon, Georgia. Castlin-Gacutan has a bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University, a master's degree in education from Brenau University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dustin Chandler was the second Pelham police officer to arrive on the scene. He worked vice on the overnight shift, so he'd seen a lot, but this was, well, different... A man had stopped his car on 31 North near Highway 119, stopped in the middle of an intersection, gotten out of his car and stood there--urinating, on himself. A policeman's first instinct, naturally, would be to suspect DUI. The man had to be under the influence of something; why, otherwise, would he stand in the middle of the street in the middle of the night wetting himself? But Chandler suspected otherwise. So, after conveying to his fellow officer that something else might be afoot, he began talking to the man. Soon, he recognized him from the community, recognized him as someone with a developmental disability, whose symptoms may mimic those of a person who is either drunk or on drugs. In fact, it was later learned, the man suffered from autism--or more correctly, Spectrum Disorder, the neurodevelopmental affliction that variously impairs the sufferer's ability to effectively communicate or interact with others. Some sufferers are highly functional (and are able to drive and live independently); others are not. Chandler recognized the symptoms not because he was trained to do so, but because, as many Alabamians know, his young daughter suffers from CDLK5, a rare genetic disorder with no known cure; she later became the namesake for Alabama's Carly's Law. Passed in 2014, it creates an affirmative defense for patients suffering from debilitating epileptic conditions--and their caregivers--for using marijuana extracts for treatment. Chandler's ability to see that there may have been another explanation for such odd behavior--behavior that would have had us undergoing sobriety tests, trying to touch our nose and stuff--prevented the man from becoming yet another person suffering from a disorder to be engulfed in our criminal justice system, which, as recent coverage AL.com revealed, is overburdened and ill-equipped to handle prisoners suffering with mental health issues or other disorders. "I'm not sure what would have happened had I not been there," says Chandler. In January 2015 Chandler resigned from the department following the release of an audio tape revealing some fellow officers mocking special needs children. Near the end of the year, he launched the Interaction Advisory Group, to help train police officers on how to better engage with people with autism and other developmental disabilities during on-duty interactions or encounters. His primary message: "De-escalation, especially when it comes to autism, has to be thought of first," he says "We want all police officers, in the back of their minds, to be able to pick up on certain clues and say, 'Let's look at de-escalation as the first technique rather than putting hands on somebody,'" he adds. "If you put hands on someone with autism they may not understand the circumstance and think you're being aggressive. It may cause anxiety and stress that can make them close down and not talk." IAG--a partnership between Chandler, the Kirchner Group and the UAB School of Health Professions--has conducted training sessions, funded by the Autism Society of Alabama, with departments across the state. Chandler has also had training requests from agencies as far away as Southern California. This week, Chandler is in Washington, D.C. speaking with national leaders and their staffs about the importance of autism training. Next month, Chandler will attend a law enforcement summit in Montgomery, hosted by state attorney general Luther Strange, and speak about autism training before an audience of about 500 officers. The numerous invitations "show the importance and the need," Chandler says. "Some officers have said, 'We had no clue,' and that they were glad they took the class." When he started IAG, Chandler had no idea that less than a year later, his services would be in such high demand. He also didn't know the interaction between police offers and some Americans--read: black men, in particular--would become perhaps the most volatile topic of conversation, media coverage and social-media chatter in the nation. "There's a lot of misunderstanding on both sides," he told me this week. "I've worn the badge and know what it is like to be in situations. People don't understand what it is like wearing a badge. It's not the same as any other job, and it's a hard one to do." I first met Chandler in mid-July during an appearance on the Matt Murphy Show to discuss my column on the police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, which had been followed the next day by a column on Sterling and Philando Castille, who was killed by a policeman in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, while sitting in his car with his girlfriend and her young son. The show occurred a few days later, on the morning after the killing of five Dallas police officers by a lone gunman. It had been a week that touched us all--like pouring iodine into a long-open wound that still has nowhere near healed. The show was tense, as expected, but the ex-cop to my right was reasonable and insightful, not a knee-jerk defender of all things blue. Afterwards we chatted for a bit and I learned of his mission to train officers on how to better handle encounters with people with disabling disorders, such as autism. "I go back to my own police training," he said. "Police are trained to keep themselves safe, which I understand. But certain situations don't always call for use of deadly force, which it's sometimes hard to tell in a split second. "Being a cop for long as I was we received no special training on how to manage a situation involving someone with a special-needs disability," he said. "I can tell you we faced these situations and while most of the time our instincts worked well, some situations didn't turn out well." Since then, Chandler's been my "go-to cop", especially when there is a police killing, the latest of which occurred this week in Tulsa and Charlotte. Not sharing the depths of those conversations here, just that they've all been engaging and enlightening, for both of us. (The kind of dialogue I wish occurred more often during these tense and turbulent times.) For various reasons, someone with a developmental disability is seven times more likely to have an encounter with the police, according to an FBI study. And there've been numerous incidents in recent months between police around the nation and someone with a developmental disability. One of the most visible happened on July 18 in North Miami, Florida, when Charles Kinsey, a behavioral specialist (who is African-American) was shot by a policeman as he lay on the ground with his hands up next to his patient, who had walked out of the MacTown Panther Group Homes a few block away. The officer shot Kinsey, and later stated, through a police union official, that he did so accidently; he meant to shoot the patient because he thought he was going to harm Kinsey with the object in his hand. It was a toy truck. Chandler watched the widely circulated video of the incident: "I can't say what the officer saw was a gun or not but the caregiver was trying to say the guy had autism. We just have to start thinking about a better way to handle. There were certain cues, I saw from watching just a few seconds of video. If we see certain behavior in an individual, we need to not be so quick to make certain decisions. "Deadly force is not always the first option but I've been there. If officers can pick up on clues, having that knowledge, we can start looking at de-escalation as a safer option for all." Chandler always reiterates that he's not anti-cop, and he's not, by any stretch. With IAG he has found audiences that are open and willing to learn. "We do not train that police officers should not arrest a person with autism," he says. "But if they have to go to jail there are certain things officers must know to make sure the subject is safe and treated fairly to improve their due process: do they truly understand the Miranda warning; are you checking off everything that should be checked off? "We don't ever say don't arrest but if you do, make sure the subject is kept safe and know that certain things make a difference in your interaction." In October, IAG hopes to rollout an on-line version of its training program that will allow departments to use it without Chandler being present. When he is engaged, however, Chandler is beginning to incorporate autism sufferers and caregivers into his training. I asked him, recently, if he believes his training could be expanded, to help officers to consider de-escalation in all high-stress, split-second encounters, beyond simply those with persons with a developmental disability. He paused, thoughtfully. "This training is, at least, a bare minimum because we talk about de-escalation," he said. "How it translates into every-day police work is hard to tell. Can you have that de-escalation thought if you stack up these clues, along with others? Maybe. Certain situations don't always call for use of deadly force. Which do and which don't are hard to tell in a split second." But perhaps easier, if it is discussed and trained and ingrained sooner, rather than too late. A convicted felon is charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of a Birmingham man last week. Eulice Tyrone Williams, 39, was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon by the Birmingham Police Department's Crime Reduction Team. He is charged in the Sept. 15 slaying 23-year-old George Arthur Crenshaw Jr. The shooting happened just after 4 a.m. in the 6200 block of Crest Green Drive outside of an apartment complex. Crenshaw was found in the parking lot, and pronounced dead on the scene at 4:25 a.m. Williams is charged with capital murder because the slaying happened in the course of a robbery, police said. Money was taken in the holdup, but investigators have not yet disclosed an amount or any additional information. Court records show Williams pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in 2000 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with attempted murder but that charge was dropped at the time he entered the guilty plea in the robbery case. Williams was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday He is being held without bond. Ross Harris Ross Harris, right, sits next to his attorneys in court during the first day of jury selection at his trial in Brunswick, Ga., Monday, Sept.12, 2016. Harris is charged with murder in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. The child died in the back seat of a hot SUV. (Stephen B. Morton/The Atlanta Journal Constitution via AP, Pool) (Stephen B. Morton) After questioning potential jurors for eight days, a judge and attorneys agreed 45 people in a final jury pool are qualified to hear the trial of a Georgia man charged with killing his toddler son by leaving the child inside a hot SUV. Justin Ross Harris is charged with murder in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. Authorities say the boy died after sitting for hours in the backseat of his father's SUV parked outside the Home Depot office were Harris worked in the Atlanta suburb of Cobb County. A first attempt at seating an impartial jury fell apart in May, when the judge agreed to move the trial because of pretrial publicity. Now Harris, 35, will be tried in the coastal city of Brunswick, 275 miles from the Atlanta suburbs. On Wednesday night, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed a jury pool of 45 panelists had been qualified, news organizations reported. Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark planned to hear pretrial motions Thursday before recessing court for the next week. A final jury of 12 people, plus up to four alternate jurors, is to be selected from the larger pool Oct. 3. Then Harris' trial is to begin with opening statements from attorneys. Though the case was moved far outside metro Atlanta, attorneys still had to work to find unbiased jurors. Many potential jurors said they had seen news stories or other accounts of the case, and some panelists were dismissed because they said they had already decided Harris is guilty. Harris, who moved to Georgia in 2012 from Alabama, faces life in prison if he's convicted of murder. Prosecutors say he intentionally left his son to die at a time when Harris was unhappy in his marriage and looking for relationships with other women. Defense attorneys call Cooper's death a tragic accident. A woman claims that Birmingham City Councilman William Parker violated her privacy by emailing a sex tape of her and Parker to others. The invasion of privacy lawsuit, filed in May by Letitia Collins against Parker and another woman, Naomi Gordon, is pending before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Helen Shores Lee. Gordon was hired late last year to assist with the city's efforts with the facilitation of the North Birmingham EPA issues per scope and then again as a consultant to Parker in May. The lawsuit claims that on or around Feb. 3 Parker emailed a video of an "extremely private nature" to Gordon without the knowledge of Collins. The lawsuit also alleges that Parker expected Gordon to email or distribute the video to third parties both inside and outside Alabama. On Feb. 5, Gordon emailed or distributed the "extremely private video" of Collins to third parties inside and outside Alabama without Collins' consent, the lawsuit states. In another court document that seeks answers of Parker, the video is described as a "video containing a private sexual encounter between him and the plaintiff Collins." Parker was appointed to fill the unexpired term of his mother, the late council president Maxine Parker, who died in November 2013. He won a special election in June 2014 to that District 4 seat. He is single. Parker's attorney, Kelly Brennan, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon. "This matter does not belong in a court of law," Brennan stated. "Ms. Collins does not have a legal claim. Instead, this is a personal matter between two consenting adults, who have not communicated since February 2016." "Plaintiff (Collins) seems to be a jilted lover, who is having a difficult time letting go," Brennan stated. "There were certain no poor intentions on Mr. Parker's part, and he hopes Ms. Collins is able to move on with her life." In an answer to Collins' lawsuit, Parker admits that Collins recorded a video that she later provided to Parker. Parker admits he provided the video to Gordon. "Defendant (Parker) vigorously denies that plaintiff (Collins) viewed or treated the video as 'having an extremely private nature,'" according to Parker's answer to the lawsuit. Parker also claims in his answer that Collins was "contributorily negligent and/or responsible for the creation and any distribution or release of the video." The list of questions for Parker also contains one that asks: "What was your understanding of what defendant Naomi Gordon, meant when she emailed you on February 5, 2016 wherein she stated: Wow!!! 3-D. I sent it. She said 'Ummm deliciosi, Papi!' :) She's going to call me when she's free to talk.'" Among the other questions asked of Parker are who are people named "Miami," "Houston," "Pinson," and "other local," in emails exchanged with Gordon. There are also questions pertaining to Parker's business or person relationship with a woman at a church. The lawsuit states that by giving publicity to private information, Parker and Gordon as a result have violated Collins' right of privacy. Collins' attorney, Michael Blalock, declined comment on the lawsuit because it is still being litigated. Reupert Don Bryan.png Ruepert Don Bryan (Shelby County Jail) An Alabama doctor accused of producing child pornography more than 10 years ago has now been indicted. A Shelby County grand jury on Tuesday indicted 81-year-old Ruepert Don Bryan, according to court records made public today. Bryan has remained in the Shelby County Jail on $500,000 bond since his arrest June 3. At the time of his arrest, he was a longtime practicing ear, nose and throat physician in Alabaster. The grand jury indicted Bryan on one count of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of producing pornography with a minor. Shelby County sheriff's officials on June 2 issued a plea for information upon release photos of a then-unidentified man, saying he was a suspect "in a crime that would shock any member of our community." "If this person is still alive he is a threat to our communities," the sheriff's office stated in a release on that day. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego had previously said Bryan was developed as a suspect after a member of the community came forward with "an abandoned videotape." According to court records in the case, the videotape contains images of at least one juvenile engaging in sexual activity. The video was produced sometime in 2002. Bryan is also accused of sexually abusing at least one juvenile between May and August 2003, his arrest warrant states. Bryan's first court date has now been set for Nov. 7. Alexandra Laird.PNG Alexandra Laird ( ) A young Pleasant Grove mother ordered to remain behind bars to keep her from using heroin until her baby is born is now fighting to get released from jail, but authorities who put her there in the first place say they will fight bond, especially after her father was arrested on meth charges this week during a drug raid. Alexandra Laird, 21, was indicted earlier this year after her newborn baby girl was born addicted to heroin. Pregnant again, she was arrested earlier this month after authorities say she admitted to using heroin three times a day while being pregnant. She is estimated to be between 18 to 20 weeks along in her pregnancy. Laird's attorney and doctor have filed a motion to reinstate bond, saying that she is currently receiving in-patient treatment at UAB Hospital after a medical issue at the Jefferson County Jail. She is being given Subutex, which prevents the harmful effects of opiate withdrawal to an unborn child, and say she can't continue that treatment in jail. They are asking that she be released into the care of the Alethia House. Pleasant Grove police Lt. Danny Reid, however, said Laird would be able to walk out of the recovery facility and there would be no way for anyone to stop her from doing so. Based on her admitted heroin addiction, he fears she would immediately return to behavior that would harm the unborn baby or worse. Laird's father, he said, is one of three people taken into custody during a raid at a Pleasant Grove home where Laird was arrested the first time. Jeffrey Laird, 53, was one of three men arrested Tuesday in the drug search warrant at a home in the 700 block of Seventh Way in Pleasant Grove. Reid said police received a tip that meth was being manufactured in the home and, after a lengthy investigation, raided that home. "It proved to be true,'' he said. Jeffrey Laird is expected to be formally charged today with manufacturing narcotics, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. Also arrested were Michael Knighten, 56, and Justin McCurry, 25. Warrants against Knighten and McCurry were obtained on Wednesday. Jeffrey Laird, left, Michael Knighten, center, and Justin McCurry, right, were arrested Sept. 20 in a Pleasant Grove Police Department drug raid. "She has no healthy environment to be released to,'' Reid said of Alexandria Laird. "She was living in this house when she was arrested the first time." A Jefferson County grand jury on April 15 indicted Laird on the first charge. She was initially arrested May 1, 2015 and had remained free on bond since then. Laird on March 29, 2015 gave birth to a baby girl at UAB Medical West, court records show. Routine newborn testing performed on the day the baby was born turned up positive for opiates and amphetamines, both controlled substances. The baby on April 6, 2015 was transferred to Princeton Baptist Medical Center where she received treatment for the withdrawals. In that case, Reid said Laird later admitted to detectives that she used heroin one to two times a week for at least five months of her pregnancy. Because of the severity of the baby's illness, Reid sought, and received, an enhanced charge of chemical endangerment of a child against Laird, which is a Class B felony. Laird does not have custody of her daughter. She also faces an unrelated drug possession charge after she was arrested again less than two months after her daughter's birth. In that case, she and a man were pulled over during a traffic stop in Tarrant, records show. The man she was with was arrested on an outstanding warrant. A search of the vehicle turned up 38 hydrocodone pills. Neither Laird nor the man claimed ownership of those pills. In late August of this year, Laird was arrested again for failure to appear in court. A condition of her previous child endangerment charge required her to not commit any other crimes while out on bond, which Reid said she did when she failed to show up for a court hearing. She then went before a judge who revoked her bond and administered a court-ordered drug test, which was positive. She was remanded to jail in the Bessemer Cutoff on Sept. 8. It was then she admitted to using heroin three times a day, Reid said, and admitted to being pregnant which authorities confirmed with a pregnancy test. Reid went before Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Hobdy and argued for no bond, claiming that the unborn baby's life is in danger of continued heroin exposure. Hobdy ordered her held until the birth of the baby. She was sent to the hospital on Sept. 10 to be treated for an injury that resulted from a fall in her cell, said Jefferson County sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian. On Wednesday, attorney Thomas J. Huseman filed a motion that bond be reinstated. A hearing is set for today before District Judge Eric Fancher. In his motion, the lawyer said that Laird is receiving Subutex at the hospital, but that UAB stated they plan to start detoxification of Subutex and release her back to the jail. "According to Dr. Lane, medical director of the Addiction Recovery Program at UAB, if defendant is not able to continue this medication, there is a grave risk to the unborn child by affecting fetal blood flow causing harm during periods of fetal development. Defendant would be unable to receive this medication if she is returned to the Jefferson County Jail," Huseman wrote. The lawyer went on to say that there is a bed available for Laird at Alethia House and that she would be able to continue the Subutex in the facility's "Mother's Hope" program. Alethia House has agreed to notify the Family Drug Court program if she leaves the facility, or threatens to leave. Jefferson County jail officials have already said that Laird will get the proper medical care for herself and her unborn child while in lockup. "Our psychiatric social worker will be meeting with the addiction doctor at UAB today to discuss her case,'' Christian said. "She has access to excellent medical care in the jail facility including addiction meds. Her care has been no different than if she had fallen at home. " "This is a sad case, no matter how you look at it, as the mother's heroin addiction is more compelling to her than the health and welfare of this unborn child,'' Reid has previously said. "But make no mistake, sad or not, law enforcement will hold this mother accountable and vigorously defend and protect the well-being of the child, who is innocent of all of this and simply struggling for life." Johnny Stephenson of NASA-Huntsville Marshall Space Flight Center spokesman Johnny Stephenson speaks to reporters on Sept. 22, 2016 about the death of a 7-month-old infant who died Sept. 21 after being left for the day in a car parked in the parking lot. (Lee Roop/lroop@al.com) The FBI has taken the lead in investigating the death of a 7-month-old infant found after being left in a car through the workday Wednesday at Marshall Space Flight Center, officials said. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command in Quantico, Va., was notified today that the FBI would assume the lead role in the investigation, Army spokesman Chris Grey said. There was little additional information early today about the death that has shaken the space community in Huntsville, home of one of NASA's major centers. Officials did confirm that the father was the parent driving the car. "What we do know is the gentleman was on his way to work, intended to go by our day care center, and apparently went straight to work and the child was left in the car," Marshall official Johnny Stephenson said Thursday morning. "The child passed away." "For us, it's a time of great grieving," said Stephenson, who heads Marshall's Office of Strategic Analysis and Communications. "We're just trying to reach out and show caring for that family" and for the Marshall family. "This is a tragic situation and our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family," said Marshall Director Todd May. "The Marshall community is a family and I know this team will pull together to support one another in this difficult time." Marshall is one of NASA's largest centers with almost 6,000 civil service and contractor employees and an annual budget of about $2.5 billion. The center is involved in NASA's human spaceflight, science and technology development missions. Stephenson spoke to the media at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center after leading a moment of silence for the child at the opening of a session of the center's Small Business Alliance. Hundreds of representatives from small businesses came to the session to learn more about securing NASA contracts. Watch his remarks in the video below. Dr. Wardynski Resigns Huntsville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Casey Wardynski announces his resignation at press conference Sept. 14, 2016 at the Annie Merts Center. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@AL.com) (Bob Gathany) Nobody saw it coming. It took less than 48 hours for Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Casey Wardynski to tell the school board he was resigning, to announce it to the public, and then to have his resignation accepted. The man who'd become a lightning rod for criticism was gone, leaving school officials and the public to piece together the reasons behind his abrupt exit. At a hastily-assembled press conference on Sept. 14 - a few hours after he'd told his school board he planned to resign - Wardynski announced his resignation effective at 5 p.m. the following day. Under questioning from the media, he also disclosed a romantic relationship and forthcoming marriage to Karen Lee, the CEO of a private school paid to handle discipline problems for Huntsville. At a special called board meeting the next day, the school board voted 4-1 to accept his resignation. A self-professed "fixer," Wardynski ushered in wave after wave of reforms during his five-year tenure with Huntsville City Schools. His brusque, decisive management style earned him a fair share of critics. On the other side, the school board and most of Huntsville's community leaders have spoken publicly about the much-needed accountability he brought to a school system once in serious financial trouble. By all accounts, his swift departure was unexpected in every quarter - including among those in the school system who worked closely with him. Mixed legacy Wardynski said at his press conference that he felt the timing was right for his departure because the school system was in a stable financial position and he was pleased with the improvements made in school discipline, an area of community concern last school year. "If a leader is going to change out, the time to do it is when things are running right and things can be sustained," he said. In June of 2011, the school board voted 3-2 to hire Wardynski as the system faced state intervention due to poor financial management. Within months, Wardynski began replacing central office administrators, announced the closure of Butler High School and rolled out his plan to remove textbooks from classrooms and provide a laptop or tablet for every student. A growing chorus of critics dogged him as the school system implemented wide-reaching changes - including new zone lines, teacher reassignments and an overhaul of the disciplinary code - to end a federal segregation lawsuit from 1963. Wardynski's support eroded among black Huntsville leaders and other factions dissatisfied with what they perceived as a non-collaborative, top-down management style. The school board itself has faced criticism for rarely voting against Wardynski. Last month, Huntsville elected two outspoken critics of Wardynski to the school board. "One of the things weighing heavily on him was that so many people were fighting and that wasn't helping the children," said board president Laurie McCaulley, who was defeated in the District 1 board race by newcomer Michelle Watkins. Watkins testified against the system during a federal desegregation hearing and had tense encounters with Wardynski during citizen comments at school board meetings. "He felt like if he was the center of the fight, he could remove himself. I know it was not an easy decision for him." Walker McGinnis, board representative for District 4, also thought the outspoken criticism Wardynski faced factored into his resignation. "You've got to have people pulling together to get anything done," said McGinnis. "He saw a real problem with (the amount of negative attention he attracted). That's why I think he went ahead and resigned." Wardynski himself did not mention his critics when he announced his resignation, but did say he wanted more time to address things in his personal life, including grieving the loss of his wife last December and his upcoming marriage to Lee. Beth Wilder, board representative for District 2, said she thought he may have been considering resigning and "thoughts of resigning may have been initiated by the death of his beloved wife, Sue." At the press conference, Wardynski announced his intention to marry Lee in December "and have a life." At the time he acknowledged that a relationship with the owner of a company that has a contract with the school system could have led to questions about a conflict of interest. "As a superintendent, it's always important to be above reproach," he said. "If I was to marry Ms. Lee while I was superintendent it could become an issue. So that would be a problem." What is Pinnacle? Karen Lee (Pinnacle Schools photo) Lee founded The Pinnacle Schools, a Huntsville-based company that offers private and alternative schooling for troubled teens and a residential treatment program. In January 2012, The Pinnacle Schools was approved by the Huntsville school board to operate RAISE, an alternative school program for middle and high school students that would replace The Seldon Center, the system's longtime alternative school on Holmes Avenue. The contract was renewed in 2014 for another three years. Huntsville City Schools has paid The Pinnacle Schools at least $5.7 million since 2012 to accommodate up to 125 students in the RAISE program each year and five at Pinnacle's Elk River residential treatment facility. By the time the contract comes up for renewal in 2017, the total payout will be at least $6.9 million. Those numbers do not include additional costs to the school system when it refers more than 125 students at a time to RAISE. That cost is $950 per extra student per month. A new Pinnacle program Wardynski's resignation announcement came a day before a regular school board meeting during which an invoice for The Pinnacle Schools was up for approval for payment. The bill was for implementation of a new Pinnacle-managed program in Huntsville City Schools, but school board members knew little about it. Sometime around April 2016, The Pinnacle Schools launched a six-week pilot program at Huntsville High School called Assignment for Positive Progress (APP). The APP program was designed to serve students who had been adjudicated - the juvenile justice equivalent of convicted - of certain crimes and who were returning to school after spending time at a state juvenile detention facility. "You're talking about kids who have been charged with homicide, violent crimes, even rape, and the law says because they're under 17 you have to allow them back in public schools" within 30 days of their release from the juvenile detention facility, said McCaulley. "APP was designed because the 30-day window may not be sufficient for some kids." The APP pilot program operated inside Huntsville High School, where APP students were kept in a separate classroom and assigned a behavior specialist, a social worker, an academic teacher and other supports. "At the time I had a general understanding of the need for and purpose of the program," said Wilder. "I'm not sure where the idea (to launch the program) originated. It is consistent with the goals of our Positive Behavior and Intervention Support services." The school board did not have to approve the APP pilot program because the school system's administration - headed by Wardynski - can allocate funding up to approximately $200,000 without board approval, said board member Elisa Ferrell. During the pilot program, some parents expressed concern that troubled kids who had spent time in state youth detention facilities were now on campus at Huntsville High. One Huntsville High parent submitted a concern recorded by the system's desegregation advisory committee on April 5: "Pinnacle in Huntsville High School?? Disaster waiting to happen. Where is the logic with this?" In an April 4 letter to parents about multiple topics, Huntsville High Principal Aaron King said, "We are not moving the Pinnacle Program into Huntsville High School. The Pinnacle Program will continue to provide Credit Recovery options and serve our students who have been expelled from Huntsville City Schools." Sometime over the summer break, Wardynski began dating Lee. At the time he considered the ethical implications of that decision, he said. "I have talked to ethics attorneys and I shared with responsible authorities with the school system when I felt that it was an issue," he said. When school started in early August, the APP program launched in all six high schools, with one APP class per school. New Century Technology High and Lee High share one class because they're located on the same campus. The number of students served by the program is unclear. In late August or early September, Wardynski told board members that he was dating Lee but did not mention marriage. The next day, said McCaulley, the board contacted its attorney, J.R. Brooks, to ask if Wardynski's relationship constituted a conflict of interest or could violate state ethics laws because Pinnacle had a contract with the school system. Brooks would not comment on any meetings with Wardynski or the school board, citing attorney-client privilege. Soon after, an invoice arrived from Pinnacle, billing the school system for the six-week APP pilot program at Huntsville High and one month (August) of operating APP in the district's six high schools. On Sept. 12, McCaulley, as board president, and Elisa Ferrell, as board vice president, met with Wardynski for a board agenda meeting, as they always do on the Monday before a scheduled Thursday board meeting. At the meeting, Wardynski asked McCaulley to put Pinnacle's invoice for the APP program on the agenda for Thursday's meeting. He mentioned again that he was dating Lee. "We had a full discussion in the agenda meeting, with a lot of exploratory questions," said McCaulley. She and Ferrell said the agenda meeting was the first time they'd seen Pinnacle's request for compensation for APP. "We knew that because (the compensation request) was on the agenda it would be discussed publicly (at the board meeting)," McCaulley said. "He asked for it to be placed on the agenda so he knew quite well it would be discussed publicly." Two days later, Wardynski told his board members he was resigning. He would not be giving the three months' notice outlined - but not required - in his contract. Five years Board member Mike Culbreath cast the lone dissenting vote the next evening when the board voted 4-1 to accept Wardynski's resignation. He said later that he didn't like how quickly Wardynski left. McGinnis said Wardynski's quick departure surprised him, too. "I was very close with Dr. Wardynski. I thought the world of him," he said. "Used to, we'd go out and look at movies together and stuff like that. "In five years he did a great job," he said. "But he just got tired. It happens. Most superintendents now don't last but two or three years. He lasted five." The board voted to appoint longtime Huntsville educator Tom Drake as interim superintendent. Later, during the board meeting, Drake struck the Pinnacle compensation request from the agenda. The move was greeted at the meeting with applause. The board has since launched what McCaulley called an "intensive review" of the APP program. She and Ferrell have asked that the results of the review be presented at the board's next meeting on Oct. 13. Actress Mia Farrow's son, Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, has died after a car accident, The Hartford Courant reported. Thaddeus, who Farrow adopted from Calcutta in 1994, was found seriously injured in his car along a Connecticut highway around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. According to USA Today, Thaddeus was a paraplegic after being sick with polio. After Farrow, now 71, adopted Thaddeus, his condition began to improve. By 2013, he was walking with crutches and working as a mechanic. He was also studying to become a police officer. Police told the Courant there is no criminal aspect in the accident, but they are still investigating the cause of the wreck. Farrow, who adopted 10 of her 14 children, has not yet commented on Thaddeus' death. The Bush family should remember the people who voted for them before deciding they won't support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions said. In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Sessions expressed his frustration over recent reports that former President George H.W. Bush said he'd support Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton over Trump. "Millions of Americans, including this one, worked their hearts out for the Bushes in 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2004," Sessions told the Examiner. "And it wasn't Bill Clinton that helped the Bushes get elected. It was the same voters, in large part, that elected Ronald Reagan and stand to elect Donald Trump. "I think they're not thinking clearly enough about this," Sessions added. "They're not ... appreciating half the American people, virtually, that have been supportive of Republicans. A lot of them preferred somebody other than Bush candidates, but they rallied around them when it came to Nov. 1 So I would hope that we see more rallying." Sessions added, however, that the Bush family has not formally announced any sort of endorsement and reports of the former president's decision to back Clinton came from Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend. Townsend, a former Maryland Lt. Gov. and daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, is a Democrat. "That's just a Democrat reporting what Mr. Bush said. I haven't heard him say anything," Sessions said. Reports of George H.W. Bush's support emerged yesterday but weren't confirmed by the family. Former president George W. Bush "does not plan to participate in or comment on the presidential campaign," according to an aide. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who ended his own bid for the Republican presidential nomination after a series of attacks by Trump, said he will not vote for either Trump or Clinton. Sessions was the first Senator to back Trump and has advised the business mogul turned politician on policy matters. He's also quick to defend Trump against those - especially fellow Republicans - who balk at backing their own party's nominee. That includes the Bushes. "I think (the Bushes) should remember the loyalty they were given by millions of Americans," Sessions said. "They should objectively analyze who is likely to advance best the agenda they favor and the agenda the Republicans who supported them favored. And that's clearly Donald Trump." Fairfield mayoral candidate Johnnie Wyatt is asking a judge to disqualify his competitor, Edward E. May II, from the race. In a petition filed Monday in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Bessemer Division, Wyatt claims May isn't eligible for the mayor's office because he doesn't live in the city of Fairfield. May, who serves Fairfield's city attorney, received the most votes for mayor in the Aug. 23 election with 925 while Wyatt came in second with 717 votes. Since neither candidate received 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election is required. The runoff is set for Oct. 4. According to the petition, Wyatt claims May didn't meet the 90-day residency requirement in order to run for the mayor's office. "We believe we have evidence that Mr. May was not a resident of the city of Fairfield at the time he qualified for mayor," Wyatt's attorney Calvin Biggers told AL.com. According to Alabama law, a mayoral candidate must be a resident of the city they are running for office in for at least 90 days prior to the election. May listed his address as 4521 DeBardeleben Ave., Fairfield, according to the complaint. Biggers said the house was purchased by May on May 31, but May never lived in the house. "We have evidence there has been no water service at the house since 2012," he said. "It got water for the first time (since the previous owner's death) on Sept. 1." Biggers said investigators interviewed neighbors who also said no one lived in the residence over the summer. According to the complaint, May reportedly sold the property on July 5. The petition asks May to show cause as to why he shouldn't be disqualified for the office. The case is scheduled for trial before Circuit Court Judge Eugene Verin on Oct. 17. May didn't immediately return messages seeking comment. Four states - Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska -have legalized the retail sale of marijuana. One of the main reasons cited by each state for legalizing pot is the tax revenue generated by marijuana sales. Retail marijuana sales started in Colorado 2014, bringing in $56 million the first year and $113 million in 2015. It's estimated tax revenue this year will top $140 million. Washington state, which began retail sales in 2014, brought in $76.9 million last year; Oregon, which has had legalized sales for about a year, has projected its tax revenues from marijuana at almost $60 million. Alaska - which will start legalized pot sales later this year - expects to see a tax revenue boost of about $19.2 million a year. That type of money could be enticing to states constantly on the lookout for additional revenues. And how much would that revenue be? 24/7 Wall Street used numbers from the Tax Foundation to determine how much tax revenue would be generated by legalized marijuana sales in each state. The figures were determined by looking at per capita pot sales in Colorado and Washington to get revenue estimates then assessing a hypothetical tax of 25 percent. In Alabama, legalized marijuana sales would generate about $134 million in tax revenue each year, according to the analysis. That's the 27th highest amount of revenue from among all the state projections, despite Alabama's marijuana use rate of 5.6 percent, the fifth lowest in the nation. Don't go spending that pot money just yet, however. Another list by 24/7 WallStreet ranks Alabama as the state least likely to legalize retail marijuana sales. Welcome to Thursday's Wake Up Call. Let's see what's going on: Teacher placed on leave for stomping flag A North Carolina high school teacher has been placed on leave after stepping on an American flag during a history lesson on the First Amendment. Lee Francis, a teacher at Massey Hill Classical High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, said the lesson was about the Supreme Court ruling that declared flag burning protected free speech. Francis maintains he only tapped the flag with his foot in an effort to demonstrate that some actions were covered under the same ruling. Some students walked out of the lesson and the school superintendent placed Francis on leave. A meeting on the incident is scheduled for today. Attorney for the brother of JonBenet Ramsey says he'll sue CBS An attorney for the brother of JonBenet Ramsey said he will sue CBS over a documentary that claims Burke Ramsey killed the 6-year-old beauty queen in 1996. CBS aired the two-part series "The Case of JonBenet Ramsey," Sunday and Monday nights. The documentary pointed the finger at Burke Ramsey for the girl's unsolved murder. Ramsey's attorney said the program was filled with "false accusations" and "fraud." CBS said it stands by its reports. Obama's half- brother is backing Trump If Malik Obama, the half-brother of President Barack Obama, could vote in the U.S., he would cast his ballot for Republican Donald Trump, he said. Malik Obama, who lives in Kogelo, Kenya, said he thinks Trump is a "humble and honest guy." "He is a guy who can help people. It's an opportunity for Americans to give Trump a chance to become president," he said, adding he "didn't like (Hillary) Clinton. "She is dishonest and a liar. She keeps on lying about emails every time." Malik Obama is the son of Barack Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr. The president's half-sister also lives in the village. Smoking permanently scars DNA Smoking can scar a person's DNA with some of the damage lasting a lifetime, according to a new study. The study of 16,000 people found some- but not all - of the disease-causing genetic impact left by smoking diminishes after five years. The impact can include altering DNA to inactivate a gene or change how it functions, often resulting in cancer or other diseases. More than 7,000 genes - about a third of all those known to humans - can be affected by smoking, the study found. Until tomorrow. Brandon Dean Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper (l.) chats with Brighton Mayor-elect Brandon Dean about finding solutions to gun violence. (Brandon Dean) A Jefferson County judge Wednesday denied a stay seeking to prevent Brighton Mayor-elect Brandon Dean from taking office as part of a civil suit challenging Dean's residency in the Birmingham suburb. The decision from Judge Eugene Verin came during a status conference involving a lawsuit filed by former Brighton Mayor Eddie Cooper and current Mayor Barbara Watkins, who both lost to Dean in last month's municipal elections. Cooper and Watkins also alleged that Dean committed absentee ballot fraud, a charge the mayor-elect denies. He earlier told AL.com that he initially ordered to have absentee ballots sent to his home to help out residents seeking to vote, and that he did so because some of the other candidates in the race worked for the postal office. The allegations are also being investigated by the Alabama Secretary of State's office; the Jefferson County district attorney's office said it has yet to hear back on the status of the investigation. "It was a win for us," Dean said in a phone interview Wednesday with AL.com. "My concern continues to be that anytime we spend addressing this, it's a distraction from what we need to be doing as a community and that bothers me." Dean, who at 24 years old will be the youngest mayor in Brighton's history, is set to take the oath of office Nov. 7 along with city councilmembers around his age who ran on a ticket with him. "There are no votes in question here," he said. "The only question is if there is anything wrong with the way that those ballot applications were administered. But at any rate, that wouldn't affect the outcome of the election at all." Dean said he has proof, including tax returns, deeds, voter registration and other legal documents that show he resides in Brighton. He said he worked for a time in Atlanta as an auditor, but that his Brighton home had always been his primary residence. Cooper and Watkins are "exhaustingly trying to prove that I have resided outside of the district on a casual basis, and that has nothing to do what the law says I can and cannot do," he said. "I live in Brighton, I vote in Brighton, I've witnessed legal documents as a resident the city. I have 24 years of history here." Watkins could not immediately be reached for comment. capitol mug 2 dec 1.jpg (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Montgomery County Circuit Judge William Shashy heard technical legal arguments today on whether State Auditor Jim Zeigler can proceed with a lawsuit seeking to nullify a state contract with a software vendor. Shashy did not say when he would issue a ruling. Zeigler claims the state Finance Department failed to follow the competitive bid law in awarding the contract for the State of Alabama Accounting and Resource System, STAARS. Zeigler sued Gov. Robert Bentley, Finance Director Bill Newton and the vendor, CGI Technology and Solutions, Inc. Zeigler's lawsuit asks the judge to void the contract, make CGI refund payments from the state and block the finance director from charging state agencies for the cost of the contract services. He asked the judge to make the case a class action on behalf of taxpayers. Al Agricola, an attorney for Newton, said in court today that Zeigler lacks legal standing to bring the lawsuit because Zeigler has not claimed any specific harm resulting from the contract that the court could address. Agricola also argued in a court filing that Zeigler waited too late to file the lawsuit, almost two years after work began under the contract. Zeigler filed the lawsuit in July. Andrew Campbell, one of Zeigler's attorneys, said Zeigler did not wait too late because a six-year statute of limitations applied. Campbell also told the judge that Newton's lawyers are misreading the law in saying that Zeigler has no standing to file the lawsuit. Zeigler claims the Finance Department should have sought competitive bids when it purchased the STAARS system about four years ago. Lawyers for the Finance Department have said the STAARS purchase came through amendments to an existing contract, in place since 1982, and that competitive bids were not required. From the bench today, Shashy asked why the contract has not been put out for bids since 1982. Agricola said the contract allowed for extensions. "That doesn't sound quite kosher to me," Shashy said. Campbell told the judge the Finance Department used contract amendments to circumvent the bid law. Peck Fox, an attorney for Bentley, asked the judge to dismiss the governor from the case, saying that the contract is between the Finance Department and CGI. "We think it's clear the governor is not a necessary party or a proper party to this lawsuit," Fox told the judge. Susan Copeland, an attorney for Zeigler, said the governor signed CGI contracts. Shashy indicated he did not think Bentley should be a defendant. "He's not a party," Shashy said. "That's just simple to me." The state began using the STAARS software last October. There were initially some problems that resulted in late payments to state vendors and other concerns. When Zeigler filed the lawsuit in July, Zeigler said the STAARS system was continuing to have problems. The governor's press secretary, Yasamie August, said at the time the problems such as late payments had been fixed and that transactions could be processed faster than with the previous system. In court today, Agricola told the judge STAARS is an upgrade that provides better protection against hacking and catastrophic system failures. "Sure, we've had problems and there have been some hitches here and there," Agricola said. "But we're now into the modern age." Last week, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin dismissed Zeigler's lawsuit against Bentley and others challenging the use of BP oil spill money to build a new beachfront hotel and conference center at Gulf State Park. State Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, was also a plaintiff in that case. Griffin ruled that Zeigler and Morrow lacked standing to bring the lawsuit and noted that the money was coming from BP, not taxpayers. A 10-year-old Montgomery student was arrested Wednesday in connection with a clown prank. Montgomery police Lt. Denise Barnes said the boy was charged with one count of making a terrorist threat. The name of the boy's school wasn't released. "A child got caught up in the hype. We hope that, at the end of the day, when they go through the juvenile judicial process, that there is some help for that child," Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley said during a media briefing, WSFA reported. Montgomery officials warned against copycats. "We will catch you," the Montgomery Department of Public Safety said in a Facebook post. Online threats have been made against schools across the state this week from supposed clowns. Many have resulted in the arrest of juveniles. Juveniles in several Alabama cities, including Millbrook, Enterprise, Geneva, Alexandria, Pleasant Valley, Mobile and Flomaton have been arrested. On Monday, Montgomery police announced the investigation into threats of violence made against Montgomery schools through the Facebook account Bingerman Clownferd. Barnes said those threats remain under investigation, and the 10-year-old was charged in a separate incident. The elementary school at Fort Rucker Army base is closed as officials try to determine what sickened 24 fifth graders last week, sending 11 of the children to the hospital. According to Fort Rucker officials, the students became sick Sept. 16 after participating in a team-building exercise followed by recess. Officials originally thought the children had heat exhaustion but later opted to transport 11 third to fifth grade students to two area hospitals. Another 13 students were picked up by their parents and taken home. All of the hospitalized students were evaluated and released. "Currently, there are no confirmed leads as to what might have been the root cause," Fort Rucker officials said. The school was closed Monday due to concerns over the mystery illness. Tuesday was a scheduled teacher work day. On Wednesday, the school's 379 students will be back in class but not at their normal building. Instead they will be split between two locations - the Fort Rucker Primary School and the Spiritual Life Center - while the elementary school is inspected. Fort Rucker officials, joined by representatives from the Department of Defense Education Activity, are inspecting and testing a variety of environmental factors at the school. "Various testing and analysis continued throughout this past weekend, to include an examination of air and water quality. Additional steps were taken inside the school, to include a thorough cleaning of all surfaces with a bleach solution and a forced air ventilation procedure. While initial results of this testing have ruled out possible causes for the students' illnesses, they have not provided conclusive evidence as to the exact cause," Fort Rucker officials said in a written statement. The testing will continue until a cause can be identified, they said. Robert Bentley speaking to Consumer Credit Task Force on Sept 21.jpg Gov. Robert Bentley speaks to the Consumer Credit Task Force at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) A committee created by Gov. Robert Bentley to study the state's consumer finance laws met for the first time Wednesday at the State Capitol. The 35-member Consumer Credit Task Force includes representatives of the banking and lending industries, state lawmakers, other state officials, consumer advocates and others. The task force will report its recommendations to the governor by Jan. 30, 2017. Earlier this year, the Alabama Legislature debated bills that would have lowered the fees charged by payday lenders. The legislation failed to pass, just as similar bills have in previous years. Payday lenders in Alabama can charge fees of up to 17.5 percent on loans with terms as short as two weeks, which equates to an annual percentage rate of 455 percent. Bentley was asked today if he thought the rates should be lowered. "I don't know that yet," the governor said. "I think this is something that they're going to look at. I don't want to be boxed into saying it ought to be a certain rate. "It obviously has to be higher than regular lending institutions because of the problems with some of these loans. But here again, it can't be so exorbitant that it just continues to keep people pushed down and destroyed." Bentley said some of the state's lending laws are out of date and need to be changed to reflect the current consumer finance market. Manhattan Explosion A narrative of the incident provided with Wednesday's statement says Gaines, who was black, was fatally shot on Aug. 1 after she barricaded herself inside her apartment and pointed a shotgun at officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant. (Julio Cortez / AP) TOWSON, Md. -- No one will be charged in the shooting death of a woman during a standoff with police that she posted on social media, a Maryland prosecutor said Wednesday. A review of the police investigation into the shooting of 23-year-old Korryn Gaines in Randallstown last month found the officer who fired was justified, and the state will not take any further action, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger announced in a statement. "Criminal charges are not warranted," the statement said. A narrative of the incident provided with Wednesday's statement says attempting to serve an arrest warrant. Gaines' 5-year-old son was with her and was injured. The warrant stemmed from a March 10 traffic stop that included disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The narrative provided Wednesday says that police were told by Gaines' fiance after the standoff started that she suffered from a mental illness and had not been taking her medications. The statement says during the standoff there were times when Gaines spoke calmly and others where she "screamed and acted irrationally." She said repeatedly that the police had no authority over her and were there to kidnap her. She also said "that when she and her son were dead the news would report it and the world would know, and that it would be worth it as she took at least one of the officers with her," the narrative said. The narrative says she was shot after she stopped communicating with officers and an officer saw her starting to raise the shotgun to a firing position toward officers. Lawyers for Gaines' family have said she was shot because officers ran out of patience during a seven-hour standoff. Gaines posted video of the standoff on Facebook, but her account was taken offline in the midst of the standoff after a request by police. Police Chief Jim Johnson has said that people on social media were encouraging her not to comply with officers. Shellenberger met with Gaines' family before announcing that no charges would be filed. The family's attorney, J. Wyndal Gordon, says the meeting reinforced the family's belief that the officer shot Gaines "out of frustration rather than fear." He called the officer a "cowboy" who "wanted to use his weapon." Gordon said Gaines' family is frustrated. Gaines' death led to protests affiliated with the movement. A wrongful-death lawsuit filed last week against the police officer and Baltimore County contends that officers illegally entered Gaines' apartment after persuading the manager of her apartment complex to give them a key despite the fact that nobody answered the door when officers knocked. In a letter to County Executive Kevin Kamenetz on Tuesday, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund called for an independent review of county police department policies, saying Gaines' shooting raises questions about policies, including use of force and execution of arrest warrants. Kamenetz said in a statement he has directed the police department to also conduct a review of the case and has asked the police chief to review "best practices and procedures utilized by police across the nation in barricade encounters." The police department has identified the officer who shot Gaines as Officer First Class Ruby, using only his last name and rank, per departmental policy. Ruby was one of two officers who shot and killed 24-year-old Adam Benjamin Rothstein in 2007 after he pointed what turned out to be a pellet gun at the officers. Armacost said officers received a call on Aug. 19 of that year for a suicidal man who had told the 911 dispatcher that he had guns, knives, pepper spray and a Taser. When police confronted Rothstein, he said he would start shooting if he didn't get what he wanted by 3:30 a.m. At the designated time, Rothstein raised a gun and pointed it at the officers, who both fired. Rothstein's weapon turned out to be a BB gun. Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, charged a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street with first-degree manslaughter Thursday. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charges against officer Betty Shelby, who shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16. Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher. Her attorney has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach into his SUV window. But Crutcher's family immediately discounted that claim, saying the father of four posed no threat to the officers, and police said Crutcher did not have gun on him or in his vehicle. Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, was en route to a domestic violence call when she encountered Crutcher's vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line. Shelby did not activate her patrol car's dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what first happened between the two before other officers arrived. The police footage shows Crutcher approaching the driver's side of the SUV, then more officers walk up and Crutcher appears to lower his hands and place them on the vehicle. A man inside a police helicopter overhead says: "That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something." The officers surround Crutcher and he suddenly drops to the ground. A voice heard on police radio says: "Shots fired!" The officers back away and Crutcher is left unattended on the street for about two minutes before an officer puts on medical gloves and begins to attend to him. Earlier this year, a former volunteer deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Eric Harris. InGodWeTrust_1.jpg The national motto, "In God We Trust" is displayed in the Baldwin County Commission's chambers. The motto is displayed in a host of Baldwin County communities. In Mobile County, commissioners approved a display in June 2014 with a 2-1 vote following some heated debate. More than two years later, no display has been constructed inside Mobile's Government Plaza. The national motto's public display has been part of a national movement that has drawn criticism from opponents who view it as an infringement of separation of church and state. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). An effort to have the nation's "In God We Trust" motto posted inside Mobile's Government Plaza appears to be stalled nearly two years after a highly contentious debate on whether it should appear there. "Nothing has been said or done," Mobile County Commission President Jerry Carl said. The sign wasn't part of the recently completed $1.1 million in renovation to the publicly owned downtown tower that houses both city and county governments. The project included new carpet, handrails, seats and metal doors in the auditorium as well as updates throughout. But the sign wasn't added, although commissioners had favored it. "We cannot do it. ... It has to be outside money," said Carl, who along with Commissioner Connie Hudson, voted in support of the sign more than two years ago. Commissioner Merceria Ludgood voted "No" that day. Said Hudson: "No one has stepped forward to provide funds for the county to do anything." Also, Carl said that a rendering of the sign would require commission approval before being installed. Carl said that tea party activist and radio show host Pete Riehm, who led the effort to have "In God We Trust" displayed at Government Plaza, told him that his supporters would raise the necessary dollars for the sign. AL.com sought to reach Riehm for comment, but was unsuccessful. But Riehm, in comments to AL.com last year, said the delay in getting the sign was due to his own procrastination. He said at the time that the goal was to have it ready by the end of 2015. "I think the people who brought up the argument are well intended," Hudson said. "I think it was an argument in principle, primarily." The 2014 discussion about the sign was heated and divisive. Opposing it were atheists and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mobile, among others. Christian-rights activists, led by Riehm and former congressional candidate Dean Young, staunchly supported it. "In God We Trust" became the national motto in 1956 during a tense time in the Cold War, when the U.S. wanted to distinguish itself from the Soviet Union, which promoted atheism. It was voted in by Congress to serve as an alternate or replacement to "E pluribus unum,' (Latin for "Out of many, one") which had served as the county's de facto motto since 1782. Seventeen local government entities in Alabama feature the motto their own public places, a majority being his politically conservative Baldwin County. Robert Beckerle, a Mobile attorney and opponent of such displays, said he finds the whole concept "a nuisance." "I think it's sacrilegious," Beckerle said. "It puts God's name in terms of everyday man in reflecting that we trust in God. If you are to lower God to the everyday man, you've committed sacrilege. God is not a poster child." He also said the sign, if hung up in a government building, creates an unfair playing field for those who practice other religions, as well as atheists. The "In God We Trust" movement was started by Jacquie Sullivan, a Bakersfield, Calif., councilwoman who initiated a display in her city 13 years ago and who launched a non-profit that spread it nationally. Today, government chambers in 35 states exhibit "In God We Trust." Lowes.JPG Lowe's Home Center in Daphne, Ala. Lowe's is challenging its property tax assessments throughout Alabama including the store at Ala. 181 and U.S. 90 in Daphne. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Lowe's is a home-improvement center behemoth with more than 1,800 stores registering $59.1 billion in annual retail sales in 2015, a nearly 18-percent leap in five years. But the North Carolina-based chain, in a sweeping effort throughout the U.S., including Alabama, to slash its taxes, wants courts to re-evaluate the market value of its stores, basically assigning them the same value as an empty building. In Alabama, Lowe's attorneys have filed lawsuits seeking value reductions for 27 home centers. The lawsuits include stores in smaller cities such as Muscle Shoals and Hartselle and those in metropolitan cities such as Birmingham and Mobile. The state's revenue department and others are ringing alarm bells. They say that if Lowe's prevails, other retail chains will pursue the same course, potentially crippling revenues needed for police and fire services, roads, sewers, teacher salaries and other basic government services. "The loss of money would just be astronomical," said Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. Brasfield said the state could lose roughly $1.5 million annually in revenues based on the number of Lowe's challenging their assessments. "We certainly believe that other similar retailers will follow suit and that the loss of revenue would snow ball," Brasfield said. The issue could be magnified in Alabama. Only Hawaii has a lower property tax rate in the U.S. than Alabama, and many school systems here are already on wobbly financial footing. "The effort to lower that rate even more is unconscionable," said Sally Smith, executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards. "While these efforts may ease the tax burden for large corporations, ultimately local counties and school systems suffer due to decreased revenues, and this loss will directly impact our ability to serve students." Said Carol Gundlach, policy analyst on tax and budgets with Alabama Arise: "Goodness knows our schools don't need any more reductions in their tax base than we have already." 'Dark store' Karen Cobb, a spokeswoman with Lowe's, said the company is simply exercising its rights, like homeowners, to fight for fair taxation. "Lowe's goes through a process every year to review property tax values for all its properties across the country," she said. "Determining market value can be a complicated process, but in general, we look at information about comparable property in the area to help determine an appropriate value." Critics of what Lowe's is doing, though, claim the company - through independent advisers - is equating its operational stores with stores that have long since closed. In Alabama and other states, the issue boils down to whether the value of Lowe's stores should be reduced to reflect the so-called "dark store" theory of appraisal, which means that its properties should be valued as if the buildings sat empty. The argument, in a nutshell, is that no other store can occupy a Lowe's because the building was specifically designed to accommodate Lowe's business model. Thus, it's a specialized structure that's less valuable on the real estate market than a structure that's more adaptable. The theory runs counter to current appraisal methods that include determining a property's value based on the income derived from the business on the property. "Lowe's is coming back and saying that it should be worth less using the dark store theory of valuation," said Joe Garrett, deputy commissioner with the Department of Revenue. If the argument holds up in court, he warned, the property tax base for commercial real estate could be cut in half. "It's hundreds of millions of dollars," Garrett said. Legislative fights Typically, big-box chains like Lowe's pay to construct a store that fits their particular needs, then sell it to an investor who, in turn, leases the property back to the company for its use. David Lennhoff, a Virginia-based expert on the dark store theory, said the issue comes down to a simple question: If the property had been on the market for sale, what could be derived from a reasonable transaction between a buyer and seller? "A dark store is what you get," he said. Already, the dark store theory has registered victories in reducing property values for Lowe's and other giant retailers in Michigan. In a township near Detroit, officials appraised a Lowe's store - which had just been built for $10 million - at a value of $5.2 million for tax purposes. Lowe's, with the support of state tax officials, was able to lower the value to $1.5 million in 2012. A ripple effect occurred, as chains like Meijer and Home Depot also successfully argued for reduced values. At least one estimate pegs a three-year loss of property taxes to local governments in Michigan at around $47 million. One professor blames lawmakers for failing to rein in the practice. "Michigan is, unfortunately, the poster child on how not to do it by having your Legislature drag its feet," said Dwight Brady, a communications professor at Northern Michigan University. Brady and his students released a documentary last month entitled, "Boxed In" that chronicled the state's battle over the issue. "The precedent has already been set (in Michigan)," said Brady. "The main problem is that most (local governments) don't have the resources to fight these big corporations and settled for whatever they could get. We're talking tens of millions of dollars going out of local governments." Alabama action Alabama has already made some pre-emptive strikes to shore up its position. The Legislature, during the 2016 spring session, approved allowing county commissions to hire outside counsel to handle commercial property tax appeals. Before that, Alabama law tasked individual district attorneys with defending the cases. Brasfield said the legislation allows the 58 counties that are part of ACCA's self-insured liability fund to pool together resources and hire outside experts who can litigate the cases. "One of the shortcomings is we didn't have any real expertise fighting a team from New York that was challenging these across the country," Brasfield said. But the law, which takes effect Oct. 1, won't affect the Lowe's cases currently filed in counties such as Mobile, Jefferson, Morgan, Limestone, Tuscaloosa and Baldwin. Instead, the law will be in effect if Lowe's is successful with its appeals, prompting other big box retailers and even fast-food chains to mimic its maneuvers. "I think we're in a lot better situation because from what I understand in Michigan, they were taking it on as a county, versus a group of counties coming together to do battle," said Baldwin County Revenue Commission Teddy Faust Jr. Lowe's is challenging values at two Baldwin County properties in Foley and Daphne. Brady said that other states have done more to crackdown on dark store appraisals. Indiana, for instance, enacted laws limiting the types of comparable sales that could be used in determining the value of commercial non-income-producing properties. There is no indication that the Alabama Legislature will introduce additional legislation. Brasfield said that establishing a "different set of rules" for big-box retailers "plays into their argument." "We hope this defense bill law that takes effect Oct. 1 solves (the matter) going forward," he said. Gundlach said the Alabama Legislature should consider more. "The Legislature needs to look at this issue and do some of what other states have done and see how we value retail property," she said. Loss revenues For local government officials, the lawsuits are creating concern about an unknown future when large commercial stores might be ponying up considerably less in taxes. "Our government operates on tax revenues derived from property and sales taxes," Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson said. "When you take a serious hit to that, the government is unable to provide the services we are able to provide them." It's also creating second-guessing about awarding incentives to lure retailers. In 2008, the Hartselle City Council approved $1.2 million in incentives to develop a Lowe's Home Center at U.S. 31. The deal allowed for Lowe's to use future sales tax revenue to recoup its investment on utilities and to make road improvements into the store. Now Lowe's is fighting Morgan County in court. Dennis Tankersley, a Hartselle council member who was the city's mayor in 2008, said he was unaware of Lowe's property tax challenges around Alabama. "But like any citizen, if their property is overvalued, then they should have the right to challenge the value with local authorities," he said. But in Mobile County, where Lowe's is challenging assessed values on three of its properties, city and county leaders have pledged sales tax incentives for several mall-related projects in recent years. None of the incentives, though, went directly to Lowe's. "If they, in my opinion, start challenging their property taxes to this point, I think we are going to think long and hard on some of these projects that we put money up for," said County Commission President Jerry Carl. School struggles In Baldwin County, which is Alabama's fastest-growing county, the Lowe's challenge -- if successful and mirrored by others - could affect how the county maintains its heavily traveled roads. It could also impact how much revenue filters into an overcrowded school system that is struggling to find ways to construct new buildings and replace a host of portable trailer classrooms. Baldwin property owners pay some of the lowest property taxes in the U.S. when considering average home values. A 2010 analysis by the Tax Foundation found that only Maui County in Hawaii has higher-valued properties coupled with such low tax rates. Overall, Baldwin County ranks 776 of 806 U.S. counties when analyzing property taxes as a percent of income. Most of the counties ranking at or near the bottom are in Alabama and Louisiana. The lack of property tax revenue has confounded school officials, who have unsuccessfully pushed for tax referendums to help pay for new schools and classroom wings. "It's time for serious reconsideration of property tax reform in Alabama anyway," said Gundlach. "But this may actually accelerate that. There is not much of anywhere else that local government can go." Lennhoff, the dark store expert, suggested that responsibility for the problem also falls on government shoulders: "They can raise taxes. But they don't want to do that because they will look bad." Among the Lowe's in Baldwin County is a store at heavily traveled Ala. 181 and U.S. 90. It was valued in 2015 by the county at $9.5 million. "If they feel that a Lowe's is worth $1.5 million, we can offer that to them and transform the Lowe's into a school," Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey said, with a somewhat serious tone. "We can't build a structure for that price so we'll go ahead and buy them at that price." LCS1.JPG The Austal-built littoral combat ships USS Independence, left, and USS Coronado in the Pacific Ocean in this April 23, 2014, photo. The U.S. Navy announced on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, that a future LCS will be named the USS Mobile. (file photo) A future Littoral combat Ship will be named after Mobile, and could be built at the coastal Alabama's Austal USA facility. The announcement was made during a ceremony Thursday with Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, in Washington, D.C. "Our area takes such pride in building these fine ships, just the latest vessel in Mobile's long history of shipbuilding," U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, said. "I know the spirit and patriotism of Mobile will be encapsulated in this ship." Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, in Facebook video, called the naming of the future ship, "USS Mobile" as a "great day" and a reflection on the entire city. "I can't think of a better way to recognize the superior craft and workmanship Mobilians put into each of these ships," Stimpson said. "A little piece of Mobile goes into each of the Independent Class LCS ships made right here at Austal, but this ship is especially significant because it marks us a regionally important U.S. city with global impacts and magnificent workers." Stimpson wrote Mabus in October 2015 urging the secretary to name a future LCS or Fast Frigate after Mobile. The Independent-variant of the LCS is built in Mobile by Austal USA. "I have no doubt Austal will produce another incredible warship worthy of the name Mobile that will not only meet the standards of today but will adapt to the evolving needs of the future," he said. The newest vessel will be the fifth USS Mobile. The last ship named USS Mobile saw duty in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars before it was decommissioned in 1994. Its predecessor, the third USS Mobile, was awarded 11 Battle Stars for its service during World War II. The USS Mobile Bay, the last ship to include Mobile's name in it, was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi in 1982, and was commissioned in 1987. It's named after the famous Civil War battle. The Foley Police Department has arrested 39-year-old, Kimberly Richardson for giving marijuana laced brownies to a teenager in Baldwin County. The Foley police responded to Richardson's home at 218 Tradewind Court on Monday (Sept. 19) to meet with the parents of a 17-year-old girl, who had recently been at the home. The girl's father told police that his daughter had been at Richardson's home with her boyfriend, who is Richardson's nephew. While the teen was there she ate some brownies and became ill during the evening hours.The teens' mother took her to the South Baldwin Hospital emergency room to be treated. During the investigation by police, a search warrant was obtained for Richardson's home and brownies were found in the garbage, which were collected and sent to a lab for testing. Upon further investigation police said Richardson confessed to baking marijuana into the brownies. Richardson was charged with chemical child endangerment. No details have been given on the girls health condition. Abortion law.JPG (file photo) J. Pepper Bryars, who grew up in Mobile and lives in Huntsville, is a conservative columnist for AL.com. Contact him at www.jpepperbryars.com. They say that ignorance is bliss, but it's also the only thing that's keeping abortion-on-demand legal in our nation. Truth is, most people simply don't know - or don't want to know - what actually happens inside abortion clinics. Most gladly accept the lie that only a small, unidentifiable clump of cells are harmlessly flushed away every time a mother walks into an abortion clinic. It's easier to simply move right along, blissfully and willingly ignorant of the gruesome truth rather than face the facts ... and the uncomfortable moral obligation that comes with such knowledge. Thankfully, recent legislative efforts in Alabama and elsewhere are trying to move the debate away from theoretical arguments about "choice" and towards those that address the most pressing issue of our time: should our society condone - and even subsidize - the poisoning and dismemberment of our unborn children? Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is currently defending a recently enacted state law that "prohibits dismemberment abortion - a form of abortion where a living fetus is killed by tearing it limb from limb," according to his filing in federal court. Torn limb from limb. That doesn't sound like something that'd be done to a small, unidentifiable clump of cells, does it? But that's exactly what happens to unborn children during 95% of abortions that occur during the second trimester of a pregnancy, according to some estimates. Even longtime abortion rights advocate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg called dismemberment abortion and the already outlawed partial birth abortion "equally gruesome." So why it is still legal? Simple. People simply don't want to know the truth. It's too damn uncomfortable. That's why Alabama's law, and Strange's defense of it, is so important. It's part of a wider effort to both educate the public while making incremental progress in statehouses and courthouses across the country. Several other states have passed similar bans and bills have been introduced in Congress to outlaw the procedure nationally. Lawsuits like the one against our state's law have been filed, of course, and we should expect the current make-up of our federal bench to side with abortion advocates in most cases. On the federal side, considering that our Congress couldn't even defund Planned Parenthood after it was caught selling parts of unborn babies, we shouldn't expect any near-term success there either. But we're not exactly tilting at windmills. By introducing laws that focus on an actual procedure - a specific, definable action - abortion rights advocates are pushed away from their vague "a woman's right to choose" talking point and are forced to defend what's actually happening inside abortion clinics. Sure, everyone likes choice, but in the case of dismemberment abortion, we're talking about cold steel killing. The bill in the House of Representatives to ban the procedure nationwide defines dismemberment abortion as "dismembering a living unborn child ... one piece at a time ... through the use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or similar instruments that, through the convergence of two rigid levers, slice, crush or grasp a portion of the unborn child's body in order to cut or rip it off or crush it." It's hard to imagine a lawyer successfully defending that procedure with some esoteric argument about privacy. Still, it's worth remembering that slavery was abolished in part because its gruesomeness couldn't be hidden. It's been far easier to hide the crime of abortion, especially when so many people would rather it stay that way. "This bill brings to light what actually happens to an unborn child during an abortion," said Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, after introducing the ban in the U.S. Senate. "We disagree on many issues as a nation ... surely, we can all agree that dismantling a child in the womb during a late-term abortion is inhumane and is not reflective of our American values." Sadly, we cannot agree ... yet. The abortion industry believes this debate is a zero-sum game. Any smidgen of protection won for unborn children is viewed as a loss for their side. Abortionists cannot tolerate that, and in defending the indefensible, perhaps we'll force them to tell a bit of the truth. Maybe that will help lift the veil of ignorance from our eyes. Michael Lundy has seen enough killing. So he's ready to fight. But not like that. Lundy, executive director of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, wants to ban guns in public housing. It's like waving a giant red cape at the NRA's bull. Come and get me. Come and get me. The dude says bring it on. "I don't care who likes it or who doesn't," Lundy said. "We're gonna do everything we can do to try to protect our communities." Lundy has been around, at housing authorities across the country, but he's never seen gunfire like this. He's had enough. He's had too much. It was too much on Sept. 11 when four people were shot - one killed - in a shootout at a housing community in Gate City. It was too much on Tuesday when another man was shot - refusing to cooperate with police -- in the same community. Lundy was appalled when he saw a YouTube video of young men at Marks Village in Gate City brandishing guns, cursing the police and firing what he called "artillery." "We can't have that in public housing," he said. Birmingham Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Lundy (center) at Loveman Village housing community. (Courtesy Birmingham Housing Authority). So he's going to do it. Lundy submitted an eight-point plan to the housing authority board this week, which included hiring a director of public safety, increasing patrols, hosting town hall meetings, working closer with police, holding a gun buy-back program and establishing a community watch. But the big bold bullet on his list was Item No. 3, which seeks some form of gun ban. Lundy hopes to write it into lease agreements, but will wait for a legal opinion to see how tough he can be. He argues that public housing, like courthouses and the White House and the State House and all the other institutions that ban guns, is funded entirely with public money. "If you want to receive federal funding to live in government housing we want to make sure that housing is safe," he said. "We're not telling you you can't own guns. If you want to own a gun or firearms we can probably assist you in finding other housing options." He knows it will be tough. Housing authorities that have tried to ban guns across America have met with trouble. The NRA has found eager ears when it argues that public housing residents have the same rights as anybody else, and has sued successfully to help kill gun bans in Delaware and California. It pushed for legislation in Maine to prevent public housing landlords from imposing gun restrictions. Gun advocates argue that the presence of guns makes communities safer. But all you have to do is look at Gate City this month to see how that works out. One guy fired a shot Sept. 11 and all of sudden others indiscriminately opened fire. At least 60 rounds were fired and innocents fell. So Lundy is determined to do that thing that others find so hard to do: Something. Bless him. He's gonna catch hell. From all sides. The NRA will call him a gun-snatcher and an enemy of the Constitution. Resident gun owners will argue they need guns to protect themselves, and the gun lobby will be there to fan those flames, to tell residents guns are just another thing the rich can have but the poor cannot. Lundy says bring it. But he wants solid legal advice before deciding how to implement the restrictions. "I'm gonna push it if I have to go to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land," he said. "I don't have any problem talking to anybody about it, but I want to go with a strong legal case." Bring it. votesign.PNG Kailie Melchior (Courtesy photo) By Kailie Melchior, who is pursuing her Juris Doctorate at Penn State Law School. Her interests include women's rights, civil rights and environmental issues. She is a Tuscaloosa native and a theater geek. Birthdays are an exciting milestone. People look forward to turning different ages so that they can get their driver's permit, driver's license, legally be able to drink and purchase alcohol, cigarettes, hotel rooms and rental cars. But, in all honesty, none of those milestones were particularly important to me. My 18th birthday was all I wanted. I wanted to be able to vote. I wanted a voice. I wanted a say. No matter how small my little Democratic vote in the deep south of Tuscaloosa might be, I wanted to play my part in shaping my government. But not everyone thinks this way. I think it is because we have forgotten how hard we had to fight to be given this right - especially women. Women were the last to receive the right to vote with the 19th Amendment in the 1920s, and it is no exaggeration to say that we fought like hell to get it. But, like I said, we forget. We forget Alice Paul, who started her own women's organization, the National Woman's Party. A woman that was eventually arrested along with many other NWP suffragists. We don't appreciate how much she endured when she was placed in solitary confinement. We don't appreciate how humiliating and degrading it must have been to be force fed for three weeks as she participated in a hunger strike to protest their unfair treatment. We forget Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who helped organize the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, leading to the signing of the Declaration of Sentiments. That document was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and declared that women were citizens equal to men. We forget Ida B. Wells, who fought vigilantly for the rights of African- Americans as well as women. She was a woman who fearlessly publicized the evils of lynching and eventually received so many death threats that she moved north, but continued writing. She was a woman who was asked not to join in the suffrage parade through Woodrow Wilson's inaugural celebration because--although she fought diligently for the right to vote--the color of her skin made her unable to fight side by side with white women who hoped for the same things. None of these three women lived to see the first election where women were able to show up to the polls. But, now, 100 years later, not only are women given this right, we are now in a time where a woman is running for president. Voting is incredibly important. We are a nation of immigrants, all with different heritage, culture and beliefs. Voting and participating in government allows us to unite. We cannot all be members of Congress. We cannot all be a part of our local or federal government. But we can vote. If not for yourself, do it for the women who sacrificed everything not to be silenced just so that our small voices could roar. Surat Thani, Thailand For many years, farmer Noppadol Tawee lived with the constant fear of waking up and finding all the shrimp that were growing in his pond floating dead in the water. The shrimp used to get sick, and I lost all of them several times. Some years, I could make a lot of money; in others, I could lose everything, explains Noppadol, a shrimp farmer living in Kanchanadit, a district in the province of Surat Thani in Southern Thailand. His neighbours advised him that the solution to his problem was related to a very specific kind of tree: the mangrove. Years ago, before shrimp production came to the region, mangroves had covered the coastline of the region, housing dozens of marine animals, including shrimp, small fish and crabs. Mangroves are known (PDF) for purifying the waters and working as nurseries for a number of marine species, as well as being huge areas of carbon storage. But, since the early 1970s, the Thai government promoted (PDF) semi-intensive and intensive shrimp production, which quickly spread to coastal areas, placing Thailand as the worlds third-largest exporter (PDF) of seafood and one of the main producers of shrimp in the world. This rapid expansion came at the cost of thousands of hectares of mangroves, a complex and rich ecosystem comprising different species of trees and a high number of other plants, animals and micro-organisms that grow in coastal areas in tropical regions. Noppadols followed the advice of his community and planted mangroves. Since I planted the mangroves in the pond, the shrimp have never died again, says the farmer, who also stopped administering antibiotics and fertilisers to the water and stopped feeding the shrimp artificial food. They get everything they need from the mangroves, he says. Essential mangroves Jim Enright, Asia coordinator at the Mangrove Action Project (MAP), an NGO that advocates for the recovery of mangrove forests, explained the significance of the mangrove in the area: We often refer to mangroves as the supermarket for the local people because, there, they have some building supplies, food supplies, shelter and medicines. So people have been traditionally relying on the mangroves for all those things in the local fishing communities, Enright said. According to data released by the World Resources Institute, the world lost between 9,000 and 25,000 hectares of mangroves each year between 2001 and 2012. A report (PDF) from the Environmental Justice Foundation notes: Evidence suggests that shrimp aquaculture has been a major contributor to global mangrove forest loss, and in a number of countries, it is considered to be the biggest threat to these ecosystems. The report estimates that as much as 38 percent of recent mangrove loss may be due to shrimp farm development. As in many other places in the world, the loss of biodiversity and the concentration of farms in Kanchanadit came at a high environmental cost, causing frequent disease outbreaks in the ponds, like the ones in which Noppadols shrimp used to suffer. Intensive shrimp farms use antibiotics, fertilisers, disinfectants and pesticides that, in Thailand, are often released (PDF) into the natural streams of water without being treated beforehand. We were having many problems with the wastewater coming from the farms. The fish died and the fishermen couldnt catch anything, and we couldnt grow oysters any more, said 53-year-old Preecha Danchulchai, a villager who owns an oyster farm a few metres offshore. The Thai Department of Fisheries did not comment on the environmental regulations of the shrimp industry, claiming that the latest legislation regarding the sector, the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries BE 2558, approved at the end of 2015, was too recent. The department is now drafting a new ministerial regulation along with a notification to implement it, as the Royal Ordinance commands. The Thai Shrimp Association, which represents shrimp farmers in Thailand, did not respond to Al Jazeera regarding these allegations. For Kanchanadit villagers, mangroves were a natural solution to all their problems. Little by little, some of the old shrimp ponds started to turn into mangrove forests as the trees spread along the shoreline. Some farmers returned to their abandoned farms when they saw their neighbours obtaining good crops. I didnt grow shrimp for a few years because they were all dying, farmer Supasit Intrapirom told Al Jazeera. When I went back, I just stopped using chemicals. I now take the water coming from the mangroves, which is rich in nutrients. Recovering mangroves In the December 2004 tsunami, coastlines along both sides of the Indian Ocean, from Thailand to Sri Lanka, were destroyed, many lamented that they had lost the mangroves that used to protect the shorelines. Research, however, revealed later that mangroves reduced the deadly impact of the tsunami waves in areas where the plants flourished. READ MORE: The Thai village that escaped the tsunami The 2004 disaster launched a race to recover the coastal forests in countries such as Thailand by replanting the mangroves. The results of these efforts, however, have been disappointing, according to advocates. There has been a huge failure [up to] 70-80 percent in most places, says Enright of MAP. He said that only using a single species of the mangrove tree from about 70 different species available, and their planting in areas not suitable for mangroves, were two reasons for failure. We are trying to build awareness that mangroves dont necessarily need to be planted, he said, adding that they had to overcome hydrological problems and over-exploitation by people in the region. Mangroves are ecosystems that have a complex relationship with tide, as the plants need to be periodically submerged in seawater in order to survive, Enright said. This makes every restoration unique, depending on the natural characteristics of the site and the level of degradation. Mangroves, shrimp farms and community In the case of the shrimp ponds, said Enright, the hydrology of the areas is usually highly damaged because the tidal exchange has been stopped, making rehabilitation even more challenging. Noppadols pond is a good example of this complexity. Mangroves are planted in an elevated area in the centre of the pond where crabs and small fish live. Shrimp grow in the more profound side areas. Noppadol controls the level of water with a system of doors that he opens and closes following the tides. However, the water has to be decanted before bathing the ponds to make sure that the external pollution does not kill the trees or the animals. For MAP, the most successful approach for restoration is the Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration, a method that focuses on the recovery of the natural ecological processes of the mangroves as the first step in the mangrove rehabilitation process. It also depends on the involvement of local communities to ensure that the environmental conditions remain intact. With this approach, they are rehabilitating about 10 ponds in the provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga in southern Thailand. In Kanchanadit, the rehabilitation has been slow, and only an area of 21 hectares has been recovered over the past 10 years. It all depends on the community. The local government gives us the seedlings, but the community covers the rest of the costs, so reforestation is slow, says Danchulchai, the oyster farmer. More and more villagers are getting involved in the project since mangroves are an opportunity to obtain a profit from their abandoned ponds and recover other marine crops, such as oysters or crabs, that have been lost. Turning the ponds into natural polyculture systems while restoring mangroves can be one of the ways to encourage owners to restore disused ponds. This way, they can receive some direct economic return and food over the long-term without expensive artificial feeding or other inputs, says Enright. Finding customers for these sustainable shrimp can be a bigger problem. Farmers in Kanchanadit say that they can sell most of their shrimp at the local markets. However, international markets are much more demanding in terms of cost efficiency. The industry is now at a crossroads between efficiency and sustainability. Shrimp are treated as a commodity. Consumers want them cheap, and this is part of the problem, says Brian Szuster, associate professor at the University of Hawaii who has extensively researched environmental impacts on the Thai shrimp industry. Thailand has been trying to find technological fixes to keep the production going. First, they moved the production inland into fresh water, and later, they introduced new species like the white shrimp, says Szuster. The white shrimp, supposedly more resistant to diseases, is now also being affected by the Early Mortality Syndrome, an epidemic that first hit Thailand in 2011. Since then, the country is no longer (PDF) be the largest exporter of farmed shrimp. I dont see what other fixes they can find now, and it is not going to be easy to keep up with the demand if shrimp are produced in a sustainable way, says Szuster. We will have to view shrimp as a more valuable product. In this challenging scenario, mangroves can be key in the survival of the Thai shrimp industry, but sustainable shrimp can also be a lifesaver for mangroves. We urgently need to restore these abandoned shrimp ponds, insists Enright, because they were mangroves, and there is no other ecosystem that provides both the numbers and quantities of goods and services. At a safe house in Nigeria, the wives of Boko Haram fighters share stories of the men they married. Maiduguri, Nigeria A few dozen women sit on mats in the shadow of a neem tree. Their giggles rise with the hot dusty air as they sketch elaborate designs on their hands with henna. Some of the women wear abayas; others wear short-sleeved blouses with long skirts and hijabs. They talk about their children, their hair, what they will cook that evening after breaking their Ramadan fast. After a while, the conversation turns to their husbands. Oh, my husband, I love him so much, says Aisha the Amira. The flamboyant 25-year-old flings her head back as she laughs. In a flowing gown and a tall, majestic head wrap, she radiates the nobility of her title, Amira, or princess. A reddish-orange stone sparkles on her left hand. My husband gave me this ring, she says, wiggling her shoulders. My husband, hes an Arab. So handsome and he always gave me money. The women look at her in silent admiration. Then Hauwa speaks up. He loved me and I loved him. We loved each other. The blushing 14-year-old smiles and twists the hem of her skirt. She has been married for a year and a half. Fifteen-year-old Iyeza-Kawu looks at the ground as she talks. Shes wearing a navy hijab with the logo of the United Nations Population Fund stitched on it. She describes her two-year marriage as a happy one and explains how her husband gave her a dowry of 25,000 naira (about $80). READ MORE: I remember the day I confronted Boko Haram There is another Aisha, a 27-year-old from Cameroon, who loved her married boyfriend so much that she agreed to elope with him. Her sister and brother didnt approve, so Aisha married him in secret, crossing the border into Nigeria. Her printed blouse hugs her pregnant belly. Tall and with a chiselled face, Zainab describes her husband as good-looking, quiet and of medium height. He treated me very well and I loved him very much, she says. Little Umi, Zainabs 11-year-old daughter, chimes in. My husband was kind. He would always give my parents money. Umis cheeks are framed in a dark purple hijab. Her black eyeliner is smudged. When she looks up, the sun lights up her eyes in dazzling shades of brown. She was her husbands third wife. Esther, 19, knew her husband well before they married. The professional nail cutter used to walk around the neighbourhood reciting verses from the Quran, she says. All of the women speak in a flurry of Hausa and Kanuri, pausing to gaze at the henna on their hands, swatting flies from their sleeping children and turning around to check on their other children as they swing on a tyre that hangs from a tree. But there is a sense of sadness and uncertainty to this otherwise typical scene. These women have not seen their husbands in weeks. Aisha the Amira, Hauwa, Iyeza-Kawu, Aisha, Zainab, Umi, Esther and the others gathered here were all married to members of Boko Haram, the armed group that has been engaged in a seven-year uprising against the Nigerian government that has left more than 20,000 people dead and forced millions to flee their homes. The women had lived with their husbands in Walasa, a town near the Nigeria-Cameroon border. But in May, Nigerian soldiers reclaimed the area. Most of the Boko Haram fighters fled, leaving their wives and children behind. Iyeza- Kawus husband was killed in the skirmish. My husband was not a terrorist, she says. The soldiers killed him. She and 33 other women were rounded up with their children, packed into vehicles and taken to a safe house in Maiduguri where they are now receiving psychosocial treatment designed to rehabilitate them back into society, away from their husbands. We will eventually reunite the women with their families and relations here in Maiduguri, explains the states governor, Kashim Shettima. But the pregnant ones among them say they fear that their children will never meet their fathers. And some say they have fond memories of their husbands. READ MORE: Meet the Nigerian woman taking on Boko Haram Memories of the men they loved The Amira says she met her husband one day as she was running away from a battle between Boko Haram fighters and government soldiers. As she was running, a man stopped her, she says. He asked me, You get married?' She says she intrigued him because she was bold and intelligent. Its because Im an educated girl. The other girls dont go to school, so they are shy. Even though Boko Haram is opposed to boko, or Western education, she says her husband desired her because she was educated in Western schools. She is the only one in the group who can speak some English. When he eventually asked to marry her, she deliberated for a month. When she agreed it was because she believed he was wealthy. He paid her dowry in naira and euros, she says. My husband is a Boko Haram commander. Hes an Amir, thats why Im an Amira, she explains. He had three wives. He divorced all of them when he married me, because he loves me very much and Im like his baby. She lived a privileged life as an Amira. READ MORE: The media enigma of Boko Haram She joined her husband in the Sambisa forest, from which Boko Haram allegedly operates its largest camp, and lived there for almost three years. The forest stretches for nearly 40,000 square miles in the southern part of the northeastern state of Borno, which has born the brunt of Boko Harams insurgency. Once upon a time, elephants and leopards roamed Sambisa. Now, it is Boko Haram members and their families who live among the scatterings of acacia, baobab, tamarind and neem trees. In Sambisa, she says, she met some of the kidnapped Chibok girls, Boko Harams most well-known abductees, snatched two years ago from their secondary school in the town of Chibok in northeastern Nigeria. Recently, Boko Haram released a video featuring about 50 of the missing girls. She says she also met the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. Her lips curl into a grin as she remembers her husband. He gave her money every week, she says, and showered her with jewellery, makeup and new clothes. For her, life in Sambisa was pleasant, she says. If anyone was sick, there were doctors to treat them. She was well fed with a full stock of rice, yams, coconuts, beans, juice and fruits. As the Amira, she was responsible for helping to take care of the other wives. She distributed food to them, befriended them and taught them how to be good Muslim wives, she says. All of the women attended near daily Quran classes. Amira says she helped her husband do jihad. My husband has a gun. If my husband is coming back from traveling, hell call me on my phone and say , Sweety, Im coming home. So Ill go put on makeup, body spray and Ill cook food. When he comes home, Ill collect his gun, magazine, bombs, she says. He taught her how to assemble and disassemble his guns, but there were so many pieces she says she would sometimes get confused. When her husband went out on operations, she would occupy herself with her phone, she says. Many of the wives of Boko Haram members were not allowed to have one, but the Amira had one when she lived in Sambisa and she used it to browse online. I was using Facebook. And even now, if you look for my name on Facebook, youll see me there at the top. Im the first one there, she says. Her phone was seized when she arrived at the safe house, but she had already memorised not only her husbands phone numbers, but the numbers of many Boko Haram members who she says will answer her call at any time. The other Aisha does not have such pleasant memories of life with the man she secretly married when she was a lovestruck 23-year-old. Before he joined Boko Haram, she says he was caring and allowed her to work. But afterwards, he forbade her from working and withdrew emotionally. He also became secretive, disappearing for days without telling her where he had been, she says. Thats how I knew he was with Boko Haram, Aisha adds. She says her husband forced her to cut off contact with her family. After the marriage, she left her parents behind in Cameroon and moved with him from village to village in northeastern Nigeria as Boko Haram took over territory there. Although her husband became wealthier after joining Boko Haram, she says he was not a high-ranking member. So the life she lived did not resemble the Amiras. She felt like a captive, she says, although she did find comfort in the other wives. At 11, Umi is the youngest wife in the group. Her mother, Zainab, is with her at the safe house. Initially, her mother thought she was too young to marry, but Umis father insisted and gave her away to a Boko Haram member who lived in a nearby compound with his two wives. She was married in Walasa, but the next day soldiers came and carried her away. Although she was only with him for a day, she says she is still in love with her husband. Safe house initiative Social workers from the states emergency management agency, a local NGO called the NEEM Foundation and the states Ministry of Womens Affairs take turns throughout the week to counsel the women. Their main task is to get the women to talk. But thats not an easy thing to do. The women are cagey, shifting their gazes as they change their stories. Sometimes they say they didnt know that their husbands were Boko Haram members; at other times they admit to knowing. The social workers are also a little afraid of the women. The first time these women came, we feared them because we know that its Boko Haram wives who used to bring bombs. They wear the bombs to do suicide attacks, says one social worker who asked that her name not be used out of fear that she would be targeted by Boko Haram. We also thought that Boko Haram would attack Maiduguri and come and retrieve their wives from this safe house. Many of these women are supporting jihad. They say it is God that helps them to do the jihad and it is God who helps them to capture a place. WATCH: How Chad is responding to the threat posed by Boko Haram across West Africa At the safe house, the women are well-fed. The government has given them new clothes. They sleep in a three-bedroom house with a large front yard and watch locally made movies on the television. The safe house is supposed to de-radicalise the women through psychosocial therapy, but there is no clear structure and many of the women spend much of the day sleeping or braiding one anothers hair. Quran lessons, individual therapy sessions and English classes take place sporadically. Reuben Ibeshuwa, the sole clinical psychologist there, says this disorganisation is not ideal. He cannot speak the womens language, so he counsels them through a translator. Some of these women are hardened. Nobody coerced them to join Boko Haram. They voluntarily joined because they believe in their ideology, he explains. If given the chance some would go back. Iyeza-Kawu, who is still mourning her late husband, and Zainab insist that Boko Haram is merely misunderstood. They say the group teaches people how to be good Muslims. Everything Boko Haram tells us is the right thing. There is nothing wrong in what they are saying, says Zainab. When asked why it kills people, she snorts and looks away. Secrets of Boko Haram Through gentle probing and playful interaction with the wives of the Boko Haram fighters, the social workers have been able to learn more about how the group operates. Although many human rights organisations say the wives of Boko Haram fighters are coerced into carrying out acts of violence, the women at the safe house say that as their husbands are working for God, they do whatever they ask of them. Its OK to be a suicide bomber. Its normal, says one. The women say that young girls, aged between 10 and 12, who have carried out suicide bombings in cities across northeastern Nigeria probably volunteered, hoping to avenge the death of a relative. But a Chadian intelligence officer who spoke to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity says that the Chadian government, which is also involved in the fight against Boko Haram, has conducted dozens of interviews with detained Boko Haram members who have talked about how they get young girls to commit suicide attacks. In the interviews we have conducted with Boko Haram members, they told us that they tell women and girls that they will go to paradise if they commit suicide for Allah. So, they ask girls, Who wants to go to paradise? They tell the girls that they will also wear bombs. So the man straps a bomb to his body and to the girl. They tell the girl, lets do this and we will meet again in paradise. So the girl goes forward and detonates herself, expecting the man to do the same. But the man does not. He watches her blow herself up into pieces and then goes to the next girl to lure her to do the same thing, he explains. The women frequently talk about tea and dates. They say that when they pledged what they call a mubayaa, an oath of allegiance, to Boko Haram, they were given dabino (dates) to eat and tea to drink. Others say they were also given pieces of coconut. The first time I came to join Boko Haram, somebody came, the commander who is a mallam, and asked me, Do you believe in Allah? Me, I said yes. And the prophet? I said yes. And the Quran? I said yes. He then gave me a date palm and coconut. I ate it and then I slept for three or four hours. Then I woke up and my heart was changed, Aisha the Amira explains. I loved Boko Haram. I didnt like normal men. She says there was always tea mixed with leaves and other things she wasnt familiar with. They all told us that the dates were usually dipped in blood and were sometimes mixed with human flesh, the Chadian intelligence officer says, relaying what Boko Haram fighters caught by Chadian soldiers revealed in interviews. Then they have a sort of mystical tea. Abba Aji Kalli has met many Boko Haram fighters face to face. One tried to attack his house in Maiduguri a few months ago. Kalli is the state coordinator for the Civilian Joint Task Force, a paramilitary vigilante group working with the Nigerian security forces to combat Boko Haram. When we catch Boko Haram members, they tell us things. They tell us that they sometimes even eat human meat. This is what theyve been doing, Kalli says. In Boko Haram, whatever is in your imagination, whatever you think, they have it there. He says this is why his group burns whatever they find in Boko Haram camps food, jewellery and flasks. Because theyre dangerous. They can poison you. Boko Haram is using magic charms. Once you take their water and their dates, theyve taken over your mind, Kalli says. Many of the women say that some people participate in mysterious rituals, but claim that these are not real Boko Haram members. They scoff at those who say Boko Haram fighters are ghosts. What else do you want to know about Boko Haram that has not been revealed? the Amira asks. Ask me and I will give you the answer. An uncertain future A few of the women say they are no longer in love with their husbands. Aisha says she wants to forget about the man she once loved. But, she will tell the unborn child in her womb about him. I will tell my child that his father was a terrorist. He was not a good man, she says. All she wants now, is to go back to her parents in Cameroon and deliver her baby. Hauwa says shes enjoying her life. Shes putting her gentle and kind husband behind her. Now. she says, shed like to marry one of the vigilante men who are fighting Boko Haram. The women dont know what will happen to them next. Although the government plans to release them back into society, they know that many people will oppose that. Will my family want me back? After all the bad things I have done? asks Falta, an elderly woman who sits alone, away from the other women. Her face is drawn in deep-set wrinkles. She is the mother of a Boko Haram Amir Aisha the Amiras husband. Falta left her husband many years ago to join her son in the movement. If youve never had a son, you will never know the closeness of a mother and son. He is closer to me than anything, Falta says. The women are right about people opposing the plan to release them. Many think they should not have been afforded the luxury of a safe house in the first place. Ibeshuwa believes it is unfair of the government to put the wives of Boko Haram members in a comfortable house when thousands of displaced people are starving and falling ill in overcrowded, lice-infested camps. He says that during one of his therapy sessions with one of the wives, he showed her a video hed captured on his mobile phone from one of the camps. In it, dozens of people are scrambling to get water from a bucket. I showed that to one of the wives of Boko Haram and you know what she told me? She said, If they had joined us, they would not be suffering the way they are now. They should have joined Boko Haram, he recalls. Kalli says that the women are criminals and should be in military detention, not in a house. If they release those women into society, they should release them with their body bags because surely we will kill them. Society will kill them. They should be kept in detention at least five or six years before they should be released to the community. Because somebody who killed your father and your mother is being released to come and stay with you in the same neighbourhood. The government should think twice about releasing those Boko Haram wives into society, he says, thrusting his hands into the air as he speaks. Back at the house, an afternoon breeze lifts the leaves off the ground. The women put on shawls and prepare for the afternoon prayers. Those who still love their husbands say they will pray to be reunited with them. The others pray to find new love. Embracing LGBT Americans should not come at the expense of demonising Muslim Americans. In a Republican National Convention nomination acceptance speech widely maligned as dystopian, Donald Trump received rare mainstream media praise for asserting: Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist. This time, the terrorist targeted LGBT community. No good. And were going to stop it. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBT citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. While heralded as a watershed moment for the Republican Party, many failed to take note of what was not said in Trumps speech. For instance, there was no call for the RNC to revise or reconsider its party platform, described by the Log Cabin Republicans as being the most anti-LGBT in the partys history. In order to realise his convention pledge, Trump would later propose that the United States resort to the extreme vetting of aspiring immigrants to prevent anyone harbouring bigotry or hatred towards gender or sexual minorities from entering the US. Spreading ideologies However, there was absolutely no mention of restricting American citizens from going to other countries with the explicit purpose of spreading ideologies which could be construed as homophobic or misogynistic. That is, in both cases Trump declined to challenge his supporters on their own attitudes or behaviours instead, the gay issue was raised primarily as a means of attacking foreigners and, especially, Muslims. READ MORE: An Introduction to Trumpology In the social sciences, this is referred to as Homonationalism: a bad-faith embrace of LGBTQ advocacy to justify hatred, discrimination or violence towards some backwards other. Before LGBTQ issues became the humanitarian vogue, 'women's empowerment' occupied the same position - with people who were, themselves, staunchly anti-feminist calling for war against Muslims for the sake of 'liberating women'. by Before LGBT issues became the humanitarian vogue, womens empowerment occupied the same position with people who were, themselves, staunchly anti-feminist calling for war against Muslims for the sake of liberating women. However, conservatives in the US should beware of jumping on this particular bandwagon because if the Republican Party follows Trump down this path, it is they who stand to lose the most in the long run. Pyrrhic victory Most American Muslims are first-generation immigrants. However, if Trumps extreme vetting policy is a backdoor attempt at banning Muslims (given the likely unconstitutionality of his original religious test proposal), it would be largely unsuccessful: Muslim Americans tend to be relatively more supportive of expanding rights and protections for LGBTQ citizens than many other religious populations in the US to include Evangelicals, Mormons or Jehovahs Witnesses. Moreover, due to recent historical trends (primarily, how the War on Terror has been prosecuted), US Muslims vote almost unanimously Democrat. Meaning, even if many personally oppose homosexuality, they nonetheless vote for policymakers who strongly advocate for the LGTB agenda to include Americas only two Muslim Congressmen, Democrats Keith Ellison and Andre Carson. Three important implications follow: First, the current immigration system already seems to strongly attract or filter those Muslims who are respectful of gender and sexual minorities. Consider: despite being primarily first-generation immigrants from nations where LGBT tolerance is among the lowest in the world, Muslim American sentiment today is roughly comparable with the general US consensus circa 2006. Second, Trumps ideological test would probably prevent many aspiring Christian (or even Orthodox Jewish) candidates from immigrating to the US particularly those from Africa or the Middle East, who tend to hold more traditional views on gender and sexuality than their Western or Latin-American counterparts. Intense persecution Due to the intense persecution believers currently face in Christianitys ancestral homeland (and beyond), many are seeking asylum in Western nations. READ MORE: Donald Trump is the real deal On Trumps plan, however, Christians who face discrimination and persecution for their faith could also find themselves turned away from America on the same basis (Middle Eastern and North African Christians would face a similar problem with Trumps other backdoor attempt at banning Muslims: turning away people from terror-affected countries). Third, given that most hate crimes, discrimination, and socio-political hostility LGBT Americans face originates from native-born, Republican-voting Protestants (rather than immigrants or Muslims), if conservatives establish a legal precedent defining opposition to feminism or the LGBT movement as fundamentally anti-American, liberal advocacy groups will push to expand its scope, applications and enforcement to target them as well. For instance, opposition to the feminist or LGBT agenda could be cited as grounds for stripping federal student loan aid from Christian colleges, ending tax exemptions for religious institutions, strongly restricting displays of religion in public spaces, for exposing small businesses, corporations, or even Christian organisations to civil liability for controversial views or policies or on the far end, even broadening formal designations of hate groups or domestic radicals to enable more aggressive dismantling of certain forms of dissent. There is a growing social and political movement in the US eager to implement these sanctions and it seems increasingly likely that they will eventually succeed. But it would nonetheless be tragic if Christian conservatives, themselves, opened the floodgates for this radical secularisation in a misguided attempt to stunt Islam in America. Should conservative Christians sincerely aspire to more fully embrace LGBT Americans, it is wholly unnecessary indeed, suicidal to justify this conviction by demonising some other vulnerable religious population. Musa al-Gharbi is a Paul F. Lazarsfeld Fellow in Sociology at Columbia University. Readers can connect to his research and social media via his website: fiatsophia.org The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Island communities are innovative and can make the most of scarce resources while having a global impact. In November, government representatives all across the world meet again to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change. The centre of contention will now shift from political jockeying between nations, to the energy war between renewables and fossil fuel. While last years COP21 was full of promise for a new direction in global climate politics and a rapid uptake of clean energy technology, the world is looking for tangible actions. As the worlds biggest polluters, the announcement of ratifications by the United States and China around the G20 is a big deal, but so are the examples being set by some of the worlds tiniest nations. Indeed, much of the charge on climate action has been driven by small island developing states (SIDS), which feel the brunt of the early impacts of climate change. Representing 52 of the 193 UN members, these nations have achieved significant political clout in climate negotiations and were the first to ratify the Paris Agreement. The victory of renewables The core of the UN deal was the agreement that each nation sets its own targets. This was supposed to be an easy way out no more conflict over climate. But of course this was always a proxy for the real conflict, of renewable solar and wind against unsustainable coal, oil and natural gas. Far from being the powerless victims that they are often portrayed, island nations are actively fighting as foot soldiers in this war. These small states are showcasing solutions by pioneering ambitious programmes to transform their energy supply. In the Pacific, Tokelau reached 100 percent renewable energy back in 2012 and the neighbouring Tuvalu and the Cook Islands are due to become fully powered by renewables before 2020. In the Caribbean, Aruba is also set for 100 percent renewable energy in the next few years and Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Montserrat aim to do so by 2030. Many people dont yet realise that renewables are winning against fossil fuels. Coal, oil and natural gas are on the way out and their decline is irreversible. Island leaders around the world are standing up and demonstrating that the solutions for climate change are readily available. by According to the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, 2015 was the turning point (PDF). It was the first year in which new renewable energy installations excluding large-scale hydro accounted for the majority of generation capacity built globally, making up 53.6 percent of generation, and $286bn in investment. Less than half as much $130bn was invested in new coal, oil and natural gas projects globally. In Saint Lucia, this week the Governor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy is installing a solar photovoltaic system to generate power for her official residence, Government House. OPINION: The politics of climate change This symbolic act of leadership is important because few of the world leaders in Paris who committed to reducing carbon emissions have yet put their own official residences in order and led by example. Moreover, it will send a signal to the people of Saint Lucia that solar power is now ready to deploy and meet their need for affordable electricity, and the government is committed to its renewable energy goal of 35 percent renewable energy by 2020. An example to follow The project is part of the Solar Head of State initiative, working to encourage leaders worldwide to install solar on public buildings. In 2011, the Maldives partnered with Sungevity to install solar on the Muliaage, the Presidential palace of the Maldives. This was the first country to put solar on the head of states home, followed in 2014 by the US President Barack Obama at The White House. It was also the first act of a pioneering commitment to power the Maldives on 100 percent renewable energy. Unfortunately, Saint Lucia and the Maldives have taken quite different directions since then. A coup that ousted the only ever democratically elected leader of the Maldives also ended the nations renewable energy ambitions. OPINION: Climate change and the right to food The Maldives government has continued to call for carbon reductions by larger economies while starting to drill for oil and stopping the national renewable energy programme. Environmental groups have pointed out the hypocrisy of the governments position. Meanwhile, Saint Lucia is putting its money where its mouth is and leading on renewable energy. The installation on Government House is symbolic of a commitment that next will see a 3MW solar project built, which will provide 5 percent of the islands electricity needs and get it well on the way to its sustainable future. Island communities are innovative and can make the most of scarce resources while having a global impact. By committing to solar through this small installation on Government House, Saint Lucias political leaders are affirming their longer-term goals of a renewable future. Island leaders around the world are standing up and demonstrating that the solutions for climate change are readily available. Now the rest of the world needs to follow. Mohamed Nasheed was the first democratically elected President of the Maldives and is now a figurehead for human rights, democracy and climate change. Danny Kennedy is a leading clean energy entrepreneur, co-founder of the global solar company Sungevity and adviser to the nonprofit Solar Head of State. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. The rich milieu of groups native to the Middle East has no place in codified constructions of US race and ethnicity. Khaled A Beydoun is a law professor, and author of American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear. Narrow conceptions and caricatures of Arab identity are deeply rooted in Hollywood. The hijacker and the terrorist, the opulently wealthy oil sheikh and the oppressed and over-dressed woman, among others, comprise the most prominent depictions of Arab identity in film and television. These negative illustrations of Arabs are built upon a flat conception of Arab identity, and indeed, the diverse and rich range of identities encompassed or related to the Arab World. On Sunday, Rami Malek the lead on the USA Networks drama-thriller Mr Robot claimed the Emmy for the Best Actor in a Drama series. The nod also earned Malek, an Egyptian American, the distinction of being the first non-white actor in 18 years to win that award. The historic moment spurred a series of headlines and tweets that identified Malek as an Arab American, in addition to the Washington, DC-based Arab American Institute endorsing his victory as, balm for Arab-Americans normally stereotyped or absent in Hollywood. Maleks ethnic identity However, Arab-American jubilation for the historic victory was subsequently complicated by the particular dimensions of Maleks ethnic identity, and specifically, how his status as a Coptic Egyptian an Orthodox Christian population indigenous to the northeastern African nation conflicted with widespread identifications of Malek as Arab. READ MORE: What if James Bond were black? Ironically, the off-screen identity of Mr Robots Elliot Alderson a white anti-hero cyber-security hacker spawned a robust conversation about the intricacies and complexity of Arab identity, and related identities flatly illustrated and understood as Arab. While marking a milestone moment for Arab or Egyptian Americans in Hollywood, Malek's victory transcended the four corners of the television screen by challenging the flat conceptions of how America understands identities originating from the Arab World. by While marking a milestone moment for Arab or Egyptian Americans in Hollywood (or both), Maleks victory transcended the four corners of the television screen by challenging the flat conceptions of how America understands identities originating from the Arab World. Hollywood has been a culpable accessory in the narrow and negative illustration of Arabs. The golden age of Hollywood was saturated with portrayals of Arabs as savage and backwards, tribal and misogynistic. Arab women characters seldom appeared on screen, and on the rare occasion they did, were silent, subordinate, or exoticised sexual objects. Reel bad Arabs Prominent Hollywood caricatures reflect the prevailing political concerns of the day, and as the Bush administration mounted its global war on terror, depictions of Arabs on screen were overwhelmingly linked to war, terrorism, and the looming threat of both. Film and television, arguably societys best mirror, recreated popular and political characterisations of Arabs on screen. The consequences of these depictions not only endorsed and broadly disseminated damaging stereotypes of Arabs, but just as deleteriously, cemented a flattened understanding of identities native to the (modern) Arab World. Anybody from the region had to be Arab and Muslim, suggested the illustrations on screen, and the two identities were disoriented and conflated as one in the same. The broad array of groups indigenous to the Arab World that preceded Arabs, and dis-identify as Arab, were simultaneously erased and submerged into an identity they actively refuse or resist. Orientalism left no room for Chaldeans, Nubians, Kurds, Berbers or Copts; and Hollywood a proponent of the ideology that reduced the Arab World into a cultural, religious and racial monolith happily followed suit. Maleks historic Emmy victory, and the political dimensions of his Coptic Egyptian identity, offered a rare opportunity to disrupt that process. When Egyptian is, and isnt, Arab The wellspring of tweets, social media statuses and headlines celebrating the historic Arab-American Emmy win were met with resistance by Coptic Egyptian Americans who echoed the fact that his parents were Coptic Egyptians. READ MORE Omar Sharif: Actor without borders Far more than merely a matter of ethnic identification, the rift between those embracing Arab identity and Copts is deep-rooted and, at times, rife with hostility. Arab Americans claiming Malek as one of their own, for many Coptic Egyptians, was another example of forcing an undesired identity upon them... by With the latter viewing Arab identity as colonial and compelled upon them, and thus, an affront to their indigenousness, faith and existential sovereignty: Most of Egypts Copts maintain that they are the purest bloodline to have descended from the ancient Egyptians. As one Coptic friend tells me: I maintain that Im not an Arab. Im an Egyptian and of pharaonic descent. The only thing that ties me to the Arabs is the Arabic language.' The critical rebuttals saturating social media, and article comments, following Maleks Emmy victory gave this rift renewed relevance: Arab Americans claiming Malek as one of their own, for many Coptic Egyptians, was another example of forcing an undesired identity upon them, and in the process, erasing their identity once again. This exchange injected a foreign discourse into the broader American conversation on race. Egypt is in the Arab World, and therefore, its inhabitants are Arab-American racial logic presumes. The US census implicitly adopts this framing, classifying those people originating from the Middle East or North Africa, effectively, as Arab. The rich milieu of groups native to the region, and the rifts and rivalries between them, has no place in codified constructions of American race and ethnicity. Therefore, Malek being a native of Egypt must be Arab, a widespread belief illustrated by the celebratory news stories and headlines that followed his win. The tug-of-war between Arab and Coptic nationalists, fighting to claim Malek as one of their own, was ultimately a victory for all involved. It furnished Coptic Americans with a timely platform to discuss the distinct and independent dimensions of their culture and identity, and more broadly, enabled a conversation that complicated how Hollywood, and America, sees people that hail from the Arab World. This is a conversation Washington and Hollywood has strategically avoided, but one Mr Robot, coincidentally kick-started. Now whether Malek made Arab-American or Egyptian-American history ultimately hinges on how the Emmy winner identifies himself: picking one side of the Arab and Coptic divide, or choosing to embrace both. Whatever he chooses, everybody wins. Khaled A Beydoun is an associate professor of law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and affiliated faculty at the UC-Berkeley Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Homes are destroyed as torrential rain causes a river to overflow its banks in western Java. At least 20 people have been killed after torrential downpours struck the Indonesian island of Java. The rain storm developed around 09:00 GMT on Tuesday (4pm local time) and continued for about 13 hours. The excessive amount of rain caused the Cimanuk River to overflow its banks, sending torrents of water hurtling down the hillsides. The worst hit town was Garut, where the force of the water destroyed hundreds of homes and tossed cars through the streets. At least 20 people are known to have died in the floods, and dozens of people are still missing. The floodwater also forced its way into Garut hospital, leaving a sea of dark, muddy water in rooms where patients lay. Flooding and landslides are not uncommon in Java, but the timing of this storm is surprising. September is the dry season, with Jakarta only expecting 66 millimetres of rain in the entire month. However, the receding El Nino conditions in the Pacific have intensified the rains across parts of Southeast Asia over the past few months. El Nino is the warming of the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, which is known to affect the weather around the globe. The waters cooled dramatically since its peak in January this year and this has had a knock-on effect on the weather in India, China, Southeast Asia and Australia. In June, it was expected that the opposite of El Nino, known as La Nina, would develop in the Pacific in the following months. La Nina is the cooling of the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, and usually causes an increase in the rains in the region. However, the cooling did not happen, and it is now thought that La Nina will not emerge until next year. Thankfully this means that rainfall of the intensity of that seen in western Java is unlikely to be repeated in the region in the near future. Additional reporting by Steff Gaulter President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the United Nations to declare 2017 the year to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and people, saying that Israels settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is destroying any hope of a two-state solution. During a speech before the UN General Assembly on Thursday, the Palestinian president urged the international community to exert greater effort than before to establish a truly independent Palestinian state, as the 50th anniversary of Israels abhorrent occupation approaches in June next year. Those who believe in the two-state solution should recognise both states, and not just one of them, Abbas said. Most member states of the UN have already recognised the state of Palestine, but Israel and a number of other countries, including the UK, the US and Germany, have not. Israel must recognise the state of Palestine and put an end to its occupation of our land so the state of Palestine can co-exist alongside the state of Israel in peace and security as good neighbours, he said. We extend our hands to those who want to build peace. But the question remains and persists: is there any leadership in Israel, the occupying power, that desires to make a true peace? he asked. Settlement expansion Al Jazeeras Imran Khan, reporting from West Jerusalem, said Abbas used much tougher diplomatic language in his speech, compared with speeches in the past. He talked about making 2017 the year Palestine is finally recognised and the occupation comes to an end, our correspondent said. He [also] made clear that the settlements are an obstacle for peace. READ MORE: East Jerusalems elections are more than symbolic Earlier, Abbas, who has been Palestinian president for 11 years, had told representatives at the UN assembly in New York that Israels pursuit of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank will destroy whatever possibility is left for the two-state solution along the 1967 borders. In late August, the United States said it was deeply concerned following an announcement that Israel had approved the building of 463 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. Nickolay Mladenov, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the Security Council in August that Israeli settlement expansion had surged in the past two months. READ MORE: US aid deal significant reward for Israeli right A recent report by the diplomatic Quartet the European Union, Russia, the UN and the US said construction of settlements on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state is eroding the possibility of a two-state solution. The Palestinian leader said on Thursday that his officials would exert all efforts to get the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on settlements and the terror of the settlers. The settlements are illegal in every aspect, Abbas said. Britain should apologise In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Abbas also asked Britain to apologise for its 1917 Balfour declaration endorsing the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Abbas said that Britain should recognise Palestine as a state in order to correct its past mistakes. READ MORE: Stories from Palestine told through dresses We ask Great Britain, as we approach 100 years since this infamous declaration, to draw the necessary lessons and to bear its historic, legal, political, material and moral responsibility for the consequences of this declaration, including an apology to the Palestinian people for the catastrophes, misery and injustice this declaration created, and to act to rectify these disasters and remedy its consequences, including by the recognition of the state of Palestine, Abbas said. This is the least Great Britain can do. Is the Arab world back to square one after all the sacrifices it has made since 2011? Long before the pro-democracy protests in Syria descended into massacres at the hands of the regime, and before Egypt moved away from its democratic movement and reinstated a rule by the military-security complex following the coup of 2013, a shockwave echoed throughout the Arab World. The pro-democracy uprisings that swept across the region pushed forward debates about the relationship between citizens, societies, and states. They also made clear the need to forge a new social contract between ruled and rulers that promises to transcend the persistent crises of development, good governance, and the rule of law. Back in 2011 and 2012, there was no denying the root causes of these crises. The high rates of poverty and unemployment were responsible for turning attention towards the suicide of Mohamed Bouazizi that sparked the anger in the streets of Tunisia and ended the rule of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. These same sentiments gradually galvanised sections of the Egyptian poor and unemployed youth, leading them to participate in what came to be known as the January25 revolution and to address for themselves their economic and social demands; bread and social justice. READ MORE: The terrible illusions of the Arab Spring A chasm that separated the poor, low-income, marginalised majorities from the political, economic and financial elite was built up due to widespread corruption and the absence of the rule of law. In countries such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, and Algeria, systematic crimes and human rights violations against losing majorities produced republics of fear and corruption. Balanced development plans failed to bridge the two, in large part due to the exclusion of the masses from the public-policymaking process, the absence of good governance and the use of oppressive state tactics against the people. In the few years preceding 2011 and 2012, the rate of protests based on economic and social grievances escalated in countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Yemen. Marginalised and oppressed groups began to see the connection between their poor economic standing and corruption, between their suffering and the lack of economic opportunities available to them and the policy decisions of an unrepresentative, undemocratic government. The collapse in the level of healthcare and education and the absence of the procedures of good governance that allow for citizens oversight, accountability and responsibility among government institutions and public authorities were among the key factors. Also, the negative repercussions of the rentier system were felt across the Arab world and made citizens aware of the need to transcend rent-based economies be the rent of natural resources or the rent of regional and international alliances. OPINION: Egypt needs a new social covenant It was not only that state institutions have given up their developmental mandate and confined themselves to rent distribution and to policing citizens and societies. It was also the direct correlation between rentierism (and for that matter its patriarchal ideology) and the persistence of undemocratic governments across the Arab world. These facts were recognised by the protesting masses in 2011 and 2012. Their identity as losers of Arab rentierism the poor, the needy, the have-nots, the unrepresented could not be denied. Their quest for a new and just social contract was given a remarkably loud voice in the streets of Tunis, Cairo, Sanaa and Hama. Indeed, significant differences did exist between Arab countries in the lead up to the pro-democracy uprisings. In countries such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, and Algeria, systematic crimes and human rights violations against losing majorities produced republics of fear and corruption. Governments lost their political legitimacy, public institutions could not maintain popular trust, and decision and public policymaking processes were increasingly dominated by military, security, and intelligence institutions. In the oil-rich Gulf countries, governments have benefited from the oil revenues to alleviate poverty and grant majorities access to humane living conditions. In return, Gulf governments invented the inverse of a democratic social contract based on a no taxation, no representation principle and did not have to resort to severe state violence to keep societies and citizens under control. In countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, where tribal and sectarian structures prevented the severity of state violence, societies maintained some of the fervour derived from the participation of tribes and sectarian actors in public policymaking processes. Governments, military institutions as well as security and intelligence services strong here and weak there were either incapable or unwilling to perform mass repression. In regional comparison, the Gulf inversion of the democratic equation and the tribal-sectarian protection of society against the threat of despotic governments provided citizens with better living conditions as opposed to the republics of fear. Deficits with regard to sustainable development and governance remained, and the tutelage of the ruling elite, tribes and sectarian actors was not challenged. Yet, unlike in the republics of fear, majorities in the Gulf countries as well as in Jordan and Lebanon were not made to absolute losers. READ MORE: It is as if the Arab Spring never happened Back in 2011 and 2012, the root causes and drivers were clear. The notion of a new social contract came to symbolise the popular quest to move beyond despotism and rentierism in the Arab world. Activists and intellectuals across the regional public space were searching for ways to empower citizens, protect societies, and subject state institutions to the principles of oversight and accountability. Inspiring discussions about civil liberties and freedoms, the launching of individual and private initiatives, the modernisation of economic structures to ascertain the values of production and innovation and open competition, the establishing of legal and political frameworks to impose checks and balances on government and public officials were reported in all Arab countries. For the first time in modern times as well, controversial debates on how to democratise civil-military relations, on how to safeguard personal freedoms and liberties in the face of tribal and sectarian tutelage, and on how to initiate mechanisms of transitional justice to come to terms with the past of human rights violations, were garnering popular attention. However, following the dramatic turns of events in most Arab Spring countries, the quest for a new social contract fell rapidly to almost complete reclusion. This happened either because of the bloodshed that has been spread by dictators, who do not hesitate to commit crimes against humanity to remain in power, and by terrorist, extremist, and violent groups not shying away from mass killing and destruction (the Syrian tragedy); or because of the faltering efforts to overcome despotism and rentierism and the return to power of autocratic military-security complexes (the Egyptian tragedy); or a mix of both reasons (as in Yemen and Libya). It also happened because of the successful defence of rentierism, tribalism, and sectarianism by their proponents in the benign monarchies of the Arab world. Have we, then, returned to square one, after all the human and material sacrifice the Arab people have endured since 2011? The answer is a clear no. The memory of the developmental crises and governance deficits is not completely lost. The sense of popular empowerment that the democratic uprisings instilled among wide segments of Arab populations continue to radiate into 2016. *The writer is an Egyptian political scientist. Instagram video captures the daily work of MSF rescuers shuttling across the Mediterranean to save refugee lives. As Europe grapples with a massive refugee influx, aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) keeps watch over the dangerous sea crossing in the Mediterranean. Javid Abdelmoneim, a doctor with MSF, took Al Jazeera on a rescue journey on the groups Aquarius ship. Take a look at the Instagram video above capturing the daily work of the rescuers shuttling across the Mediterranean to save refugee lives. Xia Lin, known to be working on sensitive human rights cases, was sentenced nearly two years after being detained. A court in Beijing has jailed a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer for 12 years on fraud charges, the latest verdict in Chinas ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and activists. Xia Lin is best known for his work defending the outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and fellow rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang. He was detained by Beijing police in November 2014 and Thursdays sentencing comes amid a string of cases and subversion trials demonstrating the ruling Communist Partys determination to silence independent human rights activists and government critics. Xia was also ordered to pay a fine of 120,000 yuan ($18,000) and give total compensation of 4.8 million yuan ($720,000) to fraud victims. Xia has pleaded not guilty and his supporters say the case was another example of retaliation against a human rights advocate who had defended the rule of law and challenged the government. Xia Lin is not guilty. He has decided to appeal the court decision and we will file the appeal in the next few days, Xias lawyer, Wang Zhenyu, told DPA news agency. Al Jazeeras Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing, said the verdict was never in doubt. His sentence is much stiffer than those given to dissidents in other trials that have happened in recent weeks and months in China, he said. The courts are controlled by the Communist party so the verdict was never in doubt. Xia is one of more than 300 activists and lawyers who have been detained or summoned by police since last year. Over a dozen are believed to still be in jail. Last month, four lawyers and human rights activists were convicted on subversion charges and sentenced to as much as seven-and-a-half years in prison. Targeting legal activism Chinese President Xi Jinping has overseen a tightening of controls on civil society since assuming power in 2012, closing avenues for legal activism that had opened up in recent years. While the government initially targeted political activists and human rights campaigners, it has increasingly turned its attention to the legal professionals who represent them. Xias sentence was unusually tough, said Maya Wang, an Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, and will send a deep chill through the community of human rights lawyers who have been under a sustained crackdown under President Xis government in the past year. This [the arrest] is certainly not about fraud, William Nee, Amnesty Internationals China researcher, told Al Jazeera. Thats a smokescreen to cover the governments real intent to go after any lawyer ready to take on high-profile human rights cases. Xia had been involved in many cases and thats why he was given a horrendously high sentence. Architect David Adjaye explains his inspiration behind the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. A monument to understanding the African American experience. Thats how David Adjaye, the award-winning British-Ghanaian architect, describes a new museum he designed paying tribute to African American history and culture. The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be inaugurated in Washington DC on Saturday by Barack Obama, the first black president of the US. It speaks to the testament and the need for institutions to remind us of our history, and reminds us about the contributions of others to the notion of who belongs and who doesnt, Adjaye told Al Jazeera. Its a great thing that America is able to make a museum on its front lawn to make sure that conversation is never lost. READ MORE: Museum sheds light on African American history Housed along the iconic National Mall and less than 10 minutes away from the White House, the bronze-coloured building is located in the very place where African slaves were once auctioned off. Exhibits at the museum will include whips used to punish slaves, shackles, a slave cabin, Ku Klux Klan robes and an auction block that tells the story of babies taken from their mothers. Find out more about the new museum and its impressive design by watching the video above. Authorities arrest four people in connection with death of dozens of refugees after a boat capsized off Egypts coast. Egyptian authorities have arrested four people in connection with the death of at least 43 refugees whose Europe-bound boat capsized off Egypts Mediterranean coast. Officials said on Thursday that the four were members of the vessels crew, and would be remanded in police custody for four days pending further investigation. They face charges of human trafficking and manslaughter. Authorities also issued arrest warrants for five more people wanted in connection with Wednesdays shipwreck, according to officials. The death toll is going to rise, a medical source told AFP news agency. On the boat there is a hold used to store fish. It hasnt been opened and there must be a lot of people inside. READ MORE: The refugee crisis beyond Europe The Egyptian military said the boat was 12 nautical miles off the coastal town of Rosetta when it capsized. Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province, where Rosetta is located, told the Associated Press news agency that authorities did not have a precise number for those who were on board the vessel, but between 250 and 400 seemed likely. He said 157 people were rescued. An initial breakdown of the nationalities of the people in the boat showed that they included 111 Egyptians, mostly teenagers and men in their 20s, according to Sultan. There were also 25 Sudanese, while the rest were sub-Saharan Africans and Syrians. The search for bodies and survivors has been expanded around the spot where the vessel capsized, said Sultan. READ MORE: Journey into the unknown Many of the survivors have been held by police, while those who suffered injuries were taken to hospitals, where they lie handcuffed to hospital beds under police guard. Mohamed, a 28-year-old Egyptian welder, managed to stay afloat until a rescue boat found him, but lost his wife and son during the incident. He was arrested for trying to leave the country illegally. I risked my life and the lives of my son and wife so they could have a nice life, he told AFP from his hospital bed in Rosetta. Mohamed said the rising cost of living had prompted him to leave behind his homeland and head for Italy, where he would have looked for a job doing anything. He had agreed with a people-smuggler to pay an intermediary $5,600 when he reached Italy. I was the only one who survived. I wish I hadnt survived. Experts say people smugglers in Egypt mostly use old fishing vessels, packed far beyond capacity both below and above deck. Another survivor, Ahmed Darwish, blamed people smugglers for the tragedy, saying overcrowding caused the boat to capsize, and accused authorities of not reacting quickly enough. What happened was a wrong, it was wrong on our part first of all [to attempt the crossing], but it was also wrong on the part of the people [traffickers] who dont have a bit of mercy in their hearts, he told AP. The boat is meant to hold 200, and they put 400 in it. And this is what caused the catastrophe. Darwish said he believed that many of those who died were women and children who could not swim. Those that knew how to swim moved away [from the boat], leaving behind women and small children, he said. It is not yet confirmed by officials but the capsized boat was believed to be going to Italy. READ MORE: Syrian refugees revive Italian village of Camini Thousands of people have made the dangerous sea voyage across the Mediterranean in recent years, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. The number of people trying to cross the Mediterranean from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly in the past year, according to the EU border agency Frontex. More than 12,000 people arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared with 7,000 in the same period last year, it said. Some 206,400 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. More than 2,800 deaths have been recorded between January and June this year, against 1,838 during the period last year. Agreement allows Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, once called the butcher of Kabul, to make a comeback despite alleged war crimes. Afghanistan has signed a peace agreement with Hezb-i-Islami, paving the way for the armed groups commander, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to make a political comeback despite allegations of war crimes during the 1990s. Government officials praised Thursdays agreement in the capital Kabul as a step towards peace, while critics said it opened the door to one of the most infamous figures in Afghanistans civil war to play a role in the countrys already divisive politics. I hope that this is the beginning of a permanent peace in our country, said Sayed Ahmad Gilani, head of the governments High Peace Council and one of the signatories of the agreement, according to Reuters news agency. The deal with the largely dormant Hezb-i-Islami marks a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taliban fighters while, at the same time, attempting to reintegrate other controversial military figures into society by granting immunity for past crimes. Thursdays agreement grants Hekmatyar amnesty for his offences and the release of certain Hezb-i-Islami prisoners. The government also agreed to press for the lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar, who was designated a global terrorist by the US for his suspected ties to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Once branded the butcher of Kabul, Hekmatyar was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people when his fighters fired on civilian areas of the capital city during the 1992-1996 civil war. Neither Hekmatyar nor Ghani were present at the signing ceremony on Thursday. Al Jazeeras Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul, said the government hopes the peace deal paves the way for future peace with the Taliban. That it will be a template for future peace with the Taliban. Afghans will be watching very closely in the coming weeks and months how this deal is implemented, Glasse said. This is not just a peace deal between Hezb-i-Islami and the government of Afghanistan, Mohammad Amin Karim, head of the groups delegation, said at the ceremony. It is a beginning of a new era of peace all around the country, he said, according to the AFP news agency. The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by Ghani and Hekmatyar, the government said, though no date has been set. The current security situation in Afghanistan is unlikely to see much change as a result of the deal, said Timor Sharan, a Kabul-based analyst for the International Crisis Group. The deal will have little impact on the dynamics of conflict, Sharan told Reuters. The governments rationale is that by luring Hekmatyar on board, other insurgent groups might be encouraged to consider peace too. Iraqs army says it has completely liberated Shirqat from ISIL ahead of a military campaign to recapture Mosul. The Iraqi army says its forces have taken control of the strategic northern town of Shirqat from ISIL, in a military operation launched ahead of a push to recapture the armed groups stronghold of Mosul. Other Iraqi cities, towns retaken from ISIL: Tikrit: It fell to ISIL in June 2014, soon after Mosul. It was retaken in March 2015 in an operation by Iraqi troops. Sinjar: Iraqi forces backed by US-led coalition air strikes recaptured Sinjar, northwest of Baghdad, in November 2015. ISIL had captured Sinjar in August 2014. Ramadi: The capital of Anbar, Iraqs largest province, was recaptured in December 2015, about six months after ISIL seized it. Fallujah: Anbar provinces second city fell in 2014 and became a key ISIL stronghold close to the capital. Iraqi forces recaptured Fallujah in June this year. Qayyarah: Iraqi forces backed by coalition aircraft retook Qayyarah from ISIL in August. Security forces began the operation to oust ISIL (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIS) on Tuesday, backed by both Iraqi and US-led coalition aircraft. Iraqi forces completely liberated the Shirqat district and raised the Iraqi flag over the government headquarters in the town, the countrys Joint Operations Command said in a statement on Thursday. READ MORE: Is ISIL on the back foot in Iraq? The town lies on the west bank of the Tigris river in Salaheddin province, 260km northwest of Baghdad and around 80km south of Mosul. ISIL overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and training have since retaken significant ground, including the cities of Tikrit, Ramadi and Fallujah. The recapturing of Shirqat came a day after a top US military officer said that the final push for Mosul could begin next month. We assess today that the Iraqis will have in early October all the forces marshalled, trained, fielded, equipped that are necessary for operations in Mosul, US General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a military event in Washington on Wednesday. Timing of that operation now is really just a function of a political decision by Prime Minister [Haider al-Abadi]. READ MORE: Messages from ISIL territory ask forgiveness for murder But there are still significant military, political and humanitarian obstacles between the launch of the operation and entering and retaking the city. Once the push is launched, a coalition of heterogenous forces will have to fight through ISIL defences in some cases, over distances of dozens of kilometres from their current positions to reach the city. Then, if the strategy for Mosul follows that used in previous operations, the security forces will seek to surround and seal off the city prior to an assault, which will involve street-by-street fighting against ISIL fighters. The Mosul operation also poses major humanitarian challenges, with the United Nations warning that up to one million people may be displaced by the fighting. Humanitarian agencies are racing against the clock to prepare for the humanitarian impact of the military campaign, the UN said. Officials say a person is on life support after being shot during violent protests against police killing of black man. A person is on life support after being shot in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the second night of protests against the killing of a black man by police. The citys police chief had earlier said on Wednesday that he had died of his wound, but officials later said he was in a critical condition. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney did not identify the person shot or the origin of the gunfire but city officials said on Twitter that the shot was fired by one civilian at another, not by police. A police officer was also being treated for injuries suffered during the protests, officials added. Police in riot gear fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators after a peaceful rally, which began after the police killing of a black man two days ago, turned violent. Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher, reporting from Charlotte, said the wounded man was shot in the shoulder. Initially it was said he was shot in the head but we saw the injury, it was very much in the shoulder, he said. Protesters say police fired the shot. But police say none of their weapons was fired. Fisher added that protesters were determined to stay in the street even after threats by police that they would be arrested. They want to make the point that what happened [Tuesdays police shooting] is unacceptable. READ MORE: When do US police use body cams? Earlier, protesters marched towards downtown Charlottes central intersection. Some confronted a column of patrol cars and officers lining the road about a block from the Omni Charlotte Hotel, and began to surround groups of police and their vehicles. At that point, police unleashed volleys of rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse the protesters, who began hurling fireworks and debris at officers outside the hotel, Reuters news agency reported. Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was shot dead in an apartment complex car park on Tuesday after an encounter with officers searching for a suspect wanted for arrest. The authorities said 16 officers and several demonstrators were injured in clashes overnight Tuesday following Scotts death, the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fuelled outrage across the US. Earlier on Wednesday, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton weighed in on the violence in Charlotte, which came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, on Friday in Tulsa. Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. Too many others. This has got to end. -H, tweeted Democrat Clinton, signing the post herself. After calling to make America safe again in a tweet, Trump suggested later on Wednesday that the Tulsa officer who shot Crutcher had choked. I dont know what she was thinking, the Republican said, speaking at an African-American church in Cleveland, Ohio. Divergent accounts The Charlotte shooting took place on Tuesday as officers searching for a suspect arrived in the car park of an apartment complex. They spotted a man with a handgun later identified as Scott exit and then re-enter a vehicle, police chief Putney told journalists. Officers approached the man and loudly commanded him to get out and drop the weapon, at which point Scott exited the vehicle armed, according to police. He stepped out, posing a threat to the officers, and officer Brentley Vinson subsequently fired his weapon, striking the subject, the police chief said. However, Putney added that he did not know whether Scott definitively pointed the weapon specifically towards an officer. Carrying a firearm is legal under local open carry gun laws. Scotts relatives told local media that he was waiting for his young son at school bus stop when police arrived. He was not carrying a gun but a book when he was shot dead, they said an account police disputed. I can tell you a weapon was seized. A handgun, Putney said. I can also tell you we did not find a book that has been made reference to. Anger was simmering in Charlotte, especially over the police chiefs assertion that Scott had been armed. Its a lie, Taheshia Williams, whose daughter attends school with the victims son. They took the book and replaced it with a gun. Series of shootings A string of fatal police shootings from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to St Paul, Minnesota has left many Americans demanding law enforcement reforms and greater accountability. In the southern state of Oklahoma, Tulsa police chief Chuck Jordan called video footage of Crutchers deadly shooting on Friday disturbing and very difficult to watch. The 40-year-old is seen with his hands up, appearing to comply with police officers before he is shot once by officer Betty Shelby and falls to the ground. Another officer fires his stun gun. The US Department of Justice said on Monday it would conduct a federal civil rights probe into the Tulsa shooting, parallel to an investigation being carried out by local authorities. Governor calls emergency measure as rallies against police killing of Keith Lamont Scott intensify, with a person shot. Racial tensions in the United States have reached boiling point after protests in Charlotte against police killings of black men turned increasingly violent, forcing the North Carolina governor to declare a state of emergency in the city. The protests began on Tuesday after a police officer killed Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man. His death followed another police killing of a black man in Tulsa on Friday, Terence Crutcher. Protests are also ongoing in the Oklahoma city. The protests in Charlotte late on Wednesday saw one person critically injured after being shot. Police said that victim, who they did not identify, was shot by a civilian. READ MORE: Video shows police killing unarmed black man in Tulsa Authorities have been attempting to quell public anger after Scotts death, with police in riot gear firing tear gas at protesters and arresting those they accuse of violence. Mark Thompson, a radio host of Make it Plain, a show focusing on human rights, told Al Jazeera: This is tragic. Its a very sad night for the people of Charlotte. As Dr [Martin Luther] King said, so-called riots are the language of the unheard. Its an extension and direct result of the modern-day lynching of Keith Lamont Scott. With officials refusing to release any video of Scott, anger built as two very different versions emerged. Conflicting accounts Police say Scott disregarded repeated demands to drop his gun, while neighbourhood residents say he was holding a book, not a weapon, as he waited for his son to get off the school bus. You have to wonder what is the real rioting going on? Thompson told Al Jazeera. Is this a good old-fashioned police riot, with all the violence being carried out against African Americans? We [African Americans] have to ponder every day whether we are going to make it home safely or whether we are going to be victims of the police. While a police video of the fatal shooting of Scott has not been released, a video showing the moment Crutcher died in the Tulsa shooting was made available for public viewing. READ MORE: One shot during rally against Charlotte police shooting We know [from that video] without a doubt Terence Crutcher had his hands in the air, said Thompson. The protests in Charlotte included shutting down the eight-lane Interstate 85 and burning the contents of a tractor-trailer. Along with the man critically injured, paramedics said two other people and six police officers suffered minor injuries. Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher, reporting from Charlotte, said: They [protesters] want to make the point that what happened [Tuesdays police shooting] is unacceptable. State of emergency North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory announced late on Wednesday that he was accepting a request from Charlottes police chief, declaring a state of emergency and calling in the National Guard and state troopers to help restore order and protect downtown. Protesters have been chanting Black lives matter and Hands up; dont shoot. But some clashes between protesters and police saw officers fire flash grenades and marchers throw fireworks in return. Video of a solidarity protest in New York showed protesters chanting slogans and carrying placards reading: Black lives matter and Stop the war on black America. https://twitter.com/JamesFTInternet/status/778766539600326660 John Barnett, who runs a civil rights group called True Healing Under God, or THUG, warned that the video might be the only way for the police to regain the communitys trust. Just telling us this is still under investigation is not good enough for the windows of the Wal-Mart. On Wednesday morning, Kerr Putney, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief, said: Its time to change the narrative, because I can tell you from the facts that the storys a little bit different as to how its been portrayed so far, especially through social media. Putney said officers were serving arrest warrants on another person when they saw Scott get out of a vehicle with a handgun. A black officer named as Brentley Vinson shot Scott after the officer and other uniformed members of the force made loud, clear demands that he drop the gun, the chief said. OPINION: Fear of a black and brown America Putney said Scott posed a threat even if he did not point his weapon at officers, and said a gun was found next to the dead man. I can tell you we did not find a book, the chief said. Neighbours, though, said that the officer who fired was white and that Scott had his hands in the air. The three uniformed officers had body cameras; the plainclothes officer did not, police said. But Putney said he cannot release the video because the investigation is still under way. No mobile-phone video has emerged on social media, as happened in other cases around the country. Standard procedure Vinson, a two-year member of the department, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. It is so essential to know what actually took place, Andrew Jerell Jones, a political writer, told Al Jazeera. Right now, we have the family standing firm on their story, and the local police standing firm on their story. He said the protests were a result of what took place not just on Tuesday evening, but throughout many years throughout the history of Charlotte. According to a tally being kept by The Guardian newspaper, police have killed at least 194 black men so far this year. In all of 2015, police killed at least 306 black men. Syrian forces tell residents to stay away from rebel positions, as US and Russia fail to agree on how to revive truce. The Syrian army has announced the start of an offensive to retake rebel-held districts of Aleppo city, just as international powers with a stake in Syrias civil war failed to revive a collapsed ceasefire during diplomatic talks in New York. The announcement by the Syrian defence ministry late on Thursday followed several hours of intense air strikes that left parts of Aleppo in flames, according to a monitor and opposition activists. In a statement on its official website, the ministry called on residents to stay away from the positions of terrorist groups. It said there would be no punishment or arrest for any citizen who reaches the checkpoints of the Syrian Arab army, and that it had taken all measures to receive civilians and secure their shelter. Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the most intense strikes in months had triggered massive fires in rebel-held Aleppo neighbourhoods, killing at least seven people. Pro-government forces have surrounded the rebel-held eastern half of the city since July, in an attempt to take full control of the strongest opposition bastion in the countrys north. An estimated 250,000 civilians live in Aleppos eastern quarters. Long, painful and disappointing Minutes after the announcement of the Syrian army offensive, the US and Russia failed to agree on how to revive a collapsed truce. The two countries had negotiated the latest ceasefire plan, but Syria ended the week-long truce on Monday following a US-led coalition strike on a Syrian army post. Shortly after the ceasefire ended, a UN aid convoy was hit in an air strike that US officials have blamed on Russia, the key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow has rejected the allegations that Russian or Syrian warplanes carried out the attack, which killed 20 people and triggered the suspension of much-needed relief operations. Speaking on Thursday after a meeting of the 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in New York, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington and Moscow cannot continue on the same path any longer. We cant go out to the world and say we have an agreement when we dont. Nor can we tell our partners that there is a cessation when there isnt, Kerry told reporters. The simple reality is that we cant resolve a crisis if one side is unwilling to do what is necessary to avoid escalation. And we wont get anywhere if we begin by ignoring facts and plain common sense, or denying the truth, he said. If the Russians come back to us with constructive proposals, we will listen, Kerry told reporters. Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, described the New York meeting as long, painful and disappointing, but added that he wanted to believe that Russia and the US were serious about brokering peace. What we got was an intense discussion with no conclusion, he told reporters. Time is short and eastern Aleppo is under attack. The next few hours, days maximum, are crucial. Humanitarian deliveries Despite the escalation of violence, the UN said on Thursday that it had resumed aid deliveries in its first operation since the attack on the Aleppo-bound humanitarian convoy. Today, we are sending an inter-agency, cross-line convoy with urgently needed aid to people in a besieged area of rural Damascus, Jens Laerke, the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) spokesman, said. Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border, said aid had been sent to Moadamiyeh, a besieged suburb of Damascus. The UN is hoping to reach four besieged towns, two of those are close to Damascus Foua and Kefraya and the other two are close to the border with Lebanon Madaya and Zabadani, our correspondent said. The Syrian civil war started as a largely unarmed uprising against Assad in March 2011, but quickly escalated into a full-blown armed conflict. Five years on, more than 400,000 Syrians are estimated to have been killed, and almost 11 million Syrians half the countrys prewar population have been displaced from their homes. Rebels-held areas see the most intense strikes in months ahead of diplomatic efforts to revive collapsed ceasefire. Intense air strikes have pounded rebel-held areas of Aleppo city and triggered major fires, according to a monitor and activists, as international powers with a stake in Syrias civil war are meeting in New York amid efforts to revive a collapsed ceasefire. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that 14 strikes hit the neighbourhoods of Bustan al-Qasr and Al-Kalasseh leading to massive fires, which killed seven people, including three women and three children. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said they were the most intense strikes in months, while opposition activists accused the Syrian government and its ally Russia of dropping incendiary phosphorous bombs. In footage posted by the Aleppo Media Centre group on Twitter, a ball of flame shoots up over the city, lighting up the skyline and sparking fires over the horizon. # . : https://t.co/inQs3QAdKZ#AleepoAMC pic.twitter.com/RFls9sqmFs (@AleppoAMC) September 21, 2016 Fresh air strikes also hit Aleppos Sukkari neighbourhood, the Observatory said, and fierce clashes hit the southwestern district of Ramosa, where rebel groups are fighting off a government offensive. Humanitarian deliveries Even as the violence escalated, the UN said on Thursday that it had resumed aid deliveries in its first operation since an attack on Monday on a humanitarian convoy that killed 20 people and triggered the suspension of much-needed relief operations. Today we are sending an inter-agency, cross-line convoy with urgently needed aid to people in a besieged area of rural Damascus, Jens Laerke, the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) spokesman, said. Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border, said aid had been sent to Moadamiyeh, a besieged suburb of Damascus. The UN is hoping to reach four besieged towns, two of those are close to Damascus Foua and Kefraya and the other two are close to the border with Lebanon Madaya and Zabadani, our correspondent said. Russia and the US negotiated the latest truce plan, but Syria ended the week-long ceasefire on Monday following a US-led coalition strike on a Syrian army post. Shortly after the truce ended, a UN aid convoy was hit in an air strike that US officials have blamed on Russia, the key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow has rejected the allegations that Russian or Syrian warplanes carried out the attack. Intense diplomacy US Secretary of State John Kerry met his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday for a crisis meeting of governments with a stake in the Syrian civil war. Ministers from the 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG) gathered at a New York hotel for the second time in three days to seek a way to revive a ceasefire and an eventual political resolution to the conflict. Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the United Nations in New York, said intense diplomacy was under way ahead of the meeting, with some senior diplomats saying it could be a forum for perhaps reviving a ceasefire. OPINION: Finding opportunity in a post-ceasefire crisis The meeting comes amid tensions between the ISSG co-chairs following the convoy attack. Despite the differences between Kerry and Lavrov, both agree that the US-Russian effort is the only way available to impose a ceasefire. Meanwhile, in an interview with the Associated Press news agency on Thursday, Assad dismissed the US accusations that Russia or Syria were to blame for Mondays deadly raid, saying whatever American officials said has no credibility and were just lies. Assad also scoffed at the idea that the White Helmets civil defence volunteers in opposition-held areas might be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize after a nomination earlier this year. What did they achieve in Syria? he said. I would only give a prize to whoever works for the peace in Syria. Assads comments came as White Helmets were named on Thursday as one of the winners of the Swedish Right Livelihood Award often described as the alternative Nobel prize with organisers citing the groups outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians. The Syrian civil war started as a largely unarmed uprising against Assad in March 2011, but quickly escalated into a full-on armed conflict. Five years on, more than 400,000 Syrians are estimated to have been killed, and almost 11 million Syrians half the countrys prewar population have been displaced from their homes. Kerry says he will meet Lavrov again to try to narrow differences after collapse of truce and resumption of violence. Air strikes continue to hammer the city of Aleppo as world powers with a stake in Syrias civil war are meeting in New York. The United States and Russia on Thursday are chairing a meeting that will bring together the 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG), set up to push for a ceasefire and an eventual political resolution to the five-year-old conflict. Diplomats told AFP news agency that it would take place at 2pm (18:00 GMT) in a New York hotel. The meeting comes amid accusations between the ISSG co-chairs, John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The US blames Russia for carrying out a deadly air strike on a UN aid convoy on Monday in northern Syria after Syrian President Bashar al-Assads military declared the ceasefire over. Humanitarian deliveries Russia denies any role in the attack and in turn accuses Washington of failing to ensure that the US-backed opposition forces fighting Assad respected the truce. After halting aid operations in response to the convoy attack, the UN on Thursday said it was ready to resume humanitarian deliveries. Since the collapse of the truce, dozens of raids hit eastern Aleppo as government troops advanced on rebels in the citys southwestern outskirts, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. At least 12 civilians, including two children, were killed, the highest single-day toll since the truce collapsed this week, the monitor said. In northwest Idlib province, 18 Syrians were killed during bombings on the town of Khan Sheikhun, according to the group. In the village of Khan Tuman, south of Aleppo city, two nurses and two drivers were killed in an attack on two ambulances, the Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organisations said. Syrian state media reported that the citys government-held west had come under rebel shelling, which killed two people. Hanging by a thread Despite the differences between Kerry and Lavrov, both agree that the US-Russian effort is the only way available to impose a ceasefire. Kerry has demanded that Russia order Assad to ground his air force in order to re-establish the credibility of the peace effort in the eyes of the suspicious opposition. Lavrov has countered that the UN Security Council should consider adding some more of the anti-Assad rebel groups to its list of proscribed terrorist organisations. Asked whether the ceasefire could be salvaged, Kerry said that he would meet Lavrov once again to try to narrow their differences. But he added: Its going to be very difficult. Well see what people are willing to do. If either side is able to come up with concrete measures to restore the truce, they could be endorsed by the ISSG at the meeting and the peace process would continue. Failing that, Kerry has admitted that Syrias future is hanging by a thread. The US calls for no-fly zone over parts of Syria Coalition says it will investigate reports after medics and residents say raid killed dozens in Houthi-held port city. At least 26 civilians have been killed and 60 wounded in an Arab coalition air strike that hit the rebel-held port city of Hodeidah in western Yemen, according to medics and residents, and the alliance said it was looking into the report. Medical workers and a resident told Reuters news agency that missiles on Wednesday night hit a residential area where rebel leaders were staying. The raid hit a house in a neighbourhood populated by workers, medical services and local officials said. In a statement on Thursday, the coalition said it was aware of reports alleging civilian casualties. As with any allegation we receive, the information about the incident will be reviewed, and once it is found supporting the allegation based on credible evidence, we will then move to a next step of investigations, the statement said. General Ahmed Assiri, the coalition spokesman, told AFP news agency the strikes had targeted Houthi leaders in Souq al-Hunod district. We had information that they were having a meeting, then we hit them, he said. Assiri said the residential neighbourhood was probably hit in error. The deputy governor of Hodeidah province, Hashim Azazi, had earlier put the death toll at 19 civilians, saying, however, that said rescue workers were still pulling victims out of the rubble. Last week, a report by the Yemen Data Project, a group of security and human rights researchers, found that more than a third of air strikes hit civilian sites including schools, hospitals and mosques. Out of the more than 8,600 air raids examined, the report found that 3,577 were listed as hitting military sites and 3,158 non-military, while 1,882 strikes were classified as unknown. Yemen descended into chaos after the 2012 removal of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose forces are fighting alongside the Houthi fighters. Security deteriorated further after the Houthis swept into the capital, Sanaa, and pushed south, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government to flee into exile in March last year. Saudi Arabia, along with a coalition of other Arab states, intervened in Yemen in March 2015 in support of Hadis government to defeat the Houthis. The national flags of Iran, France, Italy and 16 other countries lined the walkway of Plaza of the Americas on Wednesday. UF Mindfulness held a 2-hour long celebration of International Day of Peace, a holiday established by the United Nations in 1981. It was the groups second time holding it, said Sabine Grunwald, the project leader. Grunwald said violence exists in everyday life, but people can promote peace in the smallest gestures. That can include subtleties, too, like showing a stranger a smile as youre walking across campus, Grunwald said. As the program began at 11 a.m., about 15 people sat on the Plaza of the Americas on a blue tarp mediating. The sound of a gong echoed as they closed their eyes and sat criss-cross or on their knees. At noon, Azzam Alfurhud and Ibrahim Alfayez, both UF undergraduate students, hoisted the green Saudi Arabian flag. The two students are part of the Association of Saudi Arabian Students. Along with bearers of the other 18 flags, they marched to the front of Library West, repeating the motto May peace prevail, while holding the flags. Each person who read the motto spoke the language of the country he or she represented, speaking English if he or she didnt know the language. Near the flags, an art exhibit, Victory over Violence, showed scenes of bullying and injustice. The organization Soka-Gakkai International-USA provided the artwork, wrote Katsutoshi Mizuta, a UF doctoral student, in an email. While walking through, those viewing the photographs filled out declaration cards, writing down their thoughts on the exhibit. At the end, they took non-violence vows, he said. He said he hopes students learn to turn negative situations into peaceful ones, Mizuta said. The artwork is to empower each person to bring forth the inner positive power so that they can take actions for local peace, he said. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Fall is here, and the climate is changing. No, Im not talking about the outdoors weve got a few months left of 80- to 90-degree weather. Im talking about the climate of film: out with the summer blockbusters and in with the Oscar bait and film-festival favorites. For those of you wondering what exactly there is to look forward to, heres a preview of some buzz-generating projects that I think are worth highlighting. Doctor Strange (Nov. 4) Director: Scott Derrickson Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams Doctor Strange is the Marvel universes introduction to the world of magic, featuring the origin story of everyones favorite Sorcerer Supreme: Doctor Strange. After a tragic car accident leaves famed neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) without the use of his hands, he travels the world looking for a cure to his life-altering affliction. What Strange discovers is that there are realms of reality beyond our own, and what lurks within them may not all be benevolent. Leave it to Marvel to drop what could be considered a summer blockbuster smack-dab in the middle of the fall. Jokes aside, Doctor Strange looks to be a promising blend of mind-bending visuals, horror and the action for which fans have come to know Marvel. Also, when two of your leads have names like Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor, how can you fail? Hacksaw Ridge (Nov. 4) Director: Mel Gibson Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Teresa Palmer Hacksaw Ridge is Mel Gibsons big directorial return. An amazing story of courage, the movie follows the true story of Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), a U.S. Army medic and pacifist who saved 75 of his fellow soldiers without ever picking up a weapon. First, lets address the elephant in the room: Mel Gibson. Following the controversy of his racist, homophobic, xenophobic and sexist tirade in 2010, Gibson was blacklisted from Hollywood and filmmaking in general. While many would prefer not to see him work again, there is an argument to be made otherwise. Gibson is an incredibly talented filmmaker many of those who have seen Braveheart and the severely underrated Apocalypto will attest to that. If you can look beyond the artist to appreciate the art, do so, because Hacksaw Ridge is shaping up to be a potential Oscar contender. Arrival (Nov. 11) Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Director: Denis Villeneuve Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker Alien spacecraft have arrived and menacingly loom over earth. No ones quite sure where theyre from or what they want. Arrival centers on a linguist (Amy Adams) who is in charge of answering these questions and deescalating what is becoming a threat to humanity. Ill be up front: Im a sucker for cerebral sci-fi a la 2001 A Space Odyssey or Blade Runner. Not so coincidentally, Arrival director Denis Villeneuve is reuniting with cinematographer Roger Deakins from last years Sicario to take on the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. Arrival has already been met with critical acclaim. Audiences should be sure not to miss Villeneuves second major feature. La La Land (Dec. 2) Director: Damien Chazelle Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, J.K. Simmons The tail of two up-and-comers, one a jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) and the other an actress (Emma Stone), who find love in Los Angeles in their pursuits for success. An original musical, La La Land is already shaping up to be a crowd-pleaser. The film won the Peoples Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, and Emma Stone won Best Actress for her role at the Venice Film Festival. La La Land is writer/director Damien Chazelles third feature film and a follow-up to 2014s Whiplash, my personal favorite movie of that year. Whats more, I cant remember the time I saw an original musical in theaters and actually enjoyed it. Mark my words, people will be raving about this movie when it drops in December. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dec. 16) Director: Gareth Edwards Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn War is on the horizon. The empire has nearly assembled the Death Star, a super weapon with terrifying capabilities. Taking place between Star Wars Episode III and Star Wars Episode IV, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the first Star Wars spinoff film. Rogue One tells the tale of the ragtag rebels who steal the plans of the Death Star. These schematics are the key to the Death Stars destruction in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, further tying the franchise together. As the first Star Wars spinoff under the Disney umbrella, this film has a lot riding on it. Gareth Edwards, who directed the 2014 Godzilla, is tasked with transporting audiences back into the time period of the origin trilogy. Will it be a massive success? Will this be the first misstep in the revitalized Star Wars universe? I dont have the answers, but regardless, may the force be with this movie always. This Saturday, just a month before Fest returns to Gainesville and punk rock rears its madcap head once again, Curia on the Drag is hosting AM/PM, a celebration of Fests 15th anniversary with the perfect ingredients: local music, local coffee and local beer. One of the local coffee joints bringing the joe is the Sweetwater Organic Coffee Company. Sweetwater production manager Mike Weaver is the main organizer of the AM/PM event, and he said hes excited to bring this sort of event to Gainesville. Weaver approached all the local spots in Gainesville for the event and recruited along with Sweetwater Flagship Coffee Roasters and Opus Coffee, as well as Swamp Head Brewery, First Magnitude Brewing Company, Rainstorm Brewing Company and Alligator Brewing Co. Weaver said he hopes for an even wider range of roasters and breweries for a future AM/PM event, reaching out to other Florida establishments in Tampa and St. Augustine and possibly hosting at a larger venue like the Alachua County Fairgrounds. Two Gainesville bands playing this event, Edmonton and Heat Rash, will be performing at Fest later this year. UF student Claudia Acosta said she is anticipating this event. She fuels up at all the local coffee shops, whether its a mocha at Coffee Culture or a latte at Volta or Curia. Acosta is no stranger to Curias non-coffee happenings, too, like its Fine Print music shows and Sunday yoga classes, the 20-year-old English junior said. She enjoys the coziness, well-decorated interior and the light silence combined with the good music they play, as its conducive for studying. Acosta said she would be looking forward to AM/PM if for the Fest hype alone, as she plans on seeing Pup, a band she missed at last years Fest, and local bands like Dikembe, Soda and UV-TV. Admission is free and open to the public. There will be food for purchase from Curia and Humble Wood Fire. AM/PM will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now 2005 .. Here, the Durango Herald provides some details regarding the murder trial of former APD policemen Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez. Last week at Burque's National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, representatives of the Kirtland Air Force Base Space and Missile Systems Center Advanced Systems and Development Directorate "showcased their work" to local citizens and students. Robert Trapp, at the Rio Grande Sun, writes that it's a bad idea to close highway visitor centers across the state. As part of a series on Transformative Events and Processes in New Mexicos Colonial History, UNM Taos will be screening the new animated documentary Frontera! Revolt and Rebelion on the Rio Grande," tonight in Taos from 6-8pm. The Feds say it will take 20 years and nearly $4 billion to clean up "legacy" nuclear waste at Los Alamos National Labs. A nuke watchdog group says those figures have been vastly underestimated. The best green chile cheese burger at this year's New Mexico State Fair was the Laguna Burger. Earlier this morning, I-25 near the Budaghers exit was shut down because a truck was leaking liquid oxygen. The hazmat situation has since been resolved and traffic flow restored. The New Mexico Department of Health says overdose deaths in New Mexico have mostly declined over the past year. Debate and change continue with regard to the University of New Mexico's controversial official seal. DCF blogger Johnny Mango visited Navajo Lake and caught three rainbow trout. English News Even at UNGA by comparing Wani to freedom-fighter, Pak has converted Kashmir into Bangladesh Alwihda Info | Par Hem Raj Jain - 22 Septembre 2016 Bengaluru, India Sub:- (i)- In view of UNGA speech, Pakistan bound to try to separate Kashmir as India separated Bangladesh in 1971(ii)- India expert in waking-up after damage done as happened during gory partition in 1947 (iii)- India equally vulnerable as West Pakistan was in East Pakistan in 1971 (iv)- India left with only one alternative, to retrieve PoJK militarily (v)- India can retrieve PoJK only when India prepared for united Indo-Pak (Later SAARC) (vi)- Only genuine secular party in power can retrieve PoJK. ----- When immediately after killing of terrorist outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideens Commander Burhan Wani on July 8 he was termed as freedom-fighter (shaheed) by Pak PM Nawaz Sharif India realized that the pressure of USA (after 9/11) to not term terrorist as freedom fighter has lifted after 15 years and now again Pakistan has stared equating terrorist in Kashmir as freedom fighter. Therefore India started (especially and more energetically after Uri terrorist attack on Army camp allegedly by Pakistan on September, 18) to get Pakistan declared as terrorist State and getting Pak isolated at international level due to its allegedly pro-terrorism policies. But now not only even at UNGA Pakistan has compared Wani to freedom fighter but anchor of a leading TV channel of Pakistan (during debate on prominent Indian TV channel on Thursday) has informed India what Pakistan thinks about it by saying that Wani did what Shaeed-e-Azam Bhagat Sigh did against Britishers. He further said that whatever India may think Pakistan thinks that Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan and Indian security forces are occupying force in J&K against which Wani and Kashmiris (through present unrest) are fighting an independence struggle. All these means that now Pakistan (though will make lot of noise at international level for plebiscite in J&K) but in reality is going to try hard to even-out by getting Kashmir separated from India in order to settle the score about what India did in East Pakistan in 1971 by liberating Bangladesh. Hindu majority India is expert in waking-up after damage is done as happened during gory partition in 1947. Hence India may be thinking that with proportionately much bigger military power of India, Pakistan cannot achieve its said objectives in Kashmir. But it is not correct due to six reasons:- (1)- Pakistan shares border and LOC with J&K in contrast to East Pakistan which is thousands of Kilo Meters away from West Pakistan (2)- In addition to military, police and bureaucracy (which every State including India has) Pakistan being Islamic country has fourth organ also at its disposal, the Jihadis as explained at - http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/detail.php?articleid=2756 and these Jihadis will be immensely useful to Pakistan in separating Kashmir from India. Especially after UNGA speech now Pakistan can even openly use Jihadis like LeT, JeM, HuM, JuD etc for snatching Muslim Kashmir from Hindu India. (3)- After present unrest in Kashmir the Organization of Islamic cooperation (OIC) is taking keen interest in Kashmir problem hence OIC not only invited Maulvi Mirwaiz of Hurriyat to present their case about Kashmir during UNGA but Turkey (as Chair of HR Commission of OIC) is planning to send fact finding mission to Kashmir. Hence if Kashmiris are seen by OIC to be excessively oppressed (by way of much more killing, injuries, blinding by pellet guns) then some powerful countries of OIC will invoke Islam against India (in order to even prevent ISIS getting upper hand in such situation which otherwise would have huge potential of entry of blood thirsty ISIS in AF-PAK-Kashmir region ). (4)- Militarily India presently does not have any alliance partner as it had USSR in 1971 which threatened to send its fleets in support of India when USA threatened to send its 7th fleet in support of Pakistan and this was the main factor in the victory of India against Pakistan in 1971 at the soil of Bangladesh. Moreover Russia nurses a grudge against India that India did not help USSR in cold war in Afghanistan by at-that-time retrieving PoJK (Indias own territory) militarily which would have given tremendous upper hand to USSR against USA (by constraining US Ally Pakistan to shift its offensive focus from Afghanistan to defensive focus in PoJK). Though it would not have avoided the collapse of USSR (which was inevitable due to squandering of State capital by USSR) but at-least it would have enabled India to pay-back its debt to USSR (about 1971 Bangladesh war). Hence Indians should not be surprised if Russia does not come this time to help India, which believes only in one-sided-friendship. (5)- Not withstanding its public postures USA (and its Allies) will not go against Pakistan due its dependability on Pak in Afghanistan. Also one should not be surprised if USA may secretly wish the defeat of India out of grievance which USA has against India because India did not heed to vehement requests (demands) of USA to desist from dismembering US Ally Pakistan in 1971. (6)- India has offended China deeply by trying to harm its interests about economic corridor (through Balochistan too) which is extremely important for China because it not only reduced transport distance and cost of its imports and exports but will also by-pass many not-so-friendly countries of Pacific and Indo-Sri Lanka region while getting access to entire NAME region etc. Though China will of-course not intervene militarily to overtly help Pakistan but certainly will covertly provide every type of help (finance, military equipments, arms, ammunitions etc) and even diplomatic help to Pakistan in order to ensure that India is not left with any teeth to harass China in future on economic corridor. Therefor India should formulate its policies by realizing that presently India is equally vulnerable in Kashmir as West Pakistan was in East Pakistan in 1971. In view of present unrest in Kashmir, India is left with only one alternative to avoid separation of Kashmir from India which is to retrieve PoJK militarily. But (in view of both India and Pakistan being nuclear countries) tremendous international pressure will come to avoid all-out Indo Pak war. This may result only in one solution which is united Indo-Pak (so that J&K may remain with both in new political dispensation). Later on it may culminate even in Realized SAARC (once issue of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants, both Hindus and Muslims, is seriously raised by India). But it is easy said than done only for one reason that unified Indo-Pak (SAARC) can be achieved (through retrieve of PoJK militarily) only by a political party in power at center which is genuinely secular. This presently is not the case about BJP or any other political party of India. Hence it is possible only if some political party comes in existence (or existing party modifies itself) generally on the line as I suggested to Dr Farooq Abdullah of National Conference as explained at - http://www.alwihdainfo.com/Farooq-can-t-find-Kashmir-solution-without-adhering-to-Progressive-ideology-of-his-father-Sheikh-Abdullah_a38631.html Therefor Indians should wake up and should either launch a genuinely secular party (which will constrain all the existing party to adopt genuine secularism) or to put pressure on existing political parties to adopt genuine secularism so that PoJK can be retrieved militarily. Otherwise Pakistan which has smelt blood in Kashmir (due to present unrest in Kashmir) will succeed in taking revenge of 1971 by getting Kashmir separated from India. Regards Hem Raj Jain (Author of Betrayal of Americanism) Bengaluru, India Dans la meme rubrique : < > More robots entering people's daily life China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News G20 Summit in China: A Vision for Global Growth Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 22 Septembre 2016 In a major departure from the previous summits, the Chinese leadership chose an interesting four-fold theme of Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive economy, what one might call the I4, which is quite appropriate for the current context of slow global recovery. Varaprasad S. Dolla, Source: Peoples Daily China is the first developing Asian country to host the recently concluded G20 Summit in Hangzhou. With the recent success stories of launching One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China did indeed put the best foot forward in hosting an impressive G20 summit not only in terms of style but also substance. Besides carrying forward the key agenda of G20, President Xi Jinping endeavored to add considerable value to the process of addressing the current global economic downturn. In a major departure from the previous summits, the Chinese leadership chose an interesting four-fold theme of Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive economy, what one might call the I4, which is quite appropriate for the current context of slow global recovery. Of the four themes, while the global economy is in dire need of Invigoration with more investment and better governance; the Interconnected nature of the global economy is under pressure, particularly with the recent rise of economic protectionism as witnessed in the case of Brexit which brought considerable pressure on the European Union; two of them stand out and require more illumination and attention: Innovation and Inclusive growth. Innovation and Inclusivity are vital for two key reasons. First, innovation has a major role in spurring the current sluggish growth as is clear from the pages of history. Technological innovation made substantial contribution to the growth and expansion of the American, Japanese, Korean and some of the European economies in the second half of the twentieth century. More recently, China and India have witnessed innovation shaping their economies to a great extent. Both countries are aiming to make a paradigm shift to becoming nations of innovation in the next few decades. In fact, China hopes to be an innovation nation by 2020 and India declared this decade as a decade of innovation. Given its focus on innovation in its domestic context, China aims to foster innovation in the global economy. A well thought out and calibrated Road Map for Innovation-driven Global Economy is the need of the hour more than ever before. The Summit has underscored the need for strengthening the global innovation architecture. Second, as the number of countries that are on the margins of the global economy outnumber those at the core, steering the world economy towards an inclusive growth is critically important. It is gratifying to note that China invited some of the emerging economies such as Egypt, Laos and Senegal for the G20 Summit and thus expanded the number of participants. The real success of the Summit is in taking up the concerns of the emerging economies and addressing them to their satisfaction. Two issues need special attention here are: the need to increase investment in the developing countries besides providing some of the advanced technologies. One of the key strengths of China is its impressive investment in the infrastructure development in the last three decades, which can be a model for the developing countries. China is keenly committed to share this experience with the developing countries through its projects such as OBOR and AIIB. For this to be a reality, China and the other developing countries need to be open to put their money where their mouths are and partner for win-win cooperation without negating their mutual security concerns. In addition to these two themes, Chinas resolute focus on evolving 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is noteworthy. With the US and Chinese leaders ratifying the Paris Agreement a day prior to the Summit, the chances of mitigating the global pollution are much brighter. India also expressed its domestic concerns, which have been duly and tacitly acknowledged by the rest of the G20 members. As the global community makes a paradigm shift from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is an imperative to consolidate the latter by promoting green economy. This requires commitment on the part of the developed and the developing countries to carry out common but differentiated responsibility in promoting green economy. While the advanced countries must come forward to supply eco-friendly technologies to the developing countries, the developing countries do need to invest more in environment-friendly initiatives. Both must walk half way to take the Paris Agreement forward and thus contribute to a better world. The Chinese leadership thus played an admirable role in articulating a four-fold vision for the global economy at the G20 Summit. However, the real accomplishment of the Summit is to be measured by whether or not the much-needed succor is provided to the sluggish global growth in both the developed and developing countries in the immediate and medium terms. Interestingly, there is a clear traction in this direction. The global community is hopeful that the articulation of the vision is actualized in praxis. Professor Varaprasad S. Dolla teaches Chinese Studies at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Dans la meme rubrique : < > More robots entering people's daily life China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) With the Nigerian economy in recession, support for Small & Medium Businesses could be one of the key ingredients to carrying the country through these tough times. Assisting them should become a priority for big business and government. Thats according to [Magnus Nmonwu](https://twitter.com/mnmonwu) (https://twitter.com/MNmonwu), Regional Director for [Sage in West Africa](http://www.sageafrica.com/) Read more on http://sage.africa-newsroom.com/press/nigerian-government-support-can-help-s...Source : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... In 2010, lawmakers passed bipartisan reforms to bring transparency and competition to a debit-card swipe fee market that had previously been devoid of both. Now, members of Congress want to undo that progress. By seeking to repeal the so-called Durbin amendment, the Financial Choice Act recently passed by the House Financial Services Committee would restore the Visa-Mastercard duopoly, subject consumers and merchants to billions of dollars in new fees, and rob community banks and credit unions of their newfound competitive advantage in swipe-fee pricing over their big-bank rivals. The amendment added to the Dodd-Frank Act by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. passed in 2010 with support from both Democrats and Republicans. Prior to its enactment, the card networks had used their overwhelming market power to manipulate fees at will and deny merchants and consumers of the typical pressures that restrain fee growth in a competitive market. Consequently, swipe fees ballooned. In fact, for merchants the cost of processing a debit card transaction was exponentially more expensive than processing a paper check. Imagine a world in which it costs 10 times more to send an email than to mail a letter. That is the world that Visa and Mastercard had created for merchants. For merchants small and large, swipe fees had become and remain today their second-largest annual expense, exceeded only by the cost of labor. Following the passage of the reforms in 2010, Discover CEO David Nelms seconded the perspective of merchants that the market was broken when he said, "Visa has tremendous market power in this area, and that's how we ended up here. Visa raised prices quite a bit and, I think, took the actions that have led to the legislation in the first place." The fact is the reforms have largely worked, bringing swipe fees under control, creating competition between networks for merchant routing preferences and protecting banks with less than $10 billion in assets (which are exempted from the swipe fee cap). The reforms have been limited only by the Federal Reserve, which did not go far enough in capping fees when implementing the mandate, as well as crafty efforts by Visa and Mastercard to try to offset the impact of the new interchange restrictions. The only comprehensive study done on the impact of the amendment on merchant and consumers found that, in 2012, nearly $6 billion in merchant cost savings were passed to the consumer, while the "$8.5 billion in 2012 cost savings was sufficient to support 37,501 new jobs." Further, small banks and credit unions have benefited from a competitive advantage over megabanks. According to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve, evidence exists that the reforms did "lower interchange fees collected by banks with assets above $10 billion" while "there was no such decline for small banks." "Furthermore, after the ceiling was imposed, the volume of transactions conducted with cards issued by exempt banks grew faster than it did for large banks," the Philadelphia Fed study said. Meanwhile, despite bankers' criticism of the amendment, a 2016 study by Moebs Services said, "the Durbin Amendment has yet to put a big dent into FIs' total debit interchange revenue, with banks and credit unions amassing $18 billion in [debit] interchange in 2015 the highest total ever." Finally, as Georgetown professor Adam Levitin pointed out in a BankThink post last year, comparing a bank fee survey conducted by the American Bankers Association from when the amendment went into effect to more recently, should put to rest concerns about free checking. Reform opponents predicted free checking would disappear, but the ABA surveys indicate it is actually growing. The real impact that these reforms have had on the banking community does not match up with the protests and doomsday predictions made by those affected by the Durbin amendment. But a repeal of these reforms would free Visa and Mastercard to once again wield their dominant market power to stifle competition and pile new and higher fees onto the market. For consumers and merchants, this is a horrific prospect. Sandy Kennedy is president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Double, Double, Tolstedt and Trouble: Pretty much everyone wants to know why Wells Fargo isn't holding CEO John Stumpf and former consumer banking head Carrie Tolstedt more accountable for 2 million phony accounts created without customers' permission. Last week five Senate Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, pointed out in a letter to Stumpf that Tolstedt received more than $20 million worth of bonuses between 2010 and 2015, justified by the company in certain instances because of the 'strong cross-sell ratios' in her division, no doubt bolstered by the phony accounts. Stumpf was hammered by lawmakers for three hours Tuesday, with Warren among the most aggressive. Besides calling for his resignation, she asked why he didn't fire Tolstedt before she retired, despite the fact that Wells was aware of the pending settlement over the phony accounts. Stumpf replied that he was looking at her "full body of work, while also hinting for the first time that Tolstedt may have been forced out. Though he said Tolstedt "chose to retire" after 27 years, he also said Wells' chief operating officer, Tim Sloan, had told her that the bank "wanted to go in a different direction. A lawsuit was filed Wednesday against Tolstedt and the Wells board, claiming its refusal to claw back any of Tolstedt's bonuses is a breach of their fiduciary duties to shareholders. Hillary Clinton also criticized Tolstedt's reported $125 million payout in an open letter to Wells Fargo customers, in which she also called for "real consequences" for Wells executives (though she did not name Stumpf). "It's hard to imagine that top executives were unaware of a problem that involved thousands of the firm's employees," she said. "After all, they imposed sales targets and compensation incentives in ways that led to this behavior. She also vowed to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from Republican attempts to undermine it. B of A Bargains: Bank of America has settled its "bros club" lawsuit with Megan Messina, the former managing director who sued in May claiming the bank paid her and other women substantially less than male coworkers and that it tried to push her out when she raised allegations of improper behavior that harmed clients. According to her complaint, she was paid about a third of what her co-head made for 2015, and a female trader who reported to him made less than male colleagues because she took maternity leave. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed in a filing in Manhattan federal court. However, Citigroup paid $33 million to resolve a bias suit by female brokers in 2008; and Morgan Stanley set up a $46 million claims pool to settle a similar claim by former financial advisers in 2007. B of A offered Messina a $500,000 severance to drop claims earlier; the judge overseeing the case agreed to remove that detail from the public record last month, as you may recall from reading here. Digital Drive: Digital has been seen as the death knell of branches, but JPMorgan Chase's branches have been crucial in building long-term relationships with more lucrative customers, even in today's high-tech world, says Erin Hill, the company's head of consumer branch banking and wealth management. "If we were trying to shift to an all-digital channel, I don't think we'd have nearly the success we've had," Hill says, adding that the bank cannot be naive to the fact that our customers want to be able to engage with us when and where they want in a very easy manner. JPMorgan has been investing heavily in a digital this year, launching a full redesign of its website, a fintech accelerator, a new digital headquarters and, this week, investing in InvestCloud, a startup that provides cloud-based software to the securities industry. "Across the wealth spectrum, our clients are increasingly engaging with us digitally," says Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of asset management. "Pairing these new technological capabilities with our trusted guidance will help our clients achieve their long-term financial goals with flexibility in how they interact with us and our advisers." The Escape Clause: Politico has attempted to paint a picture of fintech as a woman's world, where female bankers who want to escape the alpha male-driven culture of traditional finance can find another path and where they no longer have to just grin and bear the gender bias working against them. (Nevermind that they might have their own interest and instinct for it, on top of their creativity and capability.) Given all the obstacles in traditional finance, it seems only a matter of time before many of its women workers who want to escape to greener pastures will end up in the fintech industry, it says. But one important point is buried at the end: Before women can escape from such an environment, female-led startups must get funding, which still remains a significant barrier for women who want to set up a fintech company. Male founders are 86% more likely to attract venture capital than female founders. It's a real problem, said Ghela Boskivich, one of the organizers behind the FemTech Leaders network. They often have to bring a man in, in order to get some funding. (Not surprisingly, female partners are more likely to invest in companies with female executives and three times more likely to invest in one with a female CEO.) Honesty Is the Best Policy: In one of the many op-eds reacting to the Wells scandal, Rachel Morrissey, producer of Breaking Banks, made a plea for financial institutions to incentivize honesty, service and stewardship. Regulations and laws don't exist so that we can fine and incarcerate people. They exist to give us a framework of acceptable behavior, she wrote on LinkedIn. She worries about fines even ones as high as Wells' $190 million being seen by banks as invitation to behave badly just because they can afford to. Role Call Wells Fargo's group risk officer for the community banking division, Claudia Russ Anderson, has begun a six-month unpaid leave of absence. Her replacement, Vic Albrecht, will report jointly to Mary Mack, Carrie Tolstedt's successor, and Mike Loughlin, the bank's chief risk officer. Jennifer Davis, the deputy chief financial officer of Santander Consumer Holdings USA, will resign at the end of the year. She served as interim CFO following a leadership shake-up in July 2015 and moved to the role of deputy CFO in December. MUFG Union Bank in San Francisco has appointed Lisa Roberts as head of private wealth management for Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. In Case You Missed It Facebook Follow: San Antonio Federal Credit Union is drawing inspiration from Facebook in how it brings its Card Control app to market. Facebook Messenger split off from the primary Facebook app in 2014. Similarly, the credit union's Card Control will be more like a companion or sunordinate app to the main banking app. "We wanted a mobile-first approach, but the credit union's own mobile app was somewhat limited, said Adele Glenn, emerging channels innovation architect at San Antonio Federal. We don't have push alerts and our vendor couldn't provide it to us. Card Control lets members turn their cards on or off at any time, set spending thresholds and limit spending to certain merchant categories. Once users install both apps, "it will send them back and forth, the same way Facebook and Facebook Messenger work," Glenn said. "It's a seamless experience, but again, in two separate apps." Beyond Banking The Venture Capital of China: Does the name Chen Xiaohong ring a bell? She's a former librarian who raised the largest female-founded venture capital fund ($500 million), and she's working hard to bring even more women into technology. Her fund is based in Beijing, which is particularly fertile ground for women in technology. In China, it's women who launch more than half of all new Internet companies (55%) and a quarter of all entrepreneurs are women, according to Chinese government estimates. About 17% of investing partners are women. In the U.S. 10% of investing partners are women. The venture capital industry in the U.S. has been a private men's club, said Gary Rieschel, an American who founded the China-based Qiming Venture Partners. It has been much more of a meritocracy for women in China. We recommend you read the full story about the rise of China's female VCs, how they deal with sexism and work-life balance and their efforts to inspire more women in tech. Campus Leadership: U.N. Women's HeForShe released a report that details' commitments to gender parity on the campuses of 10 international universities. Their goal is to achieve on-campus gender equality by 2020. The announcement follows a slew of high-profile campus sexual assault cases in the U.S., including that of Stanford student Brock Turner, whose six-month sentence (of which he completed half before being released) has weighed heavily on a national debate about how law and society views sexual assault. JPMorgan Chase has made an equity investment of an undisclosed size in InvestCloud, a startup that provides cloud-based software to the securities industry. The partnership will allow the bank to accelerate the development of digital capabilities for individual investors at the JPMorgan and Chase franchises and expedite the introduction of online investing capabilities, it said in a Tuesday news release. The announcement comes as JPMorgan has been investing heavily in a digital overhaul. This year it has launched a redesign of its website, opened new digital headquarters in New York City with a Silicon Valley feel and started a fintech accelerator in which it invites startups to become "residents," with access to the bank's facilities, systems and expertise. "Across the wealth spectrum, our clients are increasingly engaging with us digitally," Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of asset management for JPMorgan Chase, said in the release. "We have been managing wealth for more than 200 years. Pairing these new technological capabilities with our trusted guidance will help our clients achieve their long-term financial goals with flexibility in how they interact with us and our advisors." InvestCloud, based in Los Angeles, will bring "easy-to-use dashboards, additional mobile functionalities, and seamless account opening" to JPMorgan's wealth management clients while the bank introduces digital features to enhance interactions with advisers and further personalize the integration of its market insights, beginning in 2017. JPMorgan follows UBS, which made a similar move in May when it took an equity stake in SigFig, as part of a partnership wherein SigFig develops technology and investment tools for the Swiss bank. Also this year, Royal Bank of Canada partnered with FutureAdvisor to integrate digital advice into its wealth management offerings. Wells Fargo has said it will pilot a digital advice platform early next year. Wellesley Bancorp in Massachusetts has appointed New England banking veteran Kathryn Hinderhofer to its board. Hinderhofer will also be a director of Wellesley Bank, the $645 million-asset company said Wednesday. Hinderhofer retired from National Bank Holdings in Greenwood Village, Colo., in 2014 as director of integration and technology operations, having joined the company in 2009. After her retirement she was an acquisitions consultant for the company. Before joining NBH, Hinderhofer spent 17 years at Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I. She also worked for Boston Five Cents Savings Bank, which was sold to Citizens. At Citizens, Hinderhofer "was responsible for leading the business integration activities and divestitures relating to 26 acquisitions" that the company completed during her tenure, Wellesley said in a press release. Hinderhofer is also a director of Micronotes, an enterprise marketing management company based in Boston that partners with financial institutions. WASHINGTON The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau does not deserve credit for rooting out fraud at Wells Fargo, Republican lawmakers said Wednesday. The agency secured the largest portion of the $190 million in fines and restitution paid by the San Francisco bank, taking action along with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Los Angeles city attorney against the firm's "unfair, deceptive and abusive" practices. But there are disputes over who uncovered the fraud first. The L.A. city attorney opened its investigation after articles by the Los Angeles Times in 2013 made the misconduct public, while the bank claims it self-reported the problems to the OCC the same year and to the CFPB in 2015. While Democrats and Republicans are equally appalled by the level of fraud and the apparent toxic sales culture at the bank, GOP lawmakers are frustrated that the CFPB appears to be receiving the credit for stopping it. "Everybody is trying to sort out the timelines here and it looks like Wells Fargo self-reported," Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said in an interview at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions conference here on Wednesday. "So I am not sure this is a great investigation by the CFPB. I think they had the violation handed to them." He echoed House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, who similarly raised questions about the consumer bureau's role. "The customers of Wells Fargo deserve justice and we need accountability for the government agencies that are in charge of enforcing the law. Where was the CFPB? Why did they come in so late to the game?" the Texas Republican said during a Fox Business interview on Wednesday. "They have immense powers and this is their job to enforce these basic consumer laws and it appears they were asleep at the switch." Some Republicans also accused the CFPB of not being cooperative when the Senate Banking Committee began looking into the Wells case. "As the committee worked to gather facts regarding the response and role of the regulators, the OCC was forthcoming with details, while the CFPB was not," said a Republican committee aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. A CFPB spokesman said the agency is required to keep some supervisory information confidential. "We continue to make every effort to be responsive to congressional requests for information about our work," he said. The role of the CFPB in the case is important. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said the bureau discovered the fraud, while presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other Democrats cited the Wells case as proof of the need for a strong consumer regulator. Several Democrats also raised the issue during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday. "I think you're sending a very loud message to the banks and a loud message to my Republican colleagues who continue to attack the agency," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told CFPB Director Richard Cordray. "Wells Fargo may wish that the CFPB would disappear, and some Republicans may keep trying to leash up this watchdog, but that's not going to happen." The exact timeline of who discovered what and when is unclear. It appears that two articles by the Los Angeles Times in 2013 talking about the mass terminations of employees for fraud and citing the bank's "pressure-cooker sales culture" prompted an investigation by the city attorney. The OCC said it first received a "small number of complaints in 2012" about the bank, but increased its scrutiny in 2013, after the newspaper articles. That same year Wells told the OCC, but it did not involve the CFPB until 2015. The OCC and CFPB later joined the city attorney's investigation. During the hearing, Cordray said it "bothered" him that Stumpf acknowledged telling the OCC without informing the CFPB. "If any institution feels that they can divide and conquer among the regulators, they should know that that is a mistake," said Cordray. But some lawmakers feel the CFPB is overstating its role. Corday said the bureau first learned about the misconduct in "mid-2013 through whistleblower tips" but did not launch a full investigation at the time, noting the resources the bureau was looking into other consumer protection issues. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby pressed Cordray on whether the bureau conducted its own analysis to find the roughly two million phony accounts or if it relied on a PricewaterhouseCoopers report that was done at the behest of Wells. "Is that number based on PwC, PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis?" asked Shelby. Cordray responded that "it's based on our investigation and there were internal documents Wells Fargo provided that confirmed and were consistent with what we found through our investigation." The CFPB consent order with Wells cites the figures from the PwC report. The widespread nature of the Wells fraud can be seen not just as an indictment of the bank's senior management, but the regulatory process itself, lawmakers argue. They are raising questions about why a newspaper and local attorney could uncover fraud at the bank, while the OCC and CFPB did not through their regular exams. "They are certainly are not doing their core mission of preventing, detecting consumer fraud," Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said in an interview at the NAFCU conference. "This is not an argument for enhancing the powers of the bureau. In fact, it is evidence of regulatory incompetence." Barr said the public should know more about the timeline of events and why the fraud was able to fester. "When did [CFPB] find out, when did they first learn that there could be a cultural problem or a UDAAP [unfair, deceptive, abusive acts and practices] problem or a fraud problem," Barr said. "They are not telling our staff." The CFPB has declined to say how it learned of the fraud, but has said the bank did not self-report it. Barr said it's legitimate to investigate Wells' behavior, "but I think an equally important question is what is the CFPB doing?" But Rep. Maxine Waters, the lead Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, dismissed questions about the CFPB's involvement as another political assault on the agency. "This attack on the CFPB is a continuous effort," she said in an interview. "They have to undermine the CFPB, so we are not going to pay any attention to that. To talk about the fact that they should have known is not important." Cordray also said during the Senate hearing that regulators are not concerned with who gets credit for what. "We don't sit around as partners and think about what percentage of the credit we should allocate to one another," Cordray said. "We're looking to get a good result for consumers." Kate Berry contributed to this article. Rarely in history has an offer of 13 billion euros been refused by a state or organization. Yet the government of Ireland entered the book of records on September 2, 2016 by not taking the offered gift. Instead, it decided to appeal against the ruling of the European Commission that it had granted Apple undue and illegal tax benefits that allowed the company to pay substantially less tax than other businesses, and that Ireland should recover the illegal aid. The European Commission had no specific concern about the Irish tax system, nor is it anxious to harmonize corporate tax rates in Europe. Nevertheless, its decision on Apple and on other firms is part of two problems, issues that should be important for discussion in the U.S. presidential campaign. One is the specific problem of whether large business corporations, especially American firms, are paying a fair share of taxation. The other, which should be particularly pertinent in the U.S. election, is whether the European Union can attempt to decide tax laws, or whether all sovereign states, like Ireland in the case of Apple, have the sovereign right to determine their own tax laws. The European Commission (E.C.) has been actively investigating tax deals in the European countries since 2014. Its surprising departure has been to use a device in a sense, a ploy to the effect that favorable tax exemptions or "sweetheart" tax deals are in reality state aid bestowed on a firm. State aid is defined as in place when a company receives government support, thus gaining an advantage over its competitors. This is held to be incompatible with the single market, the central principle, of the EU. State aid is prohibited by Article 107 of the EU Founding Law, which has been amended several times, unless it is justified by reason of general economic development. The central figure involved in the current controversy on the issue is Margrethe Vestager, Danish politician and former minister, who since November 2014 has been European commissioner for competition. As a minister in Denmark, she believed in a freely trading economy. As commissioner, a powerful position that affects global as well as European companies, she was instructed to enforce rules and policy on competition to contribute to jobs and economic growth. To do this, she has focused with intensity on cases concerning tax benefits and state aid to large firms, many American, though she claims she is not anti-American. Her views on this, however, are implied in her comment that the American market gives consumers very little choice and higher prices than in Europe in general. Within a few months of her appointment as commissioner, Margrethe Vestager brought antitrust charges against Google. She initiated investigations into the tax affairs of a number of prominent companies, including Starbucks, Amazon, Fiat, Gazprom, and now Engie in France, as well as Apple. In 2015, Vestager ordered Cyprus Airways to pay back to the Cyprus government more than 65 million euros in what she considered "illegal" state aid the organization received in 2012 and 2013 as part of a "restructuring program." As a result, the Airways, 93% of which was owned by the state, suspended operations, resulting in the loss of 550 jobs and, ironically reducing competition. Vestager explained her decision by saying the Airways had no chance of becoming viable without continuing state subsidies and that the restructuring plan was based on unrealistic assumptions. In addition, Vestager has dealt with other agreements involving selective tax advantages, ordering Luxembourg to get 30 million euros from Fiat, the Netherlands to get 30 million euros from Starbucks, and Belgium to get 700 million euros from Anheuser Busch and 35 multinational companies. In these cases, a tax ruling lowered the tax paid by the various companies. In the Irish case, Vestager acted because she claimed that Apple had paid only 0.005% corporation tax on its European profits in 2014. She held that Ireland had granted illegal tax benefits to Apple that enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. Benefits of this kind were equivalent to a bundle of cash. Money had flowed through Apple subsidiaries in Ireland. This selective tax treatment, Vestager held, was illegal, and also gave Apple a significant advantage. Apple was able to avoid taxation on almost all profits made in the whole European Union, because Apple had recorded all its sales in Ireland rather than in the countries where the products were sold. In its defense, Apple agreed it had shifted income to Ireland and its Irish subsidiaries because of the growth of its sales overseas. It said it paid 30.5% on profits made on its U.S. sales and that it paid standard Irish tax, 12.5% corporate tax, in respect to its Irish branch, and employed 6,000 in Ireland, many in the town of Cork. For its part, Ireland had prospered from the entrance of large corporations Apple, Microsoft, Intel, the internet social networks, and chemical and pharmaceutical companies. Ireland argued that jobs had been created by Apple, especially in Cork, and the flow of international investment might slow or stop if there was a retroactive tax demand. These international companies had transformed Ireland's regional economy. The problem for Apple started with an inquiry by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Democratic senator Carl Levin, who thought Apple's corporative arrangements were unorthodox because it did not have to file publicly for its Irish subsidiaries. It was that investigation, which found that Apple had paid "essentially no tax" on its income in Ireland, that spurred what led to the E.C. investigation. The tax problem goes beyond Apple. In November 2014, the LuxLeaks scandal revealed that large companies in Luxembourg were able to exploit legal loopholes and get tax rates as low as 1%. In the U.K., Amazon paid only 11.9 million by routing much of its British sales through its Luxembourg subsidiary. The essential problem is that global corporations use mechanisms to reduce or avoid corporate tax by shifting profits to tax havens. There is universal agreement that international tax rules must be changed so the corporations will pay tax based on economic activity in a country. The issue for the U.S. and European countries is the isolated nature of decision-making by the E.C. on tax and other issues., virtually acting without consultation of the U.S. or other countries. The U.S. presidential candidates should note that Commissioner Vestager plans to look into tax affairs concerning the companies linked to Business Roundtable. This group, with 185 CEOs and a collective revenue of $7 trillion, has already argued that such an inquiry would increase business uncertainty, with an adverse effect on foreign investment in Europe, because the tax uncertainty will disrupt trade and investment. It is essential that at least one of the U.S. presidential candidates take a firm stand on the issue and make clear that tax policies, whether they need to be changed or not, remain in the hands of sovereign states, including the U.S. The Chamber of Commerce, as well as other business groups, and 21 states have filed separate suits in federal court looking to block President Obama's new overtime rules that are scheduled to go into effect December 1. The overtime rules double the threshold that employers must pay overtime to salaried employees, from $23,660 to $47,500. A study by the National Association of Manufacturers noted that the new rules will cost businesses more than $81 billion over 10 years. They may also force companies to slash the number of salaried employees and create more part-time positions. Fortune: Once again, President Obama is trying to unilaterally rewrite the law, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. And this time, it may lead to disastrous consequences for our economy. Paxton and Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt spearheaded the states lawsuit, which was joined by Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio, among others. U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said in a statement the rule had sound legal and policy footing and the lawsuits were an attempt to deprive workers of fair pay. Only 7% of full-time salaried employees are currently eligible for overtime pay, he said, down from 62% in 1975. I look forward to vigorously defending our efforts to give more hardworking people a meaningful chance to get by, Perez said. Both of Tuesdays lawsuits said the department abused its authority by increasing the salary threshold so drastically, and also failed to account for regional variations in the cost of living. The agency also violated federal law by indexing the salary threshold to the 40th percentile of income, with automatic increases every three years, the lawsuits claim. The states lawsuit says that under the rule many state employees would become eligible for overtime pay even though they perform management duties that should make them exempt. That would force states to pay workers more or resort to layoffs and other budget cuts, a violation of states rights, they said. It should be obvious to anyone by now that the president talks a good game when it comes to job creation, but his actions ultimately destroy jobs. The president seems willing to accept European levels of unemployment 10% or more just as long as those who are working are beholden to Democrats for their wages. If all of those too discouraged to find work, and those working part-time who want to work full-time, were to be counted as "unemployed," the true rate (U-6 measurement by BLS) of joblessness would approach 10%. There is little doubt that these rules, as well as other "midnight regulations" that will be implemented by the Obama administration, will drive that number upward. Thanks to a thorough review of publicly available financial reports of the IRS-certified nonprofit empire of David Brock, Andrew Kerr of thecitizensaudit.com (reprinted in Zerohedge) has exposed some potentially criminal activity that, at the least, requires an investigation the Department of Justice, the IRS, and probably various state authorities. Kerr summarizes his finding in three bullet points, but there is considerable detail offered: David Brock operates over a dozen pro-Clinton organizations from his office in Washington, D.C. Uncovered records expose a constant flow of money between his organizations. Brocks unregistered Professional Solicitor, the Bonner Group, receives a 12.5% cut every time money is moved. This last point is where criminality may well be indicated. Kerr documents cash flows among the various nonprofits and shows a pattern he summarizes this way: Say, for example, you donate $1,062,857 to Media Matters for America. This is how David Brock would have used your charitable donation in 2014: Media Matters would receive your $1,062,857 donation The Bonner Group would earn a $132,857 commission Media Matters would retain $930,000 Next, Media Matters would give whats left of your entire donation, $930,000, to the Franklin Education Forum The Bonner Group would earn a $116,250 commission The Franklin Education Forum would retain $813,750 The Franklin Education Forum would then forward the remaining $813,750 to The Franklin Forum Bonner Group would earn a $101,718 commission The Franklin Forum would retain $712,031 In the end, Brocks solicitor would have pocketed $350,825, almost a third of your initial donation! Thats a far cry from the advertised 12.5% commission. As bizarre as that scenario may sound, this is exactly what David Brock did in 2014. There are a couple of graphic representations of the complex financial transactions that could be gleaned from required reporting nonprofits do: So who is this Bonner Group? It is mysterious because it is unregistered. However: the New York Times reports that David Brock shares a summer rental in the Hamptons with Mary Pat Bonner, the President of the Bonner Group! Brock will get away with this as long as Hillary wins the election. That is why he will pull out all the stops to defeat Trump. Last month, while his wife was at work, and his 4-year-old son Jordan Zain slept beside him, Anthony Weiner, aka Carlos Danger, spent the evening sexting a picture of his engorged manhood to a shapely Trump supporter. Weiner got sloppy and got caught. Recently, the worlds most famous sexter was caught again. For months, while his wife Huma was busy administering CPR to Hillary Clinton, Weiner, with too much free time on his hands, was sending lewd messages to a school-aged girl. This time, the object of the sext addicts online attention was a 15-year-old teenager from North Carolina. And while that may be shocking to some, whats more shocking is the liberal outrage over Weiners purported shenanigans. Arent liberals usually the ones celebrating unbridled sexuality? And dont the left make it their lifes work to sexualize children as early as possible? Yet extreme abortion supporter Governor Andrew Cuomo responded to the Weiner revelations in the following way: "If the reports are true, it's possibly criminal and it is sick. Cuomo expressed an amazing level of moral indignation, especially because the judgmental New York governor supports underage girls having access to abortion without parental notification. If liberals like Cuomo believe that youthful girls have the right to choose at 13 years old, why shouldnt a 51-year-old man feel comfortable sexting a consenting child of fifteen? The same holds true for New York City mayor de Blasio, who recently signed an executive order mandating that city facilities provide gender-neutral bathrooms. If de Blasio would allow a little girl to share a bathroom with a 45-year-old sexually confused male, who is he to condemn Anthony Weiner by suggesting that the ex-congressman address his issues? Moreover, in keeping with de Blasios bathroom logic, wouldnt a man participating in online sex play with a high school sophomore be exonerated if the girl self-identifies as a consenting adult? Lets not forget, Anthony Weiner is a former politician from a city where kindergarten teachers are asked to refer to students by their preferred gender. So if a 6-year-old can select a gender, why cant a schoolgirl choose to exchange salacious texts with a guy who posts pictures of his Johnson while his wife is otherwise playing handmaiden to a presidential hopeful? Add to all those glaring contradictions, Anthony Weiner hailing from a state where high school students sex education includes activities where: Teens are referred to resources such as Columbia Universitys Web site Go Ask Alice, which explores topics like doggie-style and other positions, sadomasochistic sex play, phone sex, oral sex with braces, fetishes, porn stars, vibrators, and bestiality. With that in mind, maybe Anthony was merely homeschooling the girl. Or maybe, like last month, the self-proclaimed chick-magnet was seeking a play date for his son. Play date or not, Weiner still has to deal with the ramifications stemming from a teenaged girl telling the Daily Mail she met her sext-mate on Twitter last January and that the two conversed for months through direct messages. Based on screenshots, in their first chat, Weiner told the teen she was "kinda sorta gorgeous." From there, the duo moved up to Skype and an encrypted app that, unlike the cloth Hillary used when she wiped her email server, deletes messages after a first reading. Besides allegedly sending the schoolgirl extremely vulgar direct messages referring to what hed do to her private parts, Weiner also sent shirtless pictures of his torso, a swimming pool selfie, and one photo with his hand stuffed down his infamous drawers. The North Carolinian student shared that Weiner, whose estranged wife spends most of her time with a woman whose husband is actually accused of rape encouraged her to engage in rape fantasies. Judging from the captured images, the former congressman, who also asked the girl to to touch herself and dress up in schoolgirl outfits, knew full well he was chatting with a minor. After last months scandal involving the raunchy text Weiner sent featuring his sleeping son, the Administration for Children's Service said it would investigate what went on at home while Huma was on a campaign bus placing cold rags on Hillarys forehead. The agency would not comment on the teen sexting disclosure, but despite Huma calling the accusations a hoax, said it routinely investigate(s) new allegations pertaining to current open cases. Federal authorities in North Carolina did not return comment. Meanwhile, sounding a lot like Hillary Clinton admitting that her email setup was a mistake, Weiner, who didnt deny flirtatiously sexting the girl he called Baby, confessed that he had repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgment about the people [he had] communicated with online and the things [he had] sent. And just as when he was nabbed in 2011 and 2013, Weiner also said: I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt. While I have provided the Daily Mail with information showing that I have likely been the subject of a hoax, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this position. I am sorry. Correct me if Im wrong, but since when does a morally relativistic liberal pronounce anything as terrible, especially if it concerns sex? Either way, disingenuous regrets, liberal contradictions, hyper-sexualized children, and gender-identity issues aside, now that hes single again, if Anthony Weiner really does have a proclivity for underage girls, the former congressman should really visit Slick Willy on Pedophile Island. Because at the end of the day, after being caught in the act three times, Weiner has a lot to learn from Bill Clinton about how to elude negative consequences when caught with your pants down. Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com. Normally, I dont cite reports from websites that I dont know anything about. But a site called newsjunkiepost.com has some very interesting facts and allegations about the Clintons and Haitian relief, where billions of dollars have been raised with little benefit to the Haitians but considerable benefit to the Clintons. For the Clintons, the boon from Haitis earthquake of January 12, 2010 came while HRC was Secretary of State, and Bill Clinton was the United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti. As soon as massive numbers of Americans began to donate small sums of money for earthquake relief, Bill and Hillary Clinton transformed themselves into the face of Haiti. In their most calculated compassionate voices, they told stories about their marvelous honeymoon on the island and implored the public for donations. In reality, in the US State Department, the mood was festive. On February 1, the US Ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten, cheerfully titled a section of his situation report, THE GOLD RUSH IS ON! By March 8, 2010, Bill Clinton had applied sufficient pressure on President Rene Preval, to force Haitis Lower House to vote yes on a State of Emergency that would allow a group of rich donors to run the country for 18 months via the IHRC [Hillary Clintons Interim Haiti Recovery Commission]. During the same month, Hillary Clinton went to Montreal to raise money, ostensibly for Haitis reconstruction, and Bill Clinton went to Davos to collect the rich donors. The next month, Bill Clinton worked to push his project on Haitis Senate, where it was ironically called a coup detat durgence. The Senate voted no on April 8, but President Preval insisted on another vote. In the next vote on April 13, 10 out of 25 senators stayed home to prevent a quorum. On April 14, Michelle Obama made a special trip to Haiti, and the next day the deal was done. The vote was 9 away, 2 abstaining, 1 no, and 13 yes. All but one of the yes votes had come from Prevals party. Thus slightly more than three months after the earthquake, on April 21, 2010 the IHRC was inaugurated. (snip) As the reconstruction money poured in, the IHRC became increasingly arrogant and opaque. According to the IHRC charter, Clinton and Bellerive gained the right of final approval over all major construction projects in Haiti. In addition, they even gave themselves the power to grant titles. Meanwhile, Haitian ministers and elected officials were blocked from IHRC meetings because they were not on the list. The IHRC is estimated to have collected $5.3 billion over two years and $9.9 billion over three years, without reconstructing much of anything. This represents more than five times the money that the Clintons have collected by other mechanisms like the Clinton Foundation or Laureate Education. Bill Clinton has claimed at various times that he only received 10 percent of the funds that had been pledged to the IHRC, but even if this were true, a vast sum of money would still have disappeared. By July 2011, Haitis Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communication (MPTC) had approved $3.2 billion of IHRC projects, but only $0.084 billion (2.6 percent) worth of projects had been completed. One of the biggest bloggers on the conservative web had his Twitter account suspended. Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit believes it's because of this tweet: The tweet suggested that drivers who were trapped by Charlotte protesters who were blocking the interstate run over the thugs because people were literally trapped in their cars as the riot broke out. Reynolds explains: Sorry, blocking the interstate is dangerous, and trapping people in their cars and surrounding them is a threat. Driving on is self-preservation, especially when weve had mobs destroying property and injuring and killing people. But if Twitter doesnt like me, Im happy to stop providing them with free content. ANOTHER UPDATE: Was just on Hugh Hewitt talking about this. Since Twitter wont let me respond to or even see my critics, let me expand here. Ive always been a supporter of free speech and peaceful protest. I fully support people protesting police actions, and Ive been writing in support of greater accountability for police for years. But riots arent peaceful protest. And blocking interstates and trapping people in their cars is not peaceful protest its threatening and dangerous, especially against the background of people rioting, cops being injured, civilian-on-civilian shootings, and so on. I wouldnt actually aim for people blocking the road, but I wouldnt stop because Id fear for my safety, as I think any reasonable person would. Run them down perhaps didnt capture this fully, but its Twitter, where character limits stand in the way of nuance. Meanwhile, regarding Twitter: I dont even know that this is why I was suspended, as Ive heard nothing from Twitter at all. They tell users and investors that they dont censor, but they seem awfully quick to suspend people on one side of the debate and, as people over at Twitchy note, awfully tolerant of outright threats on the other. Twitter can do without me, as I can certainly do without Twitter. One tweet sums up the idiocy of this action by Twitter: @Instapundit banned? You've got to be kidding me. PPL on here openly calling for the killing of cops, republicans and whites are good to go Tami (@Brytani_Fla) September 22, 2016 The far left radicalism of social media in general will be the death of them. For years, Twitter has overpromised everything from earnings to the number of members. One shareholder is actually suing the company for lying. Facebook has already been outed as anti-conservative. Other social media sites are dominated by the left. Sharing your grandmother's oatmeal cookie recipe is one thing. But when it comes to politics, sharing ideas should be as open and uncensored as possible. Advocating self-defense against protesters who might attack your car and kill you is hardly cause to be banned. But it goes against the "protest" narrative that doesn't include violent thugs in racially motivated attacks. Update: In "Palestinian proud of 'terrorist' label" (09/19/16), The Washington Post defends and gives explanations for Fathi Hammad, Hamas member, recently designated a terrorist by the U.S. State Department. Perry Mason would have been proud. The labeling of Hammad as terrorist is objected to by the Post, which becomes judge, jury, and defense lawyer. According to the State Department, Hammad "coordinated terrorist cells." The Post steps up to Hammad's defense by following up with "no evidence was presented." Has there ever been a similar designation where the Post jumped to the terrorist's defense and basically objected? Is it up to the State Department to prove its case to the Post? The Post's loyalty to the Hamas member continued as the paper let him give a full paragraph's worth of typical propaganda implicating Israel as the cause of all the world's evil (such a surprise!) and doubling down by making Americans feel responsible for it: Americans give money to Israel, "which is the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world." If that wasn't enough support for the designee, the Post then explained what they believed he meant: "Hammad was referring specifically to the announcement last week that the United States was awarding Israel" the largest military aid package in U.S. history. Thank you, Washington Post, for interpreting what the terrorist meant. But that wasn't all that the defense team of Washington Post reporters Willam Booth and Hazem Balousha proffered. They said the State Department designation for Hammad included "organizations such as al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hezbollah, the Taliban, the Jewish Kahane group, Algerian Salafists, the Islamic State, and Hamas, among others." In fact, the State Department list does not mention the religion of any of the groups, especially the "Jewish Kahane group." If the Post wanted to be consistent, why didn't they say the Muslim group al-Qaeda, the Muslim group Boko Haram, the Muslim group Hezb'allah, the Muslim group the Taliban, the Muslim group the Algerian Salafists, the Muslim group the Islamic State, and the Muslim group Hamas? The inclusion of "Jewish" for the Kahane group reveals the darker, deeper bias at the Post. It just slips out every so often and makes one more easily understand the Post's knee-jerk defense of this terrorist and the entire Palestinian movement. If Trump holds his own in the first debate, the scorn and hatred directed against him will be like nothing we have ever seen in a race. There is wide-scale panic already evident in some circles. But theres a good chance that the media barrage to come will backfire, or at least be non-productive. The negative ads running again Trump are getting Hillary nothing. When we were in Maine recently, we saw them on both Maine and New Hampshire TV. Both states are close. Hillarys numbers have dropped in both states since the ad buys. I think a large share of Trumps base simply ignores anything negative directed against him. Among Republicans who dont like him, especially moderate women, I think the impressions are already formed, and ads are irrelevant. Kellyanne Conway is busy turning Trump into a generic Republican, a very smart strategy. He has his base now, and he needs to consolidate Republicans. A month ago, I did not expect him to recover from 8 or 9 down. But the Judicial Watch release on the Clinton Foundation was very damaging, as were her health issues and lies and the deplorables remark. Wikileaks has more to come. Donald Trump proposes six weeks of maternity leave paid through the unemployment fund. Unemployment programs have much waste, with people riding out the full one year or more and then finding a job only when unemployment payments end. End the payments by six weeks, and that will fund maternity leave. Maternity leave is a conservative idea because it strengthens families and helps children during the first six weeks of life. It is consistent with a pro-life position of opposing abortion and providing school vouchers and tax breaks for families. Our tax code has numerous pro-family provisions such as deductions for children: adoption, college expenses, home mortgage and interest, health insurance premiums, and medical costs, among others. All these tax deductions and credits reflect a public policy to strengthen families. The tax code forces us to pay, and the government decides which of our expenses receives a tax benefit. It is preferable to have the private economy do it voluntarily, because most companies offer more than six weeks, and private industry will be more efficient. But that do does not mean it is completely paid for by private industry. A business can deduct the cost of the maternity leave from its gross income to arrive at taxable income. Thus, because the maternity cost is deductible, that means the cost is shared by all who pay taxes. This is not the governments money. It is the taxpayers money shuffled through the tax code. We now allow parents all the tax breaks I mentioned, so maternity leave is consistent with the tax breaks for families as stated herein. We also favor vouchers to educate the child, which is not different in principle from maternity leave. It is also smart politics, because it will help Trump win. Voters want the government to do something to help working Americans. Maternity leave is a good idea regardless who proposes it. Trumps proposal will help working Americans raise their families, which is consistent with the Republican ideas to strengthen families and continue the protection of children consistent with opposing abortion. Trump has to win to do anything about the border, immigration, national security, free trade, and the Supreme Court, and to keep the Clintons out of the White House. Maternity leave is a sound conservative pro-family, pro-child policy consistent with conservative goals. The left is making a bet that its vote fraud efforts can be disguised from the public long enough to win this election, and then open the floodgates to ensure that the left permanently rules America (and completes the fundamental transformation Obama promised). There is every reason to fear massive vote fraud targeted at ensuring that a faltering Hillary Clinton takes the election. The key is to import millions of Democrat voters from groups that reliably offer 90%+ support to the left and its promises of free stuff. With Hillary in Oval Office and controlling the bureaucracy, citizenship can be accelerated. But as shocking studies show, noncitizens are already voting in large numbers and affecting elections. Fred Lucas reports at the Heritage Foundations Daily Signal: The Obama administration opposes states verifying citizenship status of registered voters. Inquiries into voter fraud are typically met with derision from both government and the mediaand in at least one instance with prosecution. Prosecutors dont prioritize voter fraud, while convictions only garner light sentences. These are among the voter fraud problems facing the United States, experts noted this week, even as prominent voices on the left say such fraud is a myth. The lefts opposition to voter integrity laws or even inquiry can be simply explained, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. Why on earth would you not want to make sure that only citizens are registered and voting? Fitton, author of Clean House: Exposing Our Governments Secrets and Lies, said at a forum at The Heritage Foundation Tuesday. That to me shows that the Obama administration and the left generally, which is behind this, wants to be able to steal elections if necessary. To me, thats a crisis. A 2014 study by Old Dominion University found that 6.4 percent of all noncitizens voted in the 2008 election and 2.2 percent voted in the 2010 midterm elections. The study concludes this likely put Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat, over the top in the race in his 312-vote statewide victory over Republican Norm Coleman in 2008. [If Franken had lost, Obamacare would not have been passed ed.] Fitton said this is approaching 15 percent of all noncitizens voting. In the past, opponents have argued that ID requirements hurt minority participation. Meanwhile, studies have found minority voting has increased after voter ID was implemented. So we are being sold two frauds: that fraud is a tiny problem, and that only citizens can vote. This week a New York Times editorial called voter fraud a myth and fake: As study after study has shown, there is virtually no voter fraud anywhere in the country. The most comprehensive investigation to date found that out of one billion votes cast in all American elections between 2000 and 2014, there were 31 possible cases of impersonation fraud. Other violationslike absentee ballot fraud, multiple voting and registration fraudare also exceedingly rare. So why do so many people continue to believe this falsehood? Credit for this mass deception goes to Republican lawmakers, who have for years pushed a fake story about voter fraud, and thus the necessity of voter ID laws, in an effort to reduce voting among specific groups of Democratic-leaning voters. Democrats know that the best defense is a good offense. Thats why, in an effort to distract: Rep. John Lewis, a pioneer in the civil rights movement, wants the Obama administration to appoint observers for the November election in certain states. "We should ask for federal protection," the Georgia Democrat said Wednesday, warning "the election can be stolen on election day at polling places." With (now discredited by her private jet secret meeting with Bill Clinton) Loretta Lynch in charge of the DOJ, the feds cannot be counted upon to bust the fraud. This is classic misdirection. Like one of those smoldering Pennsylvania coal mine fires far underground that cant be extinguished, the argument among conservatives about whether or not Obama is an intellectual keeps smoking up my rabbit hole. And with only a few months to go before the guy has to go out-of-pocket for Michelles hair extensions, youd think these people would let it go. But some conservatives just wont. Instead, they see themselves as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator, determined to have their revenge in this world or the next. Fine. But conflating the terms intellectual and intelligent just because they share their first two syllables is exactly the mistake humorist Mark Twain warned us about making with lightning and lightning-bug. But while the former muddle-up is just as silly as the latter, its much more dangerous to our civilization. It fact, it may even destroy it, because the error concedes to the left-wing liberal what they see as their natural right to rule us: their superior (sic) intelligence. Yet as Paul Johnson explains, what the term intellectual actually describes is not smarts, but a class of people who ... assert that they [can] ... diagnose the ills of society and cure them with their own unaided intellects: more that they could devise formulae whereby not merely the structure but the fundamental habits of human beings could be transformed for the better. Key phrase unaided intellects. This explains why the intellectual Karl Marx could dogmatically insist that his theories of industrial development were correct despite never once having visited a factory, mine, mill, or shipyard. Or that the intellectual Jean-Jacques Rousseau could write eloquently and convincingly about the love, care, and education of children while essentially murdering his own. Or that the intellectuals intellectual Mohandas Gandhi could preach poverty while subsidized by Indian merchant princes and sleep with a succession of young women while insisting upon his celibacy. Or, for that matter, it explains why Barack Obama can thump his chest over the illusion that his own personal stew of wacky social justice and antediluvian economic theories has gotten the American economy booming. And if we cant see it the way he does, why, thats just because were not as smart as he is. Smarter than the law of supply and demand, smarter than Lord Kames, Edmund Burke, or the prophet Isaiahs wife Deborah. And of course smarter than Einstein. Poor pathetic Einstein, who humbly endeavored to prove his theories with carefully constructed real-world tests of their validity. But there is no alternate reality. Just as a professional soldier will tell you that no plan ever survives contact with the enemy, no social or economic theory unhooked from reality and experience ever survives a meeting with the real world. Its matter meeting anti-matter. This is why we might add parenthetically that intellectuals could never have invented the telephone, the electric light, the computer, airplanes, the pencil, toilet paper, or anything else you can name. And their obsession with their own thoughts and beliefs go a long way to explain why they have destroyed so many countries, killed so many people, and reduced whole populations to misery and starvation. Because while an eight-year-old might believe he is Superman but remain sensible enough not to jump from an upper-story window, not only will the intellectual jump, but hell throw you and me out first. And so if that eager willingness to see you hurt rather than admit hes mistaken doesnt qualify Obama as an intellectual, I dont know what does. Finally, please dont confuse the intellectual with a scholar or engineer, mathematician, the medical doctor, or any of the other really useful and very practical people in this world who really are pretty damned smart. Richard F. Miniter is the author of The Things I Want Most, Random House, BDD. See it here. He lives and writes in the colonial-era hamlet of Stone Ridge, New York; blogs here; and can also be reached at miniterhome@gmail.com. Moored at Bataviawerf, in Lelystad, in the Netherlands, is an authentic replica of a 17th-century ship named Batavia that once belonged to the Dutch East India Company. The replica was created by master-shipbuilder Willem Vos, who carries an extraordinary mission to reconstruct famous ships from the golden age of the Netherlands' maritime history using traditional ship-building techniques that were popular during that period. So far, he has built Batavia, while a second ship The Seven Provinces, is a work-in-progress. Willem Vos originally owned a company that built wooden and polyester boats, but with modernization demand for handmade boats was falling. Once, when Vos went to the bank to ask for credit, the bank tried to belittle his company by saying that his profession belonged in a museum and inadvertently gave him the idea for Bataviawerf. The replica of Batavia at Bataviawerf. Photo credit: Malis/Wikimedia Vos realized that if he could successfully build a large 17th-century ship using only 17th-century materials and methods, people would be more than willing to pay to see this kind of work in action. Willem Vos decided that he would reconstruct the Dutch merchant vessel Batavia, a project that soon developed into a unique experiment in historical shipbuilding. The replica of Batavia was built between 1985 and 1995 using traditional materials, such as oak and hemp, and using the tools and methods of the time of the original ship's construction. Vos made extensive research of the subject using historical sources, such as 17th century ship-building descriptions and prints and paintings by artists of similar ships. Long forgotten, traditional crafts such as woodcarving, forgoing and rigging had to be re-learnt. The remains of the original ship in Fremantle, as well as the Vasa in Stockholm, provided invaluable information. The Story of Batavia The original Batavia set sail from the Netherland on June 4, 1629, with a crew of 332, but became wrecked on its maiden voyage off the coast of Western Australia. The survivors managed to swim to the nearby Beacon Island, but about 40 people drowned. What then played out on the tiny coral island is a fascinating tale of maritime treachery, murder and heroism that has inspired movies, books and plays. Even before the shipwreck, a bankrupt former pharmacist named Jeronimus Cornelisz, who was fleeing the Netherlands in fear of arrest because of his heretical beliefs, had been conspiring with the ships captain, Ariaen Jacobsz, and other crew members, to raise a mutiny, and sail the ship away to an unknown destination which would allow them to start a new life using the huge supply of gold and silver on board. The crew tried to provoke the ships commander, Francisco Pelsaert, by molesting a high-ranking young female passenger. The idea was to provoke Pelsaert into punishing the crew, which would then be used as a pretext to rise in revolt. However, Pelsaert choose not to act until they reached land, and the mutiny failed. Photo credit: unknown/Public domain Before the conspirators could make another move, the ship struck a reef near Abrolhos Islands and sank. Forty people drowned, but the rest managed to swim to Beacon Island. The survivors took with them most of the food and other provisions from the ship, but there was no fresh water on the islands. Realizing their dire situation, the ships commander Pelsaert, Captain Jacobsz, a few crew members, and some passengers a total of about forty-eight peopleleft the others on the island on another boat in search of fresh water. After an unsuccessful search for water on the mainland, the party headed north in a danger-fraught voyage to the city of Batavia, now Jakarta, to obtain help. The journey took 33 days, and extraordinarily, all aboard survived. On arrival in Batavia, the ships boatswain was arrested and executed for negligence. Skipper Jacobsz was also arrested, but Pelsaert was unaware of his hand in the potential mutiny. Meanwhile, a search party, lead by Pelsaert himself, was organized to rescue those still stranded on the islands. With extraordinary bad luck, the search party took two months to arrive at the islands, only to discover that a bloody massacre had taken place among the survivors, reducing their numbers by more than one hundred. An image from the 1647 Dutch book Ongeluckige voyagie, van't schip Batavia ("Unlucky voyage of the ship Batavia") After Pelsaert had left the islands for Batavia, Jeronimus Cornelisz, the bankrupt pharmacist, who failed to raise the mutiny on board the ship, once again gathered some of the men and asserted himself over them. Corneliszs devilish plan was to seize any relief ship that might return and take off with it, along with the riches of the wrecked Batavia. To carry out his plans, Cornelisz had to eliminate all possible opponents and anybody that was a burden on their limited resources. At first, he sent a party of cabin boys, men and women, to another island under the false pretense of searching for water and abandoned them there. He did the same to a group of soldiers, taking care to confiscate their arms before they left. He drowned a good many by sending them out in boats on useless errands and having his accomplices push them overboard. The remaining were systematically murdered by Corneliszs psychotic men. A reign of terror ensued as the mutineers became intoxicated with murder, and began killing for pleasure. Survivors sent to the other islands were hunted down and killed if they hadn't already succumbed to thirst or hunger. Some of the women were kept alive and repeatedly raped. Beacon Island, where the horrific events unfolded. Photo credit: Vunz/Wikimedia Unknown to Cornelisz, the group of soldiers led by Wiebbe Hayes, who were left to die on an island, actually found good sources of water and food and survived. When the soldiers learnt of the barbarity taking place on Corneliszs island from survivors fleeing the massacre, they devised makeshift weapons and built a small fort out of limestone and coral blocks. Then they sent smoke signals to Cornelisz and waited for the mutineers to arrive. The news of water on the other island, and the survival of the soldiers, threatened the success of Corneliszs plans. As predicted, Cornelisz sent an attack party to eliminate the soldiers, but the soldiers, now much better fed than the mutineers, easily defeated them in several battles and eventually took Cornelisz hostage. At this point, Pelsaerts rescue ship arrived. Wiebbe Hayes raced to the ship to warn the rescuers about the mutineers, and explained what had happened. Pelsaert captured Cornelisz and the remaining mutineers and held an impromptu trial on the island itself. The worst offenders were executed, while Cornelisz and several others had their hands chopped off before being hanged. The remaining mutineers were taken to Batavia for trial. Five were hanged, one was broken on the wheel, the most severe punishment available at the time, and several others were flogged. The wreckage of Batavia was found and salvaged in the 1970s. Some of these items, including human remains, are now on display in the Western Australian Museum in Fremantle, Australia. A large part of the wreckage still remains at the original site and is now a premier dive site on the West Australian coast. The hangings on Long Island as illustrated in the Lucas de Vries 1649 edition of Ongeluckige Voyagie The replica of the Batavia on the Markermeer during a filmshoot. Photo credit: authorities/Wikimedia Photo credit: Mali/Wikimedia Photo credit: Mark Ahsmann/Wikimedia The gundeck on the replica Batavia. Photo credit: Whitestar401/Flickr Photo credit: Frank Van Laanen/Flickr Sources: Wikipedia / Western Australian Museum / www.bataviawerf.nl The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 global recall is definitely a hot topic at the moment, with the South Korean company having already launched its exchange program in regions such as South Korea and the US. This recall was first announced after numerous reports regarding devices exploding while being charged started to emerge. Samsung then began issuing recalls in regions around the world, including Canada, where the recall was announced on September 12. Now, the company has revealed that 70% of Galaxy Note 7 owners in the country have registered to join the exchange program. According to Health Canada, a total of 21,953 Galaxy Note 7 units were sold in Canada between August 19th and September 1st. Starting from last week, Samsung began to ship the new and safe units to Canada and users will be able to differentiate these units from the faulty ones by taking a look at the color of the battery indicator. The battery indicator on faulty units will be white in color, while the new units will come with a green battery indicator. Also, if you are using a faulty unit in Canada, Samsung will be pushing out a mandatory software update to all affected units. Through this software update, you will receive a notification from Samsung advising you to power down your device and avoid charging it. This notification will pop up on your screen every three hours and whenever you try to power on or charge your faulty Galaxy Note 7. If you own an affected Galaxy Note 7, do return your device to your point of purchase, be it Samsung, a retailer, or a carrier, and get an exchange as soon as possible, to avoid any incidents which may cause bodily injuries or damage to property. According to Samsung, the battery in affected Galaxy Note 7 units have the tendency to overheat which might start a fire or even explode. While the recall is still an ongoing process, sale of the new Galaxy Note 7 has already started in places such as the US, where the device can be bought from carriers such as Sprint and Verizon. The device will also be put back on shelves in South Korea, starting September 28. The Galaxy Note 7 was supposed to be the device that would establish Samsungs superiority over its competitors, but unfortunately for the South Korean company, that was not to be. As has been widely reported in large sections of the mainstream media around the world, reports of the Galaxy Note 7 exploding forced Samsung to issue an unprecedented global recall of around 2.5 million units of its premium phablet. It was on September 2nd that the company made the announcement to temporarily halt sales of its latest flagship smartphone and replace the ones that had already been sold. While Samsung Electronics says that the batteries manufactured by its group company, Samsung SDI, is to blame for the critical flaw thats been causing the fires, the controversy will, nonetheless, reflect poorly on its Q3 results, as is to be expected. According to market analysts in South Korea, Samsung will see an 8.6% sequential drop in profits this quarter because of the controversy. If the consensus estimate of analysts is anything to go by, the company is likely to earn profits of 7.4 trillion won ($6.7 billion) during the current quarter, which would be significantly lower than the previous estimates from various brokerage firms in the country. While most analysts originally estimated Samsung Electronics to earn between 8.2 trillion won ($7.3 billion) to 8.5 trillion won ($7.6 billion) during the current quarter, just about all of them have downgraded their estimates following the developments of the past few weeks. The company had reported profits of 8.14 trillion won ($7.23 billion) in Q2 2016. As for the current situation meanwhile, all major securities firms in the country agreed that the company will lose over $1 billion just from the recall, without counting any associated costs. The companys mobile division is now expected to earn just about 2.6 trillion won ($2.3 billion) in Q3 2016, instead of the 4.1 trillion ($3.6 billion) it was originally expected to earn during the period. With the Galaxy Note 7 out of the picture in the short term, Samsungs biggest rival, Apple, is expected to be the main beneficiary, with its latest smartphones, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, expected to cross 100 million in sales by the end of this year. Following in the footsteps of Comcasts news yesterday, about the company looking to become a wireless carrier by utilizing their agreement with Verizon and their WiFi hotspots that are already available around the country. Charter is now looking to do the same. Charters CEO stated that they asked Verizon to activate their MVNO agreement. This agreement was actually inherited by Charter Communications when they purchased Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks earlier this year. From the little information that has been made public about Charters plans to become an MVNO, the company is looking to utilize their own WiFi hotspots and Verizons network, similar to what Comcast is planning to do. This is also very similar to what Googles Project Fi already does. However instead of using multiple mobile networks (Project Fi uses Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular), Charter and Comcast only appear to be looking to use Verizons network right now likely because they already have these agreements in place with Verizon. An MVNO which stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator is a carrier that relies on someone elses network for connectivity. Those that subscribe to Charters service would be using Verizons towers when Charters WiFi hotspots are not available. Itll likely be cheaper than what Verizon charges, however its important to remember that MVNO customers will get slower speeds on towers that are in busy areas. Seeing as postpaid customers get priority over prepaid, and MVNO customers on Verizons towers (this goes for any carrier, not specific to Verizon). Thats an important aspect to think about before signing up with either Charter or Comcast. Advertisement The whole reason behind these two cable companies getting into the wireless business, is to sell more services. Customers are more likely to get home internet or even cable from Charter or Comcast, if they can bundle it with their wireless service and save some cash. That is something that AT&T and Verizon have been doing (although Verizon isnt available in as many markets as AT&Ts home internet and cable are). Charters CEO, Tom Rutledge didnt give many details on the companys MVNO aspirations. But we should learn plenty more over the next few months and into 2017. At Google I/O 2016, the company announced Daydream, which is their new platform for virtual reality. Its a step above what Cardboard was, but not quite as feature rich as what HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift offer. Daydream still isnt officially available, but the company announced today that their Virtual Reality SDK is now out of beta. This SDK was the Cardboard SDK and was updated at Google I/O in May to support Daydream. The Google VR SDK 1.0 is now available on the Daydream developer website. Google mentions in their blog post that the updated SDK has made some of the more common VR development tasks much simpler. The reasoning behind making these tasks easier is so that the developer can focus on other aspects of virtual reality. Like a fully immersive experience, high fidelity spatialized audio and much more. Thats not all that Google is announcing today. They also announced that developers can now apply to be part of the Daydream Access Program (DAP). The Daydream Access Program is exactly what it sounds like, its an early access program for developers to apply to be a part of, which would allow them to put out their apps sooner. Instead of having to submit them with all the other developers that will be doing so in early 2017. This is also a way for Google to have a ton of Daydream enabled apps available right away. If you are a developer and do have a Daydream compatible app ready, you can head to the source link below and fill out the form to apply. These announcements seem to point to the fact that Google is almost ready to debut Daydream. At Google I/O earlier this year, the company announced that it would be debuting later this year. But didnt give any specific details as to when it would be available. With Google already having sent out invitations to their October 4th event in San Francisco, it seems fairly likely that it may launch at that event. Alongside a number of other Google products like the new Pixel smartphones that are being built with HTC, as well as Android Wear 2.0 also shown off at Google I/O. Earlier this year, Google officially launched Android 7.0, and as always, this version of Googles mobile operating system had a tasty treat for a name. Last year was Marshmallow, and following on from that alphabetically, Google gave us Android Nougat. Many thought that this version of Android was going to be Android Nutella, and some employees working on Android 7.0 even alluded to as much, but ultimately it was Nougat that stuck from the many proposals sent Googles way. Considering that different sweets and confectionery are known more or less in different parts of the world, it should come as no surprise that there is in fact a City known for Nougat. Located in France, the Southeastern City of Montelimar has been known for producing some of the Worlds best Nougat since the 1700s, despite its small population of less than 50,000. Known for a particular variety of Nougat, simply dubbed Nougat de Montelimar the Citys Almond and Honey flavored Nougat has become known the world over, and the City apparently produces close to 5 tons of the stuff each and every year, sourced from 300 different makers in the region. Google has recently donated an Android statue, similar to the ones seen at Googles California, Mountain View campus to the city of Montelimar. The below video shows off the unveiling of the new statue as well as a little background on the naming scheme that many of us have become accustomed to since the days of Android 1.6 Donut and Android 2.2 FroYo, to name but a couple of well-known releases. Franck Raynier, the Mayor of Montelimar said that this collaboration and donation from Google represented a great opportunity for the City to better connect to a younger, more modern audience and hoped that this would help put Montelimar back on the map in a more modern manner. It appeared as though the whole City came out for the unveiling of the statue as the below video shows a very busy event, and Google themselves sent over a representative to connect with the City. Elisabeth Barges, Director of Institutional Relations for Google France gave some background on the naming for this years version of Android. Given the recent frosty relations between Google and the European Union, it could be easy to see this as Google using their latest release of Android to butter up one of Europes leading nations. Even if it were, its unlikely that Margrethe Vestagers commission would care too much about the donation of a green Android to a small City in the South of France. Three days after launching the entry-level Moto E3 Power in India, Lenovo proudly revealed that the Chinese tech company managed to make history as the said device became the best-selling day one smartphone ever released in the southern Asian country. More specifically, as Amit Boni, the general manager at the Indian branch of Motorola Mobility revealed in a succinct tweet, the Moto E3 Power managed to sell 100,000 units in the first 24 hours since hitting the market this Monday. Despite the modest $120 price tag and a large pool of potential customers, thats still an impressive figure in a country where several large brands are fiercely fighting for smartphone market share on all fronts. Moto E3 Power is the third iteration of the Moto E smartphone which boasts a 5-inch display featuring a resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels, a 1 GHz quad-core MediaTek CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot. In addition to that, the device is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front one. It also features a water-repellent coating, a LED flash, and two SIM card slots. Moto E3 Power shipped with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and all of the standard accessories. In other words, its an incredibly feature-packed device for its cost and punches way above its weight. Last month, numerous reports from China suggested that Lenovo has worked out a new mobile strategy with Motorola in the center of it. More specifically, the company made big plans to use the Moto brand in order to revive its struggling mobile business. Whether that idea works out or not, Lenovo is definitely off to a good start. Even if it doesnt completely succeed in turning Moto into a strong brand it once was, Lenovo at least made a somewhat stable foothold in the entry-level smartphone market and can generally be rather pleased with its acquisition of Motorola. Namely, the Chinese tech giant bought Motorola from Google for $2.91 billion in 2014, almost $10 billion less than what Google paid for it in 2011. Granted, Google kept all of Motorolas patents under the name of Motorola Solutions but that wasnt what Lenovo was primarily interested in, anyway. That is because the Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer wanted to use the Moto brand in order to gain a bigger foothold in the US where it currently simply cannot compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple. As Google Fiber has begun to expand its presence around the country, it has started to see some issues in certain cities where AT&T and/or Comcast run the ISP game. In Louisville, Kentucky, AT&T has already sued the city for passing an ordinance that would make it easier for other ISPs like Google Fiber, to come in and put their equipment on the utility poles. Before this ordinance was passed, the current user of the said utility pole would have to make the changes needed for the new competitor. Which has been slowing down Google Fibers rollout in some cities, like Nashville, Tennessee, who on Tuesday passed a similar ordinance. Nashvilles Metro Council gave their final approval for this new ordinance on Tuesday evening. Now its off to Mayor Megan Barry to approve and sign the ordinance into law. Mayor Barry has already said that she will be approving the law, however this also means that she is beginning a lawsuit with AT&T. As that is the ISPs next step in stopping Google Fiber from coming to Nashville. Mayor Barry tried to steer clear of a lawsuit by urging the providers to work together for a solution that would benefit all of them. She stated in a report out of The Tennessean, that her hope now is that any potential legal disputes over this new law can be resolved quickly, and we can move forward with expanding fiber access throughout the city. Alphabet, who owns Google Fiber, has offered to lend their lawyers to the city to fight AT&T in this lawsuit. Theres no word yet on whether the City of Nashville will take Alphabet up on that offer. AT&T said that this ordinance is not a good way to expedite fiber deployment and its infrastructure. Previously, the company had noted that Google Fibers crews dont always follow safety rules and regulations, which could be a big issue for AT&T and the other fiber companies located in Nashville. Advertisement As for now, it appears that those in Nashville will have to wait a bit longer to get some Google Fiber in their neighborhoods. Hopefully this lawsuit wont delay things too much further for the city. Highlight Top tier hardware build and design, tons of software features and great battery life are a few of the highlights of the Redmi Pro Its been a little tough keeping up with Xiaomis release schedule lately. While some phones have a more straight forward name, like the Mi 5 for instance, the Redmi Pro is an oddly named device that doesnt seem to fit into any of Xiaomis product lines. This may not be a bad thing though, as the Redmi Pro begins some important changes for Xiaomi including an OLED display, dual cameras on the back and MediaTek Helio processors. At around $250-300 how does this one compare to others on the market, and specifically other similarly priced offerings from Xiaomi themselves? Lets take a look! Specs Advertisement As with many Xiaomi phones, the Redmi Pro comes in two configurations; a base model and an upgraded one. The base model features a MediaTek Helio X20 2.0GHz deca-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The upgraded model features a MediaTek Helio X25 2.5GHz deca-core processor, 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. At the time of writing the price difference between the two units is minimal at best, with the base model selling for $270 while the upgraded model sells for $277. MSRP of each model is 1,499 Yuan ($224) for the base model, 1,699 Yuan ($254) for the upgraded 64GB model, and 1,999 Yuan ($299) for the upgraded 128GB model. Both models share the rest of the components, along with the design and materials used on the phone as well. On the front sits a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display with 60,000:1 contrast ratio and 100% NTSC color gamut reproduction, and a Mali-T880 MP4 GPU drives the visual experience. The metal body of the Redmi Pro comes in three different colors, a light silver, darker grey and a light gold. Inside this body is a non-removable 4,050mAh battery, which is charged via the USB Type-C port on the bottom of the phone. Dual-SIM card support is featured as well as microSD card support. On the front sits a 5-megapixel Samsung camera, while the back of the phone features a dual camera setup with a 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 main camera, as well as a 5-megapixel Samsung sensor for extra effects. The Redmi Pro weighs 174 grams and measures in at 151.5mm high by 76.2mm wide and 8.2mm thin. Advertisement In The Box The value of Xiaomis phones have almost exclusively been inside the phone itself rather than the box, and as such you shouldnt expect much in the way of extras to be included with the phone. Inside the simple white box is of course the phone itself, and youll also find a small packet of manuals and warranty guides, as well as a SIM tray ejector tool. Underneath this paperwork sits a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, as well as a 5v/2a 10W wall charger for QuickCharge 2.0 speed charging. Advertisement Display Marking a first for a Xiaomi device, the Redmi Pro ships with a 100% NTSC gamut 1080p Full HD AMOLED display. Traditionally weve only seen IPS LCD displays on Xiaomi phones, most likely due to trying to keep the cost down for these devices, but now it seems that many OEMs are finally switching over to AMOLED technology instead of LCD. As a general rule of thumb AMOLED displays provide true black levels, as they can turn individual pixels completely off when a black color is trying to be displayed, as well as higher contrast ratios and more attractive colors. Xiaomi clearly waited for one other thing to be present on this panel before moving to AMOLED displays as well: color accuracy. Advertisement While colors are saturated and deep, the panel is able to display 100% of the covered NTSC spectrum, making this one of the finest displays around, much less in the lower priced segment of phones. At the default automatic contrast setting the panel ups the contrast and saturation in most lighting conditions so that the panel is super high contrast and overly saturated. This makes the colors pop and will certainly make people say wow when looking at it, but ultimately the colors are unrealistic and the overall white balance trends toward cool. Moving into display settings and turning the contrast to the standard setting actually perfectly balances out the display and makes whites almost truly white, and colors essentially completely accurate. Black levels of course are perfect since this is an AMOLED display, and brightness levels are phenomenal to say the least, with ranges from ultra dim and easy on the eyes in a dark room, to torch bright for seeing in the sunlight. Theres also no obvious purpling or warming effect of the panel as brightness drops to its lowest point either, a problem AMOLED panels can sometimes have. Viewing angles are better than many recent AMOLED panels too, and only exhibits a rainbow effect at extreme angles. Even the digitizer is absolutely top notch and rounds out one of the absolute best displays youll find on any phone in this price level, and exceeds even plenty displays in higher price brackets too. Hardware and Build Advertisement The past year or so has seen a radical transformation in Xiaomis hardware build quality, and the all metal unibody frame of the Redmi Pro is a perfect example of that transformation. With a 4,050mAh battery inside and a metal chassis, the Redmi Pro weighs slightly more than the average smartphone, coming in at 174 grams, or about 20 grams heavier than the average phone. This is significantly heavier than the 129 gram Mi 5 that was released just a few months ago, and a little bit heavier than the 164 gram Redmi Note 3 as well. With that extra weight though comes the feeling of a truly premium, quality and well built device that holds up to close scrutiny. The only oddity in the design is the plastic face, which feels like is simply placed inside the metal shell but didnt quite fit, as theres a small section of it protruding from the top of the metal base and creates a lip that looks out of place. Its likely the larger battery is the cause for the protrusion here, but it still looks oddly out of place and would have looked considerably better if the metal came all the way up to the edges of the device. Around the chamfered metal frame sits a metal power button and volume rocker on the right side, 3.5mm headset jack and IR blaster up top, SIM tray on the left and a centered USB Type-C port on the bottom, flanked by two speaker grilles. Theres only a single speaker housed in the right side though, and this symmetry is purely for looks rather than what its function appears. Advertisement On the front youll find some average sized bezels for a modern smartphone, possibly hinging towards slightly slimmer than average on top and bottom. Below the screen sits a physical home button thats ever so slightly recessed into the frame, and features both a physical click as well as a capacitive touch in addition to housing the fingerprint reader inside. This home button is flanked by two nondescript white dots, which by default represent a back button and an Overview multi-tasking button, but whos functions can be customized. The back of the device is all metal as described before, and features a very shiny brushed metal finish. Theres little in the way of texture here though, and just holding the device without looking at it might make you think this is just shiny, slippery plastic at first. Youll find the dual cameras on back here in addition to the dual-LED flash in-between both lenses. Performance and Memory Advertisement Raising of the lowest common denominator has been a consistent part of the smartphone experience in recent years. MediaTek has been a big player in providing high quality, fast chipsets to OEMs for considerably less money than its competitors, and as a result has brought about some significant strides in the sub-$300 market. Their latest Helio line of SoCs really pack a major punch, delivering 2015 flagship level performance for a fraction of the cost. The Redmi Pro feels almost no different from any modern flagship in daily use. This includes launching apps, running intensive 3D games, and performing tasks with ease that used to choke phones. If the entire experience were like this, things would be super rosy, however after only a menial period of use you will find some serious issues on the back end of the system, and ones that ultimately bring about a poor user experience. First off Xiaomis memory and power management features are far too over-aggressive out of the box. Essentially every app is limited from auto starting, running in the background, delivering notifications in most places on the system, etc. Apps are significantly hindered in the ways they are designed and as a result this breaks lots of functionality throughout the system, as well as with many apps. During the review period nearly every app I commonly use and rely on to deliver notifications or messages simply wasnt able to. This includes apps like GroupMe, Hangouts, Inbox by Gmail, Allo, WhatsApp and Android Wear to name a few. These integral parts of my daily smartphone life werent allowed to run in the background or deliver notifications without some significant digging into the system and effort that most people simply wouldnt go through. If this were just related to Google services not being installed on the phone since this is a China-based device, it would be one thing, but this extends to so many other apps that its clearly pervasive throughout the system. This wouldnt be so bad if it were all apps, but Xiaomis own services and apps are questionably exempt from these restrictions out of the box, an obvious play at getting people to stick with Xiaomis services over others since they require less inherent effort to use on their phones. These issues have been present on MIUI-based phones for a long time now, but only get more irritating with time as they never seem to be truly fixed. Enabling auto launching, background data, changing the notification preferences and shutting off MIUI power savings seem to be the only way to fix these issues, and there are simply too many steps out of the box just to get apps working like they should be. VR Performance As a more mid-range device you should expect mixed results when it comes to VR performance on the Redmi Pro. Even though it largely matches the performance of 2015 flagship devices, VR demands a lot more out of devices than what 2015s flagships could adequately provide, and its not until this Falls release of the Snapdragon 821 that it appears mobile VR can finally provide a good overall experience. That being said the screen on the Redmi Pro is certainly VR ready in every way, and given that its an AMOLED panel with a low persistence rate of the pixels, movement in the VR world is clean and clear, and those black levels help immerse you deeper into the experience. Performance is where the waters become a little muddy though, and its here where youll find the mixed experience. Some VR games are visually simple enough for the Redmi Pro, and mobile devices in general, to keep up with. However many developers of VR games on the Play Store seem to forget that the paramount most important part of the experience is frame rate. Without a solid frame rate of at least 60 frames per second, the VR experience is janky at best, and will make you sick at the worst. What Xiaomi has provided hardware wise in the Redmi Note offers a fantastic VR experience though, so just be choosy about overly detailed VR content and youll be enjoying some great titles with this phone. Benchmarks As daily performance shows when running intensive apps, the Redmi Pro is no slouch when it comes to performance despite the sub-$300 price tag. Performance is right in line with last years flagship phones, and that includes the ones that cost 3 times more than the Redmi Pro currently does. Check out all the benchmarks we ran on the phone below: Wireless Connectivity The Redmi Pro features global 2G and 3G connectivity, as well as 4G LTE connectivity in many countries. Theres no support for US 4G LTE bands though, which is going to severely limit the Redmi Pros network performance in general for US customers. As the phone is mainly only sold Internationally and within China, this likely isnt an issue for many people who are looking into buying the phone, but its well worth noting as 3G connectivity is incredibly slow compared to what people have gotten used to on LTE networks. Wifi support ranges up to 802.11n speeds only, and 5GHz support is not present. Bluetooth v4.2 is present, however, and its definitely worth noting that the phone features an IR blaster up top thats high on the feature importance list for some people. See below for all supported wireless spectrum: 2G: 850/900/1800/1900MHz 3G HSPA: 850/900/1900/2100MHz 4G LTE Bands: 1/3/5/7/8/38/39/40/41 Battery Life At 4,050mAh the battery inside the Redmi Pro is 30% larger than most phones with a 5.5-inch screen (phablets). Battery life is better than average as you should expect from the size difference, and it was more than common to see the phone at only 50% after being off the charger for 17+ hours. Screen on time during this usage peaked around 5-6 hours on heavy use days, and some users could certainly see in upwards of 8 hours of screen on time if theyre really bored and browse something relatively simple and not process-intensive like Reddit all day long. Whats not entirely clear is how much of this good battery life is caused by forcing apps to close once they move to the background. By not allowing apps to update in the background and provide the necessary communication they need with their data services, MIUI falsely raises its battery life while simultaneously worsening user experience. Theres a line between keeping apps from running to help with battery life and getting too aggressive, thereby negating the advanced notifications features Android users love to have. Sound Sound output is definitely a high point of the Redmi Pro, something that cant be said of many of Xiaomis previous generations of phones. Theres no advanced hi-res sound output or anything like that here, just good quality 16-bit standard audio coming from the 3.5mm jack. Unlike some previous generation phones, the audio coming from the Redmi Pro is well balanced out of the box and only needs the use of the built-in equalizer with some pairs of headphones. As Xiaomis audio interface has been designed for tweaking headphone output for years, its only down to choosing the right type of headphone to cater to your tastes and hardware in order to get the right balance of sound. Folks with nicer quality sound systems, like a vehicle audio system for instance, will likely find the default output is of high quality and offers a great base to tweak if needed. The single, bottom-facing speaker on the Redmi Pro is about what you would expect from such a configuration on a phone that sells for this price. Quality is decent at best, offering fairly clear sound with a relatively narrow audio range and little to no base present at all. Volume is pretty good compared to some other handsets out there, however at the highest few notches on the audio panel youll find that this speaker vibrates quite a bit and distorts the audio, even something as simple as a ringtone or notification tone. Software The Redmi Pro launched with MIUI 7 but featured an MIUI 8 upgrade almost immediately. Our review unit had the update ready as soon as the phone was connected to the Internet, and it updated within about 20 minutes tops. MIUI 8 is the latest in highly customizable OSs from Xiaomi, built upon Android 6.0 Marshmallow. MIUI 8 represents some of the most significant changes for the OS in quite some time. While MIUI 7 was mostly just a facelift, MIUI 8 continues the visual evolution of the platform and adds some significant new features as well and manages to carry pretty much all the features we loved in MIUI 8 from the Mi Max review into a smaller package. In fact its this updating feature that always needs to be mentioned in every Xiaomi phone review, and its because Xiaomi is one of the best in the industry when it comes to a specific kind of update. While it still takes quite a few months on average to update the base version of Android on every phone, Xiaomi actually provides regular and sometimes weekly updates of MIUI itself. This means that youll regularly see updates concerned with security, bug fixes and feature enhancements throughout every single month you own the device, something no other OEM on the market does on such a regular occurrence. Its doubly impressive too when you consider the large number of devices Xiaomi has on the market too, and it ultimately adds value to the package as a whole. Quite a few of the most interesting features, new or otherwise, lie in security and privacy of the user. Found prominently on the main home screen under the security apps listing, many of these features help you take better control of your personal privacy and security of your data. Second Space allows you to create a second profile to switch between on the phone, essentially making two separate accounts with completely different installed apps and synced accounts. Dual apps allows you to clone individual apps to use on the phone, so if you manage multiple Instagram accounts or something similar this might be a good way to help keep them as separate as possible. App locking allows you to keep the individual app behind a pattern, PIN or fingerprint lock so that other people using your unlocked phone cant get into your gallery, messages or other sensitive information. UI/UX MIUI 8 is clearly an evolution from the vast visual overhaul we saw in last years MIUI 7, and represent some fine tuning of many aspects of the UI for the better. First up is the notification shade, which is probably the most improved portion of the UI as a whole aside from the multi-tasking interface. By default the shade is in the new combined format which resembles a notification shade design that Samsung and LG have used for a few years now. This features a horizontally scrolling row of quick toggle icons, showing 5 icons per horizontal page, and many toggles like WiFi and Bluetooth can be individually expanded to make quick selections from the shade without having to navigate away from the currently active foreground app. Theres also a classic mode with a separated quick toggles page that works the same way as previous versions of MIUI, however has received a much needed face lift and looks great. Not everything about the new shade is rosy though, as theres no way to expand individual notifications, leaving most notifications in an abbreviated state without the ability to see the rest of the information without having to click to go into the app. Text size can be changed on a system wide level to fit more characters here and elsewhere throughout the UI, however theres no display density option like many Android 6.0 Marshmallow phones have, including Xiaomis own Mi Max. This means that more text will fit in certain elements on the UI, but elements dont scale, so some apps have rather large elements even though the Redmi Pro features a 5.5-inch screen. This is because the phones display is only 1080p and thus the OS tries to scale things for a smaller physical screen. The latest redesign of Androids ever evolving volume adjustment panel is present in MIUI and looks nearly identical to many other Marshmallow powered phones, however Xiaomi has changed the behavior a little bit when it comes to any toggles system wide. You actually have to grab the small round indicator and drag across the bar to adjust rather than just being able to click where you want it to go on the bar. This is minor but annoying, and I found myself getting irritated when having to adjust volume to brightness. The home buttons design is quite the opposite of this though, as it gives users the option to either touch it like a capacitive button, or to physically click it in if they prefer. Different actions can also be assigned to this touch or click too, and the same goes with the other buttons on the phone as well. Lastly Xiaomi offers tons of themes for MIUI 8, as they have for pretty much every version of MIUI since its inception. MIUI is one of the original Android skins to feature any kind of theming, and it still holds some of the most robust theming support available, allowing users to individually theme elements on the screen like the launcher icons, notification shade, messaging app and more. The ecosystem for this theme support is incredibly robust to say the least and features thousands upon thousands of free and paid themes, all available via a single theme app that makes it easy to choose what you want. Camera Software The camera interface has stayed largely the same in looks, but functionally has been updated a bit. Instead of swiping left or right to change modes or add live filters, a modes button is prominently displayed right above the shutter button, and brings up the same familiar grid of icons to change the camera mode. Theres also a dedicated button next to the shutter to switch back and forth between photo and video mode, giving quicker access to these modes over other modes on the camera. Adding a live filter to the photo is done via the triple circle icon the the left of the modes button, and since the Redmi Pro features dual cameras youll find a dedicated floating shutter icon above the modes button to switch to stereo camera mode. The top of the screen features a dedicated HDR toggle button and a flash toggle button as well. Once in the new stereo shutter mode youll find a slider representing the virtual f-stop of the camera, which ranges from F5.6 to F0.95. For reference the f-stop generally provides a more shallow depth of field as the number gets smaller, and a longer depth of field as the number gets larger. A shallow depth of field produces a gorgeous bokeh effect where the background is blurred and the subject is very prominently displayed, putting extra emphasis or artistic value on the foreground subject. This stereo shutter mode is available in both photo and video modes, and the real-time switching effect works on both modes too, allowing you to adjust the f-stop rating in real time to get the shot you want. HDR mode is not available when using stereo mode. Xiaomi offers a quick exposure modification option by clicking to focus and then dragging up or down to adjust the exposure level. Manual mode on the Redmi Pro doesnt provide anywhere near the number of adjustments weve seen on other Xiaomi devices, and honestly is pretty useless for anyone looking at normal manual controls. The only two options that can be adjusted here are white balance and ISO, and even then the maximum manual ISO is only 1600. Camera Performance and Results Xiaomis camera software has long been one of the fastest performing on the market, but previous generations of phones have shown theres a cost of quality to that speed. This year has signaled a turnaround for quality on Xiaomis part, yet theres been no sacrifice for performance and speed of the software. From screen off to taking a picture takes literally one full second, something most phones could only dream of. The only downside here is that there doesnt seem to be any way to quick launch the camera via button gesture, like pressing the power button twice or home button twice. This means you need to turn the screen on first, followed by swiping left on the lock screen to launch the camera, which doesnt take long but it adds false additional time to the camera launching experience. Response time from clicking the shutter button to taking the picture is absolutely instant, but that sometimes comes at a cost. Focusing is done quickly, usually in about 1/3 of a second, but the shutter wont wait to focus when it takes a picture. This could result in some out of focus shots, so waiting just a fraction of a second before pressing the button is definitely advised. The software generally prioritizes a lower ISO over a faster shutter speed, translating to blurry moving objects in darker environments. This isnt always the case, but it happened often enough to where its worth noting. Zoom detail is mostly great and is about what we expect from a modern 13-megapixel sensor, including image processing thats not overly heavy. This processing helps remove unwanted fine grain noise while still keeping plenty of detail in the scene. HDR does a good job of matching processing quality with speed, taking HDR shots instantly and helping bring out a wider dynamic range in photos. Auto HDR isnt terribly aggressive, but it kicks in when its needed the most and I have nothing but positive thoughts on its speed and quality. Even white balance was super accurate in every light and never got the scene wrong. A unique feature of the Redmi Note is the stereo photo mode, which utilizes the secondary rear 5-megapixel sensor for depth information but still uses the 13-megapixel sensor for the actual photo. This means you get full 13-megapixel resolution and quality shots, all with an interesting new depth of field filter that attempts to be more accurate than the software-based ones weve seen on some phones like the Galaxy S7. This method is almost exclusively intended for taking an up-close shot of an object and blurring the background, such as a portrait of a person. In practice many shots turned out quite nice looking and exhibited a quality depth of field effect, but often times it was obvious that this wasnt a hardware lens effect as a digital SLR camera would have, rather a software augmented effect. This stereo effect can also be used in video mode, where the results are going to be a mixed bag at best. Stereo mode certainly works best for photos since its such a temperamental algorithm, and I didnt find any real usable solutions where I could use this video mode and get a good desired effect. Regular video mode is quality, even though its limited to 1080p quality, and exhibited great details for a full HD video, as well as good dynamic range and white balance. The Redmi Pro features optic image stabilization that does a good job of keeping things steady when moving around a lot or walking, but isnt enabled by default, so users will have to remember to check this box in the settings to use it. Low light performance of the camera overall, including both photo and video modes, is definitely on the list of better performers in the sub-$300 price category. The front-facing 5-megapixel camera is a good selfie camera and did a great job overall in any light. Shots get a little fuzzy in lower light but nothing too offensive, and details in good light are fantastic, although certainly not the best selfie cam on the market. Dynamic range could use a little help, but the software was smart enough to know that the person in the foreground was the intended point of reference for lighting, so in harsh lighting youll find that bright backgrounds are whited out while the person in the foreground is more optimally lit. This was a good tradeoff and overall is a good shooter. Check out the Flickr gallery below for all the images and video we took with the Redmi Pro during our review period. The Good High value Fantastic build Excellent screen 2015 flagship levels of performance Large battery Dual cameras Fast camera software Lots of software features Regular MIUI updates The Bad Multi-tasking issues Notification issues No LTE in the US (and probably some other countries) No NFC Conclusion Almost no one does value better than Xiaomi in the smartphone market, and the Redmi Pro is proof of that. Top tier hardware build and design, tons of software features and great battery life are a few of the highlights of the Redmi Pro. Better than average sound output and camera performance in this price category are also worth noting, and an excellent display coupled with great every day and gaming performance round out the device as a whole. There are still some serious issues with MIUI out of the box though, and it takes way more effort and hunting around in the settings than it should just to get apps to work like they should. Out of the box youll find missing notifications, apps getting constantly closed once they go into the background, and services that simply dont work because of Xiaomis power savings in their OS. These can be turned off and fix the issues, but they simply should not be enabled out of the box, as its going to create an overly frustrating experience for more users than they help. If youre interested in picking up a Redmi Pro of your own, check out the GearBest links below. Meizu has been one of the fastest growing China-based smartphone manufacturers in the last couple of years. This company had managed to grow quite a bit, mainly due to their quality products which are not only well built, but also quite affordable. That being said, Meizu is still mainly limited to Asia as far as smartphone sales go, even though theyre selling their devices outside of Asia in some markets through various partners, their devices are available through Amazon, for example. That being said, Meizu has been dealing with a lawsuit by Qualcomm which weve last talked about back in June, and now have some new info to share with you, read on. According to new reports that are surfacing in China, Meizu has managed to reach an agreement with Qualcomm. A couple of market analysts from China are reporting such news, and it is said that Meizu will officially announce the agreement before the end of this month. Now, thats not the only piece of news analysts have shared, theyre also reporting that Meizu will introduce a Snapdragon-powered device, the Snapdragon 821 SoC in specific has been mentioned, which is the companys most powerful chip at the moment. If true, these are great news for Meizu because Qualcomm has sued the company for 520 million Yuan ($78 million) for alleged patent infringement. According to Qualcomm, Meizu infringed on their 3G and 4G patents, but the lawsuit was applicable only on Meizus MediaTek-powered devices. The companys Vice President, Li Nan, had released an official statement regarding Qualcomms lawsuit back in June, and it was obvious that the company is looking to put all that behind them as soon as possible. Well, it seems like the issue has been resolved, and well get far more info before the end of this month, and chances are that Meizus VP will release such info when the time comes. Now, Meizu is expected to release a high-end smartphone before the end of this year, and it will probably be called the Meizu PRO 6s. Rumors have been saying that this smartphone will be fueled by the Exynos 8890 64-bit octa-core SoC, which is quite probable, but it seems like Meizu might work on a Snapdragon (821)-powered smartphone as well which we might see released before the end of the year. Do take this info with a grain of salt though, were waiting to get more info from the company. The problems over faulty Samsung Galaxy Note 7 batteries arent just exclusive to the US. In fact, as the manufacturer of defective batteries Samsung SDI was originally tasked with 70% of all production, Samsung has issued recalls of older Galaxy Note 7 units in most parts of the world. The tech giants home country of South Korea is no exception and an exchange program was just introduced there earlier this week after an initial refund period for the device has ended. However, the countrys government isnt completely satisfied with how Samsung has handled the refund process and has just requested that the company extends its original deadline which ended this Monday. The official request came from the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards which primarily handles product safety regulations but is also responsible for supervising refund and recall programs such as the one Samsung just introduced. Speaking to the media earlier today, the agencys official Nam Taek-joo stated that he believes Samsung should have implemented much more efficient measures to remove dangerous Galaxy Note 7 units from the market. The agency concluded that these insufficient measures need more time to work which is why it has requested that Samsung prolongs the refund period. The agencys main complaint is related to the way Samsung was notifying customers that theyre eligible for both an exchange and a refund. Namely, South Korea has a similar problem to the US in the sense that owners of older Galaxy Note 7 models arent returning their potentially dangerous devices. The Korean government believes thats because Samsung didnt put enough effort into notifying its consumers about the situation. It also cites numerous reports of mobile carriers in the country complaining about the fact that theyre not sufficiently supplied with new Galaxy Note 7 models. Naturally, that is a potentially huge problem for the aforementioned exchange program as customers who are late to exchange their faulty devices will likely have to wait for days until they get the phones theyve paid for. Samsung has yet to respond to the governments appeal and the companys representatives also currently arent replying to requests for comments on the matter. The annual five-day weekend featuring Santa Fe restaurants and world-class wineries. The Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta is an annual five-day weekend of events featuring the culinary artistry found in Santa Fe, New Mexicos many excellent restaurants coupled with the sophistication and wines of national wineries. By bringing 90 national wineries to Santa Fe to partner with 75 of Santa Fes best restaurants, a five day schedule of food and wine events is created featuring cooking demos, wine seminars, winery luncheons and dinners. The weekend culminates with the Grand Tasting at the Santa Fe Opera where all 75 participating Santa Fe restaurants and all 90 wineries serve samples of their best food and wine. One event, The SFWC Fiesta Live Auction raises money to sponsor Santa Fe restaurant community events. Proceeds from the live auction help sponsor culinary classes such as restaurant service classes, wine and cooking classes. As well the Live Auction helps sponsor other community events involving our restaurants and chefs such as Santa Fes Cooking with Kids program and Santa Fe Restaurant Week. By reinvesting resources and education into the Santa Fe restaurant community, we serve our mission of the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta keeping Santa Fe on the map as a world-class culinary destination. Thank you to all the sponsors, local restaurants and wineries who help to make this happen. And a great thank you to all the food and wine enthusiasts who keep returning to Santa Fe supporting our great restaurants! Joseph Connagh: former BBC Egghead CJ arrested in murder investigtion Joseph Connagh, a former Egghead on the BBC quiz show Eggheads has been arrested as part of an investigation into an alleged killing in the Netherlands. CJ de Mooi, as he was known on the show, was arrested under a European arrest warrant issued by Dutch Police at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday. Barnsley-born Connagh is former president of the English Chess Federation and a winner of the TV gameshow 15 to 1. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court. The site WeAreBarnsley.com reported in 2012: I was born in Barnsley and lived there until I was four and then moved to Rotherham, he said. What I do remember about Barnsley is the road I was born on in the town centre, a little about the surrounding area and I have got some memories of the school I used to go to. His life took a completely unexpected direction just after his 17th birthday he left home and chose to sleep on the streets He found his way to Holland and endured 18 months sleeping rough on a staircase in Amsterdam before stowing away on a train to Cologne in Germany. While I was there begging, a guy came up to me who was a photographer and offered me a modelling job. In 2000 I thought to myself Im a bit bored and I have got good general knowledge so I entered a few TV quiz shows. The second one I went on was 15 to 1 and I won so then I applied for The Weakest Link and was voted off despite being the strongest link. Are Eggheads hardboiled? Anorak Posted: 22nd, September 2016 | In: Celebrities, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, September 22 - Italy is a great country because of its past and faces a great challenge in "creating a future in innovation and research," Premier Matteo Renzi said Thursday in a video link with Norway's Andoya Space Center where Italy's Cimberio company was activating its SmartCim system. "I'm very happy to be here with you even at a distance because when I visited your industry a few years ago I touched the future," he said. "Italy is a great country for its past but I believe that it has a great challenge in remembering the past while creating the future of innovation and research." Renzi said eh was "proud" of Cimberio, saying "the quality of our engineering can give Italy an opportunity for investments. Good luck for this great project, our friendship will be great if we continue to invest in innovation". Andoya is one of the world's top rocket launching and testing sites. (ANSA) - Rome, September 22 - Reductions in public spending aimed at cutting Italy's huge debt have hit the country's economic growth and the government is now working on removing structural obstacles to development, Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Thursday. "The efforts to consolidate public finances sustained by Italian citizens are greater than those of any other euro zone country," Padoan told the Corriere della Sera daily. "Progressive consolidation is a necessity for a country with such a high debt as Italy, but such an accelerated contraction of public spending has penalised Italian growth compared to other economies," he said. For this reason, the government's reform programme is removing structural obstacles to development which have built up over what he described as "20 years of substantial inertia". (ANSA) - Cuneo, September 22 - A Macedonian national was cited for being a gangmaster during the grape harvest in the wine-producing northern Piedmont region, police said Thursday. The man, 30, acted as a broker for immigrant day laborers, illegally demanding rent and withholding money from their hourly pay. Police identified 70 foreign laborers around the Piedmont village of Mango - known for its prized Moscato wine - being made to live in degrading conditions steeped in a room that could decently sleep a maximum of 10 people. Another 22 laborers were found living in substandard conditions near the hamlet of Barbaresco, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is known for its wine of the same name. A government bill to fight gangmasters and the exploitation of immigrant day laborers in near-slavery conditions in Italy's farms and vineyards is making its way through parliament. In May, the government signed a protocol backed by trade unions and grassroots farm associations to crack down on gangmasters in Italy's southern regions and Piedmont in the north. The protocol calls for coordination between local police, labor inspectors, and other officials to root out and punish exploiters, protect vulnerable day laborers, and promote lawful and ethical workplace practices. (ANSA) - Milan, September 22 - A Milan lawyer has been arrested on charges of laundering money for two convicted mobsters, sources said Thursday. Barbara Sabadini, 47, is accused of laundering money for clients Vincenzo Guida and Alberto Fiorentino, both convicted for mafia-style racketeering and tax crimes and both indicted in Milan on charges of creating a "parallel bank" for the Neapolitan Camorra mafia. The lawyer was incarcerated Tuesday at a facility for detainees who are mothers, because she has a young son. However today she was transferred to Milan's San Vittore Prison, after stating she would never allow her child to stay with her behind bars. Prosecutors say Sabadini had power of attorney over a Swiss bank account called Ostrich, which was set up in 2004 and shut down in 2015, holding the illicit proceeds of Guida and Fiorentino's crimes. Sabadini allegedly helped the mobsters launder at least one million euros through the account and funneled the clean cash into Guida and Fiorentino's pockets in Milan, where they operated as loan sharks. The two Naples natives have definitive convictions for being members of the 'Nuova Famiglia' (New Family) Camorra group operating in Lombardy from the 1980s to 1996. Sabadini was a co-defendant in that trial, but was acquitted of mafia-style racketeering charges. Libya: NY summit: draft constitution should be out by 201 Next year transition towards permanent elected govt (ANSAmed) - NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22 - "During next year, the government of national accord has to prepare a peaceful transition towards a permanent and elected government," a meeting on Libya with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj chaired by Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry concluded on Thursday. The ministerial meeting urged Libya's constitutional assembly to complete its work and present its project for a Libyan constitution by the scheduled referendum in 2017. (ANSAmed). ROME - As a child, Palestinian artist Abdul Rahman Katanani never imagined he would be able to leave the Sabra refugee camp in Lebanon. These days, his works of art travel all around the world and thanks to his sculptures he is able to tell the stories of life in refugee camps, the experiences of Palestinians and the millions of people who live in segregation. Through his installations, made up of barbed wire, wood and plastic collected in Sabra, one of the twelve refugee camps in Lebanon, he has risen to worldwide fame, exhibiting his art in London, Paris, Dubai, Brussels, and now Italy for the first time. His works are valued by Christie's and Sotheby's at around 25,000-35,000 pounds, but he remains humble despite his success. "Art has become my visa for leaving the Lebanese refugee camp in which I work," he said in an interview with ANSA on the sidelines of a news conference organised by the Italian Senate. Born in 1983, a year after the massacre of about 2,000 Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila camps by Lebanese Christian militias allied to Israel, Katanani has never seen Palestine, but says he aims to establish his Palestinian identity through his artworks. His family come from a small village near Jaffa and he is hopeful they will be able to return one day. "My message is of hope, aside from a cry of suffering," he said, adding that he has become an example for other young people in the camps. "I show that by working you can become something different and getting out of the camp becomes possible," he said. "Culture is a means through which one can manage to keep one's identity alive," said Palestine's ambassador to Italy, Mai Alkaila. "While not having been able to enter the territories, Katanani honors this identity through his work." (ANSAmed). 500 migrants rescued in Sicilian Channel Five ops (ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 22 - As many as 500 migrants were rescued in the Sicilian Channel between Italy and North Africa Thursday, rescuers said. The Coast Guard coordinated five rescue operations for four dinghies and a small boat, whose occupants were picked up by the Italian navy, the NGO Sea watch and a Maltese merchant ship. (ANSAmed). Syria: Assad blames U.S. for ceasefire breakdown Denies Syria govt, Russian aircraft attacked UN convoy (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, SEPTEMBER 22 - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed the United States for the failure of the latest ceasefire in an interview with the AP agency and affirmed that an attack on a Syrian base on Saturday in Deir az Zor by American-led aircraft was "certainly intentional". Assad also denied that Syrian and Russian aircraft were responsible for a strike on a UN aid convoy near Aleppo this week in which 21 people were killed. He said he thought the war would continue for an undefined period of time, blaming countries who support rebel forces. He felt convinced that the millions of Syrians who have escaped the country will return within a few months if the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar stop supporting the rebels. "I don't believe the U.S. are prepared to unite with Russia and fight the terrorists in Syria," he noted. (ANSAmed). Syria's problem is lack of independent reporters-journalist Press censorship tough not only in govt, ISIS areas (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, SEPTEMBER 22 - Journalist Rami Jarrah, winner of the International Press Freedom Award in 2012, said on Thursday that the real problem facing Syria at the moment was the lack of independent news coverage. The founder of the independent media agency Ana New-Media Association took part this week in the "Imbavagliati" ("gagged") festival for journalists facing censorship, connecting to the Naples event from Turkey. Jarrah, who is also known internationally under the pseudonym Alexander Page, said he was currently stuck in Turkey and was unable to re-enter Syria. "In the part occupied by the government of (Bashar al) Assad and in the part under the control of ISIS, press censorship is extremely tough. But also in the northern part of the country, especially since the arrival of Turkish tanks, many areas have been declared military zones with access granted to only a few publications," he said. As a result, he said that only propaganda videos were distributed but there was no independent and credible information available. "For international readers, the only way to inform oneself is by following several sources, trying to get as close as possible to reality," he said. "But for Syrians, this situation has led to distrust in the media. I notice when I interview people: no one has any trust in how things will be told, because they find a different story in the papers and on TV compared to what is really happening." He said that several citizens had started to post information about what is happening in Syria on social media. As a result, he said the number of journalists being killed in Syria was a lot higher if you take into account these new citizen journalists. Two other Syrian reporters took part in the Naples meeting: Fuad Roueiha and Siruah Hadsch Hossein. The latter has founded a radio station in the Kurdish zone. Its offices were set on fire last winter but it continues to broadcast. "Recently there has been a large flourishing in the number of independent voices in the Kurdish area," he said. "The situation is very difficult, more than we could have imagined. There was some small hope after the ceasefire two weeks ago, but finding out that the convoy transporting medicine and food for children in Aleppo was attacked is very painful. This is the umpteenth sign that international powers are not at all interested in peace in our country". (ANSAmed). The show organisers confirmed that the huge interest of the global aviation industry in the Middle East and in the latest smart technologies showcased on this platform has led to an over 50 per cent increase in year-on-year space bookings for the 2017 edition. Last years edition was the most successful so far with a participation of over 300 exhibitors from over 55 countries and occupied Zabeel Halls 4, 5 and 6 with a gross space of 15,000 square metres. The success of the Airport Show reflects the strong interest and an unwavering global confidence in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE, which is making significant investments in the sector, actively embracing latest technological innovations, and opening doors of tremendous opportunities for global industry players, Sheikh Ahmed said earlier during Airport Show 2016. Airport Show, which is the worlds largest annual airport event, is organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and is supported by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) and dnata, amongst a host of regional and international aviation bodies and associations. The 2017 edition will be collocated with the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo Middle East (WTCEME), the GCCs largest dedicated exhibition for companies to tap into the opportunities presented by its booming aviation catering business. The 17th edition of Airport Show will continue to serve as the best platform for companies to showcase their airport and aviation-related products and services. With the spectacular rise in the number of air passengers worldwide, airports are actively investing in smart technology in a bid to ensure a comfortable passenger experience without compromising on security. Airport Show 2017 will have world-leading companies showcasing the latest smart technologies. Major General Pilot Ahmed bin Thani, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Ports Affairs, Dubai Police, said Airport Show 2016 provided immense opportunities to learn about international best practices and smart technologies in the field of security. The traditional methods of providing security are not effective in present rapidly changing aviation environment due to which we have a strong focus on adopting the latest technologies to ensure security at the airports. Participating in the Airport Show was highly beneficial for us as we were able to meet the top players in safety and security as well as well explore a number of smart solutions and technologies, which is well within our strategic plan to further enhance the standards of Dubai Airports security. We look forward to exploring further advancements and meeting leading players in security at the 2017 edition of the Airport Show. He added that smart solutions are an important component to keep up with record growth of passenger numbers, especially as Dubai International Airport expects over 85 million passengers by the end of this year and more than 100 million passengers by the end of the year 2020. Airports in the Middle East, especially UAE, have been on the forefront when it comes to adopting the latest smart technologies. According to the latest Middle East Aviation and Airports 2016 Report by MEED, there are more than $100bn-worth of airport-related projects planned and underway across the MENA region as governments look to update and expand their infrastructure in order to meet their targets for developing their tourism and logistics sectors. The UAE is among the largest markets for airport projects and according to The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), US$30 billion worth of airport investments underway or planned in the UAE alone. Worldwide, airports are keen on automating passenger processing while maintaining the highest security levels. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, it is estimated that the global annual spend on airport security would surge to US$12.67 billion in 2023, up from US$8.22 billion in 2014. Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of Airport Show, said: The 2017 edition will be a milestone for Airport Show, especially as we bring the worlds latest and leading technologies to cater to the requirements of smart airports. The growth of the Middle Easts aviation sector, and a focus on investing in smart technologies has generated a strong interest from global players in showcasing the latest technologies and tapping into the opportunities the region presents. Airport Show 2017 promises to be the platform which will offer not only the latest technologies to meet the requirements of regional decision-makers to source their requirements at their doorsteps but also offer them numerous options as it will have an outstanding international participation. Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East The new arrangement will offer Indian students a comprehensive range of structured training programs for all aviation personnel including pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground staff with training sessions in GAAs training facility at Bahrain. Capt. Dharamraj Shukla, director SpeedJet Aviation said: The aviation industry is on a high-growth trajectory with India likely to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020. "As of now, Indian airlines are reporting increased profitability, low-cost carriers have placed heavy orders for new aircraft, there are multitude of new airports coming up and FDI flows into domestic airlines have surged. All these factors combined will lead to a sharp spike in demand for trained aviation personnel. We are confident that with GAAs brand and credibility, we will be able to attract and hone the best talent for the industry. The Academys range of training programmes include pre-Pilot (12-15 months), cabin crew , ground handling and type rating . India being one of the largest and fastest growing air travel market provides great opportunities for individuals to pursue a career in the aviation sector, said Capt. Dhaffer Al Abbasi, GAAs chief executive. Our state-of-the-art course equipment enables us to offer a comprehensive and modern aviation training infrastructure and set new standards in aviation training. Students also get access to various training facilities around the world through our global affiliates and our training module caters to requirements across APAC, Middle East and Africa. Pictured right: Capt. Dhaffer Al Abbasi, GAAs chief executive The upgrade to the Extended Range aircraft will provide an additional 99 seats per day from the airline's capital in Doha to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. Qatar Airways existing aircraft operating on the route is the Boeing 777-200LR with 259 seats, which will increase to 358 seats. Commercial passenger traffic from the two cities to Qatar Airways network of more than 150 destinations via Doha provides travellers with some of the shortest travel times from South America to popular destinations such as Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beirut, Singapore, Delhi and Maldives, and many other places can be conveniently reached via Qatar Airways Doha hub. Qatar Airways vice president of The Americas, Gunter Saurwein, said: Passenger demand from both the leisure and business segments has grown consistently since the launch of both routes in June 2010. We are pleased to reinforce our commitment to our passengers and are looking forward to increasing Qatar Airways' presence in South America. The region is a strong contributor to our route network and these additional seats will enable leisure and business segments to flourish. The dedication to service sets the airline apart, and we welcome passengers to experience the genuine hospitality and warmth on-board. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia will make a proposal to the Parliament Speaker to convene extraordinary session on September 26 at 12:00 in the Parliament, reports Armenpress. Minister-Chief of the Government Staff Davit Harutyunyan said the draft law on making amendments in the law on The structure of the Government, as well as the new Tax Code will be included in the session agenda. The Government approved the draft on making structural changes at September 22 session. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The new Cabinet will be formed by the end of next week, RPA spokesperson, Vice President of the Armenian parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told the reporters after the Executive Body meeting of the party. The process of changes continues and by the end of the next week the new Cabinet will be formed, Armenpress reports Sharmazanov saying. The Vice President of the National Assembly added that effective governance is the main task the Republican Party of Armenia has put in front of PM Karen Karapetyan. We, the members of the Republican Party, are fully responsible for the Cabinet headed by Karen Karapetyan. Each of us will do everything so that Karen Karapetyans Cabinet is capable of implementing all the works for which they have been appointed, the lawmaker concluded. Best Food & Beverage Products and Services Would you like to submit an article in the Food & Beverage category or any of the sub-category below? Click here to submit your article. Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us. Best Shopping Products and Services Would you like to submit an article in the Shopping category or any of the sub-category below? Click here to submit your article. Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us. by Fady Noun Heeding Pope Franciss call, the Lebanese Church organised a meeting for peace at the Marian shrine of Harissa. Card al-Rahi stressed the value of reconciliation. For Sunni leader, "terrorism in the name of Islam is a sign of the end times". Shia dignitary slammed politicians for holding the country "hostage". Courage is needed to ask for forgiveness for ones mistakes. Beirut (AsiaNews) The representatives of all of Lebanons faith communities gathered on Tuesday for an interfaith prayer for peace at Marian shrine in Harissa, north of Beirut, centred "Around Mary and with Mary," words chosen by Bishop Chukrallah Nabil Hage, president of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon (ACPBL). The group met in response to a call made by Pope Francis, who asked that all the dioceses in the world hold prayer ceremonies, at the same time as the one in Assisi, the city of Saint Francis, which brought together prominent figures of faith and culture. "I invite parishes, church associations and individual believers around the world to live that day as a day of prayer for peace. Today, more than ever, we need peace, in this war that is all over the world. Let us pray for peace! the pontiff said in Sundays Angelus. The faithful gathered in St Peters Square welcomed the popes plea with enthusiasm and a round of applause. In Lebanon, this last-minute appeal initially took the local Peace and Justice Commission by surprise. However, its members bravely accepted the challenge and organised the ceremony in a record time, at the foot of the statue of the Virgin at the entrance of the shrine in Harissa. This choice was significant because of the place the Virgin Mary hold in Lebanon where 25 March (Feast of the Annunciation for Christians) is a shared Muslim-Christian national holiday. Muslims too love Our Lady, unreservedly, seeing in her an element of strength and communion between Islam and Christianity. All Lebanese communities were present at this beautiful ceremony lasting from the orange colour of the sunset to the first stars of the night. Short speeches and invocations for peace were interspersed with hymns to the Virgin, recitations of poems and Byzantine hymns. An Islamic choir surprised everyone by singing a hymn to the Virgin taken from the Maronite popular repertoire. A minute of silence was observed for the countless victims of terrorism and the wars in Lebanon and the Middle East. Fr Ivan Santus, secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, read a message from the pope at the end of the celebration. Lastly, religious leaders recited a common plea for peace, which they then joyfully signed. Topics discussed Naturally, dignitaries and religious leaders centred their address on the armed conflict raging in the Middle East, religious intolerance and bloodshed in the name of God and Lebanon vacant presidency. Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, who was the first to speak, focused on the latter at the end of his speech, reminding lawmakers of their sacred duty. He noted that "Reconciliation is the highest manifestation of peace," and must be applied to personal relationships, family life, social and political relations and finally to national life. Eschatological indications Sheikh Mohammad Nokkari spoke next. A former director general of Dar el-fatwa and a leading Sunni figure, he delivered a scathing critique characterised by eschatological hints. He mentioned an era of the end that coincides with a time of " discord and war." In a passionate voice, the Sunni cleric slammed terrorism practiced in the name of Islam, a "sign of the times" which, for him, is a testament to the coming of the Day of Judgment, a view that he tempered by stressing the common value that both Christianity and Islam share, namely "hope." "If we told you that the judgment is near, poke a plant," he said, citing the prophet. Jaafari Mufti Ahmad Abdel Amir Kabalan was the third speaker. He started by saying that he was ashamed that others have preceded me in calling for peace". The Shia cleric lamented the fact that the Lebanese "are still hostages of politicians," whilst hundreds of thousands have already paid with their lives the cynical great game in the region. Just as ardently, the representative of the Alawite community Dayeh Sheikh Mohammed, described as "satanic", the nets of discord sown by terrorism under the guise of Islam. "These people have neither homeland nor identity, he said, adding that their vocation is to shed blood and destroy civilisation." Speaking about Lebanon, he called for the election of a president and the defense of coexistence. Eloquence of Armenian churches When it was their turn, the representatives of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches spoke eloquently, the first about peace, the second about personal and collective contrition. Fr Hossip Mardirossian noted that the Gospel began with the Angels song of peace for the birth of Christ, and ends with the peace that Christ gives to his apostles as he gets ready to take his leave from them. For his part, Fr Georges Yeghayan employed a word rarely used in times of lamentations, like todays, namely courage. The latter requires that we assume responsibility for our mistakes, following the path laid by the Old Testament when the people, when in misery, humiliated themselves before God and implored for mercy. Father Ivan Santus, secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, spoke last. Inspired by Pope Francis, he summed up his thoughts, saying, Peace is a gift, a homemade gift on which we must work, every day, in the little everyday things. Great manifestoes of peace or major international meetings are not enough if we do make peace in the small things. by Sumon Corraya The boat was carrying 60 people. Most managed to save themselves by swimming to the shore, but six other people missing. The port official said that the ferry was not registered for passenger transport and had no valid travel permits. Barisal (AsiaNews) The toll from yesterdays ferry accident on Sandhya Banaripara river, in the city of Barisal (in southern Bangladesh) worsens by the hour. The authorities are still searching for the missing, a total of six, while they have recovered the bodies of 17 passengers. The last four corpses, all of them children, were pulled this morning in wreck lifting operations. According to witnesses, the small ferry with 60 people on board overturned because of overcrowding. The boat - called "ML Oisgi" - was traveling on the Banaripara-Swarupkathi route: the strong river current formed a whirlpool that would eroded part of the shore. At that point, the ferry was hit by a wave of mud, which threw the passengers into a panic. To prevent flooding, they moved to the opposite side of the boat, which failed to hold the shift in weight. Rescuers sprung into action right away, including people who had witnessed the tragedy from the banks of the river. Police Superintendent, SM Akhtaruzzaman, reported that most of the 60 passengers managed to swim to the Bari Masjid station, close to the site of the rollover. The strong current and the river erosion has slowed the recovery operations, which were halted last night and continued this morning. Similar incidents are not uncommon in Bangladesh, where obsolete boats carry too many passengers. In 2014 another ferry overturned on the Padma river, near Dhaka, carrying 300 people. Barisal port officer, Mustafizur Rahman, says the ferry that sank yesterday was not registered as a vessel used to carry passengers and had no valid travel permits. The youngest lawmaker elected to Hong Kongs Legislative Council has not yet been sworn in, but he has already said that he will stand with the poor, not with the lobbies for the rich. The bone of contention is the Wang Chau housing project, which would come at the expense of three villages. He warns Hong Kongers not to be distracted by the chief executives tears. Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) Lawmaker-elect Eddie Chu Hoi-dick said that Hong Kong politicians should give voice to the voiceless and stop lobbying with the powerful. He also said that the people of Hong Kong should not be distracted by the governments tears and theatrics, including those of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, which are meant to divert everybodys attention from the key issues. Chu, who was elected with a whopping 80,000 votes, made the accusations during a press conference dedicated to the Wang Chau housing project. Eddie Chu is considered the leading figure of the new generation of Hong Kongs pro-democracy politicians. As recent elections to the Legislative Council show, the action of the territorys youth has convinced the electorate. He is the youngest lawmaker in recent history to sit in Hong Kongs Legislative Council, after winning the largest number of votes ever by a single candidate. Speaking on a radio programme on Thursday, Chu said the government should reform Hong Kongs poorly designed town planning. Town planning should be democratic, open and free from [influence] . . . But the key problem is the government doesnt want to change their method of soft lobbying those with power this type of internal planning. The issues concern the construction of 17,000 public housing flats homes at a green-belt site in Hong Kong. For critics, the project is profit-driven and based on collusion with corrupt local village strongmen. Many villagers, Chu said, were not aware of Town Planning Board notices and would not know what to make of planning documents. Many only find out their land is to be resumed when Lands Department officials storm into their village to register their details, he said. The problem is that The weak dont have the power to say anything, Chu noted. I think it should be the other way around. You should start with lobbying the powerless, not with the powerful. by Mathias Hariyadi The toll is still provisional. Torrential rains started two days ago, causing the Cimanuk river to burst its banks and several landslides. Thousands of homes submerged by the waters, people seek refuge on rooftops. The Agency for Environmental Disasters is searching for the missing and working to distribute basic necessities to the displaced. The provincial governor blames excessive deforestation. Jakarta (AsiaNews) The provisional toll from flooding that has hit the region Garut (West Java) is of at least 23 dead and 18 missing. Torrential rains started to fall two days ago and enveloping at least seven sub-districts. The local population says it is the worst disaster in a decade. The most affected regions are Bayongbong, Banyu Resmi, Tarogong Kaler, Tarogong Kidul, Karang Pawitan and Semarang. The disaster has been compounded by the fact that the Cimanuk river has burst its banks due to the excessive rains sweeping away thousands of homes in the Tarogong Kidul sub-district. Hundreds of people have taken refuge on rooftops to save themselves. In Sumedang the flooding has also provoked several landslides that have engulfed many houses. Governor of West Java, Ahmad "Aher" Heriawan, says that the floods and landslides are caused by the intense deforestation practiced in recent years. Willem Rampangilei, head of the National Agency for Environmental Disasters (Bnpb), assured that the authorities will continue rescue operations and the distribution of basic necessities, food and housing for 433 evacuees. The Bnpb has allocated 2 billion rupees (about 136mila euro) for the emergency. by Lucia Leung Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - For the first time in its history the Church in China is discussing the possibility of having permanent deacons, that is lay (also married) men who receive diaconal ordination to help bishops and priests in the Church's mission. The reality of permanent deacons has been present for decades in various churches worldwide that are experiencing a scarcity of clergy and pastoral workers. In China, however, it is the first time that the subject has been addressed. This because the local Church is beginning to see a decrease in priestly vocations, the result of the one child policy - with its lack of children in families and a lifestyle far from Christian values. From September 6 to 9, the Council of Chinese Bishops held a study meeting at the national seminary in Beijing to discuss the experience of permanent deacons. The gathering was attended by 50 people, with representatives from 14 Chinese provinces including Hebei, Sichuan, Shandong, Beijing. The bishops invited some Church figures from Hong Kong to participate: Msgr. Dominic Chan Chi-ming, vicar general of the diocese and president of the Committee for the permanent diaconate in Hong Kong (see 2 photos); deacons Edwin Ng and Louis Wong. Commenting to AsiaNews on the meeting, Msgr. Chan Chi-ming said that among the Chinese participants, some think the time has come to promote the diaconate in China, but others think it is better to wait 8 or 10 years. Understanding that the heart of the apostolic ministry is the bishop is fundamental to nourishing this form of service, continued the vicar general, while priests help him in the sacramental service and education of the faithful and permanent deacons are called to live in close contact with society. "This meeting in Beijing - he added - is a seed sown which may grow. The diocese of Hong Kong is offering its to support their efforts". Mr. Edwin Ng (see photo 1 on the left, with his wife), one of the deacons who participated, confessed that it was the first time for him to have met bishops and priests in China. "Their conception of the permanent diaconate - he told AsiaNews - is perhaps rooted in a pre-Vatican II concept. If you want to promote this service, they have to find some good methods of education". Mr. Ng became a permanent deacon 10 years ago and his main commitment lies in visiting prisoners and correctional institutions for minors. Hong Kong has benefited from the experience of permanent deacons since 1993. In the beginning, even in the former British colony, there were some obstacles: 80% of the priests were opposed, but Card. John Wu Cheng-Chung, the bishop at the time, decided to proceed anyway. Hong Kong was the first country in Asia to have permanent deacons. India second where the permanent diaconate has been a reality since 2006. At present, there are 26 permanent deacons throughout the territory. In general, the candidates need to 6 to 8 years of formation to reach the diaconate and the selection process is very strict. Married candidates to the diaconate must first obtain the written agreement of their wife, then they are submitted to several interviews with formation directors and later began a course of study at the seminary and pastoral experience in parishes, guided by a spiritual director. The most senior Hong Kong deacon is Joseph Young who is 83 years of age. He was ordained in 2002. Today he serves in a parish. In addition to pastoral duties, he continues to visit the prisoners at least once a week as well as offer his company to the elderly in nursing homes. by Nina Achmatova Moscow (AsiaNews) - The plenary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches (the fourteenth plenary session ends today, September 22, in Chieti) has reached agreement on the adoption of the document entitled "Synodality and Primacy During the First Millennium: Towards a Common Understanding in Service to the Unity of the Church". This was announced by the Synodal Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, which in a statement on its website also pointed out to future challenges. According to Moscow, "it will be difficult to move forward in the dialogue, if the question of the ecclesiological and canonical consequences of Uniatism" (derogatory term which indicates the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian church of Eastern rite but loyal to the Pope) remains unresolved. Opposition of Georgian Orthodox Church fails to hinder approval The preparation of the document began during the Commissions previous plenary session, held in Amman, in 2014, and was completed by the Commissions Coordination Committee during the 2015 meeting in Rome. "In Chieti, - explained a note from the Vatican press office - Members of the Commission will be required to evaluate whether the draft adequately reflects the currently existing consensus on the delicate question of the theological and ecclesiological relationship between primacy and synodality in the Church's life or if further investigation of the issue is required". According to the Moscow Patriarchate, the consensus has been reached, even if the Georgian Orthodox Church "disagreed with the individual paragraphs" of the document. The Georgian objection is contained in a note in the final communique adopted by the plenary session. A side note, in this regard, will also be inserted in the joint document, which will be published soon by the Commission. It is an encouraging decision, some commentators have pointed out, as the Orthodox have not allowed the objections of the Georgian Church to prevent the adoption of the document. Georgian Orthodox are indicating their willingness to go their own way on other issues. In previous sessions, the pan-Orthodox council of Crete, for example, they were only ones to oppose marriages between Orthodox and non-Orthodox. The Uniates and the theme of the next plenary No agreement was reached in Chieti regarding the next plenary session, which the Moscow Patriarchate hopes will address the issue of Uniatism. It was decided that the Joint Commission Coordinating Committee will decide the theme at their next gathering which will be held in the course of 2017. At the Chieti Plenary, the head of the Russian Orthodox delegation, the 'foreign minister' of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion, however, warned that the action of the Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine is "unacceptable from the point of view of Christian ethics". Here blame was laid squarely on the shoulders of the Major Archbishop of Kiev, Sviatoslav Shevchuk. According to Moscow his anti-Russian statements, "are contrary to our dialogue and sow distrust between Orthodox and Catholics". "We must be aware that within our Churches, there are people who hinder our path and we must bear this in mind when we think about the future of our dialogue." The other member of the Russian Orthodox delegation, Archimandrite Irenaeus, pointed out that "it will be difficult to move forward in the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, if the question of the ecclesiological and canonical consequences of Uniatism remains unresolved ". "The goal of our dialogue is not to reach an agreement on issues that already see us in agreement, but we also need to discuss the issues that divide us. And the theme of Uniatism is a highly topical issue, one of the central ones in the second millennium". Proceedings of the Joint Commission - chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Archbishop of Telmessos Iob (Getcha), the Ecumenical Patriarchate - was attended by two representatives from each of the 14 autocephalous Orthodox Churches and as many Catholic representatives. by Victoria Ma A group of 16 priests from the underground Church held a "simple but solemn" ceremony of prayer in memory of the late Mgr Vincent Zhu Weifang. Fr Paul Jiang, who led the group, was given a vacation" this morning. Bishop Shao Zhumin, who succeeds the late prelate as ordinary, is still outside the diocese. Wenzhou Catholics thank the Holy See for this decision. Wenzhou (AsiaNews) On Sept 20, at 4 pm, Father Paulus Jiang Sunian of Wenzhou (Zhejiang), a Church leader of the underground community, led a group of 16 priests to Ma Qiao Shan Columbarium, Yongjia county, to make up a belated mourning of open-Church Bishop Vincent Zhu Weifang, who died on Sept. 7. However, on Sept 22, today, Father Jiang was taken on a tour again to Xining (Qinghai). He had been taken away before Bishop Zhus funeral and returned to the diocese afterwards. Sources in Wenzhou said Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou is now also in Xining (Qinghai), northwestern China. Bishop Shao has been brought away for vacation by police since Aug. 23. He is still not allowed to return to the diocese, because Bishop Xu Jiwei of Taizhou, a neighboring diocese also in Zhejiang, is very sick. On Sept. 21, the Holy See issued a statement through the Summary of Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office, mourning Bishop Zhu Weifang of Wenzhou. At the end of the statement, it noted, In accordance with canon law, Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin, coadjutor of the same diocese, succeeds the deceased prelate. A Catholic of underground community of Wenzhou said he thanked God for the announcement. If the question of bishop is resolved, the situation will be stabilized, he said. On Sept. 20, the priests of Wenzhou at the Catholic columbarium held a simple but solemn memorial prayer for Bishop Zhu, according to a brief that appeared on the blog of the open-Church community of Wenzhou in sina.com on Sept. 20. The brief was removed shortly after. According to the brief, Father Zhong Jinxing of the open Church of Wenzhou received the group of priests with sincere welcome and warm hospitality, and accompanied them. Priests of the two sides shared their memories of Bishop Zhu. Father Jiang and two of the other priests of the underground side of Wenzhou were taken away by government officials days before Bishop Zhus funeral on Sept. 13. The rest were contacted by police, warning them not to join the funeral. Around Sept. 14, the three priests subsequently were allowed to return to Wenzhou. Local witnesses speak of more than 50 injured. Riyadhs bombs hit a crowded market. Earlier in the area, Houthi militia rebels had celebrated two years of the conquest of Sana'a. The UN says half of the 22 provinces of the country is at risk famine. Sana'a (AsiaNews / Agencies) More civilians have become casualties in Yemen, following a Saudi-led Arab coalition air raid that hit a popular district of the western port city of Hodeida. The attack took place yesterday evening and caused the deaths of 25 innocent people. The area has long been under the control of the Shiite Houthi rebels, the main target of the raid. Local sources said that the bombings targeted the Souq al-Hounod district. The attack came a few hours after festivities organized in the city by rebel militias, to celebrate the second anniversary of the conquest of Sana'a, Yemen's capital. According to eyewitnesses the Saudi jets hit a Hawak district market several times, which was crowded with people at the time of the raid. The bombs wounded at least 50 people. Rescuers and volunteers today are still engaged in the recovery of victims and in the search for survivors, trapped under the rubble of buildings that collapsed because of the bombs. In a message posted on Twitter Houthis spokesman, Ali al-Ahmad, confirmed he had escaped the Saudi raid, whose primary target was the presidential palace in Hodeida. "The scene [of the attack] was terrible," said one resident, requesting anonymity for fear of retaliation. Yesterday's attacks are only the latest in a long series that have been hit non-military targets, but schools, hospitals, markets and private homes. Added to this is the famine alarm launched by the World Food Programme: according to the UN agency at least half of the 22 provinces that comprise Yemen could soon go hungry. Since January 2015, Yemen has been the scene of a bloody civil war pitting the countrys Sunni leadership, backed by Saudi Arabia, against Shia Houthi rebels, close to Iran. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against the rebels in an attempt to free the capital For Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, who are allied to forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are militarily supported by Iran, a charge the latter angrily rejects. There has been a high body count among the civilian population in the bombings, which have been condemned by the United Nations. About 10 thousand people, including children. At least 2.5 million people are displaced by conflict. Groups linked to al Qaeda and jihadist militias linked to the Islamic State group are active in the country, which adds to the spiral of violence and terror. Since the beginning of the month the Saudi led coalition - often "accused errors" in the military operations, which eventually also involve civilians - have stepped up air raids on rebel-held areas, following the suspension [failure] of peace talks. The bombings of recent days have attracted the condemnation of the international community; in response, the Saudis have announced the opening of an investigation. LAPD Says Brad Pitt Is Not Under Investigation For Child Abuse Trending News: No, Brad Pitt Isn't Under Investigation For Child Abuse Why Is This Important? Because people jump too easily to conclusions. Long Story Short Contrary to reports on Friday morning, Brad Pitt did not abuse his children on a flight, leading to Angelina Jolie filing for divorce. The Los Angeles Police Department said there are no open investigations on the famous actor. Long Story The rumor mill is churning faster and faster and faster soon it's going to suck up the entire planet into its gravitational force. The world wants to know why Angelina Jolie broke it off with Brad Pitt, nay, they need to know. What happened? It had to have been Marion Cotillard and her irresistible French stare, right? They did a movie together recently. Wait nah, she denied that. Right, well then it must have been Selena Gomez' cleavage. Oh yeah, it's gotta be that. Oh wait, maybe it has something to do with their kids. Jolie loves her six kids. Pitt freaked out at his kids on a plane and got physical, reports TMZ. Bingo! Except not. Shortly following reports that Pitt was under investigation for child abuse following this tumultuous flight with his kids, the Los Angeles Police Department dispelled those rumors as baseless. "We have no criminal investigation that we are actively pursuing," said Sgt. Barry Montgomery to The Hollywood Reporter. "To my knowledge, [Pitt talking to police] never happened. And right now, that is where our office is. We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt. We understand how rumors get spun up, and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest. We have no investigation involving Mr. Pitt." Those who want to believe the rumors because their gut tells them so will probably point to the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services choosing not to confirm nor deny that investigation was taking place except that they aren't ever allowed to say anything about their subjects. This isn't to say we can't rule out this child abuse plane fiasco altogether, but yeah, you can mostly rule it out. Something happened to lead to the divorce, we just don't know what. Shocker: it's totally fine for two humans to be private about their personal lives regardless of their extreme fame. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Why didn't TMZ update its story when the LAPD denied the investigation or at least get a quote from them? Disrupt Your Feed People need to stop taking Brad or Angelina's side until they know what happened. Drop This Fact Brangelina were married for a little over two years before the divorce. By Leo Joseph, Research Director and Curator, Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO Shutterstock/Andrea Izzotti Galahs are the pink and grey cockatoos that are one of the most familiar of all Australian birds. Theyve have been at the centre of a curious debate: what should their scientific name really be? Its a tale that spans centuries and continents, and has clues hidden in museums, diaries of 19th century travellers and evolutions own diary of DNA sequences. When biologists formally publish a scientific description of a new species, they give it a unique scientific name that is forever linked to a single, preserved specimen in a natural history collection. This specimen is known as the holotype. The galahs scientific name is Eolophus roseicapilla. Its holotype was collected in Australia in 1801 by biologists on the Expedition led by Frances Nicolas Baudin and is held in the Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle, in Paris. East and west Much later, Australian ornithologists realised galahs in the continents west look very different from galahs in the east. Shutterstock/Chris Ison Eastern galahs became known as the subspecies Eolophus roseicapilla roseicapilla, the holotype of that name automatically being the original held in Paris because it was assumed to have been collected in the east. The subspecies in the west was named Eolophus roseicapilla assimilis and that name was also linked to a new holotype, a bird from the west. Shutterstock/GunnerL But was the bird collected back in 1801 really from the east? The name roseicapilla means pink or rosy hair and so refers to the general pink colour of the species. It does not refer to the dark-pink headed galahs from the west as distinct from the pale-pink almost whitish-headed galahs from the east. Expedition route In the late 1980s, Dr Richard Schodde, then the Director of CSIROs Australian National Wildlife Collection, realised the route of the Baudin Expedition wouldnt have passed anywhere near where eastern galahs occurred at that time. Galahs were originally birds of arid, inland Australia, only expanding into their present, vast range in the early- to mid-20th century. The biologists of the Baudin Expedition were more likely to have encountered galahs around Shark Bay in Western Australia. The holotype was more likely a western bird, Schodde reasoned. Schodde further reasoned that if the holotype in Paris was a western galah, its name, Eolophus roseicapilla roseicapilla, actually belonged to the western galahs. This left the eastern galahs, one of the most familiar birds in all of Australia, without a scientific name. Shutterstock/John Carnemolla Schodde named them Eolophus roseicapilla albiceps and designated a holotype that was collected in Canberra and is held in CSIROs Australian National Wildlife Collection. His detective work at that time didnt settle the debate. Simple examination of the holotype in Paris should reveal whether it is an eastern or western bird. But the specimen is more than 200 years old and not in great shape. Nevertheless, two recent papers published by Australian ornithologists, including a further one by Richard Schodde, and another by our team, have argued that despite the specimens condition it is identifiable as a western bird. What the DNA says Enter DNA to solve the mystery. Australian natural history collections contain hundreds of specimens of galahs from across their modern range. If these specimens show detectable genetic differences between eastern and western subspecies, and if we can get a DNA result from the Paris holotype, we could find out whether it belongs to the eastern or western group. With a colleague in Germany, Thomas Wilke, we mapped genetic diversity of galahs from 192 museum specimens. We found that galahs were likely isolated during the last several hundred thousand years into western, northern and eastern subpopulations. Shutterstock/David Steele Even today, with the modern range expansions, any galah can be assigned to either of these three genetic groups regardless of where it occurs. Colleagues at the Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle kindly allowed us to snip some skin from the toe pads of the holotype. One of us (Jeremy Austin) obtained DNA sequences and dropped them into our analysis. Et voila! The Paris holotype is identical in its DNA sequence to the most common variant found in western birds. Schoddes theory holds. Galahs in the west should indeed be named Eolophus roseicapilla roseicapilla and those in the east Eolophus roseicapilla albiceps. There is a third, northern variant but it is not part of our story here. And what of the original scientific name for the western galahs, Eolophus roseicapilla assimilis? That name is not currently necessary but if anyone ever finds differences within the western birds, it may still be needed. Jeremy Austin receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Nature Foundation South Australia. Leo Joseph does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above. Originally published in The Conversation. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Hi Team, I have received my positive skills assessment from ACS for Computer network and systems engineer 263111, however I am on 457 Visa with 261313 Software Engineer code. Eod, I want to apply for 189 visa. Need your help and suggestions. Question 1: Shall I apply for a review with ACS to change ANZSCO code from 263111 to 261313, as my designation is Systems software engineer as per company and my current 457 states software engineer. If yes, will they consider changing the code, as they are near same duties. And my qualification is masters degree in computer applications. I forgot my 457 job code initially before applying for ACS under systems engineer code. Question 2: What is the risk in proceeding with Systems engineer code 263111 for EOI-189, taking my 457 job code with 261313. Please help! After several emails and a preliminary assessment , I advised: If you want me to advise you how to proceed and check your application, my professional fee would be $390, GST exempt. The response was: Hi Westly, I've now researched enough and gathered the forms etc for us to lodge an application ourselves. Given all the uncertainties we would like to minimise all costs wherever possible, so we won't take up your offer. Thanks for your support, we wish you all the best. ************************************************************************************************ It is just as well that 1.20J (1) (c) is time of decision and with a bit of luck there is nothing else lurking in the background. Melbourne Reviews Switzerland | Melbourne Theatre Company Left Sarah Peirse. Cover Sarah Peirse and Eamon Farren. Photos Brett Boardman When Edward Ridgeway (Eamon Farren) arrives at the Swiss home of novelist Patricia Highsmith (Sarah Peirse), she wants nothing to do with him. Highsmith, the best-selling author of Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr Ripley has a distaste for other people. She lives alone with her cats and her whiskey, and shes happy that way. Edward has come from her publishers. They want a new Ripley book and hes here to make sure she signs the contract. The ground is uneven from the get-go. Highsmith stalks Edward, stressing his insignificance, his lack of imagination. She refuses to sign, wants him out of her home. But not before hes delivered the goodies shes requested: a supply of the shirts and shoes she favours, jars of peanut butter, an antique knife to add to her collection. From the moment Highsmith strokes its blade, we know this knife will figure in whats to come. The last emissary from Highsmiths publisher returned to New York claiming she held a blade to his throat. Its a claim she dismisses, and one that doesnt overly trouble Edward. Hes a fan, he knows her work inside out, and he wants her to write a novel that will reassert her brilliance. So she challenges him to come up with what she cant seem to fathom out the plot for Ripleys next murder. It needs to be new, ingenious. If it satisfies her, shell sign the contract. Joanna Murray-Smiths great skill as a playwright is her sharp, biting dialogue you always want to hear what her characters have to say and she uses that skill to excellent effect in Switzerland. She allows the reclusive Highsmith to take acerbic aim at just about everything (and you can almost sense Murray-Smith exorcising a few ghosts of her own). This is a role thats meaty and generously written, one that the best actors are going to want to take it on. Sarah Peirse does a fabulous job of it and its her performance robust and intelligent that anchors this production. Hunched and scowling, Peirse gives us a woman bunkered within an almost impenetrable wall of contempt, but with enough of a chink in the armour dancing cheerily to show tunes, alert to declarations of her genius to give Edward a way in. As Edward, Eamon Farren, has the more difficult trajectory to play. His shift from gawky acolyte to charming and confident young man someone who is Highsmiths match isnt fully supported by the script, but its nonetheless a persuasive performance. Designer Michael Scott-Mitchells set a spacious, comfortable room hemmed in by low ceiling and thick walls, and windows that give no sense of an outside world, but rather eerily reflect whats going on within the room cleverly echoes Highsmiths psyche. And director Sarah Goodes does a fine job maintaining the momentum of the play. But if the tension slackens in the second half, its more the fault of the script than the direction. In so intently milking Highsmiths misanthropy for laughs, Murray-Smith doesnt leave sufficient space for the thriller elements of the play to breathe. The twist, when it comes, fails to convince. Switzerland is an entertaining, if slightly implausible play. But well worth the price of admission, if only to see Sarah Peirses uncompromising performance. Melbourne Theatre Company presents Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith Director Sarah Goodes Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Sumner Dates: 17 September 29 October 2016 Bookings: 03 8688 0800 | mtc.com.au A Sydney Theatre Company production First-gen Hero Maestro to be phased off; Bike maker will invest in R&D to develop new projects. Indian motorcycle manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp is expected to soon reach the end of its variable royalty arrangement with Honda, wherein the payment was directly based on the sales of primarily four products 150cc Hero Impulse, 125cc Hero Ignitor, 110cc Passion X Pro and 110cc scooter Hero Maestro. All these models used technology sourced from Honda Motor Co. According to company documents, Hero MotoCorp has paid Rs 50.02 crore in FY2012-13, Rs 116.67 crore in FY2013-14, Rs 121.41 crore in FY2014-15 and Rs 78.89 crore in FY2015-16 as variable royalty to Honda of Japan. It is known that Hero MotoCorp has already paid an amount of around Rs 2,500 crore as fixed royalty to Honda Motor Company, amortised between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014. The spike in payments in FY2013-14 and FY2014-15 were on the back of strong sales of the Hero Maestro, which used the same single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, 110cc engine from Hondas Activa model. Other models including the 110cc Passion X Pro, 125cc Hero Ignitor and 150cc Hero Impulse did not record good sales in the market. New scooter models like the Maestro Edge, which was launched along with the Hero Duet, in October 2015 became the first products to be fully designed and developed by Heros in-house R&D team. Attractively designed with contemporary styling and loaded with a host of unique features, Maestro Edge and Duet have been well received by customers, helping our company increase its market share in the scooter segment. This scooter made its global debut in Colombia (named Dash for that market), during the inauguration of Heros first overseas manufacturing facility, quotes Hero's annual report for FY2015-16. Hero MotoCorp says it has sold over 1,00,000 units of the Maestro Edge within six months of its launch (as on March 31, 2016). With the Maestro Edge gaining popularity, the company looks to phase out the old Maestro model soon, thus further reducing its financial liability to Honda. Wishing to stay anonymous, a source aware of the matter disclosed that Hero MotoCorp is estimating a sharp decline in the variable royalty payment to Honda during the ongoing fiscal. The dues might be lower than Rs 30 crore or even less. Company officials say it would be negligible in FY2016-17. This also means that with the phasing out of the old Maestro model, Hero MotoCorp will free itself of all dues to Honda impacting its margins, which may then rise in the range of 15-16 percent. However, the investments made in R&D and new projects may offset the same. The company plans an outlay of Rs 1,100-Rs 1,300 crore as capex during the ongoing financial year. We bring you information on the latest manufacturer to enter the Indian market, UM motorcycles. After a much anticipated wait, customers who booked their new UM motorcycles will finally be getting delivery of the machines. The first set of motorcycles were set to go on sale earlier this year, but got delayed due to rectifications that had to be made on the final product, based on consumer feedback. US-based UM International, LLC and Lohia Motors, India in 2014 joined hands to form UM Lohia Two-Wheelers Pvt. Ltd. (UML). Manufacturing of the motorcycles has already been underway at Lohia Autos Kashipur facility in Uttarakhand, while the companys headquarters are based in New Delhi. It currently produces 1,000-1,500 motorcycles a month, but the plant has a production capacity of up to 50,000 (over 4000 per month) motorcycles annually. During an interview with Juan Villegas, Business Development, UM International LLC, and Rajeev Mishra, Director, UM India and AMEA (Asia, Middle-East, Africa), Mishra said, There are 50 dealerships across India which are already equipped to handle service and spares. UML plans to follow the Make in India formula and claims that 60 percent of the motorcycle parts are sourced from Indian suppliers. During the initial stages of manufacture engine components are being sourced from China and Thailand; these parts will be manufactured in India eventually. And despite being an American brand, UM plans to manufacture the motorcycles here in India and ship them to its home country. This new manufacturer in the Indian market has highly ambitious plans, and intends to launch a new motorcycle every six months. There was even talk of introducing a smaller-displacement adventure- tourer motorcycle; currently a 125cc, fuel-injected, single-cylinder version is being developed for European markets. For the Indian market, we will probably see a model with slightly higher displacement. There are also 400-600cc versions being developed with a twin-cylinder engine layout. With UM claiming it already has about 4,000 bookings for the Renegade Commando and Sport S, there has been talks of starting an riding club for owners, called Rebels on Bikes (ROBS). Motorcycle customisation parts and UM apparel should also be available in the near future. The bike maker also plans to launch the Renegade Classic model in April 2017; it will be equipped with Electronic Fuel Injection to meet stricter emission norms, as well as ABS, which may or may not be optional. Read our UM Renegade, Commando Sport S review AMG According to the internal Daimler product plan, the "GLA Coupe" is supposed to debut in 2017. However, so was the E-Class All-Terrain , but it's already been revealed, so we suspect they are actually referring to the GLA we already know.This facelift has been testing for quite some time, and it's either going to debut next week during the Paris Motor Show or during this November's Los Angeles Auto Show.The X156 GLA-Class seen in the first video is wearing less camouflage than usual. It's not like they are going to make radical design changes anyway, but some new bumpers and lights will be installed just like with the A-Class facelift.A good indication of when a Mercedes model is ready to debut is if you see prototypes with bright paint instead of regular black. We have an earlier video from the beginning of September showing the GLA facelift in bright green, so we've got all our bases covered.The safest bet is "no." Mercedes-Benz updated all the engines for the entire MFA family, which is why the GLA 45has just as much power as the A45 without the cosmetic updates.However, there is a small chance that emissions regulations and competition within the segment will force the company to stop working on the 2.2-liter diesel fitted to the 200 and 220 d models. In their place, we could see a horizontally arranged version of the E-Class longitudinal 2.0-liter mill.Other than that, we could see something like a GLA 250 AMG Sport with 218 PS. Inside, the GLA facelift will likely get a slightly bigger screen and convenience features like keyless access and start. ECU AMG The clip takes us to the Nurburgring, where the GP Stecke (the main straight of the GP course) was recently used for a series of drag races - note that the resulting battleground allowed drivers to go for a 31 mph (50 km/h) rolling start, while offering a length of 984 feet (300 meters).The main actor was a Porsche 911 GT3 RS PDK , whose driver decided to take on much more powerful machines. We're talking about a 991.1 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, but one whose 560 hp factory output had jumped to 630 PS thanks to anremap.There was also a Mercedes-GT S, but you can forget all about the 510 stock hp number. Instead, the Affalterbach toy had been pushed all the way to 690 ponies.Oh, and let's not forget about an also-tuned C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 , which kept its 659 PS factory output.Since we've dropped so many figures, we'll carry on this path, with the uploader of the video letting us know how the races ended: "Oddly enough, on the 300m dragstrip, the GT3 RS reached 189kph (117mph) and the Turbo S reached exactly the same speed! The GT3RS then took on a Corvette C7 Z06 (it hit 187kph, 116mph) and a modified Mercedes AMG GTS with 690HP. This car was a bit faster, it hit a speed of 191kph (119mph),"So, what are the possible causes for the Rennsport Neunelfer's stunning performance? Well, the 500 hp GT3 RS might be configured for lap times, not drag races, but the combination of the rolling start and the limited distance meant these runs replicated your usual track sprints, with the model's PDK gearing being perfect for the occasion.If the races had been considerably longer, we would've probably seen the hp and torque premium of the Porscha's competitors give them the edge - we've recently shown you a similar situation, with the hostilities also taking place in Germany, but on an airfield.So next time when a tuned vehicle owner brags about hp numbers, remember that he's talking about top end performance, whose real life equivalent isn't as simple to put to work as it might seem. It started with Volvos Epic Split , which involved the one and only Jean-Claude Van Damme . Volvo had been doing records and stunts before that, just to showcase its truck division and their capabilities, but that stunt was in the spotlight the longest, and also generated a wave of parodies and other funny clips and pictures. The most important thing was that it was real, which is an achievement in itself.Since then, Volvo kept making videos that advanced its truck business, and they are tastefully made and fun to watch. So great work to those behind these videos, from the people thinking about what stunt to do next, to the drivers and the film crew that have to pull it off.Evidently, the other truck manufacturers on the market could not sit and watch while Volvo got all the attention, so each turned to their marketing and creative departments to develop something new . While Mercedes-Benz is focused on both electric and futuristic trucks, Volvos fellow nationals at Scania had a different idea. Scania decided to show that its vehicles can provide a new level of dependability, which is crucial to any business that involves heavy haulage. So the Swedish brand put 14 trucks on an empty airport, and had 90 drivers working around the clock to operate them.Evidently, this was not some speed test or continuous driving exercise like some automakers used to do at Nardo, but a stunt, so an element of showmanship was necessary.Scania thought it would be cool to make the Worlds Largest Clock , which would also work and tell the time. As you know, a broken analog clock will tell the time right just twice a day, but Scania wanted to have the trucks moving in a way that they would mimic a real clock.It probably took weeks of calculations and planning, but they pulled off the stunt. When viewed from above, Scanias trucks created a timepiece, which was visible on a live stream on YouTube that ran for 24 hours without interruption. The vehicles stayed in perfect formation, which has proved the companys point. The 2017 Audi A4 Quattro has been released by the brand as its new sedan flagship model. Compared to its predecessor, the automobile has become lighter, has transformed into an all-wheel drive vehicle and has its very own manual version. Updates have been installed into the brand new 2017 Audi A4 Quattro sedan that has become lighter compared to other A4 versions of the make and model. As reported by Motor Trend, the Audi A4 models usually have a front-drive feature. Although the new version looks heavier and larger than its predecessor, it is actually 66 pounds lighter than other Audi A4 models whose designs were based on the Modular Longitudinal Kit architecture. Performance Specs Furthermore, the 2017 Audi A4 Quattro model was taken out for a test drive by the canyon roads outside of San Diego. The car's performance was revealed to be powered by a turbocharged, 2.0 liter TSFI I-4, which was an exclusive feature. Also, its speed was lodged at 7-S tronic that has a dual-clutch transmission as well. With a compression ratio of 9.6:1, the 2017 Audi A4 Quattro can accommodate 21.5 pounds of boost into the direct-injected DOHC engine. The engine itself generates 252 hp from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque which can reach 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. In other news, Jalopnik reported that the updates included in the 2017 Audi A4 Quattro are a seven-speed clutch gearbox. In fact, it was revealed to go on sale sooner with a Premium trim price of $39,400 value. Furthermore, the luxury sedan will have a stick shift as well. Although updates to the 2017 Audi A4 Quattro does not seem to be significant with respect to its interior, the option of buying the manual version could encourage proper driving involvement along with a left-leg health. A group of Model S owners in Norway said they are suing Tesla over what they claim to be discrepancy with the actual on-road performance achieved with the 'Insane Mode' over what is advertised by the company. A group of 126 owners of the Tesla Model S P85D have said their cars reached 469 hp, which is much lower than the 700 hp as claimed by the American automaker. Kaspar N. Thommessen, an attorney at Wikborg Rein law firm representing the plaintiffs further added the low horsepower adversely affected the car's performance as well, Bloomberg reported. Tesla responded to the accusations saying all specifications claimed by it are as per tests conducted by it, as well as the European regulatory authorities. The Model S P85D does the zero to 60 mph run in 3.3 secs, which a customer said is not accurate. However, they didn't reveal by how much their Model S cars erred by. Tesla stated the P85D regularly did the 0 - 60 mph run in 3.1 to 3.3 secs as per tests conducted at its own facilities. The P85D model has since been replaced by the more powerful P90D in Norway where it sells for 801,000 kroner ($96,700). Interestingly, Norway has proved to be a big market for Tesla cars thanks to the tax credits doled out by the government there. That said, this also isn't the first time where Tesla has had a brush with the law in the country. On a previous occasion, a Tesla car owner sued the company on charges that the horsepower rating of the two individual motors don't add up to what is being advertised for the car. The court had then ruled in favor of the customer. The Consumer Disputes Commission in Norway had ruled in June that the five P85D owners, who had sued Tesla over charges of inadequate acceleration, should be compensated with 50,000 kroner each. Thommessen, meanwhile, added they would be quoting the outcome of the first court case as it prepares for a fresh legal onslaught with the American automaker, Auto Evolution reported. The first hearing to this effect is expected in mid-December. On a clear day in January 2010, I took-off from Montgomery Airport in San Diego, California, in my highly modified RV-6A (christened The Feral Chihuahua) for Jacksonville, Florida. Twenty-four hours later, I landed back at San Diego, having successfully crisscrossed the United States. It was an official NAA round-trip transcontinental aviation speed record. This is my story. My quest for a record flight started with an idea: Why not rebuild my Vans RV-6A to make it go faster, higher, and farther? With such a plane, I reasoned, why not have as a goal the round-trip transcontinental speed record? I already had a fine RV-6A with about 1,300 flight hours on it. It had flown me safely and efficiently for over twelve years, and had taken my wife and me to many places in the western United States. But I had just sold my other completed kit plane, and thus had some extra time and cash on hand. So, I decided to use these resources to go after my new goal. To modify the RV-6A for more speed, I decided to increase the planes horsepower, as well as improve its aerodynamics. For increased power, I replaced the Lycoming O-360 with a modified fuel-injected IO-360 built by Aero Sport Power of Kamloops, British Columbia. The engine was modified by installing a more efficient exhaust system designed by Clinton Anderson at Custom Aircraft Parts, and by adding Light Speed Engineerings dual electronic ignition in lieu of magnetos. Going with fuel injection, along with electronic ignition, increased the planes power by 20 horsepower and allowed a more efficient fuel burn at the higher altitudes flown during the record attempt. (This better efficiency would also help extend the planes range.) For better aerodynamics, I used the more tucked-up feature of the IO-360s horizontal air intake to justify replacing the stock Vans engine cowling. I decided to replace it with the more elongated James cowling, with its three induction ring intakes. (Two are for cooling air, and one is for engine combustion air.) The use of these rings promised less air-intake drag, thus saving more power for thrust. The lower third ring also smoothly joined a conical ram-air intake which I reasoned should work a la Mooney to increase engine manifold pressure at altitude. I also added a fiberglass plenum to cover the engines air box for cooling, rationalizing that it would help effect laminar airflow over the engines cooling fins, and also provide a more efficient connection to the induction ring air intakes. The last thing I did to reduce drag was to replace the original wheel fairings with Vans newer design, which more smoothly covered the tires, wheels, and brake systems. I also took advantage of the rebuild to replace the old wood-and-fiberglass-tape nosegear fairing with Vans improved gear and hollow fiberglass fairing. The new nosegear fairing was obviously lighter, but also adopted the newer fat teardrop shape now prevalent on all Vans products. Flight Test I flew my RV-6A both before and after the modifications, recording speed, fuel burn, and engine manifold pressure at various altitudes. For each altitude, I flew a heading then reversed it, recording my groundspeed for each leg so I could compute an average no-wind airspeed. The resulting data (see Table 1) shows that the modifications in engine, ignition, and aerodynamics were well worth it. At 18,000 feet, my rebuilt RV-6A was 21 knots (24 mph) faster, while burning one gallon per hour less fuel. My first goal of flying faster had been met. My second goal was to get the plane to fly higher. Over the years of enjoying my RV-6A, Ive found that its especially good traveling in the teens, and I routinely filed for cruise altitudes between 12,000 and 16,000 feet. The impediments to flying higher included the loss of power (and speed) inevitably from the lower performance of the engine in the rarified upper atmosphere. But they also included the engines oil overheating due to that rarified airs inability to carry off heat. The new IO-360, with its greater horsepower, improved ignition, and increased manifold pressure, would address the first impediment. But what about excessive oil temperatures? Indeed, the higher-horsepower engines greater heat might make that problem worse. During initial flight testing after the rebuild, I regularly had to stop my climb and wait for the engines oil to cool. I also found that by about 19,000 feet, the engines oil remained uncomfortably hot in cruise. Fortunately, I became aware of a new oil cooler developed and sold by Airflow Systems, which suggested improved performance. I eagerly ordered and installed one. After extensive flight testing, the data showed I could easily climb to 19,000 feet without the oil rising into the yellow, and cruise at a cool 180 F. With the new engine configuration and oil cooler, my second goal of flying higher was realized. I next turned my attention to the question of extending the planes range. At first this seemed rather obvious: add more fuel capacity. But at the altitudes (17,000 to 21,000 feet) planned for the record, I also needed to extend the range of my oxygen system. Its solution was not so obvious. For increased fuel capacity, I did what ferry pilots do, and added a rubberized fuel bladder, plumbed to the planes existing fuel tank selector. I initially installed a Turtle-Pac Drum 66, which I placed lengthwise in the cockpit, replacing the passenger seat. The cockpits lateral bar behind the seats prevented the bladder from becoming full, and limited its on-board capacity to 42 gallons. However, with the planes two main tanks in the wings, I now had approximately 76 gallons of usable fuel, enough for almost 11 hours of flight without reserves. I had been using Mountain Highs Oxymizer cannula and 540-liter aluminum oxygen bottle for years, and found I could generally count on about six hours before running empty. For a record flight, I needed to at least double that duration. Fortunately, Mountain High recently had started offering a new product, a black box called an Electronic Delivery System (EDS). Intrigued, I ordered one, along with an oxygen mask and built-in microphone to keep me legal above 18,000 feet. The EDS arrived, and flight testing showed that it quadrupled my oxygen bottles duration. I now had a fuel range of 11 hours, with an even greater range for on-board oxygen. My third goal of being able to fly farther was thus accomplished. During the rebuild period, I added a fourth goal to my list: fly more safely. Thus, I upgraded and added equipment to also accomplish this goal. To improve my ability to obtain real-time weather information (including winds aloft and airport conditions), I installed a moving map GPS that connected to an XM radio. The GPS also had a mapping feature to improve my terrain awareness at night and under instrument meteorological conditions. Anticipating at least one night landing during my record flight, I also decided to upgrade the planes landing lights, and retrofitted high intensity discharge (HID) lights. I also replaced the old 121.5 MHz emergency locating transmitter (ELT) with the newer 406 MHz satellite-based ELT. Lastly, for good measure, I added a SPOT satellite tracker, so I could let people know I was either OK or not. Satisfied with these improvements, I concluded that The Feral Chihuahua was now also safer and ready for the record attempt. First Attempt My strategy for setting the record was fairly straightforward: 1. Select a flight day when the jet stream was aligned west-to-east, and followed the southern border of the United States, connecting one coast to the other. 2. Leave San Diego at sunset to take advantage of cooler air for the climb to 19,000 feet. 3. Use the jet streams push to increase my groundspeed and allow a non-stop crossing to Florida. 4. Land in Jacksonville at dawn to refuel. 5. Fly back to California during the day at low altitudes to duck the jet streams headwind. That was the plan, anywaybut it didnt work. On a clear February evening in 2009, I took off from San Diego. Unfortunately, I hadnt accounted for being tired at the start and was dangerously fatigued only six hours into the flight. I also found a number of systems to be inadequate, including my clothings and cabin heaters ability to warm me at 19,000 feet in February; the instruments lighting effectiveness; and the bladder fuel tanks usability. To make things worse, the forecast tail winds didnt materialize, making a non-stop crossing impossible with the amount of fuel I had onboard. So, at around the Texas-Louisiana border, I made the difficult decision to quit and turn-back. From 19,000 feet, it took about 40 minutes to descend, so I asked the controller for the nearest 24-hour towered airport an hour behind me. He advised Abilene, Texas, so I took it, turned, and descended. After refueling and taking a short nap until sunrise at Abilene, I limped my way home to San Diego, using the easier daylight flying conditions to reflect on my failed attempt and learn from it. After all, Henry Ford once said, Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again. And I was certainly in need of more intelligence. As I flew west to home, I jotted down the things that hadnt worked on the failed flight. And beside each item, I listed what I could do differently next time. My list included the following changes: 1. Take off at dawn. Im a morning person, and leaving at sunset was simply stupid on my part. It was totally against my biological clock. Plus, leaving at dawn would give me a nights sleep before the flight, so Id disembark fresh instead of tired. 2. Fly high east across the United States in daylight. Since I would be leaving at dawn, a large part of my high-altitude flight would now be in daylight, giving me at least some passive solar heating in the cabin to ward-off the 4 F outside environment. 3. Replace the flexible fuel bladder with rigid-walled fuel tanks. I had found that the flexible bladder was difficult to fuel anddue to its irregular shape on the floordidnt have a consistent unusable amount of fuel, thereby making a wild guess of fuel duration calculations. A more traditional rigid fuel tank would also allow me to calibrate and better plumb it to the aircrafts fuel system. 4. Improve cabin lighting by installing an LED strip under the glareshield. This was probably more psychologically needed than real, but it would make it easier for me to monitor engine systems, and would make me feel at home as I travelled surreally surrounded in blackness nearly four miles above the earth. 5. Land halfway across the United States, both while heading east and west. I didnt want to again gamble on having a perfect tailwind to make it non-stop to Jacksonville. So, I would purposely plan to stop halfway while heading east. The next time it would happen in daylight, so I could also study the approach, taxiways, and FBO location, and confirm theyd be open for refueling when I would be coming back 12 hours later. Ironically, halfway across the USA is Abilene, where Id stopped during the failed attempt, so it was already familiar to me. Stopping halfway also would allow me to depart with less fuel and weight, and thus climb more quickly to cruise altitude. With the changes listed above, I awaited the next perfect winter day and took off at dawn, January 30, 2010. The result was success, and I beat the old record by three days. As is the case in many revised plans, I found that my successful record flight was actually an easier experience than my previous years failed attempt. Henry Ford was right! Lessons learned I learned a few important lessons during the whole record-setting experience. They included: 1. Mistakes are an opportunity to improve, so always have a timely debrief to learn from them. 2. Spend some time in your cockpit before you depart, and visualize your full flight to help identify weaknesses. 3. Use checklists to aid your memory. (I had one for remembering essential equipment and supplies, as well as a special pre-flight checklist modified for the record flight.) 4. Youll need the support of many people, so be good to them. My friends and family were always supportive, and I cant say enough good about them, my equipment suppliers, and the FAA. 5. Trust your inner voice. Im glad I paid attention to those nagging doubts that always enter ones mind. In all cases they were right, and I was safer as a result. Jeremiah (Jerry) Jackson is an instrument-rated private pilot and experienced skydiver with over 1,800 parachute jumps. Hes been on eight successful world-record skydives, and holds the official NAA round-trip transcontinental speed record in his modified RV-6A. Jerry has published two aviation books:The Flight of the Feral Chihuahua, about the pursuit of his NAA speed record, andFour Minutes, about the crash of his RV-10. He and his wife live in San Diego, California. This article originally appeared in the September 2014 issue of Kitplanes magazine. Read More from Kitplanes, and learn how to receive your FREE copy of The Annual Homebuilt Buyers Guide! Prime Minister Karen Karapetian ordered the Armenian government on Thursday to root out what he called the embezzlement of budgetary funds set aside for government officials travel expenses. Karapetian alleged and decried the illegal practice after his chief of staff, Davit Harutiunian, unveiled a new electronic system for the purchase of air tickets for officials travelling abroad on business. Its a quite complex system and you all understand what it is aimed at, he told a cabinet meeting in Yerevan. That is why I am issuing a directive. We are going to put in place quite complex mechanisms for eliminating the primitive theft. Sort that out in your agencies. When they tell me about what [fraud] schemes are devised for tickets it takes a lot of fantasy to do that, added Karapetian. If those people used their intelligence in another area, the effects would have definitely been much better. The premier did not specify the scale of the alleged fraud or name officials who he thinks engage in it. Armenias newly appointed Finance Minister Vartan Aramian was reluctant to comment on Karapetians blunt remarks after the cabinet meeting. The prime ministers appeal is also an order to the Finance Ministry, he told reporters. Let me just get down to work. Aramian insisted that he was not aware of any cases of ticket fraud when he served as deputy finance minister in the past. Karapetian pledged to speed up economic reforms and strengthen the rule of law in the country after he was appointed prime minister by President Serzh Sarkisian on September 14. So far he has named only six members of his new government. Four of them, including Aramian, did not work in the previous cabinet. Karapetian on Thursday also moved to abolish one of Armenias 19 government ministries: the Ministry for Urban Development. A relevant government bill presented by Harutiunian would also change the name of the Economy Ministry to the Ministry for Investments and Business Support. 22 September 2016 14:50 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Azerbaijan has been informed about another attempt of Armenians to present the Azerbaijani cultural heritage items as Armenian in Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is another Armenian provocation, Hikmet Hajiyev, spokesman for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry told Trend on September 21. Azerbaijans embassy in Russia and the countrys Consulate General in St. Petersburg are taking measures to prevent this provocation, Hajiyev added. In particular, Armenians plan to present the coins of Azerbaijani khanates as eastern Armenian coins in Hermitage Museum. Presentation of the territories of Ganja, Karabakh and Irevan as ancient Armenian lands by Armenian numismatist at the International Conference on Oriental Numismatics on September 26 in St. Petersburg should be prevented, Director of the National Museum of History Naila Velikhanli said on September 21 at a meeting of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). She noted that the performance of an Armenian numismatist on the subject has already been included in the conference program, and it is a political issue. Velikhanli stressed that no representative of Azerbaijan will participate in the conference, however, it is important to ensure that. In turn, Vice-President of ANAS Isa Habibbayli said that an academic reference about the groundlessness of the Armenian report should be written, and the report should be excluded from the program of the conference. President of ANAS Akif Alizadeh noted that this issue will be discussed in the Academy and a corresponding decision will be made. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 14:09 (UTC+04:00) By Javier Solana During the European Unions recent Bratislava summit, the first to take place without a British presence, several proposals to improve European security were made. Though some may argue otherwise, discussions on improved European security are both wise and necessary: after a period of paralysis and self-doubt for the European project, the EU must face its security problems and propose unifying initiatives. Europes citizens increasingly regard security as a high-priority issue and want the EU to show greater leadership. The EUs friends and allies expect improvement in European security as well. Offering EU citizens security within the Unions borders requires more stability abroad. Recent events have shown this clearly: the refugee crisis bedeviling the EU, for example, would be much easier to manage if the situation in Syria was different. Because security at home and abroad are so interrelated, the EU should not compartmentalize its policies an idea that is well developed in the proposed new Global Strategy for the Union, presented recently by High Representative Federica Mogherini. Traditionally, nation-states have defended themselves against foreign threats through military means, while running their internal affairs according to a set of norms designed to protect their citizens rights. Today, military preparedness is still necessary to defend against external threats, but it is no longer sufficient. A civilian angle is needed as well. All assets needed to achieve security must adapt to the reality of todays threats and conflicts. This means that the EUs military capacities cannot be structured in isolation, but must work side by side with its civil capabilities (police agencies, intelligence units, the courts, and even non-governmental organizations). The capacity for a fused civil-military response to crisis must become integral to EU policy and that of its member states. The EU has already undertaken deployments that combine military and civilian capabilities. But it has always been clear that much more is needed to improve the efficacy of such actions. Indeed, the EUs Treaty of Lisbon includes many measures along these lines, but most have not yet been implemented. One reason for this is the distraction caused by the EUs economic problems since 2008. But now the gravity of the refugee problem requires that humanitarian and security issues be framed within a pan-European outlook. The division between the domestic and external capacities of EU member states simply is no longer sustainable. Fortunately, many of the capacities available to member states in their internal policies are also useful for their defense deployments. For example, it is increasingly clear that enhancing intelligence cooperation is essential. If the EU wants to extend the reach of its security policies, it will need more resources; but, above all, existing capacities need to be used better and more cooperatively. But such cooperation requires a strategic headquarters for all EU security-related operations, rather than maintaining the current model whereby operational centers are established on an ad hoc basis. Moreover, in order for the EU to achieve strategic autonomy, it needs a competitive European defense industry, with investment in research and development of defense technologies rising substantially as part of a common effort. The European Defense Agencys Capabilities Development Plan was designed precisely with these requirements in mind. Advancing this plan will enable optimized use of existing member-state resources thereby securing advantageous economic synergies as well as precise identification of the additional resources required to achieve our goals. The legal basis for a mechanism for permanent, structured cooperation on security already exists, enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon. Treaty provisions enable willing EU states to reinforce their military cooperation and deploy quickly for shared missions abroad. Activating this mechanism has been part of recent discussions within the European Council and seems to be the most viable way to deepen defense integration. And an EU with security and defense as one of its pillars would boost Europes global weight. Some still think that deeper defense integration may weaken other institutions, such as NATO, to which EU members belong. But the truth is that Europes ability to provide an effective collective response in a crisis would be welcomed by NATO (which would have more resources at its disposal) and the United Nations. Integrating EU defense, moreover, would facilitate NATO operations, so that groups of EU countries engaged in permanent structured cooperation could, for example, participate in the North Atlantic Council, NATOs governing authority, as a single entity. The EU is defined not only by how it protects its own citizens, but also by what actions it takes outside its borders. Beyond ensuring that these actions are guided by international law, the EU should foster a global debate on the deficiencies of certain international norms in the face of todays new conflicts. Even in this era of pervasive Euroskepticism, Europes citizens want a more decisive EU approach to foreign and security policy, which is necessary, beneficial, and part of our duty. The EU, after all, will be defined by its actions, and peace and security are among the public goods that it must provide, both within and beyond its borders. Copyright: Project Syndicate: European Defense Integration Now --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 12:27 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli An Iranian senior official has called for tripling the volume of trade turnover with Azerbaijan over the next year. Irans deputy minister of industry, mine and trade Hossin Esfahbodi told Trend that the volume of trade turnover between the two countries currently stands at about $100 million but it must increase considerably. Elaborating on existing trade capacities between the two countries, the deputy minister said that the current level of turnover is not satisfactory and it must surpass $300 million over the next year. Esfahbodi made the remarks on the sidelines of the Iran Project 2016 expo held in Baku on September 19-21. Over 50 Iranian companies specializing in oil, gas, construction, pharmaceutical, car making and other industrial spheres showcased their capabilities during the three-day exhibition. Saying that short distance between Iran and Azerbaijan creates a proper opportunity for traders from both countries, the deputy minister called for expansion of cooperation in both, oil and non-oil sectors. After years of economic sanctions imposed by the West Iran expects a real economic rise. Now, with sanctions gone on January 16, Iran is considered a hot investment destination and this potentially opens up attractive big opportunities for foreign investors and businesses looking for a new emerging economy. Isolated from the global economy for the past decade and with a population of 80 million, the country is a fertile ground for business. However, its not an easy deal to enter the Iranian market, since the country said no longer interested in unidirectional importation of goods, but is looking for two-way trade. Following the lifting of sanctions, Tehran has repeatedly expressed intention to improve trade with neighboring Azerbaijan in a bid to make up for the decline in trade turnover between the two countries. The history of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan has a particular specificity, causing all stages of the development of bilateral relations. The present Iranian administrations policy of improving international relations, Tehrans pursuit of win-win situations, and a political will shared by Iran and Azerbaijan have improved the chances of growing economic ties between the two neighboring countries. The volume of trade turnover between the two countries soared by 70 percent over the first seven months of the current year. According to Azerbaijani officials, Iranian companies have already invested $2.6 billion in Azerbaijans economy. About $145 million of the total amount has gone to the non-oil sector. This is while some 450 companies with Iranian share operate in Azerbaijan. Trade turnover between the two neighboring countries amounted to $122.08 million in January-August 2016, $30.66 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. Agriculture, banking sector, pharmaceutics, as well as cooperation in the international North-South transport corridor are the main areas that the two states are focused on. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 12:54 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang has urged Azerbaijan for more cooperation in oil and gas exploration at the meeting with the countrys Ambassador Anar Imanov in the city of Hanoi, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) News Agency reported on September 22. Quang welcomed the establishment of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Cooperation. The Vietnamese president proposed studying and soon signing an agreement on education and training to further bolster cooperation in this field. The Azerbaijani ambassador in turn highlighted the important role played by the Vietnamese people who used to study or work in Azerbaijan in reinforcing the traditional relations between the two countries. Imanov said Azerbaijan would like to open the Vietnamese Embassy in Baku in order to promote development of bilateral relations in economy, trade, culture and tourism. He said he hopes the first meeting of the intergovernmental committee scheduled for October 2016 will open up new opportunities for broader cooperation in the future. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 17:40 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova ADY Express LLC, a branch of Azerbaijan Railways providing logistics services to various industries, has launched freight transportation on the South-West route, which is expected to increase transit potential of Azerbaijan. The company will first implement test transportation. Some four cargo vehicles will depart from Iran to Azerbaijan, two containers filled with some 90 tons of light oil distillate will be directed to Georgian Batumi after being loaded on the platforms of Astara railways. The freight will be further delivered to the destination through the Black Sea. The route, which is of great importance for Azerbaijan will provide freight transportation en route India Persian Gulf Iran Azerbaijan Georgia Black Sea Europe. The initial capacity of the route will stand at 10,000 of cargo per year, while the volume will be further increased up many times. Some 94 percent of all freight traffic between India, Iran, the Persian Gulf states and Europe is currently carried out by sea through the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. South-West is more attractive for the transportation of goods, while its main advantage is the reduction of the distance and delivery time two or threefold, as compared to other alternative routes, which provide cargo transportation within 35-37 days. Head of Azerbaijani Railways, Javid Gurbanov earlier said that the route may ensure transit of cargo from the port of Bandar Abbas to the ports of Poti and Batumi within seven days and from the port of Mumbai within 14 days. Meanwhile, the country has recently approved rules under which foreign-registered trucks are exempt from payment of state duties and road tax, when crossing the state borders of Azerbaijan. The rules will be in effect for three years. The changes envisage that the tax exemption is applied should the freight is unloaded to the vehicle registered in the foreign country at the territory of Azerbaijan and directed to the nearest customs border enter point or the cargo is brought into the territory of the country by means of the vehicles registered abroad through the nearest border enter point. Innovations in the area are intended to contribute to the fundamental changes in the system of transportation and logistics and turning the country into a major transport hub. The country is focused on gaining profit from its favorable geographic location between East and West placing particular importance on the transport sector. The agreement on the South-West transportation corridor was signed in 2016 by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Ukraine in Baku. -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 20:00 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) sold $61.4 million to 19 banks through an auction held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Sept. 22, SOFAZ said in a message on September 22. As much as $100 million was put up for the auction. SOFAZ will continue selling foreign currency through auctions in 2016. The foreign currency is sold as part of SOFAZs transfers to the Azerbaijani state budget, which are envisaged to stand at 7.615 billion Azerbaijani manats in 2016. SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million. As of July 1, 2016, SOFAZs assets increased by 4.6 percent and amounted to $35.1 billion as compared to $33.57 billion in early 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 12:33 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Red Bull Soapbox Race Baku 2016 is rescheduled for October 9 , Trend Life reported. The decision was taken due to large-scale events planned for September in Baku. The organizers look forward to all participants, spectators and media representatives at the worlds favorite festival of crashes and creativity. The Red Bull Soapbox Race is an international event that started back in the year 2000, in Brussels. Since then, more than a hundred Red Bull Soapbox Races have been organized globally. The contest rules are pretty simple! Racers are welcomed to build their own soapbox and compete against gravity. Each of these hand-made machines lack engine on them. Drivers go to the top of a hill, gravity does its thing, and reach the bottom of the hill and people cheer. Or, as is quite often the case; gravity does its thing, you see a spectacular crash and people cheer anyway. All the rest is just bells and whistles. The Red Bull Soapbox races are held on a variety of different city courses around the world. The teams are all local amateur entrants and the vehicles are powered by nothing more than gravity, leg muscles and perhaps a drop of Red Bull. Along with speed, your team will also be judged on creativity and showmanship. More than 60 teams will try to get across the finish line as quickly as possible. The first prize winner will join Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi. The second place winner will visit "Hangar 7 ", the Museum of Red Bull in Austria. For driver who finish third, the event organizers prepare cool party! The venue remains unchanged: Hasanoglu Ave, near Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre. Entrance is free. For more information, please visit Facebook page and the official site www.redbullsoapboxrace.az Media partner of the event is Trend.az --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 14:00 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova YARAT Contemporary Art Centre held a screening of short feature film "Postskriptum". The storyline is about Robert Nobel who bought an interest in an oil refinery in Baku, and the further activity of the Nobel brothers, Trend Life reported. The writers of the screenplay for "Postscript" are Ramiz Fataliyev and Emin Mirabdullaev. It is directed by Emin Mirabdullaev, produced by Mushfig Hatamov, and Ali Sultan is the cameraman. Beginning from 1875, the Nobel Brothers took an active roll in Azerbaijan's oil industry that started developing apace in the second half of the 19th century. After detecting oil in the Absheron peninsula, Robert Nobel invested his capital in the oil sector and set up drilling operations. He also bought a small kerosene factory and began refining oil. The Nobel Brothers company officially began operating in 1879. Set up by Robert, Ludwig and Alfred Nobel, the company became the most authoritative and valuable oil company worldwide. By the early 20th century, the Nobel Brothers Company had become the dominant oil company in Azerbaijan. The company had capital equal to 30 million rubles and more than 13 plants (including 6 oil processing plants) from the period of 1914 to 1917. Their total oil production was 76 million pounds in 1916. The Nobel Brothers were also strong humanitarians, donating funds to schools and ran a hospital. Ludvig Nobel worked actively to improve working conditions in his factories. In 1885 he started a cooperative bank for the workers. Dining rooms, billiard rooms, libraries and conference rooms were also built for workers. Moreover, large park, created by brothers still exists in the "Black City". --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist,follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 18:15 (UTC+04:00) Only four days left to a day of constitutional referendum vote the Venice Commission, whose primary task is to assist and advise individual countries in constitutional matters, has issued an urgent statement upon the request of the PACE. The hasty assessment of the commission is tuned to a pessimistic tone, which is not surprising for all those accustomed to hear bias and dual standards from European organizations. The commission seems to be really in a hurry while making its conclusion, as it contained obvious mistakes far from reflecting the reality. The Commission was in such a hurry to make a statement on the upcoming referendum that it didnt notice its technical mistakes, gaps and violated its internal procedures while studying the referendum bill. It even made a reference to Article 159, which totally lacks. Using an imperative language for its document the commission in fact violated the right of nations for sovereign decisions. Azerbaijan is being addressed through ultimatums. Such institutions as the Venice Commission were created to back the reforms in countries, but not to intervene in the internal affairs, through attempting to mislead the society and to push it to chaos. For instance, the statement like "Azerbaijan will hold constitutional referendum that reportedly would severely upset the balance of power sounds more as a political order than advice to a country. The question then arises as to why the Commission makes such a statement only few days has left to the referendum despite the fact that the referendum bill was revealed in July? Why did the Commission refuse to work with the government of the country to study the referendum bill and instead criticized the government for its attempts to reform and upgrade the state management system? Is this statement a pressure tool to the referendum then? The government of Azerbaijan has repeatedly announced that the primary aim of the amendments and supplements to be made to the current Constitution is to improve the state management system. The Venice Commissions main dissatisfaction is related to strengthening of the vertical of executive power, clarified Shahin Aliyev, head of Department of Legislation and Legal Expertise of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, adding this is about the establishment of vice-presidents post in case of adoption of the referendum act. The Venice Commissions conclusion says that vice-presidency is not democratic. Which international document envisages such a democratic standard? There is no such a democratic standard. If the president is unable to fulfill the presidential duties, the vice-president fulfills them in the U.S., he added. If the vice-president is unable to fulfill the presidential duties, then unelected ministers fulfill those duties. No one calls this undemocratic, noted Aliyev. The ongoing changes in the geopolitical situation, global threats, including terrorism, extremism, vulnerable economic situation appeared due to declining crude prices, social and economic challenges, as well as the increasing role of Azerbaijan in the region required various transformations in the country. Amid these changes, the Cabinet of Ministers failed to prove itself as a driving force to foster the reforms. The Cabinet of Ministers couldnt play a leading role in the economic situation which changes every month and in the financial policy which also changes every month, because the institutional structure of the Cabinet of Ministers, its activities are not meant for carrying out this work. The circumstances necessitated having an institution for operative measures. Another dissatisfaction of the Venice Commission is related to giving the president the authority to dissolve the parliament, although such practice is widely used in a number of countries. A stalemate situation can emerge in the parliaments work as well. The media reports said that in a number of cases, the draft laws submitted by the president were not adopted in the parliament, said Shahin Aliyev. Then how can Frances president easily dissolve the parliament? There is another note of the Commission as well. The extension of the presidential mandate from five to seven years cannot be justified given the already very strong position of the President, who since 2009 can be re-elected without term limits, the document said. Why Azerbaijan is being criticized for this while Ireland, Israel and several other countries already apply this practice. The extended presidential mandate will have some simple and obvious pluses. The reforms and state programs will be realized until the end, while it will be possible to bear fruits of the reforms more effectively. With four days ahead of voting day, most voters may have formed their position on the document. So it is hard to believe the late document to have any impact in any way. Then, the true target of the document remains vague... 22 September 2016 16:28 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The leaders of countries drew attention to the settlement of international conflicts at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Speaking at the event, the presidents of Latvia and Estonia stressed the urgency for resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Stability and security of Europes eastern neighbors remain one of the strategic priorities for Latvia, the countrys President Raimonds Vejonis said on September 21 at the session. Settlement of conflicts in Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh should be an important focus of the international agenda, Vejonis noted in his speech. He emphasized that all countries must fulfill their obligations within the international law and respect the borders of sovereign states. In his speech at the session, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves reminded that the ban on the use of force and the principle of the inviolability of state frontiers are the basis of the United Nations Charter. The president noted that "frozen" conflicts still continue in Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria. Ilves said about the necessity of creating mechanisms that will ensure respect for norms of international law. He believed that if the UN does not begin to work in this direction, it could lose its relevance. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 14:18 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia's military exercises held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijans Agdam region is a serious provocation aimed at undermining the negotiation process over the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. He made the remark during his meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in the framework of the 71st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry stated on September 22. Azerbaijan is ready for substantive negotiations to change the current status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov noted. FM also stressed that Armenia continues to carry out destructive policy to prevent the negotiation process on settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. On September 20, Armenian Armed Forces began military exercises in the occupied territory of Azerbaijani Agdam region. According to media reports, Armenian troops hold exercises in Agdam using armored vehicles and artillery. The meeting also discussed the development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE. Lamberto Zannier noted that the OSCE intends to continue the practical cooperation. Mammadyarov, in turn, stressed the desirability of cooperation on the development of transport and energy corridors. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 15:46 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has discussed the issues of accelerating the peace process on settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group in New York. The meeting was held in the framework of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministers participation at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. The sides also discussed the issues of achieving significant results in the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend on September 22. Mammadyarov noted that the latest provocative actions of Armenia, in particular the training exercises with live firing and military exercises in the occupied territories of the Agdam region of Azerbaijan, aim to undermine the negotiation process. On September 20, Armenian Armed Forces began military exercises in the occupied territory of Azerbaijani Agdam region. According to media reports, Armenian troops hold exercises in Agdam using armored vehicles and artillery. Prior to this meeting, Elmar Mammadyarov also mulled the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 10:10 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the city of Mingachevir for a visit on September 21, Azertac reported. The head of state first laid flowers at a statue of national leader Heydar Aliyev in the center of the city. Head of Mingachevir Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov informed the President about the recent work carried out in the city. The Heydar Aliyev Park occupies a total area of 3 hectares. The park has a waterfall, and a Mother and child cafe. Green areas were laid out here. President Aliyev also attended the opening of Mingachevir City Museum of History. The head of state was informed that the museum occupies an area of 810 square metres. The museum features a photo section reflecting life and activity of national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, and their role in the country`s development. There are a 50-seat conference and two exhibition halls in the museum, whose collection includes 16,000 exhibits, of them 400 on display. The head of state viewed the museum. President Aliyev later attended a ground breaking ceremony of Mingachevir Industrial Park. President Aliyev laid a foundation stone of the park. The head of state then had a meeting with members of Mingachevir city public. President Aliyev made a speech at the meeting. Project manager Mehriban Akhundova and member of the general public Arif Mahmudov thanked the head of state for attention and care. President Aliyev further viewed landscaping and construction work in the city of Mingachevir. The head of state viewed photo stands depicting the work carried out in the city. Head of Mingachevir City Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov informed President Ilham Aliyev of the work carried out in Sahil and Fuzuli parks, as well as other projects, including a mooring for small ships and boats on the left bank of the Kur River. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 10:16 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan and Norway have discussed the opportunities for developing the bilateral relations as FMs Elmar Mammadyarov and Brge Brende met on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Azertac reported. They particularly discussed cooperation prospects in economic and energy areas. Brende pointed out that Norway supports Azerbaijans cooperation with Euroatlantic institutions. Mammadyarov highlighted the current state of the negotiations to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The two also exchanged views on international and regional affairs. Since the beginning of the 1990s Azerbaijan and Norway have developed an increasingly strong relationship. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 5, 1992. The Norwegian embassy in Baku was opened in June 1998. The co-operation has been growing especially in the field of energy, and several Norwegian companies have established themselves in Baku. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 09:55 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop have discussed ways of expanding relations between their countries as they met on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Azertac reported. They exchanged views on the bilateral relations and cooperation within international organizations, especially UN Security Council. The two also discussed development of inter-parliamentary cooperation, economic and trade relations, as well as the organization of high-level visits. Mammadyarov also highlighted the state of negotiations to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 10:55 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Oktay Asadov, the speaker of Azerbaijan's parliament, has officially invited his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani to pay a visit to Baku. At a meeting with the Iranian outgoing ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohsen Pak Ayeen, Azerbaijani speaker called for expansion of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. Oktay Asadov has said that the two neighboring countries enjoy proper capacities for cooperation particularly in parliamentary issues, the Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan said. Mohsen Pak Ayeen served as Irans ambassador to Baku for four years and he will hand over the office to Javad Jahangirzadeh in the coming days. Ties between Iran and Azerbaijan have considerably improved over the past several years. The presidents of the two countries have met seven times agreeing on a number of deals. Iranian companies have invested $2.6 billion in Azerbaijans economy. About $145 million of the total amount has gone to the non-oil sector. This is while some 450 companies with Iranian share operate in Azerbaijan. The volume of trade turnover between the two countries has soared by 70 percent over the first seven months of the current year. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $122.08 million in January-August 2016, $30.66 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 10:23 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Azerbaijan, remaining committed to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, actively supports international efforts in this direction, Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani foreign minister, said. Mammadyarov made a statement at the ministerial meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) within the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Azerbaijan is making contribution to the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program, Mammadyarov said. Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan is one of the first countries which supported the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The CTBT is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes. Azerbaijan signed the treaty on July 28, 1997. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 11:30 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova Webcams will be installed in 1,000 polling stations in Azerbaijan to monitor the referendum to be held on September 26, 2016. The decision was taken at a meeting of Central Election Commission (CEC) under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov). Initially, the protocol was approved by the Commission meeting held on September 10, 2016. In order to keep track from the beginning to the end of the election process at the polling stations based on the principle of full coverage of the territory of the country, with the exception of the occupied territories, it was decided to install web cameras at 1,000 polling areas in 119 electoral districts. The current issues were also reviewed at the meeting. September 26, 2016, was set as the date for the referendum on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan. The Electoral Code of Azerbaijan indicates that the day of the popular vote should be non-working. In a bill recently sent to the Constitutional Court, President Ilham Aliyev proposed amendments to 29 Articles of Azerbaijans current constitution. The changes envisage the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, the establishment of the first vice-president and vice-president positions in the country as well as the cancellation of minimum age limit for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has so far registered 846 observers for the upcoming referendum. The district polling stations have registered 37,429 observers. Final results of the Referendum will be announced until October 21. The last time changes to the Constitution were made seven years ago, following Constitutional referendum held in 2009. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 12:19 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has met with Michael Carpenter, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, Azertac reported. Carpenter hailed the level of cooperation in the area of defense between Azerbaijan and the United States of America. Noting that the consultations on defense issues between the two countries were successfully conducted in March 2016, he stressed the importance of further expansion of cooperation in this direction. Carpenter also highlighted that Azerbaijans contributions to international peace and security are highly appreciated by his country. Mammadyarov, in turn, stressed that Azerbaijan attaches importance to the cooperation with the United States in all fields, especially in the area of defense. Hailing the importance of political dialogue and mutual understanding between the two countries, the Azerbaijani minister emphasized that they create favorable opportunities for practical cooperation. Mammadyarov briefed his interlocutor about the settlement process of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and military provocations perpetrated by Armenia. During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on fighting against terrorism and other international and regional issues of mutual concern. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 12:40 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Afghanistan, in the long term, will be able to take advantage of the large-scale transport and energy projects, which are being carried out in the region on Azerbaijans initiative and participation, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. Mammadyarov made a statement at the meeting with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani within the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Mammadyarov stressed the high level of developing the political cooperation between the two countries. The Azerbaijani foreign minister also emphasized the need for the development of relations in trade-economic and investment spheres. Both foreign ministers also discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation, the fight against terrorism. Rabbani highly appreciated Azerbaijan's support for Afghanistan on a bilateral and multilateral basis. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan amounted to $23.47 million in January-June 2016, which entirely accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to Afghanistan, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. Azerbaijan is among the eight partner countries that have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan after 2014. Azerbaijan has decided to broaden its activities in Afghanistan's non-military areas. Real cooperation began with Afghan specialists' training in mine sweeping. The two countries have maintained good relations for quite a long time. Also, Azerbaijan has Afghanistans support in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as it repeatedly defended the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Such tight bonds can be explained by the common religion which links the two brotherly countries. Geography has of course played an important role in bringing the two nations together. Azerbaijan, with its great experience in the oil sector has attracted Afghanistans economy. Also, Afghanistan is interested in the electricity production via natural gas, the mining sector and petroleum. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 14:12 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended a ground breaking ceremony of Mingachevir Industrial Park and laid a foundation stone of the park on September 21. The head of state addressing the ceremony of laying the foundation said that the creation of the park is of utmost importance for Mingachevir, underlining that the event is a new stage in the development of the city. The work to be implemented in the park will enhance overall economic potential of the country. One of the main advantages of the park is that it will bring large volumes of foreign currency in the country. The president informed the audience that some nine plants would be created in the park, while the number of employees would reach 5,000 6,000 people. Work implemented in the industrial park worth $150-200 million. This is a large investment project. The project will make great contribution to the development of the city, creation of jobs, development of agriculture and industrial potential as a whole. The president said that Mingachevir, the countrys fourth largest city by population will also be a center of light industry, and perhaps the first one, not only in Azerbaijan but also in the South Caucasus, mentioning that industrial development of the country remains a priority. President Ilham Aliyev set the goal of minimizing oil dependence of the country, ensuring growth of non-oil sector of economy and increasing the volume of foreign investment in 2015. The head of state said that the increase of non-oil potential and production of export-oriented output are still among main objectives of the country. Enterprises, which will operate in the park, will be engaged in the production of such export-oriented products as cotton yarn, woolen yarn, leather goods, and acrylic yarn, while domestic raw material will be used in the majority of enterprises. The head of state mentioned that the country is confidently moving forward and is developing steadily despite all difficulties. The state program on socio-economic development of regions has been successfully implemented since 2004 playing a significant role for the development of the country. Implementation of the tasks set forth in the state programs adopted and successfully carried out in the field of regional development, as well as in the orders on the additional measures concerning the socio-economic development of the regions paved way for further sustainable development. In 2004, when the first program was to be adopted, we set the task of ensuring a rapid development of Azerbaijani regions. We implemented infrastructure projects in the regions and created jobs and social institutions so that the development of our country was inclusive and sustainable A decision on the creation of a new industrial park in Mingachevir, was made at a meeting of the Economy and Industry Ministry devoted to the execution of the tasks defined by the head of state at a conference on the results of the first year of realization of the "State program of socio-economic development of regions of Azerbaijan in 2014-2018 years. Industrial parks have been so far created several regions of the country. The country also provides favorable conditions for other countries to participate in the industrial parks. The government has made certain changes to the legislature in order to ensure further development of the concept of industrial parks and districts. Import of goods by the industrial park residents is exempt of customs duties for a term of five years, while foreign residents of industrial parks are exempt from payments for compulsory social insurance as well as the equipment and technologies used in industrial parks is also exempt from value added tax. -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 15:32 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had a meeting with Gyan Chandra Acharya, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States on the sidelines of 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Azertac reported. FM Elmar Mammadyarov informing about the successful implementation of Millenium Development Goals in Azerbaijan noted that the consistent measures are undertaken by the Government towards the development of Sustainable Development Agenda of UN, and building of more diversified, competitive, resilient, as well as innovative, technology-rich and knowledge-based economy. In this context, he said that Azerbaijan attaches high importance to the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs. Adding that the development of East-West and North-South transport corridors with the closer involvement and support of Azerbaijan will serve for the promotion of regional prosperity and connectivity. Gyan Acharya emphasized that large-scale transport projects implemented with the initiative and support of Azerbaijan will specially contribute to raising the transport capacity of landlocked countries of the region and realization of Sustainable Development Goals. Given the experience of Azerbaijan in this field, he has invited Azerbaijan to take part at the High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Transport of Landlocked Developing Countries to be held in Bolivia in cooperation with the relevant structures of UN on October 13-14, 2016. FM Mammadyarov reaffirmed Azerbaijans readiness to share its relevant experience, especially on public administration, single window in customs and tax system, socio-economic reforms, with other LLDCs through the United Nations. He added that Azerbaijans election to the membership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the period of 2017-2019 with majority votes indicates the international reputation of the country and appreciation of international community for the achievements of Azerbaijan in social-economic sphere especially in last decade. Minister Mammadyarov speaking about the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and barbaric actions perpetrated in the occupied lands, especially destruction of the transport infrastructure noted that destructive and annexationist policy pursued by Armenia seriously hampers full-fledged development of regional cooperation and connectivity and implementation of sustainable development agenda in the region. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 15:59 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan accredited 117 international observers until today to monitor the referendum on 26 September said on September 22, said the CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov. The head of the CEC noted that they are the members of parliament and representatives of about 35 countries, including the PACE and other international organizations. "The number of Azerbaijani citizens who has expressed a desire to observe the electoral process is quite sufficient, he said. There are representatives of political parties, ordinary citizens taking an initiative to observe the electoral process, as well as, representatives of agitation groups among them. The total number of observers is approximately 53,000 people. There will be more than 5,600 polling stations in the elections. Thus, there will be almost 10 observers in each polling station," Panahov added. Mazahir Panahov stressed that all the conditions are created at the highest level for conducting referendum and voting. In addition, the CEC Chairman said that they have tested the installed web cameras in the polling stations with the Minister of Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade. Quality of visibility is at a high level in all areas. We try to provide the electricity supply and telephone connection to these areas without any problems, said Panahov. Moreover, the head of the CEC said that by going on the CEC website, anyone from any part of the world will be able to observe the electoral process online through web cameras. September 26, 2016, was set as the date for the referendum on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan. The Electoral Code of Azerbaijan indicates that the day of the popular vote should be non-working. In a bill recently sent to the Constitutional Court, President Ilham Aliyev proposed amendments to 29 Articles of Azerbaijans current constitution. The changes envisage the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, the establishment of the first vice-president and vice-president positions in the country as well as the cancellation of minimum age limit for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president. Final results of the Referendum will be announced until October 21. The last time changes to the Constitution were made seven years ago, following Constitutional referendum held in 2009. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 16:50 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on October 12, said Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijan's energy minister, the Kazakh media reported on September 22. We look forward to President Nazarbayevs visit to Azerbaijan, the minister said at the 13th meeting of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani intergovernmental economic cooperation commission. We deeply respect the Kazakh president for his wisdom and attitude towards Azerbaijan. The minister said the fraternal relations between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are the two pillars on which all the political, economic and friendly relations between the two independent countries are based. Earlier, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said that President Nazarbayev will visit Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia and some other countries in 2016 The 13th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Kazakh intergovernmental economic cooperation commission kicked off in Astana, Kazakhstan on September 22 under the chairmanship of Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijani energy minister, and Kanat Bozumbayev, Kazakh energy minister. The sides are discussing such areas as economy, energy, transport, agriculture, environmental protection and culture, as well as the supply of Kazakh oil and oil products from Azerbaijan to world markets, and organizing exhibitions and business forums. Kazakh expert Adil Kaukenov previously told Day.Az that the future perspectives of cooperation in the Caspian Sea region will be on the agenda of the Baku talks within the Kazakh leaders upcoming visit. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are also expected to discuss prospects of different logistics and transportation projects, particularly, the Aktau port modernization and intensification of the route Aktau-Baku, which in turn promises significant mutual benefits. Azerbaijanis and Kazakhs are both Turkic-speaking nations and share close historical, religious, and cultural ties. Both are the littoral states of the Caspian Sea and possess a common maritime border. Kazakhstan is home to more than 130,000 Azerbaijanis. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 18:06 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova Produced in Azerbaijan modern armaments and equipment have been tested and are well known in the international arena, said on the Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Yahya Musayev on September 22. The deputy minister said that meeting the modern standards the weapons and equipment of the Azerbaijani production are exported abroad. Baku will host the Defense Industry Exhibition ADEX-2016 on September 27-30, which is not the first exhibition to demonstrate our weapons. The products of Azerbaijani defense companies have repeatedly demonstrated in the international specialized exhibitions, they are known enough and get good feedback from foreign experts. This exhibition will last three days, said Musayev. Since 2009, the Defense Industry Ministry has demonstrated its products at international exhibitions and now the ministry is preparing for the second Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition "ADEX-2016" to be held in Baku. More than 100 international companies have passed registration to participate at the exhibition. The population could not adequately participate in the exhibition last year. This year, there will be held an open doors event and the fourth day of the exhibition and everyone will be able to get acquainted with the exhibited weapons and equipment," added Musayev. He also stressed that the demand for manufactured weapon in Azerbaijan has increased significantly in recent years. "Due to the large number of orders, the Ministry of Defense Industry has even been forced to refuse to the orders of some countries, since we are not able to produce this amount of weapons in a short time, Yahya Musayev said, adding that mostly the arms and ammunition orders come from Europe, Africa and Asia. Our weapons are qualitative, competitive and sold in accordance with the existing prices on the world market, said Musayev. Musayev noted that Azerbaijan does not need free arms and ammunition supplies from any country. Acquiring the relevant advanced technology Azerbaijan is able to independently produce ammunition and equipment to provide its army," said the deputy minister. The Azerbaijani Army is one of the strongest, most highly-disciplined armies in the world and the leading in the region. It is equipped with new high-quality weapons made by domestic and foreign military-industrial systems. Azerbaijans expanded military budget has lifted it to the top among its neighbors in the South Caucasus. The country manufactures the Istiglal sniper rifle, Mubariz rifle, Orbiter-2M unmanned intelligence drones, Gurza armored patrol car, "Matador" and "Marauder" armored vehicles, anti-tank mines, etc. Last year, the Defense Industry Ministry accomplished work over the creation of night vision devices, prismatic binoculars with a compass, mine fuses of different types and organized their production. Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's territorial claims during more than 20 years, keeps in focus the armament, working closely with leading companies and firms in various fields of military industry. Azerbaijans military budget for 2016 is about $1.466 billion. The country's military budget exceeds the overall state budget of occupant Armenia by more than $1 billion. Azerbaijan leaves behind many CIS and regional countries to take its place among the first 70 strongest militaries of the world, according to the U.S.-based Global Firepower survey center. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 17:13 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The execution of Shah Deniz Stage 2 project, one of the largest gas developments in the world is implemented by almost 82 percent, and the work is continued in accordance with the schedule, BP, which acts as an operator of the project reported. Work on the expansion of Sangachal terminal is moving according to plan. Israfil Huseynov pipe-lay barge completed the installation of the first Shah Deniz flowline from the North Flank cluster to the platform location. The barge is now installing the other flowline before it heads to the West Flank to install the two flowlines there. "Khankendi" vessel is now getting ready for commissioning and certification. Once completed, this new vessel will be deployed to the Shah Deniz 2 area for the construction of the subsea structures, the message said. Sangachal terminal, which receives, processes, stores and exports crude oil and gas produced from all currently operated BP assets in the Caspian basin undergoes a major expansion as part of Shah Deniz 2. The expansion will allow it to process an additional 16 billion cubic metres of gas per year, almost tripling the overall gas processing capacity and further increasing the importance of the terminal to regional oil and gas industry. The company also reported that a number of contracts worth some $18 billion were signed within the framework of Shah Deniz 2 development and expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), which was built to export Shah Deniz gas from Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkey. Meanwhile, BPs Vice President on Shah Deniz 2 project Ewan Drummond said that the construction of upper modules of the project with the total weight of 28,500 tons is completed by 93 percent, adding that the fact allowed to launch implementation of trials (which are completed by 40 percent) ahead of schedule. The proven gas reserves in Azerbaijan as of early 2016 amounted to 1.1 trillion cubic meters, which accounts for 0.6 percent of global proven gas reserves, according to BP's estimates. The Shah Deniz field, discovered in 1999, is considered to be one of the worlds largest gas-condensate fields, with the estimated reserves standing at 1.2 tcm. The field is located in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea, approximately 100km south of Baku and 90 km east-south east of Sangachal in water depths ranging from 50m to 500m. The country has so far extracted some 75 bcm of gas and 19 million tons of condensate at the field, which is located on the deep water shelf of the Caspian Sea, 70 km south-east of Baku, in water depths ranging from 50 to 500 meters. The contract on the development of the field was signed on June 4, 1996. The cost of Shah Deniz 2 development is estimated at $25 billion, while the fist volume of gas at the field is expected to be produced in 2018. The shareholders in the contract are BP (operator with a stake of 28.8 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), Petronas (15.5 percent), Lukoil (10 percent), NIOC (10 percent) and TPAO (19 percent). .-- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 19:42 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The management of Azerbaijans state energy giant SOCAR will soon discuss the issue of closing a deal on the acquisition of a 66 percent share in the Greek gas operator DESFA. Head of SOCAR, Rovnag Abdullayev said that the meeting with the Greek government is scheduled for late September. I am not eager to keep discussing the issue now or spread rumors, as we are respectful to the Greek side. We have been engaged in talks and are currently waiting for return offers. All further details will be defined in the upcoming meeting, he said. SOCAR won a tender in 2013 on the purchase of a 66-percent stake in DESFA for 400 million euros ($446.3 million) but the acquisition was stalled, when SOCAR faced EUs anti-trust concerns and was ordered to sell 17 percent of DESFA to a third party, so that its stake drops to 49 percent and satisfy EU competition authorities. Greece passed a law in July which raised DESFA's gas tariffs, further complicating the sale. SOCAR hopes it can overcome the EU obstacles, as Italys Snam SpA may purchase at least required 17 percent of shares. Italian operator seeks to be a part of privatization of the DESFA. Spams representative reportedly held a meeting with the representatives of Greeces Energy Ministry and confirmed the position of the company. Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Natig Aliyev earlier said that the deal on SOCAR's purchasing the 66-percent share in Greece's DESFA will be completed after Italy's Snam purchases 17 percent of that share. Sale of DESFA is part of a privatization programme required under Greece's three international bailouts since 2010. .-- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Switzerlands MECI Group International signed an agreement with Irans government to build a 750 million-euro ($839 million) wind farm, Bloomberg reported. The project, located in the mountainous region in northern Iran, will have 270 megawatts installed capacity, according to a statement from the Swiss holding company. Turbine testing is already happening onsite, according to MECI Chairman Jeremiah Josey. Iran is at a very interesting point in history, Josey said in a phone interview. There is so much growth to be had. They can get through at least 20 years of technological catch-up in five years. Tehran has been flooded with at least 150 trade delegations after most economic sanctions were lifted in January. Officials have been courting international renewable-energy investments in the market of 78 million people. Generating more green power at home would allow the country to export more of its fossil fuels abroad, Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian said in a July interview. MECI signed a 5-year power purchase agreement with the Irans energy ministry with a fixed feed-in tariff. Josey said he expects the contract will be extended once we prove ourselves. MECI, which also agreed to build a 100-megawatt combined heat and power plant that will burn natural gas, will finance the project with a bond issue and equity partners, according to Josey. The expected debt-to-equity split is 80/20, he said. Josey anticipates signing agreements for another 500 megawatts of renewable-energy plants once the wind farm progresses. MECI has a target to install 1 gigawatt of clean power in Iran, which will be a mix of solar and wind. By the middle of next year, if we dont have it up and running, we should at least have signed 1 gigawatt, he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 16:15 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on September 21 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, Anadolu Agency reported. The White House said in a statement that Biden reiterated his unshakeable support for Turkish democracy and praised the Turkish people's commitment to democratic institutions and the rule of law. Biden also pledged that the U.S. would provide assistance to Turkey in its investigation into the illegal and violent coup attempt there this summer. Biden visited Turkey in August amid tensions between Washington and Ankara regarding the extradition of the U.S.-based Gulen, who is accused of masterminding the bloody failed coup attempt in Turkey in July. Turkey has asked the U.S. to hand over the leader of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a network within the Turkish state that carried out the July 15 coup attempt. The vice president also condemned the PKK terror groups violence against Turkish security forces and civilians. The sit-down at the Peninsula Hotel occurred on the same day Secretary of State John Kerry asked the UN Security Council to ground all aircraft flying above opposition-held areas in Syria to allow aid to flow to besieged areas. Turkey has pushed for a no-fly zone in Syria. Most observers believe Erdogan and Biden also discussed the situation in Syria and Operation Euphrates Shield launched by Turkey last month in northern Syria to clear Daesh along the Turkish border. Earlier, during his visit to Turkey Biden said that Turkey and the U.S. will continue the joint fight against militants of the Islamic State terrorist organization. On August 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. Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border. 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 September 2016 18:15 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Irans new Ambassador to Bishkek Ali Mojtaba Rouzbahani has called for expansion of trade ties with Kyrgyzstan. At a meeting with President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic Marat Sharshekeev, the Iranian envoy stressed the significance of creating a joint commerce chamber between the two countries, Fars news agency reported. The envoy also urged for holding Irans trade exhibitions in Bishkek, the report added. Earlier in May, Iran and the Kyrgyz Republic signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to increase bilateral exchanges in different fields. The MoUs call for the formation of a joint investment council, energy and economic cooperation, agriculture as well as scientific and technological exchanges. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A Warburtons-sponsored three-day cycle ride from London to Paris in support of GroceryAid has raised more than 90,000 for the charity. Seventy-four cyclists set off on 15 September and took the initial 65-mile course from Dairy Crests head office in Claygate through the North and South Downs and then via Portsmouth for the overnight ferry to France. A second-day breakfast of croissant and baguettes was followed by a 90-mile cycle to Evreux, with the final 70 miles to Paris on the third day completed by arrival at the Eiffel Tower. The event concluded with a celebration dinner and awards presentation. Jason Tarry, chief product officer Tesco, who took part in the ride said The London to Paris bike ride is everything a good charity event should be. Its very well organised and run, its challenging and, as such it brings people together from across the industry and engenders real camaraderie and fun. All bound by a common purpose to raise money for our industry charity GroceryAid. Next year the London to Paris Cycle Challenge will take place on 14-16 September and the GroceryAid Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge will be held on 29 June-1 July. Contact events@groceryaid.org.uk if you are interested in taking part in either event. Theres more than 50 million gallons of sewage that spilled all over St. Petersburgs shores. The amount of finger pointing regarding who is to blame for the situation may be just as alarming. Whistleblower disputes Mayor Kriseman's assurances Kriseman maintains wastewater was tested, deemed safe Kriseman insists whistleblower's job is safe Everyone from the governor to members of Congress are speaking out. St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman is in the thick of it. Any politician who tells somebody that they guarantee that this will never happen again is lying to them, said Kriseman, who placed two top sewer officials on unpaid leave Wednesday due to the crisis. But theres another finger pointing right back at the mayor -- a city employee who is calling himself a "whistleblower." In a letter sent to the mayor and city leaders, that employee acknowledged the mayors claims that the water wasnt a danger to the public. But the letter points out 10 violations in that same spill and insists that the water wasn't as clean as Kriseman said it was. The mayor, for his part, is standing by what he said. Weve had testing done of the water," said Kriseman. "[The whistleblower] is referring to some other material thats in the water. We tested it and what we were really concerned most about was 'did the water pose a threat to human health?' And the answer to that was 'no.' For some area residents, Kriseman's assurances are a hard sell. I have some pretty aggravated opinions about our mayor and some of the decisions that were made that Im sure were altruistic at the time," said resident Carrie Caignet. "But they were clearly unrealistic as far as being able to keep sewage water from backing up into the bay and into our homes." Residents Kenny and Marit Parker said thats exactly where some of that water ended up: in their home. The couple said not only did they have flood damage near their Azalea neighborhood, but they also had to deal with the smell of it in their home. I want to see St. Pete thrive and survive in the next 50 to 100 years, but we need to make some changes," said Parker. "Were a water-based community, and so it makes me nervous. I dont want to move, I dont want to leave here." Mayor Kriseman said the city's long term plan will hopefully ease some of those concerns. Kriseman went on to say there hasnt been any formal whistleblower lawsuit filed by any employee to protect themselves. But he said the employee who submitted the latest letter isnt at risk of losing their job. Congressman David Jolly, meanwhile, is now encouraging other employees to come forward with information and offering them help with whistleblower protection. A retired Marine is charged with aggravated battery against a senior citizen after deputies say he ran his car into a school volunteer in the drop-off line at Calusa Elementary. Elderly volunteer at Pasco elementary school struck with car Deputies arrested Lawrence Franklin 34, a retired Marine Incident arose from argument between Franklin and William Denamen, 79 Lawrence Franklin, 34, was taking his daughter to school when volunteer William Denamen says the father was trying to cut in line. I said, 'No, no, no, youre not doing that. That is wrong for the rest of the people who have been here.' Then, he blew the horn for three to five minutes at me. I laughed, Denamen said. Denamen, a retired Pasco County Sheriffs Office deputy, said he started to walk away when the car rammed into him. He says when he regained his balance, he was hit again. Franklin told police he 'let his foot off the break,' and didnt intentionally run into the volunteer. He was arrested on scene and held on $30,000 bond. Franklins grandmother says its a misunderstanding, and she cant believe he was arrested. Hes a good person," said Peggy Tolbert. "He served our country, he put his life on the line. He went to Iraq two times." Denamen says hes glad he was the only one hurt. If Id have my weapon, Id have probably shot him, said Denamen. Denamen says he will continue to volunteer at the school. A judge ordered Franklin to have no contact with the school or Denamen. Carrie Caiget was one of many St. Petersburg residents who had waste water back up into their homes and bubble through manhole covers as Hurricane Hermine dumped several inches of rain on the area last month. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman meeting with city council today about sewage issue Gov. Scott orders state to investigate sewerage discharges Rep. Jolly wants EPA investigation Kriseman places top sewer officials on unpaid leave As the finger pointing continues after millions of gallons of sewage was dumped into Tampa Bay and other local waterways, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is set to meet with the city council today to address more issues surrounding the crisis. Since August 2015, St. Petersburg has dumped more than 190 million gallons of sewage into Tampa Bay and other local waterways. City officials were warned this could happen when they shut down the Albert Whitted water treatment facility, according to one whistleblower. A permanent fix to the problem is not likely until at least 2018, when major upgrades to the Southwest wastewater treatment plant may be completed. Additional sewage was released into the Bay during the torrential rains that came with Hurricane Hermine last month. The problems have been caused by a combination of an aged sewer system with low capacity and heavy rains. While the City of St. Petersburg is responsible for conducting testing in the immediate area of the sewage spill, Scott directed the Department of Health to begin additional testing at this site. City employees with any information about the waste water issues are being asked to come forward. St. Petersburg residents, meanwhile, are questioning the mayor about how safe is the city's water. "I have some pretty aggravated opinions about our mayor and some of the decisions that were made that Im sure were altruistic at the time," Caignet said. "But they were clearly unrealistic as far as being able to keep sewage water from backing up into the bay and into our homes." The city shut down the Albert Whitted Wastewater Treatment facility last year. Since then, the city has dumped partially treated waste water into the bay because of a lack of capacity to hold it. And now, a letter from a whistle blower inside city hall is alleging Kriseman is lying about how safe the waste water dumps have been. The mayor responded to that claim on Wednesday. "Weve had testing done of the water," Kriseman said. "Hes referring to some other material thats in the water. We tested it and what we were really concerned most about was 'Did the water pose a threat to human health?' "And the answer to that was no." Still, a lot of residents are not so sure. Rep. David Jolly has asked more whistle blowers to come forward. Aslo, Jolly and Sen. Marco Rubio are asking for an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cajoling Gypsy Jazz, Django-Style, Comes to Central Oregon Coast Published 09/22/2016 at 5:21 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) Call it spicy. Call it unusual. Call it passionate and cajoling. All are likely true to encapsulate one exotic form of music coming to the central Oregon coast this next week: a hefty dose of gypsy jazz, a la Django Reinhardt. It arrives in the form of Rhythm Future Quartet, which plays the Lincoln City Cultural Center on Wednesday, September 28. For some, it dont mean a thing if it aint got that gypsy violin, a driving bass and at least two guitars, one for lead and one for rhythm. Mandolins and accordions are acceptable, but drums or any form of non-guitar percussion are completely unnecessary. Such is the legacy of Django (whose name inspired a legendary record chain in Oregon for a couple of decades). The Rhythm Future Quartet, a young and talented acoustic jazz quintet, brings that to town in full force. Tickets for the show, held in the LCCC auditorium at 540 NE Hwy. 101, are on sale now at lincolncity-culturalcenter.org. The RFQ has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of gypsy jazz alive and expanding in todays musical universe. The band, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly-minted sound that is influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Led by violinist Jason Anick and guitarist Olli Soikkeli, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both gypsy jazz standards and original compositions. With Max ORourke on second guitar and Greg Loughman on bass. Award-winning composer Anick is one of the youngest professors at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston. He's even shared the stage with Stevie Wonder. ORourke was the winner of the 2015 Saga Award from DjangoFest Northwest, and at the age of 19 has already toured and recorded with many of the top American gypsy jazz musicians. Loughman is a famed bassist in the Boston area and has been heard with luminaries such as Sheila Jordan, Curtis Fuller and George Garzone. The show will provide an engaging new vibe for the central Oregon coast, open to locals and visitors alike. Doors in the LCCC auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Volunteers will be selling Northwest beers and wines along with cookies and brownies, and Mountain Man nuts and snacks, all to benefit the nonprofit LCCC. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door, with a $2 discount for current LCCC members. Youth ages 18 and under will be admitted free. To reserve, click the Buy Tickets Now button at lincolncity-culturalcenter.org, or call 541-994-9994. The local, donor-supported nonprofit LCCC is located at the corner of NE Sixth St. and Hwy. 101 in downtown Lincoln City. It features 17,000 square feet of creativity and community, including classes in ceramics, mosaics, textiles, dance, Zumba and yoga, and visual art exhibits in the P.J. Chessman Gallery. To sign up for the monthly calendar of events, head to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org (the sign up form is on the right of the home page). More about Lincoln City below: Lincoln City Hotels/Lodgings for this event - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour More About Lincoln City Lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted A 51-year-old Beaumont man told officials "he was going to end this" when they attempted to arrest him on Tuesday, according to the Beaumont Police Department. Police were dispatched to Charles Fisher's home at 7200 block of HWY 105 Tuesday afternoon on a warrant service, officials said. Officers said they found Fisher, in the area of HWY 105 and North Major Drive. According to officials, after initiating a traffic stop on Fisher, who was driving a Gold Chevy Impala, they noticed an empty handgun holster on the floorboard of the driver's seat. Fisher told Officers that there was a handgun in the vehicle, then made the statement that he "was going to end this," officials said. Officials said Fisher reached toward the center console, which caused officers to move for cover, and drove off. A short vehicle pursuit ended in the driveway of Fisher's residence. Officers prevented Fisher from shutting the garage door, officials said. According to officials, Fisher exited his vehicle with an object in his hand and told the officers that he had a grenade, and began to manipulate the device. Officers said they believed he was attempting to detonate, and were able to deploy an electric control device to restrain Fisher. While on the ground, Fisher was still attempting to detonate the device, but officers were able to get the device and handcuff him, officials said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was notified and responded to the scene to take custody of the class two explosive device, officials said. Fisher was transported to the Jefferson County Jail, where he was booked in on two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and evading detention with a motor vehicle, as well as his outstanding Jefferson County warrant. Fisher is being held on bonds that totals $110,000, officials confirmed. Here are seven updates: Cigna defends $48M merger with Anthem As the Anthem-Cigna antitrust case continues, Cigna defended the potential merger saying the $48 billion deal would provide Americans increased access to affordable healthcare. Both Cigna and Anthem said federal attorneys are using out-of-context quotes from internal documents to create a misleading image. Medicare spends $87.9M on EpiPen users in 2014, up 1,000%+ in 7 years Between 2007 and 2014, Medicare spending on the EpiPen increased 1,151 percent. Medicare spent $7 million on EpiPen in 2007 for 79,980 users in 2007, with that figure increasing to $87.9 million in 2014. Novant Health receives CON approval for $9.8M Kernesville ASC North Carolina-based Novant Health received certificate-of-need approval to build its ambulatory surgery center in Kernersville, N.C. The surgery center costs nearly $9.8 million and hopes to be operational in April 2018. In the plan, Novant Health proposed moving two operating rooms from Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Forsyth Medical Center to Kernersville Outpatient Surgery. Physicians give insight into Hillary Clinton's health records & what the records are missing Hillary Clinton's personal physician Lisa Bardack, MD, released an update of a July 2015 letter, featuring two new medical conditions, including a sinus and ear infection and pneumonia. Physicians not linked to Ms. Clinton claim Dr. Bardack's letters do not include essential information, such as Ms. Clinton's height and weight. They also argue the letters should include a more detailed history of Ms. Clinton's blood clots and her 2012 concussion. Colonoscopies inaccurate when determining surgical site for cancer cases A study found colonoscopies do not accurately determine the proper surgical location for nearly 33 percent of all colon cancer cases. Although colonoscopy is a valuable tool to screen and diagnose colorectal cancer, its effectiveness for localization or surveillance of tumors is being challenged by co-author Jennifer Nayor, MD, of the division of gastroenterology, hepatology and endoscopy at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both located in Boston. Northfield Hospital & Clinics considers ASC location Farmington, Minn.-based Northfield Hospital & Clinics is considering building its new ambulatory surgery center in Lakeville, Minn. On Sept. 13, NH&C CEO Steve Underdahl presented updates to a Northfield City Council about the surgery center, noting the project is in its preliminary stages. Aetna CEO responds to senators' letter, says claims are 'unfounded' A group of senators sent a letter to Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini asking for an explanation as to why the payer exited many Affordable Care Act exchanges. In his response to the senators, Mr. Bertolini wrote the senators made, "several unfounded accusations about Aetna's intentions as they relate to the public healthcare exchanges." More healthcare news: 5 things to know about the GI endoscopic market After Anthem responds to antitrust case, Cigna follows suit: 4 things you need to know 6 areas of focus for ASCs to improve efficiency & increase the bottom line Workers across three hospitals have approved union contracts with the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health, reports Buffalo Business First. Kenmore (N.Y.) Mercy Hospital workers voted Tuesday to approve a three-year contract that covers 95 technical workers, according to the article. Union officials said the ratified agreement maintains low-cost health benefits, and includes improvements in wages and staffing, reports Buffalo Business First. Earlier this month, 200 registered nurses at Sisters of Charity Hospital's St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga, N.Y., also ratified a new contract; while registered nurses and service, technical and clerical associates at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo have also ratified two new contracts, the article states. Workers at all three hospitals are represented by Communications Workers of America. More articles on human capital and risk: NJ nurses advocate for CDC to study gun violence Saint Louis University Hospital nurses vote on tentative agreement covering 660 workers Mayo and SEIU to resume negotiations over food service worker outsourcing plans On Thursday, the Arkansas Department of Health increased the tally of mumps cases associated with an outbreak in the northwest part of the state to 302. This number reflects infections with laboratory confirmation and suspected cases. The health department is requiring students with vaccination exemptions at schools where a student or teacher has become infected with the mumps to remain out of school for at least 26 days or until the outbreak has ended. The mumps are best known for painful, swollen salivary glands that cause puffy cheeks and swollen jaw. To learn more about the mumps, click here. More articles on infection control: IPC issues fall safety warning for toxic wild mushrooms One dead in Minnesota Legionnaires' outbreak as cases increase to 14 Antibiotic resistance detected in cluster of gonorrhea infections Physician practices in South Carolina are now able to employ physical therapists, after the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling, which had banned the employment of physical therapists by physicians. Here's what you need to know: 1. Two orthopedic surgeons and a physical therapist recently sued the South Carolina Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association and the State of South Carolina over the previous ruling. 2. The court ruled that the previous ban was anti-competitive and deprived physicians of their right to practice medicine in the best interests of their patients, according to Gerald R. Williams Jr., MD, president of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 3. AAOS had been fighting the ban for more than a decade. In December 2004, the society released a position statement that read: "Physical therapy is integral to providing high quality care for musculoskeletal disease and injury. Orthopaedic surgeons are best qualified to prescribe clinical and cost-effective use of this service." Perry Haney, MD, is the medical director of SpineOne medical center in Lone Tree, Colo. He discussed his secret to running a successful practice, and touched on his 2012 run for the U.S. Congress in advance of a possible 2018 campaign. Question: What is the secret to your success in running an orthopedic practice? Dr. Perry Haney: For most practices, what happens many times is people call when something has happened. The practice can't get them in on the day they're injured, so they end up going somewhere else, or they end up just postponing or never getting treatment. With my center, we refer to ourselves as an emergency room for background. We get people in the day they call, right away. That's the secret to having a big practice. That's one of my secrets. The other is our motto here: We treat everybody like they're a valued family member or somebody like Bill Gates. We treat everyone like that, whether they have Medicaid, no insurance or the best insurance you can have. That's another of our secrets. Question: Why did you decide to pursue a run for Congress? PH: I started to run in 2012 but had to drop out. I started campaigning and started to run when I began to feel a little bit tired. I was driving on and on, and it turns out, I ended up developing kidney failure, needing a transplant. Luckily, my wife was a match, which is pretty amazing. I was on dialysis for six months and I had a the transplant a year ago. Things are going well now and depending on what happens in the 2016 election, I'm seriously looking at running for Congress in 2018, once again in the sixth district in Colorado. Question: Why are you so interested in politics? PH: I've always been interested in politics, but I've always been too busy with other things to get involved with it. I believe in public service, and now that I'm 65-years-old and my health is back. I'd like to run again. One of the big reasons is that one of the major problems in this country right now is the healthcare system. I think there are answers to it, but I don't think anyone is on the right track. In the U.S. we shouldn't go to a one-payer system, especially a government system. Just look at the post office or the Department of Motor Vehicles: You just don't want national healthcare, but I do think there's a way to cover everybody. We should cover everyone and I think everyone should get treatment. I think I have the right answer, but we'll see. Q: What is your plan for healthcare in the U.S.? PH: There is a private system we can set up that would take care of everybody. It's a bit of a private/public system at some levels, but it's still mostly private. The federal government's only involvement should requiring every employer, if they employ one person or several thousands, to provide basic healthcare insurance through a private provider or industry. Maybe it's just catastrophic coverage, but we need to have basic healthcare that's affordable. We have to have healthcare that's not going to bankrupt people. Then if you're not employed or your truly disabled, I think there we should have the public sector some combination of federal, state and local government provide a private insurance policy from a private insurance company for those people. That's what I think should happen. In my system, Medicare would stay in place, but I think Medicaid could be eliminated. The whole idea is to not have a government system. (The current system) is a horrible system. We need to make sure everybody is covered, and it's easy to say that I think the system I'm talking about will work, but getting it passed through the current "do nothing Congress" we have will be an entirely different task. Learn more from Dr. Haney at the 15th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine in June 2017! Click here for more information. More health news: Minimally invasive spine surgery for adolescent scoliosis: Are outcomes better? 6 key notes Personalized Medicine in Spinal Care: Q&A with Dr. Nitin Khanna of Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana Novant Health expands neuroscience services: 4 notes Patrick Hayes, MD, of OrthoCarolina, in Shelby, North Carolina, recently traveled to Leon, Nicaragua, to hold a clinic and see patients at the Hedodora teaching hospital. Here's what you should know. 1. Dr. Hayes was a team leader with not-for-profit Cooperacion Ortopedica Americano Nicarguense. 2. Dr. Hayes made the trip with 14 other people; two surgeons, an anesthesiologist, a floor nurse and 10 non-medical personnel. 3. At the clinic, the physicians saw patients and performed surgery while educating the residents and staff about the arthroscopic and surgical techniques. 4. The group donated a pump and both arthroscopic and open surgical instruments to the hospital. The anesthesiologist donated medicine and equipment to properly deliver anesthesia. 5. As part of the trip, the group complete several service projects at the hospital cleaning and fixing the clinic, and providing non-surgical equipment to the nursing staff. The group also visited an orphanage. More practice management news: AAOS CEO Karen Hackett to retire April 2017: 3 things to know SC Supreme Court overturns ban on physician-employed physical therapists: 3 notes Quadruple aim concept gains traction in a landscape of burnout 5 things to know To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Details of Amber Rudd's involvement were included in a cache of 1.3 million files obtained by the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung Home Secretary Amber Rudd has been warned she faces "serious questions" after leaked documents revealed that she used to be director of two offshore companies. Details of Ms Rudd's involvement were included in a cache of 1.3 million files obtained by the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the Home Secretary, but opposition politicians insisted that she had questions to answer. Papers seen by The Guardian and BBC Panorama show that between 1998 and 2000, Mrs Rudd was director of Advanced Asset Allocation Fund and Advanced Asset Allocation Management. The companies were among 176,000 listed as having been set up in the Bahamas, which was last year named by the EU as an unco-operative tax haven Earlier this year, Ms Rudd defended then Prime Minister David Cameron after his father's offshore fund featured in the separate Panama Papers leak. She said then that "international transparency on tax matters is essential". A spokesman for the Home Secretary played down the significance of the leak, saying : "It is a matter of public record that Amber had a career in business before entering politics." But Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth said: "It's embarrassing for Theresa May's Tories that another senior figure has been linked to revelations about offshore tax havens. "Earlier in the year Amber Rudd was sent out to defend David Cameron amid controversy over offshore holdings. "At the time she trumpeted transparency yet she made no mention of her own situation, which was surely relevant to claims amid calls for openness at the top of the Tory Party. "People will be forgiven for wondering what the true picture is and they deserve an answer from Amber Rudd." And Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "Serious questions for Amber Rudd - she must provide clarity. The public are sick of the idea of politicians tying to dodge the rules they make." Green MEP Molly Scott Cato, a member of the European Parliament's inquiry into the Panama Papers, said: "During her brief leadership campaign Theresa May made clear that she would lead a government 'that works for everyone' and would encourage a more ethical approach to business. "In this context it is difficult to see how she can continue to have confidence in Amber Rudd as Home Secretary. The Prime Minister needs to take firm action to lay to rest fears that the UK may turn into a tax haven following our withdrawal from the EU." Meanwhile, the European Commission was facing questions over the presence of its former competition chief in the leaked documents from the Bahamas corporate registry. Neelie Kroes, who was competition commissioner between 2004-10, is listed as director of an offshore company registered in the Bahamas. It is understood she has told the Commission she did not declare the post because the company never became operational. Carl Dolan of anti-corruption group Transparency International said: "It is incredible that something like this - which is a clear breach of the rules and could have led to a major conflict of interest - was undetected by the European Commission for so many years." But the Commission's chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters: "There are certain things that even the strictest rules can't fix." In the future, the Commission "will make sure that memory doesn't fail here when it comes to declarations of interest", he said. Shares in womenswear retailer Bonmarche have plummeted 24% after the firm issued a profit warning, saying "unseasonably hot weather" in September melted sales of its autumn ranges. The retailer, which has 10 stores in Northern Ireland, said it expects like-for-like sales at its shops to plunge by 8% in the second quarter and first half of the year. As a result, Bonmarche said full year pre-tax profit will come in at between 5m and 7m. Shares fell to 87p. The firm said: "Trading in September has been extremely poor, largely as a consequence of the unseasonably hot weather which has not favoured sales of our new autumn ranges. "We approach the beginning of the second half of the year facing considerable uncertainty as to market conditions." The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey showed output holding firm in the three months to September There were further signs of a Brexit bounce in the economy as figures showed a robust performance from the manufacturing sector in September. The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey showed output holding firm in the three months to September, while manufacturers' output expectations for the next three months doubled to a three-month high. The total order book balance remained at minus 5%, but was "well above" the long-run average, according to the CBI. It added that the weaker pound was boosting demand for British products, with export orders also above average, despite easing back a little. Its survey of 481 firms found that 33% of businesses reported a rise in output volumes and 22% reported a fall, giving a balance of plus 11% - the same as in August. But 37% of companies expect a rise in output over the next three months and 15% expect a fall, resulting in a balance of plus 22%, the highest since June. Rain Newton-Smith, chief economist at the CBI, said: "It's good to see that manufacturers are enjoying a lingering summer with output running at a strong pace and manufacturers' order books remaining solid, particularly amongst the food, drink and motor vehicles sectors. "Our members tell us and our surveys show that the fall in sterling has boosted international competitiveness for many businesses, with export order books remaining well above average in September, despite weakening slightly." The report showed that 16% of businesses reported export orders to be above normal and 26% below, resulting in a balance of minus 10%, against an average of minus 20%. Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said the CBI report "provides reassurance that the manufacturing sector is currently holding up well - and has got over a blip in the immediate aftermath of June's Brexit vote". But he warned of "dangers lurking" ahead for manufacturers, with a possible sharp drop in domestic demand for big ticket items, while the weak pound is also pushing up costs. Despite this, the CBI found manufacturers expect to reduce average prices slightly over the next quarter, with 15% of companies expecting to hike prices and 9% to cut prices, giving a rounded balance of plus 5%, down from plus 8% last month. Mark Carney said "too rapid a movement" towards climate-friendly reforms could catch markets unprepared Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has warned that a premature move towards a climate-friendly, low-carbon economy could "materially damage financial stability". In a speech delivered in Berlin on Thursday, Mr Carney said "too rapid a movement" towards climate-friendly reforms could catch markets unprepared. "Sudden changes in policy, technology and physical risks could prompt a reassessment of asset values as costs and opportunities become apparent," Mr Carney said. "The speed at which such re-pricing occurs is uncertain but could be decisive for financial stability." His comments build on a speech made last year, when he dubbed climate change a "tragedy of the horizon", and stressed that the window of opportunity to act against climate change was "finite and shrinking". Mr Carney went on to urge policy-makers to make early, predictable moves towards climate-friendly reforms. "Smooth adjustment is crucial because transition risks are how success could turn into failure," he said. "The point is that the more we invest with foresight; the less we will regret in hindsight. "Financial stability risks will be minimised if the transition begins early and follows a predictable path, thereby helping the market anticipate the transition." Mr Carney delivered the speech as part of the Arthur Burns Memorial Lecture run by the non-profit group Atlantik-Brucke. As part of the transition towards a low-carbon economy, Mr Carney urged companies to disclose the financial risks that climate change poses to their business models. Such a move would help investors "internalise the risks and opportunities of climate change". "An obstacle to a smooth adjustment has been the absence of information to help market participants make a market in climate-related financial risk," Mr Carney said. Only a third of the top 1,000 US companies currently release comparable information on the financial risks posed by climate change, Mr Carney explained. "The right information allows sceptics and evangelists alike to back their convictions with their capital," he added. He also highlighted the "major opportunity" around green finance. Directing investment towards green technologies, for example, could ensure that a global growth recovery is environmentally sustainable. Meanwhile, the development of a cross-border "green bond" market could help climate-friendly infrastructure, "with issuers ranging from US regional authorities raising funds domestically to invest in water projects, to Chinese and Indian corporates, issuing in a range of currencies, in major financial centres, including London, to finance renewable energy projects", Mr Carney said. In the move towards a low-carbon economy, "governments will establish the frameworks, and the private sector will make the investments", he said. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has upped its UK growth projections for 2016 by 0.1% to 1.8%, highlighting a strong pre-referendum economic performance and prompt action by the Bank of England. Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK which voted to remain in the EU are those that have benefited most from Government funding, a report has revealed. The research from the Fabian Society suggests low spending in less prosperous areas increased likelihood of voting in favour of leaving the EU. However, Northern Ireland - along with London and Scotland - were shown to have benefited most from Government spending, and were the areas that backed staying in the EU. Northern Ireland's electorate voted 56:44 in favour of staying in the EU. Areas which the research found had poor funding deals and high support for Brexit included the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East. Andrew Harrop, general secretary of the left wing think-tank, said: "Fabian Society analysis shows that those regions and nations which have been 'winners' when it comes to public spending were also the most pro-Remain." The Fabian Society measured gross value per head and public spending per head across UK regions, and compared the measures with Remain support. Northern Ireland's relative lack of prosperity was measured by the Fabian Society at 76 and its relatively higher claim on public spending at 121 - which the society said contributed to its backing of the Remain side. Meanwhile, figures showing that Government borrowing was higher than expected in August after a surplus a month earlier reflect other data suggesting that Brexit has not caused an immediate hit to the economy, according to PwC NI chief economist Esmond Birnie. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing, which does not include public sector banks, dropped by 900m to 10.5bn year on year, against economists' forecasts for 10bn. Government borrowing for the fiscal year to date - the period from April to August - decreased by 4.9bn to 33.8bn, compared with the same period last year. Dr Birnie said: "The public finance figures reflect recent economic data, suggesting that there has not been a significant immediate hit to the UK economy and to tax revenues following the EU referendum outcome. "Public borrowing in August 2016 was almost 1bn lower than in August 2015 and cumulative public borrowing for the financial year to date was around 5bn lower than in the same period last year. "That said, it may still be very difficult for the Chancellor to meet the March Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast for 2016/17, which envisaged public borrowing being 21bn lower than the latest estimate for 2015/16. "We expect the OBR to revise up its borrowing projections materially in the November Autumn Statement and the Chancellor is unlikely to seek to offset this at a time when the priority is to support the economy in the uncertain period following the EU referendum." Meanwhile, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised its growth forecast for Britain, after warning the UK would be hit by an immediate shock following the Brexit vote. The think-tank upped its UK projections for 2016 by 0.1% to 1.8%. Inditex, the owner of Zara, notched up sales of 10.47bn (8.9bn) during the period, resulting in an 8% rise in net profits to $1.26bn (1bn). Inditex, the owner of Zara, has seen sales rise 11% in the first half of the year as the company remained firmly in fashion with shoppers. The Spanish retailer notched up sales of 10.47bn (8.9bn) during the period, resulting in an 8% rise in net profits to $1.26bn (1bn). Chairman and chief executive Pablo Isla hailed the firm's integrated business model. He said: "Both our online and bricks-and-mortar stores are seamlessly connected, driven by platforms such as mobile payment, and other technological initiatives that we will continue to develop." Inditex, the world's biggest clothing retailer and also the owner of Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, opened 83 new stores during the period, taking its total to 7,096. Its new openings in the first half included its first Stradivarius store for Northern Ireland - on Belfast's Donegall Place. The company also owns a Zara in the same location, and a Pull & Bear in Victoria Square. The retailer also flagged the launch of Zara in Vietnam in the third quarter, meaning it now has a presence in 92 countries. Inditex added that, over the past 12 months, it has created almost 10,000 new jobs. Andrew Smyth with Sue Perkins in last night's Bake Off programme Northern Ireland engineer Andrew Smyth has baked his way through to the sixth round of the Great British Bake Off. Despite suffering a few bumps along the way, the 25-year-old secured his spot and escaped being thrown off the BBC show. It was Val Stones (66) who fell at the last hurdle when she failed to complete the showstopper challenge, leaving 12 amuse-bouches still in the oven as she ran out of time. This week's pastry round required the eight remaining contestants to bake a Danish classic in the first round. Andrew, who described himself as a "friendly person", admitted he wanted to win star baker before he leaves the show after coming close to winning the accolade a number of times. The bakers were given three-and-a-half hours to bake 24 breakfast Danish pastries for their signature dish. Andrew opted for his mum and dad's breakfast pastries which were filled with dates. Smyth revealed the inspiration behind the ingredient came from his father - outgoing CBI Northern Ireland director Nigel Smyth. He said his dad loved dates - and even used to stash them in his car's glove box. As ever, the Co Down Rolls-Royce employee engineered his pastry to perfection with Mary Berry praising the pastry's "beautiful colour". She added: "They look delicious and inviting." Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins prepared the contestants for the ultimate tea-time classic for the technical challenge. Things appeared to be going well for Smyth's Bakewell Tart until he realised 15 minutes into cooking time that he forgot to switch on the oven. "It's not cooking. Oh my God, the oven was not on. That's unfortunate," he said. "What a state. Oh, it's awful." The mistake cost the Bangor man as he failed to finish the icing on the cake. However, Berry said the taste of the tart wasn't "too bad". Judge Paul Hollywood also commented: "It tastes very good, but it's not finished." After finishing sixth in the technical challenge, Andrew moved on to the showstopper challenge where he attempted to make 48 filo pastries. He impressed the judges with his spicy chorizo parcels filled with spicy squash and Baklava bites packed with Pistachios. "You have got the right flavour," Berry said while Hollywood praised the "beautiful taste". Candice Brown was named star baker in Wednesday night's episode after creating a "delicious" Danish breakfast pastry. The Great British Bake Off's Candice Brown is on a roll, bagging the title of Star Baker - and also blurting out the best innuendo of the week. Sue Perkins and her co-host Mel Giedroyc usually drop most of the innuendos, with judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry chiming in. However, they were very restrained in Wednesday's episode, leaving the field open for PE teacher Brown. Here are some of the best innuendos of the week: :: Brown, making her sausage meat, black pudding and apple amuse-bouches: "Just giving it good squeeze together to make sure I can see the distribution of it, see if I need a bit more sausage. It's good to get your hands in and give your sausages a good squeeze." :: Giedroyc, to Jane Beedle as she prepares her breakfast pastries: "Would you call that a little lattice, or Jane's open pocket?" :: Hollywood, admiring Berry's Bakewell Tart: "No soggy bottom there, Mary." :: Hollywood, explaining how small he likes his amuse-bouches: "I know I've got a big mouth, but I'm talking inch and a half max." Instead of innuendos, Perkins was mistress of puns, making the most of pastry week's potential. Here are her best: :: Saying goodbye to Tom Gilliford, who was incorporating Weetabix into his breakfast pastries: "As we say in the breakfast cereal world, Cheerio." :: Announcing the end of the Danish pastries signature challenge: "Okay bakers, you've got five minutes for your Danish to make a killing." :: To the bakers during the technical challenge: "I don't want to put you in a frangipanic but you've only got an hour left." The episode also features Hollywood and Berry getting closer than ever, with Hollywood giving his co-judge an affectionate nickname: "W ell done, Bezza." Calvin Harris said the dance music and club scene in Scotland 'has always been amazing' DJ Calvin Harris has praised the addition of a dance music category to the SSE Scottish Music Awards for the first time in its 18-year history. The new "Best Dance Act" award sponsored by Sub Club has been added to this year's ceremony to recognise Scotland's "rich dance music scene". Harris said: "The dance music and club scene has always been amazing in Scotland, so it's brilliant to see the category being recognised at this year's Scottish Music Awards." The SSE Scottish Music Awards takes place on November 26 in Glasgow, with acts including Paolo Nutini, Wet Wet Wet and Annie Lennox having taken to the stage in previous years. The annual ceremony is the main fundraising event for Nordoff Robbins Scotland (NRS), a music therapy charity, and last year raised more than 140,000 for vulnerable children and adults. Sub Club owner Mike Grieve said: "Dance music is at the heart of what we do as a business, so it's a huge honour to be sponsoring the SSE Scottish Music Awards' first-ever dance award, as well as supporting Nordoff Robbins' amazing charity work." Mia Farrow said she was devastated by the loss of Thaddeus Actress Mia Farrow has paid tribute to her "wonderful, courageous" son who died on Wednesday. Authorities in Connecticut ruled the death of Thaddeus Wilk Farrow a suicide, saying he shot himself in the torso. The 27-year-old was found in his vehicle on Wednesday afternoon in Roxbury, Connecticut with a life-threatening injury and was later pronounced dead in hospital, state police said. In a statement on her Twitter account, the actress said: " We're devastated by the loss of Thaddeus, our beloved son and brother. "He was a wonderful courageous person who overcame so much hardship in his short life. We miss him. "Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and words of kindness ." She also urged anyone needing help to visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website. Farrow adopted Thaddeus, who contracted polio in an orphanage in Kolkata, India and was paralysed from the waist down. The state medical examiner's office determined the cause of death on Thursday after a post-mortem. Thaddeus Farrow lived in Torrington, about 24 miles from Roxbury, police said. Gigi Hadid was targeted by the prankster in Milan Gigi Hadid has spoken about an incident in which she was targeted by a well-known celebrity prankster. Video footage posted by celebrity news website TMZ shows the supermodel fighting to free herself after former Ukrainian television reporter Vitalii Sediuk approached her from behind in Milan and lifted her off the ground. The supermodel was leaving a fashion week show when the prankster took her by surprise, causing her to lash out to get free. He then fled but Hadid chased after him, before being ushered back to her car by her bodyguard, whom she told to "go find that guy". Sediuk has become known for his altercations with celebrities including Brad Pitt and Kim Kardashian West. Hadid, 21, took to Twitter to comment on her response to the unprovoked incident, defending herself after another user posted a screengrab of a news report and suggested an alternative headline. The amended headline read: "GOOD FOR HER: Gigi Hadid Reacts In Totally Appropriate Way When Random Man Tries To Lift Her In The Street." The American model wrote: " THANK YOU Rachel. To unknown article writer: fan?!!! The ACTUAL fans that were there can tell you what happened. I'm a HUMAN BEING. "And had EVERY RIGHT to defend myself. How dare that idiot thinks he has the right to man-handle a complete stranger. He ran quick tho (sic)." In an email to The Associated Press, Sediuk confirmed he was the person who lifted Hadid off the ground, saying it was a form of protest against the use of celebrity models. He said: "While I consider Gigi Hadid beautiful, she and her friend Kendall Jenner have nothing to do with high fashion. "By doing this I encourage fashion industry to put true talents on the runway and Vogue covers instead of well-connected cute girls from Instagram. You can call it a manifest or a protest." In 2014, he was charged and ordered to stay away from Pitt and Hollywood red carpet events after he leaped from a fan area and made contact with the actor during the premiere of Maleficent in Los Angeles. Sediuk offered a plea of no contest to battery during a court appearance three days later. Several months later, there was an encounter with Kardashian West in Paris that saw her stumble after being jostled by someone in a crowd. Sediuk took ownership of the incident and claimed he had been trying to hug her. Police and forensic officers at the scene of a Sudden Death in the Donegall street area of Belfast on September 22nd 2016 , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Police investigating the sudden death of Wilfred Holmes in Belfast city centre are appealing for the public's help in tracing his last movements. The 45-year-old was discovered in a car park in the Donegall Street area on Wednesday night at around 11.30pm. Holmes, who was known as Wilfie was originally from the Ballymoney area, and had been living in Belfast. Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin said: "A post mortem examination has taken place. The circumstances leading up to the discovery of his body are being examined by police. "I am keen to gather as much information as possible about Wilfreds movements. We know he was in the Derry/Londonderry area early yesterday, Wednesday 21st September 2016, before travelling to Belfast. "He was last seen in the Royal Avenue/High Street area of Belfast around 6.30pm and we would appeal to anyone who saw him between then and 11.30pm when his body was discovered. "He is described as being approximately 59 tall, with blue eyes, dark short brown hair and of medium build. Expand Close Police and forensic officers at the scene of a Sudden Death in the Donegall street area of Belfast on September 22nd 2016 , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police and forensic officers at the scene of a Sudden Death in the Donegall street area of Belfast on September 22nd 2016 , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) "I would ask anyone who has information as to the movements of Wilfred between these hours to get in touch with Detectives at Reactive and Organised Crime at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number 1420 of the 21/09/16. "The smallest detail just might help us establish where Wilfred was during this time, what he was doing and who he was with." A former New York bomb squad detective credited with saving countless children's lives during the Troubles, and hailed by former President Bill Clinton as a symbol for the peace process, is the subject of a new documentary. Denis Mulcahy founded Project Children during the darkest days of violence in Northern Ireland, bringing young people from both sides of the divide to the United States for peaceful summers. During the course of 40 years more than 20,000 children from some of the worst-hit areas of Belfast and Derry spent six-week stints with American host families, far from bomb blasts and riots. The tale of how Cork native Mr Mulcahy launched Project Children with willing family and friends in 1975, is told in the feature film How to Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story, narrated by Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson. President Clinton, who took Mr Mulcahy to Northern Ireland as part of his official delegation for a historic visit in 1995, described the father-of-four as "a good man doing a good thing". He said: "He knew then that if he did it enough he'd not only save some individual lives and create some different futures but it might move the country." On meeting him and hearing about his efforts he said: "I thought that he symbolised so much the hope that I had for the peace process, for what could happen." The documentary, which has contributions from many of the children, now grown up, recounting the effect the scheme had on their lives, has been selected for the United Nations Association Film Festival and will have its world premiere at the Irish Film Festival on Sunday. Having started out with an idea and 50 dollars in the pot Mr Mulcahy said he never thought of the scheme lasting four decades, but said its simple premise helped it work. The 72-year-old, who emigrated from Ireland to New York aged 17, told the Press Association: "The secret to our programme was putting kids into families and treating them just like another member and living in a neighbourhood, where you had people from all backgrounds - Irish, Jewish, Italian, black, white. And everybody could live together." The two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who was awarded an OBE last year, said the documentary was a tough watch in parts but reminded viewers of the bleak reality of the times. He said: "It was an education for a lot of people to look at it. There's some very powerful images. It's not a movie so it's not make-believe, it's real, it happened." At least seven of the children who were part of the scheme later died in the Troubles after they returned to Northern Ireland. Director Des Henderson said he was inspired to spread the word about the "extraordinary" actions of Mr Mulcahy and other volunteers within the charity. He said: "You think growing up with The Troubles that you've heard all the stories you're going to hear, the stories you've heard, read and watched have all been re-told in some manner, but then you hear of Denis and it reads like the plot of a movie. "Denis's programme didn't have a grand scheme in mind when they started, they were ordinary people compelled to do something, and to a great extent they didn't know what they were doing, they just wanted to help, in any way they could. "That was interesting to me, ordinary people, mothers, fathers, neighbours, doing something extraordinary." :: How To Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story is part-funded by the BBC and is due to be broadcast later this year. Bereaved relatives impacted by a failure to fund stalled Troubles inquests in Northern Ireland are taking legal action against the Government and Stormont ministers. Members of more than 30 families, from both unionist and nationalist backgrounds, hand-delivered notice of the challenge to the offices of Secretary of State James Brokenshire at Stormont House in Belfast. Similar letters were also delivered to the offices of First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and to Stormont's Department of Justice. Rita Bonner, whose brother John Laverty was shot dead by British soldiers in Ballymurphy, west Belfast in 1971, said the ongoing failure to hold an inquest into his and other deaths was a "total and utter disgrace". "In any other democratic society we wouldn't be standing here, we shouldn't have to be standing here pleading for our inquest to be opened," she said. Nichola Baxter, whose cousin Craig McCausland was killed by loyalist paramilitaries in 2005, said families were being denied closure. "I come from a unionist background, we are waiting 11 years for an inquest and therefore a death certificate - simple things that the law says we are entitled to as families," she said. "We are not getting answers and it's the same for everybody here. At lot of people here are waiting longer than 11 years and it's an absolute disgrace." The action is being taken in the name of Briege Voyle, whose mother Joan Connolly was also shot by the Army in 1971 in an episode relatives refer to as the Ballymurphy massacre. It alleges that the authorities are in breach of international human rights laws by their ongoing failure to release 10 million to pay for a new unit to deal with the outstanding legacy cases. There are around 50 stalled inquests relating to almost 100 deaths. Some of the deaths date back more than 40 years. The killings span allegations of security force misinformation, state collusion in loyalist murders, inept police investigations and IRA men shot dead by security forces as part of an alleged shoot-to-kill policy. In February, Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, proposed that a specialist unit be set up that could deal with the cases within five years. Politicians have so far failed to agree to stump up the 10 million needed to fund the process. The money will be accessed as part of a Government financial package to deal with a range issues related to Northern Ireland's toxic past. But Mr Brokenshire insists it can only be released if Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness formally request funding for Sir Declan's initiative. No such request has been made because Democratic Unionist leader Mrs Foster has refused to sign off on the bid. In the summer the Council of Europe expressed concern at the ongoing delay, while Sir Declan reiterated his calls for politicians to sort out the row in a strongly-worded speech earlier this month. The families protesting at Stormont were represented by Belfast solicitor Padraig O Muirigh. He said the Government had an obligation to act, even without agreement at Stormont, as it was the signatory to international human rights laws that require timely investigations into contentious deaths. "I think the British Government are ignoring a warning from Europe and also the Lord Chief Justice and very clearly they are in breach of their human rights obligations on this issue," he said. The notified parties have now 14 days to respond to the pre-action letters. If they do not act to address the delays, the action will proceed to court. A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said: "Inquests are crucial for the Ballymurphy families, and for the other families who have waited so long for their cases to be heard. "Reform of the inquest system has been part of the Secretary of State's intensive discussions over recent weeks with victims' and survivors' groups on implementing the Stormont House Agreement legacy institutions and making available 150 million of UK Government money to fund the bodies to deal with the past. "It is clear that the current system is not equipped to deal with the number and complexity of cases. "The NI Executive, which has responsibility for inquests in Northern Ireland, is rightly considering how the legacy inquest system can be improved. We will look carefully at their proposals as soon as they are submitted." A row between the Government and Sinn Fein is blocking progress on other aspects of the wider package of mechanisms aimed at dealing with the past, specifically a new historical investigations unit. A spokesman for the DUP said all outstanding issues had to be addressed before Government funding would be drawn down. "Funding for legacy issues, including inquests, was secured on the condition of wider agreement on new institutions on the past," he said. "That agreement has not yet been reached, but the dispute lies between republicans and HM Government." DUP spokesman said the party does not support the idea of legalising cannabis A former PSNI Deputy Chief Constable has backed calls to de-criminalise cannabis saying it is time to consider the radical move. Alan McQuillan made the revelation during a discussion with Ulster Unionist MLA Adrian Cochrane-Watson who vowed to "break the legs" of any drug dealer he caught selling illegal substances to children. The former senior RUC Special Branch officer said on BBC Talkback that current policies have created a "big cash cow" for organised crime and referred directly to cannabis. When asked about whether he supported calls to regulate and de-criminalise drugs, Mr McQuillan said there's a "real scope" for the idea. "It depends on what we are trying to achieve. All we are doing at the moment with the policies the way they are is creating a big cash cow for organised crime in particular in relation to cannabis," he said. "I think other drugs are radically different. I think there's a real scope for de-criminalising cannabis. "It's been de-criminalised in a number of states in America and I support that. I think the time has come to consider that but by not doing that we've got to deal with what we are doing here. It should be about reducing harm, it should be about reducing damage, particularly in young people." Read more Expand Close Controversy: Alan McQuillan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Controversy: Alan McQuillan Read More He said that the focus should be shifted to educating parents and children on the dangers of drugs. He added: "We need to invest in education, to be aware that often the people who are dealing drugs are corrupted young people who are paying for a habit by dealing to other children." However, a DUP spokesman hit back at the comments saying the party does not support the idea. A party spokesman said: "People are entitled to put forward suggestions but it's not something we would be supportive of." Read more Read More Mr McQuillan's comments came after Mr Cochrane-Watson said that a young relative collapsed in the street in Antrim after taking an illegal substance. "If I thought anybody was pedalling drugs to any of my family, I think I would seek to protect them in any way I could," he said. "When I see drug dealers driving about in their fancy cars and with money to burn, it makes me angry. And when I know who these people are, it makes me frustrated why the police service, with all the intelligence they must be getting from people like me, why they can't be more effective." The funeral service for five victims of the Kingsmills massacre at the Presbyterian church grounds in Bessbrook Police and forensic scientists failed at least three times to match a palm print found on the Kingsmills massacre getaway van with the suspect whom the PSNI now believes it belongs to. The Belfast Telegraph can today reveal the catalogue of errors that the authorities made in identifying the print and so possibly charging the suspect six years ago. The Garda failed to match the recovered palm print with the suspect in 2010, and a forensic scientist employed by the PSNI's Historical Enquiries Team wrongly marked the suspect's palm print as negative in 2010 and 2014. The families of the 10 men killed in the 1976 IRA massacre last night accused those who had investigated the atrocity of "breathtaking incompetence". They said they are so disillusioned and distrustful of the authorities that they will now consider bringing in their own independent forensic science expert to review the entire case. IRA victims campaigner Willie Frazer said: "We are talking here about major mistakes made by police investigating one of the most heinous crimes of the Troubles. If a high-profile investigation into mass murder was handled so disastrously, then imagine how bad investigations into low-profile killings were. "We hope to bring an independent forensic expert in to review everything the police have done, or failed to do, regarding the palm print over the years. It will cost us a lot of money, but there may be no other way." The PSNI last night apologised to the families for the forensic errors and said it fully accepts their "concerns and frustrations". Assistant Chief Constable, Mark Hamilton, said the force remained committed to securing "truth and justice". The palm print was found on an inside window of the getaway van, three days after the massacre. However, it was over 40 years later - just after the Kingsmills inquest opened in Belfast in May - that it was identified as belonging to a 59-year-old south Armagh republican. The suspect was arrested and questioned by detectives about the attack last month. He was released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). At a briefing for the victims' families last Friday, the head of the PSNI's Fingerprint Bureau, Jeff Logan, admitted that gardai and the PSNI had mistakenly failed to match the palm print three times. In July 2010, the PSNI's Historical Enquiries Team sent marks, recovered from the crime scene, to gardai to be checked against their database of suspects, but the result came back negative. Four months later, the Garda sent the suspect's palm prints to the PSNI. A fingerprint expert employed by the HET checked it but got it wrong. In October 2014, the crime scene mark is searched on the IDENT1 system (UK wide search facility). The suspect came in at number three on the suggested respondent list, but the file is wrongly marked as negative by the fingerprint specialist. This was the same HET expert who mistakenly failed to match the print four years earlier. He didn't get a second opinion of his report, and doesn't appear to have been required to. While fingerprint experts employed directly by the PSNI had their work subjected to a dip sample - a random selection of their reports were checked by another fingerprint analyst - there was no such sampling of HET experts' reports, and nobody from the PSNI Fingerprint Bureau reviewed their work. The HET expert has given a statement to police on his mistaken identification. It is understood that a computer audit trail will reveal how long he spent on the task in both 2010 and 2014. The unidentified palm print came to public prominence when the Kingsmills inquest opened in May. The crime scene mark was searched on the UK IDENT1 system, and again the suspect came in at number three on the respondent list. However, this time the mark was identified as belonging to him within 15 minutes. Three other experts looked at the mark independently and agreed it belonged to him. The PSNI has told the families that a palm print sample taken from the suspect after he was arrested last month also matches the crime scene mark. Detectives sent a file to the PPS three weeks ago, and are awaiting a decision on prosecution. Mr Frazer, said: "This palm print from the van has existed for 40 years. We need to know when gardai took the suspect's palm prints. Did they have them in 1976? "If they didn't, we want to know why the RUC didn't arrest this man and take his prints as he was a major suspect in the atrocity. "Nobody seems to have done this. "It's not rocket science, it's basic police investigation." Colin Worton, whose 24-year-old brother Kenneth was killed, said: "I don't hold out much hope for the new police investigation. "They told us a file on the suspect had gone to the PPS but they refused to say if they had attached a recommendation to prosecute or not. Many of us are from security force backgrounds so it gives us no joy to admit we feel very let down by police." Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, head of the PSNI's Legacy and Justice Department, said that police had met the families "as part of our commitment to being open and transparent". He added: "We fully accept the concerns and frustrations felt by the families in relation to how this atrocity has been investigated, particularly the mistakes that have been made in relation to the identification of the palm-print. "We apologise again for the errors but we would reassure them we remain committed to supporting the ongoing inquest and playing our part in securing truth and justice for everyone involved." Northern Ireland's top law officer will be involved in landmark legal bids to stop the UK's planned departure from the European Union, it was confirmed. Lawyers mounting joint challenges to Brexit said they have agreed Attorney General John Larkin QC should feature in "the most important constitutional legal case in recent history". A notice of devolution has been served as part of formal moves to ensure his participation. Following a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Belfast on Thursday a judge is to rule on the scope of the issues to be examined when the case gets underway next month. Separate cases have been brought by the father of a loyalist paramilitary murder victim and a cross-party group of MLAs. Raymond McCord and politicians including Alliance MLA David Ford, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Fein Assemblyman John O'Dowd and Steven Agnew of the Green Party are seeking to judicially review the British Government's move towards leaving the EU. They claim it would be unlawful to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process for confirming the UK's exit, without first securing Parliamentary authorisation. Similar legal challenges are already underway in London. All implications specific to Nothern Ireland - including claims that leaving the EU will inflict damage on the peace process - are to be examined in a two-day hearing. Mr Justice Maguire was told that the High Court in Belfast is best qualified to deal with those issues. Mr McCord's legal team contend Brexit will undermine the UK's domestic and international treaty obligations under the 1998 Good Friday peace accord. The campaigner, whose son Raymond McCord Jr was murdered by the UVF in north Belfast in 1997, is taking the case amid concerns that European peace money which goes towards victims of the Troubles may be discontinued. The MLAs, backed by representatives of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland, are also contesting the legality of the process. They have identified a series of obligations that must be satisfied before Article 50 can be invoked, including requirements for Parliamentary legislation and the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Outside court on Thursday, Mr McCord welcomed the Attorney General's involvement. He also called on First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to attend the hearing participate in "representing the majority view of the people of Northern, that being to remain part of the European Union". Mr McCord added: "We are a devolved nation and our views should count for something. "I believe that to date victims have been let down by the Executive and more needs to be in relation to justice issues." His solicitor, Ciaran O'Hare of McIvor Farrell, confirmed that both the victims' campaigner and the MLAs agreed that Mr Larkin should feature in the case. "What's known as a Notice of Devolution has been served on the Attorney General and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister by both applicants," Mr O'Hare said. "We now have only some two weeks to prepare for what will be the most important constitutional legal case to come before Belfast High Court in recent history." Councils in Northern Ireland have been urged to put their money where their mouth is and back the arts. Up to 1.5m for arts and cultural programming is being offered to the 10 local councils outside of Belfast to participate - if they match the funding. The Arts Council's Challenge Fund was launched yesterday. Each council can apply for up to 150,000 if they can match it with new funding, in addition to what they already put towards their existing arts programmes. Noirin McKinney, the director of Arts Development for the Arts Council, said the challenge is a way to improve and increase arts programmes across Northern Ireland in places that might not get as much funding. "The arts are seen as really important to local communities and the population in general in Northern Ireland. " She added that urban areas tend to get more arts funding, but those programmes are needed in rural areas as well. Communities Minister Paul Givan said the Challenge Fund is bringing the Arts Council and local authorities together. Expand Close Minister for Communities Paul Givan (centre) and Bob Collins (left), chair of Arts Council of Northern Ireland launch the Challenge Fund with Ian Burrows, Scottish piper with the Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School based in Lisburn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister for Communities Paul Givan (centre) and Bob Collins (left), chair of Arts Council of Northern Ireland launch the Challenge Fund with Ian Burrows, Scottish piper with the Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School based in Lisburn "The arts are part of the lives of everyone in Northern Ireland but geography can be a barrier to participation in the arts," he said. The Mid Ulster District Council is one of the first councils to receive 150,000 from the Challenge Fund for the Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy. Applications will be accepted until March 2017. A police officer has told a court he had "no sexual intention" towards a woman he said had kissed him before accusing him of assaulting her in south Belfast. Birmingham father of two Martin Asantaempaduh, an officer with West Midlands police, told Belfast Crown Court: "I didn't touch her." The woman claimed that after she was ejected by door staff from the Eglantine Inn in the early hours of August 5, 2012, she came into contact with Asantaempaduh as she crossed the Malone Road. She claimed Asantaempaduh said he was an undercover police officer, showed her his badge and asked if he could walk with her. The north Belfast woman said she then walked down Windsor Park with him, before he pushed her into bushes and straddled her as she lay on he ground. Giving evidence earlier this week, she also said she thought she was going to be raped, before fleeing to a filling station. Asantaempaduh, whose address was given c/o West Midlands police, is accused of sexually assaulting the woman, and assaulting her occasioning actual bodily harm. He denies both charges. Yesterday, Asantaempaduh told the jury of seven woman and five men his only concern was to get her a taxi home, and she had kissed him in gratitude for getting one. The 50-year-old said that August 2012 was his first time in Belfast. After tending to a family matter, Asantaempaduh booked into Queen's Elms for a night and had planned to fly back to Birmingham the following morning. After booking in, he went for a drink and had two pints of Guinness and two bottles of Budweiser in the Botanic Inn, before leaving the pub to walk the short distance back to the Elms. He told the jury that as he was walking along the Malone Road, he was approached by the woman. Asantaempaduh said: "She handed me her phone. She said she was having an argument with her friends and she wanted me to read her texts." He said she asked about his accent, and when he opened his wallet with a view to giving her money for a taxi, she saw his police identification. He said after seeing the lights of a taxi down a street, he walked towards it. The street in question was Windsor Park, where the woman alleges she was pushed into bushes and attacked. Denying these allegations, the accused said: "She embraced me, gave me a kiss and walked off towards the taxi." Saying he thought the kiss was a 'thank you', he said he then walked towards a white van as he needed to urinate. He told the court: "I went to urinate and stood on the pavement's edge, near to bushes. "The next thing that happened was that I was grabbed and without even looking, I just pushed away. I thought I was being attacked, so I just pushed out." He then realised it was the woman he had pushed, and she was lying unconscious on the ground. Asantaempaduh said: "I was horrified when I saw her on the floor and she wasn't moving. She was on her back. "I knelt down and shook her shoulders to try and wake her. She didn't wake at first but then she came to and just went absolutely ballistic. She said I tried to touch her. She was screaming at me and saying all kinds of things. I just wanted to make sure she was okay, but she was having none of it. She looked like she was going to take my head off, so I walked away from her." Asantaempaduh was arrested a short time later. When he was asked by his barrister why he didn't give that version of events to police straight away, he replied: "I have never been in a situation like this in my life." When asked by his barrister if he straddled the woman as she lay on the ground, he said "that is not correct". He also denied tampering with her clothes, as well as sexually assaulting her. He said: "I had no sexual intention towards this woman from the moment I met her. My only concern was to help her get home." At hearing. Tributes have been paid to an 11-year-old boy who died at his home in west Belfast. Leon Carlisle passed away on Wednesday night. He was a year-8 student at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School. Hundreds of messages of support have been left for his family. A PSNI spokesman said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious." The youngster's school paid tribute to the "popular" student. It said: "It is with great sadness that the St Mary's CBGS community has learnt of the sudden death of Year 8 student Leon Carlisle following a tragic accident at his home yesterday evening. "Leon was a popular Year 8 student and his loss will be sorely felt throughout the whole school and wider community. "The thoughts and prayers of the St Mary's community are with his family at this sad time. "Ar dheis-lamh De go raibh a anam Gaelach." Green Party leader Steven Agnew wanted to know if there was any appetite for a change of direction in the event of a negative outcome on welfare reform There will be no attempt to spin the impact of welfare reform, MLAs have been told. Assurances were offered when senior officials from the Department for Communities (DfC) appeared before a Stormont scrutiny committee in Belfast. Tommy O'Reilly, DfC deputy secretary, said: "There is a commitment that, whatever the impact of welfare reform is, we will put it out and publish it. "So there's no attempt to hide the figures." An estimated 765,800 households are expected to be affected by welfare reforms agreed as part of last year's Fresh Start Agreement. More than 500 million has also been set aside for mitigation top-up payments over the next four years, with a review in 2018/19. Some of the reforms such as the employment and social allowance, which replaces incapacity benefit, will be rolled out from November, while o ther changes such as universal credit - which merges j obseeker's allowance and income support - do not take effect until next year. MLAs, who convened at the Ulster University Belfast's campus, were briefed on how officials plan to gauge the reality of the changes. The results will feed into Government policy and help advise ministers, they were told. However, Green Party leader Steven Agnew questioned the value of the process, asking if there was any appetite for a change of direction in the event of a negative outcome. He said: "If it turns out that taking 200 million out makes people worse off are we going to revert back? "If there's no genuine openness, why are we spending what seems like a lot of time and effort evaluating policy?" Sinn Fein MLA Fra McCann said action should be taken to prevent any repeat of the "disastrous implications" of some reform in other parts of the UK. Meanwhile the DUP's Christopher Stalford said Northern Ireland had "done well" to offset the worst aspects of welfare reform and called for opinions to be included in the department's evaluation research. The South Belfast MLA said: "I do not think it is an unreasonable proposition to say that nobody should be better off on benefits that they should be in work. "That is most strongly felt in working class communities." Former First Minister Peter Robinson will be invited to appear before a powerful Irish parliamentary committee to be quizzed on Project Eagle. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is also to be asked to attend a meeting of the Dail's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is probing the deal to sell Nama's Northern Ireland loan book. Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness were participants in a 2014 phone call with Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan in which the controversial deal was discussed. In a statement Sinn Fein said Mr McGuinness "will cooperate fully with all efforts to uncover the truth around the Project Eagle sale and the wider issues relating to Nama". The DUP did not respond to a request for comment on whether Mr Robinson would appear. The PAC chairman, Fianna Fail's Sean Fleming, also confirmed that the date that Mr Noonan has agreed to appear before committee members is October 6, just days before he announces his Budget. Mr Fleming outlined the agenda of the PAC's examination of the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General's (C&AG) damning report on Project Eagle. The C&AG found that Nama incurred a potential loss to the Irish taxpayer of 190m in the Project Eagle sale. The auditor's report added that Nama had undervalued loans associated with the 800 properties. It also warned that alarm bells should have sounded after US investors Pimco, one of the final three investment firms in the bidding war for the deal, alerted Nama to a "success fee" payment of 15-16m for three parties behind the scenes and pulled out of the process. Nama rejected the C&AG's findings - claiming an incorrect assumption of the discount rate used in the sale, and that the probe was carried out by staff with no market experience of loan sales. Mr Fleming said that the C&AG will appear at the committee on September 29, as will Nama chairman Frank Daly and chief executive Brendan McDonagh. "Also we are going to invite people who are involved in the phone call with Minister Noonan in early January 2014," Mr Fleming announced. He said this included Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness. Both Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein are demanding to know whether Mr Noonan could have intervened prior to the sale of the 1.6bn Northern loan book. A 19-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman in her late 30s was brought to Letterkenny University Hospital and was later pronounced dead A Londonderry mother-of-three has been killed in a horrific car crash in Donegal. Maria Wallace (38) and Kiara Baird (19) both lost their lives in the accident at around 4.15pm on the Glenfin Road, on the outskirts of Ballybofey, Co Donegal. The teenager is originally from Tallaght, in west Dublin. It is understood the blue Citroen C3 they were travelling in left the R252 road on a sweeping bend. The car collided with a pole and came to a stop in a parking area for trucks. The weather at the time was said to be poor, and the area experienced heavy downpours of rain yesterday, following a two-day dry spell. Gardai attended the scene shortly after the incident and the road remained closed for a number of hours last night. Ms Baird was pronounced dead at the scene while Ms Wallace was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The man, who was aged in his 40s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to Letterkenny University Hospital. No other injuries were reported. Tributes were paid online to the pair this morning. Friend Victoria Sweeney wrote of Ms Baird: "Such a shock, rip beautiful girl sleep tight Kiara Baird gone but never forgotten you will be sadly missed." Another pal described the teenager as "a wee legend" who was "always the life of the party". Sophia Villa wrote on Facebook of Ms Wallace who was also known as Maria Carlin: "Life is just so fragile you forget just how quickly it can be taken away in the saddest of circumstances. Rest well with the Angels Maria Carlin. Please keep my siblings and their family in your prayers tonight folks." Jackson's Hotel is around 800m from the crash site in the town land of Camish and a staff member said she understood one of the deceased was the relative of a colleague. Local Fianna Fail councillor Patrick McGowan described the incident as an awful tragedy. "There's families now just waiting for bad news. It's terrible," he said. Gardai have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information has been asked to contact them at Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any garda station. Councillor Liam Doherty, from Sinn Fein, said it was the second tragedy in just over three years on the stretch of road. "Another young lad, his name was Shane, was killed there a few years ago," he said. In June 2013, Shane Brolly (18) was killed when the car he was driving was in a collision close to the scene of yesterday's accident. He was in the car with twin sister Emma, who survived. The incident brought the total number of people to have lost their lives on Donegal's roads to 10 this year. Paramedics across Ireland have been warned to check oxygen tanks in ambulances after an explosion killed an elderly patient. Health chiefs ordered the precaution after the blast caused the vehicle to burst into into flames as the man was being taken to the emergency unit at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare. Two paramedics were injured trying to save the patient, aged about 70, from the back of the ambulance. One of the men was said to have up to 70% burns but health chiefs later said he had minor injuries and was being treated in a specialist unit in St James' Hospital Dublin. The other paramedic was discharged from hospital after a few hours. Union representatives said the two men tried to rescue the patient as the ambulance burst into flames. "The Health Service Executive (HSE) would like to acknowledge the heroic efforts of our paramedic colleagues and hospital staff in attempting to save the life of the deceased," the agency said in a statement. HSE director general Tony O'Brien and other senior staff met the dead man's relatives to offer their sympathies. The definitive cause of the explosion is not known but the agency said early indications suggest that an oxygen tank exploded and caused a fire in the rear of the one-year-old ambulance. It is not thought to have been sparked by an engine malfunction. "While the results of the full investigations are awaited, it would appear that the explosion was related to oxygen," the HSE said. The blaze happened at about 1.30pm and witnesses reported hearing a loud bang. Siptu organiser Paul Bell said: "Both of them tried to get the patient out. "We are convinced that the paramedic crew attempted everything possible to contain the situation and save the patient. They did their duty." Other medics and ambulance staff at the hospital are understood to have reported that one of the paramedics was in the back of the vehicle trying to get the patient out when he suffered severe burns and his colleague went in to rescue him. Witness Rob Moore was inside the hospital when the fire alarm sounded and rushed out after hearing a bang. "I don't know what actually happened, but the whole thing just went up," he said. "As I came out of the door of the hospital I could see two paramedics at the back (of the ambulance), one of them was really severely burnt. "I think there was a fireman there, who was off-duty, he started to get things under control. "Everyone was pulled away from it then." Mr Moore said he did not hear an explosion but believed he heard a bang or a thud. He also saw someone he believed to be one of the paramedics being taken to an area outside the hospital, where medics stripped him down to treat his wounds. The casualty department was shut down following the incident. The National Ambulance Service issued an immediate safety notice for all oxygen to be checked. The HSE's oxygen supplier has also been asked to check its products and paramedics have been asked to re-familiarise themselves with the emergency evacuation. Several investigations have been launched including by the HSE, Fire Service, Garda and Health and Safety Authority. Ambulances normally carry up to six sealed cylinders of different types of potentially flammable gas to treat patients. They carry oxygen and also an analgesic gas and air mix for pain relief. Michael Dixon, chairman of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA), offered condolences to those caught up in the incident. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the man who lost his life in the back of the ambulance," he said. "But we are also concerned for the two paramedics injured as well." Mr Bell added: "We would like to express our deepest sympathy with the family of the patient who died and our grave concern for the two paramedics who tried in vain to save his life. "This tragedy should never have happened." As Denis Donaldson fell to his death behind the door of a run-down family cottage in Co Donegal, he reached out to the wall to his right, leaving a bloodied hand print on the whitewash. Two shotgun blasts through the front door of the 19th century building in the townland of Classey, five miles from Glenties, had caught the former Sinn Fein leader and British spy in the chest and arm. He died within seconds, leaving another smudge of blood at the bottom of the same wall. A representative of the Real IRA 'Army Council' said Donaldson didn't try to defend himself when the killers struck. "The look on his face wasn't even one of shock. He seemed to know what was coming," he said in a newspaper interview in 2009. The last person to see him alive before the killer was a census agent around 8.30pm on April 3, 2016. It would be 5pm the next day before gardai would find the body of Denis Donaldson. A local woman, driving past the cottage, had called the garda station in Glenties to report that the front door of the Donaldson cottage had been smashed in and a window had been broken. Within an hour of the killing, dissidents in Derry were boasting of their role in the death. The cottage is extremely hard to find. There are no neighbours to ask for directions. In 2006, it looked derelict and abandoned. A decade later not much has changed. Outside weeds grow two-feet high from the guttering, the front door lies open and windows still smashed. All three chimney pots are either missing or broken. The cottage was later sold by the Donaldson family. They never returned there after the murder. Now sheep trample through the living room of the three-roomed cottage which locals say is more than 200 years old. The hallway where Denis Donaldson took his last breath is now covered in sheep dung. In the bedroom to the left, bunk beds lie twisted, with old mattresses on top. A plaque once-bearing the family name crest is now broken. A few feet away, across the tiny hallway in the living room/kitchen the ancient stove - with a smashed portable television atop - has been ripped from the fireplace where it once stood. Dishes remain piled high in a basin set inside a Belfast sink. It's like a home lost in time. The cottage has changed little from the time Denis Donaldson used it as a bolt-hole from unseen enemies on all sides in Belfast. He lived here without running water or electricity for four months after dramatically telling a Belfast press conference he had been working as an agent of the RUC/British. Now sporting a beard, he would make the short trip to Glenties for provisions, no-one recognising him from his notoriety just a few weeks earlier, but Denis Donaldson was no ordinary holidaymaker from the North. An independent policing unit set up to investigate allegations of war crimes by British military personnel during operations in Afghanistan has received around 600 complaints. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the claims of ill treatment in the war-torn country, between 2005 and 2013, were made by 150 individuals. Members of the Royal Military Police are investigating as part of Operation Northmoor. Previously criminal investigations into the conduct of British armed forces personnel had largely focused on actions in Iraq. An MoD spokesman said: "Our armed forces are rightly held to the highest standards and, whilst rare, where there are credible claims of criminal behaviour, we should investigate them. "An independent investigation is the best way to make sure that innocent personnel are not dragged through the courts without cause - none of the Op Northmoor allegations investigated far have so far been referred to the Service Prosecution Authority." A British serviceman facing prosecution over the death of an Iraqi teenager said the Army had "failed in its most basic duty of care" by abandoning its troops to be hounded for abuse claims. Details of the Afghanistan investigation came as three former and current Army servicemen prepare to face court over the death of a 19-year-old in a waterway near Basra 13 years ago, despite earlier being cleared of wrongdoing. One of the men, who spoke anonymously, said the Army "betrayed its finest people" by leaving them unsupported to be pursued through the courts. The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which investigates allegations of murder and abuse by British soldiers in Iraq, has come under fire for its handling of allegations. Writing in the Telegraph on Thursday, retired colonel Tim Collins, who led British troops in Iraq, said the existence of Ihat was "wasteful and damaging" to the armed forces. His comments come after Prime Minister Theresa May insisted she would not allow an "industry of vexatious allegations" against British troops over claims of abuse in Iraq. Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, the man said: "The reality of 21st-century warfare is now that anyone in the world, even our enemies, can make any allegation against British forces no matter how absurd, and the British government and Army will stand and watch in utter indifference as it destroys their lives and careers. "The Army has surrendered its own powers of discipline and investigation to a private company and betrayed its finest people to protect itself from scrutiny at the highest levels." He said the Army's top brass had sacrificed junior ranks to protect themselves. "Regardless of the allegation everyone is innocent until proven guilty and the Army has failed in its most basic duty of care," he said. "There are veterans who have been persecuted for years by Ihat, but haven't heard a single word of support from the Army, yet alone legal or psychological support." Concerns have been raised over the "industrial scale" of claims lodged with Ihat supported by the legal aid system. Mrs May has insisted that action had been taken to address false claims and Ihat's work would be completed by the end of 2019, after a review of the system by former director of public prosecutions Sir David Calvert-Smith. Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, a former Army officer, said the Prime Minister must take tougher action against spurious claims. He told Today: "I think Theresa May has started in exactly the right place, I'm extremely pleased with what she's done. But she does have to go further and where I'm hoping she is going to go further is she is going to be extremely robust in making sure that legal action is taken against these sort of things. "Too much in the last five or 10 years has been settled. If you look at the history, since Kosovo in fact, the Ministry of Defence has settled actions and created precedents when really it should have fought them and pushed back much, much harder." Eggheads star CJ de Mooi has been bailed after appearing in court over an alleged killing which he apparently confessed to in his autobiography. The former panellist on the BBC quiz show, who appeared in court under his real name Joseph Connagh, could face extradition to the Netherlands for allegations of murder, manslaughter and assault more than 20 years ago. He said in his autobiography that he punched a man who approached him with a knife, then threw him into a canal in Amsterdam in 1988. The 46-year-old was detained under a European arrest warrant on Wednesday at Heathrow Airport, after landing at Terminal 3 from a business trip in South Africa. He appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a green t-shirt and a hoodie. De Mooi, who lives with his husband in Caldicot, Wales, is opposing his extradition and was released on bail to appear at the court on November 28 for an extradition hearing. Prosecutor Brian Gibbins said: "The defendant appears before you today on a European arrest warrant issued by a Dutch prosecutor in Amsterdam." He added: "This is an allegation relating to matters of manslaughter, murder, assault and assault by battery. "It relates to an incident said to have taken place in 1988 in Amsterdam. "It appears the defendant, a TV personality, wrote an autobiography. And in that autobiography it said that the defendant claimed that whilst living in Amsterdam in 1988 he may have killed a drug addict who was attempting to mug him by punching him and throwing him into a canal in Amsterdam. "It is understood that person had a knife with him, it was said that the defendant punched his assailant square in the face, disarmed him and threw him in the canal. "On the face of the warrant he is wanted for further questions." Chris Stevens, representing de Mooi, said there was a "lot of missing information" from the warrant. "The words were in his own book, the information provided in that book," he added. "There doesn't appear to be a named victim in the warrant, date of birth or even an address where this matter took place." He said the inquiry by the Dutch authorities was based on "something that might have happened" and which "could arguably be self defence". Mr Stevens continued: "There isn't anything to suggest the Dutch authorities are in a position to charge him with this." De Mooi was approached by Scotland Yard for questioning by Dutch police in February this year, the court was told. He agreed to be questioned but only if it was "formally in an interview setting with the appropriate protection". He did not hear about the matter again, Mr Stevens said. He added: "He has carried on with his life as normal, gone to pursue work and a career." The aspiring actor was allegedly arrested at airport security on the way back from meeting a film agent in South Africa with his husband, who is a costume designer. "To be pulled to one side as he was going through security was a shock to him and his husband," Mr Stevens said. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said: "This is an accusation warrant - the allegation is of course a serious one. "I do have regard for the circumstances of the case - these allegations came to light by your own admissions, by your own book and in your own words." De Mooi and his husband, who are both apparently out of work, were ordered to pay 5,000 security as a bail condition. He was also banned from international travel, has to sleep every night at his home address and keep a charged mobile phone with him at all times. The Home Secretary has been linked to offshore businesses in the Bahamas by leaked documents. Amber Rudd was a director of two companies based in the Caribbean tax haven between 1998 and 2000, a Guardian investigation has claimed. Before her political career, she was also director of a British-based company where a co-director was later imprisoned for fraud. While defending former Prime Minister David Cameron over his father's investment company in the Bahamas, Ms Rudd did not mention her own links to the tax haven. The Home Secretary was allegedly included in a list of 175,000 Bahamas registered companies leaked yesterday. Companies House records identify the her as a director of Monticello plc, where a co-director had been convicted of making false claims about the company's prospects to ramp up shares. The Home Secretary's spokesperson said: "Monticello was thoroughly investigated 16 years ago and those who acted wrongly were identified and prosecuted." MI6 will grow from 2,500 people to close to 3,500, according to BBC Newsnight Nearly 1,000 new members of staff will join the ranks of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service by 2020 against a backdrop of increased threats to peace from radical terror groups that could last for decades, it is reported. MI6 will grow from 2,500 people to close to 3,500 because of the increased strain placed on its operations by the internet and technological developments, according to BBC Newsnight. The 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review set out plans to employ 1,900 additional staff in the UK's security and intelligence agencies. No public announcement has been made as to how many of those extra employees would be allocated to MI6. But the BBC says Whitehall sources have confirmed that MI6 is due to get the majority, with the rest to be shared out between the Security Service (MI5), GCHQ and police Counter Terrorism Command. It comes amid claims security services are under "persistent" and sustained threat from terror groups like Islamic State (IS) In a rare public appearance, the head of MI6 Alex Younger insisted Britain had made significant improvements in the way it tackled terrorism but admitted there was little sign of the "enduring" danger disappearing soon. Appearing alongside international counterparts at a national security conference in the United States, the Secret Intelligence Service chief said technological advances presented both an "existential threat and a golden opportunity". Asked if the terror threat from groups like IS and al Qaida had reached its apex, Mr Younger said: "I would like to be optimistic about this but we have got quite long experience of this phenomena now and I see it very much as the flip side to some very deep-seated global trends, not least of all globalisation, the reduction of barriers between us. "It's a function also of the information revolution and the capacity for ideas to travel. It is fuelled by a deepening sectarian divide in the Middle East and there are some deep social economic and demographic drivers to the phenomenon that we know as terrorism. "Allied with the emergence of state failure this means that, regrettably, this is an enduring issue which will certainly be with us, I believe, for our professional lifetime." At the conference, staged by the Central Intelligence Agency and George Washington University, Mr Younger said increased cooperation between agencies and improvements in the way governments tackled terror were "doing a great deal to mitigate the threat". IS, also known as Daesh, is struggling to hold on to stretches of the land it conquered when it surged through Iraq and Syria. Mr Younger said terror groups take "ideological succour" from gaining territory and it was "good" that advances were being made to recapture it. "But, I regret that I would have to forecast that whilst it is wholly desirable to remove territory, you will have a persistent threat representing some of the deep fault lines that still exist in our world that I think will be addressed by patience, long-term partnership and partnership that esteems that collective values that we defend," he said. Mr Younger said rapid technological changes "throw everything up in the air" and mean the service has to "fundamentally" look at the way we carry out intelligence operations. "This is a fabulously important issue and one that will dictate our future success," he said. The MI6 chief said that the National Security Agency leak by so-called whistle-blower Edward Snowden in 2013 had been "highly problematic". Snowden took refuge in Moscow after revealing extensive internet and phone surveillance by the intelligence agencies. "I think that the real issue for us has been the effect that this has had on the levels of trust between the intelligence communities internationally and the technology community where I think that the right and proper response to the common threats that face us is through community of effort and teamwork between those different groups," Mr Younger said. "And to the extent that those revelations damaged and undermined the trust that needs to exist, I think it is highly problematic." The Duke of Cambridge speaks at the Time For Change event at the Shard skyscraper in London The Duke of Cambridge says he fears the African elephant will have disappeared from the wild due to poaching by the time Princess Charlotte turns 25. William told the audience of campaigners and policymakers at Time For Change - an event organised by the conservation charity Tusk, of which he is a patron - that he was "not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild". He said: "When I was born, there were one million elephants roaming Africa. "By the time my daughter Charlotte was born last year, the numbers of savannah elephants had crashed to just 350,000. "And at the current pace of illegal poaching, when Charlotte turns 25 the African elephant will be gone from the wild." The Duke also warned that rhinos face extinction in "our lifetimes" during the speech 800ft (244 metres) above London at The View from The Shard on Thursday. He said it was now time to send an "unambiguous message" that it is no longer acceptable to buy or sell ivory or rhino horn. "We have the chance to say that ivory is a symbol of destruction, not of luxury, and not something that anyone needs to buy or sell. "We have the chance to say that rhino horn does not cure anything and does not need a legal market." William, who was speaking ahead of a major global conference in Johannesburg this weekend - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) - added: "Materialistic greed cannot be allowed to win against our moral duty to protect threatened species and vulnerable communities." Tusk has raised more than 30 million for projects in Africa since it was established 26 years ago. The royal conducted a tour of the charity's projects in Botswana in 2010 with Prince Harry, and this April visited Tusk-supported programmes in the north of Kenya. The illegal wildlife trade is now recognised as the fourth largest transnational crime by value, after drugs, arms and human trafficking. It is estimated to be worth up to 20 billion US dollars (15 billion) each year and is responsible for decimating populations of elephant, rhino and many other lesser known species. Currently, one African elephant is killed every 15 minutes - which means the species could become extinct within 10 years. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was also at the event, the day after she announced a UK ban on modern ivory sales. The ban will cover the sale of items dated since 1947 but the trade in "worked" items made before then will still be allowed. She told the Press Association: "What we're trying to do is to send a huge signal to the world that the illegal trade and poaching of elephants is not acceptable and that's what's going on today, every day. "So it's a start on our manifesto commitment and we're trying to send a very strong message at what is a very important time." She said it was "absolutely crucial" to have a plan to "discourage" those who would benefit from the "appalling, violent, illegal trafficking (that is) destroying communities and really importantly destroying these iconic beasts - it's a total global tragedy". The MP said the ban on modern day ivory sales is the "first step" to tackle the "difficult, international global issue" of poaching. But former environment secretary Owen Paterson, who was also present, said the plans did not go far enough and thought that a 100-year ban would be stronger. The MP for North Shropshire said: "It's a start but it's not enough. If you could farm your way out of this and have huge rhinoceros farms and elephant farms... but this isn't chickens, this isn't beef. You could never, ever, ever farm enough of these animals to satisfy demand so you have to stop using this material." He praised the Duke's "strong, clear speech" in which he said "we must do more, we must do it faster, and we must do it better". Twin sisters Tilly and Imogen Fitzjohn, 16, from Stowe School, spoke to the Duke after his speech. Their father, conservationist Tony Fitzjohn, runs a national park in Tanzania where 27 black rhinos and two baby elephants are held, the girls said. Tilly said: "I think it's really crucial for younger generations because we all really need to be aware of what's happening with wildlife conservation and make the change for the future. I think it's so important." Imogen added: "Prince Harry came to stay with us and so Prince Harry has done most of the job with my dad - so we've had one Prince come to stay just to understand what we do and raise awareness." The Duke of Cambridge also announced at the event that he will attend the third International Wildlife Trade Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, in November, where he will engage with local people about conservation. The deal is Afghanistan's first peace agreement in the 15 years since the Taliban launched its insurgency Afghanistan's government has signed a draft peace deal with a designated "global terrorist" after lengthy negotiations that could pave the way for a similar accord with the Taliban. The deal with warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is the country's first peace agreement since the Taliban launched their insurgency in 2001, after being driven from power in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. It grants full political rights to his Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin party and obliges the Afghan authorities to work to have it removed from the United Nations' list of foreign terrorist organisations. Hekmatyar himself was designated by the US as a "global terrorist" in 2003. He was blacklisted at Washington's request by the UN the same year, and has similar status with the British government. The agreement ends years of talks between Kabul and Hekmatyar, who is in his late 60s. It should enable him to return to Afghanistan after 20 years in exile - he is believed to live in Pakistan - as it includes provisions for his security at government expense. The signing ceremony was broadcast live on television. The agreement was signed by the head of Kabul's High Peace Council, Ahmad Gilani, national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and Hekmatyar's representative Amin Karim. Hekmatyar's son Habiburahman sat with an audience of officials. To be formalised, the agreement must be signed by President Ashraf Ghani and Hekamtyar; Mr Atmar said it would happen "as soon as possible". The deal marks a victory of sorts for Mr Ghani, who has been unable to bring peace to Afghanistan despite election promises and early efforts to forge a close diplomatic relationship with neighbouring Pakistan. The failure of those efforts has seen Mr Ghani reverse course in recent months - he now openly accuses Pakistan of supporting the Taliban. Pakistan denies the accusations, though the Taliban's leadership councils are based in Quetta and other Pakistani cities. Talks between Kabul and the Taliban, hosted by Pakistan and aimed at ending the war, broke down earlier this year. Officials and diplomats have expressed hopes they can be revived, possibly as early as October. With this peace deal, Mr Ghani can demonstrate to the Taliban's leaders that his government is willing to make compromises for the sake of peace. The key points are the removal from international blacklists, immunity from prosecution for alleged war crimes, allowing unilateral political activity, and the release of prisoners. "It proves peace is possible," Franz-Michael Mellbin, the European Union's special representative for Afghanistan, said of the agreement. "The political space to say no to peace in Afghanistan is now virtually non-existent," he said, adding that the deal "creates a new narrative that has been missing for many, many years". The final deal is believed to be little changed from a draft agreed by Hekmatyar's representatives and the HPC in May. Finalising the deal was held up by three demands from Hekmatyar that do not appear in the final draft, a senior official said. The contentious points were a demand that Afghanistan's insecurity be blamed "first and last" on the presence of foreign forces, a timetable for their withdrawal, and that he be granted a formal title as a saviour of the country, he said. The deal enjoys the support of the international community, which has a vital role to play in bringing peace to Afghanistan due to the blacklists that also feature senior Taliban figures. The American, British and EU embassies, and the UN's mission in Kabul welcomed the deal as a step closer to peace. Mr Ghani's office tweeted his hope that others would be encouraged to join the peace process. Mr Atmar called on Afghanistan's international partners to "end sanctions" against Hezb-i-Islami to ensure the success of the deal. Hekmatyar's mujahideen fighters have been largely pushed to the sidelines of Afghanistan's war with many believed to have joined the Taliban. The last known attack carried out by his militants was in 2013, when at least 15 people, including six American soldiers, were killed in central Kabul. He is best known, however, for causing the deaths of possibly thousands of people during the 1990s civil war, when his forces rained rockets on Kabul in his fight with other warlords for control of the capital. Analyst Haroun Mir said that despite Hekmatyar's bloody past - and his support for extreme groups such as al Qaida - the Afghan people will welcome the deal. "They are tired of conflict and they know that the ultimate solution for Afghanistan is political settlement, not only with Hezb-i-Islami but also with the Taliban," he said. About 100 people demonstrated in central Kabul against the peace deal, holding posters showing Hekmatyar with blood dripping from his mouth and calling him the "Killer of Kabul". New York-based Human Rights Watch issued a statement referring to Hekmatyar as "one of Afghanistan's most notorious war crimes suspects". Researcher Patricia Grossman said his return would "compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s". But some ordinary Afghans welcomed the agreement. "We are thirsty for peace and we welcome anyone who comes in peace, the past is the past," said shopkeeper Mohammad Hanif, 62. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said it was too early to comment on the deal. Mellbin, the EU's ambassador, said: "This is only the first step. Both sides will have to adapt to a very different political reality, this will not be easy and there may be setbacks. Successful implementation will be as crucial as the signing." AP Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he believes a US air strike on a Syrian army position which killed 63 soldiers was carried out deliberately. The attack last Saturday in the east of the country accidentally hit a regime base rather than intended Isis territory nearby, the US State Department said. In an interview with the AP on Wednesday conducted in the presidential palace in Damascus, Bashar al-Assad dismissed the US expression of regret for the loss of life, going on to blame American officials for the collapse of the recent ceasefire for not having the will to combat terrorists and militants in the war-ravaged country. It is terrorists who are to blame for the attack and subsequent blaze that hit an aid convoy and warehouse near Aleppo on Monday, he added. The US has insisted that the Syrian and allied Russian governments are to blame for the deaths of 21 people and destruction of aid destined for 78,000 civilians. The Russian Defence Ministry has released drone footage from the incident which it says shows a militant pick up truck travelling next to the convoy carrying a heavy mortar, which they say caused the tragedy. Eyewitness accounts reported that the attack came from the air and involved barrel bombs, unguided crude bombs used by the Syrian regime. Mr Assad called it a convenient coincidence that eyewitnesses only appear when theres an accusation against the Syrian Army or the Russian, pointing out it was not strategic to alienate his citizens by bombing an aid convoy and he is morally committed to their interests. I wouldnt say that we dont have mistakes, he went on, referring to accusations of human rights abuses and civilian deaths perpetrated by his forces. But theres a difference between a mistake or even a crime thats been committed by an individual, and between a policy of crime thats been implemented or adopted by a government. We dont have such a policy. Mr Assad said that it is only his enemies who are to blame for almost six years of war in Syria which the UN says has left 400,000 people dead and forced four million to flee the country. He also claimed repeatedly that his government has not blocked food and aid from reaching rebel-held east Aleppo, denying that a siege is in place altogether. Expand Close A Syrian soldier stands guard as Red Crescent members wait for opposition fighters and their families to change buses at a Syrian army checkpoint on the edge of the rebel-held Waer neighbourhood in the central city of Homs during an evacuation operation on September 22, 2016. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A Syrian soldier stands guard as Red Crescent members wait for opposition fighters and their families to change buses at a Syrian army checkpoint on the edge of the rebel-held Waer neighbourhood in the central city of Homs during an evacuation operation on September 22, 2016. AFP/Getty Images If theres really a siege around the city of Aleppo, people would have been dead by now, he said. How could they be starving while at the same time they can have armaments? How can we prevent the food and the medical aid from reaching that area and we cannot stop the armaments from reaching that area, which is not logical? Intense regime bombing campaigns have resumed in Aleppo since the breakdown of a seven day ceasefire over the weekend. Activists on the groud described shells falling "like rain." While the destruction is "painful", the president insisted that his country will one day be rebuilt, and Syrian refugees who have fled six years of war would be allowed to return very quickly if foreign powers stopped backing rebel groups. He expressed fears that the war will drag on because of continued international interference from the US, Turkey, and Gulf states, adding that the Wests hands are stained with blood. World leaders are due to meet in New York later today for ongoing discussions of the International Syria Support Group on how to save the recent ceasefire deal and plot a path to peace in Syrias multi-sided conflict. Read more Read More Full transcript of Assad interview Q: I will start by talking about the cease-fire in Syria. Russia, the U.S., and several countries say a cease-fire could be revived despite the recent violence and the recrimination. Do you agree, and are you prepared to try again? A: We announced that we are ready to be committed to any halt of operations, or if you want to call it cease-fire, but it's not about Syria or Russia; it's about the United States and the terrorist groups that have been affiliated to ISIS and al-Nusra and al-Qaida, and to the United States and to Turkey and to Saudi Arabia. They announced publicly that they are not committed, and this is not the first attempt to have a halt of operations in Syria. The first attempt was in last February, and didn't work, I think, because of the United States, and I believe that the United States is not genuine regarding having a cessation of violence in Syria. Q: Do you believe there could ever be a joint U.S.-Russian military partnership against the militants, as outlined in the deal? A: Again, practically, yes, but in reality, no, because the United States doesn't have the will to work against al-Nusra or even ISIS, because they believe that this is a card they can use for their own agenda. If they attack al-Nusra or ISIS, they will lose a very important card regarding the situation in Syria. So, I don't believe the United States will be ready to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria. Q: This week, the U.S. has said the coalition attack on Syrian troops was an accident. Do you accept that explanation? A: No, no. It's not, because it wasn't an accident by one airplane for once, let's say. It was four airplanes that kept attacking the position of the Syrian troops for nearly one hour, or a little bit more than one hour. You don't commit a mistake for more than one hour. This is first. Second, they weren't attacking a building in a quartier; they were attacking a huge place constituted of many hills, and there was not terrorist adjacent to the Syrian troops there. At the same time, the ISIS troops or the ISIS militants attacked right away after the American strike. How could they know that the Americans are going to attack that position in order to gather their militants to attack right away and to capture it one hour after the strike? So it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed. Q: Did Syria or Russia launch the attack on the Red Crescent convoy this week, and should Moscow be held responsible, as the White House has said? A: No, first of all, there have been tens, maybe, of convoys from different organizations around the world, coming to different areas in Syria for the last few years. It has never happened before, so why to happen now, either by the Russians or the Syrians? No, it's a claim. And regarding the claim of the White House yesterday, accusing either the Syrians or the Russians. In that regard, I would say whatever the American officials said about the conflicts in Syria in general has no credibility. Whatever they say, it's just lies and, let's say, bubbles, has no foundation on the ground. Q: So what happened to the convoy? Who should be held responsible? A: Those convoys were in the area of the militants, the area under the control of the terrorists. That's what they should accuse first: the people or the militants, the terrorists who are responsible for the security of this convoy. So, we don't have any idea about what happened. The only thing that we saw was a video of a burnt car, destroyed trucks, nothing else. Q: Several eyewitnesses have told AP that 20 missiles were launched against the convoy. There is footage of torn bodies. This does not seem as though it would be anything but an attack from the air. Eyewitnesses are also talking about barrel bombs, and as you are aware, your administration has been accused of using barrel bombs in some circumstances. You still think this was an attack from the ground by rebels? A: Yeah, first of all, even the United Nations said that there were no airstrikes against that convoy. That was yesterday. Second, at the same time of that event, the terrorists were attacking the Syrian troops by missiles. They launched missile attacks, we didn't respond. Third, you cannot talk about eyewitnesses for such judgment or accusation. What are the credibility of those eyewitnesses, who are they? We don't know. Q: We have eyewitnesses that were relatives, we have the White Helmets, we have many people saying that they witnessed helicopters in the air. Now, only the Syrians and the Russians have helicopters. Are you saying this is just invented? A: Those witnesses only appear when there's an accusation against the Syrian Army or the Russian, but when the terrorists commit a crime or massacre or anything, you don't see any witnesses, and you don't hear about those White Helmets. So, what a coincidence. No, actually, we don't have any interest in doing so for one reason: because if we attack any convoy that's going to the civilians, we are working for the interest of the terrorists, that will play into their hands directly, in that regard we are pushing the civilians toward the terrorists, we put them in their laps, and we are providing the terrorists with a good incubator, something we wouldn't do. This is first. Second, we are, as a government, as officials, we are committed morally toward the Syrian people, morally, constitutionally, and legally, to help them in every aspect to have the basic needs for their livelihood. Q: Your administration has denied the use of chemical weapons, of barrel bombs, despite testimony and video and the results of a U.N. investigation. We also are hearing similar denials about airstrikes on civilians and medical workers. Can this all be false allegations by your opponents? A: First of all, the first incident of gas use in Syria was in Aleppo about more than three years ago, and we were the ones who invited the United Nations to send a delegation for investigations about the use of chemical weapons, and the United States objected and opposed that action for one reason; because if there's investigations, they're going to discover that the terrorists used gas, not the Syrian Army. In that regard, in that case, the United States won't be able to accuse Syria. That's why they were opposing that delegation. In every incident, we asked the United Nations to send a delegation, and we are still insisting on that position, that they have to send delegations to make investigation, but the United States is opposing. So, actually, if we've been using that, we wouldn't ask for investigation. Q: To the international community, it seems as though none of the charges or accusations stick, that everything is denied, everything here is ok, by your administration. Do you not feel that that undermines the credibility? In other instances, the Americans for example admitted the attack on the Syrian military was a mistake. Now, you don't accept that, but from the Syrian administration, all the international community hears is denial. A: Regarding which issue? Q: Regarding the accusations of violations of human rights, of barrel bombs... A: Look, if you want to talk about mistakes, every country has mistakes, every government has mistakes, every person has mistakes. When you have a war, you have more mistakes. That's the natural thing. But the accusations have no foundation regarding Syria. When they talk about barrel bombs, what are barrel bombs? It's just a title they use in order to show something which is very evil that could kill people indiscriminately, and as I said, because in the media "when it bleeds, it leads." They don't talk about bombs; they call it barrel bombs. A bomb is a bomb, what's the difference between different kinds of bombs? All bombs are to kill, but it's about how to use it. When you use an armament, you use it to defend the civilians. You kill terrorists in order to defend civilians. That's the natural role of any army in the world. When you have terrorists, you don't throw at them balloons or you don't use rubber sticks, for example. You have to use armaments. So, it's not about what the kind of armament, it's about how to use it, and they want to use it that time to accuse the Syrian Army of killing civilians. We don't kill civilians, because we don't have the moral incentive, we don't have the interest to kill civilians. It's our people, who support us. If you want to kill the Syrian people, who's going to support us as a government, as officials? No one. So, in reality, you cannot withstand for five years and more against all those countries, the West, and the Gulf states, the petrodollars, and all this propaganda, the strongest media corporations around the world, if you don't have the support of your own people. That's against the reality. So, no, we don't use it. I wouldn't say that we don't have mistakes. Again, that many mistakes that have been committed by individuals, but there's a difference between a mistake or even a crime that's been committed by an individual, and between a policy of crime that's been implemented or adopted by a government. We don't have such a policy. Q: And yet the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who are fleeing the country, many drowning on the way, many of them say they are fleeing your forces. What exactly are they fleeing if this campaign doesn't exist, if this campaign of violence, indiscriminate against them...? A: You have to look at the reality in Syria. Whenever we liberate any city or village from the terrorists, the civilians will go back to the city, while they flee that city when the terrorists attack that area, the opposite. So, they flee, first of all, the war itself; they flee the area under the control of the terrorists, they flee the difficult situation because of the embargo by the West on Syria. So, many people, they flee not the war itself, but the consequences of the war, because they want to live, they want to have the basic needs for their livelihood, they don't have it. They have to flee these circumstances, not necessarily the security situation itself. So, you have different reasons for the people or the refugees to leave Syria. Many many of them supported the government in the recent elections, the presidential elections, in different countries. So, that's not true that they left Syria because of the government, and those accusations mean that the government is killing the people, while the terrorists, mainly al-Qaida and al-Nusra and other al-Qaida-affiliated organizations or groups protected the civilians. Is that the accusation? No-one can believe it, actually. Q: Let's turn our attention to the people that can't flee, the people who are in besieged cities around Syria. For example, Aleppo. To go back to the cease-fire agreement, aid was supposed to get into the city, but you did not hold up your end of the agreement. Why was that, and how can you really justify withholding aid to cities? A: Again, if we talk about the last few years, many aid convoys came to different cities, so why does the Syrian government prevent a convoy from coming to Aleppo for example, while allowing the others to reach other areas? This is contradiction, you cannot explain it, it's not palatable. This is first. Second, if you look at the others areas under the control of the terrorists, we're still sending vaccines from the Syrian government's budget, we're still sending salaries to the employees from the Syrian government's budget. So, how can we do this and at the same time push the people toward starvation in other areas? More importantly, the terrorists who left liberated areas under what you call reconciliation or certain agreements in different areas, they left to fight with other terrorists in Syria while they send their families to live under the supervision of the government. Why didn't we put those families to starvation? So, this is contradicting, I mean what you're talking about is contradicting the reality, and we don't contradict ourselves. Q: But the world saw the reality of Aleppo. There were U.N. convoys of aid that were not allowed into the city. Are you denying that that was the case? A: The situation has been like this for years now. If there's really a siege around the city of Aleppo, people would have been dead by now. This is first. Second, more importantly, they've been shelling the neighboring areas and the positions of the Syrian Army for years, non-stop shelling of mortars and different kinds of lethal bombs. How could they be starving while at the same time they can have armaments? How can we prevent the food and the medical aid from reaching that area and we cannot stop the armaments form reaching that area, which is not logical? Q: So what is your message to the people to Aleppo, who are saying the opposite, that they are hungry, that they are suffering malnutrition, that there are no doctors, that doctors have been targeted and killed in airstrikes, that they are under siege and they are dying? What is your message to them? A: You can't say "the people of Aleppo" because the majority of the people of Aleppo are living in the area under the control of the government, so you cannot talk about the people of Aleppo. If you want to talk about some who allegedly are claiming this, we tell them how could you still be alive? Why don't you have, for example, an epidemic, if you don't have doctors? How could you say that we attacked, they accuse Syria of attacking hospitals, so you have hospitals and you have doctors and you have everything. How could you have them? How could you have armaments? That's the question. How can you get armaments to your people, if you claim that you have people and grassroots while you don't have food? They have to explain; I don't have to explain. The reality is telling. Q: Yet, they say the opposite. They say they are surviving on whatever they can, on meager means, and they are a city under siege. You do not accept that Aleppo is a city under siege with people starving and hungry? A: Again, how can I prevent the food, and not prevent the armament? Logically, how? If I can prevent food, I should be able to prevent armaments. If I don't prevent armaments, that means everything else will pass to Aleppo. Q: Have you been to Aleppo recently? Will you go to Aleppo? A: Of course I will go. Q: And how does it feel for you to see the devastation in parts of what was known as the jewel of Syria? A: Devastation is painful, of course, but we can rebuild our country. We're going to do that. Someday the war will stop. The most painful is the devastation of the society, the killing, the blood-shedding, something we live with every hour and every day. But how would I think? I think when I see those pictures how would Western officials feel when they look at this devastation and these killing pictures and they know that their hands are stained with their blood, that they committed the crime directly in killing those people and destroying our civilization. That's what I think about. Q: Yet, to the outside world, it feels as though the end justifies any means in your war on terror. Do you accept that? A: They don't have morals, of course. This is a Machiavellian principle; the end justifies the means. We don't accept it, no. Your policy should be a mixture between your interests and how you reach your ends, but based on values. It cannot be only the end justifies the means, because for the criminals, ends justify the means, for thieves, for every illegal and immoral action, the end justifies the means. That's exactly what you mentioned in your question, this is the base, the foundation of the Western policy around the world these days. Q: What is your message to the Syrians who have fled the country? Some of them didn't make it, others did. Do you call on them to come back, do you expect them to come back? A: Of course. It's a loss, it's a great loss. The worst loss for any country is not the infrastructure or the buildings or the material loss; actually, it's the human resources loss, something we want to see coming back to Syria, and I'm sure that the majority of those Syrians who left Syria, they will go back when the security and when the life goes back to its normality and the minimal requirements for livelihood will be affordable to them, they will go back. I am not worried about this. Q: Do you have any expectation of when that will happen, when Syria will be pacified to some degree that they can come back? A: If we look at it according to the internal Syrian factors, I would say it's very soon, a few months, and I'm sure about that, I'm not exaggerating, but when you talk about it as part of a global conflict and a regional conflict, when you have many external factors that you don't control, it's going to drag on and no-one in this world can tell you when but the countries, the governments, the officials who support directly the terrorists. Only they know, because they know when they're going to stop supporting those terrorists, and this is where the situation in Syria is going to be solved without any real obstacles. Q: So, let's just dwell on that point for a moment. Do you believe that within a couple of months the situation in Syria will have dramatically changed in your favor to the point that refugees can come back? A: No, because I don't believe that in a couple of months Erdogan and the United States regime, and the Western regimes in general, and of course Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are going to stop the support of the terrorists. I don't see it in the next two months. Q: So how can you really incite Syrians to come back in two months as you said? A: I said if there are no external factors. I said if you look at it as an isolated case, as a Syrian case, which is theoretical, I mean, this is where you can say that in few months you can solve it. But now you're talking about an arena which is part of the international and regional arena, not isolated. So, this is why I said no-one has the answer when will it end. Q: It's now one year since Russia got involved in the war. Before the intervention you were losing territory and control. Did you ever feel like you were losing the war? A: We didn't look at it that way, to lose the war, because whenever you have Syrians working with the terrorists, it's a loss. How to lose the war, this is hypothetical question, to be frank. It's not about your feeling; it's about the reality. In the war, you lose areas, but you recapture another area. So, it is difficult to tell whether you are losing or gaining or it was a standstill. No-one has this answer. But definitely, after the Russian intervention and supporting the Syrian Army, legally of course, we felt much, much better. We captured many main cities, many main positions at the expense of the terrorists' areas. Q: Even if you were to win the war, what would be left of your country and Syrian society? Will you have to think again about the prospect of a partition in Syria? A: No, we never thought about it, and the majority in Syria don't believe in this, and I don't think the reality, in spite of this savage war, has created the atmosphere for such partition. Actually, in many areas, the social situation is much better, because when you want to talk about partition you need to find these borders between the social communities. You cannot have partition only on political bases or geographic bases. It should be social first of all when the communities do not live with each other. As a result of the war, many Syrians understand that the only way to protect your country is to live with each other with integration, not only in coexistence, which is actually more precise to call cohabitation, when people interact and integrate with each other on daily basis in every detail. So, I think in this regard I am more assured that Syria will be more unified. So, the only problem now that we face is not the partition, but terrorism. Q: And yet you are not seen as a unifying force in Syria; people think that the society is torn apart. Just to use one example, on a personal level, you trained as a doctor and yet your administration stands accused of targeting medical and rescue workers as they race to save lives. How do you make peace with this? And is this a society that, after suffering such consequences, can really just forget the past and move on? A: I cannot answer that question while it's filled with misinformation. Let us correct it first. We don't attack any hospital. Again, as I said, this is against our interests. If you put aside the morals, that we do not do it morally, if I put it aside, I am talking about now, let's say, the ends justify the means, if I want to use it, we don't have interest. This is how we can help the terrorists if we attack hospitals, schools, and things like this. Of course, whenever you have a war, the civilians and the innocents will pay the price. That's in any war, any war is a bad war. There is no good war. In any war, people will pay the price, but I'm talking about the policy of the government, of the army; we don't attack any hospital. We don't have any interest in attacking hospitals. So, what is the other part of the question? Sorry, to remind me. Q: That's ok, that fits into the general question, but I would like to follow up with: others say the opposite, including medical workers and including the Syrian White Helmets. If you value their work, racing to the scene of whatever it may, to try and save lives, does that mean you would support the recent nomination of the White Helmets for a Nobel Peace Prize? A: It is not about the White Helmets, whether they are credible or not, because some organizations are politicized, but they use different humanitarian masks and umbrellas just to implement certain agenda. But, generally if you want to talk about the humanitarian support, how can I attack hospitals while I am sending vaccines, for example? Just explain it. You tell me two different things, two contradicting things; one that I am talking about is reality, because everybody knows that we are sending vaccines, the other one is that we are attacking hospitals. They do not match. Q: Would you support them for a Nobel Peace Prize? A: Who? Q: The White Helmets. A: What did they achieve in Syria? And how un-politicized is the Nobel Prize? That's the other question. So, if I get an answer to these two questions, I can answer you. But I would only give a prize to whoever works for the peace in Syria, first of all by stopping the terrorists from flowing towards Syria, only. Q: My last question: The U.S. election is now just a few weeks away. How do you expect that a Clinton or Trump presidency would differ in terms of U.S. policy towards Syria, and specifically towards you? A: The problem with every American candidate regarding the presidency, I am not talking only about this campaign or elections, but generally, that they say something during the campaign and they do the opposite after the campaign. As we see now the American officials, they say something in the morning and they do the opposite in the evening. So, you cannot judge those people according to what they say. You cannot take them at their words, to be frank. We don't listen to their statements, we don't care about it, we don't believe it. We have to wait till they become presidents, we have to watch their policy and their actions and their behaviors. We do not have a lot of expectations, we never had. We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with other countries according to mutual respect, parity, etc., but we all know that this is only wishful thinking and fantasy. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, left, smiles next to his wife Priscilla Chan as they rehearse for a speech in San Francisco (AP) Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are committing three billion US dollars (2.31 billion) over the next 10 years to help eradicate all disease by the end of this century. The money will be used to accelerate basic scientific research, including the creation of research tools - from software to hardware to yet-undiscovered techniques - they hope will ultimately lead to scientific breakthroughs, the way the microscope and DNA sequencing have in generations past. The goal, which they are unlikely to live to see accomplished, is to "cure, prevent or manage all disease" in the next 80 or so years. They acknowledge that this might sound crazy, but point to how far medicine and science have come in the last century - with vaccines, statins for heart disease, chemotherapy, and so on - following millennia with little progress. "So if you even just assume that we'll be able to continue to make progress on that same trajectory, then that implies that by the end of this century we will have been able to solve most of these types of things," Mr Zuckerberg said in an interview. He and Ms Chan have spent the past two years speaking to scientists and other experts to plan the endeavour. He emphasised "that this isn't something where we just read a book and decided we're going to do". Through their philanthropic organisation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the commitment includes 600 million dollars (462 million) to fund a new research centre in San Francisco where scientific and medical researchers will work alongside engineers on long-term projects spanning years or even decades. The goal is not to focus narrowly on specific ailments, such as bone cancer or Parkinson's disease, but rather to do basic research. One example: a cell atlas that maps out all the different types of cells in the body, which could help researchers create various types of drugs. Ms Chan's work as a paediatrician seems to be a big driver in their couple's decision to take up this latest cause. "I've been with families where we've hit the limit of what's possible through medicine and science," Ms Chan said. "I've had to tell families devastating diagnoses of leukaemia, or that we just weren't able to resuscitate their child." The couple spoke with The Associated Press in their home in Palo Alto, California, where their infant daughter, Max, had just woken from a nap. Their dog, Beast, came by to sit briefly during the 25-minute interview. Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan hope that their effort will inspire other far-reaching efforts and collaboration in science, medicine and engineering, so that basic research is no longer relegated to the margins. "We spend 50 times more on health care treating people who are sick than we spend on science research (to cure) diseases so that people don't get sick in the first place," Mr Zuckerberg said. He added that the approach reflects a belief that "people are always going to suffer from disease so therefore we should focus on treating people who are sick". Eric Lander, a professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the Broad Institute at MIT and Harvard, said he has had some 20 conversations with Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan over the past year about the initiative and called their goal "the right kind of goal for thinking about that kind of time frame". He is not involved with the project itself, but expressed confidence in it. "Mark has brought new models to industry with Facebook," he said, adding that while organisations like the National Institutes of Health are "fantastic", there is "no point in replicating what existing models do". "It's very hard with today's science funding to build a team to work on scientific problems that are like what you would find at a world-class technology company, that are that scale," Mr Zuckerberg said. "So that's something I think we can concretely help out with." Their new centre, called Biohub, will run as an independent research centre at the University of California, San Francisco in collaboration with UC Berkeley and Stanford University. The Chan Zuckerberg science initiative will be headed by Cori Bargmann, a neuroscientist who is best known in scientific circles for her research on the behaviour of a tiny worm called C. elegans. Ms Bargmann said the idea of bringing engineers and scientists together presents a "unique opportunity to take science in a new direction". Mr Zuckerberg said the couple decided to focus on creating better tools because this is where they see need, based on their conversations with scientists. "It's not that no one is doing this today, but out of all the money that our society spends on science funding, probably not enough is going towards tool development," Mr Zuckerberg said. Tools, he added, are long-term investments. It will likely take years for the first tools to be developed through this initiative, and even longer before they are used to cure diseases. Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan, who have committed to donating 99% of their wealth, have spent the past two years meeting with scientists and other experts to come up with the endeavour. The two stressed that they believe that their goal can be accomplished, if not in their lifetime, then in their child's lifetime. It was Max's birth last November that inspired the billionaire couple to give away nearly all their money to help solve the world's problems. At the time, this was valued at more than 45 billion dollars (34.7 billion) worth of Facebook stock, which the couple transferred to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The couple's philanthropy plan will not affect Mr Zuckerberg's status as controlling shareholder of Facebook. Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan often draw comparisons to Bill and Melinda Gates, whose philanthropic work also focuses on health and education. In an emailed statement, the Gates said investing "in basic science research is at the root of the world's most important innovations and achievements". Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan, they added, "are making an incredible commitment to research and development that will lead to the breakthroughs to cure disease and lift millions out of poverty". AP Mia Farrow's son died after being found seriously injured in his vehicle in Connecticut. Authorities in Connecticut have ruled the death of Mia Farrow's 27-year-old son, Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, a suicide, saying he shot himself in the torso. State police said Thaddeus Farrow was found in his vehicle on Wednesday afternoon in Roxbury with a life-threatening injury and was later pronounced dead in hospital. The state medical examiner's office determined the cause of death on Thursday after a post-mortem. Representatives of the actress did not comment. State police said Thaddeus Farrow lived in Torrington, about 24 miles from Roxbury. Public records show he had lived at his mother's property in nearby Bridgewater until a few years ago. The actress adopted Thaddeus, who contracted polio in an orphanage in Kolkata, India, and was paralysed from the waist down. AP Has Jeremy Corbyn been taking career advice from his old friend and fellow beard Gerry Adams? Corbyn, who is standing for re-election as Labour leader this week, is generally regarded as a shoo-in, although in Brexit Britain a shock result, as we know, is always a possibility. In his 2015 campaign to be elected party boss, Jezza only appeared on the card because it was felt important to nominate a member of the hard Left to give voters as wide a choice as possible. That battle spawned what could best be described as the Cult of Corbyn. From being regarded as a no-hoper, Jeremy - recast as kindly man-of-the-people - romped it. He had Momentum. He even had the backing of Charlotte Church. Sadly for Jezza, he didn't actually have the support of his own MPs. After the Brexit referendum, during which he'd been accused of not doing enough to bolster Remain, more than three-quarters of Labour MPs - 172 of them, no less - passed a no confidence vote in him. His shadow cabinet resigned, almost en masse. But defiantly Corbo hung on in there. Now facing Owen Smith in the leadership contest, he seems confident of victory. Like a Four Top he talks about how, once elected, he intends to "reach out" to those Labour MPs who oppose him. It would be fair to say that Gerry Adams has not encountered (publicly anyway) anything like the same revolt among his party's elected representatives. But in terms of style - personal as well as party management - there are similarities. Not just the beards, but also the dress sense. Gerry and Jezza both go for statement dressing designed to send the right message to their audience. For middle-class, anti-Establishment Corbyn, it's the distressed lecturer look in tieless shirt and a cream jacket that could have come from Mike Nesbitt's summer suit. Adams, once also an adherent of open-necked chic, has spruced up his wardrobe considerably in recent years to match his "statesman" aspirations. Although in his outreach to Irish-Americans, he's still been known to don that Irish equivalent of the hair shirt, the Aran jumper. And, despite an iron-fist approach to party management, both men also deliberately cultivate an image of themselves as sweet-natured, caring, even whimsical, souls. True, Corbyn hasn't quite reached the stage of tweeting about his teddies. But he has been on Mumsnet this week. (Would support a ban on sugar, but likes a shortbread biscuit). Given that this is a man who has presided over a period of the most brutal, abusive and fractious party in-fighting, we can take his "sweet-natured" side with a pinch of aspartame. More shockingly, Corbyn's leadership has tolerated, if not encouraged, a despicable and alarming rise in anti-Semitism. Maybe there are some in the party who calculate that this might be a vote winner. But, in 2016, it is a stain and a shame upon the reputation of the Labour Party. The far Left donning the shirts of the far Right. How politicians really are and how they portray themselves to us, the electorate, are, of course, very often, very different things. The era of spin certainly did not end with Tony Blair (as this week's appointment chez Stormont reminds us). Thanks to Cult of Corbyn hype, Momentum support and mass rallies, the Labour Party now appears to have acquired its very own Dear Leader. And Corbyn, contrary to the image he peddles of himself as gentle Jezza, meek and mild, who was forced into the leadership role, aims to cling on to power as tenaciously as Kim Kardashian to her selfie stick. Success in personality politics requires enormous ego. Another thing Jezza and Gerry have in common. Neither suffers a deficit there. Flagging up one sure-fire business winner The cross-community lamp-post sharing! In the upper Ormeau Road area of Belfast, poles have been adorned for some months now with Union and Ulster flags. But in recent days a new flag has joined them in the colours of a local GAA club. They flap away together harmoniously. It raises a question that always occurs to me, given our enthusiasm on all sides here for flag-waving. How come Invest NI never thought of starting up a local flag factory? It would never go out of business. Poor PR to pursue big-hearted Katie for fee Evidence that no good deed goes unpunished ... Katie Cutler, the big-hearted girl who raised more than 300,000 for disabled man, Alan Barnes, after hed been attacked by a yob has now been hit by a bill for 7,000 from a PR woman who demands she pay up. Or else. Alan has chipped in a tenner to help. Understandably some feel he could have managed more. But the real loser in all this is surely the PR lady. Whatever her arrangement with Katie, publicly chasing up a debt from a national treasure is not exactly clever PR. In 1931, Sir Robert Baird, owner of the Belfast Telegraph, commissioned the Belfast-born artist William Conor to paint a mural entitled Ulster Past and Present. It was a large painting that measured 24ft in width by 9ft in height and it depicted a scene from ancient Ulster, with a line of warriors marching towards a dolmen and then, beyond that, a scene of Belfast shipyardmen and shawlies walking home from the shipyard and the factories. Sir Robert then presented the painting to the Belfast Municipal Museum and Art Gallery, which had opened at Stranmillis in 1929. It was exhibited in the museum for many decades and was readily accessible to visitors as a visual representation of our ancient past and what was then our industrial present. It was simple, accessible and beautiful and it was enjoyed by generations of visitors to the museum. However, the Ulster Museum closed from 2006 to 2009 for redevelopment and, when it reopened in October 2009, the Conor mural had been removed from display. Today, it is wrapped up and in storage somewhere. Until its removal, I had enjoyed seeing the painting when I visited the museum, partly because of the skill of the artist and partly because of the subject. But it was only recently that I discovered it had been commissioned and donated to the museum by a Belfast businessman. I am sure that Sir Robert did not commission and donate the painting in order for it to be locked away in a store room, but presumably that is where it is. Baird was a philanthropist as well as a businessman and philanthropic giving to the arts is something we want to encourage, so what sort of message does it send out to potential philanthropists when this is how their philanthropy may well be treated? We also want to improve access to the arts among ordinary folk and particularly hard-to-reach communities. Well, then, dont remove the things that are most popular and works by Ulster artists such as Conor and John Luke are very popular. The Ulster Museum knows that and its shop stocks prints of some of their paintings. It even stocks postcards, bookmarks and fridge magnets with John Luke paintings on them and that is fine. But I dont go to an art gallery to view fridge magnets I go there to see paintings and sculptures. In her book on Art in Belfast, Eileen Black observes that: Work by almost all of (these artists) are to be found in the premier public art collection in Northern Ireland, that in the Ulster Museum. Well, they may be in the collection and they are, but they are not very public when a visitor to the gallery doesnt see any of them. I visit the Ulster Museum regularly and I called in the other day to see a number of exhibits, but there was no sign of the impressive mural that Sir Robert Baird had donated to the museum. It must still be in storage. Indeed, there seemed to be nothing by William Conor on display at the national museum in his home city. I left disappointed. However, as I was walked down the main stairs and made my way to the entrance, I was confronted by a large, white wall that had nothing on it. It would be ideal to accommodate the Conor mural, but the designers of the displays preferred to leave it blank and I just cannot understand it. What better location could there be for a large mural entitled Ulster Past and Present? Oh, and what was the ideology, or philosophy, that led to it being removed in the first place? I have referred to the Conor mural, but whatever happened to the Ulster Portrait Collection that was once a feature of the gallery? Many of the paintings in that were collection were also donated to the old Belfast Museum and Art Gallery. Every death during the Troubles devastated a family, often with serious, long-term consequences. I think, for example, about the Niedermayer family, whose husband and father, Thomas, was murdered by the IRA, before both his wife and two daughters took their own lives. Every family member who is involved in such tragic events reacts differently. It is entirely understandable that the families bereaved by the events in Ballymurphy in 1971 should pursue their cause so fervently. However, the resources we have available to deal with the past must be used to give victims an equal opportunity of finding truth and justice through an investigation. That is if the political will is there to look at Troubles incidents forensically, including the murders of more than 700 members of the security forces, where no one has yet been held responsible. At the insistence of Irish nationalism, the perpetrators of the majority of Troubles crimes became part of the political process, which makes the past particularly difficult to deal with. We need some honesty from politicians on that point, rather than unrealistic promises. The Troubles should not have happened, but they did. It's unlikely that those who suffered the greatest loss during those years will ever have the truth and justice which they seek, but we can work to ensure that what happened to them can never be repeated. That means understanding the impact violence had on their lives and teaching our children about its terrible consequences. In the meantime, we need an honest and tough discussion about dealing with our future, rather than another consultation into the past. TREVOR RINGLAND Holywood, Co Down Gerry Adams probably thought he was being clever when he finally admitted last week that "it isn't a question of if I will step down, it's a question of when". The Sinn Fein president even added mysteriously that "we have a plan." That will stop the endless speculation about my leadership, he must've hoped. Unfortunately for his party, they failed to take into account the recurring tendency of their Glorious Leader's past to catch up with him. The latest spanner in the works came on BBC's Spotlight on Tuesday, which claimed that Adams personally sanctioned the murder of fellow party veteran Denis Donaldson, who was gunned down by the Provisional IRA at his home in Co Donegal in 2006 after being unmasked as a British spy. That allegation cannot be verified, of course; there's a case to be made that it would have been wiser to keep Adams out of the loop in that nasty episode, never mind giving him "the final say". But it doesn't matter if the story is true or not. What matters is that it's another reminder of his bloody history as a senior member of the republican movement. Even if he had no hand or part in Donaldson's death, Adams has been linked over the years to many equally brutal acts by the IRA, not least the disappearance, torture and secret burial of Protestant mother of 10 Jean McConville. These claims don't come from nowhere. They don't happen by accident. They're a direct consequence of the man that he is and the life that he has lived. Adams, predictably, reacted with fury. He always does on realising that his word counts for little these days. As if on cue, he even tried the old trick of saying the matter is "in the hands of my solicitor" and threatening that he's "not reluctant to sue". But you are, Gerry, you really are. In fact, considering everything that's been said about him down the years, Adams must be one of the people in public life who's been most reluctant to sue his accusers. He issues vague threats of legal action, but threats are where it ends, because Adams knows full well that, if he does make good on those threats, he would immediately throw himself open to being cross examined in the witness stand about his past - and, if there's one thing Gerry Adams doesn't like, it's being made to answer uncomfortable questions. The "I was never in the IRA" routine might work on TV, but it wouldn't cut much ice in a court room. So he's reduced instead to ranting and complaining on the airwaves, and issuing statements through official Sinn Fein party channels, as they run after him, faithfully cleaning up his mess, like an embarrassed dog owner with a pooper scooper. They might lash out petulantly and make excuses and blame "spooks" for being behind every lurid allegation, but when your party leader has to publicly deny authorising the murder of a colleague who'd become inconvenient - and people still don't believe him when he does - then you have a problem. And when he has to battle equally dramatic claims every few months, then you have a massive problem. No other party would stand for it, but Sinn Fein activists seem to regard their loyalty to this man as a badge of honour, even as they know they have zero chance of attaining office in the Republic whilst Adams remains the public face of the party. That they keep letting him get away with it is reminiscent more of a Third World dictatorship with tanks at its back rather than a healthy modern democratic party; just as his refusal to step aside and let someone younger and cleaner take over shows his own brazen contempt for most ordinary people's revulsion at the shameful past that his name and face will always represent. What kind of monstrous ego makes a man cling on to his position year after year, when he's a liability to everyone around him and the cause he claims to love? Vanity, thy name is Gerry. Indias government has faced a growing chorus of calls for military action against Pakistan, following a militant raid on an army base in Indian Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers. On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave clear instructions to Indian troops to go hard on the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, government sources told BenarNews. No group has claimed responsibility for Sundays pre-dawn attack in Uri, located near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, but New Delhi has held Pakistan-based militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) responsible. Since then anti-Pakistan sentiment has echoed across India, which has borne the brunt of at least five major assaults over the past decade, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Indian authorities have attributed all the attacks to radical groups operating from the other side of the border. There is clearly a shift in the new policy toward Pakistan, which is not to give any further rope to it and to respond to cross-border incidents militarily as well as diplomatically, D.C. Pathak, a former chief of Indias Intelligence Bureau, told BenarNews. He noted that a military response did not mean war. The government would certainly be examining and considering the implications of an armed response, Pathak said. Addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Wednesday that his country had gone the extra mile to eliminate tensions in Jammu and Kashmir. For decades, tensions between nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India have simmered around the Himalayan region of Kashmir, over which both countries have territorial claims and have fought wars over it. More than 70,000 people have died since a separatist insurgency broke out there in the late 1980s. Sharif praised Kashmiris who have declared that they want freedom from India, and he demanded a U.N. inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killings by Indian forces. Indian brutalities are well documented, Sharif said, adding he would share details of regional violence with the U.N. Soldiers family threatens hunger strike Calling on the Indian government to strike back against those responsible for the attack in Uri, the family of Rakesh Singh, one of 18 Indian soldiers killed, threatened Wednesday to go on an indefinite hunger strike if such action was not taken. Every now and then, they [Pakistani intruders] attack and kill our soldiers. And all we do is hold talks with Pakistan. Enough is enough. If the government does not respond with all its military might this time, our family will begin an indefinite hunger strike, Harangi Singh, the slain soldiers brother, told BenarNews from his village in northeast Indias Bihar state. A poll published by the Times of India on Monday showed that 66.6 percent of about 110,000 respondents backed a full-scale military response to the Uri attack. In a similar poll by news portal Rediff.com, about 83 percent of nearly 10,000 respondents believed a military option against Pakistan was the best way to respond. For its part, Islamabad rejected New Delhis allegations about Pakistani involvement in the Uri attack, calling them baseless and irresponsible. It is a blatant attempt by New Delhi to divert attention from the fast deteriorating humanitarian and rights situation in Kashmir, Sharif adviser Sartaj Aziz said in a statement. Aziz was referring to more than two months of civilian unrest in Indian-administered Kashmir, where at least 80 people have lost their lives in clashes between pro-freedom protesters and security forces, since a top separatist leader was killed in early July. Retired general: declare Uri act of war Military officials on both sides have also ratcheted up the rhetoric. A day after Indian Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh said that Indias armed forces reserve to right to respond [to the Uri attack] at the time and place of our choosing, Pakistani army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif said his countrys military was fully prepared to respond to an entire spectrum of direct and indirect threats. According to a security analyst, retired Indian army Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh, New Delhi should declare the Uri attack as an act of war. If we dont respond, Pakistan will continue to inflict us with slaughter, and it would show that we are weak and timid, Singh told BenarNews. In his view, Pakistan would not dare to use its nuclear weapons. If it plays the nuclear card, India will ensure Pakistan is wiped off the map, thus ensuring that no terrorism is left on its soil. In his speech at the U.N., Prime Minister Sharif said he was concerned about India but was open to discussing all measures of restraint between the two countries. Pakistan cannot ignore our neighbors arms buildup, he said, adding that he was willing to participate in bilateral talks on a nuclear test ban. No good military option Meanwhile, Bruce Riedel, a U.S.-based South Asia security analyst, told the Times of India that New Delhi had no good military option to stop Pakistani-sponsored cross-border violence. Any military response risks escalation and will be condemned by the international community, including Washington. A better approach would be to seek diplomatic support labeling Pakistan a patron state sponsor of terror, Riedel said. But Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary, said India neednt worry about the international communitys reaction over its response to Uri. Indias response will obviously be a limited action a response to make clear you cannot come into our side and attack our army. The responsibility will then be on Pakistan on whether to escalate it or not, Sibal told BenarNews. If there is a proportionate response, the world will understand. They may not say much but may be rather satisfied. A man walks past the freshly covered graves of suspected militants who carried out the deadly July terrorist siege at a cafe in Dhaka, Sept. 22, 2016. Bangladeshi authorities Thursday buried five men suspected of attacking a Dhaka cafe and who were killed when security forces broke the siege nearly 12 weeks ago, officials said. The body of a sixth man, who worked as a cook at the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant and who was also killed in the July 2 raid that smashed the siege, was buried alongside the remains of the five alleged militants at the Jurain Graveyard in Dhaka. Saiful Chowkider, a pizza maker at the high-end cafe in Dhakas diplomatic quarter, was seen behaving suspiciously and may have acted as an accomplice during the siege in which the assailants hacked to death 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, according to officials. Police said they went ahead with the burials because the families of the suspected had not claimed their relatives remains from the morgue of a local military hospital for close to three months. An Islamic charity, Anjuman Mufidul Islam, undertook the burials after police handed over the remains of the six men. At around 5 p.m. Thursday, the police buried the six militants at the Jurain graveyard, through Anjuman Mufidul Islam, as unclaimed bodies. The parents and relatives have not asked for their bodies. So we have buried them according to Muslim rituals, Masudur Rahman, the spokesman for Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), told BenarNews. If the family members had asked for the bodies, we would have thought of handing the corpses over to them, he added. This is a pain for us But a relative of one of the slain suspects disputed that assertion. Families of some of the slain suspects had said earlier that Bangladeshi authorities had denied them access to their remains, and that they were not even allowed to identify the bodies in person. Josna, a sister of slain suspect Khairul Islam Payel, told BenarNews that her family had contacted police in order to collect her brothers remains. She said the family was not notified about his burial. But we have not filed a written application to get the body. The police assured us that they would give us the body. Now, we come to know that my brother has been buried, she said in phone interview, referring to police in the northern district of Bogra. This is a pain for us that we cannot see his body before his burial, Josna added. Rahman of the DMP said the identities of the dead men were verified through DNA tests and checks on their fingerprints that were stored in a national database. Payel was a student at a madrassa and Islamic boarding school in Bogra along with Shafiqul Islam Ujjal, another of the dead suspects. The three other suspects were from well-to-do Bangladeshi families and had attended some of the nations top schools before they went missing from their families months before the cafe attack. Apart from Payel, Ujjal and Chowkider, the other three men who were buried on Thursday were identified as Rohan Ibn Imtiaz, who was studying for a business degree at BRAC University and was the son of an official in the ruling Awami League party; Nibras Islam, a former student at North South University in Dhaka, who was enrolled at Monash University Malaysia; and Mir Sameh Mobashwer, a student at the Scholastica school in Dhaka. Collecting DNA samples The Middle Eastern-based extremist group Islamic State claimed that its fighters carried out the cafe attack the deadliest terror act in the countrys history. After the siege, ISs news agency circulated individual photos online of the five men toting an assault rifle and wearing identical red turbans as each stood in front of the groups black flag. Before and after the attack, Bangladeshi authorities have maintained that IS has no presence in the country and that Neo-JMB, a faction of home-grown militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), was behind the attack. Since the siege, Bangladeshi authorities have killed at least 20 suspects allegedly connected to it. Two men who were inside the cafe on the night of July 1, British national Hasnat Karim and Tahmib Hasib Khan, a student at the University of Toronto, are the only suspects in custody as part of the investigation into the attack, according to police. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the remains of the five suspected militants were kept in the morgue for nearly a dozen weeks because forensic investigators needed to collect samples for DNA testing. Commenting on the case of the sixth man, Chowkider, the minister said he had been spotted moving around the cafe with a weapon during the siege. He may have links with the five attackers, Khan told BenarNews. A worker at a customs office in Bali carries a sack of ammonium nitrate that was part of a load of about 30 tons seized from a boat sailing from Malaysia to Sulawesi, Sept. 22, 2016. Indonesian authorities said Thursday they had detained a ship in Bali and seized its unauthorized cargo of about 30 tons of fertilizer that could be used to make explosives. The cargo of ammonium nitrate the same material used in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people likely was intended for use as bombs for fishing, authorities said according to international news reports. While illegal in Indonesia, fishing bombs are used to stun or kill schools of fish to make harvesting easier. I can only say that some of the usage of this ammonium nitrate is to make homemade fish bombs, so far there is no link to terrorism, National Police Criminal Investigation Department Brig. Gen. Agung Setya told reporters in Bali. Bali Police Chief Sugeng Priyanto supported Agungs claim. For the use of terror acts, so far there is no indication, he told BenarNews in a telephone interview. Another Bali police official, Hendra Suhartiyono, took a different position, pointing out that the shipment of fertilizer was to be delivered to Sulawesi. The island is the home of militant group Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen that was led by Santoso, Indonesias most wanted man, until he was killed in a shootout with security forces in July. MITs membership, however, has dwindled to only a dozen members at large. Last week, police in Central Sulawesi province, announced the arrest of Muhammad Basri, who is suspected of serving as Santosos deputy and who took over the MIT after the top leaders demise. We are not closed to the possibility that this chemical material ... could also be for the benefit of terrorist groups in Sulawesi to make low-impact and high-impact bombs, Hendra told Reuters. Routine patrol On Tuesday, customs boats on routine patrol stopped the boat carrying thousands of sacks of ammonium nitrate in Buleleng, North Bali, according to news.com.au. Officials claimed that the crew did not have official paperwork required for hauling the load in Indonesian waters. The wooden boat was escorted to Padang Bai Port in Karangasem, eastern Bali, where the six crew members were being interrogated by police and customs officers on Thursday. The crew members could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of violating Indonesias customs law for hauling the load without documentation, Husni Saiful, chief of customs in Bali, told reporters. In addition, an Indonesian fishery law declares that any person who deliberately possesses, controls, carries, and/or uses fishing tools (in this case a homemade bomb) that can disrupt and destroy the sustainability of the fisheries resource, on board a fishing vessel can face five years in prison and be fined as much as 2 billion rupiahs (U.S. $153,000). The ship sailed from Pasir Gudang in Malaysia for Selayar Island in Sulawesi, Husni told news.com.au. He said the crew dumped some of the chemicals into the ocean because the boat was leaking. Agung said police have investigated three cases since April where officers suspected that fertilizer was to be used to make fishing bombs, according to the Associated Press. Two women were killed last year in an explosion at a housing complex in South Sulawesi where police said fishing bombs were being made, Indonesian media reported. Malaysian police Thursday announced the arrests of three foreigners and a local man over alleged links to terrorist-related activities, including a Bangladeshi on Interpols Red Notice. The 37-year-old Bangladeshi who owned a restaurant in Bukit Bintang, a popular tourist spot in Kuala Lumpur, was arrested and deported for suspected involvement in smuggling weapons for terrorist groups, Police Inspector-General Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement. The police chief did not reveal the names of the Bangladeshi or the other three suspects. The police statement did not say whether the four suspects were linked to one another. The suspect is listed on the Interpols Red Notice for alleged involvement in firearms trafficking for international terrorist organizations, Khalid said in a statement issued on Thursday. He said the suspect, who was arrested Aug. 19, was deported to Bangladesh on Sept. 2. In the case of Red Notices, the persons concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions for prosecution or to serve a sentence based on an arrest warrant or court decision. [Interpols] role is to assist the national police forces in identifying and locating these persons with a view to their arrest and extradition or similar lawful action, according to information posted on the website of the Lyon, France-based international police organization. Khalid said that the second foreigner, a 38-year-old Nepalese, was suspected of supplying forged travel documents to international militants. He was arrested on Aug. 19 and deported from Malaysia on Sept. 2 as well. The third suspect, a 26-year-old Moroccan who worked in this country as a welder, is an active member of Islamic State (IS), according to the chief of Malaysian police. Khalid noted that the suspect was detained by Turkish authorities in February while trying to enter Syria. Upon his release in Turkey, the suspect infiltrated into this country in early May before being caught on Aug. 2 and subsequently deported back on Wednesday, he said. All the suspects were picked up in separate operations by the Malaysian polices counter-terrorist special branch in the states of Selangor and Pahang between early August and Sept 17, his statement said. Malaysian suspect linked to IS fighter in Syria Khalid said the fourth suspect, a 34-year-old Malaysian man, is linked to Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi who allegedly has been fighting with Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria since January 2015. The suspect, who is employed as a personal driver to a businessman, was detained in September. He is linked to Muhammad Wanddy and has been actively promoting IS through his Facebook account, Khalid said in the statement. He added that the suspect was arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). Wanndy on wanted list Wanndy, who is also known as Abu Hamzah al-Fateh, is high on the Royal Malaysia Polices police wanted list for his alleged involvement in plotting the first successful attack claimed by IS on Malaysian soil. On June 28, eight people were injured when a grenade exploded on a patio at a nightclub in Puchong, near Kuala Lumpur. At least six people have been arrested in connection with the attack. Two have pleaded guilty to charges, including attempted murder, and four others have been charged with abetting the attackers. Previously, Wanndy, who hails from Durian Tunggal in the state of Malacca, made headlines when he was linked to a death threat issued by IS against top Malaysian leaders, including Prime Minister Najib Razak and police chief Khalid. Wanndys name resurfaced just days before the countrys Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 31, when he was allegedly linked to a botched plot to launch attacks at several sites on the eve of the National Day, following the arrest of three men. Since 2013, Malaysian authorities have arrested at least 230 suspected IS members and have warned that Malaysians returning from combat stints in Syria or Iraq could launch terrorist attacks at home. At least 72 alleged IS members have been charged in court. S. Adie Zul contributed to this report. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. 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Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices For Immediate Release, September 22, 2016 Contact: Randi Spivak, (310) 779-4894, rspivak@biologicaldiversity.org Public-land Seizure Extremists Advance Bills in House, Senate WASHINGTON Bills pending in the U.S. Senate and House would block the creation of new monuments and national parks, put state and private interests ahead of protecting Americas public lands, and effectively turn millions of acres of federal land in Utah over to industry profiteers. Anti-public-lands extremists are trying to advance four bills in the Senate and House natural resources committees today despite public opinion or defeats in western state legislatures. The three bills scheduled for a hearing are: Senate Bill 437, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska); S.B. 1416, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.); and S.B. 3317, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). The fourth bill that will be marked up is the so-called Public Lands Initiative, H.R. 5780, developed by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah). The bill would seize millions of acres of federal, publicly owned land in Utah and give it to state officials for mining and oil and gas drilling by private companies. These legislators may not look like the Bundy clan and their anti-government cronies, but in terms of their agenda for Americas public lands, theyre cut from exactly the same cloth, said Randi Spivak with the Center for Biological Diversity. Their ultimate goal is to steal land from the public trust, hand it to corporate polluters and extractive industries, and rob future generations of their chance to enjoy our countrys greatest gift its wild places. The Antiquities Act was created by Congress specifically to allow the president to act swiftly to protect irreplaceable national treasures at times when Congress is unwilling or unable to do so. It was responsible for originally protecting nearly half of what are now our national parks; it is highly popular, with 80 percent of western U.S. voters supporting future presidents continuing to protect existing public lands as national monuments, according to a 2016 Colorado College poll. Outside Utah the land seizure movement has stalled out in 2016. Outside the state, only one bill to hand over national public lands to a state passed, while 15 others failed. America would simply not be America without the Grand Canyon, Zion, and our amazing national forests, deserts and wildlife refuges, Spivak said. American voters are strongly opposed to turning them over to corporations, and Republican legislators should be very, very wary of embracing these extreme views. 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. my.bionity.com Mit einem my.bionity.com-Account haben Sie immer alles im Uberblick - und konnen sich Ihre eigene Website und Ihren individuellen Newsletter konfigurieren. 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 Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia NAIROBI, Kenya - UK Visas and Immigration's global commercial partner for UK visa services, TLScontact, will open a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Mombasa. This is a new centre, in addition to the TLScontact VAC already operating in Nairobi, and its launch will extend the range of services the UK offers to customers across Kenya, including increased access to premium and priority products. Image by 123RF UK visa customers will continue to complete their applications and pay their visa fee online at Visa4UK before choosing an appointment at one of the TLScontact VACs in Kenya. The Visa Application Centre in Mombasa will be open every day between 8am and 3.30pm. Customers will be able to make appointments to submit visa applications in Mombasa on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8.30am and 1pm, and can collect their passports on any week day. To use the VAC in Mombasa, customers will need to pay a fee of 55 in addition to the visa application fee. This User Pay fee allows UK Visas and Immigration to expand and improve its customer service offering in Kenya. A choice of centres offers convenience for customers who would otherwise have to travel to the capital to apply. This User Pay fee is payable online at the time of application, before customers visit the VAC in Mombasa. There will be no changes to the VAC in Nairobi, which will remain free to use. With TLScontact operating Visa Application Centres on our behalf, UK Visas and Immigration have more flexibility to drive improvements in customer service, with greater access to added value services and premium products such as Priority Visas and direct return courier options. The Priority Visa service will be available in Mombasa, where customers can fast track their application for an additional fee. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife pledged $3bn over the next decade to efforts to prevent, cure or manage disease, aiming to use the Facebook founder's fortune for innovative research. "This is a big goal," Zuckerberg said at a San Francisco event announcing the effort of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative established by the couple. "But we spent the last few years speaking with experts who think it is possible, so we dug in." Zuckerberg and his doctor wife, Priscilla Chan, had their daughter Max late last year. Shortly after, they pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook holdings or some $45bn to "advance human potential and promote equality." He said their goal is to cure all disease, or at least turn catastrophic illnesses from terminal to manageable. Chan, fighting back tears at times, said that curing all disease within Max's lifetime will not mean children won't ever get sick, but it would happen less often and be less severe. The first investment being made as part of what the Zuckerbergs hoped would become a "collective" effort will be the creation of a bio-hub in San Francisco where researchers, scientists and others will work to build tools to better study and understand diseases. "Throughout the history of science, most breakthroughs have been preceded by the invention of some new technology that lets you see things in new ways," Zuckerberg said, mentioning the microscope and DNA sequencing as examples. "Tools also create breakthroughs in how we treat diseases." Warehouses are changing at an unprecedented rate, particularly due to the growth in e-commerce - online sales in Europe are predicted to push through the $700 billion barrier, from $457 billion this year, by 2020.Companies like Deliv in the US, JD.com in China and Amazon, with Prime, are accelerating the move to same-day delivery as retailers, in particular, look to fulfillment to provide a competitive edge and consumers want their goods delivered more quickly. While theres a need to do more, more quickly, there remains a drive to cut costs in the warehouse. With these conflicting pressures in mind, Alison Bullen, Zebras EMEA data capture product manager, asks how are warehouses responding? And with technology, particularly scanners for data capture, offering new ways to enhance productivity, Alison lists five things to look for when upgrading your teams devices. We recently conducted research among senior warehouse managers across Europe, Asia and the US to assess how they see operations changing by 2020. Given the growth in e-commerce, it will come as no surprise that 76% expect to increase their number of warehouses. Based on my discussions with our customers, I believe many of these new sites will be satellite fulfillment centres. These smaller depots will cut delivery times by bringing delivery closer to consumers. Were also seeing warehouses building upwards, with higher shelving to reduce the footprint (and cost of space). As well as expanding space, many warehouses are increasing their use of temporary staff to cope with seasonal demand. The only issue with this is that our research shows that it can take over 50 hours to effectively train people to get to full productivity. I know from discussions with our customers that theres a desire to reduce this figure to help give an immediate boost to productivity. Another key finding of our research is that, when we asked warehouses to list their top 20 investment priorities, technology was high on the agenda: equipping staff with mobile devices (72.5%), barcode scanning (67.6%) and the Internet of Things (61.8%) all featured in the top five. Indeed, although I still come across a few warehouses where paper is used in some areas, Im seeing a greater urgency to exploit technology such as RFID and barcode labels, along with automated data capture, to streamline workflows, and gain real-time visibility over every item from goods-in to put-away, pick and dispatch. Key to capturing data are the handheld scanners used by teams and, with changes in technology, there are five things that I recommend thinking about when looking for your next devices. The long and short of choosing your next scanner 1. Workflows: I mentioned previously that the design of warehouses is changing, with higher shelves. If you need your teams to pick goods from these shelves, or conduct regular stock counts, youll need devices that scan over both short and longer distances. This is especially so for forklift drivers who want to be able to scan from their cab. Advanced scan engines are available that can achieve this close, and at a distance, data capture to help your users work more quickly and conveniently. 2. Accurate data capture: Just as camera images have advanced significantly in recent years, so have scan engines. Its worth looking at the latest options as theyre able to reduce errors by capturing not only all types of barcodes but barcodes in any condition codes that are scratched, faded, incomplete and even hidden under layers of shrink wrap. 3. Unstoppable performance: Id always advise buying the toughest device that you can. I spend a lot of time in the warehouse and Ive seen scanners thrown between people, dropped from high shelves, and even used as hammers to break into boxes. In such an unforgiving environment for technology, your scanners need to be built tough to cope with the rough treatment and keep working day in and day out. And, as Ive seen a scanner cradle left sitting in a pool of brake fluid, Id also say dont forget the cradle and make sure that that has a high IP-rating too. 4. Intuitive operation: Theres a wider choice of Android and touch-based scanning devices out there now including wearable options. And when you pair these devices with voice guidance, to talk your users through tasks step-by-step, we see significant gains in productivity and accuracy with a marked reduction in error count too. Whats more, devices are becoming much more intuitive; training time falls markedly when you provide users with technology that they can get to grips with quickly and which takes an active role in assisting them with their tasks. 5. Full-shift performance: Shifts in warehouses can last eight hours or longer and battery life must extend at least beyond this. Also, as with any device, the way your people look after batteries can greatly extend their life cycle. With this in mind, its valuable to look for scanners that include battery gauges, and which offer your IT team the option of remotely tracking battery management over time (e.g. when and how often batteries are being charged). By encouraging best practice in battery care, you can help reduce the total cost of ownership of your devices. While its contradictory that theres an expectation on many warehouses to boost productivity, efficiency, and performance, while also reducing costs, new scanning technology can help. The latest devices can capture more codes, more quickly, are robust and easier to use, and can be remotely monitored to optimise the way theyre used. And, when paired with new workflow systems, such as voice guidance, they can also help your teams get up to speed with less training, reduce errors and pick more quickly. As the needs of your warehouse change, it can be useful to see how new technology is evolving to help meet these demands. Choppies Enterprises - the leading supermarket grocery retailer in Botswana - continued with its expansion strategy into the rest of Africa in the year to end-June, but the moves into new territories came with a more than 50% cost to the company's earnings. Choppies reported headline earnings per share of 7.25 thebe (about 9.48c) in the period under review, down from 16.92 thebe a year earlier. Turnover, however, increased 24% to 7.4bn pula, while profit rose 12% to 1.44bn pula. CEO Ramachandran Ottapathu said Choppiess full-year performance had been affected by pre-operative expenses in Zambia and Kenya. He said the company had also incurred losses in Zimbabwe due to depressed economic conditions, which resulted in a shortage of cash in circulation. The knock-on effect had been a decline in purchases per transaction. "Our operations in Zambia and Kenya will remain loss making in the 2017 financial year, as we continue to build our store base and invest in operational infrastructures. In Zimbabwe, we anticipate returning to profitability in the coming year," Ottapathu said. Choppies, not unlike Shoprite which is the biggest retailer in Africa has ambitious growth targets for the continent. The retailer lists its focus as East Africa, with emphasis on Tanzania and Kenya. Shoprite has yet to successfully branch out in East Africa. According to PwC, Kenya and Tanzania are among 10 countries with high potential for retail growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Consumer spending patterns in these countries are projected to almost double in the next three years, creating more business opportunities for the retail sector, including supermarkets and dealers in electronics and food and beverages. Ottapathu said Choppies expected to commence operations in Tanzania and Mozambique in the coming months and planned to roll out more than 20 stores in all its regions by the close of the 2017 financial year. Choppies shares listed on the JSE at R4.90 in May 2015. The share price peaked at R6.50 in December, but has since declined to below its listing price, as conditions in the retail industry have proved to be anything but ideal in Africa. Choppies shares are down 36% year to date, at R4.09. The retailer declared a gross final dividend of 2.82 thebe. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was poised to sell fast-food company McDonald's SA to MSA Holdings, a McDonald's subsidiary operating in the Middle East, should the transaction be completed successfully, McDonald's SA CE Greg Solomon said on Tuesday. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to dispose of food company McDonalds SA so that there is no conflict of interest with his position in the government.Picture: Siyasanga Mbambani The sale will complete the disposal of all Ramaphosas commercial interests other than his investments in property. The remainder of his assets are held in a blind trust and invested in stocks of which he has no knowledge. The proposed transaction came to light prematurely on Tuesday when it emerged that the Competition Commission had given its approval to the transaction two weeks ago. Solomon was reluctant to say anything further than what was contained in a measured holding statement as the transaction was still being negotiated. "McDonalds SA can confirm that there is a process under way to find a suitable replacement for Mr Ramaphosa, the current McDonalds Developmental Licensee for SA. "The potential purchaser, MSA Holdings, is a company based in the United Arab Emirates," the statement says. The move was "in line with the public statement by Mr Ramaphosa on his election to the position of ANC deputy president in December 2012 that he would undertake a review of his business interests". Solomon said the proposed transaction had been approved recently by the Competition Commission. "All parties to the transaction and their professional advisers have signed extensive confidentiality agreements regarding the proposed transaction and no further comments can be provided at this stage." Commission spokesman Itumeleng Lesofe said the body had been notified about the transaction on June 9 and approved it on September 5. "The commissions assessment found that the merger is unlikely to substantially prevent or lessen competition in the provision of quick-service restaurants in that the acquiring group is not active in SA. Thus, there is no geographic overlap between the activities of the merging parties," he said. MSA operates McDonalds franchises throughout the Middle East. The commission said it could not disclose the value of the transaction. Ramaphosas office said that he would not be commenting and referred all queries to Solomon. After being elected deputy president in 2014, Ramaphosa disposed of all his commercial interests that could pose a conflict of interest with his position in the government, retaining only McDonalds, his game farm and 32 residential properties. This entailed his complete divestment from the holding company Shanduka, which he founded and which included a range of regulated assets in mining, telecommunications, industrials and financial services. Shanduka was valued at the time at R8.8bn, of which Ramaphosas family trust owned an estimated R2.6bn. The proceeds were invested in a blind trust, in which Ramaphosa has no knowledge of the investments made. McDonalds SA has a 20-year agreement to run more than 200 restaurants in SA. According to the company it serves more than 8-million customers each month and employs more than 10,000 people. MADRID - Zara-owner Inditex posted a rise in first-half profits Wednesday thanks to what analysts said was a well-honed business model allowing the Spanish group to beat rivals in whisking new trends to the shopfloor. The world's largest fashion retailer by turnover, owned by the publicity-shy Amancio Ortega who has become the world's second richest man, said higher clothes sales drove the eight-percent jump. Profits rose to 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in the six months from 1 February, the company said. "All of the group's brands increased their international presence during the period, with 83 new stores in 38 countries," Inditex said in a statement, adding that it ventured into three new markets -- Aruba, Paraguay and Nicaragua. Sales in the first half rose 11 percent to 10.5 billion euros. The results of the company, which operates eight store brands including Zara, upmarket label Massimo Dutti and teen chain Bershka, beat analyst expectations, but only slightly. All brands posted a rise in sales. Zara and home decoration brand Zara Home were the clear winners, with a 13-percent and 17-percent rise in sales respectively. Analysts said Inditex is reaping the rewards of its now famous business model which allows it to get clothes to stores much faster than its rivals and avoid excess inventory. While its competitors prioritise low production costs and outsource manufacturing to China, Inditex makes more than half of its clothes in factories in Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Turkey -- relatively close to its main markets. This allows Zara, for instance, to take clothes from the design stage to the store floor in a mere two weeks. By comparison the process takes Inditex's nearest rival H&M six months because it sources it collection further away in China. The Swedish group regularly challenges it for the global number one spot but Inditex is currently the largest fashion retailer by sales, based on the two companies' first-half results this year. "If something does not sell, they stop producing it," Rosario Silva, a professor of business strategy at the IE Business School in Madrid, told AFP. Designers at Inditex's head office in La Coruna in the northwestern region of Galicia, where the first Zara shop opened in 1975, are in close contact with store managers to identify which items are flying off the shelves as well as those that don't move. "If something does not sell, they stop producing it," Rosario Silva, a professor of business strategy at the IE Business School in Madrid, told AFP. But Noel Byrne, a business strategy professor at the Madrid branch of Boston's Suffolk University, warned that the Spanish group was bound to face tighter competition in the coming years as rival retailers adjust their own processes to match its quick delivery times. "When you are making big profits it is one of the most dangerous times in business because the competition want a share of that, and they smell it and they inevitably come," he told AFP. RocoMamas launched its #ElectionBurger campaign yesterday, whereby its customers can vote for the next Leader in Taste of the Free World. Already South Africas most Instagrammed burger, RocoMamas is offering three burger candidates for voters to choose from: The Donald, full of bull and super cheesy - a double cheese beef burger, with nothing Mexican in sight. So delicious; build a wall to keep your neighbours from taking a bite. Currently on 55. The left-leaning, liberally-garnished The HillBill burger brings a bit of cock and bull to the table with its chicken and beef combo. Currently on 29. If youre not sure whether to lean left or right, theres always The Joker, a non-conformist upstart with bold flavour and a unique disregard for the rules. Currently on 69. The #ElectionBurger campaign was built on the back of RocoMamas quirky and original approach to creating personalised and memorable Smashburger, ribs and wings' experiences which have seen it grow from just three restaurants in Johannesburg 18 months ago, to over 40 locations country-wide. RocoMamas is soon to extend the democracy of free flavour choice to burger-lovers in Kenya and the Middle East as part of its planned global expansion. South Africans can make their mark in the biggest election of the year by snapping their chosen Election Burger and posting it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #ElectionBurger, and tagging it with #TheDonald, #TheHillBill or #TheJoker. To keep track of which burger will reign supreme, voters can visit www.electionburger.com between 22 September and mid-November 2016 to keep tabs on their favourite candidate in real time. Former MD of retail at Woolworths Andrew Jennings, has been tipped as a possible contender to head the new Edcon board, which will have the near-impossible task of growing profit in one of the most hostile trading environments in the group's 86-year history. Andrew Jennings in 2010.Picture: Financial Mail Jennings, who left Woolworths in 2006, worked as a special adviser to Australian-based retailer Myer, whose former CEO, Bernie Brookes, was appointed head of Edcon a year ago. Asked for comment, Brookes said consultancy Spencer Stuart had been engaged to conduct a search and was gathering names. The appointment of Jennings or someone with experience of nonfood retailing, will be critical to overcome concern that a committee of bondholders is set to oversee Edcon. "Corporate bondholders know nothing about running a clothing retailer. If they try they will fail just like Bain [Edcons previous owner] has failed; Edcon will not survive another failure," said an industry insider who did not want to be named. A low-to-no-growth environment and rising bad debt combined with a regulatory clampdown on unsecured lending and tough competition are just some of the challenges facing the countrys largest non-food retailer. Adding a few of its own problems is a relatively new management team and the prospect of a committee of bankers driving the process. The debt-to-equity restructuring, which has been in the planning phase for the past three months, was inevitable, according to most analysts. Jean Pierre Verster said each set of quarterly results highlighted the steady deterioration in the groups performance. "The jury is still out on whether Edcon will trade out of its problems, its a big uncertainty." Sasfin analyst Alec Abraham said the capital restructuring would be a big help, but the crucial issue was whether management would be able to address the fundamental problems and trade better. Given that many of the groups fundamental problems were self-imposed including abandoning many of its core products, buying in inappropriately expensive brands and selling its debtors book to Absa few commentators were concerned about the clean-out of top management. Brookes said the retailer now intended offloading some of its international brands and focusing on home-grown brands such as Kelso and Stone Harbour. Escaping from the clampdown on lending imposed by Absa will be more challenging. The 2012 sale of the R10bn debtors book was intended to ease the groups debt burden, but the tougher lending criteria imposed by Absa created a different set of bigger problems. "Edcon needs to get the credit lever back under its control," Verster said. "But these are tough times." The Absa transaction was reminiscent of a much-regretted decision taken by Edgars in the early 1990s to sell its book to Nedbank. That deal was unwound after a few years. While there is much scepticism, there is cause for some optimism. "If they can correct themselves and focus on the right things, they could take advantage of the current weaknesses at Mr Price and Foschini . They still have 3-million to 4-million core credit card holders," the industry insider said. Millions of businesses exist on the web today. From web-exclusive business models to decades-old brands that have just recently expanded to the web, you will find a consumer solution for virtually any product or service you need. Because of its ease of use, the internet is a highly competitive place. Search engines and other major internet institutions have had to adapt in order to accommodate this, finding ways to ensure that the information served to users is presenting the most relevant and quality sources. Many businesses are turning to company blogs as one way to rise the ranks of search and beyond. We'll discuss below five excellent reasons why your business needs a company blog. Company blogs boost SEO Any business that decides to go about launching a blog must consider all of the pros and cons of doing so. Most notably, the biggest potential benefit to a company blog is the effects that it can have on your overall SEO efforts. If you want to rank well in search engines, then you absolutely need great content; search engines require this. The creation of a company blog can take an otherwise content-thin website and transform it into a useful resource for information in your industry, thereby pleasing search engines. Company blogs help with marketing Any business needs a way to attract people to its website. While we'd all like to believe that everybody visits in order to buy something, you sometimes need a more subtle approach. With the creation of a company blog, you can now produce content that actually interests people beyond a sheer e-commerce standpoint. This is a great way to gain attention while subtly promoting your products' benefits, and can make it easier to get better results from marketing efforts. Company blogs help with public relations A simple storefront or promotional pitch can leave most people feeling cheated. Businesses that want to make good impressions on their target audiences whether it be a global niche audience or a hyper-local community can use company blogs as one way to interact more effectively. Businesses that do charitable work, for instance, can showcase their efforts through the blog. Additionally, having a company blog makes it much easier to publish press releases and more. Company blogs establish expertise Your business' reputation matters. Most people worry about avoiding a bad reputation, but establishing a good one is even more important. Company blogs can help highlight your business as a leader in its industry by demonstrating the skill sets, knowledge, perspectives and quality of your products and services. Before you know it, even your competitors will be looking to you for advice. Company blogs provide a laboratory If you're curious about how a new marketing message will be received, whether improvements to a product would be worth the effort, or any other number of efforts, then a blog can help. You'll be able to gauge your community on a variety of issues and measure both direct opinion (comments) and indirect opinion (website metrics showing how many people shared or viewed each post). Do you have any other potential benefits of a company blog in mind? Leave us a comment below and tell us your thoughts. SA should prioritise education right now and give it all the commitment, input, expertise and finances it needs. It includes all education - early childhood development, primary, secondary school and higher education. The many issues we are focusing on are diverting attention and energy from the educational crisis we are facing. If our ministers of education reported to Parliament on the real progress made at all levels of education, we would have something important to celebrate. We would know we are doing something to change the future of all young people in SA. Why, 22 years after 1994, is education still where it is? Why are so many pupils, students, teachers, principals, lecturers and researchers dissatisfied, frightened and apprehensive about education when it is the single most sacrosanct institutional cornerstone? Why are there delays in resolving issues as critical as fees for higher education or in developing or recruiting maths and science teachers? We cannot tackle the economy, unemployment and inequality without first attending to education. Nobel-prize winning economist and professor at Columbia University Joseph Stiglitz says we keep looking to standard economics for the answers when it has already failed us. It has led to increased unemployment and inequality, and these two factors kill economies. He refers to the "rising tide" economic theory that if you give the appropriate resources to the wealthy or ruling echelons, the benefits will trickle down to everyone. But it has not happened, as he explains: "The rising tide has only lifted the large yachts, while many of the smaller boats have been dashed on the rocks." He says: "This is partly because the extraordinary growth in top incomes has coincided with an economic slowdown, and, most strikingly, executive compensation has displayed substantial positive growth even during periods when stock market values decreased." All the while, the inequality and unemployment gaps are widening, and, instead of tackling them head on with intellectual honesty and a sense of urgency, those in positions of power and authority in our country are watching on as inequality, unemployment and educational crises cause increasingly violent sociopolitical and economic instability. We have seen this playing out in universities and schools amid a lack of government leadership, and an apparent amnesia about where education in this country came from and where it needs to be. All this and more was raised during the second Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust annual lecture on valuesbased leadership at Rhodes University earlier in September. Former president Kgalema Motlanthe quoted poet Keorapetse Kgositsile: "In a situation of oppression, you are either a tool of oppression or an instrument of liberation." Motlanthe said Kgositsile wrote "pastpresentfuture" as one word because the past continues to cast a shadow on the present unless we create a better future for all. The barometer of our current commitment to creating a better future for all, as described in our Constitution, is measured by the lived experience of communities. Motlanthe questioned what it says about our society when education in many black and coloured communities is degenerating. He questioned how anyone in the government, presumably including himself, could let this happen when it is well-known what so-called Bantu Education did to most South Africans after the Nationalists introduced it in 1954. National Party prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd had decreed that teachers at black schools had to be trained to produce children who would not aspire to any station in life above specific levels of labour. The system ensured teachers in black schools were very poor at mathematics and science. Motlanthe added of all the vices and excesses of the apartheid system, Bantu education was the worst. He calls it "the most serious crime of apartheid". It is why pastpresentfuture still prevails. We must, with conviction and action, split these words. It can be done. Imagine the lived reality of scholars and students studying in a conducive, inspiring environment. With all the modern technology and means of communication available, it is possible to fast-track the teaching and learning environment in all schools. Creative partnerships, logistics and funding models can be found. Motlanthe warns: "For as long as basic education is weak, the economy of this country will forever remain weak." And as long as higher education is facing an unsustainable funding model, the economic growth and social stability we desire will be a pipe dream. Education is the investment that will drive new energy solutions, deliver services, educate future generations, and give us a safe and prosperous country. Source: Business Day "I'm going to die here," says Lameez Johnson. She is adamant that she will not leave Salt River. At 21 years old, she is the latest generation of her family to live here. Her great-grandparents moved to the neighbourhood in the 1960s. Willy Heyn and his family were evicted from Gympie Street and moved to Blikkiesdorp, a municipal built Temporary Relocation Area in Delft, in 2009. Photo: Daneel Knoetze (September 2014) Escaping the Group Areas Act, Woodstock/Salt River was an oasis in an oppressive apartheid city: a well-located neighbourhood for black African and coloured working-class families. For Lameez, there is no place like it. Three generations of her family went to the same school, and were watched over by a neighbourhood of aunties and uncles who knew everyone by name. This year, Lameezs grandmother received a notice to vacate the house that she has rented for over 20 years. Up the road, crossing the boundary separating Salt River from Woodstock, some of Lameezs friends and family face eviction from Bromwell Street. Forty-three people, including 19 children, have until 26 September to move out. What is happening on Bromwell Street is not unique, or new. It is emblematic of a wave of evictions led by private developers and landlords in the Woodstock/Salt River area for over a decade. In 2004, two elderly women who had lived in a rowhouse on Carrie Street for 50 years were evicted from their homes. Crucially, the developer decided to evict residents after rent control statutes fell away in 2003. Rent control legislation, implemented since the 1920s, regulated rent increases and made it difficult to evict tenants. Applying mostly to buildings built and occupied before 1949, it largely protected white tenants but also benefited residents in Woodstock and Salt River. In 2003, residents of Salt River and Woodstock called for rent control to be maintained. The National Minister of housing at the time was supposed to assess the impact that ending controls would have on vulnerable groups in South Africa. This did not happen. Arguably, the end of these protections began the wave of market-led evictions. It was the Gympie Street residents struggle to stay in their homes which became the first real symbol of displacement from the area. After a prolonged legal battle between 2006 and 2009, the families were evicted and shoved to the desolate relocation camp of Blikkiesdorp. Then there were the five families evicted from St. James Street in 2009 when they could not afford the high rents. In the same year immigrant families were left on the streets on Victoria Road. In Cornwall Street in 2012, seven families were evicted from their homes, including elderly people and children. In the same year, people living in eight shacks were evicted on the same street. Month on month, families are individually evicted in less publicised cases. Many of these happen after a tenant receives a notice to vacate. Having long-standing verbal lease arrangements, and despite renting for decades, they are vulnerable to exploitation by new landlords and developers. Unable to find affordable accommodation in the area, families are forced to move to distant townships. We dont know exactly how many people have been displaced from Woodstock and Salt River. Just by looking at the number of high-profile evictions it runs into the hundreds. If individual evictions were considered, these numbers would rise. Yet this phenomenon has not been acknowledged by the City of Cape Town, nor does it feel compelled to intervene. As Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson put it: The City is not involved in private matters between private landlords and tenants, and the market forces which drives these arrangements. It is telling that the City considers these forces untouchable. Cape Town has a burgeoning property market that is entrenching inequality - with property prices increasing at some of the highest rates in the world. Woodstock and Salt River are at the centre of the Citys affordability crisis. According to the 2011 census, just over 50% of Salt Rivers households earned R6,400 per month or less. In Woodstock this figure was 42% of households. Meanwhile, the average rent for a 2-bedroom property in Salt River today is R6,301, while in Woodstock it is R5,964. These rents are unaffordable for a significant proportion of the citys population. Unaffordability is at the crux of the displacement. Without regulations for affordable rental rates, obligations on new developments to contribute affordable units, or the building of new social housing or governmental rental stock - residents have no feasible housing options in the area. Property developments in Woodstock and Salt River have been buoyed by government decisions - contrary to the Citys claim of not being involved in market forces. In 2004, parts of Woodstock and Salt River were included in the Cape Town Urban Development Zone (UDZ). The UDZ programme by National Treasury encouraged commercial and residential development in inner-city areas across the country. Tax incentives are offered to refurbish or construct commercial and residential properties, including incentives for low-cost housing units. Yet the incentive has not been used to build low-cost units in the Cape Town UDZ. Instead, it has encouraged commercial and residential (market-rate) developments. The Old Biscuit Mill, purchased in 2005, lay the ground for others to follow suit. The new developments influenced property prices. Prior to 2004, property sales on Bromwell Street did not exceed R135,000. Last year, a Bromwell Street property sold for R5.9 million. Developers are encouraged to buy properties on Bromwell because, like many properties near Albert and Victoria road, they are zoned as mixed-use after the Citys zoning overhaul in 2013. This provides broad development rights for things like medium-density flats, businesses and industry on properties that were affordable rental homes. The City missed an opportunity to ensure redevelopment was inclusive: to set conditions on development and to provide land-use incentives to ensure affordable housing. Against the backdrop of a cut-throat Cape Town property market and continued economic inequality, an area that was an exception to the racist and classist apartheid city is subject to a modern phenomenon of systematic displacement. As the wave of displacement reaches its crescendo with Bromwell, this demands an intervention. Kigali, Rwanda: China is playing a significant role towards transformation of Africa's agriculture sector, which has contributed to food and nutrition security and poverty reduction on the continent. Fanny Schertzer via Wikimedia Commons - Rwanda, rice fields Attaher Maiga, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country representative to Rwanda, said this in an interview with Xinhua at the ongoing African Regional Forum on Agriculture for Sustainable Development in Kigali. "Agriculture holds the key to economic growth, poverty reduction and food security in Africa. Agricultural growth is an important component of China's economic relations with African countries," Maga said. Last December, China promised to offer about 60 billion US dollars to Africa to enhance the continent's economic transformation, industrialization, and technological development. The Chinese government announced that it will roll out 10 major cooperation plans that will strengthen cooperation with Africa within the next three years. "China is partnering with African economies to transform agriculture into a modern and dynamic sector. Chinese government has supported Africa's agriculture growth through a multitude of activities in areas such as investment, capacity building, infrastructure development, innovations and research," said Maga. The three-day conference, organised by FAO, aims at discussing how the principles of sustainable food and agriculture can promote joint action to strengthen the contribution of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to sustainable development. Africa needs about 400 billion US dollars of investment in food production over the next decade to meet the continent's needs, according to FAO. The first phase of upgrading 10 state-owned industrial parks is under way, with R180m allocated for the project this year, Department of Trade and Industry director-general Lionel October said on Wednesday, 21 September. The upgrades of Seshego in Limpopo and Botshabelo in the Free State have already been launched, and that of Isithebe in KwaZulu-Natal is imminent. There are more than 50 industrial parks scattered across the country, some owned by the state nationally and others by provinces and municipalities. They were set up under the apartheid government to draw industry to the "homelands" in a bid to minimise migration to the cities. The department wants to resuscitate them to provide employment in rural areas. Deputy director-general Sipho Zikode said in a briefing to Parliament's trade and industry committee that the first phase of the upgrades, which is being overseen by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, involved the upgrade of security infrastructure such as perimeter fencing, fencing between erven, access control, street lighting, electricity requirements and top structures. This will be followed in the next three years by further upgrades of roads, bulk water supply, sewage treatment plants and electricity infrastructure. The revitalisation programme was initiated in September last year with the aim of catalysing economic development and job creation in their regions. Many of the parks have existing tenants but the aim is to attract more. A major problem in Seshego, Zikode told MPs, was illegal occupation and dumping in those areas that were not in use. Since the upgrade tenants in the park have shown an interest in renewing their lease agreements. Addressing the objections that these areas were not economically viable, October said apartheid SA did not allow the free movement of people and capital. This abnormality persists and the department believed that it had to "swim against the tide" and assume the responsibility to make these areas economically viable. Jobs had to be provided in the areas where people lived. Source: BDpro Construction and property solution company Profica has recently completed a tenant installation and full fit-out for ABSA bank's Umlazi Megacity branch in Durban. This is one of around 40 separate design and build projects that Profica is undertaking as part of ABSA Bank's Client Facing Network Programme, which ultimately aims to supply over 200 new or refreshed retail bank facilities around the country. The ABSA project is a significant expansion from our core services as we predominantly focus on project and development management services, says Matthew Renshaw, MD of Profica South Africa. This project encompasses our full design and build capability. As one of four companies that have been directly contracted by ABSA Bank to roll out the national programme, we have assembled our own specialist team to provide flexibility and the right expertise required to deliver each project from concept design through to full construction and fit-out. Absa Bank, Andries Street, Pretoria Typically, ABSA Bank would undertake a substantial portion of the design aspect themselves, when developing a new facility. This programme differs in that it is completely outsourced to independent contractors, who take on full risk and deliver the finished product to ABSA Bank. Within this design and build model, Profica anticipates handing over approximately forty separate projects between now and the end of 2017. 25 primary sites To date, Profica has been allocated 25 primary sites. The delivery timeframe for a primary site is between six and eight weeks; a refresh, a mere four days, says Renshaw. Profica has already successfully delivered four primary sites, including projects in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mafikeng, Tshwane, and Gauteng. Umlazi Megacity in KwaZulu-Natal was one of the first projects handed over in May of this year. Profica will begin work on ABSA Banks flagship branch at OR Tambo at the beginning of September. Absa Bank, Andries Street, Pretoria Renshaw says, It is important that we understand the nature of running a capital programme. A programme such as this involves complexities that come with having to hit the ground running in different regions simultaneously, and to adapt to the requirements of the clients internal service providers such as those associated with security and IT services. Over the first four projects, we experienced a healthy learning curve as we began to understand the clients needs and develop a good working relationship. Now weve found our rhythm, and we are all set to roll out the remaining facilities. South Africa's tyre manufacturing industry, which is spearheaded by local players; Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Sumitomo continues to benefit from ample investment geared towards production processes, however, deeper conversations pertaining to legislation, education and safety processes are necessary in ensuring that the industry in all its spheres preserves the ethos of safety for everyday motorists. Nobuzwe Mangcu This has been the impetus behind the South African Tyre Manufacturing Conferences (SATMC) collaboration with industry related stakeholders such as government and the National Regulatory of Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) in addressing the intricacies of the tyre manufacturing industry from production to quality assurances processes supported through proficient regulatory methodologies. Local industry expansion Among the many cornerstones behind this collaboration is the continued expansion of South Africas tyre manufacturing industry. Last year 11 million tyres were sold locally accounting for 61% in domestic sales. Two million tyres were exported from South Africa while a total of 5 million imported tyres entered our market. These figures corroborate the desideratum of such quality assurance processes which can only be heralded in by concerted collaborations in investment to achieve greater policy and regulatory harmonisation, implementation, and integration. The value of vision has propelled SATMCs commitment to partnerships with the Tyre Importers Association in collectively addressing and engaging the technical regulatory institutions such as the NRCS, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), the International Trade and Administration Commission and the South African Revenue Service. The proactive positioning of engaging regulatory institutions through conversations on technical regulatory standards and specifications, the lack of technical standards and specifications, formulating duty implementation policies as well as tyre tariff amendments alludes to a sense of optimism in shaping a network of qualified custodians if you consider that our local tyre manufacturing industry over the past four years has been galvanized by a R4-bilion collective investment injection towards enhancing tyre production facilities. This has culminated in significant strides made by manufactures in remodelling production processes to not only improve capacity, but also adhere to stringent safety requirements. The tangible palpableness of these investments is seen in Sumitomos truck and bus tyre production facility which will have the sufficiency to meet the growing demand for truck and bus tyres as of 2018. Bridgestone is one of the largest tyre and rubber companies in the world and recently began a process of vesting R700-million over a period of five years into upgrading and expanding its production facility located in Brits in the North West Province. Continental tyres followed suit with the construction of a R65-million boiler renewal project which commenced in 2012 and completed in 2014 imputing the manufacturers endeavor towards sustainable energy and elevated production outputs. Other significant examples of investments have comprised of upgrades to Goodyears facility with a stronger focus on passenger car tyres. The manifestation of these investments and their direct implication on the industry is the intensified commitment towards supplying Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Consumer perspective From a consumer perspective this remains encouraging as ordinary consumers are most likely to use the original brand of tyres which come fitted onto their vehicles, and this we believe, poses increased safety implications in the greater context due to the fact that 75% of all tyres on our roads are SATMC tyres and that the safety of South African motorists remains our central focus. What is indispensable within the framework of these multi-billion rand investments is the human value facet which must be distinctly visible throughout the industry by means of employment and job creation, as well as local beneficiation and value-addition within the manufacturing process. A total of 7,000 direct jobs have been created collectively throughout the industry while an additional 4,000 jobs have been created through the industry value chain. This represents the conscious ideology towards a comprehensive investment blueprint that embraces diversity and regulatory reforms as well as the reinforcing of skills expansion within the industry. Challenges However, challenges remain a reality within our industry. South Africa tyre manufacturing industry faces global competition from an average of 200 importers of tyres of various brands with about half of which are imported shipped in from the Far East. Some of the implications of this have been the under invoicing of such tyres owing to formula duty implementation. Further challenges have included the sale of unsafe second-hand tyres to the public and the unregulated importation of such tyres. However, if we are going to attain the veracious custodianship of our tyre manufacturing industry, then the complete on-boarding of relevant partners is required through the cogent support in key messaging and testing techniques. This must form the basis of what is such a safety critical industry. The establishment of an independent tyre testing facility remains a pivotal resource for the industry and ensuring that South Africa solidifies its positioning in the global spectrum. Therefore, collaboration must be the cornerstone in accomplishing this resource which will require the full participation with NRCS, SABS and government entities such as the Department of Trade and Industry. The complete integration and streamlining of standard regulations is the quintessential representation of safety custodianship over a commodity which represents the value of safety standards for both our market and our overseas markets as well. In echoing this sentiment we have continued to further advocate on key matters of contention in regard to compulsory standards which govern second-hand tyres - further entrenching the value of safe driving practices, through assisting the industry and consumers on the required standards. Through this the prioritising of all pneumatic tyres for use on passenger and commercial vehicles and trailers manufactured by SATMC members to conform to compulsory safety standards introduced by the Ministry of Trade and Industry remains paramount with the objectives of SATMC. These are the conversations that we have valued in lieu of what continues to be an integral industry. For this reason we continue to value the essence of collaboration with industry players in speaking to government and issues faced tyre importers and addressing issues such as applying tariff amendments on tyre dealer associates. Safety custodians In the endeavour to be custodians of safety with the industry we have continued to welcome and support the processes administered by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) for the homologation of tyres manufactured in South Africa. Though we cannot neglect the implementation challenges that have stifled the homologation process, we believe that its foundations are important in mitigating commodities that leave and enter our shores in accordance to stringent standards. This coupled with an authoritative voice stemming from the key partnerships with industry key players, training and education will aid in developing conversations which create valued awareness which have direct impact from association bodies, to consumers, manufacturers and regulatory entities which comprise traffic and custom officials in helping us generate a positive impact. The chairman of the fees commission has called for patience from students and urged them to accept fee hikes. Universities across the country have suspended academic activity and students have taken to the streets in the aftermath of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande leaving a fees decision to institutions. Universities can increase fees by up to 8%. Jonathan Heher, chairman of the fees commission set up by President Jacob Zuma to look into the feasibility of free higher education, on Wednesday urged students to trust the work of the commission as it tries to find a solution to the problem. The commission, which began public hearings in May that will conclude in 2017, is expected to submit its final report to the president at the end of June 2017. "We would welcome the participation of students in a constructive manner. Thus far we have found constructive assistance lacking because of the obvious desire to obtain an immediate fix for the problem. I hope the students will come to realise that, for a long-term answer, they will have to put some trust in us and we are attempting in their best interests to achieve a solution," Heher said. South African Union of Students (SAUS) general secretary Sthembiso Ndlovu said that it had been the first student union to participate in the commission when it started, but accused the union of laziness on the fee issue. The growing unrest has seen ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe call for the worst-affected institutions to be closed for six months. Nzimande said the government would subsidise any fee increase for the missing middle and National Student Financial Aid Scheme students. However, students who fall in these categories are still required to foot the rest of their bill, which runs into the thousands, because the government subsidy applies to whatever increment universities effect, not the entire cost of study. As the commission continues its work, the fees status quo remains. A first-year commerce student at the University of Cape Town has to fork out R28,000-R62,620 for a commerce course. Engineering and built environment students pay R43,040-R53,330 and humanities students R45,500-R56,000. Health sciences fees are in the R48,620-R64,370 range. However, this excludes accommodation and living expenses, and other costs. Union federation Cosatu and the South African Communist Party (SACP) are expected to join forces with SAUS later in October to march on "centres of private capital", this is despite Nzimande being the communist party boss. Ndlovu said students would lead the march, but welcomed the participation of Cosatu. The SACP and Cosatu announced on Wednesday that they would push for higher taxes on the rich and wealthy, while calling on companies to make a "meaningful contribution" to the fees debate. The tripartite alliance partners - along with the ANC - have all called for tuition costs to be frozen pending the outcome of the Heher commission of inquiry but have endorsed Nzimande's policy decision on fees. However, students have vowed to intensify their protest action. Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge ForwardKeys' analysis of international air travel to East Africa this year (January to August), revealed a strong growth of 11.2% compared with the same period last year. With the growth of Africa as a whole at 5.6% and countries like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia seeing little growth or even a decline, this is an exceptional performance. Olivier Jager, CEO, ForwardKeys, said We are seeing a tale of two Africas, with North African countries suffering from political instability and terror activities and Sub-Saharan African countries powering ahead, with Ethiopia up 9.6%, Tanzania up 10.6%, Mauritius up 11.6% and Kenya up 14.9%. South Africa is up 11.4% International Arrivals in Africa- Source: Bench Events Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, the picture is highly encouraging for East Africa. International bookings for travel to East African countries, up to the end of December are 17.3% ahead of where they were at this time last year. Looking at the main origin markets, the UK is 13.2% ahead, Germany is 21% ahead, The USA is 21% ahead, France is 16.1% ahead, the Netherlands is 16.6% ahead, South Africa is 9.4% ahead and India is 34% ahead. Olivier Jager, CEO ForwardKeys - Source: Bench Events An analysis of airport capacity, defined by the total number of seats, reveals that the stars in terms of growth are Nairobi, Kigali and Kilimanjaro. Looking at international capacity in the periods Q3 2015 - Q2 2016 and Q3 2016 - Q2 2017, Nairobi grew 0% and 2% respectively, Kigali 5% and 4% respectively and Kilimanjaro 11% and 20% respectively. Whilst a 2% growth for Nairobi may not sound so impressive, its capacity is around four times that of Kigali. Looking at capacity for flights within East Africa in the periods Q3 2015 - Q2 2016 and Q3 2016 - Q2 2017, Nairobi grew 0% and 2% respectively, Kigali 13% and 5% respectively and Kilimanjaro 6% and 14% respectively. New routes The data has been released ahead of AviaDev, a new airline route development conference and AHIF, Africas highest profile hotel investment conference, which run concurrently at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali from 4-6 October 2016. Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events - Source: Bench Events Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events, which is organising AHIF and AviaDev, said: We are seeing unprecedented interest in the AHIF AviaDev combination, with over twenty airlines signing up to talk about new air routes, with global CEOs of the worlds biggest hotel companies present to discuss their plans for Africa and with government ministers keen to attract inward investment; one has to ask: Why is there such serious interest? These highly encouraging booking figures explain it. Jonathan concluded If what is happening in Rwanda becomes a yardstick against which other East African countries measure themselves, I would expect this strong growth to continue. There, a new airport is under construction 25km outside Kigali, with the ability to cater for 4.5 million passengers/year, seven times todays traffic. The national airline has invested in new aircraft and set itself ambitious growth plans and the government is actively promoting Rwanda as a destination for conferences and exhibitions. Heritage Month celebrates the input of all South Africans in building the country and Premier Hotels & Resorts have been contributing, for the past 25 years, through the creation of accommodation options that not only enable local and international tourists to explore South Africa's natural, cultural and historical offerings but add to the economy. Samuel Nassimov Roots in the Eastern Cape In 1991, the old Carlton Hotel in Quigney in the Eastern Cape was up for auction. Premier Hotels & Resorts founder and managing director, Samuel Nassimov snapped up the opportunity to buy the hotel, with the aim of refurbishing and managing it. At that stage, the hotel had a one-star rating and by the time the transfer went through, the Tourism Board decided to remove this as it was no longer compliant. Nassimov embarked on a 14-month upgrade that would result in the hotel receiving three stars. During that time, he experienced everything from floods to fire. In February 1992, the hotel reopened as the King David Suites and Conference Centre with a complement of 23 staff members three of whom are still working with him today. In 1994, the hotel was extended with the acquisition of the adjacent Killarney Court which increased the number of rooms from 44 to 80. By overcoming the challenge of converting this once dilapidated hotel into a successful establishment in East London, I had the drive and passion to embark on a bigger project, says Nassimov. Thus, in 1996 he seized the opportunity to develop a vacant plot on the East London beachfront into what is today the Premier Hotel Regent. This hotel has been the biggest success for our Group and has hosted many large conferences, shares Nassimov. With this success under his belt, Nassimov decided to continue Premier Hotels & Resorts expansion in the Eastern Cape with the acquisition of the popular Mpongo Park. At that stage, the 1,300 hectare Park featured only a six bedroom lodge and restaurant with a smattering of zebra, giraffe, and antelope. Under Nassimovs guidance, it was extended to 3,300 hectares and the Big Five along with other animals was introduced. A five-star lodge comprising 18 rooms and chalets together with conference facilities were constructed and the restaurant was refurbished. Going national Soon after, Nassimov decided to take the brand nationally beginning with the procurement of the Cape Manor Hotel in Cape Town. After renovating and extending the room capacity to 99 bedrooms, the first four-star Premier property outside the Eastern Cape was born. In 2005, Premier Hotels and Resorts expanded to Gauteng with the purchase of an old hotel in Pretoria that had ceased trading. I saw its potential and took up the challenge, says Nassimov. Today, his R30 million investment has resulted in the four star, 118 bedroom Premier Hotel Pretoria which generates substantial revenue for the Group. To make the Groups footprint truly national, a 60 bedroom hotel in Pinetown and a small hotel in Port Edward in KwaZulu-Natal were acquired and transformed into Premier Hotel Pinetown and Premier Hotel Edwardian. Increasing business flow and tourism Between 2007 and 2010, Nassimov developed the largest conferencing venue in East London, the East London International Convention Centre (ELICC), Premier Hotel EL ICC and Premier Hotel OR Tambo in Johannesburg three of the biggest properties in the Premier Portfolio that today contribute more than 40% to the Groups annual turnover. My vision for these developments in East London was to create facilities that would increase business flow and tourism to the city and province, explains Nassimov. Over the past 18 months, Premier Hotels & Resorts has expanded its portfolio by acquiring properties in Knysna, Richards Bay, Nelspruit, and Drakensburg, with a combined investment of R200 million. From a humble 40 bedrooms, Premier Hotels & Resorts portfolio today encompasses 16 hotels and resorts throughout the country, offering nearly 2,000 bedrooms and providing employment opportunities to over 1,500 passionate members of staff. It's a message that has been beaten to death: as security technology evolves so do attacks become more sophisticated. It's a vicious, somewhat symbiotic, lifecycle that seems to have no end in sight. And by golly is business doing its best to stay one step ahead of threats that are more diverse, more refined, more numerous and more targeted than ever before. To fight these onslaughts companies are adopting security technology to proactively safeguard their operations. Stefano Cavoretto via 123RF If you consider the above, it seems businesses have quite a fight on their hands; however, throwing products at the problem without maximising its potential is definitely not the silver bullet. In order to strengthen your defence against advanced attacks you must address two important questions: how can I maximise my existing security investment; and what other technologies and approaches will deliver more comprehensive and effective protection moving forward? Whichever way you look at it, positive and effective steps must be taken to defend yourself against advanced attacks. Step one: Know your enemy To understand the scale of todays advanced threats its important to understand how serious it is. Many organisations have made the fundamental mistake of underestimating the scale of risk, whereas others have over-reacted. The problem is that in both cases organisations dont trust their existing security system. Often so many alarms go off that companies become complacent or overreact completely and out of context that precious resources are destroyed to prevent potential security breaches. Organisations must have a clear understanding of not only the threat landscape, but also its specific vulnerability profile within the size, scope, and nature of their operations. Here are a few issues to consider when assessing your vulnerability posture: Traditional, mass-market cyber attacks such as spyware, botnets, SQL infections and phishing still need to be dealt with and traditional security software such as anti-virus, firewalls and intrusion prevention are an excellent line of defence. New advanced threats are emerging. For example, polymorphic threats continuously change, making it impossible for traditional signature-based security defences to detect it. Blended threats employ multiple attack vectors (paths and targets) and multiple types of malware to disguise the attack, confuse security analysts, and increase the likelihood of a successful data breach. Malware is dramatically on the rise and are often successful: many threats today are encrypted via SSL (also known as HTTPS or TLS) therefore hiding malware from many solutions. Encrypted SSL traffic now represents 15-25% of all outbound web traffic and up to 40% of production web traffic but 80% of defence-in-depth systems do not inspect encrypted traffic, according to Gartner. Ransomware forms part of malware and four million samples were identified in the second quarter of 2015, indicating an upward trend, according to Security Magazine. Mobility adds a new dimension to advanced threats and represents a growing percentage of overall traffic. According to CIO Magazine there are over 1 million malicious and high-risk Android apps currently in circulation. The window of opportunity for advanced threats is wider. It takes only seconds, minutes, or hours to compromise targets while breaches can take weeks, months, or years to discover. Step 2: Measurement and tracking Now you need to determine whether additional threat detection and protection is required. The key is measurement and tracking by establishing metrics that will evaluate the effectiveness of your security solutions and measure it constantly. Start by measuring your success against malware, this will provide you with an understanding of how your employees are interacting with the web. Also, make sure you know when systems are infected, and which ones. A 'Potentially Infected Clients report, which is typically available through malware protection systems, will tell you how many devices have needed remediation over a period of time and importantly what systems that are attempting to send out confidential or proprietary information. Also, assess how many applications are running on your network and whether they have been approved. The more applications you have the higher likelihood that youll be victimised by an advanced threat, many applications contain vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit remotely. Step 3: A network-based approach Visibility particularly if its network based is vital for an effective defence against advanced threats. The more visibility you have into your network traffic at all phases of the lifecycle, the more you can analyse, understand, control, and remediate issues and incidents. With network-based anti-malware tools you get full visibility into all inbound traffic, you can analyse it and filter out malicious content before it arrives at the endpoint, and you can increase coverage and catch more malware (by using multiple anti-malware engines at the network level). Important network-based anti-malware tools provide: Visibility into SSL traffic. SSL encryption protects the privacy of network-based communications but it can also be used by hackers to mask advanced threats. Proxying all network requests will guarantee that threats arent able to tunnel its way into your network. Whitelisting, therefore, maintaining a registry of approved files that have been granted permission by an administrator. Malware scanning to block the black listed threats. The combination of a good secure web gateway appliance and a content analysis system with malware scanning and whitelisting can block all known threats, sources and signatures and direct truly unknown content for malware analysis Step 4: Implement a complete defence solution Piecemeal solutions arent the answer. Many forward-looking enterprises are implementing a lifecycle defence that integrates security solutions to provide more effective attack detection, response and prevention. This shift requires an integrated approach that not only blocks known exploits but also tells you the how, what, where, when and why of advanced targeted attacks and security breaches. This is then coupled with end-to-end visibility of data exfiltration and malware infiltration on the network. For example, many companies are implementing multiple web access logs using multiple protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, streaming media, SOCKS, etc.) With a lifecycle defence, they can implement a variety of standard web access context logs, provide full capture data, and tune additional security logs to vector in on what might try to hide in the ocean of data. Lastly, lifecycle defence leverages the network effect by sharing threat intelligence from enterprises and users worldwide. LONDON: British supercar maker McLaren said on Wednesday it was not in talks with Apple about a possible acquisition by the US tech giant, denying a report in the Financial Times. "We can confirm that McLaren is not in discussion with Apple in respect of any potential investment," a spokesman for the company said. The newspaper had cited three unnamed sources saying the iPhone maker was looking at a potential takeover of or investment in McLaren, which could be valued at up to 1.5 billion ($1.9 billion). A spokesman for Apple said the company would not comment on "rumours or speculation". A deal would have been seen as part of a bid by Apple to challenge Tesla, the US luxury electric carmaker founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. Shares in Apple were down 0.77% since opening in New York, standing at $112.70. "Owning McLaren would be Apple waving a big flag over its intention to enter the car industry," said Jasper Lawler, a market analyst with CMC Markets in London. "As a high-end technology company, Apple appears to want to be at the high, cutting-edge end of the car industry too." He added: "An Apple acquisition of Tesla now looks unlikely and Tesla now faces a big new competitor." Apple fuelled speculation about its ambitions in the auto sector this year with a billion-dollar investment in Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing. The New York Times reported earlier this month that Apple was rethinking its strategy, mothballing parts of its Titan self-driving cars project. Google's parent company Alphabet and San Francisco-based Uber have both been working on getting self-driving cars on public roads. Uber began testing self-driving taxis last week in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. McLaren, which also runs a successful Formula One team, is based in Woking, southern England. It employs thousands of people and has built some of the fastest and most expensive supercars in the world based on its Formula One technology. Source: AFP The performance of entrepreneurial and top companies plays a pivotal role in global growth and mobility for the South African economy. Companies continue to face increasing challenges due to the growth of global competition. In pursuit of consistent improvement, awards celebrate those who have achieved remarkable results in their tough industries. Awards offer your company a different perspective in terms of looking through the glass of your competitors and how you can possibly stand out from the crowd. Awards have different categories and choosing a category that will highlight the aptitude of your business and will provide immense benefits to your organisation and enhance your credibility as a business. Karla Fletcher 1. Network with top-level businesses and thought leaders One of the best ways to build a profile is networking with like-minded people who will assist you in building your reputation as a knowledgeable and reliable business. During award ceremonies, you will be exposed to a network of business leaders in and outside of your industry. This will assist you in expanding your knowledge and learning from the success of others, it will also increase partnership and lead to business opportunities. 2. Increase team morale Employees contribute a lot towards the success of a company, winning an award would increase the level of productivity as well as foster a sense of achievement among them. Acknowledging your employees for the companys accomplishments increases company morale and will build a culture of trust in your business. 3. Gain the recognition you deserve Having brand recognition plays a great deal in your companys success, as it encourages customers to choose and stay loyal to your company. Being able to say that youre an award-winning or an award-nominated business increases your chances of building and strengthening partnerships. Awards are also a great opportunity to showcase your standards to your competitors as well as your clients. 4. Increase your market share and profitability Through the association of awards, finalists and winners go on to dominate the marketplace and become top tier brands. Furthermore, earning industry honours also means that your name is recognised by relevant stakeholders, which will inevitably attract investors and generate new sales. There is no question that your profits and margins will be directly influenced by your new acclaim. 5. Generate PR coverage and brand recognition There is a great deal of PR benefits linked to winning an award and third party endorsements. These benefits are more effective than paid promotions done by your company. Award ceremonies are always covered by various media, including magazines, newspapers, radio shows, television and documented on social media. Winning an award is a confirmation that you are successful in a highly competitive industry, this in turn will provide great reputation to your consumers and other businesses which will generate more revenue for your company. Showcase your company, enter the National Business Awards This year, Topco Media will once again award the companies that have proven themselves to be the undisputed leaders in business. The National Business Awards have become the defining award in the business arena and the companies and individuals that have been received this coveted accolade have gone on to grow from strength to strength. For the first time, previously vaulted business secrets and practices will now be opened for the first annual National Business Conference, where delegates and attendees will receive business insight from and interaction with the leaders of South Africas biggest and most powerful companies. To attend the conference, please do not hesitate to contact Aisha Crombie at az.oc.ocpot@eibmorc.ahsia; or let us know how you would like to be a part of this initiative: az.oc.ocpot@sdrawde.euqilegna. Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo, First National Bank, and the United States Embassy have all been honoured with Special Awards at the 19th Annual BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard and Business Day. These awards are selected by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) Board of Directors and celebrate remarkable contributions by individuals, businesses, and organisations to the sustainability of South Africas arts. The awards further the core goals of BASAs strategy: to act as a change-maker, and to facilitate connectivity and sustainability through robust and ongoing research and diverse public, private and civil society programmes. Ravi Naidoo was named this years Art Champion, while the Chairmans Premier Award went to First National Bank (FNB) for the FNB Joburg Art Fair. The United States (US) Embassy was honoured with the Diplomacy in the Arts Award for their support of the Market Theatre. This years Special Awards winners really are powerful endorsements of the ability of individuals, businesses and other organisations to make an impact on South Africas arts community, and highlight the extensive work that BASA is doing in creating exciting and innovative partnerships, said Kwanele Gumbi, Chairman of the BASA Board. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations and deep appreciation to all three recipients for their role in arts sustainability across South Africa. The Diplomacy in the Arts award is given in recognition of Foreign Missions that contribute to the development and preservation of the arts in South Africa, as well as the continued prioritisation of cultural diplomacy between South Africa and the international community. Through its Cultural Affairs Office in the Public Affairs Section, the US Embassy offers cultural and arts programmes that are designed to enhance mutual understanding between the people of SA and the USA. In particular, the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) supports the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects, and forms of traditional cultural expression in more than 100 developing countries around the world. The Market Theatre has had a long association with the US Embassy. Over the past few years, under the Ambassadorship of Patrick Gaspard, it has been a generous supporter of the Market Theatre Foundation in particular and the arts in general. Financial grants have enabled the Market Theatre to carry out work at professional, student and community level and encourage the development of new young audiences through its support of the youth. Among recent projects supported by embassy grants were five professional productions (The Brothers Size, The Mountain Top, Ketekang, I Almost Remember and A Raisin in the Sun); a live performance of the multi award winning saxophonist, McCoy Mrubata, on International Jazz Day; first and second-year training of 33 students in the performing arts at the Market Laboratorys Drama School; and the community theatre-based Zwakala Festival. Art Champion recipient Ravi Naidoo is the founder of Interactive Africa and Design Indaba. Naidoo created Design Indaba in 1995 as a way to celebrate the creative potential of the new, post-apartheid South Africa and share this with the world. He also sought to educate South Africans by inviting the worlds leading designers in every field to South Africa to engage with design projects. The annual international event has grown to become the worlds leading design conference and has attracted much international attention to outstanding South African talent. Design Indaba has been recognised as having a positive effect on the South African design economy, with initiatives that accelerate and mentor emerging creatives. Naidoo was also the catalyst behind Woolworths and the Western Cape Government of Education creating a design syllabus at school level. The Chairmans Premier Award is made at the discretion of the Chairman of BASA and recognises sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts in South Africa. This years recipient is FNB for the FNB Joburg Art Fair, which they created in 2008 in partnership with Artlogic. Now it is Africas leading art fair focused on contemporary art from the continent and diaspora, and each year record sales and visitor numbers reinforce the demand for an event where the continents artists, curators, collectors and enthusiasts can congregate. Having just wrapped up its ninth iteration, the FNB Joburg Art Fair continues to strengthen this position by presenting the finest contemporary African art alongside memorable exhibitions and groundbreaking initiatives. These include a series of curated special projects, a VIP Programme that has hosted top international curators and directors from institutions like The Tate Modern, Venice Biennale, Centre Pompidou and CCA Lagos, as well as a Talks Programme that invites art-world figures, philosophers, and critical theorists to deliver key-note lectures and participate in panel discussions. The FNB Joburg Art Fair now also includes a programme of collateral events that take place throughout Johannesburg, with galleries, museums, arts organisations and artists collaborating to create a public focus on the citys art scene. The members of the BASA Board are Kwanele Gumbi (Chairman),Herman Bosman, Richard Cock, Michelle Constant, Mandla Langa, Hilton Lawler, Andre Le Roux, Khanyi Mamba, Gianni Mariano, Dorothea Moors, Carel Nolte, Mandie van der Spuy, Matthew van der Want, and Gail Walters. About BASA: Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) is an internationally recognised South African development agency with a suite of integrated programmes implemented nationally and internationally. BASA encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts, securing the future development of the arts sector in South Africa and contributing to corporate success through Shared Value. BASA was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of the Department of Arts and Culture and the business sector as a public/private partnership. For more information on BASA contact us on 011 447 2289 or visit our website: www.basa.co.za Copenhagen, Denmark: Danish oil and shipping conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday it would split the group into separate businesses for transport and energy as it faces headwinds in both sectors. "The industries in which we are operating are very different, and both face very different underlying fundamentals and competitive environments," chairman Michael Pram Rasmussen said in a statement. "Separating our transport and logistics businesses and our oil and oil-related businesses into two independent divisions will enable both to focus on their respective markets," he added. The group said that its "main growth focus" going forward would be in "world-class transportation and logistics services." Oil and oil-related businesses would "require different solutions for future development including separation of entities individually or in combination... in the form of joint ventures, mergers or listing," it said. The company's objective was to find a solution within 24 months, it said. Maersk also said that the head of Maersk Drilling, Claus Hemmingsen, would become chief executive of the energy division, while group chief financial officer Trond Westlie would be replaced by Jakob Stausholm, who currently heads up strategy at Maersk Line. Maersk Oil chief executive Jakob Thomasen and APM Terminals chief executive Kim Fejfer would both step down and leave the group, it said. The group said in June that it was considering splitting itself into different companies, as it said the head of Maersk Line, Soren Skou, would also become the group's chief executive. The most obvious, most viable solution Sydbank analyst Morten Imsgard told Danish news agency Ritzau that Thursday's announcement was the most obvious solution and "also the most viable solution given the current markets." Maersk Line is currently facing a depressed shipping market that is weighed down by overcapacity and sluggish global trade, while Maersk Oil has had to cut staff as a result of falls in oil prices. South Korea's Hanjin, the world's seventh-largest shipper, is seeking bankruptcy protection at home and in the United States after creditors refused to further help the firm. Shares in Maersk were 0.76 percent higher in mid-morning trading on the Copenhagen bourse, where the main index was 0.25 percent higher. Source: AFP On Thursday, 22 September 2016, Biz Takeouts Marketing and Media Radio show host Warren Harding ( @bizwazza ) chatted to Mike Wronski ( @mikewronski ), director of Digital Flow, straight from presenting some of his research findings at the Social Medial Landscape Briefing 2016 in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Mike discussed the top five platforms, how the research results and the latest announcements will impact brand social media planning for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. We spoke to Mike about: The research approach used to gather the data. We discuss the research findings, the numbers and the changes in each of the big five platforms We look at the new platforms on the scene Snapchat, WeChat. We look at the way brands should be using the top platforms. We discuss the way users are engaging with brands now. How and what should brands be measuring. What are the current social media obstacles in SA for brands? We look at the importance of mobile and social in SA. Lastly we look ahead and Mike gives us his advice for effective social media use. Episode 189: Mike Wronski on the top 5 Social Media platforms in SA. Date: 22 September 2016 Length: 25:05min File size: 35MB Host: Warren Harding The news roundup from Bizcommunity: If you are interested in getting interviewed on Biz Takeouts, or want to suggest a show topic, email Warren Harding (@bizwazza) on moc.ytinummoczib@stuoekatzib. We are living in interesting times, and nowhere is it more true than in the local mining industry. Facing external challenges - such as the commodities downturn - as well as internal ones - namely the continuing uncertain regulatory environment - it is the underlying ability of the industry to deal with these challenges that will determine whether it will have a future. The only way that the industry can do this is through clear thinking and leadership, says Roger Baxter, CEO of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa. Speaking at a pre-Joburg Indaba event, together with Niel Pretorius, DRDGold CEO, and Sipho Nkosi, non-executive chairman: talent10, Baxter was part of a panel that addressed the industry and its stakeholders on the cost of doing business in South Africa. All paddling in different directions Baxter compared the mining industry to a canoe in the rapids. The rapids are the global economy and we are in this canoe together, but we are all paddling in different directions. Added to this the canoe also has a hole in it. All that needs to be done if we are to save ourselves is to paddle together in the same direction and plug the hole. Attempt not to offend He argued that despite this state of affairs the mining industry was coming to a point where it was beginning to play a more assertive and engaging role in what it needs to put on the table. Pretorius says that the industrys conduct has not helped it case. This, he says, is one of the reasons he believes government was so surprised at the industrys firm position on the once empowered, always empowered clause in the Mining Charter. We have become unpredictable in our attempt not to offend and so we do not communicate clearly what we want. Stuck in a rut Apart from this, the industry has fallen into the habit of apportioning blame instead of focusing on our own failures. The mining industry today is completely different to the mining industry of yesterday, yet we have remained the same. We are still chain-of-command obsessed, while our counterparts in West Africa, Canada and Australia run this business in a different way, he says. The result is a lack of enthusiasm of investors into South Africa. He urged the industry to take a long and hard look at their assets. Why are we underperforming compared to the rest of the world? We need to manage our realities better. The industry no longer has cheap labour and power. The morality of sending people underground has changed and we need to adjust our conduct and behaviour accordingly. Quite frankly if an ore body is not an ore body, no amount of talking is going to make it one. We need to learn to say goodbye. How can we grow the industry? We tend to fight about existing resources, old mines and resources that have been mined for the last 50 years, thinking that we will find value out of it, says Nkosi, adding his voice to the discussion. We need to look each other in the eye and say how can we grow this industry? There is a need to elevate the industry, so everyone can see it is growing and bringing in new skills and young people - instead of fighting about old assets. No one can tell me what the vision of this industry is, he adds. We need to define what we want to be and then how we are going to do it, and we must then do it honestly. He explains that despite the massive change in the country since 1994 and the deals done amounting to billions of rands in the mining industry, people do not see the industry as having changed. About what we do now Whether the industry has transformed or not, has acted honestly or not or tried to do things differently does not matter; it is about what we do now. We need to define our space and then occupy it, and make our voices heard. Instead of being so reactive, we must be more proactive. We all moan about the regulatory environment, but we all have different ideas about what is wrong with it. The industry does not take advantage of the remedies that the country provides. If the regulator is not doing his job, why are we not taking him to court and solving the problem? Until we pursue all the remedies available to us, we cannot blame the regulator, says Pretorius. In conclusion, Joburg Indaba chair, Bernard Swanepoel, called for the industry to meet in February next year to talk about a compelling vision for the mining industry. Modernisation, beneficiation and community development are key elements that have to be addressed if the South African Development Community (SADC) is to be sustainable in what is a changing landscape. While the SADC region has significant quantities of minerals, and these are the drivers of the member countrys economies, the mining sector is experiencing the same problems as its counterparts worldwide. With increasing energy demand, fluctuating precious metals markets, a shifting exploration landscape, subdued commodity prices and a gradual - not steep - recovery forecast, among others, the region will still have to find answers if it is to survive, never mind be sustainable. The inaugural SADC Africa Mining Conference explored these opportunities through the insights from various industry experts. Modernisation The industry is in a tough place, concurs Roger Baxter, CEO of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa. He believes the big challenge is that we continue to use conventional mining methods while we view modernisation as a threat; one that will do away with people. The answer, he says, is far more complicated than that and if we are to realise the potential of the SADC region we will need to migrate to modernisation. Modernisation holds massive cost benefits and will mean that mining can contribute to the economic development of region as a whole. If we modernised we would have 11 large gold mines and nine platinum mines that could be mined safety. However, without it what we have is a rapidly depleting resource that is costly but with declining jobs and limited export opportunities. In fact the opposite is true. With modernisation, bigger ore bodies can be mined, job losses will be slowed down, skills will be developed, investment will flow in, and, if we manufacture the technology here, it will further mitigate job losses. While this will take time - about 20 years - the impact on growth will be significant. Beneficiation Charles Siwana, CEO of the Botswana Chamber of Mines, says mining companies need to position themselves into the lower quartile of the cost curve. He acknowledges that this is an easy statement to make, but a difficult one to carry out. Next he says we need to tackle the infrastructure constraints we face, such as power interruptions. Both the private and public sectors need to make themselves attractive to attract FDI. The private sector must indicate its ability to have a sustainable business that yields high returns, while governments must facilitate a conducive environment for such funds. The biggest opportunity for the region, in his opinion, is to beneficiate its raw materials instead of exporting them. Africa has a history of exporting its raw materials and then importing the beneficiated goods back at a higher price. This has to stop. He adds that this will also help to close the gap when commodity prices do rise. Mining communities Mining community development is not succeeding, despite legislation and the intent of policies, with the benefits not being seen by the supposed beneficiaries. So says Deepa Vallabh, director: cross border mergers & acquisitions: Africa & Asia, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer. She has counselled mining companies for 17 years and, in her experience, the social labour plan (SLP) of many mining companies is a tick-box exercise, not a strategic plan for long-term sustainable development. Government shares her view that community development as not working. If the community is not seeing the benefit or correlation than it means it is not working and this includes mining communities that form part of the equity structure. When mines have sustained losses no dividends are paid. To properly benefit communities, long-term investment is needed. Given the above, she says there are other questions that also need to be asked. When it comes to community development, what is the end goal of that community do they want to stay there, or is it about developing skills that will take them to urbanised areas? If urbanisation is key for our future growth, she asks, why are we continuing to develop communities as if they are going to live there forever? It will only be there for as long as the life of the mine. Ghanaian startup Landmapp, specialising in delivering affordable land rights documentation for smallholder farmers, is expecting to triple its revenues once the harvest season begins in October 2016. This is according to Disrupt Africa. Landmapp was founded in January 2015 but launched operations in March of this year (2016.) It offers three distinct products: FarmSeal for farm parcels, HomeSeal for residential parcels and CropSeal for sharecropping and tenancy arrangements, all focused on rural communities. Land documentation for rural communities is currently both expensive and scarcely available, also it is lacking full service which means getting the documents signed by the authorities, Landmapp co-founder and director Thomas Vaassen told Disrupt Africa. The startup offers farmers products that are fully compliant with Ghanaian regulations and customary traditions, grant a high level of legal security, and can be used as collateral for accessing agricultural loans. Farm-to-document audit trail Landmapp has already sold over 1,000 of these documents to smallholder farmers, with Vaassen saying the companys documents are around 60% cheaper than existing solutions as it has developed mobile mapping and data collection technology that allows a farm-to-document audit trail. In addition to the verified documentation of their land-holdings, Landmapp is simultaneously collecting valuable biographical, agricultural and geographical data to create a rich farmer profile, which can be used as the basis for credit scoring, farming inputs procurement and ICS processes, he said. All a farmer needs to do is buy the relevant document and store it. He or she might take it to the bank as collateral for a loan, or take it as evidence for parcel size with the cocoa buyer or COCOBOD extension officer, Vaassen said. He or she will use it if ever theres a case of litigation and other issues regarding protection of land, and will use it when gifting land or preparing inheritance to children after passing away. Great uptake leads to growth, investment Simple but effective, and as a result the service has seen a great uptake. Landmapp is currently making about $45,000 per month, but with harvest season starting soon expects to triple that. It is also providing B2B services, signing a deal with Kuapa Kokoo, which covers larger numbers of farmers. As a result, investment has been flooding in. Landmapp was initially self-funded and backed by grant money, but had an oversubscribed angel round earlier this year when it raised $283,000. It is currently in discussions over its next round. Given the high level of uptake in Ghana, even in low season, the start-up has identified a number of other target countries in which to launch its product. Landmapp intends to launch in Indonesia early next year, with other countries on the list including Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. Disrupt Africa The World Health Organisation (WHO) is predicting that this century alone, a billion lives will be lost to smoking. A Billion Lives is a documentary film that examines vaping and e-cigarettes as a healthy alternative to smoking. The film's director, Aaron Biebert says he made the documentary after one of his co-workers died from lung cancer from smoking. The film was on show at the recent Jozi Film Festival winning an award. It also won the Supreme Jury Prize and Best Director awards at the 2016 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and has won awards and critical acclaim on four continents. It now moves to Paris after which it makes its Hollywood debut. At the end of 2014 Biebert began to investigate vaping and e-cigarettes as a method to quit smoking. At first I thought these devices were so dumb, but then so many people explained to me that these devices were what had enabled them to stop smoking and I began thinking that maybe this was a solution. There is a great deal of international controversy regarding the vaping industry. In addition to health concerns there are also concerns regarding whether or not e-cigarettes are a viable alternative to smoking. An independent study by Public Health England in August found that e-cigarettes are 95% safer than tobacco. He researched the topic for three months and the more he examined the topic the more it made no sense to him. Here was something that was helping people quit smoking, but instead of this being celebrated, it was being demonized. He says a number of fraudulent studies exist on vaping and the e-cigarette. Biebert heads up a small independent production house that produces commercials for brands and Non-Government Organisations (NGO). This film, he says, was a step us for them. We wanted to make a movie for the theatre, but we did not want to make one that no one wants to see. The film, which was shot on four continents, is not over sensational; it gives the facts from experts. We anticipated some support and some rejection. We were surprised that the Cancer and Lung Association did not want to be featured, but then I figure that their goal is to fight lung disease and the movie is about quitting smoking. The publics response has been positive. But the public do not know what is going on when it comes to these devices. The fact is that vaping is saving peoples lives. Demonizing these devices is not helping. Two local doctors are featured in the movie: Delon Human, who is former president of the World Medical Association (WMA) and adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, and Derek Yach, former executive director for the World Health Organization (WHO) and currently chief health officer of the Vitality Institute, an action-oriented global health research organisation. Yach also serves on several advisory boards including the Clinton Global Initiative, the World Economic Forum, and the NIHs Fogarty International Centre. View the trailer to the film below: Following on the devastation caused by an earthquake in Tanzania on 10 September 2016, Engen has pledged Tshs.10 Million in a show of support. The donation was made in response to a call for help from government for funds to drive a disaster recovery project. Paul Muhato, Managing Director of Engen in Tanzania shakes hands with the Prime Minister of Tanzania. The 5.9 magnitude earthquake which struck the Kagera region in the Northern part of the country resulted in several fatalities and more than 250 injuries. There has also been severe damage to homes, roads and infrastructure, as well as hundreds of families having been left homeless. We trust that our donation will play a small part in helping to meet some of the challenges that lie ahead of this tragedy, says Paul Muhato, managing director of Engen in Tanzania. Tasneem Sulaiman-Bray, Engen general manager: corporate affairs, says that Engen is committed to supporting those in difficulty. We wish the people of Kagera strength through the difficult task of rebuilding their homes and lives. The SABC Education SA Innovation Summit 2016 commenced yesterday, 21 September, and will run until 24 September. The opening day's speakers included Sherry Lassiter, head at the Fablab Foundation MIT in the United States, who spoke about the benefit of Fabrication Laboratories, and Puleng Makhoalibe, head of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship at the Henley Business School, who spoke about her passion for innovation in South Africa. Delegates were given a choice of one out of five sessions, or Streams, where speakers addressed topics such as innovation entering South Africa, education in innovation and social innovation. Preparations are underway for the fourth Agribusiness Congress East Africa conference that is taking place in Kampala from 29-30 November 2016. It is the first time that the event is taking place in Uganda. Image by 123RF Agribusiness Congress East Africa is a regional platform for discussions and knowledge sharing to address those pertinent issues which are preventing the East African agricultural industry from truly flourishing as a global agribusiness hub. Already the farming sector is showing great support. The Grain Council of Uganda (TGCU)s Board vice chairman, Robert Mwanje, says the body is delighted to partner, support and host the fourth annual Agribusiness Congress East Africa. The success of the event in the East African region has given the Grain Council of Uganda the confidence to host the upcoming edition in Uganda, setting it as a key entrant into the national annual calendar. The Congress strives to set progressive action for the commercialisation of the industry by exchanging knowledge, best practices and dynamic conversations, whilst showcasing leading agri technology to highlight the right tools for East Africas agri sector. Other industry organisations that are official partners include the East African Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (EACCIA), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), Uganda Seed Trade Association (USTA), and Agricona. Moving the Agribusiness Congress East Africa to Uganda will once again extend the opportunity to set the spotlight on the rapid expansion of the agriculture industries within East Africa, fuelled by peaceful elections, unregulated markets and fertile lands. It will make the pearl of Africa a hot spot for agribusiness investments, said Jon McLea, director of Agricona. Farmers to become agripreneurs Added event director Yolanda dos Santos: We look forward to bringing together national, regional and international commercial farmers, donors, stakeholders, investors, policy advisors, commodity traders and industry professionals. Through the programme we aim to enhance commercial activities, enable commodity trade, sustainability, empower youth and women, encourage up skilling and provide market accessibility to the East African agricultural corridors. We will also feature the leading technologies through a product showcase to highlight the right tools for East Africas commercial agricultural arena. We all know there is great potential in the agri arena, including for commercialisation and the up skilling for an entrepreneurial mind-set amongst all-scale farmers to become agripreneurs, using technology and training programmes. Agriculture can generate huge opportunities for financial access and investment in the region and now is the time to set action to strategic plans unlocking the potential. Agribusiness Congress East Africa will offer market access to more than 200 million people through Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan. Agriculture accounts for almost 30% of GDP in East African countries while staple foods represent 75% of total agricultural products traded. Agriculture employs more than 60% of the population in the region. It takes place at the Kampala Serena Hotel and the event is organised by Spintelligent, trade conference and expo organiser. Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. The latest report from Adobe Digital Insights, Advertising Demand Report 2016: Europe, reveals that the key to driving traffic to websites, in view of the impending saturation point, is to implement personalized, moment-marketing tactics. Such are the strategies of those websites who continue to grow. During the last three years, 54% of European websites exhibited growth, with visits among those sites increasing by an average of 52%. However, 46% of websites in Europe saw their traffic shrink by an average of 35%. Among those websites who have seen traffic decrease, most were focusing more on pay to play channels such as referrals and affiliates, and relying too much on channels that are better suited to brand strength, such as direct. Optimizing websites for mobile is another tactic used by those growing websites. In fact, the gap between growing and shrinking businesses in terms of mobile traffic has increased from 41% to 51%. In terms of advertising, less than half (48%) of Europeans said marketers are effective at providing them with online ads that they are interested in. By comparison, 58% of American consumers believe that marketers are effective. Europeans are also less accepting of personalized advertising. Less than two-thirds (63%) of consumers like personalized ads, compared to more than three-quarters of U.S. consumers. Over 50% of Europeans also expect to be rewarded with relevant content and offers in return for sharing their information. Czech President Zeman warns against the radicalisation of muslim populations and demands action against terrorism 22. 9. 2016 cas cteni 2 minuty "In spite of the fact that a year ago, I warned against the growing threat of international terrorism during my UN speech here, the threat has grown spectacularly," said the Czech President Milos Zeman in his speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday. He continued: "While recently, only six countries were affected by islamic terrorism, now thirty-five countries are affected. The Islamic State is something akin to a cancer, but its proliferation is more dangerous than the original tumour. How long are we to wait before we start to tackle this threat head on? So far, all action against terrorism has been extremely limited in nature. There are three risks: One of them is that Afghanistan will become a new Islamic State. If NATO troops in Afganistan are further reduced, it is highly likely that Taliban will win there. The second risk is the radicalisation of muslim populations, which as yet are quiet and stable. There was also a quiet and stable population in Germany in the 1930s. But within a few years, this decent nationbecame a nation of fanatical Nazis. We must admit that such radicalisation is possible also today. Our hesitation is the third risk, our lack of courage to take decisive action. Coordinated anti-terrorist action must be undertaken by all the permanent members of the UN. A comprehensive platform to tackle international terrorism is needed. India proposed this in 2000. But instead, sixteen years later, people still debate about what the definition of international terrorism should be. Anyone who intentionally kills innocent civilians is a terrorist in my view. Unfortunately, the UN have been discussing this issue for sixteen years now. Thus I have some doubt about the effectiveness of this international organisation. Last year, I proposed the setting up of an international military units which would be equipped with drones and helicopters and supported by special forces. No massive territorial operations are needed. But the nerve centres of international terrorism must be attacked. There is no need to occupy territory. I hoped that the UN Security Council would issue a resolution against terrorism, but such a resolution does not exist. I have read a Russian draft of such a resolution. Such a resolution is needed and a number of existing articles of the UN Charter should be used for this. Without a coordinated action of all UN permanent members terrorism will further increase throughout the world. There will be new assassinations and new failed states." Source HERE 0 Family members say they have not been in contact with 13 Arakanese from Haigyi Island in Ayeyarwady Region for more than a month, after they were... The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. KOCHI (PTI): Chief of Defence Staff of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Maj Gen Ahmed Shiyam on Wednesday visited the Southern Naval Command in Kochi and was briefed on the training activities undertaken by it. He arrived in the city on Tuesday on a three-day visit accompanied by his spouse Khateeja Naeem and an MNDF delegation. The visiting Chief of Defence Force interacted with Rear Admiral R B Pandit, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command (SNC), and was briefed on Indian Navy's training activities conducted by the SNC, a Navy release said. The delegation visited training facilities at Observer School, Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322 which has Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Naval Aircraft Yard facilities, Joint Operation Centre and Indian Coast Guard ship C- 421, it said. Maj Gen Shiyam also interacted with the MNDF trainees, who are undergoing training at the Indian Navy training facilities. Khateeja Naeem had an elaborate interaction with members of Navy Wife Welfare Association, Southern Region. She also visited Kerala Folklore Museum and appreciated the cultural heritage of Kerala. Maj Gen Shiyam, Khateeja Naeem and MNDF delegation also had a glimpse of Kerala backwater at Kumarakoram, during the visit, the release said. The delegation would leave Kochi on Thursday. The Chief of Defence Force, MNDF, is on an official visit to India from September 18 to 23 to consolidate bilateral relationship between the two countries. The successful test firing of the long range surface-to-air missile. A DRDO photo BALASORE, ODISHA (PTI): A day after conducting its perfect trials, India on Wednesday again successfully test-fired a new long range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM), developed jointly with Israel to strengthen its air defence capability, from a base off Odisha coast. The sophisticated LRSAM was test fired from the launch pad 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore at about 1400 hours IST Wednesday, defence sources said. Terming the test mission as "successful", a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official said the trial was on a different altitude and range compared to the test launch of the missile a day before. The state-of-the-art advanced missile, a product of joint venture between India and Israel, was successfully flight tested twice from ITR at about 1010 hours IST and again at about 1425 hours IST on Tuesday. The trajectory of the flight of missiles was throughout tracked and monitored by the radars and electro-optical systems installed at ITR. "Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi-Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile," sources said, adding the missile along with MF-STAR would provide the users the capability to neutralise any aerial threats. Both Israel and Indian scientists and technicians have been involved in the launch campaign. Earlier, between June 30 & July 1, 2016, three consecutive test firing of the medium range surface-to-air missile were conducted from the DRDO base at Chandipur. The missile, guided by armoured seeker, had successfully hit the last minute manoeuvring target, they said. Indian Navy had successfully test launched the long range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM). The test was undertaken on Western Seaboard by INS Kolkata on December 30, 2015. These missiles would be inducted into all the three services after trials were completed. Many companies namely BDL, MIDHANI, TATA, GODREJ, SEC, PEL, ADITYA and others have contributed towards the development of the missile systems. As a safety measure, Balasore district administration in consultation with defence officials had temporarily shifted 3,652 people residing within 2.5 km radius of the launch pad No 3 of ITR at Chandipur to nearby temporary shelter centres on Wednesday morning to ensure a safe launch of the missile, a district revenue official said. Fishermen engaged in sea fishing along the Bay of Bengal in three Odisha coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara were asked not to venture into the sea during the time of the test launch. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A flurry of combines overtaking a single field is a sight to behold, but to see golden wheat being cut and threshed for the common good is a view that does not get old for farmers like Ron Krahn. He was among more than a dozen farmers from the Rivers, Oak River and Brandon regions who momentarily left their harvesting efforts to donate their time and machinery Wednesday afternoon to harvest the 19th crop Acres of Hope has tackled. The proceeds from this years crop 140 acres of wheat and another 55 acres of canola near Oak River will go toward feeding those in need. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Ron Krahn, chairperson for the Acres of Hope board, talks to volunteers before they fire up their equipment during the 19th annual Acres of Hope harvest for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on Wednesday afternoon. Its important because we recognize that were very fortunate to live in Canada, said Krahn, chairperson of the Acres of Hope board, who helps operate Providence Farms north of Rivers. Were very reliant on the weather, yet we recognize that there are people that are much worse off than us. For many of us, this is an extension of our faith, and so we are happy to get together and do something as a community. Acres of Hope is among the nearly 40 growing projects in Manitoba where farmers plant, tend and harvest a crop, then sell it to raise money for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a Christian organization whose mission is ending global hunger. Krahns brother, Robert, was among the cluster of combines involved in the harvest. I just think its a great way to give back, he said. Theres so many people in the world who need food and assistance; this is the least we can do. The Acres of Hope project has cultivated money but indeed hope as well to less fortunate countries where someone going hungry is not out of the ordinary. Farmers from the Rivers and Oak River region have come together since 1998 to simultaneously combine the land on a single day. Farmers earlier in the year donated the inputs like seed, fertilizer and chemicals to plant the crop. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Derek Friesen of Minnedosa watches as a grain cart empties grain into a truck during the 19th annual Acres of Hope harvest for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on Wednesday. Area farmers volunteered their time and equipment, including combines, grain carts and trucks, to harvest the 140 acres of wheat. The federal government matches their donations four to one. Its not just a splashy photo and heres a bunch of grain with no way of getting it to the people. They really look at whats going to be the best for the people, Robert Krahn said of the Foodgrains Bank, which provided food assistance in 2014-15 to the tune of $27 million thanks to matching grants. For Acres of Hope, the proceeds from selling their wheat and canola will be directed to CFGB. Krahn estimates they will raise $40,000 to $50,000 this year. Brothers Gord and Jamie McFadden donated a field south of Rivers where this years donated wheat crop was planted. Gord is now on the Acres of Hope board, following his fathers footsteps. Theres a lot of people who are less fortunate in this world, he said. We can afford to do this kind of thing and help people. An unexpected advantage in donating a crop has been the camaraderie the farmers have forged, said Robert Krahn. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Ron Krahn, chairperson for the Acres of Hope board, teaches children from Rivers School about different types of crops grown in Manitoba during the 19th annual Acres of Hope harvest for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on Wednesday afternoon. To be able to work as a community, thats died back a bit as times have progressed you dont have local elevators anymore, he said. The chance to work here as neighbours, thats a side benefit. Jake Hamm, a longtime volunteer with Canadian Foodgrains Bank, attended the Acres of Hope harvest on behalf of the non-profit. He is involved himself in a growing project around Neepawa and said efforts like Wednesdays reinforces his belief that farmers are givers in society. I think farmers realize theyre so dependent on the weather that whatever they get is a gift, he said. I think thats one of the reasons they share. Hamms granddaughter Jillian witnessed the combines as part of a field trip with her Grade 3 class from Rivers Elementary School. The eight-year-old thinks the adults surrounding her are doing a good thing for those in need. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Combines harvest a field of wheat southeast of Rivers during the Acres of Hope harvest on Wednesday. If I was that person who was getting food, and I didnt have any food, Id be pretty happy. There are numerous other Growing Hope projects underway throughout Westman, including in Minnedosa, Boissevain and Killarney. ifroese@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ianfroese Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/09/2016 (2230 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Brandon University researcher has received a grant of nearly $570,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for her project dealing with postpartum depression. Penny Tryphonopoulos of BU and Nicole Letourneau of the University of Calgary are leading the project, which uses video feedback to help women with postpartum depression see and understand how positive interactions benefit their babies. Postpartum depression is experienced by about one in five mothers and also affects their families, Tryphonopoulos stated in a press release. Submitted Penny Tryphonopoulos has received a grant of nearly $570,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for her project to help new mothers form bonds with their babies. Research has shown the early months of babies lives are extremely important in their development. By encouraging and enabling positive interactions between moms and their babies, we can help to foster a new generation of happy and healthy children. Postpartum depression can begin at any time from pregnancy up until a child is one-year-old, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. It lasts longer than the baby blues, which are often gone in a couple of weeks. Babies are able to perceive the stress, which releases hormones that decrease brain volume, which over the long term can lead to behavioural and cognitive problems. According to Brandon University, the project is a large-scale exploration of a successful trial for Tryphonopoulos dissertation for her PhD, which was supervised by Letourneau. Nurses use a video system Tryphonopoulos has dubbed Vid-Kids to record interactions between mothers and their babies. In a supportive fashion, a nurse can review the footage with a mother to show her the signs of healthy interaction. This can benefit not only the child but the mother as well, said Tryphonopoulos, who earned her doctorate last spring before joining BUs faculty of health studies last fall as an assistant professor. The babies get the valuable stimulation that supports learning and growth. When their moms see them react with smiles and noises, it can help to alleviate the stress that is caused by their depression. Trials will take place at Calgary Public Health facilities, where Tryphonopoulos built many contacts while working on her PhD. If the trials are successful, the researchers hope to expand the system, and Tryphonopoulos would love to make it available to mothers in Brandon and the surrounding area. Due to the widespread nature of postpartum depression, this research has the potential to have an incredible impact on families across North America, said Dean Care, BUs dean of health studies. This project is an excellent example of co-operation between institutions producing positive results for their communities. At BU, were proud of Pennys role in this project. The Brandon Sun Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 17/09/2016 (2234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A former Brandon police officer and leader in local aboriginal policing has received a national award. Former Dakota Ojibway Police Service chief Doug Palson was in Ottawa on Friday to receive the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. The award celebrates his work with DOPS. That 7 1/2 years there were very good years, a lot of work, very good people to work with, Palson said in a phone call from the nations capital shortly before collecting his award at Rideau Hall. File Doug Palson, pictured during his tenure as Dakota Ojibway Police Service chief, has received the Order of Merit of the Police Forces for his leadership role in local aboriginal policing. The award was created in 2000, to recognize exceptional service by Canadian pollice officers whose contributions have gone beyond protection of the community. Palson, who is Metis, was recognized for his committee work with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association. He and others, including the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, lobbied for federal and provincial funding for first nations policing, in particular in support of the federal First Nations Policing Program. There were times there where, over the years, that there was uncertainty whether the program would be continued, Palson said. Palson said that, when he left DOPS, the force had sustainable funding. When he started there, there were 29 officers, and when he left there were 36. DOPS polices Birdtail Sioux, Roseau River and Sandy Bay First Nations, and Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation. During Palsons time as chief, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation switched to RCMP, but Waywayseecappo First Nation turned from RCMP to DOPS and Long Plain First Nation also opted for DOPS. A dedicated crime prevention school resource officer, a detective constable and a K-9 unit were introduced during his time as head of the force. So, a combination of a lot of things we were able to do there, and Im grateful and proud of that, Palson said. Palson also co-chaired the Metis and Inuit Peoples Committee of the CACP. Among the issues the committee provided advice for was that of missing and murdered indigenous women. Palson took the job as DOPS chief in November 2008 after serving 20 years with the Brandon Police Service. In 1997, he became a sergeant in the BPS and worked in the vice, intelligence and tactical response units. It was while working in the vice and intelligence section that he played a lead role in solving the disappearance of 18-year-old Erin Chorney. Michael Bridges strangled Chorney, drowned her in a bathtub and buried her body in a grave at the Brandon Municipal Cemetery in April 2002. Her body was exhumed in February 2004. For his part in solving the case, Palson was awarded a Commanding Officers Certificate of Appreciation by the RCMP, which had led an elaborate sting to catch Bridges. Palsons own force also awarded him a Police Service Awards Commendation. He achieved the rank of staff sergeant before leaving to be chief of DOPS for more than seven years. Hes now chief of the Dryden Police Service where, Palson says, his experience in First Nation policing serves him well as that community has a growing aboriginal population. Also receiving the Order of Merit was Staff Sgt. Douglas James Houston of Dauphin RCMP. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Twitter: @IanHitchen Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Native Plant Solutions, the engineering branch of Ducks Unlimited Canada, will be in Brandon Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. conducting the field portion of a study to regenerate wetland habitat on Assiniboine Food Forests (AFFI) 40-acre parcel of land in east Brandon. This is a major water conservation project for Brandon, AFFI chair David Barnes said, as we work to return the land to long-term ecological health. Assiniboine Food Forest is one of a new breed of conservation organizations that use permaculture to rehabilitate ecosystems. Permaculture aims to regenerate bio-diverse habitat while also producing healthy food for humans and wildlife, Barnes said. The first step in a permaculture development is to conserve precipitation, keeping it on the land instead of allowing it to drain into nearby waterways. The Native Plant Solutions study will examine the feasibility of harvesting runoff by the construction of a small dam across the landscape outlet, hopefully resulting in prime wetland habitat for wildlife and greater stability in the water table for future tree planting. Assiniboine Food Forest has been attracting attention this summer through its association with Crows General Store next door. Barnes has been leading weekly Nature Walks with Dave on Thursdays out of Crows. The 1.5-hour walks have attracted pubic attendance of more than 20 people regularly. Tonights walk departs the general store at 6:30 p.m. In following weeks, the walks will be moved to Sundays at 2 p.m. The walking tour follows the nature trail system that AFFI volunteers have built this year through oak/maple forest and wetland habitats. The site of the dam and NPS wetland feasibility study are a highlight of the walk. Submitted Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. We consider this a setback, but once our terminal construction is completed in early 2017, then we think itll help to foster more air service as time goes on. Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest As nice as it has been to have east-west commercial flights in and out of the Brandon Municipal Airport, the latest news that WestJets Brandon-Toronto route will end as of Sept. 26 is both surprising for its timing, and unsurprising given Brandons turbulent history when it comes to passenger air service. Toward the end of July, WestJet announced that Brandon passengers would be able to continue flying directly to Toronto this winter, in spite of a slow start to what was initially billed as a seasonal opportunity set to end on Sept. 5. At the time, WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said the company had decided to extend the route into the winter because they were hoping that the service would eventually take off with local customers. Its not unusual to see a slow start on a new route such as this, Stewart said. Were hopeful that people once they start to know a little bit more about the service and how convenient it is to now go east that theyre going to take advantage of that. Unfortunately for WestJet and the City of Brandon, the hoped-for growth in paying customers did not materialize. For a company that doesnt typically offer up customer data for public consumption, Stewart was surprisingly frank when talking to the Sun earlier this week. When we took a look at the numbers, only five per cent of the available seats were actually ever booked, so you could see the demand just wasnt there, she said. With ridership numbers like that, it should come as no surprise that the company decided to tell the citys administration late last week that the service would be ending even as construction continues on the $10.4-million upgrade and expansion of the Brandon Municipal Airport. That is obviously a severe letdown for our city council, the province and the federal government, all of which have contributed tax dollars for those upgrades. As noted above, Mayor Chrest called it a setback and hopes that a new and improved facility will do the job of attracting customers where the value of a local flight to the Big Smoke didnt. We understand his optimism and support the fact that local elected officials must remain hopeful for the good of their communities, even in the face of disappointment. But attracting and then keeping routine commercial air service has been an ongoing issue for Brandon for decades, with several airline companies coming and going over the years. Even WestJet itself had an initial dalliance with Brandon back in 1999 and again in 2001, as it ran trial periods out of the Wheat City. Ever since WestJet brought its first turboprop aircraft through Brandon from Calgary a few years ago, the company has done pretty fair in building its brand here in Westman. Ridership was strong enough to warrant more flights between the two cities. Even now, the company intends to start an early morning flight departing at 6 a.m. as of Oct. 23, for three days of the week. As with any decision WestJet has made during its expansion into smaller communities, the business case must be there for the company to be profitable. And as we have said several times on this page, if we dont use it, well lose it. Unfortunately, what has happened to the Toronto-Brandon flight is exactly what we were talking about, and unless the economy changes, or until Brandon grows by another few thousand people or both we may be waiting a number of years before WestJet or any other company decides to try again. Hopefully those Brandon-Calgary routes remain as popular as they appear. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Bad publicity for Brandon I wonder what people from other regions think of Brandon when they read and hear about all the poor people in Brandon relying on the soup kitchen and the handouts from Samaritan House for their survival. For those who might be considering a new area in which to invest or move to, they may have second thoughts. All the canvassing for food hampers, shelters, stocking the soup kitchen, gives the impression that Brandon is increasing in poverty and not a place that is growing. For those folks taking advantage of our generosity, is it a case of build it and they will come? Im considering moving to Vancouver. I wonder if they would feed and shelter me while I spend the winter there? Accountability I look in Sound Off and I see a lot of people questioning teachers, questioning our judicial system, questioning our politicians, but I wonder who holds our medical system accountable. Whats so important in New York? I am calling in regards to our mighty so-called prime minister running down to New York to the United Nations meeting there. Why is he not in the House of Commons? I am wondering if running down to New York is more important than the Canadian people who put him in power? Was it the United Nations who put him in power or is it that we, the UN, wants more of his lip service? I think it is time that we should be thinking of a real prime minister instead of a movie actor. Thanks to two good Samaritans I would like to pass a message along about the good Samaritan we have here in Brandon. On Sept. 15 at 3 p.m., my car broke down in the turning lane at 18th Street and Park Avenue. I am an elderly lady, and the woman who was right behind me ready to turn came to my aid and ordered a tow truck on her CAA card. And the gentleman behind her came to my aid by staying there and directing traffic around our vehicles until the tow truck came. It made my day that these two nice people went out of their way to do something nice for me. And I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. And if I ever get a chance to pay this forward, I will. Three former Tesco executives have denied charges in relation to the 326m accounting scandal at the supermarket. Carl Rogberg, 49, Chris Bush, 50, and John Scouler, 48, are charged with fraud by abuse of position and false accounting. They allegedly failed to correct inaccurately inflated income figures for the supermarket, which were published to auditors, other Tesco employees and the wider market. The three men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today for a preliminary hearing. All the defendants' lawyers indicated pleas of not guilty to the two charges they each face. The supermarket's former finance chief, managing director and food commercial head were investigated for their alleged role in an accounting scandal in which Tesco was found to have inflated its profits by 326m in 2014. The Serious Fraud Office said the investigation into Tesco "remains ongoing". Rogberg, of Chiselhampton, Oxfordshire, Bush, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Scouler, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, were released on bail and ordered to appear on October 20 at Southwark Crown Court for a plea hearing. A six-year-old boy in America has written a powerful letter to President Obama offering his home to a Syrian refugee. Alex, from New York, wrote the letter after seeing the widely-shared photo of Omran Daqneesh, as he sat dazed in an ambulance after an airstrike in Aleppo. "Dear President Obama, remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" Alex wrote in the letter published by the White House. "Can you please go get him and bring him to our home... we'll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother." Obama read the letter when he spoke at the UN refugee summit earlier this week and has since shared a video of Alex himself reading it on his social media, saying: "Those are the words of a six-year-old boy -- a young child who has not learned to be cynical or suspicious or fearful of other people because of where they come from, how they look, or how they pray. "We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were. Imagine the suffering we could ease and the lives we could save." And the six-year-olds words have gone viral, with many saying they have been inspired by them. The video has been watched more than 5 million times on Facebook alone. "A six year old who has more humanity, love, and understanding than most adults. Kudos to his parents and I know the world will see more great things coming from Alex." "His compassion is exactly what I try and teach to my boys...I wish there were billions of kids that were raised JUST like this little boy". You really do get all sorts at the Ploughing - animals of all kinds, stalls selling all manners of bits and bobs, random RTE personalities wandering around. Oh, and actual ploughing, of course. And now rapping children. Nine-year-old Timmy Costello from Tipp was in the Bank of Ireland area yesterday which was hosting Henry Shefflin and Seamus Callanan at the time. And he took to the stage to perform a rap in tribute to the Tipperary hurlers who won the All-Ireland Final this year. Shefflin and Callanan seemed to enjoy it anyway! Go on, Timmy. A Dublin City Councillor is calling for "flotels" to be used to alleviate Dublin's housing crisis. Known as floating hotels, the structures are erected on waterways in the Shetland Islands for workers on oil refineries out at sea. The Irish Federation of University Teachers is calling on Education Minister Richard Bruton to provide more resources and extra staff for universities. It comes as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings determined that no Irish institution merited a place in the top 200 in the world, though Trinity's position may be reviewed after a data submission error. IFUT said there has been an increase in university enrolment by 18% between 2008 and 2014 but this was met with a decrease in funding of 28% between 2007 and 2014. General Secretary Mike Jennings has accused Minister Bruton of sitting on his hands while the sector declines. "It is a real wake-up call for the Minister," he said. "Unfortunately all the evidence seems to be that Minister Bruton is not for waking. "I don't know for how much longer he's going to sit on his hands and watch the Irish university system just suffer slow and really toxic deterioration. "Things are really, really bad and I just hope that Richard Bruton is reading this coverage this morning and is provoked into actually doing something." Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said that funding third level is important to Ireland's future and will be a key demand in next month's Budget. "If you look back over 40 years in this country, consistent investment in education was the key to the modernisation of our country, and to the success of inward investment into the country," he said. "You talk to people across any of the major multinationals who came in here, apart from taxation and other issues, talent and opportunity was the key." More than 13m of funding has been announced for projects relating to the areas of migrant integration and gender equality. It is hoped the 13.3m, which will be available over the next four years, will contribute to funding for training and development courses to help who want to return to the workforce. An inmate of Mountjoy prison in Dublin wants a caution he received to be set aside because he believes the disciplinary process was flawed. The prisoner claims he was denied a proper hearing after he was accused of intimidating and verbally abusing a senior prison officer. The prisoner, who cannot be named at this stage, appeared before a disciplinary hearing after the prison officer made a complaint against him. She claimed that he tried to intimidate her while he was in the prisons visitor area. She said he made inappropriate remarks and referred to her as a "dog". The prisoner denied the allegations during a two-day disciplinary hearing before the Governor. He claims he was refused the opportunity to call certain witnesses and view CCTV footage that he felt would be supportive of his version of events. Ultimately, he was issued with a caution, and he is worried that will reflect badly on him when he comes before the parole board. He wants the High Court to set aside the caution because he believes the disciplinary process was flawed and breached his constitutional rights. An application for a judicial review was made today but the judge has put the matter back until next month to allow the Governor a chance to respond. Afghanistan's government has signed a draft peace agreement with a designated "global terrorist" after lengthy negotiations that could pave the way for a similar accord with the Taliban. The deal with warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is Afghanistan's first peace agreement in the 15 years since the Taliban launched its insurgency, after it was driven from power following the 9/11 attacks on the US. The deal, signed on live television, grants full political rights to his Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin party and obliges Afghan authorities to work to have it removed from the United Nations list of foreign terrorist organisations. Hekmatyar was designated by the US as a "global terrorist" in 2003. He was blacklisted at Washington's request by the UN the same year. He is believed to live in Pakistan. The agreement ends years of talks between Kabul and Hekmatyar, who is in his late 60s. It should enable him to return to Afghanistan after 20 years in exile as it includes provisions for his security at government expense. The agreement was signed by the head of Kabul's High Peace Council, Ahmad Gilani, national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and Hekmatyar's representative Amin Karim. Hekmatyar's son Habiburahman sat with an audience of officials. To be formalised, the agreement must be signed by president Ashraf Ghani and Gulbuddin Hekamtyar, although no timetable has been announced. The deal marks a victory of sorts for Mr Ghani, who has been unable to bring peace to Afghanistan despite election promises and early efforts to forge a close diplomatic relationship with neighbouring Pakistan. The failure of those efforts has seen Mr Ghani reverse course in recent months - he now openly accuses Pakistan of supporting and protecting the Taliban. Pakistan denies the accusations, although the Taliban's leadership councils are based in Quetta and other Pakistani cities. Talks between Kabul and the Taliban, hosted by Pakistan and aimed at ending the war, broke down earlier this year. With this peace deal, Mr Ghani can demonstrate to the Taliban's leaders that his government is willing to make compromises for the sake of peace. The key points are the removal from international blacklists, immunity from prosecution for alleged war crimes, allowing unilateral political activity, and the release of prisoners. A 23-lorry convoy has delivered humanitarian aid to a Damascus suburb besieged by government forces, as the UN resumes its aid deliveries to Syria's opposition areas. Local media activist Wassim al-Ahmad said the trucks arriving in Moadamiyeh carried medical and food supplies from various UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which supervised the delivery, said the convoy covers the needs of 7,000 families, and another convoy to support 5,000 more will soon follow. The government said 35,000 people live in the suburb. The UN suspended all convoys to besieged and hard-to-reach areas on Tuesday after a suspected Russian or government air strike razed a Red Crescent warehouse and convoy in opposition territory in the country's north. Earlier, a top Russian diplomat hit back at the US Secretary of State's proposal that flights be banned over some parts of Syria. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state-run Tass news agency: "To my mind, this scheme will not work, at least until the United States and other actors engaged in this process make sure that entities that see war as the only way to resolve the problem stop using force." Secretary of State John Kerry has called for all warplanes to halt flights over aid routes in Syria. A Chinese lawyer who defended activists and others involved in politically sensitive cases has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on fraud charges, his lawyers said. Xia Lin was sentenced by the Beijing No 2 Intermediate Court, nearly two years after being detained, lawyer Ding Xikui said. "We've been striving to defend his innocence," Mr Ding said. "Even one day in prison is too much." Mr Ding said Mr Xia planned to file an appeal. Mr Xia's sentence appeared to be the heaviest for a government critic since economist and Uighur minority rights advocate Ilham Tohti was sentenced in 2014 to life imprisonment on separatism charges after he made calls for Chinese-Uighur reconciliation and greater economic justice. Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, identified by the party as an existential threat to its rule, is serving an 11-year sentence for subversion. "The harsh sentence against Xia Lin sends the sternest warning yet to the community of human rights lawyers that they must toe the party line," said Maya Wang, a Hong Kong-based researcher with Human Rights Watch. Ms Wang said president and party leader Xi Jinping has made clear that, despite its calls for strengthened rule of law, the party intends to use the legal system to enforce its uncontested rule. "Anyone who challenges this aspiration will not be tolerated." Mr Ding and advocacy group Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders said the charges against Mr Xia, who was born in 1970, related to money he borrowed from friends, who asserted they loaned it freely and had not brought legal complaints against him. He was accused of defaulting on that debt, but no convincing evidence was provided, they said. "He had indeed borrowed money from people, but it is just normal borrowing and lending money," Mr Ding said. The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders said Mr Xia was detained on November 8 2014, as he began preparing to defend Guo Yushan, the head of a Chinese think tank, the Transition Institute. It said Mr Guo had been detained a month earlier for supporting the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement in the semi-autonomous Chinese region of Hong Kong. The group said that, lacking evidence of fraud, investigators instead focused on Mr Xia's association with government critics, including artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei, whose design company, Beijing Fake Cultural Development, he helped defend from a demand for 1.85 million dollars (1.43 million) in back taxes and fines brought in 2011. Mr Ai ultimately lost the case, despite claims of widespread legal irregularities. "The numerous legal violations, not least the length of time it took to bring Xia to trial, demonstrate the flimsiness of the authorities' case. "Xia Lin should be freed on Thursday and compensated for his time in detention," human rights researcher Frances Eve said in a statement. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang discounted such accusations, saying such groups likely did not represent mainstream opinion about China in the international community. Mr Xia's case "falls within China's internal affairs... and will be handled in accordance with law," Mr Lu said. President Xi's campaign against dissent began gathering steam in the summer of 2015, when about 300 activists and lawyers were initially seized in a round-up and questioned before most were released. But more than a dozen of those detained last year remain in custody. Donald Trump has insisted drugs played "a very, very big factor" in violent protests that erupted in North Carolina overnight following the police shooting of a black man. The Republican presidential candidate warned African-American protesters that their outrage was creating suffering in their own communities. It was another day of mixed messages on a delicate issue from Mr Trump, who was eager to blunt criticism that his campaign inspires racism in the midst of what he called "a national crisis". The National Guard was activated to calm fierce protests that followed police shootings of black men in North Carolina and Oklahoma. Mr Trump has sought to express empathy, but his words could rankle some in the African-American community. "The people who will suffer the most as a result of these riots are law-abiding African-American residents who live in these communities where the crime is so rampant," Mr Trump declared at an energy conference in Pittsburgh. He added: "Drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night." Democrat Hillary Clinton did not address escalating racial tensions on Thursday as she prepared for her first debate-stage meeting with Mr Trump. She took a swipe at her opponent, albeit in a humorous way, in an interview on comic Zach Galifianakis' internet show Between Two Ferns. The comedian asked her what Mr Trump might wear to Monday's debate. "I assume he'll wear that red power tie," Mrs Clinton said. Galifianakis responded: "Or maybe like a white power tie." "That's even more appropriate," Mrs Clinton said. Both candidates are working to navigate the politics of race with Election Day less than seven weeks away and early voting about to begin in some states. Mr Trump, in particular, has struggled to balance a message that appeals to his white, working-class base with one that improves his standing with minorities and educated whites who may worry about racial undertones in his candidacy. He was slow to disavow former KKK leader David Duke earlier in the year and has repeatedly promoted tweets by white supremacists during his White House bid. The Republican nominee admitted for the first time publicly last week that President Barack Obama was born in the United States. And as recently as last week, Mr Trump's eldest son tweeted a meme commonly used by white nationalists. On Thursday, Mr Trump tried at times to project a softer message, calling for a nation united in "the spirit of togetherness". "We all have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, see things through their eyes, and then get to work fixing our very wounded country." The message was complicated by his own suggestion that protesters outraged by the police shootings of black men were under the influence of drugs. Earlier in the day, he also called for Chicago to adopt "stop and frisk" policing tactics that have been condemned as racial profiling. At the same time in neighbouring Ohio, Mr Trump's Mahoning County chair Kathy Miller, a volunteer, came under fire after telling the Guardian newspaper: "I don't think there was any racism until Obama got elected." The Trump campaign accepted her resignation after what a spokesman called "inappropriate" comments. Mrs Clinton has faced criticism of her own for saying half of Mr Trump's supporters belong in a "basket of deplorables" because they are racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic. The Democratic nominee has also made curbing gun violence and police brutality a central part of her candidacy. She said on Wednesday that shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina added two more names "to a long list of African-Americans killed by police officers. It's unbearable and it needs to become intolerable". Mrs Clinton has campaigned alongside a group of black women called the Mothers Of The Movement, who advocated for more accountability and transparency by law enforcement. The group includes the mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, black victims of high-profile killings. Mr Trump said new leadership is required to address the situation. "This is a national crisis," he said without mentioning the black men shot by police in recent days. He said that "it's the job of the next president of the United States to work with our governors and mayors to address this crisis and save African-American lives". Families have urged Egyptian authorities to step up rescue efforts after a boat carrying African refugees heading to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast near Alexandria, killing at least 42 people. The Egyptian army gave the toll in a statement, saying it had "thwarted an illegal immigration attempt" and that the boat had been 12 nautical miles off the coast when it sank yesterday. In the city of Rosetta, Egyptian families gathered near the harbour urging heightened search and rescue efforts for their loved ones who were among the lost. "We have been telling the authorities from 5.30am that the boat is sinking and they were saying they had no rescue boats, and no one was moving," said Hassan Suleiman Daoud, a relative of one of the refugees. Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the total number of dead was still unknown. Local official Alaa Osman from Beheira province said the refugees were from several African countries. He said more than 150 people have been rescued so far but bodies were still being pulled from the water. Egypt's official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank 112 miles north of the capital Cairo. Mr Osman said the boat had probably come from Kafr el-Sheik province, further to the east. Thousands of refugees have made the dangerous sea voyage across the Mediterranean in recent years fleeing war and poverty, mostly via lawless Libya. Thousands have drowned. The number of refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt to Europe has increased significantly in the past year, EU border agency Frontex said earlier this month. More than 12,000 refugees arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared with 7,000 in the same period last year, it said. Experts say smugglers in Egypt mostly use old fishing vessels, stuffed way beyond capacity both below and above deck. New and more dangerous smuggling practices and attempts to reach Europe by riskier routes have led to a spike in the number of refugees dying as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean, the International Organisation for Migration said last month. It said newer routes, particularly from Egypt, are longer and riskier, leading to search and rescue efforts often being carried out further away from land. It said 2,901 people died or disappeared crossing the Mediterranean in the first six months of 2016, a 37% increase over the first six months of last year. Last May, hundreds of refugees died after a wooden boat coming from Libya capsized, even as the Italian navy rushed to the rescue. European rescue boats, including naval vessels, often patrol off the Libyan coast to prevent such disasters. The refugees crisis has proven deeply divisive in Europe, which has struggled to come up with a unified response. Right-wing nationalist parties opposed to taking in more migrants and refugees have made gains, including in Germany, which has accepted more people than any other European country. Refugees rescued by the Italian navy near Europe's southern borders are brought to processing centres and offered accommodation while they apply for asylum. But many of the thousands registered each month travel further onwards toward Europe's richer north, in hopes of settling there. More than 60,000 migrants and refugees are stranded in transit in Greece - just across the Mediterranean from Egypt - and those who arrived after March 20 have been restricted to five Aegean islands under an EU-brokered deal to deport them back to Turkey. The agreement has been fraught with delays, however, and most of the people in island camps have applied for asylum in Greece, launching a lengthy process during which they cannot be deported. A white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said. Tulsa County district attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charges on Thursday against officer Betty Shelby, who shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on September 16. Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed Mr Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Mr Crutcher. Her attorney has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach into his vehicle window. But Mr Crutcher's family immediately discounted that claim, saying the father of four posed no threat to the officers, and police said Mr Crutcher did not have gun on him or in his vehicle. Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, was en route to a domestic violence call when she encountered Mr Crutcher's vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the centre line. Shelby did not activate her patrol car's dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what first happened between the two before other officers arrived. The police footage shows Mr Crutcher approaching the driver's side of the vehicle, then more officers walk up and Mr Crutcher appears to lower his hands and place them on the vehicle. A man inside a police helicopter overhead says: "That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something." The officers surround Mr Crutcher and he suddenly drops to the ground. A voice heard on police radio says: "Shots fired!" The officers back away and Mr Crutcher is left unattended on the street for about two minutes before an officer puts on medical gloves and begins to attend to him. Earlier this year a former volunteer deputy with the Tulsa County sheriff's office was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter over the shooting death of Eric Harris. SAN FRANCISCO: US tech titans looking to the future are seeing growth take a beating in the face of foreign... Prices of rice from top exporter India edged up this week on an uptick in the rupee and supply concerns, while a... LONDON: OPEC is likely to maintain its view world oil demand will rise for another decade, longer than many other... MOSCOW: Russia is ready to supply up to 500,000 tonnes of grain to poor countries in the next four months, with... LONDON: The UKs eagerly-awaited budget plan has been postponed until November 17, the office of new Prime Minister... BAGHDAD: Iraqi authorities are investigating the theft of $2.5 billion from the tax authority, officials said... NEW DELHI: Indian authorities should allow Kashmiri photojournalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo to travel abroad freely and... The Independent Education Union, representing staff in the ACT's 50 Catholic and independent schools, has called on all political parties to commit to an overhaul of school funding in the lead up to the October election. IEU NSW/ACT Secretary John Quessy said one of the union's main concerns was that students with disabilities not be anymore disadvantaged if they chose to attend non-government schools. Professor Halpern will tell the Australian audience that there is no research to show that boys and girls learn differently in the classroom. Credit:AFR "All parties acknowledge the rights of parents to choose the school their child attends but to deliver this for students with disabilities, we need funding that is consistent and sector blind," Mr Quessy said. "It is important that the most vulnerable are not disadvantaged." A Canberra man accused of trafficking drugs has been refused bail over concerns he would flee to China if released. Lei Zhao, 38, appeared in the ACT Supreme Court this week after he was twice denied bail in the territory's lower court. The man was refused bail over alleged drug trafficking. Zhao denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty. He said there was a change in circumstances that warranted bail, and offered his wife's McKellar house, worth about $160,000, in security. He also argued he had already surrendered his Australian passport, and bail reporting conditions would ensure he didn't travel far. Zhao said he was unlikely to leave behind his wife and two children. "This is generally a powerful point but is somewhat lessened in this case by the evidence that when his wife was away, the applicant invited a sex worker to reside at his home, which she did," Justice Michael Elkaim said in a decision published on Thursday. Justice Elkaim noted the man had allegedly said on an intercepted phone call that if he was caught he intended to flee to China. The surety of the house was unreliable, Justice Elkaim said, because more money was coming from the account than was going in, and police were attempting to restrain any equity in the house. Jayden McNeill used to be able to solve a Rubik's cube with his feet. Now he can do it blindfolded. The Canberra teenager will put his unique skills to the test at a national cubing competition in the capital this weekend. While feted as an accomplishment only attainable by mathematical geniuses, McNeill reckons anyone can "train their brain" to solve the Rubik's cube quickly. "To be honest, memorising and solving a Rubik's cube blindfolded isn't too difficult. To memorise, it's maybe ... two phone numbers worth of information on the fly and then you kind of execute that really quickly," he said. "Anyone that gives it enough time can learn to solve one." Canberra sex workers were targeted by a group of three men in a series of brutal sexual assaults, detectives have confirmed. ACT Policing's Detective Sergeant David Crowe said at least six women were sexually assaulted and robbed by the men from March to May and police believe there are more victims. Detective Sergeant David Crowe, of the ACT Policing sexual assault and child abuse team, said at least six female sex workers have been violently sexually assaulted by a gang of three men. Credit:Katie Burgess Some attacks were carried out at knifepoint and Sergeant Crowe said there was a high degree of violence involved. "There is no one particular website or social media platform that is being targeted. There's no one ethnic group of sex workers that are being targeted," he said. Things are not getting any easier for our big four banks. Michael Yabsley the former Liberal Party treasurer who is calling for a "radical" overhaul of Australia's political donations and election funding regime is suing NAB's wealth arm, MLC, in the NSW Supreme Court over an insurance policy that apparently did not work as planned. It comes as Australia's new Reserve Bank governor, Philip Lowe, used his first appearance before Parliament to launch a strongly worded attack against the culture problems at the banks. "I can't help but agree with you that there have been too many examples of poor outcomes, particularly in the wealth management and insurance industries," he said in response to a question by the committee. Billionaire retail landlord John Gandel has offloaded his entire stakes in property manager and developer Charter Hall Group and its retail trust, worth about $500 million, to focus on other interests including shopping centre landlord Vicinity Centres, the giant Chadstone shopping mall in Melbourne and philanthropy. Gandel Group said it had entered block trade agreements to sell 79.2 million stapled securities, or 19.18 per cent, in CHG and its 5.65 per cent interest in Charter Hall Retail REIT through fully underwritten sell-downs to third-party investors. It is understood Macquarie Equities has placed the securities to institutions. The appetite was strong given Charter Hall Group and the listed REIT both trade at premiums to their net tangible assets. Nearly half way through the NSW government's second term Mike Baird is facing some big tests, but none more critical than the battle with sections of the media upset by the decision to end greyhound racing. It will have escaped the millions of Sydneysiders who don't engage with them, but for months the government has almost daily been blasted by an axis of anger: 2GB radio's Ray Hadley and Alan Jones and The Daily Telegraph. Threats have been issued. There has been prolonged and furious muscle flexing to bludgeon the Premier and Nationals leader and deputy Premier Troy Grant into a reversing the move. It has emerged as a major test of a strategy the government has been determined to employ since Baird came into the job: largely ignoring the demands of tabloid and talkback media. And there's a huge amount at stake for all involved. It is accepted that the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful good citizens but Mr Trad should be looking at the extreme practices in those who share his faith rather than blaming politicians who are, after all, only representing the views of their constituents. Michael Robinson Cammeray Gee Greg Partington (Letters, September 22), I'd like to see "the compassion card" played a bit more often. Instead I see the fear card, the fact-free card, or the really popular one you're playing right now, the empathy bypass card. What you call "the success" of the government's uncompromising stand, I call the premeditated human rights abuse of a small group of helpless men, women and CHILDREN for political gain. The possible prevention of a future death at sea is never compensation for actual abuse (and deaths) we are directly responsible for right now. Australia needs to stop hiding behind this nonsense right-wing rhetoric and start owning up to its actions. Phil Bradshaw Naremburn Greg Partington (Letters, September 22) refers to the "success" of the government in preventing refugee deaths at sea. But its only success here has been in moving these deaths out to sea, away from our shores, so that we don't have to see them. They still die. The government hasn't, however, "succeeded" in similarly hiding the many deaths occurring in our onshore and offshore immigration detention centres, which are listed in the Australian Border Deaths Database. Whether this system is a "success" seems to depend on which deaths you think are OK. Suzie Ferrie Newtown During the so-called golden era of mass immigration throughout the 1950s and 60s, poll after poll showed a majority of Australians were against the high number of immigrants being brought here. Yes they feared for their jobs and that these non-English-speaking people would not integrate and abide by Australia's customs. However our political leaders then ignored the polls and the public's concerns, unlike today's lot. Con Vaitsas Ashbury Gonski waters muddied Federal Minister for Education, Simon Birmingham, is doing his bit to confuse the public and pave the way for further cuts to federal government education spending. How is he doing this? By muddying the waters regarding the efficacy of Gonski funding. ("Coalition vows to undo 'corrupted' Gonski deals," September 22.) The major reason for any "corruption" of the Gonski vision, and any "piecemeal" implementation of the report's proposals is the Abbott-Turnbull government's failure to honour its original pledges to voters regarding implementation of Gonski. So the approach by Birmingham and the government is blatantly dishonest and hypocritical. To add insult to this approach, Birmingham even pretends to be an advocate of the Gonski report's ideal of "fairness". In 2018, the Gonski Report calls for a major boost in federal funding, so the government is panicking. It is not walking away from its financial commitment, it is running. Birmingham, Turnbull, et al, have got it all wrong with their approach to education spending. Do we really want a more prosperous and fairer Australia, in which real wages and living standards rise rather than stagnate or fall, as they have been doing over recent years? Then we need to increase and not cut our investment in Australia's greatest resource: our kids. Geoff Black Caves Beach Education Minister Simon Birmingham uses the word "corrupt" to describe the Gonski funding reforms; and to a certain extent he is right. Rather than cutting federal funding to wealthy private schools, with facilities that most school kids could only dream about, Gillard made the promise that no school will lose funding. This is the corruption in the system. Bob Eggleton Neutral Bay No longer the land of the middle-class Labor's Chris Bowen deserves credit for arguing that Australia is a country that can no longer house its own children ("Housing crisis fuels division, says Labor", September 22). Every party courts the swinging votes of the middle class, but it is safer to ignore the rhetoric and examine what they do in government. With overall home ownership in Australia at a 60-year low, it was reasonable to expect the Coalition to consider adjustments to negative gearing and capital gains tax proposed by Labor in the lead-up to the last election, but all we got from Malcolm Turnbull were warnings about the wrecking ball which would smash house prices across the country. There was expert advice both ways, which varied with the assumptions made in their computer modelling. There is a widening gap between rich and poor in Australia, with the top 20 per cent of households receiving half the income, while the bottom 20 per cent receive 4 per cent. Inequality means that we're no longer the land of the middle class, and as Bowen says, it's not good enough for governments to shrug their shoulders and let the markets rip. James Moore Kingsgrove I wonder how long it will take our tsars of politics, industry and commerce to see, as history has so often shown, that when the poor realise their poverty is being caused by the rich they will react, and sometimes violently. Poor people are not necessarily less happy than the rich. They can even live alongside them without envy or hatred, but once they develop the perception (or realisation) that they are being purposefully oppressed things change. The tsars of Australia should be particularly worried because equity and a "fair go" are perhaps even more deeply ingrained here than among the Russian peasants of 1914. Chris Bowen's speech is as much about oppression as it is about economics and it contains a timely warning. Peter Russell Coogee Sensible helmet law Dr Olivier's research on bicycle helmets suggests they may help reduce head injury in some crashes ("Global review rejects belief helmets cause injury for riders," September 22). However, it doesn't take into account rider speed. Other research has shown speed is a bigger factor in crash and injury risk than helmet use. You are more likely to suffer a head injury riding fast with a helmet, than riding slowly without one. The same is true of driving. This is why only racing drivers use helmets. Despite this, thousands of ordinary drivers still suffer brain injury every year. Should they be forced to use helmets? In Australia, mandating helmet use for both high-risk sport cycling and low-risk transport cycling has significantly reduced participation in the latter. Given the rising incidence and cost of diabetes and other lifestyle diseases, we should not be discouraging physical activity with indiscriminate bicycle helmet laws. In countries without such laws, the high-risk racers still use them. Chris Standen Forest Lodge "Bike helmet review throws cold water on sceptics: they'll likely save your life" . However, sun cream at the beach and fire-retardant clothing in the kitchen could likely save your life, too. The question is, do we want laws about all these things? The study fails to consider the fact that mandatory helmet laws deter cycling. The more cyclists, the safer it is for cyclists. Plenty of other studies show that the less government interference in people's lives, the happier they are. Would we prefer a happy society or a nanny state? Larry Tofler Lindfield Street toll logical Carsten Burmeister comments that "a straight logic would be to charge a toll for using local streets and thus funnel traffic to the freeways" (Letters, September 22). This clear logic has been repeatedly put forward in the case of the Cross City Tunnel; make it free, and apply a London-style congestion fee to enter the CBD, thus unclogging its streets. This logical solution has been repeatedly knocked back by the NSW government. Why? Bruce Stafford Tascott Ready, set ... test So, kindy students are to have an additional testing regime as well as the Best Start Assessment that is already carried out on school entry ("Kindergarten test to replace $55m reading program", September 22.). Welcome to school, kids: 13 years of assessments to go. Clare Moore Blacktown How can the government get it so wrong? Children do not need to read in kindergarten; they need to PLAY. The neural pathways needed to learn to read at a suitable age are developed through MOVEMENT! This is common knowledge. Get children moving and exploring their environment and they will achieve better in school. Haven't they read the the statistics from Finland? Wake up and do the right thing for our children. Lalage Craig Normanhurst Ethics review delay On the recommendation of an Upper House inquiry in 2012, the Baird Government spent $295,988 of public money on a review of ethics classes in schools. ("$300k ethics and scripture classes review under wraps", September 22). Its findings were expected to be released before the end of 2015. Why does Premier Baird continue to withhold this important report from the public? Judy Finlason Undercliffe Marriage equality the right plebiscite? As this seems to be a question that is genuinely dividing the country, why not have a plebiscite on Muslim immigration, rather than marriage equality ("Immigration debate: tear down the walls, says Obama", September 22.) After all, it would seem far more likely that Muslim immigration rather than gay marriage will destroy the fabric of society as we know it! Nazife Bashar Marrickville Where to get off? Sally Kay, who lives at Orange, understandably favours the phrase, "getting off at Redfern". (Letters, September 22.) Those of us who live in The Shire, naturally favour the phrase, "getting off at Woolooware". Having said that, I would expect most people favour completing the journey to Central and Cronulla, respectively. James Prior Sylvania Waters Actually, Sally Kay, it's "More front than Anthony Horderns". This was an old historic department store, which like everything else old and historic in Sydney, was knocked down years ago. Brian Johnstone Leura An extraordinary row between the country's most senior law officers has reached boiling point after the government's top legal adviser released documents suggesting Attorney-General George Brandis misled Parliament. Senator Brandis has come under fire over a contentious move to restrict his ministerial colleagues' ability to seek independent legal advice directly from the Solicitor-General, Justin Gleeson, SC. Attorney-General George Brandis has faced calls to resign after Labor accused him of misleading Parliament. Credit:Fairfax Media Under changes made days before the federal election, no minister including the prime minister can seek advice from Mr Gleeson "except with the consent of the Attorney-General". Legal experts have expressed concern the change is a power grab that restricts the independence of the Solicitor-General and reflects an irreparable breakdown in the relationship between the men. Campaigners against same-sex marriage are using the image of the late anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela, and pushing the false claim that marriage equality will trigger the "compulsory" adoption of the Safe Schools program in all Australian schools. Leaflets distributed in Sydney this week by a group known as "Children's Future" claim a change to the Marriage Act will have "more consequences than most people realise" and lead to "unsafe schools". "The radical 'Safe Schools' content will become compulsory in all schools and anti-discrimination laws will be used against parents who object," the group claims in a leaflet distributed around the Hornsby area. The leaflets also claim schools will be forced to teach "all sexual orientations in sex-ed". British-trained plastic surgeon Patrick Tansley says he was threatened by Australian plastic surgeons. Credit:Jason South An edited version of the recording was made into a video that has since been published online. The college says an investigation of the video and recording found no bias against the candidate, and only "minor breaches" of protocols which did not play a role in whether the person passed or failed. Nonetheless, it has increased oversight of its exams. While the college does not record exams itself, it said its investigation found the published video did not accurately reflect what took place in the exam. No disciplinary action has been taken against the examiners. They were counselled instead. Illustration: Ron Tandberg While the migrant went on to pass the exam another year, the college's investigation has infuriated an American-trained surgeon who wants to be known only as Dr P for fear of repercussions. Dr P told Fairfax Media that when he listened to the recording, he lost all faith in the college's ability to fairly assess overseas-trained doctors and local trainees. Two other senior ear, nose and throat surgeons who have listened to the recording say they, too, were troubled by the examiners' behaviour and would have passed the candidate. Dr P, who is not the candidate being discussed in the exam in question, complained to the college about the recording in 2015 following years of alleged bullying, harassment and discrimination in his quest to have his skills as a US-trained ear, nose and throat surgeon recognised in Australia. Like Mr Tansley, he says surgeons in his specialty deliberately sabotaged his efforts, so he would not be able to practise in the field, where people pay thousands of dollars for private operations. Dr P said the first warning came soon after he arrived in Australia five years ago for a one-year training position. He hoped the job would help him transition into the Australian system his wife is Australian. After applying to the college for recognition, he was told his skills were "partially comparable" and that he would have to sit the same fellowship exam Australian trainees sit. Dr P accepted. The exam requires months, if not years, of intensive study. About a week into his fellowship training position, Dr P says a senior surgeon supervising him asked if he planned to stay in that same city. When he said that he wanted to settle interstate, the senior surgeon allegedly expressed relief, saying if he wanted to be a local, it would have affected his training. "I was quite flabbergasted and at a loss for words," Dr P said. It was the beginning of a turbulent relationship. Dr P says that same senior surgeon turned out to be a known bully a professor who frequently berated and humiliated junior surgeons in front of their operating teams. Dr P reported his concerns to one of the college's international medical graduate representatives, who told him he was not alone. Others had expressed similar concerns. Dr P resigned and reported the allegations to the public hospital where they had been working. Despite receiving many supportive messages from colleagues, Dr P was worried his complaint might affect his likelihood of passing the exam. He moved interstate in 2012, but when he turned up for his exam in 2014 he was stunned to find the professor he had complained about was one of his examiners. Under college policy, an examiner who discovers they have an "actual or perceived" conflict of interest when they meet a candidate must raise it with a senior examiner on the day and take a secondary role. The professor did not do that. Dr P failed. He continued working under supervision on the understanding he would sit the exam again in future. But his new supervisor allegedly told a colleague in late 2014 that he had "many friends" who would ensure Dr P never got fellowship. "I couldn't believe that this statement was made in front of me and my wife," his colleague wrote in a letter to the college, adding that he was "totally incredulous about how one professional could try to destroy the life and career of another". Dr P's colleague felt he was "more than qualified" and had been the victim of "a great deal of injustice". Other surgeons agreed. Dr P, who has young children, contemplated suicide. He was working on patients including vulnerable Indigenous people who had waited years for treatment. And yet, all of his work and study towards the exam seemed doomed. Throughout 2015, Dr P made complaints to the college about the professor who had examined him in 2014, saying he had a conflict. He also complained about his supervisor's alleged vow to block his progress. The college looked into his claims but the professor insisted he was not conflicted, so the college took no action against him. The college's separate investigation into Dr P's claim against his supervisor was cancelled three days before a panel hearing. Then there was the video. Dr P sent college representatives the video of the secret exam recording. He says the college's investigation was a "sham" that should undermine trust in its processes. Dr P has since returned to the US with his family. This was not the surgical profession's first brush with accusations of anti-competitive behaviour. In the 2000s, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission monitored the college due to concerns about its assessment of overseas-trained doctors and allegations it was restricting entry to training. But the monitoring stopped in 2009, after which the pass rate for overseas-trained ear, nose and throat specialists dwindled to zero within five years. Plastic surgery candidate Mr Tansley says he has also experienced sham reviews. The Cambridge-trained doctor, who became a plastic surgeon in the UK in 2010, says the college told him to complete two years' assessment under supervision and the same exam local trainees sit to get his qualifications recognised. He says the senior surgeon who warned him in 2011 about the difficulties ahead was one of the architects of the course. When Mr Tansley appealed this decision and complained to the college that the senior surgeon was biased against him, he says an "extraordinary backlash" began. Over the next four years, Mr Tansley faced multiple complaints to the Australian Medical Board about his competence, none of which have been substantiated. There have also been allegations that one of his supervisors, Sugitha Seneviratne, had an undisclosed, close personal relationship with him. Dr Seneviratne says she has never been in a romantic relationship with Mr Tansley and that this "smear" has been one of several designed to disturb his efforts to get fellowship. The dispute became so fierce that in 2013 a group of 15 plastic surgeons at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, including the senior surgeon Mr Tansley had accused of bias, wrote a letter to the college accusing Mr Tansley of misrepresenting himself as a surgeon with their unit on a research website. Mr Tansley, an honorary specialist with the hospital's general surgery unit, took defamation action against the surgeons. The case was settled out of court. The details are confidential, but Mr Tansley says the outcome was "satisfactory" to him. There is an apology letter from four of the 15 surgeons on his website. During the past four years, Dr Seneviratne says she has watched claims of improper conduct delay Mr Tansley's assessment process, drawing it out to make it nearly impossible for him to get fellowship within the four years he has been given to achieve it. "At each turn there has been an act of retribution that comes with the process," said Dr Seneviratne. "It has been almost child-like in its transparency." After paying tens of thousands of dollars in fees to the college, Mr Tansley is locked in a legal battle with it over his treatment. As a result, he cannot work as a plastic surgeon who can bill Medicare. He is currently working in a practice with Dr Seneviratne as a registered medical practitioner who does cosmetic surgery for full-fee-paying patients. He says patients are told he is registered as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the UK. Wai-Ting Choi, a plastic surgeon who has worked with Mr Tansley, says Mr Tansley is an over-confident, potentially dangerous surgeon who has tried to skip very reasonable steps to get fellowship in Australia. Dr Choi says he has raised several concerns about Mr Tansley's competence with the medical board, which chose not to pursue them. During their time together at the Northern Hospital in Melbourne, Mr Tansley accused Dr Choi of bullying, but Dr Choi says an independent investigation commissioned by the hospital cleared him. Fairfax Media understands the Victorian Ombudsman looked into concerns about the way Dr Choi was treated by the Northern Hospital, but the report has never been publicly released. Mr Tansley's supporters say his talents and self-assurance have riled local plastic surgeons who perceive him as a threat to their leadership in public hospitals and in the private cosmetic market, where surgeons can earn more than $1 million a year. His opponents say he should never have challenged the college's decision for him to sit the exam in the first place. His case has been examined by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which says it is working with a number of bodies, including governments, to discuss perceptions of conflicts of interest and partiality. A Brisbane Broncos player has been fined $250 but escaped a recorded conviction after being busted behind the wheel while driving with a suspended licence. Joseph Anthony Young Ofahengaue, 21, fronted the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to driving while his licence was suspended as a result of not paying a State Penalties Enforcement Registry debt. Joe Ofahengaue during the round 12 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Wests Tigers. Credit:Bradley Kanaris In addition to the fine, Ofahengaue was disqualified from driving for one month. The court heard his busy work schedule meant Ofahengaue had not seen a letter informing him his licence had been suspended in July and was unaware he was driving without a licence. Police said initial inquiries suggested the teen, who was on holidays from overseas, was riding a jet ski when she collided with a Sunlover Reef Cruises vessel that was moored at the Marina. Paramedics were called to Cairns Marlin Marina just after 9am to reports a 17-year-old woman had been involved in a watercraft incident. A teenage tourist has died after a jet ski accident in far north Queensland. Witnesses pulled the female rider from the water and paramedics performed CPR, however she died on scene. Emergency services were called the marina just after 9am. Credit:WIN News Cairns She had hired a jet ski from NQ Watersports moments before the fatal accident. A spokesman for the company said everyone was shaken. "We are just sorting everything out," he said. Wildlife documentary star Rob Bredl could lose part of his hand after an attack from a 4.5-metre crocodile at his family's wildlife park on Thursday. The 66-year-old "Barefoot Bushman" was feeding the full-grown reptile at Bredl's Wild Farm in north Queensland just after midday when it turned on him, badly slashing his left hand and leaving bite marks in his left leg. Crocodile handler Rob Bredl of Bredl's Wild Farm. Credit:Bredl's Wild Farm "He said it happened on land," QAS advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said. "It was attempting to drag him to the water but he's got away before he was submerged at all." A young woman who fell pregnant when she was raped on a first date says the ordeal will haunt her for the rest of her life. "I never thought my first baby would happen this way," the woman said in a victim impact statement read to the County Court on Thursday, during a pre-sentence hearing for Rubin Hu. "This rape caused my first pregnancy and this will haunt me for the rest of my life." Hu was in June found guilty of two counts of rape stemming from the night of March 9 last year, when he attacked the woman at his Notting Hill home after the pair went on a date earlier that night, having earlier met online. Hu, a 29-year-old Chinese national, spent almost a year in immigration detention while awaiting his trial, including five months on Christmas Island. Jason Roberts is an agricultural artist, which sounds like a very stiff, 19th century pursuit. But chat to him at his stall at the Royal Melbourne Show and it sounds madly glamorous. Australian pastoral: Livestock artist Jason Roberts with grazier Ann-Marie Collins and a $1000 portrait of one of her bulls, pictured at Royal Melbourne Show's livestock pavilion. Credit:Simon Schluter Such as the time the Sultan of Oman flew him to the Middle Eastern country to paint the endangered Arabian oryx, his horses and goats to adorn the rooms of his luxury yacht. How the former Maharaja of Jodphur flew him to India to stay in his palaces and do portraits of his Nagaur bulls. A five-month-old baby killed by his mother suffered severe brain injures, bruising to his head and neck, and had meth in his system, a Perth court has heard. Melissa Louise Bulloch, 27, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her son Lachlan, who was found dead at his Hamilton Hill home in January 2014. Five month old Lachlan suffered severe brain injuries and had meth in his system. Credit:Nicholas Walker Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo told the WA Supreme Court during a sentencing hearing on Thursday that Bulloch's abuse of the baby in the months leading up to his death included blowing cannabis smoke into his face, leaving him in a car, and shaking and swearing at him. The court heard the Department for Child Protection was also involved with the family and police listened to Bulloch's phone calls and conversations after the baby's death. The inadequacy in assessing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder could lead to further injustices, WA Chief Justice Wayne Martin warned, as he explained the reasons for reducing the sentence of a teenager who brutally bashed his baby son to death. Chief Justice Martin noted in his appeal judgement that a pre-sentence report along with psychological and psychiatric reports were prepared that all remarked upon the appellant's highly dysfunctional background, but did not refer to any mental impairment or brain injury. A teenage Bunbury father who bashed his baby to death had his sentence reduced on appeal after it was revealed he had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Credit:Bunbury Mail "After the appellant had been sentenced, he was diagnosed by a research team from the Telethon Kids Institute with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder," the judgement said. "An essential element of this disorder is that the person has suffered a prenatal, permanent, organic brain injury as a result of maternal alcohol consumption in pregnancy. "The only winners in this scratchie scam are the scammers operating the bank account that receives the money from victims." That's the blunt warning from WA's Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard, who's warning people not to fall for a fake scratchie scam that's popped up again. Consumers are warned to be on the look out for dodgy scratchies. Credit:Consumer Protection For the past few years glossy travel brochures from Malaysia have been sent to letterboxes across the state, with two scratchie cards inside - and one is always a prize winner. But the 'winner' has to phone up a Malaysian company to claim the prize and pay fees into an overseas bank account. Police in Tasmania issued a warning last week after a 74-year-old man lost $2,120 to the scam. Dating for a young Indian woman is like Russian Roulette. If they show an interest in the "wrong man", stalking, abuse, violence and death may be in store. The "wrong man" can turn out to be someone like Surender Singh, 34, who on Tuesday stabbed Karuna Kumar, a school teacher, more than 20 times in a busy street in north Delhi people passing by did nothing having stalked her relentlessly for more than a year. Kumar, 28, had repeatedly told him to leave her alone, but he refused to listen. Everywhere she turned as she went to work, shopping, or to meet friends, she would see him standing in the shadows at street corners. The "wrong man" is not someone who isn't compatible or turns out to have different interests. It's a man who, after centuries of dominating women, cannot stomach a woman rejecting his advances or marriage proposal. Abuja: Nigeria's president said on Thursday he would be open to UN bodies coming in to act as intermediaries in any talks with Boko Haram Islamist militants on the release of about 200 kidnapped schoolgirls. Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to free the girls, whose abduction almost two and a half years ago from the northeastern village of Chibok triggered international campaigns and piled pressure on his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari meets United Nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at U.N. headquarters. Credit:Mary Altaffer Nigeria would "welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in", Buhari told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly in New York, a statement issued by the president's office said. Buhari last year said for the first time his government was ready to negotiate over the girls. In August said he would let the Islamist militant group choose a non-profit organisation as an intermediary but the group has not commented on the proposal. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Vote 1 beer. The first presidential debate is on Sept. 26, when Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will spend another two hours droning on about e-mail servers and beautiful walls. The only logical way to get through it is by drowning your sorrows in booze surrounded by your fellow miserable citizens, so here are five watering holes around the borough where you can do just that. Stadium seating California-themed pub Pacific Standard has been hosting debate-watching shindigs since 2002, and this round will be no exception. The bars big-screen-sporting back room hits capacity at 55 people, so make sure you get there as early as 6 pm to grab a seat. Those who do will be rewarded with $5 cans of India pale ale and pilsner all night. Pacific Standard [82 Fourth Ave. between Bergen Street and St. Marks Place in Park Slope, (718) 8581951, www.pacif icsta ndard brook lyn.blogs pot.com ], 6 pm. Free. Donkey voters Have a Wales of a time with the wonks in political club the Bay Ridge Democrats, who will be watching the debate at Welsh bar the Longbow Pub. The Longbow Pub [7316 Third Ave. between 73rd and 74th streets in Bay Ridge, (718) 2387468, www.longb ownyc.com ], 8 pm. Free. What a joke Laugh away the awfulness of this election at Two Saints in Crown Heights, which will punctuate its debate screening with stand-up sets from comedians Alingon Mitra, Crystian Ramirez, Brian Rabadeau, and Shelby Taylor. Two Saints [753 Nostrand Ave. between St. Johns and Sterling places in Crown Heights, (347) 627-8444, www.twosa intsb ar.com ], 9 pm. Free. Larger than life Greenpoint Beer and Ale Company is showing the debate on its yuuuge 13-foot screen, and will offer food and cocktail specials and politics-themed bar games. Greenpoint Beer and Ale (7 N. 15th St. near Franklin Street in Greenpoint, www.green point beer.com ), 8 pm. Free. Bi-partisan booze Vegan punk bar Pine Box Rock Shop is serving up election-inspired cocktails at its screening, with names including donkey punch, the elephant in the room, and the pantsuit. Pine Box Rock Shop [12 Grattan St. between Bogart Street and Morgan Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 3666311, www.pineb oxroc kshop.com ]. Free. Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 2604577 or by e-mail at jcuba @cngl ocal.com . Follow her on Twitter @julcuba. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams They have a prescription for growth! Lutheran Medical Center hopes to expand its Sunset Park campus with two new buildings in order to beef up its cancer-treatment programs, capacity for outpatient procedures, and add in-patient beds, a rep told Community Board 10 on Sept. 19. And the potential for expanded health care options is a boon for area residents who have fewer places to get medical treatment as other hospitals close, one community leader said. Were in a situation in Southwest Brooklyn where we lost a major hospital the Victory Memorial Hospital and NYU Lutheran is one of the hospitals that is filling that void, so I think any expansion that improves services for the residents of Southwest Brooklyn is a positive, said Community Board 10 district manager Josephine Beckmann. Plans for the two buildings are preliminary. New York University, which operates the 450-bed hospital on 55th Street and Second Avenue, has not filed for permits with the Department of Buildings but medical center staff aim to convert a barren parking lot on 56th Street between First and Second avenues into a facility that will boost the hospitals number of beds and outpatient services, according to hospital rep Joe Lhota, who presented the plan to the board. In May the hospital purchased land on 57th Street and Second Avenue for $12.1 million and plans to build a facility focused on cancer treatment with services including radiation, oncology, and chemotherapy, he said. Officials would not say how large the buildings may be. Expansion plans also include adding two floors to the hospitals family health center on 56th Street. The buildings foundation can accommodate two extra stories but the hospital did not previously have the cash to build them, Lhota said. When it was built, Lutheran did not have enough money to really finish the job, said Lhota. So were going to put those floors on and were going to expand the family health center, as well as have an ambulatory surgery center and itll be connected to our new building. New York University also plans on giving the hospital $50-million grant for clinical programs, Lhota said. latest news October 3, 2022 Dee Gambit Hundreds if not thousands of new and returning TV shows and movies are released every month your options of what to watch are endless. Variety, they say is ... Where are the Phillies' players from 2008 World Series title team? The 2022 Phillies are back in the World Series against Houston but where are the members of the 2008 team? The has scaled down its Australian coal mine development project to $4 billion from $16 billion as falling coal prices and litigation by local environmental activists have delayed construction for the past six years. The group has also marked down the production target from 60 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), announced in August 2010, to 25 mtpa. The kind of work and people being absorbed at various business process management (earlier termed as BPO) firms will now become more complex as the has started employing higher levels of automation, cognitive intelligence and robotics into the process. Indian players admit that almost 15-20% of the business is now automated. The best way to market a product is to use it yourself. No one knows this better than Venkatesh Kini, president, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia. The head of the largest beverage maker in India reaches out for his Coke bottle twice a day. In this interview with Viveat Susan Pinto and Arnab Dutta, Kini responds to a range of issues - from whether Coca-Cola will get out of bottling operations in India to the resistance it continues to face on groundwater management and the missed opportunity of launching the countrys first stevia-based drink. Excerpts: You have said Coca-Cola is on course in terms of investing the $5 billion it committed here in 2012. Then why does speculation continue of the company looking to exit bottling operations in the country? Our commitment to India remains high. In the last three years, weve commissioned three greenfield projects that would qualify as mega projects in the respective states where they are coming up. What we have done at the same time is that weve stopped production in some smaller plants to make our manufacturing system more efficient. The idea is to derive more scale out of our manufacturing plants. So, based on the demand pattern, we either slow down production in certain locations or ship production to locations that are viable. It is an ongoing exercise we undertake. Kishore Biyani, touted as he country's retail king, is looking at rolling out thousands of small stores, which wll act as a distribution channel for his consumer products. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. In a tit for tat move, put up an advertisement targeting Air India at the Mumbai airport. The national carrier has sought its removal from the terminal. Days before the spectrum auction commences, British telecom major Group has infused Rs 47,700 crore fresh equity capital in its Indian arm - the largest-ever foreign direct investment in rupee terms in the country. The money has been received already and India, the country's second-largest telecom operator after Bharti Airtel, will use the funds to strengthen its spectrum portfolio, network roll-out and retire debt. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed the principle contract with Vietnam Border Guard valued at $99.7 million for design and construction of high speed patrol vessels in India as well as for transfer of design and technology along with supply of equipment and material kits for construction of follow-on vessels at a Vietnam shipyard. Rerouting of production, decline in some foreign markets and change of strategy have led to a fall in the share of the top passenger vehicle (PV) exporters of the country. This month, came up with a new investment platform to acquire conventional power assets. The fund comes at a time when capital goods maker Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is seeing 45 per cent of its Rs 1.1-lakh core order book face the challenge of stalled or slow moving projects. A large number of this are stuck due to financial constraints that ICICI Ventures power platform plans to benefit from. Prashant Purker, managing director and CEO of ICICI Venture Funds, spoke to Abhineet Kumar on his plans for that. Edited excerpts: What is the worth of assets you are targeting to acquire with your $850-million power platform? Were targeting to acquire $3-3.5 billion worth of (enterprise value) assets in the conventional power segment across thermal, hydel and transmission businesses. Consumer Care & Lighting, the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) arm of Wirpo Enterprises, has said it has signed a pact to acquire 100% shareholding in Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products to boost its presence in the fast-growing toiletries and liquid detergent space in south China. On a warm Delhi evening on April 3, 2015, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had left his South Block office and was driving to catch his flight to Goa, when his mobile phone received an incoming call from the prime ministers office (PMO). Could he come in urgently, an official asked, the PM would like to talk briefly. Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked United Kingdom and Australia to immediately rectify their travel advisory to its citizens on . The clubbing together of with some disturbed parts of the country and alluding to the state as a forbidden destination was a "careless oversight which must be immediately addressed to," Sarma said in a statement on Thursday. "Assam is a fine abode of natural beauty and its peace loving people give immense love and affection to all those who come here. Any misrepresentation of the actual situation creates unnecessary fear and impacts the tourism potential of the state," he said. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued advisory to its citizens saying, "Although the overall security situation in the North-East of India is improving, some areas within the North-Eastern states, especially in Manipur and Assam, still experience sudden and random outbreaks of violence. The minister said the law and order situation in Assam is "perfect and any fear or apprehension is unfounded". The Australian advisory also urged travellers to reconsider their need to travel to these areas due to the "risk of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and separatist and insurgent violence," including in rural areas. "I wish to reassure my distinguished friends in the Governments of UK and Australia that Assam is a wonderful land of peace loving people comprising various tribal groups, rich flora and fauna, magnificent cuisines, mesmerizing landscapes and the world famous Kaziranga Park, which is home to the very rare single horned Rhino, he said. Assam will highly appreciate if the two country immediately withdraws the said advisory, Sarma added. Demanding comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, the nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan today asserted that they are legitimate candidates for permanent membership in the top UN body on account of the "geopolitical realities" of the 21st century. Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Brazil Jose Serra and Foreign Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida met at the meeting here yesterday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. "The ministers underscored their unwavering commitment to a comprehensive reform of the Security Council which needs to take into account the geopolitical realities of the 21st century," a joint press statement said. "They emphasised that the G4 countries are legitimate candidates for permanent membership and supported each other's aspirations," it said, adding that the ministers discussed their expectations for the next Secretary General of the United Nations. It said more than 70 years after the founding of the UN, the Security Council has to adapt in order to cope with the ever growing global challenges. "With a view to the manifold conflicts and humanitarian crises, a more representative, legitimate and effective Council is needed more than ever to guarantee peace and security worldwide," it said, adding that the G4 nations called upon all reform-oriented member states to join efforts and finally bring about meaningful reform. The ministers added that substantial progress to achieve UNSC reform was still limited and efforts need to be intensified to build further momentum and to arrive at real text-based negotiations. They pledged to continue to work towards a comprehensive Security Council reform in the framework of the Inter- Governmental Negotiations. The Ministers also expressed their support for equitable regional representation, underscoring the need for Africa's representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership as well as adequate and continuing representation of small and medium sized Member States, including the Small Island Developing States, in a reformed Security Council. At present, the Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the UK, and the US, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti (UDALS) and Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch has called for a Rail Roko Andolan (stop the train agitation) on October 1 following a lack of response from the Gujarat government on their demand for disbursal of land for the community members as legally allotted to them earlier. Heavy rains continued for the third day on Thursday all over which has resulted in overflowing of lakes in Guntur district. Several villages have been affected with several colonies in Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna and Kurnool inundated with water while heavy rains lashed East and West Godavari districts resulting rain waters flowing over the roads. In Guntur district's Sattenapalli and Narsaraopet vehicular traffic came to a standstill. Several train services were cancelled which include Faluknuma, Amaravati Express and some passenger trains. Incessant rains occurred under the influence of a low-pressure area formed over west central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of coastal . The Met Department forecasts rain or thundershowers with heavy to very heavy showers in many places over . The southwest monsoon has been active over Andhra Pradesh. Four persons are feared drowned in Kuppagangivagu between Narasaraopet and Chilakaluripet in Guntur. The four were washed away in the heavy currents while trying to cross the lake. Communication links severed in the district at many places with 18cm of rain recorded in Sattenapally. Basavamma Vagu, Eddu Vagu streams are overflowing on Guntur-Hyderabad highway. Revenue officials are helping the people in the inundated areas with relief work providing them with food packets and drinking water packets. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation in the state and instructed the officials to all necessary help and medicines to the people in the affected areas. India's Ministry of Home Affairs has received a formal application for asylum by Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti, an official said on Thursday. "The ministry has got an application from Brahumdagh Bugti," a ministry official told IANS. He, however, did not confirm if it was being considered by the government. Earlier in the day, Bugti, who heads the Baloch Republican Party (BRP), told TimesNow news channel that he was a political leader and should be given a chance to stay in India. "My request to the Indian Prime Minister is I am a political leader and voice of my people. Please give me a chance to come to India and highlight my issues, meet Indian and global leaders. Please give me asylum, grant me political asylum like you already did to Dalai Lama and S K Mujibur Rehman." "I again want to repeat that please do what is in the interest of both of us. If am asking for too much, then please don't do it (provide asylum)," he said. Bugti also said that if granting asylum causes any harm to India's interests, then India should deny his plea. A top intelligence officer on Thursday blamed Pakistan for the terror attack in Uri, saying this was just one of the scores of such dastardly acts which originated from across the border in last few decades. Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Dineshwar Sharma said the whole country was highly agitated over the terror strike in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in which 18 soldiers were killed and an equal number were battling for their lives. "This incident is only one in a series of such dastardly acts during the last few decades for which planning, financing, training, arming and indoctrination on religious lines owe their origins to sources beyond the borders of India," he said at a conference of top security experts from South Asian countries. The second Meeting of the high level group of eminent experts to strengthen the SAARC (south Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Anti-Terrorism Mechanism was attended by intelligence chiefs of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, besides India. Director General of IB of Pakistan Aftab Sultan did not attend the meeting amidst the ongoing hostility between India and Pakistan over Uri terror attack. Sharma asked the SAARC nations to strictly enforce internationally mandated sanctions against terrorist entities and individuals. The IB Director said the terrorist organisations use easily accessible technology to attack both soft and hard targets. "Self-radicalisation over internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State all over, including in our country, has added new dimensions to the threat," he said. He identified countering financing of terrorism as one of the most important tools to fight the terror menace. Sharma said cyberspace has become an important area for radicalisation and spread of jihadi materials. The problem of fake currency feeds into supporting terrorism and can create economic destabilisation in South Asia, he said. Observing that terrorism has emerged as a big challenge for the entire world, Sharma said no country today is in a position to tackle this problem on its own. "Close cooperation and sharing of real-time intelligence are, therefore, an imperative for all of us to secure all countries and people," he informed. He called upon the SAARC member states to ratify and enable various conventions enacted by the SAARC grouping, including the Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and Additional Protocols and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Sharma highlighted the first meeting on the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism in February 2012 which had stressed the need for immediate operationalisation of the newly created SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk and SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk in Colombo for creating database which could be used by all members. He said not much progress seems to have taken place on this initiative. He also called upon the delegates to take up 'Terror Financing and Money Laundering' and 'Cyber Crime' as new agenda items. Prominent citizens and academicians here on Thursday protested against the Centre's move to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants, saying it would jeopardise peace and progress in Assam and the entire Northeast. Scholars like Hiren Gohain, Udayaditya Bharali, Apurba Barua, Dinesh Baishya, Manorama Sharma, Manjit Mahanta, Akhil Ranjan Dutta and Kiran Gogoi "expressed a sense of shock and anguish at the proposed 2016 amendment of the Citizenship Act 1955" through a joint release. The Amendment Bill is currently under consideration of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament. "March 24, 1971 has been accepted after a tumultuous period of resistance and opposition by all communities residing in Assam as the cut-off date for determination of citizenship. This, it may be emphasised, is irrespective of linguistic and religious affiliation," the release pointed out. The eminent persons said the Register of Citizens (NRC) was being presently updated in Assam following a stringent directive from the Supreme Court. "Any step that puts any obstacles to the updating of the NRC by way of doubt, confusion or uncertainty is most likely to reintroduce the serious instability, communal ill will and conflict that had plagued Assam for three decades and jeopardise peace and progress of this region," the eminent citizens said. They stressed that the updating of the NRC must be top priority and carried out in a spirit of utmost urgency so that a basis for permanent peace may be established in this region. The statement also criticised the ruling BJP's ally Asom Gana Parishad over its silence on the issue. "It is no secret that the Assam Accord that determined March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for determination of citizenship for the troubled state of Assam was the very basis for formation of AGP as a political party," the release said. It also expressed apprehension that in view of the vast number of Bangladeshi Hindu immigrants, who poured in to Assam since 1971, the proposed amendment would pose a grave existential threat to the various indigenous communities of the state. They have appealed the Joint Select Committee to extend the deadline of September 30 for receiving views by at least one month and visit the state to examine the situation and accept representations from the people. They also appealed to the Asom Sahitya Sabha, All Assam Students' Union and Assam Jatiyotabadi Yuva Parishad, who claim to represent the indigenous people, to declare their opposition to the 'dangerous' amendment. The Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has, meanwhile, opposed the Union Government's move. "Recent moves in Delhi have proved that the BJP-led Government at the Centre has been least bothered about the Bangladeshi-immigrant issue. The Narendra Modi Government is keen to have a huge Hindu Bangladeshi vote bank to ensure a better political career of the BJP leaders," AJYCP President Biraj Kumar Talukdar said. Pakistan Prime Minister raked up the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and tried to burnish his country's credentials as an opponent of global terrorism. In its sharpest attack on Pakistan, government on Thursday called it a "terrorist state" which carries out "war crimes" by using terrorism as an "instrument of state policy", after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Hizbul commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations. India also strongly rejected Sharif's call for "a serious and sustained" bilateral dialogue "without any conditions", saying that Pakistan, which "seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government", wants talks with a "gun in its hand". Strongly reacting to Sharif's remarks at the UN General Assembly session, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar described them as full of "threat, bluster and complete disregard of facts" as he said glorification of Wani by him at the world forum is an act of "self-incrimination" by . He said it is "shocking" that a leader of a nation can "glorify a self-declared self-advertised terrorist" at a forum such as the United Nations General Assembly. "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Burhan Wani was a self-declared commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, this organisation is widely acknowledged internationally as a terrorist group," Akbar said at a briefing to Indian reporters here responding to Sharif's General Debate address at the UN. "This is self-incrimination by the Prime Minister. We just heard a speech full of threat, bluster and what can only be described as rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts," he said. In his nearly 20-minute speech, almost half of which was focussed on Kashmir, Sharif had hailed Wani - who was killed on July 8 by the Indian forces resulting in tensions in the Valley - as a "young leader" and the "symbol" of the Kashmiris' freedom movement. Exercising India's Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir made a strong rebuttal. "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime," she said. "What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she added. Gambhir said India sees in "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. In a reference to JeM chief Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, she said terrorist entities and their leaders, including many designated by the UN, continue to roam thestreets of Pakistan freely and operate with State's support. In a queer way of driving home their point, a group of people from different religions on Wednesday sent a letter written with their blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take stringent action against Pakistan. The letter was written by Sarv Brahaman Maha Sabha (SBMS) in the wake of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 18 jawans dead. Representatives from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities were present in the letter writing programme, SBMS spokesman B K Sharma said. He said the gesture signified that people belonging to all religions had the same blood in their veins. "Strict action is required to check the massacre which is being perpetrated by Pakistan," Sharma said. In one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years, 18 jawans were killed and 19 injured as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in town in the wee hours on September 18. The dispute over sharing the waters of the Cauvery is headed for a constitutional crisis with Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah convening a special Assembly session on Friday regarding the recent Supreme Court order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily. About 12 states have fulfilled 75 per cent of the requirements to improve but others are still lacking in this regard. A consensus on turnover threshold over which the proposed goods and services tax (GST) would apply eluded the first meeting of the recently constituted Council on Thursday. However, there was a broad agreement that all pending issues, including rates and legislative Bills, be thrashed out within two months so that the new tax system could be introduced from April 1, 2017. At a time when most sectors in India are complaining about Chinese dumping, from the two countries have joined hands to promote sustainable tea production and consumption. French Minister for Environment Segolene Royal (centre) and U N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (left) at the High-Level Event on Entry into Force of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change meeting at United Nations headquarters There could a short winter session of Parliament just after Diwali to ratify some of the changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act. The government has begun to reach out to political parties for agreement to convene the session at an early date. At a time when the government is planning the most comprehensive overhaul of the Budget in recent times, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das is playing a pivotal role. In a conversation with Dilasha Seth and Arup Roychoudhury, he says the government would be prepared to present the Budget up to four weeks in advance. The veteran policymaker also says that the fiscal deficit target for the year will be achieved despite the Pay Commission burden and the disinvestment and that spectrum auction targets will be met. Edited excerpts: The government has asked public sector to focus on cash recoveries. At present, much of their loan recovery happens in written-off accounts. Commerce and Industry Minister says that the Government is focussed to spend on infrastructure in a big way to create smooth logistics experience for industries Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Government is focussed to spend on infrastructure in a big way to create smooth logistics experience for industries. Addressing the inaugural session of the Invest North Summit she said the interaction between industry and government is essential . She said that regulatory quality will improve but not the frequency and intensity. The Minister said that on ease of doing business nearly 12 states have satisfied 75% of the conditions which is a welcome step where states are responding positively. The two day summit will focus on investment climate in Northern States of India. MJPS Former political prisoner made her first speech at the UN General Assembly since forming a democratically elected government and called for understanding as Myanmar grapples with sectarian tensions. Suu Kyi's appearance yesterday at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations is the latest landmark in a personal and national transformation as the country also known as Burma emerges from five decades of military rule. But she also had to address concerns about the situation in troubled Rakhine state, where longstanding discrimination by majority Buddhists against Muslim Rohingya exploded into bloody violence in 2012. More than 100,000 people, mostly Rohingyas, are still in displacement camps. Suu Kyi said the new government was "standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance." She said that and as a responsible nation, "we do not fear scrutiny. We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the state." But Suu Kyi, who has been criticised by some human rights activists for not speaking out forcefully in support of the Rohingya, did not mention the group by name in her speech. It's a contentious issue among Buddhists in Rakhine, who consider the Rohingya to be illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh and customarily call them "Bengali." Suu Kyi, 71, is the daughter of Myanmar's founding father. She spent some 15 years in detention, mostly house arrest, when she led the pro-democratic opposition. Political reforms began five years ago, culminating in an election last November, won by her party. Although a junta-era constitution still bars her from the presidency and the military remains politically powerful, she has the title of state counsellor and effectively heads the government. The Nobel peace laureate said that through the election, the people of Myanmar exercised their right to fashion their dreams and aspirations for their country. She said national reconciliation in Myanmar an ethnically diverse country riven by long-running civil conflict is her government's highest priority. President Bashar Assad rejected US accusations that Syrian or Russian planes struck an aid convoy in Aleppo or that his troops were preventing food from entering the city's rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods, blaming the US for the collapse of a cease-fire many had hoped would bring relief to the war-ravaged country. In an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Assad also said deadly US airstrikes on Syrian troops last week were intentional, dismissing American officials' statements that they were an accident. Assad said the US lacked "the will" to join forces with Russia in fighting extremists. Assad, who inherited power from his father and is now in his 16th year in office, cut a confident figure during the interview, a sign of how his rule, which once seemed threatened by the rebellion, has been solidified by his forces' military advances and by the air campaign of his ally Russia, which turned the tables on the battlefield last year. He said his enemies alone were to blame for nearly six years of devastation across Syria, and while acknowledging some mistakes, he repeatedly denied any excesses by his troops. He said the war was only likely to "drag on" because of continued external support for his opponents. "When you have many external factors that you don't control, it's going to drag on and no one in this world can tell you when" the war will end, he said, insisting Syrians who fled the country could return within a few months if the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar stopped backing insurgents. He spoke yesterday in Damascus' Muhajireen palace, a white-stone building where he often receives guests, nestled among trees on the foothills of Qasioun Mountain. The Syrian capital, seat of Assad's power, has stayed relatively untouched throughout the conflict, spared the devastation inflicted on other, opposition-held areas of the country. In recent months, Assad's forces have taken rebel strongholds in suburbs of the capital, bolstering security and reducing the threat of mortar shells. The attack on the aid convoy outside Aleppo took place Monday night, hitting a warehouse as aid workers unloaded cargo and triggering huge explosions. Footage filmed by rescuers showed torn flesh being picked from the wreckage. Witnesses described a sustained, two-hour barrage that included barrel bombs - crude, unguided explosives that the Syrian government drops from helicopters. A senior US administration official said the US believes with a very high degree of confidence that a Russian-piloted aircraft carried out the strike. The official wasn't authorised to speak publicly on the matter and asked for anonymity. Assad dismissed the claims, saying whatever American officials say "has no credibility" and is "just lies." Like Syria, Russia has denied carrying out the convoy bombing. Iran on Thursday expressed desire to become part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), that links western China with Gwadar deep-sea port in Balochistan and runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This was conveyed by the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in their meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session. "President Rouhani lauded the vision of the Prime Minister for translating the into reality and expressed his desire to be part of the CPEC," a statement by Sharif's office said. It said that connectivity projects were recognised by both Pakistan and Iran as vital to the progress of the region. "In particular, the two leaders reiterated the complementarity between Gwadar and Chabahar sea ports that could boost regional trade exponentially in the decades ahead," it said. India has concerns over the $46 billion being laid through PoK. He apprised the President Rouhani of alleged Indian brutalities in Kashmir, particularly in the past two months. Sharif shared the latest situation in Kashmir, which continues to remain tense in the wake of the uprising that has surfaced in response to Indian barbaric acts in the Valley. "The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been victims of heinous acts of state-sponsored terrorism at the hands of Indian occupation forces," the statement said. The lifting of sanctions against Iran has paved the way for resumption of economic relations between the two countries. Current trade volume remains low at $268 million a year. Border management and security were also discussed, according to the statement. Opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, especially oil, gas and electricity were also discussed. Both sides noted that progress on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity import from Iran would help overcome Pakistan's energy shortages in the coming years, it said. Rouhani said Iran can install a power plant on border with Pakistan to supply electricity. "We consider Pakistan's economic development as our development," the President was quoted as saying. According to the statement, Rouhani said Pakistan's security is security of Iran and that there is a need for defence cooperation between Iran and Pakistan as there is a history of defence cooperation between the two countries. "Iran is a brotherly country. Our interests are same; we need to further consolidate our economic cooperation," he was quoted as saying. The US has asked Pakistan to cooperate with India in probing the terror attack on an army base in Kashmir's town, a State Department official said today. US Secretary of State John Kerry met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the UN and "the two discussed the incident. The Secretary urged Pakistani cooperation in the investigation," the State Department official told PTI on condition of anonymity. The US, the official said, is awaiting further information as to who were behind these attacks and has offered its assistance to India on this. "We are still awaiting further information. We have offered our assistance to the Government of India, and we also urge Pakistan to cooperate in the ongoing investigation," the State Department official said. Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister on Wednesday glorified slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a "young leader" even as he expressed readiness for a "serious and sustained dialogue" with India for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif devoted much of his 20-minute speech at the UN General Assembly session to Kashmir and the current situation in the Valley and said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination". He demanded an "independent enquiry into the extra- judicial killings" and a UN fact-finding mission to Kashmir "so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished". Read India's reaction to Sharif's speech: India reacts strongly to Nawaz Sharif's speech at UN Insisting that peace and normalisation between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute, Sharif made a number of allegations with regard to the current unrest in the Valley. India has blamed Pakistan for engineering and fuelling the unrest. ALSO READ: 'Puppet' Nawaz Sharif working at Pakistani army's behest: Baloch activist ALSO READ: Pak PM Sharif should have talked about Balochistan not Kashmir: Baloch activist While talking about the situation in Kashmir, the Pakistan Prime Minister referred to Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, as a "young leader" and said he has "emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement...". As expected, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday raked up the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly, calling for a plebiscite and an independent inquiry into alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. Sharif also mentioned Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, whose killing on July 8 sparked off the current unrest in the Kashmir valley, terming him a "young leader" and the symbol of the Kashmiri unrest. had observed a black day to protest Wani's killing by Indian security forces and termed him a martyr, an issue that has led to further worsening of bilateral ties. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a latest symbol of the Kashmiri intifada (uprising) of a popular and peaceful freedom movement," said Sharif. Extending his support to the "struggle of Kashmiri people", Sharif said that peace and normalcy cannot be achieved between India and without resolving the Kashmir issue. "The UN Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices," Sharif said during the general debate of the 71st session of General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Sharif, whose government has persistently been raising the Kashmir issue at the fora, said that his country wants peace with India, and has "gone the extra mile" to achieve that, but India has "imposed preconditions". "Peace and normalisation between India and Pakistan can't be achieved without discussion on Jammu and Kashmir," Sharif was quick to add. He further stated that the pre-conditions imposed by India on any dialogue "cannot work". Sharif said the "indigenous uprising" in Kashmir has been met with "brutal repression by Indian soldiers" and would "only fortify the determination of Kashmiris to fight for their rights." "Pakistan fully supports self-determination of Kashmiris' legitimate demand," he said. He said the UN Security Council should ensure implementation of resolutions on Kashmir. "Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people. Their struggle is the legitimate one for liberation from alien occupation", he added. "On behalf of the Kashmiri people and Pakistani nation I demand an independent inquiry into the extra judicial killings and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate brutalities perpetrated by the Indian forces," Sharif said, adding he had with him the dossier on "India's human rights abuse". Baloch activist Nabi Baksh has said that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a mere puppet controlled by the army and added that there is no democracy in the country. "We don't expect anything from Nawaz Sharif, he is a mere puppet, and the army is ruling the country. They do not have a democratic government in Pakistan," Baksh, deputy convener of the Baloch National Movement, North America, told ANI. He made the remarks at a protest being held by Balochis and Sindhis in front of the United Nations headquarters. Reacting to reports that Sharif held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Army Chief General Raheel Sharif ahead of his speech at the United Nations, Nabi said, "It was like General Raheel was telling Sharif that listen you have to read this paper there. So, what can we expect from him?" Read India's reaction to Sharif's speech: India reacts strongly to Nawaz Sharif's speech at UN Highlighting the human rights violations in Pakistan, he said, "More than 20,000 people, including political activists, lawyers, engineers and doctors, are missing in Balochistan. Thousands of mutilated bodies have been found in Balochistan." The Baloch activist added that the United Nations should question Prime Minister Sharif about the same. "We demand that the United Nations should ask Nawaz Sharif that where are the missing people. Why did you people kill them?" he said. ALSO READ: Pak PM Sharif should have talked about Balochistan not Kashmir: Baloch activist Another Sindh freedom protestor Haider Lashari said Pakistan has no base as it was formed on religious grounds and added that only the Punjab natives have all rights in the country and other communities have been sidelined. "We have been struggling from 1972. We want freedom and we will have it," he said. Lashari further said Pakistan and Israel are two countries that were formed on the basis of religion. "Pakistan has no base. Sindhi, Balochis or Pashtuns have no rights in Pakistan it is only Punjabis who have the rights. Pakistan means Punjab and Punjab means Pakistan," he told ANI. The Senate backed the Obama administration's plan to sell more than $1 billion worth of American-made tanks and other weapons to Saudi Arabia, soundly defeating a bid to derail the deal pushed by lawmakers critical of the kingdom's role in Yemen's civil war. Senators who supported the sale said the United States can't deny its Middle East allies the weapons they need to combat Islamic State extremists and check Iran's aggression in the region. "Blocking this sale of tanks will be interpreted by our Gulf partners, not just Saudi Arabia, as another sign that the United States of America is abandoning our commitment to the region and is an unreliable security partner," said Senator John McCain, R-Ariz, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Although a resolution against the sale failed to advance on a vote of 71-27, the measure's sponsors said yesterday the debate demonstrated that congressional support for arms sales even to a longtime and important Middle East ally isn't automatic. They also used the time to insist that Congress play a larger role in foreign policy decisions, especially those involving the use of military force. The war in Yemen is pitting the country's internationally recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen since March 2015 and thousands of civilians have been killed in the fighting, according to the UN human rights chief. The United States is supporting the Saudi-led coalition with intelligence and logistical support, including refueling aircraft, according to senators opposed to the sale. Most Americans are unaware of how involved their military is in Yemen, they said, adding that lawmakers never have fully discussed whether the participation advances US national security interests. "Should Congress just lie down and be a lapdog for the president?" asked Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky, a sponsor of the resolution. "Everyone should understand that this is a proxy vote for whether we should be at war in the Middle East." Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn , who also opposed the sale, said the Saudis have bombed areas that the US has asked them to avoid. At the same time, the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are growing "by leaps and bounds," Murphy said, because the Saudis are hitting primarily Houthi and civilian targets. Opener Murali Vijay and one drop Cheteshwar Pujara struck contrasting half-centuries as India reached a score of 291-9 at stumps on the opening day of the historic 500th Test match against New Zealand here at Green Park on Thursday. Opting to bat first in the opening Test of the three-match series, opener Lokesh Rahul gave his side a solid start against a persistent New Zealand spin attack by scoring a 39-ball 32 before Vijay (65) and Pujara (62) shared a crucial 112-run stand for second wicket. All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma also contributed significant scores of 40 and 35 respectively. However, skipper Virat Kohli, Wriddiman Saha and Ajikya Rahane failed to counter the tourists' spin attack as they were dismissed at their respective scores of nine, duck and 16. For New Zealand, Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers for his figures of three for 57 followed by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner's three for 77. Neil Wagner, Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig chipped in with a wicket each. Ravindra Jadeja (16) and Umesh Yadav (eight) will now resume the innings when they come to bat on the second day tomorrow. The historic match also saw a host of former Indian Test skippers, including Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the crowd to celebrate the country's milestone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghanistan, India and the United States have reaffirmed their shared interests in advancing peace and security in the region as well as countering terrorism. The delegations of all the three nations met in New York yesterday on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for a round of Afghanistan-India-U.S. consultations. Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson met to exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan and on regional issues of mutual interest. During the meeting, all sides welcomed the discussions which focused on political, economic and development goals in Afghanistan, including the regional dimension. The meeting provided a forum for the U.S. and India to explore ways to coordinate and align their assistance with the priorities of the Afghan Government. They agreed that dialogue helps advance shared values and goals, and decided to continue these consultations on a regular basis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baloch nationals on Wednesday staged a protest against atrocities laid by Pakistan on the residents of Balochistan outside United Nation head quarters, and also urged India to give shelter to its orphaned Baloch population. Baloch National Movement (BNM) spokesperson Imtiaz Baloch said that there is huge refugee crisis in Balochistan. "Baloch people have nowhere to live. Few are hiding out in Dubai few in Uganda. So India should allow our people to live in its land. There is a huge refugee crisis in Balochistan. People in huge numbers are homeless," said Imtiaz. Imtiaz further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to interfere and free Balochistan from the clutches of Pakistan. "We are hoping that the Indian Government will help us because India plays a significant role in our region. It's the largest democracy and can help us in freeing Balochistan from the clutches of Pakistan," he said. "I would like to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that for love of god, please intervene in this matter and free Balochistan from the clutches of Pakistan," he added. The protestors took to the streets and denounced Pakistan. "Today we are protesting against Pakistan for it violating human right in Balochistan. The way mass graves are being discovered in Balochistan. Around 20000 people have been abducted by Pakistan. We are protesting here to expose Pakistan, so that Islamabad frees Balochistan and withdraws its army from there," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beckman Coulter India is pleased to announce the launch of the DxH500Hematology Analyzer designed for low - to medium-volume hematology workloads and to promote rapid specimen turnaround in medium-sized clinics. The new system is able to provide a complete blood count (CBC) plus five-part differential from as little as 12 L of whole blood or 20 L for pre-dilute analysis. This makes the DxH500 ideal for laboratories serving pediatric and geriatric patients, from whom sample taking can be difficult. The analyzer provides speed; compactness and ruggedness?a must for low- to medium-volume laboratories seeking cost-effective high-end results. The DxH500 analyzer inherits the benefits of the latest technological innovations that are a hallmark of Beckman Coulter's line of DxH Hematology solutions incorporating Beckman Coulter's multidimensional, high-definition flow cytometric technology. "Beckman Coulter has met the challenges, by once again reinventing an analyzer of this category with unmatched performance, value and consistency of results," said Mr. Ganesh Ramaswamy, Senior Vice president, High Growth Markets at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. "This compact table-top hematology analyzer combines testing, reporting capabilities and promises high levels of results that are the hallmark of our high-end diagnostic products despite being a fraction of the cost". Mr. Giridhar Baliga, Managing Director, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, South Asia said "This exciting innovation will help address the needs of low-to medium-volume laboratories & also Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns where uncompromised quality of results can now be ensured even though the capital investment is less than one fifth that of a typical high-throughput five-part system." Mr. Giridhar Baliga reinforced how the analyzer is radically different from traditional analyzers and how the new analyzer - that weighs just about 11 kg - will be the next game-changer in hematology for the hitherto untapped market. The analyzer is encrypted with a specially designed power supply, making it highly portable hematology analyzer that could also run optionally on a battery. The exceptional features of the DXH500 like compactness, robust quality, and low sample volume requirement and its high up-time make it one of the most appealing offers in its class. The DxH500 analyzer has been launched with a full range of controls and calibrators. The product is now available with Beckman Coulter & for more information on DxH500 visit www.beckmancoulter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BT has announced BT Compute for Microsoft Azure, which is a new service that allows BT customers to order Microsoft Azure alongside BT's own cloud services through its award winning Compute Management System (CMS) online management tool. The service enables customers to build hybrid cloud infrastructure with a single service wrap, contract and on a single bill. BT customers already use private and public cloud services, also known as hybrid cloud, hosted in BT Compute's 48 data centers globally. With BT acting as their cloud services integrator, and by using CMS, customers can manage their cloud services end-to-end from data centre to network, maximizing the benefits and minimizing the complexity, risk and costs of moving to the cloud. Using local delivery with global scale allows BT to meet the evolving needs of organisations for cloud services and at the same time address the complexity of regulatory requirements. Integration of Microsoft Azure into the CMS expands the choice for BT customers. They gain access to Microsoft's rapidly growing collection of integrated cloud services, including leading Infrastructure as a Service (Iaas) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) computing capabilities. "Hybrid cloud has become a major focus for many large enterprises as they choose a variety of cloud solutions to suit their complex business needs. In fact, BT research suggests that 90 percent of its largest customers expect to be using a combination of public and private cloud in the next few years," said Vice president of BT Compute at Global Services, Neil Lock. "Through our relationship with Microsoft, customers can build their own hybrid cloud environment and enjoy the benefits of Azure whilst removing costly management concerns from the equation. Our Cloud of Clouds portfolio strategy is all about empowering our customers take advantage of the choice, flexibility and control of cloud without concerns about the complexity and security," added Neil Lock. "BT is a natural fit to provide managed cloud services on Azure. Through our relationship with BT, we're able to help customers with their infrastructure management and give them the ability to scale their business in a consistent hybrid cloud environment," said Vice President Worldwide Cloud and Hosting Services Microsoft Corp, Aziz Benmalek. The service will be available during the final quarter of 2016, adding further value to Microsoft Azure Express Route available through BT Cloud Connect Direct. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand have said they will welcome businesses to leverage the strategic location from where they can implement growth strategies and manage and integrate their operations for the region and beyond at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today. Uttarakhand is one of the most transparent states in ease of doing business, provide conducive environment for industrial growth, said Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr Harish Rawat said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today. Uttarakhand has a lot of potential in infrastructure development and hospitality industry and there is an ample scope for expansion. The power generation is one the major thrust areas. We are focussing on the development of small hydro power plants. Some of the important projects are Tankul, Bhilangana-II and Painagad etc, said Mr. Rawat while inaugurating an ASSOCHAM conference on '2nd Global Investors India Forum (GIIF).' "Uttarakhand is the policy driven state." We are also providing the cheapest power in the country. He further said that Uttarakhand is one of the most transparent states to do . "We have land availability and the climate for investment is very good in Uttarakhand. We are working on infrastructure development and there is an ample scope for expansion", said Mr. Rawat. He further mentioned that the Uttarakhand has very attractive MSME policy linked with the Start-up policy. The Government has implemented a Start-up policy to provide a platform to the students emerging from the Educational Institutes of the state to help them grow as entrepreneurs. To invite investment in Uttrakhand from pioneer IT industries of CMM I level V to provide firm platform for new entrepreneurs. The incentives under the policy are land/ space coast, capital subsidy, power subsidy, stamp duty etc. We are also improving the connectivity. We are also coming out with new airport and I am hopeful that soon it will be connected with other major towns of the country and with new policy of government of India from regional connectivity, we have already three small airports and which will be develop further, said Mr. Rawat. Dr Raman Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Chattisgarh said that Chattisgarh has emerged as one of the best investment destinations in India due to optimum utilization of its capacities, strategic management of its natural resources and visionary governance. Abundance of land, water, power, access to market, friendly policies and amicable environment for business make Chattisgarh one of the best states for investors. We are established investment destination for heavy industries like defence, railways, infrastructure, food processing, capital goods manufacturing etc. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China today distanced itself from Pakistani media reports which claimed that Premier Li Keqiang had conveyed China's backing to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Pakistani Prime Minister yesterday in New York. When asked about the Pakistani media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said their stance on the Kashmir issue is consistent. Lu said China hopes that parties concerned will pursue a peaceful settlement through dialogue. Lu said China is deeply concerned about the violence and casualties caused by attacks in the Kashmir region as well as the strained relations between India and Pakistan over this. "We are constantly opposed to all forms of terrorism, maintaining that terrorist threats be addressed through enhanced international cooperation in order to safeguard the human society. Both India and Pakistan are significant countries in the region. We hope that the two countries will step up communication and dialogue, properly deal with their differences and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability and security," he added. He further said that China holds a consistent position on anti-terrorism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, where it has asked the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within four weeks, and said that as per the new order, 6,000 cusecs of water to be released from Karnataka will not be sufficient for Tamil Nadu. Saravanan told ANI that the Central Government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won't be any loss of life or property in future. "Even though the Supreme Court has ordered 6,000 cusecs of water has to be released from Karnataka. I don't think that will be sufficient for the state of Tamil Nadu.But, the significant aspect is that the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to constitute Cauvery management board with four weeks, I think that is a very welcomed decision," Saravanan said. "It shows, if the Tamil Nadu government has pointed out our leader M.K. stalin, if the Tamil Nadu government have acted in expeditious manner, I think Cauvery management board would have come into existence long time back. But anyway, better late than never. We welcome this decision of constituting this Cauvery management board," he added. Stating that it is the internal politics between Karnataka, Congress and BJP over the Cauvery issue, Saravanan said, "I think, they should oblige by the Supreme Court's verdict and the Central Government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won't be any loss of life or loss of property like what we have seen in Bengaluru." Saravanan further said that that peculiar politics is being play upon in Karnataka, where the Congress in Tamil Nadu is supporting the Cauvery dispute, Congress in TN is supporting the issue but BJP didn't support the bandh which is called by all the parties. Earlier, the apex court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from tomorrow till September 27, the next date of hearing. The Supreme Court also directed the Centre to constitute a Cauvery management board within four weeks and notify the same. The ruling came a day after the Cauvery Supervisory Committee ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water from the river to Tamil Nadu daily between September 21 and 30. The Supreme Court also allowed both states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to file their objections to Cauvery supervisory committee report within three days. Union Water Resources Secretary and Chairman of the committee Shashi Shekhar asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 30. As per Supreme Court orders, Karnataka has to release 12000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. More than 5000 cusecs of water will be released from Mettur Dam for delta irrigation and this will be raised up to 15,000 cusecs as per the need of delta farmers. The water released from Mettur will first reach Upper Anaicatu Mukombu in Tiruchirapalli and from there to Grand Anaicutu Kallanai by weekend. From Kallanai, water will be released for samba crops in delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur. This year release of water from Mettur has been considerably delayed due to shortage of water in Cauvery. Delta farmers hope that north east monsoon will start by third week of next month to save samba crops. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An emergency has been declared in the southern American city of Charlotte in the wake of an ongoing unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting of a black man. Local media reports said that several hundred people taunted riot police in front of a hotel in the city center, during which a man fell to the ground. Witnesses said police brought him into the hotel after he fell, leaving blood on the sidewalk. Some protesters banged on glass windows, others threw objects at police and stood on cars as police appeared to fire tear gas, prompting demonstrators to run. On Wednesday, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton weighed in on the violence in Charlotte, which came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, on Friday in Tulsa. The Charlotte shooting took place at 4 p.m. local time Tuesday as officers searching for a suspect arrived in the parking lot of an apartment complex. They spotted a man with a handgun -- later identified as Scott -- exit and then reenter a vehicle, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief Kerr Putney told journalists. Officers approached the man and loudly commanded him to get out and drop the weapon, at which point Scott exited the vehicle armed, according to police. "I can tell you a weapon was seized. A handgun," Putney was quoted, as saying. A string of fatal police shootings -- from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to St Paul, Minnesota -- has left many Americans demanding law enforcement reforms and greater accountability. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Friends of Gilgit Baltistan, an international organization set up by a few Members of the European Parliament, held a seminar last week on the sidelines of the 33rd UNHRC session in Geneva, on the exploitative nature of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The speakers included Alberto Cirio, Member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum, Junaid Qureshi, prominent Kashmiri human rights leader and Mehran Marri, Baloch Representative to the UN. Paulo Casaca moderated the seminar. During his speech, Paulo Casaca mentioned that though the CPEC has been termed by Pakistani leaders as a game changer time and again, they had glossed over and failed to acknowledge the negative impacts of the project. He opined that though the government harped on the expected economic benefits of the CPEC, little attention was given to the fact that the CPEC would fail to provide economic benefits, including jobs, to the locals and instead only enrich a few. The CPEC, he stated, had become more of a project championed by the Pakistani government and its military to divert attention from all the failures of the civilian government in all other areas including human rights. Later, responding to an intervention, Casaca stated that the most worrying factors with regard to Pakistan was its support to cross border terrorism and there was an immediate need for this to stop as otherwise it would impact the security of not only South Asia but also the . In his speech, Alberto Cirio, MEP, highlighted the lack of economic and social benefits to the people of Gilgit Baltistan from the CPEC. Giving the example of earlier Chinese investments in the Karakoram Highway and Gwadar Port, he stated that neither of these investments had benefitted the local people and it was important that the Pakistan government realized that the local population had basic rights on the natural resources of their area. In his presentation, Junaid Qureshi raised the issue of the illegal nature of the CPEC as it passed through disputed territory. He expressed strong reservations about the large Chinese investment in Gilgit Baltistan, which he said was a part of the undivided State of Jammu and Kashmir. He opined that China, by investing in projects in this disputed area, was also becoming one of the players in the dispute, which was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir. He concluded that it was necessary for Kashmiris to be masters of their own land. In response to a comment on recent human rights violations in Indian Kashmir, he said that while in India people were free to express opposition to policies, in Pakistan leaders like Arif Shahid were being shot dead by the State machinery. Mehran Marri described the CPEC as an illegal project and expressed concern that China's interest in pursuing the CPEC was not just economic but also to increase its military footprint in Pakistan, and especially in Gwadar Port in Balochistan. He added that the Chinese need for security for its personnel along the CPEC had further jeopardized the Baloch rights and also facilitated the deployment of Chinese military personnel in the area. All the speakers who spoke at this event, emphasized the disputed nature of Gilgit Baltistan, through which the CPEC would be traversing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Carrying forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Swachh Bharat mission, 80,000 villages and 287 blocks in the country have become open-defecation free. This was announced yesterday by Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar while addressing children from seven countries at a conference organised by the Sulabh School Sanitation Club, a child-centred and girl-led global movement of children and young adults, engaged in bringing about positive social transformation in schools by empowering girls through hygiene education. He urged the children to act like sanitation agents to motivate families towards safe sanitation. Tomar also urged them to ensure 100 percent sanitation by 2019, a dream programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Lauding the efforts of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak in the field of sanitation, Tomar made an impassioned appeal to support the ongoing 'Clean India' campaign. It was quite interesting to see young sanitation ambassadors from seven countries come together to endorse the ongoing 'Clean India' campaign of the Prime Minister. Students from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam as well as guest country South Africa participated in the day-long meet on "Breaking Boundaries: Children's vision towards sanitation" organized by the Sulabh International. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], Sept.22 (ANI): Last year, this month, India celebrated the 50th anniversary of the victory of the 1965 war. Several functions were held in the capital and at the flash points of 1965 to mark the occasion. It was the first time ever that India was emphatically celebrating the victory of 1965 which many had dubbed as a 'no clear win by either side'. But that did not stop Pakistan from celebrating it as their 'victory' all these years. Pakistan's so-called 'victory' was that it did not allow India to succeed in its attempt to capture Lahore. The fact was that capture of Lahore was not the objective of the Indian Army. The diabolical design of General Ayub Khan who was ruling Pakistan was to capture Kashmir before India could strengthen itself following the setback it suffered during the attack by China in 1962. I was closely involved in the effort to cover the operations as Public Relations officer of the Ministry of Defence both in the Rann of Kutch and later in the Lahore front. I was on leave in Mumbai when Pakistan attacked at Chamb. I was attending to my father who was ill. When the war commenced on September 1, I left Mumbai to rejoin my duties in the Eastern Command. While I was passing through Kharagpur, I saw Pakistani aircraft returning from Kalaikunda the nearby Indian Air Force station. I got off the train, went to the Indian Air Force Station and got an escort and took photographs of the Pakistani Air Force aircraft, which had crashed during an encounter earlier in the day. I got a close up of the crashed aircraft and its pilot Flt Lt Afzal I rushed back to the railway station reached Kolkata and released the photo to the newspapers there, and sent a copy through radiophoto to my Directorate in Delhi. That proactive move on my part prompted the Director of communications during the war Mr. GG Mirchandani to assign me to cover the war in the Western Sector. I was posted to the Lahore sector, with my office at the Sainik Rest house in Amritsar. The impression was gaining in the country that we were losing yet another war. This was because was Pakistan Radio bulletins which could be heard in many parts of India kept announcing that the Pakistan Army would not 'harm ' people in Punjab. This led many to believe that Punjab was on the verge of being captured by Pakistan. During my travel to Amritsar, I had kept my transistor radio on to listen to radio Pakistan bulletins. When I got down at the railway station in Amritsar, I asked the driver about the situation, he said Pakistan was nowhere near Amritsar. Assured, I went to the Sainik Rest House, my future office for the next couple of months. My assignment was to cover the activities of 11 Corps, headed by Lt. Gen. Jogi Dhillon. Under him there were three divisions, deployed on the Wagah--Lahore axis, the Burki axis and the Khem Karan axis. My team included the Photo Officer, Lt. Col Gulzar Singh Pablay, the Films Division Photo Officer Abnashi Ram, and the Press Trust of India correspondent, T.V. Venkatachalam. My main task initially was to dispel the impression that Pakistan was winning the war. I took press parties across Wagah into Pakistan. I first interviewed Lt. Col Desmond Hayde, on the Wagah --Lahore axis. He told us that his battalion the 3rd Jat had reached Dograi on the banks of the Icchogil Canal overlooking Lahore on September 6, but as the supporting troops like Artillery and armour had not reached, he had to fall back but they were still inside Pakistan. Next day we reached Burki axis and saw Indian troops occupying the Police Station there. We talked to the Division Commander. The sector had the support of an Armoured Brigade, headed by Brig Theograj and Lt.Col A S. Vaidya and Lt Col Salim Caleb, both of whom were decorated with Maha Vir Chakras for their performance during the war, headed the regiments. When Pakistani armoured regiment consisting of superior Paton tanks attacked in the Khem Karan front, India flooded the area. Pakistani tanks got stuck in the wet fields and became easy targets. We used to leave for the stations every morning and on the way we saw people cheering Indian Army personnel going to the front and offering poories and lassi and cheering us. The photographs and reports filed by us were displayed in Indian newspapers and the country gained confidence. The war lasted for 22 days. Friends of Pakistan were exerting pressure on India to agree to a cease-fire. On the final day of the war I had crossed the Wagah border, when I heard of the ceasefire. One of my friends who had served with me in Gaza, Lt Col Gurbir Mansingh asked me not to return to Amritsar, as there was to be heavy fighting that evening. I took shelter in an underground shelter and later travelled to Dograi on the border, to witness 3rd Jat headed by Lt Col Desmond Hayde establishing his battalion there. The Pakistan Army, which had lost the battle, was busy picking up dead bodies and carting them away in lorries from Dograi. Many press correspondents landed in Dograi the next day. Among them was H. K. Dua, who represented United News of India, and later rose to become the editor of the Hindustan Times, and a member of Parliament. In the following month, my duty was to conduct media teams to Dograi, Burki, and Khem Karan, and the graveyard of Patton tanks near Bhikiwind. The favorite location for media visits was Asal Uttar in the Khem Karan sector where the famous tank battles took place. In the battle of Asal Uttar in the Khem Karan sector India had knocked down 70 Pakistani tanks. Pakistan had abandoned 25 Pattons with their engines running. India had won the war. It had more territory under its control as compared to Pakistan. At the end of the 22-day war, India held 1920 square kilometers of Pakistani territory while Pakistan only held 550 square kilometers of Indian land. The Haji Pir pass was in the possession of the Indian Army India was under pressure to come to a settlement with Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan were persuaded to go to Tashkent and all that India had won in battlefield was surrendered at the negotiation table. India also lost her Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri due to a cardiac arrest soon after he signed the Tashkent Agreement, according to which both countries were to withdraw from the areas captured during the war As someone who was associated with the 1965 war, I feel that we should celebrate our victory in the war. Pakistan observes its victory every year when in actuality they were the aggressor and won nothing. India had frustrated Pakistan's attempt to capture territory in the Rann of Kutch, defeated its attempt to provoke people of Kashmir to rise against India, captured strategic territory in Kashmir like the Haji Pir pass, and successfully defended Chamb, and occupied the Icchogil Canal, overlooking Lahore. Taking over Lahore was not its aim. As someone associated with the war, I feel that we should, as real victors, celebrate our gains in the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Pakistan observes its so-called victory every year, but the real victor in the war has been silent except for the celebrations last year. We owe our victory to the commanders in the field like Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh, the GOC-in-C of the Western Command, political leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri and Defence Minister Chavan, and soldiers who won gallantry awards. It would be fair to 'celebrate' our victory as real victors. Mr. I Rammohan Rao is a former Principal Information Officer (PIO) of the Government of India. He can be reached on his email raoramamohan@hotmail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of developing 'blue economy' to complement India's economic trajectory is getting onto the drawing board, with the development of an indigenous to tap ocean energy. India's maiden Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) project is coming up in Kavaratti, capital of the Lakshadweep archipelago, off the south-western coast after almost three and a half decades of initial plans. India had planned to set up an OTEC plant way back in 1980, off the Tamil Nadu coast, but with the foreign vendor closing down its operation, it had to be abandoned, until a new vision to develop India's vast coastal resources was drawn up by NDA government. Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean (NIOT), under the Earth Sciences Ministry has now developed expertise in design, assembly and deployment of deep sea pipelines, reviving India's hopes to explore Ocean Thermal Energy. "The current OTEC project is being set up to power a desalination plant. The power expected to be generated is under 200 kW. It is in the design phase currently and is likely to be commissioned early 2019," Dr. Purnima Jalihal, Scientist at NIOT, Chennai, told the Indian Science Journal. India is geographically well-placed to generate ocean thermal energy, with around 2000 kms of coast length along the South Indian coast, where a temperature difference of above 20oC is available throughout the year. That means, about 1.5x106 square kilometres of tropical water in the Exclusive Economic Zone around India with a power density of 0.2 MW/km2. The total OTEC potential around India is estimated as 180,000 MW, considering 40% of gross power for parasitic losses. However, the cost estimates of ocean energy as against conventional energy is still being worked out, as the country is still in a nascent stage of development of the and start generation. "It's too early to talk about costing. OTEC is capital intensive and is economical only at very large scales. The complexities and challenges in a large offshore OTEC plant are many and hence a land based small rating one is being attempted at Kavaratti to power a low temperature thermal desalination plant," said Dr. Jalihal. Dr. Jalihal said, the plant in Lakshadweep is a land-based, since deep water is available close-by. For mainland, 'we need to have an offshore platform mounted plant moored in deep waters'. She said, the Kavaratti plant is entirely an indigenous one. "OTEC holds promise for a large country like India with a long coastline. After this attempt in Kavaratti, scaling up for mainland will be taken up," added Dr. Jaihal. Ocean thermal energy conversion uses the temperature difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface seawaters to run a heat engine and produce electricity. It is base load electricity generation system. OTEC is one of the continuously available renewable energy resources. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said the Indian Railways with its glorious history is one of the few institutions which can truly be called the unifiers of the nation. A group of probationers of IRTS, IRPS, IRAS, IRSSE, IRSS and IRSEE called on President Mukherjee today at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that "It connects people across the length and breadth of the country with a rail network of more than sixty-six thousand kilometers. The railways continues to be the main source of connectivity for people as well as the movement of goods," he added. The President said that the probationers should always remember that people have reposed in them tremendous trust. "Therefore, they should carry out their responsibilities with dedication and ensure punctuality and safety of passengers," he added. The President stated that they would confront new problems as the world is changing fast. "However, they should be able to meet those challenges with a spirit of innovation, an open mind and willingness to learn. The nation expects them to face the challenges with fortitude as they are the agents of change," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid increasing speculations that India may revisit the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Thursday said any such treaties to work it is important that there must be mutual trust and cooperation between both the sides as it cannot be a one-sided affair. Swarup emphasised, "After all, the preamble of the treaty itself says it is based on goodwill." "There are differences between India and Pakistan over implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which stood for 56 years, but this is an issue which is being addressed bilaterally. But let me make a basic point: eventually any cooperative arrangement requires goodwill and mutual trust on both sides," he added. The Preamble the 1960 Indus Water Treaty reads as: "The Government of India and the Government of Pakistan, being equally desirous of attaining the most complete and satisfactory utilisation of the waters of the Indus system of rivers and recognising the need, therefore, of fixing and delimiting, in a spirit of 'goodwill and friendship', the rights and obligations of each in relation to the other concerning the use of these waters and of making provision for the settlement, in a cooperative spirit, of all such questions as may hereafter arise in regard to the interpretation or application of the provisions agreed upon herein, have resolved to conclude a Treaty in furtherance of these objectives." Brief provisions of Indus Waters Treaty 1960 i. The Indus system of rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej and their tributaries) and three Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries). ii. The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 was signed on September 19, 1960 between India and Pakistan. It is however effective from April 1, 1960. iii. Under the Treaty, the waters of Eastern Rivers are allocated to India. India is under obligation to let flow the waters of the Western Rivers except for the following uses: (a) Domestic use, (b) Non-consumptive use, (c) Agricultural use as specified, (d) Generation of hydro-electric power as specified iv. India has been permitted to construct storage of water on Western Rivers up to 3.6 MAF for various purposes. No storage has been developed so far. v. India has been permitted Agricultural Use of 7,01,000 acres over and above the Irrigated Cropped Area (ICA) as on 1.4.60. Out of this additional ICA of 7, 01,000 acres, only 2, 70,000 can be developed (i.e. a total ICA of 9,12,477 acres including that on 1.4.1960) till storages are constructed and 0.5 MAF of water is released there from every year. ICA during 2011-12 was 7, 84,955 acres. vi. Under the Treaty, India and Pakistan have each created a permanent post of Commissioner for Indus Waters. They together constitute the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), which is entrusted with the implementation of the Treaty. The PIC is required to hold meetings and tours and submit report on its work to the two Governments every year. It has held 117 tours and 110 meetings so far. vii. Both sides are required to exchange information related to river flows observed by them, not later than three months of their observation and to exchange specified information on Agricultural Use every year. viii. India is under obligation to supply information of its storage and hydroelectric projects as specified. viii. India communicates as a gesture of goodwill, flood data to Pakistan from July 1 to October 10 every year, to enable them to undertake advance flood relief measures. The arrangement is reviewed every year. ix. The Commissioners may discuss the questions arising under the Treaty under Article IX of the Treaty related to Settlement of Differences and Disputes and in the case of non-resolution, take further action under this Article for resolution through a Neutral Expert, negotiators or Court of Arbitration. A Neutral Expert appointed by World Bank on Pakistan's request delivered Expert Determination on Baglihar Hydroelectric project in 2007. On request of Pakistan, to resolve the issues of Kishenganga HE project, a seven member Court of Arbitration was set up in 2010. The Court has given its final award on 20 December, 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A terrorist has been killed in a gunfight with the security forces in north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Thursday morning. As per reports, the encounter broke out in Aragam Chitti Bandi village in the district after security personnel were tipped off about the presence of militants. As per the latest report, the encounter has now ended. The encounter comes four days after militants attacked an army camp in Uri Sector. Four heavily armed militants had stormed the battalion headquarters of the Army in Uri, close to the Line of Control (LoC), in the wee hours on Sunday, killing 18 jawans and injuring more than 20 other personnel. In the encounter, the security forces neutralised all of them within hours. The terrorists, who attacked the military base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, belonged to Pakistan's banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'Parched' is said to be a flick which every woman from every section of society can connect to. Director Leena Yadav, while speaking to ANI here, shared how Kajol reacted after watching the movie. "When Kajol saw the film, she said, 'the first thing I wanted to do after watching the movie was calling my friends to come my friends to come over for a chat.' It just that whatever I wanted to do over years, I have put them all into Parched," she said. On a related note, 'Parched,' which was premiered at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, will release in India tomorrow under Ajay Devgn's production company 'Ajay Devgn FFilms.' Further speaking about the inception of 'Parched,' Leena said that it came from the thought of how vocal rural women are about their sexual life. "The inception of the film was a conversation with Tannishtha Chatterjee for doing a film with her. Then we went on speaking about various things. We first wanted to make 'Sex in the village.' Then we travelled a lot and discovered many more stories," she said. She even added her thought became even more firm after she started relating to the stories she discovered. "For me, the real point of knowing that I have to do this film was when I came back to Mumbai and felt that I will not make a movie about village as it has happened to be too," she said, adding, I wanted to see people like me on screen. I don't see women like me on screen. I don't see the conversation I have to be screened. We get to in movies what men do, but we rarely get to see women on screen portraying what they do when they sit together." 'Parched' revolves around four women living unwanted lives in a village, which still suffers from forced child marriages and other social issues like financial difficulties, spousal and familial rape, and physically and emotionally abusive and alcoholic husbands. The movie, starring Radhika Apte, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Surveen Chawla, Lehar Khan and others, tells the story of their standing up for themselves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mobvista, Asia's leading global mobile advertising platform, today announced the launch of Mintegral, a native and video ad mediation platform. This powerful mobile Supply-Side Platform (SSP) developed by Mobvista provides developers a global monetization solution for maximized revenue. Smart algorithms and mediated top quality international ad sources combine with customizable native ad formats for optimal performance. Launched today in Beijing, by Robin Duan, founder and CEO of Mobvista, the Mintegral kick-off ceremony also saw Erick Fang, Chief Product Officer of Mobvista, and leaders from top app partners Camera360 and SHARE it in attendance. Touted as the first of its kind platform in China, Mintegral also promises to be an important milestone for the Indian market. After having set-up its India operations in 2015, this move will help Mobvista establish itself very early in the programmed purchase ad market, which is still at a nascent stage in India. Easy to Use for High Revenue, Seamless Integration and Low Maintenance Mintegral is a comprehensive monetization system, including native ad resources mediation, intelligent ad targeting, a complete operation dashboard, dedicated account teams and more. According to Erick Fang, Chief Product Officer of Mobvista, "High revenue, low maintenance and ease of usemake up" the DNA of Mintegral. First, Mintegral's mediation concept is more advanced than traditional platform-based mediation, and solves the problem of higher quality traffic wasted when allocated to lower quality campaigns. Mintegral first mediates campaigns on all platforms and retrieves the optimum ad sources through smart and dynamic cross-locking algorithms. This is based on developers' requirements to match each ad spot with the right ad for maximized benefits. Today, Mintegral mediates over 60 industry leading ad platforms and enables the classification and retrieval of native ads. Eliminating risks and traffic waste, in trials for developers on multiple platforms Mintegral delivered a 100 percent fill rate of ad spots in apps. Erick also mentioned, "Secondly, developers have traditionally had challenges to efficiently monetize without compromising the user experience. Mintegral enables smooth integration with the UIs of developers' products for truly seamless integration and minimal disruption. We have invested heavily in optimizing our SDK and have designed a wide variety of UI templates, to address the various ad demands in line different app scenarios." Mobvista has partnered with over 1000 apps from all over the world, with 180 million daily active users from our SDK with partners like Camera360, SHAREit, 360 Security and Clean Master. "We are positioned as the monetization team for developers, which determines the way we think, act and work with a developer's best interest at heart." Erick Fang said "Some of the developer-friendly services provided by Mintegral include: a monetization solution customization by a senior monetization consultant and design team, an estimation of ad revenue, technical support and bridging tests from senior experts (including former Baidu Fengchao team), as well as data optimization support from our operation team." Integration of NativeX Video Ad and GameAnalytics Data Analysis Video advertising is one of the trump cards for Mintegral. NativeX, a US-based pioneer in mobile video ad industry with their Lightning Play Video solution, was acquired by Mobvista in February. After the integration, NativeX's high quality video ad technologies are integrated into mediation platform. Through an easy to integrate SDK, developers can easily implement various rich media ad formats, enabling higher conversion rate and benefits for developers while ensuring positive user experiences. Game Analytics, a respected European mobile game data analytics company acquired by Mobvista in July, also enhances the data analytics capabilities of Mintegral. By providing a powerful data analysis service for developers, Game Analytics can deliver more precise advertising at the monetization stage to improve eCPMs and relevance. Build Full-Stack Products from SSP and Mobile Productivity Engine "In the future, only full-stack service providers can survive," Robin Duan, founder and CEO of Mobvista, revealed as he explained the company vision. Programmatic ad buying and native advertisement is the general trend of advertising industry. SSP, DSP, DMP, and Ad Exchanges are major builders in this ecosystem. Digital Advertising spends will account for Rs. 12.7 percent of total spends at around Rs. 7,300 crore. With the gradual evolution of mobile ecosystem, the stock proportion of programmatic advertising buys in mobile platforms is now rapidly increasing. With one billion mobile connections and counting, mobile is now emerging as the gateway to the connected world, driving awareness, engagement and commerce for advertisers, leading to a lion's share of the digital marketing mix. Therefore, Mobvista is committed to taking comprehensive efforts from DSP, Ad Exchange, DMP and SSP. From a perspective, Mobvista is building up its data capabilities and providing developers with one-stop solutions for everything from promotion, statistics to monetization. In closing, Robin Duansaid, "Mobvista is more than just a top advertising network. We are also a data-driven service company for developers. And we look forward to continuing the strong growth and success of our developer partners with Mintegral. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna was today appointed as Ambassador to the U.S. Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1980 batch was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) before he was posted in London in January. He succeeds Arun Singh, who is due for retirement. Sarna will face the task of engaging with the new administration in Washington following the November 8 Presidential poll. The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the Ministry of External Affairs from 2002 to 2008. Government has also appointed 1988-batch IFS officer Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the next High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. He will replace Yash Sinha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has appointed Navtej Singh Sarna, currently the country's high commisioner in the United Kingdom, as the next ambassador to the United States. Sarna will replace Arun Kumar Singh and is expected to take up his new assignment shortly, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. A 1980-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Sarna will take over from Arun Kumar Singh, who has retired from service. Fifty-nine-year-old Sarna was the ministry's spokesperson from 2002 to 2008, the longest anyone has served the MEA in that capacity. He then headed for Tel Aviv, serving as India's ambassador to Israel till 2012. For two years from August 2012, Sarna served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations before moving to London as India's high commissioner in place of Ranjan Mathai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Johnnie Walker The Journey, since its inception, has always told stories of progress. Through Storyline, Johnnie Walker The Journey aims to inspire people by highlighting incredible, real stories that have made a positive difference in the world. Bringing to life its mantra of #KeepWalking, Johnnie Walker The Journey introduces 'Ode to Lesvos', the first among a series of short films that aim to inspire people to embrace positivity and bring them together to build a better tomorrow for the world. Can you really ignore what's in front of your eyes? Because tomorrow it could be me. I could be on a boat with my family and I would like to be helped," says fisherman Stratis Valamios in Ode to Lesvos. This time, 12 months ago, Stratis' life changed beyond recognition as he spent months on end rescuing men, women and children from the waters around his home. His village, with a population of around 150, became the front line of the refugee crisis as hundreds of thousands of people came ashore, fleeing war and seeking a better future. Ode to Lesvos is a documentary short that tells the stories of these islanders whose uncompromising compassion has earned some of them, including Stratis, fellow fisherman Thanassis Marmarinos and 85-year-old Aimilia Kamvisi a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. The positive response of the people of Lesvos who, last year alone, helped almost half a million refugees making the dangerous voyage across the Aegean Sea, has been documented in Ode to Lesvos. Throughout the past year, headlines from the region have naturally focused on the tragic aspects of the unfolding human drama in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Ode to Lesvos shines a light on a lesser told story - the inspiring response of islanders who opened their hearts to the refugees and whose positivity drove them to rescue people from the sea, give shelter, and provide food and water. As part of the launch of Ode to Lesvos, Johnnie Walker The Journey India is supporting Mercy Corps, a leading global organisation that helps people around the world survive and thrive after conflict, crisis and natural disaster. Since the Syrian war began, Mercy Corps has helped more than 7.7million people affected by the crisis and expanded its programming to Greece and The Balkans in response to the migration crisis. Speaking about Ode to Lesvos Guy Escolme, Global Brand Director at Johnnie Walker, said: "The film represents one chapter in the evolving, larger story of the refugee crisis but it is one that highlights how acts of kindness and positivity made a difference to the lives of those who made a dangerous journey in search of a better future. We hope people will be inspired by Ode to Lesvos and one way they can respond is by supporting the efforts of Mercy Corps, a leading global organisation whose work through this crisis and many others around the world has brought the promise of hope and possibility to hundreds of thousands of displaced people." Nitesh Chhapru, Head of Marketing, Luxury & Premium Core Portfolio, United Spirits, India, added: "We believe that this film transcends borders and has the ability to touch hearts not only globally, but also in India. We have seen several instances of people embracing positivity during the darkest of times and helping others in need. Indians will definitely connect with the inspirational story of the islanders of Lesvos. We're confident they will be inspired to share the film and hope they will come forward to support Mercy Corps to raise funds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cutting across party lines, the Shiv Sena and Congress on Thursday criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his 'ridiculous and frivolous' statement glorifying slain Hizbul Mujahideeen commander Burhan Wani and said that the hostile neighbour was doing nothing but making a mockery of itself. "I think Pakistan doesn't realise that it makes a mockery of itself and of its country when its Prime Minister makes such frivolous and ridiculous statements. There doesn't appear to be minority of one or two countries in the world who believe in the sincerity of Pakistan's statements," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI in the capital. "The biggest exporter of terrorism in the world is talking about proclaimed terrorists in a laudable and praiseworthy format. And talking of Kashmir's right to self determination, while conducting terrorist attacks in that area. I think Pakistan should realise that it makes itself the laughing stock of the world when it does so," he added. Echoing similar sentiments, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that Pakistan has insulted the Indian Army by calling Wani a people's leader, adding New Delhi must, therefore, give a befitting reply to Islamabad and end all its relations with the hostile neighbour. "It has always been the policy of Pakistan to internationalise the Kashmir issue. Yesterday also it said that Burhan Wani was a people's leader. Wani was a terrorist and is a terrorist for us. He was killed by the Indian Army because he was a militant. Therefore, by calling him a people's leader, Pakistan has insulted the Indian Army," Raut told ANI. "Pakistan has been trying to raise the Kashmir issue on the global platform, but the UN has never accepted that. India will now have to take such a step so that Pakistan never opens up its mouth about Kashmir in UN. And it cannot happen through talks only. We have to take action. The Indian Government wants to isolate Pakistan globally. It should now end all its relations with them. The Pakistan High Commission that is there in New Delhi should be closed. Basit should be sent back to Islamabad. We should not have any kind of relations with Pakistan," he added. Prime Minister Sharif raised the Kashmir bogey at the UNGA calling Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a "young leader" murdered by the Indian forces. He also said Pakistan will continue to support voices in Kashmir for self-determination. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," Sharif said in his address at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The Prime Minister also extended support to the demands of Kashmiri people for self determination and called on the UN Security Council to hold free and fair plebiscite. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior management of Orix Rentec Corporation have said the company has producing quality electronic measuring devices, including science and environmental analysis equipment, IT-related machinery and medical equipment. Hideki Togawa, General Manager ( Development Division) of the ORIX Rentec Corporation, said, "Through measuring devices leasing business, our company has been maintaining a relationship of mutual trust with plants and research institutes of leading manufacturers. Above all, the most notable ones are the correction businesses. Since its establishment in 1976, the company's correction techniques of quality control and maintenance have accumulated in addition to machinery leasing. Under the environment of established traceability towards national and international standards, the engineers who are capable to handle multiple domestic and international models conduct correction tasks. Togawa added, "When examining a new business, the fields and products that have synergy with the existing businesses has been the top priority." On the 3D CAD data, 3D printer, he said, "The amazing part of a 3D printer is that it is either weight reduction or sophisticated shapes, these structures can be turned into reality." Togawa said, "Clients have various requests on the new products of cooperative robots or infrastructure robots, such as for testing or inspection needs, robot teaching, or technical support for rental needs. We want to differentiate from other companies by making product design according to those requests. Combined with today's manufacturing knowhow of Japan, we consider there is possibility to create new values that didn't exist before. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani Women's Human Rights Organisation organized a silent protest outside the UNHRC in Geneva on September 21, against gender-related violence and honour killing in Pakistan. The women displayed banners that said "Pakistan Free Your Daughters", "There is no Honour in Killing" and "Stop Abusing Women". Speaking to the media, one of the protestors, Alisha Khan, stated that she was here to protest to remind the that Pakistani women, in their daily lives, were still faced with domestic violence and honour killing. She added that despite international media attention to some of these incidents of violence, things were not changing in Pakistan. She held the growing influence of Islamic clerics in Pakistan's policy making as one of the main reasons for its society becoming so regressive. In this connection, she gave the example of the human rights bill that was introduced in the Punjab Assembly not being implemented, because ot the objection of fundamentalist leaders, who claimed that such a bill would be against the Sharia. Tarek Fateh, who was also present at the venue of the protest, said that these women who stood silently to protest against this oppression, very aptly symbolized the reality of Pakistani women being voiceless. He informed that every year nearly 5000 women were killed by their fathers, husbands or brothers in incidents of honour killing. Calling Pakistan a pariah State, he said that the country practiced the worst form of Islamic fascism, and the present condition of women and the support by the Pakistani State to terrorism, was a result of this. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Organisation for Pakistani Minorities last week organised a side event titled "Plight of Pakistani Minorities" at the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. Speakers included Fulvio Martusciello, Member of the European Parliament, Mario Silva, Executive Director, International Forum for Rights and Security, Canada, Dr. Rubina Greenwood, Vice Chairperson, Sindhi Congress and Senge Sering, President, Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies. Martusciello highlighted Pakistan's discriminatory laws against minorities and use of extremist groups as proxies to target minorities including the Christains, Hazaras, Ahmadiyas, Hindus and Balochs. He expressed deep concern regarding the growing intolerance in Pakistani society, a phenomenon aggravated by the actions of the Pakistan government. He added that the Pakistan government and the military establishment should realise that their policy to sustain and use extremist elements in its neighbourhood, with the intention of undermining these areas would, sooner or later, not only destabilise Pakistan internally but also spread to other parts of the . Focusing on the issue of systematic persecution of the Baloch people in Pakistan, Mario Silva was of the view that Pakistan should be held responsible for the genocide against the Baloch people. He emphasised on the need for the international community to recognise and work towards resolving the crisis in Balochistan, adding that the matter had not been adequately addressed in the past. Referring to the wave of killings in the region, that included educators, journalists, lawyers and students, and the 'Kill and Dump' policy of the Pakistani security forces and intelligence, he stated that many of these people were killed for having spoken out against the on going persecution in the province. He concluded by saying that if the situation was not brought under control, it would result in the flight of minorities from Balochistan. This, he said, would be a stark failure of the international community to save the Baloch people. Dr Rubina Greenwood, an activist for human rights of the Sindhi community in Pakistan, in her presentation enumerated the various ways in which the religious minorities were being persecuted in Pakistan. Informing that many from the minority communities were fleeing Pakistan to avoid persecution, she stated that as on April 16, 2016, about 11,500 Pakistanis, mostly Christians, were seeking asylum in Thailand. She also informed that there were thousands of Pakistanis, mostly Hindus and Sikhs, who had moved to India in the hope of securing Indian citizenship. She called on the international community to restrict aid/loans to Pakistan till it improved laws and made institutional changes on issues related to discrimination of religious minorities and to nominating a Special UN Rapporteur who would investigate atrocities against Shias, Hindus, Christians, Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. She called on UN forums and treaty bodies to put pressure on Pakistan to follow its commitments on all the international treaties on human rights to which it was a signatory. Senge Sering highlighted the persecution being faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Pakistani State imposing the CPEC on the locals of that area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The last rites of Havildar Madan Lal, who had laid down his life in Jammu and Kashmir's Naugam Sector on September 20 while leading his team in the operation that foiled an infiltration bid by armed terrorists, were today held in his hometown, Gharota, Punjab with full military honours. His whole family was seen in pain and tears as they bid their final goodbye to the braveheart. The Indian Army earlier paid homage to in a solemn wreath laying ceremony at the Badami Bagh Cantt, Srinagar, the Chinar Corps Commander Lt General Satish Dua and other army persons paid rich tributes to the brave, 37 year old martyr from the Dogra Regiment. Havildar Madan Lal, who hailed from village Gharota Pathankot, is survived by his wife Bhawna Devi and two young children ---a six-year-old daughter and a two-year old son. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (Retd) passed away on Thursday morning after battling for life at the Hero DMC Heart Institute for over 45 days. The senior RSS leader died after suffering from a lung infection. As per reports, Gagneja was shifted to DMC Heart Institute from Patel Hospital in Jalandhar on August 7, a day after two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants had shot at him there. Brig Gagneja had joined the RSS after retiring from the Army in 2004 and kept a low profile. The attack against him was extensively probed by Punjab Police with DGP Suresh Arora also visiting the crime spot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was arrested in connection with an alleged sexual harassment case, has been granted bail by a Delhi court. A Delhi court on Wednesday had sent Khan to a one-day judicial custody soon after he was arrested. "The court refused the police custody. The court said there is no grounds based on which he can be taken to police custody. Amanatullah has been sent to one-day judicial custody. The grounds of police were that they needed a letter to be recovered and the co-accused is still absconding," said Khan's lawyer and AAP leader Somnath Bharti. "The court did not agree to this. The police got a lesson as the court did not agree with the grounds. We have listed the bail application. The prosecution was seeking time for a reply so Amanatullah has been given a one-day judicial custody," he added. Khan on Sunday went to the Jamia Nagar Police Station to get himself arrested but the police refused to apprehend him. He wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday and resigned from all posts. In his letter to Kejriwal, Amanatullah wrote, "I have been working wholeheartedly to serve people of Delhi. But some people are not liking my honesty and dedication. Therefore I would like to get relieved of all responsibilities party has given me, I resign from all posts." Reports had emerged that the AAP MLA from Okhla tendered his resignation following the molestation charges being filed by his sister-in-law against him and his brother-in law. Khan is involved in an alleged recruitment scam in the Waqf Board where the Anti-Corruption Branch has launched a 'preliminary inquiry' against him. Khan has termed the move as "interference" in working of the body by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. Khan was arrested on charges of threatening a woman on July 24 and was released on bail on July 28. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Thursday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti for allegedly assaulting security guards at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Bharti is an MLA from south Delhi's Malviya Nagar. On September 12, AIIMS chief security officer accused Bharti of disrupting peace in the hospital premises. The officer alleged that Bharti and a huge group of his supporters beat up the posted security personnel who had asked them to leave the hospital premises. However, Bharti said the AIIMS had illegally encroached on a public road and was utilizing it as the car-parking area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has appointed Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the next High Commissioner of India to the Sri Lanka. A Ministry of External Affairs statement said that Mr. Sandhu, a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is expected to take up his new assignment shortly. Mr. Sandhu was born on January 23, 1963. He did his schooling at The Lawrence School, Sanwar (HP) and graduated with History (Honours) from St. Stephens' college, Delhi. Mr. Sandhu has served in the former Soviet Union (Russia) from 1990 to 1992 as Third Secretary (Political) / Second Secretary (Commercial). He was instrumental in opening a new embassy in Ukraine and served as Head of Political and Administration from 1992 to 1994. On his return to India, Mr. Sandhu served as OSD (Press Relations), Ministry of External Affairs from 1994 to March 1997. He was responsible for liaison with foreign media in India. In April 1997, Mr. Sandhu joined Embassy of India, Washington, as First Secretary (Political) responsible for liaison with the US Congress. He spearheaded India's successful efforts to obtain congressional waiver of sanctions imposed on India in 1998 following nuclear tests. He served as Counsellor (Political) in the High Commission of India, Colombo from December 2000 to September 2004. He also served as Director (BSM) from September 2004 to July 2005 looking after Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar in Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. In July 2005, Mr. Sandhu joined Permanent Mission of India to United Nations, New York, where he was India's delegate to UN Committee on Peacekeeping; UN Committee on Information; UN Committee on Decolonization and Fourth Committee of UN General Assembly. Mr. Sandhu returned to Headquarters in March 2009 and held charge of Joint Secretary (United Nations) and later as Joint Secretary (Administration) heading the Human Resource Department Division of Ministry of External Affairs till August 2011. He was Consul General of India in Frankfurt from September 2011 to July 2013. He assumed his new assignment as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Washington D.C on July 29, 2013. Mr. Sandhu is married to Mrs. Reenat Sandhu, who is also an officer of Indian Foreign Service (1989 batch) and has two children. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of the international outreach programme for the eighth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017, a high-level delegation led by Punamchand Parmar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, Government of Gujarat visited Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa from 12th - 14th September, 2016 and Nairobi in Kenya from 15th - 16th September, 2016. The aim of the visit was to further strengthen the brand India and facilitate meetings with prominent businessmen in South Africa and Kenya to discuss the potential of investments in the countries. As Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit has seen a transformation from an investment exercise to India's largest growth propelling event, the State Government has put significant impetus on inclusive and sustainable growth. In order to achieve this, the delegation spoke about the strengths of Gujarat, showcased the investment opportunities across various sectors which include Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Tourism, Gems and Jewellery, Agro and food processing and Energy and invited the participants to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017. "In all our meetings in South Africa and Kenya, we found a significant convergence of mutual interests and a genuine deep-seated desire for closer cooperation. Four MoUs in all have been signed between the Government of Gujarat and chambers of commerce in both the countries to foster the mutual interest in trade and economic development and cultural interaction between both sides. There is an increasing awareness about growing opportunities, especially in Tourism and Medical Tourism areas. Therefore we expect to have a significant participation from both the countries during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017," said IAS, Punamchand Parmar. In South Africa, the Government of Gujarat organized road shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Puneet Kundal, the Consul General of India in Cape Town, attended the road show in Cape Town. Dr. S Janakiraman, the Deputy High Commissioner of India to South Africa was present at the road show in Johannesburg. The delegation met senior government officials from the department of International Relations and Cooperation, Trade and Industry, Tourism and Human Settlements in Pretoria. The delegation also had a series of meetings with the CEO's and the top management of companies such as Old Mutual Properties, WESGRO, Compsol, Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Alternative Tourism in South Africa. In Kenya, the Government of Gujarat along with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) organized a road show in Nairobi. H.E. Suchitra Durai, the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, graced the road show with her presence. She talked about the historical relations between India and Kenya and was pleased about the visit of the delegation from Gujarat. The Deputy High Commissioner of India to Kenya and the National Vice Chairman of KNCCI were also present at the event. The delegation met senior government officials from the department of Tourism, Trade and Housing and Urban Development. High profile meetings with ARM Cement Ltd., Abacus Group, Pharmaken, Devki Group, Hindu Council of Kenya, Aslan Adventure Tours and Travel Ltd were also held in Kenya. It was therefore a remarkable achievement for the Vibrant Gujarat delegation as it received a very positive response, both in South Africa and Kenya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) English-American actor, Emily Blunt recently called for more compassion toward and among women when it comes to making family decisions. The 33-year-old actor, who stars in the film adaptation of 'The Girl on the Train', said, "I think we all need to be much kinder to each other, whether you're a man or a woman," reports the Guardian. Raising concerns on the "judgmental" relationship among women, the 'Sicario' star expressed "hate" for phrases that ask a woman whether she can 'keep a man,' have children or breastfeed. "Women are sometimes made to feel to be rather defensive about their decisions," she continued, "and I don't think that's right. Nobody knows the ins and outs of decisions and we can't be too harsh about them." 'The Girl on the Train' is a psychological thriller movie adapted from Paula Hawkins' novel of the same name. In the film, the 'The Royal Family' actor plays Rachel, a recently divorced, unemployed alcoholic. Of the character, she said, "It's so unusual to have your lead protagonist be female and a blackout drunk." "Women are often required to be an ideal of some description: pretty or likeable or witty. But with this character you feel you just don't want to breathe the same air as her. And that sort of toxic persona, physically and mentally, I'd never explored before," she added. Directed by Tate Taylor, 'The Girl on the Train' initially releases in Ukraine on September 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the whole nation is infuriated over the recent Uri terror attack in which 18 soldiers lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir, a group of young people from Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district adopted a queer way to express their anguish and sent a letter written with their blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take stringent action against Pakistan. "Shahido ko insaaf chahiye", "Nawaz ko hosh me lao", "varta nahi jung chahiye", "UN me Nawaj ki speech ke baad kuch to karo" and other messages were written in their letters. Four heavily armed militants had stormed the battalion headquarters of the Army in Uri, close to the Line of Control (LoC), in the wee hours on Sunday, killing 18 jawans and injuring more than 20 other personnel. In the encounter, the security forces neutralised all of them within hours. The terrorists, who attacked the military base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, belonged to Pakistan's banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Prime Minister Modi assured the nation that those behind this will not go unpunished. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also branded Islamabad as a terrorist state. In a series of tweets after the attack, the Prime Minister said: "I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished". He added, "We salute all those martyred in Uri. Their services to the nation will always be remembered. My thoughts are with the bereaved families (of the Army jawans)". Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address at the 71st UNGA in New York on Wednesday glorified Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was slain by the Indian security forces in an encounter, and branded him as a young leader saying that he has become the face of the Kashmiri movement. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif. He said Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. Wani (22) was killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter on July 8. He was prolific on social media and used the same to reach out to the youth while spreading the message of jihad. His killing triggered massive protests in Kashmir that injured hundreds of civilians as well as security personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Setting up of National Council for River Ganga is a Turning Point in Ganga Rejuvenation Programme of the Government: Uma Bharti The Apex council meeting on Krishna river held in New Delhi today decided for setting up telemetry systems for water gauging on river Krishna to provide upto date data on flow of water in the river. The council under the Chairpersonship of Union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti also decided to constitute joint teams for river basin study of both the states. The joint teams will have experts from both the States and Centre. The teams will give their report about water sharing which will be forwarded to Krishna tribunal for speedy decision. Briefing media after the meeting Sushri Bharti said the meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere. She said both the states will continue consultation on official levels on other related issues. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri N Chandrababu Naidu and Chief Minister of Telangana Shri K Chandrashekar Rao. Referring to today's cabinet approval for setting up of National Council for River Ganga, the Minister called it a turning point in Ganga Rejuvenation programme of the government. Sushri Bharti said this decision will give more teeth to the NMCG for environmental protection of river Ganga. The Minister said in order to ensure transparency and cost effectiveness, a provision for concurrent audit and safety audit has been made. She said this move will ensure effective abatement of pollution in Ganga and will help in maintaining ecological flow of the river. The Minister informed that by next week tenders will be issued for taping 22 major drains of 11 towns which account for 90 per cent of sewer flow into Ganga on hybrid annuity mode. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With effect from 21 September 2016 Bharat Financial Inclusion announced that S. Dilli Raj, President of the Company, who was on leave for two months, has resigned from the services of the Company effective 21 September 2016. M. R. Rao, Managing Director & CEO of the Company, who was additionally overseeing Dilli Raj's functions during his absence, will continue to oversee the functions that were under control of S. Dilli Raj. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Godrej Properties rose 1.36% to Rs 341.85 at 10:30 IST on BSE after the company announced that it has acquired a land parcel in South Bangalore to build a housing project. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 21 September 2016. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 290.38 points, or 1.02%, to 28,797.80. On BSE, so far 8,670 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volume of 56,297 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 345.95 and a low of Rs 340.20 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 386 on 9 August 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 266.40 on 29 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 21 September 2016, falling 6.91% compared with 1.53% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, dropping 0.25% as against Sensex's 6.32% rise. The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 108.18 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5. Godrej Properties announced that it has acquired a land parcel measuring around 12 acres off Sarjapur Road in South Bangalore. The company plans to develop a residential housing project of approximately 92,900 square meters or around one million square feet. This project will be developed in partnership with Godrej Residential Investment Program II (GRIP II). This is the second project under GRIP II, the $275 million fund which was announced by the company in March 2016. Godrej Properties had announced on 21 March 2016 that it had created a dedicated real estate funds management business in India and Singapore namely, Godrej Fund Management (GFM). GFM raised a $275 million or Rs 1900 crore pool of capital, Godrej Residential Investment Program II (GRIP II) with Dutch pension fund asset manager APG Asset Management N.V. (APG) as the lead investor. GFM advises GRIP II investors on investments into a residential development platform with Godrej Properties in India. Godrej Properties' consolidated net profit rose 9.2% to Rs 43.48 crore on 87.6% rise in net sales to Rs 234.76 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. Godrej Properties is a real estate company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) L&T rose 1.68% to Rs 1,496.05 at 12:36 IST on BSE after the company signed the principle contract with Vietnam Border Guard valued at $99.7 million for design and construction of high speed patrol vessels in India. The announcement was made during market hours today, 22 September 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 241.12 points, or 0.85%, to 28,748.54 On BSE, so far 55,000 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volume of 1.74 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,497 and a low of Rs 1,478.35 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,615 on 27 July 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 1,016.60 on 12 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 21 September 2016, falling 0.29% compared with 1.85% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 1.74% as against Sensex's 5.57% rise. The large-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 186.47 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2. L&T said that the company has signed the principle contract with Vietnam Border Guard valued at $99.7 million for design and construction of high speed patrol vessels in India as well as for transfer of design and technology along with supply of equipment and material kits for construction of follow-on vessels at a Vietnam shipyard. L&T said that the high-speed patrol vessels are purpose-built for controlling and protecting sea security and sovereignty, detecting illegal activities such as smuggling, and undertaking search and rescue missions. Constructed of Aluminium alloy, the vessels are about 35 metres long and can clock a speed of 35 knots with state-of-the-art navigation and surveillance equipment and self-defence capabilities on board. Complete design and engineering of these vessels will be undertaken at the company's dedicated Warship Design Centre with the vessels being built at its Kattupalli Shipyard, off Chennai, L&T said. Commenting on the occasion, S.N. Subrahmanyan, President and Deputy Managing Director of L&T hoped for the contract to pave the way for stronger bilateral ties between India and Vietnam. L&T's consolidated net profit rose 45.5% to Rs 609.60 crore on 9.07% growth in total income to Rs 22176.22 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. L&T is a major Indian multinational engaged in technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services. It operates in more than 30 countries worldwide. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting there are no quick fixes for grave problems facing the public sector banks, mainly centered around close to Rs 5 lakh crore non-performing assets, ASSOCHAM President Mr Sunil Kanoria today said a paper brought out by the chamber clearly suggests mergers or consolidation of the PSBs is certainly no answer to the present crisis, which can only be resolved by professionalizing these banks with the government keeping an arm's length. Addressing the media, Mr Kanoria said, Our paper has also noted that as things stand today, the boards of the PSBs are not empowered enough to choose a glide path for their banks. Instead, they need to refer to the Finance Ministry circulars even for mundane things. Releasing a study titled 'Convergence, Not Consolidation Answer for Public Sector Banks,' along with chamber's Secretary General, Mr D S Rawat at a press conference held in New Delhi said, If size of the banks had a relationship with the health of the financial sector, the Chinese banks would have been the healthiest lot. But, the biggest concern before the global financial community today is the health of the Chinese banks. Of the top ten global banks on the S & P Global Market Ranking, the first four are from China with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China right at the top. Only two American banks - JP Morgan and Bank of America, figure on the table of top ten and the Wall Street has no liking either for the size and seems quite disillusioned with the so-called 'Too Big to Fail' concept whereupon it is on the sovereigns to save their banks even if they go reckless in their business. But then, somehow, here in India we have got this penchant for large size to be achieved by merging different entities, said Mr Kanoria. If at all, there is a case for a merger, it is weak bank merging into strong one; but here we have a situation where there are hardly strong banks in terms of crucial parameters, large book size notwithstanding. With some high profile borrowers getting into litigation and facing criminal probes, the public discourse puts additional pressure on the government, to find some quick fixes for NPA-ridden banks, which find themselves terribly constrained to improve lending with the credit growth well below 10 per cent. More than the size of the bank, what matters is the composition and the empowerment of the bank board's which need to include professionals without operational interference from the government, said ASSOCHAM President. Unlike the present situation where the Financial Services Division in the Finance Ministry is virtually the master of the PSBs, the level of the government interface with the banks should be well-defined and be done only through the Banks Board Bureau ( BBB) , comprising people of eminence, integrity and domain expertise There is a case, certainly for synchronization of the businesses among the PSBs. The paper said there could be a few PSBs which are strong in say, automobile portfolio in a particular region, say south India. On the other hand, there may be banks which are strong in agro financing in the same area but are not doing well in automobile finance. The entire portfolio of auto finance can be swapped. Conversely, same thing can be achieved for the agro financing portfolio, of course over and above the mandatory priority sector lending. Sensing an inflexion point, the paper said the technology driven banking is here, right away and it is only going to increase. In about a year, 17 new banks will begin business. These are not driven by sheer size; but would leverage technology to reach the un-reached; create new banking customers, take away existing customers from those complacent about their business and would redefine the way people at large do their financial transactions. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) expects the overall tyre volumes (in numbers) to grow around 7% in the FY17 (FY16 Ind-Ra estimates: around 4%) due to a steady demand from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and an improvement in replacement demand. However, revenue growth for sector companies might be lower than the overall growth in volume demand due to an increase in imports as well as pricing pressure. Among the key segments, volumes in the truck & bus segment (T&B) are expected to grow around 4% yoy (FY16: around 1%) in FY17, driven by an improvement in replacement demand and strong growth in the T&B radial segment, while volumes in the passenger car radial segment are expected to grow around 10% yoy (FY16: around 8%) with growth in OEM auto volumes. Two-wheeler volumes are expected to grow around 6% yoy (FY16: around 4%) in FY17, driven by higher volume growth in the scooter segment (around 15%) along with an improvement in volumes in the motorcycle segment (around 3%). Ind-Ra expects volumes in the truck & bus radial segment to grow around 16% higher than the overall T&B segment. The growth in tonnage volume would be lower due to a higher contribution of low tonnage two-wheeler tyres (around 50%) to the overall volumes for the industry. Rising imports trend could continue increasing the pressure on the volumes of domestic manufacturers in FY17. Import volumes in both passenger car radial and truck & bus radial segments grew 22% and 40% yoy, respectively, in 1QFY17. The T&B segment accounts for around 55% of the industry revenue and a continued increase in imports in this segment could lead to a revenue decline for domestic tyre companies. Domestic T&B production declined 2% yoy in FY16 to 16.8 million tyres, driven primarily by the decline in production in the truck & bus bias (TBB) segment. Ind-Ra's analysis indicates that 20%30% of the revenue of the top players in the industry is contributed by the TBB segment. Increased radialisation due to low-cost imports could lead to these companies seeing a rapid volume and revenue decline in this segment. Lower capacity utilisation of the existing domestic TBB capacity could exacerbate the pricing pressures in the segment. The revenue growth of major tyre manufacturers is likely to be in the range of 3%-6% (FY16: below negative 2.5% to positive 2.5%) in FY17, with higher volume growth negating the year-on-year decline in pricing. Companies could see a moderation in EBITDA margins, due to the recent increase in input costs as well as pricing pressures. EBITDA margins reached historical peak levels in FY16. The recent increase in rubber prices is likely to impact the profitability of tyre companies on a quarterly basis. But, the trend of increase in prices is unlikely to be sustained and prices will stabilise at the current levels due to the prevailing rubber demand-supply dynamics. Crude oil prices have also increased from the low levels seen in February 2016, but are unlikely to increase further. Thus, tyre companies will not face increased input pressure over the next 12 months. Marginal deterioration in the credit profile is likely for some companies undertaking capex. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Bank of India rose 2.33% to Rs 144.70 at 09:45 IST on BSE after the bank said that it has completed the acquisition of 49% shareholding of Union KBC Asset Management Company and Union KBC Trustee Company. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 21 September 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 323.46 points or 1.13% at 28,830.88 On BSE, so far 68,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 6.83 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 147.50 and a low of Rs 144.10 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 104.05 on 29 February 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 188.50 on 8 October 2015. The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 21 September 2016, advancing 4.39% compared with 1.85% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 12% as against Sensex's 5.57% rise. The mid-cap bank has equity capital of Rs 687.44 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Union Bank of India said that it has completed the acquisition of 49% shareholding of Union KBC Asset Management Company and Union KBC Trustee Company from KBC Participations Renta S.A. and its affiliates (KBC Asset Management NV) on 20 September 2016. Accordingly, Union KBC Asset Management Company and Union KBC Trustee Company have become wholly owned subsidiaries of Union Bank of India. Last year, the board of Union Bank of India approved purchase of 49% stake in Union KBC Asset Management and Union KBC Trustee Company from KBC Participations Renta. KBC Participations Renta is a group company of Luxembourg-based KBC Asset Management NV. Union Bank of India and KBC Asset Management NV had formed two joint ventures - Union KBC Asset Management Company and Union KBC Trustee Company - in 2009 with 51% and 49% holding, respectively. Union Bank of India's net profit fell 67.9% to Rs 166.32 crore on 1.4% decline in total income to Rs 8916.51 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. Union Bank of India is one of largest state-owned banks in India. The Government of India (GoI) held 63.44% in Union Bank of India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 30 June 2016). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On slump sale basis effective 01 October 2016 Yuken India announced that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the proposal to enter into an agreement with Grotek Enterprises, Bangalore, which is going to be a 100% subsidiary of Yuken India limited, for divesting the Company's foundries business (undertaking) operated at Mahadevapura, Bangalore and Malur, Kolar District on slump sale basis, effective 01 October 2016. The transaction is pursuant to section 180(1)(a) of the Companies Act, 2013, and is subject to the approval of shareholders and other regulatory bodies as applicable. The value of the transaction will be determined based on the Due Diligence and the valuation of the business undertaking by the consultants and advisors appointed for the said purpose. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court on Thursday granted bail to AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan, arrested a day earlier for alleged sexual harassment of a relative. Metropolitan Magistrate Vijeta Singh Rawat granted bail to Khan. He was told not to try to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. Khan's counsel Madan Lal told the court that his client had been falsely implicated in the case. Khan, who represents Okhla constituency in south Delhi, was arrested on Wednesday morning after being called for questioning. He was sent to a day's judicial custody by the court. Following the complaint by the woman, a FIR was lodged against the Aam Aadmi Party legislator at the Jamia Nagar police station on September 10. The complainant accused Khan of pressurising her to establish physical relations. Khan has denied the allegation, saying he had no connection with the woman. Khan was charged with trying to assault or use criminal force against the woman to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation, subjecting a woman to cruelty as well as criminal conspiracy, police said. Khan went to the Jamia Nagar police station on Sunday to surrender but police refused to arrest him. --IANS akk-aks/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that action will be taken to avenge the Uri terror attack, Union Minister and former Army chief on Thursday insisted any action should be taken in a strategically calculated manner instead of acting in haste. "You can't get your soldiers killed every second day, and this (Uri) attack has been one of the biggest. The prime minister has said the guilty will be punished and I am quite sure action will be done. When we take action it must be done with a very cool and calculated thought, must be done as part of strategy so that it has results," Singh told CNN News 18. "Immediately jumping into the fray does not get you results, I am sure things are being thought out, things are being executed and we will see the results," said the Minister of State for External Affairs. Singh also ridiculed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's attacks on New Delhi while raising the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly. "Everybody knows what's happening in Kashmir and everybody knows it is the fault of Pakistan. So, where is it that you are coming out with all this mumbo-jumbo from? Everybody knows what is the state of Gilgit-Baltistan today, what is the condition in Sindh and Balochitan, who is harbouring Taliban, which is attacking Afghanistan. "Pakistan has become the epicentre of terrorism not just in South Asia but the world," said Singh. The former Army chief refused to comment on if there were lapses behind the recent terror attacks on military installations. "I don't want to make unnecessary comments, the Ministry of Defence is taking stock of all these incidents that have taken place (terror attacks on military installations) and must have done their own analysis and come to conclusions. I am not privy to these, so I can't comment," added Singh. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday expressed surprise that at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be focussing on the Uri terror attack, his machinery was targeting the AAP. "I am amazed at a time when PM should be working on Uri, his machinery is working overtime to get AAP MLAs arrested or me implicated in false cases," the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted, referring to the terror attack on an army camp in Uri that left 18 soldiers dead. Kejriwal's reaction came a day after he alleged that police had named him in a FIR related to alleged illegalities in the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and shortly after courts in Delhi gave bail to two AAP MLAs. The Kejriwal and Modi governments have been at loggerhead almost ever since the AAP swept to power in the national capital in February 2015. --IANS am-mr/rak/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 12-year-old Australian boy charged with raping a six-year-old girl at a primary school in Sydney pleaded not guilty on Thursday. According to reports, the boy has been charged with three counts of aggravated indecency in company, two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and one count of indecent assault, Xinhua news agency reported. Court documents alleged that the girl was attacked between June 24 and August 16. The boy was accused of raping the girl twice on separate occasions, and was with another 12-year-old boy when he allegedly assaulted her three times. At a Children's Court on Thursday, the boy's defence barrister James Viney formally entered a not guilty pleas to the charges on the boy's behalf. Viney had also applied to adjust bail conditions, that meant the boy had to reside with his parents at their home in northern Sydney, so he could attend a week holiday. Magistrate Louise McManus granted the bail variation, and ordered that a brief of evidence be served by November. The case has been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions, the court heard. The second boy has also been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10. He has been granted bail and is due to appear in court for the first time on October 20. The matter is due for court again on November 24. --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Odisha assembly proceedings disrupted for the second day, main opposition Congress on Thursday sought the intervention of President Pranab Mukherjee citing constitutional breakdown in the state. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) members, in a memorandum to the President, alleged that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members dishonoured the national anthem on the floor of the house on Wednesday by shouting slogans during the recitation of the national anthem. The ruling party members were expressing their opposition to the centrally-sponsored Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project and the Centre's stance on sharing of Mahanadi waters between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Accusing the BJD members of disrupting the house, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari did not explore the possibility of resuming scheduled business in the House. "It is clear that the Speaker is hand in glove with the ruling party as he blatantly fails to maintain neutrality. There is every reason to believe that Hon'ble Chief Minister, Hon'ble Speaker and others conspired not to allow the proceedings of the house and to adjourn the same," said the memorandum signed by the 16-member CLP group. It said that the ruling party -- with a brute majority of 117 members in the 147-seat House -- was hell bent on not conceding any ground to the opposition to have their say and bring to fore issues concerning the people. Meanwhile, members of the ruling BJD continued to disrupt proceedings in the House for the second consecutive day over the Polavaram and Mahanadi issues. The Congress members also rushed near the Speaker's podium, shouting slogans against the state government. --IANS cd/vgu/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cairo, Sep 22 (IANS/AKI) The number of migrants who perished in a shipwreck off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta has reached 42, state-run daily Al-Ahram said on Thursday. According to the state-owned MENA news agency, the boat was carrying 600 migrants. Its planned destination is still unknown. Rescuers have saved 150 of the boat's passengers, MENA said. Wednesday's tragedy came two days after Egyptian President and ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told a UN meeting that illegal immigration should be at the top of international priorities, Al-Ahram reported. Egypt will combat illegal migration through updating existing anti-human trafficking legislation, and new legislation currently being drafted, Sisi reportedly said. Egypt is currently sheltering five million refugees of different nationalities, Al-Ahram quoted Sisi as saying. Egypt is hosting nearly 262,000 registered refugees, mostly from Sudan, Syria and Libya, with the number of unregistered refugees believed to be much higher, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Hundreds of people have been arrested in Egypt by naval forces for attempting to migrate illegally in recent years, according to Al-Ahram. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Home Ministry has received Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti's application for political asylum in India and the matter is under the government's consideration, an official source said on Thursday. Bugti applied at the Indian consulate in Geneva earlier this week for asylum in India and the application was routed to the Home Ministry through the External Affairs Ministry. The Home Ministry officials are examining all pros and cons of the issue, including tracking files related to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's asylum way back in 1959. The Dalai Lama was granted asylum in the late fifties more as a "spiritual leader", officials said. There are some legal issues related to the asylum in India as things are not well defined. India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees. Even Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since the mid-90s under an annually renewable long-term visa after the backlash in Bangladesh over her book 'Lajja'. Bugti, founder-President of the Baloch Republican Party, fled Pakistan in 2010 and has been staying in Geneva. Asked why he was seeking asylum in India, Bugti said: "I am unable to move from Switzerland, which is frustrating. Being a representative of my people I need to sit in international forums, especially in the US, and discuss our issues with the lawmakers and Congressmen there to expose the real face of Pakistan." In his August 15 Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the Balochistan issue to attack Pakistan's alleged human right violations and use of force. Brahumdagh Bugti is the grandson of wellknown Baloch leader and head of Bugti tribe, Nawab Akbar Bugti. He fled to Afghanistan from Balochistan after Akbar Bugti was killed in an Pakistan Army offensive in 2006. Brahumdagh is living in Switzerland since 2010. --IANS nd/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, who made heads turn on the red carpet at the 68th Emmy Awards with her scarlet ensemble, says she "felt princessy" at the event where she emerged as the "the twirling dancing emoji". The actress talked about her experience at the award ceremony when she became a part of Jimmy Fallon's "The Tonight Show". She came to the show to promote the upcoming second season of American drama series "Quantico" and impending Hollywood debut via "Baywatch", reports hollywoodlife.com. The second season of "Quantico" will air in India on Star World and Star World HD from September 26. Priyanka presented a trophy with Hollywood star Tom Hiddleston at the 68th annual Emmy Primetime Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday. The duo was also reportedly flirting with each other at the ceremony's after-party. When Fallon did an impression of her twirling around in her red flowing gown, Priyanka said: "I walked out with this big train and I did it for the first time cause it's so pretty and I felt princessy and after I twirled once I was doing it all night! All of the photographers were asking me to twirl and then onstage Tom made me twirl and I was always only twirling. I'm the twirling dancing emoji now!" Fallon also showed off an image of her passport collection. And Priyanka said she goes through about one passport per year because she travels so much and that she has a grand total of nine full ones. She also added that she is still getting used to living in New York, where she shoots "Quantico", as she misses her true home in Mumbai. Priyanka defeated Fallon in an extremely spicy wing-eating contest during her last appearance. And she was put to the test once more during the episode with a splashy segment of apple bobbing where she beat host yet again. The episode will air in India on Thursday on Comedy Central. --IANS sug/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US and Afghanistan appreciated India's role in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan at a trilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday. "India briefed the participants on the important decisions and discussions pertaining to expansion and future of development cooperation with Afghanistan during the recent visit of (Afghan) President Ashraf Ghani to India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here. "India's continued commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan was appreciated by all the parties," he said. Swarup said that the three sides shared their experiences and exchanged views on various key democratic processes and institutions such as inclusive democracy, elections, parliament, peace and reconciliation and efforts to reinforce them. "The possibilities of cooperative efforts in specific sectors in Afghanistan were also explored," the spokesperson said. "The security situation and the challenges posed by terrorism in the region were discussed." Swarup said the continued commitment of the international community to strengthening capacity of the war-torn country "to meet these challenges adequately and effectively was appreciated and views were exchanged on the emerging security situation and its implications". "Reaffirming their shared interests in advancing peace and security in the region, as well as countering terrorism, all sides welcomed the discussions focused on political, economic, and development goals in Afghanistan, including the regional dimension," a joint press statement issued in New York after the meeting on Wednesday said. The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai, and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson. They exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and on regional issues of mutual interest. "The meeting provided a forum for the US government and the government of India to explore ways to coordinate and align their assistance with the priorities of the Afghan government," the statement said. "They agreed that the dialogue helps advance shared values and goals, and decided to continue these consultations on a regular basis." Wednesday's India-US-Afghanistan trilateral meeting was held after a gap of three years. That the meeting would be held was announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry after the India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue held here last month. The meeting comes in the wake of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's visit to India earlier this month and after Sunday's cross-border terror attack from Pakistan on an army base camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers. --IANS ab/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian space agency ISRO will shoot off the "Pratham" satellite designed and built by students of the IIT-Bombay among the eight satellites including its weather satellite on Monday, an official said here. Conceptualised in 2008 with the aim of making IIT-B a centre for space science and technology research, the satellite weighs just 10 kg, is designed to fit within a cube of 30 cms, and has a life span of around four months. "The objective of Pratham is to empower the students involved with the skill set required to develop a statellite through various stages of design, analysis, fabrication and testing," said the official. The project will also kickstart a collaboration between IIT-B and other Indian universities keen to contribute in the space sector and to share knowledge and facilties. This has led to completion of ground-stations for tracking the satellite in several college, including the Atharva College of Engineering here. The IIT-B has collaborated with some international universities like UCL, London and IPGP, Paris for the project. Pratham will transmit data when it passes over India and any university with a small ground station can detect its signals and measure the total electron counts (TEC) above the ground station as part of the education process to spread awareness among the students. The student-designed satellite's mission is four-fold: acquiring knowledge in the field of satellite and space technology, to fully design it by the students of IIT-B, launch it and measure TEC of uonosphere above India and Paris, and involve students from other universities in the satellite project, said the official. Pratham's payload instrument comprises two monopole antennae transmitting at 145.98MHz and 437.45MHz. Measuring 30.5 cm by 33.4cm by 46.6 cm, it weighs 10.12 kg, is made of aluminium alloy and other space-grade materials, and has an on board computer. It has three monopoles, GPS, magnetometer, sun sensors, magnetorquers and is powered by Li-ion battery and four solar panels. It will be positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit around 670 km away and will pass over India around 11.30 a.m. For the project, entirely funded by the IIT-B, the ISRO has provided lot of technical help in terms of testing and guidance and the integration of the flight model of Pratham for which tests have been carried out in ISAC, Bangalore and SHAR, Sriharikota. Each year in September, a rigorous selection test was conducted for all IIT-B students from which they were inducted into the Pratham team and formalized after ascertaining their satisfactory work. The current strength of the team which has completed the project after more than eight years is around 30, the official said. --IANS qn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand doctors will go on a three-day strike from September 28 to press for various demands, including implementation of the Medical Protection Act. The Jharkhand Health Services Association (JHASA) announced on Thursday that the strike call is supported by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and its Jharkhand chapter will observe strike on September 30. "We have submitted a memorandum to the state Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and other officials demanding implementation of the Medial Protection Act and other demands. If our demands are not fulfilled, then we will move on a three-day strike," JHASA Secretary Vimlesh Kumar told IANS. Besides implementation of the Medical Protection Act, the doctors have opposed a move by the state government to ban private practice without giving non-practising allowances. They have demanded that working hours be fixed and also opposed the biometric attendance system. "If our demands are not taken note of, we will opt for mass resignation. All the doctors will submit resignations by October 2 which will be handed over to the Chief Minister on October 15," Kumar said. The state IMA has supported the demands of the government doctors. "Doctors dedicate their lives to treatment of the people and we only want respect. There are several examples of nursing homes and doctor clinics being vandalised by the patients' relatives. The Medical Protection Act will instil a sense of protection among the doctors," Bharti Kashyap, IMA member, told IANS. --IANS ns/vgu/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kareena Kapoor Khan has always been a trendsetter -- either by way of her fashion, her style or her films. But the fact that she is setting trends during her pregnancy by being active at her work, makes her sister-in-law Soha Ali Khan happy and proud. Kareena has not been hiding her baby bump from the media in any way. In fact, she flaunted it proudly at a fashion week ramp last month, and she has also signed up an endorsement deal for pregnancy test card PregaNews. She has also maintained that she won't let pregnancy slow down her career. Soha, who is the younger sister of Kareena's husband and actor Saif Ali Khan, said there is a lot of excitement in the family in anticipation of the baby, which is due in December. "(There is) a lot of excitement, of course! I am very excited for her. She (Kareena) is going to be a mother for the first time. She is looking beautiful, and she is really setting trends. I think she stands for something that is wonderful in today's world... Talking about working through her pregnancy," Soha told IANS here. The 37-year-old actress says even in general, women work till the last trimester of their pregnancy. So, why should it be any different for stars, she asked. "I have banker and lawyer friends, and they all work till their last trimester or till the eighth month even. Kareena is doing that as well. Why should celebrities be any different as long as she is healthy, which she is? So, I have a lot of respect for her," the "Tum Mile" actress said. Soha says Saif and Kareena make a beautiful couple. "I am really excited for them because I think they make a beautiful couple," said Soha. Her upcoming film "31st October" is slated to hit the screen on October 7. --IANS dc/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government which was trying to create a confrontation between the legislature and the judiciary on the Cauvery issue should be taught a strict lesson, said PMK founder S Ramadoss on Thursday. He said Karnataka's statement that it has no water to release was a lie. In a statement issued here, Ramadoss said the government as if insulting the Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to postpone release of 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. Not only this, the cabinet also decided to convene a session of its legislature to discuss the issue of water release as ordered by the apex court. According to Ramadoss, at the special session the assembly may pass a resolution against water release and thereby create a political-legal problem raising the debate which is more powerful-the Supreme Court or the state legislature. He said when the case comes up for hearing in the apex court on September 27, Karnataka may state that its legislature has decided not release water. If the Supreme Court condemns that action then it may lead to the situation of confrontation between the judiciary and the legislature. According to Wednesday night's water inflow situation in the four dams in Karnataka built across Cauvery river, Ramadoss said the water inflow is 10,460 cusecs. That apart, water at the rate of 5,846 cusecs are being released from these dams and Karnataka should explain why this much water is being released. In a bid to help coming generations live disease-free, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have pledged $3 billion to fund medical research over the next decade. Zuckerberg and Chan, unveiled the next phase of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative - a new project the couple created in December 2015 to give away billions in dollars for humanitarian cause. At a press conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, the couple said their ultimate goal was to "cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the century". "The biggest breakthroughs take many years. This is about the future we all want for our children. If there's even a chance that we can help cure all diseases in our children's lifetime ... then we are going to do our part," Zuckerberg told the gathering which included Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner. According to Re/Code, Zuckerberg and Chan started with a $600 million investment for a new research facility called the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub in San Francisco. Zuckerberg said at present, 50 times more money was spent on treating people who are sick than on curing the diseases that would stop them getting ill in the first place, and added that this needed to change. The Biohub will initially work on two projects. The first is the Cell Atlas, a "map" that describes the different types of cells that control the body's major organs. The second is the Infectious Disease Initiative, which will try to develop new tests and vaccines to tackle HIV, Ebola, Zika and other new diseases, BBC reported. Zuckerberg predicted that by 2100, the average life expectancy would be beyond 100 years. But he cautioned that it would take years before the couple's fund led to the creation of new medical treatments and further time before they could be applied to patients. Earlier this week, Microsoft said it intended to "solve" cancer by using artificial intelligence tools. Google's DeepMind unit is working with the National Health Service (NHS) to find a way to use computers to more accurately diagnose diseases. IBM and MIT have announced a tie-up to develop AI-based systems that could help clinicians improve the care of elderly and disabled patients. --IANS pgh/na/ss/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Travelling to Goa from Mumbai by road may soon take only six hours due to the construction of a new four-lane concrete highway, Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways said here on Thursday. "It will soon take only six-hours to travel between Goa and Mumbai with the four-lane concrete highway we are building," Gadkari said, adding that the rate of road building by his ministry was 22 kms per day. He was speaking at a function on the occasion of signing a concession agreement between the Mormugao Port Trust and Goa Seaport Pvt. Ltd for redevelopment of two berths and other barge berths at the central government facility. The minister also proposed to shift a port project in Goa's Betul village, which has faced local opposition, to either of the neighbouring states of Maharashtra or Karnataka, on account of a series of protests against it. He also said an eight km highway will be constructed, connecting the upcoming Mopa airport in North Goa, located 40 kms from Panaji, to the National Highway 17 at the cost of Rs 300 crore. NASA's Cassini probe has found a strange ice cloud over Titan that appears to be made up of compounds that barely exist in the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon. "The appearance of this ice cloud goes against everything we know about the way clouds form on Titan," said lead author of the study Carrie Anderson from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Located in Titan's stratosphere, the cloud is made of a compound of carbon and nitrogen known as dicyanoacetylene, an ingredient in the chemical cocktail that colours the giant moon's hazy, brownish-orange atmosphere. And it is not the first time NASA scientists spotted the mysterious cloud. Decades ago, the infrared instrument on NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft spotted an ice cloud just like this one on Titan. What has puzzled scientists ever since is this: they detected less than one percent of the dicyanoacetylene gas needed for the cloud to condense. Recent observations from NASA's Cassini mission yielded a similar result. Using Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer, or CIRS -- which can identify the spectral fingerprints of individual chemicals in the atmospheric brew -- researchers found a large, high-altitude cloud made of the same frozen chemical. Yet, just as Voyager found, when it comes to the vapour form of this chemical, CIRS reported that Titan's stratosphere is as dry as a desert. The puzzling appearance of the ice cloud seemingly out of thin air prompted the scientists to suggest that a different process than previously thought -- possibly similar to one seen over Earth's poles -- could be forming clouds on Saturn's moon Titan. Although Earth's stratosphere has scant moisture, wispy nacreous clouds (also called polar stratospheric clouds) can form under the right conditions. In these clouds, chlorine-bearing chemicals that have entered the atmosphere as pollution stick to crystals of water ice, resulting in chemical reactions that release ozone-destroying chlorine molecules. "It's very exciting to think that we may have found examples of similar solid-state chemical processes on both Titan and Earth," Anderson, a CIRS co-investigator, said. The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. --IANS gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's High Commissioner to Britain Navtej Sarna was on Thursday appointed as the next Ambassador to the US as that country prepares for a presidential transition. "Navtej Singh Sarna (IFS: 1980) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United State of America," an External Affairs Ministry statement said. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added. He takes charge after Arun Kumar Singh retired last month-end. Both Sarna and Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington's closest allies. Sarna was moved to London as the High Commissioner barely eight months back. Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002. Before moving to London, Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting last October of the India-Africa Forum Summit that was attended by a record number of 53 African countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally very happy with the organisation of the Summit and had congratulated External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for it. It is clear Modi wanted someone in Washington he was confident would be able to steer the multi-faceted India-US relations into a new phase with a new administration. Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu. Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' that was released last year. He was a big hit in London's literary circles and had also become, in a short span, a popular figure in the Indian community in the Britain. --IANS ab-sac/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Thursday sought the Supreme Court's nod for destroying 550 tonnes of Maggi stocks that have outlived their shelf life. As senior counsel Harish Salve moved the plea before a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C Nagappan, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) contended it needed to be consulted on this. As the FSSAI counsel raised an earlier issue of the destruction of evidence by the Nestle, Salve told the court this was an old allegation that was raised before the High Court. Salve told the bench that Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had in the early hearing said that he was not interested in these issues and was only interested in the declarations of law. As lawyer for the FSSAI reiterated that he had to take instructions and Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi led the FSSAI before the court, the bench adjourned the hearing directing next hearing on September 30. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Do you also believe that the pilot episode is the make or break deal for the whole series? Well, US-based on-demand streaming website Netflix is proving that the first episode doesn't necessarily lay out the future course of a show. Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Series, Netflix, is happy with the findings as she says that it validates that "good content can travel globally". From series like "Narcos", "Breaking Bad", and "House of Cards" to old favourites like "Suits", "Gilmore Girls" and "Orange is the New Black", the Netflix team has analyzed the behavioural patterns of the audience around the world, and has pinpointed what makes viewers stick to any show. They have examined global viewing of more than 60 shows with this second part of the campaign where they are busy finding different hook-points for various series and among different audience. And according to their data, the "hooked episode" is never the first one. "We have several hypothesis going into it. In the first part, we had the hypothesis that the series we are creating as well as the series we are licensing from other commissioning networks, has found really happy viewers in many countries around the world," Holland told IANS over phone from Los Angeles. Indian audience were drawn to the world of Harvey Specter and Mike Ross in "Suits" in the same episode as those in "Narcos" with episode two, while fear of the unknown had fans in Singapore and France reeling for "Stranger Things" in episode two. Holland says "There is this validation for us that good content can travel globally and it is not just true for western or US generated content?The titles are originated from somewhere else in the world. Here we have Spanish Language series 'Club de Cuervos' which originated in Mexico and then 'Marseille' which originated in France and then we have series coming from Italy and we hope of having some from India pretty soon as well." The data in this research was pulled from Netflix member accounts who started watching season one of the selected series from January 2015 to August 2016 for Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Sweden, Britain and US and January 2016 to August 2016 for Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, South Africa and UAE. A hooked episode was defined when 70 per cent of viewers who watched that episode went on to complete season one of the same series. Hooked episodes were first identified by country, then averaged to create the global hooked episode. Also, the hooked episode had no correlation to total viewership numbers or attrition. If we talk about the Indian audience, then they got hooked to "Narcos" and "Suits" with episode two and "Breaking Bad" episode three. Episode four was hooking point for "House of Cards", "Marvel's Daredevil" and "How To Get Away With Murder". And for "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", "Master of None" was episode five, with episode six of "Orange is the New Black" made viewers addicted to the show, and for "Gilmore Girls" it was episode eight. How is the Indian audience different? "After evaluating the Indian market, we have found that the hook point tend to aggravate around the extreme ends in the scale. So, for example, if 'Narcos' which is three on the scale if we look at global basis. In India, people are hooked by episode two," Holland said, adding that for character-driven series like "Gilmore Girls" Indian viewers tend to be hooked at episode eight versus the global average of episode seven. She says: "So there are kind of operating at the extreme ends of the scale." --IANS sug/rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Election Commission decision to conduct a special summary revision of electoral lists in Mizoram has triggered protests and a court case over the inclusion of names of tribals who had fled to neighbouring Tripura almost two decades ago. Around 31,300 Reang tribals, who locally call themselves "Bru", have been living in seven makeshift camps in northern Tripura for the past 19 years after they fled following ethnic trouble after the killing of a Mizo forest officer in Mamit district. "Following Election Commission instructions, the Mizoram Election Department has published the draft electoral rolls on September 15 and from that date the process of summary revision was started," an official of the department said. "After completing the three-and-a-half-month process, the final publication of the electoral rolls would be done on January 5, 2017, with January 1, 2017, as the qualifying date for including new names," he added. The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), the lone representative of the tribal refugees, is officially unaware about the special summary revision of electoral lists in Mizoram. MBDPF general secretary Bruno Msha told IANS over phone from Kanchanpur in northern Tripura that the Mizoram government has told Union Home Ministry officials that they would start taking back the refugees only from November, by which time the vital procedures of the revision of rolls would be over. "We don't know how the names of the refugees would be included. Besides, former State Chief Information Commissioner Robert Hrangdawla filed a petition before the Mizoram bench of the Gauhati High Court seeking a direction to exclude the names of the Reang tribals from the state's electoral list," Msha pointed out. Msha also said that the Mizoram government and the Union Home Ministry are yet to officially inform them that the repatriation of Reang refuges from Tripura to Mizoram would start from November. "If the refugees remained out of the electoral list revision process, it would be a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of genuine Indian citizens," he added. He said Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had also written to the Election Commission to keep out the names of the Reang tribals from the electoral list as they had been staying outside the state for many years. Meanwhile, the Young Mizo Association (YMA) and the Mizo Students Federation (MSF), the two most powerful youth bodies in Mizoram, have been asking the Election Commission to delete the names of the tribals staying in Tripura since October 1997. Following the commission's advice, almost all states in the country, including Mizoram, have undertaken a special summary revision of photo electoral rolls with January 1, 2017, as the qualifying date. Mizoram Election Department officials said that they have asked the district magistrates of Mamit, Lunglei and Lawngtlai, the areas where the Reang tribals are living, to initiate process of conducting the summary revision of electoral rolls. The Tripura government has been asking the Centre and the Mizoram government to take back the refugees at the earliest as serious socio-economic and law and order problems have cropped up in the state. The Union Home Ministry's Special Secretary (Internal Security), Mahesh Kumar Singla, and Joint Secretary in charge of the northeast, Satyendra Garg, visited Tripura last month and met with officials of the Tripura government and leaders of the refugees. They also visited Mizoram and held meetings with state government officials and tribal leaders. The Home Ministry undertook serious efforts after the Supreme Court's directives on repatriating the refugees. The Mizoram government submitted a roadmap to the central government on how it plans to do so. Mizoram Additional Secretary (Home) Lalbiakzama said that the state government submitted to the Union Home Ministry a detailed plan for taking the refugees back. "The Mizoram government has sought Rs 68 crore from the central government to rehabilitate the tribals," Lalbiakzama said. Refugee leader Bruno Msha said the MBDPF has been demanding financial assistance of Rs 150,000 per repatriated family, free rations for every repatriated family for two years, cultivable land, a political settlement of the ethnic problem and adequate security. "We have on a number of occasions told the central and Mizoram governments that the refugees are willing to return to their homes in Mizoram if their 10-point demands, including security and rehabilitation, are met," he added. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accompanied by his deputy Kiren Rijiju, had visited the refugee camps in North Tripura in February last year and urged the Mizoram government and the refugees to end the stalemate. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Border Security Force Director General Prakash Singh said on Thursday that there is an "executive stranglehold" on police forces across states and called for implementation of the Supreme Court's 2006 verdict on police reforms. Addressing a press conference here to mark 10 years of the Supreme Court verdict in a case filed by him, Singh said states have either ignored the court directions altogether or have passed laws that are "against the letter and spirit" of the verdict. "The remaining states have passed executive orders, but these also amend, dilute or modify the judicial directions," he said. Singh said police reforms are needed not only for better law enforcement, but also for better enforcement of human rights, improved governance, healthy democracy and sustained economic progress. Maja Daruwala, Director of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), said development is not possible without fair and honest law enforcement. Former Director General of Police N. Ramachandran, President of Indian Police Foundation, said one does not need to wait for the states to endorse the Supreme Court's directions. "Considerable changes can be brought about from within the police force. Police leadership needs to take charge and lead from the front to achieve this," he said. A conference will be held jointly by the Indian Police Foundation and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative on September 23 at Mavalankar Auditorium in Delhi to discuss the road map for professionalism and modernisation of police. The Supreme Court judgment in the 'Prakash Singh vs Union of India' case in 2006 had recommended setting up of State Security Commission to insulate the police from political pressures. It also recommended the Centre to set up the National Security Commission. The court also recommended setting up of Police Complaints Authority to look into complaints of serious misconduct against police. One of the significant recommendations of the court was separation of investigation and law and order functions of the police in metro towns. The court also directed for field officers to have a minimum of two-year tenure and recommended a transparent procedure for appointment of the Directors General of Police, giving him a fixed tenure. --IANS vish/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Punjab RSS leader Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja, shot thrice by two men in Jalandhar last month, succumbed to his injuries at a Ludhiana hospital on Thursday, his family said. The critically injured Gagneja was shifted to the Hero DMC Heart Institute (DMCH) in Ludhiana from a private hospital in Jalandhar last month. He was cremated in his hometown Jalandhar. The cremation was attended among others by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his cabinet colleagues, including BJP ministers. "His blood pressure fell drastically this (Thursday) morning and he was declared dead at 9.15 a.m.," a family member told IANS. Gagneja was senior vice president of the Punjab unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Expressing grief, Sukhbir Badal said: "I join Punjabis in mourning the passing away of senior RSS leader Gagneja who has fallen victim to anti-national forces bent on disturbing peace and communal harmony in Punjab. "Brig Gagneja fought like a true soldier to the very end. Let us pledge today that we will not allow his sacrifice to go waste and will take on all anti-Punjab and anti-India forces unitedly," he said in a statement. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is away to Patna Sahib in connection with the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. Describing the attack on Gagneja as a failure of the government to protect the life of people, state Congress chief Amarinder Singh said the BJP-SAD government had lost the moral right to continue as it had no clue as to what was happening in the state. With the Punjab Police failing to nab the attackers of Gagneja, the state government, hinting at a foreign hand, asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the attack last month. The police had earlier set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the attack. But they could not make any arrests or unravel the conspiracy behind the attack. It had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh and a job to anyone providing information on the shooters. --IANS vg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noting that education is a very important aspect in sensitising the youth, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said his agenda is the quality of education. "Education is very important in sensitising the youth of our nation. When somebody asks me about my agendas I say three things -- quality, quality and quality," the minister told the media here on Wednesday. He was speaking at the "Young Makers Conclave" organized by SheThePeople in partnership with Dalmia Bharat Group to highlight India's need for innovation and revolution Javadekar said that he was glad that today's youth are "informed and aware and are discovering new possibilities every day". "Power of ideas belongs to the young generation as the young mind can break or make the country," he added. The programme was organised on order to create an opportunity to change old mindsets and pre-conceived notions through knowledge sharing. The platform also tied up with leading web portals like Scoop Whoop and Little Black Book which together reached out to their readers through a vigorous social media campaign. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said that there is a need to deal with the complexities that exist in terms of opening startups in the nation. "There are a lot of complexities that include rules, regulations and acts in doing business. We need to make India esy and simple so that young generation can come up with good business ideas," he said. "India has a large domestic market and things need to be made simpler both at the state and the centre." He also said, "India is the finest market as far as start-ups are concerned as these startups are doing some really nice and unique things. " --IANS mg/pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no concern for the people as he was busy with his foreign tours. During a road show at Unnao near Lucknow, Gandhi also refused to accept a silver crown gifted by a Congress worker and said such things befit the Prime Minister as he (Modi) was the "king". Accusing Modi of not fulfilling the promises made during the Lok Sabha election of 2014, Gandhi said people were promised two crore jobs and Rs 15 lakh each in their bank accounts. But nothing had happened in the last two years, Gandhi moaned. He charged the Prime Minister with waiving off the loans of industrialists and big businessmen while the poor farmers were left to fend for themselves. Gandhi also came down on the cabinet's decision to merge the railway and general budgets and said this had been done to benefit Modi's industrialist friends. The Congress leader also promised the gathering that farmers' loans would be waived off and their power bills halved if the Congress won the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi paid floral tributes at a statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri and also mingled with the cheering crowds. He also had a 'paan' with some young men. Later, talking to reporters, Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said Gandhi's ongoing 'Kisan Yatra' was creating waves and people were responding positively to issues being raised by the party. --IANS md/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior lawyer is set to represent criminal-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin in the Supreme Court on September 26 after the apex court on Monday issued notice to former RJD MP on a plea challenging grant of bail to him in a murder case. "Jethmalani has accepted Shahabuddin's request to appear in the Supreme Court on his behalf. Jethmalani is likely to file 'wakalatnama' on Saturday to argue in the apex court for Shahabuddin," a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader close to Shahabuddin said here on Thursday. Jethmalani is a Rajya Sabha member of the RJD from Bihar and is considered close to RJD Chief Lalu Prasad. The RJD is a partner in the ruling coalition in the state. Lalu's younger son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav told media that he was not aware that party MP Jethmalani is to argue for Shahabuddin in the apex court. According to party leaders, Shahabuddin received the Supreme Court notice on Tuesday at his native village Pratappur in Siwan district, where he has been staying since September 10 when he was released from the Bhagalpur Central Jail after 11 years. The bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy on Monday also issued notice on a plea that sought to put on hold the execution of the Patna High Court order granting bail to Shahabuddin. The court order came on a plea of Chandrakeshwar Prasad, whose three sons were allegedly killed by a henchman of Shahabuddin, and that of the Bihar government challenging the high court order granting bail. The Bihar government had also sought issuance of non-bailable arrest warrant against Shahabuddin. Earlier, Shahabuddin said he is ready to go back to jail if the apex court ordered it. He refused to comment on the apex court order which did not grant an interim stay on his bail. "I am a law-abiding citizen and respect the court order. Earlier, I was sent to jail by the court and ten days ago I was released from jail after the court granted me bail. It is all for the court to decide," Shahabuddin told the media in Siwan. Opposition BJP has appealed to Jethmalani, who was earlier parliament member of that party, not to defend Shahabuddin in the apex court. The cast of the forthcoming film "Rock on!! 2" held jamming sessions in the valley of Meghalaya while they were preparing for the movie. "Rock On!! 2" is a sequel to the 2008 film "Rock On!!". It is shot in Shillong and also includes a folk song in Khasi. Directed by Shujaat Saudagar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, the film will see actors Arjun Rampal, Prachi Desai, Purab Kohli reprising their roles from the first movie. "In Meghalaya, we stayed in Ri Kynjai which is a little out of Shillong. Set on the slopes of the valley leading down to the lake, it was a wonderful view to wake up to. We spent a lot of time in the hotel and it was very hard to leave as it was so beautiful," Purab said in a statement. "We jammed most evenings and in my room as the drum kit, which is hard to move around, was installed there. The valley would fill up with our music of 'Rock On!! 2', and every rehearsal evening inevitably ended up in a party. I miss that time we spent shooting 'Rock On!! 2', he added. The film is slated to release on November 11. --IANS ks/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator was arrested on charges of damaging property and misbehaving with security guards at AIIMS, the police said. Bharti was arrested from his residence and was taken to the Hauz Khas Police Station. The Delhi Police had registered an FIR against Bharti and his supporters on September 11 following the complaint of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (AIIMS) Chief Security Officer R S Rawat. Rawat, in his written, complaint said that Bharti "provoked the mob to damage the fence of government property (AIIMS)" on September 9 morning. He had further alleged that Bharti gave permission to unauthorised persons with JCB machines to get access inside hospital premises from the Gautam Nagar Nallah road side and misbehaved with security personnel. In the complaint, it was also alleged that six security personnel were injured while trying to intervene and stop Bharti and his supporters from damaging institutional property. Bharti and his supporters were booked under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 186 (obstructing public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Bharti, however, had termed the allegations "wrong". Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is currently shooting for filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's "The Ring" in Amsterdam, has got a new leather jacket as a gift to deal with the cold weather. Shah Rukh on Thursday shared a photograph of himself and captioned it: "Cold night shoot in Amsterdam. Girls send me a hug for warmth. Boys courier me a pure leather jacket." Shah Rukh will be seen sharing screen space with actress Anushka Sharma in the film. This is their third film together after "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" and "Jab Tak Hai Jaan". This is the first time the "Don" star is collaborating with Ali for a film. They had recently wrapped up the Prague schedule of the shoot. --IANS dc/rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite the clamour for retaliatory action to Sunday's daring cross-border terror attack from Pakistan on an army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 soldiers, experts and analysts are of the view that India has limited military options and should look for other paths. "At best, if the (Indian) army finds Pakistani soldiers exposed on the other side of the border, they can target them with artillery fire and small arms fire," Ajai Sahni, counter-terrorism expert and Executive Director of the Institute for Conflict Management, told IANS here. "There are no military options available because military capacity in India has been eroded by the lack of investments and by corruption over the decades," he said. The India Army has blamed the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for the early morning attack. The Uri attack comes in the middle of large-scale violence in the Kashmir Valley in which nearly 90 lives have been lost in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last July. Stating that the present government has also done little to correct the imbalance in defence capabilities, Sahni said: "Unless capacities are enormously augmented, our strategic options will remain severely restricted." According to C. Uday Bhaskar, security analyst and Director, Society for Policy Studies, "emotive rhetoric cannot replace resolute action" on the ground. "India has a modest range of military options -- tri-service and not just army -- which has been conveyed to the political apex in the aftermath of Mumbai 2008," Bhaskar said. "Yes, there will be costs incurred -- human and material -- but the objective is to inflict heavy punishment on the Pakistan military and Delhi must remain resolute in staying the course." These comments come even as a leading English daily in Pakistan carried a report on Wednesday saying that India was preparing to attack selected targets and that Islamabad was "ready to thwart any adventure". "War-mongering India has completed the first phase of its preparations to attack selected targets inside Pakistan under the Cold Start war doctrine," The News International said in its report. Citing sources, it said that although Pakistan would not initiate an attack, it would respond with full force in case of any strike by India. Sahni dismissed the Pakistani news report as "wildly speculative". As for the high-decibel debates on Indian television channels seeking quick action on the part of India, Bhaskar had this to say: "The current cacophony in the audio-visual and social media platforms diminishes the Indian profile." Strategic affairs expert of the Bharatshakti.in defence portal Nitin Gokhale also dismissed the Pakistani news report saying it was borne out of paranoia and "to create panic in the international community". "India has started utilising its first option by launching a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan internationally," Gokhale said. According to Gokhale, the second option is for India to revisit the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. The treaty was signed out of Pakistan's fear that since the source rivers of the Indus basin were in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan during times of war. "As for the military option, I would rather leave it to the military professionals and political executive," he said. Reflecting Sahni's view, Gokhale said that Indian forces can disregard the existing ceasefire and pound those military garrisons and posts on the other side of the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir "which facilitate, train and equip non-state actors and serve as launch pads for terror attacks". According to Ashish Shukla, Researcher in the Institute of Defence Studies and and Analysis and editor of the Pakistan News Digest, India should prepare for a response taking various factors into account. "It should be well thought out and should not appear to be a knee-jerk reaction," Shukla, author of the book "Deadly Connection" that deals with Pakistan's relations with the US post-9/11, said. According to Bhaskar, given the nuclear backdrop between India and Pakistan, "the escalation dynamic is inherent but both simulation and war-gaming point to Rawalpindi staying within the matrix of rational behavior". "But India has to invest in and acquire the capability to pursue the punish-the-perpetrator option," he said. --IANS ab/ky/tb/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President Hamid Ansari will embark on a four-day visit to Nigeria and Mali from Monday to strengthen India's ties with two west African nations. Announcing the visit here on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Ansari will visit Nigeria at the invitation of Nigerian counterpart Yemi Osinbajo. His delegation comprises of Union Minister of State for Finance, Arjun Ram Meghwal and four other MPs. "The vice president's visit intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic engagement and explore new avenues of partnership," said Swarup. During the visit, Ansari will meet the Nigerian president and the president of the Senate. He will also deliver an address at the National Defence College of Nigeria. On his visit to Lagos on September 28-29, Ansari will meet the governor of Lagos and deliver a lecture at a Joint Business Forum at the University of Lagos. He is also scheduled to interact with the Indian community in Abuja and Lagos. On his visit to Mali, Ansari will meet the Mali president and the prime minister and address the national assembly. "The vice president's visit intends to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries, and explore new avenues of partnership," added Swarup. India is Nigeria's largest largest global trading partner with the bilateral trade reaching $12.6 billion in 2015-16, while the bilateral trade with Mali has trebled in the last five years and amounted to $350 million in 2015-16. --IANS and/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court's notable judgment last week lifting a four-year ban on a photocopier kiosk on the Delhi University campus from providing students with "course packs" containing material from books published by three international publishers is unlikely to end the debate around copyright laws and their application. The votaries of a better alignment between Indian and global intellectual property rights (IPRs) will deplore the ruling, which struck down a petition filed by the Oxford and Cambridge University Presses and Taylor & Francis in 2012. There is no doubt that, taken together with India's lax enforcement of anti-piracy measures and the Supreme Court's rejection of a patent extension to Novartis in April 2013, the country's reputation as an IPR enforcer is unlikely to be enhanced. Two Indians, who were rescued after over a year of captivity in war-torn Libya, will return to India tomorrow. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said C BalaramKishan from Telangana and T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh will arrive here in the morning and subsequently will travel to their home towns. The two Indians were in captivity since July 29 and were released last week, he said. The two Indians, who were teaching at Libya's Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The filmmaker Mira Nair was familiar with the regal grace of Lupita Nyong'o long before most. The Indian-born, New York-based Nair has been close friends with Nyong'o's family for years. One of Nyong'o's first jobs in the movies was interning in New York for Nair's production company. She also later worked for Nair's Uganda-centered film school, Maisha Film Labs. What does Nair recall of Nyong'o as a younger woman? "Like she is: immensely thoughtful and stylish," Nair says with a laugh. "She wouldn't speak unless she had something to say. And full of fun, which sometime you guys don't see. But there's a real appetite for life there." In the African chess prodigy tale "Queen of Katwe," a now much more established Nyong'o has reunited with Nair for a film that reflects much of the actress's past, as well as her future. It is, surprisingly, the first time moviegoers have gotten to see Nyong'o's face on screen since her breakout, Oscar-winning performance in 2013's "12 Years a Slave." In the three years since, she's appeared in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in a motion-capture performance, lent her voice to "The Jungle Book" and starred on Broadway in Danai Guirira's Liberian drama "Eclipsed," earning a Tony nomination. But "Queen of Katwe," she says, epitomizes the kind of film she wants to be in. "The success of '12 Years of Slave' has put me in a position where I can choose," Nyong'o said in a recent interview. "I want to honor the opportunity that I've been given. So I've worked very hard to choose things that I'm passionate about because I think I'm most useful when I feel conviction. I want to continue to do work that moves me and develops cultural conversations. "It takes one film at a time, one story at a time, to actually shift the norm," she adds. "Queen of Katwe," which opens Friday, is itself an anomaly. It's a family-friendly film made in Africa with an entirely black cast - a first for Disney. The film, about Phiona Mutesi's (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) rise from the Katwe slums in Kampala, Uganda, to elite levels of chess, is a family-friendly made in Africa with an entirely black cast - a first for Disney. Nair shot it in South Africa and Uganda. Nyong'o plays Phiona's head-strong mother. The local flavor, as well as the real people the story is based on (who appear briefly but movingly at the end), gives "Queen of Katwe" an infectious spirit. During one celebratory scene in Katwe, extras mixed with nearby onlookers, eager to join in the exultation. "Because this doesn't happen very often, we were all filled with such gratitude to be able to tell this story," says Nyong'o. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Spanish national was among four people killed in a landslide on the popular Manaslu trekking route in Nepal, authorities said today. Four foreigners, including a woman, were also injured in the landslide. The injured have been taken to Kathmandu for treatment, The Himalayan Nation reported. A Spanish national, a mountaineering guide and two other Nepalese were killed, according to Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta. Two police teams have been deployed in Keramja village of Gorkha district to rescue the injured. However, the continuous landslide has made it difficult to dig out the bodies, Bhatta added. Efforts are on to airlift the injured to Kathmandu for treatment, he said. In July, 64 people were killed as floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Nepal displacing thousands of people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was arrested in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by his sister-in-law, after the investigator said he was not required for custodial interrogation. Metropolitan Magistrate Vijeta Singh Rawat gave the relief to the politician on a personal bond of Rs 35,000 and a surety of the like amount and asked him not to contact the complainant or threaten her to take back the complaint. "He shall not in any manner whatsoever interfere in the ongoing probe, the court said, adding that whenever he is required in the police station, he will join and not come along with his supporters. While imposing certain conditions on him, the court said that if violated, the investigating officer (IO) will be at liberty to approach the court for cancellation of Khan's bail. "Prima facie from the allegations, it appears that section 498A of IPC as such is not made out against the accused as there is no evidence for any demand of dowry or regarding mental/ physical cruelty perpetrated by him on the complainant. "The primary allegations against him are of section 354 IPC which are of year 2011-2012. However, there are allegations of section 509 IPC which may be recent in nature," the court said. The court passed the order after the IO said that the politician was not required for custodial interrogation and the probe regarding him was complete. In its order, the court also warned the MLA saying, "he shall not in any manner whatsoever, personally or through his relatives, contact the complainant or threaten her to take back the complaint." Khan was yesterday arrested and sent to a day in judicial custody. The MLA was arrested by Delhi Police for the second time in three months on separate complaints of women. On September 18, the Okhla MLA, who was out on bail in another case of molestation and criminal intimidation, had gone to the Jamia Nagar Police station and had asked the police to arrest him but they had refused. AAP MLA Somnath Bharti was today arrested for allegedly inciting a crowd to damage part of the AIIMS boundary wall and misbehaving with security officials, becoming the second party legislator to be arrested by Delhi Police in the past 24 hours. Bharti was arrested by a police team from Malviya Nagar in the afternoon and taken to Hauz Khas Police Station where the case was registered against him on September 11. "He was taken to Hauz Khas Police Station and will be produced before a court later in the day," a senior south Delhi police officer said. AAP MLA and chairman of Delhi Waqf Board Amanatullah Khan was yesterday arrested by south-east Delhi police in a case of sexual harassment filed against him by his sister in law. The case against Bharti was registered on a complaint filed by chief security officer of AIIMS R S Rawat. In his complaint to police, Rawat had alleged that Bharti had provoked the mob to damage the fence of the hospital with JCB at Gautam Nagar Nallah road in order to give access to unauthorised persons inside AIIMS property and also misbehaved with security personnel. The case was registered against Bharti under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of his public functions), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) and 3/4 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Bharti had then defended his action and accused the AIIMS of "lying" on the issue. "AIIMS is lying. They have been denying legitimate access to Gautam Nagar residents. AIIMS even refused to (go to) PWD meetings. Wherever common man will be troubled I will go. The allegation that residents dismantled the wall is a blatant lie. I will fight in court," he had tweeted. Bharti was previously arrested by Delhi Police in December 2015, in connection with the attempt to murder and domestic violence case filed by his wife. Fifteen AAP MLAs have been booked by the Delhi Police till now on various charges and 12 have been arrested. AAP sought to defend Bharti, saying the police action was a "diversionary tactics" in view of elections in Goa and Punjab. "This is poll season and till the elections are not over in Goa and Punjab, arrests like these will keep happening," Delhi Health minister and senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti today became the second AAP legislator to be arrested within a span of two days, deepening Delhi government's rift with the Centre as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeted the Prime Minister for "working overtime" to target AAP instead of perpetrators of the Uri attack. But Delhi Police also received setbacks during the day as both Bharti and Okhla Amantullah Khan, arrested yesterday secured bail. Bharti also lashed out at PM Narendra Modi for "finding enemies" within AAP. "Am amazed. At a time when PM shud be working on Uri, his machinery working overtime to get AAP MLAs arrested or me implicated in false cases," Kejriwal tweeted. Bharti was arrested on charges of inciting a crowd to damage part of the AIIMS boundary wall and misbehaving with security officials on September 9. The controversial AAP legislator was arrested last September also on charges of domestic violence. The case against Bharti was registered on a complaint filed by chief security officer of AIIMS R S Rawat. In his complaint to police, Rawat had alleged that Bharti had provoked the mob to damage the fence of the hospital with JCB at Gautam Nagar Nallah road in order to give access to unauthorised persons inside AIIMS property and also misbehaved with security personnel. The case was registered against Bharti under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of his public functions), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) and 3/4 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. "Modiji's police is focusing on AAP instead of Pakistan. He is finding enemies in AAP. Through his actions, he has discredited two institutions, the AIIMS and the Delhi Police," Bharti told reporters after getting bail. Khan was arrested yesterday in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by his sister-in-law. This is the second time in three months that Khan has been arrested by the Delhi Police on complaints by women. Khan was earlier arrested on July 24 on a complaint by a Jasola resident who alleged that he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts. He was released on bail on July 28. Fifteen AAP MLAs have been booked by Delhi Police till now on various charges and 12 have been arrested. The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged political vendetta in the action against its lawmakers by Delhi Police, which comes under the Union Home Ministry. Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain described the police action as a "diversionary tactic" in view of elections in Goa and Punjab next year. "This is poll season and till the elections are not over in Goa and Punjab, arrests like these will keep happening," Jain said. (Reopens DEL 79) Attacking the Centre, AAP's Delhi unit convenor Dilip Pandey said the Prime Minister thinks that Delhi has elected 67 "hardened criminals", but all the arrested MLAs have been booked under false cases and are released on bail. "We will work for the betterment of the people and are even ready to face the gallows for that," he said. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) today came out strongly against the central government for its steps to privatise 22 public sector undertakings, terming them "anti-people policy of strategic sale". Under the strategic sale, the government's stake goes below 50 per cent in PSUs, which is otherwise known as privatisation. AITUC has called a meeting with other central unions to deliberate on the issue and decide on future course of action. "The AITUC secretariat condemns the move of the central government to privatise 22 PSUs under its anti-people policy of strategic sale. The sale includes engineering and electronic corporations, besides 67 discovered oil fields by ONGC and Oil India," AITUC Secretary D L Sachdev said in a press statement. AITUC also denounced the government statement to privatise more PSUs as part of policy. Sale of these PSUs would undermine economic sovereignty of the country, it alleged. On September 2, the central unions had observed an all-India strike to press for their 12-point charter of demands, which included a 'no' to privatisation of PSUs. AITUC has appealed to its constituents to move jointly against the strategic sale of PSUs, which "if carried out will further weaken economic self-reliance and sovereignty of the country". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of the government's Africa outreach, Vice President Hamid Ansari will embark on a five-day tour of Nigeria and Mali to further strengthen India's bilateral engagements with the two nations. He will go to Nigeria first at the invitation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here. On the second leg of his trip, Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, four MPs and senior officials. In Abuja, Ansari will hold talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives and deliver an address at the National Defence College of Nigeria. He will also meet the governor of Lagos and deliver an address at the joint business forum at the University of Lagos. The vice president will inaugurate the High Commission of India Chancery complex at Abuja and interact with members of the Indian community both in Abuja and Lagos. "The vice president's visit (to Nigeria) intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic engagement and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of shared common interest," Swarup said. In Mali, Ansari will meet the president, the prime minister and also address the National Assembly. The visit to Mali is aimed at boosting the relationship between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation to expand and diversify bilateral relationship, the spokesperson said. (Reopens DEL 61) On ties with Nigeria, Swarup said relations between the two countries have traditionally been friendly and the bilateral partnership was elevated to a strategic one in 2007. "Both the countries also have strong defence cooperation," he said. India is Nigeria's largest global trading partner while Nigeria is India's largest trading partner in Africa with bilateral trade amounting to USD 12.6 billion in 2015-16. India is also the largest buyer of crude oil from Nigeria with approximately 12 per cent of the crude oil requirements being met through imports from the African country. Indian companies also have large presence in Nigeria, which hosts the largest Indian community in West Africa. According to Swarup, India has been a steadfast partner of Mali's reconstruction efforts, development and growth. Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore today asked the farmers to apply modern agriculture practices and latest scientific technologies. "Education, research and extension services must be stepped up to generate awareness among farmers on the application of modern agriculture practices and latest scientific technologies," he said after inaugurating a Kisan and Cattle fair. The Chandigarh administrator lauded scientists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) "who developed wheat varieties and enabled India to be self-sufficient in foodgrains after the independence," adding that "hard working farmers of Punjab also played significant role." "Agriculture today is at the threshold of a second green revolution as recent technological tools have opened up new frontiers of advancement," he addded. Badnore also lauded the initiatives of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University for promoting not only livestock, fisheries, poultry, goat and pig farmers but also educating and motivating children and youth to follow these agri-related professions. "There is a major scope for dairy and poultry sector in Punjab and need of the hour is to take effective steps to further promote agri-related professions as these are supplementary alternatives and employment generating ventures in rural areas," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army today paid homage to Havaldar Madan Lal, who laid down his life while foiling an infiltration bid in Nowgam sector of north Kashmir. Lal led his team in the operation that foiled an infiltration bid by armed terrorists on Tuesday. Army had foiled two infiltration bids in Nowgam and Uri sectors of Kashmir on that day. At a wreath laying ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua and other Army personnel paid rich tributes to the 37-year-old martyr from the Dogra Regiment, an Army officer of Northern Command said here. Madan Lal, who hailed from Gharota village in Pathankot, is survived by his wife Bhawna Devi and two children - a six-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. The mortal remains of the martyr will be taken to his hometown where the last rites will be held with full military honours. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of ASHA workers from across the state today staged a sit-in protest here seeking continuation the National Rural Health Mission, the second phase of which is set to end in 2017. The protest was held at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. According to the protesters, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005 for a 12-year period. Under this, Accredited Social Health Activists workers were instituted as community health workers to facilitate rural population in accessing health services. "The NRHM has proved to be a boon and helped in bringing down the infant mortality rate. Under this programme, 65,000 ASHA workers across the state have been providing medical services at nominal renumeration," working president of Maharashtra Rajya ASHA Swayamsevika and Samanvayak Mahasangh, Maya Parmeshwar, said. "However, as the NRHM is set to end in March 2017, the ASHA workers and other medical staff on contract fear that they would soon be rendered jobless. Therefore, we demand that the state government should adopt this central scheme and assure the ASHA workers that their jobs would be intact. The government should also increase the remuneration," she said. Accusing the government of neglecting them, the protesters said they were overworked but underpaid. Sarika Jadhav, an ASHA worker from Navi Mumbai said, "We create awareness among rural populace on factors related to health, such as nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, healthy living, but our own condition is pathetic. The government needs to pay heed to our working conditions and offer better facilities and remuneration." Parmeshwar said, "We demand that there should be a three-fold hike in the remuneration of ASHA workers, who have to carry out 48 different tasks." The workers submitted a memorandum to the Director Of Health Services of Maharashtra government and he has assured us to take proper action, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slamming Pakistan at the UN for providing safe havens to terrorists, Afghanistan said Pakistan has been waging an "undeclared war" on its people by plotting "merciless" terror attacks and training and financing groups like the Taliban and Haqqani network. Speaking at the UN General Assembly yesterday, Afghnaistan's Vice President Sarwar Danesh said his country has repeatedly asked Pakistan to destroy known terrorist safe havens but there has been no change in the situation. "Taliban and Haqqani network are trained, equipped and financed there," he said, adding that Pakistan has a dual policy of discriminating between what it views as "good and bad terrorists". He said that an "undeclared war" continues to be waged against Afghanistan and its people are still subject to "merciless attacks of terrorist groups". Citing the recent attack on the American University of Afghanistan and against a peaceful demonstration in Kabul, Danesh said based on "existing evidence", these attacks were planned and organised from inside the Pakistani territory. Danesh said that more than 10 Pakistan-based terrorist groups were creating obstacles for its state-building efforts and preventing the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan. He drew the global leaders' attention to the presence in Pakistan of past and current leaders of terror groups like Al- Qaeda, Taliban and the Haqqani network. "We ask all all of you: Where were the previous leaders of the Taliban and A1-Qaeda residing, and where were they killed? At this very moment, where are the leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani network located?" he said. Afghanistan has always desired peaceful relations with all countries in the region, however, the government reserves the right to do whatever is necessary for the defense and protection of its people, he said. He also called on the international community to ensure that no distinction is made between good and bad terrorists in the global fight against terrorism. Despite security challenges, Afghanistan has kept the doors of peace and negotiations open for those Taliban elements and other armed opposition groups who are willing to give up violence, return to peaceful life and adhere to the Afghan Constitution. "In this connection, a peace agreement is about to be signed between our government and Hizb-e-Islami Party. This will be an important step for progress in our peace process," he said. He added that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) composed of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US can remain a useful platform to further peace efforts, so long as the government of Pakistan acts in good faith to meet and fulfill its commitments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several Baloch and Indian activists held large-scale demonstrations outside the UN headquarters here while Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly as they were joined by other groups demanding that it stop "exporting" terror into India. The protestors converged across the street from the world body's headquarters to condemn atrocities and human rights violations by Pakistan just as Sharif was addressing the General Debate of the General Assembly. The crowd shouted slogans of 'Free Balochistan', 'Down Down Pakistan', 'Save World from Pakistan Terror' as they waved banners and placards that read 'US Government stop giving funds to Pakistan', 'Kashmiri Hindus are Humans, Wake up to their sufferings', 'Remove Pakistan from the UN', 'Stop Atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir' and 'Killing Fields of Pakistan - Sindh and Balochistan'. "Pakistan is a terror state and does not want the people of Balochistan to live in peace," Ahmar Musti Khan, founder of the American Friends of Balochistan told PTI. He said Pakistan and its leaders are committing crimes against the residents of Kashmir, demanding that the country stop "exporting terror and let its neighbours live in peace". He added the Pakistani leadership should respect the right to self determination of the Baloch people. Khan said the Baloch people are "indebted" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi "for speaking out for Balochistan's right and the right of the Baloch people to be the masters of our own destiny". He slammed the Pakistani army for its brutalities against "innocent Balochis", saying "the Pakistan Army is ISIS in uniform". The Baloch National Movement (BNM) condemned the Pakistani atrocities and the 'ongoing military operations' in Sindh and Balochistan. "Baloch and Sindhi people appeal to the freedom loving citizens of America and the world to support our demands for freedom, peace, and justice. We, the victims of Pakistani state aggression and crimes against humanity, want to tell the world that 'Pakistan is a nuclear-armed terrorist state' and must be stopped," the group said. Condemning the "barbaric" terror attack on the Uri camp in Kashmir and Pathankot air base, BNM said such attacks are part of Pakistan's policy of "aggression, employing terrorist methods and outfits to escalate war in the region". It said the Baloch people are grateful for the support extended by the Indian Prime Minister at "such a critical juncture when our nation is struggling to be free from the illegal military occupation of Pakistan since 1948". Jayesh Patel, the former President of the Overseas Friends of BJP, said Pakistan should stop terrorism against India, saying countless innocent lives have been lost due to attacks in Kashmir, mostly recently on the army base in Uri that killed 18 jawans. "The families of our soldiers are the worst sufferers," he said. (Reopens FGN7) The BNP yesterday said since 2003, more than 20,000 Baloch political activists have gone missing, illegally abducted by the Pakistani state security forces. "The victims of enforced disappearances are being tortured and executed in custody in thousands," it alleged. A crocodile handler known as the "Barefoot Bushman" was seriously hurt after being mauled by a massive creature while feeding it at an Australian wildlife park today. Rob Bredl, 66, was bitten by the 4.5-metre (14-foot, nine- inch) crocodile at Bredl's Wild Farm in Bloomsbury on Queensland state's central coast, the local ambulance service said. He suffered a "severe laceration to his left hand and also some bite marks to his lower right leg", paramedic Heather Shields added. "(He was) extremely lucky," Shields said. "He said that it was a fully grown adult crocodile about 4.5 metres long so he is very lucky. "He said it happened on land. It was attempting to drag him to the water but he's got away before he was submerged at all." Shields said there were "a lot of bystanders and tourists present" and they helped to staunch the bleeding before paramedics arrived. Bredl was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital in a serious but stable condition. A Bredl's Wild Farm spokeswoman said Bredl, whose family own the park, was in "good spirits" despite the attack. Crocodiles are common in Australia's tropical north. They kill an average of two people each year in Australia. Bredl is widely known as the Barefoot Bushman due to his tendency to shun shoes even when dealing with crocodiles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Belgian policemen were arrested after being found in a French border town with a vanload of migrants, officials said today, sparking a diplomatic incident. The police van carrying 13 migrants and the two policemen was stopped by French police in Nieppe, a town on the Belgian border, on Tuesday evening, after crossing from Belgium. The Belgian policemen were arrested and questioned before being released, an official source said. The policemen, from Ypres, said they had picked up the migrants after finding them walking along a road in Belgium. One of the officers, Georges Aeck, told Belgian broadcaster RTBF: "We didn't want to leave them... On the side of the road to walk to the border. "So we took them... In the direction they wanted to go." Belgium's ambassador to France, Vincent Mertens de Wilmars, was summoned today over the incident "so we can ask him for an explanation", the French interior ministry said. French authorities have already expressed "their strongest condemnation after this initiative which does not conform to the normal work practices agreed between France and Belgium". The Belgian police union said the French police had handcuffed their Belgian colleagues before questioning, a claim denied by the French authorities. The migrants were taken to a border police station in the northern French city of Lille. Three minors were placed in the care of local authorities and the adults have been temporarily detained while their status is assessed. The northern French port of Calais is a magnet for migrants who try to board lorries there to reach Britain, although it is not known whether the migrants in the incident had asked to be taken to Calais. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today rejected an application filed by the lawyer of the convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gangrape case seeking re-examination of some of the witnesses. A division bench of justices V K Tahilramani and Mridula Bhatkar said it can't entertain such an application at a stage when trial is over and appeals are being heard. Defence lawyer Harshad Ponda had sought the permission to re-examine prosecution witnesses K N Sinha, who led the CBI team which probed the case; Bilkis' nephew Saddam, who was eight-years-old at the time of the incident; and Budhsingh Patel, a 'writer constable' at Limkheda police station who wrote down the first FIR lodged by Bilkis. Ponda also wanted to call a new witness, Mangal Singh, another 'writer constable' at Limkheda police station. He wanted to re-examine the witnesses because the defence lawyers had made some mistakes during the trial and overlooked certain significant facts when cross-examining, he said. CBI lawyer Hiten Venegaonkar opposed the application, saying it had come at a "belated stage". Law does not allow calling of new witness or re- examination of a witness at a stage when the defence has concluded its arguments in the appeal, Venegaonkar said. The Bombay High Court is hearing appeals filed by 11 convicts in the case, as well as the appeal filed by CBI seeking death penalty for three of them. The accused were sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court here in 2008 for the gangrape of Bilkis and murder of her family members during a post-Godhra riot. On March 3, 2002, a mob attacked Bilkis' house at Randhikpur near Ahmedabad and killed seven members of the family. Bilkis, who was five months pregnant, was gangraped. The trial was transferred out of Gujarat for the fear that witnesses might be intimidated or influenced. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bollywood stuntman was arrested barely three hours after he fled with a luxurious car that he allegedly stole from Worli area, police said today. Shamsher Khan (30) was arrested at the nakabandi by Kurla Police near Kapadia Nagar in the wee hours of Tuesday when he was fleeing in an Audi, which belongs to a trading company director. He was on way to Navi Mumbai where he was going to deliver the stolen car to his accomplice, police said. Khan, who has performed stunts for several leading Bollywood actors and directors, stole the car from Vain Ganga Apartment in Worli in the wee hours of Tuesday. He got the keys from one of his aides Vijay Verma, who works as a servant in the building. Verma had stolen the keys from the car owner's residence, Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravinkumar Padval said. Khan and Verma were allegedly working on the instructions of a Navi Mumbai-based car dealer, who had assured Rs two lakh for delivery of the vehicle, police said. At around midnight on September 20, Khan got the keys of the car and after the theft, started for Navi Mumbai. As the car owner got information about her vehicle being stolen, she went to Worli Police and lodged a complaint. During probe, police found that Khan stole the car. The Worli police then flashed the message on wireless and alerted their counterparts in the eastern suburbs. The Kurla Police put up a cordon near Kapadia Nagar. They got information that Khan was a stuntman, so they put up more barricades to nab him. At around 5 AM on Tuesday, the Kurla Police caught him, Deputy Commissioner of Police Paramjeet Dahiya said. When police asked about the car, Khan said it belongs to his father. However, the police asked him to get down from the vehicle. They then took him in a van to the police station where he confessed that he had stolen the car from Worli, police said. Subsequently, the accused was handed over to Worli Police who arrested Khan and Vijay Verma yesterday, Additional Commissioner of Police Raosaheb Shinde said. "We have arrested the accused. We will find out if there is any racket of stealing high-end cars and selling them," Shinde said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today said politicians must maintain self-restraint and decorum while making statements on women. A division bench headed by Justice V M Kanade was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Poornima Advani seeking direction to the Union government to frame guidelines for ministers, political parties and its members on how to give public speeches. The PIL was filed in 2015 following an incident in which Congress leader and former minister Gurudas Kamat, while speaking at a political rally in Rajasthan, allegedly passed "derogatory, abrasive and misogynist" comments against Smriti Irani, the then Union Human Resource Development Minister. "In his speech, Kamat made derogatory remarks against Smriti Irani and her education and also about her character," the petition alleged. Advocate Anubhav Ghosh, appearing for the petitioner, argued today that Kamat's speech was just one example and that everyday some minister or political leader passes such derogatory comments. "Such comments are not only derogatory but also discourage a woman from entering politics. Guidelines have to be framed by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Welfare Development to address the issue," he said. The court, however, said the high court would not be in a position to direct the legislature to frame a law or policy. "But the political parties should have a consensus on this issue. Decorum has to be maintained by everyone not just politicians when it comes to women. It is a question of political will and self-restraint," Justice Kanade said. The court further observed that often politicians make a statement and when the next day it appears in the media, they deny it or say they did not mean it or their comment was taken out of context. The court today issued notices to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Welfare Department, Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and posted the petition for further hearing after two weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unidentified men hurled two bombs at the house of a contractor at Jaraka Bazaar in Jajpur district, the police said today. No one was injured in the bombing. The contractor Goutam Sahu said he was startled to hear loud explosions in front of his building yesterday morning. Jaraka beat house officer-in-charge P Tudu said though the exact reason behind the bombing was not yet established, past enmity over awarding of contract work was suspected to be the reason. The miscreants fled from the spot soon after hurling the bombs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Business Process Management (BPM) industry in India aims to reach USD 50 billion in terms of revenue by 2020, the industry officials today said. "We are looking at strong growth going forward and our target is to get to USD 50 billion in terms of revenue by 2020," NASSCOM BPM Council Chairman Keshav Murugesh told reporters here. Speaking on the sidelines of NASSCOM BPM Summit 2016 here, he said "What will drive growth and what is the kind of impact we are seeing- is strong focus on automation, digitisation and new model to help service clients, moving away from traditional models to much more outcome and output based models." "We are seeing a lot more a focus on advanced analytics, robotics processed automation not only in new areas, but also in the traditional areas, and what is interesting is we are seeing that existing clients are also looking at spending in new areas, while new clients are imbibing the new models," he added. According to industry officials with 2,500 plus firms, BPM industry's revenue in India in FY2016 was at USD 28 billion and the country's share in global sourcing is about 38 per cent. Of the USD 28 billion revenue, USD 3.6 billion is domestic BPM revenue. Stating that the M&A in the industry is taking place at this point in time, Murugesh said social media, mobility and other technologies are driving demand from customised services. (REOPEN MCM24) NASSCOM further said that with a share of over 25 per cent of the total IT-BPM exports, the industry added 49,000 employees to its workforce during the year. NASSCOM President R Chandrashekhar said that automation, digitalised processes and new business models are enabling the BPM sector to take a step forward in adopting a more strategic role as compared to being just another outsourcing platform. He said the next wave of growth for the industry would come from increasing demand of technologies like advanced analytics, social media, mobility and other new technologies, driving demand for specialised services. "The BPM sector has always been a major contributor towards the growth and the industry today has a more strategic and intellectual role to play, gravitating towards global competitiveness," he added. During the summit, NASSCOM also discussed the preliminary recommendations of its Consumer Interest Protection Task Force in dealing with reputational risk, which will be shared with the government and other relevant agencies in greater detail. The recommendations identify intervention points to address cases of tech fraud and enhance consumer interest protection like- prevention via development of a common code of practice featuring standards security, privacy and ethical practices; detection and reporting by setting up an accessible whistle blowing mechanism to register complaints. The last is investigation through an independent government investigation agency with the jurisdiction and power to co-ordinate between governmental agencies and departments, NASSCOM said. It further said the council was working on building a Centre of Excellence on data sciences and capacity development for emerging players, skill and talent. Actor Brad Pitt is reportedly under investigation for child abuse after after he allegedly got "verbally abusive" and "physical" with one of his children with Angelina Jolie on the couple's private plane while their other kids were present. The Los Angeles Police Department and LA County Department of Children and Family Services are both investigating after someone anonymously reported the incident last Wednesday on the tarmac, a source told People magazine. Pitt is accused of getting verbally abusive with one couple's kids, as well as getting "physical," the source said. Jolie was present at the time, along with at least some of their other children. The report allegedly indicates he had been drinking at the time of the incident. Another source said that Pitt, 52, did not return to the LA family home with Jolie, 41, and the children after the incident. TMZ first reported of the child services investigation. A source close to Pitt said that that he is not taking the investigation lightly. "He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children," the insider said. "It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light." Jolie, 41, filed for divorce and requested sole physical custody of the couple's six children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. In documents filed in court on Monday, Jolie cited irreconcilable differences in ending their marriage of two years. She listed the date of separation as September 15, a day after Pitt's alleged blow-up. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a move that may set the state on a collision course with the judiciary, a special session of both Houses of Karnataka legislature will be held tomorrow to take a call on the Supreme Court's direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu. Ahead of the session, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in Delhi today, a day after the cabinet decided to defer the release of water and convene the legislature session amid escalating row between the two neighbouring states. Apprising the Union Minister of the ground realities on its inability in implementing the Apex Court order, the chief minister requested the Union Government to file an objection against the court's direction to constitute Cauvery Water Management Board. "It is difficult for us to release water, alreadyas per the Supreme Court order we have released 12,000 cusecsfor 14 days.There is no water in our reservoirs. Whatis remaining in four reservoirs is only 26 TMC water,whereaswe need 27 TMC to supply drinking water to Mandya, Mysuru, Bengaluru and nearby areas," he told reporters inDelhi after meeting Bharti. Pointing out that Tamil Nadu is seeking water for irrigation and the Mettur reservoir there has storage of 52 TMC water, he said "I have explained all this to the Minister." Noting that the Apex Court had also asked the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, he said "it was uncalled for, neither us nor they (Tamil Nadu) had made a prayer for it. "I have requested that Solicitor General or Additional Solicitor General who represents government of India file an objection for it on September 27." The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September21 to 30, but the Apex Court had on September 20 doubled thequantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after TamilNadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop. It had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board asdirected by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. Siddaramaiah today also met Governor Vajubhai Vala and former Chief Minister S M Krishna ahead of his visit to Delhi. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Krishna saidhe "whole heartedly" congratulated Siddaramaiah and his cabinet for the stand they had taken, keeping the people's interest inmind. He said "government has taken a decision and we areall with it, completely." Stating that Krishna has supported government's decision, Siddaramaiah said he had also met the Governor and apprised him about the legislature session tomorrow and developments so far after the Supreme Court order. The Karnataka cabinet had last night decided to defer release of 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 23 when a special session of the state legislature would take a decision on the Apex Court direction. It had also requested the Governor to call a sessionof both the Houses of the legislature on September 23 at 11 AM. Meanwhile, principal opposition party BJP, which had boycotted yesterday's all party meeting called by the Chief Minister to discuss the Cauvery issue, today said itwelcomes the government's move. "BJP welcomes the cabinet decision deferring therelease of water to Tamil Nadu. We had also repeatedly saidthat the legislature was the most appropriate forum to discusssuch issues. The cabinet decision to convene anemergency session is also a welcome move," BJP PresidentYeddyurappa said in a statement. "BJP is committed for the welfare and interest of the people. We will not allow any injustice to be perpetrated on Karnataka," he added. China on Thursday distanced itself from Pakistani media reports which claimed that Premier had conveyed China's backing to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. "Premier of the State Council met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on September 21 in New York. They exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as and regional issues of common interest," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said when asked about reports that Li extended support to Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. "The issue of Kashmir is an issue left over from history. Our stance on that is consistent. We hope that parties concerned will pursue a peaceful settlement through dialogue," Lu said when asked about the Pakistani media reports. Pakistan's Dawn News reported that China endorses Pakistan's stance on Kashmir and Li had assured that China would continue to support Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. Li, while meeting Prime Minister Sharif on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, was quoted by the daily as saying, "We support Pakistan and we will speak for Pakistan at every forum." Similar reports were carried by other Pakistani media like Geo TV claiming China's backing as Sharif made unsuccessful attempts to shore up support for Pakistan's rhetoric on Kashmir. China also voiced concerns over the rising tensions in Kashmir after Uri attack and sought "effective" measures from New Delhi and Islamabad to ensure the safety of foreigners, including the Chinese, working on the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Asked whether China is concerned about safety of hundreds of its personnel working on CPEC amid reports that Pakistan has cancelled flights to areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) due to "air space restrictions" in the wake of Uri terrorist attack, Lu said, "the Chinese side is concerned about the tension in Kashmir". "We hope that parties concerned will exercise restraint, peacefully resolve difference through dialogue, avoid escalating tension and work jointly for peace and stability of the region," he said. About the concerns of safety of Chinese workers, Lu said, "We also hope that effective means will be taken by parties concerned to ensure the safety and normal life of local people and citizens from other countries including China". Lu's comments came in the backdrop of a sense of disquiet here over Pakistan escalating tensions in Kashmir as Beijing faces a complex situation over CPEC one of its biggest overseas projects. India has lodged repeated protests over the project which passes through PoK. China's Yangzhou city, regarded as a key partner in promoting investments in India, is set to host India Week celebrations from Friday with a business and investment meeting to be attended by chief executives officers (CEOs) of top Indian firms. The city in coastal Jiangsu province has been an important business partner for India in the Eastern China Region (ECR) and Yangzhou companies have shown keen interest in investing in India as part of the projects available under the 'Make in India' initiative, said Prakash Gupta, Consulate General of India in Shanghai. Xie Zhengyi, secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China's Yangzhou unit, will soon lead an investors' delegation to India to explore opportunities for investment, Gupta said. Besides Gupta, CEOs of leading Indian companies would be participating in the Business and Investment Forum on Friday. Their presentations would include initiatives such as smart cities, infrastructure development, banking, information technology and finance, urban transportation and power sector, Gupta said. A series of business-to-business meetings have been planned between Indian and Chinese companies participating in the event. As part of Yangzhou's International Cuisine Festival, an 'Incredible India Pavilion' will be inaugurated, showcasing select Indian food delicacies and promote tourism-related travel options for Yangzhou visitors to India. A week-long Indian Film Festival featuring dubbed versions of five Indian movies 'PK', 'Three Idiots', 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', 'Taare Zameen Par', 'Queen' would be held, Gupta said. Chris Pratt gave a piece of his mind to a fan, who started cussing at him when the actor could not give him an autograph. The "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor was caught on camera confronting a man who cursed at him after failing to get his autograph, reported TMZ. In the clip Pratt, 37, was seen walking out of the LAX and getting surrounded by a bunch of fans asking him to sign various memorabilia as he made his way to his SUV. He managed to sign some stuff, but decided to stop when he got into his car. A man who did not get the actor's autograph apparently expressed his disappointment by cussing at the him. Pratt rolled down his window and said, "You're cussing me out for not signing for you? You should be nicer, you have a cross on your chest and you're cussing me out? I made you guys a bunch of money just now. Come on man don't be a jerk. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Civic authorities here have transported over 1,000 stray animals, including cows, to forest areas triggering a hunger-strike by gau sevaks led by a Youth Congress leader against the move. The protesters alleged that the cows were left in the forest, the terrain of which is stony and near the railway tracks causing many of those bovines being run over by trains. Purported photographs of killed and injured cows were sent to the municipal council and the district collector, they said. The gau sevaks yesterday started the hunger strike against the civic body's move. The municipal council officials wasted money in transporting the stray cows. In a very inhuman way, they did not take note of safety measures for the animals, state Youth Congress general secretary Charmesh Sharma alleged demanding an inquiry into the matter. Meanwhile, Bundi Municipal Council Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Mangal said after several meetings with gaushalas over giving shelter to stray cows and animals failed, the decision to transport the animals into the forest was taken. Sections of the society have hailed the civic body's move, saying the roads are now free from stray animals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Chief Minister V Narayanasamy left here for Delhi to participate in the two day first meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council,beginning today. Official sources said Narayanasamy had been invited to participate in the deliberations. Since he holds the Finance portfolio, he would place before the meeting the rights of Puducherry and seek compensation for any loss the union territory would suffer in the event of implementation of the GST here. He will return to Puducherry tomorrow. The Puducherry Assembly had ratified the GST Bill through a resolution tabled by the Chief Minister on September 2. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Going ahead with its plan of setting up of around Rs 10,000 crore power plant in Odisha, CIL arm Mahanadi Coalfields has approached the environment ministry to seek green clearance for the 1,600 mw coal-based thermal plant. "Towards gainful utilisation of coal deposits in Basundhara area, Sundergarh district of Odisha...Company (Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd) has envisaged coal-based thermal power plant of 1600 (2x800) mw with super-critical technology," CIL (Coal India) arm said in its annual report. "...(MoEF) Ministry of Environment and Forests has been requested for enlisting the project for hearing in the forthcoming EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee) for consideration of grant of EC (Environment Clearance)," the report said. "EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) study (for the project) has been completed," Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) said. It further said that Central Electricity Authority -- the nodal agency of the power ministry -- has recommended the ministry for consideration of coal linkage for the project. A special purpose vehicle, Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd (MBPL), has been incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCL for setting up the project. The report said that MBPL has achieved several milestones towards installation of power plant. High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) of Odisha has approved the project in principle. Water Allocation Committee of Odisha has recommended 49 cusec of water from Hirakud reservoir to the proposed thermal power plant. "CIL board accorded its approval for the first year expenditure of Rs 1,019 crore to start the work and the proposal will be placed for approval of the project report in the CIL board subsequently," the report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seeking resignation of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for allegedly failing to ensure smooth functioning of the Assembly due to ruckus by the ruling BJD members, Opposition Congress today sought the President's intervention to uphold the Constitution and law of the land. As the House remained paralysed for the second consecutive day over the Mahanadi and Polavaram issues, Congress lawmakers suspected it as a part of a "well hatched conspiracy". "We demand resignation of the Chief Minister as he failed to run the House. His party members have been creating ruckus leading to disruption of the proceeding. The Speaker is also not acting in a neutral manner," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress told reporters. "It is clear that the Speaker is hand in glove with the ruling party as he blatantly fails to maintain neutrality. There is every reason to believe that the Chief Minister, the Speaker and others conspired not to allow the proceeding of the House and to adjourn the same," state the letter to President Pranab Mukherjee signed by 13 of the 16 Congress MLAs. This is not that the treasury bench members who stalled proceeding of the House, they too did not bother to respect the National Anthem. "When the national anthem was being played yesterday, the ruling BJD members rose to their feet, shouted slogans and disrupted the proceeding in the House," the letter said. Claiming that the Opposition was in utmost restraint during the developments, the President was informed that the Leader of Opposition had yesterday given a notice for discussion on the Mahanadi issue. Though the Leader of Opposition stood to speak on the notice after the national anthem, he was not allowed by the Speaker. The House was adjourned, the party members said. "The Chief Minister was present all through when the unruly scenes were orchestrated and he did not intervene. At no stage, the Speaker explored the possibility of resuming the business of the House either by calling for the Business Advisory Committee or representatives of all the parties to his chamber. The disruption of the House by the ruling party members continued on the second day today," the letter said. The Congress members drew attention of Mukherjee saying that there are a number of pressing issues for discussion like "police firing on tribals" at Kandhamal, malnutrition in various parts of the state such as Nagada, Kashipur and others, farmer suicide and indebtness, non-payment of crop insurance money to farmers due to drought, lack of basic health care, Kalahandi tribal Dana Majhi carrying body of his wife on shoulder and others. "It is apparent that the ruling party with its brute majority is hell bent on not conceding any ground to Opposition to have their say and bring to the fore the issues pressing the masses," the release said. The Congress members added that there is no instance anywhere in India, either in Parliament or in any state assemblies wherein the business of the House has been disrupted when national anthem is being played. Amid a raging debate on the issue of reservation for faculty in the IIMs, HRD ministry has said that constitutional provisions are supreme, apparently indicating these management schools should also enforce them. "Everyone is aware of the provisions in the Constitution on this issue. The Constitutional provisions are supreme," a senior HRD ministry functionary said when asked about the issue of reservation in faculty positions in IIMs. It is learnt that some of the IIMs, especially the older ones like at Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Chennai do not strictly provide quotas in teaching faculty. "As per a DoPT circular, some technical institutions have been exempted from providing reservation. Some of the IIMs have also been citing the circular," a source said. Sources said that as far as HRD ministry is concerned, there is a view that the constitutional provisions should be held supreme adding that provisions for reservation are there in the Constitution. It is learnt that there are enabling provisions for providing reservation in the draft IIM Bill, which the ministry intends to bring in the Parliament soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP leader Somnath Bharti, who was arrested on Thursday in connection with the AIIMS boundary wall dispute case, was granted bail by a Delhi court which ruled that chances of the legislator fleeing from justice was remote and he deserved the relief. Metropolitan Magistrate Anuj Aggarwal allowed the bail plea of Bharti while rejecting an application moved by Delhi Police seeking 14-day judicial remand for him. Bharti was produced before the court following his arrest this afternoon. "Considering facts and circumstances and nature of the offence and the fact that he is an MLA and a member of bar and therefore, chances of his fleeing from justice are remote, I am not inclined to send him to judicial custody and he deserves to be granted bail," the magistrate said while asking him to join the probe and not influence witnesseses. In his order, he said "on perusal of record, in my view Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC is not attracted at present since the security guards who were allegedly assaulted, do not fall within the ambit of public servant." The court said of the provisions for which Bharti was booked, there were only two non-bailable offences section 353 of IPC and section 3 (mischief causing damage to public property) of the Prevention of Damage To Public Property Act. During the hearing, police sought to remand the MLA in judicial custody saying that being a member of the legislative assembly of ruling party, he may threaten witnesses and hamper the probe, if bail was granted. Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, representing Bharti, opposed the police plea for judicial custody saying the accused was falsely implicated out of political vendetta. The counsel also claimed that police arrested Bharti to prevent him from representing another arrested party MLA Amanatullah Khan before the court. Bharti was arrested by a police team from Malviya Nagar this afternoon and taken to Hauz Khas Police Station where the case was registered against him on September 11. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by chief security officer of AIIMS R S Rawat. In his complaint, Rawat had alleged that Bharti had provoked a mob to damage the fence of the hospital with JCB excavator at Gautam Nagar Nallah road in South Delhi in order to give access to unauthorised persons inside AIIMS property and had also misbehaved with security personnel. A case was registered against Bharti under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of his public functions), 323 (causing hurt), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) and section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Bharti had then defended his action and accused the AIIMS of "lying" on the issue. "AIIMS is lying. They have been denying legitimate access to Gautam Nagar residents. AIIMS even refused to (go to) PWD meetings. Wherever commonman will be troubled, I will go. The allegation that residents dismantled the wall is a blatant lie. I will fight in court," he had tweeted then. Bharti was previously arrested by Delhi Police in December 2015, in connection with the attempt to murder and domestic violence case filed by his wife. As many as 12 AAP MLAs have been booked by the Delhi Police till now on various charges and 12 have been arrested, including a few multiple times. Curfew was on Thursday imposed in south Kashmir's Anantnag town, while it remained in force in three police station areas of Srinagar city in view of the separatists call for a protest march. Normal life, meanwhile, remained affected in the Valley for the 76th straight day. Curfew has been imposed in Anantnag town in view of the separatists call for a march to the district. The curbs also remain in force in three police station areas of downtown (interior city), a police official said. He said the three police station areas of the summer capital where the curfew was in force are Nowhatta, M R Gunj and Khanyar. The official said restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc continued to remain in force in the Valley. The separatists have called for a march to Anantnag and Srinagar uptown areas. The separatists, who are spearheading the current agitation in the Valley, have extended the protest programme till September 29. They have announced periodic relaxation in the strike on some days. Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain disturbed in Kashmir for the 76th consecutive day due to restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps continued to remain shut in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley, while public transport was off the roads. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also continued to remain shut. Mobile internet services also remained suspended, while the outgoing calls on prepaid numbers continued to remain barred across the Valley. As many as 81 people, including two cops, have been killed in the unrest that broke out a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in South Kashmir on July 8. Daimler Commercial Vehicles India is getting into fully-built bus business and plans to start exporting 9-tonne Mercedes-Benz school buses to the Middle East by the end of this year. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, also plans to expand its product portfolio in the domestic market by bringing in a 16-tonne bus chassis next year. It also plans to get into the business of selling buses to state governments and departments next year. "The 9-tonnes Mercedes-Benz branded school bus is meant to be sold in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and this is our start of fully-built bus business from India," Head of Daimler Buses India, Markus Villinger told reporters on the sidelines of IAA Commercial Vehicles show here. The company will start displaying the buses in the Middle East in November-December this year, he added. The school bus will be sold under Mercedes-Benz brand in the Middle East. They are sold as BharatBenz brand in India. DICV currently exports buses in chassis form (9-tonne) to South East Asia, Africa and Latin America. When asked if the company is looking at new markets, Villinger said: "In these regions (Africa, Latin America and South East Asia) we will look for new countries." Commenting on the expansion of bus business in India, Villinger said: "Right now, we have 9-tonne front engine chassis and beginning of next year we will start with 16-tonne front end chassis." DICV currently sells the 9-tonne bus chassis under BharatBenz brand and fully built 24-tonne bus with the Mercedes-Benz tag in India. Not disclosing the sales figure for buses, Villinger said: "First learning is that you have to fully adapt to Indian conditions, get rid of perceptions." On market share he said: "We have not planned for any market share target but yes, we want to increase it going ahead". "We have established competition in India. We have to see that the product which we give has an additional value and we are better in terms of safety ergonomics and quality in terms of competition," Villinger said. When asked if the company plans to introduce buses with alternative technology, Villinger said: "Daimler has the technology, we just need to select. But here, we are not supported by the government enough." Speaking on the business with state governments, Villinger said: "Next year, we are getting into business with state government undertakings and state governments. We will give fully built buses to the government." DICV currently has a production capacity to roll out 24,000 buses from Oragadam plant near Chennai every year. The company has made an initial investment of Rs 4,400 crore for truck manufacturing and an additional Rs 425 crore for the over 400-acre bus plant near Chennai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delaware teenager who told police he was afraid of getting into trouble for skipping school has pleaded guilty to killing his father with a crossbow. Seth Ramsey, now 19, pleaded guilty today to manslaughter and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He had been charged as an adult with first-degree murder. The judge set his sentencing for November 30. Court records say Ramsey told officers he killed his father, 41-year-old Todd Ramsey, in December 2014 because he feared his dad would be angry because he skipped school. Troopers checked the home after the father missed work, and found him dead in a bedroom from a single wound to the abdomen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Education ministers of BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- will come together here on September 30 to brainstorm on ways to cooperate in the fields of learning and pedagogy. "India is going to host in Delhi, a meeting of BRICS education ministers on September 30. The education ministers, senior officials of all the five countries will participate. The main issue is where these countries can cooperate in the field of education," Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar said today. During the meeting, he said the areas which would figure include encouraging cooperation and interactions among students, faculty and sharing of best practices. "A Delhi Declaration will also be made on September 30," Javadekar said. The HRD minister said the crucial issue of large number of vacancies in Indian varsities would be taken up during his meeting with the vice chancellors of the central universities next month. Encouraging varsities to raise more resources from activities like consultancy are among the topics that will be discussed during the meeting to be held at Banaras Hindu University on October 6, he said. The HRD minister said he would go to Mohali tomorrow for a meeting with the heads of six Indian Institutes of Science, Education and Research (IISERs) where various issues related to these central institutes of higher education would be discussed. Javadekar said his meeting with VCs and IISER heads follow his previous interactions with the top brass of IITs and IIMs. To queries on the issue of reservations in IIMs, HRD ministry officials said the constitutional provisions are supreme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Automaker Daimler AG is aiming to expand its product portfolio in India as it plans to launch sub 9-tonne trucks from next year, which will be sold both in domestic and export markets. The new product range, which the company terms internally as 'Titan', would have trucks ranging between 6-9 tonnes. "We will start in India with the product called Titan next year. We will start the products below 9-tonne from India to India and also to the world. That's very very important because now it's the third product," Daimler Trucks Asia Head Marc Llistosella told reporters here. Stuttgart-based Daimler AG is present in India through a 100 per cent subsidiary -- Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV). The Chennai-based company currently sells medium duty and heavy duty trucks ranging between 9 and 49 tonnes in the country under the brand name BharatBenz. Besides, the DICV-built FUSO trucks from Oragadam plant near Chennai are exported to markets in South East Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Llistosella said, since starting operations in India four years ago, the company has so far sold 42,000 units in the country and exported another 7,000 trucks. Besides, it has produced around 52,000-53,000 truck units till now from the same plant. The company exports its products mostly to Africa, Middle East and South America. "We are going step by step to some countries in South America like Peru, Chile and Colombia. We are picking some good markets with good size where we can position ourselves exactly where new Fuso needs to be, " Llistosella said. On sales network he said :"We have over 100 sales points currently. Now, we have started our third wave of dealerships which are smaller because we need to be in the rural areas, this is where India is growing." He also said that DICV is one of the biggest solar power producer entity in India. "Roughly 35 per cent of our energy supply is from solar panels..In two years from now, we will be self-sufficient in energy which is really remarkable," Llistosella said. Daimler has already invested Rs 5,000 crore at the Oragadam plant which is spread over 400 acres. The company has a production capacity of 36,000 trucks per year from the plant, which can be doubled. In June this year, it exported 5,000 units, less than three years after the start of overseas shipments in 2013. DICV and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) jointly operate in an organisational union under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia (DTA). Daimler Trucks Asia is not a legal entity, but a strategic business model which allows its group entities to collaborate in product development, production, exports, sourcing and optimising research activities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After days of being wooed by Congress, which was harping that its alliance with DMK would continue for the local body elections as well, the Karunanidhi led party also confirmed it today. The DMK asked its district secretaries to hold talks for the coming civic polls with all parties that had been part of its alliance for the May 16 Assembly polls. An announcement in DMK Tamil daily 'Murasoli' by party general secretary K Anbazhagan today directed secretaries to "deliberate with district functionaries of parties who were part of our party-led alliance in the Assembly election." Such talks were for "deciding the seats where the coalition parties had the opportunity to contest," he said. DMK fought the May 16 Assembly elections in alliance with Congress, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League, breakaway group of DMDK, "Makkal DMDK," and other parties. Makkal DMDK later merged with DMK. The announcement assumes significance as this is the first time the DMK has announced that its alliance will continue with Congress, though leaders of the national party had been claiming so. Anbazhagan told the district secretaries to send their inputs and recommendations on seat sharing, based on deliberations, to the party headquarters. The communique comes days after DMK deliberated the local body elections vis-a-vis continuing with allies for local polls as well in its district secretaries' meeting held on September 18 here. Though the party was expected to come out with a formal announcement on the question of alliance, it did not happen. DMK had said that the decision would be announced later. Also, a day after the September 18 DMK meet, TNCC chief Thirunavukkarasar had called on Karunanidhi and later asserted that the alliance between Congress and DMK would continue for the local body elections as well. Speaking to reporters today, Thirunavukkarasar said "you (journalists) have been saying that only we (Congress) are claiming that the alliance continues with DMK. Today DMK too has officially confirmed that," he said, adding seat-sharing talks "begins now" between the two parties. Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) chief G K Vasan too had recently called on DMK chief and party treasurer M K Stalin, apparently to explore possibilities to forge an electoral understanding. Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi chief Easwaran too had called on Stalin over the local body elections. Civic polls are expected to be held next month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a special session of the Karnataka legislature scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the Cauvery issue, Tamil Nadu Opposition DMK today urged the state government to follow suit to discuss the next course of action over the water sharing. "In Karnataka, the Assembly session has been convened hurriedly on September 23. At the same time, should not the legislature in Tamil Nadu also be convened," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in a statement. He said such a session could be useful to chalk out the next course of action and the strategy even as Karnataka has deferred water release. On September 20, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 27, besides asking Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board. Yesterday, the Karnataka government decided to defer the release of the 6,000 cusecs of water till Friday, when the special session of the state legislature discusses the Supreme Court's direction. Karunanidhi said that following the ruling, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah convened a cabinet meeting and an all-party meeting but no such meetings were being held in Tamil Nadu. Farmers in the state were not satisfied with the 6000 cusecs share of water as directed by Supreme Court, he said and asked why Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has not spelled out the government's stand on the quantum of water allowed by the apex court. Rescuers today brought more bodies ashore and searched for dozens still missing, a day after a boat crowded with migrants capsized off the Egyptian coast, drowning at least 51 people. Survivors said up to 450 migrants had been aboard the fishing vessel when it sank about 12 kilometres (eight miles) off the coast of Rosetta, an Egyptian Mediterranean port city. The military has said 163 survivors have been rescued so far, with a health ministry official saying 51 bodies had been retrieved. Authorities have arrested four suspected human traffickers over the tragedy, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean. A military boat was seen bringing six corpses to shore in bags, one containing the body of a child whose grandfather recognised him and knelt down in shock. Rescuers said the search would focus on the boat's cold storage room where witnesses said about 100 people had sought refuge as the vessel flipped over. "The death toll is going to rise," a medical source told AFP. "On the boat there is a hold used to store fish. It hasn't been opened and there must be a lot of people inside." The accident comes months after the EU's border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of migrants bound for Europe were turning to Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous sea journey. Traffickers often overload the boats, some of them scarcely seaworthy, with passengers who have paid for the crossing. On a beach near Rosetta today, a small crowd gathered with some reading verses from the Koran and others desperately seeking information on relatives who may have been on board. Many survivors were in police custody. A prosecution official said they would be treated like "victims and not perpetrators" and would be released. Witnesses spoke of the harrowing moment their vessel, carrying up to 450 people, keeled over due to overcrowding, as well as the agonising hours-long wait for help to arrive. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An apparent US drone strike killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members today in Yemen, including a mid-ranking commander, security officials said. A missile destroyed a vehicle which the three suspects were using in the region of Sawmaa in central Baida province, the officials said. One security official said jihadists had recently sought refugee in the vicinity following military operations against the extremists in nearby Hadramawt, Abyan and Lahj provinces. Two suspected Al-Qaeda members were killed yesterday in a similar strike in central Marib province. The United States has been involved in a years-long unmanned drone campaign in Yemen and is thought to have carried out dozens of strikes against what it says are members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). AQAP and the Islamic State group have exploited a power vacuum created by the conflict between the government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand their presence in the Arabian Peninsula country. The US has vowed to continue its campaign against AQAP, which it considers to be the Al-Qaeda network's deadliest franchise. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government against the Huthis has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes. The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP. More than 6,600 people have been killed in the Yemeni conflict since March 2015, the UN says. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate, Mumbai, has attached Rs 306.70 crore worth assets belonging to Jignesh Shah-promoted Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL). In a filing to the BSE, said: "The company has received a provisional attachment Order from the Directorate of Enforcement, Mumbai, attaching mutual funds amounting to Rs 306.70 crores." The company is taking appropriate steps in consultation with its legal counsel, it added. Earlier this week, CBI arrested promoter Jignesh Shah in a case of alleged cheating and suppression of facts in getting Sebi extension to MCX-SX to continue as a private stock exchange in violation of norms. is in crisis following the Rs 5,600 crore payment default at its subsidiary National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) in August 2013 affecting 13,000 investors. Earlier this year, the government had ordered a merger of scam-hit NSEL with its parent FTIL. The merger will allow for settlement of Rs 5,600 crore dues of the now-defunct exchange. Highly emotional scenes were witnessed today when 2-and-a-half year-old Kanav and his 6- year-old sister Shavita presented their last salute to their father Havaldar Madan Lal Sharma who had died while foiling an infiltration bid in Kashmir on Tuesday. Sharma was cremated with full military honours in his native Gharota village here with thousands of people participating in the funeral and bidding a tearful adieu to the martyr with pride. The 37-year-old Havaldar of the Dogra Regiment died on Tuesday while leading his team in the operation that foiled an infiltration bid by armed terrorists in Nowgam sector of Kashmir. The martyr's mother Dharma Devi could not stop herself and gave shoulder to the coffin of her son as the mortal remains were taken to the cremation ground. Shavita and Kanav saluted the martyr father which made the public and family emotional with tears rolling down the cheeks of their kith and kin. After final bugle and gun salutes by Army, he was cremated amid presence of the family, top officials of the army and a large number of people who raised slogans like 'Jai Shaheed, Jai army, Jai Hind' (haild the martyr, hail the army and hail the country). "I talked to him (Sharma) a few days ago. I was planning for 'mundan' (tonsuring ritual) of our son in the coming Navratras. So I requested him, through a phone call, to take leave and participate in the function for which dates were being finalised," the martyr's wife Bhavana Sharma said. "His reply was quick...He told me he cannot come home at this time as the situation in Kashmir was bad and his duty came first for him," she said amid emotional outburst. Sharma joined Army in 1999 and got married 16 years ago with Bhavana. "Daughter was born to us after many years of marriage and son only two and half years ago," she said. Madan Lal, who was the youngest of 3 brothers and 2 sons, lost his father few years ago. People praised him for making the entire hamlet proud with his martyrdom by foiling infiltration bids in Kashmir LoC. "He has made us proud," Shaheed Sainik Parivar Surakshna Parishad, General secretary Kunwar Ravinder Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Bandipora district of north Kashmir this morning, army said. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in Aragam village of Bandipora, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, an army official said. He said as the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter. Firing was going on at the encounter site when last reports came in, the official said, adding more detailsabout the operation were awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Country aims to improve its export turnover from marine products to USD 10 billion by the year 2020 through promoting safe and sustainable aquaculture, Chairman of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) A Jayathilak said here today. While the country garnered 4.7 billion USD through export of marine products in 2015-16, the target for 2016-17 fiscal has been fixed at 5.6 billion USD. "Sustainable methods of fishing and aquaculture production through diversification, particularly of L Vannemei variety, will aid this growth and enable us reach the export target by 2020," Jayathilak said at a press conference here on the eve of the biennial India International Seafood Show (IISS). Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the three-day show being organised by MPEDA and Seafood Exporters Association of India at the Port Trust Jubilee Stadium. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will also attend the inaugural meet. USA, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Vietnam, The Netherlands, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Germany and China are some of the countries, which are participating in IISS. As the host state, Andhra Pradesh hopes to utilise the event to give a thrust to aquaculture and boost fisheries production by sharing of technological know-how. The state tops in marine products export in the country with a 45 per cent share. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal today alleged that the prostitution racket, which is operational in Central Delhi's infamous GB road area, was "flourishing" with the protection from a "Union minister" and a "senior leader of a prominent party". She, however, did not reveal their names. Maliwal also alleged that the plan was to arrest her and get her removed as DCW chief through Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung as she had targeted the racket. "In the past few weeks, I have been conducting raids in GB road area, and trying to understand how this business has been flourishing just three-kms away from Parliament. "I wanted to know under whose protection it was flourishing. During investigation, we found a Union Minister and a senior leader of a prominent party were providing protection to those involved in the flesh trade," she told reporters here. "After I got to know about all this, an FIR was deliberately registered against me. I also got inputs that they will get me arrested and through LG, get me removed from the DCW," she added. Earlier this month, DCW had conducted a number of raids in GB road area. A couple and six others have been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly running a brothel in the area. Following this, 42 police personnel posted with the Kamla Market police station, under whose jurisdiction GB road falls, were transferred to other police stations for allegedly not taking action against the accused. Police, however, denied any connection between the two incidents and termed the transfers as "routine". Maliwal also said DCW had asked the municipal corporation to demolish the illegal basements and hide-outs being used to hide the trafficked girls and women. "We have been telling MCDs to demolish the illegal tehkhanas (basements) which are being used to hide trafficked girls. This is a business, but where the all money earned was going. "I am getting messages that don't interfere in GB road issue and do whatever else you want, but even if I am removed from DCW I will continue to fight for this issue," Maliwal said. Maliwal was under fire from the ACB on Tuesday, which had lodged an FIR against her in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment in the women's panel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora today vacated his official bungalow here, which was allotted to him as a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, following orders from the state government. The BJP government has now allotted Vora's bungalow to Lalita Yadav, who was recently inducted into the state cabinet, with the Congress terming the move as being "politically motivated". "I don't know why and how Madhya Pradesh cabinet took the decision to get the house vacated.... It was being reported in the media on and off that I have to vacate it," said Vora, who had occupied the bungalow since 1981. "The state cabinet probably decided that as I was elected from Durg (now in Chhattisgarh), therefore I am not entitled to it, but there is no clarity. They have ordered me to vacate it, so I have done," Vora told PTI. Earlier, Vora had written to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, asking for six months time to move out. "Yesterday I got a letter stating that six months' period is ending on September 30, so I decided to vacate today itself," he said. Vora denied the reports that he had an official bungalow in Chhattisgarh, saying he had neither demanded for a house nor was any allotted to him in that state. Becoming nostalgic, Vora noted that he first came to the house in 1981 as a Minister of State and continued to function from here for six months when he became the CM. He did not comment on other former Chief Ministers who were allotted official bungalows. All the former CMs are entitled to cabinet-rank facilities including a bungalow and support staff, a senior official said. Congress leader Mayank Agarwal alleged that as Vora belonged to Chhattisgarh, the facilities given to him in Madhya Pradesh were withdrawn and termed the action as "politically motivated". Vora, who is the treasurer of Congress, also informed that the party's defunct newspapers National Herald and Navjeevan will be restarted soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DAV Society, a Delhi based non-governmental educational organisation, has decided to waive the school fess and provide free education to the three daughters of martyred soldier S K Vidyarthi. "We have decided to provide free education to the three daughters of the martyred soldier till class 12th," Director of DAV of Gaya zone U S Prasad said today. The three daughters of Sepoy Vidyarthi -- Aarti, Anshu and Anshika - study in classes VIII, VI and II, in DAV Public School, Rotary campus medical unit, Gaya. The three sisters had appeared in the school for their examination on Tuesday, a day after of their father's death in Uri terrorist attack had come. They said they took the examination to keep commitment they had made to their father. School Principal A K Jana told PTI today that he and the school authorities would try to raise funds for the three for their studies after class 12th also. "We will be with them in shaping their career," Jana said. The Principal joined students and teachers, including the three sisters, in taking out a candle march in Gaya against the terror attack. S K Vidyarthi of Bihar Regiment hailed from Buknari village of Gaya district is survived by his wife, three daughters and a two-year-old son. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma today said the government is addressing cleanliness, connectivity and security to boost tourism. Speaking at the plenary session on 'Why Invest in Incredible India?' at the Incredible India Tourism Investors' Summit here, the Minister also noted that this is the right time to invest in the tourism sector of the country. The Minister of State for Tourism said the government is addressing cleanliness, connectivity and security to bolster tourism. Among others, the Ministry has introduced a helpline in 12 languages for tourists and the new aviation policy would also give a huge fillip to air connectivity, he added. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said films and advertisements can play a key role in popularising India. To make filming in India easy, the Ministry has set up Film Facilitation Office as single window for all clearances and approvals. This should be replicated in the states, he added. Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said ease of doing business, the policy landscape, sector-specific parameters, and availability of finance would attract investors. Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant noted that digitisation and urbanisation provide huge opportunities for tourism in India. Industry body CII's President Naushad Forbes said industry and government need to work together to ensure greater tourist traffic into the country. This can be achieved by changing perceptions through campaigns, word of mouth, and changing reality of tourist experience, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ration shop owners were today directed by the Delhi government to display clearly the inventory stock of all commodities and their prices, their working hours and their weekly off. Delhi government today reissued a set of guidelines to the ration shop owners following complaints of non-adherence to the guidelines, issued earlier in this regard, by them and asked to implement it within seven days. Kapil Mishra, incharge of the Food and Civil Supplies Department in the absence of Imran Hussain who has gone for Haj pilgrimage, also said ration card holders can rightfully look at the stock register, sale register, ration card register and cash memos of their ration store. "Many of the guidelines were being reissued as they were not being adhered to. The owners will have to implement the orders within the next seven days," he told reporters at a press conference. "All ration stores should put up a large information board outside their stores which will clearly define the working hours of the store as well as the weekly off. The store will display prominently the license number, inventory stock of all commodities and their prices in clear words outside the store. "Any ration card holder has the right to look at the stock register, sale register, ration card register and cash memos in their ration store. Every FSO (Food and Supply Officer) will have to conduct a public townhall on the first and third Saturday of every month," an official statement said. All the MLAs have also been asked to conduct monthly meeting of ration committees while the Assembly Ration Committee has been asked to submit its report to the Minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa is expected to be the next laboratory of the central government to generate power from tidal waves of the sea using Israeli technology. "Since last two years, I have been constantly pursuing whether we can generate power using tidal waves in the sea. Today, I came to know that we can start experimenting this by using Israeli technology which will help generate power using tidal waves," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told a gathering here in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. Hinting that the project would be set up in Goa, Gadkari said, "It will be cheap, and green power is very important for our green initiatives." The the Union Transport Minister also appealed to Parsekar to try and work out means to shift existing transport from conventional to green fuel. "There are a lot of initiatives which are taken by the Union government. The government is very much committed towards ecology and environment. As far as transport is concerned, we have decided to shift to green fuel. We have already two electric buses in Delhi," he said. "Goa is a very beautiful state. The way development is happening in Goa, we should be very cautious about the ecology. In Nagpur, we have tried experimenting with green fuel. Goa should take more initiative to protect environment. It is time to make Goa transport run on green fuel.We are there to support any initiative to protect the environment," Gadkari said. Stating that his ministry has been providing all possible support to the Goa government, Gadkari added, "In last three months, we have sanctioned a lot of schemes. In next two years we will be completing works of more than Rs 20,000 crore for Goa including parallel bridge on Zuari and various roads. The government has sanctioned Rs 120 crore for dredging of Zuari and Mandovi rivers, to off load the transport from roads to inland waterways, he said. "We are giving grant for the improvement of jetties. Goa government can give us the proposal, we will sanction it. The inland waterway development will be very much helpful for the people of Goa, tourists and transport of iron ore," he said. Gadkari said that since the Narendra Modi government took over, the highway length in Goa has almost doubled up from 240 km in 2014 to 597 km now. "The Chief Minister has already requested me to have an eight-km highway connecting the proposed Mopa airport in North Goa. I have already sanctioned that. The cost will be bore by our ministry," he said, adding, "Whatever the Goa government has demanded, we have completed." Gadkari also said that a model cruise terminal will be built in Goa to encourage tourism. "At present, Goa gets 20 cruise ships. Our request is to increase the capacity and we are planning for it. For that, a cruise terminal building is being constructed and work on it would be completed by December 2016. It would be of international standard with all kind of facilities," he added. The Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for conservation of rare, endangered and threatened species in the Sahyadri mountain sub-cluster of the Western Ghats. The government resolution (GR) issued today stated that the funds will be given to Shivaji University, Kolhapur for utilisation towards the purpose. The sanctioned amount is a part of Rs 30 lakh project of which half of the amount was already released and utilised by the university. The amount sanctioned today is the last installment under the scheme approved on October 30, 2012. The proposal named as 'conservation of rare, endangered and threatened plant species', was approved by the state government and funds were released in installments, the GR stated. The first installment of Rs 10 lakh was released on March 19, 2013 followed by second installment of Rs five lakh on March 15, 2016, the GR stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central government is looking to double food processing levels to 20 per cent by the end of its five-year term, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said today. "Once five years of this government are up, the food processing levels which are at 10 per cent should at least have reached 20 per cent," Badal told reporters at the sidelines of a conference here. "Having said that FDI (foreign direct investment) in multi-brand food retail has recently been cleared, fine tuning has been done, now we have to advertise this policy," she added. Kaur also recently visited top retailers in the food business to invite and promote India as a destination for business. "In my recent trip to the UK all top retailers in the food business including Sainsbury, Tesco, Harrods, Marks & Spencers, whoever was into food, evinced huge interest," she said. She, however, said that it was early days, and the ministry will target more countries, and retailers to invite them to conduct business here. "It is premature to speak of MoUs, but all big retailers are looking at India positively, and are keen to get into India with joint ventures. They are also keen to source from India. I will go to all countries and push aggressively," she said. The Ministry is also planning to conduct a World Food festival in March next year, to showcase the entire farm-to-fork process, and invite global players to participate. Pointing out that food processing is growing faster than our gross domestic product for the past few years, she said that tying up the retail side will help push the "much needed" infrastructure development. "After the government has opened up multi-brand food food, we have to create infrastructure to bring down wastage. Thailand and Vietnam process 70-80 per cent of their food, whereas only 10 per cent of our food is processed. The opportunity for us is huge," she said. In the last three years, the government has announced Rs 2,000 crore to offer cheaper credit to set up food processing units, excise duties have been reduced, subsidies have been offered to set up food parks, and cold storage chains, she explained. "We have already facilitated 20 cold storages, and a 100 more have expressed interest in setting up. We are creating a cold chain grid to reduce food wastage," she said. The government has also cleared 37 food parks, of which six have already been made operational and four more will be inaugurated this year, Badal said. "All the 37 will be operational in 18-24 months," she added. In the wake of a high alert sounded along the Mumbai coast after some men were seen moving suspiciously near a naval base there today, Gujarat was also put on alert and security agencies have been asked to keep a close vigil on the coastline, officials said. Additional DGP, Law and Order, Tirth Raj, said the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of coastal districts of Gujarat, along with officials handling the coastal security, have been asked to keep a tab on the activities. "After a high alert sounded along the Mumbai coast today, we have also issued an alert along the Gujarat coast. All the district SPs of coastal areas have been asked to remain alert and step up security along the coast through continuous patrolling," he said. "Apart from the district SPs of coastal region, we have asked the IGs and Deputy IGs of those regions as well as heads of Coastal Security Department to take necessary steps. They are also advised to be in touch with local fishermen to get first-hand inputs about any suspicious movements along the coast as well as in the sea," he added. A high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas today after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations. The alert, which comes four days after the Uri attack which left 18 soldiers dead, has led to roping in elite forces like National Security Guard (NSG), state police's specialised commandos Force One and ATS for the search and security, police sources said. Gujarat is located between Mumbai and Pakistan. Ten Pakistani terrorists had hijacked MV Kuber, a fishing trawler, off Jhakau coast in Gujarat to reach Mumbai for carrying out the 26/11 attacks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya today said the Gujarat Maritime Board has sought permission to set up a special force to secure 48 minor ports under its control. His ministry was considering the proposal positively and would consult the Home Ministry before any decision, he added. "Gujarat has a 1,600-km-long coastline and security of ports is very important. At present GMB controls 48 minor ports in Gujarat. Recently GMB has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Shipping to establish its own force of 1,500 SRP jawans to secure these ports," Mandaviya told reporters here. As per the proposal, GMB is ready to bear half of the cost of Rs 350 crore which the project would entail. "GMB wants the Centre to bear the remaining 50 per cent of the budget. My ministry will hold discussion with Home Ministry as well as Gujarat government before arriving at a decision," said Mandaviya, who was here to meet GMB officials. He also announced that large scanners which can scan the containers without opening them would be installed. "One such container scanner is already working at Kandla port, which is a major port ... Two such scanners would start functioning at Mundra and Pipavav ports. Later such facility will be provided in remaining ports," said the minister. Mandaviya apprised GMB officials about various clearances given by his ministry for the development of ports, harbours, shipping building yard at Bhavnagar, ship-breaking yard at Alang and other infrastructure in the state. "The Centre has decided to release Rs 200 crore for the welfare of workers of Alang ship-breaking yard in Bhavnagar. We have also assured all kind of support to Gujarat government for starting RO-RO ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej next year. The Centre would also give Rs 50 crore to develop Veraval and Mangrol as fishing harbours," said Mandaviya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Harshvardhan Kapoor is in talks with director Sriram Raghavan for his next. "We are in talks for a film but nothing is confirmed. Hopefully there should be an announcement soon," Harshvardhan told PTI. Raghavan is known for making hit thrillers like "Ek Hasina Thi" and "Badlapur", while his forthcoming project is also going to be of the same genre. "It is a thriller film. It's an original story. I can't talk more about the film," the 25-year-old actor said. Even before his first film "Mirzya" hits theatres, Harshvardhan has already started shooting for his second project, Vikramaditya Motwane's "Bhavesh Joshi". Meanwhile, "Mirzya", directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, will release on October 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Voicing concerns over the "deplorable" state of rivers in Mumbai resulting in drainage issues and water-logging during monsoon, the Bombay High Court today said authorities like BMC and MMRDA will have to jointly take immediate measures to address the issue. A division bench headed by Justice V M Kanade was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Atal Dubey, seeking a direction to the departments concerned to take necessary steps to tackle drainage problems and water-logging in the city each monsoon. The petition was filed after heavy rains brought Mumbai to a halt in June last year. The petitioner's advocate S C Naidu informed the court that after the July 2005 deluge, authorities had carried out dredging and rock excavation at Mithi river but as per a report by expert body National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), on a daily basis several tonnes of raw sewage are being dumped in the river till date. "According to the report, the original depth of Mithi river was 16 feet but as of now the depth is less than 7 feet because of constant dumping of raw sewage," Naidu argued. "This is a dangerous situation...If this is true...All authorities concerned have to sit together and find a solution. This is not the time to fight over jurisdiction. It is a matter of serious concern," Justice Kanade said. The court noted that because the authorities are not complying with the statutory provisions of treating sewage before dumping them, the rivers in Mumbai are in a "deplorable" state. "This leads to drainage issues and water-logging and then viral diseases like dengue and chikungunya are on the rise," it said. The bench directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to take immediate measures to stop deterioration of rivers in the city. It also directed the authorities to consider the recommendations made in the NEERI report and implement those on a war-footing basis. The petition was posted for further hearing on October 5. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Clearing the decks for the post- mortem of P Ramkumar, the sole accused in the murder of a woman techie, who allegedly committed suicide in prison, the Madras High Court today directed AIIMS, Delhi to depute a doctor for the procedure on or before September 27. Justice N Kirubkaran, who was appointed as the third judge by the Chief Justice to decide on the issue following differences of opinion among a two-judge bench, concurred with the view of Justice S Vaidyanathan in this regard and directed AIIMS to depute the doctor on or before September 27. He rejected the plea of Ramkumar's father that one of the doctors to perform the post-mortem should be of his choice to ensure transparency since it was a custodial death. The division bench, comprising justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and Vaidyanathan, had referred to the Chief Justice the appeal by the father of Ramkumar, challenging a single judge's order rejecting his plea. While Justice Ramesh had favoured an independent forensic expert to be present during the autopsy, saying it would fortify the stand of the state about its fairness, Justice Vaidyanathan said an independent person with forensic knowledge would create doubts in the minds of public about the arbitrary nature of the conduct of the state machinery. He had suggested another government doctor on the panel. Justice T S Sivagnanam had on September 19 turned down the petitioner's plea and appointed a panel of four government doctors to conduct the autopsy on the body of Ramkumar, who died on September 18 after reportedly biting a live wire at Puzhal Central Prison, where he was lodged. Ramkumar's father had challenged the order and filed the appeal. The bench had also ordered that the autopsy not be conducted till the decision was taken by the third judge. Ramkumar was arrested for allegedly hacking to death Swathi, a software engineer, on June 24 at Nungambakkam suburban railway station here. (REOPENS LGM 2) Delivering his order in a packed court hall late this evening after more than three hours of arguments, Justice Kirubakaran said he was directing inclusion of a doctor from AIIMS only to clear the cloud and in an endeavour to do complete justice, without discrediting or casting aspersions on the state's doctors. Moreover, conducting autopsy was a very serious issue and no third party can have any role even if he was highly qualified, the judge said. He agreed with the view of Justice Vaidyanathan that an independent person with forensic knowledge would in fact lead to creation of doubt in the minds of the public about the nature of investigation conducted by the state machinery. Delhi High court today reserved its verdict on Britannia Industries Ltd's plea challenging a single judge's order restraining them from using the packaging of its 'Nutri Choice Digestive Zero' biscuits in its present form. A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar said they will pronounce their decision shortly on Britannia's plea which has claimed that the single judge's September 6 decision was bad in law and cannot be sustained. It further said that the order restraining it from using its 'Nutri Choice Digestive Zero' biscuits wrapper in its present form on the ground that it was "deceptively similar" to packaging of ITC's Sunfeast 'Farmlite Digestive All Good' biscuits, was also "erroneous". "We have started Nutri Choice Digestive biscuit way back in 2008. They (ITC) have in fact copied us," the counsel for Britannia, an Indian food products company, said, claiming it was the "market leader". Referring to the design of the biscuit packets, Britannia contended that it does not want to come close to ITC, "but they should also not come close to us". ITC's counsel on the other hand claimed it was Britannia which had "adopted" their packaging as even the text on their packs were "replicated". Earlier, the bench had refrained from passing any interim order on Britannia's oral request to allow manufacturing of their product as it was stopped by the single judge. In its appeal, Britannia, had submitted that the order was "erroneous" as the single judge had not considered the fact that their packaging was different from that of ITC's. The single judge had granted four weeks to Britannia to phase out the existing stocks of 'Nutri Choice Zero Digestive' biscuits with the present packaging. The single judge's order had come on a plea filed by ITC Ltd seeking to restrain Britannia from violating its rights in packaging/trade dress of 'Sunfeast Farmlite Digestive-All Good' biscuits by allegedly using a deceptively and confusingly similar trade dress for 'Nutri Choice Digestive Zero' biscuits. It had asked Britannia to adopt a "distinctively different" packaging from the one currently used by ITC for its biscuit as such "deception" could confuse the consumers. The single judge had said it would be open to Britannia to adopt the packaging it uses for the product internationally or, while retaining the yellow colour, it could substitute the blue colour in the packaging with any other distinctive colour other than variants of blue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court today said it will hear on October five CBI's plea for cancellation of bail to senior Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra, who was in the agency's custody for over 21 months for alleged complicity in the multi-crore Saradha scam. The CBI counsel mentioned the matter before a division bench presided by Justice Nishita Mhatre, which directed that the matter be listed on October five for hearing. A bench presided by Justice Mhatre had on an earlier occasion cancelled bail granted to Mitra by a sessions court. Chief Justice G C Gupta assigned the CBI petition for hearing before the court of Justice Mhatre after a bench presided by Justice Ashim Kumar Roy had on September 19 refused to hear the matter out of turn on account urgency claimed by the investigating agency. CBI counsel K Raghava Charyulu had on the same day moved a division bench comprising Chief Justice G C Gupta and Justice A Banerjee seeking early hearing of the petition for cancellation of the former West Bengal Transport minister's bail, which was granted by a sessions court on September 9, on the ground that the matter is urgent. CBI claimed that Mitra was an influential person and that his remaining free on bail could influence witnesses. The chief justice directed the CBI counsel to file an application in this regard, following which he filed a written plea seeking early hearing of the petition. Following this, the court of the chief justice assigned the matter before the division bench of Justice Mhatre. The Alipore Sessions Court had granted bail to Mitra on a bail bond and surety of Rs 15 lakh each, rejecting CBI's opposition. The former minister has been charged under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. Mitra, who was arrested on December 12, 2014 for his alleged complicity in the Saradha scam, had earlier been granted bail by the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) of Alipore Sessions Court on October 31, 2015 after several of his bail pleas were rejected by different courts. But the breather had turned out to be brief as the Calcutta High Court cancelled his bail on November 19, 2015 on a petition by the investigating agency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two of the three Tamil Nadu police personnel wanted in connection with a Rs 3.90 crore highway robbery from a Kerala-bound car last month, were nabbed near Karur today, police said. A police inspector allegedly involved in the case was arrested recently. Police said they received information that the two police personnel, an inspector and a head constable, had tried in vain to file anticipatory bail petitions at a court in Madurai. They later received a tip-off that the two were near Karur, following which they were arrested and brought here early this morning for questioning, police said. On August 25, a five-member van-borne gang, including three dressed as policemen, had intercepted the Kerala-bound car on the pretext of carrying out a search. They had ordered the four occupants to get into the van and two of their accomplices followed the vehicle in the car. At a major road junction, they were forced to get out and the gang escaped with the cash and car, which was later found abandoned at Thrissur in Kerala. Police said their probe led to the arrest of three persons, who revealed the hand of the police personnel in the robbery. The trio also said that Rs 2 crore cash was taken by police and the balance distributed among them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Diplomatic offensive against Pakistan cannot be "fully effective" until the Centre takes steps to end "suppression of democratic rights" of Kashmiri people, CPI(M) said today and urged the government to hold immediate talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to solve the dispute. Noting that the Uri incident has occurred against the backdrop of mass uprising in Kashmir, the Left party suggested the government that the terror attack, which claimed lives of 18 Indian soldiers, cannot become "another pretext" for heightening "repression" in the Valley. In the editorial of forthcoming issue of party mouthpiece 'People's Democracy', former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat asked the Centre to launch full-fledged diplomatic efforts and sustained political initiatives to highlight Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorist outfits on global stage. "Any diplomatic offensive against Pakistan cannot be fully effective unless the Modi government takes immediate steps to end the use of lethal weapons like pellet guns and suppression of the democratic rights of the people in Kashmir. "It should initiate a political process of talks with all shades of political opinion in the state without further delay," Karat said. He also sought probe into how militants could cross the line of control (LoC) in Uri and penetrate a "heavily guarded" camp as he pitched for taking comprehensive measures to tackle threat posed by the infiltration of jihadi suicide squads. "Maintaining strategic restraint, the focus should be on strengthening the security arrangements on the LoC and the international border with Pakistan to ensure that infiltration does not succeed," he said in this context. The Marxist leader asked government to launch full-fledged attempt internationally to pressure Pakistan against "harbouring" terrorists. Karat, however, suggested India's alleged growing proximity with the US has not benefited New Delhi as he noted that Washington condemned the Uri attack, but did not mention anything about Pakistan. On the other hand, he added, Russia not only condemned the attack, but also acknowledged Indian claim that the terrorists came from across LoC from Pakistan. "Russia which has been a trusted friend of India is embarking on its first joint military exercise with Pakistan later this month. This step has to be seen in the background of the burgeoning US-India alliance," he said, questioning India's alignment "with US strategic interests". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian today left for New Delhi where he is expected to sign a long-delayed deal to sell 36 Dassault fighter jets to India. Dassault CEO Eric Trappier was part of Le Drian's delegation, an AFP reporter accompanying the minister on the flight said. Paris has stopped short of confirming the deal approved yesterday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet committee on security, with government spokesman Stephane Le Foll saying France was waiting for "things to be said officially". But a senior Indian defence ministry official said that Le Drian and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar would sign the accord tomorrow. The long-delayed deal is the biggest order for the Rafale after Egypt and Qatar each ordered 24 of the jets last year. India entered exclusive negotiations four years ago on buying 126 Rafale jets, but the number of planes was drastically scaled back in tortuous negotiations over the cost and assembly of the planes in India. Details of the agreement - notably the price tag - "will become clear after the signing event", the Indian official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today hoped that the bill introduced by two senior American lawmakers in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, will be treated with "utmost seriousness". External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said India has raised with China the recent Uri attack and Pakistan's involvement in it as well as the issue of UN designation for Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar by the 1267 Sanctions Committee. Replying to a query on the 'Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act (HR 6069)' bill by two US Senators, Swarup said, "It reflects the acknowledgement in the US Congress that a country to which the US had channelled so much aid is actually the epicentre of terrorism which has also targeted Americans and American interests. "The US Congress has also blocked USD 300 million aid to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) due to Pakistan's insufficient action against the dreaded Haqqani network. Earlier, the US Congress had also objected to the sale of F-16s (planes) to Pakistan. "The present bill has been introduced by two of the seniormost and highly respected members of the Congress and I am sure it will be treated with utmost seriousness." The bill has been moved by Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher, who is a ranking member of the influential Congressional Committee on Terrorism. "It is time we stopped paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism," said Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism. Swarup also mentioned that India has taken up with China the Uri attack and banning of Azhar. However, he did not elaborate further. It is understood that the issues have been taken at the "diplomatic level". China had blocked India's effort to get Azhar, a Mumbai terror attack mastermind, banned by the UN. Reacting to reports that Russia has cancelled the joint exercise with Pakistan in PoK, he said India's "sensitivities" towards Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism are well-known and same was also conveyed to its strategic partner, Russia. On India's assessment of Pakistan's diplomatic moves and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raising Kashmir situation during his speech at the UNGA yesterday, Swarup said no country has referred to the issue (Kashmir) that Sharif devoted 80 per cent of his speech to. "Two days have passed since the high-level debate in the UN General Assembly started. In each of these days, 25 countries have spoken. The UN Secretary General himself has spoken and laid out his main areas of concern. If you look at all the statements made so far, no one, I repeat, no one has referred to the issue that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif devoted 80 per cent of his speech to. "On the contrary, virtually every statement has referred to terrorism as the main threat to international peace and security, a fact that Pakistan still remains in denial of. Four of the five members of the Security Council have also spoken and their statements are also available for everyone to see." He also asserted that onus was on Pakistan to act against terror groups which find safe haven and all types of support for cross-border terror. He also said as far as the so-called dossier is concerned, there was no mention of the same in the read out given by the UN Secretary General's Office. "It makes no mention of the dossier. It does not talk about the Secretary General wanting to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, the Secretary General has very wisely said that this issue needs to be settled bilaterally," he said. All the countries in the neighbourhood, barring one, have condemned the Uri attack in the strongest possible terms as well as very strong reaction by most countries including the UK, France, Saudi Arabia and many others, he noted. The Indian government made 139 account information requests involving 495 accounts during January to June 2016 to social media site Twitter, according to its biannual Transparency Report. Information requests include worldwide government requests Twitter received for account information, typically in connection with criminal investigations, the report explained. According to the report, Twitter received 42 requests for removal of content from Indian government, police and other law enforcement agencies, while one request was based on court order. Globally, the US topped the list of countries in terms of number of account information requests with 2,520 requests covering 8,009 accounts of which Twitter produced information on 82 per cent of the cases. Twitter said that despite decrease in number of requests from the US, the country still remains the "top global requester", comprising 44 per cent of total requests received. Other governments that made a large number of requests for account information to Twitter were that of Japan with 732 requests (988 accounts), the UK with 631 requests (1,071 accounts), and France with 572 requests (687 accounts). Turkey was just above India with 280 requests for information covering 443 accounts. In case of India, Twitter shared some information in 31 per cent of the cases. Pakistan placed only 6 account information requests with Twitter, covering 22 accounts. "We have received two per cent more government requests for account information affecting 8 per cent more accounts during the first half of 2016 than in the the previous reporting period," Twitter said. Turkey topped the list of countries requesting Twitter to remove content from its site -- it received 712 court orders and 1,781 requests from Turkish government and police involving 14,953 accounts. Next came Russia, which made 1,601 requests involved 1,698 accounts, followed by France (466 requests, 758 accounts). "In the first half of 2016, Twitter received 13 per cent more removal requests compared to the previous reporting period. Removal requests originated from 37 countries, five of which are appearing in the report for the first time: Azerbaijan, Chile, Israel, Maldives, and the Philippines," Twitter said. Overall, removal requests affected a total of 20,594 accounts -- 2,600 had some content removed for violating Twitter's Terms of Service, 2,799 accounts had some content withheld (account-level or Tweet-level), and no action was taken on the remaining 15,195 accounts, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four women have made it to this year's Forbes India's 100 Richest People list, including O P Jindal group Chairperson Savitri Jindal and Biotech pioneer Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. The other tow women on the coveted list include Wife of Havells founder Vinod Gupta and USV Pharma Chairperson Leena Tewari. The four women have a collective wealth of USD 11.28 billion while the total networth of all 100 in the list amount to USD 381 billion. Jindal has retained the tag of being the richest woman in India with a networth of USD 5.2 billion, according to the annual India rich list compiled by business magazine Forbes. Jindal was placed at 19th position, as her fortune increased with recovery in steel prices. "(Her) Mumbai-based son Sajjan saw shares of his JSW Steel almost double in the past year. In May, he agreed to acquire a 1,000-megawatt thermal power unit for USD 750 million from his struggling younger sibling Naveen's Jindal Power & Steel, which is weighed down by USD 3.6 billion in debt," Forbes said. Among the four women on the list, Jindal was followed by Vinod Gupta at 46th position with a net worth of USD 2.5 billion, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (65, USD 1.8 billion) and Leena Tewari at 79th rank (USD 1.62 billion). Regarding Gupta, Forbes said buoyant sales of lighting and electrical fixtures boosted shares of Havells, founded by Gupta's late husband and run by youngest son Anil Rai Gupta, who is listed with her this year. Havells sold its 80 per cent stake in troubled European light manufacturer Sylvania in December for USD 160 million to Shanghai Feilo Acoustics. The company has recently started selling home-automation products and solar streetlights. Mazumdar-Shaw, "India's richest self-made woman" according to Forbes, was one of the eight returned to the ranks after their companies outperformed the stock market's 12 per cent rise in the past year. "Biotech pioneer Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's wealth climbed along with shares of her listed Biocon, which have more than doubled in the past year. The company, Asia's largest insulin producer, is aiming for a 10 per cent share of the global market," Forbes said adding that shares of contract research arm Syngene are up 92 per cent since its IPO in August 2015. Mazumdar-Shaw was recently awarded with France's highest civilian honour for her outstanding contribution to bioscience. Tewari, who chairs privately held USV India, was ranked 79th on the list. USV India was started by her late father as a joint venture with Revlon in 1961. USV specialises in diabetic and cardiovascular drugs, with a portfolio that spans biosimilar drugs and injectables and active pharmaceutical ingredients. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India, the US and Afghanistan have reaffirmed their shared interests in combating terrorism and advancing peace and security in the region as they explored ways to "coordinate and align" assistance in the war-torn country with priorities of the Afghan government. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson met here yesterday on the margins of the 71st UN General Assembly for a round of trilateral consultations. They exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and on "regional issues of mutual interest". "Reaffirming their shared interests in advancing peace and security in the region, as well as countering terrorism, all sides welcomed the discussions focused on political, economic, and development goals in Afghanistan, including the regional dimension," a trilateral statement issued after the meeting said. It added that the meeting provided a forum for the governments of India and the US to explore ways to coordinate and align their assistance with the priorities of the Afghan government. "They agreed that the dialogue helps advance shared values and goals, and decided to continue these consultations on a regular basis," it said. US Secretary of State John Kerry had said late last month during his visit to New Delhi that Washington would launch trilateral talks, which had stopped in 2013, with New Delhi and Kabul at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. During the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) in the national capital earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said, "In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation, India looks forward to resuming the meeting of the trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading Indian businessmen will participate in a panel discussion here next week to review India's FDI policy and identify key sectors for investment in the UAE. The industry-led panel discussion between India and the UAE will also highlight the goals of Indian entrepreneurs in the Middle East and the outlook for the future besides exploring strategic ties between both the countries. It will be the highlight of this year's Sharjah Foreign Direct Investment Forum (Sharjah FDI Forum 2016), to be held on September 28-29, a statement release said. "The UAE has deep-rooted historical ties with India. India is the UAE's second largest trade partner, while the UAE is India's third largest trade partner after China and the US. The annual trade between the UAE and India touches USD 60 billion (AED220 billion) at present," said Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq. "The diversity in investment and business opportunities available in both countries is supported by mutual expertise, modern technology, capital and skilled human resources. All these important elements have helped achieve the setting up of successful joint ventures and economic growth. "They have contributed to create strong and effective partnerships in various sectors, specifically in Sharjah, which is characterised by a diverse economic system, with no single sector contributing more than 20 per cent of the GDP," he added. Themed 'Growing Trade Links between India and the UAE,' the activity will form a central plank of the forum, which is being organised by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with the UK's Financial Times. The event will be attended by leading Indian businessmen here. The panelists will examine the outlook for growth and the ways to further bilateral relations in the light of the productive economic ties that the UAE and India enjoy. The forum will explore the reasons behind the volume of UAE investments in India, which reached USD 1.82 billion between 2000 and 2010, with the UAE's accumulated investments in India exceeding USD 6 billion, spanning the energy, service, metal industries, and property and construction sectors. The number of Indian companies registered with the UAE Ministry of Economy in 2014 stood at 4,365, 177 trade agencies and 5,579 trademarks, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eminent historian and biographer Ramachandra Guha today said Indian pluralism is facing one of its "greatest threats" from religious chauvinists who remain committed to undermine it. Speaking ahead of the launch of his new book "Democrats and Dissenters" here, Guha said India's adoption of a quite different model of nationalism saved it from its imminent disintegration as had been predicted by many leading intellectuals of the time. "Gandhi and others who chose a model of nationalism quite different from European nations which stressed on acknowledging and cherishing Indian diversity and not imposing a single language and single religion on others is what kept India united," Guha told PTI. He said a true nationalist must have a "sense of shame" for the crimes his government commits and must accept that his country is not perfect rather than worshiping a symbol and remaining committed only to hoisting of flags on educational institutions. "Indian nationalism is not adversarial like Pakistani nationalism. The BJP's nationalism is a mirror image of Pakistani nationalism. Hatred of Pakistan is important to the hindutva view of the world, but that should not be important to an Indian nationalist. An Indian nationalist is someone who cherishes the values of the Constitution. A true nationalist should be a critic of the failures of his government," he said. Noting that Indian pluralism is facing one of the its biggest threats today from some chauvinists who remain hellbent on converting a secular India into a "Hindu Pakistan", Guha said the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan has given rise to competitive Hindu fundamentalism in India. Guha said Indian pluralism is fragile as Indian republic is never far away from a communal right. Observing that Jawahar Lal Nehru's "greatest mistake" in Kashmir was not promising a plebiscite but incarceration of Sheikh Abdullah on a "false" charge, Guha said the move was a "blot on Indian democracy". Guha also took a dig at celebrated economist Amartya sen, who also finds a mention in a critical essay in his new book, saying the Nobel laureates' excursions into history are "mis-informed" and his forays into literature are "rather amateurish and often counterproductive." Published by Penguin Random House India, the new book contains 16 essays touching upon a plethora of topics ranging from comparisons between modern political histories of India, Pakistan and China, Kashmir issue and Sri Lanka's Tamil problem, sufferings of Adivasis with regard to Muslims and Dalits, down to themes like dearth of conservative intellectuals in India and decline of the Congress party. Terming tribals as the "most vulnerable people", Guha said in the interview that they had suffered economically and remained "politically invisible". Kashmir also finds a separate mention in a detailed essay where Guha compares it with Tamil conflict. He emphasises that the history of both Kashmiri and Tamil activism is of a "progressive radicalisation", of a move from moderation through assertion on to militancy. "Indian arrogance towards Kashmiris, and Sinhala intolerance towards Tamils, have at times been so brutal and extreme as to make reasoned and non-violent protest ineffective, and perhaps impossible," he said. About China, he declares that the Communist country has been more successful than India in tackling gender inequality and removing deep-rooted cultural and social biases. Lamenting the paucity of credible right-wing intellectuals in India, Guha proclaims that the precondition of a conservative intellectual renaissance lies in the construction of a first-person plural which is not narrowly based on religion alone. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal today joined a host of leading Sikh personalities for the inaugural function of the three-day International Sikh Conclave here. The Sikh personalities, who hailed from the country and abroad, would also discuss the arrangement for celebration of the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh between December 30, 2016 to January 10, 2017. Union Minister of State for Agriculture S S Ahluwalia and Uttar Pradesh jail minister B R Ramuwalia were also present at the function. Ruby Dhalla, ex MP of House of Commons of Canada and R S Sandhu, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Licestershir, UK were among a host of NRIs who came to attend the conclave. In his speech, the Bihar CM said, "It is a matter of pride and honour that I got the opportunity to organise Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj's 350th birth anniversary celebrations in Patna Saheb which has got an important place in Sikh religion." Scholars would participate in the conclave and the panel discussions to be held in four sessions on various subjects relating to Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj. Kumar requested the people at the conclave to visit places like Bodhgaya and Rajgir where Guru Nanak Dev spent some time. The state government has made arrangements for their visit to these places, he added. Punjab CM thanked Kumar for organising the Sikh Conclave and preparing for Guru Maharaj's birth anniversary celebration. Patna Saheb, which is one of the five Takhts, is one of the most pious places as it is the bith place of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, the CM said, adding Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh have also graced the state. (Reopens CAL3) The Punjab Chief Minister also gave a cheque for Rs 10 crore to his Bihar counterpart for construction of a building to accommodate people coming to Patna to participate in 'Prakash Parv'. Union Minister S S Ahluwalia, who hails from Bihar, referred Kumar as 'Sardar Nitish Kumar' at the event. Noting that Bihar, after Punjab, has the major Sikh population, Ahluwalia asked the state government to identify the places where Guru Sahab went and had sittings and declare them as places of historical importance. Ruby Dhalla, who was the first woman MP of House of Commons of Canada, spoke at length about the growth of 'Khalsa' philosophy across the globe "which is evident from the fact that out of 15 Sikh MPs in the Canadian Parliament, four are ministers in the Canada government." Nitish Kumar also released a book on Guru Gobind Singh and a mobile phone app giving tips and information to those visiting Bihar for attending the celebration. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav, Tourism Minister Anita Devi, former chairman of national minority commission Tarlochan Singh and G S Barnala also spoke on the occasion. Bihar ministers Krishnandan Verma, Awadhesh Kumar Singh, Abdul Gafoor and senior officers were also present. Voicing concern over the "continued restrictions" on journalists in covering courts including the High Court in Kerala, the International Press Institute (IPI) today urged the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court to lift them. Referring to the July 20 attack on media persons by some lawyers outside Kerala High Court Complex, the International Press Institute (IPI), an international body representing editors and scribes, also pleaded with the Chief Justice of Kerala Mohan Shantanagoudar for ensuring that journalists in the state are able to cover court proceedings "without fear of attack" or other forms of retaliation. "We respectfully urge court officials once again to lift any restriction on journalists ability to report from Kerala courtrooms and to ensure that journalists in Kerala are able to cover the judiciary without fear of attack or other form of retaliation," IPI executive director Barbara Trionfi said in the letter to Justice Shantanagoudar. Trionfi recalled that the IPI had on July 27 released a statement condemning the alleged acts of violence against scribes outside the High Court Complex and urged court officials to ensure journalists are allowed to report on proceedings without interference. "Unfortunately, it is my understanding that the situation has not changed and that journalists continue to be denied access to various courts in the state of Kerala, including the Kerala High Court," she rued in the letter, a copy of which is also marked to state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Noting journalists from the southern state have to rely on public relation officers of the High Court, Trionfi stressed it is not a substitute for independent reporting, which she suggested helps ensuring that court proceedings are conducted "fairly and impartially". "A free and independent judiciary and a free and independent press are two of the most important elements of any democratic society and both must be defended vigorously," Trionfi added. A group of advocates had on July 20 allegedly attacked media persons outside the Kerala High Court complex in Kochi, leaving two persons injured. The Ernakulam unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists alleged that the advocates resorted to violent protest against the media as they were provoked by its coverage of an alleged attempt by a government pleader to molest a woman here last week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Both Saiyami Kher and Harshvardhan Kapoor come from film families, yet the latter is getting more attention than his "Mirzya" co-star, and the actress feels it's justified as he is Bollywood star Anil Kapoor' son and people are bound to be more interested in him. The 24-year-old actress is making her debut with director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's romance "Mirzya". The film has generated a lot of buzz for its story, inspired by the folklore of 'Mirza-Sahiban', and the lead cast, especially Harshvardhan. Asked if she feels there is an imbalance in the limelight the two actors are sharing, Saiyami told PTI, "That's bound to be. That's natural. After all, he is the son of one of India's great actors. Had I been a media person, I would have also been more interested in knowing about Harshvardhan because he is the son of a big star! "I would have wanted to know about his childhood. In fact, I am also as excited as everyone else about Anil Kapoor's son being launched." About her own film background, Saiyami says she feels blessed she has so much to learn from her aunts-- Tanvi Azmi and Shabana Azmi-- and that they are by her side makes the actress extremely confident. "Shabana masi sent me a very sweet message before we started shooting. She said, 'You are in very good hands. Have fun and it will show on screen.' Tanvi bua also said, 'I'm there for you, whenever you need me.' There were scenes for which I turned to her for suggestions. So, I feel lucky." "Mirzya" will arrive in theatres on October 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar today welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court which cancelled the counselling conducted so far by private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh for admissions in undergraduate medical course and ordered that a combined counselling be held afresh. Welcoming the order, Javadekar said Supreme Court has today given a decision about Madhya Pradesh and tomorrow they are going to give a decision about Maharashtra and other states. "I believe the whole concept of NEET is giving admissions on merit. Nobody need to pay more than the fees and that is the basic concept of merit in admissions. And as a government we are always trying that they get it on the basis of their merit and not money power. Therefore, I welcome today's decision. But let the whole process be completed," he said adding that the courts are likely to hear related cases tomorrow. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice A R Dave today asked the Madhya Pradesh government to complete within a week the combined counselling process for both private and government colleges. It said two representatives of private medical colleges would participate in the counselling process to be conducted by the state government. The order came on a recent contempt petition filed by the Madhya Pradesh government alleging that private medical colleges have been refusing to admit students, who have taken part in the centralised counselling being conducted by it. The state government, while seeking initiation of contempt action against private medical colleges, alleged that they were conducting the counselling on their own. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand government has expressed its keenness to buy rice from West Bengal and wants to study the successful public distribution mechanism in the once Maoist-hit Jangalmahal of the neighbouring state. "Today I had a meeting with the Food Minister of Jharkhand. He has expressed his desire to buy rice from Bengal as they are very much impressed with the quality of rice that is being produced here," West Bengal Food Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick told PTI. Mullick said the Jharkhand government is very much impressed by the PDS system in (West) Bengal and wants it to take it up as a role model. "They are very much impressed by our PDS system, especially how this system has brought in drastic changes in the once Maoist infested Jungalmahal area. They want to take it up as a role model," Mullick said. Jharkhand Food Minister Saryu Rai while speaking to the reporters after the meet said, that they would try to implement the way the Bengal has successful implemented the PDS system in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after an 18-year-old girl was found murdered in the district, it has turned out to be a case of attack by an alleged jilted lover, with police arresting him and his friend. 21-year old Arasan, an MA first year student of Annamalai University in Chidambaram, surrendered before police in nearby Porayar last night while his college mate Rajmohan was arrested today, police said. Deepkia, a second year BA student of a nearby college, was found murdered on September 20 with severe head injuries in a dry canal in her village Appurasaputhur in the district after she went missing the previous night. The murder is the latest in a series of such fatal attacks on young women in the state by jilted lovers in recent months. Arasan allegedly confessed to hitting Deepika with an axe following a quarrel between them over arrangements being made for her marriage with another person, they said. Arasan claimed that he and Deepkia were in love and he had met her on Monday night after coming to know about the marriage proposal. He allegedly hit Deepika with the handle of the axe during a heated argument. His friend Rajmohan was standing nearby and both fled the scene in a two-wheeler. Based on Arasan's statement, police arrested Rajmohan this morning. Both were produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody. This is the fifth such fatal attack on young women in the state by jilted lovers since the brutal killing of software professional Swathi at a railway station in Chennai in July. A 23-year old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by a man on September 14 in Coimbatore for rejecting his proposal. The man later attempted suicide. Last month, an engineering student was clubbed to death in her classroom in a private college by her senior in Karur while a 25-year old teacher was killed in a church by a man, who later ended his own life. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Country's largest container port JNPT has beefed up security measures at the port and in the vicinity following a high alert on security issued by law enforcement agencies, a senior official said today. "We have beefed up the security measures and alerted all our staff. The CISF, which takes care of our security is on high alert and there has been an increase in the number of personnel out on the field," a senior port official told PTI. The official said the standard of surveillance in the port spread over 1,500 acres, adjoining to the fishing town of Uran where the suspects were spotted, has been upped, the official said. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) handles over half of the country's container traffic which contributes significantly to the export-import trade. The official said the port and CISF are coordinating very closely with the local police, Navy and other agencies. The 'marine team' which ensures in smooth flow of traffic by tasks like escorting vessels into and out of the port has also been briefed about the threat and is taking adequate precautions, the official said. A high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas today after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations. "As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks," Naval spokesperson Cdr Rahul Sinha said in a statement. Some reports said they were in military uniform. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid strong posturing by India and impulsive rhetoric by a section following the Uri attack, Congress leader Karan Singh today appealed for exercising restraint, saying millions of innocent people should not be made to suffer in the name of punishing the perpetrators of the strike. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that those behind the attack will be punished, he said, "We must not end up punishing millions of innocent men, women and children including our own citizens." In a statement, Singh, who was also governor of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed deep anguish over the manner in which the talk of "nuclear war" is being "bandied" in a section of the media. "Do we have any idea of the massive havoc and destruction that any nuclear engagement would necessarily involve on both sides? I must urge that despite our deep anguish, we have to maintain a sense of balance and proportion," he said. Singh, whose father Maharaja Hari Singh had agreed to accede to India by signing the Instrument of Accession in October 1947, said there was a need to view the whole situation in its proper perspective and take action as may be appropriate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To tackle dengue and chikungunya outbreak in the national capital, Chief Minister on Thursday flagged off the Delhi government's month-long fogging drive and said fighting mosquito menace is "no rocket science" if parties join hands in this effort. Even as he asked Congress and BJP workers to join the AAP supporters in the drive, he did not refrain from taking potshots at BJP-ruled civic bodies accusing them of not performing their duty in tackling mosquito menace. "There is no point in blaming each other. Mosquitoes bite Congress, BJP as well as AAP supporters. This goes on every year. This time MCD could not perform. I will not go into the reasons. All parties need to wage a joint war against mosquitoes. Getting rid of them is no rocket science," he said. Urging volunteers of every political party to ensure that no area is left out in the drive, the Chief Minister said, "People can get their homes fumigated on request." If the one-month experiment is successful, then fogging drive will be advanced to April-May next year, Kejriwal said. The workers, hired by a private agency, have been divided into several teams and deployed across the city to cover each and every locality. Each team, being led by a supervisor, will fumigate a lane and bylane every alternate day. "I work as a beldar. A senior labourer brought us here. We have been promised Rs 400 per day. Although I have not been assigned any area till now," Anil Kumar, handling a portable fogging machine, said. Scores of workers were lined up outside the Chief Minister's official residence. Thick plumes of white smoke covered the area as the machines spluttered to life around 11.30 AM. PWD Minister Satyendar Jain and a number of AAP MLAs were also present at the flagging off event. Jain said Kejriwal, upon returning from Bengaluru, was upset that there were complaints of inadequate fogging on the part of the civic bodies. At least 40 people have died due to dengue, chikungunya, malaria, in the national capital this season while nearly 4,000 people have been affected by these. Environment experts have time and again highlighted the pitfalls of excessive focus on fogging which they say does not achieve anything more than producing a feel-good effect among people. "Medical experts suggest that direct inhalation of diesel fumes (that fogging emits), combined with insecticides, can exacerbate asthma or bronchitis among those with respiratory ailments. Pregnant women, small children and old people are most susceptible to aggravation," a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says. However, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had assured that the fogging programme would be conducted according to World Health Organisation guidelines. A Kuwaiti court today sentenced Shiite lawmaker Abdulhameed Dashti to 11 years' jail in absentia for insults against the emirate's ruler and its neighbour Saudi Arabia. Any criticism of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah can result in charges of insulting him, and dozens of opposition activists have been jailed for the offence in the past few years. The verdict against Dashti, announced in a court statement, comes two months after he was sentenced to 14 years and six months for a similar offence. Dashti has been living abroad for several months, after leaving Kuwait in March to seek medical treatment in Britain. In the latest ruling, the criminal court in Kuwait City deemed as offensive his remarks about the emir and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The outspoken lawmaker was also convicted in July of endangering ties with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and for calling on people to join the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia. Dashti confirmed the latest court ruling on Twitter, saying he expects more sentences that could amount to 100 years' jail as he is facing about a dozen similar cases. The verdicts are not final but Dashti can only challenge once he returns to the oil-rich emirate. He has not said when he will go back. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Larsen & Toubro on Thursday said it has entered into a pact, valued at $99.7 million (around Rs 660 crore), with Vietnam Border Guard for design and construction of high speed patrol vessels. " has signed the principle contract with Vietnam Border Guard... For design and construction of high speed patrol vessels in India as well as transfer of design and technology along with supply of equipment and material kits for construction of follow-on-vessels at a Vietnam shipyard," the company said in a BSE filing. The high-speed patrol vessels are purpose-built for controlling and protecting sea security and sovereignty, detecting illegal activities such as smuggling, and undertaking search and rescue missions. Constructed of aluminum alloy, the vessels are about 35 metres long and can clock a speed of 35 knots with a state-of -the-art navigation and surveillance equipment and self-defence capabilities on board. In keeping with the government of India's Make in India policy, complete design and engineering of the vessels will be undertaken at L&T's dedicated Warship Design Centre with the vessels being built at L&T's state of the art Kattupalli Shipyard, off Chennai. S N Subrahmanyan, President and Deputy Managing Director of L&T said that contract is a testimony to L&T's world-class technological capabilities. He also hoped that the contract will pave the way for stronger bilateral ties between India and Vietnam. Malaysia's government has been criticised over plans to redraw electoral boundaries ahead of possible snap polls, with the opposition accusing it of gerrymandering to keep embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak in power. The Election Commission, whose members are picked by the government, has said it intends to reorganise boundaries in 112 parliamentary seats -- about half the national total -- as well as 445 of the 576 state seats. Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua from the Democratic Action Party said the new boundaries are designed to ensure a win for Najib who is embroiled in a massive corruption scandal involving state investment fund 1MDB. "With Najib Razak's popularity at the lowest in the history of prime ministers, and a 1MDB scandal that just refuses to go away, Najib has to find the formula to win the elections," Pua said today. He said the rearrangement aims to bundle opposition- inclined voters into "super-constituencies" with more than 100,000 voters, while breaking up ruling party supporters into smaller, multiple constituencies. The move would favour the dominant United Malays National Organisation which leads the 13-party ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, by allowing it to win maximum seats with the least possible votes, opposition politicians said. Bigger political constituencies could also hobble the opposition which has limited financial and manpower resources to garner votes. National polls have to be called by mid-2018, but there is speculation that Najib will call snap elections next year in a bid to renew his mandate. The 63-year-old premier is clinging to power despite increasingly damaging allegations that he took part in the looting of billions in state funds. Najib and 1MDB have repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the scandal. UMNO has been in power in Malaysia since independence in 1957. "This systemic rigging been going on for the past few decades," said James Chin, the director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania. "There is no doubt this is blatant gerrymandering. Najib is set to win again soon even before the first vote is cast." Electoral Commission chairman Mohamad Hashim Abdullah has rubbished the allegations and urged critics to file objections before October 14, adding that the proposals were not final. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rebel Congress leader Manas Bhunia will help the Trinamool Congress, which he recently joined, expand its base in Tripura by winning over the Congress voters there. Bhunia, along with senior TMC leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee, will soon pay a visit to Tripura. A senior TMC leader said the main reason behind Bhunia leaving the Congress was his unhappiness over Congress' decision to tie up with the CPI(M) in Bengal. "Just like him, many Congress leaders, workers and supporters of Tripura are unhappy with the Congress's decision to align with the CPI(M), which is their main opponent in the state," he said. The TMC leader said that he would focus on the pitfalls of forging alliance with the CPI(M) and how the Congress lost credibility in the state. Manas, however, did not like to dwell on his impending Tripura visit, but said, "I am ready for any assignment given by party chief Mamata Banerjee". The Trinamool Congress has already carved a place for itself in the Marxist bastion emerging as the principal opposition party after six dissident Congress MLAs had joined it last June. Sudip Ray Barman, who led the Congress dissidents in the sensitive Northeastern state said,"the people of Tripura had become fed up with the Left Front regime and disapproved of the tie-up between the Congress and the Left Front in West Bengal,". After her landslide victory in West Bengal, Banerjee and her trusted lieutenant Mukul Roy have been working to expand her party's influence in the Northeast with Tripura being the prime target. The Bengali population there forms the largest ethno-linguistic group in the state with nearly about 70 per cent of the population. According to TMC sources in Kolkata, Tripura and the Northeast hold a key to TMC's pan-India political ambition with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha poll where TMC wants to play a vital role. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India was today received by the Home Ministry which is examining it. "We have received Bugti's application for political asylum and it is under examination," a Home Ministry official said. Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva three days ago and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry. India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy. As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them. The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process. In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government. "Ultimately, it is a political decision at the highest level but we need to follow the process for the requisite paperwork," the official said. Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law. India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services host states must provide refugees. Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year. Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreenhas been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year. The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Rosemary's Baby" star Mia Farrow's son Thaddeus, whom she adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India, has died following a car crash. He was 27. Thaddeus died yesterday from a life-threatening injury stemming from the crash he got involved in earlier in the day, reported TMZ. Local media Hartford Courant then reported that Thaddeus was found "gravely injured" inside his vehicle in Roxbury, Connecticut at around 12.45 pm, he was transported to Danbury Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 2.30 pm. There was no foul play, according to law enforcement. Thaddeus, a paraplegic due to polio, was adopted by Farrow in 1994 from an orphanage in Calcutta, India, following her divorce from Woody Allen. Farrow has nine other adopted children. She also has four biological children, including Ronan Farrow whom she had with Allen as well as Fletcher Previn and twins Matthew and Sascha Previn with her second husband Andre Previn. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "The Great Gatsby" actress Mia Farrow's son Thaddeus has died following a car crash. He was 27. Thaddeus died yesterday from a life-threatening injury stemming from the car crash he got involved in earlier in the day, reported TMZ. Local media Hartford Courant then reported that Thaddeus was found "gravely injured" inside his vehicle in Roxbury, Connecticut at around 12.45 pm, he was transported to Danbury Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 2.30 pm. There was no foul play, according to law enforcement. Thaddeus, a paraplegic due to polio, was adopted by Farrow in 1994 from an orphanage in Calcutta, India, following her divorce from Woody Allen. The actress has nine other adopted children. Farrow also has four biological children, including Ronan Farrow whom she welcomed with Allen as well as Fletcher Previn and twins Matthew and Sascha Previn with her second husband Andre Previn. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A mob today pelted a district court in south Mizoram's Lunglei town with stones after they found that a man, accused of murdering a boy of their locality, was not brought there for production, the police said. The group surrounded the court premises and pelted stones smashing window panes of offices of judges who were still inside. Lunglei Sub-Divisional Police Officer D Laldingngheta said two persons were injured when police personnel baton charged them to control the situation. A group of people from Zohnuai area in Lunglei congregated near the court premises to see a man who was recently accused of murdering a boy from that locality, the SDPO said. They got furious after coming to know that a judge was holding a camp court inside the district jail, where the accused was lodged, to hear the case apprehending violence. The mob is still surrounding the court premises while the judges and magistrates were stranded inside either their offices or in court rooms, Laldingngheta said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moroccan police have arrested four "dangerous" suspected jihadists linked to the Islamic State group who were planning attacks across the country, the government said today. Investigators apprehended an individual on Wednesday in the northern city of Meknes who had been "planning terrorist attacks in Morocco," according to a statement from the interior ministry. The suspect had "acquired vast experience in the manufacture of remote-detonated explosives" and was "about to procure essential materials to make" a bomb, it added. Last week three suspected extremists were arrested around Tangiers, in northern Morocco, reportedly in the process of preparing "extremely serious terrorist acts", the statement said. The head of the cell had allegedly been contacted by a Moroccan IS member and had planned to travel to join the jihadists in Iraq or Syria. Rabat says more than 150 "terrorist cells" have been uncovered since 2002, including dozens in the past three years with ties to jihadists in Iraq and Syria. A study by the US-based Soufan Group said last December that at least 1,200 Moroccans had travelled to fight alongside IS in Iraq and Syria in the previous 18 months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI(M) today suggested that Odisha government move the Supreme Court for setting up a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute, as there is little scope to get justice from the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. A CPI(M) delegation informed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about the party's view during a meeting here. "The tripartite meeting among Chief Ministers of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on September 17 was in fact a bipartite meeting as the Centre defended (Chhattisgarh CM) Raman Singh," the party said in a memorandum to Patnaik. Though CPI(M) was critical of the Odisha government for raising the issue at the later stage of construction by the Chhattisgarh government, it fully supported the state. "Now the construction of Chhattisgarh government on the upstream of Mahanadi will bring miseries to Odisha and its people affecting livelihood of the people," the party said. It will affect power generation, and hit the eco-system of Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha sanctuaries, the memorandum said. So, it said, the CPI(M) requests the Chief Minister to take immediate steps moving the Supreme Court to set up a tribunal to settle water sharing of the river Mahanadi between Odisha and Chhattisgarh. "We want to make it very clear to the chief minister that the tribunal is the only way to resolve the Mahanadi row between the two states. Let the Odisha government file a petition in the Supreme Court to direct the Centre for formation of the tribunal," senior CPI(M) leader Janardan Pati said. Earlier, hundreds of CPI(M) activists took out a rally in the city demanding formation of a tribunal to resolve the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas today after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations by multiple agencies. "As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks," Naval spokesman Cdr Rahul Sinha said in a statement. Some reports said they were in military uniform. The alert, which comes four days after the Uri attack which left 18 soldiers dead, has led to elite forces like National Security Guard (NSG), state police's specialised commandos Force One and ATS being roped in for the search and security, highly placed police sources said. The Navy pressed its choppers for aerial surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats. Some children from Uran Education Society's school first spotted the suspects, and their teacher informed the police, the police said, adding none of them have been traced. The Western Naval Command (WNC) issued a "highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts where several sensitive establishments and assets are located. Western India's biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the country's largest container port, JNPT are located in close vicinity of Uran. Coastal security has been a top priority after the 26/11 attacks, in which multiple locations in Mumbai were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed using the sea route. The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern water front of the financial capital. The base located close to the town also houses units of MARCOS, the Navy's elite strike force. Indian Navy's Chief PRO Capt D K Sharma said the search operation was launched along with Maharashtra police and other agencies. According to information received by authorities, four school students spotted the men near Uran and Karanja area. The Maharashtra police has alerted all police stations along the coast, Director General of Police Satish Mathur told PTI here. Security has been beefed up at sensitive spots along the coast, including the Gateway of India, Raj Bhavan, offshore oil assets Bombay High, JNPT, BARC and other major establishments near the sea. "Indian Navy's Western Naval Command expeditiously reacted to the situation by first initiating an alert and informing all coastal security stakeholders... No person has been located or apprehended till now," Sinha added. Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police, Hemant Nagarale, and senior officials rushed to Uran to review the security situation and gathered details from the children, who spotted the men moving suspiciously. The coastline is guarded by a three-tier network which starts with the local police (with its coastal police stations) closest to the land, followed by the Union Home Ministry-led Coast Guard while the Indian Navy patrols the high seas. (Reopens BOM17) Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar said multiple security agencies were involved in extensive combing operations near the naval base in Uran and appealed to people to maintain calm and not believe in rumours. Kesarkar said the government has taken the incident of reported movement of suspicious persons very seriously. "We urge people to maintain calm, not to panic or believe in rumours. People should immediately report any suspicious activity in their vicinity to the police," he said. The minister said the government was quite capable of handling any security situation and deal with forces inimical to the country's interest. "There is no reason to doubt the information provided by the students. But it needs to be cross-checked. We already have the experience of (tackling) terror attacks in Mumbai," Kesarkar said. He, however, declined to divulge any further details. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra minister said there had been conflicting reports about the attire of the suspects. "Some say the suspects were five to six in number, while one student claimed he saw one person. While there were some who claimed the suspects wore 'burqa' (veils), others claimed they were wearing Army fatigues," he said. According to sources in the Home Department, the NSG, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Mumbai Crime Branch and Indian Navy are engaged in the combing operations. Director General of Police Satish Mathur said two students claimed they had spotted suspicious men moving around in Uran. While one student claimed spotting one person, the other put the number at five, he added. (Reopens BOM 19) Maharashtra Director General of Police Satish Mathur will be submitting a report to the state government on the developments, state additional chief secretary (home) K P Bakshi told PTI. "Search operation is still on. Navi Mumbai police and coastal police along with the Navy are involved in a search operation which will be carried out throughout night. We have stationed one NSG platoon and 70 commandos of Force One (a state government force) in Navi Mumbai," he said. The multi-agency and multi-area search operation was triggered by sighing of a few people moving around suspiciously, by a school girl. "At around 7 AM, a tenth grade girl saw five persons wearing Pathani suits and backpacks which seemed to be having some weapons. She reported this to the school principal," a senior police official told NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spotted a mysterious ice cloud over Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and its appearance challenges everything known about the moon's atmosphere. The puzzling appearance of the ice cloud has prompted NASA scientists to suggest that a different process than previously thought - possibly similar to one seen over Earth's poles - could be forming the clouds. Located in Titan's stratosphere, the cloud is made of a compound of carbon and nitrogen known as dicyanoacetylene (C4N2), an ingredient in the chemical cocktail that colours the giant moon's hazy, brownish-orange atmosphere. Decades ago, the infrared instrument on NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft spotted an ice cloud just like this one on Titan. What has puzzled scientists ever since is that they detected less than one per cent of the dicyanoacetylene gas needed for the cloud to condense, NASA said. Using Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer, or CIRS, researchers found a large, high-altitude cloud made of the same frozen chemical. Just as Voyager found, when it comes to the vapour form of this chemical, CIRS reported that Titan's stratosphere is as dry as a desert, NASA said. "The appearance of this ice cloud goes against everything we know about the way clouds form on Titan," said Carrie Anderson, a CIRS co-investigator at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre and lead author of the study. The typical process for forming clouds involves condensation. On Earth, we are familiar with the cycle of evaporation and condensation of water. A different condensation process takes place in the Titan's stratosphere - the region above the troposphere - at the moon's north and south winter poles. In this case, layers of clouds condense as the global circulation pattern forces warm gases downward at the pole. The gases then condense as they sink through cooler and cooler layers of the polar stratosphere. Either way, a cloud forms when the air temperature and pressure are favourable for the vapour to condense into ice. The vapour and the ice reach a balance point - an equilibrium - that is determined by the air temperature and pressure. Because of this equilibrium, scientists can calculate the amount of vapour where ice is present. "For clouds that condense, this equilibrium is mandatory, like the law of gravity," said Robert Samuelson, scientist at Goddard. However, the numbers do not compute for the cloud made from dicyanoacetylene. The scientists determined that they would need at least 100 times more vapour to form an ice cloud where the cloud top was observed by Cassini's CIRS. Instead of the cloud forming by condensation, they think the C4N2 ice forms because of reactions taking place on other kinds of ice particles. Researchers call this "solid-state chemistry," because the reactions involve the ice, or solid, form of the chemical. The findings were published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hub to provide support to entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST communities will be launched here next month with an initial outlay of Rs 490 crore. The National SC/ST Hub, under the MSME Ministry, was announced in the Budget. It will work towards strengthening market access/linkage, monitoring, capacity building, leveraging financial support schemes and sharing industry best practices. Union Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSME) Minister Kalraj Mishra said the Narendra Modi government is keen to inculcate the spirit of self-employment among the SC/ST population and urged upon all stakeholders, especially industry associations, to take up the initiative in mission mode. He said the ministry has made an initial allocation of Rs 490 crore for the period 2016-2020 for the National SC/ST Hub, according to an official statement. The hub would operate from National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Headquarters in Delhi, supported by a special cell created for this purpose. It would also enable Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to fulfil the procurement target set by the government. The Public Procurement Policy 2012 stipulates that 4 per cent of procurement done by Ministries, Departments and CPSEs would have to be from enterprises owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs. Minister of State for MSME Giriraj Singh emphasised the need to work at the grassroot level and start work on a pilot basis with identified CPSEs in the districts having large presence of SC/ST entrepreneurs. Government had earlier issued guidelines related to setting up of the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna was today appointed as to the US, a high-profile posting where he will face the task of engaging with a new administration in Washington following the November 8 Presidential poll. Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1980 batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted in London in January. He succeeds Arun Singh, who is due for retirement. The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the MEA. He had held the post between 2002 and 2008. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the External Affairs Ministry said. Government has also appointed 1988-batch IFS officer Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the next High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. He will replace Yash Sinha. In Washington, Sarna's main task will be to ensure continuity in Indo-US relations when a new dispensation takes charge. Sarna has authored many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' released last year. He was also India's to Israel from 2008 to 2012. For two years from August 2012, Sarna had served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations in the MEA. Sarna had served at various Indian missions including in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington. Yash Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner to the UK, is a seasoned diplomat and, in his career spanning 35 years, he has handled several important assignments at the MEA and in Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Seeking clarity at the earliest on the GST rate and its rollout as well as new emission norms, German auto major Daimler today said these issues are causing "much risk and uncertainty" in the market. "India started out with a good year. First quarter was excellent, 25 per cent up (for the company in terms of sales), year-over-year," Member of the Board of Management Daimler AG, responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses, Wolfgang Bernhard told reporters here. "However, the government managed to bring it to a sudden halt by announcing GST without naming a number and a date when this GST will be introduced," he said on the sidelines of 66th IAA Commercial vehicles exhibition. "This causes much risk and uncertainty in the market place and people hesitate right now to buy trucks," he added. Bernhard said: "So it's my advice and my request to the Indian government to overcome this uncertainty as fast as possible and please tell us the number and tell us a date and as soon as possible overcome the uncertainty in the market." He said right now the Indian market is slowing down again. "We are now at a level of last year all the good prospects of start of this year have been wiped out by this announcement." He added: "Our customers are hesitant, they don't know whether they should buy now or next year because they don't know the date and number. They suspect that they might be able to buy a cheaper truck next year due to the new tax regime. But they don't know. Nobody is certain everybody is waiting. You need a number and and date and everything clears up." Secondly, there is also lot of uncertainty about Bharat Stage 4 emission norm, he said. "Nobody knows when Bharat 4 will be introduced in the country. We are also very interested to learn what date Bharat 4 will be mandated nationwide. It is very important to know, just remove the uncertainty," he said. On the overall sales, he said, "We believe that after a good start in the first quarter this growth number will not be maintained throughout the year 2016 and it's not the question we can do, this is something which the government has to address." When asked if the company has spoken to Indian government on the issue, Bernhard said: "Of course, we always do. It's not our sending it's them responding." He said it is not clear when the government will be able to come up with a solution. "Because it's not a simple process of political decision making, this is very complicated I assume." He further said: "There is a question whether we will be able to introduce the new system by April next year with the beginning of next fiscal year. That will be highly desirable." So much is in the hands of the Indian government and it is much desirable to get a number and the definite date as soon as possible, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NHRC has issued notice to Uttar Pradesh government over reports of alleged "callousness" shown by authorities at a few hospitals in the state, including in Mirzapur where a 70-year-old man had to carry his ailing daughter-in-law on his shoulder, who eventually died. The notice has been sent through the state's Chief Secretary and the Commission has sought a detailed report on the matter within four weeks. The NHRC, in a statement said, media reports point towards lack of proper medical care facilities at few hospitals in the state leading to inconvenience to patients and their attendants. As per reports, the young woman was brought to a district hospital in Mirzapur on September 4 but the doctors "did not attend to her for nearly five hours." "She was taken to a private hospital but was referred back to the district hospital. No stretcher was available and the woman was carried by her father-in-law on his shoulders. Her condition deteriorated and she was referred to Varanasi on September 6, where she died the next day," the NHRC said in a statement. Also, a 12-year-old boy was carried on shoulders by his father at a government hospital in Kanpur as no stretcher was available there. The boy later died at the hospital, it said. "In another incident, an ambulance driver demanded a sum of Rs 1,500 for carrying the body of a deceased back to his village and the relatives were forced to carry the body on a motorcycle in Kasganj district before some people came forward and arranged a private ambulance," the statement said. "Such incidents, where the family members in the state of helplessness, are forced to carry their loved ones on their shoulders for want of basic infrastructure, are indicative of violation of their right to dignity and sheer callous and negligent attitude of the authorities concerned," it observed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two rockets launched from an area in Syria held by Islamic State (IS) jihadists slammed into the centre of a Turkish border town today, injuring nine people including children and prompting the army to strike back in retaliation. The first rocket hit a market area in the centre of the Turkish border town of Kilis, shattering windows and causing panic. Seven people -- six children and one adult -- were wounded, said Kilis governor Ismail Catakli, quoted by Turkish media. The adult, aged 34, was said to be in a serious condition. The youngest of the children wounded is a 10-month old baby and the oldest just 13, the Dogan agency said. All those wounded were refugees from the war in Syria, who now make up over half of the town's population. Shortly afterwards, a second rocket hit the town, wounding two people, one Syrian and one Turk, NTV television said. The strikes come one month into an unprecedented incursion into Syria by Turkish forces aimed at rooting IS jihadists and Kurdish militia from the border area. The necessity of ending cross border rocket strikes like the latest attacks on Kilis was one of the reasons given by the government for the operation. Following the rocket strikes, the Turkish army said it shelled IS targets in Syria 64 times and also launched air strikes on two IS positions inside Syria from where the rockets had been launched. "Many Daesh (IS) terrorists in the area were neutralised," it said in a statement, without elaborating further. Kilis has come under repeated attack from rocket fire from Syria in the last months, with 22 people killed, over half of them Syrian refugees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There will not be a repeat of the ethnic war with Tamils, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has assured the international community as he sought their help to make the country a nation "devoid of differences". Addressing the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Sirisena said his government would preserve Sri Lanka's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty while chartering the country's democratic journey based on an indigenous thinking. He said Sri Lanka has in recent months taken many steps for socio-economic transformation, leaving no room for the repeat of the separatist war. He appealed to the international community for support to make Sri Lanka a modern nation devoid of differences. Sirisena, who defeated the Sinhala-majority favoured Mahinda Rajapaksa, has introduced several political reforms since being elected President in 2015. He has made an attempt to address the concerns of the Tamil minority to achieve reconciliation. Tamils, however, say a lot more is needed to be done. For the same reasons he has faced criticism from the majority nationalists for giving in to the Tamil separatists. Sri Lankan forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009 after a nearly three decades of civil war. In the final phase of the war an estimated 40,000 civilians were killed. More than 20,000 people are said to be missing in the island, some of them since the late 1980s, with their families continuously demanding an international probe. The UN too has been pushing for a special court to investigate the allegations. Sri Lanka has dismissed the figures as "excessive" but the UN Human Rights Council has passed three consecutive resolutions since 2012 demanding accountability for warcrimes blamed on both the government troops and the LTTE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's olive oil imports are expected to rise 20 per cent to 13,500 tonnes this fiscal on the back of rising demand in metros and tier II cities, a top Indian Olive Association official said. The country had imported 11,106 tonnes of olive oils, 65 per cent of which is sourced from Spain, in 2015-16 fiscal. "Imports have been encouraging so far and we are hopeful the total imports during the year would rise by 20 per cent to 13,500 tonnes," Indian Olive Association (IOA) President Rajneesh Bhasin told PTI. The country has imported 3,062 tonnes of olive oils in the April-June period of the 2016-17 fiscal, which is 19 per cent higher than 2,583 tonnes in the year-ago period, he said, a similar growth is expected in the coming quarters. During the last year, Bhasin said that the olive oil imports fell because of high global prices in view of poor crop in Spain, as well as hike in import duty of edible oils and weak Rupee against Euro, he said. "However, the crop prospects this year look bright in Spain and we hope this will bring down global prices. Rupee is also strong against Euro this time. All these factors should reduce the cost of produce at the source and boost imports," Bhasin said. That apart, the domestic demand for olive oils is growing in tier II cities as well as in metros, he added. Bhasin said the share of Pomace olive oil in total imports is coming down as consumers are switching towards Extra light variants. India largely imports olive oil from Spain, Italy and Turkey. While India consumes 17 million tonnes of edible oils but the share of olive oil is only 0.1 per cent. More than 90 brands are competing for such a small share of market. The top three brands in the domestic market, which together control more than 70 per cent of retail sales, are Leonardo, Figaro and Borges (including Cesar). Some other prominent brands include RS, Bertolli, Del Monte, Fragata, Colavita and Athena. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oxford University today announced the launch of a new scholarship to support Indian students studying law at the world-famous institution. The scholarship at Somerville College has been set up in memory of Cornelia Sorabji, the first female law student at Somerville, the first Indian woman to study at any British university back in 1889, and also the first woman to practice law in India and Britain. The scholarship will cover up to 50 per cent of the entire cost of the degree, which is usually around 36,000 pounds including tuition fees and lodging. The college is celebrating her 150th birth anniversary this year with the first awardee of the Cornelia Sorabji Scholarship in Law, Divya Sharma from Chandigarh, taking up her Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree this week. "Cornelia Sorabji was a woman of tremendous spirit and courage and someone who paved the way for many Indian students, including (former Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi at Somerville. India is a key part of our college and this scholarship will pave the way for more graduates to follow in their footsteps," said Prof Alice Prochaska, principal of Somerville College. The college is now campaigning for it to eventually become a fully-funded endowment to support bright Indian students who often win admission to Oxford University but are unable to bear the high costs associated with it. To be successful, the applicant will be expected to demonstrate not only exceptional academic merit but also a commitment ultimately to return to India to put their skills and experience into practice. While the scholarship is open to any high achieving Indian student, female students will be especially encouraged to carry on Sorabji's ideals. The finalist is chosen by the college from a list of Indians offered admission to the university and on the basis of a 500-word essay on how they plan to make use of the Oxford law degree in their professional life. The initiative is backed by Dr Kusoom Vadgama, historian and editor of 'An Indian Portia: Selected Writings of Cornelia Sorabji'. The holder of the scholarship will belong to the Faculty of Law and the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development at Somerville College. The Centre was established three years ago as a result of a grant of 3 million pounds from the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development, matched by Somerville College and the University of Oxford. It offers five permanently endowed scholarships for Indian graduate students and six students have already benefitted from those scholarships since they started in 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault on an army camp in Uri town in Kashmir that killed at least 18 soldiers, saying it has "nothing to gain" from this attack. Such incidents are part of the "Indian attempt to divert attention of the world community" from Kashmir, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly briefing here. "Pakistan has nothing to gain from this attack...It has become Indian habit to point accusing fingers at Pakistan after every such incident in India," he said. India has told Pakistan that it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack and demanded that Islamabad refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism directed against this country. Zakaria said the entire nation was ready to defend the country in case of any attack by India after the Uri incident. To a question on airspace restrictions over northern part of the country, he said that Pakistan Air Force was carrying out routine exercises which are not linked to the prevailing security situation. He claimed that Pakistan "has concrete evidence of Indian sponsored terrorism in various areas including Balochistan and Karachi, which had been proved by the arrest and confession of RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadev". "The recent statement of Indian Prime Minister was yet another proof of Indian involvement in terrorism and terror financing in Pakistan aimed at destabilizing the country," he said. The spokesperson said that the request by Baloch leader Brahmdagh Bugti to seek asylum in India "only confirms that India was deeply involved in terrorism in Balochistan". He said Pakistan is a peaceful country and peaceful neighbourhood is the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who has demanded the UN to implement its resolutions on Kashmir. Zakaria alleged that India security forces were continuing "brutalities" in Kashmir and asked the UN Secretary-General, UN Human Rights Commissioner and international community to take measures to stop the violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Baldev Kumar, lodged in a Peshawar jail for his alleged involvement in the murder of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa minority affairs minister Sardar Sooran Singh, plans to move court after assembly speaker refused to administer oath to him. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar refused to administer oath to Kumar and his oath taking has not even been made an item of assembly agenda for the session. The Election Commission of Pakistan had declared Kumar as the returned candidate on the reserved seat which became vacant after the murder of Singh in April. According to rules, after issuance of the notification by the Election Commission, oath taking should be included as an item in the assembly agenda of the day. Sources said Kumar has started consultation with his well wishers and close relative for taking the matter to court. Kumar was arrested by police for his alleged involvement in the murder of Singh, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Buner district, some 160 kms northeast of Peshawar. Soon after the attack, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. The constitution permitted the runner up candidate Kumar to take oath as Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA). However, the provincial government led by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had taken a tough stance after nomination of Kumar in the murder of Singh and had decided then that the government would not allow an accused to sit in the assembly. Interestingly, the constitution permitted the runner up candidate against the minority seats to become member of the assembly after the death of the incumbent MPA. However, this law does not apply to the runner candidates contesting against the general seats as in this case by-elections were held for filling the vacant seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress today came down heavily on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying the "conspiratorial omission" of Uri attacks in his UN General Assembly address is an admission of public guilt and asked Pakistan to abandon terrorism as its state policy. AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also said that Sharif at the UNGA once again betrayed Pakistan's mindless obsession with Kashmir at UNGA and its diabolical designs will never succeed. "A guilty conscious needs no accuser, Mr. Sharif. Isn't conspiratorial omission of Uri Attacks at UNGA an admission of public guilt? "Pak must abandon 'terrorism' as its 'state policy'. Mr Sharif, isn't that expectation reasonable for a sustainable dialogue?," he said on twitter. Taking on the Pakistani leader over his doublespeak, Surjewala said, "Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Dawood (Ibrahim) operate in Pakistan under your tutelage yet Mr Sharif has audacity to speak on terrorism." The Congress leader told Sharif that talks are not a favour to India either, saying that "Pakistan's unending stubborn belligerence has denied opportunities to our countries". Surjewala also tweeted, "PM Sharif once again betrayed Pakistan's mindless obsession with Kashmir at UNGA. Pak's diabolical designs will never succeed." Speaking at the UN General Assembly yesterday, Sharif raked up the Kashmir issue and glorified slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A British-Pakistani conman involved in a 113 million-pound high street bank cyber-fraud, who made so much money that he flew team of valets from Scotland to Lahore to polish his fleet of luxury cars, has been jailed for 11 years by a UK court. Feezan Hameed Choudhary, 25, mastermind of the biggest cyber- fraud Scotland Yard has ever seen -had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and launder money and was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court last week. The Glasgow-based criminal, partied with pop stars while splashing out on Rolex watches, jewellery, trips to Dubai and shopping sprees in Harrods. He owned several luxury motors including a Bentley and a Lamborghini after the scam raked in more than 3 million pounds a month. He was so obsessive about his motors he flew staff from Platinum Polish in Glasgow on an 8,000-mile round trip to buff up his fleet of Porsche Cayennes at his luxury villa in Lahore. He also flew the polishers to Dubai to treat a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. "It was a Monday-to-Friday, nine-to-five operation, and they were just smashing victims all day, running their criminal business like a proper business. People sometimes think fraud is a victimless crime but the impact on the victim's lives has been very upsetting for them," Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Gould, head of Scotland Yard's Falcon Taskforce which tackles cybercrime, told 'The Times'. Choudhary ran a so-called "vishing" fraud, in which customers were called and tricked into giving their private details before their accounts were robbed. He and his gang scammed 750 victims and attempted to steal from thousands more. He was found guilty of setting up a sophisticated criminal network across the country that included his 21-year-old brother Nouman, who helped to launder and invest the cash, and three Lloyds bank staff who passed on customer details and set up business accounts used to funnel money out of the country. The banks have recovered 47 million pounds but police believe that most of the outstanding 66 million pounds has been laundered to Dubai and Pakistan and spent on property. The gang also used cash on leasing Bentleys, Range Rovers, Lamborghinis and other expensive cars as well as financing Choudhary's glamorous engagement. His fiancee, 25-year-old Ayesha Nadeem, was also jailed for 20 weeks earlier this year after pleading guilty to money laundering. The fraudsters were caught after an extensive covert operation by the Falcon taskforce, supported by 16 other forces. When the police moved in, Choudhary fled but was arrested in Paris last November while trying to board a flight using a false passport. In total, 19 people were jailed including the three Lloyds bank staff. Nouman Choudhary was jailed for three-and-a-half years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private equity (PE) investment in retail real estate jumped over 13-fold to Rs 3,350 crore in the first six months of this year on the back of some big- ticket deals, according to a global property consultant. "The first half of 2016 witnessed the highest annual PE investments in retail with over Rs 3,350 crore being invested, compared to only Rs 250 crore invested in H1 2015. This is the highest annual PE investment made since 2008," Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) said in a statement. Institutional and PE investors are more confident towards investing in retail assets owing to factors such as improved leasing activity, relaxed government policies and positive economic outlook, it added. Moreover, with the government clearing tax hurdles for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT), PE funds are increasingly exploring opportunities in the retail sector as the retail assets can also be listed under a REIT portfolio, the consultant said. The share of retail sector assets in cumulative PE investments in India has increased to 18 per cent in H1 2016 as compared to 2 per cent recorded in H1 2015. "The Indian retail market appears to have bottomed-out from its slack and is expected to grow in the coming years. Factors such as positive economic outlook and large market potential continue to attract retailers to India," C&W India MD Anshul Jain said. "In addition to consumer spend, which expanded by 10 per cent during last 12 months, e-commerce is also contributing majorly to the increased retail spending by Indian consumers," he added. Jain said some e-commerce companies are expected to take up physical spaces in malls to reach out to a wider Indian audience. "Retailers are also increasingly consolidating their operations by mergers and acquisitions to cut down competition, gain market share and capitalise on synergies to get better results for their bottom-lines. All of these trends are resulting in increased investments by financial institutions and PE funds in this asset class," he said. Terming higher PE investment as encouraging development, Jain said the focused and more institutional ownership of malls would help to bring in even more professional management and development of the malls, leading to maturing of the retail sector within India. The new mall supply increased to 4.8 million square feet in the first half of 2016 from 0.2 million square feet in the same period of 2015. Delhi NCR accounted for 64 per cent of the share in new supply during the first half of 2016 but it also accounts for the second highest vacancy rate (20 per cent), owing to over-supply of retail spaces in the market. Delhi NCR and Mumbai remain the largest retail markets, it said, accounting for 35 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a case of alleged racial profiling in the US, police surrounded a Sikh man carrying a kirpan after getting calls about an apparent Muslim walking around a shopping centre with a 'large knife' or 'sword'. Harpreet Singh Khalsa, 33, said he was the victim of racial profiling in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, but police stated that those who called in their concerns did the right thing. Police in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, received multiple calls about an apparent 'Muslim man' walking around the Bethlehem Square Shopping Center with a "large knife" or "sword". Multiple officers responded to find Khalsa sitting inside a van parked in the fire lane. "The cops surrounded me and told me to put my hands on my head," Khalsa was quoted as saying by WFMZ-TV. Khalsa, visiting from Maryland, was not carrying a large knife or sword. He was wearing a kirpan -- one of the five articles of the Sikh faith. Khalsa said he was scared having so many officers around him. "Embarrassed, humiliated, ashamed, for even bothering to come to Bethlehem," Khalsa said. Given recent attacks in New York and Minnesota, officers said people are on higher alert. "People are a little sensitive to things that are unusual," said Captain Greg Gottschall, Bethlehem Township Police Department. "They did the right thing. They called for us to come and check it out," he was quoted as saying. However, Khalsa said he was racially profiled and misunderstood. "To have a caller in the first place is pointing to racism, clearly racism," Khalsa said, adding that it was "fear-driven racism". Khalsa was not charged, and his kirpan was returned to him. But the Sikh man said he does not plan to come back to the Lehigh Valley and called the way he was treated "un-American". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Various political parties today slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his speech in United Nations glorifying terrorists and demanded a strong Indian response against it at world fora, even as BJP sought that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state. Congress slammed Sharif for his Kashmir rant and for glorifying terrorist Burhan Wani at the UN while demanding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj give a strong and befitting reply during her address at the world body, other parties also joined Congress in attacking Sharif. BJP demanded that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state, alleging that its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke like the "supreme commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen and openly campaigned for terrorists at UN General Assembly. The RSS also attacked Pakistan for committing atrocities in Baluchistan, Sindh and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and said its misadventure in Kashmir, where it is making Kashmiris kill their own people, will bring destruction to Pakistan. The Congress demanded that the government build a strong and factual case for India in front of the International community and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consult all parties before deciding on "concrete and tangible steps" in the wake of Pakistani onslaught. "Conspiratorial omission to Uri Attack in his speech is a public admission of guilt by Pakistan, of its direct involvement in this act of cowardice. There was nothing new in his address, except glorification of terrorists and extremism which Pakistan has adopted as 'state policy'," Congress' chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said here. In "glorifying" a terrorist like Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, Sharif only reiterated where his and his country's sympathies and support lies, he added. "The international community must now understand fully that it is not only terrorists in Kashmir that Pakistan supports but its state policy is to provide an umbrella support and sustenance to all those who wreck havoc across the world," Surjewala added. "If you look at Nawaz Sharif's speech, Kashmir occupies half the space. In some way, this entire approach by Sharif undermines the Uri attack, because on one hand you want to talk in terms of human rights violations and you want to put your neighbouring country in the dock. But the world has seen that you are exporting terrorists and militants to that country," senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said, "Nawaz Sharif at the United Nations yesterday was at his pathetic best. He talked not like the supreme commander of Pakistan, but he talked like the supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. "It clearly shows that there is no need for any further explanation. Pakistan should straight away be declared a terrorist state", Madhav said. Sharif was openly campaigning for one of his terror commanders Burhan Wani of Hizbul Mujahideen, he said adding "It is so pathetic to see the Prime Minister of Pakistan campaigning for the cause of UN designated terror organisation." Madhav also said that India has already given a befitting response to Pakistan at the diplomatic level and would respond accordingly to its Uri misadventure at various levels. Describing Pakistan as a 'renegade state' that has emerged as the 'central processing unit' (CPU) of global terror, Surjewala said in what has now become habitual, Sharif again invoked Kashmir at a multilateral forum, despite Pakistan being a signatory to the Shimla Accord. "We urge upon the Prime Minister and the government to consult all political parties in taking a concrete and tangible step on this," he added. RSS leader Indresh Kumar said thousands of people have been killed in Baluchistan, Sindh and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and lakhs have been displaced there and all this would prove costly for Pakistan. "Pakistan is trying to get Kashmiris killed by Kashmiris. Nawaz Sharif's tune on Kashmir is not in sync and Pakistan's misadventure in Kashmir will lead to its own destruction," he told Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today flagged off two passenger trains between Bhiwani and Hisar here, and said more train facilities will be made available in Haryana in the future. The trains were 54634 Ludhiana-Hisar passenger train and 54631 Dhuri-Hisar passenger train. Speaking on the occasion, Prabhu said the train services were extended up to Bhiwani on the demand of traders and local people of the areas. The people are hopeful the services will help give a push to their businesses and other activities. More train facilities will be made available to Haryana in the near future, he said. The 54634 Ludhiana-Hisar passenger train will depart at 12.00 PM from Hisar and will reach Bhiwani at 1.45 noon. Similarly 54631 Dhuri-Hisar passenger train will depart from Bhiwani at 16.00 PM and will reach Hisar at 17.45 PM. The trains will have stoppages at Satrod, Hansi, Jita Khera and Bawani Khera. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has sent a proposal to the Venezuelan government that the Latin American country -- already reeling under a financial crisis -- may settle dues of Indian pharma companies through oil exports, a senior commerce ministry official said today. As the situation in Venezuela remains "grim", there is delay in getting response, said Anice Joseph Chandra, Director, Ministry of Commerce. "The issue is under active consideration of the Centre. The ministry of commerce is liaisoning with the ministry of external affairs, the department of finance, RBI and some public sector banks to find out a solution other than diplomatic channels," Chandra told reporters here. "In Venezuela, the situation has gone out of control of the government there. The currency has gone for a toss. We would like to have some kind of barter system like China had. We have some kind of a draft proposal. Unfortunately, the response from their side is very slow. We have to be little patient." Chandra made it clear that the Venezuelan government is equally keen on having some solution to the problem. Indian pharmaceutical exporters are facing issues in getting payments from Venezuela due to the government's regulation on repatriation. The South American country is India's largest trading partner in that region, particularly in the oil sector. The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has already raised concern over the delay in payments and sought the government's intervention. A Pharmexcil office-bearer said Indian pharma companies are to get about Rs 2,000 crore from the crisis-hit country. Chandra claimed that Venezuela survives on Indian medicines and the Centre has been interacting with it on a continuous basis for several months. "Our mission there is fully activated. We have called Venezuelan ambassador also," she added. She further said that besides the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union has agreed to have Indian officials during inspection of manufacturing facilities in India. Meanwhile, Indian pharma exports stood at USD 16.9 billion during the last financial year, with USD 5.7 billion for the US and USD 3.3 billion for Africa, according to Pharmexcil data. The exports stood at USD 15.4 billion in 2014-15. A protest march was held here today against the alleged rape of a minor girl last week in the city. The march - 'Akrosh morcha' saw participation of members of the Banjara community, people belonging to ST/SC categories and RPI workers. The march was led by RPI leader and MLA Jogendra Kawade and MLA Haribhau Rathod. The protesters demanded stern action against the accused who allegedly raped the girl. They also demanded amendments in the SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, a police official said. The march which began from Nandur Naka locality concluded at the Revenue commissioner office, police said, adding no untoward incident was reported. Later, a delegation led by Rathod submitted a memorandum to the Nashik Divisional Commissioner in this regard. The accused, identified as Sachin Hiraman Patil (34), a resident of Nandur Naka on Nashik-Aurangabad road, was for the crime that took place on September 15, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor-producer Dhanush, whose production venture "Visaranai" is India's official entry to the Oscars next year, today described the selection as a "proud moment" for his Wunderbar Films and the director Vetrimaran. "Proud moment for Wunderbar Films and Vetrimaran. #Dreambig," he wrote on Twitter. The National award-winning actor said it was a "glorious day" for him since his latest film "Thodari", which released today, was receiving 'super positive initial reports.' "My sincere thanks to all those who believed in me and my production house. I would like to thank the fantastic cast of the film-- Dinesh, Samuthrakani and Kishore." He also thanked the Executive Producer of Wunderbar Films, S Vinod, the crew, press, media, well-wishers and cinema lovers and all those who "watch movies in theatres." "It is a joyous moment for all of us," he added. The movie, based on the novel "Lock Up" by M Chandrakumar, had won three honours at this year's National film awards. "Visaranai" is the ninth Tamil movie to represent India at the Oscars. The last Tamil film to be submitted as India's Oscar entry was Kamal Haasan's "Hey Ram" (2000). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Copious rains due to formation of low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal paralysed normal life in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and affecting train services on Guntur-Nadikudi section that provides a crucial link to Secunderabad. Several express and passenger trains between Guntur and Secunderabad had to be stopped at several places as flood waters flowed over railway tracks. The South Central Railway has set up helplines at various stations to provide updates on the situation. The affected trains include Falaknuma, Palnadu, Amaravati Express and Macherla-Bhimavaram Passenger. Rivulets in Guntur district are in spate, inundating housing colonies in Sattenapalli town and nearby villages. Revenue officials have made arrangements to provide drinking water and food packets to the affected people. Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, who represents Sattenapalli, is monitoring the rescue and relief operations in there and put the revenue and police officials on alert to help the affected people. Most places in Guntur district like Nakarikallu, Sattenapalli, Narsaraopet, Muppalla, Medikonduru received 10 to 21 cm rainfall since yesterday. Transport services were disrupted in Sattenapalli, Narsaraopet and Pidiguralla. Many villages in the Palnadu region remained cut off as rivulets caused flooding and disrupted transport services. The APSRTC bus station in Machilipatnam was marooned following heavy rains, paralysing the services. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to Collectors of the rain-hit districts and directed them to undertake all precautionary and relief measures. Krishna, Prakasam, East and West Godavari districts have also been receiving moderate to heavy rainfall under the influence of the low pressure area in Bay of Bengal. The MeT department forecast the situation is expected to continue till tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan government will bring an ordinance to check frauds committed by non-banking finance companies in the state. Rajasthan Protection of Interest of depositors (in financial establishments) ordinance was given in-principle nod in a Cabinet meeting here chaired by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. "The decision was taken to protect the interests of depositors. People invest their hard earned money in such companies and there comes complaint about fraud and non-payment," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore told reporters after the Cabinet meeting. He informed that provision of imprisonment from three to seven years and penalty from Rs two to five lakh has been made for the fraud. The cabinet also reviewed the working of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and appreciated its fast-paced functioning. He said the RPSC released the result of RAS-Prelims exam 2016 within 17 days of the exam. (Reopens NRG14) Provision has also been made regarding attachment of properties on default of return of deposit. If the District Magistrate concerned is satisfied that financial establishment is not likely to return the deposits or make payment of interest and other benefits to the depositor after giving an opportunity of hearing to the establishment, he can issue an order for attaching the money, property or assets belonging to or acquired by them, he said. The District Magistrate can appoint a competent authority not below the rank of Assistant Collector to exercise control over the money, properties and assets attached. The state government with the concurrence of the Rajasthan High Court will also designate a District and Sessions Court to complete the hearing and take decision within a year. The Minister informed that with the objective of promoting private investment in higher education sector the state cabinet gave approval to the proposal of establishing Nirwan University on 34 acres of land at Jhar Bassi near Jaipur by Shri Nirwan Charitable Trust, Sri Ganganagar. The decision will pave way to bring investment of worth Rs 250 crore and provide direct employment to 1,000 people. The cabinet also gave nod to the proposal regarding allotment of 700 sq mt of land free of cost to Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme Poly Clinic. Nangia & Co Managing Partner Rakesh Nangia has taken over as the President of Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC). Nangia is on the boards of several business chambers. He is a tax expert and has been in the field of taxation for 35 years. "I look forward to working with distinguished members of ICBC and promoting Canadian Business in India addressing the needs of business community," Nangia said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Keen to improve business climate, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said tax and regulatory authorities are being asked not to go on an overdrive and asserted the government is not there to obstruct or create hindrances. She said regulatory quality will improve but not the frequency and intensity. Sitharaman said the government is spending on creation of modern infrastructure to cut logistics cost, besides promoting online paperwork to reduce human interface. "We are not there to obstruct or create hindrances. So even those little narratives that you (industry) hear about, you know, taxation officials being on an overdrive, or regulatory authorities being on an overdrive, are all being clearly spoken to, making sure that such an approach shall not be welcome. "Regulatory quality will improve, regulatory content will improve but not the frequency or the intensity with which they regulate," she said here CII's 'Invest North' event here. The minister asked the industry to engage more and more with the central and state governments for suggesting steps to improve ease of doing business in the country. She said that now states are competing with each other on improve their business climate. This year, the ministry is evaluating states on real time basis, which means that the rankings are dynamic. The evaluation is being done based on 340 parameters as against 91 last year. Urging all the states to participate in this, she said 12 states have fulfilled over 75 per cent of these parameters. With the relaxation in the FDI policy in several sectors, she said, lot on inquiries are coming on those. Further Sitharaman said to reduce logistic cost for traders and domestic players, the government is working on reviving and expanding inland waterways. "Public spending is happening on focused manner on creation of infrastructure," she added. When asked about Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif comment Kashmir at the UN, she said: "India has taken a comprehensive view on what has been happening at the border and the way in which the infiltration and even sometimes attacks on our bases have been so clearly established their link with our neighbour. "On this Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the entire Cabinet is taking cognizance of all the facts. They will take a due call on it." When asked whether there is any plan to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status from Pakistan, the minister said: "If there is anything, we let you know". India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, but it is yet to reciprocate on that. (REOPENS DCM20) Speaking at the event, DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek expressed hope that India's ranking will further improve this year in the World Bank's ease of doing business report. "We hope that this year we will improve but the target is to come in the top 50th. Lot of work is happening in this area," he said. He also said that the DIPP is preparing report cards for the last two year for all the thrust sectors under the 'Make in India' drive. The department has already released the report for tourism and food processing sector. He said that taxation reforms including GST will help in boosting manufacturing sectors growth. Representative Image Raising strong objection to the proposed sale of government stake in ITC and L&T held through SUUTI, an body on Thursday sought Prime Minister's intervention in stopping the sell-off, which it said would send wrong signals to investors. Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the stake sale in the national interest, RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said, "If carried forward, this decision will have far reaching consequences that go beyond normal disinvestment criterion." "Recognising the strengths of ITC and L&T, certain vested interests are constantly trying to destabilise and inducing disinvestment in these national champions enabling BAT and other foreign entities to take control of these companies," SJM national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan told PTI. "Humbly we wish to state that at present there is an atmosphere of hope generated by your able leadership about future growth prospects in the economy. Such a decision to offload shares of premier would send wrong signals to the investors that government itself does seem to be confident of its growth story. "... In national interest, no steps should be taken to jeopardise the stability and long term prospects of these . On the contrary the management of the organisations should be encouraged to be the flag bearers of India in the world," he said in his letter to the Prime Minister. Mahajan said ITC and L&T are India's national champions and are in the process of building brands and capabilities for the future, which match international quality and standards. He added that these corporations while leveraging their intellectual capital and capabilities, are poised to become international players and will be valuable foreign exchange earners through royalties and technical fees. "This decision of the government has perturbed all the nationalists...Even a slight change in the holding pattern of shares of these would lead to a destabilisation in management or even shift of management to foreign entities," the SJM said. Mahajan said past experience clearly shows that with the change in management from Indian to foreign nationals or other entities, the entire nature, working and objectives of the companies change altogether. "The thrust shifts to maximising profits by increasing import intensity that increases outflow of money, directly affecting the country's Forex reserves,"he said. Government is planning to sell its stake, held through special purpose vehicle SUUTI, in conglomerate ITC, engineering giant Larsen & Toubro and Axis Bank. It holds 11.53 per cent in Axis Bank, 11.17 per cent in ITC and 8.16 per cent in Larsen & Toubro. A complete stake sale in these three companies could fetch over Rs 60,000 crore to the exchequer. The affiliate had earlier too criticised some economic policies, including on FDI, of the government. The SJM said as per newspaper reports, the government has gone ahead and appointed merchant bankers to divest minority stakes held in listed and unlisted companies held by the Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI). He said these two companies are premier companies earning huge profits, doing enormous value addition and contributing greatly to the exchequer and are contributing directly or indirectly toward the economic growth of our country. Mahajan said past experience clearly tells us that with the change in management from Indian to foreign nationals or other entities, the entire nature, working and objectives of the companies change altogether. "The thrust shifts to maximising profits by increasing import intensity that increases outflow of money, directly affecting the country's Forex reserves. "In addition, it would also have a negative impact on the morale of Indian entities, fearing that even profit making and well performing units are no longer immune to sell-offs," he said. Mahajan said while in ITC, "domestic institutions hold 32 per cent of shares and BAT's group companies (foreign entity) hold 29.99 per cent". He said "in case Government sells its SUUTI holdings of ITC shares, even to general public, BAT would become the dominant shareholder and the company will go into the hands of foreign management, and for all practical purposes, become a foreign company, which at present is an Indian company with an Indian soul". On Larsen and Toubro, a premier infrastructure company having significant exposes in defence productions, he said, "Offloading of SUUTI shares to any player, or acquisition of these shares, along with shares held by general public, the present management would be destabilised." Other parties hold 21.52 per cent share, even as general public holding is 24.40 per cent in L&T. SJM also raised concerns over the royalty outflow in the form of precious foreign exchange to the tune of thousands of crores in the next few years in case the stake is sold. Mahajan said if ITC goes into hands of MNCs, as per the existing rules with regards to transfer of royalty payments to foreign masters, the total amount of money transferred abroad would be at least Rs 1,289 crore per annum; and as per the projections of sales, by the company in 2016-17, royalty outflow would be Rs 1,624 crore which in next five years would cumulate to Rs 10,511 crore. "Apart from this, the government would lose dividend income of over Rs 4,000 crore over the next five years," he said. Giving thrust to poverty alleviation efforts, BJP's top brass is expected to articulate its 'garib kalyan' agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like dalits as it meets for the three-day National Council from tomorrow, which could also see a tough message being sent out on terror in the wake of Uri attack. BJP President Amit Shah arrived here today for the meet which coincides with the birth centenary of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. "Reached "Shilpa Nagaram"-City of Sculptures(Kozhikode) for BJP National Council. Grateful to the people of Kerala for their love and support," Shah tweeted after he was welcomed by party workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday and speak at a public meeting, his first such address after the deadly attack in Uri which left 18 army personnel dead. He will address the Council on Sunday. Party leaders and cadres expect him to speak on Uri attack as the saffron outfit has under fire over repeated incidents of Pakistani terrorists targeting defence facilities, more so as Modi had often flayed the UPA government over its alleged soft attitude to Pakistan in the face of terror incidents. While the Uri incident has forced the party to recalibrate its agenda for the Council, likely to be attended by nearly 2,000 delegates, it is likely to use the occasion to reprise the poor-centric ideology of Upadhyay, who was elected its president in 1967 at the same venue and whose 100th birth anniversary falls on September 25. The party had earlier formed a committee under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to prepare a 'garib kalyan' (welfare of poor) agenda under which its state governments will be asked to achieve certain key objectives in various welfare schemes. BJP believes that an effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out more to the marginalised sections, especially Dalits and OBCs, as it has been facing flak over Dalit issues from opposition parties and some Dalit outfits. Modi will inaugurate Upadhyay's birth centenary celebrations which will go on for over a year. Party leadership is also expected to deliberate over assembly polls in several states scheduled for early next year, including in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. BJP has been out of power in UP for over 14 years and Shah has claimed that it will make a come back with two-third majority by trouncing formidable regional rivals like Samajwadi Party and BSP. Cases of violence against the BJP and RSS functionaries in the Left-ruled Kerala are also expected to be referred to by the leadership which has blamed CPI(M) for these incidents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Irish actor Jamie Dornan feels ashamed not enough people know about the real-life heroics that inspired his new movie, "The Siege of Jadotville." The "Fifty Shades of Grey" star's latest project centres on the exploits of Irish Commandant Pat Quinlan, who led a standoff with troops against French and Belgian Mercenaries in the Congo in the early 1960s, and he cannot believe his character's bravery is not a major part of Irish history. Quinlan and his troops defended Jadotville for days from a sustained attack by the mercenaries hired by Katangese Prime Minister Moise Tshombe before surrendering, reported Contactmusic. "You can't believe that this happened and we don't know about it," Dornan said, revealing he was angry throughout filming because his character's heroics were never officially recognised before his death in 1997. "Not only did they (troops) not get the recognition they deserved, they got the opposite of that. They got put down for their efforts. There's this whole derogatory term, the Jadotville Jacks, that was used in the army going forward if someone showed an act of cowardice. Even now it angers me so much when you know what these guys really went through. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP today demanded that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state, alleging that its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke like the "supreme commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen and openly campaigned for terrorists at UN General Assembly. The RSS also attacked Pakistan for committing atrocities in Baluchistan, Sindh and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and said its misadventure in Kashmir, where it is making Kashmiris kill their own people, will bring destruction to Pakistan. "Nawaz Sharif at the United Nations yesterday was at his pathetic best. He talked not like the supreme commander of Pakistan, but he talked like the supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. "It clearly shows that there is no need for any further explanation. Pakistan should straight away be declared a terrorist state," BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said. He said Sharif was openly campaigning for one of his terror commanders Burhan Wani of Hizbul Mujahideen. "It is so pathetic to see the Prime Minister of Pakistan campaigning for the cause of UN designated terror organization," he said. Madhav also said that India has already given a befitting response to Pakistan at the diplomatic level and would respond accordingly to its Uri misadventure at various levels. RSS leader Indresh Kumar said thousands of people have been killed in Baluchistan, Sindh and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and lakhs have been displaced there and all this would prove costly for Pakistan. "Pakistan is trying to get Kashmiris killed by Kashmiris. Nawaz Sharif's tune on Kashmir is not in sync and Pakistan's misadventure in Kashmir will lead to its own destruction," he told PTI. He said Baluchistan refused to be with Pakistan from the day it became independent and Nawaz Sharif should answer as to why they should not get independence. "Pakistan is suppressing people there and committing atrocities on them, with more than one lakh killed and 6 to 7 lakh displaced. Sindh is also demanding independence for many years now. Thousands have been killed there and many more thousands held captive and displaced. "The situation is same in PoK where territories of Nurpur, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Baltistan are claiming that they are not with Pakistan. Indian Parliament has passed a resolution to reclaim territories in PoK, then why the delay and hesitation," he asked. BJP spokesman Nalin Kohli hit out at Sharif saying it is evident from his speech that terror outfits and terrorists are accorded highest priority in Pakistan which is not just a threat to peace in the subcontinent but also the entire humanity. "Pakistan is a farce of democracy where the perpetrators of terror and terrorists and those who work with terror network clearly get the highest priority. It is most evident in the Pakistani Prime Minister's speech yesterday at the United Nations," he said. He also said that Pakistan is not just a threat to the subcontinent but the entire humanity. (REOPENS DEL53) Dubbing Pakistan as a terrorist state, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said it has been hatching conspiracies against India and sending terrorists to India but will not succeed in its devious attempts. "Pakistan will never be successful in its devious attempts. The way we have isolated it across the world. Pakistan exports terror and terrorists like Osama bin Laden and Hafiz Sayeed are found there. "It is a terror state and the way all nations are uniting against terror and countries promoting terror are being isolated and India has successfully isolated Pakistan. Our armed forces and agencies will not allow Pakistan to succeed in its attempts," he said. Amid raging row over sharing of Cauvery water, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today met Union minister Uma Bharti and explained to her his state's "difficulty" in releasing the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu as per Supreme Court order, which he termed as "unfair". The apex court had on September 20 directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of the river water per day to lower riparian Tamil Nadu from September 21 to September 27. The order led to widespread protests in both the states. In his meeting with the Union Water Resources Minister, Siddaramaiah apprised her of the "grim" situation in the state due to lower water levels in its four reservoirs and its struggle to meet drinking demands in the backdrop of two consecutive drought years. "He also informed Bharti that the Supreme Court order was unfair to the state and how the Centre should make future policies taking into account such grave situation," an official source said. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, "We have explained to her about situation in the state. We told her that it is difficult for us to release the quantum of water as per the Supreme Court order. We have already given 12,000 cusecs of water per day in 14 days as directed. We don't have adequate water in reservoirs." He told Bharti that Karnataka is left with "only" 24 TMC water in four reservoirs, while its drinking water requirement is of 27 TMC in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya districts. "As we struggle in meeting drinking water demand, they (Tamil Nadu) are asking water for irrigation purpose," the chief minister asserted. He said the Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu has water to the tune of 57 TMC. "We have only 24 TMC water in four dams. We have problem in supplying water for drinking not only for human beings but also for livestock and other animals. We require 27 TMC of water, while the total storage is 26 TMC in dams," he explained. To a question, Siddaramaiah also said he wrote several letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter, but is yet to receive any response. Meanwhile, according to sources, Bharti gave a patient hearing to the delegation and said she was aware of the problem of Karnataka and agreed to the assertion made by the chief minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A rocket fired from an area in Syria held by Islamic State (IS) jihadists slammed into the centre of a Turkish town today, wounding six people including five children, reports said. The rocket hit a market area in the centre of the Turkish border town of Kilis, shattering windows and causing panic, the Dogan agency said. It said six people were wounded, including five children. Five of the wounded are in a good condition but one was badly hurt, Dogan added. All those wounded were refugees from the war in Syria, who now make up over half of the town's population. The strike comes one month into an unprecedented incursion into Syria by Turkish forces aimed at rooting IS jihadists out of the border area. Following the rocket strike, the Turkish army shelled IS targets in Syria with howitzers, the agency said. Kilis has come under repeated attack from rocket fire from Syria in the last months, with 22 people losing their lives, over half of them Syrian refugees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Technology giant Microsoft today said it has presented to central authorities various "case scenarios" on how its Skype service can be used for identity authentication using the Aadhaar database. "We have presented various case scenarios on how Skype can be used. We already support iris authentication (on Windows 10). Now it depends on them how they want to proceed," Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik told PTI. Citing an example, he said Skype can be used by people to authenticate themselves for accessing government services that require Aadhaar-based authentication. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is in discussions with handset makers and operating system providers for embedding the identification technology onto mobile devices. This will help people authenticate their Aadhaar biometrics on the phone itself to avail of various government schemes, subsidies and services. Bhaskar did not comment the proceedings of the meeting as company representatives were not present at the meeting. Talking about the Indian market, Pramanik said the country is of strategic importance. "This is because of three things -- talent, innovation and market (opportunity). We are actively working with the government across areas to contribute to the Digital India mission and transforming India," he said. Microsoft has partnered Andhra Pradesh government for rolling out a pilot that is solving the issue of high rates of school drop outs. Using data analytics, the solution predicts how many students will drop out of school, helping the teachers make better decisions and curb the problem. "We are in discussions with other states as well. Punjab has already signed up for the project," he added. The US-based company is running another pilot that helps farmers get SMS notifications on the best time to sow seeds in their fields, so that they get the best yield. Another key area of focus for the company is cloud. "We have partnered PwC, where PwC will become a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider. This will help Microsoft extend its reach organisations of all sizes in India across industries like financial services, government, manufacturing, retail and healthcare," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korea's government asked Samsung Electronics to extend the refund period for its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that have been subject to an unprecedented global recall. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, the government agency responsible for product safety and recalls, has not approved Samsung's smartphone recall plan because its measures on how to remove Note 7s already in the market were inadequate, Nam Taek-joo, the agency official, said by phone today. The agency asked Samsung earlier this week to say how long it could extend the refund period for consumers who missed Monday's deadline. Nam said the agency made the request because "the plan to remove hazards in the markets is insufficient." He said Samsung should come up with an alternative plan on how to better notify consumers that they can exchange their Note 7 or get a refund. "We need more measures to actively inform consumers," he said. "It appears that consumers are not active in seeking an exchange or a refund." Samsung Electronics did not answer emails seeking comment. The Note 7 phone went on sale in South Korea on August 19 to rave reviews, but following reports of the high-end phones catching fire Samsung stopped sales on September 2 and recalled 2.5 million units. The company cited a battery manufacturing error that caused the lithium battery to overheat or burn. It received 92 reports of the batteries overheating in the US alone, including 26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an official recall on September 15. The commission website said consumers can get a refund or a new replacement device and it did not say if there is a deadline for getting a refund. In South Korea, where the government did not issue an official recall, the consumers who missed the Monday deadline can now get only a replacement for their Samsung phone. This week, Samsung began shipping new Galaxy Note 7s with rechargeable batteries that are safe to use, so consumers can hand in the old ones and get a new one. Stalemate continued in the Odisha Assembly for the second day of the monsoon session today as ruling BJD members created a ruckus over the Mahanadi and Polavarm issues. As soon as the House assembled for the day, BJD legislators raised slogans against the Centre over Mahanadi and Polavarm issues. Opposition Congress members also stormed into the well of the House demanding discussion on the Mahanadi issue. As pandemonium continued, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 3 PM. When the House resumed, similar situation continued even as Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra was allowed to speak. In his address, Mishra condemned the conduct of Treasury bench members during recital of the National Anthem yesterday and subsequent disruption of the proceeding over Mahanadi and Polavaram. Stating that he has moved a notice seeking a full fledged discussion on Mahanadi issue as it is linked to more than half of the state's population, Mishra raised question on the BJD members' ruckus. "What is wrong in holding a discussion. I feel the ruling party wants to escape (from discussing the issue) and therefore disrupting the proceedings," he said. Mishra also condemned the disrespect shown by a BJD member to the National Anthem yesterday. BJD's Amar Prasad Satpathy also said that there should be no repeat of the dishonour to the National Anthem. However, as ruling party members continued their stir in the House, Pujari again adjourned the House and invited members of all parties to come to his chamber to end the impasse. With House being adjourned, the ruling BJD members including some ministers staged a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue located on the premises of the Assembly. They highlighted both the Mahanadi and Polavaram issue and raised slogans against the Centre for supporting "anti-Odisha" projects in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sudan has freed 21 child soldiers who were captured in war-torn Darfur last year during fighting between government troops and rebels, the United Nations said today. Their release yesterday came just days after President Omar al-Bashir declared in North Darfur that he would order all detained children from the rebel side be freed. The child soldiers were captured in Darfur in 2015 during fighting between government troops and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). "The United Nations welcomes the release yesterday by the government of Sudan of 21 children associated with armed groups," the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement. "Sudanese children cannot continue to be robbed of their future ... No child should take part in hostilities," Martin Uhomoibhi, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, said in the statement. The released children will be housed in a government transit centre that will enable their re-integration into their families and communities, UNICEF said. On September 7, Bashir declared at a ceremony in the North Darfur state capital El Fasher that peace was returning to the war-torn region of five states. At least 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur -- a region the size of France -- where ethnic minority groups took up arms in 2003 against Bashir's Arab-dominated government. Bashir, who has mounted a brutal counter-insurgency against the rebels, is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes and genocide charges related to Darfur, which he denies. In August, talks in Addis Ababa between Khartoum and rebels on a ceasefire in Darfur and two other conflict zones failed, with an African Union mediating panel blaming insurgent groups JEM and Sudan Liberation Army-Minnawi. It is unclear when fresh talks will start. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria's army announced the launch of an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the battleground city of Aleppo, warning residents to keep away from posts held by anti-regime fighters. "The military operations command announces the start of operations in eastern districts of the city and calls on residents to stay away from the positions of terrorist groups," it said in a statement yesterday carried by state news agency SANA, using the regime's term for the opposition. The announcement came just minutes after the United States and Russia convened a last-ditch meeting in New York to save their ceasefire plan and followed several hours of intensive bombardment that left Aleppo in flames. The army also said it would take "all measures to facilitate the reception" of civilians and that those who arrive at its checkpoints would not be arrested. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was "a large scale land offensive supported by Russian air strikes aimed at taking bit by bit the eastern sector of Aleppo and emptying it of its residents". The initial targets were the Amiriyah, Sukari and Sheikh Said sectors, to the south, said the monitoring group's head, Rami Abdel Rahman. The Britain-based Observatory said earlier that bombardment and air strikes since Wednesday night targeting the rebel-held neighbourhoods of Bustan al-Qasr and Al-Kalasseh had triggered "massive fires". The estimated 250,000 residents of east Aleppo, which rebels have held since 2012, have been living under government siege since early September. A high-level meeting on the crisis in Syria broke up without agreement on a way to revive a collapsed US and Russian-brokered truce. US Secretary of State John Kerry said his Russian counterpart had not been able to promise to ground Syria's bombers and to halt the bombardment of its cities. "The question now is whether there remains any real chance of moving forward, because it is clear that we cannot continue on the same path any longer," Kerry said after the meeting yesterday. "The first thing that we have to do is find a way to restore credibility to the process, if that can be done," he said, of attempts to restore the ceasefire. "The only way to achieve that is if the ones that have the air power in that part of the conflict simply stop using it," he said as the meeting in New York broke up. "Not for one day or two, but for as long as possible so that everyone sees that they are serious," he added. Kerry, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and envoys from the other 21 nations of the Syria Support Group are in New York for the UN General Assembly. The US diplomat said he was ready to meet Lavrov again today to see if anything could be done. But the UN peace envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was downbeat, calling it a "long, painful and disappointing meeting". France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault added that Russia had not been able to provide a satisfactory response to calls for Syria to ground its jets. Taiwan's government has ordered a freeze on the opposition Kuomintang's bank account, officials said today, as part of an investigation into its allegedly ill-gotten political assets. The order comes as political tensions remain high on the deeply divided island after the Beijing-friendly KMT were ousted by a landslide in January elections. The new Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party government announced a probe into the assets of all parties in late July, but it is only the KMT that has faced questions. The KMT is thought to be one of the richest political parties in the world and registered total assets of Tw$18.96 billion (USD 600 million) by the end of last year, compared with Tw$478.72 million by the DPP. The party traces its wealth to its origins in pre-communist China - KMT forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to the Chinese communists on the mainland. It also inherited assets nationalised by the Japanese, who ruled Taiwan as a colony from 1895-1945. However, critics have long accused the party of stealing from the people of Taiwan and illegally amassing fortunes through cosy business links during its half-century grip on power. Government investigators say the KMT withdrew Tw$520 million (USD 16.6 million) from Taiwan's Bank SinoPac soon after the asset probe got under way and exchanged it for 10 cashier's cheques from the state-run Bank of Taiwan. One of those cheques has already been cashed. KMT officials say it was used to pay salaries and pensions. But investigators say the money should not have been moved since the probe had already started. The party has slammed the investigation as a witch-hunt. "The KMT violated the law which prohibits it from moving its assets," the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee said in a statement. "Bank SinoPac has been notified to halt withdrawing or transferring money from that account." The freeze was the asset committee's first major action against the KMT. KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu called it a "vendetta" and said the party should rally outside president Tsai's home. "The action we took is just and for the purpose of fulfilling our legal duties," KMT spokesman Chou Chih-wei told AFP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said talks are on between the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) and BJP for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. LJP is BJP's alliance partner at the national level. "Talks for an alliance with the party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh are going on. But with regards to alliance with BJP in Goa, the decision is yet to be taken," Paswan, who heads the LJP, said here. "With regards to the forthcoming assembly elections in five states, we have already started preparations to contest the Uttar Pradesh polls," the Minister for Food and Public Distribution said. "However the final decision will be taken by party parliamentary board headed by Chirag Paswan," he added. Paswan is in Goa to participate in a national conference, which kicked off today. "To make LJP as a national party we have already completed the task of strengthening the party at grass root level, and today our organisation has become stronger and has base in several states of country," he claimed. Paswan had said on November 17, which is the formation day of the party, LJP and Dalit Sena Workers' convention has been called in Patna which would be attended by the party leaders from several states. He said the party has todiscuss the issue of forthcoming Goa Assembly polls with LJP party workers and with Dalit Sena workers in Goa. Paswan confirmed that the crucial meeting of Goa level party workers have been called on Friday to discuss the State Assembly polls. "Once we hold a discussion with party workers and other non-political organisation including our social and cultural organisation namely Dalit Sena, then whatever they takes decision, the party would agree with the same," the Minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Power has received approval of shareholders to re-appoint Anil Sardana as CEO and Managing Director of the company. The approval was given in the 97th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company which as held yesterday. In a filing to the BSE Tata Power Company Ltd said today that "resolutions set out in the the notice convening the AGM were proposed and seconded by the members". The resolution for "re-appointment of Anil Sardana as CEO and Managing Director" was approved by from shareholders. Sardana is an electrical engineer from Delhi College of Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management. He brings with him over three decades of experience in the power & infrastructure sector and has worked with companies like NTPC Ltd, according to the company's website. He also served as the Executive Director (Business Development & Strategy) for Tata Power from March 1, 2007 to August 3, 2007 and continued to be on its board till July 1, 2008. He was the Managing Director of Tata Teleservices Ltd for over three years from 2007 to 2011, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The term of the statute review committee, constituted by the Haryana government, to put forward recommendations on reviewing and repealing "obsolete" laws in the state, will come to an end on Saturday. The government today announced that the term of Haryana Statute Review Committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Iqbal Singh, would come to an end on September 24, an official release said here. The five-member committee was constituted in July 2015, to make an inquiry and put forward its findings and recommendations with respect to reviewing and repealing obsolete laws. It was to identify laws which were "not in harmony with the existing climate of economic liberalisation" and needed change, and also, laws which required amendments and put forward suggestions for the same, an official spokesman had said earlier. It was also to consider suggestions for revision or amendments of expert groups, if any, constituted in various departments. References made by ministries or departments in respect of laws which have a bearing on the working of more than one department were also to be considered. The committee was to revise the state acts of general importance so as to simplify them and remove any anomaly, ambiguity and inequity and convey its views to the government on any subject related to law that may specifically be referred to it by the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-owned NHPC today said three hydro power projects, including Subansiri Lower, with an aggregate installed capacity of 3,130 mw are at the construction stage. Five future projects with a planned capacity of 4,995 MW are in process. A 50 mw wind power project in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan is nearing completion and will be commissioned after signing of power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rajasthan discoms, NHPC CMD K M Singh said. Singh was addressing the shareholders at an AGM in which members of NHPC board, including independent directors and others senior officers from the PSU, were also present. The company is also envisaging development of one 50 mw solar power project in Uttar Pradesh and four hydroelectric projects namely Kiru, Kwar and Pakal Dul in Jammu & Kashmir (2,164 MW) and Chamkharchhu-I (770 MW) in Bhutan, respectively, through JV companies. Singh also spoke about various initiatives being taken by the company towards diversification of its business. He said an MoU has been signed with Kerala for the development of a 72-mw capacity of wind power project at Agali site of Palakkad district in Kerala. Another MoU has also been signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for development of 250 mw solar power projects in India and an agreement has been put in place with Teesta Urja Ltd (TUL) to provide consultancy services for Project Construction Management for 1,200 MW Teesta Stage-III hydroelectric (HE) project in Sikkim. The company is in active dialogue with Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd, Bhutan, for development of 770 MW HE project in Bhutan, Singh said. Singh also highlighted achievements of NHPC during 2015-16 in spite of various challenges. "The company generated 23,683 million units (MUs) of electricity against 22,000 MUs committed for 'Excellent' rating under memorandum of understanding signed with the power ministry and has added 80 MW to its installed capacity during the year with commissioning of Unit I & II (40 MW each) of Teesta Low Dam-IV Project (40 MW X 4) in West Bengal," the company said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flamboyant Indian billionaire couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal have reached a settlement with a top Australian bank in a 2.5 billion dollar dispute over the collapse and sale of their fertiliser business. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) today told the Australian Securities Exchange it has reached a settlement with the Oswals relating to Burrup Fertilisers. "The settlement, the terms of which are confidential, resolves the AUD 2.5 billion (USD 1.9 billion) claim madeby the Oswals with ANZ having previouslyrecovered all outstanding loans made from 2005to the Burrup/Oswal groups totalling around AUD 1.3 billion," an ANZ statement said. "The net pre-tax impact of the settlement will be reflected in an additional provision charge of approximately AUD 145 million to be taken at the Full Year 2016 results," it said. But a spokesman for the Oswals said this figure "does not reflect the size of the settlement but the Oswals are bound by confidentially to not disclose the details." The bank's chief executive officer Shayne Elliott said "ANZ does not accept many of the claims made in court and we completely reject the allegations made against our staff." "However, we believe the settlement is the right decision for shareholders bearing in mind the residual risks in a case of this size and complexity," Elliott added. According to reports,Oswals havesettled their dispute with Australian Taxation Office over a tax bill estimated to be over AUD 100 million. Thespokesman said the couple was now planning to leave Australia after the court lifted departure prohibition orders linked to their tax issues. OnANZ settlement, the spokesman said"They (Oswals) were very satisfied with the settlement. They were very pleased to be able to put the facts before the court and they're pleased that it's over." "They won't be staying in Australia. They are now planning their futures," he said. He saidthe Oswals "find it curious that the ANZ rejects all the allegations yet is prepared to pay a significant sum to stop them." Oswals had been suing the bank and receivers PPB for as much as AUD 2.5 billion over ANZ's seizure and sale of their majority stake in Burrup Fertilisers in 2010 as part of a dispute over AUD 1 billionthe couple owed to the bank. In turn,ANZ had alsoaccused Oswalsof misappropriating AUD 150 million towards their personal use tofurnish their laving lifestyles with luxury cars, boats and a sprawling mansion in Perth. ANZ and the Oswals will cover their own legal costs, which could extend to the tens of millions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harking back to journeys of yore, travellers from 15 countries along the historic Spice Route will call into the port here on a voyage that seeks to rekindle a shared legacy of culinary distinction, commerce, connectivity and cultural exchange. The Spice Route Culinary Festival--a first-of-its-kind celebration of the fiery flavours found along the over 2,000-year-old maritime trade way--will commence Friday. Organised by Kerala Tourism in association with UNESCO and the Tourism Ministry, it will run till September 26 at Bolgatty Palace and Island resort, a release said here today. Prominent chefs from Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Oman, Turkey, Qatar, Netherlands, France, Malaysia, Italy and Japan will sample cultural and culinary offerings of "God's Own Country", take in a demonstration on traditional Kerala cooking and participate in an interactive discussion session on the first day. On the second day, they will visit and procure local ingredients from markets before tabling the choicest cuisines from their homelands for the festival's centrepiece international cooking competition on Sunday. The list of luminaries also features diplomats, embassy representatives and eminent delegates from these countries, besides officials from UNESCO. Ambassador of the Netherlands Alphonsus Stoelinga will attend, as will Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives and a number of Consul Generals and other high-ranking officials. "We are very proud to host this unique initiative that will honour the enduring bonds created by the ancient Spice Route and highlight Kerala's legacy as a hot spot for tourism and trade," said Kerala Tourism minister A C Moideen, who will brief the media following the festival's opening and deliver the valedictory address at its closing. The gastronomic extravaganza will also showcase the best culinary fare and talent from across Kerala as identified in a just-concluded regional competition organised by Kerala Tourism for local chefs. "Kerala's history as a Spice Route hub is reflected in its present-day cosmopolitanism and participatory ethic. Much more than a platform for the state, the festival is a significant step in promoting people to people links, cultural tourism, intercultural dialogue and heritage preservation," Principal Secretary (Tourism) Dr V Venu said. Of benefits to reviving ties along the ancient linkage, Kerala Tourism Director U V Jose said exchange of spices and other goods has only helped Kerala and trade partners flourish and develop ties that survived many centuries and brought together different people and ideas from across the world. "This initiative will trigger more of the same. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Ministers of the North Eastern region, T R Zeliang and Manik Sarkar, today criticised the central government for abolishing the Planning Commission and forming NITI Aayog. "All the North Eastern states are facing problems of money after abolishing of the Planning Commission and forming NITI Aayog," Zeliang, Chief Minister of Nagaland, said. "Every state is now losing money because it is not clear how the plans would be finalised and implemented. All the states in the region were facing crisis of funds in implementing projects," he said. During the time of the Planning Commission, there was a scope for discussion between the state government and the Commission for finalising the plan outlay, but this scope has faded away, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said. "For the last 28 months after NITI Aayog was formed, there has been no discussion between it and Tripura government regarding planning," Sarkar said, adding Tripura was losing over Rs 1800 crore per year after formation of the Aayog. Zeliang and Sarkar were addressing a three-day business summit, jointly organised by FICOS and the Tripura government, on connectivity of the North-East and opportunities in international trade and commerce. Zeliang said, "It is the need of the hour to convert the Act-East policy into a reality so that people of the region get its benefits. It is necessary to build up infrastructure for implementation of the policy. Connectivity with the neighbouring countries is an important point for its implementation." Sarkar said the central government should pay more attention to build infrastructure like roads, railway, air telecommunication without which the Act-East policy would be of no meaning. Representatives from Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the North-East states participated in the summit which will be concluded tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lamenting a "lack of spirit" between whites and blacks, Donald Trump encouraged racial unity today even as he called for one of the nation's largest cities to adopt "stop and frisk" policing tactics that have been widely condemned as racial profiling by minority leaders. The Republican presidential contender, eager to improve his standing among minority voters, confronted racial tensions after police-involved shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina sparked violent protests overnight. But as he has for much of his unorthodox presidential bid, Trump offered a decidedly mixed message. "It just seems that there's a lack of spirit between the white and the black," he told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." ''It's a terrible thing that we're witnessing." The New York billionaire then suggested violence in Chicago is worse than that of Afghanistan, and endorsed a policing method that has been struck down by a New York judge as a violation of minority residents' civil rights. "I think Chicago needs stop and frisk," Trump said. "When you have 3,000 people shot and so many people dying, I mean it's worse than some of the places we're hearing about like Afghanistan, you know, the war torn nations." The comments come as both presidential candidates work to court minority voters with Election Day fast approaching. Clinton has made curbing gun violence and police brutality a central part of her candidacy. She has campaigned alongside a group of black women called the "Mothers of the Movement," who advocated for more accountability and transparency by law enforcement. The group includes the mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, black victims of high-profile killings. Yesterday, Clinton told a Florida audience that the shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina added two more names "to a long list of African-Americans killed by police officers. It's unbearable and it needs to become intolerable." Trump said yesterday during the taping of a Fox town hall taping that the "stop and frisk" policy, which gives police the ability to stop and search anyone they deem suspicious, had "worked incredibly well" in New York, where it was expanded under former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A quiz-show champion who appeared on the long-running BBC show "Eggheads" has been arrested on suspicion of committing murder in the Netherlands. London's Metropolitan Police says Joseph Connagh, whose professional name is CJ de Mooi, was arrested at Heathrow Airport yesterday on a Dutch-issued European Arrest Warrant. He is due to appear in a London court. De Mooi, 46, appeared for a decade on "Eggheads," which pits a team of quiz champions against a group of challengers. In a 2015 autobiography, he said he might have killed a man while he was homeless in Amsterdam in 1988. He said he punched a knife-wielding mugger and threw him into a canal. De Mooi wrote: "I fully suspect I killed him. I've no idea what happened to him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain plans to hire hundreds of spies by 2020 amid increased threats to peace from radical terror groups and to exploit the potential of the digital age, the head of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service MI6 has said. MI6 is expected to grow from 2,500 to nearly 3,500 to provide extra security for their operations and staff, according to BBC sources. Alex Younger, who made a rare public appearance at a security conference in the US this week, warned that the internet andtechnological advances presented both an "existential threat and a golden opportunity". "The information revolution fundamentally changes our operating environment. In five years' time there will be two sorts of intelligence services - those that understand this fact and have prospered, and those that don't and haven't. And I'm determined that MI6 will be in the former category," Younger said. "Our opponents, who are unconstrained by conditions of lawfulness or proportionality, can use these capabilities to gain increasing visibility of our activities which means that we have to completely change the way that we do stuff," he added. The boost to MI6's staff numbers is part of a wider commitment by the UK government's 2015 'Strategic Defence and Security Review' to recruit 1,900 extra personnel to the intelligence services. The remaining 900 new personnel will be split between the other UK spy agencies - Security Service (MI5) andGovernment Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Younger appeared at the security conference in Washington DC earlier this week alongside CIA director John Brennan and their Australian and Afghan counterparts. Asked if he thought the threat posed by Islamic State (ISIS) and other Islamist terrorist groups had reached a peak, Younger sounded a cautious note. "I would like to be optimistic about this but we have got quite long experience of this phenomena now and I see it very much as the flip side to some very deep-seated global trends, not least of all globalisation, the reduction of barriers between us," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UM Motorcycles, the joint venture between US-based UM International and Lohia Auto, plans to manufacture engines in India to fully localise its bikes as it looks to strengthen presence in the domestic mid-premium segment. The company plans to invest Rs 50 crore to start manufacturing of engines, which are currently assembled from imported parts from different markets across the globe, as part of its plans to fully localise its motorcycles in the next 12-18 months. "Our current level of localisation is 60 per cent with the remaining 40 per cent, mostly engines, being imported. We plan to fully localise our bikes, for which we are considering whether to outsource it or manufacture it ourselves," UM India & Asia, Middle East and Africa Director Rajeev Mishra told PTI. Within the next three months, the company will a take final decision on it, he added. When asked about investments, he said, "Our investment for engine localisation will be Rs 50 crore." The company, which had planned to start selling its bikes in August, started dispatching the models from yesterday. Its models Renegade Commando and Renegade Sports, both in the 300-cc segment, are priced at Rs 1.49 lakh and Rs 1.59 lakh, respectively (ex-showroom Delhi). On the company's future product line-up, he said, "In March 2017, we will be launching the Classic Renegade and after that we will launch a new model every six months." When asked about sales expectations, Mishra said in the remaining part of the ongoing fiscal, the target is to sell 12,000 units. So far, the company has received order for 4,200 bikes. "In the next financial year we are targeting to do around 40,000 units," he said, adding the company would also be gradually ramping up production at its Kashipur facility in Uttarakhand. The current production is around 1,250 units a month, which will be increased to 2,500 units in the next three months, he said. "By October next year, the target is to produce around 5,000 units a month," he said. US-based UM International, LLC and Lohia Auto had joined hands in September 2014 to form UM Lohia Two-Wheelers Pvt Ltd (UML). The two partners have so far invested Rs 100 crore for business expansion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Food aid for rebel-held east Aleppo, which has been stalled at the Syrian border since last week, will go bad on Monday, the UN said today, urging the country's leader to clear the delivery. "Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border. The food will be expiring on Monday," the head of the United Nations humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, told reporters in Geneva today. "The drivers are sleeping at the border and they have done so now for now a week, so please, President Assad, do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas," Egeland added, in a direct appeal to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A protester in Charlotte, North Carolina has been critically wounded and on life support following a second night of unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting of a black man. The city said earlier that the person had died, then retracted the statement. "Civilian who suffered gunshot wound during protests is on life support, critical condition. Not deceased," the city said on Twitter. Authorities had said the protester was shot by a civilian, adding that police did not open fire. An AFP reporter at the scene of the protests outside the Omni Charlotte hotel saw a man who was apparently shot falling to the ground, bleeding heavily. Several hundred people taunted riot police last night amid clashes in the city center. Some demonstrators banged on windows, others threw objects at police and stood on cars. Police fired what appeared to be tear gas, sending the protesters scattering. "We are working to bring peace and calm to our city. We know this is not who Charlotte is," Mayor Jennifer Roberts said on CNN, calling on people to stay home and off the streets. "Tell everyone that violence is not the answer," she said. Roberts added that authorities would consider other options if violence continues to flare, "possibly curfews and that sort of thing, but right now, we are continuing to work with what we have tonight." Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was shot dead in an apartment complex parking lot on Tuesday after an encounter with officers searching for a suspect wanted for arrest. Sixteen officers and several demonstrators were injured in clashes overnight Tuesday following Scott's death, the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States. Earlier yesterday, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton weighed in on the violence in Charlotte, which came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, on Friday in Tulsa. "Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. Too many others. This has got to end. -H," tweeted Democrat Clinton, signing the post herself. After calling to "make America safe again" in a tweet, Trump suggested later yesterday that the Tulsa officer who shot Crutcher had "choked." "I don't know what she was thinking," the Republican said, speaking at an African-American church in Cleveland, Ohio. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst a war of words between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the US has said it discourages "destabilising actions" by all states with nuclear weapons and missile capabilities. "We continue to urge all states with nuclear weapons to exercise restraint regarding nuclear and missile capabilities," a State Department official said yesterday when asked about the reported remarks by Lt Gen Tariq Khan who retired as the Commander of I Strike Corps at Mangla in 2014. "We encourage efforts to promote confidence building and stability and discourage destabilizing actions," the official said. Khan, in a widely-circulated social media post, said "there appears to be some preparations for military reprisal on anticipation of the Uri alleged raid." "The next 48 hrs are critical; if Pakistan cannot garner international support, be prepared for a strike through ground or air. Expect a snowball effect if that does happen and it may lead to full-fledged hostilities," he said. The State Department official, however, said: "The General is a private citizen and his views are his own." Tension between India and Pakistan peaked following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri on Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed. Initial investigation by India has suggested the attackers came from Pakistan and were members of terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US government granted aviation giants Airbus and Boeing permission to sell aircraft to following last year's nuclear accord. European airplane manufacturer Airbus announced the license from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control early yesterday. Chicago-based Boeing followed with its own announcement later in the day. The approval clears the way for the two plane manufacturers to access one of the last untapped aviation markets in the world. Both companies have announced separate $25-billion deals to sell aircraft to airlines in the country, although analysts are skeptical that there is demand for so many jets or available financing. The deal would be the biggest for an American company since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and US Embassy takeover. The announcements come as Iranian and US leaders are in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and shows that the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama is honoring the economic terms of the nuclear pact. Though based abroad, Airbus needed the approval of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control for the deal because at least 10 per cent of the manufacturer's components are of American origin. Airbus applied for two licenses to cover its deal with to ensure the fast delivery of some of the aircraft, Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon told The Associated Press. The license announced Wednesday covers the first 17 planes involved in the deal, which will be A320s and A330s, he said. Dubon said Airbus hoped to receive a second license allowing it to sell the remaining planes to soon. Iran's UN mission did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. State television referred to an AP report on the sale. Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, which limits its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions, specifically allowed for the purchase of aircraft and parts. That's set off a race between airplane manufacturers for the newly opened market, home to 80 million people. In January, national carrier Iran Air signed agreements to buy 118 planes from Airbus, estimated to be worth some 22.8 billion euros ($25 billion). On Sunday, state TV reported that Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, a deputy transportation minister, said Iran would cut the number of Airbus planes to 112. Several top American lawmakers have strongly condemned the Uri terror attack in Kashmir, saying there is a need to work together to combat terrorism and hoped the perpetrators behind the deadly assault are brought to justice. "Strongly condemn recent terrorist attack at Indian Army base in Uri - deepest condolences to the victims, their families & people of India," Senator John McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted. Eighteen soldiers were killed and several others injured as heavily-armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the Indian Army in North Kashmir's Uri town early Sunday. Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the Army. Congressman Elliot Engel, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Uri terror attack along with the bombings in New York and New Jersey "demonstrate our need to continue to work together through our" counter- terrorism partnership to defeat terrorism. Congresswoman Grace Meng, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on Asia, also condemned the attack and hoped that those behind the deadly assault on Indian troops are apprehended and brought to justice. "I send my thoughts and prayers to the victims and families, and all who have been impacted by this unacceptable and heinous violence," she said. In an op-ed, Lisa Curtis of The Heritage Foundation said that the US should also condition military assistance to Pakistan on its success in cracking down on terror groups and called on Indian and Pakistani officials to tone down their rhetoric against each other and refrain from making references to developments in territory under the other's control. "The latter is especially important during the current UN General Assembly," Curtis said, adding that the US has an interest in preventing military escalation between the "two nuclear-armed foes". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The district attorney in the southern US city of Tulsa has charged the police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man with first-degree manslaughter. The shooting of Terence Crutcher on last Friday, recorded by dashboard cameras and a police helicopter, lead to heightened tensions between yet another US police department and African-Americans. In the video, the 40-year-old man is seen with his hands up and leaning against his car. He is then shot once by officer Betty Shelby and falls to the ground. In a court filing yesterday, the Tulsa district attorney's chief investigator Doug Campbell said Crutcher was shot when reaching into his car driver's side front window. Another responding officer used a Taser at the same time. Campbell also said Crutcher had been mumbling to himself and that Shelby had made statements after the shooting that she had been "in fear of her life" during the confrontation. "Officer Shelby reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation from a confrontation with Mr Crutcher, who was not responding to verbal commands and was walking away from her with his hands held up, becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted," Campbell said. Crutcher, who had no gun, died at a hospital from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Shelby was charged with a felony count of first-degree manslaughter heat of passion, which carries a minimum sentence of four years in prison if convicted. In the charging document, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweller called her actions "unreasonable". The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights probe into the incident, parallel to the investigation being carried out by the local authorities. Demonstrators in Tulsa, in the state of Oklahoma, had demanded that the officer be punished. But protests have remained peaceful so far, unlike in Charlotte, North Carolina where the shooting death of a black man at the hands of police on Tuesday set off two nights of clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators. Mining conglomerate today said it has signed the concession agreement for Rs 1,145 crore redevelopment project of the Mormugao port in Goa. The company had received the Letter of Award for the project on April 15, 2016 on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) Basis, it said in a statement. The agreement was inked in Mumbai between Vedanta's Iron Ore business CEO Kishore Kumar and Mormugao Port Trust Chairman I Jeyakumar in the presence of Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Paresekar, it added. Kumar is the Director of the Special Purpose Vehicle Goa Sea Port Pvt Ltd which is a subsidiary of Sterlite Ports. The Project will be handled by Goa Sea Port Pvt Ltd, which currently owns and operates a 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity fully mechanised coal terminal in Visakhapatnam Port of Andhra Pradesh. Project, which includes redevelopment of berths 8, 9 and barge berths, has been awarded through a competitive bidding process on DBFOT Basis for the 19 MTPA capacity multi-cargo Port terminal in Mormugao Port. The total estimated project cost is Rs 1,145 crore and construction is expected to be completed in five years. Gadkari said: "The project has a huge potential and will usher in a great deal of progress to the state of Goa and its people. "It is very important to develop port infrastructure in a country like India that has a huge coastline. Such projects will help reduce the logistics cost most important for trade and generate employment opportunities to socio economic progress." Parsekar said: "The project will modernise the port infrastructure and enhance efficiency to stimulate maritime traffic providing a boost to the state economy." is the largest exporter of iron ore from Goa and this project would provide logistics integration to our iron ore business apart from handling other cargo, Vedanta's Kumar said. The re-developed berths is planned to handle all type of cargo including iron ore, coal, limestone, bauxite and general cargo with an expected capacity of 19.22 MTPA, he added. "With this Vedanta's Sterlite Ports will have a strategic presence on both West and East Coasts in the traditional iron ore and coal hubs respectively," Kumar noted. VHP today termed the government's move to induct more Kashmiris into the Indian Army as a "futile exercise" and sought strict action against 'jihadi' elements in the Valley. "Enough of such futile (so called!) peace ways... At least keep them away from Army recruitment!!!," VHP's international working president Pravin Togadia said on twitter while referring to the Army recruitment drive in Kashmir. "Governments anywhere have the resources to take on any outfit. We hope the Government of India will take strict action against 'jihadi' elements who are indulging in anti-India activities," Togadia told PTI. He also said the Indian Army has the capacity to silence such anti-India voices but wondered if the government has the capacity to energise such a political will. "Government of India has the capacity to energise political will?," he asked. Reacting to US Senator Ron Johnson's views on NY bombings, the VHP chief said, "US has now seeing through the Jihadist threat; hope that Indian Government will see Jihad as a threat." He also hit out at the West saying while they are facing such threats and acts of terror they seek action against them and did not take India seriously when it faced such actions from terror groups. "When the west says it now, its their investigation (Oh! They know all!) and when we said it past 20 yrs, we were termed 'bhadkaau' (instigators)!," he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of a major spectrum auction, Vodafone has pumped in Rs 47,700 crore in its Indian arm since April to beef up its capital base amid growing competition in the telecom space with Mukeh Ambani-led Reliance Jio's entry. "We've brought-in the largest FDI infusion ever...Rs 47,700 crore of equity infusion in country and this will help bolster the Vodafone India business," its Managing Director and Chief Executive Sunil Sood told reporters today. The money was invested by the parent starting April this year, and will be used to retire debt, bidding for spectrum, expanding business network and investments in technologies, he said. The debt of Vodafone India, which is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), stands at Rs 29,000 crore, half of its capital base, as against a standalone net debt of Rs 81,500 crore at the end of March 2016. Incumbent telcom firms like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have been on a warpath following entry of Reliance Jio with an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore on September 5 with offerings like free voice and comparatively cheaper data plans. Sood declined to give specifics on how the company plans to tackle heightened competition but said it will be launching a slew of offers starting next week. "We believe that we have been here for the long term, we have been here for many years now as a company. We have 200 million subscribers and in the first quarter, we have gained 0.6 per cent market share," Sood said, when asked about Jio. He added Vodafone India will do "whatever is required" for customers, including "affordable pricing". Last week seven telcos, which applied to participate in the spectrum auction beginning October 1, have made earnest money deposit of Rs 14,653 crore to acquire rights to use spectrum in seven frequencies. Out of these Reliance Jio has alone deposited Rs 6,500 crore, followed by Vodafone India at Rs 2,740 crore. Sood said Vodafone India has always bid rationally and will continue with that strategy at the upcoming sale. He dismissed the issue of problem faced by existing subscribers while porting out to Jio, saying such requests are going through and added that more dialogue between all the stakeholders is the way forward on contentious issues. Sood also said the incumbents' grouping COAI has written to the watchdog Trai, expressing concern over free calls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A federal judge has granted class-action status to Wal-Mart investors suing the world's largest retailer over allegations that it covered up a bribery scheme in Mexico to help its business there. The allegations included that Wal-Mart's Mexican unit paid millions of dollars in bribes to speed building permits and gain other favors. In a ruling this week, US District Judge Susan Hickey in Fayetteville, Arkansas, dismissed Wal-Mart's argument that a Michigan retirement fund could not lead a class-action suit because it suffered no related financial losses. Wal-Mart's stance was based on a certain accounting method. But Hickey ruled that the pension fund, the City of Pontiac General Employees' Retirement System, showed losses using another accounting method and that Wal-Mart failed to adequately explain why its accounting method was preferable. "Judicial economy and the best interests of the class members favor class certification," Hickey wrote. Randy Hargrove, a spokesman for Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, said the company is considering its options, including an appeal. "We continue to believe that the claims here are not appropriate for certifying a class," he said. Investors said Wal-Mart knew about the bribery scheme as early as 2005, seven years before allegations were made public by The New York Times. The newspaper reported that top executives had covered up the finding of an internal investigation and didn't alert US or Mexican authorities until after the paper said it was investigating the issue. In July, a federal appeals court rejected a shareholder lawsuit filed against key directors at Wal-Mart that claimed they allowed and concealed alleged bribery in the company's Mexico division. Chief Judge William Riley wrote for the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals that shareholders, including the Louisiana Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System, did "not give rise to a reasonable reference" that the board of directors learned of the suspected bribery while it was being covered up and the internal investigation squashed. That upheld an Arkansas district court's dismissal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wipro Singapore Pte Ltd, part of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, today said it will acquire 100 per cent stake in Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products, a Chinese FMCG firm, in an all-cash deal. Wipro declined to divulge the deal amount. "We (Wipro Singapore Pte Limited) have signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent shareholding of Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products Limited, a Chinese Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company, in an all-cash deal," Wipro Enterprises CEO Vineet Agrawal told reporters here. The acquisition will help the company leapfrog into the leading position in South China's personal care market, besides adding critical brands to the portfolio of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, he said. Post acquisition, Wipro Unza, the South East Asian arm of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, which recorded revenue of RMB 82 million (USD 11 million) from its China business in 2007, will touch an annual run rate of close to RMB 1 billion (USD 150 million), Agrawal said. "Wipro Consumer Care's International businesses would now contribute 55 per cent of its total global revenues," he said. Agrawal said it was the 10th acquisition for the company since 2003 and all of them have done well. "Wipro Consumer Care has a long history of successful acquisitions. These include Glucovita in 2003, Chandrika in 2004, Unza in 2007, Yardley (for Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Australasia) in 2009, Yardley UK in 2012, and L D Waxsons Group in 2012," he said. Asked about the pricing to acquire the company, Agrawal said he would not be able to share details, but the acquisition wasn't cheap. On what the acquired company valued at the stock market was before the deal, he said it is not a listed company and hence there was no specific valuation. To another query, he said the company earned a revenue of Rs 5,942 crore last year. Asked what kind of revenues the company expects this year, he said "we do not give guidance and hence we are not giving this year too." Agrawal said there are over 10,000 employees, of which 59 per cent are women and about 55 per cent of the business is outside India. "It is our second largest acquisition after Unza," he said. On the funding to acquire the Chinese company,he said the company has sufficient cash and funded the acquisition via internal funding. "We have sufficient cash and we have funded this acquisition by way of internal funding. We might take a short-term or a long-term debt," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An all-women business delegation today began a 14-day visit to New Zealand to explore business opportunities in sectors like education, textile, gems and jewellery, real estate and infrastructure. The delegation of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the women's wing of the industry body, consists of 42 women entrepreneurs and professionals. They will be visiting multiple cities, including Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, Franz Josef and Christchurch. The business interest of the delegates include areas like education, textile, gems and jewellery, chemical, agriculture, waste management, real estate and infrastructure. "We will have business meetings with businesswomen in areas of manufacturing, agriculture, education and knowledge transfer. The delegation will also be visiting and speaking at the Parliament. We will also interact with Parliamentarians and the Indian diaspora in New Zealand," FLO President Vinita Bimbhet said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 30-year-old man was allegedly shot dead by a security guard on suspicion of theft in project area of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) here, police said. However, family members of the deceased have demanded stringent action against the guard, who has been booked on charges of murder. "Security guard Dharmendra Yadav (45) was today arrested on charge of murdering Bharat Lal Dewangan," Korba Additional Superintendent of Police Tarkeshwar Patel said. The incident took place last night in Singhali coal project area of SECL under Bakimongra police station area, he said. "During the interrogation, Yadav claimed that he saw a man (Bharat) trying to steal some crap from the project premises, following which he opened fire, which accidentally hit the victim," the ASP said. As per the preliminary investigation, Dewangan, a native of nearby Dhapdhap village, was found lying in a pool of blood near office premises of Singhali project last night, from where two villagers shifted him to his cousin's (dhaba) roadside eatery in the area, Patel said. Subsequently, his brother Ganesh rushed Bharat to SECL hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, he said. Based on the complaint by Ganesh, Yadav was booked under IPC Section 302 (murder), the ASP said adding further probe is on. Meanwhile, Ganesh claimed that he had sent a dhaba worker to mines office to deliver meal ordered by some officials there. When the workers did not return after a long time, he had asked Bharat to go and inquire about him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (from left to right) Narayan Jain (Advocate & National VP, AIFTP), PB Pramanik (Addl. Director of Income Tax), CA Indu Chatrath and R.D. Kakra (advocate) at Business Standard Smart Business in Kolkata on September 16, 2016, in association with All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (East Zone). Taxpayers are getting notices with respect to cash deposited in savings bank accounts, as well as to sale and purchase of immovable properties. It may be helpful for such taxpayers to take benefit of the Income Declaration Scheme 2016, said Narayan Jain, tax expert while addressing the Business Standard Smart Business interactive session on Income Declaration Scheme 2016, organized in association with All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (East Zone) in Kolkata recently. P.B. Pramanik, Addl. Director of Income Tax, Intelligence and Criminal Investigation, said that taxpayers should come forward and take advantage of the scheme. He assured taxpayers that declarations made under the scheme would be kept confidential. These will not be shared with any other authority, he said, and added that harsh action was being contemplated against tax evaders after 30th September. Advocate R.D. Kakra explained in detail the Declaration Form No. 1 to be filed for the purpose of the scheme. He added that it could be filed physically with the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax or electronically with CPC, Bangalore. CA Indu Chatrath moderated the discussions. The workshop was followed by a Question & Answer session. ND Saha thanked the audience for an overwhelming response. Arvind Agarwal, Zone Secretary, and Kamal Jain worked behind the scene, taking care of all arrangements, to make the workshop a success. The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned Nestle India's plea seeking permission to destroy 550 tonnes of Maggi stocks that have expired. The top court will now hear the case on September 30. The company had sought "release of recall stock of Maggi Noodles seized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its destruction". "This entire stock of approximately 550 tonnes is well past its 'best before date' and its storage is giving rise to conditions that may lead to health hazard at the said locations," the plea made on Wednesday said. It said over 38,000 tonnes of Maggi Noodles have been destroyed till September 1, 2015 at incinerators of the notified cement plants, keeping in view environmental requirements. The company said the destruction was done by following a procedure agreed between it and food regulator FSSAI. The agreed procedure included withdrawn or recalled stock to be transported from its locations in closed or covered vehicles for destruction at the designated locations. Some other procedures agreed included destruction in the incinerators of cement plants identified by FSSAI and its intimation to FSSAI, which if required may depute officials at these sites. On April 5, a Mysore-based government laboratory had given its test report on Maggi noodles in a sealed cover to the apex court. On January 13, the apex court had asked the Mysore lab to clarify whether test reports relating to lead and glutamic acid in Maggi noodles were within permissible parameters under the law. The apex court had passed the order after perusing two communications received from this lab which had carried out the test on monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in the samples. While Nestle India, makers of Maggi, had claimed that the lead content was within permissible limits prescribed under the Food Safety Act, the Centre said there was a need for comprehensive findings of all other parameters. The Supreme Court had on December 16 last year ordered testing of samples of Maggi noodles in Mysore laboratory after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed that it be done in Chennai. The apex consumer commission had on December 10, 2015, sent 16 more samples of Maggi noodles for testing at Chennai to ascertain the quantity of lead and MSG in them in connection with the government's Rs 640 crore suit against the company for alleged unfair trade practices. The Supreme Court had passed the December order after noting that both the Centre and Nestle India had agreed that Mysore lab was well equipped with all tests. The court had also stayed the proceedings before the NCDRC and directed that the test reports be placed before it. (With PTI inputs) Wipro Singapore Pte Ltd, part of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, said on Thursday it would acquire 100 per cent stake in Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products, a Chinese FMCG firm, in an all-cash deal. Wipro declined to divulge the deal amount. "We (Wipro Singapore Pte Limited) have signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent shareholding of Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products Limited, a Chinese Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company, in an all-cash deal," Wipro Enterprises CEO Vineet Agrawal said. The acquisition will help the company leapfrog into the leading position in South China s personal care market, besides adding critical brands to the portfolio of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, he said. Post acquisition, Wipro Unza, the South East Asian arm of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, which recorded revenue of RMB 82 million ($11 million) from its China business in 2007, will touch an annual run rate of close to RMB 1 billion ($150 million), Agrawal said. "Wipro Consumer Care s International businesses would now contribute 55 per cent of its total global revenues," he said. Agrawal said it was the 10th acquisition for the company since 2003 and all of them have done well. "Wipro Consumer Care has a long history of successful acquisitions. These include Glucovita in 2003, Chandrika in 2004, Unza in 2007, Yardley (for Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Australasia) in 2009, Yardley UK in 2012, and L D Waxsons Group in 2012," he said. Asked about the pricing to acquire the company, Agrawal said he would not be able to share details, but the acquisition wasn't cheap. On what the acquired company valued at the stock market was before the deal, he said it is not a listed company and hence there was no specific valuation. To another query, he said the company earned a revenue of Rs 5,942 crore last year. Asked what kind of revenues the company expects this year, he said "we do not give guidance and hence we are not giving this year too." Agrawal said there are over 10,000 employees, of which 59 per cent are women and about 55 per cent of the business is outside India. "It is our second largest acquisition after Unza," he said. On the funding to acquire the Chinese company,he said the company has sufficient cash and funded the acquisition via internal funding. "We have sufficient cash and we have funded this acquisition by way of internal funding. We might take a short-term or a long-term debt," he said. Asked as to when the company will start adding revenues arising out of the deal, Agrawal said: "We are expect to start adding earnings by the end of October. There are some approvals to come in." On job cuts due to the acquisition, he said that in all the previous nine acquisitions, the company had not resorted to that as it believes there is growth potential in every category. "In all our acquisitions there has been no cut in jobs. We are expanding it, not to cut jobs. We believe there is growth potential in every category," he said. They had acquired companies and brands only in developing countries and not in developed ones, where the growth was slower, Agrawal said. "China is one of the fastest growing FMCG market, so we don't expect any cut in jobs. We only expect that there will be building of synergies." He said no facilities would be shut down as the current owners and manufacturer will continue to make products. The company, which already has two plants in China, would instead set up a new plant, he said, without specifying where it would be Agrawal claimed that the company enjoys market leading positions in the Personal Wash and Deodorant Categories in Guangdong and Hainan provinces. Zhongshan Ma Er has a strong footprint in China and Hong Kong. It's brand portfolio includes leading personal care brands Enear, Zici and Vcnic, comprising bath and shower products and fabric care brands Pahnli and Sunew, he said. BNP Paribas acted as the exclusive financial adviser to Zhongshan Ma Er, Agrawal said. In 2001, when state-owned New India Assurance Co. was scouting for a divisional manager to service its top-notch client, Reliance Industries, it did not find many takers. The reason - the country's largest private sector company was considered a demanding client. The offer landed at the table of Alice G. Vaidyan, a 1983-batch officer. "She accepted it without any fuss," says an insider. The experience proved invaluable later in her career. "It was a big opportunity that gave me confidence to handle big clients. That helped me a lot," she says. In every challenge, there is an opportunity, she says. This 'can-do' attitude has helped Vaidyan get past several professional challenges in her more than three-decade career. Just after she joined New India Assurance as a direct recruit officer, she was posted to her home state, Kerala, where she was the only woman in the male-dominated unionised environment. Then, in 1986, when she shifted to Gujarat after her banker husband was transferred there, she was again in unfamiliar territory - she was the only woman officer in the Ahmedabad office, though she says this never became an issue. "When people know that you have no agenda except furthering the company's interests, they generally come around and accept your leadership," she says. It was this single-minded focus on taking up newer challenges that took her to the top at General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) in a decade that saw many women executives bag top jobs in the country's financial services companies. With this, Vaidyan became the first woman to get the top post at a public sector insurer in the country. What helped Vaidyan in her journey immensely is her experience of working at all levels. She had started her career with the branch level and moved to the divisional level, before going to the regional office and, finally, the corporate office. The first two-and-a-half decades were spent in New India Assurance Co. She moved to GIC Re in 2008 as Deputy General Manager and was later promoted as General Manager and designated Chief Financial Officer. When Vaidyan assumed charge as Chairperson and Managing Director this January, it coincided with GIC Re reporting outstanding performance despite the challenging operating environment. In 2015/16, gross revenues rose 21.4 per cent to Rs 18,436 crore. Profits rose from Rs 2,694 crore to Rs 2,848 crore. She has been a part of the company's top management for years. Vaidyan wants GIC Re to break into the top 10 globally in gross revenues. At present, it is at 14. The top four are Munich Re, Swiss Re, Hannover Re, and French major SCOR SE. Sanjay Kedia, Country Head and CEO, Marsh India, one of the largest insurance brokers, says Vaidyan is a highly respected leader in the re-insurance world for her integrity, decision making and fair play. "GIC Re has been a very successful reinsurer in both domestic and international markets," he says. Career choices Vaidyan, a Science graduate who has also studied literature, is a product of pre-liberalisation days when the government was the biggest employer. She, too, opted for the public sector. Later, when insurance was privatised, there were some who left to try their luck in the fledgling private sector. She does not regret the decision to stay back. "In the public sector, the camaraderie, apart from financial security, is high. In the private sector, every employee is considered a profit centre," she says. But with global players entering the market, things might get more difficult for GIC Re. Vaidyan, however, says their strong base and relationships would help them stave off competition. "We are a strong insurer and have always supported the market," she says, hinting that global players pull out of markets/sectors they view as risky. "There is no threat to GIC Re as no reinsurer writes 100 per cent business," she says. Still, to prepare for the impending competition from global giants, she is sending employees for training in the world's best institutes. GIC Re is also exploring new areas. The agricultural premium pie, for instance, has expanded substantially of late. Around Rs 18,000 crore agriculture premium is expected to be up for grabs. "Of this, we expect to get Rs 5,000-6,000 crore," says Vaidyan. Another area with a lot of potential is life reinsurance. "Cyber liability and terrorism will also be focus areas for us," she says. Vaidyan also wants to reform the underwriting process in the industry. The companies, for instance, suffer losses in the insurance business and make money from the investment portfolio. This is not a healthy practice. Then there are segments such as motor insurance, where insurers are bleeding due to unlimited third-party liability. "There is an imbalance between premium and claims in the motor business," says Vaidyan. That is why she is working towards framing a comprehensive corporate underwriting philosophy. "Everyone, from the chairperson to the junior-most employee, should know what the company did last year, goals for this year and the underwriting philosophy," she says. Vaidyan is also looking at international markets for growth. GIC Re has operations in Dubai, Malaysia, Moscow and the UK. It serves the entire West Asia from its Dubai office and European countries from the UK office. It earns 45 per cent of its revenue outside India. "We are going to open offices in China and the US. At present, 40 per cent of the world's premium comes from the US. China is also a big market," says Vaidyan, adding that she is also open to inorganic growth. "When everybody gets involved, growth is possible," she says. GIC Re is also planning public listing. GIC Re's net worth is close to Rs 40,000 crore; it has assets of Rs 80,000 crore. Vaidyan, who reads management books by Peter Drucker and Jack Welch, is completely focused on risk. "The risk of the world stops at the doorstep of the reinsuer. You have to be the best to handle such a job," she says. She relaxes by playing violin and piano with her children. Ashu Suyash took over as Managing Director and CEO of rating agency Crisil in June 2015, at a time of great uncertainty for the company. The previous CEO, Roopa Kudva, who had headed it since 2007, had abruptly announced her departure nine months ago. A number of other senior management exits had followed, with the company being compared by critics to a headless chicken. Suyash's appointment evoked mixed reactions as well: not only was she an outsider - unlike all Crisil's past CEOS who were promoted to the position - but she also had no experience of the rating business. Starting her career with Citibank, she had been CEO of L&T Investment Management Ltd before taking charge as Crisil. Did she have what it would take to rejuvenate the company? Fifteen months later, all fears have been belied. Despite the state of the domestic market, with investment demand weak and credit growth low, Crisil posted a consolidated revenue of Rs 359 crore in the last quarter of 2015/16, a 17 per cent rise over the corresponding quarter the previous year, while net profit stood at Rs 78.60 crore - a 40 per cent increase. The two key drivers, industry watchers maintain, were Suyash's added emphasis on technology and intellectual property (IP)-oriented products, and her concerted expansion into markets overseas. "The world is changing more rapidly than ever before," says Suyash. "For Crisil to stay ahead, an innovation-led agenda was the next logical step." Accordingly, she set up an innovation lab in Mumbai to conceive and test new ideas. Since she took over, Crisil has developed new offerings in buy-side support, compliance analytics and modelling methods for banks and financial institutions (such as fundamental review of the trading book or FRTB and pre-provision net revenue or PPNR). Its derivatives business has diversified into areas like risk change management, which helps companies reduce risk in the face of increased scrutiny by regulators. Last year saw the launch of CI360, a new Crisil tool to help clients analyse competitors' performance, as well as the Coalition Analytics Platform (CAP), a new platform for banks that can access and analyse more than a million data points. It also launched products for insurance companies to enable security-level valuations, as well as a unique web-based platform to provide information on ratings. Crisil, under Suyash, has also improved its capabilities in infrastructure advisory, winning contracts to provide such advice for five of Maharashtra's forthcoming smart cities. It has advised the Karnataka government on improvement of state highways. It has provided inputs to 11 states and union territories on shaping their roadmap towards 'Power for All by 2019' - a key initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is helping Indian Railways to structure its development fund to support its investment plans. It has also set aside a corpus for investing in high-potential fintech start-ups. "Apart from looking at the best ideas from our own team, we are working with external start-ups," says Suyash. "That's the way you get to the next level." At the same time, Suyash has established Crisil's presence abroad, in countries such as Argentina, Poland and China, with new product additions and larger client teams. "Around 25 per cent of our 3,700 plus employees are now based outside India," says Suyash. "Most of our fresh recruitment has been in Argentina and China. Argentina, in particular, is a market well known for its quantitative talent and has been Crisil's largest growth area. In terms of products, the risk analytics business has been the growth engine, contributing 20-23 per cent to our growth." Simultaneously, UK-based Coalition, a banking analytics company Crisil took over in May 2012, has launched analytics in transaction banking and stress testing. It also deepened its engagement with global rating firm Standard & Poor, which has been Crisil's majority shareholder since 2004. Suyash, a mother of two girls, firmly refutes any suggestion that the past 15 months have been particularly stressful. "I started with complete trust in my team and it has been vindicated," she says. "When I took over, all I could sense was the strong desire to take the company forward. Given the diversity, energy and youthfulness of the staff, I knew we had a bright future." She encouraged employees at all levels to reach out to her directly if they had any issues, and took care to respond to all of them. "One thing I made clear is that ours is an iconic brand and this brand should not be compromised on any account," she adds. "Suyash has brought in a fresh vision as well as a market perspective," says Ramraj Pai, President, Crisil Risk and Infrastructure Solutions as well as Crisil Foundation. "She is a people-oriented person, who makes employees comfortable at work. She has been focusing hard on creating innovation and building technology at Crisil." I have always been inherently passionate and ambitious about work and family, and perhaps it has a lot to do with my genes. Growing up, it was often hard to separate the family from the business of Lupin. Dinner conversations were interspersed with business updates and before I knew it, I was already a Lupinytt. I remember going to Switzerland as a 11-year-old - it was a business trip for my father and a vacation for us during the summer holidays. My father let me sit through a business meeting. It was one of my earliest memories of listening to him talk about the pharmaceutical sector and the vision he had for Lupin. A few years later, owing to my interest in arts and good grades in science, I was advised to study architecture. But I decided against it, and instead decided to pursue pharmacy at Mumbai University. In a sense, that was the first formal step of my journey towards Lupin. The US chapter of my story began almost a year after earning the bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Having worked at Lupin for a year, I decided to study business management at Kellogg School of Management. Back then, Lupin was largely an India focused company but I was determined that we should be on the world stage. And sure enough, after having earned my masters degree at Kellogg, I wanted to take Lupin global by building and working on the company's entry into the most advanced, regulated and largest pharmaceutical market - the United States. We were very late entrants and had missed what the industry refers to as the first wave of generic companies that hit the market. It was between 1996 and 2001 that I worked on building the right platform that would prepare Lupin for its eventual entry into the US. The next five years saw heightened activity - I set up our operations in the US and worked with Nilesh (Gupta, her brother) and our regulatory and research teams to build a differentiated quality pipeline. At the same time, we created a core team that would work on execution and managing the business as we grew. Our focus on creating a differentiated approach from day one is amplified by the fact that Lupin actually entered the US by foraying into the brands business with the launch of Suprax, even as we worked to ramp up our generic filings with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We launched the US generic business in 2005. With our consistent investments in research, which have increased from 8 to12 per cent of our global revenues between 2005 and 2016, we have created a quality generic pipeline for the US that is second to none. We have the fifth largest Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) pipeline pending approval with the FDA. This, coupled with flawless execution, has made Lupin the fifth largest pharmaceutical company (by prescriptions) in the US, with the market contributing close to 51 per cent of the company's global revenues. At the same time, I am making sure that we keep on creating new opportunities by adding new growth engines to the business, be it technology, products, new therapies, markets or the right people. Besides creating a strong footprint in the US market, we have successfully used inorganic growth approaches (more than 15 acquisitions over the past decade), integrating the new businesses seamlessly to drive global expansion, creating new synergies to unlock further growth and deliver incremental value. For instance, we acquired Kyowa Pharmaceutical in Japan in FY 2007 and have since added to the business, growing it organically as well as augmenting it with smaller calibrated acquisitions that have resulted in revenues increasing from around JPY (Japanese Yen) 8 billion to over JPY 25.1 billion in FY 2016. Our recent acquisition of 21 long listed brands from Shionogi will add to the growth momentum. Lupin today is the sixth largest generic pharmaceutical company in the Japanese market. It remains the only Indian company with a leadership position in the Japanese market. We have made a series of other strategic acquisitions to add commercial footprints in key countries or to add to our technology base - Pharma Dynamics in South Africa, Multicare Pharmaceuticals in Philippines, Nanomi in Netherlands, Grin SA De CV in Mexico and Medquimica in Brazil. The recent acquisition of Gavis (the largest by an Indian pharma company in the US and the largest pharma deal outside of India) is expected to give a big boost to the company's future pipeline there (adding over 130 products including 66 ANDAs filed and 65-plus under development). The journey has been an exciting one and in many ways it has just begun. But it has also been important that we have ensured two things remain constant throughout: our values, specifically the entrepreneurial spirit that Lupin has been built on,and that we maintain a small company feel - entrepreneurial, agile, and decisive - while we grow our business. As a leader, one must have the vision to stay ahead of the curve to recognize opportunities, the ambition to seize them at the right time, and the judgment to recognise a failure and cut losses. It is also important to realize that there are no competitive advantages that will last forever. The pace and the race to innovate is shrinking and you must be two steps ahead to be able to create differentiators consistently, otherwise you won't be able to create incremental value that is going to grow the business exponentially. As an entrepreneur, I consider myself fortunate to be surrounded by family and colleagues who have encouraged me and have been a sounding board all the way through. Entrepreneurship is also about creating the right team - listening to, observing, building bridges with people and getting them to share your vision and add value. That is what leadership is all about. My leadership style is a function of the work culture we have created at Lupin and also from observing my father from a young age - to be inclusive. I believe that the next big idea could come from anyone, both within the company or outside. The key is to be open and at the same time be perceptive about it. And I also feel that part of being perceptive comes from setting milestones - for the organisation, yourself and the team. It helps measure progress and perform course corrections if needed. It also acts as a primary gauge for assessing opportunities and performance. The pharmaceutical industry is amongst the most dynamic industries globally, and being a global company in such an environment comes with its own set of challenges. The scope and scale of innovation is huge when compared with other industries. We at Lupin have been aware of this fact and have always strived to be ahead of the curve. Strategic acquisitions have helped us add strength and depth in key markets and create beachheads in markets where we didn't have presence. We are also expanding our manufacturing capabilities. All these factors are helping us deliver strong product portfolios across markets consistently. I feel we are just getting started - a sentiment shared by over 16,000 plus Lupinytts across the globe. As a CEO, this is perhaps one of the most satisfying and encouraging signs - the shared passion and conviction of 16,000 Lupinytts that the best is yet to come for Lupin. Advice for Young Women CEOs Over the years, I have often been quizzed about my views on women empowerment. To be honest, I don't think of empowerment by gender. To me, the most important thing is to identify what you desire - and then to devote your life to getting there. In a lot of ways, that has been the sum total of my professional life so far. I have had the opportunity to meet several women leaders, and the one common theme I have learned from them is that your achievements are driven by your own imagination and drive to succeed. The key is to find the right balance between your professional and personal goals, and more importantly, to communicate those to the people who are integral in making that happen - be it family, friends or colleagues. The writer is CEO, Lupin {mosimage}There are few companies like Honda Motor. It is a big player in India's two wheeler market with a market share of about 28 per cent, second only to its erstwhile partner, Hero MotoCorp of the Munjal family. It has now shown intent to script a similar success story in the highly complex Indian car market but its journey in the segment has not been a smooth affair till now. Known for its engineering prowess, Honda entered the Indian car market in 1997 with its first manufacturing unit at Greater Noida. Its debut model, the City, ruled the country's sedan market for a long time helping it to gain market share and quickly emerge as the fourth largest in the tally, just after Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and the utility vehicle major Mahindra & Mahindra. Now, it is aiming for a much larger footprint in India -- its fourth largest international operations after US, China and Japan -- and is making a strong pitch for a rational tax structure. Yoichiro Ueno, the newly appointed President and CEO of Honda Cars India, in his first interaction with the India media in New Delhi disclosed the company's intention of bringing some of its global models to India that will not just comply with harsher crash standards but also make the Indian market much more vibrant. "Indian market lacks diversity. There are so few categories and models, leaving so little choices for the customers. Just a few sedans to small SUVs are the craze and then there a lots of regular hatchbacks. I believe, India the world's fastest growing car market, may soon overtake Germany to become globally the fourth largest, so we need to add to our portfolio with many new fresh offerings," he said. Honda, now operating as a fully owned subsidiary (after ending the joint venture with Shriram Group in 2012), now wants the favourable tax structures for under 4-metre length cars-that make them more affordable than other passenger vehicles-to end. "It is our policy to have a global line-up with some modification and if the regulations of Indian market become more universal, customers will be able to enjoy more global products," said Ueno. "The Indian government may have promoted fuel efficient smaller, nimbler cars, but as we evolve we expect the taxation regime to be in tune with the global order that will eventually lead to a seamless integration of this critical market with the global market." The GST is a huge opportunity to rationalise the Indian tax structure in a transparent manner and remove the anomalies of multiple taxes on different categories, according to Ueno. The excise duty on small cars in India currently stands at 12.5 per cent compared with 24-30 per cent for larger vehicles. Honda's models sold in India-such as the City, Mobilio and the newly launched BR-V-are in the higher tax bracket. It could be a reason for its dismal performance. Ueno admitted Honda's performance in India in recent months has been below expectations despite the recent debut of BR-V, a compact SUV tailored-made for India. It has been trying to clear the high inventory with dealerships and is confident of sales picking up in the festive season. It is aiming to sell highest ever volumes of 200,000 units this year. Honda's sales had come under pressure due to the shift in consumer preference towards petrol cars in recent months, even as it introduced diesel in all its models. Honda is also looking to give a push to its dealer network across the country-it will grow to 345 by the end of the financial year from 309 currently across 197 cities. And new cars like the globally renewed Civic could bring back the lustre back in the executive sedan segment. Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said it plans to soon launch 4G services in over 100 towns across Himachal Pradesh. Customers can also upgrade their existing 2G/3G SIMs with 4G ready USIMs completely free of cost at any Airtel retail store, a company statement said. Airtel 4G is currently available to customers in Shimla, Baddi, Mandi and Solan. Manu Sood, Hub CEO - Upper North, Bharti Airtel said, "We are inviting data savvy customers across Himachal Pradesh to be 4G ready with a simple upgrade to an Airtel USIM. We look forward to serving our customers with world-class services on Airtel 4G network." Allo is Google's new instant messaging application that challenges the mega-giants like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. As of now, it might seem like an overstretch to compare both, as Allo's mere ten thousand downloads on Play Store is a fraction of Whatsapp's massive user base of 1 billion. But Google has the resources and data to give WhatsApp a run for their money. Why is Allo a direct threat to WhatsApp? Allo is owned by Google and WhatsApp by Facebook, both prime players in their own game. On one hand Facebook dominates the social network domain which gives them an edge with reachability. And, on the other hand, Google has access to immeasurable search engine data. The only disadvantage for Google at this point and time is Allo's late start, which Google plans to compensate with its new AI-powered interface. ALSO READ: WhatsApp's new feature is here to ruin your peace Is it an immediate threat? No, considering the wide chasm between the user base of both applications, WhatsApp is far up the ladder. Machine learning, which is centric to Allo's AI-generated features, needs time to evolve into a much more refined technology. What does Allo give the user that WhatsApp can't? In terms of features, Allo is much closer to Messenger than WhatsApp but what makes it a threat to both is the ease of logging in. Similar to WhatsApp, the user just needs one mobile number to activate an account on Allo. Google did away with Gmail synchronization after its not-so-successful attempt at Hangouts and G-chat in the past. Another major factor that works in favor of Allo is Google Assistant. The AI within the app is prompt with contextual search results and assuming that this assistant will only grow better with every interaction, we can expect far more use of this feature in future. ALSO READ: Two Indian students file PIL against WhatsApp A research team at University of Limerick has called on the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, to introduce legislation that would require employers to disclose the gender pay gap in their organisations. The researchers made the call at the Gender Equality in Decision-Making (GEM) conference hosted in Dell EMCs Cherrywood Campus in Dublin today. The call follows moves by the British Government to introduce legislation forcing employers with more than 250 employees to publish, on an annual basis, the difference between womens and mens earnings. According to a 2015 Eurostat report, the gender pay gap in Ireland stands at 14.4%. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2016 are expected to come into force this year. These regulations will compel employers to begin collating data in relation to differences in pay in Spring 2017, with the information to be made public 12 months later. The UL researchers hold that greater transparency in reporting of pay data would help to identify where inequality is occurring and facilitate progress in implementing equal pay. The team also suggests that to capture the full picture, data examining more than just gross hourly earnings should be captured since bonus payments and part-time working account for much of the difference in pay gap figures. The research team went on to call for the public disclosure of pay data to be made a priority as part of the National Womens Strategy and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The UL research team is led by Dr Christine Cross, senior lecturer in personnel and employment relations at the university. The team has published a best-practice guide for employers detailing actions that organisations can take to increase the numbers of women in senior decision making roles. The project, carried out as part of the EU-funded PROGRESS programme, invites employers to sign up to a voluntary code of practice designed to facilitate greater gender equality in a range of HR processes. Researcher at University of Limerick, Dr Caroline Murphy says, "While tailoring organisational practices can facilitate the achievement of greater gender balance and equality, it is transparency and disclosure of organisational data that has the greatest potential to radically address gender inequalities." She added, "It is not enough for employers to simply pay lip-service to gender equality, they should show what actions they are taking to tackle it in the workplace." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Yroo has today announced that it will grow its Irish base with the creation of 33 jobs over the next 3 years. The Worlds most powerful search engine for smart shoppers is growing its new offices in Dublin, Ireland in order to build out global operations and support customers in more than 35 countries where the company currently transacts across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Employee retention continues to be strong and hiring is at all all time high with 450% growth since the companys founding less than 2 years ago. Yroo was introduced to Ireland through ConnectIreland, the company responsible for delivering the Governments Succeed in Ireland initiative, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs in association with IDA Ireland. The Irish office will be responsible for management and international sales, as well as business development, marketing, software development and customer support. Even though other locations were considered, Yroo chose to establish in Ireland because of its location, ease of doing business and access to talent along with the existing infrastructure and knowledge in the technology sector. In just over a year, Yroo has been the starting point of over 25 millions shopping trips and have inluenced more than $2 million dollars in purchases due to its offering of a seamless shopping experience which allows customers to shop from over 7,000 merchants and 100 million items all in one place. Yroo has also grown its customer base to more than 10 million users and is currently growing at an average of 15,000 new registered users per day, primarily driven by peer-to-peer recommendations. Welcoming the news of the expansion, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin Vickers commented, "This latest venture by the Toronto-based firm is a testament to the consistent growth in two-way investment and strong commercial relationship enjoyed by Ireland and Canada." He added, "Once in effect, the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will encourage even more investment between Ireland and Canada." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan on Wednesday pledged more than $3 billion toward a plan to "cure, prevent or manage all disease within our children's lifetime." Speaking through tears at a San Francisco event to announce the initiative, Chan said she hoped to spare parents the pain she had seen while delivering difficult news as a pediatrician. "In those moments and in many others we're at the limit of what we understand about the human body and disease, the science behind medicine, the limit of our ability to alleviate suffering. We want to push back that boundary," she said. The event was attended by business and political luminaries including former Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. Zuckerberg said science and the medical community have made rapid advancements over the last 50 years, including eradicating smallpox and nearly eliminating polio without the aid of modern technology. "Today, just four kinds of diseases cause the majority of deaths," Zuckerberg added in a posting on his Facebook page, citing cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurological diseases. "We can make progress on all of them with the right technology." The plan includes creating a bioscience research center, called the Biohub, developing a chip to diagnose diseases, and ways to monitor the bloodstream continuously and map cell types in the body. Chan and Zuckerberg will donate $600 million over the next decade to the Biohub in San Francisco, bringing together Bay-area researchers and scientists from the University of California at San Francisco, the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. Two initial Biohub projects will be a Cell Atlas, a map of cells controlling the body's major organs, and the Infectious Disease Initiative to develop new tools, tests, vaccines and strategies for fighting diseases such as HIV, Ebola and Zika. The Biohub will be led by University of California, San Francisco professor Joseph DeRisi and Stanford University professor Stephen Quake, whose work includes small molecule screening and biological measurements. Dr. Cori Bargmann, a Rockefeller University neuroscientist, will lead all of Chan Zuckerberg's science initiatives. Any research, tools and material coming out of Biohub, which will work with a network of 10 to 15 laboratories across the world, will be "available to every scientist, everywhere," Bargmann said. "If you take great people and set them loose on important problems in an intelligent way and give them a long time horizon there will be progress." (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams After more than 20 years of helping south Bronx kids learn and grow, Rocking the Boat is preparing a new ship to join its fleet, its 50th vessel to date. The boat is a herreshoff 12-and-a-half sailboat, a famous model sailboat, that we started in November of last year, said director of programs Debbie Forrester. The plan is to build three of them to use in our sailing fleet for our sailing program. The boats are built by older students in the job skills program. Until now the organization has mostly focused on Whitehall rowboats, which are used by younger students in their environmental program. They learn to row on the river and do environmental monitoring and restoration work on the river, Forrester said. Last November, students completed a replica Steamboat in conjunction with the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, which designed a steam engine for it. Every Monday, students will be racing with students at SUNY Maritime College in Throggs Neck. Founded in 1995 by current executive director Adam Green of Manhattan while he was a student at Vassar College, the non-profit organization teaches high school students from the Hunts Point area how to build sailboats they then pilot on the Bronx River. Some also learn to sail on the East River. However, Forrester said the main thing students learn is self-confidence. The main thing is social, emotional learning teaching them to be confident in what they do and who they are, and not to be afraid to challenge themselves and try new things, we said. We try to give them a sense that they can accomplish anything they put their mind to. Over the years, approximately 560 students have taken part in the programs. Some have gone on to study environmental studies in college and a recent student is currently attending The Landing School, a professional boat school in Maine. A whole new group of classes start Monday, September 19. On Saturday, September 17, Rocking the Boat will hold its eighth annual fundraiser, Rocking Manhattan. Starting at 8 a.m. volunteers will leave from Brooklyn Bridge Park Marina and row around Manhattan Island. The rowers will make stops along the route for breakfast in Long Island City and lunch in Inwood before returning to the Brooklyn marina at around 5 p.m. for a celebration dinner. Sponsors contribute with cash donations and in-kind donations of food and space. Nine fundraising teams will participate this year with the goal of raising $300,000 for the general operating fund. Funds are raised before the event by participants or through online donors, said director of corporate partnerships and special events Jennifer Sanchez. Each boat pledges to raise a minimum of $20,000, although many raise more than that, Sanchez said. Its up to the team captain how that money is raised. Some will divide that money up by the number of rowers in a boat, while some will decide to raise more than other team members. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Ze'Ryk Garcia tosses the ball outside of his home Thursday, March 24, 2016, at D.N. Leathers public housing complex in Corpus Christi. SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Apartments are located on Fisk Street Thursday, March 24, 2016, at D.N. Leathers public housing complex in Corpus Christi. By Kirsten Crow of the Caller-Times Relocation plans for a Northside public housing complex are seeing changes about three weeks after attorneys advocating for tenants filed a letter with federal agencies criticizing the program. Wednesday evening, officials announced tenants of the D.N. Leathers public housing complex planned for demolition as construction of the Harbor Bridge replacement approaches will have more time to find new housing. Originally, residents had to move out of the 122-unit, 75-year-old complex no later than the end of November, with demolition beginning in December. The move-out and demolition deadlines have both been extended by 90 days, said Gary Allsup, CEO of the Corpus Christi Housing Authority. The timeline that residents can use their vouchers to find private market housing has also been extended, he said. The agency will also now pay as much as a $500 reimbursement for security deposits. A past plan called for the housing authority to cover some moving costs, but not deposits. Federal funds cannot be used for security deposits, and in the past, the housing authority has not included security deposits as part of its housing voucher program, Allsup said. The money that will be used for the security deposits are nonprofit funds that had originally been planned to go to a demonstration infill housing project. The relocation of Leathers residents is part of a multiparty, multitiered agreement brokered last year between state and local agencies to settle a civil-rights complaint related to the bridge's route. The changes were largely in response to a letter sent to the Federal Highway Administration earlier this month by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. In part, the letter alleged the housing authority's original relocation plan didn't "affirmatively further fair housing." Peter McGraw, a staff attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, described the announcement of extended deadlines and help with security deposits as good first steps. "We certainly don't think it's a fix for some of the bigger issues about fair housing and the obligation of both the housing authority and (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) to affirmatively further fair housing," he said. "This might not be a fix for those bigger issues, but it's a step in the right direction." Vouchers were issued to residents in early August, but tenants have raised concerns about finding landlords who will accept them within the original time frame, as well as how they would come up with the money to pay high security deposits. Tenants who are unable to find private market housing will be relocated to other public housing properties, officials have said. The changes won't affect the construction timeline for the bridge, state transportation officials said. The voucher program was temporarily on hold while the letter was reviewed, but it has now resumed, Allsup said. "I'm sure that everybody that is involved has the best interest of the residents of the Leathers property in mind," he said. "We just realize that there are different ways of accomplishing those same goals." Beatriz Alvarado/Caller-Times Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Mexican-American Studies Program, history department, College of Liberal Arts and the provost's office celebrated the Dr. Hector P. Garcia State Holiday by hosting a discussion with Ignacio Garcia, who authored his biography. SHARE By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times When Ignacio Garcia was a young Chicano activist, he saw the late Dr. Hector P. Garcia as an elitist, he said. Garcia, who published a biography on the physician and civil rights pioneer, said he eventually learned that wasn't the case. He came across a running joke, he explained, that Dr. Garcia was a padrino (godfather) to more quinceaneras than anybody. "He was that kind of person," Garcia said. "It's hard to believe that others scholars would have been padrinos to anybody. Or who would eat with the people (they advocated for) in their homes." Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Mexican-American Studies Program, history department, College of Liberal Arts and the provost's office celebrated the Dr. Hector P. Garcia State Holiday by hosting a discussion with Ignacio Garcia. The author addressed three questions during a Wednesday lecture: What does it take to create a legacy? Why do some legacies last longer than others? And what prompts reluctancy in acknowledging a historic figure? "In (Dr. Hector P. Garcia's) case, why was there initially a reluctance to place him along the prominent Mexican-American reformers of our history?" he asked during the lecture. Garcia answered the first question by speaking on Hector Garcia's life and the second was answered by reflecting on why legacies matter and "why they often complicate our view of history, and more importantly, our present politics and activism." "Hector did not complain about the things he couldn't do, but was hypercritical of the things that were closed off to Mexican Americans," Garcia said. "His words were those of outrage, not lamentation." Garcia said the notion is another element of a good and ongoing legacy: "that your life is best seen through what you did for others rather than what you accomplished for yourself." Garcia said although Hector Garcia was articulate, he was not the quotable type, and warned a lack of personal literature may have contributed to the reluctancy in acknowledging his role in the civil right movement similarly to other reformers of his time. Professor of Political Science Carlos Huerta asked Garcia what advice he though Dr. Hector P. Garcia would give to America today. "He would say we don't speak of the poor anymore. We speak of the middle class. We cater to the middle class and we don't speak of the exploited and that's very uncomfortable," Garcia said. "He would tell us it's dangerous to get caught up in (advocacy driven by) corporate funding and federal government funding. I think he would ask us to keep America from becoming a place of elites where their desires are more important, where we talk about middle class and refrain from say 'poor, exploited and marginalized.'" Twitter: @CallerBetty GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Regional Manager of Shelf Edge Matt Roohan (left) reads a book to students from Shaw Elementary School as part of the Read 3 program Wednesday at the H-E-B on South Port Avenue. SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Almita Jimenez (center) and Isaac Reyes (back center) from Shaw Elementary School watch on as members of H-E-B read a book as part of the Read 3 program Wednesday at the H-E-B on South Port Avenue. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Director of Customer Service reads a book to students from Shaw Elementary School as part of the Read 3 program Wednesday at the H-E-B on South Port Avenue. By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times Aiden Ita likes to escape to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when he can. Every night before bed, the fifth grader at Shaw Elementary School gets away from reality to investigate mysteries, find adventures and learn about his favorite sports. Aiden knows reading is another word for learning. "We need the knowledge (from books) and to know how to learn," he said Wednesday at the H-E-B on South Port Avenue. "I like to read every night before bed." Aiden, and a number of his fourth- and fifth-grade classmates, are part of the Early Act First Knight Service Club. The program aims to teach students about admirable character traits and encourages them to become part of their communities early, said Patricia DeLeon, school counselor. The club took part in H-E-B's Read 3 Read-In, an initiative to promote reading at home at least three times a week. Three longtime regional employees read to the students, including Rob Hall, group vice president of H-E-B Gulf Coast Region, who read Curious George. "We want to continue to send the message of the importance of reading. Any book we encourage kids to read," Hall said. "I have two older daughters who I don't get a chance to read to anymore. This was very special for me." Read 3 Read-In events were scheduled for H-E-B stores statewide, and schools, day cares and early childhood facilities were encouraged to organize their own. Since 2011, the company has collected more than 3 million books for children. From now until Sept. 27, H-E-B customers and employees are encouraged to drop off new or gently-used children's books in special collections bins in the more than 350 stores participating in Texas. There's also an option to donate $3, $5 or $10 at HEB.com. These book donations will go to area families to build their home libraries, according to a news release. Monica Ballesteros, H-E-B store leader, said the store's book area is a place for kids to spend time while their parents are shopping. "If they don't have access at home to books, we see kids come and look through books while they're here," Ballesteros said. "What I love about the program is that the books are going back to the community we serve." Twitter: @CallerJules GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES State Rep. Todd Hunter (left) and Terry Mills, president of the NAACP's local chapter, talk to Veterans Memorial High School students during the 2016 Youth Summit on Wednesday. SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Students from Veterans Memorial High School watch on as Terry Mills, president of the NAACP's local chapter, speaks during the 2016 Youth Summit on Wednesday. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES FBI agent Alfred Tribble talks to Veterans Memorial High School students Wednesday during the 2016 Youth Summit. By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times Alfred Tribble, a supervisory special agent for the FBI, knew a man who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to federal prison. After the man served his sentence, he couldn't visit his daughter at school or travel to certain countries because he was a felon, Tribble said. That one bad decision, he added, changed the rest of that man's life. Tribble told the story to Corpus Christi high school students during the inaugural Youth Summit Wednesday. The summit was put together by the Corpus Christi chapter of the NAACP and Corpus Christi ISD. The speakers started the summit at Miller High School in the morning and ended it at Veterans Memorial High School in the afternoon. "There are many issues that go on in your lives," Superintendent Roland Hernandez told the students. "Today's summit is to give you exposure to the resources you have." Each speaker covered different topics, such as civil rights, the importance of making good decisions and how to handle conflicts. Mohammed Elghobashy, imam of the Islamic Society of Corpus Christi, told students cultural differences shouldn't pit people against each other. "Don't let your differences lead us to conflict," Elghobashy said. "Religion should lead us to have a better life and to live with love, harmony and peace." Students filled out a survey of the summit. Summit organizers said the feedback will be used to tailor next year's gathering. Although the summit was intended for high school kids who are preparing for life after graduation, Hernandez said there were lessons from which every one could benefit. "Even at my age, I learned and walked away with so much," Hernandez said. "What they talked about really matters." Twitter: @Caller_Fares GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Zeferino Tinajero (center left) and Clarissa Rivera (center right) receive check for $500 scholarship from the American G. I. Forum at Del Mar College. SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Cecilia Garcia Akers talks about her father during Dr. Hector P. Garcia Texas State Recognition Day on Wednesday at Del Mar College. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Briana Di Garcia performs during Dr. Hector P. Garcia Texas State Recognition Day. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Mariachi Del Mar performs on Wednesday at Del Mar College. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Del Mar College regent Elva Estrada talks during Dr. Hector P. Garcia Texas State Recognition Day on Wednesday. By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times Clarissa Rivera broke out in tears when she thanked the American G.I. Forum for a scholarship. The $500 will come in handy next spring, she said. But being chosen as a recipient means more to her. "This is a reassurance that what I'm doing isn't going unnoticed," Rivera said to a packed room. "This reassures I'm doing something right." Rivera, who is part of the radiology program at Del Mar College, was among two scholarship recipients who ceremoniously received oversized checks during a Wednesday celebration of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Texas State Recognition Day. Nursing education major Zeferino Tinajero also is a recipient of the scholarship, which was awarded by members of the South Texas Chapter of the forum. The American G.I. Forum is a Congressionally chartered Hispanic veterans and civil rights organization that was founded by Garcia in 1948. Gov. Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 495 in May 2009, establishing a State Recognition Day of Hector P. Garcia to be observed on the third Wednesday of each September. Wednesday's event was hosted at Del Mar's East Campus, in the Retama Room. There was music by Mariachi Del Mar and performances by Feria de las Flores Folklorico dancers. Garcia's daughter, Cecilia Garcia Akers, said the celebration gets bigger every year. She spoke to attendees about recent efforts to keep her father's legacy alive and relevant. She said a $600,000 project to digitize a large portion of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia collection of papers and memorabilia is slated to be accessible to the world by December 2017. The items have been stored at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi since 1990. Garcia Akers said the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center, a proposed 43,000 square-foot facility being built on the property of Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial, is slated to be complete by January. Del Mar College board of regents Chairman Trey McCampbell said the annual celebration is emblematic of college's mission as a Hispanic Serving Institute. "We are here to celebrate both the life and legacy of Dr. Hector P. Garcia," McCampbell said. "The effects he had can be felt from the poorest of barrios to the highest echelons of society." Twitter: @CallerBetty Caller-Times file photo A Blue Bell representative stocks the popular ice cream at a Stripes convenience store in late 2015. SHARE By Julie Garcia Julie.Garcia@Caller.Com 361-886-3774 Texas is spared in the latest Blue Bell recall, according to a social media post. Blue Bell is voluntarily recalling select flavors containing chocolate chip cookie dough in an "abundance of caution." In a news release, the company said the recall involves concerns of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The no-egg chocolate chip cookie dough was produced at the Sylacauga, Alabama, plant and can be identified by code dates on the bottom of the half-gallon or pint-size containers. The recall covers half-gallons Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough No. 082618226 and Cookie Two Step Nos. 080418222 and 081818224. In the pint-size container, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nos. 081518242 and 082418242 are being recalled. The products were distributed to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, the release stated. The Food and Drug Administration is working with the company on the recall. Regina Garcia, H-E-B public affairs senior manager, said there are no plans to remove Blue Bell from local shelves since the recall does not involve Texas. But the company is on alert. Aspen Hills Inc., a third party company that supplies the cookie dough, initially issued a voluntary recall, and Blue Bell is following suit, "because (they) remain committed to producing a safe, high-quality, great-tasting ice cream for you and your family to enjoy." No illnesses have been reported, according to the release. In 2015, Blue Bell recalled all of its products for eight months because of a listeria outbreak, which led to 10 illnesses and three deaths in five states. It returned to Corpus Christi and most of South Texas in December. Twitter: @Caller_Jules COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Emilio Velazquez an electrical workers from TL Electric protests unfair labor practices outside Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center construction site on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES David Carranco an electrical workers from TL Electric protests unfair labor practices outside Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center construction site on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Electrical workers from TL Electric protests unfair labor practices outside Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center construction site on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Electrical workers from TL Electric protests unfair labor practices outside Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center construction site on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times Unfair labor practices led about 10 workers at an electric company to walk out, according to a union organizer. On Sept. 16, TL Electric owner Tommie Lee said the workers "walked off the job." He was not made aware of any requests or complaints before or since that day, he said. David Carranco, union organizer for IBEW Local Union 278, said the workers are on picketing because they have been treated unfairly. The group of employees have gathered at the construction site for the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center on Hospital Boulevard between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. "They want to be compensated fairly. They weren't provided water on the job," Carranco said. "They were told if they did not work mandatory overtime on Saturday, they'd be suspended a week with no pay." Carranco, who does not work for TL Electric, said the protest started Friday after a meeting about the mandatory overtime. When the employees tried to return to work Monday, Carranco said they were told they had been replaced and were no longer needed. "They have plumbers and (air conditioning) workers doing electrical work," Carranco said. "We contacted Tommie Lee, and he said he does not want his company to be a union company." Lee said the company employs about 90 workers, and the remaining employees have worked to meet their schedules without the protesting employees. "Nobody has contacted me from that group," Lee said. "The union has called. We are not in talks with the union because we are not in (an) agreement with the union. We're not a union shop." Lee said employees are encouraged to take water breaks as often as they need them. Multiple water coolers are provided on work sites, he said. "We have meetings every morning and we discuss hydration. Water breaks aren't scheduled, however they are told to drink water as often as they need to," Lee said. Carranco said they were not provided water every day, and workers would pitch in $5 and someone would go to a store and buy water for everyone. They would have to bring their own water coolers. Some of those protesting are part of IBEW but a majority of them want to exercise their right to self-organize a labor union, he said. The employees have not been fired or laid off, but he said they have been "locked out" of their work projects. "It's important that it's here on the site of the Hector P. Garcia clinic, because he advocated for civil rights and labor unions," Carranco said. Twitter: @Caller_Jules Police in riot gear stand in front of protesters by the Omni Hotel in Charlotte.(Photo: Lauren Petracca, Greenville News) SHARE Police and protesters carry a seriously wounded protester into the parking area of the the Omni Hotel during a march to protest the death of Keith Scott September 21, 2016 in Carolina. Scott, who was black, was shot and killed at an apartment complex near UNC Charlotte by police officers, who say they warned Scott to drop a gun he was allegedly holding. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 671694357 ORIG FILE ID: 609606986(Photo: Brian Blanco, Getty Images) By Tonya Maxwell and Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY Network CHARLOTTE As city and state officials, backed by the National Guard, sought to restore calm after a second night of angry protests, Mayor said she hoped to see video Thursday that could help determine what took place during the police-involved fatal shooting of a black man. One person was shot and four officers were injured in the latest round of violence Wednesday night that followed a peaceful protest. With police in riot gear patrolling downtown streets, protesters shouted "hands up, don't shoot," banged against a police van and broke a window of the City Smoke barbecue restaurant and bar. Police set off smoke bombs, which are sometimes used to disperse crowds. Gov. declared a state of emergency to deploy the National Guard and the state Highway Patrol to assist local police. The non-fatal shooting was "civilian on civilian" and the did not fire the shot, the said via Twitter. Four officers suffered non-life threatening injuries Wednesday night, police said on Twitter. Sixteen officers were injured during the first night of unrest, when shops were also looted, windows shattered and fires set following a peaceful protest. The , headquartered in Charlotte, urged employees to stay home Thursday due to the ongoing unrest, WBTV reported. Public anger erupted Tuesday evening after a black police officer shot and killed Kevin Lamont Scott, who was waiting in his car for his son's school bus in the afternoon. Police in riot gear stand in front of protesters by the Omni Hotel in Charlotte. (Photo: Lauren Petracca, Greenville News) Several local residents said the 43-year-old father of seven regularly waited in his car and read until his son arrived. They claimed he was carrying a book, not a gun, when he stepped from the car after police approached. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney has rejected those claims and said the gun had been recovered by detectives. No book was found, Putney said. Police also said Scott refused direct orders from police to drop the weapon. Todd Walther, a spokesman for the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police, tells CNN that video of the incident shows that Scott "was given clear command to drop that weapon when he exited the vehicle and he did not." The case is being investigated by a separate state agency. Although the video has quickly become the focus of the dispute, Putney says it will not emerge any time soon because it would have a negative impact on the integrity of the case. "There are different perspectives and different videos, " Mayor Roberts told CNN. "There are a couple of different body cameras, was a dash cam, there may be some community videos. We want clear, irrefutable evidence. We are working very hard to make that accessible." A new law, signed by Gov. Pat McCrory in July, takes effect Oct. 1 and denies public access to police body cam and dashcam footage without a judges orders. Under the law, police departments can decide whether to make such video public. A person depicted in a video can request release of the footage, but if the request is denied, the person must challenge the decision in court. It is unclear whether the new law would apply to the ongoing case if the investigation continues into October. Maxwell reports for the Asheville (N.C.) . Stanglin reported from McLean, Va. Contributing: Melanie Eversley in New York JOHN MORITZ/CALLER-TIMES Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht appears before a joint meeting Wednesday of the House Criminal Jurisprudence and County Affairs committees. SHARE By John C. Moritz, USA Today Austin Bureau AUSTIN Texas should end the practice of keeping suspects locked up until they are tried in court just because they cannot afford to put up the cash for bail or post a bond to secure their release, the state's top-ranking judge told a legislative panel on Wednesday. Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, appearing before a joint meeting of the House Criminal Jurisprudence and County Affairs committees, said the current practice of setting bail for suspects effectively puts in place one rule of law for people of means and another, more hostile rule for those of limited means. "It's a burden to defendants, and also to society," Hecht said, point out that families are separated, jobs are lost and bills go unpaid. Hecht and Sharon Keller, the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, this year instructed the Texas Judicial Council to develop recommendations to make the pretrial process apply equally to defendants regardless of their incomes. The recommendations, though not yet formally adopted by the Judicial Council, include amending the Texas Constitution to make sure that suspects in most cases have an absolute right to pretrial release. They also call for the Legislature to enact measures to ensure that suspects are evaluated to determine whether they are flight risks before bail amounts are set. Hecht told the lawmakers that 20 years ago, about one-third of the people in Texas county jails were unable to post bail or a bond before trial. Now, nearly three out of every four county jail inmates are there awaiting trial. The cost to local taxpayers can be staggering. David Slayton, executive director of the Judicial Council, said it costs an average of $60 a day to keep an inmate in county lockup. That works out to $6.2 million a day for all the inmates awaiting trial in jails across Texas. The annual figure is close to $1 billion, he said. Slayton also cited studies showing that suspects who are unable to post bail tend to be more likely to be given longer sentence if they are convicted and more likely to offend again whenever they complete the sentence and return to society. Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern. "If I'm indigent, a $5,000 bond may as well be $1 million," said State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg. "I'm not getting out (of jail)." State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a Republican who represents suburbs near Fort Worth, said he worries that some counties are too slow to return bail money to the defendants who posted it. Also in the recommendations is a proposal to allow judges to deny bail if a defendant poses a clear societal threat. Currently, judges don't have that power. Instead, Slayton said, they simply set an exorbitant amount for bail and hope the defendant is unable to pay. That recommendation would require lawmakers to place a constitutional amendment before Texas voters. Stickland was among a handful of lawmakers who were skeptical of the idea. "Doesn't that fly in the face of 'innocent until proven guilty'?" he asked. The Judicial Council is expected to act on the recommendations in late October. Then it would be up to the Legislature to decide whether to push them forward. Twitter: @JohnnieMo How bail is set in Texas The Texas Judicial Council's recommendations. Columnist Dave McNeely SHARE Donald Trump, a candidate of change, finally publicly admitted Friday (Sept. 16) that he'd changed his mind: Barack Obama was born in the United States. Hillary Clinton says she'd like to see things change, too besides Trump's mind. Read on. Trump didn't apologize for spreading the false Birther rumor for years and during his half-minute concession told two lies. Trump's full statement, on dropping the Birther allegation at the core of his political involvement: "Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the Birther controversy. I finished it I finished it and you know what I mean," Trump said. "President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period," Trump declared. "Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again." And then he left the podium, without taking questions. First, his claim that Clinton "started the Birther controversy" is bogus. "There is no evidence to support this," said PolitiFact, the respected fact-checker of political claims. "Clinton supporters circulated the rumor in the last days of the 2008 Democratic primary and after Clinton had conceded to Obama," the story continued. "But the record does not show Clinton or her campaign ever promoting the Birther theory, let alone starting it. "We rate Trump's claim False." Trump's second lie is that he "ended" the Birther controversy. He presumably was referring to Obama releasing his Hawaiian long-form birth certificate in 2011, to stop the distracting questioning of his birthplace Trump so relentlessly continued to spread. In television interviews and on Twitter, Trump kept questioning whether Obama was born in the United States into 2016. As recently as the Thursday before his Friday (Sept. 16) terse concession to reporters that Obama was born in the United States, Trump had refused to confirm his opinion had changed despite campaign manager Kellyanne Conway saying it had. Washington Post reporter Robert Costa asked Trump if he had come to believe Obama was indeed born in Hawaii. "I'll answer that question at the right time," Trump responded. "I just don't want to answer it yet." Trump's switch was read by some observers as an effort to remove a claim that had offended many minorities. Clinton said Trump's concession wouldn't clear his record. "For five years, he has led the Birther movement to delegitimize our first black president," Clinton said. "His campaign was founded on this outrageous lie. There is no erasing it in history." But it may also have been Clinton, at a Sept. 9 fundraiser, describing "half" of Trump supporters as a "basket of deplorables," that brought the Birther issue back into focus. That remark got a lot of publicity, and criticism. Clinton apologized the next day. "I regret saying 'half' that was wrong," she said in a statement. But her description of other Trump supporters got little attention, noted New York Times columnist Charles Blow. Blow reported Clinton's full quote about the "deplorables" plus what she said immediately after that: "You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. "And he has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive, hateful, mean-spirited rhetoric. Now some of those folks they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America." Then, Clinton, about other Trump backers: "But the other basket and I know this because I see friends from all over America here I see friends from Florida and Georgia and South Carolina and Texas as well as, you know, New York and California but that other basket of people are people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they're just desperate for change. "It doesn't really even matter where it comes from. They don't buy everything he says, but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They won't wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroin, feel like they're in a dead end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well." Clinton's recognition that a lot of people think things need to change probably won't affect the fact that Trump's expressed opinions, on issues and people, are in a constant state of change. But it will be interesting to see if that point gets driven home in the last few weeks of the campaign, and particularly in Clinton's three debates with Trump. Contact McNeely at davemcneely111@gmail.com or 512-458-2963. We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups A man who caused the death of a teenage motorcyclist last year was not driving dangerously at the time of the collision, a court has heard. Adrian Fry, of Witchford, was yesterday found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash on the A1123 at Hill Row Causeway on January 22 last year. The accident caused the death of 19-year-old Karl Langley, from Sutton, who had driven just 277 metres from his home when he collided head-on with Frys Ford Focus. Fry, 51, had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving but denied he had been driving dangerously when his car struck Mr Langley. This formed the case being put forward by the prosecution. However, after reviewing the evidence Judge Gareth Hawkesworth said there was no case to answer on the dangerous driving count. He told jurors at Cambridge Crown Court: I have come to the conclusion that there is not sufficient evidence of dangerous driving in this case. There is not sufficient evidence to rebut the explanation given by Mr Fry in his lengthy police interviews. Judge Hawkesworth said the facts of the case amounted to Fry having driven carelessly, but not dangerously. He added: In the circumstances it is right and appropriate that a not guilty [plea] is entered in respect of count one, the offence that we were trying. The case adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and to give Mr Langleys family time to write a victim impact statement. Fry, who was represented by Michael Bromley-Martin QC, was granted bail and will be sentenced on October 19. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups An apprentice joiner from Cambridge has been shortlisted for a national award. Imogen Davis, an apprentice at Law & Lewis of Cambridge is into the final three of the apprentice joiner of the year category at the British Woodworking Federation's annual woodworking awards. She will find out if she's won the big prize at a ceremony on October 4. Being shortlisted for this award is a real boost to my confidence and would motivate me for the next level of my apprenticeship," she said. If I were to win this award, it would make my mum so proud and I would like to be an inspiration to the other talented apprentices we have here now and in the future. I am so honoured to be nominated for this award by Law & Lewis, who have shown faith in my abilities and pushed me to do more challenging projects as I have advanced through my apprenticeship." Imogen has worked for Law & Lewis for seven months, contributing to the workshop production on several key jobs including a project involving curved conservation sliding sashes and French doors. Mark Law, the Longstanton company's managing director, said Imogen's colleagues in the workshop have high praise for both her talent and conscientious approach to her work. We are immensely proud that Imogen has reached the shortlist," said Law. She is a key member of our valued team and has been lucky enough to work alongside some very talented, experienced joiners during her apprenticeship. Regardless of whether or not she wins, we are delighted that she has received this well-deserved recognition." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups A campaigner keen to save a Cambridge library from the bulldozers says it should be spared because of its role in one of the world's greatest mathematical breakthroughs. Milton Road Library is under threat of demolition so that a block of flats can be built in its place. But city resident Martin Aitken says the library has an illustrious past" and is famous worldwide for its connection with renowned Cambridge mathematician Prof Sir Andrew Wiles. In 1993, he did what no one else had succeeded in doing and proved Fermat's last theorem, the world's greatest mathematical problem. In doing so, he revolutionised mathematics. The link with Milton Road Library goes back 30 years earlier, when Wiles was 10 years old. On his way home from school, he dropped into the library to browse its collection of puzzle books. The book that caught the boy's attention was The Last Problem by Eric Temple Bell, and the 'last problem' was Fermat's theorem. Sir Andrew said later: Here was a problem that I, a 10-year-old, could understand and I knew from that moment that I would never let it go. I had to solve it." The problem there are no whole number solutions to the equation xn + yn = zn when n is greater than 2 had defeated mathematicians for more than 350 years. Fermat had jotted it down in the margin of one of his books, adding that he had a 'marvellous proof 'of it, but didn't have room in the margin to say what it was and he never got round to it. In 1993, Sir Andrew cracked it, choosing Cambridge as the place to announce the discovery. Cambridge professor John Coates described it as the equivalent of splitting the atom or finding the structure of DNA." Mr Aitken said: The news of Wiles' achievement was headlined internationally. He was feted round the world, and has been given many honours. He was knighted in 2000, and this year was awarded the Abel Prize, mathematics' equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The story is told in Simon Singh's book, Fermat's Last Theorem, which mentions Wiles's visit to the library when he was 10. The story spotlights the importance public libraries have, and holds up Milton Road Library as an example. It shows the vital part they play in informing and inspiring young people, and in the advancement of knowledge. As a result, we have here in Cambridge a public library that is recognised worldwide as the origin of one of the great academic breakthroughs of the 20th century. All this will be lost if Cambridgeshire County Council demolish the library." The council has said it plans a smaller library as a replacement, but a petition has been launched to save it at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-milton-road-public-library-in-cambridge-from-demolition. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups A moving memorial was held today for a Spitfire pilot who was killed when his aircraft crash landed in Cambridgeshire with the unveiling of a plaque. About 60 people gathered to commemorate Pilot Officer Harold Edwin Penketh who crashed in a Second World War Spitfire at Holme Lode, where the MkI dived into the ground, killing the officer 75 years ago. Members of his family, pupils from Holme Primary School and excavators who helped recover parts of the aircraft were there to mark the occasion. P/O Penketh was a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. The former insurance worker was killed on November 22, 1940, during a high altitude training flight just after the end of the Battle of Britain. He was aged just 20. The remains of Spitfire X4593 were recovered from the Great Fen nature reserve land restoration project, run by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The Trust applied for permission to fix a commemorative plaque to a stone near the Holme Fen Nature Reserve. The Spitfire was raised by archaeologists in October last year following a week-long dig. Jo Dickson, of the Wildlife Trust, said: It was lovely to see his family there. It started to rain a little but stopped and the Bishop began the service just as the sun came out. "It was moving but it was more of a reflective mood but positive. It was nice to see the family there and there were also members of the community, people from the excavation and pupils from the school. It was a lovely service." Based at RAF Wittering, the Spitfire was on a routine training flight with two other planes when P/O Penketh was seen to break formation, and entered a dive from which he failed to recover. Witnesses said his aircraft entered a dive and struck the ground vertically. His body was recovered and returned to his home town of Brighton. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Ants, cockroaches, rodents and even silverfish have been found crawling around at Addenbrooke's, according to new figures. Pest control has been called out to the Cambridge hospital 529 times in the last five years to get rid of the beasts in clinics, wards, offices and public areas. Figures obtained by the News under the Freedom of Information act found Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) have spent 104,670 in pest control since 2011. Pest control was called out 94 times last year at a cost of 21,449 - to banish creatures including rodents, ants and wasps from public areas, a trapped bird and silverfish in store rooms and flies in a clinic. Although the hospital will not give specific locations for the creatures, it says it takes pest control "very seriously" and had deterrents, traps and "rapid response teams" to exterminate the problem. The numbers of call outs were highest in 2013 with 119 which included bees and slugs in office areas, beetles and rodents in staff rooms, woodlice on a ward and an infestation of daddy long legs in staff areas and on wards. So far this year, there have been 35 call outs including ant infestations in public areas, clinics and wards and spiders in an office. A Cambridge University Hospitals spokesman said: "We take pest control very seriously at Cambridge University Hospitals. We have in place both planned pest control deterrents and traps and rapid response teams, including contractors, to deal with any issues that arise. "It's also worth noting that our recent Environmental Health Office survey in relation to food safety was excellent." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Reality TV star Mark Wright helped launch a new range of flights from Stansted Airport. Wright, who has appeared on The Only Way is Essex and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here , took part in a prize give-away with airline and package holiday provider Jet2Holidays. The company will be flying to 21 European destinations from Stansted. Andrew Cowan, chief executive at Stansted Airport said: "We're delighted that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has chosen Stansted. Its arrival at Stansted from next spring will create 250 new jobs at the airport, and support more jobs across our region, as well as offering passengers in London and the East of England a fantastic choice of flights and package holidays to 21 of Europe's most popular and exciting destinations. "The announcement is a real vote of confidence in Stansted and we look forward to building a strong working relationship with Jet2 to ensure this exciting new partnership is an overwhelming success." Wright, accompanied by a 'Red Team' hit squad, marked the occasion by giving away free flights to commuters at Liverpool Street Station and on the Stansted Express. Stansted is Jet2's ninth UK base. | BY Ricki Green | After an extensive and exhaustive search, Ogilvy Sydney has lured highly renowned Toby Harrison back to Australia to take up the role of chief strategy officer, Ogilvy Sydney. Harrison returns to Sydney after a three-year stint at adam&eveDDB, London where he won the IPA Grand Prix for effectiveness. Recently, as head of strategy, he jointly ran a 30-strong planning department, and as part of the management team, helped steer the agency to back to back Campaign Agency of the Year awards and Cannes Agency of the year awards. Prior to his time in the UK, Harrison worked at Droga5 Sydney, The Monkeys and BMF. Harrison brings a wealth of international and local experience to the agency, adding further grunt to its already established strategy and planning capabilities. CEO Ogilvy Australia, David Fox said it was an important appointment for Ogilvy Sydney, with both the agency and its clients fortunate beneficiaries of Harrisons significant strategic knowledge and expertise across almost every major category. Says Fox: We are delighted Toby is returning to Sydney to join our senior management team. We searched far and wide to find the right mix of experience and fit for Ogilvy and this role. Toby is an exceptional individual and has proven himself as a respected strategist and leader at the highest level. Hell be leading an outstanding team and am sure will make real impact on its future growth. | BY Ricki Green | Pat Anderson (left) and Will Winter-Irving (right) from R/GA Sydney are competing in the Digital category of the Young Spikes competition. Here they give a rundown of their first day. We both touched down in Singapore a few days before Spikes and the first thing that struck us (and worried us) was how very different the two of us are as travelers. Wills a happy-go-lucky kind of guy happy to try new things and down more than a few beers. He wont leave the hotel without his camera or enough cash to get absolutely smashed. Pat, on the other hand, is constantly on guard from Dengue Fever carrying mosquitos and terrified by the prospect of actually experiencing anything other than the comfort of Sydney (and their healthcare system). He wont leave the hotel without the phone number of the nearest hospital, a bottle of full strength mosquito repellent, plus a nifty little fan that sprays a neurotoxin designed to ward of mosquitos for double the protection. Our differences came through on our first day at Spikes, too Will wanted to listen to all the speakers and see absolutely everything, while Pat just wanted to see some of the work and eat the free Gelato (thanks McCann!). Will listened to a talk from Flying Fish Lab, which was about reinventing ordinary companies through controlled disruption. Will reckons it was pretty solid I even saw him nodding in agreement at one point during the talk. It was good to see so much Aussie work on the wall we particularly liked Brewtroleum and Amnesty International Unblocker from Colenso BBDOoh wait theyre from New Zealand. After wed checked out the work, we were briefed on Young Spikes. We had to come up with a social campaign about conservation. We rushed back to the hotel to work on it and after a good few hours concepting, we ended up going with the first idea that popped into our heads. | BY Lynchy | After being involved with the BBH network for nearly 20 years, including 5 years in his latest stint in Singapore, current ECD Scott McClelland is to return to his native Australia at the start of 2017. Joakim Borgstrom, better known as Jab, joins from BBH London, where he is Group Creative Director. Prior to BBH, Borgstrom (left) held a number of leadership roles, including Creative Director/Director of Innovation at Goodby Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, Creative Director and Partner at DoubleYou, Barcelona. Borgstrom is a rare mix of Swedish and Argentinean, speaks five languages and has worked in four countries to date. He has worked on brands as diverse as Nike, Audi, Electronic Arts, Coca-Cola, Google, Doritos, Barclays, Heineken, Chevrolet and on recent award-winning campaigns at BBH for Mentos, The Guardian and Samsung. Borgstrom is the winner of over 170 awards that include 11 Cannes Lions and a Cannes Grand Prix. Hes sat on the jury of 20+ award shows and is a sought-after speaker in the industry. McClelland (pictured on right) has helped the Agency further establish itself on the global stage, most notably coming runner-up in Ad Ages International Agency of the Year 2015, with Scott named as one of Creativitys Top 50. He has been involved in much of the great recent actions in the office, from the quality of outputs, to the growth and diversity of its offer, talent and client base. Says John Hadfield, CEO, BBH Singapore: Its a great shame to see Scott go. Hes been transformational for us. And for this we owe him huge thanks. Given his talents and long term relationship with BBH, we are sure to work with him again. In the meantime, were all very jealous of his future life in Byron Bay. Scott set us a challenge: to find someone that can have an even greater impact on the Agency than himself. Some ask. We are very lucky that Jab has chosen to join us. His career is stellar, simply one of the best in the business. Hes won everything, transformed the digital agenda in the best agencies, and even with all of this, hes a truly wonderful person. It is testament to Scotts legacy and BBH Singapores success that has brought us a world-class talent such as Jab. Says McClelland: I came back to BBH for a year and stayed for 5. I consider myself to have had the most amazing job with the most amazing people in the most amazing agency. Its been lots of work/fun/sweat/tears/laughs but now Im going surfing. Says Borgstrom: This is one of those life changing opportunities that I couldnt say no to. Im really impressed with the work that has come out of BBH Singapore. Currently one of the hottest places in our network, I cant wait to start sweating like a black sheep. Do all colleges use race in admissions? No. In fact, many don't. As the Supreme Court weighs the future of race in elite college admissions, many universities are try to attract more students for survival. Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 7:40PM Aside from being the CEO of the biggest social media site, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are working on a bigger cause: helping cure all diseases. Through the couples Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, they plan to invest over US$3 billion over the next decade with an aim of curing all diseases by the end of the century. The three goals the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has include bringing scientists and engineers together, develop new tools and tech, as well as boost the movement to fund science needed to treat diseases. They plan to work with the top scientists from around the world to work on this Chan, a pediatrician by profession, talked about this plan at an event hosted at the University of California, San Francisco, Mission Bay campus, which houses the schools state-of-the-art hospital. Present at the event were well-known scientists, investors, and politicians like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (who is a partner of the Initiative), former US Secretary Janel Napolitano, and investor Ron Conway. The first investment by the initiative will be $600 million to fund the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, an independent research center at Mission Bay where engineers, biologists, computer scientists, and the like can collaborate. Source: CNET The University of Canberra has been ranked in the 401-500 band in the 2016-2017 THE World University Rankings, up from last year's position in the 501-600 band. This achievement places UC as the 24th ranked institution in Australia, up from 28th last year. He was also sentenced for a 2014 aggravated robbery in which he choked a man in Chifley, stole his mobile phone and sold it for $70 at Cash Converters before he used that money to buy cannabis. Axis in Lyneham, Altitude in Belconnen, Arte in Braddon, Avoca in Phillip, Kingston Place and Lakefront in Kingston, Mayfair and Manhattan on the Park in Civic, Oracle in Belconnen, Vantage and Verge in Bruce, Vue in Greenway and Wilara in Phillip are those which have been so far named. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. It's as if the ACT government didn't ask actual students, the apparent beneficiaries. My teen went on, laughing: "Tablets do less than Chromebooks [Simple, lightweight laptops designed to be used connected to the Internet, with documents that live in the 'cloud'] which are more useful. There's no mouse pad or keyboard. I've never had 'enhanced learning' because of a tablet. What tablet would it be any way? They range from 50 bucks to more than 600." Hispanic Heritage Month: Embracing, enriching, enabling America Sept. 15 begins the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. According to hispanicheritagemonth.org, this date marks the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This celebration also includes the declaration of independence of Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18, and Belize on Sept. 21. According to DEOMI.com, this years theme invites us to reflect on Hispanics and Hispanic Americans not only embracing America and its culture, but also bringing their own traditions, culture, language, values, work ethics and ideals to the vitality and meaningful legacy in this nations cultural framework. This years theme is broken into three distinct areas: Embracing the ideals that founded this great nation. Enriching the culture through diversity, hard work, compassion, passion, and unwavering commitments. Enabling greatness in America by contributing to every facet of American society. One such individual who possessed all of these traits was Franklin Chang-Diaz. According to biography.com, he was born and raised in a poor family in Costa Rica until his parents sent him to the live with relatives in 1967. He had dreams of becoming a scientist and studied hard to achieve his goal. He was very grateful for the opportunities he was afforded by being in the United States, and very proud to become a U.S. citizen. In May 1980, Chang-Diaz was the first Hispanic person selected to enter the space program. He became an astronaut in 1981. He is a veteran of six space missions and has spent nearly 1,300 hours in space. Other accomplishments include receiving the Liberty Medal from President Ronald Reagan in 1986, and the Medal of Excellence from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in 1987. Franklin Chang-Diaz is one example that embodies Embracing, Enriching and Enabling America and represents the very essence of Hispanics and Hispanic-Americans, a group of people who have long played an integral role in the building of this great nation. During this month, take a little extra time to acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions of Hispanics and Hispanic-Americans. Johan Dennelind, who was appointed CEO to help clear up the scandal, admitted wrongdoings and unethical behaviour in a conference call this morning. Telia Companys board learned of the scale of the proposed fine last night and reacted this morning after an overnight board meeting. The proposal covers as far as we understand all existing investigations. It is a very high amount. The companys chairman, Marie Ehrling, shared Dennelinds view of the scale of the fine. Our initial reaction to the proposal is that the amount is very high. We will now have to analyse the information and decide on how to proceed with the ongoing discussions with the authorities, she said in a prepared statement. But she also admitted that the company previously called TeliaSonera had been wrong. I have said on many occasions in the past that Telia Companys entry into Uzbekistan was done in an unethical and wrongful way and we are prepared to take full responsibility. We are cooperating fully with the authorities to bring clarity to the matter. General counsel Jonas Bengtsson said that Telia has been cooperating with Swedish, Dutch and US authorities. The new board, appointed at the 2013 annual general meeting, determined to change the company fundamentally, he said, and decided to cooperate with all investigating authorities. The US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Department of Justice started investigating in early 2014, followed by the Dutch authorities. Telia was not questioning their jurisdiction over the matter, said Bengtsson. Telia has cooperated with these authorities. It is an extensive cooperation. Telia is hoping that the proposed fine will be an end to the matter. The proposal as far as we understand it covers all interests the authorities have in Telia Companys activities, he said. Dennelind was unclear on how the level of the fine was set. We have just received the information and have to analyse it, he said. But he added that the company hasnt had an expectation of the level in advance. We simply state it is a big number. Telia Company announced earlier in 2016 that it intends to dispose of all its central Asian interests, though Dennelind said he understands that there is no investigation into investments outside Uzbekistan. Earlier this month Telia sold its 60% stake in Tajikistan operator Tcell for $39 million to the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, which owns the other 40%. The Uzbekistan scandal dates back to what was then TeliaSoneras acquisition of Uzbekistan operator Coscom later rebranded as Ucell in July 2007. TeliaSonera did not conduct a sufficiently in-depth analysis into the identity of our local partner in Uzbekistan before we invested in the country or into how this partner came to own the assets that were later obtained by TeliaSonera, said then CEO Lars Nyberg in his 2013 resignation statement. A report by Swedish Television in September 2012 alleged that TeliaSonera paid $320 million for its Uzbekistan licences through Gayane Avakyan, an Uzbek woman in her late 20s described as having close ties to Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Islam Karimov, who had been president of Uzbekistan since 1991. Karimov died on 2 September 2016. After the allegations emerged, TeliaSonera commissioned a Swedish law firm, Mannheimer Swartling, to investigate. The company also fired Per-Arne Blomquist, the CFO, and three other senior executives after it received Mannheimer Swartlings report. Uzbekistan has not been a good investment for other foreign telecoms companies. In February 2016 VimpelCom agreed to pay $835 million in settlement fees to US and Dutch authorities after admitting it paid huge bribes to enter the Uzbekistan telecoms market. Telenor this week started to sell its stake in VimpelCom. In August 2016 Russias MTS left the Uzbekistan market after selling its 50.1% stake in Universal Mobile Systems to the state for an undisclosed amount. Four years earlier the Uzbekistan government confiscated MTSs assets in the country and arrested executives. This morning Dennelind told financial analysts that the fine would not affect Telia Companys dividend policy. 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. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has invited applications for admissions into PG medical programmes - Master of Chirurgical (MCh), Doctor of Medicine (DM) and Doctor of Medicine (MD). The duration of the course is 3 years. Candidates can apply online on or before October 1, 2016. Eligibility: For MCh programme: Candidates must have an MS degree in surgery from a recognised institute. DM programme: Candidates must have obtained MD in Medicine in a relevant field or eqivalent degree recognised by MCI. MD programme: Candidates must have a MBBS degree or equivalent with at least 3 years experience in the relevant field or five years in general practice. Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate in all MBBS professional examinations. NOTE: A certificate issued by the District Magistrate in support of the general practice claimed should be enclosed with the application. How to apply: Candidates can apply online on the official website of AIIMS Delhi Selection procedure: Candidates will be selected based on the following: Candidates will have to take up written entrance test conducted by the institution [View NEET PG Exam details here] Candidates who have obtained more than 50% in the NEET written test will be called for departmental clinical/practical/ lab based assessment Important dates: Last date for online application: October 1, 2016 Date of written test: November 5, 2016 Six armed men boarded the 1,708-TEU containership Windhoek yesterday while it was at anchor in West Africa, stealing money and valuables before fleeing the scene, according to a report from maritime news outlet Splash 24/7. A CMA CGM-operated vessel was attacked by pirates early yesterday morning, according to a report from maritime news outlet Splash 24/7. Six armed men boarded the 1,708-TEU containership Windhoek while it was at anchor in Conakry, Guinea, stealing money and valuables before fleeing the scene. The Guinean Navy arrived after the pirates had left, and reported that all crew were safe and accounted for. Splash 24/7 said the Windhoek is owned by Japans Toyo Kaiun and is currently on charter to Maersk Line, but ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting indicates the ship is operated by CMA CGM. The Windhoek serves on the French ocean carriers Mediterranean-West Africa Europe Afrique 3 loop, which operates with three vessels with an average capacity of 1,643 TEUs. The full rotation of the Europe Afrique 3 is Tangier, Algeciras, Freetown, Conakry, Monrovia and Tangier. According to the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, the Gulf of Guinea is one of the most active regions in the world when it comes to maritime piracy. The region at-large remains at-risk to piracy although this advisory is intended to put special emphasis for ships within 100 nautical miles of Tema, Ghana; Lome, Togo; and Contonou, Benin, the agency said in a recent online advisory. Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens. The 50th Anniversary Edition isnt the only change Toyota has in store for its hot-selling Corolla. Along with it, the Japanese automaker is introducing a mildly revised version of the popular econobox, featuring some updates to the exterior styling, interior equipment, and onboard safety features. The 2017 Toyota Corolla is visually differentiated from the 2016 model with a new front grille, LED headlamps, and new wheels. Bi-LEDs and 16-inch wheels come standard on lower-spec models, while higher trims get complex-LED headlights and 17-inch alloys. Inside, the updated Corolla benefits from new fabric upholstery, redesigned HVAC controls and circular air vents. It also comes standard with Bluetooth connectivity and an Entune audio system before customers delve into optional upgrades like premium audio, navigation and a seven-inch touchscreen. The manufacturer has also fitted the 2017 Corolla with its latest Toyota Safety Sense-P system that includes pre-collision, pedestrian detection, lane departure assist, radar-based dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams. Toyota projects that the new Corolla will return up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway in the LE Eco spec, fitted with a 1.8-liter inline-four now rated at 140 horsepower (instead of 132) and mated to a reprogrammed continuously variable transmission. After half a decade on the market, the Toyota Corolla is the most successful (and among the longest-running) nameplates in the industry, having sold over 43 million units to date. Photo Gallery Photo: Contributed An annual record fair is returning to Penticton this weekend. Okanagan Vinyl Fest, one of CFUZ - Peach City Community Radios major fundraisers, is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 25. This fifth anniversary year will feature 34 vinyl vendors, most of whom have attended since year one. New and used audio gear will be available for every budget, thanks to the Hi-Fi Attic out of Vernon, London Drugs Penticton and the Peach City Radio donations table. Visitors can also purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Vinyl Starter Pack consisting of a brand new ProJect Debut Carbon turntable with accessories, and gift certificates to purchase vinyl at The Grooveyard in Penticton and Mr. Milkcrate in Kelowna. Back again is their signature Winyl Auction, a silent auction pairing vintage vinyl with grape vintages from across Canada. Thanks to a donation of wine through the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, there will be several bottles with accompanying music to bid on. Volunteers will be spinning vinyl on stage throughout the day, and hosts will also be highlighting event sponsors and some of the vendors in the room. The event has grown over the years and now takes place in the Great Hall at the Penticton Seniors Drop-In Centre on South Main Street. Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m,, with a special $5 early bird hour from 9 to 10 a.m. for those who need that first look. Admission to the event is $2, and all proceeds will help Peach City Radio bring community radio to the FM airwaves of Penticton. Photo: Darren Handschuh Social issues will dominate the agenda for Vernon officials when they attend the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference next week. Mayor Akbal Mund said he and councillors Scott Anderson, Juliette Cunningham, Dalvir Nahal and Catherine Lord, along with CAO Will Pearce and his assistant, will attend the five-day conference that begins Monday. Mund said the delegation will bring up seeking funds for restorative justice, accessible and affordable childcare and the ongoing affordable housing challenges. Mund said the issues are presented to the UBCM, then voted on. If it passes, the UBCM will approach the provincial government with it." I think affordable housing is a big one, said Mund. And childcare too. These are things that are happening everywhere. Municipalities can't carry the burden of the costs. The regional district has also requested the city bring up the issue of quagga and zebra mussels and efforts to combat their spread into local waterways. Dustin Godfrey Penticton's beaches will not be getting any lifeguards to monitor for drowning and other issues. Instead, the city will rely on its signage along Skaha and Okanagan lakes to inform beachgoers of dangers and how to keep safe. The unanimous vote from city council this week came after a report from the Lifesavers Society recommended providing lifeguards at some or all of the beaches. However, councillors agreed that manning the beaches with lifeguards would be pricey, with three large beaches in question. "I do believe we have far too much beach to cover, and have everyone feel comfortable," said Coun. Andre Martin, who moved to receive the report, but not act on it. Coun. Judy Sentes echoed that sentiment, noting the city is doing well with the signage along the beaches. "I think that we have put the best effort forward," she said, acknowledging the report's first choice for lifeguards. "Of course, that (lifeguards) comes with all sorts of consequences." Some of the consequences noted by the report include people feeling more courageous due to lifeguards on duty and potential liability for the city in case of incidents. The city has seen several drownings this past summer, including two in Skaha Lake in July. Photo: Zipcar A second car sharing company has come to the Okanagan. Zipcar has partnered with UBC Okanagan to offer car sharing services on campus. A Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Elantra with a bike rack, are now available to students, faculty and anyone else who's over the age of 21. The vehicles will have designated parking spots on campus. UBC is constantly looking for opportunities to enhance our transportation options, from public transit to car-pooling and active transportation, said Rob Einarson, associate vice-president of finance and operations at UBC Okanagan. (Zipcar) aligns with UBCs sustainability goals and provides at-the-ready mobility for those commuting to campus from other parts of the region, and the thousands of students who live on campus and in our surrounding neighbourhoods. A year membership will cost a UBC Okanagan student $15. Using the vehicles cost $10.75 per hour for the cars and $12.75 for the SUVs and $73 per day and $92 per day respectively. Gas and insurance are included with membership. After the first year, annual memberships cost $25. This is the second car sharing company in town, with the Okanagan's own OGO Car Share co-op starting in the Valley in 2013. Zipcar has similarly partnered with over 500 universities across North America. To sign up for the service head to their site here. Photo: Contributed The Penticton & District Community Arts Council has appointed a new executive director. Vaelei Walkden-Brown is set to take over the position from Lynn Allin, who became executive director of the Downtown Penticton Association in late July. We are very happy and excited to welcome Vaelei to this position, said Eric Hanston, president of the council's board of directors. Weve been extremely impressed with the work that Vaelei has done over the past 14 months with her art gallery the 557 Artist Block. Her energy and advocacy for the local arts scene fits perfectly with the arts councils mission and vision for the future of the arts in Penticton. Walkden-Brown said she was honoured to be given this opportunity to work as an advocate and representative for the amazing art community of Penticton and district. "I look forward to continuing to build awareness and support for our vibrant and growing arts culture. We have an exciting schedule of events coming up for 2017, including comedienne Cathy Jones live show in February, followed by our fourth Annual Arts Awards," she said in a news release. "We are also in the planning stages to present the First Annual Arts and Music Festival in Penticton next fall, as well as several other exciting arts events. Anyone can become a member of the Penticton Arts Council by registering in person at the Leir House (220 Manor Park Avenue) during office hours, or by visiting their website online. The arts council was formed in 1960, with a mandate to stimulate, encourage and foster the arts in the community. Photo: The Canadian Press Lee Parker still pictures the explosion that could have happened if he had dropped the backpack he took from a garbage can on Sunday night while a friend bought beer. "I see it sometimes in the back of my mind and I know I need to get past it," said the 50-year-old homeless man from Elizabeth, New Jersey. "But, I feel good. I'm OK, and I'm grateful." Authorities say Parker and a friend contacted police after finding the bag near the Elizabeth train station Sunday. One of the bombs exploded while a police robot was trying to disarm it. Other devices found inside were taken away by investigators. Police say the bag was left by Ahmad Khan Rahami, who was charged with planting bombs that exploded in Saturday in Manhattan and Seaside Park, New Jersey. Rahami, also of Elizabeth, was captured Monday morning after a shootout with police in the doorway of a bar in nearby Linden. He remains hospitalized and has yet to make an initial court appearance. Investigators say it was the second time a bomb planted by Rahami was uncovered by someone scavenging for luggage. The FBI released an image Wednesday of two men seen Saturday night leaving a pressure cooker device behind while taking a suitcase in Manhattan. That device didn't explode. Parker said he realized something was wrong with the heavy backpack after seeing wires from something that he first thought were decorative candles. Parker dropped the bag and went with friend Ivan White to the police. "I don't like to think about what could have happened, but I'm just so blessed and glad it didn't," Parker said. "I still have my nine lives, I guess, and I'm going to keep trying to live them well." Parker is staying at a local hotel paid for by an Elizabeth non-profit that helps the homeless and working poor. He has also received food and clothes and thousands of dollars have been donated to a GoFundMe campaign for Parker and White. Photo: The Canadian Press An airstrike in northern Syria killed four medics responding to an earlier bombing raid, a relief group said Wednesday, as the U.N. announced it would resume aid deliveries suspended after an attack on a convoy two days ago that killed 20 people. The escalation of violence against humanitarian workers has all but destroyed a cease-fire that took effect on September 12, and has stoked tensions between the truce's architects, the U.S. and Russia, which have traded blame for running it into the ground. The U.N said convoys to priority areas would be resumed, with deliveries planned as early as Thursday. "Our obligation to civilians on all sides is to go where and when we can with relief," said Jan Egeland, a senior U.N. humanitarian official focused on Syria. "We hope to resume convoys tomorrow and Friday, but still work on security guarantees. But air raids continued in other parts of Syria, with activists reporting at least 23 civilians killed in the besieged parts of Aleppo city and the nearby rebel-held Idlib province. The attack that killed the medics took place shortly after they arrived at the scene of an airstrike in the rebel-held town of Khan Touman on Tuesday. As the medics deployed, planes circled around and struck the area again, Dr. Oubaida Al Moufti, vice-president of the International Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, said. Al-Moufti initially said that five medics were killed. The group later said two nurses and two ambulance drivers were killed, while a third nurse remains in critical condition. Syrian government forces have been accused of carrying out "double tap" attacks throughout the 5-1/2 year war, placing paramedics and rescue workers in peril. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine militants, some of them belonging to the Fatah al-Sham Front, an al-Qaida-linked group previously known as the Nusra Front, were also killed in the "double tap" attack. Moscow denied that Russian or Syrian aircraft were behind the attack, saying there was a fire in the cargo. Defence Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said a U.S. Predator drone was in the area of the convoy attack when it happened. Photo: The Canadian Press Staff prepare a birthday party for Foxie, a chimp at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest near Cle Elum, Wash. A birthday celebration at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for Foxie, a chimp marking her 40th birthday, underlines a painful past. Foxie was born in a Texas laboratory and was used for hepatitis experiments, which included frequent liver biopsies. Sanctuaries across the U.S. are preparing for an influx of retired private lab chimps like Foxie now the federal government has stopped backing experiments on humankind's closest relatives. Their challenge will be finding the room and resources to house and rehabilitate the animals. "There is no space right now for them," said Diana Goodrich, co-director of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. "It's a matter of getting enough money to expand the sanctuaries that exist." Chimps were key in developing important medicines, and they paved astronauts' way into space. But their use declined dramatically in recent decades, and in a 2011 report, the Institute of Medicine said science had advanced to the point that most such research was no longer justified. About 700 chimpanzees remain in government and private labs. The National Institutes of Health last month announced its final timeline for chimps in government custody, saying all 360 remaining animals will be transferred to Chimp Haven, a Louisiana sanctuary, by 2026. For the 300 or so chimps in private laboratories, negotiations are underway with various sanctuaries, said Kathleen Conlee, who focuses on animal research issues at The Humane Society. About 220 chimps will be housed at Project Chimp, a facility in northern Georgia. The latest transfer happened this month, with nine chimps moving to their new home. Photo: Oliver Daily News UPDATE: 9:35 a.m. According to the RCMP, it was an unoccupied outbuilding that burned on an Oliver property about 5:38 a.m., Thursday. The fire department and RCMP attended. Cpl. Christina Tarasoff said the fire was caused by electrical issues and not thought to be suspicious. A fire lit up the night early Thursday morning in the South Okanagan. The Oliver Fire Department responded to the structure fire near Tucelnuit Drive and Bulrush Road at about 5:40 a.m. Photo: Darren Handschuh The fate of a man accused of second-degree murder is in the hands of a jury. Howard Krewson is facing the charge in the shooting death of Linda Ross (also known as Linda Stewart.) Krewson, 57, is charged in the shooting death of Ross, 51, at her Trinity Valley home in June 2014. While Crown counsel told the six-man, six-woman jury Krewson intentionally killed Ross after an argument, the defence argued Krewson was not capable of forming an intent to kill because of his impairment by drugs and alcohol. While testifying on his own behalf, Krewson told the court he had no memory of shooting Ross in the back or himself in the face. More than a dozen witnesses for the prosecution and defence took the stand during the Supreme Court trial that is nearing the end of its second week. Both the Crown and defence made their final arguments Thursday morning, and once Justice Frank Cole could gives his charge to the jury, they will decide what, if anything, Krewson is guilty of. 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. Photo: Google Street View An accident-prone stretch of highway through Kamloops is about to be divided. Almost two kilometres of median barrier will be installed to prevent head-on collisions. Last year, the Ministry of Transportation installed median barriers along Highway 5 from the Halston Connector to Chief Louis Way, said Minister Todd Stone. This year, were continuing that work by installing median barriers from Chief Louis Way to East Shuswap Road to better protect drivers from cross-over collisions. Work is scheduled to take place in the evening, between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., to minimize traffic disruption. A contract for the work has been awarded to Kemp Concrete Projects of Kamloops. The work is expected to cost $300,000. NewsKamloops.com Photo: The Canadian Press Property purchase data released today by British Columbia's Finance Ministry indicates a stampede by prospective foreign buyers to avoid paying a 15 per cent tax in the days before the Aug. 2 deadline. But the numbers also reveal the sudden rush slowed to a trickle after the deadline. A ministry statement says that on July 29, the last business day before property transactions could be registered before the new tax took effect, 55 per cent of all residential property deals in Metro Vancouver involved foreign nationals. The statement says more than $850 million in property transactions involving foreign nationals were registered at the land titles office on July 29. Government statistics show declines in real estate transactions involving foreign nationals since the introduction of the foreign buyers tax. The figures indicate 1,974 property deals in Metro Vancouver involved foreign buyers from June 10 to Aug. 1, but that number dips to just 60 property transactions involving foreign buyers from Aug. 2 to 31. Photo: Contributed A nearly week-long holiday of swimming and munching on berries has come to an end for two grizzly bears that have been caught on a tiny island just off the north-east tip of Vancouver Island. Village of Alert Bay chief administrative officer Justin Beadle said the two- to-three-year-old bruins were captured within a few hours of each other on Thursday morning, much to the relief of residents on Cormorant Island, where the village is located. "Everyone will be very pleased because it was going on a little long there," said Beadle of the uncommon guests who swam to the 4.5-square kilometre island, about 350 kilometres north of Nanaimo, last Friday. Grizzlies are not native to the area and the presence of the two bears caused some concern among the roughly 1,000 Alert Bay residents, Beadle said. An advisory issued by the village several days after the bears arrived informed Alert Bay residents to children to school, pack up fishing equipment, stay off area walking trails and take other bear-proofing precautions while traps were set for the bruins. "It looks like the traps have about a 20 per cent success rate so the fact that they got both animals alive, within a week of arrival without having to snare them (or) tranquilize them is excellent," Beadle said. The bears are believed to be siblings who island-hopped to Alert Bay in search of new territory after being forced off the central coast by a dominant male. It's up to biologists at the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources to determine where they will be relocated, Beadle said. "I, the village and the entire community here hope they are returned to their natural habitat where they are based." Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet The new $35-million Trades Training Complex at Okanagan College was officially opened Thursday morning in Kelowna. Premier Christy Clark and Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson toured the complex before cutting the ribbon in front of a few hundred interested onlookers and students. The province contributed $28 million towards the project, which took four years to complete. The college is in the process of fundraising the other $7 million. The trade centre can accommodate about 2,700 students a year. However, college president Jim Hamilton said that number can be increased by adding shifts if demand warrants it. "I'm anticipating double shifting," said Clark. "We're the strongest economy in the country by a long shot. I'm assuming we're going to have to double shift at some point, which is a good problem to have. About 2,400 students will graduate through the trade centre each year. "There will be a million new job openings in B.C., and 800,000 of those jobs are going to be in the trades. Eight out of 10," said Clark. "That's why investments like the one we've made here at OC really matter so much. We have to make sure everybody has the chance to take advantage of those jobs." Photo: Skylar noe-vack Penticton firefighters, the RCMP and paramedics responded to a collision just after 11 a.m. Thursday morning. It happened at the intersection of Haywood Street and Eckhardt Avenue. Emergency crews found a Honda SUV that had veered off the road and into a fence on the corner. The driver is being investigated for impaired driving, according to the RCMP. The roadway remained open while crews looked after scene. Photo: Contributed A 37-year-old Alberta man who threatened a WestJet flight in October 2014 will spend just shy of a year in prison. Michael Howells was apparently running late for his flight to Fort McMurray from the Kelowna International Airport, which prompted him to make a threatening phone call. A provincial judge sentenced Howells to 347 days in jail and a victim surcharge of $100. He will be placed on two years probation following his release. In August, Howells did not show up for his court appearance which prompted his lawyer to withdraw from the case. Howells who resides in Summerland pleaded guilty to one count of mischief and one count of public mischief in 2015. At that time Howells apologized to the judge for his actions, but Judge Chapman said more would be needed. Howells has an extensive criminal record that stems back to 2002, and includes possessing stolen property, theft and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Photo: Contributed UPDATED: 2:15 p.m. The B.C. government has announced plans to widen the Trans-Canada Highway west of the downtown core in Salmon Arm. The Transportation Ministry says the project, through two First Nations communities, will include upgrading connections to the adjacent and existing road network. Transportation Minister Todd Stone says Salmon Arm is an important hub along the Trans-Canada for visitors and trucking businesses hauling goods. He says that adding more lanes will improve safety, particularly at the Salmon River Bridge, which will be replaced. The ministry says the project is estimated to cost $162.7 million, with the federal government contributing up to $48.5 million. The Trans-Canada Highway goes through all 10 provinces. Meanwhile, construction will soon begin soon on replacement of the North Fork Bridge between Revelstoke and Sicamous, near Malakwa. The new bridge will improve capacity and make that section of the Trans-Canada Highway safer, said Stone. The 58-year-old North Fork Bridge is the last remaining bridge with a metal through truss on the Trans-Canada Highway. With two lanes, low clearance and no shoulders, it is nearing the end of its service life. Tybo Contracting Ltd. of Langley has been awarded a $15.7-million contract to build a new four-lane bridge, expand a 3.8-kilometre section of highway to four lanes, resurface a further 2.2 kilometres, and construct frontage roads. Construction will start later this fall and is expected to be completed in 2018. with files from NewsKamloops.com Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. We share the most relevant information on the latest and trending news, events, people, and places in Africa. We produce contents across various categories including Politics, People, Love and Romance, Nature, Entertainment, Technology and pretty much everything else that Africans may find relevant. 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Health care providers can play an important role in fall prevention by 1) screening older adults for fall risk, 2) reviewing and managing medications linked to falls, and 3) recommending vitamin D where appropriate for improved bone, muscle, and nerve health. In 2014, 28.7% of older adults reported falling at least once in the preceding 12 months, resulting in an estimated 29.0 million falls. Of those who fell, 37.5% reported at least one fall that required medical treatment or restricted their activity for at least 1 day, resulting in an estimated 7.0 million fall injuries. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among adults aged 65 years (older adults). During 2014, approximately 27,000 older adults died because of falls; 2.8 million were treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries, and approximately 800,000 of these patients were subsequently hospitalized.* To estimate the numbers, percentages, and rates of falls and fall injuries among older adults by selected characteristics and state, CDC analyzed data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. In 2014, 28.7% of older adults reported falling; the estimated 29.0 million falls resulted in 7.0 million injuries. Known effective strategies for reducing the number of older adult falls include a multifactorial clinical approach (e.g., gait and balance assessment, strength and balance exercises, and medication review). Health care providers can play an important role in fall prevention by screening older adults for fall risk, reviewing and managing medications linked to falls, and recommending vitamin D supplements to improve bone, muscle, and nerve health and reduce the risk for falls. BRFSS is an annual, random-digitdialed telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population aged 18 years conducted annually in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Detailed information regarding the survey is available online. The median response rate for 2014 was 47.0%. In 2014, survey respondents were asked, In the past 12 months, how many times have you fallen? If the response was one or more times, they were asked, How many of these falls caused an injury? By an injury, we mean the fall caused you to limit your regular activities for at least a day or to go see a doctor. This analysis was limited to adults aged 65 years in all 50 states and the District of Columbia who were asked the questions about falls. The first question was used to estimate the percentage of older adults who reported one or more falls and the total number of falls; the second question was used to estimate the number of fall injuries. Response options ranged from zero to 76 or more with reported means of 0.67 falls and 0.16 fall injuries. The percentages and numbers of falls and fall injuries included all adults aged 65 years in the denominator. Adults with responses of Dont know/Not sure, Refused, or Not asked or missing for questions about falls, fall injuries, or demographic characteristics were excluded, reducing the sample to 147,319 adults. The percentages and numbers were compared across the following subgroups: sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, annual household income, health status, and state of residence. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts and pairwise t-tests were used to identify significant increases or decreases where appropriate. The 2014 BRFSS data were weighted by iterative proportional fitting (raking) to represent state-level population estimates and aggregated to represent a nationwide estimate. All results presented are weighted. Analyses were conducted using statistical software to account for the complex sampling design. In 2014, 28.7% of older adults reported falling at least once in the preceding 12 months, resulting in an estimated 29.0 million falls (Table 1). Of those who fell, 37.5% reported at least one fall that required medical treatment or restricted activity for at least 1 day, resulting in 7.0 million fall injuries. Women (30.3%) were more likely to report falling than men (26.5%) (p<0.01) and were more likely to report a fall injury (12.6% compared with 8.3%; p<0.01). The percentage of older adults who fell increased with age (p<0.01), from 26.7% among persons aged 6574 years, to 29.8% among persons aged 7584 years, to 36.5% among persons aged 85 years. The percentage of older adults who fell was higher among whites (29.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) (34.2%) than among blacks (23.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (19.8%). The percentage of older adults who reported a fall injury also increased with age (p<0.01), from 9.9% among persons aged 6574 years to 11.4% among persons aged 7584 years, to 13.5% among persons aged 85 years. AI/ANs were more likely to report a fall-related injury (16.8%) than were whites (10.9%), Hispanics (10.7%), and blacks (7.8%). The rate of fall-related injuries was significantly higher in the population reporting poor health (480 per 1,000) than the population reporting excellent health (69 per 1,000). Among states and the District of Columbia, the percentage of older adults who reported a fall ranged from 20.8% in Hawaii to 34.3% in Arkansas. Several states had either significantly higher or lower percentages of reported falls among older adults compared with the national average (Figure) (Table 2). The percentage of older adults experiencing fall injuries ranged from 7.0% in Hawaii to 12.9% in Missouri. Although there is evidence of increased HIV testing among MSM, there is still a need to promote annual HIV testing, particularly among subgroups at high risk, to increase early detection of HIV infection and to provide rapid linkage to care to improve health among infected persons and reduce their risk for transmission. CDCs National HIV Surveillance System data suggest that more MSM with HIV diagnosed in the 21 U.S. jurisdictions included in the analysis might be receiving testing annually, as indicated by the increasing percentage of MSM who had a negative HIV test in the 12 months before diagnosis, from 48% in 2007 to 56% in 2013 (among those with a known date of previous negative HIV test). Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be the population most affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States. In 2014, 81% of diagnoses of HIV infection were among adult and adolescent males, and among these, 83% of infections were attributable to male-to-male sexual contact (1). Since 2006, CDC has recommended HIV testing at least annually for sexually active MSM to foster early detection of HIV infection and prevent HIV transmission (2,3). Several initiatives and strategies during the past decade have aimed to expand HIV testing among MSM to increase early diagnosis and treatment and reduce transmission. To better understand HIV testing patterns among MSM with diagnosed HIV infection, CDC analyzed data for 20072013 from jurisdictions conducting HIV incidence surveillance as part of CDCs National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS). Findings from this analysis suggest that increasing percentages of MSM have had a negative HIV test during the 12 months before diagnosis (48% in 2007, 56% in 2013, among those with a known date of previous negative HIV test), indicating a trend toward increased HIV testing and earlier HIV diagnosis among persons most at risk for HIV. Data from the NHSS were used to assess trends in HIV testing patterns among MSM with HIV infection diagnosed during 20072013. HIV case surveillance data and supplemental information, including testing history data from patient and provider reports, were collected by 21 jurisdictions participating in HIV incidence surveillance (18 states, two cities, and the District of Columbia)* and reported to NHSS through December 31, 2015 (4). This analysis included males aged 13 years with HIV infection attributed to male-to-male sexual contact. Testing history data indicative of a negative HIV test, a date of most recent negative HIV test, or the number of negative HIV tests during the 2 years before diagnosis were used to categorize MSM as having a previous negative HIV test before diagnosis. The date of most recent negative HIV test was used to establish the number of months between the last negative HIV test and HIV infection diagnosis. The estimated annual percent change (EAPC) and the associated 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess trends from 2007 to 2013 in the proportion of MSM with a previous negative HIV test among those with a testing history, and the proportion of MSM with a negative HIV test 12 months before HIV diagnosis among those who had information on the date of last negative HIV test, by age group and race/ethnicity (black/African American [black], Hispanic/Latino [regardless of race], white, or other race). In the 21 jurisdictions, the number of MSM aged 13 years with diagnosed HIV infection attributed to male-to-male sexual contact was 16,788 in 2007 and 15,951 in 2013 (Table 1). The percentage of these MSM who had any testing history data was 51% in 2007 and 69% in 2013. Overall, among MSM with testing history data, the percentage who had a previous negative HIV test increased significantly from 70% in 2007 to 74% in 2013 (EAPC = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.921.38). By race/ethnicity, significant increases from 2007 to 2013 occurred for black MSM (from 64% to 73%; EAPC = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.243.11), for white MSM (from 75% to 77%; EAPC = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.321.05), and MSM of other races (from 73% to 77%; EAPC = 1.34, 95% CI = 0.452.24). By age group, significant increases from 2007 to 2013 occurred among MSM of all age groups except those aged 55 years. Although the trend from 2007 to 2013 in the percentage with a previous negative HIV test among Hispanic/Latino MSM was not significant overall, there was a significant increase among Hispanic/Latino MSM aged 2534 years. Among black MSM, significant increases were observed for all age groups. Among white MSM, significant increases were observed among those aged 3544 and 4554 years. Among MSM with a known date of negative HIV test before HIV diagnosis (30% of all MSM in 2007 and 47% in 2013), the trend in the percentage of those with a negative test 12 months before diagnosis increased overall from 48% in 2007 to 56% in 2013 (EAPC = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.892.78) (Table 2). By race/ethnicity, from 2007 to 2013 the percentage of MSM with a negative test 12 months before HIV diagnosis increased among blacks (from 48% to 57%; EAPC = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.733.26), Hispanics/Latinos (from 51% to 57%; EAPC = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.032.72), and whites (from 46% to 54%; EAPC = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.883.51). By age group, the percentage with a negative test 12 months before HIV diagnosis increased significantly for MSM among all age groups except for those aged 55 years (Figure). Among black MSM, significant increases were observed among those aged 1324, 2534, and 3544 years; among Hispanics/Latinos, increases were only observed among those aged 2534 and 4554 years; among whites, increases were observed among those aged 2534, 3544, and 4554 years (Table 2). MSM receiving outpatient HIV medical care during 20132014 in the United States reported many unmet needs for ancillary services. Approximately 23% needed dental care, and 19% needed eye care. Young, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic/Latino MSM had the most unmet needs for ancillary services. The most common reasons for unmet needs were inadequate knowledge or insufficient resources for obtaining services. Ancillary services, defined as services that support retention in routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medical care and assist with day-to-day living, can improve the health of men living with HIV who have sex with men (MSM) and help them to achieve viral suppression. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States (1). Ancillary services, defined as services that support retention in HIV medical care and assist with day-to-day living, can improve the health of HIV-infected MSM and help them achieve viral suppression (2). To assess the unmet needs for ancillary services among MSM receiving outpatient HIV medical care during 20132014, CDC used data from the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP), a surveillance system designed to assess clinical and behavioral characteristics of adults receiving HIV care, to obtain nationally representative estimates of, and identify reasons for, unmet needs (3). Based on self-reported needs of persons responding to the MMP survey, the most prevalent unmet needs were for non-HIV medical care services: approximately 23% had an unmet need for dental care, and 19% had an unmet need for eye or vision care. Unmet needs were most prevalent among young, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic/Latino MSM. State and local health departments, community-based organizations, and health care providers might improve the health of MSM living with HIV by promoting access to ancillary services using strategies that increase patient awareness of how to obtain these services, especially among young, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic/Latino MSM. Data from MMP were used to estimate prevalence of unmet needs for ancillary services among MSM receiving outpatient HIV medical care during 20132014. MMP used a three-stage sample (states and territories, facilities, and patients) and response rates at each stage were 100% (states and territories), 85% (facilities) and 55% (patients). Data were collected using face-to-face or telephone interviews during June 2013May 2015. Data were weighted for unequal selection probabilities and nonresponse (3). MSM were defined as men who reported sex with one or more men during the 12 months preceding the interview, or if no sexual activity was reported, men who self-identified as homosexual, gay, or bisexual. Unmet needs were defined as services that participants reported needing, but not receiving, during the 12 months preceding the interview. Unmet needs for MSM overall and, for selected services, stratified by age and race/ethnicity, were estimated using chi-square tests to make statistical comparisons between strata. Services were selected for further analysis based on the frequency that services were reported as unmet needs in this survey and in previous studies. For each of these services, participants primary reasons for unmet needs were described. Among MSM receiving outpatient HIV medical care in the United States, the most prevalent unmet needs were for non-HIV medical care services: 23% had an unmet need for dental care, and 19% had an unmet need for eye or vision care. In addition, 6% had an unmet need for mental health care (Figure). Among HIV support services examined, the most prevalent unmet need was for HIV peer group support (8%). Among subsistence services, the most prevalent unmet need was for food or nutrition services (12%). Seven percent had an unmet need for transportation assistance, and 7% had an unmet need for shelter or housing services. MSM aged 1829 years, 3039 years, and 4049 years had higher prevalences of unmet need for dental care, shelter and housing, and food or nutrition services compared with MSM aged 50 years (Table 1). MSM aged 3039 years and 4049 years also had higher prevalences of unmet need for eye or vision care and mental health care. Non-Hispanic black MSM had higher prevalences of unmet need for dental care (27%), transportation assistance (9%), shelter or housing (10%), and food or nutrition services (14%) compared with non-Hispanic white MSM (20%, 6%, 5%, and 10%, respectively). Hispanic/Latino MSM had higher prevalences of unmet need for shelter or housing (8%) and food or nutrition services (14%). Approximately 40% of MSM with an unmet need for HIV peer group support, transportation assistance, or food or nutrition services did not know how to get these services (Table 2). Twenty-two percent of MSM with an unmet need for mental health care did not know how to obtain care, and 25% had psychological barriers preventing them from obtaining care. Approximately one quarter of MSM with an unmet need for either dental care or eye or vision care did not receive these services because of money (25%) or health insurance issues (28%). Twenty percent of MSM with an unmet need for shelter or housing services, 15% with an unmet need for transportation assistance, and 14% with an unmet need for food or nutrition services were ineligible for, perceived themselves to be ineligible for, or were denied these services. Ever-Use and Curiosity About Cigarettes, Cigars, Smokeless Tobacco, and Electronic Cigarettes Among US Middle and High School Students, 20122014 Alexander Persoskie, PhD; Elisabeth A. Donaldson, PhD; Brian A. King, PhD, MPH Suggested citation for this article: Persoskie A, Donaldson EA, King BA. Ever-Use and Curiosity About Cigarettes, Cigars, Smokeless Tobacco, and Electronic Cigarettes Among US Middle and High School Students, 20122014. Prev Chronic Dis 2016;13:160151. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd13.160151external icon. PEER REVIEWED Abstract Introduction Among young people, curiosity about tobacco products is a primary reason for tobacco experimentation and is a risk factor for future use. We examined whether curiosity about and ever-use of tobacco products among US middle and high school students changed from 2012 to 2014. Methods Data came from the 2012 and 2014 National Youth Tobacco Surveys, nationally representative surveys of US students in grades 6 through 12. For cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes (2014 only), students were classified as ever-users or never-users of each product. Among never-users, curiosity about using each product was assessed by asking participants if they had definitely, probably, probably not, or definitely not been curious about using the product. Results From 2012 to 2014, there were declines in ever-use of cigarettes (26% to 22%; P = .005) and cigars (21% to 18%; P = .003) overall and among students who were Hispanic (cigarettes, P = .001; cigars, P = .001) or black (cigarettes, P = .004; cigars, P = .01). The proportion of never-users reporting they were definitely not curious increased for cigarettes (51% to 54%; P = .01) and cigars (60% to 63%; P = .03). Ever-use and curiosity about smokeless tobacco did not change significantly from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, the proportion of young people who were definitely or probably curious never-users of each product was as follows: cigarettes, 11.4%; e-cigarettes, 10.8%; cigars, 10.3%; and smokeless tobacco, 4.4%. Conclusion The proportion of US students who are never users and are not curious about cigarettes and cigars increased. However, many young people remain curious about tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Understanding factors driving curiosity can inform tobacco use prevention for youth. Top Introduction Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States (1). Most tobacco use begins during youth or young adulthood, making this a critical period for preventing tobacco-related disease (2). To protect public health, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 gave the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products in the United States. Since then, tobacco products increased in complexity as noncigarette products came on the market and were increasingly promoted (3,4). For example, promotional expenditures for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) was minimal at the start of 2010, but they increased to $12 million in 2011, $22 million in 2012, and over $28 million in the second quarter of 2013 (4). Moreover, advertisements for these products are reaching adolescents and young adults: in 2014, 68.9% of middle and high school students (18.3 million) were exposed to e-cigarette advertisements through retail stores, the Internet, TV and movies, and newspapers and magazines (46). Additionally, research indicates high availability of little cigars and cigarillos, including sales of single sticks, low-priced products, and flavored products (7). Reflecting this change in tobacco products, tobacco use patterns among US young people changed substantially in recent years (8). During 20112014, past 30-day use of e-cigarettes and hookah increased considerably among high school students, thus offsetting declines in cigarette and cigar smoking. These shifts in product use, coupled with no change in smokeless tobacco use, resulted in no change in the overall prevalence of any tobacco use (24.2% vs 24.6%) among high school students during this period (8). In 2013, 46% of all US high school students and 18% of middle-school students reported having used a tobacco product (9). Ever-use of tobacco products among young people is important from a public health perspective for several reasons. Product trial is a critical step in the product adoption process (10), and tobacco companies have invested considerably in promotional activities to encourage product trial and experimentation (1114). The addictive effects of nicotine can develop after intermittent use of cigarettes by young people (15), and early age of first use of cigarettes is associated with greater nicotine dependence and heavier smoking in adulthood (2). Furthermore, nicotine may adversely affect the developing adolescent brain (1,16). One potential driver of product trial and shifting patterns of tobacco use is curiosity about tobacco products. In studies that ask tobacco users their reasons for initial tobacco experimentation, curiosity is one of the most commonly cited reasons (1720). Moreover, longitudinal research among young people found that curiosity about cigarettes is an important risk factor for smoking in the future (21,22). One study of young people who never smoked found that 49% of those who reported definitely or probably being curious about cigarettes went on to experiment with cigarettes within the next 3 years, whereas only 21% of those who were definitely not curious went on to experiment with tobacco (21). Even after accounting for a measure of young peoples susceptibility to cigarette smoking (ie, young people who report they would experiment with cigarettes or smoke a cigarette if offered one by a friend), curiosity was found to be useful for identifying which young people who had never smoked would progress to experimentation and established smoking (22). Researchers of tobacco curiosity theorized that curiosity indicates interest, even in the absence of intentions to use a product (23). Tobacco curiosity is thought to be generated in part by exposure to tobacco advertising and peer use (21,23). Antitobacco communications and warnings about the effects of tobacco use would be expected to reduce curiosity or to deter young people from acting on their curiosity; however, only 1 known study assessed this hypothesis, finding no significant association between self-reported exposure to on-pack warning labels for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco and curiosity about these products (23). Little is known about how young peoples curiosity is changing as US tobacco products change. Given the longitudinal research indicating that curiosity about smoking predisposes young people to future experimentation and use of cigarettes, changes in young peoples curiosity are important to monitor as they may presage changes in use. One analysis of the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) found that 13.4% of young people who had never used tobacco were definitely or probably curious about cigarettes, with 9.6% curious about cigars and 4.1% about smokeless tobacco (23). No data on more recent trends in young peoples curiosity about these products are reported. To address gaps in the scientific literature, our analysis assessed whether young peoples curiosity about cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco changed between 2012 and 2014. Also, we assessed young peoples curiosity about ecigarettes in 2014, the first year for which national data on young peoples curiosity about e-cigarettes were available. Top Methods Data used were from NYTS, a cross-sectional, school-based, self-administered, pencil-and-paper survey of US middle and high school students. A 3-stage cluster sampling procedure was used to generate a nationally representative sample of students attending public or private schools (grades 612). This report includes data from the 2012 (n = 24,658) and 2014 (n = 22,007) waves; response rates were 73.6% and 73.3%, respectively. The NYTS research protocol was approved by the US Office of Management and Budget; no ethics approval was required for this analysis because only secondary, deidentified data were used. Measures Ever-use of each tobacco product was assessed by asking participants if they had ever tried cigarette smoking, even 1 or 2 puffs; had ever tried smoking cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars, even 1 or 2 puffs; had ever used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip, even just a small amount; and had ever tried an electronic cigarette. Students who responded yes were considered ever-users and those who responded no were considered never-users of the product in question. Never-users curiosity about each product (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, ecigarettes) was assessed. Curiosity about cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco were assessed in 2012 and 2014 by asking participants if they had ever been curious about smoking a cigarette; smoking a cigar, cigarillo, or little cigar; and using chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip. E-cigarette curiosity was assessed in 2014 by asking participants if they had ever been curious about using an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette. For all items, response options were, definitely yes, probably yes, probably not, and definitely not. Consistent with prior research (2123), responses of definitely yes and probably yes were analyzed as a single category. We did so because prior longitudinal studies validating this measure of curiosity found that the likelihood of experimentation and use was lowest for participants who responded definitely not, increased for participants who responded probably not, and was highest for those who responded either probably yes or definitely yes (21,22). Assessed sociodemographics were sex (male, female), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and other), and age (914, 1516, 17 y). Analysis For each product, students were classified as ever-users or never-users who were definitely not curious, probably not curious, probably curious, or definitely curious. By using Stata 14 (StataCorp LP), weighted point estimates and 95% confidence intervals for curiosity and ever-use were calculated for cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco in 2012 and 2014, and for e-cigarettes in 2014. We used 2 tests to assess changes in ever-use and curiosity from 2012 to 2014 for cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. When significant differences emerged, follow-up 2 tests examined whether the proportion in each group (eg, never-users who were definitely not curious) changed from 2012 to 2014. The threshold for significance was a P value < .05. Top Results In 2012 and 2014, the distribution of respondents by sex was similar: 48.9% of respondents in 2012 were female compared with 49.8% of respondents in 2014 (Table 1). The distribution of respondents by age was also similar in 2012 and 2014; nearly half of respondents were aged 9 to 14 (almost 49% in both years), while approximately 29% of respondents were aged 14 to 16, and 22% were aged 17 or older. Slightly more respondents were non-Hispanic blacks in 2014 than in 2012 (14.6% in 2014 and 13.9% in 2012); however, this difference was not significant. From 2012 to 2014, the proportion of students who were never users and definitely not curious about cigarettes increased significantly overall (51.2% to 54.3%). Significant increases also occurred among students who were male (49.6% to 54.0%), aged 17 or older (39.7% to 45.0%), non-Hispanic black (53.5% to 58.5%), or Hispanic (45.5% to 49.4%). In contrast, the proportion of students who were never-users of cigarettes and probably or definitely curious about cigarettes did not change significantly (10.8% in 2012 and 11.4% in 2014). Similarly, no significant change was observed across demographic groups with the exception of Hispanics, for whom probably or definitely curious increased from 2012 (12.2%) to 2014 (14.1%) (P = .03). The proportion of students who were never-users and probably not curious about cigarettes did not change significantly from 2012 to 2014, either overall (11.6% in 2012 and 11.9% in 2014) or within any of the assessed demographic groups (Table 2). Overall, ever-use of cigarettes decreased from 2012 to 2014 (from 26.4% to 22.4%, P = .005; Table 2). Significant decreases in ever-use were also observed within specific subgroups: females (24.4% to 21.1%; P = .03), males (28.3% to 23.6%; P = .003), non-Hispanic black students (27.1% to 20.1%; P = .004), Hispanic students (30.8% to 24.9%; P = .001), students aged 9 to 14 (14.3% to 11.8%; P = .03), and students aged 17 or older (43.6% to 37.3%; P =.04) (Table 2). The proportion of students who were never-users and definitely not curious about cigars significantly increased overall (60.1% to 62.8%), as well as among students who were male (54.2% to 58.2%), aged 17 or older (43.5% to 47.9%), or black (53.7% to 59.3%). In contrast, the proportion of students who were never-users of cigars and probably or definitely curious about cigars did not significantly change overall (9.9% in 2012 to 10.3% in 2014). Similarly, no significant change occurred within any demographic group with the exception of students aged 15 to 16 (10.1% to 11.9%; P = .03). The proportion of students who were never-users and probably not curious about cigars did not change significantly from 2012 to 2014 overall (8.8% to 9.3%), but did increase among non-Hispanic black students (6.2% to 8.0%; P =.03) (Table 2). Overall, ever-use of cigars significantly decreased from 2012 to 2014 (from 21.2% to 17.6%; P = .003). Ever-use of cigars also decreased within specific groups, including females (17.1% to 14.2%; P = .01), males (25.2% to 21.0%; P = .005), non-Hispanic blacks (27.8% to 20.8%; P = .01), Hispanics (23.1% to 18.1%; P = .001), students aged 15 to 16 (28.0% to 22.8%; P = .003), and students aged 17 or older (40.2% to 34.4%; P = .009) (Table 2). Ever-use and curiosity about smokeless tobacco did not change significantly between 2012 and 2014, either overall or within any of the assessed demographic groups (Table 3). Overall, in 2014, ever-use of smokeless tobacco was 8.3%, while 4.4% were never-users but definitely or probably curious about smokeless tobacco, 6.0% were never-users and probably not curious, and 81.3% were never-users and definitely not curious. In 2014, 19.8% of students had ever-used e-cigarettes (95% CI, 18.021.8), 10.8% were never-users but were definitely or probably curious about e-cigarettes, and 10.0% were never-users and probably not curious about e-cigarettes. Top Discussion This analysis revealed that the proportion of students who were never-users and definitely not curious about cigarettes and cigars increased from 2012 to 2014. These changes were observed overall and within specific subgroups, including groups that had high rates of ever-use of cigarettes and cigars in 2012 (students who were non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, or aged 17 or older). However, for some subgroups, no change occurred in patterns of ever-use and curiosity about cigarettes and cigars across years, including for students who were non-Hispanic white or from other races/ethnicities. Moreover, the distribution of ever-use and curiosity about smokeless tobacco did not significantly change overall or for any demographic subgroup assessed. Finally, levels of ever-use and curiosity about e-cigarettes assessed for the first time in 2014 approached the levels observed for traditional cigarettes and cigars. These findings underscore the importance of addressing the factors driving curiosity about tobacco, which can inform ongoing and future efforts to prevent all forms of tobacco use by US students. In general, increases were not observed in the proportion of students who were never-users and curious about products. However, there was an increase in the proportion of Hispanic students who were never-users and curious about cigarettes, and there was an increase in the proportion of students aged 15 to 16 years who were never-users and curious about cigars. In these groups, the increases in proportions of never-users who were curious may reflect progress in preventing young people from using tobacco, because these changes were accompanied by decreases in ever-use of cigarettes and cigars. Such a pattern (ie, a reduction in ever-use and an increase in the proportion of students who were never-users but curious) would be expected if some types of tobacco control efforts (eg, increasing cigarette excise taxes) prevented ever-use by students but did not affect their curiosity. Thus, some students would remain curious never-users rather than progressing to ever-users, which would benefit public health and prevent young people from using tobacco. Over 2 years, the lack of significant changes in ever-use and curiosity about cigarettes and cigars among certain subgroups (eg, students who were white or from other races/ethnicities) may not seem noteworthy. These constructs are measured over the lifetime, and tobacco control initiatives implemented after students have already experimented with a tobacco product will not change their status as an ever-user, although such initiatives may affect their current tobacco use. Therefore, it is noteworthy that we observed significant decreases in the proportions of Hispanic and black students who were ever-users of cigarettes and cigars and significant increases in the proportions of these students who were noncurious never-users of these products. We are uncertain about the extent to which these changes reflect shifts in the implementation of tobacco control measures, such as comprehensive smoke-free air laws and tobacco taxes (24,25). Ever-use and curiosity about smokeless tobacco products did not change significantly, but there was a nonsignificant trend for all subgroups in ever-use being lower in 2014 than in 2012. Continuing to monitor trends is important, given the known adverse health consequences of smokeless tobacco use, recent media discussion of the risks of smokeless tobacco products compared with cigarettes (26), and changing patterns of marketing and advertising of these products (27,28). Levels of ever-use and curiosity about e-cigarettes, which were assessed for the first time in 2014, approached the levels observed for traditional cigarettes and cigars. This is consistent with data documenting rapid increases in the use of these products by US students: in 2014, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product by middle (3.9%) and high (13.4%) school students (8). Use of tobacco in any form, whether it be combusted, noncombusted, or electronic, is unsafe (1). Regardless of mode of exposure to nicotine (inhaling, chewing, or electronic), such exposure during adolescence (a critical time for brain development) may have lasting adverse consequences for brain development. Nicotine exposure during adolescence also causes addiction and may lead to sustained use of tobacco products (1). Accordingly, curiosity about emerging tobacco products among students, coupled with the rapid changes in the use of these products by young people, underscores the importance of sustained strategies to prevent and reduce the use of all tobacco products among US youth, including emerging products such as e-cigarettes. Strengths of this analysis include the large sample size that allowed for robust estimates of ever-use and curiosity within subgroups of adolescents varying by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, we used a measure of curiosity that longitudinally predicts cigarette smoking and is associated in theoretically expected ways with exposure to advertising for other tobacco products (eg, cigars, smokeless tobacco) (23). Nonetheless, the curiosity measure was a self-reported measure that is subject to social desirability and recall bias. Our analysis was also limited in its assessment of tobacco products. It focused on the subset of products for which the NYTS assessed curiosity in either 2012 or 2014, which did not include other types of tobacco products such as hookah (9). Additionally, diverse products (cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars) were grouped into single categories. Asking separately about each product subtype may reveal meaningful differences across subtypes. Although progress was made in reducing middle- and high-school students ever-use and curiosity about some tobacco products, continued efforts are critical to prevent them from using any tobacco products. The finding that levels of curiosity differed by product type and that curiosity changed over time raises questions about factors that affect curiosity about tobacco. Potential influences to investigate in future research include exposure to tobacco advertising (eg, on social media) (5,29,30), interest in flavored products (31), exposure to tobacco use in public places (32), and social influences from, for example, peers or family. Investigating the effects of tobacco control policies and tobacco prevention messages on young peoples curiosity about tobacco products may allow for improved design and targeting of these strategies and messages. Taken as a whole, these results highlight the value and feasibility of sustained efforts to monitor young peoples ever-use of and curiosity about tobacco products and to implement strategies that focus on the diversity of tobacco products to prevent tobacco use by adolescents. Top Acknowledgments Publication of this article was supported by the Food and Drug Administrations Center for Tobacco Products. This publication represents the views expressed of the authors and does not represent the position or policy of the Food and Drug Administrations Center for Tobacco Products or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. Top Author Information Corresponding Author: Alexander Persoskie, Bldg 71, Room G335, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20993. Telephone: 240-402-6864. Email: alexander.persoskie@fda.hhs.gov. Author Affiliations: Elisabeth A. Donaldson, Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland; Brian A. King, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Top References Top Tables Table 1. Demographic Characteristics of Participants, National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2012 and 2014 Characteristic N (Weighted %) 2012 2014 Overall 24,658 22,007 Sex Female 12,275 (48.9) 10,645 (49.8) Male 12,369 (51.1) 11,150 (50.2) Age, y 914 12,627 (48.5) 11,296 (48.7) 1516 6,430 (29.2) 5,839 (29.0) =17 5,498 (22.3) 4,715 (22.3) Race/ethnicity White, non-Hispanic 11,814 (53.9) 8,820 (53.2) Black, non-Hispanic 3,114 (13.9) 3,226 (14.6) Hispanic 5,733 (21.7) 6,081 (21.9) Other 3,211 (10.6) 2,673 (10.3) Table 2. Weighted Prevalence of Ever-Use and Level of Curiosity About Cigarettes and Cigars by Year and Demographic Characteristics, National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2012 and 2014 Demographic Category/Year (n) Cigarettes Cigars Ever User, % (95% CI) Definitely or Probably Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Probably Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Definitely Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Ever User, % (95% CI) Definitely or Probably Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Probably Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Definitely Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Overall 2012 (24,658) 26.4a,b (24.328.6) 10.8a (10.211.4) 11.6a (10.912.3) 51.2a,b (49.552.9) 21.2a,b (19.523.0) 9.9a (9.210.6) 8.8a (8.29.4) 60.1a,b (58.561.8) 2014 (22,007) 22.4a,b (20.824.1) 11.4a (10.812.1) 11.9a (11.212.6) 54.3a,b (52.855.8) 17.6a,b (16.219.2) 10.3a (9.611.0) 9.3a (8.79.9) 62.8a,b (61.064.5) Sex Female 2012 (12,275) 24.4a,b (22.126.8) 11.7a (10.912.5) 11.0a (10.111.9) 52.9a (50.954.9) 17.1a,b (15.319.1) 8.6a (7.99.4) 8.0a (7.48.8) 66.2a (64.168.2) 2014 (10,645) 21.1a,b (19.522.9) 12.3a (11.313.2) 12.0a (11.312.8) 54.6a (52.956.4) 14.2a,b (12.915.7) 9.3a (8.510.1) 9.1a (8.49.8) 67.4a (65.569.2) Male 2012 (12,369) 28.3a,b (26.230.5) 9.9a (9.210.7) 12.2a (11.413.0) 49.6a,b (47.851.4) 25.2a,b (23.327.2) 11.1a (10.212.0) 9.5a (8.710.4) 54.2a,b (52.356.0) 2014 (11,150) 23.6a,b (21.825.5) 10.6a (10.011.3) 11.7a (10.712.8) 54.0a,b (52.355.8) 21.0a,b (19.123.0) 11.4a (10.512.4) 9.4a (8.710.2) 58.2a,b (56.060.3) Age, y 914 2012 (12,627) 14.3a,b (12.815.9) 12.2a (11.413.0) 13.6a (12.814.5) 59.9a (58.261.6) 8.4 (7.59.5) 10.0 (9.011.1) 9.6 (8.810.5) 72.0 (70.673.4) 2014 (11,296) 11.8a,b (10.313.5) 12.5a (11.613.5) 13.9a (13.214.6) 61.8a (60.263.5) 6.9 (6.17.8) 9.4 (8.510.3) 9.5 (8.810.3) 74.2 (72.575.8) 1516 2012 (6,430) 33.2 (30.036.5) 10.3 (9.211.4) 10.8 (9.811.9) 45.7 (42.948.5) 28.0a,b (25.430.7) 10.1a,b (9.111.1) 8.8a (7.99.8) 53.1a (50.355.9) 2014 (5,839) 28.6 (25.931.5) 10.7 (9.611.8) 11.7 (10.712.8) 49.0 (46.751.3) 22.8a,b (20.824.9) 11.9a,b (10.713.2) 10.2a (9.211.4) 55.1a (52.957.2) =17 2012 (5,498) 43.6a,b (40.646.7) 8.5a (7.49.6) 8.2a (7.19.4) 39.7a,b (37.542.1) 40.2a,b (37.742.7) 9.3a (8.310.5) 7.0a (5.98.2) 43.5a,b (41.545.5) 2014 (4,715) 37.3a,b (33.741.0) 10.0a (9.011.1) 7.7a (6.59.1) 45.0a,b (41.548.5) 34.4a,b (30.938.0) 10.3a (9.311.4) 7.4a (6.38.8) 47.9a,b (44.451.4) Race/ethnicity Non-Hispanic white 2012 (11,814) 25.1 (22.627.9) 9.7 (8.910.6) 12.5 (11.613.6) 52.6 (50.554.7) 19.7 (17.921.7) 8.5 (7.99.1) 9.1 (8.49.8) 62.7 (60.764.6) 2014 (8,820) 21.6 (19.623.8) 10.2 (9.510.9) 12.7 (11.813.7) 55.5 (53.657.3) 17.0 (15.219.0) 9.1 (8.310.0) 8.9 (8.19.7) 64.9 (62.567.3) Non-Hispanic black 2012 (3,114) 27.1a,b (23.331.3) 11.0a (9.512.8) 8.4a (7.39.6) 53.5a,b (50.256.7) 27.8a,b (23.732.4) 12.3a (10.913.8) 6.2a,b (5.07.6) 53.7a,b (50.057.2) 2014 (3,226) 20.1a,b (17.922.6) 12.2a (10.913.5) 9.2a (7.910.8) 58.5a,b (56.160.8) 20.8a,b (17.824.2) 11.8a (10.213.6) 8.0a,b (7.19.0) 59.3a,b (56.162.5) Hispanic 2012 (5,733) 30.8a,b (27.933.8) 12.2a,b (11.113.4) 11.5a (10.312.9) 45.5a,b (42.948.1) 23.1a,b (20.925.6) 11.7a (10.513.0) 9.4a (8.110.8) 55.8a (53.458.2) 2014 (6,081) 24.9a,b (22.627.3) 14.1a,b (13.015.3) 11.6a (10.612.7) 49.4a,b (47.151.6) 18.1a,b (16.420.0) 12.7a (11.414.0) 10.6a (9.611.6) 58.6a (56.860.4) Other 2012 (3,211) 24.6 (21.527.8) 13.3 (11.515.3) 11.0 (9.612.6) 51.1 (48.453.9) 17.7 (15.020.7) 10.5 (9.212.0) 9.2 (8.110.5) 62.5 (59.665.3) 2014 (2,673) 23.7 (20.527.2) 12.9 (11.214.9) 12.4 (10.614.4) 51.0 (48.353.7) 16.0 (13.019.5) 11.1 (9.513.0) 10.5 (8.412.9) 62.5 (59.265.6) Table 3. Weighted Prevalence of Ever-Use and Level of Curiosity About Smokeless Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes by Year and Demographic Characteristics, National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2012 and 2014 Demographic Category/Year (n) Smokeless Tobacco Electronic Cigarettes Ever User, % (95% CI) Definitely or Probably Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Probably Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Definitely Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Ever User, % (95% CI) Definitely or Probably Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Probably Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Definitely Not Curious Never-User, % (95% CI) Overall 2012 (24,658) 9.6 (8.311.1) 4.7 (4.25.2) 5.7 (5.26.2) 80.0 (78.681.4) NA 2014 (22,007) 8.3 (7.19.7) 4.4 (4.04.8) 6.0 (5.46.6) 81.3 (79.682.8) 19.8 (18.021.8) 10.8 (10.211.4) 10.0 (9.410.5) 59.4 (57.361.5) Sex Female 2012 (12,275) 4.4 (3.75.2) 3.8 (3.24.5) 4.7 (4.25.2) 87.1 (86.088.2) NA 2014 (10,645) 3.7 (3.04.5) 3.7 (3.34.2) 5.3 (4.76.0) 87.2 (85.988.4) 18.2 (16.420.2) 11.3 (10.412.3) 9.9 (9.210.7) 60.6 (58.262.9) Male 2012 (12,369) 14.7 (12.816.9) 5.6 (5.06.2) 6.6 (5.97.3) 73.1 (71.075.1) NA 2014 (11,150) 12.8 (10.915.0) 5.1 (4.65.7) 6.7 (6.07.5) 75.4 (73.177.5) 21.3 (19.323.6) 10.2 (9.511.0) 10.0 (9.310.8) 58.4 (56.060.7) Age, y 914 2012 (12,627) 4.4 (3.75.4) 5.6 (4.76.6) 6.6 (5.87.4) 83.4 (81.884.8) NA 2014 (11,296) 4.0 (3.15.1) 5.0 (4.95.5) 6.8 (5.97.7) 84.2 (82.685.7) 10.8 (9.312.5) 11.1 (10.112.1) 10.7 (9.911.6) 67.4 (65.569.2) 1516 2012 (6,430) 12.0 (10.214.2) 4.2 (3.64.8) 5.5 (4.86.4) 78.3 (76.080.3) NA 2014 (5,839) 10.0 (8.411.8) 4.4 (3.75.2) 5.8 (5.06.6) 79.8 (77.482.1) 25.9 (23.128.9) 11.3 (10.412.3) 10.1 (9.111.0) 52.7 (49.455.9) =17 2012 (5,498) 17.7 (15.420.3) 3.4 (2.84.0) 3.8 (3.24.6) 75.1 (72.777.3) NA 2014 (4,715) 15.3 (13.017.8) 3.3 (2.74.1) 4.6 (4.05.3) 76.8 (74.479.0) 31.4 (27.635.4) 9.4 (8.410.4) 8.3 (7.19.7) 50.9 (47.054.9) Race/ethnicity Non-Hispanic white 2012 (11,814) 12.2 (10.514.1) 4.4 (3.95.0) 5.7 (5.26.2) 77.7 (75.779.5) NA 2014 (8,820) 11.2 (9.613.0) 4.4 (3.85.0) 6.1 (5.46.8) 78.3 (76.180.3) 20.4 (18.123.0) 9.4 (8.610.2) 10.3 (9.511.0) 59.9 (57.162.6) Non-Hispanic black 2012 (3,114) 4.0 (3.05.4) 4.0 (3.05.2) 3.3 (2.44.4) 88.7 (86.990.4) NA 2014 (3,226) 2.5 (2.03.3) 3.3 (2.54.2) 3.6 (3.14.3) 90.6 (89.391.6) 14.3 (12.116.7) 12.1 (10.613.8) 7.6 (6.58.8) 66.0 (62.769.2) Hispanic 2012 (5,733) 7.5 (6.29.2) 5.5 (4.76.3) 6.7 (5.87.6) 80.3 (78.582.0) NA 2014 (6,081) 5.7 (4.76.8) 5.5 (4.86.2) 7.2 (5.98.7) 81.6 (79.783.3) 22.9 (20.525.2) 13.3 (12.214.5) 11.0 (10.012.1) 52.9 (50.655.1) Other 2012 (3,211) 8.3 (6.610.3) 5.3 (4.36.4) 6.3 (5.37.6) 80.1 (78.082.0) NA 2014 (2,673) 6.4 (5.08.2) 5.1 (3.76.9) 6.2 (5.37.3) 82.3 (80.084.3) 19.6 (16.523.1) 12.5 (11.014.3) 10.1 (8.911.3) 57.8 (54.661.0) Top Vietnam: domestic cement consumption could reach 80Mt by 2020 22 September 2016 Cement consumption in Vietnam will this year reach 60Mt, while 15.5-17Mt of cement and clinker will be exported, claims Vietnam's Cement Association Chairman, Nguyen Quang Cung. Mr Cung said Vietnam's total productivity was estimated to reach 95Mt by 2020, of which domestic consumption would increase by 5-5.5Mta, reaching 80Mt. The remaining volume of 15Mt would be be shipped overseas. "Vietnam will be able to meet the increasing demands of production and export of cement and clinker by that time," he added. Vissai Group plans to increase capacity Being a private business with a production capacity of more than 10Mta in Vietnam, Nguyen Tien Dat, deputy general director of Vissai Group, said several domestic businesses were dealing with fierce competition from regional nations such as Thailand and China. Dat said Vissai would begin construction on the first phase of the Song Lam Cement factory in October this year. The plant was designed to have a capacity of 1Mta, bringing the group's total capacity to 12Mt. "With such a high production capacity, it won't be less pressure on the group in the current competitive situation," Mr Dat said. "We have decided that we will focus on investment in the cement distribution system. In the 2016-18 period, our key strategy is to raise consumption through the logistics system, which will also create more favourable conditions for exports and for sustainable development," he added. Published under Sign up for our newsletter I don't know how many young women come to this blog or how many are parents of teenage or young adult women, but here are some safety tips from Kelsey's Army: T I P S 1. Trust your instincts - If something feels wrong then something probably is wrong.2. Know your surroundings - know who and what is around you.3. Always have a plan for where you would go and what you would do if a situation arises.4. Be willing to make a scene in order to be noticed.5. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.Remember the acronym TIPS:ake Chargenform others of your whereaboutsrepare for any situationurvival Mentality (role play situations so you will respond should they happen)For more information, go to Kelsey's Army YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Promise movie about the Armenian Genocide will become a real evil for Turks, Turkish columnist Ali Eyuboglu published an article in Milliyet newspaper, reports Armenpress. He says for years the Turks have fought against resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide in the parliaments of different states that have become a real disaster. We will face another problem soon, he writes referring to The Promise movie. He tells that the movie author is famous Hotel Rwanda movies director, and the film stars are Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon. The Turkish columnist says the movie is financed by Armenian philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian stating that he was one of the richest people of the US who died at the age of 98 in 2015. Armenians said about him: Azerbaijanis have oil, but we have Kirk Kerkorian, he writes. He says when the movie will be screened in cinemas, it will become a real evil for Turks. The premier of the film The Promise about the Armenian Genocide was held within the framework of Toronto International Film Festival. American-Armenian entrepreneur, billioner Kirk Kerkorian paid the film shooting costs, and it became known on the day of his death. Survival Pictures company is shooting the film Michael lives in a small Armenian village and he promises himself to rich village women to get 400 gold coins as dowry. This allows him to travel to Istanbul to become a medical student where he befriend a son of a powerful general. Christopher (Christian Bale) is a reporter for the Associated Press and he bring along Ana, a Armenian women who was raised in Paris. Michael falls in love with Ana. When the Turkish joined the Germans in the First World War and crudely killed minorities living in the Ottoman Empire, despite the existing conflict, everyone must find a way to be saved. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Armenia's Independence Day. Armenpress presents his full message: "Today, we join the Armenian community - here in Canada, in Armenia, and around the world - in celebrating the country's 25th Independence Day. Canada and the Republic of Armenia enjoy a dynamic and friendly relationship, rooted in the shared values of democracy and freedom, bilateral relations, and our collaboration in international organizations such as La Francophonie. I look forward to working with President Serzh Sargsyan and newly-appointed Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan to further strengthen the relations between our two countries, and to work together on global and regional issues including peace, security, and development cooperation. On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I invite all Canadians to reflect on the important contributions of Canadians of Armenian descent to our national fabric, and offer our best wishes to everyone celebrating today. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The governor of North Carolina has declared a state of emergency in the city of Charlotte, sending in the National Guard, as unrest over a police shooting continues, reports BBC. Violence erupted for a second night as protests over the killing of a black man spun out of control. One protester is in a critical condition after a "civilian on civilian" incident, the city said. Riot police used tear gas as they faced hundreds of protesters. The demonstrators are angry that Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was killed by police on Tuesday. Police say Mr Scott was repeatedly told to drop his handgun before he was shot but his family say he was reading a book at the time. Sixteen police officers were injured in unrest on Tuesday night. Governor Pat McCrory declared the state of emergency as rioters attacked journalists and other people, breaking windows and setting small fires. The second night of protests had begun peacefully but the demonstration was interrupted by gunfire and a man in the crowd was injured. The city initially said he had been killed but then issued a clarification on Twitter. Protesters then threw bottles and fireworks at the officers, who were lined up in riot gear. Police fired flash grenades and tear gas to repel the crowds. The use of lethal police force against African Americans has been the subject of nationwide protests across the US for two years. Police in Charlotte on Wednesday appealed for calm and defended their actions in the death of Mr Scott by insisting he had been repeatedly warned to drop his gun. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told a news conference Mr Scott first got out of the car with a gun, then got back into his vehicle when officers told him to drop his weapon. He was shot when he emerged from his car holding his weapon. The police chief was unable to say if Mr Scott had been pointing his weapon at officers. After her father's death, Mr Scott's daughter posted a video on Facebook in which she said her father had been unarmed and reading a book as he waited for the school bus to drop off his son, when he was shot. The mayor of Charlotte, Jennifer Roberts, voiced her shock at the violent protests. "Charlotte is a city that has worked very hard to build good community police relations," she told the BBC. "We have been a model of community policing. We have actually trained other police forces. This is not who we are as Charlotteans and I'm hoping we can move past these protests very quickly, move into more peaceful protests and back into dialogue." YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a series of contacts with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its Facebook page, TASS reported. "On September 21, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, who is taking part in the session of the UN General Assembly in New York, held a series of contacts with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry," the statement said. "During a phone conversation, which occurred on the American sides initiative, and the meeting that followed as part of delegations, problems of Syrian settlement continued to be discussed," it said. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. According to the poll conducted by new Wall Street Journal/NBC News Hillary Clinton is maintaining her edge over Republican rival Donald Trump despite recent campaign setbacks, but the 2016 presidential race continues to tighten going into the homestretch, reports the Wall Street Journal. After a rocky week of controversy over her health and for calling some of Mr. Trumps supporters deplorables, the Democratic nominee leads Mr. Trump by 6 percentage points, 43% to 37%, among people likely to vote, the survey found. Two third-party candidates drew 12% support. It is the first Journal/NBC News survey this year to focus on the opinions of people likely to vote. Among all registered voters, a slightly broader group than those designated as likely voters, Mrs. Clinton leads by 5 percentage points, narrower than her 9-point lead in the August Journal/NBC News survey. Mrs. Clinton still is viewed negatively by a majority of voters. She faces broad questions about her honesty and is at risk of not drawing the levels of black and Hispanic support that Democratic President Barack Obama did in 2012. Her ability to weather controversy and hold on to a polling lead has been bolstered by some of Mr. Trumps weaknesses, the poll found. Mr. Trump is still viewed more negatively than she is, and has struggled to reach beyond his core support among white voters without college degrees. Another factor helping Mrs. Clinton is that Mr. Obamas job-approval rating has been on the rise in recent months. The result is a race that remains remarkably stable after a campaign that has seemed like a roller-coaster ride, yanking voters attention from one imbroglio to the next. Most recently, it has focused on questions about Mrs. Clintons health and Mr. Trump retracting his long-held doubts about Mr. Obamas citizenship. The survey was taken Sept. 16-19, after those controversies generated news headlines and before the recent bombing incidents in and near New York. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Senator Bob Menendez, and the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Armenian Caucus joined the Armenian American leaders in toasting Armenia's 25th anniversary of independence, at a Capitol Hill celebration hosted by the Embassy of Armenia, the Armenian National Committee of America informed Armenpress. The program featured warm toasts by legislators, congratulating Armenia on a quarter century of independence and pledging continued partnership in further developing the U.S.-Armenia relationship, supporting the NKRs freedom, and ending U.S. complicity in Ankara's denial of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian Ambassador to the US Grigor Hovhanissian hosted the Congressional program, offering his own inspirational words regarding the U.S.-Armenia partnership, and inviting each legislator to offer their toast to mark this historic occasion. In his remarks, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian highly appreciated that America has assisted Armenia - from post-earthquake humanitarian aid to technical economic assistance and an aid-to trade transition that has brought unprecedented levels of U.S. investment to Armenia. Hamparian emphasized the Armenian people's commitment to regional peace, highlighting the commitment of both Yerevan and Stepanakert to the OSCE peace process for Nagorno Karabakh and the Royce-Engel proposals to strengthen the ceasefire. He closed by emphasizing Armenia's reciprocation of American generosity, noting the high level of Armenian participation in peacekeeping operations - from Iraq and Afghanistan to Kosovo and Lebanon, Armenia's partnership with the United States on nuclear safety challenges, and Armenia's leadership in addressing the Syria crisis by serving as a safe haven for at risk minorities. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The European Union congratulated the Republic of Armenia and its people on the 25th anniversary of its independence, the EU Delegation to Armenia informed Armenpress. The Republic of Armenia has undergone profound developments in these past years and we as the European Union look forward to continuing to work closely with the country in the future. The European Union has and will continue to support the development of strong democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic prosperity, for the benefit of all citizens, the statement reads. The EU looks forward to the future EU-Armenia Agreement, which would, alongside the engagement in the Eastern Partnership framework, enable the European Union to enhance the dialogue with the Armenian authorities, to support them in their reform efforts and to increase the contacts with the population. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. While on a working visit in New York, acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian held a meeting with Foreign Minister of Honduras Maria Dolores Aguero, press service of the Armenian MFA informed Armenpress. The sides expressed readiness to take practical steps for the development of bilateral relations. In this regard, an agreement was reached over concurrently accrediting Ambassadors, forming legal framework, as well as cooperating in international organizations. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov being on a working visit to Saint Petersburg, took part in the jubilee event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia in Tauride Palace. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Nation al Assembly, the Deputy Speaker delivered a speech, noting in particular: Dear friends, 25 years ago the Armenian people made their choice for the Independence; independence for which our generations fought. Our peoples heroic history is nothing but a struggle for independence and freedom. It was like that, when Hayk Patriarch, defeating Bel, the tyrant of Babylon, the symbol of the evil in the Old World, reestablished our right to independent statehood. It was like that, when Tigran the Great was defending our Motherland from the campaigns of Pompey. It was also like that, when the Armenians proved that death realized is immortality and granted life for the coming generations in 451 in Avarayr. And in that very Avarayr the Armenian people reiterated their commitment to the two pillars of their spirit: the God and the Motherland. Dear attendees, The aspiration of independence did not abandon us even during the Genocide: it was during those very days that genius Armenian writer Tumanian spoke about new Armenia. Just as Christ resurrected on the third day of his physical death, so too did the Armenian people heroically defeat the Turks after 3 years of the Genocide, having rebirth in Sardarapat, Bash Aparan and Gharakilisa, reaffirming that light disperses darkness. It was in May battles that Turk Vehib Pasha said that the Armenians proved that they are the best soldiers of the world. It was the very aspiration of freedom and independence that directed 600.000 Armenian sons to the front of the Great Patriotic War. Defending Moscow and Stalingrad, they were defending Yerevan and Shushi. Later the sons and grandsons of the Great Patriotic War heroes became the builders of the Armenian statehood and Artsakh heroic battle. And also due to their struggle that today we are the bearers of the 25-year old independence. Eternal glory to our heroes! Long live the Republic of Armenia! Long live the Republic of Artsakh and the Armenian people! Thank you for your attention! The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in August was 5.2 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in July. The rate in August 2015 was 5.7 percent. The rate fell as employers laid off fewer workers. The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 1,838, or 41.9 percent, to 2,552 in August. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and administrative and support services, which includes temporary staffing agencies. Over the year, claims were up by 340, or 15.4 percent, from 2,212 in August 2015. Also, the labor force in the Northwest Georgia region, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, declined by 4,155 to 405,522 in August. The number of employed residents decreased by 2,370 to 384,317, while the number of unemployed fell by 1,785 to 21,205. Metro Daltons unemployment rate in August was 5.9 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 6.3 percent in July. The rate in August 2015 was also 6.3 percent. The rate fell as employers added more jobs and laid off fewer workers. The number of jobs increased by 200, or 0.3 percent, to 68,500. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with state and local government as the public schools reopened for the new school year. Over the year, Dalton gained 500 jobs, a 0.7 percent growth rate, up from 68,000 in August 2015. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction. The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 844, or 54 percent, to 719 in August. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by 80, or 12.5 percent, from 639 in August 2015. The labor force, which consists of employed people and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs, declined by 683 to 61,138 in August. The number of employed residents decreased by 420 to 57,508, while the number of unemployed residents fell by 263 to 3,630. Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 6.6 percent. Meanwhile, Georgias seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for August was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in July. It was 5.6 percent in August 2015. Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOLs online job listing service,www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In August, 2,754 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 62,839 new job openings were posted. Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available atwww.dol.georgia.gov To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, visit www.dol.georgia.gov Specialty chemicals company LANXESS produces iron oxide and chrome oxide pigments for numerous applications in the worlds largest production plant for inorganic color pigments in Krefeld-Uerdingen and has been doing so for 90 years. Whether in the paint on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the red asphalt in front of Buckingham Palace in London or numerous products we encounter in our day-to-day lives pigments from LANXESS are in use all around the world. What began very modestly 90 years ago has turned into a genuine success story. Since its launch in 1926, more than 13 million metric tons of pigments have left the plant in Krefeld-Uerdingen. A fast-paced story It was back in the 1920s that Julius Laux, head of the aniline plant in Uerdingen, started searching for ways of using the iron oxide pastes that were a waste product of aniline manufacturing. In 1925, he discovered that the presence of salt solutions led to the formation of intensely colored oxides that were ideal for use as pigments. There were just one and a half years between this discovery and the start of production. After manufacturing 1,200 metric tons of iron oxides in 1926, production quickly grew to more than 5,000 metric tons in 1927. Just a short time later, synthetic iron oxides had established a firm place on the market and were being used primarily to color linoleum, surface coatings and construction materials. In the 1960s, annual production volumes climbed to more than 100,000 metric tons. The range has also grown considerably over the decades. While customers could choose from 25 colors in 1931, the current range extends to more than 100. In 1976, the iron oxides from Uerdingen got their own special name and, since then, Bayferrox has been the most important global umbrella brand for the pigments. The products are distinguished by their high quality and simple and environmentally compatible processing. A key product development came in the 1990s with the introduction of microgranules, which support low-dust handling and are free flowing for metering purposes. The latest groundbreaking innovation is the new plant in Ningbo, China. IPG including staff at the Krefeld site developed a completely new technology, known as the Ningbo Process, for the plant, which has since become another global benchmark for sustainable iron oxide production. LANXESS launches new initiative for young people in Krefeld Besides production itself, LANXESS also places a very high value on its links with the local community. We want to find a special way of thanking the city for the decades of outstanding cooperation we have had, explained Jorg Hellwig, head of the LANXESS Inorganic Pigments business unit (IPG) at a celebration marking the 90th anniversary of the Uerdingen production facility for iron oxide pigments. He was joined by Krefelds Lord Mayor, Frank Meyer, as he announced the launch of the new Besser Lernen (Learn better) initiative for educational institutions and youth organizations in Krefeld. With the Lord Mayor as its patron and a total fund of EUR 50,000, the initiative will support projects run by educational institutions and youth organizations that use color schemes and other measures to improve the learning environment or care services for young people. Public educational institutions, clubs and initiatives can now put forward projects that are being run in Krefeld and involve total costs up to EUR 10,000. The winners will be selected and announced by a specially convened judging panel. They will be announced before the end of the year. The conditions of participation and judging criteria have been published online. We are very happy that a global company like LANXESS has such an important base in our city and that those in charge are so committed to maintaining the close historic links between the company and Krefeld, said Lord Mayor Meyer. The Besser Lernen initiative is a wonderful example of a creative way that a company can do something beneficial and demonstrate its commitment to its city and the people who live there. Geared toward customers and competitiveness IPG supplies some 5,000 users worldwide with pigments that are used to color a wide variety of products. As our customers see it, our decades of experience in manufacturing quality products and in process development and optimization sets us apart from many of our competitors, remarked Hellwig. At its most important site in Krefeld-Uerdingen, the business unit harnesses the entire value-added chain for iron oxide production from synthesis through to packaging. One very special advantage of the site is its strong level of plant automation, which enables maximum production output and thus excellent cost efficiency. Whats more, here in Krefeld, we also have extremely well-trained staff and very high and sustainable standards as regards both environmental considerations and production, giving us a key edge over the competition internationally, said Hellwig. The most important thing, however, is that we have a team that is extremely good at what it does, is full of ideas and is highly motivated without that we would never have been able to achieve the success that we now want to carry forward. At the Krefeld-Uerdingen site alone, LANXESS produces more than 280,000 metric tons of color pigments a year, with the global figure at 375,000 metric tons and growing. LANXESS is committed to what is its second-largest production site worldwide. Between 2005 and 2015, the specialty chemicals company invested some EUR 420 million in the facility, approximately EUR 200 million of which benefited pigment production alone. Besides the quality and performance of our products, the innovative capabilities and creativity of our employees have played an important part in helping our pigments under the now world-famous Bayferrox brand to carve out a leading position on the market over the past nine decades, remarked Hellwig. LANXESS takes part in the Week of Industry The LANXESS celebration to mark the 90-year history of iron oxide production in Krefeld-Uerdingen is one of 364 different activities that are being held throughout Germany between September 17 and 29 as part of the Week of Industry. The Week of Industry is an initiative by the Zukunft der Industrie (Future of Industry) group. The group brings together 15 separate business associations and trade unions and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Over the course of the week, businesses, locations and workforces are presenting themselves as major employers, engines for innovation and drivers of output in the region. The overarching goal of the partners in the group is to safeguard Germanys long-term future as an industrial location and boost industrial competitiveness. Your chatty coworker, a desk full of computer screens or the dulcet tones of Flo Rida could be killing your productivity at work. Companies are always looking at ways to help their employees to get more done. But as office footprints are shrinking and desks are getting closer, distractions can be rampant. Many experts agree giving employees a choice about where to do their work in an office can help providing employees a place to have a meeting away from loud music on the sales floor or to spread out for creative work. Advertisement But other small tweaks can also boost productivity in a workspace. Productivity and office design experts shared a few ways companies are helping or hindering productivity in modern offices. Digital "Do Not Disturb" Advertisement As personal space continues to get cozier in offices, there's an unspoken (and sometimes, spoken) headphone rule: Buds in mean leave me alone. But since some employees just like to listen to music while they work, and others don't curb the chatter even if their colleagues are plugged in, companies are looking at other ways to help employees signal when they're in the zone. Helene Segura, a productivity consultant based in San Antonio, Tex., said she spotted one helpful system at CBI Group, a Texas-based office interior solutions provider. The company's desks have LED lights that display whether an employee is knee-deep in a big project or available for a quick chat. Green means available, orange automatically shows if an employee is busy on a productivity app and red means "do not disturb." Other lights can signal incoming notifications from emails and calendar reminders or have customized meanings. "Obviously, it costs a little more, but it really helps with productivity," Segura said. "In these open environments people feel comfortable enough to just stop by any old time, and interruptions are one of our biggest time leaks it the day." Desk setup Having a lot of screens fired up may make it look like you're getting a lot done. But the opposite could be true, Segura said. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 51 Click through to see the gallery. If employees use multiple screens because certain tasks require it, that's one thing. "If you have two or four or five screens on your desk because you're multitasking, that doesn't do any good because our brains are not capable of multitasking well," she said. Advertisement Same goes for all those Slack and Outlook notifications popping up on all those screens. "It takes the brain an average of 60 seconds to restart when we switch tasks," Segura said. "I'm not telling you to stop checking. You need to check when your brain is ready." Light Light can have a substantial impact on productivity, said Claren Pappo, an interior architect and instructor at the Illinois Institute of Art. "If you're in a space that has no windows, people tend to be less productive than when they're in a space where they have access to natural light," Pappo said. "It helps with your natural body systems, also just tends to raise people's moods and they're just more productive." Letting employees have control over their light is important, Pappo said. And offices should stick to natural-looking light when they're using bulbs. Advertisement "The more natural the light color quality, the more people feel as calm and comfortable as possible," she said. "We want to stay away from the really warm color temperatures, the oranges and yellows. Even stay away from the extreme blue lights ... the older LEDs were pretty blue." Pappo said the natural light halogens are a best bet. "The better and closer to natural color temperature, the more productive people are," she said. Technology Just because an office space is decked out with all sorts of high-tech toys doesn't mean it's helping employees get things done, said Michelle Osburn, a planning and strategy consultant for Chicago architecture and design firm Perkins + Will. Design of an office and the setup of technology should be done together to make sure employees can easily connect to share and display information, she said. Sounds like a given, but many offices are getting this wrong. Advertisement "There are a lot of situations where you go into a client space and every conference room has different tools: This one has an overhead project, this one has an LED screen via wireless, this one you connect via wires, this one can do video conferencing, this one can't," Osburn said. "That adds a lot of stress to the workplace when every conference room you go into is a different situation." Thinking about technology as part of the design process makes for more productive spaces, she said. "You can really make the workplace more effective and not waste that first 10 minutes in a meeting fiddling around with the technology and be able to get to work," she said. mgraham@tribpub.com Twitter @megancgraham YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian met Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan on September 21 on the sidelines of the UN General Assemblys 71st session, press service of the Armenian MFA informed Armenpress. Issues related to the steps to be taken for further development of bilateral relations, the expansion of legal framework, the promotion of trade-economic cooperation, the intensification of mutual cooperation within the framework of international organizations were discussed at the meeting. The Ministers exchanged views on current international and regional issues. Edward Nalbandian presented his counterpart the current situation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. The U.S. government granted aviation giants Airbus and Boeing permission on Wednesday to sell aircraft to Iran following last year's nuclear accord. (Jason Redmond/ AFP/Getty Images) Dubai, United Arab Emirates Aviation giants Airbus and Boeing Co. have received permission from the U.S. government to sell aircraft to Iran, part of landmark deals potentially worth some $50 billion in total following last year's nuclear accord. The announcements Wednesday came as Iranian and U.S. leaders are in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and show that the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama is honoring the economic terms of the nuclear pact. Advertisement The next administration, however, may change that equation for Airbus and Boeing, whose possible deal with Iran would be the biggest for an American company since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and U.S. Embassy takeover. European airplane manufacturer Airbus announced the license from the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control early Wednesday. Boeing followed with its own announcement later in the day. Advertisement Though based abroad, Airbus needed the approval of the U.S. Treasury for the deal because at least 10 percent of the manufacturer's components are of American origin. Airbus applied for two licenses to cover its deal with Iran to ensure the fast delivery of some of the aircraft, Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon told The Associated Press. The license announced Wednesday covers the first 17 planes involved in the deal, which will be A320s and A330s, he said. Dubon said Airbus hoped to receive a second license allowing it to sell the remaining planes to Iran soon. In January, national carrier Iran Air signed agreements to buy 118 planes from Airbus, estimated to be worth some 22.8 billion euros ($25 billion). On Sunday, state TV reported that Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, a deputy transportation minister, said Iran would cut the number of Airbus planes to 112. Base model A320s are listed at an average of $98 million, while A330s start at $231.5 million. That puts the value of the approved 17 aircraft in the first license around at least $1.8 billion and possibly much higher based on list prices, though buyers typically negotiate sizable discounts for bulk orders. Under Boeing's deal, Iran Air will buy 80 aircraft with a total list price of $17.6 billion, with deliveries beginning in 2017 and running until 2025. Iran Air also will lease 29 new Boeing 737s in a deal that Iranian officials have suggested would be worth some $25 billion in total. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 47 On March 1, 1919, Bill Boeing, left, and Eddie Hubbard flew the first international mail flight from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, in the Boeing Model C, the companys first production plan. (Boeing) In a statement, Boeing spokesman Marc Sklar said, "We have received that license and remain in talks with Iran Air" based on the memorandum of agreement reached in June. The U.S. Treasury confirmed in a statement that the agency had granted the first licenses to Airbus and Boeing. Advertisement "These licenses contain strict conditions to ensure that the planes will be used exclusively for commercial passenger use and cannot be resold or transferred to a designated entity," the Treasury said in the statement. Iran's English language Press TV reported Thursday that Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said Iran expects the purchase of planes from Boeing to proceed faster than they will with France's Airbus. "This is because the structure of negotiations with Boeing is different from that of Airbus," he said. Fakhrieh Kashan said Boeing has sent the text of its contract to Iran to be studied by the Iranian authorities. He said that Boeing officials were due to travel to Tehran next week to work toward finalizing the contract. Iran's U.N. mission did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, which limits its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of some international sanctions, specifically allowed for the purchase of aircraft and parts. The license approval clears the way for the two plane manufacturers to begin accessing one of the last untapped aviation markets in the world, home to 80 million people. However, Western analysts are skeptical that there is demand for so many jets or available financing for two separate $25 billion deals. Advertisement Most Iranian planes were purchased before the Islamic Revolution that ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Islamists to power. Out of Iran's 250 commercial planes, 162 were flying in June, while the rest were grounded due to lack of spare parts. Iran Air, whose website lists 43 airplanes in its fleet, says it has direct flights to over 30 international destinations, including London. The aircraft deal also has become a political issue in an election year in the U.S. Some American lawmakers have criticized the Boeing deal to Iran over the Islamic Republic's "pernicious behavior," including launching ballistic missiles, firing rockets near U.S. warships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and briefly detaining American sailors who strayed into its territorial waters. The U.S. presidential election could also have an effect on the sales. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has threatened to tear up the nuclear deal if elected this November. Associated Press Celena Roldan, CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois, is photographed Sept. 14, 2016, at the Red Cross' Chicago office. The nonprofit covers 21 counties with the aid of 3,000 volunteers. (Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune) Celena Roldan has vivid childhood memories of her dad, head of the Hispanic Housing Development Corp., dragging her to ribbon-cuttings at affordable housing projects, and of her mom, now a psychotherapist, working with students at a Chicago public school as she pursued her degree in social work. Their example made her want to serve communities as well. So after getting her master's degree in social work at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Roldan took a job at Erie Neighborhood House, a long-standing social service provider that works mostly with low-income Latino families, eventually becoming its executive director in 2010. Advertisement Now, Roldan, 40, an Oak Park native of Puerto Rican descent, has a new challenge. In March, she was named CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois. The agency, which covers 21 counties with the aid of 3,000 volunteers, helped about 6,200 people affected by local disasters during its 2016 fiscal year. Advertisement Though the iconic red cross symbol is most visible at mass-casualty events like Superstorm Sandy or the Orlando, Fla., nightclub massacre, the regional agency also responds to an average of four or five local fires a day. Recently, while about 25 volunteers from the region were in Louisiana for flood relief work, other volunteers responded to a fire on the South Side that killed four people, including three children. "We're having to do both of those pieces at the same time, and we're doing it with incredibly dedicated volunteers," Roldan said. More than 95 percent of the Red Cross response teams are volunteers, Roldan said. The agency stays long after the firefighters have left, not only providing warm clothes and toothbrushes on the worst day of someone's life, but also helping with funeral arrangements, mental health services and financial assistance in the weeks and months that follow. Spreading that community story is a priority for Roldan as she tries to bolster the agency's volunteer base. Roldan spoke with the Tribune days before she deployed to Louisiana. The interview was edited for length and clarity. Q: What are the greatest challenges facing the organization? A: If we are over 95 percent volunteer based, we have to figure out how to really get the next generation in to volunteer, be connected to the organization, understand that its mission is in communities. We serve 21 counties but 70 percent of our work is in Cook County. We know the neighborhoods that we're predominantly in and the issues facing those neighborhoods, so that's also important for us when we're thinking about how we want to diversify our staff and volunteers. Advertisement Q: What's your plan to bring more people in? A: Communications and social media have been a really big part of what we're doing. I think about expanding our corporate partners and also getting new businesses involved. Q: Which communities do you serve most? A: The top ZIP codes we're in are in Austin, Englewood, Roseland, Auburn Gresham. Those are our largest communities of need in terms of where our disaster response is (mostly for fires). Q: What are best practices for workplace disaster preparedness? A: I think it's thinking of how you communicate during a disaster. What if emails went down, what if phones went down. We have a tool that we call the Ready Rating (www.readyrating.org). It helps businesses, schools, and other institutions come up with their safety plan and to think about their employees, their customers, their supply chain. Advertisement Q: Are you concerned that companies are not prepared? A: We know that if businesses are not prepared, it is a significant risk. Data tells us that 15 to 40 percent of businesses fail following a man-made or natural disaster. Ninety-four percent of small-business owners think that a disaster could significantly impact their business in the next two years. I've been here six months, and we've responded to (three times) more disasters nationwide from January to July of this year than we have (during the same period) in (each of) the past three years. So what we do know is we're going to have another disaster. Q: Was it a fluke of a bad year? A: I'm hoping for a fluke of a bad year. But it's enough that we're thinking about, "Is this the new normal for the Red Cross?" When something happens, we go out and provide a service without being paid for it. We bank on the generosity of the American public to understand the work and pay us back for that. If this is happening more regularly, what does that mean in terms of us talking to donors, talking to people about how critical our work is, but also thinking about volunteers? Q: From your perspective working within communities, how do you view the city's violence problems and where do you see a path forward? Advertisement A: What is happening in the city it is a disaster. I think that the human services structure in our city and state has diminished in many ways. A lot of organizations have had to close their doors. They've had to shift their priorities. And I feel very strongly that people need to have safe places to go. When there's a lack of hope, when there's a lack of opportunity, when there's a lack of chances for education, I think this is what this has grown from. Q: As a female chief executive, what helped you get to where you are? A: I've had tremendous mentors, both men and women. And that's key. Some of my greatest opportunities have been doors or windows opened by men. I was on the job day two and I was speaking at a networking reception for young Latinos. I had three or four different young Latina women come up to me teary-eyed saying, "You have no idea what it means for us to see you in this position." That's so unbelievably powerful to me and also feels like a tremendous responsibility. Q: What was an early management lesson you learned? A: I had two different years (at Erie) where we had rounds of layoffs. And you're laying off people already who are teachers and making $25,000, $30,000 a year, in a climate where they're not going to find another job. It's really easy for people to be a leader when you have 100 people standing behind you. It's really hard when you turn around and suddenly you're the only person standing there. But sometimes you make the decision that is best for the organization versus the person. You can still be very empathetic about it. I was really proud of the fact that we gave a lot of notice, we gave a lot of time, we had a lot of communication. We were very transparent about the challenges that were coming at us, and I think that's what all businesses should do. aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @alexiaer After falling in July, sales of existing homes in the Chicago area bounced back in August. Sales increased 7.6 percent, with 11,906 homes sold in the nine-county area, up from 11,066 during August 2015, according to Illinois Realtors. The median price increased 4.5 percent to $230,000. Advertisement In the city of Chicago, home sales rose 2.6 percent with a median price of $275,000, a 1.5 percent increase. The condo market was relatively flat, with sales up less than 1 percent, and the median price down slightly to $304,000. Across the state, home sales increased 6.7 percent over last year. The late summer surge saw 16,455 homes sold statewide, compared with 15,415 in August 2015, according to Illinois Realtors. The median sale price was $192,000, up from $180,000 a year ago. Advertisement The August gains came despite low inventory, with 14.8 percent fewer homes on the market than a year ago, the real estate trade group said. "What's remarkable are the strong gains we saw statewide despite a market that has been bedeviled by a lack of inventory," Mike Drews, president of Illinois Realtors, said in a Thursday news release. The statewide trends played out in suburban DuPage County, where sales were up 9.9 percent in August. But dwindling inventories and a softening luxury home market have already made for a "really quiet" September, according to Denise Gill, an agent in Baird & Warner's Glen Ellyn/Wheaton office. "I'm seeing fewer homes on the market," Gill said Thursday. "I'm also seeing there's not as many buyers out right now." Gill said sellers are pulling their homes from the market earlier than usual, exacerbating the tight supply. "We're starting to see people take their homes off the market and wait until next spring," Gill said. "Usually they don't do that until mid-November." Illinois homes also sold more quickly last month, with the average time on the market dropping to 55 days, down from 64 days a year ago. The average commitment rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.44 percent in August, unchanged from July but down from a year ago, when rates averaged 3.9 percent, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. In July, Chicago-area home sales fell sharply, down 7.3 percent, the first year-over-year decline since November 2015. July home sales across the state dropped 6.8 percent over the previous year. At the time, Illinois Realtors pointed to the low inventory as the cause of the one-month drop. With inventory still depressed, renewed declines are projected for the rest of the year. Advertisement Watch our latest Real Estate videos. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Don't judge a book by its cover. This area has a wealth of great dining and shopping options, from indie cafes and a taco trailer to vintage shops. It's a blend of past and future that's a world apart from the trendy South Congress Avenue one block east, according to writer Amy Balfour. (Amy Balfour / Lonely Planet) "Sales recovered in August and prices continue to show positive annual gains," Geoffrey Hewings, director of the Regional Economic Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois, said in the release. "However, month-to-month sales forecasts suggest a downward trend for the next three months, driven in part by low inventories, the poor job recovery in Illinois and uncertainties about the presidential election." Statewide, 55 counties reported year-over-year sales gains for August, according to Illinois Realtors. rchannick@chicagotribune.com Twitter @RobertChannick Unemployment rates dropped in August in nearly all Illinois metro areas compared with the year before, but job growth was concentrated in northern parts of the state while much of downstate continued to limp along. The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights metro division saw its unemployment rate fall to 5.4 percent last month from 5.6 in August 2015, and the area added 46,800 jobs during that period, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Most of those job gains over the year were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and construction. Manufacturing lost 3,300 jobs. Financial activities and the information sector also reported big job losses. Advertisement The Rockford metro area added 3,400 jobs and notched the greatest drop in unemployment rate, to 6.3 percent compared with 7 percent the year before. Other big job gains were in the Elgin and Lake County-Kenosha County metro divisions in the northeast corner of the state alongside Chicago. The data is not seasonally adjusted, meaning it doesn't take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor market and can't be compared month-to-month. Advertisement All but two of the 14 metro areas in Illinois reported year-over-year declines in their unemployment rates. In the Quad Cities, which lost 3,400 jobs over the year, unemployment increased to 5.6 percent in August from 5.3 percent a year earlier. In Bloomington, which lost 2,400 jobs over the year, unemployment ticked up to 5.1 percent from 4.9 percent a year earlier. They were among six metro areas reporting year-over-year job losses. The Carbondale-Marion, Peoria and Danville metro areas also lost jobs. "Job growth is primarily confined to metro areas north of the I-80 corridor, and even though it is growth, it is anemic growth when compared to other major metro areas across the country such as New York, Los Angeles and Dallas," Employment Security Director Jeff Mays said in a news release. "And many of the downstate metros still haven't fully recovered from the recession." In the city of Chicago, unemployment fell to 6.1 percent in August compared with 6.4 percent a year before. The not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Illinois was 5.5 percent and nationally was 5 percent. aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com Twitter @alexiaer CVS is expanding its curbside pickup program to more than 4,000 stores, including 181 in the Chicago area. (Lauren Zumbach / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) On shopping runs to most Chicago-area CVS stores, actually going inside the store is now optional. CVS Health will begin letting customers order online and have purchases delivered to their vehicles at more than 4,000 of CVS' 9,600 retail pharmacies on Monday, including 51 Chicago stores and 130 more in surrounding suburbs, CVS said. Advertisement "We really see it as the next breakthrough in delivering convenience in a new way for our customers," said Brian Tilzer, CVS' senior vice president and chief digital officer. Customers can choose the free curbside pickup option when placing an order on the CVS website or app. CVS will send a text when the order is ready usually in less than an hour, Tilzer said. When customers arrive at the store, an employee will meet them with their purchases at a designated parking spot. Advertisement Some Chicago stores, such as those without parking lots, will not offer the service, and customers can't yet use it for prescription medications, alcohol and some seasonal items. CVS partnered with Curbside, a California company that handles store pickup logistics for retailers. CVS and Curbside declined to discuss the details of the financial arrangement, but CVS, Curbside's largest retail partner, invested in Curbside in April. The pharmacy chain began testing the program through Curbside's app at five stores last year. In December, CVS built the service into its own app and expanded the pilot to about 300 stores in San Francisco, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., Tilzer said The number of new curbside pickup customers grew about 50 percent each month, and about 55 percent placed multiple orders, a higher rate of repeat purchases than CVS saw with its regular buy online, pick up in-store option, Tilzer said. Some of CVS' competitors experimented with curbside pickup but went back to requiring customers to trek from car to store. Target, which also has worked with Curbside, and Walgreens both abandoned curbside pickup pilots earlier this year. Deerfield-based Walgreens also scrapped a buy online, pick up in-store service available in some markets, including Chicago. Employees need to spend time picking out items and ferrying them to customers' cars, and when customers don't enter the store, the retailer loses a chance to sell them items they didn't plan to buy. Breaking Business As it happens When business news breaks, be the first to know. > But customers can find most items CVS sells at other stores, Tilzer said, so the company is hoping to win on convenience. "We might lose an item here or there, but on balance, we believe by offering it we can get people to purchase from CVS more frequently," he said. Advertisement Retailers also need up-to-the-minute data on what items are in stock at each store to know whether it can fill a customer's order by the time the car arrives. Only 60 percent of retailers said they had an accurate, centralized view of their online and in-store inventory, and fewer than 20 percent said they had a buy online, pick up in-store option that worked well, according to a 2016 Boston Retail Partners survey. That's a challenge for CVS and Curbside too, said Curbside co-founder and CEO Jaron Waldman. If an employee filling a curbside order discovers an item is out of stock, Curbside immediately updates the store's inventory so the next customer looking for the item won't wrongly be told it's available. Curbside also texts the customer before pickup with the option to pick a suggested replacement, such as an alternate brand or flavor, or drop the item from the order, Waldman said. "It's never going to be totally perfect, but we're on a path where the vast, vast majority of the time we're going to get it right," he said. lzumbach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @laurenzumbach It's no secret that many young people are marrying later or not at all. Yet, surprisingly, many want to buy a home anyway. ''More young folks are delinking homeownership from marriage. They want the personal freedom of staying single along with the predictability of not facing constant rent increases,'' says Merrill Ottwein, an Illinois real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents. Advertisement Many of these young would-be buyers want to live in cities. ''I've never had a single client who says they want to live as far as possible from town. Once they're out of school, they want a surrogate community where they can meet their friends on foot,'' says Deborah Rutter, a real estate broker who sells homes near the University of Virginia campus. Advertisement Sid Davis, a veteran real estate broker and the author of ''A Survival Guide for Buying a Home,'' doesn't advise just any single buyer to purchase a property. He recommends against buying if your job is rocky or you expect to go on to graduate or professional school in the near future. ''If you could be moving in five or fewer years ... you probably should abstain from buying a house now. That's because your transaction costs could more than wipe out any appreciation you might enjoy,'' Davis says. Be especially careful to avoid short-term ownership of a brand-new house, says Davis, who points out that a new property typically requires some expensive initial fix-up costs, such as landscaping, fencing and window treatments. But if your life is on a steady course and you perceive that real estate values are on the upswing in the area where you live, don't let your single status keep you from making a purchase. Here are a few pointers for single buyers: Stay within your financial comfort zone. Years after the real estate downturn, mortgage lending standards remain rigid. Still, as Ottwein says, it's possible for single homebuyers, or anyone, to borrow more than is prudent for their lifestyle. ''Remember that the people who make mortgages know nothing about your spending priorities,'' he says. Advertisement Also, keep in mind that as a single person living alone, you're financially more vulnerable to the impact of an unexpected job loss than someone with a second wage earner supporting the household. ''Single people should be especially cautious about maxing out on a home loan. Go ahead and buy a place, but avoid becoming 'house poor' because of it,'' Ottwein says. Seek a ''roommate suitable'' property if you can afford one. After sharing space with roommates in college dorms or living with friends in rented apartments, you may be looking forward to living alone in the home you buy. Still, Ottwein encourages you to consider a property that would be attractive to potential roommates, should you one day need the rental income to offset your mortgage payments. What sort of property would be most alluring to roommates? Ottwein suggests you look for a place with a bedroom suite that includes a private bath -- so a roommate could live more autonomously. A separate, outside entrance to the suite would be ideal. And a property located near a college or university campus, where demand for rentals is strong, could also be a good bet. Seek an energy-stingy home. Advertisement After moving in, many first-time homebuyers are surprised by the size of their outlays for home upkeep. They hadn't expected to spend so much for everything from plumbers' bills to lawn fertilizer. The size of their utility bills also comes as a shock. Obviously, some costs associated with homeownership, such as taxes and insurance, are unavoidable. But home shoppers can more easily contain some costs by selecting an energy-efficient property that's well insulated and has substantial, double-pane windows, says Davis, author of ''Your Eco-Friendly Home.'' ''Don't try to project your future energy costs based on what a home's sellers have been paying during the last 12 months. Energy prices are always subject to the vagaries of the market. Plan for the worst-case scenarios,'' Davis says. Factor your social life into your buying plans. If you're like most young single people, your social life is hugely important to you. Even if you expect to outpace your friends in the quest for homeownership, you won't want your move to result in social isolation. You don't have to live in the immediate vicinity of your friends to stay in touch. But you'll want to avoid buying a property many miles from your closest friends, even if that's the most affordable choice. Advertisement ''Granted, you can probably get more square footage for the money if you move far out of the city. But very few singles are happy rattling around in a big house if they're socially isolated because they live an hour away from their buddies,'' Ottwein says. ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com RELATED STORIES: Transit-oriented housing in Chicago is back on track Tech investors will pay cash to own a slice of your home A real retrofit: Housing their modern family in his midcentury showpiece Watch our latest Real Estate videos. Fried to a glowing golden hue, the crust on the chicken is shatteringly crisp, and it remains so until the final bite. Like the best fried chicken, there's no separation between the chicken and crust. They fuse together in the frying oil. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune) My jaw dropped when I scanned Roister's new lunch menu. The boisterous West Loop restaurant from the Alinea team had planned on serving lunch since first opening in April, so the announcement didn't surprise me. But a $29 three-course prix fixe lunch menu with a fried chicken sandwich as the main course? That takes gall. I'll repeat that. You can now reserve a table at Roister at lunch to wolf down a fried chicken sandwich, and you'll pay $29 for the honor. Advertisement I should note that a prix fixe lunch menu is not something I indulge in often (if at all), and $29 is a totally average price for such a meal around downtown Chicago. But most restaurants serve something like grilled fish or steak you know, dishes requiring a fork and knife. As far as I know, there's only one right way to eat a fried chicken sandwich, and that's with your hands. Questions flooded my brain. Does the high cost prove that we've finally acknowledged the invaluable influence of Southern cuisine? Or does this insanely overpriced sandwich signal the culinary end of times? Advertisement There was only one way to find out. I bought a prepaid ticket on Tock and went to see myself. (Obviously, any chance of anonymity went out the window when I plugged in my credit card number.) The meal starts with a tantalizingly fresh cucumber salad with sweet chunks of melon and a tart creme fraiche. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune) I walked in with a slightly snotty attitude; Roister was going to have to justify the price tag. I stumbled out an hour later, full and silenced. It's (gasp) kind of a great deal. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > To get to the good part: The fried chicken sandwich is incredible. Fried to a glowing golden hue, the crust on the chicken is shatteringly crisp, and it remains so until the final bite. Like the best fried chicken, there's no separation between the chicken and crust. They fuse together in the frying oil. Thankfully, toppings are sparse. Some fresh shredded lettuce and sunchoke hot sauce hang out below the chicken, while shockingly fresh chamomile mayonnaise is drizzled on top. Each bite is complex juicy, salty, fascinatingly floral yet balanced. No one component dominates, letting all of them shine. The sandwich comes with a bowl of crusty Yukon fries topped with bonito flakes and served with a pool of tofu mayo. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune) The sandwich itself would satisfy a regular hunger. The prix fixe, on the other hand, is enough food for a feast. The meal starts with a tantalizingly fresh cucumber salad with sweet chunks of melon and a tart creme fraiche. The sandwich comes with a bowl of crusty Yukon fries topped with bonito flakes and served with a pool of tofu mayo. And the meal ends with chocolate-coated foie gras, punctuated with black walnuts, pretzel bits and marshmallow. (My waiter referred to it as a play on a Take 5 candy bar.) Turns out all of these items are available on the a la carte menu. In fact, you can score the fried chicken sandwich for only $13, which is still wildly more than Chick-fil-A, but not an outrageous sum. While the sizes of the dishes are smaller on the tasting menu, you'd have to pay more than $40 to try all of them a la carte. Considering how much food you get, I wouldn't advise the prix fixe menu unless you're outrageously hungry. But there's no doubting the quality of the food. The meal ends with chocolate-coated foie gras, punctuated with black walnuts, pretzel bits and marshmallow. (My waiter referred to it as a play on a Take 5 candy bar.) (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune) I have a hard time calling any lunch that costs $29 a good deal, but all the elements add up to make it so, and the sandwich itself certainly is one of the best you can get right now in Chicago. Roister's lunch menu is available noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Reservations can be made at Tock. Limited walk-in seats are available. 951 W Fulton Market, www.roisterrestaurant.com Advertisement nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com Twitter @nickdk YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. After the Governments session newly appointed Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan met employees of Nairit Plant, listened to their demands over reactivation of the Plant, reports Armenpress. The employees informed the Minister there is an investor who is ready to invest 2 billion AMD for the reactivation of the Plant. The Minister said he hears about it for the first time. He asked to give him time to observe the issue in more details and promised to host the employees in the upcoming days. Chicago activist Ja'Mal Green weighs in on the "race and policing" town hall hosted by Steve Harvey. Sept. 22, 2016. (The Steve Harvey Show) (Handout) Steve Harvey is hosting a "race and policing" town hall featuring Chicago activists on Thursday's episode of his daytime show. Activists Ja'Mal Green and Robert Dingle and suburban Oakwood Hills Police Chief Peter Goldman are among those who participate in the conversation. Advertisement A preview of the episode shows Green, who pleaded not guilty last month to charges he assaulted officers during July protests over police shootings, hugging Tonja Garafola, whose husband Brad was shot and killed in what officials say was an attack that targeted Louisiana police. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Advertisement "As an activist here in Chicago, we do not condone violence against police officers. I believe that every community member and every police officer should go home to their families," Green said to Garafola. "We're with you. That should have not happened. It should not get to the point where people go over the edge. Everybody just wants to be heard." Also in the episode, Dingle is shown on a ride along with a South Carolina sheriff's deputy. "Steve Harvey," which tapes at the WMAQ-Ch. 5 studios, airs 2 p.m. weekdays on WMAQ-Ch. 5. RELATED STORIES: Watch Kristin Cavallari search for a good catch at Soldier Field Jay Leno, Olympian Simone Manuel to kick off new 'Steve Harvey' season Tiny house set up outside NBC Tower for 'Steve Harvey' taping Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Ahilan Arulanantham, 2016 MacArthur Fellow, ACLU Southern California Offices, Los Angeles. As director of advocacy and legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Arulanantham fights for due process rights for people threatened with deportation. He also works to broaden immigrants' ability to obtain legal representation in court. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation / John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) A human rights lawyer who champions due process for the disadvantaged. A bioengineer who creates low-cost medical technologies that benefit some of the most impoverished places in the world. Advertisement A jewelry maker and sculptor whose decorative works also contain messages on sexism, racism and violence. These are among this year's winners of MacArthur Fellowships, each of whom will receive $625,000 in quarterly installments over the next five years with no strings attached. Advertisement Awarded by the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the "genius grants" are designed to empower recipients to pursue their work. The following is the complete list of winners; for more information, visit www.macfound.org/fellows. Ahilan Arulanantham, 43, Los Angeles. As director of advocacy and legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Arulanantham fights for due process rights for people threatened with deportation. He also works to broaden immigrants' ability to obtain legal representation in court. Daryl Baldwin, 53, Oxford, Ohio. A cultural preservationist who is director of the Myaamia Center at Miami University of Ohio, Baldwin works to rejuvenate the language and culture of the Miami (Myaamia) nation. Though the last native speaker of the Miami language died roughly half a century ago, Baldwin has mastered the language and is teaching it to others. Anne Basting, 51, Milwaukee. A professor of theater at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Basting uses theatrical techniques to enrich the lives of those with cognitive challenges. This work has helped older individuals battle the intellectual losses associated with aging. Vincent Fecteau, 47, San Francisco. The sculptor creates complex pieces from ordinary materials, such as cardboard and papier-mache, that invite close examination. Viewed from varying perspectives, Fecteau's works cast new light on the meaning of three-dimensionality. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, 31, New York. Playwright Jacobs-Jenkins addresses issues of race, identity, class and family head-on. Past and present collide in some of his works, provocatively showing how America's racial history impacts present-day life. Kellie Jones, 57, New York. An associate professor in the department of art history and archaeology at Columbia University, art historian/curator Jones has shed light on contemporary art of African lineage. Through exhibitions and scholarly research, she has helped bring the work of Martin Puryear, David Hammons and others to the general public. Advertisement Subhash Khot, 38, New York. A professor of computer science at New York University, Khot works to understand the possible limitations of computing. His discoveries have both theoretical and practical implications, the latter concerning how election systems function. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Josh Kun, 45, Los Angeles. A professor of communication at the University of Southern California, Kun draws knowledge from the artifacts of popular culture. Album covers, menus, sheet music and other items have inspired his writings and exhibitions. Maggie Nelson, 43, Valencia, Calif. Writer Nelson serves on the faculty of the California Institute of the Arts. Much of her work, articulated in five nonfiction books, has been inspired by feminist and queer theory and other schools of thought. Dianne Newman, 44, Pasadena, Calif. The microbiologist, a professor of biology and geobiology at the California Institute of Technology, studies how bacteria influenced the course of life on Earth and continues to do so. Her work carries implications for treatment of cystic fibrosis and other diseases. Victoria Orphan, 44, Pasadena, Calif. A professor of environmental science and geobiology at the California Institute of Technology, Orphan studies how micro-organisms at the seabed draw energy from methane gas. This work deepens our knowledge of how the planet's climate functions. Advertisement Manu Prakash, 36, Stanford, Calif. An assistant professor in the department of bioengineering at Stanford University, physical biologist Prakash researches how various life forms work. He also has invented devices that open up scientific investigation for those with limited funds, such as a lightweight microscope that costs less than a dollar to make. Jose A. Quinonez, 45, San Francisco. The founder and CEO of Mission Asset Fund in San Francisco, Quinonez has created methods for those locked out of the financial system to build and obtain credit. This includes people from low-income, minority and immigrant families. Claudia Rankine, 53, New Haven, Conn. A professor of poetry at Yale University, Rankine writes poems, essays and lectures confronting personal issues, as well as the racial angst of our times. Her innovative use of language drives much of this work. Lauren Redniss, 42, New York. An assistant professor of illustration at the New School's Parsons School for Design, artist-writer Redniss creates unconventional books that interweave text, typeface, layout and design to tell their stories. Her subject matter ranges widely, from the tale of a Ziegfeld Follies performer in "Century Girl" to the tempestuousness of weather in "Thunder and Lightning." Mary Reid Kelley, 37, Olivebridge, N.Y. A multifaceted artist, Reid Kelley writes, designs and performs in her videos. Various storytelling techniques converge in her narratives, which draw upon mythology, history and imagination. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, 52, Houston. A professor in the department of bioengineering at Rice University, Richards-Kortum has helped create low-cost medical technologies that aid societies in impoverished places around the world. These include methods for diagnosing cancers. Advertisement Joyce J. Scott, 67, Baltimore. From a distance, the pieces created by jewelry maker and sculptor Scott appear decorative. At close range, they carry messages about sexism, racism and violence. Sarah Stillman, 32, New York. A staff writer at The New Yorker magazine, Stillman specializes in long-form journalism. Her extensive pieces have taken on subjects such as the poor conditions suffered by laborers serving the American military in foreign countries and the dangers that youthful police informants endure. Bill Thies, 38, Bangalore, India. The computer scientist invents ways to render various technologies available to developing communities in India. These include methods for making social media available to those with limited tools and helping individuals monitor their consumption of medicine, thereby slowing the spread of disease. Julia Wolfe, 57, New York. An associate professor of music composition at New York University, Wolfe creates musical works that draw on a vast range of idioms. Classical, folkloric, rock and other musical languages converge in her compositions. Gene Luen Yang, 43, San Jose, Calif. The graphic novelist/cartoonist takes on a broad range of topics. He has told many stories from a Chinese-American perspective, creating, for instance, inspirational Asian superheroes. Jin-Quan Yu, 50, La Jolla, Calif. A professor in the department of chemistry at Scripps Research Institute, Yu has done groundbreaking work in developing innovative chemical compounds. Advertisement Howard Reich is a Chicago Tribune critic. hreich@chicagotribune.com Twitter @howardreich RELATED STORIES: MacArthur Foundation has $100 million for a problem solver 10 things you might not know about geniuses Advertisement MacArthur directs millions to Chicago arts groups Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Cesar Millan, better known as the Dog Whisperer, comes to Chicago with son Andre to shoot footage for a new TV series (AP Photo/Richard Vogel/File) Cesar Millan, the dog behavioralist better known as The Dog Whisperer, comes to Chicago this weekend with his son, Andre, to film scenes for a new TV series. According to the website cesarandson.com, the Millans are "road-tripping across America in search of dogs and their humans who need their expertise. From problem pooches to canine heroes to issues affecting local canine communities, Cesar's new show is hitting the road to help you." Advertisement The pair is reportedly scheduled to appear is the South Side All Breed Dog Training Club and Southeast Chicago Dog Park Committee 10th Annual Dog Fest on Saturday at Calumet Park from noon-4 p.m. Called "Cesar Millan's Dog Nation," the series is also filming in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. Millan's current series on Nat Geo Wild is "Cesar 911," the next episode of which airs 8 p.m. Friday. Advertisement Per the casting notice for "Dog Nation": MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR "At the event Cesar will be working with a number of local dogs (and their owners) that have common, every day problems. These are dogs that pull on the leash like crazy, jump all over people in an over-excited manner, rush their food, or are obsessed with a ball or a toy. We are also looking for funny or quirky issues. "Cesar will work the dog and the owner in front of a live audience so the audience can see transformation take place right before the eyes. We are looking for 10-12 dogs to come to a dog selection where we will decide which 5 dogs would be best fit for TV and the live show format. Those that aren't selected still get to meet Cesar and take a photo with him." For more information about Dog Fest 2016, go here. nmetz@chicagotribune.com Twitter @Nina_Metz RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Watch Stephen Colbert recall throwing hot dogs at Chicago partygoers 'Hamilton' star Lin-Manuel Miranda's Chicago visit already includes a stop at Rick Bayless' Topolobampo Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Do you consider yourself visually intelligent? (And no, eyesight has nothing to do with it.) Amy Herman's book "Visual Intelligence" will make you think twice about answering in the affirmative. In it, art historian Herman discusses using art to help people improve their observation and communication skills. She features art of naked women with breasts sagging on their stomachs and sculptures made from urinals and makes you look at Monet's paintings and Michelangelo's David in new ways to learn how to see. Advertisement She's been doing so for the likes of first responders, intelligence operatives, Fortune 500 CEOs, students and civil servants for the last 14 years under her Art of Perception program the impetus for "Visual Intelligence." The book focuses on the mechanics of how we see the way we see, and the science of perception. "We act as if there is only one true way to see. Our brains can only see so much and can process even less," Herman said. "I'm trying to use art as the great equalizer to point this out to people, so that they are receptive to the fact that we see things differently, literally and figuratively. Everything from our inherited biology to our learned biases influences the way we take in the world. Not only do we, as individuals, observe, notice and gather information differently, we also perceive what we've gathered differently." Advertisement Some ways perception can hinder us: tunnel vision, or seeing what we want to see; functional fixedness, or the habit of seeing things from only one perspective. And "willful blindness," to denote the things we choose, even unconsciously, not to see. "Perceptual filters are a product of our upbringing, education, associations, experiences making us see things a certain way," Herman said. Herman teaches people how to notice their "seeing" weaknesses and rise above them on a daily basis to improve their lives. "It's seeing versus observing," Herman said. "Technically, biologically, we can wire our brains to see better; that's where art comes in. Art provides exercises that improve one's attention and memory, both of which are integral to observation skills." Herman says observation can be mastered with practice and developed by cultivating the habit of watching things with an active, inquiring mind. She offers these tips for seeing and communicating better: Say what you see, not what you think. Don't rely on technology. "No matter how helpful technology has become, it is no match for a good set of eyes and a brain," Herman says. Don't mistake biases for facts; instead use them to find facts. Always ask questions, especially of yourself. To crystallize your communication, assume that person you are communicating with can't see what you're seeing at all. Use objective words when communicating (such as numbers, colors, sounds, materials, location). Advertisement Gather what facts you can by looking at both the big picture and the small details, step back, consider other perspectives, analyze, prioritize, ask questions, and communicate clearly and concisely. Amy Herman helps law enforcement and medical experts learn how to observe better. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) "There's a lot of data out there, but we have to call our attention to it," Herman said. "If you simply engage all your senses, they will deliver everything you need and more. Your brain is more powerful than any gadget. Just turn it back on." Herman, former head of education for The Frick Collection in New York, is on a mission to open the eyes of as many people as possible. The former lawyer has opened the eyes of members of the Chicago Police Department, The New York Police Department, and FBI and CIA agents doing surveillance. She's taught those in the military sector, IRS, DEA and financial institutions. Her perception prowess has been called invaluable by the Department of Defense. "People say, what do cops need to learn about art? But cops aren't learning about art I'm helping cops do their jobs more effectively by learning to see things differently. It's not rocket science, but it's resonating in a way that I would never have imagined," Herman said. "I realized everybody needs this on a base level." Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg, former general counsel for the Chicago Police Department, has taken Herman's class a number of times. She says the class is often referred to as "useful, interesting and fun." "After my course, I'll have people tell me, "I need to go back to my crime scene photos. I was looking at them one way, and now I realize there's a whole other way to look at this," Herman said. Advertisement "When you look at a crime and there's a problem that won't go away or a case you can't solve, it's a skill to know you should go back and look at it from a different perspective to get results," Mecklenburg said. According to Herman, when you tap into your visual intelligence, you are transformed into a super sleuth, a case cracker and a guardian angel all in one. And she should know. Using her perception skills, she helped Washington, D.C., police stop a prostitution ring that had been operating out of the hotel where she was staying. But you'll have to read the book to get those details. RELATED STORIES: Up for auction: Al Capone letter to son shows his 'human side' Working women: Speak up. Say no. And other tips from 'Feminist Fight Club' Suicide among young children particularly black children merits our full attention You don't need the skills of a filmmaker to make a video compilation of your travel photos and videos. What: Animoto Video Maker app lets you upload your photos and videos, pick a style to personalize your story, set it to music and add narration or title cards to complete it. Advertisement Available: In the App Store, requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Cost: Free to download, with multiple in-app purchases. Basic monthly subscription for $4.99 a month (or $29.99 a year); personal subscription for $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year. Advertisement Animoto app - Original Credit: (Animoto) What's hot: This video-maker app is surprisingly fast. The app really connects with amateurs but offers enough customization, so that your video appears quite professional. You can also edit from your computer (instead of the app), which might be easier if you're using more features. A help center on its website, www.animoto.com, can assist with troubleshooting or advice. What's not: I would've liked at least one short video-editing session as a trial. I authorized the $4.99-a-month fee, but it's on me to remember to cancel the service if I don't want to continue. Note: After I started the process through the app, I found a free watermarked trial period through the website. Jen Leo is a freelancer. RELATED STORIES: Route 66: A song for the next generation of road-trippers America's favorite mountain towns For $805 a night at the Trump Hotel, you deserve what you get Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts wears a hat supporting Hillary Clinton at Wrigley Field on Sept. 21, 2016. Some in the Ricketts family opposed Donald Trump in the GOP primaries, but recently the patriarch has pleged $1 million to Trump. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) Hmm ... it's no secret that the billionaire Chicago Cubs-owning Ricketts family has divided political loyalties, but daughter Laura Ricketts seemed to be sending a strong message to the world with her choice of headgear at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night. Just days after reports that her father, TD Ameritrade founder Joseph Ricketts, will donate $1 million to help elect Donald Trump as president, Laura Ricketts sat in a prime seat behind home plate for the Cubs victory over the Cincinnati Reds sporting a Hillary Clinton cap. Advertisement Surrounded by fans in Cubbie ballcaps, her message was hard to ignore. The conservative wing of the Ricketts family had originally helped bankroll a major but doomed advertising campaign earlier this year that attempted to derail Trump's bid for the Republican nomination. Advertisement That campaign prompted Trump to warn the Ricketts on Twitter, "they better be careful, they have a lot to hide!" Though the Ricketts harrumphed at that threat earlier in the summer, it emerged Tuesday that they will donate $1 million to help elect him. Joseph Ricketts' son Pete Ricketts is the Republican governor of Nebraska who endorsed Trump in May. But Laura Ricketts, who's been active in Democratic fundraising for years, showed her support for Hillary Clinton by hosting her at a fundraiser at her Wilmette home in July. Laura Ricketts didn't return a call for comment on her Hillary ballcap. Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts wears a hat supporting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on Sept. 21, 2016. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) Her brother who is the Cubs' chairman, Tom Ricketts, has kept his politics closer to his vest, though he has strenuously denied that he bears a striking resemblance to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Nevermind the Ricketts' Thanksgiving, seating arrangements for the playoffs at Wrigley could prove interesting. kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews A marquee at the American City Diner in Washington, D.C., advertises the opportunity to watch the upcoming presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA) Are there rules in a knife fight? I wouldn't know, and I hope you don't, either, but we must have some good, reasonable rules for the Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton cage match Monday night. Advertisement Some 100 million people could be watching meaning at least 50 million deplorable people will have access to TV. And the fate of the world as we know it will be in the balance as Hillary and Donald entertain us with theatrics and bizarre facial expressions. Advertisement But what are the rules? Don't worry. I've crafted a few for candidates, journalists, and any vulgarians in the audience who insist on shouting, "Woooo!" The first rule: "Candidates may not sigh and roll their eyes as if they're in seventh grade, except during commercial breaks." If you don't stop candidates from sighing, they'll just keep on doing it and ruin the country. But we will let them call each other names. They've been doing that for months anyway. And what happens to those who willfully disobey our rules? That's why cattle prods were invented. Just a touch and you become compliant, like a visit from the IRS to your house of worship. Since journalists are in such low esteem these days, my next rule must govern my brother and sister colleagues: "Henceforth, any journalist (and that includes TV types who do cute animal stories), shall not promote any so-called debate drinking games features for broadcast or print. "Any journalist crafting a 'debate drinking game' story shall be touched a few times with a cattle prod on the leg, so that they'll really feel the tingle." Advertisement Or maybe on the behind or wrists. Perhaps a few good jabs on the back of the neck will do because I just cannot abide public drinking game stories. Especially drinking games with anyone who drinks Malort and thinks you should too. Yes, I am a journalist and support the First Amendment and all, but Americans should not be encouraged to join "drinking games." This inevitably leads to fistfights, bawdy behavior, hooliganism, unforgivable tweets and unwanted pregnancies. And the last thing we need is 100 million drunks analyzing the debate and fighting about which candidate had the better hair and which had the worst Aleppo moment and which candidate didn't really stare off into space for 30 seconds as if locked in a trance. To anyone who has watched three minutes of TV news lately, it should be obvious that Americans can't be trusted to know what they've just seen with their own eyes. That's why journalists are needed. So please, let journalists do their jobs! We have bills too. If you must drink, at least pick something decent, like 18-year-old single malt scotch, neat. But please do so in the privacy of your own home, or out on your deck while live streaming the rhetorical carnage. That way you can enjoy a fine Nicaraguan cigar, get buzzed, scream loud epithets at the moderators and frighten the heck out of your dog. That's what I plan on doing. Advertisement Another thing about bad presidential debate behavior is the rowdy audience that always tries to influence public opinion with their stupid cheerleading. Don't you hate that? Me too. The TV anchor/moderator is never stern enough and just mouths the words of admonition quickly, like those warnings on pharmaceutical commercials telling you the medicine will cure your rash, but it might also persuade you to go postal at work. Nobody in the debate crowd listens, and they jeer and jabber and clap in tribal fashion. The best solution is to not have an audience. But TV is all about money and buzz, so they'll pack them in, and the audience will invariably violate the rules. What really gets me is that some audience members will do that screechy, high pitched "woooo!" thing that I really, really hate. So I've got a rule for this too. Beginning Monday, as per my decree, the presidential debate audience will sit virtually naked wearing only swim suits for modesty in a large Plexiglas bowl like the kind once reserved for killer whales. Several fire hydrants will be attached to the audience bowl. The near-naked audience will then be strapped, and locked, into their chairs with a timer that won't release them until after the debate. And if anyone says anything, anything at all, or makes the slightest sound, the water level in their audience bowl will instantly rise a foot. One "wooo," and it's 2 feet. Advertisement If one side blames the other side for making the "wooo!" sound, the water will rise another 2 feet. Eventually it would become extremely quiet. It's hard to "wooo!" with your lungs full of water. Now, back to the Golden Rule for the candidates. What gets me is the sighing thing made infamous by Vice President Al Gore in his debate against the Supreme Court's favorite, George Bush, who won the Supreme Court election. The history of the Gore-Bush election is quite complicated, involving that "Electoral College" business Democrats wanted to abolish, though now they like it just fine. But what's simple is that Gore's sighing might just have cost him critical votes in his home state of Tennessee, which he lost. He should have known better, rolling his eyes and all, like a despairing child told by mom that he can't go to the mall. Americans don't want a president who sighs all the time. It's not a president's job to sigh. That's the people's job. Because no matter how this one turns out, we'll all be sighing, won't we? Listen to "The Chicago Way" radio free Chicago in podcast form with John Kass and Jeff Carlin at www.chicagotribune.com/kasspodcast. Advertisement jskass@chicagotribune.com Twitter @John_Kass Attorney Rhonda Crawford talks about what she did and did not do while filling in as a judge. She speaks at her attormey's office in Chicago on Sept. 22, 2016. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) The law clerk accused of posing as a Cook County judge spoke publicly about the episode for the first time Thursday, saying that a judge in the courthouse urged her to don her judge's robe and sit in her chair as part of her "shadowing" process as she ran for an open seat on the bench. Rhonda Crawford, who had won the March primary for a seat on the 1st Judicial Subcircuit, said that while she appreciated the chance to sit in the judge's chair and learn, she regretted her actions and the distraction that she caused for the county's court system. Advertisement "The judge stood over me the entire time, while she decided the last three cases on her court call. I was always under the direction of the judge," Crawford said of Judge Valarie Turner during a news conference at her lawyer's downtown office. "As it relates to what I did not do, I did not decide any cases. I did not pronounce any judgments. I did not hand any court papers to the courtroom clerk. I did not sign my name to any judicial orders." Turner, who has not spoken about the incident, could not be reached for comment. A defiant Crawford said she would continue her campaign and still hoped to become a judge. Advertisement "Let me be clear," she said, "I intend to run for the office. I do not intend to withdraw my name from the ballot." Crawford did not take questions, but her statement that she did not decide cases was at odds with the description of the episode that Chief Judge Timothy Evans has provided. Evans, for whom Crawford worked as a $57,000-a-year law clerk/staff attorney, has said Crawford "adjudicated" at least three traffic cases. Those cases were later reheard by a real judge, and they were dismissed during hearings. Although a spokesman for Evans attended Crawford's news conference, he said that the judge would make no further comment. A Cook County sheriff's deputy who worked in the courtroom, a 28-year veteran named Mario Lozano, also appeared to contradict Crawford's account. Lozano said in an Aug. 12 memo to his supervisor that Crawford had "proceeded to finish" Turner's court cases. Evans responded to the episode by firing Crawford and reassigning Turner to administrative duties, such as conducting weddings. He also apparently notified the state agencies that oversee and discipline lawyers and judges so they could review Crawford's and Turner's conduct. The state's attorney's office, meanwhile, began a criminal investigation that could lead to charges, and that inquiry is ongoing, Sally Daly, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office, said Thursday. Daly declined further comment on the investigation. Crawford, a lawyer since 2003 and an employee in Evans' office since 2011, had been working in the south suburban Markham courthouse since 2015. She said she had long wanted to become a judge, and after winning a primary for an open seat in the 1st Judicial Subcircuit, she began shadowing judges. "I wanted to see what they did and learn about the process of being a judge," she said in her statement, adding that she wanted to be transparent about what she had done. Advertisement She said that she put on Turner's robe and sat in her chair at Turner's urging. Turner, Crawford said, stood over her "the entire time." "I was always under the direction of the judge ... She never left the bench," Crawford said. Crawford won the primary election against two opponents and, until Wednesday, was running unopposed in the November general election. Judge Maryam Ahmad, based in the west suburban Maywood courthouse, will wage a write-in campaign against Crawford. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners had determined that Ahmad could not run against Crawford because she had lost in a primary already this year. But a judge ruled Wednesday that Ahmad's primary loss did not disqualify her from the race for the bench. Crawford acknowledged the episode had created a problem. "Now of course I regret the day it happened," Crawford said in her statement. "I allowed my respect for the judge, and my enthusiasm to learn the procedures of being a judge, to become a distraction to others and to my own lifelong ambition of being on the bench. It is a lesson I will never forget." Advertisement smmills@chicagotribune.com tlighty@chicagotribune.com Twitter @smmills1960 Twitter @tlighty Ernest DeCarlos Starks, 42, is wanted on a warrant from Peoria County on child pornography and aggravated criminal sexual assault charges. (Peoria Police Department) Police are asking for the public's help finding a registered sex offender from Peoria who's known to spend time in the Englewood neighborhood and who's wanted on child pornography and sex assault charges. Police obtained a warrant for the arrest of Ernest DeCarlos Starks, 42, in Peoria County Circuit Court on Tuesday, according to court records. Starks was convicted in a 2005 case involving the aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 16-year-old child when Starks was 37, and was convicted in a 2011 case of a separate charge of sexual abuse of a child younger than age 13, according to the state sex offender registry and court records. Advertisement Peoria detectives obtained the search warrant after conducting a sexual assault and child pornography investigation, according to information posted by Peoria and Chicago police via social media. Starks is a registered sexual predator and is known to spend time in the Englewood neighborhood, according to police. Starks is described as a black man with a dark complexion, with black hair and tattoos on both arms. He is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 280 pounds. Advertisement Starks may be driving a gray 2005 Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix, according to police. Police consider Starks armed and dangerous and warn people not to approach him, but to instead call 911, Peoria police at 309-673-4521 or Peoria Crime Stoppers, 309-673-9000. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. As a result of the operations conducted by the Pre-Clearance Control Department of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, a number of cases of drug trafficking were prevented. Overall, over 140 gram drugs were found. A significant part of drug trafficking attempts were prevented at Meghri customs office. The authors of drug trafficking are mainly citizens of Iran, press service of the Committee informed Armenpress. Chicago police said they are questioning a person of interest two weeks after a device resembling a camera was found in a staff restroom at an elementary school on the Near North Side. Police released no other details, but the principal of the Ogden International School said in a letter to parents that charges were pending. "I'm sending this update to not only inform you of the arrest, but to also ask you to prepare for when charges are filed," Michael Beyer wrote. "As further details are revealed, there may be questions around those who may have been personally impacted." The device was discovered Sept. 7 in a staff restroom on the third floor of the school's East Campus, 24 W. Walton St. In a previous letter to parents, Beyer said a school employee was removed shortly after the device was found. It was not known if that person is being questioned by police. Neither police nor the school has said what exactly the device was, other than it resembled a camera. Beyer did tell parents that it was "not designed to send information, so we are confident that no images were transmitted by the device." Beyer said school security conducted a sweep of both school buildings and found nothing else. In his latest letter to parents, Beyer said "we have taken every step possible to ensure that this type of incident does not occur again." Three boys ages 12, 15 and 16 are accused of sexual assault during a home invasion on the Far South Side, police said. The attack happened about 11 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the 9600 block of South Prairie Avenue in the Rosemoor neighborhood, police said. Advertisement The boys were taken into custody and charged with home invasion and aggravated criminal sexual assault, both felonies, police said. No details of the attack were released. The 16-year-old was also charged with receiving or possessing a stolen vehicle, police said. Advertisement The 12-year-old was arrested at his home Wednesday, but the other boys were taken into custody last week. A former longtime Chicago-area high school teacher was expected to be released from Cook County Jail pending a trial on child pornography possession charges after a judge agreed to reduce his bond Wednesday. Ronald Hornish, 60, of Chicago, was charged in August with five counts of felony possession of child pornography and ordered held on $200,000 bond. But in Skokie branch court Wednesday, Judge Jeffrey Warnick agreed to reduce Hornish's bond to $70,000 at the request of his defense attorney, Michael Baker, and over objections of prosecutors. Advertisement In newly revealed details on the investigation into Hornish, a prosecutor said Wednesday that authorities found on a computer in Hornish's home "hundreds of images depicting acts of sexual abuse and exposure" that appeared to involved subjects under the age of 18. Some of the children depicted appeared to be under the age of 10, the prosecutor said. Hornish was ultimately charged with possessing five images of alleged child porn after the Federal Bureau of Investigation matched them to known minors between the ages of 13 and 18 years old, the prosecutor said. Advertisement Authorities said the investigation began in March on Hornish's first day as a substitute teacher at Evanston Township High School. A student found an unattended cellphone at the school and, while looking through it to try to discern its owner, discovered what appeared to be sexually explicit images depicting children. School officials learned the phone belonged to Hornish and alerted local police, officials said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > In court Wednesday, Hornish's attorney indicated that, before he began substitute teaching at various districts in the region, Hornish had a long career as a Chicago-area educator. A spokeswoman for Community High School District 99 confirmed that Hornish was a music teacher at Downers Grove South High School from 2000 until November 2011, when she said he was laid off as part of a reduction in force resulting from declining enrollment. A LinkedIn page appearing to belong to Hornish also indicated he previously taught at Morton West High School in Berwyn and more recently worked as a self-employed musician and private instructor. The District 99 spokeswoman said school officials received no reports of inappropriate contact with students involving Hornish, either during his years at the district or since his arrest in August following a monthslong investigation. A prosecutor said Wednesday that none of the images found in Hornish's possession appeared to depict any of his students. In arguing against a bond reduction for Hornish, prosecutors said he attempted to elude police multiple times during the investigation. Baker disputed that, saying Hornish was hospitalized several times during the investigation. Baker said Hornish does not have a prior criminal record, did not flee from police and was arrested without incident. Baker said Hornish "has been an educator his entire life" and suffers from several mental and physical health conditions, including congestive heart failure. Following the court hearing Wednesday, Baker said his client was still in custody but anticipated he would be released on bond soon. If he's released while he awaits trial, Hornish must submit to electronic monitoring and cannot use the internet or have contact with anyone under 18. He is due back in court on Oct. 27. Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter. Chicago police investigate a shooting in the 5100 block of South Honore Street that left one man wounded on Sept. 21, 2016. (Elvia Malagon / Chicago Tribune) The identities of two men killed early Wednesday in separate shootings on the South Side were released Thursday. A man killed following a confrontation in the Back of the Yards neighborhood was identified as Bruce E. Smith, 51, who was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday at Stroger Hospital after being shot in the 5100 block of South Honore Street, where he lived. Advertisement The man had been shot after he had an argument with someone around 12:35 a.m. Wednesday, police said. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest, the medical examiner's office determined following an autopsy. The man was one of three people killed in shootings in Chicago early Wednesday. The medical examiner's office on Thursday released the identity of the older of two men killed in a shootout early Wednesday in the West Pullman neighborhood. The man was identified as Miguel Williams, 34, of the 7700 block of South Greenwood Avenue, according to the office. Advertisement The shootout happened in front of a bowling alley in the 12300 block of South Halsted Street just after 12:40 a.m. Wednesday. The 34-year-old man was in an SUV when he began firing at a 28-year-old man standing on the street, police said. The older man was shot in the head and was found by officers at a gas station in the 700 block of East 111th Street, police said. The SUV's windows were shot out and a man could be seen slumped over in the backseat. The younger man was shot in the chest. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Williams was pronounced dead at 1:06 a.m. Wednesday at the scene. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest, the office determined following an autopsy. The second man's next of kin have not been officially notified of his death, so information on his identity was not being released by the medical examiner's office. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A third night of protests over a fatal police shooting in Charlotte gave way to quiet streets as a curfew enacted by the city's mayor ended early Friday. The largely peaceful Thursday night demonstrations in the city's business district, watched over by rifle-toting members of the National Guard, called on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of a black man earlier this week. The family of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was shown the footage Thursday of his fatal shooting and demanded that police release it to the public. Demonstrators chanted "release the tape" and "we want the tape" Thursday while briefly blocking an intersection near Bank of America headquarters and later climbing the steps to the door of the city government center. Later, several dozen demonstrators walked onto an interstate highway through the city, but they were pushed back by police in riot gear. Still, the protests lacked the violence and property damage of previous nights, and the curfew encouraged a stopping point. Local officers' ranks were augmented by Guard members carrying rifles and guarding office buildings against the threat of property damage. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night to be in effect from midnight until 6 a.m. each day that the state of emergency declared by the governor continues. After the curfew took effect, police allowed the crowd of demonstrators to thin without forcing them off the street. Police Capt. Mike Campagna told reporters that officers would not seek to arrest curfew violators as long as they were peaceful. So far, police have resisted releasing police dashcam and body camera footage of Scott's death. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Thursday that releasing the footage of Scott's killing could undermine the investigation. He told reporters the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so. "You shouldn't expect it to be released," Putney said. "I'm not going to jeopardize the investigation." Charlotte is the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Missouri. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday, prosecutors charged a white officer with manslaughter for killing an unarmed black man on a city street last week. Protests in Charlotte turned violent Wednesday as demonstrators attacked reporters and others, set fires and smashed windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants in the city's bustling business district. Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital Thursday; city officials said police did not shoot the man and no arrests have been made in 26-year-old Justin Carr's death. Police have said Scott was shot to death Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded repeated warnings to drop his gun. Neighbors, though, have said he was holding only a book. The police chief said a gun was found next to the dead man, and there was no book. Putney said he has seen the video and it does not contain "absolute, definitive evidence that would confirm that a person was pointing a gun." But he added: "When taken in the totality of all the other evidence, it supports what we said." Justin Bamberg, an attorney for Scott's family, watched the video with the slain man's relatives. He said that in the video, Scott gets out of his vehicle calmly. "While police did give him several commands, he did not aggressively approach them or raise his hands at members of law enforcement at any time. It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands," Bamberg said in a statement. Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg said. The lawyer said at a news conference earlier in the day that Scott's wife saw him get shot, "and that's something she will never, ever forget." That is the first time anyone connected with the case has said the wife witnessed the shooting. Bamberg gave no details on what the wife saw. The police chief acknowledged that he has promised transparency in the investigation, but said, "I'm telling you right now, if you think I say we should display a victim's worst day for consumption, that is not the transparency I'm speaking of." Associated Press The footage lasted for an agonizing 45 seconds. Captured by CCTV on Tuesday in the streets of Burari, in North Delhi, it began with a man dragging a woman along the sidewalk before throwing her to the pavement. Advertisement He pulled out a single blade from a pair of scissors and stabbed her with tremendous force. Then he continued to stab her again and again. At one point, he paused to kick her in the head. Advertisement As the man continued to stab the young woman, who was writhing in pain in clear view of every passerby, several people wandered by. Some ignored the scene entirely, while others glanced over and kept walking. One man in a backpack and another man stuck around, waving their hands helplessly in the air. At one point, a person on a motorbike stopped and seemed to speak to the attacker as he continued stabbing the woman. But by then, the woman had stopped writhing. She was still. No one took any action to stop the horror, according to the graphic video, which can be found here. Within seconds, everyone wandered off, leaving the woman's body to lie along the street. In all, she was stabbed 22 times, according to the Indian Express, though some outlets reported that number to be as high as 30. The woman's name was Karuna Kumar, and Indian media outlets report her age as 21 or 22. The alleged attacker is 34-year-old Aditya Malik, who also goes by Surender Singh, according to the Indian Express. After the attack, the man fled the scene but was finally accosted by several bystanders who held him down until police arrived. By then it was too late. The woman was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Violence against women is a major problem in India, and it's getting worse, by all accounts, with more than 800 women per day harassed, raped or killed. Advertisement Police said the man had stalked Karuna for a year before the attack, and she was well aware of it. "The accused had been troubling the victim for at least one year," Deputy Police Commissioner Madhur Verma told the Indian Express. "He committed the brazen attack when the victim was heading towards the Novel Reaches School, where she had been working as a teacher for the last four months." The two had met about a year and a half earlier at computer classes taught by the man. Karuna, aspiring to be a schoolteacher, had signed up. At the time, her father, Naresh, had planned to marry her to someone from his ancestral village in the state of Uttar Pradesh. But the man was interested, Karuna's family said. "Surender treated her like a regular student for the first few years, but was [attempting to force] her to marry him these past one and a half years," Karuna's aunt Chandrawati told the Times of India. "Her family asked her to discontinue with the computer classes after this." After she did and rejected his proposal, he allegedly began stalking her, according to another relative, Nagesh, who spoke with the New Indian Express. Advertisement "After Karuna refused his proposal, he started following her," Nagesh said. "She complained to his father about Surender advances." Then, in May, the man attacked her with the jagged edge of a beer bottle after following her to a metro station, the Times of India reported. "He accused her of posing for a photograph with his friend and threatened to kill her," Karuna's uncle Vina told the Times of India. "Karuna had tried to reason it out with Surender, but he was adamant." Karuna went to the Burari police but, according to the Times of India, the man's relatives intervened before the police took action. "Karuna's parents filed [a] police complaint against Surender. After which Surender and his parents apologized for his behavior and requested to withdraw police complaint," Nagesh told the New Indian Express. According to Nagesh, the police complaint was withdrawn on Surender's parents' request. Advertisement They promised that he would stop stalking the girl. But on Tuesday, he found her alone and, with one blade from a pair of scissors, killed her, police said. "I have seen the video and people are standing as mute spectators," Delhi's deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, told the Indian Express. "One or two people tried to come forward but no one helped finally. We have to introspect as a society. Criminals do not have fear of the police." Dolly Bindra, an Indian actress living in Mumbai, posted this to Facebook: "21 year old karuna girl was killed in broad daylight stabbed 20 times it's a shame to all of us that we who was present there watching and not helping and today the girl is no more stalked by this man now why waste time we all have seen him killing on news via cctv footage hang this guy now what investigation now it's over girl is killed, dead kill this guy now need not waste a minute. Kill him. Now hang him openly now in front of all public the way he stabbed the girl Others expressed anger with India's police. Advertisement Police say they have ordered a preliminary investigation into the man. According to the Indian Express, Karuna was the third woman attacked by a stalker in 48 hours in Delhi, India's capital city. A 25-year-old was thrown from a building after being followed, and a 28-year-old was fatally stabbed at least 10 times. DAMASCUS, Syria President Bashar Assad rejected U.S. accusations that Syrian or Russian planes struck an aid convoy in Aleppo or that his troops were preventing food from entering the city's rebel-held eastern neighborhoods, blaming the U.S. for the collapse of a cease-fire many had hoped would bring relief to the war-ravaged country. In an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus, Assad also said deadly U.S. airstrikes on Syrian troops last week were intentional, dismissing American officials' statements that they were an accident. Assad said the U.S. lacked "the will" to join forces with Russia in fighting extremists. A full interview transcript can be found here. Assad, who inherited power from his father and is now in his 16th year in office, cut a confident figure during the interview a sign of how his rule, which once seemed threatened by the rebellion, has been solidified by his forces' military advances and by the air campaign of his ally Russia, which turned the tables on the battlefield last year. He said his enemies alone were to blame for nearly six years of devastation across Syria, and while acknowledging some mistakes, he repeatedly denied any excesses by his troops. He said the war was only likely to "drag on" because of continued external support for his opponents "When you have many external factors that you don't control, it's going to drag on and no one in this world can tell you when" the war will end, he said, insisting Syrians who fled the country could return within a few months if the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar stopped backing insurgents. He spoke Wednesday in Damascus' Muhajireen palace, a white-stone building where he often receives guests, nestled among trees on the foothills of Qasioun Mountain. The Syrian capital, seat of Assad's power, has stayed relatively untouched throughout the conflict, spared the devastation inflicted on other, opposition-held areas of the country. In recent months, Assad's forces have taken rebel strongholds in suburbs of the capital, bolstering security and reducing the threat of mortar shells. Advertisement A United Nations humanitarian aid convoy in Syria was hit by airstrikes on Sept. 19, 2016, as the Syrian military declared that a U.S.-Russian brokered cease-fire had failed, and U.N. officials reported many dead and seriously wounded. (Aleppo 24 news) The attack on the aid convoy outside Aleppo took place Monday night, hitting a warehouse as aid workers unloaded cargo and triggering huge explosions. Footage filmed by rescuers showed torn flesh being picked from the wreckage. Witnesses described a sustained, two-hour barrage that included barrel bombs crude, unguided explosives that the Syrian government drops from helicopters. A senior U.S. administration official said the U.S. believes with a very high degree of confidence that a Russian-piloted aircraft carried out the strike. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and asked for anonymity. Assad dismissed the claims, saying whatever American officials say "has no credibility" and is "just lies." Like Syria, Russia has denied carrying out the convoy bombing. Syria and the United States have been at loggerheads since the Sept. 17 U.S. airstrike last week that hit Syrian troops in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. U.S. officials said the attack its first direct hit on Syrian forces since the civil war began was accidental and that the warplanes thought they were targeting Islamic State group positions. Russia said the strikes killed more than 60 Syrian troops, and afterward, IS militants briefly overran government positions in the area until they were beaten back. Assad said he did not believe the American account and said that attack targeted a "huge" area constituting of many hills. "It wasn't an accident by one airplane... It was four airplanes that kept attacking the position of the Syrian troops for nearly one hour, or a little bit more than one hour," Assad said in the interview. "You don't commit a mistake for more than one hour." "How could they (IS) know that the Americans are going to attack that position in order to gather their militants to attack right away and to capture it one hour after the strike?" Assad asked. "So it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed." Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power share a quick word during a Security Council Meetingon on the situation in Syria on Sept. 21, 2016, at the U.N. in New York. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images) The strikes contributed to the collapse of the cease-fire, which had already been marred by numerous violations on both sides of the conflict. They also cast serious doubt on chances for implementing an unprecedented U.S.-Russian agreement to jointly target militants in the country. Assad said the United States lacked the will to work with Russia against extremists in Syria. "I don't believe the United States will be ready to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria," he said. Despite extensive evidence to the contrary, Assad repeatedly denied that his forces were besieging opposition-held eastern Aleppo, which has become a symbol both of resistance and also the high price civilians are paying in the war. He flatly denied claims of malnutrition and a chronic lack of medical supplies. "If there's really a siege around the city of Aleppo, people would have been dead by now," Assad said, asking how rebels were able to smuggle in arms but apparently not food or medicine. The ancient city, now partly destroyed, has been carved out into rebel and government-controlled areas since 2012. Rebel reinforcements broke a hole in the blockade in August. But in heavy bombardment over the following weeks, more than 700 civilians were killed. Earlier this month, Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes retook the roads and the siege resumed. Since then, the U.N. has accused Assad's government of obstructing aid access to the city, despite an agreement to allow aid in during the weeklong cease-fire. During the brief cease-fire, trucks carrying aid sat idle by the nearby Turkish border, awaiting permits and safety guarantees. Throughout the conflict, Assad's forces have been accused of bombing hospitals and civilians and choking opposition cities. Millions have fled Syria, some of them drowning at sea in the Mediterranean. Migrants from Libya and Syria gesture from their boat during a rescue operation by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO on Sept. 21, 2016, in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya. Rescuers plucked 210 migrants trying to reach Europe from the water after their three wooden boats ran into trouble. (Ricardo Garcia Vilanova / AFP/Getty Images) The war has been defined by gruesome photos and video posted in the aftermath of bloody attacks or documenting the plight of children in particular. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and once thriving cities have been ravaged, with entire blocks reduced to rubble. The images have galvanized public opinion worldwide -- but Assad, while acknowledging that the war had been 'savage,' said eyewitness accounts should not be automatically believed. "Those witnesses only appear when there's an accusation against the Syrian army or the Russian (army), but when the terrorists commit a crime or massacre or anything, you don't see any witnesses... So, what a coincidence," he said. Assad scoffed at the idea that Syria's "White Helmets" civil defense volunteers in opposition held areas seen by many as symbols of bravery and defiance might be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize after a nomination earlier this year. "What did they achieve in Syria?" he said. "I would only give a prize to whoever works for the peace in Syria." The group shared this year's Right Livelihood Award, sometimes known as the "Alternative Nobel," with activists from Egypt and Russia and a Turkish newspaper, the prize foundation announced Thursday. Asked about his methods, including the use of indiscriminate weapons, Assad said "when you have terrorists, you don't throw at them balloons, or you don't use rubber sticks for example. You have to use armaments." Associated Press An urban planning expert, Doris B. Holleb taught geographical studies and social sciences at the University of Chicago for almost three decades and also served on the Chicago Plan Commission for 30 years. "She was extremely cultured, with a delicious sense of humor," said Newton Minow, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman who along with his wife was longtime friends with Holleb and her late husband, Marshall. "She was an exceptionally intelligent person who was very well read and very artistic." Advertisement Holleb, 93, died of congestive heart failure Sept. 4 at her Lincoln Park home, her son Paul said. The longtime Lincoln Park resident had been ill for some time, her son said. Born Doris Bernstein in New York, Holleb graduated from high school at 15 and then earned an undergraduate degree from Hunter College in Manhattan. Advertisement After college, Holleb moved to Washington, D.C., and took a job working at the Federal Reserve. While there, she met her future husband of 64 years, Marshall, who went on to become a prominent real estate attorney in Chicago. They married in 1944. He died in 2008. After Marshall Holleb was discharged from the Army, the couple moved to Cambridge, Mass., where Doris earned a master's degree in economics from Harvard University. The couple then moved to Chicago, where Doris raised three sons before taking a job teaching at the University of Chicago in 1966. Holleb started in the university's geography department, which later was renamed the Committee on Geographical Studies. U. of C. geography professor Michael Conzen, who chairs the committee, recalled Holleb's popularity with students and also her keen interest in urban affairs. "She was trained as an economist, but her long-term interests were in housing policy, and her interest in housing then broadened, with the realization that geographies are very closely allied with planners and that planners often come out of the academic field of geography," Conzen said. "That helped strengthen the links she had with us, and it was mutual because from our point of view, the urban planning that she spoke about was not just theory but also the link to the political realities of how cities are run and what you have to do to get things done." Conzen also characterized Holleb's personality as "warm, engaged, energetic and sympathetic, but always with a sense of her own point of view." "She was not afraid to express (her opinion)," Conzen said. Retired U. of C. history professor Neil Harris, a longtime friend, said Holleb and her husband were "urban-oriented people when the future of cities was not what it is today. "Doris was connected to, interested in and supportive of all the institutions that make a city important," Harris said. "She was at a lot of places a lot of times." Advertisement In 1986, Mayor Harold Washington appointed Holleb to the Chicago Plan Commission, a panel she served on until her death. "She loved being on the Plan Commission," Paul Holleb said. "She loved the development of Chicago and the progress of Chicago, and she loved to apply academics and information to the process, and she did her best to convey the public trust in this manner." Chicago Plan Commission Vice Chairwoman Smita Shah called Holleb "gracious and kind," recalling how Holleb went out of her way to help Shah when she joined the panel. "The one thing I consistently noticed about her, whether we were reviewing something that was controversial or otherwise, was that she always had the ability to see the big picture," Shah said. "She would ask about architecture and ask about requirements, but then she would always talk about the community," including how a plan would make a difference to children or ethnic communities, she said. "She was always very thoughtful." Outside of her work on the Plan Commission, Holleb maintained a busy calendar, serving on a variety of committees and boards. She served on the boards of the Field Museum and the Metropolitan Institute. At the national level, President Jimmy Carter in 1980 appointed her to serve on the board of the Inter-American Foundation, and President Bill Clinton in 1996 appointed her to serve on the National Council on the Humanities. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Holleb and her husband had a particular affinity for Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, on whose board she also served. Her husband served as the longtime general counsel for the museum, and he worked to deploy his legal acumen in the 1990s to acquire the site of an old National Guard armory for the MCA's new building on East Chicago Avenue. And the couple were longtime collectors of contemporary art. Advertisement "Doris had the will and the temperament like many of the people of her generation who were interested in contemporary art that made the new museum building on Chicago Avenue possible," said former MCA CEO Kevin Consey. "She and her husband were great collectors and supporters emotionally, financially and spiritually of the museum, and they were part of the glue that held the institution together." Holleb also chaired the educational counsel at Francis W. Parker School in Lincoln Park for many years and served as an honorary trustee. "She was a combination of a smart, engaged, generous and a real leader and mentor to me," said Dan Frank, the school's principal. "She had this precision of thought that would lead to nuance and could differentiate one issue from another. I was not a classroom student of hers ever, but was a student of hers about life and learning and education here at Francis Parker as an administrator and teacher and principal. In that way, yes, she taught me an awful lot." Holleb is also survived by two other sons, Alan and Gordon, and five grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for Nov. 22. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. This Aug. 4, 2016, photo, provided by the Transportation Security Administration shows a plastic replica revolver TSA agents recovered from a passenger's carry-on bag at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nev. The man agreed to leave the prohibited, fake firearm made from a 3D printer behind and was allowed to board the plane without incident. (AP) Can the government block the online publication of files that let anyone make an assault rifle on a 3-D printer? In a defeat for free speech and a win for gun-control advocates, an appeals court has said yes. The court declined to suspend a State Department regulation that treats posting the files as a foreign export of munitions. Although the impulse to block the easy creation of untraceable weapons is admirable, the court got it wrong. The First Amendment can't tolerate a prohibition on publishing unclassified information even if the information is potentially harmful. Defense Distributed is a nonprofit group devoted to "promoting popular access to arms guaranteed by the United States Constitution." It wants to distribute free online the computer-aided design and text files that would enable anyone with access to a 3-D printer or a computerized mill to make the crucial component of an AR-15 rifle, the semi-automatic version of the military's M16. Advertisement It's not a fantasy. Defense Distributed has already given away files that allow a user to print a single-shot pistol called the Liberator. And the lower receiver of an AR-15 the indispensable, regulated part of the gun that bears its serial number can be made totally functional in plastic. Thus, the CAD files would allow anyone with a 3-D printer to make an untraceable AR-15. It's legal right now for Americans to 3-D print weapons, including the AR-15. And it would almost certainly be legal for Defense Distributed to hand out its files to Americans within the U.S. But the organization wants to post the files online for easier distribution. Advertisement That brought the attention of the State Department, which is in charge of regulating U.S. arms sales abroad under the Arms Export Control Act. The department says the files are technical data relating to items on the U.S. Munitions List, which cannot be "exported" abroad in the form of online posting without the department's approval. Defense Distributed sued, joined by the Second Amendment Foundation. It asked a federal district court to issue a preliminary injunction that would bar the State Department from enforcing its regulations against the posting of the files. In essence, the gun-rights advocates say that the State Department regulations amount to what's called a "prior restraint" on speech a ban on talking before you've even said anything. Prior restraints are profoundly disfavored in First Amendment law as a barrier to the free flow of ideas. The district court refused to issue the injunction and on Tuesday a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued an opinion upholding the district court's decision. The appeals court's reasoning was basically that, at the preliminary injunction stage, a court needs to weigh the potential irreparable harm to the party seeking the injunction against the public interest on the other side. The panel concluded that the district court didn't abuse its discretion in concluding that the State Department's public interest in avoiding the export of technology for untraceable weapons is more important than the free-speech rights of Defense Distributed. The court acknowledges that denial of First Amendment rights is usually such an important interest that it would trump almost any other. But it said "that is not necessarily true here, however, because the State Department has asserted a very strong public interest in national defense and national security." Weighing the relative interests, the panel then said that if Defense Distributed eventually wins its case, it will be able to post the files online having suffered only the temporary harm of delay. But it said the government's interest in preventing publication before an eventual judicial decision is greater, because once the files are available online, the cat can't be put back in the bag the information will be out there. That sounds convincing. But it really isn't. It's totally unreasonable that information that could be made legally available within the U.S. to American citizens can't be posted online because it counts as an "export" for purposes of regulation. Even if that were the meaning of the State Department regulation, it would violate the First Amendment as a content-based regulation on speech. Advertisement The government is allowed to prohibit speech on the basis of content only when there is a compelling government interest and the law is narrowly tailored to achieve it. Conceivably there might be a compelling interest in prohibiting the publication of some technical information that allows the creation of weapons, such as a recipe for building a nuclear bomb. But plenty of information about building serious weapons already exists in the world weapons as dangerous as an unregistered and untraceable AR-15. What's more, Congress in its wisdom hasn't prohibited Americans from making their own AR-15 parts at home. The fact that the conduct is legal is an overwhelming reason to conclude that directions on how to do it can't be prohibited without violating freedom of speech. Judge Edith Jones said as much in dissent. I don't agree with Jones, a Ronald Reagan appointee, very often, but when you're right, you're right. She pointed out that the panel never squarely addressed the question of Defense Distributed's likelihood of success on the merits in upcoming litigation. When free-speech rights are in the balance, a long delay in publication is as good as the denial of the First Amendment. Defense Distributed has already been prohibited from speaking for three years. To be sure, I don't like what Defense Distributed is planning to say. Giving out the recipe for making untraceable weapons can't be good for the world. But not every potential wrong can be repaired by invoking national security and suppressing speech not so long as we have the First Amendment. Bloomberg Advertisement Noah Feldman is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard University. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The bill criminalizing the denial of Armenian Genocide will be discussed in the Upper House (Senate) of the French Parliament in the upcoming days, French Alfortville city Mayor, Vice-Chairman of Armenia-France Friendship Group of the Upper House Luc Carvounas said, reports Armenpress. Our political force will vote in favor of the bill. As you know, after the previous vote a Special Commission was established which made amendments in that draft. I can say those who present the opposite view over the draft, they speak more in terms of law, not of politics. They are actually the same comments which were presented in 2002, the Mayor said. He recalled that President Hollande promised during his visit in Armenia that the bill will be adopted. I as a parliamentarian can assure that I will vote in favor of the bill. We have long-term friendly relations with Armenia, for years we have worked over the issue of the Armenian Genocide, and I cannot imagine that we will be distracted from that same path, he said. Speaking about the Turk-Azerbaijani lobby he said it actively works, but it doesnt hinder the Parliamentarians works. Our role is to be able to make them understand that they didnt choose the right path, he said. A Miami-Dade County mosquito control worker sprays around a home in the Wynwood area of Miami on Aug. 1, 2016. (Alan Diaz / AP) Ground zero in the fight against Zika is now at the National Institutes of Health in suburban Washington. NIH scientists are testing a vaccine that could prevent people from acquiring the virus. Trials of a similar vaccine successfully immunized monkeys. Advertisement Good news, right? Apparently not. Earlier this month, at another NIH facility just 3 miles away, a different group of scientists gathered to debate whether it's appropriate to conduct medical research like the kind that's delivered this promising Zika vaccine in primates at all. The NIH workshop on Sept. 7 convened experts in science, policy, ethics and animal welfare and was conducted, in part, in response to congressional interest in reviewing how research is conducted. Advertisement That question shouldn't even need to be asked. Research in nonhuman primates has been essential to the development of cures for everything from polio to forms of cancer. And it's our best hope for cures for modern scourges like Zika, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Scientists use nonhuman primates to determine the safety and efficacy of potential vaccines or treatments. Since primates share as much as 98 percent of their genetic code with humans, they offer an excellent approximation of the human body's complexity. Rhesus monkeys are shown at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Jeff Miller / Associated Press) Work with primates comprises less than 1 percent of all animal research. But it's had an outsized impact on medical progress. Consider the polio vaccine. By the early 1950s, poliovirus had devastated the United States, infecting over 20,000 Americans many of them children each year. The virus was too small to be seen by the methods available at the time, so researchers like Albert Sabin depended on monkeys for testing. That led to a cure. Sabin eventually developed an oral polio vaccine that replaced Jonas Salk's. Years later, Sabin noted that his use of monkeys was critical to his success. "Without the use of animals and of human beings, it would have been impossible to acquire the important knowledge needed to prevent much suffering and premature death not only among humans but also among animals," Sabin wrote. Researchers are now using the poliovirus in monkeys to battle glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer that can double in size every two weeks and can be fatal within months. Research in monkeys has already yielded stunning results. Scientists injected a modified poliovirus that attached itself to cancer cells in the monkey's brain. The monkey's body recognized the virus as dangerous and began to attack it, killing the cancer cells in the process. Advertisement This procedure has advanced to human trials; already, two patients have seen their glioblastoma go into full remission. They can thank research in monkeys for their new lease on life. "This is the most promising therapy I've seen in my career. Period," said Dr. Henry Friedman, an internationally renowned neuro-oncologist, about the treatment during a "60 Minutes" segment in 2015. Primate research has been the bridge from the lab to the clinic for a number of groundbreaking treatments, including vaccines for mumps, measles, yellow fever, anthrax and hepatitis B. Yet critics of animal research claim that such testing is unnecessary. They argue that computer models can effectively replace animal models. They're delusional. Consider, for example, the complexity of the human brain, which has about 100 billion neurons and 1 quadrillion synapses. In 2014, researchers in Japan attempted to simulate brain activity by using a supercomputer with over 700,000 processor cores. It took the computers 40 minutes of whirring to effectively replicate what the brain does in one second. Advertisement Primates, on the other hand, can effectively imitate human brains. And that fact has led to numerous treatments. Researchers in the 1970s closely studied primates' basal ganglia the part of the brain responsible for movement. These insights led to the development of a treatment for Parkinson's disease, which slowly robs people of their motor control. That treatment, called deep brain stimulation, safely blocks certain electronic signals from the brain to alleviate some of the disease's worst effects. If researchers were barred from working with primate models, they'd have only one recourse giving untested drugs and therapies to humans. That's not just illegal but unethical. And it'd essentially halt a significant amount of medical research. Research in primates has worked before and will work in the years to come. As Francis Collins, director of the NIH, recently noted, "Research with nonhuman primates is an essential component of the NIH mission." Let's hope those debating the future of primate research models at the NIH remember that. Frankie L. Trull is president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research. One way to understand why so many white and poor Americans have embraced Donald Trump's candidacy is to understand the people whom author J.D. Vance knows best. In his new and widely acclaimed book, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," Vance writes about the vast regions of America that are home to what he calls his people white, mostly poor residents who find in Trump's talk an echo of their own deepening distrust in elites they believe have let them down. In large part, it's a personal memoir about growing up poor and arriving at Yale Law School feeling like his spaceship had landed in Oz, as he put it. But it becomes far more than that, too. He recalls that while growing up, despite the poverty he saw all around him, he had a native sense of optimism. But in the past decade, he's seen that sense dissipate. For too many, the towns they lived in and the families they were part of had simply stopped working. There were too many unexpected obituaries, often tied to the heroin and opioid addiction sweeping so many parts of America. Too much joblessness. Not enough hope. I wanted to explore with Vance why these feelings of hopelessness have opened a path for Trump, who after all is a billionaire who lives at the top of a skyscraper in New York. Vance said it begins with the fact that they hear in Trump's tough talk the anger they feel. Q: Your book has been a huge success so far. Written by a conservative, it has been embraced by liberals and conservatives alike. Perhaps that's a hopeful sign that we can actually talk about these issues across the partisan divide. Wishful thinking? A: Like you, I definitely think there's an element of rage to what's going on. But I don't think that it's the primary element. I do believe that there's something else lurking below the surface that's very important. My sense is there are a couple of things that Donald Trump does very well. He strikes at a couple of very real insecurities. Advertisement The first insecurity is tonal. There's a fear among a lot of working class voters that to be a respected participant in the political process, you have to talk a certain way, you have to think a certain way, you have to act a certain way. They see politicians from both parties, whether it's Mitt Romney or Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, and they see them conducting themselves in a certain way. They're very filtered. They seem like the things that they've said have been approved by a political consultant, and for a lot of folks that's just not the way that they think and that's not the way that they speak about society. There's this sense in which just the way of conducting yourself has become so foreign that these people (when I say these people, I mean my people) can't really relate to the folks who are in positions of power over them. That's one thing. The second thing is that people feel very invisible and in some ways left out by the political process. There are, of course, very real problems with a lot of these communities, who are (for instance) very worried about the addiction epidemic. They're worried about the sense that jobs are harder to come by. They're worried about the declining health in their communities and rising mortality rates. They're worried about just the fact that their communities seem to be falling apart. If you look around, you see good businesses closing down and cash-for-gold stores opening up in response. Then of course you see a lot of family chaos and family breakdown. It just doesn't seem like things are working very well in these communities and Trump is the first person to really come out and seem to see these people, to recognize that they're hurting and that they're struggling and to speak to them as if their concerns really matter. I'll highlight this by one recent debate in the political process. Trump had this rally in Milwaukee where he talked in this apocalyptic way about the problems of black voters to a primarily white audience and everyone ganged up on him and said, "Well, you're talking about all these black people like they live in these post-apocalyptic worlds, and that's not how a lot of black people feel," and of course, they're right. If you look at the polls, a lot of black folks in America are much more optimistic about the future, even though they still, of course, lag materially behind white Americans. But if you contrast that to the way that at least white working class Americans feel about their country, they do feel like they're living in this post-apocalyptic world. (Trump) talks to his white, working-class audience in the same way that he was allegedly talking to black voters. The message actually resonates with them (working-class whites) because they're so much more pessimistic about their country, and about their future. Q: Can you give us any idea of what that world looks like when you talk about a post-apocalyptic world? A: Just about everything seems to not be working great. Their neighborhoods are getting run down. They're seeing, like I said, businesses close down, and pawn shops and cash-for-gold stores open up in their place. They see declining health rates, rising mortality rates. They open up their newspapers and see that another kid in their community has died of a heroin overdose almost every day. They recognize that it's harder to get a job. They see good jobs closing down, tougher to come by, and they themselves are struggling with, whether it's divorce, whether it's just chaos in the home, just nothing seems to really be going and moving in the right direction for a lot of folks. Advertisement Whether you are living that life, in some ways like I did, and in the middle of one of these families that's really struggling, or even if you just live in the same neighborhood or the same community and you see how many folks are hurting, you get this sense that, man, this is just really not working, and I'm really worried about the future. It's amazing to think how powerful of a force optimism and hope can be. It's the thing that saves me. I believe that I lived in the greatest country in the world. I still believe that, and consequently, I believed that I had a chance, even though things around me were absolutely crazy and difficult. Q: Was there a point when this exploded? Was there a tipping point? A: I don't know that there was a tipping point. I first noticed it when I was about to go to law school. This was towards the tail end of the U.S. financial crisis. I was reading some conservative media, and I was looking around at the disconnect and the detachment that existed in the community and it hit me that I was this pretty optimistic person. I was feeling very happy about my future and my life. Almost no one in my community felt that way. Q: What is it that people who don't live in these areas don't know about what's happening in these parts of America? A: My sense is that most people don't realize how really difficult a lot of people's lives are in this part of the country in all the ways that I've talked about earlier. I've obviously been talking to a lot of different people in the past few months about how they feel about this region of the world and one of the things I hear sometimes is: Look at median incomes in that area of the world and it's clear white people maybe aren't doing very well but they're still doing better than the black or Hispanic person if you look just purely in terms of income. That's absolutely right. It's undeniable. It's something I write about in the book. But it's not primarily an economic crisis that's hitting this area. It's a cultural crisis. Like I said, it's the sense that all of the things that are really important to your community, all the things that you want to be working well in your community, seem to be working pretty poorly. Q: Let's talk about that a little bit. If you go to poor areas in big cities, often minority areas, certainly in Dallas, poverty is in large part concentrated. If you looked at some of those really poor areas, I think you'd find a lot of the same things. Jobs have left. People can't find work. Social, family structures may be failing. So how do you define or describe the difference between what's happening, say, in the areas you write about and the south side of Chicago or southern Dallas, for instance? A: It's the difference between things moving in the right direction and things moving in the wrong direction. If you grew up in a very poor black community, things are not easy by any means. In an objective sense in a lot of ways they are worse than if you grow up in a poor white community. But things are moving in the right direction. Marriage rates in the black community seem to be on the rise. Incarceration rates in the black community seem to be going down. The deaths from drug overdoses from black youth are lower than those from white youth. But if you look at the white community, all these indicators seem to be going in the negative direction. White Americans, their incarceration rate is going up. White youth are dying of drug overdoses more than those of other groups. White marriage rates are declining. White church attendance rates are declining. I think that you're absolutely right that a lot of these same problems exist. But there is a perception, and I think it's a perception grounded in reality, that in the white community things are moving in the wrong direction. Q: Trump went to NYU. He's a billionaire. He lives in Manhattan at the top of a skyscraper. But he's able to talk in a way that relates to these folks with their own problems. Why? A: My view is that folks are pretty clear-eyed about what Trump is actually going to do. I don't see many people saying, "Well, Donald Trump is going to fix these problems." What he's offering them is a proverbial middle finger to all the people that they're frustrated at. If you think about what folks have been doing for 20 or 30 years, they have been bottling frustration and resentment that the political elites don't understand them, that the political elites don't care about them, that the political elites judge them in various ways. All Donald Trump does is provide the opposite of those things. He seems to care about them. He seems not to judge them. He seems to understand them, and most importantly, he is willing to scream and yell at the people who have been judging them and misunderstanding them for a generation. What Donald Trump offers them is fundamentally an emotional outlet for a lot of frustrations they've had about a lot of parts of their lives for the past 20, past 30 years. Q: Do you think that's going to be something that gives him a fighting shot in November? A: My guess is that about half of Donald Trump's support broadly identifies in the way that I'm talking about. Again, they're working-class white voters who are supporting him for reasons that are related to the reasons I'm talking about. The other half are standard Republican voters who are voting for him because he's the nominee and because they don't like Hillary Clinton. My sense is that he is tapped out among the white working class. But (at the same time) it would be very, very hard for him to lose a lot of those voters. But there aren't enough of them to swing the election one way or the other. Q: Do you think Trump offers something that's valuable to these voters because he speaks their language? A: My view is that Trump is projecting a very complex problem on a simple villain. Without some recognition that some of these problems in our community are not the fault of other people they're not going to be solved by a Mexican border wall or better trade deals with China without some recognition along those lines, I don't believe these problems are ever truly going to get better. Instead Trump, in giving people an excuse to focus on something other than themselves and other than the real nature of the community's struggles that they're facing, is ultimately a destructive force. Whether he wins or not, people are going to wake up and realize these problems are still there. This interview was conducted, edited and condensed by Dallas Morning News editorial board member Michael A. Lindenberger. mlindenberger@dallasnews.com. J.D. Vance is a writer who grew up in the Rust Belt and Appalachia. He is now a principal at a Silicon Valley investment firm. The Chicago Tribunes front page of June 7, 1942, was led by a report on the Battle of Midway that made evident the U.S. had cracked the Japanese naval code. With each court ruling, the secret testimony that a Chicago grand jury heard during World War II edges closer to public scrutiny. If that testimony is unsealed, all of us will know more about the government's only effort to prosecute the news media for an alleged violation of the Espionage Act of 1917. The journalists in the dock? Our predecessors at the Chicago Tribune. This as yet unfinished yarn traces to the U.S. Navy's ambush of an Imperial Japanese navy strike force near Midway Island. The little atoll halfway between Asia and North America was a steppingstone in Japan's plan to seize the Hawaiian Islands. As the U.S. neared victory on June 7, 1942, the Tribune published a front-page scoop, "Navy Had Word of Jap Plan to Strike at Sea." The story reported the size and schedule of Tokyo's armada. The story's richness of detail strongly implied (without stating explicitly) that Washington had cracked Japan's secret naval code: The Tribune evidently had obtained the Japanese plan from an official U.S. source someone who had access to decoded Japanese secrets. Advertisement The Tribune's tacit revelation of the code-breaking coup infuriated Washington. President Franklin Roosevelt wanted to have Marines occupy Tribune Tower. Under pressure from Roosevelt and Navy officials, a special prosecutor impaneled a federal grand jury here to consider espionage charges against reporter Stanley Johnston, managing editor J. Loy Maloney and the Tribune itself. The grand jurors decided not to indict. But for 74 years the testimony they heard from some 13 witnesses including naval officers and staffers from the Tribune and two other newspapers that ran its story has remained sealed. In 2014 a coalition of historians and the national Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press asked the U.S. District Court here to open the grand jury records. Government lawyers fought that request and, when they lost, appealed. Last week a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to open the records. The legal dispute has little to do with the Midway story and much to do with the rare circumstances in which grand jury proceedings can become public. Courts have permitted that in such historically significant cases as those of accused Soviet spy Alger Hiss, executed "atomic spies" Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa. Historical relevance adds heft to a release request, as do the deaths of the principals and the expiration of security threats, as is the case here. Advertisement The testimony might detail how war reporter Johnston got his controversial scoop. We don't know. But we've written before that many historians think Morton Seligman, a U.S. Navy commander, intentionally or inadvertently leaked the info. A month earlier, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, Johnston had raced below deck to rescue badly burned sailors on Seligman's sinking carrier, the USS Lexington. On June 7, as the Navy's angry commander in chief Adm. Ernest King absorbed the Tribune's Midway report, he had on his desk a draft citation honoring Johnston for his heroism aboard the Lexington. What happens now? Katie Townsend, litigation director for the Reporters Committee, tells us the feds have until Sept. 29 to appeal to the full 7th Circuit, or until mid-December to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. One of Townsend's filings neatly synthesized the stakes here: "The Tribune case speaks directly to a fundamental tension at the core of our democracy, involving the public's right to know and the government's duty to protect its citizens in time of war." FDR and naval officials thought the breaking of the Japanese code should remain secret because doing so would make it useful as the war progressed. The Tribune thought it had a right to publish its thinly veiled disclosure of the code-breaking. It's possible the grand jury testimony offers evidence on those points. We've also written that our predecessors knew what it was to have the full force of the government, from the White House on down, try to punish this news organization for publishing information it held, in a manner that did no harm. The Tribune's response to word that the feds would convene a grand jury: "We have said and proved that we cannot be intimidated and now, once again, we are going to prove it." Fighting unwarranted government secrecy is a big part of what news organizations like the Tribune do, in wartime and peacetime. That's one reason we hope government lawyers admit defeat and end this lingering battle of Midway. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ambassador to Greece Fadey Charchoghlyan on September 20 met President of the Greek Parliament Nikolaos Voutsis, press service of the Armenian MFA informed Armenpress. Nikolaos Voutsis congratulated the Armenian Ambassador on his appointment and wished him success during his tenure. The prospects of expanding the inter-parliamentary cooperation between Armenia and Greece were discussed. The sides underscored the importance of enhancing the contacts and mutual visits between the friendship groups, expanding the legal framework. Nikolaos Voutsis said he keeps in spotlight the agenda of boosting relations with Armenia which in its turn will give new impetus to the further expansion and deepening of ties between the Parliaments of Armenia and Greece. By the Greek Parliament Speakers request, the Armenian Ambassador presented the current situation of the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. German beer, food and music is planned at the Oktoberfest in Plano. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press) The 12th annual Plano Oktoberfest will be held Friday to Sunday in downtown Plano. The festival features German bands, a beer wagon with German beers and wine and traditional German food, including schnitzel, roast pork, bratwurst, sauerkraut and strudel. Advertisement Chicken dance contests will be held Friday and Saturday. A Miss Oktoberfest contest will be held Saturday night. Admission is free on Friday until 5:30 p.m., then $8 afterward. Admission is free until 1 p.m. Saturday, then $10. Sunday admission is free all day. Advertisement Activities will be held from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Plano, 101 W. Main St. For more information, call 630-898-9242 or email info@planooktoberfest.com. School supply drive in Aurora The city of Aurora and Fox Valley United Way are holding a citywide "Prepared to Succeed" school supply drive. The campaign is seeking monetary donations to fund pre-packaged, grade-appropriate sets of school supplies to provide for students in need. "Students who begin the school year with the necessary supplies are better prepared to learn and succeed throughout the year," said Dan Barreiro, Aurora's chief Community Services officer, in a press release. "We want to make sure that a lack of school supplies is not a barrier for students throughout the community, and we are asking for others to help in that goal." A contribution of $15 sponsors a child for the year, organizers said. Sponsorships are also available at the $75 level, which provides supplies for small groups of five to seven students. A $150 level sponsorship will provide supplies for a group of 10 to 12 students, and a $450 sponsorship provides supplies for a classroom of 25 to 30 students, according to organizers. The campaign runs through Sept. 30. To make a donation, go to www.uwfoxvalley.org. Checks made out to Fox Valley United Way can be mailed to City of Aurora Community Services Department, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Prayer event in North Aurora Advertisement Union Church in North Aurora, in conjunction with Christ the King Church women, will participate in the nationwide prayer event for women called "Cry Out!" A simulcast will be held to broadcast various speakers. The first speaker begins at 6 p.m., with new speakers every half hour. The event is free and all women are welcome. "Cry Out!" is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday at Fellowship Hall at Union Church, 405 W. State St., North Aurora. Call the church office at 630-897-0013 for more information. Prayer booths at Aurora's farmers market Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora will host the last of six summer prayer booths at Aurora's downtown farmers market Saturday. Advertisement Free prayers, literature and refreshments, including bottled water and dog biscuits, will be offered. Mini-loaves of home-baked breads will be offered for a donation. Volunteers will pray with visitors or they can leave written requests. Prayers will be available in English or Spanish. The farmers market is held from 8 a.m. to noon at Aurora's downtown farmers market, 233 S. Broadway. Call 630-897-5257 for more information. Craft festival in St. Charles My Favorite Things Market will be held Friday through Sunday at Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. The show, formerly Country Folk Art Festival, features handmade reproductions of antique country furniture, folk art, primitives and seasonal Halloween and Christmas decor. Advertisement The show is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and admission is $10. The festival reopens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Admission for Saturday and Sunday is $6 and children get in free. Veterans breakfast planned in Geneva Geneva American Legion Post 75 and the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County will host a fellowship breakfast Sept. 27. The breakfast is held on the last Tuesday of each month. Attendees will learn about programs and services for veterans. The breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at American Legion Hall, 22 S. Second St., Geneva. Farm festival in Yorkville Advertisement Lyon Farm Fall Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at Lyon Farm in Yorkville. Children's activities will include games, making homemade butter and taking a tractor-pulled barrel ride through the farm. Free hayrides will be available all weekend. Both days will feature farm demonstrations, antique farm equipment, corn cob grinding and blacksmithing. A threshing demonstration powered by the farm's 1921 steam engine will be held Saturday. Bluegrass music and an antique car show will be held Sunday. The buildings on the grounds will be open for families to tour both days. Advertisement Baked goods and farm-raised honey will be available for purchase at the Harvest Wagon. Pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and hay bales will also be sold for fall decoration. Food stands will sell hamburgers, pork burgers, butterfly pork chops, bratwurst, hot dogs and chips. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 7 to 12 years old and free for children 6 and under. Lyon Farm Fall Festival is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Lyon Farm, 7935 Route 71, Yorkville. For more information, call 630-553-6777. Live music at Farnsworth House Farnsworth House in Plano will host an afternoon of music Sunday. Advertisement Violinist Thomas Milschewski, pianist Roxann Sega and vocalist Erin Watson will perform. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket and light refreshments. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at farnsworthhouse.org. The afternoon concert begins at 4:30 p.m. at Farnsworth House, 14520 River Road in Plano. Got Pulse? Columnist Joy Davis is looking for interesting, quirky and just plain funny stories about people and places in the Fox Valley. Email her at joydavis234@gmail.com. Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, seen here in April, says he will resign by the end of October. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News) It's possible aldermen on the Aurora City Council already know who they will choose as the interim mayor when Mayor Tom Weisner resigns next month. But they're not saying. Advertisement The council voted 8-4 this week to discuss the potential appointment of an acting mayor in closed session, which they did after this week's Committee of the Whole meeting. If they came to a consensus of who that acting mayor would be, they aren't telling. It appears they will adhere to an unwritten policy not to discuss publicly anything said in closed session. Advertisement "I think I'm going to respect the process as well," said Alderman Rick Mervine, 8th Ward, one of the four who voted to have the deliberations in open session. "The whole thing will play out at some point anyway. It's all just a matter of time." That means whatever decision aldermen make, a vote will be made in public eventually, with a public resolution on the City Council agenda. And technically, no vacancy exists yet, because the mayor has yet to resign. But Carie Anne Ergo, Aurora's chief management officer, told aldermen she anticipates the mayor's resignation "would happen in the next several weeks." Weisner announced earlier this year he would resign by the end of October about six months before the end of his third term due to health concerns. He has battled cancer for a good part of his three terms as mayor. Ergo said if aldermen discussed the vacancy and came up with a consensus choice, staff could get the resolution ready for whenever it's time to put it on the council agenda. The state's Open Meetings Act, which is what requires public bodies to meet in public session, clearly gives an exemption for appointment or dismissal of an officer or elected official. Alayne Weingartz, Aurora corporation counsel, said the aldermen could deliberate on their choice in open session, or closed session. But she said the actual nomination of a candidate would have to be made in public session, and voted on in public. Advertisement "There is a difference between discussing potential nominees, and actually taking a vote," she said. In addition to Mervine, Aldermen Robert O'Connor, at large, Tina Bohman, 1st Ward, and Juany Garza, 2nd Ward, voted to have the deliberations in public. Voting to have the deliberations in private were: Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward; Bill Donnell, 4th Ward; Carl Franco, 5th Ward; Michael Saville, 6th Ward; Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward; Edward Bugg, 9th Ward; Lynne Johnson, 10th Ward; and Richard Irvin, at large. O'Conner said he "didn't quite see the need for an executive session," as did Bohman. Bohman managed to elicit laughter from her fellow aldermen and the audience when she asked, "can we see the hands of those who actually want (to be mayor)?" At least two aldermen want to be mayor. Irvin and Saville have declared their candidacy for mayor in the April 2017 election. Weisner, in announcing his resignation, said he favored the aldermen not appointing one of the two declared candidates, and nominating a candidate who agrees not to run in April for mayor. That is a generally accepted practice among public boards. Advertisement But aldermen are not legally stopped from nominating either of the two mayoral candidates. slord@tribpub.com St. Charles School District 303 administrators are preparing to recommend closing one middle school and $50 million in work for the other two. The work would include a larger cafeteria and upgrades to the science labs at Wredling Middle School. Thompson Middle School would see a larger overhaul, including updated science labs, additional classrooms and a larger cafeteria, spokesman Jim Blaney said. Meanwhile, administrators recommend closing Haines Middle School. Advertisement The plan would require moving students to accommodate construction and adjusting staff to take into account one fewer middle school. The district does not plan to ask voters to approve money for the construction. Instead, they would finance the plan through non-referendum bonds, district funds and savings they are anticipating from closing Haines, Blaney said. Advertisement The recommendation, which must come before the school board for approval, comes after years of discussion in St. Charles about middle school needs and declining enrollment. The district in 2009 asked for voter approval to issue bonds for middle school work, but the proposal failed, Blaney said. More recently, officials have weighed several options, including another bond referendum, closing elementary or middle schools or relocating sixth-graders. Blaney said the administration's current recommendation addresses middle school concerns officials have heard from the community. Haines also has mobile classrooms, and the district is facing the prospect of replacing the trailers, he said. "Declining enrollment in the district allows us to do a little consolidating and operate a little bit more efficiently," he said. When construction is complete, the district's two remaining middle schools will each be able to accommodate 1,400 students, Blaney said more students than any one of the district's middle schools currently houses. Blaney said the district anticipates the schools' actual enrollment would be below capacity. A committee had recommended St. Charles be able to accommodate 12,000 students, or 2,800 at the middle school level, Blaney said. Currently, the district has more than 3,100 middle school students. Under the recommendation, new boundaries would go into effect during the 2016-2017 school year for sixth-graders, who would be divided between Wredling and Thompson. Renovations would begin that year at Thompson, and sixth-graders there would attend class in a part of the school that would not be under construction, Blaney said. Seventh- and eighth-graders slated to attend either Thompson or Haines would all attend Haines. During the following school year, incoming sixth-graders would attend class in the renovated portion of Thompson, while another portion of the building is under construction. Seventh- and eighth-graders would again attend Haines. Wredling sixth- seventh- and eighth-graders would all attend their home school. Advertisement Construction would be completed in fall 2019, and all students would attend either Thompson or Wredling. Haines would close. About $15 million worth of the work would be funded by bonds, Blaney said. District officials estimate the debt would mean the owner of a $300,000 home would see their annual district tax bill go up by $27, beginning in 2017. He could not say what the expected life of the new bonds would be. Blaney said the district anticipates retiring other bonds the following year, which would lower a $300,000 homeowner's tax bill by about $600, before the new bonds are taken into account. The majority of the remaining construction money would come from the district's fund balance, though money would also come from a state construction grant received years ago, a budget surplus from the 2015-2016 school year and expected savings from closing Haines, Blaney said. The district expects to pull $19.3 million from reserves, but he said the reserves would remain at the board's target level. When the work is complete and Haines is closed, the district expects to save about $2.4 million per year in operating costs, Blaney said. The district also expects to see some lower savings from Haines during the construction process. Haines and Thompson would be operated by the same staff during construction. Blaney said closing the school would affect middle school administrators, office staff, nurses, custodial staff and other staff. The number of teachers, however, depends not on the number of buildings, but instead on the number of students, he said. Advertisement Superintendent Don Schlomann prefers to reduce staff through attrition and retirements, he said. Middle school teachers and staff could be shifted to a different grade level if they want to remain in the district. "I cannot say they won't be laid off," he said. "We cannot say that. We don't know at this point. The goal is to not have to do that." Administrators plan to present details about the recommendation at a series of community meetings. They will be held Oct. 20 at Haines Middle School, Oct. 24 at Wredling Middle School and Oct. 25 at Thompson Middle School, according to a statement from the district. Each will start at 7 p.m. Board members will consider the proposal at a Sept. 29 committee meeting, an Oct. 11 board meeting, a Nov. 3 special board meeting and a Nov. 14 board meeting, according to the statement. The committee meeting will be at 5 p.m. and the board meetings will be at 7 p.m. The time of the special meeting is yet to be determined. Each meeting will be held in the district's administration building except the Nov. 14 meeting, which will be held at St. Charles North High School. sfreishtat@tribpub.com Twitter @srfreish An Aurora family is searching for their daughter who was living in Key West, Fla., when she went missing at the end of August. (Denise Crosby / Aurora Beacon-News) (Chicago Tribune) Herb Ford has a lot to deal with as he faces terminal cancer in the large three-story home on View Street in Aurora where he and his wife, Lois, raised their 12 children. Yet that's not the biggest concern the 83-year-old retired Caterpillar man is facing these days. Advertisement More than anything, he wants to find out what happened to his daughter, Robin Ford, who has been missing since the end of August from Key West, Fla., where she had been living with a friend on a sailboat since January. Herb's other children, including daughters Stacey Ford and Tamara Sanchez, who returned to Aurora to help him navigate the physical pain of cancer, now find themselves dealing with the heartache of this mystery wondering if their 50-year-old sibling, a graduate of West Aurora High School and Aurora University, is alive or dead. Advertisement While Robin has always been the free-spirited and adventurous one, "she would never have been gone this long without calling," insisted Stacey Ford, who moved to Jacksonville, Fla., from Aurora four years ago at her big sister's urging. "She cares about our dad too much to just vanish without a trace." Sanchez, who flew in from Texas to help her father and is serving as point person here for Key West police, described her younger sister as "carefree and social" who was living the dream life in Florida. "But Robin was also responsible and resourceful," she said. "And she always made it a point of staying in touch." The last contact the family had was Aug. 27, when Robin called her son who was living in Florida. The last time she'd been seen was on Wisteria Island in Key West Harbor in the early hours Aug. 29. After the family found out she'd missed a court date Aug. 30 and an Aug. 31 flight to Charleston to meet a good friend, their fears only intensified. Stacey Ford filed a missing persons report with the police two weeks ago. But she and other family members grew frustrated, as it took officials so long to open an investigation. Part of the problem was the fact that when Robin Ford failed to appear in court on a DUI misdemeanor charge, she was considered a fugitive, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. According to a news release issued by police in Monroe County, Fla., officials are talking with friends and acquaintances in an attempt to find her. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Manny Cuervo from the major crimes division in Monroe County at 305-293-7475. The Fords, while relieved police are investigating her disappearance, say they have also been frustrated by the many conflicting stories coming from witnesses. All of it is taking a heavy toll on loved ones, including her dad and seven siblings who still live in the Aurora area. Family "is everything" to Herb Ford, who points proudly to the 60-plus three-generation photos prominently displayed in long rows on his living room wall. Advertisement But as can be the case with a family so large, he's also experienced more than his share of loss in recent years. His wife, Lois, died in 2012; daughter Marcia Scarpetta died eight months later; and his 22-year-old grandson Stephen Ford died in February in China, where he was teaching English to young students. Sanchez, who was in constant communication with the sheriff's detective handling the case, believes her sister is alive. "Perhaps she is being held against her will, maybe even suffering from amnesia," Sanchez said. "But I really believe she is out there somewhere." While police don't suspect foul play at this point, loved ones, who have created a Find Robin Ford Facebook page, are not so sure. "This is so out of character for her," Stacey Ford said. "Something happened to her, I know this for a fact." Herb Ford is not as convinced his daughter is alive. But even as he deals with his own terminal illness, he refuses to give up hope. Advertisement "I can't grieve until I know. ... We just need some closure," he said. "We need to know what happened to Robin." dcrosby@tribpub.com YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. French Alfortville city will cooperate with any community of Nagorno Karabakh, French Alfortville city Mayor, Vice-Chairman of Armenia-France Friendship Group of the Upper House Luc Carvounas said, reports Armenpress. It is already my 4th visit to Armenia. This year I had a strong desire to visit Armenia and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Armenias Independence with you. During this visit we decided to spend a day in the NKR. Taking into account the April four-day war I wanted to see how we must work with our partners, and we decided to meet the NKR President and the Parliament Speaker. At the meetings we have tried to understand what ways of cooperation exist. And I have decided to take steps aimed at cooperating with any community of Nagorno Karabakh, he said adding that there is such cooperation experience with Oshakan community of Armenia. Alfortville and Oshakan are sister-cities. There is new assistance initiative which relates to the Armenian people of Javakheti. Within the framework of that initiative recently Youth, Cultural Center has been opened in Ninotsminda, and Luc Carvounas assisted it, Alfortville Deputy Mayor Richard Ananian said. Alfortville city is called small Armenia in France. The Armenian community of Alfortville has been formed during the First World War. Richard Ananian said 44.500 people live in Alfortville, from whom nearly 8000 people are with Armenian origins. The local Armenians are very active in political life. Their activity is being more realized during the elections. We always manage to deliver our messages to the high-ranking circles. We are carefully following the events taking place in Armenia, and convey our concerns to the political field. It is important that there are officials with Armenian origins in France, he said. The beginning of construction of an 8-unit luxury condominium development in downtown Clarendon Hills will result in a reduction of parking spaces and a closure of sidewalks. After a delay because of a lawsuit to prevent the project from being built, a groundbreaking was held Monday and construction began two days later at 88 Park Ave, the southeast corner of Park and Prospect avenues. Advertisement Sidewalks and street parking along the south side of Park Avenue and east side of Prospect, adjacent to the property, will be closed at various times over the next 9 to 12 months, while construction is being completed, said Dan Ungerleider, the village's director of community development. "This will be a construction site, including the sidewalk and adjacent parking," he said. "As a result, sidewalks and parking adjacent to the site will not be available. Roads will be closed, as needed, by the developer, under the supervision of the village." Advertisement Ungerleider said the village typically does not allow parking adjacent to a development project in order to maintain a safe environment and open construction access to the site. "In addition, the 88 Park Avenue development will include the installation of a new water main along Park Avenue, from Easter to Prospect avenues, and streetscape enhancements on Park and Prospect," Ungerleider said. The Appellate Court of Illinois Second District affirmed Sept. 1 a Nov. 30, 2015 DuPage Circuit Court ruling allowing development of a downtown Clarendon Hills condominium project. cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @chuckwriting YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan says it is necessary to revise the remuneration system of public servants in Armenia, reports Armenpress. We must create a system which will motivate the official, in order for the public servant to know that beside from the mission of serving the country and giving benefit to the people, he/she is being paid for his/her work. At this moment I have no solution of the issue, but we must think about it, he said. PM Karapetyan said the Ministers must think how they see their employees motivations evaluation in the framework of opportunities that the state has. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Newly appointed Ambassador of Moldova to Armenia Ruslan Bolbocean (residence in Kiev) delivered the copy of his credentials to Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan, press service of the MFA informed Armenpress. Deputy FM congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment and expressed confidence he will have his important input on deepening the bilateral ties in various sectors and further strengthening the Armenian-Moldovan friendship. The Ambassador thanked for the warm reception and assured he will make the maximum efforts for further deepening the cooperation between Armenia and Moldova and boosting the bilateral ties. Issues related to the expansion of legal framework, enhancing trade-economic ties, boosting cultural exchange were touched upon at the meeting. The sides underscored the necessity of enhancing the inter-parliamentary ties. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received the participants of All Armenian scientific conference being held in Armenia from September 21-23. The scientists have arrived from the USA, Russia, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Spain and other countries. The conference was organized by the support of the President within the framework of the project Support for young scientists and is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenias independence. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, Serzh Sargsyan hailed the visit of the scientists to Motherland and congratulated them on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Armenia. President Sargsyan highlighted holding the All Armenian scientific conference in capital Yerevan, with the participation of renowned Armenian scientists representing almost all the scientific spheres. According to the President, similar events are a good opportunity not only for unifying the Armenian scientists of the world, but also for using their experience and connections for properly introducing Armenian young scientists in international platforms and familiarizing them with contemporary scientific trends. The participant scientists introduced to the President their impressions and expectations from the conference. President Sargsyan answered the questions of the scientists, presented the main directions of the state policy in the field of education and science, particularly the projects aimed at encouraging and supporting the young scientists. The Armenian scientists and President Sargsyan exchanged ideas over future cooperation for fostering science and education in Armenia. With the scope and penalties of Chinas social credit system being further clarified in 2021, legal and regulatory compliance has become more important than... By Zolzaya Erdenebileg Chinas direct sales industry has consistently displayed exceptional growth over the last few years. Value growth in 2015 was recorded at 10 percent, partially due to 20 new entrants gaining direct sales licenses in that year, keeping the industry incredibly competitive. If growth of 10 percent is maintained, the industry is expected to see a value compact annual growth rate (CAGR) of six percent. However, sales value shares will be sapped by increasingly powerful internet retail and other types of retail channels, and so direct sales growth may decline. After China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, the direct sales industry was a grey area, regarded as an illegal activity until the first concrete legislation was released by the State Council in 2005. The legislation consisted of two laws, namely the Regulation on Direct Sales, and the Anti Pyramid Selling Regulation. Pyramid selling is defined as different to direct sales in that it requires sales personnel to make investments in inventory upfront, lacks return or refund policies, and makes remuneration based on recruitment. On the other hand, direct sales operations employs personnel as sales promoters, and has a series of policies which safeguard consumers. Pyramid selling is specifically highlighted as an illegal activity in China. The Regulation of Direct Sales stipulates that a company must first obtain approval from the government, obtain a direct sales license and establish a local entity before engaging in direct sales in China. Since the 2005 regulation was released, the regulatory environment of direct sales has seen some changes, which will be explored below: RELATED: Business Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates 2016 update On March 13, 2016, the Ministry of Commerce issued an adjustment to the scope of products that are allowed to be sold via means of direct sales. They are now restricted to: Cosmetics Cleaning products (personal hygiene products and household cleaning supplies) Health food products Health care equipment Small kitchen implements Household electronic appliances The adjustment adds a supplement to the 2005 regulation, only expanding scope to household electronic appliances. The regulation upholds that goods that are not to be sold via means of direct sales include restricted goods (ie. Firearms, drugs etc.), perishable goods, bulk commodities, and goods of which value is not easily discernable. 2015 update The Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce (Shanghai AIC) released Regulations on the Management of Direct Sales Industry Behavior in 2015, further clarifying distinctions between direct selling and pyramid selling. This was in reaction to a series of highly publicized investigations by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) into alleged pyramid selling behavior. The 2015 amendment introduced more stringent requirements which place greater pressure on direct sales companies operating, or seeking to operate, within Mainland China. In addition to the requirements as stipulated in the 2005 regulation, companies must also provide a fixed place of business, a signed distribution contract, company policies allowing for product returns, and training programs for sales staff. Direct sales companies are prohibited from activities that engage in false product promotion and/or disseminate inconsistent information; organize direct selling training or examination; encourage or incentive sales staff to recruit additional salespeople; or engage in any activities that organize or participate in pyramid selling. In addition, direct sales companies must establish comprehensive files about their dealers. These files will detail personal information about dealers and then should be sent to the Shanghai AIC. Importance to investors Chinas direct sales industry presents foreign companies with great potential and a huge market. However, it is important to know and fully understand the regulatory environment to be compliant when entering. Companies that operate on direct sales models must pay extra caution to Chinese regulations prohibiting pyramid selling, and though they provide sales with transparency, it will also create additional obstacles for direct sales companies in China, significantly hindering market entrance. About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. Selling, Sourcing and E-Commerce in China 2016 (First Edition) This guide, produced in collaboration with the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, provides a comprehensive analysis of all these aspects of commerce in China. It discusses how foreign companies can best go about sourcing products from China; how foreign retailers can set up operations on the ground to sell directly to the countrys massive consumer class; and finally details how foreign enterprises can access Chinas lucrative yet ostensibly complex e-commerce market. Establishing & Operating a Business in China 2016 Establishing & Operating a Business in China 2016, produced in collaboration with the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, explores the establishment procedures and related considerations of the Representative Office (RO), and two types of Limited Liability Companies: the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise (WFOE) and the Sino-foreign Joint Venture (JV). The guide also includes issues specific to Hong Kong and Singapore holding companies, and details how foreign investors can close a foreign-invested enterprise smoothly in China. Human Resources and Payroll in China 2016-2017 A firm understanding of Chinas laws and regulations related to human resources and payroll management is absolutely necessary for foreign businesses in China. This edition of HR and Payroll, updated for 2016/17, navigates Chinas laws and regulations related to HR and payroll management essential information for foreign investors looking to establish or already running a foreign-invested entity in China. From deceased college students to a renowned university professor, it seems no one in China is certain they are safe from telecom scammers. The relevant Chinese authorities have endeavored to find solutions to tackle the increasing fraud. For those who were conned into the fraud, it is a long and difficult process to recover the stolen money, even if those responsible for the fraud are caught and their money recovered by the police. The victims not only have to apply for approval from the police, but also must follow the bank's procedure to once again reobtain the money lost to them. This whole process is cumbersome and lengthy. On Tuesday, in order to simplify the process, China's Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) and the Public Security Ministry issued joint regulation that aids the fraud victims, helping them retrieve their money as soon as possible. The regulation aims to release the money from police custody to the banks, who can accurately return the funds to the associated victims. The regulation requires the banks to assign case-specific personnel in charge of returning the telecom fraud money, this should alleviate extra work on the police's part. According to the regulation, after the victim's application to the police has been approved, the banks should return the money within three days. If the bank fails to assist the police, the bank can face penalties from the CBRC. Earlier this month a warning system was put in place for phone users in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to prevent further telecom frauds. Over 400 million fraud-related phone numbers have been labeled by the system. When users receive or call these numbers, warnings will appear cautioning of the possible fraud. Mainstream media and public security authorities have prioritized the telecom scams since several college students lost their tuition, some even committing suicide from the loss. Activities for the commemoration of International Day of Peace were held Wednesday in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Incumbent and former politicians from 33 countries, representatives from NGOs, think tanks and Chinese scholars participated in the event. Vice President Li Yuanchao delivered a keynote speech, saying that the International Day of Peace was established by the UN 35 years ago to reflect the common aspiration of the international community for peace and development. As pointed out by Chinese President Xi Jinping, society is evolving into a global community of shared destiny where everyone is interdependent, and peaceful development and common prosperity represent the right path to take, Li said. He hoped that all countries "resolve disagreements and disputes through dialogue and consultation," adding that countries should respect and accommodate each other, have friendly consultations, work together to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and create a peaceful and stable international environment. Li also hoped that countries can achieve common prosperity through win-win results to "make sure the pie keeps getting bigger and better." The vice president suggested "rising to common challenges of humankind by innovating the global governance institution" to reflect more evenly the interests and appeal of all the countries, especially the developing ones. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the activities that were held by the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, UN China offices and government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. China will officially recognize those who excel in poverty alleviation work, an official from the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development announced Wednesday. "The poverty alleviation prizes are comprised of awards for endeavor, contribution, dedication and innovation. Each award will be held by no more than 10 people at any time," said Zheng Wenkai, deputy head of the office at a press conference. The prizes will be issued once a year until 2020. There were still around 70 million Chinese last year living below the poverty line, many in harsh conditions without roads, water or power. Lifting them out of poverty by 2020 will be "the most arduous task" on China's path toward a moderately prosperous society in all respects, according to a key poverty alleviation instruction released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council last December. Michelin food guide launched its first edition on the Chinese mainland yesterday, awarding its highly-prized stars to top-tier restaurants, including a Cantonese establishment with just six tables, and in the process cooked up a storm among local gourmets. Tang Court, inside Langham Shanghai, in Xintiandi was awarded three Michelin stars and hailed as exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey in the Michelin Guide Shanghai 2017. The guide awarded two stars to seven restaurants with more than half of them offering a variety of Chinese cuisines, including two stars for Canton 8 a popular lunchtime spot catering to local families, Michelin said. Another 18 restaurants were given one star. In its first edition, Cantonese restaurants emerged the biggest winner, with only a few Shanghainese restaurants making the grade, triggering a debate among food connoisseurs for ignoring local flavors. The Michelin Guide announced its recommendation for the best restaurants in Shanghai today, but I think it does not cater to the taste of Shanghainese, said Joey Ma, a local editor who has tried out half of the star-rated restaurants listed in the guide. A food critic, Xu Qianlai said most of Michelin Guides inspectors are from overseas or from Hong Kong and Macau. It is difficult for them to capture the essence of local delicacies. But Michael Ellis, Michelin Guide International Director, disputed that and said the team had an inspector from Shanghai, and it took them more than a year to come up with the final selection. You can agree or disagree with the result, but I think what you can not disregard is the fact that we have our own inspectors, our methods, and our criteria. He insisted that the number of Shanghainese restaurants covered in the guide still ranked the second among Chinese cuisine restaurants, and Canton 8, which has a set menu for 48 yuan (US$ 7), is also included in the two-starred restaurants among the least expensive two-starred restaurants in the world. In this guide, you will find quite a few restaurants that are local and affordable, he insisted. The quality of ingredients, the chefs personality as revealed through cuisine, the preparation and combination of flavors, value for money and the ability to produce excellent cooking with consistency over time and across the entire menu were the five criteria applied by the Michelin inspectors. Restaurants that have won a star from the culinary bible have in the past built big businesses after being recognized, with Hong Kongs Tim Ho Wan and Taiwans Din Tai Fung turning into international franchises. Canton 8 can likely expect to see a similar surge in customers. On Tuesday night, before the release of the guide, the inexpensive two-story restaurant was filled with only around 20 diners feasting on crystal prawn dumplings and lobster porridge. Chef Jian Jieming of Canton 8 said he had never dreamed of making the list. He credited the fresh ingredients and comfortable atmosphere of the restaurant for its two stars. In terms of the three-starred Tang Court, Ellis said it was worth a special visit. In the cozy atmosphere of Tang Court where only six tables are set, the talented and creative chef Justin Tan offers cuisine in which traditional Cantonese dishes rub shoulders with some very modern dishes, said Ellis. Some specialities really amazed the palates of our inspectors. A native to Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, Tan has been working as a chef since 1993. I am nervous when I sit here, and the award is a surprising delight and great recognition for our team, said Tan Shiye, or Justin Tan, Chinese Executive Chef of the restaurant. Shanghai is the latest Asian city to feature in the guide following the launch of editions focusing on Hong Kong, Taipei and Singapore. What makes Shanghai particularly exciting is that the city is an economic and cultural crossroad, and its gastronomy is the result of a strong culinary heritage which makes the dining scene very exciting, Ellis said. China has the most amazing gastronomic culture, and for historic reasons it has not been at the forefront of international gastronomy, said Fuchsia Dunlop, a cook and food writer specializing in Chinese cuisine. But she was not convinced Michelins approach of sending individual reviewers could truly identify the countrys best restaurants. Chinese cuisine traditionally caters to groups, with family-style meals consisting of several shared dishes, she said. If you have one person going out to eat, its impossible for them to get a sense of a full, balanced Chinese meal, she said. Even if you went 10 times, you wouldnt get a sense of a meal with all the contrasts. Wild Great Wall before the restoration Wild Great Wall after the restoration A 700-year-old wild stretch of China's Great Wall has been covered in a smooth and white trail of sandy soil by the local cultural relics bureau in Suizhong County, in the southwestern part of Liaoning province of North China, an action that was blasted by netizens as the "ugliest" restoration. Suizhong's Xiaohekou section of the Great Wall, once dubbed by many as "most beautiful wild stretch of the Great Wall", is a national protected cultural relic; however it was in a remote mountainous area and its restoration, which occurred in 2014, only came to public attention recently when some internet users uploaded photos online. They triggered public outcry and scrutiny, many asking why the authorities had used "cement" to repair the section, which seems more like destruction of the original beauty and status of the cultural relics than the restoration claimed by the local government. Liu Fusheng, a local resident who climbs the section of Great Wall every day, told the Beijing News he witnessed the work. "The construction workers used cement mixed with white dust and sandy soil to flatten the walkway into a smooth and flat surface," he recalled. Three months later, the surface had become a hardened road integrated with the original walls and ancient brick road. Suizhong County's Cultural Relics Bureau responded to the controversy by saying the statements and speculation online were inaccurate. The repair was an emergency project because the Great Wall might have collapsed in heavy rain. The bureau stressed the material used was sandy soil, rather than the alleged "cement". Ding Hui, director of Cultural Relics Bureau of Liaoning Province, said on Wednesday that, before the restoration, the Great Wall was in grave danger of being ruined by rain and natural disaster. "So the cultural department developed an urgent plan to lay a protective cover on the severely damaged part of the Great Wall." The restoration work covers eight kilometers of the section of Great Wall, "In some sections, we repair it; in another, we reinforce it; as for the one section you saw in the recent photos, which is one or two kilometers long, we just did some protection work to improve it." He explained the plan was made by experts after they surveyed the section and approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. He admitted, however, that the way the restored Great Wall section looks is "not good." "It didn't look pretty just after we finished our work," Ding said, "We knew it from beginning. And we tried to improve it starting one year ago. We felt upset, too, but this was the only method of resolving the problem offered by the experts. If there was no better way, we have to maintain the status quo." China Great Wall Society deputy director Dong Yaohui said the repair was done "very badly". "It damaged the original look of the Great Wall and took away the history from the people." He said the main reason to restore it like this but with the authorities' approval was because there was no general and operative standard for restoring all the Great Wall sections in the country. "Different local authorities have different visions for repairs as they always ask local agencies to handle the repair plans," Dong said, "So the results will come out differently." He suggested the repair should respect the current status of the Great Wall sections. "We don't want to repair it like it was in ancient times, and we don't want to turn it into a modern edifice. Preserving the status quo with least intervention is the best way." According to the China Great Wall Society, natural and human damage to the Great Wall in the past 2,000 years has jeopardized the famous cultural relic. For example, the youngest part of the Great Wall, from the Ming Dynasty, only has 513.5 kilometers of wall intact, out of 6,259.6 kilometers in full - that is only eight percent. About 1,961.6 kilometers of ground relics of the Great Wall have already disappeared. Chinas primary students are being given the chance to participate in a series of mobile app-based math contests launched on Sept. 21, 2016 in Beijing. The "Light of Math" contest consists of three legs: "Happy Oral Calculation," "Interesting Math," and "Fun Science." Participants need to download a mobile app called Calculation Box, and seek to achieve the best record in terms of accuracy within the time set to complete each challenge. Contestants with the highest scores will be invited to the final competition, "Science Carnival," which will be held offline in Beijing next January. The contest's primary organizer, Calculation Box's developer Knowbox, wanted to help consolidate primary students' ability in basic math by means of game-style exercises on a mobile terminal, said Jia Xiaoming, the Chief Marketing Officer of Knowbox, at a launch ceremony. To promote the contest among a wider range of participants nationwide, Knowbox teamed up with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), named after the late wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, to use the latter's influence and prestige. Knowbox also donated one million yuan (US$149.84 thousand) to set up a special fund with CSCLF to provide necessary financing for the contest. Calculation Box has received many positive reviews since the free mobile app hit the market in March last year. Zhu Jingyan, a teacher from Shanghai Guangling Road Primary School, said that Calculation Box improved the efficiency for both teachers and students. She said students in the first and second grade aren't allowed to be given written homework as per local educational authority's concern to lessen young students' burden; however, calculation practice is essential and should be carried out on the daily basis. "In the past, we advised parents to supervise their basic math practices, for which they have to buy exercise sheets. With Calculation Box, things are easier now. Corrections are made automatically, and the learning process is more interesting," said Ms. Zhu. On Calculation Box, she could easily assign exercises of basic math so that all students instantly receive them on their parents' cellphones or iPads. The app will automatically correct students' exercises, saving teachers time in correction and allowing them space to analyze different student's weakness and come up with differentiated remedies, according to Ms. Zhu. Most primary and middle schools in China have a ban on students' using cellphones or iPads, among other electronic devices, to prevent students from being distracted, so the promotion of an educational mobile app seems at odds with such a ban. However, Knowbox CMO Jia said the app actually targets students' extracurricular time more, adding that the app is advised to be installed on parents' phones since their supervision is also part of the educational program. Tears streaked the cheeks of 74-year-old Zhang Chunmei (a pseudonym), a local farmer in rural Jingbian Town in Shaanxi Province, when the ruins of her cornfield came into her sight. Zhang's cornfield should have been harvest around now, had the local government not asked the farmers to destroy the genetically modified (GM) crops at the end of last month. "Officials of the local government and the agricultural authorities came to the town, telling us the corns we grew were genetically modified, and therefore toxic, so had to be eradicated," Zhang recalled. "How could they destroy the plants which were still premature?" Zhang couldn't help crying. She is among multitudes of farmers whose sweats and toil proved in vain when the 2.67 square-kilometer of cornfields in rural Shaanxi were razed. Although the government promised to reimburse the farmers by distributing 2.1 yuan per square meter of land before the end of October, the farmers still grumbled at the meager subsidies lower than the income they could have earned on the market with the harvested corns. Local people who depend on farming and herding are experienced in growing corns, the area's staple crop. However, after the field clearance, the local government asked the farmers not to even take the remnants for use as fodder. However, the local farmers complained that the government did not inform them of the allegedly poisonous nature of the GM corns in time, otherwise, they might have been able to replace them with other grains, such as, buckwheat or millets. "Now it is too late, when the corns are expected mature in weeks," a farmer complained while insisting on remaining anonymous. Sparsely-populated Jingbian Town has always had good agrarian land to grow corns. Therefore, every year, suppliers of corn seeds would pay frequent visits to the town to tout for sales. Since the farmers are less educated, they simply buy seeds on the recommendation of familiar agents. However, this year, Li Hongwei, the intermediary of the corn seeds business, introduced Liu Zhenguo, the seeds provider, to the local farmers who were unaware that the seeds were genetically modified. Currently, China only allows the growing of genetically-modified cotton and papaw for commercial use. Liu was detained by the local police bureau for selling illegal GM corn seeds with a transaction cost preliminarily estimated at 1.8 million yuan (US$ 270,000) and resulting in a direct economic loss of 1.4 million yuan that has severely affected farmers' livelihood. Liu, a seeds supplier, registered under Hebei Xuntian Company for two years, was supposed to carry on his business in Inner Mongolia. Moreover, the seeds Liu sold to Shaanxi should have been those produced in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region where the farmlands yields no GM seeds. "It is highly suspicious that whether or not the species of the hybrid corn seeds that Liu sold had obtained approval from national authorities," said a staff member from the company named Wen. Jiang Tao, senior engineer of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, recently, there are only two species of GM corns allowed to be grown for scientific research. They are planted under stringent regulations, such as, being separated from other agricultural products. China amended the Seed Law for the second time in 2015, according to which, organizations or individuals are not allowed to sell seeds for market-oriented plantation without official approval. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Central Bank informs that on September 22, the exchange rate of USD formed 473.62 AMD, which is an increase of 0.06 drams compared to the previous day. Armenpress reports that exchange rate of Euro formed 531.97 AMD (increased by 2.34 drams), the exchange rate of the British pound is 618.48 AMD (increased by 3.86 drams), and the exchange rate of the Russian ruble is 7.42 AMD (increased by 0.13 drams). The prices for precious metals on September 22 were set as follows: the price for gold per gram is 20 thousand and 192.84 AMD, silver 295.87 AMD, platinum 15 thousand and 882.01 AMD. Racing against time to find a new antibiotic that will prevent 10 million people every year dying from common infections. Creating new strains of rice that can feed more people while cutting down on polluting fertilisers. Finding commercial, scalable applications for a new material a single atom in thickness. Pinning down exactly how and how badly air pollution harms human health so we can take the best measures to protect ourselves. Crunching huge amounts of data to predict in much more detail what climate change will mean for specific communities and how they can best adapt. What do all these have in common? They are just a few of the many areas where UK and Chinese scientists, innovators and businesses are working together. It is why research collaboration is one of the most important parts of the global partnership with the UK that President Xi Jinping announced during his state visit last year. The global challenges we face are huge. And there is an obvious and natural reason why the UK and China are such strategic scientific partners. The UK has four of the top 25 research universities in the world the rest of the world outside the US contributes just two. In the past 15 years, we've won 14 Nobel prizes for science, again more than any other country than the US. Although we only make up less than one percent of the world's population, we contribute one in every seven of the most highly cited scientific papers. From television to the internet, from DNA fingerprinting to Maglev trains, UK innovation has shaped the modern world. This won't change. Earlier this month the first scientists moved into the biggest biomedical research institute in Europe the Francis Crick Institute in London. The UK government has also confirmed that we will guarantee funding for collaborative research with other EU countries as part of Horizon 2020, if it is successfully applied for before we leave the EU. So the hugely valuable work we are doing under Horizon 2020 will continue. Internationally, the UK will be the global headquarters for the world's largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, and we've just signed up as full members of the major new particle accelerator European Spallation Source which will be bigger than CERN. And the story in China is equally impressive. In the past 20 years, China's R&D budgets have grown by a massive 40 times, making it today the second biggest scientific funder in the world. And Innovation runs through the core of the 13th Five Year Plan, with ambitious targets in 13 major areas. It is no wonder then that the UK has overtaken Japan to become China's second largest scientific collaboration partner as measured by joint papers. Nor is it a surprise that such collaboration is bearing fruit. Independent citation data shows that when UK and Chinese scientists work together their results are more widely read and have more impact than when either works alone. The Pujiang Innovation Forum later this week where the UK is country of honour is an opportunity both to celebrate that success and to plan for the future. We are bringing out 150 top scientists including the Nobel Prize winner Kostya Novoselov who invented that one atom thick material, graphene led by me and by our government Chief Scientific Adviser, Mark Walport. We'll be making some exciting announcements including the opening up in Shanghai of a new joint UK-China centre for plant and microbial science. In my job as Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation I get to see many examples of British scientific excellence and collaboration around the world. But none is more exciting and more significant than the work that the UK and China are doing, together, to push forward human understanding and through scientific endeavour build a better world. Jo Johnson, UK Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Flash UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attends a high-level meeting on Syria at the Security Council Chamber at the UN Headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on the UN Security Council to fully support his special envoy in working on convening formal talks to resolve the Syria conflict. "We are at a make or break moment" in Syria, where the civil war broke out in March 2011, Ban told an open council meeting on Syria. He also called for the council support for his special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in his efforts to develop proposals for future talks, or risk destroying the international community's credibility in being able to uphold "our common humanity." The Security Council now has "no higher responsibility" than backing political path in Syria, Ban said. The council meeting was held on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, the week-long event which opened here Tuesday. "We are at a make or break moment," Ban said. "I challenge everyone to use their influence now to restore a cessation of hostilities, enable humanitarian assistance everywhere it is needed, and support the United Nations in charting a political path for the Syrians to negotiate a way out of the hell in which they are trapped." "You have now no higher responsibility in your service as members of the United Nations Security Council," Ban said. As a result of the longstanding conflict, more than 300,000 Syrians have been killed, half of the Middle East country's population has been uprooted, and much of its infrastructure lies in ruins, he noted. In addition, many Syrians fear that fragmentation of their country could follow, with Daesh (also known as the Islamic State) and al-Qaida affiliates poised to exploit further chaos, he said. "The Syrian tragedy shames us all," he said. "The collective failure of the international community should haunt every member of this Council." Global norms of humanitarian law have been "flagrantly violated," defying the Security Council's resolutions, he said. De Mistura has been struggling to keep the stalled peace process alive amid a surge in fighting between Syrian forces and rebel fighters. At the same time, the secretary-general said that it is known that international unity can make a difference as council unity and resolve has led to the elimination of Syria's previously denied chemical weapons programme and the attribution of responsibility for their use. Moreover, food and medicines have been delivered to millions of Syrians, also across front lines and via air drops to besieged and hard-to-reach areas. The formation of the International Syria Support Group has also provided fresh momentum to the search for a settlement and paved the way for Security Council resolution 2254, adopted in 2015, the UN chief said. Meanwhile, Ban also recalled that the cessation of hostilities -- albeit fragile -- that began in late February yielded positive results for a few months. In that window, the UN intensified humanitarian operations and brought the parties to Geneva for talks, he said. "But that process was once again overwhelmed by violence," the secretary-general said, noting that the "long-sought" agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States, concluded on Sept. 9 "represents a new opportunity." Flash In the wake of recent violent attacks, U.S. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is expected to highlight her foreign policy experience to show that she could make Americans safer from terrorists. But at the same time, Clinton faces a tough task in convincing voters that she is better qualified in dealing with security threat than her Republican rival Donald Trump, the bombastic billionaire who has never served in any government office. The weekend saw multiple violent attacks on the U.S. soil, including the bombings in New York City and the state of New Jersey on Saturday, which wounded dozens of people, and a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in the state of Minnesota, in which nine people were injured. On Sunday, a backpack containing several bombs were found at a train station in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Each presidential candidate has a different set of strengths and weaknesses, in the eyes of voters, regarding their ability to keep Americans safe from Islamist extremism. Clinton has decades of experience in government, as a first lady, a senator and a secretary of state, and will use this to convince voters that she knows how to navigate the foreign policy environment and what steps to take to fight against terrorism. But at the same time, Trump will argue that Clinton has botched every chance she had to fight terrorism. He will focus on her perceived missteps and muck-ups in Benghazi, Libya, where a terror attack against a U.S. consulate ended in the deaths of four Americans -- including the ambassador. Trump will also contend that Clinton has treated terrorists with kid gloves, and that what America needs is a leader who will take every measure possible to take down the Islamic State and other terror groups. Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that Clinton will have to continue to highlight how her experience in this area is key for stability and security, and that Trump's policies threaten to further escalate the issue of terrorism and instability rather than resolve them. While the Benghazi attack has been constant fodder for Trump supporters, it hasn't resonated to the broader electorate. If Clinton is going to have an uphill climb on the issue of terrorism, it will be because these attacks -and potential future attacks- are seen as a failure of the status quo to keep Americans safe, Mahaffee said. Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua that for Clinton, who has a pretty hawkish record, the challenge will be to highlight this record, combined with her experience, without alienating younger liberals who want a different approach to ending this threat. "To point to her long record in handing these issues, including the killing of Osama bin Laden, to show voters that she in fact could put together a tougher response to these threats," Zelizer added. Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua that each candidate has good credentials for the argument that each is making. Clinton has tremendous foreign policy experience and knows all the world leaders, so she will claim that she can be effective in today's chaotic situation, West said. Trump will argue that it takes courage to protect the United States and he is better suited on that front, he added. "The election may come down to which of those arguments carries more weight," he said. Right now, Clinton has an edge in voter perceptions about her foreign policy experience, but terrorist attacks within the U.S. will alter the dynamic and give Trump "an opening to push his own credentials," West added. You are here: Home Flash A Syrian warplane was downed on Wednesday while striking Islamic State (IS) positions north of the capital Damascus, state news agency SANA reported. The pilot was rescued, SANA said. The plane went downed after completing its mission in striking IS positions in the mountainous Qalamoun region, the news agency said. Meanwhile, the IS-linked Amaq news agency said the Syrian warplane carried out four airstrikes against IS positions before being shot down and crashed in an area between an IS-controlled region and other Syrian opposition factions. The aircraft is the second warplane downed this week. On Sunday, a government warplane was shot down by IS militants in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour; the pilot died. You are here: Home Flash The Paris Agreement on climate change has moved closer towards entry into force, as 31 more countries joined the agreement on Wednesday at the United Nations headquarters in New York. At a special event held here, the 31 countries including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Thailand deposited their ratification of the agreement with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Moreover, the European Union, Canada, Australia and some other countries have promised, through videos, to join the agreement no later than this year. According to Ban, 60 parties representing over 47.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions have joined the agreement, meeting one of the two requirements for bringing the Paris Agreement into force. The agreement, adopted in December 2015, needs 55 nations that together account for 55 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions to ratify before it can formally enter into force. In this regard, "I appeal to all leaders to accelerate your domestic procedures to join the agreement this year," said Ban. On Sept. 3, the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, ratified the agreement, which outlines post-2020 global climate governance. The much-anticipated Paris Agreement is the third international document on addressing climate change, following the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Flash Malaysian foreign ministry said on Wednesday investigators will release the interim results next Wednesday on the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which may contain further information in the criminal perspective. The decision was made after foreign ministers from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands, where most of the passengers were from, met and discussed in New York about the investigative efforts, which aim to "establish justice with the regard of flight MH17 on July 17, 2014." All 298 on board lost their lives on the plane while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The Dutch Safety Board, which led a separate investigation into technical details of the crash, confirmed in last October that the aircraft crashed after being hit by a Russian-made Buk missile system, but it did not pinpoint who should be held criminally responsible for the tragedy. According to the joint statement, foreign ministers of the five countries reiterated their "strong support" for the independent investigation team, made up of experts from the five countries. It also said that the countries remain fully committed to take effective measures to hold those who are responsible to account. "There must be justice for the families and loved ones of those killed on MH17," it noted. Flash The European Union (EU), for the first time in history, will be able to apply sanctions autonomously to Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda jihadist groups, as well as persons and entities associated with or supporting them. Until now, sanctions could only be applied to persons and entities listed by the United Nations or by EU member states. Sanctions, agreed by the European Council on Tuesday, include travel bans and asset freezing. Individuals and entities involved in any activity or support with Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda can be targeted, even if they are not on United Nations blacklists. According to an EU statement, the broad scope of activities that fall under the sanctions comprises planning or perpetrating terrorist attacks; providing financing, oil or arms; having received terrorist training; and recruiting, inciting or publicly provoking acts, among others. In a separate area of the new law, serious abuses of human rights, such as abduction and rape, is also listed. The EU will also be able to impose restrictive measures on terrorist-related individuals, especially on so-called foreign fighters, travelling or seeking to travel both out of and into the EU. According to Europol, more than 5,000 EU nationals have travelled to Syria, one third of them have since returned to Europe. You are here: Home Flash Security forces stand guard in front of the Israeli Embassy in Ankara, capital of Turkey, on Sept. 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] A "knife-wielding" man was shot and wounded outside the Israeli mission in Ankara on Wednesday, but no one was hurt among the embassy staff. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a local security guard shot and wounded "a knife-wielding man" near the Israeli mission and that all embassy staff are safe. "He was shot before reaching the embassy," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Security has been beefed up around the embassy, a Xinhua reporter at the scene said. Dogan News Agency said the attacker was heard shouting "I will change the Middle East." The Ankara Governor's Office said the attacker was mentally unstable and that no link with any organization was identified, CNN Turk reported, adding that a suspicious package near the Israeli embassy was being examined. The attacker was identified as Osman Nuri Caliskan, who was born in 1978. Some reports said Caliskan is a construction worker from the central Anatolian province of Konya. STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 22, ARTSAKHPRESS: The Ministrys announcement reads: Overnight September 20-21 and on September 21 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 70 times by firing more than 700 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions in Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Azerbaijani forces also fired DShK heavy machine gun (36 shots) at the southern direction of the Defense Army. The Defense Army forces are in full control of the situation in the frontline and continue confidently fulfilling their military tasks. Flash Morocco foiled a dangerous terrorist attack, plotted by the Islamic State (IS) group, in the country last Friday, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday. The ministry said in a statement that the foiling of this attack followed the dismantling of a terrorist cell composed of three extremists imbued with IS ideology and operating in the northern cities of M'diq and Tangier. An ongoing investigation revealed that the cell was planning to commit terrorist attacks and trigger a series of destructive operations seeking to undermine Morocco's security and stability, with the aim of declaring Morocco a "wilaya," Arabic for state, linked to IS, it added. The probe also revealed that the cell chief, who was getting ready to join the IS ranks in Syria and Iraqi, was tasked by a high-ranking leader within IS foreign operations unit to carry out terrorist acts in Morocco targeting sensitive spots, security establishments and tourism sites, as well as foreigners from countries taking part in the international coalition fighting the IS, it said. The cell chief, who is skilled in making explosives, was receiving financial and logistical support to carry out his terrorist project from the IS leader, the ministry added. The investigation also showed that the main suspect stole chemical products and equipment from a laboratory of an educational establishment in the city of M'diq in order to use them in bomb making. The suspects will be brought to justice after the end of the investigation led under the supervision of the public prosecutor's office, it said. Morocco is facing a growing threat from the IS. The Moroccan Interior Ministry revealed that since 2002, more than 160 terrorist cells have been dismantled, which had close ties with terrorist groups active in Iraq and Syria. Flash A United States citizen working as a teacher in a private English language school in the Yemeni capital Sanaa has been detained, witnesses and a security official said on Wednesday. "Peter Willems was teaching his Yemeni students in the class when 10 armed men in plain clothes stormed the school and forced him out into one of their cars on Tuesday," a bodyguard of the school said. A security official loyal to Shiite Houthi armed group, which is controlling Sanaa and government institutions, told Xinhua that "the American teacher was held inside the building of the National Security Service (intelligence) in the old city of Sanaa to ensure that the Saudi-led coalition warplanes will not hit the building or the old city again." The official spoke on condition of anonymity. On Monday, fighter jets from the coalition hit the intelligence building 10 times, causing large damage to nearby residents' homes that led to the death of a 50-year-old husband and his wife was fatally injured, according to the residents, medics and officials. Houthi-controlled Saba news agency cited a security official of the intelligence service as saying that "the service is not a military establishment to be repeatedly targeted by Saudi aggression warplanes, but a security apparatus specializing in combating terrorism and is holding al-Qaida terrorist suspects and foreigners on charges of spying, including Americans." Security situation in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out after the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, stormed through Sanaa and forced internationally-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour into exile. The move triggered a military air force intervention by the Saudi-led coalition to fight against the rebels and restore Hadi and his government to the capital. The outbreak of war prompted foreign countries to close their embassies and evacuate their staff. The war has killed over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, injured about 35,000 others and displaced over three million, according to statistics from humanitarian agencies. Flash Asia Pacific Youth Dialogue opens on Sept. 21 in Chengdu, in China's southwestern province of Sichuan. [Photo / China.org.cn] Twenty-three years after Samuel Huntington's popular book "The Clash of Civilizations" was published and aroused calls for dialogue between different civilizations, it is still as relevant as ever in the current era of regional confrontations and inter-religious mistrust. In this context, and through an initiative with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Chinese Ministry of Education, the first Asia-Pacific Youth Dialogue opened on Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, in the southwestern city of Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Around 200 young delegates from 46 countries of the Asia-Pacific region gathered to discuss how to build a nexus between Asia Pacific civilizations, cultures, social cohesion, respect for diversity and peace building, as well as engaging with the youth as agents of change and custodians of the future regionally and internationally. The initiative coincides with the call of the country's policymakers to boost regional cooperation and development as President Xi Jinping proposed in a speech last year at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). This, he said, could act as a platform to enhance interactions among young people, local communities and the media and to form a network of cooperation. Dr. Marielza Oliveira, director and UNESCO representative to the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea, said at the opening ceremony, "The youth delegates here are chosen from thousands of applicants and represent the best, the brightest and the most committed who come together to discuss what needs to be done to defend the dignity of all human beings." She called for young people to act on the domestic and international problems they face, citing the fact that British youth might be the hardest hit by the Brexit scenario due to their inaction before and during the referendum. Robert H. Xiao, CEO of Perfect World Co., Ltd., China's online gaming giant and sponsor of the event, highlighted three keywords, i.e. communication, hope and responsibility, as his expectations for the young people. "Communication is the foundation on which Asian young people can build mutual understanding, find mutual benefits and grow together," said Xiao. "Communication among Asian countries and among young people in particular, is an important source of confidence and recognition of Asian civilization." "It is also the basis for Asian people to build mutual understanding and benefits, and achieve joint development." When asked about his expectation for the event, Andrew Lesa, a youth delegate and also a diplomat from New Zealand told China.org.cn he wanted to see actions in earnest following the event. "At a lot of meetings, all we do is talk." He hoped that after the meeting and when everyone had returned home, there could be tangible projects and activities staged in their respective countries on the important agenda items of the event so as to "make a difference on the ground." Hoe Wee Kiat, a youth delegate from Singapore, told China.org.cn the event could enable them to learn about each other's culture and civilization. "Youth can be agents of change, and they should be more proactive and take the initiative in making a positive difference." The three-day event is envisioned as a dynamic and participatory event utilizing a combination of plenary lectures and workshops organized both thematically and sub-regionally, and fun activities to provide learning and networking opportunities for the youth. According to the organizer, the initiative is a follow-up to discussions on Young Global Citizens for a Sustainable Planet in 2015 and leads up to the 2017 Asian Civilization Dialogue Forum in China. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Flash South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday expressed worry about possible provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) amid signs that Pyongyang may have completed preparations for another nuclear test and ballistic missile launch. Park said during a meeting with senior presidential secretaries that the DPRK will no longer come to a dialogue table for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula to deepen nuclear and missile provocations further. She said one of the worst case scenarios is becoming real to enable Pyongyang to conduct any type of provocations at will based on its advanced nuclear and missile capabilities. Her comments followed the DPRK's announcement on Sept. 9 that it carried out a successful explosion test of nuclear warhead that can be mounted on ballistic rockets. Pyongyang said on Tuesday that it conducted a successful engine test on the ground of a carrier rocket for geo-stationary satellite, which Seoul sees as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). South Korean government sources were quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying the DPRK covered entrances to two tunnels with camouflage nets at its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site, an indication of preparing for another nuclear detonation. The DPRK is expected here to conduct another nuclear test at any time or launch a new ballistic rocket at or around the 71st anniversary on Oct. 10 of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Describing the DPRK's nuclear and missile ambitions as "fanatic adherence," the South Korean president said Pyongyang can conduct unexpected provocations further as tougher sanctions are in discussion from the international community. Park vowed to do whatever she can in order to protect people and her country from the DPRK's nuclear and missile threats, saying South Korea will make best efforts to introduce fresh, strong sanctions on Pyongyang while adopting unilateral measures to pressure the DPRK. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently exchanged congratulatory messages with his Lithuanian counterpart, Dalia Grybauskaite, on the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Since China and Lithuania established diplomatic ties in 1991, the two countries have constantly strengthened political trust and enhanced pragmatic cooperation on the basis of respect and equality, and bilateral ties have witnessed remarkable progress, Xi said. China attaches great importance to its relations with Lithuania and is willing to push forward bilateral ties and bring more benefits to both peoples, the Chinese leader added. For her part, Grybauskaite said that the Lithuania-China ties have witnessed profound development in the past few years, and closer contacts as well as deepened economic and cultural cooperation have laid a solid foundation for further bilateral development. Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday expounded China's proposals to promote global development, which were warmly welcomed by experts. Speaking at the annual high-level debate at the UN General Assembly, Li reiterated China's commitment to sustainable development and its international obligations. China attaches great importance to the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will push forward the action plan authored by G20 leaders earlier this month, said Li. He called on the international community to jointly address global challenges and build an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world, referencing the theme of the G20 summit held in early September in China. "The conceptualization of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is a Chinese contribution which was articulated at G20 Summit in Hangzhou," said Dolla Varaprasad, a professor with Jawaharlal Nhru University in New Delhi, India. "The premier's announcement showed China's determination, sincerity and passion to achieve the sustainable development goals," said Saleem Khilji, director of Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Pakistan. Indian prof. R.K. Chaudhury, formerly of Delhi University, also hailed Chinese premier's speech, saying that the ultimate goal of China's modernization is to have some 1.3 billion people live a well-off life and "that's very much achievable." As the largest developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China has earnestly met international obligations to raise standards of living at home, Li said. China has provided 400 billion RMB (some 59.9 billion U.S. dollars) to 166 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations, and trained some 12 million personnel in various sectors for other developing countries, said Li. "China's contribution to the South-South Cooperation, especially to countries in African is unique and exemplary in the world," said Khilji. "The China-initiated assistance fund for South-South Cooperation and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund likely to start formally later this year, will further help in poverty alleviation and improve the security situation in the world," he added. Meanwhile, Laurie Pearcey, international executive director of the University of New South Wales, told Xinhua that "China's role in Africa for example is breaking the traditional mould forged by old world imperial powers which sought to assert influence on the African continent through the lens of post colonialism." Fay Chung, former minister of Elementary Education of Zimbabwe also spoke highly of China's role in Africa. "China considers the African nations as his brothers, and always try its best to safeguard their interests in international affairs. Because of this, many African countries show their full support to China," said Chung. China stands ready to work with the international community to build a better world in which each individual can be treated with dignity and can enjoy the benefits of development, the Chinese premier said at the UN. James Laurenceson, deputy director of Australia-China Relations Institute at University of Technology Sydney, says China has laid the groundwork for playing a crucial role in the world. "If China follows through on these statements with concrete action then it will have made an important and welcome step towards exercising global leadership," he said. 600 | October 28, 2022 17:40 Putin to have private talks with Pashinyan and Aliyev 595 | October 26, 2022 17:43 10 residential buildings built in Ivanyan with the funds of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund will soon be put into operation 585 | October 26, 2022 16:27 Pediatric neurologists from Yerevan conduct free exainations in Stepanakert 571 | October 29, 2022 11:04 The statement of the President of the Russian Federation inspires certain hopes. We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic will be fully protected. President Harutyunyan 555 | October 28, 2022 17:54 Power supply may be restored, if Kiev recognizes Russias new regions Medvedev 541 | October 28, 2022 16:52 Zatulin: West seeks to push Russia out of negotiation process at any cost 532 | October 26, 2022 17:41 Pope Francis receives Armenian FM 528 | October 24, 2022 15:04 Video shows destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Azeri-occupied Artsakh territories Assemblyman Gary Finch pledged Wednesday to push legislation that would reduce student loan debt in New York if he's re-elected to the state Assembly. Finch's comments came one day after state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report that found college student loan debt has more than doubled over the past decade. Total student loan debt in New York now stands at more than $82 billion. There are 2.8 million people who are paying off student loans. The average amount owed is $32,200. Finch, R-Springport, called the rise in student loan debt "simply unacceptable." "We cannot make our kids indentured servants to the higher education industrial complex," he said. "It doesn't help them, and it certainly doesn't help us build a stronger economy." This year, Finch cosponsored legislation that would increase state Tuition Assistance Program annual awards to up to $6,470 per student. The income eligibility maximum would rise from $80,000 to $100,000. The bill was referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee, but didn't advance in the Democratic-controlled chamber. "We need to expand the pool of eligible students because there are too many middle-class families feeling intense anxiety about financing college," Finch said. "We want to cut down this mountain of debt." Finch took a swipe at Assembly Democrats for blocking the legislation. He criticized the Democrats' support for the DREAM Act, which would open the state Tuition Assistance Program to undocumented immigrants. He also referred to a push by Democrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to provide public dollars for college courses in state prisons another proposal that Republicans opposed. "That does not resonate with working people in my district who are playing by the rules and scraping by to save for college," he said. Finch is locked in a battle for re-election against Democratic candidate Diane Dwire. The two squared off in 2014 a race Finch won by 10 percentage points. Election Day is Nov. 8. In a hotly contested race, it can be difficult to find any areas of agreement between candidates. But in the 24th Congressional District campaign, there is one issue Republican U.S. Rep. John Katko and Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon have agreed on. Deacon, D-Syracuse, and Katko, R-Camillus, have the same approach to the Interstate 81 project. The highway's viaduct in Syracuse reaches the end of its useful life next year and the state Department of Transportation is considering a handful of options to either rebuild or replace the elevated structure. The options include replacing the viaduct with a boulevard, rebuilding the elevated stretch of highway or installing a tunnel, which could be a more costly alternative. Deacon and Katko haven't spoken out in favor of one proposal over the rest. Leading up to the Democratic primary, Deacon was accused of flip-flopping after answering "yes" to a question during a debate in June about whether she supported replacing the I-81 viaduct with a boulevard. The yes-or-no format of that segment during the debate didn't do Deacon any favors. She wasn't given an opportunity to explain her true position until a forum held one day later in DeWitt. "We have an opportunity right now to re-envision and rethink this community, but I think there's a number of options right now on the table and we can't actually make a decision until we have all the analysis and the data completed to decide what is best for this community," Deacon said at the forum. "I know that the draft IES (sic) will be due in December and there will be another public comment period on that. But until we decide how this is going to affect our street grids and affect our community, I don't think we have all the information available to us to make the decision." Deacon added that she supports a bottom-up approach to decide what ought to be done about the I-81 viaduct. For Katko, his position has been the same for two years. When he campaigned for Congress in 2014, he didn't favor one option over the rest. During an interview this month with The Citizen, he said the community should decide the fate of the I-81 viaduct. "Make sure they're well informed and let them decide and I will be the biggest cheerleader for whatever the majority wants," he said. "But I want to make sure the majority is heard." Katko did express concern that communities outside of Syracuse, including Cayuga County, weren't having their voices heard in the process. He said that the town hall meetings on the project are being held in Syracuse. "They're not being held in DeWitt, which is going to be directly affected by (Interstate 481), or North Syracuse," he said. "They're not being held in Auburn or Skaneateles, where they're going to be directly impacted by certain choices. "I'm beating the drum now to make sure that the public is fully informed and that they have a chance to have their voices heard. It's clear there's certain segments within the Syracuse population that want to have the boulevard. Well, that's great. But have they considered the impact of the boulevard on the outlying areas, which is going to be pretty significant." He added, "I haven't chance my stance. I just want the best possible project for central New York and I want to get behind it 100 percent." Katko noted that he was able to secure a provision in the $305 billion highway bill that designates I-81 as a high priority corridor. While there's no funding attached to the designation, it can be helpful for when federal aid is needed for the project. Customers at a Postal Savings Bank of China Co branch in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/China Daily] State-owned lender Postal Savings Bank of China raised about HK$ 58 billion ($7.4 billion) in its initial public listing offering and is set to go public in Hong Kong on Sept 28making it the world's biggest IPO since Alibaba Group went public raising $25 billion in September 2014. PSBC plans to price its sale of 12.1 billion shares at HK$4.76 per share, below the midpoint of a marketed range from HK$ 4.68 to HK$5.18 a share, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Clarence Kwok, chief investment consultant at Bluestone Securities, said that PSBC had priced itself near the bottom of analyst expectations, reflecting the market's low response to purchase the H shares, and said the bank's oversubscription rate might be less than 1.6 times. He said that usually companies lowered the stock price to improve an issue's popularityand the subscription rate during the good times for the mainland bank shares could reach five to six times. Kwok added, however, that currently the market fears that Chinese mainland banks are suffering from bad debt and shrinking profits under a slowing economy. Additionally, the fact that the company's 1.22 price to book ratio and 9.52 price to earnings ratio were higher than the respective sector average of 0.9 and 5.6 also was dragging on market sentiment. According to the PSBC prospectus, the nonperforming loan ratio of the company reached 0.78 percent as of June 30 this year and the company's allowance coverage ratio was 286.71 percent as of March 31 this year. Kwok said the nonperforming ratio was lower than the average 1.73 percent of the big commercial banks and the allowance coverage ratio was higher than the other large commercial banks' average of 154.73 percent, which was an advantage. Chris FengShijie, director of the capital market department at Qianhai Securities, said he was optimistic about the H shares as the company had numerous branches and a broad and solid customers base. As well, the company's relatively conservative business strategy ensured it to be less effected by market and industry risks. The State-owned retail bank has over 40,000 outlets and over 500 million retail customers and its official website says that it provides financial services to communities, small and medium-sized companies and "agriculture, rural areas and farmers." According to the prospectus, six cornerstone investors have subscribed more than 70 percent of the H-shares. These are CSIC Investment One Ltd, Shanghai International Port Group (HK) Co Ltd, Victory Global Group Ltd and State Grid Overseas Investment Ltd, China Chengtong Holdings Group Ltd, as well as Great Wall Pan Asia International Investment Co Ltd. Financial commentator Dennis Huang said this year the large State-owned listing corporations were mostly supported by "national team" investors and so was Postal Savings Bank of China. He also pointed out that in recent years, the stock market usually moved to higher ground close to October, enabling the large State-owned companies to go public. Looking at expectations for its stock market trading debut, Kwok said he saw the share price topping the offer price and then remaining flat initially. But in three to four months the big State-owned stock would be probably included in the China Enterprises Indices and the share price would bounce back, he said. If China's thirst for luxury goods is on the wane, nobody's told Remy Cointreau SA. The distiller has opened its first-ever store dedicated entirely to Louis XIII cognac, the most expensive variant of the company's Remy Martin brand, which comprises 60 percent of its revenue. It comes in crystal decanters ranging from tiny $600 5-centiliter miniatures to an $80,000 six-liter vessel dubbed a "methuselah." The boutique in Beijing's Shin Kong Place mall also offers pairings of cognac with caviar and iberico ham. "It's a changing landscape in China," said Louis XIII brand director Ludovic du Plessis, who expects slower but more sustainable growth after the government's four-year campaign against graft dented sales. "It's now about self-indulgence, we need to reinvent the dialogue with our client and really get to know who can afford our product." He declined to provide specific sales projections or data for the 142-year-old brand. The move comes as ebbing demand for luxury goodsparticularly in Chinahas forced companies such as Cartier owner Richemont, clothier Burberry and Kelly bag maker Hermes to abandon sales and profit forecasts. A slump in pricey cognacs and Scotch has sent Remy's peers going in the other direction: Pernod Ricard SA, the maker of Martell cognac, said this month that China's growing middle class offers better opportunities for growth. Shipments of cognac to China began to decline from a record high in 2012 after the government crackdown on extravagant gifting, data from trade body BNIC shows. Volumes recovered last year as distillers promoted less-expensive variants. A cyclist rides past the Marina Del Rey Marriott hotel in Marina Del Rey, California.FALLON/BLOOMBERG China's antitrust regulator approved Marriott International Inc's deal to buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, paving the way for the combined company to become the world's largest hotel group. The two hoteliers announced on Tuesday their merger transaction has received approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. It was the only review pending after the companies secured pre-merger approvals from more than 40 countries including the United States and Canada as well as the European Union. Zhao Huanyan, an economist at Huamei Hotel Consulting, said the merger has no impact on the hospitality industry. "Hotel groups now have large numbers of brands, so there is a very limited possibility of monopoly," said Zhao. "Marriott and Starwood are companies with light-weighted assets, and their merger poses no threat to fair competition in the industry," Zhao said. The combined company will have a value of $36 billion and 1.1 million hotel rooms. Marriott and Starwood expect the transaction to be completed before the market opens on Friday. In conjunction with the merger closing, Starwood expects its shares will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange before the market opens on Friday. As previously announced, Starwood shareholders will receive $21 in cash and 0.80 share of Marriott Class A common stock for each share of Starwood common stock. Assuming that the transaction closes as expected, former Starwood shareholders will be entitled to receive Marriott's quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share of common stock that Marriott's board of directors declared on Sept 13 and which is payable to all Marriott shareholders at the close of business on Friday. The dividend to Marriott shareholders, including the former Starwood shareholders, will be paid on Sept 30. Marriott, a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, has more than 4,500 properties in 88 countries and regions. Marriott reported revenues of more than $14 billion in fiscal year 2015. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including the Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari and JW Marriott. Starwood owns more than 1,300 properties in some 100 countries with about 188,000 employees, operating under brands that include the St. Regis, the Luxury Collection and Westin. NEW YORK -- Chinese premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday said frictions represent only a minor part in China-US economic relations, calling upon the two sides to expand common interest and properly handle differences. Li made the statement when addressing a welcoming dinner party organized by the Economic Club of New York. When bilateral trade and investment grow from nearly nothing to its current enormous volume, it is only inevitable that frictions might arise, said Li, who is here for a series of United Nations conferences and engagement with a wide spectrum of Americans. Frictions are not the dominating element in China-US economic relations but just a minor part of cooperation, the premier told about 1,000 elites of American business. However, they should not be ignored, and the two sides should work to resolve their differences before they spread to other areas of the relationship, Li said. On China' s business environment, Li said while complaints from some American business people impressed him, he also read a report by the US-China Business Council which told a different story. In its annual survey, the council found 90 percent of US businesses operating in China were profitable, up from 85 percent in 2014. The Chinese premier also cited increased investment by US enterprises in China. China is still working to improve its business environment for foreign enterprises, Li added. As part of its overall drive to further open up, China has streamlined procedures for foreign investment, said Li. The gathering came one day after the premier met with US President Barack Obama in New York, during which Li called for concerted efforts to promote economic and trade ties between the world's top two economies. Economic and trade cooperation is the "cornerstone" and "propeller" of China-US relations, Li said during their talks. Enhancing China-US cooperation is in accord with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the common wish of the world community, he said, while expressing China's willingness to deepen bilateral, regional and global cooperation in various fields. Obama, for his part, reiterated that his country supports China's reform process and hopes that the two sides can make further progress in bilateral investment treaty negotiations. Li is scheduled to attend the general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday before heading to Canada to continue his overseas trip, which will also take him to Cuba. WUHAN - Long positioned as China's Motor City, Wuhan, Capital of central China's Hubei province, has set up a fund to invest in the industry for the hydrogen energy automobiles of the future. On Wednesday, the city government signed a deal with two top Chinese universities -- Tongji and China University of Geosciences -- to jointly set up a fund worth 200 million yuan ($30 million) in efforts to initiate the industry. Wuhan is China's major auto production base, home to the Shanghai General Motors responsible for the Buick Excelle, the Dongfeng Renault plant, PSA, Honda and dozens of auto part-makers. The auto industry now supplies 20 percent of the city's industrial output and employs more than 1 million residents. The government hopes the fund can obtain 10 billion yuan from the provincial fund for regional economic belt development, for clean energy auto development. According to the deal, the government will encourage domestic auto makers to establish independent hydrogen vehicle brands. This year trial production of prototype hydrogen-powered buses and logistic vehicles is expected. Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean energy source used in the automobile industry. In 2015, China became the first country to utilize hydrogen-powered tram technology, with China South Rail's hydrogen-powered tram. They surpass State-owned companies, providing 65.3% of nation's surging outbound investment China's private companies have taken the lead over State-owned enterprises in the country's surging outbound investment for the first time, a government report said on Thursday. Private enterprises are leading in both the amount invested and the number of mergers and acquisitions abroad, officials said. The change has taken place as outbound direct investment surpassed foreign direct investment last year, also a new phenomenon. Private companies account for 65.3 percent of the total ODI, which amounted to $145.7 billion by the end of last year, according to the 2015 Statistical Bulletin of China's Outward Foreign Direct Investment. Meanwhile, ODI surged by more than 18 percent last year, exceeding the $135.6 billion in foreign direct investment, said the report, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. "The private companies have really become an important force in driving the growth of outbound investment," said Zhang Xiangchen, deputy international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce, at a news conference. Private deals account for 75.6 percent of the total amount of overseas acquisitions, Zhang added. Huge, privately owned companies that are on a foreign shopping spree to either upgrade their technology or diversify their business are behind the shift. One frequent shopper, Chinese aviation and shipping conglomerate HNA Group, bought total foreign assets worth at least $17 billion last year. This year, the private enterprise advanced its global expansion ambitions with additional acquisitions that included a 13 percent stake in the airline company Virgin Australia Holdings, with an investment of $114 million. Even though State-owned enterprises still have a competitive edge over their private peers in such highly regulated industries as electricity, energy and mining, that has not dimmed the enthusiasm of private companies for overseas growth. Wang Huiyao, director of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing, said that private companies tend to be flexible and able to respond quickly to the changing environment overseas. "The private sector contributes more to ODI because the sector itself is growing and getting larger. Meanwhile, the national anti-corruption campaign has slowed the State sector's process of going global, because those enterprises have to adjust their strategies due to the introduction of new executives and leaders," he said. As Chinese companies spend more overseas, the government is taking more measures to ensure the security of assets and the growing number of Chinese working abroad, which already has reached 1 million, said Zhang of the Commerce Ministry. "We are producing guides to foreign investment and risk assessment reports every year to assist Chinese investment in guarding against risks," he said. "We are also encouraging Chinese investors to bolster their risk management abilities and buy insurance in case of losses or damage," he said. lvchang@chinadaily.com.cn A Chinese internet company displays its face identification technology, which increases security for online payments, at Cybersecurity Week in Wuhan.Cheng Hui / Xinhua The deaths of two young people who were scammed by telecom fraudsters is providing greater urgency for computer experts meeting in Wuhan for Cybersecurity Week. A senior official called on Chinese internet enterprises to fight harder against telecom scams through greater technological innovation. While warning users is important, it also is crucial that there are more technical safeguards, "as they can better combat online crimes, including telecom fraud and theft of privacy", said Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Liu spoke at the opening ceremony for the event, held by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet watchdog, in the capital of Hubei province. Liu, who is also deputy head of the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group, encouraged technology companies to be innovative and brainstorm, adding that the government will support them and "govern the web by rule of law". Zhou Hongyi, chairman of Qihoo 360, China's largest security software provider, said no one wants more cases like the two tragic deaths in Shandong province, "so it is urgent to take more action". In August, the two young adults in Linyi died after being scammed, causing an outpouring of sympathy and ire from the public. Xu Yuyu, 18, who was about to enter college, died of a heart attack after she was cheated out of 9,900 yuan ($1,490) in a call. The money she lost was what her financially strapped family had raised for her tuition. Song Zhenning died from cardiac arrest, five days after being swindled out of 2,000 yuan, his living expenses at college for three months. Crackdowns and measures against telecom fraud have been heatedly discussed by technology experts during the event, which runs to Sunday. "We've developed several applications to protect the security of mobile networks, and the most popular one helps users block telecom scams," Zhou said. In August alone, 360 Phone Guardian helped users to block 3.43 billion crank calls, of which 445 million were verified telecom frauds, Zhou said. There have been "great achievements" in work for the Android system, and "we've designed and provided a version for the iPhone system recently," he added. Guo Xunping, the CEO of iJIAMI, specializing in mobile security, said greater technical skills are needed in the fight against phone and text scams. Many systems now rely in part on the human element. "Many applications against telecom scams now rely on mobile phone users' reports. When a phone number is labeled as a scam, the applications will put it in its blacklist and block it from calling others," Guo said. "After all, technology cannot distinguish a scam among a huge quantity of numbers by itself. "We should specify and upgrade our technical skills to protect mobile security," he said. But he also added that "how to balance security and network convenience also needs to be taken into consideration". A passenger takes a rest at a pod at Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Tuesday.Su Bin / For China Daily Miniature hotel rooms, or pods, have become popular in New York because of their cheap prices. Now they are showing up in China and are expected to serve travelers in airports during flight delays. In the first week since its opening last Tuesday at Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a new "pod hotel" named Take A Nap has attracted more than 200 customers. Take A Nap has 10 pods and 28 business class beds in a total area of 309 square meters in the airport's arrival hall. The pods are imported from Finland and cost about 40,000 yuan ($6,000) each. "When you are lying in the pod, you feel like a bean between two shells, said Zheng Fang, the hotel manager. "There is no roof or fixed cover, but you can draw up a movable curtain to enjoy a private space." Take A Nap also offers additional services, including a shower, Wi-Fi, a wake-up call and luggage storage, Zheng said. It charges 60 yuan for four hours in a pod and 10 yuan for each additional hour. For an overnight stay, the price is 120 yuan for 10 hours between 10 pm and 8 am, she said. A passenger surnamed Chen, who stayed in a pod on Wednesday, said he flew in from Qingdao in the morning but had to wait for a colleague coming from somewhere else. "This hotel is just what I need to take a rest while waiting," he said. Zhu Hui, a Hangzhou resident and a frequent traveler, said the pod hotel is an economical choice for people experiencing delays. "I always get agitated when my flight is delayed for several hours," she said. "Should I wait at the airport or go back home? The pod hotel is clean, and if the price remains low, as it is now, it's worth a try." Wang Jian, former secretary-general of the China Civil Airports Association, said pod hotels will come in handy for passengers who want privacy and an internet connection but don't care much about comfort. Young passengers and businesspeople are more likely to use such facilities, he said. "But we still need to wait and see if there is good market response." According to media reports, capsule accommodations have opened at Tokyo International and Narita International airports in Tokyo, as well as at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Hybrid sturgeon released along with the floodwater Experts are conducting a field investigation to assess flood damage to the ecosystem of the middle and lower reaches of the China's longest river - the Yangtze - after nearly 10,000 tons of foreign and hybrid sturgeon washed out of a breeding facility in heavy water flows. Scientists worry that the hybrid and foreign species may now interbreed with endangered purebred Chinese wild sturgeon in the river, whose numbers have declined to dangerously low levels. Only 100 are thought to remain in the Yangtze. Wei Qiwei of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, one of the investigators, said purebred Chinese sturgeon could face a heightened threat of extinction as a result of interbreeding with the foreign and hybrid species over the coming months. "Too many foreign and hybrid sturgeon that were once raised along the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and its branches have escaped to the wild after floodwater discharges in July," said Wei, who also serves as director of freshwater biodiversity conservation in the Yangtze River Fishery Supervision and Management Office of the Ministry of Agriculture. "The purebred Chinese sturgeon is now facing a serious threat." Purebred Chinese sturgeon date to 140 million years ago. But they are now on the razor's edge of survival. The population of adult purebred Chinese sturgeons was estimated at about 100 at the end of last year, compared with 10,000 in the 1970s, according to a protection plan for the fish released by the State Forestry Administration. To protect the ancient species, fishing was banned as early as 1983, and a downstream conservation area was built. A survey conducted by the fishery office estimated that after a reservoir opened a sluice to release floodwater on July 19, more than 9,800 tons of foreign and hybrid sturgeon in the Changyang and Yidu regions of central China's Hubei province were killed or escaped to the wild in Poyang and Dongting lakes, and to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, where wild purebred Chinese sturgeons are living. Floodwaters washed away the net-pen facilities used to raise the non-native species, causing huge economic losses. It was the first time in 18 years that the Geheyan Power Station had discharged water over successive days in response to heavy rainfall. The Wuhan-based Changjiang Water Resources Commission of the water ministry has also launched and investigation and is reviewing the matter, said Deng Yongyong, an official in the commission's publicity department. Zhang Huiyun, a woman in Baiyanao village who makes her living by fishing, said all her 14 net-pens were washed away, and more than 1,500 kilograms of fish were killed or escaped, resulting in heavy economic losses. Local fishery departments said fishermen reported catching foreign and hybrid sturgeon between July 26 and Aug 2. Democratic congressional candidate Colleen Deacon picked up a major endorsement Thursday in her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. John Katko. Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC, a gun control group co-founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, endorsed Deacon, D-Syracuse, in the 24th Congressional District race. Deacon is one of 15 Democratic challengers to receive the organization's support. Four Democratic members of Congress also earned the group's backing. Kelly, who held a conference call with reporters to announce the endorsements, said the candidates and incumbents they're supporting are "champions of the vocal majority" who want to address gun violence. "We believe that each of these candidates is the best person in that particular race to fight for responsible steps that will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people that will certainly prevent gun tragedies and keep those communities and our nation safer from gun violence," he said. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, who participated on the call with Kelly, said the members of Congress and challengers being supported by Americans for Responsible Solutions are leaders. "These Democrats have said enough enough of the preventable gun violence and death that is all too prevalent," Lujan said. The candidates, Kelly said, are expected to support closing loopholes that allow domestic abusers and convicted felons to buy guns without being subject to background checks. The group is also pushing for changes that will prevent domestic abusers and stalkers, specifically, from purchasing firearms. "This issue affects men and women much differently, and the issue of domestic violence and gun violence for women is so linked and can be solved if our champions for common sense and responsible change will pass laws to do that," Kelly said. Another major issue for Americans for Responsible Solutions is prohibiting individuals on terror watch lists from buying guns. This has been debated in Congress, with both parties offering separate proposals. But the House and Senate have been unable to move the legislation. Deacon has raised the "no fly, no buy" measure as a major topic in her race against Katko, R-Camillus, who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee. She has criticized Katko for not supporting a bill backed by most Democrats that would ban those on the no-fly list from buying guns. She's also noted that he's received support from the National Rifle Association, a leading pro-gun rights group. The NRA has donated $7,400 to Katko's re-election campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records. "My opponent John Katko is beholden to the Washington gun lobby who have lined his campaign coffers with thousands of dollars, and refuses to support this bipartisan legislation that would keep Americans safe," Deacon said. "We must do more to prevent this senseless violence." Katko does support legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a fellow New York Republican, that would prohibit suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and require the U.S. attorney general to ensure the terror watch lists contain accurate names and information. Kelly, though, wants to see less talk and more action. "To me, somebody who served in the military and fought overseas, I think it's ridiculous that we allow people on the terrorist watch list to legally buy firearms," he said. "It doesn't make any sense." Kelly said he and Giffords will be embarking on a bus tour throughout the country to campaign for candidates in key races. It wasn't revealed whether the pair will visit central New York for an event with Deacon, or whether the PAC will provide financial support to her campaign. "Colleen Deacon is the best person in this race to fight for the responsible steps we need to help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, prevent gun tragedies and make New York families safer," Giffords and Kelly said. Huang Xiaohui, head of Ganggang village in the Xiangxi Tujia-Miao autonomous prefecture, Hunan province, rustled through a stack of villagers' employment profiles, searching for errors, such as blank spaces and missing digits in phone or ID numbers. He noted them down on a piece of paper and double-checked with the residents before uploading the accurate information to the online database for the Labor Assistance Cooperation Initiative - a government-led pilot program that helps impoverished rural residents find work. Accurate information and identification are the crucial factors in targeted poverty alleviation efforts. "Without knowing the exact figures, we would be steering blind," said Kuang Zoufei, Xiangxi's deputy chief. However, collecting and managing big data requires dedicated staff and resources, both of which are lacking in China's impoverished regions. Moreover, migrant workers are constantly moving, making it difficult to keep track of them. "The system is inanimate, but humans are alive. We need a more flexible and responsive approach if we want to keep the system up to date," Huang said. According to Kuang, in addition to data management, job negotiations and employment stability are the main challenges facing the pilot program. Most impoverished rural workers are older, less educated and less healthy than the average migrant worker, making job negotiations particularly difficult. "These people usually end up in labor-intensive jobs, but some companies believe their physical disadvantages may lower the overall efficiency of the production line," said Ling Hongyan, a human resources manager for Yaoqun Industry, a shoe manufacturer in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. To make rural workers more appealing in the job market, local governments ramped up professional training programs and offered a range of incentives to encourage companies to hire them. In Shenzhen, once a worker has been employed and made social security payments for nine months, the government will cover their social security payments for the next three years and provide the companies with a subsidy of 1,000 yuan ($667) per worker. Companies that participate in the pilot program will also receive honorary plaques and awards for their contribution to poverty relief. In addition to providing more extensive training and post-employment services, the government also offers loans for startups in impoverished villages and financial aid packages for middle and high school dropouts. Lu Buxuan (right), founder of a pork retail chain, promotes products at a supermarket in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.[Long Wei/for China Daily] Lu Buxuan, a Chinese language major from Peking University, gained some notoriety in 2003 after it was reported that the top-level graduate chose to sell pork despite his educational pedigree. After the initial controvery, Lu spent over a decade working as a public servant. Recently, he resigned from his government job and returned to the pork business, 12 years after he first stepped away. In the 1990s, Lu was nicknamed "Peking University butcher" after his story was widely circulated. Pressured by government officials, Lu began to work in a local archives bureau in 2004, though he never truly enjoyed the job. In fact, Lu said the trivial work he did in the archives neither improved his mind nor offered him a sense of fulfillment. Those deficiencies, coupled with the relatively low salary, persuaded Lu to quit - once and for all. Lu finally resigned in August. Now, he is proud of the nickname "Peking University butcher." With almost 20 years of experience, Lu is also confident about his ability to succeed in the pork industry. Besides trade, he also studied breeding, slaughter and disease prevention when he first entered the industry two decades ago. Lu said he is taking the pork business quite seriously, and that his dream is to one day be recognized by society as a successful, regardless of his choice of profession. Times Higher Education released the 2016-2017 World University Rankings on September 21, 2016. University of Oxford snatched the top spot from Caltech as China's rise continues. Four Chinese universities made their way into the Top 50 this year, with Peking University at 29th, Tsinghua University 35th, University of Hong Kong at 43rd, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology at 49th. There are four main indicators underlying the methodology of the ranking: teaching, research, citations, and international outlook. Within the four domains, University of Hong Kong made the Top 100 for the first time this year. City University of Hong Kong, University of Science and Technology of China, Fudan University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University joined the Top 200. Furthermore, China's two flagship universities have both made gains Peking University joins the top 30 at 29th (up from 42nd last year), while Tsinghua University joins the top 40 at 35th (up from joint 47th). The accident occurs on Thursday morning in Shangqiu, Henan province. ZHENGZHOU -- Two young children were killed and 11 others injured after a school bus carrying a kindergarten class collided with a truck at an intersection in Suixian County, Central China's Henan province, Thursday morning. The two children died after failing to respond to emergency treatment. The injured are all in stable condition, according to a county government statement. Carrying 30 children, two teachers and a driver, the 37-seat bus collided with the truck at 8:53 a.m.. There were no traffic lights at the intersection, according to the statement. Police have detained the truck driver, and an investigation is underway. Eda Satsuki, Japan's Former President of the House of Councillors, speaks during an interview. [Photo by Zhang Ruoqiong/chinadaily.com.cn] The Commemoration of the International Day of Peace is being held from September 20-23, in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. Dignitaries, non-government organizations, think tanks from 33 countries and Chinese experts and scholars are attending the commemoration. With the theme of "People Aspire to Lasting Peace and Sustainable Development", the Commemoration is jointly sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, The United Nations System in China and The People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Eda Satsuki, Japan's Former President of the House of Councillors, told China Daily the United Nations decided on the goal of sustainable development, saying focusing on the people themselves is of great importance in the world. He said there were many ways to deepen the friendship and trust between people from different countries, but that little progress and effort was being made. He wished international society would continue to improve in this area. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. In 2001, it adopted a resolution which decided to set September 21 as the International Day of Peace. Since then, the UN puts forward the theme of the International Day of Peace every year, holding a commemoration and calling on all countries to host various commemorative activities. Eda Satsuki said it was with regret that Japan had placed less importance on the work of international peace, despite the annual day running for 35 years. Japan has been focusing on bilateral relations in recent years, thus causing conflicts of interest. He said although there were some conflicts of interest in Sino-Japanese diplomacy, mutual assistance and friendliness between citizens had been continuous. Eda Satsuki spoke highly of China's recent economic and social development. An international shopping festival will be held on Sept 29 in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, featuring trade cooperation between Guangzhou and its sister cities of Oakland and Los Angeles. Under the framework of an economic alliance between Guangzhou, Oakland of New Zealand and Los Angeles of the United States, trade representatives from the three cities will display their top brands and commodities during the festival, which will last for a month. Some cultural projects from the three cities will be displayed during the festival, which will be held in Tianhe, a booming business and comercial district in Guangzhou. Local food from Guangzhou, Australia and New Zealand will also be promoted during the event, according to the organizers. China's reputation rises for quality teaching and researchattracting more overseas students Top-ranked Chinese universities China's universities have risen in stature, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, a prestigious listing that includes four Chinese institutions in the global top 50. The 13th edition of the rankings, released on Wednesday, reflects China's growing reputation for quality teaching and research, which are attracting more students from abroad. The top-ranked Chinese universities in the 2016-17 rankings are Peking University(29th), Tsinghua University(35th), the University of Hong Kong (joint 43rd) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (49th). Fourteen Chinese universities are ranked in the top 400, which puts them among the top 2 percent of higher education institutions worldwide. China has 14 new entrants on this year's list, which includes 59 Chinese universities among the world's best 980 institutions. Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said improvements in Chinese universities' ratings can be partly attributed to their better academic reputation, the influence of their research, and their ability to attract international talent. Li Jinliang,dean of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at Tsinghua University, said the ranking improvements reflect both the development of Chinese universities and the evolution of international rankings to better capture the unique advantages of universities globally. "Although any ranking methodology is subject to limitations, the university rankings produced by organizations like THE present us with a worthy plan to assess the competitiveness of our university in the global context," Li said. According to the Ministry of Education, China received more than 377,000 students from 203 countries in 2014. About 2,500 higher education institutions in China offer places to foreign students. Rapidly improving standards and the value of a Chinese university degree have prompted foreign governments to encourage study in China. The British Council's Generation UK campaign, launched in 2013, supported an increase of nearly50percent in the number of British students going to China annually. Last year, nearly 8,000 British students went to China, compared to fewer than 5,400 in 2012. The campaign is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and aims to increase the number of UK students who study or take internships in China to 80,000 by 2020. Lukas Thibaut, head of communications for education at the British Council, said China's performance will further motivate British students to study in the country. An online platform will be helpful in upgrading Beijing's traditional wholesale markets amid an industrial slowdown, according to industrial insiders. "Traditional wholesale markets are facing a great challenge as business began slowing down due to out-dated business models," said Li Hua, president of the Guangzhou-based Zhenhai Science and Technology Co. The company has already launched a comprehensive online platform, zhenhaipifa.com, which is believed to be the country's first e-commerce platform to promote wholesale markets. The company recently announced it had signed agreements with local authorities and professional markets in Beijing to help upgrade their businesses. Over the past few years, a number of wholesale markets in Beijing have had to move their business to neighboring cities as the capital introduced a plan to upgrade its wholesale markets. "By running their businesses online, traders and buyers are easily connected," Li said. Deals will be made online, while the traditional practical markets will be a place to exhibit products and become an after-sale service center, according to Li. "The online model will help reduce operational costs for traditional wholesale markets," Li said. According to industrial sources, the number of buyers visiting the more than 1,000 wholesale markets in Beijing has declined from 50,000 to 10,000 each day. "Traditional traders have been facing great pressures in continuing businesses," Li said. According to Li, a number of Beijing-based wholesale markets have already signed agreements with the company to move their businesses onto the Internet platform. About 30,000 Beijing-based traders, who traditionally run their businesses in the professional wholesale markets, will begin working with the online platform by next year. Since launching the online platform at the end of 2014, more than 1,000 wholesale markets across 38 Chinese cities have signed agreements with the company to move their traditional offline businesses to the online platform, according to Li. "The online platform needs to better serve traders, buyers and local residents nearby, as well as to help traders improve their credibility online," said Zuo Jingsheng, secretary general of Beijing Industrial and Commerce Association. Fancy a Kindle? Take the Long March quiz A farmer in Xieling village puts cornstalks into a machine to crush them. [Photo provide to chinadaily.com.cn] The brand new buildings of Xieling village in Kongtong district, Pingliang city, Gansu province are truly an eye-opener for those who see it for the first time. In one community, houses with red roofs were erected, a fancy public square with fitness equipment has been built, and power transmission towers stand there like guardians of the village. Some 200 meters away, a row of cowsheds with shining blue roofs can be seen, with fodder store houses and a sterilizing room on the side. In another community just across the road, a crescent can be seen rising above the roof of a mosque. The village has three communities, two for ethnic Hui people, and one for Han people. More than 60 percent of residents in Xieling village are Hui people, the most widespread ethnic minority group in China. Here, 2,200 meters above the sea level on the mountainous region in eastern Gansu province, people have started to embrace a new life. Ma Wencheng, a 48-year-old farmer, said in his memory, his ancestors moved to this area over a century ago. Their life can be summed by three words - "a stick, a pair of rain shoes and a worn-out cotton-padded jacket". He explained that, as the red soil commonly seen in the area becomes especially muddy on rainy days, people have to use a stick and wear rain shoes to walk in the muddy field, and the temperature difference is so great that one has to wear cotton-padded jacket to keep warm in the morning and evening. Life used to be harder and more primitive, said Ma. Many villagers lived in cave houses in the past, and cows they raised just roamed about on the mountain. As the farmlands are not suitable for farming, most villagers lived below the poverty line. Life has changed a lot since villagers moved to their new homes. Since 2015, a resettlement project has brought together 76 households in the village which were scattered around the mountain in the past. Their new homes are located on the mountain top which was leveled to make a flat space. Cows are now raised in cowsheds and a new species of corn imported from Mexico can produce more for the animals. The cornstalks are crushed and stored under the soil and a film to ferment for a week, which makes them more delicious for the cows. And due to the concentrated raising method, the number of cows each family has more than doubled to 10. Each of the cows can bring around 10,000 yuan ($1,500) to the farmer. That made an important contribution to the dramatic drop in the poverty rate from more than 50 percent to less than five percent in one year. Utilities have also been much improved. A new cement road connects the village with the nearest town of Kongtong, and each household gets access to tap water and electricity. Fancy a Kindle? Take the Long March quiz Musician Tan Dun pushes the boundaries of his creativity by making a movie. [Photo provided to China Daily] Tan Dun is indeed iconic as a Chinese musician who's full of passion and imagination, who pioneers innovation to conjure contemporary audiences' fascination with classical music. He uses unconventional materialswater, paper and windto create what he calls "organic music". He creates alongside musicians across myriad genres. And now, he's making a movie. Symphonic Poem on Three Notes is his animated film, starring the three notes La, Si and Do as three people who occupy a world in which five-line staves form streets and skyscrapers. The plot centers on how people protect their homes when the environment has been destroyed. It will show at a concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday. Tan will conduct the National Symphony of China to play the film's soundtrack live. The first half will include animated films featuring great music. The opening is English composer Benjamin Britten's orchestral suite The Sea. The 22-minute piece, which is also called a symphonic-tone poem, consists of four movements: Seascape, Sea Foam, Moonlight and Storm. Tan commissioned Central Academy of Fine Arts students to create an animated film to Britten's music. "I discussed with these young artists how to portray the sea on a summer morning, the rocks and pools on the shore, a calm sea at night and a rainstorm on the sea. Their final production really impressed me," Tan tells China Daily during a phone interview. After Tan's movie Symphonic Poem on Three Notes, the first half will end with another movie featuring paper-cutting, created by Chinese artist Wu Jian'an. The soundtrack will be renowned Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu's viola concerto A String Around Autumn. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Takemitsu's passing. Tan says he chose his movie's music to commemorate the Japanese maestro. "I listened to Takemitsu's music when I studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in the early 1980s. After I went to New York, we became friends, and I learned much about modern music from him. He composed for many great Japanese movies. People usually know and remember the directors and actors but neglect the composer," says Tan. "A movie could not be great without good music." In addition to the viola concerto, audiences will experience three more pieces by Takemitsu in the second half. They are selected from the movies Black Rain, The Face of Another and Jose Torres. The second half will consist of music for feature films, including Memories of A Geisha, Libertador, Night Banquet and Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for which Tan won the Oscar for best music in 2001. The concert will also include the theme song of Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's new film I'm not Madame Bovary, which will hit cinemas in November. Chinese composer Du Wei creates the score. The Venezuelan movie Libertador (2013) tells the story of Simon Bolivar. Celebrated Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel composed the music. "Dudamel is known as a conductor, but actually many conductors are great composers, too," says Tan. "I myself first was a composer but now also try to conduct ... Composers, such as Mahler, Britten and Bernstein, inspired me to take the baton." The concert's purpose is to "invent a new way to appreciate classical music". "Movies or visual art are good genres that help people who like traditional classical appreciate modern music, while helping people who like modern music, such as movie soundtracks, enjoy classical music," he explains. "I believe the symphony could become a trendy force to lead society, to lead the wave of culture, like Beethoven and Mozart did hundreds of years ago." Contact the writer at chenjie@chinadaily.com.cn ELBRIDGE Patrons who come to the Wayside Irish Pub in Elbridge to let their hair down might find their hair being tugged and learn that the spirits aren't just in the bottles at this nearly 200-year-old establishment. Labeled the most haunted restaurant in New York state, the establishment has been visited over the years by paranormal investigators and psychic mediums trying to connect with the not-so-living patrons who live there. And, regular patrons can do the same next month when the Wayside hosts its first-ever paranormal dinner on the second floor, where the owners say most of the paranormal activity takes place. "When we first came in, I knew right from the get-go that it had the reputation for being haunted," said Margo Spain, who has owned the Wayside for about 10 years with her husband, Roger. "I had never had anything happen to me visiting here before I owned it." She has then, however, but Roger remained a skeptic until he had his first ghost experience a couple of months ago. "He was a skeptic the whole time," Spain said. "He's totally convinced now, and he's apologizing to everybody up and down saying, 'I apologize. Now I get it.' Once you have it happen to you, it opens the door and it opens your mind to it." Those who attend the paranormal dinners slated to take place Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 and hosted by Deanna Germano's Chef 4 Rent catering company will have the chance to have their minds opened in much the same way. Spain said the Wayside and Chef 4 Rent recently combined forces to offer both private parties onsite and catered events offsite through Germano. With the Wayside wanting to take advantage of its ghostly notoriety, a paranormal dinner seemed a perfect for the pub and its catering arm. "The first dinner sold out in four hours without being advertised," Spain said, noting German put the event on her Facebook page and it immediately caught attention. "So, we had to add a second night on, and that's getting pretty full." Along with the dinner on the second floor, Spain said the event will feature a psychic medium, a ghost whisperer, tarot card reader, palm reader and a numerologist. "We have lots of things happen here," Spain said. "We always have right from the get-go. If you work here long enough, you're definitely going to have something happen to you. You're going to see something. You're going to hear something. You're going to feel something." Most of the investigators who visit Wayside, she said, come to the same conclusion: More than one ghost inhabits the pub a female, a male and possibly a child, along with some poltergeist activity. The male ghost, she said, appears to be a soldier who walked barefoot west from Syracuse along a wooden turnpike road what is now Route 5 and stopped at what was then the Munro House to get a horse from the livery stables there. Somehow, the man died at the bar that night. "They (investigators) don't know if he was shot in the back, but body not to be found, nothing written in the history," Spain said. "They say that perhaps he's down in the well. We've had a lot of people say that something a very heavy spirit is down in the well." Spain may have an encounter with the soldier one time on a Sunday when she was doing paperwork in the basement before opening. She heard a blast at the bar, then screaming and deep voices yelling, "Help! Help them!" A retired emergency room nurse, she immediately thought somebody was in full cardiac arrested and prepared to call 911 and give CPR. But, when she got up to the bar, she found nothing there. "The paranormal people say that is a recurring of the episode that happened with the soldier," she said. "That's why they think that he was shot because they think there was a shooting at the bar in the 1840s." Kelly Barnes, Spain's niece who worked as a bartender at Wayside for four years, said patrons and her fellow bartenders experience poking and hair pulling. In fact, Spain said she started a ghost haunting log so that customers and employees alike could keep track of their experiences at the pub. "Patrons come in, and some of them, they want to have a ghost experience," Barnes said. "They heard about how haunted the building is, and they want to have a ghost experience. Some of them are skeptics. I think it's better to come here as a skeptic and leave here a believer." She said she was closing the pub with another bartender one night down to the basement finishing up their duties. They thought the building was completely empty, as they always lock all the doors before they start closing. "We heard footsteps. It was like there was someone in the building," she said. "We thought we were either going to be robbed, or we thought there was somebody we missed." Barnes called Roger and kept 911 at the ready, yet they checked everywhere every door was locked and no one else was around. "There's nothing bad here," Spain said. "I just leave them alone, and they leave me alone. One time, I had something thrown at me upstairs, and that was a little scary." Aside from the ghosts, Wayside has a steady clientele of people from Elbridge and the surrounding areas and has been a community gathering place for almost two centuries. "If you've grown up in Elbridge and you moved away and you come back, this is where you come to see your friends," Spain said. "It's like a Cheers bar. Everybody knows your name." "It's just a fun place to be if you want to come to an environment where people are friendly and laidback and have a pint," Barnes said. "It's certainly a nice place to do that." Both women said a popular time for people to come to the pub is after a wake or funeral and those occasions seem to bring out the kinetic energy of the place, Spain said. "If you have somebody that has passed away in your family, and there being a wake down the street, the whole wake ends up here," she said. "The lights flicker. Pictures go off the wall. If there's a lot of emotion, people crying or laughing or talking or reminiscing about the one that has passed on, you see all the lights flash. That's pretty common. I don't know if they're stopping on their way up or their way down." The hit TV series A Love for Separation, starring Huang Lei (right) and Hai Qing (third from right), is about Chinese parents sending their teenage children to study abroad. [Photo provided to China Daily] In 2006, Lu Qiang toured the United States to visit some famous universities. The veteran reporter saw a number of Chinese there, most of whom had begun their US educations in middle school. "They had left home as teenagers." But this was a departure from the past. "Earlier, most Chinese went abroad to study after graduation," says Lu, better known by his pseudonym, Lu Yingong. Realizing what he was witnessing was unprecedentedin later years, it led to headlines about Chinese students abroad "getting younger"Lu decided to document what he saw. A Midsummer Night's DREAMING Under the Southern Bough made a splash in Beijing Tuesday. Students from the University of Leeds performed a contemporary adaptation based on the Chinese ancient play Nanke Ji. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/ China Daily] William Shakespeare, the renowned British playwright whose dramas are known across the world; and Tang Xianzu, the famed ancient Chinese opera writer with his works passed on through generations. What happens when the masterpieces of these two are put together? A cross-cultural drama project "Shakespeare-Tang project: Celebrating a 400 year legacy", which made a splash in Beijing Tuesday evening, answers just that. The project, held by the University of Leeds in the UK and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in China, brings a new artistic creation "A Midsummer Night's DREAMING Under the Southern Bough" onto the stage, connecting Shakespeare's classic A Midsummer Night's Dream and Tang Xianzu's Nanke Ji in a unique way, to mark the 400th anniversary of the deaths of the two legendary playwrights. Why Singapore has been surpassing HK Updated: 2016-09-23 06:18 By Eddy Li(HK Edition) Singapore is often placed on a par with Hong Kong, and we can therefore see news reports comparing almost every aspect of the two cities. I believe the main reason is not only the differences, but also the similarities between the two places. I recently had an opportunity to chat with a member of the Singaporean consulate-general in Hong Kong. This discussion naturally focused on endless comparisons between the two places. Both Hong Kong and Singapore were once colonies of the United Kingdom; both economies started to rise rapidly in the 1970s to 1980s; both are dynamic cities with sizeable populations. For quite a long time, Hong Kong's economic aggregates were actually more impressive than Singapore's. This situation only changed about six years ago. Singapore is a small seashore country on an area even smaller than Hong Kong. Its neighbors are Malaysia to the north and Indonesia to the south. According to Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore who died last year, Singapore developed with hardly any natural resources or international "backers". Lee said Singaporeans actually envied the geographical location of Hong Kong - which is adjacent to the Chinese mainland. He once said he would like to swap with Hong Kong! Lee made a good point. Take water resources for example: Hong Kong once suffered from a severe water supply shortage when freshwater was supplied only once every four days. It was not until the central government helped bring about the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong that the city stopped worrying about a shortage of freshwater. But Singaporeans did not have such luck. The Lion City has had to depend on its neighbor Malaysia to provide it with freshwater. Relations between Singapore and Malaysia have sometimes been tense. So there were frequent fears that any conflicts between the two sides would lead to the termination of the water supply. As Lee noted when Singapore was first developing into a modern economy, every other policy was ultimately dependent on Singapore getting a supply of freshwater. Lee, therefore, insisted on signing a water-supply contract with Malaysia, claiming he would even go to war over the issue of water. The preciousness of water for Singaporeans was so stark that in the 1970s the Lion City started to develop ways to have its own water. After years of hard work, seawater desalinization in Singapore has reached world-class standards. The technology, apart from meeting a quarter of the domestic demand for freshwater, has also been sold to other parts of the world - particularly the Middle East. Besides, more than 10 percent of the freshwater comes from the Marina Barrage - which used to be a reservoir in the ocean. It is now ready for aquatic sports. The Singaporean government is confident that later this year when the contract with Malaysia is due to expire, the country will be 100 percent self-sufficient in water. It will even have enough resources to export it overseas. The Lion City still has to spend tens of billions on national defense, which takes up almost 20 percent of the government's expenditure. In Hong Kong, thanks to the central government's support, we don't have to spend anything on this. One would think that Hong Kong surpasses Singapore in most areas, but in fact multiple economic indexes in Singapore are better than those of Hong Kong - the GDP per capita since 2003, the GDP since 2010, and so on. Why? I believe the main reason is the great efficiency of the Singaporean government. Its authorities are constantly alert to potential risks and danger, and its people tend to look at the big picture, so it's easier for them to focus on economic development. As for Hong Kong, politicization has paralyzed the Legislative Council and led to a waste of resources. If this situation continues, the gap between Hong Kong and Singapore will only grow. (HK Edition 09/23/2016 page1) FOLLOWING SOME RECENT HIGH-PROFILE TELEPHONE FRAUD CASES, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has said telecom enterprises must fulfill their social responsibilities. Beijing News commented: Xu Yuyu, an 18-year-old girl from East China's Shandong province, died of a heart attack after being defrauded of all the money her family had saved to pay for her university tuition fees. Days later Cai Shuyan, a 19-year-old girl from South China's Guangdong province, committed suicide after being similarly defrauded of her tuition fees. In another recent case, an unidentified faculty member from Tsinghua University in Beijing was swindled out of 17.6 million yuan ($2.6 million) by telephone fraudsters. These cases and others have put the telecom companies in the media spotlight. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which is in charge of them, said on Monday that although most of the telecom enterprises behave in a proper manner "a few of them have failed in their supervision responsibilities". But the real problem is far more serious than that. Some telecom companies have not implemented the law that requires real-name registration for users, which is illegal. This is a legal affair and the telecom companies concerned should be made to pay for that. Some defend the telecom monopolies by saying they lack the technology to eliminate fraud. However, that defense is rather weak, because media reports show that some telecom companies have put leading local officials on red lists to make sure their numbers are immune to spam. The ministry also said it will require telecom companies to better implement the real-name registration for all users, and those that fail to do this will not be able to expand. This is a good move, and we hope they will do more to push telecom companies to combat spam and fraud. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a momentous development agenda adopted by 193 UN members at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The agenda adopted by the UN marks a new era of sustainable development, and aims to end poverty and hunger, promote equality and protect the environment in the years leading up to 2030. It is a plan of action for people to save the planet and achieve prosperity. It also seeks to establish permanent universal peace. The agenda's 17 goals cover a wide range of issues, including poverty, hunger, healthcare, education, gender equality and environmental protection. The 17 goals and 169 targets will stimulate action until 2030 in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet. The goals and targets seek to build on the UN Millennium Development Goals and complete the unfulfilled MDGs. They seek to guarantee human rights for all and the empowerment of women and girls. Integrated and indivisible, they balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. The agenda will also help the international community and governments to promote shared prosperity and well-being. During his visit to the UN Headquarters, Premier Li Keqiang hosted a roundtable on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Global Process and China's Practice, where he said Beijing has approved a road map for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Besides, China will continuously boost its aid to the UN development to achieve the long-term goal of the 2030 Agenda. THE GUANGDONG provincial legal affairs authorities have solicited public opinions on its planned legislation to ban close-circuit TV cameras in hotel rooms, dormitories, public toilets and other places where individuals' privacy should not be breached. China Youth Daily commented on Wednesday: Why a law to ban cameras in such places until now? They should have been there in the first place. But in China it is necessary to write it down in law. More importantly, is there a national law to regulate the use of cameras in public places? Given that leakage of personal information has become common, the provincial legislation to protect people's privacy is welcome, especially because it will set the red line for the protection of people's privacy. Apparently, cameras in hotel rooms are for the protection of guests. But hotel staff can use the footage of guests in sensitive or private moments to blackmail them. Also, the cameras can help hotel staff get access to guests' personal information. According to the public security department, it is illegal to install cameras in hotel rooms. To ensure that hotel managements do not violate the public security department's instructions, the authorities have to strengthen their supervision of the hospitality industry. The proposed law will set the red line for protection of individuals' privacy, but officials have to take strict measures to ensure it is honored. A man charges his new energy vehicle in Rizhao, Shandong province. The sector sees rapid growth in China. Cai Shiyue / For China Daily A recent investigation by the Ministry of Finance into government subsidies for new energy vehicles revealed five manufacturers of such vehicles, including two in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, got the subsidies through deceptive means. Gemsea, a new energy vehicle-maker in Suzhou, cheated the government of 261.56 million yuan ($39 million) in subsidies by claiming to have sold 1,131 such vehicles by fabricating materials purchase documents, and original papers of vehicle sales and registration. Another company in Suzhou fleeced the government of an extra 519.21 million yuan in subsidies by issuing registration certificates for 1,683 vehicles that, in fact, it had failed to assemble by the end of 2015. The other three companies used similar means to cheat the government. The government has taken appropriate measures to retrieve the swindled funds, and barred a couple of the companies from getting the subsidies. But such punitive actions are not enough to end such deliberate and organized fraudulent acquisition of government subsidies by new energy vehicle-makers. Those responsible for the fraud should be held accountable. Besides, the fraud also makes it necessary for the government to reflect on the limitations of its long-existing industrial policy. The adoption of preferential or supportive programs for certain industries may be necessary to distribute resources efficiently when the market-based mechanism for resource distribution doesn't work properly. But the presence of a visible government hand usually makes it difficult for certain industries to develop in a healthy manner. There is no reason to believe government officials have a sharper sense of market trends than entrepreneurs. Government officials cannot predetermine or preplan the development of any industry because they may be high on theoretical knowledge but lack entrepreneurial acumen. The supportive policy offered to a certain industry is like risk investment that may or may not fetch returns. Innovation should be encouraged in all industries, but distorted incentive policies should be stopped. Chinese premier Li Keqiang attends the general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept 21, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Instilling confidence in the international community about China is a tall order amid gloomy, if not nerve-racking, reports about the global economy and repeated rumors about the country's imminent economic collapse. But Premier Li Keqiang did exactly that on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly annual meeting in New York. He told his audience what they needed to knowthe till now successful dogged pursuit of the country's transition toward sustainable development. His endeavor comes against the backdrop of the tremendous economic power China has gained in the past decade and the greater role it has started playing on the world stage, which can be seen in the International Monetary Fund's recent decision to include the renminbi in its Special Drawing Rights currency basket, making it an international negotiable instrument. More significantly, Li also announced the establishment of the first international clearing service for the renminbi in New York. Bank of China's branch in the Big Apple was authorized on Tuesday to provide renminbi clearing services in the United States. The Chinese currency's fast but measured progress in the world is not based on just ambition. It is backed by the fact that in the six difficult years following the global financial crisis, China managed to maintain an annual GDP growth rate of more than 6.5 percent. That China registered 21 trillion yuan ($3.15 trillion) in retail sales from January to August, up 10.3 percent year-on-year, and 15.4 trillion yuan in foreign trade are also measures of its economic power. Plus, it received close to 550 billion yuan in foreign direct investment that helped to establish more than 18,000 new foreign investment companies. Meantime, a total of 775 billion yuan in investment flowed out of the country to overseas destinations. China is one of the few major developing economies in the world that has not substantially devalued its currency in a bid to temporarily alleviate its domestic economic woes. Besides, substantial devaluation of the currency is self-defeating for an economy like China's given its size and complexity, as Li reiterated during his visit to the US. This is in stark contrast to the old way of thinking of some of his audience. The renminbi's global demand will be small in the beginning, and although managing its overseas clearing services will pose new challenges, China will soon learn the ropes, and create more trading and investment opportunities for overseas renminbi holders while continuing to fuel global economic growth. The state of Bavaria offers cultural heritage, beautiful landscape and delicious beer. [Photo provided to China Daily] German National Tourist Board's Beijing office recently held a news conference to promote Bavaria state's rich beer culture. Its data shows that in the first half year of 2016, the overnight stays of Chinese tourists in Bavaria were more than 320,700, and their overnight stays in Germany were nearly 1.14 million. "Bavaria boasts advanced beer brewing technology. In the state, the per capita consumption of beer is 230 liters on average every year," said Zhang Peng, marketing manager of China, Bavarias tourism bureau. He introduced the history of beer in the state, and how to brew different kinds of beer. Until 2013, Germany had 1,349 beer factories and more than 600 of them were in Bavaria. This year marks the 500th year anniversary since the Bavarian Purity Law was passed. It aims to ensure the quality of beer and is still in effect today. In 1516, the brothers Duke William IV and Duke Louis X in Bavaria announced the law, to regulate that "the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be barley, hops and water." According to Zhang, tourists can also enjoy UNESCO World Heritage, Bavarian traditions and outdoor activities in the state. Data shows that during the first five months of 2016, the top five cities that Chinese travelers visited most were Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. Oktoberfest, one of the world's largest beer festivals, is being held in Munich, Bavaria until Oct 3. People gather there for beer and local food such as sausages, and enjoy music and performances. Related: Tourism summit kicks off in Chongqing AUBURN A Cayuga County man and former corrections officer for New York State's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision was sentenced Thursday for sending sexually explicit messages to several underage girls. In July, 27-year-old James Benham, of 2416 Moshier Road in Scipio, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child. At the time, he admitted to "sexting" a 13-year-old girl in May 2015, inviting her to engage in sexual activity. Still, after Benham's defense attorney Dennis Sedor referred to the situation as a "one-time incident," Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said there was more than one underage victim who received such messages. "This was an ongoing pattern of behavior as (Benham) sent inappropriate messages to three young girls," Budelmann said, noting that the girls were 12, 13 and 15 years old. "He sent pictures of his penis, even after he learned one of the victims was underage... and he destroyed his cell phone and damaged his wife's vehicle when she wouldn't speak to him after she found out." Sedor said the defendant who is being treated for major depressive disorder lost his job as a corrections officer at Clinton Correctional Facility after the incident. In addition, Benham has been ordered to pay child support and provide health insurance for his twin sons and his wife, who has filed for divorce. "I am sorry for the things that I have done," Benham told Judge Thomas Leone. "I have affected a lot of people... my family, my friends and the victim herself, and I am truly remorseful." While the district attorney recommended one to three years in prison with the maximum being 2 1/3 to 7 years Leone sentenced Benham to five years probation with the first four months of weekends in jail. "There are a lot of factors for me to consider here," Leone said. "You have no criminal history whatsoever, the probation department has recommended shock probation... and sending you to prison would ultimately hurt your wife and children." Benham was ordered to report to Cayuga County Jail every Friday at 7 p.m. to be released every Monday at 6 a.m. for the next four months. He will also have to register as a sex offender. Also in court: An Auburn woman has admitted her involvement in three separate crimes in Cayuga County in order to avoid prison. Jessica Allen, of 2465 Dublin Road, pleaded guilty to four felonies Thursday: third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree forgery and first-degree aggravated DWI with a child passenger. First, the 25-year-old admitted to aiding and abetting her brother by acting as a lookout while he illegally entered a house on Levier Road in Owasco and stole a loaded rifle in April 2015. Then, Allen said in May 2015 she drove intoxicated in Weedsport with her 3-year-old daughter in the car. And in December, she used a stolen credit card in Auburn, spending more than $800 at several stores. Allen faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for the DWI, four years in prison for grand larceny and 7 years each for the burglary and forgery counts. However, Leone has agreed to sentence Allen to five years probation with the first three months of weekends served at the Cayuga County Jail. In addition, Allen will have her license revoked for at least one year and will have to pay more than $2,000 in fines, surcharges and restitution. Allen will be sentenced Nov. 17. An Onondaga County man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a large amount of heroin in Cayuga County with the intent to sell. Christopher Frye, 26, of 227 Williams St. in Solvay, said he committed third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in September 2015 when he was found with 47 bags of heroin in the town of Aurelius. According to Leone, Frye chose to plead guilty despite no agreed-upon sentence from the district attorney or the court. A second felony offender, Frye could face up to 12 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15. MEXICO CITY - As host of the recent G20 summit, China has shown a new path for world economy and international politics, a Mexican political science expert told Xinhua in a recent interview. "China presented the foundations of what is going to be the new structure of international politics and the foundations of a new path towards international trade and finance," said Ignacio Martinez Cortes, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. At the summit, held in Hangzhou in early September, G20 leaders came together to discuss ways to spur the flagging global economy and promote equitable and inclusive growth. China's political stability, coupled with its economic weight, strengthens its role as a global guide, said the academic. "China is marking the path in the global context, both in terms of economy and politics, given its national power. And national power comes from a strong internal market," Martinez said. Beijing also demonstrated its leadership by choosing to focus the summit on matters of global concern, such as combating climate change, which is among the sustainable development goals prioritized by the United Nations, the professor said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama ratified the Paris Agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions the day before the summit, setting an important example of global cooperation for other countries, Martinez added. Models present creations at the Burberry catwalk show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in London, Britain September 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] The current buzzword in the fashion industry is not about a color, a fabric or a bag. 'See now buy now' is a new retailing format that will make catwalk looks instantly available for purchase after the show, meaning that the emphasis has switched from who the models are to what will be available to buy. The traditional wait from runway to retail is six months. If you watched a show in September, you would see models flashing out-of-season spring/summer outfits but you could only get your hands on the items in stores six months later, roughly the following March. The new format has been raging in two of the Big Four fashion weeks so far, New York and London, as brands across the Atlantic have rushed to join the ride. In the United States the trend has attracted not only high-end fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren but easier-going Tommy Hilfiger, which, thanks to its collaboration with supermodel Gigi Hadid, grabbed more coverage. In London see-now-buy-now is equally irresistible. Traditionally market-savvy High Street brands, including Topshop, certainly haven't missed out on the new way. Luxury stalwart Burberry became the latest brand to get on board. Burberry's bold move, under the helm of Christopher Bailey, the brand's social media age-aware CEO and creative director, reinforced anticipation amongst followers that the fashion industry is embracing another revolution, by pampering increasingly impatient consumers. By cutting the six-month waiting gap, designer brands are trying to retake the battleground lost to fast fashion companies, such as Zara and H&M, which in recent years have constantly beat their more sophisticated rivals by supplying high-speed copycats of runway collections at a fraction of their original prices. However, it's premature to say that the new retailing model has won over the entire fashion industry. To do so, it still needs the approval of the industry's real tradition ruler Paris. Feedback from the French capital doesn't sound upbeat. Karl Lagerfeld, who oversees Chanel and Italian brand Fendi, told the Financial Times dismissively: "It's a mess." Even in London where brands seem ready to test the water, uncertainty remains. Burberry's show on Monday would be the last by its outgoing talisman Bailey, casting doubts over the company's future policy. The debate over the new business model has also reached China, a significant factor for any globally expanding brands. Lin Yi, a Beijing-based fashion retail buyer, said the quick-sale format is luxury brands' treasure but fast fashion's trash. "For big-name brands it's worth trying for because they can afford massive marketing campaigns. Their influence is already there. Even if the idea ends up as a hype, it's still good marketing for them. They can afford to not care about the actual sales performance," said Lin. Fast fashion is another story, according to her. "Fast fashion companies have to sell enough clothes to make profits. They just cannot afford a marketing campaign that is headline-making but not money-making. " Lin also warned against romanticizing the new idea. "See-now-buy-now doesn't mean you get all of what you see. Instead only a capsule of runway looks can be offered after the show. " To contact the reporter: zhaosiyuan@chinadaily.com.cn MANILA - The US and Philippine militaries are scheduled to hold joint amphibious landing exercises in the Philippines next week amidst recent diplomatic spat between the two treaty allies, a spokesman for the Philippine armed forces said on Thursday. Capt. Ryan Lacuesta of the Philippine Marines said the amphibious landing exercises will open on Oct 4 at the Philippine Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in the Philippine capital. The US Embassy in Manila has yet to issue an official statement on the scheduled landing exercises next week. US President Barack Obama has called off a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Laos early this month, following Duterte's tirade against Obama after the latter criticized Duterte's violent war against drugs in the Philippines. In a speech at the inauguration of a power plant in Misamis Oriental in southern Philippines on Thursday, Duterte reiterated that he would not allow Philippine military to participate in joint patrols in the South China Sea. Earlier this month, Duterte also said he wanted the more than 100 US Special Forces posted in Mindanao out. "(Those special forces), they have to go. They have to go," he said during a speech at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila. In the same event, Duterte again showed pictures of US operations in Mindanao at the start of the 20th century in which US troops subjugated Moro rebels. He went around using the pictures sourced from the "US archive." From right to left: Unveiling of CADFund Kenya office nameplate by Chairman Chi Jianxin, CS Treasury Henry Rotich, CS transport, infrastructure, housing and urban development James Macharia and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa. [Photo by Liu Hongjie/chinadaily.com.cn] A China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) representative office was officially launched in Kenya on Thursday. The office, based in Nairobi, is the fifth in Africa after others in South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia and Ghana. It is specially designed to cater to the East African Community (EAC). "We are excited to establish our footprint at the heart of East Africa, here in Nairobi," said Chi Jianxin, chairman of the CADFund. Representatives shake hands after signing the MOU. [Photo by Liu Hongjie/chinadaily.com.cn] The EAC is a sub-regional organization where six member countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, enjoy some of the highest economic integration and development in Africa. In recent years, large-scale cross-border infrastructure construction has buoyed urbanization and industrialization in the region. This has further increased demand for funds as the community moves to strengthen the common market that promotes the free movement of people, products and capital. "The establishment of the sub-regional representative office in Kenya aims to support and guide more Chinese enterprises and financial institutions to invest and set up business in the EAC region and proactively contribute to the region's integration," Chi said during the opening ceremony. Chairman Chi Jianxin delivers a speech at the ceremony. [Photo by Liu Hongjie/chinadaily.com.cn] Present during the ceremony were Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa, Ministry of transport, infrastructure, housing and urban development Cabinet Minister James Macharia and his treasury counterpart Henry Rotich. In his opening remarks, Liu concurred with the chairman and said: "The new office will accelerate the industrialization process of the EAC and spur China-African trade". Macharia said the presence of the CADFund in Nairobi would supplement and complement the government's efforts to achieve its major projects. "Most importantly, the Fund's first footprint is in housing sector where we have a huge deficit. CADFund would not have come at a better time." From right to left: Signing of MOU by representatives from CADFund, MoTIH&UD, CCECC and SPGL. [Photo by Liu Hongjie/chinadaily.com.cn] A 2013 survey undertaken by the government revealed that the country's housing demand stood at 200,000 housing units annually over a paltry 20,000 supplied by the private sector. Macharia said by using the Private Public Partnership initiative, the government hoped to attract Chinese investors into opportunities such as slum upgrading, social amenities, mixed use housing developments and housing for the disciplined forces and other civil servants. China has been Africa's No. 1 trade partner for seven years in a row. In 2015, trade value between China and Africa reached $179 billion. Photo session at the ceremony. [Photo by Liu Hongjie/chinadaily.com.cn] To date, more than 3,100 Chinese enterprises have operations in Africa. The CADFund signed an MOU with the Kenya Investment Authority at the event, along with a four-party agreement on Co-operation for the Development of 20,000 Housing Units with the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing & Urban Development of Kenya, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, and Suraya Property Group Limited. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives at Ottawa for an official visit to Canada, Sept 21, 2016. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn OTTAWA-- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived Wednesday for an official visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years. Li, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong and senior Chinese officials, arrived in Ottawa as the guest of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, who just paid an official visit to China and attended the G20 Hangzhou summit from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6. China-Canada relations are with deep foundation, huge potential and great development opportunity, said Li upon his arrival, and added that the exchange of visits of Chinese premier and Canadian prime minister within one month showed that both sides value the bilateral relations. Li said his visit will formally launch the annual dialogue mechanism between the Chinese premier and the Canadian prime minister, further exchange ideas with the Canadian side on issues of common concern, and promote exchanges and cooperation in all fields, in a bid to inject strong impetus into the development of China-Canada relations in the new period. In Ottawa, Li and Trudeau will hold talks and witness the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation documents. Li will meet Canada's Governor General, Speaker of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Commons, and some local leaders. Li and Trudeau will also attend and address the Canada-China Business Forum to be held in Montreal, and other cultural events. It is the second stop of Li's trip after he attended the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Li will also visit Cuba later. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said last week that the premier's visit to Canada showed the importance of the development of bilateral relations between the two countries, and it will inject strong impetus for future development.The China-Canada relations have been strengthened thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides. During Trudeau's visit to China, the two sides announced the establishment of the annual dialogue mechanism. The two countries also established the China-Canada High-Level National Security and Rule of Law Dialogue during Trudeau's visit, and Canada announced that it had decided to apply for the membership of China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. China is now Canada's second largest trading partner. The trade between the two countries reached about $67.2 billion in 2015, a 10.1 percent increase over 2014, accounting for 8.1 percent of Canada's total merchandise trade, according to Canadian statistics. Premier Li Keqiang attended a summit for refugees and migrants on Sept 20 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Premier Li Keqiang arrived at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in Canada on Sept 21, starting his first official visit to "the country of maple trees". Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is welcomed by Canadian senior officials upon his arrival at Ottawa, Canada, Sept 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] OTTAWA - China-Canada relations enjoy a solid foundation and bright prospects as the two economies are highly complementary and the two peoples have a long-time friendship, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said. "My visit to Canada ... is to inaugurate the new annual dialogue between our heads of government and further promote mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries," Li said in an article published in Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on Wednesday. Li recalled the traditional friendship between China and Canada, saying there have been more "handshakes across the Pacific" and his official visit aims to make policy communication between the two nations "more timely and effective." "Mutual trust is the cornerstone of friendly relations and cooperation between China and Canada," Li said, voicing the hope of stepping up communication and coordination with Canada at various international forums to promote world peace and stability as well as help global economic recovery. "The two sides should respect each other's concerns on issues of vital interests and the right to independently choose the path of development and overcome distractions to make sure that the ship of China-Canada relations power ahead on the right course," he added. Citing figures to prove booming China-Canada trade, Li called economic cooperation and trade "the driving force of China-Canada relations." Against the backdrop of a steep decline in global trade, China-Canada trade continued to rise last year and Chinese companies' investment in Canada increased by 126 percent in the same year, he said. "China is willing to open its markets wider and further increase imports of high-quality agricultural and hi-tech products from Canada," he added. "We welcome Canadian companies to make investments and do business in China to share the opportunities that come with China's economic growth." NEW YORK - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday evening attended a welcoming dinner party organized by American economic and business groups. In his speech, Li reviewed how China-U.S. relations and practical cooperation has grown from scratch to its present stage, saying that China, the world's largest developing country, still has a long way to go before it achieves modernization. The steady growth of the Chinese economy not only generates more jobs for China, but also offers a boost to the U.S. economy, he said. "The two economies are highly interdependent." The welcoming party was organized by the Economic Club of New York, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and the U.S.-China Business Council. Li said that China will stay committed to reform and opening up and continue to follow a path of peaceful development. China stands ready to work with the United States in a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation to expand their common interests, jointly uphold the international order established since the end of the Second World War, and promote strong, sustainable and inclusive global economic growth, the premier said. Below is a transcript from the question and answer period following the premier's speech. William Berkley, founder of W.R. Berkley Corporation and Board of Trustees Chair at New York University: Premier, as Chinese companies seek to do business and make investment around the world, it's important that its market becomes open to investors around the world. How do you see that evolving, and how do you see the market of China becoming more open? Premier Li: In the early days of China's opening-up, we put most of the emphasis on "bringing in" foreign investment. But today, in this age of globalization, China needs to work with multinationals, and Chinese companies are making investment overseas. So now, we are paying equal attention to "bringing in" and "going global." Premier Li Keqiang and his wife, Cheng Hong, talk with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, at Trudeaus official residence in Ottawa, Canada, on Wednesday. ZHANG DUO / XINHUA Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met for what Li called an inaugural annual dialogue on Thursday morning in Ottawa, just three weeks after Trudeau visited China. Li was welcomed by Trudeau with military honors on Thursday at the Drill Hall at Cartier Square, a military training facility in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. He then went to Parliament Hill, where he was welcomed by George Furey, speaker of the Senate, and Geoff Regan, speaker of the House of Commons. After a tete-a-tete with Trudeau, the two premiers had an expanded meeting. They were also to witness the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation documents. Details of their talks and the agreements were not available by press time. Premier Li and his wife, Cheng Hong, arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday evening, after an hour-and-a-half flight from New York, where Li had attended the 71st United Nations General Assembly meetings. Two hours after their arrival, the couple attended a dinner party hosted by Trudeau and his wife at Harrington Lake, the prime minister's country residence. Trudeau posted a picture of their lakeside chat on his Twitter and WeChat accounts. The visit marked the first in 13 years by a Chinese premier to "the beautiful land of maples". Upon his arrival on Wednesday, Li said he believed China-Canada relations have a deep foundation and huge potential and show great development opportunity. "Our economies, which are at different stages of development, are highly complementary, making us natural partners in cooperation," Li said. The premier said China is willing to open its markets wider and further increase imports of high-quality agricultural and high-tech products from Canada. JORDAN A handful of high school students at Jordan-Elbridge have begun taking college courses at Onondaga Community College this year as part of a new program with the district. At a school board meeting Wednesday night, High School Principal David Zehner discussed the Early College High School program, in which students can earn high school and college credits concurrently and graduate with two degrees: a high school diploma and an associate's degree. "We have had courses at the high school that offer college credit for years, but this is the first year students can actually take classes at OCC," Zehner said. "(OCC) sees this as a pilot program to see if it will work for the rest of the county." In the past, the Onondaga College Credit Now Program has allowed students to earn college credit through courses delivered at the high school as part of a normal school day. But now students can pay tuition less than $600 a semester to take classes at the college campus. According to Superintendent James Froio, six seniors and one junior are taking classes at OCC this fall. In addition, the district has introduced new courses through OCC that will be taught at the high school, including English, math, performing arts and health classes. "I don't think any of our students will be able to graduate with an associate's degree this year, but it is possible," Zehner said, noting that scheduling conflicts have been a concern for some students. "A lot of our students are already graduating with 50 or 60 college credits, and most of those (credits) will transfer to other colleges and universities." In other news: The Jordan-Elbridge School District is in "good financial shape," according to a recent audit report. Certified Public Accountant Raymond F. Wager attended Wednesday night's board meeting to discuss the results of an audit of last year's spending in the district. "The budget was good and the balance is getting better," Wager said, adding that there was an $800,000 surplus. "The reserves are a little less than average, but overall (the district) is in great shape." The only cause for concern, Wager said, was the tax levy, which should be monitored so the district does not "cut the budget too close." [2016-09-22 07:19] Have you ever wondered how Premier Li Keqiang might answer a sensitive question such as "What is your opinion on the US presidential candidates?" or how he would explain persistent misconceptions between the world's two largest economies? Dongfeng, Changan may bid for Volvo in Apr Shanghai, February 27 (Gasgoo.com) Three interested companies may place indicative bids for Ford's up-for-sale Swedish brand Volvo Cars in April, according to Swedish newspaper Dagens Industri (DI). Reuters noted that DI quoted unnamed sources as saying that the three bidders include Chinese carmakers Dongfeng Motor Group and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co, and "a European constellation". (Click the title to read the full article) China's private cars on road up 28% y/y in 2008 Shanghai, February 27 (Gasgoo.com) China has 19.47 million private cars on roads by the end of 2008, up 28% from a year earlier, official statistics released by National Bureau of Statistics of China showed. The total number of motor vehicles for civilian use reached 64.67 million (including 14.92 million tri-wheel motor vehicles and low-speed trucks) by the end of 2008, up 13.5 percent, of which private-owned vehicles numbered 41.73 million, up 18.1%, according to the "Statistical Communique of the People's Republic of China on the 2008 National Economic and Social Development. VW to double China sales to 2m cars by '18 Shanghai, February 26 (Gasgoo.com) German auto giant Volkswagen AG announced in Beijing today that it plans to double its annual vehicle sales in China to 2 million units by 2018, sina.com said today. "We are targeting to sell 2 million vehicles [a year] in China by 2018 with the earliest possible timeframe, from the current annual sales of 1 million," said Winfried Vahland, executive vice-president of Volkswagen Group and president and CEO of Volkswagen's China operations, when releasing the company's new strategy. China to pay $615m for Jaguar, Land Rover cars Shanghai, February 26 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese firms will agree to pay a combined $615 million for 3,000 Jaguar and 6,000 Land Rover automobiles during a government-led trip to the U.K., the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the situation. The trip, headed by Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and including some 200 business executives, headed for Europe this Tuesday and will visit Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the U.K., according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. China sells 325,362 buses in '08, Jinbei No. 1 Shanghai, February 25 (Gasgoo.com) China achieved bus sales of 379,405 units in 2008, a report by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed, without giving comparative data. Brilliance Jinbei Automobile Co led China's bus-making industry by selling 61,100 buses in 2008, a figure more than double that of its closest follower, Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co, which sold 27,600 buses. Jiangling Motors Co trailed the two with 26,600 buses sold last year. Hella acquires full stakes of its Chinese relay JV Shanghai, February 25 (Gasgoo.com) German auto-parts supplier Hella has announced that it has completed the acquisition of its previous joint venture Hella Hongfa (Xiamen) Automotive Electronics (HAE) in China recently. Hella said it has acquired the 30 percent share held in HAE by former partner Xiamen Hongfa Electroacoustic, turning HAE into a wholly owned subsidiary of Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., a tier-one supplier of automotive lighting and electronic equipment. Malaysia's Proton likely to cooperate with SAIC Shanghai, February 24 (Gasgoo.com) Malaysia's Proton Holdings Bhd is in talks with Chinas Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) possible cooperation, an executive of Proton told Gasgoo.com today. A recent report said that Malaysian automaker Proton is planning to cooperate with SAIC to build its premium models by using SAICs Roewe and MG platforms. China aims to merge carmaking groups to 10 Shanghai, February 24 (Gasgoo.com) Earlier this month, the Chinese government issued its detailed plan to consolidate the auto sector, including decisions to merge the country's major auto-making groups to 10 from 14, and to subsidize rural buyers of new vehicles, China Securities Journal reported on Tuesday. The auto industry "boost plan," released by the State Council, China's cabinet, on Feb. 11., has detailed the guidelines on lifting the auto market demand, subsidizing the trade-in of old vehicles with new ones, scrapping road tolls, government's buying more Chinese-brand cars, standardizing auto financing and loans, normalizing the used-car market, expanding urban transportation systems, speeding up mergers of auto-making groups, supporting auto R&D efforts, and others. China's Baoya electric car rolling to U.S. market Shanghai, February 23 (Gasgoo.com) This year to date, Chinese carmaker Shandong Baoya Vehicle Co., Ltd. has received orders from the United States for 4,800 Baoya electric cars. The Baoya electric car features the company's own core car-making technologies, including driveline technology for the chassis of electric cars and technologies for adaptation and optimization of drive motors, said Baoya's general manager Zhang Haibo. Weichai Power denies talks with GM France unit Shanghai, February 23 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese state-owned Weichai Power Co announced today that it has not had any discussions with the shareholders of General Motors on acquiring the U.S. automaker's auto parts plant in France, Reuters reported, citing a Weichai statement posted on China Securities Journal. (Photo : Getty images) Servers walk the Michelin Guide to the main floor at the release of the hotly anticipated Michelin Guide Advertisement The inaugural Michelin food guide finally kicked off in Shanghai, China on Wednesday. They awarded restaurants from grand to growing hotels as well as street hawkers who serve Cantonese staples. The guide was launched over a century ago and its aim was to promote automobile travel. It has spread across 28 more country cuisine specials such as the Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The food guide toured China as they aim to award 26 restaurants. Different inspectors made different visits as regular clients to different restaurants before making a final verdict. They make a joint decision afterwards. T'ang Court in The Langham Shanghai was the only restaurant to get the highest citation after they bagged three Michelin awards. "The talented and creative chef Justin Tan offers cuisine in which traditional Cantonese dishes, rub shoulders with very modern dishes," said Michael Ellis, the international director of Michelin guides. Meanwhile, the Canton 8, a popular two-star hotel got two Michelin stars awards. The spot is a common lunch hour destination. "Canton 8 is a reflection of what can be in Shanghai: masterful, delicious and very good quality cooking," Ellis described the resto. Umberto Bombana 8 Otto e Mezzo Bombana also got two Michelin stars awards for its Italian cuisine as well as for its comforting environment and dining experience. The China inauguration is the second of its kind in the Asian market. The first was launched in July in Singapore, where street stalls were awarded by Michelin inspectors. Critics, however, argued that street-fare in the two Asian communities cannot be made equal to the French haute cuisine. In response, vice president of Michelin, Claire Dorland Clauzel, explained that it is not a case of who does it better. "We have to adapt to the country," she said. "Our role is to promote quality food everywhere, not just French food." When asked what makes Shanghai, China an exciting destination for Michelin food guide, Ellis pointed out that "it's been an economic and cultural crossroads and the gastronomy of Shanghai really reflects its rich history." Advertisement Tagschina, Michelin, Michelin Guide, Michelin Food Guide China (Photo : Getty images) Rescuers and machines clean up burnt vehicles at the site of Tianjin warehouse explosion on August 20, 2015 in Tianjin, China Advertisement Four workers from Wanhua Chemical Group, who were killed in a chemical explosion on Wednesday, have just been added to the growing number of chemical-related deaths. Greenpeace reported that from January to August this year, chemical-related accidents in China already stood at a total of 232, where 199 lives were lost while 400 of the victims were left with critical injuries. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The group said the Chinese government needs to revamp the way it manages its chemical industry which is allegedly poorly regulated already. "The government must take urgent action to manage chemicals in a sound manner, provide a safety net for workers and citizens and protect ecologically important areas across the country," Greenpeace campaigner Cheng Qian said. The group also stressed that transparency is also crucial to address the issue. It was alleged that the efforts of China in regulating the acquisition, production and storage of dangerous chemicals are not enough. Experts also argued that the rules published have to be revised. Based on the 2010-2011 public data, it was reportedly apparent that a greater number of China's 33,625 chemical facilities are located in densely populated eastern and coastal regions, which could make them safety hazards. Explosions witnessed in Tianjin, particularly at the Tianjin Ruihai International Logistics chemical warehouse last year, for example, led to the death of 165 people. A government-issued statement pointed out that the company was to be blamed for handling hazardous chemicals without an operation permit. Amid the reported chemical explosion deaths in this part of China, 49 people. including port and work safety officials, were arrested for failure to observe the set rules and regulations. Advertisement Tagschina, hazardous chemicals, Tianjin explosion, Greenpeace Environmental Trust, China Chemical Explosion Deaths (Photo : Getty images) Corrupt officials being escorted to a van by construction workers. Advertisement The government of China is committed towards bringing back to the country the alleged corrupt officials who already went overseas, as it intensifies its corruption crackdown. The Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday that they are not only going to ensure the return of corrupt officials who have fled out of the country, but also to re-acquire all assets they allegedly obtained illegally. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement According to an official from the ministry, a new system was developed to track and trace the alleged illegal activities of the corrupt officials. Called the Fox hunt 2016, the new mechanism will enable the government to prove the case other than the usual evidences required in the past. "As part of the new initiative, public security authorities will work closely with the People's Bank of China, particularly the division that cracks down on money laundering," said the official. "A large number of corrupt officials have transferred billions of yuan in illegal funds to their foreign accounts." A joint partnership with other countries has also been developed to help enhance communication while conducting joint investigations. Accordingly, the United States, Canada and Australia have been a great hiding place for the corrupt officials due to the differences in law and lack of bilateral extradition. The Chinese official also noted that the initiative, which kicked off in April this year has nabbed 409 allegedly corrupt officials from 61 countries and regions so far. "Thirty eight former officials charged with corruption are among those arrested," added the official. "Several more fugitives will be extradited from Europe and South America in the near future." The new system , however, was not welcomed by other states positively. The US government issued a warning to the Chinese government to stop miscellaneous activities on American soil. This is after Chinese secret agents were found to be entering the United States posing as tourists only to arrive and began a hunt for the alleged corrupt officials. Advertisement Tagschina, Fox Hunt 2016, China corruption, Ministry of Public Security, China Corrupt Officials (Photo : getty images.) To give boost to start-up companies in China, the Chinese government on Tuesday announced various measures for nurturing venture capital (VC). Advertisement China's government on Tuesday announced various measures for nurturing venture capital (VC) in the country. The move is part of the government's effort to give a big boost to the ongoing start-up revolution and sustain the current entrepreneurial wave in the country. According to the guidelines released by the State Council, China will strengthen its policy support to VCs. The government will also create new funding avenues like diversifying corporate financing channels and allowing more foreign capital. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The guideline revealed that China would attract foreign VCs by granting easier access to Chinese start-up companies and by simplifying rules and regulations, China Daily reported. Local Chinese companies will be equally encouraged to invest in foreign start-ups. Other important measures include allowing State-owned firms to set up private VC funds and encouraging them to invest in new companies. Loans to VC's will be promoted in a timely manner as well. Business leaders and wealth management companies will also be encouraged to make investments in start-up firms. A healthy and robust environment for VC's will help generate new growth avenues and stabilize the economy, the guideline said. Plagued withan economic slowdown, the Chinese government is busy promoting the spirit entrepreneurship in the hope that it will bring much-needed impetus to the slowing economy. The first eight months of 2016 reportedly witnessed 28.9 percent increase in small and new business registration. Some popular Chinese start-ups include Wechat, Lashou.com, 360buys.com, UCWeb and Redbaby.com.cn. Advertisement Tagschina, Start-Ups China, Start Up Companies in China, Venture Capitalists China (Photo : Getty Images) Rescuers spray hydrogen peroxide at the site of Tianjin warehouse explosion in Tianjin, China. T Advertisement About 200 people died in chemical-related accidents in China between January and August this year, according to data released by Greenpeace on Wednesday. Of the 232 accidents related to chemical production, storage, and transportation in China this year, 199 deaths and 400 injuries were recorded, Reuters reported. The report suggested that China's chemical industry remained relax even after the deadly explosion in the port city of Tianjin last year that killed 165 people, injured at least 800, and caused an estimated $1.1 billion damage to the city. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "China's chemical industry is the largest in the world, but it is appallingly underregulated," Cheng Qian, a Greenpeace activist, said, emphasizing the need for the government to take urgent action. Some of the recorded accidents, with an average of nearly one per day, involved extremely dangerous substances. And over half happened while workers were transporting the chemicals, accounting for two of five of every death, the New York Times reported. The report said many of China's 33,625 registered chemical facilities are located in densely populated areas along the country's eastern coast, and about a fifth are situated near essential natural resources such as rivers and lakes. Cheng encouraged the government to "take urgent action to manage chemicals in a sound manner, provide a safety net for workers and citizens, and protect ecologically important areas across the country." Officials from China's Ministry of Environmental Protection and the State Administration of Work Safety did not immediately respond to the New York Times for a comment. Advertisement TagsGreenpeace, chemical accidents, china (Photo : GettyImages/VCG) The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) telescope consists of 4.450 panels. Advertisement China will turn on its radio telescope, The FAST, to initiate its search for extraterrestrials. The telescope is the world's largest of its kind. The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is scheduled to become operational on Sept. 25. The telescope is expected to gather data from deep space, which may help in various scientific pursuits. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The telescope is located in Guizhou Province of China. The telescope emits such powerful radiations that Chinese authorities decided to relocate people from nearby villages. According to the Express, Chinese authorities have completed their tests on the telescope and have found it to be ready to be launched. The telescope comes with a "feed cabin" which will be used for collecting and monitoring signals gathered from the deep space. The telescope consists of 4.450 panels. It dethroned Puerto Rico's 300m-wide Arecibo Observatory to hold the position of the world's largest telescope. Its large radius gives the telescope an edge in discovering the faintest signals from the universe. According to CNN, The Fast has a field of vision almost twice as big as the Arecibo telescope. Initially, the telescope will be used exclusively by the scientist for discovering the secrets of the universe. Later, it is expected to be opened to all researchers to track the space for alien presence. The construction of the telescope was started in 2011 and cost China about $185 million. The telescope is capable of letting scientists detect gravitational waves as well as many more pulsars. Advertisement TagsFive hundred meter aperture spherical telescope, china, Guizhou, Arecibo Observatory (Photo : GettyImages/LintaoZhang) China's Premier Li Keqiang has expressed hope that his visit to Canada will help in formally launching the annual dialogue system between the two countries. Advertisement Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has arrived in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, for an official visit. Li was welcomed by Canadian senior officials. This is the first visit of a Chinese leader to Canada since 2010 and the first visit by a Chinese Premier to the North American country in the past 13 years. During his visit, Li will conduct meetings with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Li expressed hope that the visit will help in formally launching the annual dialogue system between the two countries. The Chinese Premier will hold talks with various senior Canadian dignitaries. Li and Trudeau will also participate in the Canada-China Business Forum, which is scheduled to be held in Montreal. CCTV quoted Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong stating that the visit highlights the importance of developing deeper bilateral ties between both countries. During Trudeau's visit to China earlier this year, both countries set up the China-Canada High-Level National Security and Rule of Law Dialogue. China and Canada have shared rather a frigid relationship in the past. However, under the leadership of Trudeau, Ottawa is looking to change its stance. According to CBC, Trudeau said that the bilateral ties between both countries need to be "updated and re-energized." China is Canada's second-largest trading partner. The volume of trade between both countries reached $67.2 billion in 2015. China is also willing to increase its investment in Canada. Advertisement TagsLi Keqiang, Justin Trudeau (Photo : GettyImages/DrewAngerer) China's Premier Li Keqiang has just concluded his first official visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York. Advertisement Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has just concluded a visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York. During his visit, Li attended several conferences dealing with issues such as immigration, refugees, and sustainable development. He also met high-profile diplomatic, media, and business personalities. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement This was Li's first visit to the UN headquarters as the prime minister of China. The Chinese Premier announced a humanitarian aid of $100 million to support the UN's efforts to support refugees and deal with the ongoing immigration crisis. Li also chaired a roundtable meeting on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. According to Xinhua, he announced that China has agreed to give an additional $100 million to the UN development agencies by 2020. In next three years, China's donation to the Global Fund for fighting tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS is likely to reach $18 million. Li met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and with the leaders of the United States, New Zealand, Pakistan, and France. He also announced that Beijing plans to set up a clearing bank for the yuan in the United States as well as resume beef imports from the US. While addressing the Economic Club of New York at a dinner party, Li said that frictions are normal in the ties between China and US. He called on both sides to handle their differences in a proper way. Li also met French President Francois Hollande. Both leaders discussed Britain's Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project. They also agreed to boost cooperation in third-party markets. Advertisement TagsLi Keqiang, United Nations, Ban Ki Moon (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang appealed to the international community to step in and help denuclearize North Korea during the annual UN General Assembly in New York Advertisement China has called on the international community to remain committed to ridding North Korea of nuclear weapons by pursuing diplomatic dialogue with Pyongyang. China's Premier Li Keqiang, in a speech before the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, said, in reference to the South China Sea dispute, that maritime conflicts should be resolved through bilateral talks. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "We should remain committed to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and seek consultation and dialogue for a solution, so as to maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation regime," Li said. International community The Chinese Premier said Beijing has repeatedly called on the international community to return to multilateral talks to denuclearize North Korea despite the skeptic response of other world powers. China, North Korea's main ally and biggest trade partner, was reportedly been angered by Kim Jong-un's fifth missile test on September 9, and is pushing for tougher UN sanctions on Pyongyang. Li said China and the US have started discussions on a new UN resolution that would impose more sanctions on North Korea as a response to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test. Chinese firm Chinese and US authorities are currently investigating a Chinese firm for allegedly funding North Korea's nuclear program and financially aiding Kim Jong-un's regime. The two countries have joined forces to track down Chinese firms involved in aiding Kim's nuclear program and doing business with the isolated nation. On Tuesday, the two sides revealed that they are targeting Liaoning Hongxiang Industrial, a Chinese company reportedly owned by a Communist Party member. Chinese police have started investigating Ma Xiaohong, owner of Hongxiang Industrial, for his alleged involvement in "serious economic crimes" in the course of his company's trading activities with the North. High-ranking Chinese financial officials said they have frozen Ma's assets as well as those of her business associates and relatives who are believed to have also been offering financial support to North Korea. Intervention At the UN Assembly, Li reiterated China's position that territorial and maritime rights and interests should be peacefully settled through dialogues and negotiations without the intervention of outside countries. "China also maintains that disputes concerning territory and maritime rights and interests should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. We need to expand common ground while shelving differences," he said. China recently slammed Japan for its recent announcement that it would join the US in patrolling the disputed South China Sea in freedom of navigation patrols. Tokyo also said it would participate in multilateral military exercises with regional navies. Bargaining chip Beijing has said Japan, which is not a party to the ongoing territorial row in the South China Sea, is using its participation in the joint patrols with the US as a bargaining chip to gain an advantage in its territorial spat with China over the Senkaku island in the East China Sea. China has rival claims with several Southeast Asian countries to the strategic waterway. This has led to the escalation of tensions among the claimants in the region. Political analysts said Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the pursuit of its territorial rights in the strategic waterway has strained its relations with the US and has made the region a potential flashpoint for conflict. Advertisement TagsKorean peninsula, North Korea missile tests, multilateral talks, china (Photo : Getty Images) Cambodian authorities have deported 63 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals accused of Internet VoIP scam. Advertisement Cambodia has deported 50 Chinese and 13 Taiwanese nationals suspected of telecoms fraud to China via the Phnom Penh International Airport on Tuesday, the country's Ministry of Public Security in Beijing said. Cambodian authorities arrested the offenders, who are suspected of committing internet and phone extortion fraud, during a raid in Phnom Penh's Chbar Ampov district in August following a month-long investigation, according to a report released by the immigration department of Cambodia's Interior Ministry on Tuesday. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement All the offenders, who have been accused of operating an Internet scam using voice over internet protocol technology (VoIP), were deported to Changshu, China, aboard a China Southern Airlines flight at 2 p.m. According to Cambodia Daily, Uk Heisela, chief of the investigations, has corrected the initial report by the immigration department that 64 suspects were nabbed. He further said that all the suspects of the extortion racket are in China. Taiwan's foreign ministry has protested against the deportation of the suspects to China late on Tuesday, saying Cambodia was being pressured by Beijing. China's Public Security Ministry has, however, defended the move saying that the suspects were brought back to China since most of their victims are from the mainland. Channel News Asia reported that offenders would be tried in Nanjiang, Jiangsu province. The group was allegedly using VoIP to target victims in China. Such internet scam have not only cost billions of dollars but has also driven some victims to suicide, Channel News Asia reported. Last month, Cambodian authorities also arrested 64 people for being involved in a similar internet scam. Authorities nabbed the Chinese and Taiwanese nationals following a month-long surveillance. Officials confiscated 57 VoIP boxes, 57 Wi-Fi routers, and eight laptops from the suspects. Another 39 suspects from China and Taiwan were also nabbed in Phnom Pehn in June. Advertisement Tagsinternet scam, VoIP, voice over internet protocol technology, china, scams, Cambodia, Taiwan (Photo : Weibo) The Great Wall portion in Liaoning before it was cemented. (Photo : Weibo) What it looks like now. The ugly "restored" portion of the Great Wall in Liaoning. Advertisement The local government of Suizhong County in southwestern Liaoning Province cemented a 700 year-old stretch of the iconic Great Wall of China in a botched restoration effort that's so ugly it's flooding Chinese social media with messages of anger, condemnation and ridicule. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Photos show the brick walkway along a "wild" or disused portion of the Great Wall completely encased in a river of gray cement. Media reports said Suizhong should have used mortar and not cement to repair the Wall. Images of the repair job gone awry are trending on Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo. Angry posts keep turning up on the trending Weibo hashtag "The most beautiful, wild Great Wall flattened." One post said, "The repairs might as well not have been done. It just did more damage. Terrible." Another post commented: "Glad Venus de Milo is not in China, or someone would get her a new arm." Sina.com reported the restoration work was approved by Suizhong's Cultural Relics Bureau which, in turn, said its plans were given the green light by Liaoning's Heritage Conservation Bureau. The Cultural Relics Bureau explained the restoration was an effort to repair parts of the Wall that have fallen into disrepair and aren't open to the public. The contractor that undertook the actual "restoration" was not named. The repairs were completed in 2014 but have only now come to the Chinese public's attention thanks to social media posts. Great Wall of China Society deputy director Dong Yaohui said the restoration work had been done "very badly." "It damaged the original look of the Great Wall and took away the history from the people," he said. Dong argued it was important for the Chinese government to regulate and streamline Great Wall restoration efforts. "Although the local government was well intentioned and wanted to restore the bricks of the Wall, the result turned out to be the opposite." Since 2006, the Great Wall Protection Ordinance in China introduced strict rules for the development of tourist destinations. Advertisement TagsSuizhong County, Liaoning Province, Great Wall of China, restoration, Cultural Relics Bureau Terrorists not shouting 'Jesus Christ' before attacks, says Trump military adviser 22 September, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) Days after a wave of terror was launched by jihadists in Minnesota, New York City and New Jersey, the lead military advisor to Republic presidential candidate Donald Trump has claimed America's leaders have refused to identify the nation's enemy properly. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (Ret.) told FOX News that the White House is politically correct to the point that the real nature of the enemy has been ignored, imperiling the country. The enemy, he said, plain for all to see it is radical Islam. I'm going to be very candid here ... You don't have a lot of people yelling 'Jesus Christ' putting a knife in somebody's body or putting a knife in somebody's head. Therefore, any notion that Trump is "Islamophobic" because he has called terrorism by its name should be rejected, he said. "I'm going to be very candid here," Flynn said. "You don't have a lot of people yelling 'Jesus Christ' putting a knife in somebody's body or putting a knife in somebody's head." "This is a different enemy. It's an enemy that we have not, frankly, understood in a couple of administrations, and we definitely don't understand right now," he said. That much was evident, he said, when White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said earlier this week the U.S. is in a "war of narratives" with the Islamic State and other jihadist groups. Earnest told CNN's Chris Cuomo Monday the U.S. should begin "debunking" the radical jihadist narrative that ISIS represents Islam. He also said people should avoid painting Islam with a "broad brush." "When it comes to ISIL, we are in a fight, a narrative fight with them, a narrative battle, and what ISIL wants to do is they want to project that they are an organization that is representing Islam in a fight and a war against the West, and a war against the United States," Earnest said of ISIS. "That is a bankrupt, false narrative. It's a mythology, and we have made progress in debunking that mythology." If that is true, Flynn said, America would have a competing narrative. It does not, however, because the U.S. hasn't decided to defeat the enemy. "Political correctness kills," Flynn added. "It will cause death, and we can't have that." Flynn told his FOX News hosts that people frequently reference the fact that many immigrants are "pouring in" from nations plagued by terrorism, but the truth is "they are actually being poured in by the White House" without being properly vetted and without the expectation they will assimilate into American life. A Somali immigrant, Dahir Adan, was responsible for the stabbing attack in a Minnesota shopping mall. He reportedly asked one victim if they were Muslim before stabbing them, just as the attackers in the Garissa University attack in Kenya did in 2015. ISIS issued a statement calling Adan a "soldier" of the Islamic State. Ties between Ahman Khan Rahami, who detonated bombs in New York and New Jersey over the weekend, and ISIS have not been made public, if they exist. The charges filed against him, however, have claimed he was inspired by a different radical group Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda. The fact that more than one terror group was involved in the recent attacks illustrates the global problem the U.S. is facing. "Globally, globally, this is in many countries right now, so, we have a problem," Flynn said. "We have to get serious. I will tell you that I believe that there are components of how we can actually beat these guys. If there's one thing that's I know. There's no enemy that's unbeatable, none. We can beat them, but we have to decide that this is an enemy, first, and we're being accused of all sorts of name calling." As the Satanic Temple opens its international headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts, a Christian church in the city says it is ready to combat its presence with a Christ-like response. Arthur Savage, the pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Salem recently spoke to The Christian Post in an interview. "Salem is definitely a place of spiritual warfare, and a place where it's important for Christians to gather to pray and to be in unity, and to preach Christ, said Savage. Salem is a popular tourist city and also a controversial one due to its Puritan history of the Salem Witch Trials. In the 1690s, villagers killed over a dozen people accused of witchcraft. Wesley says he doesnt want to take a controversial approach, but instead, he said, We are praying and waiting on the Lord about how to respond and talking about it amongst ourselves. And we have a ministry here for people who are searching, some of them coming out of occultism of various forms. And we are involved with some ministries that come into the area to preach Christ and minister to people, especially during the [upcoming] October Haunted Happening events." Members of the Satanic Temple, however, argue that they have been misrepresented. "Satanism is widely misunderstood because traditional religious organizations who, against all historical insight, believe themselves to be the arbiters of morality, see satanism as their opposite, therefore embodying a philosophy of immorality," said spokesman and co-founder of the Satanic Temple, Lucien Greaves, in an email to CP. Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com Publication date: September 22, 2016 Poland is considering a new abortion law which will ban all abortions except when the mother's life is in danger, according to media reports. The country's current law makes abortion illegal except in the cases of incest and rape, life-threatening anomalies of the fetus, or when mother's life is endangered. Abortion of babies with disabilities such as Down Syndrome is also allowed under the current law. As the bill is set to be discussed in the Polish parliament this week, hundreds of people held demonstrations in many cities around the country and outside the Polish embassy in London to protest the new law. The new bill will criminalize abortion for supporting the "death of a conceived child." Abortion providers and women who go ahead with abortion in circumstances other than threat to a mother's life will be liable to prison sentences of up to five years. The new bill was proposed when in March this year a baby at about 24 weeks of gestation was born alive after a botched abortion at Holy Family Hospital in Warsaw. It screamed for an hour before it died unattended by the medical staff. Reports of the death of the baby born alive were reported all around the world and generated widespread outrage over the incident. Medical tests indicated that the baby had Down syndrome. Head of Poland's Stop Abortion committee, Mariusz Dzierzawski, told New Europe that 58 percent of the Polish people back the new law because "about 1,000 unborn children are legally killed in Poland each year." "Being suspected of having Down's syndrome is enough to be killed. It must change. We do not fear abortion supporters as they are weak and there are few of them. The pro-life movement is much stronger in our country. We will force the politicians to ban killing people," he said. Another bill which seeks to legalize on-demand abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy is also headed to the Parliament. Radio Poland reported that a pro-abortion petition on the internet supporting this bill has gained about 215,000 signatures, while the pro-life petition has already has over 450,000 signatures. Elected officials may continue to open public meetings with prayers, a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided in a 2-1 vote that Rowan Countys five-member commission can open meetings with prayers and that doing so is not considered unconstitutional as long as the members do not proselytize. The American Civil Liberties Union, representing three Rowan County residents, sued the commission in 2013, having observed that in five and a half years, their board meetings began with predominantly Christian prayers. The residents claimed they felt coerced to participate in the prayers. North Carolina U.S. District Judge James Beaty ruled against the commission in 2013, maintaining that the prayers violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local clergy can open with Christian prayers at public meetings in Greece, New York. In Greece, religious leaders of different religious traditions would be invited to pray. However, Rowan Countys case differs in that the commissioners themselves are offering the prayers. The 4th Circuit Court ruling reversed the district court decision, arguing that opening meetings with prayers are a part of tradition. Not only are the legislators themselves the intended congregation for legislative prayer, but the practice carries special meaning to the thousands of state and local legislators who are citizen representatives, Judge G. Steven Agee wrote in the opinion. Adults are not presumed susceptible to religious indoctrination or pressure simply from speech they would rather not hear. Thus, there is limited risk that disenchanted listeners would be affected by mere contact with lawmaker-led legislative prayer, Agee continued. The Boards legislative prayer practice amounts to nothing more than an individual commissioner leading a prayer of his or her own choosing. Three Christians were attacked in the Indian state of Maharashtra for distributing religious tracts and inviting people to Sunday prayers, The Times of India reports. Pastor Prashant Bhatnagar and two church members Sachin Shenge and his wife Manisha were confronted by members of a fundamentalist group in Kharghar city on September 16, and were verbally and physically abused. According to another report, Pastor Bhatnagar, who is also a child psychologist, was slapped and beaten up by the Hindu activists from Sri Ram Pratishtan group. When Shenge and his wife tried to intervene, the fundamentalists assaulted them too. The pastor was allegedly abducted in a car and taken to a remote place where he was beaten repeatedly. A revolver was pointed at him and he was told that they would set him on fire if he continued to distribute the tracts. After threatening him, the assailants dropped him at a residential locality from where he was taken to a hospital. Four men were booked for perpetrating malicious acts to offend religious feelings, and rioting at Kharghar Police station. Abraham Mathai, former vice-chairman of Maharashtra Minorities Commission reported a 24-hour delay in registering FIR at the police station. "This is a grave criminal act to assault a peaceful group so badly and to threaten them with a gun. The police must book and arrest all the culprits in this case," said Mathai. In a separate incident in the state of Uttar Pradesh on September 17, a group of vandals threw homemade bombs and stones on a church in Lakhimpur Kheri district during the night. The church was vacant at the time, so no injuries were reported from the attack. Hundreds of miles away from Lakhimpur in an animist village in central India, Christians were banned from collecting firewood and grazing their animals on nearby pastures unless they convert back to the faith of the tribe. Christians have been frequently boycotted socially and economically by Hindu communities in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh to compel them to reconvert to Hinduism. A recent report by Evangelical Fellowship of India showed that cases of violence against Christians have increased in 2016, and the number of recorded violent incidents (134) are already close to the total number of attacks registered in 2014 (147) and 2015 (177). According to EFI, the number of recorded attacks are just a "fraction of the violence on the ground" as they only included "carefully corroborated" crimes. I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. Pro-life Film 'Voiceless' to Get Advance Screening in Front of the U.S. Supreme Court Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- After initially denying Church on the Hill and Movie to Movement's request to preview the groundbreaking new film "Voiceless" in front of the Supreme Court on October 2, Court officials have granted permission. After two weeks of communications and meetings with Court officials, in which the screening request was denied three separate times, and less than 48 hours away from filing a lawsuit to assert Church on the Hill and Rev. Patrick Mahoney's First Amendment rights, the Court reversed course and settled on a plan to screen "Voiceless" in front of the Court. According to organizers, this is the first time the Supreme Court has ever permitted a film to be shown in front of the Court. This is not only a historic victory for free speech and the First Amendment, but also a powerful opportunity to give a voice to the millions of innocent children who have no voice of their own. The award-winning film "Voiceless" introduces viewers to a discharged soldier who discovers an abortion clinic operating across the street from his Philadelphia church. He struggles to motivate his church to get involved in protecting unborn babies, and eventually must decide whether to risk it all to fight for what is right. Filmmakers say that "Voiceless" is the first pro-life film that powerfully addresses the reasons why most people don't engage the injustice of abortion. This film is brilliantly designed to inspire and motivate the church to action. Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Pastor of the Washington, D.C. based Church on the Hill and Director of the Christian Defense Coalition states, "We celebrate this historic victory for the First Amendment and free speech by showing the film 'Voiceless' on the most hallowed public space in America. That is, the public sidewalk in front of the United States Supreme Court. As we had to fight to have this powerful film shown, we will continue to be a loud and prophetic voice for human rights and justice working to end the violence of abortion. We will continue to be a 'voice' for the 'voiceless' until abortion ends up on the scrapheap of history like slavery and segregation." "Voiceless" Executive Producer Jason Jones said, "I served as executive producer on Voiceless and founded Movie to Movement to use art to overturn laws that deny legal protection to the child in the womb. We are making a statement at the Supreme Court that the child in the womb demands full legal protection from the violence of abortion, and even if the Court refuses to recognize the inalienable rights of the human person, we will continue to proclaim them through the power and beauty of film." Constitutional attorney Catherine Glenn Foster said, "This is an unprecedented victory for the First Amendment, and we are delighted that the Supreme Court is partnering with us in affirming the constitutional rights of all Americans. On October 2, we will be screening the powerful pro-life film 'Voiceless' in front of the Supreme Court, the first film ever permitted to be shown there. We are using this historic opportunity to give a voice to the more than one million children tragically aborted every year in America alone, and invigorate the church to speak out against the violence of abortion. The First Amendment guarantees that every American can use his or her voice to advocate for life, and this film reveals the need for each one of us to honor our duty to speak out for the least of these, our fellow man." "Voiceless" will be shown on Sunday, October 2, at 6:30 P.M. on the eve of the Supreme Court's 2016 Term and in the midst of a heated presidential race, with both candidates making the Supreme Court a central issue in their campaigns. There will be also be a candlelight prayer vigil as part of the October 2 film presentation. "Voiceless" opens in theaters nationwide on October 7. For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 Share Tweet home Faith Detroit church service erupts into brawl as protesters interrupt to slam wealthy pastor's lavish lifestyle The church service at Great Faith Ministries International in Detroit was interrupted by protests which quickly turned into a brawl. Members of the activist group New Era Detroit went inside the church last Saturday to call out the wealthy pastor of the church for not serving the community. The pastor in question, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, hosted Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during his visit to Detroit earlier this month. The leader of New Era Detroit, who only goes by the name Zeek, said that the group's protest was not limited to Jackson. "The situation is bigger than just Wayne T. Jackson," Zeek told Fox 2 Detroit. "This is about black churches and black pastors who live a lavish life on behalf of the people and they are not giving back to their community," he added. Zeek voiced out his observations after he attended the offering on Saturday. "They started the offering at a thousand dollars," he said. "And then they said if you don't have $1,000 then do $300. If you don't have cash, then we got ATM machines," he added. He pointed out that the pastor owned expensive cars and houses while the community near the church remained in poverty. One bishop at the church offered to hear Zeek out and said that Jackson would be willing to talk to him. Members of the church came to Jackson's defense and pointed out that he is actually helping people in the community. One pastor claimed that the bishop had given away cars and homes. The claim was supported by another church member. "He should talk to people that he hired, ex-cons people that been in prison," said the church member. "He has done so much for this community. There are homes he has bought and given to people," the member continued. Another member named Juanita Kinney said that the pastor immediately told her to look for an apartment when he found out that she did not have a place to live. Kinney said she now has her own place because of the pastor and his wife. home US Christian calligraphers lose lawsuit to suspend Phoenix discrimination law over same-sex wedding invitations The owners of Brush & Nib studio lost their case to suspend the implementation of a public accommodations law in Phoenix that would require them to make invitations for same-sex weddings. In February 2013, the Phoenix City Council approved a law that would make it illegal for businesses to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Offenders could be criminally prosecuted and face a fine of $2,500. Only religious organizations, small private landlords, private clubs and senior housing are exempted from the ordinance. The plaintiffs, Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, filed a lawsuit to overturn the law last May. On Sept. 19, the Superior Court of Maricopa County denied their request for preliminary injunction against the public accommodations law. Duka and Koski were represented by Jonathan Scruggs from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The calligraphers had not been approached to design same-sex wedding invitations but they wanted to overturn the law beforehand so that their refusal would not be deemed illegal. "Artists shouldn't be threatened with jail time and other penalties simply for making art that is consistent with their beliefs," Scruggs said in a statement. "That's why we asked the court to suspend enforcement of the Phoenix ordinance against our clients while their case goes forward," he added. "Because the city must allow artists the freedom to make personal decisions about what art they will and will not create, and because the ordinance's additional requirement that artists stay quiet about their views is clearly unjust and unlawful, we will consult with our clients about appealing the court's decision," the lawyer continued. Judge Karen Mullins argued that the law did not violate the calligraphers' freedom of speech and religion because they were still free to express their disapproval of same-sex marriage. Mullins added that merely printing the invitations does not equate to an endorsement of same-sex marriage. She stated in her ruling that the plaintiffs will probably lose their case to overturn the law but she also refused the city's request to dismiss the case. home World Muslim militants kill 26 civilians in Christian village in CAR The Muslim rebel group Seleka attacked a predominantly Christian village in Central African Republic (CAR), killing 26 civilians on Friday, Sept 16. The group reportedly went door-to-door to kill Christian residents in the village of Ndomete. The attack is deemed as the worst case of violence in CAR in recent months. "There were 26 victims. The Seleka went door to door..The village chief was among the victims," said presidential spokesperson Albert Mokpeme. "It was a massacre," he added. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) deployed its troops to the area. "MINUSCA regrets the loss of human life and the wounded that were recorded and also denounces attacks against the humanitarian community and United Nations personnel," it said. Seleka has been constantly fighting against the Christian militia known as anti-Balaka but government officials said that this particular attack targeted civilians. Fighting between the two groups broke out in the nearby town of Kaga-Bandoro on the same day. Seleka reportedly looted the Saint of Nativity Parish and other businesses in Kaga-Bandoro. Seleka is largely responsible for a coup that removed President Francoise Bozize from power in March 2013. Bozize, a Christian, was replaced by Seleka commander Michel Djotodia. The newly installed government was unable to control the rebel group. There were reported cases of Seleka fighters killing entire families and looting. "Just think the four horsemen of the apocalypse and you'll have the picture," said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director of Human Rights Watch. "People really hated [the SAlAka]. That's what got the Antibalaka going," he continued. Anti-Balaka started fighting against Seleka in September 2013. They were joined by the former members of the national army after it was disbanded by the coup. The experience and authority of the former army members led to the militia's growth. Most anti-Balaka fighters are Christians but some only joined for revenge. Some see the militia as their only means of survival. The group has been reportedly committing abuses against Muslim civilians. A few of its members have claimed that they are fighting for Christians but some religious leaders denounced the claim. home World Sudan bishop appeals to U.S. and U.N. to intervene in trial of pastors facing death penalty Sudanese Bishop Andudu Adam Elnail has called on the U.N. and the U.S. government to intervene and demand the release of pastors who are being tried for various offenses in Sudan. The pastors could be sentenced to death if they are found guilty. Rev. Abdulraheem Kodi and Rev. Kuwa Shamal Abu Zumam were arrested last month along with Czech missionary Petr Jasek and human rights activist Abduelmoneim Abdulmwlla. The group is currently facing serious charges which include waging war against the state, espionage, provoking hatred among sects and spreading false information. "We call for their protection and immediate release and urge that the U.N., U.S. government a including Congress a and other world communities demand the freedom of these two men of God and other prisoners," Elnail told Fox News. Elnail, the bishop of Kadugli Diocese, fled Sudan five years ago and is now based in North Carolina. The authorities reportedly burned down his property after he turned down the option to endorse Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The bishop said that he has known Zumam for many years and added that the pastor is a "humble and good man." "The government is not interested in the Christian religion. There is no freedom for us, we cannot build churches, we are treated as second-class citizens," Elnail said. "We need the international community to pressure the government of Sudan to give us our freedom of religion," he added. Philip Tutu, a human rights advocate, believes that the pastors are targeted without proper cause. He added that the hearings for their trial have been repeatedly postponed. "A lot of people are showing up for the hearings and not everyone is able to attend, including some attorneys for the pastors," said Tutu. A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department has indicated that the officials of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum are aware of the case of the pastors. The spokesperson added that the office is looking for opportunities to raise the issue of religious freedom to the government of South Sudan. Sudan has been labeled as a "Country of Particular Concern" by the U.S. State Department in 1999. The Open Doors World Watch List ranks the country as the eight most difficult country to live in as a Christian. home World Suspected Boko Haram militants carry out series of attacks killing at least eight in Borno, Nigeria Members of Boko Haram are believed to be behind the multiple attacks that occured in Borno State in Nigeria last Sunday. Witnesses said that the attackers killed eight people outside a church in Kwamjilari village in Nigeria but authorities only mentioned two victims. The victims were said to be on their way home after attending a church service in the village. A local chief from the nearby Kautikeri village claimed that the attackers also set fire to homes and crops that were almost ready for harvest. An unnamed resident of Chibok said that many villagers fled to the nearby town of Chibok after the attack. "It was a sad incident in Kwamjilari village," he said. "The gunmen who invaded the village on motorbikes opened fire on the people as they returned home after the Sunday church service," he added. The terror group is also believed to be responsible for another attack on a military convoy that killed at least six people in the Sanda district of Borno State on Monday. "Suspected elements of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists who were foraging for food, ambushed troops... escorting commercial vehicles from Damboa to Maiduguri," said army spokesman Sani Usman. Usman added that three soldiers were injured and that the six victims who died were civilians. He also clarified that the murders at Kwamjilari village did not occur outside a church and mentioned only two victims instead of eight. "What happened was that, two persons were murdered at Kwamjilari village by suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists looking for food." he said. Usman added that the people from Kwamjilari village were moved to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Chibok. He said that the victims went back to the village against the advice of the authorities. A week before the attacks, Boko Haram released a video labeling Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari as an infidel and threatened to carry out more attacks. The spokesman who appeared in the video stated that it was made on Sept., 12, during the celebration of the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha. home US Tulsa shooting: Donald Trump says Pastor Terence Crutcher did everything right, believes cop might have 'choked' Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump shared his views about the shooting of unarmed black pastor Terence Crutcher by a policeman in Tulsa, Oklahoma last Friday. Speaking at a meeting in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on Wednesday, Trump remarked that Crutcher appeared to do "everything he was supposed to do." The candidate added that he was troubled by the actions of Betty Shelby, the officer who fired at the pastor. The candidate spoke about the shooting after he was asked by Rev. Darrell Scott to comment about the "recent shootings of unarmed black men by the police." "To me he looked like somebody who was doing what they were asking him to do and this young officer I don't know what she was thinking. I don't know what she was thinking but I am very, very troubled by that," said Trump at the New Spirit Revival Center. Trump emphasized that he is a believer in law enforcement but he thinks that there will be someone who will make a mistake or "choke" on the job. The encounter began when Crutcher's vehicle broke down in the middle of the road. According to Shelby's attorney, the officer suspected that Crutcher was under the influence of drugs. The attorney stated that she fired the shot when the pastor reached through his car window instead of following instructions to put his hands up. Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Crutcher's family, disputed the claim that Crutcher reached into the car and showed an enlarged photo of police footage revealing that the car window remained closed and stained with blood after the shooting. Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons added that Shelby is still not justified in shooting the pastor even if drugs were found in his car. Trump suggested that Shelby might be unfit to be a police officer. "People who do that, maybe they can't be doing what they're doing," he said. Clinton also commented about the shooting during a radio interview with Steve Harvey. "In Tulsa, an unarmed man with his hands in the air? I mean, this is just unbearable, and it needs to be intolerable," said Clinton. Shelby is currently on administrative leave and undergoing a criminal investigation. home World Two kidnapped priests found dead in Mexico Two kidnapped priests turned up dead a day after they were kidnapped in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Fr. Alejo Nabor Jimenez Juarez and Fr. Jose Alfredo Juarez de la Cruz were abducted by armed men from Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church in Poza Rica on Sept. 18. Poza Rica is known to be a focal point for drug and human trafficking. The bodies of the priests were found on Sept. 19 alongside a highway. Both suffered from gunshot wounds and had their hands and feet tied up. A layman was also abducted but was able to escape. He had been placed under police protection. State officials announced on Sept. 20 that the identity of one of the five suspects had been established. The authorities believe that the suspects wanted to steal the church building fund. The Mexican Bishop's Conference released a statement regarding the murders: "In these moments of pain, impotence and tragedy provoked by violence, we raise our prayers to the heavens for the eternal rest of our brothers and implore to the Lord the conversion of the aggressors. Of the authorities, we await the clarification of the acts and the application of those responsible." Omar Sotelo of the Catholic Multimedia Center blamed the attacks on criminal gangs. He said that the most vulnerable priests are those working in Guerrero state. "The priests who have been killed have been killed in very cruel, violent ways," he added. Guerrero had been named as the most violent state in Mexico. Earlier this month, bishops from the Archdiocese of Acapulco in Guerrero state called on the government and the public to work together to combat against violence. In 2014, at least three priests have been found dead in the state under suspicious circumstances. The Catholic Multimedia Center asserted that Mexico is the most dangerous nation for Catholic priests. According to the organization, 38 priests had either died or vanished in the last 25 years. 14 priests had been found murdered in Mexico since 2012 and two priests were still considered missing. home US Woman fired for not issuing same-sex marriage licenses sues court clerk for 'religious discrimination' Yanicka Parker, a former court specialist at the Broward County Clerk's Office, filed a lawsuit against court clerk Howard Forman for "religious discrimination." The lawsuit claimed that she was fired for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses after it was legalized in the U.S. on Jan. 6, 2015. The court issued an email to all employees prior to the legalization informing them that they would soon be issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Parker, who also served as a Christian minister at the Faith Deliverance Tabernacle in Fort Lauderdale, told her supervisors that she would not be able to do so because of her religious beliefs. She was sent home on Jan. 6 and 7 after she requested to be excused from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. When she returned to the office on Jan. 12, she was informed that she was fired. In her lawsuit, she argued that there are other court clerks and supervisors who are willing to issue the licenses. Parker suggested to her supervisor to reassign or relocate her so she could avoid performing the said tasks. She said that accommodating her request would not cause any additional trouble to the defendant. The lawsuit stated, "Given that issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples was a miniscule part of the clerk's job and overall responsibilities, and Ms. Parker was willing and able to perform all other aspects of her job, Defendant Forman could have easily accommodated her religious beliefs." "Ms. Parker would have been working, performing all of the dozens of other functions that were not contrary to her religious beliefs, just as she had done for a dozen years before," it continued. Parker is seeking for compensation for attorneys fees, wages, bonuses and benefits that she could have received if she had not been fired. She also wants to be compensated for emotional harm, stress and diminished reputation. She was evicted from her home in July. The lawsuit stated that very few same-sex marriage licenses were issued at the office. According to the Sun Sentinel, 184 same-sex licenses were issued at Broward on the first day same-sex marriage became legal. After centuries of separation, evangelicals and Catholics look to shared future The 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation is an opportunity for a "healing of memories", the leaders of the Catholic and evangelical churches in Germany have announced. Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and Cardinal Reinhard Marx of the Roman Catholic Church have published a 'Common Word' document to mark the anniversary of when Martin Luther supposedly nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral in October 1517. The 90-page statement calls for reflection on the reformers' concerns and to listen afresh to their calls for repentance and spiritual renewal. The two leaders will use the anniversary year as a chance to improve relations between the churches. "A look at history reveals the suffering and wounds that Christians have inflicted on each other. This shocks and shames us," they said in a statement introducing the 'Common Word'. "We see it as an exceptional moment of our fellowship, after centuries of mutual separation, to mark a Reformation anniversary with such readiness to engage in forgiveness and a new beginning." In the document the leaders "confess our guilt before God on behalf of our churches, asking God and each other for forgiveness and committing ourselves before God to continue to deepen our togetherness." A service "of penitence and reconciliation" will be held on 11 March next year in the German city of Hildesheim with local churches encouraged to follow suit. Other ecumenical initiatives to mark the anniversary include a pilgrimage to Israel / Palestine by church leaders. Pope Francis is also set to begin marking the occasion next month with a service alongside Bishop Munib Younan, president of the Lutheran World Federation, at Lund, in Sweden. They will pray for forgiveness and ask for healing of the wounds inflicted on each other since the Reformation. Battle for Mosul looms: Pray for those trapped there, says Open Doors The anti-persecution charity Open Doors is urging Christians to pray for Mosul as forced gather to begin the fight to take the Iraqi territory back from Islamic State. Christian refugees from the Nineveh Plains are calling for a Christian region or province to be set up in Iraq to provide long-term stability after Islamic State has been defeated and expelled. Father Jamil Gorgis, a local priest in Dohuk, where about 75,000 Christians from Mosul have found refuge, told Rudaw: "Almost all Christian refugees who come to my Church to pray would favour to live in a Christian region or province under international protection." Most of Iraq's 1.5 million Christians have fled in the last decade and it is thought there could now be as few as 200,000. More than hundred churches and monasteries in Mosul have been destroyed by Islamic State in just two years. Mosul was taken by Islamic State two years ago but there are many indicators that an offensive to seize it back will be launched soon. Martin, a Christian youth leader who was among those who had to leave the Mosul, said: "Of course we want to go back to our houses, unlock the doors and start rebuilding. Now we are just praying it will be liberated soon." Open Doors is asking for prayers that God will enable the coalition forces to liberate Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, that humanitarian disaster be avoided and that displaced Iraqis can return to their homes soon. Earlier today, Iraqi military forces backed by coalition air strikes defeated Islamic State to seize control of Shirqat, a strategic victory towards retaking Mosul. Fighting is still continuing this afternoon. Three soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands of civilians were thought to be trapped in the area, which has been under Islamic State control since the group seized a third of Iraqi territory in 2014. But the operation has not generated the large-scale displacement seen in other recent campaigns. It is believed the campaign to retake Mosul could begin next month. The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, which is providing emergency food to thousands of displaced people, also reported on the growing hopes for a Christian province to be set up based in a liberated Mosul. Christians fear state control of religion in Zambia Moves to create a new government department in Zambia to oversee religious affairs risk turning the country into a "theocracy" and extending state control over religion, Protestant and Catholic leaders have warned. Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu Lungu appointed Rev Godfridah Sumaili, pastor of the pentecostal Bread of Life Church in the capital Lusaka, as head of the new ministry of religious affairs last week. According to Vatican Radio, the president had previously told parishioners at a Lusaka church that the Church should not feel threatened by the creation of the ministry of religious affairs, which he said would harmonise state-Church relations. The move was welcomed by the head of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia , Rev Pukuta Mwanza, who said it would "promote Christian values and give more meaning to the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation". However, the country's two main Christian bodies, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Council of Churches in Zambia, which represents Protestant Churches, have come out in opposition to the initiative. A joint statement called for "genuine dialogue", saying: "This requires sustaining a healthy Church-State relationship, with the Government not favouring only those groups that praise every decision it makes and every plan it follows." It continued: "In view of the various financial and economic challenges our country is currently facing, we neither see the creation of the said ministry as a top priority nor a prudent decision. After all, we believe that Zambians want their country to be a democracy rather than a theocracy." It warned against attempts by the state to control the Church, saying that the Church "derives its authority, mission and structure from God and this must not be confused with temporal order of political governance". Churches, it said, would not be "intimidated" in acting as the conscience of the nation and calling for social justice. The statement concluded: "At the same time, we commit ourselves to continue being credible and reliable instruments for promoting a culture of dialogue, reconciliation, justice, unity, development, respect for divergent views and peace in Zambia." Christians in Egypt urge Coptic Church to stay out of politics Christians in Egypt are criticising the Coptic Church, which represents about 10 per cent of the population, for its closeness to the country's military ruler, General el Sisi. The concern comes after rallies in New York which took place to coincide with the General's visit to the UN General Assembly. AP reports that, "Two senior Christian clerics travelled there ahead of the president and met with Egyptian Christian expatriates to urge them to take part in rallies outside el-Sisi's residence and the U.N. headquarters." The rallies took place with hundreds of people waving Egyptian flags and praising el Sisi. Now there's been a strong reaction from some Christians back in Egypt, with 800 signing an online letter protesting the Church's increasingly prominent political stance. The letter says: "We urge Egyptian churches to stay clear of politics and restrict themselves to their spiritual and religious tasks." Some Coptic Christians are enthusiastic supporters of el Sisi because of the persecution which took place under his predecessor, the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi. Morsi, elected after the Arab Spring revolution, was removed by the Egyptian Military, which installed el Sisi in 2013. Despite offering protection for churches and Christians, el Sisi's autocratic rule has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations. For his part, the Coptic Pope Tawadros II told Cairo's Al-Masry Al-Youm,:"Let us welcome Egypt as represented by its loved president... before every nation, as a manifestation of appreciation, dignity and love." Evangelicals in Italy back school head who bans Catholic mass The Italian Evangelical Alliance (AEI) has expressed its "complete solidarity" with a state school head teacher who refused to give permission for Catholic mass to be celebrated in school hours. The AEI said it supported Dr Chiara Varesi, the head of the Lorenzo Milani school in Domodossola, northern Italy "for respecting the secular nature of the state school", according to Evangelical Focus. The decision caused controversy locally, as reported by the L'Espresso newspaper. But the AEI said in a statement that living in a secular state means that "state schools are not a suitable place for religious celebrations of any faith during school hours." The statement added: "Religious celebrations can be freely promoted elsewhere and if someone wants to use the school building, they can do so outside of the school planning. Overlaying religious activities and school activities in state schools violates a basic principle for a plural society". The AEI went on to say that it "has always promoted a vision of an open and plural society, where religious freedom - the mother of all freedoms - is fully recognised in all its expressions... All religions should be equal before the law... [and] the task of the state school is not to become a temple, a church or a place of worship". Varesi emphasised that his was a secular school. "I decided to suspend the mass and do it outside school hours. I am Catholic, but I run a secular school and I have to protect the right of all children," he said. "The law is clear: if a student has another religion, the whole class can't attend mass." But the Express reported that many parents are angry about the move, which was described as "reverse racism". One reportedly said: "This is not democracy, this is not the law, and this action is a way to go against the customs to which no one is forced to participate." However, the AEI spoke of "the ignorance of certain critics" who "do not understand" the fact that there are other denominations and religions besides Catholicism that need to be taken into account in Italy. It said these are "part of the social history of this country". The organisation said: "In Italy we still live in a framework of laicity [secular state] that is unfinished... The teaching of Catholic Religion, paid by all taxpayers, but whose teachers are chosen by the Catholic bishops, is a clear contradiction [because] state schools should not impart any religious teaching; this important responsibility belongs to the families, churches and religious groups." The statement concluded: "Religious freedom, the end of the power of one religion in the secular space, and a real laicity are still goals to be achieved in our country." Geologist claims to have new findings on Jesus Christ's burial place For centuries now, the place where Jesus Christ was buried after He was crucified has remained a mystery, with discoveries at times raising more questions than answers. Geologist Aryeh Shimron, however, is offering new findings that may finally shed light on the mystery of Jesus' tomb, and may link two past controversial findings. After studying chemicals found in soil, Shimron is claiming that he has made a connection between a box of bones supposedly belonging to the "brother of Jesus," and a burial chamber earlier discovered in East Jerusalem, where Jesus was believed to have been laid to rest. The 79-year-old geologist studied the type of soil in the Talpiot ossuaries, a tomb unearthed at a building site in the East Talpiot neighbourhood of East Jerusalem in 1980. The burial chamber supposedly has a part which has inscriptions that have been interpreted as "Jesus son of Joseph." The soil in the burial site, Shimron said, is the type called Rendzina, which is typical in the hills of East Jerusalem. He examined the chemistry of samples from chalk crust scraped from the underside and inside the ossuaries. After this, Shimron matched this type of soil to another artifact called the James Ossuary, the burial box for bones, bearing the Aramaic inscription "James son of Joseph brother of Jesus," although some have raised doubts on the authenticity of these writings. After a careful study of these artefacts, the geologist arrived at a striking finding, according to The Sun. "I think I've got really powerful, virtually unequivocal evidence that the James ossuary spent most of its lifetime, or death time, in the Talpiot Tomb," Dr. Shimron said. While he didn't arrive at any final conclusion, Shimron's findings can provide new clues to Jesus' final resting place. iPhone 8 release date, specs, features: Big changes expected on next iPhone, expected by fall 2017 It has only been days since the public got their hands on the latest iPhone 7, but the community is already getting ready for the big changes that may happen when the iPhone 8 arrives next fall, in 2017. Next year also marks the 10th year anniversary of the legendary iPhone. Apple is said to be implementing a major design overhaul for its next smartphone. It has long been rumored that John Ive, the chief designer at Apple, wanted the iPhone to look like a single piece of glass, which means that it will have an edge-to-edge display. The design will also eliminate the top and bottom bezels, the front-facing camera may purposely build directly into the display, as well as the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The physical home button has already been eliminated this year, replacing it with a touch-sensitive area that also has a fingerprint scanner and a taptic engine, Mac Rumors reported. It is also speculated to be thinner, less power-hungry, and offers a more vibrant 5.5-inch or larger display. The flexible OLED screen could have been fully developed by that time, and it would be ready for the next year's iPhone. Inside, an A11 chip that uses the 10 nm FinFET manufacturing process will be powering the future phone and could also be capable of long-range wireless charging. Additional security features may also be included such as facial or iris scanning. MacWorld also added that the iPhone 8 could be protected by a Sapphire screen instead of the Gorilla Glass that Apple is already using it on its AppleWatch. The company could extend its use on its smartphone. It is rumored that the Foxconn, a major supplier of the company, is ready to build its own sapphire plant in Taiwan. The publication also added that the next iPhone could incorporate "virtual buttons" on the side of the device, which is similar to the alleged OLED touch bar that will arrive with the highly anticipated MacBook Pro 2016. Apple is also said to be moving away from aluminum and would then use a glass body. The company is also rumored to be developing a viscoelastic material that could be used to cover the rest of its future phone and devices and that would absorb impacts, giving the next-gen iPhone a higher survivability rate. Mexico: Pope sends condolences as mourners pack church at funeral of murdered priest Mourners packed into a church in Mexico's troubled Gulf coast state of Veracruz yesterday for the funeral of one of the two priests found to have been killed there on Monday. It was standing room only at the church in the community in Paso Blanco, while others huddled outside and listened through windows. At the front of the church, a large banner showed a picture of the young Rev Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, who was ordained only a few years ago and arrived at his post in the city of Poza Rica just a month before he was killed, according to the LA Times. "You are a priest for always," the banner read. Suarez and the Rev Alejo Nabor Jimenez were last seen on Sunday in Veracruz 's northern city of Poza Rica. Their bodies were discovered riddled with bullets the following day on a roadside. State prosecutors have said that they have identified a suspect in the murders. They have also said that they believe the clerics knew their attackers and had been drinking with them before the gathering "turned violent". However, some parishioners are sceptical of this theory and suspect organised crime, with Poza Rica being plagued by killings and disappearances. A priest said during yesterday's service: "Unfortunately, Poza Rica is a very severe place in [terms of] security". Pope Francis sent a letter of condolences, calling the murdered clerics "victims of inexcusable violence". The letter was signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state. Bishop Jose Trinidad Zapata Ortiz of the city of Papantla, near Poza Rica, said in a statement released by the Mexican Conference of Bishops: "Yet again we confirm that violence and insecurity have taken root in our society. We hope that authorities clear up the crime and that such a regrettable loss of our brothers serves for the arrival of the peace we all desire so much." The Catholic Media Center says that 28 priests have been killed in Mexico since 2006, not counting this week's murders, and that Veracruz, Guerrero and Mexico State are the most dangerous in the country. The US State Department wrote in its 2015 International Religious Freedom report that priests in Mexico are "victims of extortion attempts, death threats and intimidation by organized criminal groups". Pakistan: Drunk Muslims beat up Christians in their own homes Seven Christians were injured and five hospitalised in Pakistan after they were attacked in their own homes with metal bars by a mob of angry Muslims. The Christians were attacked in Samundri in Faisalabad after a woman asked a group of drunk Muslim men, who were being loud and boisterous in the street, to keep the noise down or move away from her home. According to the British Pakistani Christian Association, these men took offence at the audacity of "ritually impure" Christians making demands on them. They went away and returned with a mob of up to 40 men, entered the homes of the Christians and started beating the men, women and children indiscriminately. "They shouted obscenities at the Christians and called them choorey (dirty sweepers), donkeys and insulted Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour despite Jesus being referred to as a prophet in their Qur'an," reported Kanwal Amar of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), who visited the victims in hospital. The seven victims were named as Arif Masih, 48, Parveen Akhtar, 40, Zahid Masih, 35, Sharifaan Bibi, 35, Shahzad Masih, 34, Jamaal Masih, 50 and Akram Masih, 42. Arif Masih said he had returned home after work and was waiting for dinner. "A group of drunk Muslims came and were shouting loudly and saying lewd things to any young girls that were passing. My wife asked them to leave the area as they were disturbing locals and they started shouting obscenities at us, but left shortly after," he told BPCA. "About an hour later they returned with a gang of around 15 people and started beating us with sticks and poles. They said all Christians should be killed, they said we were evil demons and made Pakistan impure. I thought I and my family would be killed it was very frightening." Islam bans drinking alcohol. BPCA has subsequently persuaded the police to register an incident once medical evidence is received. Police have already questioned some men about the violence. Amar said the attack was not random violence but deliberately targeted Christians because of their faith. "I believe most Muslims in Pakistan hold a deep hatred for Christians that is easy to evoke just by a Christian being in their presence," he said. "Fear of an attack is an ever present fear in the minds of all Christians living here and our government is doing little to change this." BPCA Wilson Chowdhry said: "The deep-rooted and festering malice towards Christians in Pakistan means that they are constantly living on the edge, waiting to be the next victims. These drunken Muslims were ogling women, shouting expletives and committing unprovoked violence. "All of these acts made the Muslim perpetrators ritually impure yet they labelled the innocent Christians as ritually impure and beat them indiscriminately for the perceived evil within them. The lack of morality in this act of violence is obvious to most onlookers, but crimes like this continue to mar a country seemingly intent on fostering hatred and intolerance. "As a UK tax-payer I am disgusted that Britain continues to fund Pakistan through foreign aid, especially the 225 million meant for holistic educational reform. The national curriculum in Pakistan continues to espouse hatred towards minorities, the result of which, is a worsening social pariah status for Christians in particular and other minorities." The BPCA is seeking donations to help fund the treatment of the victims. Pastor Greg Laurie answers question: Do loved ones watch over us from heaven? Pastor Greg Laurie from Harvest Christian Fellowship in California says people often think about their loved ones who have passed away, still feeling the pain of their loss. Some of these people may also wonder if their dearly departed loved ones still remember them in heaven. Laurie tackled this matter in a message he posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday. "Are our loved ones watching us in Heaven? How much are they aware of what's going on in our lives?" the pastor asks. "Some think that our loved ones are watching everything we do and sending us messages and such," he writes. "Others will say that people in heaven are oblivious about what's going on that they've had a heavenly lobotomy and are sitting on clouds sleeping." But the Bible verse Revelations 6:10 says that heavenly residents are actually aware of the injustices being experienced by people on Earth. "They are aware of the fact that time is passing. They are asking the Lord to intervene," Laurie says. "This is a good indication that in Heaven we may know more than some people think we will know." Some Christians argue that since there is no more sorrow or tears in heaven, its residents can't possibly be aware of the tragedies and sufferings that are currently being felt by people on Earth. But Laurie begs to differ. "If we are being watched by our loved ones in Heaven, I believe they would see everything with an eternal perspective. That is the key," he says. The message that Laurie shared is close to his and his wife Cathe's hearts since their son Christopher died in July 2008 on his way to Harvest Church. His vehicle crashed onto the back of a Caltrans truck on the eastbound 91 Freeway. Laurie's son had been working at Harvest as the art director for three years. Laurie often tackled the topic of afterlife following his son's death, even writing a book entitled "As It Is In Heaven." Trump says he is 'very troubled' by police shooting of pastor Terence Crutcher Donald Trump has said he is "very troubled" over the shooting of the unarmed black pastor Terence Crutcher by white police officer Betty Shelby in Tulsa, Oklahoma last Friday. Speaking to largely black clergy and others in Cleveland Heights, Ohio yesterday, Trump said that 40-year-old Crutcher, who was shown in police footage clearly to have his hands up, looked like a "really good man" who "did everything he was supposed to do". The Republican presidential nominee was asked by Rev Darrell Scott, CEO of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump and pastor of the New Spirit Revival Center church in Cleveland Heights, to comment on the "recent shootings of unarmed black men by the police". Trump responded: "I must tell you I watched the shooting in particular in Tulsa and that man was hands up. That man went to the car, hands up, put his hands on the car, I mean to me it looked like he did everything he was supposed to do. "And he looked like a really good man and maybe I'm a little clouded because I saw his family talking about him after the fact, so you get a little bit different image maybe. But to me he looked like somebody who was doing what they were asking him to do and this young officer I don't know what she was thinking." To applause, Trump added: "I don't know what she was thinking but I am very, very troubled by that." Trump said that he was a "tremendous believer in the police", but also indicated that some officers, who he called "chokers", are unfit psychologically for the role, the Christian Post reported. "Well as you know I'm a tremendous believer in the police and law enforcement because we need that for ourselves, we do," he said. "And I've really gotten the endorsement from so many different groups and they're great people. Now, great people, you always have problems. You have somebody in there that either makes a mistake that's bad or they choke... I'm very, very troubled by that and we have to be very careful so, these things are terrible. In my opinion that was a terrible situation and we've seen others and the police are aware of that too... Now did she get scared? Was she choking? What happened? But maybe people like that. People that choke, maybe people that do that, maybe they can't be doing what they are doing." Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic rival, has said she found the footage of Crutcher being shot "unbearable". Crutcher was first tasered and then fatally shot after police arrived at the scene of his broken down SUV vehicle at around 8pm on Friday. The victim was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. Police had claimed that Crutcher was reaching inside his car without his hands up. But footage released by Tulsa Police Department clearly shows the pastor with his hands in the air and his back to the officers. In footage taken from a police helicopter, an officer can be heard saying: "He's got his hands up there for her now... This guy is still walking and following commands." But Crutcher was then tasered and shot. A criminal investigation into the shooting has been opened by the police department, and the federal Justice Department has opened a separate civil rights investigation. Officer Shelby has given a statement to homicide detectives and been placed on paid administrative leave, according to a police spokesman. Crutcher's twin sister Tiffany told a press conference of how an officer could be heard in the footage calling her brother a "bad dude". She said: "I lost my brother, my twin brother who was doing nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong and I truly believe in accountability...We just want answers, we want to know what happened, there's a lot of speculation, but there is one thing, one fact that I do know is that my brother was unarmed. I'm just devastated." She said her brother had left a class at Tulsa Community College before his SUV stalled on East 36th Street North. The Crutcher family's legal team, represented by attorney Melvin C Hall, said: "This man had not committed a crime. He was not approached because we suspected of having committed a crime. He was having some difficulty with his vehicle and that's it." Describing the footage, attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said: "We saw that Terence was not being belligerent. We did not see Terence reach into the car. We did not see Terence attacking the officers." Tulsa police chief Chuck Jones sought to assure the community that justice would be served and there would be accountability over the incident. Before releasing the video, he said: "I'm going to tell you right now, there was no gun on the suspect or in the suspect's vehicle. I want to assure our community and I want to assure all of you and people across the nation watching this: we will achieve justice." He added that he found the video "very disturbing, very difficult to watch". From Westerns to the White House: An all-American story A collection of lots that speak to President Reagans Hollywood past, his love of horses and the traditions of the Wild West offered in the auction of The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan on 21-22 September 1 The Presidents cowboy boots This pair of boots are one from four pairs presented to President Reagan. They were a gift from Rex Allen, a movie actor who made his name as a singing cowboy, and Tony Lama, the Texas bootmaker. The story goes that the President admired Mr. Allens boots when they made a campaign appearance together in 1980, and Mr. Allen promised a pair with the Presidential Seal when Ronald Reagan made it to the White House. 2 The Presidents leather gun belt and holster The Presidents study was his favourite place to write daily notes to Nancy expressing his gratitude and love, recalls Peter Schifando, the interior designer and protege of Ted Graber, who had designed the White House family quarters for the Reagans. The study was designed using the same red upholstery fabric as used in the White House, and the walls hung with American Western art and saddle work, his favourite Western bronzes and photographs of world dignitaries. 3 The Diamond Wrangler Danish-born Olaf Carl Wieghorst was a largely self-taught artist. A lover of horses, he rode in Danish films and in the circus before moving to New York in December 1918 at the age of 19. Once in America he enrolled in the U.S. Cavalry, then joined the New York City Police Department, Mounted Division, in 1924, becoming a member of the Police Show Team. After retiring in 1944, Wieghorst moved to California and settled down to paint, whereupon he began to gain recognition. A retrospective of his work was presented at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1974-75. The catalogue for a 1982 retrospective at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, included a dedication page with a tribute from President Ronald Reagan, proclaiming that no artist was more successful in capturing the rugged beauty of the American West than Wieghorst. This is one of six works by the artist that hung in the home office of the former President and which are offered in the auction. 4 The President on horseback During his long film and television career Ronald Reagan appeared in a number of Westerns, including Law and Order, Santa Fe Trail and The Last Outpost. The boy who would one day become President grew up in Illinois and did not master the art of riding a horse until his move to Hollywood. Borrowing from Winston Churchill, he once remarked, Ive often said that theres nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse. Standing in a row in the hallway of the couples ranch-style home on St. Cloud Road in Bel-Air were a series of bronze Western sculptures. 5 A gift from the Presidents best man and the First Ladys matron of honour This pony-skin rug was a gift to President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan from William Holden and Brenda Marshall. William Holden (19181981) was an American actor who was a major star from the 1950s through to the 1970s. Best known for his role in Sunset Boulevard, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1953. Holden was married to the actress Brenda Marshall from 1941 until 1971, and was best man at the marriage of his friend Ronald Reagan to Nancy Davis in 1952, with Marshall acting as matron of honour. 6 Framed: The Presidents stallion The frame encloses a photograph of The President, and is seen here together with an enamel hunting frame and a photograph of The President riding his white Anglo-Arab stallion El Alamein at Rancho del Cielo, the 688-acre ranch he bought in 1974. El Alamein was a gift from Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo in 1981. Mrs. Reagans horse was named No Strings. These frames were formerly in The Family Residence at The White House. 7 The great outdoors Texas Children's Hospital has hired Jones Lang LaSalle to manage two newly acquired medical office buildings in the Texas Medical Center. The property management assignment, totaling 700,000 square feet, includes the O'Quinn Medical Tower at 6624 Fannin and the Baylor Clinic Building at 6620 Main. RELATED: Texas Medical Center outsources facilities management to JLL CHI St. Luke's Health and Baylor College of Medicine will continue to occupy portions of the buildings until their new campus is finished. JLL also represented Texas Children's in its purchase of the buildings from Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. RELATED: Iconic tower in Medical Center sold The deal brings JLL's total property management portfolio to 8 million square feet in the Houston area. Jim Parsons, the Spring native who holds a degree from the University of Houston, can sleep well at night. He has retained the top spot on Forbes' lists of TV's highest paid actors. Parsons, who plays the odd and ritualistic scientist Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," earned $25.5 million between June 2015 and this June, according to Forbes. Last year Forbest reported him earning $29 million. Police have identified an officer who was rushed to the hospital Thursday morning after he slammed into a parked big rig in northeast Houston. The crash happened about 6:30 a.m. on Ley Road near Fitzhugh, according to the Houston Police Department. Photo used with permission from Christine Negroni, author of The Crash Detectives to be published Sept. 2016 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Officials with the states medical examiners office have confirmed that Mia Farrows son committed suicide Wednesday with a single gunshot wound to the torso. Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, 27, was found in a blue Subaru along Route 67 in the town of Roxbury. A police dispatcher told the News-Times that paramedics attempted some form of treatment before taking Farrow to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 2:30 p.m. State police in a statement issued Wednesday night had said that Farrow suffered a life-threatening injury but did not specify the nature of the injury. The statement also said there was no criminal aspect to the case. Mia Farrow, who owns property in Bridgewater, put out a statement on her Twitter account Thursday afternoon thanking her supporters for an outpouring of support and condolences. Were devastated by the loss of Thaddeus, our beloved son and brother, she said. He was such a wonderful, courageous person who overcame so much hardship in his short life. We miss him. Farrow also that people who need help should be encouraged to reach out to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She adopted Thaddeus, who was born in Kolkata, India, and was paraplegic, according to Vanity Fair. Mia Farrow told the magazine he required crutches or a wheelchair. Vanity Fair reported that Thaddeus had a difficult childhood as a paraplegic growing up in Kolkata, where he was forced to crawl and beg for food. After he was adopted and brought to the U.S., he became interested in mechanics and was studying to become a police officer. Roxbury First Selectman Barbara Henry described Farrow as a great kid, saying she came to know him while working as an aid at Burnham School, where he attended. It was heartbreaking both for Bridgewater and Roxbury, Henry said. He was just the sweetest kid. Its just so sad. According to police statements, Thaddeus Wilk Farrow was living in an apartment in Torrington prior to his death. The terms "farm to table," "locavore" and "locally sourced" are sprinkled on today's food scene as liberally as cilantro leaves on a street taco. But there was a time, not too long ago, when fine dining in Houston meant only French fare and "continental" cuisine, when European notions of food and service were favored over indigenous ingredients and Texas traditions. More Information Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin - Robert Del Grande of Cafe Annie Serves 6 4 guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded 2 ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded 4 garlic cloves, chopped 2 chipotle chiles in adobo small white onion, chopped 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt teaspoon pepper 1 (2-pound) beef tenderloin 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt 3 tablespoons very finely ground coffee 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 18 teaspoon ground cinnamon Instructions: Toast guajillo and ancho chiles in a skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes; soak in warm water until soft, about 30 minutes. Puree chiles, 1 cup soaking liquid, garlic, chipotle chiles, and onion in a blender until smooth. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add puree, reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes. Add brown sugar, vinegar, salt and teaspoon of the pepper; simmer until thickened, 12-14 minutesmore; let cool. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Tie tenderloin with butcher's twine at -inch intervals. Rub with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, sea salt and remaining teaspoon pepper. Brush all over with2 tablespoons sauce (save remainder for another use). Combine coffee, cocoa and cinnamon; roll beef in mixture to coat. Place beef on a rack in a roasting pan; let sit for 30 minutes. Roast for 10 minutes; reduce temperature to 225 degrees and continue roasting until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 125 degrees; about 50 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes. Removetwine and slice. See More Collapse Until, that is, chef Robert Del Grande helped change the way Houston eats and thinks about food with his work at Cafe Annie, the trend-setting restaurant that opened in the Galleria area in 1980. His influence stretched beyond the city limits, too. In the '80s Del Grande, along with Dallas chefs Dean Fearing and Stephan Pyles, emerged as poster boys for the revolutionary Southwestern cuisine food movement. It swept Texas, the Southwest, and even went national as America turned onto dishes such as rabbit enchiladas, lobster tacos, cilantro pesto, achiote-rubbed Gulf fish and black bean terrine. Born from a simple belief in championing local and seasonal foods, Southwestern cuisine put Texas on the culinary map. It also made a star of Del Grande, who went on to win Houston's first James Beard Award as Best Chef Southwest in 1992 - a prestigious distinction that went unmatched for 22 years until Underbelly's Chris Shepherd brought home the honor in 2014. Del Grande was Houston's first celebrity chef. He cooked with Pierre Franey on PBS' "Great Chefs" and with Julia Child on "Cooking with Master Chefs." Cafe Annie was featured in the pages of Food & Wine, Bon Appetit and Gourmet. His food brought national attention to a city that previously was viewed as an expanse of middling Tex-Mex, barbecue and fried shrimp baskets; in fact, it was in those beloved foods that Del Grande saw opportunity and innovation. He arrived at Cafe Annie in 1981 after following his girlfriend, Mimi Kinsman, from California to Houston. Mimi's sister, Candice, and her husband, Lonnie Schiller, owned the then-French bistro. The Schillers hired Del Grande, a young biochemist with a doctorate from the University of California at Riverside to work in the kitchen. His analytical interest in cooking proved beneficial. He observed that the staff was eating tacos and enchiladas while he was dallying in predictable French fare. Eventually, rabbit for the restaurant's Gallic lapin a la moutarde made its way into enchiladas on the menu. A crab meat tostada, black bean terrine and coffee-rubbed beef tenderloin (perhaps Del Grande's most widely copied creation) followed. "All of a sudden we started exploring more of the feeling of the Southwest and more of the feeling of Texas," Del Grande said. Other Texas chefs were getting hip to the flavors in their own back yards at the same time. As Texas Monthly food editor Pat Sharpe wrote in her 2014 story on the birth of Southwestern cuisine: "In New Orleans, Paul Prudhomme was making a splash with Cajun cuisine; in California, figures such as Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck, Mark Miller, Jonathan Waxman and Jeremiah Tower were championing locally influenced dishes; and in New York, Larry Forgione captured the sentiment when he named his new restaurant An American Place. The Texas chefs found the trend enthralling." And empowering. In the mid-'80s, these Texans' efforts coalesced into what would be termed Southwestern cuisine. But Del Grande's creativity did not end there. As a partner in the Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group (composed of Candice and Lonnie Schiller and Robert and Mimi Del Grande), the chef went on to innovate in other ways. The partners opened Cafe Express, a counter service concept that went big and was radical for its time, said Greg Martin, executive chef of Bistro Menil. "A lot of what we take for granted in the counter service world, they pioneered," said Martin, who worked for Schiller Del Grande for many years. "Ordering soup and salad at a counter and getting your own drink? That just didn't exist. Cold grilled chicken breast added to a salad? That didn't exist. That's all Robert. That was Robert pushing all of us to figure out ways to accomplish things." Cafe Express was a hit, one of the first mini-chains to combine fresh food and upscale decor with self-service. Later came Taco Milagro, another concept that rethought the basics and presentation of Mexican food. "He created a juggernaut that rolled over everything else and all the other restaurants had to play catch up," Martin said. Even in the face of setbacks (the failed Ava Kitchen & Whiskey Bar and Alto Pizzeria, both closed in 2012), the Schiller Del Grande brand shone bright in Houston. "Cafe Annie was huge," said Sharpe, Texas Monthly executive editor. "It can really be compared to Underbelly today just in terms of what it meant to the community, how excited people were to eat there, and how it led a revolution. Cafe Annie was local and regional at the forefront." Shepherd, who called Del Grande a "godfather" of the modern Houston restaurant scene, said the chef understood the power of "hyperlocal" cuisine: "He started to open our eyes about what regional cuisine is." In May, Del Grande, 61, took Cafe Annie back to the future. The restaurant had ditched its original moniker for a new name, RDG & Bar Annie, when it moved to a swank new location on Post Oak in 2009. The name never stuck; the restaurant's fans still referred to it as Cafe Annie. Del Grande not only returned to the original name, he brought back original menu items. Today the menu reads like the high-flying time when Cafe Annie sat at the top of the food chain. And in some ways it still occupies that spot. "People love Cafe Annie for what it was," said Fearing, another prophet of Southwestern cuisine, "and they'll love it for what it is now." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man died Wednesday night after a head-on crash when he crossed into oncoming traffic in west Harris County. The two-vehicle wreck happened about 7:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of South Mason Road in the Katy area, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Deputies said Charles Bouy was driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup northbound on South Mason Road when he veered across the raised median and ended up in the southbound lanes, where he slammed head-on into a Hyundai. Bouy, deputies said, died at the scene. It was unclear if he died from a medial emergency or from injuries he sustained in the crash. The man driving the Hyundai was rushed to a nearby hospital. Details of his injuries and condition were not released but deputies said he is expected to survive. Deputies are investigating the wreck. Nick de la Torre/Chronicle The Houston school board agreed Thursday to pay $550,000 to settle a lawsuit with a former principal accused of overseeing test cheating seven years ago. Mable Caleb, the former principal of Key Middle School and Kashmere High School on the city's north side, sued the Houston Independent School District in federal court after the board fired her in 2010. The school board voted 6-0 to approve the settlement without commenting on it. Trustees Anna Eastman, Greg Meyers and Manuel Rodriguez Jr., the board president, were absent from the meeting. Top officials with the city of Houston said the Fire Department needs a major shakeup on addressing hazardous materials. A Houston Chronicle investigation reported Sunday the city doesn't know where most dangerous chemicals are, hasn't inspected more than three-quarters of the ones it does know about, and is still relying on paper records despite a sophisticated database. CHEMICAL PROBLEM: Little effort made to find businesses skirting the rules "To be quite candid, I agree with most of it," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "It's a good roadmap for me to consider." While city resources are tight, Turner said there's a number of things that can be done immediately. He called for more inspections, for the department to put more data in the Digital Sandbox system, for firefighters and inspectors to start coordinating. CONCERNS: 'The statistics are terrifying,' council member says The first steps are already under way. Letters will be sent to more than 6,000 businesses, telling them that firefighters will conduct inspections and pre-fire plans so they can better respond to emergencies. Shortly after a Spring Branch fire in May, Turner met with representatives from the petrochemical industry on what can be done to require companies to do more and what consequences would work for companies that fail to report chemical information. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Chemical Breakdown a special report Turner said he is insisting on an action plan within the next 45 days, detailing when the problems will be solved. Longer-term fixes will require more resources. For example, Turner thinks the city needs at least one additional hazardous-material response team, maybe more. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Masked men are terrorizing families in rural south Texas and police are hoping to catch them. According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, masked men broke into three homes Sunday, demanding drugs and money at each. READ MORE: South Texas man has one of the best obituaries ever The first aggravated robbery occurred at 12:30 a.m., when three men armed with guns and wearing masks and dark clothes broke into a house in Edinburg. The sheriff's office said the men forced the family to the ground and demanded drugs and money. No one was injured. The home owner told deputies that several electronics were taken from his residence. At 12:48 a.m., a victim in Mission told deputies three armed men in masks broke into his home. As in the Edinburg incident, the men forced the family to the ground and demanded drugs and money. The victim told deputies that he was struck in the head with a rifle and kicked a few times. The men reportedly left with several electronic devices. Armed masked men struck a third Hidalgo County home at 2:57 a.m. Sunday. A Mission man told deputies that he was awakened in his bedroom by five masked men. Again, the men demanded drugs and money and stole a television. No injuries were reported. READ MORE: South Texas school sign warns teachers may be armed The sheriff's department is investigating whether these three incidents are related. The aggravated robbery incidents are open investigations. The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information to call its criminal investigations division at 956-383-8114. In another aggravated robbery case, a man told authorities Tuesday that he had been robbed and then shot outside a store in Donna. The man said multiple suspects riding in a dark colored pickup truck got out and assaulted him, taking his personal property before shooting him. After interviewing the victim, deputies spotted a pickup truck nearby with a matching description and attempted to pull it over. The sheriff's office reported the pickup truck refused to stop and sped away from deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers. The suspect vehicle evaded authorities by traveling at dangerous speeds down several rural unpaved roads, officials said. READ MORE: 'Hitman' letter read in trial of Helotes man accused of raping, shooting south Texas lesbian couple The victim was taken to a hospital by ambulance and remained in stable condition. The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about the suspects to call its criminal investigations division. Hidalgo County is approximately 300 miles southwest of Houston. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The killing of an anti-American Islamic preacher in 2011 drew praise for President Barack Obama's administration. But now, five years later, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert is pushing the conspiracy theory that Anwar al-Awlaki was killed to hide his ties to Obama's presidency. Such accusations aren't unusual from Gohmert. The latest rip from the Republican from Tyler came Tuesday on Howie Carr's radio show - a favorite outlet of Gohmert's. Al-Awlaki was a U.S. citizen living and preaching in Yemen when a missile strike from a drone killed him. READ MORE: Louie Gohmert at it again, this time over the Muslim Brotherhood To Gohmert, the killing was to hide his al-Awlaki's ties to Obama's State Department. If captured alive, Gohmert said, Al-Awlaki "would have sung about all the different people he worked with in the administration." "Al-Awlaki, his parents were from Yemen, they came to the U.S. on a college visa, had al-Awlaki, took him back to Yemen, taught him to hate America," he said. "And that's why they couldn't keep this terrorist al-Awlaki from coming in. And I think one of the reasons they needed to blow him up with a drone strike is if he'd ever been caught, arrested, he would have sung about all the different people he worked with in the administration." Al-Awlaki's killing drew concern because of his status as a U.S. citizen. But, except for Gohmert, no one has accused or shown the preacher had any ties to Obama's administration. READ MORE: Gohmert: I'll quit if Iran deal is passed As evidence of al-Awlaki's supposed ties with the Obama White House, Gohmert cited photos of a prayer service al-Awlaki led on Capitol Hill early on in the Bush administration. Al-Awlaki moved to his ancestral homeland in Yemen in 2004. Gohmert made no mention of the photo being taken before Obama was in the White House. Not an unusual move from a congressman who is known for outlandish statements with little factual backing. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has a comfortable 10-point lead over her Republican rival, Donald Trump, among registered voters in Harris County, according to a new poll released Thursday. The survey from the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs showed Clinton winning 42 percent support to Trumps 32 percent. Nine percent of respondents said they back Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, while 2 percent said they support Green Party candidate Jill Stein. About 15 percent said they were undecided, according to the poll. READ MORE: Clinton leads Trump by 6 in NBC/Wall Street Journal poll Should Clinton carry the county with a double-digit margin, it would mark the widest margin of victory for a Democratic candidate in Harris County since 1964. Harris County, the third largest in the nation, long has been a competitive county during presidential election years. In 2012, President Barack Obama beat Republican challenger Mitt Romney there by nearly 600 votes. Obama edged out GOP nominee John McCain in 2008 by just under 2 percentage points, 50.4 percent to 48.8 percent. The results suggest that the outcome of the presidential contest in Harris County, as well as the results of dozens of down-ballot contests, could hinge heavily on the level of voter enthusiasm and turnout, said Jim Granato, professor and executive director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs. When the poll considered only likely voters, Clinton's lead slipped to 9 percentage points. In the survey's pool of extremely likely voters, though, the race is firmly within the margin of error, with Clinton at 43 percent and Trump at 39 percent. Trump's high unpopularity numbers show no signs of hurting down-ballot Republican candidates in local races, the poll found. Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson, a Republican, has a razor-thin edge over her Democratic opponent, Kim Ogg, 30 percent to 29 percent. In the race for county sheriff, Republican Ron Hickman leads Democrat Ed Gonzalez by a 6-point margin, 36 percent to 30 percent. READ MORE: Voters frustrated by choices for president However, the poll showed that a plurality of respondents were unsure about their choice for both offices 47 percent for district attorney and 36 percent for sheriff. "Neither party can depend on presidential coattails or incumbency, frequent mainstays of politics," said Renee Cross, associate director and researcher at the Hobby School. "With only six weeks to go, the county candidates have a lot of work to do in this highly unpredictable election." The poll was based on 550 telephone interviews and was conducted Sept. 1-20. The margin of error is plus/minus 4 percent. -- State throws down gauntlet over federal efforts to help new Syrian refugees, by the Chronicles Lomi Kriel and Kevin Diaz . If Texas follows through on its threat, it will likely have little impact, however, on how many refugees the federal government resettles here, even as it upends a bureaucratic process that Washington has used for decades to send money to refugee agencies through state governments. By law, if states withdraw from resettlement, the federal government simply works with private agencies to distribute the funds. States cannot block refugees or any immigrants. But they can make resettling them an administrative headache. -- On Wednesday, one of Cruz's top advisers suggested the U.S. senator is warming up to Trump the first such signal since Cruz dropped out of the presidential race. Then the two former rivals found common cause in Cruz's highest priority now that he is back in the Senate: stopping the Obama administration from transferring oversight of the internet domain system to an international organization, writes The Texas Tribunes Patrick Svitek. -- Dont miss James Russells latest from Quorum Report ($): The Texas House race with perhaps the most potential to keep Democrats and Republicans on edge on election night is the contest for HD 107 in Dallas County. The swingiest of swing seats is represented now by three-term Republican Rep. Kenneth Sheets of Mesquite. The district includes parts of Dallas, Garland and Mesquite. Like neighboring Rep. Cindy Burkett the Sunnyvale Republican facing Rowlett Democrat Rhetta Andrews Bowers Sheets district is rapidly changing ethnically. On paper, the changes look as if they would benefit Democrats. Yet urban Republicans like Sheets have managed to hold on. >> San Benito woman tests positive for Zika in first travel-related case in RGV, The Monitor -- Veterans issues dominate in CD-23, per the Tribs Patrick Svitek: For starters, the district is bookended by two cities with heavy military presences: El Paso and San Antonio. Plus, the issue is hardly new territory for Hurd and Gallego, who clashed over it in their 2014 race when Hurd unseated one-termer Gallego. And in a volatile district, it's one issue where the candidates can appear above the fray. Both candidates have put the issue front and center in their TV ads. In his first commercial of the campaign, Hurd touted how he has "worked to get better care for our veterans," while Gallego's latest spot features two veterans attesting to how he fought to get them benefits while he was in Congress. Hurd's campaign is also airing an ad contrasting his record on veterans with Gallego's. >> Get ready for Mondays debate: A fact-checkers adviser for debate moderators, PolitiFact CAPITOL DAYBOOK HOUSE 10am Appropriations [E1.030] Elections [E1.026] Mental Health, Select [E2.016] SPEED READ Blue Bell again voluntarily pulling some products from stores outside Texas, Houston Chronicle Tilove: Postcards from the Great Divide: On training the camera on local politics, Austin American-Statesman Exxon to pay $12M for Yellowstone oil spill, AP Houston officials want action on chemical hazards, Houston Chronicle Texas College Republicans split on Trump, The Texas Tribune What price should Wells Fargo pay for scam, Houston Chronicle Q&A: Safety expert sees danger in broken corporate cultures, Houston Chronicle Vicente Fernandez announces support for Clinton in song, Rio Grande Guardian RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE >>Can ICANN Bridge Cruz-Trump Divide , The Wall Street Journal -- Trump: I reversed birther stance 'to get on with' campaign , AP -- From CNN: Clintons speech on helping disabled: Hillary Clinton's aides wanted their candidate to start talking more about policy and less about Trump. On Wednesday, Clinton did just that. The Democratic presidential nominee forcefully argued in favor of giving people with disabilities an equal chance at success during an event here, saying defending the disabled would be "a vital aspect of my presidency. -- Trump embraces wider use of stop-and-frisk by police, by The New York Times: His support for the polarizing crime-fighting policy which involves officers questioning and searching pedestrians collides with his highly visible courtship of African-Americans, who have been disproportionately singled out by the tactic, data show. For Mr. Trump, the timing was especially inauspicious: It came as police shootings of black people were once again drawing scrutiny and protest. 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. PHOENIX -- Comparing the state's firefighting actions to "Keystone Cops,'' the attorney for Yarnell residents who lost their homes in the 2013 blaze wants the Court of Appeals to let them sue the state. At a hearing Wednesday, David Abney acknowledged it may be an open question of whether the Forestry Division, which was initially battling the fire on state land, had an obligation to protect the residents of the community. But Abney said the agency, which was coordinating various local, state and federal efforts, voluntarily took on that duty. And having done that, he told the judges, it had an obligation to do it right. Abney's arguments have so far failed to get his clients their day in court. Last year, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Richard Gama threw out their lawsuits. He concluded that the state, in fighting the fire on public lands, had no duty to specifically protect Yarnell residents and their property. On Wednesday, attorney Brock Heathcotte who represents the state, asked the appellate judges to uphold Gama's ruling. He said the state cannot protect everyone who chooses to live adjacent to the state-owned wilderness. "But the risk can be spread to the people who choose to live in the urban-wilderness interface,'' he said. "They have the ability to form fire districts to protect their homes,'' Heathcotte told the judges. "They have the ability to insure their homes. They certainly have the ability to fireproof their homes.'' Abney did not dispute any of that. "If the state had not been there, then the people of Yarnell would have taken extensive measures to protect themselves,'' he said, things like emergency removal of rubbish, soaking the ground with water, and removing portable propane tanks "which exploded and spread the fire.'' But he said that the residents were entitled to rely on the state's assurance it would fight the fire and protect Yarnell -- and that it would do it competently. "If they had know that the state, all this flurry of activity by the state, was simply just nonsense, Keystone Cops instead of actual acts to protect them, they would have cleared out of there and, I'm sure, some of them would have stayed and fought to the end to protect their property,'' he told the judges. The fire that started with a lightning strike on state land destroyed more than 120 homes and resulted in the deaths of 19 firefighters. Abney said there's plenty of evidence that the Forestry Division botched the job -- evidence he will get to present to a jury only if Gama's decision is overturned. Under questioning from Judge Peter Swann, Abney conceded that the state is not required to have unlimited resources to be able to protect all people, all property and the wildlands from all risk. But he said there is an obligation to manage the existing resources in a way that is not negligent, "which is what the state completely failed to do here.'' "Quite frankly, it's a miracle that no civilians were killed in all of this, with the late evacuation and the fire moving as fast as it was toward the end, all of which we alleged was predictable,'' Abney said. "Every day they had the same wind and weather pattern,'' he explained, blowing away from Yarnell in the morning and toward the community in the afternoon. "You could set a clock by it,'' Abney said. "So why the state didn't take advantage of the weather conditions and do some burn-outs in the morning and protect the community and its people and its structures is just beyond belief.'' This litigation is separate from lawsuits filed by families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. It was settled last year for just $50,000 for each of the 12 families who sued; the original claim wa sfor $220 million. But family members said that lawsuit was never about the money but instead learning what happened and ensuring there is not a repeat. Several of the families put what they got into a special fund to conduct independent investigations on fatalities, injuries, equipment and technology in wildland fires. Part of that deal included the Industrial Commission, responsible for investigating workplace safety deaths and injuries, dropping the maximumn permissible $559,000 penalty it had imposed on the Forestry Division, a penalty the state had challenged. The settlement reduced that $70,000 -- $10,000 for each of the seven families that did not sue. It also canceled the hearing that had been set to determine whether violations of safety regulations led to the firefighters' deaths. In levying the maximum penalty in late 2013, commission members said they found two serious violations of worker safety regulations. One is that at the time of the blaze, the state agency had vacancies in the positions of both safety officer and the planning section chief. Marshall Krotenberg, the lead investigator for the commissions Division of Occupational Safety and Health said that meant no one was available to pay attention primarily to the safety of the firefighters versus simply battling the blaze. Commission members also said there was a failure to properly plan how to battle the blaze, especially after initial efforts at suppression failed. But the most egregious violation, Krotenberg said, essentially came down to the Forestry Division having the wrong priorities. "Folks were put in positions, overly hazardous positions, to protect property that was unprotectable under the current conditions of the extreme fuel, dryness, the drought and wind conditions,'' he told the commission. "The employer implemented (fire) suppression strategies that prioritized protection of nondefensible structures and pastureland over firefighter safety.'' From Pillar to Post WHO PUTS THE MOST PRESSURE ON YOU - YOURSELF OR OTHERS? There is pressure that is imposed upon us by others. Then there i... REVIEW: The Bone Church by Victoria Dougherty SYNOPSIS In the surreal and paranoid underworld of wartime Prague, fugitive lovers Felix Andel and Magdalena Ruza make some dubious ... 25 Questions to Ask Your Grandparents If you want to start (or are in the middle of) gathering family stories and family history, it helps to talk to older relatives. In ca... My 2019 A to Z RC Sign-up The 2019 A to Z Reading Challenge is hosted by Megan at the Ginger Mom & the Kindle Quest blog. Click the Pinterest-friendly sig... Advocating for children and families has been the cause of my life, wrote Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in a New York Times op-ed this week. It often seems more like becoming president has been the cause of her life, but no matter. Less than two months from Election Day, Clinton is facing an opponent more likely to embrace her most liberal policy prescriptions than he is to challenge them. The Times graciously offered her space on its opinion page to share my plan for helping Americas poor. If ever a chance existed to advocate for children and families and increase her chances of becoming president, this should be it. Instead, she serves a hodgepodge of leftovers. The lead item in her anti-poverty plan is actually her economic-growth plan, to make a historical investment in good-paying jobsjobs in infrastructure and manufacturing, technology and innovation, small businesses and clean energy. That should sound familiar because it was also President Obamas stimulus plan, apparently as appropriate nowat the peak of a business cycle with the unemployment rate below 5 percentas it was in the depth of a recession with unemployment at 10 percent. Clinton name-checks raising the minimum wage. (But to what? Shed rather not say.) She name-checks finally guarantee[ing] equal pay for women. (Current law already guarantees this and has left little-to-no gap in pay for comparable work.) She endorses goals like access to high-quality child care and preschool available to every 4-year-old. And, of course, she will guarantee paid leave so parents at all income levels can balance their jobs and lives, though by admission that plan is not targeted at the poor. Thats pretty much it. Clinton doesnt mention education, which would align closely with her cause of children, but perhaps not as well with her cause of becoming president. Indeed, her campaign has chosen to ignore education reform entirely, focusing its K-12 plan on public-sector interest groups by preparing, supporting, and paying every childs teacher as if the future of our country is in their hands and doubling the subsidy for investment in physical school buildings. Welfare reform doesnt make the cut, either. It was one of her husbands signature policies and its effects are being hotly debated on its 20th anniversary this year. The Right has declared victory and wants to double down, extending the approach to other safety net programs. The Left has declared disaster and wants to retrench, offering more cash assistance to lower income households. Surely Clinton has an opinionor thoughts on how a safety net that spends more than $1 trillion each year could best deploy its resources? Her nods toward new approaches contradict each other. First, she wants to expand Low Income Housing Tax Credits in high-cost areas. Second, she wants to model [my] anti-poverty strategy on Congressman Jim Clyburns 10-20-30 plan, directing 10 percent of federal investments to communities where 20 percent of the population has been living below the poverty line for 30 years. The former is an $8 billion program of subsidies to housing developers, which Clinton now wants to focus more heavily on urban areas. But the latter calls for shifting investment toward counties with persistent poverty, of which 90 percent are rural. Clinton further confuses matters by promising to put special emphasis on minority communities. Clyburn has specifically noted that focusing on persistent-poverty counties is not a partisan or racial issue and touted as a key benefit that it is simple and straightforward, with no regard to ethnicity or race. Admittedly, an op-ed is not much space to lay out a visionespecially when using half the space for observations like: we have to do better, we still have work to do, and the American people will have to choose between an economy that works for everyone and an economy that benefits the well off at the expense of everyone else. But combatting poverty should be a signature issue for Clinton, and one on which she and her 800-strong staff should be eager to make substantive progress. When will she, or any Democrat, ever have better terrain on which to introduce proposals and set the terms of debate against an opponent likely to retreator surrender on the spot? Alternatively, or in conjunction, why not extend an olive branch toward the conservative voters she needs to attract, offering to include ideas from across the ideological spectrum in pursuit of major bipartisan reform? Instead, we get only cautious platitudes all the way down. Perhaps with a bit more focus on the stated passion for helping women and children, she might also get further with the exhibited passion for becoming president. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images As the distance between the present moment and Election Day 2016 shrinks, and as key polls tighten, its becoming clear that the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency has liberals and progressives in a panic. But if the Democrats lose their minds, it will only level the playing field; Republicans lost theirs months ago. The first signs of Democratic dementia are evident in the recent outrage at Matt Lauer and Jimmy Fallon for failing to treat Trump as one would treat a radioactive isotope. As early as May, Washington Post political columnist E.J. Dionne was declaring that Trump isnt a morally acceptable leader for our country. In July, Rhode Island Democratic congressman David Cicilline asked President Obama to withhold classified materials from the Trump campaign because the GOP candidate represents a threat to the republic itself. Obama has joined the rhetorical race to paint a Trump administration as beyond the pale of acceptability. The Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president, he said in August during an event in the East Room of the White House. At a Hillary Clinton campaign rally this month in Philadelphia, the president doubled down: [He] isnt fit in any way, shape, or form to represent this country abroad and be its commander-in-chief. Not surprisingly, the Democratic nominee has similar views. Donald Trump is unfit to be president, she tweeted last week. We just cant accept this. Going forward, anyone who so much as offers the GOP nominee a gezuntheit when he sneezes will be accused of normalizing his odious and divisive candidacy. In one way, its not surprising that Democrats are beside themselves at the possibility of a Trump presidency. Theyve spent the last 100 years expanding the scope of executive authority, granting the federal administrative agencies the power of judge, jury, and executioner over their ever-widening dominion. If liberals and progressives didnt want that awesome, intrusive power to fall into the wrong hands, perhaps they should have heeded the warnings of small-government conservatives, who railed for a century against the bloat, rot, and corruption they saw metastasizing within the District of Columbia. Perhaps they shouldnt have declared the U.S. Constitutionwith its bill of rights and enumerated powersto be an antiquated relic. Trump could win. Thats now obvious. Should he, it will prove tricky for those elements of the Left that have been most vocal about the existential threat he poses to our democracy. What will they do? How will they oppose him when the people have spoken? How can Obama justify handing over the nuclear codes to a man he has repeatedly declared unserious, unstable, and unfit? The rhetoric of the moment seems to imply that a Trump victory puts anything and everything on the table, up to and including Jeffersonian resistance to tyranny. Yale history professor Steven Pincus has said that Trump is more like George III than the American patriots. Well, we know how that ended. Writing in the Los Angeles Times, James Kirchick floated the possibility of a military coup to remove a President Trump from office: Trump is not only patently unfit to be president, but a danger to America and the world. Following the July military coup in Turkey, New York Daily News columnist and Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King tweeted that, If Donald Trump becomes President, you are fooling yourself if you think were far from having a coup our own selves. Im dead serious. Democracy, it is often acknowledged, produces the occasional bad outcome. In the American system, much depends on the losers validating the transfer of power through gracious concession. If Novembers loser wont concede, well, well have ourselves a situation, wont we? All the left-wing panic to the contrary, Trump is a normal political candidate, at least in key respects. He ran forand wonthe nomination of the Republican Party. It wasnt pretty, lots of Republicans opposed him, but he captured the flag. Hes the partys nominee, an American over the age of 35, with just as much Constitutional right to run for the Oval Office as you or I. When liberals and progressives say he isnt normal or that his ideas are dangerous, it means only that they disapprove, which should surprise no one, as they always disapprove of GOP presidential candidates ideas. This time is different, they say. Actually, its not. Democrats always paint the Republican presidential candidate as evil. They believed George W. Bush to be an ignorant buffoon, but that wasnt enough to disqualify him, so they attacked him as a racist who, in Kanye Wests words doesnt care about black people. Anathematizing John McCain was harder, given his long career as the maverick Republican that Democrats could point to and say, Why cant they all be like him? The fact that he was a genuine American hero didnt stop liberal media pundits and bloggers from implying that he was dangerous and unstable, a divisive, untrustworthy, and even dangerous figure, and that he suffered from an ongoing case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Mitt Romney was easily caricatured as an out-of-touch businessman, but successfully painting him as a hater of women took effort. They had to bend over backward to declare him even more extreme than Bush on so-called womens issues. They ran ads suggesting that he had caused a womans death. Painting the Republican as Satan in past elections was so hard for Democrats because their hearts werent in itnot totally. They knew on some level that they were playing a political game. It was a necessary game, perhaps, but they knew that they were stretching the truth, distorting reality, smearing their opponents. The difference this time is that the Democrats actually believe that the Republican candidate is Satan. How far are they will to go to stop the devil from taking his due? Matthew Hennessey is associate editor of City Journal. Twitter:@matthennessey. Photo by Gabriella Demczuk / Getty Images Achizitie de Servicii Tehnice de creare a plantatiilor forestiere de protectie din cadrul primariei Andrusul de Jos si a primariei Vadul lui Isac, r. Cahul In 2013, two men murdered off-duty British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, London. As Rigby was being attacked in the street, bystanders were tweeting about it. One onlooker recorded a video of one of the attackerswith blood still on his handstalking about why he had carried out the killing. A research project by Britains Economics and Social Research Council that looked at the Woolwich incident concludes that social media is increasingly the place where this kind of news breaks, with important implications for first responders. Social media is now a key driver of public understanding, the report finds, with implications for government and security officials as well as social media platforms, which must consider their role in mediating public reaction to avoid negative outcomes, both in terms of further incidents and community relations. The platforms insist that they are not publishers, let alone journalistic organizations. Their business is built upon providing an easy-access, open channel for the public to communicate. The terms and conditions of use, however, allow them to remove content, including shutting off live video. This is now done according to a set of criteria enforced through a combination of users flagging offensive content, automated systems that identify key words, and decisions by platform employees to remove or block content or to put up a warning. This sort of post-publication filtering is not the same process a journalist undertakes when selecting material pre-publication. However, it is editing. It involves calculating harm and making judgments about taste. Beyond being news sources, platform companies are increasingly shaping the architecture of how news is delivered online, even by publishers themselves. Journalists have lost control over the dissemination of their work. This is a crucial challenge for the news media overall, but the issue is especially acute when it comes to reporting on terror. The platforms provide an unprecedented resource for the public to upload, access, and share information and commentary around terror events. This is a huge opportunity for journalists to connect with a wider public, but it also raises key questions: Are social media platforms now becoming journalists and publishers by default, if not by design? How should news organizations respond to the increasing influence of platforms around terror events? Sign up for CJR 's daily email Facebook is becoming dominant in the mediation of information for the public, which raises all sorts of concerns about monetization, influence, and control over how narratives around terrorist incidents are shaped. It is in the public interest for these platforms to give people the best of news coverage at critical periods. But will that happen? These are pressing policy problems. News is a good way of getting people to come to these platforms, but it is a relatively minor part of their business. How the platforms deal with this in regard to terrorism is an extreme case of a wider problem, but it brings the issues into sharp focus and reminds us of what is at stake. Many believe there is a technical fix, but in practice, the volume and diversity of material (40 hours of video are uploaded every minute to YouTube) make it impossible to automate a perfect system to instantly police content. For mainstream media, the Rigby killing was a test case in how to handle user-generated content in a breaking news situation involving terrorism. This was very graphic and disturbing content, said Richard Caseby, managing editor of The Sun. Would it only serve as propaganda fueling further outrages? These are difficult moral dilemmas played out against tight deadlines, intense competition, and a desire to be respectful to the dead and their loved ones. The video first appeared in full on YouTube. News channels such as Sky carried the footage of attacker Michael Adabalajo wielding a machete and ranting at onlookers. ITN obtained exclusive rights to run it on the early evening bulletin, just hours after the incident and before 9 pm, known in the UK as the watershed, after which broadcasters are permitted to air adult content. Those reports, unlike the YouTube footage circulated on social media, were edited, contextualized, and accompanied by warnings. But there were still more than 700 complaints from the public to the UKs broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, about the various broadcasts, including on radio. Ofcom cleared the broadcasters and said their use of the material was justified, although it did have concerns about whether the broadcaster has given the viewers sufficient health warnings about the shocking nature of the content and restated the importance of its guidelines. For the social media platforms, the incident raised two issues. First, it was through the platforms that the news broke, posing questions about their responsibility for content uploaded to their networks. Second, the incident surfaced a problem with the platforms reporting of users who post inflammatory material. This second issue emerged during the trial of the second attacker, Michael Adebowale. Adebowale had posted plans for violence on Facebook and the companys automated monitoring system had closed some of his accounts, but this information was not forwarded to the security services. Facebook was accused of irresponsibility. If companies know that terrorist acts are being plotted, they have a moral responsibility to act, then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron said at the time. I cannot think of any reason why they would not tell the authorities. Facebooks standard response is that it does not comment on individual accounts, but that it does act to remove content that could support terrorism. Like all platforms, it argues that it cannot compromise its users privacy. The three main platformsFacebook, Twitter, and YouTubeall have broadly similar approaches to dealing with content curation during a terror event. All have codes that make it clear they do not accept content that promotes terrorism, celebrates extremist violence, or promotes hate speech. We are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups, Twitters policy statement notes. We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service. Twitter has taken down over 125,000 accounts since 2015, mainly because of suspected links to ISIS. It has increased its moderation teams and use of automated technology, such as spam-fighting bots to improve monitoring. It collaborates with intelligence agencies and has begun a proactive program of outreach to organizations such as the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a public diplomacy NGO, to support online counter-extremist activities. These platforms are in a different situation from news organizations. They are open platforms dealing with a vast amount of content that can only be filtered post-publication, and are still developing systems to edit users in real time. There is no magic algorithm for identifying terrorist content on the internet, so global online platforms are forced to make challenging judgment calls based on very limited information and guidance, Twitter notes. In spite of these challenges, we will continue to aggressively enforce our Rules in this area, and engage with authorities and other relevant organizations to find solutions to this critical issue and promote powerful counter-speech narratives. Many believe there is a technical fix, but in practice, the volume and diversity of material (40 hours of video are uploaded every minute to YouTube) make it impossible to automate a perfect system to instantly police content. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can augment a system of community alerts. But even if a piece of content is noted, a value judgment must be made about its status and what action to take. Should the material be removed, or a warning added? This puts the platforms in a bind. YouTube, for instance, wants to hang onto its status as a safe harbor for material that might not be published elsewhere. When video of the results of alleged chemical weapons attacks on rebels in Syria was uploaded, much of it by combatants, YouTube had to make a judgment about its graphic nature and impact and decide how authentic or propagandistic it was. YouTube says it generally makes such determinations on a case-by-case basis. Once this footage was posted, many mainstream news organizations were able to use it in their own reporting. Live streaming The problem of balancing audience protection, security considerations, and social responsibility with privacy and free speech becomes even more acute with the arrival of new tools such as live video streaming from Facebook Live, Twitter Periscope, YouTube, and even Snapchat and Instagram. These services afford ordinary citizens the opportunity to broadcast live. Many people welcome this power as an example of the opening up of media. But what happens when a terrorist like Larossi Aballa uses Facebook Live to broadcast himself, after murdering a French policeman and his wife, holding their 3-year-old child hostage, broadcasting threats, and promoting ISIS? The Rigby killers relied on witnesses to broadcast their statements and behavior after the attack, but Aballa was live and in control of his own feed. That material was reused by news media, albeit edited and contextualized. There is a case for allowing virtually unfettered access that gives the citizen a direct and immediate unfiltered voice. Diamond Reynolds filmed the shooting of her boyfriend Philando Castile by a police officer in St. Paul, Minnesota, live on Facebook. The video was watched by millions, shared across social media as well as re-broadcast on news channels and websites. It attracted attention partly because it was the latest in a series of incidents in which black people were subject to alleged police brutality. In this case, Facebook Live made a systematic injustice visible through the platforms rapid reach. Local police contested Reynoldss version of events, but the live broadcast and the rapid spread of the video meant that her narrative had a powerful impact on public perception. It was contextualized to varying degrees when re-used by news organizations, but the narrative was driven to a large extent by Reynolds and her supporters. News organizations need to consider how to report these broadcasts and what to do with the material. Research shows varying approaches to dealing with this kind of graphic footage, even when its not related to terrorism. Should news organizations include direct access to live video as part of their coverage, as they might from an affiliate or a video news agency? In principle, most news organizations would say they resist becoming an unfiltered platform for live video broadcasts by anyone, with no editorial control. As Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia Journalism School, points out, this reflects a difference between news organizations and digital platforms: When asking news journalists and executives if you could develop something which let anyone live stream video onto your platform or website, would you?, the answer after some thought was nearly always no. For many publishers the risk of even leaving unmoderated comments on a website was great enough[;] the idea of the world self-reporting under your brand remains anathema. And the platform companies are beginning to understand why. Media organizations are having to negotiate with the platforms about how to inhabit the same space when these dilemmas arise. Sometimes, they have to act unilaterally. For example, CNN has turned off auto play for video on its own Facebook pages around some terror events, and routinely posts warnings on potentially disturbing content. How far should platforms intervene or become more like media organizations? The platforms are in a difficult place in terms of the competing pressures of corporate self-interest, the demands of their consumers for open access, the public interest involved in supporting good journalism, and the goal of fostering secure and cohesive societies. They are relatively young organizations that have grown quickly and are still accreting institutional knowledge on these issues. The platforms have accepted that they have a public policy role in combatting terrorism. Facebook now has a head of policy for counterterrorism, and it has gone further than most Western news media organizations in allowing itself to be co-opted into counterterrorism initiatives. Yet any intervention raises questions. For example, Facebook offered free advertising for accounts that post anti-extremist content. But which ones, and how far should it go? Additionally, the platforms provide an opportunity for building social solidarity in the wake of terror incidents, far beyond the ability of news media. After the Lee Rigby killing, there was widespread reaction on social mediaincluding from Muslimsexpressing shock and disgust at the attacks. There were also positive social media initiatives that sought to pay respect to the victim. But some reaction was incendiary and anti-Islamic, and some people faced charges for inciting racial hatred on social media. British MPs recently criticized the platforms for not doing enough to counter ISIS. However, the platforms say they are already doing much to remove incendiary content. The vast majority of ISIS recruits that have gone to Syria from Britain and other European countries have been recruited via peer to peer interaction, not through the internet alone, notes radicalization expert Peter Neumann, a professor of security studies at Londons Kings College. Blaming Facebook, Google, or Twitter for this phenomenon is quite simplistic, and Id even say misleading. Ultimately, the price of open access and exchange on these platforms might be that users must put up with some negative and harmful material. The platformsand the news mediacannot police these networks alone. Authorities also have a responsibility to monitor and engage on social media, and to actively counter bad information with real-time streams of reliable information. Ultimately, the price of open access and exchange on these platforms might be that users must put up with some negative and harmful material. However, just because these issues are complex does not mean that platforms cannot adapt their policies and practices. It might be that a virtual switch could be put in place to delay live feeds that contain violence. More honest broker entities such as Storyful or verification agency First Draft might emerge to act as specialist filters around terror events. One suggestion has been that platforms like Facebook should hire teams of fact-checkers. Another is that they should hire senior journalists to act as editors. Of course, those last suggestions would make these self-declared tech companies more like news media. But we now inhabit what Royal Holloway media professor Andrew Chadwick calls a hybrid media environment where those distinctions are blurred. News organizations have had to change to adapt to social networks, and platforms, too, must continue to develop the way they behave in the face of breaking news. Companies such as Facebook and Google are already reaching out to journalists and publishers to find ways of working that combine their strengths. Twitter and Facebook, for example, have joined 20 news media organizations in a coalition organized by First Draft to find new ways to filter out fake news. Platforms and the news media both have much to gain in terms of trust and the avoidance of enforced regulation or control by taking the initiative instead of waiting for angry governments to act and impose solutions that hurt creativity and freedom in the name of security. One only has to glance at more repressive regimes around the world to see the price paid for democracy when reactionary governments restrict any form of media in the name of public safety. This article is adapted from a Tow report by the same author. It is part of a series on journalism and terrorism that is the product of a partnership between the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and Democracy Fund Voice. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Charlie Beckett is a professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and founding director of Polis, the LSEs international journalism think-tank. Before joining the LSE, he was a journalist at the BBC and ITN. He is the author of SuperMedia and WikiLeaks: news in the networked era. Liberty Mutual Insurance Introduces 2 New Excess Casualty Offerings Liberty Mutual Insurance launched two new excess casualty products: the Utility Follow Form Excess for the power and utility sectors, and the Integrated Occurrence Form for the large corporate sector. Both are available from Liberty Surplus Insurance Corp. on a surplus lines basis. The Utility Follow Form Excess product for power generation and utility companies fits above lead excess casualty layers typically written by industry mutuals, providing critical excess coverage tailored to the specific needs of this sector. Liberty Surplus was able to build a comprehensive Follow Form solution by drawing on Liberty Mutuals experience as a provider of primary property/casualty coverage to the power and utility sectors that understands the total risk exposures of this specialized industry, and how to effectively manage them. The Integrated Occurrence Form allows a policyholder to aggregate like claims into a single integrated occurrence providing far greater flexibility in managing limits and coverage for the large liabilities often associated with long-tail claims. Liberty Surplus is a surplus lines insurer that distributes its policies through licensed surplus lines brokers. Liberty Surplus is not licensed as an authorized insurer in any state. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are not protected by such funds. Lemonade Launches in New York City Lemonade, the worlds first peer to peer insurance company, announced it has been licensed as a full-stack insurance carrier by New York State. New York homeowners and renters can now get insured and settle claims instantly, anytime and from any device. Lemonade treats premiums as the property of the insured, not the insurer, returning unclaimed money during its annual Giveback. Giveback is a unique feature of Lemonade, where each year leftover money (underwriting profit) is donated on the customers behalf to a cause they choose. Cause-selection creates virtual groups of like-minded people, or peers. Lemonade uses each groups premiums to pay their claims, giving back leftover money to their common cause. According to Daniel Schreiber, CEO and co-founder, we architected Lemonade to avoid conflicts of interest. We take a flat 20 percent fee, and give unclaimed money to a cause of the policyholders choice. Since we dont pocket unclaimed money, we can be trusted to pay claims fast and hassle-free. As for our customers, knowing fraud harms a cause they believe in, rather than an insurance company they dont, brings out their better nature too. Lemonade is rated A-Exceptional by Demotech, regulated by the State of NY, and is reinsured by Lloyds of London, Berkshire Hathaway (National Indemnity) and other leading companies. FM Global Creates Dedicated Cyber Risk Engineering, Underwriting Units FM Global, a commercial property insurer, announced the formation of integrated engineering and underwriting units dedicated to enhancing the companys expertise in first-party cyber solutions for the benefit of its mutual policyholders. Carmelina Borsellino, vice president and manager of cyber hazards, will lead the dedicated engineering unit. Her team will work with the companys research and engineering units to develop location- and account-based assessment standards, tools and methodologies and to assist clients with cyber risk mitigation. Borsellino joined FM Global in 1986 as a field engineer in Montreal. She served in that role for more than 10 years before advancing to engineering field manager in 1997. In 2003, Borsellino was promoted to group manager, field engineering, a position she held until 2013 when she was named business process improvement (BPI) consultant. Grace Ries, assistant vice president and manager of cyber risk insurance products, will lead a dedicated unit to develop an underwriting approach and coverage capabilities to meet clients needs for first-party cyber solutions. Prior to her current role, Ries was an account manager providing FM Global policyholders in the chemical industry with property insurance consulting and risk management support. She joined FM Global as a consultant engineer in San Francisco after graduating from the University of California, Davis. QBE North America Enhances Product Liability Offering with New Manufacturing E&O Endorsement QBE North America, an operating division of QBE Insurance Group Limited, announced its Commercial Insurance business has introduced a Manufacturing E&O endorsement to its Product Liability product offering. The Manufacturing E&O endorsement is a Claims Made coverage form providing broad coverage on a simple rating basis. This endorsement closes a gap in the Commercial General Liability product by providing coverage when a manufacturing product fails due to a flaw in the design or manufacturing process and causes financial harm, even when there is no bodily injury or property damage. It includes a 60-day extended reporting period that can be increased to five years. For more than a decade, members of a little-known group called the Pain Care Forum have blanketed Washington with messages touting prescription painkillers vital role in the lives of millions of Americans, creating an echo chamber that has quietly derailed efforts to curb U.S. consumption of the drugs, which accounts for two-thirds of the worlds usage. In 2012, drugmakers and their affiliates in the forum sent a letter to U.S. senators promoting a hearing about an influential report on a crisis of epidemic proportions: pain in America. Few knew the report stemmed from legislation drafted and pushed by forum members and that their experts had helped author it. The report estimated more than 100 million Americans roughly 40 percent of adults suffered from chronic pain, an eye-popping statistic that some researchers call deeply problematic. The letter made no reference to another health issue that had been declared an epidemic by federal authorities: drug overdoses tied to prescription painkillers. Deaths linked to addictive drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet had increased more than fourfold since 1999, accounting for more fatal overdoses in 2012 than heroin and cocaine combined. An investigation by The Associated Press and The Center for Public Integrity reveals that similar feedback loops of information and influence play out regularly in the nations capital, fueled by money and talking points from the Pain Care Forum, a loose coalition of drugmakers, trade groups and dozens of nonprofits supported by industry funding that has flown under the radar until now. Hundreds of internal documents shed new light on how drugmakers and their allies shaped the national response to the ongoing wave of prescription opioid abuse, which has claimed the lives of roughly 165,000 Americans since 2000, according to federal estimates. Painkillers are among the most widely prescribed medications in the U.S., but pharmaceutical companies and allied groups have a multitude of legislative interests beyond those drugs. From 2006 through 2015, participants in the Pain Care Forum spent over $740 million lobbying in the nations capital and in all 50 statehouses on an array of issues, including opioid-related measures, according to an analysis of lobbying filings by the Center for Public Integrity and AP. The same organizations reinforced their influence with more than $140 million doled out to political campaigns, including more than $75 million alone to federal candidates, political action committees and parties. That combined spending on lobbying and campaigns amounts to more than 200 times the $4 million spent during the same period by the handful of groups that work for restrictions on painkillers. Meanwhile, opioid sales reached $9.6 billion last year, according to IMS Health, a health information company. You can go a long, long way in getting what you want when you have a lot of money, said Professor Keith Humphreys of Stanford University, a former adviser on drug policy under President Barack Obama. And its only when things get so disastrous that finally theres enough popular will aroused to push back. Obama gave his first speech on the opioid epidemic last fall. In July, Congress passed its first legislation targeting the crisis, an election-year package intended to expand access to addiction treatment. But the law includes little new funding and no restrictions on painkillers, such as mandatory training for prescribers, a step favored by federal advisory panels. Obama administration officials say they have tried to strike a balance between controlling the harms of opioids and keeping them available for patients. We did not want to deny people access to appropriate pain care, said Michael Botticelli, Obamas drug czar. We were all trying to figure out what the balance was, and thats still the case going forward. Painkillers are modern versions of ancient medicines derived from the opium poppy, also the source of heroin. Prescription opioids were long reserved for the most severe forms of pain associated with surgery, injury or terminal diseases like cancer. That changed in the 1990s with a surge in prescribing for more common ailments like back pain, arthritis and headaches. A combination of factors fueled the trend, including new medical guidelines, insurance policies and pharmaceutical marketing for long-acting drugs like OxyContin. The drugs manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, pleaded guilty and agreed to pay more than $600 million in fines in 2007 for misleading the public about the risks of OxyContin. But the drug continued to rack up blockbuster sales, generating more than $22 billion over the last decade. Despite having no physical address or online presence, the Pain Care Forum hosts high-ranking officials from the White House, Food and Drug Administration and other agencies at its monthly gatherings. Purdues Washington lobbyist, Burt Rosen, co-founded the forum more than a decade ago and coordinates the groups meetings, which include dozens of lobbyists and executives. Purdue declined to make Rosen available for interviews and did not answer specific questions about its lobbying activities or financial support for forum participants. Purdue said it supports a range of advocacy groups, including some with differing views on opioids. In practice and governance, the Pain Care Forum is like any of the hundreds of policy coalitions in Washington and throughout the nation, the company said in a statement, adding: Purdue complies with all applicable lobbying disclosure laws and requirements. While Purdue, Endo Pharmaceuticals and other members have maintained the forum does not take policy positions, the AP and Center for Public Integritys reporting shows the groups participants have worked together to push and draft federal legislation, blunt regulations and influence decisions around opioids. Opioid drugmakers say they are striving to improve the safety of their products and how they are used. They point to new harder-to-crush pills and initiatives that, among other things, allow states to share databases designed to spot doctor shopping by patients. Elsewhere, experts are reevaluating the effectiveness of opioids for most forms of chronic pain, noting little long-term research. The biggest myth out there is that theres a conflict between reducing our dependence on opioids and improving care for patients in pain, said Dr. Caleb Alexander, co-director of Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness. Its an artificial conflict, but there are lots of vested interests behind it. THE EPIDEMIC OF PAIN By spring 2014, the figure that 100 million Americans suffered from chronic pain was getting new attention: as a talking point for the nations top drug regulator. The head of the FDA used the statistic to illustrate the importance of keeping painkillers accessible, despite the escalating toll of opioid addiction and abuse in American communities. In an online essay, then-Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg said reducing the toll was a highest priority, but that her agency had to balance it with another major public health priority: managing the pain that affects an estimated 100 million Americans. That line populated her speeches and interviews for months. But Michael Von Korff of the Group Health Research Institute, whose research contributed to the statistic, said the number has no connection to opioids. Instead, he said, it mostly represents people with run-of-the-mill pain problems who are already managing them pretty well. Von Korffs work is funded by federal, foundation and health insurance sources. He also is an officer with Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, a group pushing for restrictions on the drugs. Pain Care Forum participants spent nearly $19 million on lobbying efforts that included the legislation requiring federal research on pain and the Institute of Medicine report that first highlighted the figure. Concerns about the use of the statistic in connection with opioids and ties between some of the report authors and the pharmaceutical industry were covered by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2014. Nearly half the experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine to write the 364-page report had served as leaders in Pain Care Forum-affiliated groups, such as the American Pain Foundation, the American Pain Society and the American Academy of Pain Medicine all supported by industry funding. Hamburg said in an email that the report was another piece of scientific literature that helped inform the broader field, which her agency had no role in producing. The Pain Care Forum discussed the legislation that led to the report at its first meeting in February 2005, according to notes by one of the groups principal members, The American Pain Foundation. Memos from the now-defunct foundation are among hundreds of documents obtained through public information requests by the AP and the Center for Public Integrity from the city of Chicago, which accused six drugmakers of misleading the public about opioid risks in an ongoing lawsuit. In June 2006, the forum organized a Capitol Hill briefing headlined The Epidemic of Pain in America. Briefing materials included statements like: Appropriate use of opioid medications like oxycodone is safe and effective and unlikely to cause addiction in people who are under the care of a doctor and who have no history of substance abuse. Attendees were asked to support a bill from then-Congressman Mike Rogers, which would later be rewritten by the forum and reintroduced in 2007 and 2009, according to the memos. It called for the Institute of Medicine now a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to develop a comprehensive report on pain in America. Parts of the legislation eventually passed with Obamas sweeping health care overhaul of 2010. Rogers, a Republican from Michigan, received at least $310,000 in contributions from forum groups from 2006 to 2015, which went to his campaign and to a leadership account that he could use to donate to his peers. Rogers, who left office last year, rejected the idea that he was influenced by the contributions, and said he began working on pain issues as a state senator after helping his brother through a series of back surgeries. I think they said, This guy is a champion, hes doing something we believe in and we want to support guys like that, he said. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who together introduced the Senate version of the bill, received more than $360,000 and $190,000 respectively from forum participants. Staffers for Hatch did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Dodd, who left office in 2011, said in a statement: Sen. Hatch and I worked together to increase awareness and understanding of this serious medical condition in the hopes of providing relief to the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic pain. Phil Saigh, the executive director of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, said he informed the Pain Care Forum years ago that his group did not consider itself a member of the coalition. Yet the academy has continuously appeared in directories of forum participants since 2006, including as late as 2013, the most recent documents available. The academy and the American Pain Society say some of the funding they receive from drugmakers is in the form of grants used for expenses tied to educational meetings and events. Both organizations also operate separate corporate councils, in which companies are granted meetings with physicians in exchange for annual payments up to the $20,000 range. Jennifer Walsh, a spokeswoman for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, said, We stand by our report, the committee, and the process that produced it. Experts who could personally profit from reports are prohibited from serving on its committees, she added. But the academies, which advise the federal government on scientific and medical topics, declined to release financial disclosure forms completed by panelists. Those on opposite sides of the opioids debate agree that the report raised important points about pain treatment, including warnings about the addictiveness of painkillers. After the reports release in June 2011, the American Pain Foundation received $150,000 from Purdue to promote its findings through the Pain Care Forum. The foundation planned congressional briefings and hearings and meetings with the leadership of various federal agencies, according to a November 2011 letter. The foundation closed the next year. Senate investigators had asked about the nonprofit receiving nearly 90 percent of its funding from industry. Meanwhile, a handful of lawmakers tried to draw attention to rising rates of painkiller abuse. In 2010, then-Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif., co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, which focused on educating lawmakers about drug abuse. She clipped newspaper stories from her colleagues home states, but recalled, Theyd just say `Yeah, yeah, yeah, and move on to more pressing matters. Bono, whose family had dealt with opioid addiction, drafted legislation in 2010 designed to curb opioid prescribing by requiring the FDA to limit the labeling for OxyContin and related drugs to severe pain. OxyContin had long been marketed for a broader indication listed on the label as moderate-to-severe pain. According to Bono, a Purdue lobbyist visited her and threatened to pull back on its state-level funding for drug abuse initiatives. They were just letting it be known that if I didnt play nicer with them, they could cause some things to happen that I wouldnt like, she said. Purdue said in a statement that it met with Bono to support her efforts to stop prescription drug abuse. The company says it does not oppose measures that improve the way opioids are prescribed, even when they could reduce sales. Former Rep. Bill Brewster, D-Oklahoma, a contract lobbyist for Purdue at the time, said in an email that he recalled the conversation as cordial and constructive. Purdue spent nearly $800,000 on lobbying efforts that included Bonos bill and subsequent versions of it. Pain Care Forum participants gave her campaigns more than $60,000 from 2006 through 2012. Bonos bill, the Stop Oxy Abuse Act, never received a congressional vote or hearing, even after Republicans regained control of the House in the November 2010 elections. She lost her congressional seat in 2012. WHATS A REGULAR TO DO? In June 2012, a senior FDA official gave a presentation to the Pain Care Forum titled: FDA and Opioids: Whats a regulator to do? For several years, the FDA had been developing risk-management plans to reduce misuse of long-acting opioids like OxyContin. With oversight of drugmakers and their marketing efforts, the agency seemed perfectly positioned to tackle the problem. But the plans that the FDA laid out lacked the major reforms suggested by the agency itself in 2009, when it announced the initiative. Instead of mandatory certification training for doctors and electronic registries to track opioid prescriptions to patients, the FDA official outlined much milder steps: Drugmakers would fund optional classes for prescribers and supply pharmacy brochures to patients about opioid risks. Over several years, the FDA seemed to have backed away from any significant restrictions. It was my observation that the staff at FDA had really bought into the idea that pain was greatly undertreated in the United States, said Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, former chief medical officer with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, a federal health agency. As early as December 2008, the Pain Care Forum was developing a strategy to inform the process at the FDA, according to meeting minutes from the American Pain Foundation. When the FDA sought public comment on how to proceed, the forum helped generate more than 2,000 comments opposing new barriers to opioids, according to a 2010 foundation memo. Additionally, the forum produced a 4,000-signature petition opposing electronic registries for opioid prescriptions, which advocacy groups said would stigmatize patients. Finally, in July 2010, the FDA assembled a panel of outside advisers primarily physicians to review its plans to manage opioid risks, including voluntary doctor training. During a comment period, several members of the public warned it was a mistake. Dr. Nathaniel Katz, a former FDA adviser turned pharmaceutical consultant, traveled from Boston to implore the panel to support tougher requirements. The days of prescribers not being trained how to safely prescribe the number one medication in the United States have to be brought to an end by you today, said Katz, who had previously chaired the FDA panel, according to a meeting transcript. Ultimately, the panel voted 25-10 against the measures developed by the FDA, saying they would have little effect on opioid abuse. But the FDA put them in place anyway, one month after the agency briefed the Pain Care Forum on the plans. The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisory panels. Agency officials said they decided that requiring certification for opioid prescribers would have been overly burdensome and disrupted care for patients. You cant imagine the bitter screeds we hear from the prescribing community about the paperwork involved, said Dr. Janet Woodcock, head of the FDAs drug center. She added that the opioid crisis fundamentally stems from individual prescribing decisions, saying, We dont regulate medical practice. In the last two years, the FDA has placed several limitations on opioids, including adding new bolded warnings to immediate-release opioids such as Vicodin and Percocet. But prescriber training remains optional, even after a second FDA advisory panel again recommended the step earlier this year. Woodcock says the agency is still weighing that recommendation. Currently, states such as Massachusetts are imposing their own physician-training requirements, a development that Katz attributes to a lack of federal action. The FDA failed to make a decision that could have averted many of the thousands of deaths were seeing per year, Katz said. So when people continue to die and communities continue to be devastated, then others will arise to do the policing. CHARTING A SAFER COURSE It was a federal agency hundreds of miles from Washington that finally sidestepped the influence of the pain care lobbyists. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, located in Atlanta, overcame threats of congressional investigation and legal action to publish the first federal guidelines intended to reduce opioid prescribing earlier this year. Essentially, the agency said the risks of painkillers greatly outweigh the benefits for the vast majority of patients with routine chronic pain. Instead, the guidelines said, doctors should consider alternatives like non-opioid pain relievers and physical therapy. For more than 15 years, CDC officials have tracked the precipitous rise in painkiller overdoses, which has been followed by a similar surge in heroin deaths. The CDC called the painkiller trend an epidemic in 2011, pushing Washington officials to do the same. The agencys director, Dr. Tom Frieden, labeled opioids dangerous medications that should be reserved for situations like severe cancer pain. When the CDC drafted its opioid guidelines, it moved quickly and quietly, initially giving outside groups just 48 hours to comment on draft guidelines distributed last September. Opioid proponents said the guidelines were not based on solid evidence and criticized the CDC for not disclosing outside experts who had advised the effort, alleging that they included physicians who were biased against painkillers. One pharma-aligned group, the Washington Legal Foundation, said the lack of disclosure constituted a clear violation of federal law. And a longtime Pain Care Forum participant now known as the Academy of Integrative Pain Management asked congressional leaders to investigate how the CDC had developed the guidelines. A House committee asked the CDC to turn over documents about its advisers, but staffers said the probe did not uncover any violations. Some of the most vigorous pushback came from Pain Care Forum affiliates embedded in the federal system. Under the 2010 pain legislation backed by the forum, the NIH had created a 19-member panel to coordinate pain research made up of federal officials, civilian physicians and pain advocates. At the groups December meeting, panelists with connections to the Pain Care Forum called the CDCs approach horrible and shocking. Dr. Richard Payne, a former board member of the American Pain Foundation, questioned whether the experts advising the CDC had conflicts of interests in terms of biases, intellectual conflicts that needed to be disclosed. Payne himself had received more than $16,240 in speaking fees, meals, travel and other payments from drugmakers, including Purdue, between 2013 and 2015, according to federal records. Myra Christopher, a long-time Pain Care Forum participant, said the panel should inform the CDC that it could not support the opioid guidelines and that their release should be delayed. Christopher holds a chair at the nonprofit Center for Practical Bioethics, which receives funding from opioid drugmakers, and her position was established through a $1.5 million gift from Purdue. Both she and Payne also served on the Institute of Medicine panel on pain in America. Christopher and Payne said they were thoroughly vetted before serving on the panel and disclosed their past work and activities. Federal officials who oversee the panel responded that all members met federal requirements to serve, including completing financial disclosure forms, though the NIH said those cannot be publicly released. One week after the NIH panels critique, the CDC said it would delay finalizing its guidelines to allow more public comment and released a list of advisers. One of 17 core experts advising the agency reported serving as a paid consultant to Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, the law firm suing multiple opioid drugmakers on behalf of the city of Chicago. In March, the final guidelines appeared. The first recommendation for U.S. doctors: Opioids are not first-line therapy for chronic pain. It was a statement considered common practice by many doctors as recently as the early-1990s, a decade before the Pain Care Forum formed in Washington. Were trying to chart a safer and more effective course for dealing with chronic pain, Frieden said. We dont expect any magic. We dont expect things to be better in 15 months when its taken 15 years to get this much worse. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Autonomous vehicles are expected to shake up the property/casualty market, as personal auto insurance premiums drop and cyber insurance steps in. As drivers look forward to a future of eating, reading and watching movies while being transported to destinations around town, insurers are grappling with big changes associated with the new technology. In a recent podcast interview, Mike Stankard, automotive industry practice leader for Aon, discussed how self-driving cars will impact the insurance industry leading to reduced auto claims and potential cyber coverage for hacking incidents. Stankard said that he expects autonomous cars to impact several different aspects of the insurance industry. He thinks fewer consumers will purchase vehicles leading to a decline in personal auto insurance needs. According to a new report released by Aon last week, Global Insurance Market Opportunities, U.S. personal auto insurance premiums could decline by about 20 percent by the year 2035, compared to their 2015 levels. The reported noted that by 2050, when self-driving cars are expected to reach full adoption, auto insurance premiums could decline by more than 40 percent. Adoption of autonomous vehicles will of course be affected by many variables such as regulatory challenges, cost to the consumer, safety, vehicle ownership preferences and the technology itself. However, we as an industry need to act quickly to ensure that we have the products available to align to the new paradigm; if we fail to do so, we only invite disruption, Paul Mang, CEO of Aon Analytics, said in a press release which accompanied the report. According to Aon, personal auto insurance currently accounts for 40 percent of global insurance premiums and a reduction in that could drive up market volatility in the property/casualty sector. The autonomous technology is going to be a catalyst for change inhow people purchase transportation, said Stankard. The shift will be toward ridesharing/mobility services, hence a greater need for commercial auto insurance to cover fleet owners, he said. As far as changes in claims, Stankard said that because the majority of car accidents are the result of human error the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates driver error is the cause of 94 percent of all accidents he expects that there could be a nearly 90 percent drop in auto accidents, which will result in the processing of fewer claims. However, new technology will forge new types of claims and likely more product liability claims. The GIMO report estimated an 81 percent reduction in claims frequency, an increase in claims severity due to sensor costs and an increased cost of handling product liability claims. Liability may be more clear cut in these cases, said Stankard, since electronic data recorders will likely be more sophisticated, tracking a variety of data. While the personal auto insurance market is expected to shrink, the cyber insurance market will likely step in to provide more coverage related to auto cyber claims, he said. Aon Benfield forecasted that by 2020 global cyber premiums could reach $10 billion a figure that currently represents the global directors and officers liability market. The Global Council on Internet Governance estimated cybercrime could grow to $2 to 3 trillion by 2020. Stankard expects that in the future, there will be regulations to provide guidance and legislation dealing with vehicle hacking incidents, for example. The issue of who is responsible for a hacked vehicle the owner versus the manufacturer will need to be sorted out, he said. A Munich Re survey, conducted on site at the Risk and Insurance Management Society Conference in April 2016, found that 55 percent of risk managers feel that cyber security is the greatest insurance concern associated with autonomous vehicles. This was followed by allocation of liability when autonomous/non-autonomous vehicles share roads (27 percent), economic disruption (seven percent), safety (seven percent) and the cost of technology to repair damaged vehicles (four percent). From a cyber security perspective, respondents believe the greatest threats to autonomous vehicles are auto theft by an unknown individual hacking into and overtaking vehicle data systems (42 percent) and the failure of smart road infrastructure technologies (36 percent). When asked what they thought posed the greatest challenge to the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles, close to half of the risk managers (41 percent) cited regulatory or legislative obstacles, followed by safety (24 percent), security of technology (19 percent), cost (11 percent) and the ability to function in all weather and road conditions (five percent). As AV technology progresses, the potential risk exposures and their implications for the insurance industry and society will continue to evolve, said Tony Kuczinski, president and CEO of Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. Cyber security in particular is one area we are watching closely, as the vulnerability and implementation of safeguards for AVs remains to be seen. Seattle leaders have proposed new rules for retail and food-service businesses with hourly employees, including requiring them to schedule shifts two weeks in advance and compensate workers for some last-minute changes. Its the latest push by a city that has led the nation in mandating worker benefits. Seattle was among the first to phase in a $15 hourly minimum wage, mandate sick leave for many companies and offer paid parental leave for city workers. Now, the mayor, city officials and labor-backed groups are targeting erratic schedules and fluctuating hours they say make it difficult for people to juggle child care, school or other jobs, to count on stable income or to plan for the future. Seattles secure scheduling proposal also would require retail and fast-food companies with 500 employees globally to compensate workers with predictability pay when theyre scheduled but dont get called into work or are sent home early; provide a minimum 10 hours rest between open and closing shifts; and offer hours to existing employees before hiring new staff. Creating equity in Seattle means providing workers with access to a reliable schedule that meets their life and financial needs, while balancing the daily realities facing large employers, Mayor Ed Murray said earlier this month. In 2014, San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to pass similar legislation. A District of Columbia bill requiring 14-day scheduling notice advanced out of a council committee in June but has yet to be taken up by the full council. A November ballot measure before San Jose, California, voters would require businesses to offer additional hours to existing part-time employees before hiring new staff. The Washington Retail Association and other businesses have criticized the Seattle proposal, saying many employers already provide advance scheduling notice. They say the measure is too restrictive and will create more problems for workers. It will wipe out the scheduling flexibility that benefits both employees and employers, said Jan Teague, association president. If store managers cant add to labor costs to cover the predictability pay, theyll operate with fewer employees or fewer hours when someone cant make it into work, she said. Others say they want to see changes to some provisions, such as ensuring employers arent penalized for offering shifts directly to workers who want them. Across the country, companies have faced increasing pressure to make schedules more predictable. Last month, Wal-Mart launched a new scheduling system to give thousands of hourly employees more certainty about their hours. The sponsors of Seattles ordinance say its as much about closing the citys income gap as giving entry-level workers, many of whom are women and minorities, more control over schedules. Median household income, housing prices and rents have soared in booming Seattle as the city has grown to about 687,000 and added about 50,000 tech and other jobs in five years. We want this to be a city where our workforce, the people who are keeping this place running, can afford to live here, said Councilwoman Lisa Herbold, a bill sponsor. When people have more secure hours, they can do things that make the city more affordable, such as holding down a second job or going to school so they can get a better job. Crystal Thompson, who works at Dominos Pizza, often scrambles to find child care when she gets her schedule one day before the work week begins. The short notice makes it difficult to plan her life. This will be good for a lot of people, she said. Oliver Savage, 22, a Starbucks barista, said he has asked to work 30 hours but currently gets 20. For a period this summer, a previous store manager scheduled him for only eight hours, reducing his one source of income. He said the store hired a new barista during that time, so he supports the provision requiring current workers be offered hours before additional staff is hired. Jennifer England, who owns a Subway franchise, said she works with her three employees to accommodate their scheduling needs. She said she wont be able to pay extra for last-minute shift changes if a worker wants time off or calls in sick. Theyre making it harder for us to schedule and if anything comes up, were going to be penalized and we cant afford that, England said. The bill exempts companies whose employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with similar scheduling provisions. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. City Club renewable energy panel.jpg City planner Jason Russell (left), Michael Hartley, executive director of the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum, Terry McClure, farmer and former president of the Ohio Farm Bureau and Lynn Scarlett, global director of public policy for the Nature Conservancy, talked about the debates in Ohio about renewable energy this week at the City Club of Cleveland. (City Club of Cleveland photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A long-time Ohio Republican political operative, a past president of the Ohio Farm Bureau and the Nature Conservancy's global director of public policy have a message for state lawmakers: Your voters are greener than you thought. The trio appeared Wednesday before a City Club of Cleveland panel moderated by Jason Russell, a city planner. "Environmentalists don't know how to talk to conservatives," said Michael Hartley, a former Kasich administration director and now the executive director of the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum. The forum this week released a poll which surveyed only Republican and conservative voters. The poll found that these voters support renewable energy, energy efficiency programs and net metering for home solar systems. Terry McClure, a conservative fifth-generation northwest-Ohio corn, soybean and wheat farmer and still part of the Ohio Farm Bureau, said electricity is critical to farming today. He said that locally-produced wind energy is now cheaper than what the utilities want to sell farmers. And he added that solar panels are a natural addition to the huge barns on most farms. Lynn Scarlett said businesses globally are gearing up to provide renewable technologies because the demand for renewable energy is expected to double by 2030. The bottom line? The trio think the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are a kind of global energy tsunami that is coming. The only question is whether Ohio will participate. Hartley tried to explain to the somewhat skeptical City Club audience that GOP lawmakers are likely to accept a green energy middle ground between the utilities and legislative ideologues on the one side and the environmental and consumer groups on the other. So far, that acceptance has not happened. There were protracted battles at the state house in 2014 and 2015 over rules dating back to 2009 requiring Ohio power companies to provide annually increasing percentages of electricity generated by renewable technologies such as wind and solar. Related rules also required utilities to provide energy efficiency programs for customers to help them reduce how much electricity they use. The GOP-dominated legislature, led by the most ideologically conservative members, "froze" the rules for two years in the spring of 2015. They changed state law after months of hearings and lobbying that pitched large industries and the utilities against consumer and environmental groups, smaller businesses, clean energy companies and their trade groups. FirstEnergy, which had been openly critical of the efficiency programs as bad for business, immediately shut down its consumer appliance and lighting rebate programs. The freeze disappears at the end of this year and the lobbying has already begun with the objective of extending the freeze during a quick "lame duck" session in late November or December. Kasich has threatened to veto such a measure. The Ohio Conservative Energy Forum has staked out a middle ground that Hartley believes can be approved and signed by the governor -- either this year or next year. "I spent 20 years on campaigns to elect Republicans," said Hartley. "Many of the folks in the legislature I have known since they were councilmen and commissioners, since college. "Economic growth, national security, faith and the political angle of winning elections -- that's how you talk to them." Hartley's group wants state rules to require utilities to up the percentage of renewable energy by 5 percent over the next five years. It's now at roughly 2.5 percent. "What we have put forward, it's guaranteed that environmental groups are not going to accept, it doesn't go far enough for them," he predicted. "On the other side, there are those who want a permanent freeze. That goes way too far." The poll results seem to backup Hartley's assertions that GOP voters not only support green energy, efficiency programs and consumer choice but also that they will not reject conservative lawmakers who vote to require utilities to provide it. Hartley, McClure and Scarlett urged their audience to reach out to their lawmakers. McClure summed up conservative thinking about power this way: "Every time I can use a renewable source to produce my electricity, and save gas or coal, for next generation, that is a good thing." He said the statehouse fights over the issue is an example of the "polarization we have on so many issues right now." "We think there has to be middle ground on many issues This is a prime example of one with a very important middle ground, and we are finding in the polling that there are a lot of people at that point. And we know there are a lot of businesses at this point. They agree with us." The City Club recorded the discussion and archived video and audio versions. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland will pay $375,000 to the family of a man who died in police custody following a traffic stop in 2010. Rodney Brown, 40, died Dec. 31, 2010. Court filings say he resisted arrest and that one officer hit him in the neck and another repeatedly shot him with a Taser. Officers placed Brown in handcuffs, but he told them that he was having trouble breathing. Patrolman Erick Melendez is captured on police radio responding, "So? Who gives a f---?" A lawsuit brought by Brown's family was set to go to trial next month, but a settlement was reached Tuesday. Al Gerhardstein, an attorney for Brown's family, said the family decided to settle because the case is dragged on for six years. Shirley Brown, Rodney Brown's mother, is 78 years old and wanted to end the case, Gerhardstein said. He said Shirley Brown and Rodney Brown's siblings met with U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko on Tuesday, which was helpful. City spokesman Dan Ball noted Wednesday that a Cuyahoga County probate judge must approve the settlement before it is final. Court filings say that the day of the encounter, officers Michael Chapman and Belal Ilain pulled Brown over for driving with his headlights off. The officers said Brown refused to provide identification and that they believed he was drunk. Brown acted belligerent and aggressively, records say. Officers said Brown resisted after the blow to the neck. Chapman shot him with a Taser several times, including with shots to the upper chest, yet Brown could not be subdued. At one point, Brown took out a knife and struck Ilain with it, officers said. When police were finally able to cuff Brown, he told the officers -- including Melendez, who later arrived on scene -- that he was having trouble breathing. Brown died of a "cardiopulmonary arrest following physical exertion during law enforcement activity," according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. His death was ruled a homicide. The case has wound its way through the legal system for the past five years. Senior U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells in 2015 ruled large parts of the Brown family's case could go to trial but dismissed other parts. A federal appeals court then revived major parts of the lawsuit, and said a jury could find Melendez liable for Browns' death. Even though Brown was resisting, the appeals court said Melendez could have known that the suspect needed medical attention. The case attracted little attention following Brown's death. An expert hired by Brown's family said that the police's repeated use of a Taser contributed to Brown's death. None of the involved officers were disciplined and no officers were re-trained on the use of Tasers. A proposed new use-of-force policy for Cleveland police -- mandated as part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department -- is expected to set new guidelines for how and when officers use Tasers when trying to subdue a suspect. Gerhardstein said he hopes the case leads the city to further refine its policies on Taser use, which includes aiming lower when one needs to be deployed. "The city for years had been allowing shots to the upper chest, and I think this case kind of highlights the danger of that," Gerhardstein said. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The text message read "May" followed by a skull emoji. May of this year is when it would have been legally permissible for 36-year-old Ronetta Smith, then a counselor at Euclid High School, to have sex with the 18-year-old boy she was flirting with via text. They didn't wait that long. On Thursday, Smith was sentenced to a year in state prison. She will be required to register as a sex offender and report to authorities every 90 days for the rest of her life. She will never work in a high school again. Prosecutors used the message in court, interpreted as "May is dead," in an attempt to show Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Brian J. Corrigan that Smith knew the gravity of what she was doing. The 18-year-old student, they argued, did not. When the school found out, he hid, skipped out on class and stayed at home. He had been prepared to graduate this May, but never walked across the stage to get his diploma. Smith was suspended Jan. 29, when the school got an anonymous tip. That message was one of hundreds Smith sent the boy, prosecutors said. Among them were references to sex, in school classrooms, her office, even the boy's house after prom. When police investigators discovered the messages in March of this year, Smith was charged with four felony counts of sexual battery and tampering with evidence. She pleaded guilty in August to sexual battery. Smith's attorney, Rufus Sims, asked the judge Thursday to consider a probation sentence for the disgraced counselor who has no prior criminal history, a masters degree and a 16-year-old daughter at home. There was little explanation for the affair, though. It was a mistake, poor judgement, negligence, Smith said. "Sorry isn't a strong enough word," she said. "But it's the only one I have." The judge reminded Smith that she was the adult, the professional, with a legal obligation to report sexual abuse of any of her students to authorities. "You were in a position of trust," Corrigan said before handing out his sentence. "When an attorney violates their trust, usually in the form of stealing money, they serve a term of incarceration." And so it was ordered that Smith be sent to prison for one year. She removed a bracelet and a ring and handed it to a member of her family as she waited for a sheriff's deputy to lead her away. Her mother cried. "Lord, forgive me," and muttered between her sobbing. If you'd like to comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comment section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four people accused of terrorizing customers and employees of a West Side bar, forcing them to the floor at gunpoint and robbing them now face a slew of felony criminal charges. A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Angela Walton, Deandre Tate, Clifton Williams III and Terrance Gates this week on 14 felony counts including aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. The four suspects are accused of coordinating the Aug. 30 armed robbery of Frenchie's Escape, a bar located at the corner of Denison Avenue and West 39th Street. Surveillance footage released by Cleveland police show two men holding up handguns, forcing bar patrons to the ground while filling their pockets with cash. Walton was arrested the day after the robbery and Tate was arrested Sept. 9. Williams and Gates remain at large and warrants have been issued for their arrest. Gates, who has previously been convicted of drug trafficking, possession, domestic violence and forgery charges, is also charged with having weapons under disability. This is not Frenchie's first brush with violence. Two men were sentenced to prison last month for fatally shooting a homeless man outside the bar in May 2015. If you'd like to comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comment section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Imagine: 1.5 million balloons released at once in the heart of Cleveland to break a world record. The idea sounded too good to pass up - especially in 1986, when Cleveland was staging a comeback as an "All-American City." Cleveland had won the award already three times in the 1980s, a decade that also saw a new rebranding effort that boasted, "New York's the Big Apple, but Cleveland's a Plum." Balloonfest '86 would top it all off. Set in Public Square, the Sept. 27, 1986, event marked the beginning of a fundraising drive for the United Way of Greater Cleveland. It also set out to grab positive national attention for the city -- all those colorful balloons over the skyline, what a sight. Despite a premature release and inclement weather, 1,429,643 balloons went off - earning the stunt a place in the 1988 Guinness Book of World Records. Ah, but nothing comes easy in Cleveland. Within hours, the spectacular sight of Terminal Tower consumed by helium-filled balloons was marred by winds and rain, which sent balloons to the ground prematurely. As they say, what goes up must come down... The balloons caused a 30-minute closure of Burke Lakefront Airport and a couple of car accidents, when drivers swerved to avoid the swarms. A Geauga County woman complained that balloons scared her Arabian horses when they descended on her property. Complaints reached as far as Canada -- where beach-goers were seen wading through balloons. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard alleged the balloons complicated their search for a lost boater on Lake Erie. The man's death resulted in a $3.2 million lawsuit filed by his wife against the United Way two years later. The suit was settled for an undisclosed sum. "The mishaps surrounding the event didn't get as much play then as they do now," says John Grabowski, Cleveland historian, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University and senior vice president of research at the Western Reserve Historical Society. "The tendency now is look at it as a disaster, but the balloon release did work." No doubt. Initial reports featured giddy, ecstatic attendees. "The volunteers were pouring in all night long and by dawn it looked like a helium mountain rising out of Public Square," reported Neil Zurcher, in a news account for WJW Channel 8. "The balloons, like a giant cloud, rose over the square, while others tumbling and danced against the buildings. The crowd loved it." No surprise: Cleveland was hungry for good news and positive recognition. "Cleveland was coming out of the 1970s, when you had people wearing 'Cleveland You Gotta Be Tough' shirts," says Grabowski. "It was a bad decade, and Cleveland was trying to change its image and make a comeback." In the 1970s, Cleveland lost 23.6 percent of its population. It became the first major American city since the Great Depression to default on its loans. Playhouse Square had a date with the wrecking ball and was slated to become a parking lot. Mob violence earned Cleveland the nickname, "Bomb City USA." And environmental studies warned that the Cuyahoga River was dead and Lake Erie was dying. The steel factories and manufacturing hubs of the city began their descent. "The '80s saw the beginnings of discussions on developing the lakefront and getting the Rock Hall," says Grabowski. "Balloonfest represented this sense that we can do it -- we can be the biggest and the best." Balloonfest wasn't the first stunt in Public Square to go awry. In 1980, former Cleveland Cavaliers owner Ted Stepien dropped softballs from the Terminal Tower to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the building. The attempt to set a record resulted in two people getting injured when they were struck by the softballs-turned-missiles. Balloonfest is also one of many attempts by Cleveland to make it to No. 1 that came with mishaps. The Drive, the notorious Browns defeat to the Broncos, came months later. Then came The Fumble, in 1988. Such events burn into the psyche of Cleveland. "Cleveland accomplished a lot of great things in the first half of the 20th century," says Grabowski. "You had Tom Johnson considered the best mayor in America, the creation of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Mall being considered the best use of public space in America." While the city's population is a far cry from its peak in 1950 - 388,072 vs. 914,808 - it continues to live in the shadows of greatness and keeps on trying to recapture it despite long odds. "The city has a lot of pride and it affects how the city sees itself," says Grabowski. "Which is what made the Cavaliers win such a special event, especially when you imagine 1.3 million out for the victory parade." Not as many people as balloons, perhaps. But there were no mishaps. "That wasn't a look-at-me moment," adds Grabowski. "We did it right." Gage County deputies arrested a woman Wednesday afternoon accused of stealing a vehicle from a Virginia home. The incident began Wednesday morning when Gage County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to an attempted theft in Virginia. The reporting party said someone entered his pickup the previous night and stole a billfold that was new and still in the box. He later found the billfold in his back yard. Inside the pickup he found a handbag that didnt belong to him or his wife, but a woman named Melissa Klassen, Gage County Court documents state. Later that morning the deputy was dispatched to a report of a vehicle stolen from Virginia. The victim of the theft said someone had stolen her 2003 Ford Escort from the backyard. Shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, dispatch was advised the vehicle was in Beatrice. Upon arrival at the address, the deputy observed Klassen exiting the drivers seat of the car and informed her the vehicle was reported stolen. Klassen allegedly said she didnt steal the vehicle, and wasnt in possession of it. While en route to the jail, Klassen allegedly told the deputy she had taken the car to get away from a crazy guy who wouldnt leave a residence. Her bond was set at $20,000 in Gage County Court Thursday. Klassens next court date is Oct. 14. It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed: Genworth Financial : "Too risky for me. Come on man, I'm a guy who likes Travelers. I'm a Travelers guy and then I'm a Chubb guy. I'm not a Genworth guy." Broadcom Ltd : "Don't sweat the program. That stock has got long term $200 written all over it. That's Hock Tan [CEO] he's the manager and I like it. This isn't Cleveland, it's more Cincinnati." Weyerhaeuser : "I like Weyerhaeuser. Honestly the stock is a bit of a mystery, it just hasn't done well enough. But I'm not going to turn my back on it. I did like the previous management a little more, but the new management should come on the show." Clovis Oncology : "People think it's going to get a takeover bid. I had Bruce Kamich look at the chart, he works at RealMoney.com at TheStreet, he said the chart shows aggressive buying. Speculative traders might be interested." Entergy Corporation : "I wouldn't trade around that. That's just a good solid yielder in New Orleans and is a great company. It's great that you made money, but to me, it's buy, buy, buy." Taser International : "Taser is a buy. I think it's terrific." Twilio : "Twilio was a buy. It was up $5 today because people think that's what you buy when the Fed says growth is low. I like Twilio ... the management was great there." watch now Worried about outliving your money in retirement? The days of receiving a company pension are gone for most, with just 20 percent of private-sector workers still covered by these defined benefit plans. That's why investing in an annuity can be an appealing strategy, since these products help provide a steady stream of income to supplement Social Security and your own retirement savings. What is an annuity? "The biggest reason people are buying these products is for lifetime income to replace a pension or replace the fact that they never had one in the first place," said Judson Forner, vice president of investment marketing for ValMark Securities. "A majority of sales is being driven around the concept of guaranteed lifetime income." Unlike those pension checks, an annuity is funded with your own money and is a contract between you and an insurance company. It works something like this: You hand over a lump sum, and the insurer doles out payments immediately this is known as an immediate annuity. If it is distributed at some time in the future, it is called a deferred annuity. These products get complex very quickly, so deciding whether to include one in your overall retirement plan is a tricky proposition and comes with its own set of drawbacks. Is an annuity right for you? First, decide if your monthly Social Security check and any retirement payments, such as required distributions from your 401(k) plan or individual retirement accounts (IRAs), will be enough to cover your bills. If not, funding an annuity may be the right move. Annuities also offer a sense of comfort, knowing that you're getting a set payment every month for life. If you need this sense of security to help you make that transition to retirement, then you may want to consider the annuity option. What kinds of annuities are there? On the most basic level, annuities come in three forms: fixed, indexed or variable. The simplest of all is called a fixed immediate annuity, where you hand over a check to the insurance company, who will divide it up and provide you with income right away. "It's exactly like a pension: You get a check in the mailbox, but you don't have any control," said Forner, a certified financial planner responsible for all annuity product lines at his firm. "They maintain and manage the assets; all you're doing is collecting." The biggest reason people are buying these products is for lifetime income to replace a pension or replace the fact that they never had one in the first place. Judson Forner vice president of investment marketing at ValMark Securities In addition to when you take the money, annuities also have dramatically different levels of investment risk, depending on the type you choose. Remember, an annuity is funded by a lump sum of your money, and what the insurance company does with your money will have an impact on the payout you see each month. As with most investments, the more risk you take, the greater potential reward. According to Forner, fixed annuities followed by indexed annuities are considered the safest because there's a small likelihood you'll lose money due to the way your money is held by the insurance company. The trade-off is that you'll earn very little interest on your money in some cases, just 1 percent a year in return for a guaranteed minimum payment for life. What are the drawbacks? India's cabinet cleared the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation on Wednesday, paving the way for signing a deal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is betting on to modernize the air force, a government source told Reuters. The acquisition is part of a $150-billion military overhaul India has launched, drawing global arms makers into one of the world's most promising markets. Under the deal, India will get 36 Rafale jets ready to go straight into service. India's fighter aircraft fleet, comprising Russian, British and French planes, is down to 33 squadrons as against the air force's requirement of 45 to counter a "two-front collusive threat" from Pakistan and China. The two countries will sign the final deal on Friday, the source, who did not wish to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media, said. Cisco Systems has spent the last several years trying to convince investors that it's truly embracing the cloud. Now it's got the seal of approval from a rather credible source: Salesforce.com . The two Bay Area companies announced plans on Thursday to develop products that combine Cisco's web-based video and audio technology with Salesforce's cloud software to make it easier for businesses to quickly fire up conversations with their customers. Rather than having to hop over to an e-mail or look up the phone number and make a call, a salesperson will be able to click a button within a client's profile and launch a text chat, video or voice conversation, powered by Cisco. "Every company that's come before and tried to do this has created a new island," said Rowan Trollope, Cisco's senior vice president who runs collaboration. By rebuilding its technology on the web, "Cisco can embed one-to-one and multiparty communications right into the workflow," he said. The partnership comes at a fortuitous time for Cisco, because it puts the networking giant on the agenda for next month's Dreamforce, Salesforce's mammoth annual customer conference in San Francisco. While Salesforce was born in the cloud and has been able to take advantage of the advancements in mobile and data analytics, Cisco's glory days were back when businesses bought their own infrastructure in Cisco's case networking gear like big switches and routers. A B-2 Stealth Bomber pulls up on the runway after landing at the Palmdale Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in Palmdale, California. Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images A top Chinese military technology company shocked physicists around the world this week when it announced it had developed a new form of radar able to detect stealth planes 100km away. The breakthrough relies on a ghostly phenomenon known as quantum entanglement, which Albert Einstein dubbed "spooky action at a distance". China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), one of the "Top 10" military industry groups controlled directly by the central government, said on Sunday that the new radar system's entangled photons had detected targets 100km away in a recent field test. That's five times the "potential range" of a laboratory prototype jointly developed by researchers from Canada, Germany, Britain and the United States last year. America's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency has reportedly funded similar research and military suppliers such as Lockheed Martin are also developing quantum radar systems for combat purposes, according to media reports, but the progress of those military projects remains unknown. watch now In a statement posted on its website on Sunday, CETC said China's first "single-photon quantum radar system" had "important military application values" because it used entangled photons to identify objects "invisible" to conventional radar systems. Nanjing University physicist Professor Ma Xiaosong, who has studied quantum radar, said he had "not seen anything like this in an open report". "The effective range reported by the international research community falls far below 100km," he said. A military radar researcher at a university in northwestern China said the actual range of the new radar could be even greater than that announced by CETC. More from the South China Morning Post : Teleportation, the next generation: Chinese and Canadian scientists closer to a quantum internet 'Handshake' shows China's quantum satellite performing even better than expected, says scientist China's hack-proof quantum satellite leap into space leads the world "The figure in declassified documents is usually a tuned-down version of the real [performance]," he said. "The announcement has gone viral [in the radar research community]." The scientists said they were shocked because, until recently, the idea of quantum radar had remained largely confined to science fiction. Quantum physics says that if you create a pair of entangled photons by splitting the original photon with a crystal, a change to one entangled photon will immediately affect its twin, regardless of the distance between them. A quantum radar, generating a large number of entangled photon pairs and shooting one twin into the air, would be capable of receiving critical information about a target, including its shape, location, speed, temperature and even the chemical composition of its paint, from returning photons. That sounds similar to a normal radar, which uses radio waves, but quantum radar would be much better at detecting stealth planes, which use special coating materials and body designs to reduce the radio waves they deflect, making them indistinguishable from the background environment. In theory, a quantum radar could detect a target's composition, heading and speed even if managed to retrieve just one returning photon. It would be able to fish out the returning photon from the background noise because the link the photon shared with its twin would facilitate identification. U.S. soldiers stand guard near a U.S. F-22 stealth fighter. Jeon Heon-Kyun | Pool | Getty Images 16-year-old Justin Yang is able to easily recognize happiness with the help of the Autism Glass Project. watch now One in 68 children in the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder and it is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early intervention and behavioral therapy are key, but the number of therapists is not keeping up with the increase in diagnosis, so many parents are waiting months for much needed help for their children. This is what motivated a team at Stanford University's Wall Lab to create a therapy device for children with autism that could be used at home. The technology, called the Autism Glass Project, uses facial recognition software and runs on Google Glass. It can read facial expressions and gives the user cues as to what emotion they are seeing. Catalin Voss, founder of the Autism Glass Project, said that typical behavioral therapy teaches children emotions by using flashcards. "But that doesn't always translate to real-life situations," he said. "Our idea was to try to build a more holistic aid that enables the user to recognize social cues when they actually need to receive those cues right then and there." Ronny Yang says the Autism Glass Project has helped her son understand emotions. Jeniece Pettitt | CNBC Google donated 35 Google Glass headsets to Stanford for the project, but because it has discontinued production of the hardware, it is not clear if the company will continue to support the project. Voss said the software could work on any augmented reality hardware. The project has been in development for two years, and has been tested on more than 100 children with autism. The group recently gave the device to 24 families for in-home trials. Ronny Yang from Saratoga, California, said she saw drastic improvements in her 16-year-old autistic son, Justin, after two months of practicing with the device. Justin would wear the device each day for short sessions where he would interact with family members face to face talking and playing games. The program runs on a smartphone, which records the sessions. When the device's camera detects an emotion such as happiness or sadness, Justin sees a color or a corresponding emoji flash on the glass display indicating which emotion he is seeing. 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." A demonstrator stares down law enforcement during protests September 21, 2016 in Charlotte, NC. Protests in Charlotte began on Tuesday in response to the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott at an apartment complex near UNC Charlotte. "We will not rest until we bring all people to justice," said Putney, who is black. Speaking on the morning after a second night of unrest in North Carolina's largest city over the killing, Putney said he has seen the video of the confrontation and it's unclear that Keith Lamont Scott was pointing a weapon at police. He said the video was still being reviewed. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told reporters on Thursday that video of the fatal police shooting of a black man will be shown to the man's family but not to the public for the time being. The protests came in the wake of Tuesday's fatal shooting of the 43-year-old Scott. His family has said he was holding a book at the time while police say the man was holding a gun. The plainclothes officer who shot Scott, Brently Vinson, is black. He has been placed on leave, as is standard procedure in such cases, The Associated Press reported. North Carolina declared a state of emergency after protests escalated Wednesday. During the demonstrations, one protester was shot by a fellow protester, according to police. Four officers were hurt during the protests with injuries that were not life-threatening, the police department tweeted on Thursday. Putney said Thursday nine civilians were also injured. The chief said officials now have several hundred additional officers to protect infrastructure and residents can expect to see an increased presence of law enforcement. At the news conference, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts asked for a full and transparent investigation and said the city is partnering with the state for additional resources. She added that the streets are safe and pledged that the city will function as normal. Roberts told ABC's "Good Morning America" that officials were considering a curfew, and she said in an interview with NPR that the timing of the video's release depends on how the investigation progresses. When asked if officials shouldn't be more transparent, she said: "The transparency would be helpful if the footage is clear and if it covers all the different parts of what happened that evening. Since I haven't seen it, I'm not certain of that and that may be the case. There were a couple of different body cameras, there was a dash camera, but as you know sometimes those can be not clear." The Associated Press contributed to this story. American beef producers are expected get access to China for the first time in 13 years, raising the possibility that the U.S. could recapture lost market share in one of the fastest-growing global markets. China shut its market to American beef producers after a case of so-called Mad Cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was detected in the U.S. in late 2003. It is understood that the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture will accept only American beef from animals under 30 months of age. "I welcome the announcement from China's Ministry of Agriculture that it has lifted its ban on U.S. beef following a recently concluded review of the U.S. supply system," said U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. "This announcement is a critical first step to restore market access for U.S. beef and beef products. We look forward to prompt engagement by the relevant authorities for further technical discussions on the specific conditions that will allow trade to resume." In 2003, China's imports of beef totaled $15 million (or 12,000 tons), including $10 million from the United States. Beef imports to the country started to explode from 2011 to 2012 as the middle class grew, and most of that business was captured by Australia, Uruguay and New Zealand. China's imports reached a record $2.3 billion in 2015, according to the USDA. The USDA forecasts that China will surpass Japan as the second-largest beef importer (after the U.S.) with imports estimated at 825,000 tons in 2016. The agency said rapidly rising demand for beef has been fueled by middle-class growth and has made China the fastest-growing beef market in the world. "This is great news for U.S. beef producers," said Kent Bacus, director of international trade for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "While these initial reports are positive, we must continue technical negotiations and undergo the process of formally approving export certificates." Overall, the U.S. exports about 14 percent of its total beef supplies. In 2015, U.S. beef exports totaled $5.8 billion to 112 countries. The Australians also have competed with the U.S. in selling beef to Japan and Korea, although higher priced Australian beef is expected to slow demand from that country next year and result in gains for American producers. Australia's prices have risen due to a reduction in the herd there following drought conditions. The Air Force Once expenses were listed under "DNC Travel Offset Account." All of Clinton's plane expenditures during the campaign, except the Air Force One flight, have been categorized as under "Travel." A Clinton aide told CNBC that the costs associated with Clinton's July 5 Air Force One flight from Washington to Charlotte , North Carolina, with President Barack Obama was included in that total. That day was the first official joint campaign event for Obama and Clinton. The Hillary Clinton campaign has disclosed in its August Federal Election Commission filings that it has paid $36,602.99 in the campaign's use of Air Force One. No specific details were disclosed with the "DNC Travel Offset Account." When asked for a breakdown of the expenses to determine the exact cost for Clinton's travel on Air Force One on July 5, the campaign declined, referring back to the total of $36,602.99 paid. As with Clinton's other charter plane expenditures in FEC reports no details on dates or destinations have been disclosed. Asked if the costs associated with the use of Air Force One and Two by Obama or Vice President Joe Biden on behalf of Clinton were included in that total, campaign spokesman Josh Schwerin said: "As is the standard practice, the campaign is covering its portion of the costs." For every hour Air Force One is in flight, it costs $206,337, according to a Freedom of Information Act letter obtained by the nonprofit Judicial Watch. "According to FEC rules, the campaign has to pay airfare that would be comparable to a private charter," said Josh Stewart, deputy communications director for the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for disclosure and open government. "But unfortunately, Air Force One is one of a kind 747 so you can't get an apples-to-apples comparison. But the price looks comparable." Chartering a Boeing 747 through PrivateFly costs $16,877 an hour. "The president, vice president and first lady each may engage in official, political and campaign-related activities, either separately or in combination," FEC deputy press officer Christian J. Hilland said during a July interview. "Official expenses are paid by the U.S. government; the costs of political activities are paid for the national party committee and campaign expenses are paid by the candidate's campaign committee and must be disclosed." The demotion of a high-profile Philippine politician for critiquing President Rodrigo Duterte has raised worries over the country's commitment to democracy as the war on drugs intensifies. On Monday, the Senate removed Leila de Lima, a former Justice Secretary, from her post as head of a committee investigating the President's extrajudicial killings. Outspoken de Lima is the leading opponent within the government of Duterte, also known as "The Punisher", frequently condemning him of using the nation-wide narcotics crackdown as an excuse to commit murder with impunity. Over 3,000 have been killed in the 11 weeks since Duterte came to power. One of the highest profile victims so far was Maria Aurora Moynihan, daughter of notorious British baron Antony Moynihan, who was found shot dead on the streets of Quezon City two weeks ago, with a sign reading 'drug pushers to celebrities, you're next.' September 21, 2016, Manila: Police forensic teams examine the body of an execution victim, whose head was wrapped in packaging tape. A cardboard sketch next to the corpse read 'Kage Lao Drug Lord of Mindanao.' Dondi Tawatao | Getty Images The Senate justified Monday's move by saying de Lima was using the committee as a vehicle for "personal political vendettas," but political strategists widely believe the President was involved as a result of events last week. In a Senate investigation led by de Lima last Thursday, hitman Edgar Matobato testified that Duterte personally gave orders to assassinate criminals, such as drug dealers and rapists, as Davao City mayor in the 1990s. Matobato also claimed Duterte himself killed a government agent and alleged that the President's eldest son and Davao's current vice mayor Paolo Duterte was a drug user. Duterte responded by accusing Matobato of lying under oath. "This was obviously very explosive testimony, so Duterte's allies moved quickly to remove her (de Lima) as head of the Senate judiciary committee," explained Mark Thompson, director of the Southeast Asia Research Centre at City University of Hong Kong. De lima was not even a real threat to Duterte, noted Bob Herrera-Lim, Southeast Asia managing director at political advisory firm Teneo Intelligence. The government has enough seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives (the two bodies that make up Congress) so its programs are unlikely to be upset, he explained. "He (the President) very likely saw that removing de Lima was politically expedient." Duterte has so far rejected the claims, stating that he doesn't intervene with other government branches, according to local news. But it's no secret that the 71-year old is sensitive to criticism. During a speech on Tuesday, he lashed out against the European Union (EU) by saying "f--k you" and performing the one-finger gesture after the bloc condemned the extrajudicial killings. Recent weeks have also seen the President curse U.S. President Obama and the United Nations. Duterte also launched an aggressive smear campaign against de Lima before her demotion on Monday, accusing her of sexual escapades, links to drug lords and bribery, local media reported. On Tuesday, several witnesses including a convicted felon and former prison officials told Congress that they had regularly bribed de Lima, who denied the allegations. More political suppression to come Despite mounting pressure from the international communityHuman Rights Watch called de Lima's ousting a "craven attempt to derail accountability for the appalling death toll from the abusive war on drugs"Duterte is likely to continue silencing the opposition, analysts said. "He has a hyper majority in Congress and will continue to use this to limit criticism... It is possible Duterte may make moves toward creating a more authoritarian regime in the near future," said Thompson. A day after Matobato took the witness stand, Duterte announced a list of about 1,000 "narco-politicans" and government officials, including mayors, governors and judges, with suspected drug links. "This new list will simply justify his argument that he needs an extension for his anti-drug campaign. His vow to crush illegal drugs and criminality within first six months of his presidency might be extended for another several months," said Phidel Vineles, a senior analyst at the Center for Multilateralism Studies, Nanyang Technological University. Another alarming factor is the total lack of transparency in his campaign, including the source of these allegations, Vineles added. "Due process and the rule of law must be upheld for Duterte's anti-drug campaign so that the country's institutions will not be enfeebled." watch now Consequences RYOT co-founder Bryn Mooser talks with staff about a new virtual reality production at their offices in Los Angeles on August 18, 2015. Mark Ralston | AFP | Getty Images While major news organizations consolidate their resources, RYOT is in the midst of a growth spurt. In the past year, the production studio, which focuses on newsgathering and reporting in virtual reality and 360-degree video, has secured an Oscar nomination (for Best Documentary Short) and been acquired by The Huffington Post for between $10 million and $15 million, making it part of Verizon 's collection of media companies (which also includes AOL and Yahoo). To date, it has made more than 200 VR films that have been watched millions of times, and it has grown its staff from eight people to more than 40, with more expansion on the way. Co-founder and CEO Bryn Mooser has helped steer RYOT from its start in 2012. He sat down with CNBC.com to discuss the company's growth, the importance of virtual reality in the news business and offer his thoughts on necessary qualities for today's entrepreneurs. (Mooser's comments have been edited and condensed.) When did you come up with the idea for RYOT? I started as a humanitarian aid worker. After the Haitian earthquake, I moved there. And it was there that I saw an opportunity to create a media company with a purpose at its core. We launched in 2012 with this simple mission to give people an interactive news experience. Three or four years ago a friend showed me a virtual reality camera. The day after he showed it to me, the earthquake in Nepal happened. My friend took the camera, and we figured out how to stitch the footage together, put it in a headset and show it to people. They wept because they were standing in the rubble of Katmandu. People wanted to line up around the block to see it, and they were transformed by it. From that moment, we bought a bunch of cameras and gave them to our employees around the world and had them start shooting. What advantages do you gain from being part of Verizon's growing media empire? Verizon has an extraordinary tech team, who I think are best in class. Together with them we launched a 360 [-degree video] player that you can embed in all articles. It's mobile first. We've got this support that's extraordinary. And when you add in the reach of AOL, Yahoo , The Huffington Post, it was a no-brainer to become a part of this team. How is RYOT reimaging journalism and disrupting the news business? What does VR add to the story? 360 video and virtual reality is just the first phase. The real disruption and real change will come next year when you start to see the experience become fully immersive. You've got an opportunity to transport people to where news is happening. There are really exciting things coming when you combine live streaming and light field capture (which means you have depth to what you're looking at). We've built something with Verizon that uses eye tracking and Apple Pay. So if you're looking at, say, the aftermath of an earthquake, you can look at a box on the screen and make a donation directly out of Apple Pay. How influential do you think VR will be in newsgathering in the years to come? VR is part of a suite of things that are happening about how stories are told and interacted with. We're moving into a near future where people have their phones and have more opportunities than ever to watch content. When you start thinking about what you're going to do on your self-driving Uber or on the Hyperloop, you realize you're going to be watching things and learning. What projects are you working on now? We're also launching a virtual reality news show that I'm real excited about. That's going to start in late October. We're also continuing to pursue breaking news in virtual reality. Right now we're putting out about three 360 videos in a week. In the next month or so, that'll be about one per day. That's because of more platforms being out there and more people watching the content. As new platforms emerge, we want to be sure our content is the most watched content on them. More from iCONIC: 5 hot Boston-based start-ups Uber-like app is offering beauty on demand What Stumpf could learn from Jack Bogle Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by six points among likely voters, heading into Monday's first presidential debate, according to a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. The survey was conducted after Clinton's post-pneumonia return to campaigning. North Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency, after a second night of protests in Charlotte, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of a black man. One person was shot last night, in what police said was protester-on-protester violence. (NBC News) Responding to a question about recent violence in African American communities, Trump called for boosting "stop-and-frisk" policing. Critics of the practice say it causes racial profiling and disproportionately affects minorities. (USA Today) Ahmad Khan Rahami, accused of carrying out bombings in New York and New Jersey, had drawn federal attention five months before his father reported concerns in 2014. Meanwhile, authorities said Rahami's notebook paints a chilling picture. (NY Times & NBC News) Yahoo (YHOO) is expected to confirm this week a massive data breach, which has exposed several hundred million user accounts. The scale of the liability could be large and bring untold headaches to the new owner Verizon (VZ). (Recode) Mylan (MYL) CEO Heather Bresch and the drugmaker were accused of "disgusting" greed and getting "filthy rich" by House lawmakers at a hearing, as she sought to defend the 500 percent prices hikes of EpiPens in recent years. Billionaire Leon Cooperman and his Omega Advisors hedge fund were charged with insider trading. Cooperman and Omega Advisors plan to fight the charges. Cooperman said the SEC sought a settlement, which he called "unacceptable." (CNBC) A federal judge has ruled Wal-Mart (WMT) must face a class action lawsuit in a case involving alleged bribery at the retail giant's Mexican unit. Wal-Mart said a class action is "not appropriate," and may appeal the certification decision. (Reuters) The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative plans to dedicate $3 billion over the next decade towards preventing, caring for, and managing all diseases. Last year, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, said they're giving away most of their wealth for charitable works. (CNBC) Sick of summer, the autumnal equinox, marking the beginning of fall, arrives this morning at 10:21 a.m. ET. But don't look for a dramatic cool-down quite yet. Warm, summery temperatures are expected around much of the nation today. (USA Today) Here is a handy new use for those old coffee grounds: pulling lead out of drinking water. A group of researchers has designed a foam made from coffee grounds and silicone that can remove lead and mercury from water. Both metals are contaminants considered toxic and harmful to human health. Lead especially has been the subject of much attention in the wake of the contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan, as well as research suggesting many of the public water systems around the country may carry higher levels of lead than has been reported in the past. The team published its research earlier this week in the journal "ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering." The world produces around 6 million tons per year of spent coffee grounds, noted the new study, which conveniently have chemicals such as fatty acids, lignin, cellulose and polyphenols that absorb heavy metal ions. This makes coffee, like some other plant products, a useful tool for filtering water. In fact, previous research has demonstrated the toxin-absorbing properties of coffee grounds and other food wastes such as eggshells and watermelon rinds. However, there remains the matter of how one gets the grounds back out of the water once they have done their job. Despina Fragouli and her colleagues at the University of Genoa and the Italian Institute of Technology developed a process that combines the grounds with silicone to form a porous foam (basically a sponge) that can be dropped into water. The small filter pulled out 99 percent of lead and mercury ions in about 4 teaspoons of still water after 30 hours. In a separate test, the foam removed about 67 percent of lead in flowing water. If the invention can be produced and distributed on a large scale, it may prove a cheap and effective way to reuse food waste, while helping to alleviate another serious public health concern. Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk gestures during a press conference in New Delhi on May 4, 2016. Airbnb, a community-driven hospitality company, announced travel on the platform in India had nearly tripled in the last year, positioning it as one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Tech titan Alphabet 's investment arm helped to lead Airbnb's $850 million funding round, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. The funds raise the 8-year-old home-rental startup's value to $30 billion from $25.5 billion last year, the newspaper said. Airbnb is unlikely to go public soon, the Journal said. The deal could relieve some pressure to go public as it gives the company more money to expand. Airbnb recently made the push toward corporate business travel, with specific business-travel ready hosts. It goes back to what made Airbnb a successful company as a cheap alternative to pricey hotels during conferences in San Francisco. Read The Wall Street Journal's full report. Jim Koch, founder of Boston Beer, at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston Kelvin Ma | Bloomberg | Getty Images Long before hipsters, long before foodies, long before farmer's markets that act as auditions for Whole Foods, there was "craft." The term, which today can describe everything from cocktails to pizza, originally was applied to beer. Craft brewing traditionally involves small, independent producers who use a mix of traditional and innovative processes and ingredients to create distinctive, high-quality quaffs. But the characteristics of craft can also be applied to a company's culture, said Jim Koch, founder and CEO of The Boston Beer Company and author of the new book "Quench Your Own Thirst: Business Lessons Learned Over a Beer or Two." In the three decades it's taken him to build a company with a market cap of more than $2 billion and capture 1 percent of the U.S. beer market, Koch has been building an internal "craft culture" that mirrors processes for making the company's signature Samuel Adams Lager. Last year the company posted annual revenues of $960 million. Koch shared some of the similarities behind his approaches to product and to people. More from iCONIC: Great American craft beer bars of 2016 How millennials are building the next iconic pizza chain The simple tricks of a CEO who grew sales from zero to $2 billion 1. Innovate your way to success Innovation is a craft point of pride. Boston Beer routinely experiments with unexpected ingredients, such as powdered plums and anise. It also reinvents processes. Almost 25 years ago Boston Beer became the first brewer to age beer in spirit barrels, a now standard practice that, Koch said, "everyone thought was illegal because you couldn't commingle different types of alcohol." 2. Hire "out-of-the-box" thinkers Rebelling against his consulting background, Koch prefers "messy resumes" to what he calls "check the box" hiring. People who add the most value typically have gaps in their experience," he said. "They veered off track. They did things that might make you ask, 'Why did you do that?'" Such employees, Koch argued, keep the culture percolating with energy and curiosity. "You can't have a whole company of them," Koch said. "But without them all you'll ever do is standard things." John Bohn | The Boston Globe | Getty Images Koch's very first hiring decision was unorthodox. Looking for a partner to start Boston Beer, he surveyed his Ivy-educated colleagues at Boston Consulting Group and chose his secretary. Rhonda Kallman had no college degree, "but she was capable, resourceful, committed, energetic, driven, smart and great with people," said Koch. She was also fun. And she knew her way around a bar. For 15 years Kallman played an integral part in Boston Beer's success. She effectively launched the company's sales efforts by identifying 100 bars that should be serving Sam Adams and then, along with Koch, doggedly pursuing them. And while Koch focused on operations and brewing, it was Kallman who built Boston Beer's sales team. 3. Understand the customer experience At the core of craft, Koch said, is an intense focus on the customer experience. For example, about 10 years ago he realized beer lovers were ill-served by traditional pint glasses, which "dissipated the aroma, got warm too quickly, and did not allow the release of hop components and fermentation esters." In response, he enlisted three PhD's in sensory science to help create the optimal beer glass. Among its features: an angled lip that delivers beer to the right points on the palate, a narrower glass base and thinner walls to reduce heat from the drinker's hand, and a laser-etched site on the bottom that creates bubbles for constant aroma release. 4. Create a craft culture Koch believes that in a craft culture, employees must see themselves as craftspeople, which is not easy to do if your job involves answering phones or sweeping floors. So 15 years ago the company began distributing home-brew kits to employees and encouraging them to get creative in their kitchens. Every year hundreds of them submit the results of their experiments for judging and a winner is chosen. Then the best recipe is produced and distributed around the country in bottles with the winner's name and face on it. "We have had winners from everywhere in the company: accountants, salespeople, maintenance people," said Koch. "Rarely have actual brewers won." The contest lets everyone "recognize within themselves the spirit of a brewer and become part of the craft," Koch said. The commercial rollout is testament to leadership's trust and pride in its workforce. watch now 5. Stick to trusted fundamentals Craft brewers adhere to tradition. "You understand why people have done things a certain way for 100 years," said Koch. So in the early stages of product development, Koch a fifth-generation brewmaster set out to find the classic hops described in his family's recipe, even though he wasn't sure they were still being grown. That fidelity to the fundamentals paid off almost immediately when Samuel Adams was named Best Beer in America at the 1985 Great American Beer Festival. The company has continued to win awards at competitions and festivals some 500 this year alone. In 2014 Koch was presented with the Bavarian Order of Beer, the first non-German honoree in the award's 35-year history. Despite Donald Trump's repeated inflammatory comments, a key Mexican official said his country is prepared to negotiate if the GOP nominee wins the election. "There are many countries that are related to the U.S. economy, but very few that are so related (as) Mexico," Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said Wednesady night at a panel hosted by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. He noted that 80 percent of the country's exports go to the United States. The panel, which also featured the presidents of Chile, Colombia and Peru, focused on the future of the Pacific Alliance, a trade bloc comprising those three nations and Mexico. The four countries collectively account for more than a third of Latin America's gross domestic product and 46 percent of the region's exports. CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera moderated the discussion. When asked about what would happen if Trump were to win, Guajardo indicated that Mexico would be willing to talk. "For Mexico, we have to be out there," he said. "If we have to talk to the devil to guarantee the safety and the future of the Mexican people in Mexico and the U.S., we will talk to the devil." To watch a video of the full panel, click here. Press Release: Contact: Crystal Feldman Crystal Feldman govpress@nc.gov Raleigh, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory announced today that southeastern North Carolina has received approval to expand Foreign-Trade Zone 214, making the region more attractive to businesses looking to relocate or expand and increasing the region's competitiveness in global trade. Foreign-trade zones stimulate economic growth and development by offering companies tariff and tax relief on the storage and operation of commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign, within the zone.Governor McCrory said.By order of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone Board, the 22-county area can now offer foreign-trade zone services for companies looking to expand or relocate their business in southeastern North Carolina. The service area has been expanded to include the Counties of Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Duplin, Columbus, Bladen, Robeson (the portion east of Interstate 95), Beaufort, Pitt, Hyde, Onslow, Jones, Craven, Pamlico, Lenoir, Carteret, Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash, Wayne, Greene and Cumberland, overseen by the United States Customs and Border Protection at the Wilmington, Morehead City and Raleigh-Durham ports of entry."Simply stated, the time it takes a company to attain the benefits of foreign-trade zone status is currently measured in months," Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson said.Foreign-trade zones are sites near a U.S. Customs port of entry where foreign and domestic merchandise is considered in international trade. They promote U.S. companies' participation in trade by eliminating or reducing the costs and administrative work associated with U.S. trade laws.Foreign-trade zone 214 has been open for business since 1994 and its sites are currently supporting more than 2,500 jobs in the region. The zone's primary purpose is to work with community leaders to attract manufacturing businesses. Foreign-Trade Zone 214's impact on the region's economy has been substantial and under the new order, it can now offer a faster way for companies to attain foreign-trade zone status.In addition to reducing the processing time for companies, the order also adds three magnet sites, which include Radio Island at the Port of Morehead City, Wilmington International Airport (ILM) and Craven County Industrial Park. These sites join the current magnet sites at the Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City and at the Global TransPark. Magnet sites allow multiple companies to take advantage of a faster and more robust logistical system that is run by a third-party operator.The zone's new, more agile business model was driven by recommendations from Governor McCrory's 25 Year Vision for North Carolina: Mapping Our Future, as well as the governor's North Carolina Jobs Plan announced in 2014.You can find out more information about FTZ 214 here Heather Bresch just became the latest private-jet poster-executive. During on Wednesday over the steep rise in the price of her company's EpiPens, the Mylan CEO came under fire for flying a private jet to the capital. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., asked Bresch how she got from the company's headquarters in Pennsylvania to the capital. "Did you fly here on the private jet?" Watson Coleman asked. "I did," Bresch answered, adding that she flew from Pittsburgh with other employees and that "I know it's fortunate, and it's for efficiency and safety." Watson Coleman then said, "It is a little stunning to see that so much money could be spent on whether you're traveling around on a jet while we have this discussion here about whether Americans are being bilked for a lifesaving drug like EpiPen." EpiPens are auto-injection devices that contain epinephrine, a drug that can counteract a potentially fatal allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. The exchange bore a faint echo of the automakers in 2008, who flew to the capital on private jets while asking to be bailed out by taxpayers. The fallout from the flights rippled through the jet industry for years, as executives feared being outed in public as taking private jets while the rest of the country was suffering. Yet, the Mylan situation and the automakers are fundamentally different. Mylan wasn't bailed out by taxpayers. One could argue about Medicaid payments to Mylan, but ultimately it's a for-profit public company whose jet expenses are made public and have been disclosed and accepted by its shareholders. Still, the optics of taking a jet to a hearing in which she was cast as getting "filthy rich" at the expense of public health may not have been ideal. Corporate America saw two of its CEOs under fire this week on Capitol Hill, and management experts said Thursday their performances left a lot to be desired. Both Mylan CEO Heather Bresch and Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf were unprepared and did not show genuine contrition, said Jeff Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean for leadership studies at Yale School of Management and a CNBC contributor. Bresch was grilled Wednesday by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform over her company's decision to hike the price of lifesaving anti-allergy EpiPens by more than 500 percent in the last several years. She and her company were accused of "disgusting" greed and getting "filthy rich." On Tuesday, Stumpf was lambasted in front of the Senate Banking Committee for his company's deceptive sales practices, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren calling for a criminal probe and Stumpf's resignation. "Neither one of them showed there was any atonement, any ways to correct for these problems. It's pretty upsetting. In both cases there's a huge loss of trust public health trust and financial trust," Sonnenfeld said in an interview with CNBC's "Closing Bell." Brad Agle, a professor at Brigham Young University and author of "The Business Ethics Field Guide," said it was "unbelievable" how unprepared both CEOs were. "Really watching this was like watching Clinton-Trump. It's like a race to the bottom. You're just watching the train wreck happen as it occurred," he told "Closing Bell." Sonnenfeld said both Stumpf and Bresch were weak CEOs and "succession disasters" who had highly charismatic predecessors. However, one thing they did do was unite a very contentious Congress, he said. "Both of these CEOs managed to accomplish the near impossible," said Sonnenfeld. "They managed to unify two of the most fractious congressional bodies and one of the most ideologically charged Congresses ... in our history." CNBC's Dan Mangan contributed to this report. The outrage over Mylan 's price hikes of its lifesaving EpiPen may be mostly baked into the stock at this point, says one analyst. The pharmaceutical company has come under fire for rapidly increasing the price of its EpiPen. On Wednesday, Mylan CEO Heather Breschappeared before members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. While it's "certainly clear that there will be negative impact going forward," Elliot Wilbur, senior research analyst at Raymond James, said that the bad news "is largely priced into the equity" at this point. The stock, which traded near $42.72 on Thursday, is hovering near the low end of its 52-week range. Mylan shares last hit a 52-week intraday low of $37.59 in October. The stock's current valuation is near historical levels "from which shares have outperformed the S&P," Wilbur said. He also said a generic version of the EpiPen would lead to "essentially the entire market" converting. Wilbur said that if Teva Pharmaceuticals does get its own generic version approved, it "could probably capture 25 to 30 percent of the EpiPen market." He estimated that Teva would price its product at a 15 to 20 percent discount. Disclosure: Raymond James & Associates makes a market in shares of Mylan. watch now Investors looking at internet stocks have the best chance to profit from Netflix , said Mark Mahaney, lead internet analyst at RBC Capital Markets. "Amongst the FANG names, this is the one that's most underperformed," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday. The term FANG stocks, coined by CNBC's Jim Cramer, refers to the online powerhouses Facebook , Amazon , Netflix, and Alphabet 's Google. So far this year, shares of the streaming video company were down 17 percent as of Wednesday's close at around $95 per share. In 2016 trading, the big FANG winner has been Facebook, up 24 percent, followed by Amazon's near 17 percent advance and a 3.5 percent rise in Google-parent Alphabet. With a $130 per share one-year price target on Netflix, Mahaney said the stock has lots of runway ahead. "It could be a double in three years," he contended. "We think this thing can generate $10 in earnings [per share], GAAP earnings, by 2020. We think the market would put a 20 [price-earnings] multiple on something like this. We think it could be a $200 stock." The double in the stock would track subscriber growth, Mahaney said. "We think it's going to double to be 150 to 160 million [global] subscribers in a couple of years." But in reporting second-quarter earnings after-the-bell on July 18, Netflix issued subscriber growth numbers that were below estimates. The company said it added 1.7 million subscribers during the quarter, below its own expectations of 2.5 million. Total global paid subscribers were just under 80 million. One of the reasons for the softness, according to Netflix, was a misinterpretation of its April reminder to grandfathered-users that their two years at $7.99 per month would end in May, and go up to $9.99 per month. "We think some members perceived the news as an impending new price increase rather than the completion of two years of grandfathering," the company said in July's earnings statement. "Churn of members who were actually ungrandfathered is modest and conforms to our expectations." The stock tanked 13 percent in the following trading session, despite better-than-expected Q2 earnings of 9 cents per share and in-line revenue of $2.11 billion. Since then, Netflix has recovered about 10 percent of those losses. "If they can make sub numbers, there's a lot of upside movement in this stock. We still think they have pricing power," Mahaney said. According to RBC research, he said: "About 50 percent of all U.S. broadband households are Netflix subscribers," while "70 percent of Amazon Prime customers are Netflix subscribers as well." In addition to free shipping, Amazon Prime users, at $99 per year, get a number of other services for free, including Amazon streaming video. "The biggest push back I probably get [is] ... isn't Amazon Prime going to dislocate, dislodge, destroy Netflix," Mahaney said. "[But] I don't think Amazon is a competitive threat." Netflix is "about eight times bigger" than its closest competitor in terms of paid subscribers, he said. "The closest company would be Hulu, with about 10 million paid subscribers." As television viewing evolves over the next 10 to 15 years, Mahaney sees the big content bundles from cable and satellite TV moving to what he calls "mini-bundles" at much lower prices. "I think one of those five mini-bundles in the future will be Netflix," he said. Firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday invited U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union to investigate his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, after hurling insults at them for interfering in it. Duterte has taken aim at just about anyone critical of his 11-week-old war on drugs, in which nearly 3,000 people have been killed, according to police, who have adjusted their figure from 3,800 cited last week. He last month called the United Nations "inutile" and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from it. He gave a middle-finger gesture on Tuesday to the EU, to which he said "f--k you", twice. "I am inviting the United Nations' Ban Ki ... what's the name of that devil? ... Ban Ki-moon," Duterte said at the opening of a new power plant. "I am inviting the EU, send the best lawyers of your own, also the rapporteurs, to come to the Philippines. I will write them a letter to invite them for an investigation." He later added, without elaborating: "Investigate me ... this will not be a one-way affair". Duterte's defiance of high-profile organisations and his insults of anyone from U.S. President Barack Obama to Pope Francis has been a source of amusement for Filipinos but of concern to diplomats. Treaty ally the United States has borne the brunt of many of his tirades, with some analysts predicting Duterte would seek to diversify foreign relations beyond Washington, including by seeking better ties with erstwhile maritime foe China. He gave a hint of that in his speech, telling Chinese businessmen: "You will see me often in China". He did not elaborate, but said he planned to visit China some time this year and would press his case for it to let Filipinos fish unimpeded at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. It's not just about law enforcement. Two nights of violence this week in Charlotte, North Carolina, have been blamed on anger and frustration over the shooting death of a 43-year-old African-American man by police. But the widespread social unrest in Charlotte, as in other cities, also stems from ongoing economic inequality along racial lines. The streets were mostly quiet Thursday, after a peaceful prayer vigil Wednesday night turned into an angry march and then a night of violence in the city's normally vibrant downtown. Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy all told employees not to venture into North Carolina's largest city after Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency Wednesday night and called in the National Guard. The Justice Department also sent a community relations team to the city to help work to resolve the conflict. Protesters continued to seek a fuller explanation for what happened to Keith Lamont Scott, who police said refused officers' repeated commands to drop a gun. Residents say Scott was unarmed, holding only a book and disabled by a brain injury. The unrest took many by surprise in Charlotte, a prosperous banking capital of the South with a population of 830,000 people, about a third of whom are black. The city is also a popular destination for tourists and conventions. The thriving local economy has helped Charlotte achieve one of the fastest growth rates among large U.S. metro areas, more than double the national average. "If the fraud is not more widespread than it currently appears, I would think that in time, pessimism about the bank will peak, the share price will stabilize, and there will be no serious repercussions or consequences." From my personal experience I know that all banks, including Wells Fargo, take their roles in enforcing KYC requirements very seriously. This seems to be a rare case where Wells Fargo unintentionally dropped the ball. However, Wells Fargo has already agreed to tighten controls, fire implicated employees, and pay restitution of nearly $200 million to regulators. That will (and should) be the end of the story. At a broader level, the entire scandal raises an interesting systemic issue. Employees at banks (like at any other firms) are rewarded for meeting aggressive sales targets. In theory, what happened at Wells Fargo can happen at any other firm. To meet sales targets employees can book fake orders which are then subsequently "cancelled by customers." This is known as earnings management via accruals manipulation. The practice is common enough that auditors, accountants, and analysts keep an eye out for it. When Wells Fargo implemented financial incentives to reward employees for meeting aggressive cross-sales targets, they were following, what are considered "best practices" across entire firms across entire industries. Is it really right to fault the CEO for following best practices? Surely, the scandal suggests we should revisit the entire issue of how to set goals for employees that rewards and encourages right behavior on their part, but hardly requires that we single out Wells Fargo. In addition, if the conventional wisdom is that it is wrong to reward frontline staff for meeting cross-sales targets, where were regulators, shareholders, and analysts who downgraded the firm till now? Any of them could have spotted the risk, objected to it, and forced a change. And by the way, if (as is the case) Wells Fargo is to stop rewarding employees for performance, what do they replace this policy with? How else are we to recognize productive employees? Note also that no amount of compliance, oversight, or regulations can guard against employees who are intent on engaging in fraudulent behavior. All of this is certainly not to say that senior management should entirely be excused. The Senate hearings suggested one way in which senior management can be held accountable is via pay clawbacks. Clawbacks, which were first enacted via the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and have since been expanded by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, make sure senior management is "on the hook" in case of misconduct. An increasing number of firms have added clawbacks to their compensation contracts. Most of these require an employee to refund pay in case of misconduct, fraud, or misrepresentation of performance metrics (that result in higher performance-based pay) and it seems the board at Wells Fargo is looking to see if the clawback agreements against Carrie Tolstedt (chief of consumer banking) and John Stumpf (CEO) should be triggered. Finally, lawmakers should investigate, but not rush to enact a new regulation which is their typical reaction after each scandal. The solution may not be additional regulations but better enforcement. We already have all the laws on the books that should allow regulators to prevent financial misconduct by banks and firms. The number of financial regulations in the U.S. is already very high and the regulatory regime in the U.S. is considered one of the strongest in the world. Additional regulations if enacted will be particularly burdensome for small banks and if anything will lead to a decline in the number of banks in the U.S. (there are already 800 fewer banks in the U.S. than in 2007). Fewer banks means less competition and implies that existing banks, such as Wells, will not fear market discipline which ultimately may in fact be the best remedy for dissuading firms from misconduct. Only if firms fear discipline from their customers and implicated employees suffer a loss of reputation (and are fired for cause) can we be sure that such cases do not happen in the future. These investments sit among other newer areas of investment, like retail, with its Detsky Mir group, the largest children's goods retailer in Russia; pharmaceuticals; agriculture, with assets including Agroholding Steppe; and the pulp and paper business, in its Segezha Group. The chief executive of Russian investment giant Sistema told CNBC that he is targeting new industries that had the potential for "double-digit growth." Sistema's CEO Mikhail Shamolin said that industries listed above were the "darlings" of the company's investment portfolio. "All of those are darlings. In terms of retail, if you take Detsky (Mir) as an example, we've had 37 percent year-on-year growth in this business. In pulp and paper, we had around 40 percent growth, in agriculture, this business did not exist two years ago and this business is going to deliver over $50 million in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and next year we're planning to double this," Shamolin said. "So those are the horses we're planning to ride in the next few years to really build up our portfolio." Sistema has also branched into private healthcare. In 2015, Sistema acquired a 25.2 percent stake in Medsi Group, Russia's largest national chain of private healthcare clinics and hospitals. With a population of around 143 million people, healthcare in Russia is certainly a potential high-growth business Speaking to CNBC from one of the company's newest hospitals in Moscow, Shamolin said growth rates in the private healthcare business would be robust. "We believe it is double-digit growth potentially and we believe that (it's possible to build) multiple billions of market capitalization in the private medical healthcare business in Russia," he said, adding that thousands of Muscovites currently went abroad for private healthcare treatment. The company says that it acts as a responsible investor that is facilitating the development of the Russian economy one that has seen a turbulent couple of years due to international sanctions imposed on the country for its annexation of Crimea and role in the pro-Russian uprising in east Ukraine. With Russia reintegrating itself into the global economic and political community, however, Shamolin beleives the worst was over for the country and that Russia's problems had been mainly down to the global oil price slump rather than sanctions. "The sanctions regime is very much overstated. If we look at issues that exist in the Russian economy I think only 5 percent are sanctions related and the rest are non-sanctions related and to do with the reduction of the price of oil and Russia was very much oil-dependent and is now restructuring itself to be less so." "Overall, at Sistema, we're contributing a 20-25 percent return to our shareholders so we can't say that we're doing badly even in the current economic circumstances." In fact, international sanctions (as well as Russia's retaliatory sanctions on foreign goods) and the ruble's subsequent depreciation against the dollar has done Sistema a favor in some ways, Shamolin noted. "As far as the Russian economy is concerned, we're actually quite confident that we have a very good growth platform because after the ruble devaluation we have a competitive advantage in most of our producing businesses with good export potential. And we have good growth potential in import substitution here in Russia, including private medical care -- because people who used to take dollars and euros abroad (for medical care), now it's twice as expensive and here we have the facilities which are on a par with any of the ones in the West." watch now Oil markets are gearing up for an informal meeting of oil cartel OPEC in Algeria next week and RBC Capital Market's respected oil expert, Helima Croft, has predicted that this time the meeting could produce some kind of deal to freeze oil output or return to a country-specific quota system. The 14-country producer group is meeting on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algiers on September 26-28 and, yet again, there are hopes among market-watchers that the producers could reach an output agreement. (2nd R-L) Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammad bin Saleh al-Sada, Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi and Venezuela's Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino attend a joint news conference following their meeting in Doha, Qatar February 16, 2016. Naseem Zeitoon | Reuters For more cynical analysts, however, the meeting will only be another talking shop where the group and its oil ministers will "talk up" the oil price, promising joint action to support prices and stabilize the market yet ultimately failing to deliver. Things have changed since Doha However, RBC's Helima Croft and her colleagues, commodity strategists Michael Tran and Christopher Louney, said in a note entitled "OPEC Watch List: The Battle of Algiers," that circumstances have changed since April, when OPEC met in Doha and failed to reach an agreement to freeze oil output largely because Iran wanted to get its production levels back to pre-sanctions levels. "Heading into the special OPEC meeting in AlgiersIn our view, the odds are in favor of the cartel opting for pragmatism and announcing a moderately constructive framework," they wrote. "Since the failed meeting in Doha, much has changed. Iran is now on the cusp of producing at pre-sanctions levels. Senior Saudi officials have seemed more supportive of bringing back market management measures; and depending on the framework, it could work for Libya and Nigeria, who each have large portion of production shut-in for security reasons." The comments by Croft and her colleagues come as oil markets have watched the various meetings of energy and oil ministers since Doha with interest. In particular, the announcement by Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC oil producer Russia this month that they would co-operate on monitoring and stabilizing oil markets was greeted with enthusiasm by markets despite being short on details. RBC's Croft and her colleagues noted that Russia and Saudi were again expected to meet in Algiers and could build on the announcement. "With OPEC and Russia set to meet on the sidelines next week, market participants will be eagerly watching to see if the increasingly cash-strapped sovereign producers will be able to reach the collective output agreement that eluded them in Doha," Croft et al wrote. "This time, we believe that the environment is more conducive to some type of deal, and if there is not enough time to iron out all the details in just a few days, the ensuing statement will strongly suggest a willingness to act at the November meeting (assuming that market conditions remain challenging)," they said. Quota action come November? Getty Images Investors are lighting up for tobacco stocks despite ongoing anti-smoking campaigns and proposed cigarette tax hikes on the ballot in four states. California's Proposition 56 would triple the tax on a pack of cigarettes and is garnering strong voter support in the latest polling. Colorado, Missouri and North Dakota also have proposed ballot measures in November to boost cigarette taxes. "Generally speaking, these are fairly manageable increases," said Cowen analyst Vivien Azer. She said there's a "very sticky nature" of demand for cigarettes, meaning smokers don't give up their habit that easily even when faced with price increases. Volume declines are slowing Cigarette use domestically has been declining over the past several decades due to unfavorable public sentiment and anti-smoking campaigns. Estimates from the federal government show roughly one out of every five adult Americans is a smoker and rates are highest among people living in the Midwest and South. Yet, cigarette volume declines have started to slow and tobacco stocks known for their generous dividends have ignited investor interest. Shares of U.S. tobacco companies Altria Group and Reynolds American are each up more than 13 percent in the past year and outshining the . And stock of the international tobacco business spun off by Altria years back, Philip Morris International , is up well over 20 percent in the last year. We are now in the surprising position where U.S. cigarette sales are growing faster than sales of food. Adam Spielman Analyst, Citi Research "The tobacco market last year did pretty well," said Adam Fleck, an analyst at Morningstar. "They have strong competitive advantages from their pricing power and market dominance." According to Euromonitor, U.S. tobacco volumes posted a 0.4 percent decrease last year but that was the lowest volume decline domestically in more than two decades. "We are now in the surprising position where U.S. cigarette sales are growing faster than sales of food," said Citi Research analyst Adam Spielman in a note earlier this month. Indeed, data from Euromonitor shows total U.S. tobacco sales last year posted a 3.6 percent increase over the prior year and reversed years of declines. By comparison, the domestic packaged food category showed anemic growth of 0.2 percent in 2015. The improving economy appears to be playing a key role in helping to boost tobacco demand. Specifically, analysts point to the improving employment situation among lower-income consumers a core tobacco customer. Also helping are hikes in the minimum wage as well as lower gas prices. Morningstar's Fleck said there's still trouble ahead for tobacco since he believes long-term growth in the U.S. will "be negative in the kind of low- to mid-single digits.That's really driven by continued health concerns and cigarette consumption specifically." In particular, the analyst said low teen smoking rates are "highly predictive of future smoking levels among adults." Government figures show smoking rates from 2011 to 2015 declined among middle and high school students. On Wednesday, Jefferies initiated coverage of all leading global tobacco companies and issued a buy rating on Reynolds American and kept a hold rating on Altria Group. "We believe this is the start of a new era with industry value drivers fundamentally more favorable than in the past," Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett said in the initiation note. "On this basis, we believe valuations can be justified and look attractive (even cheap) on an underlying number." Risk of new federal taxes However, the Jefferies analyst said "the biggest two risks to us are another large federal excise tax increase and a menthol ban. On both fronts, we see little chance of any development within the next three years." Back in 2009, President Barack Obama signed a nearly 160 percent increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes, from 39 cents per pack to $1.01 per pack. But taxes could be set to rise in the nation's most populous state. Big Tobacco is spending millions to defeat California's Proposition 56. If passed, taxes for cigarettes would rise $2 a pack, from 87 cents to $2.87. Taxes also would be extended to other tobacco products such as e-cigarettes with nicotine. The last time California raised statewide tobacco taxes was in 1999. Studies have shown that for every 10 percent increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, youth usage goes down like 7 percent and adult use like 3 to 4 percent John Schachter Spokesman, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Donald Trump Carlo Allegri | Reuters Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his promise to roll back regulations and unleash "a treasure trove of untapped energy" in the United States, but economists seriously doubt his numbers. "Producing more American energy is a central part of my plan to making America wealthy again, especially for the poorest Americans," Trump told a conference organized by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, in Pittsburgh. "It's all upside for this country. More jobs, more revenues, more wealth, higher wages, and lower energy prices," he said. "I'm going to lift the restrictions on American energy and allow this wealth to pour into our communities." The Republican presidential candidate has repeatedly claimed that he will boost economic output, create millions of new jobs and put coal miners back to work. But the windfalls Trump touts fail to take into account the real reason the coal industry is struggling, and originate from an industry-linked report whose findings rely on a forecasting model that often overstates the economic benefits of drilling, according to economists who study U.S. shale oil and gas. This is not academic research and would never see the light of day in an academic journal. Thomas Kinnaman Bucknell University Economics Department chair The Trump campaign was not immediately available for comment on Thursday, and it did not respond to a separate request for comment when CNBC first published the economists' opinions. Immigration and trade have dominated much of the policy conversation this campaign season, but the next president will take office at a crucial time for the energy industry. America's revolution in high-tech oil production has been sidetracked by and has contributed to a two-year crude price rout that has bankrupted dozens of domestic energy companies. Trump said in August that lifting restrictions on oil and gas would increase GDP by more than $127 billion, add about 500,000 jobs and increase wages by $30 billion each year over the next seven years. Those figures come from the Institute for Energy Research, a nonprofit that advocates for a free-market approach to energy. It typically casts fossil fuels as the most economic form of energy generation, promotes research that says green energy jobs are unsustainable and claims there is an "enormous volume of sensationalized, simplistic and often plain wrong information" on climate change. The IER is affiliated with the American Energy Alliance, one of a number of groups funded by a network of donors who have been marshaled to action by prominent conservatives Charles and David Koch. The brothers' Koch Industries and its subsidiaries explore for and produce oil and natural gas, market coal and operate or own 4,000 miles of oil, fuel and chemical pipelines. The Koch brothers have not endorsed Trump. The IER study does not actually attribute the gains to a lifting of restrictions, as Trump indicated, but to opening all federal lands to oil, gas and coal leasing. It is currently barred or temporarily blocked in some parts of the U.S. lower 48, the outer continental shelf, the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The problem with Trump's data To be sure, America's shale oil and gas revolution has transformed sleepy hamlets like Williston, North Dakota, into boomtowns and made millionaires of many landowners. But economists say measuring drilling's impact on GDP, wages and jobs is not as easy as Trump suggests. The IER report uses a method of forecasting called the input-output model, which is frequently used by consultants and government agencies to make projections about the effects of economic activity. But a number of economists say that model is not well-suited to predicting how more drilling will produce windfalls in other sectors, and academics are skeptical of the method because the results, or outputs, rely so heavily on the assumptions, or inputs. "This is not academic research and would never see the light of day in an academic journal. The pioneering research ... from years ago is rarely employed anymore by economists," said Thomas Kinnaman, chair of the Economics Department at Bucknell University, who reviewed the IER report for CNBC. Kinnaman said the technical assumptions used throughout the study are not "egregious," but he noted that the paper makes no attempt to weigh the environmental and social costs of opening federal lands against the benefits. Joseph R. Mason, the author of the IER study and professor of banking at Louisiana State University, acknowledged that input-output models are not published in academic journals "because economics has moved on" from the method developed by Wassily Leontief, for which he won a Nobel Prize in economics in 1973. But he said it is still a useful tool, and one that is widely utilized by the government in a wealth of economic impact studies. Further, input-output forecasts are not designed to create absolute, measurable results in the real world, Mason said. As such, they should not be compared against studies conducted after the actual activity takes place, he noted. Same assumptions, different world Peter Maniloff, assistant professor of economics at the Colorado School of Mines, said the IER study is based on a questionable assumption. "The IER report assumes that policy restrictions are the major factor holding back coal, oil, and gas production," but it has more to do with straightforward economics, he said. "Domestic oil drilling on available land has dropped by three-quarters since 2014 due to low prices." U.S. drillers have slashed capital spending and laid off tens of thousands of workers to survive an oil price collapse brought on by massive oversupply. A chief contributor was surging U.S. production over the last decade as wildcatters harnessed the power of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, a method of releasing oil and gas from shale rock by pummeling it with water, minerals and chemicals. More drilling would delay rebalance and an ultimate price recovery, keeping the pressure on beaten-down American producers. Mason counters that oil prices are expected to eventually recover, and it makes sense to lease federal lands ahead of that rebound. Coal can't compete with natural gas The IER report makes similar assumptions about coal production that discount the effects of regular economic factors, according to Maniloff. "Coal production and prices have been soft due to pressure from cheap natural gas and soft international demand," he told CNBC in an email. But IER Director of Communications Chris Warren said one cannot ignore the effect of government forces on energy. Congressional research shows oil and gas production on federal lands has lagged output on state and private property, he noted. Indeed, oil and gas drillers often complain that it takes too long to get approval to drill on federal lands and too few auctions for leases have been held. Further, the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and its carbon dioxide regulations have put pressure on coal miners, Warren said. The U.S. Energy Information Administration does ascribe part of the effect of coal-fired power plant retirements to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rules, but concurs with Maniloff that the chief culprit in reduced coal consumption is that it can't compete with cheap and abundant natural gas. Energy's spillover effects watch now The national debt would surge under a Donald Trump presidency, though not as much as originally thought, according to a new analysis. Trump's stated plans to stimulate the economy through the building of infrastructure, boosting military spending and making sharp tax cuts would increase the national IOU by $5.3 trillion, or roughly 26 times more than Hillary Clinton's plan would, according to a report Thursday from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. While that's a considerable jump, it's down from the previous estimate of an $11.5 trillion debt increase that the committee projected in June. Many economists have put the Trump debt price tag in excess of $10 trillion, but the committee said a review of more detailed proposals from the Republican nominee show less of an increase. watch now The estimate for Trump is sharply higher than the analysis of Clinton's plans, which are projected to increase the debt by $200 billion, down from the $250 billion June estimate. While Clinton is calling for aggressive new spending programs, she also is proposing offsetting hikes on estates, investments and financial institution taxes, among others. The two candidates are locked in a tight battle, with the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showing Clinton ahead by 6 points. For Trump, the committee said his new plans show less aggressive spending and tax cuts than previously. For Clinton, the committee found that she now has more ambitious revenue programs than she had before, though they could be offset by unspecified plans for business tax reform. "It's really important to focus on technologies and engineering interventions for the oil and gas sector so that our remaining use of these fossil fuel energy resources will roll out as responsibly and sustainably as possible in the years ahead," Casey Hubert, from the University of Calgary's Geomicrobiology Group, told CNBC's Sustainable Energy. At the moment, however, oil remains a key part of the world's and Alberta's energy mix. At the University of Calgary, bright minds are looking to develop ideas and technologies that will help to mitigate the environmental impact of fossil fuels. At the end of last year, the government of Alberta committed to a host of green policies. These include cutting greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired electricity to zero by 2030, and diversifying its supply mix by replacing retired coal with "at least two-thirds renewable energy sources." Alberta's oil sands may be home the world's third largest oil reserves after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, but that hasn't stopped it working to strengthen its clean energy credentials. And it is turning to microscopic bacteria for help. Microorganisms are one area of interest. They inhabit petroleum energy reserves with one type of microbe sulphate reducing bacteria. This is responsible for an issue known as reservoir souring, which Carmen Li, laboratory manager at the Geomicrobiology Group described as, "the production of H2S, or hydrogen sulphide" "This is a major problem for the oil industry ," Li went on to explain. "Not only because H2S is toxic, but it also costs the oil industry billions of dollars due to things like corrosion of the oil production infrastructure, and also due to the production of lower value petroleum because it contains higher levels of sulphur contamination." Currently, biocides - chemicals that kill off the microorganisms - are often used to deal with the problem of reservoir souring, but alternatives are emerging. "Microbiologists are quite excited about a greener technology that uses nitrate and the reason we add nitrate is to stimulate another group of bacteria called nitrate-reducing bacteria," Hubert said. "The nitrate-reducing bacteria will out-compete the sulphate reducers, and thereby take care of the souring problem, that basically prevents it from happening," he added. Microbes also have considerable potential when it comes to cleaning up the mess oil sometimes makes. "There are a wide variety of microbes that are able to degrade hydrocarbons in oil, (and) some are better at it than others," Li said. "In the event of an oil spill these microbes are able to deploy the metabolic machinery they possess in order to degrade those hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water, which are relatively harmless," she added. For Hubert, a key area of research is looking into naturally occurring microbial communities and their potential. "Our strategy is to give these communities a nudge, so if we add a little bit of fertilizer, some of these bacteria will start eating the oil at a rapid rate and clean up an oil spill more quickly," he said. "We think that this strategy is more straightforward and a lot more effective than genetic engineering or adding a superbug into the environment." Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf stepped down from the Federal Reserve Advisory Council effective Thursday, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Federal Reserve said in a statement. The announcement comes just days after Stumpf appeared before a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Wells Fargo's sales practices and the roughly 2 million accounts the bank opened without customer authorization. The CEO said on Tuesday he is "deeply sorry" for conduct that "failed to fulfill our responsibilities to our customers, our team members and the American public." Wells Fargo told CNBC that "John made a personal decision to resign as the Twelfth District's representative to the Federal Advisory Council. His top priority is leading Wells Fargo." Council members, who typically come from the commercial banking industry, meet with the Fed's board of governors four times a year to discuss economic and banking issues. Members serve one-year terms, which begin in January of each year. The Fed branch's spokesperson said that the search process for Stumpf's successor will begin soon. CNBC's Ryan Ruggiero and Jeff Cox contributed to this report. "We're probably only in the third inning. There's lots more to go here and we're only starting investigation now," said Hensarling, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee. CEO John Stumpf testified before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday and has been invited back to Capitol Hill to face the House Financial Services Committee next Thursday. The bank is under fire for its deceptive sales practices. The investigation into Wells Fargo is only just beginning, Rep. Jeb Hensarling said Thursday. Customers wait for an ATM outside of a Wells Fargo bank branch in Los Angeles. Stumpf was lambasted during his testimony Tuesday, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren calling for a criminal probe and his resignation. Stump told the panel he was sorry and said the bank is committed to fixing what went wrong. Hensarling, R-Texas, said he wasn't sure the CEO had all the answers, but noted that Stumpf now has a week to prepare before he faces the House. The House committee's investigation will also include interviewing a number of witnesses ahead of Stumpf's testimony. In addition, the panel has demanded documents from the bank and regulators, Hensarling told CNBC's "Power Lunch." "Hopefully have a more thorough, in-depth hearing and start getting some answers to the American people because theft is theft, fraud is fraud," he said. Hensarling also wants answers from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Why was the story broken by an LA Times reporter years and years ago and only now have our regulators seemingly caught it?" he said. "I don't know if they need a pat on the back or a swift kick in the backside." In fact, he accused the CFPB of stonewalling the investigation by not providing documents the committee demanded. "We have to make sure that the laws are fairly and vigorously enforced, and it appears that the federal government the OCC and the CFPB have been asleep at the switch." Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the date of the Senate Banking Committee hearing. At least 500 million user accounts have been stolen from Yahoo, the company confirmed on Thursday. The data breach is the largest from a single site in history, according to a database of other hacking incidents. In August, hackers were discovered trying to sell 200 million Yahoo accounts, which would have been the second-largest single breach. Recode reported on Thursday morning that the company was poised to confirm the compromised data, and that it was even worse than originally believed. The data, which was stolen in late 2014 by what the company called a "state-sponsored actor," may include names, emails, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords, and security questions and answers, but not financial information, according to the company. Russian hackers pulled off what seems like a much bigger haul of 1.2 billion users in 2014, but that data was stolen from hundreds of thousands of sites and combined into a single collection. Dan Heller (left), VP of new ventures for Lockheed Martins mission systems and training business, and Christopher (Charlie) Thannhaeuser, chairman and CEO of Concord Blue, in October 2014 sign a manufacturing agreement in Owego, naming Lockheed Martin the exclusive manufacturing provider of the Concord Blue reformer. (BJNN file photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin) OWEGO, N.Y. Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) on Tuesday formally opened a new bioenergy facility at its location in Owego. The system uses Concord Blue Energy, Inc.s technology that will convert waste into clean, renewable energy. Lockheed Martin in October, 2014 signed a manufacturing agreement (see adjacent file photo) with Concord Blue Energy to provide all manufacturing support for the firms reformer technology. Concord Blue specializes in transforming nearly any form of waste into a variety of clean, renewable fuels and energy. Concord Blue USA, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles. The firm also operates international offices in India and Germany. This new bioenergy technology can change the way our world addresses clean energy and waste-management challenges, Frank Armijo, VP of Lockheed Martin Energy, said in the firms news release issued Tuesday. At our bioenergy facility in Owego, were able to reduce our own energy costs while also demonstrating the groundbreaking capability of our technology to potential users. Prior to the ribbon cutting, Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated the end-to-end capability of the new system. The demonstration validated its ability to convert waste material into energy for the companys Owego operations, where it designs and builds space-flight hardware, military helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, the company said. How it works The self-sustaining system can transform waste into electricity through a process called advanced gasification. The process includes four steps. The company can collect wood waste, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and more for use as input. The Owego facility will initially use wood waste, with plans to transition to municipal, commercial, or industrial waste to create its power in the future. Once the waste is collected, the company can remove metal, glass and other materials and dry them to specification. As the process continues, Lockheed Martin will then heat and mix proprietary heat-carrier spheres with the organic waste. Once it reaches a certain temperature, the solid waste turns into gas, which then travels to a reforming vessel where the gas is turned into synthesis gas (syngas). The facility then uses the syngas to fuel a combustion engine that produces electricity. Alternatively, it can also use the syngas to produce hydrogen and biofuels. Unlike incineration, the process is oxygen-free and flame-free, which means no harmful byproducts are produced, emissions are limited and waste going to landfills is greatly reduced, Lockheed Martin said. Building off experience from the development of the Owego facility, Lockheed Martin and Concord Blue recently started construction on a bioenergy plant in Herten, Germany. The facility will convert 50,000 tons of feedstock per year into five megawatts of energy output, enough to power about 5,000 local homes and businesses. Concord Blues technology benefits the environment, fulfilling all international, Environmental Protection Agency, and European regulations for renewable energy and air emissions, the company contends. Lockheed Martin Energy is a line of business within Lockheed Martin that delivers products across the energy industry to include demand response solutions, energy efficiency, energy storage, nuclear systems, ocean-energy technologies, and bioenergy generation, the firm said. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com Onondaga County Sheriff Eugene Conway on Thursday discussed the prostitution sting that resulted in the arrest of eight men, including Kenneth Kavajecz, the former dean of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo) SYRACUSE, N.Y. The former dean of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University is among eight men facing charges following a prostitution sting. Kenneth Kavajecz, 50, of West Jefferson Street in Syracuse, was charged with a 3rd degree misdemeanor count of patronizing a prostitute, the Onondaga County Sheriffs Department confirmed in a Wednesday news release. Kavajecz allegedly agreed to pay $80 to an undercover officer posing as a prostitute for sexual acts at a Salina hotel in early March, according to his arrest paperwork posted with a story on the website of Time Warner Cable News (now called Spectrum News). Kavajecz was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 29 in the Town of Salina Court, according to the Sheriffs Department. The seven others arrested have already been arraigned in the Town of Salina Court and released. The Sheriffs Department arrested Kavajecz on Sept. 13, while the additional accused men were arrested Sept. 19. Onondaga County Sheriff Eugene Conway on Thursday gave the reason why Kavajecz was arrested first. Its well known that there was one subject who was arrested ahead of all the other ones, and Im here to tell you today that that was the result of the investigation being compromised, Onondaga County Sheriff Eugene Conway said in a news conference about the prostitution sting on Thursday morning. Conway wouldnt offer specifics on what compromised the probe. He spoke at the departments office at 407 State St. in Syracuse. Sheriffs detectives targeted complaints from the community regarding prostitution services and human trafficking during the several month long investigation, according to the department news release. [The length of time involved] is not unusual in an investigation of this nature, said Conway. The joint investigation, which also involved the New York State Police, targeted the demand for these illegal services that lead to the supply of individuals for sex trade, the sheriffs department added. We want people to know that this is a problem. We want people to know that if youre thinking about going to a website or if youre thinking about answering an ad in some way, shape, manner, [or] form that speaks with an illegal activity of prostitution, that its a crime and we want to discourage people, plain and simple, from engaging in this kind of activity, said Conway. The news conference also included comments from Erin Yeager, a specialist on sexually-exploited youth at McMahon-Ryan Child Advocacy Center in Syracuse, who said human trafficking is something that were seeing in our community. Ive had 57 cases referred to me [this year] of youth that are at risk or have disclosed being trafficked or exploited in some way, shape or form, said Yeager. Syracuse University Syracuse University released a statement on Sept. 14 indicating that Kavajecz was no longer dean of the Whitman School. The school has placed Kavajecz on administrative leave from his faculty position until further notice, Michele Wheatly, Syracuse vice chancellor and provost, said in a short news release posted that day on the universitys website. In reaction to the arrest, Kevin Quinn, senior VP for public affairs at Syracuse, released the following statement on Sept. 16. Given University policy, we are not able to discuss specifics of personnel matters. We have, however, confirmed with law enforcement that the alleged behavior did not occur on the Syracuse University campus, did not involve members of the campus community, and is unrelated to the former deans University responsibilities, said Quinn. In the Sept. 14 statement, Wheatly said that J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor and a tenured faculty member in the Whitman School, will lead the school during this time of transition. Haynie also serves as executive director of the schools Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com Two executives at Fayettevillebased COR Development Company, LLC are among nine people charged in a case involving federal corruption and fraud offenses. The charges arise from two separate but overlapping schemes involving bribery, corruption, and fraud in the award of hundreds of millions of dollars in New York State contracts and other official state actions. The accused also include Alain Kaloyeros, the president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly). SUNY has relieved Kaloyeros from his duties and has suspended him without pay, effective immediately, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. The COR executives, Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, are charged with orchestrating the payment of bribes to Joseph Percoco, the former executive deputy secretary to Gov. Cuomo, Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a news release on the website of the U.S. Department of Justice website. Bharara also discussed the charges in a noon-hour news conference in Manhattan. The schemes In the first scheme, Percoco is accused of soliciting and accepting more than $315,000 in bribes in return for taking official state action to benefit COR Development and an energy company. As part of this scheme, Aiello and Gerardi along with Peter Galbraith Kelly, Jr., an executive at the energy company, are charged with orchestrating the payment of bribes to Percoco. In return for at least $35,000 in bribe payments, Prococo allegedly helped [COR] in its dealings with the Empire State Development Corporation, helped free up millions of dollars in state funds to be paid to the company, and even got Aiellos son, who worked in the governors office, a raise, Bharara said in detailing the federal complaint during the announcement in Manhattan. In the second scheme, Aiello and Gerardi, along with Louis Ciminelli, Michael Laipple, and Kevin Schuler, who are executives at a Buffalobased development company, LPCiminelli, are charged with paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Todd Howe, a consultant who Kaloyeros had hired to help administer the states Buffalo Billion initiative and related programs. As the charges allege, in exchange for the bribe payments, Howe and Kaloyeros secretly rigged the bids on lucrative state-funded contracts to ensure that COR Development and LPCiminelli would win the contracts. All eight defendants charged in the complaint were arrested Thursday morning. Aiello and Gerardi appeared in federal court in Syracuse. Percoco, Kelly, and Kaloyeros appeared in federal court in Manhattan, Bhararas office said. In addition, Howe has already pleaded guilty in connection with his participation in both corruption schemes. Howe is cooperating with the federal government, Bhararas office said. Besides the federal charge, Kaloyeros and the owner of an Albanybased development company are facing state charges for a scheme to rig the bidding process for three multimillion-dollar contracts, the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a news release his office issued Thursday afternoon. Reaction Cuomo in his statement indicated he learned this morning of the charges filed by the U.S. Attorneys office that include a former member of his administration. If the allegations are true, I am saddened and profoundly disappointed. I hold my administration to the highest level of integrity. I have zero tolerance for abuse of the public trust from anyone. If anything, a friend should be held to an even higher standard This sort of breach, if true, should be and will be punished, said Cuomo. He also said SUNY has rightly relieved Kaloyeros from his duties and has suspended him without pay. This matter is now in the hands of the court, which is exactly where it belongs. My administration will continue to be fully cooperative in the matter as we have been since it began, Cuomo added in his statement. BJNN has also sought comment from a spokesperson for COR Development Company, who didnt respond before press time. Following Bhararas noon-time announcement, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney issued the following statement. I was surprised to hear the news about Steve Aiello and COR this morning. I have known Steve and his company to act only with integrity in the many projects that have benefited our county. I encourage the community to be patient while the process unfolds. I am reserving any further comment, said Mahoney. The allegations against certain individuals who are affiliated with or who have had relationships with Fort Schuyler Management Corporation and SUNY Poly are limited to projects in Syracuse, Buffalo, and Albany, Steven DiMeo, president of Mohawk Valley EDGE, said in a statement the organization released Thursday afternoon. The investments for the Quad C and Marcy Nanocenter site are not involved in this investigation and we remain confident that these projects will move forward. We will continue to work with NYS officials on the development of the Marcy Nanocenter project and build-out of the Quad C facility, said DiMeo. Quad-C is the computer-chip commercialization center at SUNY Polys Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Marcy. Albanybased Fort Schuyler Management Corporation (FSMC) is SUNY Poly-affiliated, private, nonprofit corporation that facilitates research and economic-development opportunities in support of New Yorks nanotechnology and semiconductor clusters, according to its website. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com Birds are the motif common to a Mexican 10-centavo coin, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 5-cent coin and No Cash Value amusement token It's not every day that one will com across foreign coins hidden within a roll intended to contain U.S. coins. Found in Rolls column from Oct. 10, 2016, weekly issue of Coin World: Almost every time I step outside my front door, I am greeted by cardinals and blue jays that will come right to me if I should call them. When the local crows hear my voice, they will also aim themselves in my direction and fly to where I am standing just to say hello. And on those days when I mow the lawn, the black vultures begin circling overhead. I admit to wondering what they are thinking as a few of them begin landing on my roof, but they are fascinating to see nonetheless! This months finds have something in common with my love of avian species, and if you guessed that birds might be the thread that binds these coins together, you would be correct! My first discovery emerged from a roll of dimes. Weighing 2.08 grams, in stainless steel and with a diameter of 17 millimeters, this Mexican 10-centavo coin prominently displays a representation of the Mexican coat of arms that includes a golden eagle. In Spanish the bird is called aguila real (royal eagle), even though In 1960, the Mexican ornithologist Martin del Campo identified the bird in a pre-Hispanic codex on which this bird is based as a northern caracara, a type of falcon. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter My next find came out of a roll of quarter dollars and is a 5-cent coin from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island country situated about seven miles off the coast of northeastern Venezuela. This piece features birds on both sides! The obverse, exhibiting the countrys coat of arms, includes representations of a scarlet ibis, a cocrico, a bird native to Tobago, and on the shield, two hummingbirds. The reverse of the coin depicts a greater bird of paradise, which was introduced from New Guinea but is now extinct in Trinidad. Minted of a bronze alloy, this coin weighs 3.31 grams and has a diameter of 21.2 millimeters. Finally, a representation of an eagle, presumably an American bald eagle, can be seen on a NO CASH VALUE amusement token that was also found in a roll of quarter dollars. The eagle and shield can be seen above two small letters (HM) standing for The Hoffman Mint, a private maker of tokens, located in Florida. So, birds, birds and more birds provided my theme for this months column, and it is safe to say that I wont have to change any old newspapers that have been placed beneath them! Please share your finds at foundinrolls@netscape.net or follow me on Twitter, @foundinrollscw. Republican Newton says AG should defend state against federal intrusions; Democrat Stein sees role as consumer protector Moderator Kelly McCullen of UNC-TV shares a lighter moment with Republican Buck Newton (left) and Democrat Josh Stein (right) at Tuesday's Hometown Debate between attorney general candidates in Asheboro. (CJ photo by Dan Way) Republican Buck Newton and Democrat Josh Stein agreed on many topics during a debate by the attorney general candidates Tuesday night, but the dueling lawyers did it in sometimes disagreeable fashion on the details.Newton said Stein was hidingand his votes to raise taxes $1 billon when Democrats controlled the General Assembly.Stein said more than 90 percent of Newton's broadcast and cable advertisements is coming from a Washington, D.C.-based Super PAC attacking him with $4 million,The two also expressed a sharp difference in interpreting the role of the attorney general in defending state laws against federal court challenges. Newton said legislation passed through a "constitutional process" represents the sentiments of the people and should be defended without hesitation, while Stein countered that the attorney general should caution legislators against enacting laws that may run afoul of the federal or state constitutions, and use discretion about defending any that get on the books.The debate, co-sponsored by the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership, Asheboro/Randolph Chamber, and others, will be broadcast at 9 tonight on UNC-TV's North Carolina Channel. The final event in the "Hometown Debates" will feature candidates for state treasurer next Tuesday in Statesville.Newton, a state senator from Wilson, portrayed Stein as an acolyte of current Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, who he said repeatedly has politicized an underperforming office at the expense of the best interests of North Carolinians. Stein, a former state senator from Wake County, said his eight years as an assistant attorney general under Cooper has prepared him to hit the ground running.Stein said during one exchange as Newton again criticized Cooper's conduct. Newton said he knows he's not running against Cooper,and proud of it.Both candidates agreed the attorney general's role is to defend state laws. But time and again Newton struck the theme that Cooper has made political decisions not to defend state laws in the courts. Stein said sometimes state laws are not defensible.Newton said Cooper failed to defend House Bill 2, the state's transgender bathroom law, and the voter ID requirement, which wereThose are the latest in a series of Cooper's inaction dating back to 2011, when he refused to defend the state in a lawsuit against Obamacare, which has since cost the state millions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and possible loss of all insurance companies participating in the federal health exchanges, Newton said.Newton said. He called itthat voter ID, approved by the U.S. Supreme Court and practiced in 28 other states, isStein countered that he would follow his oath of office to defend state laws that do not conflict with the U.S. or state constitutions. He said the voter ID ruling was issued by a panel of federal judges one level below the U.S. Supreme Court. TheyCooper, he said, had defended the law through state and federal trials for three years, butas attorney general.Newton and Stein both want the state crime lab to reduce testing backlogs to more quickly prosecute criminals.Stein said he would "fight vociferously" for more funding and resources to allow the crime lab to do its work. He said he introduced a bill in the last legislative session to increase salaries to retain forensic scientists, hire more lab technicians to share the work load, and send evidence to private labs to reduce the backlog.He said Newton was chairman of the Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Committee from 2011-14, but the committee failed to approve crime lab requests for millions of dollars.Newton said crime lab woesand is not being reduced, as Stein claimed.for salaries, and to outsource evidence for processing at the state and county district attorney levels.His goal isand to create regional crime labs to test evidence more rapidly.Both candidates said more training is needed to avoid unnecessary conflicts and to reduce tension between African-American communities and police, while ensuring law enforcement can do its job effectively.even as they're being gunned down in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and across the country, Newton said."We all want safe communities," Stein said. Law enforcement officers get paid to run into life-threatening danger, and society needs to recognize that, he said. But "like any profession there are bad actors" who must be dealt with. He said ensuring police departments reflect their community demographics and requiring the use of body cameras would help reduce tensions.Both candidates support the death penalty. Newton said he helped to pass legislation updating protocols on how to obtain drugs for lethal injection and the process for carrying out executions. He said he also helped to repeal the state's Racial Justice Act, which stymied justice by allowing use of highly questionable race statistics in death penalty appeals.Stein said he supports the state Actual Innocence Commission, which has investigated cases that proved a handful of people in prison and on death row were wrongly convicted. Newton introduced legislation to abolish the commission, he said. The language was stripped out of the Regulatory Reform Act of 2014.Both candidates said multistate cooperation among attorneys general is an important way to fight for citizens. Stein said that maximizes resources to go after large pharmaceutical companies gouging consumers, telecommunications companies padding bills, satellite companies engaged in illegal marketing, and other billion-dollar national firms committing illegal acts.Newton said multistate litigation is vital to protect citizens from federal regulatory overreach, and the growth of unconstitutional presidential executive orders. He said a coalition of attorneys general led by Pat Morrisey of West Virginia "did Roy Cooper's job" in defending the Rowan County Board of Commissioners' First Amendment right to hold a prayer before meetings.Stein said it is "rich" that Newton rails against federal overreach while he "did not hesitate to tell local government here in North Carolina what it can and can't do" on discriminatory issues such as House Bill 2, which Newton championed. It has created an economic backlash, and loss of high-profile NBA, NCAA, and Atlantic Coast Conference games, Stein said.Neither candidate would back the return of the SBI to the Attorney General's Office. Stein said it was a mistake to pull an effective agency out of the AG's control and place it in the executive branch Department of Public Safety. Newton said he was instrumental in moving the beleaguered agency because "investigations were not being handled properly because of political purposes," morale was low, and professionalism was lacking.Both candidates said they would not use the attorney general seat as a stepping stone to run for governor. Stein said he wants the AG's job to do things such as crack down on violent crime, attack an opioid epidemic, and protect taxpayers from Medicaid fraud.Newton said he would complete an elected term as attorney general just as he is fulfilling his obligation to his constituents by finishing his term in the Senate, an apparent swipe at Stein, who resigned his Senate seat in March to run for attorney general.he said. In race for labor commissioner, incumbent Republican Berry urges collaboration with businesses while Democrat Meeker pushes more confrontational agenda Former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, a Democrat, says if he is elected state labor commissioner he would pursue businesses committing safety, wage, and benefit violations aggressively, filing lawsuits if he must. Republican incumbent Cherie Berry counters that adversarial relations harm the state economically when other methods are available to solve disputes.Berry said.Berry, who has been in office for 16 years, said her goal is to make North Carolina the most business-friendly state in the country in the view of federal agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor. She says outreach, education, and cooperative relationships with businesses are essential, and that she has put those pillars in place.that saves millions of dollars in worker compensation costs annually, she said.But Meeker, a Democrat who served five terms as Raleigh mayor, believes Berry has been too lenient on businesses that take advantage of employees.Meeker said.he said, and North Carolina politics need to move toeven though the Attorney General's Office provides the legal staff to do so, Meeker said.he said.and violations are reported to the Revenue Department to ensure taxes are withheld, Meeker said.Meeker also contends Berry has not audited businesses aggressively to make sure they are in compliance with wage and hour statutes.Meeker said.Meeker said, quoting U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2014.he admits.He said he would place more emphasis on workplace training and education to cut back on fatalities, accidents, and injuries.Berry said.private- and public-sector businesses have reduced injury and illness levels to an all-time low.Berry said of the state's injury rate.North Carolina has imposed some safety standards that exceed federal safety rules, she said, but at other times she successfully pushed back against what she considers excessive burdensome regulations handed down from OSHA.Berry said it can be more difficult than Meeker thinks to win lawsuits against companies violating wage and hour laws. Sometimes a company folds,or are in bankruptcy. Sometimes department lawyers say not enough evidence exists to win in court. And sometimes lawsuits are filed, and won.Berry said.where they serve the highest priority.Berry said her department is increasing workplace training and education, and has implemented a voluntary walk-through program through a Consultative Services Bureau. Companies invite Labor Department inspectors to tour their sites, and assemble a list of violations that, if fixed, will not be penalized. Promoting cooperation is preferable to legal action, she said.She said she's awarded 35,000 safety certificates in 16 years, delivering them personally to businesses. She said she drives her own car, and pays her own expenses for the "hundreds of thousands of miles" she has crisscrossed the state.Berry said she is modernizingan example being parent-friendly online approvals for youth employment certificates. McCaskill launches opioid info page U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has launched an information page on her Senate website about the opioid epidemic. The page explains why Missouri is the only state without a prescription drug monitoring program and says such a program is critical. It also includes a map and contact information of treatment centers across the state. Columbias War on Poverty: Not too early to think about Christmas Tom Campbell When you were young and got into arguments with siblings or peers the adult in the room would try to sort out the dispute. One side would inevitably claim, "He started it," to which the other would respond, "Did not. She started it." The adult would most always intervene by saying, "I don't care who started it. I'm going to end it."This is pretty much the childish melodrama surrounding HB2, only we keep waiting for the adult to intervene.HB2 is a modern-day cousin to the 1963 Speaker Ban Law, only it was conservative Democrats, not Republicans, who speedily passed this ill-conceived legislation without much deliberation or debate. Responding to a perceived threat of communists speaking on campus this law prohibited known Communist Party members, anyone suspected of being one, or even someone who had taken the Fifth Amendment from speaking on a University of North Carolina campus. The law was ultimately struck down by a federal court because of its "vagueness," but not before North Carolina got a black eye.Both HB2 and the Charlotte ordinance that preceded it were solutions in search of a problem. We've yet to see certifiable evidence that Charlotte had significant or quantifiable transgender discrimination problems. It was political pandering to a liberal support base.HB2 was an even worse response. Nobody has presented significant and quantifiable numbers showing there are safety issues resulting from transgendered individuals using bathrooms, locker rooms or showers, but lawmakers couldn't resist pandering to their conservative base, passing the bill with little consideration in a one-day session.Let us agree that our state needs an honest, civil and unheated discussion about discrimination, human rights and safety issues. But this discussion won't happen so long as the children on both sides refuse to back away from political posturing. Their gamesmanship and demagoguery might not be so bad were it not for the damage it has and continues to do to our state. We do have significant and quantifiable data proving the loss of goodwill, revenues and jobs.Where are the adults to stop this ridiculous bickering? People of goodwill have tried to broker a solution to this lingering, festering wound but each time a fix seems imminent one group or the other starts pointing fingers and blaming the other. Any possible fix immediately falls apart.Here is the message the governor, the mayor, the legislature and the Charlotte city council needs to hear: The majority of us, the pawns in this superheated rhetorical game, don't care who started it, which political faction supports which position and we don't care who makes the first move. We're losing patience with you and confidence in your ability to find a palatable solution. It appears your egos and political fortunes are more important than our wellbeing and it is looking like our only recourse is the ballot box. We are unwilling to wait months (or perhaps years) for endless court appeals because during the interim we will continue to suffer losses. Get off your moral high horses and fix this immediately.Then and only then can we have those discussions we need and find some workable solutions to protect the safety and rights of everyone. AutoZone (AP Photo/LM Otero) SHARE By The Commercial Appeal AutoZone Inc. this morning said quarterly earnings rose 6.4 percent to $426.8 million. The Memphis retailer reported sales rose 1 percent for all U.S. stores open at least one year. Revenue rose to $3.4 billion from $3.29 billion a year earlier. Earnings equaled $14.30 per share, exceeding Wall Streets forecast of $14.25. AutoZone reported its stock repurchase program was increased by $750 million. Traders favored the stock early Thursday, but the price sagged to $748.03 by the market close, down 0.4 percent off Wednesdays close. AutoZone chairman Bill Rhodes, in a statement released by the company, lauded the retailer's performance, saying milestones include $10.6 billion in annual sales and opening 156 new domestic stores and 43 abroad. "Additionally, the ongoing rollout of our inventory availability initiatives, including expanding our multi-deliveries per week to stores and opening mega hub locations, has gone very well," the statement says. "We expect to continue with these initiatives in 2017 while expanding our supply chain network with the already announced planned openings of two or three new domestic distribution centers over the next few years." Jerrica Norfleet By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal A 26-year-old woman charged with being an accessory to the murder of a nurse in 2013 on South Main had her case dismissed last week, leaving the victim's family with questions. Jerrica Norfleet initially pleaded guilty to a felony being an accessory after the fact to the murder of David Santucci and was placed on diversion in August, but that put her job in jeopardy. On Sept. 12 in Shelby County Criminal Court, her guilty plea was withdrawn and the case dismissed. "It's like it never happened for her," said her lawyer, Joseph McClusky. But for the victim's mother, Darlin Fugit, it happened. In addition to the toll taken on the family after the murder, Fugit had to end her 25-year career as a flight attendant. A requirement in her work was to be able to perform CPR, and she couldn't bear to do it. "It reminds me of David being on the pavement," she said in a recent interview. On the early morning of Aug. 12, 2013, Santucci was found lying in the street wounded in the chest. Police had received a call about shots fired at 1:48 a.m. at 275 S. Main St., between Pearl's Oyster House and the Orpheum Theatre. Norfleet testified she had been riding around with two men, Dondre Johnson and Mario Patterson. They spotted the victim walking alone. She testified against them, helping prosecutors secure two first-degree murder convictions and life sentences for the killing of Santucci. According to trial testimony, Norfleet claimed ignorance to plans of the men to commit a robbery that morning, although she took a picture of Johnson with a mask and gun. She heard talk in the car about where to find some money, but said she didn't know what it meant to hit a "lick." Before finding Santucci, the car traveled past an older couple, and Johnson said something like "let's get them," Norfleet said. It was too crowded, so they turned and Santucci was on the street, she said. Johnson jumped out of the car, he said something to the victim and the victim told him to get away, Norfleet said. Johnson replied and "the gun went off," she said. Norfleet jumped from the passenger seat into the driver's seat and started to drive away, she testified. Johnson and Patterson got in the back. "You will not convince me that you're in a car with two men that you know are gang members and one has a ski mask on and is holding a gun and you don't know what they're doing," said Valerie Elledge, a friend of Santucci's family. Norfleet, who had no criminal record, posted bond on the accessory charge and spent years without getting into trouble. She pleaded guilty August 12 to the charge, the lowest grade felony, and was placed on diversion. For diversion, if she continued staying out of trouble until August 2017, her record would be expunged. Then in September, after the issue with her job, the plea was withdrawn. A rule of criminal procedure allows for the withdrawal of a guilty plea before sentencing for "any fair and just reason." Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft said as her sentence had been deferred, he found Norfleet's change in circumstances to be a fair and just reason to withdraw her plea. "She had also stayed out of trouble for the three years the trials were pending, had a great job and was to be promoted," he said. The outcome has left Fugit with lingering questions for the Shelby County District Attorney General's office about the case. "The whole three years I have felt very intimidated, like you do not want to say anything to the prosecutors because they're representing us," Fugit said. She said she didn't want to do anything to upset the prosecutors "because we didn't want them to think, 'don't help them' because they said something about you, or interrupted you or questioned you. We didn't feel like we could even question them." "Did I have a say?" she wonders. "I didn't even know what diversion meant." She also wants to know if Norfleet knew three years ago that if she testified she would get a break. The Commercial Appeal requested to talk with Norfleet for this article through her attorney. A response was not immediately given. Assistant District Attorney Reginald Henderson said Norfleet wasn't promised anything for testifying. He also said she wasn't in on what the two men planned before Santucci was killed. "Her first thought was to get away from them," he said. "She drove off and they jumped into a moving car." Regarding the dismissal of the case, Norfleet's boss called Henderson and said she's a great employee and didn't want to take a chance in losing her. "We talk about second chances for people and if anyone deserved one I felt like it was Jerrica Norfleet in this case," Henderson said. He met with Fugit the morning of the court date when the guilty plea was withdrawn. "Our duty is to seek justice," Henderson said in an interview. "It's not to seek convictions. As a prosecutor, I feel that that's what was done in this case. We sought justice, and I believe we achieved justice. We got Mario Patterson and Dondre Johnson doing life in prison for taking the life of Ms. Fugit's son David Santucci. And we have another person who found themselves in a difficult situation and has now moved on and continued to be a productive citizen. I think that was just the right thing to do." Moving forward, Fugit said she hopes Norfleet will better herself. "I do wish her well," Fugit said. "She has a small child. I want her to be a good mom." And she remembers her own son. "He always told me, 'Mom, it's OK," Fugit said. Santucci's niece, Kayla Bartosiewicz, said she looked up to Santucci like an older brother. She remembers him playing guitar and zip-lining. "He was just so cool," she said. "All I can say is he was awesome," Elledge said. "He was just everything. He was smart, handsome, funny, very very kind, very caring." Two or three young men got up at his funeral and said he was the person that led them to God. "I went back to church that week for probably the first time in two years," Elledge said. "David's heart was for Memphis," Fugit said. "Memphis was his home." For all the tragedy in the case, family and friends are thankful for the people who helped in the aftermath. A Memphis police officer, Ashton Britton, was patrolling by himself when he found Johnson, Patterson and Norfleet in the vehicle with the murder weapon in Foote Homes. "What a brave man," Fugit said. Santucci's dog, Dundee, needed an expensive surgery, which the Sunny Meadows rescue paid for. After Santucci was shot, bystanders Sharae Robertson and Taneshia Lawrence went to Santucci's side to tend to him and stayed until an ambulance came. Robertson applied pressure to his wound. Lawrence got down beside him and comforted him. "Who runs to gunshots?" Elledge said. "They ran down there and found him." Victims' rights in Tennessee Below is an excerpt of a Tennessee statute about victims' rights: (a) All victims of crime shall, upon their request, have the right to: (1) Be fully informed orally, in writing or by video tape by the office of the district attorney general, acting through the appropriate victim-witness coordinator, of the following: (A) The various steps and procedures involved in the criminal justice system; (B) The procedure and basis for continuances in the proceedings; (C) The procedure involved in the plea-bargaining process and how to request input into the process; (D) The times, dates and locations of all pertinent stages in the proceedings following presentment or indictment by the grand jury; (E) The methods by which the victim may have input into a convicted defendants sentence, including the presentence report and the sentencing hearing; (F) The stages in the appellate process and how to obtain information concerning appellate action that has an effect on the defendants conviction or sentence and the date a defendants sentence becomes final; (G) How to obtain pertinent information relating to the possible release of an appropriate inmate, including notification of any department of correction decision permitting the inmates release into the community or any scheduled hearing by the board of parole concerning the inmates parole or application for executive clemency; (H) The methods by which the victim may obtain restitution directly from the defendant and information about obtaining assistance in obtaining restitution; and (I) The methods by which the victim may obtain a monetary award or other benefits from the criminal injuries compensation fund and information about obtaining assistance in securing the award or benefits; (2) Whenever possible, be advised and informed of plea bargaining discussions and agreements prior to the entry of any plea agreement where the victim is a victim of violent crime involving death of a family member or serious bodily injury, speak at parole hearings, submit a victim impact statement to the courts and the board of parole and give impact testimony at court sentencing hearings; This town of Collierville planning map shows the proposed expansion of a Chrysler dealership near Byhalia Road. SHARE By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal Plans for a McDonald's restaurant and other commercial developments will be back on the public agenda Monday as Collierville's Board of Mayor and Aldermen reviews a slate of proposed projects. The new McDonald's would be built near Byhalia Road on the north side of Poplar, just west of an existing Walgreens. An existing McDonald's nearby would be vacated and put up for sale. Collierville's Planning Commission earlier this month approved the concept by a 7-2 vote after those proposing the McDonald's made adjustments to address traffic concerns, according to a report prepared by town Project Planner R. Scott Henninger. The McDonald's would be required to restripe lanes on a stretch of Poplar Avenue from two to three, the report said. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have to decide whether to make McDonald's cover the cost, estimated at $7,000 plus $25,000 more for resurfacing one lane that has deteriorated, according to Henninger's report. The board also will consider a proposal for a new shop by Discount Tire Company near the intersection of West Poplar Avenue and U.S. 72. The proposed new site is next to an existing tire shop, South Tire. Also on the agenda is a plan that calls for converting a small parcel of vacant land behind the existing Collierville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership on Byhalia Road into additional parking space. That plan won approval from the Planning Commission earlier this month. Additionally, the board will review a proposal for a two-story office building on Houston Levee Road near the intersection with Poplar. September 22, 2016 Chaplain David Ard, with the FBI Jackson, Miss., office, pauses after reading Psalm 90:9-10 during a wreath-laying ceremony honoring W.H. Drane Lester at Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville, Mississippi, Thursday. Lester coined the FBI motto: "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity." Lester practiced law in Memphis before joining the FBI during the era of Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE September 22, 2016 People stand in front of a wreath during a ceremony honoring W.H. Drane Lester at Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville, Mississippi Thursday. Lester coined the FBI motto: "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity." Lester practiced law in Memphis before joining the FBI during the era of Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) Related Coverage Crossing the Line: Some long-delayed recognition By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal BATESVILLE, Miss. A prominent yet little known local connection to FBI history finally got its due Thursday in a North Mississippi cemetery. Agents present and past gathered in Batesville's Magnolia Cemetery to pay homage to W.H. Drane Lester, a Batesville native and one-time Memphis lawyer who during his brief life left an indelible mark on the agency in the era of John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. "It's amazing what he did in a short time," FBI Chaplain David Ard mused as he recounted the life of Lester, who though only 42 when he died in 1941 had already earned the accolades of legendary FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover for serving as the public face of the agency during turbulent times and for coining the still-used agency motto: "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity." A granite marker noting Lester's contributions, accompanied by a wreath, was unveiled during a ceremony Thursday at his gravesite in the cemetery's Lester family plot. Lester lies alongside his mother, whom he retired to care for just months before his June 1941 death in a head-on car accident near Elizabethtown, Kentucky, while traveling from Batesville to Cincinnati for a speaking engagement. "He was the face of the FBI across the country during a very difficult time in our agency's history," Ed Worthington, retired Special Agent in Charge of Mississippi's FBI office in Jackson, said during remarks. Worthington recounted a life filled with accomplishments by a local boy who graduated as valedictorian of Batesville High School in 1917 and from the University of Mississippi in 1921. After adding a Master's degree from Ole Miss in 1922, Lester traveled from Oxford, Mississippi, to Oxford, England, as a Rhodes Scholar. Lester later practiced law in Memphis, partnering in a law firm in 1929, before joining the FBI as an agent in 1932. "He was recognized for his ability to improve agent training," Worthington said. "He was soon writing memos to Hoover, suggesting ways to improve training, and he became supervisor of the training division. "In 1936, he was selected by Hoover to do 'important public relations' speeches across the country. Until 1940, he probably gave thousands of speeches." In 1935, the year before Hoover hand-pickedLester, Congress changed the agency's name from the Bureau of Investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Two months later, Worthington's research shows, Lester recommended to Hoover that agents be referred to as "FBI agents" rather than "G Men" or "justice agents." That same memo also suggested the motto. After Lester resigned from the agency in 1940, Hoover sent him a box now tucked away in the Ole Miss library containing what is believed to be the first prototype of the FBI seal, inscribed by Hoover with his thanks for Lester's contributions and the motto. George Lester, a second cousin, represented the family at Thursday's ceremony. Lester, 72, was a young child when his famous relative died, so he knows of Lester's deeds only through family stories. It was never talked about a lot in the family, said Lester, who lives in Madison, Mississippi, but he's honored to know the service his relative performed to the country. The impact of Lester's storied but brief FBI career also isn't lost on today's Bureau. "The motto he came up with, we're still using today," Brett Carr, public affairs specialist for the Jackson FBI office, said. "This motto is what we were founded on, and so what an honor it is for Mississippians to know that such a big part of what we are was from right here in Mississippi." American vote buttons illustration SHARE By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal Germantown school board candidates will address the public at a 6 p.m. forum Thursday at Germantown City Hall. The forum is sponsored by Leadership Germantown Alumni Association, the same organization that held a forum for candidates for alderman earlier this week. Three of Germantown's school board seats are contested on the Nov. 8 municipal ballot. Position 1 incumbent Linda Fisher faces a challenge from Laura Meanwell. Position 3 incumbent Natalie Williams is challenged by Suzanne Jones. And Amy Eoff and Mindy Fischer are competing for the vacant Position 5 seat. Press Release: Brandy Holliday Contact: Attila Nemecz Attila Nemecz (252)-940-6387 WASHINGTON, NC Brandy Holliday wants children who are victims of abuse to know that there is a way forward.said Holliday. She is a human services technology student at Beaufort County Community College, and her passion for the work she wants to do spills over into other parts of her academic life. Holliday is also a BCCC ambassador, the historian for the Student Government Association, a volunteer with TRIO and a scholarship recipient.Holliday, 34, attended North Pitt High School and received a GED from BCCC in 2013. That was the year she got focused. She had been taking classes on and off at Pitt Community College, but started working on her Associate in Arts in 2014. She will graduate next May. The people who have suffered from child abuse she has met throughout her life are who inspire her to push forward.she said. Her plan is to work for child protective services. Removing a child from a hostile environment is not always easy.she said.Holliday is the right person for the job. Not only does she have a visceral connection to her career field, she is an engaged member of the BCCC community. Ambassadors are selected after interviews with candidates. A BCCC ambassador represents the best that the college has to offer, speaking at events and helping with community events.She also volunteers with TRIO, a program that helps first-generation college students to excel. Students who are the first in their families to attend college often have a harder time as they lack the resources that other students take for granted. The program offers laptops, tutoring and cultural experiences to help students stay in college.As an active member of the Student Government Association at BCCC, she helps put on social and academic activities for students. Holliday is a recipient of the James Franklin & Hannah Roberson Bagwell Endowment Scholarship. She has thrived during her time at BCCC.she said. She listed Judith Meyers, Amanda Bright, and Ann Barnes as instructors who have helped her to succeed, along with student support staff like Sandra Hunter and Tashawna Scott.she said.Holliday sometimes second guesses her future profession. She asks herself, "Is this the profession I want to do? No child wants to be taken from their parents." She knows her work will help children and their families heal. Her dedication and commitment to excellence mean that Beaufort County will be a happier and safer place for children to grow up. July 18, 2018 - A wreath outside of Room 306 marks the spot where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968. The motel now houses the National Civil Rights Museum, which will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE During the days of segregation, the Lorraine Motel was a haven for African-American travelers who were prevented from staying in hotels and motels patronized by whites. During the 1968 sanitation strike, the Lorraine served as a headquarters of sorts for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights and organized labor strategists who came to Memphis to help the strikers. As the strike continued, King was fatally wounded by an assassin's bullet as he stood on the motel's balcony on April 4, 1968. King's murder reverberated around the world, shrouding the Lorraine and Memphis in racial-injustice-and-inequality infamy. But the Lorraine, thanks to some visionary thinkers, has emerged from a place of shame to a beacon for the future and a reminder of our past. The Lorraine is part of the National Civil Rights Museum, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Museum President Terri Lee Freeman, in a story in The Commercial Appeal Sunday, summed up the museum's role succinctly, telling reporter John Beifuss: "What it (the museum) should do, frankly, is light a fire under us that tells us we can't get complacent. The museum provides the story for us to see how injustice can occur, how people can work through that injustice, how victories can be won but also how easily those victories can be lost," especially in what she called "these scary and perilous times," when gun violence, angry political rhetoric and other attacks on racial, religious, gender and sexual-identity civil rights have seemed almost ubiquitous. The museum, dedicated on July 4, 1991, has enhanced the delivery of that message with a $28 million renovation that modernized the exhibits, making them more interactive and "tactile," and less like "reading a book on the wall," said Freeman's predecessor, Beverly Robertson, the museum's president for nearly 17 years. As the museum prepares to present its 25th Annual Freedom Awards on Oct. 20 for outstanding contributions to civil and human rights, this is a good time to laud Robertson for her steady and visionary leadership as president; the late Chuck Scruggs, the late Circuit Court Judge D'Army Bailey, the late A.W. Willis Jr., a state legislator and developer, and the late Jesse H. Turner of Tri-State Bank, among others, for their vision that the motel could be transformed into a place of learning. Also, AutoZone founder J.R. "Pitt" Hyde, who has been on the museum's board for its entire history, deserves praise for his long service. His company was the first to contribute significant private funds to the cause. The Hyde Family Foundation, in addition, has been a major sponsor of the museum's Freedom Awards. There are, of course, others who have played a significant role, including museum board members, in making the museum a success. Great museums are in a near state of perpetual evolution, as their boards of directors and administrative staffs think of ways to keep exhibits fresh and relevant, along with ways to bring in temporary exhibits or events that enhance the museum's mission. The National Civil Rights Museum's board and administrative staff have been able to do that. Memphis and the nation are better because of that success. SHARE By Marc Thiessen Hillary Clinton tells us she is recovering from a mild case of pneumonia, but less than half of American voters believe her belated explanation of why she appeared to faint leaving a 9/11 commemoration. If she wants to understand why, she can find the answer in a children's poem. In his 1907 classic, "Matilda Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death," Hilaire Belloc tells the story of a young girl who "told such Dreadful Lies, It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes." One day Matilda calls in a false alarm to London's fire brigade, and as punishment is left home alone while her aunt goes to the theater: That Night a Fire did break out You should have heard Matilda Shout! You should have heard her Scream and Bawl, And throw the window up and call To People passing in the Street . . . but all in vain! For every time She shouted "Fire!" They only answered "Little Liar!" And therefore when her Aunt returned, Matilda, and the House, were Burned. Today, it is the American people who have been burned, time and again, by Hillary Clinton's dreadful lies. Let's review just a few examples of her serial dishonesty. She lied repeatedly about her emails. She lied when she said she had "turned over everything I was obligated to turn over" (FBI Director James Comey said the FBI "discovered several thousand work-related e-mails that were not among the group of 30,000 e-mails returned by Secretary Clinton to state in 2014"). She lied when she said there was "no classified material" in her private emails . . . that there was nothing "classified at the time" . . . and that there was nothing "marked classified" in her private emails all of which the FBI director said were untrue. And, to top it all off, she lied about her lies, declaring on national television that "Director Comey said my answers were truthful, and what I've said is consistent with what I have told the American people" a claim the Washington Post's Fact Checker gave "Four Pinocchios." Clinton lied to the American people about Benghazi. At 10:08 p.m. the night of the attack, she issued a statement that blamed the attack on "inflammatory material posted on the Internet" with no mention of terrorism or al-Qaida. But an hour later, at 11:12 p.m. she emailed her daughter, Chelsea: "Two of our officers were killed in Benghazi by an Al Queda-like [sic] group." The next day in a phone call with the Egyptian prime minister, Clinton said: "We know the attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. It was a planned attack, not a protest." Yet two days later, as she welcomed the caskets of the fallen in Dover, Delaware, she blamed that attack on "an awful Internet video that we had nothing to do with." She lied about a trip she made to Bosnia, claiming that she and her team arrived "under sniper fire," skipped the arrival ceremony and "just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base." In fact, a video shows her being greeted on the tarmac by Bosnian officials and an 8-year-old Muslim girl, Emina Bicakcic, who read a poem in English and told Clinton, "There is peace now." She lied about her family history. In 2015, she said she could relate to illegal immigrants because "all my grandparents" immigrated to the United States. When BuzzFeed's Andrew Kaczynski pointed out that three of Clinton's four grandparents were born in the United States, a Clinton spokesman said "her grandparents always spoke about the immigrant experience and, as a result she has always thought of them as immigrants." Her dishonesty stretches back decades. As the late, great William Safire pointed out in a 1996 New York Times column, she delivered a "blizzard of lies" as first lady about Whitewater, the firing of White House travel aides, her representation of a criminal enterprise known as the Madison S&L and how she made a 10,000 percent profit in 1979 commodity trading simply by studying the Wall Street Journal. Even back then, Safire concluded, Clinton was "a congenital liar." Today, the American people agree. A recent NBC News poll found that just 11 percent of Americans say Clinton is honest and trustworthy. To put that in perspective, 14 percent of American voters believe in Bigfoot. In other words, more Americans believe that a large, hairy, hominoid creature inhabits the forest of North America than believe that Hillary Clinton tells the truth. So if Clinton wonders why so many believe she is lying about her health, it is because she has lied so many times, about so many things, that most Americans no longer believe a word she says even if she's telling the truth. When she opens her mouth, people look at her like Belloc's Matilda and say, "Little Liar." Marc Thiessen, a fellow with the American Enterprise Institute and former chief speechwriter to President George W. Bush, writes a weekly online column for the Washington Post. Four months ago, Google executives said the company had a new, laser focus on artificial intelligence. On Tuesday, the company launched Allo, a smart messaging app for Android and iOS platforms that uses A.I. to help users express themselves, accomplish more and find more information within their chats. The app was originally unveiled at Google's I/O developer conference in May. It's part of a new wave of A.I.-powered technologies, smart products and services that Google hopes to keeps the company ahead of its competitors. "Whether it's planning a night out or just catching up, we all rely on messaging to stay in touch with friends and loved ones," wrote Amit Fulay, a group product manager with Google, in a blog post. "But too often we have to hit pause on our conversations -- whether it's to check the status of a flight or look up that new restaurant. So we created a messaging app that helps you keep your conversation going, by providing assistance when you need it." Google Allo is the company's first messaging app that uses A.I. to learn how users like to communicate and express themselves. For instance, with a smart messaging app, if a friend sends a photo of a new car, Allo will offer several possible replies, like "Great car!" or "Let's go for a ride." At Google's I/O, the company also took the wraps off Assistant, a virtual assistant, as well as the Google Home device and the Duo video chat app. The Allo app also includes Assistant, and can offer suggestions such as emojis to go along with responses in a chat. Chatting with friends about the big game on Thursday night? Assistant can search for team stats, dates for upcoming games, photos of team players and other information. "This is a pivotal moment in where we are with the company," said Google CEO Sundar Pichai at Google I/O in May. "It's not just enough to give people links. We need to help them get things done in the real world. We've been laying the groundwork for this for many, many years." So will the launch of Allo mean Google is on its way to succeeding with its A.I. road map? "It's really important for Google, as the company has bet its entire future on A.I.," said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. "Their CEO Sundar Pichai said at I/O his company is no longer a mobile company, but an A.I. company. Allo needs to go really, really well. They're on stage here." Rob Enderle, an analyst with The Enderle Group, said Allo could be an advance for messaging, as well as for Google. But it also carries risks. "The competitive advantage is the A.I. engine, but the A.I. is young and, as yet, poorly trained, so like a baby on a plane, generally more annoying than beneficial at the moment," he added. "You have to start someplace." To Jeff Kagan, an independent industry analyst, Allo's combination of a messaging app with A.I. shows promise. "It creates a fertile new playground full of growth potential," he said. "With all that said, it feels very intrusive. In order for users to get the benefit of A.I., they have to give Google permission to scour their devices and uncover every contact and message and personal bits of information in their life." With both the advantages of a smart technology and the disadvantages of what some are calling an intrusive technology, it's no sure-fire winner. "This is both a blend of ultra cool and privacy busting technology," said Kagan, noting that it could still be a popular app. "Middle-aged users today remember privacy and miss it. The youth, however, were born into this world of no privacy, so they don't mind as much." A big, big thank you to Stonyfield for taking me on this incredible adventure in Vermont. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep me creative in my tiny kitchen! Today marks the first day of autumn, but my mind is still stuck on summer. More specifically, my mind is stuck on Vermont. Ive jokingly told people that Vermont is my spirit animal many times, but this trip really solidified that its no joke. Its such a beautiful, peaceful place full of friendly people, lush green mountains, and the happiest cows I ever did see. Back in August, Stonyfield invited a fabulous mix of 13 food, travel, family, and healthy living bloggers from all over the U.S. to be part of their 2016 Farm Tour. We all piled into a bus and hit up 3 working dairy farms scattered around Vermont over 2 days to learn about what goes into producing milk (and yogurt!). Ive known many of these ladies online for quite some time now, so it was great to put faces with names/blogs. From left to right: Ann Fulton Fountain Avenue Kitchen, Joanna Murnan Making Mine, Jessica Morrison 30 Something Mother Runner, Lynda McMillen Me and My Pink Mixer, Sarah Bates The Chef Next Door, Erin Huiatt Midwest Mom and Wife, Me (holding my sons toy cow more on that later!), Michelle Palin My Gluten-Free Kitchen, Calley Pate Back to Calley, Dianna Muscari The Kitchen Prep, Leah Segedie Mamavation, Angela Bekkala Happy Fit Mama, and Nicky Omohundro Little Family Adventure My first order of business after arriving at the airport in Burlington (which, by the way, is the cutest ev-er) was to caffeinate! Im a big coffee drinker, and while I did have some in the morning on the way in, I needed more. And when I saw that they had lattes made with local maple syrup, I was so down. Iced maple latte in hand, I hopped in a car with a few of the other bloggers (including Dianna, who just happened to be sitting directly in front of me on the flight over, but we didnt realize until we landed!) to check out our digs for the weekend. We stayed at the breathtakingly beautiful Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vermont. Aside from the fact that I got a king size bed all to myself (pure heaven!), the grounds were just gorgeous! The courtyard totally reminded me of Alice in Wonderland (another favorite of mine), and I made sure to spend some time on the big wooden swing, soaking it all in during the little bit of downtime that we had. After we got settled, a few of us decided to take a walk to find lunch. We found a really fun place, right down the road from the hotel (and right off the Stowe Recreation Path), called The Blue Donkey. Aside from getting a kick (pun not intended, but Im gonna roll with it) out of the name, we were happy to find somewhere with outdoor seating and a menu with options everyone could enjoy. It smelled incredible as we walked up, and we couldnt wait to dive in! The food was so, so good. I ordered The Classic Blue Donkey (choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles) with sweet potato fries. I love that they showcase local, seasonal products on their menu. It was one of the juiciest, most delicious burgers Ive eaten. And Im also a fan of the sense of humor around the restaurant like the tip jar (pictured below), and the fact that their ice machine said, Ice Ice Baby. What can I say? I love a good pun. After lunch, we met up with the rest of the bloggers and our 2 Stonyfield guides/soul sisters, Liza and Mairead. We all made our way to the bus for a scenic drive out to Kimball Brook Farm in North Ferrisburgh, VT, where we were invited to attend one of their Summer Supper at the Farm events. Now this type of event is right up my alley. The farm welcomes the entire community to come for an evening of good food, live music, hay rides and more. People can come in, pay for food (either a la carte or as a meal), and enjoy being outdoors in good company. Plus they can meander around the farm property to see the cows and the dairy operation in full swing. There were so many locals there, and everyone was having a great time. And although it was my first time away from my family for more than a night, it was really nice to be surrounded by so many happy families, enjoying a beautiful summer evening on the farm. The band that was playing did some of the same songs that my husbands cover band plays, too, so it was almost like my family were there with me. Everything about the farm really made me feel at ease. Since we had a heavy lunch, I decided to go for what I dubbed a side dish sampler, choosing one of each of the side dish offerings in lieu of a main dish with sides. My sampler consisted of organic homestyle baked beans, sugar snap mac n cheese, organic salad, and corn on the cob. Being originally from Indiana, I was psyched to have such amazingly fresh, sweet corn. It was phenomenal! And the beans were meaty, sweet, and tangy. Just how I like em! But I have to say, the farms own salted butter totally stole the show. It was so good that I ate some of it right off the knife and debated pocketing the remainder of the container. It was glorious! After eating, we headed over to the milking parlor just in time to watch the cows get milked. The DeVos family purchased the farm in 1967. They started with 50 cows and in 2001, John De Vos III (JD) and his wife Cheryl took over and expanded the herd from 80 to 200. They also added a milking parlor. In 2003, the farm started the transition to organic. Kimball Brook Farm became one of the largest certified organic dairy operations in the State of Vermont. Theyve since opened a creamery that produces the butter I mentioned earlier, as well as several varieties of milk (the chocolate is heavenly!!), cream, half and half, iced teas and more. As we were heading back to the bus, we saw the cows heading back out to pasture as the sun was setting in the distance. I couldnt get over how beautiful this farm was. There was such a great sense of community and pride there that just gave me the warm fuzzies. We made a quick pit stop at the Ben & Jerrys Factory/Ice Cream Shop in Waterbury, VT on the way back. This is the mothership for all Ben & Jerrys fans, and everyone was excited to grab a scoop. I was still really full from dinner, and I had been to the factory a few years ago, so I decided to take a walk up to the Flavor Graveyard instead. I wanted to check out all the tombstones of the dearly departed ice cream flavors that the company used to produce. Moment of silence for Fossil Fuel, which was much loved in the Covelli household. The crescent moon was absolutely gorgeous over the field of solar panels that Ben & Jerrys has on their property. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful first day in Vermont! Nothing like a day full of delicious food, friendly people, good vibes, and happy cows! Stay tuned for the next installment to read about more of the dairy farms I visited in Vermont with the 2016 Stonyfield Farm Tour. I promise there will be lots of adorable cows and lush pastures to swoon over! Members of the New Hampshire Supreme Court listen to oral arguements in the Seth Mazzaglia appellate case Wednesday. GEOFF FORESTERMonitor staff Attorney Cyrus Rilee listens to a question from the New Hampshire Supreme Court during oral arguments Wednesday. GEOFF FORESTERMonitor staff Attorney Rus Rilee, representing Lizzi Marriotts family, holds a press conference outside the states Supreme Court on Wednesday. The justices are currently weighing a decision in the murder case of Seth Mazzaglia concerning the rape shield law, which has gained national attention. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff FILE - In this Thursday Aug. 14, 2014 file photo, Seth Mazzaglia looks back at his mother after being sentenced to life without parole for killing University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott, in Dover, N.H. Mazzaglia's trial and sentence was one of New Hampshire's top stories for 2014. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File) Jim Cole National attention is on the New Hampshire Supreme Court, whose five justices face an unprecedented decision one that could ultimately weaken a decades-old privacy protection for rape victims. For the first time since the adoption of the states rape shield law in 1975, the Supreme Court must consider whether it will open up the private life of a 19-year-old victim in the wake of her convicted killers appeal. A Strafford County Superior Court judge previously ruled that allegations about Lizzi Marriotts prior sexual history were irrelevant and protected under the law. But her convicted killer, Seth Mazzaglia, is challenging that decision. Mazzaglia was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2014 for strangling and raping Marriott. A few months later, Mazzaglia petitioned the states highest court to overturn his conviction, arguing the lower court erred in ruling Marriotts personal history inadmissible. The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday morning on whether the public should have access to the sealed records. The justices openly acknowledged the inherent complexities of that question, including their need to balance a rape victims privacy rights with the defendants right to a fair trial. Mazzaglias attorney, Christopher Johnson, argued that the rape shield law does not apply at the appellate level. However, Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley and attorneys for the Marriott family maintain it does, and that more than 40 years of case law is a testament to that. During a news conference following the hearing, victims rights advocates called the issue before the Supreme Court groundbreaking and one with far-reaching consequences. Every single state in the United States has a rape shield law, said Lyn Schollett, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Were the New Hampshire Supreme Court to strip away these protections on appeal, we would become the only state in the country to do this. Rape shield laws are intended to protect victims by limiting or prohibiting a defendants ability to introduce evidence or cross-examine them about their prior sexual behavior. The Supreme Court stunned victims advocates earlier this year when it adopted an administrative rule change allowing appellate justices to open records previously sealed by the lower courts. The law was applied to the Mazzaglia case retroactively. But before Marriotts records were unsealed, the justices quickly granted an emergency stay at the request of the states attorney generals office. This effectively paused the disclosure until all sides could state their case before the five justices, which they were able to do Wednesday. And for the first time, the family had a seat at the table as third-party interveners. The family is backed by 13 organizations, including the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, who filed a Supreme Court brief on its behalf in August. Representatives from those groups were in attendance Wednesday as Hinckley and an attorney for the family, Rus Rilee, argued for Marriotts records to remain sealed. Hinckley asked the justices to close the courtroom during oral arguments on the issues raised in Mazzaglias appeal. He recommended the court release redacted transcripts of the proceeding within days of the hearing to satisfy the publics access rights. Associate Justice James Bassett noted that Hinckley was asking the court to do something it has never done. And something no other appellate court in the country may have ever done, Associate Justice Robert Lynn added. When Rilee took to the lectern, Lynn said he had researched the issue, although not exhaustively, and couldnt find an example. Can you point us to any appellate court decision in the country in which in an appellate court, in a criminal case involving an adult defendant, has ever sealed an oral argument before the court? Lynn asked Rilee. He replied, Im not aware. Im sure there are cases out there. Rilee continued by saying that what distinguishes the case at hand from others is the Marriott familys constitutional privacy rights as third-party interveners. He said no law or policy supports destroying those interests simply because a defendant appealed his conviction. But the basis for Mazzaglias appeal is the omission of Marriotts sexual history, Johnson argued. He said if the court does not rule in his favor, he will be hampered by an inability to discuss the specific sexual conduct at issue. Johnson explained further that if the hearings were to take place behind closed doors, the public would never know the details of why the appeal was granted or rejected. The rape shield rule is a testimonial privilege, Johnson said. Its about the experience of having to answer questions. Nobody asks any victims any questions on appeal. The court has also said that a concern underlying the rape shield rule is that the information would be misused by juries. Theres no jury here. Hinckley disagreed, saying if that line of reasoning were true then all sealed records should be unsealed on appeal. That includes juvenile and guardianship cases, as well as grand jury matters, he said. Following the hearing, Hinckley added that there are rare circumstances when the court should exercise limited safeguards, and that includes when there is a compelling interest to protect a victims privacy. We recognize its a somewhat unique case here, he said. But, he noted, the expectation of privacy of rape victims really is no different. During Wednesdays oral arguments, justices recognized the importance of looking at the issues through the victims eyes and did so for the first time, said Meg Garvin, co-counsel for the Marriott family and executive director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute. She said this case will set a precedent nationally. If we have a criminal justice system that says the minute youre victimized everything about your prior sexual history is open for public interpretation, public smear, all of that, then we will have victims who do not come forward, Garvin said. The question before the criminal justice system, she said: Is our court system going to be open to victims and a place where they can access justice, or are we going to close the doors to that? (Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319, adandrea@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @_ADandrea.) Lorne Green is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk. Ill be honest, I didnt really know what to expect when I presented myself as a candidate in Mays Police and Crime Commissioner election in Norfolk. Sure, I had sufficient self-belief to imagine I had something to bring to the role; not just relevant experience after 30 years in diplomatic service, and 13 in private industry; more a conviction that I could offer a higher standard of public service, and a deeper commitment to engaging full-time with the community I sought to serve. I loved campaigning the doorstepping, the canvassing; I loved hearing from people in market squares about their concerns for policing and crime. Then, when at the election count on May 6th the first round votes started coming in from the various county districts, with the vote trend emerging and the independent incumbents support sinking to fourth place, I was overtaken by an emerging sense of humility and gratitude. Humility at the possibility for service to my community opening up before me, and gratitude to the electorate, to my indefatigable campaign team, the many, selfless volunteer campaign workers, and those who contributed so generously to the campaign war chest. So when I found myself in the run-off distribution of second preference votes, and it became clear we had carried the day by a great majority, I was flushed with a mix of euphoria and release that our campaign had borne fruit. So now I have been Norfolks Police and Crime Commissioner for four months. I have discovered that the opportunity for satisfaction that comes from community engagement during campaigning remains open to me. That is the part of the job I love the most the opportunity to engage with all sorts and conditions of Norfolk folk; be they the unsung heroes who volunteer in a host of community support groups for victims of crime and the vulnerable, for those who are in our prisons and ex-offenders; police volunteers whether civilian or Special Constables. I have lunched with prisoners, played scrabble with the elderly, rejoiced with the Islamic community at Eid, and joined Jews at prayer. Ive had the humbling experience of meeting victims of domestic abuse and child sexual exploitation. I have spent time with youth parliamentarians and children excluded from school. Then there are the police, with their enormous commitment to preventing and fighting crime in face of serious resource constraints. I have gone on night patrol with them on a Saturday night in Norwich, and in Great Yarmouth and in Kings Lynn. Perhaps thats been the greatest eye-opener for me how very good is our Norfolk police force. My consultations across the county preparatory to producing a Police and Crime Plan produced thousands of survey results on the publics expectations of their police. Now I begin drafting a Police and Crime Plan for the county that will balance public expectations with reasonable possibilities for the police. Its a privileged place to be. Amanda Sater will be Deputy Chairman. Anthea McIntyre MEP will be the Vice Chairman for Training. Stuart Andrew MP will be the Vice Chairman for Cities. Dominic Johnson will be the Vice Chairman for Finance. Sir Mick Davis will be Party Treasurer. Mark Field continues as Vice Chairman for International Affairs. Sater has been a Party Vice-Chairman with responsibility for women, and is very active in Women2Win, having chaired its tenth anniversary celebration. The appointment of a Vice-Chairman for Training is a new initiative. Patrick McLoughlin believes that activists would welcome training in dealing with VoteSource; canvassing; managing Association finances, and so on. It was once part of what CCO (as then was) saw it as its natural business to do. Like the Party Chairman himself, McIntyre is an experienced political hand who cut her political teeth in the Young Conservatives, and is a long-time West Midlands activist. Garvan Walshe is a former National and International Security Policy Adviser to the Conservative Party and CEO of Brexit Analytica. To arrive in Britain is to arrive in fog; but the longer you spend here the more a vague, subterranean kind of social organisation begins to assert itself, and you baffle people by not fitting into its ten thousand categories. Its at its most uncanny in gentrifying inner cities, where, like in those parts of integrated Northern Ireland or Sarajevo where the different communities lived together but everyone knew exactly who was Catholic, or Protestant, Serb or Croat, everyone knows whos working or middle class. The parents collect their children from the sure start centre together, but their children play at different parties. By justifying her proposals to end the ban on new grammar schools on grounds of social mobility, Theresa May walked straight into Britains class cold war. In this sectarian conflict of class identity she announced the Government would be changing sides. Away from the poorest of the poor, whose life chances the Cameron administration had a genuine if patrician mission to improve; and towards the group who feel most threatened by state help for the those just below them, the people who can just about manage. In doing so she stirred up opponents: the patricians, swept aside by Mays thorough recasting of the government (thorough in the Wentworth sense of the word), and the guilty middle classes who can supply by means of large mortgages private tutors an an educational culture beyond the poorer peoples reach. Mere political enemies, and a new educational establishment shaped by Michael Gove, who understands the importance of a Leninist reshaping of institutions, have joined the fray too. For them, social mobility is measured only by how far the lowest, defined as those receiving frees school meals, are raised up, not by how widely the opportunity for a stretching education is spread. As things stand, a Bill for selection will not get through Parliament. There are, it would seem, some 40 backbench Tory MPs set against it. And far from being a useful device to appease the right wing of the party, not a few Brexiteers can be counted among them. Since it was not in the manifesto, the Lords will feel free to block it as well. Failure would do serious damage to the Government. Brexit is a necessity, forced upon her by the voters; a government for those who can just about manage is her signature, and selection in education her war of choice. The consultation on academic selection wisely avoids setting up a singe target for opponents to aim at; but the Government needs to have a clear aim in mind. It should be to eliminate Labours legislative ban on grammar schools, allowing further reforms to be enacted later without more legislation. This it can achieve if it takes advantage of by dividing the opposition. People against selection on ideological or class grounds wont be bought off, but most Tory opponents, and even a few Labour ones, might be. Moderate opponents need to be reassured that the Government wont stop focusing attention to improving the substandard schools that still educate 1.25 million children in this country. Allowing academic selection shouldnt be incompatible with that; after all, the Department of Education ought to be able to do more than one thing at once. Second, the Government needs to address the brain drain arguments, of which there are two. The first, that able children bring the overall level of attainment in a school up, may be true in fact, but is monstrous, and just be rejected. Children shouldnt be used as instruments of social policy: the education system should be run for their benefit, not the other way around. The other is more subtle: because teachers prefer grammar schools, it is feared the good ones will will leave comprehensive schools. This preys on the minds of otherwise neutral Tory MPs who happen to have good comprehensive schools in their constituencies. Such schools need more flexibility to offer better pay and conditions to attract good staff: academy freedoms allow them to do so. Where new selective schools are opened, conversion to academies should be made easier or maybe automatic for the rest. This wont please traditional opponents of school reform; it will rile them further; but is surely old hat to treat teachers as a unionised industrial workforce subject to collective bargaining, rather than a profession where individual performance is rewarded. And multi-academy trusts that can deploy staff across several schools should eliminate the problem entirely. Teachers employed there can teach at selective and unselective schools in the same trust. Theresa Mays return of selection to the British education system has run into much more opposition than originally expected, but with good planning the opposition can be overcome. It need not be her poll tax: it could be the decisive defeat of antiselection ideology in British education her miners strike. Boris Johnson knows how to hold his tongue. I was reminded of this valuable but often overlooked quality in the Foreign Secretary while watching a preview of Brexit: A Very British Coup? which will be shown tonight at 9.00 p.m. on BBC Two. At the start, we see Johnson out on the campaign trail, acting as auctioneer at a cattle market in Gisburn, in Lancashire. As he leaves the ring, he is asked by Patrick Forbes, who wrote and directed the programme: Enjoying it, Boris? To this Johnson replies, with great good humour: Yuh, how could you not? And as Forbes proceeds to relate, Thats my first, and indeed last, question to Boris for quite some time. Leave spinners take umbrage at such a probing inquiry. So in this enjoyable and often illuminating documentary about the Brexit campaign we hear at frequent intervals from Gisela Stuart, Andrew Bridgen, Liam Fox, Sir Alan Duncan, Sir Nicholas Soames, Crispin Odey, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage. But Johnson is for most of the time as silent as a Trappist monk, and certainly takes no impromptu questions from journalists. He provides good pictures. What self-discipline! While giving people the impression that he is the most open, affable, talkative fellow in the world, willing to have a chat with anyone he happens to bump into on the campaign trail, he says no more than the five words quoted above to the chap making the documentary. Even under the most severe provocation, Johnson very seldom answers back, or not in any identifiable way. The last time I can remember him doing so was in 1998, when he protested in the Spectator, under the headline I was stitched up, about the nasty surprise he got the first time he appeared on Have I Got News For You. But even then, the quarrel was soon made up, and he was quickly back on friendly terms with the shows regulars, Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. This summer, I updated my life of Johnson, in order to give an account of the amazing convulsions which occurred between 23 June the day of the referendum and 13 July, when Theresa May became Prime Minister and to general astonishment, installed Johnson as Foreign Secretary. One of the reasons why that comeback was possible was that after Michael Gove had announced, also to general astonishment, that he had come reluctantly to the conclusion that Boris was unfit to be Prime Minister, and had instead decided to run for the leadership himself, Johnson did not answer back. The same phenomenon was observable during the referendum campaign. Johnson denounced Barack Obama for coming over here and telling us how to vote, but once the President had made some excellent points in reply, Johnson let the subject drop. And when, during the debate held on ITV on 9 June, Amber Rudd, for Remain, launched two carefully scripted and rather amusing attacks on Johnson, once again he had the self-discipline, or good sense, not to retaliate. So Johnson could not long after become one of Rudds closest colleagues, and be entrusted with diplomatic relations with the United States, without embittered wrangles having to be lived down. Not everyone will regard this forbearance as admirable. Those who demand (quite unrealistically, in my view) that our politicians should behave at all time with complete candour, may choose to see in his behaviour a kind of cunning insincerity. But a refusal to engage in vendettas is surely desirable in almost any line of work outside the mafia. And the ability to hold his tongue makes Johnson a more formidably professional politician. Ales for Trails Friday has been moved to the Radisson Hotel because of the rainy forecast. Ales for Trails doubles as a celebration of Billings being named Outside Magazines Best Town in America of 2016. Outside Magazine freelance writer Elliott Woods will give a brief talk about the Billings award. Representatives from clothing company Toad&Co will attend to meet Ales for Trails sponsors and give away merchandise. There will be special VIP beer and complimentary food provided by the executive chef from Sysco. Ales for Trails Best Town in America celebration runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., in conjunction with the main Ales for Trails event, which is open to the public from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed through the gate, and Billings TrailNet urges its guests to drink responsibly at the event. All guests at Ales for Trails will be given a discount code for $20 off a ride home from Uber. Close Smoking can cause several health issues that may even end up in death. Recent studies have confirmed the serious effects of the vice. Therefore, experts might have been thinking that smokers would finally end puffing a cigarette. In the study of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, it was noted that despite not showing signs of cardiovascular diseases, some of the samples were observed to have damaged heart muscle. According to Dr. Scott Solomon, smoking can cause the heart to reduce its pumping ability. "We've known for years that smoking could lead to heart attacks, which may result in reductions in the pumping ability of the heart," he said via email to Fox News. "Our data suggest that smoking can independently lead to thickening of the heart and worsening of heart function, which may lead to a higher risk of heart failure, even in people who don't have heart attacks," he continued to point out. Of the 4,500 adult samples, around six percent or almost 300 were current smokers, while nearly 50 percent of the total figure were former smokers and the remaining 43 percent were non-smokers. The university of California, Los Angeles co-chief of cardiology division Dr. Gregg Fonarow, who was not actually part of the study, agreed that smoking can cause damage to the heart's muscle. He shared that "This study provides evidence for both men and women that smoking directly damages the heart muscle leading to thickening, increased stiffness, and impaired filling, which in turn leads to heart failure, which is a common, costly, and deadly condition." In the meantime, another serious health condition that smoking can cause is permanent damage to the DNA, according to CBS News. It was disclosed that smoking can alter at least 7,000 genes in the body contributing to the "development of smoking-related diseases." It was suggested that aside from quitting, the risk of acquiring diseases that smoking can cause can also be lowered by exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare A federal judge in Billings on Wednesday sentenced a man who admitted defrauding an Australian oil company of more than $500,000 to 18 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters sentenced the defendant, Dalton Allan Hallgren, 45, also known as Donald Hallgren Jr., at the high end of a range in plea agreement that recommended six months to 18 months. She also ordered Hallgren pay $567,427 restitution and dismissed other counts, court records said. Hallgren pleaded guilty in April to two wire fraud counts. He admitted lying about having a petroleum engineering degree and defrauding Central Petroleum LTD, an Australian company, after going to work for it as a manager in November 2011. Prosecutors said Hallgren provided the company a forged document that purported to show he had a degree in petroleum engineering from Montana Tech. Hallgren also didnt tell Central that he had formed a company called Alpha Oilfield Services in Montana. In January 2012, Hallgren had Central contract with Alpha to buy equipment and used an acquaintance in Billings to prepare invoices on Alpha letterhead to Central, prosecutors said. Central wired about $542,846 from Australia to a Billings bank account controlled by Hallgren, prosecutors said. Alpha never provided the equipment to Central, and Hallgren was ultimately terminated from the company. Hallgren told prosecutors he used some of the money for personal expenses. Watters allowed Hallgren to report to prison when he receives his assignment by the Bureau of Prisons. China has agreed to begin buying U.S. beef, a major break for Montana ranchers. The announcement was made this week by China Premier Li Keqiang, who was speaking in New York. It wasn't clear exactly when China would lift its 13-year-old U.S. beef ban, which stems from the 2003 discovery of mad cow disease in a Washington dairy animal. China is the second-largest beef consumer in the world. U.S. Sen Steve Daines in May discussed ending China's beef ban with with Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. Daines was on a fact-finding trip to China at the time of the meeting, which another Montanan, U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus, played a role in. Baucus, who finished 36 years in the U.S. Senate in 2014, had for years encouraged China to accept U.S. beef. Daines encouraged China to drop its ban. He also presented Dejiang with a letter from the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Montana's Libertarian Party officials have settled their dispute over replacing U.S. House candidate Mike Fellows. Party spokesman Andrew Forcier said Thursday that Rick Breckenridge would replace Fellows, who was killed in a car crash Monday. There was confusion among Libertarians about who gets to select Fellows' replacement and who was in charge of the party, of which Fellows was also chairman. Wednesday, the Ravalli County Libertarian Central Committee announced that only it could make the decision and that Breckenridge, of Proctor, would replace Fellows. Libertarians outside Ravalli County were caught off guard by the decision. Many Libertarians were informed of the Breckenridge pick Wednesday by The Billings Gazette, said Forcier, who is also the Montana director of Libertarian Gary Johnson's presidential campaign. Libertarian David Merrick, who identified himself as temporary chairman of the party, said Tuesday the Ravalli County Libertarian Central Committee had the right to choose a state candidate because it had the only elected Libertarian central committee in the state. State law says a party's "state central committee shall make the appointment as provided by the rules of the party," which seemed to contradict Merrick's claim. For the Montana Libertarian Party, Focier said the central committee consists of the state party chairman, vice chairman and secretary. But with Fellows' death, the only statewide position filed was secretary. The party hadn't filled the vice chairman's seat at the time of Fellows' death. The vacancies left Secretary Roger Roots as the only state central committee member. Upon Fellows' death, Roots became party chairman by default because there was no vice chairman, Forcier said. Roots planned to consider the preferences of members before selecting a replacement candidate by Monday, Forcier said. But by Thursday afternoon, the credit card used to pay for Breckenridge's candidate filing fee was being processed by Montana's secretary of state. The Montana Secretary of State's office, which regulates elections, waited to hear from Roots to settle who had authority to select the replacement. As soon as Roots signed off, Breckenridge was certified. Secretary of State Linda McCulloch told The Gazette that political parties do not have to register their leadership with the state. Little was known about who the party's leaders were, other than Fellows who as chairman, dealt directly with the state on election matters. But Roots was busy at the Ammon Bundy trial in Portland, Ore., where Bundy faces conspiracy charges for the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Roots is Bundy's volunteer paralegal. The Livingston man is also the Libertarian candidate for Montana secretary of state. Fellows died in a car crash Monday near Potomac while returning from a campaign event. McCulloch instructed counties to begin printing new ballots listing Breckenridge as the Libertarian candidate. UPDATE: A report of an attempted abduction in Billings Wednesday has been determined to be false upon closer investigation. A 12-year-old boy told authorities an unidentified man in his 20s tried to grab him while walking to school. A school resource officer reviewed surveillance video and spoke with residents of the area where the incident was said to take place. The officer found inconsistencies with the childs story, said a Billings Police Department news release. The SRO interviewed the alleged victim again and the child admitted the attempted abduction never occurred. It is unknown why the child decided to report the incident. The release said the childs parents and the school will handle actions against the child for the false report. Police are looking for a man who grabbed a child walking to school this morning. A man is his 20s with a shaved head and average build was looking in vehicles near 10th Street West and Avenue B when he attempted to grab a 12-year-old boy, according to a Billings Police Department release. The child wasn't injured and ran home. His parents called police, who responded to look for the suspect but didn't locate him. A school resource officer took the child to school. The man was wearing black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt, according to the release. Anyone with information should contact police at 657-8460. Just like voters, Billings youth also have a stake in the Nov. 8 presidential election, and the Billings Public Library wants to provide teens an outlet for letting the next president know whats on their mind. Beginning Oct. 12, Billings author Ashley Warren will teach teens how to research and write a strong argumentative essay to be posted on the national Letters to the Next President website. The classes will run from 4:30 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. on four successive Wednesdays before concluding with a celebration Nov. 9. According to Cody Allen, the library's young adult librarian, Warren will bring a different focus to each workshop, available free in the library's TECH Lab to young people age 13-19. I really like working with this age group, said Warren, 31, who writes young adult fiction, teaches in the public schools through the Arts without Boundaries program, and teaches part-time in the English Department at Montana State University Billings. I think writing a letter is still an important skill to learn. Students can convey their opinions without being combative. Letters to the Next President, at www.letters2president.org, was created in 2008 by the National Writing Project, with support from Google. Its designed to give voice to U.S. teens and to help schools engage youth as productive and active citizens. During the workshop, participants will have the freedom to write a letter, submit a spoken word clip, an information graphic or a video, Warren said. We want them to be creative about bringing their voice to the issues, she said. There is an element of personal empowerment. Teens often dont realize that they can have a platform. Getting your message delivered is the first step in putting yourself out there. Youth can be overwhelmed by the complexity of the American political system and the challenge of expressing oneself, said. We hope to demystify the process by making it less intimidating, she said. Allen noted that Warren is serving as the librarys artist in residence through the end of the year. She'll be put to work during other upcoming events. We want kids to be able to argue for their position in a coherent, clear and concise manner, Allen said. You can recognize opposing views and still say, This is why I think like I do. Its not necessary to attend each of the first four sessions, but its encouraged, and preregistration is required. To register, stop by the library, at 510 Broadway, or phone 406-657-8258. The sponsor of a ballot issue to expand the state medical marijuana program issued a campaign finance complaint against Safe Montana, the group campaigning against the issue. Montana Citizens for I-182 filed the complaint on Wednesday to the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. The complaint alleged that Safe Montana filed vague and late finance reports and failed to disclose the purchase of billboards that went up across the state this month. The group also referenced the Safe Montana website, noting that it has language on it opposing I-182 but doesn't include a "paid for by" disclaimer, which is required by state election laws. Billings businessman Steve Zabawa, the founder of Safe Montana, said Wednesday that he hadn't seen the complaint but denied the allegations. Safe Montana was campaigning to put I-176 on the ballot. The measure would have repealed the state medical marijuana program in favor of the federal drug schedule. When the group failed to collect enough signatures, it pivoted to oppose I-182. Montana Citizens for I-182 Treasurer Jeff Krauss wrote the complaint. He said Safe Montana was late on its most recent finance report and that it should have shown campaign activity from July 28 through Aug. 27. Krauss wrote that Safe Montana's reporting "impedes the public's knowledge of their campaign expenditures and who is funding their committee." According to Safe Montana's reports, the group is almost exclusively funded by Zabawa, who has put more than $118,000 into the effort. By law, the reports are due on the first of each month, starting in March of an election year until Election Day. Safe Montana's latest finance report covers Aug. 1 through Sept. 1, and it was filed on Sept. 18. On Wednesday, Zabawa said that he hasn't been contacted about his finance reports. Never had any problems, so I dont know what theyre talking about," he said. "Everythings in there. On the billboards, Montana Citizens Treasurer Jeff Krauss wrote in the complaint that he suspects payments were made toward the ads prior to Aug. 27, and that they should have been on the prior filing. He said that the filings lack production costs and reservations. We dont see evidence of that, and we wonder where them money came from and where it was spent and when it was spent, Krauss said on Wednesday. Zabawa said the billboards were purchased in September but declined to say how much the group spent. He said the purchases will be in the October filing. As for the "paid for by" disclaimer on the Safe Montana website, Zabawa said that he didn't have a comment but would look into it. The site does include content that identifies Safe Montana with the group's Billings P.O. box. There isn't a specific "paid for by" section. The site does have content that names and opposes I-182. Montana Citizens also took issue with Safe Montana's pivot from supporting its own ballot measure to opposing I-182. Krauss wrote that it was unclear which ballot issue the Safe Montana was "attempting to affect with a particular expense." Safe Montana had previously registered as a group that both supports I-176 and opposes I-182. Zabawa, who recently took to Facebook asking people to leave one-star reviews on the I-182 page, chided the group for its allegations against Safe Montana. "If that's the best they got, they're in trouble," he said. "They're running scared right now." MISSOULA A Missoula man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted deliberate homicide after another man was shot in the head. Police say the victim reported the shooting at about 8:15 p.m. Monday and was able to describe his assailant. The 28-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the hospital and released. Officers arrested 24-year-old Jordan Branch Standingrock later Monday night. He was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted deliberate homicide and discharging a firearm in the city. Standingrock was being held without bond. His initial appearance in Justice Court was scheduled for Wednesday. Aaron Moos, owner of Golds Gym in Bismarck, is Bismarck-Mandans Small Business Person of the Year. The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce honored Moos and many other business people Thursday at its annual awards event, Celebrate Bismarck-Mandan, at the Ramkota hotel. "I feel thankful I think it says my employees are super hard workers. I think it says were doing good, were doing things right, Moos said on winning the award. Were not all there yet but people in Bismarck like what were doing. The Small Business Person of the Year award is judged based on sustainability and stability, innovation, social responsibility, overcoming adversity, increases in sales and an increased number of employees. Moos started Golds Gym about nine years ago after telling his father he was going to quit his Bozeman, Mont.,-based chiropractic practice and open a gym in Bismarck. He thought I was crazy, Moos said of the decision to uproot and start over in a new line of business. Ten years ago, Moos said there wasnt even a place in Bismarck for people to get a protein shake but he knew new fitness trends would come to Bismarck and he wanted to be the first, opening the gym, which, in addition to being a place to work out, offers a multitude of fitness classes and services and a juice bar. Moos sees continued success based upon his gyms ability to stay up to date with new fitness trends. Moos will go on to compete for the title of North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year in the U.S. Small Business Administration-run competition. Other award winners Thursday included Farm Credit Services of Mandan, which received the Granite Award, given to companies that are dependable employers and community stewards for 50 years or more. Golden Eagle Award for service to the military went to Cloverdale Foods. The Mike Fink Award for Steady Growth and Profitability went to four recipients: Mr. Squeegee, CCs Physical Therapy, North Dakota Guaranty & Title Co. and EarthKind. Terry Steckler, founder of Advanced Fleet Services, received the New Entrepreneur of the Year award, which goes to new business owners who have increased their workforce, show innovative business methods, demonstrate entrepreneurial potential for long-term success, overcome obstacles and show social responsibility. Christian organizations in Zambia are pushing back against the governments plan to create a government-run religious affairs department. According to ChristianToday.com, the Zambian government is planning to create a new department to oversee religious affairs, but some Christian groups fear this will turn Zambia into a theocracy and will ultimately harm freedom of religion, despite the fact that Zambias president, Edgar Chagwa Lungu Lungu, appointed a Christian minister to oversee the new department. The countrys two main Christian groups, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Council of Churches in Zambia, voiced their opposition to the new department, even though the head of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, Rev. Pukuta Mwanza, welcomed it. "In view of the various financial and economic challenges our country is currently facing, we neither see the creation of the said ministry as a top priority nor a prudent decision. After all, we believe that Zambians want their country to be a democracy rather than a theocracy, said a statement from the Christian groups. The statement added that the Church does not derive its authority from government, but from God: "At the same time, the statement concluded, we commit ourselves to continue being credible and reliable instruments for promoting a culture of dialogue, reconciliation, justice, unity, development, respect for divergent views and peace in Zambia." Publication date: September 22, 2016 Daily in Christ, with Neil Anderson Discovering freedom through Jesus Every Day Light, with Selwyn Hughes Helping you see the light of Jesus in your life Heartlight Daily Verse, with Phil Ware A thought and prayer to start your day Wisdom from the Psalms Meditating on the teachings of the Hebrew songbook Daily in Your Presence, with Rebecca Barlow Jordan Conversations with a loving Father based on the qualities of God Living Free Every Day Life-changing biblical principles address life-controlling problems Daily Disciples Devotional Scripturally based readings with practical life applications. The Crosswalk Devotional Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life. Praying the Names of God, with Ann Spangler Gain a more intimate knowledge of God and His absolute faithfulness. Time With God, with John North The most important part of your day is your time with God Daily New Life with Steve Arterburn Daily inspiration to help on your healing journey Cross the Bridge Daily Evotionals with David McGee Experience daily inspiration in your inbox with Gods Word, encouraging thoughts and life lessons from pastor David McGee Insights from Bill Bright Daily reflections from the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ Answers for Church Members Common questions from church members answered by 9Marks ministries Somebody Loves You Radio w/ Raul Ries God's principles for daily living Your Daily Prayer A devotional prayer and inspirational image delivered to you every weekday morning to start your day in conversation with God. Joy of My Heart with Anne Graham Lotz Read thought-provoking insights from Anne on how to live out God's Word! First15 Devotional First15 is a one year, 365 day, daily devotional created to help you meet with your heavenly Father. Through worship, a devotional thought, and guided prayer, you can experience Gods loving presence every morning. Your Daily Bible Verse Dive deeper into Scripture with thoughts about the Bible verse of the day, with encouraging and helpful thoughts from our writers in the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast and devotional A man whom Bismarck police arrested Wednesday after he allegedly robbed a local bank has been charged. Rondal Heitsch, 51, from Bismarck, was charged Thursday with theft of property in connection to the robbery that occurred Wednesday afternoon at Bremer Bank, 710 N. Washington St. According to the affidavit, Heitsch handed a staff member at the bank a note that indicated it was a robbery. After receiving the money $6,045 bystanders told police they saw Heitsch leave the bank and head south through the Clem Kelly softball diamonds. Police found Heitsch beneath the Bismarck Expressway Bridge with a large amount of cash on him. They interviewed Heitsch, who apparently admitted that he did the robbery and said he did not intend to hurt anyone, but had just watched a bank robbery movie. Various news, notes, rumors and more as heard by the Cruise Industry News editorial team at the 11th edition of the China Cruise Shipping conference and trade show being held in Tianjin, Sept. 23-25 and hosted by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association. STX Moves: While Fincantieri and Damen reportedly bid for STX France, could there be other parties in the mix? Yes, according to one source in China, who said he expected Chinese interests to purchase the yard. A takeover of an existing European yard with cruise experience could give a Chinese shipyard looking to get into the cruise ship building business a leg up on local rivals. Thursday Setup: It's been a busy setup week in the bustling city of Tianjin ahead of China Cruise Shipping. Construction crews have been working on the trade show floor to build elaborate stands for a number of key exhibitors, including the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. In addition, and for the first time, is significant outdoor conference and trade show signage near the conference and trade show location in Tianjin. B06: In Tianjin? Stop by Cruise Industry News at booth B06 and pick up an advance copy of the Fall 2016 edition of the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine. AIDA: With the AIDAbella staying in the Mediterranean and not coming to Shanghai in 2017, questions surround whether AIDA has postponed or dropped its China program. However, AIDA's branding is featured prominently by Carnival Corporation at China Cruise Shipping. Four: While it is the 11th China Cruise Shipping, it is the fourth held in the port city of Tianjin. MSC To Tianjin: The recent news that MSC will base the Splendida in China starting in 2018 was accompanied by adjustments to the MSC's Lirica current program - with the ship moving to Tianjin from Shanghai. The deployment move will help ease the congestion and capacity issues of Shanghai. Will more news follow from other companies? AIDA and Carnival: Last October, Carnival Corporation announced Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises would send ships to China. Brand leadership was in prominent attendance at China Cruise Shipping in Shanghai, and again over the summer when AIDA held a launch party for its China product. With AIDA delaying its China program, and Carnival also pushing deployment back, will top brand management be in attendance? In 1999, MITRE created the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database as a way to standardize the naming of disclosed vulnerabilities. Seventeen years later, the CVE system is faced with bottlenecks and coverage gaps, as thousands of vulnerabilities go without CVE-ID assignments. These gaps are leaving business leaders and security teams exposed to vulnerabilities their security products, which rely on CVE-IDs to function and assess risk, don't even know exist in some cases. Before CVE existed, the public had access to IBM X-Force (1997) and the SecurityFocus BID database, which was established around six months before CVE. Each had their own methods of tracking and disclosing vulnerabilities, and this led to a situation where there wasn't an easy way to determine if the different databases tracking such problems were referring to the same thing. MITRE Corporation, seeing an opportunity, created CVE to fix these issues. CVE-IDs are issued by CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs). MITRE is primary CNA, as well as the CNA of last resort when it comes to naming disputes. There are currently twenty-two organizations listed as CNAs, including Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Red Hat, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. A CNA can request a pool of CVE-IDs from MITRE and assign them to vulnerabilities in their own products, but the frustration for some in the security industry is that these CNAs do so at their own leisure. MITRE says that it is difficult, but not impossible, to maintain consistency in CNA assignments and administration. "To this end, the CVE program is currently developing new CNA rules to maximize the administration and execution of CNA assignments under a federated structure, including operational and governance models," Jennifer Lang, the Senior Public Affairs Representative for MITRE explained. These new rules are being developed by the CNAs themselves, MITRE, and the CVE Board as a collaborative activity, she added. A passive reading of both public and private email archives by Salted Hash shows that these new rules came about after strong urging from the CVE Board. CVE touches a vast amount of the security industry. Organizations depend on CVE, or more specifically, its completeness, to assist with risk modeling, policy development, and daily operations. Speaking on background with Salted Hash, a financial organization said it relies on CVE during vulnerability scanning to locate assets that need patching. This same organization also uses CVE in their threat intelligence and incident response programs. Perhaps it's a lack of resources, or a lack of understanding the rules, but the public discussions on the topic shows the disconnect between MITRE and the other CNAs has created confusion and serious problems in some cases, for years. What would happen if a CVE-ID were issued for vulnerabilities in one vendor's products, but that same CVE-ID was then cross-linked incorrectly to similar vulnerabilities in products from other vendors? This seems unlikely, but that's exactly what happened with CVE-2014-8730. CVE-2014-8730 is a variant of POODLE (or CVE-2014-3566). The catch though, is that CVE-2014-8730 represents products from F5, an application technology company in Seattle, Washington. Notes on this CVE-ID assignment state that other "vulnerable implementations should receive their own CVE ID, since this is not a vulnerability within the design of TLS 1.x itself." IBM, Cisco, and HP all issued advisories for their products related to this issue, and each of them referenced the F5 CVE-ID incorrectly. This might seem like a non-issue, but such mistakes could lead to problems with metrics and vulnerability tracking, as well as situations where an advisory is given less weight, because the referenced CVE-ID referred to a vendor or product the organization didn't use. For their part, IBM said their PSIRT would correct the error. A Google search for 2014-8730 on ibm.com returns more than 2,000 results, which is what brought them to our attention. "This particular CVE was assigned by MITRE first as encompassing everything to do with this vulnerability. Initial guidance from MITRE was that all vendors should use this CVE for advisories related to this vulnerability. After it was already assigned out via IBM PSIRT to IBM product teams, MITRE changed its guidance to recommend that the CVE be used only for F5 instead," said Scott Moore, Vulnerability Database Team Lead for IBM X-Force. "When MITRE released the updated guidance, IBM was already in the process of releasing fixes and bulletins for the vulnerability; because the revised guidance seemed to be a recommendation only, IBM did not modify the CVE, which would have delayed publication of bulletins." Days after this statement was sent to Salted Hash, on September 19, IBM modified a Flash Alert for critical updates to IBM DataPower Gateways, which incorrectly identified CVE-2014-8730. Again, the gaps created by the divisions between MITRE and the CNAs are creating an invisible attack surface that's already been exploited once. In 2015, there were 6,356 vulnerabilities disclosed to the public that didn't receive a CVE-ID. Thus, products or security teams that rely on CVE to function or perform their day-to-day operations were missing the full picture. Looking at the metrics published by CVE Details, and comparing them to commercial CVE products (Risk Based Securitys VulnDB), that monitor and use MITREs work, as well as other sources to compile their data, there is a clear disconnect. Why does MITRE not have assignments for vulnerabilities identified via other sources? Why haven't the CNAs shared their own disclosures with MITRE so that CVE can reflect the information, instead of leaving entries in RESERVED status, which shows nothing? Why arent CNAs assigning IDs to all of the vulnerabilities they disclosed, since some of the unassigned vulnerabilities are in their products? VulnDB shows 14,914 vulnerabilities disclosed in 2015. Within that set, only 8,558 vulnerabilities have CVE-IDs assigned to them. That leaves 6,356 vulnerabilities with no CVE-ID, and likely no representation in a majority of security products. There are some important things to note with these figures. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score, is an industry standard for assigning a numeric value to denote risk. Some vulnerabilities missing a CVE-ID are listed as 10.0, which is critical and others are much lower. However, if nothing is known about the vulnerability, it gets an instant 10, in order to stay within the CVSS scoring guidelines. Second, while VulnDB abstracts when there are multiple vulnerabilities assigned to a single CVE-ID, it still represents 6,356 missing vulnerabilities. If MITRE and the CNAs added the missing 6,356 vulnerabilities to the database, it isn't clear how many IDs those vulnerabilities would represent. MITRE maintains a list of vendors and products that are considered Tier 1, or must cover. That list is followed by Tier 2 organizations, which are designated as should cover, and Tier 3, can cover. Tiers 4 and 5 are designated as may not and must not cover (which only includes vulnerabilities specific to a website or service, not an end-user product, something that all of the major vulnerability databases agree on). According to VulnDB, some of the Tier 1 organizations missing CVE-ID assignments for disclosed vulnerabilities in 2015, are Adobe (17); Apple (24); Cisco (29); Microsoft (33); MySQL (46); HP (12); IBM (60); Oracle (67 there's overlap with MySQL since Oracles acquisition); and SAP (174). Moreover, there were 130 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) vulnerabilities, and 51 medical device vulnerabilities, that went without a CVE-ID in 2015, as well as six electronic voting machine vulnerabilities. It is interesting to note that of the 278 electronic voting machine vulnerabilities disclosed historically, none of them have received a CVE-ID assignment. While these numbers are bad, what's worse is that the industry has already felt the impact of an attack against a vulnerability that wasn't assigned a CVE-ID. Earlier this year, on May 11, US-CERT issued the first ever alert geared towards SAP applications. At the time the alert was issued, at least 36 organizations globally had been impacted by attackers targeting SAP vulnerabilities that were patched in 2010. Yet, regardless of the patch's existence, the attacks and the issue itself caught the public off guard. Attackers had been hitting vulnerable systems since 2013, and while details of the vulnerability were logged in a number of places (i.e. Exploit DB / VulnDB), there was no CVE-ID assignment made, despite the fact that SAP is a Tier 1 organization according to MITRE. On May 12, 2016 MITRE issued CVE-2010-5326 to account for the targeted vulnerability, almost six years after it was initially disclosed. Salted Hash asked about the missing CVE-ID assignments in 2015. In a statement, MITRE's Jennifer Lang said it was difficult to answer the question, because without knowing the specifics on the vulnerabilities in question "the vulnerabilities are likely out-of-scope." "This does not mean the vulnerabilities themselves are unimportant, but rather that they currently do not fall under the program's scope of coverage," she added. Cisco offered a similar statement, pointing to scope without actually using the term: "For Cisco, a vulnerability is defined as a defect in a product or software that allows unauthorized device or network access, exposure of sensitive device information, or a bypass of security features or restrictions. A vulnerability is different from an attack that requires compromised credentials or physical access to a device. While the latter would not be assigned a CVE, it would still require hardening the network, implementing processes to prevent, detect and remediate." FireEye's manager of Research Science, Dan Caselden, said that vulnerabilities are often patched without ever receiving a CVE-ID, adding that a CVE-ID might not be important "if the community has no need to discuss the vulnerability." Improvements in communication and coordination would potentially fix most of the issues Salted Hash has uncovered while looking into MITRE and the CVE project, but not all of them. MITRE gets at least $1.2 million in taxpayer funding for CVE, out of a total government contract of $5 million (based on 2006 FOIA documents). Funding on that level should certainly come with serious expectations, that now demand improvements, considering commercial vendors in the same space (IBM, Secunia, RBS, etc.) do it quicker and cheaper. There is a mentality of covering only the big vendors and ignoring everything else, or assigning it a lower priority that ultimately never receives coverage. That was acceptable in the '90s when the world had relatively few software vendors, but these days, considering the impact of SCADA, the Internet of Things (IoT), and self-service IT alone, that mindset doesn't cut it. Further, there is almost zero coverage of third-party libraries, other than OpenSSL, which is why the Tier lists need updating, badly. Libraries such as FFmpeg, ImageMagick, or PCRE can impact thousands of vendors and products when vulnerabilities are discovered. Many of the organizations on the Tier 3 list should easily move up, given their current size and market usage. Another fix centers on the CNAs; Salted Hash observed several examples of CNAs issuing CVE-IDs incorrectly, but none of them face any sort of consequences or continuing education / additional training when this happens. The hope is that the new CNA rules being developed by MITRE and the CVE Board will begin to address this problem. It isn't easy; fixing something like CVE won't happen overnight. But putting the effort into fixing it is worth it, because the entire industry relies heavily on CVE and the system is far from living up to its potential and expected taxpayer value. The University of Ottawa has found itself the subject of an investigation regarding a potential data breach. According to news reports, the information of some 900 students may have been exposed when an external hard drive went missing. This involved the personal information of people with disabilities and mental health issues. Um, so thats really bad. Im having a hard time with this, as I do with so many data breaches. At first blush it appears that the information was not encrypted. Now, it doesnt spell that out in the report on CBC. But, if this information was contained on an encrypted drive I wouldnt think that there would be breach notification letters being sent out and having the Ottawa police involved. From the CBC: "The University takes its role in safeguarding personal information and using it in an appropriate manner very seriously. Measures have been put in place at SASS to reduce the risk of the situation recurring. The University is deeply sorry about this situation," the university said. Now, if I were to believe that they took the role of protecting information seriously, I would have to set aside the possibility that the hard drive was not encrypted. Suspension of disbelief. But, I just cant. Now, this begs the question, what was the data on the drive exactly? Why was this information being backed up to a device that could grow legs and walk out the door? From Ottawa Sun: Were still investigating, director of institutional communications Patrick Charette said. In the meantime, we fixed the back-up procedure to make sure that we reduce the risk of such a thing happening again. In terms of what happened and how it happened, were still assessing. So, no one really has any idea as to what happened in this case. Not one to throw stones but, rather this is a great opportunity to, YET AGAIN, discuss sensitive data and encryption. If you are working in a job where you have access to sensitive data ask yourself this simple question, If this gets out how fast will I be fired? The next question I would have is was this drive in an open area or locked in an office? Occams Razor tells me that this was a crime of opportunity or, more realistically, it was an oversight and is sitting in a filing cabinet somewhere. If this was a crime, was the drive someplace where there were cameras? I hope for the sake of the affected students who have their information on this external hard drive that they arent going to be exposed. This type of data breach leads me to have a lot of questions. I cant help but apply my face to palm yet again. This isnt an acceptable method to back up sensitive data. If we're being honest encryption isnt that hard but, we continue to see data breaches like this time and again. This has to be a learning opportunity for others. Hopefully one day this sort of thing will be beat out of the system. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Josephine Nassif calls Danbury Beauty Supplies an old-school business even though she sells the most up-to-date products and offers the latest trends in hair color and style at her two salon chairs. Its more in the way she treats her customers that makes her store a throwback. My customers are dear friends, she said. With new technology you dont see the one-on-one interaction you have here. I grew up with my customers. They are like family. Thats what makes them come back. Im not just trying to sell them something. Nassif celebrated 40 years in business last week and threw a party to mark the occasion. More than 100 friends and family members packed the front of the store and enjoyed a Champagne toast, food from Nassifs native country of Lebanon and stories from the past four decades. Dean Esposito, Mayor Mark Boughtons chief of staff, read a proclamation in Nassifs honor. I reflect the mayors thoughts when I say Im proud that Danbury Beauty Supplies has been here for 40 years in downtown, Esposito said. Shes a solid business owner and they committed to the downtown area. The store proves that Danbury can sustain small businesses. Nassif and her husband, Anis, opened Danbury Beauty Supplies in 1976 on Ives Street. Three years later they moved around the corner to the stores current location at 22 White St., replacing a sporting goods store. He was a businessman in Lebanon. When he moved here he noticed New York had the closest beauty supply store so he said we should do this, Nassif said of her husband, who died four years ago. He would be proud. He loves this community. He was very involved and loved to give back to this community. The youngest of Nassifs three daughters was only 40 days old when they opened the store. Danbury Beauty Supplies carries a wide range of products such as sunglasses, nail polish, wigs, skin cream, perfume, shavers, shampoos and straighteners. Nassif and Maria Sanchez operate the salon, offering styling and coloring. God has been very good to me, Nassif said. Without Gods help none of this would have happened. Nassif displayed the framed proclamation presented to her by Esposito on the front counter during the celebration. She also held it proudly as she addressed the crowd. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart, she said. Im honored by this proclamation. Thank you to all my customers for the last 40 years. Customers returned the thanks to Nassif. Coming here is like coming home to family, Margaret Vernet, a 20-year customer, said. They help make women and men feel great and look great. It takes a great deal of perseverance and stamina, not only to start a small business, but to sustain it, Vernet added. Most business dont make it past a year or two. Josephine has sustained through big boxes, other competition, recessions. She deserves a lot of credit. Esther Diehl moved to Danbury 16 years ago and has been customer of Danbury Beauty Supplies for just as long. There is such a friendly, warm atmosphere here, unlike other salons, Diehl said. When you come here, no matter how you felt before you walked in, you leave feeling happy. Josephine and Maria are very warm and caring people. They treat everyone the same regardless of who they are. They have open hearts. Josephine Nassif came to the United States from Lebanon when she was 2 years old. She was one of eight children in a family of modest means. Her personal and business philosophy has always been one of acceptance. Everybody comes here and is welcome here, she said. Everybody can get along. You just have to be willing. cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338 STAMFORD Stamford-based technology company Pitney Bowes has launched a partnership with Lighthouse Computer Services, a Rhode Island-based IT solutions firm with an expanding big data and analytics business. The two companies will work together to provide customized data solutions aimed at helping businesses attract and retain customers, improve marketing campaigns and combat the risks of fraud. We are thrilled to see new partners like Lighthouse embrace our location intelligence technologies to drive new innovations in data management, Mark Taylor, Pitney Bowes senior vice president of software channels, said in a statement. I see a lot of great synergies and strengths that we can draw upon from our respective technologies and teams to deliver increased client value. Lighthouse will go to market immediately with Pitneys Single Customer View data-management product. It will soon expand to sell offerings built on Pitneys customer engagement, location intelligence and data-quality technologies. We are excited to join forces with Pitney Bowes to implement innovative data-management solutions for our clients, David Doucette, president of Lighthouses analytics division, said in a statement. The sophisticated geocoding and reverse-geocoding technologies, in particular, will enable us to innovate entirely new use cases and solutions. We look forward to building influence with these new location-based capabilities. In recent months, Pitney has made a number of major changes, including a transition in the U.S. to a new enterprise-business platform. The company attributed declining profits in the past quarter to the changes, which executives have said will significantly improve the companys long-term operations. Pitney recorded a profit of about $54 million, compared with about $152 million in the second quarter last year. Revenue totaled about $836 million for the past quarter, a 5 percent decrease from its second-quarter total of about $881 million for 2015. The company is projecting 2016 revenues to decrease 1 percent to 3 percent compared with full-year returns for 2015. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Kieren Fowler / Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Lennard Verstegen / Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Audiences are uniting in theaters around the globe to judge the 10 finalists in the Manhattan Short Film Festival, which opens Friday, Sept. 23. It will be screened locally on opening night at Danburys Palace Theatre, and runs in numerous other venues including several in Connecticut through Sunday, Oct. 2. This years finalists are from eight countries and culled from a record number of submissions 844 entries from 52 countries. Rail safety has taken a step forward as two inspectors recently have been certified by the Federal Railroad Administration and able to work independently in the field, according to state regulators. North Dakota Public Service Commission Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak praised the certification of one track inspector and one mechanical inspector hired by the state for the pilot program, which was created last year. We are on the mark and, in some respects, even early, Fedorchak said of the timeline for certification. The PSC entered an agreement with the FRA in July 2015 for the pilot program, which is to supplement the work of the several FRA inspectors assigned to North Dakota. The FRAs inspectors also work in several other states in the region. The track inspector was certified in March; the mechanical inspector was certified Aug. 8. The inspector certification will increase the number eyes on sites and rail across the state, according to Fedorchak, who said it should in addressing rail issues before problems occur, reducing the potential for derailments or other serious problems. The system is so complicated. There are, literally, so many moving parts, Fedorchak said. Lawmakers approved $523,345 from the rail safety fund for the pilot program during the last legislative session. Of this, $253,345 would be for the salary of one inspector and $200,000 for a temporary employee. The remaining $70,000 is for operating costs. The pilot program is to last through the 2017-19 biennium. The focus of the new inspectors will be inspections of routes used for transporting crude oil as well as facilities where trains stop and park, according to Fedorchak. The program is considered by the PSC to be one piece of the puzzle in addressing rail safety. Fedorchak has previously said shed be advocating for the program to be made permanent in the PSCs budget. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STRATFORD A former Stratford cop who groused about a superior officer to another cop in the parking lot of Police Headquarters in 2011 has won a $2.5 million court settlement. The settlement this week in U.S. District Court in New Haven was the result of retaliatory moves that followed those remarks. William Jennings, a former narcotics detective, testified that he was drummed out of the Stratford police in late 2011. The settlement was for $1.5 million in punitive damages and $1 million for compensatory damages resulting from lost wages and pension compensation. Sources said that the punitive amount, or $1.5 million, cant be covered by municipal insurance. The town will appeal the decision, however. The Town vehemently disagrees with the jurys verdict and will pursue all available means to overturn the verdict, including an appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals if necessary, said Town Attorney Christopher M. Hodgson. The Towns insurance carrier was placed on notice of the claim and we are discussing the verdict with them. Jennings claimed in federal court that the disciplinary actions he faced were in retaliation for speaking disparagingly about then-Stratford Police Union Local 407 President Joseph McNeil, a captain at the time and now the chief of police. One day in March of 2011, my client is asked by another officer, What do you think of the new contract? said Jennings attorney, John R. Williams of New Haven. To which he replied, I think Chief McNeil sold out the union to get his job back. This was in reference to disciplinary action that McNeil faced after a 2008 incident in which McNeil was arrested, charged and later suspended for the unlawful release of confidential information and making false statements about Christian Miron, the brother of then-Mayor James Miron. Christian Miron had wanted to become a police officer at the time. Relations between the police rank-and-file and Mayor Miron were never good, and this dustup made things even worse. McNeil denied the charges at the time. McNeil was placed on accelerated rehabilitation because of his clean record. He also got his job back as a police captain and he was later awarded back pay. But after that chat in the parking lot of Police Headquarters in March 2011, things began to slide downhill for Jennings, his lawyer said. McNeil was told about the parking-lot conversation and Jennings immediately received a written warning for speaking ill of a superior officer. Jennings was told told by the department not to file a grievance about the warning; he did anyway. A month later, Jennings was removed from his job as the SPD member of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration task force, an assignment that he held for nine years. Williams claimed in court that this was part of a pattern of retaliation. Basically, the SPD brass was making life miserable for him, Williams said. Jennings, now 51, quit the department on Dec. 30, 2011, after 24 years with the force. He was able to collect a pension, but its about 20 percent less than he would have gotten if he retired after 30 years. He also went a year without a paycheck. He moved with his family to Mesa, Arizona; he found work as a security guard for a hospital, a job that he still has. In 2014, Jennings received some good news from the state Board of Mediation and Arbitration which ruled that he was unfairly disciplined for his parking-lot chat. The board said that those comments were protected by the First Amendment. Town attorneys claimed in court that there was no retaliation but the jury saw things otherwise. The trial took three days and the jury deliberated for two hours. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer presided over the trial. Town officials wouldnt comment on whether an appeal would be filed, but sources told the Post that town attorneys will soon be heading back to federal court in New Haven where the trial took place to fight the decision. If they want to appeal, theyll be walking down a long, difficult road, Williams said. There were no errors with the trial most of the evidence was presented by mutual agreement. They just disagree with the verdict. Williams said that his team made an offer to settle the case out-of-court for a lower amount. They refused to discuss it, he said. They took the hard line. jburgeson@ctpost.com STRATFORD A former narcotics detective has been awarded $2.5 million in his lawsuit against the town and the Stratford police department over his suspension in 2012, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune. William Jennings, who resigned from the department a year later, claimed that disciplinary actions hed faced were retaliation for speaking out against union president Joseph McNeil, then a captain and now the police chief. Jennings then 46, had told a fellow officer while both were off-duty that McNeil had made a back room deal that served his own interests over the union, the law tribune reports. That comment allegedly set off a chain of disciplinary actions against the 22-year department veteran that Jennings lawyer, John R. Williams, claimed in court were a pattern of retaliation. The jury awarded Jennings $1 million in compensation and $1.5 in punitive damages after a three-day trial last week in U.S. District Court in New Haven. Jennings was accused of assault in April, 2012 by a landscaper. An internal investigation found Jennings committed disorderly conduct and first-degree criminal trespass, violated two Stratford Police Department ethics policies, and violated his oath of office during the dispute. Two months later, Jennings was taken off a regional U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force and reassigned to town police work. In September of that year the department suspended him for 15 working days without pay. A month after his suspension was imposed, Jennings filed a complaint against the police department and the town of Stratford with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. In the grievance, Jennings detailed what he said was a deep-seated culture of animosity among some members of the police department. He said his removal from the DEA task force and the investigation against him was retaliation for speaking out about unethical activity within the department and because he was paid at a higher rate than most other officers. BRIDGEPORT How did a city sport utility vehicle used by Mayor Joe Ganims staff, complete with a city gas card, end up 15 hours out of town in Kentucky? The car was reported stolen so were picking up the pieces, said Bridgeport Police Chief A.J. Perez. We dont even know when the car was stolen. But the vehicle a black 2015 Chevy Tahoe usually stored on the roof or in the basement of the downtown City Hall was only reported stolen after it was recovered by the Oak Grove, Ky., Police Department. According to an email circulated throughout City Hall early Thursday, Bridgeports Emergency Operations Center received a 4:30 a.m. phone call from Oak Groves cops about the vehicle and gas card. At the wheel? An uncooperative Derrick Johnson Greene, 20, of Bridgeport. Ganim spokesman Av Harris said: We believe the keys were inside and the doors unlocked, which, he added, is against city policy. How Greene got access to the parking lots is uncertain. Harris did not believe Greene works for the city. Harris also said Greene would not have been able to use the gas card a credit card anywhere other than Santa Fuel in Bridgeport. The Oak Grove police department could not immediately provide any additional details when contacted Thursday by Hearst Media. Ganim is often seen riding around town in a black SUV with his driver, Detective Ramon Garcia, at the wheel. But Harris denied the stolen car was specifically used by the mayor. Harris said the vehicle was not assigned to any one person and is part of a pool available to some of the mayors key staff. Perez agreed, but also confirmed Garcia has driven the Tahoe. In fact, Perez said, it was Garcia who initially tried to find the Tahoe after reading the email from the Emergency Operations Center about the vehicle being discovered in Kentucky. He was looking, looking, looking. He couldnt find it, Perez said. (He) talked to me. I told him to report it stolen and well open an investigation. Thats what we did. Well get to the bottom of it, Perez said. It cant be that much of a mystery. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and its supporters appear to be winning the public relations battle over the Dakota Access Pipeline. While the pipelines future likely will be decided by the courts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies will play a role in the decisions. The agencies arent immune to the tide of public opinion. It looks like Dakota Access and its supporters are going to have to work harder to get their message across to the public. In recent days the city of Seattle passed a resolution proclaiming Oct. 10 to be Indigenous Peoples Day, in support of the Standing Rocks opposition to the pipeline. Seattles not alone, as Bellingham, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; St. Louis; Lawrence, Kan.; and St. Paul and Minneapolis have offered support to the tribe. The Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial board has called for a hold on the pipeline project until more research is conducted. The United Nations has become involved. Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II spoke to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, condemning the deliberate destruction of our sacred places. LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, founder of the Sacred Stone Camp that helped launch the protest, has been the guest of honor at the United Nations Indigenous Elders Summit in New York this week. The protesters are getting their message out and are receiving a sympathic hearing across the country. Some see Enbridge Energy Partners and Energy Transfer Partners, the major owners of Dakota Access Pipeline, as corporate giants trying to steamroll a small North Dakota-South Dakota reservation. The Sept. 3 incident between protesters and security personnel at a worksite is widely perceived as an attack by security on protesters. North Dakotas limited use of the National Guard is seen as heavy-handed. This is unfortunate because, overall, the state and local authorities have taken a patient approach to the protests. Most of the arrests have been prompted by actions of the protesters. They wanted to be arrested to demonstrate their opposition to the pipeline. State and local officials need to do a better job of explaining how they have been handling the situation. Tuesdays announcement of a task force investigating the Sept. 3 incident helps. It indicates that authorities are taking seriously complaints from both sides. The investigation should be done as quickly as possible. Authorities also should be careful with their rhetoric. Yes, there have been acts of vandalism, but other than the Sept. 3 incident the protests have been peaceful. The Tribune Editorial Board has urged patience throughout the protests. State and local officials for the most part been accommodating to the protesters. Its going to take some time for the legal and administrative processes to be completed. Until then the state needs to do a better job of explaining its case on the national and world stage. Prosser, defense propel Berlin past Penns Manor in Appalachian Bowl Berlin Brothersvalley made it 2 wins in a row for the WestPAC in the Appalachian Bowl with convincing victory over Penns Manor at Windber Stadium. Theft from Car: A students car was broken into on March 30 in the Central parking lot. Drew Martinez, 26, a business management major from Collierville, found the lock on his car punched out and his stereo missing. I park right under a light so its lit up when I walk to my car, Martinez said. My car wasnt damaged, but they broke my key lock and Im out $500. I didnt think this would happen in broad daylight, but its the University of Memphis. You just have to be careful. Martinez said the police have been very cooperative. Someone from police services called me today asking questions about my car, Martinez said. They didnt make anything difficult. Last year, 19 cars were burglarized at the U of M according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Thieves have stolen from at least six vehicles on campus since Jan. 1, according to police reports written by U of M Campus Police Services. Derek Myers, the Assistant Chief and Director of Police Operations, said out of 38 reports of theft from vehicles and theft of motor vehicle parts, only 3 were cleared when an arrest was made. Traditionally, more burglaries happen during the day, because there are more cars out here during the day, Myers said. Domestic Assault: A 23-year-old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend in front of a University of Memphis dorm on March 28. The alleged attack was on State Street in front of Rawls Hall in the heart of campus just after 3 p.m. according to a University of Memphis campus Police report written by Officer Claude Berry. Officer Berry saw the couple arguing during his regular patrol, according to his report. The victim told police that Jeffery Clark Jones, 23, had gotten physical with her after they ended their relationship. Officer Berry wrote that the victim had minor injuries, according to the report. Jones was arrested and marijuana was found on his person, Officer Berry said. Jones was charged domestic assault and possession. After his Wednesday afternoon class, University of Memphis student Tim Givens found the driver window of his Honda Civic smashed and his car radio stolen. It looks like they shoved a screwdriver into the door lock first, the 22-year-old said. Its a pretty big hit. Between the window and radio, Givens said hes out nearly $600. I would have never though this could have happened in broad daylight, he said. Especially during a time when people are leaving and entering the parking lot. Givens parked in the Central Avenue lot and attended class between about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. He said police told him this is the first time in a while that a car was burglarized in daylight. Unless they install some cameras, I wont feel safe anymore, he said. Last year, 19 cars were burglarized at the U of M, according to the campus crime report produced by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Thieves have stolen from at least four cars on campus since Jan. 1, according to police reports written by U of M Campus Police Services. Derek Myers, the Assistant Chief and Director of Police Operations, said there were 38 theft from vehicle and theft of motor vehicle parts reports last year. Only three of these cases were cleared when an arrest was made. Traditionally, more burglaries happen during the day, because there are more cars out here during the day, Myers said. Sometimes we recover the property, but Im not sure how much, if any, we recovered last year. Often when we catch car burglars, we know they committed multiple crimes, but can only clear those we can prove they committed. Myers said there are cameras in lots where upgrades have been made. We were able to add the infrastructure, like electricity and Ethernet, to the upgraded lots and we are consistently adding to the 700 plus cameras on campus, Myers said. Michael Logan, 29, had a MacBook Pro stolen from his vehicle on Jan. 1. The laptop was later returned by someone who claimed a friend found it in the back of a truck. An initial officer report was filed on the first of January, Logan said. A campus officer followed up. I wanted to know what really happened, but the only lead relied on the person who brought my laptop back. I had the option of continuing the investigation and pressing charges, but I decided to just let it drop. Logans vehicle was parked in Lot #15-A on Southern Avenue. Another break-in took place in Lot #15-A on February 13 around noon. The investigation was never solved. On Jan. 21, a report was filed when a student saw a man near his car in the Living Learning Center parking lot and hit the panic button. The only thing that appeared to be missing was loose change. On Feb. 3, a license plate was removed from a car parked in the Pan-Hellenic Lot. In 2014, 18 cases of theft from motor vehicles were reported with no clearances. Theft of motor vehicle parts gathered 27 reports with two arrests. The best thing someone can do to prevent motor vehicle theft is to keep valuables out of sight, said Myers. Use anti-theft measures if students have them, like locking doors, turning on alarms and other things like that, he said. But was anyone listening? Thats my question after attending the 2015 Nobel-prize-winning economists talk last night in Rome at the Vatican-sponsored Cortile dei gentili (Court of Gentiles). Like the other speakers, Deaton voiced his concerns about income inequality. Unlike the others, however, he said much of it is caused by crony capitalism, a term whose meaning seems to have been lost on the Italian interpreter and hence the audience. She described it as a type of capitalism and negative capitalism but never really made the connection to politics, which is unfortunate given the high number of Italian politicians in attendance. Deaton added that countries become rich by escaping poverty, not by impoverishing others, that technological progress has undoubtedly made us richer, and that the world has greatly benefited from globalization even though too many people are still left behind. Government interference through taxes, regulation and corruption does more harm than good. The major problems with globalization are therefore political, not economic. There were also a number of Italian cardinals and bishops in attendance. Heres hoping that some of them relay Deatons clear-as-day message to Pope Francis, who really ought to be saying, Crony capitalism kills! instead of blaming the market economy in general. It is an obvious distinction to economists. In Italy, no one seems to know the difference. Note: This is the latest entry in the Acton blog series, What Christians Should Know About Economics. For other entries in the series see this post. The Term: Fractional Reserve Banking What it Means: Understanding fractional reserve banking is easier if we separate what it is (which is rather simple to explain) and the effects the system produces (which is slightly more complicated). Lets start by taking the term fractional reserve banking and working backwards. First, there is the banking part. For our purposes we mainly need to focus on two services banks provide. The first service is to provide a safe place for people to store currency (cash and coins). This is known as a deposit, or currency deposit, and there are two main types, a demand deposit and a time deposit. With a demand deposit you can remove the money you deposited with the bank at any time without prior notice (as with a checking account). With a time deposit you can only take your money out of the bank after a specified time (3-months, 6-months, etc.) and/or after giving the bank prior notice (as with a Certificate of Deposit (CD)). Second, there is the reserve, or bank reserve. This is simply the amount of a depositfrom 0 to 100 percentthat the bank is required to keep on hand so that when people ask for their money back, the bank has the currency to give them. Finally, there is fractional part. This simply means that the bank only has to keep some fraction of the reserve and is not required to keep a 100 percent reserve on hand. (Technically, the fraction could range anywhere from 1 to 99 percent, but the amount required is generally determined by the Federal Reserve.) To make money, banks usually loan out the amount that they arent required to keep as a reserve. While that seems straightforward, the effect is rather surprising (and often controversial): because the bank is allowed to loan the portion that isnt required to be held in reserve, commercial banks create new money. To make it easier to understand this point, watch this one-minute video: If you only leave with one takeaway from this post it should be this: the fractional reserve system makes it possible for commercial banks to increase the money supply in the economy by creating money. (This will be important to know for future posts in this series.) Other Stuff You Might Want to Know: How much money can banks add to the money supply using fractional reserve banking? We can get a rough, though mostly accurate, estimation using the formula called the money multiplier. This formula says that the money multiplier, m, is the inverse of the reserve requirement, R or m = 1/R. For example, if the reserve ratio is 20 percent (i.e., the Federal reserve requires banks to hold 20 percent of all deposits in reserve, or 20 cents on every dollar), the reserve ratio, R, would be 1/5 or .20. So when we plug that into our equation we get: m = 1/.20 = 5. So if a bank gets a $1,000 deposit and the reserve rate is 20 percent the money they loan will add a maximum of $5,000 into the money supply. The primary alternative to fractional reserve banking is full-reserve banking (also known as 100 percent reserve banking). This is the requirement that banks must keep 100 percent of demand deposits in cash. Since they wouldnt be able loan out money kept in demand deposits, banks would likely charge customers a higher fee to store such deposits. This system was favored by many free market economists, such as Milton Friedman and Murray Rothbard. (Some Austrian economists even claim that, In a free-market system, the practice of fractional-reserve banking would be illegal by its very nature.) Fractional reserve banking predates government control/oversight of the banking system. Some economic historians claim that federal reserve systems were implemented by nation-states precisely to provide some control over the money supply. This is also why some economists still support full-reserve banking. Irving Fischer, who Milton Friedman called the greatest economist of the 20th century, wrote in 1935 that, 100 per cent banking [] would give the Federal Reserve absolute control over the money supply. Some Christians argue that the fractional reserve system violates biblical principles. For example, the theonomist Gary North says, The Bible is clear on three legal principles . . . (2) multiple indebtedness, which is the basis of fractional reserve banking, must not be allowed (Exodus 22:26). North lays out his argument for this claim in his free book, Honest Money. Personally, I do not find Norths argument either coherent or compelling. I think hes engaging in creative eisegesis to contend that Scripture agrees with his own economic policy preference. As John W. Robbins says, Was it really only three months ago when the massed ranks of the worlds economists were predicting instant calamity for Britain if voters chose Brexit? How theyve changed their tune! In the run-up to the referendum, the OECD said a vote to withdraw would be a major negative shock to the UK economy, akin to a tax on GDP. At the supposedly impartial Bank of England, governor Mark Carney agreed, eagerly endorsing George Osbornes warning: A vote to leave would represent an immediate and profound shock to our economy. That shock would push our economy into a recession. Was it really only three months ago when the massed ranks of the worlds economists were predicting instant calamity for Britain if voters chose Brexit? But listen to them now. Yesterday, the OECD predicted higher UK growth this year than its pre-referendum forecast, which had assumed a Remain victory. What happened to that tax on GDP? Meanwhile at the Bank, the monthly survey by its regional agents found business sentiment improved in the first full month after the result, with consumer confidence high and a tourism boom to ice the cake. In a separate upbeat report, the Office for National Statistics concluded: The referendum result appears, so far, not to have had a major impact. So where does this leave the 88 per cent of 600 economists polled before the vote, who said Brexits effects would be dire? For an answer, flash back to 1981, when 364 of Britains most eminent economists warned that Margaret Thatchers monetarism would lead to disaster. The boom that revolutionised our economy can be dated almost exactly to that day. In 1981, 364 of Britains most eminent economists warned that Margaret Thatchers monetarism would lead to disaster If only the experts would engage their brains, instead of indulging in groupthink, they might see how much we have to gain from breaking free of the suffocating EU regulations which, along with the euro, have dragged most of the continent to ruin while other nations prosper. Yes, of course there may be storms ahead. But it is surely not too soon to say that those who predicted an immediate shock in some cases hoping for the gongs they duly received should hang their heads in shame. What a tribute to the British people that they were wise enough to see through them. Aunties bloated army TO many, it will come as little surprise that journalists in the BBCs news division are paid up to 40 per cent more than their equivalents in the commercial media. Its only our money theyre spending, after all. But isnt it jaw-dropping that the division employs 7,500 staff including more journalists than work in the whole of Fleet Street (which, incidentally, breaks most of the stories the supine BBC follows up). Leave aside how this mighty army distorts public debate with its uniform pink-tinged views. Havent licence-fee payers every right to voice outrage at the overstaffing, duplication and waste? As the ever-calculating Tony Blair endorses Hillary Clinton and says he will close his secretive business empire to devote 80 per cent of his time to unpaid work, this paper has a question: whats his game this time? In words that should stir the nations conscience, an officer still hounded over the death of an Iraqi teenager 13 years ago tells MPs how soldiers are hung out to dry by utterly indifferent ministers and top brass anxious to cover their own backs. It is not just contemptibly ungrateful to treat those who risk their lives for us like this. In this volatile world, with our security depending on their loyalty and morale, it is also dangerous. Tony Blair meets Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev Tony Blairs most famous catchphrase was Education, education, education. Now, it really ought to be Money, money, money. Ever since he stood down as Prime Minister in 2007, he and Cherie Blair have been running a vast money-making machine. Its so secretive and complicated that its hard to put an exact figure on the sums hes accumulated in the past nine years. But its thought hes made between 60million and 100 million even if, last year, he said hed made only 20million. Meanwhile, the Blairs property empire 38 properties in all is worth around 32 million, with 36 of them in the name of Cherie or jointly with their children. The fact is that the couples love of money is so great that its hard to believe that the former Labour leader is closing his commercial ventures in order to concentrate on not-for-profit activities. He claims he will donate the substantial financial reserves of the businesses Tony Blair Associates and his Windrush and Firerush structures to non-profit work. Although hell retain a small number of personal consultancies for his day-to-day income, he claims 80 per cent of his time will be spent on non-profit activities. I would take all this with a gigantic pinch of salt. As the joint author of Blair Inc, which attempted to unravel the ex-PMs business dealings, I uncovered an unedifying tale of greed and hubris which makes me reluctant to accept what Blair has said this week. The truth, I believe, is that Blair has been forced to row back on his businesses because they are in trouble after his reputation took a huge pummelling in the Chilcot Report, which exposed how he took Britain to war in Iraq based on flawed intelligence. Not only have business openings closed but being seen as a political pariah means that he has not been invited (as hed hoped) to head a major international body. Indeed, every time he goes out in public, he fears that someone might try to make a citizens arrest of him for war crimes in Iraq. So this scaling down of his businesses has little to do with any real charitable humility; it is in fact the beginning of Operation Image Overhaul to try to stop his reputation being eternally tainted. Blair is well aware that he has become associated with some of the worlds most despicable despots most notably in Kazakhstan and Burma as well as of some of the most disagreeable plutocrats. He is also concerned that compared with his successor Gordon Brown, he is seen as a grubby moneybags. For his part, Brown does not rub shoulders with the mega-rich or charge bloated consultancy fees. Instead, he pursues philanthropic ventures, particularly his charity which promotes education in the Third World and conflict zones. Ever since he stood down as Prime Minister in 2007, he and Cherie Blair have been running a vast money-making machine. Pictured is a protester in a Tony Blair mask The contrast could hardly be starker: one former Labour PM striving selflessly for the worlds poor; and the other hob-nobbing with the richest dictators in search of a quick buck or a quick million bucks. It has seemed that Blair couldnt care less about who he advises, as long as they have a huge bank account. I believe this is partly down to a deep psychological flaw a fatal lack of self-awareness. It is true that he does occasionally carry out selfless acts such as supporting efforts to eradicate the disease ebola in Sierra Leone but he is ineffective at publicising them. Now hes worried his reputation is so blackened that the gilt-edged consultancy deals are drying up. In addition, he has lost friends in the Middle East, where he served as a peace envoy for eight years. He was accused of compromising his independence by getting involved in two murky Middle Eastern ventures. In 2010, Blair agreed a secret contract with a Saudi oil company which involved him arranging introductions to his contacts in China for a fee of 41,000 a month (plus two per cent commission on any deals he helped broker). The contract came to light only after it was leaked to a British newspaper two years ago. If Hillary Clinton becomes U.S. President, there is a chance he might get a high-powered job in America The other deal involved Blair mounting an intense political lobbying campaign to rescue a struggling mobile-phone business owned by a client of JP Morgan the same bank that paid him a reported 2 million annual salary. The business, Ooredoo, also made a donation to the Cherie Blair Foundation For Women. Indeed, Cheries work does not seem to be affected by Blairs decision this week. She has her own money-making arm, which will presumably continue. Her law firm, Omnia Strategy, helps countries manage their political security risks from Albania to Bahrain, Egypt and Nigeria. She also has her vast property portfolio. Indeed, the failure of her plan to build a 65 million series of private health clinics will surely push her on to further money- spinning schemes. Meanwhile, Tony Blair has also kept the exact breakdown of his future business work typically secretive. But the fact he has retained a number of personal consultancies means that he still has the potential to earn big sums. He SAYS 80 per cent of his time will be spent on non-profit work but during the other 20 per cent, he can continue to build up his mammoth cash pile. However, he will find the doors are clanging shut. The Blairs property empire 38 properties in all is worth around 32 million, with 36 of them in the name of Cherie or jointly with their children Politically, with Labour in its greatest crisis in 30 years, he is not seen as a potential saviour because too many in the party see his legacy as toxic. Brexit has also meant another door has shut in his face. In the past, Blair has lobbied to become President of the European Council. That is no longer an opportunity with Britain pulling out of the EU. He still desperately hopes for some face-saving job with a supranational body such as the UN but the more his reputation is trashed, the less likely that is. Thus Operation Image Overhaul. If Hillary Clinton becomes U.S. President, there is a chance he might get a high-powered job in America. Indeed, he lavished praise on her this week as a woman of enormous wisdom, common-sense, and integrity. The Blairs have been close to the Clintons since Tony and Bill were in office at the same time. Hillary also met Tony regularly when she was Secretary of State and he was a Middle East Representative. Of course Blair retains some credibility in America where he is welcome and seen as a hero for having joined Bush in the Iraq war albeit as a poodle, according to his critics. This is the great Blair conundrum: he and Cherie love mingling with the super-rich such as the Clintons and Manhattan bankers. But the tragedy for them is that they never feel rich enough. However wealthy they get, they can never escape what has become the ever-present soundtrack to their lives, the Abba hit Money, Money, Money. Prince Charles heads for Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates in November Prince Charles heads for Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates in November. The trip to Bahrain will be the first full-scale visit by a senior royal there since its ruling family brutally put down an Arab Spring uprising in 2011. The Prince is obliged by the Foreign Office to raise the question of Bahraini human rights because its rulers prefer royal-to-royal diplomacy. But King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is unlikely to be concerned. The Bahrainis are popular with the Windsors. The king regularly visits the royal marquee at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which is dependent on Bahraini sponsorship, and was perched next to the Queen at her 90th birthday pageant in May. My source says: Charless approach is to raise such matters obliquely, almost apologetically. Staff at Madame Tussauds have separated the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie mannequins. Perhaps theyll also consider repositioning publicity-prone Tory MP William Hague next to Ms Jolie. He won international media coverage as Foreign Secretary by inviting the actress to address a conference about rape in war zones, and in his home treasures a portrait of the American siren. Whither Southfork or Sunninghill Park, Berkshire the Tesco-style, 12-bedroom mansion given to the Duke and Duchess of York as a wedding present by the Queen? Almost a year after its demolition, the rubble can still be seen over the 15ft walls, despite the fact planning permission was granted almost three years ago for a replacement mansion. Its nine years since Prince Andrew sold it to Kazakh businessman Timur Kulibayev for 15million far more than its market worth. Elizabeth Hurleys efforts to publicise her bikini fashion range the still-fetching 51-year-old posed to promote her revealing, 150 creations are mocked in the US, where Fox News magazine questions their fasteners, pointing out: Theyre not holding anything together! Elizabeth Hurleys efforts to publicise her bikini fashion range the still-fetching 51-year-old posed to promote her revealing, 150 creations - are mocked in the US 'Its almost as if the wardrobe department wanted Hurleys cleavage to come spilling out As if shy Ms Hurley would agree to such a stunt. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, 46, looks and sounds like a dysfunctional meerkat on crack, opines outspoken Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames. Considering his party has only eight MPs and seems on the edge of extinction, Farron is attracting a disproportionate amount of abuse. Who will retain Miraval, the 1,000-acre Provencal estate, chateau and vineyard with a three-mile drive bought in 2008 for 35million by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt? It was restored from a ruin by the French Jazz Bach pianist Jacques Loussier, now 81. Who will retain Miraval, the 1,000-acre Provencal estate, chateau and vineyard with a three-mile drive bought in 2008 for 35million by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt? It was Loussier who performed the theme tune for the famous Hamlet cigar TV ad in which a smoker lights up the aforementioned stogie to cheer himself up after some comic disaster. Of all the hysterical scares about the Brexit vote, the nuttiest Ive heard is this weeks theory that it may have caused a collapse of self-confidence among young British women. Such was the suggestion put forward apparently with a straight face by a group calling itself the Young Womens Trust (YWT), as it unveiled a survey of 4,000 under-30s, asking about their troubles and anxieties. This finds that 54 per cent of women aged 18-30 claim they lack self-confidence, compared with only 39 per cent of men in the same age group. A group of young women take to the waters of Ullswater in the Lake District to cool off recently. But are women like this really lacking in self-confidence? Meanwhile, the number of young women saying they are worried about their future has apparently risen in a single year from 38 per cent to 55 per cent. As it warns that a generation of females is growing up tortured by anxiety, self-doubt and despair, the YWT solemnly declares: A Brexit factor when comparing this year to last cannot be ruled out, given that the fieldwork for the 2016 survey took place immediately after the referendum on UK membership of the EU. I confess that even before I reached that sentence, I suspected this report was a load of old tosh. Yes, I was quite prepared to believe that many more young women than men had told the pollsters they lacked self-confidence. After all, women through the ages have been much more open about their feelings and insecurities than my own, more reticent sex. But anyone who has encountered males and females in this age-group and I write as the father of four sons, three of them under 30 will surely testify that in the self-confidence stakes, the lasses beat the lads hands down. Of course, there are exceptions of both sexes. But in my experience, the female friends of our offspring are ten times more outgoing and easier to talk to than the monosyllabic, introspective males. This greater self-confidence must go some way to explaining why young women these days often find it easier to land jobs than their male contemporaries. Young men might be loud and full of machismo, but do they actually possess more self-confidence than young women deep down? I don't think so As the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports, last year, women aged 22-29 in full-time work were typically better paid, too. It is also worth noting that figures released last month by the university admissions service UCAS showed 27,400 more women than men were offered places at the first time of asking this year. I might add that girls being more gregarious, better at forming friendships and readier to get on with strangers tend to move out of the family nest and into flat-shares at a younger age than boys, who linger ever longer at home (though Im not naming names!) All of which makes me wonder about some of the other complaints in the YWT survey. Take the claim that 39 per cent of young women struggle to make their wages last until the end of the month, compared with only 27 per cent of young men. Clearly, the YWT wants us to draw the inference that females in this age-group are harder-up than males. But since the ONS suggests the opposite (where full-time employees are concerned), dare I put forward an alternative explanation? Could it be that career women tend to spend more cash than men, on such things as clothes, shoes and make-up? Even in these gender-fluid times, after all, retail therapy remains a distinctively feminine cure for lifes ills. To many of us chaps at least three of my four sons included shopping remains as grim an ordeal as sitting through an hour of Strictly Come Dancing or The Great British Bake Off. To be fair, another reason for twenty-something womens comparative shortage of funds before payday may be that they are more likely to have homes to call their own, with rent to pay and food to buy, while less self-confident males remain in the family nest (though I mustnt sound obsessed). But this cannot be construed as evidence that they are hard done by. Or take the surveys finding that 30 per cent of young women say they have experienced sex discrimination when working or looking for work. To me, the only surprise was that the figure was so low. But this is not because I believe there is widespread discrimination against women any more (though there was when I was starting out in the world of work). Indeed, most of the figures suggest the contrary, what with the gender pay gap fast closing and women overtaking men, not only in university places but also in admission to most of the professions, including medicine, the law and now the Church. No, the only reason Im surprised that just 30 per cent complain of sex discrimination is that feminist groups never cease telling women that such bigotry is endemic. You cant switch on Womans Hour or Newsnight, or open The Guardian, without being told its a scandal that there are too few female engineers, heart surgeons or whatever. So successful have they been in putting across this message that three-quarters of the women surveyed (and even 54 per cent of the men) said they believed sex discrimination is still rife in the workplace which makes it all the more remarkable that less than a third claim to have suffered it themselves. With this ready-made excuse, you might think that any woman turned down for a job or promotion, which went instead to a man, might be tempted to blame old-fashioned male chauvinism. All credit to womens fair-mindedness that so few do. What I would like to know is how many young men claim to have suffered sex discrimination in the workplace. After all, there are plenty these days who are passed over for jobs or promotion in favour of women (I can think of three off the top of my head). But alas, the survey gives no figure. In the right-on world of the YWT, unlike the real world, the phenomenon of sex discrimination against men appears not to exist. But then this organisation makes no secret of its militant feminist credentials, bemoaning the fact that only 1 per cent of its young interviewees thought construction work best suited to women, while 59 per cent believed it more fitted to men. It draws comfort, however, from its finding that 71 per cent believe engineering is equally suited to both sexes. Are young women coming under pressure to adopt traditionally masculine careers that clash with their feminine instincts? There are encouraging, albeit early signs, of reduced gender stereotyping of roles among young people, says the report. Compared with last year, significantly more people said that jobs were equally suited to young men and young women. But why should this be thought encouraging? Call me a Neanderthal, but I would say there are clear differences between the sexes not just physical which make some jobs eminently more suited to men than women, and vice versa. Indeed, isnt it just possible that one of the reasons why 46 per cent of young women say they feel worn down, while 38 per cent worry about their mental health, may be that they are under constant pressure from organisations such as YWT to adopt traditionally masculine careers that clash with their feminine instincts? Of course, other reasons must include the pressures of social media, the work-life balance and the modern female neurosis about body image. It is even conceivable, I suppose, that impressionable young women were plunged into gloom by Brexit (in which case, shame on you, Georgie Porgie Osborne, for making the girls cry with your absurd scaremongering). But I reckon a hell of a lot of the blame lies with pressure groups such as YWT, which refuse to accept the animal nature of homo sapiens and the psychological differences between the sexes. What is this YWT, anyway? Fascinatingly, it turns out to be the new name of the good old YWCA the Young Womens Christian Association, founded in 1855 to offer comfort, education and support, in a warm Christian atmosphere to single women arriving in London from the countryside. Now hijacked by feminists and reinvented as a worldwide human rights-based organisation, its trustees include two close former aides of Gordon Brown Deborah Mattinson and the Labour peeress Sue Nye. Enough said. And so it continues: the gut-wrenching betrayal of British soldiers by bent lawyers, cowardly defence department jobsworths and pusillanimous politicians none of whom have been anywhere near the blood and guts of the battlefield. Now we learn the British troops who captured and detained a Taliban bomb maker, Serdar Mohammed, in April 2010 are facing a criminal investigation from their own government. His complaint? His human rights were breached when he was detained for three months and bitten by a military dog. British troops had an impossible mission in Afghanistan and now they find their decisions second-guessed by a bunch of pen-pushers Leave to one side the murderous carnage in Helmand, when dozens of British soldiers were being killed or maimed by Taliban bombs every month. Would he prefer to have been handed to the Afghans, who would have tortured him or worse? This one case alone is an outrage too far. But as we have revealed, he is just one of 160 Afghans whose hundreds of complaints are now being pored over by Operation Northmoor. Then there is Iraq. As we report today, the welcome collapse of Phil Shiners ambulance-chasing Public Interest Lawyers means more than 1,000 cases with the Iraq Historic Allegations Team will be dismissed by the New Year. Of course this is welcome, but after six years and 30million, IHAT will have been through more than 2,000 cases and secured just one conviction resulting in a small fine. This whole debacle would never have got off the ground if it hadnt been for lawyers like Shiner exploiting Labours Human Rights Act. To which the Mail says: what about the human rights of those who risked their lives for their country? This is a witch-hunt, pure and simple. So Theresa May is absolutely right to tell her defence chiefs as she did last night to stop the abuse of the system. Her words are welcome, but now we need action. This scandal must end. The EU needs Britain The Mail never believed the blatant lies of the architects of Project Fear when they said Britain would be on the back foot in Brexit trade talks. Now, a report by the Civitas think-tank shows just how much more the EU needs us than we need them. Strikingly, there are 3.6million British jobs linked to our trade with the EU, but 5.8million EU jobs reliant on exports to the UK. Boris Johnson (pictured) said yesterday: 'Not only do we buy more German cars than anybody else, we drink more Italian wine than everyone else theyre not going to put that at risk' Germany alone has 1.3million linked to exports here, compared with 751,000 jobs here based on exports to Germany. As Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson put it yesterday, as he suggested a deal could be done in less than two years: We will benefit from fantastic opportunities for free trade with our friends in the EU. 'Not only do we buy more German cars than anybody else, we drink more Italian wine than everyone else theyre not going to put that at risk. He is quite right. We would suggest he ignore the hollow threats from Brussels about punishing Britain. It would be like cutting off their own legs. Mrs May is right to review the Conservative Partys garish fundraiser, the Black and White Ball. Under David Cameron it was populated by porn barons and the worst kind of spivvy businessmen and became a deeply unedifying spectacle which said everything about how distant from ordinary people the Tories were. Despite visiting for only three days, Crown Princess Mary has made the most of her whirlwind trip to New York City. Over the past three days she has attended an array of events, from a reception for Women Deliver and a World Leaders event to presenting a speech at the UN Population Fund side event. And on Wednesday afternoon, the Australian-born royal took some time to visit a Nordic food hall at the iconic Grand Central Terminal. Princess in NYC: On Wednesday afternoon Princess Mary took some time to visit a Nordic food hall in New York with the Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lkke Rasmussen (left) and Claus Meyer Natural beauty: The 44-year-old Princess looked elegant and summery as she arrived in a white Hugo Boss blouse and a beautiful Dolce & Gabbana floral skirt Chic: She paired her outfit with classic nude pumps from Jimmy Choo and accessorised with a simple yet colourful jewelled necklace The 44-year-old Princess looked elegant and summery as she arrived in a white Hugo Boss blouse and a beautiful Dolce & Gabbana floral skirt which retails for approximately AUD $800. She paired her outfit with classic nude pumps from Jimmy Choo and accessorised with a simple yet colourful jewelled necklace. This is not the first time she has worn this outfit combination, with the Princess also wearing it for a meeting in Johannesburg in 2014. Curious: While at Grand Central Terminal, Princess Mary took part in a tour of Claus Meyer's Nordic market hall, the Great Northern Food Hall Intrigued: The food hall opened in the Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal in June, 2016, and offers customers Nordic-inspired food with seasonal menus and 'Scandinavian hospitality' Indepth tour: It was started by Danish culinary entrepreneur Claus Meyer (right) who is the co-founder of world-renowned Danish restaurant, Noma She also wore the skirt earlier in 2014 at the opening of a childhood reading campaign in Roskilde, a city west of Copenghagen. While at Grand Central Terminal, Princess Mary took part in a tour of Claus Meyer's Nordic market hall, the Great Northern Food Hall. The food hall opened in the Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal in June, 2016, and offers customers Nordic-inspired food with seasonal menus and 'Scandinavian hospitality.' It was started by MeyersUSA which is a hospitality group in New York owned by Danish culinary entrepreneur Claus Meyer - the creator of the 'New Nordic Cuisine movement' and the co-founder of world-renowned Danish restaurant, Noma. All eyes on Mary: The Princess was photographed in conversation with Meyer, who animatedly explained what the hall was all about and the purpose it served in the city Busy schedule: Following the extensive tour she joined Meyer for a short lunch Non-stop: The visit to the food hall was one of Princess Mary's final engagements in New York and she is due to fly to Washington DC with Prince Frederik on the 27th of September Princess Mary toured the hall with Meyer and the Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lkke Rasmussen. The Princess was photographed in conversation with Meyer, who animatedly explained what the hall was all about and the purpose it served in the city. Following the extensive tour she joined Meyer for a short lunch. The visit to the food hall was one of Princess Mary's final engagements in New York and she is due to fly to Washington DC with Prince Frederik on the 27th of September. After a long distance romance, the couple married and settled in Australia At the time Daniel lived in Australia while Rebecca was in the US They met through a Facebook support group and fell in love Until treatment, neither of them had a sex drive or developed Rebecca and Daniel Howard's love story reads like the plot of a romance novel. It started with a chance meeting as teenagers, followed by a long distance online relationship spanning more than two years, and finally a surprise trip halfway across the world to propose before a dream wedding a year later. But it hasn't always been an easy journey for Rebecca, 20, and Daniel, 23, as both have a rare condition called Kallmann Syndrome, meaning that, for a time, they were frozen in childhood, never having gone through puberty. Like a fairytale: Rebecca and Daniel Howard (above) both have a rare genetic condition meaning they didn't go through puberty Made for each other: The pair met as teenagers on an online support group for Kallmann Syndrome and fell in love Kallmann Syndrome is an extremely rare genetic condition, with only one in every 100,000 people diagnosed with it. The syndrome means that those with it never go through puberty and without medical intervention their bodies are essentially trapped in childhood. Not only are sufferers smaller in size since the don't have a growth spurt associated with puberty, but they don't have a sex drive or developed genitals or reproductive organs. Before hormone treatment, Rebecca had no interest in sex or dating at all. 'I didn't feel any sexual attraction to anyone,' she told Daily Mail. 'Now it's a lot different! But back then I didn't want to have sex at all. I had no sex drive, I had no desire to be close to someone like that before.' The couple, who have been receiving hormone treatment for some years, both have developed through puberty now and enjoy a healthy sex life. I take thee: They were married in January 2016, almost four years after first connecting on Facebook WHAT IS KALLMANN SYNDROME? Kallmann Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects approximately one in every 100,000 people. It prevents the body from going through puberty naturally, so sufferers are smaller in size and do not have developed genitals or reproductive organs. Those with Kallmann Syndrome also don't have a sense of smell, and a lack of a sex drive. Some people with Kallmann Syndrome are infertile, but others can have children with hormone and fertility treatments. Advertisement But Rebecca was 15 before she was diagnosed, with doctors dismissing her earlier concerns that something wasn't right with her body. 'I looked like I was 10 when I was actually 15,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I didn't have my period, I didn't have breasts, but doctors just kept saying I was a late bloomer. 'Daniel was diagnosed at 17 but he looked like he was 12.' Eventually Rebecca found out about Kallmann's after having an ultrasound on her uterus, where it was discovered it was the size of a six-year-old's. By the time the couple met they had both started treatment and begun to go through puberty, although a few years later than their peers. Frozen in childhood: Kallmann Syndrome means both Daniel and Rebecca never went through puberty or had any kind of sex drive Hot hot hot: Now however, after hormone treatments, the couple have a healthy sex life They met not long after they were both diagnosed with Kallmann Syndrome, via a Facebook support group for people with the condition. Daniel, who was 19 at the time, sent Rebecca, 16, a friend request saying he had Kallman's too and wanted to talk. 'We instantly felt a connection,' Rebecca, who regularly vlogs about her journey on YouTube, said. 'We would chat for hours every day on Skype and Facebook.' They talked for two and a half years from across the world, with Rebecca based in the United States and Daniel in Australia. 'We were crazy for each other,' she explained. 'We were saying, "I think we were both meant to have Kallmann's so we could meet. God has brought us together."' 'I looked like I was 10': Kallmann Syndrome meant that until she was diagnosed at 15, Rebecca looked very young Rare: Kallmann's is only present in every one in 100,000 people so it is extremely rare Then, in December 2014, the couple met for the first time when Daniel flew to America to see Rebecca. 'He surprised me,' she said. 'He arrived a couple of days early. I came out of my bedroom and he was just there standing at my front door.' The couple embraced and shared their first kiss after spending years falling in love via a computer screen. Daniel stayed in America for a month, and at the end of the trip, on 9 January 2015, proposed to the love of his life. The couple were married exactly a year later in the United States, before flying to Australia to live. Looking forward: The couple want children, but will have to undergo fertility and hormone treatments Now, nine months on, they're settled in Nyngan, New South Wales, and planning their future. The couple want children, but it may be difficult for them to fall pregnant due to Kallmann's Syndrome. 'Long term we want children,' Rebecca said. 'But we both have to go through fertility treatments and hormone replacement therapy to fall pregnant.' For now, they're just enjoying being married and in love, looking back in awe on how they were able to meet. The founder of global fashion brand Jennifer Kate has revealed her secrets to success after her side line hobby of creating the perfect outfit with the perfect fit turned into her life. Jennifer McCloy, 30, has gone from strength to strength since launching her first range for Jennifer Kate which had just seven outfits, mostly made from fur with touches of leather. She now sells her clothes across Australia and America, is worn by the Kardashians and has featured in two consecutive years at fashion week. Jennifer McCloy, pictured, started her fashion company five years ago, when she was 30 Her fashion line Jennifer Kate has been featured at Australia's fashion week for two years running (models pictured on the cat walk) The fashion designer started out making clothes on the side but within a few years she had to quit her job because her business was soaring (one of her designs pictured) The young business woman told Daily Mail Australia her secrets to success stressing a work/life balance as key in any business. 'When I first started Jennifer Kate I was working full time in corporate PR and then coming home to work on my designs,' Jennifer said. 'My now fiance would joke that I was dating my business not him. 'But I think every business owner would say it is like being in a relationship.' Now she makes sure she gives her friends and family the time they deserve. 'When I was working and doing Jennifer Kate I would be busy all the time, now I know how important it is to have time where you switch off from work. 'I mean you think about it when you wake up and when you go to sleep but it is important to make room for other things too.' Jennifer McCloy, 30, saw the business as her opportunity to be her own boss Her designs are primarily fur and leather and are available in Australia and overseas The designer started with a small collection featuring just seven items - her collections now can have more than 50 styles Jennifer quit her office job after her business had been around for two years and she hasn't looked back. 'I probably stayed in my job, which I loved, for six-months too long. 'I wasn't quickly seduced into being my own boss and knew I wanted good foundations before making that move.' Jennifer also believes business owners need to work with other people to make the most out of their brand. 'There is unparalleled value in collaboration,' she said. WHAT ARE JENNIFER'S TIPS? Jennifer has five important tips for anyone who wants to start a business from scratch. 1- 'There is unparalleled value in collaboration' - learn to work well with others so they can help you 2- 'Delegation is key even though it is hard to let go' giving jobs to other members of the team means you have more time for other important jobs. 3- 'Work life balance is important' when Jennifer started the company she didn't spend enough time with loved ones, but has worked out a balance. 4- 'Put as much time into the business framework as you do with the product' Jennifer says it is important to have stable foundations with a growing business. 5- 'Understand every part of your business' from finances to product to distribution and marketing. Jennifer says it is important to know how it all works even (especially) if you are outsourcing that job. Advertisement 'Whether you are dealing with a supplier or an agency it is really important to ask what everyone else thinks that's how we end up learning new things every day.' Jennifer has hired six designers since starting her business and says they work as a team to come up with the best designs and ideas. She also calls her dad, a farmer from Young in Western NSW three or four times every day because he is her business mentor. She says working with her dad has been helpful for her a business woman a brought them even closer than they were before. When working with other people delegation becomes a big issue, Jennifer explained. 'When you start you think you can do everything but you have to realise it is better if you have people you can ask for help. 'It can be difficult to let go but delegation is an important part of any business.' Jennifer also recommends knowing every part of the business even if it is being outsourced and to spend as much time on the business framework as the fun creative aspects. 'This might sound boring but strong framework is important,' she said. The designer prides herself on making clothes that look good on women She says fashion week, (pictured), has been a highlight of her fashion career so far Jennifer has five pieces advice for people who want to start their own businesses, one of those pieces of advice is to allow enough 'me time' She now works with other fashion labels helping them understand the business side of their ventures. 'Sometimes you see these people who have amazing talent but they aren't able to show the world how wonderful they are,' she said. 'I am more business than creative and I hope that once Jennifer Kate is well established I can turn more to the consulting side to help other labels with their framework. The fashionista said every day as a business owner is a 'roller coaster' filled with extreme ups and downs but she has a few favourite memories from the beginning of her career with Jennifer Kate that help her push through the down-times. The first moment was when Jennifer was working to launch her first collection. The fashion designer, centre, also says it is important to surround yourself with other people to help with ideas Most pieces in the Jennifer Kate collection are made from leather - they are all designed in Sydney by Jen and her team The business managed to break even in less than a year and has grown stronger every year 'We didn't have a big budget for a photo shoot so we headed out to the street with the collection and asked random women if they would like to try it on. 'We had so many beautiful shots of beautiful women in that look book and it was a really fun day. 'Some of them are still faithful Jennifer Kate customers.' The next top moment was a year in when Kim Kardashian was in town pre-Kanye. 'She told all the PR agencies that she wanted to wear Australian labels while she was in the country so we sent some things to her. 'She is well known for sending thing back that she doesn't want but she kept everything we gave her. The designer remembers the moment Kim Kardashian tweeted her about her clothes Jennifer is now looking at the UK market as she hopes to continue her rapid growth to become a more global brand The fashion designer worked for two years while her business took off and had no time for a social life 'At the end of her trip she tweeted me to thank me for the 'amazing clothes', at first I didn't think it was the real deal but I clicked on her profile and it had like 20 million followers we were ecstatic. 'We have even made it through the Kanye wardrobe change and have seen our stuff on some of the other Kardashians too.' Jennifer is now looking at the UK market as she hopes to continue her rapid growth to become a more global brand. The brand which grew rapidly online uses Paypal for all aspects of the business. She uses the company to pay suppliers overseas, invoice retailers and to run online transactions. She chose to use the business because it was secure, track able and fast. Sanchez, Jesus. Datos para la zoologia medica mexicana: aracnidos e insectos. Mexico: Oficina Tipografica de la Secretaria de Fomento, 1893. viii, 189, iv pages, 9 leaves of plates : illustrations ; 23 cm. Parra, Alfonso. Atlas historico de la Escuela Nacional Preparatoria: desde su fundacion hasta los momentos de celebrarse el centenario de la proclamacion de la Independencia, septiembre 15 de 1910 / Mexico : [Escuela Nacional Preparatoria], 1910. 1 vol. With the single purpose of serving the country and with the belief that scientific study should be used with practical ends, Doctor Jesus Sanchez elaborated his essay on Mexican Medical Zoology (Datos para la zoologia medica mexicana), where he acknowledges the value of studying the animal kingdom, within which exists a vast variety that can offer both benefits and diseases. Equally, he states that it is not only important to study the organisms living inside our own bodies, it is also necessary to know those whose venoms, when inoculated in the human body, can cause, from very light inconveniences, to very serious symptoms and even death. That is why the author developed an essay about this topic, identifying, describing and studying arachnids and insects from several parts of Mexico that cause damage to the human health. Doctor Jesus Sanchez was a physician by profession, a member of the Academy of Medicine, and responsible of the professorships in Zoology and Biology at the National High School and the National School of Agriculture, where he has dedicated several years to the compilation of insects; these where included in his work of Mexican Medical Zoology, published in 1893. A second edition or reprint of this work has never been published. During the development of this work, Doctor Sanchez exchanged knowledge, talks and experiences with the doctors and brothers Alfredo and Eugenio Duges. Alfredo Duges was a great illustrator who made a perfect descriptive work of the Aquatic Spider, or hydroarachnid, native of Guanajuato. Duges directed Sanchez and recommended the research of other zoology scholars, like Fernando Altamirano, Lauro Jimenez, Antonio Penafiel, Alfonso Herrera and Gumersindo Mendoza, among others, as well as other prominent publications from the naturalists Francisco J. Clavijero and Jose Alzate Ramirez. Datos para la zoologia medica mexicana describes, in a detailed manner, nine orders of arachnids and scorpions, as well as five orders of insects, ants and bees, using a mixture of a colloquial and technical language, explaining symptoms, cures and medicines that can be used to fight against symptoms caused by the bites or contact with insects. Within his work we can find a remarkably detailed index of every order and term, as well as illustrations for context. 7. Horia maculata. 9. Treiodous barranci (macho). 10. Treiodous barranci (hembra). http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51139812. One can appreciate nine pages that contain the illustrations of arachnids, scorpions, several insects, ants and bees, elaborated by hand with colours identical to those of the studied animals. Being a professor of the National High School, Sanchezs published works supported the students with knowledge and practical applications; he offered his expertise during his lectures and turned new students towards the development of science and knowledge. Sarcoptes scabiei (hembra). Visto por el dorso. (seg. Gudden). http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51139802. Doctor Jesus Sanchez is also the author of other works related to the Mexican Medical Zoology of arachnids and insects, such as: Elementos de historia natural en forma de lecciones de cosas: Obra escrita expresamente para uso de las escuelas primarias de la nacion, published in the year 1895 and available in BHL thanks to the Joint Library of Earth Sciences (Biblioteca Conjunta de Ciencias de la Tierra, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, UNAM), and the introduction of the work: Breve noticia de los establecimientos de instruccion dependientes de la Secretaria de Estado y del Despacho de Justicia e Instruccion Publica, edited in the year 1900. Ms Wilson said: 'I'm a bit of an extremist' when describing her personality The app boasts 500,000 items from 4,200 brands from around the world The app allows people to 'trash' or 'stash' items of clothing for later Ms Wilson launched 'Stashd' in 2014 - which is like 'Tinder for clothes' However, she booked a one-way ticket to Silicon Valley to launch an idea Jessica Wilson, 24, from Coffs Harbour, dropped out of university at 21 When Jessica Wilson, from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, dropped out of university at 21, she booked a one-way plane ticket to Silicon Valley. Just two years later, the now 24-year-old is the co-creator and CEO of 'Stashd' - an app that she describes as being like 'Tinder for clothes'. 'I'm a bit of an extremist,' Ms Wilson told Daily Mail Australia. 'I'm not especially tech-y, but I knew I needed to become so in order to get my app idea of the ground.' Business minded: Jessica Wilson, 24, from Coffs Harbour (pictured), booked a one-way plane ticket to Silicon Valley after dropping out of university - there, she founded her clothes app Off the ground: The app is basically like 'Tinder for clothes' (right), according to Ms Wilson (left) - you either 'trash' or 'stash' clothes for later by swiping right or left Hence the plane ticket to Silicon Valley, where Ms Wilson quickly learned the ins and outs of launching a tech business, before founding her own in 2014. Stashd basically works like other shopping apps on the market, such as ASOS and Net-a-Porter. However, its Tinder-like function sets it apart from competitors. According to the CEO, you log on to the homepage, and either 'trash' or 'stash' an item for later - by swiping left or right with your finger every time something pops up on screen. Learning the ropes: After coming to terms with the ins and outs of launching a tech business, Ms Wilson launched her own tech app in 2014 Success: Since then, Stashd has amassed 500,000 items on the site, from as many as 4,200 brands including the likes of Bloomingdales, Estee Lauder, Farfetch and General Pants It was hard at first to convince brands to join forces, but I wanted to land a big client at the beginning so that others would follow 'At the moment, we have around 500,000 items and 4,200 brands on the app,' Ms Wilson said. 'It was hard at first to convince brands to join forces, but I wanted to land a big client at the beginning so that others would follow. 'When we got Farfetch, it became easier to get the likes of Bloomingdales, Estee Lauder and General Pants on board. But landing Farfetch was hard work!'. Hard start: Ms Wilson told Daily Mail Australia that it was hard to land the first brand, Farfetch, but added that as soon as she got that things became easier Inspiration: The 24-year-old said that one of her main influencers in business is Megann Quinn - who was one of the co-founders of Net-a-Porter Citing one of the co-founders of the hugely successful Net-a-Porter website, Megan Quinn, as her main influence, Jessica Wilson is as business-minded and driven as the best. At present, Stashd works in 136 countries around the world, and has recently moved in to China, while she and her co-founder, Pete Neill, are working on countless different functions - including group shopping features and expanding even further afield: 'We're really working on the part of the app that allows you to send various items to friends via text message, too,' she said. Expansion: At the moment, Stashd is available in 136 countries, but Ms Wilson is still looking to expand - she recently moved in to China Jessica Wilson advises aspiring business owners to go for it if they have an idea, because if you feel strongly, she believes 'you're already three steps ahead of others': It's funny how I've ended up with a tech business when I didn't even know how to code 'At the time when I came up with the idea, shopping was really moving online,' she said. 'I had been working at fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Sydney and really noticed that while there were loads of shopping apps, there wasn't one hero app that combined everything for girls like me. 'It is funny how I've ended up with a tech business when at first I didn't even know how to code,' she laughed. Kylie Jenner is the latest A-List celebrity to endorse a teeth-whitening product invented by two Gold Coast dropouts. The HiSmile teeth whitener was created by Gold Coast students Nik Mirkovic, 21, and Alex Tomic, 22, and has raked in over $10million in its first 18 months on the market. Much of the success can be put down to celebrity endorsements such as Jenner's, who posted a picture of her stunning smile, which she attributed to the product, on her Instagram on Thursday. In the photo, the now blonde-haired beauty posed on what appeared to be a lounge, with her lips painted a gorgeous nude colour to match the hue of her low-cut top. Grinning: Kylie Jenner shared this photo with her 75million Instagram followers on Thursday Pearly whites: Other celebrity endorsements include R&B songstress Pia Mia (left) and Instagram star Lindsey Pelas (right) Smiling: Even French fashion guru Adele Grisoni has gotten in on the HiSmile bandwagon As Jenner bared her pearly whites, she posed next to a HiSmile kit in the photo shared with her 75million Instagram followers. Jenner's post was liked more than one million times and received over 82,000 comments. Other celebrity endorsements include R&B songstress Pia Mia and social media star Lindsey Pelas. Excited: Social media favourite Chloe Roberts is another convert who praises the HiSmile Smiling success: The LED-activated teeth-whitening kits have raked in more than $10million in 18 months Mr Mirkovic and Mr Tomic decided to take on the lucrative cosmetics industry after Mr Tomic got bored with his commerce degree and dropped out after six months. The friends of 10 years spent a year researching trends to find an entry point, and spotted a massive gap in the teeth whitening market. HiSmile's success has been entirely built on social media, where it has more than 650,000 fans across its various pages. When the first batch of LED light-activated teeth whitening kits rolled off the production line, they sent more than half to beauty bloggers and social media personalities. Other famous advocates of the HiSmile include former Big Brother stars Skye Wheatley and Aisha Jade, Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby, and Brooke Hogan from Australia's Next Top Model. Cheeky wink: Fitness model Amy Jane was more than happy to share a snap with the HiSmile Toothy grin: Many of Alexa Collins' 35,000 followers complimented her on her smile after she posted this pic Viewers were left blushing last night after one of the most innuendo-filled episodes of The Great British Bake Off yet. Wednesday night's installment featured references to squeezing sausage meat, Jane's 'open pocket' and Paul Hollywood's 'big mouth'. Red-faced fans flocked to Twitter after Candice Brown blurted out what might be the best innuendo of the week - before bagging the title of Star Baker. Nothing to see here: As Candice Brown made her Showstopper Bake sausage, she told the judges: 'It's good to get your hands in and give your sausages a good squeeze' Sue Perkins and co-host Mel Giedroyc usually drop most of the puns, with judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry chiming in. However, they were uncharacteristically restrained in Wednesday's episode, leaving the field open for Candice. While the PE teacher was busy making her sausage meat, black pudding and apple amuse-bouches, she blurted out: 'Just giving it good squeeze together to make sure I can see the distribution of it, see if I need a bit more sausage. 'It's good to get your hands in and give your sausages a good squeeze.' Candice gives her sausage meat a 'good squeeze' before sending fans into a frenzy Viewers were sent into meltdown after Paul's gaffe when he explained how small he likes his amuse-bouches, saying: 'I know I've got a big mouth, but I'm talking inch and a half max' Following Paul's gaffe, GBBO viewer Robyn took to Twitter to write: 'Why are they letting this through,' while Em commented that innuendo on the show 'gets worse every week' References to 'soggy bottoms' abounded, with everyone from Paul to Val - who was given the boot on last night's episode - chiming in One red-faced fan tweeted: '"It's good to get your hands in and give your sausage a good squeeze" oh can candice,' while Dale Meachen went a step further, writing: 'Candice can get her hands in and gave a good squeeze of my sausage if she wants.' Lucas Smith added: 'I can't even deal with @CJ_Brownie's sausage talk,' while Dan Scott announced it was all 'too much'. And as her fellow contestant Jane Beedle prepared her breakfast pastries, Mel couldn't resist saying: 'Would you call that a little lattice, or Jane's open pocket?' One red-faced fan tweeted: 'Candice can get her hands in and gave a good squeeze of my sausage if she wants' An aghast James Moran wrote: '"Jane's open pocket". Jane's. Open. Pocket. #GBBO.' Viewers were sent into meltdown after Paul Hollywood's gaffe when he explained how small he likes his amuse-bouches, saying: 'I know I've got a big mouth, but I'm talking inch and a half max.' Robyn took to Twitter to write: 'Why are they letting this through,' while Em commented that innuendo on the show 'gets worse every week.' References to 'soggy bottoms' abounded, with everyone from Paul to Val - who was given the boot on last night's episode - chiming in. Marilyn Naron wrote: 'Never before have the words "soggy bottom" been uttered so often.' An aghast James Moran wrote: '"Jane's open pocket". Jane's. Open. Pocket. #GBBO' While the PE teacher was busy making her sausage meat, black pudding and apple amuse-bouches, she blurted out: 'Just giving it good squeeze together' Robyn took to Twitter to write: 'Why are they letting this through,' while Em commented that innuendo on the show 'gets worse every week' 'Gets worse every week!' Fans went into meltdown over Paul's comments on his 'big mouth' Sue Perkins made the most of pastry week's potential with a string of puns, telling Tom Gilliford, who was incorporating Weetabix into his breakfast pastries: 'As we say in the breakfast cereal world, Cheerio.' As contestants neared the end of the Danish pastries signature challenge, she announced: 'Okay bakers, you've got five minutes for your Danish to make a killing.' She also told bakers she hoped they wouldn't be sent into a 'frangipanic' during the final hour of their technical challenge. The episode also saw Paul and Mary getting closer than ever, with Mr Hollywood giving his co-judge an affectionate nickname when he said: 'Well done, Bezza.' Meanwhile, many ans were left bereft after Val Stones was named as the fifth contestant to be shown the door. Val's rousing sign off speech particularly tugged at the heartstrings of the viewers at home when she revealed everything she makes is created with love Val's rousing sign-off speech particularly tugged at the heartstrings of the viewers at home when she revealed everything she makes is created with love. She said: 'I'm not unhappy. I had a great time with some great people - and I didn't expect it. I didn't expect to ever get here, never mind be on it... When you bake, you always bake for a reason - because you're giving something to people. 'You're giving it to people so you do the best you can and make bake with love. Whenever I make anything, I stir love into it and I knead love into it so when I present it, it's special. She's the pouting Great British Bake Off contestant with a penchant for bright lipstick and sexual innuendos - and Candice Brown has certainly left viewers divided. The 31-year-old from Bedford has become quite the social media sensation after Wednesday night's show. Whilst some viewers chastised her for her pouting lips and 'irritating smugness', others hailed her 'amazing' and 'hot'. Scroll down for video Is Candice Brown the most divisive Great British Bake Off contestant ever? Social media was left torn by the pouting baker on Wednesday night's show with half of the viewers calling her out for her 'smugness' and the other half declaring their love for her On one side of the fence, infuriated viewers called her out for her 'smug face'. One wrote: 'Candice on great british bake off with that pout does my head in... Honestly Candice needs to stop with the trout pout on Great British Bake Off!!! #troutpoutisnotcool #greatbritishbakeoff',' another added: 'Anyone else absolutely hate Candice?'. One user asked: 'Anyone else think Candice is a bit smug ALL THE TIME!?... Candice on bake off should be voted out for her cats bum mouth and irritating smugness. It's doing my nut in... Candice's face is the wrong side of smug sometimes #bakeoff', and another said: 'I can't bear Candice's smuggy face if she wins.' Despite seemingly irking many viewers of the beloved show, which is set to move to Channel 4 next series in a shock relocation, she is undoubtedly the object of some desires. The 31-year-old from Bedford has become quite the social media sensation after Wednesday night's show Twitter fans wrote: 'I wish I had Candice's baking & aesthetic skills. Amazing #GBBO... Love how Candice looks so glam every week! Great innuendos tonight #GBBO...', another wrote: 'I don't think anyone understands my love for Candice Brown and it makes me really sad,' whilst another asked: 'Is Candice flirting with me through the TV?'. Aside from her facial expressions, fans were also in uproar over her saucy innuedos, which rivalled hosts Mel and Sue in their famously cheeky one-liners. As the brunette beauty made her Showstopper Bake sausage, black pudding and apple filo pastries, she tells the hosts: 'Its good to get your hands in and give your sausages a good squeeze.' The PE teacher has certainly left social media divided. Whilst some viewers chastised her for her pouting lips and 'irritating smugness', others hailed her 'amazing' and 'hot' Candice has become famous for her love of bright lipsticks and 'smug faces' Sadly for her army of male fans, who have declared their love for the baker on Twitter, Candice, a PE teacher from Bedford, has a hunky boyfriend Candice lives with her boyfriend and pug Dennis and often posts snaps of the family-of-three on her Twitter page Candice can be seen showing off her famous pout in a series of images with her boyfriend on her social media pages Sadly for her army of male fans, Candice, a PE teacher from Bedford, has a hunky boyfriend. Candice lives with her boyfriend and pug Dennis and often posts snaps of the family-of-three on her Twitter page. She also appears to have been an aspiring model, entering an online competition to work on a Marc Jacobs campaign using the hashtag #castmemarc. She also posted a series of glamorous pictures of her recent holiday to Greece and plenty of cakes before she could tell friends she was on the hit show. Miss Brown, who grew up pulling pints in the pubs that her parents ran, loves vintage clothes and switches between baking in her pyjamas and high heels. Listing her interests online she says: 'I love baking, I love cake, I love vintage, I love my Scottish one, I love my family, I love my friends and I love my pug Dennis'. She also posted a series of glamorous pictures of her recent holiday to Greece before starring on the show The budding baker lists her interests as cake, vintage, family, friends and her pug GBBO contestant Candice Brown, pictured, burst into tears last week after Paul Hollywood slated her chocolate bread creation. The outburst once again divided Bake Off fans on Twitter Candice couldn't hold back the tears but her fellow Bake Off contestants were there to comfort her, while some fans on Twitter rushed to tweet their support Candice came dangerously close to being eliminated last week and suffering from the dreaded 'Star Baker curse' after her chocolate, salted caramel and pecan brittle brioche did not turn out as planned In the first episode of Bake Off, Candice's dark plum lipstick made sure all eyes were on her 'Im crying the world is crying: Tearful GBBO viewers left bereft as popular Val leaves the show She was the kind-eyed rogue who danced to the beat of her own baking drum. Yet Val Stones was sadly the fifth contestant to be kicked off The Great British Bake Off on Wednesday night's pastry week episode - much to the devastation of viewers and co-stars alike. Val Stones was sadly the fifth contestant to be kicked off The Great British Bake Off on Wednesday night Eccentric Val was sadly booted off the show during the challenging pastry week due to an array of pitfalls including underdone danish pastries and an incomplete showstopper. The retired headmistress' rousing sign off speech particularly tugged at the heartstrings of the viewers at home when she revealed everything she makes is created with love. She said: 'I'm not unhappy. I had a great time with some great people - and I didn't expect it. I didn't expect to ever get here, never mind be on it... When you bake, you always bake for a reason - because you're giving something to people. 'You're giving it to people so you do the best you can and make bake with love. Whenever I make anything, I stir love into it and I knead love into it so when I present it, it's special. Of course I was disappointed but you have to just go with it. Somebody has got to have a soggy bottom, so it might as well be me." The retired headmistress' rousing sign off speech particularly tugged at the heartstrings of the viewers at home when she revealed everything she makes is created with love Her kind words and graceful departure led to an influx of gushing Twitter messages, with viewers writing: 'Val, you may not have won bake off, but you truly won my heart...Can we have a Val mini series just following her around doing day to day stuff... 'Whenever I make anything I stir love into it. I don't care who wins Val is the true winner of this series #GBBO... Vals crying. I'm crying. The world is crying #GBBO... 'VAL COME BACK I NEED YOU #GBBO... Val may be gone from #GBBO but not my heart... Did i cry when during Val's last speech? YES. Yes i did. #GBBO 'Val is just one of the most lovely people on this earth who has brought joy to my life every Wednesday for the last few weeks. #GBBO... #Val brought so much fun and humour ... She was so enthusiastic. She'll be missed so much next week... The Duke of Cambridge made a plea for leaders to stamp out the devastating ivory trade that is set to destroy the African elephant population before his children are even out of their 20s. Prince William delivered the keynote address at Tusk's Time for Change event at the Shard, London, today, and drew on his own family to illustrate how quickly the animals are being killed for their tusks. Joining campaigners including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, the royal said that when he was born there were one million elephants roaming Africa but by the time his two-year-old daughter Charlotte reaches the age of 25, there will be none. William has been patron of Tusk since 2005 and is passionate about conservation Prince William delivered the keynote speech during the Time for Change event at the Shard The royal's words were also broadcast to conservationists in Tokyo and Johannesburg He said: 'Earlier this month the Great Elephant Census was published. And it confirmed what many of us have feared for some time one of our planet's most treasured species is on course for extinction at the hands of poachers and traffickers. 'When I was born, there were one million elephants roaming Africa. By the time my daughter Charlotte was born last year, the numbers of savannah elephants had crashed to just 350,000. 'And at the current pace of illegal poaching, when Charlotte turns 25 the African elephant will be gone from the wild.' In the speech to the audience in the Shard and those who were present in Tokyo and Johannesburg via a live link, he added that: 'The risk is not just to elephants. 'Today is World Rhino Day. A species that, due to demand for its horn, is being killed at a rate of nearly three animals a day. Prince William said that when his two-year-old daughter Charlotte is an adult there may be no African elephants left in the wild Prince William's speech was praised by former environment secretary Owen Paterson as 'clear' and 'strong' - although he thinks nothing less than a 100-year ban will do 'Rhinos face extinction in our lifetimes as we struggle to correct lies about the supposed benefits of using its horn as a drug. 'However, this crisis is not just about animals this crisis is also about people. It is some of the world's poorest people who will suffer when their natural resources are stripped from them illegally and brutally. 'It is families in the world's most vulnerable regions who suffer when two rangers are killed every week on the frontline of this fight. It is fragile democratic systems in many nations that are at risk from the scourge of violence and corruption that the illegal wildlife trade fuels. William said: 'We have the opportunity to end, once and for all, the mixed messages we have sent for too long about the value and desirability of wildlife products' William arrives at The Shard to give the speech about the vulnerability of African wildlife At the event run by Tusk, a charity that has boasted William as a patron since 2005, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall also called for a crackdown on the ivory trade. William said: 'I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild. 'I am not prepared to explain to our children why we lost this battle when we had the tools to win it and I know that none of you in Tokyo, Johannesburg or here in London want this either. I fear we will not know what we have lost until it has gone. 'But there is hope we can do something. There is huge momentum building from governments, businesses, conservationists, and the public to take the steps required to stop the killing.' In his speech William said, 'I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild' Campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says that all ivory that can't be verified as antique should be banned He reminded conservationists how he spoke ahead of the last Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) conference when he urged conservationists and leaders to redouble their efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trade. He pointed out that thanks to the London Conference in 2014 the recovery of Giant panda numbers in China has shown how action can deliver results. The prince pointed out how last week the overwhelming vote at the IUCN World Conservation Congress called on all countries to close their domestic ivory markets. 'These are all significant steps, but progress is fragile and we cannot be complacent,' he said. He continued: 'As leaders gather for CITES, and later at the third Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in Vietnam in November which I will be attending, we have the chance to seize a huge opportunity. The father-of-two, pictured arriving at the Time For Change event at The Shard, said he 'wasn't prepared to explain to our children why we lost this battle when we had the tools to win it' 'We have the opportunity to end, once and for all, the mixed messages we have sent for too long about the value and desirability of wildlife products. 'We have the chance to say that ivory is a symbol of destruction, not of luxury and not something that anyone needs to buy or sell. We have the chance to say that ivory is a symbol of destruction, not of luxury and not something that anyone needs to buy or sell 'We have the chance to say that rhino horn does not cure anything and does not need a legal market. 'Now is the chance to send an unambiguous message to the world that it is no longer acceptable to buy and sell ivory, rhino horn or other illegal wildlife products. 'Indeed I would challenge anyone who knows the truth of how these wildlife products are obtained, to justify desiring them. Materialistic greed cannot be allowed to win against our moral duty to protect threatened species and vulnerable communities. The Duke spoke to pupils from Sexey's School in Bruton, Somerset, who were there to see his speech referencing his generation's responsibility to the next The father-of-two spoke to the Sexey's School pupils after his words of warning about the future of both rhinos and elephants in Africa The royal shook hands with the schoolchildren who joined the global address at The Shard 'This is not just an issue for people on the other side of the world the British Government announced yesterday that it is looking closely at this issue in respect of our own domestic trade.' This year's CITES conference takes place this weekend and William urged 'parties' to 'unite around an unmistakable message to the world about the crisis in which we find ourselves in my personal opinion, a tightening and not a loosening of the rules around the international trade in ivory and rhino horn. 'Mixed messages about the viability of trade in elephant or rhino parts would surely serve only to confuse would-be consumers at this crucial time. We cannot undo the mistakes of the past. But we can and must take moral responsibility for the decisions we make today. Please let us not lose momentum or focus. If we are to succeed, we must do more; we must do it faster; and we must do it better. But most importantly, we must do it together.' Ben Fogle attended the Time for Change event in which Prince William said leaders had a moral duty to crush the illegal wildlife change once and for all Secretary-General of Cites John Scanlon and the Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa will also took part via satellite link from Johannesburg and Tokyo. Tusk, which has boasted William as their patron since 2005, has raised more than 30million for projects in Africa since it was established 26 years ago. The royal conducted a tour of the charity's projects in Botswana in 2010 with Prince Harry, and this April he visited Tusk-supported programmes in the north of Kenya. Organisers hope the event will draw global attention to the continuing threat to many of the world's species from the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT). William, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and William Hague talked after the event The Duke of Cambridge (left) spoke to Yue Lei from Sanpower Group Corporation at Time For Change The IWT is now recognised as the fourth largest transnational crime by value, after drugs, arms and human trafficking. It is estimated to be worth up to $20billion (15billion) each year and is responsible for decimating populations of elephant, rhino and many other lesser known species. Currently, one African elephant is killed every 15 minutes - which means the species could become extinct within 10 years. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was also at the event, the day after she announced a UK ban on modern ivory sales. The ban will cover the sale of items dated since 1947 but the trade in 'worked' items made before then will still be allowed. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom discussed the issues of the illegal trade with the royal and Conservative peer William Hague who tweeted about the 'excellent' Tusk event Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was among the audience of conservationists in London, Tokyo and Johannesburg listening to the Prince's message She said: 'What we're trying to do is to send a huge signal to the world that the illegal trade and poaching of elephants is not acceptable and that's what's going on today, every day. 'So it's a start on our manifesto commitment and we're trying to send a very strong message at what is a very important time.' Rhinos face extinction in our lifetimes as we struggle to correct lies about the supposed benefits of using its horn as a drug. She said it was 'absolutely crucial' to have a plan to 'discourage' those who would benefit from the 'appalling, violent, illegal trafficking (that is) destroying communities and really importantly destroying these iconic beasts - it's a total global tragedy'. The MP said the ban on modern day ivory sales is the 'first step' to tackle the 'difficult, international global issue' of poaching. But former environment secretary Owen Paterson, who was also present, said the plans did not go far enough and thought that a 100-year ban would be stronger. The MP for North Shropshire said: 'It's a start but it's not enough. If you could farm your way out of this and have huge rhinoceros farms and elephant farms... but this isn't chickens, this isn't beef. You could never, ever, ever farm enough of these animals to satisfy demand so you have to stop using this material.' Weather girl Sian Lloyd has spoken of her terrifying ordeal being harassed by a mystery stalker. The 58-year-old said she feels 'constantly scared' as letters with graphic images and obscene sexual requests keep being posted to her at her home address. 'The letters are getting more obscene about what he wants to do to me. I feel violated,' she told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as she appeared on today's This Morning. Scroll down for video Sian Lloyd opened up about her stalker nightmare on This Morning today Sian appeared with former Met Police Detective Hamish Brown, a specialist in stalking, who encouraged anyone being harassed should always report it to the police and never reply to the stalker as it encourages them Sian, from London, said she has reported all the incidents to the police and they 'have been brilliant' but so far they haven't been able to trace who is sending them. She said she has upped the security at her home, installing CCTV, extra locks and always carries a personal alarm, but she is living in fear of her unknown stalker. In one letter, he told her they had once met at an awards ceremony but she has no recollection of this. The stranger's harassment has left her in fear of being alone in her own home, where she lives on her own following her shock split from her husband, multi-millionaire Jonathan Ashman, who left her a year ago after eight years of marriage. Sian said: 'I am scared, it is not just being scared but constantly being scared, it is a weight and has dented me emotionally. I am wobbly as I collect the mail every morning. 'I have nightmares and I won't be in at home alone. I will always accept a hotel when I am working which I would never had done before as I am such a home body, or I have a friend stay over.' Sian Lloyd and her ex-husband Jonathan Ashman were the picture of happiness, she says, until he walked out on her last year after eight years of marriage The weather girl said although the police have been brilliant they've been unable to trace who her tormentor is so she's still living in fear, being forced to increase security on her home Sian appeared on the breakfast show with former Met Police Detective Hamish Brown MBE, a specialist in the offence of stalking and harassment, as she wanted to raise awareness of stalking and help other victims. The police officer said it isn't just celebrities who can find themselves the target of obsessed fans who can bombard them with letters and messages. He said anyone being harassed should always report their fears to the police and not reply to their stalker as that could only encourage them. Sian said she hoped her appearance on the show could also lead to her stalker being uncovered if anyone had any idea who he could be. Earlier this year, Sian appeared on Celebrity First Dates to share her heartache over the end of her marriage. She said: 'I was married for eight years and it was the happiest eight years of my life. We had the most amazing marriage and one day he just left. Sian admitted that after becoming newly single following her husband Jonathan Ashman walking out on her a year ago, she feels extra vulnerable as she is now living alone 'I have only been divorced a few months so it is still very raw.' She added that she still questions what went wrong and why motor racing entrepreneur Jonathan ended their relationship. 'When someone has just left you and you haven't even argued and are great together, and everyone else thinks you are the happiest couple on earth, and you think you are part of the happiest couple on earth, your whole world has gone,' she said. Sian dreads collecting her mail each morning as she never knows what her stalker will have sent her and now stays in hotels as often as she can so he can't get to her 'You then question everything in life.' Asked if Jonathan had ever explained why he left, she said 'no'. The couple met in 2007 and Sian was delighted when he popped the question after a ten-month whirlwind romance. Not long after they tied the knot in the Welsh village of Portmeirion in Gwynedd in what Sian described as a 'small skinny wedding' with just seven guests. In August 2013 it was reported that Sian hadn't been invited to Jonathan's stepdaughters wedding to Tony Blair's son Euan and she had been 'flabbergasted' at the decision to ban her from the ceremony. The I'm A Celebrity star's marriage to Jonathan came just over a year after she ended her engagement with then Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik, who went on to date one of The Cheeky Girls. displays of wealth they have seen We have all witnessed our fair share of flashy neighbours however, these Reddit users would have trouble keeping up with the Joneses. In a new thread on the social media site users have revealed the most obscene displays of wealth they have come across from their neighbours to their employers. The stories range from overindulged teenagers flashing their parents cash to those with too much money to know what to do with. Reddit users have revealed the most extraordinary displays of wealth that they have encountered in their lives Many of the posts submitted on Reddit involved stories of absurd modes of money-can't-buy transport. One user recalled an extrordinary story of his first week at college with his room mate's experience differing dramatically to his own. Crazjayz explained: 'One of the people I met was this girl from Singapore. She's pretty cool and whatnot, but after a few weeks she realizes that to get around she needs a car, as public transport BLOWS. So, naturally, she calls her parents to tell them that she needs a car. No biggie. Many users revealed extraordinary tales involving aviation including one man who was paid to take a private jet to collect just six strawberries 'Girl gets $650,000 wired to her account, not knowing that it cost 6x less here. She goes to the dealership then comes back in a hour with no car. I asked her what happened, and she says "oh, it's getting delivered". Sure enough, 2 days later a brand new car shows up, except it's no S class. It's a Lamborghini Murcielago.' Other users shared tales of children who have been overindulged by their wealthy parents Despite popular myth having us believe that all students are broke several other Reddit users came forward with tales of rich college pupils. User unaccompanied_sonata said: 'I was driving for Uber in a college town and picked up a group from one of the richer frat houses to take them to a club. 'The girls were discussing how one of their friends was upset and went on a huge shoe shopping spree where each pair cost roughly $2,000 except for one. This one pair costed $7,000. Many of the stories saw the Reddit users left flabbergasted at the disposable income of others 'One of the girls casually expresses that "$7,000 is really not a bad price to pay for shoes, they should've just been a little bit prettier. I would've paid $5,000 for them." Why they called an Uber instead of a limo, I don't know.' For other members of the rich list a fancy car wasn't enough to keep them satisfied turning instead to aviation. LaggoIreland revealed: 'Guy from my town bought a helicopter. He had fallen out with his neighbour so decided to call his pilot at 4am and hover over his neighbours house all night to annoy him'. One story shared revealed how a man had moved 300 miles away in order to be able to fly to work every day User Megas_Matthaios said that he knew 'A guy who moved 300 miles away just so he could buy a plane to fly to work every day.' Other extraordinary tales saw members of the thread share stories of visiting austentatious homes. SrirachaPants said: 'My husband wrote a movie (long story) with a friend of his who is a full time writer in Hollywood. 'Friend went to the house of a famous producer to pitch their script. He called my husband and said, "they have a Picasso." Husband is like, "wow, very cool." Friend says, "The Picasso is in their parking garage."' Many stories shared tales of the ostentatious purchases made by the other half Some Reddit users had witnessed wealth through their workplaces, selling unimaginable services to the rich. One user called yeastybeast recalled: 'I work for a wealthy man and he once had me fly on a private jet to the other side of the country to pick up 6 perfect heirloom strawberries that cost 100$ per six pack. 'They were placed in Chinese silk hand molded box so each strawberry wouldn't be jostled during the trip. 'He ate 3 gave me the rest for my trouble... Not gunna lie. It was the most amazing strawberry experience I have ever had. They probably cost him 25k all said and done between flights and my wage.' QueenBowser was flabbergasted when they witnessed a particularly expensive purchase in the store she works in. A guy who moved 300 miles away just so he could buy a plane to fly to work every day They explained: 'I work in a shoe store. I once had a customer walk in and say "give me one pair of every men's shoe in a size 10." 'Didn't want to try them on or look at them, he just needed some shoes for each of his houses. I work on commission so it was a huge sale for me. But holy f***, man. That was about 140 pairs of shoes.' The thread also saw some lucky posters share stories of riches they have seen while attending parties. User morphcore said: 'won a VIP ticket for a moscow night club. don't ask. saw three kids test their 100k watches for water proofness by emptying 4k bottles of champagne over them. one of the watches wasn't. they found that fact very funny.' One man recalled an early experience of wealth when he was invited to a friends birthday that was like no others. GuyThatJustSaysThis wrote: 'The parents of this girl that went to my HS got her some average, probably ~$10k car for her 16th birthday. Colin Firth almost missed out on the role that launched his acting career because his hair was thought to be too 'ginger', it has been revealed. The British actor, 56, became something of an overnight heartthrob thanks to his portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. But screenwriter Andrew Davies has now revealed he was initially unsure about the star - until he was convinced to darken his hair. Scroll down for video Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaptation. Screenwriter Andrew Davies confessed he was 'a bit doubtful' of casting him at first Firth - who won an Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI in The Kings Speech in 2010 - had the backing of BBC producer Sue Birtwistle during casting, according to Davies. Speaking at an Andrew Davies in Conversation event at the British Film Institute to mark his 80th birthday, the Welsh-born writer said: 'With Colin I was a bit doubtful because of his colouring at the time because he didnt have those dark curls back then.' He added: 'Sue was absolutely convinced that he would be wonderful but we said he had to go dark and he did go dark.' 'Hes stayed dark ever since so he must have liked it.' Back to his roots? Colin Firth's hair was looking lighter at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year. Andrew Davies said: 'We said he had to go dark and he did go dark' Colin's famous 'wet shirt' scene in Pride and Prejudice (left) and sporting lighter hair in 2013 (right). Screenwriter Andrew Davies said: 'Hes stayed dark ever since so he must have liked it' Asked what Firths hair had looked like before he appeared in Davies adaptation, the writer said: 'Underneath all that hes sort of fairly ginger.' The star reprised his role as Mark Darcy this month in the latest installment of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones saga - with producers making legal history by using the UK Supreme Court as a filing location. Scenes in Bridget Jones's Baby, whose main characters were inspired by Pride and Prejudice, were shot in Court One of the historic building in London. Audiences can see lawyer Mark arguing at a hearing attended by fictional Supreme Court justices - before his on-off love interest reveals the news that she is pregnant. The star reprised his role as Mark Darcy in the latest installment of the Bridget Jones saga - with producers making legal history by using the UK Supreme Court as a filing location A Supreme Court spokesman confirmed that a courtroom had never been used as a film location before. He said justices had given their approval. '(We) agreed to let film-makers use a courtroom as part of a wider programme of generating income to ease pressure on the public purse,' said the spokesman. 'A film crew spent one weekend in the building, avoiding any disruption to court business." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge look set to face some time apart over the next couple of months as the pair prepare for separate trips abroad. It was today announced that Prince William plans to visit Vietnam in November but will be unaccompanied by his wife the Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke of Cambridge will visit Southeast Asia from 17th 18th November 2016 at the invitation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Duke of Cambridge will attende the third International Wildlife Trade Conference hosted in Vietnam in November While there he will attend the third International Wildlife Trade Conference which will be hosted in Hanoi. The Duke, who is President of United for Wildlife, will also have the opportunity to engage with local people and leaders in conservation while visiting the country. The Duke, along with The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, attended the first IWTC in London in 2014 where William gave an impassioned speech about illegal wildlife trade. The Duke will attend the conference without the company of his wife the Duchess of Cambridge who will perform her first solo foreign engagement next month The news of the prince's visit comes just a day after his wife the Duchess of Cambridge revealed that she plans to do some solo travelling herself. Her first overseas trip alone will see her travelling to Holland next month for a day of engagements. Kate will spend the day in The Hague and Rotterdam and itinerary will include a courtesy call on King Willem-Alexander. This will be Prince William's second visit to the conference first attending it alongside his brother Prince Harry and father Prince Charles in 2014. Pictured at the conference During the conference, which was then held in London William gave an impassioned speech about illegal wildlife trade She will no doubt be delighted to catch up with his vibrant wife, Queen Maxima, 45, during her visit to the royals. Argentinian-born Maxima, an economics graduate, worked for major financial companies as well as teaching English and maths before meeting King Willem-Alexander. And like Kate she is a devoted mother, combining bringing up her three daughters Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane with royal duties. Just yesterday it was announced that the duchess will visit The Netherlands for a day of engagements next month - her first trip abroad on royal duties without Prince William Kate will pay a courtesy call to King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, pictured with his wife Queen Maxima at the state opening of parliament in The Hague Art history graduate Kate, who has a keen interest in photography and painting, will visit an Old Masters exhibition on the one day trip. She will also attend a round table discussion on a variety of themes from addiction to mental health. Kate has made mental wellbeing a cornerstone of her work in the past year and launched the Heads Together campaign with William and Harry to change the conversation on mental health. Kate on her first official visit to Canada in 2011, shortly after her marriage to Prince William. The couple are embarking on a second tour this weekend, with their children George and Charlotte She is also the patron of Place2Be a charity for children that provides in-school counselling and support to young people. The one-day trip, planned for October 11, will be a royal milestone for the Duchess as she will be travelling abroad by herself without the Duke of Cambridge. A tour of Malta in 2014 was scheduled to be Kates first solo trip. But she had to cancel as she was suffering from acute morning sickness while pregnant with Princess Charlotte. Kate has been on several royal tours including a visit to Australia in April 2014, but her day-long trip to The Netherlands will be her first solo trip without William Her husband stepped in at the last moment to carry out the trip on her behalf. It will be an exciting few weeks of travel for Kate, who is setting off for Canada with William, Prince George and Prince Charlotte this weekend. The family will touch down in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday and journey to Vancouver the following day. According to the itinerary, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting Bella Bella in Heiltsuk, which describes itself as an Indian Reserve, on their forthcoming and highly anticipated - tour to Canada. The couple will travel to Bella Bella in British Columbia home to the Heiltsuk people as part of the week-long tour to the British realm. Sees the young residents of Dubai showcase the ways they spend their Advertisement Known for its luxury hotels and high end shopping destinations Dubai is no place to be if you're living on a shoe string budget. However, this isn't a problem for these wealthy young things whose impressive supply of disposable cash see them enjoying life in the United Arab Emirates to the full. The Rich Kids of Dubai have shared plenty of snaps of their enviable lifestyles on their namesake Instagram account which has amassed more than 70,000 followers. The Rich Kids of Dubai is the latest account to showcase the enviable lives of the super wealthy. Pictured: A group of girls prove money is no object as they stand on their cash The blurb of the social media account suggests from the offset that these are no ordinary teenagers. It reads: 'We feature Dubai's most fabulous people! Dubai Cars, Dubai Fashion, Dubai Property THE DUBAI DREAM'. While most teenagers reserve their Instagram for the odd casual selfie, the photos featured on the account see the wealthy subjects enjoying extraordinary lives. Social media is often awash with photos of people's pets, however the animals on the account are a little more exotic than your average dog or cat. While pets may be popular on Instagram it is rare to see a cheetah such as this one pictured going for a ride with its owners perching on the seat of a Maserati with a red leather interior In one remarkable photo rapper Tinie Tempah, who was enjoying a break in Dubai, can be seen taking a a fully grown tiger for a walk In one remarkable photo rapper Tinie Tempah, who was enjoying a break in Dubai, can be seen taking a pet for a walk - with the pet just happening to be a fully grown tiger. In a similar snap a cheetah can be seen going for a ride with its owners perching on the seat of a Maserati with a red leather interior. There is no shortage of flash cars on the popular Instagram account with plenty willing to show off their flashy vehicles. One woman was thrilled to discover that the porter from her hotel would be on hand to help her carry her designer shopping In this impressive snap a woman showcases her awesome collection of hundreds of high heeled shoes in her closet Wardrobe shots are popular on the account with this one showing off an incredible display of pricey Chanel handbags Diamonds certainly seem to be a girls' best friend on the account with this rock sure to cost an eye watering amount In one post captioned 'If anyone is wondering what I want for my bday?' a Lamborghini stands pride of place with a large silver bow placed on top. While cars may be the typical excuse for bragging rights, other members of the account opted for even more ostentatious modes of transport. Serbian television personality Jelena Karleusa touches down in the holiday resort in style in her private helicopter with the Jumeirah hotel and palm trees filling the background of the photo. Alii Muhammed is pictured studying a map, surrounded by Louis Vuitton luggage as well as his own personal entourage of body guards This lucky tourist enjoys an admirable view, overseeing the city, from one of Dubai's many luxury hotels A group of women pose for the perfect squad shot while enjoying a trip out to sea on a luxury yacht Meanwhile the runner-up Miss Croatia Nejra Prsic can be seen sunning herself on a luxurious looking yacht as she takes a spin out at sea. The phrase 'money is no object' could not be more prevalent among the wealthy residents of Dubai with one snap seeing a group of women standing on a pile of money. In another photo guaranteed to make followers green with envy as brand rep Alii Muhammed is pictured studying a map, surrounded by Louis Vuitton luggage as well as his own personal entourage of body guards. Most of those featured on the site appear to agree that they are living the high life with hashtags including #richkids #thegoodlife #thefablife #thedream and #luxury. There is no shortage of flashy cars on the Instagram account with the vehicles proving a great way to earn bragging rights Meanwhile the runner-up Miss Croatia Nejra Prsic can be seen sunning herself on a luxurious looking yacht as she takes a spin out at sea This elegant shopper was sure to run her errands in style hopping into a vintage style car with her purchases Serbian television personality Jelena Karleusa touches down in the holiday resort in style in her private helicopter In one post captioned 'If anyone is wondering what I want for my bday?' a Lamborghini stands pride of place with a large silver bow placed on top Ben Baddeley, 12, underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy treatment (SDR) two years ago in a desperate attempt to allow him to walk (pictured with mother Amy) A boy with cerebral palsy has had his life changed and can now walk on his own after having pioneering surgery. Ben Baddeley, 12, underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy treatment (SDR) two years ago in a desperate attempt to allow him to use his legs. The operation was initially cancelled at the last minute after the NHS refused to pay for it - forcing his family to raise the money themselves. His parents, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, also had to fund his post-operation physiotherapy, which is deemed vital to allow him to continue learning to walk. But his mother, Amy, 32, confirmed it was all worth it after releasing footage off him taking a stroll to the local shops without needing to stop. Ben's family were forced to raise 11,400 to pay for the treatment after the health service backed out five days prior to surgery. And they were dealt another financial blow when the NHS refused to pay for any of his post-operation physiotherapy - which costs nearly 2,000 a month. But Ben's surgeon claims he has made 'remarkable progress' since the operation. And he said it is vital he still has post-operation physiotherapy to allow him to keep walking alone. Scroll down for video Professor Michael Vloeberghs, who works for Nottingham University Hospitals where Ben's operations were carried out privately - has written to NHS chiefs to give an update on his condition. He added: 'From being a very disabled young boy, he is now an independent walker, with still some abnormality of gait dynamics, but able to walk good distances. 'Benjamin has improved in general, his bladder and bowel are to be considered normal and his upper limb function has improved. The operation was initially cancelled at the last minute after the NHS refused to pay for it - under the belief it wouldn't help. His family had to raise money for the surgery and post-operation physiotherapy, which is deemed vital to allow him to continue learning to walk But his mother, Amy, 32, confirmed the treatment was a success after releasing footage off him taking a stroll to the local shops without needing to stop. And Ben's surgeon claims he has made 'remarkable progress' and it is vital he still has post-operation physiotherapy to allow him to keep walking alone 'He is able to write and draw and his father tells me that his performance has come on in leaps and bounds. 'Benjamin is now in mainstream school and is doing well. Ben partakes in a lot of physio related physical activities which is obviously beneficial.' Professor Vloeberghs said he would be grateful if the NHS would consider reviewing Ben in the near future to avoid problems with his hips, knees and ankles as he grows. And he urges them to help with vital physiotherapy for the youngster - which the family have completely funded. Mother Amy, 32, said it was 'brilliant' and confirmed what the family thought about the treatment all along. She told the Mirror: 'It was a relief getting that letter. It took six weeks that took from the day of his assessment.' Mrs Baddelely and her husband Gary are now expecting a meeting with their local NHS Trust to rubber stamp his continuing physio. It could potentially save the family thousands of pounds, as specialist sessions cost up to 260. She told the newspaper: 'I hope the meeting is soon as I am looking at his up coming bills not entirely sure Gary's overtime is going to cover it. 'I really can't see how they can back out of helping now that they have seen the proof from the NHS surgeon that this treatment is working. That's what they asked for.' Ben hand-delivered a letter to former Prime Minister David Cameron back in May. In the appeal, he begged the NHS to fund his physiotherapy which helps him learn to walk and ride his bike as his family were running out of money Ben hand-delivered a letter to former Prime Minister David Cameron in May, begging the NHS to fund his physiotherapy. THE OPERATION THAT ALLOWED BEN TO WALK Cerebral palsy affects about 400 children in the UK every year. The condition, usually caused by brain injury at or around birth, means children have difficulty controlling muscles and movements and the lower limbs are stiff. Until recently, treatment was limited to physiotherapy, orthopaedic surgery and Botox injections to provide temporary relief from muscle tightness, or spasticity. The SDR operation involves opening up the lower spine and cutting the sensory nerves to reduce the tightness permanently. This can help improve movement, balance and posture, and can reduce painful overnight spasms. US research suggests SDR can produce more dramatic improvements, helping children gain new movement in their legs, and even walk unaided for the first time. NHS England is currently evaluating the procedure, funding 120 cases a year at five specialist centres including Great Ormond Street. NHS specialists say many are coming home with further long-term clinical problems that need intensive physiotherapy and additional surgery. These include muscle weakness and floppy limbs, poor spinal control, problems with posture and poorer sensory awareness which reduces mobility. Advertisement He decided to make the appeal as his family were running out of money to allow him to continue learning to walk and ride his bike. In the letter he said: 'I see three different types of doctors who my mum and dad pay for me to see by fundraising. 'They all tell me that I'm doing well and I've learned to walk upstairs on my own. 'If the doctors I see now have decided that my treatment Is working shouldn't that mean that I should get my treatment by the NHS?' It continued: 'My mum and dad speak to the NHS all the time but I'm still not getting help and none of the other kids are either. 'I'm not the only child with cp [cerebral palsy] having this problem. 'Please can you help us Mr Cameron? We all need the NHS, so please can you fix it?' In 2012, Ben was told he was eligible for an SDR operation, which involves opening up the lower spine and cutting the sensory nerves to reduce the tightness permanently. This can help improve movement, balance and posture, and can reduce painful spasms. US research suggests it can produce more dramatic improvements, helping children gain new movement in their legs, and even walk unaided for the first time. Ben had the operation, in which doctors took out vertebrae from his back and severed a few nerves, which took away the tightness in his lower legs. But having never walked without splints before, he needed specialist physiotherapy to re-learn to walk and build up his muscles. Doctors remain largely ignorant about how the illness works Acute flaccid myelitis is inflammation of the spine that causes paralysis CDC data shows number of cases since January have surged A mysterious polio-like illness is sweeping the United States, sparking fears of a potential outbreak. Acute flaccid myelitis, a fever which leads to paralysis in children, was first detected in 2014. Scores of children were infected, and more than 100 of those hospitalized have yet to recover. Now, the CDC has issued a report warning there has been a surge in the number of children struck down by AFM this year. The way the figures are going, experts fear this outbreak could be worse than before. Scroll down for video The CDC has issued a report warning there has been a surge in the number of children struck down by acute flaccid myelitis this year (figures from the report pictured) But the medical community remains largely ignorant about what causes AFM and how to treat it. 'You hate to be an alarmist, but there's reason to have some concern,' Dr Avindra Nath, chief of the section of infections of the nervous system at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, told The Washington Post. 'What we don't know is where are these cases. Are they clustered? Do they all look alike? Getting more information on these cases would be helpful.' The term 'myelitis' means inflammation of the spinal cord. Transverse myelitis is the broad name of the disease, and there are various sub-types. It is a neurological disorder which inflames the spinal cord across its width ('transverse'), destroying the fatty substance that protects nerve cells. That can lead to paralysis. AFM is an unusual sub-type of transverse myelitis. Patients starts with the same spinal inflammation, but their symptoms are different and the disease develops differently. Primarily, AFM patients are weak and limp, while patients with general transverse myelitis tend to be rigid. Most AFM patients start to struggle with movement of the limbs, face, tongue, and eyes. Acute flaccid myelitis, a fever which leads to paralysis in children, was first detected in 2014. Scores of children were infected, and more than 100 of those hospitalized have yet to recover They then begin to lose control of one limb or sometimes the whole body - though many maintain control of their sensory, bowel and bladder functions. Unlike transverse myelitis, which has been around for years, doctors are still in the dark about why and how AFM manifests itself. Last year, Keith Van Haren, a child neurologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, told The Atlantic that doctors don't know how to treat or prevent the illness. 'It actually looks just like polio, but that term really freaks out the public-health people,' he said. Although officials do not know the specific cause of the illness, the CDC reports that the polio-like illness is most similar to illnesses caused by enteroviruses, West Nile virus, herpesvirus, and the adenovirus. Rebecca Whitney, of the Transverse Myelitis Association, told Daily Mail Online the organization has seen an uptick in families seeking support this year - particularly for children. For families seeking support, families can contact the organization for advice via their website. Whitney, whose child has transverse myelitis, also advised families to consider taking part in the study CAPTURE to help identify causes and treatments. A worryingly resilient strain of gonorrhea has infected seven people in Hawaii, the CDC has confirmed. The six men and one women were all ultimately treated by the CDC's recommended combination treatment of ceftriaxone and azithromycin. But the Hawaii State Department of Health said lab tests showed the infections were not destroyed as quickly or as easily as they have done in all previous cases. Health officials fear this means the incredibly common sexually-transmitted disease could become untreatable sooner than we think. Gonorrhea (pictured), chlamydia and syphilis are normally treated with a short dose of antibiotics. But at this rate, it could be just years before this method becomes ineffective Since 2005, we have seen four isolated cases that showed resistance to both ceftriaxone and azithromycin. This is the first cluster of cases we have seen with reduced susceptibility to both drugs. The report, released on Wednesday, came just hours after the United Nations held the first ever top-level summit on antibiotic resistance. Despite years of warnings that bacteria was building resistance to antibiotics, scientists warn we are doing nothing to delay or stop that process. This week, a CDC report revealed hospitals have not been limiting prescriptions - in fact the number of last-resort antibiotic prescriptions in the last few years increased. Another report by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) revealed fast food outlets are continuing to use meat from antibiotic-fed animals. Drug-resistant bacteria currently claims 700,000 lives a year. Global public health officials warn that figure could climb to 10 million a year by 2050 if we do not limit our use of antibiotics. A driving force behind this potential disaster is our flagrant use of antibiotics to treat minor infections and to grow animals. Putting just small doses of the drug into our bodies allow bacteria to adapt to the medication, building defenses against it. As a result, common infections like gonorrhea and E.coli could soon be untreatable. Earlier this month, the WHO updated its guidelines on how to treat chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis for the first time since 2003. Together, the diseases infect 200 million people every year. They are normally treated with a short and simple dose of antibiotics. But at the rate the diseases are developing, it could be just a matter of years before this method becomes ineffective. Crucially, the health officials warn, doctors must stop over-prescribing antibiotics, and patients must be vigilant about taking the correct doses. 'Resistance of these STIs to the effect of antibiotics has increased rapidly in recent years and has reduced treatment options,' the UN agency said. Crucially, the health officials warn, doctors must stop over-prescribing antibiotics, and patients must be vigilant about taking the correct doses Antibiotic resistance also exists in chlamydia and syphilis, though it is less common. The CDC recommends treating the infection with a combination of two antibiotics: azithromycin and ceftriaxone. The infection has already become immune to penicillin, tetracycline and fluoroquinolones. Increasingly, gonorrhea is building up a resistance to the individual drugs. When left undiagnosed and untreated, the three diseases can have serious consequences, causing pelvic infamatory disease and ectopic pregnancy in women, and increasing the chances of miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death. Medical officer Teodora Wi, who was involved in WHO's update, called gonorrhea a 'very smart bug' that repeatedly adapts to new antibiotics. BOOK OF THE WEEK ELIZABETH JANE HOWARD: A DANGEROUS INNOCENCE by Artemis Cooper (John Murray 25) Kingsley Amis, who was married to her from 1965 until 1983, ended up absolutely hating Elizabeth Jane Howard, who is best known for her popular novels about the woes of the upper classes - The Cazalet Chronicles, where you find characters with names like Persephone Plover and Villy and Floy. Amis was particularly aggrieved by her automatic assumption of the role of the injured party in any clash of wills, by her bottomless pit of neediness, and the theatrical way she had of unpinning her hair and slowly tossing it about. Kingsley Amis, who was married to her from 1965 until 1983, ended up absolutely hating Elizabeth Jane Howard Artemis Cooper, Howards otherwise enormously sympathetic biographer, also has her patience sorely tested at times - and she finds her subject irritating and unreliable, a person prone to sinking into a cold fog of hopelessness and self-pity, and a woman whose overpowering need for attention and affection made her an expert in passive-aggressive manipulation. Simultaneously infantile and inhibited, Howard lived until her 91st year, dying in 2014, and it must have been sweet revenge when she saw her books piled high in the shops while Amiss are now mostly both out of print and fashion. Howards father, who ran a successful timber business, was a former army officer, who once saved a machine gun from overheating by urinating on it. Her mother was a willowy dancer with the Ballets Russes. My mother made it plain, said Howard, that everything to do with bodies was disgusting - including the miracle of birth, so Howard, arriving in 1923, always felt neglected and unloved. She was a highly-strung child, bullied at her expensive school in Sloane Square. Her tentative confidence was eroded by the mockery of classmates - and home life was horrible because, as her figure developed, Howards father started giving her more than a chaste goodnight kiss. Amis was particularly aggrieved by her automatic assumption of the role of the injured party in any clash of wills She had to endure his groping hands and lips... before she learned never to be alone with him. Her first husband was Peter Scott, son of her mothers friend, Lady Kennet, who painted ducks. It was an altogether calamitous relationship. Scott was bisexually inclined, and was happiest in the company of sailors. Be that as it may, they were married in 1942. Lady Kennet accompanied the couple on honeymoon and opened and read their mail. Howard assumed shed automatically become the centre of her husbands existence, but not so. Scott was a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy and undertook brave missions to the French coast, for which he was decorated. Howard sulked if anyone asked him to recount his exploits against the Nazis. She became ill with eating disorders, and sat there crossly leafing through magazines. Scott, understandably, found it difficult to be patient with her incontinent emotions, particularly as there was a war on. Somewhere along the line a baby, Nicola, was conceived. The child was instantly whisked off by a nanny and raised in the top floor nursery. Apart from a single perfunctory visit, and disappointed that he hadnt fathered a son, Scott didnt call in at the maternity hospital, preferring to spend his leave with his mother in Norfolk. When Scott went to develop his Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, in 1947, Howard walked out on him. Shed already begun her string of endless affairs, starting with Scotts own half-brother, Wayland (I discovered what physical desire meant she claimed). Most of her conquests were married men - and Howard never gave much thought to the betrayed wives. The big love of Howards life was Kingsley Amis, whom she met at the Cheltenham Literary Festival in 1962 (pictured together in 1965 at their wedding) Kingsley Amiss first wife Hilly went to pieces when she discovered their affair, but Howard was oblivious to her pain and desolation. The wife of Robert Aickman, who founded the Inland Waterways Association, was expected to cut sandwiches whenever Howard traipsed off with her husband. Jill Balcon, wife of Cecil Day Lewis, and mother of Sir Daniel, only found out the extent of Howards dalliance with the Poet Laureate on Hampstead Heath after he had died. Howard was genuinely surprised when her friendship with Jill cooled. Other partners included Kenneth Tynan, who wanted to spank her with a hairbrush. Arthur Koestler was always in a fury. His demand for perfection was a way of ensuring failure in advance, says Cooper. Though Laurie Lee was a skilful and confident lover, nonetheless he unfortunately had an epileptic fit in a guitar shop. Kingsley and Howard (pictured) went to live in a mansion, called Lemmons, complete with stables and tithe barns, in Monken Hadley, Hertfordshire If we discount a quick marriage in 1959 to a man called James Douglas-Henry, who on the honeymoon made it clear that he did not love her, the big love of Howards life was Kingsley Amis, whom she met at the Cheltenham Literary Festival in 1962. We talked and talked until 4am, about our work, our lives, our marriages and each other. Kingsley was infatuated. He dumped Hilly and the children, one of whom was the future writer, Martin, in Majorca. He and Howard went to live in a mansion, called Lemmons, complete with stables and tithe barns, in Monken Hadley, Hertfordshire. I love all of you, not just your beauty and brightness, he gushed, before making Howard do everything from his tax returns to the cooking, shopping and driving. He drank a bottle of whisky a day, and his libido vanished. Howard thought it was her fault, so consulted a sex therapist, who handed her a vibrator. After a short interval the therapist said, I assume from the other side of a screen: I do hope you had a satisfactory orgasm, Mrs Amis? ELIZABETH JANE HOWARD: A DANGEROUS INNOCENCE by Artemis Cooper Fed up with seeing how she was turning into a nagging scold - though at least she got Martin to pass his exams and win a place at Oxford - and when Kingsley started to find her more than usually fussy, useless and irritating, Howard saw another marriage fail. She went to live in Suffolk, where she developed colon cancer and was the victim of a confidence trickster, Malcolm Shane, not his real name, who had perhaps murdered previous wives and partners and embezzled their savings. Amis, meanwhile, got legless every day at the Garrick Club and moved in with his ex-wife, Hilly, who, having been a zookeeper in Battersea, was now Lady Kilmarnock. Howard wrote her bestselling Cazalet books, with their patronising treatment of the lower orders, their studied coyness and stiffness. Excellent though this biography is in so many ways - and the brief discussions of the novels are brilliant; the astringent early books are rightly given their due - Cooper never goes into the nitty-gritty of Howards income, or her divorce settlements, and it seems she never had any financial difficulties. If Nicola, the daughter, is still about, Id also have welcomed her testimony. I am left, in fact, with the impression that Howard did little except go to bed with everyone she met, drawing the line only at the critic Cyril Connolly because he looked like a pug. But this is unfair, surely. CARTES POSTALES FROM GREECE by Victoria Hislop CARTES POSTALES FROM GREECE by Victoria Hislop (Headline Review 19.99) Someone Ellie doesnt know is sending postcards to her flat. But theyre addressed to someone else, and its very mysterious. The pictures on the front speak to her even so: sunny images of Greece and its islands. Ellie develops a fascination with the land of gods and monsters and once the mysterious writer sends his travel journal, shes booking her ticket to Athens. His diary is crammed with tales gleaned from chance encounters and Ellie visits each location in turn. Not every story shows Greece in an especially good light, but each ones a surprise, and Hislops passionate love of the country breathes from every page. This pretty hardback is illustrated with specially commissioned photographs to further set the dreamy Hellenic mood. THE REAL LIDDY JAMES by Anne-Marie Casey THE REAL LIDDY JAMES by Anne-Marie Casey (Hodder 13.99) A contemporary romcom in the I Dont Know How She Does It mould. Irish-born Liddy is a high-octane New York divorce lawyer the kind whos handling Brangelina right this minute and mother of two. She Has It All, but only because of spreadsheets, day-planners, servants and money. Its a balancing act and one day Liddy falls off (in spectacular fashion, on primetime TV). A smouldering Irish colleague lends her a tumbledown cottage in the home country; and she heads there with her spoilt and sceptical sons. Here youve guessed it they discover what Having It All really means. Its a familiar trajectory, but what marks this novel out is the brilliant writing. Caseys observations of posh New York life are as hilarious as her descriptions of Ireland are poetic, and the central character is wonderful. Liddy is clever, honest, hard-working and well-meaning and youll root for her like mad. We leave her in Ireland. I hope therell be a sequel. THE HISTORY OF US by Jonathan Harvey THE HISTORY OF US by Jonathan Harvey (Pan 7.99) Jocelyn Jones, celebrity bitchy columnist, has thrown herself off her West London tower block. Her lifelong friends Adam and Kathleen are at the funeral. Was it something to do with us? Adam asks, and our journey into the past begins. We trace the chequered history of the three from Eighties working-class Liverpool to the tragic present day in London. Its a glamorous, comic journey involving trolley dollies, posh escort agencies and celebrity hairdressers. But its also a sleazy one in which child abuse, prostitution, addiction and betrayal figure, too. THE FAT ARTIST by Benjamin Hale THE FAT ARTIST by Benjamin Hale (Picador 12.99) Prize-winning Benjamin Hale won a storming round of applause for his debut novel, The Evolution Of Bruno Littlemore, which was praised both for its language and its audacity (the narrator is a chimpanzee). Even when not using animals as protagonists, Hale writes from an almost zoological perspective. Tackling the undercurrents of human frailty those monsters that lurk in the deep lochs of the American psyche the stories range from Morocco to Montana, and include the tale of a U.S. congressman who expires during a tryst in a hotel room and the adventures of an addict who lands a job driving a truck full of live squid. In the title story, a heartbroken performance artist eats himself to death. Hale employs his dazzling talent to test even the most broad-minded reader. Not for the squeamish. THE TRAVELLING BAG by Susan Hill THE TRAVELLING BAG by Susan Hill (Profile 9.99) Youre not safe with The Woman In Black author Susan Hills latest, either. You might feel comfortable, for a moment, as a Victorian psychic investigator settles into his armchair to tell you a story, but as the Travelling Bag unravels to include death, revenge and academic rivalry youll be edging towards the exit. Hill knows how to chill you to the bone in the most disarming way. In Boy Number Twenty One we are at a boys boarding school, yet all is not as it appears. This collection, like Hales, digs deep into the human psyche, exploring its hinterland for paranormal disturbance. Is Andreas an imaginary friend, a ghost or a real boy? With consummate artistry, Hill creates stories that prowl around your mind, coming at you from unexpected angles, invading your senses. Perhaps read them out loud to a friend? Advantage: theres safety in numbers. SEX AND DEATH Edited by Sarah Hall and Peter Hobbs SEX AND DEATH Edited by Sarah Hall and Peter Hobbs (Faber 18.99) The title of this anthology of stories written by many well-known writers, including Ali Smith, says it all. Expanding on the theme, editors Hobbs and Hall (whose own tales, Evie and In The Reactor are included), promise in the introduction that the stories will remind us of what we already know, but cant reconcile the cognitive dissonance of living and dying, the attempts at loving in between. Its the attempts at loving that get me. The emotional disintegration of fully-grown adults, for example(in Lynn Coadys deadpan Fin) or the tender efforts of a niece to know her dying uncle and piece her family back together (Franks Last Days by Guadalupe Nettel). Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif used his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday to deliver a mixed message to the global community. Sharif said that his country wants peace with India, while at the same time even he paid glowing tributes to Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, who was killed by security forces in Jammu & Kashmir on July 8. India is likely to respond strongly to Sharifs double-speak when Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj address the UNGA on September 26. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif used his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday to deliver a mixed message to the global community, claiming that his country wants peace with India Who was Burhan Wani? Burhan Muzaffar Wani, popularly known as Burhan Wani, was a commander of the Azad Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen. He was popular among the Kashmiris due to his activity on social media and posted many photos and videos against Indian rule in Kashmir. Born in Dadsara village, Burhan was the son of a Muzaffar Wani, a school principal and Maimoona Muzaffar, who gives Quran lessons in her village. Burhan fled from his home on 16 October 2010 and became a militant at the age of 15. He was killed in an encounter with the Indian security forces on 8 July 2016, which triggered widespread protests in the Kashmir valley. The protests following Burhan Wani death led to killing of more than 70 people while over 7,000 civilians and more than 4,000 security personnel were injured, which was believed to be the worst in the Valley. Burhan is considered a 'martyr' who laid his life for Kashmir's independence. Advertisement Speaking at the assembly, Sharif said: "Peace cannot be established in South Asia without resolving the Kashmir issue." Accusing India of putting "unacceptable" conditions on dialogue with Pakistan, Sharif said the world would ignore the dangers of rising tensions in South Asia at its own peril. "Pakistan is not interested in an arms race with India," he said. In the same vein, Sharif added that Pakistan could not ignore India's "unprecedented" arms build-up and would "take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence". Raising Kashmir in his address, Sharif said: A new generation of Kashmiris has started a freedom struggle against India." Nawaz sought to highlight, human rights violations in Kashmir terming the issue a dispute and a constant source of tension and instability in the region as well as a threat to international peace and security. He said the current wave of unrest in Kashmir was the result of the heavy-handed and brutal tactics used by Indian forces and Pakistan supported the rights of self-determination for the people of Kashmir. Sharif also demanded an investigation into the atrocities committed by security forces in Kashmir. Tents and other temporary shelters for the hundreds of soldiers stationed at the base near the de facto border with Pakistan caught fire in the raid India has presented evidence of Pakistans fingerprints on the Uri terror attack to Islamabad, even as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar accepted that "something may have gone wrong" at the army camp during last weeks pre-dawn strike by Jaish-e- Mohammad terrorists. Indias Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar offered DNA samples and finger-prints of the terrorists killed in the Uri attack and also the ones killed in an operation in Poonch days before the Sunday strike to Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit. Basit has been summoned to the foreign office soon after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has presented evidence of Pakistans fingerprints on the Uri attack to Islamabad, and reminded its neighbour of its 2004 promise not to allow its territory to be used for terror Jaishankar said the evidence can be presented should Pakistan be willing to investigate the terror strike. The high commissioner was also told about the recovery of GPS from the bodies of terrorists with coordinates indicating the point and time of infiltration across the LoC and the route taken by them to reach the army camp. Grenades with Pakistani markings, communication matrix sheets, communication equipment and other materials made in Pakistan including food, medicines and clothes were found. The Pakistani envoy was also reminded of Islamabads commitment of 2004 for not allowing its territory to be used for terror activities. While mounting the diplomatic pressure, the government indicated that it remained determined to punish perpetrators of the attack in which 18 Indian army soldiers were killed. People carry effigies of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to burn them during a protest against Sunday's attack at an Indian army base camp in Kashmir's Uri The manner in which the army suffered so many casualties has caused concern in the security establishment and the fact was acknowledged by Parrikar as well. He did not go into the details and left it at saying that "something may have gone wrong". Parrikar, however, assured that it will not happen again as he believed in zero effort and in 100 per cent perfection in his way of life. Obviously something must have been wrong although I will not go into details of it. It is a very sensitive matter. When something goes wrong, while you try to correct it you should also ensure it does not happen again. "There are management principles to ensure that this happens. We will definitely find out what went wrong and also take steps to ensure it doesn't go wrong, he said. Uri: Soldiers guard outside the army base which was attacked Parrikar also let out that India will not resort to knee-jerk reaction but assured that retaliation was certainly not ruled out. The PMs initial words that those responsible for this will not go unpunished will not go just as mere statement. How to punish... we have to work out. We are quite serious about it. The defence ministers remarks indicated that the government was not lying low as there have been series of deliberations on the future course of action. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will present Indias case at the UN General Assembly and she will meet several world leaders on the sidelines of the event highlighting the need to isolate Pakistan on terrorism. A soldier peers through nets of barbed wire tied around his post as men and children walk past in eerie silence. Some distance behind him, an army operation is underway to deal with infiltrators. At the picturesque Lachipora in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri sector, life has taken a turn for the worse as tensions sour along the Line of Control. India Today reports from the last accessible point before the conflict zone and finds life to be hard for ordinary Kashmiris living along the Line of Control (pictured - Kashmir at peace) Home to mostly porters, farmers and small store owners, Uri town and its neighbourhoods are suffering substantial collateral damage from militant intrusions. Schools are shut, daily businesses have gone down. Troops have escalated anti-infiltration measures in the wake of Sundays deadly terror raid on the Uri army camp. On Wednesday, India Today TVs crew reached the last accessible point beyond which a massive combing exercise was being conducted following a fierce gun battle a day earlier with a new group of 10 to 12 terrorists. Fear pervades through the lush-green mountains standing between residents of this neighbourhood and the LoC, three kilometres away. I heard the booms and then the loud bangs, said an elderly Kashmiri, sitting under a dilapidated, wooden shelter. Frightened, he locked himself in his house as the deafening noise from Tuesdays shoot-out with terrorists continued unabated. Better Days: Kashmiri men buying and selling vegetables at the morning floating market on Dal Lake. This was once a popular tourist attraction now ruined by war. We were scared. We are poor people. Sometimes we just have to run for safety, said the man, perched on a bamboo plank. A young man sitting around called the phenomenon fairly new. This type of situation is happening after almost 15 years. Its scary, he said. Several children, as young as 10, were seen walking and playing in the unpaved lanes as unrest prompted authorities to close down schools temporarily. Army personnel in action inside the Army Brigade camp during a terror attack in Uri Senior Kashmiris were worried. I want my children to become pen men, not gunmen, lamented an 80-year-old retired schoolteacher. I hope everything will become normal soon. In Uri town, markets were open, but largely deserted. Some residents put a bold face on adversity. Why should we be scared? We have the army to protect us, remarked a man. Homeowners said they were hit with a double whammy, with chronic poverty on the one hand and prolonged curfews on the other. Ours is a backward village. We are virtually under a siege, said a villager of Patwari Naogam. Patwari Naogam is the last hamlet of 200 houses before the LoC in Handwara. Crores of rupees spent on cleaning the Ganga over the years have gone down the drain with the holy river becoming even filthier. A recent report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that water quality has worsened at places between Haridwar and Kanpur with heavy presence of fecal coliform bacteria and pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides. The 1,569 mile-long river that runs from a glacier in the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal supports more than 400 million of Indias 1.25 billion population. Crores of rupees spent on cleaning the Ganga over the years have gone down the drain with the holy river becoming even filthier with a recent report showing that water quality has actually worsened In the study 'Restoration and rejuvenation of Ganga', the findings claim: "The River Ganga is blocked and dammed at many places and water has been diverted for various uses. As a result, the water quality and ecological sanctity is threatened. The Ganges River The Ganges River is a trans-boundary river which flows through the nations of India and Bangladesh. The 1,569 mile river rises in the western Himalayas, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. In late May or early June every year, Hindus celebrate the 'avatarana' or descent of the Ganga from heaven to earth. Being a holy river, recognised in Hindu literature featuring in the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, many believe that the river's water can cleanse people of sin. Many people still drink the water believing it to be a healing elixir. Although over 400 million people live along the river, it is used extensively as a toilet, and for dumping household and industrial waste. The Ganga Action Plan began in 1985 as a huge effort to completely clean up the world's most polluted river. Advertisement The report has made many startling revelations about the water quality due to discharge of untreated sewage into the river. It says that at present 823.1 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage is being discharged, without treatment, over a distance of 543 km between Haridwar and Kanpur. Also, the stretch is affected by 1,072 polluting industries. The latest data show that the water quality worsens as the river flows from Haridwar down to Kanpur. While the quality criteria mentions that the fecal coliform content should be less than 2500 MPN/100 ml, in a part of Kanpur it reached 40,000 this year. In 2015, the figure it was 20,889 at that location. The CPCB has suggested that 30 storm-water drains carrying sewage, sullage and other wastes joining the Ganga at various locations, should have flow measuring systems at the terminal points for assessing the quantity of waste water being discharged. Also, these drains should be hygienically maintained and properly dredged at regular intervals. The dredged material should be disposed of properly without any adverse environmental impacts. The board has also recommended that all the factories discharging industrial effluents should transmit online data of their waste matter quality to pollution control boards both at the Centre and state. These industries should also submit fortnightly data of effluent-quality based on samples collected manually and getting it analysed through laboratory recognised under the Environment Protection Act, it said. The new report has made many startling revelations about the water quality due to discharge of untreated sewage into the river The BJP-led government recently launched the Namami Gange programme on the banks of the river in Uttarakhand when 250 projects worth Rs 1,500 crore were launched. These projects were also launched at 108 places situated on the banks of sub-tributaries. Officials said that from the Gangotri to Ganga Sagar, Namami Gange will ensure cleanliness of the river for which Rs 20,000 crore have been earmarked. Experts have warned the Delhi government's fogging exercise is 'ineffective' in tackling the capital's growing dengue and chikungunya crisis. They claim that there is no evidence to show that the government-led fumigation exercise is reducing the numbers of disease-spreading mosquitoes, with some data suggesting that the vectors have become 'resistant' to the chemicals used. Dr Randeep Guleria, head of department of pulmonary medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said that, at the very best, the fogging drive was merely a containment measure, rather than a preventative one. Data suggests that mosquitoes may have become resistant to the chemical used in fumigation He said: "The data to suggest that fogging actually decreases number of mosquitoes is not very strong. "Fumigation is not a preventive measure but only a containment measure. It is a high-risk formula with only psychological effects. It makes people feel safer." According to Guleria, there is data which suggest that mosquitoes have in fact become resistant to the chemical used in fumigation and may not die. About 41 private and 35 government hospitals are treating the dengue and chikungunya patients at the moment as the crisis worsens He continued: Fumigation is not fool-proof. Dengue has to be controlled at the larval stage. Leader of House in SDMC and former South Delhi mayor Subhash Arya, said: Fogging is mostly done outside the houses which can be effective only for five to 10 minutes and then it gets mixed in the air and, hence, there will be no impact on the mosquitoes. Meanwhile, doctors have issues a warning about the serious health implications to humans in the pesticide drive. Delhi is witnessing a steep rise in cases of chikungunya and dengue, which - combined - have claimed at least 34 lives so far The fogging machines used by the municipal corporations in Delhi spray 95 litres of diesel mixed with insecticides in an hour. According to doctors, one of the insecticides used for fumigation is malathion which can be hazardous for humans, especially for the vulnerable, young and elderly groups. It's claimed that it can have chronic long term effects and can cause short term breathing problems and headaches in healthy people, with it posing an even greater threat to those with pre-existing breathing difficulties. Indian homeless people burn rubbish as the smoke helps to deter mosquitoes in New Delhi. Despite fumigating vast areas several Indian cities battle dengue fever and other diseases Dr SP Byotra, senior consultant and chairman of the department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said: It has an adverse effect on those who are asthmatic and allergic. "Lots of people cough, sneeze and their eyes burn due to chemicals used in fogging. Fumigation is no more effective but has negative impact on human health. Delhi is witnessing a steep rise in cases of chikungunya and dengue, which - combined - have claimed at least 34 lives so far. About 41 private and 35 government hospitals are treating the dengue and chikungunya patients. The three municipal bodies in Delhi are conducting fumigation in residential and commercial areas. Last week, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and volunteers went across the city armed with fogging machines. Following severe criticism, the AAP has sought the help of Bharatiya Janata Party MPs, MLAs and other prominent leaders to control the outbreak of vector-borne diseases. Delhis Water Minister Kapil Mishra has appealed to all MPs, MLAs and councillors to keep aside political differences and fight the outbreak together. In an open letter, Mishra urged everyone to come together and fight dengue and chikungunya. The Delhi Congress also launched a helpline number 9891620771 to receive complaints on viral fever like chikungunya and dengue on WhatsApp and SMS. World Health Organisation warns against 'needless fumigation' Fogging is not only ineffective at controlling mosquitoes, but injurious to health and also a major environmental hazard. NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), estimates that a total 4.5 lakh litre of diesel could have been used up in fogging in Delhi this season. It is equivalent to diesel fumes emitted by about 2,250 cars running for 30 kms in a day. A woman covers her face as a municipal worker fumigates a residential area to check the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in New Delhi Anti-mosquito fogging is 95 per cent diesel mixed with only five per cent chemicals like pyrethrum, malathion and alphacypher. Diesel functions as a gaseous solvent for the actual mosquitocidal elements, which are categorised as slightly hazardous themselves. Mosquitos are rife in New Delhi Worse still, the intense fogging done at nose level ensures that a large quantity of it is absorbed by human lungs. Diesel is a class-I Carcinogen (cancer-causing element) as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), a fact often cited against use of diesel-guzzling SUV cars as well. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is already hearing a petition against SUVs. Supreme Court judges have slammed rules brought in by the Maharashtra government which ban 800 dance bars from serving alcohol. One judge labelled the move "obnoxious" as he questioned the thinking behind the action against the venues, which are mostly located in Mumbai. The apex court made it clear to the state government that it just cannot single out dance bars for a liquor ban and, if the move was aimed at improving law and order, then it must enforce the same rules in all hotels and restaurants as well. The Maharashtra government has banned 800 dance bars, mostly in Mumbai, for serving alcohol for 'law and order' reasons A bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra, told lawyers representing the Maharashtra government: "What an obnoxious rule? No alcoholic beverage should be sold? It is a bar. You may take steps to ban liquor in all hotels, restaurants and dance bars across the state of Maharashtra but you cannot single out just the dance bars for a ban. The court, acting on a petition filed by the dance bar owners association, said the regulation prohibiting liquor during the performance of dance was absurd. The remarks came as the Maharashtra government defended the new law, saying that it was part of their inherent power to police the state. India's Supreme Court has labelled the rules in Maharashtra as 'obnoxious' and 'absurd' Dance bars were banned in Maharashtra in 2005 but were allowed to reopen eight years later by the Supreme Court, which overruled the state government's argument that the establishments were a "bad influence on society and encourage prostitution". Bar owners were then asked to re-apply for licences. In April, the state government passed a new law banning the serving of liquor in the dance area, setting a 11.30pm deadline for dances, banned liquor in the bars and ordered CCTV to be installed inside. Dance bar owners are also unhappy with the new licence condition which has a vague definition for 'obscenity' which, if detected, will lead to the licence being revoked. Eon has paid 1.2million to around 24,000 customers, or 46 each, after it failed to compensate when its staff missed home appointments. The energy giant approached the watchdog in 2014 to admit staff had failed to turn up to a number of appointments from 2011 onwards and had not paid customers the correct redress. It will also give nearly 2million to two charities, National Energy Action and Citizens Advice. Eon failure: Energy firms must meet minimum customer service standards as laid out by the watchdog Within its Guaranteed Standards, Ofgem says energy suppliers must meet minimum standards of customer service. This includes visiting customers at home and paying compensation if these are missed. The amount paid out varies depending on the energy firm but for Eon customers at the time it was 20 for a missed gas appointment and 22 for an electricity appointment, rising to 30 per appointment from January 1 2016. Eon and Ofgem worked together after the initial discovery and this is why there was no formal action taken against the supplier. A spokesman for Eon said: 'As part of the Guaranteed Standards, we make a payment to our customers when our representatives don't arrive at a customer's property for an appointment when we say they will. 'We also make a further payment to the customer if the initial payment is not made within 10 working days. Eon has paid 3.1m to customers and charities after failing to pay customer compensation 'As outlined in the Ofgem statement, we identified and updated Ofgem that we had not consistently made these payments. 'To fix this we have written to customers who have been affected to say sorry, explain what has happened and to give them a cheque for the missing amounts.' Ofgem says Eon has now improved its customer service processes and will now make sure customers are paid the compensation they're entitled to. Dermot Nolan, Ofgem chief executive, said: 'Eon fell well short of the high standards we expect for consumers when it missed appointments and then failed to compensate customers. PROFITS LEAP Construction and infrastructure group Kier posted a 45 per cent leap in underlying pre-tax profits to 125million for the year to June 30 after seeing revenues surge by 26 per cent. The Bedfordshire-based firm saw bottom-line losses of 15million, against profits of 39million the previous year, but said this was down to one-off hits. It has an order book worth 8.7billion. TRUST DEAL Outsourcing giant Serco has won a 600million contract to manage facilities for Barts Health NHS Trust in London, involving cleaning, linen, catering and pest control services across five Barts sites in east London. DRINKS ROUND Mitchells & Butlers, the owners of All Bar One, Toby Carvery and Harvester, said the recent hot weather has driven a turnaround in trading. The company reported a 1.8 per cent rise in sales for the eight weeks to September 17, with drink sales surging by 3.8 per cent and food up 0.4 per cent. Chief executive Phil Urban said margins for the full year will be lower than last year, following the introduction of the national living wage. ASSETS FALL Investment management company Miton said assets under management fell in the first six months of the year. The company had 2.5billion on its books at the end of June, up from 2.2billion at the same point last year but down from 2.8billion at the start of 2016. Profits rose to 3.1million, from 800,000 in the same period last year. SHIPPING TALKS Global shipping giant Maersk is in talks to buy a portfolio of North Sea assets from Royal Dutch Shell as the Danish group considers adding scale to its oil and gas business ahead of a planned spin off. Maersk announced a major overhaul that will see it focus on its core transport and logistics businesses, while looking at options for its energy division. FOOD CHIEF Catering and food company Brakes has announced the appointment of Ton Christiaanse as its new UK chief executive, replacing Phil Wieland who will be leaving the business next year. Christiaanse has food experience at Unilever, Farm Frites and Vion, and most recently as chairman of AK Stoddart, the Scottish beef processor. FRENCH CONNECTION Advertising giant WPP has announced that it is investing in a French media firm as it ramps up growth in Europe following Britains decision to leave the European Union. The Sir Martin Sorrell-run firm said that it would invest in Les Nouvelle Editions Independantes, which owns holdings in newspaper Le Monde and VICE France. Launch comes hot on the heels of Amazon's new restaurant and Would you buy the produce of your local craftsman... from Amazon? It's the world's biggest online marketplace, listing 261 million products for sale in the UK alone last year. But while the retail juggernaut has typically been associated with mass-produced items like books and CDs, the company has gone down the bespoke route with the launch of 'Handmade at Amazon' , a marketplace for 'artisans'. Taking the plunge: MooBoo Homes' Andy and Nic Bouchard will sell through the platform The platform - which launched in the US last year - will feature products from more than 1,000 small companies through Amazon's existing UK website. The concept of an online marketplace showcasing creative entrepreneurs isn't new, with Notonthehighstreet and Etsy already operating this model successfully. Handmade at Amazon is divided into 10 categories including jewellery, home decor, artwork, kitchen and dining, and furniture. Amazon said the launch was in response to demand from their customers, who it said regularly search for genuinely handmade items on the site. The platform has also launched on Amazon's websites in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, and will display around 30,000 items across them all. Each product page will display a location icon showing where the artisan is based, so that customers know where they are buying from. Hoping for homemade: Amazon says there is a big demand for artisan products Francois Saugier, vice president for Amazon Seller Services in Europe said: 'We have designed a shopping experience for customers looking for unique, handmade items by bringing together many of the best artisans from across Europe. 'With Handmade at Amazon, artisans can grow their business, and many of them will now be able to turn their passion into a career.' Amazon says the launch will allow its customers to support UK businesses, and find out more about what goes into the products that they buy, within an online shopping experience they are used to. As for the entrepreneurs themselves, Amazon says they will benefit from its seller support network and professional tools. Nic and Andy Bouchard make furniture as MooBoo Home and will sell through the new platform. Nic says: 'Handmade at Amazon is a huge opportunity for us, as until now we've only sold locally, but our designs will now be seen nationwide. We hope that this opportunity will mean the move from part time hobby to full time business, and we can't wait to get started'. Informed choice: Each product page has a logo saying where the item was made As with the other sellers on Amazon, artisans do not pay to list their items and only incur fees when they make a sale. This will be 12 per cent of the cost until the end of 2017, and rise to 15 per cent after that. This makes Amazon slightly pricier than Etsy, but far cheaper than Notonthehightstreet. On Etsy, each listing placed on the site costs 15 pence, plus a 3.5 per cent transaction fee and a 4 per cent plus 20 pence processing fee. Meanwhile, Notonthehighstreet.com charge businesses 199 to sign up to the site, then take 25 per cent commission. This means that if an item you sold cost 20, Amazon would keep 2.40, leaving the entrepreneur with 17.60. On Etsy, the site would keep 1.85, leaving the entrepreneur with 18.15. On Notonthehighstreet.com, the site would keep 5, leaving the seller with 15 - not including the 200 fee they paid to list on the site. To be featured on Handmade at Amazon, entrepreneurs have to fill out an application form including detailed descriptions and supporting images of their items, production methods, workspace and business. Their application is reviewed by Amazon to ensure their products qualify as artisan and handmade. The retail giant has certainly been busy recently. Handmade at Amazon arrives hot on the heels of its new food delivery service, which is itself a rival to Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats. The 'Amazon Restaurants' service is available to subscribers of its Prime scheme who live in central London, and offers free delivery on orders over 15. Advertisement Sprinting for her life as the Taliban sprayed bullets at her in open ground, Alison Baskerville had to rely on the covering fire of British soldiers to ensure she didn't die in Afghanistan. Caught in an ambush, she was forced to dive for cover, only pausing when coalition air support arrived to scare the enemy away. But Baskerville is not a soldier. She is one of a growing number of female photographers putting themselves on the front line of conflicts across the world, to capture at times what their male counterparts can't. The Italian photojournalist Andreja Restek, left, sprints across a road while under fire in Aleppo, Syria One of Restek's pictures showing the brutal urban warfare that is taking place in the narrow streets of Aleppo, Syria Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi, 37, a Brooklyn-based photographer of Romanian-Iraqi heritage, at work in the African jungle One of Zeyneb Alhindawi's pictures shows a woman suffering from malaria in Bahr el Ghazai, South Sudan, in 2015 Alison Baskerville, 41, a British photojournalist and RAF veteran, left, and Shelly Kittleson, an American photojournalist, right One of Alison Baskerville's pictures showing Lance Corporal Jamie Thorne of the British Army after combat in Helmand, 2011 Another of Alison Baskerville's pictures showing a British Medical Emergency Response Team helicopter in Afghanistan, 2011 One of Shelly Kittleson's pictures showing a woman from Deir Al-Zor, Syria, showing a picture of her son killed in the fighting From the streets of Paris to the outposts of Iraq, women are now fighting along side men and now photographing alongside them also,' the 41-year-old respected war photographer and former sergeant in the RAF told MailOnline. Times are changing, and some of the women I have seen in this industry are brave and confident. They put themselves in danger and challenge the stereotype of women and war. Baskerville was accompanying the British Army in Helmand when they came under fire inside a compound: I just remember everyone running. 'We were in open ground and had been ambushed. There was nowhere to take cover and the infantry had to lay down covering fire so we could escape. 'Adrenalin took over, and it was the fastest 500 metres Ive done in body armour. My military background has helped me with my credibility, and somehow does get me a little bit of respect, she said. Im used to dealing in what can be perceived as a mans world, but I would like that perception to change. Next month, a museum in Turin, Italy, will celebrate the role of the female war photographer with an exhibition of works by 14 of them, including Baskerville. Maysun, a Spanish-Palestinian freelance photojournalist based in Kenya, who doesn't use her surname in her professional life One of Maysun's pictures shows the mother of a boy killed by the Egyptian army in Port Said by the police academy, 2012 Annabell Van den Berghe, a fluent Arabic speaker, who has been working as a freelance journalist since 2009 One of Annabelle Van den Berghe's pictures showing a man on a motorcycle beside burning oil drums in Syria Laurence Geai, left, a French photographer based in Paris, and Capucine Granier Deferre, right, who is also French One of Laurece Geai's pictures showing a Seleka soldier relaxing at his base in Bambari, Central African Republic, in 2014 One of Capucine Granier Deferre's pictures showing pro-Russian forces recovering supplies in Ukraine in 2015 Being an an excellent photographer should have nothing to do with your gender, Baskerville said. It should be about capability and the images you produce. It is impossible to tell from a picture whether it was taken by a man or a woman, she added. Other photojournalists featured in the exhibition said that being female can provide distinct advantages when working in the field, as well as disadvantages. Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi, 37, a Brooklyn-based photographer of Romanian-Iraqi heritage, said that while working in hostile environments she has been physically attacked, robbed at knifepoint, and accused of being an American spy. Nevertheless, she said, the mere fact that she is female has enabled her to be a more effective photographer. Women get intimate access easier than men do, she said. Were less of a threat and can better convince people to let their guard down around us. 'I think people relax easier around a female, they say no less often if the photographer is a female, and they forget about our presence quicker, which allows us to get candid shots faster. We can push boundaries and bend rules a bit more than men can before were reprimanded. And even then, because they dont take me as seriously as they would a male photographer, were not kicked out or heavily reprimanded. Camille Lepage, a French photojournalist who was killed during the conflict in the Central African Republic in 2014 One of Camille Lepage's pictures showing a couple walking through their devastated village in Kauda, Sudan The Italian photojournalist Andreja Restek, founder and director of the APR news website, at work in Aleppo, Syria Annabell Van den Berghe, a Brussels-based journalist who is fluent in Arabic and has worked extensively in Iraq, said that unwanted male attention can make her job difficult in the field. Unfortunately, as a woman, male colleagues whether fixers, translators or other journalists do not always treat you with respect, she said. Finding myself in a war zone with somebody who acts dishonourably and crosses the professional line is the dodgiest thing that has ever happened to me. Often these men see me as their possession, and they believe that they have the right to decide what I do, with who and when including dishonourable behaviour. Van den Berghe has encountered other problems, too. While interviewing a jihadist from the notorious Syrian Jabhat al-Nusra, now rebranded as the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, she wasnt allowed to speak to him directly even though there was no language barrier. I needed a translator to translate from woman to man, she said, wryly. Women war photographers have paid the ultimate price for their work. The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Camille Lepage, who was killed while photographing the conflict in the Central African Republic in 2014. Matilde Gattoni, an award-winning French-Italian photographer based in Milan, left, and Jodi Hilton, an American photojournalist covering Turkey and The Balkans, right One of Matilde Gattoni's pictures showing a 35-year-old refugee from Al-Zahraa, Syria, after fleeing to Lebanon One of Monique Jacques' pictures shows a female paramilitary ranger protecting wildlife in Democratic Republic of Congo One of Virginie Nguyen Hoang's pictures showing Ukrainian soldiers firing an anti-tank grenade at separatists in 2015 One of Andreja Restek's pictures showing Iraqi refugees trying in vain to cross the border between Hungary and Serbia Lepage, 26, spent 18 months in South Sudan before moving to the Central African Republic a few months before she died. Her final entries on social media said she was travelling with the Christian Anti-balaka militia on motorbike to cover the ongoing fighting in the south west of the country. Her body was discovered in May 2014 by French peacekeeping troops in the west of the country, near the border of Cameroon. The French government described her death as 'murder'. 24-year-old Steven Brown of Port Richey turned himself in to investigators A Florida man grabbed his drugs after blowing up his home, but left his one-year-old daughter and two caged dogs behind. Steven Brown of Port Richey turned himself in to Pasco County investigators on Monday after the explosion on September 3. The 24-year-old was making hash oil when his house burst into flames. He faces arson, drug and aggravated cruelty to animal charges. Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll says Brown was trying to cook the very potent type of marijuana inside his home when the fire started. Deputies say Brown took his drugs and fled the residence, leaving behind a one-year-old child and two dogs. The child wasn't hurt, but both dogs died in the fire The one-year-old child's crib and soft toys can be clearly seen in this picture released by cops Deputies say after the fire, Brown then grabbed his drugs and fled the home, leaving his two caged dogs to die in the fire The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says this is the first explosion caused by marijuana wax or butane hash in the county It is very dangerous because like a lot of organic solvents making the hash oil is very flammable, and using propane or butane there is the risk of an explosion Deputies say Brown took his drugs and fled the residence. But he didn't return to pick up the youngster or his two pets. The child wasn't hurt, but the dogs later died. Authorities had been searching for Brown, who they say fled from a traffic stop September 9. Jail records don't indicate whether he has an attorney. 'It was loud. I'm talking about like somebody just dropped a bomb,' neighbor Cynthia Bryant said of the explosion to BayNews9. 'It is very dangerous because like a lot of organic solvents it's very flammable, and using propane or butane, it's also explosive,' said Alfred Aleguas with the Florida Poison Information Center. Aleguas says propane from a grill or butane from a lighter is used to extract the THC, if there's a spark it could lead to an explosion. A drug-related explosion accidentally burned his house down, authorities said The Pasco County Sheriffs Office said that something went wrong during the process of marijuana cooking in the house During the process, the marijuana is cooked down into a waxy form that is more potent and is more easy to package and sell The explosion was heard by many residents in the neighborhood This is the first marijuana wax explosion for the Bay Area and deputies can only hope this won't be the start of a dangerous trend According to deputies, when Brown was faced with the decision of what to save from the fire, he grabbed his drugs and ranleaving his two caged dogs to die in the blaze Newly uncovered ISIS documents in Libya have revealed how jihadis are offering their brides dowries such as machine guns and suicide vests. Forces allied with the country's unity government discovered the documents as they searched buildings seized during a battle with the terror group in the coastal city of Sirte. The papers belonged to the ISIS 'Judicial and Complaints' department and have since been published on the pro-government forces' Facebook pages. Libyan forces discovered ISIS documents as they searched buildings seized during a battle with the terror group in the coastal city of Sirte And many of them reveal the bizarre marriage contracts and divorce rulings that have been drawn up without any real names or personal information. In one example from November 30, 2015, Abu Mansour, a Tunisian born in 1977, married a Nigerian called Miriam in the presence of Sudanese and Malian witnesses. But in contrast to Islamic norms, he did not pay a dowry but instead vowed to pay compensation in the event of his death or the marriage being dissolved - in the form of a suicide belt. Meanwhile jihadi bride Fatima from Nigeria was promised a Kalashnikov assault rifle in the case of divorce or if her husband Malian Abu Said, was to die. ISIS took over Sirte in July 2015 and imposed a reign of terror over the the Libyan city. New legislation also banned smoking and music, closed women's cosmetic shops, made the face-covering niqab compulsory for females and taxes were enforced across a wide range of businesses such as property rental and farming. ISIS took over Sirte in July 2015 and imposed a reign of terror over the the Libyan city. Pro government forces have battled to retrieve the city The capture of the city has also sparked fears that jihadis would use the Mediterranean city as a springboard for attacks on Europe. Pictured are Libyan government forces Public killings have become a regular occurrence, with the dead - either shot or beheaded - strung up, or left to hang on ropes from beneath a bridge on the south side of Sirte. Many families suffer the same woe when they are prevented from collecting the body of their murdered relative. Some resort to smuggling the corpses away in the night in order to bury them. The capture of the city has also sparked fears that jihadis would use the Mediterranean city as a springboard for attacks on Europe. A violent siege in Adelaide by a man a who held police at bay from the roof of a motel has ended after a four hour stand-off. Police were called to the Marion Motel and Apartments in North Clifton about 2.30am on Thursday to reports of an 'agitated man' on the roof. The 28-year-old, was constantly moving between the unit and the roof while throwing items, including a toaster, from inside the bedrooms at officers below, police said. Scroll down for video Police were called to the Marion Motel in Adelaide following reports of an 'agitated man' on the roof The 28-year-old was throwing objects from inside the bedrooms at the officers below The man was also believed to be affected by drugs and alcohol, the Today show reported. Police negotiators were present at the scene attempting to resolve the situation as residents from neighbouring rooms were evacuated - no one was in the room with the man. About 6.40am local time, police managed to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man to come off the roof. He was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken into custody without incident. He has been taken to the Flinders Medical Centre for a mental health assessment. Police negotiators managed to a peaceful ending arresting the man after a four-hour stand-off Surrounding streets were cordoned and residents from neighbouring rooms were evacuated A local resident said the atmosphere was intense as the SWAT team negotiated with the man, reported ABC 891 Adelaide. 'There's glass all over the road,' Anthony said. 'I heard them screaming at each other ... like a domestic or something. 'There was a SWAT team [STAR Group officers] there at one stage. There was about 15 cop cars there. It was pretty intense.' Marion Road has been reopened to traffic. The 28-year-old was constantly moving between the unit and the roof while throwing items Advertisement This incredible footage shows the 'flying rhinos' being transported to safer areas in order to try and increase the population of the endangered animals. WWF Australia released the compelling video of black rhinos being tranquilised and then dangling in the sky from helicopters taking them out of inaccessible areas where they cannot be protected. South Africa's Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) reveals the surprising way in which the animals are taken to safer areas, where it is more likely they might breed. This incredible footage shows the 'flying rhinos' being transported to safer areas in order to try and increase the population of the endangered animals WWF Australia released the compelling video of black rhinos being tranquilised and then dangling in the sky from helicopters taking them out of inaccessible areas where they cannot be protected South Africa's Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) reveals the surprising way in which the animals are taken to safer areas, where it is more likely they might breed Moving the rhino is a hugely complex process that requires an army of staff on hand to assist with the transportation mission The staff show an incredible level of care when they watch the huge rhino being hauled into the air by the helicopted This wildlife worker helps properly secure the rhino before it takes flight in a picture that shows great tenderness As the rhino is hauled into the air, it hangs upside down from the line leading up to the helicopter that will take it to a safer place There is tape around the rhino's mouth and material to cover its eyes during the flight to a brand new habitat Other images from the video show more lines around the animal's legs, which must be strong enough to support its weight There are dozens of people involved in the operation and these three are close by at the crucial point the rhino is lifted This wildlife worker triumphantly waves the rhino off with his hat in the air as the animal begins its journey to a new home 'Recently we've seen an upsurge of poaching incidents in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa,' WWF-Australia's Head of Species Conservation Darren Grover said. 'If we don't bring poaching under control, the Rhino conservation successes to date could be put in jeopardy. 'The work of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project is critically important to increase the number of animals born. It's a proven tool for rhino conservation.' After a decade of work, BRREP has helped to grow the black rhino population in the stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal to over 500 animals, representing a 21 per cent growth rate to the highest level since counting began. The video starts with the hunt for the rhinos and the race towards it once it has been tranquilised in the park As the rhino is transported, it dangles thousands of feet over the vast greenery in South Africa, which spreads as far as the eye can see The helicopter has to descend incredibly carefully as it lowers the animal towards people waiting to grab it on the ground Staff have to rush to the landing ground and steady the dangling animal amid the dust cloud brought up by the helicopter As soon as the helicopter has landed, before the dust has even settled, the staff prepare for the next stage of the relocation During its lifetime, the project has translocated more than 160 black rhinos and established 10 new populations. More than 70 calves have been born on project sites which now span some 220 000 hectares. BRREP provides equipment and training to monitor, manage and protect rhino populations, both in the new sites and the critical donor reserves. WWF South Africa works to identify safe new rhino sites and move a group of between 15 to 20 black rhinos to create new populations where they have ample space to breed and thrive. During its lifetime, the project has translocated more than 160 black rhinos and established 10 new populations Once the rhino has been transported by air, it is then put into a container to begin the second stage of the journey by road The huge animal, while still dozy, is ushered into the container by more than half a dozen people in the most dangerous part of the transportation process More than 70 calves have been born on project sites which now span some 220 000 hectares BRREP provides equipment and training to monitor, manage and protect rhino populations, both in the new sites and the critical donor reserves. They also help reserves monitor and secure rhinos by supplying equipment like camera traps, motorbikes and tents for the on-site rhino staff as well as veterinary care. The organisation also works with countries in the illicit trafficking routes for rhino horn, especially Mozambique, key nation en-route from South Africa. Students have been warned if they take part in Muck-Up Day they would be banned from their formal and graduation. The warning comes as news emerged a 13-year-old boy, from Sydney, suffered a broken leg in an incident linked to the end-of-year tradition. Year 12 students were also told they would not be able to find out their test results if they participated in Muck-Up Day, The Daily Telegraph reported. Students have been warned if they take part in Muck-Up Day they would be banned from their formal and graduation The mother of a student at Oatley's Georges River College, in Sydney's south-west, said the principal even went a step further with seniors and warned them they would 'have to sit their exams elsewhere' if they carried out the antics. 'To threaten a child that they could not sit their HSC on school grounds because they brought in a water pistol is plain ridiculous,' she said. A Department of Education spokesman told the Telegraphy the college students were told 'any acts of vandalism will be dealt with through the school's disciplinary policy'. He added: 'If a student is suspended an alternative venue to sit the HSC may be required.' A Tuesday afternoon incident showed how serious the consequences of a Muck-Up Day could be. A group of Year 12 students attacked a second group of younger boys, from Dee Why's St Luke's Grammar School as they alighted off a school bus near Harbord Park in Freshwater, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Year 12 students were also told they would not be able to find out their test results if they participated in Muck-Up Day A Muck-Up Day sign in front of a NSW high school just a few days ago The warning comes as news emerged a 13-year-old boy, who attends St Luke's Grammar School (pictured), suffered a broken leg in an incident linked to the end-of-year tradition Police allege a 13-year-old boy was tackled to the ground by an older student as he ran from the seniors. The older student then fled from the scene. The 13-year-old boy suffered a broken leg and was treated at the park by paramedics about 4pm on Tuesday before he was taken to hospital. Following the incident, an 18-year-old man turned himself in at Dee Why Police Station on Wednesday about 2.30pm. He was taken to Manly Police Station and charged with reckless wounding causing grievous bodily harm. The man was granted bail to appear before Manly Local Court on October 12. Pictured are high school students taking part in Muck-Up Day celebrations this year A NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia they were not looking for anyone in relation to the incident and no further charges were expected to be laid. St Luke's Grammar School Principal Jann Robinson confirmed the incident had occurred. 'There was an incident on Tuesday afternoon when four of our students alighted from the bus at Freshwater,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'They were chased by a group of older boys from other schools. 'One of the students was injured and the matter is now in the hands police. 'A bystander came to the assistance of the boys and I am grateful for the assistance they rendered.' Ms Robinson said the boy was doing well and she had been in close contact with his parents. The 41-year-old actor won his own award this year for The Revenant Academy does not appear to have taken any action against DiCaprio He spent years looking for it before his death in 2004, the claim Brando's estate say the statuette went missing while actor was still alive Academy forbids the sale of any Oscar without first offering it back to them for $10 Actor was given the gift from friends at Red Granite Pictures - who have been caught up in $3billion 1MDB money laundering scandal DiCaprio allegedly received Marlon Brando's 1955 Best Actor Oscar award for his birthday in November 2012 Leonardo DiCaprio may have only won his first Oscar this year, but he has another statuette gracing his mantelpiece. Marlon Brando's Best Actor award for On the Waterfront - which went missing before the legendary actor's death in 2004 - sits in pride of place on DiCaprio's mantel. 'It would be great to get it back,' the late actor's archivist said. Leo, who was finally awarded his Oscar for the Revenant earlier this year, was given Brando's statuette as a gift by his friends at the scandal-hit Red Granite Pictures, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Until now, Leo's failure to win - after two decades of multiple nominations - had become something of a running joke at the awards. Leonardo DiCaprio has been accused of having Marlon Brando's stolen Oscar of his mantelpiece So in November 2012, the Titanic star received Brando's Oscar as a gift on his 38th birthday. Brando's Oscar was reportedly acquired in the fall of 2012 for approximately $600,000 through a New Jersey memorabilia dealer. That dealer is purported to be Ralph DeLuca - who knows the actor through their shared love of vintage movie posters. It is not the first time Red Granite has faced questions over its conduct. The company, which produced DiCaprio's film The Wolf of Wall Street, w as set up by the stepson of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is at the center of a $3billion 1MBD embezzlement inquiry. He and fellow founder Joey McFarland, a former party booker for Paris Hilton, were introduced by a friend of the actor - Malaysian playboy and businessman Jho Low - another key players at the center of the money laundering scandal. Its headquarters are still above DiCaprio's Sunset Strip midrise. The Department of Justice claims in a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court on July 20 that Wolf of Wall Street, was also financed in part by embezzled funds. About $238million of money was allegedly siphoned from the 1MDB fund for the hit movie. The complaint sheds a new light on how the LDF has benefited directly from DiCaprio's relationship and friendship with Malaysian playboy and businessman Jho Low - who is one of the key players at the center of the money laundering scandal. Their alleged gift to DiCaprio is also controversial as the s ale breaks an Oscar bylaw which forbids anyone selling an Oscar of a post-1951 winner without first offering to the Academy for $10. Brando's Best Actor was awarded in 1955. However, Brando never sold his statuette - it simply went missing one day. Leo was allegedly given Brando's statuette as a gift by his friends at the scandal-hit Red Granite Pictures (pictured is him with Malaysian playboy Jho Low, right, who introduced the firm founders and is caught up in an embezzlement scandal) Low (with Paris Hilton in 2010) is a buddy of the Oscar winner and donated gifts to his foundation Avra Douglas, the actor's estate's executor and archivist says the award disappeared before Brando's death in 2004. He spent years trying to track down the missing Oscar but was never able to recover it before he died. Rumors had circled that the award went missing after Brando threw it out of the window during a temper tantrum. The story went that the actor's son Christian had then taken it up to his treehouse where he destroyed it with a hammer. Douglas has dismissed the story as nothing more than rumor. However the Oscar got out, it emerged on the private market in 1988 - drawing criticism from the Academy of Motion Pictures - when a Maine collector snapped it up for $13,500 at a Hollywood storefront auction. An executive at the Academy then denounced the sale as 'undignified.' The Academy told the Hollywood Reporter: 'We have a long history of enforcing our bylaws against the sale of post-1951 Oscars, and, where possible, even those awarded pre-1951. We have on many occasions prevented the sale of Oscars and enforced the Academy's rights to recover the statuettes.' DiCaprio finally nabbed his own Oscar for his role in the Revenant earlier this year Until his award for the Revenant (pictured) his lack of Oscars during the past two decades had become a running joke Over the years, the Academy has filed dozens of lawsuits to prevent the sale of its awards - but that hasn't stopped a brisk market in statuettes. Michael Jackson reportedly bought Gone With the Wind producer David O. Selznick's award for $1.64 million - which later went missing from his estate, while David Copperfield was an avid collector. Yet, the Academy does not seem to have taken any action against DiCaprio who proudly mounts Brando's Oscar on his mantel. One of Brando's estate trustees, Mike Medavoy, the producer of DiCaprio's Shutter Island, said the late actor cared little for his awards. 'He didn't think awards were that important, ask Sacheen Littlefeather (a civil rights activist who accepted Brando's best actor Oscar for The Godfather for him). An assistant of Brando agreed saying that he would never display his Oscars, and would even give them away. She claims she had his Godfather Oscar in her desk drawer for several years. The Academy has not commented on the Oscar in DiCaprio's possession. Wallaby joeys could die because of a $2 million light show, as the lights may cause mothers to miscarry or eject their babies from their pouches. Environmentalists and local Aboriginal people have criticised Parrtjima: A Festival In Light being held in the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia as the show's laser beams could be distressing to the local wildlife. Zoologist and local wildlife guide Mark Carter says that protected animals in the area like the black-flanked rock-wallaby or black-footed rock wallaby could abort foetuses and eject joeys from their pouch in reaction to the lights. Environmentalists and local Aboriginal people have criticised Parrtjima: A Festival In Light being held in the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia (artist depiction) Black-flanked rock-wallabies in the area could abort foetuses and eject joeys from their pouch as the lights could stress them out 'Wallabies tend to really freak out when they're stressed,' Mr Carter told Daily Mail Australia. 'They could eject their young from the pouch, these joey's could die. 'I haven't seen any evidence that you can shine lasers or any sort of high intensity light in their face and have it be safe for them.' He added that wallabies do not react to bright lights the same way that humans do, instead they tend to fall into a trance while staring at the light which can damage their sensitive eyes. Mr Carter says he and the local community have been kept in the dark about the event and claims the festival organisers have been 'coy' about what equipment they'll be using to project lights and lasers onto the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges 'The festival organisers are in denial. I think they'd push through rather than lose face,' he said. 'The idea is great but they have to do it properly, I hope they at least get rid of the lasers that would be something.' The 2.5-kilometre stretch of cliff is also a home to birds of prey like peregrine falcons. Zoologist Mark Carter said that wallabies tend to fall into a trance while staring at bright lights which causes damage NT Major Events general manager Andrew Hopper said the company had taken the necessary steps to make sure local animals were not impacted NT Major Events general manager Andrew Hopper, whose company organised the light show, told the ABC that they had taken the necessary steps to make sure local animals were not impacted. He said the show's laser beam technology was safe and did not use pinpoint or hot-beam lasers. 'The reality is the testing has shown that the impact of the laser on the MacDonnell Ranges themselves is quite a large spread so it's not a concentrated beam,' he said. The show has also faced criticisms from the Senior Indigenous custodian of Alice Springs who told the ABC the stories sacred to the site had been disregarded. 'I told them from the start that they must get the story right,' Doris Stuart said. 'That's the most important thing when you're messing around with sacred sites that are everything to the people who belong to the country.' The show has also faced criticisms from the Senior Indigenous custodian of Alice Springs who told the ABC the stories sacred to the site had been disregarded Anger: Soldiers who served in Iraq feel betrayed by the Ministry of Defence. File image Soldiers hounded over incidents in the Iraq War are threatening to take the Ministry of Defence to court. A law firm backed by 200 of them is planning to seek a judicial review over the Government's failure to support its troops. Hilary Meredith, who is taking the case, said soldiers had been left helpless before the aggressive investigators of the taxpayer-funded Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat). 'Nobody is helping these soldiers they are being hung out to dry,' Miss Meredith told the Mail. 'They were following orders while on patrol and then out of the blue they have received threats of prosecution and the MoD are not standing behind them. 'There is no support and that is the basis for a potential judicial review. Around 200 soldiers say they feel under threat of prosecution and have no legal or mental assistance.' Miss Meredith is already acting on behalf of a decorated major and a soldier who face prosecution for manslaughter, along with another serviceman, over the death of an Iraqi 13 years ago. She said her firm was moving fast with plans to apply for a judicial review. Veterans are calling for funding for legal advice for those facing questioning, the right to a fair trial and time limits on cases that have run on for a decade. Other demands include help from top brass and welfare and medical support. A Daily Mail campaign to end the hounding of troops has revealed that soldiers often suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder have faced as many as five inquiries into a single incident. A law firm plans to seek a judicial review over the Government's failure to support its troops (file image). Hilary Meredith, who is taking the case, said soldiers had been left helpless before the aggressive investigators of the taxpayer-funded Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) Veterans feel they have been 'left to rot' by the MoD after being repeatedly accused of criminality for simply following orders on the battlefield. In a letter made public yesterday, one of the accused trio that includes the major told the Commons defence committee: 'The Army has surrendered its own powers of discipline and investigation to a private company and betrayed its finest people to protect itself from scrutiny at the highest levels. 'If the Army really care, as they claim they do, they could write to all 250 people accused by Ihat and state clearly: 'Up to the point of a guilty verdict we are with you, you are one of us and we will support you to the end'. 'Supporting personnel and veterans that are accused doesn't pervert justice, nor does it infringe the independence of the investigation. It is simple common decency.' A Downing Street spokesman said Ihat was independent, insisting anyone under investigation would receive support and legal advice. But Tory MP Johnny Mercer (above), who has been leading an inquiry into the agency, said: 'This is definitely not the case' Taxpayer-funded Ihat is investigating 1,500 cases of alleged wrongdoing by troops. Its agents have turned up on family doorsteps and at barrack gates demanding information or threatening arrest over incidents from years ago. The Mail revealed yesterday that six soldiers have been arrested and 20 questioned under caution during Ihat's 57million probe into the Iraq War. A Downing Street spokesman this week said that Ihat was independent, insisting anyone under investigation would receive support and legal advice. But Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who has been leading an inquiry into the agency, said: 'This is definitely not the case.' Describing the feelings of the persecuted troops, he added: 'They feel very let down, very betrayed. These are good men and women who have signed up and given the best years of their life to the service of this country. 'I feel we have done them a huge disservice. This is a national disgrace.' Miss Meredith said the support currently provided by the Ministry of Defence was inadequate. Some MPs have called for Ihat to be scrapped, particularly as many of the original complaints were submitted by the now-defunct law firm Public Interest Lawyers. But the Government claims Ihat must continue because, if it does not, the cases will be taken on by the International Criminal Court, which is better known for trying dictators for genocide. The ICC has said if it took on the Iraq cases it would investigate the people 'bearing the greatest responsibility' potentially those higher up the chain of command rather than ordinary soldiers. The Ihat probe was set up by the Government in 2010 and is due to last until 2019. An MoD spokesman said: 'We are committed to providing legal advice and welfare support for both current and former personnel with all of those interviewed after caution in Ihat investigations receiving publicly-funded legal advice and assistance. Our policy is always under review to ensure that we provide the right levels of support.' Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Mercer, the Army's chief legal adviser in Iraq in 2003, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday that it was alleged that the MoD wrongly taught its soldiers interrogation techniques that were in breach of the Geneva Convention. He urged the ministry to 'come clean on what its interrogation direction was and whether it breached the Geneva Conventions and European Conventions and admit its corporate responsibility'. How top brass abandon their own, by soldier facing Iraq death probe By VANESSA ALLEN Army commanders have betrayed their finest troops and abandoned them to a legal witch-hunt, a soldier said yesterday. In an excoriating verdict on Britain's treatment of its military, the serviceman described how troops are left to face prosecution over decade-old accusations without a single word of support from their commanding officers. He accused Armed Forces chiefs of displaying 'utter indifference'. In an excoriating verdict on Britain's treatment of its military, a serviceman has described how troops are left to face prosecution over decade-old accusations without a single word of support from their commanding officers. Stock image The soldier is one of three left facing a possible manslaughter prosecution over the death of an Iraqi teenager in Basra 13 years ago despite all three men having been cleared at a previous hearing. He described the sense of betrayal felt by Britain's servicemen and women over a taxpayer-funded probe into historic allegations in Iraq and at their abandonment by their former commanders. In a letter to politicians of the Commons defence committee, he said: 'The reality is now that anyone in the world, even our enemies, can make any allegation against British forces, no matter how absurd, and the Government and Army will stand and watch in utter indifference as it destroys their life and careers.' The Mail has told how the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) has gathered around 1,500 case files from Iraqis seeking compensation over alleged abuses. The 57million probe has yet to carry out any prosecutions. The MoD insists allegations of abuse must be investigated. In his letter to politicians revealed by BBC Radio 4's Today the unnamed soldier said: 'There are veterans that have been persecuted for years by Ihat but haven't heard a single word of support from the Army, let alone legal or psychological support.' MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer who served in Afghanistan, said the persecution of troops was 'a national disgrace'. A year ago, the Mail serialised the most explosive political biography of the decade, Call Me Dave A year ago, the Mail serialised the most explosive political biography of the decade, Call Me Dave. In it, former Tory Party treasurer Lord Ashcroft made allegations of drug taking and debauchery by a young David Cameron. Since then, the Brexit vote has forced the prime minister from No 10. Today, we begin our exclusive serialisation of a new, updated edition by Lord Ashcroft and his co-author Isabel Oakeshott. The night before Britain voted to leave the European Union, thunder and lightning split the skies over Westminster. An electric storm raged for two hours, illuminating the Houses of Parliament with dazzling white blasts against the indigo night. David Cameron had never been devout, but perhaps he wondered what the gods were trying to say. In the early hours of June 23 at the headquarters of the Remain campaign, the mood was increasingly nervous. Polls showed the result was on a knife-edge. Every vote would count. Cameron had never been under any illusion about the EUs popularity among British voters. Even when he announced his decision to hold a referendum back in January 2013, he had known that he was taking a huge risk. Not only was the outcome uncertain (though he was confident Britain would vote to remain in the EU at that stage), the campaign would be bloody and leave him little energy for anything else. But he could see no way out. Under pressure from a rump of Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers on one hand and a surging Ukip on the other, he feared that unless he volunteered to hold a referendum, sooner or later he would be forced into it. Since then, the Brexit vote has forced the prime minister from No 10. Today, we begin our exclusive serialisation of a new, updated edition by Lord Ashcroft and his co-author Isabel Oakeshott I dont recall anyone being enthusiastic about the idea. I dont think many people would have wanted to do it had we felt we had a choice, says the Remain campaigns head of polling, Camerons old friend Andrew Cooper. By pledging to stage it before the end of 2017, however, the prime minister had created an appealingly distant deadline. It was almost five years away! recalls a senior figure on the policy team. It was absolutely designed to kick it into the long grass. I remember the feeling in Downing Street on the day of the 2013 announcement being good day at the office; got that out of the way; now we dont have to think about it for years. The referendum itself was a symptom of Camerons style of government: doing what was required to get through an immediate crisis and banking on his ability to cope with the next one when it arose. Until then, it had worked. As he had boasted two years previously to Herman Van Rompuy, the then President of the European Council, before the Scottish referendum in 2014: I will win this easily and put to bed the Scottish question for 20 years. The same goes for Europe. They were words that would come back to haunt him. Around 9pm on the day of the referendum, Cameron spoke to Andrew Cooper. Go on, whats your feeling? Cameron asked. I still hope we could get 53-47, Cooper told the PM, though he was not bullish. Lunch on me at the Wild Rabbit if youre right! Cameron replied cheerfully, referring to a gastropub near where they both live in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. That evening, Camerons inner circle gathered in Downing Street to watch the results come in. Around 9pm on the day of the referendum, Cameron spoke to Andrew Cooper. I still hope we could get 53-47, Cooper told the PM, though he was not bullish. Lunch on me at the Wild Rabbit if youre right! Cameron replied cheerfully Preliminary signs seemed encouraging, particularly when veteran pollster Peter Kellner (who was first to correctly call it for the Tories on the night of the 2015 General Election) tweeted that Britain was on course to stay in the EU by a margin of 54-46. Hopes were raised further when, around 11.30pm, a grim-faced Nigel Farage took to the airwaves to declare it looked as if Remain might just nick it. The Ukip leader was so pessimistic he abandoned a party at Millbank Tower thrown by the grassroots Brexit campaign, Leave.Eu, retreating to his office to be alone with his thoughts. Coopers team had created a sophisticated prediction model which extrapolated results from constituencies that were declaring early to the country at large. The first result saw a predictable Remain victory in Gibraltar. But the second result to come in gave a much bigger win for Leave in Sunderland than had been expected by political observers. By 2am, the Remain team knew it was very tight. Just one hour later, at 3am, Cameron was told there was no longer any hope. In Downing Street, there was disbelief at the catastrophic turn of events. It was an outcome few in his inner circle had seriously contemplated: they had grown used to defying the odds. Today, we begin our exclusive serialisation of a new, updated edition by Lord Ashcroft and his co-author Isabel Oakeshott Now they embarked on the most painful discussion of their political lives. Huddled together, they debated whether Cameron could survive. His communications chief, Craig Oliver, knew he could not. It will be death by a thousand cuts if you try to stay, he warned. Camerons political adviser, Liz Sugg, suggested he could wait until the morning to assess the national mood. She was a lone voice. His chief of staff Ed Llewellyn and Llewellyns deputy, Kate Fall, agreed he had to go. A shell-shocked Cameron did not need convincing. Hed planned to stay put until 2019, before handing over the reins he hoped to George Osborne. But the prospect of having to handle the political, economic and diplomatic fallout from Brexit was more than he could bear. Why should I have to deal with the hard s*** for someone else, just to hand it over to them on a plate? he exclaimed. His decision was soon relayed to Osborne. Well, thats that then, the Chancellor said glumly. Cameron had always guarded family time preciously, but a little over a fortnight before polling day, he was sufficiently twitchy to call a rare Sunday evening meeting in his Downing Street study. The usual members of his inner circle were there, as well as key figures from the official Stronger In campaign. The prime minister came straight to the point. What does the research say and what does the campaign think we should do? he asked. Cooper replied that they needed to keep hammering home their message on the economy. It was all they had. Cameron, pictured with his wife Samantha, had never been under any illusion about the EUs popularity among British voters In Camerons study that Sunday night, they batted around last-minute ideas. Among possibilities discussed was a Scottish referendum-style Vow, this time to find some way to limit the free movement of people. The suggestion was swiftly rejected on the basis that they had nothing to vow. All they could do, they concluded, was continue to make the economic case. Time was also running out to stage a symbolic photoshoot with the four living British prime ministers, all of whom backed Remain. Downing Street was keen to make this happen. Everyone was obsessed with that, recalls Cooper. His view was that the proposed stunt with John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Cameron hardly four very popular figures, as he puts it was over-rated. The troops left Camerons study with no new ace to play. This was perhaps not surprising. From the beginning, the Remain camp found it difficult to make a positive case for staying in Europe. Cooper remembers asking several key figures in the campaign to name the five most powerful facts showing the UK was better off staying in. They struggled to come up with any, he recalls. Taking what they believed were the correct lessons from the Scottish referendum and the 2015 election campaign, the team designed a campaign based on the perceived economic risk of Brexit. Dubbed Project Fear by the Press, the plan was to strike hard and fast with a succession of dire economic warnings. WHY NEITHER SIDE TOLD THE TRUTH ON TURKEY Leaves final coup was to raise a long dormant issue: the possibility of Turkey joining the EU. At the time, the government had officially agreed to re-open membership talks and allow visa-free access for Turkish citizens so Cameron could hardly explain publicly that, in reality, the UK had no intention of letting Turkey join. As Camerons former adviser Andrew Cooper puts it: The truth is that Turkey is moving further and further away from accession and looking less and less like a democracy. The predominant Foreign Office view is that it will probably never join. But laying out the path to EU accession is a way to wean the Turks towards liberalising their economy, encouraging free- dom of the Press and keeping their democracy. But as he ruefully admits: That argument was much too subtle. We couldnt say it would be policy to veto Turkish membership because we were worried about destroying the EU deal with Turkey on Syrian migrants [in which the EU agreed to pay Turkey six billion euros to stop the flow of immigrants across the sea to Greece]. We didnt want to totally rip up our foreign policy over this, but it takes ten minutes to explain the scenario. You only get 40 seconds on the news He trails off. Cameron was particularly incensed by Goves interventions on this issue. Over the years, as Justice Secretary he had been present at many meetings in which Turkeys EU ambitions were discussed. He was fully aware of the difference between reality and diplomatic nicety. As Cooper says: All these subtler points were entirely understood by the Leave campaign certainly by Messrs Gove and Johnson. That is why we in the Remain camp felt their assertions about imminent Turkish accession were especially cynical and dishonest scaremongering. For most voters, however, the threat of Turkish accession however remote was enough. Advertisement The prime minister and Chancellor showed no compunction in harnessing the supposedly neutral civil service to the cause. They arranged for leaflets extolling the benefits of Britains membership of the EU to be sent to every household in the UK. The propaganda blitz cost taxpayers 9 million, prompting an outcry about the abuse of government resources. A phalanx of Downing Street spin doctors was seconded to the campaign, including Craig Oliver. The team used every tool at its disposal, making it their business to ensure influential organisations knew how grateful the prime minister would be if they fell into line. The tactics could be heavy handed. In the early days of the campaign, for example, it emerged that the deputy head of No. 10s policy unit, Daniel Korski, had leaned on the British Chamber of Commerce over its Brexit-supporting director general, John Longworth. Longworth subsequently resigned so he could speak freely. Vote Leave then switched its focus to immigration. Updated figures from the Office for National Statistics put net migration at 333,000 a year the second largest total on record. To this, Cameron had no answer: time and again, his old pledge to bring immigration down to the tens of thousands per year came back to haunt him. While Britain remained a member of the EU, he simply had no way of delivering it. In a high-profile intervention in the last few days of the campaign, Camerons former director of strategy Steve Hilton (one of his oldest friends, whose long-standing Euroscepticism had only been hardened by his experience in government) claimed in a Daily Mail article that the prime minister had always known as much. After flying back to Britain from his home in California to campaign for Brexit, Hilton revealed that Cameron had been warned directly and explicitly four years earlier that the ambition was not deliverable, and questioned why the prime minister had continued to make the promise. Cameron faced other unexpected setbacks. He had always expected a number of his Cabinet to back Brexit, including the Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling, employment minister Priti Patel and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers. All had long-standing Euro- sceptic credentials. But Michael Goves decision to join them came as a shock. The recently appointed Justice Secretary had long disliked Brussels, but Cameron believed that when the time came for the referendum, he would fall into line. Instead, Gove decided to put what his wife Sarah Vine described as his heartfelt beliefs ahead of his loyalty to his old friend the PM and throw his weight behind the Leave campaign. It was Boris Johnsons 11th-hour decision to back Leave that had the biggest political impact It was a bitter personal blow for Cameron, depriving him of one of his most able and trusted allies. There would be terrible repercussions for the friendship between the two men and their families. But it was Boris Johnsons 11th-hour decision to back Leave that had the biggest political impact. Johnson made his decision in February, just two days after Cameron returned from Brussels with the meagre concessions that constituted his final deal. Back in January 2013, when the prime minister had unveiled his pledge to hold an In/Out referendum, hed boldly challenged other EU leaders to help address the sclerotic, ineffective decision-making that is holding us back. And, most importantly, hed vowed that he would not take no for an answer on limiting one of the EUs strongest principles: free movement of people. Unfortunately, however, in the end he did take no for an answer because he had to. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who genuinely wanted to help, wouldnt budge: free movement was a fundamental principle and non-negotiable, she said. So the prime minister shifted his sights to more achievable aims, including a ban on EU migrants collecting work-related benefits and claiming child benefit for their children living abroad. He didnt even get these. Instead, he was offered a package of marginal reductions to child benefit and a temporary break on tax credits. And when his deal was unveiled to the British public in February this year, it was widely panned. Why didnt he simply walk out of talks with the EU? Hed repeatedly claimed, before his renegotiation began in earnest, that hed be willing to do so. But if he had, EU leaders could have called his bluff and refused to give further ground. Then Cameron would have had no choice but to recommend we leave the union. He wasnt prepared to do this so he found himself in a weak position from the start. Johnson had kept Westminster waiting months for his decision. Central to his deliberation was the question of sovereignty and, having examined the results of the renegotiation, he concluded the PMs deal had done nothing to alter the supremacy of Brussels law. He felt Britain was therefore better Out. Alarmed by the forces amassing against him, at the start of June, Cameron announced a Press conference. His theme was Brexit lies. The Leave campaign, he claimed, was resorting to total untruths to con people into taking a leap in the dark: its irresponsible and its wrong and its time that the Leave campaign was called out on the nonsense that they are peddling. Once again, his tactic backfired, not least because his own side had peddled plenty of myths of their own. In a high-profile intervention in the last few days of the campaign, Camerons former director of strategy Steve Hilton, wrote that the Prime Minister could not control immigration As Vote Leave ramped up claims about how 350 million a week sent to Brussels by British taxpayers could be spent on the NHS, Remain could only wheel out more experts and independent bodies to prophesy economic doom. But the warnings would not stick. People have had enough of experts, Gove declared in a Sky TV interview. Events would show he was right. It did not help Remain that many of the individuals warning of the dire consequences of leaving the EU were the very same people who had urged Britain to join the euro. They had also failed to anticipate the financial crash, and in some cases had even been partly to blame for it. BREXIT'S SECRET WEAPON? CORBYN As a lifelong Left-wing Euro-sceptic, Jeremy Corbyn was an unlikely addition to the Remain campaign. In fact, he was strong-armed into it. It was only when shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn threatened him with a Cabinet walkout that the Labour leader folded, accepting hed have to go with the majority in the party. His road to Brussels conversion convinced no one, says a campaign figure. Indeed, when they thought they could get away with it, the leadership actively encouraged Eurosceptic elements in the party ranks. At the Scottish Labour Party conference in Perth in October 2015, Corbyn and shadow Chancellor John McDonnell paid a visit to an exhibition stand held by the Scottish branch of Labour Leave. According to someone present, the shadow Chancellor put his arm on the shoulder of former Edinburgh South MP Nigel Griffiths and told him to keep up the good work, mate. Had this exchange been exposed at the time, it would have provoked a furious back-lash from Labour activists and MPs and been a source of extreme embarrassment for the party leadership. On top of that, one of the most senior Labour MPs to back Brexit told colleagues that he frequently received messages of congratulations during the campaign from several shadow Cabinet ministers. That was a great speech, mate, one shadow Cabinet member told him. Another remarked: It is so important that Labour has a robust Out campaign. Brendan Chilton, Labour Leaves chief executive, believes Corbyns lacklustre campaigning worked in Leaves favour. Every one of Jeremy Corbyns interventions in the campaign, we considered helpful to us, he says. Advertisement As polling day approached, it was clear that whatever the outcome, some of the most important relationships in Camerons life would never be the same. Two of his dearest friends in politics, Hilton and Gove men who had been at his side from the start of his leadership had chosen to campaign against him on an issue that could, and in the end did, bring him down. The lengths to which Hilton went to make the case for Brexit at the expense of the prime ministers reputation was seen as a gross act of treachery by the occupants of No. 10 and proved terminal to a friendship that had begun almost three decades earlier when, as fresh-faced graduates, Cameron and Hilton had worked together at Conservative Central Office. Looking back on his approach to the referendum, historians are likely to conclude that Cameron catastrophically mishandled it, attempting to frighten the electorate with spurious claims about the risks of Brexit and woefully misreading the public mood. His failure during the coalition years to address mounting public concern over the scale of immigration dogged his premiership and provides an object lesson in political accountability. So what will David Camerons legacy be? He certainly wont go down in history as a great prime minister. Overall, he was too lacking in vision, too exclusive in his leadership style and achieved too little in foreign policy terms. (Only last week, the Commons foreign affairs committee condemned him for leaving Libya in a state of violent chaos after the RAF-led intervention in 2011 that toppled Colonel Gaddafi.) He will be remembered instead as the prime minister who accidentally took Britain out of Europe. If (as there is every reason to believe will happen) Brexit works for Britain, future generations may end up thanking him for it, though they will know it did not happen by his design. By putting himself at the forefront of the Remain campaign and by presenting his case in such uncompromising terms, he effectively staked his premiership on the outcome. His worst mistake, though, was being unwilling to go to greater lengths to secure a better deal from Brussels. Had he won more meaningful concessions or stood above the fray when the referendum got under way he could still be in power today. He has only himself to blame. Many have argued luck played a huge part in his journey to the top. There is some truth in this. He was the first to acknowledge he was blessed with immense good fortune. He was lucky in his upbringing, his familys wealth, his education, his talent, his temperament and connections. Once in Parliament, he was blessed with the circle of friends and advisers who surrounded him and the qualities they brought to bear: the drive and creative genius of Steve Hilton, the political judgment of George Osborne, the intellectual and practical contributions of figures such as Andrew Cooper. Without them, its unlikely he would ever have become leader in the first place. He was also lucky in his home life, his happy marriage and sunny outlook. And lucky in his opponents: Gordon Brown, a beleaguered prime minister at the head of a divided and exhausted administration; Ed Miliband, a hapless and unconvincing Opposition leader. He was lucky when, in 2015, Labour elected Jeremy Corbyn to replace Miliband, plunging the party into crisis. Camerons own majority was tiny, but there was no effective opposition. To his list of flukes, some would even add the financial crisis, for providing his administration with a defining purpose it might otherwise have lacked. But as is the fate of all gamblers, with the EU referendum, the prime ministers lucky streak finally came to an end. Adapted from Call Me Dave: The Unauthorised Biography Of David Cameron by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott, published by Biteback on September 29 at 10.99. Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott 2016. To buy a copy for 7.69 (offer valid to September 30), visit mailbook shop.co.uk or call 0844 571 0640. P&P free on orders over 15. A former Sydney Qantas executive charged with drug trafficking and burglary claims her life 'fell apart' when she started using meth. Emma Josie Brodie, 40, was charged with drug trafficking offences between April 2014 and June 2015 and spent time in jail this year on burglary, fraud and unlicensed driving charges. The Gold Coast woman told the Queensland Supreme Court on Wednesday that she had been a 'well-educated, highly functioning member of the community' before she started using ice in 2014, the Courier Mail reports. Former Sydney Qantas executive Emma Brodie who was charged with drug trafficking and burglary claims her life 'fell apart' when she started using meth in 2014 'Prior to my incarceration I had weaned myself down to 1.5 points a day of crystal meth, one shot intravenously in the morning,' Brodie said in court documents. She was fired from her executive level position at Qantas in 2014 after working for 11 years in Sydney and London. Brodie's LinkedIn profile indicates she was responsible for 310 corporate accounts and managed a team of 37 staff at the airline's Sydney office. Shortly after, she moved to Rockhampton in Queensland to open a franchise gym Anytime Fitness but it is understood to have fallen through. THe 40-year-old was charged with drug trafficking offences between April 2014 and June 2015 and spent time in jail this year on burglary, fraud and unlicensed driving charges Emma Brodie was fired from her executive level position at Qantas in 2014 after working for 11 years in Sydney and London Concerned friends started posting on social media two years ago saying she needed to be rescued. Brodie is due to face Southport Court on October 4 for the drug trafficking charges. Her case was mentioned in the Supreme Court this week so she could apply for bail for the burglary, fraud and unlicensed driving charges. But her lawyer told the court she had already been released after being in custody since June 10. Brodie's LinkedIn profile indicates she was responsible for 310 corporate accounts and managed a team of 37 staff at the airline's Sydney office Troops had to be decontaminated after being targeted with an Islamic State mustard gas attack. Jihadists fired the rocket at an airfield in the northern Iraqi town of Qayyarah where several hundred US troops and Iraqi partners were working. Although nobody was injured in the blast, soldiers who handled fragments contaminated by the toxic gas had to be sanitized. Observers have repeatedly alleged IS has used chemical weapons, and the Pentagon has confirmed the jihadists have deployed chlorine and sulfur mustard devices A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an incoming round had exploded within the base perimeter during an 'indirect fire' attack on Tuesday. A team of US troops later inspected the explosive and found a fragment with a suspicious, tar-like black oily substance that they tested in the field. WHAT IS MUSTARD GAS? Mustard gas, or sulfur mustard, is a chemical agent that causes severe burning of the skin, eyes, nose, mouth and throat. It can be absorbed into the body through inhalation, ingestion or by coming into contact with the skin or eyes. First used during World War I, the gas is effective at incapacitating its victims in big groups. Sulfur mustard is generally colorless in its gaseous state, though it may have a faint yellow or green tint. It's most easily recognized by its trademark 'mustardy' odor - where it got its name - though some compare its smell to that of garlic, horseradish or sulfur. It causes horrific blisters and irritation of the eyes, nose and mouth. Advertisement The initial test was positive for a 'mustard agent.' A second test was negative, and a third sample has been sent to a proper laboratory for definitive analysis. The troops who handled the fragments went through a standard decontamination procedure. But the official downplayed the seriousness of the incident, saying the shell would have been 'militarily ineffective.' 'Our concern is not much greater after seeing this,' he said. US-led coalition warplanes last week destroyed a factory near Mosul suspected of being used by ISIS to make chemical weapons. Observers have repeatedly alleged ISIS has used chemical weapons, and the Pentagon has confirmed the jihadists have deployed chlorine and sulfur mustard devices. Iraqi security forces, backed by coalition air power, are in the final weeks of 'shaping' operations ahead of an assault to recapture Mosul, which ISIS seized in 2014 and which remains the jihadists' last main stronghold in Iraq. An investigation has been launched into what led to Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father collapsing after he was charged with the schoolgirl's murder. Rick Thorburn, 56, took pills at either Logan Central Police Station or Beenleigh Watch House after his arrest on Tuesday, theAlbert and Logan News reported. A Queensland Police spokeswoman could not comment on the report, but said an investigation was underway. 'A 56-year-old man was transported from the Beenleigh Watch House to the Princess Alexandra Hospital yesterday after falling ill,' she said. Scroll down for video An investigation has been launched into what led to Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father Rick Thorburn collapsing after he was charged with the schoolgirl's murder Rick Thorburn, 56, took the pills at either Logan Central Police Station or Beenleigh Watch House after his arrest on Tuesday 'The Ethical Standards Command is reviewing the circumstances of the matter.' Thorburn was due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, but his lawyer Kelly Thompson told the court he was in an induced coma. She would not comment on whether his condition was a result of self-harm. Thorburn's matter was adjourned until December 21. His 19-year-old son, Trent, has been charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice. A court heard Tiahleigh, 12, told her foster parents Trent had been sexually assaulting her when she was left alone with him in the days before Thorburn allegedly killed her. Tiahleigh Palmer (pictured) is believed to have been killed the day before Rick Thorburn claimed to have dropped her to school Prosecutors claim she had told her foster parents, Julene (left) and Rick Thorburn (right), that their son had been preying on her when they left the house before she was murdered Trent also allegedly admitted to a cousin via Facebook he had incestuous sex with his 12-year-old foster sister and feared he impregnated her on October 28, two days before she was believed to have gone missing from Marsden State School. Disturbing new details of the case emerged in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, including the cause of the schoolgirl's death. Police had struggled to identify exactly how Tiahleigh died because her body was found severely decomposed in a river near the family home in Logan, Queensland. But investigators now believe she was killed in her family home the day before Thorburn told police he had dropped her safety to school on October 30. Trent has been charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice, while his father, 56, has been charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. The court heard Tiahleigh had told a friend that she went to her foster mother Julene Thorburn, 53, to report the sexual abuse, the Australian reported. 'The victim had disclosed to her that when her foster carer went out, their son would then have sex with her,' police prosecutor Ellen French told the court. 'She further said that the victim claimed to have disclosed this to her foster mother.' Ms French said a friend of Trent's also told police the young girl had told her foster parents: 'Trent tried to touch me.' The court heard Trent denied the allegations to his parents and on five other occasions to police, but eventually admitted he had lied about the sexual abuse. Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly admitted to a cousin via Facebook that he had sex with his 12-year-old foster sister and feared he got her pregnant on October 28 Rick Thorburn (left), his wife Julene (middle right) and two sons, Josh (middle left) and Trent (right) have been charged with a string of offences in relation to the death of Tiahleigh Palmer Trent Thorburn, 19, is alleged to have told a cousin in a Facebook message that he had slept with his foster sister Tiahleigh Palmer and was concerned she was pregnant Further details about the conversation Trent had with his cousin on Facebook messenger about his sexual activity with Tiahleigh were also revealed in court, the Australian reported. 'During that conversation he said he had sex with the victim on the prior Monday and he had only done so because she had threatened to kill his dog,' Ms French said. 'The defendant said he was concerned about being pregnant even though he had pulled out,' she said, adding that he claimed to have told his mother about it. A sexual relationship between siblings, including under foster, step or de facto circumstances, is considered incest under the Queensland Criminal Code and can attract a maximum life sentence. Police allege that after learning of his son's alleged actions and Tiahleigh's suspected pregnancy, he feared the bisexual dancer would become a target for violence offenders in prison had he been convicted. Trent Thorburn's lawyer John Ide (left) leaves the Southern Districts Magistrates Court in Beenleigh on Wednesday CHARGES LAID OVER TIAHLEIGH PALMER'S MURDER FOSTER FATHER RICK THORBURN: Charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. The 56-year-old was due to face court on Wednesday but is in an induced coma after collapsing while in custody. FOSTER BROTHER TRENT THORBURN: Charged with incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of perjury. The 19-year-old was denied bail on Wednesday after a court heard he had admitted on Facebook Messenger to having sex with Tiahleigh and was worried she might be pregnant. FOSTER BROTHER JOSH THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 20-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. FOSTER MOTHER JULENE THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 54-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. Advertisement In opposing bail, Ms French said Thorburn had obstructed police during the investigation and that he and his family had betrayed Tiahleigh's trust. 'The victim was put in care and protection of the defendant and his family,' Sgt Elen French told the court. 'This defendant betrayed her trust. He abused his position as big brother and took advantage of her. 'A consequence of that is her young life has been taken.' According to the Courier Mail, the perjury charges relate to the family providing false testimony to the Crime and Corruption Commission during a secret hearing relating to Tiahleigh's death earlier this year. Thorburn's lawyer argued he would serve more time in custody than if he were sentenced on the charges if bail were refused, and his client was young and had no criminal history. He was denied bail. Thorburn faced a Brisbane court on Wednesday after being charged with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice over Tiahleigh's death Tiahleigh's body was located in November last year on the banks of the Pimpama River on the northern Gold Coast Police charged Trent on Tuesday with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice over Tiahleigh's death Tiahleigh's foster father, 56, was due to appear in the same court on Wednesday but was in an induced coma in hospital after a suspected self-harm attempt while in custody. He was a pallbearer at her funeral. Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and another son, Josh, 20, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. They have been released on bail and will face court on October 10. The charges comes 11 months after Tiahleigh's naked and decomposing body was found by fishermen dumped by the banks of the Pimpana River. She was gone for six days before she was registered missing by police and an alert was issued about her disappearance. Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly sexually assaulted his foster sister Tiahleigh Palmer during the 10 months she had been in his Queensland family's care last year Cindy Palmer, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, arrived at a Queensland court on Wednesday ahead of Thorburn's court appearance Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and another son, Josh, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Patrons at a San Francisco restaurant can order an expensive martini made with a vodka that counts San Francisco fog water as an ingredient. For $43, Epic Steak is offering the Fog Point Martini which uses Hangar 1 Fog Point vodka, CBS San Francisco reported. Epic Steak's Beverage Director Nick Henry told the TV station: 'I kept it really classic. With vermouth, garnished with a lemon twist.' Scroll down for video For $43, Epic Steak (pictured) is offering the Fog Point Martini which uses Hangar 1 Fog Point vodka Epic Steak's Beverage Director Nick Henry told the TV station: 'I kept it really classic. With vermouth, garnished with a lemon twist' Pictured is the cocktail's description on Epic Steak's menu Epic Steak customers can also order the Fog Point vodka by itself for $23, the menu reveals Head distiller Caley Shoemaker has said 'We say its made of California because truly, youre tasting the Bay' Henry told CBS San Francisco he sells one or two of the martinis each week. He told the station: 'It's for a true vodka lover, probably from the Bay Area who can appreciate the fog and the styling. 'Someone who wants to taste something really special.' A California distillery called Hangar 1 is behind the $125 vodka. Hangar 1 says on its website: 'Fog Point is a true expression of California, distilled. 'It's also an articulation of our commitment to preserving the fragile ecology of our home state.' The distillery explains online: 'To create Fog Point, we installed our very own fog catchers to turn fog into fresh water. 'This water is then blended with vodka distilled from premium wine sourced from a sustainable vineyard on the Central Coast.' San Francisco fog water has been used to produce Fog Point Fog was collected with the help of fog catchers. The fog catchers were placed at Berkeley Hills, Outer Sunset, El Sobrante, and Sutro Tower It says that Fog Point is a 'an extraordinarily crisp, pure, and gluten free sipping vodka with elegant hints of pear, citrus, and honeysuckle'. The fog catchers were placed at Berkeley Hills, Outer Sunset, El Sobrante, and Sutro Tower, the website says. Henry told CBS San Francisco: 'The fog catchers only harvest something like 600 litres a season. That's why it's so hard to get.' This Instagram image was captioned: 'Behind the fog. Our Head Distiller, @caleymaker, works on the perfect blend of purified fog water and distillate - made from @bonnydoonvineyards premium wine - to create #FogPointVodka' Hangar 1 says on its website that Fog Point is currently sold out but still available at locations in California, New York, and Florida. Head distiller Caley Shoemaker previously told Time.com in a story published in May: 'We say its made of California because truly, youre tasting the Bay. Two parents forced their daughter to take freezing baths and cut off chunks of her hair because they thought the teenager was a witch. The refugees from Congo had subjected the then-15-year-old girl to four years of abuse until the mother, 33, and step-father, 40, were jailed on Wednesday at the Auckland District Court. The man had said her bedroom would be her cemetery, and would hit the teenager until she got into a cold bath for such long periods it would almost bring on hypothermia. 'I'm satisfied that she came close to hypothermia at times,' Judge Rob Ronayne told the court, NZ Herald reported. 'She stopped counting at about 30 such baths.' Two refugee parents from Congo forced their daughter to take freezing baths and cut off chunks of her hair because they thought the teenager was a witch (stock image) The man had forcibly cut chunks out of the teenager's hair in what Judge Ronayne described as 'cruel and degrading treatment'. The mother would then braid the teenager's remaining hair to hide bald patches. He had also subjected his step-daughter to physical abuse, strangling her until her vision went blurry. The couple had on another occasion tied the 's legs up with an electrical cord so tight she struggled to walk afterwards. The man once grabbed her and pinned her from behind and tried to take her pants off. A jury found both parents guilty of the abuse, which the Auckland District Court (stock image) heard began in 2010 and continued until June 2014 The mother, now 33, and step-father, 40, were both jailed (stock image) on Wednesday 'She fought you and she hit you so hard she hurt her own arm,' Judge Ronayne said. 'I'm quite satisfied there is an element of indecency in these assaults. They had a sexual theme to them.' A jury found both parents guilty of the abuse, which the court heard began in 2010 and continued until June 2014. The couple had said they believed the teenager was possessed. But Judge Ronayne said he believed the witchcraft claim was a 'fallback' excuse. The 40-year-old man was sentenced to two-years and three-months in prison for jointly intentionally engaging in conduct that would harm the teenager, four months for the male assaults female, nine months for a representative charge of male assaults female and three months for common assault. ST. MARTIN, Mississippi -- A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the person responsible for two bomb threats at a St. Martin school this week. Jackson County Chief Deputy John Ledbetter said a second bomb threat was received at St. Martin Middle School about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. A note with the threat was found inside a school restroom, similar to the one found at the school Tuesday. In both instances, the school was put on lockdown while a bomb-sniffing dog from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office was taken through all campus buildings. Nothing was found. Ledbetter said investigators believe the same person is responsible for both bomb scares. Several leads are being worked. Anyone with information is asked to contact the JCSO at 228-769-3063 or Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. Network Rail has been ordered to pay 4million after an elderly actress was killed by a train on a railway foot crossing. Olive McFarland, 82, who was a regular in films and TV dramas from the 1950s to the 1970s, was hit by a train travelling at nearly 100mph. But a Network Rail employee said trains on that section of track should have been restricted to 55mph. Olive McFarland, 82, who was a regular in films and TV dramas from the 1950s to the 1970s, was hit by a train travelling at nearly 100mph Mrs McFarland had starred alongside Sean Connery in the 1961 film The Frightened City Mrs McFarland died on the crossing near Needham Market, Suffolk, in August 2011. At a previous hearing at Ipswich magistrates court, Network Rail admitted being an employer in breach of a general duty of care for the period from January 1999 to the day of Mrs McFarlands death. Yesterday the company was fined 4million and ordered to pay costs of 35,857 by the towns crown court. The sentencing follows an investigation by regulator the Office Of Rail And Road. It found Network Rail had failed to act on substantial evidence pedestrians had poor visibility of trains when approaching the Gipsy Lane foot crossing, and were exposed to an increased risk of being struck by a train. Mrs McFarland was struck by a train travelling from London to Norwich. Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways, said: This sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court brings to a close our prosecution of Network Rail for failures which contributed to the death of Mrs Olive McFarland. Olive alongside Richard Harris in the movie Alive and Kicking, a British comedy from 1959 My thoughts are with Mrs McFarlands family. In 2011, Network Rails safety management fell below the standards required, putting members of the public using Gipsy Lane footpath crossing in unnecessary danger. Mrs McFarland had starred alongside Sean Connery in the 1961 film The Frightened City. She had a home in Stowmarket, Suffolk, and lived in a care home in Eye. In a statement issued after the hearing, Richard Schofield, route managing director at Network Rail, said: We are truly sorry for the death of Mrs McFarland. Since this tragic accident we have improved safety by introducing a speed restriction on the line and reducing the crossing distance by straightening the crossing and re-positioning the gates. However, this is not a permanent solution. We believe removing the level crossing is the safest option and we are continuing to work with the community to get their support to close this crossing. A young man has been put into an induced coma after being left with horrific injuries from a one-punch attack while he played pool with his cousin. Jason Goodwin, 27, was allegedly punched in the head by another man at the Silver Sands Tavern in Mandurah, Western Australia, around 4.30pm on Wednesday. His mother said Mr Goodwin suffered numerous skull fractures brain haemorrhaging and as a result of the one-punch attack, The West Australian reported. Jason Goodwin, 27, was allegedly punched in the head by another man and has been placed in an induced coma as a result The alleged attack happened at the at the Silver Sands Tavern in Mandurah (pictured) 'We don't know if he's going to pull through,' his mother said. Ms Goodwin described her son as a family man who would 'give anyone who needed it his last cent'. Her son remains in a critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital. On Wednesday police released photos of another 27-year-old man they were looking to speak to about the violent attack On Wednesday police released photos of another 27-year-old man they were looking to speak to about the violent attack. Officers have described Jake Raymond Mosley as fair skinned, around 188 centimetres tall, with a medium build and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a white singlet and sneakers and is known to frequent the Mandurah and Fremantle areas. Amber Rudd's business career was under scrutiny last night after it emerged she used to be a director of companies based in an offshore tax haven Amber Rudd's business career was under scrutiny last night after it emerged she used to be a director of companies based in an offshore tax haven. Leaked documents revealed that before her political career, the Home Secretary was involved in two firms based in the Bahamas, where the authorities have been criticised for failing to improve transparency and crack down on tax avoidance. Miss Rudd's name appears in a new dossier of leaked paperwork from 175,000 Bahamian-registered companies. The documents, seen by the BBC's Panorama, indicated Miss Rudd was a director of Advanced Asset Allocation Fund and Advanced Asset Allocation Management between 1998 and 2000. There is no suggestion she used the companies to avoid tax. Earlier this year, Miss Rudd defended former prime minister David Cameron over his investment in an offshore fund set up in the Bahamas by his late father Ian. At the time, she did not mention her own professional involvement with offshore investment funds but said 'international transparency on tax matters is essential'. The Labour Party said last night the Home Secretary should reveal the 'true picture' about her business dealings. Labour MP Jon Ashworth said: 'It's embarrassing for Theresa May's Tories. Leaked documents revealed that before her political career, the Home Secretary was involved in two firms based in the Bahamas, where the authorities have been criticised for failing to improve transparency and crack down on tax avoidance. File image 'Amber Rudd was sent out to defend David Cameron amid controversy over offshore holdings. At the time she trumpeted transparency yet she made no mention of her own situation. People will be forgiven for wondering what the true picture is and they deserve an answer from Amber Rudd.' Alistair Buchanan, a former business associate of Miss Rudd, told the BBC the fund was set up in the Bahamas for regulatory rather than tax reasons. He added: 'You could not set up those funds in England at that time now you can.' Britain faces the prospect of compensation claims over a disastrous overseas aid project to build an airport on the remote island of St Helena. The 285million flop became a symbol of Britains aid waste this year after experts warned it might never open because of severe problems with wind conditions on the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Prince Andrew was due to open the project in May. But test pilots said it was too dangerous to use, and it remains closed to commercial flights. Britain faces the prospect of compensation claims over a disastrous overseas aid project to build an airport on the remote island of St Helena Residents had been promised that years of isolation would be ended by the new airport and were encouraged to expand the capacity of the islands tourist industry to take advantage of the new opportunities. The Government predicted that St Helena would benefit from an extra 30,000 tourists a year. Some islanders claim the fiasco means they have lost tens of thousands in upgrading hotels that now lie empty. Hazel Wilmot, the owner of the Consulate hotel on the island, said: Had I known, I for one would not have embarked on the costly planning exercise, with architects fees, nor would I have proceeded with the major renovations at the hotel, employed extra staff to cope with the expected influx of tourists, purchased stock, fixtures, fittings, equipment and the like. The islands UK-appointed governor, Lisa Phillips, has insisted that the Government cannot be held liable for the failure of the airport to open. A Government source said any claim for compensation would be premature. But ministers are also facing demands for an investigation into the disastrous project. St Helenas legislative council voted this week for an independent inquiry, a move that is so far being resisted by Whitehall. The first commercial flight landed on the island in April 2016. But test pilots have deemed it too dangerous for others Henry Lawson, a leading member of the council, said: So much has been done to gather information about the wind conditions that exist at the airport, but sadly much of this was after the runway has been laid. 'One has to question how such a monumental project can be carried out without doing these extensive tests beforehand. International Development Secretary Priti Patel, who has ordered a crackdown on aid waste, is now establishing a panel of experts to establish how the airport can be made to work. A source said the priority remained getting the airport open, although insiders fear any solution could cost millions more. Clearly some decisions were not up to scratch, but this is not a post-mortem, the source said. It is about finding a solution. Part of the runway on the island, which is one of the most remote places on earth, is now used as a Go Kart track St Helena, one of the most remote places on earth, is best known as the island where Napoleon was exiled by Britain in 1815 and where he spent his last years before his death in 1821. It is more than 1,200 miles from land, and the only existing transport link is an ageing Royal Mail ship which takes four days to make the 2,000-mile trip to Cape Town. The airport project began life under the last Labour government and was pursued enthusiastically by the Coalition. An Australian cartoonist has stirred up more controversy after he compared LGBTIQ activists to Nazis. The drawing by veteran cartoonist Bill Leak appeared in The Australian and showed a group of men dressed in the uniforms of the Nazi SS, in LGBTIQ colours and carrying bats with the words 'WAFFEN-SSM' beneath them. In August a cartoon by Leak in The Australian depicting an Aboriginal father clutching a can of beer and unaware of his son's name was condemned as racist by Indigenous groups. Cartoonist Bill Leak stirred up anger after he compared LGBTIQ activists to Nazis in The Australian newspaper His latest cartoon was branded homophobic on social media and comes ahead of a possible national referendum on same sex marriage next year. The Waffen-SS were an armed wing of Hitler's SS, who were responsible for running both the extermination and concentration camps in Nazi Germany, with the 'SSM' in the cartoon instead standing for 'same-sex marriage'. Comedian Ben McLeay was just one person who was angered by the cartoon, the SBS reports. 'Bill Leak might be the dumbest man alive but he's not an idiot, he knows full well what the Waffen were responsible for, and yet he chose to go ahead with it,' McLeay said. People took to social media to voice their opinions on Leak's latest cartoon 'It must be infuriating for these people, clutching on tightly to bigotry like it's the door at the end of the Titanic.' Leak's cartoon in August depicting an Aboriginal father clutching a can of beer and unaware of his son's name, shows an outback scene in which a policeman is bringing an Indigenous child back to his barefoot father. The policeman says: 'You'll have to sit down and talk to your son about personal responsibility.' The boy's father responds, 'Yeah righto, what's his name then?' Leak's cartoon in The Australian in August was labelled 'racist' by some readers The cartoon, published on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (Children's Day), was called 'racist' by the The NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Council chairman Roy Ah-See said Bill Leak's cartoon insulted and denigrated Aboriginal people. 'Sadly, racism and discrimination is a fact of life for Aboriginal people who have lived on and cared for this country for more than 60,000 years,' he said. Mr Ah-See said it was embarrassing the cartoon was published in Australia's national newspaper. Leak hit out at 'sanctimonious' social media users in this cartoon in August when referring to his drawing about Indigenous fathers A complaint would be lodged with the Australian Press Council, he said. A spokesman for the Australian Press Council confirmed at least one complaint had been received. Reconciliation Australia chief executive Justin Mohamed said Australians should show zero tolerance for the racism and hurtful stereotypes depicted by Mr Leak. 'The appalling cartoon we have seen from Mr Leak today speaks to the racism, discrimination and denial of history that still mars the nation.' The verteran cartoonist has drawn controversy with his cartoons in the past But Paul Whittaker, editor-in-chief of The Australian, defended the cartoon, which was prompted in part by the Royal Commission into mistreatment of children in the Northern Territory juvenile detention system. He said he was 'proud' of the paper's coverage of Indigenous affairs. 'Too often, too many people skirt around the root causes and tough issues. But not everyone,' he said in a statement. 'Bill Leak's confronting and insightful cartoons force people to examine the core issues in a way that sometimes reporting and analysis can fail to do.' The caricature was attacked on social media, with a number of users calling for Mr Leak to be sacked and questioning how the cartoon was approved by editors at The Australian. In response to Leak's cartoon indigenous fathers were shown on social media sharing tender moments with their children The director of Cleverman, Ryan Griffen, was among those who hit back at the cartoon about Indigenous fathers However, Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm said Mr Leak had a 'knack for pointing out the obvious.' Mr Leak has drawn controversy with his cartoons in the past, but he has won multiple prizes for his work and been honoured with Australia's top journalism award, a Walkley Award, nine times. Treatment of Aboriginal children is in the spotlight after The ABC's Four Corners aired footage of prison guards teargassing teenage inmates and strapping a half-naked, hooded-boy to a chair. Some social media users questioned how the cartoon was approved for publication A McCain factory worker had both his forearms burned when a pipe burst in a badly-cleaned hot chip fryer and sprayed him with hot oil. The accident happened after inexperienced 'scab' workers were brought in from New Zealand last week to fill in for striking staff at the Ballarat plant, the union claimed. Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union organiser Angela McCarthy said the poor cleaning job caused a buildup of carbon in the fryer's pipes overnight, which burst when it was used the next day. A McCain factory worker had both his forearms burned (pictured) when a pipe burst in a badly-cleaned hot chip fryer and sprayed him with hot oil 'They had staff in who didn't know what they were doing and they didn't clean the fryer properly,' she said. 'The next day, our workers were directed to run the fryer despite concerns they hadn't been cleaned properly. 'There was a carbon buildup in the pipe and the pipe burst spraying his forearms with hot oil which could easily have been his face.' The worker, who is not named to protect his job, was rushed to St John's Hospital last Thursday morning and discharged that night. The accident happened after inexperienced 'scab' workers were brought in from New Zealand last week to fill in for striking staff at the Ballarat plant, the union claimed The worker, who is not named to protect his job, was rushed to St John's Hospital last Thursday morning and discharged that night He returned to work on Monday but had problems fulfilling his duties with his arms covered in heavy bandages. WorkSafe Victoria was investigating the incident. Ms McCarthy said according to maintenance staff present while the replacement workers were on site, 'clearly weren't able to run the place'. 'They tried to muddle through and get production going but it was an absolute disaster, they created scrap and got pretty much no stock out the door,' she said. 'But even more seriously they created a hazard that put a worker in hospital.' Plant manager Karl Thin denied the staff brought in were unqualified for the roles they performed and the company was investigating the cause of the accident. 'The staff who are at our plant this week from NZ are fully qualified for the roles they are fulfilling, because they perform the same roles in our plants there,' he said. Karl Thin, manager of the Ballarat plant (pictured), denied the staff brought in were unqualified for the roles they performed and the company was investigating the cause of the accident The protracted dispute over a new enterprise bargaining agreement has dragged on for months and led to a series of strikes 'Our employees often travel between our plants to share information or help cover outages, so this is not unusual for them.' Mr Thiun said McCain was bringing in expertise from teams in Hastings and Timaru to assist in running the plants during strikes. 'It's also an opportunity for our managers and supervisors to share expertise and knowledge which will hopefully improve the operations of all our plants,' he said. The protracted dispute over a new enterprise bargaining agreement has dragged on for six months and led to a series of strikes. The union is seeking a 16 per cent pay rise, while McCain has offered eight per cent, the company said. He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges relating to the accident He's accused of fleeing the scene of the accident which occurred in June An Exclusive Brethren member who allegedly killed his wife, daughter and a friend while drunk driving is accusing of fleeing the scene of the horrific crash. Russell Stewart, 49, has been charged over the deaths of Susanna Stewart, 48, her daughter Sadie, 16, and friend James Wearmouth, 18, in a car crash on the way home from a Brethren gathering in New Zealand. On June 6, an overloaded utility vehicle, allegedly driven by Mr Stewart, smashed into tree as the group returned from a day at a beach, according to the New Zealand Herald. Susanna Stewart, 48, died in the car crash, which was allegedly caused by her husband, Russell At the Dargaville District Court on Thursday, Stewart pleaded not guilty to seven charges including driving under the influence of alcohol causing death or injury and one charge of failing to remain at an accident. Eight people had been in the five-seat utility - all members of the Exclusive Brethren - when it crashed. Others injured included his son, and George, and Glen, Jed and Monica Wearmouth, Stuff.co.nz reported. Witness Debbie Martin and her grand-daughters came across the wreckage of the accident. Sadie Stewart, 16, and friend James Wearmouth, 18, were both killed in the smash She said they cared for the injured but there was nothing they could do for the 'bodies' they saw scattered around, the New Zealand Herald reported. Doug Watt, spokesman for the Exclusive Brethren group - which has renamed itself to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church - said the community was 'deeply saddened' by the deaths. 'Friends and families continue to provide much-needed support to all those who survived the accident.' Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has hit out at Malcolm Turnbull's 'concocted excuse' for why he wasn't given Australia's backing for the top United Nations job. Mr Rudd, who is in New York at the same time as the prime minister, says Mr Turnbull felt the pressure of the Liberal far right and lost the courage of his convictions to nominate him for the UN secretary general post. 'Good old Malcolm Turnbull decided one minute to midnight that [nominating him] was not to be the case. He didn't do it terribly elegantly.' Scroll down for video Kevin Rudd speaks during the 65th annual United Nations General Assembly at the UN in New York Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull addresses a meeting at the United Nations in New York Mr Turnbull has explained his decision to veto the former Labor leader's bid saying he lacked the interpersonal skills and temperament for the job. Mr Rudd still isn't buying the 'frankly concocted excuse', saying it was at odds with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's vouching for him. 'Why did she publicly advocate my candidature and nomination to this position two days before the relevant cabinet meeting,' he told Sky News on Thursday. 'Why did the Department of Foreign Affairs in their formal submission describe me as an exemplary candidate?' It was at the UN general assembly that Mr Turnbull took aim at former Australian Prime Minister Kevin R Mr Rudd dismissed speculation that he could still clinch the gig if Hillary Clinton became US president as something from 'la-la-land', saying he still required a nomination. Meanwhile, Mr Turnbull has criticised Mr Rudd's decision to overturn the Howard government's asylum policies as the biggest failure in the history of the Commonwealth. The prime minister drew upon Mr Rudd's legacy while talking about his government's policies on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, which is focused on the refugee crisis. 'You ask about the people on Manus and Nauru, Kevin Rudd put them there. The Labor Party put them there,' Mr Turnbull said. Kevin Rudd speaks during the 65th annual United Nations General Assembly at the UN in New York Officials say a student has been stabbed at a Southern California high school, but is expected to survive. San Bernardino County sheriff's Lt. Frank Montanez says deputies have detained two people in the investigation of the Wednesday stabbing at Rancho Cucamonga High School. He would not confirm whether the two were students. The school was on a temporary lockdown as police investigated the scene and kept watch. The victim, who school district officials confirmed is a student, was taken to a hospital after being stabbed. Students were forced out of the school buildings by police as they kept the premises on lockdown out of fear of further attacks and to inspect the site Ernie Ramirez, a sophomore at the high school, told the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin he saw the male victim on the floor near the school's gym with a stab wound on his upper body. Chaffey Joint Union High School District Superintendent Mat Holton said the unidentified victim was cooperating with police to help identify the suspects. 'Immediately, we brought more resources in here to clear the campus, actually both campuses, and look for additional subjects. And we detained two at the time, and like I said, it could lead to more...,' said one sheriff's official. Students roll out of Rancho Cucamonga High School. The victim was stabbed in the chest but is expected to make a full recovery The lockdown lasted until 3pm at this school and nearby elementary school. Two people have been detained in connection to the stabbing The school and the nearby Lightfoot Elemenatry School were briefly but on lockdown as authorities searched for suspects. Both were accessible again from 3pm the same day. Portugals liberal policies, which mean those caught with drugs for personal use are no longer treated as criminals, have been hailed by campaigners including former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg The number of school-children who have used cannabis has doubled in the European country that decriminalised drugs, according to a major international survey. Fifteen per cent of 15 and 16-year-olds in Portugal admitted having used the drug in the survey carried out last year. In 1995, when tougher drug laws were in place, the number of teenagers in the country who had used cannabis was just 7 per cent. Portugals liberal policies, which mean those caught with drugs for personal use are no longer treated as criminals, have been hailed by campaigners including former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, tycoon Sir Richard Branson, and even Home Office civil servants. But the findings on the Portuguese experiment led to fresh warnings yesterday that Britain should not follow the decriminalisation lead. In contrast to Portugal, the number of teenagers who use cannabis in Britain where laws against drug abuse are frequently criticised by reform campaigners has more than halved over the past 12 years. Kathy Gyngell, a fellow of the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, said that the Portuguese outcome was entirely predictable. She added: It is what happens when you remove sanctions. It is a disaster for young people in Portugal, and it would be a disaster for young people in this country if the Portuguese example were ever followed here. Even though our laws against cannabis and other drugs are hardly enforced, removing them would send a highly damaging signal. It would be playing Russian roulette with the lives of young people. In Britain, according to government-backed studies, 30 per cent of school pupils between 11 and 15 had tried illegal drugs in 2003. But by 2014 the level was down to 11 per cent of 15-year-olds who had tried cannabis, and 2 per cent any other illegal drug. The findings on cannabis in Portugal come from the respected European School Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), which carried out a survey last year in 35 European countries. Nearly 3,500 Portuguese schoolchildren took part. But the findings on the Portuguese experiment led to fresh warnings yesterday that Britain should not follow the decriminalisation lead Portugal brought in its decriminalisation law in 2001. Instead of being arrested, those caught with drugs for personal use are considered to have a health problem and are required to appear before a committee which considers the best treatment. In 1999, the number of 15 and 16-year-olds in Portugal who had used cannabis was 9 per cent. According to the ESPAD survey, this rose to 15 per cent in 2003, dropped to 13 per cent in 2007 and, in 2011, rose again to 16 per cent. The latest finding shows that cannabis use among pupils has remained at around double mid-1990s levels consistently for a dozen years. In Britain brief experiments with drug liberalisation under Tony Blairs government led to indicators of rising cannabis use among the young. However levels appear to have more than halved since 2003, matching falls in smoking and drinking among young people, and, since 2008, record falls in numbers of teen pregnancies. The number of school-children who have used cannabis has doubled. File photo The increasing number of clean-living teens in Britain has been associated with the rise of social media and the development of a Facebook generation more likely to be exchanging messages from their bedrooms than hanging around on the streets. Portuguese drug policies were praised in a 2014 Home Office report, inspired by Lib Dem Coalition ministers, which said the country had seen improvement in health outcomes for drug users. In 2012 the Commons home affairs select committee, then led by recently-disgraced MP Keith Vaz, said it was impressed by Portuguese policies and that the country had a model that merits significantly closer consideration in this country. Even last week Mr Clegg was praising the Portuguese example, saying that there have been dramatic reductions in addiction, HIV infections and drug-related deaths. In other words, you dont need criminal penalties in order to intervene and change peoples drug habits. Cannabis has been assessed as increasingly dangerous in recent years as stronger variants of the drug, such as skunk, have become more widely available. Cannabis use is also increasingly associated with violent crime. BILOXI, Mississippi -- Local well-known personalities will be strutting their stuff on the runway next Thursday as the Bacot-McCarty Foundation hosts its first "Renaissance the Runway" fashion show at the IP Casino & Resort in Biloxi. The inaugural event will raise funds for five organizations from across the coast: Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Rock U2 Music Academy, Dream Program, CASA of Jackson and Harrison counties and the Gulf Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition, those five organizations will showcase their talents during the event. "We're trying to expand our reach and influence across the coast," said Bacot-McCarty executive director Todd Trenchard. "We want to be more than a Jackson County or Pascagoula organization. We've taken the One Coast approach with this event and it's been pretty successful so far." To that end, a number of clothing boutiques from one end of the Mississippi coast to the other were solicited to showcase their fall fashions, including Back on the Rack, Belk, Elle Boutique, Gatlin's, Jensa Joe's Jewelry, Jubilee, Lee Tracey, SF Alman, The Bay Collection, The Ivy, The Radish Loft, and White Willow. Also, a lengthy list of models -- many well-known coast figures -- have been recruited to walk the runway Thursday night. Trenchard said model recruitment may have been the easiest part of putting the event together. "As it turns out, everyone wants to be a model," he said, laughing. Included in the show will be Carla Todd, President/CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce; Palace Casino CFO George Conwill and his wife, Joey, Fitness Director at the Ocean Springs YMCA; The Mississippi Press' Dan Hunter; Harrison County Supervisor Connie Rocko; and WXXV news anchor Shelby Myers. Rebecca Powers will serve as emcee. One "ringer" was brought in for the show -- someone with vast experience in walking the runway and being in the spotlight: Jasmine Murray, Miss Mississippi 2014 and a former American Idol finalist. Renaissance the Runway will be held in Studio A inside the IP Casino. A cocktail reception is set for 6 p.m., with the show set for 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased online or by calling the foundation at 228-217-5791. Theresa May is more trusted than Jeremy Corbyn to safeguard the NHS, a poll revealed today. Voters said protecting the NHS should be among the top three priorities for Britain's politicians, alongside significantly reducing immigration and negotiating strong post-Brexit trade deals with the EU. The poll, carried out by Britain Thinks, revealed the Prime Minister was more trusted than Mr Corbyn in all three areas. Safe hands: Theresa May, right, is more trusted than Jeremy Corbyn to protect the NHS A new poll reveals Theresa May is more trusted than Jeremy Corbyn on the issues most important to the public including even the NHS - usually a core issue for Labour The survey, revealed by The Guardian today, puts Mr Corbyn ahead on some issues such as opposing grammar schools. But the only policies Mr Corbyn leads on are much less important top voters and the findings will further escalate fears the Labour leader will never win a general election. Separate analysis of polling by elections expert John Curtice found there was not much evidence of buyers remorse, among Brexit supporters with the vast majority still wanting to leave the EU. It found little support for a second referendum on Britain's EU membership. Only about a third of voters want to see a second poll, 'virtually all of them Remain voters'. And it laid out voters' key demands for Brexit negotiations. Ending Britain's EU budget contributions is the public's top priority, with 81 per cent in favour. Scrapping the free movement of people is also a red line, with 79 per cent of voters citing it as a key demand. Theresa May has already indicated that ending free movement will be a deal-breaker. Cabinet ministers at Chequers last month agreed the exit deal 'must mean controls on the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe'. Britons rank the NHS, cutting immigration and signing strong trade deals as their top priorities, a new poll reveals But Mrs May has avoided questions about whether Britain will halt all payments to the EU. Some ministers are pushing her to agree to reduced contributions in return for access to the EU's single market. Professor Curtice said it was clear that any deal that involved the UK continuing to bankroll Brussels would meet stiff resistance. 'It's a sovereignty issue,' he said. 'Most people do not feel European in this country. Crunch talks: Mrs May will today meet with Martin Schulz, pictured, the socialist leader of the European Parliament 'And so there is an argument about the legitimacy of this 350million (a week) that we don't 'control', that the EU decides how is spent. People think 'Why does the EU have the right to spend our money?' By contrast, voters are more relaxed about having to comply with EU regulations. Just 17 per cent said ending all Brussels rules should be a red line. Professor Curtice analysed results of every poll conducted since June 23. Remainers have claimed the public mood has changed since Brexit, with many voters regretting their vote. But Professor Curtice suggested this was 'wishful thinking'. her and put her in the back of the cruiser, lawyers for her family said Maryland cops have been filmed pepper spraying a 15-year-old girl while she was handcuffed in the back of a police car - after she was hit by a car. The honor role student had been riding her bike in Hagerstown on Sunday afternoon when she was struck by the vehicle. She was knocked out but woke up just 30 seconds later, feeling dazed but OK, her family's attorney Robin Ficker said. An ambulance was called but the girl continued to insist that she did not need medical attention so the police were called as she is a minor. Scroll down for video Maryland cops have been filmed pepper spraying a 15-year-old girl while she was handcuffed in the back of a police car - after she was hit by a car The 15-year-old (pictured) who has not been named, had been riding her bike in Hagerstown on Sunday afternoon when she was struck by the vehicle Ficker says that when police arrived, they grabbed the petite teen, lifted her hands above her head and slammed her face into a wall - causing her face to hit the windowsill. 'This little girl, 5 ft. 105 lbs, was brutalized by Hagerstown police after, she, on her bike, was hit by a car, but refused medical treatment. 'They slammed her against a wall, arrested her for refusing treatment, maced her 4 times in the police car while handcuffed, and took her to the police station instead of the hospital!' he wrote on Facebook. At that point the terrified girl had resisted when officers went to put her in the back of the cruiser, Herald Media reports. A bystander began filming the incident and video shows the 15-year-old kicking at the police car door while sitting inside while it appears her hands are cuffed behind her. 'Put your feet in the car, OK, or you're going to get sprayed,' a cop is heard warning her. When police arrived, they grabbed the petite teen, lifted her hands above her head and slammed her face into a wall - causing her face to hit the windowsill, her lawyer said, before handcuffing her and putting her in the cruiser Eventually the police shut the car door but video, which has got 23,000 views since it was posted on the attorney's Facebook page yesterday, shows an officer raising what appears to be a pepper can to the open window and spray something. The girl immediately begins screaming and shouting out 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe.' Meanwhile, another officer is heard explaining to the filming bystander that police have to take her in because she is a minor who suffered an injury, and as such cannot refuse treatment. 'What happens when she's like, 'I'm fine,' right, and has a brain injury or something like that, and then she could die later?' the cop asks, 'All we want to do is make sure she's OK.' But Ficker says police never took her to hospital. Instead, they drove her straight to the police station where she was charged with disorderly conduct, two counts of second-degree assault, possession of marijuana and failure to obey a traffic device. A police statement says that officers found she had been at fault for the incident and had pepper sprayed her when she became 'assaultive.' A police statement says that officers found she had been at fault for the incident and had pepper sprayed her when she became 'assaultive' The matter was referred to the Department of Juvenile Services. H agerstown Police Capt. Tom Langston said: 'We're reviewing the body camera footage.' The girl, whose name is not being released, was only taken to hospital when she was released to her parents. Three hours after being pepper sprayed - she was finally able to wash her eyes. 'The only treatment she got (from police) was slamming, abuse and Mace,' Ficker said. He also claimed police officers told hospital staffs not to take photos of the girl, who is mixed race, while she was there. An official police report has not yet been released. But medical records, provided by the girl's mother, show she was arrested for failing to provide police with insurance information, Ficker said. Rodney Alcala is on death row in California's Corcoran State Prison for links to seven other murders. Police fear his murder count could be substantially higher A serial killer sentenced to death in California has been charged in connection with the killing of a 28-year-old whose remains were found in southwest Wyoming in 1977. Wyoming police charged Rodney Alcala on Tuesday with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Christine Ruth Thornton, the Orange County Register reported. Investigators said they believe the now 73-year-old Alcala killed Thornton in Sweetwater County based on a photo that appears to show her on remote public land near Granger, close to where her remains were found. The photo was found while searching Alcala's possessions during a previous investigation. He has been referred to as the 'Dating Game' killer because he appeared on the popular television program in 1978. Alcala is imprisoned in California's Corcoran State Prison. He has been found guilty of seven murders, five of which took place in California and two in New York. However, authorities estimate he may have killed up to 130 people across the country. Prosecutors say Alcala met and killed Thornton while on a road trip and buried her on a ranch, the Register reported. Christine Thornton was 28-years-old when she was murdered. Her body was found in 1977 and has death has remained a mystery for decades Her body was uncovered by a rancher in 1982, but the alleged link to Alcala was not discovered for decades, the newspaper says. Thornton was about six months pregnant at the time of her death, according to the warrant for his arrest. It is unclear whether Alcala will be extradited to stand trial in Wyoming and what his plea might be, the Register said. Authorities credit the charge for Thornton's murder, in part, to information provided by an investigation by the Huntington Beach Police Department. A young Alcala. He has been referred to as the 'Dating Game' killer because he appeared on the popular television program decades ago The link to Alcala was established after the department in 2010 decided to release about 200 photographs taken by him to the public, hoping people who knew other possible victims would see them. 'I had a gut feeling there were more out there,' Huntington Beach police Detective Patrick Ellis told the newspaper. Thornton's sister, Kathy Thornton, recognized the subject of one of the photographs as her sister in 2013, according to the Register. Thornton is the first alleged victim linked to those photos, but Ellis said he believes there could be others. Alcala has been in jail or prison since 1979, when he was accused of murdering 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in California. While he was initially convicted of Samsoe's murder, the verdict was later overturned by the California Supreme Court because jurors had been improperly informed of his prior sex crimes. He was found guilty again at a second trial in 1986, when the verdict was overturned yet again on another error. While preparing for their third case against Alcala in 2003, investigators were able to connect Alcala to four more murders in the 1970s - all pretty young women living in Southern California. On his third trial in 2010, Alcala was found guilty of all five of the murders and sentenced to life in prison. Investigators in New York later connected him to the murders of two women there in the 70s as well, and Alcala eventually pleaded guilty to those crimes so that he could focus on his death sentence appeal. Tiahleigh Palmer's grandmother has claimed the schoolgirl had the opportunity to leave an alleged incestuous 'relationship' with her foster brother, but chose to stay because she had a 'crush' on him. Sue Palmer, 65, who cared for Tiahleigh until she was 10, said the 12-year-old was invited to return to her mother's home in the months before her death but she refused. On Wednesday, the court heard her foster brother Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly admitted to a cousin via Facebook he had incestuous sex with Tiahleigh and feared he impregnated her two days before she vanished from Marsden State School on October 28. 'She said she wanted to stay [at the farm] because of the boy and because she loved the horses on the property that they have there,' Ms Palmer told The Courier Mail. Scroll down for video Sue Palmer, 65, who cared for Tiahleigh until she was 10, said the 12-year-old was invited to return to her mother's home in the months before her death but she refused Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly admitted to a cousin via Facebook that he had sex with his 12-year-old foster sister and feared he got her pregnant on October 28 Sue Palmer, 65, who cared for Tiahleigh until she was 10, said the 12-year-old was invited to return to her mother's home in the months before her death but she refused Ms Palmer said the family were not aware of the alleged incest between the child and her foster brother, but knew she had a 'crush'. On Wednesday, the court heard Tiahleigh told her foster parents Trent Thorburn had been sexually assaulting her when they two were alone. Police have struggled to identify exactly how Tiahleigh died because her body was found severely decomposed in a river near the family home in Logan, Queensland. Trent has been charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice, while his father, 56, has been charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. The court heard Tiahleigh had told a friend that she went to her foster mother Julene Thorburn, 53, to report the sexual abuse, the Australian reported. Rick Thorburn (left), his wife Julene (middle right) and two sons, Josh (middle left) and Trent (right) have been charged with a string of offences in relation to the death of Tiahleigh Palmer On Thurday, police were pictured searching the Thorburn property Multiple detectives were seen trying to remove something from the roof as they searching the property Prosecutors believe Tiahleigh was killed by her carer Rick Thorburn (pictured) at the family home a day before he claimed to have dropped her at school 'The victim had disclosed to her that when her foster carer went out, their son would then have sex with her,' police prosecutor Ellen French told the court. 'She further said that the victim claimed to have disclosed this to her foster mother.' Tiahleigh's foster father, 56, was due to appear in the same court on Wednesday but was in an induced coma in hospital after a suspected self-harm attempt while in custody. Queensland police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia Thorburn was still in the medically induced coma on Thursday afternoon and in a stable condition. It is believed the 56-year-old swallowed a number of pills before his collapse. The court heard Trent denied the allegations to his parents and on five other occasions to police, but eventually admitted he had lied about the sexual abuse. Further details about the conversation Trent had with his cousin on Facebook messenger about his sexual activity with Tiahleigh were also revealed in court, the Australian reported. 'During that conversation he said he had sex with the victim on the prior Monday and he had only done so because she had threatened to kill his dog,' Ms French said. 'The defendant said he was concerned about being pregnant even though he had pulled out,' she said, adding that he claimed to have told his mother about it. Trent Thorburn, 19, is alleged to have told a cousin in a Facebook message that he had slept with his foster sister Tiahleigh Palmer and was concerned she was pregnant Police were seen laying down tarps as they searched the Thorburn property at Chambers Flat on Thursday '[Tiahleigh] said she wanted to stay [at the farm] because of the boy and because she loved the horses on the property that they have there,' Ms Palmer said of her granddaughter Trent Thorburn's lawyer John Ide (left) leaves the Southern Districts Magistrates Court in Beenleigh on Wednesday CHARGES LAID OVER TIAHLEIGH PALMER'S MURDER FOSTER FATHER RICK THORBURN: Charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. The 56-year-old was due to face court on Wednesday but is in an induced coma after collapsing while in custody. It is believed he swallowed a number of pills before his collapse. FOSTER BROTHER TRENT THORBURN: Charged with incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of perjury. The 19-year-old was denied bail on Wednesday after a court heard he had admitted on Facebook Messenger to having sex with Tiahleigh and was worried she might be pregnant. FOSTER BROTHER JOSH THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 20-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. FOSTER MOTHER JULENE THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 54-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. Advertisement A sexual relationship between siblings, including under foster, step or de facto circumstances, is considered incest under the Queensland Criminal Code and can attract a maximum life sentence. Police allege that after learning of his son's alleged actions and Tiahleigh's suspected pregnancy, he feared the bisexual dancer would become a target for violence offenders in prison had he been convicted. In opposing bail, Ms French said Thorburn had obstructed police during the investigation and that he and his family had betrayed Tiahleigh's trust. 'The victim was put in care and protection of the defendant and his family,' Sgt Elen French told the court. 'This defendant betrayed her trust. He abused his position as big brother and took advantage of her. 'A consequence of that is her young life has been taken.' According to the Courier Mail, the perjury charges relate to the family providing false testimony to the Crime and Corruption Commission during a secret hearing relating to Tiahleigh's death earlier this year. Thorburn's lawyer argued he would serve more time in custody than if he were sentenced on the charges if bail were refused, and his client was young and had no criminal history. He was denied bail. Officers placed a black tarp on the grass as they commenced the thorough search Detectives were seen spraying the exterior of the farmhouse on Thursday as they hunted for further evidence Officers spoke with locals on Thursday at the isolated farmhouse at Chambers Flat Thorburn faced a Brisbane court on Wednesday after being charged with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice over Tiahleigh's death Tiahleigh's body was located in November last year on the banks of the Pimpama River on the northern Gold Coast Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and another son, Josh, 20, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. They have been released on bail and will face court on October 10. The charges comes 11 months after Tiahleigh's naked and decomposing body was found by fishermen dumped by the banks of the Pimpana River. She was gone for six days before she was registered missing by police and an alert was issued about her disappearance. Police charged Trent on Tuesday with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice over Tiahleigh's death Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly sexually assaulted his foster sister Tiahleigh Palmer during the 10 months she had been in his Queensland family's care last year Cindy Palmer, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, arrived at a Queensland court on Wednesday ahead of Thorburn's court appearance Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and another son, Josh, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Over the past year, one woman has followed capably in Angelina Jolies wake. Arminka Helic, a blonde Muslim refugee from Bosnia, rose via a campaign with former Foreign Secretary William Hague to become a Baroness, with a seat in the House of Lords. Lady Helic, 48, is probably the key person on Team Angie as the actress braces herself for the aftermath of her decision to divorce Brad Pitt. A source tells me Lady Helic is smart, strong, and impeccably loyal, adding that she is Angelinas assistant, adviser and best friend. Lady Helic (right) is now said to be best friends with Angelina, pictured with husband Bar Pitt who she has filed for divorce from So close are the women that Angelina watched as Lady Helic was admitted to the House of Lords in 2014. They often travel together; recent trips include a visit to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands and one to Burma at election time last summer. I understand the baronesss place in Jolies inner circle is so central that she was with her this week at the moment the news of her divorce became public. Officially, her job is to head Angelinas charity Jolie Pitt Dalton Helic, known as JPDH. It is named after Angelina, Lady Helic and the peers friend Chloe Dalton, who writes speeches for the organisation. Set up in London in the spring of 2015, JPDH works on issues from womens rights to refugees, health, education and violence against women. Lady Helic and Dalton are said to be paid 300,000 a year thought to be around triple what they were previously paid as special advisers to Hague. A source said: They are the brains behind Angelinas damehood and her honorary professor title at LSE. So who is Arminka Helic? Born in Bosnia, she fled the ethnic cleansing in 1992, arriving in London with nothing. She got a job washing dishes, and enrolled at the London School of Economics. Lady Helic, who rose to prominence through a campaign by William, Hague, pictured with Angelina and some of the children in London She is said to have started giving foreign policy advice in 1998, and came to public notice in 2006 when she was hired by Hague. It was Lady Helic who introduced him to Jolie in 2012, having watched her 2011 movie In The Land Of Blood And Honey. Lady Helic said the film impressed her because of Jolies understanding of the conflict in Bosnia. The situation there is very complicated, but it was obvious she knew what she was talking about, she said. Jolie came to a screening of the film for officials at the Foreign Office. Afterwards she, Hague, Helic and Dalton discussed the plight of survivors of sexual violence in warfare, and the PSVI or Preventing Sexual Violence In Conflict Initiative was born. The initiative aims to address the culture of impunity around sexual violence in warzones, to hold more perpetrators to account and to raise awareness of the issue. Tony Blair was yesterday urged to give up 200,000 in annual payments he receives from British taxpayers Tony Blair was yesterday urged to give up 200,000 in annual payments he receives from British taxpayers. Critics said that having made so many millions that he is now shutting down his business empire, the former prime minister does not need the handout. Mr Blair pockets 115,000 every year which is meant to fund his public duties, even though he spends little time in the UK. He is also given around 80,000 towards his gold-plated pension. Mr Blair, who has raked in millions from his global money-spinning consultancy since quitting Downing Street in 2007, announced on Tuesday that he was closing down his secretive web of commercial companies. He said he would devote 80 per cent of his time from now on to working for free. He is estimated to have amassed a fortune of between 60million and 100million in nine years. Now critics say he should turn down money from the taxpayer which amounts to more than 1.5million from the two sources over the years. All former prime ministers can claim the special grant, known as the Public Duty Costs Allowance, towards costs such as travel and staffing expenses. Last year, John Major, Gordon Brown and Mr Blair all charged the taxpayer for the maximum amount of 115,000. John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers will be astounded at the degree to which Tony Blair is still drawing on the public purse. Last year, John Major, Gordon Brown and Mr Blair all charged the taxpayer for the maximum amount of 115,000 In an age where former premiers are now well remunerated on the backbenches or strut around on the world stage earning millions, they should think twice before imposing a further burden on taxpayers. Last night a spokesman for Mr Blair said: The PDCA was arranged following Margaret Thatchers resignation and announced by John Major in March 1991. A group of Turkish engineers adapted an ordinary BMW into a Transformer that turns into a giant robot with arms and legs at the touch of a button. In a process lasting seconds, the car doors open and extend into two blade-like arms. Finally, a head emerges from the car roof, creating a fiercesome-looking machine that towers over the tarmac. The ANTIMON looks like any ordinary BMW. But it can turn into a giant robot at the touch of a button In a process lasting seconds, the car doors open and extend into two blade-like arms It took a team of 12 engineers and four supporting technicians from Turkish firm Letvision built the fully-working prototype, called ANTIMON. Although the model does not have a price, the company plan to sell the Transformers in the future. They are not currently drivable in traffic, but plans are in place to add an electric engine that would make this possible. The ANTIMON cannot walk, but the developers say this functionality could be added if they find a buyer willing to pay. The cost of the gadget has not yet been decided. Finally, a head emerges from the car roof, creating a fiercesome-looking machine that towers over the tarmac The ANTIMON cannot walk, but the engineers say this functionality could be added if they find a buyer willing to pay The fifth installment of the Transformers film is due to hit the big screen in 2017. Earlier this month, cars were seen whizzing through the streets of London for the filming of Transformers: The Last Knight. Ahmad Rahami is seen in a mugshot A neighbor of suspected terrorist Ahmad Rahami has told DailyMail.com that she saw regular fires being set in the fried chicken shop's backyard in the middle of the night this summer and that her family heard loud bangs there in the days before the bombings in New York and New Jersey. The fast food shop in Elizabeth, New Jersey, is both owned and lived in by Rahami's family. Vanessa, who did not wish to disclose her last name, said that someone had set up cinder blocks into a square formation in the backyard. 'I don't know if they were using it to muffle the noise but it would be late at night, and we would think it was the neighbor slamming his car door but this time it was so loud, it woke up everyone upstairs. Police officers guard the back garden of Ahmad Rahami's family home on Wednesday as the investigation in Elizabeth, New Jersey continues Burn marks can be seen in the backyard of Rahami's family home which the FBI believe are evidence of the chicken shop bomber practicing his attack 'They took a look and it seemed they were testing some kind of explosive. 'This was a few days prior to the bomb that they found in Elizabeth.' She said the loud bangs were heard at around around 1am or 2am. She said she believed that Rahami was there but she was unsure of anyone else. '[The fires started] around June of this year and got more frequent. 'A few days before the bombing, I think the Thursday before it, they had another one.' According to the FBI's criminal complaint against Rahami, investigators found video on a family member's phone, filmed on September 15, which shows an explosion being set off in the backyard. According to the court documents, the video 'depicts Rahimi igniting incendiary material in a cylindrical container'. The pressure cooker and pipe bombs alleged to have been used in the New York and New Jersey attacks were said in the criminal complaint to have been made by Rahami using components he ordered online. The backyard of Rahami's home in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He has been charged with planting bombs in Manhattan and New Jersey over the weekend Footage shows him igniting incendiary material in a cylinder and a fuse being lit followed by loud explosion and billowing smoke, as laughter is heard in the background, court papers say. The family member who filmed the video i s not named in the criminal complaint. Vanessa and her family said they became worried over the past few months when they noticed the late-night fires behind American First Fried Chicken. 'Usually around midnight, one, two in the morning, they would have these bonfires,' Vanessa told Dailymail.Com 'The whole family would be out there or sometimes it would just be teenagers or seem like teenagers, it was dark. 'Usually you wouldn't think anything of it, it's during the summer, people do that. 'The smell wasn't normal campfires or people just burning logs. We would see them burning it [the fire] and we found it odd they would burn furniture, a lot of clothing. 'Our concern was not knowing what they were burning.' Police and FBI bring items out of the apartment above the First American Fried Chicken restaurant, both owned and lived in by the family of the Manhattan and New Jersey bomber, on Monday She described the color of the fire as a 'stainless steel', 'brushed nickel'. Vanessa said: 'One fire got too close to their home and it melted their vinyl sidings that's when we got concerned. They started shifting the fires closer to our house so we called the fire department.' The fire department was called on July 12, the neighbor said. 'The concern was the type of smoke. With a barbecue, you don't choke on it [the smoke]. 'This smoke was harsh, you couldn't breathe deep because it would start to hurt, we would have to close the windows.' Rahami (pictured on Monday after a shootout with police) is suspected in two bombings and an attempted bombing over the weekend in New York City and New Jersey On Tuesday night, Rahami was charged with planting bombs in Manhattan and New Jersey over the weekend. Twenty-nine people were injured when a device exploded in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea on Saturday night. A nearby device failed to detonate. The 28-year-old had already been charged with five counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and two gun charges after a shootout in Linden, New Jersey, with police following the terror attacks over the weekend. He remains on $5.2million bail in hospital. Vanessa also described canisters to hold oil which were kept in the backyard. 'They have canisters to hold the oils from the business. They have empty containers which held something which smelled so bad. You literally cannot open your windows. It smelled like feces, with garbage, mixed with eggshells that had been rotting for years. 'For a while they also had unlabeled, white gallons of clear liquid, couldn't tell what it was. It wasn't a named brand canister. 'It could be it was cleaning supplies.' 'I found it odd they kept the canisters, the same with the burning clothes and burning furniture.' Above left, the remains of where the first explosion went off in Chelsea and seen right, the second pressure cooker bomb found that never detonated. Investigators were allegedly able to identify Rahami from fingerprints on the device Vanessa described the family as 'very nice' but said Rahami didn't speak to them and was 'quiet, kind of a loner, never around'. Vanessa recalled a domestic dispute about three years ago between Rahami and his wife which led to the police being called to their home. 'They [police] had to separate the guy [Ahmad] and the wife.' One room in the house struck her as odd however. 'One unusual thing was the top window of the apartment has like a makeshift ventilation system and the light would always be on 24/7. 'It had cardboard with a vent maybe six inches sticking out.' She said that the makeshift vent had been in place for three years. Rahami was arrested on Monday after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey Vanessa was unclear of how many people were living at the home on Elmora Avenue. 'I've seen the dad, and I'm assuming his wife, the mother. The alleged bomber, his wife or girlfriend, his two younger brothers,' she said. She described Rahami's wife as 'thin, black hair, very traditional garments, friendly, very quiet'. She added that she didn't appear to speak much English. 'It was mainly the father that we spoke to [Mohammad Rahami], very friendly, says hello, very nice.' Pauline Hanson says her party will stand up for the 'silent majority' after almost half of Australians were found to support a ban on Muslim immigration. The One Nation senator used the results of Wednesday's Essential Research poll to claim her party was the only one willing to speak frankly about issues like immigration and Islam. 'Unlike the other parties, who refuse to talk honestly about issues like immigration and Islam, One Nation would like to give the public a voice,' Senator Hanson said. Scroll down for video Pauline Hanson says her party will stand up for the 'silent majority' after almost half of all Australians were found to support a ban on Muslim immigration After the poll by 1,000 Australians revealed 49 per cent would support such a ban, Senator Hanson took to Facebook to say other parties needed to listen to her She wants a national vote on whether to impose a ban on Muslims from entering Australia. After the poll by 1,000 Australians revealed 49 per cent would support such a ban, Senator Hanson took to Facebook to say other parties needed to listen to her. 'Nearly half of Australians don't want any further Muslim immigration into Australia,' she said in the video. 'Hello? What's happened to the other 50 per cent? Are you still waking up? This is right. 'Why? Let me tell you. Oh, 27 per cent decided terrorist threat, and another 22 per cent because they do not share our values.' Senator Hanson missed that the majority of those who said they supported a ban, 41 per cent, blamed a perceived unwillingness to integrate into Australian society. Polling conducted by Essential Research found 49 per cent of Australians surveyed supported a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia, with 40 per cent opposed to the idea A perceived terrorist threat was the second greatest reason given (27 per cent) by those who support the ban, behind fears Muslim people 'do not integrate into Australian society' (41 per cent) The results showed 60 per cent of respondents who vote Liberal support a ban, while 40 per cent of Labor voters and even 34 per cent of Greens voters want to ban Muslim immigration. Senator Hanson said Greens should not have walked out on her maiden speech to the Senate which she said 'shook the nation'. 'Hello, [Richard] Di Natale? Sarah Hanson Young? [Larissa] Waters? 'If you sat in that chamber and listened to my speech you would start understanding what Australian people want. 'I hope next time you will stop, you will sit, you will listen to what I have to say. And you might be more in tune with the Australian people.' Australia's race discrimination commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, said the country must rise above appeals to fear as it has in the past. The Greens staged a walk-out mid-way through Senator Hanson's maiden speech About half of Australians support Pauline Hanson's policy to ban Muslim immigration (Ms Hanson pictured making her maiden speech last Tuesday) He put the result of the poll down to heavy media coverage of Pauline Hanson and the One Nation leader's anti-Muslim policies in the past two months. 'Not a week goes by when we don't see or hear from her or her ideas, including on immigration,' he told ABC radio on Thursday. 'There is a risk that what were once unacceptable ideas about race, religion and immigration are now being normalised.' Mr Soutphommasane said that's why political leaders should stand up to such rhetoric. He pointed to polls in 1947 which showed more than half of Australians did not want to accept Jewish refugees after WWII, saying the nation from time to time was tested with such debates. 'It's fundamentally important we have leadership from the political sphere that will resist appeals to fear.' Australia's race discrimination commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane (pictured in 2015), said the country must rise above appeals to fear as it has in the past Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek appeared to agree with that sentiment. 'We're not doing a good enough job as national leaders to bring harmony and cohesion to our community.' The poll of 1,000 people across Australia was conducted twice because of the 'surprising' results. Peter Lewis, Executive Director of the research company, said he had concerns the results showed it was a 'rogue poll' because he did not believe the poll would be so decisive. 'We thought it would be more than the actual Hanson vote, but the actual level of support surprised me,' Mr Lewis said in a statement. 'I was worried it was what we call a 'rogue poll' - although the weekly 2PP [two party preferred] looked fine. 'So we repeated [the poll] and got the exact same result,' Mr Lewis said. The results come just a week after One Nation's Pauline Hanson told the Senate in her maiden speech: 'Australia is in danger of being swamped by Muslims.' The poll has been hotly debated on social media. Political commentator Osman Faruqi said Muslim people had been demonised in the media for the past 15 years without the space to respond Mr Faruqi said the 'racist' results should not come as a surprise 'If you are not prepared to obey our laws, respect our culture and our way of life, then I suggest you go back where you came from,' she said. 'If it will be any help, I will take you to the airport and wave you goodbye with sincere best wishes.' She said the 'culture and ideology' of Islam is 'incompatible to our own'. Greens senators staged a walk-out mid-way through Ms Hanson's speech. The poll has been hotly debated on social media. Political commentator Osman Faruqi said Muslim people had been demonised in the media for the past 15 years without the space to respond, and the 'racist' results should not come as a surprise. Muslim opinion writer Mariam Veiszadeh said she couldn't 'shake off the sense of deep sadness that I've felt since finding out about these polling results'. 'This means that every 2nd person sitting on the bus I was on this morning would ban people like me from coming here,' she wrote on Twitter. Labor's Tim Watts said on Twitter there was a 'need for political leadership to challenge and unpack this simplistic, political snake oil' Mr Watts pointed out Australia's regional ally Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population of the deadly shooting have prompted the violent demonstrations Advertisement National Guard troops have arrived in Charlotte after a protest turned violent on Wednesday night. A state of emergency has been declared in response to the chaos that has taken over the North Carolina city, two days after a father-of-seven was shot dead by a police officer. One of the demonstrators was shot in the head outside the Omni Hotel and is fighting for his life. At least three other protesters and four police officers were also taken to hospital after they were injured in the riot. A cameraman and reporter for WCNC-TV were also attacked while a CNN correspondent was body-slammed during a live broadcast. It was the second night of unrest following the deadly shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by black cop, Brentley Vinson, on Tuesday afternoon. Police insist he was armed, but family members maintain he was only reading a book when he was gunned down next to his car. Many businesses and buildings, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame, were hit by vandals and looters. Major companies with offices in the downtown area - including Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy - told employees to stay away from the area Thursday. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts is considering putting a curfew in place in a bid to control the disorder. Scroll down for video A man is on life support after being shot as a peaceful protest over the fatal police shooting of a black man turned ugly at Charlotte's Omni Hotel - but was not wounded by a police officer. A demonstrator is seen attending to the critically injured man as the violence erupted in the North Carolina city Police and protesters carry the critically injured protester into the parking area of the the Omni Hotel after he was shot A man crouches over blood left on the sidewalk seconds after a protester on Trade Strett was shot in the head A witness at the scene said a civilian fired into the crowd 'indiscriminately' and hit a man in the head. Above, people surround a victim of a shooting in uptown Charlotte Tear gas was fired as protesters confronted police along Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte on Wednesday night Keith Lamont Scott (pictured left) was shot by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Brentley Wilson (right) at The Village at College Downs in Cahrlotte at about 4pm on Tuesday. Police insist Scott was armed, but his family have maintained he was only reading a book when he was gunned down On Thursday morning, hotel and restaurant employees and security guards started cleaning up dozens of broken windows after protesters smashed buildings and painted the slogan 'Black Lives Matter' on walls. Demonstrators were also seen breaking into a convenience store and a shop that sells merchandise for the NBA franchise, the Charlotte Hornets . Others set fire to trash cans. Some protesters expressed anger at the lawlessness exhibited by fellow demonstrators. One woman was heard shouting, 'Stop - that's not what this is about,' as young men broke bottles in the street. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory said he has declared a state of emergency and is sending in the National Guard and Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in the city. 'I want to assure the people of North Carolina that our SBI [State Bureau of Investigation] has already been assisting the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department throughout the last 24 hours,' he said in a statement on Facebook. 'Upon a very recent request of Chief Putney, the State Highway Patrol is sending in troopers to further help the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.' He added: 'Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated. I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation.' Ryan James, who was at the protest said he saw a civilian fire a pistol 'indiscriminately' outside the Omni Hotel before fleeing. 'There was a loud pop, then panic and confusion. Standing about 10 yards away, I looked down the barrel of a pistol,' he wrote in a first-person piece for The Daily Beast. James said the shooter was a black male and that he stood at the intersection of East Trade and South College streets with the weapon still aimed before running away. After the shooting of the protester, demonstrators began throwing bottles, dirt clods and fireworks at the officers. The police fired flash grenades and then tear gas back, dispersing the crowd of several hundred. Protesters responded by hurling trash cans and potted plants. A woman puts her hand up to stop crowds moving in on police at the protest in Charlotte on Wednesday One topless man is tacked to the ground by officers in riot gear on the sidewalk in Charlotte People maneuver amongst tear gas in uptown Charlotte, NC during the protest of the police shooting of Keith Scott Protestors confront police at the Omni Hotel. Potted plants are thrown across the ground and tear gas is let off A protester places her arms in the air while on her knees in front of CMPD officers in riot gear at an intersection in Charlotte Debris falls upon Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers and protesters as officers began to push protesters from the intersection near the Epicentre in Charlotte on Wednesday Some put their hands up and other protesters push the police as the peaceful protest turned confrontational But groups of protesters kept marching around downtown, followed by police in riot gear who continued to fire tear gas at them. 'It seemed to me the shot came from within the crowd,' said one man who was just three feet from where the dreadlocked man fell. 'He fell face down. Then people crowded around him. Then, after a few seconds they were pushed back and a firefighter and another man lifted him up and carried him into the lobby of the Omni.' 'It's come to this. We had a nice march, but a few people came here to make trouble,' protester Tongie Antunes told DailyMail.com. 'It makes all African Americans look bad.' But activist James Tyson, who gave aid to the shot protester, questioned the police version of events saying he saw no evidence of gunshots from the crowd. A video surfaced on social media that purportedly showed a white man drive into the crowd of demonstrators and brandish a gun (circled) before he was allowed to drive away from the scene A man places his hands on his head as he faces off against officers in riot gear on the second night of unrest in Charlotte 'Hands up, don't shoot' protesters yelled as the stood in the middle of the street on Wednesday night Two people sit cross legged with one fist in the air as they stand off against police in riot gear on Wednesday Protestors block an intersection and put their hands up at Trade and Tryon Streets in Charlotte A person has died after suffering an apparent gunshot wound in Charlotte, where protests over the death of a black man have entered a second night Police in riot gear hold their lines in uptown Charlotte during a protest of the police shooting of Keith Scott, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency and said he is sending in the National Guard to assist police Protesters block an intersection near the Transit Center as they march uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina The protesters were angry about the police shooting of Keith Lamont on Tuesday at his condominium complex After the shooting, police in riot gear began firing tear gas and marching through downtown arm in arm Protesters wave banners with slogans including 'No Justice, No Peace' and 'Black Lives Matter More Than White Supremacy' There was no gunshot, he told DailyMail.com exclusively. There were no flash bangs, no concussion grenades at that time. Tyson said he had gone along to the protest armed with first aid gear to act as a street medic. I knew things were going to get bad tonight after what happened yesterday, he said. He walked a couple of steps and then just dropped, Tyson, 31, said he was applying pressure to the mans neck to staunch the bleeding, until members of the fire department arrived and took over. He must have lost two or three points of blood. Meanwhile, a video surfaced on social media that purportedly showed a white man drive into the crowd of demonstrators and brandish a gun before he was allowed to drive away from the scene. 'White dude drives into crowd of peaceful protesters, draws gun, allowed to drive away alive. With my own eyes. #CharlotteProtest,' wrote Heather Head on Twitter alongside the shocking clip. At 8.56pm, police declared the crowd an 'unlawful assembly' and ordered everyone to disperse saying anyone remaining in the vicinity would be subject to arrest. But instead of leaving the crowd assembled at the junction of Trade and College Streets and raised their hands. As the protesters refused to leave police in riot gear responded with tear gas. Scott, who was black, was shot and killed at an apartment complex near UNC Charlotte by police officers, who say they warned Scott to drop a gun he was allegedly holding People put cargo from tractor trailers on a fire on the I-85 (Interstate 85) during protests following the death of a man shot by a police officer on Tuesday Groups of protesters attacked reporters and other people, broke windows and set small fires in North Carolina's largest city Protesters raise their hands in the air as they face riot police during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte Blood covers the pavement where an unidentified man was shot during a protest outside the Omni Hotel in Charlotte A woman takes a picture of the line of riot police outside the Omni Hotel in Charlotte, where one protester has been shot A protester walks in front of a mass of CMPD officers in riot gear with a sign reading "All Lives Matter We Are 1" in Charlotte Men in balaclavas hold up signs saying 'Black lives matter' and 'We are not animals' during violent protests in Charlotte Young girls hold up signs saying 'black lives matter too' and 'no justince no peace' at a park in Charlotte A man in a red hoodie stands on a Jeep and shouts during a protest in uptown Charlotte that erupted into violence Protesters gather outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in uptown Charlotte to protest Tuesday's police shooting A man speaks to police officers during a second night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte People gather in front of the Ritz-Carlton in uptown Charlotte during a protest that started as a prayer vigil Bank of America, one of the citys largest employers, has told its employees who work in uptown Charlotte not to report to work on Thursday. Above, a Bank of America ATM has been vandalized with the letters 'BLM' A window at the City Smoke restaurant in uptown Charlotte was smashed during the violent protest on Wednesday night Windows were smashed and 'Black Lives Matter' was spray painted at buildings near the protest in Charlotte on Wednesday And at 9.16pm, CNN reporter Ed Lavandera was body slammed by a protester while reporting live from the scene. Lavandera had been reporting to Anderson Cooper when a man assaulted him, causing him to fall to the ground. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're fine, Anderson, we're fine,' Lavandera told Cooper. 'It's just someone taking out their frustrations on me.' The protest at the police shooting of Keith Scott had started peacefully at 7pm in Charlotte's Marshall Park with chants of 'No justice, no peace.' But as the crowd marched through downtown it got ugly. Officers on bicycles surrounded a pool of blood on the ground and a few people threw bottles and clods of dirt at police. The tense standoff continued as police fired small canisters of tear gas into the protesters. Meanwhile, groups of college students descended on the condominium complex parking lot where Scott was shot and killed by Brentley Vinson, a black Charlotte police officer, on Tuesday afternoon. One group of students came from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, about 80 miles away. Others came from Guilford College, also in Greensboro. CNN reporter Ed Lavandera was body slammed by a protester while reporting live from the scene on Wednesday night 'We're fine, Anderson, we're fine,' Lavandera told Cooper. 'It's just someone taking out their frustrations on me' Police stood in line in riot gear to keep the protest marchers outside an upscale downtown hotel in Charlotte The second night of violent protests added Charlotte to the list of US cities that have erupted in violence over the death of a black man at the hands of police. Above, a man raises his hands in air in the direction of a police officer in riot gear Protesters march behind an officer on a bicycle along Trade Street in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday Demonstrators sit on a street during a protest of Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte Lameka Jackson shouts to fellow activists in uptown Charlotte while demonstrators brandish signs that say 'Hands up, don't shoot' and 'Stop killing black people' Anger built in Charlotte as two starkly different versions about the shooting of Keith Scott by a police officer emerged Protesters rushed police in riot gear at a downtown Charlotte hotel and officers fired tear gas to disperse the crowd Before nightfall, a memorial was set up at the site where Scott was shot. People prayed and held candles, and flowers were placed beneath a table. The prayer vigil over the fatal police shooting turned into a protest march through downtown. Several hundred marchers were angry, but peaceful as they shouted slogans like 'Hands up; don't shoot' and 'Black lives matter' outside downtown landmarks. Police blocked off streets, and some protesters yelled and pointed at them, but officers did not react. It comes after Tuesday's protest, which turned violent and protesters threw rocks and damaged police vehicles. The protests lasted throughout the night, damaging police cars, causing minor injuries to about a dozen officers and closing down a part of Interstate 85 not far from the shooting scene. Police fire teargas as protesters converge on downtown following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott The police fired flash grenades and then tear gas back, dispersing the crowd of several hundred people in Charlotte Charlotte's police chief Kerr Putney said 43-year-old Scott refused multiple warnings to drop a handgun before he was fatally shot. But a woman claiming to be Scott's daughter posted a video to Facebook soon after the shooting, saying that her father had an unspecified disability. She said he was unarmed when he was shot, adding that he had been reading a book, not brandishing a weapon. But Putney says officers recovered a gun, but no book when officers searched him and his vehicle. The North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union urged Charlotte police to release any footage from body or dashboard cameras of a fatal shooting this week. The ACLU noted that a new North Carolina law that restricts the release of such footage doesn't take effect until October 1. A demonstrator stares at riot police during the protest against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday Protesters taunt police in riot gear during a peaceful demonstration in Charlotte that turned deadly when gunfire erupted At least one person was injured in the confrontation, though it wasn't immediately clear how. Firefighters rushed in to pull the man to a waiting ambulance The peaceful march turned ugly and protesters are pictured, above, throwing chairs at a restaurant during the demonstration Police blocked off streets, and some protesters yelled and pointed at them, but officers did not react Demonstrators are seen kicking a vehicle during a protest against Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott A woman reacts near riot police after a man was shot by a civilian in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the protest That new law says footage from police body or dashboard cameras can't be released publicly without a court order. Karen Anderson, executive director of the ACLU of North Carolina, issued a statement that said the Charlotte police department should release any footage in the interest of transparency. Charlotte's police chief has said the officer who shot Keith Lamont Scott was not wearing a body camera, but chief Kerr Putney also says he cannot release body camera and dashboard camera video from other officers because of the ongoing investigation. Scott's mother, Vernita Walker of Charleston, South Carolina, told The Charlotte Observer that her son had seven children. 'He was a family man . And he was a likable person. And he loved his wife and his children,' she told the newspaper. A protester holds up her hands with a slogan written on them during the demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte A protester with covered face confronts riot police officers in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday Several hundred marchers were angry, but peaceful on Wednesday night as they shouted slogans like 'Hands up; don't shoot' and 'Black lives matter' outside downtown landmarks A protester in Charlotte was fatally shot by a civilian during a second night of unrest after the police killed a black man Scott has a criminal record in three states, including Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina. Mecklenburg County records matching Keith Lamont Scott's name and birth date show Scott was charged in April 2004 with multiple counts, including felony assault with a deadly weapon. Records show that most of the charges were dismissed, and he pleaded guilty to a single charge of misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon. Texas records show that he was convicted of evading arrest with a vehicle in 2005, and several months later of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In 1992 in South Carolina, records show Scott pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Court records also show a misdemeanor assault conviction in North Carolina from 2004. Records from nearby Gaston County show that Scott pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in 2015. A woman who identified herself as an advocate for Scott's family, Annette Albright, said at a news conference that he shouldn't be 're-victimized' because of things he did in the past. The PACT Act would punish people who do the worst things to animals on federal property or in relation to interstate commerce. Photo by iStockphoto 676 shares Today, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., tried to pass the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, S. 1831, on the Senate floor. He was pitch-perfect in making the case for the enactment of a federal anti-cruelty statute to punish people who do the worst things to animals on federal property or in relation to interstate commerce. The HSUS strongly backs the measure, as do many law enforcement entities, including the National Sheriffs Association. Unfortunately, the bill fell victim to pre-November partisan politics, but weve built great bipartisan support in the chamber for final action on the bill later. No lawmaker objected to the substance of the measure that is led by Sen. Toomey and by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. I was reminded of the importance of political leadership for animals two other times in the last 24 hours. Last night, at the Robert J. Dole Institute for Politics at the University of Kansas, ASPCA senior vice president Nancy Perry and I spoke about Animal Welfare in America and about the legacy of former Sen. Dole who was arguably the most productive senator on animal welfare in American history perhaps rivaled only by former Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia. It is remarkable to think about these two legendary political leaders hailing from states with a major rural voting bloc which, in some estimations, have an unlikely political geography for animal welfare leadership. Sen. Dole helped dramatically strengthen the Animal Welfare Act and he is the father of the modern version of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. He faced many hurdles in working to get those measures over the finish line, but he was indomitable in pressing the case. He remains active with The HSUS today as our Special Advisor, with former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. This morning, in Kansas City, I saw local lawmakers come together to announce the building of a major new animal shelter, to be part of a larger complex in Swope Park. There was such energy in the room as Kansas City Mayor Sly James announced the initiative, with two key city council members helping lead the way. Public policy work for animals requires local, state, and federal lawmakers to embrace our sensibilities and to lead. The path to progress on public policy is not always smooth and steady. While PACT was blocked today, the END Wildlife Trafficking bill was cleared to be sent to President Obama just yesterday. Yes, there are often hiccups, but we are making incredible progress and steadily building a body of law with major ballot measures coming up for votes in Massachusetts, Montana, Oklahoma, and Oregon in November. I am thankful to the lawmakers and citizen advocates who have helped drive forward important, bright-line anti-cruelty standards in society. History will remember them well. Tam Farrow died from heart failure in 2000 and Lark Previn died in 2008 Thaddeus is the third of Mia's 10 adopted children to die As a child, Thaddeus was diagnosed with polio and was paraplegic He was found 'gravely injured in his car along Route 67' Mia Farrow's adopted son, Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, has died from his injuries after a car accident in Connecticut. The 27-year-old died after the incident in Roxbury on Wednesday, the Hartford Courant reported. Connecticut state troopers responded to the scene around 12.45pm and found Thaddeus 'gravely injured in his car along Route 67'. He was taken to Danbury Hospital nearby and was pronounced dead at 2.30pm. Mia Farrow's adopted son, Thaddeus Farrow, has died. The 27-year-old died from an injury stemming from a car accident in Connecticut. They are pictured together above in 2000 Thaddeus (pictured above center) was found 'gravely injured in his car along Route 67' and was taken to a Danbury Hospital Police did not release the cause and manner of his death, but said that there was 'no criminal aspect'. Mia adopted Thaddeus, who suffered from polio, from an orphanage in Calcutta, India, in 1994 at age 12. The longtime activist and actress adopted him after she ended her 13-year relationship with director-actor Woody Allen. His middle name, Wilk, is honor of Elliot Wilk who is the judge that oversaw her bitter custody battle with Allen that ended with her becoming the sole caretaker of the couple's children. He is one of 10 children that she has adopted over the years, including Soon-Yi Previn, who is now married to Allen. In addition to adopting 10 children, the 79-year-old 'Rosemary's Baby' star has four biological children. Tragically, Thaddeus is the third adopted child of Mia's to pass away. Tam Farrow died from heart failure in 2000 and Lark Previn died in 2008. As a child, Thaddeus was diagnosed with polio and was paraplegic as a result of the disease. The actress and longtime activist's son (pictured above center in 1999) was pronounced dead at 2.30pm As a child, Thaddeus was diagnosed with polio and was paraplegic as a result of the disease. Above Mia is pictured with Thaddeus (center) and media mogul Ted Turner in 2000 After she adopted him, Mia, who suffered from polio herself, spearheaded a campaign to rid the world of polio. According to the New York Post, she lost the ability to walk and breathe on her own at age nine and spent three weeks in a hospital's isolation unit due to the disease. 'I perhaps am more motivated than most people because I had polio myself and it was a real struggle to come through it, and what I saw will never leave me in the hospitals and in the public wards for contagious diseases,' she told the Post in 2000, as his condition had improved vastly not long after. 'Perhaps even more so because I have a son who is only 12 years old and who is paralyzed from the waist down because of polio. In a Vanity Fair profile from 2013, Thaddeus, who walked with crutches or used a wheelchair, said he was studying to become a police officer and working as a car mechanic. Above he is pictured right in 1996 'This is a terrible disease, and he has a lot of difficulty just getting through the day. I would love to see the end of polio, where no more children have this.' In a Vanity Fair profile from 2013, Thaddeus, who walked with crutches or used a wheelchair at times, said he was studying to become a police officer and working as a car mechanic. 'It was scary to be brought to a world of people whose language I did not understand, with different skin colors,' he told the magazine of his adoption. 'The fact that everyone loved me was a new experience, overwhelming at first.' Thaddeus also spoke about thanking his mother after he had a spiritual awakening the Christmas prior. 'I came back at Christmastime (sic) to tell Mia, 'I know I never really said thank you, Mom.' I just let out emotions I would never let myself express. Finally I was able to.' Mia, who has a home in Bridgewater, has not released a statement about his death as of Wednesday evening. She has been spending her time with her newest granddaughter, Evangeline, after her daughter Dylan gave birth earlier this month. Proud grandmother: Mia has not yet commented on her son's death; her last tweet was about her new granddaughter Evangeline; she is the daughter of Dylan The Muslim woman who called a man in a Pauline Hanson t-shirt a 'fascist' is a left-wing student politician, while the man is a far-right anti-Islam leader. Ayan Mohamed is the young woman who slammed prominent United Patriots Front member Dennis Huts at Perth's Curtin University on Wednesday. The Muslim woman is a left-wing campaigner who is standing to join the National Union of Students as part of the Left Action group, Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Scroll down for video Ayan Mohamed, a left-wing student politician, is the young woman who slammed prominent United Patriots Front member Dennis Huts at Perth's Curtain University on Wednesday (a leaflet for the Left Action group with her face is pictured) Prominent United Patriots Front member Dennis Huts is pictured wearing his t-shirt which supports Pauline Hanson and the One Nation party On a campaign leaflet at the university, she says she will 'defend student's rights and fight for social justice'. Ms Mohamed has since been attacked in comments on social media, where one claimed Mr Huts should have 'choked her' with her burqa. She was wearing a hijab in the video, not a burqa. Ms Mohamed, who deleted her Facebook page after she was contacted by Daily Mail Australia, was recorded shouting at Mr Huts as he tried to attend an appointment at the university wearing a pro-Hanson t-shirt. She said he 'wasn't welcome' at the Perth campus. 'Wearing a shirt, if you want to say that's stirring things up I wear the shirt a lot, a couple of times a week to all manner of place,' Mr Huts said Ms Mohamed has since been attacked in comments on social media, where one claimed Mr Huts should have 'choked her' with her burqa Another called the woman a 'fat cow' with a 'f***ing big mouth'. 'No wonder they keep there [sic] girls covered up 'I think we have to start abusing every Muslim we see,' further abuse said Mr Huts said he did not wear the t-shirt to start a fight but has confirmed it was he who was involved in the altercation. 'Wearing a shirt, if you want to say that's stirring things up I wear the shirt a lot, a couple of times a week to all manner of place,' Mr Huts said. 'Sometimes people look, and I've had people say things, but she's a democratically elected senator and a lot of people voted for her. You know, I get quite offended when I see people walking around wearing Greens t-shirts.' Mr Huts has been accused previously of storming a Muslim prayer room and planting a pig's head in a toilet in an attempt to offend Muslims in the area. Mr Huts believes Islam is not compatible with Australian culture which is why he supports Pauline Hanson and the UPF. WAtoday reported UPF has previously orchestrated incidents in the area and uploaded footage to social media in an effort to gain support. The video shows the woman screaming at Huts, but it is still unknown if the altercation began before the filming started. A Muslim woman told the man wearing a Pauline Hanson t-shirt he was a 'fascist' The mobile phone footage shows the woman furiously shouting at the man, branding him a 'fascist' and accusing him of 'demonising Muslims'. She told him: 'You have no right to be here' as he tries to walk into the university building.' He then told her he used to attend the university and had an appointment at student services, but she quickly shut him down. 'You have no right to be on this campus. No you don't. Get off this campus. You're not welcome here. Get off,' the woman said. She went on to criticise him for his choice of t-shirt. The controversial One Nation leader has sparked outrage in recent weeks by calling for an end to all Muslim immigration and claiming that 'Australia is in danger of being swamped by Muslims'. 'Why are you wearing a Pauline Hanson shirt? Why are you wearing a Hanson shirt?' the woman repeatedly asked. The man then told her he supports the Queensland senator, but the woman continued to criticise him. Another woman, who appeared to be a friend of the Muslim woman, went to her defense 'He is a proto-fascist,' she shouted as other students began to gather around. 'He has no right to be here. All he wants to do is demonise Muslims. Muslims have had enough. Get off this campus, you're not welcome here.' Pauline Hanson has sparked outrage in recent weeks by calling for an end to all Muslim immigration The Hanson supporter insisted he had as much right to be on campus as anyone else, as the woman continued accusing him of being a 'fascist'. Another woman, who appears to be a friend of the Muslim, went to her defense. 'Respect our rights. F*** off, move on,' she said. 'I have an appointment at student services. I am going. You're the one who followed me,' the man replied. 'I am an ex-student of this university. I have a completed degree here and I have an appointment,' he adds, after the woman accuses him of harassing Muslims on campus. They both told each other to 'f*** off' before he said: 'I have a right to be here. I have an appointment. I don't attack anyone. I have an appointment at this university. Deal with it.' The man then walked off and entered the university. A man was allegedly fired from his job as a banker for Wells Fargo after phoning the company's ethics line. Bill Bado, of New Jersey, had declined to open fake bank and credit accounts, CNN Money reported on Wednesday. He called the ethics line and emailed human resources in September 2013, the report said. A man was allegedly fired from his job as a banker for Wells Fargo after phoning the company's ethics line (stock image) According to CNN Money, Bado copied his regional manager on the message which included the line: 'I have been asked to do on several occasions to do things that I know are not ethical and would be grounds for discharge.' His email reportedly claimed he was told by a branch manager to mail debit cards and sign customers up for online banking without their authorization. Bado was let go from his job due to 'excessive tardiness' eight days after sending the email, according to the report. Being terminated 'put a permanent stain on his securities license' and Bado now is a part-time Shop-Rite employee, CNN Money wrote. Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf is pictured Tuesday testifying in front of the Senate Banking Committee Bado told the news outlet: 'They ruined my life.' Wells Fargo refused to comment to CNN Money on both the reason for Bado's leaving and the ethics complaint. A spokeswoman told the news outlet: 'We do not tolerate retaliation against team members who report their concerns in good faith.' Wells Fargo's operation is under scrutiny since it agreed to pay $185million to federal and local authorities to settle allegations that bankers striving to meet the targets opened credit card and bank accounts, moved money between them and even created fake email addresses to sign people up for online banking all without customer authorization. The news has reignited outrage in an American public and their representatives, still angry over the Wall Street scandals that spurred the recession. And this scandal doesn't involve complicated financial products, but people's regular checking and savings accounts and employees at the local branch. A student had a list of 33 names of students and staff members from his Southern California high school he wanted to shoot, and a detailed plan to do it, authorities said Wednesday. The student at Encore High School had the intent and capability to carry out the attack, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said at a briefing for parents and press. 'There certainly was the potential in this case for harm,' McMahon said. 'That plot was very well-detailed and he was very set on doing something at Encore High School.' A student at Encore High School in Hesperia, California has been arrested after authorities found what they called a detailed plan to shoot 33 students and staff members San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon talked with concerned parents Wednesday about a student's disturbing plot to shoot other students and staff at Encore High School McMahon said the boy, now being held in a juvenile jail, had 'limited access' to firearms, but did not elaborate. The investigation began when a parent on Saturday told the Sheriff's Department about threats on social media. After detectives talked to the student on Sunday, and to school staff and students on Monday, they obtained a search warrant for both of the boys' parents' homes. That search turned up evidence, including the plans and list of 33 names and, that led to the boy's arrest the same day. McMahon said explosives were mentioned in the plan, but searches including a combing of the high school by dogs didn't reveal any. Students spoke of a their shock and disbelief that a fellow student wished to cause them harm Encore is a charter high school in Hesperia, a Mojave Desert City about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles. After the threats were discovered, but prior to his arrest, the student was not allowed on the charter-school campus this week and 'he will not be returning to campus,' according to Denise Griffin, CEO of Encore Education Corp. At the press conference, some distraught parents asked Griffin why the school had not been closed on Monday and Tuesday as the threats were being investigated. She said the school was first notified of potential threats on social media on Sunday, but at that point the information was not very clear. Griffin emphasized that safety is very important to Encore and noted her own child attends the school and she felt confident enough in the school's safety to not keep him away from the campus this week. She said the school has a ratio of about one adult for every 10 kids on campus. The foster mother of schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer has returned to her Queensland home as police continue to search it for clues on her alleged murder. Julene Thorburn was pictured arriving at the Chambers Flat property, south of Brisbane, on Thursday after her husband Rick was charged with murdering the 12-year-old earlier this week. The 54-year-old returned home after assisting police with inquiries. She also assisted police on Wednesday as they searched the 2ha rural property while her 19-year-old son faced court on an incest charge. Scroll down for video Julene Thorburn was pictured arriving at the Chambers Flat property, south of Brisbane, on Thursday as police searched the property Police resumed their search of the Queensland home where Tiahleigh Palmer spent 10 months before she was allegedly murdered by her foster father Rick Thorburn last year Several police vehicles were stationed at the home as officers dressed in forensic suits scoured the property as the family's horses roamed around them. Police were spotted putting up large plastic tarps around parts of the house where Tiahleigh lived for 10 months before she was found dead. Tiahleigh lived with the Thorburn family, including their two teenage sons, in their four bedroom home on the 2ha rural property. The family operated a day care centre at their home until their approvals were revoked in April when police shared intelligence with the government months after Tiahleigh's body was found. No other children were placed with the family after Tiahleigh disappeared. Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said the couple was approved as foster carers in August 2014. 'All relevant checks, including blue cards, criminal history checks, interviews and reference checks were undertaken including mandatory training,' she said in Brisbane on Wednesday. Tiahleigh Palmer, 12, was allegedly murdered by her foster Rick Thorburn at the family's home Police were spotted putting up large plastic tarps around parts of the house where Tiahleigh lived for 10 months before she was found dead Forensic officers scoured the rural property on Thursday after the 12-year-old was found dead Investigators now believe Tiahleigh was killed the night before her foster father claimed to have dropped her off at school, according to the Courier Mail. Authorities had been working off the theory that the 12-year-old disappeared after being dropped off at Marsden State High School by Thorburn on October 30. But the paper says it is now alleged she never made it to the school and she died the night before. Her body was located almost a week later in a river near the family home. Thorburn remains in hospital in an induced coma after collapsing following a suspected suicide attempt after being charged with murder on Tuesday. Police ethical standards command is investigating how Thorburn collapsed, amid reports he may have swallowed pills while in custody. Officers were seen carrying large, black plastic tarps on the rural property Several police vehicles were stationed at the home as officers dressed in forensic suits scoured the property Tiahleigh spent 10 months living with the Thorburn family, including their two teenage sons, in their four bedroom home on the 2ha rural property at Chambers Flat Rick Thorburn (left), his wife Julene (middle right) and two sons, Josh (middle left) and Trent (right) have been charged with a string of offences in relation to the death of Tiahleigh Palmer Investigators believe she was killedin her family home the day before Thorburn told police he had dropped her safety to nearby Marsden State High School on October 30 It's also been suggested he may have suffered a cardiac incident. Tiahleigh's 19-year-old foster brother Trent Thorburn was denied bail on Wednesday as he faced court on incest and perjury charges. The girl's biological mother Cindy Palmer watched from the gallery as it was alleged he'd confessed in a Facebook Messenger conversation with a cousin that he'd had sex with Tiahleigh and feared she might be pregnant. Police also alleged he'd repeatedly lied during their murder investigation and was determined to do all he could to avoid a prison sentence for his alleged crimes. CHARGES LAID OVER TIAHLEIGH PALMER'S MURDER FOSTER FATHER RICK THORBURN: Charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. The 56-year-old was due to face court on Wednesday but is in an induced coma after collapsing while in custody. FOSTER BROTHER TRENT THORBURN: Charged with incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of perjury. The 19-year-old was denied bail on Wednesday after a court heard he had admitted on Facebook Messenger to having sex with Tiahleigh and was worried she might be pregnant. FOSTER BROTHER JOSH THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 20-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. FOSTER MOTHER JULENE THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 54-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. Advertisement Prosecutors believe Tiahleigh was killed by her carer Rick Thornburn (pictured) at the family home a day before he claimed to have dropped her at school Tiahleigh's body was located in November last year in a river near the family home Tiahleigh's 19-year-old foster brother Trent Thorburn faced court on Wednesday charged with incest and perjury. He is alleged to have had sex with the 12-year-old Julene and the couple's older son Joshua, 20, have also been charges with perjury and perverting the course of justice. They're set to face court on October 10. Child Services Minister Shannon Fentiman announced Queensland's blue card system would be reviewed following the allegations against Tiahleigh's foster carers. Ms Fentiman also revealed the Thorburns had operated a family day care business following Tiahleigh's death until police provided intelligence in April to authorities that resulted in their approvals being revoked. Cindy Palmer, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, arrived at a Queensland court on Wednesday ahead of Thorburn's court appearance Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and another son, Josh, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors claim Tiahleigh told her foster parents, Julene (left) and Rick Thorburn (right), that their son had been preying on her when they left the house before she was murdered A male stripper who threatened to publish naked photos of his ex-girlfriend if she didn't pay him $2000 has narrowly avoided jail. The Gold Coast's answer to 'Magic Mike', Michael Borgen, has pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and extortion after threatening a former girlfriend who he had been with for three months. The male entertainer has been strutting his stuff for women in Queensland for 10 years under the name of Mick Gucci. The Gold Coast's answer to 'Magic Mike' threatened to publish naked photos of his ex-girlfriend if she didn't pay him $2000 has narrowly avoided jail Michael Borgen leaves the Southport Courthouse where he pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and extortion Borgen sent his ex-girlfriend a threatening text message after their relationship broke down in April last year, Southport District Court heard on Thursday. In the message, Borgen gives the woman until 5.30pm on the evening of April 15 last year to transfer $2000 into his bank account, which would 'buy all your naked photos... And a promise nothing further will happen'. Earlier that day the court heard Borgen and the woman had got into an argument which turned physical, with Borgen pushing the then 32-year-old woman against a wall. Judge David Kent said Borgen had a history of criminal behaviour relating to relationships and would find himself imprisoned if he doesn't change his ways. 'You have grave difficulty in finding an appropriate response to relationships,' Judge Kent said. 'Without moderating your behaviour it's going to land you in prison.' Borgen sent his ex-girlfriend a text message after their relationship broke down in April last year, threatening to publish her naked pictures if she didn't give him $2000 The stripper was sentenced a 12 month intensive correction order for the assault Judge David Kent said Borgen had a history of criminal behaviour relating to relationships and would find himself imprisoned if he doesn't change his ways The stripper was sentenced a 12 month intensive correction order for the assault. The order includes having counselling, community service and receiving visits from authorities. A picture believed to have been taken by a witness moments after a black man was shot dead in Charlotte appears to show a gun at his feet. Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was fatally shot by a black police officer in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Tuesday afternoon. The second night of angry protests on Wednesday added Charlotte to the list of US cities that have erupted in violence over the death of a black man at the hands of police. With officials refusing to release any video of the deadly shooting, anger built as two starkly different versions of his death emerged. Police say Scott, a father-of-seven, disregarded repeated demands to drop his gun. But his family and neighborhood residents insist he was holding a book, not a weapon, as he waited for his son to get off the school bus. Scroll down for video This picture believed to have been taken by a witness moments after Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead in Charlotte appears to show a gun at his feet Violence broke out on Tuesday night shortly after a woman who appeared to be Scott's daughter posted a profanity-laced, hour-long video using Facebook Live. She said her father had an unspecified disability and was unarmed. In the footage, she is seen at the cordoned-off shooting scene, yelling at officers. 'My daddy is dead!' the woman is heard screaming in the video. Then, on Wednesday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said: 'It's time to change the narrative, because I can tell you from the facts that the story's a little bit different as to how it's been portrayed so far, especially through social media.' Putney said officers were serving arrest warrants on another person when they saw Scott get out of a vehicle with a handgun. A black plainclothes officer in a vest emblazoned 'Police' shot Scott after the officer and other uniformed members of the force made 'loud, clear' demands that he drop the gun, the chief said. Putney was adamant that Scott posed a threat, even if he didn't point his weapon at officers, and said a gun was found next to the dead man. 'I can tell you we did not find a book,' the chief said. Police say Scott disregarded repeated demands to drop his gun, but his family and neighborhood residents insist he was holding a book, not a weapon. Above, the gun police say Scott was carrying Keith Lamont Scott (pictured) was fatally shot by a black police officer in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Tuesday afternoon The officer who shot Scott was identified by the police department as Officer Brentley Vinson, who is black. Vinson, a two-year member of the department, has been placed on leave, the standard procedure in such cases. Neighbors, though, said that the officer who fired was white and that Scott had his hands in the air. The three uniformed officers had body cameras; the plainclothes officer did not, police said. But the chief said he cannot release the video because the investigation is still underway. No cellphone video has emerged on social media, as happened in other cases around the country. Violence broke out on Tuesday night shortly after a woman who appeared to be Scott's daughter posted a profanity-laced, hour-long video using Facebook Live (above, a still) Keith Lamont Scott's car (left with both doors open) is pictured in the parking lot of an apartment complex shortly after he was shot dead by a police officer At the apartment complex where Scott was killed, some people who said they witnessed the shooting told their version with an air of certainty even when they were hundreds of yards away. Taheshia Williams said her balcony overlooks the shady parking spot where Scott was Tuesday afternoon. She said he often waited there for his son because a bicycle accident several years ago left him stuttering and susceptible to seizures if he stayed out in the hot sun too long. On Tuesday, she said, Scott had only a book in his hands and was following orders. 'He got out of his car, he walked back to comply, and all his compliance did was get him murdered,' Williams said. A man crouches over blood left on the sidewalk seconds after a protester was shot in the head A man attends to a protester who was shot during a demonstration against police brutality The killing inflamed racial tensions in a city that seemed to have steered clear of the troubles that engulfed other places. Dozens of demonstrators threw rocks at police and reporters, damaged squad cars, closed part of Interstate 85, and looted and set on fire a stopped truck on Tuesday night. Authorities used tear gas to break up the protests. Sixteen officers suffered minor injuries and one person was arrested. There were hints earlier on Wednesday that Charlotte would suffer a second night of destruction. As the city's white mayor and black police chief stood at City Hall and appealed for calm, African-American leaders who said they were speaking for Scott's family held their own news conference near where he was killed on Tuesday, reminding the crowd of other shootings and abuses of black men. Wednesday's protest started as a downtown prayer vigil, but an angry group left the peaceful event and marched through downtown Charlotte. People set cargo from tractor trailers alight on the I-85 during protests on Wednesday Demonstrators protest the fatal police shooting of a black man in Charlotte on Wednesday They shouted 'black lives matter' and 'hands up; don't shoot' while cursing at officers with bicycles blocking intersections in Charlotte's flashy and vibrant downtown. As the protesters approached the Omni hotel, officers in riot gear lined up outside arm in arm and a few marchers threw bottles and clods of dirt. Immediately after the shooting, police began firing flash grenades and protesters threw fireworks. Police then fired tear gas, and the crowd of hundreds dispersed - but not all the marchers left. Police in riot gear then began marching arm in arm through downtown Charlotte intersections, shooting tear gas at people who charged them. At least one protester knocked down a CNN reporter during a live report and several other media outlets said on Twitter they had employees taken to hospitals. A man was critically injured after being shot in the head - and paramedics said two other people and six police officers suffered minor injuries. The man was not shot by police who had massed in riot gear to keep the marchers outside an upscale downtown hotel, Charlotte officials announced on Twitter. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney (pictured) was adamant that Scott posed a threat, even if he didn't point his weapon at officers Civil rights activist John C.Barnett gestures during a news conference in response to the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott City officials originally announced the man was dead but later reversed that statement and said he was on life support. Late on Wednesday, Gov. Pat McCrory announced he was declaring a state of emergency and calling in the National Guard and state troopers to help restore order and protect downtown at the request from Charlotte's police chief. The unrest took many by surprise in Charlotte, the banking capital of the South with a population of 830,000 people, about 35 percent of them black. The city managed to pull through a racially charged shooting three years ago without the unrest that erupted in recent years in places such as Baltimore, Milwaukee and Ferguson, Missouri. In 2013, Charlotte police charged one of their own, Randall Kerrick, with voluntary manslaughter days after the white officer shot an unarmed black man who had been in a wreck and was looking for help. He was airlifted to hospital and is in a stable condition Tourists who witnessed the attack controlled bleeding until help arrived Mr Bredl is known as The Barefoot Bushman in documentaries He has a partially severed hand and extensive wounds to his arm and leg He was feeding the 4.5m reptile at his wildlife park when it turned on him Rob Bredl, 66, was attacked by a crocodile near Mackay in Queensland Renowned wildlife filmmaker Rob 'The Barefoot Bushman' Bredl has been seriously injured when a crocodile on his wildlife farm savaged him as he was feeding it. The 66-year-old, who is famous for riding crocodiles on his farm in far north Queensland, had his hand partially severed by the 4.5-metre-long beast. He also suffered extensive puncture wounds to his arm and leg reptile tried to drag him into water just after noon on Thursday. Scroll down for video Renowned wildlife filmmaker Rob 'The Barefoot Bushman' Bredl has been seriously injured when a crocodile on his wildlife farm savaged him as he was feeding it Mr Bredl was flown by helicopter (pictured on stretcher) to Mackay Base Hospital after paramedics reached him at 1pm at the farm in Bloomsbury, north of Mackay The 66-year-old, who is famous for riding crocodiles on his farm in far north Queensland, had his hand partially severed by the 4.5-metre-long beast It was one of 40 juvenile and eight adult crocodiles he keeps on the 175-acre Blue Planet Park, including an 800 kilogram monster named Brian. Mr Bredl was flown by helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital after paramedics reached him at 1pm at the farm in Bloomsbury, north of Mackay. 'We hope the injuries aren't life threatening,' a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman told the ABC. 'We hope the injuries aren't life threatening,' a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said He also suffered extensive puncture wounds to his arm and leg reptile tried to drag him into water just after noon on Thursday Tourists who witnessed the attack gave Mr Bredl (pictured) first aid and controlled the bleeding until paramedics arrived 'The injuries are quite extensive to the lower left arm and also to the upper thigh region in the way of puncture wounds and lacerations.' Tourists who witnessed the attack gave Mr Bredl first aid and controlled the bleeding until paramedics arrived. Advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said he was in a stable condition. 'They'd done some haemorrhage control on him and the patient was stable, they'd done an excellent job at looking after him,' she said. It was one of 40 juvenile and eight adult crocodiles he keeps on the 175-acre Blue Planet Park, including an 800 kilogram monster named Brian Tourists who witnessed the attack gave Mr Bredl first aid and controlled the bleeding until paramedics arrived Advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said he was in a stable condition 'It was a fully grown adult crocodile about 4.5 metres long, so he is very lucky. '[The attack] happened on land, it was attempting to drag him to the water but he's got away before he was submerged at all.' Mr Bredl claims to have been bitten more than 40 times by crocodiles and other reptiles on his park, but he nephew said they were mostly just minor grazes. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are making initial inquiries into the incident. Mr Bredl's niece Karla Bredl suffered a broken pelvis and thigh bone when she was attacked by a four-metre saltwater crocodile at the Barefoot Bushman's Wildlife Park at Cannonvale in 1997. He has appeared in numerous documentaries The far-right anti-Islam leader who was labelled a 'fascist' by a young woman for wearing a Pauline Hanson t-shirt filmed himself sneaking into a university Muslim prayer room to read aloud a Christian prayer. United Patriots Front member Dennis Huts walked into the Perth facility in August 2014 with a young woman and refused to 'respectfully' remove his shoes at the request of the two Muslim students praying in the room. Mr Huts told the men to 'stand back' and as they were in Australia and he could 'pray wherever he wants,' before launching into a modified Christian prayer saying any prophet after Jesus Christ was a 'liar and a fraud'. 'It's okay mate if you are here but I think you should [show] respect,' one of the Muslim students said. 'This is our prayer room'. Scroll down for video United Patriots Front member Dennis Huts walked into the Perth facility in August 2014 with a young woman and refused to remove his shoes at the request of the two Muslim students Mr Huts told the men to 'stand back' and as they were in Australia and he could 'pray wherever he wants,' before launching into a modified Christian prayer Mr Huts ignored the requests to move to a separate prayer room if he would continue to wear his shoes. 'In my religion we don't take our shoes off for prayer,' he said. The United Patriots Front member then began to read aloud the 'prayer,' from what appeared to be a Bible, saying Jesus Christ was the 'only true god' and thanked him for the 'beautiful prayer rooms'. As he wrapped up, he asked his female companion what she thought. 'Amen,' she responded. On Wednesday, a video emerged of young Muslim woman Ayan Mohamed screaming at a man for wearing a Pauline Hanson t-shirt at Perth's Curtain University. It has since been revealed Mr Huts was the man wearing the One Nation Senator's shirt. The United Patriots Front member then began to read aloud the 'prayer,' from what appeared to be a Bible, saying Jesus Christ was the 'only true god' and thanked him for the 'beautiful prayer rooms' As he wrapped up, he asked his female companion (right) what she thought of the 'prayer' and she responded: 'Amen' United Patriots Front member Dennis Hut walked into the Perth facility in August 2014 with a young woman Mr Huts said he did not wear the t-shirt to start a fight but has confirmed it was he who was involved in the altercation. 'Wearing a shirt, if you want to say that's stirring things up I wear the shirt a lot, a couple of times a week to all manner of place,' Mr Huts said. 'Sometimes people look, and I've had people say things, but she's a democratically elected senator and a lot of people voted for her. You know, I get quite offended when I see people walking around wearing Greens t-shirts.' Mr Huts has been accused previously of storming a Muslim prayer room and planting a pig's head in a toilet in an attempt to offend Muslims in the area. Mr Huts believes Islam is not compatible with Australian culture which is why he supports Pauline Hanson and the UPF. Senator Hanson has sparked outrage in recent weeks by calling for an end to all Muslim immigration. On Wednesday, a video emerged of young Muslim woman Ayan Mohamed screaming at a man for wearing a Pauline Hanson t-shirt at Perth's Curtain University Teagen Moore was holding her son when she was stabbed at her home Teagan Moore was stabbed twice in the stomach while holding her son in January A man who drove from South Australia to Queensland to allegedly try and stab a former employee to death while she was holding her baby has been brutally bashed in jail twice. Jason Wayne Greatbatch underwent an operation to have two steel plates put in his face after he was 'stomped on' by inmates, reported The Courier Mail. The 36-year-old, was charged with attempted murder after mother-of-one Teagan Moore was stabbed twice in the stomach at her home in rural Kuttabul, near Mackay, Queensland, in December 2015. Ms Moore, who was 21 at the time, dropped her 10-month-old baby who she was cradling at the time of her attack. Greatbatch told the Supreme Court he was attacked in Capricornia prison seven days after his arrest. Two prisoners had punched him in the head during the first incident in January resulting in his transfer to a Brisbane hospital. Jason Wayne Greatbatch charged with attempting to murder Ms Moore says he was bashed twice while in prison Ms Moore, who was 21 at the time, dropped her 10-month-old baby who she was cradling at the time of her attack During the second incident, Greatbatch was in protective at Wolston prison in Brisbane on July 30 when he was given two black eyes. Greatbatch told the court the second incident was the result of making an official complaint about the January assault. As a result he has requested to be released on bail next Wednesday. Greatbatch argued that his trial will not be for another two years and has agreed to wear a GPS ankle bracelet. His parents who reside in South Australia have offered a $300,000 bond. Her partner Jake Burgess was also stabbed once in the torso after he confronted her alleged attacker During the alleged attack on Ms Moore at about 12.15am, police say the 35-year-old bakery manager also stabbed Ms Moore's 23-year-old fiance - now husband - Jake Burgess, once in the torso after he confronted Greatbatch in the backyard. The young family were taken to Mackay Base Hospital for treatment - with Ms Moore undergoing surgery for her injuries, and Mr Burgess and her son both with non-life threatening injuries. Police allege the accused attacker drove a hire car from Mackay Airport after he arrived to Kuttabul. 'It wasn't a random act ... [but] we're yet to get to a full understanding of what sort of relationship there was,' Detective Superintendent Rob Weir said at the time. Greatbatch was charged with attempted murder, enter dwelling with intent, acts intended to maim and assault. Greatbatch (left) has requested bail - he argued his trial will not be for another two years. Ms Moore (right) was flown to hospital after she was attacked The debris was discoloured by a reaction in resin, a statement said Australian experts now doubt the crash was caused by a fire The Malaysian Airlines flight is believed to have plunged into the Indian Ocean on March 8, 2014 Investigators have yet to confirm the debris, found in Madagascar, is from the missing plane Missing Malaysian airliner MH370 may not have been downed by a catastrophic fire after all, accident investigators have said. Five pieces of debris were delivered by wreckage hunter Blaine Gibson - an American who has dedicated the last 18 months to investigating the mystery crash - to officials at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau last week, having been found in Madagascar. The bureau said in a statement today that investigators had yet to determine whether the pieces were from the Boeing 777, which is believed to have plunged into the Indian Ocean with 239 people on board on March 8, 2014. American investigator Blaine Gibson holding some of the debris believed to be from the missing MH370 plane, which was found in Madagascar A preliminary examination has found that two fiberglass-honeycomb pieces were not burnt, as initially thought. Instead they been discolored by a reaction in resin that had not been caused by exposure to fire or heat, the statement said. There were three small areas of heat damage on one of the pieces which created a burnt odor. However, that odor suggested the heat damage was recent, it said. It was initially thought that a fire could have brought the plane down after scorch marks were found on the debris Possible debris from the missing plane was handed over to Australian authorities by MH370 investigator Blaine Gibson 'It was considered that burning odors would generally dissipate after an extended period of environmental exposure, including salt water immersion, as expected for items originating from' the missing plane, the statement said. Gibson has collected 14 pieces of debris potentially from the missing plane, including a triangular panel stenciled 'no step' that he found in Mozambique in February. Officials say that panel was almost certainly a horizontal stabilizer from a Flight 370 wing. Five pieces of debris were handed over to investigators last week, but it has not been confirmed that they came from the missing Boeing 777 The plane has been missing since March 8, 2014, when it disappeared carrying 239 people Gibson had said the darkened surfaces of the latest debris could be evidence that a fire ended the flight far from its scheduled route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. But he conceded he had no idea when the apparent heat damaged had occurred. A sonar search of 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) of seabed which is calculated to be the most likely crash site in the southern Indian Ocean is almost complete without any trace of the plane being found. Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah, with wife Faizah Hanun and his children It has been claimed that pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was 'heartbroken' over an alleged breakdown in a relationship with a married woman. Shah was messaging Fatima Pardi about a 'personal matter' just two days before the plane vanished. An identikit image of a man accused of harassing school girls in Adelaide has been released by police. Three incidents in two days, including an alleged abduction attempt, have prompted detectives to appeal for information about the mystery man and step up police patrols in the the Burnside and Stonyfell areas. Between September 13 and 15 Eastern Adelaide Police received three reports of a man following and pestering girls. Police have released this identikit image of a man accused of harassing school girls in Adelaide In the first incident, a girl walking along Greenhill Road in Burnside just after 3pm was approached by a man who grabbed her arm. She was able to break free and flee. The girl described the man as Asian, between 25 and 28 years old, about 170-175cm tall, skinny, and with black hair. The man was wearing a grey hooded jumper with white drawstrings. He had his hood up and wore black pants with white stripes. A man is alleged to have harassed two women at Michael Perry Botanic Reserve in Stonyfell (pictured) He was also described as wearing black framed glasses and speaking with a stutter. Police said a man of similar description twice followed females near Michael Perry Botanic Reserve in Stonyfell. Private girls' school Seymour College warned parents not to allow their daughters to walk alone or talk to strangers following the incidents. The college said it was on 'high alert' for any suspect behaviour. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. He claimed birther theory was becoming a distraction from other issues But when asked about his turnaround, Republican appeared to backtrack again saying he's only admitted it to 'get on with the campaign' Donald Trump appears to say he only admitted President Barack Obama was born in the United States because he wanted to 'get on with the campaign.' Last week, the Republican presidential candidate announced that Obama was in fact born in America, and not Kenya, as Trump had claimed for years. But when asked why he backtracked on his birther theory on Wednesday, Trump appeared to reverse his opinion once again. 'Well, I just wanted to get on with, you know, we want to get on with the campaign,' the GOP nominee said in an interview with an Ohio television station Wednesday. Scroll down for video Donald Trump (left) claims he only admitted President Barack Obama (right) was born in the United States because he wanted to 'get on with the campaign' Trump said that his birther theory was becoming a distraction from his big issues and appeared to say he only admitted that Obama was born in the U.S. to get the public back on track. 'A lot of people were asking me questions. And you know, we want to talk about jobs, we want to talk about the military,' he added. 'We want to talk about ISIS and how to get rid of ISIS. We want to really talk about bringing jobs back to this area because you've been decimated. So we really want to get just back onto the subject of jobs, military, taking care of our vets, et cetera.' The statement appears to undermine Trump's announcement on Friday where he told the assembled press: 'President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period. 'Now, we all want to get back to making America strong and great again.' 'All in': Trump made this tweet, which blamed Clinton for the birther movement, in September last year. Ted Cruz had made a similar remark a few months earlier Blasted: Trump's admission came after Clinton blasted him Wednesday for an interview in The Washington Post that day in which he skirted around admitting Obama was born in Hawaii Trump made no apology for and took no questions after the announcement . Instead, he tried to claim Democrat rival Hillary Clinton had been behind the rumors of Obama's birth certificate. Trump has blamed Clinton for creating the long-discredited rumors about Obama's citizenship for some time, which he himself first supported in March 2011. In September last year he tweeted: 'Just remember, the birther movement was started by Hillary Clinton in 2008. She was all in!' Ted Cruz had made a similar remark three months earlier. However, while the birther movement began during the Clinton-Obama Democratic primary battle of 2008, there is no evidence the rumors actually came from Clinton, according toFactcheck.org. Rumor: Clinton supporters did circulate the rumor during the 2008 Democratic primaries, but she never supported it, nor was she linked to it. She later supported Obama after conceding Support: Trump had supported the birther movement since March 2011 (pictured: A female Obama supporter objecting to a sign commissioned by a Colorado businessman, in 2009) They started in an anonymous email circulated by Clinton supporters; Clinton herself never publicly agreed with them. Clinton's campaign said in a statement that Trump's answer was proof that he had only voiced his reversal to try to change the subject. 'After spending 5 years championing a conspiracy theory to undermine our first African American President, Donald Trump hasn't actually changed his mind,' spokesman Jesse Ferguson said in a statement. 'He only gave his 36-second press statement last week to try to change the subject - and it didn't work.' The Republican candidate's admission that Obama was born in the USA came after he was recently lambasted by Clinton for refusing to back down from birtherism. 'This man wants to be our next President? When will he stop this ugliness, this bigotry?' she asked. Trump appeared at his new Trump International hotel in Washington the day after appearing on the 'Tonight Show' with Jimmy Fallon on NBC, where the candidate let the host muss up his hair The Washington Post printed an article in which Trump refused to respond affirmatively to a question about Obama being born in Hawaii. 'I'll answer that question at the right time,' he reportedly said. 'I just don't want to answer it yet.' Clinton latched onto the statement while speaking to attendees of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's gala in Washington, DC. She blew up he opponent for standing by his belief that Obama was born in Kenya. She told the audience Trump launched his presidential campaign with a 'racist lie about Mexican immigrants' when he said they were rapists and criminals. The Foreign Office is investigating the case of a missing children's entertainer who vanished from a Disney cruise ship and may have been murdered. Rebecca Coriam, 24, went missing in March 2011 while working as a childminder on the Disney Wonder during a cruise between California and Mexico. Her body was never found but British police were unable to investigate because the ship was registered in the Bahamas. Representatives from the Foreign Office have now met with her local MP Chris Matheson, who represents Chester, after he conducted his own research into the case on behalf of her family. While the Foreign Office has no jurisdiction to actively pursue the case due to the registration issue, a spokesman said it has liaised with local authorities and the Labour MP. Rebecca Coriam, 24, pictured, disappeared from a Disney cruise ship in March 2011 She was on board the Disney Wonder, pictured, and vanished from the deck, leading to fears she may have been murdered These flip-flops, pictured, were all that was found near the scene of her disappearance The spokesman said: 'Our sympathies have been with Rebecca Coriam's loved ones since her disappearance in 2011. 'Our staff have helped to liaise with local authorities and met last month with Miss Coriam's MP, Chris Matheson, about the case.' He told The Sun: 'There has been a whole wealth of contradictory evidence. I think a crime has been committed here and I want justice for my constituents.' Mr Matheson has demanded a British-led inquiry be launched and his views have been backed up by former Met Police commander of specialist operations Roy Ramm, now a private investigator, who said he believed her case should be treated as a 'murder investigation'. The Bahamian investigation, understood to be carried out by a single officer, has been previously criticised as 'flawed' with only six crew members interviewed and claims that there were no forensic examinations carried out. A Bahamian police investigation ruled the death was not suspicious, but her parents Mike and Ann, pictured, have campaigned for a fresh inquiry Miss Coriam was captured in CCTV footage, pictured, on the day of her disappearance, appearing to be distressed and wearing men's clothing It concluded that her disappearance was 'not suspicious'. Miss Coriam was reported missing on March 22, 2011, after she failed to report for a shift on the Disney Wonder, which was in the middle of a week-long cruise. She was filmed on CCTV talking on her phone, but there was no evidence to explain her disappearance. Superintendent Paul Rolle concluded that there was no evidence of foul play after apparently interviewing just six witnesses. The ship was packed with 3,000 passengers and staff, but the vast majority were never spoken to by officers. Cheshire Police was sent the full report by the Bahamian authorities, but claimed they were unable to share it with Miss Coriam's family because it was not their property. Labour MP Chris Matheson, pictured, who represents her home city of Chester, has met Foreign Office representatives to ask them to take a fresh look at the case Her parents Mike and Ann flew out to Los Angeles after being told of her disappearance, with a pair of flip-flops found near the edge of the ship taken as evidence that she had fallen overboard although they were later discoverednot to belong to her. The US Coastguard and Mexican Navy both searched the sea but were unable to find any trace of her. It was initially suspected she had been washed over the side by a 'freak wave', but CCTV footage later emerged of her on deck at 5.45am looking 'distressed' and tugging at what appeared to be men's clothes she was wearing. Crew members suggested she was upset due to a 'fight with her partner' and described her as a 'lovely girl with underlying sadness'. She was also said to have made her way to the fifth deck because it was her 'favourite spot' on the ship. But among the items returned to her parents were a pair of ripped shorts, which raised concerns she may have been sexually assaulted. Mr Ramm told The Sun: 'If someone caused her to take her own life, if they had sexually assaulted her and traumatised her to such a degree then that person should be exposed.' A young woman has gone to the extreme lengths of hiding her Southern Cross tattoos with a cover-up because it's seen as racist. Identified only as 'Emily', the woman has had a flower pattern tattooed over her Australian flag-themed one on her foot to disguise it. She said before that, she'd taken to hiding it beneath a sock because she was ashamed people would see it, particularly around people from different backgrounds. Emily, who has had her Southern Cross tattoo covered up so she isn't judged as a racist Emily said it was a shame that it was frowned upon to be a 'proud Australian' Mid-way through receiving her new ink to cover up her Southern Cross 'It is frowned upon to be a proud Australian and I don't like that at all because we all should be allowed to be proud of where we live. 'I definitely think it's become racist to have a Southern Cross, which is terrible, because that's our flag.' But despite feeling she should be allowed to show it and be proud, Emily said she'd had enough. 'I'm sick of being judged for it and I'm sick of being made out to be something that I'm not.' The tattooist who inked her cover-up agreed it was a shame to do so. Although they had been 'fairly popular' about 20 years ago - but not any more. At present, cover-ups of Southern Crosses were more common, she said. The subject of Australian identity will be discussed on Thursday night on ABC2. Emily chose a flower pattern to cover up the stars of the Southern Cross on her foot Her tattoo artist said although Southern Cross tattoos had once been popular, they weren't any more The finished cover-up adorning Emily's left foot, which strategically hides her older tattoo Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been spotted giving the Israeli PM and lengthier than normal handshake. Mr Turnbull met Benjamin Netanyahu for a brief meeting in New York at the UN General Assembly. While they were chatting Mr Turnbull was seen giving Mr Netanyahu an extremely long handshake that he seemed unable to avoid. Scroll down for video Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu have shared a lengthy and awkward handshake at the UN General Assembly in New York Mr Turnbull and Mr Netanyahu seemed to struggle for meaningful dialogue during the exchange with the pair talking about a potential visit by the Israeli PM to Australia 'It's always a pleasure to see you, you're a great friend of Israel, Australia and Israel have a solid friendship and I am looking forward to coming to visit Australia,' Mr Netanyahu said to him. 'And I hope to see you in Israel soon too.' Mr Turnbull replied with: 'Good, well Lucy was there earlier this year and we've launched our first sort of innovation centre with you so the start up nation has been an inspiration to our whole agenda.' 'Hopefully we'll see a lot more collaboration between Australian and Israeli innovators and financiers. 'It's a very important step and that's the way you have to stay ahead in the 21st century, to innovate and to take on the challenges of technology and that's how you secure your prosperity,' Mr Turnbull said. Mr Netanyahu said he agreed with Mr Turnbull's comments. 'I think the future belongs to those who innovate and I think we both have innovative nations and we can do a lot more together,' he said. 'And also we owe you one - Australian troops - and the liberation of our country from the Ottoman Empire, that was a great event, and I think it was the last cavalry rush in history.' 'You'll have to come and see us,' he said - to which Mr Turnbull replied 'I will, I'll do that and I look forward to coming back.' After almost a week in New York Mr Turnbull will be heading to Washington DC in the coming days. The boat with the cargo was arriving from Malaysia and stopped near Bali Indonesian authorities are investigating possible terrorism links after 1,500 bags of fertiliser which can be used to make explosives was discovered in a boat bound for Bali. The boat, which did not have a permit to enter Indonesian waters, was arriving from Malaysia and was intercepted off the east coast of Bali on Thursday. An estimated 30 tonnes of the potentially explosive ammonium nitrate fertiliser was found, reported ABC. Indonesian authorities are investigating possible terrorism links after 1,500 bags of fertiliser which can be used to make explosives was discovered in a boat bound for Bali The boat, which did not have a permit to enter Indonesian waters, was arriving from Malaysia and was intercepted off the east coast of Bali 'This is some kind of fertiliser and on its own there's not a problem but once it is mixed it can be used as an explosive,' the head of Bali Customs, Husni Saiful said. 'But about whether it's terrorism or for a bomb, that would be explained by the police.' Six Indonesian suspects had been detained since the discovery. Police also became curious of the large amount because the boat did not have any legal documentation to carry the substantial quantity of the fertiliser, The Courier Mail reported. An estimated 30 tonnes of the potentially explosive ammonium nitrate fertiliser was found 1,500 bags of ammonium nitrate is found on a boat from Malaysia heading towards Indonesia The 38-year-old captain of the boat was reportedly contacted by a man in Selayar, South Sulawesi and offered 8 million Rupiah ($800) to deliver the fertiliser to Selayar - the 5 crew members were offered 5 million Rupiah. The ammonium nitrate is what was used in the bomb built during the 2002 Bali nightclub bombs which killed 202 people including 88 Australians. Only one tonne of ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate was used for that car bomb. Young inmates have reportedly been strip-searched more than 1,200 times at one juvenile prison over a nine-month period, despite there being non-invasive options. Strip-searches 'are being conducted as routine' instead of as a last resort at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Queensland's Townsville, the Right to Information and Privacy said in a report, according to ABC. The revelations may show a breach of regulations, the independent inspection report said. The news comes after allegations of mistreatment at the same centre were raised last month. Scroll down for video Strip-searches 'are being conducted as routine' instead of as a last resort at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre (pictured) in Queensland's Townsville, according to a report There are non-invasive ways of finding contraband. Pictured is a Body Orifice Security Scanner (BOSS) The inspectors found youth had been strip-searched 1,217 times between July 2015 and March 2016, but 'contraband' such as drugs were discovered just 34 times. The report said the searches were inconsistent with new practices rolled out by Department of Justice and Attorney-General. Inspectors said strip-searches were unreliable and there are non-invasive ways of finding contraband. Prisoners can sit and be scanned while fully clothed using a Body Orifice Security Scanner (BOSS), which have been introduced into adult prisons. The report recommended BOSS be added to the youth detention, as well as another scanner which picks up metallic and non-metallic objects. The assistant director-general of youth justice has accepted the recommendation but has not provided a timeframe to introduce the scanners, according to the report. Amnesty International last month revealed a 17-year-old detainee at the same youth centre was allegedly handcuffed and stripped naked The 17-year-old boy was then taken to an isolation room where his clothing and underpants were cut off with a knife. He was left naked in the cell for more than an hour before he was given a gown Queensland Youth Justice Regulations state strip-searches should only be conducted if there is reasonable grounds to consider 'it is necessary for the security of detention centre employees or children in the detention centre'. The report was request by Amnesty International, who last month revealed a 17-year-old detainee was allegedly handcuffed, stripped naked and then taken to an isolation room where his clothing and underpants were cut off with a knife. He was left naked in the cell for more than an hour before he was given a gown to wear. The boy, who was placed on high suicide watch, had refused to return to his room and 14 staff members responded to the situation at the youth detention centre in January, 2013. Despite the nature of the event, it was not reported as an 'incident of concern'. The child never lodged a complaint. 'This case demonstrates both the failure of care for vulnerable children, and the lack of accountability in the detention system,' Roxanne Moore, Indigenous Rights Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia, said in August. The furious owners of a much loved family dog found stabbed to death in a bath accused police last night of missing key chances to catch his killer. Phillip Kizun, 50, said 'apathetic' officers turned their backs on vital evidence after initially refusing to investigate the fate of his cockapoo Pepper. The business development consultant was on a holiday in the U.S. when he was contacted by the RSPCA who said his pet had been found dead. But Mr Kizun, who had left his pet in the care of a family friend, said police told him it would be too expensive to recover forensic evidence. Phillip Kizun's pet dog Pepper (pictured together) was found stabbed to death in the bath while he was on holiday in the U.S. And they only arrested the prime suspect three weeks later after he complained directly to his MP and the Crown Prosecution Service. Mr Kizun fears the suspected attacker, who is now on bail pending further inquiries, poses a grave threat to the public. 'This is not a Banana Republic,' he said. 'This is not something that happens every day and I don't think I am expecting too much. 'It took three weeks from my dog's death for the police to do something. They did everything they could not to investigate. Mr Kizun, 50, said 'apathetic' officers turned their backs on vital evidence after initially refusing to investigate the fate of his cockapoo Pepper. 'Frankly, somebody who is willing to inflict such terrible injuries on my dog must clearly be a danger to people as well.' Mr Kizun, from Whitchurch, in Hampshire, received the news just days after leaving the UK to visit his elderly parents. An RSPCA inspector said Pepper had been found dead in the bath of a flat in Andover with at least eight stab wounds on August 2. The Kizun family, which includes three children aged 17, 15 and seven, had left their pet in the care of their housekeeper of 15 years who in turn gave it to a friend to look after. When they returned, they discovered inspectors had conducted an autopsy on Pepper but that police had not launched an inquiry. The Kizun family, which includes three children aged 17, 15 and seven, had left their pet in the care of their housekeeper of 15 years who in turn gave it to a friend to look after Mr Kizun, who had left his pet in the care of a family friend, said police told him it would be too expensive to recover forensic evidence Eventually, after many fruitless attempts to contact police via the 101 line, Mr Kizun got a sergeant on the line who said a full criminal probe would be 'too expensive'. Infuriated by their lack of action, Mr Kizun and his wife Suzanne, 47, a trainee psychotherapist, took matters into their own hands. Mr Kizun contacted his local MP and began telephoning the Crown Prosecution Service, saying that police were refusing to investigate. Meanwhile his wife alerted the safeguarding team at social services and the local community mental health team to the risk posed by the suspect. Eventually, on August 23 police contacted them to say they would arrest the suspect and search his flat for clues. The 22-year-old man was duly questioned on suspicion of criminal damage and animal cruelty before being released on bail. Mr Kizun added: 'We live in a small village and everybody that knows what happened has been really horrified. 'Pepper was such a clever, gentle and loving creature, and I still cannot comprehend how anyone could do such a thing to him,' the owner said 'Pepper was a much loved family member, he will be terribly missed and I want the person that did this too him brought to justice. 'The apathy of the police to this case is simply a green light for further unacceptable behaviour. 'Pepper was such a clever, gentle and loving creature, and I still cannot comprehend how anyone could do such a thing to him. 'The police have a fundamental responsibility to protect life and property. My dog has been savagely and brutally murdered. 'The police have failed to take this seriously. To this day we have not yet been able to actually meet with the police. 'Whoever did this to my dog is a danger not only to other domestic animals but potentially to children and vulnerable adults. Who will be responsible should the next victim be human?' A Hampshire Police spokesman defended the force, saying an inquiry is now under way and a suspect has been arrested and questioned. 'Initially, the RSPCA took the lead in the investigation and carried out a post mortem examination on the animal, which revealed it had sustained several injuries,' she said. 'We supported the RSPCA as they continued their enquiries to establish the exact circumstances of this incident, which included interviews and house-to-house enquiries. 'As enquiries progressed it was decided that Hampshire Constabulary should take primacy in the investigation due to the nature of the incident. 'We understand that this has been a very distressing time for the owners of Pepper but we would like to reassure them that we have been actively involved in this investigation from the start, working alongside our colleagues at the RSPCA and other agencies.' A U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet has crashed into the ocean off the coast of southwestern Okinawa in Japan. The pilot was able to eject safely however and was rescued. The U.S. military in Camp Butler in Okinawa said the cause of Thursday's crash is still under investigation. The AV8B Harrier II jet aircraft that crashed had been assigned to Okinawa, which hosts more than half of the 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan under a bilateral security agreement. Crash: The military aircraft is believed to be a a AV8B Harrier II jet (file photo) Other details were not immediately available. The Japanese Coast Guard also confirmed the crash, which was about 95 miles east of the main Okinawan island. The 11th Regional Coast Guard are searching for the plane, with a helicopter and patrol boat at the crash site. The US Marine who survived the crash was stationed at Camp Butler. The US Air Force, meanwhile, are stationed at Kadena Air Base on the island. Nearly 18,000 Americans and more than 4,000 Japanese employees and contractors are based at Kadena. People in Okinawa have complained about crashes, noise from aircraft and crime by service members for years, and some say they are unfairly burdened with housing U.S. troops. Gunner airsoft,SHS and PPS will work together with ShenZhen PIM Technology Co,Ltd(ZC(PIM) Techonogy). We create a new company,ZhuCheng Technology HongKong Co,Ltd. The New Company continue to use "SHS" and "PPS" brand in ZhuCheng Technology HongKong Co,Ltd. Our company is well qualified to provide production development, technology design, machining, quality assurance and after sale service.For many years developing, company has become military products and civilian products manufacturer, realized the arm-civilian development. With excellent quality and highperformance to service our customer with all our heart. Lindsay Lohan claims her 'abusive' Russian toyboy ex is a 'lazy layabout' who is flat broke and says she even had to buy her own engagement ring. The troubled star, 30, says 'property tycoon' Egor Tarabasov's jet-set lifestyle is funded entirely by his wealthy businessman father and claims she paid for everything during their toxic relationship. Lohan alleges that Egor, 23, beat her during their tumultuous 11 months together - and says she hid the truth about paying for her 220,000 emerald engagement ring to spare her former fiance's embarrassment. Scroll down for video Lindsay Lohan has branded her Russian toyboy ex a 'lazy layabout' in her interview on Russian TV, and even claimed she had to pay for her own engagement ring (pictured) The troubled Mean Girls star claims that she paid for everything during her 11-month relationship with Russian toyboy Egor, (pictured) and even bought her own engagement ring Lohan added that the 'property mogul's' jet-set, yacht-tripping lifestyle was funded entirely by his wealthy father, who owns a number of Russian transport companies Tarabasov denies the 'harmful' and 'false' claims and no charges have been brought against him. In an emotional interview on Russian television, she said: 'He does not have money. What could I do? We lived in my home. I paid for everything. His father paid for many things, but mainly I was paying. 'But it was mistake. I should have said to him, "Do something, I can't do everything alone". I'm a 30-year-old woman and I was supporting a guy who didn't work.' Lohan alleged that during their well-publicised rows Egor beat her and alleged that she covered up the bruises. 'I feel I was used, she said. 'It is the first time I am in such a relationship when I was beaten, it is painful for me. I don't want it, I am not a victim, I am a strong person. 'I should have stopped it when the first signs came. But it is very hard for me to say goodbye. 'I feel quite uncomfortable about the last few months with Egor. Would you feel normal with bruises on your legs? That was really hard for me.' She went on: 'For some time I was thinking he was a good man. I feel ashamed to confess that my logical mind switched off. 'I used to say "forgive me" the next morning because I wanted to have peace. 'This is how I became one more beaten woman who is scared to confess it.' Lohan (pictured) told Russian television: 'We lived in my home. I paid for everything there. I should have said to him, "Do something, I can't do everything alone" The erratic star added: 'I'm a 30-year-old woman and I was supporting a guy who didn't work' Pictured: Lohan with Egor during happier times before they split in July Born and raised in Moscow, Tarabasov is the son of a successful Russian businessman who owns several transport companies. He is listed as the boss of a London property company Home House Estates and shareholder in a Moscow bank, but Lohan claims he has no significant wealth. Former wildchild Lohan is well known for her erratic off-screen behaviour, partying and has spent time in rehab. In May 2007 she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and in July the same year, the wayward star was arrested again - this time for possession of cocaine, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. She got engaged to Egor, seven years her junior, last September following a whirlwind romance and initially said she liked that he was not a public figure. Lohan said: 'When I lived in Los Angeles, I was constantly under the attention of journalists. 'I could not go out, I did not live, did not move. I had been sitting at home all day through, like I was the loneliest person in the world. TARABASOV DENIES 'HARMFUL' ALLEGATIONS 'It has come to my attention that my former fiance, Lindsay Lohan, is planning new smear campaign against me in the Russian and international media. 'My relationship with Lindsay came to an end in July 2016. In the weeks that followed, there were numerous attempts to discredit my name by inaccurately portraying the nature of our relationship, publishing distorted facts, and making false accusations. I decided not to address those harmful and false statements at that time. As an international businessman, I aim to maintain a low profile and concentrate on developing my business. I also chose to keep my silence out of respect for Lindsay. 'Today, I would like to state that all accusations made, and about to be made, by Lindsay against me are not true. I refuse to be dragged into the media storm created in the aftermath of our breakup. I will not be making any more statements with regards to my former relationship with Lindsay, but I will use all possible legal means to protect my name and reputation.' Advertisement Despite being listed as the boss of a London property company and the shareholder of a Moscow bank, Lohan claims Tarabasov (both pictured) is flat broke Abuse: The Hollywood star also claims Tarabasov (pictured on a boat with Lohan) beat her during their relationship and she hid the bruises. Her former fiance has denied all of her claims 'Then I moved to London, my life got better, I met Egor and gave him all of myself. And as a result it just has ruined me. I became very weak, insecure and very scared.' She first met Egor in the company of friends in London - then saw him again on Mykonos, Greece, and again in London. 'Everything was very relaxed, she said. 'He was a very charming, very attractive young man, very open and honest. But initially there was no information on who he is, it was strange.' She claims he revelled in the attention that came with their rollercoaster relationship. Lohan said: 'Nobody really knew I was living in London. Suddenly everyone got to know about it. And it was all because of that very man. ' She claimed he liked attention, saying: 'He was very excited about it, that they were writing about a Russian guy, a multi-millionaire who is with Lindsay Lohan now. 'My life in London was so private and this guy who proposed to me just betrays me for the sake of publicity.' She said Egor hadn't apologised to her and says his parents, who she still loves, spoil their son. She said: 'I love his parents but they have taken very easily what he had done. Does hitting a woman mean nothing?' Lohan says her toxic relationship with Tarabasov 'ruined' her, adding: 'I became very weak, insecure and very scared' Lohan told of how she hid the fact she paid for her emerald engagement ring (pictured) to spare her fiance embarrassment Lohan told chat show host Andrey Malakhov (centre): 'I feel I was used, she said. It is the first time I am in such a relationship when I was beaten, it is painful for me. I don't want it, I am not a victim, I am a strong person.' 'I was silent for a long time. It hurts so much. He should have apologised at least. To say, 'I have done a s****y thing. Sorry".' She told Kremlin-owned Channel One TV that the death knell came during a row on the balcony of her 3million home in London in July. 'I was at home, I was sleeping, he broke into the house, he was drunk and began to strangle me,' she said. 'I jumped out to the balcony, I was shouting. He is trying to kill me, call the police, anybody! Two people filmed it and called police.' Looking ahead, she said: 'I have two options. Either to be a victim, to sit and to feel sorry for myself, or you can go above the situation and help other people, admit what had happened and benefit from it. 'Share you experience. If a person can hit somebody once, he can hit again and again, if not me than somebody else. Such way of expressing your anger is scary. But now his life is only his life. Lohan got engaged to toyboy Egor last September following a whirlwind romance and initially liked that he was not a public figure. But the pair had a number of public falling outs The couple had an ill fated holiday on Mykonos in Greece when they were pictured grappling over a mobile phone. It was just one of a number of rows they had before splitting in August 'I hope to help every girl who found herself in the similar situation and needs support. She even found time to attack her father, Michael, for siding with Tarabasov, saying: 'My father and Egor have been in touch all this time, and this is why I am not communicating with him.' Refugees fleeing brutal conflict in the Middle East should aspire to return home, the Dalai Lama has said. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the Tibetan Buddhist leader, one of the world's highest-profile political exiles, said those who have left to escape fighting and disorder in countries like Syria and Libya should focus on bringing peace to their homelands. The plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing violence in the Middle East and North Africa has become a major issue in Europe and the rest of the developed world over the past few years. He was also happy to discuss lighter issues with Piers and posed for a selfie with the broadcaster, even tickling his chin. Scroll down for video The Dalai Lama told Piers Morgan that refugees should 'aspire to return to their homelands' The Buddhist leader added those fleeing war in Syria, Libya and Afghanistan should 'focus on bringing peace to their countries' Piers ended the interview by asking the Dalai Lama for a selfie, pictured, who happily obliged and even tickled his chin The 81-year-old religious leader has been forced to live outside his own homeland since fleeing in 1959, 10 years after it was occupied by China. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said: 'The main effort should go to help (their) own country bring peace, in Syria, Libya or even Afghanistan. Generally the people always feel, 'oh, one day we return'.' Host Piers asked him whether all refugees should 'aspire to go back to their homeland', to which he replied: 'Yes. (They) should rebuild their own country.' The Dalai Lama said that despite the current bloodshed the world is a 'better place' than in the past. He also questioned the faith of Islamist terrorists, saying: 'Genuine Muslim practitioners will not create bloodshed. 'I think they (terrorists) have too much emotion, they should cool down.' The spiritual leader also took time to discuss some lighter issues and even performed an impression of Donald Trump, making light-hearted fun of the US Predisential candidate for his hair and 'very small mouth'. He added he was 'sad' that the actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were divorcing, saying separations often badly affected children Piers Morgan and the Dalai Lama also took time out from the serious issues to discuss lighter matters including the impending divorce of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie The Hollywood couple, known collectively as Brangelina, married in 2014 after 10 years together and have six children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. The Dalai Lama told GMB: 'Sometimes in divorce people ... the children they come closer to their father or mother. Sometimes it's difficult.' Piers said he was 'fine' with the Dalai Lama having 12million Twitter followers compared to his five million, but asked the Buddhist how he felt about Kim Kardashian having four times as many with 48million followers. But the Dalai Lama brushed it off and said he had 'no problem with it'. He added: 'If she has more followers...good. I think that such famous people have no ability to compete with my wisdom.' Prime Minister Theresa May has been spotted taking a quick break from her busy schedule running the country and navigating the stormy waters of Brexit to nip to the shops and indulge in some serious retail therapy. Accompanied by two security guards - one male and one female - the Prime Minister insisted on carrying her own shopping bags following her trip to the Vivienne Westwood store in central London before popping into shoe shop Russell & Bromley. The spending spree came as Mrs May prepared for crunch talks in Downing Street today with Martin Schulz, the socialist leader of the European Parliament, which has the power to veto Brexit terms. Accompanied by two security guards - one male and one female - the Prime Minister insisted on carrying her own shopping bags following her trip to the Vivienne Westwood store And yesterday the Prime Minister hosted a meeting with major US firms, including some of Wall Street's biggest names, while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly amid concerns that they could shift their operations from the UK to elsewhere in Europe. Britain's second ever female Prime Minister, who earns 150,000 a year from the role, was seen last night heading to British designer Westwood's store, where dresses range between 300 and 1,730. Mrs May has developed something of a reputation for her penchant for bold colours, strong tailoring and flattering shapes and has been a fan of Westwood's work for some time. She even launched her Tory leadership bid in a daring 1,190 tartan suit by the designer, which she teamed with a pair of 215 Russell & Bromley flats. Prime Minister Theresa May was spotted taking a quick break from her busy schedule running the country and navigating the stormy waters of Brexit to nip to the shops Mrs May said she recognised their concerns and wanted to ensure that financial services would be covered by the Brexit deal. In her first UN speech as British leader Mrs May also decried the violence in Syria that has affected millions of lives, before jetting back to the UK and indulging in the brief but fruitful shopping session. Mrs May has long been known for her bold sartorial choices, often neatly toeing the line between what is considered appropriate for the Houses of Parliament and her own unique style. The Prime Minister has previously acknowledged the intense scrutiny that is given to her wardrobe compared to her male colleagues. 'I have grown used to the focus on my clothes and my shoes,' she told The Telegraph. 'As a woman I know you can be very serious about something and very soberly dressed and add a little bit of interest with footwear.' Britain's second ever female Prime Minister, who earns 150,000 a year from the role, was seen last night heading to British designer Westwood's store in central London Mrs May has long been known for her bold sartorial choices, often neatly toeing the line between what is considered appropriate for the Houses of Parliament and her own style And while many female politicians tend to go out of their way to avoid a statement with their outfits, perhaps for fear of being seen as less 'serious' if they veer away from the typical trouser suit, Mrs May has always given her MP 'uniform' a twist - a leopard print shoe here, a ruffled collar there. In 2002, as the partys newly appointed chairwoman, she stunned delegates with a brave denunciation of the partys past sins with her nasty party speech and also an incredible pair of kitten heels. Between that winning combination Mrs May soon found herself a household name. In fact Daily Mail columnist Amanda Platell this week described Mrs May, 59, as 'a modern-day Margaret Thatcher, never a victim to fashion but always subtly on trend.' The spending spree came as Mrs May prepared for crunch talks in Downing Street today with Martin Schulz, the leader of European Parliament, which has the power to veto Brexit terms Mrs May recently held a Downing Street reception for industry insiders to mark London Fashion Week. The London Fashion Week event has previously been hosted by Samantha Cameron, after she became an ambassador for the British Fashion Council. Sarah Brown has also hosted a reception at No 10. Mrs May, 59, carried on the tradition and asked invitees to bring an apprentice along to the event. She addressed the event alongside Net-A-Porter founder Natalie Massenet, the chair of the British Fashion Council. Mrs May said: 'British fashion is of huge importance to our country, contributing 28bn to the UK economy and supporting nearly 900,000 jobs. Dame Vivienne Westwood (pictured) said she did not mind Mrs May wearing her clothes but she thought she was 'awful' 'The Government I lead will do everything we can, including providing the right investment in training and skills, to help everyone, whatever peoples backgrounds, to go as far as their talents can take them. 'From our home grown start-ups to international fashion houses every business in the industry will play a major role in ensuring we make a success of Brexit. 'By taking advantage of the opportunities that leaving the EU gives us and playing to our strengths as a great trading nation - we can build a build a fairer economy that works for all, not just the privileged few.' Asked how she felt about Mrs May dressing her 1,190 suit at the June campaign launch, Dame Vivienne said: 'Do I mind if Theresa May wears my clothes? No, but I certainly don't admire her for anything. I think she's awful.' Dame Vivienne attended a Downing Street reception hosted by Mrs May last week to mark London Fashion Week. The designer wore a T-shirt with the slogan 'Theresa Talk Vivienne'. South Korea has confirmed there are plans in place to take out Kim Jong Un if it becomes clear that he will carry out a nuclear attack. The plan, called the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, would 'directly target' key North Korean sites - including its war command post - and the country's leadership, if any sign of a nuclear strike was detected. South Korea defence minister Han Min-koo revealed the plans during a meeting of the country's lawmakers and said that a unit is being assembled. South Korea has confirmed there are plans in place to take out Kim Jong Un, pictured, if it becomes clear that he will carry out a nuclear attack He also added that Seoul needs to maintain the number of full-time troops at 500,000 or more to resist a North Korean invasion as their army has as many as 1.2million men. Han told local news service News 1: 'If it becomes clear the enemy intends to use nuclear-tipped missiles in order to suppress its aims, the concept (of the special forces) is to retaliate against key areas that include the North Korea leadership.' Also speaking out about the plans was Leem Ho-Young, chief director of strategic planning at Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. He added: 'We will deploy strike forces with precision-guided missiles and elite special forces.' The South has no atomic weapons of its own and shelters under the nuclear 'umbrella' of its US ally, which stations 28,500 troops in South Korea. Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, prompting South Korean and US officials to vow to apply more sanctions and pressure on the North But there are growing voices calling for the South to have its own nuclear weapons, despite government opposition. A group of ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers, whose membership is now 24 and growing, was launched last month to push for the country to start preparations for its own nuclear development. News of the plans come as the U.S. and South Korea are said to be preparing to conduct a mock attack on a nuclear facility amid fears Kim Jong Un will conduct another missile test. An official with the South Korean Defence Department has told CNN that they and the United States will carry out a joint exercise next month. The simulation dubbed 'Red Flag will take place in Alaska from October 3 to 21. The operation will use a GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition, a kit that converts bombs that normally just free-fall from planes into guided munitions. Kim Jong Un's North Korea has said it needs nuclear weapons and missiles to cope with US military threats Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, prompting South Korean and US officials to vow to apply more sanctions and pressure on the North. The test explosion, the most powerful to date, was conducted on the 68th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's government. The North has already been slapped with the toughest UN sanctions in two decades following its fourth nuclear test in January. Since late 2012, the North put two satellites into orbit with long-range rockets, each time inviting international sanctions and worldwide condemnation. Brad Pitt is being investigated by the FBI and social services in Los Angeles amid reports he got 'verbally abusive and physical with his children' on a private jet. The family is said to have been on a flight home from France when he allegedly became 'wasted' and started 'screaming' before continuing the 'rant' on the tarmac when the plane landed, trying to leave the scene in a fuel truck. TMZ reports that the alleged episode, last Wednesday, prompted Angelina Jolie to split from the 52-year-old the next day and then file for divorce. A source close to Pitt said: 'He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. 'It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light.' On Thursday morning, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, were Pitt is believed to be staying while Jolie and the children are at a Malibu rental home. The FBI is investigating the incident because it happened on a flight, and US Weekly is reporting that the anonymous call came from someone on the plane as it headed towards Los Angeles, which led to members of DCFS meeting the family on the tarmac and questioning them on the scene. Scroll down for video On the scene: On Thursday, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, where Brad is believed to be staying at this time Incident: Pitt is reportedly got 'vocally abusive and physical' with his children' on a private jet last Wednesday. He is pictured climbing off a jet in 2014 Divorce: TMZ reports that the alleged episode, last Wednesday, prompted Angelina Jolie (pictured disembarking a plane in 2014) to split from the 52-year-old the next day Zaraha and brother Knox Jolie-Pitt are pictured, left, holding on to a shopping cart being pushed by their nanny. Knox and Maddox are pictured, right, with Jolie's brother producer and actor James Haven A source close to Pitt told TMZ that he is taking the matter seriously but 'did not commit any abuse of his children' Pitt and Jolie are pictured with their six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne TMZ reports: 'The plane landed a week ago Wednesday just before 8 PM at an airport in Minnesota. That's when eyewitnesses say Brad was "out of control" on the tarmac and even tried to leave in a fuel truck. 'Our LAPD sources say because the incident occurred in the air, the FBI has jurisdiction. The ACU then closed its file and referred the matter to the FBI.' The LA County Department of Children and Family Services meanwhile told KTLA reporter and anchor Wendy Burch there is an investigation into child abuse claims. However a spokesman told DailyMail.com they have strict laws that don't allow them to confirm or deny the subjects of investigations. A colleague of the couple meanwhile tells Access Hollywood that while Jolie wants the children to have a relationship with Pitt, there are no plans for visitation between the six kids and their father at this time. And while the divorce did not come as a surprise to Pitt, he was thrown off by the time according to those close to the actor. 'He was appealing to her to do this quietly not to save the marriage but to consider the well-being of the children and it was ignored,' a source close to the actor told People. The source added: 'There was clearly a breaking point, where she'd just had enough. He may have been broken himself and said he couldn't go on, and she reacted. This has been difficult for a while.' A source close to Jolie meanwhile said: 'Things built and built over time it wasn't any one thing. 'She's loved this man for several years, and [divorce] is not something you do impulsively.' That source said that in the end Jolie did 'what she needed to do.' The Jolie source added however: 'They have six kids together and are always going to be in each other's lives.' Jolie did not respond to a request for comment while a spokesperson for Pitt reiterated the actor's statement from earlier in the week in which he said: 'I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.' The Hollywood star, 52, is said to have 'offered to improve to make himself a better person' in a bid to avoid divorce The actress addressed reports she and Mr Pitt had sparked a romance during the filming of their new WWII drama Allied Both sides have been adimant that there was no extramarital affair and that both are committed to their children, despite false reports that Pitt had engaged in a relationship with his Allied costar Marion Cotillard. On Wednesday, Cotillard revealed that she is pregnant with her second child and vehemently denied having an affair with Pitt. Cotillard, 40, wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumors on Wednesday before confirming that her partner of eight years Guillaume Canet is the father of her unborn child. 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into,' the actress said in her post. 'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously,' she continued, 'but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up.' She concluded her message by wishing Brad and Angelina Jolie well. 'Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love, Marion.' Her well wishes come despite a source telling DailyMail.com that Jolie was so jealous of Cotillard on the Allied set that she would not even speak to the French star. Angelina completely ignored Marion on the set, and when Marion tried to talk to her she just looked the other way,' said the source, who is close to both Jolie and Pitt. 'Marion was devastated, here she is thinking she is going to meet this great UN ambassador and instead Angelina refuses to speak to the woman because of her own jealousy.' 'Blissfully happy': Cotillard r is in a relationship with fellow actor Guillaume Canet, 43, and they have one child together (Guillaume directed Marion in his first American film, Blood Ties, they are seen here at the premiere in 2013) Stress: Pitt reportedly became annoyed after his wife appointed William Hague's former colleagues Arminka Helic and Chloe Dalton to assist her with her political career (pictured) Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple's three biological children as well as their three adopted children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara, 11. Pitt is said to have been furious over Jolie's appointment of Arminka Helic, 48, and Chloe Dalton, 37, two former political aides to British politician William Hague. A source told the Sun they were brought in to help with her campaign work and speech writing and urged Pitt to reduce the couple's support staff. 'Brad sees the women as a coven. He was furious at some of Arminka's decisions,' the source said. The decisions are said to have included ditching Pitt's security team - some of whom had worked for the star for 20 years. Lady Helic is seen as a key person on 'Team Angie' as the actress braces herself for the aftermath of her decision to divorce Pitt. A source told Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff that Lady Helic is 'smart, strong, and impeccably loyal', adding that she is Angelina's 'assistant, adviser and best friend'. Angelina watched Lady Helic be admitted to the House of Lords in 2014. They often travel together; recent trips include a visit to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands and one to Burma at election time last summer. EXCLUSIVE: A self-styled multi-millionaire foreign exchange dealer who brags on TikTok about how he treats parking tickets as the cost of 'VIP parking' (left) has been behind a string of dissolved companies and lives in a rented house. MailOnline can also reveal that one of the directorships listed for Luke Desmaris (right, inset), 27, at Companies House gives his 'correspondence address' as the home of an elderly couple who live in an isolated gated bungalow and have never heard of him. Desmaris, who charges people for advice on how to make a fortune, made headlines this week after releasing a boastful TikTok video showing parking tickets on his BMW on double yellow lines near Harrods as a voiceover says: 'Broke people see a fine, but I see VIP parking'. He also regularly brags about earning 300,000 a month, living in 'multi-million mansions', and wearing two Rolex watches worth a total of 40,000 in a bid to get some of his 83,000 followers on TikTok to pay him 29.99 a month for trading advice. Many of his videos feature the exterior of his former five bedroom home and his 90,000 BMW M4 car in Harlow, Essex, with some posing the question: 'How can I afford this house and car age 27?' The man accused of killing schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer has woken from an induced coma two days after he allegedly overdosed on pills while in police custody. Rick Thorburn, 56, woke from a coma on Thursday after collapsing when he was charged with murder and interfering with his foster daughter's corpse on Tuesday at either the Logan Central Police Station or Beenleigh Watch House. A police spokesperson said the foster carer was moved from the intensive care unit at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital to a secure unit where he remains in a stable condition under police guard. Scroll down for video Rick Thorburn (pictured), 56, woke from a coma on Thursday after collapsing when he was charged with murder and interfering with his foster daughter's corpse on Tuesday Thorburn is believed to have lost consciousness after swallowing pills, according to the Albert and Logan News, and police have confirmed an investigation has launched to determine how he came into possession of the medication after his arrest. 'A 56-year-old man was transported from the Beenleigh Watch House to the Princess Alexandra Hospital yesterday after falling ill,' a Queensland Police spokesperson said on Wednesday. 'The Ethical Standards Command is reviewing the circumstances of the matter.' Thorburn was due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, but his lawyer Kelly Thompson told the court he was in an induced coma. An investigation has been launched into what led to Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father Rick Thorburn collapsing after he was charged with the schoolgirl's murder Tiahleigh Palmer (pictured) is believed to have been killed the day before Rick Thorburn claimed to have dropped her to school She would not comment on whether his condition was a result of self-harm. Thorburn's matter was adjourned until December 21. His 19-year-old son, Trent, has been charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice. A court heard Tiahleigh, 12, told her foster parents Trent had been sexually assaulting her when she was left alone with him in the days before Thorburn allegedly killed her. Prosecutors claim she had told her foster parents, Julene (left) and Rick Thorburn (right), that their son had been preying on her when they left the house before she was murdered Trent also allegedly admitted to a cousin via Facebook he had incestuous sex with his 12-year-old foster sister and feared he impregnated her on October 28, two days before she was believed to have gone missing from Marsden State School. But investigators now believe she was killed in her family home the day before Thorburn told police he had dropped her safety to school on October 30. Disturbing new details of the case emerged in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, including the cause of the schoolgirl's death. Police had struggled to identify exactly how Tiahleigh died because her body was found severely decomposed in a river near the family home in Logan, Queensland. Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly sexually assaulted his foster sister Tiahleigh Palmer during the 10 months she had been in his Queensland family's care last year Tiahleigh's body was located in November last year on the banks of the Pimpama River on the northern Gold Coast The court heard Tiahleigh had told a friend that she went to her foster mother Julene Thorburn, 53, to report the sexual abuse, the Australian reported. 'The victim had disclosed to her that when her foster carer went out, their son would then have sex with her,' police prosecutor Ellen French told the court. 'She further said that the victim claimed to have disclosed this to her foster mother.' Ms French said a friend of Trent's also told police the young girl had told her foster parents: 'Trent tried to touch me.' The court heard Trent denied the allegations to his parents and on five other occasions to police, but eventually admitted he had lied about the sexual abuse. Trent Thorburn, 19, allegedly admitted to a cousin via Facebook that he had sex with his 12-year-old foster sister and feared he got her pregnant on October 28 Rick Thorburn (left), his wife Julene (middle right) and two sons, Josh (middle left) and Trent (right) have been charged with a string of offences in relation to the death of Tiahleigh Palmer Trent Thorburn, 19, is alleged to have told a cousin in a Facebook message that he had slept with his foster sister Tiahleigh Palmer and was concerned she was pregnant Further details about the conversation Trent had with his cousin on Facebook messenger about his sexual activity with Tiahleigh were also revealed in court, the Australian reported. 'During that conversation he said he had sex with the victim on the prior Monday and he had only done so because she had threatened to kill his dog,' Ms French said. 'The defendant said he was concerned about being pregnant even though he had pulled out,' she said, adding that he claimed to have told his mother about it. A sexual relationship between siblings, including under foster, step or de facto circumstances, is considered incest under the Queensland Criminal Code and can attract a maximum life sentence. Police allege that after learning of his son's alleged actions and Tiahleigh's suspected pregnancy, he feared the bisexual dancer would become a target for violence offenders in prison had he been convicted. Trent Thorburn's lawyer John Ide (left) leaves the Southern Districts Magistrates Court in Beenleigh on Wednesday CHARGES LAID OVER TIAHLEIGH PALMER'S MURDER FOSTER FATHER RICK THORBURN: Charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. The 56-year-old was due to face court on Wednesday but is in an induced coma after collapsing while in custody. FOSTER BROTHER TRENT THORBURN: Charged with incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of perjury. The 19-year-old was denied bail on Wednesday after a court heard he had admitted on Facebook Messenger to having sex with Tiahleigh and was worried she might be pregnant. FOSTER BROTHER JOSH THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 20-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. FOSTER MOTHER JULENE THORBURN: Charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 54-year-old is on bail and due to face court on October 10. Advertisement Trent has been denied bail but is believed to be making a second application in the Supreme Court. His mother Julene, 54, and brother Joshua, 20, were charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice but have been released on bail. They will face court on October 10. Rick Thorburn, who was a pallbearer at his alleged victim's funeral, will be transferred to the Brisbane Remand Centre when he is released from hospital. He is due to reappear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 21. Thorburn faced a Brisbane court on Wednesday after being charged with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice over Tiahleigh's death Police charged Trent on Tuesday with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice over Tiahleigh's death Cindy Palmer, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, arrived at a Queensland court on Wednesday ahead of Thorburn's court appearance Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and another son, Josh, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. U-2 spy planes are to be retired in 2019 with Another pilot was injured in the crash and his condition is said to be stable The U.S. Air Force has identified the pilot who died after ejecting from a U-2 spy plane that crashed in northern California on Tuesday. Military officials named Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie as the deceased officer late Wednesday afternoon although the identity of his co-pilot who was injured in the crash has yet to be released. Military officials said that Eadie was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. They did not release his age or hometown. Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie died on Tuesday after a U-2 spy plane he was co-piloting crashed in California during a routine training operation An aerial view of the crash site. Both pilots ejected from their seats but a military commander said the ejection method is not 'foolproof' Base officials said the pilot who survived is in good condition at a local medical facility. The pilots ejected from their stricken plane shortly after takeoff on a training mission. It crashed about 20 miles from the runway. The U-2 'Dragon Lady' is a surveillance and reconnaissance plane capable of flying above 70,000 feet, an extremely high altitude that's twice as high as a typical commercial airliner flies. The remains of the crashed U-2 spy plane are seen on hilly terrain just north of California's capital, Sacramento. The deceased pilot has been named as Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie The U-2 is known as one of the most difficult aircraft to fly at low altitudes due to the characteristics that allow it to travel near space, according to an Air Force fact sheet. A senior officer at Beale Air Force Base says military personnel recovering the two pilots who ejected from a stricken U-2 spy plane found that both their parachutes had deployed. But Col. Danielle Barnes said she could not discuss what caused one pilot to die in Tuesday's incident. Current U-2 flights have been suspended and the aircraft are slated for retirement in 2019 as the military relies increasingly on unmanned jets for espionage. The family of a grandfather who died after a 'long, bloody and over-aggressive procedure' by a liver surgeon have won their battle for compensation. Dennis Setchell, 77, from Barrow-upon-Soar in Leicestershire, was treated by Professor David Berry and was advised on two separate occasions that there was only a two per cent risk of death. After his death it emerged that the retired mechanic was not told the truth about his chances of survival. Prof Berry was suspended and an investigation into his practices revealed that eight out of 10 deaths under his care were avoidable. Lawyers have now secured an undisclosed payout from the NHS for Mr Setchell's family. Grandfather Dennis Setchell pictured (right) with his wife Jean after three operations The father-of-two had successful bowel cancer surgery in 2007 but during his treatment doctors discovered he had liver metastases. He was referred to Prof Berry at Leicester General Hospital who carried out surgery to remove part of his liver in March 2008. The operation was aborted due to a cardiac arrest but Mr Setchell was advised by the same surgeon to try again. On September 10 that year he went under the knife again but had to have a further operation the following day as a result of excessive bleeding. Mr Setchell was transferred to intensive care and put in a medically induced coma for 12 days before being moved to a general ward where he regained consciousness. But his condition deteriorated and his family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support machine on October 2, 2008, after his organs began to fail. An investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons found Mr Setchell, who leaves behind his wife Jean, was not properly informed of the risks involved with the surgery. They also found that Prof Berry's decision to operate was inappropriate because the grandfather-of-three had such a slim chance of survival. The father-of-two had successful bowel cancer surgery in 2007 but during his treatment doctors discovered he had liver metastases His grieving family were told the procedure was 'long, bloody and over-aggressive' and the surgeon had left so little of his liver that he had no chance of surviving. Prof Berry was suspended by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) in January 2013 after an investigation into ten deaths under his care found that eight were avoidable. Now Mr Setchell's family have received an undisclosed settlement from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust who were responsible for his care. His son-in-law Daniel Waller, 52, said the family only contacted the trust after seeing a news report that said Prof Berry being suspended in 2013. Mr Waller, who lives with Mr Setchell's daughter Jacqueline, 53, in Lincoln, added: 'He (Mr Setchell) was told when he had the operation there was a two per cent chance of death but in actual fact there was a two per cent chance of survival. 'When you sign that consent form you are taking a surgeon's word and his professionalism. 'He had the operation in March 2008 and they had to stitch him up because he had a cardiac arrest on the table. 'But six months later Professor Berry was still advising him to have that operation. 'It was inappropriate to take carry out that operation and that's where the legal team won the case. 'Professor Berry carried out an over-aggressive surgery and there was too much blood loss. 'He also took too much of Dennis' liver away so even if he had survived the operation he would have died from that. 'The family have been left feeling utterly devastated that Dennis' death might have been prevented and that we have been denied the opportunity to spend his final days with him and being given the chance to say a proper goodbye.' Dennis Setchell pictured with Jean Setchell (wife, aged 81), and grandsons Joel Waller, now aged 22, and Ben Waller, now 28. Medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell secured a settlement for the family after investigating the care provided Prof Berry was suspended by the NHS in Wales in 2013 and it is thought his ability to practice as a doctor is currently restricted by the General Medical Council (GMC). But Mr Waller, who believes the surgeon is still working in a different NHS hospital, added: 'We understand that he is still practising. 'He is a professor and is allowed to teach other potential surgeons.' Medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell secured a settlement for the family after investigating the care provided. Solicitor Emma Rush, who represented the family, said: 'Dennis' wife Jean has been left devastated by her husband's unexpected and unavoidable death but was forced to wait eight years before University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust admitted liability and settled the case. 'We hope that this case has highlighted issues within the Trust which allowed this surgeon to continue treating patients when there was clearly concern over his methods. 'It certainly raises questions about how Prof Berry was able to continue practicing for so long despite a significant number of deaths following his care.' Mr Setchell's condition deteriorated and his family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support machine on October 2, 2008, after his organs began to fail Irwin Mitchell has also successfully settled cases on behalf of other families affected by Prof Berry's treatment. In one case a man from Wales died of blood poisoning and acute liver failure in 2012 after Prof Berry operated on him to remove tumours from his liver. Three days after the operation at the University Hospital of Wales his organs began to shut down and it was discovered that one of his major veins had been damaged. Andrew Furlong, Medical Director at Leicester's Hospitals, said: 'An investigation undertaken by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) into the cases he performed in Wales showed that some deaths following surgery were "avoidable". 'As soon as we knew about this, we launched our own investigation supported by the RCS. 'The investigation drew no conclusions as to whether any post-operative deaths during Mr Berry's time at our Trust could have been avoided but they did raise concerns about the rigour and clarity of the consent process and whether the risks of surgery had been adequately explained to patients and their families. David Miliband, pictured in London last year, today slammed Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership and warned the party is far from winning power David Miliband today branded Labour 'unelectable' and warned the party he once wanted to lead has not been further from power since the 1930s. The former foreign secretary, who quit UK politics after feuding with his brother Ed over the Labour leadership, condemned Jeremy Corbyn's 'half-hearted' EU referendum campaign. He said Mr Corbyn's politics did not just make Labour weak in the eyes of the voters but insisted his policies would be actively bad for Britain. The Labour leader was last night branded 'dangerous' by a senior Tory MP after his plans for a 'Minister for Peace' emerged in a Ken Loach documentary. Mr Corbyn is almost certain to be re-elected Labour leader on Saturday after beating challenger Owen Smith in a bitter contest after MPs lost patience with what they see as incompetence and a failure to connect with the electorate. Ahead of the result, Mr Corbyn has praised Michael Foot, Labour's least successful post-war leader, warned he won't change after winning again. Mr Miliband, who now runs a major aid charity in New York, set out a grim assessment of Mr Corbyn in the New Statesman. He said: 'The main charge against Jeremy Corbyn is not just that his strategy is undesirable because it makes the party unelectable. That is only half the story. 'The real issue is that his strategy makes the party unelectable because it is in many aspects undesirable.' Mr Miliband is particularly critical of Mr Corbyn's 'egregious' stance on foreign policy. 'But the electorate can see through the domestic policy, too,' he said. Mr Corbyn, seen leaving home yesterday, has told his critics he won't change if he is confirmed as Labour's leader for a second time when the leadership election results are announced on Saturday 'Nationalisation cannot be the answer to everything; anti-austerity speeches cannot explain everything; corporate taxation cannot pay for everything. 'It doesn't add up. It wouldn't work. People are not stupid.' Mr Miliband said it is 'disastrous' that people are branded 'closet Tories' or 'Tory Lite' if they disagree with Mr Corbyn. David MIliband, right, quit UK politics after feuding with brother Ed, left, over which of them should lead the Labour Party after the 2010 election The president of the International Rescue Committee claimed Labour had slipped from a party fit for government to a 'secondary influence on national decision making', adding: 'We have not been further from power since the 1930s.' Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn has promised to work with Mr Smith and other internal critics if he is confirmed as leader on Saturday in order to heal the rift which saw him lose a confidence vote among the parliamentary party by a margin of 172-40. Mr Smith has said he will not accept a place in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet if the current leader retains power. In a statement following the close of polls, Mr Corbyn said: 'As far as I am concerned, the slate will be wiped clean this weekend. 'If I am re-elected leader, I will reach out to and work with all Labour MPs to form a broad and effective opposition to this divisive and floundering Tory government.' Owen Smith is set to lose heavily after challenging Mr Corbyn for the Labour leadership in a summer contest In remarks which emerged in a documentary about his campaign yesterday, Mr Corbyn said: 'I have spent my life opposing these things and want to see a foreign policy based on peace, based on democracy, based on human rights, based on justice. Senior Tory MP Sir Gerald Howarth last night told MailOnline Mr Corbyn was a 'dangerous' man 'In the ministerial things we may well be appointing in the future let's have a minister for disarmament and a minister for peace as well who is pursuing those things around the world and looking to enforce the non-proliferation treaty rather than pretending it's an obstacle to re-armament.' Mr Corbyn added his hopes the 'neoliberal agenda' of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan was coming to an end and said: 'This is historical justice time.' Former Tory defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth branded the remarks 'the politics of the madhouse'. He told MailOnline: 'Only Jeremy Corbyn could be calling for a minister for disarmament when Russia and China are building their arms, North Korea are testing nuclear weapons and Iran are an unknown quantity. 'He is a very, very dangerous man. He must be let nowhere near No 10. 'It's completely Orwellian - but it's also very dangerous.' In other developments today, it emerged Labour staff have been given security advice ahead of the party conference in Liverpool amid growing concern over abuse from some left-wing activists. MP Ruth Smeeth revealed yesterday she planned to take a bodyguard to conference with her. Party staff have access to a hotline to report issues and the official advice, obtained by HuffPost UK, states: 'If you feel someone is acting inappropriately towards you firstly, remove yourself from the situation; do not engage in the conversation or person's actions..' UMUNNA OPPOSES FREE MOVEMENT AND ADMITS QUITTING THE SINGLE MARKET IS A PRICE WORTH PAYING Britain should sacrifice membership of the single market if that is the price for ending free movement, a senior Labour MP has admitted. Chuka Umunna, seen as a future leader of the party, had previously insisted staying in the single market should be a key target for the Brexit deal. But amid growing pressure on Labour politicians to tackle fears over migration levels head on, Mr Umunna today became the latest to soften his position. Free movement is one of four founding principles of the single market and EU leaders have never offered significant concessions on the issue. Mr Umunna told the Huffington Post website: 'If continuation of the free movement we have is the price of Single Market membership then clearly we couldnt remain in the Single Market, but we are not at that point yet.' Tackling the number of EU migrants coming to Britain is set to be a key negotiating target for Theresa May as she enters Brexit talks. Around half of the more than 330,000 migrants who come to Britain each year come from the EU and slashing the number is essential to get anywhere near the Government's 'sustainable' migration target of the 'tens of thousands'. Advertisement 'Why would anyone support Owen Smith other than because he is not Jeremy Corbyn?' Doomed Labour contender slammed by MP for 'laughable' grab for the leadership Labour MP John Mann today said Owen Smith's failure was 'predictable Owen Smith's campaign has hit too many 'bum notes' and his looming defeat in the Labour leadership contest is 'predictable', a senior MP said today. Bassetlaw MP John Mann branded Mr Smith's as being the 'wrong man, at the wrong time with the wrong policies' as he launched a scathing attack on the 'beauty contest' tactics. Mr Mann, who is frequently an outspoken member of the Labour benches, said Mr Smith's only offer was to be not Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Corbyn is almost certain to be confirmed as Labour leader on Saturday after winning a second leadership election in 12 months. He could increase his landslide winning margin after Mr Smith's misfiring campaign. Pontypridd MP Mr Smith seized the chance to run against Mr Corbyn after former shadow business secretary Angela Eagle triggered the contest in July. Mr Smith pushed Ms Eagle out of the race after securing more nominations from MPs. Mr Mann, writing for the Politics Home website, branded the sequence of events a 'shambles' today and said the rush to remove Mr Corbyn was launched because of the 'hysteria' of the referendum aftermath. As soon as Mr Corbyn was elected for the first time a year ago, Mr Mann said he was not 'remotely up to the job' of being Labour leader. Washington, D.C. Republican lawmakers and local K-12 officials sharply criticized a U.S. Department of Education regulatory proposal they said would improperly meddle in school funding decisions, while Democratic representatives defended it as promoting greater equity for poor students, during a House K-12 subcommittee hearing Wednesday. The proposed rules that Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. released last month concern how schools must show they are using federal funds to supplement other education funding, and not using it to fill gaps left by state and local budget decisions. Its a controversial planand one that could end up creating a legal battle between Congress and the Education Department. Need a quick refresher on this funding issue? The rules Kings department proposed would allow districts to show federal funds are supplementing their budgets by using: a weighted student formula that addresses disadvantaged students or those with special needs a formula based on a district-wide average of personnel and non-personnel spending a state-developed and federally peer-reviewed method As a fourth safe harbor option, a district could decide to create greater equity for (but not strictly equalize) per-pupil spending between rich and poor schools Heres what supporters basically said: The proposed rules for the Every Student Succeeds Act would give local schools flexibility while also tackling big and unfair spending gaps between schools with large shares of low-income students and their wealthier counterparts. Heres what detractors basically said: The departments overreaching proposal would trip-up school districts operations, subvert ESSAs plain language and congressional intent, and could actually hurt disadvantaged students in the end. Equity as Intent Speaking in support of the departments general approach, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, asked why there was such controversy around ensuring that poor students get their fair share of funding. Fudge said this issue is particularly crucial at a time when schools are increasingly segregated and poor students are in fact being shortchanged. And, in addressing questions about the intent of ESSA, Fudge said, I thought the intent of the law was equity. The departments proposal provides sufficient flexibility for districts, while also addressing educational inequity that results in 5,700 schools nationwide getting, on average, $440,000 less annually than their wealthier counterparts within the same districts, said Scott Sargrad, the managing director of K-12 education policy at the Center for American Progress. Students of color in particular are hurt by these disparities, he noted. I want to step back and note that we are not considering dry academic questions, Sargrad told the subcommittee in prepared remarks. Even as we sit here today, too many low-income students across the country sit in crumbling schools without access to the experienced and effective teachers, rigorous courses, and wraparound services that they need to have a chance at success. Under questioning from Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Sargrad also said districts could show compliance with the supplemental-money rule in a number of ways, from hiring new guidance counselors to extending the school day, that did not involve the forced transfer of teachers, a particularly controversial move that Sargrad himself said is a bad idea. Noting that schools consisting nearly entirely of students of color receive on average $700 per student less than their counterparts, Bonamici said, Theres a disparity that needs to be addressed. Wreak Havoc But GOP lawmakers and school officials testifying sharply criticized the plan. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn. and the full committee chairman, said the departments plan was an attempt to change a part of the law that Congress opted not to revisethe part of the law that requires comparable spending between low- and high-poverty schools but allows districts to exclude actual teacher salaries from showing compliance. ESSAs language says districts have to show their schools get the same state and local money they would otherwise receive without federal aid, such as Title I, which is earmarked for disadvantaged students, Kline said. Thats quite different, he added, from what the department is proposing. The administration is not allowed to rewrite law, Kline said, adding he feared the departments proposal, if implemented, would wreak havoc in communities across the country. Through tax increases for K-12 and an increased focus on needy students like English-language learners, Nevada is trying to create a more equitable educational environment for students, said Steve Canavero, the state chief. But he told the subcommittee that the proposed ESSA rule would disrupt such efforts, and concentrate much more control in the hands of central office administrators. This will affect everything from school hiring and purchasing to curriculum, he said. And the departments plan creates a huge amount of uncertainty for a state like Oklahoma that has a very big teacher shortage, said Ryan Owens, the executive director of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration. He asked lawmakers, How will districts using long-term substitute teachers, emergency certified teachers, or larger class sizes satisfy a requirement for equalized spending when the needed resource, teachers, do not exist? A third witness who did not support the rule, Georgetown University Associate Professor Nora Gordon, noted that a 2012 report from two think tanks , the left-leaning CAP (Sargrads think tank) and the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, proposed creating a test through which districts would have to show they allocate state and local money irrespective of their Title I aid. Thats a workable test for federal money that was incorporated into ESSA, she said, unlike what the department has proposed. Expanding on Klines point about the havoc the plan would create, Gordon said it would require districts to shuffle money and people around to come into compliance with a federal requirement, while largely ignoring the actual needs of students: Without knowing the choices districts will make to comply with this rule, it is impossible to estimate the benefits of the proposed rule. Contentious Backdrop The Education Department released its proposed rules for the supplemental-money rule last month. In those rules, the department backed off an earlier trial balloon to require per-pupil state and local spending in Title I schools (those with high shares of poor students) to be at least equal to the average such spending in non-Title I schools. But the department is still pushing hard to make resources within districts more equitable. In a statement accompanying his proposal, for example, King said the draft rules could result in up to $2 billion in additional state and local money for poor students. Groups like the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights have lauded the proposal, and that groups president, Wade Henderson, joined King on a conference call with reporters when it was released. But groups like the Council of Chief State School Officers and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, have said the departments idea is misguided, and that it could actually end up hurting poor students. And congressional Republicans have said for months that the department is way out of bounds. For example, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. and the Senate education committee chairman, has stated he will not allow the departments proposal to stay on the books if it is finalized. That hard-line position against the departments plan is part of what led to the House hearing Wednesday. The public comment period on the proposed ESSA funding rule is open until Nov. 7. Photo: U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind. and the chairman of the House subcommittee for K-12 education, at a Sept. 21 hearing on proposed spending rules for the Every Student Succeeds Act. (Andrew Ujifusa/Education Week) Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . A CNN reporter was knocked over by a protester while reporting live from the scene of violent protests in Charlotte on Wednesday. National correspondent Ed Lavandera was speaking to Anderson Cooper on camera at 9.16pm about how the crowd had turned violent when a man in a white shirt and dreadlocks ran into him. He fell to the ground in the middle of the broadcast, prompting concern from the host. 'Ed, are you OK?' Anderson asked. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're fine, Anderson, we're fine,' Lavandera told Cooper. 'It's just someone taking out their frustrations on me.' CNN reporter Ed Lavandera was body slammed live on air while reporting from Charlotte during a second night of violence on Wednesday night 'If you need to leave that location Ed that's fine just let us know?,' Anderson said. 'Yeah we're just figuring out what to do here,' Lavandera replied. At 10:03pm he came back on air and explained what happened. 'We were just doing the report and I didn't see it coming. All I heard was someone yelling at me that I needed to "tell the truth" and the next thing you know I got kind of blindsided,' Lavandera said. He said he tried to find the man who assaulted him but didn't know what he looked like. 'There was a guy that came up to me a few moments ago and told me he was the one who knocked me out. 'I didn't see the guy and he came up to me and actually hugged me and apologised for what he had done. A man in a white shirt and dreadlocks appeared from the left of the camera and ran into the reporter Lavandera wrote on Twitter that he 'hates to be part of the story' and thanked viewers for their well wishes 'I asked him "what had happened, what made him so angry?" and he couldn't really explain anything. 'Oddly enough I've lost him again... it's just another moment in this surreal evening,' Lavandera said. Reassuring viewers he really was OK, her later wrote on Twitter: 'For a guy that hates to be part of the story, let me just say I am fine. 'Thank you for your well wishes. Back to work now.' The protesters were marching against the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer. Scott was shot and killed by Brentley Vinson, a black Charlotte police officer, on Tuesday afternoon as he waited in his car for his child to finish school. Charlotte's police chief Kerr Putney said 43-year-old Scott refused multiple warnings to drop a handgun before he was fatally shot. Lavandera returned to the air just a few minutes later, insisting he was fine. He also said the protester who attacked him returned and apologized A woman puts her hand up to stop crowds moving in on police at the protest in Charlotte One topless man is tacked to the ground by officers in riot gear on the sidewalk A protester walks in front of a mass of CMPD officers in riot gear with a sign reading "All Lives Matter We Are 1" But a woman claiming to be Scott's daughter posted a video to Facebook soon after the shooting, saying that her father had an unspecified disability. She said he was unarmed when he was shot, adding that he had been reading a book, not brandishing a weapon. But Putney says officers recovered a gun, but no book when officers searched him and his vehicle. Lavandera was assaulted on the second day of protests over Scott's death. A state of emergency has been declared in Charlotte after a man was shot in the head by a civilian during the demonstration on Wednesday, Defending her dresses: BBC presenter Helen Skelton arrives at ITV Studios in London this morning for her interview with Lorraine Kelly She caused a stir with her risque fashion choices showing off her legs when she presented swimming events at the Rio Olympics for the BBC last month. But Helen Skelton joked today that her thighs are like 'uncooked Cumberland sausages left on the sideboard'. The 33-year-old married mother-of-one added in a TV interview that if she was intentionally flashing some of my body to the nation it would not be my thighs. Skelton told ITVs Lorraine this morning: I am a mummy and my life is about my son - so I crawl around the playground in shorts and a vest and flip flops. It's heartbreaking leaving him for 20 days but big gig Olympics came along. I thought "Do you know what, I'm going to go. I'm going to put my best foot forward, I'm going to make the most of the opportunity to wear nice dresses and wear heels". And it became a bit of a laugh in the office because they kept saying "Why are you wearing those heels"? And I said "Because I live in flip flops, I can walk around in heels, I'm going to enjoy myself and wear outfits that I felt good in that made me feel good". In what was her first interview since her much-praised work at Rio 2016, she added: They kept saying to me about being too saucy - I swear to God, Lorraine, if I was intentionally flashing some of my body to the nation it would not be my thighs. Uncooked Cumberland sausages left on the sideboard. Looking at her legs: Skelton (right) told host Lorraine Kelly (left) on ITV today that if she was intentionally flashing some of my body to the nation it would not be my thighs Outfits: Skelton said she spends plenty of her time with her son in shorts, a vest and flip flops - and decided to make the most of the opportunity to wear nice dresses and heels in Rio Explanation: Skelton caused a stir with her risque fashion choices showing off her legs when she presented swimming events at the Rio Olympics last month Posing up: Skelton appeared on Lorraine in her first TV interview since her presenting at Rio Skelton added how the first she heard about the interest in her dresses was when her brother told her how her father Richard would be discussing it on TV. She told host Lorraine Kelly: A dairy farmer talking about dresses, God bless him. Skelton was away from her family for three weeks from late July, having jetted off to Rio de Janeiro with BBC Sport to present events from the Olympic pool. Alongside retired swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster, the former Blue Peter presenter was kept busy hosting the swimming, diving and water polo. However she caused something of stir after wearing a short navy dress, which many viewers pointed out offered more than a glimpse of her long legs. Interview: Skelton told Lorraine Kelly how the first she heard about the interest in her dresses was when her brother told her how her father Richard would be discussing it on TV Looking behind: Skelton, pictured arriving at ITV Studios today, is a married mother-of-one Good spirits: Skelton's parents had laughed off the attention surrounding their daughter's outfits, with her mother asking whether viewers thought she would be better off in a tracksuit Skelton followed up the look with some other daring numbers, and she is understood to now have a new prime time BBC series in the pipeline. Her outfits were a surprising change of image for someone who had been known primarily as a wholesome presenter of children's programmes and Countryfile. And it later emerged she had received help from celebrity stylist Cobbie Yates, who hand-picked a selection of dresses for her to unveil throughout the Olympics. Skelton's parents laughed off the attention surrounding their daughter's outfits, with her mother asking whether viewers thought she would be better off in a tracksuit. Wardrobe decisions: Skelton caused something of stir after wearing a short navy dress (left), which many viewers pointed out offered more than a glimpse of her long legs That blue dress: Alongside swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster (both left), the former Blue Peter presenter was kept busy hosting the swimming, diving and water polo In the chair: Skelton's outfits were a surprising change of image for someone who had been known primarily as a wholesome presenter of children's programmes and Countryfile The mother of one-year-old Ernie shot to fame presenting Blue Peter in 2008, and has taken on a number of extreme challenges and expeditions for charity. As well as running a 78-mile distance in Namibia, she has kayaked the length of the Amazon river and was the first person to reach the South Pole on a bicycle. Skelton began dating rugby player Richie Myler back in 2011, with the couple tying the knot two years later and giving birth to Ernie in June 2015. Advertisement Britain's first food waste supermarket has opened allowing people to take home food that would otherwise now be rotting at the bottom of a bin. Food waste campaigners from the Real Junk Food Project have unveiled their first warehouse in Pudsey, near Leeds, where people purchase snacks on a 'pay as you feel' basis. Founder Adam Smith called it an 'anti-supermarket' because the majority of the food is intercepted from the big chains before it is thrown away. Although the food may be out-of-date, it is perfectly safe to eat. Britain has the highest level of food wastage in the European Union, with the average household throwing out more than three weeks' worth of food every year. The Real Junk Food Project's warehouse in Pudsey is stocked with surplus food from supermarkets and local businesses The scheme started with 'pay as you feel' cafes, but there was so much surplus food they set up a waste supermarket The Real Junk Food Project receives on average between two and 10 tonnes of food at its warehouse every day All the food in the 'supermarket' is perfectly edible, and would otherwise now be rotting at the bottom of a bin Mr Smith, who started the Real Junk Food Project in 2013, allows people to pay for the food by not just money, but by volunteering to help out with the scheme. The initiative started as 'boutiques' or food waste stalls selling produce in Real Junk Food Project cafes. There are now 126 'pay as you feel' cafes in the UK and across the world. The Real Junk Food Project receives on average between two and 10 tonnes of food at its warehouse on Grangefield Industrial Estate every day. The supermarket has deals with retail giants such as Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Ocado, and also works with local allotments, cafes, food banks and caterers. Project founder Adam Smith hopes the waste supermarket will be the start of a global movement to end food waste Britain throws away 15 million tonnes of food a year, the worst offender in the EU and the supermarket aims to prevent that Mr Smith, 31, a chef by training, said: 'I had already had the idea about opening up something like this as we had problems with having too much food. 'The surplus food is usually donated to local schools but over the summer we ended up being left with quite a large amount. 'We ended up creating a supermarket in one part of our warehouse and after posting on social media, we had hundreds of families coming down in the first week or so. We already let people take food home from the cafes but this is on a much larger scale. We didn't plan it, it was a consequence of operations.' Mr Smith said he now hopes to open similar 'supermarkets' in towns and cities, such as Sheffield, Doncaster, Bradford, Brighton and Wigan. He told the Guardian: 'I said right from the beginning that I wanted to feed the world and I haven't even started yet. We've fed nearly half a million people in 30 months but there's so much more we can do.' Real Junk Food Project also delivers surplus bread, fruit, vegetables and dairy products to schools in its 'Fuel For School' project. The food, which may otherwise have gone to the skip, is used to feed 12,000 children a week. Customers are invited to shop for food thrown out by supermarkets and other businesses As with all the Real Junk Food cafes, customers are invited to pay for their food in money, time and skills The supermarket has deals with food giants including Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Ocado, as well as allotments The store is packed with bread - described by Keith Annal, the operations manager as 'the bane of our lives' - but also bananas, punnets of grapes and tomatoes, posh crisps, jars of olives, Marks & Spencer cakes, Ferrero Rocher chocolates and out-of-date bottles of water. It also stocks bunches of flowers, pork rolls from Greggs, pre-packaged pies, large boxes of noodles and massive jars of mayonnaise and mustard. Sam Joseph, a director, said the team use 'common sense' when picking out food to give away. He said: 'Most of the foods we serve are low-risk, we're very careful. Often best before dates are so arbitrary - who says that bang on 11:59pm some food is going to go off? In our eyes, if a vegetable is not mouldy, then it's fine to eat.' Lynn O'Brien, who was visiting for the first time today with a friend, said: 'I went down today after my daughter saw a post about it on Facebook. I think this place is fantastic. The people here are very friendly and make you feel so welcome. 'I think it's a great idea as there are lots of people who are struggling these days. Most importantly it is all good food too.' Health care worker Louise Bloomer, 48, from Leeds, said: 'I think the concept is a good idea, too much is wasted now, that's the problem. 'My mum works in a food bank and there can be some embarrassment about going to a food back but I don't think you have that here. You can pay what you want and leave what you want. 'I felt good about trying to find something here and leaving a donation.' Her son, Matthew, 23, added: 'The pay as you feel thing is really good, as everyone has weeks when you think 'what am I going to do for food?'' Scott Sutton, 41, said: 'If you've never gone hungry then you wouldn't understand. We've picked up butter today, and stuff like cake for the kids.' Founder Mr Smith, a chef by training, hopes to open similar 'supermarkets' in towns and cities across the UK Although the food may be out-of-date, it is perfectly safe to eat and is priced on a 'pay as you feel' basis Boxes of lemon cake slices, brownies, Caramel cake bars and Warburtons' crumpets are among the items available Nicola Morse, 47, a nanny from Leeds, said: 'I knew about the cafes but I had never been. 'Today I have got bread, stuff for the kids packed lunches, biscuits, flowers, yoghurts, baby food, croissants and bagels. 'I think the quality is brilliant. I think this should have been done years ago. 'I think the amount of waste is disgusting. I think we need to adopt France's policy of banning any food that's been thrown away, they have just brought in that law. 'It should be donated to something like this or the homeless. 'I think the pay as you feel aspect is brilliant, ideal for people who can't afford to do shopping. 'I have probably paid about 80/90 per cent of what its worth. I haven't come up here to save money, I have come up here because I don't think food should be thrown away.' Britain throws away 15 million tonnes of food a year, the worst offender in the EU. This year, the big four supermarkets - Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons - signed a voluntary agreement that promised to drive down food and drink waste by a fifth within the next decade. Tesco, Asda and Morrisons also launched a 'wonky veg' range earlier this year after TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall revealed how they were refusing to do so [and throwing away perfectly good food] in his 'War on Waste' series. The female 'queenpin' of a Sydney drug syndicate was arrested for allegedly ordering the double murder of a drug cook and his girlfriend back in 2013 whose beaten bodies were found nine months apart. Drug lord Dung Thi Ngo, 41, allegedly ordered her hired muscle to carry out the chilling murder of Son Thanh Nguyen, 39, and his girlfriend Thi Kim Lien Do, 35, back in 2013. On Monday, detectives arrested 25-year-old Kevin Ly at a vehicle stop in Merrylands for allegedly carrying out the double murder. Mr Ly faced Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday charged with the two counts of murder and was refused bail, not before he waved to a group of supporters from the dock, according to the Daily Telegraph. Detectives arrested 25-year-old Kevin Ly at a vehicle stop in Merrylands on Monday Son Thanh Nguyen, 39, (Left) and his girlfriend Thi Kim Lien Do, 35, (Right) murdered in 2013 Ms Ngo is currently serving time for drug supply charges and was arrested on Thursday at Silverwater prison and is expected to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Friday. Her associate Anh Vu Pham, 29, was arrested in Bathurst on Wednesday and has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Investigators believe the victim, Mr Nguyen, was apart of Ms Ngo's drug ring cooking methamphetamine inside a Canley Vale rental home that doubled as a clandestine laboratory. It is alleged Mr Nguyen angered Ms Ngo after he broke into the makeshift lab to steal a proportion of the cooked meth. Mr Kevin Ly arrested and charged for the double murder at Merrylands on Monday After initially dodging calls from the drug ring Mr Nguyen and his girlfriend went to the makeshift drug home, according to the SMH. It is alleged Ly emerged from a bedroom with a shotgun, flanked by two others armed with a samurai sword and a revolver. Investigators believe both deceased were bound and beaten, and Ms Do was heard pleading: 'Please forgive me. I didn't do anything. I know nothing. Please don't kill me.' In another room, Mr Nguyen's boss is said to have warned him: 'Return it. If you return it, Lien will stay alive. If you did it, you have to bear the consequences.' Moments later, it is alleged, she turned to Ly and said: 'Just do it.' Police will allege she then handed one of Ly's associates a case of $50 notes as payment for the murders. It will be alleged Ly then ordered one of his male associates to help dispose of the bodies, saying: 'You have to do it for me to trust you.' The next day on April 10 an off-duty ambulance officer was driving through Bankstown, Sydney's west, and spotted a pair of legs poking out of a pile of sheets in a gutter. In January the following year, the body of his girlfriend Thi Kim Lien Do, 35, was found wrapped in a sheet in bushland in West Hoxton (police pictured at the scene) Mr Nguyen's body was found bound with his wrists cable tied behind his back and blood soaked tissues stuffed in his mouth. The next day his girlfriend Ms Do was reported missing and was found on January 15, 2014. A home owner repairing his fence in West Hoxton found her decomposed skull wrapped in bedding. Her body was in a badly decomposed state. Police began to link individuals to the crime when evidence was strangely unearthed when a Google Street view image showed the syndicate boss's car parked outside the Canley Vale house on the day of the murders, according to AAP. The case was adjourned to November 15 at Central Local Court. Britain will send an additional 37million foreign aid package to war-torn Yemen, International Development Secretary Priti Patel has announced. The extra money, which comes out of the UK Government's foreign aid budget, will bring the total spent in Yemen this year to 100million. But the UK Government has been accused of hypocrisy for its arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which has played a key role in Yemen's brutal civil war by bombing the rebels. Priti Patel (pictured left alongside Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at the UN summit in New York earlier this week) announced a further 37million aid package to be sent to Yemen Britain has backed Saudi Arabia in its efforts to reinstate the Yemen government, which was ousted in 2014. More than 10,000 people have been killed in the brutal civil war in the country since the civil war broke out 18 months ago, including 3,800 civilians. Eight in ten people in Yemen are in need of help, the Government says. Ms Patel announced the extra humanitarian aid at the UN summit in New York, where she held meetings with leaders from the region to address what the Government describes as 'one of the worst and most forgotten humanitarian crises of our time'. Ministers and charities agreed to a 'step change in the humanitarian effort on the ground' with a fresh focus on providing critical supplies such as water, food, shelter and nutrition. Yemen has suffered from a brutal civil war since the Yemeni government was ousted by rebels in 2014 Ms Patel said: 'The humanitarian situation in Yemen is the forgotten crisis that demands action. 7 million people are in desperate need of food and the threat of famine remains. 'The international community must step up its response to match the seriousness of the challenges faced by people in Yemen. 'The UK has provided food, water, shelter and medical supplies for more than a million desperate people in Yemen and our new support will help even more. But the international response remains critically underfunded. I urge other countries to follow Britains lead and make good on their commitments only by working together we can help stem this disaster. 'We cannot and will not stand back in silence whilst innocent people are suffering from such a lack of basic provisions such as food and clean water.' But there are increasing calls on the UK Government to halt sales of arms to Saudi Arabia amid allegations it has breached international humanitarian law. The UK Government has been accused of hypocrisy for its arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which has played a key role in Yemen's brutal civil war by bombing the rebels. Pictured, vehicles which were allegedly destroyed by a Saudi air strike at the beginning of the civil war in 2015 The UN has raised concerns with more than 100 missions launched by Saudi Arabia over Yemen. Ms Patel insisted the Government had a 'robust policy and position on arms controls' but Labour said the continued arms sales 'negate' its humanitarian work in the region. Shadow International Development Secretary Kate Osamor told the House magazine: 'You can't be bedfellows with these people who are actually dictators and are taking people's lives and using our friendship in such a flamboyant way.' The UK's extra aid money will aim to provide more than 400,000 people with access to safe water, help more than 11,000 with food, provide livestock to families, give emergency cash transfers to 105,000 vulnerable people and help 300,000 get access to healthcare. The latest foreign aid announcement came 24 hours after Theresa May unveiled a 750million package to aid immigration hotspots. She said Britain will also send hundreds of troops to Somalia to help fight people smugglers. The latest foreign aid announcement came 24 hours after Theresa May (pictured meeting Brexit critic Barack Obama at the UN in New York this week) unveiled a 750million package to aid immigration hotspots The Prime Minister said the aim was to keep Britain safe from Islamist terrorists while reducing unprecedented levels of migration to Europe and the UK. The hundreds of millions of pounds of aid will be targeted on helping refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Somalia rather than risk them making the journey to Europe instead. At the same time, she committed the UK to send hundreds of troops to Somalia to help in the fight against the resurgent Al-Shabaab terror group. Up to 30 military units, made up of between five and 15 soldiers each, will be deployed to what is one of the worlds most dangerous countries to train its security forces. No.10 said that, at any one time, there would be no more than 70 troops in a country notorious for the deaths of 18 US servicemen in the Black Hawk Down incident in 1993. Theresa May (pictured delivering her first speech to the UN as Prime Minister earlier this week) said the aim was to keep Britain safe from Islamist terrorists while reducing unprecedented levels of migration to Europe and the UK A senior No.10 source said the aim of the announcements, and Mrs Mays foreign policy in general, was guided by how best to serve Britains interests. She is determined to use the 12billion annual aid budget to protect the country from terrorism and regain control of our borders. She also favours early intervention to deal with problems before they reach Britains shores, sources said. Mrs May told the UN General Assembly in New York: We must never forget that we stand here, at this United Nations, as servants of the men and women that we represent back at home. She added that it was vital that Britain helps to build the capacity of the Somalian security services against Al-Shabaab. The fanatical Islamist group has plotted a string of atrocities against UK targets, both at home and abroad, and was responsible for the attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Kenya which killed 67 people in 2013. The so-called British white widow, Samantha Lewthwaite, is a key member of the group. Three former Tesco executives have denied fraud charges relating to a 326million black hole in the supermarket's accounts in 2014. Former UK managing director Chris Bush, 50, ex-UK finance director Carl Rogberg, 49, and former food commercial director John Scouler, 48, are accused of fraud by abuse of position, and false accounting. They allegedly failed to correct inaccurately inflated income figures for the supermarket, which were published to auditors, other Tesco employees and the wider market. In the dock: Former UK managing director Chris Bush, 50, left, and ex-UK finance director Carl Rogberg, 49, right, denied charges in relation to a 326 million accounting scandal at Tesco The three men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today for a preliminary hearing. All the defendants' lawyers indicated pleas of not guilty to the two charges they each face. The alleged activity occurred between February 2014 and September 2014 and an investigation into Tesco 'remains ongoing', the Serious Fraud Office has said. Rogberg, of Chiselhampton, Oxfordshire, Bush, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and Scouler, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, were released on bail and ordered to appear on October 20 at Southwark Crown Court for a plea hearing. Former food commercial director John Scouler (pictured), 48, is accused of fraud by abuse of position, and false accounting The accounts scandal began when a whistleblower tipped off Tesco's legal department in September 2014. The Stock Exchange had to be informed and the possibility that Tesco, which accounts for 1 in every 8 spent in British shops, had problems with its accounts sent shockwaves through the City with shares tumbling 12 per cent at one point. The error was brought to the attention of Tesco's general counsel before being passed to then new chief executive Dave Lewis. He carried out a preliminary investigation over the weekend before issuing Tesco's third profits warning in as many months. Tesco said in a statement earlier this month: 'We note the decision of the SFO to bring a prosecution against former colleagues in relation to historic issues and acknowledge the investigation into the company is ongoing. 'Tesco continues to cooperate with the SFO's investigation. The last two years have seen an extensive programme of change at Tesco, but given this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time.' FORMER MD WHO HOSTS COME DINE WITH ME PARTIES Chris Bush with his partner Tracy Johns Chris Bush was appointed Tesco managing director in 2013 and split his time between a huge country estate in Hertfordshire and a second home in the south of France. While in the UK, the 50-year-old watches his daughter ride her pet horse and has been spotted winning big at equestrian races. When abroad, he is seen in photographs posing offshore in his sunglasses in front of a seaplane. Mr Bush, who was believed to be on a large six-figure salary, lives with his partner Tracy Johns, 51, and their daughter Emily, 16, in a huge 2.5million mansion on a private road in a small village. The house is set behind two other large homes on the gated road but is so large that its top floors can be seen from afar, dwarfing its neighbours. While at Tesco Mr Bush regularly used the house to entertain, hosting 'Come Dine With Me'-themed parties with friends, which he has boasted of winning. The former Tesco boss, who grew up in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, also says he enjoys travel and spent much of his 34-year career at the supermarket giant working abroad. After joining the retailer in 1982, Mr Bush became a UK store director and then operations director just over a decade ago. In 2004, he moved to Seoul, South Korea as operations director before transferring to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2006 to become chief executive for the region. Four years later, he was made chief executive for Thailand before being brought back to the UK as managing director in January 2013. His family's pictures on social media sites show them on beaches across the world. Mr Bush has previously said that being appointed Tesco MD was 'a great honour and a privilege'. He left in December 2014. FOOD BOSS WHO LOVED POSING WITH SPORTING CELEBS John Scouler is a keen sports fan who spent his time away from work playing golf at top courses and posing with celebrities at football matches. The 48-year-old former food commercial director lives with his wife Tanya, 46, in a 1.7million white brick house in Hertfordshire. Originally from Glasgow, he joined Tesco in 2002 and quickly moved up the ranks. Property: John Scouler paid 1.1million for his detached five-bedroom home in St Albans He relocated to Hungary in 2007 as commercial director before returning to Britain four years ago and being promoted to the UK board a year later. On his return to the UK, Mr Scouler, who is believed to be on a large six-figure salary, paid 1.1million for his detached five-bedroom home in St Albans. Mr Scouler is also a rugby and football fan and posted a picture of himself on Twitter with Oasis singer Noel Gallagher at a football game in May. He said his favourite product was Tesco Finest Gavi wine. EX-FINANCE CHIEF WITH BAKERY AT HIS MANSION Former Tesco UK finance director Carl Rogberg, 47, lives with his partner Amanda Welin, 46, in an old farmhouse in Oxfordshire. The property is largely shielded from prying eyes by an eight-foot hedge line. It also boasts a gatehouse and an old bakery, which used to supply a neighbouring manor house. With a neat formal garden to the front and stables at the rear, Mr Rogberg's land also includes a paddock, where his partner's horses could be seen grazing in the afternoon sunshine yesterday. Karl Rogberg's old farmhouse in Oxfordshire comes with a bakery, gatehouse and stables Child-sized football goals were laid out on a grassy patch beside the property's electric gates. Mr Rogberg, who is Swedish born, said in 2014 he was unable to talk in any detail about the investigation now taking place. Dressed casually in jeans and a grey sweatshirt and with two Pug dogs milling around his feet, the executive told the Daily Mail: 'I'm fully supportive of the investigation it is what it is. We will just have to let it all take its natural course.' David Cameron is believed to have told the local Conservative party that Natasha Whitmill (pictured) is his 'preferred candidate' in the race to replace him as Tory MP for Witney David Cameron was hit by fresh cronyism claims today after his former aide was put in pole position to replace him in his ultra safe Oxfordshire seat. The former Prime Minister, who announced his shock resignation as an MP last week, is believed to have told the local Conservative party that Natasha Whitmill is his 'preferred candidate' in the race to replace him. Ms Whitmill, 32, worked for Mr Cameron in his Witney constituency for more than 11 years and was among 46 of his aides and allies handed a CBE in his controversial resignation honours list. The West Oxfordshire Conservative Association will choose their candidate to fight the Witney by-election tomorrow. High profile Tory figures such as Esther McVey and Dan Hannan were tipped to be parachuted in to win the candidacy but sources said the final shortlist were 'local candidates'. Whoever is chosen will almost certainly win the safe Tory seat, which Mr Cameron won with a 25,155 majority at the 2015 General Election. An insider told The Sun that Mrs Whitmill 'is the hot favourite' to win the nomination. She worked as Mr Cameron's 'senior constituency researcher' for nine years and then served as his local press officer. Last year she was given the post of election agent for the General Election - tasked with ensuring Mr Cameron won his seat - one of the safest of the 650 in the Commons. David Cameron (pictured outside his London home) was hit by fresh cronyism accusations today after his former aide was put in pole position to replace him in his ultra safe Oxfordshire seat Natasha Whitmill, 32, worked for David Cameron in his Witney constituency for more than 11 years and was among 46 of his aides and allies handed a CBE in his controversial resignation honours list A source said Mrs Whitmill was Mr Cameron's 'preferred candidate and has let that be known'. The process was also branded a 'Cameron stitch up'. He was accused of carrying on his cronyism even after standing down as an MP and giving political service a 'bad name'. It comes after he handed gongs to 46 of his former aides, allies and Tory donors in his resignation honours list, which will cost the taxpayer an estimated 12million and even included his wife's stylist Isabel Spearman. Mr Cameron also appointed 13 new Conservative peers as his final act as Prime Minister. Five of the new appointments to the House of Lords worked in Downing Street. Shadow Cabinet minister Jon Ashworth told The Sun: 'Not only has David Cameron blown 12 million of taxpayers cash on gongs, goodies and peerages for his pals he's now trying to parachute his spin doctor into his old seat. 'This type of behaviour sadly gives political service a bad name.' A powerful Chinese businesswoman has been involved in a high-profile trading case pertaining North Korea. Media reports suggested that Ma Xiaohong, the chairman of Hongxiang Group in north-east China's Dandong city, has been arrested. Ms Ma's company, which trades with North Korea, is also under investigation by the Chinese authority for 'serious economic crimes in its trading activities'. The Hongxiang Group, which had carried out $500 million worth of trade with North Korea over the years, sold items that could qualify as potential military and nuclear dual use products, such as aluminum oxide, a recent report revealed. Ma Xiaohong remains a relatively mysterious figure to the Chinese public. The picture, believed to be of Ma, was used on her company's website Ma's Hongxiang Group is located in Dandong (pictured), a city with around two million residents situated on the China-North Korea border Ms Ma has been described by Chinese media as 'the most successful businessman in cross-border trade in Dandong', a city with around two million residents situated on the China-North Korea border. The Chinese police are carrying out an investigation into Ms Ma's Hongxiang Group. A statement published by the Liaoning Provincial Security Bureau on September 15 read: 'Over time, the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd and its relevant person in charge have been a suspect of serious economic crimes. 'After the public security bureau have obtained confirmed evidence, a case has been set up to investigate into the company and its relevant person in charge. 'All parties in connection to the case are being scrutinised by the police.' Ms Ma's business empire comprises six companies dealing with a variety of businesses from trade consulting service to international freight, according to the reported named 'In China's Shadow', published by a South Korean think tank, The Asan Institute for Policy Studies, and U.S.-based non-profit orgnisation C4ADS. One of them is the the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd. The woman also owns a restaurant called Pyongyang in Dandong. A number of news website reported that Ms Ma Xiaohong had been arrested, including Korea Joongang Daily and Yahoo.com. 'In China's Shadow' pointed out that Dandong Hongxiang sold at least four military-nuclear dual use products, which were 99.7% pure aluminum ingots, aluminum oxide, ammonium paratungstate, and tungsten trioxide. A statement published by the Liaoning Provincial Security Bureau (pictured) said Hongxiang and its relevant person in charge had been a suspect of serious economic crimes The New Yalu River bridge connects China's Dandong New Zone and North Korea's Sinuiju Despite her influential business, Ms Ma remains a relatively mysterious figure to the Chinese public. Little seems to be known as to how she had established her business empire. The few pictures of her available on the internet came either from her company's website or her company's own publications. She is reported to be 44 years old and was a representative of the People's Congress in her home province, Liaoning. Last week, she resigned from her position in the congress following allegations of corruption, according to a report on Sina.com, around the same time when the Chinese police announced their investigation into Ms Ma's company. However, one thing seems certain: the sensitive nature of her business. In an old interview with China's Southern Weekend, a newspaper known for its bold statements, Ms Ma said: 'Any political upheaval means that my business will be smashed into pieces'. The interview was conducted right after North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006. The ambitious entrepreneur also told the reporter that trading with North Korea was 'massively profitable'. MailOnline has reached out to the Dandong Hongxiang Group for a comment. The Chinese authority has not released the name of the person who is being investigated in relation to the Hongxiang case. During a regular press conference on September 20, Lu Kang, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson of China, was asked to comment on case. Mr Lu said relevant authorities of China are investigating its misdoings including economic crimes in accordance with law. He did not release more details of the case, or if Ms Ma had been involved. Mr Lu also said: 'China has made relentless efforts to move forward denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. 'We have been earnestly implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2270 and honoring due international obligations on export control of non-proliferation, and these efforts are there for all to see.' Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test. In this undated photo, Kim Jong-Un (centre) smiles as he guides a test fire of a new multiple launch rocket system Pictured is a demonstration of a new rocket engine for the geo-stationary satellite at the Sohae Space Center, North Korea The Hongxiang case has ignited a wave of reports on Chinese-language media. Journalists have been intrigued by the little-known tycoon and her business empire. Hong Kong-based Apple Daily published a report on Tuesday with a sensational headline: 'Dandong's richest woman assists North Korea's nuclear plan'. While Beijing Time wrote an article yesterday titled 'Revealed: What is the background of the company suspicious of being involved in the North Korea nuclear project'. It appears that the Chinese authorities have taken down relevant reports on the case that were published on the Chinese media. The official websites of Ms Ma's companies are not longer accessible. Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, prompting South Korean and US officials to vow to apply more sanctions and pressure on the North. The test explosion, the most powerful to date, was conducted on the 68th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's government. The North has already been slapped with the toughest UN sanctions in two decades following its fourth nuclear test in January. Police have launched an appeal for the owners of a fascinating collection of photographs and medals dating back to the First World War to come forward. The intriguing artifacts were recovered during a raid at the home of a 28-year-old man from Werribee, Melbourne, who is accused of theft. The pictures include black and white images of officers in the Australian Flying Corps in the 1910s, while others appear to be old family photos. Police have launched an appeal for the owners of a fascinating collection of photographs and medals dating back to the First World War to come forward The pictures include black and white images of officers in the Australian Flying Corps in 1918, while others appear to be old family photos Among the photographs is a group shot showing 'Officers, Cadets, NCOs and Men, Australian Flying Corps, Wendover, March 1918'. Police are still searching for the owners of the pictures and antiques, which are likely to be of high sentimental value. Investigators have released the images of the property in the hope that the owners recognise it and come forward. The haul was found at a home in Werribee on August 31 when tactical police officers raided the property. Investigators have released the images of the property in the hope that the owners recognise it and come forward Police are still searching for the owners of the pictures and antiques, which are likely to be of high sentimental value The apparently stolen artifacts were found alongside a cache of guns and drugs. A 28-year-old Werribee man was arrested at the address and charged with theft, handling stolen goods, firearms offences, possessing and trafficking meth, GHB and cannabis, and failure to answer bail, among other offences. He has been remanded in custody and will appear in court at a later date. An Indian plane had to make an emergency landing after a two-month-old baby died on board. Indigo flight 6E202 landed in Raipur city airport in India yesterday in an attempt to save the boy. Despite making a priority landing having contacted air traffic control, medics were not able to save him, and the baby was pronounced dead at the airport. The plane from Kolkata yesterday morning was scheduled to arrive in the south of India in Bangalore at 10.50am, but had to be diverted to land in Rairpur Despite making a priority landing having contacted air traffic control, medics were not able to save him, and the baby was pronounced dead at the airport (stock image) The plane from Kolkata yesterday morning was scheduled to arrive in Bangalore at 10.50am. Washington, D.C. U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. thinks that the reasons behind current teacher shortageshighlighted in this recent report from the Learning Policy Institute vary from region to region. Some states, particularly in the Northeast, have far more elementary school teachers than they can employ, King noted at a breakfast for reporters hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. But those states dont have nearly enough teachers who are trained in math and science, or to work with English-language learners and students with disabilities. In some states you [have to] match the supply to where the real need is, he said. In other states, Midwestern and Southern states that have chronically low salaries are having trouble attracting teachers particularly to rural areas, King said. I think there is a need to worry about the teacher supply and demand but it has to be a more nuanced conversation, he added. Policymakers shouldnt be pushing to try to prepare more elementary school teachers in northeastern states, for example, since that would be a misreading of the problem, King said. Homeschooling Concerns King was also asked what he thinks of the recent uptick in homeschooling. Some of his classmates at Harvard University were homeschooled, King said, and were well prepared for college. But he also worries that homeschoolers may not get the kind of interaction with other adults or much experience with their peers, unless their parents are very intentional about it. King also addressed the Senate bill to renew federal career and technical education programs . The billwhich represents the largest source of federal funding for high schoolspassed the House with big bipartisan support . But it hit a snag on the other side of the Capitol, when Senate Republicans reauthorization bill seeks to place limitations on the secretarys authority, in part because they are unhappy with how King has handled regulations for the Every Student Succeeds Act. Its very promising that there was strong bipartisan [support] for the House bill and we hope the Senate will follow and not get mired in partisan debates, " King said. On a wonkier issue: King said that he hasnt yet figured out a timeline for naming peer-reviewers for state plans to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act. The identity of peer reviewers may seem like a detail, but they can have a serious impact on which plans get approved and which dont. Itll be up to the peer reviewers to decide whether states have done a good job of addressing test participation, subgroup accountability and other issues in their ESSA plans. Photo: Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor on Sept. 21. (Brian Dozier) Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Advertisement He may only be 16, but James Sight has already reached towering heights in life - literally. The Australian schoolboy has made quite a name for himself online, with his daredevil efforts of scaling enormous buildings capturing the attention of thousands. But now he has gone to new levels, climbing the 240-metre high Manulife Plaza skyscraper in Hong Kong, where he is now based, and capturing the entire climb on camera. Scroll down for video An Australian schoolboy has captured his incredibly climb to the top of the 240-metre tall Manulife Plaza tower in Hong Kong James Sight, who is now based in Hong Kong, summited not only the tower but the metal spire on top as well James made the death-defying climb alongside his friend Hason, with the pair videoing the whole process before letting a drone fly one they reached the top. 'We decided that we wanted to pilot the drone from the roof, which is risky if you are caught by police,' James said. 'The climb to the top took about eight minutes. It was tiring but the views are breath-taking. The 16-year-old and his friend Hason made the climb up the skyscraper without any safety equipment Once the pair had climbed the tower they released a drone to capture the incredible views of the Hong Kong skyline James and his friend Hason have made the climb up the tower on mutliple occasions and say 'it never gets boring' 'I've climbed this building several times before and it never gets boring.' Photographs of the climb show not only the incredible Hong Kong skyline, but also the stark reality of what would happen if they fell. Undeterred by the danger the boys raced to the top of the building, before scouring the metal antenna on top - without any harnesses or safety equipment. 'Once we made it to the top we took a few photos and sucked in the view,' James said. 'Just as we were ready to climb back down, we spotted a police van with sirens pull up right next to the building so we knew it was time to leave. 'We packed the cameras and drones away and made a speedy escape and walked away from the building with nothing but happy faces.' 'Once we made it to the top we took a few photos and sucked in the view,' Mr Sight said Victoria Halliday, 19, believed she was on a mission to rescue the 'good people' from the top of the 140ft leisure complex when police rescued her A teenage girl with mental health problems who believed she had super powers killed herself two weeks after scaling a six-storey building, an inquest heard. Victoria Halliday, 19, from Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, believed she was on a mission to rescue the 'good people' from the top of the 140ft leisure complex when police rescued her in July last year. But an inquest heard voices in her head had told her she had to complete her mission or commit suicide. The teenager, who had already been warned by police after climbing the outside of a building in Leicester, was saved from the Xscape building in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Just two weeks later she was found hanged in woodland in Leicestershire. An inquest held at Leicester Town Hall heard Victoria went missing three times - to Milton Keynes and Cardiff - between April and July 15, prompting police searches. She was seen four times by staff at the mental health unit at Milton Keynes hospital after police became concerned for her safety. Giving evidence at the inquest yesterday, nurse Denise Harris said on the last occasion Victoria climbed to the top of the six-storey Xscape building. The nurse, who works at the Campbell Centre in Milton Keynes, added: 'She said she was rescuing the good people from the bad people Victoria was captured on CCTV at a station in Leicester in June 2015, shortly before her death 'She was listening to the 'leader' who told her to climb.' Ms Harris said Victoria, who believed she had super powers and could climb any building without equipment, had an imaginary friend called Grace who advised her about her mission. The inquest heard counsellor Janet Bagley, who was employed by the family to help Victoria, had eight sessions with her with the last one on July 28. Ms Bagley said the teen had told her she had super powers and there was a gang of them who could fly, breathe underwater or be invisible. The counsellor also told the coroner Victoria was unpredictable and sometimes she was calm and lucid but other times she was anxious. The inquest heard Victoria was detained under the Mental Health Act after she was rescued from the Xscape building The inquest heard Victoria, had a history of behavioural problems. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Beena Kumari, from the Bradgate Mental Health Unit at Glenfield, Leicester, said she suffered from 'environmentally unstable personality disorder.' But she told the hearing Victoria was not displaying psychosis despite hearing voices and suffering delusions. Dr Kumari said repeated assessments showed the best treatment for Victoria would be in the community and that prolonged time in hospital would be counter-productive. She added: 'There was a high risk of suicide. But it was a difficult balance.' But Victoria's condition deteriorated in the Bradgate Unit while the doctor was on holiday and she was detained under the Mental Health Act. After six weeks she improved and was discharged but she then went missing from home and was back in the unit two days later. The inquest heard Victoria was detained under the Mental Health Act after she was rescued from the Xscape building. She was taken back to the Bradgate Unit and assessed and it was felt she was lucid and calm and should be released but two weeks later she was dead. The inquest continues. These picture shows the extraordinary moment a community rallied around a mother-of-five - to prevent her being booted out of her house in a 'revenge eviction'. Nimo Abdullahi, 39, had been informed she and her family would be kicked out of their home of 12 years after she complained to her landlord about damp and the filthy carpets. But in an amazing show of support, residents and campaigners linked arms to prevent bailiffs entering the property today. Around 30 people stood defiantly side-by-side in front of the privately-rented house in Easton, Bristol. A newlywed couple living opposite kept the campaigners' spirits up by handing out slices of their wedding cake. Scroll down for video Kindhearted neighbours formed a human chain in front of Nimo Abdullahi's house in Bristol When bailiffs turned up at the house at 11am on Tuesday where they were met by a human wall Residents came out to express their disgust at the 'revenge eviction' of Ms Abdullahi Ms Abdullahi, who has lived in the house since she moved to the UK from the Netherlands 12 years ago, said: 'This is our home. 'It has a big problem with damp. This is bad for us, because my children have asthma and it is not a good placed [for that]. 'Until recently, the carpets everywhere were very old and dirty and we would ask the landlord to improve things but he was difficult. 'Many times I asked him [to sort it out] and a lot of times he would threaten us. 'He would say that we were going to be evicted, and once he came round with his wife and she said that if we didn't move out they would call the police to get us out.' Ms Abdullahi has lived in the house since she moved to the UK from Holland 12 years ago When bailiffs turned up at the house at 11am on Tuesday they were met by the human wall. Ms Abdullahi, who has three sons and two daughters, said: 'I was shocked. I've had great support from Acorn [a local grass roots movement which fights for renters' rights] and now to see my neighbours outside supporting me is amazing.' One of the campaigners, Jenny Ross, came out in support of her neighbour. She said: 'We don't want people in our community treated like this. It's a revenge eviction and people deserve decent rented accommodations. 'This landlord, and all landlords, need to know there are people in this community who won't ignore it. 'We live in this street and it's a close community. It's amazing how many people have turned out.' Around 30 people stood side-by-side, arms linked, in front of the property in Easton, Bristol Another neighbour, Kirsten Parton, added: 'I'm here because of the way she's been treated by her landlord. It is simply not on. 'She and her family are part of the community and have been here for quite some time.' Organiser Nick Ballard, from Acorn Bristol, said he wanted to send a 'strong message' that such evictions will not be tolerated. However, despite their efforts, she was evicted and is now being looked after in emergency sheltered accommodation. The mother-of-five complained to her private landlord because of the damp in the house A spokesman for the landlord said all legal processes had been followed and denied it was a revenge eviction. He said: 'The correct legal process has been followed to remove the tenant Ms Abdullahi from the property. 'The tenant Ms Abdullahi and Acorn have made false allegations in terms of this being a revenge eviction. 'This claim of it being a "revenge eviction" is particularly surprising, as the landlord had invited both parties to a meeting. 'This was attended by Acorn and Ms Abdullahi to help resolve the situation, where the landlord clearly explained the reasoning behind the eviction, even though this was not compulsory. 'Ms Abdullahi has been asked to vacate the property for over two years with several concessions given. 'Acorn and Ms Abdullahi have claimed that there was damp and have provided images. 'The damp specialist inspected the property after the landlord had been notified of these issues. 'The report stated that the issue was not damp but condensation mould due to inadequate ventilation to the wall something that Ms Abdullahi was given several reminders over the last few years. 'This can also be confirmed with environmental health, who have also inspected the property.' He went on: 'Acorn and Ms Abdullahi have failed to mention that access to the property for the workmen to help resolve the repairs/issues was denied for over eight weeks. 'Surely if the condition of the property was substandard then why did she delay repairs being made for such a long period?' The spokesman also claimed Ms Abdullahi was in rent arrears in excess of 3,000 and had allowed her to stay in the home for longer than was allowed for her children to complete their exams and to visit her terminally ill father in Kenya. He said: 'Since issuing the most recent section 21 notice she has been given an additional six months to reside in the property and find suitable alternative accommodation. 'Acorn have simply used this as a ploy to gain extra publicity and increased awareness. 'However they have failed to produce the true facts behind the situation and have further misled the public. Three men have been arrested after police discovered four kilograms of methamphetamine totalling $4million in a suitcase at the Perth Domestic Airport this week. Police confronted two Perth men, aged 23 and 27, at the airport on Monday after one of them was discovered to have travelled to Sydney and back on the same day, officers said. When officers searched the mans suitcase they found a hefty amount of ice wrapped in black bags and duct taped, police said. Two Perth men, aged 23 and 27, and a Sydney man, 25, have been arrested after police found four kilograms of methamphetamine (pictured) totalling $4million in a suitcase at the Perth Domestic Airport During a search of each of their homes, police said they found $10,000 in cash, $11,000 in casino chips, a pistol and bullets, drug paraphernalia, mobile phones and 500grams of cocaine. The amount of methamphetamine found was enough for 40,000 hits, according to Serious and Organised Crime Division Detective Superintendent Dene Leekong. The investigation then led police to a 25-year-old Sydney man who travelled to Perth on Wednesday. His residences in Sydney and Perth were also searched by police, where officers claim they discovered 200grams of a powder that is believed to be cocaine and two guns. Beck is the first ex-US Navy SEAL to come out as transgender and got a male officer to pat her down A transgender former Navy SEAL was left humiliated by airport security at Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. after they referred to her as a man and arranged for a male agent to search her. Kristin Beck, who served in the military for 21 years, was traveling to Kansas City on Tuesday to give a speech to federal employees about gender sensitivity when she was left embarrassed by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents as she tried to pass through security. Beck told CNN that she was flagged down by both a female and male officers after passing through the body scanner machine. Kristin Beck is the first openly transgender former U.S. Navy SEAL. She released a memoir about her time serving soon after coming in 2013 The decorated Navy SEAL thought she would be passed through the check without much commotion after she encountering no issues in passport control. But the two agents thought she was a man despite her long hair, breasts and low cut dress. 'I'm a female,' she said she told them. 'It's no big deal.' A male supervisor was soon contacted who was due to pat Beck down. 'These are my real boobs, he's not going to pat me down,' she recalls telling agents. 'This is wrong. I'm a female, it says female on my Maryland driver's license. This is the real me.' According to Beck, the supervisor responded, 'Then somebody pat him down.' Christopher Beck while serving as a Navy SEAL. Beck was left embarrassed and close to tears after the airport ordeal A female staff member 'under duress' then searched her as she stood humiliated and close to tears. After the ordeal was over and she went through to her departure gate she took to Facebook to vent her frustration. 'I'm sad, for TSA, our country, our future... Why is this so difficult?' she wrote. 'Oh, the kicker. I'm flying to Kansas City to give a HUMAN RIGHTS speech at Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons on rights and treatment etc.' Beck commented that she had trained some TSA staff members on dealing with transvestite passengers last year and after seeing the post management from the body have reached out to her. 'The TSA does a great job 99% of the time. This is a 1% error,' she said. 'They have a tough job but they need to continue training and continue to do better,' she said. Beck came out of transgender in 2013, two years after leaving the military. She published a book about her her life as a member of SEAL Team 6 'Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender.' Beck, who was known as Christopher in her male life, added the airport anecdote to her speech to delegates in Kansas. She is the first openly transgender former U.S. Navy SEAL. A schoolgirl in China has had 16 pencil ends removed from her arm. The 13-year-old had deliberately pricked herself with pencils so that she could stay awake while doing homework in the wee hours. She was taken to the hospital by her family on September 13 after they discovered holes on her swollen left arm, reported Guizhou Business Daily. Doctors in Guiyang, China, removed a total of 16 pencil ends, the longest of which is 1.5 inches According to the report, the teenage girl, known as Xiao Xue, is a middle school student in the city of Guiyang, south-east China's Guizhou province. Doctors from Guihang 300 Hospital carried out the surgery on September 19, removing a total of 16 pencil ends, the longest of which is four centimetres (1.5 inches). After the operation, Xiao Xue's family told the doctor that the girl had deliberately pricked herself so that the pain could keep her awake in the middle of the night. They said that Xiao Xue had to stay up until 2am every day in order to finish the large amount of homework she was given, especially her mathematics homework. The family also said Xiao Xue studied in a high-pressure environment and rarely communicated with the outside world. The girl, named Xiao Xue, was taken to the hospital after her family saw holes on her left arm The student had deliberately jabbed herself with a pencil to stay awake while doing homework Doctors said the pencil ends had been embedded in her arm for about a week, leading to inflammation. Xiao Xue had been put on IV drips for three days prior to the operation. An Ning, one of Xiao Xue's doctors, said the student felt pain every time she tried to move her arm, so the they decided to have the embedded lead. The doctors spent an hour removing all the pencil ends with the help of tweezers, and many of them had broken into small pieces. Doctors said the pencil ends had been embedded for about a week, leading to inflammation The news has spurred discussion across social media platforms. One Weibo user suggested this was common practice: 'Many [people] stab their thighs using (needles of) compasses.' Some shared other strategies to keep awake: 'I ask my classmates to pinch me.' A third user recalled: 'I use clips to keep my eyelids open.' Another one said: 'I simply pour ice water down my head.' In China, there are different legends of famous ancient scholars deploying painful methods to stay awake. Detectives seized his phone and passport as they Robert Clarke (pictured), 22, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of terrorism offences A British man was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences for attempting to travel to Iraq to fight ISIS. Robert Clarke, 22, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of attempting to leave the UK for the Middle East to join in the fight against terrorism. Clarke, who said he served in the Army but is now unemployed, planned to link up with Kurdish forces and take the fight to ISIS - but was arrested last Tuesday on suspicion of terrorism himself. He was held as he was about to board a flight to Jordan and quizzed by detectives for 30 hours before being escorted from London back to his home in Wales. Clarke was bailed by officers and had his phone and passport seized to stop him leaving the country. Clarke was today back at his home in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, after being released on bail. He said: 'A lot of British people are going out to Iraq to fight ISIS. I feel it is the right thing to do. They need to be stopped. 'I have been speaking to several people over there already online and had made plans to meet up with them but I was stopped at the airport. 'I was detained as I was about to board the plane and then interviewed for about 30 hours, I was then arrested under schedule seven for terrorism offences. 'As far as I'm aware I haven't broken any laws as the Kurds are not a proscribed terrorist organisation. Clarke (pictured left) was quizzed by detectives for 30 hours before being escorted from London back to his home in Wales 'I'm talking to my lawyer now and to see if we can force them to drop the charges.' Mr Clarke's plan was to fly to Jordan where he was going to be met by Kurdish fighters who would take him to the front line in Iraq. Kurdish militia fighters, known as Peshmerga, have been backed by a host of British, American and Canadian volunteers fighting ISIS. He said: 'My friends think I'm mad for wanting to do this, but after seeing how it is out there and how much people need help, I just decided to go. 'I'm not concerned with my own safety. 'My family doesn't want me to go but I don't care. I want to do it. 'As soon as I get my passport back from the police I'm going to try and get over there again. 'It's not illegal and I don't see how they can stop me.' A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said: 'A 22-year-old man from the Carmarthenshire area has been arrested in London on suspicion of terrorism offences. Leicestershire Police has come under fire for saying it would consider letting Muslim officers wear burkas on duty (stock) A second British police force has come under fire for saying it would consider letting Muslim officers wear burkas on duty in an attempt to boost diversity. Leicestershire Police's Chief Constable, Simon Cole, said he was open to allowing the traditional Islamic dress to become part of the female officers' uniform. He was supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach who said he would be 'sympathetic' to the idea of the garment - which covers the face and body. It came after West Midlands Police said it was considering employing staff who wear a burka as the force looks to increase the number of black and ethnic minority officers. On Thursday, Chief Constable Simon Cole said: 'We have been made aware of discussions in other police forces regarding incorporating burkas into police uniform. 'It is not something that Leicestershire Police has been asked to consider by an officer or a potential recruit. 'If such a request was made, it would be considered in line with the requirements of policing, and the need to ensure officers have uniform that is fit for purpose.' His comments attracted criticism from public figures in Leicestershire, with some saying speaking to an officer 'behind a mask' would not be the same as face-to-face contact. Gush Bhumbra, president of the Leicester Secular Society, said: 'As a member of the public I want to see a face to comfort me in a stressful situation. 'If I've been the victim of a crime or an accident and an officer behind a mask would not do that for me as much as normal face-to-face contact. Leicestershire Police's Chief Constable, Simon Cole (pictured), said he was open to allowing the traditional Islamic dress to become part of the female officers' uniform The Metropolitan Police began letting police officers wear hijabs a decade ago and it is now successfully integrated into several forces across the UK 'I have been the victim of a crime and of a car accident and also an investigation by an officer following a false allegation. 'If those officers had been masked I would have been even more upset and stressed.' Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, said common sense was needed when considering the proposal. He added: 'I'm not convinced whether it would work well with the kind of job we're talking about. 'Identification is crucial and this would cause difficulties for members of the public. 'Of course, I welcome the fact it is being considered. But I'm also trying to be practical.' West Midlands Police Chief Constable David Thompson (pictured) was blasted earlier this month after he refused to rule out allowing female recruits to wear the burkas A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said there had been no requests by staff to add the veil to their uniform. The acting chairman of the force's Association of Muslim Officers, the official body which represents Leicestershire's Muslim police, said he was not in a position to comment. West Midlands Police Chief Constable David Thompson was blasted earlier this month after he refused to rule out allowing female recruits to wear the face-covering garments. He said his force 'would have to consider' any requests to wear the burka, which covers both the face and body, and the full-face niqab, which leaves the eye area clear. The decision was met with outrage from MPs and public figures and was even slammed as a bad idea by the Muslim Council of Britain. Tory MP David Davies, who worked as a police officer in London for nine years, blasted the move as 'a load of politically correct nonsense'. Tory minister Ann Widdecombe also branded it 'a crackpot idea'. West Midlands Police has already approved hijab-wearing officers and currently allows Sikhs to replace their helmet with a turban. The hijab - a headscarf covering the head and neck but leaving the face clear - was approved after being requested by a number of Muslim women. The Metropolitan Police introduced it a decade ago and the hijab is now successfully integrated into several forces across the UK - most recently in Scotland. Tiahleigh Palmer told a classmate she was scared to go home and begged to stay with her family six days before she was allegedly killed by her foster father. The 12-year-old girl went home with a friend from Marsden State School on Friday October 23 and asked the girl's aunt if she could stay with them as she was worried she would get into 'big trouble' if she returned to her foster home, 7 News reported. Six days later, police will allege Tiahleigh was murdered by her foster father, Rick Thorburn, 56, in a bid to protect his son Trent Thorburn, 19, who had been sexually assaulting the young girl during the ten months she was in the family's care. Scroll down for video Tiahleigh Palmer told a classmate she was scared to go home and begged to stay with her family six days before she was allegedly killed by her foster father Julene Thorburn (left), 53, picked the 12-year-old up and took her home, where police allege she was killed by her foster father Rick Thorburn (right), 56, six days later The woman Tiahleigh sought refuge from said she contacted the Office of Child Safety in Brown Plains when Tiahleigh insisted she did not want to go home, but was told it was common and to encourage the schoolgirl to return. 'She asked me if she could stay with me and I said I'm sorry I couldn't let you stay with me because I really don't know you for a start,' the aunt of Tiahleigh's classmate told 7 News. 'She did tell me that if she does go home that she was going to get in big trouble and that's why she didn't want to go home,' the unidentified woman added. The woman then contacted the Thorburns, and received a text from Julene advising she would come and collect her from the nearby home. 'She asked me if she could stay with me and I said I'm sorry I couldn't let you stay with me because I really don't know you for a start,' the aunt (pictured) of Tiahleigh's classmate said The woman then contacted the Thorburns, and received a text from Julene (left) advising she would come and collect her from the nearby home, where it is alleged Trent Thorburn, 19, (right) had been having sex with her when his parents were out of the house It has also been alleged in court Trent may have impregnated the young school girl 'Thank you and if she is worried about it tell her that just Julene is coming and she isn't in trouble,' the text message obtained by 7 News read. The next time the woman heard from the Thorburns was on the morning Rick Thorburn told police he had dropped the 12-year-old off at school in her uniform and carrying a mambo backpack. She received a text from Julene, who has been charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice, at about 1.30pm on October 30 stating she was concerned as Tiahleigh had disappeared from school. The next time the woman heard from the Thorburns was on the morning Rick told police he had dropped the 12-year-old off at school in her uniform and carrying a mambo backpack But police now allege Tiahleigh never made it to school and was slaughtered by her foster father at their family home (pictured) before her naked body was dumped in the Pimpana river The 12-year-old's body was so badly decomposed police have struggled to determine how she died 'Hi its Tia's foster mum Julene. Tia has run from school again first thing this morning if you hear anything or if anyone has seen her today could you let me know,' the text read, adding in a further message that police had 'no leads' on her whereabouts. But police now allege Tiahleigh never made it to school and was slaughtered by her foster father at their family home in Chambers Flat, Logan, before her naked body was dumped in the Pimpana river. It took 11 months before any arrests were made in relation to Tiahleigh's death. Trent admitted to a cousin via Facebook that he had incestuous sex with Tiahleigh and feared he impregnated her a day before his father is accused of killing the school girl, a court has heard. But police did not pick up the admission during their initial investigations and only obtained the critical piece of evidence this month, despite the family facing a Crime and Corruption Commission hearing earlier this year. the Australian reported. The family were taken into custody shortly after a blue Ford XR6 previously owned by Rick Thorburn was seized and forensically examined last week. Rick Thorburn was arrested on Wednesday and collapsed while in police custody after being charged with Tiahleigh's murder and interfering with her corpse Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and another son, Josh, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Foster father Rick Thorburn was arrested on Wednesday and collapsed while in police custody after being charged with Tiahleigh's murder and interfering with her corpse. He was placed in a medically induced coma and denied bail before regaining consciousness on Thursday. His youngest son Trent was charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice. The 19-year-old was also denied bail but is expected to reapply in the Supreme Court. Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and another son, Josh, 20, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. They have been released on bail and will face court on October 10. Donald Trump doubled down on his support of stop-and-frisk, saying it could curb gun violence in Chicago like it did in New York. 'It's worse than some of the places we're hearing about, like Afghanistan, a war torn nation,' Trump said of the Windy City. 'It's more dangerous.' Trump talked law and order this morning with the hosts of 'Fox & Friends' in light of the unrest in Charlotte and the continued high homicide rate in Chicago. Scroll down for video Donald Trump called into 'Fox & Friends' this morning and doubled down on his support for the controversial policing policy, stop-and-frisk A recent Forbes article had compared shooting deaths in Chicago to the country's war dead in Iraq and Afghanistan, pointing out that the former had now eclipsed the latter when counted from 2001 until today. In Chicago, 7,916 people had been murdered, while 6,888 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq since those wars began. 'Chicago is out of control,' Trump noted, though reminded viewers that his hometown of New York has been there before. The Donald pointed to one of his chief surrogates, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, along with his Republican-turned-independent-turned-Hillary-Clinton-supporting successor Michael Bloomberg, as mayors who did things right for New York and could be models for Chicago. Bloomberg's successor, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, campaigned on getting rid of stop-and-frisk, a controversial policy that allowed police to search individuals they deemed suspicious, which translated into black and Latino neighborhoods being disproportionately targeted. Because of the criticism police departments in New York, Newark and Chicago have curtailed its use. Clearly not realizing that Chicago has used stop-and-frisk in the past, Trump yesterday called for its use. 'I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to,' Trump said at a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity, which will air in full tonight. He repeated that statement this morning. 'I think Chicago needs stop-and-frisk,' the billionaire said. 'People can criticize me ... you have to do something.' Host Ainsley Earhardt asked the Republican candidate to describe what it is to viewers who don't live in urban areas and thus may not be familiar. 'If they see a person with a gun or they think they have a gun, they'll look and they'll take the gun away,' Trump said. De Blasio promptly went after Trump upon hearing of his support for stop-and-frisk. Trump, the New York City mayor said, is 'either ignorant of the history of the city or hes lying about it.' 'Trump doesn't understand the communities he's talking about,' de Blasio continued. 'Hes a pampered billionaire. He has no connection to the people hes talking about. He has no experience in the black community or any other inner city community.' When Trump called into the morning show Thursday he was immediately asked about the latest spat of violence between Black Lives Matter protesters and law enforcement in Charlotte, North Carolina. 'It's wow, there we go again,' Trump uttered. 'It's very said.' Trump contended that Americans are divided. 'It's getting worse,' he added. Summing up the greater problem with race relations Trump said, 'it just seems that there's a lack of spirit between the white and the black.' He repeated the term 'spirit' when asked how he would, as president, settle matters between the police and Black Lives Matter. 'You have to have law and order and, at the same time, you have to have a certain spirit, a certain unity, there's no unity,' he said. 'You look at the level of hatred, the rocks being thrown, everything happening, it's so sad to see.' 'There has to be a unity message that has to get out and it starts with leadership,' he concluded. Cheryl Brown Henderson, the youngest daughter of the named plaintiff in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case which ended legally-sanctioned school segregation, has signed a letter calling on the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people to reject a moratorium on charter schools proposed by its members. Two charter school advocacy groups, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Black Alliance for Educational Options, organized a group of 160 black educators, advocates, lawmakers, and religious leadersincluding Henderson to sign the letter, which was sent to the NAACP Wednesday morning. The national board of the NAACP is expected to decide on whether to approve the resolution in October. Hendersons father, Oliver L. Brown, was among the group of black parents in Topeka, Kansas, who became plaintiffs in the NAACPs lawsuit that ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning racial segregation in public schools in 1954. Heres the full letter: Henderson, who founded the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research , recently spoke with Education Week about the ongoing impact of the Brown decision : Earlier this summer, members of the NAACP approved a proposal to call for a moratorium on new charter schools . The members cited concerns over discipline and segregation within charter schools, among many other issues. Having one of the nations most powerful and prominent civil rights organizations say that charter schools are bad for African-American students and should not be allowed to expand has been a blow to the charter movement and exposed a rift in opinion among African- Americans on charter schools. (I wrote fairly extensively on that topic in this story here ). A separate coalition of civil rights groups, including Black Lives Matter, issued a separate call to halt the spread of charter schools for many of the same reasons cited by NAACP members. Along with the letter, the Black Alliance for Educational Options and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, are also launching a PR campaign to counter whats been a tough stretch of publicity. Called ChartersWork, the effort will focus on elevating Black voices and stakeholders from the civil rights and charter communities, dispelling myths and putting the focus of this conversation back on what works for children, according to a joint press release put out by the two pro-charter groups. No specifics, yet, on what, exactly, that will include. Charter school advocates have been playing some defense in recent months. After comedian John Oliver devoted his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver to issues of fraud in the charter sector, the Center on Education reform launched a video contest called Hey John Oliver, Back Off My Charter School. The prize for the video that best highlights how charter schools have helped families, teachers and communities, will get $100,000. Related stories: The wife of chicken shop terrorist Ahmad Khan Rahami is back in the United States. Asia Bibi Rahami landed in New York City Wednesday night on a flight from the Arab Emirates, after voluntarily agreeing to return to the U.S. Mrs Rahami left the country days before her husband went on a rampage, setting off bombs in New Jersey and New York City before getting into a shootout with police on Monday. Her plan was to travel to her home country of Pakistan, but that was flouted when U.S. officials stopped her in Dubai on Monday. Asia Bibi Rahami (pictured above) returned to the U.S. on Wednesday night on a plane from the United Arab Emirates Meanwhile, her husband Ahmad Khan Rahami remains unconscious in the hospital after his shootout with police on Monday (pictured above on Monday) However, she is said to be cooperating with U.S. officials and is not considered a suspect. Investigators believe she may be able to shed light on her husband's radicalization. Meanwhile, Rahami himself is sedated as he continues to recover in the hospital from his injuries in Monday's shootout in Linden, New Jersey. The FBI said Wednesday that Rahami remains unconscious and intubated at University Hospital in Newark and is unlikely to be moved anytime soon. It emerged that he was more seriously injured than initially reported in the police shoot-out. He was shot 11 times. One bullet narrowly missed his vital organs. Doctors have not yet cleared him for questioning, but that could happen as soon as today. In a blood-soaked journal found on Rahami when he was captured, he pledges allegiance to al-Qaeda and ISIS leaders A man believed to be Rahami was caught on surveillance footage placing two pressure cooker bombs on nearby streets in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on Saturday. One of the devices exploded, injuring 29 innocent bystanders. The other device failed and it was a fingerprint on the pot that led investigators to Rahami. Just hours before the Manhattan incident, a pipe bomb went off in Seaside Park, New Jersey, where a military charity run was set to take place. No one was injured in that incident. And on Sunday, when law enforcement were searching for Rahami, two homeless men found a backpack filled with five pipe bombs in a trash can near the Elizabeth, New Jersey train station. A bomb robot was brought in to deactivate those devices, and no one was injured. Rahami will be questioned about all three incidents. FBI investigators collect evidence at the scene of the Chelsea bombing on Sunday, the morning after the explosion U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, center left, answers a question as he stands outside the First American Fried Chicken restaurant owned by the Rahami family on Tuesday He was finally taken into custody on Monday, when a bar owner in Linden, New Jersey found him passed out in the vestibule of his bar. The owner called police, and Rahami started shooting at the responding officers. However, the officers were able to bring Rahami down with a few of their own shots, and he was taken from the scene in the stretcher. At the time, he appeared to sport a gunshot wound to his led and his shoulder. He was conscious when he was taken into custody. Investigators are currently trying to determine whether Rahami carried out the attacks as a lone wolf or whether he was working with anyone else or received training abroad. Of particular interest is his travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he met and married his wife in 2011. Rahami traveled to the region again in 2013, staying for nearly a year. At the end of his trip, he petitioned a U.S. congressman for help with his then-pregnant wife's visa to return to the U.S. with him. Investigators believe he may have received terrorist training in Pakistan, where he visited the Taliban stronghold of Quetta. Though the Taliban has denied any responsibility for the attacks in New York and New Jersey. The New York explosive devices contained aluminum powder, ammonium nitrate and HMTD - a chemical used in multiple terrorist plots against the West including the July 7, 2005, London bombings - by al Qaeda, CNN reports. Investigators believe that Rahami's use of the chemical indicates overseas training as there have been very few 'lone wolf' attacks have successfully used the tricky substance. Horrifying new footage shows terrified people running for their lives as bomb rips through New York's Chelsea neighborhood The shock and terror of those caught in Saturday's blast in Manhattan has been revealed in full for the first time by newly released security footage. CCTV recordings along West 23rd Street in Chelsea, where a bomb believed to have been left by Ahmad Khan Rahami, detonated at 8.30pm, show people's daily lives thrown into chaos by the explosion. Caught in a flash of light and a whirlwind of debris, many drop down clutching their ears. Others turn and flee in a blind panic. Stampede: Crowds were left in a mad stampede to get away from the scene of Saturday's explosion in Chelsea, Manhattan, as this newly released footage shows Everything changed in a split second: This pair are caught on surveillance footage making their way down a sidewalk in Chelsea seconds before the explosion (left) then (right) the blinding light of the moment of detonation Blast: The CCTV video shows people suddenly gripped by terror, clutching their ears due to the sheer volume of the blast There are other stories, too: A disabled man, unable to join the stampede, spiraling in his electric wheelchair. And what appears to be an older person who falls to the ground before being helped up by a man who runs back toward the blast to help. The video also shows the two men wanted by police for questioning after they apparently found a bag containing an undetonated bomb on West 27th Street, took the bag and left the bomb behind. Police say they would like to question the men about what they saw. Iveta Nemcova, pictured, has been involved in a landmark case in the Upper Tribunal's Land Chamber over renting out her Enfield flat on Airbnb Thousands of flat owners who rent out their homes on websites like Airbnb are likely to be breaking the law, a court has ruled. Homeowners whose leases state their properties can be used 'as a private residence only' cannot rent out their homes short term, the country's highest property court decided, depending on the conditions of their lease. The 'private residence only' clause is a common feature of leases, lawyers say, with an estimated four million leaseholders in Britain. The ruling, by the Upper Tribunal's Land Chamber, is likely to be a blow to Airbnb, as it means thousands of their 'hosts' may be renting their homes in breach of the law. It comes as the American company fights claims that it is pushing up UK house prices by enabling landlords to turn residential homes into unregistered 'pseudo-hotels'. The leasehold ruling was made after a Slovakian interior designer and property developer fell out with neighbours at a riverside housing development in Enfield, north London. Iveta Nemcova's neighbours had become concerned about strangers regularly staying in the one bedroom, first floor flat. They asked the block's freeholder to take action. In court, Ms Nemcova admitted renting out her property on the Airbnb, TripAdvisor and holidaylettings.com websites - as well as on her own lettings site. Neighbours of Ms Nemcova complained about strangers 'constantly' coming in and out of the flat, pictured on the holiday home rental website, But she argued that she had remained within her lease's 'private residence use' clause because she paid the flat's council tax and bills and because she stayed there 'three or four days a week'. Ms Nemcova also pointed out that her lease contained no explicit bar on her charging people to stay in her flat short term while she wasn't staying there. Earlier this month, the country's highest property court, the Upper Tribunal's Land Division, disagreed. 'In order for a property to be used as the occupier's private residence, there must be a degree of permanence going beyond being there for a weekend or a few nights in the week', Judge Stuart Bridge ruled. 'Granting very short term lettings (days and weeks rather than months) [....] necessarily breaches the covenant [not to use the property as anything other than a private residence]', he said. Giles Peaker, property specialist at Anthony Gold solicitors, said Judge Bridge's ruling has 'huge significance' for short term lettings companies such as Airbnb. A judge ruled homes which are 'private residences only' cannot be rented out short-term. Pictured is Ms Nemcova's flat on Airbnb Millions of leases in the UK contain a clause stating the residence is for 'private use only'. Pictured is Ms Nemcova's flat on Airbnb 'In terms of practical consequences, this is serious for Airbnb', he said, 'mainly because the 'private residence' clause is a common, but not universal, feature of leases. 'While the tribunal's ruling does not affect people who rent out rooms while they too are staying in the property, it is likely to affect the thousands who rent out whole properties on services like Airbnb. 'This is clear and binding authority that a lease covenant to only use a property as 'a private residence' is breached by short term, holiday, or Airbnb style letting. 'Anyone doing Airbnb lettings in a leasehold flat should immediately check their lease, because if the freeholder decides to take action for a finding of breach of lease on that clause, this is a clear precedent that such a use would certainly be a breach. 'And the consequence of breaching a leasehold agreement are serious. You can face legal proceedings, be forced to pay legal costs and ultimately may have to forfeit your lease.' Ms Nemcova, whose flat is pictured, argued she had remained within her lease's 'private residence use' clause because she paid the flat's council tax and bills and because she stayed there 'three or four days out of a week' Set up in 2008 in San Francisco, Airbnb is now the 23billion giant of the so-called 'sharing economy' with over two million homes and rooms available for rent around the world. While Airbnb does not make all its data public, the UK is one of its most popular destinations. Campaigners at data scraping organisation Inside Airbnb say Airbnb has 42,645 properties available for short term rent in London. Over half of these are listed as being 'entire homes and apartments', meaning visitors can stay in them while the owner is not there. A seven-month old child has died Wednesday after being left in a parked car outside NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, where temperatures climbed into the 90s. NASA spokeswoman Jennifer Stanfield said preliminary reports indicate that a parent intended to drop the infant off at the facility's childcare center in the morning and instead went straight to work. Stanfield said the deceased child's parent is a NASA employee. Heartbreaking find: A seven-month-old baby, the child of a NASA employee, was found dead in a car parked outside the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Wednesday The infant was found in the car at the NASA facility in Huntsville at around 4.45pm Wednesday according to al.com. Stanfield said in a statement that federal authorities will investigate the baby's death because Marshall Space Flight Center is on Redstone Arsenal, a federal installation. Names were being withheld Thursday morning out of respect for the family and pending the notifications of next of kin. 'This is a tragic situation and our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family," said Marshall Director Todd May. 'The Marshall community is a family and I know this team will pull together to support one another in this difficult time.' The National Weather Service recorded a high temperature of 94 degrees just before 3.40pm Wednesday at Huntsville's airport. Thirteen years ago he famously claimed he was just watching badgers after being confronted about visiting a notorious gay sex haunt. And shamed ex-Labour politician Ron Davies has now been accused of naughty business in the woods again - by allegedly sabotaging a mountain cycle path. The 70-year-old former Welsh Secretary was caught on camera accused of placing rocks and logs on the ground as booby traps to stop cyclists in Caerphilly. Filmed: Shamed ex-Labour politician Ron Davies has now been accused of naughty business in the woods again - by allegedly sabotaging a mountain cycle path Mr Davies admitted he was the man seen bending over the cycle path, but claimed the footage showed him clearing the path rather than blocking it. The former cabinet minister has become embroiled in a row that has broken out on the Caerphilly Mountain over cyclists and residents using the downhill route. Local walkers and environmentalists are upset at cyclists speeding down the route and taking over the path and making their own jumps. But cyclists say vandals have planted logs and rocks in their way, leaving them facing potential injury. Video footage released shows Mr Davies, now a trustee of the Caerphilly Woodlands Trust, on the path and crouched down in the dark. Video: The 70-year-old former Welsh Secretary was caught on camera accused of placing rocks and logs on the ground as booby traps to stop cyclists in Caerphilly Explanation: Mr Davies admitted he was the man seen bending over the cycle path, but claimed the footage showed him clearing the path rather than blocking it But Mr Davies said: I've never blocked or obstructed a footpath in my life. In fact, I've unblocked obstructions on a few and that's what I was doing when this covert video was taken. I was actually removing an obstacle from a footpath. I have spent all my life walking the footpaths in this part of the world. These woodlands are a treasure - there is a tremendous range of wildlife there. Ian Clarke, from Van Road Mountain Bikers, said: I can appreciate that maybe some people don't agree with the way we use the woods. Political career: Mr Davies famously quit Tony Blairs cabinet in 1998 after a moment of madness with a stranger at the well-known gay meeting place of Clapham Common But I think if you're putting other people in danger, that's a problem for us. Mr Davies famously quit Tony Blairs cabinet in 1998 after a moment of madness with a stranger at the well-known gay meeting place of Clapham Common. The politician claimed he met the man while out for a walk in South West London and agreed to go to dinner with him - before he was robbed at knifepoint. In 2003 he was forced to stand down from the Welsh Assembly after visiting a gay sex haunt off the M4 near Bath - but claimed he was just watching badgers. This is the bizarre moment a thief walks into a shop in China brandishing an umbrella and a white sheet to cloak their identity. The CCTV footage was taken on an in-store camera in the city of Liaoyang. It shows the cunning crook creeping their way slowly over to the goods, making sure not to be seen by the security surveillance. The astonishing moment an alleged thief in China makes their way slowly through a store - brandishing a huge umbrella A second camera appears to show the robber holding a large bag to store the stash. The crook has every angle covered, and it is practically impossible to identify them. They then make off with their plunder in the middle of the night. The crook has every angle covered, and it is practically impossible to identify their face The robbery was carried out on 13 September at around 2am. In the theft around 1000 worth of cigarettes was reportedly stolen. A former nanny to the children of Pink Floyd star David Gilmour claimed today she had no idea her partner of 20 years was an international cocaine baron. Anni Rowland, 52, is accused of acting as PA to drug dealer Kevin Hanley - counting and laundering his cash from her home in the picturesque town of Stow-on-the-Wold. Hanley, 53, a former grocer, was jailed last year after admitting smuggling millions of pounds worth of cocaine in shipments of watermelons, pomegranates and broccoli. But his former partner - whom he met at a lavish bash thrown on her behalf by her rock star employer - today insisted she never had anything to do with drugs. Anni Rowland, left, 52, is accused of helping former partner Kevin Hanley, right, 53, run a drugs operation but claims she never had anything to do with illegal substances When asked about her globe trotting lifestyle with the Gilmour family, she said: I was looking after four children. I was on-call 24 hours a day - it certainly wasnt party, party, party. I was going to concerts and things like that but I was staff. She told the Old Bailey she had met Hanley at her 30th birthday in 1992, which had been held on David Gilmours 1920s houseboat on the Thames. She said there had been over 300 guests, because she had a joint party with the daughter of the Deep Purple keyboard player, Jon Lord. Prosecutor Richard Jory QC asked: What was Mr Hanley doing for Pink Floyd? Supplying them fruit and veg? She replied he had only been introduced to her as Kevin and shed been told he was a friend of a friend. Rowland denied knowing her boyfriend was a drug dealer, even though he was jailed for supplying cocaine in 2001. She herself was jailed in 2006 for helping him stash the cocaine in a safe house in the New Forest. In evidence today she repeatedly denied any involvement in the 2006 charge, claiming she only pleaded guilty so she could get back to their young son as soon as possible. Rowland insisted Hanley and stripped her of her confidence and twisted everything. Rowland is a former nanny to the children of Pink Floyd guitarist and co-lead vocalist David Gilmour, pictured Its only after Ive been arrested that Ive been furnished with all this information and Ive found out its all been lies. He said he was in fruit and veg and hed been set up and it was nothing for me to worry about and we argued and argued. He would convince me. He just had this ability to twist things and I would end up apologising. And its in all the [legal] papers and he still denies it - not that Ive spoken to him for more than two years, but he still says he was stitched up.. I stopped believing when I read everything that was in those papers, but then he would still come up with something feasible and I would still believe him. I just feel very stupid and hurt. I stopped all contact with him. She said that Hanley would always promise to make things up to her, and told her that he would quit the fruit and veg industry and they would have a pub in the country. He stripped me of my confidence. He always told me that no one would love me like he loved me and no one would love me because Id been in prison. He always had all the lies and I wanted to believe him. All this - its all been a lie. Twenty years of a lie. I never agreed with anyone to supply anything, she said. I was counting money that I thought was legitimate money from fruit and veg. So yes I counted money, but I never laundered any money. I kept everything relating to him for years. It was my shrine to him. It was so stupid, she said. What was Mr Hanley doing for Pink Floyd? Supplying them fruit and veg? Prosecutor Richard Jory QC After his release from prison for the 2001 cocaine charge, Hanley set up two shell fruit and veg companies - ICC 2009 Ltd and Paris Western - to act as a front for his drug ring. But investigators found that he hadnt declared a penny of legitimate income to HMRC. His empire was smashed by the National Crime Agency after a massive surveillance operation which included bugging his home in Fulham. He was juggling two women - Rowland and glamorous Greek television presenter Chrysi Minadaki, 45, who has also been jailed for her role in the conspiracy. Minadaki would travel with him all over the world to negotiate the drug deals, while Rowland was busily organising his flights and his accommodation. She would also transfer him large sums of cash for his business dealings, it is said. Today, she said she never knew exactly where he was or who he was with and would always give her a feasible explanation of why he needed cash, flights or hotels. When asked about Chrysi Minadaki she said: It was the first time I met her.. She was really rude. 'In my head she was this beautiful Greek goddess and she wasnt and I apologised to him for accusing him of anything. Rowland told the Old Bailey, pictured, she was simply counting money she believed ex-grocer Hanley obtained legally through his fruit and veg dealings She described her love rival as A woman with a beard. Officers raided the Chelsea home of co-conspirator John Fowler, 58, on November 24, 2012, and recovered 2m in cash, around 2.5m worth of top grade cocaine, 100,000 of amphetamines and 61,000 of skunk cannabis. Prosecutor Mr Jory said the drugs ring involved dozens of people across the world and was well planned and well organised. Rowland commuted with her son between the Cotswolds town and London, the Old Bailey heard, while Minadaki had a plush flat in Cadogan Square in Westminster. Mr Jory said: Ms Rowland booked flights and accommodation for Hanley and Fowler around Europe. She made charges for payment where money became due. She arranged for the transfer of money to Hanley when he needed it, for example when he was travelling abroad. She was a woman with a beard Anni Rowland on her love rival She occasionally attended meetings with him and was present with him in September 2014 when the prosecution say there was a decision made that was picked up on a secret listening device about drug arrangements and procedural matters. Her finger prints were found in due course on items, including the 2 million in cash. There were also writings and notes indicating that she was familiar with cash - perhaps counting the cash and making a note of the quantities stored at Mr Fowlers address. It appears to be, at least at one stage, a safe house for cash and property in this criminal conspiracy. Rowland, of Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, denies conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis and money laundering. Given the rash of school shootings in the United States, one Texas district is taking no chances. Administrators at Medina Independent School District posted a sign in front of their school saying: 'Please be aware that the staff at Medina ISD may be armed and will use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.' The school, which is an hour's drive northwest from San Antonio, enrolls about 300 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Officials there say that they have received no concrete threat to the school that would necessitate posting the sign. The sign posted at the entrance to the Medina Independent School District on Wednesday warns any possible assailants against violence on school grounds Rather, it was more a reaction to the 'general environment nationally.' 'I think that anybody who might have a thought about harming someone in mind might think twice about it,' school superintendent Penny White told KSAT-TV. White said that the sign was aimed not just at potential shooters but also anyone who may resort to violence on school grounds, like divorcing parents seeking to take their children without consent. 'You never know if there's a transient or someone who has zeroed in on harming a child,' White said. School superintendent Penny White (right) would not say if any of her staff members are armed. One parent, Jillian Sides (left), says she is in favor of the sign She said the school's remote rural location was also a motivating factor. 'We're 20 minutes or 25 minutes from Bandera,' she told KSAT. 'That's our closest law enforcement.' The sign appears to be deliberately ambiguous, since it says that staff 'may be' armed. When White was asked by KSAT if any of her employees were armed, she played it coy. The school grounds (seen above) are located 20 minutes from the nearest town with law enforcement, which may explain why the district decided to take precautionary measures 'We don't divulge anything about our safety plan, because it would compromise that plan,' she said. Parents of students said they were in favor of the signs, more of which will go up at other entrances to the school. 'Schools have been a target for, for lack of a better word, crazy people, and I'm perfectly fine with it (the sign),' said Jillian Sides, who has two sons, one in 7th grade and one in kindergarten, at the school. One parent, though, said she had her misgivings. Hungary's controversial prime minister has called for the EU to round up 'illegal immigrants' and deport them to a guarded island refugee camp. Viktor Orban suggested they should be 'rounded up and shipped out' to 'an island or some shore of North Africa' where they can make their asylum applications. It is the latest hard-line comment from Orban, whose government has been criticised by rights groups for stirring up xenophobia and intolerance. Hungary's controversial prime minister Viktor Orban (pictured) has called for the EU to round up 'illegal immigrants' and deport them to a guarded island refugee camp His government has already ordered the construction of a razor wire fence along Hungary's southern border. In an interview with the website Origo.hu, he continued his tough rhetoric claiming illegal immigrants should be assembled in EU-supervised refugee camps beyond the bloc's borders while they are filing for asylum. He said: 'This could be an island, it could be a coastal area in North Africa, but the security and supplies of that area must be guaranteed by the EU in its own interest. 'Those who came illegally must be rounded up and shipped out. 'We must set up large refugee camps outside the EU, with armed security and financial support provided by the Union. Everyone who came illegally must return there. There they can file for asylum.' He said this was a 'grave moral task' that was the only alternative to the migrants staying in Europe and being relocated around the continent, creating further problems. Orban's government has already ordered the construction of a razor wire fence (pictured) along Hungary's southern border Resettlements were an exercise in futility as those who wanted to be in Germany would promptly return there after resettlement, he said. 'There is only one solution that befits everyone, including us who are not yet in trouble because we defended ourselves and countries like Germany which are in trouble: Taking (migrants) out of the Union.' He reiterated that the external borders of the EU must be strengthened to prevent a repeat of the 2015 flow of migrants. 'Borders must be used, because they protect us,' he said. 'Some imagine a globe without borders...I am one of those who would not like to see the civilisation of the world change.' The Hungarian government is sponsoring a referendum to be held on October 2 to build political support for its opposition to any future EU quotas to resettle migrants among member states. Orban said in the interview that it is unfair for Germany to try to distribute migrants among other EU countries, and that it should set a limit on the number of migrants that it will take in. It is the latest hard-line comment from Orban, whose government has been criticised by rights groups for stirring up xenophobia and intolerance The comments come as Britain raised concerns with Hungary over a description of areas of London, Paris and Brussels as 'no-go' areas dominated by illegal immigrants who increase the risk of militant attacks. Ahead of the October referendum in Hungary, the country released an official leaflet setting out the government's case for voting 'No', including its views on the impact of migration on major Western cities. In one section, under the title 'Forced resettlement poses a threat to our culture and traditions', the leaflet includes a map of Europe detailing - in red - what it said were no-go areas where the authorities could not keep control. Cities so identified included London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin. Other pages of the leaflet include a section on how 'Illegal immigration increases the terror threat'. 'Immigrants mostly come from areas where European countries are carrying out military actions. This greatly increases the security risk,' the Hungarian leaflet said. 'Terrorists deliberately and in a well-organised fashion take advantage of the lack of control to melt into the crowds of immigrants.' Britain's embassy in Budapest raised concerns about the leaflet. 'This leaflet is clearly inaccurate,' a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said. EU chief Martin Schulz piled the pressure on Theresa May today as he told her to start the formal process of leaving the EU as soon as possible. The European Parliament president made the brash ultimatum as he jetted into Downing Street for his first meeting with Mrs May since she became Prime Minister, telling her that Britain must be out in time for the MEP elections in May 2019. In a thinly veiled threat Mr Schulz said it would not do any good to Britain's interests if the UK public were voting for new MEPs while negotiations to leave the bloc were still ongoing. Speaking tonight, Boris Johnson signalled that Article 50 would be triggered in the early part of next year. EU chief Martin Schulz piled the pressure on Theresa May today as he told her to start the former process of leaving the EU as soon as possible. European Parliament president Martin Schulz (left) visited UK Prime Minister Theresa May (right) in Downing Street this afternoon and said MEPs want the 'earliest possible triggering of Article 50' - the formal process for leaving the EU Mrs May must trigger the clause to start the formal process for cutting ties with Brussels and doing so sets a two-year limit on completing Britain's departure. Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny revealed yesterday that British ministers had indicated Mrs May would start the process in January or February next year, which would fit Mr Schulz's timetable. But Downing Street refused to comment on the timing of triggering Article 50, signalling it will not be cowed by the EU's threats. In a statement issued ahead of his meeting with Mrs May at Downing Street, Mr Schulz said: 'The future deal between the EU and the UK must be good for all sides and must be one which allows the UK and the EU to keep working closely together on various aspects. 'The UK has decided to leave the EU but it will continue to be a European country with values and geopolitical interests which are common to the rest of the continent. Martin Schulz told Mrs May that Britain should be out of the EU in time for the European Parliament elections in May 2019 as the pair met in Downing Street today (pictured) 'I will also reiterate that the four freedoms of the single market - goods, capital, services and persons - are equally important. 'In London I will also stress why the European Parliament favours the earliest possible triggering of Article 50, which is a pre-condition to opening negotiations.' Enda Kenny (pictured) said Brexit Secretary David Davies and Norther Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire had indicated during talks in recent weeks that the UK Government will trigger Article 50 early next year However he said he 'understands that the British government wants to take its time'. Mr Schulz, a member of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats who leads the 28-nation EU's legislative assembly, is on a two-day trip to the UK for a series of talks on Brexit, with talks scheduled with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Yesterday Mr Kenny said Britain's Brexit Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire had indicated Britain would trigger Article 50 in January or February next year. This would pave the way for Britain to officially cut ties with Brussels by early 2019. However Downing Street refused to comment on 'private conversations'. Last week Number 10 dismissed reports Mrs May had told EU Council president that she plans to trigger Article 50 in January or February, despite his claims that she had done. Mr Tusk claimed in a meeting with the remaining 27 states that Mrs May had revealed her planned timetable to begin the formal process of Brexit in the first two months of 2017. Downing Street insisted his comments were merely an 'interpretation' of Mrs May's remarks to Mr Tusk. Theresa May (pictured with Barack Obama a the UN in New York earlier this week) has said she will not trigger Article 50 this year. Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny said ministers had indicated Britain will start the Brexit process in January or February Enda Kenny said Brexit Secretary David Davis (left) and Norther Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire (right) had indicated during talks in recent weeks that the UK Government will trigger Article 50 early next year EU leaders met without Britain for the first time in Bratislava at the weekend and have made clear there will be no concessions on free movement of people in return for keeping Britain inside the single market after Brexit. candidate may not have been joking as she answered one of his questions by saying: 'I really regret doing this?' It was supposed to be a chance to show just how relaxed and funny she is - and reach the elusive millennial audience she is struggling to engage. Instead Hillary Clinton ended up savaged and almost speechless as her surprise appearance on Zach Galifianakis' Funny or Die interview program 'Between Two Ferns' saw her asked if she thought she should copy Donald Trump's tactics - and mocked about her email. The comedian also interpreted her secretary of state title to mean that she was an actual secretary, asking the Democratic nominee how Obama liked his coffee 'like himself?.... Weak' - and what her typing speed was. Clinton, according to reporting from Politico, was inspired by President Obama's use of the program to get young people to sign up for Obamacare and thus pitched her own appearance herself. Scroll down for video Hillary Clinton sat down with Zach Galifianakis for an episode of 'Between Two Ferns.' The chyron introducing her shows her name misspelled and notes she 'had pneumonia' 'It was actually her idea, strangely enough,' the web series' producer, comedian Scott Aukerman, told Politico's Hadas Gold. 'She told her team she wanted to do it and that she really liked the one with President Obama, so that kind of made the process really easy.' 'We didn't have to go through the hoops we sometimes have to go through in order to even get Hollywood people to do it,' Aukerman added. Aukerman said that the interview was mostly improvised, with Clinton, at one point, almost whispering her plans about what she would do if she loses the election in November after Galifianakis wrong-footed her badly. 'When he's elected president and Kid Rock becomes secretary of state, are you going to move to Canada? Or one of the Arctics?' Galifianakis asked the former secretary of state. She quietly answered that she would stay in the United States. 'I would try to prevent him from destroying the United States,' she said of Trump. 'So you're going to lead the civil war?' Galifianakis asked. Clinton answered in the negative. 'I wouldn't take up arms. I think that might be a little extreme,' she stated. Zach Galifianakis also wanted to know what happens if Donald Trump wins the White House and makes rocker Kid Rock his secretary of state 'Oh, right, because you were saying before we were rolling that you wanted to take away everyone's guns,' Galifianakis joked. 'I really regret doing this,' Clinton replied. You were saying before we were rolling that you wanted to take away everyone's guns Galifianakis to Clinton Clinton was following in President Obama's footsteps by taking a gamble and going on the show, which is popular with millennials, a voting bloc that the Democratic nominee needs to excite in order to win the White House. I really regret doing this Clinton to Galifianakis As a comedian and not a journalist, Galifianakis was allowed to bring up a number of uncomfortable topics from her emails, to her flip-flopping on TPP. The segment started out with the comedian trying to spook Clinton by creeping up on her wearing a Halloween mask, which got him promptly tackled by the 'Secret Service.' Introducing his guest, Clinton's name, which is misspelled, is briefly flashed onscreen with the identifier 'had pneumonia' underneath it. Clinton did have pneumonia when the interview was taped, Friday, Sept. 9, the same day the Democrat got the diagnosis from her doctor and two days before she nearly collapsed at Ground Zero, leaving a memorial service for the 9/11 dead. 'We kind of went, "she had pneumonia?!,"' Aukerman said. 'We couldn't believe it. The one clue we had was that she was drinking hot water.' The comedian wanted to know if Hillary Clinton had put any thought into what she - or Donald Trump - might wear to Monday's presidential debate Hillary Clinton said she thought Trump would wear his 'red power tie.' To which Zach Galifianakis replied: 'Or maybe like a white power tie' To begin the interview Galifianakis pointed out, 'Critics have questioned some of your decision-making recently and by you doing this show I hope it finally lays that to rest.' 'Oh, I think it absolutely proves their case, don't you?' a deadpan Clinton said back. Galifianakis asked Clinton her thoughts on becoming the first 'girl president,' though also noted how for 'a younger, younger generation, you'll become their first white president.' THE LINES KEPT COMING... Galifianakis: For a younger, younger generation, you'll become their first white president. Clinton: Silence Galifianakis: What happens if you become pregnant? Are we going to be stuck with Tim Kaine for nine months? Clinton: I could send you some pamphlets that might help you understand Galifianakis: When you see how well it works for Donald Trump do you ever think to yourself, 'oh maybe I should be more racist?' Clinton: Silence Galifianakis: And now, a word from our sponsor (A lengthy Trump video follows) Clinton: Why would you play a commercial for my opponent in the middle of our interview? Galifianakis: Well this has been a lot of fun Mrs. Clinton, we should stay in touch, what's the best way to reach you? Email? Clintin: Silence Advertisement She didn't respond. 'As secretary how many words could you type? And how does President Obama like his coffee? Like himself weak,' Galifianakis asked. Clinton suggested the comedian should get out more. 'Those are really out-of-date questions,' she offered. He continued down the same path. 'What happens if you become pregnant? Are we going to be stuck with Tim Kaine for nine months? How does this work?' the comedian asked. 'I could send you some pamphlets that might help you understand,' Clinton said. At another point the comedian said he wanted to know who made Clinton's pant suits. 'Oh really?' she said smiling. 'Yeah, because for Halloween I wanted to go as a librarian from outer space,' he said. The 'Between Two Ferns' host also asked Clinton if she knew what she was wearing to the debates, which kick off Monday night. Clinton pointed out that there was something called the 'double standard,' which makes people focus on what the first female major party nominee would be wearing, over that of Trump. Hearing this, Galifianakis followed up by asking if she had given any thought to what Trump might wear to the debates. 'I assume he'll wear that red power tie,' she said. 'Or maybe like a white power tie,' Galifianakis offered. 'That's even more appropriate,' Clinton replied, grinning. Galifianakis also pointed out how Clinton was for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal Obama supports that her primary rival Sen. Bernie Sanders was against, but then decided she was against it. He asked if she was 'down with TPP,' to which Clinton replied, 'I'm not down with TPP.' 'No, you're supposed to say, "Yeah, you know me," like the hip-hop group,' Galifianakis instructed. 'Don't tell me what to say,' Clinton said, again with a deadpan expression. 'Fine, lose, the country goes to shit,' Galifianakis said. 'When you see how well it works for Donald Trump do you ever think to yourself, "oh maybe I should be more racist?"' Clinton didn't reply to that one either. He also asked about Trump's wedding, which Clinton attended with her husband ex-President Bill Clinton in 2005. Zach Galifianakis asked Hillary Clinton what would happen if she became pregnant in the White House, prompting the Democrat to say she could send him some 'pamphlets' Galifianakis noted the friendship between Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump, asking Clinton if she knew whether Ivanka would ring up Chelsea to talk about 'boys' who have crushes on her 'like her dad?' 'I don't think so,' Clinton said. He then got Clinton talking about the economy, before saying it was time for a commercial break. He played one of Trump's new campaign ads. 'Why would you play a commercial for my opponent in the middle of our interview?' Clinton asked. Galifianakis replied that he had been paid in steaks. 'I'd be afraid to eat them if I were you,' she noted. 'It's a good cut of meat. I think it's part of the asshole,' he said. With time running out, Galifianakis asked how they could do this again. 'Well this has been a lot of fun Mrs. Clinton, we should stay in touch, what's the best way to reach you? Email?' he asked. The Dignity in Schools Campaign called for the removal of law enforcement from schools Wednesday in a policy document that also calls for new forms of discipline and student supports, such as restorative justice programs. The coalition is made up of over 100 organizations in 27 states and the District of Columbia representing students, parents, advocates, and educators that promote alternatives to a culture of zero-tolerance, punishment, criminalization, and the dismantling of public schools. Its position paper, Counselors Not Cops: Ending the Regular Presence of Law Enforcement in Schools, comes a few weeks after federal officials released new resources, calling on schools to limit the roles of school-based officers and to ban their involvement in routine disciplinary issues that they said would be better addressed by school administrators. The federal guidance also called for better training and more carefully worded agreements between law enforcement agencies and schools. But those recommendations didnt go far enough, the Dignity in Schools Campaign said, calling for the removal of designated, on-site officers altogether. The presence of police in schools has escalated dramatically in the last several decades, and the figures on arrests and referrals to law enforcement show disproportionate targeting of Black and Latino students and students with disabilities, the coalition said in a news release. This is just one aspect of the school-to-prison pipeline, where some students are denied an opportunity to succeed, and instead are pushed out of school and into the juvenile or criminal justice system. Black students were more than twice as likely to be referred to law enforcement or arrested at school than their white peers in 2013-14, according to the latest data from the Education Departments office for civil rights. Civil rights advocates have said problems created by officers implicit biases and poorly defined roles within a school are exacerbated by broad school disciplinary codes and state laws that ban acts like defiant behavior, under which students are often inconsistently disciplined. In addition to removing on-site officers, schools should carefully define the purpose of police that are called to the school to respond to calls, the Dignity in Schools Campaign said. On those rare occasions when it is appropriate for law enforcement to enter a school building, there should be agreements with police departments that limit the cases when law enforcement can be called in to a school, with particular safeguards in place to ensure students rights are protected, the organization said. The National Association of School Resource Officers, which trains and represents school-based police, largely agreed with the federal guidance. Like Education Secretary [John] King, we believe that administering formal school discipline belongs solely in the hands of educators, and that educators should be well trained to address behavioral issues through a variety of interventions that do not involve law enforcement officers, the organization said in a statement. Further reading about school police and school resource officers: Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox. The harrowing photos, some taken just 12 hours after the bomb was dropped, show scenes of Snaps were taken by Yosuke Yamahata, a Japanese military photographer who was Advertisement Haunting photographs taken the day after the Japanese city of Nagasaki was hit with an atomic bomb have emerged 70 years after being confiscated by American forces. The collection of poignant images taken by Yosuke Yamahata, a Japanese military photographer, show the flattened landscape, mass death and desperate plight of survivors immediately following the nuclear blast. Yamahata was tasked with documenting the destruction for propaganda purposes and arrived at the scene just 12 hours later. Scroll down for video The collection of poignant images taken by Yosuke Yamahata, a Japanese military photographer, show the flattened landscape, mass death and desperate plight of survivors immediately following the nuclear blast in Nagasaki, Japan Haunting photographs taken the day after the Japanese city of Nagasaki was hit with an atomic bomb have emerged 70 years after being confiscated by American forces Photographer Yosuke Yamahata, pictured in Shanghai in 1943 here, took the iconic snaps Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower (left), who later became president, shaking hands with General MacArthur, who played a prominent role in the war against Japan. The photo, taken in 1946, shows a rare moment of tenderness between the two men, who are widely known to have disliked each other later on Supreme Commander Eisenhower carrying out inspection in the historic snaps, which have not seen the light of day for 70 years Yamahata was tasked with documenting the destruction for propaganda purposes and arrived at the scene just 12 hours later His haunting photographs encapsulated the devastation left behind by the atomic bomb They were requisitioned following a direct order from General Douglas MacArthur to seize and destroy any such pictures to shield the true scale of the carnage from the public back at home The full album contains 24 photographs developed from Yamahata's original negatives Some of his photographs, which became iconic after featuring in a 1952 edition of Life Magazine, are considered the most complete record of the attack's aftermath. However some were confiscated by an unidentified US military policeman in the months that followed, never to be seen again until now Some of his photographs, which became iconic after featuring in a 1952 edition of Life Magazine, are considered the most complete record of the attack's aftermath. However some were confiscated by an unidentified US military policeman in the months that followed, never to be seen again until now. They were requisitioned following a direct order from General Douglas MacArthur to seize and destroy any such pictures to shield the true scale of the carnage from the public back at home. But the military policeman kept hold of the images, which have since been acquired by a collector, and are now being sold in the US by RR Auction with an estimate of 38,000. The full album contains 24 photographs developed from Yamahata's original negatives. And of these 12 were never published because, unbeknownst to Yamahata at the time, they were taken using a defective shutter that created small black dots on the finished product and thus made them surplus to Yamahata's requirements. The lot also contains more than 200 photographs captured by the military policeman, including candid snaps of General MacArthur and President Dwight Eisenhower greeting troops and a personal account from Yamahata about the horrors he witnessed. The unidentified US military policeman who confiscated the photos (pictured, left) and an eerie picture of two Nagasaki survivors (pictured, right) In this article, published by a Japanese magazine in 1962, he says: 'I tried climbing up onto a small hill to look - all around, the city burned with what looked like little elf-fires, and the sky was blue and full of stars. 'It was a strangely beautiful scene. 'On my way, I began to hear the voices of dying people calling out, 'Water, give me water, please'. 'I stumbled over things in my path, such as the belly of a horse that had been charred to death. 'At 2am in the morning it was pitch dark so I couldn't see anything. But after sunrise I saw that the skin had been exposed was a reddish brownish colour. 'The victims faces were horribly inflamed. They brought to mind 'watermelon ghosts'. Even their eyes were burned. 'The blacks of the eyelids were red and swollen as though they had been turned inside out, and the edges of the eyes were yellow like the fat of a chicken. 'Blinded people groped their way forward with both hands extended in front of them.' Many of Yamahata's photographs were used in Japanese publications just a few weeks after the bombing. He died aged 48 in 1966 of cancer, which is believed to have been caused by extensive exposure to radiation. Many of Yamahata's photographs were used in Japanese publications just a few weeks after the bombing He died aged 48 in 1966 of cancer, which is believed to have been caused by extensive exposure to radiation In an article published by a Japanese magazine in 1962, the photographer said: 'I tried climbing up onto a small hill to look - all around, the city burned with what looked like little elf-fires, and the sky was blue and full of stars.' Many of Yamahata's photographs were used in Japanese publications just a few weeks after the bombing The US's nuclear strike against Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, came three days after a similar bomb was dropped on Hiroshima Robert Livingston, RR Auction's executive vice president, said: 'When you hold this album in your hands you get a feel for how powerful these images are. 'These are the originals, not retouched, not fixed and have rarely been seen in public before. 'They show us just how much of a devastating weapon this was, and what the atomic bomb bomb did to the human body is pretty gruesome and disturbing to see.' The US's nuclear strike against Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, came three days after a similar bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. These attacks resulted in the deaths of around 120,000 people. Japan surrendered six days later. Eight years old: Max Bagnall was living with his mother in Kent before she took him to Poland despite his father refusing permission A mother in Poland has been ordered to return her eight-year-old son to his British father after he went missing for six months. Max Bagnall, from Rochester, Kent, was taken away by his mother Jolanta Majda - and his father Alex has now not seen his son for more than a year. But a Polish judge has given legal custody to Mr Bagnall and demanded to speak to the maternal grandparents to try to trace the mother and son. Max was living with 31-year-old Majda in Medway before she took him to Poland despite his father refusing permission. The boy has now not been seen since March, despite a Polish court ruling he should be returned to his father. Police have now applied for a European arrest warrant for Majda, after they agreed there was enough evidence to charge her with abduction. Alert: A missing child poster was produced of Max (left) and his mother Jolanta Majda (right) Father and son: Max (left), from Rochester, Kent, was taken away by his mother Jolanta Majda - and his father Alex (right) has now not seen his son for more than a year Both the police and the Crown Prosecution Service have also been in contact with their Polish counterparts to discuss extraditing her once she is found. Now a Polish criminal court judge has asked for an investigation and for police to speak to her parents, and any other witnesses, in order to find her and Max. Max has been made a ward of court in the UK Max has also been made a ward of court in the UK - and, through their Polish solicitor, his family have received a copy of a letter, signed by Majda and hand-delivered by her parents to Max's school which states he is suffering from a chronic illness and has to stay at home. Max's grandmother Pam McHale Bagnall, said Majda has signed various absence notes, saying he is chronically sick. These have been hand delivered by her parents to the primary school he was supposed to be attending in Rzeszow, Poland. However, Ms McHale Bagnall claims that they all give a false address. She said: We think this is a positive step as the criminal court will exercise their powers with all parties who support what is now more akin to kidnapping than abduction. But our appointment with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last week left us more desolate than ever. Missing: Max (pictured with his father) has not been seen since March and police have now applied for a European arrest warrant for his mother Max's family say his mother has signed various absence notes, stating he is chronically sick Remarkably it seems that the Government can do very little to help a vulnerable child in this situation. We have asked for resources on the ground in Poland to ensure that the Polish police perform a proper search for Max. It's clear to us that the Polish police are doing the minimum to recover him and both Kent Police and the National Crime Agency has limited influence over them. We really do need the help of Polish people here in the UK and in Poland to find Max. The situation has become critical in terms of his safety.' Kent Police i nvestigating officer Detective Sergeant Simon Grant said: 'We have worked closely with Maxs family in the UK as well as international partners with a view to locating and safeguarding Max. John Lennons son has headed back to court in his $10 million dollar legal battle with Oscar-winning actress Marisa Tomei's parents over a 70-year-old tree in his yard. Sean Lennon was ordered to remove the tree by a New York judge earlier this month, after it was ruled that it was causing damage to Gary and Addie Tomei's property. But in court documents filed Monday, and exclusively seen by DailyMail.com, Lennon is not giving up and is now demanding that the appeals court overturn the decision. The court battle over the Tomeis' Greenwich Village property, which is next door to Lennon's own $9.5 million pad, has gone on for more than a year and a half. A judge charged earlier in September that the 60-foot-high Ailanthus tree must be cut down immediately, after the Tomeis successfully argued that their front stoop and basement were being wrecked by its roots. Chopping time: Sean Lennon (pictured earlier in September) is fighting back against an order to cut down the 70-year-old tree in his yard Famous neighbors: The tree was ruled to have caused damage to the home of Gary and Addie Tomei, whose daughter is Oscar-winning actress Marissa Tomei (right) The amount in damages that Lennon will have to pay was scheduled to be determined at a hearing next month. Judge Debra James quoted the Beatles song Strawberry Fields Forever in her decision, closing out the opinion by writing: 'No one I think is in my tree / I mean it must be high or low.' She attributed the lyric however to John Lennon and Paul 'McCarthy' rather than McCartney.' Lennon's latest court filing states that he seeks reversal on the basis that the Tomeis failed to show enough evidence to prove the allegations their home was damaged by his tree and the judge had therefore ruled incorrectly. The Tomeis have yet to respond to his notice of appeal. Lennon originally moved into the property some six years ago. The Tomeis allege that he has repeatedly refused to cut down the tree since then. They also said Lennons contractor had dug 22 feet below basement level and disrupted the underground stream that washed out soil from under the couples foundation and as a result their whole house had shifted. In their February court filing earlier this year, the couple stated that Lennon was 'arrogantly' demanding they change the entrance to their house so that he did not have to cut down the ailanthus tree. They demanded that the troublesome plant be removed - and that Lennon pay them $10 million. Battle goes on: The Tomeis are still seeking $10 million for the damages caused by the tree Problem: The damage done by the tree to the stoop and railing can be clearly seen in the Tomeis' photos Good try: Judge Debra James attributed a Beatles lyric to John Lennon and Paul 'McCarthy' rather than McCartney in her decision The couple's lawyer, Gerald Walters, said in court papers: 'To suggest that [the Tomeis] forever transform their 170-year-old property so that [Lennon] may temporarily enjoy viewing its tree is absurd.' The Tomeis also stated in court papers that the tree had 'compromised the basement wall and interior ... (causing) irreparable damage to the structural integrity of the building.' They also included a photograph that appeared to show the root coming through the floor of the basement. Marisa Tomei says she doesn't want to see the tree cut down but it is destroying the house The couple went on to state that the concrete foundation and front stoop have also been compromised, all 14 doors in the two-family home are unable to close because of the damage to the foundation and the facade of the home could become damaged next if the tree does not go soon. As for the reason behind the lawsuit, the Tomeis claim they have been trying to get in touch with Lennon for a year to no avail. Earlier this year, Mr Tomei said: 'He refuses to do anything. Hes owned it for six years and neglected it. I like him personally but hes stubborn and he has a lawyer who is very belligerent,' Even Ms Tomei, who says she is pro-tree, wants the tree gone. 'I hate to see this tree come down, but its destroying my stoop,' said the actress in an interview with the New York Daily News. 'There are cracks everywhere. The masons dont want to make repairs because they say its just going to happen again,' added Mr. Tomei. 'I want him to take the tree down and pay my expenses. Its not cheap. I tried but you cant talk to him. Hes always traveling.' Former friends: Tomei, Waris Ahluwalia and Lennon at the threeASFOUR show during Spring 2014 Fashion Week in NYC More trouble: A root appears to be coming through in the basement as well Lennon's tree surgeon has said that the huge tree could survive another 25 years. And his architect, Sam Trible, said the removal of the tree would be a 'dramatic measure'. Lennon's team suggested that the Tomeis could solve the problem by taking a small hand-held grinder to their railings. But the Tomeis' reaction was to call such a plan 'ludicrous.' As for the tree, it is an invasive species that was introduced to the United States through China, nicknamed by some as the Tree of Heaven. It is also known the for the sour odor it produces when cut, grows new roots constantly and moves those roots around to steal from the supply of other plants - or even crack the walls of a basement. This is not the first time Lennon's home has wrecked havoc on the Tomeis, with a pipe burst happening early last year that forced the duo to move in with their daughter. A terminally ill boy is allegedly pictured here lying on the floor of Heathrow Airport covered by jackets and 'without water, blankets, a stretcher or a wheelchair' A dying boy was allegedly left to sleep on the floor of Heathrow Airport 'without water, blankets, a stretcher or a wheelchair'. Polish charity The Gaius Foundation, which helps terminally ill children and their families, hit out at the airport and posted pictures of a child, named as Napu. Writing on Facebook, the charity said the boy, 'could have died' because of the stopover at the London airport. It is unknown what terminal illness the child is suffering from, but the pictures show him connected to a tracheostomy tube which aids breathing. A statement said: 'Is this the fourth world? No... That is the Heathrow Airport. This is how employees of an international airport treated a dying child. 'Despite months of scrupulous preparations they were not prepared for anything! 'They put our dear Napu on the floor for many hours, they did not even have a blanket, not to mention a stretcher or a wheelchair. For three hours they did not give him any water! 'There [sic] were not able to transport the child to the plane which has coused [sic] a delay for a WHOLE DAY!' The statement added the charity would be taking legal action on behalf of Napu's parents, and charity employees Dr Magosia Stolarska and nurse Grzegorz Pozniak. Heathrow has confirmed it is investigating the incident and has apologised to the boy's family for his experience. It's not yet known who exactly was responsible for the error, as the airline, the airport and Omniserv - which is contracted to transport disabled passengers within the airport - all have a role in the transportation process. A spokesman said: 'Heathrow is investigating Napu's journey through the airport following information appearing on social media. Polish charity the Gaius Foundation criticised Heathrow and compared it to the 'fourth world' over the treatment of the child, known as Napu, pictured The charity released a statement on Facebook, pictured, hitting out at the London airport 'This is clearly a distressing time for Napu's family, for which we are sorry. 'From our initial investigations, we understand Napu's own wheelchair was not available once he left the aircraft and he was uncomfortable in the replacement wheelchair. 'On the advice of the medical staff travelling with him, he was temporarily laid down on the floor. Heathrow arranged for a paramedic to attend him. 'After a discussion with Napu's relatives and medical staff he was transported to a local hotel by the London Ambulance Service before travelling out the next day. At least seven people, including four cops, have been injured in protests National Guard were called to Charlotte Wednesday after a man was shot Reynolds said he has no problem with peaceful protest but didn't like 'riot' He was banned for the tweet, made at around 9pm Wednesday night Glenn Reynolds said 'Run them down' while linking to Charlotte news story A University of Tennessee in Knoville law professor and sometime USA Today columnist has been suspended from Twitter for telling his followers to 'run down' Charlotte protesters. Glenn Reynolds, who posted on Twitter under the handle @Instapundit, made the post at around 9pm Wednesday, linking to a report about the protests with the words 'Run them down.' But he apparently didn't realize he'd made a controversial point until he was contacted by press. 'Ah. I saw it was suspended and didn't know why,' Reynolds told the Knoxville News Sentinel in an email Thursday morning. Scroll down for video Suspended: Glenn Reynolds (left), a UT Knoxville law professor, has been suspended from Twitter for telling followers to 'run down' protesters upset by the cop shooting of a black man Controversial: Reynolds said he didn't know why he was suspended from Twitter after making Wednesday evening's post (pictured), which came as protesters surrounded vehicles Protest: Reynolds said he had no problem with peaceful protests, but said blocking roads and 'trapping people in their cars' was not a peaceful protest He said his post 'was brief, since it was Twitter, but blocking highways is dangerous and I don't think people should stop for a mob, especially when it's been violent.' The protests, over the fatal shooting of a black man by a black police officer, turned violent Wednesday night. Two and a half hours after Reynolds made his tweet, the National Guard were sent in. During the protests, a man was shot by a civilian, and several shops and businesses were burned and looted. Reynolds, who is also a columnist for the News Sentinel, told the paper that he supported peaceful protesting against police violence and had demanded more accountability from police 'for years.' But he said he didn't support what he saw as 'riots' in Charlotte. 'And locking interstates and trapping people in their cars is not peaceful protest,' he added, 'it's threatening and dangerous, especially against the background of people rioting, cops being injured, civilian-on-civilian shootings, and so on. Violence: The protests descended into violence, and the National Guard was called out around two-and-a-half hours after Reynolds made his remarks 'I wouldn't actually aim for people blocking the road, but I wouldn't stop because I'd fear for my safety, as I think any reasonable person would. '"Run them down" perhaps didn't capture this fully, but it's Twitter, where character limits stand in the way of nuance.' Reynolds's account was restored Wednesday afternoon after he agreed to delete the offending tweet. Ronnie Barogiannis, 43, has been jailed for five years A 'Walter Mitty' dentist who left patients in agonising pain and at risk of potentially lethal infections has been jailed for five years. Ronnie Barogiannis was described by detectives as 'convincing and charismatic' after practising under a false name and leaving some 900 patients at risk of infection. The 43-year-old was brought to justice after an international manhunt found him illegally working at a clinic in Sweden. He was described as a 'Walter Mitty' dentist after telling his patients a series of lies - including that he was marrying the woman of his dreams and buying a luxury mansion. Barogiannis was finally jailed at Hull Crown Court after he was found practising at a property in Sweden. Detective Constable Lucy Khan of Humberside Police said: 'He was so pleasant, convincing and charismatic - obviously an educated man. 'But he believed his own stories in the own little world he created. 'All along, he would say "I am an excellent dentist." But he was in a massive position of trust and he abused that trust.' Barogiannis was born and raised in Sweden by his Greek family. He qualified as a dentist from the University of Malmo in 2003 and ran dental practices in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. His family fled the Greek economic collapse and he arrived in Scotland in 2013 after his mother invested 400,000 in the Bridge of Don Dental Clinic and Research Centre in Aberdeen. Detective Constable Khan added: 'His mother played a big part in his life - she provided all his capital and she was the funder behind his success. 'But he was an only child who wanted to keep his mother happy.' But only two months after the clinic opened, NHS Grampian discovered 900 patients were at risk of blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis caused by poor hygiene practices. Barogiannis was brought to justice at Hull Crown Court (pictured). He originally denied eight counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm then admitted ABH against five patients The Greek self-styled 'excellent dentist' was working without a General Dental Council (GDC) registration and became the first dentist in Scotland to be prosecuted for practising illegally. After being fined 500 he said: 'You have to pay for your mistakes - and then hopefully I can move on.' He is a shrewd and canny man but very likeable. People all spoke highly of him but he lied about everything He then moved some 400 miles south to Hull, using the registration details and name of another Greek dentist, 'Nik Ntamparakis'. Barogiannis was then taken on at the former Hallgate House Dental Practice in Cottingham in August 2013. DC Khan said: 'They all knew him as Nik and were very shocked to find out he wasn't who he said he was. 'He is a shrewd and canny man but very likeable. People all spoke highly of him but he lied about everything. 'He used to tell them he was going back to Greece to get married, that he lived with his fiancee, that he was buying a mansion - but none of it was true.' Barogiannis was caught out when he sent an email to the practice manager exposing his real identity. Another associate became alarmed by his stories and contacted the practice manager before calling police. An investigation was then launched by DC Khan, the GDC and a retired Metropolitan Police detective. DC Khan, who arrived at his home to arrest him in October 2014, said: 'He told us we couldn't come in because his mother was there and told us not to call him Nik in front of her.' Four days after being questioned by detectives, CCTV footage capturing him driving onto the ferry at Hull. He then fled the country using his Swedish passport. Barogiannis was taken on at what was Hallgate House Dental Practice (the former building pictured here), in Cottingham in August 2013 Despite being a fugitive, Barogiannis still bombarded DC Khan with emails demanding the return of the property seized as part of her initial investigation. DC Khan interviewed some 700 unsuspecting patients who trusted him to look after their teeth. She said: 'It has really questioned their vulnerability in placing trust in someone, even when they had to go back time and time again, got infections and had to go back in again 'There was not a mention of anyone saying, 'This isn't right' because people trust dentists. 'He caused permanent damage and a lot of trauma and there are people who won't go back to the dentist now because of him.' DC Khan contacted the National Crime Agency, alerted Interpol and tracked down a PO address for Barogiannis. A European Arrest Warrant issued in January and was sent to Greek Police. Greek detectives arrested him after tracking him to Sweden where he was practising in another dental practice. After being extradited from Sweden, he appeared at Hull Crown Court in May this year and admitted being paid 48,844.39 while practising fraudulently under an assumed name. More than half of Germans say they fear the rise of Islam in their country, according to a new poll. A study carried out by a Christian organisation found 57 per cent of those questioned were concerned about the increasing prominence of the religion in the country. Only a third of young people aged between 18 and 24 said they were fearful when asked the same question. A study carried out by a Christian organisation found 57 per cent of those questioned were concerned about the increasing prominence of the religion in the country. : Demonstrators are pictured in Berlin to protest against German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy But nearly two-thirds of respondents aged over 45 were concerned about the rise of the Islam, according to the Daily Express, which says it has seen the results of a survey by a 'leading' Christian group. Germany's acceptance of more than one million refugees last year boosted popular support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is now represented in all of the eastern federal states. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly come under fire for her open-doors policy on migration while her party made historic made historic losses in elections for the Berlin state parliament earlier this week. Meanwhile, the government said xenophobia is rising in the ex-communist east of Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly come under fire for her open-doors policy on migration while her party made historic made historic losses in elections for the Berlin state parliament earlier this week Far-right violence and attacks on migrants rose dramatically last year, with riots and arson attacks on refugee shelters in the towns of Heidenau and Freital in Saxony state. More than one million, mainly Muslim migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia streamed into Germany over the course of 2015. 'Right-wing extremism in all its forms poses a very serious threat for the social and economic development of the new states,' Iris Gleicke, the federal government's commissioner for eastern German affairs, said, referring to the five states that comprised Communist East Germany from 1945 to 1990. Germany recorded 1,408 violent acts carried out by rightist supporters last year, a rise of more than 42 percent from 2014, and 75 arson attacks on refugee shelters, up from five a year earlier, according to an annual report by the BfV domestic intelligence agency published in June. Jacob Munro, 24, was brutally murdered by drug dealers Stanley Forward, 23, and 64-year-old Donald Cameron Two drug dealers who feared their associate would turn them into the police if they fired him stabbed him 15 times, tasered him and buried him in a bush grave. Jacob Munro, 24, was brutally murdered by Stanley Forward, 23, and 64-year-old Donald Cameron, who wanted to freeze their victim out of their $3million cannabis operation. 'Do you mind if it's messy?' Forward asked Cameron as they planned the sickening murder, Sydney Supreme Court was told. In a 'coldly planned elimination', the vicious pair, from Sydney, drove to the Bulahdelah State Forest, Newcastle, nine days before the murder to dig a shallow grave. Forward even laid down in the 90cm-deep pit to check it was big enough for Mr Munro's body, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The court heard that Cameron and Forward chose to kill Mr Munro because they did not want to work with him but feared he would either tell the police or steal their cannabis if they sacked him. They lured their victim into the shed where they ran their illegal operation, with Forward smuggling in a knife. As Mr Munro was trimming a cannabis plant, Forward suddenly knifed him in the neck. Mr Munro tried to flee but Forward caught up with him and knifed him another 14 times, as Cameron restrained him by tasering him in the head. His body was bundled into a car and dumped in the grave - where it lay for five months until it was finally found. Forward (pictured in handcuffs outside court on Thursday) stabbed Mr Munro 15 times Mr Munro laid in a shallow grave for five months before his body was finally found Justice Desmond Fagan said the killing was 'thoroughly premeditated' as he sentenced Forward and Cameron to 15 and 18 years in prison respectively. They had both admitted murder. 'The murder was extremely brutal in the manner in which it was carried out,' the judge said. 'A stabbing death such as this one is a savage, painful, drawn out affair.' Mr Munro's mother, Deborah Hall, said in a victim impact statement that her heart was broken and 'physically ached'. 'It had become unbearable to think about how my boy had been surrounded by hate as his life was being taken from him, in such a malicious, calculated way,' she said. Ms Hall previously told the court that her son had spoken to her about his fear of being buried. Martin Clough, 55, of Sharples, near Bolton, fixed a covert camera under his desk to film up the skirt of clients as they read his eye charts and hid another device in a toilet An optician who installed hidden cameras around his practise so he could secretly film up the skirts of women taking eye tests or getting changed was jailed today. Martin Clough, 55, of Sharples, near Bolton, fixed one covert camera under his desk to film up the skirt of clients as they read his eye charts and also hid another device in an air fresher in the ladies toilet. A string of women who attended Clough's family-run opticians were filmed almost naked in the toilet and changing rooms over a 11 month period. He was eventually caught after a woman became suspicious about the air freshener unit, found the camera, and played it back - only to discover footage of Clough installing the device. Police raided his home and Clough Opticians and Visual Ease in Bolton, Greater Manchester, which Clough ran with his brothers. His computers were seized and 24,396 images of voyeurism and 27 videos, internet searches of a voyeuristic nature were also found. The majority of the women on the images and videos could not be identified, except for three. Clough later admitted: 'I've got a problem, I tried to ignore it. I need help. I'm officially finished. This is the end of my career. I have no idea what is in the future for me.' Police raided his home and Clough Opticians and Visual Ease in Bolton, Greater Manchester At Bolton Crown Court, he admitted the six charges of voyeurism between December 1, 2013 and November 19, 2014 and was jailed for two years and four months. He took over the optometrist practise along with his two brothers Christopher and Stewart in the 1990s following the retirement of their father Norman, who opened it in 1951. But the scandal erupted when a woman used the toilets in November 2014, and noticed something black on the air freshener in the toilet. Prosecuting Brian Berlyne said: 'She noticed something black inside the air freshener unit. She opened the unit and found a black camera and USB adapter in the unit. It was attached to the box by blu tac. 'She removed the camera and took it home. She plugged it in and an image of Martin Clough installing the camera in the toilet. She contacted the police.' Clough admitted the six charges of voyeurism between December 1, 2013 and November 19, 2014 and was jailed for two years and four months The videos showed women in their underwear and also naked from the waist down. Clough also filmed clients wearing skirts while he examined them, by placing a camera located underneath his desk. Mr Berlyne added: 'The camera was pointed to be between the legs of female customers who in this case were wearing skirts. 'During interview Mr Clough said that he suspected staff of stealing, and he put the cameras in the toilets for this reason. He said he put the cameras in there for an innocent reason. One of the women to be identified from the footage was a customer who has since been prescribed anti depressants and is now suspicious of new people - 'especially men'. Colin Buckle, defending, told the court that Clough was aware that he was going to be 'publicly humiliated' by proceedings. Mr Buckle said: 'He is a professional with a long experienced history in this field. The prospect of going to prison is terrifying him. 'He is sexually immature. He has never had a long term relationship. His longest relationship was with a female in London, geographically that is not going to be particularly easy. The relationship came to an end. 'I asked him about his previous physical relationships. He tells me they didn't develop in the normal way. With physical sex he is inexperienced. 'He shows genuine remorse for his actions. I am taking the words from probation now but it could be that his development sexually is somewhat dysfunctional.' But passing sentence Judge Timothy Clayson told Clough: 'The women getting changed and using the toilets were in various states of undress and nakedness. This was in breach of trust in the position of so many victims. 'The victims all had a huge amount of trust in you. The impact on the women who have been identified, the three individuals hat have been left feeling nervous, violated and psychologically disturbed. 'You are an intelligent man. You knew that you had a significant issues which if you wanted to indulge in would be an intrusion into the privacy of women who trusted you. This is an extensive breach of trust equal to recording them at their own homes. 'Your remorse in this case is genuine. He's been branded out of touch by his opponents and last night Jeremy Corbyn proved he's also out of tune as he tried to sing 'Ain't No Valley High Enough' with his supporters. The Labour leader was serenaded by supporters to mark the end of the bitter leadership campaign against Owen Smith. Mr Corbyn is almost certainly set to win the contest, with the results announced on Saturday on the eve of the Labour party conference in Liverpool. He's been branded out of touch by his opponents and last night Jeremy Corbyn proved he's also out of tune as he tried to sing 'Ain't No Valley High Enough' with his supporters Enthusiastic Corbynistas stopped their hero in the street last night and burst into song, but the harmony was ruined as soon as the Labour leader joined in. Mr Corbyn is adored by many Labour members but faces overwhelming opposition from Labour MPs, who triggered the leadership contest after a majority backed a vote of no confidence motion in his leadership for his lackluster performance in the EU referendum campaign. Today the former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband branded Labour 'unelectable' and warned the party he once wanted to lead has not been further from power since the 1930s. Mr Miliband, who quit UK politics after feuding with his brother Ed over the Labour leadership, condemned Mr Corbyn's 'half-hearted' EU referendum campaign. Enthusiastic Corbynistas stopped their hero in the street last night and launched into song, but the harmony was ruined as soon as the Labour leader joined in Jeremy Corbyn (pictured last night) will find out if he will remain Labour leader when the results of the leadership contest are announced on Saturday in Liverpool The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was serenaded by supporters to mark the end of the bitter leadership campaign against Owen Smith Today the former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband (pictured left in London last year) branded Labour 'unelectable' under Jeremy Corbyn (pictured right leaving his north London home yesterday) and warned the party he once wanted to lead has not been further from power since the 1930s He said Mr Corbyn's politics did not just make Labour weak in the eyes of the voters but insisted his policies would be actively bad for Britain. The Labour leader was last night branded 'dangerous' by a senior Tory MP after his plans for a 'Minister for Peace' emerged in a Ken Loach documentary. Mr Corbyn is almost certain to be re-elected Labour leader on Saturday after beating challenger Owen Smith in a bitter contest after MPs lost patience with what they see as incompetence and a failure to connect with the electorate. Ahead of the result, Mr Corbyn has praised Michael Foot, Labour's least successful post-war leader, warned he won't change after winning again. Mr Miliband, who now runs a major aid charity in New York, set out a grim assessment of Mr Corbyn in the New Statesman. He said: 'The main charge against Jeremy Corbyn is not just that his strategy is undesirable because it makes the party unelectable. That is only half the story. Why would anyone support Owen Smith other than because he is not Jeremy Corbyn? Doomed Labour contender slammed by MP for laughable grab for the leadership Labour MP John Mann today said Owen Smith's failure was 'predictable Owen Smith's campaign has hit too many 'bum notes' and his looming defeat in the Labour leadership contest is 'predictable', a senior MP said today. Bassetlaw MP John Mann branded Mr Smith's as being the 'wrong man, at the wrong time with the wrong policies' as he launched a scathing attack on the 'beauty contest' tactics. Mr Mann, who is frequently an outspoken member of the Labour benches, said Mr Smith's only offer was to be not Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Corbyn is almost certain to be confirmed as Labour leader on Saturday after winning a second leadership election in 12 months. He could increase his landslide winning margin after Mr Smith's misfiring campaign. Pontypridd MP Mr Smith seized the chance to run against Mr Corbyn after former shadow business secretary Angela Eagle triggered the contest in July. Mr Smith pushed Ms Eagle out of the race after securing more nominations from MPs. Mr Mann, writing for the Politics Home website, branded the sequence of events a 'shambles' today and said the rush to remove Mr Corbyn was launched because of the 'hysteria' of the referendum aftermath. As soon as Mr Corbyn was elected for the first time a year ago, Mr Mann said he was not 'remotely up to the job' of being Labour leader. Connecticuts supreme court will hear an expedited appeal of a superior courts sweeping ruling that the states funding formula doesnt meet constitutional standards, according the Associated Press . Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher issued 90-page ruling earlier this month demanding that the state overhaul its public school system to fix disparities between its poor and wealthier students. And, riding on a wave of national attention, the districts and mayors that filed the original lawsuit have told the states supreme court that it should wait to see what the legislature does next term before deciding to hear the appeal. The ruling regarding the states yawning achievement gap shocked even the plaintiffs for its breadth, language, and demand that the state essentially make over its entire approach to educating its students within the next 180 days. The plaintiffs filed the suit almost 12 years ago, arguing that the state had broken its constitutional obligation to equitably and adequately fund its school districts. But Moukawsher went far beyond just ruling on school finance. In his legnthy opinion, which he read aloud in court on Sept. 7, he said the states inability to educate its poorest students was a stain on Connecticuts reputation. The state has left rich school districts to flourish and poor school districts to flounder, he said. Pointing out that Connecticuts poor students academically ranked last on many national scorecards, he said the state must improve the way it pays, evaluates, and distributes its teachers among districts, upend its high school and graduation standards, and come up with a new funding formula, which he said currently makes no sense. In his appeal, state Attorney General George Jepsen, a Democrat, said its not the courts role to dictate education policy. This decision would wrest educational policy from the representative branches of state government, limit public education for some students with special needs, create additional municipal mandates concerning graduation and other standards, and alter the basic terms of educators employmentand entrust all of those matters to the discretion of a single, unelected judge. That sounds eerily familiar to Kansas conservative Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and several of his tea party colleagues in Topeka who lashed out at that states supreme court justices WHEN?--MB when they threatened to close schools unless the legislature forked over more money to districts with large populations of poor and minority students. The high court judges in Kansas on Wednesday will hear the second half of the case where plaintiffs argue that the state also doesnt adequately fund schools. Losing that case could cost the state more than $400 million. (Watch the live stream of that hearing here .) Theres now a concerted effort in Kansas to rid the judges of authority to rule on school finance. (There have also been legislative efforts in Tennessse and New Hampshire to get rid of judges powers when it comes to school finance.) Connecticuts Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, along with the states business community , said that the ruling in that state is a chance for the legislature to press the reset button on how the state closes the achievement gap, a decades-long fight. On Monday, the plaintiffs, a group of mayors, superintendents, students and other education advocates, operating under the banner the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding, responded to the appeal by asking the state supreme court to wait until after next years legislatures session before deciding whether to hear the case. Theres a slim possibility, they said, that state leaders could actually satisfy the judges requests. One solution, several think tanks and education advocates have brought up in recent weeks is to merge the states shrinking districts with its overpopulated urban districtsessentially integrate the states public school system. (Connecticut is known to have some of the countrys most economically and racially segregated schools.) Unlike most states, Connecticuts constitution has an anti-segregation and anti-discrimination clause,meaning the states court could essentially force the states schools to integrate. As Lincoln Caplan pointed out in the New Yorker last week, The Connecticut Council for School Reform suggested that the state divvy its districts up into regions, allowing poor, black and brown students to attend schools with wealthy white students in typically wealthier communities. Of course, even in a liberal state such as Connecticut, this is a third-rail issue, and ever since the 1970s busing battles that roiled state politicians in most states have been reluctant to even consider integration, despite the many studies showing its academic impact. This past weekend, amid all the hoopla around the judges ruling, the radio program This American Life reaired its series on segregated schools, a portion of which focused on Hartfords long-fought efforts to desegregate. Calais aid workers volunteering in the Jungle have been accused of having sex with migrants, some of whom are believed to be underage, according to a whistle blower. The revelations have caused a furious row on Facebook, with some volunteers claiming the allegations should have remained secret and criticised the whistle blower for expressing his concerns. According to the whistle blower, some volunteers avail of the service of the Jungle camp prostitutes, while others have multiple partners in one day. Aid workers volunteering at the Jungle camp in Calais, pictured, have been accused of sexually exploiting refugees living in the squalid conditions according to a whistleblower One whistleblower revealed the extent of sexual abuse of vulnerable refugees at the Jungle camp at the hands of unscrupulous aid workers, some of whom use the women as prostitutes Aid workers have been arguing online over whether details of the sexual exploitation of refugees should have been made public as it might impact the level of donations to the camp Other aid workers have complained that unscrupulous volunteers are treating the camp like a 'free for all festival' and 'find it difficult to keep it in their pants'. The original allegations were aired on a Facebook thread concerning the People to People Solidarity group, which has since been deleted. It was claimed that female volunteers were more likely to have sex with male migrants than any other combination. One volunteer was described as having 'a bad reputation' for sleeping with male refugees and was asked to leave the camp. One male volunteer had to be 'persuaded by other male volunteers' against returning due to his 'inappropriate behaviour with female refugees'. Some volunteers have claimed critics are more interested in maintaining their reputation than preventing further incidents of sexual abuse in a similar manner to the Catholic Church The whistleblower has prompted a furious row on a volunteering Facebook page One commentator described relationships between volunteers and migrants as 'inappropriate' Another criticised volunteers who did not want to address the exploitation issue publicly According to the original post, the whistle blower claimed: 'I have heard of boys, believed to be under the age of consent, having sex with volunteers. 'I have heard stories of men using the prostitutes in the Jungle too. I have heard of volunteers having sex with multiple partners in one day, only to carry on in the same vein the following day. 'And I also know, that I'm only hearing a small part of a wider scale of abuse.' Several volunteers severely criticised the whistleblower for discussing the abuse allegations in an open forum. However, one volunteer defended him claiming: 'It always really worries me that we're more concerned with the press/our reputation than we are with the sexual abuse itself.' According to the Independent, some volunteers believe sexual relationships between aid workers and refugees is 'natural' while others believe it breaks the 'usual codes of conduct'. The UNHCR said it has a 'zero tolerance' policy concerning the sexual exploitation of refugees in such camps. However, some of the volunteer groups in the camp do not have clearly defined 'codes of conduct', while others complain about so-called 'independent volunteers' who are not attached to any particular group. Clare Mosely, founder of Care4Calais told the Independent: 'At the end of the day it isn't recognised as an official refugee camp, it's an illegal settlement. So weve got no way of forcing anyone to leave. That is the difficulty.' Care4Calais has a 'zero tolerance' policy concerning sexual relations between volunteers and camp inhabitants. Another volunteer wrote: 'In my view, most defo beyond inappropriate - breaches all sorts of codes, highlights massive deficit of integrity, blurs reciprocal boundaries beyond measure. 'Pretty much no different to sex tourism. This is the sort of stuff that makes others with better resolve, cringe - need to have a rocksolid mindset that separates the camp environment from that of a freeforall "festival" - if you're incapable of "keeping it in your pants" then consider whether you ought to be there.' Another contributor added: 'So the concerns around exploitation of vulnerable people should be 'kept private' should they? 'kept within the group' . 'Whatever your feelings on sex between volunteers and refugees it is clear that it is a very important subject to discuss OPENLY. 'The press is a perfectly valid place to analyse and protect vulnerable people. 'It is exactly this notion of protecting people that ensured children were abused for years within childrens homes and the Catholic Church.' He posted pictures of his social and work life, along with holiday snapshots Tiahleigh Palmer's foster brother posted smiling photographs and upbeat messages to his social media for months after her body was found dumped in a river near their home. Nineteen-year-old Trent Thorburn's social media accounts show him drinking with friends and posing shirtless in a mirror, even captioning one shot with an extended explanation of why 'life is good'. The upbeat posts were made for months after Tiahleigh, 12, was murdered and her body dumped in the Pimpana River near the home they shared with their parents in Logan, Queensland. Thorburn was charged with incest on Tuesday following a gruelling 11-month investigation by Queensland Police into his family's involvement in the murder of schoolgirl Tiahleigh. Trent's father Rick Thorburn has been charged with murdering Tiahleigh in a bid to protect his son, who had told his cousin days before his foster sister's death that he had been sleeping with her and feared she may be pregnant, a court has heard. Scroll down for video Trent Palmer's social media account was filled with happy snaps in the months after the foster sister he feared he impregnated was allegedly murdered and dumped by a river by his father His first post after Tiahleigh's naked and severely decomposed body was pulled from Pimpana river, six days after she vanished, was in late November as he prepared for Schoolies His first post after her naked and severely decomposed body was pulled from Pimpana river, six days after she vanished, was in late November as he was preparing to go away on an end-of-school celebration for Schoolies. Trent photographed his shirtless reflection and posted it to Instagram two weeks after Tiahleigh was formally identified and she was farewelled by hundreds of mourners at her funeral, where her alleged killer sobbed as he carried her coffin. He went on to post several smiling selfies during the trip, one posing next to a Hooters waitress around the time police found a muddied shoe believed to be his slain foster sister's 100 metres from where her body was spotted by fishermen. The discovery, which took place on November 29, prompted police to send divers and SES volunteers to scour the river bed and surrounding bushland for her missing school uniform or backpack in the hopes it could reveal more about her death. Trent photographed his shirtless reflection two weeks after Tiahleigh was formally identified and she was farewelled by hundreds of mourners at her funeral Mourners donned purple at the memorial service where Tiahleigh's alleged killer, Rick Thorburn (middle left), sobbed as he carried her coffin He went on to post several smiling selfies during the schoolies trip, where he complained of having a hangover and detailed his recovery meals Trent posed next to a Hooters waitress(left) around the time police found a muddied shoe (right) believed to be his slain foster sister's 100 metres from where her body was found Finding the shoe prompted police to send divers (pictured) and SES volunteers to scour the river bed and surrounding bushland for her missing school uniform or back pack Tiahleigh was found naked which led police to believe finding her school uniform or backpack could provide key details about how she died (Pictured: SES searching near Tiahleigh's school) He posted another selfie in January, shooting a steely-eyed glare at the camera in the weeks before the Queensland government offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for Tiahleigh's death. An offer of indemnity was also made for anyone who had not committed the murder, meaning an accomplice could avoid prosecution for their role in her death. As Tiahleigh's distraught mother Cindy Palmer appealed for information on her daughter's killer in March, Trent shared images of the classic cars, or 'toys', he was restoring, adding it was just 'another day' in the office. He shared an image of the grey and yellow Chrysler VE Valiant he was fixing up around the time forensic officers searched a number of homes and properties, including an abandoned house in Logan after receiving a tip off from the public. He posted another selfie in January, shooting a steely-eyed glare at the camera in the weeks before the Queensland Government offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for Tiahleigh's death As Tiahleigh's mother Cindy Palmer (left and right) appealed for information on her daughter's killer in March, Trent shared images of the classic cars, or 'toys', he was restoring He shared an image of the grey and yellow Chrysler VE Valiant (pictured) he was fixing up around the time forensic officers searched a number of homes and properties in Logan Forensic investigators can be seen entering an abandoned home in Logan after receiving a tip off from a member of the public On the week that would have been Tiahleigh's 13th birthday in April, Trent posted another selfie with the caption: 'Quote of my life: if you don't like what I have to say, blame your parents for raising a p***y.' The post came as Rick Thorburn invited Tiahleigh's friends and family to a sausage sizzle in the park to celebrate what would have been her birthday, sharing an eerie invite on the memorial page he created in her name. Trent continued posting photographs of the mechanical work he was doing, selfies and happy snaps with friends during the 11-month-long investigation, where police tirelessly followed up more than 3,500 separate lines of inquiry. He showed off his strength in a Snapchat where he 'planked' in the kitchen of his home, where Tiahleigh is suspected to have been killed. On what would have been Tiahleigh's 13th birthday Trent posted a selfie with the caption: 'Quote of my life: if you don't like what I have to say, blame your parents for raising a p***y.' The post came as Rick Thorburn invited Tiahleigh's loved ones to a party to celebrate what would have been her birthday, sharing an invite in the memorial page he created in her name Trent continued posting photographs of the mechanical work he was doing, selfies and happy snaps with friends during the 11-month-long investigation He showed off his strength in a Snapchat where he planked in the kitchen of his home, where Tiahleigh is suspected to have been killed Another post appeared only days before police seized a blue Ford XR6 which had previously been owned by Rick Thorburn and ultimately led to the family's arrest. Trent boasted about how well his life was going, despite going through rough patches he wished he could have avoided. 'Life has it's ups and downs, goods and bads! Everyone has to go through challenges in life that they wish they never had to!' 'But when you have food in your mouth, cloths [sic] on your back, a roof over your head, family and friends, life is good.' 'Never forget to love and spread the love, smile and celibate [sic] life! Life is good, life is what you make it!' Another post appeared only days before police seized a blue Ford XR6 which had previously been owned by Rick Thorburn and ultimately led to the Thorburn's arrest Tiahleigh's mother revealed the car (pictured) belonged to Rick Thorburn on social media Trent boasted about how well his life was going, despite going through rough patches he wished he could have avoided A week later, police arrested all four member of the Thorburn family who had lived at their Chambers Flat residence during the 10 months Tiahleigh stayed there. Rick Thorburn was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse, but the 56-year-old did not face court as he was rushed to hospital suffering from a suspected overdose. He was placed in a medically induced coma but woke on Thursday and was transferred to a secure wing of Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital where he remains in a stable condition under police guard. Police arrested all four member of the Thorburn family who had lived at their Chambers Flat residence (pictured) during the ten months Tiahleigh stayed there Rick Thorburn (left), his wife Julene (middle right) and two sons, Josh (middle left) and Trent (right) were charged with a string of offences a week after police seized the car Rick Thorburn (pictured) was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse but the 53-year-old did not face court as he was rushed to hospital suffering from a suspected overdose Trent was charged with incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of perjury. The 19-year-old was denied bail on Wednesday after a court heard he had admitted on Facebook Messenger to having sex with Tiahleigh and was worried she might be pregnant, but it is expected he may re-apply for bail in the Supreme Court. Foster mother Julene Thorburn, 54, and her 20-year-old son Joshua Thorburn were both charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. They have been released on bail and will face court on October 10. Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and her eldest son, Joshua, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice A University of Iowa graduate student was on her way to a family gathering last weekend when her brother accidentally shot and killed her while demonstrating how to clean a handgun. The Sac County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Wednesday that 24-year-old Megan Quinn Sloss, of Guthrie Center, was driving Sunday with her 26-year-old brother, Spencer Lee Sloss, when she was shot. Investigators say Megan was in the drivers seat and her brother was in the front passenger seat at the time of the incident, which took place at around 11.40am Sunday near Lake View, Iowa. Fatal accident: Megan Sloss, 24 (left), died Sunday when her brother, 26-year-old Spencer Lee Sloss (right), accidentally shot her in the car Tight-knit family: Megan (center) and Spencer (right), pictured with their older brother, Kyle (left), were on their way to a family event in Iowa when the young woman was shot dead The Sloss siblings were on their way to a family event in Ida County, and later they were planning to do some target shooting. Spencer Sloss was showing his younger sister how to disassemble his Sig Sauer 9mm handgun to clean it when it discharged, striking her in the hip. Her brother had to climb over the arm rest to stop the car after his sister was shot, and he then called 911 for help and carried Megan out of the car. A doctor driving by stopped to render medical aid until Sloss was taken to Loring Hospital in Sac City. She was then flown to Mercy Medical in Des Moines, where she died from her injury. Officials say Spencer Sloss has a valid permit to carry the handgun. No charges have been brought against him, and the shooting remains under investigation. Megan Sloss, pictured center in her cheerleader uniform, was driving Sunday, and her brother was in the passenger seat Officials say Spencer Sloss was showing his sister (pictured left and right) how to disassemble his Sig Sauer 9mm handgun to clean it when the firearm discharged. Megan was struck in the hip Talented: In her obituary, the 24-year-old woman, pictured second from the left during a performance, was described as a 'beautiful dancer' This screenshot from a 2012 Youtube video shows Megan (second left) rehearsing as part of the Central College Dance Team The press release from the sheriff's office states that once the investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to the Sac County Attorney's Office for further review. Spencer Sloss has a permit to carry a handgun, and he has not been charged According to her obituary, Megan Sloss was pursuing a Master's degree in social services and planned to spend her career helping children and adults in need. 'Saddened to lose Hawkeye Megan Sloss, a grad student looking to help others in need,' the University of Iowa tweeted Tuesday, reported the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Sloss was also working at Iowa KidSight and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. 'She was the homecoming queen, a beautiful dancer, a teacher, a good friend to many and a lover of the little things in life,' the obituary reads. 'She had an uncommon devotion to God and her Church. She had a beautiful and kind spirit that touched many lives.' Teacher quit her job after principal said she would have to shake hands She said her religion bans her from touching members of the opposite sex The 20-year-old was asked to shake hands with a male teacher but refused A Muslim teacher has quit her job at a school in Sweden after being told she would have to shake hands with male members of staff. Fardous El-Sakka had been working as a substitute teacher at the Kunskapsskolan school in Helsingborg, when she was asked to shake hands with a male teacher. But the 20-year-old refused as her religion forbids her from touching any member of the opposite sex who is not related to her. Fardous El-Sakka had been working as a substitute teacher at the Kunskapsskolan school in Helsingborg, pictured, when she was asked to shake hands with a male teacher but refused The man then reported Miss El Sakka to the school's principal, who told her that if she wanted to work there, she would have to abide by the institution's values of shaking hands. However, she decided to quit rather than go against her religious beliefs and has now referred her case to the Swedish trade union Unionen. She told the Local that it was the first time a man had taken offence at her refusal to shake his hand and that she can't see herself working at the school again. Miss El-Sakka added: 'I havent received a reply from the union yet, theyre still looking at my case, so I dont want to say too much until Ive got some kind of information from them about what will happen with it. 'It's a special school for me because I was a student there. But I dont think I can see a way back there now.' Meanwhile the school put out a statement clarifying they did not sack the teacher and that she chose to leave. They added: 'We would also like to carefully point out that the issue was not her religious beliefs, but rather it is about choosing to treat men and women differently by shaking the hands of women but not men.' The case mirrors several similar cases around Europe, where Muslim boys in schools have also refused to shake hands with women The case mirrors several similar cases around Europe, where Muslim boys in schools have also refused to shake hands with women. Earlier this week, it was ruled a 15-year-old Muslim schoolboy will have to shake hands with his female teachers after he refused to do so because of his religious beliefs. Amer Salhani lost his appeal on Monday after his school in Switzerland rejected his argument that the Swiss tradition of handshake greetings went against Islam. A far-right anti-Islam leader has come under fire for attempting to 'school' a Muslim lawyer on the teachings of Islam during a heated debate on Australian patriotism. United Patriots Front member Blair Cottrell appeared on ABC2's The Hack on Thursday night and began to quote the teachings of Islam, including telling panelist Lydia Shelly living by Australian standards meant a person was kafir - not Muslim. Ms Shelly fired back and told Mr Cottrell she had not known he was a 'scholar of Islam' and she did not need to be 'schooled' by him on her faith. United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell (Right) explains to Ms Shelly (Left) why Muslims are not living by 'Australian standards' Host Tom Tilley (Left) mediating the fiery conversation between Ms Shelly (middle) and Mr Cottrell (Right) on Aussie Patriotism 'If you're going to live by Australian standards, you're Kafir,' Mr Cottrell told the audience before Ms Shelly cut in. 'Am I? You're a scholar of Islam and I didn't even know it,' she responded. The UPF leader then addressed host Tom Tilley, saying the culture of Australia is an 'expression of the people' and is 'not Islam'. Fellow panel member Sara Gadalla and Andrew Fox Lane was also left unimpressed by Mr Cottrell's views. Mr Blair Cottrell arguing with panelist Nayuka Gorrie who is an Indigenous writer and activist Leader of the United Patriots Front Blair Cottrell sparked a fierce debate on the Hack ABC2 Lydia Shelly, a lawyer and community advocate, was not happy to be lectured to on Islam United Patriots Front leader Mr Cottrell said Muslims were not living by 'Australian standards' Mr Cottrell (Left) talking with panelists Nayuka Gorrie and Andrew Fox Lane on patriotism The one hour panel debate garnered plenty of attention on social media with twitter loving the stormy debate. 'Someone needs to get Blair a dictionary. So far he's asked for definitions of "divisive" and "multiculturalism",' one person tweeted. 'Hack Live is delayed by 30 minutes, Blair Cottrell is delayed by 80 years,' another pointed out. In the promo for the program, Mr Cottrell was filmed screaming: 'You're either Australian or a bloody enemy and you can get out'. President Barack Obama has long refused to use the term 'radical Islam' in conjunction with the terror threat because he says he doesn't want to demonize peaceful Muslims. Yet, as he reflected on his presidency with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin for a piece in Vanity Fair that came out today he offered a new explanation for not uttering the 'pithy phrase.' He said he's acknowledged the nature of the threat but has done it in 'long paragraphs,' because the American people are capable of understanding complex subjects. 'Theyre pretty sophisticated. Theyre not always paying attention, and theres a lot of noise out there, but when they have the time, theyre not looking to be spoken down to and theres no requirement to dumb things down. They get it,' Obama stated. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Barack says he's acknowledged the nature of the threat from 'radical Islam' but has done it in 'long paragraphs' because the American people are capable of understanding complex subjects The president also defended his decision not to bomb Syria after dictator Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his own people, crossing Obama's 'red line.' He said the death and destruction there 'haunts me constantly' but believes he took the right approach. Obama continues to believe he was right about the phrase 'radical Islam,' as well. He contends that he was typically 'successful' in getting out his message throughout the last eight years, as evidenced by his electoral victories in 2008 and 2012. For example, when he gave a speech on race relations in 2008 after his relationship with pastor Jeremiah Wright became a liability, 'that was a pretty complicated piece of business, but I think people heard me. 'Now there are filters, there are a lot of filters there, and so sometimes its hard to get at folks,' he said, joking with Kearns Goodwin about how easy Ronald Reagan had it in the 80s when fewer national television networks existed. MSNBC and Fox News each debuted in 1996. CNN entered the scene the year Reagan was elected, 1980. Prior to that ABC, CBS and NBC were the only networks in the U.S. with significant audiences. Obama said he's gotten around those 'filters' by taking to the Internet and appearing on late-night comedy shows. 'I think part of the reason that I have been successful, though, despite maybe not always fitting my message into the pre-packaged formulas,' he said, 'is there is this whole other media ecology out there of the Internet and Instagram and memes and talk shows and comedy, and Im pretty good at that.' He added, 'I [give] maybe the long-winded speeches that not everybody reads, but I can also do a slow jam on Jimmy Fallon better than most.' Obama is leaving office in January. Yesterday he held what is expected to be his final bilateral meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. Today a long interview dropped in which he spoke about his regrets Obama had earlier told Kearns Goodwin that he tries to 'communicate truth to people' but 'thats not how it is always received. Because it gets chopped up.' 'Or if its too long, then its dismissed as being professorial, or abstract, or long-winded,' he said. But he was able to get elected as a black man, twice, to the Oval with the name Barack Hussein Obama, 'So something is working.' It as Obama who brought up the controversy over his rejection of the term 'radical Islam,' saying that he was in conversation with newspaper columnist he likes and that person 'actually thought that I was underestimating the importance of having this pithy phrase that includes Islam to accurately label the nature of the threat.' 'And he said, Well, you acknowledge all these truths, but you do it in long paragraphs, and thats not sufficient. ' Obama says he 'took the criticism to heart.' 'But I responded to him, saying, I refuse to give in to the notion that the American people cant handle complicated information. Because I know the American people. Ive met a lot of them. Ive met a lot more of them than any columnist has, or any talking head on TV has.' The conversation gave way to a discussion on his regrets. 'I know there are problems that I say to myself, If maybe I was a little more gifted I might have been able to solve. But thats not because I believe what I did was a mistake. Its that maybe it required the talents of a Lincoln,' he said, making a reference to the 16th President of the United States. Obama said he often thinks of the situation in Syria and the 'hundreds of thousands of people who have been killed, millions who have been displaced, [and] ask myself what might I have done differently along the course of the last five, six years.' Arming moderate rebels wouldn't necessarily have brought about Assad's demise, though, he said. 'The notion that if I had taken a pinprick strike when the chemical-weapons issue came out, as opposed to negotiating and getting all those chemical weapons outthat that would have been decisive. All those things I tend to be skeptical about,' he said. Obama said he's always been 'fearful that I couldnt make the best decisions possible' and there have been times when he 'anguished almost exclusively' over deploying the armed forces, especially to Afghanistan. 'The first Afghan decision to surge additional troops there because the situation was deteriorating,' he said. 'I remember giving a speech at West Point and seeing all those amazing young people and knowing that some would be sent and not every one of them would come back. Weighing thatthose never get easy.' The 55-year-old politician with seven and a half years of experience as the nation's leader under his belt said that's a very different feeling than fear, however. 'Its a feeling of the weight of the decision.' The same goes for the airstrikes he's had to authorize, he said, as the U.S. and its allies have went to battle against ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Libya. 'I dont want ever to be a president who is comfortable and at ease with killing people,' Obama said. 'I dont want my generals or my defense secretary or my national-security team to ever feel deploying weapons to kill people as routine or abstract, even if the targets are bad people. An Austrian schnitzel restaurant that offers 'ladies' food portions and features 'overly busty girls' in their advertisements has been accused of being sexist but the owner has strongly refuted the claims, arguing that it is a 'cultural thing'. Austrian Schnitzelhaus, which boasts two restaurants one at Erina Fair on the NSW Central Coast and another in Sydney's Neutral bay has come under fire from locals who claim the chain is 'insulting to women,' according to The Daily Telegraph. Kylie Johnson, 35, said she was looking to take her family out to dinner at the Schnitzelhaus in Erina Fair but quickly changed her mind when she downloaded the menu and saw it described its small sized schnitzel as a 'ladies' portion. Austrian Schnitzelhaus, a NSW restaurant chain, has come under fire for offering 'ladies' food portions and features 'overly busty girls' in their ads (pictured), but the owner says it's a 'cultural thing' The owner Gerry Jansenberger (pictured) denied that his business was disparaging to women and said he would not be changing the portion sizes or removing his advertisements 'This is so sexist and insulting to women,' she said. 'This is a place pitching itself as a family-friendly restaurant and they are sending this message. It's just not right.' Ms Johnson went on to explain that she is breastfeeding and needs to eat larger meals. She also slammed the chain for its Mother's Day advertisement, which shows a woman in a dress laying on a kitchen counter and reads 'get mum out of the kitchen and celebrate.' 'Their Mother's Day promotion is saying a woman's place is in the kitchen. How was this approved?' Ms Johnson said. Katie Johnson, 35, slammed the chain for its Mother's Day advertisement, which shows a woman in a dress laying on a kitchen counter and reads 'get mum out of the kitchen and celebrate' (pictured) Other women have taken to social media to vent her frustrations about the Schnitzelhaus' advertisements (pictured) Another woman took to social media to vent her frustrations about the Schnitzelhaus' advertisements. 'Hey Schnitzelhaus, your food is great and our family really enjoys coming to dine here, but some of the choices you've made as a business makes me think you actively promote sexism,' Tennille Koelma Cba wrote on the restaurant's Facebook page. 'Why is your menu designed so that you have ladies, medium and large size options? I'm confused I wasn't aware that women all ate the same small portion of food. Is a man not allowed to have a small appetite in your restaurant, and vice versa for a woman? And what's with the overly busty girls I see in all of your print material?' Mr Jansenberger said he would not be changing the 'ladies' portion size and claimed it was the result of female customers complaining about the size of portions being too big 'I mean come on aren't we a bit past this sexist rubbish in 2016? I think it's offensive and I'd like to hear your point of view on these matters,' she said. The owner Gerry Jansenberger denied that his business was disparaging to women, according to The Daily Telegraph. 'I had an advertisement outside my (Neutral Bay) restaurant before, which was a nice lady with big knockers and a beer stein in her hand something that is used all over the world and we had a woman complaining about that. 'This is a cultural thing. And I'm not changing that.' A high school student has been left feeling 'shocked' and 'violated' after being asked to analyse sex scenarios of middle-aged people as part of a 'personal development' class. Year 10 girls at Northern Beaches Secondary College in Sydney's north, were asked to discuss the sexual behaviours of fictional characters, including 'Joseph', a middle-aged married man who fantasises about other men. A promiscuous heterosexual woman called 'Zarita' and a man called 'Philip' who started having sex with men as an adolescent, were also at the centre of the discussion. Northern Beaches Secondary College, Mackellar Girls campus, where students were asked to analyse controversial sex scenarios The controversial discussion was part of a personal development class based on the Safe Schools program, according to the Daily Telegraph. The sex-based class was shared when one of the students took a photo of the paperwork on her mobile phone, claiming she felt 'shocked' and 'violated'. It then caught the attention of school P&C member and mother of four Ali High, was appalled by the discovery. The year 10 students were asked to discuss the sexual behaviours of fictional middle age characters SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM The Safe Schools Coalition works with schools to create a program which aims to create safer and more inclusive environments for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, staff and families. Advertisement 'Adult behaviours such as those described, should not be relevant to the lives of these underage girls,' Mrs High said. 'It borders on the pornographic.' Although her daughter was in a younger class at the school, Mrs High said she did not want the sex-based discussion trickling down through the school and to other students. Thousands of people rallied outside the State Library in Melbourne to support the Safe Schools program on March 21 this year The controversial Safe School's program is currently under review, as NSW premier Mike Baird considers a fundamental change. She said she supported the Safe Schools program which advocated more open discussion, but said the material in question was entirely inappropriate. When Mrs High took the issue to the school's principal Christine Del Gallo, she said quick action was taken. 'I've sent a letter to the Department of Education with my concerns,' she said. 'How is this happening? It is very sad.' The Minister of Education has since asked the department to review the Teacher Toolbox. The proposed change will give parents the option to 'opt in' to the program rather than the current option to 'opt out'. The controversial Safe School's program is currently under review, as NSW premier Mike Baird considers a fundamental change. The father of the 15-year-old girl who had a months-long online relationship with Anthony Weiner struck back at the disgraced politician for giving his underage daughters name and information to the media. The father, whose name is being withheld by the Dailymail.com to shield his daughters identity, said Weiner is trying to re-victimize his underage daughter by handing out her information. It is further proof - in addition to the many confirming texts, photos and Weiner's own acknowledgement that he engaged in 'flirtatious' communications - that the 51-year-old Weiner did indeed have an on-line sexual relationship with the minor. The girl's father said reporters showed up at his home shortly after the Dailymail.com reported on Wednesday that Weiner had exchanged flirtatious and sexually-charged messages with the 15-year-old girl starting in January. And he even received a harassing call from one prominent news anchor. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO The father of the 15-year-old girl who had a months-long online relationship with Anthony Weiner has lashed out at the disgraced politician for giving his underage daughters name and information to the media NYPD Special Victim's Unit is looking into possible charges resulting from the sexting email exchange between a 15-year-old high school and Anthony Weiner, seen here in a photo taken on Wednesday morning Likely in the hope of removing himself from the line of fire and shifting the story away from himself to the victim, Weiner sent the girl's email address to BuzzFeed, Fox 5 New York, HLN and the Daily News, among others. Through the email address the news outlets were able to identify the underage girl. Weiner even gave one newspaper a photograph of the minor, which it used blurred. I think its absurd and wrong, said the girls father. [Weiner has] already done enough to my 15-year-old daughter without adding to it more. Huma Abedin, Weiner's estranged wife and Hillary Clinton top aide, had no comment for the press when she exited the Manhattan apartment they still share to take her four-year-old son to school on Thursday. The father of the 15-year-old girl, who had a months-long online relationship with Weiner said his conduct was absolutely criminal, and that it has been gut-wrenching to watch the impact it has had on his daughter. Huma Abedin, Weiner's estranged wife, refused to comment on the scandal when photographed Thursday morning Weiner and Abedin, still living in the same apartment despite their split, left separately Wednesday morning The Skype video relations between a 15-year-old and a 51-year-old I couldnt stomach that, said the father, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of his daughter. That really was the worst part I think, was knowing that inappropriate behavior was available to my daughter by this man. Weiner exchanged flirtatious and sexually-charged messages with a 15-year-old girl for months after the girl struck up a conversation with him on Twitter in January, the Dailymail.com first reported on Wednesday. In messages obtained by the Dailymail.com, Weiner told the girl he woke up hard after thinking about her, sent her shirtless photos, and complimented her body. He also encouraged her to talk to him on the video-chat application Skype. The girl alleged that during these Skype conversations, Weiner asked her to get undressed and touch herself. She claimed he also asked her to dress up in school girl outfits and pretend he was her teacher and brought up rape fantasies. Her father said if he met Weiner, there wouldnt be any words. There would be no words. I hope I never come in contact with him, he said about the 'monster' in an interview. Ill be in jail if I come into contact with him. He added that he was concerned Weiner may have been speaking with other underage girls, and hoped his daughters story could give them the courage to come forward. The father also called Weiners exchanges with his daughter absolutely criminal, although he told the Dailymail.com that he did not pursue charges because his daughter asked him not to do so. The girl said in an interview that she did not want to pursue charges because she believed the relationship was consensual. The girl, whose name is being withheld by DailyMail.com because she is a minor, said the online relationship began last January while she was a high school sophomore In one Confide message - which deletes the sender's name after the first message is open, Weiner tells the girl 'I would bust that tight p***y. 'The app is designed for confidentiality, and automatically deletes messages and images after the first time they are read or viewed. However, the girl took photos of a few of the messages and images from last February and March, which she shared with the Dailymail.com. He goes on to say that he would 'bust' it 'so hard and so often that you would be limp for a week' 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent,' Weiner told DailyMail.com In an emotional interview, the girls father said he believed the relationship had a detrimental impact on his daughters well-being. Shes gone through some depression, weve sought counselling and been able to help her work through it, he said. Shes a bright girl, very smart, so this has somewhat dulled the light that she had previous to this. Its gut-wrenching to see someone take that away, he added. Weiner issued a statement to the Dailymail.com apologizing for repeatedly demonstrate[ing] terrible judgment about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. He did not deny exchanging messages with the girl, but added that he believed he had likely been the subject of a hoax. He provided the Dailymail.com with an email the girl sent to one of her teachers saying that her relationship with Weiner was friendly and not sexual. The girl told the Dailymail.com that she wrote the letter last spring after Weiner asked her to deny to her teacher they had a relationship. She said she never actually sent the email to her teacher, but sent it to Weiner at his request. The girls father said he hoped his daughters story could help other girls in similar situations. Thats part of the reason we agreed to have this interview, he said. If theres anybody out there that has a similar story that they can come forward, maybe use my daughters example to have the courage to come forward. DailyMail.com has learned that the NYPD Special Victim's Unit is looking into possible charges resulting from the sexting email exchange between a 15-year-old high school and Anthony Weiner. In one message, he tells the girl he was 'hard' after thinking of her that morning Weiner was aware that the girl was underage, according to DailyMail.com interviews with the girl and her father, as well as a cache of online messages. Celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina told DailyMail.com that Weiner could face a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and three years probation. Based on the graphic nature of the texts and the explicit topics discussed, Tacopina said that line of inquiry would 'certainly be up for grabs' for investigators. Tacopina said the police would be able to build a strong case around the messages obtained by DailyMail.com without having to rely upon the credibility of his young accuser. 'All you really have to do is look at the messages there to substantiate 90 per cent of her story,' he added. 'If she is a problem child that actually makes her more vulnerable and this is even more egregious, quite frankly.' Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday Anthony Weiner sexting with an underage girl could land the disgraced ex-congressman jail time. 'I've only read the reports and let me say this: If the reports are true, it's possibly criminal and it is sick,' he told reporters. 'And frankly I've heard enough about Anthony Weiner and I think that goes for all New Yorkers.' In the online messages, Weiner, 51, who called himself T Dog, sent bare-chested photos of himself to the underage girl, repeatedly called her 'baby' and complimented her body, and told her that he woke up 'hard' after thinking about her, according to copies of the conversations. In one particularly lewd message, he told the teen: 'I would bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.' When confronted with the claims, Weiner did not deny exchanging 'flirtatious' messages with the teen. He declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations on the record, but provided copies of two emails the girl sent him that he contends raised questions about her claims. DailyMail.com publishes them below. He gave a statement to DailyMail.com in which he says, in part: 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt.' 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. 'I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt. 'While I have provided the Daily Mail with information showing that I have likely been the subject of a hoax, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this position. 'I am sorry.' A failed UKIP candidate has been convicted of calling a Tesco worker and fellow Muslim a f****** foreigner in a car park row. Mother-of-two Sam Naz, 33, racially abused fellow Muslim Mohammed Watfa two months before finishing fifth in her bid to oust Zac Goldsmith as MP for Richmond Park and North Kensington. Trolley collector Mr Watfa, 48, had spotted Naz being attacked by another shopper outside the store in Leytonstone, east London, and went over to see if she needed any help, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Sam Naz, 33, racially abused fellow Muslim Mohammed Watfa two months before finishing fifth in her bid to oust Zac Goldsmith as MP for Richmond Park and North Kensington Naz, of Twickenham, south London, claimed she had been throttled by the male customer, who was never traced, and shoved into a parked car. She then lost her temper and turned on Mr Watfa after the man sped off, calling him a f****** b******, a f****** foreigner and taunting: What kind of f****** foreigner are you? The court heard Naz claimed Mr Watfa was the aggressor, and said he sparked the row by helping her assailant flee before telling her you f****** deserved it. A jury of five men and seven women convicted her of racially aggravated intentional harassment after deliberating for just an hour-and-a-half. Naz, of Twickenham, south London, claimed she had been throttled by the male customer, who was never traced, and shoved into a parked car Naz sighed and loudly tutted after the verdict was read out and told the judge he had been very unfair to her. Fining Naz 1,500 and ordering her to pay 3,500 in costs, Judge Oscar Del Fabbro told her: If you retain any aspirations for a political career you may want to reflect on the fact that humility will stand you in good stead. A person who stands in politics represents all members of society - foreigners included. Naz branded the potential costs order a complete joke. Rekha Kodikara, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement from Mr Watfa in which he described still doubting himself. He said that he is still shocked at what she said to him, Ms Kodikara said. [He said] that he only recently discovered that she worked in politics and it has made [him] feel worse because somebody in that position should know better than to say such things. Naz, pictured with then UKIP leader Nigel Farage, sighed and loudly tutted after the verdict was read out and told the judge he had been very unfair to her Jurors had heard that Mr Watfa tried helping the mother-of-two after he spotted a man with a closed fist about to punch her. He described pulling them apart and directing the man back towards his own car. Ms Naz moved again towards the car to stop him from driving off, he continued. She was trying to go through but I was still standing between her and the car. Mr Watfa told jurors the driver briefly stepped out to argue with Naz a second time before pulling away at speed and dragging her up to ten yards as she clung on. When she turned around the first words she said was that I let him go and drive off, Mr Watfa explained. I said I could not arrest him because I am not a policeman and I am not security. The supermarket worker claimed the verbal abuse quickly escalated into a foul-mouth barrage ending with the charity worker hissing at him: What kind of f***ing foreigner are you? Naz said she was a devout Muslim claimed she was the victim of both the physical attack and Mr Watfas supposed remarks following it He told jurors he replied: I am a foreigner just like you. I said "you are too pretty to say these words,"' he added. I said "maybe you deserve a punch because you have a very rude mouth"'. Mr Watfa claimed he heard the same f-words volleyed at him up to 50 times as he made his way back to the store. When I went for my interview [at the police station] they asked me how I would like this case to go, he told the jury. I said if Ms Naz can say sorry to me that is it. Seeing Ms Naz I see my sister and I come from a large family with sisters. Naz said she was a devout Muslim claimed she was the victim of both the physical attack and Mr Watfas supposed remarks following it. Jurors heard she initially told officers the allegations were part of a Muslim IS conspiracy from within Walthamstows Asian community - claims she now insists are not true. Naz, who is of Pakistani immigrant heritage, went on to describe feeling shocked and conceded she might have used the effing word as she remonstrated with Mr Watfa after her assailant drove off. At that point I was holding my neck walking back towards him and the first thing he said was you f****** deserve it, Naz jurors. I was so upset. I could see he had the uniform on at the time and I thought he was a security guard. Naz described feeling very, very disappointed that all this was going on after being asked to stand again by UKIP after her first failed campaign. Tanveer Qureshi, defending, also warned jurors she was not on trial for her politics and urged them against taking the easy shot of assuming she was not a fan of immigrants. After the verdicts were read out, he told the court that Naz is not currently working outside of her familys charity and looks after her two young daughters. Judge Del Fabbro said: Ms Naz, you have been found guilty after careful deliberations by this jury having heard evidence over three-and-a-half days. You have been found guilty of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. The fact that you have been found guilty by the jury comes as no surprise - the evidence against you was overwhelming. You have only yourself to blame for the sorry state of affairs you find yourself in. People have provided glowing references about you and I have no reason to doubt that they are genuine references about the way in which you have been known to them - kind, dedicated, hardworking. However, your sheer arrogance coupled with your uncontrollable temper led to you berating and racially abusing a man who had quite simply done nothing more than save you from a very nasty incident. He was a very brave man to get involved in this way and you rewarded him by berating him in the most unhelpful and nasty way. Why Are Iowa Cops Seizing Assets From Innocent People? Obviously criminals shouldn't profit from their crimes. And I think that we can all agree that a car used in a drive-by shooting or purchased with money from a bank robbery can be confiscated by police. But what about when law enforcement seizes assets before a criminal conviction, or before criminal charges are even filed? Recent studies are showing law enforcement officials are taking advantage of civil forfeiture laws more than ever. In fact, citizens lost more property to police in 2014 than they did to burglars. And new information is coming to light indicating police are seizing assets from people without any proof of a crime. So how is all this even legal? Innocent Iowans The Newton Daily News is reporting that law enforcement agencies in Iowa are seizing cash, vehicles, and other private property from over 1,000 people a year, and all "without proof the property was acquired as a result of a crime or was being used to help people commit crimes." According to the paper, Polk County alone has added "$18 million in seized cash and the proceeds from nearly 1,500 confiscated vehicles to the budgets of local and state law enforcement agencies since 1985." Polk County Attorney John Sarcone defended the forfeiture totals as good work on the part of police. "A lot of this revolves around the drug trade," he told the Newton Daily News, "and they're making money off of people's addictions and whatever other circumstances they have that leads them into using drugs. They shouldn't profit from that." But analysis of Iowa's law enforcement agency data shows that, in many instances of civil forfeiture, no criminal charges were ever filed against the person whose property was seized. Criminal Property Federal law allows for the criminal forfeiture of property derived from or involved in criminal activity. But states have often expanded on the idea, even piggybacking on federal agencies and investigations to seize property. And law enforcement agencies in many states are allowed to claim civil forfeiture without filing criminal charges or providing any proof that the property was tied to criminal behavior. And, in most cases, the burden is on the person whose property was seized to prove that they are innocent or acted reasonably to prevent the conduct giving rise to the forfeiture. There has been some pushback on civil forfeitures, even in Iowa. State Senator Charles Schneider told the Newton Daily News he is trying to resurrect a failed bill that would only permit forfeitures in cases that result in criminal convictions "My main concern is that assets can be forfeited to the state without a person even being charged with a crime," Schenider said, "and I think that runs afoul of the Constitution." If you've been charged with a crime, or if you've had property seized without ever being charged with a crime, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney near you. Related Resources: With his tough stance and red and blue colouring, he could be mistaken for comic book hero Spiderman. But on closer inspection the webslinger look-a-like is in fact a male lizard, who was spotted in Kenya. Retired geography and biology teacher Jennifer Gold, 64, snapped the creature on her first ever trip to Africa. Retired geography and biology teacher Jennifer Gold, 64, snapped the creature on her first ever trip to Africa and was taken aback with his distinctive look The creature's red and blue colouring as well as his tough stance has seen him compared to Spiderman She explained: 'We had left Nairobi early in the morning and travelled for over seven hours over the bumpiest, roughest roads I have ever experienced! 'We finally arrived at an entrance gate for the Mara Conservancy and were waiting for our drivers to get clearance to enter. 'I spotted the bright coloured lizard that looked like a superhero in an aggressive stance and used it as an excuse to jump out and stretch my legs. 'We were only there for five minutes but my camera was right next to me so I thought I really should take a photo. Mrs Gold was later told the lizard's macho stance and bright colouring was his bid to try and attract a female mate And Mrs Gold was later told the lizard's macho stance and bright colouring was his bid to try and attract a female mate. She added: ''I had never seen such a lizard before. I later found during the breeding season the males develop strikingly coloured marking to attract the females. 'The Spiderman pose is also part of the mating ritual. Donald Trump threw a brushback pitch Thursday at out-of-control protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina, telling an oil and gas fracking industry audience that angry rioters have 'no right' to jeopardize public safety with 'chaos and violence.' 'We honor and recognize the right of all Americans to peacefully assemble, protest and demonstrate,' Trump said at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 'But there is no right to engage in violent disruption, or to threaten the public safety and peace of others. Every single American in our country is entitled to live in a safe community. The violence against our citizens and our law enforcement must be brought to a very rapid end.' Scroll down for video Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to a fracking conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday, detouring from remarks about energy to address race-riots in Charlotte, North Carolina that followed a police shooting The Republican presidential nominee tied his condemnation of the riots to his outreach directed at black voters, saying the bloodshed in Charlotte's streets will mostly affect 'law-abiding African-American residents who live in these communities where the crime is so rampant.' 'It's their jobs, housing markets, schools, economic conditions that will suffer. And the first duty of government is to protect their well-being and safety,' he said. Calling rampant crime 'an attack on the poor,' Trump said the government's job 'is not to make life more comfortable for the violent disruptor, but to make life more comfortable for the African-American pearent trying to raise their kids in peace, to walk their children to school, and to get their children great educations.' 'For every one violent protester, there are thousands of moms and dads and kids in that same community who just want to be able, really, to sleep safely at night, to be able to walk on the streets, to be able to go to the grocery store.' He also seemed to link the drug trade to civil unrest, saying: 'If you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night.' A campaign aide later clarified that Trump was talking generally about crime rates in inner-cities, and not specifically about the week's Charlotte flashpoint. Trump complained that the global TV audience watching the fabric of America's cities tear itself apart are absorbing a twisted and destructive image of the United States. 'Our country looks bad to the world,' he said, 'especially when we are supposed to be the world's leader.' 'How can we lead when we can't even control our own cities?' Authorities in Charlotte tried to quell public anger Wednesday after a police officer shot a black man, but a dusk prayer vigil turned into a march that ended with a protester critically wounded by gunfire Trump said law-abiding black voters bear the brunt of lawless rioting a message calculated toi win over more and more of them BAD CHARLOTTE: Violent protesters rampaged through parts of downtown Charlotte Wednesday night as anger continued to build over the deadly police shooting of a man AFTERMATH: A Charlotte Hornets team store was damaged in Wednesday nights clash, which included looting and numerous arrests BROKEN WINDOWS: A Bank of America location sustained damage There was property damage, graffiti, and looting for two consecutive nights in Charlotte The Charlotte riots began after a black police officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, a black motorist. Law enforcement and the man's family disagree about whether or not he was armed. The police chief said Thursday that video of the shooting won't be released to the public. but it reportedly shows Scott with a ankle-holstered weapon and making a menacing move toward officers. A separate police shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma involving a black male suspect and a white female officer drew Trump to question the woman's judgment on Wednesday, saying in Cleveland that she may have 'choked' under pressure. But a day later in Pittsburgh, Trump appeared more likely to side with 'the men and women in blue.' 'Every day police officers risk their lives for, really, complete strangers,' he said. 'And every year, many of them will go out on calls nad never return.' Trump ultimately retreated to the safe ground of insisting on better training for officers in what have become a series of American urban war zones. 'Police are entrusted with immense responsibility, and we must do everything we can to ensure that they are properly trained, that they respect all members of the public, and that any wrongdoing is always and it will be by them vigorously addressed,' he said. 'Has to be.' 'But our men and women in blue and you know this our men and women in blue need your support. They need your thanks and they need your gratitude. They are the line separating civilians and civilizaiton from total chaos.' Trump pledged to make crime reduction a major national priority for the nation if he wins the White House in November. 'We need a national anti-crime agenda to make our cities safe again,' he said, citing 'a 17 per cent increase in violent crime in our 50 largest cities.' And then, although he spoke to a nearly uniformly white audience, Trump once again focused his rhetoric on black voters. 'This is a national crisis, and it's the job of the next President of the United States to work with our governors and mayors,' he said, 'to address this crisis and save African-American lives.' Horrific footage has emerged of a woman obliviously using her smartphone unaware she is about to be hit and killed by a tram. The pedestrian, who was standing on tram tracks, suddenly looks up but has no time to react or jump out of the way. She was rushed to hospital in Moscow but died soon afterwards. The tram had emerged from under a railway bridge and the female driver appears to see the woman late before trying in vain to stop. The woman, blissfully unaware she is standing between tram tracks, is engrossed in her smartphone as the tram approaches Footage from the cab shows the driver opening the door to get out of the tram to help the woman. The pedestrian was waiting to cross busy Rusakovskaya Street but was paying more attention to her mobile and seemed to be unaware she was standing in the path of a tram, which runs on tracks. The name of the victim and the driver have not been made public. Suddenly she looks up as the tram approaches and is caught in the glare of headlights Comments to the story on major news outlet Life.ru questioned the age of the driver, who appears to be in her 60s. But others blamed the woman for seeking to cross a busy road when the lights were red for pedestians, and then concentrating on her phone rather than the oncoming tram. Moscow police have launched an investigation. She has no time to jump out of the way of the tram Four Scottish trainee seamen have been left stranded at sea while on work experience in South East Asia. College students Ruairidh Hanna, 22, David Gorniak, 27, Gavin McPhail, 21, and an unnamed sailor, 25, are on board container ship Hanjin Louisiana near Singapore. They were due to return home to Scotland on September 2 but have been unable to dock as the owner of the vessel, Hanjin Shipping, has filed for bankruptcy. David Gorniak, left, and Ruaridh Hanna, right, are stranded on board a container ship with two other Scottish cadets. The company that owns the vessel filed for bankruptcy last month The company, South Korea's largest shipping firm, is said to be refusing to dock over fears its ships and cargo will be seized by creditors. Ports are also refusing to let the vessels dock or unload, believing they will not be paid. Mr Hanna said it has left some 2,5000 sailors stuck on board Hanjin vessels around the world. The men do not yet know when they will fly home. Mr Hanna and his fellow Clyde Maritime Training cadets all attend the City of Glasgow College and are taking part in a work placement on the Hanjin Louisiana, sponsored by London-based ship management company Zodiac Maritime. The group had been due to return to Scotland on September 2 but are still at sea. College student Gavin McPhail, 21, was also due to return home on September 2 Mr Hanna, from Dingwall, said they have had little communication with Hanjin and are concerned about when their supplies will be replenished. Their ship is also at risk of pirates operating in the area. Mr Hanna said: 'The latest is that we've been told to anchor 40 miles east of Singapore and we've been told to wait for further instructions. 'As this situation is unprecedented, it is unclear how long we will be stuck here for - it literally could be days weeks or months. 'There seems to be some movement of Hanjin vessels around the port of Sinagpore today so that's a promising sign. We just have to wait and see.' The latest satellite images show the vessel some 40 miles east of Singapore. SNP MP Drew Hendry has called on the Government to take urgent action to help rescue the four men. The MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey said: 'I have asked Boris Johnson to join me in urging all the companies involved to take swift action to get the young cadets home, instead of leaving them adrift in the Indian Ocean, as they have been for weeks. The latest satellite images show the vessel some 40 miles east of Singapore, pictured 'Although the cadets have tried to stay positive throughout this ordeal, the very real prospect of being stranded for several months, is understandably taking its toll on them. Their families are naturally extremely anxious about the welfare of their loved ones.' A spokesman for Clyde Marine Training said: 'We are in regular contact our cadets and their families and understand just how frustrating this situation is for them. The federal government announced Thursday that it has indicted a former top aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a close family associate, and seven others on multiple fraud and bribery charges connected to a massive state-funded development project. Joseph Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary and one of his most loyal advisers, and Todd Howe, a longtime family confidante, were among the nine people named in the complaint which was filed in US federal court in Manhattan, according to the New York Post. Percoco is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from business entities who were vying for lucrative state contracts in various upstate New York development ventures. The 80-page indictment said the nine individuals named were involved in 'bribery, corruption and fraud in the awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts and other official state benefits.' Joseph Percoco (left) served as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (right) executive deputy secretary. Since the investigation broke, Cuomo has cut ties with Percoco Cuomo reacted to the news on Thursday, saying that the federal allegations against former members of his inner circle are saddening and 'profoundly' disappointing. The alleged crimes were committed during a time when the Cuomo administration is intent on pushing through a massive development program aimed at revitalizing the metropolitan Buffalo area. The plan, known widely as Buffalo Billion, foresees the construction of solar panel factories, research plants, clean energy business facilities, biomedical research centers, mall development, and a revitalization of Niagara Falls. Though the governor is not named in the indictment, the news is seen as a blow to his prestige. Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District, made the announcement on Thursday in New York. Todd Howe (above) is a Cuomo family confidante who is alleged to have arranged the bribes received by Percoco 'Today's charges shine a light on yet another sordid side of the show-me-the money culture that has so plagued Albany,' Bharara said. 'As alleged, Joseph Percoco, the former executive deputy secretary to the governor, was on the take,' he said. 'And pervasive corruption and fraud allegedly infected signature state development projects like the Buffalo Billion program,' the US attorney said. 'The bids allegedly were rigged, the results preordained; companies got rich and the public got bamboozled. As alleged in the complaint, it turns out the state legislature does not have a monopoly on crass corruption in New York.' The most prominent defendant, Percoco, is alleged to have accepted over $315,000 in bribes from two companies trying to secure state projects. One of the companies is Competitive Power Ventures, an energy firm trying to win a state contract to build a power plant in the Hudson Valley, according to The New York Times. The other is COR Development, a Syracuse-area developer that managed to secure several projects from Albany. Percoco's lawyer told the Associated Press on Thursday that his client intends to plead not guilty. Competitive's public relations representative, Peter Galbraith Kelly, COR President Steven Aiello, and another COR executive, Joseph Gerardi, are also being charged. Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District, announced the indictments during a news conference in Manhattan on Thursday The bribes to Percoco were alleged to have been arranged by Howe, who once worked for Cuomo's father, the late Gov. Mario Cuomo. Howe also went to work for Andrew Cuomo during his tenure as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He is believed to be cooperating with investigators in the case after pleading guilty to fraud charges, the New York Post reported. Percoco also worked for Mario Cuomo. At the former governor's funeral last year, Andrew Cuomo called Percoco 'my father's third son who sometimes I think he loved the most.' Another prominent state official mentioned in the indictment is Alain Kaloyeros, the head of the State University of New York's (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute and a physicist entrusted by Cuomo to oversee high-tech development projects throughout New York State. An ex-CIA chief who's backing Hillary Clinton in the presidential race said Thursday he does not believe Donald Trump is a 'patriot.' Mike Morell, a two-time acting director of the CIA, told reporters on a call organized by Clinton's campaign that Trump's ' number one interest, the thing he cares about most, is not the United States of America, it is Donald Trump. 'He cares more about himself than he does about anything else, including his nation,' Morell charged. 'And the definition of a patriot is somebody who puts his or her nation above anything else in their life.' Morell said, 'So in that regard, Donald Trump is not a patriot.' Mike Morell, an ex-CIA chief who's backing Hillary Clinton in the presidential race said Thursday he does not believe Donald Trump is a 'patriot' Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright seemed to suggest earlier in the teleconference that Trump would be disloyal to the nation and its citizens if elected. 'I truly believe every president has been a patriot and has sought to do the best they could for our country,' the Bill Clinton-era cabinet member stated. Albright said that from what she's seen in 2016 election, 'I am worried that Donald Trump, were he to win would be the first president to have personal interests that could interfere with our country's interests.' 'It's puzzling to me that he has deeply embraced President Vladimir Putin and his agenda,' she stated on the call, of which the focus was supposed to be Trump's reported interactions with Russian businessman and the billionaire's financial interests in the country. The retired diplomat took a step back when she was asked directly by a reporter if she believes Trump to be a patriot. 'It's hard to get inside his head,' she instead said. 'But the kind of statements he's made makes one question what his interests really are.' Albright assessed that Trump demonstrates an 'interesting combination of a complete lack of knowledge about what is going on' as it pertains to the Russian invasion of Ukraine 'that bear no relationship to facts.' Hillary Clinton has herself said that Trump's amiable attitude toward Putin is 'unpatriotic.' After NBC's commander-in-chief forum Clinton ridiculed Trump and said, 'bizarrely, once again, he praised Russia's strongman, Vladimir Putin, even taking the astonishing step of suggesting that he prefers the Russian president to our American president. 'Now that is not just unpatriotic and insulting to the people of our country, as well as to our commander in chief, it is scary, because it suggests hell let Putin do whatever Putin wants to do and then make excuses for him. 'He cares more about himself than he does about anything else, including his nation,' Morell said of Trump. 'And the definition of a patriot is somebody who puts his or her nation above anything else in their life' The Clinton campaign convened today's call to highlight an ABC News report that said Trump did 'hundreds of millions of dollars' of business with Russians and did not, as he previously stated, sell a condo here and there to nationalists from the country. The news network says he catered to the Russian community. ABC's investigation found that Trump regularly entered into real estate development deals Russian-born business executives. Its report also noted that Trump benefited financially in 2013 when a Russian oligarch paid for the Miss Universe Pageant to be held at his property Moscow. A lawyer for the businessman, who's a finalist in the competition for the Oval Office, told ABC the Trump Organization doesn't keep track of buyers' nationalities. In any case, Trump Organization General Counsel Alan Garten said, he does not believe a lopsided number of deals were connected to Russians. 'This whole fascination with this connection is overblown and misleading,' Garten said. Trump's business was hampered in 2014 when the United States government introduced new sanctions on Russia, two real estate agents familiar with that aspect of the real estate market told ABC News. The report suggested that Trump could look to ease sanctions on Russia as president in order to benefit his personal business. Trump has already said the sanctions will be under review. 'Well be looking at that, yeah well be looking,' he said in July. Campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks told ABC that he's 'never issued a position on the matter one way or another.' It's something he'll consider but has rendered a decision on, she said. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright seemed to suggest earlier in the teleconference that Trump would be disloyal to the nation and its citizens if elected when she brought up past presidents' patriotism Clinton's campaign proclaimed on Thursday afternoon that the report included 'alarming financial ties.' 'The business dealings 'present a possible motive for his otherwise puzzling pro-Putin policies such as his openness to lifting sanctions against Russia that currently inhibit money making opportunities for corporations like the Trump Organization,' said deputy communications director Christina Reynolds. Reynolds said the report was exactly what a group of 50 national security experts were worried about when they said Trump should disclose and divest from foreign interests. 'Unless Donald Trump immediately details all his business connections with Russia and every other foreign nation, we will never know what is driving his decision making: the interests of the American people or his own bottom line,' the senior Clinton aide said. Albright said on the call that it's not possible to know Trump's motivations for seeking the nation's highest elected office. Given his behavior, she said he should consider changing his campaign slogan from 'America First' to 'Russia First.' 'He is a gift to Putin, and now we can see that Putin is a gift to him,' Albright said. Trump's patriotism came up during a call organized by Hillary Clinton's campaign for reporters that was supposed to be focused on the billionaire's ties to Russia Morell said he couldn't figure out what Trump's 'obsession was with Vladimir Putin and what was motivating Donald Trump to not only praise the leadership of Vladimir Put, but to endorse his polices' in Ukraine, Syria and the Baltic States and encourage Russian espionage against America, as he did in July. Then, Morell says, he saw an article in Newsweek outlining Trump's foreign investments and ABC's report and realized Trump's positions seem to be '100 percent consistent with his business interests.' 'The American people have a right to know what these interests are and whether or not his policies are motivated by his support for those business interests.' Morell has become an attack dog for Clinton when it comes to Trump and Putin. In endorsing her this summer Morell charged that Putin, a former KGB spy, had 'recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation.' Two RAF Typhoon jets have been scrambled to intercept Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack bombers just off the coast of Scotland. The Russian bombers, which are capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles, came from the east and passed just to the west of the Shetland islands. The Ministry of Defence said: 'We can confirm that Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth intercepted two Russian Blackjack bombers and escorted them while they were in the UK area of interest. At no point did the aircraft enter UK territorial airspace.' Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in northern Scotland during today's incident. This image of one of the Russian bombers was tweeted by the Ministry of Defence today A RAF Typhoon jet similar to two that have been scrambled to intercept Russian planes (file picture) The incident involving the Russian Blackjack bombers (one of which is pictured, off Shetland) is the latest example of brinkmanship by President Putin (right) Another pair of Typhoons from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire also took off but were not required. In November last year Typhoons were scrambled from Lossiemouth to intercept two Blackjack bombers in an almost identical incident and a month earlier Typhoons intercepted Russian jets over the North Sea. In May 2015 two Bear strategic bombers were intercepted after being spotted north of Scotland. Vladimir Putin has previously been accused of Cold War-style 'brinkmanship' over similar incidents with Nato aircraft across Europe, including more than 100 Russian planes intercepted in 2014. The Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to deal with the Russian jets which flew close to British airspace off Shetland In February this Blackjack bomber, capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles, was intercepted by RAF Typhoons as it headed for UK airspace A Russian Blackjack bomber (Tupolev Tu 160) being intercepted an RAF Tornado F3 fighter near Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, in March 2014 Last November tensions mounted further when Turkish forces shot down a Russian jet after it allegedly entered Turkish airspace while operating missions in Syria. HOW THE TU-160 IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST OPERATIONAL BOMBER The Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack, which is also known as the White Swan, is the world's largest operational bomber. The Blackjack can fly twice the speed of sound It has also been billed as the world's largest combat aircraft, supersonic aircraft and variable-sweep aircraft - and been compared to the American B-1 bomber. Measuring 178ft long and with a spread wing span of 183ft, the aircraft has a range of more than 7,500 miles. With a crew of four men, the Blackjack entered service in 1987 and can carry 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles as well as 24 Kh-15 attack missiles. The aircraft is part of the Long Range Aviation branch of the Russian Air Force which is involved with long-range nuclear weapons. Advertisement Intercepts of Russian aircraft by NATO have increased over the last year amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. The Blackjack is the world's largest operational bomber and is nicknamed the White Swan by the pilots. It can travel at twice the speed of sound and carry 16 nuclear missiles. It is possible the bombers were taking an unusual route to Syria, after a similar incident last November when two Blackjacks came close to entering UK airspace and Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to intercept them. The Russian aircraft were making an out-of-the-ordinary 8,000-mile trip round Europe on their way to a bombing mission in Syria. The bombers departed from Olengorsk, in the Kola Peninsula and made their way westbound, coming close to Norwegian and British airspace, where they were met by the RAF. Once intercepted by Britain's Typhoons, they made their way over the Atlantic Ocean and headed back east to Gibraltar, before firing their missiles from the Mediterranean Sea. After flying over Syria, they took the usual route home, over Iran and the Caspian Sea, according to The Aviationist. In October, Typhoons intercepted a Russian Tu-95 'Bear' over the North Sea and Russian warships passed through the Channel and had to be escorted by the Navy. Rahami has since married a Pakistani woman and the pair have a child He and Mena were high school sweethearts. Mena was pregnant at their prom, friends said Rahami has also been banned from contacting A New Jersey court granted the custody request, saying there was potential for 'irreparable harm' to the child She was temporarily granted full custody of their daughter yesterday, after he was charged with planting bombs in Manhattan and New Jersey And the deadbeat dad had only tried to reach out to her once in the last year, she said in a statement Maria Mena, ex-girlfriend of Ahmad Rahami, said Thursday saying he hadn't had physical contact with her or their daughter in two years The ex-girlfriend of alleged chicken shop terrorist Ahmad Khan Rahami has not met up with him for two years, according to a newly released statement. On Thursday Maria Mena wrote: 'Ahmad Rahami and I have a child together, but neither my child nor I have had any physical contact with him in more than two (2) years,' Mena wrote Thursday. 'In addition, he has only reached out to us one time in the last year,' she added, according to ABC. Maria Mena says high school sweetheart and alleged NY/NJ bomber Ahmad Rahami (pictured left in 2007 yearbook, right after arrest) hasn't met her or their daughter for two years No contact: In the statement published Thursday, Mena also said that Rahami had only reached out to them once in the last year, and said she was 'appalled' by the attacks 'I have cooperated with authorities and told them everything I know about Ahmad Rahami,' Mena added, saying that she wanted to step out of the public eye to protect her daughter. She also said that she was 'appalled' by the New York and New Jersey bombings that Rahami is accused of, as well as the shoot-out that took place while he was being arrested. She also sent her 'thoughts and prayers' to those affected by the incidents. Also on Thursday, police revealed updates about the bombing investigation. The gun used by Rahami in the shoot-out prior to his arrest was bought by the chicken store employee in Virginia in July, they said. That's around the same time that they say he bought bomb ingredients from eBay. Witnesses have told authorities they saw Rahami 'casing' Chelsea in the days before the blasts. Investigators are trying to establish the credibility of the claims. And officers looking for the 'factory' where Rahami allegedly made his bombs say they have found residue in a location in Perth, New Jersey. Mena, filed for full custody of their nine-year-old daughter on Tuesday. Above, a police officer stands guard outside Mena's home in New Jersey that same day Her remarks came the day after Rahami's wife, with whom he has another child, arrived in the US for questioning. That same day Mena, who fell pregnant with Rahami's child while they were in school, successfully applied to a judge for custody of their child. A New Jersey court temporarily granted her petition on Wednesday morning, saying there was potential for 'irreparable harm' to the child. On Tuesday night Rahami was charged with planting bombs in Manhattan and New Jersey over the weekend. In total, 29 people were injured when a device exploded in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea on Saturday night. A nearby device failed to detonate. In court papers obtained by DailyMail.com, Mena had petitioned the court to be the sole guardian of their daughter due to the ongoing criminal case. 'Requesting full custody, defendant has been charged with police attempted murder, and is currently under protective services after possible terrorist related activity in NYC,' Mena wrote. The court agreed with Mena's concern. NBC reported a verdict that read: 'The Plaintiff's testimony has convinced the Court that the purported harm to the minor child under the instant circumstances is both emergent and irreparable and has therefore satisfied the standard.' It's unclear how active 28-year-old Rahami had been in his daughter's life. Mena claimed in previous interviews that she hadn't seen him in two years, after seeing him become more anti-American. Mena and Rahami dated while attending Edison High School, and classmates said she was pregnant at prom. Their young love was apparently not well received by Rahami's father, who organized for him to visit Afghanistan right before their daughter was born. Rahami was arrested on Monday after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey Rahami (pictured on Monday) is suspected in two bombings and an attempted bombing over the weekend in New York City and New Jersey While he was critical of American culture compared to the strict Islamic rules of his homeland, Maria never believed he'd never go as far as to hurt innocent people. 'He seemed standoffish to American culture, but I never thought he would cross the line,' she said. 'I never thought he would do something like this,' she said through tears. 'I think he was brainwashed.' They broke up sometime after the child was born, and after Rahami returned from Afghanistan he stopped paying for child support as he took longer and longer trips back to the Middle East. At one point, Mena had to sue him for nearly $1,000 in child support. The last trip that Maria, 26, was aware of, Rahami brought back a wife and child. While they were together, she says he would often compared American culture to life in Afghanistan, saying how 'there weren't homosexuals in Afghanistan.' He was also heavily critical of the military, once pointing out a military character as 'the bad person' to his young daughter. Maria wouldn't reveal why she and Rahami broke up but did say that she did not want him anywhere near their daughter. 'I didn't want him to see my daughter,' she said. 'If he loved her, he would have paid child support. My greatest fear is that he would try to take my daughter.' Advertisement From a gym and cinema to a canteen with a seasonal menu, this offshore accommodation offers wind farm workers a taste of home in the middle of the North Sea. At any one time the five-deck platform is home to around 50 engineers and technicians who work on two sites 40 miles west of the German island of Sylt. Each employee has their own cabin, complete with TV and personal living space. They also have access to a number of communal areas, including a library, lounge and laundry room. The living quarters also have their water and sewage treatment facilities, allowing staff to live on board for three weeks at a time. The accommodation is less than a mile away from the DanTysk and Sandbank wind farms. The renewable energy sites are co-owned by Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the municiple works of Munich (SWM). Christof Huss, operations manager for DanTysk, said: 'One of our special considerations is that in the winter there is a lot of time when the weather is not suitable for working outdoors. Among other things, we adjust our menus accordingly so our staff can stay healthy. He added: 'We have to make sure that people are treated well here.' Isolated: At any one time the five-deck platform is home to around 50 engineers and technicians who work on two sites 40 miles west of the German island of Sylt. Pictured, Christof Huss, operations manager of the DanTysk wind farm Cosy: A library stocked with books and furnished with comfortable chairs offers workers the perfect place to relax after a day on the offshore wind farms. The residential platform is home to around 50 engineers and technicians at any one time Home away from home: Each employee is assigned his or her own cabin, pictured, complete with a double bed and small personal living area. The rooms also have built-in storage, a TV and desk, creating a welcoming bolthole at sea Healthy eating: The menu at the canteen, pictured, changes seasonally and is designed to help employees stay healthy. The platform is designed with plenty of communal space so the wind farm workers can remain on board for weeks at a time Out at sea: The residential platform, right, and transformation platform stand side by side, elevated above the freezing waters of the North Sea. The living quarters opened this summer and allow workers to avoid a long commute from the shore Renewable energy: Wind turbines at the DanTysk farm, one of two offshore sites in the North Sea. Both DanTysk and Sandbank are co-owned by Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the municiple works of Munich (SWM) A bride-to-be filmed passionately kissing a man she had 'just met' during her hen do had to cancel the wedding after the clip went viral. Emma Alicia Paz Ayala from the north-western Mexican city of Hermosillo went out for her party with female friends to celebrate her last night of 'freedom' as a single lady. The do took place at the Playa del Carmen resort on the other side of the country and while drinking heavily at a pool bar, Emma was filmed locking lips with the apparent stranger. You may now kiss... someone else? A bride-to-be filmed passionately kissing a man she had 'just met' during her hen do had to cancel the wedding after the clip went viral Bride and doom: Emma Alicia Paz Ayala from the north-western Mexican city of Hermosillo went out for her party with female friends to celebrate her last night of 'freedom' as a single lady - and ended up snogging the man (above) The footage shows her new partner grabbing her by the waist and making her bend backwards as Emma can be seen smiling and kissing him while others cheer. The clip however was shared on social media and soon spread with the hashtag '#LadyCoralina' as a reference to the name of the 'Coralina Bar' where the incident took place. The video eventually made its way to Pablo Torres Gandara, the husband-to-be, and his family - and the wedding was cancelled soon after that. Reports said it was Emma who decided to call off the wedding, although no further information has been provided. Here comes the bride... there goes the bride: The clip was shared on social media and soon spread with the hashtag '#LadyCoralina' as a reference to the name of the 'Coralina Bar' where the incident took place. Pictured, Emma (right) and an unnamed friend There are hen dos, and there are hen don'ts: Emma with her friends at the resort But she is now also coming under fire online, with several users saying she got her just comeuppance. One user named 'KarzCavallari' said: 'Lady Coralina is the reason why most of my friends are men. Female friends are so traitorous.' 'davidteon' added: 'Still a better love story than Twilight.' Can You Sue If Your Employer Bans Dreadlocks? Workplaces are becoming more accommodating, especially when it comes to fashion. Every day seems like casual Friday in Silicon Valley. And many companies pride themselves on not only allowing but encouraging their employees to express themselves freely in their fashion choices. But what about more conservative employers? And what about company grooming policies, like bans on dreadlocks, which appear to have a racial motivation? Can banning dreadlocks constitute racial discrimination? Coiffure Catastrophe According to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, it doesn't. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had filed a lawsuit against Catastrophe Management Solutions on behalf of a woman who was denied a job because of her dreadlocks. Chastity Jones claims she interviewed with the Mobile, Alabama insurance claims processor, and was offered a job as a customer service representative, with one condition: that she cut her dreadlocks off. When she refused, Catastrophe rescinded the job offer. The EEOC argued the "prohibition of dreadlocks in the workplace constitutes race discrimination because dreadlocks are a manner of wearing the hair that is physiologically and culturally associated with people of African descent." And the company's HR manager's assertion that dreadlocks "tend to get messy" is based on an understanding of race as "a social construct" that "has no biological definition." Legal Locks But the court disagreed. It concluded Catastrophe's grooming policy, which required employees to present themselves "in a manner that projects a professional and businesslike image," is race-neutral, adding, "As far as we can tell, every court to have considered the issue has rejected the argument that Title VII protects hairstyles culturally associated with race." The court is correct that most jurisdictions side with employers on dress and grooming codes, so long as they equally apply to all races. And Title IX's prohibition on race-based employment discrimination is generally interpreted to mean discrimination based on skin color and other "immutable traits." So as long as a company policy doesn't address race specifically and it applies to all employees, courts will normally side with employers, even if they ban certain hairstyles. If you've been denied a job or fired because of a racially-motivated company policy, you should contact an experienced employment or civil rights attorney in your area. Related Resources: The mother of a 13-year-old girl from Illinois who has been missing since Sunday along with her newborn son and her stepfather made a tearful plea on Wednesday begging her daughter to come home. The Madison County Sheriff's Office on Sunday issued an endangered missing person alert stating that Katherine Derleth and her two-week-old son, Christopher Ray Derleth, were last seen Saturday evening in Edwardsville, Illinois. On Monday, Katherine's stepfather, 39-year-old Christopher Derleth, was charged with aggravated kidnapping and child abduction. The same day, Derleth, Katherine and her baby were sighted in West Virginia. Scroll down for video Missing teen mom: Authorities in Illinois are searching for 13-year-old Katherine Derleth (left) and her two-week-old son, Christopher, who have been missing since Sunday morning Katherine's mother, Jennifer, pictured here with her husband, Christopher, and twin daughters, says 13-year-old Katherine wants to keep her son On Wednesday, Katherine's mother, Jennifer Derleth, sat down with the station KDSK for an exclusive interview about her daughter's disappearance. Mrs Derleth, who has a medical condition affecting her lungs that requires the use of an oxygen tank, recounted how three weeks ago, she was by Katherine's side in the hospital as the eighth-grader delivered her son after 36 hours of labor. 'I was there when he was born. She was nervous, scared,' the mom recalled. She also said that when Katherine went missing from the home of her guardians Saturday, she left her cell phone behind but grabbed formula for baby Christopher. Stepdad sought: Officials believe Derleth and her son are traveling with the teen's stepfather, 39-year-old Christopher M Derleth Jennifer Derleth said the 13-year-old girl loves to cook and take care of people, and plans to keep the child. Citing legal considerations, the girl's mother declined to discuss why her husband may have abducted her daughter and grandson. She did say that the elder Christopher Derleth is an avid camper and asked the public to be on the lookout for his green 1997 Mercury Villager van. To Katherine, if you're listening to this, know that your sister and your family all love you very much, the ailing mother tearfully pleaded. Stay strong, we're praying for you and have faith that you'll be in my arms again. The paternity of Christopher Ray Derleth's paternity is unknown at this time, but Greenville, Illinois, Police Chief Lou Lorton tells People Magazine that once investigators determine the identity of the baby's biological father, 'there will no doubt be charges of criminal sexual abuse filed against that individual.' Lorton says his officers have launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding Katherine's pregnancy months earlier, and the focus of the investigation has been her stepfather and another man with whom the teenager had been sharing a home. As a result, the state removed Katherine and her newborn son from her home and placed them with guardians. The foster family with whom Katherine and her son had been staying contacted the authorities at around 9.30am Sunday when they discovered that Katherine and baby Christopher were not in their room. Investigators believe the young mother and son are accompanied by Christopher Derleth, who is now facing abduction charges, reported the Belleville News Democrat. Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons said during a recent press conference that a 'no contact order' had been previously issued against Mr Derleth barring him from interacting with his stepdaughter, who at one point had lived with him. Police say the trio may be traveling in a green 1997 Mercury Villager minivan with Illinois plates E833201. Katherine Derleth is described as 4 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 95lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Her baby son is 1-foot-9, weighing 8lbs, with brown hair. The teenager's stepfather is 6 feet 1, 160 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. Mr Derleth is known as an experienced camper, and law enforcement officials say the family may be staying at a rural camp ground or low-end motel. The trio is believed to be traveling in this green 1997 Mercury Villager minivan with Illinois plates Anyone with information on the family's whereabouts is being asked to call the sheriff's office at 618-692-4433. Police would not release any additional details about Katherine Derleth's living situation, or the identity of the biological father of her child. A day after Republican Donald Trump began forcefully calling for implementing 'stop and frisk' policies to deter urban crime, House Speaker Paul Ryan isn't ready to say whether the policy works or is even constitutional. 'I don't have an answer for you because it's not something that I've familiarized myself with the constitutionality of it, its efficacy, whether [it] worked well in New York City or not, Ryan told reporters in the Capitol Thursday. Pressed repeatedly on the plan floated by his party's standard bearer, the speaker said, 'I haven't given enough thought to it,' CNN reported. Then he switched the subject, saying, 'We need to do more to stop home grown jihadism.' Trump's anti-crime call drew additional attention Thursday after overnight violence in Thursday, where crowds engaged in looting and police made numerous arrests following protests of police shooting of a black man. House Speaker Paul Ryan wouldn't say he supported Donald Trump's call for 'stop and frisk' policing, saying he hadn't 'given enough thought to it' Trump invoked the controversial policy at a town hall event in Cleveland when an audience member asked about 'violence in the black community.' Trump responded: 'I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to. We did it in New York, it worked incredibly well. Trump continued: 'You have to be proactive, and you know you really help people sort of change their mind, automatically, you understand, you have to, in my opinion.' 'I see what's going on here, I see what's going on in Chicago. I think stop-and-frisk in New York City it was so incredible, the way it worked. Ryan, in his comments, called for leaders to 'come together' for solutions. 'As leaders, it is responsibility to promote calm, peace and dialogue,' he said. 'We cannot allow our nation to be divided up along racial lines and so I hope leaders can come together to find solutions,' Ryan said. Donald Trump called into 'Fox & Friends' this morning and doubled down on his support for the controversial policing policy, stop-and-frisk Scroll down for video Trump doubled down on his support of stop-and-frisk, saying on 'Fox & Friends' Thursday it could curb gun violence in Chicago like it did in New York. 'It's worse than some of the places we're hearing about, like Afghanistan, a war torn nation,' Trump said of the Windy City. 'It's more dangerous.' A recent Forbes article had compared shooting deaths in Chicago to the country's war dead in Iraq and Afghanistan, pointing out that the former had now eclipsed the latter when counted from 2001 until today. In Chicago, 7,916 people had been murdered, while 6,888 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq since those wars began. 'Chicago is out of control,' Trump noted, though reminded viewers that his hometown of New York has been there before. The Donald pointed to one of his chief surrogates, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, along with his Republican-turned-independent-turned-Hillary-Clinton-supporting successor Michael Bloomberg, as mayors who did things right for New York and could be models for Chicago. Bloomberg's successor, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, campaigned on getting rid of stop-and-frisk, a controversial policy that allowed police to search individuals they deemed suspicious, which translated into black and Latino neighborhoods being disproportionately targeted. 'Donald Trump talks about stop and frisk like he knows the facts,' de Blasio told CNN Thursday. 'He has had no experience with policing, no experience with public safety. He should really be careful because if we reinstitute stop and frisk all over this country, you would see a lot more tension between police and community.' House Speaker Paul Ryan has carved out multiple areas of disagreement with Donald Trump, including on Trump's temporary Muslim ban. He said he hasn't 'given enough thought' for Trump's renewed calls for 'stop and frisk' to combat urban violence Trump's call for new policing came after a second night of tense street confrontations in Charlotte Ryan has his own 'A Better Way' agenda. 'I think there are success stories that local law enforcement have used to guard against this and that's the kind of ideas we need to have,' he said Because of the criticism police departments in New York, Newark and Chicago have curtailed its use. Clearly not realizing that Chicago has used stop-and-frisk in the past, Trump yesterday called for its use. 'I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to,' Trump said at a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity, which will air in full tonight. He repeated that statement this morning. 'I think Chicago needs stop-and-frisk,' the billionaire said. 'People can criticize me ... you have to do something.' Host Ainsley Earhardt asked the Republican candidate to describe what it is to viewers who don't live in urban areas and thus may not be familiar. 'If they see a person with a gun or they think they have a gun, they'll look and they'll take the gun away,' Trump said. De Blasio promptly went after Trump upon hearing of his support for stop-and-frisk. Trump, the New York City mayor said, is 'either ignorant of the history of the city or he's lying about it.' 'Trump doesn't understand the communities he's talking about,' de Blasio continued. 'He's a pampered billionaire. He has no connection to the people he's talking about. He has no experience in the black community or any other inner city community.' When Trump called into the morning show Thursday he was immediately asked about the latest spat of violence between Black Lives Matter protesters and law enforcement in Charlotte, North Carolina. 'It's wow, there we go again,' Trump uttered. 'It's very said.' Trump contended that Americans are divided. 'It's getting worse,' he added. Summing up the greater problem with race relations Trump said, 'it just seems that there's a lack of spirit between the white and the black.' He repeated the term 'spirit' when asked how he would, as president, settle matters between the police and Black Lives Matter. 'You have to have law and order and, at the same time, you have to have a certain spirit, a certain unity, there's no unity,' he said. 'You look at the level of hatred, the rocks being thrown, everything happening, it's so sad to see.' 'There has to be a unity message that has to get out and it starts with leadership,' he concluded. Donald Trump paid a visit on Thursday to Geno's Steaks, a South Philadelphia cheesesteak landmark whose blue-collar flavor has tripped up presidential candidates in the past. The patrician presidential candidate took his food to go, but press secretary Hope Hicks confirmed that he ordered 'Whiz wit,' shorthand for a steak sandwich with Cheese Whiz and onions. 'Who wants one?' a winking Trump asked reporters and photographers clustered just outside the Secret Service's security perimeter. "who wants? Huh?" 'I think I'm going to get one for Hillary,' he boomed. A man in the crowd shouted back: 'Then she'll choke on it!' Donald Trump got cheesesteaks at Geno's in Philadelphia on Thursday, completing a Pennsylvania political pilgrimage that tripped up a Democratic candidate in 2004 and The Donald's order came with onions and Cheese Whiz The Republican nominee said he might order a sandwich for Hillary Clinton, leading one fan in the crowd to shout that she would 'choke on it' SAY CHEESE! Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry visited nearby Philly rival Pat's King of Steaks in 2003. The appearance caused a near media meltdown when Kerry ordered his steak with Swiss cheese WHIZ KID: Kerry ordered his cheesesteak with tomatoes, lettuce, and Swiss not Cheez Whiz in a move that became a gaffe for the wealthy and occasionally socially awkward future top diplomat Famous Geno's Steaks is a south Philadelphia landmark He ordered in English, something a placard on one walk-up window has required for decades. He avoided the controversy that seemed tailor-made for his unconventional campaign, though, ordering at a window far away from the controversial sign. Joey Vento, the eatery's late founder who died of a heart attack in 2011, gained national fame or infamy, depending on one's viewpoint for installing a sign that read: 'This is America. Please, when ordering, "Speak English".' A high-proflie lawsuit filed by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ended in 2008 when the government determined that it didn't violate the city's Fair Practices ordinance since non-English speakers were never actually turned away. But Vento told a Fox News Channel audience in 2006 that if a customer ordered in Spanish, he might send then away with Cheese Whiz on white bread. 'If one goes into a Puerto Rican neighborhood, how many signs would be seen in English?' he asked host Neil Cavuto. 'When one is on the telephone, it may say, "Press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish." But where is the number for, say, Italian or Korean?' As a memorial to Vento, his son Geno expanded the signage with a second sign. 'Joey Vento says: Press 1 for English, Press 2 for deportation,' it reads. MAS QUESO POR FAVOR: A sign at at the legendary business states: 'This Is America: When Ordering Please "Speak English"' Trump said his debate preparation was going so well that he was taking time out for a sandwich instead of working The White House hopeful was in town for a fundraiser and an evening rally in a nearby suburb One woman in the crowd joked to Trump that she would vote for him if he bought her a sandwich, according to a pool reporter. Trump signed an autograph for restaurant employes and asked: 'How are we gonna do in Philly? You gonna vote? We need your vote.' An elderly man reached for his hand and identified himself as a 'Democrat for Trump.' 'He wasn't put here, I promise you that!' Trump said, amid a grip-and-grin. The Republican presidential nominee also shook hands with a Florida woman who said she was an undecided voter. 'Undecided? Forget undecided!' he joked, before obliging her. Geno's founder Joey Vento left the busines to his son, who later installed a tribute to his dad a second sign reading 'Press 1 for English, Press 2 for deportation' TASTY: a customer opens his cheesesteak where Trump stopped to pick up some food accompanied by staff and trailed by reporters Asked by a reporter about his preparations for Monday's first presidential debate with Demorcatic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump stopped and smiled broadly. 'Well, I'm here at Geno's. Unbelievable. I think it's going fine,' he said. Cheese Whiz is a staple Philly steaks sold by rival Pat's King of Steaks across the street, but Geno's recommends provolone. At Geno's the regular sandwich is ordered 'wit' or 'witout' onions. 'Whiz wit' sandwich is one common order. Newcomers can learn the local vernacular by reading along on a larger sign that ends: 'If you make a mistake, don't panic, just go to the back of the line and start over.' U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry committed an unforced error while running for president in 2004, asking for tomatoes, lettuce and Swiss cheese at Pat's. That made him the butt of jokes in southeastern Pennsylvania and cemented his reputation as a pinky-raising effete snob. Disney has pulled a child's costume from shelves after it was deemed to be cultural appropriation. The child's costume is based on the character of Maui in the upcoming movie Moana. Maui, voiced by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, is a Polynesian demigod in the film. The costume included brown fabric to signify the character's darker skin tone, leading some to label the look as brownface. Disney has since apologized for the costume, which it will no longer be selling. Scroll down for video Disney has stopped selling a children's costume for the character of Maui in the upcoming animated film Moana. The costume is pictured above 'The team behind "Moana" has taken great care to respect the cultures of the Pacific Islands that inspired the film, and we regret that the Maui costume has offended some,' Disney said in a statement released Wednesday. 'We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores.' The team behind 'Moana' has taken great care to respect the cultures of the Pacific Islands that inspired the film, and we regret that the Maui costume has offended some,We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores. Statement from Disney Moana was lauded for its female lead and representation of Pacific Islanders until the costume recently appeared on the Disney store website. People took to Twitter to express their outrage, declaring, 'Our brown skin is NOT a costume,' while another wrote, 'Some islander tattoos are very sacred, this costume is literally mocking our traditions'. The character of Maui, left, is a demigod in the new film Moana, about a Polynesian girl (right) who goes on a sea journey to save her people People expressed their outrage, declaring, 'Our brown skin is NOT a costume,' while another wrote, 'Some islander tattoos are very sacred, this costume is literally mocking our traditions' In the film, a teenage girl Moana, voiced by Hawaiian native Aulii Cravalho, joins forces with the demigod Maui on a dangerous mission to save her island tribe. But excitement turned to outrage when the costume emerged, featuring tattoos, a rope necklace, 'island-style skirt' and 'photorealistic teeth art appliques', according to the product description. Some took offense to the colored 'skin' being used as a literal costume, while others said it was disrespectful to many Polynesian cultures, where tattoos are sacred. It was also noted that Maui is an actual demigod in Polynesian mythology and not a character created by Disney. One user tweeting under the account @TaleiFiji wrote: 'Dear Disney, our brown skin is not a costume. Get outta here with that cr*p. Sincerely, a furious brown skinned Pacific Islander.' Grace Darienzo chimed in, tweeting: 'This is just a mess. Brown skin and tattoos that are sacred to a certain culture? That's not a costume.' It was also noted that Maui is an actual demigod in Polynesian mythology and not a character created by Disney This isn't the film's first controversy. In the run-up to Moana's release on November 23, it has already divided audiences, receiving both praise and harsh criticism. Disney was lauded for hiring people of color to voice its characters. In addition to 14-year-old Cravalho as the title character, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who is of Samoan descent, was chosen to voice Maui. But others took issue with the way Maui was represented. Jenny Salesa, a member of New Zealand's parliament, wrote a Facebook post in June contrasting the attractiveness of three Polynesian actors to the cartoon character, who she said looked like a 'half pig half hippo.' Moana was initially hailed for breaking new ground by featuring the first-ever Polynesian Disney princess and the first princess without a romantic interest One of Donald Trump's top allies says it was President Obama's mockery of the billionaire at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner that motivated the businessman to run for president. Previewing Frontline's new documentary 'The Choice 2016,' journalist Michael Isikoff points to a quote from the billionaire's close pal, political operative Roger Stone. 'I think that is the night that he resolves to run for president,' Stone said in the film. 'I think that he is kind of motivated by it. 'Maybe I'll just run. Maybe I'll show them all,'' Stone continued, outlining Trump's thinking. Today Donald Trump is edging ahead of Hillary Clinton in many swing state polls, but back in 2011 the was the butt of jokes from President Obama, which may have motivated him to run President Obama, forced to release his longform birth certificate three days prior, ripped into Donald Trump for his 'birther' theories at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner Prior to the dinner, Trump had been beating the 'birther' drum so loudly that on April 27, 2011, three days before that fateful night, the White House had released the president's long form birth certificate. When the president took over the podium at the annual star-filled dinner, the birth certificate controversy was front and center and so was Trump, sitting at a table in the audience as a guest of the Washington Post. 'Tonight for the first time, I am releasing my official birth video,' Obama told the audience, the the packed ballroom of the Washington Hilton. The beginning scene of Disney's 'The Lion King' set in Africa began to play, dated with Obama's birthday, August 4, 1961. Moving on Obama said, 'I know he's taken some flak lately, but no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than "The Donald,"' Obama said. Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, had a sour expression on his face through President Obama's comedy routine, which mocked his reality TV career Comedian Seth Meyers followed President Obama's act and also made fun of Trump, calling his presidential aspirations a 'joke' 'And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like: Did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?' the president continued. The president had the audience in stitches. Obama also mocked one of Trump's great sources of pride, his show 'The Apprentice,' and his role as a ratings-heavy reality television host. 'For example, on a recent episode of "Celebrity Apprentice," at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team did not impress the men from Omaha Steaks,' Obama began. 'And there was lots of blame to go around, but you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership,' the president continued. 'And so ultimately you didn't blame Lil Jon or Meatloaf, you fired Gary Busey,' Obama said. Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone, a Republican political consultant, suggested in a new Frontline documentary that the 2011 WHCD was when Trump decided to run for president 'These are the kinds of decisions that keep me up at night. Well handled, sir, well handled,' the president added. Trump, of course, denies that this moment humiliated him into seeking the nation's highest office, even as he remained stone-faced as the president, and then comedian Seth Meyers, mocked him throughout their sets. 'Donald Trump has been saying he will run for president as a Republican which is surprising, since I just assumed he was running as a joke,' Meyers zinged. Trump spoke with the Washington Post's Roxanne Roberts to mark this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner, so the longtime style writer could do a piece on sitting next to Trump at the dinner five years before. 'It's such a false narrative,' Trump told Roberts in April. 'I had a phenomenal time. I had a great evening.' 'The president was making jokes about me,' he added. 'I was having a great time. I was so honored. I was actually so honored. And honestly, he delievered them well.' As for Meyers? 'I didn't like his routine. He was too nasty, out of order,' Trump said. But some of Trump's closest observers doubt that evening was much fun for the billionaire. 'Donald dreads humiliation and he dreads shame,' said Michael D'Antonio, who wrote 'Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success.' D'Antonio was also interviewed for 'The Choice.' 'And this is why he often attempts to humiliate and shame other people,' the author continued. 'So in the case of the president ridiculing him, I think it was intolerable for Donald Trump.' An excavator will be used to dig up the backyard of Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father as forensic investigators continue their search for the 12-year-old girl's missing backpack and school uniform. Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson said the earthmoving equipment would be used to look for 'any evidence relating to Tia's murder and any of the other crimes with which the Thorburns have been charged'. 'That will include any items, documents or DNA evidence. We will be looking for anything and everything,' he said. An excavator will be used to dig up the backyard of Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father as forensic investigators continue their search for the 12-year-old girl's missing backpack and uniform Police would not say what they were specifically looking for but The Courier-Mail reported they were trying to find the 12-year-old girl's backpack and school uniform. The search is covering the two-hectare property in Chambers Flats, south of Brisbane, where 12-year-old Tiahleigh was allegedly murdered by foster father Rick Thorburn. As police search for more evidence, Tiahleigh's mother Cindy Palmer will front media on Friday afternoon. These developments come as news emerged that Tiahleigh told a classmate she was scared to go home and begged to stay with her family six days before she was allegedly killed by her foster father. The search will cover the property in Chambers Flats, south of Brisbane, where Tiahleigh was allegedly murdered by foster father Rick Thorburn. Pictured are police on Thursday Julene Thorburn (left), 53, picked the 12-year-old up and took her home, where police allege she was killed by her foster father Rick Thorburn (right), 56, six days later Forensic investigators at the scene on Thursday as they search the property The property is on an isolated stretch of road at Chambers Flat. Pictured is a forensic investigator preparing to gather evidence The 12-year-old girl went home with a friend from Marsden State School on Friday October 23 and asked the girl's aunt if she could stay with them as she was worried she would get into 'big trouble' if she returned to her foster home, 7 News reported. Six days later, police will allege Tiahleigh was murdered by Thorburn, 56, in a bid to protect his son Trent Thorburn, 19, who had been sexually assaulting the young girl during the 10 months she was in the family's care. The woman Tiahleigh sought refuge from said she contacted the Office of Child Safety in Brown Plains when Tiahleigh insisted she did not want to go home, but was told it was common and to encourage the schoolgirl to return. 'She asked me if she could stay with me and I said I'm sorry I couldn't let you stay with me because I really don't know you for a start,' the aunt of Tiahleigh's classmate told 7 News. 'She did tell me that if she does go home that she was going to get in big trouble and that's why she didn't want to go home,' the unidentified woman added. The woman then contacted the Thorburns, and received a text from Julene advising she would come and collect her from the nearby home. 'She asked me if she could stay with me and I said I'm sorry I couldn't let you stay with me because I really don't know you for a start,' the aunt (pictured) of Tiahleigh's classmate said The woman then contacted the Thorburns, and received a text from Julene (left) advising she would come and collect her from the nearby home, where it is alleged Trent Thorburn, 19, (right) had been having sex with her when his parents were out of the house 'Thank you and if she is worried about it tell her that just Julene is coming and she isn't in trouble,' the text message obtained by 7 News read. The next time the woman heard from the Thorburns was on the morning Rick Thorburn told police he had dropped the 12-year-old off at school in her uniform and carrying a mambo backpack. She received a text from Julene, who has been charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice, at about 1.30pm on October 30 stating she was concerned as Tiahleigh had disappeared from school. The next time the woman heard from the Thorburns was on the morning Rick told police he had dropped the 12-year-old off at school in her uniform and carrying a mambo backpack But police now allege Tiahleigh never made it to school and was slaughtered by her foster father at their family home (pictured) before her naked body was dumped in the Pimpana river The 12-year-old's body was so badly decomposed police have struggled to determine how she died 'Hi its Tia's foster mum Julene. Tia has run from school again first thing this morning if you hear anything or if anyone has seen her today could you let me know,' the text read, adding in a further message that police had 'no leads' on her whereabouts. But police now allege Tiahleigh never made it to school and was slaughtered by her foster father at their family home in Chambers Flat, Logan, before her naked body was dumped in the Pimpana river. It took 11 months before any arrests were made in relation to Tiahleigh's death. Trent admitted to a cousin via Facebook that he had incestuous sex with Tiahleigh and feared he impregnated her a day before his father is accused of killing the school girl, a court has heard. But police did not pick up the admission during their initial investigations and only obtained the critical piece of evidence this month, despite the family facing a Crime and Corruption Commission hearing earlier this year. the Australian reported. The family were taken into custody shortly after a blue Ford XR6 previously owned by Rick Thorburn was seized and forensically examined last week. Rick Thorburn was arrested on Wednesday and collapsed while in police custody after being charged with Tiahleigh's murder and interfering with her corpse Julene Thorburn, 54, (left) and another son, Josh, 20, (right) have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Foster father Rick Thorburn was arrested on Wednesday and collapsed while in police custody after being charged with Tiahleigh's murder and interfering with her corpse. He was placed in a medically induced coma and denied bail before regaining consciousness on Thursday. His youngest son Trent was charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice. The 19-year-old was also denied bail but is expected to reapply in the Supreme Court. Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and another son, Josh, 20, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. They have been released on bail and will face court on October 10. A white police officer has been charged with first-degree manslaughter after she shot an unarmed black pastor dead while he had his hands up. Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have filed charges against Betty Shelby after she fatally gunned down 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on September 16. Dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. A warrant has been issued for her arrest and arrangements are now being made for her to surrender. If convicted, she faces between fours years and the maximum sentence of life in prison. The Tulsa County District Attorney's office said Officer Shelby 'reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation' by 'becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted.' Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany, spoke to reporters outside of the Tulsa County Courthouse on Thursday and said that the family is pleased Shelby has been charged. Betty Shelby (left) has been charged with first-degree manslaughter after shooting unarmed black man Terence Crutcher (right) dead Crutcher, 40, pictured with his twin sister, Tiffany, was shot dead while his arms were in the air She said that they hope the district attorney vigorously prosecutes the case and obtains a conviction. Tiffany added that she hopes a criminal conviction will help bring an end to the killing of innocent citizens by police. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said she hopes a first-degree manslaughter charge against Shelby provides some peace to the man's family and to the people of Tulsa. In a statement Thursday, Fallin complimented Tulsa's police chief, mayor, district attorney and citizens for helping to keep peace and order "during this difficult time." Fallin also urged Tulsa residents to be patient as the case works its way through the justice system and noted that Shelby is innocent until proven guilty. Crutcher's death sparked huge protests, with demonstrators demanding Shelby's arrest. Video shows Crutcher (pictured in a white t-shirt) had his hands up when he was gunned down by police officers on September 16 The footage of the moments before and after the shooting does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher. Her attorney has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach into his SUV window. But Crutcher's family immediately discounted that claim, saying the father of four posed no threat to the officers, and police said Crutcher did not have gun on him or in his vehicle. Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, was en route to a domestic violence call when she encountered Crutcher's vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line. Shelby did not activate her patrol car's dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what first happened between the two before other officers arrived. A close-up from a dashcam shows the moments before Crutcher was shot. His death caused an outcry in Tulsa The police footage shows Crutcher approaching the driver's side of the SUV, then more officers walk up and Crutcher appears to lower his hands and place them on the vehicle. AUDIO FROM HELICOPTER OFFICER 1: 'He's got his hands up for her now. 'This guy's still walking and not following commands.' OFFICER 2: 'Time for taser I think.' OFFICER 1: 'I've got a feeling this is going to happen.' 'That looks like a bad dude too, Probably on something.' VOICE OVER THE RADIO: 'I think he may have been tasered. 'We've got shots fired... suspect down.' Advertisement A man inside a police helicopter overhead says: 'That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something.' The officers surround Crutcher and he suddenly drops to the ground. A voice heard on police radio says: 'Shots fired!' The officers back away and Crutcher is left unattended on the street for about two minutes before an officer puts on medical gloves and begins to attend to him. Police also said they found a vial of PCP in Crutcher's vehicle after the deadly shooting. They have refused to say whether pastor Terence Crutcher was high at the time of his death until the results of an autopsy. PCP or phencyclidine, also called angel dust, can cause slurred speech, loss of coordination and a sense of strength or invulnerability. At high doses, it can cause hallucinations and paranoia. Scott Wood, Shelby's attorney, gave her version of events to ABC News just before the charges were filed. Aerial footage shows the moments before he was fatally shot by Shelby He said: 'She is very distraught about the incident. 'The fact that she has taken a human life but at the same time she wants the Cructher family to know she meant no ill will. 'This wasn't done out of hate or anger. She stopped there that day to help somebody. 'Things didn't go the way they should have. And it ended up as an officer-involved shooting. 'She was on her way to a domestic disturbance call.' As she was driving she came across Crutcher, who according to Shelby was in the middle of the road looking down. His SUV was blocking traffic. The engine was still running, which Shelby thought was odd, as she assumed it had broken down. Wood said it is 'important to remember' that Shelby was on the scene for around a minute-and-a-half before the shots were fired. Crutcher, pictured in the white shirt being filmed by a Tulsa Police helicopter after his car broke down in the middle of the road on Friday night, was shot dead shortly afterwards Officers followed Crutcher back to his car with their weapons drawn Officers in the helicopter predicted their ground colleagues were going to use their taser Seconds later, Crutcher was laying on the ground with the call 'shots fired' on the radio When Shelby asked Crutcher, pictured left with his father, if he was the owner of the stalled SUV, he allegedly mumbled incoherently in response When Shelby approached the car, the doors were closed, and the windows were open. She then saw Crutcher walking toward her, Wood said. The lawyer then said Shelby asked Crutcher: 'Hey, is this your car?' Crutcher didn't respond, simply dropping his head while continuing to look at Shelby, 'kind of under his brow,' Wood told ABC. Crutcher then began to put his hand into his left pocket, so Shelby told said: 'Hey, please keep your hands out of your pocket while you're talking to me. Let's deal with his car.' He then pulled his hand away and put his hands up in the air, even though he was not instructed to do so. Wood said that his client also found this odd. People hold signs at a 'protest for justice'. Around 100 people gathered at the scene of the shooting earlier this week When Shelby tried to talk to Crutcher, he just mumbled in response, Wood claims. By around this point, Shelby, a drug recognition expert, believed Crutcher was 'on something,' Wood said. Shelby radioed in that she had a subject 'who is not following commands.' She out her gun and told Crutcher to get on his knees, Wood said. She pulled out a gun instead of a Taser because she thought he had a weapon. Her initial plan was to book him for public intoxication, Wood told ABC. Shelby ordered Crutcher to stop multiple times as Crutcher walked toward the SUV with his hands up, Wood said. But those orders cannot be heard on the dashcam video. The clip which shows the fatal shooting starts as another patrol car pulls up to the scene. By this point, Shelby is already pointing the gun at Crutcher. Earlier this year, a former volunteer deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Eric Harris. Community leaders who watched the video expressed shock and outrage about what they saw, but called for a calm reaction Investigators have revealed through DNA that a woman who had lived under the name Lori Ruff (pictured) was actually a woman named Kimberly McLean A 30-year-old mystery of a woman who ran away from home, stole the identity of a child and lived what some would call 'a normal life', has been solved - six years after her death. Two families have been dealing with a tragic mystery that connects them through one woman known as Lori Ruff. A family in Texas lost a wife and mother to suicide in 2010, while the other family in Pennsylvania had been missing a young woman who fled abruptly in 1986 when she was just 18 years old. But it wasn't until former Social Security Administration (SSA) investigator, Joe Velling, became convinced the dead woman, Ruff, and the Pennsylvania woman were the same person, according to the Seattle Times. The SSA investigated the disappearance and death and uncovered the fact that Ruff had stolen the identity of two-year-old, Becky Sue Turner, from Pierce County who had died in a fire more than 10 years before. Velling became involved with the case after an aide to a Texas congressman had asked him to look into the case, after being contacted by the Ruff family. But it was nuclear scientist, Colleen Fitzpatrick, who now works as forensic genealogist, who discovered some important information that helped lead Velling in the right direction. Former Social Security Administration (SSA) investigator, Joe Velling, investigated and uncovered the fact that Ruff (pictured) had stolen the identity of a two-year-old girl from Pierce County who had died in a fire decades earlier But it was nuclear scientist, Colleen Fitzpatrick, who now works as forensic genealogist, who discovered some important information that helped lead Velling in the right direction. Ruff assumed the name of Becky Sue Turner on her first ID in 1988 Fitzpatrick, who has helped Holocaust survivors search for family members, immediately thought about DNA when she read the story. Ruff and her husband, Blake Ruff, had a daughter together in 2008. If a DNA sample from Ruff's daughter was taken, Fitzpatrick knew that it was possible to subtract Blake's DNA from the daughter's, leaving Lori's for examination. The Ruff family sent a saliva sample to Ancestry.com. Fitzpatrick then came up with one person who was a first cousin: a man named Michael Cassidy, who unfortunately had too common of a name to be tracked down, the Times reported. After reaching a dead end, the family, Fitzpatrick and Velling had to wait several years before getting their next breakthrough. Fitzpatrick immediately thought about DNA when she read the story. Ruff and her husband, Blake Ruff (left), had a daughter together in 2008 and with the child's DNA sample they would be able to locate some of her relatives By creating a family tree based on the third cousin's ancestry, Fitzpatrick was able to trace the cousin's family tree until she found Michael Cassidy's name Finally, the name of a third cousin came up. By creating a family tree based on the third cousin's ancestry, Fitzpatrick was able to trace the cousin's family tree until she found Michael Cassidy's name. 'Suddenly, I had Lori's extended family in front of me,' Fitzpatrick told the Times. She then was able to find Cassidy, who lived in the Philadelphia area. Using online obituaries, public records and people-finder tools, among other things, Fitzpatrick was able to put together a picture of the Cassidy family. She then called Velling who was convinced she was right. Velling flew to Philadelphia in March but decided to speak to another family member other than Cassidy. 'I had a boss that said, if something lands on your lap, do something,' Velling told the Times. A map shows a timeline of Lori Ruff assuming the two-year-old child's identity. The child died in Washington in 1971 and a little over 10 years later a 'Jane Doe' was issued an ID under Becky Sue Turner In 1988, the same year the ID was issued, Lori Ruff legally changed her name to 'Lori Erika Kennedy'. She was later married to Blake Ruff which is how she picked up the last name 'Ruff' 'I had news. Bad or good, I had it. And it had to get relayed.' Velling arrived at the woman's place of work remembers saying: 'Do you have a moment for me to tell you a story?' But it didn't click until he pulled out the photos, including Lori's most recent driver's-license picture, taken when she was around 40. 'My God, that's Kimberly!' 'The hair on the back of my neck stood up when I realized she knew who this person was,' Velling told the Times. After speaking with different family members, it was certain they believed the person in the photos was their Kimberly. Kimberly's mother was Michael Cassidy's aunt, Deanne. And Deanne was at the time married to James McLean, according to the Times. It was then revealed that Lori Ruff was actually Kimberly McLean. Deanne's DNA test confirmed the match. The 80-year-old mother was devastated. She hadn't seen her daughter since she ran away in 1986. Velling then traveled to Philadelphia where he spoke to some of Lori Ruff's relatives. When he showed them photos of her IDs (pictured is a Texas ID) they were for certain that she was actually Kimberly McLean Kimberly's mother was Michael Cassidy's aunt, Deanne. And Deanne was at the time married to James McLean. Kimberly's mother, Deanne, took a DNA test that confirmed the match In 2008, Lori and Blake had a child and lived an ordinary life. Two years later, the Ruff family, watched as Lori became more troubled, leading up to her suicide. Following the investigation, both families were connected Deanne's brother Tom Cassidy told the Times that Kimberly had a sister and their family raised them in Philadelphia. Kimberly's parents divorced when she was young and her mother remarried and moved the girls to Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Cassidy told the newspaper: 'Kim never adjusted to the new house and the divorce. 'There were new rules, a new school, and at some point, it became too much for Kimberly,' he said. The then 18-year-old moved to King of Prussia, Pa., in 1986. Not too long after the move she told her mother she was leaving for good and the family never heard from her again. 'For the life of me, we can't figure why,' Cassidy said. Velling told the newspaper that Lori spent some time in Idaho, California and Las Vegas before moving to Texas. She got her GED, graduated from the University of Texas, and met Blake Ruff through church. In 2008, she and Blake had a child and lived an ordinary life. Two years later, the Ruff family, watched as Lori became more troubled, leading up to her suicide. Darby, Blake, Ruff's brother-in-law, told the Times: 'At least now we know her identity and know she had a family that loved her.' Now, Lori and Blake's daughter has a whole new family. Following the investigation, both families were connected. At one time being middle class equated to a Cortina on the drive, Demis Roussos on the turntable and dinner parties with long dresses and prawn cocktail. Today it is Smeg fridges, wood burning stoves and spiralizers to create healthy courgette spaghetti. A new guide claims to offer the definitive guide to the aspirational brands that define Middle Britain. Dyson cleaners, Brompton fold-up bikes, matching drinks coasters and hot tubs also appear on the list. Do you have some of the tell-tale possessions of the middle classes? New list reveals Agas and smart TVs set middle classes apart A study of 2,000 adults suggests the middle class is growing with 40 per cent describing themselves as such. By contrast, just 1 per cent call themselves upper class or elite. The list was created by etiquette expert William Hanson for insurers esure. He said: The middle classes have always been known for their love of material possessions and for keeping up with their neighbours, with suburban one-upmanship taking place on a daily basis. They are constantly looking for the next thing they can install, fit or mount in their homes to be a cut about those next door. He said those identifying themselves as middle class encompass wide differences of income, wealth, attitudes and education, with the average household income now at 39,500. Here, Mr Hanson gives his opinion on the latest middle-class must-haves. 1. SMART TV A TV that is more than just a TV how exciting. They buy it, they use the extra functions for the first week or two, but after that it reverts to being used as a standard television. But it is important for friends to know you own a TV that does so much more than play out BBC1. 2. DYSON VACUUM Sir James Dyson is the archetypal hero of Middle England. A self-made middle-class chap, nicely educated, titled, international success, and most importantly, inventor of something that minimises that scourge of neat, practical middle-class houses dust! If it were possible, Sir James will soon be canonised. Some now even leave their Dyson vacuum out in full view for friends to see when calling in for coffee. 3. A BARBECUE The more middle class you are, the more impressive the barbecue. The barbecue is beloved by the men of the middle classes: the butch equivalent of the Aga. A focal point for alfresco entertaining. The bigger the barbecue, the higher the rank of middle class you go, according to the list 4. VINYL RECORDS Even though the audio quality of a record on vinyl is not as good as opposed to a digital file or even a CD, many youngish, trendy middle- class couples in search of an identity now collect vinyls (they have about nine) as if to show how different and how musically puritanical they are. 5. MAC COMPUTER You have to hand it to Apple, their product design is very good. Its so good its so expensive. So having the latest retina, 4k, 100Ghz flatscreen techno-marvel sitting neatly on a desk shows that the users not only are cool but can afford this cool. Its a silent symbol of wealth. 6. NUTRIBULLET By buying one of these, consumers buy in to the idea that they will be lithe, slinky hotshots with taut skin and firm buttocks. It sits proudly on the worktop as theres no point putting it in a cupboard as visitors wont be able to see that their hosts are paragons of health. It gets used once or twice to begin with and then stays idle until people realise its actually really marvellous for whizzing up fresh breadcrumbs. 7. ANTLER OR SAMSONITE LUGGAGE The middle classes do enjoy things that match. And what could be smarter than arriving at the airport for a trip to the South of France with numerous suitcases of varying sizes, but all of the same design, from a leading brand like Antler or Samsonite? 8. WOOD BURNING STOVE The wood burning stove gives suburban houses the warmth of a fire but is much cleaner. Soot stays in the stove and doesnt mess up the living room. An open fire would be far too much hard work: theres no nice easy-clean grate. 9. SPIRALIZER The kitchen health gadget that gets used for a few weeks and then tossed aside, next to the pasta maker and the ice cream machine. Supermarkets have now realised that no one has the time to spiralize their own courgettes and butternut squash any more and so they now sell pre-packed courgetti and boodles (butternut squash noodles). 10. MULBERRY BAG Once a sign of the upper classes, like many things before it, the Mulberry bag is still a very smart bag but something that every middle class woman of a certain age owns. Its a status symbol. Mulberry Middles will hunt out other Mulberry Middles at parties or in shops, but only strike up conversation if their Mulberry isnt as nice as their own. A Mulberry bag is a must-have for the middle classes, says William Hanson, etiquette expert 11. COASTERS Perhaps the most middle class of all things to have in a house is a set of coasters. Even more middle class, however, matching coasters. Entering a sitting room and seeing neat little matching squares or discs purposefully and considerately placed at regular intervals, territorially marking out where you are supposed to sit and place your drink is an obsession only found in Middle England, where no one wants their flat-pack furniture marked. 12. BOILING WATER TAPS A boring old kettle? Whod want one of those? Having to wait for it to boil? Why not have boiling water constantly on tap with a boiling water tap. How handy? Trouble with these is that it makes a domestic kitchen look like the communal one in the office. Why have a boring old kettle when you can have a tap that delivers boiling water straight away? 13. HOT TUB Trendy middles are obsessed with having a hot tub by having one on their patio they are conjuring up memories of an exotic alpine apres-ski, which somewhat jars with the ambiance of leafy Pinner. 14. AGA RANGE COOKER A little hackneyed now but still a good sign youre in a house of good standing, the Aga is the status symbol for many. For upper class houses the older and rustier the Aga the better and preferably oil or gas. But for the middles its got to be pristine and preferably one of the new electric ones (so much cleaner!). 15. SMEG FRIDGE When it comes to home refrigeration, for the middles, size does matter. Theres no better way to intimidate your friends by the size of your fridge freezer. Big is beautiful. An ice machine means extra points, as its an extra gadget and function for your fridge, which is given the same love as one of your children. 16. BROMPTON BIKE He will be appearing in court on drugs charges next month Officers confiscated the 'pipe' and placed it in the freezer for evidence Hensley showed police how he was using an avocado to smoke dope A sheriff's deputy from Missouri pulled over a driver who was smoking a pipe and appeared to surrounded by 'a cloud of smoke.' Benjamin Hensley, 21, was behind the wheel when cops noticed the strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A deputy asked Hensley what he had been smoking while driving, at which moment he pointed to an avocado sitting in the center cup holder of the car. Benjamin Hensley, 21, was pulled over by police in Missouri when they noticed him sitting in a cloud of smoke in his car. It wasn't long before cops detected the smell of pot Hensley allegedly showed police how he had used an avocado to smoke pot Hensley, who is a student at the University of Arkansas, explained that he had managed to make the avocado into a pot pipe. The Smoking Gun notes how the officer then examined the fruit and noted the 'strong odor of burnt marijuana emitting from a hole in the avocado.' Hensley then pulled out a small bag of pot which he duly handed over to police who cited him for marijuana possession. Prosecutors tacked noted that in a second charge the 'defendant possessed an avocado, which was drug paraphernalia.' During the traffic stop, which occurred originally because Hensley's car had a broken tail light, deputies confiscated the avocado and placed the 'evidence' in the freezer. A federal prosecutor has issued a subpoena for the cellphone and other electronic records of Anthony Weiner after DailyMail.com revealed his underage sexting. Preet Bharara, the prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, issued the order just a day after our revelation - and after the NYPD Special Victim's Unit began looking into possible charges resulting from the exchange between him and an out-of-state minor. CNN first disclosed the move by prosecutors from Bharara's office. He acted after the FBI opened its own investigation, the new network said. Weiner carried on a months-long online sexual relationship with the girl during which she claims he asked her to dress up in 'school-girl' outfits for him on a video messaging application and pressed her to engage in 'rape fantasies', DailyMail.com has exclusively reported. Scroll down for video NYPD Special Victim's Unit is looking into possible charges resulting from the sexting email exchange between a 15-year-old high school and Anthony Weiner, seen here in a photo taken on Wednesday morning The father of the 15-year-old girl who had a months-long online relationship with Anthony Weiner has lashed out at the disgraced politician for giving his underage daughter's name and information to the media Action: Prosecutors from Preet Bharara's office have acted to seize Anthony Weiner's cellphone and other electronic records. The girl, whose name is being withheld by DailyMail.com because she is a minor, said the online relationship began last January while she was a high school sophomore and before Weiner's wife, Hillary Clinton's aide Huma Abedin, announced she was ending their marriage. NO DENIAL: WHAT WEINER TOLD DAILYMAIL.COM 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. 'I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt. 'While I have provided the Daily Mail with information showing that I have likely been the subject of a hoax, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this position. 'I am sorry.' Advertisement Weiner was aware that the girl was underage, according to DailyMail.com interviews with the girl and her father, as well as a cache of online messages. A subpoena of his cellphone and other records would disclose details of the interactions with the 15-year-old girl. It could also mean any other communications he had being examined to see if they were with minors. Celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina told DailyMail.com that Weiner could face a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and three years probation. Based on the graphic nature of the texts and the explicit topics discussed, Tacopina said that line of inquiry would 'certainly be up for grabs' for investigators. Tacopina said the police would be able to build a strong case around the messages obtained by DailyMail.com without having to rely upon the credibility of his young accuser. 'All you really have to do is look at the messages there to substantiate 90 per cent of her story,' he added. 'If she is a problem child that actually makes her more vulnerable and this is even more egregious, quite frankly.' Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday Anthony Weiner sexting with an underage girl could land the disgraced ex-congressman jail time. 'I've only read the reports and let me say this: If the reports are true, it's possibly criminal and it is sick,' he told reporters. 'And frankly I've heard enough about Anthony Weiner and I think that goes for all New Yorkers.' Bharara and the FBI's move came hours after DailyMail.com revealed that Weiner had disclosed the identity of his victim to media outlets. The girl's father said reporters showed up at his home shortly after Dailymail.com reported on Wednesday that Weiner had exchanged flirtatious and sexually-charged messages with the 15-year-old girl starting in January. And he even received a harassing call from one prominent news anchor. In the online messages, Weiner, 51, who called himself T Dog, sent bare-chested photos of himself to the underage girl, repeatedly called her 'baby' and complimented her body, and told her that he woke up 'hard' after thinking about her, according to copies of the conversations. In one particularly lewd message, he told the teen: 'I would bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.' Huma Abedin, Weiner's estranged wife, refused to comment on the scandal when photographed Thursday morning When confronted with the claims, Weiner did not deny exchanging 'flirtatious' messages with the teen. He declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations on the record, but provided copies of two emails the girl sent him that he contends raised questions about her claims. DailyMail.com publishes them below. He gave a statement to DailyMail.com in which he says, in part: 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt.' 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. 'I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt. In one message, he tells the girl he was 'hard' after thinking of her that morning In one Confide message - which deletes the sender's name after the first message is open, Weiner tells the girl 'I would bust that tight p***y. 'The app is designed for confidentiality, and automatically deletes messages and images after the first time they are read or viewed. However, the girl took photos of a few of the messages and images from last February and March, which she shared with the Dailymail.com. He goes on to say that he would 'bust' it 'so hard and so often that you would be limp for a week' 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent,' Weiner told DailyMail.com 'While I have provided the Daily Mail with information showing that I have likely been the subject of a hoax, I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this position. 'I am sorry.' Bharara has a reputation as a fearless prosecutor, especially of politicians. Shortly before the Weiner subpoena, he indicted one of Cuomo's former closest aides on corruption charges. He is investigating alleged corruption of in the NYPD in a probe which has lapped at the closest aides of New York's Democratic mayor Bill de Blasio, and overseen the conviction of a series of corrupt members of the New York State Assembly, including of its former speaker, Sheldon Silver. Bharara is also the prosecutor in charge of the terror investigation in the wake of the New York and New Jersey bomb attacks this weekend. Advertisement Theresa May told the countrys five most senior defence chiefs yesterday to make every effort to halt the hounding of British soldiers. In a summit at the Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister ordered Britains top brass to pull out all the stops to ensure veterans are protected from spurious claims. And she demanded an end to abuse of the legal system by human rights lawyers pursuing unfounded claims of murder, abuse and torture by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Summit: Theresa May with, from left, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Chief of the General Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Stuart Peach, MoD Permanent Secretary Stephen Lovegrove, Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Ben Key and Commander of the Joint Forces Command General Sir Chris Deverell May, pictured with Colonel JOhn Clark, demanded an end to abuse of the legal system by human rights lawyers pursuing unfounded claims of murder, abuse and torture by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan Mrs May met Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, the heads of the Navy, Army and Air Force, and senior civil servants during a 90-minute session. There is mounting public anger over the hounding of British veterans by two official, taxpayer-funded inquiries and growing calls for them to be scrapped to save soldiers from years of torment and the threat of criminal prosecution. Yesterday, a former Iraq War hero said British troops should not be sent to war again until ministers end the witch hunt against them by parasitic human rights lawyers. Colonel Tim Collins suggested the situation was now so bad for his former comrades that they may need to form a trade union to protect themselves. He was backed by Tory MPs, who called for Labours Human Rights Act to be scrapped to prevent a repeat of the scandal, which has seen troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan pursued by lawyers for years. In a series of dramatic new developments last night: Theresa May told the countrys five most senior defence chiefs yesterday to make every effort to halt the hounding of British soldiers It emerged that more than 1,000 cases are set to be dismissed, following the collapse of a single ambulance-chasing law firm, It also emerged that British forces are facing a new wave of allegations, with the Ministry of Defence investigating 550 cases from Afghanistan, In one case, a Taliban bomb maker is suing over his detention, despite fears he would make bombs designed to kill them if he was released, Mothers of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan demanded talks with Mrs May, saying it was a disgrace that survivors were being thrown to the wolves. The growing scandal dominated a 90-minute meeting between Mrs May and the defence chiefs yesterday. Those attending included Air Chief Marshal Sir Steve Hillier, General Sir Nick Carter, the MoDs Permanent Secretary Stephen Lovegrove, Vice Admiral Ben Key and General Sir Chris Deverell. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had ordered defence chiefs to pull out all the stops to ensure investigations were limited to genuine cases. A spokesman said: The Prime Minister spoke of her pride in the UK armed forces, and praised the work they do to keep our nation safe. She said that every effort must be made to prevent any abuse of the legal system, and restated her determination to protect the armed forces against any instances of vexatious complaints. Colonel Collins, famed for his rousing eve-of-battle speech to British troops in Iraq in 2003, said some military commanders were now so frightened of the lawyers that they would rather risk the life of one of their troops than take a decision that could be reviewed by the courts. He said that halting the witch-hunt was the only way to end the compensation industry now making life a misery for veterans. Theresa May shakes hands with the British Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal, Stuart Peach, outside the Ministry of Defence in London yesterday This industry depends on applying the rules that apply on the streets of London to the battlefield elsewhere, he said. If thats what we want then we shouldnt be deploying troops. He added: The military command are so frightened of the lawyers and of course the lawyers are the people who will gain from this that it is easier for a commander now to take a risk with a soldiers life and lose a soldier dead. That can be explained . But if you take an opportunity to protect your men and you do the wrong thing then youll go to court. Colonel Tim Collins suggested the situation was now so bad for his former comrades that they may need to form a trade union to protect themselves Colonel Collins warned the situation was so bad that some veterans, whose lives have been put on hold for years by vexatious claims, were now considering suing the Government for harassment. He told the BBC the claims being pored over by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) had already been investigated by Military Police and ruled to be unfounded, before being picked up by again by lawyers. He added: The leadership of the military have so lost the confidence of the rank and file that it might even be time we need a union in the military to start dealing with this, because that is what would happen in industry. Tory MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, a former Army officer, said: We cannot have our troops going into battle if they are going to be thrown to a bunch of ambulance-chasing lawyers years later. I blame successive governments for allowing this situation to develop, but it is up to us to stop it now. Fellow Tory Tom Tugendhat, another former Army officer, laid the blame for the scandal at the door of Labours Human Rights Act, which he said had allowed judges to limit the combat immunity traditionally enjoyed by troops on the battlefield. David Cameron tried to scrap the Ihat process but Attorney General Jeremy Wright is said to have warned him that doing so could lead to troops being hauled in front of the International Criminal Court, in the Hague. Mothers of some of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan yesterday wrote to Mrs May urging her to take action. Carol Valentine, whose son Simon was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009, said: To honour the dead you must also honour those who survived. In a joint letter with four other grieving mothers, she accused the Government of once again giving in to the ambulance-chasers and political campaigners who want to undermine what our troops have sacrificed. Army self-harming rates rise by a third in five years Self-harming among British troops has increased by more than a third in just five years. Between 2010 and 2015 there was a 36 per cent rise in service personnel self-harming at least once. The official figures span a period which saw taxpayer-funded investigators carrying out inquiries into British soldiers for their conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence said there were 383 incidents of deliberate self-harming, among Royal Navy, Army and RAF personnel in 2014/15. There were 2.3 cases of self-harming per 1,000 troops in 2014/15, up from 1.7 per 1,000 in 2010/11 a 36 per cent rise. Army personnel were more at risk than those from the other forces, with the rise beginning as Britains six-year military intervention in Iraq ended. Dozens of troops have spoken about suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from their ordeal in the country since the UK ended combat operations in 2009. Ruth Smeeth is telling me she doesn't want to be known as 'the Jewish MP', her East End accent still audible from a childhood in London. 'I am an MP who happens to be Jewish. 'One of the things that makes me most angry about this whole thing is that I've ended up as 'the Jewish MP'. And worse, a victim and a target. I should be the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, a hard-working, lifelong member of the Labour Party.' She describes herself as 'a Labour, socialist, Jewish, woman' in that order. 'Actually, British first: British, Labour, socialist, Jewish, woman.' Smeeth, 37, is the MP who walked out of the launch of the Chakrabarti report, an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, after being harassed by a member of Momentum, the activist group behind Jeremy Corbyn. Labour MP Ruth Smeeth (pictured) has said she doesn't want to be known as 'the Jewish MP' Since then she has been called a 'yid c***' (among other racial slurs), a 'CIA/ MI5/Mossad informant', a 'dyke', and a 'f***ing traitor'. In all, she's experienced more than 25,000 incidents of abuse, much of it racial. As a result, two people are being investigated by counter-terrorism police one of whom penned a 1,000-word essay on how he would kill her. 'I initially assumed [the author] was from the Far Right,' she says. 'And then someone rang to inform me it was a Corbynista.' Chakrabarti's report (and the subsequent abuse it generated) is to be debated by Labour's National Executive Committee. It states: 'A political home, like a domestic one, should be a place where you feel comfortable and safe, even and especially when things are more difficult on the outside.' And yet because of threats from her own party, Smeeth now has 'security' organised by the parliamentary authority and police. She can't give details but says she won't be going to Labour Conference alone on Sunday. 'I am still going I can't let the intimidators win. Do I think it will be pleasant? No. Do I think there will be a lot of anger? Probably. But I'm sensible about what I'm doing, how I'll be and what I'll do, and I won't be by myself.' We meet at her office in Stoke-on-Trent, decorated with photographs of former Labour prime ministers and campaign posters. Smeeth is tall with a big laugh. She might wear a gold Star of David under the neckline of her dress, 'but I don't talk about Israel or Palestine. This [abuse] is not about anything I've said on Middle East politics. I don't participate.' She describes herself as 'culturally Jewish' . Her husband is Irish Catholic.Her political concerns reflect her immediate constituency, one of the poorest in the country. If anything, the furore over her religion distracts from more pressing issues. Smeeth walked out of the launch of the Chakrabarti report, an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party There were rare flashes of anti-Semitism under Ed Miliband, who is Jewish, 'but not like this. I've never seen anti-Semitism in Labour on this scale. There were one or two incidents before, and the reason why they were so shocking is that there were only one or two. Now the sheer volume has made it normal.' She lists MPs not necessarily Jewish who have received abuse generally, from Angela Eagle to Mary Creagh, who had a brick thrown through her Wakefield constituency office last week. 'Neil Coyle had death threats when his wife was eight months pregnant. Ian Murray had threats shouted outside his office when he was in Parliament but his staff were there. Stella Creasy has had tons, as has Jess Phillips. 'There are so many it's becoming normal. And that's difficult. I've just named half a dozen MPs without trying. It's the opposite of what we promised after Jo Cox was murdered.' Could she imagine this happening to Conservatives? 'The Tories care more about power than ideology,' she says, 'so they would squish it really quickly. They wouldn't let it get in the way of them running the country.' Smeeth has raised the issue of racism with Jeremy Corbyn 'privately' on 'numerous occasions' from December 2015. 'Each time the same answer: 'I am anti racist, therefore it's not a problem.' She rolls her eyes. 'It wasn't even acknowledged. Until it was a rolling news story after Ken [Livingstone made comments about Hitler supporting Zionism], he ignored it.' Her verbal evidence was taken by Chakrabarti 'and I am cited in the report. Not by name, but there are very few female Jewish MPs: Louise Ellman, Luciana Berger and me.' And because of this, she was invited to the inquiry launch. It took place on June 30, a fortnight after Jo Cox's murder, a week after Brexit and 'the same week we had passed a vote of no confidence in Jeremy and I had resigned'. 'The atmosphere was strange. At least half the room didn't know why they were there, just that it was 'a Jeremy event'. Smeeth walked out after being harassed by a member of Momentum, the activist group behind Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) 'Leaflets were distributed attacking the report as 'unfounded' and 'unnecessary'. 'I said to a friend: 'This feels horrible.' It was moody. It shouldn't have been.' Mark Wadsworth, a Momentum activist, began handing out 'press releases' calling for de-selection of certain MPs (including Smeeth). 'I asked for one. He refused. Someone said: 'It's a Jewish event, she's a Jewish MP, give her a copy.' 'He went: 'What's her name?' I said: 'Darlin', my name's Ruth Smeeth.' ' He wrote it down. Three journalists offered her their copies, and she took the closest, from Kate McCann of the Daily Telegraph. McCann then tweeted that Labour MPs at a Labour event were getting abuse from Momentum. 'In the Q&A, Jeremy said again that he didn't believe in abuse of any form. And then Shami allowed Wadsworth to speak. 'He said: 'Ruth Smeeth is working hand-in-hand with the Right-wing media to attack Jeremy.' 'So I shouted: 'How dare you?' The audience started shouting at me at the launch of an inquiry into how we treat Jews in the Labour Party! Jeremy said nothing. So I walked out. 'If one of my councillors was being shouted at I would have stopped it. You get involved, especially if, like Jeremy, you are standing next to a sign which says 'Standing up and not standing by' at an anti-Semitism event.' While the incident looped on the news, Smeeth waited for a call 'from Corbyn, from his office, from the front bench, from someone, anyone.' There was silence. So she issued a statement saying Labour was no longer 'a safe space for British Jews'. Corbyn's office manager called and said Jeremy would be in touch that evening. 'But it never came.' In fact he wasn't in touch for ten days, and only called 45 minutes before giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee. When his office did finally arrange a meeting, at 9am one Wednesday in London, Ruth says: 'I was there. Jeremy wasn't. 'His team said: 'Jeremy understood that the meeting hadn't been confirmed', so he didn't turn up.' Mostly she puts Corbyn's behaviour down to shambolic lack of organisation rather than anything sinister. 'I've spent a lot of time with Jeremy,' she says. 'The disconnect between the Jeremy I know and the Jeremy who his supporters think he is and what they are prepared to do in his name or for him because they think that is what he wants is huge. 'My biggest issue is that Jeremy knows it's happening and that it's still happening. His words about unity are fine until his surrogates go out and say things like 'People will get what's coming to them', or 'De-selections are acceptable'. 'If he has surrogates attacking parts of Labour that have supported the party for decades and decades, then he's got a problem and we've all got a problem.' She says many of the surrogates are 'clear and upfront' about who they are. Others stay anonymous. 'It's rarely your own constituents they are disgusted and appalled by such behaviour' she's been sent flowers, pottery and letters of support. 'They are also getting fed up with me being called the Jewish MP.' What should Corbyn do? 'If Jeremy highlighted three or four really offensive comments done in his name and said: 'This is the sort of thing I believe is beyond the pale', that would be good. Name and shame. Make it clear they don't speak for him.' Many have concerns about the virulent militancy within Momentum, set up following Corbyn's election as leader to harness the enthusiasm of his grassroots supporters. Smeeth says there are some 'good people' but that she's 'wary of the long-term aspirations of some of their leadership', including those 'who have yet to vote Labour in a general election'. The problem is that 'they've been abysmal about racism. And this talk of de-selection is attacking colleagues instead of Tories. I'd like an alternative government. Momentum is a hindrance to that. It's disgraceful.' Are they a cult around Corbyn? 'It's something weird. There was a 'Jeremy for leader' phone bank here on the same day as a local by-election. They were calling Labour members rather than helping get the vote out. Their priority is not the Labour Party. It's not fighting the Tories. Their priorities are skewed.' Smeeth was born in Edinburgh, the daughter of an East London Jewish girl and a rugged Scottish trade unionist. An only child, her father left when she was three. 'And when he left, he left. But my mum is my heroine.' Her maternal family arrived in London having escaped Tsarist pogroms in the 1890s. One of her grandfathers set up a Jewish trade union branch for carpentry. 'My grandmother was literate and wrote complaint letters for all the old dears on the council estate. It was a version of councillor surgeries. 'My favourite story was when Sainsbury's changed the cap colour of semi-skimmed milk and all the old dears were very angry. My grandmother coordinated a joint letter to say 'they've all bought the wrong milk and it's cost them a fortune'.' They moved to Bristol, where her mother worked as deputy general secretary of the union Amicus. 'I used to earn my pocket money delivering leaflets for Labour. I door-knocked for the first time in the 1992 election. I'd have been 12.' Today, many of her constituents are not Corbyn fans. 'They don't think he can represent the country. They don't like his past relationship with the IRA.' She says they find it 'offensive' when Jeremy with his middle-class upbringing says he doesn't consider himself wealthy. 'He earns 130,000 a year. My constituents are doing well if they earn 10 per cent of that,' she says. 'Perhaps it's easy to be an ideological purist if you can afford to live under the Tories. My constituents can't.' The incident is under investigation by the FBI and LA social services Brad Pitt 'lunged' at his son Maddox when the 15-year-old tried to verbally defend his mother Angelina Jolie during an argument last week on the family's flight home from France, a report has claimed. The incident, which is being investigated by the LA County Department of Children and Family Services, led to Jolie's decision to file for divorce, TMZ reports. The actress is alleged to have jumped in between Brad and Maddox but it is unclear whether the contact between the actor and his son was intentional. It is also not known if Pitt was drunk at the time or if he got drunk later in the flight. An earlier report said he allegedly became 'wasted' and started 'screaming' before continuing the 'rant' on the tarmac when the plane landed, trying to leave the scene in a fuel truck. A source close to Pitt said that allegations of abuse against the actor, both verbal and physical, have been 'exaggerated or fabricated'. Scroll down for videos Cause: Brad Pitt's argument with son Maddox led to Angelina Jolie's decision to file for divorce (above in May 2014) Maddox and Pitt are seen at LAX Airport on June 6, 2015. On Thursday morning, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills The incident is now 'under investigation by the FBI' but a source claims that the abuse allegations are ' exaggerated and fabricated ' (Maddox, Jolie and Pitt above in 2013) Jolie, Maddox and Pitt are seen on June 6, 2015, departing on a flight from Los Angeles A statement from the FBI said: 'In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.' On Thursday morning, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, where Pitt is believed to be staying while Jolie and the children are at a Malibu rental home. TMZ was the first to report that this alleged episode prompted Jolie to split from the 52-year-old the next day and then file for divorce. The FBI is investigating the incident because it allegedly happened mid-air. An LAPD spokesperson told Fox News that because the incident allegedly happened on an airplane, the investigation is out of their jurisdiction. US Weekly is reporting that the anonymous call came from someone on the plane as it headed towards Los Angeles, which led to members of DCFS meeting the family on the tarmac and questioning them on the scene. The LA County Department of Children and Family Services told KTLA reporter and anchor Wendy Burch there is an investigation into child abuse claims, but a spokesman later told DailyMail.com they have strict laws that don't allow them to confirm or deny the subjects of investigations. The actor and his 15-year-old son were at odds but sources close to Pitt said he did not touch the teenager at any time (Pitt, Jolie and Maddox in 2006) Incident: Pitt is pictured climbing off a jet in 2014 with daughter Vivienne Divorce: TMZ reports that the alleged episode, last Wednesday, prompted Angelina Jolie (Maddox pictured disembarking a plane in 2014) to split from the 52-year-old the next day A colleague of the couple meanwhile tells Access Hollywood that while Jolie wants the children to have a relationship with Pitt, there are no plans for visitation between the six kids and their father at this time. And while the divorce did not come as a surprise to Pitt, he was thrown off by the time according to those close to the actor. 'He was appealing to her to do this quietly not to save the marriage but to consider the well-being of the children and it was ignored,' a source close to the actor told People. The source added: 'There was clearly a breaking point, where she'd just had enough. He may have been broken himself and said he couldn't go on, and she reacted. This has been difficult for a while.' On the scene: On Thursday, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, where Brad is believed to be staying at this time Jolie and her son Maddox were spotted hopping on a commercial flight at JFK airport in April 2015. They were escorted by a 10-person entourage Pitt is seen with Pax Thien, Shiloh Nouvel and Maddox at the premiere of Unbroken at TCL Chinese Theater IMAX on December 15, 2014 in Hollywood A source close to Jolie meanwhile said: 'Things built and built over time it wasn't any one thing. 'She's loved this man for several years, and [divorce] is not something you do impulsively.' That source said that in the end Jolie did 'what she needed to do.' The Jolie source added however: 'They have six kids together and are always going to be in each other's lives.' Jolie did not respond to a request for comment while a spokesperson for Pitt reiterated the actor's statement from earlier in the week in which he said: 'I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.' Pitt and Maddox attend the World Premiere of 'World War Z' at The Empire Cinema Leicester Square on June 2, 2013, in London A source close to Pitt told TMZ that he is taking the matter seriously but 'did not commit any abuse of his children' Pitt and Jolie are pictured with their six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne The Hollywood star, 52, is said to have 'offered to improve to make himself a better person' in a bid to avoid divorce The actress addressed reports she and Mr Pitt had sparked a romance during the filming of their new WWII drama Allied Both sides have been adamant that there was no extramarital affair and that both are committed to their children, despite false reports that Pitt had engaged in a relationship with his Allied costar Marion Cotillard. On Wednesday, Cotillard revealed that she is pregnant with her second child and vehemently denied having an affair with Pitt. Cotillard, 40, wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumors on Wednesday before confirming that her partner of eight years Guillaume Canet is the father of her unborn child. 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into,' the actress said in her post. 'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously,' she continued, 'but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up.' She concluded her message by wishing Brad and Angelina Jolie well. 'Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love, Marion.' Her well wishes come despite a source telling DailyMail.com that Jolie was so jealous of Cotillard on the Allied set that she would not even speak to the French star. Angelina completely ignored Marion on the set, and when Marion tried to talk to her she just looked the other way,' said the source, who is close to both Jolie and Pitt. 'Marion was devastated, here she is thinking she is going to meet this great UN ambassador and instead Angelina refuses to speak to the woman because of her own jealousy.' 'Blissfully happy': Cotillard r is in a relationship with fellow actor Guillaume Canet, 43, and they have one child together (Guillaume directed Marion in his first American film, Blood Ties, they are seen here at the premiere in 2013) Stress: Pitt reportedly became annoyed after his wife appointed William Hague's former colleagues Arminka Helic and Chloe Dalton to assist her with her political career (pictured) Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple's three biological children as well as their three adopted children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara, 11. Pitt is said to have been furious over Jolie's appointment of Arminka Helic, 48, and Chloe Dalton, 37, two former political aides to British politician William Hague. A source told the Sun they were brought in to help with her campaign work and speech writing and urged Pitt to reduce the couple's support staff. 'Brad sees the women as a coven. He was furious at some of Arminka's decisions,' the source said. The decisions are said to have included ditching Pitt's security team - some of whom had worked for the star for 20 years. Lady Helic is seen as a key person on 'Team Angie' as the actress braces herself for the aftermath of her decision to divorce Pitt. A source told Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff that Lady Helic is 'smart, strong, and impeccably loyal', adding that she is Angelina's 'assistant, adviser and best friend'. Angelina watched Lady Helic be admitted to the House of Lords in 2014. They often travel together; recent trips include a visit to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands and one to Burma at election time last summer. Advertisement More than 1,200 cases of alleged abuse by British soldiers in Iraq will be dismissed within the next three months as a result of the collapse of an ambulance-chasing law firm, the Mail can reveal. Investigators at the Iraq Historic Abuse Team (Ihat) expect the number of allegations being probed to fall from 1,500 to just 250 by the start of next year as vast numbers are rejected out of hand. The dramatic fall results from the collapse of Public Interest Lawyers, which deluged Ihat with cases, and the weeding out of spurious or duplicate claims. Run by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, PIL was stripped of legal aid amid allegations of misconduct and closed last month. The little-known organisations, the unscrupulous professionals and the eye-watering cost of pursuing Britain's soldiers Ihat investigators believe the vast majority of the PIL cases will be dismissed because they do not hold water. Sources said reasons they would be rejected include a lack of evidence, because no crime was committed or ebecause UK forces were not involved. The revelations will be a great relief to the British Army personnel who have found themselves under investigation. However, it will also raise further questions about why the Ihat process was allowed to spiral out of control when only a handful of genuine complaints have been uncovered. Despite the collapse of PIL, and Mr Shiner facing an official misconduct tribunal, Ihat is required to investigate all the claims put forward by the law firm. Run by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner ( left), PIL was stripped of legal aid amid allegations of misconduct and closed last month, resulting in the expectation that the number of cases will drop from 1,500 to around 250. Colonel Richard Kemp (right), who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, said the original figure of 1,500 was always 'completely ridiculous' Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, said: The 1,500 figure was always completely ridiculous. It was nonsense to suggest there had been such a breakdown in discipline. It is good news it is going down dramatically. But several months is a long time for someone who has got false allegations hanging over their head. And frankly I would question the veracity of the 250 that will be left because that still seems like such a large figure. Since 2010, Ihat has cost taxpayers more than 50million, but has not successfully prosecuted a single individual for serious criminality. David Cameron tried to close the investigation but was over-ruled by government lawyers When it was launched ministers said it would take two years. Six years later it is not expected to complete its work until 2019. David Cameron tried to close the investigation but was over-ruled by government lawyers. On Tuesday, Theresa May said Ihat should make sure it doesnt encourage an industry of vexatious allegations coming forward. Ihat figures show that it has received 3,368 complaints since it was set up. Of those, 1,747 have been rejected. One case has been passed to the RAF Police to investigate and another, of alleged ill treatment, resulted in a 3,000 fine. Another 127 are still in the assessment phase, and four were returned to PIL asking for further evidence. That leaves just under 1,500 on the books. If, as expected, another 1,300 cases are rejected it would mean around 3,000 cases had been examined by Ihat and found to have no basis. An Ihat spokesman said: In order that Ihat weeds out those claims where there isnt a case to answer or where it would not be proportionate to conduct full investigations, all of the allegations must be looked at in the first instance to identify those which are serious and credible and those which are not. The Legal Aid Agency turned off the tap of public cash to PIL after a review of its practices and an investigation by the solicitors watchdog, which referred the firm to a tribunal. Allegations against PIL relate to the Al-Sweady inquiry, which looked at allegations of murder and torture by British forces but exonerated UK troops and branded the claims made by clients of PIL and another law firm as deliberate and calculated lies. Investigations also revealed that taxpayers money handed to PIL was used to fund an agent called Mazin Younis, who drummed up business for the firm in Iraq. PIL and Mr Shiner also face the prospect of a criminal investigation by the National Crime Agency. Even Taliban bombmaker joins rush for a payout MARIO LEDWITH FOR THE DAILY MAIL A Taliban bomb maker is among those lodging claims against British troops as part of a controversial probe into their conduct in Afghanistan. Gunman Serdar Mohammed was suspected of being a senior Taliban commander involved in the production of roadside bombs used to blow up UK forces. He was held for 106 days after being captured by troops in 2010, before being convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison by an Afghan court. But he says he was detained illegally and is bringing a case under the Human Rights Act, due to be heard at the Supreme Court next month. Retired Colonel Tim Collins yesterday described the claim as a reward for killing our soldiers. British troops are now being investigated over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan after the Ministry of Defence quietly set up a new inquiry following hundreds of complaints (file photo) Up to ten veterans have been quizzed by police as part of a taxpayer-funded investigation into British operations in Afghanistan, it has emerged. The soldiers were questioned under caution in front of military officials, leaving them facing the prospect of being dragged through the courts accused of committing crimes in the heat of battle. It comes as officials rapidly expanded the team investigating claims some more than a decade old made by suspected Taliban insurgents who say they were mistreated. News of the escalation of the Afghan probe similar to the Iraq Historical Allegations Team comes after the Daily Mail revealed earlier this year how it had been set up discreetly by the Government. Troops who served in Iraq, often suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, have revealed how their lives have been ruined by compensation-seeking lawyers. But the increase in the number of cases concerning veterans who were deployed in Afghanistan will lead to further concerns about the pursuit of ex-servicemen for allegedly committing war crimes. Retired Colonel Tim Collins (pictured) yesterday described the bombmaker's claim as a reward for killing our soldiers Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who served during the 13-year Afghanistan war, last night described the prospect of soldiers possibly facing murder charges as a national disgrace. This is becoming Britains dirtiest secret, he said. We are trashing peoples lives and for what end? Responding to the decision to increase the size of the inquiry, he said: Despite the Governments promises to get a grip on this it simply shows it is getting worse. There is a huge gap between what we are saying from the dispatch box and what is actually happening. The Royal Military Police investigation, codenamed Operation Northmoor, was launched in 2014 after human rights lawyers Leigh Day approached officials with dozens of complaints. But officials have quietly increased its size in recent months by doubling the number of investigators combing through accusations, from 60 to 124. There has also been a huge increase in the number of complaints being pursued, with investigators currently examining 551 cases. Previous figures showed that only 160 cases were being examined, many of which have been made by Afghans who were suspected of trying to kill and maim British troops. The Royal Military Police investigation, codenamed Operation Northmoor, was launched in 2014 after human rights lawyers Leigh Day approached officials with dozens of complaints, with staff based out of RAF St Mawgan, near Newquay (pictured) The allegations arising from the UKs operations in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2013 have already seen several personnel brought before investigators to justify their actions in the heat of battle. Many will face years of uncertainty due to the prospect of civil action following investigations, which could also potentially lead to criminal charges including murder. The inquiry has already dismissed 79 cases, while none have been submitted to the Service Prosecuting Authority. While officials refused to disclose how much the long-running investigation will cost the taxpayer, documents show that 7.5million alone was spent on a specialist computer system. The inquiry team, including officers from the National Crime Agency and Greater Manchester Police, has received complaints from 181 individuals. The IHAT probe has already cost taxpayers 30million. Amber Rudd, above, has been told to come clean over her links with two firms set up in the Bahamas in the late 1990s Amber Rudd was last night facing awkward questions over her links to firms set up in tax havens and a company involved in a major investment scandal. The Home Secretarys business career before she entered politics is under scrutiny after leaked documents revealed she was the director of two offshore firms in the Bahamas in the late 1990s. There is no suggestion Miss Rudd has done anything wrong or used companies to avoid tax herself. But her association with the firms is embarrassing for the Government, which has pledged to clamp down on tax avoidance and evasion. Earlier this year, former prime minister David Cameron was criticised for initially failing to disclose he had profited from a 30,000 stake in his fathers investment fund, which was registered in Panama and operated out of the Bahamas. The Bahamas is listed on an EU blacklist of 30 uncooperative tax havens which have resisted attempts to improve transparency. Miss Rudd was listed as a director of Bahamas investment firms Advanced Asset Allocation Management and the Advanced Asset Allocation Fund between 1998 and 2000. The details were included in 1.3million files leaked to a German newspaper and shared with The Guardian. Last night opposition MPs urged Miss Rudd to clarify whether she gained any tax advantage from her involvement in the firms. Amber Rudd was facing questions after her involvement in two firms registered in the Bahamas came to light Labour shadow minister without portfolio Jon Ashworth said: Its embarrassing for Theresa Mays Tories that another senior figure has been linked to revelations about offshore tax havens. Earlier in the year Amber Rudd was sent out to defend David Cameron amid controversy over offshore holdings. At the time she trumpeted transparency yet she made no mention of her own situation, which was surely relevant to claims amid calls for openness at the top of the Tory Party. He added: People will be forgiven for wondering what the true picture is and they deserve an answer. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron added: Serious questions for Amber Rudd she must provide clarity. The public are sick of the idea of politicians tying to dodge the rules they make. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said Miss Rudd had to come clean and the public is sick of politicians 'trying to dodge the rules they make' The row has turned the spotlight on Miss Rudds colourful career in business before becoming an MP. The Daily Mails analysis of Companies House records found Miss Rudd has been linked to at least 19 dissolved firms. Perhaps most controversially, her high-flying career in venture capital during the 1990s saw her become a co-director of a firm called Monticello. In January 2000, chief executive Mark OHanlon gave an interview in which he made false claims about the companys prospects a practice known as share ramping. Monticellos share price went on to soar, and trading was later suspended. In 2007, OHanlon was convicted of making a false statement and jailed for 18 months. There is no suggestion that Miss Rudd, who was the firms investment relations officer, was involved. But she last night faced calls to clarify whether she had shares in the company at the time, and whether she benefited from the scam. A man who failed his teaching degree and filed a lawsuit against the university believes teachers were 'jealous' of his mathematics abilities. Mohan Coomaraswamy, 69, was given a fail and told he could not re-enrol in a Masters of Teaching (secondary) degree at the University of NSW in 2013. The Sri Lankan man didn't believe the failed stacked up and took the Sydney-based university to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on complaints he had been discriminated against on the basis of his race, age and disability - suffering apnoea. Mohan Coomaraswamy, 69, has filed a lawsuit against his university when he failed the degree in mathematics teaching The Sri Lankan man said he was discriminated against on the basis of his age, race and disability - Mr Coomaraswamy suffers sleep apnoea The university said he had twice gone out to teach at schools and received feedback of having 'limited knowledge of even the most basic mathematical processes' and of being 'highly defensive when his abilities were questioned' because he 'believed his lessons were highly satisfactory even after criticism'. 'Even more of a concern is your inability to recognise and take responsibility for your weakness and to contribute to your own professional development,' Mr Coomaraswamy was told when his enrolment was cancelled. But the 69-year-old said students had 'applauded' him during the practical lessons course and the fail marks were because of 'professional jealousy'. The university of NSW (stock image) said he had twice gone out to teach at schools and received negative feedback 'For me it [the maths] was too basic. That is not my forte. My forte is advanced,' he told Daily Telegraph. 'The problem with these teachers is they think I'm smarter.' Mr Coomaraswamy suffered severe obstructive sleep apnoea and said he was not believed by the professor. Mr Coomaraswamy didn't apply for special consideration or register with the disability unit. He alleged university teaching staff had made derogatory comments about his English language skills and claimed a teacher 'harassed' him by asking he take care of spelling errors in emails. Ntokozo Qwabe has been accused of racism after a video emerged of him hitting a phone out of a white student's hand because he was white The ringleader of the Oxford University Rhodes Must Fall campaign has been accused of racism after admitting he wanted to whip a fellow student because he was white. Ntokozo Qwabe, 25, was filmed using a stick to hit a students mobile phone out of his hands and then ranted online that his victim was guilty of white apartheid settler colonial entitlement. It comes after the activist, who has been a postgraduate student at Oxford, led a failed campaign last year for a statue of Cecil Rhodes to be removed from Oriel College. He claimed that because the 19th-century politician was a colonialist, forcing ethnic minority students walk past it amounted to violence. The law student then completed his studies in Britain and returned to South Africa, but continued to stir up trouble there. He was recently widely criticised for making a waitress cry in his native Cape Town after refusing to tip her because she was white. Scroll down for video Qwabes latest torrent of abuse was written on Facebook after he led a campus protest at the University of Cape Town earlier this week. Waving a big stick, he led a group of agitators who disrupted a final-year law lecture by singing and standing on tables. When the students refused to leave and one started filming the protest on his mobile phone, he hit it with a stick. Qwabe was the ringleader of a campaign to have the statue of Cecil Rhodes removed from Oxford University campus. Pictured: students marching earlier this year The statue Qwabe wanted removed. A video of the activist attacking another student has gone viral online The video of the alleged attack went viral on the internet. Responding to critics who accused him of racism, Qwabe wrote: It is NOT true that I assaulted and whipped with a stick a white student during our shutdown of the arrogant UCT Law Faculty! Although I wish Id actually not been a good law-abiding citizen & whipped the white apartheid settler colonial entitlement out of the b******. A 630-year-old section of the Great Wall of China has been concreted over prompting outrage on China's social media. Images of the Xiaohekou Great Wall in China's Liaoning province appeared online on September 21 and have prompted outrage among China's social media, reports Huanqiu, an affiliation with the People's Daily Online. The local Culture Relics bureau says it approved the concrete in order to repair and protect the wall. Scroll down for video Botched job: The section of the wall in Liaoning province, China has been concreted over A good idea? The local Culture Relics bureau says it approved the concrete repairs Untouched and wild: Before the wall was known for its wild look and unpredictable stones Located in Suizhong County, the section of the world wonder is known as a beautiful and wild section. It was constructed in 1381 AD. It has 31 watchtowers and 14 beacon towers. According to Global Times, the Xiaohekou section was mainly constructed from stones with plum blossom and orchid patterns carved into them However images have now emerged of just over 5 miles (8.9 kilometres) of the wall completely coated in cement. Ding Hui, Deputy Director of Liaoning Provincial Department of Culture told reporters that the purpose of the repairs is to protect the wall. However he also admitted that it does not look good. The additional concrete on top of the wall hides the original bricks and tiles from view. Not welcome: The repair work has caused outrage among Chinese social media users Broken: According to reports, the repairs were made as the section was at risk of collapse Liu Fusheng, Office Director of Suizhong County Mountain Provincial Forest Park Management said the walls have been plastered making it look like the 'Great White Wall'. He says he was taken aback to see originally incomplete brick walls and forts fused together. According to reports, the wall was at risk of collapse due to tourists walking on it so the repairs were made. People have been outraged by the repairs on the Chinese social media site Weibo. One user commented: 'It survived the cultural revolution yet it could not survive the ignorance.' And another wrote: 'Monuments get weathered after a thousand years but it was ruined by mindless people in just one night.' While one user said: 'Maybe one day we can drive on the Great Wall.' It's reported that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage approved the restoration project. The Department of Culture has since said it will learn more about the circumstances of the restoration project and decide if there are any issues that need further investigation. GREAT WALL OF CHINA: THE WORLD'S LARGEST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE The Great Wall of China is the world's largest man-made structure It is thought to be around 13,170 miles long. The wall was constructed in several sections over a period of around 1,000 years. Building work started during the Qin dynasty (259BC to 210BC) as part of a defensive line against enemies to the north. Large sections were built during the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644) to help defend against the Mongolian tribes. The sections built during this period are what most tourists tend to visit today. The Great Wall also provided a border boundary that allowed the Chinese authorities to impose duties on goods carried along the Silk Road trade route. Source: MailOnline, History magazine Advertisement The wall was at risk of collapse due to tourists walking on it so the repairs were made A macabre discovery on an Australian riverbank has shed new light on the powerful wooden weapons of ancient Aboriginal tribes. The skull of a skeleton found two years ago is marred by a long gash, initially thought to be the result of a fatal blow from a sharp metal blade but, analysis of the remains reveals this occurred long before the Europeans arrived to the region with these types of tools. In a new study, researchers say a fighting boomerang or a wooden weapon known as a Lil-lil may instead be to blame, suggesting the Aboriginal people once fought deadly battles between themselves. The skull of a skeleton found two years ago is marred by a long gash, initially thought to be the result of a fatal blow from a sharp metal blade but, analysis of the remains reveals this occurred long before the Europeans arrived to the region with these types of tools KAAKUTJA'S INJURIES Researchers identified a long facial wound caused by a sharp weapon, along with two healed injuries in the skull. They also noted that some of the ribs had been broken, and a segment of bone was hacked from the upper arm. These injuries may have been caused by wooden weapons, the researchers say. Sharp club-like weapons known as Lil-lils and hooked fighting boomerangs called Wonna could have caused the injuries observed in Kaakutja. Advertisement The ancient victim found at a burial site in New South Wales died in the 1200s, roughly 600 years before the Europeans began to colonize Australia, National Geographic reports. While little is known about the relationships between the Aboriginal tribes before this era, the newly found remains coupled with an earlier discovery of a skeleton with human-inflicted lethal injuries indicates there may have been conflict among these peoples. These findings are discussed in a paper published to the journal Antiquity. After its discovery in 2014 by William Bates, a member of the Baakantji, the skeleton was named Kaakutja, meaning older brother. Researchers identified a long facial wound caused by a sharp weapon, along with two healed injuries in the skull. They also noted that some of the ribs had been broken, and a segment of bone was hacked from the upper arm, according to National Geographic. Kaakutjas ancient wounds exhibit evidence of fatal trauma, of a kind normally indicative of sharp metal weapons, yet the burial dates to the mid thirteenth century 600 years before European settlers reached the area, the authors wrote. The researchers questioned, Could sharp-edged wooden weapons from traditional Aboriginal culture inflict injuries similar to those resulting from later, metal blades? As boomerangs could be as large as 18 inches long, a weapon of this kind may have been responsible for the large wound across the skeletons face. And just near the burial site, the team also discovered rock art depicting people wielding shields, clubs, and boomerangs Their investigation revealed that this likely was the case; the team found that sharp club-like weapons known as Lil-lils and hooked fighting boomerangs called Wonna could have caused the injuries observed in Kaakutja. Various types of boomerangs are pictured Their investigation revealed that this likely was the case; the team found that sharp club-like weapons known as Lil-lils and hooked fighting boomerangs called Wonna could have caused the injuries observed in Kaakutja. According to the study, both have blades that could fit within the dimensions of the major trauma and are capable of having caused fatal wounds. As boomerangs could be as large as 18 inches long, a weapon of this kind may have been responsible for the large wound across the skeletons face, National Geographic explains. And just near the burial site, the team also discovered rock art depicting people wielding shields, clubs, and boomerangs. Boomerangs have long had various uses, from digging to making music but, theyve also been used to butcher animals, and the new discovery sheds additional light on the deadly side to this tool. Thai Rangers, Forest Rangers, Thai Police and Mae La camp security officials came into the camp on the evening of 12 September and arrested the five refugees who all lived in Zone-C-(3B) of the camp. Saw Khu Htoo, one of the supervisors of Zone-C said: The wood had been stored inside the church [and was going to be used] to rebuild a bridge inside the camp. We submitted [a request] to the camp to rebuild [the bridge] a long time ago. We took the wood because [we believed that] we had an understanding and this happened. The arrested men were a pastor, his brother-in-law and three students. Two logs, some hardwood and saws were also confiscated as evidence. The arrested men were taken to Mae Ramat Police Station. According to refugees the Thais have strict laws relating to the forest and the authorities have previously taken action against Mae La residents who cut down trees and bamboo near to the camp for domestic use. A Mae La resident said to KIC: In the past we have cut wood and bamboo for domestic use. Now, the Thai authorities made the arrests, so we cant do anything. The authorities in the refugee camps located along the border in Thailand deal with minor infractions such as fighting and domestic issues. They also assist the Thai authorities to take action as required by Thai law in more serious cases, such as possession of weapons and drugs, human trafficking, rape and murder. But, because this incident was an infringement of Thai Forestry law the camp authorities could not deal with it and it had to be dealt with by the Thai authorities, in accordance with Thai law. The Thai news agency AEC News reported on its Facebook page that five men had been felling trees in the Kanesu Forest in Tha Song Yang District and that they had fled when Forestry officials found them. They arrested a man named Maung Aye at the scene and then made the arrests at Mae La camp. Previously, in June 2012 Thai forestry officials exchanged gunfire with illegal loggers from Mae La camp at a forest reserve in Mae Ramat District. Reporting by SPhan Shaung for KIC News Translated by Thida Linn Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI It may be a strange orange world where temperatures hover around -292F (-180C) and lakes are formed of liquid methane, but it seems Titan is much more like Earth than you might imagine. Clouds forming on Saturn's largest moon may be materialising through a process similar to one seen over the poles on our own planet. These 'impossible' clouds seemingly appear out of thin air in Titan's stratosphere and have puzzled scientists since they were first spotted by Nasa's Voyager 1 spacecraft decades ago. Scientists at Nasa have detected an 'impossible' type of cloud high in the atmosphere of Titan (stock image of Titan) for a second time. They believe it may be appearing due to chemical reactions between ice particles of different toxic molecules TITAN: EARTH'S TOXIC TWIN Aside from Earth, Titan is the only place in the solar system known to have rivers, rainfall and seas - and possibly even waterfalls. Of course, in the case of Titan these are liquid methane rather than water on Earth. Regular Earth-water, H2O, would be frozen solid on Titan where the surface temperature is -180C (-292F). With its thick atmosphere and organic-rich chemistry, Titan resembles a frozen version of Earth several billion years ago, before life began pumping oxygen into our atmosphere. Because Titan is smaller than Earth, its gravity does not hold onto its gaseous envelope as tightly, so the atmosphere extends 370 miles (595km) into space. With Titan's low gravity and dense atmosphere, methane raindrops could grow twice as large as Earth's raindrops. Advertisement The clouds are made up of a compound of carbon and nitrogen known as dicyanoacetylene, a highly explosive chemical which gives the giant moon's atmosphere its hazy brownish-orange colour. But researchers have been baffled because they have only been able to detect less than one per cent of the dicyanoacetylene gas needed for the clouds to condense. New observations by Nasa's Cassini mission have supported this, leading scientists to suggest an alternative to the usual way clouds form where gas condenses into tiny droplets of liquid. Instead they believe the dicyanoacetylene clouds may be forming through chemical reactions in the atmosphere between ice particles of other compounds. A similar process known as solid-state chemistry takes place high in the Earth's stratosphere above the poles where chlorine-rich particles react with crystals of water ice. This is the process that is thought to be causing ozone in the atmosphere above the poles to be depleted. 'The compositions of the polar stratospheres of Titan and Earth could not differ more,' said Dr Michael Flasar, a principal investigator on Cassini at Goddard. 'It is amazing to see how well the underlying physics of both atmospheres has led to analogous cloud chemistry.' Titan is the largest moon orbiting around Saturn (pictured in front of Saturn's rings), but despite having a surface where liquid methane flows and pools into seas, it is also showing surprising parallels to Earth Researchers believe the strange dicyanoacetylene (C4N4) clouds may be forming though a chemcial reaction between icy particles of cyanoacetylene (HC3N) that get coated by hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Ultraviolet light (hv) triggers the chemical reaction (illustrated) Titan is a frigid and alien world orbiting around the second largest planet in our solar system Saturn. Images beamed back by the Cassini mission have revealed its surface to be covered in canyons and dunes, with rivers and lacks of liquid methane. Clouds of methane also form over large areas of the atmosphere, perhaps even creating rain storms of the hydrocarbon in much the same way as the water cycle on Earth operates. Methane, which turns into a gas at -258.7F (-161.5C), evaporates from the surface when the moon moves into sunlight, rising up into the atmosphere where it then condenses. In the stratosphere above Titan's north and south poles a slightly different type of condensation process takes place. TITAN COULD HARBOR A WEIRD FORM OF LIFE In recent years the search for life beyond our planet has focused on finding places with conditions that are 'Earth-like', so as to emulate our own planet. However, scientists have now proposed that some worlds might be able to host life 'not as we know it' that thrives not on water, but on other chemicals. Specifically, they looked at Saturn's moon Titan, which has seas of liquid methane rather than water, and they it could harbour methane-based, oxygen-free forms of life. The fascinating research by scientists at Cornell University in New York suggests that life in the universe may be abundant in more places than thought. The life they propose, called an azotosome, would be composed of small organic nitrogen compounds and be capable of functioning in liquid methane temperatures of -180C (-292F). No life on Earth is known to be able to survive in similar conditions. 'Ours is the first concrete blueprint of life not as we know it,' said James Stevenson, first author of the research. Advertisement Here layers of clouds condense as air currents force warm gases downward at the poles, causing them to condense as they sink through cooler layers of the stratosphere below. But measurements sent back by Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer, revealed a large, high-altitude cloud made not of methane but dicyanoacetylene. The data revealed, however, at these altitudes the level of this gas in the atmosphere was too low to allow it to condense into ice crystals. 'The appearance of this ice cloud goes against everything we know about the way clouds form on Titan,' said Dr Carrie Anderson, a co-investigator on the instrument at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Clouds also appear seasonally over Titan's poles (shown in false colour images above) due to the circulation of gas in the atmosphere driving warmer gasses into colder layers where they condense She and her colleagues, whose findings are published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, found they would need at least 100 times more dicyanoacetylene vapour to form the ice clouds seen by Cassini and by Voyager decades earlier. They suggest instead chemical reactions high in the atmosphere may allow the clouds to form. They believe that ice particles made of cyanoacetylene move down through Titans stratosphere and get coated by hydrogen cyanide. Ultraviolet light from the sun can then tunnel through this frozen shell and trigger a series of reactions that produce dicyanoaceteyle and hydrogen. 'It's very exciting to think that we may have found examples of similar solid-state chemical processes on both Titan and Earth,' said Dr Anderson. Susan Bennett has some advice for you. You might not know her name, but you would probably recognise her voice because it speaks to millions of people every day. Reacting to the launch of the latest 'NoPhone' - a phone replacement made of nothing but air- the lady behind the voice of Siri said she thinks people need to start putting down their phones. Scroll down for video Susan Bennett, the voiceover actor responsible for the female voice of Siri, says 'Everybody is running around taking 15 million pictures of their own face'. She said this is making their minds wander and they cannot relate to other humans. Stock image ARE YOU A PHONE ADDICT? In a study published in June, mobile research firm dscout found the average person swipes, taps and pinches their display about 2,617 times a day, for a grand total of one million times per year. There is a top 10 per cent of power users that touch their phone 5,427 times in the day, which equals out to two million times over the course of a year. Users spend about 2.42 hours a day touching the smartphone display and the to 10 per cent spend 3.75 hours. Android users have 76 different sessions on their phone - 132 for the power users. 87 per cent will check their phone at least once between midnight and 5 AM. Advertisement 'Everybody is running around taking 15 million pictures of their own face,' said Mrs Bennett, a voiceover actor, speaking to the Wall Street Journal. 'Their minds are somewhere else, or they're staring at their phones,' she said. 'And they don't know how to relate to other humans.' The comments come after the release of a new gadget aimed at making people spend less time on their phones. The NoPhone was first released in 2014 with the intention of showing just how much we are obsessed by our cellphones. The first model was just a plastic brick the same size as a phone, to simulate its weight and feel. The latest model, the NoPhone air, was announced at the Fireside conference held in Camp Walden, Canada earlier this month. 'We are very proud to introduce the least-advanced NoPhone ever,' the NoPhone LLC owners Chris Sheldon and Van Gould said at the conference. The model is simply a plastic package with nothing inside, except air. It is on sale on Kickstarter, with prices starting at $3 (2.31). 'The NoPhone Air is the perfect gift for people who need no phone,' the company said. 'Now everyone can put down their real phones, pick up the NoPhone Air and enjoy real life.' 'We took away the headphone jack, and then we took away everything else.' A study published in June found we are becoming increasingly addicted to our phones. Susan Bennett has some advice for you. Reacting to the launch of the latest 'NoPhone' - a phone replacement made of literally nothing but air - the lady behind the voice of Siri said she thinks people need to start putting down their phones The NoPhone air was announced at the Fireside conference held in Camp Walden, Canada earlier this month. Chris Sheldon and Van Gould (pictured) said at the conference, pictured left, holding the NoPhone air - just a plastic piece of packaging, close-up shown right The study, by mobile research firm dscount, found the average person swipes, taps and pinches their display about 2,617 times a day, for a grand total of one million times per year. Although one million times in a year sounds like a great deal of touching, the study also discovered an elite 10 per cent that presses the display 5,427 times throughout the day, which equals two million times over the course of a year. And it seems like these numbers will be not be decreasing any time soon. 'I don't think we are close to reaching 'peak digital,' Michael Winnick, founder and CEO of dscout, told MailOnline. A study published in June found we are becoming increasingly addicted to our phones. The study, by mobile research firm dscount, found the average person swipes, taps and pinches their display about 2,617 times a day, for a grand total of one million times per year 'Interaction styles may change and this creates an opportunity for new forms, like voice, augmented reality, and VR. So the form will likely change.' Some celebrities have also started to get on board with the no phone trend. For example, last week, Kanye West tweeted: 'I got rid of my phone so I can have air to create.' There are an estimated 7.4 billion people around the globe, but every human living today can trace their genes back to a single group who appeared in Africa 200,000 years ago, new research suggests. Scientists conducting one of the most detailed genetic studies of human DNA from populations around the world claim to have been able to pin down when our species spread around the world. They found the group who left Africa and spread around the rest of the world split from the ancestors of modern African hunter-gatherer populations around 130,000 years ago. Scientists have conducted a detailed analysis of DNA from 142 populations around the world that has enabled them to piece together how early Homo sapiens migrated around the globe. The map above shows the location of new genetic variants discovered with red being greatest ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS DID NOT EXIT AFRICA EARLY In the first major genomic study of Aboriginal Australians, researchers have confirmed that along with European and Asian ancestral groups, Papuan and Australian genomes too can be traced back to this migration. The new evidence supports the idea that there was just 'one exit event'. However, once out of Africa, the Papuan and Aboriginal ancestors branched off early on, with some eventually reaching Australia, where they would remain isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. A second study looking at the genomes of indigenous Papua New Guineans found they can trace 2 per cent of their genomes to an earlier but now extinct group of Homo sapiens that left Africa around 120,000 years ago. This suggests the ancestors of those living in Papua New Guinea may have met and bred with these earlier pioneers before they died out. However, most populations living outside Africa appear to not have encountered these earlier Homo sapien migrants. Advertisement Their study reveals that humans appear to have begun forming isolated groups around that time, fracturing and spreading across the continent and eventually around the world. Modern non-Africans appear to have last shared an ancestor with members of the KhoeSan hunter-gather peoples found in South Africa around 131,000 years ago. They last shared a common ancestor with the Mbuti, a group of indigenous pygmy tribes in the Congo of west Africa, around 112,000 years ago. The researchers, whose work is published in the journal Nature, conclude that there was just a single wave of human migrations out of Africa that led to the modern populations around us today. Dr Swapan Mallick, bioinformatics systems director in the department of genetics at Harvard Medical School who was first author of the study, said: 'It had been unclear whether the group that expanded out of Africa represented a large subset of the populations within Africa. 'This really shows that there was a lot of substructure prior to the expansion.' Writing in the journal, the researchers added: 'We infer that the population ancestral to all present day humans began to develop substructure at least 200,000 years ago.' It comes as another study published alongside it, estimates that the ancestors of all modern humans living outside Africa began migrating out of the continent around 75,000 years ago. The Harvard study, which was conducted as part of the Simons Genome Diversity Project, analysed 300 genomes from 142 different populations around the world. The research suggests all modern humans living today emerged from a single population that spread out from African in one migration wave. As they spread around the globe some of these modern populations interbred with other extinct human species (illustrated) These included 20 populations from ethnic groups in Africa along with many other small populations from around the world, which they could then compare to genomes from larger populations. Professor David Reich, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School who led the study, said: 'As humans, we are not just the people who live in industrialised countries, and we are not just the people who live in numerically large groups. 'If we want to understand who we really are, we have to realise that some of the most interesting aspects of human variation are only present in under-represented, small populations.' Traditional views of human migrations out of Africa have been based on fossils and suggest Homo sapiens may have left in multiple waves, but the new research suggests it was a single migration wave (illustrated). It has also provided greater clarity on diversity in Africa WHAT THE FOUR STUDIES TELL US ABOUT HUMAN ANCESTRY The Simons Genome Diversity Project study After analysing DNA from 142 populations around the world, the researchers conclude that all modern humans living today can trace their ancestry back to a single group that emerged in Africa 200,000 years ago. They also found that all non-Africans appear to be descended from a single group that split from the ancestors of African hunter gatherers around 130,000 years ago. The study also shows how humans appear to have formed isolated groups within Africa with populations on the continent separating from each other. The KhoeSan in south Africa for example separated from the Yoruba in Nigeria around 87,000 years ago while the Mbuti split from the Yoruba 56,000 years ago. The Estonian Biocentre Human Genome Diversity Panel study This examined 483 genomes from 148 populations around the world to examine the expansion of Homo sapiens out of Africa. They found that indigenous populations in modern Papua New Guinea owe two percent of their genomes to a now extinct group of Homo sapiens. This suggests there was a distinct wave of human migration out of Africa around 120,000 years ago. The Aboriginal Australian study Using genomes from 83 Aboriginal Australians and 25 Papuans from New Guinea, this study examined the genetic origins of these early Pacific populations. These groups are thought to have descended from some of the first humans to have left Africa and has raised questions about whether their ancestors were from an earlier wave of migration than the rest of Eurasia. The new study found that the ancestors of modern Aboriginal Australians and Papuans split from Europeans and Asians around 58,000 years ago following a single migration out of Africa. These two populations themselves later diverged around 37,000 years ago, long before the physical separation of Australia and New Guinea some 10,000 years ago. The Climate Modelling study Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa used one of the first integrated climate-human migration computer models to re-create the spread of Homo sapiens over the past 125,000 years. The model simulates ice-ages, abrupt climate change and captures the arrival times of Homo sapiens in the Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula, Southern China, and Australia in close agreement with paleoclimate reconstructions and fossil and archaeological evidence. The found that it appears modern humans first left Africa 100,000 years ago in a series of slow-paced migration waves. They estimate that Homo sapiens first arrived in southern Europe around 80,000-90,000 years ago, far earlier than previously believed. The results challenge traditional models that suggest there was a single exodus out of Africa around 60,000 years ago. Advertisement Together with three other studies published in Nature, the Harvard research aimed to test lingering questions about how many waves of migration out of Africa were made by Homo sapiens. Fossilised remains have suggested that there were several excursions out of the continent while some genetic studies have suggested indigenous populations in Australia, Papau New Guinea and the Andaman Islands descend from a group that left Africa earlier than other non-Africans. The new studies, however, suggest this is not the case and in fact all modern humans today appear to descend from a single group that split from African Homo sapiens around 130,000-125,000 years ago. 'Our best estimate for the proportion of ancestry from an early-exit population is zero,' said Professor Reich. 'Taken together, all three studies leave wiggle room for, at most, around two percent.' The researchers now hope to sequence DNA from other small populations in an attempt to expand the analysis. They say there are thousands of ethnically distinct populations scattered around the globe, so to be definitive, their genomes will also need to be tested. The researchers say modern populations of humans descend from a single group that emerged in Africa around 200,000 years ago. They say populations outside Africa show signs of interbreeding with Neanderthals (top) and Denisovans (bottom) The study also found that genetics alone cannot account for the acceleration in cultural and intellectual development that has occurred in the past 50,000 years in humans (recreation of one of the early humans to migrate into Europe pictured) Intriguing the researchers also found that genetics alone cannot account for the acceleration of cultural, economic and intellectual progress that has occurred in the past 50,000 years. They say a range of factors such as environment, lifestyle and genes all came together to drive the progress and development made by the human race. Professor Reich said: 'Geneticists often search for examples where genetics are the explanation. 'Here, paradoxically, genetic data are showing that there will be no clear genetic answers. 'There does not seem to have been one or a few enabling mutations that suddenly appeared among our ancestors and allowed them to think in profoundly different ways.' Advertisement Sixteen years ago astronomers discovered a mysterious blob that burned brightly in the core of a huge cluster of galaxies. This giant blob was the first of a rare kind of astronomical object ever discovered, but scientists were baffled about why these blobs shine so brightly - until now. A team of researchers has studied one of these blobs in more detail than ever before, and found it is scattered light from galaxies at their heart forming stars that causes the bright glow. Scroll down for video This rendering shows a snapshot from a cosmological simulation of a Lyman-alpha Blob similar to LAB-1. This simulation tracks the evolution of gas and dark matter. This view shows the distribution of gas within the dark matter halo, colour coded so that cold gas (mainly neutral hydrogen) appears red and hot gas appears white LYMAN ALPHA BLOBS Lyman-alpha Blobs are important because they seem to be the places where the most massive galaxies in the universe form. LABs are gigantic clouds of hydrogen gas that can span hundreds of thousands of light-years. They are named after the wavelength of light they give off which is known as Lyman-alpha radiation. The first of these blobs, 11.5 billion light years away, was found in 2000. Advertisement The researchers, led by Dr Jim Geach from the University of Hertfordshire, used the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile along with ESO's Very Large Telescope to look at the mysterious objects, formally known as Lyman-alpha Blobs (LABs). The discovery brings us closer to answering a challenging question in astrophysics how galaxies form. This is because they give us an insight into what is going on in the primordial clouds where young galaxies are forming. Lyman-alpha Blobs are important because they seem to be the places where the most massive galaxies in the universe form. They are gigantic clouds of hydrogen gas that can span hundreds of thousands of light-years. They are named after the wavelength of light they give off - which is called Lyman-alpha radiation. The first of these blobs was found in 2000, and since then researchers have been examining it in an attempt to understand just why they glow so brightly. Lyman-alpha blobs emit as much radiation as the brightest galaxies and are found at great distances. SSA22-Lyman-alpha blob 1, or LAB-1 is located so far away that its light has taken about 11.5 billion years to reach us. The research team studied the blob using various telescopes then turned to a sophisticated simulation of galaxy formation. The simulation demonstrated the giant glowing cloud can be explained if ultraviolet light produced by star formation in galaxies spotted by the telescopes scatters off the surrounding hydrogen gas. 'Think of a streetlight on a foggy night you see the diffuse glow because light is scattering off the tiny water droplets,' said Dr Geach, lead author of the new study. This diagram explains how a Lyman-alpha Blob, one of the largest and brightest objects in the universe, shines. Lyman-alpha Blobs are important because they seem to be the places where the most massive galaxies in the universe form. They are named after the wavelength of light they give off which is known as Lyman-alpha radiation This visible-light image of the region around the giant Lyman-alpha blob LAB1 was created from photographs taken through blue and red filters and forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. The blob itself lies at the centre of the image but, despite being huge and very luminous, it is so distant that it is too faint to be seen clearly on this picture HOW THE STUDY WORKED The research team looked at LAB-1 using ALMA, to observe light from cool dust clouds in distant galaxies. They then combined the ALMA images with observations from an instrument mounted on ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), which maps the Lyman-alpha light. Images from the Hubble space telescope were also used to show the sources of light found by ALMA are surrounded by faint companion galaxies, which could be feeding their neighbours with material and helping stars to form. Advertisement 'A similar thing is happening here, except the streetlight is an intensely star-forming galaxy and the fog is a huge cloud of intergalactic gas. 'The galaxies are illuminating their surroundings.' Understanding how galaxies form and evolve is a massive challenge to astronomers. The extended Lyman-alpha glow provides information on what is happening in the primordial gas clouds surrounding young galaxies, a region that is very difficult to study, but critical to understand. 'What's exciting about these blobs is that we are getting a rare glimpse of what's happening around these young, growing galaxies,' said Dr Geach. 'For a long time the origin of the extended Lyman-alpha light has been controversial. 'But with the combination of new observations and cutting-edge simulations, we think we have solved a 15-year-old mystery: Lyman-alpha Blob-1 is the site of formation of a massive elliptical galaxy that will one day be the heart of a giant cluster. 'We are seeing a snapshot of the assembly of that galaxy 11.5 billion years ago.' This image shows one of the largest known single objects in the Universe, the Lyman-alpha blob LAB-1. The intense Lyman-alpha ultraviolet radiation from the blob appears green after it has been stretched by the expansion of the universe during its long journey to Earth Advertisement It is one of the most intensely studied regions of the distant universe, giving us a glimpse back in time to the so-called 'Golden Age' of galaxy formation. Now researchers have probed a patch of space first revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope in its iconic Ultra Deep Field images with radio telescopes to obtain 'significantly deeper and sharper' than has been possible before. Peering at an area close to the Fornax constellation in the southern sky, researchers have been able to pick out gas clouds and dust in these distant galaxies for the first time. Astronomers have used the Atacam Large Millimetre/submilimetre Array (ALMA) radio telescope in Chile to reveal new massive star forming galaxies (circled) in the patch of space imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope's Ultra Deep Field Astronomers say they have been able to see galaxies that are primed for producing new stars around 10 billion years ago the peak period of galaxy formation. They say it could help reveal new details about how some of the earliest galaxies formed and evolved. Professor Jim Dunlop, head of the institute for astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, who led one of the teams involved in the work, said the images had provided some key breakthroughs. Among them were the ability to see that the mass of stars in a galaxy is a predictor of star formation in these distant regions. The new images reveal a trove of galaxies rich in carbon monoxide, meaning they are primed to begin forming stars. The researchers say they have peered back into the Golden Age of galaxy formation This was possible by combining the images of galaxies taken in visible and ultraviolet light using Hubble with the radio wave images obtained by the Atacam Large Millimetre/submilimetre Array (ALMA) in Chile. Professor Dunlop said: 'This is a breakthrough result. 'For the first time we are properly connecting the visible and ultraviolet light view of the distant Universe from Hubble and far-infrared/millimetre views of the Universe from ALMA.' The Hubble Ultra Deep Field was first revealed in 2004 using pioneering images captured with the Hubble Space Telescope. THE HUBBLE ULTRA DEEP FIELD VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE The Hubble Ultra Deep Field was first revealed in 2004 using pioneering images captured with the Hubble Space Telescope. They probed more deeply than ever before, revealing galaxies dating from less than a billion years after the Big Bang. In 2009, astronomers revealed a new image taken by a special wide field camera installed on the space telescope to reveal thousands of never seen before galaxies. They were at the time the oldest star clusters ever been observed - with the light from them beginning their journey when the universe was just four per cent of its current age. Then in 2012, astronomers used Hubble to peer even further back to 13.7 billion years ago, revealing the most primitive and distant galaxies ever observed. One of the objects may be the oldest galaxy yet found, dating back to a time when the universe was just 380 million years old, a fraction of its current age. Advertisement They probed more deeply than ever before, revealing galaxies dating from less than a billion years after the Big Bang. The area has since been observed several times by Hubble and other telescopes and produced the deepest image of the universe ever obtained in 2012, with galaxies dating back 13.2 billion years. In a series of papers published in the Astrophysical Journal and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the new images obtained using ALMA are revealed. Astronomers spent a total of 50 hours using the radio telescope to peer intently at just a small patch of the image revealed by the original Hubble Ultra Deep Field images. This close up image reveals one galaxy teaming with carbon dioxide (shown in orange), an indication it may be about to start forming stars. The blue features are galaxies previously imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope By combining all previous images of the Fornax Constellation obtained with Hubble, totalling two million seconds of exposure time, researchers have obtained the deepest image of the universe ever, called the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field Some of the observations have revealed galaxies rich in carbon monoxide, indicating they contain regions primed for star formation with these 'gas reserves'. These regions are normally hard to see with the Hubble Space Telescope, but ALMA has revealed them in detail for the first time. Dr Manual Aravena, an astronomer at the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile, who was the lead author of two of the papers, said: 'The new ALMA results imply a rapidly rising gas content in galaxies as we look back further in time. Several massive star forming regions (shown in close up) have been seen in the distant regions of space previously imaged by Hubble using the ALMA radio telescope. Astronomers say it could reveal new details about the birth of galaxies 'This increasing gas content is likely the root cause for the remarkable increase in star formation rates during the peak epoch of galaxy formation, some 10 billion years ago.' The researchers are now hoping to carry out a further 150 hours of observing of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Staying friends with an ex-lover may be the civilised thing to do - but it could spell the death knell for a new relationship. Nearly half of people still keep in touch with a former spouse or partner, despite having moved on to a new one, a US study has found. While most claim it is for friendships sake, a significant number are simply looking for a back-up plan. Nearly half of people still keep in touch with a former partner - but this may not be good for their current relationship. Pictured is Angelina Jolie with her ex Billy Bob Thornton, when they were together in 2000. The pair reportedly remained friends after their break WHAT THE STUDY FOUND In the study 429 people - almost three-quarters female - were interviewed about their relationship with their past long term lovers. Over 40 per cent said they still communicated with their most recent former romantic partner. Of those 93.3 per cent resumed talking within a few months after the breakup. Most participants 90 per cent indicated that they communicated with their former partner at least once every couple of months, with 13 per cent in touch several times per week. Those least likely to talk were either married - although a significant number did - or engaged. The strongest motive was friendship, but a similar weight was give to the right relationship at the wrong time, with insecurity about how the current relationship would work out, or simply as back-up being highly prominent reasons. Advertisement And people who have a rosy glow about their past romance are least committed to new ones, researchers found. The study, led by psychologist Professor Lindsey Rodriguez, of South Florida University, said the degree of closeness should ring warning bells: Those who communicated with exes reported lower levels of commitment to their current partner, poorer adjustment to the break-up, and higher levels of romantic emotions toward their former partner. If individuals are heavily invested in [a new] relationship and there are few desirable alternatives to the relationship, they are likely to be more committed and satisfied. However, when other desirable alternatives to the current relationship are available, commitment may decrease, particularly given romantic - back-up - motivations with the former romantic partner. Facebook and texting have made it easier than ever to communicate instantly or keep track of peoples movements, but for many it makes it harder to move on. In the study 429 people - almost three-quarters female - were interviewed about their relationship with their past long term lovers. Over 40 per cent said they still communicated with their most recent former romantic partner. Of those 93.3 per cent resumed talking within a few months after the breakup. Most participants 90 per cent indicated that they communicated with their former partner at least once every couple of months, with 13 per cent in touch several times per week. Gwyneth Paltrow recently admitted that she believes herself and ex-husband Chris Martin are better as friends. Staying friends with an ex-lover may be the civilised thing to do - but it could spell the death knell for a new relationship, according to a new study Those least likely to talk were either married - although a significant number did - or engaged. The strongest motive was friendship, but a similar weight was give to the right relationship at the wrong time, with insecurity about how the current relationship would work out, or simply as back-up being highly prominent reasons. The study in the journal Personal Relationships found: Individuals in more committed types of current relationships were less likely to communicate with a former partner. Results showed a consistent pattern with regard to romantic feelings toward the former partner. Those who still communicated also perceived the breakup more positively - more understanding - less negative. Importantly, these individuals reported lower commitment to their current partner. Individuals who continue to communicate with partners post-breakup continue to have romantic feelings for their ex-partner longer and experience greater sadness than those who terminate contact. And they warned: Some individuals may continue to feel drawn to the partner or seek sexual or romantic contact despite distressing aspects of the former relationship For these individuals who remain attached, although communication may offer temporary relief by providing a degree of felt security, it may also encourage psychological pain or rumination regarding the relationship loss, which, in turn, may prolong distress. During a stressful day, those valuable minutes spent away from your desk can make a world of difference. But new research suggests that people are spending less time than ever away outside the office. The average lunch break is now just 28 minutes, and only 17 per cent of British workers take a full lunch hour. New research suggests that people are spending less time than ever away from their desks. The average lunch break is now just 28 minutes, and only 17 per cent of British workers take a full lunch hour (stock image) LUNCH EATING HABITS The average lunch break is now just 28 minutes, and only 17 per cent of British workers take a full lunch hour. 12 per cent of workers either never or hardy ever take a lunch break, while 66 per cent don't leave their workplace to eat. Three in five workers bring a packed lunch, while 36 per cent say they never eat out for lunch during the week mostly because they don't have time. Advertisement The research comes from Mastercard and Ipsos MORI, who surveyed more than 1,300 British adults aged 16 to 75. They suggest that 12 per cent of workers either never or hardy ever take a lunch break, while 66 per cent don't leave their workplace to eat. Margaret Mountford, star of The Apprentice, is now urging British businesses to bring back the lunch hour. She said: 'Throughout my career I've seen employees hunched over their desks wolfing down a sandwich. 'It makes workers less productive, hampers creativity and numerous studies have shown it's bad for health, so why do we still do it? 'Bosses should lead the way by encouraging a culture of lunch breaks it will boost productivity, creativity and morale as workers feel better and take on the afternoon revitalised. 'It's time to stamp out the culture of not taking a lunch hour.' The study found that three in five workers bring a packed lunch, while 36 per cent say they never eat out for lunch during the week mostly because they don't have time. The research comes from Mastercard and Ipsos MORI, who surveyed more than 1,300 British adults aged 16 to 75 Official health advice is still that sitting for prolonged periods is bad for your health, regardless of how much you exercise. This is based on studies linking excessive sitting with increased risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes even dying before your time. The Department of Health in the UK advises people who spend a lot of time sitting to get up from their desk every 30 minutes. The study found that 12 per cent of workers either never or hardy ever take a lunch break, while 66 per cent don't leave their workplace to eat (stock image) Last year another study found that too little exercise, combined with sitting too much, doubles our risk of an early death. This is defined as less than 150 minutes of exercise a week and more than seven hours of sitting a day. Meanwhile, a study in May showed that eagerness to impress at work prevents more than half of employees from leaving the office during the day. It found that half of workers have never even left the office for lunch or a lunchtime walk, despite employees saying spending time outside helps them feel healthier and happier. Will involve both humanitarian law and rules prohibiting the use of force When the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, was launched on October 4, 1957, it heralded the need for legal regulation of the exploration and use of outer space. Since then international law has been developed to facilitate the use of technologies such as satellite telecommunications, global positioning systems, remote sensing technology for weather forecasting and disaster management, and television broadcast from satellites. In this regard, space law has played a positive role by allowing for and not unduly restricting the development of space-related technology. At the same time, the existing legal regime has not prevented the development of military technology capable of utilising outer space. Scroll down for video The launch of Sputnik I (pictured) in 1957 sparked the need for legal regulation of the exploration and use of outer space. However, the existing legal regime has not prevented the development of military technology capable of utilising outer space HOW TO STOP SPACE WARS A group of more than 40 international experts are about to embark on a three-year research project that will culminate in a Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space. MILAMOS Project is to ensure space activities are conducted in accordance with the rule of law. This will involve a consideration of the existing international rules on outer space. It will also involve integration with international humanitarian law and the rules prohibiting the use of force. The drafting of the rules will involve many meetings, heated discussions and compromises. It is envisaged that at the end of the project the applicable rules will be agreed on the basis of consensus. The MILAMOS Project is not an effort to condone warfare in outer space. On the contrary, it seeks to prevent armed conflict and minimise the devastating impact that space technology and military operations may have on the long-term and peaceful use of outer space. Advertisement There are some restrictions, but these were specified in the space law treaties in relatively general terms and were open to interpretation as to what they did (and did not) prohibit. This is not entirely surprising. The development of space-related technology was inextricably related to military strength, both in reality and to influence the perception of others. It is no coincidence that the space race emerged at the height of the Cold War when both the United States and the Soviet Union strove to flex their technological muscles. The early stages of human space activity coincided with a period of quite considerable tension. The possibility of large scale and potentially highly destructive military conflict between the (space) superpowers always lurked in the background. The successful launch of Sputnik generated unease in the western world because the technology used was similar to that for ballistic missiles. It was crucial that efforts were made by the international community to regulate this new frontier in order to avoid a build-up of weapons and armed conflict in space. The obligations and restrictions were eventually agreed and codified in five major United Nations space treaties. They addressed, in part, some specific military and weapons-related aspects of space activities. Every year since the early 1980s, the United Nations (UN) has passed a resolution on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. But these initiatives were neither entirely clear nor sufficiently comprehensive to meet all of these challenges. The deployment of weapons of mass destruction in Earth's orbit was banned but this did not extend to other weapons or military systems. Every year since the early 1980s, the United Nations (UN) has passed a resolution on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. The deployment of weapons of mass destruction in Earth's orbit was banned but this did not extend to other weapons or military systems As far back as 1967, the UN recognised 'the common interest of all mankind in the progress of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes'. It also declared that the moon and celestial bodies must be explored and used 'exclusively for peaceful purposes'. Most space law scholars would interpret this as prohibiting military activities in outer space. But this was not followed by those who actually had space capability. IS RUSSIA PREPARING FOR WAR IN SPACE? Russia could be preparing for a space war, according to U.S. military observers. The Kremlin has launched what it claims are three communications satellites since May 2014, but analysts have claimed the spacecrafts appear to be prototype weapons. The agile crafts dubbed Kosmos-2491, -2499 and -2504 appear to have been smuggled into space under the cover of the routine launch of communications satellites. Space war: The Kosmos-2499 in orbit. The Kremlin claims the technology is 'absolutely peaceful' and is being developed in the name of maintenance. But military analysts claim the agile craft have the potential to be weaponised It is usual for these Rodnik communications satellites to be deployed in threes, but in this instance Moscow listed four spacecraft to be launched, in a notification to the United Nations. The three unusually nimble satellites are able to get within a few dozen feet of other satellites, and are potentially able to spy-on, hijack and even destroy other satellites. It is clear from their capabilities that they have the potential to become anti-satellite weapons. Advertisement It is now clear that space has been used for military activities almost from the start of the space age. Some of this may be termed passive military activities in outer space. This includes the provision of supporting communications, imaging and location assistance through satellite technology. But many countries are now increasingly using space technology as part of active engagement in the conduct of armed conflict on land, at sea and in the air in the terrestrial context. The vision of the MILAMOS Project is to ensure space activities are conducted in accordance with the rule of law so space doesn't turn into Star Wars. It will involve integration with international humanitarian law and the rules prohibiting the use of force The use of GPS-satellite guided missiles is now common-place in modern conflicts. Even more worrying, recent trends in technological development have underlined that serious threats to global security exist in this final frontier. This is due to the strategic value of outer space and the dependence of militaries on space assets for their operations. All major space powers are working to develop space-based weapons systems and many now suggest that a war in space is inevitable. The law of armed conflict is a major source of restraint regarding military operations on Earth. DID THE US BOMB CHINA USING A WEAPON IN SPACE? Did the U.S. fire a weapon from space at Tianjin, disguising the attack that killed more than 100 people as accidental explosions? Or was it an attempt to assassinate Chinese President Xi Jinping? These are just two of the bizarre conspiracy theories circulating online in the wake of the twin blasts which set off a giant fireball and devastated a vast area of the port. Other theorists claim one of China's supercomputers - which is used by the country's military and in space exploration, and is located only a mile away - was the target. Rumours have been circulating on Chinese language websites that the real target was President Xi Jinping, who was due to travel through the area with top officials after a secret meeting. Officials have come under fire over their lack of transparency over the twin blasts which devastated a vast area of the port. The death toll from the explosions has now risen to 114 with more than 700 injured and 70 missing. Heavy rain fell today on the remains of a Chinese industrial site devastated by giant explosions, complicating clean-up efforts and heightening fears about toxic contamination as ceremonies were held to mark the disaster's 114 deaths. A mysterious foam-like substance covered the streets. Around 700 tonnes of highly toxic sodium cyanide were at the site in the northern port of Tianjin, officials say, and water could spread it more widely. Advertisement But there is barely any reference to outer space in many of the treaties that codify that body of law. Efforts to broker international agreement to stem the weaponisation of outer space, or agree on rules to safeguard space sustainability and security, have so far stalled. An agreed statement and clarification of the limitations international law places on the military use of outer space is now an urgent priority. In this regard, a group of more than 40 international experts are about to embark on a three-year research project that will culminate in a Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space ([MILAMOS https://www.mcgill.ca/milamos/home). The group will include ourselves and other lawyers, scientists, diplomats, military personnel and technicians, all working in their personal capacity. T The vision of the MILAMOS Project is to ensure space activities are conducted in accordance with the rule of law. This will involve a consideration of the existing international rules on outer space. It will also involve integration with international humanitarian law and the rules prohibiting the use of force. The drafting of the rules will involve many meetings, heated discussions and compromises. TOP GUNS IN SPACE: LAN TO PROTECT US SATELLITES Space Mission Force will utilise existing satellites and weapons to 'operate as warfighters' in orbit. It aims to better prepare airmen to operate military satellites in a threatened environment and includes tactics to respond to threats. It is described as 'as a ready force able to operate weapons systems and execute missions in a CDO environment.' Air Force space leaders have been planning the program for more than a year and Hyten, the head of Air Force Space Command, has made the Space Mission Force a prominent part of his speeches in the last eight months, according to spacenews.com The plan calls for operators to receive intensive training for four to six months, and then spend the next four to six months putting their newly learned skills to the test by having experienced and rookie operators working side-by-side. Advertisement It is envisaged that at the end of the project the applicable rules will be agreed on the basis of consensus. The MILAMOS Project is not an effort to condone warfare in outer space. Many earthlings look forward to the day radio signals come in from another planet, but one physicist warns we should be very wary about answering back. Stephen Hawking starred in an online film where he traveled to a planet 16 light years away, Gliese 832c, which he says could be home to intelligent life. However, if we were to really meet an advanced civilization, Hawking says it could be similar to when the Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus and that didn't turn out so well. Scroll down for videos Many earthlings look forward to the day radios signals come in from another planet, but one physics warns we should be very wary about answering back. Stephen Hawking says humans meeting aliens will be similar to the Native Americans meeting Christopher Columbus SHOULD WE BE WARY? If there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet. 'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview. But co-founder and former director of the Seti Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn't think this will be the case. She argues any aliens who have managed to travel across the universe will be sophisticated enough to be friendly and peaceful. 'The idea of a civilisation which has managed to survive far longer than we have...and the fact that that technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn't make sense,' she said. Advertisement 'Gazing at the stars I always imagined there was someone up there looking back', Hawking says during the film, titled Stephen Hawkings Favorite Places'. 'As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone.' 'After a lifetime of wondering, I am helping to lead a new global effort to find out'. 'The Breakthrough Listen project will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, but I know just the place to start looking.' One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back. CuriosityStream, a multiplatform for on-demand nonfiction documentaries, introduced the exclusive 25 minute film, which takes viewers on a personal journey through space and time exploring the wonders of the universe. After visiting the deep super massive black hole, Sagittarius A*, Hawking travels to Gliese 832c, which he says is the most Earth-like exo-planet in the universe and the best place for potential extraterrestrial life. In recent years, we have found thousands of planets outside our solar system, Hawking says during the film. Some were burning hell caves of fire and lava, while others are solid diamond made of dying stars. But some are like home and incredibly, we found one only 16 light years away right on our doorstep. Stephen Hawking (pictured) starred in a the 25 minute film Stephen Hawkings Favorite Places where traveled to a planet 16 light years away, Gliese 832c, which he says could be home to intelligent life IS THERE LIFE 16 LIGHT YEAR'S AWAY? The planet, known as Gliese 832c, lies just 16 light-years from Earth. The Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years wide; the closest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is 4.2 light-years away. Gliese 832c orbits its host star every 36 days. However, the host star is a red dwarf that's much dimmer and cooler than our sun, so Gliese 832c receives about as much stellar energy as Earth does, despite orbiting much closer to its parent. Gliese 832c is a 'super-Earth' at least five times as massive as our planet. Hawking says Gliese 832c is the closest planet to Earth that could harbor life. He explains it is a 'super-Earth' at least five times as massive as our planet Other unknowns such as the bulk composition and atmosphere of the planet could make this world quite different to Earth and non-habitable. atmosphere could be thick, smothering the surface in super thick fog or worse, it could have a gravity of its nearby sun. Although Gliese 832c could one-day be our new home, Hawking explains that due to the suns light, the foliage on the surface is black and purple. This distant world may also have Earth-like temperatures with abundant liquid water and intelligent animals. Advertisement Gliese 832c is a 'super-Earth' at least five times as massive as our planet. An international team of astronomers say the exoplanet is in the star Gliese 832's 'habitable zone,' the just-right range of distances that could allow liquid water to exist on a world's surface. Finding intelligent life would be the single greatest discovery in history - it would force us to change, says Hawking. We would have to give up the idea that we are unique and start acting with more compassion and humility. However, other unknowns such as the bulk composition and atmosphere of the planet could make this world quite different to Earth and non-habitable. Here a year only last 36 days, says Hawking. Its atmosphere could be thick, smothering the surface in super thick fog or worse, it could have a gravity of its nearby sun. One side is always facing the sun, perhaps not a good place for a picnic after all' Although Gliese 832c could one-day be our new home, Hawking explains that due to the suns light, the foliage on the surface is black and purple. This distant world may also have Earth-like temperatures with abundant liquid water and intelligent animals Here a year only last 36 days, says Hawking. Its atmosphere could be thick, smothering the surface in super thick fog or worse, it could have a gravity of its nearby sun.' One side is always facing the sun, perhaps not a good place for a picnic after all. THE PLAN TO FIND LIFE: BREAKTHROUGH STARSHOT Stephen Hawking has teamed up with Russian billionaire Yuri Milner and Mark Zuckerberg to launch the most ambitious alien-hunting mission in history. The $100m project, called Breakthrough Starshot, will rely on tiny so-called 'nanocraft' flying on sails pushed by beams of light through the universe. They will travel to the Alpha Centauri star system 25 trillion miles (4.37 light years) away on a twenty year mission to look for alien life. The project involves deploying thousands of tiny spacecraft to travel to our nearest star system and send back pictures. If successful, scientists could determine if Alpha Centauri, a star system about 25 trillion miles away, contains an Earth-like planet. The catch: It could take years to develop the project, dubbed Breakthrough Starshot, and there is no guarantee it will work. The small light-propelled vehicles will carry equipment like cameras and communication equipment. Scientists hope the vehicles, known as nanocraft, will eventually fly at 20 per cent of the speed of lightt. 'The thing would look like the chip from your cell phone with this very thin gauzy light sail,' said Nasa's Pete Worden 'It would be something like 10, 12 feet across.' He envisions sending a larger conventional spacecraft containing thousands of nanocraft into orbit, and then launching the nanocraft. If they reach the star system and succeed in taking photographs, it would take about another four years to transmit them back. Advertisement Although Gliese 832c could one-day be our new home, Hawking explains that due to the suns light, the foliage on the surface is black and purple. This distant world may also have Earth-like temperatures with abundant liquid water and intelligent animals. And where there is water, there is usually life, he says. From Earth we cannot see what lies on 832C, but if intelligent life has evolved here we should be able to hear it, says Hawkings. Pictured is the Habitable Exoplanets Catalog now has 23 objects of interest including Gliese 832c, the closest to Earth of the top three most Earth-like worlds in the catalog EARTHLINGS WOULD ASK ET FOR HELP Scientists have learned what people would say on making first contact with aliens - and it is not 'take me to your leader.' Instead, they are much more likely to ask the extraterrestrials for help. The Earth Speaks project involved surveying 2,000 people from 70 countries around the world. It was carried out by scientists who have been listening out for radio signals from extraterrestrials since 1960, so far without success, to see what people would say to ET. Seti (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) scientist Dr Doug Vakoch said: 'One of the striking commonalities - men and women, young and old - was a message: 'Please help.' 'A sense that we are in very precarious time in our development as a civilisation. Our technologies are greater than our social stability. 'So if we make contact with another civilisation that may be more advanced they may have got through the tech bottleneck and may have some advice.' Advertisement Using the worlds most sensitive radio telescopes what might we hear? Maybe an alien opera or perhaps a phone call home. A team led by Robert Wittenmyer, of the University of New South Wales in Australia, discovered Gliese 832c in 2014 by noticing the tiny wobbles the planet's gravity induces in the motion of its host star. Cruising might be the go-to holiday for nearly two million Britons, but that means there are millions more who have yet to discover the joys of a holiday at sea. The perks are plenty, from the variety of places you can visit to the convenience of touring the world but only unpacking once. Just as there are big resorts and boutique hotels, so there are ships large and small, budget and luxurious. Crusing might be the go-to holiday for nearly two million Britons, but that means there are millions more who have yet to discover the joys of a holiday at sea So, where to start? When it comes to cruising, size is everything. There are ships that hold just 50 people, and floating cities with more than 6,000 passengers and every size in between. You need to decide which you like the sound of and where you fancy cruising One Size Fits All - Beasts of the Ocean For lots of places to eat and drink, children's clubs and activities galore, go large with Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.co.uk), Royal Caribbean International (royalcaribbean.co.uk) and Carnival Cruise Line (carnival.co.uk). Their biggest ships hold 4,000 to 6,000 passengers and have everything from pubs to posh restaurants, climbing walls to water slides. You'll find NCL and Royal Caribbean ships in Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska and Asia, while Carnival sails the Caribbean and Alaska. Princess Cruises (princess.com) and P&O Cruises (pocruises.com) have large ships that hold just over 4,000 passengers (as well as smaller ones). They offer fewer highoctane activities. Choose P&O's Britannia to cook with TV chefs James Martin, Eric Lanlard, Atul Kochhar and Marco Pierre White. Princess ships sail all over the world; P&O Cruises sail mainly from the UK to the Med and Northern Europe in summer. Come winter, it has ships in the Caribbean and sailing around the world. Disney Cruise Lines' (disneycruise.disney.go.com) two biggest ships, Dream and Fantasy, sail the Caribbean. You'll be cruising with 4,000 others, but who cares when you can watch Disney films and meet Mickey himself. Come summer, Mickey and chums also sail in the Mediterranean on the smaller Disney Magic. Happy Medium For a mid-size ship 2,500-3,000 passengers consider Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com) or Cunard (cunard.co.uk), or downsize even more with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (fredolsencruises.com), Cruise and Maritime Voyages (cruiseandmaritime.com) and Thomson Cruises (thomson.co.uk/cruises). Thomson's biggest ship holds just over 1,800 passangers. Holland America ships sail all over the world, even to Antarctica. Choose Cunard for world cruises and transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York. Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com) and Viking Ocean Cruises (vikingcruises.co.uk) have ships for 1,250 and 930 passengers respectively, or choose CrystalCruises' (crystalcruises.co.uk) luxurious Crystal Serenity and you'll be sharing with just over 1,000 other passengers. Little Gems As a general rule, the smaller the ship, the more luxurious the cruise line. The passenger count on Saga Cruises , Regent Seven Seas Cruises (rssc.com), Seabourn (seabourn.com), Silversea (silversea.com) and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (hlcruises.com) is in the hundreds. Saga sails from the UK; Oceania, Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea and Hapag-Lloyd have ships in Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and South America; Viking sails in Europe and the Caribbean, and is launching its first world cruise in 2017. Star Clippers (starclippers.co.uk) has three tall ships for 170 to 227 passengers in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asia; swanky SeaDream Yacht Club (seadream.com) has two yachts that sail the Med and Caribbean with just 112 people on-board. Alternatively, you can take your cue from the Queen and cruise on Hebridean Islands Cruises' (hebridean.co.uk) luxurious Hebridean Princess. It carries just 50 passengers. Hate Flying? Almost as many people cruised from the UK last year as flew overseas to join their ship. Why? Because it is so easy. Simply drive to the port, check in and you're in holiday mode. If you're on a budget, check out Cruise and Maritime Voyages. The company has low-cost cruises from eight UK ports including Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Bristol and Tilbury. Next year, it adds Cardiff and Newport. If you want to bring the family, look to Royal Caribbean, Princess, P&O Cruises and, from 2017, Norwegian Cruise Line from Southampton. No Noisy Kids! Cruise and Maritime Voyages sailings are almost exclusively for those aged over 16, while Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (fredolsencruises.com) has several departures just for adults aged 18 or over. P&O Cruises ' ships Arcadia and Oriana are reserved for those aged 18 or over, and Viking Ocean Cruises allows only children aged 16 or over on its ships. You have to be 50 or over to sail on all Saga Cruises ' (saga.co.uk/cruises) voyages, but a companion can be aged 40 or over. When to Travel Cruise ships follow the sun, so in summer you'll find them in the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian fjords and the Caribbean. Asia, Australia and Central and South America are also winter hotspots, as is the more distant South Pacific Come winter, ships sail from Europe to the Canary Islands, but most head to the West Indies, sailing the Caribbean from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Barbados. January and February are the perfect months to escape the winter blues. Asia, Australia and Central and South America are also winter hotspots, as is the more distant South Pacific. Where to Go? The British favour the Med because it's close and offers such variety. But there are so many other places to visit by ship. The Norwegian fjords have majestic snowy mountains. Go in winter to see the mysterious Northern Lights. For a city extravaganza, a classic Baltic cruise visits Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. And most ships also stay two days in St Petersburg. A cruise is easily the best way to see the Caribbean, as you visit so many islands on just one holiday. If adventure appeals, cruise the Galapagos Islands and get up close to booby birds and giant tortoises. Or take on the Drake Passage a treacherous stretch of ocean between Cape Horn and Antarctica to walk among penguins with an expedition cruise line such as Hurtigruten (hurtigruten.co.uk) Life on the River River cruise vessels are smaller (around 150-200 passengers), have fewer facilities, and itineraries generally do not include any days at sea. Instead, there are port calls each day and time to sit back and enjoy the sights as life unfolds along the river bank. Companies such as Ama-Waterways (amawaterways.co.uk), Avalon Waterways (avaloncruises.co.uk) and Viking River Cruises include trips ashore. Go with Scenic (scenic.co.uk), APT (aptouring.co.uk), Uniworld (uniworld.com) or Tauck (tauck.co.uk), where drinks are free. The Rhine is a favourite for its fairytale castles, but the Danube delivers the fabulous Vienna and Budapest. Choose the Rhone for wine-tasting in Provence and the Douro in Portugal for port wine. Cruises on the Mekong, Irrawaddy, Ganges and Yangtze with companies including Viking, AmaWaterways and APT are a great way to learn about Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, India and China. Swish Cabin on the Cheap Look out for free upgrades advertised in the travel pages of the weekend papers (such as the Mail). Book a 'guarantee' cabin rather than picking a specific room or location on the ship. You are guaranteed the cabin category you have reserved but if none is available on embarkation, you'll be upgraded. Find your favourite cruiseline, join the loyalty scheme and book lots of holidays. Hopefully, you'll be first in line if an upgrade comes up. Or book with a cruise line you have never travelled with. They might upgrade you to win your loyalty. Cruise outside peak times. When demand falls, prices go down, too. The Best Time to Book? If you know the date, cruise and cabin you want, book early. The same goes if you want a single cabin, as they are in short supply. But if you can be flexible, hang on, because competition means there are great deals all year round. It might be a discount, or perks such as free flights or drinks, no gratuities to pay, or free excursions. Edward Snowden's take on Allo is "Nope." Google's decision to back off a previously promised privacy feature for Allo earned it a thumbs-down from the NSA whistleblower, who received asylum from Russia after exposing the NSA's secret domestic surveillance programs. Allo, a personal messaging and assistance app which lacks previously promised security safeguards, amounts to "Google Surveillance," Snowden tweeted Wednesday. So "Don't use Allo." What is #Allo? A Google app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request. https://t.co/EdPRC0G7Py Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 21, 2016 From the San Jose Mercury News coverage of the privacy concerns over Allo: At issue for privacy advocates is the artificial intelligence that Google says adds value to the app but requires the company to read, analyze and hold onto a user's messaging and other interactions. Allo, first announced at Google's I/O developers' conference in May, went live Tuesday night for Android and iPhones. Competing with Facebook's Messenger and Apple's iMessage as a chatting app, it also contains a bot called Google Assistant to go up against Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa. The assistant can be invoked within a chat by typing "@Google." "All of us want this kind of idea of a valet," said cybersecurity analyst Dimitri Sirota, CEO of data protection firm BigID. "We see the value in the on-demand environment of having intelligence in the background helping anticipate your needs. It's incredibly valuable, and I'm sure it's going to do well." Within the messaging function, the AI uses chat histories to suggest written or emoji responses, a service the company calls "Smart Reply." Users can send a response by tapping it. The assistant can answer questions and suggest websites, and draw from a user's search history to give personalized suggestions. It can draw on a user's inputs to Google services for example, finding images in Google Photos or call up appointments made in Calendar. Google says they've addressed these concerns. Allo users can delete all message text and interactions with the assistant, if they know about that option and users can select end-to-end encryption before starting a conversation. "We've given users transparency and control over their data in Google Allo," a Google spokesperson emailed reporters in reply to the Snowden tweet. "And our approach is simple your chat history is saved for you until you choose to delete it. You can delete single messages or entire conversations in Allo." Privacy advocates including Snowden say that's not enough, and Google knows it. From the Independent: [T]he complaints were further compounded by the fact that Google appeared to have walked back its initial commitments to privacy. It had first suggested that it would only store some information, and get rid of it after a short time but now it seems that all the data is readable by Google, and will be forever unless a user deletes it, which Google gives them the option to do. There is a way to turn off Google's data collection in Allo. But that means starting a specific kind of conversation an "Incognito" one in which it also doesn't use any of its special features and becomes like any other chat app. If you're curious about how Allo works and what the user experience feels like, Brian Chen's review in the New York Times is a good place to start. Chen writes, I tested Allo for five days and compared it with the apps that are most similar to it: Google Hangouts, Apple iMessage and Facebook Messenger. After weighing the pros and cons, my advice is that people can hold off on downloading Allo, largely because its artificially intelligent assistant was unhelpful. But if Allo matures, users will probably want to ditch the Hangouts app. Free for download today: Google Mail, Google Maps, and Google Surveillance. That's #Allo. Don't use Allo. https://t.co/EdPRC0G7Py Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 21, 2016 Thinking about #Allo? Last year, our secret court approved 100% of requests for surveillance. They would cover Allo. https://t.co/oYtc3Pu8tx Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 21, 2016 Advertisement You've touched down in Tulum but where can you get a tasty taco or you're heading to Copenhagen and want to impress your loved one with a booking at the city's best restaurant, where do you choose? Well never fear, as Conde Nast Traveler has put together a global food guide, detailing the hottest places to visit in a total of 42 countries. From New York to Tokyo spanning every type of cuisine and continent, for the first time the US publication has put together a Where in The World to Eat awards compendium - included in the October issue. The magazine called on the help of chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and hospitality veterans to compile the handy list. Talking about his experience at the Michelin-starred Clove Club restaurant in London, famed New York baker, Dominique Ansel, wrote in the issue: 'This is where young British chefs take aspects of gourmet pub fare and good local ingredients and bring them to a whole new innovative level. Meanwhile Anthony Bourdain said of Swan Oyster Depot, a no-frills fish counter bar in San Francisco: 'My happiest place in America to eat crab backs filled with fat, juicy oysters and enjoy a cold draft beer.' MailOnline Travel has put together a preview of some of Conde Nast Traveler's top picks. Must-visit: Noma in Copenhagen is widely-considered one of the world's best restaurants, Conde Nast Traveler's contributing editor, David Prior commented, 'Name a restaurant trend of the past ten years and it is likely to have originated from the mad mind of chef Rene Redzepi'. The eatery featured in Conde Nast Traveler's first Where in the World to Eat Awards The global food guide, details the hottest places to visit in a total of 42 countries. Above, Brasserie Georges in Lyon, France, was in the Europe section of the list The magazine called on the help of chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and hospitality veterans to compile the handy list. Above, a langoustine dish from Matbaren restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden which featured as one of their picks SOME OF CONDE NAST TRAVELER'S TOP PLACES TO EAT AROUND THE WORLD EUROPE DENMARK Kadeau, Bornholm Amass, Copenhagen ENGLAND The Clove Club, London Gymkhana, London FRANCE La Ferme de la Ruchotte, Bligny-sur-Ouche Brasserie Georges Lyon GERMANY Shiso Burger, Berlin ITALY Ristorante da Cesare, Albaretto della Torre Buca dellOrafo, Florence RUSSIA White Rabbit, Moscow SPAIN La Paradeta, Barcelona THE U.S. CALIFORNIA Chez Panisse, Berkeley Animal, Los Angeles NEW YORK Table on Ten, Bloomville Diner, Brooklyn AUSTRALIA, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AUSTRALIA Brae, Birregurra Attica, Melbourne ARGENTINA Miramar, Buenos Aires 1884 Restaurante, Mendoza ASIA CHINA Duck de Chine, Beijing The Chairman, Hong Kong INDIA Bombay Canteen, Mumbai Bukhara, New Delhi JAPAN Otomezushi, Kanazawa Eatrip, Tokyo SINGAPORE Burnt Ends INDIA Bombay Canteen, Mumbai Indian Accent, New Delhi Advertisement Bustling: La Paradeta restaurant in Barcelona is a seafood cafe style restaurant where you can pick your own fish Work of art: A dish of raw Orkney scallop with clementine, hazelnut and Western Australian manjimup truffle is served up at the Michelin-starred Clove Club restaurant in Shoreditch, London which also made the cut Peter Jon Lindberg, Conde Nast Traveler's contributing editor, described Gymkhana in London as 'the citys most ambitious and luxurious Indian restaurant, right in the heart of elegant Mayfair' Pizza place: Trendy Roberta's restaurant in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York made the prestigious list Australian food writer, David Prior, said of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California: 'The cradle of the American food revolution continues to be as relevant as it was when its now legendary chef, Alice Waters, co-founded it in 1971' Bolivian bites: Chefs work at Gustu restaurant in La Paz - the hotspot was set up by Clais Meyer, one of the founders of the two Michelin-starred Noma in Copenhagen Small and refined: Maaemo in Oslo only has eight tables - the tasting menu features unusual ingredients including salted mutton and pine butter A taste of tradition: Ceviche is a specialty at a La Mar seafood restaurant in Lima, Peru On fire: The kitchen of the Thai restaurant, Spice I Am, in Australia - the listed eatery has been highly praised by food critics Attica in Melbourne impressed Simon Rogan, chef and owner of LEnclume in England, he said: 'Ben Shewrys cuisine is thought-provoking and unusual... in a good way' Hotels are used to catering for special requests, but this one must have stood out somewhat. A man was stunned and amused when his light-hearted request for 'a few framed photos of Jeff Goldblum' before checking in to California's Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, was actually fulfilled. Seth Freedland, a Nike speechwriter based in Portland, Oregon, asked for photos of the Jurassic Park actor as a joke to surprise his girlfriend Amy Marsh, who has a 'celebrity crush' on Mr Goldblum. Hotel guest Seth Freedland was stunned and amused when his light-hearted request for 'a few framed photos of Jeff Goldblum' in his room was actually fulfilled Mr Freeland shared the story on Facebook, writing: 'When I made my reservation at the Huntley for Stephanie and Andrew's wedding, I was asked if there was anything else they could do to make my stay more comfortable. 'I thought about it, and thought about what might delight the gf, and asked if they might be able to place a few framed photos of Jeff Goldblum in the room. 'I wasn't sure if it would actually happen until we got to the hotel.' Apparently Ms Marsh was 'shocked' by the display and took the framed photos - which were paid for by Mr Freeland afterwards - home with her Photos were placed on the bedside table and in the bathroom, as well as next to the room service menu. David Cohen, the hotel's front desk manager, told The Huffington Post: 'We thought it was cheeky, but we get specific requests all the time. 'We said to ourselves, "We can meet this!"' Apparently Ms Marsh was 'shocked' by the display and took the framed photos - which were paid for by Mr Freeland afterwards - home with her. Mr Freedland asked for photos of the Jurassic Park actor as a joke to surprise his girlfriend Amy Marsh (pictured), who has a 'celebrity crush' on Mr Goldblum It is now in a UN-controlled buffer zone and not open to the public, but this 360-degree tour offers a peek It was abandoned 3 years after a coup detat in 1974 by Greek nationalists and an invasion by Turkish forces flight since 1977, and now houses planes beyond repair Advertisement Almost 40 years ago, this airport was a hub of activity in era where commercial flight was finally taking off with the masses. Now, Cyprus' Nicosia airport is a derelict site with dilapidated planes abandoned on the tarmac that hasn't seen a commercial flight since 1977. Located near the Cypriot capital, the airport is still used by the UN today, but its terminal has fallen beyond disrepair. It was abandoned three years after a coup detat in 1974 by Greek nationalists and an invasion by Turkish forces. Heavy fighting occurred at the airport, which fell within a UN-controlled buffer zone separating Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots after a ceasefire was signed. It's not open to the public, but this fascinating 360-degree virtual tour from Lemon Image lets viewers take a peek inside one of the eeriest abandoned terminals in the world. Almost 40 years ago, Nicosia airport (pictured) was a hub of activity in era where commercial flight was finally taking off with the masses Now, the Cyprus airport is a derelict site with dilapidated planes abandoned on the tarmac that hasn't seen a commercial flight since 1977 Located in the divided capital, the airport is still used by the UN today, but its scruffy terminal has fallen beyond disrepair The site was abandoned three years after a coup detat in 1974 by Greek nationalists and an invasion by Turkish forces Heavy fighting occurred at the airport, which fell within a UN-controlled buffer zone separating Greek and Turkish Cypriots after a ceasefire was signed Record lovers are in for a musical treat. Audio company Sonos and famous record store Rough Trade have teamed up to list a one-night stay at the iconic New York shop on Airbnb. The once-in-a-lifetime experience is the prize in a competition for two winners and their guests to retreat to their own private haven at Rough Trade's new Listening Room. The stay takes place in Rough Trade's new Listening Room where the winner and a plus one can retreat to their own private HiFi haven Music buffs will be glad to hear it includes two Sonos PLAY:5s, two Sonos PLAY:1s, a Sonos Connect, and a Pro-ject record player The unorthodox bedroom is described on Airbnb as 'a vintage-inspired lounge stocked with your favorite vinyl, a Sonos home sound system, and mid-century modern furnishings.' Music buffs will be glad to hear it also includes two Sonos PLAY:5s, two Sonos PLAY:1s, a Sonos Connect, and a Pro-ject record player. 'The Sonos Listening Room also nods to the local music scene,' the profile on the home rental site says, 'showcasing an exclusive collection of out-of-print New York music zines and a custom illustration by New York cartoonist Mark Stamaty, which is also featured in one of the Listening Rooms at the Sonos Store in Soho.' The team will compile a playlist for guests - who can bring extra friends as long as they leave by 2am - and the room comes stocked with a mini fridge containing both snacks and drinks from Brooklyn eateries. The win is only available for those already living in America and you need to enter the competition to try your luck. The team will compile a playlist for guests - who can bring extra friends as long as they leave by 2am - and the room comes stocked with a mini fridge containing both snacks and drinks from Brooklyn eateries 'The Sonos Listening Room also nods to the local music scene,' the profile says, 'showcasing an exclusive collection of out-of-print New York music zines and a custom illustration by New York cartoonist Mark Stamaty, which is also featured in one of the Listening Rooms at the Sonos Store in Soho' The unorthodox bedroom is described on Airbnb as 'a vintage-inspired lounge stocked with your favourite vinyl, a Sonos home sound system, and mid-century modern furnishings' The winner will also have full VIP access to the store's concert venue for the night. And if that wasn't enough, in the morning the guest will have the entire Rough Trade record store to themselves for their own private shopping experience, browsing the vast collection of records and a Sonos sound system to take home. According to British holidaymakers these days, Mexico is the new Canada. New analysis on popular getaway destinations over the past 20 years has shown a dramatic shift across the board; with places like Thailand and the United Arab Emirates shooting up in favour with Brits. On the other hand, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey, Canada has less British visitors now than in 1995; while Australia has been losing favour as well. New analysis on popular getaway destinations over the past 20 years has shown a dramatic shift across the board - with Mexico (pictured) seeing a huge boost since 2010 Since 1995, Mexico has climbed in popularity steadily, but for a brief drop around 2008 For most of the long-haul destinations, popularity has risen and fallen over time - as demonstrated in graphs compiled by Travel Supermarket. For example, the number of British holidaymakers visiting the USA each year was in decline before the disaster on September 11, 2001 - after which, perhaps surprisingly, Brits returned in their hundreds of thousands. The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 saw numbers topple across the board - all except for Dubai, which saw an immediate boost in the number of British visitors. Other surprises include a massive surge in the number of Brits heading to India following the bird flu outbreak of 2003. Severe flooding around 2006 coincided with a subsequent fall. But the strongest force of all? Pop star Rihanna, who single-handedly drove a record-breaking number of tourists to Barbados after she starred in a campaign to promote it in 2013. According to the figures from the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey, Canada (pictured) has less British visitors now than in 1995 Canadian tourism took a hit around the time of the SARS outbreak in 2002, before picking up until 2006, after which it has continued to nose-dive Thailand has been enjoying a steady rise in popularity among Brits, particular with gap-yearers The number of British holidaymakers visiting the USA each year was in decline before the disaster on September 11, 2001 - after which they returned in their hundreds of thousands Severe flooding in India (pictured) around 2006 coincided with a subsequent fall in British tourism However, there was a surge in the number of Brits heading to India following the bird flu outbreak of 2003 Following September 11, 2001, South Africa saw a sharp rise in British tourists, and since then it's been up and down The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 saw numbers topple across the board - all except for the UAE (Dubai pictured) which saw an immediate boost in the number of British visitors Back in 1995, the UAE saw less than 50,000 Brits annually, but last year that number had surpassed 400,000 Since England won the Ashes in 2005, the number of Brits heading to Australia has dwindled After 2,000 new rooms opened at Jamaican hotels in 2013, numbers have been on the up Pop star Rihanna single-handedly drove a record-breaking number of tourists to Barbados after she starred in a campaign (pictured) to promote it in 2013 Angelina once said that Brad Pitt was 'really the only person' that she talks to because she doesn't 'have a lot of friends'. And the 41-year-old actress doesn't have much of a relationship with her family either. In the wake of her shocking decision to file for divorce from her husband after two years of marriage and 12 years together, Angelina's step-grandmother has spoken out about their estrangement. Flashback: Angelina Jolie and brother James Haven are seen with estranged step-grandmother Elke Bertrand 'Angelina hasn't got many people left in her life,' Elke Bertrand told DailyMail.com. 'I know she's got her father [Jon Voight] but I don't know how close they are.' Elke was frozen out of the family by Angelina's mother Marcheline Bertrand in 1985 after an argument following the death of Angelina's grandfather Rolland Bertrand. A source close to the family said Elke was left heartbroken by the fall out, but still loves Angelina and her other three grandchildren and misses them every day. Asked if she ever wants to reconcile with her famous relative, she frowns: 'No. I've got lots of friends. People keep me company when I'm feeling sick, I have plenty of visitors as well as the doctor.' Going it alone: In the wake of her split from Brad Pitt, Elke said Angelina 'hasn't got many people left in her life' Despite having not seen Angelina since she was 10, Elke has always kept up with her life and was delighted when she announced she had a double mastectomy operation in 2013 to fight off her high chance of getting cancer. Elke shared rare family photos with DailyMail.com from the days before their estrangement, which give an insight into Angelina's unusual childhood. She can be seen sporting a Thriller T-shirt with Elke and her brother James Haven as they all wear clown face paint. In another shot, taken from earlier in Angelina's childhood, the actress is shown holding a vase of flowers and smiling up at her surrogate grandmother. Back in the day: Elke hasn't seen Angelina since she was 10 after being frozen out by the actress's late mother Marcheline. Angelina is seen here with brother James The Maleficent star also cuddles her older brother in one of the rare snapshots. James is the only family member that Angelina has remained close to, and he was seen spending some time with her children Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne in a Los Angeles park just two days before the divorce news broke. Angelina and her brother infamously caused a stir in 2000 when they were seen kissing backstage at the Golden Globes, and again three months later at the Oscars. After picking up her first Oscar - Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted - she opened her acceptance speech by telling the crowd 'I'm so in love with my brother right now'. 'I've got lots of friends': Angelina's surrogate grandmother says she won't reconcile with the A-lister but has kept up with her life Like Angelina, James was estranged from father Jon Voight for several years, during which time he legally removed his surname. Angelina's relationship with her father came to a head shortly after she adopted Cambodian born Maddox, who is now 15 years old, in 2002. Jon spoke out in an interview at the time to say his daughter has 'serious mental issues', which caused the furious star to cut contact with him. She retaliated: 'They could have decided he's right, she's crazy, let's remove that child from her custody, and that's unforgivable. Shock split: The 41-year-old filed for divorce from Brad, 52, on Monday. They are seen here walking their last red carpet together in November 'My father and I don't speak. I don't believe that somebody's family becomes their blood. Because my son's adopted, and families are earned.' After the death of Angelina's mother Marcheline in 2007, James reconciled with Jon, who repeatedly attempted to make contact with his daughter. But it was only in 2009 after some persuasion from partner Brad that the star agreed to a reconciliation. While their feud is behind them, Angelina is still rarely seen with her father, and confessed on Tuesday that he doesn't know what caused her split from Brad. Yikes: Angelina caused a stir when she was pictured kissing her brother full on the lips backstage at the 2000 Golden Globes 'It's very sad,' the 77-year-old told Inside Edition. 'Something very serious must have happened for Angie to make a decision like this.' He added: 'I don't know what it is. Say a little prayer.' Angelina was extremely close to her mother Marcheline, and in 2003 she revealed to Cosmopolitan that she had her mother's blessing when she lost her virginity aged 14. 'When I was 14, I was either going to be reckless on the streets with my boyfriend or he was going to be with me in my bedroom with my mom in the next room because I was going to have a boyfriend,' she said. Close relationship: The actress did the same three months later on the Academy Awards red carpet Angelina gave another insight into her bizarre childhood in 2007 when she told OK! magazine: 'I was a member of a group called the Kissy Girls. I was very sexual in kindergarten. 'I created a game where I would kiss the boys and give them cooties. Then we would make out and we would take our clothes off. I got in a lot of trouble!' In 2010, Angelina confessed that she isn't close to many people in her life, explaining: 'I'll talk to my family. I talk to Brad ... but I don't know, I don't have a lot of friends to talk to. He is really the only person I talk to.' Divorce documents filed on Monday reveal Angelina and Brad, 52, separated on September 15 after two years of marriage. The actress said in a statement: 'This decision was made for the health of the family.' Brad responded: 'I'm very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids.' Gone too soon: Angelina was close to her mother Marcheline, who died in 2007 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. They are seen here in 2001 Angelina has demanded physical custody of their six children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox - offering Brad scheduled visitation only. A representative for Angelina said: 'Angelina will always do what's in the best interest to protect her children.' While it seems the split may have been caused by the pair disagreeing over their children, rumours have also been swirling that Brad grew too close to co-star Marion Cotillard while filming Allied. Elke commented on the wild allegations, drawing parallels to Brad meeting Angelina on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston. 'Well these people don't ever tell the truth, they don't ever change,' she claimed. 'Maybe it's good Angelina is moving on. Leopards don't change their spots.' Reconciled: The mother-of-six was estranged from father Jon Voight (shown in 1998) for several years before they reconciled at Brad's encouragement in 2008 Elke was unaware of Angelina and Brad's divorce until being told the news by DailyMail.com. And despite the divorce and looming custody battle, Elke thinks Angelina could still add to her family. 'The children come first, of course. With everything the children are the most important and she has so many children but I think she'll have more,' she said. 'The divorce would have been one of the hardest decisions. The parents can always cope but for her babies it's much harder.' Charitable just like Angelina: Elke is shown handing out food to the homeless in Las Vegas 'The children come first': The 77-year-old says she believes Angelina may have more children Now 77, Elke is retired from her job as a family court advocate for abused women and still lives in Las Vegas in a modest bungalow. Ironically her chosen career and compassion for those less fortunate then herself bears a strong resemblance to her famous campaigning step-granddaughter. When her health isn't too bad, Elke volunteers for the Las Vegas charity Child Haven, mentoring abused and neglected children and also helps a non-profit group feed the homeless. When asked about her symptoms, she said: 'It's not too good. When you're my age that's what happens, my hearing is going and my friends help with my groceries.' This has been a red letter year for Emilia Bechrakis. Two months after her sumptuous Corfu wedding to Million Dollar Listing New York broker Ryan Serhant, she was sworn in as an attorney on Wednesday. The couple celebrated her achievement, and she posted an Instagram photo of them posing outside the courthouse, with the caption: 'The Esquire and the Broker (matching outfits was by chance our years of hard work was deliberate).' 'Years of hard work': On Wednesday, Emilia Bechrakis and her husband, Million Dollar Listings New York broker Ryan Serhant, celebrated her swearing in as an attorney The Greek bombshell wore a mulberry-coloured turtlenecked dress that draped about her impossibly svelte figure and featured a slit at the decolletage. Black stilettos clashed elegantly with the rest of her ensemble. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old's loafers and half the stripes on his tie matched his wife's dress. The other half of those stripes, which were navy, matched the suit he wore over a lighter blue shirt as he flashed his gorgeous smile for the camera. An earlier photo showed her in the same outfit, posing over what appeared to be the paperwork she had to sign in order to become licensed. A lengthy caption detailed the road to her present success, from obtaining three UK law degrees - 'English law, maritime, and legal practice' - to working in Athens for Norton Rose to her New York career. 'Can't wait to see what's next!': An Instagram photo showed her signing what appeared to be the paperwork to officially render her an attorney Even after she 'got the dream of a lifetime, running Nationwide legal and container claims at MSC, the largest container line in the world,' she ultimately left for 'a new career in Land title.' The upshot was that this Wednesday, 'I just got sworn in as an attorney, in front of my husband. Can't wait to see what's next! I AM SO HAPPY!' Bechrakis' new attainment comes a day before Bravo airs a special showing the couple's July wedding on the Pontikonisi islet off the Greek island of Corfu. In a particularly extravagant touch, a pirate ship had brought the groom's brothers and pals to the ceremony, People reported. According to the magazine, the ceremony had played host to 150 guests, who got to see the bride in a champagne Romona Keveza dress and the groom in a Mediterranean blue VK Nagrani tuxedo. In the offing: On Thursday, Bravo will air a special showing the couple's sumptuous wedding on the Pontikonisi islet off the Greek island of Corfu The nod to Bechrakis Hellenic background was, it turns out, the reason she allowed cameras to film the Greek Orthodox nuptials for Bravo. In an interview Hollywood Life published Wednesday, she said: 'It was one of those things that I swore I would never do and in the end I said, "Okay, if I get to show Greece and I can show my traditions and culture."' 'And,' Berhant noted, 'well be able to show it to our kids and their kids and their kids.' At another point, he explained the lavishness of the affair: 'I did want a really big party. You know, its really far for people to come so I wanted everyone to just have a really good time and I think we pulled it off. It seems like so long ago and it took so long to plan, so its cool that we get to watch it again.' It was their first cocktail party together after meeting just moments earlier. And during Wednesday's Bachelorette episode, Georgia Love left contestant Jake Ellis in tears of laughter after bringing up erectile dysfunction. The 28-year-old was quick to regret her topic of conversation with the hunk, giggling in her piece to camera: 'It was probably up there'. Scroll down for video Awkward: Georgia Love left Bachelorette contestant Jake Ellis in tears of laughter after bringing up the topic of erectile dysfunction during Wednesday's episode Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition when a male is unable to get or keep an erection. As the pair sat closely to one another during their one-on-one chat, Jake asked if her father, Christopher, was also a journalist. Georgia quickly broke into a giggle as she answered: 'No he is a surgeon.' The beginning: During their one-on-one chat, Jake asked if her father, Christopher, was also a journalist, leaving Georgia to explain he was a urologist who specialises in erectile dysfunction Shocked by her response, Jake replied: 'No way. Thats hard to top. Thats unreal. What type of surgeon?' 'He is a urologist. So he specialises in erectile dysfunctions,' she said with a big smile displayed across her face before admitting it was 'maybe not the best' conversation starter. After hearing her explanation, Jake broke into an uncontrollable laughter, and said in his piece to camera: 'You cant take that conversation mush further than what it was'. He quickly tried to change the topic with the beauty, asking her what 'mumma Georgia' did for a living. Hilarious: After hearing her explanation, Jake broke into an uncontrollable laughter, and said in his piece to camera: 'You cant take that conversation mush further than what it was' What an impression: Georgia later said in her piece to camera: 'I think Jake was very shocked that I came out with the term erectile dysfunction on our first chat' 'Mum is a nurse,' she said with a grin, adding, 'So we have some pretty interesting conversations over dinner.' Georgia later said in her piece to camera: 'I think Jake was very shocked that I came out with the term erectile dysfunction on our first chat. 'It was probably up there,' she laughed before quickly correcting herself, 'oh I won't say up there. Let me change the way I said that sentence.' The Bachelorette Australia airs on Network 10 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm. She's soon to grace our screens as a breakfast TV anchor in The Wrong Girl. And Madeleine West, 36, has recently confessed she's after Sonia Kruger's job. 'I want Sonia's job! Look out, Sonia Kruger - if you don't keep up your act I'll be sneaking your job before you know it!' Madeleine gushed to Who. Scroll down for video Them fighting words! Madeleine West, 36, on Thursday targeted Sonia Kruger, saying, 'if you don't keep up your act I'll be sneaking your job before you know it' The actress' shocking statement comes after the mother-of-six had 'a ball' playing TV presenter Eric Jones. 'I felt like I've learnt a whole new skill set,' said Madeleine. The Australian actress came to prominence due to the popular TV series when she played Dee Bliss, seeing her nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent. TV anchor in the making: Madeleine's co-stars in The Wrong Girl include Jessica Marais, Craig McLachlan and Hamish Blake She is set to star in Neighbours once again after more than a decade since leaving the show. The blonde beauty has also starred in Australian shows Underbelly and Fat Tony & Co. The Wrong Girl is based on Zoe Foster Blake's acclaimed novel of the same name. Smiling assassin: The blonde beauty stars as a breakfast TV anchor in the upcoming Australian series The Wrong Girl, and says she's learnt a 'whole new skill set' from playing the part Having a ball, on and off screen: The mother-of-six divulged she 'had a ball' playing Erica Jones on the new series, set to air next Wednesday on Channel 10 Madeleine will star alongside Jessica Marais, Craig McLachlan, Hamish Blake and Rob Collins in the contemporary drama. Sonia Kruger, 51, came under fire in mid July this year when she called for Australia to stop Muslim immigration because she 'wants to feel safe'. During a fiery Today Show panel discussion, the TV host argued there is a correlation between the number of Muslims in a country and the number of terrorist attacks. Under fire: Sonia Kruger can under fire in mid-July when she called on Australia to stop Muslim immigration Controversial topic: Sonia sparked a social media firestorm with her comments about Muslims and Australia 'Personally, I would like to see it stop now for Australia because I want to feel safe as all of our citizens do when we go out to celebrate Australia Day,' the media personality said. The television host said she had 'a lot of very good friends' who were Muslims and peace-loving, beautiful people. 'But there are fanatics.' They are all trying to gain the attention of Bachelorette Georgia Love. And in the latest promo for the show, Rhys Chilton went to great lengths to get the focus of the beauty before firefighter, Cameron Cranley stole the first kiss. In the preview, Rhys stripped off to show off his bare six pack during a group date with the beauty and two other contestants. Scroll down for video No shame: In the new Bachelorette promo, contestant Rhys Chilton stripped off to show off his bare six pack during a group date with Georgia Love For the outing, the group of four took part in a rural-located photoshoot, where each male received the opportunity to get close to the brunette. As Rhys was called up to the camera for his turn, he unbuttoned his red shirt as he flexed his super toned biceps. The 29-year-old then stood tall with a smirk on his face as he dressed in nothing but denim jeans. Show off: As he was called up to the camera for his turn for the photoshoot, he unbuttoned his red shirt as he flexed his super toned biceps Uptight: In his piece to camera, he explained: 'I got a rig so I'll get it out. Pretty simple' In his piece to camera, he explained: 'I got a rig so I'll get it out. Pretty simple.' Moments later, Rhys had his ego bruised after he witnessed fellow contestant, Cam, shares a tender moment with Georgia. The woman of the moment sat herself firmly on the firefighter's lap as he wrapped his arms around her and resting them gently on her thighs. Close and personal: Later, Georgia sat herself firmly on Cameron's lap as he wrapped his arms around her and resting them gently on her thighs Spark: As they leaned their heads closely to one another, they allowed their lips to meet Romantic: They displayed a smile as they kept their eyes tightly closed during the kiss As they leaned their heads closely to one another, they allowed their lips to meet. While sharing the gentle kiss, they kept their eyes tightly closed. During the romantic moment, villain Sam commented: 'There was like this little bump. I dont know if this counts. Probably not.' The Bachelorette Australia airs on Network 10 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm. Having his say: During the romantic moment, Sam commented: 'There was like this little bump. I dont know if this counts. Probably not' The governor of North Carolina has declared a State of Emergency after violence erupted on the second night of protests in Charlotte, over the police killing of a black man. The governor called for support from the U.S. National Guard, and Highway Patrol officers. The protest tonight escalated into chaos, and what was at first reported as a death of a man in the crowds. Governor calling in the national guard? This sounds all too familiar.. sending love to protestors out there in #Charlotte tonight. clifton kinnie (@CliftonKinnie) September 22, 2016 From Reuters: North Carolina's governor [Pat McCrory] later declared a state of emergency amid the unrest and said the National Guard and state highway patrol troopers would be sent to help police in Charlotte. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney initially reported that a person shot during the protest had died, but city officials later posted a Twitter message saying the individual had been hospitalized in critical condition on life support. The city also said the gunshot was fired by one civilian at another, not by police. A police officer was also being treated for injuries suffered during the protests, the city said. As @deray told Wolf Blitzer, "I don't have to condone it to understand it." Those words convey many layers of meaning. Jay (@Voice_of_Unrest) May 4, 2015 I firmly believe that the police should not have killed #KeithLamontScott. The violence of the police caused protests. https://t.co/WLvCLKjvkb deray mckesson (@deray) September 22, 2016 The protests are in response to the fatal police shooting on Tuesday of of Keith Scott, 43, who was black. Mr. Scott's death is the latest in over 200 fatal police shootings of black men in America this year. The police who shot and killed Scott say the man was armed with a handgun and refused orders from officers to drop his gun. But his family and a person who witnessed the shooting all say he was holding a book, not a gun. And one night later, Charlotte police chief Putney told Fox News tonight, "We're trying to disperse the crowd. We've been very patient, but now they've become very aggressive, throwing bottles and so forth, at my officers, so it's time for us now to restore order." New York Times reporters on site Wednesday report that "Law enforcement authorities fired tear gas in a desperate bid to restore order." The scene of the shooting and the largest demonstration of the evening happened along a crowded street in Charlotte's city center, where the sound of gunfire mixed with the noise of people banging objects into vehicles. The gunshot victim lay motionless on the ground, his eyes open, as people surrounded him and blood pooled between their feet. He was taken into the nearby Omni Hotel, and a series of physical confrontations played out afterward as the police kept people from entering. Some demonstrators immediately accused the police of opening fire, a charge the authorities quickly denied. The city described the episode as a "civilian on civilian" confrontation. There was sporadic looting. Twitter messages showed that the team store of the Charlotte Hornets of the N.B.A. had been broken into and gutted of merchandise. "We are working very hard to bring peace and calm back to our city," [Charlotte] Mayor Jennifer Roberts said on CNN. CNN reporters were tear gassed and hit with rubber bullets while covering the story. The protests tonight follow three police shootings of black men over the past week. First came the shooting of a teenager in Columbus, Ohio, who had been brandishing a BB gun. Two days later, on Friday, was the shooting death in Tulsa, Okla., of a man who had his hands above his head before an officer opened fire. And then it was Charlotte, where Keith L. Scott, 43, black like the other two, was shot by a police officer in a parking space marked "Visitor" outside an unremarkable apartment complex on Tuesday. On Wednesday that parking space was both the site of a fatal shooting and a shrine, and Charlotte was a city on edge, the latest to play a role in what feels like a recurring, seemingly inescapable tape loop of American tragedy. New Protests Erupt in Charlotte as Accounts of Police Shooting Diverge [Richard Fausset and Alan Binder] Police rush to grab, arrest protester at #CharlotteProtest pic.twitter.com/ybgLX5xSID Mashable News (@MashableNews) September 22, 2016 It's easy to believe the narrative from police or a news over a random person on Twitter who was there. Until that random is your friend. wikipedia brown (@eveewing) September 22, 2016 America is not going to hold together indefinitely without accountability for police wrong doing. Eli Kramer (@Eli_Kramer_) September 22, 2016 .@CMPD orders everyone off the streets or you will be arrested including media they say. #CharlotteProtest Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) September 22, 2016 He's the smooth-talking entrepreneur who was sent packing by Georgia Love at the end of The Bachelorette's first episode. And social media has since been abuzz with a string of comments regarding Carlos Fang. Some fans have slammed Channel Ten for not only casting just one ethnically diverse contestant, but for portraying the Asian male stripper in what they argue was a negative light. Backlash: The Bachelorette viewers have slammed Channel Ten for not only casting just one ethnically diverse contestant, Carlos Fang, but for portraying the male stripper in what they argue was a negative light Taking to Twitter, one viewer wrote: 'FFS Carlos. First Asian on The Bachelorette and he represents like a d*****bag . Lol. At least it makes good TV. #ThebacheloretteAu (sic)'. Another penned: 'Goddamnit, Channel 10! You finally cast an ethnically-diverse bachelor in and you make him a d**k. WHY?! #bacheloretteau #Carlos (sic)'. Carlos was quick to give viewers an insight into his love for the 'finer things in life' during Wednesday night's episode when he gifted Georgia a glimmering Tiffany & Co. bracelet. Contestants: Apart from Carlos, the rest of the male contestants appear to be Caucasian Not happy: Fans didn't hold back on Twitter, slamming the network for selecting an ethnic contestant who just happened to be a stripper First meeting: Carlos made quite an impression on Georgia Love during Wednesday night's first episode of The Bachelorette Australia 'Some guys like to collect hats ... Other guys like to collect cars ... My thing is businesses, so... Nightclubs, restaurants...limos, yeah. Well, I have a company So...,' he also told the bachelorette. Meanwhile some viewers of the reality program have expressed their disappointment that an ethnic contestant didn't even make it through the first rose ceremony. One fan tweeted: 'wow the asian guy didn't even make ONE episode of the bachelorette christ i am so tired (sic)'. Take it off! Carlos revealed that he is a male stripper Ladies man: The Melbourne resident performs racy routines for a living Disappointment: Some viewers of the show were not happy that Carlos didn't make it further in the competition beyond the first rose ceremony Another wrote: 'ok but like i called it that the asian wasnt gonna get thru in the bachelorette (sic)'. Not holding back, one viewer took their social media response to the next level, tweeting: 'I had Carlos in the work Bachelorette sweep. Georgia you bloody racist! I thought I was safe til at least ep3 with a minority (sic)'. The backlash comes after The Bachelor Australia was slammed online earlier this for a lack of diversity among its female contestants. Proud: Carlos said he considers himself to be just like any other successful entrepreneur They went there: Not holding back, one viewer took their social media response to the next level with this tweet Apart from Marja Jacobsen of Asian descent, the ladies vastly represented the Caucasian community. One viewer tweeted: 'One Asian. No obvious first Australians. Basically a whitewash! Not great'. A preview? Carlos showed off some of his racy moves upon first meeting Georgia Another commented: 'What you really want is the white rose. It represents an almost complete lack of cultural diversity this season.' While another wrote: 'But seriously, Australia is a multicultural society where were the coloured girls? Did they not it the brief?' She found an influential mentor in none other than Donald Trump, after having placed first in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. And Jennifer Hawkins who counts the then-owner of the competition as a dear friend, revealed in an interview to OK! magazine her thoughts on him running for US president. 'It's mind blowing,' the 32-year-old told the glossy publication. Scroll down for video 'It's mind blowing': Jennifer Hawkins, 32, revealed in an interview with OK! magazine her thoughts on mentor and friend Donald Trump running for president 'He's very inspiring,' the host of Australia's Next Top Model added. 'He's reached the top, fallen, and got back up again. 'His books are incredible,' she concluded. Jennifer formed a close friendship with Donald, after placing first in the 2014 Miss Universe pageant, which he ran at the time This is not the first time Jennifer has had such positive things to say about the Republican candidate. Last month, the budding entrepreneur told The Daily Telegraph: 'He inspired me to keep going and follow my heart. 'He's really passionate and really driven. He's like, 'What's next?' He prompts you to think, 'All right, what is next?'' Bright future: The blonde beauty's career began to soar after placing first in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant Donald had similar words of affection for Jennifer, telling Sixty Minutes in 2011: 'I think that Jennifer is the most beautiful Miss Universe that I've seen in many, many years. 'She was not only beautiful outside but she was also equally beautiful inside. So I don't say that about many. Believe me, we've had our problems with some of them and she was really great,' he explained. As the US Presidential election draws closer, Trump has made headlines for his non-presidential statements, which includes his bizarre proposal to build a wall between America and Mexico to help combat 'illegal' immigration. 'A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border,' his official website reads, adding that Mexico, not the US, must pay for it. Returning the compliments: Donald had similar words of affection for Jennifer, telling Sixty Minutes in 2011: 'I think that Jennifer is the most beautiful Miss Universe that I've seen in many, many years' He has also proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering America 'until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on'. Trump stirred controversy last month when he claimed that President Barack Obama 'founded' the ISIS terror army. He has since clarified that his statements were made sarcastically, Tweeting: 'THEY DON'T GET SARCASM?' In a follow-up message on Twitter, he mocked the pundit class for working itself into a lather over his Middle East comments. 'I love watching these poor, pathetic people (pundits) on television working so hard and so seriously to try and figure me out. They can't!' he Tweeted. Headlines: As the US Presidential election draws closer, Trump has made headlines for his non-presidential statements, which includes his bizarre proposal to build a wall between America and Mexico to help combat 'illegal' immigration She usually happily poses for the camera for magazine and fashion photoshoots. But on Wednesday, Shanina Shaik suddenly became all shy as she headed out in Sydney with her fiance DJ Ruckus - real name Gregory Andrews. During the pair's dinner date, the 25-year-old model kept her head down low while her beau followed closely behind displaying a large smile. Scroll down for video Something wrong? Shanina Shaik suddenly became all shy on Wednesday as she headed out in Sydney with her smiley fiance DJ Ruckus - real name Gregory Andrews For the outing, Shanina dressed casually in denim skinny jeans, a loose-fitting beige blouse, which revealed her cream bra, and a pair of pink high top sneakers. As she left the restaurant, she rested her denim jacket, which had white hearts printed on it, over her shoulders while she clutched tightly onto her designer overnight bag. The Victoria's Secret model wore her short brunette locks out with a loose curl while keeping her makeup natural with a nude-base makeup. Dressing the same: For the outing, Shanina and DJ Ruckus dressed similarly as they both opted for denim jeans and high top sneakers DJ Ruckus also opted for a casual look for the evening with a pair of straight-cut jeans and a button-up shirt. The music producer added a black bomber and matching coloured high top joggers to his attire. Shanina and DJ Ruckus have been in Australia for the past week to celebrate her mother Kim's birthday. Celebrations: Shanina and DJ Ruckus have been in Australia for the past week to celebrate her mother Kim's (pictured left) birthday While in Australia the DJ met her father for the first time. Prior to the meeting, DJ Ruckus said he was both excited and nervous. He told The Daily Telegraph: 'I haven't met her father yet, which is a very big ordeal. I'm not too concerned though as he's a very nice guy. And I'm not a bad dude. I'm excited.' She and Ruckus became engaged in January, with the DJ popping the question while they were on holidays in the Bahamas. Down Under: While in Australia the DJ met her father for the first time Shanina - who has modelled for the likes of Seafolly and Chanel - opened up about their wedding to WHO recently. She told the publication about her wedding dress, saying it will be 'simple and sleek and a bit bohemian'. Earlier this year she said the pair will have a 'location wedding,' telling Daily Mail Australia it will most likely be on a beach. Sarah Paulson brought Marcia Clark backstage at the Emmys as her trophy was being engraved. 'I didnt know it was going to say my name and the character I played,' Paulson, 41, told Variety in a cover interview on Wednesday. 'But it was incredibly appropriate,' she said of the engraving that read: 'Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark'. Cover girl: Sarah Paulson graced the cover of Variety on Wednesday and talked about her recent Emmy win for portraying Marcia Clark Paulson had to get special permission from security to bring the former Los Angeles prosecutor backstage to the 'winner's circle,' The Los Angeles Times reported this week. The actress won the Emmy on Sunday for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie and spoke on Monday morning about her first win after five nominations. She portrayed Los Angeles prosecutor Clark, 63, in the critically acclaimed FX series American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson. Paulson during her acceptance speech apologized to Clark and thanked executive producer Ryan Murphy. First win: The actress scored her first Emmy win after being nominated four times previously Murphy, 50, first cast Paulson in Nip/Tuck in 2003 and has consistently found roles for her in his projects ever since. Paulson has been a fixture in his American Horror Story since 2011 and her work in the anthology series earned her four Emmy nominations. 'He wanted [success] for me because I think he really sees me. He knows the why of it,' Paulson said. 'He knows its going to make me feel that Im tethered to something in this business that we're in. He knows that I come from a fractured home and that this is going to make me feel more linked to something in my family of choice this community that I work in,' she added. Emmys date: Paulson brought Marcia Clark as her date on Sunday to the Emmys Critically acclaimed: The actress is shown portraying Marcia in a still from American Crime Story: The People v OJ Simpson Their collaboration will continue as Paulson is currently filming season six of American Horror Story and will star in his Feud opposite Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, as well as the upcoming second installment of American Crime Story that will focus on Hurricane Katrina. Paulson also talked about how her sister Liz when they were growing up predicted her success would come later in life. The actress said the win sunk in at Fox's after-party when she saw newly married Liz. After party: Sarah was joined at the Fox after-party by her supportive sister Liz 'I started to think about where she had been in her life a few months ago, and what we had endured as the child of a single parent,' Paulson said. 'I know what it was like to be the child of someone working and trying to mother, and being the sister of someone working and trying to mother. Playing Marcia gave me a whole panoramic view of what that was like,' she said. Paulson also gave a public shout-out to her girlfriend Holland Taylor, 73, at the awards ceremony as she professed her love onstage. She's spoken candidly in the past about her harrowing battle with endometriosis. But in a snap shared to Instagram on Thursday, Mel Greig was happy to poke lighthearted fun of the crippling condition. The 34-year-old Wave FM radio star flaunted her tanned legs in what she called a 'sexy hospital gown' alongside the hashtag: 'attention seeking post'. Scroll down for video Leggy lady: Mel Greig, 34, poked lighthearted fun of her harrowing battle with endometriosis, sharing a snap of her legs in what she called a 'sexy hospital gown' to Instagram on Thursday 'At least my legs look tanned in my sexy hospital gown,' Mel captioned the shot shared with her social media fans. She also added in the hash-tags #attentionseekingpost, #endometriosis, #sendchocolates, #inandout, #thanksforhavingme, #feedme, #fasting, #35hrsinbetweenmeals, #fml and #starving. The post saw the bubbly media personality flaunt a lot of toned leg in just a white hospital gown, as she received treatment for endometriosis. Mel also drew attention to her peach-hued pedicure and a tattoo on her left foot that reads 'Love Mum', a tribute to her late mother who passed away from cancer. Vocal: Having dealt with the crippling condition since she was 17 years of age, the media personality has now become an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia Raising awareness: Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting the reproductive organs, where the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting the reproductive organs, where the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it. It can cause women crippling pain at the time of menstruation, where they can be admitted to hospital. Having dealt with the condition since she was 17 years of age, Mel has now become an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia, and often shares her own experiences in the hope of helping others. Support: Mel praised her radio co-star Travis Winks (R) earlier this year in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald who she described as being 'so incredible' Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald earlier this year, she said: 'Sometimes the pain is so bad I have had to be hospitalised; where every step I take feels like someone is stabbing me in the stomach'. Mel also praised her radio co-star Travis for supporting her through the hard times, saying: 'People don't understand it because it's invisible I've had (radio) co-hosts who have just told me to take a Panadol and get on with the job'. 'That's why Travis (Winks, Wave FM co-host) is so incredible he read up on it and supports me when I have to lie down on the floor to deal with the pain'. Another challenge: It's certainly been a trying year for the star who announced her split from husband Steve Pollock (L) back in April this year It's certainly been a trying year for Mel, announcing her split in April this year from husband Steve Pollock. During an appearance on Channel Ten's morning program, Studio 10, she told the hosts: 'I am separated from my husband now,' before explaining that Steve needed time 'to rediscover himself as an individual'. The pair tied the knot in November 2014 and had been doing long distance when Mel moved interstate to Sydney for her new job at Wave FM. During their relationship, Mel famously underwent IVF and documented the process on social media in a bit to lower the stigma around IVF. The return of The Bachelorette was a huge success on social media on Wednesday night, trending at number one across Australia. But sadly it wasn't reflected in ratings for the hit Australian reality show which only had 655,000 viewers. After a successful first season where 875,000 tuned into watch Sam Frost find love, brunette beauty Georgia Love was down 200,000 fans for her season premiere. Scroll down for video The return of The Bachelorette starring Georgia Love (L) was a huge success on social media - but sadly didn't reflect in ratings, which were lower than Sam Frost's (R) in season one Georgia also came second to Richie Strahan, with 882,000 viewers tuning in for the debut of season four of The Bachelor. The first episode of the reality dating show was also thrashed on Wednesday evening by Channel Nine's The Block, which drew in 819,000 viewers. In its time slot, The Bachelorette also lost to ABC's Anh's Brush with Fame, which garnered 710,000 viewers, and Gruen, which had 832,000 tuning in. While narrowly being overtaken by Channel Seven's Border Security, which had 660,000 people glued to their television sets. Not a familiar face: Fans who took to Twitter after Wednesday's premiere attributed the low viewership of 655,000 to Georgia being a fresh face rather than a returning contestant Fans who took to Twitter after the premiere attributed the drop in ratings to this seasons Bachelorette Georgia not being a returning contestant from the series - unlike Sam who appeared on The Bachelor before her season. Meanwhile, others were left 'shocked' by the average ratings and queried whether there had been some sort of 'error'. 'Not the strongest start for #bacheloretteau last night,' said one fan on Twitter. While another said: 'Surprised they didn't keep Carlos in for the ratings.' Both the Australian Bachelorette seasons rated lower than Richie Strahan's (pictured) debut on The Bachelor which saw 882,000 glued to their television sets Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Channel Ten for comment. But it wasn't all bad news for Channel Ten, who saw a huge social media following of the show across Twitter, with #BacheloretteAU trending at number one across Australia. Tweets peaked just before 8pm when Ben made his entrance during the rose ceremony admitting that he had done 'three nervous poos'. Overall #BacheloretteAU made nine million impressions on social media. Diane Kruger is never one to disappoint on the red carpet. And the German-born blonde beauty was at it again on Wednesday as she attended the Vanity Fair party in New York City. The actress and model stunned in a navy blue dress that was off the shoulders with a floaty skirt. Stunning: Diane Kruger stunned on Wednesday as she attended the Vanity Fair party in New York City She accessorized with a white clutch and some strappy sandals. Diane styled her blonde locks in a wavy, natural fashion as she opted for natural looking make-up. She posed up a storm on the red carpet with designer Jason Wu and Marc Metrick. Gayle King also made an appearance as did Monica Lewinsky. Breathtaking: The actress and model stunned in a navy blue dress that was off the shoulders with a floaty skirt Effortless: Diane styled her blonde locks in a wavy, natural fashion as she opted for natural looking make-up Meanwhile Diane has been busy filming several acting projects recently. The French film, Tout nous separe, she just completed is currently in post-production and will be out in 2017. Currently there is no plot to this Thierry Klifa directed movie. Kruger stars opposite Nicolas Duvauchelle and Catherine Deneuve. Her men: She posed up a storm on the red carpet with designer Jason Wu and Marc Metrick A gem in green: Monica Lewinsky looked lovely in her leather dress In The Fade is another film she recently wrapped. It's a drama directed by Fatih Akin that's also due out in 2017. The German-born actress has also been enjoying a sting of dates since she separated from long-term boyfriend Joshua Jackson. Reps from both the stars confirmed the news of their break-up to People. Beautiful: Leona Lewis was a dream in a two-piece black outfit Flared goddess: The blonde beauty looked wonderful in her outfit 'Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson have decided to separate and remain friends,' a spokesperson told the website. The pair had been plagued by rumours of relationship problems in the months leading up to their split. Diane started dating Josh after she split from her husband of five years, French director Guillaume Canet. Turquoise delight: Gayle King looked lovely in her dress Lacey: Georgina Chapman looked wonderful in her black elegant outfit She was seen enjoying a dinner date with Garrett Hedlund earlier in the week. The blonde beauty looked to be in a good mood during her date with Garrett. The pair were spotted out to dinner. Kruger and the 32-year-old Minnesota native enjoyed some of the best the Big Apple had to offer, as they had wine and appetizers at SoHo's The Butcher's Daughter, then grabbed a nightcap at the bar Ear Inn, a local staple. She has a memorable and silent cameo in The Birth Of A Nation. Gabrielle Union made her presence known in fabulously feminine attire as she attended the film's Los Angeles premiere on Wednesday. The 43-year-old actress stood out among the crowd in a white frilly lace gown with thigh-baring split in the front. Scroll down for video Enjoying the frills: Gabrielle Union wowed in a lacy and frilly white dress at the LA premiere of The Birth Of A Nation on Wednesday Despite the bunches of more lacy ruffes, the high neckline wasn't exactly modest either with its sheer plunging design. Gabrielle's gown fit her snugly around the front and waist before spilling out in a length of layered material at her heels. The star wore shimmery bronze ankle-strapped heels as a contrasting diversion perhaps. Details, details: The 43-year-old actress showed off more of that fabulously feminine gown Loud and clear: Gabrielle's part in The Birth Of A Nation is memorable - and so was her appearance at the premiere Leggy lady: The actress wasn't shy about showing off her legs Her hair was gathered in a stylishly elaborate 'do in the vein of 1940s movie sirens. Gabrielle certainly makes her impression in Nate Parker's film, which opens October 7 in the US. Her character is featured briefly and says not a word even when she becomes the victim of the merciless master (Armie Hammer). Role playing: Nate Parker - who plays Nat Turner, an educated slave who led the 1831 rebellion in Virginia - posed with Tony Espinosa who plays his younger version in the film Beautiful in blue: Garcelle Beauvais delighed in her royal blue jumpsuit Shining glory: Kim Dickens was lovely and shimmery in her LBD The Birth Of A Nation was Nate Parker's baby and he serves as star, writer, producer and director of the anti-slavery epic. The film follows the true story of Nat Turner, who was taught to read by his slaver's wife, became a preacher and then led a slave rebellion in 1831 Virginia, which resulted in the deaths of 60 slave-holding families and about 200 slaves in retaliation. Parker and his cowriter Jean Celestin were thrown into controversy over a 17-year-old rape allegation against them both while they were students at Penn State University, which threatened to overshadow the film. Ladies rule: Aunjanue Ellis was a shining sight while American Crime Story star Angel Parker exuded elegance in her blue and black dress Neutral and nice: Amber Grimes wowed in a buff-hued outfit with salmon pink peep-toe boots 'This movie is so much bigger than me, than Nate, but it includes all of us in moving this conversation forward,' Gabrielle told the Associated Press earlier this month during Toronto International film Festival. Parker was acquitted in the case. Celestin was initially found guilty of sexual assault in the same case, but the conviction was later overturned when the accuser declined to testify for a retrial. The accuser killed herself in 2012. Gabrielle, a rape survivor, was aware of the allegation, but wanted to do the film to have a platform for dialogue. Feathery: Aja Naomi King was a beauty in paradise in her white feather-adorned number Tragedy: Gabrielle - who plays a slave woman in the film - was pictured behind the scenes getting direction from Nate Parker, who starred in, wrote, produced and directed 'I was actually encouraged to shirk my responsibilities, duck it, cut ties... My whole point in taking this film was to talk about sexual violence, and it seems asinine to shirk that responsibility,' she said. She added: 'I have a responsibility as a decent human being to continue the conversation surrounding sexual assault, rape culture, and toxic masculinity and misogyny and that our movement at Birth Of A Nation is not narrowly focused.' She showed her generous spirit by hosting Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser. But Jessica Biel showed she isn't afraid to indulge herself either as she flashed a $4,000 limited edition Louis Vuitton camera messenger bag - as she stylishly stepped out in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old actress and wife of Justin Timberlake dressed casually chic in a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and metallic flats as she was spotted grabbing take out from her kid-friendly eatery in West Hollywood. Pricey purse! Jessica Biel flashed an expensive handbag - which retails for around $4,000 dollars - as she stylishly stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday Attention-grabbing accessory: The Louis Vuitton Cindy Sherman camera messenger bag is a limited edition featuring multicolor embroidered patches based on the photographer's work Jessica dressed down but still looked effortlessly polished in a simple white tank top and dark denim pants. She topped the laid-back look off with a beige cardigan sweater which matched her chic retro sunglasses from Steven Alan Optical which shielded her face from the sun. The fashionable star was sure to add chic footwear to her otherwise simple look opting for a trendy pair of silver pointy toed flats. Also adding the French designer bag which featured the signature monogram in brown and tan along with multiple embroidered patches based on photographer Cindy Sherman's work. Effortlessly polished: The 34-year-old actress and mother-of-one dressed casually chic in a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and silver metallic flats Details: The brunette beauty - who married Justin Timberlake in 2012 - wore her wedding ring on her left ring finger and also added a long gold necklace to her relaxed look The brunette beauty left her updated long tresses, complete with eye-brow length fringe, down in a straight style to blow in the wind. Jessica added a long simple gold necklace with a round pendant to her look and also wore her wedding ring on left hand. The busy actress and restaurant owner appeared rushed as she left her trendy L.A. eatery with one brown to-go bag in hand along with her car key. The 7th Heaven alum married Justin in 2012. She and the pop star have a one-year-old son, Silas. It seems as though Evelyn and Matt's close friendship has heated up. On Tuesday, Philippa Northeast, 21, and Alec Snow, 24, were spotted kissing in the ocean while filming scenes for Home And Away at Palm Beach. The pair, who are currently close friends in the show, looked a lot more than that as they shared several kisses both in and out of the water. Friends to lovers? Philippa Northeast, 21, and Alec Snow, 24, shared a passionate kiss on the set of Home And Away on Tuesday and were seen making out in the ocean while fully clothed The actors were first seen sitting together on the grass near the beach, happily chatting. Philippa then proceeds to touch a grinning Alec on the arm. It seems, that's when things changed for Evelyn and Matt, as she finally leaned in and kissed her best friend. It seems like the brunette beauty was the one to instigate the kiss, gently pulling the hunk in closer to her. The kiss: At present their characters Evelyn and Matt are just friends on the series but Philippa was seen leaning in to kiss Alec, gently pulling him closer to her A touching moment: The brunette beauty was seen touching her co-star's arm while they sat on the grass near Palm Beach, which is meant to be Summer Bay On-screen romance: A nervous Philippa and Alec share a laugh with the camera crew before they jump in the water fully clothed Heating up: The on-screen BFFs share an intimate moment before locking lips in the water Happy kisses: The TV couple look elated to be kissing each other on the set of Home and Away For the scene, Philippa was donning a patterned wrap-around top, which she teamed with casual denim shorts. She accessorised her look with blue studded earrings. Her make-up was kept natural, with a touch of mascara and eyeliner. Happy snap: Matt and Evelyn enjoyed a laugh as they keep close to each other during the scene Locking lips: The young lovers embrace another time while filming an intimate scene Time to get out of the water? Phillipa looked to be making her way out of the water as Alec laughed Her long brunette hair was left out in a casual wave. For the scene, Alec wore a red and white patterned shirt and green casual pants. The new couple then walked to the water's edge, where they stood on a jetty. Having a laugh: Alec and Philippa had plenty of laughs in between takes of the intimate scene Water logged: The friends try and make the most of the situation by joking about A nervous looking Philippa and Alec both then talked to the camera crew. During the chat, Alec had his arm around Philippa's shoulder. The cameras then started rolling, and the young actor and actress started their dialogue as they lovingly stared into each other's eyes. Happy couple: In character as Matt and Evelyn, the duo smiled for the cameras while filming the romantic scenes at Palm Beach Throughout their talk, Alec was clutching his new love interest's arms. The pair then hopped into the water fully clothed. The couple kissed several times, and also shared a joke or two - both laughing, smiling and hugging while in Palm Beach waters. Oh no! Philippa shows off her footwear malfunction to her co-star They also shared a laugh with the camera crew. While wading back to the jetty, a slight mishap occurred - Philippa's shoe broke. She lifted her leg to show her co-star, and they both had a laugh. Drenched: The 21-year-old looked freezing as she walked to the ladder to get up onto the jetty The actress looked extremely cold while wading back to the jetty - clutching her arms tightly to her body, while Alec gently held onto her arm. The brunette beauty was then helped back onto the jetty by a ladder and a crew member who reached their hand out to her. Home and Away airs Monday to Thursday, 7pm, on the Seven Network. The Chelsea Manning Support Network has just emailed us this latest update: Chelsea's board started at 9:30 am CST today. It is expected to take up most of the day. (The board will give its decision at the end.) As soon as we get a call from Chelsea, we will let you know the news. (It will most likely be in the mid-late afternoon Central Standard Time.) In a blog post that Fight for the Future released yesterday, Chase Strangio, Chelsea's ACLU attorney, explained that there is some concern about whether she will even be able to call us after the hearing. (This is because the board could decide to punish her with indefinite solitary confinement, which could start immediately.) Here are some references from the past week, in case your readers are just catching up now: 1. Fight for the Future published a blog post yesterday (Wed, Sept 21, 2016), with links to the Formal Charge Sheet , some Accompanying Documents, and Policy Letter 16 (the official Army document with the regulations Chelsea is being charged with violating. 2. Vice published an in-depth piece about Chelsea's situation. 3. Feministing published an in-depth piece 4. Chelsea wrote a Guardian op-ed on Tuesday. It detailed how painful the process of preparing for the board has been this past week, by causing her to relive the experience over and over again, as she writes up, and types up, the answers to all the required questions. (She has been spending 1-3 hours a night in the library, preparing, for over a week. 5. Please follow Chelsea on Twitter and her support network on Twitter, and also follow the support network's Facebook page. You can also DM the support network on Twitter. 6. Please sign the petition at FreeChelsea.com and write Chelsea directly here Thanks to Boing Boing for posting these updates all week. Chelsea Manning Support Network (Image courtesy of the Chelsea Manning Support Network) Fans have already drawn comparisons to Bachelor's Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon after a budding bromance blossomed between The Bachelorette contestants Aaron Brady and Rhys Chilton. The pair appear to have already found an undeniable connection with one another through their shared sense of humour after episode one's cocktail party. While the other contestants admired Lee Elliot's donkey at the elegant drinks, Aaron and Rhys, affectionately dubbed 'Raaron' on social media shared a couple of laughs together. Scroll down for video Bromance? Aaron Brady (L) and Rhys Chilton (R) reveal they both enjoy each other's company during one-on-one interviews on the first episode of the new season of The Bachelorette 'What are they all doing? Playing with the donkey?' asked Rhys. Seemingly missing the memo, Aaron quickly said: 'Oh is there a donkey there?' Giggling Rhys said: 'Maybe they're all off chasing ass.'That or they're chasing some tail,' added Aaron playfully. Best friends: Aaron (L) and Rhys (R) appear to enjoy each other's company, with Aaron admitting the 'handsome Harry Potter' lookalike is his favourite in the house The pair appeared to be enjoying each other's company away from the group with both admitting in their one-on-one interviews that they had a 'pretty good connection'. 'I get along with RhysI like him, he's my favourite in the house,' said Aaron. 'If I was going to tip someone to win, put some money down and that, I'd definitely put I ton the handsome looking Harry Potter guy, Rhys,' he added. 'We have the same sense of humour': The boys enjoyed telling each other donkey puns as they sat waiting for Georgia to arrive at the mansion Rhys shared the sentiment admitting that he 'found a pretty good connection with Aaron.' Adding: 'We've just been laughing our heads off.' When Georgia arrived at the Bachelorette Mansion, the brunette beauty made a spectacular entrance tripping as she fell into the bachelor's lives. Hysterics! Aaron (L) appears to be unable to contain his laughter when Rhys says that the other Bachelorette boys are probably 'chasing ass' when they go to see the donkey that Lee brought Georgia managed to not spill her drink, much to the admiration of the 16 men vying for her attention. The 28-year-old was then seen stealing men away for some one-on-one time before the rose ceremony, but appeared to be in for a surprise when talking to Aaron during the cocktail party. While getting to know Aaron, Rhys appeared unwilling to let his new friend go swooping in on their time together leaving Georgia feeling like the 'third wheel'. Three is a crowd! Rhys interrupts Georgia's one-on-one time with Aaron to seemingly get some time alone with the 28-year-old WIN News Journalist 'Rhys came over and I thought he was doing the interrupting I want to have a chat to you next thing, but he sat down next to Aaron and it was like the two of them just kicked off a conversation. 'It was really, really weird. I felt a bit like the third wheel.' Asking the boy's whether she should leave them to their conversation Georgia appeared uncomfortable with the unintentional double date she found herself in. Uncomfortable: Georgia admits she felt like she was more of a 'third wheel' than centre of attention when Rhys steals Aaron away in conversation during her one-on-one Despite Georgia's distaste for the blossoming bromance, Twitter users appeared to be excited to watch the friendship unfold, likening the pair to Bachelor's Megan and Tiffany, minus the half-naked photo ops and spaghetti. One user said: 'If this doesn't work out for Rhys and Aaron, it's all good because they've found each other.' Another said: 'Aaron and Rhys belong together, I'm so glad SOME PEOPLE have found love on this show already #BacheloretteAU.' Trending: The two boys appeared to be trending on twitter much to fans excitement. Both Rhys and Aaron were a crowd favourite with fans taking to Twitter demanding a spin-off with the pair The pair received an overwhelming response across social media and at one point appeared to be trending across Twitter. BacheloretteAU commented: 'Sparks are already flying in the houseBetween Aaron and Rhys.' The new friendship has also been compared to Megan and Tiffany, who since their departure from The Bachelor mansion, appear to be inseparable. 'It was really, really weird': Georgia didn't appear to enjoy when Rhys and Aaron ignored her during a one-on-one meant for herself and Aaron Fan favourite: Aaron (L) and Rhys (R) have garnered fans across social media excited to watch their bromance unfold in episodes to come The girls have been seen canvassing their Instagram accounts cosied up together or posing in raunchy snaps, leaving fans guessing whether the pair found romance with each other. While the pair haven't yet confirmed the status of their relationship, Megan did tell OK! Magazine that the pair certainly do have an unusually close friendship. 'I think you can probably tell from the pictures that have been posted that we don't have the most conventional relationship,' the Western Australian beauty said. The latest series of Australian Survivor see's Jonathan LaPaglia host the Channel Ten show with 24 castaways battling it out in Samoa. And now Ten's TV rival Channel Nine has cause quite the stir, announcing this week that they will be airing a new US version of the series. Starting next week, Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X with host Jeff Probst will air during the same time of year in the battle for ratings. Scroll down for video Ready to battle it out: Channel Ten's TV rival Channel Nine has caused quite the stir, announcing this week that they will be airing a new US version of Survivor to go head-to-head with Ten's Australian Survivor (seen is the US' long term host Jeff Probst) The new series focuses on the battle between generations to find the ultimate Survivor who can claim a $1 million prize. There will be 20 castaways battling it out in Fiji, with the show airing from Thursday. Australian Survivor meanwhile airs from Sunday to Tuesdays and castaways compete for $500,000. A little controversial! Australian Survivor meanwhile airs from Sunday to Tuesdays and castaways compete for $500,000 (seen is host Jonathan LaPaglia) The new show: There will be 20 castaways battling it out in Fiji, with the show airing on from Thursday Australian Surivivor premiered last month with strong ratings. However, audiences then declined but at the end of last moth, saw an upswing after a shocking double twist where tribe members were swapped and not eliminated. At the time, it narrowly beat rivals The Block and Zumbo's Just Desserts in key demographics. Last month, Channel Ten decided to increase the show from two nights a week, to three. Castaways: Australian Survivor premiered last month and had strong ratings Host Jonathan, who is an Australian actor - previously said how he felt a little out of his depth shooting the show. 'I've worked in the US so I've seen this scale, but for TV, this is hectic,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'It has so many moving parts at any given moment. It's kind of daunting,' he added. The show marked his first foray into hosting, having acted on shows including Love Child, The Slap and Underbelly. He became a father for the fifth time after his twin girls were born in May. And after all these years, Ronnie Wood is trying to get back into the swing of parenting newborns. The Rolling Stones rocker, 69, looked every inch the devoted dad as he set up a pram for his three-month-old twins Gracie Jane and Alice Rose and wife Sally Humphreys - but sweetly struggling slightly in the process. Scroll down for video Strolling Stone! Ronnie Wood, 69, seemingly struggled with the pram for his new twin girls as he headed out in London on Monday Hands-on: Ronnie looked every inch the devoted dad as he set up a pram for his three-month-old twins Gracie Jane and Alice Rose and wife Sally Humphreys The famous guitarist was spotted getting out a cab with his theatre producer third wife Sally in London, before being left in charge of the baby stroller. The Satisfaction hitmaker seemingly struggled to set the pram up, bumbling to get it straight and steady. Ronnie even looked up and laughed at his efforts with his wife at one point, who was waiting on the pavement with their dog. How am I doing? Ronnie even looked up and laughed at his efforts with his wife at one point, who was waiting on the pavement with their dog Success! The Paint It Black hitmaker then got to grips with the baby contraption before rejoining his wife to embark on the family day out Still got it: Ronnie sported a patterned shirt and casual jeans and trainers for the outing Dressed in a printed shirt and casual jeans and trainers, the rock star then got to grips with the baby contraption before rejoining his wife to embark on the family day out. The three-month-old twins are Ronnie's fifth and sixth children, but the first for him and theatre producer Sally, who is 31 years his junior. Sally and Ronnie started dating in 2012 after being friends for nine years when they met backstage at the Theatre Royal - where she was working at time. They tied the knot at the Dorchester Hotel in London that December after a whirlwind six month romance, with Rod Stewart acting as the best man. Looking good: The rocker got to grips with the contraption as she strolled them to his wife with ease Reunion: Ronnie then rejoined his wife, who had been waiting with their dog on the pavement, for the family day out Ronnie already has son Jesse Wood, with his first wife and former model, Krissy Wood - with his firstborn now married to TV presenter Fearne Cotton. He also has daughter Leah and son Tyrone from his second marriage, to Jo Wood, and Jamie, Jo's son from a previous marriage, whom Wood adopted. Jo, who divorced Ronnie in 2009 after 26 years of marriage, has been outspoken in her opinions about him becoming a father again so late in life. Speaking to The Mirror in March she claimed that he wouldn't remember what it is like to raise newborns. New chapter: They tied the knot at the Dorchester Hotel in London that December after a whirlwind six month romance, with Rod Stewart acting as the best man Never too old: Ronnie told Hello! magazine earlier this year: Im the burper, walker, nappy changer and Im still trying to work out when I can get to sleep in between all that' 'When he last had kids he was flying high on cocaine and booze back then, so missed all the sleepless nights and the crying,' she said. Ronnie, who has turned over a new leaf in life, has been quick to dismiss any and all suggestions he parents from a distance. Speaking to Hello! magazine earlier this year he said: Im the burper, walker, nappy changer and Im still trying to work out when I can get to sleep in between all that. I have played the guitar to them and when I get round to it I will do some drawings. At the moment Im just soaking up every moment we have.' Devoted: The pair were forced to deny rumours that they had hired four nannies earlier this year, with Sally calling the claims 'bonkers' on Twitter As if this was not enough proof of Ronnie's hands-on parenting, wife Sally also spoke out recently about the pair's direct and loving approach to their new children together. She was forced to deny a report from the Sunday People that her husband has hired four nannies to ensure he gets the rest he needs to continue with his work. Hitting back at the rumours, the brunette wrote on Twitter: 'Just read that we've hired four nannies! We haven't, that would be bonkers!! xx' The intimate family day out comes just one week before Ronnie heads to play a reunion show alongside his Rolling Stones bandmates across the pond. The Paint It Black stars are due to head to Palm Springs, California to play an exclusive show alongside Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney at the Empire Polo Club on 7 October. One last hurrah: The family day out comes just one week before Ronnie heads to play a reunion show alongside his Rolling Stones bandmates in California She announced her pregnancy two weeks ago. And Laura Geitz, 28, revealed her blossoming baby bump during a family outing in Brisbane last week. The Queensland Firebirds captain stepped out in grey and white striped shorts and a matching singlet, which outlined her mini bump. Scroll down for video Bumping along: Laura Geitz, 28, revealed her blossoming baby bump during a family outing in Brisbane last week At one point, her bump appeared to disappear as she tucked her top into her shorts while strolling alongside a friend and her son. The blonde beauty, who is also captain of the Australian national netball team, had her trim pins on display as she bonded with the little boy. She was also seen bending down to feed him some of her orange juice, perhaps in prepartion for her own bundle of joy. Getting some practise? The Queensland Firebirds captain fed her friend's child during the outing Disappearing act: Laura's bump was less visible when she tucked her top into her shorts Looking good! The blonde beauty, who is also captain of the Australian national netball team, had her trim pins on display as she strolled around town Laura, who married professional rugby player Mark Gilbride, 35, in 2012, announced her pregnancy earlier this month. She is currently four months along and in an Instagram post, she gushed about her unborn child. 'We are overwhelmed to wake up to so many beautiful messages from you all this morning. @mggilbride and I are thrilled beyond words to know the best is yet to come and we can't wait for this next chapter of our lives #babygilly,' she captioned alongside an image of her sonogram. Want some? She appeared attentive while showcasing her nurturing side Here you go: Laura was seen doting over the chubby-cheeked toddler Play time! The group took advantage of the sunny weather by holding a picnic at the park Wedded bliss! Laura, who married professional rugby player Mark Gilbride, 35, in 2012, is due to give birth in March The Queensland native is due in March and recently shared that the pregnancy news came as a surprise because she didn't think she could conceive. 'I'd had one cycle in six months and I remember our team doctor said to me: 'You have to let your body realise it's female, it's not a machine,' she told 9 News. 'So we were under the impression there was no chance of me falling pregnant when I was training so hard.' The netball star will miss the upcoming Constellation Cup against New Zealand as well as next year's new national netball season while on maternity leave. Angelina Jolie reportedly confronted Brad Pitt's Allied co-star Marion Cotillard on set after becoming wrongly convinced the pair were having an affair. The 41-year-old actress is reported to have hired a private investigator to follow the pair when they filmed the World War II movie in London. But her fears were unfounded as Marion is currently expecting her second child with French director and actor Guillaume Canet, who she has been with for nine years. Scroll down for video Love rival: Angelina Jolie reportedly stormed on Allied set and had aggressive encounter with Marion Cotillard because she wrongly believed they were having an affair Chemistry: Reports claim that the 41-year-old actress is reported to have hired a private investigator to follow the pair when they filmed the World War II movie in London Reports of an affair are thought to be part of a smear from Angelina's camp. 'Angelina completely ignored Marion on the set, and when Marion tried to talk to her she just looked the other way,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'Marion was devastated, here she is thinking she is going to meet this great UN ambassador and instead Angelina refuses to speak to the woman because of her own jealousy.' The source also said that rumors of an affair between Pitt and Cotillard are '100 per cent false,' and that Pitt's main concern at this time is his children. 'He does not want them reading anything negative in the press about himself or their mother,' said the source. 'He's not going to get dirty.' Breaking her silence: Marion Cotillard has revealed she is pregnant with her second child but denies affair with Brad Pitt in an Instagram message posted on Wednesday Cotillard wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumours The claims come as Marion felt compelled to come out and issue a statement to confirm her pregnancy and reiterate that she has not been involved in the split. The 40-year-old said on Wednesday: 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into. Where it all began: Angelina told the New York Times in 2008 that she and Brad 'fell in love' while working on Mr. & Mrs. Smith 'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously, but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up'. She went on to confirm that her partner of eight years Guillaume Canet is the father of her unborn child. A source told PageSix that Jolie 'hired a private eye because she felt that he was fooling around with her on the set, and it turns out, he was. And that was the final straw'. Cotillard went on: 'And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery.' She concluded her message by wishing Brad and Angelina Jolie well. 'Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love, Marion'. Cotillard stars alongside Pitt in the upcoming spy thriller Allied and their onscreen sexual chemistry has been described as 'electric'. According to the film's producer, Graham King, Pitt and Cotillard had an immediate connection. 'Blissfully happy': French star Marion is in a relationship with fellow actor Guillaume Canet, 43, and they are expecting their second child together 'Brad and Marion immediately had the utmost respect for each other, so once they delved into their characters, their chemistry was electric,' he told People Magazine back in August. 'It was crucial for Brad and Marion to not only begin rehearsing together before the shoot, but they also spent a lot of time developing their characters with the director, Robert Zemeckis,' he added. 'By the time we got to set, it was really amazing to see these characters already feel lived-in and real.' The pair play a information officer and French Resistance fighter who fall in love. They began filming the movie in England in February this year and also travelled to Casablanca and the Canary Islands for shoots. Angelina filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple's three biological children as well as their three adopted children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara, 11. A source close to the couple said that the Maleficent star was upset over the way Pitt was parenting their brood and 'fed up' with his use of weed and alcohol, as well as anger issues. She's become something of a rising star as telekinetic girl Eleven in Netflix series Stranger Things. But despite her huge success at aged just 12, Millie Bobby Brown reveals she was a little overwhelmed when she attended and performed at the Emmys on September 18. In an interview with Lorraine on Thursday, she said: 'I had a panic attack. I was getting a picture with everyone. I didn't play it cool, I was so starstruck.' Scroll down for video Who could blame her? Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, 12, told Lorraine about her nerves when she attended and performed at the Emmys on September 18 She said: 'I had a panic attack. I was getting a picture with everyone. I didn't play it cool, I was so starstruck' Talking about her on-stage performance that night, she said it was more nerve-wracking for her than people might imagine. She said: 'I have never been in school play before. I was nervous because it was my first time on stage. 'I was like, "Wow, there's David Schwimmer".' Cute: Talking about her on-stage performance that night, she said it was more nerve-wracking for her than people might imagine She said: 'I have never been in school play before. I was nervous because it was my first time on stage. 'I was like, "Wow, there's David Schwimmer"' Millie said that despite her Hollywood connections, she was obsessed with British daytime television. She told a delighted Lorraine: 'I am completely starstruck being here' Millie said that despite her Hollywood connections, she was obsessed with British daytime television. She told a delighted Lorraine: 'I am completely starstruck being here. 'I have a little routine at home where I watch this show, This Morning and Loose Women. I am homeschooled [and so I'm always asking if I can have them on.'] British-born Millie also praised her family during the interview for having faith in her career. She said: 'My family packed everything up and risked a lot' British-born Millie also praised her family during the interview for having faith in her career. She said: 'My family packed everything up and risked a lot. 'My brother says to me, "You're not a celeb in this house". It's nice to have them to keep me humble.' First dates kicked off during Thursday night's episode of The Bachelorette and several contestants revealed their competitive sides. As host Osher Gunsberg delivered the red envelope containing the name of the contestant set to have the very first one-on-one date with Georgia, 28, Sydney electrician Sam, 27, identified mechanical plumber Lee, 35, as a threat. 'Good-looking dude, isn't he? He's definitely a threat. Not for long, though. I'll take him down, don't worry. Him and his stupid donkey, I've got him,' he said in a side interview. Competition: Sydney electrician Sam, 27, identified mechanical plumber Lee, 35, as a 'threat' during Thursday night's episode of the Bachelorette Target: Victorian resident Lee was targeted by Sam during episode two Marketing CEO Aaron, 34, revealed to the group that fellow Queenslander Jake, 30, had been chosen for the first date. 'OK, and the lucky guy going on this fantastic 'Let's hang together' date is... Drum roll, please. Jakey,' he said. As the group cheered for the salesman, Aaron admitted that he was feeling slightly envious. Who will it be? Osher Gunsberg delivered the red envelope containing the name of the contestant set to have the very first one-on-one date with Georgia, 28 Nervous: The group watched anxiously as Osher entered the room 'Obviously, I would be happier if it was me on that single date. But Jake's a good lad,' he said adding 'whether he's Georgia's type, I don't know.' Hobart news anchor Georgia planned a romantic date in the Blue Mountains with Jake, and the pair hit it off almost immediately. 'So I've got a couple of surprises planned for us today. The first one is down there on the forest floor. You ready?' asked the beaming brunette. Tensions high: Osher left Aaron to read out the name And the luck man is: Jake was revealed as the chosen one for the first solo date In a side interview, Jake acknowledged his lustful feelings for Georgia. 'Georgia does give me butterflies, actually. It's like going on a rollercoaster, I guess, that feeling of, you know, you sort of lose your stomach a little bit,' he said. The adrenaline junkie then proceeded to explain that they would be taking a fair hike from up in the mountains, all the way down to the forest. 'And we're actually going to repel down 100 metres to the forest floor,' she said. Single date: Hobart news anchor Georgia planned a romantic date in the Blue Mountains with Jake and the pair hit it off almost immediately Beaming: The brunette beauty couldn't contain her excitement during their time alone Jake admitted he was feeling nervous about the adventure. 'Yeah, no, I was not expecting this at all. Ever. I don't think anyone would. Especially when they wake up to go on a first date, they're not expecting to be jumping out of a window 120 metres up in the air. It's getting serious now,' he said. Georgia shared similar sentiments. Don't be scared: Georgia showed affection in an attempt to help Jake relax Weeeee! The pair dropped down 100 metres to the forest floor 'The thought of stepping out of this cable car 100 metres up in the air is so terrifying.....I cannot believe we're about to do this,' she said. After the long ride down, Jake called the experience 'the best first date' ever. 'I'm getting butterflies not just because I'm repelling down 100 metres, but talking with her and looking at her,' he told the camera. 'This is the best first date I've been on,' he said to which Georgia enthusiastically replied 'I'm gonna second that. Look how far we've come. Whoo!' Picturesque views: The Blue Mountains is a popular tourist destination in New South Wales In a side interview, Georgia revealed that she was impressed by Jake's 'can do' attitude during the date as it made for a 'fun' experience. 'I love the fact that Jake just went for it. He just totally embraced this ridiculous opportunity I put in his lap and he just went, 'OK, let's do it,'' she said. 'I think that shows a really, really good, fun, adventurous side to him.' Careful: Georgia and Jake were strapped up with harnesses to ensure a safe ride We made it! The pair hugged upon landing Whose next? Back at the mansion Cameron discovered another red envelope that contained the names of the contestants chosen for the first group date Pick me! Ben looked anxious as Cameron opened the envelope Cool, calm and collected: Aaron and Lee kept their cool during the tense moment Back at the mansion, Cameron discovered another red envelope that contained the names of the contestants chosen for the first group date. Rhys, Courtney, Ben, Matt, Ryan, Aaron, Clancy, Cameron, Lee and Sam were confirmed as group date participants. Back on the single date, Georgia and Jake enjoyed a deep and meaningful conversation that eventually led to the first kiss of the series. Opening up: Georgia and Jake enjoyed a deep and meaningful chat after their outdoor adventure As she revealed her mum's recent cancer diagnosis, Jake shared that he could relate after experiencing something similar. 'My mum has been through the same thing. Five times ... So I've been dealing... I've had that since I was 12,' he said. The conversation appeared to bring the pair closer, which Georgia saying that she felt more comfortable with him. Similar struggles: They learned that both their mothers have struggled with cancer 'It was really nice to be able to speak to Jake so openly about what's happening with my mum,' she said. '... Because I felt he really, really understood and he just made me feel better about the whole thing.' Within seconds, Jake leaned in for a kiss she comfortably placed her hand at the back of his head - suggesting she enjoyed it. Hot and heavy: The emotional discussion made them feel closer, which led to the first kiss of the season 'You're blushing a little bit now,' he told her after their lips parted. 'I am blushing a lot. It's got very warm in here very quickly,' she said giggling. After a few more kisses, she then presented him with a rose and acknowledged that he could be 'the one.' Will you accept? Georgia later presented him with a rose 'This could definitely be the start of something really amazing,' she said. Back at the house, the bachelors began speculating about Jake's date. Upon arriving back at the pad, Jake was bombarded with questions about his outing with Georgia, although he kept details to himself. Tell us what happened: Back at the house, the contestants quizzed Jake Look what I got! He appeared to show off his rose, much to the dismay of others Kiss and tell? The group wanted details, although Jake refused to divulge intimate details 'I wanted to keep stuff to myself from today. You know, how deep the connections and definitely the kisses that we shared at the end of our date. I'm not gonna share that with the guys,' he told the camera. As the group date contestants made their way to the country side for the day with Georgia, Sam shared his frustrations. 'So, group date, better than nothing. Not my preference. I definitely wanted the one-on-one,' he said. Group date: The group made their way to the countryside for the outing Beaming beauty: Georgia was excited to spend the day with potential suitors They soon learned that their date would involve shooting book covers 'for a new series of romance novels that Mills & Boon are doing set in the Australian outback.' During one shoot, Courtney carried Georgia across a field and she appeared to be captivated in that moment. 'I was very comfortable in Courtney's arms. We were just having a laugh but having these really nice moments as well when we were looking in each other's eyes,' she said. Take it off! The date involved a series of photoshoots for romance novel covers and some of the men had no problem taking off their clothes During another shoot with Rhys, Sam and Clancy, Rhys appeared to get carried away while taking off his shirt and throwing water over himself. 'I definitely think she might have thought he loved himself too much,' said Clancy. 'It might have come across a bit more self-obsessed, maybe even arrogant.' Look at me! Rhys appeared to get carried away while taking off his shirt and throwing water over himself Up-close-and-personal: Georgia and Cameron took part in a steamy shoot You're so funny! The pair enjoyed a flirtatious moment At one point Firefighter Cameron posed with his face just inches away from Georgia's, as the pair gazed into each other's eyes. The group watched the shoot from a distance and began speculating whether or not the pair was kissing. 'Yeah, he's kissing her for sure! Looks to me like they were kissing, or getting very close,' said Rhys. What pretty eyes: Georgia and Cameron were told to embrace one another as part of the shoot and they certainly weren't complaining So close! At one point, Firefighter Cameron posed with his face just inches away from Georgia's, as the pair gazed into each other's eyes Georgia gushed about her brief moment with Cameron, saying that his 'awkwardness' is adorable. 'I feel really good about Cam. When I first met him, he kind of had this cute awkwardness about him, and now that awkwardness is out of the window and even the cute thing's out of the window,' she said. 'That was...that was next level, that was beyond cute. That was...that was hot.' Lady of the hour: Georgia looked elegant s she arrived for the rose ceremony Tense: The men looked stiff as Georgia whittled down her options Courtney observed that Cameron's steamy shoot with Georgia had created jealousy among the group. 'We still don't know Georgia well enough to know exactly what sort of guy she is after. Cameron ticks all the boxes, no doubt about that. And I think some of the boys know it, and there's a little bit of jealousy going around,' he said. During the cocktail party, Jake said there was brewing tension between Sam and Rhys. Whose going home? Osher made an appearance in a Navy suit It's Ben! Funnyman Ben was sent packing 'I don't think that Rhys is fully aware of the tension between himself and Sam, honestly. So whether he's choosing not to or he just doesn't, yeah, I just don't think he understands,' said Jake. During the rose ceremony, Georgia sent Miner Ben, 32, home. Disappointed: He expressed his frustration during the limo ride home Many have been clawing for the role of head judge on Strictly Come Dancing ever since Len Goodman announced the 2016 season would be his last in July. And on Thursday another name was thrown into the mix to be his replacement - former dancer on the show Karen Hardy. The pro, 46, has sparked speculation after being named a judge on the panel for the show's live tour - which will reportedly act as a type of trial for the permanent role. Scroll down for video Bring on the girls! Karen Hardy, 46, has sparked speculation that she will be the new head judge on Strictly after she was announced as a judge on the show's live tour According to The Sun, producers want to see what she is like in front of thousands of fans, in hope of hiring her for the top job next series. They want her to sit alongside head judge Len for the tour, which kicks off in January, in order to learn the ropes. Karen has also been considered thanks to her weekly appearance on Strictly's spin-off show It Takes Two over the last few years - with her 'Choreography Corner' feature receiving high praise from fans on social media. Farewell: Beloved panelist Len Goodman stunned fans when he announced he would be leaving the BBC ballroom dancing competition at the end of this year, after 12 years as a judge Her appearance on the tour, alongside Len, 72 and Craig Revel-Horwood, 51, will undoubtedly have come as a blow for fellow dancer Anton du Beke, who had been favourite for the replacement. An insider told the BBC: 'This is a huge statement in favour of Karen. It's now not looking good for Anton.' Du Beke, 50, has been the bookie's favourite for the position ever since Len quit earlier this year. He was reportedly battling it out for the role with dancer Brendan Cole, 40, who backed his chances after judging the New Zealand edition of the series. New chapter? Anton du Beke, who is partnering Lesley Joseph on the show this year (above) has been the favourite to replace Len since he announced he was quitting Rumours were then fuelled even further when professional Trent Whiddon, who partnered Pixie Lott on the show in 2014, told the Mirror: 'It isn't official yet, but it may as well be it's long been virtually guaranteed that Anton will fill any gaps on the judging panel. 'He's such a big part of the family and viewers love him, so BBC bosses know there's no risk of it not working out.' Beloved panelist Len Goodman stunned fans when he announced he would be leaving the BBC ballroom dancing competition at the end of this year, after 12 years as a judge. Not keen! It was then alleged that Craig would take over from Len, but he's now rubbished claims he's going to replace him insisting, 'I don't want the job!' He said in an emotional statement: 'In 2004, I was asked to take part in a brand new BBC Saturday night show and who would have thought me, old Len Goodman, would still be part of this amazing series more than ten years on. 'This adventure began when I was 60 and now that I've reached my 70s, I've decided after this year it's time to hand the role of head judge to someone else. 'It is an honour being part of the wonderful Strictly Come Dancing family and I'm looking forward to my last series very much and to whatever comes next.' After shocking fans across the country, fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood then some light on his departure. 'It was all the travelling,' the famously harsh judge told the Mirror. 'The American gig is good for him because he can go out for two months - it's a shorter season and it pays more money. 'He doesn't have to fly back and forwards which is exhausting even if you are drinking champagne in first class.' It was then alleged that Craig would take over from Len, but he's now rubbished claims he's going to replace him insisting, 'I don't want the job!' Former judge Arlene Phillips was also in the frame, with the BBC reportedly keen to fill the space with a woman. BBC bosses are seriously considering asking the choreographer, 73, to return to the show seven years after she was axed, according to The Sun. The pair had a nerve wracking start to their first date on The Bachelorette, as the repelled 100 metres to the forest floor of the Blue Mountains on Thursday. But the date had Georgia Love and contestant Jake Ellis' hearts racing for more than one reason, as it ended in two very steamy kisses. The pair had cosied up on the couch of a hotel salon, before getting into a deep discussion about their families. Scroll down for video Steamy kiss: Georgia Love had her first kiss of the season on The Bachelorette during a solo date with Jake Ellis on Thursday night's episode After Georgia opened up about her mother's recent diagnosis with cancer, Jake said he could relate, with his own mother battling the disease five times. Speaking to the camera, the 27-year-old said she had found a confidant and source of relief in her date. It was really nice to be able to speak to Jake so openly about what's happening with my mum,' she said. 'I felt he really, really understood, and he just made me feel better about the whole thing.' Getting cosy: The pair shared an intense conversation on their first date, discussing their mothers who have both battled with cancer After finding the common ground and discussing the importance of family, the 30-year-old hunk leaned in for a kiss, which was passionately reciprocated. The move appeared to seal the deal for The Bachelorette, who immediately whipped out a rose for the Gold Coast man. When she asked if he would accept the flower, Jake wasted no time, or breath on his answer. 'Most definitely,' he said eagerly. 'Will you accept this rose?' After one kiss, Georgia immediately reached for a rose to give to her date, who accepted with a certain 'most definitely' An emotional moment: Georgia and Jake bonded during their date over their mothers' battles with cancer Intimate: The pair wasted no time before jumping back in to another passionate kiss Blushing, Georgia responded: 'This could be the start of something really amazing'. This time, it was Georgia who leaned in to lock lips with the sales representative. The former journalist appeared delighted with her choice of date, and as they edged closer on the couch, she described herself as an 'excited schoolgirl'. 'I haven't clicked like this with someone so quickly in a long time,' she gushed. 'I like what we have.' A scary start! The date began with Jake and Georgia repelling 100 metres from a cable car to the forest floor of the Blue Mountains in NSW We made it! The relieved pair held each other after reaching solid ground Upon returning to the house, Jake was not interested in kissing and telling with the boys. However, he did show off his newly gained rose, to the excitement of the group. And despite the brunette hunk's reluctance to kiss and tell, he was able to offer up a short sentence on how he was feeling. No kiss and tell: Upon returning to the house, Jake was not interested in kissing and telling with the boys 'She's got me a bit speechless at the moment. That's for sure,' he said. 'Do any of us even have a chance now,' one contestant asked. 'Probably not,' joked Jake, with a cheeky smile on his face. She's one of the world's most famous fashionistas, having shot to fame in both fashion and films. But Emily Ratajkowski looked to be embracing yet another creative lifestyle as she channelled her inner-rock chick on Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles. Heading to the airport with her boyfriend Jeff Magid, the 25-year-old model looked more like a frontwoman in her quirky patched denim jacket, jeans and boots. Scroll down for video Wild style: Emily Ratajkowski looked to be embracing yet another creative lifestyle as she channelled her inner-rock chick on Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles The couple looked to be ready for a prolonged trip abroad as they both wheeled large suitcases out of a hotel to a waiting limo. But it seemed that Emily didn't mind people knowing their destination, as a big patch reading, 'Fashion Tour' was stitched about above the location of this month's fashion week city's. Apparently heading out on her own tour of Milan and Paris in the coming weeks, the model looked every inch the cool customer in her rocker ensemble. Doing denim: She teamed the quirky denim jacket with a simple low-neck black tee, skin-tight denim jeans and patent black cowboy boots She teamed the quirky denim jacket with a simple low-neck black tee, which she wore tucked in at the waist. Adding a pair of skin-tight dark denim jeans to the look, the model ensured her lithe legs were defined. And sticking to her rock 'n' roll theme, the We Are Your Friends star rounded her look off with a pair of patent black bcowboy boots. Fun in the sun: Following a sun-soaked getaway to Greece earlier this month, Emily briefly jetted back to LA Back with Mom: She used her return to LA to spend some quality time with her mother Kathleen Balgley Keeping her outfit practical for jetting off on a long-haul flight, Emily made sure she her look was faff-free, with the model accessorizing her look with a pair of shades and a leather hold-all. The model wore her long brown locks loose, and as a breeze kicked-up she found her tresses received some extra volume. Jeff, a musician, went for a casual and cookey look teaming a maroon cardigan with a grey tee, tan chinos, batter brown lace-up and a floppy hat. Following a sun-soaked getaway to Greece earlier this month, Emily briefly jetted back to LA for the Emmys where she stunned on the red carpet in a glamorous navy gown. China has a massive "tourism deficit" the difference between the money that tourists spend in China and the money that Chinese people spend abroad: $206B from June 2015-June 2016, up from $77B in 2013. The missing money is hard to explain, since China doesn't export that many tourists. But there's one explanation that fits the facts, according to Bloomberg: Chinese millionaires going abroad with "suitcases full of cash," which they convert to overseas real-estate, undeclared luxury goods, or just anonymous deposit accounts in offshore banks. Chinese corruption has hit surreal levels: for example, one civic official had so much cash in his apartment that the police who raided him were unable to count it with bill-counting machines. Instead, they weighed it by the ton and estimated its value by weight. The shift of Chinese demand for foreign goods and services to foreign property and bank-accounts is bad news for the global economy. Because China doesn't have a completely open financial account, some outflows would naturally be disguised as something else, he says. China has been grappling with outflow pressures since mid-2014, when it became clear the yuan's multi-year appreciation bet was over. Outflows peaked late in 2015, with companies fudging trade receipts to shovel money out, or buying overseas assets. That spurred intervention to support the currency and efforts to enforce restrictions on how much money Chinese people can move abroad. Explaining the gap in tourism spending, Setser said it looks like the Chinese data "is capturing something different from what it was intended to capture." Suitcases of Cash: China Travel Data Hint at Capital Outflow [Bloomberg] (via Naked Capitalism) Richie Strahan was quickly dubbed 'Australia's most hated man' and faced a backlash on social media after he chose single mother Alex Nation over Nikki Gogan in a shock finish to The Bachelor last week. And it seems the Gogglebox cast agreed with the sentiment, as they loudly voiced their own opinions during Thursday night's episode. Anastasia, known for not holding back, yelled at the rope access technician, who she emphatically dubbed a m****a, as he professed his love for 24-year-old Alex Nation. Scroll down for video 'Huge life mistake!' Anastasia lost her mind over the shock ending, which saw Richie Strahan choose single mother Alex Nation over fellow Perth resident Nikki Gogan 'Huge mistake. 'Like a huge life mistake!' she screamed, flailing her arms, Mocking the 31-year-old presenting his lady love with a ring, Anastasia leaned over to Faye on the next couch and pretended to offer her a ring too. 'You're the one that I want to spend the next six months with,' she said sarcastically to her friend. But Ansatasia and Faye weren't the only ones to show their disdain for the coupling and the diamond ring. Taking it six months at a time: The outspoken Greek woman couldn't resist a last dig at Bachelor Richie, who she described as a m****a. When he pulled out a ring, so did she - placing it on her friend Faye's hand and promising to spend the 'next six months' together Adam also produced a gift for Symon - though it was more practical than a ring. To Symon's extreme relief, he was offered a shopping bag containing toilet paper. 'Oh! Thank god,' he exclaimed. 'I ran out yesterday. It was horrible.' Devastated: Symon (left) fell to the floor as Nikki climbed out of the limo first, indicating she would not win the show or Bachelor Richie's heart All hope is lost: Symon was not able to even feign happiness for Alex and Richie during The Bachelor's final show Gift time! Adam also produced a gift for Symon - though it was more practical than a ring Ahead of the announcement, most of the Gogglebox cast put their money on Perth woman Nikki, and commiserated Alex in advance. Symon, who predicted the single mother would be 'rejected in front of the whole country' then fell off his seat as Nikki stepped out of the first car. Clearly deeply invested in the show's outcome, he appeared morose as he poured his heart out to his housemate Adam. 'I really want to be happy, like, for them both,' he explained as he wept for Nikki, before adding: 'But I'm not.' Disdain: Mick and his wife Di watched the show with disdain, and appeared to have low opinions of the final couple Mick seemed to be Team Alex, even if it was for the wrong reasons. 'They're well suited to each other - she's a bit of an airhead,' Mick said as the single mother appeared on screen giggling. Nothing about the show's finale could please Organisational Development Manager Wayne, who wasn't even taken with the romantic location. 'I used to go there for school vacations like 25 years ago,' he groaned. Richie Strahan's decision was met with the vitriol of the Australian public, who wasted no time in sharing their opinion through social media, including the comment section of the new couple's personal posts. With a successful career as a supermodel, Rosie Huntington-Whitely likely spends more time being in heels than out of them. So it came as no surprise that when the stunner arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, she opted to blend her sporty attire with stylish footwear. The British beauty, 29, made her way through the terminal in a black letterman-style jacket with striped sweatpants, which she teamed with vertiginous strappy heels. Scroll down for video Just touched down in Tinsel Town: Rose Huntington-Whitely was spotted arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday Rosie had jetted in from the UK, where she she was seen enjoying a night on the town for London Fashion Week the previous evening. She was seen making her way into the popular Soho Hotel as she showed off a considerable amount of leg in a short floral dress. For her journey home, the runway favourite donned a comfy pair of open toe sandals and a pair of large shades, wearing her blonde locks loose. Sports luxe: The star stepped out in a black letterman-style jacket over a loose black T-shirt Bold: The model wore loose-fitting sweatpants, which featured bold stripes along the sides What a diamond! Her engagement ring from fiance Jason Statham was on prominent display Rosie appeared to be travelling light, toting a large leather handbag over one arm. The star seems to be skipping Milan Fashion Week this season, instead jetting over to the US. The catwalk queen landed in fifth place on Forbes' 2016 list of the world's highest-paid models, earning $9 million in the past year. No FOMO: The 29-year-old beauty appears to be skipping Milan Fashion Week this season Ear we go: Rosie rocked a pair of large gold hoop earrings, giving her look some extra sparkle Earlier this week, Rosie opened up about her relationship with actor Jason Statham, who proposed in January with a five-carat Neil Lane diamond ring. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar Australia, she said: 'I have an amazing relationship with my partner. He's by far the greatest influence in my life.' The couple have been dating for six years and live together in Beverly Hills. Quick change: Earlier in the day, Rosie was rocking the same stripe embellished sweatpants, but with more low-key, sporty accessories as she prepared to jet out of London 'Peace out London': Rosie posed for a laid back snapshot before leaving her London hotel The tension between The Bachelorette's Sam Johnston and Rhys Chilton was obvious to all in the mansion, except Rhys himself. And things hit boiling point during Thursday night's episode as the pair vied for Georgia Love's time and attention during the cocktail party. Sam became particularly agitated after Rhys interrupted his chat with the 28-year-old former journalist, leaving the electrician to mock the entrepreneur. Scroll down for video 'I think he lives in his own world': Frustrated Sam Johnston took his rivalry with Rhys Chilton to the next level during Thursday night's The Bachelorette cocktail party, imitating the entrepreneur and mocking him to the other Bachelors Furious, Sam told the camera: 'The biggest peanut on this set came in and asked, "Oh, hey... Hey, Georgia, can I please have some... '"Can I please... Can I please cut your grass?",' he said imitating Rhys. 'I think he lives in his own world,' the 27-year-old added with frustration. 'Like, he just goes to work, does whatever he wants, comes home, his mum breastfeeds him and then he goes to bed.' Unawares: While the rivalry has been brewing between the pair since the beginning, Rhys appeared unaware of Sam's feelings But much to his displeasure, Rhys did get to spend alone time with The Bachelorette, which he used to read her a poem. 'Now, I'm not a journalist or anything, I'm not a writer, so you'll have to forgive me if this is sub-par,' the 29-year-old began. 'Lights, cameras, the whole production. The night we met was lacking seduction. 'The night we met was lacking seduction': Rhys read Georgia a poem on Thursday's episode 'Not on your end, you were more than fine. If we had no spark, the blame was all mine. 'What we really need is a fun single date. I'll be myself, I won't compete, like a gentleman. Till then, I'll wait.' And it seems it made quite an impression on Georgia. 'Cutting my grass': Sam was fuming after his alone time with Georgia was cut short Much to Sam's disgust, Rhys was one of the first Bachelors to receive a rose during the episode's ceremony. 'There's no way I'm going home before Rhys,' Sam lamented. 'Too early for me to go home. I haven't shown my personality, what I am, who I am. I'd be pretty upset, I think.' She is the granddaughter of style icon Diana Vreeland, who was penned the 'Empress of Fashion' in her day. But Caroline Vreeland may not have quite followed in the footsteps of her fashionable relative as she headed to the FROW of the Max Mara catwalk at Milan Fashion Week on Thursday. The 28-year-old American model left little to the imagination at the show in a racy mesh top and bra combination, showing off perhaps too much of her plentiful cleavage. Scroll down for video Revealing: Caroline Vreeland, 28, left little to the imagination at the show in a racy mesh outfit as she headed to the FROW of the Max Mara catwalk at Milan Fashion Week on Thursday The rock goddess was not afraid to push the fashion boundaries in the raunchy ensemble, which openly displayed her ample breasts through a thin mesh bra and an equally revealing fishnet T-shirt. Not holding back in the rest of the outfit, the musician paired it with saucy high-shine hot pants, which cinched in at her waist and clung alluringly to her legs. Attempting to cover up some of her modesty, the blonde layered a floor-length shiny coat over the top, which featured jazzy black and white lining. All eyes on her: Not holding back in the rest of the outfit, the musician paired it with saucy high-shine hot pants, which cinched in at her waist and clung alluringly to her legs Matching her in both style and risque nature Caroline also added a pair of sexy fishnet tights, to amp up the sex appeal of the look even further. Finishing off her daring outfit were a pair of thigh-high velvet boots, enhancing her long, slender pins and adding a pop of colour with their vibrant blue hue. Sipping on an espresso cup, the fashionable female smouldered for the cameras in the seductive look, before taking her place on the FROW alongside style queen Olivia Palermo. What a pair: The fashionable female smouldered for the cameras in the seductive look, before taking her place on the FROW alongside style queen Olivia Palermo The 30-year-old socialite opted for a very different look, maintaining her trademark classy style in a pair of chic rust trousers, navy knitwear and soft neck scarf. Leaving her hair in loose, golden waves, the wife of model Johannes Huebl looked glamorous and gorgeous as she headed to highly anticipated Max Mara SS17 collection in Milan. The designs, which mixed monochrome colours with trendy jungle and tropical prints, were modelled by supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid, drawing fashion's elite to the audience. Bold: Finishing off her daring outfit were a pair of thigh-high velvet boots, enhancing her long, slender pins and adding a pop of colour with their vibrant blue colour Professionals: The Max Mara SS17 showcase was a high-profile affair, with supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid leading the pack on the runway It is no wonder that Caroline bagged an invite to the elite event, as she has fashion royalty in her blood. Her grandmother Diana was a famous fashion editor known for her work on US Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. The Paris-born columnist, who died in 1989, called Coco Chanel, Wallis Simpson, Andy Warhol and Jack Nicholson her friends. Classically chic: The 30-year-old socialite opted for a very different look, maintaining her trademark classy style in a pair of chic rust trousers, navy knitwear and soft neck scarf Speaking to W magazine previously, Caroline recently explained her fashion legacy. 'In my early 20s,' she said. 'I really wanted to be seen for who I was, and not this blonde girl with big boobs and a family legacy.' And on her grandmother, she added: 'She stood for being yourself and embracing your flaws, making them what's sexy and interesting about you. 'My music is an expression of everything that makes me menot just the pretty parts.' Bake Off fans have been left heartbroken after the show has moved to Channel 4, with Mary Berry and Mel and Sue all leaving the programme. But talking on This Morning on Thursday, Phillip Schofield revealed he's over the moon that the show won't be on the BBC anymore because it clashes with one of his programmes. He said: 'How can such a cock-up happen? It's such a juggernaut. I know because I'm opposite it with Mr And Mrs. I'm glad it's gone to Channel 4 [laughs]. Scroll down for video 'I'm glad': Phillip Schofield said on This Morning on Thursday that he's pleased that Bake Off is moving to Channel 4 as it is in direct competition with his ITV show Mr And Mrs All change: His words came as it was announced that Mary Berry is leaving the show out of loyalty to the BBC and Paul Hollywood is planning on remaining 'You think, how could you possibly screw this up?' He added: 'Two thirds of people say they disagree with Paul staying. It's his choice though.' Rylan chimed in: 'It is his choice. You've got to look after your career and that is his main job. He does it in America without Mary.' He said: 'How can such a cock-up happen? It's such a juggernaut. I know because it's right across the hall from me. I'm glad it's gone to Channel 4' Paul, 50, revealed he would be staying on the show in a statement earlier on Thursday. He said: 'I am delighted that I will be continuing as a judge when Bake Off moves to Channel 4. 'I want to thank the BBC and Mel and Sue for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding." Hollywood said that he could not turn his back on Bake Off. Rylan added: 'It is his choice. You've got to look after your career and that is his main job. He does it in America without Mary' 'Since I was a kid, baking has been part of my life. The seven series inside the tent have created some great memories. Best of all, I have felt so pleased to experience other people getting the baking bug, just as I did when my dad helped me make my first loaf,' he said. 'The Great British Bake Off has brought baking to the nation and we've seen people from all walks of life and backgrounds experience the highs and lows of competition, and more importantly helping each other. 'It's been a huge part of my life in the past few years and I just couldn't turn my back on all that - the bakers themselves, the bakes, the team that makes it, and of course the tent, the bunting, and who could forget ... the squirrels. Phillip said: 'Two thirds of people say they disagree with Paul staying. It's his choice though.' 'So I am delighted that I will be continuing as a judge when Bake Off moves to Channel 4. 'I want to thank the BBC and Mel and Sue for making my time in the tent great fun and really rewarding.' Hollywood did not mention Berry in his statement, which came minutes after she revealed she would remain with the corporation, saying the 'decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them'. The successful model and television presenter has been happily married for quite some time. But it seems Annalise Braakensiek, 43, has left her husband Danny Goldberg at home a few times this week as she spends time with a new male friend. Alessandro Zarino, 25, appears to have recently moved to Sydney from Italy and the model pair have formed a close friendship. Scroll down for video Who's this? Annalise Braakensiek arrived at the Twinings Design Showcase with her new friend, Italian model Alessandro Zarino, in Sydney on Thursday On Monday, the blonde beauty posted a picture to her Instagram of herself and Alessandro jumping for joy whilst completing the picturesque walk from Bondi to Clovelly. She captioned the image, shared with her 34,000 followers: 'Power walks in paradise - having so much fun showing my friend around Sydney.' 'Welcome to your new home.' Jumping for joy! The pair completed the Bondi to Clovelly walk through the Sydney beaches on Monday, and the 43-year-old model looked delighted to show her friend around his new home Taking in the surroundings: Alessandro appears to have recently moved to Australia from his native Italy The pair looked delighted to be in each other's company, and earlier photos had emerged of the two strolling close together through the beachside suburb. On Thursday, Alessandro and Annalise turned heads at the Twinings Design Showcase in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Dressed in all black, the former Maxim model showed off her enviable figure in a tight black midi dress, her toned legs emphasised with heeled ankle boots. Breathtaking: The pair appeared to be deep in conversation as they examined artwork produced by the former Maxim model to raise money for charity Her Italian companion rocked a monochrome look in tight black jeans, a white t-shirt partially tucked in, and a black bomber jacket which he left open. The model smouldered into the camera as the pair initially arrived, with a small hint of stubble framing his defined jaw. Later, the pair appeared to be deep in discussion as Alessandro examined the artwork his friend created to raise money for her chosen charity. Spoiler alert, this host did not get himself a part in the just released film. James Corden tried his best to land a role in Bridget Jones's Baby 'auditioning' to play opposite Renee Renee Zellweger on his show. The 39-year-old host of The Late Late Show, pulled out all the stops to impress the trilogy's star and her producer in the skit on Wednesday night. Scroll down for video Trying his hand: James Corden tried his best to land a role in Bridget Jones's Baby 'auditioning' to play opposite Renee Renee Zellweger on his show Did his best: The 39-year-old host of The Late Late Show, pulled out all the stops to impress the trilogy's star and her producer in the skit on Wednesday night James claimed to be a big fan of the films so says he was very excited to audition. Awkward greeting Renee aka Bridget Jones herself, the host says: 'This is so exciting. Thank you so much for the opportunity to audition for Bridget Jones's Baby. Mind blown. 'I love all of the films. I watch them all the time. My wife's like,''Turn it off!'' and I'm like, ''No, I'll watch what I want!''' James is told he is getting his shot as Hugh Grant is not in this film they are looking to cast 'a new charismatic British lead' Bug fan: Awkward greeting Renee aka Bridget Jones herself, James claimed to be a big fan of the films so says he was very excited to audition Can't believe it: The host says, 'This is so exciting. Thank you so much for the opportunity to audition for Bridget Jones's Baby. Mind blown' Deciding to improvise the script, James does his best Hugh impression to respond to the news that Bridget is pregnant. 'Oh well, bugger me, Bridget,' he kicks off the audition. When asked why he is speaking like that, James says: 'I'm reacting the way Hugh Grant would react.' 'Oh well, bugger me, Bridget': Deciding to improvise the script, James does his best Hugh Grant impression to respond to the news that Bridget is pregnant Moving on: Renee is not convinced, 'If we wanted Hugh Grant we would have cast him' Not what they were thinking: Renee and her producer remind the host they are looking for a normal British guy, but James then launches into a Downton Abby-inspired response Renee is not convinced: 'If we wanted Hugh Grant we would have cast him.' Renee and her producer remind the host they are looking for a normal British guy, but James then launches into a Downton Abby-inspired response. Still not working, James takes a minute to himself but comes back to to do a host of British characters - in full costume. Not giving up: Doing his best chimney sweep from Mary Poppins, he yells, 'Blimey, Bridget Jones, I don't believe me ears,' as he does a jig' Detective work: He then decides to dress and speak like Sherlock Holmes, 'I've eliminated the impossible and what remains highly improbable is that this baby belongs to another man' Not so elementary: When Renee is confused why there would be Sherlock Holmes in the film, James tries again - as Harry potter Doing his best chimney sweep from Mary Poppins, he yells, 'Blimey, Bridget Jones, I don't believe me ears,' as he does a jig. He then decides to dress and speak like Sherlock Holmes: 'I've eliminated the impossible and what remains highly improbable is that this baby belongs to another man.' When Renee is confused why there would be Sherlock Holmes in the film, James tries again - as Harry potter. No magic here: He does not even get a chance to get his baby spell out before Renee says no Royal pain: The actress only gets more horrified as the comedian emerges as the Queen - complete with real corgi Do I make you... James then tires to be Austin Powers but quickly gives up, 'Even I'm not sure about this one But he does not even get a chance to get his baby spell out before Renee says no. She only gets more horrified as the comedian emerges as the Queen - complete with real corgi. James then tires to be Austin Powers but quickly gives up: 'Even I'm not sure about this one. You shall not pass: Not done yet he morphs onto Gandolf the Grey, before Renee pulls the plug Going in a different direction: All the British characters prompt Renee to suggest they try an American character That's fortunate: While James offers to do an accent, Patrick Dempsey turns up Not done yet he morphs onto Gandolf the Grey, before Renee pulls the plug. All the British characters prompt Renee to suggest they try an American, but while James offers to do an accent, Patrick Dempsey turns up. 'Oh come on,' James yells before storming off set. Out of his league: As soon as the Grey's Anatomy actor - who is actually in Bridget Jones's Baby - arrives James knows he is in trouble And he is out: 'Oh come on,' James yells before storming off set wrapping up with skit An intimate crowd came together at Nobu Malibu on Tuesday 20th September in celebration of Patrick Dempseys Haute Living Los Angeles cover for the September/October issue. Dempsey or Dr. Derek McDreamy, as many may know him, was the star of Haute Living LAs most recent issue and was without a doubt, the star of the night on Tuesday. Dempseys favorite watch brand, TAG Heuer, partnered in the affair to put together a very special evening for him. His smouldering shirtless scenes have won him a legion of besotted female fans. But Poldark's Aidan Turner, 33, kept his shirt firmly on as he got to work shooting the upcoming third series of the BBC period drama at the Botallack Mine in Cornwall on Thursday. The Irish actor was joined by his co-star Eleanor Tomlinson, who plays his wife Demelza, and a host of extras for the day's scenes. Scroll down for video Hard at work: Poldark's Aidan Turner, 33, kept his shirt firmly on as he got to work shooting the upcoming third series of the BBC period drama at the Botallack Mine in Cornwall on Thursday The curly-haired hunk was suited and booted in his character's 18th century attire as he prepared for his upcoming scene. Keeping to a neutral palette of muddy brown, Aidan slipped into a pair of brown slacks and matching blazer as he casually waited for the shot to be set up. Styling his long curly dark locks loose, the TV star looked at ease as he soaked up the atmosphere while filming. Eleanor's burgundy dress popped against the sprawling green hills of Cornwall as she stood alongside Aidan. Talented twosome: The Irish actor was joined by his co-star Eleanor Tomlinson, who plays his wife Demelza, and a host of extras for the day's scenes And... action! The curly-haired hunk was suited and booted in his character's 18th century attire as he prepared for his upcoming scene The British actress, 24, wrapped a meek grey shawl over her shoulders as her long flame-haired locks cascaded down her back in a soft curl. Aidan's fully clothed appearance comes after he previously revealed he doesn't feel 'objectified' over his shirtless scenes in the drama series. Speaking to The Times, he said: 'I don't feel objectified, it's funny! It's just a couple of people admiring your body. It's like doing any other scene. He added: 'It's the same as me galloping on a horse on a beach.' Hair-raisingly good: Styling his long curly dark locks loose, the TV star looked at ease as he soaked up the atmosphere while filming Meanwhile, 24-year-old Eleanor's burgundy dress popped against the sprawling green hills of Cornwall as she stood alongside Aidan Fully clothed: Aidan's fully clothed appearance comes after he previously revealed he doesn't feel 'objectified' over his shirtless scenes in the drama series. And the the famous torso scene may never have happened if it wasn't for the unusually hot weather at the time. He told Radio Times magazine: 'It was so hot that day, and we had a whole field to do so I thought, well, he wouldn't be in a shirt It's so thick I can't even move in it. 'I'd be sweating straight away. I was thinking he'd leave the shirt have maybe a towel or something, dry himself off and put a drier shirt on afterwards. 'So I just took it off, not thinking it would cause a stir.' Winning fans! Aidan admitted he didn't 'feel objectified' when he had to go shirtless for the role of Ross Poldark Rolling landscape: Aidan was busy filming the new series of Poldark He's been spotted spending time with his female friend three times over the past four days alone. And Rocco Ritchie, 16, looked thrilled to be back in the company of his pal once again as they stepped out in London to grab a coffee on Thursday. The son of Guy Ritchie and Madonna, rocked a grunge-inspired ensemble, including a sporty 90s-style red and navy Tommy Hilfiger jumper. Scroll down for video Caffeine fix: Rocco Ritchie, 16, looked thrilled to be back in the company of his female pal once again as they stepped out in London to grab a coffee on Thursday Layering his knitwear over a colourful mixed print shirt, Rocco draped his black backpack over his shoulders as he smiled in the company of his friend. Teaming his low-key look with a pair of khaki baggy trousers, the teen strolled the capital's streets in simple black trainers. Sporting a closely-shaven head, Rocco appeared in high spirits as he strolled along with a huge smile on his face. Cool dude: The son of Guy Ritchie and Madonna, rocked a grunge-inspired ensemble, including a sporty 90s-style red and navy Tommy Hilfiger jumper Close friends: Layering his knitwear over a colourful mixed print shirt, Rocco draped his black backpack over his shoulders as he smiled in the company of his friend Rocco's female friend dressed in a pair of eye-catching neon orange silk parachute pants and an oversized navy hoodie. Throwing a complementing navy backpack over her shoulder, she swept her brunette tresses into a high ponytail and wore Converse trainers on her feet. On Tuesday, Rocco was joined by his gal pal and his friend Brooklyn Beckham, 17 - the son of David, 41, and Victoria, 42 - in Primrose Hill. The teen had previously been seen at LouLou's private members club for the LOVE magazine and Marc Jacobs London Fashion Week party on Monday night. Low-key: Teaming his low-key look with a pair of khaki baggy trousers, the teen strolled the capital's streets in simple black trainers Rocco's latest outing in the capital comes just weeks after his father Guy and mother Madonna settled a protracted and fraught battle for custody of the teen. Earlier this month, the Snatch director, 48, and the pop star, 58, agreed that their son - the only genetic child from their eight-year union - would reside in London with Guy and his second wife, model Jacqui Ainsley, 34. The exes had been involved in a protracted battle since December 2015 as to where Rocco should live, when the teen abandoned his mother's Rebel Hearts world tour to stay with his father. Speaking outside the court in New York where a hearing was due to take place on September 7, Guy's lawyer, Peter Bronstein, announced the teenager would continue to live with his father in London. Chilling out: Sporting a closely- shaven head, Rocco appeared in high spirits as he strolled along the pavement with a smile on his face Trendy teen: Rocco's female friend dressed in a pair of eye-catching neon orange silk parachute pants and an oversized navy hoodie According to Page Six, Bronstein said: 'The case is settled and everyone agrees that Roccos needs changed and hes going to be living with dad. 'Everyones agreed to that and theres no further need for any kind of a court case.' Court spokesman Lucian Chalfen confirmed Madonna and Guy had reached a settlement, which was filed the previous day on September 6. At the time of the announcement Madonna's attorney declined to comment on the matter. Beaming: Rocco's latest outing in the capital comes just weeks after his father Guy Ritchie and mother Madonna settled a protracted and fraught battle for custody of the teen Close: On Tuesday, Rocco was joined by his gal pal in Primrose Hill A-list event: The teen had previously been seen at LouLou's private members club for the LOVE magazine and Marc Jacobs London Fashion Week party on Monday night Court documents obtained by TMZ claimed the exes were scheduled to attend another hearing on Wednesday but did indeed resolve their differences 'hours before' the hearing. Rocco, who will regularly see his mother - who is mainly based in New York - will now be a permanent fixture in London; residing with Guy and Jacqui's young family. The Sherlock Holmes director and the model have three children: two boys, Rafael, five, and Levi, two, and daughter Rivka, three. She's the business-savvy Aussie model, who always seems to be busy working. But Jennifer Hawkins took time out to put her feet up, literally, in between walking the runway at the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival on Thursday. Dressed in black skinny jeans and a matching leather jacket, Myer ambassador Jennifer, 32, looked every inch the glamour model as she sipped coffee on a cozy couch. Chic: Jennifer Hawkins took time out to put her feet up, literally, in between walking the runway at the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival on Thursday She paired the look with unique fluffy heels, while opting to wear her straightened blonde locks loosely and neatly parted at the centre. Her makeup was minimal and flawlessly applied, which gave her a natural but glamorous look. The statuesque beauty beamed for the camera, as she appeared thrilled to be taking a break from her hectic schedule. Busy lady! The former Miss Universe Australia is hot off the heels of the Myer Spring Summer launch, where she led models on the runway last month (Pictured at Optic White Stakes Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday) 'Little coffee & tea break with my team. Music UP,' she captioned the image. The former Miss Universe Australia is hot off the heels of the Myer Spring Summer launch last month, where she led models on the runway to showcase the department store's seasonal fashions. She is also currently busy promoting Australia's Next Top Model, on which she is the lead judge. Juggling multiple gigs: The Myer ambassador is also currently busy promoting Australia's Next Top Model, on which she is the lead judge The New South Wales-native will soon mark 10 years as the face Myer and last month, she signed on for another two years. 'It's such an amazing feeling that you represent that brand and you embody it in your every day life. So that was an amazing feeling to actually hit 10 years and then to sign up for another two,' she said. As Jennifer's career continues to flourish, she recently shared her desire to one day start a family with her husband of three years Jake Wall. In demand: The New South Wales-native will soon mark 10 years as the face Myer and last month, she signed on for another two years Ready for the next chapter: As Jennifer's career continues to flourish, she recently shared her desire to one day start a family with her husband of three years Jake Wall 'I'm such a family person, so hopefully I will have children one day - but there's no time frame,' she told TV week. The couple, who wed in Bali in 2013, launched their own brand of tequila, Sesion, which was four years in the making, earlier this year. They're also in the process of building a $6 million home in Newport although the entrepreneur confirmed they have no immediate plans to start a family. The sign in front of Treats Family Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor in Lonsdale, Minnesota advertises its tasty food and also says "Muslims get out." Owner Dan Ruedinger says he means Muslims "extremists" but his sign wasn't big enough to add that part. Folks are flocking to Treats' Facebook page to let Ruedinger know what they think. Via The Independent: Protesters of different faiths gathered by the Treats Family Restaurant with banners that read: "Love trumps hate" and attempted to pull down the letters from the board, which also advertised food and ice cream. Owner Dan Ruedinger in Lonsdale, Minnesota, told Fox News: "I didn't want to put 'terrorists' on the board. So we were going to put 'Muslim extremists', but we didn't have room on the board." With her leg-flashing wardrobe choices having caused quite a stir during the BBC's broadcast of the Rio Olympics, all eyes still remain on what she chooses to wear. And Helen Skelton, 33, stayed true to form on Thursday afternoon, when she was spotted BBC Radio One's London studios wearing a flattering red minidress. The blonde beauty teamed her patterned frock of choice with a pair of suede thigh-high boots, which tightly hugged her shapely, tanned legs. Scroll down for video Day out: Helen Skelton was spotted heading into BBC Radio One's London studios on Thursday Her golden tresses sat in soft, beachy waves as she made her way into the studio to discuss the controversy around the clothes she wore during last month's Olympics. Earlier in the day, she joked that her thighs are like 'uncooked Cumberland sausages left on the sideboard'. The married mother-of-one added in a TV interview that if she was intentionally flashing some of my body to the nation it would not be my thighs. She told ITVs Lorraine: I am a mummy and my life is about my son - so I crawl around the playground in shorts and a vest and flip flops. Stunning: The BBC presenter wowed in a patterned red minidress with thigh-high boots Defending her dresses: Earlier in the day, she displayed a more conservative style as she arrived at ITV Studios in London for her interview with Lorraine Kelly Looking at her legs: Helen told host Lorraine Kelly on ITV's Lorraine that if she was intentionally flashing some of my body to the nation it would not be my thighs It's heartbreaking leaving him for 20 days but big gig Olympics came along. I thought "Do you know what, I'm going to go. I'm going to put my best foot forward, I'm going to make the most of the opportunity to wear nice dresses and wear heels". And it became a bit of a laugh in the office because they kept saying "Why are you wearing those heels"? And I said "Because I live in flip flops, I can walk around in heels, I'm going to enjoy myself and wear outfits that I felt good in that made me feel good". In what was her first interview since her much-praised work at Rio 2016, she added: They kept saying to me about being too saucy - I swear to God, Lorraine, if I was intentionally flashing some of my body to the nation it would not be my thighs. Uncooked Cumberland sausages left on the sideboard. Outfits: Helen said she spends plenty of her time with her son in shorts, a vest and flip flops - and decided to make the most of the opportunity to wear nice dresses and heels in Rio Explanation: She caused a stir with her risque fashion choices showing off her legs when she presented swimming events at the Rio Olympics last month Posing up: Helen appeared on Lorraine in her first TV interview since her presenting at Rio Helen added how the first she heard about the interest in her dresses was when her brother told her how her father Richard would be discussing it on TV. She told host Lorraine Kelly: A dairy farmer talking about dresses, God bless him. The TV personality was away from her family for three weeks from late July, having jetted off to Rio de Janeiro with BBC Sport to present events from the Olympic pool. Alongside retired swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster, the former Blue Peter presenter was kept busy hosting the swimming, diving and water polo. However she caused something of stir after wearing a short navy dress, which many viewers pointed out offered more than a glimpse of her long legs. Interview: The blonde beauty told Lorraine how the first she heard about the interest in her dresses was when her brother told her how her father Richard would be discussing it on TV Looking behind: Helen, pictured arriving at ITV Studios, is a married mother-of-one Helen followed up the look with some other daring numbers, and she is understood to now have a new prime time BBC series in the pipeline. Her outfits were a surprising change of image for someone who had been known primarily as a wholesome presenter of children's programmes and Countryfile. And it later emerged she had received help from celebrity stylist Cobbie Yates, who hand-picked a selection of dresses for her to unveil throughout the Olympics. Skelton's parents laughed off the attention surrounding their daughter's outfits, with her mother asking whether viewers thought she would be better off in a tracksuit. Good spirits: Helen's parents had laughed off the attention surrounding their daughter's outfits, with her mother asking whether viewers thought she would be better off in a tracksuit Wardrobe decisions: She caused something of stir after wearing a short navy dress (left), which many viewers pointed out offered more than a glimpse of her long legs The mother of one-year-old Ernie shot to fame presenting Blue Peter in 2008, and has taken on a number of extreme challenges and expeditions for charity. As well as running a 78-mile distance in Namibia, she has kayaked the length of the Amazon river and was the first person to reach the South Pole on a bicycle. Helen began dating rugby player Richie Myler back in 2011, with the couple tying the knot two years later and giving birth to Ernie in June 2015. The family subsequently moved to France, after Richie transferred from the Warrington Wolves to the Catalan Dragons, based in Perpignan in the Pyrenees. That blue dress: Alongside swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster (both left), the former Blue Peter presenter was kept busy hosting the swimming, diving and water polo Just days before she was faced with legal action over plagiarism claims And Hailey Baldwin appeared to be lost in her woes as she stepped out in a cutting-edge ensemble during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday. The 19-year-old daughter of famed actor Stephen showed off her sensational physique in a slinky head-to-toe black look while pairing the ensemble with a bold blue jacket. Scroll down for video Blue beauty: Hailey Baldwin appeared to be lost in her woes as she stepped out in a cutting-edge ensemble during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday Having just jetted out of London Fashion Week, Hailey looked prepared to take on Italy's hottest date in the sartorial calendar. She flashed her endless legs in eye-wateringly tight jeans which she tucked into heavy ankle boots - no doubt heating her up in the searing Mediterranean sun. While she wore a crew-neck black T-shirt beneath, her cobalt blue biker jacket was the staple to the bold ensemble. Hailey appeared to be delving into Milan's stores as she headed into a local branch of Dolce And Gabbana before leaving in a bizarre pair of trainers. Legs eleven! The 19-year-old daughter of famed actor Stephen showed off her sensational physique in a slinky head-to-toe black look while pairing the ensemble with a bold blue jacket Hitting the hot dates: Having just jetted out of London Fashion Week, Hailey looked prepared to take on Italy's hottest date in the sartorial calendar The finishing touch was her oversized leather rucksack which she draped off one shoulder. She shielded her naturally stunning complexion with a pair of huge oversized white sunglasses with red hearts adorned on the rim. The blonde beauty scraped her hair into a high bun although she later pulled her locks into a tight centre parting with a chignon at the nape of neck. Hailey has reportedly been accused of plagiarism, as she faces legal action after posting a quote by author Melissa Molomo, from her book 'Say What's Real' on Instagram without attributing the words to the writer. Troubles: Hailey has reportedly been accused of plagiarism, as she faces legal action after posting a quote by author Melissa Molomo, from her book 'Say What's Real' on Instagram without attributing the words to the writer Rucksack: The finishing touch was her oversized leather rucksack which she draped off one shoulder The text, which has since been deleted, went on to be published in several publications including Teen Vogue magazine and Us Weekly after it was assumed it was a dig at pop star Justin Bieber - who she was previously rumoured to be dating - following his feud last month with his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez. The quote read: 'We've all had our fair share of things we've done, both good and bad. What makes the present so powerful is when we take complete responsibility for our actions, we allow ourselves self-growth. 'Misplacing the blame onto someone else isn't going to get you to the next stage in life, so try not to manipulate a situation to make yourself look better.' Sunnies: She shielded her naturally stunning complexion with a pair of huge oversized white sunglasses with red hearts adorned on the rim Hefty fee: Hailey could reportedly be liable to pay the author damages of up to $150,000 According to documents obtained by the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column, Melissa has sent a cease and desist letter to Hailey, which means if she fails to take action the author has a right to sue her unless she apologises and refrains from copying her work. The letter, written by Melissa's attorney, Z. Zoltan Stein, reads: 'In copying and using Ms. Molomo's work without permission, you have taken credit and caused confusion as to whom the original author of this work is.' Hailey could reportedly be liable to pay the author damages of up to $150,000. The document also states that the blonde beauty should 'make a social media post apologising for stealing Ms. Molomo's content and fraudulently passing it off as your own.' Fans of TOWIE have seen their love blossom since they first struck up a romance on the show in 2014. And it seems that while the Georgia Kousoulou is happier than ever with Tommy Mallet the couple are in no 'rush' to dive into marriage - although it is on the horizon. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the 25-year-old reality star explained that moving into their new home has allowed the two love-birds to just enjoy being together. Scroll down for video 'He's going to propose soon... but I'd hate to rush it': Georgia Kousoulou is happier than ever with Tommy Mallet but the couple are in no 'rush' to marry - though it is on the horizon Sitting down for a chat following the launch of her ByGeorgiaK clothing range, the ITVBe favourite revealed that Tommy and herself are 'taking in things' before making any plans. 'I think he is going to propose soon, but I think right now we love being together - and having moved in were just taking it all in.' And thinking about their future together, she made it clear that she wanted marriage to come about in a natural manner. 'I would HATE to rush things,' she explained, adding: 'I would hate him to feel that he needs to put a ring on my finger. I really just want it to happen naturally.' But now so more than ever the couple are happier than ever, having moved into a place of their own in Essex. 'Its really amazing': Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the 25-year-old reality star explained that moving into their new home has allowed the two love-birds to just enjoy being together 'Weve moved in and were all settled. Its really amazing, Im learning stuff all the time,' Georgia excitedly said of her new life at home with Tommy. Though she added she's changed since the loved-up couple have ensconced themselves in their new nest. 'I havent cooked yet, but Ive noticed a change in myself,' giggled the star. 'I would usually go clothes shopping before, but now I find myself going mad for furniture! 'Thats not normal! Im absolutely out of control, they havent given me enough space for everything I've bought.' Crazy in love: Speaking of their domestic bliss, Georgia said: 'I think he is going to propose soon, but I think right now we love being together - and having moved in were just taking it in' Their own little castle: Speaking about their new home, she said: 'Oh my God, it's so nice. Its almost like a little getaway, you can just sit down on your settee and be at peace' And despite the drama that continually dogs the cast of TOWIE, it seems that nothing can disrupt the couple's happiness as their home is now their own retreat. Gushing about the couple's life at home together, she exclaimed: 'Oh my God, it's so nice. Its almost like a little getaway, you can just sit down on your settee and be at peace. Its really nice.' Though she said she has been practicing for when the couple tie the knot, saying she's 'learning to be a good wife'. 'Im just learning to be a good housewife, and I think Ive taken to it really,' Georgia said, before laughing at her own houseproud compulsions. 'Ive noticed a change in myself': Speaking about her house-proud nature, the blonde beaut revealed she's 'learning to be a good housewife' 'I take my hats off to them, because I know how tough it is': Talking about the struggles of being a couple on TOWIE, Georgia commended her co-stars Pete Wicks and Megan Mckenna 'Ive even started cleaning Im literally doing everything, every day,' she giggled in disbelief. 'I just cant stand mess.' But with the cast from TOWIE flying off to film the latest series 19 of the show over the next few weeks, Georgia is certain that the couple won't let any drama come between them. 'I just couldnt have it,' she replies when quizzed about the notorious bust-ups that the other couples have had on-screen. But it seems she thinks one other couple have got it in them to stay the course, as she explained Pete Wicks and Megan McKenna have followed her and Tommy's example and have stuck together. 'Do you know what I think theyve done really, really well,' she said of her loved-up co-stars. 'It is hard [being a couple on the show]. Their secret: She said of her and her beau: 'Me and Tom have never had any of that, maybe when we first got together, but I think that weve dealt with it so well that we cant be broke' 'Its so hard being on a really show and being in a relationship. I take my hats off to them, because I know how tough it is.' Comparing her own experience being in a relationship on TV to theirs, she added: 'Luckily me and Tom have never had any of that, maybe when we first got together, but I think that weve dealt with everything so well that we cant be broke. 'Theyve kind of done the same thing youve got to show youre strong.' But Georgia isn't content to just split her time between the show and home, as the multi-talented businesswoman has just added another string to her bow. Releasing her ByGeorgiaK collection on Tuesday night, the Essex beauty has set her sights on creating a truly personal brand that she can be proud of. 'I wanted an opportunity where I could sit down with a team and design it': Releasing her ByGeorgiaK collection this week, the Essex beauty wants to create a truly personal brand 'I would really love to do that. You never know': Georgia hopes to one day have her own time to shine at Fashion Week - saying that she didn't imagine she'd releasing ByGeorgiaK a year ago Speaking of her desire to create something unique, she explained: 'I never wanted to put my name to just a random range, you know off the peg random stuff. 'Theres nothing wrong with that, but I really wanted to wait for an opportunity where I could sit down with a team and design it.' And though the process has taken 'months and months', Georgia has high-hopes, and even admitted she'd love to have a crack at reaching the dizzying heights of a show at London Fashion Week. 'I mean why not! Youve got to aim high,' she replied when asked if she could see herself at Fashion week in the future. She added: 'I know its kind of unrealistic, but then I think its not because years ago I would never have imagined being here with my own brand. 'I think I could do that, and I would really love to do that. You never know, but Tommy with his shoes.' Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's crumbling marriage may have been on full display as far back as a year ago at a trip to Legoland in Windsor. Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable difference, just two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. But previously unseen pictures taken in the UK should Brad, 52, and Angelina, 41, in what appears to be the midst of a heated argument in front of bemused onlookers. Scroll down for video Caught on camera: Signs of the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's crumbling marriage may have been evident as far back as last October when they visited Legoland theme park in Windsor The Fight Club actor can be seen touching the brunette's arm, before she appears to pull away, gesticulating animatedly. Also in tow were Brad and Angelina's children Maddox, age 15, Pax, aged 12, Zahara, aged 11, Shiloh, aged 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, aged eight. The spat was captured on camera by fellow visitors to the theme park, who told The Sun Online the pair were 'stern-faced' and 'didnt look happy'. They told the website: 'I couldnt hear what they were saying and didnt know they were arguing. Heated row? The Fight Club actor can be seen touching the brunette's arm, before she appears to pull away, gesticulating animatedly Clash: The spat was captured on camera by fellow visitors to the theme park, who told The Sun Online the pair were 'stern-faced' and 'didnt look happy' 'It was only when we checked the pictures later that we realised theyd been having a go at each other. 'We saw them again and they looked pretty stern-faced as they were going around the park.' Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family'. The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple's three biological children as well as their three adopted children - Maddox, Pax, and Zahara. Family outing: Also in tow were Brad and Angelina's children Maddox, age 15, Pax, aged 12, Zahara, aged 11, Shiloh, aged 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, aged eight The insider added: 'We saw them again and they looked pretty stern-faced as they were going around the park' The images have emerged amid claims Pitt is being investigated by the FBI and social services in Los Angeles amid reports he got 'verbally abusive and physical with his children' on a private jet. The family is said to have been on a flight when he allegedly became 'wasted' and started 'screaming' before continuing the 'rant' on the tarmac when the plane landed, trying to leave the scene in a fuel truck. TMZ reports that the alleged episode, last Wednesday, prompted Angelina Jolie to split from the 52-year-old the next day and then file for divorce. Pitt is believed to be under investigation by the LAPD and LA County Department of Children and Family Services. He and Jolie are said to have been interviewed as part of the probe, and there are plans for authorities to speak to the children. Divorce proceedings: Angelina filed for divorce from Brad Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, just two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval A source close to Pitt said: 'He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. 'It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light.' The LA County Department of Children and Family Services told KTLA reporter and anchor Wendy Burch there is an investigation into child abuse claims. However a spokesman told DailyMail.com they have strict laws that don't allow them to confirm or deny the subjects of investigations. A spokesman for the LAPD said he is not aware of any criminal investigation into Pitt. A colleague of the couple meanwhile tells Access Hollywood that while Jolie wants the children to have a relationship with Pitt, there are no plans for visitation between the six kids and their father at this time. On the scene: On Thursday, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, where Brad is believed to be staying at this time Custody battle? The actress is asking for physical custody of their six children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Viviennne - with Brad to only have visitation and joint legal custody And while the divorce did not come as a surprise to Pitt, he was thrown off by the time according to those close to the actor. 'He was appealing to her to do this quietly not to save the marriage but to consider the well-being of the children and it was ignored,' a source close to the actor told People. The source added: 'There was clearly a breaking point, where she'd just had enough. He may have been broken himself and said he couldn't go on, and she reacted. This has been difficult for a while.' Jolie did not respond to a request for comment while a spokesperson for Pitt reiterated the actor's statement from earlier in the week in which he said: 'I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well being of our kids. 'I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.' Love rival: Brad was rumoured to have had an affair with his allied co-star Marion Cotillard, false allegations which have been vehemently refuted Chemistry: Marion and Brad spent months filming the World War II movie in London Both sides have been animate that there was no extramarital affair and that both are committed to their children, despite false reports that Pitt had engaged in a relationship with his Allied costar Marion Cotillard. On Wednesday, Cotillard revealed that she is pregnant with her second child and vehemently denied having an affair with Pitt. Cotillard, 40, wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumors on Wednesday before confirming that her partner of eight years Guillaume Canet is the father of her unborn child. 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into,' the actress said in her post. Speaking out: Cotillard wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumours 'Blissfully happy': French star Marion is in a relationship with fellow actor Guillaume Canet, 43, and they are expecting their second child together 'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously,' she continued, 'but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up.' She concluded her message by wishing Brad and Angelina Jolie well. 'Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love, Marion.' Her well wishes come despite a source telling DailyMail.com that Jolie was so jealous of Cotillard on the Allied set that she would not even speak to the French star. Angelina completely ignored Marion on the set, and when Marion tried to talk to her she just looked the other way,' said the source, who is close to both Jolie and Pitt. 'Marion was devastated, here she is thinking she is going to meet this great UN ambassador and instead Angelina refuses to speak to the woman because of her own jealousy.' She is known for her stunning and stylish looks on the red carpet. But Diane Kruger showed that she has a bit of an edge. The 40-year-old actress opted for a bit of rock chic while out and about in New York City on Thursday. Looking good: Diane Kruger opted for a bit of rock chic while out and about in New York City on Thursday Diane was dressed perfectly for the first day of Autumn as she sported a faded black denim jacket and leather trousers. She kept up the theme of her look with a pair of black leather biker boots with studs all over it as she also wore a green T-shirt. Her blonde locks were worn down into waves as she let her natural looks show with complimentary make-up on her face. On the prowl: The 40-year-old actress was dressed perfectly for the first day of Autumn as she sported a faded black denim jacket and leather trousers Diane made sure to stay dry from the unpredictable Big Apple weather as she carried along a small black umbrella. The outing comes just a day after her head-turning appearance on the red carpet of a Vanity Party on Wednesday. The actress and model stunned in a navy blue dress that was off the shoulders with a floaty skirt. Casual cool: She kept up the theme of her look with a pair of black leather biker boots with studs all over it as she also wore a green T-shirt She accessorized with a white clutch and some strappy sandals. Diane styled her blonde locks in a wavy, natural fashion as she opted for natural looking make-up. She posed up a storm on the red carpet with designer Jason Wu and Marc Metrick. It has been an interesting past few weeks for the German-born actress as she has recently separated from long-term boyfriend Joshua Jackson. Reps from both the stars confirmed the news of their break-up to People. Stunning: Just the previous day Kruger stunned as she attended the Vanity Fair party in the Big Apple Breathtaking: The actress and model stunned in a navy blue dress that was off the shoulders with a floaty skirt Her men: She posed up a storm on the red carpet with designer Jason Wu and Marc Metrick 'Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson have decided to separate and remain friends,' a spokesperson told the website. The pair had been plagued by rumours of relationship problems in the months leading up to their split. Diane started dating Josh after she split from her husband of five years, French director Guillaume Canet. If Angelina Jolie was worried about the state of her crumbling relationship, she certainly didn't let it show as she visited a refugee camp in North Jordan just five days before a mid-air incident spelled the end of her marriage. The Maleficent actress was in the country as a United Nations special envoy to visit an Azraq refugee camp and was seen smiling and laughing as she spoke to groups of young children. The Oscar winner called on world leaders to find a solution to the Syrian crisis. It's the last time the 41-year-old actress has been pictured in public since her divorce bombshell. Her estranged husband Brad Pitt is now reportedly being investigated by the FBI for child abuse after a September 14 incident in Minnesota. The family had briefly stopped in the state to refuel their private plane as they made their way from Nice, France to Los Angeles. He allegedly became 'verbally abusive and physical with his children' while 'wasted' on the jet. In good spirits: Angelina Jolie was seen smiling while in North Jordan just five days before her ugly fight with Brad Pitt aboard a private jet which led to her filing for divorce on Monday Work: The 41-year-old actress was greeting children at the Azraq refugee camp No sign of stress: The Oscar winner appeared at ease as she was surrounded by UN officials Keeping it simple: Jolie wore a black dress as she laughed and smiled with Syrian children displaced by the conflict According to UsWeekly, Angelina is now staying at a rented house in Los Angeles with all six children after being interviewed by the Department of Children And Family Services in Los Angeles over the incident in Minnesota. While in North Jordan on September 9 Jolie wore a black dress as she laughed and smiled with Syrian children displaced by the conflict. Five years into the Syrian conflict, she said brutal violence rages while the UN Security Council remains divided on a political solution. During the trip, the A-lister mingled with laughing children and delivered a speech. Difficult: Jolie has suffered the worst crisis of her life as her estranged husband Brad Pitt is allegedly being investigated by the FBI for child abuse after a September 14 incident; here they are seen during their last red carpet appearance together in November Ugly situation: Los Angeles police were seen arriving to Brad's home in Hollywood on Thursday After her trip to Jordan, Angelina reportedly went to France, where she and Brad own the $60 million Chateau Miraval estate that produces their rose wine. Then on September 14 the family flew to Minnesota by private plane. It was during that trip that Pitt allegedly went into his verbal and physical attack on one or more of their six children. Together they have Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, and Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, as well as twins Vivienne and Knox, aged eight. She even got in a laugh: This sighting was five days before the incident with Brad on a private jet that flew from France to Minnesota The Troy actor allegedly became 'wasted' and started 'screaming' before continuing the 'rant' on the tarmac when the plane landed, trying to leave the scene in a fuel truck. TMZ reported the alleged episode prompted Jolie to split from the 52-year-old the next day and then file for divorce. A source close to Pitt said: 'He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children.' Putting her personal life to the side: The star focused on the refugees; she was not with Pitt or her children during the visit Meanwhile: It has been claimed that some of her six children with Pitt have been abused 'It's unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light.' On Thursday morning, a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, were Pitt is believed to be staying while Jolie and the children are at a Malibu rental home. The FBI is investigating the incident because it happened on an international flight. TMZ reports: 'The plane landed a week ago Wednesday just before 8 PM at an airport in Minnesota. That's when eyewitnesses say Brad was "out of control" on the tarmac and even tried to leave in a fuel truck. Her role: The Maleficent actress was in the country as a United Nations special envoy to visit. At this point it appeared as if Jolie had tears in her eyes after she made her impassioned speech that called on world leaders to find a solution to the Syrian crisis Her mission: Five years into the Syrian conflict, she said brutal violence rages while the UN Security Council remains divided on a political solution 'Our LAPD sources say because the incident occurred in the air, the FBI has jurisdiction. The ACU then closed its file and referred the matter to the FBI.' The LA County Department of Children and Family Services meanwhile told KTLA reporter and anchor Wendy Burch there is an investigation into child abuse claims. However a spokesman told DailyMail.com they have strict laws that don't allow them to confirm or deny the subjects of investigations. He and Jolie are said to have been interviewed as part of the probe, and there are plans for authorities to speak to the children. A colleague of the couple meanwhile tells Access Hollywood that while Jolie wants the children to have a relationship with Pitt, there are no plans for visitation between the six kids and their father at this time. She takes it all seriously: In her divorce filing, Angelina asked for physical custody of the six children with Brad only allowed visitation; it was later stated he for now is not allowed to visit the kids She welcomed the children: In North Jordan, the Salt actress was surrounded by over a dozen children And while the divorce did not come as a surprise to Pitt, he was thrown off by the time according to those close to the actor. 'He was appealing to her to do this quietly not to save the marriage but to consider the well-being of the children and it was ignored,' a source close to the actor told People. The source added: 'There was clearly a breaking point, where she'd just had enough. He may have been broken himself and said he couldn't go on, and she reacted. This has been difficult for a while.' She had heavy security: Here the LA native, whose father is Jon Voight, was surrounded by Jordanian military A source close to Jolie meanwhile said: 'Things built and built over time it wasn't any one thing. 'She's loved this man for several years, and [divorce] is not something you do impulsively.' That source said that in the end Jolie did 'what she needed to do.' The Jolie source added however: 'They have six kids together and are always going to be in each other's lives.' It was added that he has been in counseling to get better along with Jolie and the kids. Jolie did not respond to a request for comment while a spokesperson for Pitt reiterated the actor's statement from earlier in the week in which he said: 'I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.' Her next stop: After visiting Jordan, the beauty was reportedly in France. She most likely stayed with Brad and her children at their $60m estate Chateau Miraval The Hollywood star is said to have 'offered to improve to make himself a better person' in a bid to avoid divorce.' Both sides have been animate that there was no extramarital affair and that both are committed to their children, despite false reports that Pitt had engaged in a relationship with his Allied costar Marion Cotillard. On Wednesday, Cotillard revealed that she is pregnant with her second child and vehemently denied having an affair with Pitt. Cotillard, 40, wrote a lengthy Instagram message to make the announcement and to dispel rumors on Wednesday before confirming that her partner of eight years Guillaume Canet is the father of her unborn child. The brood: Together Brad and Angelina have six children; here they are seen with the kids in Tokyo in 2009 'This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into,' the actress said in her post. 'I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously,' she continued, 'but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up.' She concluded her message by wishing Brad and Angelina Jolie well. 'Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love, Marion.' Her well wishes come despite a source telling DailyMail.com that Jolie was so jealous of Cotillard on the Allied set that she would not even speak to the French star. A bitter end: It has been claimed that the two did not have an easy time when filming By The Sea, their saga on an unraveling marriage which was released in 2015 Angelina completely ignored Marion on the set, and when Marion tried to talk to her she just looked the other way,' said the source, who is close to both Jolie and Pitt. 'Marion was devastated, here she is thinking she is going to meet this great UN ambassador and instead Angelina refuses to speak to the woman because of her own jealousy.' Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after they wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. Scarlett Johansson fights cyber crimes as a cyborg cop known as The Major in her sci-fi crime drama Ghost in the Shell, for which Paramount released a series of preview clips on Wednesday. In the film - which is a remake of a 1995 anime motion picture directed by Mamoru Oshii - The Major leads a crime-fighting brigade known as Public Security Section 9, a secret team for the Japanese National Public Safety Commission. It's aimed at taking out computer hackers and other looking to infiltrate a society where man and machine co-exist. In the film, The Major and her troops are confronted with the new problem when a daring rival comes along, posing a serious threat to the society in place. Scroll down for video Shell shock: Five short previews for Scarlett Johansson's upcoming film Ghost in the Shell were publicly released Wednesday Major bucks: Scarlett, who plays The Major in the remake, was named the top-grossing actress in show biz in June, having totaled $3.3 billion in box office receipts, Box Office Mojo reported The previews indicate a dark mysterious tone to the film, as Johannson is seen in a chamber caressing the face of a half-naked woman; and cocking her gun at an unknown rival. Other mysterious images in the preview include a figure emerging forward in a kimono and a large group of men arranged in a circular pattern for a presumably tense meeting. While Johansson is no stranger to ramped-up, action roles - she's thrived as Black Widow in the Marvel universe, as well as the 2014's Lucy - her casting did come with a hint of controversy, as some expressed their ire at the notion of Hollywood 'whitewashing' - in this case, the American actress playing the role of a Japanese character. Among the critics of the casting decision were actress Ming-Na Wen, who was the voice of Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II. Easy on the eyes: The preview showed brief splices of footage, teasing what looks to be a visually-breathtaking production Caress: In this sequence, Scarlett is seem rubbing the face of another actress in the movie Recharge: The motion picture is set in a time where man and machine have blended in society Council: How will these figures impact ScarJo and her team in the film? Only time will tell 'Nothing against Scarlett Johansson,' Wen wrote in an April tweet. 'In fact, I'm a big fan. But everything against this Whitewashing of Asian role.' The Rupert Sanders-directed film co-stars Michael Pitt, Juliette Binoche, Michael Wincott, Rila Fukushima and Chin Han. Ghost in the Shell debuts in theaters everywhere March 31, 2017. Flak: ScarJo's role in the film came under scrutiny from a number of people, such as Mulan actress Ming-Na Wen, who said that roles written for an Asian character were 'whitewashed' when the A-list actress was sleeted for it Her love of plastic surgery has kept her firmly in the limelight. But Katie Price's recent admission that she has undergone 11 boob job in one year will shock even her most avid followers as she made the revelation on her TLC show Katie Price's Pony Club. The 38-year-old former glamour model is shown preparing for a big polo event in which she was determined for her boobs to look good - leading to her decision to go under the knife yet again. Scroll down for video Yet another? Katie Price's recent admission that she has undergone 11 boob job in one year will shock even her most avid followers as she made the revelation on her TLC show Katie Price's Pony Club Katie first went under the knife at 18 and has since grown accustomed to making fast body fixes by heading to the surgeon for a nip and tuck. While the amount of procedures she has undergone often remains vague, her latest proclamation saw her reveal she has had 11 boob jobs in the past year. Pony Club is Katie's first reality show in four years with a totally new format which sees and husband Kieran launch a riding school for the kids she shares with Peter Andre - daughter Princess, eight, son Junior, 11, and four of their friends. While the show also gives insight into her wild life, she also lays bare her medical scenarios as she explained to the camera: ' Im having surgery because I want my boobs to look good for this polo event. I havent actually had them done that many times but this past year, eleven times.' Under the knife: The 38-year-old former glamour model is shown preparing for a big polo event in which she was determined for her boobs to look good - leading to her decision to go under the knife yet again Surgery fanatic: Katie first went under the knife at 18 and has since grown accustomed to making fast body fixes by heading to the surgeon for a nip and tuck Horsing around: Pony Club is Katie's first reality show in four years with a totally new format which sees and husband Kieran launch a riding school for the kids she shares with Peter Andre - daughter Princess, eight, son Junior, 11, and four of their friends Much of her recent work has been carried out at a clinic in Brussels, where she returned to accompanied Kieran, 29, who mocks her choice. He said: 'Kate has obviously very spur of the moment decided to have surgery leading up to polo week probably isn't the best idea.' Despite her famed love of surgery, Katie is adamant she is not addicted to going under the knife and still gets worried ahead of shows. She said: ' The day of the surgery I just get really nervous, they put so many needles in me thats the only thing I hate. Then once its in you get that nice little cocktail. Cheeky! Much of her recent work has been carried out at a clinic in Brussels, where she returned to accompanied Kieran, 29, who mocks her choice Painful: 'I can tell you now that I am not addicted to surgery, Ive only had my boobs, lip, nose and teeth. But then I have Botox and fillers. Its not anything major is it?' 'I can tell you now that I am not addicted to surgery, Ive only had my boobs, lip, nose and teeth. But then I have Botox and fillers. Its not anything major is it?' Her doting husband revealed he fears for her with her work: 'I always worry about her I think she does too much, and I try to persuade her not to have any surgery because I dont think she needs it. From curtains to cornrows, David Beckham is renowned for his many hairdos. And it appears Brooklyn is taking inspiration from his father as he borrowed David's top knot style during a photocall for fashion brand Pull&Bear on Wednesday. The 17-year-old, who landed a lucrative role as the face of the clothing retailer this month, modelled a navy bomber jacket at the opening of its new headquarters in Naron, Spain. Like father, like son: It appears Brooklyn is taking inspiration from his father as he borrowed David's top knot hairstyle during a photoshoot for Pull&Bear on Wednesday Style inspiration? The 17-year-old photographer sported a topknot hairstyle which his father first rocked during his time at Real Madrid in 2003 He layered a grey checked shirt under the jacket and completed his suave look with a pair of black skinny jeans. Brooklyn's deal with Pull&Bear comes just months after the eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham signed a 100,000 contract to appear in an advert for Chinese mobile phone company Hauwei. The fashion company, which originated in Spain, posted a picture of the teen in one of its hoodies along with the caption: 'Brooklyn Beckham: "Jump barriers and be in the right place".' Suave, Brooklyn, who landed a lucrative role as the face of the clothing retailer this month, modelled a navy bomber jacket at the opening of its new headquarters in Naron, Spain Dapper: He layered a grey checked shirt under the jacket and completed his suave look with a pair of black skinny jeans The retailer was founded in 1986, before acquiring the Pull&Bear name five years later. It belongs to the Inditex group which also owns Zara. It's been a busy year for Brooklyn, with the youngster shooting Burberry's Brit fragrance campaign in addition to his roles with Huawei and Pull&Bear. A source previously told The Sun: 'Huawei went for Brooklyn because he's young, well-presented and seen as a good role model for kids his age. Pulling in the customers: Brooklyn landed his new lucrative role as the face of clothing retailer Pull&Bear last month In demand: The deal comes just months after the eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham signed a 100,000 contract to appear in an advert for Chinese mobile phone company Hauwei 'He's got millions of social media followers and this is a good way to engage a load of youngsters. 'People will think he's only got this job because of his rich parents but he doesn't take anything for granted.' Shot in London, Burberry's campaign consisted of an all-British cast of newcomers including Ben Rees, Lewis Helim, Todd Dorigo, Eliza Thomas, Liv Mason Pearson, Maddie Demaine, Carvell Conduah and Harry Pourdjis. It's over: Brooklyn recently split from his actress girlfriend Chloe Moretz, 19 In January, he shot his first Burberry campaign live on social media, drawing praise from the brand's creative director Christopher Bailey. 'Brooklyn has a really great eye for image and Instagram works brilliantly for him as a platform to showcase his work,' he said at the time. Brooklyn recently split from his actress girlfriend Chloe Moretz, 19. The couple spent much of the summer together, attending premieres and high-profile events as a couple, as well as gushing over their romance on social media. It was announced earlier this week that he was set to become a father for the ninth time. And Mel Gibson was celebrating in style, stepping out in Dublin on Thursday with his pregnant girlfriend Rosalind Ross, 26, for a healthy lunch date. The 60-year-old actor was beaming with delight as he strolled along beside his partner - who is 34 years his junior - before stopping off at Yogism for a tasty meal. Scroll down for video Soon-to-be dad: Mel Gibson was celebrating in style, stepping out in Dublin on Thursday with his pregnant girlfriend Rosalind Ross, 26, for a healthy lunch date Mel was casually clad in a baggy blue shirt and jeans, topped off with leather loafers. He sported a bushy grey beard and attempted to go incognito behind a pair of sunglasses. Rosalind, who has been dating the Hollywood star for two years, opted for comfort in a printed T-shirt, leggings and a black bomber jacket, scraping her dark hair back in a bun. Good news: The 60-year-old actor was beaming with delight as he strolled along beside his partner - who is 34 years his junior The pair were seen tucking into bowls of leafy greens alfresco, before purchasing some luxury chocolates in a boutique. Mel is in Ireland shooting his new project, The Professor and the Madman, alongside Sean Penn. The film is adapted from a book by Simon Winchester focusing on the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, and Gibson will play the professor of the title, Sir James Murray. Health kick: The pair, who have been dating for two years, stopped off at Yogism for lunch Ross, a writer and former equestrian vaulter, is a decade younger than his eldest child. Gibson has seven children with ex-wife Robyn Moore: Hannah, 36, twin boys Christian and Edward, 34, William, 31, Louis, 28, Milo, 26, and Thomas, 17. He also has a six-year-old daughter, Lucia, with former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. 'Mel and Rose are so excited about the baby,'a friend told People magazine. 'Mel loves being a dad and he and Rose can't wait to be parents together. The last two years have been some of his happiest years he's ever had.' The Oscar winner and Ross first went public with their romance at this year's Golden Globe Awards in January, when they were spotted leaving an after-show party hand-in-hand. Blue writes, "Peter Watts has be stricken with debilitating pain, loss of range of motion and motor control. Watts' doctors remain baffled despite a battery of tests, and Watts has reached out to his fans to ask for their theories and ideas as to what might be causing his illness." Peter is a friend and has been given some incredibly bad beats this decade: beaten up at the US border by cops without any provocation and then convicted of a felony to stop him from suing; then nearly killed by a freak bout of flesh-eating bacteria. If you can figure out what's wrong with him, let him know. Thirty-six hours later I could barely move. Every groinal tendon was on fire. My knees felt like little exploding schematic diagrams of cartilaginous balls and sockets and springs, ready to go sproiiiinnggggg! the moment they folded more than a few degrees off dead-center. The shoes, right? The new fucking shoes. They'd screwed with my gait somehow, thrown everything out of balance. Couldn't be the distance: I routinely ran further than 6.5 miles with no ill effects at all. So I chalked the pain up to experience and reunited with those beloved stinky old plastic sandals that Caitlin hadn't quite been able to get rid of after all. I'd stressed my body past some limit, but it would self-repair over time; that's just what bodies did. So the family packed up, and hugged the cats, and headed off to Greece. Where my body did not self-repair. It got worse. The stiffness, the frozen range-of motion, the pain, spread to my shoulders. Lifting a leg, bending a knee became an ordeal; pulling on my underpants was now a major event, each foot having to stamp and lift in repeated warm-up maneuvers until inertia and rebound bounced it high enough enough to crest the elastic of my Joe Fresh gauchies and plunge back down through the leg hole (please God let it be the right leg hole) while the outraged knee, bent briefly past some critical threshold, threatened to explode all over again. Sometimes I couldn't quite clear the band; my toe would catch in the elastic and I'd topple like a big dumb one-legged redwood, roaring with frustration. The simple act of rising from the bed, sitting on the toilet, of bending over to pick something off the floor suddenly, they were all spectacles you could charge admission for. The Salt Vampire's Ugly Cousin [Peter Watts/Rifters] (Image: Peter Watts in Helsinki 2013, Anneli Salo, CC-BY-SA) Her wardrobe is always on point, and Thursday was certainly no exception for Amal Clooney. The human rights lawyer caught the eye in a bright red dress as she left the Carlyle Hotel in New York City on Thursday, looking elegant as ever. The 38-year-old star was impossibly stylish in the striking scarlet garment, which highlighted her long legs and slender frame. Scroll down for video Scarlet statement: Amal Clooney sported a bright red dress as she left the Carlyle Hotel in New York City on Thursday Amal, nee Alamuddin, cut a ladylike figure in the long-sleeved number, featuring flattering bow detailing on the right hip. She completed her ensemble with a pair of patent grey heels and a black leather handbag. Perfectly polished as always, Amal wore her raven tresses in a bouncy blow dry and accessorised with silver drop earrings. Power dressing: Amal, nee Alamuddin, cut a ladylike figure in the long-sleeved number, featuring flattering bow detailing on the right hip Chic from head-to-toe: She completed her ensemble with a pair of patent grey heels and a black leather handbag Whilst Amal performs her talents off-screen, she found herself more well known than her Hollywood husband George Clooney earlier this week. Seeming surprised by the recognition, the Lebanese-British activist was mobbed by adoring fans she left the UN roundtable in New York on Tuesday alongside her handsome husband. And the silver fox looked more like a doting fan himself as he beamed at his preoccupied wife. Perfectly polished: Amal wore her raven tresses in a bouncy blow dry and accessorised with silver drop earrings Amal posed for selfies with her devoted fans, as George was forced to simply look on, while a bodyguard tried to reunite the pair. The couple, who married in 2014, proved the honeymoon stage was not over as they gave a loved up display while holding hands and casting adoring looks throughout the roundtable meeting, which was also attended by President Obama. During the summit for refugees, George thanked the President for commitments of $650-million for refugee assistance. Busy schedule: Amal has called on the UK to take more refugees from Syria and is currently mounting a legal case against ISIS on behalf of a Yazidi sex slave, Nadia Murad She recently unveiled a report last week on the rampant corruption in South Sudan. Amal has called on the UK to take more refugees from Syria and is currently mounting a legal case against ISIS on behalf of a Yazidi sex slave, Nadia Murad. She also said she would be 'delighted' to work on a prosecution of Syrian president Bashar Assad over crimes against humanity and war crimes. Speaking to Channel 4 News alongside Nadia, Mrs Clooney said: 'I would hope that more could be taken in. Swizz Beatz is being sued for $42 million. The 38-year-old producer - whose real name is Kasseem Dean - has been accused of a huge fraud involving luxury vehicles, including McLarens, Bentleys, Porsches and Ferraris, from a car leasing company. Metro Gem Leasing and Funding said in their suit they had been happy to lease cars to Swizz 'for use for him and his wife Alicia Keys' at the request of his pal Macky Dancy, who owns the Dancy Auto Dealership Group. Scroll down for video Please re-lease me: Swizz Beatz is being sued by a car leasing company for $42m having been accused of a huge fraud involving luxury motors But the company have accused the star of conspiring with his friend to then re-lease the vehicles to other people at a higher price, and Swizz and Dancy allegedly illegally resold a Ferrari, even though they didn't own it, after the lease went into default. Metro-Gem's lawyer Paul Solda also claims that four other car leases were defaulted. According to court documents, Swizz leased ten cars between 2013 and 2016 at rates of up to $7,000 a month. Metro are seeking $42 million in damages, much to the 'Everyday Birthday' star's astonishment. Metro Gem Leasing and Funding said in their suit they had been happy to lease cars to Swizz 'for use for him and his wife Alicia Keys' at the request of his pal Macky Dancy, who owns the Dancy Auto Dealership Group - but the two men then re-leased the vehicles at a higher price He tweeted: 'People just do and say anything these days for $ Wow! The crazy part is people also believe anything these days SMH! Going back to bed.' Nevertheless, he later took to Instagram to address the accusations further. 'Y'all gotta stop, man... ya'll going too far with it now, y'all giving me way too much credit. Now I'm like the Car Kingpin,' he said in a selfie video. '$42million? What am I buying, spaceships?' he scoffed. 'We gotta stop believing everything. I don't know these people. I don't play these types of games. I've been fresh since 17 with the whips, you can see my pedigree. Am I bothered? Swizz shook his head and went back to bed via Twitter 'Car Kingpin?': Nevertheless, he later took to Instagram to address the accusations further 'And it's cool, 'cause only the haters really believe that stuff,' he continued. 'I wasn't even going to speak on it, but everybody wants to pick this news up. When it's positive things going down I don't see none of this type of press, I don't see none of these types of things. This is only entertaining the people that don't have good intentions in their life.' A representative for the rapper - who has sons Egypt, five, and Genesis, 20 months, with Alicia, and three other kids from past relationships - insisted he and his associates 'are innocent pawns in a years-long, multi-million dollar dispute'. A woman at Dancy Auto Group said the dealership has been renamed and is no longer connected with the co-accused. Earlier this month the music producer scraped into Forbes top 20 earning hip-hop stars, with a personal fortune of $10.5million. He returned to the list after a brief absence this year, having signed a multi-year, multimillion dollar deal to become Barcardis global creative director. Whip it: The hip-hop produer has been a big fan of luxury 'whips' since a young age; here he is with his personalised Lamborghini in 2003 She's been living the dream this summer, jetting off to a host of luxurious locations including sunny St. Tropez. And it seems Kimberly Garner isn't looking forward to autumn leaves, bonfires and pumpkins as she shared a throwback holiday snap on Instagram with the caption: 'I wish it was summer again'. The former Made in Chelsea beauty, 24, showed off her stunning figure in a white swimming costume that displayed her golden legs and sun-kissed pert posterior. Nostalgic: Kimberly Garner shared a throwback holiday snap on Instagram with the caption: 'I wish it was summer again' Letting her blonde locks flow in the wind, she completed her beach look with a pair of white converse trainers as she carried a rubber ring to the waterfront. Kimberley spent last week in the Big Apple for New York Fashion Week but she made it back in plenty of time for London's own stylish gathering. The blonde bombshell was among the stars who attended the PPQ Spring Summer 2017 show for London Fashion Week at St Bartholomew the Great in West Smithfield on Friday. Kimberley, 26, was dressed to impress in a daring wine-coloured sheer dress, which left little to the imagination. Dressed to impress: Kimberley opted for a daring wine-coloured dress at the PPQ show for London Fashion Week at St Bartholomew the Great in West Smithfield on Friday The tiny garment featured a high neckline but was cut out at the back and the blonde beauty made the most of it by posing with her backs to the camera as she coyly looked over one shoulder. Kimberley wore her hair in a loose braided updo, the perfectly tousled style suiting her fun and flirty dress. A pair of wine-coloured stiletto ankle books completed the look. Racy: Kimberley was dressed to impress in a flirty garment, which showed off her long legs After the show, PPQ's co-founder Amy Molyneaux hosted a dinner at iconic London restaurant Quaglinos. Guests included Ashley James, Laura Pradleska, Georgia Toffolo, Brix Smith Start and Henry Conway. Meanwhile, having just returned from New York, Kimberley was showing no signs of jet lag. Last week she attended a number of shows including Dan Liu and Nolch. Ready to do it all over again: After spending last week at New York Fashion Week, Kimberley returned in time to attend London's shows Leggy lady: The blonde beauty showed off her slim pins in a flirty wine-coloured dress No jet lag here: Despite having just returned from New York, Kimberley was showing no signs of jet lag Catching up: Kimberley chatted with 17-year-old singer Tallia Storm at the show Kimberly found fame in E4 reality show Made in Chelsea, but left after only one season. The blonde beauty, who dated Spencer Matthews and Richard Dinan during her time on the show, admitted recently that she was unhappy with the way she was edited in the show, and accused producers of persuading her to say certain things. She explained: 'They definitely edit a lot - I was shocked when I watched it back. They get you to say certain phrases, and suddenly create scenes that happened completely differently to reality. 'You'd watch it back thinking, "That didn't even happen!" and the storyline would be completely different. That was one of the reasons why I left.' After leaving the show the former reality star has been focusing on her swimwear range, Kimberly London. Having founded her brand in 2013, she is extremely passionate about keeping her designs British. MIC reunion: Kimberley's ex co-stars Oliver Proudlock and Rosie Fortescue were among the stars at the show Glimpse! Rosie showed off a glimpse of her toned midriff in a cropped top which she paired with palazzo pants She said: 'It's always been important to me that we support the incredible talent here in the UK. 'I've built such strong relationships with teams here and our pieces truly are the Best of British.' The daring outfit showed off her bare midriff and featured a pencil skirt, bralet and a cape. She completed the look with strappy sandals. Jo Wood opted for pigtails as she paired her dress with black biker boots, while Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's estranged husband Jean-Bernard went for distressed jeans and a sweater. A special show: The London based fashion label put on a winning presentation at London Fashion Week A variety of styles: There didn't appear to be a specific theme to PPQ's show as the models took to the runway in a variety of styles He's captured the attention with his steamy nude performances as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades films. But Jamie Dornan has revealed his wife has never seen the erotic franchise - because watching him would be too traumatic. Speaking on ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show, which airs on Saturday, the actor, 34, also admitted he was baffled by his hunk status. Not a fan! Jamie Dornan has revealed his wife Amelia has never seen him in his hit film Fifty Shades of Grey When asked what his wife Amelia thinks of his racy role in Fifty Shades, the dashing actor explained: 'My wife is one of the most brilliant human beings in the world. She hasn't watched it. Why would she watch it? She wouldn't put herself through that.' Asked if he appears completely naked in the next film Fifty Shades Darker, Jamie said: 'I haven't seen it so I don't know I don't even know. 'I don't know where the cameras were, I don't bother myself with that, I just get on with it.' Jamie also said he wasn't shy when it comes to stripping off for the cameras, adding: 'I don't really care about that sort of stuff. I'm not nudist beach guy but I don't really mind.' The Northern Irish heart-throb also spoke about his renowned looks and revealed he's not as secure in his own skin as his performances portray. Hunk: The Northern Irish heart-throb (pictured with Davina McCall) also spoke about his renowned looks and revealed he's not as secure in his own skin as his performances portray He admitted: 'I hate my face without a beard, I swear to God I really hate it. I always think I look really young. 'I think when I'm clean shaven, I look like a thumb My own 'Jamie Resting Face' is what I have an issue with.' Away from Fifty Shades, and speaking about his part in popular BBC drama, The Fall, Jamie revealed he originally auditioned for a small part which featured in the first two episodes but he ended up getting the main role of Paul Spector: 'I auditioned for Olsen who dies in the second episode of the first series. I auditioned for the good guy, for the police officer. Me, a hunk? Jamie added: 'I think when I'm clean shaven, I look like a thumb My own 'Jamie Resting Face' is what I have an issue with.' Not a fan of his clean shaven look: Jamie admitted he prefers to have a beard when he's not filming Fifty Shades 'Usually it happens the other way around you go in for one of the jazzier parts in the production and you think it goes relatively well and they say, "They loved you but they're going to bring you back in [to read the part] for the postman," he joked. And on it being the much anticipated final series, he said: 'We're billing this as the final series but there may be a world where it comes back in some incarnation with whoever else at a certain time but for now this is it which is very sad.' The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday 24 September at 10.20pm on ITV. They are arguably the most attractive couple in Hollywood. But a relationship with hunk Joe Manganiello wasn't always so appealing to Sofia Vergara. The 44-year-old actress is set to appear on the Harry talk show hosted by Harry Connick Jr on Friday as she expressed her reservations about getting into a relationship with the Magic Mike star. Opening up: Sofia Vergara is set to appear on the Harry talk show hosted by Harry Connick Jr on Friday as she expressed reservations about getting into a relationship with Joe Manganiello Sofia said that she did not want to date her now 39-year-old husband at first because of all the competition she would have to face for his attention. She explained: 'When he started trying to convince me to go out with him. I didnt want to go out with him because of that. 'I dont want to deal with that, I am too old now to be with a guy that all the girls are like after him. Beautiful in blue: The 44-year-old actress - rocking David Webb jewelry - wore a lacy royal blue number with matching heels 'Youre too hot, this is going to be so much work. I'm not kidding. I didnt want to go out with him because of how hot he was.' Luckily she did take a chance on him as the two began dating in July 2014 and were engaged on Christmas Day of that year. Nearly a year later, the two exchanged vows and were married in Palm Beach, Florida in November 2015. The two attractive A-listers seem to still be in the honeymoon phase as Sofia shared an adorable photo of herself staring adoringly at Joe after lunch. Loved up: On the same day she posted this adorable photo of her cuddling up with the 39-year-old hunk in Turks & Caicos The two jetted out of the Big Apple to an island destination as she wrote: 'Breakfast in NY [Statue Of Liberty emoji] lunch in Turks & Caicos [palm tree emoji and three hearts].' Joe was not the only thing discussed on the new daytime chat show with the 49-year-old chat show host as she opened up about why she is always running late. Sofia said: 'I wake up super early. I have to be on the set, I have to wake up at 5 o clock. 'My routine is to try to get out of the house before I am late because Im Latin and there is something in our blood that our schedule gets messed up.' The One Fine Thing hitmaker joked that he was used to it because he worked with Jennifer Lopez on American Idol for three years. Harry is currently in it's second week of being aired. Sofia's episode can be seen on Friday so check your local listings. Good Canary (Rose Theatre, Kingston) Verdict: Raw but riveting Rating: Film star John Malkovich directs this riveting but upsetting even physically unsettling American play about drug abuse in modern New York. The show is notable not only for a strong central performance by Freya Mavor as an amphetamine-gorging anorexic, but also for Mr Malkovich's crisp direction, which takes back-wall projections to new levels. Acclaimed first-time author Jack (Harry Lloyd) has a drug-taking wife, Annie (Miss Mavor), who spends her days alone and unhappy. To cheer her up, he gives her a caged canary. The bird makes a couple of appearances, but playwright Zach Helm soon loses interest in that metaphor. Freya Mavor as Annie (left) and Sally Rogers as Sylvia (right) in Good Canary, directed by John Malkovich Handsome Jack is the toast of the New York Times books pages. His small-time publisher (agreeably done by Steve John Shepherd) is delighted that he may be able to sell his business and pay his family bills. All is going well except for the fact that Annie is so unstable. Poor Annie. Baffling Annie. She is beautifully slender, yet frets that if she eats sensibly she will become fat. So she pops pills and loses control. We see her cleaning her flat and the windows keep changing shape, as in her hallucinations all thanks to ingenious graphics used by Mr Malkovich and his design team. Miss Mavor inhabits the role totally. Jack foolishly takes her to a Manhattan dinner party at the apartment of a big-shot publisher. 'So what do you do?' the publisher's wife politely asks her. 'Speed, mostly,' replies Annie. Some of Helm's characters are a bit off-the-peg. We have a brashly ill-read publishing tycoon and a Woody Allenstyle drug dealer, played well by Michael Simkins and Ilan Goodman respectively. Sally Rogers is a good fit as the tycoon's wife and Simon Wilson does fine as a literary critic though here, again, Mr Helm is too respectful of cliche. Critics are far seedier operatives than the polished prune in this story. The show is notable not only for a strong central performance by Freya Mavor as an amphetamine-gorging anorexic, but also for Mr Malkovich's crisp direction, writes Quentin Letts Some American writers still hold back in their satirical savagery when it comes to depicting the careerist, controlled horror of modern Manhattan and its dance of manners. Perhaps they want to become known for their satire, yet keep it tame enough that Manhattan's plutocrats will still like them. Yet Mr Helm is shockingly forthright when we see Annie's addiction sink to its conclusion. I shielded my eyes and was not the only one. Kingston's Rose Theatre has pulled off quite a coup by bagging this edgy American import. It certainly makes No Man's Land, the week's big Harold Pinter opening at Wyndham's, look distinctly vieux chapeau. Father Comes Home From The Wars; Parts 1, 2 & 3 (Royal Court) Verdict: Forget the wars; beware the snores Rating: London's Royal Court has also come up with a newish American play, a three-hours-plus snoozeathon by Suzan-Lori Parks. Ms Parks is much garlanded in the US for her African-American output but this effort is likely to win only deep-rumbling snores from the Court's perilously comfortable stalls seats. Set in the American civil war, it tells of a slave called Hero (Steve Toussaint, blameless) who has to decide whether or not to follow his owner to war on behalf of the Confederates. Part 1 gives us a hand-wringing chorus with impenetrably thick Texan accents and Hero's lover Penny (Nadine Marshall). The slave-master (an oddly camp turn by John Stahl) is a swine but is Hero maybe slave to his own hesitations? Part 2, interminably, shows us this. Part 3 reveals Penny awaiting the return of her Hero, who has by now named himself Ulysses. To make sure we cop the allusion to ancient Greek legend, another character is called Homer. We also have occasional rhyming couplets. My patience snapped, and I plunged into one-star ill-humour, when an actor arrived in a furry costume to play the part of Ulysses' faithful dog, complete with several lines. What self-indulgent twaddle. Twitter sees jump in official requests to remove posts Twitter saw a jump in official requests to remove posts in the first half of this year, the company said Wednesday. Removal requests were up 13 percent, with the largest volumes coming from Turkey and Russia, which have historically led the pack asking Twitter to get rid of content, according to a transparency report released by the US-based social media firm. The requests typically concerned content deemed illegal by local law, Twitter said. Twitter received 4,434 requests for content removal from governments or police agencies during the first half of 2016 Leon Neal (AFP/File) Its report did not detail whether efforts to prevent extremists from using the platform to spread violent messages were a factor in the requests. Overall, Twitter received 4,434 requests for content removal from governments or police agencies during the first half of this year. There were an additional 761 court orders, according to the report. The requests targeted a total of 20,594 accounts targeted, with no action taken on 15,195 of them, Twitter said. Officials in Turkey made 2,493 of the requests, while 1,601 came from Russia, it added. Requests came from 37 countries, with the United States making 98 requests, of which one were granted, the report said. However, the United States led when it came to government requests for information about Twitter accounts. It made 2,520 account information requests, getting at least some of what it asked for in 82 percent of cases. "As Twitter, Inc. is based in San Francisco, California, the majority of global government requests for account information we receive continue to come from the United States," the report noted. The "top requesters" in the US were the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service and the New York County District Attorneys Office. Japan was second when it came to asking for information, accounting for 732 of the overall 5,676 requests. Britain, France and Turkey rounded out a list of the top five countries requesting Twitter information. Twitter noted a spurt in requests from Belgium, saying the rise was related to extremist attacks there early this year. The US National Security Agency chief said last week that he was "perplexed" over Twitter's move to block US intelligence from accessing data that may help thwart violent attack plots. NSA director Admiral Michael Rogers made the comments at a congressional hearing in response to Senator John McCain's criticism of Twitter for refusing access to a real-time analytics service called Dataminr. Twitter has said it allows both government and business to use the data as long as it is not for "surveillance" purposes. Twitter, which owns a stake in Dataminr, did not want to appear to be too close to US intelligence, media reports have said. President Barack Obama is poised to veto legislation exposing Saudi Arabia to court action over the 9/11 attacks, stepping in to defend legal precedent and an awkward ally, but inviting election-time opprobrium. White House officials say Obama will reject the 'Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act' by a Friday veto deadline, after a little over a week of deliberation. The administration is worried the bill passed unanimously by Congress would undermine state immunity, setting a dangerous legal precedent. White House officials say President Barack Obama will reject the 'Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act' by a Friday veto deadline, after a little over a week of deliberation Families of 9/11 victims have campaigned for the law - convinced that the Saudi government had a hand in the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people Obama's aides tried and failed to have the legislation substantially revised, and now face the prospect of Republicans and Democrats joining forces to override the presidential veto, a relatively rare rebuke of White House power. Families of 9/11 victims have campaigned for the law convinced that the Saudi government had a hand in the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, but no link to the government has been proven. The Saudi government denies any links to the plotters. 'Fifteen years is already far too long to be asked to wait for accountability for the deaths and injuries suffered in the 9/11 attacks,' said widow Terry Strada. Strada gave birth days before her husband, Tom, a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, was killed in World Trade Center Tower One. Behind the scenes, Riyadh has been lobbying furiously for the bill to be scrapped. A senior Saudi Prince reportedly threatened to pull billions of dollars out of US assets if it becomes law, but Saudi officials now distance themselves from that claim. The US-Saudi relationship had already been strained by Obama's engagement with Saudi's Shia foe Iran and the July release of a secret report on Saudi's involvement in the attacks. Declassified documents showed US intelligence had multiple suspicions about links between the Saudi government and the attackers. 'While in the United States, some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government,' a finding read. This would be the twelfth veto of Obama's eight-year presidency and one of his most politically fraught. Congressional insiders insist they have the votes needed to override, in what would be a significant blow for the White House in the final months of Obama's presidency. The White House is holding out vague hope that convoluted Congressional rules could delay the override until after the November 8 election, when the politics may be less toxic and minds may be changed. Until then, Republicans will certainly use the veto to cast Obama as putting monarchs in Riyadh before U.S. terror victims. The Republican nominee, Donald Trump has already tried to paint Obama and his would-be successor Hillary Clinton as weak on terrorism. He has vowed to challenge Clinton in his home state of New York, where he lags by 17 points but where the 9/11 bill has become a major political issue and could have an impact on Congressional and state races. Democrats have been quick to insulate themselves from criticism by backing the bill, not least cosponsor New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer. Meanwhile, Clinton has voiced support for Congressional efforts 'to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terror to hold accountable those responsible,' according to Jesse Lehrich, a campaign spokesman. The White House is getting some backing from diplomatic allies who share concerns about the United States becoming a venue for citizens to sue governments. In a diplomatic protest note obtained by AFP, the European Union warned the rules would be 'in conflict with fundamental principles of international law.' 'State immunity is a central pillar of the international legal order,' the 'demarche' noted, adding that other countries could take 'reciprocal action.' In a letter to lawmakers, also seen by AFP, former secretary of defense William Cohen, former CIA boss Michael Morell and Stephen Hadley, George W. Bush's national security advisor were among a group of high profile security figures to warn the legislation would hurt US interests. 'Our troops, our diplomats and all US government personnel working overseas could very well find themselves subject to lawsuits in other countries,' they said. International Syria contact group to meet Thursday The United States and Russia are to chair a meeting in New York on Thursday bringing together world powers with a stake in Syria's civil war, officials told AFP. The 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG) was set up to push for a ceasefire and an eventual political resolution to the bloody five-year-old conflict. A US official confirmed a meeting was being set up, and diplomats said it would take place at 2 pm (1800 GMT) in a New York hotel. Syrians remove a victim from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike in the Qatarji neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo on September 21, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP/File) Foreign ministers, already gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, held an emergency meeting of the ISSG on Tuesday after a week-old truce broke down. But they made little progress amid bitter recriminations between the ISSG co-chairs, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Washington blames Russia for carrying out a deadly air strike on a UN aid convoy in northern Syria after Bashar al-Assad's military declared the ceasefire over. Moscow denies any role in the attack and in turn accuses US leaders of failing to ensure that the US-backed opposition forces fighting Assad respected the truce. Kerry and Lavrov sparred bitterly in the UN Security Council on Wednesday, but ministers agree the US-Russian effort is the only way available to impose a ceasefire. Kerry has demanded that Russia order Assad to ground his air force in order to re-establish the credibility of the peace effort in the eyes of the suspicious opposition. Lavrov has countered that the UN Security Council should consider adding some more of the anti-Assad rebel groups to its list of proscribed terrorist organizations. Asked whether the ceasefire could be salvaged, Kerry said he would meet with Lavrov once again to try to narrow their differences. But he added: "It's going to be very difficult. We'll see what people are willing to do." If either side is able to come up with concrete measures to restore the truce, they could be endorsed by the ISSG at the meeting and the peace process would continue. Failing that, Kerry has admitted that Syria's future is "hanging by a thread." For the characters in the Disney movie Finding Nemo, being separated from their family and friends was a frightening experience. But it seems that real fish living on coral reefs also become stressed out and even lose weight if they are separated from each other. A new study suggests fish that live around coral reefs have a lower chance of survival if they get separated from their shoal mates. Scroll down for video Blue-green damsel fish (pictured) gather in shoals of more than 1,000 strong around coral reefs, but if they are separated from others in the shoal they can lose weight and show signs of stress. The findings suggest that fish may be far more social than previously believed The findings also indicate that fish may be far more social creatures than perhaps previously realised and can get lonely when they are by themselves. CORAL DEATH AFFECTS FISH Researchers have found that coral bleaching and death can have dramatic repercussions for how small reef fish learn about and avoid predators. The finding is not only bad news for the fish but the reef itself, because it could prevent the living colonies replenishing. The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found coral death and degradation affects how a common damselfish responds to the tell-tale chemicals that indicate the presence of hungry predators. When corals die and become covered in algae, the olfactory landscape of the reef seems to change, which affects this crucial learning mechanism used by fish. The Australian-Swedish research team found that the smell of an injured mate paired with a predator taught the ambon damselfish to learn to avoid new predators when on live coral, while their counterparts on dead coral didn't respond to or learn any predator cues. Advertisement Lauren Nadler, a marine biologist at James Cook University in Queensland who led the study, said when they isolated blue-green damsel fish from the Great Barrier Reef they lost weight. The fish were also found to have a higher metabolic rate than those who were able to socialise in their shoals. Miss Nadler said: 'We have suspected that shoaling fish gain a 'calming effect' from living in a group. 'But up until now we have been unable to measure how widely spread this effect is in individual fish.' Damselfish are usually found in shoals that can be more than 1,000 fish strong but can become separated from each other in bad weather or by predators. The researchers captured fish living on the Great Barrier Reef and separated them from the rest of their shoal so they could monitor what happened to them. They found those who were in shoals tended to be calmer and had a 26 per cent lower metabolic rate than those living alone. Miss Nadler said: 'The fish that were isolated lost weight after the first week, which meant they were less healthy than those in groups. 'Fish were calmer and less stressed when they had their shoal-mates around.' The findings suggest that damselfish (pictured) and other coral dwelling species may get lonely if they are separated from their shoals by storms The researchers first began noticing that fish separated from their shoals (pictured) by storms were struggling to survive. They say the extra stress of looking out for predators while foraging for food makes it harder for them to survive Last year, parts of the Great Barrier Reef were hit by powerful winds and bad weather from Cyclone Nathan and researchers began noticing blue-green damselfish living by themselves. The researchers, whose work is published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, believe that such events can have a dramatic impact on the survival of the species. Professor Mark McCormick, a coral reef ecologist at James Cook University, said: 'If these fish were out in the ocean by themselves, in order to stay alive they would need more food to keep up their energy. 'Since they don't have their buddies around to help look out for looming predators, foraging for food would be riskier. 'The extra energy fish gain from shoaling is so important because it allows them to survive and reproduce and to pass on their genes to the next generation of fish.' The research suggests that Disney's depiction of a fish that gets separated from his family in Finding Nemo (pictured) may not have been completely inaccurate as fish do get stressed when alone. Clown fish like Nemo, however, tend to live in pairs rather than large shoals 26 dead, 19 missing in Indonesian landslides, floods: official The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia has risen to 26, an official said on Thursday, with hopes fading for 19 others still missing. Aid has begun pouring into Garut in the west of Indonesia's main island of Java, where 23 people died and 18 remain missing after torrential rain and fast-rising floods swept through the region, the national disaster agency said. Receding flood waters revealed scenes of destruction, with houses reduced to rubble and upturned cars and debris strewn throughout muddy streets. An Indonesian villager sits outside his damaged house after a landslide in Garut, on September 21, 2016 Luly (AFP) Among the dead or missing are more than a dozen children under 12 years of age, though several have yet to be formally identified, the agency said. Relief teams and army personnel have moved into Garut to search for those still missing, while drones are assessing the scale of destruction from the air, disaster agency head Willem Rampangilei said in a statement. "There is plenty of food and clean water available. The community is also helping out," Rampangilei said, adding that a disaster report had been sent to President Joko Widodo. Temporary shelters and makeshift kitchens have been established to assist the estimated 430 people left homeless, with blankets and clothing being trucked in by emergency crews. Elsewhere in West Java, emergency crews were still searching for one person missing in the wake of a massive landslide in Sumedang district that killed three others, disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told AFP. An avalanche of mud, rock and water tore through a village in Sumedang late Tuesday without warning, flattening homes and a mosque and burying people beneath rubble. Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, a vast tropical archipelago prone to natural disasters and torrential downpours. The country's disaster agency has warned people to be alert for disasters this wet season as a La Nina weather phenomenon threatens unseasonably heavy rain. In June nearly 50 people died when heavy downpours sent torrents of water, mud and rock surging into villages in Central Java, another densely-populated province on Indonesia's main island. Troops, extra police in Charlotte to prevent more clashes Hundreds of National Guard troops and police reinforcements converged on Charlotte, mobilized to prevent a third night of violent protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man. The tense southern city was under a state of emergency amid growing complaints that the authorities were slow to respond to crowds protesting the death of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American, on Tuesday. One person was shot and seriously wounded and 44 were arrested as the protests swept through downtown Charlotte late Wednesday and early Thursday, triggered by the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States. A little girl holds up a sign during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 21, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Nine protesters and two officers were hurt as clashes broke out with riot police firing tear gas, shutting down a transport hub in the city, officials said. The seriously wounded protester died in the hospital on Thursday, local media reported. The city had said he was shot by a civilian, not police. North Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, activating the National Guard and state highway police to reinforce the city's police force. President Barack Obama spoke with Governor Pat McCrory for an update on the situation, the White House said. "The president believes strongly in the right of individuals to protest," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "It is also important that people do not use public protest as an excuse to engage in violence or vandalism." Several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers have been deployed to protect city infrastructure and businesses, Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney said. "We are going to be a lot more proactive," he told a news conference. "We made 44 arrests last night because we are not going to tolerate the behavior." Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier that a curfew was under consideration, but Putney said he did not intend to impose one unless "we need to clear the streets sooner." - Shooting video - Scott was shot and killed in an apartment complex parking lot on Tuesday during an encounter with police officers searching for another person wanted for arrest. Conflicting versions of what happened -- police say Scott was armed with a handgun while his family says he was holding a book -- fueled the angry protests. The authorities have so far resisted mounting pressure to release police video of the incident, saying it would harm the investigation's integrity. However, members of Scott's family were set to watch the video later Thursday, a lawyer for the family told reporters. Putney has said a handgun was recovered at the scene, and that no book was found, contrary to the family's assertion. The video footage "does not give me absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun," he told CNN on Tuesday. But later he said the footage indicates the officer identified as having shot Scott -- Brentley Vinson, who is also black -- was justified. "If I felt laws were broken, I would have taken action by now," he told The Charlotte Observer, referring to criminal charges against the officer. However, the final determination about whether to charge Vinson will fall to the State Bureau of Investigation, which began investigating the shooting on Thursday. - Protesters 'seething' - Although Wednesday night's protest started with a peaceful vigil for Scott, the atmosphere changed dramatically when demonstrators marched to the police headquarters and a protester pulled the American flag to the bottom of its flagpole. By the time the protesters walked the few blocks to uptown and encountered riot police standing like statues on Trade Street, the marchers were seething. Some stood on cars and hurled rocks and bottles at police, who responded by firing tear gas, which sent the crowd scattering. Basketball legend Michael Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets NBA team, issued a statement appealing for calm. "It is more important than ever that we restore calm and come together," he said, "in constructive and non-violent ways." Scott's shooting came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, on Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa authorities charged the police officer who killed Crutcher with first-degree manslaughter on Thursday. The troubles in Charlotte reverberated on the US presidential campaign trail, with Republican candidate Donald Trump suggesting that drug use in the inner city was somehow responsible. "And if you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night," he said during a speech in Pittsburgh. Democrat Hillary Clinton discussed the unrest in calls Thursday to the Charlotte mayor and US Congresswoman Alma Adams, her campaign said. "Too many black Americans have lost their lives and too many feel that their lives are disposable," the campaign cited her as saying. "There are good, honorable police officers serving their communities across our country, and we must all work together to mend the wounds that exist and build the America we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in." Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney addresses a press conference with mayor Jennifer Roberts (L) in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 22, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Racial tension mounts in the US Jean Michel Cornu, Vincent Lefai (AFP) A man attends to a protester who was shot during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 21, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency after a second night of violence in Charlotte Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Kinshasa court house smoulders after deadly clashes Next to a mountain of still smouldering papers, Gaston wipes away tears. "That's my desk. It's completely burnt," he says, his voice trembling. The archives of the Kinshasa court where he worked went up in smoke in an attack on the building during two days of deadly clashes in the city earlier this week. Gaston says he watched helplessly as the fire set by a "very angry" crowd swept through the courthouse on Tuesday, leaving him able only to save himself. A man looks at a burned courthouse in Kinshasa following two days of clashes between police and protesters demanding President Joseph Kabila resign Junior D. Kannah (AFP) The attack took place on the second day of the unrest which pitted security forces against young people demanding the resignation of President Joseph Kabila. According to police at least 32 people were killed, while the opposition put the death toll at over 100. "My job is finished, the day after tomorrow I'll be unemployed," says the court worker, in his sixties, who lives in a city of 10 million where good, secure jobs are hard to come by. The violence erupted ahead of a planned opposition rally on Monday to call for Kabila, who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001, to step down when his mandate ends on December 20. Kabila is yet to call elections, fanning fears he plans to stay in power despite pressure to step aside from his domestic political opponents, as well as the United Nations and Western powers. Without justifying the bloodshed, some Kinshasa residents say they can understand that people are exasperated over miserable living conditions and the desire for political change. "Kabila must leave power," said Thomas Mbudi whose home, rented from a Chinese merchant, was destroyed and vandalised. The police station a few dozen metres away was also ransacked. - 'Getting poorer and poorer' - The head of administration at the courthouse in the city's Ndjili district was matter of fact about the unrest. "It was a popular uprising which demonstrated the discontent," said the administrator who gave his name only as Francois. A nearby grain storage warehouse was completely looted. "Most people can't afford the corn produced in Congo," said a man who gave just his first name Patrick. "It was anger that made people loot," he added. He added that in his view there wasn't a particular problem with Kabila, "but we want him to say publicly he that he does not plan to run for another term and for the president who succeeds him to bring jobs for the people". While life in the capital largely returned to normal on Wednesday, many residents were unwilling to comment on the violence. Ndjili, one of the areas of the capital most affected by the clashes, saw petrol pumps, police posts and businesses run by Chinese nationals attacked. A heavy police and military presence remained in place on Wednesday with police and soldiers making sure that crowds were not allowed to form. "We are angry," said Tresor, a young unemployed engineer. What happened "was to warn those who govern us to govern the country well". "We don't intend to put up with seeing them enrich themselves more and more while we get poorer and poorer." China PM comes to Canada looking for extradition treaty Chinese Premier Li Keqiang landed in Ottawa to meet with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and press for an extradition treaty. But even before the Chinese leader's plane rolled up to the terminal, Trudeau faced political heat from opposition parties for even considering sending Chinese expatriates back. Canadian opposition parties fear they could be subjected to human rights abuses and the death penalty in China. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his wife Cheng Hong arrive at the Ottawa MacdonaldCartier International Airport in Ottawa, Canada Lars Hagberg (AFP) The meeting comes barely one month after the two leaders held talks in Beijing. Trudeau last week tasked his national security advisor with mapping out an agenda for possible cooperation on security and related matters. Canada and China have begun discussions on an extradition treaty, Trudeau told parliament. "We have created a dialogue," he said. "The benefit to Canada is having a high-level security dialogue where we can talk about issues that are important to us and issues that are important to the Chinese government." Tory opposition leader Rona Ambrose linked the issue of extradition to concerns about Chinese hacking and a recent revelation that Chinese agents are active in Canada. Trudeau shot back, saying the previous Conservative government for a decade had been "hot and cold with the world's second-largest economy." "The fact is, Canada has extraordinarily high standards for extradition treaties, and those will always be upheld with anyone around the world," he said. The Canadian leader ruled out any extraditions to countries where those convicted would face the death penalty. Seeking to reassure Canadians, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said these would be "discussions, not negotiations." - Closer ties - Canadian diplomacy has been very active since Trudeau's Liberals swept to power last year, contesting a rotating seat on the Security Council, pledging peacekeeping troops for UN missions and hosting thousands of Syrian refugees. With China, Trudeau wants closer ties. "We needed to renew and deepen the relationship between the people of Canada and people of China for the long term and I think it's safe to say we have accomplished just that," he said at the end of his trip to Beijing. China is Canada's second largest trading partner after the United States, with trade exceeding Can$85 billion ($64.5 billion USD) last year. Last month, Canada said it would apply to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which has been criticized by its neighbor and closest ally, the United States. Beijing, meanwhile, just prior to Li's visit released a Canadian national held since 2014 on espionage charges. After landing in Ottawa, the Chinese premier was to have a private dinner with Trudeau. An official welcome was scheduled for Thursday morning, followed by a bilateral leaders' meeting. A state dinner is to be held Thursday evening at Ottawa's Museum of History. Fate of Africa's rhino, elephants to dominate wildlife meet Global conservationists and policymakers meet in South Africa from Saturday to chart a way forward in the fight against escalating wildlife trafficking that could drive some species to extinction. The plight of Africa's rhino and elephants, targeted for their horns and tusks, is expected to dominate 12 days of talks in Johannesburg on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Illegal wildlife trade is valued at around $20 billion a year, according to CITES, and is ranked the fourth largest illicit business in the world after arms, counterfeit goods and human trafficking. A veterinary attends to a tranquilized Rhino to be microchipped during an operation of RHINO911, a non-governmental organization on September 19, 2016 at the Pilanesberg National Park in the North West province, South Africa Gianluigi Guercia (AFP) The gathering is expected to assess whether to toughen or loosen trade restrictions on some 500 species of animals and plants. "Much of the international attention will focus on the ivory of the African elephant and the horn of the Southern White Rhinoceros, and on combating their illegal trade," said CITES secretary general John Scanlon ahead of the event. CITES banned the trade in rhino horn 40 years ago, but prohibition has not reduced illicit hunting, which has recently boomed in South Africa. Around 5,000 white rhino -- a quarter of the population -- have been slaughtered over the past eight years, with the majority killed in South Africa, home to 80 percent of the world's rhino. Rhino poaching is driven by insatiable demand in Vietnam and China for the horn, which is mistakenly believed to have medicinal powers curing everything from hangovers to cancer. - Divisive proposal - Swaziland has put forward a divisive proposal asking for the total ban on international trade in rhino horn to be eased so that it can sell its stockpile of legally and non-lethally harvested horns. The plan is backed by some private rhino owners who say the black market can be ended by supplying legal horn sawn off anaesthetised live animals and the funds used to fund conservation. "It's costing an absolute fortune. Just every cent we have goes into protecting the rhino, it's not sustainable for the long term," South African private rhino owner Lynne MacTavish, told AFP at Pilanesburg game reserve where an anti-poaching helicopter was unveiled this week by non-profit organisation Rhino911. But Swaziland's proposal stands little chance of success in the face of a fierce campaign by conservation groups who fear legalised trade would only boost the appetite for horn. The Humane Society International has urged Swaziland to withdraw its proposal, citing the strictly controlled legal ivory trade that has opened up opportunities for the laundering of illicitly acquired tusks. "As a consequence, African elephants have undergone a catastrophic decline," it said in the letter to Swazi King Mswati III, warning that "the same will happen to rhinos if the legal international horn trade is approved." - Ivory trade - Results from the world's largest wildlife census, released last month, showed that savannah elephant populations have declined by 30 percent over seven years to 2014. CITES in 2008 allowed for a one-off ivory sale, a move which some anti-trade advocates blame for the spike in elephant poaching. Zimbabwe and Namibia are asking that the ban on commercial ivory trade be lifted to allow them to sell stockpiles accruing from elephants dying naturally and those confiscated from poachers. Proceeds would go towards local villagers living near elephants who are helping to protect the animals. "We are supporting Namibia and Zimbabwe on their proposal because we do think it is very understandable," said South Africa's Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa. But there are fears that allowing a resumption in trade -- albeit just for the two countries -- would signal that trade is opening up and fuel demand. Vietnam, a key consumer of rhino horn, is expected to come under severe scrutiny at the CITES conference, which is held every three years. "Vietnam's poor law enforcement record speaks for itself: ending the illegal rhino horn trade and helping to save Africa's rhinos is clearly not a priority for the government," said Ginette Hemley, WWF head of delegation. "CITES must take a tough line," by forcing Vietnam to swiftly prosecute traffickers and traders or face trade sanctions in all other regulated species, she said. Rosewood plundered from forests, lions, pangolins and sharks will also be hotly debated on an agenda that Molewa admitted was full of "controversial and thought-provoking" dilemmas. Organisers hope one strong message to emerge will be that corruption must be tackled if trafficking is to be reduced. The meeting, described by organisers as the largest and most important CITES event since its founding in 1975, will be attended by around 3,500 delegates from 182 member nations. A veterinary from Saving the Survivors and RHINO911 crew attend to a previously wounded Rhino during an operation of RHINO911 Non Governamental Organization on September 19, 2016 at the Pilanesberg National Park Gianluigi Guercia (AFP) Results from the world's largest wildlife census, released last month, showed that savannah elephant populations have declined by 30 percent over seven years to 2014 Gianluigi Guercia (AFP) Israeli settlers make last stand on a West Bank hill On a wind-blown hill in Palestinian territory, Elad Ziv, wearing sandals, a T-shirt and a Jewish skullcap, stands outside his home and speaks about the Old Testament's Book of Joshua. Across the dry, rocky valley that slopes behind him, Fuad Maadi says he just wants his land back. Both men have become embroiled in a drama which has now taken on international importance because of concern over Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967. Sara and Elad Ziv, Israeli settlers from the wildcat Amona settlement, northeast of the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the Israeli occupied West Bank, with their children in their home on September 7, 2016 Menahem Kahana (AFP) An Israeli court has ruled that the wildcat Jewish settlement of Amona, where Ziv lives alongside around 40 other families in mainly caravan homes, is on Palestinian property and must be evacuated by December 25. But Israeli nationalist politicians, settlement advocates and Amona residents have resisted the move, and the international community is watching closely over whether the court order will be obeyed. There are concerns over how any evacuation will play out. In 2006, the demolition of nine permanent houses in the outpost led to clashes between settlers and Israeli forces. This time, there have been suggestions that the court order could be complied with -- by simply moving the settlement nearby. That's where Maadi comes in. Maadi says part of the land being considered as a new location for the outpost belongs to his family and he has been unable to access it since the building of nearby Israeli settlements. Standing near his home in the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, he points to the spot across the valley and downhill from Amona where he says his family once grew olives, grapes and figs. "It's difficult to hear about that, that your land will just go," said the 60-year-old shopowner, former mechanic and father of five who has a picture of the Virgin Mary on his living room wall. - 'Cut the West Bank' - Israeli settlers began to arrive on the hilltop they would call Amona around 20 years ago. The settlement takes its name from the Book of Joshua and is in the central West Bank, northeast of Ramallah, the Palestinian political capital. All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are seen as illegal under international law, but Israel differentiates between those it has approved and those it has not. Settlements such as Amona are called outposts -- those that Israel has not approved. Outpost residents hope such authorisation will one day be provided, as has occurred in other cases. Amona, one of the largest outposts with between 200 and 300 people, has come to represent a list of issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States and European Union have grown increasingly frustrated by Israel's settlement building and the retroactive legalisation of outposts. They have warned that the expansion of settlements is eating away at the possibility of a two-state solution, and many analysts say it contributes to the frustration of Palestinian youths who have carried out knife, gun and car-ramming attacks in recent months. Gilad Grossman of Israeli rights group Yesh Din, which is helping Maadi and others in their legal fight, said it seemed the Israeli authorities were trying "to find a way to cut the West Bank from east to west with Jewish settlements". "And that way there won't be an option -- a viable option -- of creating a Palestinian state in the future," he said. Amona is next to the Israeli settlement of Ofra, which houses around 3,500 people. More than 370,000 Israeli settlers now live across the West Bank, compared to around 2.6 million Palestinians. - 'This is our home' - Ziv, a 46-year-old father of seven, is like many Israeli religious nationalists. He points to Jews' historical connection to the land from the biblical era, and sees Israel as extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. That includes the West Bank, leaving no space for an independent Palestinian state. He moved to Amona more than 18 years ago, when only three other families were there. "This is our home," he said at his caravan house overlooking the valley, patio furniture outside and grapevines growing nearby. "We are not going anywhere from here." One of Ziv's neighbours, Nahum Schwartz, grew up nearby in the Ofra settlement. A bearded 42-year-old with six children who runs a sheep and raspberry farm, Schwartz said Amona was started as an expansion of Ofra, but he believes it has since developed its own character. The land was considered by those who started the settlement to be abandoned, he said. The Israeli government eventually helped connect it to the electricity grid and instal other infrastructure, residents and anti-settlement activists say. Asked why he felt so strongly about living there, Schwartz mentioned his belief that Jews should return to their ancient land, as well as practical concerns since he had made his home on the hill. "I don't think there's a place for a Palestinian state there," he said, referring to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. While many Israelis view Amona residents as particularly hardline, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also presides over what is seen as the most right-wing government in the country's history. Prominent members of his coalition also do not support an independent Palestinian state. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said the order to evacuate Amona must be obeyed, but how that will be achieved has not been answered. After nearly 50 years of Israeli occupation, Maadi and other Palestinians have little faith. His land will be returned to him "if there is justice", he said. But "I don't think that there is justice", he quickly added. Nachum Schwartz, a 42-year-old Israeli settler from the wildcat Amona settlement, northeast of the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the Israeli occupied West Bank, at his farm on September 7, 2016 Menahem Kahana (AFP) Fuad Maadi, a 60-year-old Palestinian man whose family says they own a piece of land that might be used to relocate houses from the nearby wildcat Jewish settlement of Amona, at his shop in the West Bank Christian village of Taybeh Abbas Momani (AFP) Beaten and burnt: Myanmar's invisible child servants San Kay Khine stares at her burnt, scarred hands, her twisted fingers a reminder of her years as a child slave in Myanmar, one of thousands of young domestic workers feared to be at risk of exploitation and abuse. The 17-year-old was rescued from a tailor's shop in Yangon this month where she and another girl from her village spent five years as housemaids. There they were allegedly beaten, cut with knives and deprived of sleep and food by the shop owner and her family -- all for an occasional few dollars thrown their way. San Kay Khine, a 17-year-old Myanmar child slave shows her scarred arms and twisted fingers whilst recovering in her familys village in Baw Lone Kwin, outside Yangon Ye Aung Thu (AFP) The pair are among tens of thousands of children from poor rural areas sent to work as domestic helpers for the country's growing pool of wealthier, urban middle-class households. Enticed by promises of jobs that can support their families, rights groups say they are at high risk of abuse. But the issue is under researched in a impoverished country where the justice system favours the wealthy. San Kay Khine, whose fingers have set at strange angles after being broken by her captors, remains too traumatised to talk about what happened, only whispering that she wants to stay at home. Instead, it is left to 16-year-old Thazin to give details of the suffering they shared at the tailor's shop. "I have a scar from where an iron was stamped on my leg and a scar on my head as well," she told AFP at her home village, a few hours drive from Yangon. "This was a wound from a knife, because my cooking was not OK," she said, showing a mark on her nose. Like many child workers, the pair were brought to Yangon by a friend from the village who promised to find them good jobs. After years of failed rescue attempts by their families, who twice confronted the owners but were rebuffed, they were freed when a local journalist alerted the national human rights commission. The shop owner and her two adult children were arrested this week over the allegations and charged with human-trafficking. - 'Really afraid' - Despite their arrest, San Kay Khine's mother remains scared of revenge by the tailor's family. "I am really afraid," Nyo Nyo Win, 32, said outside the small bamboo and thatch hut where she lives with her three other children. "I cannot eat or sleep." "They said they would send us to jail by accusing us of stealing things from them." Tackling child labour is a key challenge for Myanmar's new democratically elected government as it seeks to reform the country after half a century of brutal military rule. The impoverished country is the world's seventh-worst for child labour, according to risk analysts Verisk Maplecroft, just ahead of India and Liberia. One in five children aged 10-17 are working -- around 1.7 million people -- according to a UN analysis in 2014 census data. Most come from poor, displaced communities in areas scored by ethnic insurgencies or regions hit by natural disasters. Many can be seen quietly clearing tables in Yangon's tea houses and roadside cafes, or helping bar owners late into the night. Thousands more make up an invisible workforce behind closed doors. - 'Most vulnerable' - "They are the most vulnerable," said Aung Myo Min, executive director of Equality Myanmar, an NGO that helps former child workers. "Many of the children live in fear. They feel valueless. They have lost their childhood and they can't get it back," he said. Horrific recent cases of abuse have cast a spotlight on the conditions of Asia's migrant domestic workers, including of an Indonesian maid who was tortured for months by her Hong Kong employer. Myanmar temporarily banned its women from going to work in Singapore and Hong Kong after the case hit the headlines in 2014 over concerns they would be vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Inside the country, however, child helpers have no legal protection and many fear going to the police. "There is so much corruption in our country, the owners give money to the police to look the other way," said Aung Myo Min. San Kay Khine and Thazin's families say the police did nothing despite their repeated appeals for help to free the girls. In the end, they were paid a total of around $4,000 in compensation by the tailor's family. San Kay Khine's mother, Nyo Nyo Win, said she will never let her daughter go away to work again. "I'm not going to send her anywhere," she said. "I will keep her at home." Thazin, a 16-year-old Myanmar child slave carries her niece at her familys village located outside Yangon Ye Aung Thu (AFP) Nyo Nyo Win (C), a Myanmar mother of a child slave leaves her house to go to Yangon police station in Baw Lone Kwin, Kawmu township located outside Yangon Ye Aung Thu (AFP) In Tibet, religious freedom with Chinese characteristics The sun has yet to rise over Lhasa, but dozens of colourfully dressed pilgrims are already gathered and reciting prayers at the entrance to Jokhang, the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism. Many of those gathered -- Tibetans and Han Chinese visitors -- say religion is flourishing under Beijing's rule, with adherents enjoying the freedoms they need to follow their faith. But this sense of freedom does not extend to the men who live inside the monasteries, analysts and monks say. Pilgrims spin their prayer wheels outside the Jokhang Temple in the regional capital Lhasa, in China's Tibet Autonomous Region Johannes Eisele (AFP) Their lives and their movements are heavily regulated by a government eager to avoid any hint of disobedience in the restive region which, although technically autonomous, is tightly controlled by Beijing. "We are not free," said a 33-year-old monk from the neighbouring province of Sichuan. AFP is not naming the man. "To get into Tibet from another province, you need a certificate with your name, address and identity card number. "Everything has to be stamped by the monastery, the Bureau of Religious Affairs and the police," he said outside the Jokhang monastery. Nearby, groups of policemen -- some from Tibet itself -- are discreetly patrolling, some holding walkie-talkies and others guns. This area of the capital is calm for now, but authorities are not taking any chances. In 2008 it was the site of deadly riots which erupted following protests by monks against Beijing's rule in the region. The government clamped down after a period of violence against non-Tibetans, in particular the Han Chinese -- who remain a minority in Tibet. Faith is an integral element of Tibetan identity and nationalism and is therefore perceived as a potential threat to the authority of the Chinese state, explained Kate Saunders of the US-based NGO International Campaign for Tibet. - 'Keep your mouth shut' - Some ordinary Tibetans dismiss the idea their religious freedom is being curtailed. "I come here morning and night. I have never had any problem," the 31-year-old Tibetan taxi driver Zangmai says at the temple. "I've been praying here since I was about five or six, and one day I'll bring my son here too," he adds as he throws dried grass into a large incense burner, which belches out grey smoke. For Zhaxi Nima, a 37-year-old Tibetan pilgrim whose left leg is amputated below the knee, faith remains an integral part of his routine. "Why do I come to pray, despite my handicap? Tibetans are just like that, it's our way of life," he explains. It is not so simple for religious figures and institutions, experts say. "Temples, monasteries... Of course, they are controlled," said Jens-Uwe Hartmann, a specialist in Buddhism at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and an expert on Tibet. "What they are doing is very closely observed." If religious leaders emerge who are not approved by the Chinese Communist Party, they simply disappear, Hartmann said, adding: "So you'd better keep your mouth shut." - Cultural dilution - Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951 and insists it has brought development to a previously backward region. But many Tibetans accuse the Chinese government of exploiting natural resources, as well as promoting Han activities and business at the expense of locals and the environment. They also accuse authorities of diluting their culture and faith as a way of exerting further influence. China recently unveiled an initiative to get tens of millions more tourists to visit the region, and many of them wander through Jokhang along with the faithful. Barkhor, the road around the temple that pilgrims walk in a clockwise direction as a sign of respect, displays little Chinese flags on the first floor of buildings. The street is dotted with shops and restaurants to cater to visitors from other regions. "People's faith here is very impressive. It's not something you see anywhere else in China," says 22-year-old Peng Meng. "In the rest of China, because of the Party, countless temples were destroyed," says a young Han, miming a fist coming down on a building. "In Tibet, Buddhism is preserved," he adds, although many religious structures were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. Wang Xiaobin of the China Tibetology Research Center, an official body based in Beijing, said monks were required to use travel certificates after a wave of self-immolation which began in 2009. A total of 145 Tibetans, the majority of them monks, have set fire to themselves in the past seven years in protest against Beijing's rule and 117 of them have died, according to International Campaign for Tibet. "Most of them came from Tibet's neighbouring provinces. And the regional government is worried that some of them are coming to self-immolate in Lhasa," Wang said. "China recognises 'freedom of religious belief', not 'religious freedom'. Those are different things," he added. "Clearly one has the right to believe, but there are limits to religious activity." A monk is seen outside the Jokhang Temple in the regional capital Lhasa, in China's Tibet Autonomous Region Johannes Eisele (AFP) A pilgrim (L) is seen walking past a paramilitary police patrol outside the Jokhang Temple, in the regional capital Lhasa, in China's Tibet Autonomous Region Johannes Eisele (AFP) Faith is an integral element of Tibetan identity and nationalism Johannes Eisele (AFP) Defending the underdogs: Karachi vets criticise mass culling The battered residents of the Edhi Animal Home, just outside Karachi along Pakistan's gleaming new Super Highway, are a pitiful sight. Paralysed cats that have been crushed beneath speeding vehicles, sit alongside exhausted donkeys too weak to carry another burden, and dozens of wounded or abandoned dogs. Most face a return to the streets once they recover. Yet these canines are the lucky ones -- escapees from the most recent wave of mass poisonings by authorities working under 19th century municipal laws that allow them to cull feral dogs in Pakistan's biggest city. Pakistani veterinarians give treatment to an injured dog at the Animal Care Centre in Karachi Rizwan Tabassum (AFP) Animal rights are at their nadir in Karachi, but a handful of activists and veterinarians are fighting to find a middle ground between stray dogs and a population that, often for religious reasons, finds them "putrid". Last month the carcasses of dozens of dogs lay in the sweltering heat at one of the city's biggest roundabouts waiting to be coldly disposed of by bulldozer, poisoned in yet another culling campaign. "We have got numerous complaints of dog bite cases in the city where the children were the worst victims," said Maqsood Memon, a senior health officer at the southern District Municipal Corporation (DMC). In at least one case reported in the nearby city of Hyderabad, he claimed, dogs "tore a child apart". Conservative figures estimate the feral dog population of Karachi could number up to 35,000. The city sees as many as 15,000 dog bite cases every year, says Dr Isma Gheewala, head of the Animal Care Centre in Karachi's posh Defence neighbourhood. "This is our psyche, that when we see a dog we throw a stone at it or children chase it," she says. "When you would treat (a dog) with aggression, so its reaction could be aggressive, and this aggression could cost you much." - 'Putrid' - Religious sentiment may be partly to blame. "The clerics say that the dog is a putrid animal and their killing doesn't matter at all," says animal rescuer Syed Mustafa Ahmed. "It's a totally wrong interpretation as Islam just does not allow (dogs) to be at a place of worship as they are impure," he argues. Municipal laws allow authorities to either poison or shoot stray dogs. But poisoning is hardly targeted and, as Dr Gheewala pointed out, shooting is not always effective. "Quite often animals do not die after the shooting so they bring such animals to us as well," she says. Even if it were 100 percent effective, culling is not a "proper solution", says veterinarian Dr Khalid Memon, who works with the Edhi Foundation. "If you want to control the population, you just bring them to be castrated and neutered," he says. Last year three organisations came together to do just that, launching a service that Pakistanis familiar with the sight of ambulances from the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan's biggest welfare organisation, racing to disaster would recognise. The non-profit SOS Animal Pakistan (SAP), in collaboration with Home for Paws and Claws, a Karachi-based pets outlet, joined hands with Edhi to organise three-member teams that act on information from the public to rescue animals in the streets. "We basically work on humane animal control," said Ahmed, who is head of rescue operations for the venture. "The main objective ... is to catch the street animals, vaccinate and neuter them and release them after a six-day period," he said. - 'They are living beings' - An abandoned dog with deep wounds around its furry neck was rescued by Ahmed's team recently and brought to Dr Gheewala's Animal Care Centre, where vets cleaned and bandaged the injury. She says they receive anywhere from six to 12 animals a day this way. They treat injuries, then spay or neuter the animals before handing them back to the SOS-Edhi team to be taken to the Edhi Animal Home. Adoption rates are negligible, and Dr Gheewala said even if people do adopt, the animals are often abandoned once more at the first signs of disease or problems. Spaying and neutering will help, but the biggest challenge will be in changing perceptions, Ahmed says. "Allah created dogs, and He did not create them to be killed," he told AFP. Dr Memon says activists are "raising their voice" against culling. The dogs can't speak for themselves, he says, "but after all, they are living beings." Pakistani veterinarian Khalid Memon, who works with the Edhi Welfare Foundation, treats an injured dog at the Edhi Animal Home on the outskirts of Karachi Rizwan Tabassum (AFP) Pakistani animal rescuer Syed Mustafa Ahmed plays with stray dogs at the Edhi Animal Home on the outskirts of Karachi Rizwan Tabassum (AFP) Taiwan asks Google to blur images of South China Sea island Taiwan's defence ministry has asked Google to blur images of a new development believed to be for military use on a disputed South China Sea island. Tensions remain high in the region over conflicting territorial claims, particularly over the strategically important Spratlys chain. Taiwan administers Taiping island, which is the largest in the Spratlys archipelago. The island chain is also claimed in part or whole by the Philippines, Vietnam and China. Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island is part of the Spratlys archipelago in the South China Sea Chiang Chi-chen (Chiang Chi-chen/AFP/File) Google satellite images show a circular structure with four Y-shaped attachments, jutting out to sea on Taiping's northwestern coast. The development comes after Taiwan last year inaugurated a solar-powered lighthouse, an expanded airstrip and a pier as part of efforts to strengthen defence capabilities on Taiping. The defence ministry said it was in the process of contacting Google Thursday to ask them to blur the satellite images, but would not comment further on what the structures are. "It is classified information," the ministry's spokesman Chen Chung-chi said when asked the reason for the request to Google, which was made after images of the structures surfaced in local media. Fears over possible military confrontation in the area have grown since an international tribunal ruling in July which rejected Beijing's sweeping claims to almost all of the South China Sea -- even waters approaching coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. China outlines its territory using a vague map that emerged in the 1940s, resulting in an overlap with Taiwan's claims. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war on the mainland, but Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing angrily vowed to ignore the verdict from the tribunal in The Hague, prompting a warning from US President Barack Obama who emphasised that the ruling was binding. Crucially for Taipei, the ruling stated that Taiping was legally a "rock" that did not give it an exclusive economic zone, undermining its claims to the surrounding waters. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, who has yet to visit the island since taking office in May, has said the verdict "severely jeopardised" Taiwan's rights. Her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou visited Taiping in January to press Taiwan's claims, a move that triggered criticism from the US as well as protests from Vietnam and the Philippines. Gunshot, pepper spray: Mayhem on streets of Charlotte The loud crack of a gunshot startled protesters as they hurled objects and clashed with riot police in Charlotte, North Carolina, where racial tensions soared a day after a black man was killed by officers. One man near the center of Wednesday night's confrontation was on life support after being shot by another civilian, the city said in a tweet, reversing its earlier statement that the man had died. The unrest turned violent after a peaceful vigil to mark the previous day's shooting death of African-American Keith Scott at the hands of Charlotte police. A man attends to a protester who was shot during a demonstration in Charlotte, North Carolina, where racial tensions soared a day after a black man was killed by officers Nicholas Kamm (AFP) It was the latest in a long series of controversial police killings of black men which have inflamed tensions in several US cities, and sparked a national debate about race and whether Americans can come together to reduce police brutality. The Charlotte protesters came face to face with helmeted security forces in riot gear, who massed uptown but were briefly outnumbered by the hundreds of demonstrators who took over the streets, kicking police vehicles and breaking storefront glass. The police were forced to retreat to the safety of an upscale hotel lobby. Protesters tried to push their way inside but were blocked, and police eventually established a perimeter at the hotel's entrance. When agitators got too close, or projectiles rained down, police used rubber bullets, pepper spray and flash grenades to disburse the crowd. Some appeared undaunted, surging back toward the police. "Your life is in danger, you need to move!" an officer yelled. As the protest turned chaotic, a reporter heard the clear sound of a gunshot, which sent several people into a run. The shooting victim fell to the sidewalk two yards (meters) from an AFP photographer, and riot police and other protesters helped move the injured man behind the police perimeter. A pool of blood was left on the sidewalk. Wednesday night's mayhem followed a dusk vigil for Scott, a 43-year-old father killed by police in a Charlotte apartment complex under disputed circumstances. The police chief said Scott was holding a gun and posed a threat to officers, and that the policeman who shot him was black. But neighbors told a dramatically different story, saying Scott was reading a book, not holding a firearm, and that the officer who shot him was white. - 'It's too much' - While the vigil was peaceful -- several attendees brought their children -- the atmosphere changed dramatically once demonstrators walked to the nearby police headquarters, where one protester pulled the American flag to the bottom of its flagpole. Other people banged angrily on the front doors and chanted "No justice, no peace," and "Fuck the police." By the time they walked the few blocks to uptown, and encountered riot police standing like statues on Trade Street, protesters were seething. "It's too much. It's too much," winced one woman, wiping tears from her eyes as she stood before riot police. "We've got brothers and sisters and children and fathers who think we're not going to live to see the next day. Nobody should have to live like that," she said. "Not every black person is a drug dealer, a crackhead, or a gangster." Several protesters raised their arms as they stood before police, chanting "Hands up, don't shoot." North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency, saying he was bringing in the National Guard to help maintain order. But while officials are eager to defuse the anger on the streets, many protesters were outraged that the police department has so far refused to release the body-cam and dashboard footage from the officers at the scene of Scott's death. One woman standing near the riot police held up a sign that read "Release the Tapes." Protesters throw chairs at a restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, where racial tensions soared a day after a black man was killed by officers Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Police in Charlotte, North Carolina were briefly outnumbered during violent protests and forced to retreat to the safety of an upscale hotel lobby Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Chinese rights lawyer jailed for 12 years A Chinese court has sentenced defence lawyer Xia Lin to 12 years in prison, his attorney said on Thursday, the latest blow in a broad crackdown on human rights defenders and activists. Xia is best known for his work defending artist Ai Weiwei and fellow rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, who was detained after a private seminar discussing the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. "The court sentenced Xia Lin to 12 years in prison for fraud," his lawyer, Dong Xikui, told AFP. While Chinese government initially targeted political activists and human rights campaigners, it has increasingly turned its attention to the legal professionals who represent them Greg Baker (AFP/File) Police detained Xia in November 2014, and later charged him with fraudulently obtaining 100 million yuan ($15 million) to pay off gambling debts, according to a defence statement. His trial opened in Beijing in June of this year. "We pleaded not guilty, but the court adopted only part of our defence opinion and reduced the amount of fraud from more than 100 million down to 48 million," his lawyer said. Chinese President Xi Jinping has overseen a tightening of controls on civil society since assuming power in 2012, closing avenues for legal activism that had opened up in recent years. While the government initially targeted political activists and human rights campaigners, it has increasingly turned its attention to the legal professionals who represent them. In the most striking example, authorities detained more than 200 people last year during the so-called "709 crackdown" -- named after the July 9th date of the roundup -- including lawyers who took on civil rights cases considered sensitive by China's ruling Communist party. Pu, the lawyer detained over the Tiananmen event, received a three-year suspended prison term last December for "inciting ethnic hatred" and "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" in a case that drew international condemnation. Xia's sentence was unusually tough, according to Maya Wang, an Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, and will "send a deep chill through the community of human rights lawyers who have been under a sustained crackdown under President Xis government in the past year". "The sentence is shocking, not only because of its length, but also because it was handed down to a rights lawyer who has tried to protect himself by deliberately taking a low-profile, technical approach to his work." Saudi-led raids kill 20 civilians in Yemen rebel port Saudi-led air strikes killed 20 civilians in the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida just hours after the rebels celebrated the second anniversary of their seizure of the capital, a government official said. The raids hit the Suq al-Hunod district of the Red Sea port, the official in the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi which is supported by the Saudi-led coalition told AFP. The strikes were also reported by the rebel administration in the capital Sanaa, which said there were civilian casualties but gave no specific toll. People move rubble at the site of Saudi-led air strikes in the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida which government officials said killed 20 civilians The loyalist official said the residential neighbourhood was "probably hit in error." He said the presidential palace in Hodeida was also hit. Pictures from Suq al-Hunod showed residents combing the rubble under arclights in a search for survivors. Children were among the dead photographed at a city mortuary. Dr Khaled Suhail of Hodeida's Al-Thawra hospital said his facility alone received 12 dead and 30 wounded from the strikes. The Saudi-led coalition has been repeatedly criticised for the high civilian death toll from its 18-month-old bombing campaign in support of Hadi's government. More than 6,600 people have been killed since the intervention began, the majority of them civilians, according to the United Nations. Afghanistan inks peace deal with warlord 'butcher of Kabul' Afghanistan Thursday signed a peace agreement with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for him to make a political comeback despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. Hekmatyar, who heads the now largely dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group, is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. The deal with Afghanistan's second-biggest militant group marks a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani, who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taliban. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (pictured in 2001) was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s and stands accused of killing thousands of people in Kabul during the 1992-1996 civil war Behrouz Mehri (AFP/File) A Hezb-i-Islami delegation shook hands with members of the High Peace Council (HPC), responsible for reconciliation efforts with militants, and the national security adviser at an official ceremony in Kabul. "This is not just a peace deal between Hezb-i-Islami and the government of Afghanistan," Mohammad Amin Karim, head of the insurgent delegation, said at the ceremony, which was not attended by Hekmatyar. "It is a beginning of a new era of peace all around the country." The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by Ghani and Hekmatyar, the government said, though no date has been set. "Destruction is the only consequence of war. So I urge all the opposition groups to pursue peace and reconciliation," said HPC chief Sayed Ahmad Gilani. Hekmatyar, derided widely as the "butcher of Kabul", was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war. He is widely believed to be in hiding in Pakistan, but his group claims he remains in Afghanistan. The deal paves the way for him to make a comeback in mainstream politics in a pattern well established by other warlords, such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum, currently the country's first vice president. But it has sparked revulsion from human rights groups and residents of the capital who survived the civil war. A group of activists protested in Kabul holding placards portraying Hekmatyar with blood spilling from his mouth and a rocket piercing his nose. It read: "We cannot forgive the executioner of Kabul." - 'Culture of impunity' - "His return will compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s," Human Rights Watch said last month. According to the agreement, the government will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity "in all past political and military proceedings" as well as release Hezb-i-Islami prisoners in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. Hekmatyar is designated a "global terrorist" by the US and is blacklisted by the UN. The Afghan government will work towards lifting those restrictions. "Afghanistan has been failing in negotiating peace with militant groups for the last 15 years, and this deal marks the first practical success in that regard," Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir told AFP. "This could be a template for peace deals with other militant groups and marks an achievement for Ghani ahead of the Brussels" development aid conference in October, he added. The deal is not likely to have an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan. Hezb-i-Islami has been largely inactive in recent years, with its last big attack in Afghanistan in 2013. It killed 15 people including five Americans. But it was welcomed by the country's international partners including the United States, which hailed the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" process. "The initialling of a peace agreement... sends a strong signal of hope for Afghanistan," the European Union said, expressing hope for an early implementation of the deal. "It demonstrates that political processes can succeed where conflict cannot." The government took the opportunity to renew its offer for peace talks to the Taliban, who have persistently refused to engage in negotiations as they ramp up their nationwide offensive against the Western-backed regime. Chairman of The High Peace Council of Afghanistan, Pir Sayed Ahmed Gailani (L) speaks during a meeting in Kabul, in March 2016 Shah Marai (AFP/File) Afghans chant slogans against Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-i-Islami, during a demonstration in Kabul STR (AFP) Kerry, Lavrov discuss Syria in New York: Moscow Russia and the United States discussed the Syrian conflict in New York, hours after clashing over the issue at the United Nations, the Russian foreign ministry said Thursday. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov talked first by telephone "at the initiative of the Americans", the ministry said in a message on Facebook. The diplomats then met, accompanied by their delegations, "to continue discussing the problem of a settlement (of the conflict) in Syria." US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) speaks with Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy for Syria, during the International Syria Support Group meeting in New York Kevin Hagen (POOL/AFP) Russia and the United States negotiated the latest ceasefire plan, but Syria ended the truce on Monday following an apparently accidental US-led coalition strike on Syrian soldiers. Shortly after the truce ended, a UN aid convoy was hit, killing 20 humanitarian workers and destroying 18 trucks carrying food for desperate civilians in Aleppo province. On Wednesday, an angry Kerry demanded at a UN Security Council meeting that Russia force Syria to ground its air force, which Washington blames for the attack on the aid convoy. Kerry said the bombing raised "profound doubt" about whether Russia and its Syrian ally were committed to upholding a ceasefire. In his address to the Security Council, Lavrov declared on Wednesday that there would be "no more unilateral pauses" by Syrian government forces, arguing that opposition fighters on the ground had previously used those ceasefires to regroup. He insisted that all sides must rein in rebel groups on the ground to ensure they comply with the ceasefire and said a list of terror groups not covered by the truce should be reviewed. Taiwan opposition's bank account frozen in assets probe Taiwan's government has ordered a freeze on the opposition Kuomintang's bank account, officials said Thursday, as part of an investigation into its allegedly ill-gotten political assets. The order comes as political tensions remain high on the deeply divided island after the Beijing-friendly KMT were ousted by a landslide in January elections. The new Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party government announced a probe into the assets of all parties in late July, but it is only the KMT that has faced questions. Taiwanese legislators from the Kuomintang party protest in parliamant with placards reading "protect the constitution, not the party assets" on July 22, 2016 Sam Yeh (AFP/File) The KMT is thought to be one of the richest political parties in the world and registered total assets of Tw$18.96 billion ($600 million) by the end of last year, compared with Tw$478.72 million by the DPP. The party traces its wealth to its origins in pre-communist China -- KMT forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to the Chinese communists on the mainland. It also inherited assets nationalised by the Japanese, who ruled Taiwan as a colony from 1895-1945. However, critics have long accused the party of stealing from the people of Taiwan and illegally amassing fortunes through cosy business links during its half-century grip on power. Government investigators say the KMT withdrew Tw$520 million ($16.6 million) from Taiwan's Bank SinoPac soon after the asset probe got under way and exchanged it for 10 cashier's cheques from the state-run Bank of Taiwan. One of those cheques has already been cashed. KMT officials say it was used to pay salaries and pensions. But investigators say the money should not have been moved since the probe had already started. The party has slammed the investigation as a witch-hunt. "The KMT violated the law which prohibits it from moving its assets," the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee said in a statement. "Bank SinoPac has been notified to halt withdrawing or transferring money from that account." The freeze was the asset committee's first major action against the KMT. KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu called it a "vendetta" and said the party should rally outside president Tsai's home. "The action we took is just and for the purpose of fulfilling our legal duties," KMT spokesman Chou Chih-wei told AFP. Tsai and the DPP took power on the back of increased public concern over warming ties with China, following an unprecedented eight-year rapprochement under the previous KMT government. Taiwan is self-ruling, but China still sees it as part of its territory. Voters feared the island's sovereignty was under threat as the KMT forged closer relations with Beijing. Since Tsai took power, relations have rapidly deteriorated and Beijing has cut off all official communications with Taiwan. US warns of 'Starbucks attack risk' in south Turkey The United States has warned of the risk of a terror attack in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep close to the Syrian border on businesses frequented by Westerners, including the popular coffee chain Starbucks. The US embassy in Ankara said in a message to citizens that there are reports of a police investigation into a "terror cell" in Gaziantep, which in August was hit by a deadly suicide bombing on a wedding blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists. It said the information suggests the jihadists are "possibly targeting" shopping centres, Starbucks, the popular upscale Turkish restaurant chain Big Chef or other businesses frequented by Western customers. A major city lying just 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the Syrian border, Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) "US citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronising these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible," it said in the notice published late Wednesday. A major city lying just 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the Syrian border, Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country. The Turkish authorities have acknowledged that IS jihadists had built up a presence in the city with the aim of staging attacks. But the US embassy did not specify which group was suspected of planning to carry out the attacks. Turkey has suffered a string of attacks in the last 12 months in Ankara, Istanbul and elsewhere blamed on Kurdish militants and IS. In June, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, with authorities pointing the finger at IS. Fifty four people were killed in the August 20 suicide bombing on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said was carried out by a child bomber acting on the orders of IS. Embassies are also on a high state of alert after a man wielding a knife tried to attack the Israeli embassy in Ankara on Wednesday, while the British embassy was closed last Friday for security reasons. Separately, the official Anadolu news agency reported that 16 people were detained early Thursday on suspicion of membership of IS, in the latest of a series of raids in Istanbul. It said that there was intelligence some could have been planning attacks in the city and some had also taken part in the conflict in Syria. India needs more than Rafale to match China: experts India may have just spent billions of dollars on hi-tech French fighter jets, but experts say it needs to do a lot more if it is going to face up to an increasingly assertive China. The world's top defence importer has signed several big-ticket deals as part of a $100-billion upgrade since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014. But it has been slow to replace its dwindling fleet of Russian MiG-21s -- dubbed "Flying Coffins" because of their poor safety record. Since 2014 India, the world's top defence importer, has signed several big-ticket deals as part of a $100-billion upgrade Prakash Singh (AFP/File) An agreement to buy 36 cutting edge Rafale jets from France's Dassault aims to fix that. "It will give the air force an arrowhead. Our air force has old aircraft, 1970s and 1980s generation aircraft and for the first time in about 25-30 years we will have a quantum jump in technology," defence analyst Gulshan Luthra told AFP. "Rafale is loaded with (the) best of the technologies and we need it." The air force says it needs at least 42 squadrons to protect its northern and western borders with Pakistan and China. It currently has around 32, each comprising 18 aircraft. Air force representatives warned India's parliament last year that the number of squadrons could fall to 25 by 2022, putting India on a par with its nuclear-armed neighbour and arch-rival Pakistan. - 'Pakistan we can handle' - But the real concern is China, an ally of Pakistan whose military capacities are way in excess of India's. "Pakistan we can handle. Pakistan we can muscle our way, but China, no way we can handle," said Luthra. "And if China comes to the aid of Pakistan, then we're stuck." China and India fought a brief war in 1962, and the border between the neighbours has never been formally demarcated, although they have signed accords to maintain peace. The Rafale deal, due to be signed in New Delhi on Friday, will supply another two squadrons, although it will be three years before delivery of the jets begins. It falls way short of previous proposals for India to buy 126 of the jets, which stalled over costs and assembly guarantees. Currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq, the Rafale can fly distances of up to 3,800 kilometres (2,360 miles). Experts say it will allow the air force to strike targets in Pakistan and China from within Indian territory. But critics argue the Rafale purchase is a costly solution to the problem, even after India bargained hard to get the price down to a reported 7.9 billion euros ($8.8 billion). - 'Can't afford Mercedes' - Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reportedly said last year the larger Rafale deal was too expensive. "We are not buying the rest. I also feel like having a BMW and Mercedes. But I don't because I can't afford it." Modi has said he wants to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer and to have 70 percent of hardware manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. His government lifted a cap on foreign investment in defence to 49 percent last year. Many now believe India will use the money saved from scrapping the larger Rafale order to invest in its first domestically developed light fighter plane, the Tejas. The aircraft, touted as the smallest and lightest supersonic fighter aircraft of their class, are designed and manufactured in India, although some components are imported. Defence analyst Ajai Shukla said the purchase of 36 Rafales would "placate Dassault, the Indian Air Force and public opinion" after the larger deal was scrapped, but did not make good operational sense. "You don't replace a small, light fighter plane with an extraordinarily expensive heavy monster like Rafale," he said. India recently reached an agreement to buy 36 cutting-edge Rafale jets from France's Dassault Thibaud Moritz (AFP/File) The Rafale jet fighter Bahrain court upholds dissolution of main Shiite opposition A Bahraini appeals court on Thursday upheld an order dissolving the country's main Shiite opposition group despite international criticism of the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom's intensified crackdown on dissent. A lower court had ordered the dissolution of the Al-Wefaq association in July over accusations including "harbouring terrorism" and ordered its funds to be seized by the government. The accusations also included inciting violence and encouraging demonstrations which threatened to spark sectarian strife in the Shiite-majority country. A Bahraini holds a portrait of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Shiite opposition movement Al-Wefaq, during a protest on the outskirts of the capital Manama on May 29, 2016 Mohammed Al-Shaikh (AFP/File) Al-Wefaq was the largest group in parliament before its lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the crushing of Arab Spring-inspired demonstrations in 2011 calling for an elected government. The court order drew criticism from UN chief Ban Ki-Moon, and the kingdom's allies in Washington and London. The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, had labelled the crackdown on Al-Wefaq "alarming" and repeatedly appealed for "reform and reconciliation". Shiite-dominated Iran, which is accused by Gulf foes of meddling in Bahrain's affairs, also condemned the court order. Al-Wefaq's defence team had withdrawn from court proceedings in June in protest at the government's push to accelerate the proceedings, which had initially been set for October 6. And a judicial source said the court still refused to grant lawyers access to the group's offices to prepare their defence. The court had ordered the closure of Al-Wefaq's offices earlier in June. - 'Flagrant attack on freedom' - Amnesty International condemnd Thursday's ruling as "flagrant attack on freedom of expression and association and a brazen attempt to suppress criticism of the government in Bahrain." "The Bahraini authorities have not presented any credible evidence that Al-Wefaq is anything but a peaceful opposition movement which has been seeking reform in the country in the face of increasing government repression," said Amnesty's Research and Advocacy Director, Philip Luther. "Silencing critical voices encourages further human rights violations and abuse of power," he said. In October 2014, the administrative court banned Al-Wefaq for three months for violating the law on associations. Political parties are banned in Bahrain, as in other Gulf Arab states, so Al-Wefaq operated as an association. Also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, Al-Wefaq is heir to the Bahrain Freedom Movement which played a key role in Shiite-led protests in the 1990s that sought the restoration of the elected parliament scrapped in 1975. In recent months, Manama has intensified its crackdown on leading Shiite figures. Al-Wefaq's leader, Shiite cleric Ali Salman, is serving a nine-year jail term on charges of inciting violence after a court in May more than doubled his sentence. His arrest in December 2014 sparked protests in Bahrain. Israel arrests 35 Palestinians in raids after violence spikes Israeli authorities have arrested at least 35 Palestinians over the last few days in raids following a spike in violence ahead of upcoming Jewish holidays, officials said Thursday. The arrests have occurred in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank for reasons ranging from stolen property to suspicions of "terrorism." Israeli police carried out raids in Issawiya and the Shuafat refugee camp in east Jerusalem over the last two days, arresting 23 people, they said. Israeli security forces stand guard at the entrance of the West Bank village of Bani Naim, east of Hebron, on September 20, 2016 Hazem Bader (AFP) "Police operations took place to locate and seize arms and weapons, finding suspects involved in terrorist activity, in riots and criminal activity," a statement said. Weapons and ammunition had been seized, it said. "As part of the police operation 23 suspects were arrested on suspicions of terrorism, rioting, possession of illegal weapons, drugs and stolen property," police said. Israel's military confirmed 12 Palestinians had been arrested overnight in various parts of the West Bank, including four accused of being Hamas operatives and others suspected of unspecified illegal activity. A spike in violence since Friday has shattered several weeks of calm, with at least nine attacks or attempted attacks by Palestinians since then, according to Israeli authorities. Nearly all of the incidents have been stabbings or attempted stabbings, carried out by lone-wolf attackers, an Israeli military official said. After a policewoman was left in serious condition from being stabbed in the neck, authorities confirmed officers were wearing a protective collar to block such attacks. Palestinian officials have decried an increased Israeli security presence, saying there have been new checkpoints, with more villages closed off. Israeli authorities have been keen to reduce the amount of guns in east Jerusalem and the West Bank in order to prevent a further escalation in violence. The shooting deaths of two Israelis in the West Bank on October 1, 2015 helped set off a wave of violence that lasted months. The unrest included clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem around the time of the Jewish high holidays. The compound is the third holiest site for Muslims and the most sacred for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. The Jewish high holidays in October see an increase in Jewish visitors to the site. The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it. Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis. Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest. Morocco detains four 'dangerous' IS suspects Moroccan police have arrested four "dangerous" suspected jihadists linked to the Islamic State group who were planning attacks across the country, the government said on Thursday. Investigators apprehended an individual on Wednesday in the northern city of Meknes who had been "planning terrorist attacks in Morocco," according to a statement from the interior ministry. The suspect had "acquired vast experience in the manufacture of remote-detonated explosives" and was "about to procure essential materials to make" a bomb, it added. The government says dozens of "terrorist cells" have been uncovered in the past three years with ties to jihadists in Iraq and Syria Fadel Senna (AFP/File) Last week three suspected extremists were arrested around Tangiers, in northern Morocco, reportedly in the process of preparing "extremely serious terrorist acts", the statement said. The head of the cell had allegedly been contacted by a Moroccan IS member and had planned to travel to join the jihadists in Iraq or Syria. Rabat says more than 150 "terrorist cells" have been uncovered since 2002, including dozens in the past three years with ties to jihadists in Iraq and Syria. UN resumes Syria aid convoys UN aid convoys starting rolling in Syria again on Thursday, after a deadly attack on humanitarian trucks and a warehouse triggered a suspension in deliveries. "Today we are sending an inter-agency, cross-line convoy with urgently needed aid to people in a besieged area of rural Damascus," United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) spokesman Jens Laerke said in a statement. "We have resumed aid deliveries based on the humanitarian imperative," he added. The United States has blamed Russia for a deadly attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in Orum al-Kubra, on the western outskirts of Aleppo Omar haj kadour (AFP) Laerke told AFP in an email that this was the first convoy to head towards a besieged area since Monday's attack on a humanitarian convoy which killed around 20 people, including a Red Cross staffer. The UN has estimated that roughly 600,000 people are stuck in Syria's 18 besieged areas. Accessing them, and others in so-called hard-to-reach areas has become a top UN priority. Convoys have repeatedly been blocked for security reasons, refusals by the Syrian government to grant authorisation and strict conditions imposed by opposition groups. The UN, Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies had hoped that a ceasefire agreed earlier this month would allow them to get life-saving supplies to more than a million Syrian civilians. But the ceasefire's collapse has stalled aid deliveries. Scarlett Keeling's mother anxious about Indian justice The mother of a British schoolgirl found dead on an Indian beach in 2008 fears her daughter will not get justice when a court delivers a long-awaited verdict on two men accused of involvement in her death. Fifteen-year-old Scarlett Keeling's bruised and half-naked body was discovered in shallow water on a beach in the popular Indian resort state of Goa eight years ago, making international headlines. After years of delays and controversy an Indian judge will on Friday finally deliver rulings against two local men accused over the drugging, sexual assault and death of the teenager. Fiona MacKeown, mother of murdered British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, looks through court documents at her lawyer Vikram Varma's office in Panaji on September 22, 2016 Indranil Mukherjee (AFP) "I don't know how I'm going to feel tomorrow. I'm getting more and more nervous about the judgement," Fiona MacKeown, Keeling's mother, told AFP in an interview on Thursday. "It's been a long time. I've been waiting, waiting and waiting and I have no idea which way the verdict will go," she said at her lawyer's office in Goa's state capital Panaji. Keeling's death drew attention to the dark side of a tourist destination that has long been a hangout for Western hippies and later highlighted India's notoriously sluggish justice system. Police initially dismissed the teenager's death as an accident but opened a murder probe after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved the teen had been drugged and raped. Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, using force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty and of administering drugs with intent to harm. The trial started in 2010 but has been plagued by numerous delays, including infrequent hearings due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings. - 'I regret it forever' - "If it's a guilty verdict I think they'll appeal. If we get not guilty then hopefully the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) will appeal so it might not be the actual end of it but it's pretty close to the end," MacKeown said. Police allege D'Souza and Carvalho plied Keeling with a cocktail of drink and illegal drugs, including cocaine, before sexually assaulting her and leaving her to die by dumping her unconscious in shallow water where she drowned. Prosecutors argued that dozens of bruises on Keeling's body were evidence of a struggle, while defence lawyers claimed the teenager died of accidental drowning after taking illegal drugs of her own accord. MacKeown said she had been "devastated" by the decision of a key witness not to testify at the trial. "I felt we had a watertight case before then and without him it's made it a much more precarious balance about which way it might go," she told AFP. The family was on a six-month holiday to India when MacKeown, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a Valentine's Day party. "I gave in and let her go back. Things went wrong and that's why she never came back to me. I will regret it forever," said MacKeown. Whichever verdict is handed down MacKeown said there will never be closure for her. "I can't close the door on losing a child. I think about Scarlett every day. I miss her. There's a hole in our family and there always will be," she said. Tourists and friends of murdered British teenager Scarlett Keeling light candles at a memorial built in her memory at Anjuna beach in February 2009 Indranil Mukherjee (AFP) Hamas, LTTE should be dropped from terror list: top EU lawyer A top EU lawyer on Thursday said Islamist movement Hamas and Sri Lankan rebel group LTTE should be taken off the bloc's terror list because procedural mistakes invalidated the decision to put them on it. The European Union imposed travel bans and asset freezes against Hamas and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam under 2001 rules. The groups subsequently contested being kept on the bloc's terrorist black list. The General Court, second to the European Court of Justice, found in their favour in 2014 on the grounds the EU had based its decision on publicly available information, not on a finding by a competent authority. Palestinian members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, take part in a anti-Israel military parade in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on August 21, 2016 Said Khatib (AFP/File) The European Council of the 28 member states in turn appealed that finding. Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston of the ECJ said the EU "cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, rather than in decisions of competent authorities, to support a decision to maintain a listing." Given that "some of the reasons advanced could not justify the decision to maintain the listing of LTTE and Hamas," the General Court was correct to dismiss the EU appeal when it could find no other sufficient reasons for their listing. Accordingly, the ECJ "should annul the measures maintaining Hamas and LTTE on the EU list of terrorist organisations on procedural grounds." Advocates general of the ECJ are regularly called on to give their view on a case before a final ruling and in most instances their opinions are followed. Officials said they could not comment on Sharpston's opinion and would wait until the final ruling in the case. Yemen rebels accuse detained American of spying Yemeni rebels and their allies on Thursday accused an American detained in the capital of providing target coordinates for air strikes by their foes in a Saudi-led coalition. Masked gunmen wearing the uniform of the rebels' national security service seized Peter Willems on Tuesday from the principal's office of the Exceed Language Center he heads. Students described scenes of panic as he was hauled off without any immediate explanation. Hostility to Washington has long been a key part of the rhetoric of the Huthi Shiite rebels who chant "Death to America" slogans at rallies Mohammed Huwais (AFP/File) "Here is the American spy Peter Willems, director of the Exceed Language Center," a member of the rebels' Revolutionary Committee, Nayef al-Qanes, tweeted alongside a photograph of the detained school head. "He was arrested in Sanaa after it was established that he was providing coordinates" to the coalition, Qanes added. The same accusation was levelled by a close aide of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose supporters in the army helped the rebels capture Sanaa in September 2014. "He was providing information and coordinates to the coalition," tweeted Ibrahim Saryi, chief of staff of Saleh's powerful son Ahmed. Willems is not the first American to be detained by the rebels. In April, a US citizen was flown out of Sanaa to Muscat after successful negotiations for his release by Oman, the only Gulf Arab state which is not part of the Saudi-led coalition battling the rebels. Last November, Oman evacuated three Americans who had been detained for spying by the rebels. And in September last year, Oman helped to negotiate the release of a Briton, two Americans and three Saudis. Hostility to Washington has long been a key part of the rhetoric of the Huthi Shiite rebels. They chant the same "Death to America" slogan at their rallies as used by the Shiite regime in Iran. The hostility has increased since the Saudi-led coalition launched its military intervention in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March last year with reconnaissance and refuelling support from Washington. Western embassies have long since quit the capital, with most diplomats now based in neighbouring countries. Only a small number of Westerners remain in Sanaa. Syria's White Helmets win Swedish rights prize The White Helmets, a Syrian civil organisation of emergency responders in rebel-held areas, on Thursday won the Right Livelihood Award, the jury for the Swedish human rights prize announced. Also known as the Syria Civil Defence, the group was honoured "for their outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians from the destruction of the Syrian civil war," the jury said. In early September, the White Helmets were among 73 aid groups that suspended ties with the UN, accusing its humanitarian agencies and their partners of being manipulated by the Syrian regime. The White Helmets carry a body after digging it out from under the rubble of a building following a reported airstrike on a rebel-held district of Aleppo, on July 23, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP) Russian activist Svetlana Gannushkina, who has championed the rights of refugees for decades, Egypt's Mozn Hassan and Nazra for Feminist Studies, and Cumhuriyet, a leading independent newspaper in Turkey, also shared the prize with the White Helmets. The jury said all of this year's winners upheld "fundamental human rights and values in the face of war and repression." The laureates will share the 3.0-million-kronor (315,000-euro, $350,000) prize. Swedish-German philatelist Jakob von Uexkull founded the donor-funded prize in 1980 after the Nobel Foundation behind the Nobel Prizes refused to create awards honouring efforts in the fields of the environment and international development. India's navy on high alert in Mumbai India's navy was put on high alert Thursday in the city of Mumbai, an official said, after reports that four men dressed in black and carrying weapons were seen near a base. Security has been strengthened at several naval facilities along the coast in and around India's financial capital, while officials investigate the reports. "The navy is at a high state of alert in Mumbai and adjoining areas after receiving inputs regarding suspicious activity reported by school children," Navy spokesman Captain DK Sharma told AFP. India has also been on guard since militants raided an army base near the defacto border that divides the northern Kashmir region with Pakistan, killing 18 soldiers Punit Paranjpe (AFP/File) Sharma did not reveal the nature of the activity, but local media reported that the children had seen gunmen, their faces covered, near a naval facility at Uran, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Mumbai. "We are taking utmost care and precautions," Mumbai police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe also told AFP. Mumbai is particularly sensitive to security threats after gunmen, who arrived by sea, went on a three-day rampage in 2008 in the western city that left 166 people dead. India blamed the attacks on Pakistani militants. Philippines' Duterte invites UN chief to probe killings Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday invited the United Nations' chief and international human rights experts to investigate allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings, but insisted they also face him in a public debate. The acid-tongued Duterte had earlier used vulgar language to dismiss criticism from the two organisations and the United States of his bloody war on crime, which has claimed over 3,000 lives since he took office on June 30. "I have invited the (United Nations human rights) rapporteur, (UN chief) Ban Ki-moon, the EU, their lawyers to come here and investigate me," Duterte said in a speech, adding the formal invitations would be sent soon. Rodrigo Duterte won the Philippine elections in a landslide in May after vowing to eradicate the illegal drug trade in six months, and promising that 100,000 criminals would be killed in the process Ye Aung Thu (AFP) "But... after they question me, I will question them, one by one in open forum... then you will all see how I will beat those devils." The 71-year-old former city mayor won elections in a landslide in May after vowing to eradicate the illegal drug trade in six months, and promising that 100,000 criminals would be killed in the process. Since getting elected, he has urged police and even civilians to kill drug pushers, and vowed to protect lawmen from prosecution. However he has also insisted that he has not encouraged anything illegal. Last month, a UN human rights investigator asked to be allowed to visit the Philippines to look into the abuses but the Duterte government swiftly rebuffed her. An angry Duterte then threatened to pull the Philippines out of the UN, but later said it was just a "joke." Duterte has made a series of controversial pronouncements only to retract them later, with his aides saying his remarks were "merely rhetoric" or "hyperbole". Duterte has also branded US President Barack Obama a "son of a whore" and Ban a "fool" after both expressed concern over the killings. This week Duterte added the European Union to his list of targets, after the European Parliament condemned "the current wave of extrajudicial executions" in his country. Duterte on Thursday brushed aside a warning this week by Standard and Poor's not to expect a credit rating upgrade for his country for two years due to the uncertainty triggered by the killings and his public statements. "I don't care about that," he said Thursday. Also on Thursday, the Senate heard further testimony from a man who alleged he worked as a member of a "death squad" for Duterte when the president was mayor of the southern city of Davao. The man had testified last week that Duterte personally murdered people and ordered 1,000 deaths. Speaking for the first time about those allegations, Duterte dismissed them, saying previous investigations had not resulted in any charges against him. Shabaab militants storm Kenya police post Islamist gunmen launched an overnight attack on a police camp in Kenya's north-east near the Somali border, police said Thursday adding that one assailant died and an officer was hit by gunfire. "Over 50 terrorists attacked the police patrol base in two Land Cruisers but the officers in the camp managed to repulse them amid a fierce exchange of fire," Kenya police spokesman George Kinoti said in a statement. The raid on the police post in the town of Liboi began shortly after midnight. Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, Somalia, but also carries out regular deadly attacks in Kenya Mohamed Abdiwahab (AFP/File) Kinoti said the attackers were initially repulsed but "later returned in a bigger number". One of the assailants was killed and several seriously injured, he said. Kinoti added that one police officer who suffered gunshot wounds was airlifted to a hospital in the capital Nairobi, while three others who sustained light injuries were being treated in nearby Dadaab. The Shabaab, an al-Qaeda linked militant group headquartered in Somalia, claimed the attack which coincided with the third anniversary of the assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in which at least 67 people were killed. In a statement, the Shabaab claimed it had killed at least six police officers, seized weapons and vehicles, and abducted two officers. Kinoti said all officers had been accounted for "except two". Mosul: Iraq's second city, key to IS group Mosul was an Iraqi demographic mosaic of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Christians that was gutted by years of violence culminating in the Islamic State group takeover in June 2014. Iraq's second-largest city, with a population now estimated at up to one million, mostly Sunni Arabs, Mosul is crucial to IS, which declared its Islamic "caliphate" there. The United Nations has estimated that the battle for Mosul could displace a million people, and affect up to 1.5 million civilians in all. Peshmerga fighters stand guard on the front line against Islamic State group militants some 20 kms east of Mosul, on August 18, 2014 Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP/File) The city controls strategic trade routes in northern Iraq, notably a key highway to the border with Syria and its second city of Aleppo, while other routes lead to Turkey and to Baghdad. Food and fabrics have long been traded in Mosul, which is also known for producing the fine cotton fabric called muslin. Capital of Nineveh province, Mosul lies around 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Baghdad, and 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Iraq's biggest dam, now controlled by Kurdish peshmerga fighters. The city's historic centre is dotted with church spires and it was home to an estimated 35,000 Christians when IS arrived and ordered them to convert, pay a special tax, or leave. Almost all fled. Mosul was conquered by Arabs in 641 and reached its cultural peak in the 12th century before falling to Mongols in 1262, and then to Persians and Ottomans. The city became part of Iraq when the country was created out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in the 1920s. Nineveh has always been a border region, keenly contested by its rival communities and their more powerful supporters in neighbouring states. Under the ousted Sunni-dominated regime of Saddam Hussein, Mosul saw a huge influx that boosted its population to around two million. Disproportionate numbers were from Arab areas of the countryside, changing its demographic make-up. Arabs currently vastly outnumber Kurds. The Tigris river runs down the middle of the city, with the eastern half more ethnically and religiously mixed while the western half is where IS found more support. Mosul proved a bastion of Saddam's most dedicated supporters who became a foundation of IS, and extortion and protection rackets in the city were a major source of jihadist funding before it was overrun. After chasing Iraqi troops out, IS set about destroying Mosul's cultural heritage, burning thousands of rare books and manuscripts in the city's vast library and smashing priceless statues. In July 2014, IS fighters rigged the Nabi Yunus shrine -- revered by both Muslims and Christians as the tomb of Prophet Jonah -- with explosives and blew it up. The population is now subject to a strict interpretation of Islamic law, and IS fighters have reportedly dug tunnel networks and planted munitions throughout the city in anticipation of the Iraqi counter offensive. Bowalley Road Rules The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place. So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules. These are based on two very simple principles: Courtesy and Respect. Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned. Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym. Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse. However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen. Dreams of migrants on doomed boat end in tragedy Mutwali Mohamed watched helplessly as his wife and son slipped under the waves after the crowded migrant boat they boarded capsized off Egypt's coast on its voyage to Italy. They were among 42 people confirmed dead in the disaster which unfolded on Wednesday. Dozens more are feared drowned. Mohamed, a 28-year-old Egyptian welder, managed to stay afloat until a rescue boat found him. Rescued migrant Sameh Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Dayem, an 18-year-old Egyptian student from Kafr El-Sheikh, lies in a bed at Rashid hospital in Rosetta, northern Egypt, on September 21, 2016 Mohamed El-Shahed (AFP) He was arrested for trying to leave the country illegally and now lies handcuffed to a hospital bed in the Mediterranean port city of Rosetta, weeping for his lost family. "I risked my life and the lives of my son and wife so they could have a nice life." Mohamed said the rising cost of living had prompted him to leave behind his homeland and head for Italy, where he would have looked for a "job doing anything". He had agreed with a trafficker to pay an intermediary 50,000 pounds ($5,600) when he reached Italy. "I was the only one who survived. I wish I hadn't survived." -'Like the apocalypse' - Next to him, also handcuffed to a bed, a weeping Badr Abdel Hafiz said about 400 people had been on board the boat. "I was with my wife and three children. They all died," the 28-year-old said. Ahmed Mohamed, 27, recounted how passengers had tried to save themselves when the vessel began to sink. "It was like the apocalypse. Everyone tried to get out alive. I swam for 10 kilometres," he said. About 150 survivors were detained in a police station in Rosetta, most of them young men. There were Egyptians, Sudanese and Syrians. Dozens were sprawled out in the hallways, where police offered them water and clothes. Mohamed Ahmed, a 17-year-old student, had borrowed 20,000 pounds to pay for passage on the doomed boat. He said he was among around 100 people in a hold used to store fish when the vessel capsized. "Me and my friend were the only ones who escaped." "Everything has become more expensive here. I couldn't gather the money to marry. I thought I would travel to Italy to start a new life," he said. Others, like Sumuya from Sudan, wanted to join family who had already made the trip. Her husband is in Europe. "There were many in the boat's hold who died. The boat keeled over and they were locked in. By God, at least 100 people," she said. On a beach near Rosetta on Thursday, a small crowd gathered with some reading verses from the Koran and others desperately seeking information on relatives who may have been on board. A municipal official in Rosetta told AFP that Wednesday's victims included one child, 10 women and 31 young men. More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations. Asylum-seekers have been seeking other ways to reach Europe since March, when Balkan countries closed the popular overland route and the EU agreed a deal with Turkey to halt departures. The head of EU border agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, said in June that Egypt was becoming a "departure country" for migrants. More than 300,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year from various points of departure, the UN said this week. Survivors from a boat that recently capsized off Egypt's north coast are seen in a police station in Rashid in northern Egypt on September 22, 2016 Mohamed El-Shahed (AFP) Drone strike kills 3 Qaeda suspects in Yemen: officials An apparent US drone strike killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members Thursday in Yemen, including a mid-ranking commander, security officials said. A missile destroyed a vehicle which the three suspects were using in the region of Sawmaa in central Baida province, the officials said. One security official said jihadists had recently sought refugee in the vicinity following military operations against the extremists in nearby Hadramawt, Abyan and Lahj provinces. More than 6,600 people have been killed in the Yemeni conflict since March 2015, the UN says Abdullah Al-Qadry (AFP/File) Two suspected Al-Qaeda members were killed Wednesday in a similar strike in central Marib province. The United States has been involved in a years-long unmanned drone campaign in Yemen and is thought to have carried out dozens of strikes against what it says are members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). AQAP and the Islamic State group have exploited a power vacuum created by the conflict between the government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand their presence in the Arabian Peninsula country. The US has vowed to continue its campaign against AQAP, which it considers to be the Al-Qaeda network's deadliest franchise. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government against the Huthis has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes. The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP. Opposition 'minister' among 12 dead in Syria bombing: rebels A "minister" in Syria's opposition government was among at least 12 people killed in a car bomb attack in the south of the country on Thursday, the body's spokesman said. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack in a statement on Telegram, saying one of its jihadists had detonated an explosive vest at an opposition meeting. According to the opposition, the attack targeted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a police station in Inkhil, in Syria's southern province of Daraa. The attack in Enkhel, in the southern province of Daraa, killed at least 12 and injured dozens, according to the opposition government Louai Beshara (AFP/File) "Twelve people, including the (opposition) provisional government's local administration minister, Yaacoub al-Ammar, were killed" and dozens more were wounded, Shadi al-Jundi told AFP by telephone. The victims included "opposition figures, rebels, and local officials", Jundi said. In its online statement, IS identified the bomber as Abu Ayub al-Darawi and said there were nearly 50 casualties. It said the attack was carried out inside "a meeting for the heads of apostasy in the city of Inkhil", killing "a number from top leaders of the apostasy". "The outcome... was nearly 50 falling between those killed and wounded," it said. The provisional government was formed in late 2013 and manages institutions in some rebel-held parts of Syria. It is led by Jawad Abu Hatab, elected by the opposition-in-exile National Coalition. Daraa was the cradle of Syria's uprising in 2011, when demonstrators took to the streets to call for President Bashar al-Assad's ouster. UN hopes Syria talks could resume in a 'few weeks' The UN's deputy envoy for Syria said Thursday that he hoped peace talks could resume in the coming weeks, despite "grim" events on the ground. Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said his boss, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, was in discussion with warring parties to organise "direct negotiations", a departure from past rounds where the sides met separately with moderators. The UN is working "with a view to holding these talks hopefully in the next few weeks." UN Deputy Envoy for Syria, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, said UN envoy Staffan de Mistura is in talks with warring parties to organise "direct negotiations" Louai Beshara (AFP/File) De Mistura's recent target dates to relaunch talks have all been missed, amid a failure to contain the fighting. While the UN has said it would clearly be preferrable to host talks with a ceasefire in place, future negotiations should not have preconditions. The latest truce agreed by the United States and Russia has collapsed, but Ramzy insisted both Washington and Moscow "are determined to make the agreement work." S. Africa vows to end violent student protests The South African government vowed Thursday to end violent student protests against higher tuition fees, after days of clashes on campuses and disrupted classes across the country. "The destruction of property and the disruption of the academic programme does not address legitimate concerns of students," Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said in statement. "I will not wait on the sidelines for any further damage to property, injuries to students or ultimately loss of life to occur before acting against violent campuses." Unrest has hit many South African universities over the past year, as students protest against fee increases Mujahid Safodien (AFP) The statement said "the violence has to stop", adding that "fringe and rogue elements (were) exploiting the situation through acts of hooliganism". Police fought running battles with protesters in Johannesburg on Wednesday, with students blockading roads, hurling rocks and damaging property at Wits University in the city centre. Universities in Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein suspended lectures, while violence erupted on Thursday at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, where students set fire to a campus entrance. Riot police have regularly used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, who are demanding free university education. Unrest has hit many South African universities over the past year, as students protest against fee increases that they say force poorer, often black, pupils out of education. On Monday, the government announced that universities would set their own fee increases but that next year's hikes would be capped at eight percent. The government said it would cover the increase for students from families earning less than 600,000 rand ($43,000) a year. Last year, students -- many of them so-called "born frees" who grew up after apartheid -- staged a series of major protests which forced the government to abandon planned fee hikes for 2016. Throughout this year, there has been sporadic unrest which has seen accommodation buildings and libraries set alight, and in May, an auditorium at Johannesburg University was firebombed. The issue of education fees has ignited widespread frustration over a lack of opportunities for young people, worsened by a weakening economy and high unemployment. Dozens of rebels quit Syria's Homs under deal with govt More than 120 rebels and dozens of their relatives on Thursday left the last rebel-held district of Syria's Homs city under a deal with the regime, the governor said. The group was the second wave of fighters to leave the Waer neighbourhood under an agreement reached between opposition and government forces in December. The United Nations oversaw the original deal but was not present during Thursday's operation, and its decision to stay away delayed the evacuation, which had been due to start Monday. A Syrian soldier stands guard as Red Crescent members wait for opposition fighters and their families to change buses at a Syrian army checkpoint on the edge of the rebel-held Waer neighbourhood in the central city of Homs during an evacuation operation on September 22, 2016 Louai Beshara (AFP) Homs governor Talal Barazi told reporters that "123 armed men and 157 civilians from the families of the armed men left to northern Homs province". The evacuees were headed to Dar al-Kubra, which is under rebel control. An AFP team at the entrance to the neighbourhood saw dozens of gunmen leaving early Thursday, accompanied by family members, mostly women and children. Some of the gunmen were carrying light weapons as permitted by the deal, with a number covering their faces and wearing military fatigues. They boarded several green buses, carrying suitcases and other belongings under the supervision of Syrian soldiers and some Russian troops. The evacuation operation had been scheduled to begin on Monday, but was delayed by the UN's absence. Earlier this month, the UN's envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, criticised a "strategy" of evacuations from besieged rebel-held communities under deals with the government. His comments followed a deal between the government and rebels in Daraya town outside Damascus, emptied of residents and opposition fighters after a four-year army siege. De Mistura warned there were "indications that after Daraya we may have other Darayas." But Barazi, the Homs governor, on Thursday criticised the United Nations. "We regard with amazement the failure of the UN and international organisations to play their humanitarian, social and political role at this stage," he said. A source in the governorate denied that the evacuation deal involved emptying Waer, which has 75,000 residents. "The civilians who left today are the families of gunmen. None of the other civilian families left, and they are welcome in the district," he told AFP. The agreement was reached in December and envisions Waer coming under government control in exchange for the lifting of a devastating three-year siege. Homs was once dubbed the "capital of the revolution" because of the large-scale protests held there when the Syrian uprising began in March 2011. After years of devastating fighting, the Syrian government retook control of all of the city except Waer in May 2014. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since March 2011. Syrian policemen stand guard as Red Crescent members help opposition fighters and their families carry their belongings onto a bus at a Syrian army checkpoint Louai Beshara (AFP) UN pleads with Assad over food aid stuck at Syria border Food aid for rebel-held east Aleppo, which has been stalled at the Syrian border since last week, will go bad in days, the UN said Thursday, urging the country's leader to clear the delivery. "Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border. The food will be expiring on Monday," the head of the United Nations humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, told reporters in Geneva. "The drivers are sleeping at the border and they have done so now for now a week, so please, President Assad, do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas," Egeland added, in a direct appeal to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border, the head of the UN humanitarian taskforce for Syria told reporters Mahmoud Taha (AFP/File) The trucks entered a customs zone between the two countries on September 12 and 13. The UN had hoped to send them along the Castello Road into east Aleppo, militarily encircled since early July and where up to 250,000 people are in desperate need of life-saving supplies. As part of the now broken ceasefire pact agreed between the US and Russia, the UN had expected assurances from Damascus that the Castello Road would be clear and safe. Those assurances have not come and violence has surged again following a brief lull early last week. The stalled east Aleppo aid is the latest in a long running series of setbacks for UN and Red Cross efforts to deliver relief to Syrian civilians. The UN's Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura charged the Assad government with breaking its word by not providing authorisation permits to visit at least five besieged areas. But, Egeland said, "we seem to now be getting the permits," The UN's humanitarian office (OCHA) said earlier that a convoy was headed on Thursday to a besieged part of Rural Damascus. Egeland added that in "the next days" the UN also hoped to reach Madaya, "where people have been starving." Convoys also plan to go the Waer neighbourhood of Homs, according to Egeland. Rebel fighters were leaving Waer on Thursday, under an agreement reached between opposition and government forces in December. The agreement was reached in December and envisions Waer coming under government control in exchange for the lifting of a devastating three-year siege. Obama-era surveillance worse than Stasi, says Oliver Stone US film director Oliver Stone on Thursday accused President Barack Obama's administration of implementing a surveillance system worse than that of the feared Stasi secret police in East Germany. Speaking at the San Sebastian film festival in northern Spain, where he presented his film "Snowden," Stone said many in the US had grown disillusioned with a president they once saw as "a man of great integrity." "On the contrary, Obama has doubled down on the (George W.) Bush administration policies," said Stone, whose latest movie is a biographical political thriller about Edward Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who revealed a vast US surveillance programme in 2013. US film director, screenwriter and producer Oliver Stone promotes the film "Snowden" at the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival on September 22, 2016 Ander Gillenea (AFP) Obama "has created... the most massive global security surveillance state that's ever been seen, way beyond East Germany's Stasi, way beyond that." "In the name of one thing -- terrorism -- to change all the rules is not a marginal response, it's an extreme response," he told reporters. "Let's beware of fascists and tyrants who tell us 'we are going to protect you'. I don't want that." This is far from the first time that Stone has dabbled in politics, having directed "Platoon" about the Vietnam War, "JFK" and "Nixon" among a host of other films. He insisted "there was no agenda" behind the release of his latest movie just weeks ahead of US elections, but said he hoped Obama would pardon Snowden, who currently lives in Russia after escaping his homeland. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Snowden and met with him to prepare for the role, said the former contractor "was embarrassed" that a film had been made about him. "He's a private person, he felt awkward about it," he said. Vietnam rejects 'anti-government' blogger's appeal A Hanoi court upheld the five-year sentence of an anti-government blogger Thursday, his lawyer said, as rights groups accused authoritarian Vietnam of crushing dissent. Nguyen Huu Vinh, more commonly known as Anh Ba Sam, was arrested in 2014 and accused of disseminating anti-government articles on his wildly popular website. Vinh, a 60-year-old former policeman, was convicted in March on charges of "abusing democratic freedoms" along with his assistant Thi Minh Thuy who was given three years in jail. The crime carries a maximum penalty of seven years. Nguyen Huu Vinh (C), was arrested in 2014 and accused of disseminating anti-government articles on his wildly popular website "This is a totally imposed verdict, it isn't based on any proof," said his lawyer Ha Huy Son after the day-long appeal hearing. There was a heavy police presence around the Higher People's Court, with surrounding streets cordoned off and plainclothes and uniformed officers manning roadblocks as the hearing got under way. Vinh, who appeared in court alongside Thuy, was sentenced under article 258 of the criminal code, which rights groups have condemned for being vaguely worded and used to silence dissidents. Vinh's site Ba Sam, which means "talking nonsense" in Vietnamese, attracted 3.7 million page views before it was taken down shortly after his arrest. He founded the website in 2007, initially to store articles for his own reference, but the site later became a news aggregator with links to stories from state-run newspapers and also posts from activists. All newspapers and television channels are state-run in Vietnam and private media is banned. But blog sites and social media forums have become an increasingly popular arena for citizens to air anti-government grievances. Bloggers, activists and lawyers are routinely subject to arbitrary detention and arrest. Human Rights Watch said ahead of the appeal hearing that the conviction was politically motivated and accused Vietnam of jailing "courageous bloggers". "Given how angry the authorities are at these two dissident bloggers for exposing the government's abuses and ridiculing their policies, there was really never any hope that their sentences would be reduced," HRW Asia deputy director Phil Robertson said Thursday. Vietnam ranks 175 out of 180 on Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index. On Tuesday, land rights activist Can Thi Theu was jailed for 20 months after accusing the government of snatching plots for developers, her second conviction since 2014. US go ahead on Iran planes lifts trade, banking 'taboo' The US green light for Boeing and Airbus sales to Iran has broken a taboo and opens the door to a potential boom in foreign financial dealings with Tehran, experts said. As well as a long overdue modernisation for its aging fleet of passenger planes, Wednesday's announcement of US licences for Airbus and Boeing serves to reassure other foreign firms and major banks over doing business with the Islamic republic. "A taboo has been broken. This deal will ease the fears of major foreign banks and companies which want to work with Iran," an official of an Iranian private bank told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Boeing can fulfil a June memorandum of agreement with Iran Air that covered the sale of 80 planes, consisting of single-aisle 737 and the long-range 777 aircraft Adrian Dennis (AFP/File) "It will allow financial channels to be put into place for big foreign banks to work with Iran." An Iranian financial weekly, Donaye Eghtessad, said experts were now predicting that "major Western banks will soon renew ties with Iran's banks". The approvals from the US Treasury Department allow Airbus and Boeing to proceed with sales worth billions of dollars into a country that had been entirely off-limits prior to Iran's landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. "We have issued the first two licences for the export of certain commercial passenger aircraft to Iran under this new policy -- to Boeing and Airbus," a Treasury spokesperson said on Wednesday. The approval allows Boeing to fulfil a June memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Iran Air that covered the sale of 80 planes, consisting of single-aisle 737 and the long-range 777 aircraft. The sales will be the US planemaker's first to Tehran since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution which was followed a year later by a break in diplomatic ties with Washington. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said other licences would follow "in coming weeks", in comments following a meeting between Iran and major powers in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Before the nuclear deal, which came into effect in January and under which Iran has curbed its atomic programme in return for a lifting of international sanctions, an embargo dating from 1995 prevented Western manufacturers from selling equipment and spare parts to Iranian companies. In January, European giant Airbus struck a similar preliminary agreement as its US competitor to sell Iran 118 aircraft, but it also required US approval because some of the planes' components are made in the United States. - Return to global markets - The announcement of the licences comes after repeated complaints by Iranian leaders that Washington was dragging its feet on the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear deal and putting up financial obstacles for the non-US companies and banks lining up to do business with Tehran. Washington has in fact stepped up its own set of sanctions against Tehran over alleged human rights abuses and support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups which the United States brands terrorist organisations. In New York, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the UN General Assembly the US Treasury was "complicating transactions" between Tehran and foreign companies and banks, state news agency IRNA reported. On the political front, the president, a moderate who has come under fire over the nuclear accord from the hardline conservative camp, will now be expected to argue that the deal is allowing the return of oil-rich Iran to global markets. The Boeing deal is estimated to be worth roughly $25 billion, and the Airbus accord was initially valued at $25 billion, although Iranian officials say it is worth nearer $10 billion. Neither Airbus nor Boeing has announced a schedule for delivering the planes. Iran's current commercial aviation fleet, which has a poor air safety record, numbers around 140 planes with an average age of around 20 years, with many in desperate need of replacement. Iran projects a demand for between 400 and 500 commercial airliners over the next decade. Iranian newspaper Donaye Eghtessad said international banks would play a key role in financing the huge contracts with Boeing and Airbus. 'No doubt' Russia to blame in Syria convoy attack: top US general The top US military officer on Thursday blasted Russia over the attack on an aid convoy in Syria, calling the strike an atrocity and squarely blaming Moscow for the incident. General Joe Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said two Russian aircraft were in the area over Orum al-Kubra, a town in Aleppo province, where Monday's air strike on the convoy occurred. He said planes from the Syrian regime were also in the area, so he couldn't definitely say who dropped the bombs. A damaged truck carrying aid is seen on the side of the road in the town of Orum al-Kubra on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on September 20, 2016 Omar Haj Kadour (AFP) "There is no doubt in my mind that the Russians are responsible, I just don't know whose aircraft actually dropped the bomb," Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Russia has been conducting military operations and air strikes in Syria over the past year to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. "It was an unacceptable atrocity," Dunford said of the deadly strike that killed around 20 civilians late Monday. Trucks carrying food and medical equipment from the United Nations and other agencies were unloading aid into a warehouse in Orum al-Kubra at the time of the strike. Speaking at the same hearing, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also said the Russians were responsible. "Whether they conducted it or not -- because they've taken responsibility for the conduct of Syrians by associating themselves with the Syrian regime," Carter said. Moscow has strenuously denied responsibility in the strike and offered several differing explanations for what might have happened. On Wednesday, Russia insinuated the United States might have been involved by claiming a Predator drone was in the area at the time of the strike. The Pentagon strongly rejected the claim. Dunford also said he supports calls to ground Syrian regime and Russian aircraft. A ceasefire that went into effect last week in Syria has collapsed, despite last-ditch diplomatic efforts to salvage it. Had the truce held, Russia and the United States were due to exchange information about targets in Syria. Yemen exile government returns to Aden Yemen's premier-in-exile returned home Thursday along with seven ministers to the southern city of Aden, the temporary capital as rebels continue to rule Sanaa. Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher flew from Riyadh to the port city where he said upon arrival that his return is "final". The premier's voyage is the first since his predecessor Khaled Bahah fled Aden in October last year after surviving a bombing attack, only weeks after he had returned with a handful of ministers. Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (R) listens to his aide during a cabinet meeting of Yemeni ministerial council held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on May 18, 2016 Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File) Government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition had pushed Shiite rebels and their allies out of Aden and four other southern provinces in the summer. The coalition launched a military campaign against the rebels in March 2015 as they closed in on President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after he took refuge in Aden, forcing him into exile in Riyadh. Hadi has not made any suggestion of returning to Yemen soon. Bin Dagher said his return follows a decision by Hadi to withdraw the central bank from rebel-held Sanaa to Aden. His government has 32 ministers. Some are expected to move from Riyadh to Marib, east of Sanaa, a region that is also mostly controlled by loyalists. Huthi rebels and their allies of forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh still control vast parts of the country, including northern regions and the capital Sanaa which they overran unopposed in September 2014. Kuwait Shiite MP gets new jail term for insults A Kuwaiti court on Thursday sentenced Shiite lawmaker Abdulhameed Dashti to 11 years' jail in absentia for insults against the emirate's ruler and its neighbour Saudi Arabia. Any criticism of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah can result in charges of insulting him, and dozens of opposition activists have been jailed for the offence in the past few years. The verdict against Dashti, announced in a court statement, comes two months after he was sentenced to 14 years and six months for a similar offence. Kuwaiti Shiite MP Abdulhameed Dashti speaks during a parliament session at Kuwait's national assembly in the capital Kuwait City in April 2015 Yasser Al-Zayyat (AFP/File) Dashti has been living abroad for several months, after leaving Kuwait in March to seek medical treatment in Britain. In the latest ruling, the criminal court in Kuwait City deemed as offensive his remarks about the emir and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The outspoken lawmaker was also convicted in July of endangering ties with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and for calling on people to join the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia. Dashti confirmed the latest court ruling on Twitter, saying he expects more sentences that could amount to 100 years' jail as he is facing about a dozen similar cases. The verdicts are not final but Dashti can only challenge once he returns to the oil-rich emirate. He has not said when he will go back. Dashti is a staunch supporter of Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a critic of the royal families of both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He denounced as an "invasion" the 2011 Saudi military intervention in Bahrain to support the government against Shiite-led protests. The next ruling against him is scheduled for October 10. Saudi-led raids 'kill 20' civilians in Yemen port Saudi-led coalition air strikes killed 20 civilians in a rebel-held port city of western Yemen, a government official said Thursday in a rare admission of a possible "error" by the alliance. The coalition's spokesman, however, said the raid on Wednesday night targeted rebel leaders. The strikes came as Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its 18-month campaign against Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies in Yemen. The bodies of Yemeni victims of Saudi-led air strikes lie in a morgue in the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida late on September 21, 2016 STRINGER (AFP/File) The Suq al-Hunod district of the Red Sea port of Hodeida was hit, the official in President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government told AFP. He said the residential neighbourhood was "probably hit in error". General Ahmed Assiri, the coalition spokesman, told AFP the raid targeted "Huthi leaders" but the coalition did not have a count on the number killed because it is "not on the ground" there. "We had information that they were having a meeting, then we hit them." Assiri said any allegations of wrongdoing would have to be verified. "We will investigate to know what has happened exactly," he said. US officials -- whose country supplies bombs dropped by the coalition -- have regularly urged their Saudi allies to avoid harming non-combatants. The rebel administration in the capital Sanaa also reported the Hodeida strikes, saying there were civilian casualties. The Huthi rebels had been celebrating the second anniversary of their seizure of Yemen's capital city. Khaled Suhail, a doctor at Hodeida's Al-Thawra Hospital, said his facility received 12 dead and 30 wounded from the strikes. Pictures from Suq al-Hunod showed residents combing the rubble under arc lights in a search for survivors. The body of one child lay in a morgue, his head bloody above a left eye which remained open in death. Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition are suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths in Yemen, a United Nations report said last month. It called for an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations by all sides in Yemen, where nearly 4,000 civilians have died. -- 'Growing pressure' -- "In this case a misguided munition hit a neighbourhood by error, which is densely populated," said Andreas Krieg of the Defence Studies Department at King's College London. "It is tragic but unfortunately the reality of air power warfare in complex environments where the enemy intentionally mingles with the civilian population," he told AFP. Peter Salisbury, an associate fellow at London's Chatham House think-tank, said British and US arms suppliers were coming "under growing pressure" to explain their failure to influence the Saudis over civilian casualties. "It's difficult to see what strategic advantage the Saudis are gaining from their bombing campaign outside of the front lines," he told AFP before the Hodeida incident. Last month, the US military said it had slashed the number of intelligence advisers directly supporting the Saudi-led coalition's air war in support of Hadi's government. The reassignment of personnel, around June, came because "there was not the same sort of requests coming in for assistance", Fifth Fleet spokesman Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey said. US cooperation with Saudi Arabia mostly involves "imagery that allows them to better assess the situation on the ground, and then advice and assistance", he said. Targeting is ultimately decided by the Saudis, McConnaughey added. Riyadh formed the Arab coalition which began air raids in March last year, and later sent in ground forces, to support Hadi's internationally recognised government after the Huthis and their allies overran much of Yemen. The coalition has told AFP it uses highly accurate laser- and GPS-guided weapons and verifies targets many times to avoid civilian casualties. The Saudi-led coalition has been repeatedly criticised for the high civilian death toll from its 18-month-old bombing campaign in Yemen STRINGER (AFP) Rouhani uses UN to hit US over nuclear deal Iran used the UN General Assembly on Thursday to accuse the United States of failing to meet its commitments under a historic nuclear deal. President Hassan Rouhani complained that America is dragging its feet on its side of the bargain. "The lack of compliance (with the deal) on the part of the United States in the past several months represents a flawed approach that should be rectified forthwith," Rouhani told the world body. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on September 22, 2016 Timothy A. Clary (AFP) The agreement between Tehran, Washington and five other major powers came into force in January. Iran accepted curbs to its nuclear program in exchange for their lifting sanctions. While observers say Iran has met its commitments, Tehran accuses Washington of continuing to block the Islamic republic from the international banking system, limiting its ability to benefit from the lifting of sanctions. Iran says the deal has already boosted its oil exports, but that international banks are concerned they may be prosecuted by the US Treasury if they do business with Iran. "They scare, they frighten the big banks with the threat of potential action by the United States Treasury. This is something that we oppose," Rouhani told reporters following his address. He accused the United States of causing delays, a "complete lack of transparency" and failure to take action on its commitments. "Other nations are working hard to realise their commitments," he said. - 'A victory' - On returning to Iran on Friday, Rouhani told reporters that the United States had promised to comply with the deal. The US made the pledge during a meeting of foreign ministers of world powers who signed the deal, he told reporters at Tehran airport. "The US promised to correct the procedure," he said. The other parties to the deal also told the US it was not complying, he said. "This is very important in my opinion," he said. "It was a victory." Tehran has threatened to take action in the International Court of Justice against the United States if $2 billion in frozen assets belonging to its central bank is diverted to American victims of terror attacks. "We see this as an international heist to be quite frank," Rouhani told reporters in New York. "I am certain that we will be legally victorious and the United States will be fined for this transgression," he added. But he also gave a staunch defense of the nuclear deal as in the best interests of Iran, its economy and its people, saying that trade with the European Union was up more than 44 percent already this month. "The question then becomes what will we do if the United States continues non-adherence," he said, referring to complaint mechanisms built into the deal. "A complaint would be brought to this joint commission and the ministers of foreign affairs from seven countries would talk," he said. Asked about November's US presidential election, with Democrat Hillary Clinton competing against Republican Donald Trump, Rouhani said it made no difference to Iran who won as long as the incoming US administration respected Iran and decreased tension. The nuclear agreement has faced opposition from ultra-conservatives in Iran and the United States, led by Republican opponents of Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. Addressing reporters in Tehran on Friday, Rouhani said Iran was meeting its side of the deal. "Of course, we ourselves, as always and as the supreme leader has stressed, meet our commitments according to our Islamic duties, as long as the other side meets its commitments," he said. Israel destroying two-state solution hopes: Abbas to UN Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that Israel's settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank was destroying any hope of a two-state solution. Abbas, who has been Palestinian president for 11 years, urged countries at the gathering to recognize Palestine as a state and once again offered the hand of peace, albeit slamming Israel's intentions. "What the Israeli government is doing in pursuit of its expansionist settlement plans will destroy whatever possibility is left for the two-state solution along the 1967 borders," Abbas said. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22, 2016 Jewel Samad (AFP) The Palestinian leader said his officials would "exert all efforts" to get the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on settlements and the "terror of the settlers." "The settlements are illegal in every aspect," Abbas said. "We are undertaking at the moment extensive consultations with Arab countries and other friendly countries on this matter," he said. Washington said on August 31 that it was "deeply concerned" following an announcement that Israel had approved the construction of 463 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. The approvals mostly involved new housing units, but a retroactive green light was also granted to 179 existing homes in the Ofarim settlement, said the Peace Now organization. Nickolay Mladenov, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the Security Council in August that Israeli settlement expansion had surged in the past two months. The recent report by the diplomatic Quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the UN and the United States -- said construction of settlements on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state is eroding the possibility of a two-state solution. "Those who believe in the two-state solution should recognize both states, and not just one of them," Abbas, who was first elected president in 2005, told the General Assembly. "We extend our hands to those who want to build peace. But the question remains and persists: is there any leadership in Israel, the occupying power, that desires to make a true peace?" he asked. Gulf emirate targets status as major oil export platform At the mouth of the oil-rich Gulf region, the little-known UAE emirate of Fujairah is positioning itself as a major player in oil exports with a new dock for supertankers. Sandwiched between the rocky Hajar mountains and the Gulf of Oman, the city of Fujairah has evolved around its port, whose oil terminal and storage facilities keep expanding. The facility handled 56 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2015. An Emirati man stands in front of a pipeline at the oil terminal of Fujairah during the inauguration ceremony of a dock for supertankers on September 21, 2016 Karim Sahib (AFP) Fujairah's location on the Gulf of Oman allows the seven-member United Arab Emirates to ship the bulk of its oil exports bypassing the strategic Hormuz Strait, which giant neighbour Iran threatens to close in times of tension. Other major oil producers in the Gulf, including world top exporter Saudi Arabia, have to ship most of their exports through the Hormuz. The UAE in 2012 inaugurated a 360-kilometre (225-mile) pipeline connecting Abu Dhabi's rich oil fields with Fujairah's coast. It has a capacity to pump 1.6 million barrels per day. The OPEC member produces around 2.5 million But in a bid to capitalise on its location, Fujairah on Wednesday opened a new dock for supertankers, built at a cost of 650 million dirhams ($177 million). The new terminal facility allows it to handle tankers up to 334 metres (yards) in length and weighing 330,000 tonnes, port director Mussa Murad said at the inauguration ceremony. At 26 metres (86 feet), "this dock is the deepest oil dock in the Middle East", he said. Murad said the jetty could process two million tonnes of petroleum products at loading or unloading in 24 hours. "We are determined to put the name of Fujairah... on the map of petroleum exchange on the regional and global levels," said the emirate's industry and economics department head, Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammed al-Sharqi. A port official said Fujairah did not spare any effort to "move mountains" to be able to handle supertankers. As much as 22 million tonnes of rocks were quarried to reclaim land and build the new jetty, allowing supertankers to dock and load at ease. Supertanker Kelly inaugurated the new jetty blasting its siren as it berthed for loading. The facility can load or unload two million tonnes of oil products in 24 hours, according to Mourad. The port already boasts a large storage capacity with hundreds of giant reservoirs spread across the facility. "Storage capacity has jumped from 550,000 tonnes in 1994 to 10 million tonnes today," said Mourad. The number of reservoirs has shot up from eight to 338 in the same period. Refuelling services have also expanded from two million tonnes to 24 million annually. Fujairah officials said they are counting on increased demand from India and China, and on diversification of its services, such as bunkering. In first US presidential debate, pressure on moderator Lester Holt knows how to manage pressure. He anchors the most-watched nightly news show on US television. But as moderator of the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump next Monday, the pressure could go through the roof. Democrat Clinton and Republican rival Trump are waging a tightening and often sensational battle for the White House with the election less than 50 days away. Journalist Lester Holt became the NBC Nightly News anchor in 2015 Ilya S. Savenok (Getty/AFP/File) Even before the debate, Trump, who accuses much of the media of liberal bias against him, took aim at the anchor. "Lester is a Democrat. Look, it's a phony system. Lester is a Democrat. I mean, they are all Democrats. Okay? It's a very unfair system," Trump said early this week on the conservative television network Fox News. Holt is actually a Republican, registered as such in the state of New York -- and Trump went on to soften his stance in the days building up to his duel with Clinton. "I have respect for Lester," Trump said of the 57-year-old African American who became the NBC Nightly News anchor in 2015. The program draws an average of eight million viewers daily. "I think that Lester Holt is going to be very fair," the real-estate tycoon told thousands of supporters Tuesday at a rally in Kenansville, North Carolina. "But a lot of people are going to be watching to see if that's true," he added. The journalist, a 35-year television veteran with 16 years under his belt at NBC, has selected three topics for the debate: America's direction, achieving prosperity and securing America. The 90-minute debate will be organized into six 15-minute segments, with two dedicated to each of the topics. Holt will be the only person on the set with the two candidates. He has not revealed how he is preparing for the face-off, the first of three presidential debates ahead of the November 8 election. The much-anticipated first debate is expected to draw tens of millions of American viewers. The two remaining debates, on October 9 and October 19, will be moderated by other journalists. Holt, known for his calm and courteous manner, and a bass player in his spare time, probably will have uppermost in mind the recent flap caused by one of his NBC colleagues. Matt Lauer, a star of the morning news show, on September 7 did separate interviews with Clinton and Trump at a live prime-time forum in New York focused on national security. He was highly criticized, with some accusing him of being ill-prepared, or posing questions that were too easy on Trump or failing to challenge the Republican's erroneous assertions. - Jam against pressure - Trump, who declared Lauer "very professional" and "fantastic," saw the criticisms as encouraging a more aggressive approach by the moderator of the presidential debate. "I think there's a lot of pressure on Lester," Trump told Fox News Thursday, "because of Matt Lauer." "A lot of people are watching to see whether or not he succumbs to that pressure." Holt, who broadcasts his show from the NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, was out on the streets Saturday reporting live on the bombing attack that injured 29 people. If he is nervous about the debate, it is well-hidden. Tuesday night, right after his show, Holt picked up his bass and played with his band the 30 Rockers on a rooftop, celebrating the 25th anniversary of NBC's weekly newsmagazine Dateline. Holt is also the anchor of Dateline. Mideast conflict not about settlements: Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that his country's conflict with the Palestinians had "never" been about Jewish settlements. "This remains the true core of the conflict: the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize the Jewish state in any boundary," he said, directly contradicting Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. "This conflict has never been about the settlements or about establishing a Palestinian state," Netanyahu told the United Nations. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22, 2016 Timothy A. Clary (AFP) "It's always been about the existence of a Jewish state, a Jewish state in any boundary," he added. An hour earlier, Abbas told the General Assembly that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank was destroying "whatever possibility is left for a two-state solution." But Netanyahu said that Haifa, Jaffa and Tel Aviv, all cities in Israel, were "the real settlements they are after." Jordan's Brotherhood back in parliament after vote Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has made a return to parliament after winning 16 seats in the 130-member house, according to results announced Thursday by the country's electoral commission. The Brotherhood's Islamic Action Front (IAF) contested Tuesday's polls after having boycotted two previous parliamentary elections in the kingdom, in 2010 and 2013, in protest at the electoral system and alleged voting fraud. As in past elections, most seats went to businessmen and tribal figures close to the monarchy, the preliminary results showed. A Jordanian woman casts her ballot in the parliamentary elections at a polling station in the capital Amman on September 20, 2016 Khalil Mazraawi (AFP/File) The election came as Jordan, a key ally of Western countries, wrestles with the spillover of wars in neighbouring Syria and Iraq and the burden of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. As well as the performance of the IAF, attention was focused on the low turnout, with just 1.5 million voters out of a 4.1-million strong electorate casting ballots. Experts say the figure reflected a lack of enthusiasm among voters for a parliament with limited power to affect government policy. King Abdullah II can appoint and sack Jordan's military and intelligence chiefs, senior judges and members of parliament's upper house without government approval. Latest results on Thursday for seats in Jordan's parliament with a four-year mandate showed at least 21 women were elected, six above the quota reserved for women. Nine Christians also won seats reserved for their minority community, alongside three each for the Arab state's Circassian and Chechen minorities. Featured Post Standing Rock: Six Years Later -- Militarized Police, Cover-ups and the Fight for Justice "Today we stood strong against this Nazi oil bought police force. They set off LRAD on us, hit us, maced us, arrested our grandmothers,... White Mesa Ute Spiritual March to Shut Down Uranium Mill Mohawk Warrior Society Book Launch Lakota Jean Roach: The True Story of Leonard Peltier Justice for Dad: Taylor Dewey Shares the Harsh Road to Justice Justice Dept Files Lawsuit Against Rapid City Hotel Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte Speaks on Radiation Archive Search This Blog 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 Translate Switzerland arrests wanted ex-Algerian rebel A former member of the Algerian rebel Armed Islamic Group, who is wanted in France, was arrested Thursday in Switzerland and is seeking asylum, Swiss authorities said. Merouane Benahmed had been living under house arrest in the town of Evron in northwest France since 2015. On September 8 he failed to show up for one his mandated meetings with local police, which triggered the arrest warrant. Merouane Benahmed was given a 10-year prison sentence in France over his links to a suspected insurgent organisation known as the "Chechen Network" Pascal Pavani (AFP/File) "Today, the Algerian citizen Merouane Benahmed was arrested in Vallorbe," in the Swiss canton of Vaud, justice ministry spokesman Folco Galli told AFP. "The man is currently being detained in view of extradition," Galli added. Federal migration office spokesman Gieri Cavelty told AFP that Benahmed was seeking asylum, while a statement from police in Vaud said he was opposing his extradition. The 43-year-old Benahmed fled Algeria in 1999 before being sentenced to death in absentia. He was slapped with the 10-year prison sentence in France over his links to a suspected insurgent organisation known as the "Chechen Network." He was released in 2011 and has since lived in several parts of France. Algeria's Armed Islamic Group, known by its French acronym GIA, waged a deadly war against the country's secular military government through the 1990s. It is now considered largely dormant. Sudan frees 21 rebel child soldiers: UN Sudan has freed 21 child soldiers who were captured in war-torn Darfur last year during fighting between government troops and rebels, the United Nations said Thursday. Their release on Wednesday came just days after President Omar al-Bashir declared in North Darfur that he would order all detained children from the rebel side be freed. The child soldiers were captured in Darfur in 2015 during fighting between government troops and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The released child soldiers will be housed in a government transit centre that will enable their re-integration into their families and communities Charles Lomodong (AFP/File) "The United Nations welcomes the release yesterday by the government of Sudan of 21 children associated with armed groups," the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement. "Sudanese children cannot continue to be robbed of their future ... no child should take part in hostilities," Martin Uhomoibhi, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, said in the statement. The released children will be housed in a government transit centre that will enable their re-integration into their families and communities, UNICEF said. On September 7, Bashir declared at a ceremony in the North Darfur state capital El Fasher that peace was returning to the war-torn region of five states. At least 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur -- a region the size of France -- where ethnic minority groups took up arms in 2003 against Bashir's Arab-dominated government. Bashir, who has mounted a brutal counter-insurgency against the rebels, is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes and genocide charges related to Darfur, which he denies. In August, talks in Addis Ababa between Khartoum and rebels on a ceasefire in Darfur and two other conflict zones failed, with an African Union mediating panel blaming insurgent groups JEM and Sudan Liberation Army-Minnawi. Pentagon weighs arming Syrian Kurds ahead of Raqa fight Washington is considering arming Syrian Kurdish forces who will join the offensive to retake the Islamic State group's stronghold of Raqa, the US military's top officer said Thursday. Though the United States has already helped arm Kurdish fighters in Iraq, a similar move in Syria is more contentious as key ally Turkey regards the group as terrorists and allies of PKK separatists fighting within Turkish borders. "We're in deliberation about exactly what to do with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) right now," General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters advance into the Islamic State jihadist's group bastion of Manbij, in northern Syria, on June 23, 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP/File) The SDF numbers about 30,000 fighters and is made up largely of Kurds, though Syrian Arabs also form a significant component. While the Pentagon has already provided military equipment to the SDF, it insists these shipments have only gone to the Arab part. The United States is helping train and advise the SDF, as they are expected to conduct the eventual push to retake Raqa, the de-facto capital of IS's self-declared "caliphate." "They are our most effective partner on the ground. It's very difficult as you know, managing a relationship between our support for the Syrian Democratic Forces and our Turkish allies," Dunford said. "We're working very closely with our Turkish allies to come up with the right approach ... and still allay the Turkish concerns about the Kurds' long-term political prospects." When asked by a lawmaker if arming the Syrian Kurds would make the SDF more effective, Dunford said: "I would agree." "If we would reinforce the Syrian Democratic Forces' current capabilities, that will increase the prospects of our success in Raqa," he said. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said no "specific decision" had been taken on the issue. He did not directly respond when asked if he would support arming the Syrian Kurds. "I support whatever is required to help them move in the direction of Raqa," Carter said. Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's regime were pushed out of Raqa, which lies on the Euphrates River, in 2013, making it the first provincial capital in Syria to fall out of government control. IS rapidly infiltrated the city, which is strategically located near the Turkish border, and declared a caliphate in 2014. Ousting IS from the city would be a turning point in the conflict and mark a huge blow to the jihadists. Israel, Palestinians clash over settlements at UN The Israeli and Palestinian leaders Thursday stood poles apart at the UN General Assembly Thursday, clashing over the cause of their decades-old conflict and Jewish settlements in the West Bank. A flare-up in violence has killed 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis since last October, which analysts say has been fueled by Palestinian frustration with Israeli settlement building, fractured Palestinian leadership and zero progress on peace efforts. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who was elected 11 years ago and whose control is limited to autonomous areas in the occupied West Bank with radical group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, took the podium first at the General Assembly, slamming Jewish settlement expansion. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22, 2016 Jewel Samad (AFP)